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China firmly opposes recent U.S.-Japan-Philippines joint statement: defense spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:07, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday said a recent joint statement issued by Japan, the Philippines, and the United States disregards facts, confuses right with wrong, and makes groundless accusations against China.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query regarding the U.S.-Japan-Philippines joint statement, which touches on the situation at Ren'ai Jiao in Nansha Qundao, issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and question related to China's Taiwan region.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, which is solidly grounded in history and the law, said Wu.

He noted that the scope of the Philippines' territory is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, the 1900 Treaty Between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States of America for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention Between the United States of America and Great Britain Delimiting the Boundary Between the Philippine Archipelago and the State of North Borneo.

Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao are far beyond the scope of Philippine territory defined by the above-mentioned treaties, Wu said. "The Philippine side knows all these very well," he said.

Regarding Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands, Wu said they were first discovered, named and exploited by China and had long been under China's jurisdiction since the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while Japan stole Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands during the First Sino-Japanese War.

In accordance with such international legal documents as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, Diaoyu Dao was returned to China in terms of international law, Wu said, stressing that this has long been a recognized fact of the international community.

It is wishful thinking for the Japanese side to stir up disputes over the sovereignty of these islands, he added.

As for the so-called South China Sea arbitration and ruling, Wu said they breached due principles and procedures, and seriously violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other general international laws.

He said the arbitral tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires, and rendered an award in disregard of the law.

The arbitration violates UNLOS and general international law. The rendered award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize the award.

"By the way, the US itself has a terrible record of delivering on international arbitration. It rejects to accept legitimate arbitrations multiple times, let alone illegal ones like this. We ask the US side to reflect on itself thoroughly before pointing its fingers at others," he said.

Noting that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and requires no external interference, Wu said the U.S., Japanese, and Philippine governments have all made solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan question.

"We urge the above-mentioned countries to honor their words and to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining regional peace and stability," said Wu.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Israel's army announced on Thursday that the construction of a floating pier off Gaza's seashore has begun, intending to deliver desperately needed aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The so-called Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore initiative, led by the United States Central Command, would create a temporary floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea into Gaza, the Israeli military said in a statement.

The Israeli forces would provide "security and logistics support" for the initiative, which according to the military will "create an enhanced ship-to-shore distribution system to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza."

The U.S. Pentagon also confirmed the commencement of the construction. "I can confirm that U.S. military vessels have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder told journalists in Washington.

Israel, which has placed an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, has insisted that the pier will be temporary and not a permanent facility.
During Wednesdays Supreme Court arguments over life-saving abortions in emergency rooms, a few things became clear: The male justices are unconcerned by womens suffering, and Justice Samuel Alito thinks there arent enough abortion restrictions across the U.S.but if you press him on that point, youre the ridiculous one.

The case, United States v. Idaho, is about whether emergency rooms in Idahoa state that bans all abortions except those done to prevent death, not to preserve healthare in violation of a federal law that requires E.R. patients to be stabilized. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, says hospitals that accept Medicare funding have to stabilize patients facing threats to their health, and for pregnant patients facing complications, the treatment is sometimes abortion.



But this is not a normal case: Idaho is represented in part by Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF, a far-right legal activist group that is pushing for nationwide restrictions, including a national abortion ban. Idaho and ADF argued in case briefs and before the court that a fetus is a separate patient under EMTALA and deserves equal treatment in E.R.s. This is a fetal personhood argument, and if its taken to its logical endpoint, it would lead to a ban on all abortions nationwide, the end of IVF as we know it (see: Alabama), and restrictions on certain forms of birth control. In practice, women whose water breaks too early could be forced on bed rest to try to save the fetus, or given C-sections against their will. The latter is already happening, and in fact, happened even before Dobbs.



During arguments, some of the male justices seemed content to talk about whether EMTALAs funding conditions are an appropriate use of the Constitutions spending clause, while the women were focusing on the medical harm Idahos law has caused to living, breathing women. Late in the argument, Alitowho wrote the majority opinion in Dobbs that allows laws like Idahos to be enforcedwas upset that not enough time had been devoted to the existence of the words unborn child in the law about emergency room care.



Alito expressed concern that one potentially very important phrase may not have been mentioned: EMTALAs reference to the womans unborn child. (Actually, Justice Neil Gorsuch asked about it 45 minutes earlier in the session.) Alito asked of the Biden administrations lawyer, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, Isnt that an odd phrase to put in a statute that imposes a mandate to perform abortions? He then inquired, Doesnt that tell us something?



He was not-so-subtly hinting that he thinks theres a legislative basis for fetal personhood hidden in the law, and said that EMTALA indisputably protects the interests of the unborn child if the pregnant woman wants to continue the pregnancy. Prelogar countered that the duty runs to the individual with the emergency medical condition and it was wrong to imply that Congress suggested that the woman herself isnt an individual, that she doesnt deserve stabilization. Sensing that Prelogar was onto him, Alito got testy. Nobodys suggesting that the woman is not an individual, and she doesnt  she doesnt deserve stabilization. Nobodys suggesting that, he snapped. Prelogar calmly responded that Idaho is currently treating women in this fashion.



Since the court let Idaho enforce its law in early January, six pregnant women have been airlifted out of statethats compared to just one patient in all of 2023. Emergency rooms in other states are also turning away pregnant patientsstories weve heard directly from some women whove sued, and in devastating news reports like one from the Associated Press published days before arguments. Women have, as one amicus brief noted, been demot[ed] to second-class status under EMTALA.

Not only did Alito ignore evidence from multiple states showing that bans are limiting womens access to health care, he also disregarded the stated goal of one of the law firms involved in the case. As ADF CEO Kristen Waggoner recently told Politico, We do believe at ADF that the Constitution protects the life of an unborn child and that that is in the 14th Amendment. That would be game over for abortionalong with a lot of other reproductive healthcare.



ADF is not hiding its strategy. Alito, on the other hand, keeps to the stealthy shadows, attempting to advance arguments that promote fetal personhood while simultaneously insisting that this unprecedented expansion of personhood rights wont come at the expense of womens lives and autonomy. Its a deception of the highest order and onlookers might be left to conclude that he either thinks were all too dumb to noticeor that he knows nothing can stop the 6-3 court from doing what it wants. (The latter attitude was quite evident in Thursdays arguments over whether former President Donald Trump can claim immunity for allegedly orchestrating the January 6 insurrection.)



Alito seems to have a habit of trying to slip one over the American public. In the other abortion case this term, concerning the fate of the abortion drug mifepristone, he referred to the Comstock Act not by name, but by statute number, 18 U.S.C. 1461. Comstock is a dormant, Victoria-era law that the power-hungry folks behind Project 2025, the proposed agenda for a second Trump term, expect the former president to revive and enforce in order to ban the mailing of abortion pillsif not all clinic suppliesshould he win a second term. Prelogar argued that case as well, and she made sure everyone knew what Alito was trying to pull. She responded, I think that the Comstock provisions dont fall within FDAs lane.



That interaction in March may help explain why Alito sounded so contemptuous Wednesday after the governments lawyer called out his ulterior motives. Alito doesnt like having his power challenged, and if you do it, hell suggest youre simply being hysterical. But make no mistake, anti-abortion activists like ADF, the architects of Project 2025, and, yes, Alito, are plotting to erase the personhood of women and pregnant people. Theyre telling us loud and clear.
A Newberry man who ran a violent sex and human trafficking ring in the Midlands and Upstate South Carolina has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

Eric Rashun Jones controlled every aspect of the women that he forced to prostitute themselves, prosecutors said in court Thursday. He transported them around the state, tattooed his personal mark on their necks and hands, made them ask his permission to shower and eat, and sometimes starved them for days.

He plied them with drugs and then withheld the substances until they gave in to his demands. He filmed himself spitting on them and made them beat each other to prove their loyalty to him. And when Jones, 31, believed that they had disobeyed him, he beat them with his fists, pans, plates and handguns until their ears rang, their faces were bruised and misshapen and their mouths were full of loose teeth, the victims said.

Jones actions were the epitome of human depravity, U.S. District Judge Sherri Lydon said as she handed down the sentence. Your actions violated the most basic human rights.

In imposing a sentence ten years greater than the 30-year minimum requested by federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys Office for South Carolina, Lydon, the former U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, reflected that it was one of the worst cases she had seen in her time on the bench.

You destroyed a lot of lives, Mr. Jones, and this sentence and every day of it is so you dont destroy more.

Jones, represented by defense attorney Jonathan Milling, will have to serve out his sentence in the federal Bureau of Prisons. There is no parole in the federal system. Lydon also imposed a life sentence of supervised release.

Jones, also known as E-Dolla and E, was charged with ten counts on November 15, 2022. The charges were one count of human trafficking conspiracy, five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and three counts of witness tampering and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 5, 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, human trafficking conspiracy and one count of witness tampering.

In court and in indictments, Jones was accused of running a prostitution ring out of motels and hotels across South Carolina. Prosecutors estimated that Jones victimized up to 12 women, some of whom had been attending college when they met Jones. But even with Jones shackled and in an orange jumpsuit, all of the victims and their families were still too scared of him to come to court, Assistant United States Attorney Elliott Daniels told the court.

In statements and texts read out to the court, the victims described how Jones had made them feel understood, how in love with him they had been and how much they had come to fear him.

I would die for you, one victim texted Jones. But I will not die by your hand.

That victim was attending a Midlands college on a softball scholarship when she met Jones.

Records and witness statements read in court describe how Jones, along with his cousin Brittany Cromer, maintained this business with violence and fear. Everything from escape to even just the appearance of disobedience would be met with overwhelming cruelty. Cromer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

Inside a Microtel in Greenville, Jones slapped another woman so hard that her ears rang for days, according to a sentencing memo. Telling her that he would put her six feet under, Jones confiscated her possessions and clothes, leaving her naked in a hotel room where she was forced to have sex with men for money.

Another victim told law enforcement of being beaten so badly with a pistol that she suffered permanent hearing damage.

I dont want to walk the same streets Eric Jones walks and I dont want any young girls to cross his path, Lydon said. This sentence and every second of it is necessary to protect the public from this monster.
State Rep. Beryl Amedee proudly acknowledges she home-schooled her three sons, spending 21 years total as their teacher before going on to advocate for other like-minded parents who eschew traditional educational settings.

The Republican from Terrebonne Parish wants to make access to home-schooling easier for other families, but some lawmakers fear her approach will remove all accountability for parents who teach their kids at home.

Currently, parents who want to home-school their children must notify BESE when their child enrolls in a home study program. They can use a home study program the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has approved or opt for a curriculum of their own choice. Either way, home-school students graduate with a diploma thats equivalent to the private school version, and not the state-recognized diploma awarded at public high schools.

Amedees House Bill 650 would end BESEs approval of home-school curricula, leaving only nonapproved, nonpublic programs.

Rep. Beryl Amedee speaks at an Aug. 24, 2022, event for the relocation of members of the Isle de Jean Charles Choctaw tribe to a new residential development in Gray.

When parents interested in home schooling contact her, Amedee said she spends 45 minutes explaining the options and provides an eight-page document to detail. Her bill would simplify and streamline the process, she said.

Jessie Leger, legislative affairs director for Homeschool Louisiana, appeared Wednesday before the House Committee on Education in support of Amedees bill. Her Christian-based organization promotes home schooling and provides support to families who teach their children at home.

Ten other states use the one-time notification process that Amedees bill would put in place, Leger said. Just 11 states require approval of home-school curricula, she said.

Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, cited her 10 years working for BESE when detailing her issues with Amedees proposal. She recalled reviewing substandard applications from parents who wanted to teach their children at home.

I know there were homeschool programs  where the person who wrote the notification couldnt even write a sentence, Freiberg said. I just have a lot of concern about not having a standard for homeschools that are approved.

Students who complete nonapproved home-school programs could still qualify for TOPS assistance under Amedees bill, even if they dont meet the required ACT score. The language in House Bill 650 mirrors another proposal Amedee has authored that would allow home-schooed students to receive TOPS if their grade-point average in TOPS core curriculum classes meets scholarship standards.

Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, asked Amedee about the lack of accountability in a nonapproved home-school program, to which she responded that state public schools currently arent accountable to parents.

Amedee also touted that her bill would also officially shed the dropout label from students who move from public schools to home schooling, a designation she said hurts traditional schools during performance evaluations.

There was some confusion among lawmakers as to whether home-schooled students were eligible for proposed education savings accounts (ESAs), which would give state money to families who opt against putting their children in public schools.

The current versions of the House and Senate ESA bills do not give students in home study programs, both approved and nonapproved, access to the funds, though Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, has proposed amendments to his Senate Bill 313 that would allow ESAs to used for home schooling.

The House ESA proposal heads next to the Senate Committee on Education, and the Senate bill still needs review from its finance committee.

The House Education Committee narrowly approved Amedees bill, 7-6, with chair Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, breaking a tie vote. Republicans cast all seven votes in favor. The no votes included GOP representatives Freiberg and Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, who formerly held a BESE seat that his wife now holds.

 The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: State approval of Louisiana home-school curricula could be erased
BOSTON  Massachusetts lawmakers worked separately and together Thursday as both branches convened in formal sessions, passing money bills that included funding for the now-controversial emergency assistance program and a bond bill supporting municipal infrastructure projects.

Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, announces the passage of three consumer protection measures in a formal session Thursday that also saw passage of the supplemental budget to fund shelters and Chapter 90 municipal bond infrastructure bill

Separately, the Senate passed three bills designed to protect Massachusetts consumers. These will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If both branches pass the measures, they would be placed on the governors desk for her signature.

One measure mandates home insurance companies cover the cost of cleanup from unintentional home heating oil spills, both inside the affected structure and on property that surrounds it.

The measure, originally filed by former Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer and then championed by Sens. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, and Becca Rausch, D-Needham, would mandate insurance companies offer protections for unintentional releases of heating oil.

Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough, announces the passage of three consumer protection measures in a formal session Thursday.

Of the 650,000 dwellings using oil to heat their homes, only 15% of homeowners have coverage, said Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough. Cleanup costs can range in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Senators dubbed the bill as both a consumer and environmental protection measure.

Protections for buyers of used cars

A second bill passed by the Senate closes loopholes in the states Lemon Aid laws pertaining to the purchase of new and used cars. The measure would extend protections currently in force for purchases of new cars to cover purchases of preowned vehicles.

The revisions would give buyers of used cars seven days from the date of delivery to have their vehicle inspected and demand a refund if it fails. Currently, the law sets the time a buyer can demand a refund seven days from the date of sale. Buyers financing a used car have to be notified if they are in arrears and of any pending repossession moves.

The revisions also extents the vehicle warranty to 150,000 miles, a 25,000-mile increase.

Pulling plug on third-party electrical suppliers

A third measure would shut down the third-party residential electrical supply market. The measure would ban third-party electricity suppliers  suppliers that are not National Grid or Eversource  from directly soliciting residents to sign on for electricity with them on an individual basis.

Massachusetts residents are currently connected to the default supplier in their region or can opt to join a municipal aggregation program and purchase their electricity directly from their municipal government.

The bill would not interfere with the municipal aggregation programs  just those suppliers that solicit consumers on an individual basis.

Senior Adviser for Climate and Energy at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office Benny Meshoulam discussed the bill that would bar third-party electricity suppliers from soliciting new, individual consumers on the open market Thursday.

The suppliers were described as predatory, working in economic justice neighborhoods, targeting senior citizens, low-income residents and immigrants who lacked a command of English, by the state Attorney Generals office. The state contends the suppliers target and sign up vulnerable residents, promise them huge savings and surprise them with huge bills.

There will be no new independent customers, said Benny Meshoulam, a senior adviser for climate and energy at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. Suppliers, Meshoulam said, tout their measures to fight climate change yet redirect funds into their pockets that consumers could use to install real climate-change mitigating measures such as solar panels, weatherization of their homes, heat pumps and electric vehicle charges.

In a prepared statement, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said, My office has reported that Massachusetts residents have lost over $577 million in competitive electric supply contracts in the last eight years. And despite its claims, this industry has come up short in delivering meaningful contributions in Massachusetts's fight against climate change.

I am thrilled that the Senate today passed (the bill), which would ban the competitive electric supply industry from signing up new residential customers, Campbell said.

In Massachusetts, more than 400,000 households have opted to sign on with an independent supplier and another million have joined municipal aggregate programs, according to an industry release. Suppliers purchase energy on the open market with no restrictions on its origins and then resell it to individual consumers.

Customers, according to industry documents, can lock in rates for longer contract periods, can opt for clean energy only and even sign on to off-peak pricing programs that lower costs when demand for energy is lowest, at night and on weekends.

Christopher Ercoli, president and CEO of the Retail Energy Advancement League, decried the measure to ban consumers from shopping for independent providers and leaving them stuck paying higher rates to their utilities. Customers that shopped last year saved significantly on their electric bills.

Ercoli suggested that the state look to strengthen regulation, oversight and consumer protections rather than ban them from seeking better rates.

This bill unjustly strips these residents of their ability to find better rates, 100% renewable energy offerings or other electric products that align with their economic and environmental goals," Ercoli said, adding that Rep. Tackey Chan, D-Quincy, has filed a measure in the House designed to reform and regulate the market.

Reforms include a new office for oversight of the market, allowing customers the ability to switch in mid-billing cycle, generating notices for automatic renewals that give residents time to consider their choices, and enhancing transparency and enforcement measures.

Massachusetts consumers have been able to shop for the supply portion of their electric bill. The commonwealth-managed website www.EnergySwitchMA.gov lists available offers so customers can compare and find a supplier that aligns with their economic and environmental goals.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts Senate OKs consumer protection measures
Children at the Downtown Childrens Center in St. Louis. (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)

Its been over six months since two in-home child care providers closed in Highmore. The town of over 600 in central South Dakota has a few other in-home providers, but all are full and have waitlists months out.

If a family wanted to move to the town  about an hours drive east of Pierre  there wouldnt be any child care for them, said Beth Simonson, a board member of Hyde County Child Development.

Parents are driving their children up to 50 miles away to towns including Miller, Onida or Pierre to find child care, Simonson said. Some families have to split their children between child care in Highmore and another town.

First in a series

This is the first of three stories about how communities are utilizing child care grants from the state. The second story examines how cities and schools are cooperating, and the third will look at creative approaches in the states two largest cities.

Hyde County, where Highmore is located, has the fastest declining population in the state, according to census data.

Why would young people want to move here if there isnt quality child care? Simonson said. Its one of the key elements of keeping people and growing our community, which weve been struggling with thriving. We need to attract those young families. We cant exist without child care.

The city of Highmore is one of 13 communities awarded a child care grant from the Governors Office of Economic Development last month. In total, the grants, using federal funds, are infusing over $3.7 million into helping communities find collaborative, innovative solutions to address child care needs across South Dakota.

The initiatives range from improving the child care workforce, to creating after school programs, to supporting existing providers with continued education. In Highmore, the community plans to use the $300,000 awarded by the state to create a community child care center.

I dont know what other solution there was, Simonson said. Its been six months and nobody has really stepped up otherwise.

The Hyde County Child Development boards plan is to lease and renovate a vacant building  most recently a flower shop  as a child care center to serve up to 39 infants and toddlers. Highmore plans to eventually build a new child care center on vacant land owned by Venture Communications. That piece of land will house the centers playground until then.

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The states focus for the grants was fostering community collaboration between local governments, child care providers, businesses and schools, according to the Governors Office of Economic Development. Simonson expected a handful of people to help in the planning and implementation of the grant, but nearly 50 people came out to support the effort.

Based on a survey of over 100 Highmore residents, nearly 30% expect theyll need child care in the next three years. Another 45% currently need child care during the summer months when school is out, since there isnt an afterschool program for school-aged children in Highmore.

They want this for their families and for Highmores future, Simonson said. Thats what this is really about. We need this for the future of our community.

In Redfield, the economic development group Grow Spink (a reference to Spink County) plans a similar community child care center using the $245,000 it was awarded from the state. It will be open to the entire county, and will serve as an umbrella organization for other child care providers in the county. There are 12 in-home providers in Spink County and one community child care center in Doland  all are full with waitlists.

Having a central child care agency or office will help the county organize, award smaller grants for other child care providers to make renovations and improvements, and set up a substitute teacher system. In applying for the state grants, the economic development group realized one of the major challenges for providers is staffing.

My own kids go to a provider in Redfield that has a waitlist out to 2026, said Grow Spink Executive Director Gianna Schieffer. I know of three or four providers who want to retire but dont have the heart to close because their families have nowhere to go. Theyre hoping therell be a solution sooner rather than later.

Schieffer added shes starting to see families move out of Redfield or pass up good paying jobs because of a lack of child care options. With 30% of the county population nearing or within child bearing age, its important for the growth of the county, she added.

Both Redfield and Highmore plan to fundraise more to reach their goals beyond the awarded grants.

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The post We cant exist without child care: Rural towns use state funding to open local centers appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
See the UK destroyer crew that scored the Royal Navy's first missile kill since the Gulf War

A UK warship on Wednesday destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile likely targeting a commercial ship.

It marked the Royal Navy's first such kill since the Gulf War, according to a report.

A 1991 engagement marked the first time ship-launched anti-air missiles successfully destroyed an enemy missile in naval combat.

A UK warship on Wednesday shot down a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen, marking the Royal Navy's first such kill since the Gulf War more than 30 years ago.

The HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, used its advanced Sea Viper missile interceptors to down the deadly Houthi threat while the warship was protecting a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, according to a new report.

US Central Command, or CENTCOM, said on Wednesday that a coalition vessel had "successfully engaged" an anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden earlier in the day, marking the first confirmed Houthi attack in over a week.

The missile was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a US-flagged, owned, and operated merchant vessel with American and Greek crew members aboard, CENTCOM noted in a statement. There was no reported damage or injuries, it added.

A view shows HMS Diamond in the Red Sea on Operation Prosperity Guardian, in this handout image taken on January 6, 2024. Chris Sellars/Handout via REUTERS

The coalition vessel has since been identified as the Diamond by The Times, which reported new details of the engagement on Thursday. Grant Shapps, the UK defense secretary, confirmed the incident and told the outlet that it was the first time a missile was intercepted in combat by a Royal Navy warship since 1991.

During the Gulf War, the Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester used Sea Dart missiles to destroy an Iraqi silkworm anti-ship missile that was targeting an American warship. That engagement marked the first time anti-air missiles successfully destroyed an enemy missile threat during a battle at sea.

It is not immediately clear what type of missile the Houthis used on Wednesday. The rebels are confirmed to have employed a variety of missiles and drones of Iranian origin since they started attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden last year.

The UK Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to Business Insider's queries on the engagement.

The Diamond first deployed to the region in December as part of a US Navy-led task force that has been squaring off against relentless Houthi threats off the coast of Yemen. The warship spent several weeks back home earlier this year to receive maintenance and additional supplies, but it has since returned to the region.

The HMS Diamond, a UK warship, responds to a Houthi attack on Jan. 9, 2023. Royal Navy

During these deployments, the Diamond has used its Sea Viper missiles and 30mm gun to destroy a handful of Houthi drones on multiple occasions. Several other European warships have also destroyed Houthi threats in the air, alongside American vessels.

Meanwhile, shortly after the Diamond's engagement on Wednesday, which ended a period of relative calm in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that lasted a little more than a week, US forces destroyed four drones over Yemen.

CENTCOM said it was determined that the Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile and drones presented "an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region."

"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels," CENTCOM added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Haitis beleaguered police force, which to many peoples surprise has managed to battle back successfully against a months-long insurgency by armed groups, received much needed reinforcements Thursday when the U.S. government sent in a charter flight stocked with equipment.

The flight, operated by a Miami-based charter company, was one of two aircraft that landed at the international airport in Port-au-Prince. The second was a U.S. military flight stocked with thousands of pounds of humanitarian aid. Both planes arrived on a day when the country entered a new era of governance and the United Nations continued to sound the alarm on the escalating humanitarian crisis.

Short on funding and with barely enough hot meals to last for the next six weeks, the U.N.s World Food Program joined the appeal for humanitarian assistance for Haiti.

The organizations deputy executive director, fresh off a visit to the Caribbean nation over the weekend, said with over 1 million Haitians facing famine, the United Nations food aid agency would like to do more but is struggling to meet the demand. The number of Haitians forced to flee their home from armed gangs is on the rise, and nearly 5 million Haitians  almost half of the population  are now struggling to feed themselves.

The situation is dramatic, a devastating crisis, massive humanitarian impact, Carl Skau said Thursday from New York as he addressed journalists at the U.N. daily press briefing.

Its the worst humanitarian crisis the country has faced, he said, since the deadly 2010 earthquake left more than 1.5 million internally displaced in camps, another 1. 5 million injured and over 300,000 dead.

Adding to fears: the main terminal at Varreux, where fuel reserves are stored, has been closed since Monday after armed groups attacked the area and blocked the road leading into the port. The situation could lead to even more severe restrictions in the fuel supply, the U.N said.

The U.N. is seeking $674 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti. The agency has only received about 8% of that as of this week, the head of the U.N. political mission in Port-au-Prince, Maria Isabel Salvador, told the Security Council when it met to discuss the situation in Haiti.

While the center of the alarming crisis is in the capital of Port-au-Prince  where coordinated attacks that started on Feb. 29 have left a trail of destruction as gangs loot and burn police stations, universities, hospitals and businesses  the fallout is being felt throughout. Nearly two months after the violent uprising, the main international airport and seaport remain closed while the price of food is skyrocketing.

The number of displaced people continues to rise, according to the latest U.N. report, which says there are more than 90,200 people living in 85 camps and other shelters. Another estimated 100,000 have left the capital altogether to escape the violence, the agency said, overwhelming many communities.

There is displacement, there is disruption in trade and economy, there is inflation, Skau said. And so the crisis is felt everywhere.

Skau, who visited Cap-Haitien, the city on Haitis north coast, said he saw many women and girls who had left Port-au-Prince with nothing, and still had nothing. His agency, he told the Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste, needs $103 million to fund its activities over the next six months. The cost of the emergency food assistance alone, he said, is $60.8 million.

With only one helicopter at its disposal, Skau said WFPs operations and that of other aid agencies would benefit greatly from the reopening of Port-au-Princes Toussaint Louverture International Airport and the main seaport.

Were hoping, having seen that the international airport opened for one flight, that that can be sustained and expanded, Skau said, referring to a U.S. Air Force C-130 military plane that flew into the airport Tuesday.

A U.S. Southern Command flight landed in Haitis Toussaint Louverture International Airport, inb Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Thursday. US Southern Command/US Southern Command

On Thursday, the two flights carrying cargo arrived in Port-au-Prince with little notice. One flight, operated by Global X on behalf of the State Department, transported a set of materials and equipment to improve the operational capacity of the police, the institution said in a notice confirming the cargo but not providing specifics. The second was a charter flight coordinated by the Pentagon packed with 20 pallets of oral rehydration fluid that will be used to help more than 10,000 people fight a deadly cholera outbreak. According to the Pan American Health Organization, there have been 82,875 suspected cases since the diseases resurgence in Haiti two years ago.

The pallets were transported by the Doral-based U.S. Southern Command on behalf of Hope for Haiti, a nonprofit working in the southern region that is positioning supplies to cope with the increased migration from the capital.

Hope for Haiti CEO Skyler Badenoch said the rehydration fluid, Pedialyte, was donated by MAP International, the non-profit group based in Georgia, and both the donation and delivery will play a vital role in their efforts to ensure the health and well-being of Haitian children and families.

Unlike Tuesdays flight, the one that landed Thursday went virtually unnoticed, landing as Haitians in the capital were both consumed by the constant gunfire that could be heard in all parts of downtown Port-au-Prince, and the other event of the day: the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the swearing in of a new nine-member presidential transitional council that will now take the reins of governance.

The Southern Command said the flight into Haitis main airport, which hasnt seen commercial air traffic since major U.S. carriers announced a suspension of service on March 4, marks an important step toward the resumption of flights into Haiti.

American Airlines, Spirit and JetBlue, which all fly into Port-au-Prince, continue to cite the civil unrest as the reasons they have not resumed commercial daily service.

The Southern Command, which is expected to fly more humanitarian aid into the country, is hoping to show that flights can once resume safely.

The reopening of the international airport and the main seaport, which has also been shut down since May 5, would help the UN food agency step up logistical support in terms of having cargo flights coming in and having vessels move goods along the coast, given that roads remain closed and under gang control, Skau said.

Acknowledging Thursdays installation of Haitis new transitional presidential council, Skau said the food agency views it as progress and hopes that it can pave the way for the multinational security support force that is supposed to be led by Kenya.

But I think its important to state here that political and security support really need to be matched by a robust humanitarian response, he said. These tracks cannot be exclusive. They need to move in parallel, and they wont be success on the political unless we also step up our assistance to the people.
Due to the prevalence of work from home and our increased focus on work-life balance, its more important than ever to prioritize employee well-being in the workplace. After all, happier and healthier employees are more efficient, and a positive workplace sees less turnover.

Doug Conant, President and CEO of the Campbell Soup Company, once said, To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.

Sales numbers and the bottom line are important, but so are your workforces health and wellness.

Why Focus on Wellness?

For a long time, business leaders priorities were productivity or the amount of shareholder value each employee produced. Now, the tide is shifting.

Investing in employee wellness is a strategic goal, says Maggie Brown, Founder and CEO of Recess Pickleball. A commitment to employee wellness improves a company's reputation, making it more attractive to top talent and fostering higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention.

When employees feel physically and mentally healthy, they are more engaged, motivated, and able to contribute their best efforts to achieve their company's goals. Higher employee satisfaction also leads to reduced turnover costs and maintenance of institutional knowledge within the organization. Below, nine business leaders provide insight into the most important topics pertaining to employee wellness.

1. Mental Health Support

Focusing on your employees' mental health is essential for creating a supportive and productive work environment. Mental health issues can significantly impact an individual's well-being. As both their manager and a fellow human being, its important to support your employees mental well-being wherever possible.

Recognizing and addressing mental health concerns proactively is one of the best ways to create a positive workplace culture, explains Jenny Herbison, VP of Marketing at Craft Docs, a company known for their meeting notes template. Proactive measures can mitigate absenteeism and high turnover rates.

Consider implementing initiatives such as mental health awareness training, access to counseling services, flexible work arrangements, and stress management programs. Fostering a culture of open communication and destigmatizing discussions around mental health can also encourage employees to seek help when needed and promote a positive sense of belonging and trust within the organization.

2. Work-Life Balance

Prioritizing work-life balance among your workforce can dramatically improve their overall well-being and long-term productivity. An imbalance between employees work and personal lives may lead to burnout, stress, and decreased job satisfaction, ultimately impacting retention and performance.

Prioritizing work-life balance demonstrates a commitment to employees, says Owen Martinetti, Co-Founder of Snoozy, a company that specializes in Delta 9 gummies. Post-pandemic, people are less willing to work for a company that doesnt also work for them  and for good reason.

Encouraging flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options or adjustable schedules, allows employees to better manage their time and responsibilities outside of work. Additionally, setting clear expectations around workload and deadlines, promoting the use of vacation time, and discouraging after-hours communication can help set boundaries and prevent work from encroaching on personal time.

Linked content is for informational purposes by the contributor. Supplements are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The legal status of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC varies by state and municipality. The reader is responsible for complying with local laws.

3. Physical Wellness

Physical wellness directly correlates to employees overall health, productivity, and job satisfaction. Employees who value physical wellness are less prone to illness, have higher energy levels, and demonstrate greater resilience to workplace stressors.

Effective business leaders want their employees to be healthy and happy, Jonathan Zacharias, Founder of GR0, says. Naturally, doing what you can to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace should become a clear goal.

Employers can offer initiatives to support physical wellness, such as gym memberships, wellness programs, ergonomic workstations, and healthy snack options in the workplace. Encouraging regular breaks, promoting physical activity during the workday, and providing resources for preventive healthcare measures like annual check-ups and flu shots can also contribute to employees' physical well-being.

4. Stress Management

Chronic stress can lead to a range of issues in and out of the workplace, including decreased morale, increased absenteeism, and diminished performance. Employers can support stress management by offering resources and tools to help employees cope effectively.

Chronically stressed-out employees do not perform well, explains Roman Peysakhovich, CEO of Cleango, a company that provides commercial cleaning services. Doing what you can to mitigate stress in the workplace while still prioritizing deadlines is imperative for sustainable success.

Stress management tactics include providing stress reduction workshops, promoting mindfulness practices, and offering access to counseling services. Additionally, fostering a culture that encourages open communication, recognizes signs of burnout, and prioritizes work-life balance can help reduce stress levels. These tactics are critical for building a resilient and capable workforce.

5. Financial Wellness

Financial wellness can be a major stressor and a taboo topic for employees in the workplace. Financial stability is crucial for overall satisfaction and productivity, and contributing to your employees financial well-being in ways that go beyond their paychecks is an important way to provide support.

Lack of financial peace of mind can significantly impact morale in the workplace, warns Justin Rapoport, Co-Founder of TruHeight. Offering the best financial compensation possible to employees, including robust retirement and compensation packages, is essential if you want to attract top talent and promote retention.

Offering competitive compensation packages may not always be possible, in which case you may consider providing resources such as financial planning workshops, access to financial advisors, and educational materials on budgeting and saving. Empower employees to make informed decisions about their finances and promote a culture of transparency around financial matters to foster trust and long-term loyalty among employees.

Linked content is for informational purposes by the contributor. Supplements are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

6. Career Development Opportunities

Providing employees with career development opportunities is essential for cultivating a motivated, engaged, and high-performing workforce. Investing in employees' professional growth enhances their capabilities and demonstrates a commitment to their long-term success, which in turn promotes loyalty and high retention.

Few professionals will want to stay in a workplace that does not provide opportunities for growth, says Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of SwagMagic. People want to reach their full potential, and encouraging ongoing learning and development is a necessity for any company that wants to attract top talent.

By offering access to training programs, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement pathways, employers empower employees to reach their full potential and pursue meaningful career trajectories. Furthermore, nurturing internal talent and promoting from within creates a culture of trust and loyalty, driving more sustainable success.

7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values in the workplace is important for many reasons. Notably, it enriches the perspectives and experiences within the organization, promoting creativity, innovation, and a sense of belonging.

An environment where all employees feel valued and respected allows you to unlock the full potential of your workforce, Asker A Ahmed, Director of iProcess Global Research, explains. Cultivating a diverse and equity-engaged workplace opens you up to a new level of collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.

To promote DEI values, organizations can implement initiatives such as diversity training, inclusive hiring practices, and policies that ensure equitable treatment and opportunities for all employees. Creating platforms for open dialogue, addressing unconscious bias, and establishing accountability measures can also help foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

8. Strong Communication

Positive and effective communication in the workplace is essential for building trust, collaboration, and a cohesive organizational culture. Clear and open communication channels enable employees to share ideas, provide feedback, and address concerns promptly, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

Greg Hannley, Founder and CEO of Soba Texas, advises, As a business leader, its important to model effective communication from the top down, including providing transparent policies and conflict resolution techniques.

Embracing diverse communication styles and preferences, such as face-to-face meetings, virtual communication tools, and written communication platforms, can accommodate the needs of different individuals and teams. Strong communication improves nearly every aspect of a workplace, from teamwork to decision-making to reputation.

Linked content is provided for informational purposes. Always consult a healthcare provider for medical advice. Any views, thoughts or opinions belong solely to the contributor.

9. Employee Recognition

Recognizing and appreciating your employees' accomplishments fosters a culture of motivation, engagement, and loyalty within the workplace. Acknowledging employees' contributions boosts morale and job satisfaction while reinforcing desired behaviors and performance standards.

Strong employee morale is the foundation of organizational success, explains Marcus Hutsen, Business Development Manager at Patriot Coolers, a company known for their useful backpack cooler. Employee recognition programs are an underrated tool for boosting individual and team morale.

Employers can demonstrate appreciation through simple gestures such as personalized thank-you notes, public recognition during team meetings, or celebrating milestones and achievements. Plus, implementing formal recognition programs, peer-to-peer recognition platforms, or incentives such as bonuses or extra time off can further reinforce a culture of appreciation and reward outstanding performance.

Healthy Employees, Healthy Business

By proactively addressing employee wellbeing, you lay the foundation for a workplace culture that prioritizes your employees as people rather than cogs in a machine. Remember, investing in your employees' welfare isn't just the right thing to do  it's also a smart business decision that yields tangible benefits in terms of employee engagement, retention, and overall organizational success.

As Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric, once put it: Before you become a leader, success is all about growing yourself. After you become a leader, success is about growing others.

As a leader, your commitment to employee well-being sets the tone for your entire organization and paves the way for a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.

Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
Angus Mexican Grill & Cantina, a new restaurant in Lynchburg offering classic Mexican dishes with the incorporation of Angus beef, is opening on Monday.

The restaurant is located at 13955 Wards Road, Suite B, just past the Lynchburg Regional Airport headed south on Wards Road, near Food Lion.

The owners, Juan Herrera Mendez and Oscar Herrera Mendez, have two other restaurants in the area: Lolas Mexican Cuisine & Cantina and Taqueria Mexican Grill, a news release states.

The restaurant will incorporate menu items such as Angus beef fajitas and other new dishes, as well as some favorites from the other establishments.

The Lynchburg community can expect the classic Mexican dishes they know and love from our other restaurants, as well as delicious new offerings, Maria Irvan, who works with her brothers Juan and Oscar on the operations of the restaurants, said in the release. We are proud to be a family-owned business and are grateful for the communitys support that has allowed us to open our new restaurant.

According to Irvan, design touches inspired by Tulum, Mexico, will decorate the restaurant, with furniture made by Mexican artists including unique chandelier baskets.

We incorporated touches of Tulum in the decor, creating a colonial, modern style to accompany the dining experience, Irvan said in the release.

The restaurant will accommodate about 150 guests at a time and will include a bar area in addition to sit-down dining.
RUSTBURG  A Rustburg woman was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday for murder and child abuse in connection with the death of her infant daughter in Campbell County.

Halie Dawn Sutton, 23, was found guilty of those two charges during a January bench trial in Campbell Circuit Court. Megan Shipman, assistant commonwealths attorney in Campbell County, said at trial paramedics arrived at the home of Sutton and her boyfriend, Tremayne Davis, in Rustburg on Sept. 30, 2021, after receiving an emergency call of an unresponsive infant.

Heather Markey, a fire and EMS lieutenant in Campbell County, testified at trial she arrived at the residence after the 911 call and saw Sutton and Davis standing in front of the house shortly after 10 a.m. Sutton told her the last time she saw her daughter alive was two hours prior, Markey testified.

The nearly 3-month-old girl was found on the parents bed, lying on her back, stiff, cold to the touch, and Markey further testified she noticed scabs on the right hand and wrist, bruising behind the ear and scabbing in her diaper area.

Robin Foster, director of the child protection team at the Childrens Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, reviewed the facts of the case in 2022 and said at the Jan. 18 trial the death was due to child neglect and abuse.

Rustburg woman found guilty of killing her 2-month-old child A Rustburg woman stands convicted of murder and child abuse and neglect following the death 

Foster testified the child had evidence of non-accidental trauma, with injuries including: bruising behind the left ear, dots of blood inside the eyelids, bruising in the lining on the top of an eye, bruises in an upper arm, bruise in the middle abdominal area, bleeding in the brain tissue, a skull fracture and rib fractures.

Campbell County Sheriffs Investigator L.T. Guthrie testified he interviewed Sutton four times, for close to seven hours in total, and kept getting different versions of what happened that morning.

Guthrie testified when asking her if she believed in her heart that she may have shaken the baby too hard, Sutton acknowledged she could have.

Defense attorney James Angel said at trial Sutton has a ninth-grade education, consistently told prosecutors she doesnt know what happened and it was just inconceivable the defendant caused those injuries.

At an October 2021 bond hearing in Campbell County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Campbell Sheriffs Investigator Tracy Emerson testified he responded to the home on the 600 block of Patterson Avenue. Emerson testified at that hearing the victims twin brother was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-lethal injuries and was found to have two brain bleeds consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

Rustburg mother held on abuse charge after one twin baby found dead, other injured Halie Dawn Sutton, 20, of Rustburg appeared Thursday in court asking a judge to be let out of jail on bond.

When interviewing Sutton, Emerson said she recounted waking up earlier that morning to try and feed the baby girl and shaking her when she got fussy. When he asked if she had shaken the child violently, Sutton replied, Yes, probably so, according to his testimony.

At Thursdays sentencing before Campbell County Circuit Court Judge John T. Cook, Shipman referenced Fosters testimony of the victim suffering multiple skull and rib fractures and retinal hemorrhaging. The child had significant trauma to the head, Shipman said.

Shipman said Sutton tried to place blame on the childs father but there is no proof of it.

This was just a baby, Shipman said. She was not even three months old.

Shipman said the child needed love, care and affection but instead was met with merciless actions of a mother who showed no regard for her safety and well-being.

Her actions were inexcusable ... this child didnt even have a chance to live, Shipman said.

Angel said Sutton was pregnant at the time of the infants death and had her first child at age 15.

Shes had a pretty tough go of it, Angel told Cook of Suttons childhood. She continues to suffer from psychological issues.

Sutton told Cook she maintains her innocence and continues to deal with the pain of losing her daughter.

I didnt do anything to my child but love her and try to be the best mother I can be, Sutton said. It hurts me every day that shes gone.

Cook sentenced Sutton to 40 years on the murder charge and suspended half that time. The judge also gave her 10 years on the child abuse and neglect charge, suspending all but two years.

Sutton is to be on three years of supervised probation upon her release and will get credit for time served to go toward the 22-year active sentence, according to Cooks ruling.
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People carry a wounded person after Israeli airstrikes in the Maghazi Palestinian refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, March 31, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,305, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Thursday.

In a press statement, the ministry said that the Israeli army killed 43 Palestinians and wounded 64 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 34,305 and injuries to 77,293 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

The ministry added that there are still many victims trapped under the rubble, and the devastation of infrastructure has impeded the rescue teams to reach them.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run government media office said on Thursday that a journalist was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Thursday, bringing the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since last October to 141.

Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)'s Arabic-language spokesman, said on social platform X on Thursday that the IDF attacked more than 30 targets across the strip over the past 24 hours, including warehouses, military buildings, and other infrastructure.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Honda has unveiled plans to construct a factory dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) in Ontario, Canada, as part of its broader strategy to fully transition to EVs by 2040.

The new facility will focus on assembling complete EVs and manufacturing batteries, in collaboration with Asahi Kasei through a joint venture. The construction of the EV factory is targeted for completion and operational readiness by 2028.

The investment for this massive project includes contributions from the joint venture partners and substantial subsidies from the Canadian government, amounting to a total expected investment of 1.6 trillion yen.

Hondas decision to expand its manufacturing capabilities in North America via this new facility underscores its commitment to enhancing its competitiveness in the EV market, aligning with its long-term electrification goals.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Starting this Saturday, 'SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024' begins a month-long showcase of Japan's advanced technologies, featuring attractions such as self-driving carts styled as futuristic floats and projection mapping installations, all available to the public for free.

This event will feature three main components:

Global Startup Program: Scheduled for May 15-16 at Tokyo Big Sight, this segment will host one of Asia's largest startup conferences. It aims to promote open innovation with startups from Tokyo and around the world, contributing to a sustainable urban future.

City Leaders Program: This program will gather city leaders from across the globe to discuss urban challenges and explore sustainable solutions. It's a forum for sharing strategies and experiences to address common urban issues.

Showcase Program: Spanning various venues, including the Ariake Arena and The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, this part of the event will allow visitors to experience innovative urban concepts first-hand. It will offer interactive installations and experiences that highlight future technologies and sustainable city planning.

The event is expected to draw over 500,000 visitors and will feature extensive opportunities for business matching, networking, and experiencing cutting-edge innovations. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government emphasizes this event as a significant opportunity to envision and work towards the sustainable urban developments of tomorrow.

Website: SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024

Source: BIZ
In the Friday, Nov. 18, 1887, first edition issue of the Daily News, the contents one will find are quite a bit different from what you'd see in a modern paper. Advertisements were of the times, with such services as blacksmithing and livery stables still relevant during the era.
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Morocco and the UN Food & Agriculture Organization have agreed on a new cooperation program worth $31.5 million destined to enhance the Kingdoms food and water security and climate change mitigation actions.

The four-year program was signed Wednesday by minister of agriculture Mohamed Sadiki and FAO representative in Morocco, Jean Senahoun, on the sidelines of the 16th International Agriculture Exhibition (SIAM) taking place in Meknes, central Morocco.

The signatories pledge to share experiences, strengthen governance and improve water and food resilience to climate change. The new project comes after the positive results yielded by the program: Water Efficiency, Productivity and Sustainability in the NENA Region carried out between 2016 and 2022.

Rising demand for water, particularly for irrigation, has put increasing pressure on Moroccos groundwater. A growing population and increasing agricultural production have contributed to a widespread overexploitation of groundwater resources.

Moroccos economy is also growing at a sustained pace involving critical development activities in sectors like: industry; agriculture; tourism; and energy. The water demand of these sectors will have to be met against the backdrop of shrinking water resources and amidst rapidly growing competition for water use.

For the North African Kingdom, adaptation to climate change is the cornerstone of any program or policy on sustainable development. Some economic sectors or ecosystems are more sensitive than others are to climate change.

Morocco is seeking to mitigate climate change impact by speeding up its low-carbon transition economy, encouraging sustainable development, inclusive growth, and renewable energies.

Nearly 70 countries, including Spain as guest of honor, and 1,500 exhibitors are participating in the 16th SIAM, organized until April 28 under the theme Climate and agriculture: For sustainable and resilient production systems.

More than 950,000 visitors are expected at this major Moroccan and international agricultural event, which features a rich program of 40 conferences and round tables on crucial topical issues.
Morocco and the European Union (EU) co-chaired a working meeting on Thursday in Brussels on combating terrorism through education. The meeting, part of the initiative of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), was held under the theme Education for the prevention and fight against violent extremism leading to terrorism.

During the meetings opening, which reaffirmed the commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism through education, Ismail Chekkori, Director of Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this initiative stems from the strong partnership between the Kingdom and the EU. He highlighted the shared dedication of both parties to global efforts aimed at preventing and combating violent extremism through education.

Chekkori also underscored Moroccos efforts and proactive approach in combating extremism and radical ideologies, which focus on promoting collaboration and strengthening partnerships to enhance educational capacities for preventing violent extremism.

The meeting followed a workshop held on April 23-24, which was attended by a panel of experts from various organizations and research centers, including the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence. Representatives from African Sahel countries and GCTF member countries participated in this event.

Launched on November 23, 2023, in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism Hedayah, the initiative aims to identify emerging challenges, success stories, and best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism through education. The initiative was announced during the 21st meeting of the GCTF Coordination Committee in May 2023 in Cairo.
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said his country is ready to finance the 3MW power cable linking Dakhla in Moroccos Sahara to Casablanca.

The project was conducive to reducing the cost of energy, said Le Maire in his opening remarks at the Moroccan-French business forum.

The statement confirms Paris recognizes fully Moroccos economic sovereignty over the Sahara territory, a move observers see as a prelude to a full recognition of Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over the territory.

Le Maire said his country was also ready to cooperate with Morocco on nuclear energy, green hydrogen, and renewable energies, adding that the two countries share a commitment to decarbonize their economies.

The position to back Moroccos economic projects in the Sahara was first expressed by French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne in February and reiterated this month by French minister in charge of external trade Franck Reister.

Proparco, an offshoot of a French development agency backing the private sector, would contribute to finance a high voltage link between Dakhla and Casablanca, a strategic project for the Kingdom, he said last week during a visit to Casablanca.

Reisters visit to Rabat and Casablanca was followed by a meeting in Paris between Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita and his French counterpart Sejourne.

When asked by a French TV when Paris will take a bolder stance in support of Morocco on the Sahara issue, Sejourne said that such a stance is for heads of state to discuss, hinting that Moroccan-French ties are headed towards that direction.

Moroccos king had made it clear that the Sahara issue is the lens through which the Kingdom measures the sincerity of its foreign relations.

Spain, the US, most of Africa and the Arab World as well as Israel understood this and ended ambiguities by recognizing Moroccos rights to its southern provinces and backing the autonomy option.

France, the former colonial power, is well-aware of the extent of the imperial Morocco whose borders were amputated during the colonial rule. Its recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara would put the final nail in the Polisarios coffin and deal the most severe blow to Algeria.

After a failed bet on Tebbounes Algeria, France is losing ground in the Sahel and looks at Morocco as a credible partner who has a say in the region.

Morocco is recognized by France as a regional power, as Sejourne said and France has much to gain by mending ties with Morocco instead of betting on a military-run Algeria that is deepening its isolation in the region.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)





Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Beijing Friday that China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, and hopes the United States can also look at China's development in a positive light.



"This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilize, improve and move forward," Xi said when meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through winds and rains, and it has a number of important inspirations to offer.

Xi said China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions, rather than say one thing but do the opposite.

"I proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to be the three overarching principles. They are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future," Xi said.

At present, transformation not seen in a century is unfolding in a profound way, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent. It is the shared desire of both the two peoples and the international community to see China and the United States strengthen dialogue, manage differences and advance cooperation, Xi said.

"I've said many times that the planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the United States," Xi said.

Xi recalled his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in San Francisco last year, when they launched the San Francisco vision that is future-oriented. In the last couple of months, the two teams have acted on the common understandings of the two heads of state, maintained communication in various areas, and made some good progress.

"But there are still issues to be addressed which require further efforts. Your visit this time was agreed upon between President Biden and I in our phone call several weeks ago. I hope you will find it productive," Xi said.
Donald Trump on Thursday in Manhattan criminal court, where David Pecker continued his testimony. Photo: Mark Peterson/Pool

Even now, President Donald Trump is still a phrase that requires conceptual gymnastics  a leap from the tabloid depths to the heights of power. Consider a pair of scenes, in a pair of courtrooms, Thursday morning. Promptly at 10 a.m., in Washington, to the ritual incantation of Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!, nine black-robed justices of the Supreme Court filed in to hear arguments in a case that could determine whether a president can be prosecuted for committing crimes while in office. Meanwhile, Trump was mired in Manhattan criminal court, listening as David Pecker, the former chief executive of the National Enquirer, testified about hushing up Trumps alleged affair with a Playboy model, and once discussing the arrangement in the presence of the FBI director.

High, low. Low, high. They say justice is blind, but with Trump, its dizzy.

Lets start at the top. In the marbled Supreme Court chamber, the mood was grave as the justices considered whether presidential immunity exists to protect Trump from prosecution for crimes related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. There are some things that are so fundamentally evil that they have to be protected against, said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who posed a hypothetical about a president who ordered assassinations of political rivals. Her colleague Elena Kagan broached the scenario of mounting a military coup. Brett Kavanaugh warned of steamrolling prosecutors. Ketanji Brown Jackson theorized that White House might one day become a seat of criminal activity. Samuel Alito raised the possibility that the United States might be devolving into a cycle in which each president prosecutes his predecessor, as sometimes happens in the developing world. Neil Gorsuch, never one to shrink from grandiosity, said the court needed to write a rule for the ages.

The second hand on the large antique clock hanging over the bench kept sweeping forward. Each tick brought Trump that much closer to his goal: getting to November. His immunity appeal makes a number of arguments, some mildly plausible and some risible, but for now they hardly matter. The appeal has already created the best thing Trump could have hoped for: a long delay. If the justices take a reasonable amount of time to make a decision, a trial in Washington  where even Trumps lawyers admit he faces a high likelihood of conviction  is certain to be pushed past the election. And so just being in the Supreme Court in April represented an enormous victory for Trump, who wasnt, in the literal sense, actually there. He had been hoping to attend oral arguments in person, but Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing his other case, had told him his presence was required in Manhattan, telling him that having a trial was also a big deal.

So Trump was forced to sit through another undignified day of testimony by Pecker, the silver-haired sleaze merchant who said he considered Trump a friend and my mentor. As he spoke, Trump would lean back in his chair, sometimes with his eyes closed, listening to a laborious account of the work it took to keep damaging stories about Trump out of the public domain before the 2016 election. I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I also wanted to protect Donald Trump, Pecker said. Prosecutors from the district attorneys office sought to show that the two men had engaged in a conspiracy that continued after the 2016 election. Pecker testified that Jared Kushner had pulled him up to see President-elect Trump at Trump Tower during the transition, where he joined a meeting that included then FBI director James Comey, and Trump asked him about his alleged former mistress, Karen McDougal.

Because Trump allegedly made the payoffs to McDougal and Stormy Daniels before he was elected, his immunity claim before the Supreme Court would not have helped him in the New York case, but if the Court does find he has some protection, it would likely end or severely hinder the other three cases against him. (Under questioning from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the attorney representing the Justice Department, Michael Dreeben, conceded that an immunity doctrine that applied to the January 6 case would likely also cover the substantially similar state case in Georgia.) John Sauer, a raspy-voiced appellate attorney for Trump, told the justices that the Framers intended to protect presidents from this sort of criminal liability. As proof, Sauer cited the fact that for 234 years of American history, no president was ever prosecuted for his official acts. He suggested that without such immunity there could be no presidency as we know it, and raised that the possibility of future prosecution would make presidents vulnerable to blackmail and extortion by opponents.

I understood it to be the status quo, said Justice Jackson, who pointed out that it had long been presumed that presidents could be prosecuted after leaving office. Sauer responded by quoting something that Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional Convention.

So what was up with the pardon of President Nixon? Jackson retorted.

It is conservatives who usually accuse liberals of reading previously invisible meaning into the Constitution, and the Democratic appointees on the Court seemed to relish the opportunity to play up the irony. The Framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution, said Justice Kagan. They knew how to. There were immunity clauses in some state constitutions. But, she said, They were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law. Kagan focused on the most un-originalist element of Trumps appeal: its interpretation of the impeachment clause of the Constitution. By any normal reading, its an accountability mechanism, but Trump seeks to turn it into a nearly impenetrable liability shield. Under Trumps theory, a president could not be prosecuted for anything he did officially  no matter how illegal or immoral  unless he was first impeached and convicted by Congress.

Kagan brought up a series of doomsday scenarios. Would it be an official act for a president to sell nuclear secrets? What if a president ordered a coup? DId he have to be impeached in order to be held responsible? Each time, Sauer was forced to dissemble, saying the answers to each hypothetical were fact-specific and context-specific.

That answer sounds to me, Kagan said, sardonically, as though its like, Yeah, under my test, its an official act, but that sure sounds bad, doesnt it?

After about 90 minutes, Dreeben, a veteran Justice Department attorney on the staff of Special Counsel Jack Smith, rose to speak, saying Trumps novel theory would allow presidents to get away with bribery, treason, sedition, murder, and, here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power. There seems to be little chance that any of the justices will go along with that. Trumps own appointees seemed to be at pains to distance themselves from any defense of his actions. Barrett seemed particularly skeptical in her questioning. Both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said they were less concerned with the here and now of this case, as Kavanaugh put it, than with creating a durable standard for the future.

Kavanaugh grew impassioned as he criticized what he called one of the courts biggest mistakes, a 1980s Supreme Court decision that upheld the law creating the independent counsel, a prosecutorial office meant to investigate high officeholders. He seemed to be speaking from experience: He once played a key role in Independent Counsel Kenneth Starrs investigation of Bill Clinton  which led to Clintons impeachment over the Monica Lewinsky affair  and he may have been alluding to Starr when he questioned Dreeben about the risk that the president could be victimized by a creative prosecutor who wants to go after a president. (Then again, maybe Kavanaugh was subtly needling Dreeben himself, who previously worked on a variety of public-corruption investigations, including Robert Muellers investigation of Trump.) At any rate, the justice sounded determined to make sure that any decision on Trumps immunity would be tailored narrowly, to prevent presidents from being prosecuted frequently.

By the end of the hearing, it sounded as if the Court was trending in the direction of a ruling that would potentially offer Trump immunity for some of his actions and not others. Barrett, in her questioning of Sauer, went through a long list of offenses alleged in the indictment, and compelled him to answer that some of them  like sending private attorneys off to put together fraudulent slates of electors  were in no way official actions. When Sauer proposed the Court strip the indictment of official acts, Chief Justice John Roberts said that would be like a one-legged stool. With Dreeben, Barrett explored the idea that the January 6 case might still be able to proceed, with only those indisputably private actions being presented to the jury as crimes. It seemed as if she were trying to offer a way out.

Unfortunately for Dreeben and his boss, Smith, it was hard to count five votes for a resolution that would allow them to take their case to trial before November. Roberts sounded particularly dubious of an appellate-court ruling that resoundingly resolved the immunity issue in Smiths favor, calling its reasoning tautological. Of the justices, Roberts, a proceduralist to his core, sounded the most inclined to punt the issue back to the district court, asking for it to come up with a test that would draw a distinction between the presidents official and private actions. If that happens, the Washington trial will be delayed many months. If Trump wins the election in the meantime, that will put the question to rest  unless Trump starts prosecuting his predecessors.

Justice Jackson suggested that her colleagues concerns about unintended consequences were misplaced. If anything, she said, a ruling that affirmed absolute presidential immunity would have the opposite of a chilling effect on the presidency. If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, she asked Sauer, wouldnt there be a significant risk that future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes with abandon while theyre in office? At roughly the same time, in New York, prosecutors displayed a photo of David Pecker with Trump at the White House, showing him as he discussed how he and the president had discussed the McDougal payoff during a walk in the portico. Justice Jacksons concern wasnt just a hypothetical. The White House, according to the Manhattan prosecutors, had already been a seat of criminal activity.

Today was breathtaking, Trump said Thursday afternoon after he emerged from the courtroom, where his defense attorney, Emil Bove, had begun his cross examination of Pecker. I was forced to be here, and Im glad I was, because it was a very interesting day in a certain way. But the U.S. Supreme Court had a monumental hearing on immunity. He claimed that, if deprived of immunity as he conceived it, the presidency would become merely a ceremonial office.

We want presidents that can get things done and bring people together, Trump said. The justices were on their game. So lets see how that all pans out. But again, I say presidential immunity: very powerful. Presidential immunity is imperative, or you practically wont have a country anymore. With that, the ex-president left the courthouse. The screen split again and he returned to his campaign.

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Donald Trump has spit in the face of a judicially imposed gag order, and now he faces astonishingly serious consequences: He might have to cut a check for (brace yourself)  $15,000, max. Hes sure, now, to face financial ruin  unless he can sell a couple hundred commemorative Trump Bibles to cover the expense. Trump fd around, as the kids say, and now hes about to find out. But what hes learning is that the consequences for his misconduct are laughable, and he might as well do it again.

The gag order about which Trump constantly rails is actually quite narrow. The order, handed down by Judge Juan Merchan in the ongoing hush-money case in Manhattan, originally established three classes of trial participants who were off-limits to Trumps public rantings: (1) jurors, (2) known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses, and (3) staffers (the courts and the DAs) and their families. Everyone and everything else remained fully in play.

True to form, Trump immediately zeroed in on the most vulnerable target who was not technically covered by the gag order. He launched a series of attacks on Judge Merchans daughter, who works for a Democratic political-consulting group. You can almost track Trumps internal monologue: Lets see, I cant criticize the judges staff or their family members  but it doesnt say I cant criticize the judges own children! Judge Merchan promptly amended the gag order to include his own family members and the DAs.

The irony, of course, is that Trumps own hallway screeds are exhibit A as to why that very same gag order about which he complains is, if anything, quite permissive. He goes off regularly about how oppressive the order is  Im not allowed to speak, he declared, while speaking  and hes fully within his rights to do so. Indeed, the gag order permits Trump to criticize  vociferously, angrily, profanely if he wishes  the indictment, the judge, and the district attorney. The gag order even allows Trump to criticize the gag order itself.

Trump immediately adopted a deviously clever work-around, or near work-around. He began reposting media clips of other people making statements that wouldve squarely violated the gag order had they come out of Trumps mouth, including coverage that branded Michael Cohen a serial perjurer and a Fox News claim that undercover liberal activists were trying to lie their way onto the jury. This is the equivalent of the classic big-brother move where you grab your little brothers arm, make him smack himself in the face, and then protest, Its not me, hes hitting himself!

Judge Merchan and the DA have, at bottom, a discipline issue here, and a Goldilocks dilemma in enforcing it: Some remedies are too cold, but the other is too hot.

The first level of discipline is a verbal reprimand. For any ordinary, rational trial participant, the prospect of ticking off the judge  the guy who runs the trial, and decides what evidence the jury can hear, and imposes sentencing  would be sufficient deterrence. But Donald Trump couldnt give a whit about some words from some guy in a robe.

Then you have financial penalties. Its already tough enough to make a billionaire care about some court fine, but the situation in New York is particularly silly. According to the district attorneys filing, the maximum fine allowable under an antiquated New York law is the jaw-dropping sum of a thousand bucks. Its like Austin Powers threatening to hold the world hostage unless hes paid  one million dollars.

And then theres the big one: imprisonment. Judge Merchan does have the power to send Trump to the brig for up to 30 days for contempt of court. And while a cottage industry has emerged around former prosecutors provocatively predicting that Trump will find himself behind bars for violating the gag order, thats more fantastical wishcasting than sober assessment of reality. Trump, for his part, either doesnt fear pretrial imprisonment or perhaps even welcomes it; he boasted that it would be my great honor to get locked up for speaking out about the trial. Indeed, if Judge Merchan were to imprison Trump for talking about the case, he would turbocharge the MAGA base. And hed provide fuel for Trumps claims of grievance that would resonate even with some moderates.

Think of the judges dilemma here from the perspective of a parent trying to keep unruly toddlers in line during a road trip to Disneyland. Youve got a few small punishments in the arsenal, but the kids dont really care about those: Yell, put em in timeout, no candy at the rest stop; okay, fine, they can live with that. And then youve got one massive punishment that the kids do care about  I swear, Ill turn this car around!  but they also know you arent really going to do that. Youre stuck. (Note: This scenario must occur in the 1980s because now parents can just threaten to take away the iPads and the kids snap into compliance.)

Judge Merchan is making the situation even more intractable by his inexplicable delay in coming down with a ruling. Even as Merchan takes his precious time, Trump continues to recidivate on a rolling, real-time basis; on Thursday, prosecutors alleged four new gag-order violations, all committed while the judge spins his wheels about how to handle Trumps initial flurry of infractions.

The first rule of discipline is that it only works if its swift and certain. Yet Judge Merchan, who is otherwise deeply committed to keeping control of his courtroom, has responded thus far with an astonishing lack of urgency. No doubt, the judge will slap Trump when he finally does get around to ruling (presumably Friday, but who knows). But hes already let Trump get away with far too much.

This article originally appeared in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at CAFE.com
Recommended by Experts A series where we find out which products the professionals (who really know what theyre talking about) actually use and really stand behind. Read more here. Photo: Retailer

If youve ever had a made-from-scratch tortilla fresh off a comal, you understand: No premade grocery-store tortilla can possibly compare. Whether its a fragrant, slightly sweet corn tortilla or a still warm, slightly nutty flour tortilla, the difference between the homemade kind and the discs sitting in plastic on the shelf is so vast they may as well be totally separate food groups.

The most essential tool to making fresh tortillas at home is a good tortilla press. Sure, you can use a rolling pin or a wine bottle to flatten them out individually, but as I found out firsthand when I took up tortilla-making as a pandemic hobby, hand-rolling each of them gets old fast, particularly since I rarely made tortillas in batches of fewer than a dozen. Not only is a tortilla press much quicker at flattening the masa for tortillas into a pliable circular shape ready for griddling, it helps ensure that the thickness of your tortillas is consistent, which means that theyll cook more evenly. Plus, you can use it to make other flatbreads at home, like roti, parathas, naan, or pita. Ive even used mine to flatten pie dough.

A press is a pretty simple gadget. Its essentially two flat plates attached with a hinge that allow you to put something in between them. You use a handle to press down on the contents inside, applying even pressure to flatten them. (Typically, you line the press with a plastic bag or parchment paper to prevent the tortilla dough from sticking, another lesson I learned the hard way.) When I started looking into tortilla presses, I learned that there are two major genres. The first is a circular press, usually made out of aluminum or cast iron. The second are square presses, usually also made of metal, though sometimes wood.

One square press stood out in my research: a jewel-colored, sleek, metal number that popped up repeatedly among the Mexican chefs I follow on social media. I noticed it in the Instagram Stories of Bricia Lopez, co-owner of Guelaguetza in Los Angeles and author of Asada, and in the kitchen behind Mi Cocina writer Rick Martinez in his videos of his kitchen in Mazatlan. When I reached out to Martinez to ask, he confirmed: It was the Dona Rosa Tortilla Press, an artisan-made press from Oaxaca distributed in the U.S. by the masa harina brand Masienda.

I love this press so much, Martinez told me. I have two of them. It is so beautiful that it makes me want to make tortillas from scratch just so I can pull it out and use it.

The press is made out of powder-coated rolled steel, which means that not only is it an appealing pop of color for your kitchen  it comes in a cobalt blue, a seafoam green, a bright, poppy yellow, white, and black  it also is a serious piece of equipment. The weight of the press, Martinez explained, is key. It means that it doesnt wiggle back and forth while you use it. I love the heft of it. It is virtually indestructible, and lasts forever, which is why a lot of restaurants and taco stands in Mexico use them, Martinez said. (Plus, when Mi Cocina came out, the brand released an edition in pink to match the cover of the book.)

Its not just Martinez, though. As I reached out to chefs for their thoughts on the best tortilla press, time and time again, I got the same answer: the Dona Rosa. Ana Castro, the New Orleansbased chef-owner of Acamaya, is also a huge fan. They are the real deal; they are made in Mexico by Dona Rosa, shes a master of her craft and has been producing them for longer than I have been alive, Castro said. Plus, she appreciates that with the Dona Rosa, unlike the traditional circular cast-iron models, you can adjust the thickness of the tortilla that youre serving. This tortilla press is the last one youll ever buy, Castro said.

Its also the press that Chef Fermin Nunez uses in his masa-centric restaurants in Austin. Masiendas Dona Rosa Tortilla Press is what we use at both of our restaurants, Suerte and Este, to make fresh corn tortillas daily, Nunez explained. A good tortilla press should be high quality and have some weight to it. Masiendas has both, which is exactly why we use theirs in the restaurants.

When I got my hands on a Dona Rosa press to try it out, I had to agree. (I chose the seafoam-green one.) Though I am far from a master at making tortillas, the Dona Rosa tortilla press was a joy to use. Its sturdy enough that I never worry about it slipping on the counter, and it quickly and evenly flattens masa into discs. The adjustable-thickness option makes it particularly versatile for use with other flatbreads, too. And its a pleasing object to have in my kitchen  always at the ready, reminding me that fresh tortillas arent that far away.

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Karla Teale. Who tried to change her name to Emily Chiara Tremblay and the Quebec courts struck it down. Teale was from a movie about a seriel killer.The contempt I hold for these people.Canadian Childrens Rights Council logoVirtual Library of Newspaper Articlescbc.caHomolka loses bid to change nameCanadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), June 9, 2006Convicted killer Karla Homolka has lost her latest legal battle to change her name to Emily Chiara Tremblay, a surname that is one of the most common in Quebec, where she is believed to be living.According to TV network TVA, a judge turned down Homolka's request after the Crown argued that her lawyer took too long to appeal a rejection of her earlier bid for a name change.Homolka originally asked for the name change, arguing it was about safeguarding her personal security. But a ruling by Quebec civil-status officials said the public was not significantly familiar with the name she now uses, Karla Leanne Teale.Karla Holmoka - Karla Leanne TealeKarla Homolka speaks during an interview with Radio-Canada in Montreal, July 2005.She and her former husband and partner in crime, Paul Bernardo, chose the surname Teale from a movie about a serial killer.Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the murders of Ontario teenagers Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French in the 1990s. Homolka got a lesser sentence for testifying against him.Same freedoms as other CanadiansShe chose to live in Quebec when she was released from a Montreal-area prison last July, after serving her entire 12-year manslaughter term.Although her movements were initially restricted - no contact with those under the age of 16, no contact with criminals and regular reporting to police - she successfully appealed those conditions. Homolka now has the same freedoms as any other Canadian.She is still believed to be living in Quebec but there have been no reports of public sightings for several months. The last publicly reported sighting of her was during the summer of 2005 when she was working at a hardware store in Longueuil.According to Canadian Press, Homolka did not put her own name on the request to change her name, using instead her lawyer's so Homolka's did not show up on the public record.Annie Huot, a spokeswoman for the Quebec solicitor general, said it was the first time she had seen such a tactic, CP reported."There is an article in the code of civil procedure which stipulates that one cannot plead under the name of others and that a person who undertakes a legal procedure must do it under their own name and give their identity and address," she said.Homolka will be able to try again to legally change her name.
americans sure love dunking on china, but then want to do the same thing china does and ban websites/apps. this bill sets a bad precedence going forward. what can you expect from fascists like biden, etc.

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Ehhh...

The US trying to protect people's data from foreign governments is actually a good thing. I wish my country would take it seriously. Especially on this new AI hellscape we're living in. I know the US isn't shit for letting Facebook, Twitter and all the other sm platforms run wild with the algorithms that are making us all dumber, addicted and polarized. And data privacy should be taken serious wether the app is in the US or outside, though unfortunately I don't see much political will to regulate the tech giants.



Banning Tik Tok won't solve the deep problems sm has brought us but I think the US government is right to be worried about it. And banning a sm platform is not the same as banning free speech.

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The first mistake you make is believing this ban has anything to do with our data and protecting it.

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The US government doesn't give a fuck about Americans' privacy. If they did they'd pass federal data privacy legislation.

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If our government cared about our data, Meta wouldn't exist.

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Why would you believe even for a second that its about data protection when literally 99& of American websites siphon and distribute Americans private data?

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This comment is so funny being posted to LiveJournal. A social media platform that is feeding your data directly to the Russian government. Allegedly.



Irony is fun.

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Biden sucks in a lot of ways but this comment and the likes prove yall truly have no idea what fascism actually is. jfc

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Ya'll better learn how to start backdoor installing apps. Also I wonder if Biden is still using TikTok to try and convince young people to vote for him 

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lmfao he is and the comment section is nothing but insults

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If I told my father he'd probably join in, he loves TikTok lmao

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Edited at 2024-04-26 08:53 pm (UTC) his campaign/comms team has been having big tiktokers come to the white house on a regular basis ( https://theintercept.com/2024/04/23/tiktok-ban-influencers-biden-campaign/) lmfao it's so stupid

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His account literally posted a video 13h hours ago... the audacity... but I think they are deleting negative comments now, I wonder why...

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My 6yo has a really hard time coming out of meltdowns but one thing that never fails to help is her TikTok playlist. Its just a collection of funny animal videos and as soon as she hears the music from one she is able to focus on something else other than what caused the meltdown. Shes usually laughing within 5 minutes.



Anyways! Finally remembered to save every single video and upload it to Google Drive. Sucks its come to this :(

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Could you just watch youtube shorts?

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Not hiimtish but YouTube is awful with kids. The videos devolve into this weird ASMR computer generated stuff. Not scary stuff like you see horror stories about but it's just odd and has no value.

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yotube shorts is awful.

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Seconding everything already said but also, these are videos she already loves. Its a regulation thing to watch them over and over

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can you download the tiktoks and upload them to your own google drive so she can still access them?

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As much as I can't stand TikTok and think it rewards people for being obnoxious (I'm talking about the it's a prank bro~ kind), this isn't something I agree with. It won't stop with TikTok, it would just be the beginning.

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I agree. Where does it stop?

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i dont understand any of it. so is this a done deal for the us? i dont want to have to rely on yt shorts and insta stories

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the TikTok ceo posted a video the other day saying theyre going to fight this tooth and nail and theyre not just accepting it. pretty sure its going to turn into a court battle.

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Yeah, I think this will go all the way to the Supreme Court.

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I really want to know what the intel community has on TikTok that suddenly got a lot of congress to vote to ban it, because IDK, as much as I hate TikTok, they better have a good reason other than "CCP sucks!" I know some researchers found publicly available metadata that showed Beijing staff were working on influencing congress when they publicly denied their China-based staff do anything for TikTok, but it's weird. If they ban TiKTok, are they going to ban Temu for basically having the same paper trail back to Beijing, for example?

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JUST IN:  US Senator reveals why the government wants TikTok banned.



Pro-Palestinian and Hamas videos on TikTok "have more reach than the top 10 US news websites combined." pic.twitter.com/Xf5kLsnppn  BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 24, 2024

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Just judging by that source, though, that is a pro-China take (BRICS  Brazil Russia India China South Africa). That channel has also posted disinfo about Russia, for example. That being said, I'm sure that has something to do with it, though.

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Claiming that the US "overwhelmingly" supports Israel even though polls show differently. And of course equating pro Palestine with pro Hamas.

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There was literally a news story that a Zionist lobby instigated or backed this ban.

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at least most big tiktoks are reshared to insta/tumblr/etc??????? that's the only way I see them since I don't dare install tiktok (it would just exacerbate my terrible ADHD and i'm anti-algorithm)

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a lot of influencer careers are about to die when they cant steal from Black American tiktokers no more

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I feel like TikTok is terrible for peoples mental health but thats not the point of this ban, its just that the government would rather harvest and control themselves the data of its people. I also feel that the US are pretty pissed about the prominence of the support for the Palestinian cause on TT.

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One of the major problems I have with the app is all of the people spreading misinformation on mental health disorders. And everyone has DID, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, Autism, ODD, tourettes (or did that go out of style?), POTS, BPD, Bi-Polar, and a bunch of other things, usually all at once and none of it is professionally diagnosed. And all of their DID personalities all want to do tik-tok videos, and are based off cartoon characters.





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With how fucked up medical institutions are and how even getting treatment or diagnoses is hard, I don't 100% blame them for thinking "this may be me", but I know more people go farther than that.

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Agreed. People just get on there and say anything, promote anything for commission, it's really bad in that regard.

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Unfortunately, this happens on all platforms. Outside of mental health, there are those posting complete lies about medication and nutrition. It sucks that people believe it.

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i have POTS and i'm trying to figure out why tiktok kids are faking it. is it cool to eat a bunch of salt?

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you got it

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Nah, Twitter is worse for mental health. Hell, Facebook and Instagram (have you read the comments there? They're disgusting) are way worse than TikTok. Way, way worse.



At least TikTok has a strong filter.

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It's a shame a lot of young businesses will suffer who drove traffic through Tiktok. I think it's a hell app but people's livelihoods depend on it. I don't understand why US thinks it can tell them to sell it to a US business. It's insane.

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i mean yeah, i wouldnt expect bytedance to just immediately sell. if they did sell, id prob bet it would be in like 7yrs or something and have to be court ordered from whatever lawsuit theyll file against the new law. unless itll be one of the times a lawsuit with the govt ends super super quickly... which i cant see that happening lol

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I don't use TikTok but its so curious that they are trying to ban it because it MIGHT be used as a spy tool when all the US tech companies are spying and selling our data now. Shit, NYT just this week publsihed an article about how General Motors was secretly tracking driving data and selling it to 3rd parties who then flipped it to insurance companies and people's insurance rates were increased. Why are things like this of no concern?

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Because if it can pad the bank accounts of american companies, why, that's just good ole business sense.

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Why are things like this of no concern?



because lobbying and members of congress owning stock shares/trading should be illegal, but isn't

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Yes, it is.

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Yeah it is actually. Cause they won't stop with tiktok.

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I mean maybe Im confused? But isnt the reason theyre doing it is because of foreign tracking reasonings? I was under the impression it was due to the company being shady with data(not that every other company isnt obv).

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You should always care about what your government is doing :/

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I hate this country with a fucking passion.

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Yeahhhh, this has nothing to do with protecting the privacy of Americans and everything to do with AIPAC and the fact that tiktok in particular is helping young people to mobilize and get radicalized.



It's also interesting that they haven't considered the economic fallout of this in regards to US tiktok influencers. Not saying it would be huge but I'm sure it will have a ripple effect. I'm also curious to see how this would work if tiktok remains in every country except the US. Biden really is doing everything he can to lose this election, isn't he?

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Edited at 2024-04-26 08:27 pm (UTC) A corner of the internet without Americans (I'm joking!)

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yeah, TikTok contributed almost 25 billion to the US economy in 2023, 14 billion of that through the seven million businesses on TikTok shop

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Seriously? Wow, I didn't think the numbers would be that big.

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It's already banned in India.

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Nah it'll get banned in quite a few countries esp ones that want to control the flow of information.

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Biden really is doing everything he can to lose this election, isn't he? mte I said it before, but the democrats are trying to lose. If they're not trying to lose then they are too stupid to be running the country. The moves they're making don't make sense.

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One day I hope Maiwenn gets the therapy she needs and stops covering for insecure, petty, abusive men.

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So the PR line they've given her to spin is that she says "afraid of" when she means "impressed by" and that big bad journalist is terrible for taking her at her verbatim words.



I know she's not a native English speaker, but did that not strike them as maybe straining credulity just a wee bit?

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she literally said: "all the crew were scared because he has a different kind of humor and we didnt know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be ok to say his lines"



~different kind of humor implies rude/weirdo, and not being on time and not okay to say his lines implies loser

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"all the crew were starstruck because he has a different kind of humor and we didnt know if he was going to be on time, or if he was going to be ok to say his lines"

yeah does not work. D*pps lawyers so clearly have a gun to her head

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Uh, was her uncertainty that he would show up on time or be able to say his lines also impressive?

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that's his charisma!!1

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I never thought leopards would eat MY face

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I too am impressed by how often my coworkers are not on time or able to do their job. Must be because they're so impressive

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Phew I have been SO IMPRESSED with my coworkers lately for being late and calling out of work so often. It impresses me how it makes work harder on the rest of us.

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She keeps defending abusers and she is quite problematic when she herself got abused...she was 14 when dated besson.

Maiwenn spat on the owner of a journal (called mediapart) who wrote an article about her ex, luc besson sexual harassment / rape - i think she got trialed for that and she showed 0 remorse.

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Shes just a trash person.

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there's no such thing as a 14 year old dating an adult. I would just be careful how you phrase things like that in the future (as someone who works at a crisis center pls and thank you, no offense meant but dating implies consent)

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Thanks for sharing that Id never thought about describing it that way. Something Ill watch out for in the future.

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english is not my 1st language, so thank you, ill keep it in mind for the future!



Edited at 2024-04-27 08:30 am (UTC)

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Reminds me of Roman Polanskis victim :(



Edited at 2024-04-27 01:25 am (UTC)

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You can tell us if Johnny is in the room making you say these things

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And whats the subtlety in admitting he didnt always turn up on time or know his lines?

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It was subtly impressive!

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Id be scared of him falling on me and squashing me while hes stumbling about drunkenly.

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He's a wife beating rapist known for abusing people with litigation. She just didn't want to be his next target. Can't wait for Johnny Depp to be off this planet.

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So he sent her a check.

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His smile alone would scare me. Those teeth

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Maiwenn also said Depp would berate her for knocking on his dressing room door, Bernard Montiel said that Maiwenn and Depp would scream at each other and Depp would miss a day of shooting so Maiwen would get angry and then miss a day of shooting.



Like she keeps letting it slip that Depp was an awful person to work with even when she had some power but she's also so invested in carrying water for abusive men that she immediately normalizes it and goes oh no that just is ART

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"Maiwenn also said Depp would berate her for knocking on his dressing room door, Bernard Montiel said that Maiwenn and Depp would scream at each other and Depp would miss a day of shooting so Maiwen would get angry and then miss a day of shooting."





It sounds like a miracle this film was even completed

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National COSH Reveals 2024 Dirty Dozen List of Unsafe Employers

This list includes employers cited for risking the safety of workers and communities through practices resulting in preventable illnesses, injuries and fatalities.

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) announced the "Dirty Dozen" employers of 2024 during a briefing on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

This list includes employers cited for risking the safety of workers and communities through practices resulting in preventable illnesses, injuries and fatalities. The report is traditionally released in observance of Workers Memorial Week, which runs from April 21 through April 28 in 2024 and remembers workers who lost their lives on the job.

In addition to National COSH Co-Executive Director Jessica E. Martinez, speakers include JC Muhammad from The Peoples Lobby and Chicago Gig Alliance, Ana Mejia from We Count and Cindy Smith, member of the Union of Southern Service Workers. All three share first-hand accounts of working for companies in the 2024 Dirty Dozen.

The National COSH team selects which organizations make the list, with nominations coming from its nationwide network of COSH groups, workers, safety activists, union members, OSH professionals and academic experts. Criteria include severity of risk, safety violations, company standing, and the existence of a campaign for change.

This is an exciting and challenging time for U.S. workers, Martinez said. Its exciting to see a renewed interest in joining unions, participating in workers centers and connecting with advocacy campaigns. The challenge facing workers who are fighting for something better is that conditions in U.S. workplaces are getting worse.

Martinez said the data shows an increased fatalities, injuries and illnesses within the workplace, with children assigned to unsafe jobs and climate change making heat stress a bigger risk than ever for workers. The Dirty Dozen aims to shine a light on whats going wrong and support workers who are joining together to make it right.

The full Dirty Dozen report is available for download at the National COSH website.
As governments focus on developing their renewable energy capacity, many are overlooking a vital element to boosting clean energy security energy waste management. Countries worldwide must fix their existing systems to ensure that energy is not lost in transit and use and that electricity grids are prepared for the influx of new clean energy projects expected over the coming decades.

The founder and chairman of the environmental non-profit organization Solar Impulse Foundation, Bertrand Piccard, is calling for greater focus on reducing energy waste instead of merely ramping up renewable energy capacity. Piccard highlighted that around three-quarters of global energy is wasted due to inappropriate behavior and inefficient systems or infrastructures. He explained, So if we try to replace fossil [fuel] energy with renewables without being efficient, without reducing the consumption, its hopeless.

Piccard emphasized the potential oversupply of solar panels from China to Europe, as governments ramp up their solar energy capacity targets. China has been hugely successful in producing vast amounts of panels at a low cost. This has led to far less solar panel manufacturing in more expensive regions, such as Europe, and a greater reliance on China to provide panels worldwide. This has made it difficult for domestic manufacturers to compete, which has led governments to consider the introduction of tariffs on Chinas renewable energy exports, which we could soon see in the U.S.

China is expected to sell huge quantities of solar panels to countries around the world, allowing them to develop low-cost solar energy projects. This reflects the significant advancement made in solar power technology. However, it could also lead to an overreliance on increasing capacity rather than improving efficiency across all energy sources and reducing energy use.

Professor Nick Eyre, a professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Oxford, explained, Historically, energy efficiency has delivered the largest share of greenhouse gas mitigation, and reinventing it for the era of renewables will enable us to continue this trend and achieve net zero by 2050.

Meanwhile, Mark Maslin, a professor of Earth System Science at the University College London, stated, Energy efficiency is crucial if we are to have a fighting chance of honoring the Paris Agreement of 2015, reaching net zero and keeping climate warming under 1.5C. We must remember the IEA has stated that energy efficiency will be able to provide one-third of the carbon saving required towards net zero. We can achieve this and ramp up energy efficiency by electrifying as much of our energy system as possible, enabling flexibility in energy supply, demand and storage, and re-using waste heat.

A 2023 whitepaper by Danfoss Climate Solutions entitled Energy Efficiency 2.0: Engineering the Future Energy System suggested that the EU and U.K. may be able to achieve annual societal cost savings of $11.2 billion by 2030 and $16.6 billion by 2050 by maximizing the potential of demand-side flexibility. This would help the region cut CO2 emissions by an estimated 40 million tonnes and reduce the electricity generation from natural gas by 106 TWh, or about one-fifth of the EUs natural gas consumption for electricity generation in 2022. The publication also stated that transitioning away from fossil fuels to a fully electrified system could cut up to 40 percent of final energy consumption.

Danfoss also highlights the need to ensure energy efficiency in emerging technologies. The hydrogen market is growing at an accelerated pace, as governments and companies worldwide look for cleaner fuel alternatives to power hard-to-abate industries such as manufacturing and aviation. Converting renewable energy into hydrogen via electrolysis requires large amounts of energy, which many believe could better be used directly as electricity. Therefore, we must develop high-efficiency electrolysis technologies to enhance the conversion process, as well as focus on reducing the demand for hydrogen.

The whitepaper suggests that is possible and necessary to strategically integrate sectors that deploy excess heat to lower energy demand and boost efficiency. The report states that by the end of the decade, up to 53 percent of the global energy input will be wasted as excess heat, but that this heat can be captured and reused to power machinery, as well as heat buildings and water through deeper sectoral integration.

At present, we live under the illusion of false abundance. The energy systems in place globally are highly inefficient and the worlds energy demand is continuing to rise. Therefore, governments are scrambling to rapidly replace the existing energy supply with renewable alternatives to support decarbonization efforts. Meanwhile, little is being done to reduce inefficiencies and curb unnecessary energy use. Improving energy efficiency and reducing excess use will help decrease carbon emissions as well as alleviate the burden on governments seeking to ramp up green energy production at an unsustainable pace.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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ExxonMobil continues to expect that the U.S. antitrust authority will give the green light to its proposed $60-billion all-stock acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources by the end of the second quarter, Exxons chief financial officer Kathy Mikells told Bloomberg in an interview on Friday.

Exxon said in its Q1 earnings release today that it expects the transaction, which has been approved by Pioneer shareholders, to close in the second quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approval.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking at several major proposed deals in the U.S. oil industry, including acquisitions proposed by Exxon, Chevron, and Occidental, among others.

Last month, nearly 50 Democratic Senators and Representatives urged the FTC to investigate the recent mergers in Americas oil and gas sector amid concerns that they would harm competition and hurt consumers.

Announcing the acquisition of Pioneer, Exxon said in October 2023 that the proposed transaction transforms ExxonMobils upstream portfolio, more than doubling the companys Permian footprint and creating an industry-leading, high-quality, high-return undeveloped U.S. unconventional inventory position.

We continue to expect the deal is going to be approved in the second quarter, consistent with the fact that there really arent any major issues associated with the deal, Exxons Mikells told Bloomberg.

Combined, were only 5% of Americas oil and natural gas production, Mikells added.

Separately, legal actions by Exxon could delay the megamerger of the other supermajor, Chevron, which has proposed to buy Hess Corporation in all-stock deal valued at $53 billion.

Hess Corps Guyana assets have become the bone of contention between Chevron and ExxonMobil, which is the operator of Guyanas prolific and lucrative offshore Stabroek block, with Hess and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) as partners.

Exxon claims it has the right to first refusal to acquire Hesss stake in Stabroek, from which Exxon and its current partners pump more than 500,000 bpd of crude from several projects.

Last month, ExxonMobil and CNOOC merged their arbitration claims against Chevrons takeover of Hesss stake.

Earlier this month, Hess said that Chevrons acquisition could be delayed until next year due to ExxonMobils arbitration case.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Sanctions against Venezuela have been reimposed after the temporary relief expired on April 15, with Washington giving companies until the end of May to settle any outstanding transactions after Nicolas Maduro refused to back down on targeting opposition candidates for this years elections. This week, the opposition finally fielded a candidate for the July 28 elections. Diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a largely unknown figure, will challenge Maduro with the backing of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been banned from running on trumped-up criminal charges.

The UN envoy for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has resigned from his post, slamming the countrys rival parties and external meddlers for making it impossible to work toward elections and political stability. Bathily sees further instability on the horizon in Libya. He also struck out against dangerous external actors who are meddling in other countries from Libya. While Bathilys resignation is not hugely significant, the reasons for it are, and his absence is likely to lead to an uptick in destabilizing political rivalry between Tripoli and Benghazi. Evidence is mounting of Russian weapons deliveries to Libya, which have recently coincided with visits to eastern Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar.

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

The UN envoy for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has resigned from his post, slamming the countrys rival parties and external meddlers for making it impossible to work toward elections and political stability. Bathily sees further instability on the horizon in Libya. He also struck out against dangerous external actors who are meddling in other countries from Libya. While Bathilys resignation is not hugely significant, the reasons for it are, and his absence is likely to lead to an uptick in destabilizing political rivalry between Tripoli and Benghazi. Evidence is mounting of Russian weapons deliveries to Libya, which have recently coincided with visits to eastern Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar.

Sanctions against Venezuela have been reimposed after the temporary relief expired on April 15, with Washington giving companies until the end of May to settle any outstanding transactions after Nicolas Maduro refused to back down on targeting opposition candidates for this years elections. This week, the opposition finally fielded a candidate for the July 28 elections. Diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a largely unknown figure, will challenge Maduro with the backing of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been banned from running on trumped-up criminal charges.

Israel claims to have dealt a serious blow to Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon after deploying some 100,000 troops to Israels northern border area. Israeli attacks have displaced an estimated 90,000 Lebanese, while Hezbollah has displaced a similar number of Israelis with constant missile fire across the border. This week, Israeli authorities claimed to have killed half of Hezbollahs commanders in southern Lebanon. The last time fighting between Israel and Hezbollah hit this level was during the 2006 Lebanon War. Markets are largely convinced that the Iran-Israel standoff will not (for now) result in a regional war and instead will proceed as another phase of a nuclear cold war with high-level rhetoric, much along the lines of the current Russia-Ukraine/NATO standoff.

Discovery & Development

Portuguese oil company Galp Energia is reportedly looking to sell half of its stake in an exploration block off the coast of Namibia following a significant oil discovery. The discovery at the Mopane field, estimated to contain at least 10 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent, could potentially kickstart Namibia's oil industry. Galp Energia holds an 80% stake in the PEL 83 block, with Namibia's national oil company NAMCOR and Custos each holding a 10% stake. Investors should monitor developments in Galp Energia's divestment strategy and potential capital-raising efforts. This discovery presents an attractive investment opportunity in an emerging market.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

LNG Energy Group, founded by Texas billionaire oilman Rod Lewis, has struck a deal with PDVSA to rehabilitate five aging oil fields. The agreement comes amidst concerns about the fairness of Venezuela's upcoming presidential election, leading the Biden administration to reevaluate sanctions relief. LNG Energy Group will take over the production and development of two oil fields in eastern Venezuela, with contracts awarded by PDVSA. This development will serve as a test of U.S. sanctions policy, have broader market implications, and highlight the lucrative energy opportunities that exist in emerging markets despite geopolitical challenges.

Denmark has initiated its largest offshore wind tender, offering no subsidies for companies competing to develop six sites with a combined capacity of up to 10 gigawatts (GW). The wind farms are vital for Denmark to achieve its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 70% from 1990 levels by 2030. Companies must bid on the price they're willing to pay to the state over 30 years, with the state retaining a 20% stake in each project. The winning projects could potentially exceed 10 GW and enable Denmark to export green power or produce hydrogen. The tender shines a light on Denmarks commitment to renewable energy. The tender could set a precedent for future renewable energy projects globally by demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale offshore wind development sans subsidies.

Oman LNG has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with TotalEnergies to supply 800,000 metric tons per year of LNG for a duration of 10 years starting from 2025. TotalEnergies, holding a 5.54% stake in Oman LNG, is among the company's shareholders. TotalEnergies has made FID for Oman's Marsa LNG project, which involves the construction of an LNG liquefaction plant at Sohar port with a capacity of 1 million mtpa. The deal provides stability for Oman LNG and TotalEnergies over the next decade.

Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim al-Aufi, announced plans to auction offshore oil and gas blocks by the end of the year, with intentions for new auctions annually. Oman aims to boost its oil and gas production as it opened an exploration licensing round in March 2023 for three gas blocks. Its exploration efforts demonstrate Omans focus on maximizing its hydrocarbon resources.

Baker Hughes has been awarded a contract to provide equipment for the third phase of Saudi Aramco's gas network expansion project in Saudi Arabia. The order includes 17 pipeline centrifugal compressors aimed at enhancing gas distribution across the country. This order follows previous deliveries for phases 1 and 2 of the project. Baker Hughes is also investing in expanding its manufacturing site in Modon, Saudi Arabia, to support the project. The expansion of the gas network aligns with Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy and meet domestic energy demand.

Ithaca Energy has reached an agreement to purchase nearly all of Eni's UK oil and gas-producing assets for approximately $938 million in stock. This acquisition aims to position Ithaca Energy as one of the largest independent energy companies in the North Sea region. The combined entity is expected to produce over 100,000 boepd until at least 2028 and plans to distribute dividends of up to $500 million each in 2024 and 2025. This deal signifies a significant consolidation in the UK North Sea oil and gas sector.

Energy Earnings

OFS company Halliburton saw its Q1 revenue from the international segment surge by 12%, primarily driven by a 21% increase in Latin America. North American revenue declined by 8% y/y, totaling $2.5 billion. The company expects its North American business to deliver flat revenues and margins for the full year 2024 despite lower activity levels. Adjusted profit came in a 76 cents per share in Q1, surpassing analyst estimates. Total quarterly revenue was $5.8 billion.

Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) has announced significantly higher-than-expected net income for the first quarter of 2024, attributing the surge in profits to soaring oil and gas production volumes. The company posted a net income of $972 million, or $3.16 per share, compared to $346 million, or $1.13 per share, in the first quarter of 2023. The substantial rise in profits is primarily due to increased production volumes, with oil and gas net production reaching 476,000 boepd, marking a 27% increase from the same period last year. Net production in the Bakken rose by 17% to 190,000 boepd, while production in Guyana surged by 70% to 190,000 bopd.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday exchanged congratulations with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan over the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

In his message, Xi pointed out that the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania was forged by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries.

Over the past 60 years since its establishment, the bilateral relationship has withstood the test of international vicissitudes and grown stronger, he added.

In recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously consolidated, and cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, which has become a model of South-South cooperation, Xi noted.

Standing at a new historical starting point, Xi said he is ready to work with Hassan to renew bilateral traditional friendship, turn the shared dream of developing and rejuvenating their two countries, as well as the magnificent chapter of bilateral Belt and Road cooperation a reality, continue to enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and make greater contributions to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
So, espionage is undergoing a revival, and the propaganda machines have never run more smoothly, regardless of which side of the Atlantic you are on. There are

The espionage web will now further expand, with much greater intricacies, now that Putin has won another European country. Slovakias recent election of a new Russia-friendly president, Peter Pellegrini, has Brussels on edge. Hungarys Orban was problematic enough, but now he has another EU ally. This is a fairly serious swing to the far right for Slovakia because it combines the power of Prime Minister Robert Fico (also Russia-friendly) with Pellegrini. This week, the new Slovak government moved to take full control of the public broadcaster, accusing it of being politically biased and not following the narrative preferred by the new Slovak government.

Germany has detained two suspected Russian spies for allegedly planning to sabotage U.S. military facilities there. Germany has also arrested four others for spying for China. One of those arrested was tied to the top candidate for European elections in June for the far-right populist party, Alternative for Germanyan extremist party accused of having ties to Russia.

Europe is on edge, more so now that the U.S. has approved a $61-billion aid package to Ukraine after much stalling. The spy dens of the Cold War are back in operation, and the propaganda machines are running in full force, far beyond anything the Cold War could have produced and spread.

Europe is on edge, more so now that the U.S. has approved a $61-billion aid package to Ukraine after much stalling. The spy dens of the Cold War are back in operation, and the propaganda machines are running in full force, far beyond anything the Cold War could have produced and spread.

Germany has detained two suspected Russian spies for allegedly planning to sabotage U.S. military facilities there. Germany has also arrested four others for spying for China. One of those arrested was tied to the top candidate for European elections in June for the far-right populist party, Alternative for Germanyan extremist party accused of having ties to Russia.

The espionage web will now further expand, with much greater intricacies, now that Putin has won another European country. Slovakias recent election of a new Russia-friendly president, Peter Pellegrini, has Brussels on edge. Hungarys Orban was problematic enough, but now he has another EU ally. This is a fairly serious swing to the far right for Slovakia because it combines the power of Prime Minister Robert Fico (also Russia-friendly) with Pellegrini. This week, the new Slovak government moved to take full control of the public broadcaster, accusing it of being politically biased and not following the narrative preferred by the new Slovak government.

So, espionage is undergoing a revival, and the propaganda machines have never run more smoothly, regardless of which side of the Atlantic you are on. There are two narratives here, and a multitude of news reports (very few from on the ground) are crammed into one or the other narrative until it fits. Russian think tanks take orders from Moscow. When Putin wants to escalate the rhetoric, he has military analysts and TV talk show hosts do it for him, with a controlled narrative, such as neatly packaged plans of attack for a potential war with NATO, which will invariably be picked up by i-told-you-so Western media. In the think tank alleyways of DC, a narrative is spun as well, but this isnt Moscow, where Putin essentially dictates the narrative. This is DC, where two political parties and their far-right/far-left substratum draw a line in the sand and create diverging narratives of their own as to what is really going on in the Russia-Ukraine war. Less and less does it have to do with the actual war, and more and more does it have to do with domestic politicsjust as it did for Putin until his re-election in March this year.

The narratives change based on needs. Most recently, that was Moscows need for the Republicans to win their battle to quit sending military aid to Ukraine, and the White Houses need to get its aid package passed.

The Russian narrative is now about spreading fear of entering a direct conflict with NATO, just to see what falls out of this tree Moscow is shaking. Its also about sending a message to the Republicans, and to Trump, should he be elected in November.

Russias key propagandist, TV talk show host Vladimir Sovolyev, is criticizing the U.S. Republican Party for betraying Moscow, and particularly Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who flip-flopped on a $61-billion Ukraine aid package. Always hard at work, Solovyov then praised far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, playing his audience a video clip of Greene vigilantly demanding an end to U.S. aid for Ukraine.
Russian oil production has remained strong despite sanctions imposed by Western countries in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The countrys gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries, on the other hand, have suffered due to limited pipeline infrastructure and reliance on Western companies. Rystad Energy expects Russian piped gas to China to increase due to new infrastructure, but the outlook for Russian LNG is less rosy. The Kremlin has set an ambitious plan to commission 100 million tonnes of LNG capacity by 2030 but our forecasts show the country will miss that target by as much as 60 million tonnes.

Despite a rough outlook, we expect Russias planned LNG projects will go ahead despite sanctions and challenges in securing vessels and long-term contracts, thanks to government support and incentives around financing and research and development, along with tax breaks. However, due to the challenging environment, Russian LNG production is highly unlikely to reach government targets, with our forecasts predicting only 36.3 million tonnes of output by 2026.

The Russian Ministry of Energy in 2021 released a forecast where the country's LNG production was expected to climb to as much as 140 million tonnes per annum (tpa) by 2035 under a high-case scenario, or 80 million tpa under a more conservative outlook. Last year, the ministry disclosed its plan to boost LNG exports by 33% between 2022 and 2026, to 44 million tonnes per annum. In its conservative-case scenario, this increase is expected to reach only 18%, with a target of 39 million tonnes per annum. Related: Reuters Estimates: Russian Oil and Gas Revenue to Double in April

Although European countries have almost entirely cut off Russian piped gas, Europe still depends on Russia for much of its LNG supply. LNG exports to Europe rose by about 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, and replacing these volumes in the short term is a major challenge for the continent.

Russian oil exports may have escaped the worst of the impact from Western sanctions. Piped gas exports have suffered greatly, but the LNG industry has been hit the hardest. The Russian government is still optimistic about the countrys output, but without a significant change in fortunes, reaching the targets may be nothing more than a pipe dream, says Swapnil Babele, vice president of upstream research at Rystad Energy.

In the short term, we expect only LNG projects from independent Russian gas producer Novatek to proceed, with delays of at least five years due to vessel procurement challenges and current market conditions. The company's primary goal is to construct a low-cost LNG platform, which involves developing proprietary LNG technologies and expanding output by deploying these new technologies. The main challenge for Novatek will be developing the logistics and looking for new buyers.

Our current forecasts show Russia commissioning about 68 million tonnes of liquefaction capacity by 2035, with actual LNG production being around 40 million tpa. Novatek will account for almost 80% of that total through its Yamal LNG, Arctic LNG-2, and Murmansk LNG projects.

Europe became the top destination for Russian LNG exports in 2022, surpassing Asia. Russias LNG exports rose 10% in 2022 to about 33 million tonnes, 17 million tonnes of which was sent to European markets  a 22% increase from the previous year. Last year, Russian LNG production dropped to about 31 million tonnes due to planned maintenance at the Sakhalin-2 and Yamal LNG projects in the second half of the year. In 2024, Rystad Energy expects Russian LNG production to total about 34 million tonnes, thanks in part to the commissioning of Arctic LNG-2 Train 1.

Since 2014, when the first Russian LNG sanctions were imposed, the country prioritized developing its own liquefaction technologies and is trying to meet its demand for LNG equipment with local providers. Of these providers, Atomenergomash, the mechanical engineering division of Rosatom, designs and manufactures cryogenic LNG pumps, heat exchangers and turbo-expanders. Kazancompressormash constructs compressor units for LNG facilities, and Cryo-LNG supplies tank containers for LNG transportation and storage.

In 2018, Novatek obtained a patent for its Arctic cascade technology, which was implemented on the fourth train of Yamal LNG. However, the technology was not fully developed, and the project encountered several issues that led to modifications in the patent. In June 2023, the company secured another patent for the Arctic mix technique, which was designed for natural gas liquefaction on a large scale using mixed refrigerants. This technology is expected to be the primary method for future projects involving gravity base structures (GBS), with a capacity of more than 6 million tpa per train.

By Rystad Energy

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Mining giant Anglo American has rejected BHP Groups 31.1bn proposal after it concluded the plan would undervalue its future prospects.

The talk of a potential mega-deal between BHP and London-listed miner Anglo American had the mining worlds attention this week, and it seems to have attracted the attention of activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Bloomberg has reported that the hedge fund, known for its activist campaigns, has acquired a $1bn (800m) stake in the miner.

The news followed Anglo Americans announcement on Friday that it had rejected BHPs proposal.

The announcement provided detail on the plan, which included an all-share offer for Anglo American by BHP and a requirement for Anglo American to complete two separate demergers of its entire shareholdings in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore to Anglo American shareholders.

The all-share offer and required demergers would be inter-conditional.

The Anglo American board concluded that the proposal significantly undervalued its future prospects.

The announcement followed warnings from South Africas minerals resources Minister, who said that his countrys previous experience with BHP was not positive in the wake of the groups mega-deal bid for Anglo American.

In addition, the board believed the proposal contemplated a highly unattractive structure for Anglo American shareholders, given the uncertainty and complexity inherent in the proposal and significant execution risks.

Commenting on the news, Stuart Chambers, chairman of Anglo American said: Anglo American is well positioned to create significant value from its portfolio of high quality assets that are well aligned with the energy transition and other major demand trends.

The BHP proposal is opportunistic and fails to value Anglo Americans prospects, while significantly diluting the relative value upside participation of Anglo Americans shareholders relative to BHPs shareholders.

The proposed structure is also highly unattractive, creating substantial uncertainty and execution risk borne almost entirely by Anglo American, its shareholders and its other stakeholders. Anglo American has defined clear strategic priorities  of operational excellence, portfolio, and growth  to deliver full value potential and is entirely focused on that delivery, he concluded.

Yesterday, South African minister Gwede Mantashe told the Financial Times that he did not back the 31.1bn bid as BHPs 2001 merger with South Africas Billiton never did much for South Africa.

What we saw is that it dumped coal and then created a small company called South32, which is now marginal, he added, clarifying that his comments were not an official government position.

By Maria Ward-Brennan via CityAM

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Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) booked slightly higher earnings for the first quarter than analysts had expected, thanks to higher oil and gas production that offset part of the weaker refined product margins and low natural gas prices.

Chevron reported on Friday earnings of $5.5 billion, or $2.97 per share, for the first quarter of 2024, down from $6.6 billion, or $3.46 per share, for the first quarter last year.

Analysts had expected earnings per share of $2.92 for January to March 2024.

The annual drop in Q1 earnings was primarily due to lower margins on refined product sales and lower natural gas realizations, partly offset by higher upstream sales volumes in the U.S., said the supermajor, which reported a 406,000-barrels-per-day rise in net oil-equivalent production in the United States, due to the acquisition of PDC and higher production in the Permian and DJ Basins.

Chevrons worldwide production was up 12% from a year ago, primarily due to the acquisition of PDC, strong operational performance in the Permian and DJ Basins in the U.S., and the Tengizchevroil affiliate in Kazakhstan.

Chevron is vying additional large jump in production with the proposed acquisition of Hess Corporation in a $53-billion all-stock deal.

Yesterday, Hess (NYSE: HES) reported much higher-than-expected net income for the first quarter of 2024 amid soaring oil and gas output.

Hesss oil and gas net production jumped to 476,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up by 27% from 374,000 boepd in the first quarter of 2023. Production in the Bakken increased by 17% to 190,000 boepd, while net production in Guyana soared by 70% to 190,000 bopd.

The Chevron-Hess tie-up is not a done deal yet.

The other U.S. supermajor, Exxon, claims it has the right to first refusal to acquire Hesss stake in the Stabroek block, from which Exxon and its current partners pump more than 500,000 bpd of crude from several projects.

Last month, ExxonMobil and CNOOC merged their arbitration claims against Chevrons takeover of Hesss stake in the most prolific oil block offshore Guyana.

Earlier this month, Hess said that Chevrons acquisition could be delayed until next year due to Exxons arbitration case.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) saw its first-quarter adjusted net income drop by 22% from a year ago, but the French supermajors adjusted earnings beat the consensus estimate.

Stable oil prices and healthy refining margins failed to fully offset a decline in natural gas prices, but helped TotalEnergies beat analyst forecasts as it reported Q1 earnings on Friday. The company announced additional share buybacks and an increase in the first interim dividend for 2024.

TotalEnergies posted an adjusted net income of $5.1 billion for the first quarter of 2024, down by 22% compared to $6.5 billion for the same period of 2023. Still, the past quarters adjusted earnings beat the $5 billion consensus estimate of analysts forecasts compiled by LSEG and $4.88 billion expected in an Visible Alpha consensus.

In a context of sustained oil prices and refining margins but softening gas prices, the Company announced first quarter 2024 adjusted net income of $5.1 billion and cash flow of $8.2 billion, in line with its ambitious 2024 objectives, TotalEnergies chief executive officer Patrick Pouyanne said in a statement.

Oil and gas production averaged 2.46 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), benefiting from 6% quarter-to-quarter production growth in LNG and from start-ups at Mero 2 in Brazil and Akpo West in Nigeria. The output, however, is expected to slightly drop in the second quarter to between 2.4 million boe/d and 2.45 million boe/d, due to planned maintenance that will be partially offset by ramp-ups of Mero 2 in Brazil and Tyra in Denmark.

TotalEnergies Board of Directors decided to pay a first interim dividend of 0.79 euros ($0.85) per share for 2024, up by nearly 7% compared to 2023, and authorized the company to buy back shares for $2 billion in the second quarter of 2024.

During the earnings call, CEO Pouyanne said that TotalEnergies is seriously looking at a primary listing in New York, due to a friendlier investor base.

U.S. shareholders are buying, European shareholders are not so buying, so we must think of it, Pouyanne said. The executive expects to report to the board on the issue by September.

Another European major, Shell, has also recently hinted at ditching London for the NYSE, as it believes its stock is undervalued on the London Stock Exchange.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
BLOOMINGTON  The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal has awarded small equipment grants to 12 agencies in Central Illinois totaling over a quarter million dollars.

According to a Friday press release, the program allows agencies to apply for up to $26,000 "for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment."

The grant program's purpose is to "allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase," the release said.

In total, the program awarded $4 million to 156 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state.

Awards went to the following groups in Central Illinois:

DeWitt County

Kenney Fire Department  $25,600

Woodford County

Benson Ambulance  $26,000

Ford County

Roberts Melvin Fire Protection District  $21,909

McLean County

Bloomington Township  $24,750

Mt. Hope-Funks Grove  $26,000

Livingston County

Chatsworth Fire Protection District  $26,000

Odell Fire Protection District  $24,596

Fairbury Fire Department  $26,000

Logan County

Lincoln Rural  $26,000

Latham  $26,000

Elkhart Rural  $19,976

Middletown  $21,130

Olympia High School fire, April 2023
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

April 26, 1924: The young people of Pontiac were the guests of the young people of the First Methodist Episcopal Church last evening in the assembly hall of the new social and educational building of the church. The event was a part of the dedicatory program of the building. Dr. George Davis of Dwight was the speaker.

75 years ago

April 26, 1949: A World War II artillery piece to take the place of the old one sold in the scrap drive during the war was presented to the city by the General Lawton camp of the United Spanish War veterans. In ceremonies at Miller Park, Mayor Mark B. Hayes praised the Spanish War veterans for their patriotism in giving up their old gun in the scrap drive.

50 years ago

April 26, 1974: A new central mixing plant is being installed at the Modahl & Scott concrete ready-mix plant, 917 E. Grove. Manager Erwin Johannes said the project represents a "substantial investment" for Interstate Sand & Gravel Co. of Covington, Indiana, which purchased the Bloomington firm in 1965.

25 years ago

April 26, 1999: The Heartland Chapter of A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education has been fundraising for 12 years to buy toys for children. Members of the Pontiac-based organization hope their ongoing campaign will improve on last year's total of $11,000 in an effort to raise money for the annual Toys for Tykes program.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is donating 100,000 doses of the anthrax vaccine in support of the Government of Ghana and U.N. Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) anthrax vaccination campaign.



The campaign is expected to cover about one million animals across the five regions of the north.



Anthrax not only threatens human life. When it destroys livestock, it also threatens economic prosperity and food security, said USAID/Ghana Mission Director Kimberly Rosen during the launch.



Before the launch event, Ms. Rosen and partners from FAO to tour the Vaccine Production Unit of the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Pong-Tamale.



In support of domestic manufacturing capacity, USAID recently purchased 100,00 anthrax vaccines from the Central Veterinary Lab to donate to the anthrax vaccination campaign.



During our tour of the Central Veterinary Laboratory this morning, it was clear that with some automation and more investment, the lab could produce larger quantities of vaccines to meet the national market and also be exported.



More vaccines means healthier animals, safer humans and potential revenue and job creation for the Veterinary Service Department, she added.



Anthrax is a serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease that is passed from animals to humans. Vaccination campaigns of animals like cattle, sheep, and goats, prevent the disease from occurring in animals, reducing the risk of transmission to humans.



In May 2023, Ghana experienced an outbreak of anthrax, affecting six districts in the Upper East Region. A total of 97 animals died from the anthrax outbreak. Thirteen suspected human anthrax cases were detected, including one death. The Government of Ghana and its partners worked quickly to contain the outbreak. To prevent future outbreaks, yearly animal vaccination is recommended.



USAID and Ghana have worked closely together to strengthen veterinary health services for close to two decades. In 2006, the U.S. supported the Accra Veterinary Laboratory to diagnose Avian Influenza, allowing for a faster local response to the disease.



In the past year, USAID provided approximately $105 million to Ghanas health sector for global health security, nutrition and social protection, maternal, newborn, and child health, and more. Effective preventive and response outbreak activities require a close collaboration between multiple sectors and Government agencies,including the Ministry of Food and Agricultures Veterinary Services, the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Local Government, and the National Disaster Management Organization.



About USAID



USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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After what organisers and patrons described as a successful Kumasi edition, plans are underway to bring the Dumsor Vigil to the capital city, Accra.



Explaining the reason behind the decision to replicate the same vigil that took place in Kumasi on April 17, 2024, Henry Osei Akoto, one of the event's leaders, said it is not enough to have only Kumasi featured.



In an interview, he explained that moving the vigil around is to mount further pressure on the government and bring its attention to the debilitating effects of the power outages on businesses and livelihoods.



He further said that the group would soon mobilize Ghanaians to protest against the erratic power supplies, commonly known as Dumsor.



We will mobilise Ghanaians on the streets soon if you don't resolve DUMSOR; the inconvenience is just too much.



You promised Ghanaians you were going to give us an uninterrupted POWER SUPPLY; see where you've brought us, he said.



The Dumsor Vigil is organized by Ashanti Democrats, led by Jerry James Sukkah, and is a demonstration against the erratic power supply across the country.



The date for the Accra version is yet to be announced.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Burkina Fasos media regulator has imposed a two-week suspension on the programmes of BBC Afrique and Voice of America (VOA) for airing a Human Rights Watch report accusing the Burkinabe army of abuses against civilians.



Access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and Human Rights Watch is also suspended within Burkina Faso.



Accordingly, the BBC and VOA, through their correspondents in Burkina Faso, were instructed by telephone to immediately stop rebroadcasting the offending programme on all their platforms," state-owned news agency Agence dInformation du Burkina (AIB) reported on Thursday.



The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) further warned all local media outlets against disseminating the article, threatening sanctions against violators of the directive.



VOA said in an article published on Friday that it "stands by its reporting about Burkina Faso and intends to continue to fully and fairly cover activities in the country".



HRW published a report on Thursday accusing the Burkina Faso military of executing at least 223 civilians on 25 February in the north of the country.



In December 2023, the West African nation suspended French daily Le Monde accusing it of biased reporting.



It also suspended three other international media outlets at varying times last year, including French-language magazine Jeune Afrique, French TV channel, channel La Chaine Info (LCI) and French state-owned media organisation France24.

Source: BBC









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Fishmongers in Egypt say they have been forced to slash their prices by up to 50% because of a boycott that has swept the country.



A campaign against high prices, which began in the major cities of Port Said and Alexandria, has spread elsewhere under the slogan "let it rot".



The protest began online weeks ago, sparked by the ongoing price hikes of almost all goods.



President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has previously advised consumers to boycott products that become unaffordable as the Egyptian currency plunged in value.



Seafood is traditionally eaten during celebrations of the Sham Ennessim national festival, which falls on 6 May.



The festival will coincide with the Easter Monday celebrations of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church.

Source: BBC









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The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commissioned two solar-powered water systems in Ghanas Northern Region this week.



The water systems are located in the Gushegu Municipality and Nanton District, and will serve over 20,000 residents in nine communities.



Imagine a world where every household has access to clean drinking water, farmers can irrigate their fields without worrying about water shortages, and small businesses can operate with sufficient water supply.



The U.S. will continue to partner with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Municipal and District Assemblies, and other key stakeholders to make this a reality, said USAID/Ghana Mission Director Kimberly Rosen during the commissioning event.



USAID funded the water systems at a total cost of GH10 Million (US$877,546) and partnered with Global Communities to facilitate the construction.



The project began in February 2023, and ended in March 2024. Each water system consists of two boreholes and a 100 cubic-meter reinforced concrete tank installed at 12-meters high. The boreholes are equipped with submersible pumps, which are solar-powered.



These new water systems are part of the U.S. Governments Global Water Strategy (2022-2027), and USAID/Ghanas High Priority Country Plan (2022-2027) which aim to provide 500,000 Ghanaians with new and improved access to safe and climate-resilient water supply by 2027.



USAID has also partnered with the Afram Plains Development Organization to engage communities and promote beneficial hygiene and sanitation behaviors. Through this community outreach, hundreds of households are building and using improved toilet facilities and discontinuing the practice of open defecation.



The United States is Ghanas largest bilateral development partner. In 2023, USAIDs bilateral development assistance totaling over $140 million was dedicated to supporting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, economic growth, agriculture, education, governance, and more.



About USAID



USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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In a collaboration aimed at fostering womens mental wellbeing, economic stability and inclusion, Awake Mineral Water has teamed up with Emerge New Woman, an organization dedicated to mental well-being amongst women.



This partnership marks a significant stride towards addressing the economic challenges that impact the wellbeing of women in Ghana.



Through the "Seed Fund" project spearheaded by Emerge New Women under the visionary leadership of Lady Mae, beneficiaries not only receive essential resources and support for their businesses but their mental well-being is also prioritized.



Through the Seed Fund program, Kasapreko has extended support to women.



The support is valued at approximately 50,000 cedis in the form of 1500 packets of Awake Natural Mineral Water with an aim to boost the businesses of 50 women, most of whom are small-scale food and beverage vendors either already established or startups.



Recognizing the profound impact of mental health on daily living, the Seed Fund project integrates mental well-being services into its support structure.



By offering tailored business development support alongside access to mental well-being services such as counselling, guidance and psychoeducation, the program aims to equip women with the tools to navigate the challenges of life while safeguarding their mental health.



Mr. Richard Adjei, Managing Director of Kasapreko Company Limited, has shown commitment to supporting women holistically, addressing both their economic needs and mental well-being.



You will understand the impact of mental illness only with firsthand experience and I am pleased to support with Emerge New Woman, on this transformative initiative."



Lady Mae, Founder of Emerge New Woman, expressed her gratitude for the partnership and emphasized the significance of prioritizing mental well-being daily.



"We are delighted to partner with Kasapreko Company Limited to support women entrepreneurs", she said, adding "by recognizing the importance of mental well-being alongside business development, we can create a more resilient and supportive environment for women to flourish".



With this substantial support, Kasapreko provides not only a booster for these women and their businesses but also fosters women development and economic inclusivity.



The estimated value of 50,000 cedis underscores the magnitude of the impact such support can have on women-led enterprises, particularly in a challenging business environment.



For these women, the support translates into tangible opportunities for growth, sustainability and hope.



The provision by Awake Natural Mineral Water equips them, enhances their capacity to meet consumer demand and raises their market value.

Christiana Akyaa, a beneficiary of this initiative, expressed her gratitude for the support, stating "I am grateful for the support from Awake and Emerge New Woman. It means a lot to me. I used my business capital to sort out some family emergencies. I was unable to replace stock from my water supply shop. This support has helped me to restock my shop. I now have an opportunity to start over".



Christiana received thirty packets of water; this gesture has made a substantial difference in her ability to continue and rebuild her business.



This collaborative effort between Kasapreko and Emerge New Woman exemplifies the transformative impact that the targeted assistance can have on individuals and communities, fostering economic resilience and social progress.



As these women entrepreneurs continue on their economic journeys, they embody the spirit of resilience, determination, and innovation.

Source: Emerge New Woman









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Flight schedules for Hajj 2024 have been released by the Ghana Hajj Board.



According to the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Hamza, the usual pattern of Tamale flights preceding Accras will be followed.



The first flight of a total of nine from Ghana will depart the Northern Regional capital on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 en route to Madina, Saudi Arabia.



The second flight leaves Tamale on May 29, 2024 and the third May 30, 2024.



The last flight from Tamale is scheduled to depart on Friday, May 31, 2024.



The Accra flights commence on Sunday, June 2, 2024 followed by the second on Monday, June 3, 2024 and third Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The fourth flight leaves Accra on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 to be followed by the fifth one on Thursday, June 6, 2024, all en route to Madina, Saudi Arabia.



Prospective pilgrims, the Executive Secretary has said, should contact the 42 accredited agents or the Ghana Hajj Board at the Hajj Village, Accra should they have concerns.



Alhaji Farouk Hamza has appealed to prospective pilgrims and their family members to cooperate with the Ghana Hajj Board officials to ensure successful operations.



Adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure the comfort of Ghanaian pilgrims in the Holy Land, some of whom have over the years endured the inconveniences of persons who illegally use non-Hajj visas to perform the pilgrimage.



The provision of two meals a day, total medical care, comfortable hotel accommodation not forgetting transportation in Saudi Arabia are part of the package awaiting pilgrims, the Executive Secretary has announced.



The team of Islamic clerics will be available to give the necessary spiritual guidance to the pilgrims.



There will be orientation programmes to educate prospective pilgrims about the Hajj as was done last year.



For first time international travellers, such orientations have proven valuable as they will have members of the Dawah and medical teams imparting tidbits about the Hajj and how to keep healthy during the month-long spiritual exercise in Saudi Arabia.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance says it has no intention of selling the business after the US passed a law to force it to sell the hugely popular video app or be banned in America.



"ByteDance doesn't have any plans to sell TikTok," the company posted on its official account on Toutiao, a social media platform it owns.



TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC.



Earlier this week, TikTok said it would challenge in court the "unconstitutional" law.



The statement from ByteDance came in response to an article by the technology industry website The Information that said it was exploring the potential sale of TikToks operation in the US without the algorithm that powers it.



"Foreign media reports of ByteDance selling TikTok are not true," the company said in the post, which included a screen shot of the article with the Chinese characters meaning "false rumour" stamped on it.



The sell-or-ban measure was signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday.



Beijing's tightening grip on private companies has raised concerns in the US, and other Western countries, about how much control the Chinese Communist Party has over ByteDance, and the data it holds.



TikTok has repeatedly denied claims the Chinese government has control over ByteDance.



"We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts," said TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew in a video posted on the platform this week.



"The facts, and the Constitution, are on our side... rest assured, we aren't going anywhere."



How will the US TikTok ban affect me?



According to TikTok, ByteDance's Chinese founder owns 20% of shares, through a controlling stake in the company.



About 60% is owned by institutional investors, including major US investment firms Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group.



The remaining 20% is owned by its employees around the world and three of ByteDance's five board members are American.



The Chinese government has also dismissed such concerns as paranoia and has warned that a TikTok ban would "inevitably come back to bite the US".



However, TikTok is not facing an immediate ban in the US.



The new law gives ByteDance nine months to sell the business, and an additional three-month grace period, before a potential ban can be enforced.



That means the sale deadline would most likely come some time in 2025, after the winner of the 2024 presidential election takes office.

Source: BBC









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The deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustafa Gbandi, has denoted that history will hold President Akufo-Addo responsible for failing Ghanaians by plunging the country into abject poverty and economic catastrophe.



According to Mustafa Gbandi, the level of hardship being experienced by Ghanaians is unprecedented, revealing that, it stems from the gruesome thievery and mismanagement of the economy and the corrupt practices of some government officials.



He made this known in an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' on Thursday, April 25.



"I am very excited about the commitment of the NDC to bring to book all corrupt officials in the Akufo- Addo led government. I can assure President Akufo-Addo and his appointees that the level of impudence and corruption that has occurred in his government will not go unnoticed. We the young people of this country will not let them go scot-free. They will account to the last pesewa of state resources."



He expressed shock over the 5-month arrears that the government has not paid to the National Service personnel.



According to the deputy General Secretary, the government has not dealt with the National Service persons fairly considering the hardships they go through in reporting to work each day.



Highlighting the impact of the banking sector cleanup which saw the collapse of some indigenous banks, Mustafa Gbandi stated that the government allegedly pre-informed some party members to withdraw their funds from the banks and keep it in their various homes in order not to be affected by the clean-up, adding that history will hold President Akufo-Addo responsible.



"I was happy that Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang made these clear ambiguous comments that resonate with the call of the people of Ghana that we must not let this current regime and his appointees go scot-free with the level of broad day stealing of public resources that they have undertaken. We will give them daily evidence of broad day thievery which President Akufo-Addo has supervised against the next generation."



Watch video below





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has suspected a foul play alleging that the government may be hiding some vital details concerning the contractual agreement between the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).



The former Presidential aspirant of the NPP revealed that, there is an absence of transparency which he believes is a deliberate attempt by government to cover up any illegalities in the contract and its consequences on Ghanaians at large.



Dr. Arthur Kennedy opined that, it does not matter the amount of revenue the SML has generates for Ghana's economy, however, once the contract was not legally signed, it becomes invalid.



In an interview on the AM Show on Joynews, on Friday, April 26, Dr. Arthur Kennedy urged President Akufo-Addo to release to the general public, the full audit report presented to the President by KPMG.



According to him, making the report public would allow Ghanaians to have a better understanding of the issues surrounding the SML-GRA contract and its impact on Ghana's economy.



Underscoring the importance of transparency in leadership and governance, Dr. Arthur Kennedy urged the government to prioritise accountability and provide the necessary information to the public, adding that this will ensure that citizens are informed about decisions that impact them directly as far as funds and contracts are concerned.



He said, "It appears that the government is trying to hide something. The fundamentals of this are clear and the contracts were awarded illegally and regardless what benefits have been accrued, it begs the question of why, regardless of the official disapproval, people went round the processes and awarded the contract."



"Of course, a contract can be awarded improperly to somebody who might deliver some benefits when for example the terms of the contract were inimical to the public interest. And I think that the best thing the government can do is actually to release the KPMG report so that the public can we review that."



Dr. Arthur Kennedy's commentaries come on the heel of the recent audit report presented to the President by KPMG.



The President contracted KPMG to investigate a contractual dealing between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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After a three-year hiatus from the music scene, Ghana's acclaimed rap sensation Don Itchi makes a triumphant return with his latest PACK titled "DESTINY."



Set to release on May 10, the three-song project serves as a testament to Prince Kelvin Eli Kwaku's journey and experiences over the past few years.



Having previously dominated the Ghanaian music scene as one of its most prominent voices, the Rap Messiah took a step back to navigate personal and artistic growth. Now, with "DESTINY," he reemerges with a renewed sense of purpose and vision.



Each track on the PACK offers a glimpse into Don Itchi's life, delving deep into the highs and lows, triumphs, and challenges he has faced. From introspective reflections to powerful anthems, "DESTINY" showcases Don Itchi's versatility as an artist and storyteller.



Speaking about the project, Don Itchi said, "These past three years have been a journey of self-discovery and growth for me and stated his current Record Label NK-Salem Records has contributed massively to his carrier as an artist. 'DESTINY' is not just a PACK, but a reflection of the experiences that have shaped me as an artist and as a person."



Fans can expect dynamic production, poignant lyricism, and infectious melodies that exemplify Don Itchi's signature style.



With "DESTINY," he invites listeners to join him on a musical odyssey filled with raw emotion and authenticity.



Meanwhile, "DESTINY" will be available on all major streaming platforms on 10th May, 2024. For updates and exclusive content, follow Don Itchi on social media @donitchiofficial on Instagram, @donitchi on Facebook and Twitter and @donitchi_7 on TikTok.



About Don Itchi



Born as Prince Kelvin Eli Kweku, Don Itchi discovered his musical talent during junior high school at the age of 12. Back then, there were no local icons to look up to, so the only opportunities he had to showcase his talent were during music and dance classes, as well as annual children's celebrations. Despite the lack of role models, he persevered and grew to become one of the most promising prospects in the Ghanaian music industry. Don Itchi's journey towards becoming a global brand is well underway.

Source: Peacefmonline









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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:

Spotted Towhee (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo, George Gentry). Credit: Spotted Towhee (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo, George Gentry)

PSW ecologist and tribal liaison Frank Lake wondered how the birds he grew up with in northeastern California were faring. As a Karuk tribal descendant with Yurok family, Lake has a deep connection to the land and the birds that inhabit it. Belted kingfishers, woodpeckers, condors, eagles, and other birds have been part of his ancestors' way of life for thousands of years.

Their familiar site and distinctive calls have made bird watching a national pastime. But our avian companions are declining. According to the 2022 State of the Birds Report, the U.S. and Canada have lost an estimated 3 billion breeding birds since the 1970s.

Pacific Southwest Research Station ecologist and tribal liaison Frank Lake wondered how the birds he grew up with in northeastern California were faring. As a Karuk tribal descendant with Yurok family, Lake has a deep connection to the land and the birds that inhabit it. Belted kingfishers, woodpeckers, condors, eagles, and other birds have been part of his ancestors' way of life for thousands of years. They grace creation stories and tribes don their feathers in traditional ceremonies.

"Indigenous and western knowledge systems can teach us a lot about the significant roles land birds have in our environment. Understanding how fire and other land management practices may affect birds is important for evaluating the conditions of our ecosystems," Frank Lake stated.

Learning from the birds

Lake joined forces with research colleague Linda Long, the Klamath Bird Observatory, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Technological University, and others to publish findings on how life cycles of culturally significant birds could inform the timing of prescribed fire. The work appears in Ecosphere.

For 22 years, the research team studied the molting and breeding seasons of 11 different bird familieswoodpeckers, owls, hawks, and other speciesin Northern California and southern Oregon. Both molting and breeding sap birds' energy, making them vulnerable to threats, including fire. Molting is a plumage makeover where birds shed old feathers and replace them with new.

Michigan Technological University Assistant Professor Jared Wolfe, stated that "we found, in general, breeding tends to start near the beginning of April in the redwood forests, and later, towards the end of April, in coastal regions and along the Klamath and Trinity rivers."

Even though prescribed fire can clear the understory of a forest and enhance wildlife habitat, it can also potentially harm birds when it coincides with their molting and breeding seasons.

"Counting birds with binoculars in the field allows us to document trends, but with this information we felt limited to writing their obituaries. We wanted to dig deeper," Klamath Bird Observatory Executive Director John Alexander emphasized. Alexander and other researchers wanted to know why birds were at a particular location and what they were doing there.

"Our research results provide more precise information about vulnerabilities and threats that can provide guidance and inform the timing of prescribed burns based on birds' breeding and molting seasons," Alexander stated.

Alexander and other researchers concluded that cultural burning, which moves to nature's rhythm, poses fewer threats to culturally significant birds.

Roger's Creek prescribed burn in June 2023 near Somes Bar, Calif., which was conducted in support of the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership. Credit: USDA , Frank Lake

Benefits of cultural burning

Before colonization, Indigenous People practiced cultural burning for thousands of years, modifying fire regimes. These low intensity fires promoted healthy forests and enhanced wildlife habitat.

"Fire is medicine to many tribal elders. Fire connects them to the land, and land management policies of fire suppression have, historically, severed that connection," Lake emphasized.

Lake incorporates western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in his research. Both are paramount, he believes, for protecting wildlife, including birds. When Lake shares his knowledge with others, it sometimes broadens their perceptions of conservation.

That was the case for Klamath Bird Observatory Executive Director John Alexander.

"I remember sitting with Frank at a picnic table overlooking the Klamath River. He told me 'those birds in those bushes where my auntie collected basket materials are important to us. Those individuals are important," Alexander recounted.

Before considering Lake's perspective, Alexander was more concerned about getting fire on the ground, even if it meant sacrificing a few birds. He reasoned prescribed burns are critical for mitigating hundreds of years of fire suppression, which can lead to devastating wildfires and decline of healthy forests. Healthy forests promote the long-term survival of different bird species.

"Working with the tribes has made me realize how important cultural burning is. Ancient tribal practices should help inform our prescribed burning practices, and our research about culturally important birds further exemplifies that," Alexander stated.

Partnerships to protect birds

Alexander is proud of the observatory's long-term partnership with the Forest Service and former Pacific Southwest Research Station wildlife ecologist CJ Ralph. Together, Alexander, Ralph, and others collected bird data that dates back to the 1980s. Today, that historic data can inform future bird conservation research.

In 2001, these partnerships got a legal boost. That year President Clinton strengthened the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, requiring relevant federal agencies consider how their actions impact bird conservation.

Alexander credits that law and the work of partners for inroads in better understanding our avian companions. He cautions, though, the work is far from done.

"Like birds must adapt to a rapidly changing climate to survive, we must continually learn and adapt our research together to protect birds," Alexander emphasized.

Alexander serves as a mentor for new researchers in bird conservation. Similarly, Lake is inspiring the next generation of stewards.

"I take young tribal members out to the forest and point out certain birds, explaining their cultural significance and unique life cycles. Both are important to the long-term health of our forests and the birds that depend upon them," Lake stated.

More information: Linda L. Long et al, Using culturally significant birds to guide the timing of prescribed fires in the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion, Ecosphere (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4541 Journal information: Ecosphere

Provided by USDA Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Research Station
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Credit: G. Thompson

A prevailing opinion in land management is that non-native invasive plants are of no ecological value and they significantly diminish habitat quality for wildlife. Conservation practitioners allocate significant resources to invasive plant removal, often relying on surrounding native plants to passively fill the void. However, evidence that this practice improves food abundance or quality for wildlife is surprisingly limited.

In a new study published in the journal Biological Invasions, researchers in Connecticut, U.S. show that some of the most vilified invasive plants in northeastern U.S. forests may actually be of comparable value to native plants as foraging resources for insectivorous birds, and large-scale invasive plant removal on behalf of these birds may not have the intended benefits.

The research team from Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center (New Fairfield, CT, U.S.) and Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT, U.S.) conducted a large-scale bird-exclusion experiment in which they compared arthropod biomass and bird foraging intensity among four species of non-native, invasive woody plants and six of the most dominant native species in an 800-acre forest preserve in western Connecticut.

They also measured the protein content (percent elemental nitrogen) of the arthropods on these plants as an indicator of food quality since protein strongly mediates food selection by breeding birds and is critical to offspring development. The study involved the collection, identification, and isotopic analysis of more than 17,000 arthropods from the branches of 240 trees and shrubs, half of which were covered with bird-exclusion netting.

The non-native invasive plants in the study included Japanese barberry, Morrow's honeysuckle, burning bush, and autumn olive while the natives included striped maple, shadbush, musclewood, witch-hazel, sweet birch, and American beech. In the common stewardship practice of removing invasives without actively planting and fostering natives afterwards, these six native species are among those most likely to fill the void left by invasive plant removal in secondary growth forests in southern New England.

They are therefore among the most realistic alternatives to invasive plants facing managers of such forests, as opposed to oaks, which are generally considered high-quality sources of insect prey for wildlife, but have been regenerating poorly and steeply declining in the eastern U.S. for nearly a century.

Unexpectedly, all lines of evidence in the study suggested the invasive plants were comparable to the natives in their value as foraging resources for birds. Arthropod biomass and protein content were broadly similar between the native and non-native species, and in turn, the birds foraged just as intensively on the non-native plants as they did on the natives.

Non-native honeysuckle stood out as having particularly high prey biomass and quality and frequent visitation by foraging birds, while Japanese barberry generally ranked the lowest.

"Our results indicate that it should first be demonstrated, not assumed, that invasive plants are inferior resources for birds compared to the dominant native plants in the community before land managers undertake costly removal efforts," said Dr. Chad Seewagen, one of the study's authors.

"Clearly some invasives are worse than others and it's not as simple as all invasive plants must go. While we certainly do not suggest that invasive plants have no negative ecological impacts, our study shows that coexisting native plants are not always superior resources for wildlife and that context is important.

"Managers need to know whether the native plants that are most likely to replace removed invasives are really of greater value to the wildlife for which they are managing the habitat, and if that effort is worth the cost and disturbance."

The study recommends a more nuanced approach to invasive plant management in eastern North American forests, where the services provided by non-native plants are considered against the backdrop of the native plant community in which they have become established.

More information: Robert E. Clark et al, Invasive plants as a foraging resource for insectivorous birds in a Connecticut, USA forest: insights from a community-level bird-exclusion experiment, Biological Invasions (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10530-024-03294-6. Journal information: Biological Invasions
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The Canadian government recently proposed earmarking $325 million in the 2024 federal budget to upgrade federal immigration detention centers to hold more people. The budget also proposes to amend the law to allow federal prisons to be used to detain "high-risk" immigrants.

The government's decision comes after all Canadian provinces committed to ending their agreements with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to detain migrants in provincial jails. In 2022, British Columbia became the first province to announce it would end its agreement with CBSA, stating the practice conflicts with provincial, national and international human rights commitments.

Human rights organizations have sharply criticized the federal government's plan, saying it's "doubling down on its harmful rights-abusing system."

In the last quarter of 2023, 1,662 migrants were detained in Canada. Most of them were held if a CBSA officer believed the person was unlikely to appear for an examination, hearing or proceeding. Many were held in detention centers and provincial jails, where conditions are often punitive.

In response to critics, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said detained migrants would be housed separately from other prisoners "because they are not criminals." However, placing migrants in prisons risks serious violations of their human rights and perpetuates narratives about the criminality of immigrants.

Human rights concerns

The CBSA operates federal immigration holding centers (IHCs) and holds contracts with provinces to use their jails to detain immigrants under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Around one-fifth of migrant detainees are currently held in provincial jails.

While provinces ending immigrant detention is cause for celebration, we've cautioned that without legislative change, external oversight and accountability over CBSA, human rights concerns are likely to continue.

Migrant detention, regardless of facility type, violates migrants' human rights. Canada does not place any limit on how long a migrant can be detained. This is in contrast to citizens, who are entitled to know how long they're being detained and access procedural justice such as routine reviews of detention and a clear appeals process.

Immigrants facing removal can be detained if a CBSA officer classifies them as high risk. There is no policy or law or specific evidence required, or appeals possible, if a person is deemed high-risk. These often ad-hoc decisions can result in indefinite imprisonment without charges or trial and go against basic principles of fairness, justice and due process.

The government's plans refer to those people deemed a high-risk. However, critics say the CBSA is exaggerating the extent of public safety concerns. The use of prisons further entrenches narratives that paint migrants as criminals who pose a risk to broader society. Those labeled risky are often detained for posing flight risks, suffering mental health issues or having records of minor criminality in their past.

Ebrahim Toure, a stateless refugee claimant, was held in immigration detention by CBSA for six years. Toure was deemed a risk because of a previous conviction for selling pirated DVDs in Atlanta, Ga. Toure said: "The reason I came [to Canada] is to seek refuge, but the punishment I got for thatI never experienced that anywhere else."

Experts have argued Canada's use of immigrant detention is a form of penal nationalism. This is defined as a populist strategy that treats migrants as criminal threats to the nation and national identity. Narratives of criminality and risk are largely constructed and based on the idea of "securing" borders from the "other."

Detention in IHCs and prisons has also been criticized for blurring lines of accountability and transparency. For example, while IHCs are federally operated by CBSA, the day-to-day labor and management of these institutions is provided through private-sector contracts.

Violating Canada's obligations

Canada is a signatory to international treaties designed to uphold the safety, dignity and rights of migrants and asylum-seekers. These include the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees as well as global compacts on migration and refugees.

In 2021, Canada articulated its commitment to promoting balanced public narratives on migrants, including refugees. Yet, the detention of migrants not only perpetuates fear-mongering narratives of migrants and refugees, it also violates the internationally recognized right to claim asylum without fear of punishment.

The government has increased investment in alternatives to detention including electronic monitoring, community case management and voice reporting. Such alternatives do address some of the human rights violations migrants face in detention centers and jails. However, they continue to criminalize migrants who are entitled to make asylum claims in Canada.

The government's intention to put migrants in federal prisons risks further dehumanizing and criminalizing refugees, asylum-seekers and other immigrants. Canadians should oppose legal amendments that enable the use of federal correctional facilities for immigration detention.

Canada bills itself as a human rights champion, but this record is unevenand this proposal could become the latest strike against it.

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Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates.

Employers typically consider information from several sources, including the applicant's work history, social media presence, responses to interview questions and sometimes, psychometric testing results.

It's also common for hiring managers to check an applicant's references by chatting to the candidate's nominated referees or reading over their letters of recommendations.

Reference checks tend to be the final hurdle; a sort of background check for the candidate's job history and credentials.

Nearly every employer does reference checks, but research suggests there are important limitations worth keeping in mind.

Inconsistency can be a problem

A reliable selection method produces a consistent measure of candidate suitability. In other words, reliability enables an apples-to-apples comparison of each candidate.

But early research into reference checks found referees tend to give substantially different ratings to the same candidates.

This inconsistency is problematic because it is unclear if a favorable report reflects genuine suitability or the candidate was fortunate enough to nominate a lenient referee.

Part of the problem is employers often do not take a structured approach to obtaining information from referees.

For instance, if asked overly general or vague questions about the candidate, each referee may focus on different aspects of past job performance or omit negative information.

Research suggests using a standardized set of questions can produce more reliable outcomes. This provides a stronger basis for making a meaningful comparison between candidates.

Unfortunately, even using a standardized assessment, referees still tend to disagree on their ratings.

This disagreement may still be worthwhile, as it can reveal important contextual differences in the candidate's performance. For instance, one referee may have observed a candidate leading a team, while another may have only seen their project work.

However, employers still need to make sense of these different perspectives.

A reference is a poor indicator of future performance

A valid selection method is job-specific and provides useful information about how a candidate will actually perform in the role.

Reference checks are a relatively easy hurdle for candidates to overcome because referees are typically self-selected, and most job seekers can find at least one colleague who is willing to speak positively about them.

As well, a candidate's performance in a previous position may not always be relevant for the job they are applying for.

For these reasons, reference checks show only a small correlation with employee performance in their new job.

But because of their limited ability to predict performance, employers should not rely solely on reference checks.

A mix of checks the best approach

A recent systematic review of employee selection methods suggests structured interviews, work samples, and pre-employment assessments can provide useful insights into how employees will perform.

Pre-hiring assessments can reveal information about a person's job knowledge, cognitive ability, integrity, personality, and emotional intelligence where appropriate. They are especially useful for screening numerous applicants, such as for graduate recruitment programs.

Ultimately, the job selection process should be tailored to the role requirements. For instance, if a role requires strong writing skills, this could be assessed through work samples or pre-hiring assessments.

Some candidates could be disadvantaged

A fair selection method is one that is unbiased and avoids giving weight to irrelevant information. It does not disadvantage people because of characteristics such as gender identity, age, or cultural background.

From this perspective, reference checks have several potential problems.

One is that candidates may not have access to referees of similar credibility.

For instance, a person from a high socioeconomic background is more likely to have access to senior leaders or experienced professionals in relevant fields who are willing to provide positive reports.

Reference checks may perpetuate existing inequalities.

In most cases, referees will want to provide positive reports. If the referee is a close colleague of the job applicant, they may be concerned that negative reports will be traced back to them and affect their ongoing relationship.

And employers may be motivated to offer under-performers a glowing review to get rid of them.

Most references are difficult to verify, so referees are unlikely to suffer damage to their reputation if they talk up an average candidate, especially if the referee is outside the employer's professional network.

Research suggests letters of recommendation can actually disadvantage female candidates by planting doubts about their suitability.

For instance, letters about female candidates more frequently contain negativity (such as, "does not have much teaching experience"), faint praise ("needs minimal supervision") and hedging ("has the potential to become a strong performer").

These types of statements can lead employers to evaluate female candidates more harshly.

However, when a structured questionnaire is used, this bias does not emerge.

A flawed but worthwhile tool

While reference checks remain common, their limitations are clear. They can be unreliable, offer only moderate validity in predicting performance at best and raise fairness concerns.

However, reference checks shouldn't be discarded. By implementing structured questioning and adopting other well-established employee selection methods, references can still be included as a final step in a robust hiring process.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft and a crew of three astronauts, lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

A spaceship carrying three astronauts from China's Shenzhou-18 mission safely docked at Tiangong space station Friday, state-run media reported, the latest step in Beijing's space program that aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.

The crew took off in a capsule atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northwest at 8:59 pm local time !1259 GMT) Thursday.

By early Friday the spacecraft had "successfully docked" with the space station, state-run news agency Xinhua reported, citing the China Manned Space Agency.

The mission is led by Ye Guangfu, a fighter pilot and astronaut who was previously part of the Shenzhou-13 crew in 2021.

He is joined by astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who are heading into space for the first time.

Onlookers cheered as the rocket blasted off into the night sky, an AFP journalist at the scene said.

Xinhua said the launch had been declared a "complete success".

The astronauts will stay at the Tiangong space station for six months.

There they plan to carry out experiments "in the fields of basic physics in microgravity, space material science, space life science, space medicine and space technology", the China Manned Space Agency has said.

They will also try and create an aquarium onboard and seek to raise fish in zero gravity, according to Xinhua.

Astronauts for China's Shenzhou-18 space mission (L-R) Li Guangsu, Li Cong and Ye Guangfu wave during a departure ceremony.

"Not only will the taikonauts find joy in the space 'aquarium,' but it may also pave the way for their future counterparts to enjoy nutritious fish from their own in-orbit harvests," it added.

They will also conduct experiments on "fruit flies and mice," a researcher quoted by the agency said.

The new crew will replace the Shenzhou-17 team, who were sent to the station in October.

Plans for China's "space dream" have been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping.

The world's second-largest economy has pumped billions of dollars into its military-run space program in an effort to catch up with the United States and Russia.

Beijing also aims to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030, and plans to build a base on the lunar surface.

China has been effectively excluded from the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States banned NASA from engaging with the countrypushing Beijing to develop its own orbital outpost.

That station is the Tiangong, which means "heavenly palace"the crown jewel of a space program that has landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon, and made China the third country to independently put humans in orbit.

It is constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts, with construction completed in 2022.

The Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometers (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years.

 2024 AFP
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A grassland north of China's capital Beijing, where grazing cattle roam amidst the changing environmental conditions. Credit: Li Mingxing

Climate change is significantly altering bioclimatic environments in China's drywet transition zones, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Hydrology.

The research conducted by scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the UK Met Office and Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, addresses the challenges of assessing climate change impacts on vegetation ecosystems, which vary greatly across different spatiotemporal scales.

The study examines how vegetation ecosystems respond and adapt to climate change, alongside the effects of soil water and heat processes. Bioclimatic environment change acts as a crucial link between climate change and local conditions affecting vegetation ecosystems.

"In areas where current vegetation models fall short, bioclimatic indicators offer an alternative for studying climate change impacts on ecological environments," notes Dr. Mingxing Li, the lead author of the study.

The study analyzes historical observations (19792018) and future scenario projections (20062100) under different climate scenarios. Among these scenarios is the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5), which represents a high greenhouse gas emissions pathway leading to substantial global warming and climate change impacts.

Under the RCP8.5 scenario, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century, resulting in severe climate change consequences.

"We focus on ecological environments and habitat suitability for responsive ecosystems, considering climate change, bioclimatic water and heat conditions, and habitat suitability," says Dr. Li.

The findings reveal significant changes in bioclimatic environments across drywet climate transition zones, particularly under the RCP8.5 scenario. By the end of the 21st century, the local growing season length (GSL) could extend by 60 days, with 30% of the GSL facing heat stress.

Despite some improvements in the middle parts of transition zones, overall water conditions worsen both in the air and soil. This leads to a northwestward shift of sustainable grasslands, with a reduction of approximately 131 million square kilometers in total area.

The study highlights the importance of winter and spring heat-water conditions in driving these changes and identifies climate transition zones as hotspots of ecosystem vulnerability, emphasizing the need for targeted impact assessment and adaptation studies.

"While our focus is on China, our findings offer insights for addressing climate change in other transition zones worldwide," adds Dr. Li.

More information: Mingxing Li et al, Climate change reshapes bioclimatic environments in China's drywet transition zones, Journal of Hydrology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131122
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Divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Just like the animals on Noah's Ark, the corals arrived in a pair. On Monday, divers with gloved hands gently nestled the self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project among their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in the Netherlands.

"This is the first project where we started to keep these corals with a known origin. As we know exactly where they're coming from, they have the potential to be placed back into the wild.  So it is very important to keep these corals, as it's going not very well in the wild," Nienke Klerks, a biologist at the Royal Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, told The Associated Press.

It's among several projects worldwide seeking to address the decline of coral reef populations, which are suffering from bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures. Corals are central to marine ecosystems, and while these projects won't stem the tide of damage from human-caused climate change, they are seen as part of broader solutions.

The World Coral Conservatory hopes to create a bank of corals in aquariums across Europe that could be used to repopulate wild coral reefs if they succumb to the stress of climate change or pollution.

A fish swims in a coral reef as divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Along with two zoos in France and the originator of the projectthe Monaco Scientific Centerthe zoo in the east of the Netherlands took in more than a dozen coral fragments from off the coast of Seychelles in east Africa.

The Dutch zoo has been propagating the corals since 2022, allowing them to grow in a highly regulated environment before they were large enough to join the rest of the reef.

"We test it behind the scenes  what works for these corals. In that way, we know where to place them and how to keep them," zookeeper Pascal Kik said.

Each diver held up a coralone that resembled a large mushroom, the other a decorative cookieto be photographed by reporters before placing them on a ledge near the center of the 8-million-liter (2.1-million-gallon) tank.

Few of the other corals at the zoo come from the wild. They are either shared by other zoos or turned over by Dutch customs officers after being confiscated. Coral poaching is a major threat to coral reefs in parts of Asia.

Divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

That would make it difficult to return the corals to the wild. But the team knows exactly where their 14 corals came from, making it more likely they could be successfully reintroduced if needed.

Corals area keystone marine species, according to Mark Eakin, executive secretary for the International Coral Reef Society. Eakin, retired coral monitoring chief at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says that around 25% of marine animals spend some part of their lives dependent on coral reefs.

That makes projects such as the one in Arnhem all the more important to pursue, he said.

"We are in a situation where we really need to be taking any possible action we can," Eakin told AP.

Earlier in April, scientists from the NOAA and International Coral Reef Initiative said that coral reefs around the world are experiencing global bleaching for the fourth time.

Divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Divers with gloved hands gently nestled the first self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project amongst their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands, Monday, April 22, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Bleaching occurs when coral under stress expels the algae that gives them their vibrant colors. The algae is also a coral's food source, and if the bleaching lasts for too long or is too severe, the coral could die.

In the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, bleaching affected 90% of the coral assessed in 2022. The Florida Coral Reef, the third-largest, experienced significant bleaching last year.

Terry Hughes of Australia's James Cook University, an expert on the Great Barrier Reef, argues that the world needs faster, bolder efforts to stop the damage from climate change, instead of small-scale restoration projects like this one.

"You can't replace a magnificent ecosystem with an aquarium," he said.

Others say every little bit helps.

"Coral reefs would be one of the first systems to totally collapse due to climate change,'' said Ronald Osinga, a marine biologist who specializes in corals at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

"It's sad that it has to be like this," said Osinga, who is not involved in the Dutch zoo initiative. But projects like this are a "good backup plan."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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California may be a leader in the fight against climate change, but the state is years, even decades, behind other states when it comes to granting environmental rights to its citizens.

While a handful of other state constitutions, including those of New York and Pennsylvania, declare the people's rights to clean air, water and a healthy environment, California's does not.

That could change as soon as November. Under a proposal moving through the Legislature, voters would decide whether to add one sentence to the state constitution's Declaration of Rights: "The people shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment."

The proposed green amendment could be seen as a well-meaning but symbolic change in a state that, despite tough environmental rules, struggles to address deep environmental problems like air pollution, contaminated drinking water and the worsening impacts of climate change.

But there's a reason that powerful business interests have come out in opposition. Enshrining environmental rights in California's constitution would give citizens a new tool to hold the government accountable for failing to act in the interest of environmental health, protection and justice. That could, in turn, force the state to crack down on polluters.

It should be obvious that we need more tools to address the climate crisis. And in California, of all places, citizens should have the chance to weigh in on whether a healthy environment is a right on par with life, liberty, safety, happiness and privacy, which are all spelled out in the constitution. Lawmakers should advance this proposal to let the voters decide.

To be put on the ballot the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of lawmakers in both the state Assembly and Senate. It must win the support of a simple majority of voters to be added to the constitution.

States like Montana, which declares "the right to a clean and healthful environment," added this kind of language to their constitutions more than 50 years ago in response to the burgeoning environmental movement. After the advent of Earth Day, Pennsylvania in 1971 amended its constitution to add the people's right to "clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment."

In recent years, some of those rarely invoked amendments have seen new life as bases to challenge government decisions over oil and gas permitting and the cleanup of contaminated sites and other environmental hazards. There's now a nationwide movement to get green amendments onto more state constitutions. In 2021 70% of New York voters passed an amendment adding the right to "clean air and water, and a healthful environment" to its state constitution's Bill of Rights, language that is nearly identical to the California proposal.

But state Legislatures have also been a chokepoint for these proposals. In some states, such as New Jersey, green amendments with bipartisan support have languished for years because key lawmakers have prevented them from being being considered.

Business interests in California are lining up in opposition to putting the proposed green amendment on the ballot. Brady Van Engelen, a policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, told lawmakers during a legislative hearing earlier this month that it was a "job killer" that could spur lawsuits and be weaponized by "wealthy white NIMBYs" to block development.

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) who introduced the green amendment legislation, dismissed the Chamber's opposition as "ridiculous." He said that lawmakers opted for simple, direct language that is more limited than other states' to make it clear the amendment is not intended as litigation bait, but rather to establish a clear obligation that the state make decisions in a way that upholds the environmental values it espouses. A green amendment would not establish any new right for individuals to sue businesses for environmental violations.

But just as in New York, Pennsylvania and Montana, a California green amendment could be used to hold state officials accountable for their decisions, from legislation and permitting to the enforcement of existing environmental laws.

Californians should have the chance to not only send a message about how much they value a healthy environment, but to assert that something as fundamental to life as clean air and clean water isn't just an aspiration or an ideal, but a right.

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Scientists have shed light on a new, transformative approach that could help resolve a dispute over the Nile river's water resources.

The Nile is one of the longest rivers globally and spreads over 11 countries in East Africa, supplying water, energy production, environmental quality and cultural wealth. However, the use of Nile resources has been a long-standing source of tension, often overshadowing opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

But as the demand for energy, water, and food in Africa is steadily increasing, the study, led by The University of Manchester in collaboration with regional organizations, offers a glimmer of hope at a resolution.

The research, published in the journal Nature Water, moves away from traditional water-centric agreements, and presents a detailed simulation of the combined energy-water system to reveal how different scenarios of international energy trades could help alleviate the Nile water conflict.

First author Dr. Mikiyas Etichia from The University of Manchester, said, "Traditionally, water disputes in transboundary river basins like the Nile have been approached through a water-centric viewpoint. However, sharing benefits of water resources, such as hydro-generated electricity, crops and fisheries can result in a win-win situation."

Co-author Dr. Mohammed Basheer, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, added, "In the Nile Basin, energy-river basin benefit-sharing projects have been implemented in the past at a small scale, but detailed tools like the one presented in the paper can help create actionable large-scale proposals."

At the heart of the dispute lies the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)a large dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia constructed to improve Ethiopia's electricity access and to export electricity to neighboring countries. The project sparked tensions between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over water rights and access.

The simulator, designed by the scientists using open-source technology, covers 13 East African countries, including those within the Nile Basin, to model potential energy trade agreements between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.

By increasing electricity trade, countries can simultaneously address water deficits, boost hydropower generation, reduce energy curtailment, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Corresponding author Professor Julien Harou from The University of Manchester, said, "The energy trades tested in this study provide the countries a range of solutions that are likely in their national interest.

"The study highlights the value of detailed multisector simulation to unpick the complex interdependencies of large multi-country resource systems. Implementation of the arrangements proposed here would need to be further assessed from governance and legal perspectives to become viable proposals. If successful, they could contribute to sustainable resource management and regional stability.

"We are hopeful the new analytical tools or their results will be taken up by the negotiating parties."

More information: Energy trade tempers Nile water conflict, Nature Water (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-024-00222-9 Journal information: Nature Water
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A scanning electron micrograph of Escherichia coli, which are one of many strains of bacteria found in mammalian guts. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is continuing to increase globally, with rates of AMR in most pathogens increasing and threatening a future in which every day medical procedures may no longer be possible and infections thought long dealt with could kill regularly again. As such, new tools to battle AMR are vitally needed.

A new research review at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMIDBarcelona 2730 April) shows how the latest CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology can be used to help modify and attack AMR bacteria. The presentation is by Dr. Rodrigo Ibarra-Chavez, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

CRISPR-Cas gene-editing technology is a groundbreaking method in molecular biology that allows for precise alterations to the genomes of living organisms. This revolutionary technique, which brought its inventors, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, enables scientists to accurately target and modify specific segments of an organism's DNA (genetic code).

Functioning like molecular 'scissors' with the guidance of guide RNA (gRNA), CRISPR-Cas can cut the DNA at designated spots. This action facilitates either the deletion of unwanted genes or the introduction of new genetic material into an organism's cells, paving the way for advanced therapies.

Dr. Ibarra-Chavez says, "Fighting fire with fire, we are using CRISPR-Cas systems (a bacterial immunity system) as an innovative strategy to induce bacterial cell death or interfere with antibiotic resistance expressionboth hold promise as novel sequence-specific targeted 'antimicrobials.'"

One line of their work involves creating guided systems against antimicrobial resistance genes that could treat infections and prevent dissemination of resistance genes.

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are parts of the bacterial genome that can move about to other host cells or also transfer to another species. These elements drive bacterial evolution via horizontal gene transfer. Dr. Ibarra-Chavez explains how repurposing mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and choosing the delivery mechanism involved in the antimicrobial strategy is important for reaching the target bacterium.

A phage is a virus that infects bacteria, and it is also considered MGE, as some can remain dormant in the host cell and transfer vertically. The MGEs his team is using are phage satellites, which are parasites of phages.

He says, "These 'phage satellites' hijack parts of the viral particles of phages to ensure their transfer to host cells. In contrast to phages, satellites can infect bacteria without destroying them, offering a step-change over existing methods involving phages and thus developing an arsenal of viral particles that are safe to use for applications such as detection and modification via gene delivery.

"Phage particles are very stable and easy to transport and apply in medical settings. It is our task to develop safe guidelines for their application and understand the resistance mechanisms that bacteria can develop."

Bacteria can evolve mechanisms to evade the action of the CRISPR-Cas system and delivery vectors can be vulnerable to anti-MGE defenses. Thus Dr. Ibarra-Chavez's team and others are developing the use of anti-CRISPRs and defense inhibitors in the delivery payloads to counter these defenses, to enable the CRISPR to arrive and attack the AMR genes in the cell.

Dr. Ibarra-Chavez also discusses how combination strategies employing CRISPR-Cas systems could promote antibiotic susceptibility in a target bacterial population. Phages have a particular selective pressure on AMR cells, which can improve the effect of some antibiotics. Similarly, using CRISPR-Cas in combination with phages and/or antibiotics, it is possible to suppress the mechanisms of resistance that infectious bacteria may develop by targeting such virulence/resistance genes, making these therapies safer.

He explains, "Bacteria are particularly good at adapting and becoming resistance. I believe we need to be cautious and try using combinatorial strategies to avoid the development of resistance, while monitoring and creating guidelines of new technologies."

Dr. Ibarra-Chavez has primarily focused on tackling resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Now, in collaboration with Prof. Martha Clokie and Prof. Thomas Sicheritz-Ponten, his team will treat group A Streptococci necrotizing soft tissue infection (flesh eating bacteria) using the combination approaches described above.

Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
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Credit: Cell Host & Microbe (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.002

Fungal disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) is on the rise due to increasingly humid conditions induced by climate change during the wheat growing season, but a fundamental discovery by University of Adelaide researchers could help reduce its economic harm.

While some types of wheat are resistant to FHB thanks to the action of the TaHRC gene at the Fhb1 locus, how this gene functions in wheat cells was unknown until now.

Collaborating with Nanjing Agriculture University, the University of Adelaide research team has shown TaHRC works in the nucleus of wheat cells, and it can either increase or decrease a plant's susceptibility to FHB.

"There are two variants of TaHRC that have opposing effects on the condensation of a specific protein complex within the nucleus," says Dr. Xiujuan Yang, from the University's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.

"When condensed, the complex leads to susceptibility to FHB, whereas when diffused, it provides resistance against FHB.

"We are the first to reveal the function of protein complex condensation in response to a major crop fungal disease, providing insight into the mode of action of protein complexes in cereal defense responses."

Dr Xiujuan Yang examining the health state of wheat flowers. Credit: University of Adelaide

FHB has caused significant harm to Australia's wheat industry in recent years, with crops in the 2022 season suffering up to 100% yield losses.

The disease has been on the rise globally since the 1970s, but climate change has increased its prevalence.

"Australia's reputation for producing high-quality wheat has been built on fortuitous climate conditions during flowering and grain fill, typically coinciding with the dry season, which helps avoid many fungus-caused diseases that thrive in humid weather," says Dr. Yang.

"However, in the background of climate change, a wet spring in 2022 led to Fusarium head blight becoming widespread across eastern Australia."

Australian durum wheat varieties are all highly susceptible to FHB, but it is unclear what level of resistance exists in bread-wheat varieties.

Dr. Yang hopes this fundamental discovery, published in Cell Host & Microbe , will counteract the growing prevalence of FHB and provide assurance to Australian growers.

"Our findings offer exciting prospects for developing new and enhanced forms of Fusarium head blight resistance," Dr. Yang says. "By understanding the underlying mechanisms beyond Fhb1, we can innovate breeding strategies to diversify resistance sources.

"Our research opens the door to the development of more resilient and sustainable wheat varieties for future agriculture, and might shed light onto other Fusarium-caused diseases, such as crown rot."

More information: Yi He et al, A phase-separated protein hub modulates resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat, Cell Host & Microbe (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.002 Journal information: Cell Host & Microbe
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing.

One emerging concept focuses on giving legal rights to nature.

Many Indigenous peoples have long emphasized the intrinsic value of nature. In 1972, the late University of Southern California law professor Christopher Stone proposed what then seemed like a whimsical idea: to vest legal rights in natural objects to allow a shift from an anthropocentric to an intrinsic worldview.

Ecuador was the first country to enshrine rights of nature in its 2008 constitution. Since then, a growing number of countries have followed in awarding rights of nature.

This includes Aotearoa New Zealand, where legal personhood was granted to the Whanganui River, the former national park Te Urewera and soon the Taranaki maunga.

At its core, the rights-of-nature movement allows persons to take legal action on behalf of natural ecosystems, as opposed to on behalf of people affected by environmental degradation.

Ecosystems can become separate entities with their own agency, in the same way other non-human entities such as charitable trusts and organizations can exist as separate entities in law.

But can the movement help stem the loss of biodiversity? There is no easy answer. Our new research shows that many rights-of-nature examples have emerged because current systems were not enough to protect nature from continued economic pressure from development.

We find one of the key features of well designed rights-of-nature frameworks lies in defining who is ultimately liable, and what for.

Global case studies

The design of rights-of-nature frameworks varies widely in geography, legal status, guardianship and who holds liability.

We investigated 14 global rights-of-nature examples and categorized them by types of guardianship. For example, in 2008, Ecuador enshrined rights of nature in its constitution because of decades of pressure from large mining companies.

This represents a type of public guardianship where every citizen has the right to take legal action on behalf of nature.

In New Zealand on the other hand, the former national park Te Urewera was granted legal personhood with Tuhoe trustees as appointed guardians.

A legal person is defined as an entity which has the capacity to enter into contracts, incur debts, sue and be sued in its own right, and to be accountable for illegal activities. We define rights-of-nature cases with appointed guardians as "environmental legal personhoods."

We then compared these cases to explore why they emerged and how they are designed. Who advocated on behalf of the environment? What was the exploiting activity putting pressure on the ecosystem? What is the liability status of the guardians?

We found that, overwhelmingly, Indigenous people and local communities acted as advocates. For example, the Whanganui River in New Zealand was granted legal personhood in 2017 as a result of hundreds of years of resistance by Indigenous Maori to aggressive colonization.

Since 1848, the Crown has introduced a steamer service, cleared forest from river banks, extracted sand and gravel, and diverted water into a power scheme. This led to ongoing conflict with Whanganui iwi who raised concerns about the river's health and the desire to preserve the resource for future generations.

Response to sustained economic pressure

On the other side of the world, the Mar Menor lagoon in Spain was declared a legal person in 2022 due to strong local community advocacy against pollution from agriculture, mining and sewage.

The evidence from our research points to a fundamental divide between local communities and external economic interests. The rights-of-nature movement has come as a response to sustained pressure from economic (urban, agricultural and industrial) activity. The features of design, however, vary significantly.

For example, the Victorian state government in Australia established the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, an independent statutory body under the state's Water Act 1989, as a legal person. It manages water entitlements to improve the health of rivers and wetlands. The entity acts indirectly on behalf of the ecosystems, which is not precisely the same as creating legal rights for rivers themselves.

The Whanganui River, on the other hand, was itself declared a legal person. Its appointed guardians have the legal status of a charitable entity. This group includes representatives of Whanganui iwi and the government, supported by members of councils, locals, and recreational and commercial users.

Liability matters

The recent overturning of two rights-of-nature decisions in particular puts the spot light on the importance of liability.

In the US, farming operations challenged the Lake Erie Bill of Rights in 2020, which granted Lake Erie the right to "exist, flourish and naturally evolve." Farmers argued the bill was too vague and would expose them to liability from fertilizer runoff.

In India, the Ganges and Yamuna rivers were granted living-person status, where injury to rivers was to be treated equally to injury to human beings. The decision was challenged on the grounds of uncertainty about who the custodians are and who would be liable to pay damage to the families of those who drowned in the rivers.

Both these were legally overturned, meaning these natural entities no longer have rights of nature. This suggests attention to legally defining who is liability for what may be an important building block for the movement to protect biodiversity in the future.

Our recommendation is that future rights-of-nature frameworks need to have well-defined legal rights and include appointed guardians, established as separate legal entities with limited liability, as well as the support of representatives from interest groups.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Rabies is a major concern to both human and animal health, with rabies in dogs and cats widespread in Eastern Europe, and there are concerns the war in Ukraine could pose a greater risk of rabies being reintroduced to the European Union (EU). A four-month period of home isolation of dogs and cats could reduce this risk, new University of Bristol research has shown.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Commission eased the importation requirements for the pets of Ukrainian refugees (to allow refugees to get their pets out of Ukraine rapidly) through modification of the rules of the EU Pet Travel Scheme (EU PETS), a process referred to as "derogation."

The Derogation Scheme includes a four-month period of home isolation for pets following their arrival in the EU, as compared to the regular three-month waiting period in the home country. However, as rabies in dogs and cats remains widespread in Ukraine, the importation of animals poses a continual threat to rabies spreading in the EU.

Bristol Veterinary School researchers wanted to investigate whether the change in regulations and the easing of importation requirements for the pets of Ukrainian refugees increased the risk of rabies introduction to the EU.

To assess this, the team used a mathematical modeling approach to compare different levels of compliance by pet owners for the EU PETS scheme, and the Derogation Scheme (for the pets of Ukrainian refugees). The study is published in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health.

Their results showed that when pet owners complied 100% with the new rules under the Derogation Scheme, the annual risk of rabies introduction from Ukraine into the EU was not increased, and indeed rather unexpectedly, it was significantly lower than previously.

The researchers also modeled what could be expected if some pet owners didn't comply with the rules (by not undertaking vaccination, blood testing or a border check), both under the original EU PETS Scheme and Derogation Scheme. A reduced level of compliance from pet owners had a large effect on the annual risk of rabies entry within both schemes, leading to a 74-fold increase in risk under the Derogation Scheme, and a ten-fold increase under the EU PETS scheme, compared with full compliance.

Nevertheless, the annual risk remained at least as low under the Derogation Scheme as it had been under EU PETS and was likely even lower.

The researchers suggest the significantly lower risk from the Derogation Scheme compared to EU PETS could be explained by the four-month period of home isolation, which removes contact with other animals during the waiting period.

The research concluded the Derogation to the EU PETS scheme, which includes a four-month quarantine, rather than a waiting period in Ukraine, has a significantly reduced annual risk of rabies introduction compared to the current EU PETS scheme alone, when owners are 100% compliant. Even in the scenario of reduced compliance, this risk remained reduced under the Derogation Scheme, although this was not statistically significant.

Tirion Cobby, lead author at the Bristol Veterinary School, who conducted the study for her final MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation research dissertation, said, "Our findings suggest a four-month period of quarantine, as modeled for the derogation scenario, could reduce the annual risk of rabies entry. The suggested scheme could also be a viable solution to accommodating the pets of refugees while managing risk to disease-free areas in times of crisis."

Professor Mark Eisler, Chair in Global Farm Animal Health at Bristol Veterinary School, added, "Modification of the rules to make it easier and quicker for Ukrainian refugees escaping into the EU to take their dogs with them might actually have reduced the risk of entry of the deadly zoonotic disease rabies, from which the EU (and the UK) is currently largely free. This has considerable potential implications for management of any similar crises in the future."

More information: Tirion Rebecca Cobby et al, Risk of rabies reintroduction into the European Union as a result of the RussoUkrainian war: A quantitative disease risk analysis, Zoonoses and Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1111/zph.13135
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Fig. 1 The transport results of FeSe/-doped SrTiO 3 (001), in comparison with FeSe/SrTiO 3 (001). Credit: Science China Press

Interface engineering has been proven to be effective in discovering new quantum states, such as topological states, superconductivity, charge density waves, magnetism, etc., which require atomic-scale heterostructure fabrication. Monolayer FeSe on SrTiO 3 substrates has attracted intense interest owing to its remarkable interface-enhanced superconductivity.

Previous experimental investigations disclosed significant interfacial electron transfer to the FeSe monolayer, from the TiO 2- charge reservoir layer with oxygen vacancies as the intrinsic donors. Moreover, the monolayer FeSe exhibits additionally enlarged gap magnitudes than other electron-doped FeSe (i.e., 1520 meV vs. 12 meV), which has been attributed to the cooperative contribution from electron-phonon coupling with specific longitudinal optical phonon modes from TiO 2- surfaces.

Incoherent Cooper pairing and pseudogap have been claimed because of the remarkably lower zero-resistance temperature achieved hitherto than the gap-opening temperature (65-83 K). Previous scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy characterization disclosed dense domains in the monolayer FeSe films, and the superconducting gaps are suppressed around domain boundaries and even vanished in nanometer-scales domains.

The domains originate from the low-temperature (105 K) antiferrodistortive phase transition in bulk-SrTiO 3 . Previous efforts on improving the uniformity in the monolayer FeSe are usually at the expense of weakening the interface coupling, or vice versa.

Fig. 2 . Schematic diagrams for structure and band alignment in FeSe/SrTiO 3 (001) heterostructures without/with -dopants. Credit: Science China Press

Qi-Kun Xue and Lili Wang from Tsinghua University and Minghu Pan from Shaanxi Normal University reported enhanced interface coupling as well as improved spatial uniformity in monolayer FeSe films on SrTiO 3 (001) via metallic -doping (Au and Al atoms), and hence, enhanced superconductivity.

The Al and Eu atoms with higher oxygen affinity than Ti scavenge oxygen from the TiO 2- surface, thus increasing the density of the surface oxygen vacancies but preventing their clustering, as revealed by lowered work functions with reduced electronic variation. Monolayer FeSe films on such -doped SrTiO 3 (001) exhibit reduced intensity of domains and generally enlarged superconducting gaps, indicating the strengthened Cooper pairing with improved electronic homogeneity.

Consequently, the temperature-dependent resistivity measurements disclosed an onset transition temperature of 53 K and a zero-resistance temperature of 27 K. This work is published in the National Science Review, titled "Significantly enhanced superconductivity in monolayer FeSe films on SrTiO3(001) via metallic -doping." Xiaotong Jiao from Shaanxi Normal University), Wenfeng Dong, Dr. Mingxia Shi and Dr. Heng Wang from Tsinghua University contributed equally to this work.

More information: Xiaotong Jiao et al, Significantly enhanced superconductivity in monolayer FeSe films on SrTiO3(001) via metallic -doping, National Science Review (2023). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad213
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NIOZ fyke at North Sea inlet Marsdiep near Texel since 1960. Credit: Robert Twijnstra / NIOZ

Due to the changing climate, young herring arrive in the Wadden Sea earlier and earlier in spring. That is shown in a new publication by NIOZ ecologists Mark Rademaker, Myron Peck, and Anieke van Leeuwen in Global Change Biology.

"The fact that we were able to demonstrate this was only due to very consistentlyfor more than 60 yearsand continuously sampling the fish every spring and every fall with exactly the same fyke [net] every time," Rademaker says. "Recognizing this kind of change requires extreme precision and endurance."

Since 1960, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, has been measuring the number and species of fish that swim in the Marsdiep, between Den Helder and Texel, day in and day out, using a standard fyke, in spring and fall. These measurements show that the peak of the number of young herring swimming into the Wadden Sea since 1982 comes at least two weeks earlier now.

"Such a calculation is difficult with a species of fish that swims in large schools," Rademaker says. "One day, there may be only ten herring, while the next, there are suddenly ten thousand fish swimming by. So, if you were to take a measurement just one day or the other accidentally, you would get a completely different picture."

Extremely consistent measurement

According to Rademaker, the solution to that problem lies in extremely consistent measurement, almost to the square meter. "Only by carrying out measurements in the same place over and over again, and almost continuously, year after year, can you reliably reveal changes in the long term."

The research with the "NIOZ fyke" is unique in the world. Most other monitoring programs measure only once or a few times per month or even per quarter, and then often not even at exactly the same spot.

Rademaker says, "When I projected that frequency from other research programs onto the data from the NIOZ fyke, picking out a few random measurement days, the changes in the timing of the herring did not show up."

The study of the rhythm of young herring in the Wadden Sea will also be one of the chapters in the dissertation that Rademaker will defend next month at Wageningen University. Just as he was able to fish out the influence of climate on herring from huge data sets, he also did calculations on the long-term sampling of benthic life from the SIBES program in the Wadden Sea and on measurements of deep-sea squid around the Azores.

Besides making a case for solid long-term research, Rademaker's dissertation also comes with an important warning for colleagues.

"Don't stare blindly at statistics," he stresses. "With the help of artificial intelligence, you can sometimes filter out the most amazing trends from huge data sets. But that research is worth nothing if you don't combine it with experiments and measurements in the field. After all, you also need to have a good theory that can explain what you think you see in the data."

More information: Mark Rademaker et al, Local reflects global: Life stagedependent changes in the phenology of coastal habitat use by North Sea herring, Global Change Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17285 Journal information: Global Change Biology
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A haunting sight at the archaeological site. The face of a statue of the god Dionysus as it's painstakingly chipped away from and brushed free of millennia of built-up deposits. Credit: 2024 Institute for Advanced Global Studies CC-BY-ND

A group of archaeologists, led by researchers from the University of Tokyo, announce the discovery of a part of a Roman villa built before the middle of the first century. This villa, near the town of Nola in southwestern Italy's Campania region, was found beneath a more recent, but still ancient building from the 2nd century.

Specific findings at the site, buried by multiple eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, suggest it might have been the home of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (Octavian), the founding emperor of the Roman Empire, as they coincide with contemporary writings by known Roman writers Tacitus, Suetonius, and Dio Cassius.

This excavation is also significant as it was previously thought that only areas to the south of Vesuvius, famously the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, were heavily damaged, but this villa is located in the valley of Somma Vesuviana to the north.

In 1929, a farmer discovered, by accident, part of an abandoned building buried in a field. Archaeologists set to work excavating the site to reveal an extravagant villa that strongly hinted at being the residence of Augustus. However, the financial condition at that time impeded further exploration of the site.

This situation changed in 2002 when the University of Tokyo began an interdisciplinary project, in collaboration with local archaeologists, to fully excavate the villa and learn about this potentially significant area. Since then, many Roman objects, beautiful marble statuesincluding two pieces fit enough to be displayed in a museuma huge building with various rooms, wall paintings, stucco reliefs and mosaics have been revealed.

An archaeologist stands next to a pillar, showing the magnitude of the ancient dwelling. Credit: 2024 Institute for Advanced Global Studies CC-BY-ND

"Excavations around Mount Vesuvius have been ongoing since the 18th century. It was known that beneath the ash and debris from the biggest eruption in A.D. 79, various Roman artifacts lay buried," said Kohei Sugiyama, an archaeologist from the Institute for Advanced Global Studies at the University of Tokyo.

"Most exploration related to that are focused on regions to the south of the volcano as that is where the majority of ejecta fell, and damage was suffered. For over 20 years, we have excavated large sections of the villa and have recently uncovered some previously unknown rooms and other architectural elements.

"Using radiocarbon dating, and with help from volcanologists to perform extra analysis, we determined that these newly discovered sections are buried under volcanic material from the A.D. 79 eruption."

Pots buried under ash and other pyroclastic materials of the A.D. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius give clues about the levels of volcanic damage to the villa. Credit: 2024 Institute for Advanced Global Studies CC-BY-ND

Ejected volcanic rocks from the A.D. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Credit: 2024 Institute for Advanced Global Studies CC-BY-ND

Sugiyama and his team revealed significant destruction in the northern area of Mount Vesuvius, including damage from lava flows and pyroclastic surges, the big explosions you see people running from in movies about volcanoes.

At the site of the villa during the 2002 excavations, volcanologists in the team revealed the upper levels of the building were constructed by the mid-second century, and that the villa was built upon some of the partially obscured structures that came before it.

This finding indicates the resilience and rebuilding efforts of the people following the disaster of A.D. 79 in the area of Somma Vesuviana, unlike Pompeii, where the thick layers of volcanic ash and pyroclastic flows left the city abandoned for many centuries.

"This kind of investigation is important for several reasons," said Sugiyama. "Not only does it connect physical evidence with Augustus, who is mainly known through historic writings, but it also tells us about the local economy and society in that region at that time, which may have been more prosperous and significant than was previously thought.

"Learning about how ancient people recovered from disasters could inform how we plan for such things today. It's challenging to carry out this kind of archaeology due to the heavy machinery needed to dig down to 15 meters and move large boulders, and of course funding can often be an issue."
Jasmine Luellen lost her 8-year-old son, Quinton and her 38-year-old fiancee, Jamie Persons, when they were killed by Anthony Futia, an intoxicated motorcycle driver on July 12, 2022 in Lake George.

Futia, who is now serving a 15-years-to-life sentence in state prison, was driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he left U.S. Route 9, the Lake George Road, in front of the Magic Forest theme park, swerved onto the Warren County Bikeway and struck the victims.

To honor her sacrifice and her help convicting Futia, the Warren County District Attorneys Offices gave Luellen the Courage Award, in a ceremony commemorating National Crime Victims Week, the week that began April 22.

Luellen was able to safeguard her infant son when the crash occurred, and aided in prosecuting the man who caused the fatalities.

No one chooses to be a victim of crime, but when crime occurs, we need to do all we can to support them, said Warren County District Attorney, Jason Carusone in a statement. We are fortunate to have many dedicated people working here in Warren County who are unwavering in their assistance to those who have been victimized. They step up day after day.

National Crime Victims Rights Week has been celebrated annually since 1981. The observance is dedicated to education about victimization, the effect victimization has on individuals, families, friends and the community, and to promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime.

The annual ceremony at Lake George Elementary School also recognized victims as well as law enforcement personnel, first responders, medical professionals and civilians who had assisted in times of need, or who later provided assistance during prosecution.

The District Attorneys Office honored several units from the New York State Police, the Warren County Sheriffs Office, staff from numerous rescue squads and medical professionals who assisted victims in the motorcycle crash case as well as a 2021 burglary and sexual assault case in Warrensburg.

In the 2021 case, a Nebraska man attacked an elderly woman in her home, then fled to commit additional crimes in Vermont and New Hampshire before he was apprehended. In addition to Mondays ceremony, bricks engraved with the names of local crime victims will be added to the Warren County Crime Victims Memorial.

The 2024 National Crime Victims Rights Week theme is How would you help? and it asks everyone friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, community leaders, victim service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and health professionalshow they can help crime victims.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Warren County District Attorneys Office, victims of crime and their loved ones, victim service providers, members of the Warren County Sheriffs Office and the New York State Police.

Also present were Lake George Elementary school staff, several first responders from local agencies, members of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, local judiciary, and representatives for State Sen. Dan Stec and Assemblyman Matt Simpson, a press release said.

Kevin Geraghty, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, read a proclamation passed by the Board of Supervisors on Friday, April 19, 2024, thanking those who assist victims of crime for their difficult work and proclaiming this week National Crime Victims Rights Week in Warren County.

To read more about Futia and the case that convicted him, click here.
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ATLANTIC CITY  Two more men were arrested in a Wednesday stabbing outside the Showboat Resort Atlantic City.

Julius Reed, 19, of Atlantic City, and Tyreke Allen-Whittaker, 18, of Bridgeton, were each charged with aggravated assault.

Reed was additionally charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Detective Lisa Kaplin-Caldwell identified Reed as the suspect responsible for stabbing the victim, a 25-year-old man from the Bronx, New York, police said Friday in a news release. Reed also was found to have an active arrest warrant in Camden County. Allen-Whittaker was charged with punching the victim.

At 10:57 p.m. Thursday, Showboat security alerted police that Reed and Allen-Whittaker had entered the property. When officers William Harned and Julian Monsalve arrived, they were told the two suspects had left. The officers found the suspects at Delaware and Atlantic avenues and arrested them.

Millville man charged in stabbing of New York man outside Atlantic City hotel A Millville man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly got into a fight with a New York man before the victim was stabbed outside the Showboat Resort Atlantic City, police said.

Reed is being held in the Atlantic County jail, and Allen-Whittaker was released on a summons pending court.

On Wednesday, police responded to the Showboat in the 800 block of the Boardwalk in reference to the stabbing. The victim was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus.

Investigators determined the victim was involved in a fight with multiple suspects who punched, kicked and stabbed him, police said.

Marquise Cottman, 20, of Millville, was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault. He was spotted several hours after the incident and taken into custody. He also had an active warrant for his arrest, police said.

Cottman was released on a summons pending court.
ATLANTIC CITY  Wanted: Landlords with decent rental housing for Atlantic City Housing Authority residents looking to move out of the troubled Stanley Holmes Village.

At its Thursday meeting, the authority board appealed to the public and to U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, for help identifying landlords who will rent to Section 8 voucher holders.

As far as Congressman Van Drew, we only ask for Section 8 vouchers and for his district area to provide some landlords  to put the word out asking who is willing to take residents with Section 8 vouchers, authority Chair Stephanie Marshall said during Thursdays board meeting.

We welcome everything, even the investigations hes asked for. It takes a lot of time of staff have to dig and get information (for it), Marshall said during the meeting. Hes yet to reach back out for us to have a meeting.

Van Drew, who along with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has called for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to take over the authority, rejected Friday the idea of moving people into private housing rather than fixing Stanley Holmes. He also said his office has no record of the authority attempting to set up a meeting about conditions there or Section 8 vouchers.

Last nights Authority meeting clearly showcased their eagerness to shift the blame and evade responsibility, Van Drew said Friday in a news release. While they have utterly failed in their responsibility to ensure the safety and health standards of their residents, with residents still living with mold and leaky pipes, they continue to make excuses for their incompetence.

The board has said it intends to eventually demolish some or all of Stanley Holmes, and to replace it with townhome style housing. But it has made no definite plans.

Van Drew also has asked HUDs inspector general to investigate housing authority operations.

Judge says he needs Atlantic City Housing Authority director to testify in tenant lawsuit Saying he cannot set any more deadlines for the Atlantic City Housing Authority to make improvements at Stanley Holmes Village after it missed earlier deadlines, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge John C. Porto said he must hear from the authority's executive director under oath.

Last month, Van Drew visited Stanley Holmes to see the poor conditions there for himself and to talk to residents.

They prioritize self preservation over the well-being of the residents and continue to shift blame instead of finding solutions, Van Drew said. But he said his office is willing to engage in a meaningful discussion and invited authority representatives to contact his office to schedule a meeting.

The authority has been unable to provide consistent heat and hot water to residents of the 420-unit public housing complex, located on several blocks off Martin Luther King Avenue.

The authority has 200 vouchers to offer to Stanley Holmes residents willing to move into privately owned housing, Executive Director Tom Sahlin said during the meeting.

Under the Section 8 program, the landlord can charge a fair market rent, and the renter pays 30% of his or her income while the federal government pays the rest.

Marshall said Atlantic City properties are most sought, but vouchers could be used outside the city.

We need the congressmans positive efforts, to directly request HUD Washington and the NJ Department of Community Affairs to provide additional vouchers to ensure all Stanley residents receive affordable housing, Marshall said in a text message Friday.

In his report Thursday, Sahlin said 49 Stanley Holmes residents have taken vouchers to try to find private housing, and the authority now has another 151 to give to clients who want to move.

Menendez urges new HUD secretary to take over Atlantic City Housing Authority Saying the Atlantic City Housing Authority has "lost the trust of the residents it was created to serve," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., urged the new acting secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to take over the authority Thursday morning.

Stanley Holmes Village was built in three stages from the 1930s to the 1950s. It also suffers from mold and pest infestations, gas leaks, broken appliances, water intrusion and other problems related to age and decades of poor maintenance.

About 130 residents of Stanley Holmes are suing the authority over conditions there, and a judge has ordered a 25% rent abatement for them.

Sahlin is expected to testify for the first time in that lawsuit, which was filed a year and a half ago, in a May hearing.

Sahlin also reported that fiscal year-to-date the authority has spent $117,699 on food reimbursement for Stanley Holmes residents moved temporarily to hotels while repairs were made on their apartments, and $291,846 on hotel bills.

In addition, it has spent $41,400 on moving people out of Stanley Holmes, either to other authority complexes or to Section 8 housing. The authority pays $1,200 per unit for moving expenses, so that amount would cover 34.5 moves.

During public comment, community activist Steve Young of the South Jersey Chapter of the National Action Network thanked Van Drew and Menendez for bringing national attention to the problems of the local Housing Authority.

No matter what you may think about Congressman Van Drew, hes been there, Young said. We continue to thank him for his support.
LONGPORT  The borough is doing what it can to preserve the history of its razed century-old post office.

The building on South 27th Street was torn down in March to make way for future development.

Thanks to a painting retired Longport postal carrier Gunn Lee made for a postal contest in 1995, along with other items donated to the boroughs Historical Society Museum, the post offices legacy will live on.

Lees 12-inch-by-12-inch hand-drawn piece, titled His Last Job on His Last Day, was one of 12 pieces selected over thousands of submissions entered nationwide for the U.S. Postal Services 1995 calendar contest.

The painting also was in a traveling exhibit displayed in government buildings across the country.

The painting depicted one of the clerks who was retiring at the time, John Schneider, who was so dedicated to his job, he still took the American flag down that waved in front of the post office at the end of his last shift.

Thirty years ago, the post office put out a contest nationwide for carriers and clerks, because they were coming out with a calendar, and they wanted people to submit an artwork or painting. So Mr. Lee did a drawing of the Longport post office in 1997 and he won. Hes never entered a contest before, said Jeff Fusco, Lees friend who was there on his behalf to ask borough officials if they would accept the gift March 20. So when we became aware of the post office being torn down, he said to me when I saw him he would like to donate the original drawing to the borough of Longport and the Historical Society.

Valor Awards highlight firefighters' bravery in Atlantic County The 31st annual Harold J. "Whitey" Swartz Valor Awards were held Wednesday at the Anthony Tony Canale Fire Training Center in Egg Harbor Township.

Lee delivered mail for 32 years, while Fusco delivered mail for about 35 years.

Lee and Fusco also donated a brick from the demolished post office and the keys to the old post office Greg Kilar, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 370, got from its current property owner.

Mayor Nick Russo said he was looking for any items from the old post office to preserve the post offices memory.

We certainty want to acknowledge Lee, and we can coordinate with the library about displaying it, said Michael Affanato, the boroughs solicitor.

Letter carriers in Longport currently work out of the Margate post office at 8 S. Franklin Ave.

Lee, who was born and raised in South Korea, also attended art school there. He never sold any of his paintings, choosing instead to donate them, Fusco said.
A Moline man accused of neglecting his severely disabled stepson reached an agreement Thursday with the Rock Island County State's Attorney.

Justin Keim will serve two years on conditional discharge after he pleaded guilty to an amended felony count of child endangerment in Rock Island County Court.

Keim was accused of neglect and abuse in the Nov. 3, 2020, death of his 15-year-old stepson, Joseph "J.J." Hammond.

The sentence brings Rock Island County's long prosecution of Justin and Jennifer Keim to an end.

By Thursday, Justin Keim was no stranger to the inside of the courthouse in Rock Island, as he attended status hearings and plea negotiations for the better part of three years. He appeared in court 26 times since he made first appearance on March 24, 2021.

Hammond's mother, Jennifer Keim, originally was charged with murder and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of neglect and abuse of a disabled person. She was sentenced to four years of probation.

Both Jennifer and Justin Keim petitioned for and received bond reductions, which allowed them to be out of jail while awaiting hearings.

Prosecutors accused Jennifer Keim of failing to provide, appropriate hydration, nutrition and medical care  (and) knowing that doing so created the strong probability of death or great bodily harm.

The teen was born with cerebral palsy and was profoundly disabled.

In her sentencing hearing Jan. 23, 2023, Jennifer Keim said J.J.s death, tore my family apart.

There is pain that never goes away, she said. There is not a day that goes by that my heart does not ache.

She told the court in November 2020 the spread of COVID-19 filled her with overwhelming fear and panic. Her attorney, Jon Ruud, later repeated the effect her fears about the pandemic had on Keims decision-making.

We might not remember it well today, but in the fall of 2020, the world was on fire, Ruud told the court. We were told to not go to emergency rooms.

During Jennifer Keim's sentencing hearing, Rock Island County Assistant States Attorney Sean Williams asked 14th Circuit Court Judge Frank Fuhr to impose the maximum sentence of 14 years. He said she showed a horrible lack of action and pointed out J.J. weighed just 38 pounds at the time of his death.

Even during the pandemic, there were alternatives, Williams said. Some action was required  neglect caused J.J.s death.

Rock Island County States Attorney Dora Villarreal said the case was particularly disturbing for law enforcement and attorneys in her office because of the teen's condition at the time of his death.

But family members, friends and neighbors said J.J.s physical condition often was poor, even though his mother did everything she could for him.

At the time of Jennifer Keims arrest, childhood friend Christa Axnix said: I know this family intimately. Everyone who knows Jennifer knows the hard work and dedication she put into keeping J.J. alive.

His frequent bouts with respiratory infections made the Keims fearful, Axnix said, of taking J.J. to doctors offices or the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hospital staff found the child to be extremely dehydrated and emaciated, with severe open wounds that had not been properly treated. The child went into cardiopulmonary arrest and later was pronounced dead at the hospital, a news release stated.

The Rock Island County Coroners Office, the Moline Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services began an investigation that included numerous interviews, consultations with medical professionals and an in-depth examination of the childs medical records and past medical treatment, according to a news release.

The inquiries revealed a consistent pattern of medical and physical neglect, which led to the childs death, the release stated. The autopsy ruled the childs manner of death to be complications from chronic malnutrition and dehydration because of underlying physical neglect.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lead a trade mission to India in September, her office announced on Thursday.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and a group of agriculture and business leaders will join Reynolds to strengthen the trade and business relationship between Iowa and India, her office said. The trade mission is organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Commerces Commercial Service.

India is the worlds largest democracy and, over the last two decades, it has transformed its economy, making it the fifth largest in the world, Reynolds said in a written statement. With Indias tremendous growth and massive consumer market, this trade mission is an excellent opportunity to promote Iowa as an investment destination for Indian companies  particularly those in advanced manufacturing, biotech, finance, and insurance  and a strong trade partner in agricultural exports.

The trade mission will take place September 13-22, Reynolds' office said. The itinerary is still being planned.

Naig said in a statement the visit would be an opportunity to strengthen Iowas agricultural relationship with India, which has a growing economic need that Naig said can be met by Iowa producers.

India already has a growing appetite for ethanol and livestock feed, and recently opened the door for Iowa pork exports, so this connection offers a significant upside for Iowa, Naig said. I am excited to embark on this trade mission with Gov. Reynolds and our delegation of Iowans to reinforce existing relationships and forge new friendships that will create larger and more diverse markets for Iowa products.

AG clears Fort Dodge officers of fatal shooting

The Iowa Attorney Generals office has concluded that Fort Dodge police officers were legally justified in shooting and killing a Fort Dodge man in March.

According to a report released by Attorney General Brenna Birds office, police responded to a 911 call to a Fort Dodge home after receiving a report that 24-year-old Tyler Stansberry was acting violently and having a mental health episode.

Stansberry was on the autism spectrum and had schizophrenia, PTSD and social anxiety, according to the report. He had a history of aggressive behavior and and he had refused to visit doctors or take his prescribed medication, the report says.

The day before police fatally shot Stansberry, Stansberrys mother had received a court order involuntarily committing him because of a worsening mental condition. The order had not been shared with law enforcement, the report says.

Stansberrys brother called 911 on March 16 to report he was having a mental health crisis. The brother said Stansberry was freaking out, and he had assaulted him and harmed a dog in the house.

Officers searched the house and directed Stansberrys brother to ask him to come from the basement to the main level of the house. After being told Stansberry was in the basement armed with a knife, four officers  two carrying revolvers, one carrying a stun gun and another carrying a shotgun loaded with a beanbag round  entered the home again.

When the officers entered the basement after calling Stansberrys name, the report says, Stansberry appeared from another room and ran at the officers, holding two knives. All but one officer, who remained on the stairs, fired their weapons at Stansberry as he approached them.

Stansberry was hit by the two bullets, the taser, and the beanbag round, the report said. Officer Matthew English of the Fort Dodge Police Department fired the fatal shots. Stansberry was taken to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Birds office determined English and the other officers were legally justified. The report says they attempted to deescalate the situation by attempting to speak to Stansberry through a family member, and the immediate threat of violence warranted the use of force.

Particularly given the short time they had to react to Stansberrys sudden, imminent threat of deadly violence, the officers used the force necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves and others in the area, the report says.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Thursday released a list of legislative primary endorsements, including backing a challenger to a sitting Republican House member and supporting a long-time politician over two current representatives seeking a Senate seat.

The list also includes a mix of support for incumbents and those who dont face a primary opponent. The endorsements, totaling 58, mark the first time Gianforte has publicly announced his support for candidates in Republican legislative primaries. Gianforte is also running for re-election this year, seeking his second term in office.

The primary is June 4.

Those he endorsed will work with me to make it more affordable and easier for Montana families to thrive, Gianforte said in a press release.   And I know theyll work with me to cut taxes so Montanans can keep more of what they earn, reform our property tax system and rein in property taxes, support law enforcement, make our families stronger, support apprenticeships and trades education, fund our public schools, and improve education for our kids and grandkids.

In the race for House District 77, Gianforte is backing challenger Kyle McMurray, a retired optometrist and business owner in the Gallatin Valley who is challenging Rep. Jane Gillette, who currently holds the House District 64 seat. Montana went through redistricting in 2023 and legislators are running in newly drawn districts this cycle.

McMurray said Gianfortes endorsement means the world to my campaign. He added hes known the governor roughly 18 years and their families have traveled to Israel together.

McMurray said in an interview Thursday hes a native of Manhattan and is running to have someone born and raised in the district represent it. He said he wants to focus on reforming property taxes if elected and protecting Montana values.

We have a special place here and  its something we want to preserve. Family values, property rights values, parental rights values, family farm and family ranch values  those are the main focus of my campaign, McMurray said, adding he also got support from the Montana Farm Bureau.

Gillette on Thursday issued a statement, saying McMurray is a liberal  funded by Democrats, and transgender and medical lobbyists; where as Im a Trump conservative with an A+ rating from the Family Foundation and Freedom Index.

McMurray said he thinks Gillettes record in the Legislature has hamstrung progress.

Shes extremely conservative and thats how she votes. She tries to tout that shes got a very stellar voting record; its stellar only in the standards of the extreme right. Because of some of the extreme rights opinions were not getting things done that need to get done, including property tax (reform), McMurray said. Its unfortunate that property taxes didnt get a better handle put on them in the last two legislative sessions, but mostly I blame that on the far right and shes part of that. We can get more things done if were not extremely far right. Im very conservative but I feel like I can work with other folks who also have good ideas and I think shes proven she cant.

Gianforte campaign spokesperson Anna Marian Block said in a statement Thursday the governor felt McMurray would be a good legislator.

"A friend of the governor's for over a decade, Kyle McMurray is a principled conservative, a proven leader with deep roots in his community, and a small business owner who will bring the perspective of Montana's main streets to the Legislature."

Also in the Gallatin Valley, Gianforte backed Scott Sales, a previous state representative and past president of the state Senate who most recently ran the Montana Lottery for Gianforte, over Republican state Reps. Caleb Hinkle and Jennifer Carlson in House District 68.

I knew it was going to happen. I wasn't surprised. I don't think it's going to hurt me, Carlson, who represents House District 69, said Thursday, adding that she does not think voters in HD 68 will give much weight to Gianfortes endorsement.

Asked why she thinks she was passed over by Gianforte, she pointed out that Sales was director of the Montana Lottery, which is a position appointed by the governor and called them good ol buddies.

After he termed out of the Legislature in 2020 he moved to Helena to work for the governor, Carlson said. I don't consider him to be a big threat in my district because he termed out  we have term limits for a reason.

In the 2023 session, two of Carlsons bills were vetoed by Gianforte; lawmakers successfully overrode one of those vetoes. Carlson in response to those vetoes told the Montana Free Press in May of last year, If youre going to be petty enough to veto good bills because you didnt get your own way on something else, I guess Ill meet you on the front page.

Hinkle released a statement Thursday saying Government begets government, so it is no surprise that the Helena establishment and Gov. Greg Gianforte would endorse Sales, a state bureaucrat, whose March campaign financial report showed he is funded 80% by lobbyists, other state bureaucrats, and the spouses of such."

Hinkle and Gillette are both members of the Legislatures Freedom Caucus.

Sales said he didnt seek Gianfortes endorsement but was glad to get it.

I think the reason why he endorsed me is not that were going to agree on everything, because were not, but he appreciates the leadership and that my yes is yes and my no is no. He knows what hes getting. Some of my colleagues are a little less transparent, Ill just say, Sales said, adding that he thinks the governor values his institutional knowledge and relationships with key players inside and outside of the Capitol.

Sales said he knows from his years in the Legislature its important to have a good working relationship with the governor, even if theres not always agreement on specific policies.

Of Sales, Block said: "An experienced legislator, community leader, and rock-ribbed conservative, Scott Sales has served Montanans as an effective leader in the House and Senate and as one of the governor's appointees to lead a state agency where he delivered outstanding results."

Lee Banville, a political analyst at the University of Montana, said in the wake of bruising primaries in the Republican party in 2008 and 2010, where outside groups like Western Tradition Partnership tried to pick off more moderate lawmakers, officials have generally not engaged in primary battles. But Gianfortes influence in this years primary via his endorsements, Banville said, will likely have an impact since primary voters tend to be the most politically engaged and watch for those kinds of messages.

Former state Senate Majority Leader Fred Thomas, a Bitterroot Republican, said Thursday that its a bit of a new style to have the governor or the president endorse and engage in primaries.

With this day and age, were seeing more of that because highly trusted officeholders such as Gov. Gianforte are trying so hard to do as much as they can while theyre in office that they are trying to make sure we have the people there to work with them not just in their cabinet but in the Legislature or in Congress or in the U.S. Senate, whichever it might be, Thomas said.

To me, Gov. Gianforte is awfully sharp about all this stuff and hes not one to push around and hes not one to be willy-nilly about what he wants to get done and, in my observation, thats why hes willing to stake more of his political capital on these things that are important to him, because he wants to get stuff done."

In other contested Senate races, Gianforte endorsed Rep. Josh Kassmier over Rep. Lola Sheldon Galloway. Kassmier has carried several major bills for Gianforte in the past, including a reduction in the business equipment tax. Sheldon Galloway is the vice chair of the state Republican party.

"Gov. Gianforte endorsed candidates who have been, or will be, strong conservative partners to advance his pro-jobs, pro-family agenda. Josh Kassmier, Scott Sales and Kyle McMurray, among others, have the governor's full and complete endorsement and support," Block said.

Gianforte also endorsed former state Rep. Ray Shaw in Senate District 35 over Mark McGinley of Dillon for the seat left vacant by termed-out state Sen. Jeff Welborn, who often filled a moderate role in the caucus.

The governor also put support behind Rep. Denley Loge in Senate District 45 over Annamarie White, whose website says is an Indian child welfare expert and guardian ad litem who manages Whitehorse Forestry Inc., a timber management and wildlife suppression service.

Gianforte also made several selections in contested House primaries.

 Reporter Victoria Eavis contributed to this story.
Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The Texas Inn, Lynchburgs 1930s diner, has arrived in Richmond. The old-timey diner that serves Cheesy Westerns and chili beans has opened in the Museum District at 2901 Park Ave.

But first, a love story.

Richmond ad guy Dave Saunders, of Madison + Main, has a longstanding love affair with The Texas Inn.

It started when he was a kid growing up in Lynchburg. His dad was a firefighter, and his mom was a nurse. His dad got off work at 7 a.m., and his mom left for the hospital at the same time. They met at The Texas Inn, a Lynchburg staple with a stainless steel counter and vintage red swivel stools, every morning to exchange the children.

The Texas Inn was always a part of my life, Saunders, now 56, said. Some of my best memories involve sitting at the counter, as a kid or a teenager.

When he started driving, the first errand his mom gave him was to drive downtown to get a bag of Cheesy Westerns, the diners signature smashed cheeseburger, and a quart of chili from The Texas Inn.

On prom night, Saunders walked into The Texas Inn wearing a tuxedo in Miami Vice neon blue and his date in a white flowing ballgown.

When Saunders moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, the first thing he did when he drove back to Lynchburg was to stop at The Texas Inn to get some food. And the last thing he did before he came back was to get a bag of Westerns for his roommates.

I had an 11-year exile in Los Angeles, Saunders said as he built his career as an advertising executive. I came back in 2002. We were staying at a hotel in Midlothian, waiting for the house to be ready. I told my wife, Im going out for lunch. Ill be back in four hours.

I drove to Lynchburg, got lunch at The Texas Inn, drove back to Midlothian with some food and my kids were like, Oh my God, this is great.

The Texas Inn for sale

Fast forward to 2017, Saunders was sitting at home, scrolling through Facebook, when a page about Lynchburg local news blew up.

Every friend and family member I had was in a sudden panic, Saunders said.

Someone had reposted a picture of a Cheesy Western and a bowl of beans from a Craiglist advertisement that read: Family restaurant for sale.

The rumors started: Oh my God, The Texas Inn is closing, Saunders said. People freaked out, including yours truly.

Saunders called the owner, Eddie Eagle, son of longtime owner Wiley Eagle, and said he wanted to help find an investor to buy it. He found six different investors, but for some reason or another  one wanted to turn it into a pizza place  it didnt work out.

Six months later, I said, Alright, looks like Im getting into the restaurant business, Saunders said.

He purchased the business in 2018 and ever since, hes been trying to find a location in Richmond.

From the moment I bought it, every high school friend, college friend, second cousin and neighbor, anyone from Lynchburg has been telling me, Youve got to bring one here, Saunders said.

Bringing The Texas Inn to Richmond

After five years of looking, Saunders realtor, Nathan Hughes with Sperity Ventures, found the Izzys Kitchen space in the Devils Triangle in the Museum District at 2901 Park Ave.

Located across the street from Banditos Burrito Lounge, the space has been home to several restaurants over the past few years, including Little Saint and Deco.

But Saunders thinks The Texas Inn will have the staying power those restaurants didnt.

Were fast food. Youre in and out in 20 minutes. Its in an area known as the Devils Triangle (formerly known for its rough bars), but we dont serve alcohol. Were the place you go before the alcohol, to prevent the hangover, and the place you go after the alcohol, to sober up.

The food is fast and affordable. Cheesy Western cheeseburgers are $6.99, a hot dog is $3.99, a bowl of chili beans is $4.95; or you can go the breakfast route with a three egg omelet for $9.99 and breakfast sandwiches for $5.49. Saunders also added French fries and chili fries to the menu when he took over.

The Richmond location of The Texas Inn has moved at warp speed. Saunders took over the lease in April and the diner is already in soft opening mode, with plans for a grand opening on May 15.

Its beautiful. Its exactly like the one in Lynchburg, except bigger, Saunders said.

Theres an L-shaped stainless steel counter with red custom-made swivel stools. The Texas Inn can sit 18 at the counter and tables for 12. Its also planning picnic tables for outside. There are 10 parking spots, which is a rarity in the Museum District.

Our objective is to give you good food, serve it fast at a reasonable price, in 20 minutes or less, Saunders said.

For now, The Texas Inn is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. After the grand opening in May, it will stay open until midnight on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

People think Im mental to open up a new restaurant in Richmond, Saunders said. But Im selfish. I dont want to drive two hours away for a Cheesy Western.

The Texas Inn lingo Cheesy Western: a smashburger and egg, topped with cheese, relish and diced onions Bowl: a bowl of their world-famous chili Glass of James: a glass of water. As in, Heres your glass of the James River. The Funny: a sandwich that's an 89-year-old joke and still on the menu Hot all the way: with onions and relish Walking: to-go The T-Room: nickname for The Texas Inn

PHOTOS: The Texas Inn in Richmond
In honor of its 89th birthday, The Texas Inn will be selling its famous chili dogs for 89 cents on Thursday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney may have spared Virginia Democrats a costly primary fight, but his quick exit from the governors race raises the temperature in the escalating competition for the lieutenant governors nomination next year.

Stoneys departure clears the field for Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, who had raised too much money and developed too high a political profile for the two-term mayor to overcome, even 14 months before a party primary that would have forced him to defeat the three-term congresswoman in a likely one-on-one matchup.

It wasnt inevitable that he would withdraw, said Larry Sabato, president of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. It was inevitable that he would not succeed.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Stoney acknowledged, Abigail Spanberger is a very formidable candidate.

It would have been a grueling, negative race, and that is not what you want to ensure we elect a Democrat as governor, he said. I believe Abigail Spanberger will be a great nominee for us and a great governor as well.

Stoney said he has no regrets about initially running for governor instead of lieutenant governor, as some Democrats urged him to do before his announcement in early December.

There were a number of people who tried to guide me to lieutenant governor early on, but I had to come to that decision myself, he said.

However, Stoneys decision to jump immediately into the lieutenant governors race put some of his closest allies in a difficult position.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Stoneys political mentor, already had committed to another candidate for the post, Dr. Babur Lateef, school board chairman in vote-rich Prince William County. Powerful Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, is backing Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, for the No. 2 post. It wont get any easier for Stoney if Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, jumps into the race in the coming days, putting Richmond and its suburbs up for grabs in the 2025 Democratic primary.

Stoney said: I recognize that some people were caught off guard, but at the end of the day, I had to make a decision that was best for me and my family, and the Democratic Party, as well as the commonwealth of Virginia.

Spanberger wont endorse for LG

Stoney will not get any help from Spanberger, who reportedly declined his request for an endorsement before he announced his decision to withdraw and run for lieutenant governor.

There are strong and experienced Virginians who have made the decision to run for the Democratic nomination for Virginias next lieutenant governor, said Spanberger spokesman Connor Joseph. Abigail has previously told candidates that she would not endorse in this primary race, and she intends to maintain that position.

Stoney confirmed that he discussed a possible endorsement with Spanberger. We both decided that she would run her campaign and I would run my campaign, he said. I think this is the best path forward for both of us.

In the crowded field for lieutenant governor, Stoney might have some advantages, with money in the bank  $688,000 at the end of last year  and a head start on campaigning statewide. Levar doesnt have Abigails name recognition, but he probably has more name recognition statewide than Aaron Rouse or Ghazala Hashmi, said Henrico Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, a close friend and ally of the mayor.

Stoney has already rolled out a list of endorsements that includes three newly elected Democratic delegates from Northern Virginia who support Spanberger for governor.

He has a path that includes central Virginia and Northern Virginia and pretty much across the state, Nelson said. Levar has been building relationships out of the major urban areas.

Longtime allies fear distraction

Some Democrats are concerned that the focus on Virginias three statewide races  14 months before party primaries to choose nominees  has become a distraction from this years high-stakes elections.

President Joe Biden is likely to face a strong push by former President Donald Trump to compete in a state that the Republican lost by 10 percentage points in 2020. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., will seek to defend his seat against a Republican nominee whom voters will choose in a primary on June 18. Voters also will choose nominees in congressional districts, including Spanbergers, that could determine majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

A day after Lateef posted on social media a photo with McAuliffe and said was honored to have his support, Stoney posted his own message saying he was honored to have McAuliffes endorsement. A McAuliffe spokeswoman explained the awkward development by saying McAuliffe is supporting both Democrats.

In a text message to the Richmond Times-Dispatch in response to questions about Stoneys withdrawal, McAuliffe said only: From now until Election Day 2024, my sole focus is reelecting Joe Biden and (Vice-President) Kamala Harris. Thats all I have to say.

Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, is a close friend of Stoney, but hes also an ally of Rouse and a colleague of Hashmi. He said he has not endorsed anyone in the nomination contest for lieutenant governor.

At this time, Im going to let them sort things out and see how the next year goes, Bagby said. I wont say its premature, but it is pretty early in the process.

Republicans ponder next moves

The feverish preparation by Virginia Democrats for next years statewide races also has upped pressure on state Republicans. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares have not yet tipped their hands about plans to run for governor  or not  making it tough for other Republicans who might be interested in running for their current state offices. Unlike a governor, Virginias lieutenant governor and attorney general have the option of seeking a second consecutive term.

Spanberger is out of the starting gate, state Republican Party Chairman Rich Anderson said. Several other Democrats are out of the starting gate for lieutenant governor.

Anderson also expects former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, to make for his second run at the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Anderson sees likely competition for the Democratic nomination from Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor and, possibly, Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney Steve Descano.

The outcome of the presidential election could affect how the Republican field takes shape, he said, but ultimately potential GOP candidates are waiting on Earle-Sears and Miyares.

I dont think you would see a challenge come from within the party, he said.

Struggle for traction

In his statement that he was dropping out of the race for governor, Stoney said that while there was a path to victory, it was a narrow path.

Anderson saw Stoneys departure from the governors race as inevitable.

I am not surprised that he made the decision to drop out because you could just look at the dynamics that have unfolded so far, Anderson said. He just really did not have any traction.

Spanberger began with a sizable financial advantage, with $3.6 million raised and $3 million in the bank at the end of 2023. Stoney had raised $758,000, with $688,000 in the bank on Dec. 31. Updated fundraising numbers will not become public until mid-July, but Spanbergers advantage has grown, according to sources within the campaigns.

The biggest blow may have been Spanbergers endorsement by Clean Virginia, a deep-pocketed Charlottesville-based political and environmental advocacy organization that also promised her an initial $250,000 contribution. Stoney knew Spanberger was likely to get the endorsement, but he competed hard for it. The decision may have secured the congresswomans left flank from a potential challenge by progressive Democrats.

Clean Virginia is putting its bet on Spanberger and that is a huge advantage, said Olusoji Akomolafe, chairman of the Political Science Department at Norfolk State University. Clean Virginia has really become a player in Virginia politics.

Stoney acknowledged that she certainly had a fundraising advantage, but he said neither that nor Spanbergers endorsements caused him to drop out of the race.

Norfolk States Akomolafe said Spanbergers background as a former CIA officer and U.S. Postal Service inspector helped, and so does the allure of potentially electing the first female governor in Virginia history. Either Spanberger or Earle-Sears would achieve that distinction.

As voters, we like history making, Akomolafe said.

Spanberger also offers Democrats a proven capacity to win tough contests. A resident of western Henrico, she won two tight elections in a district that was rooted in the Richmond suburbs but extended far into the Republican-dominated countryside. After the Virginia Supreme Court approved a redistricting map in late 2021 that moved the district to Northern Virginia and the Fredericksburg area, Spanberger won again, defeating Yesli Vega, a candidate with strong support from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, by 4.6 percentage points.

The victories gave Spanberger high name recognition in two of Virginias biggest media markets and a national profile that Republicans have tried to tarnish without success.

She fits the moment perfectly, Sabato said, noting that Democrats cannot afford to repeat 2021, when Youngkin upset McAuliffe and punctured the notion that Virginia was reliably Democratic.

Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Public Policy and Government at George Mason University, said Stoney saw the reality of what campaigning against Spanberger was looking like.

He added: I believe he understood that much of the base of the party was lining up behind Spanberger. Everything seemed to be breaking her way.

Stoney was counting on support from Black voters in the Richmond area, Hampton Roads and other parts of the state where he has been campaigning. After Spanberger secured the endorsements of Clean Virginia and former Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, Stoney faced a likely one-on-one matchup with Spanberger without an additional candidate entering from the left.

In Stoneys two election victories as mayor, he won the minimum six districts required under the city charter, but never reached 40% of the vote in crowded fields.

He has some support in Richmond, but as mayor he never really needed a majority to win, said Alex Keena, associate professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University. You cant even say he had a mandate.

With Stoneys withdrawal, Democrats avoided a potentially ugly and costly primary battle in the governors race, which is why he said he did it, along with growing family priorities  his wife, Brandy, and their daughter, Sunday, who was born last month.

This years contests come first

Democrats have at least four candidates for lieutenant governor: Stoney, Rouse, Babur and, potentially, Hashmi.

Six months ago, I was worried about not having a strong lieutenant governor nominee, state Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker said. Im so happy to have people of substance. Any one of them can do the job and do it well.

At the same time, like her Republican counterpart, Anderson, Swecker wants to keep Democrats focused on this year, with Trump likely to make a much bigger play in Virginia than he did four years ago.

I expect all of these candidates for office in 2025 to be stumping on the trail for Tim Kaine and Joe Biden, she said.

Rozell, at George Mason, said that whatever happens next year, Stoney, at age 43, has plenty of time for a future in Virginia politics.

Theres no need to be a young man in a hurry right now, he said.

Top 5 weekend events: Herbs Galore, Shakespeare's Birthday, Ashland Train Day Herbs Galore Shakespeares Birthday Ashland Train Day Richmond Restaurant Week Swine & Brine Byrd Theatre
Elderly American tourist dies after Riviera Maya waterpark incident

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  An elderly American man is reported to have died by drowning earlier this week at a Riviera Maya water park. The California tourist died Tuesday after being rushed to a Playa del Carmen hospital.

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon when the man suffered an incident inside the park. Details surrounding that incident are not known. He was reportedly treated on site by park medical personnel before being rushed to hospital by ambulance.

The tourist, identified only as an 81-year-old man from Los Angeles, was pronounced at the hospital. It is not known if was pronounced upon arrival or died after being admitted.

Official details surrounding the water park incident have not been made public.
Israeli military says preparations for ground operation in Rafah completed

Xinhua) 08:28, April 26, 2024

The photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 25, 2024 shows Israeli troops conducting a military operation in the central Gaza Strip. Israel is expected to begin evacuating civilians from Rafah "soon" ahead of a planned assault on Gaza's southernmost city, state-owned Israeli Kan TV reported on Thursday, following meetings of the country's war Cabinet. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi informed Israel's wartime cabinet on Thursday that the army had completed preparations for a ground attack on Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, state-owned Kan radio reported.

Israel's wartime cabinet and security cabinet convened on Thursday to discuss a possible assault on Rafah, a city previously considered a "safe zone" from the relentless Israeli bombardments, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have found refuge.

According to the report, Halevi presented attack plans to members of the wartime cabinet and said that the ground forces were ready to move in once the order was given.

The photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 25, 2024 shows Israeli troops conducting a military operation in the central Gaza Strip. Israel is expected to begin evacuating civilians from Rafah "soon" ahead of a planned assault on Gaza's southernmost city, state-owned Israeli Kan TV reported on Thursday, following meetings of the country's war Cabinet. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the ministers also discussed new attempts to push forward a ceasefire that would secure the release of more than 100 hostages held in Gaza, some of whom are presumed to be dead.

Previously, Israel informed the U.S. that it would order civilians to evacuate before launching the attack.

According to Israel's Channel 12 TV news, the Israeli government has formulated a four-phase evacuation plan, which includes securing humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, developing essential infrastructure, such as water and communication, in designated evacuation areas, establishing approximately 10 field hospitals, and reconstructing demolished hospitals in the designated evacuation zones.

Additionally, the plan includes providing 40,000 tents to accommodate civilians expected to be evacuated from Rafah.

People gather among rubble of destroyed buildings after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Feds seize boat, traps, net and live crabs off Costa Maya

Costa Maya, Q.R.  A boat found with traps, nets, live crabs and no fishing permit has been seized from Costa Maya waters. Personnel from the Navy of Mexico were on sea patrol near the southern border with Belize when they came across the vessel.

Navy personnel were on water patrol with the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca) and the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of the State of Quintana Roo (Ibanqroo) when they located boat La Mas Terca.

Those on board were unable to produce the necessary fishing permits to be in the water with the gear and live catch. According to a statement by the Navy, federal officials from the Comision Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (Conapesca) seized the gear and crabs.

On board La Mas Terca they found 77 crab traps, an 80-meter-long multifilament nylon gill net and six live crabs. Their boat was also seized.

In their statement, they reported that the fishing surveillance is part of the inspection operations carried out by the troops of the Ministry of the Navy with the goal of enforcing laws in national seas.

They explained that illegal fishing represents a threat to the marine ecosystem and the local economy, which is why maritime and environmental authorities continue to work together to combat it.

The Secretary of the Navy reiterated that the precautionary detention of the vessel, the confiscation of the fishing equipment and the live specimens of crab send a clear message to the offenders.

Illegal fishing will not be tolerated in the seas and coasts of Mexico, the Secretary of the Navy reported.
FGE: Armed group captured in Chetumal likely involved in four city murders

Chetumal, Q.R.  A group of eight criminal gang members are being investigated for murder after being arrested for drug and firearm possession. All eight were taken into custody Thursday after an ongoing investigation by the State Attorney General (FGE).

All eight are being looked into for their involvement in several murders that have taken place around the municipality. In an official statement Thursday afternoon, local authorities reported seizing several long weapons, drugs, vehicles, ammo and tactical equipment during the arrests.

Jose Guadalupe N, Jonathan N, Ruben N, Yurline Guadalupe N, Angel Josue N, Lorenzo N, Karen Gabriela N and Juan Lorenzo N, who according to the first investigations, are part of a violent criminal group dedicated to the sale of drugs in the Southern Zone of the State.

In addition, they would be involved in at least four homicides in Chetumal, the State Attorney General reported.

At the time of the capture, authorities seized five weapons of different calibers. The investigations carried out indicate that they could be those used in the homicides.

In addition, the detainees had firearm magazines, cartridges, uniforms, boots, vests and other tactical accessories and two vehicles identified as those used to commit various crimes. Marijuana and cocaine were also reportedly seized.

According to the statement, those captured are believed related to the April 24, 2024 murder of a teenager and injuries sustained by a Municipal Police officer in the Flamingos subdivision of Chetumal.

They are also being investigated for the April 20, 2024 murder of two men from the Las Americas 2 subdivision as well as the shooting death of a third man in the Proterritorio neighborhood of Chetumal.
Son killed, police officer hospitalized after Chetumal ambush

Chetumal, Q.R.  A Chetumal police officer remains in hospital after he was injured and his son killed. The pair were arriving home on a motorcycle Wednesday night when they were ambushed.

Neighbors said armed men appeared from behind overgrown bushes and opened fire against the bike. Both the officer, Azariel N and his son were shot several times outside their home on 9th Street North in the Flamingos IV subdivision of Chetumal.

City officers began a search operation for the shooters in response to an emergency 9-1-1 report made by neighbors. While authorities searched, the injured police officer was taken to hospital with four bullet wounds. His 14-year-old son was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Chetumal police officer was rushed to hospital. His 14-year-old son died at the scene. Photo: April 24, 2024.

Two people are reported to have been arrested in relation to the shooting after authorities used city surveillance cameras to track the getaway car. Two men were reported taken into custody in the Pacto Obrero residential area of Chetumal after police located the white Fiat getaway vehicle.
Young fisherman shot during Isla Mujeres street argument

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  One man was taken to hospital Wednesday night after being shot in central Isla Mujeres. The 24-year-old shooting victim was shot twice during an argument.

According to local information, the victim, Felipe N, complained after Daniel A took his photograph. During the in-person complaint, someone threw a punch that lead Daniel A to draw a gun and fire twice.

It is not known why the photo was taken of Felipe N, an island fishermen. However, he ended up in hospital with two bullet wounds to his feet. His aggressor then fled.

An unidentified man alleged responsible for the shooting was arrested at his home several blocks away.

Using island security cameras, Isla Mujeres police were able to locate the man who is alleged to have fired the shots. He was found a few blocks away and arrested shortly after the shooting.
As commencement season approaches, universities are beginning to prepare for any and all unforeseen circumstances.

At Virginia Tech, standard concerns about weather, traffic and parking are mixed with new concerns about ongoing protests over Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

Local pro-Palestinian groups have been holding protests in downtown Blacksburg every week since the semester started. During the most recent Virginia Tech Board of Visitors meeting, protestors interrupted school President Tim Sands remarks, eventually being asked to leave by police, and continuing their protest outside.

While no concrete plans to protest Virginia Techs commencement ceremony have been announced, demonstrators have repeatedly said that they will continue their protests each week until the university takes steps to divest from organizations that support Israels war effort.

Virginia Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said that while he didnt know how to answer what if questions related to protests, the schools graduation events will be handled and organized with the same security for all large events on campus.

As with all other events that bring large crowds to campus (like Game Day, or Alumni Reunion, or campus move in, for example), Virginia Tech always prepares to provide our community and guests a well-managed, safe, and enjoyable experience, Owczarski said via email.

Virginia Techs graduation ceremony will be held over multiple days. On May 10, the larger ceremony will take place at Lane Stadium, beginning at 8:30 a.m. This ceremony will include a keynote speech by Mehul Sanghani, the CEO and founder of Octo, a Virginia-based tech consulting firm that works primarily with the federal government.

On May 11, Virginia Tech will hold graduation ceremonies for the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

Radford Universitys commencement ceremony will also be split over two days, with graduate degree hooding and commencement being held at 5 p.m. May 3 at the Dedmon Center, and undergraduate commencement beginning at 10 a.m. May 4, on the Moffett Lawn.

The two ceremonies will each have their own keynote address. The undergraduate commencement speech will be given by Mark Pace, the president and owner of E.C. Pace Co. Inc.  a highway utility construction company based in Roanoke  and former vice rector of the Radford University Board of Visitors.

Amanda Cox, the external affairs manager at Appalachian Power Co., will give the keynote during the graduate hooding ceremony. Cox received an MBA at Radford in 2021.

Ferrum Colleges commencement ceremony will also double as an inauguration ceremony for Mirta Martin, who has been serving as the schools president since 2023. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. May 4, and will include a keynote speech by Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

Roanoke Colleges graduation ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. May 4, at the schools Turbyfill Quad. There will not be a keynote address during the event, but an honorary degree will be presented to Robert H. Sandel, the president of Virginia Western Community College.

New River Community Colleges graduation starts at 4 p.m. May 10 in Edwards Hall for the Division of Business and Technologies, followed by 7 p.m. for the Division of Arts and Sciences.

Virginia Western Community College holds its graduation at 6:30 p.m. May 10 at Roanokes Berglund Center.

Virginia Military Institute in Lexington will hold commencement at 11 a.m. May 16, at Cameron Hall, with a keynote address by a former secretary of the Army, Ryan D. McCarthy.

Hollins University will hold its commencement May 19  a Sunday  beginning at 10 a.m. at the schools Front Quad. Helena Brown, a Hollins grad and current soprano with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, will give the keynote address.

Washington and Lee University holds its 237th undergraduate commencement at 10 a.m. May 30. By tradition, the college president, William Dudley, is the speaker.
During those initial years of Mad Men, Elisabeth Moss worried what kind of roles she might get when it was over.

Then Jane Campions Top of the Lake came her way during a hiatus and put her on a new course. It settled any fear of what I do next, she says. I realized I could do things at the same time during a job and it didnt really matter.

Enter: The Veil, a spy thriller by Steven Knight that finds Moss as a veteran MI6 agent traveling from Istanbul to Paris with a woman who may not be telling her the truth.

Moss character knows how to get what she wants and how to get something done.

I love this genre, she says by phone. To get to be that woman in that space was just really exciting. It fulfilled all my expectations.

And it gave her an opportunity to play something other than a controlled woman  the role that won her Emmys on The Handmaids Tale. I wasnt planning on doing a television project because thats my day job, Moss says. But then I got the script and it was like the best thing I was readingI had to go for it. And it always comes down to that.

To play a spy, Moss did plenty of research (something I never usually do) about British agents. Among the insights: Dont be the one whos always asking questions. Get the other person to speak. Its a very old tactic, so I think Im probably a little less calculating.

Traveling with a woman who could be lying requires a great deal of trust.

They go back and forth all the time, she says of the characters she and Yumna Marwan play. Sometimes someone is telling the truth and the next thing they say is a lie. And sometimes theyre being honest with each other and sometimes they find out that none of it was ever true.

Thats the core of what (writer) Steven Knight wanted. Its like a chess game. They just go back and forth.

Moss, conversely, errs on the side of believing the best in people. At this point, Ive encountered some people who were not as trustworthy. You learn a little bit more about youand how you lead people. I cant be a Method actor. I get bored.

While making the series, Knight told Moss about a woman who, when she was 65, revealed to her family, I just retired and Ive been a spy my entire life.

Its not an easy existence by any means, Moss says.

While filming, the cast and crew of The Veil had to deal with a polar vortex in Turkey, rain in Paris and fog in the United Kingdom.

I usually winter in Canada (where she shoots Handmaids Tale), so I was fine with it. Everybody was so cold and I was like, Oh my god, please dont even start.

Producing (which she does on The Veil) has been a life changer. She got that title and started directing on Handmaids Tale. That aspect will be hard to leave. Still, as the hit series nears its final season, I do know what her journey is. I do know where shes going and, timing wise, its kind of the right thing to do. At the same time, if they said, Do you want to do 10 more years? Id probably be like, Sure, why not?

The Veil emerged from the idea that there was friction among various intelligence agencies when dealing with new threats. Knight went to Europe to research the likelihood and gathered stories. What I wanted to do with this was take huge issues and boil them down to two people in a car, driving through the snow and the nature of the conversation affects the outcome for thousands of people, Knight says.

To help separate her character from others she has played, Moss uses a British accent. I worked on it probably harder than Ive ever worked on anything, she says. I started in September and we started shooting in February. I didnt want to be thinking about it. I wanted to do the material justice.

Knight described the character as a shapeshifter, able to play different roles and then let them go.

When shes playing a character, shes not lying. She actually more truthful than she can ever be, Moss says. I said, So shes an actress and he said, Yes. And I said, OK. Got it.

More seasons of The Veil? I felt we just scratched the surface of who she could be.

The Veil airs April 30 on Hulu.
As the worlds oceans have moved into their 12th consecutive month as the warmest on record, a new NASA Earth-observing satellite mission has come online to monitor the health of the oceans and the particulates in the atmosphere.

The PACE satellite (Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, ocean Ecosystem) launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 8 and has begun to send data and images back to the ground.

The data will help atmosphere, ocean and Earth scientists get a more precise look at microscopic life in the oceans and small particulate matter in the air. In turn, this will enhance our understanding of these impacts on fisheries, contributions to harmful algal blooms and detection of small air pollution particles.

New on the PACE satellite is its Ocean Color Instrument, built and managed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. In addition to picking up more precise differences in color in the ocean below, it also examines both the atmosphere and surface in ultraviolet and infrared light  using detectors in more than 200 separate wavelengths of light.

This higher precision allows the scientific community to identify specific areas of phytoplankton in oceans and large lakes. These tiny oceanic plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. While microscopic in individual size, the number is colossal  enough to produce about half of the oxygen in our atmosphere.

Also known as microalgae, some of these phytoplankton can grow rapidly and uncontrollably, causing health problems for humans and animals. Early detection of the difference between the two is important in understanding and managing our oceans and lakes.

Infamously, red tides are one example of these harmful algal blooms and are responsible for contaminating shellfish, closing beaches and killing fish. The satellite gives us an extra set of eyes in the sky to help identify where these blooms occur, when they are most likely, and how long they will last. The data from the satellite will enable us to make better decisions to minimize these blooms in the future.

Two other instruments on the satellite will measure the polarized light that bounces off of clouds and impurities in the atmosphere  called aerosols. These particles, like sea spray and elements of wildfire smoke, are so small that they remain suspended in the atmosphere. This improved detection will enable better air quality forecasts and increase our understanding of how these particles influence the formation and evolution of clouds, which are important for improving weather forecasts and strengthening our understanding of the climate system.

Unlike most weather satellites, which monitor conditions over one specific location, PACE is in a much lower orbit around Earth, racing from pole to pole as Earth rotates beneath it. As a result, it has complete coverage of surface conditions on Earth after about two days of orbits.

The mission has a minimum design life of three years, but has more than 10 years of propellant, so it is likely to provide data well into the 2030s.
Early Thursday morning, police arrested 108 protesters at Emerson College in Boston. At the University of Texas in Austin, state troopers in riot gear, urged on by Gov. Greg Abbott, arrested almost 60 protesters Wednesday. That same day, officers took 93 people into custody at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Smaller numbers of arrests have been made at the Ohio State University, Princeton University, and at Emory University, in Atlanta.

The wave of campus actions and police responses followed Columbia Universitys decision last week to call in the New York Police Department to clear protesters from campus. That call led to 108 arrests, infuriating students and supporters of Palestine across the country. Students have now established encampments on at least 20 college campuses across the U.S., including Harvard University, Brown University, the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and George Washington University. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have harshly criticized university administrations for failing to suppress the demonstrations.

Its hard to know what would have happened had Columbia not made the decision to call in the police, but theres no denying that the drama from those arrests fueled this protest movement. While college students have organized in opposition to Israels actionsand, in this case, their own schools investments in defense companies with ties to Israelbefore, and have even done so since Hamas attack on Oct. 7, we have not, until now, seen universities crack down so strongly on dissent related to the war in Gaza. For institutions with long histories of encouraging debate and activism as part of free expressionat least in theoryits been a remarkable turn.

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To understand how universities got to a place of such open conflict with their students, Slate spoke with Katherine S. Cho, a professor of higher education at Loyola University in Chicago who studies university administrations relationship to social justice activism. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Slate: Over the past week, schools responses to student activism have suddenly become quite dramatic. Should we have seen this crackdown coming? Or did this come out of the blue?

Katherine S. Cho: Colleges and universities, including Columbia, have histories of making mass arrests of students, particularly in the 1960s. So its not uncommon as a response, especially when its about students protesting specifically the universitys actions. And that type of distinction is important, because for the students fighting for Palestinian freedom, a lot of them are specifically in opposition to the university. And thats where you see more of these aggressive forms of responses from universities.

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But there havent been these kinds of arrests since the war started. If arresting students is a standard response to protest activity, why is this recent wave so different?

We could argue that we havent seen as large numbers of students getting arrested because in reality, a lot of this fight is happening before students can even protest. Following a lot of the student protests from 2015 to 2016 [held in response to incidents of racism on campus at the University of Missouri], weve seen student conduct codes, handbooks, and campus policies changing so that it makes it much more difficult for students to protest in the first place. For example, for some schools, if students have more than 50 or 60 students participating, they have to get permission. Universities already created and have been enforcing policies to make sure that you never escalate that much.

What are the consequences of these new policies?

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Senior administrators and crisis response teams have documentation that students demonstrating are going against their own student conduct code that theyve agreed to. So for students protesting right now, were going to start seeing language about how they were in violation of campus policies or student conduct codes, etc. But students dont have any power to fight those codes, because there arent any channels for that.

Why did those new policies come about?

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A bunch of these policies came about because of the protests of 2015 and 2016, and 2020. But a lot of this is especially in response to 2017 and 2018. With [the Unite the Right march in] Charlottesville, campuses freaked out, in the sense of, OK, what do we do about the surrounding community coming onto the college campus? UNC had a similar thing [with the Silent Sam protests]. The concern then was, OK, who is allowed to be on campus? When are they allowed to be on campus? And so a lot of that is now much more rigid, including for students.

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So youre saying that the universities tightened the rules out of fear of what unpredictable outside agitators might dobut that ended up making it hard for everyone, including students, to protest?

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Yeah. In 2017, if you remember, conservative pundits were coming to college campuses, and there were a lot of fights on college campuses about First Amendment rights. Nonaffiliated people were coming onto campus, either to support the students protesting or trying to egg them on, or goad them, or create clashes.

[Creating an event] doesnt take three weeks of showing flyers to people anymore. Somebody can post on Twitter and be like, Hey, everybody meet us here on this campus, we need to support students, or Hey, theres a protest happening, we need to fight students. And then they can get big crowds to come. And so I imagine that that is a lot of the fear, and why colleges are using the language of safety. Theyre saying: We need to cancel classes because were afraid for student safety; we need to shut down this protest because were afraid for students safety. There you see the weaponization of safety as a way to criminalize students.

What do you mean by the weaponization of safety?

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The language is about wanting to make Jewish students feel safe. But there isnt that other side of the conversation, which is: Are Palestinian students feeling safe? Some students are afraid of doxing, and there arent conversations about that.

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OK, so the school policies have changed. Are there any other ways things have changed in recent years for student activists?

I do think that one of the things that has changed is that there are ways universities are, for example, deactivating access cards, taking students out of dorms, and rapidly creating material consequencesconsequences relating to housing, tuition, fees, expulsion, etc.

Those move much faster, in large part because of technology. You can, by a click of a button, deactivate students cards. Its increased the speed at which universities can respond.

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And then, for example, with things like Twitter or TikTok now, theres the difference between a university president making a statement thats posted online, versus in the past, when that might have just been an email or in a student newspaper.

What does that conversation occurring publicly mean for this whole dynamic?

It allows for more scrutiny. So when colleges and universities, for example, created statements in 2015 and 2016 about anti-Blackness and police brutality, a lot of those statements were about standing against hate, etc. And then in 2020, as colleges and universities were once again creating the statements, there were student groups that brought up the 2015, 2016 statements being like, What have you done since then? Students are able to say, You posted about this, and were trying to hold you accountable to that.

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What do you think drove schools like Columbia to take such a dramatic disciplinary step in these cases? Do you think this situation was specific to the Israel-Palestine conflict, or standard for any kind of protest?

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I think colleges and universities feel like this is very complicated. Theres less of a desire to make a stance, and colleges and universities are wary of making statements; often, statements are 500 words or less, and there needs to be, like, a book. So, I think that thats part of what makes universities nervous.

Looking at Columbia, as an example, this is a PR nightmare for them. To arrest students now, when theres so much scrutiny, and then to do it in such a cruel waystudents have been talking about only having 15 minutes to collect their belongings, that their belongings were thrown in the trash immediately. And to do that on a scale of 100 students, and then to double down on that, and then say that theyre doing it for safety, doesnt make a lot of sense. So what that tells you is that Columbia is likely facing a lot of pressure from people who do not want students to be protesting. To the point where theyre making what seems like a very irrational decision.
They plan to cancel the two cash desks now in front of the settlement.

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From one checkout to another. For three years now, tourists have been experiencing unpleasant situations before entering the historical hillside settlement of Vlkolinec, a UNESCO World Heritage site listed for its folk architecture.

Visitors there pay different entrance fees to two associations for different packages of services, being asked for 2 at one cash register, and 3 at another  with little explanation of why.

However, the confusion over which entrance fee and services to pay for in Vlkolinec now seems to be about to end. The town of Ruzomberok, the local municipal authority, has presented a new model for the functioning of the UNESCO site. It means a uniform selection of entrance fees for all exhibitions in Vlkolinec. The town hall has not yet specified what the amount will be and who will be responsible for collecting it.

A bizarre situation

Two civil associations have been collecting separate entrance fees for the last three years. They differed in their opinions about how to divide the income.

Originally, only one civic association, OZ Vlkolinec, was collecting an entrance fee, designed to cover the cost of basic amenities. But some disaffected members left to create a new association, Vlkolinec UNESCO. Both entities now collect different fees on separate leased plots for parking fees and exhibitions.

Find out more about region of folklore, national parks and modern attractions in our Zilina Region Travel Guide.

When the MY Liptov regional newspaper visited Vlkolinec, its reporters were asked to pay 3 in the parking lot on the right, which belongs to the original association. The price was supposed to include entrance to the farmstead, a farm house that belongs to the Liptovske Museum, and a visit to the granary.

The Vlkolinec UNESCO Civic association maintains a parking lot on the left side of the road, for which reporters had to pay 2. That price included a visit to the gallery, which is a former school in Vlkolinec.

"They really can't solve it? It's all laughable. We've been coming here for years, but our appetite is fading because of the atmosphere and strained relationships. It casts a bad shadow over the settlement," complained a visitor from Zvolen.

She is not alone in her dissatisfaction; the strained relations between locals are also reflected in the services offered.

They agreed with the new model

The city of Ruzomberok has a negative view of the issue of two ticket offices at the entrance to Vlkolinec. The mayor of Ruzomberok, Lubomir Kuban, presented the concept of the further direction and intentions of the city towards the monument reserve of folk architecture. They based the new operating model on a single entrance fee for all exhibitions in Vlkolinec, which all operators agreed to.

Slovakia marks 30 years as UNESCO member Read more

There should also be a novelty for visitors: the possibility of a guided tour. This is supported by the regional tourism organisation and the Ruzomberok Information Centre. The goal of the town hall is to introduce this new concept as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for the city of Ruzomberok, Vladimir Miskovcik, explained that discussions with residents of Vlkolinec encompassed other problems that have been bothering them for some time, including reconstruction of the village waste water and sewage treatment plant, construction of public toilets, repairs to the village road and parking facilities.

Vlkolinec has been included on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List for 30 years.

It is a monument reserve of folk architecture, preserved as a residential complex, consisting of typical log buildings of the characteristic central European type. The settlement represents a type of medieval village settlement with wooden architecture of mountain and foothill areas.

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https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/dobohatuso

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Danko sweeps up in Dubravka, Volkswagen Slovakia to produce full-electric SUV, PS organises new protest.

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Good evening. Here is the Friday, April 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

A London court orders extremist YouTuber Daniel Bombic back to Slovakia

Daniel Bombic (l), Tibor Gaspar (c) and Jana Lassakova (r). (Source: YouTube)

A London court has ordered the extradition of right-wing extremist Daniel Bombic to Slovakia. Journalist Martin Hodas first reported the news on the disinformation-analysis Facebook page "Na druhom brehu."

Bombic, who blogs and broadcasts online under the pseudonym "Danny Kollar", faces charges of extremism, dangerous stalking, defamation, and dangerous electronic harassment. He has avoided prosecution in Slovakia by staying in London. Three international arrest warrants were issued against him. The court's decision is not yet final; Bombic can still appeal.

He is a prominent figure in the disinformation scene, hosting figures from the now-ruling Smer party on his online broadcasts, including Robert Fico, Robert Kalinak, and former police president, now Smer MP, Tibor Gaspar; the current interior minister, Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas), who is responsible for the police force, has also appeared alongside Bombic. The blogger actively supported Peter Pellegrini's candidacy before the recent presidential election and, following Pellegrini's victory, celebrated on social media.

Three weeks ago, the Sme daily published photos and videos of Bombic repeatedly giving Nazi salutes, singing neo-Nazi songs, and associating with prominent Slovak neo-Nazis from groups like Juden Mord and Kratky Proces. His background was previously scrutinised by the investigative journalism site Bellingcat.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR THE WEEKEND

Volkswagen Slovakia gears up for production of its first full-electric SUV

Volkswagen Slovakia. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

Volkswagen Slovakia is preparing to produce its inaugural full-electric SUV. It's offering above-average wages to attract new workers, and has posted record turnover and increased car production amidst global challenges.

10 EVENTS FOR THE WEEKEND

Run Through the Forests of Devin

(Source: bkis)

Is running your hobby? Then the Run Through the Forests of Devin is definitely for you. More details about this event and others can be found in our selection of 10 events for foreigners.

IN OTHER NEWS

Opposition party Progresivne Slovensko (PS) announced a protest against what it call the government's authoritarian actions, particularly focusing on the dismantling of RTVS and pension fund policies . The protest, led by PS chair Michal Simecka, will take place on May 2 at 18:00 in Bratislava's Namestie Slobody.

. The protest, led by PS chair Michal Simecka, will take place on May 2 at 18:00 in Bratislava's Namestie Slobody. MPs discussed a proposed amendment to the education law, which seeks to require parental consent for sex education. Richard Vasecka (Krestanska Unia) emphasised parents' right to be informed and consent to their children's sex education, while Lucia Plavakova (PS) opposed the proposal, citing concerns over children's rights. (TASR)

Richard Vasecka (Krestanska Unia) emphasised parents' right to be informed and consent to their children's sex education, while Lucia Plavakova (PS) opposed the proposal, citing concerns over children's rights. (TASR) Amnesty International is calling on the Slovak government to respect the rule of law and human rights amid concerns over proposed laws impacting RTVS, NGOs and transgender rights. It criticises legislation that it says will increase political control over the public broadcaster and stigmatise NGOs, and urges rejection of the proposals and depoliticisation of the selection of leadership of public agencies. (TASR)

It criticises legislation that it says will increase political control over the public broadcaster and stigmatise NGOs, and urges rejection of the proposals and depoliticisation of the selection of leadership of public agencies. (TASR) The oldest national park in Slovakia will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The Tatra National Park Administration (TANAP) will hold an open day for visitors

Drivers are advised that maintenance work will be conducted on the left lane of the D1 highway towards Bratislava from 20:00 on April 28, 2024, until 14:00 on April 29, 2024. Two lanes will remain open for traffic during this time. Please drive cautiously and follow police instructions. (Source: FB Policia SR - Bratislavsky kraj)

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND

Saturday is expected to bring partly cloudy skies, with sporadic showers possible in some areas, and even snow in mountains areas. On Sunday, the weather will be mainly fine. Temperatures over the weekend will be mild, ranging from 15C to 21C. (SHMU)

NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday - Jaroslav, Sunday - Jarmila, Monday - Lea

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/blinkens-visit-to-china-signals-ongoing-hybrid-war-against-growing-world-power-1118115456.html

Blinkens Visit to China Signals Ongoing Hybrid War Against Growing World Power

Blinkens Visit to China Signals Ongoing Hybrid War Against Growing World Power

Sputnik International

One analyst claims the US is increasingly engaged in a full spectrum hybrid war against Beijing, including punitive economic measures and control of the information space.

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antony blinken

china

beijing

russia

us congress

fault lines

trade war

us-china trade war

china trade wars

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China this week amid a period of strained diplomatic relations between the United States and the growing Asian power. In a reversal of roles the two countries played only decades ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken on the mantle of global defender of free trade practices, criticizing tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump and continued by President Biden.The United States has protested Chinese dominance in electric vehicle manufacturing and other areas, accusing the country of overproduction and unfair trade practices. The US has also criticized Chinas continued trade with Moscow as the Ukrainian crisis continues. The US Congress passed a raft of military spending bills over the weekend, including $8 billion for authorities in Taiwan and some $61 billion to support Kievs war effort.Author and journalist KJ Noh claimed leaders in Beijing were unlikely to be alarmed by the development, but would continue to prepare for what they view as an intensifying hybrid warfare campaign launched by the West. The geopolitical analyst offered his thoughts on Sputniks Fault Lines program Thursday.They're going to send $8 billion to Taiwan to weaponize it And then they're talking that China is using non-market practices against the United States, etcetera. I mean, they think they're talking to children. The Chinese know exactly what the score is, the analyst emphasized.Noh added that China has asked the United States to meet commitments agreed to at a summit in San Francisco late last year.Meanwhile, Noh claimed the US and its NATO allies fear a loss in their proxy war with Russia as observers warn Ukraines front lines are in danger of imminent collapse. The author insisted the West is in search of a scapegoat to blame for the development, with Beijing increasingly filling the role.The fact that Russia has been able to defeat the US/NATO against their best war doctrine, their best strategy, their best intelligence, their best trainers, their best weaponry and a decade of preparation  this has been a huge shock to the ruling imperial elite in Washington, he claimed. That's a clear warning in case they go to war with China because China's watching the Ukraine war very, very carefully.Noh claimed the criticism of Beijings trade with Moscow forms another part of a hybrid war being waged against China on multiple fronts.Hybrid warfare is defined as a strategy in which conventional military force is combined with elements of soft power in order to undermine an enemy state. Elements of hybrid war may include cyberattacks, covert action, deceptive media narratives, political subversion, election interference, punitive economic measures, and diplomatic and judicial pressure, as well as irregular security threats and military provocations.In 2020 the National Endowment for Democracy, a US government organization instrumental in carrying out so-called color revolution operations, admitted it had been funding Uyghur separatist groups in Chinas Xinjiang Autonomous Region since 2004. Western media has frequently attempted to discredit China by criticizing its conduct in the region as Beijing responds to a spate of terrorist attacks launched by religious extremists.Warnings about Chinas social credit system have also reemerged online recently as the United States prepares to implement repressive surveillance controls on social media. Such sensational claims have been repeatedly debunked in Western media as distorted and exaggerated. But US intelligence agencies have a long history of media manipulation, recently adapting their tactics to influence online narratives.Noh said Beijing would be prepared in case of increased US sanctions and attempts at decoupling, claiming China has worked to strengthen internal demand and economic links with other countries.From China's standpoint, yes, they will pivot back to internal consumption, they will also pivot to the Global South, he predicted. This is all their work that they're doing, building up the BRICS and the Belt and Road so that they can continue to trade and develop with the multipolar Global South.The world's largest banks on the planet are Chinese, and they will simply withdraw from the US market. They will stop using the US dollar  they already are. And then the blowback will be extreme for the United States This quarter, growth was 1.6% [in the US] if we tweak and tap with the numbers. And China's growth was 5.1%. China's growing three times the rate of the United States. It really isn't rocket science. It's very clear what the writing on the wall is, the analyst emphasized.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/us-ratchets-up-pressure-on-china-ahead-of-blinken-visit-in-typical-hegemonic-approach-1118085898.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/us-scholars-uneasy-about-russia-and-china-dumping-dollar-1118113649.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240325/terrorism-used-in-hybrid-war-to-provoke-ethnic-religious-tensions---csto-head-1117542329.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/afd-popularity-continues-to-ride-in-second-place-as-crack-downs-on-accused-espionage-cases-begin-1118118801.html

AfD Popularity Continues to Ride in Second Place as Crack Downs on Accused Espionage Cases Begin

AfD Popularity Continues to Ride in Second Place as Crack Downs on Accused Espionage Cases Begin

Sputnik International

A poll released just two weeks ago showed the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) as the most favorable party with 31% of prospective voters indicating that they would vote for them. However, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second place with 18% according to the Statista poll.

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analysis

germany

alternative for germany (afd)

ukraine

christian democratic union/christian social union (cdu/csu)

ukraine crisis

ukrainian conflict

alternative fuer deutschland (afd)

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Germanys right-wing political party the Alternative for Germany (AfD) first gained popularity in opinion polls last spring. It entered the federal parliament in 2017 as the first time that a right-wing party has been elected since the 1950s. Anger swelled as millions protested the party when, in mid-January, politicians from the party reportedly met the head of the rightwing extremist Identitarian Movement and neo-Naxi activists to discuss a masterplan for mass deportations in Germany.On Thursday, Sputniks Fault Lines spoke with George Szamuely, a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute and author. Szamuely explained that despite Germanys history with Nazism, there is a growing favorability for the AfD party as a way to confront frustrations surrounding immigration, a suffering economy, and the governments support of a proxy war in Ukraine.Germany is supposed to be the industrial powerhouse of Europe. It's an export-driven economy. And, if Germany is having to pay two, three, four times as much for energy as it has in the past, then basically German manufactured products cease to be competitive, and then Germany ceases to be the economic dynamo that it's supposed to be, said Szamuely.So, I think Germans are getting very anxious about their future, he added. The Germans are increasingly realizing that, well, this war is doing very nicely for the US, it's not doing anything for the Germans.Szamuely suggested that while the AfD party is primarily concerned with immigration, they also want peace including an immediate peace in Ukraine. The party, he adds, has also expressed considerable skepticism about NATO and German participation in NATO, and more importantly the party wants to address how to make Germanys manufacturing industry the powerhouse of the world again.The migrant crisis, it's always been kind of bubbling under the surface in Germany for many years, he explained. After the war, they started bringing in Turkish migrant laborers and then the Turks kind of settled down into Germany. So, there was a certain amount of resentment towards that.Sputniks Melik Abdul agreed with his guests comment, adding that defense contractors in the US as well as the military industrial complex as whole are benefitting from the Ukraine war. The US recently approved about $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, as Kiev looks to replenish its artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles.The Alternative fur Deutschland is a kind of a populist, right-wing party. It emerged in opposition to the Christian Democrats who were in power for years and years under Angela Merkel. And, well, initially it wasn't doing particularly well, Szamuely explained.It really took off after Merkel made that catastrophic decision in 2015 to welcome migrants from the Middle East. And that, from that moment, the Alternative fur Deutschland went from strength to strength. I should say, however, that they are now absolutely in the crosshairs of the German intelligence services, the media and German prosecutors.Early on Tuesday, German prosecutors announced that they had arrested Jian Guo, a German national who worked for AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, on suspicion of spying for China. He was later suspended by the European Parliament after prosecutors claimed he had passed on information about negotiations and decisions made in the parliament to China in January, according to one report.German media found that AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, who is the AfD partys top candidate for European elections in June, had employed Guo.[The AfD] has nothing in common with the Hitlerite parties and the Nazi Party, because if it did, it would have been banned. I mean, that's still a possibility, he added. They could still ban the party, claiming that it's extremist. And, again, the German intelligence services are said to be surveilling the AfD with a view to maybe banning it if they decide that it's a danger to democracy, a danger to political stability in Germany. So, that's still a possibility.But, right now, in order to head off a good result in the European parliamentary elections, they're going with this familiar Russiagate, Chinagate allegations and, you know, trying to smear them that way.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240124/german-establishment-plan-to-ban-afd-is-orwellian-1116344474.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/some-100000-germans-protest-right-wing-extremism-in-duesseldorf-1116441181.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/biden-administration-changes-presidents-walking-routine-to-hide-stiff-gait---reports-1118129527.html

Biden Administration Changes President's Walking Routine to Hide Stiff Gait - Reports

Biden Administration Changes President's Walking Routine to Hide Stiff Gait - Reports

Sputnik International

President Joe Biden has stopped walking by himself to the Marine One presidential helicopter and is now surrounded by aides in what appears to be an attempt by the administration to distract the US public from his unsteady gait, Axios reported on Friday.

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us

joe biden

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For the last ten days, Biden has been accompanied on his treks across the White Houses south lawn to Marine One by a cadre of staffers 90% of the time, the report said, citing White House staff. The shift in the routine appears to be part of the Biden administrations effort to shift focus away from the issue of the president's advanced age during an election year. Instead of walking by himself to Marine One, Biden is now joined by staff, lawmakers or others, including nine times out of ten. White House advisers referenced in the report said the idea is that the change in routine would lead to a more positive image of the president. Biden has been speaking more openly about his age during the campaign. Biden's doctor has disclosed that the president suffers from spinal arthritis and mild neuropathy of the feet and both conditions contribute to his stiff gate, according to the report. At age 81, Biden is the oldest president in US history and has been routinely criticized for his cognitive decline and a tendency to fall. Some lawmakers and pundits have called on Biden to step down due to his declining psycho-physical condition.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230601/video-biden-falls-during-us-air-force-academy-graduation-in-colorado-1110847115.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/blinken-promises-to-ensure-transatlantic-security-to-counter-chinese-support-for-russia-1118125099.html

Blinken Promises to 'Ensure Transatlantic Security' to Counter Chinese Support For Russia

Blinken Promises to 'Ensure Transatlantic Security' to Counter Chinese Support For Russia

Sputnik International

If China does not take measures to ensure transatlantic security, the United States will, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday, commenting on China's alleged assistance to Russia.

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wang wenbin

china

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ukraine crisis

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"Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security. Beijing can not achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War. Ensuring transatlantic security is a core US interest. In our discussions today, I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will," Blinken told reporters during his trip to China.In an earlier comment, released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin criticized the US hypocrisy when it comes to the Russia-China relations.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/blinken-tells-wang-yi-that-us-not-supporting-taiwan-independence---china-foreign-ministry-1118123715.html

Blinken Tells Wang Yi That US Not Supporting Taiwan Independence - China Foreign Ministry

Blinken Tells Wang Yi That US Not Supporting Taiwan Independence - China Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the United States does not support Taiwanese independence, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

2024-04-26T10:30+0000

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us

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wang yi

taiwan

china

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us-china relations

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beijing

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"The United States continues to pursue the one-China policy and does not support Taiwan's independence," Blinken said, according to the statement of the ministry.Tensions between the US and China soared in August 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan despite Beijing's warnings against the visit. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island.Despite US official claiming to categorically support the one-China policy, US military has been holding extensive drills in the region. Besides, in a recently adopted draft bill, US has greenlit a major military aid package that includes funds for the Indo-Pacific in particular.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240402/xi-tells-biden-taiwan-issue-constitutes-red-line-in-bilateral-relations-1117701908.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/china-hopes-us-will-stop-deploying-mid-range-missiles-in-asia-pacific-region---wang-yi-1118124011.html

China Hopes US Will Stop Deploying Mid-Range Missiles in Asia-Pacific Region - Wang Yi

China Hopes US Will Stop Deploying Mid-Range Missiles in Asia-Pacific Region - Wang Yi

Sputnik International

China hopes that the United States will stop deploying intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

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wang yi

us

pacific

china

beijing

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us-china relations

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Earlier in April, a spokesperson for the US Army Pacific told Sputnik that the US aimed to deploy a new medium-range missile system in the Asia-Pacific region by the end of 2024. "[We hope that the United States] will stop deploying ground-based medium-range missiles [in the Asia-Pacific region], stop harming China's strategic security interests and undermining hard-won peace and stability in the region," Wang said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/expansive-us-philippines-war-games-slammed-by-china-as-tension-stoking--muscle-flexing-1118052253.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/ciao-abrams-ukraine-sidelines-us-made-m1a1-tanks-due-to-russian-drones-1118120503.html

Ciao, Abrams: Ukraine Sidelines US-Made M1A1 Tanks Due to Russian Drones

Ciao, Abrams: Ukraine Sidelines US-Made M1A1 Tanks Due to Russian Drones

Sputnik International

Russian forces have already destroyed five of the 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks that the Pentagon sent to Ukraine last year as part of the US military aid.

2024-04-26T06:18+0000

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russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

ukraine

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special operation

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Ukraine has withdrawn US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks from the front line because of attacks by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the AP news agency quoted American military sources as saying.The proliferation of Russian surveillance and hunter-killer drones on the battlefield means "there isnt open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection," one of the sources said.For now, the tanks "have been moved from the front lines, and the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics," Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady told reporters."Now, there is a way to do it. Well work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately," Grady added, in an apparent nod to Russian surveillance drones.The US and its NATO allies ramped up their military supplies to the Zelensky regime shortly after the beginning of the Russian special military operation. Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that such aid will not alter the course of the special military operation but will only exacerbate the Ukraine conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240307/what-helped-russias-t-72b3-tank-destroy-ukraines-abrams-1117192733.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/ukraines-monkey-model-abrams-has-a-lot-of-weak-points-1117131171.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/french-servicemen-promised-big-money-for-fighting-in-ukraine---ex-intel-officer-1118117312.html

French Servicemen Promised Big Money for Fighting in Ukraine - Ex-Intel Officer

French Servicemen Promised Big Money for Fighting in Ukraine - Ex-Intel Officer

Sputnik International

French servicemen are being promised a golden parachute for participating in fictitious "resignations" to fight in Ukraine said Nicolas Cinquini, a veteran of France's counter-terrorism intelligence service, to Sputnik.

2024-04-26T01:22+0000

2024-04-26T01:22+0000

2024-04-26T01:22+0000

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Cinquini is currently searching for information about French nationals who fight in the conflict on the side of Kiev. According to his findings, French state agents may have been in Ukraine since the start of the special military operation in February 2022 along with ordinary French civilians who went to fight for the Kiev regime on their own. These are agents who remain very secretive and are difficult to identify, the former intelligence officer noted.Sources told us that in the ranks of the French army, specialists were given attractive offers: a false resignation, a guarantee of reinstatement upon completion, and an income significantly higher than their usual earnings, he said.In February, French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would do everything to prevent Russia from winning this war. At a conference on assistance to Ukraine, he raised the issue of transferring troops to the combat zone, but neither European leaders nor the opposition in his own country supported him. At the beginning of March, Macron also emphasized that France has no limits or red lines in matters of supporting Ukraine.Later, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin, said France had already begun training a contingent to be sent to the conflict zone; at the first stage it would amount to about 2,000 military personnel. Later, the SVR, citing Naryshkin, said a French military unit, should it be in Ukraine, would become a priority legitimate target for the Russian military. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu by phone that sending French troops to Ukraine would create problems for France itself.Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said in an interview with Dmitry Kiselev, the Director General of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media company, that the deployment of European troops to Ukraine will not change the situation on the battlefield but will lead to dire consequences for Kiev. In response to Macrons words about the absence of red lines, the Russian leader said Moscow will not have restrictions in relation to states with such an approach either.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/at-least-75-french-mercenaries-fought-for-ukraine---ex-intel-officer-1118102552.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/germany-creates-a-veterans-day-to-honor-those-who-fought-in-the-bundeswehr-breaking-taboo-1118119864.html

Germany Creates a Veterans Day to Honor Those Who Fought in the Bundeswehr, Breaking Taboo

Germany Creates a Veterans Day to Honor Those Who Fought in the Bundeswehr, Breaking Taboo

Sputnik International

In 2008, the country introduced a new military decoration for bravery, which gave troops the honor for the first time since World War II, and in 2009 a memorial to soldiers who died while serving in the Bundeswehr was built at the Defense Ministry. Yet a holiday such as this has not occurred since its creation.

2024-04-26T05:03+0000

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2024-04-26T05:03+0000

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The German parliament has passed a bill that will create the first annual national veterans day to honor people who have served in the military. The creation of the holiday breaks a long-held taboo in the country around the homage of soldiers, given Germanys history regarding World War II and Nazism.The proposal will create a memorial day on June 15 each year, after Members of Parliament in the Bundestag lower house approved the proposal following an agreement made between the government and the conservative opposition. The celebration will be celebrated publicly and visibly and improved follow-up care for wounded veterans will also be called for, according to one report.The decision was made in an effort to boost public acceptance of the armed forces while also making service in the volunteer army more attractive as Germany increases its defense capabilities. A report from February suggests that German defense officials are privately contacting British and French NATO allies for a potential nuclear weapons deal as an alternative to their nuclear dependency on the US.Germany fears not only imaginary threat from Russia, but is also concerned that a second Donald Trump presidency will lead the US to disengage themselves from NATO. The debate is a difficult one for the country, as Germany has already surrendered the use of both nuclear energy and the atomic bomb.The new holiday will honor all Germans who have worn the German military uniform, not just those wounded or killed in combat. One party did raise objections to the initiative - the left-wing party Linke.Officials within the Bundeswehr have said that long-term underfunding has made their military unfit to fight, Thursdays report adds. Thomas Wiegold, a military affairs expert said that the call will also address emergency preparedness for natural disasters. But regarding border security, the country is still divided.While East Germany has celebrated its National Peoples Army with military parades, West Germany has avoided calling attention to their soldiers given the history regarding World War II and the Holocaust.Since World War II, Germany has been cautious regarding militarism and war. Following the countrys reunification in 1990, then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl first broke ground by sending German troops abroad to serve as military medics for a UN mission to Cambodia in 1992.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240229/germany-mulls-re-obtaining-nuclear-arms-names-trump-among-reasons-1117063031.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/russia-demands-berlins-recognition-of-leningrad-siege-as-act-of-genocide-1117413036.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/global-nuclear-risks-seriously-increased-due-to-destructive-policy-of-west---moscow-1118126404.html

Global Nuclear Risks Seriously Increased Due to Destructive Policy of West - Moscow

Global Nuclear Risks Seriously Increased Due to Destructive Policy of West - Moscow

Sputnik International

The amount of nuclear risks in the world have seriously increased due to the destructive policy of the West, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

2024-04-26T13:28+0000

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"Unfortunately, at the moment, as a result of the destructive policy of the West, whose actions are fraught with a direct military clash of nuclear powers, the level of nuclear danger has seriously increased," Zakharova said in a statement. Moscow has been sending clear signals to the United States and NATO about the possible catastrophic consequences of their course to undermine Russias security, the statement said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240313/putin-says-need-to-use-tactical-nuclear-weapons-never-arose-in-ukraine-1117295403.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/how-russian-nuclear-umbrella-shields-belarus-from-nato-and-minions-1118130566.html

How Russian Nuclear Umbrella Shields Belarus From NATO and Minions

How Russian Nuclear Umbrella Shields Belarus From NATO and Minions

Sputnik International

Minsk is concerned about emerging security threats while Belarus' new military doctrine describes the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons as key to strategic deterrence amid growing geopolitical instability.

2024-04-26T18:49+0000

2024-04-26T18:49+0000

2024-04-26T18:49+0000

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alexander lukashenko

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The All-Belarusian People's Assembly (APA) unanimously adopted a new military doctrine on April 25, while the National Assembly passed the country's updated National Security Concept. The documents set the goal of boosting national security in coordination with the Union State of Russia and Belarus, as well as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the CIS. The nation's military strategy ensures security through conflict prevention and guaranteed defense and sees the deployment of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons on its territory as a viable tool of deterrence.Stefanovich drew attention to NATO's steady military build-up on the bloc's eastern flank with the rapid militarization of Poland. Under these circumstances the deployment of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons is a step in the right direction in terms of creating deterrence, the scholar emphasized.Addressing the gathering on April 25, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned that in the event of an attack, the aggressor would see an instant response with all types of weapons from both Minsk and Moscow."Today we are fully determined to resist any aggressor and inflict unacceptable damage on them," Lukashenko told the All-Belarusian People's Assembly.In 2009, Moscow and Minsk signed an agreement on the joint protection of the airspace borders of the Union State, as well as the establishment of the united regional air defense system. In 2022, a joint Russian-Belarussian military contingent was deployed in the Eastern European state to deter potential threats from the direction of Poland and Ukraine. In 2023 Moscow and Minsk agreed on the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus with Russia also providing its ally with nuclear-capable Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems.How Serious Are Threats on Belarus' Ukraine and Lithuania Borders?While delivering his speech on Thursday, Lukashenko also referred to the risk of military incidents at the Belarusian border with Ukraine. For his part, Ivan Tertel, head of the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB), revealed to the All-Belarusian Peoples Assembly that the nation's military had prevented attempted drone strikes from Lithuania targeting Minsk and its neighborhoods.Risks at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border appear to be higher in comparison with a potential challenge posed by Lithuania, according to Yuriy Shevtsov, a political analyst and director of the Belarusian Center for Problems of European Integration.He explained that the Belarus-Lithuania border is approximately 720 kilometers long, whereas the nation's border with Ukraine stretches for over 1,000 kilometers. In terms of military force, there are around 120,000 Ukrainian troops amassed near the border with Belarus while Lithuania may have roughly 18,000 military soldiers at its mutual border with Belarus, Shevtsov presumed.Shevtsov downplayed Vilnius's efforts to fortify its border with Belarus, suggesting that it appears to be a PR stunt in the first place. Meanwhile, the reported drone strike, which Lithuania has denied, was aimed at testing the Belarusian air defense systems which are quite advanced, as per Sputnik's interlocutor.He warned, however, that Lithuania could potentially target the Astravec Nuclear Power Plant located in the Astravyets district of Grodno region in north-western Belarus. Shevtsov noted, however, that the atomic plant is well-covered by air defenses. Apart from Astravec, the city of Grodno, which is located at the junction of the borders with Lithuania and Poland, could also be targeted with some sort of a minor strike, the expert observed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/minsk-opposes-nato-expansion-ready-for-pragmatic-dialogue---military-doctrine-1118122942.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231213/how-deep-does-russia-belarus-military-cooperation-go-1115557014.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/west-doubles-military-presence-on-belarus-russia-borders-since-2020---belarus-minister-1116925064.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/israel-has-timeline-for-rafah-operation-will-not-engage-in-pointless-talks-anymore---reports-1118132197.html

Israel Has Timeline for Rafah Operation, Will Not Allow Hamas to 'Drag Its Feet' - Reports

Israel Has Timeline for Rafah Operation, Will Not Allow Hamas to 'Drag Its Feet' - Reports

Sputnik International

Israel has a clear timeline for carrying out an operation in the Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah and it will not allow Palestinian movement Hamas to conduct "another round of pointless talks for the purpose of fraud," the Axios news portal reported on Friday, citing senior Israeli officials.

2024-04-26T20:41+0000

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On Friday, a delegation of Egyptian intelligence officials paid a visit to Israel to meet with Israeli military and security officials to talk over the hostage deal and the operation in Rafah, the report said. The Israeli message to the Egyptian delegation that it would not engage in "another round of pointless talks for the purpose of fraud" was clear, another official said. Therefore, Israel was ready to give the hostage negotiations one last go, but if there was no progress soon, it would launch the operation, Axios reported. On April 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the date for the start of the ground operation in Rafah had been set. The city is considered to be Hamas' last holdout and the plan for the operation has already been approved, but it will require the evacuation of over one million displaced people currently sheltering there.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240211/israel-strikes-rafah-killing-dozens-after-netanyahu-hints-of-ground-offensive-1116726122.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/lavrov-holds-talks-with-bolivian-counterpart-in-moscow-1118121174.html

Lavrov Holds Talks With Bolivian Counterpart in Moscow

Lavrov Holds Talks With Bolivian Counterpart in Moscow

Sputnik International

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the officials will discuss bilateral relations between the countries, political dialogue and ways to further strengthen multi-faceted cooperation.

2024-04-26T10:51+0000

2024-04-26T10:51+0000

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Sputnik comes to you live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with his Bolivian counterpart Celinda Sosa, who is on a state visit to Russia.Commenting on the high-level meeting, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the diplomats plan to pay special attention to "discussing ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the global arena".Minister Sosa has headed the Bolivian Foreign Ministry since November 2023. This is her first visit to Russia in this capacity. Meanwhile, Sosa and Lavrov had already met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in February.Follow Sputnik's live feed for more information!

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Lavrov holds press conference after talks with Bolivian Foreign Minister Sosa Lunda Sputnik International Lavrov holds press conference after talks with Bolivian Foreign Minister Sosa Lunda 2024-04-26T10:51+0000 true PT42M57S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/nato-troops-dont-want-to-die-poland-and-lithuania-to-repatriate-ukrainian-draft-dodgers-1118128005.html

NATO Troops Dont Want to Die: Poland and Lithuania to Repatriate Ukrainian Draft Dodgers

NATO Troops Dont Want to Die: Poland and Lithuania to Repatriate Ukrainian Draft Dodgers

Sputnik International

The two countries have signaled they will help the Kiev regime to bring potential draft dodgers home. Earlier, the countries appeared reluctant to extradite conscript-aged Ukrainian men.

2024-04-26T16:12+0000

2024-04-26T16:12+0000

2024-04-26T16:12+0000

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The defense ministers of Poland and Lithuania have stated that they will help the Kiev regime ensure that those obliged to fight for Ukraine are returned home instead of sitting in European cafes and fancy restaurants."Ukrainian citizens have obligations towards the state," Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on April 24. "We have long suggested that we are also able to help the Ukrainian side in ensuring that those who are obliged to perform military service go to Ukraine.""Ukraine is very short of mobilization reserve This is not fair to those citizens who are fighting for their country," Laurynas Kasciunas, the Lithuanian defense minister, echoed his Polish counterpart on April 25.Last year, most EU states refused to extradite Ukrainian draft dodgers who came as refugees to the bloc, citing European conventions that do not envisage extradition for desertion or draft evasion. Even though Polish authorities had not rejected Kiev's request altogether, they offered a complicated bureaucratic procedure, adding that at the end of the day, everything would depend on Poland's court ruling. Why have they now changed their tune?It's no secret that Ukraine is losing NATO's proxy war against Russia and suffers from an acute deficit in soldiers, noted Volodymyr Oleynyk, a Ukrainian politician and former MP of the Verkhovna Rada, adding that the North Atlantic alliance does not want to throw its own troops into the Ukrainian meatgrinder.How Could Poland and Lithuania Send Ukrainians Back Home?The question then arises as to how two EU member states could circumvent the aforementioned European conventions and associated laws to extradite Ukrainian draft dodgers. It appears, however, that they have already found a way.On April 23, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry "announced a temporary suspension of accepting new applications for consular services" for men between 18 and 60 residing abroad. In mid-May, a sweeping draft law will come into force obligating conscript-aged men to return to Ukraine to obtain a military ID to get a new Ukrainian passport. The crux of the matter is that under martial law, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, apparently meaning that the returnees would be stuck in Ukraine.According to the Guardian, the Polish parliament is going to consider new legislation next week that would require Ukrainian refugees to show a valid passport to get benefits from the state. Previously, Ukrainians could show any document proving their identity to the Polish authorities. It is also unclear whether Ukrainians without a valid passport will be able to work legally in Poland.Lithuanian Defense Minister Kasciunas also hinted at various options that could allow the state to expel draft dodgers evading the deportation mechanism. He clarified that this work will be conducted in coordination with Poland.Ukrainian Draft Dodgers Welcomed in Other EU StatesWarsaw and Vilnius's measures will force Ukrainians to seek asylum elsewhere, Oleynyk said, stressing that most Ukrainians don't want to go to the front line. He quoted the Razumkov Institute's March poll that indicated that just 10% of Ukrainian respondents are ready to fight, while 90% are not willing to join military service.Oleynyk also referred to a social media poll by Servant of the People party MP Maryana Bezuglaya that apparently showed that over half of Ukrainians residing abroad would opt to live without a Ukrainian passport in order to evade conscription.Despite Poland and Lithuania having adopted a tough stance towards Ukrainian draft dodgers, other EU states appear ready to welcome them.Even if Warsaw and Vilnius deliver on their pledge and launch the initiative to repatriate Ukrainian draft dodgers, it would take a lot of time and effort, according to the former Ukrainian MP.Second, even if Poland and Lithuania try to deport Ukrainian citizens, the latter would have the right to appeal under EU laws and this would also create delays, Oleynyk highlighted.Given that Zelensky needs hundreds of thousands of trained soldiers as soon as possible to slow down the Russian offensive, the Polish and Lithuanian initiatives seem unlikely to save the day for the Kiev regime, according to Sputnik's interlocutor.The Ukrainian regime is in agony and the only viable way out for it is capitulation, Oleynyk concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230915/europe-snubs-ukraines-demand-to-extradite-draft-dodgers-1113395120.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240413/zelensky-could-end-ukraines-viability-as-country-with-mobilization-law-1117903959.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/pro-palestine-student-protest-in-washington-continues-despite-demands-to-remove-camp-1118132384.html

Pro-Palestine Student Protest in Washington Continues Despite Demands to Remove Camp

Pro-Palestine Student Protest in Washington Continues Despite Demands to Remove Camp

Sputnik International

Dozens of students are still camped out at the George Washington University (GWU) in the US capital to protest against Israeli military actions in Gaza, despite demands by officials to disperse, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Friday.

2024-04-26T21:29+0000

2024-04-26T21:29+0000

2024-05-02T12:31+0000

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The protests at GWU have emerged alongside other pro-Palestine demonstrations at US college campuses across the country in recent days, some of which have seen intense clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Students began protesting at GWU on Thursday to condemn Israel's assault on Gaza and demand a halt to US arms supplies to the Jewish state. The epicenter of the demonstrations remains the square at the university's Law School, which is located within walking distance from the White House. Student demonstrations are also taking place at Columbia University, Yale, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Emory, the University of Texas and Ohio State, among others. In some universities, police are using force to remove protesters, and their interventions have resulted in hundreds of arrests. Protesters at George Washington University are holding signs with slogans including Stand with Palestine, and Stop the Genocide, among others. Officials and police stationed at George Washington University have not yet moved to break up the ongoing protest. On Thursday, officials demanded that the protesters vacate the territory by the end of the day, but on Friday the protest continued without intervention by law enforcement officers. The territory of the protest encampment has been fenced off, with only protesters and several police officers inside. The officers have not interfered with the demonstrations. Police squads are stationed outside the campus grounds and restrict the movement of vehicles along the adjacent street. Police say they do not have any information about when the protesters will leave their encampment.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/israel-has-timeline-for-rafah-operation-will-not-engage-in-pointless-talks-anymore---reports-1118132197.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/russia-never-threatened-nato-has-no-interests-in-attacking-member-states---shoigu-1118122159.html

Russia Never Threatened NATO, Has No Interests in Attacking Member States - Shoigu

Russia Never Threatened NATO, Has No Interests in Attacking Member States - Shoigu

Sputnik International

Russia has never threatened NATO and has neither geopolitical nor military interests to attack the states of the alliance, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.

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"Russia has never threatened NATO. We have neither geopolitical nor military interests to attack the states of the bloc. We are simply protecting our people in our historical territories," Shoigu said during a meeting of defense ministers of the SCO member countries in Astana. Russia has always made maximum efforts to maintain strategic stability and balance of power in the world, the minister added.US Plans on Military Infrastructure in Central Asia Threatens SCO Space StabilityThe US intention to deploy military infrastructure in the Central and South Asia is direct a threat to stability in the SCO space, the minister noted.Commenting on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, Shoigu said that US-oriented military and political structures are trying to remake security system in the region to dominate this part of the plant.Additionally, the minister added that the return of radical Islamists from the Middle East and North Africa to the Southeast Asia creates prerequisites for new hot spots.US Incites Hotbeds of Instability in World, Simultaneously Offering Military AidThe United States uses the tactics of inciting hotbeds of instability in the world, generating security threats, while simultaneously offers military assistance, Shoigu pointed out."[The US] uses a technique that has been proven many times  inciting and maintaining hotbeds of instability in various regions of the world, generating security threats while simultaneously offering military assistance to neutralize them," he said.Continued Strikes by Ukraine on Zaporozhye NPP Can Lead to Catastrophic ConsequencesShoigu also touched upon potential catastrophic consequences caused by the ongoing Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240328/the-us-and-islamists-a-history-of-connivance-1117611979.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240417/ukraines-attacks-against-zaporozhye-nuclear-plant-in-brief-1117978231.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/russia-urges-us-to-treat-its-draft-resolution-on-space-without-prejudice-1118122721.html

Russia Urges US to Treat Its Draft Resolution on Space Without Prejudice

Russia Urges US to Treat Its Draft Resolution on Space Without Prejudice

Sputnik International

Russia calls on the United States to treat a draft Russian resolution in the UN Security Council on the issue of weapons in space without prejudice, and, when it is circulated among Security Council members, to engage in serious talks on the document, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik.

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space weapons

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Earlier, Ryabkov said Russia would soon submit its draft UN Security Council resolution on arms in space, which would be comprehensive, not taking only nuclear weapons out of the general context. According to the deputy minister, in the draft Russian resolution, one of the points will contain a call on all states to begin negotiations on a legally binding instrument that would exclude an arms race in outer space.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240405/curious-timing-whats-behind-us-security-council-resolution-proposing-ban-on-nukes-in-space-1117767963.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/threats-against-campus-pro-palestine-demonstrators-echo-deadly-violence-of-kent-state-1118117114.html

Threats Against Campus Pro-Palestine Demonstrators Echo Deadly Violence of Kent State

Threats Against Campus Pro-Palestine Demonstrators Echo Deadly Violence of Kent State

Sputnik International

As demonstrations spread across US college campuses, so too have threats from officials and prominent politicians.

2024-04-26T03:21+0000

2024-04-26T03:21+0000

2024-04-26T03:26+0000

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us

jim kavanagh

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palestine

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zionism

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Pro-Palestine demonstrations have spread across US college campuses in recent days as students denounce Israels ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip. Often led by people of Palestinian descent, the protests have attracted demonstrators of diverse backgrounds including Jewish students, who conducted a Passover Seder ceremony at Columbia Universitys encampment Tuesday evening.Students throughout the country have taken up the cause this week, with some reports suggesting at least 33 campuses now host pro-Palestine demonstrations. Protest tactics have included sit-ins, hunger strikes, class walkouts, and interfaith prayer as demonstrators call on universities to divest from financial interests connected to weapons manufacturers and the Israeli occupation.Protestors have faced police repression in some instances, with encampments in Texas and at Columbia being targeted with mass arrests. Tennessees Vanderbilt University reportedly became the first school to expel students last week for participation in the acts of civil disobedience.The crackdown has brought light to the work of late Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said, who once warned that repression of the pro-Palestine cause was giving rise to a new form of McCarthyism on college campuses. Independent journalist Jim Kavanagh joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program Thursday to discuss Saids work and the implications of the spreading student protest movement.I knew Edward Said, I met him and socialized with him, said Kavanagh. A very great man and his work has been formative. He was a professor at Columbia and he was under attack from the Zionists and Columbia University supported him, when they still had integrity. This is a situation  I'm just amazed by how quickly it spread.The protests have drawn frequent comparisons to the social movements of the 1960s, when college students engaged in mass protest against the Vietnam War. Famously, four students were killed at Ohios Kent State University in 1970 after National Guard troops were sent to quell protests there. Ten days later, two students were killed under similar circumstances at Jackson State University, an historically Black school in Mississippi.The threat of deadly police violence against demonstrators looms over the current protests, but such history has not prevented House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from calling for a National Guard presence at Columbias Upper Manhattan campus. Student leaders of the protest there have claimed the schools administration has threatened to call in the National Guard during talks with demonstrators.I was actually on the Columbia campus in 1968 and knew people who were part of the Students for a Democratic Society and gave hell to the Democrats at the Chicago convention, said Kavanagh. It's wonderful to see this, and it's really kind of terrifying at the same time. These students are taking real chances. I mean, they're bringing in the cops right away. They're not even making any pretense anymore of waiting for some kind of disruptive protest.They're bringing in the cops just to prevent any kind of gathering of students on campus. It's really quite amazing. It's the worst thing I've seen since the '60s, the journalist said.Fear has grown that Israel will conduct a military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering. Observers have warned an invasion of the city could result in mass civilian casualties and the forcing of thousands of Palestinians into neighboring Egypt.The Israeli military has stepped up airstrikes in Rafah in recent days as a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the country will move ahead with a ground operation.The students here are the pride of the world right now. They're standing up for intellectual and ethical integrity and the universities that are supposed to represent them are crushing them on behalf of Israel, on behalf of Zionism, Kavanagh highlighted.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240422/at-least-180-bodies-discovered-in-mass-grave-at-hospital-in-gazas-khan-yunis--reports-1118048975.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200504/kent-state-massacre-vietnam-war-had-two-fronts--one-was-at-home-1079196720.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/ukraines-military-casualties-in-donetsk-area-reach-up-to-430---mod-1118125288.html

Ukraine's Military Casualties in Donetsk Area Reach Up to 430 - MoD

Ukraine's Military Casualties in Donetsk Area Reach Up to 430 - MoD

Sputnik International

The Ukrainian armed forces have suffered up to 430 military casualties near several settlements of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) in the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.

2024-04-26T12:32+0000

2024-04-26T12:32+0000

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According to the ministry, Russias Battlegroup Yug repelled a Ukrainian attack near Nevelskoye settlement in the DPR. "Enemy losses over the past day amounted to 430 military personnel, two armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, as well as a control point for unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said in a statement. Russias Battlegroup Tsentr repelled eight Ukrainian counterattacks, while the enemy lost up to 415 servicemen in clashes, the MoD added.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us--uk-reduced-naval-presence-in-red-sea---houthi-leader-1118117905.html

US & UK Reduced Naval Presence in Red Sea - Houthi Leader

US & UK Reduced Naval Presence in Red Sea - Houthi Leader

Sputnik International

The United States and the United Kingdom have scaled down their naval presence in the Red Sea despite lack of abatement in the intensity of attacks carried out by Yemen's Houthis rebels on Israeli-linked ships, the rebel movement's leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said on Thursday.

2024-04-26T02:25+0000

2024-04-26T02:25+0000

2024-04-26T02:25+0000

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"Our operations have not decreased, as the Americans claim, presenting this as their achievement, but rather the movement of their warships has decreased. There has been an 80% reduction in the movement of US Navy ships, not our operations," al-Houthi was quoted by Iranian broadcaster Almasirah as saying on the occasion of 200 days of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, al-Houthi said that since the beginning of hostilities in Gaza, they have attacked 102 Israeli-affiliated ships, an equivalent of one ship every two days. Moreover, the leader of the movement also known as Ansar Allah said that there was an ongoing effort to expand and strengthen operations in the Indian Ocean in ways that "the Americans, the British, the Israelis, and perhaps the rest of the world cannot envision." His statements came a day after the movement announced attacks on a US ship and a destroyer in the Gulf of Aden and an Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean after a week-long standoff. Houthis have been launching attacks on commercial and military vessels in the region for months, in response to Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. The attacks prompted the US to form a multinational coalition to protect shipping in the area, as well as to strike Houthi targets on the ground.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240209/houthis-say-all-warships-must-leave-red-sea-as-brit-ship-sent-off-for-refit-following-militia-1116697236.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-cluster-munition-coalition-slams-us-decision-to-transfer-new-batch-of-munitions-to-ukraine-1118126210.html

US Cluster Munition Coalition Slams US Decision to Transfer New Batch of Munitions to Ukraine

US Cluster Munition Coalition Slams US Decision to Transfer New Batch of Munitions to Ukraine

Sputnik International

The US Cluster Munition Coalition said it was shocked by Washington's decision to transfer its cluster munitions to Ukraine for the fifth time, citing the long-term humanitarian consequences such weapons could have.

2024-04-26T13:17+0000

2024-04-26T13:17+0000

2024-04-26T13:18+0000

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On Tuesday, the US Senate passed a $95 billion bill containing approximately $61 billion in Ukraine-related funding, including via a loan. US President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Wednesday. The US Department of Defense later unveiled a $1 billion military aid package for Kiev, including cluster munitions and air defense supplies. The coalition added that it was "dismayed by the need to condemn such an action for the fifth time." It also urged Biden to immediately stop the transfer of such weapons. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. According to him, the US and NATO are directly involved in the Ukraine conflict by supplying weapons and training soldiers in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240423/us-houses-support-for-61bln-ukraine-aid-package-criticized-by-51-of-americans---reports-1118079187.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-france-to-send-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carriers-to-souda-base-in-greece---reports-1118129186.html

US, France to Send Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers to Souda Base in Greece - Reports

US, France to Send Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers to Souda Base in Greece - Reports

Sputnik International

The United States and France are expected to deploy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at the Souda naval base located on the Greek island of Crete in the next few days, Greek media reported on Friday.

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The first to dock will be the US aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is expected to arrive in Souda on April 28 and remain there until May 2. At the same time, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will dock at the naval base on May 2 and will stay until May 7, Greek newspaper Rizospastis, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Greece, reported. The party's branch in the Greek city of Chania, where the base is located, is reportedly calling on people to gather for a picket on April 29 in a municipal market square. Souda is home to the largest US naval base in the Mediterranean Sea.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210128/american-missile-destroyer-uss-porter-enters-black-sea-despite-previous-objections-from-russia-1081909875.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-military-leaders-decline-to-comment-on-reports-kiev-moved-abrams-tanks-from-frontlines-1118131493.html

US Military Leaders Decline to Comment on Reports Kiev Moved Abrams Tanks From Frontlines

US Military Leaders Decline to Comment on Reports Kiev Moved Abrams Tanks From Frontlines

Sputnik International

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Brown on Friday declined to comment on reports that the Ukrainian armed forces moved Abrams tanks from the frontlines due to threats from Russian drones.

2024-04-26T18:47+0000

2024-04-26T18:47+0000

2024-04-26T18:47+0000

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"I'll defer to the Ukrainians on how they use their Abrams," Brown said when asked about reports Ukrainian forces have removed their Abrams tanks from the frontlines. The New York Times reported last week, citing a senior US official, that the Russian armed forces have taken out five of the 31 US-supplied M1 Abrams tanks in the special military operation zone in the last two months. Another three tanks the United States sent to Ukraine have been moderately damaged since the beginning of this year, the report added. In February, Ukrainian media platform strana.ua reported that the Ukrainian armed forces had been using Abrams for over a month in the direction of Avdiivka, also known as Avdeyevka, from where they later withdrew. On March 6, a commander of one of the Russian military units told Sputnik that the Russian forces destroyed a US-made Abrams for the first time in the Avdiivka direction during a tank battle. In late September 2023, the White House confirmed that Abrams tanks had begun arriving in Ukraine. In total, the US administration vowed to give Kiev 31 Abrams tanks. However, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said that these tanks "will not live very long on the battlefield" in an ordinary combined arms battle.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/a-bridge-too-far-latest-batch-of-us-weapons-not-reaching-ukraine-anytime-soon-1118125380.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-to-reposition-some-troops-from-chad-as-part-of-cooperation-review---pentagon-1118117754.html

US to Reposition Some Troops From Chad as Part of Cooperation Review - Pentagon

US to Reposition Some Troops From Chad as Part of Cooperation Review - Pentagon

Sputnik International

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) is planning to reposition some of its forces from Chad as part of an ongoing review of security cooperation with the country, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said on Thursday.

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"As I understand it, talks continue with Chadian officials. US AFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some US military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart. This is a temporary step as part of an ongoing review of our security cooperation," Ryder said during a press briefing. The cooperation is expected to resume following the Chadian elections scheduled for May 6, Ryder added. The announcement comes days after media reported, citing a letter, that Chad had threatened to end the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States, which governs how US military forces can operate in the country. The letter ordered the United States to remove personnel from the French base in NDjamena, although it did not explicitly demand the US military to leave Chad. Chadian authorities specifically raised the presence of a US Special Operations Task Force at the base.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230912/pentagon-misleads-congress-about-nature-of-bases-in-africa-1113311761.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/us-will-not-sanction-idf-units-despite-human-rights-violations---reports-1118127013.html

US Will Not Sanction IDF Units Despite Human Rights Violations - Reports

US Will Not Sanction IDF Units Despite Human Rights Violations - Reports

Sputnik International

The Biden administration has decided against cutting off military aid for three military battalions with the Israel Defense Forces, despite determining that they committed "gross human rights violations" against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, ABC News reported on Friday.

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The assessment was outlined in a letter sent by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the report said. Blinken reportedly wrote that the determination would not cause delays to the delivery of any type of assistance to Israel, which will also receive the full amount appropriated by Congress. On Saturday, the Axios news website reported that Blinken would announce sanctions against Israel's Netzah Yehuda battalion within days. The sanctions will be related to incidents in the West Bank prior to Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Netzah Yehuda is reportedly made up of young, radical Jewish settlers who have not been accepted into other IDF units. Sanctions were also expected to target other military and police forces in Israel involved in rights violations. The US Department of State has been investigating the Israeli military units for more than a year due to potential violations of human rights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would fiercely oppose any sanctions, while Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, warned that sanctions against the unit would be a "red line."

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/white-house-officials-made-failed-attempt-to-remove-press-secretary---reports-1118127889.html

White House Officials Made Failed Attempt to Remove Press Secretary - Reports

White House Officials Made Failed Attempt to Remove Press Secretary - Reports

Sputnik International

White House officials made a failed attempt to remove Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre from her position, the New York Post said on Friday, citing its own sources.

2024-04-26T15:26+0000

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us

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The secret plan to replace the unwanted press secretary was undertaken last fall and involved attracting outside allies, the report said. There were a number of people she asked to engage Karine, one source with experience working in several administrations said. He also added that White House chief of staff Jeff Zients was aware of the situation. The officials tried to involve people whom Jean-Pierre knows and trusts, according to the report, adding that Zients and Dunn were trying to find Jean-Pierre a graceful exit. One source stressed that the press secretary sometimes does not understand the issues that she has to discuss with reporters during press briefings. Karine doesnt have an understanding of the issues and she reads the book [binder] word-for-word, said the source. However, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates rejected the allegations about his boss. He called the claims in the report false, adding that the reality is absolutely different. Karine was never approached by anyone with such a message. She spends four hours preparing every day. And neither Jeff nor Anita did any such thing; both have been unflinchingly supportive of her, Bates said, according to the report. The report also said that Jean-Pierre received and rejected in December an offer to become a President of EMILYs List, an organization that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office.

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UPDATE: With more than 400 registered participants, 371 individuals joined together on May 4 in Aggie Park for the Inaugural Fun Run! Impressively, bib sales  the funds generated from race day registration fees  brought in more than $11,000 in funding, and the total amount raised will be announced soon.

May 4, 2024 at Aggie Park

Race begins at 8 a.m.

Community expo in the park from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Runners, walkers, and the community are invited to stay in Aggie Park and participate in the expo. We are actively recruiting sponsors and vendors.

Created to help members of the Aggie family in need, the Staff Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance to Texas A&M University staff members experiencing a temporary hardship due to a significant life event. The Maroon and White 5K Fun Run is a fundraising event and the net proceeds will go to support the Staff Emergency Fund, an account held at Texas A&M Foundation.
For the fourth straight week, In High Cotton has won the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap Pace at Fraser Downs. On Thursday evening (April 26), the six-year-old Kelly Hoerdt student made the trip from gate-to-wire to mark her 24th career triumph.

Scratched down to a field of five, In High Cotton, with trainer Hoerdt in tow, went to the gate as the outside assignee in the feature. Hoerdt sent In High Cotton to the top and they never looked back, hitting each panel in :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before crossing the wire 2-3/4 lengths the best in 1:53 over the 'good' track. Grey Sea (John Abbott) finished second and Pirate Booty (Terry Kaufman) grabbed the show spot.

In 95 career starts, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and the Western Hanover mare Olivette Hanover has posted a record of 24-17-16 with $228,317 earned. Owned by Hoerdt and Erna Corbeil, In High Cotton scored her fifth victory in 12 starts this year. In High Cotton returned $2.70 to win as the favourite.

Carson Abbott scored his first career driving win in the Thursday card opener with Gordon Abbott-trained Sea Treasure (Custard The Dragon-Cassidys Grin). Abbott got away sixth with the four-year-old mare before moving first over on a journey to the top. Clearing the lead at the three-quarters, Abbott Sea Treasure never looked back as they scored by one length in 2:01.2 for owner/breeder Seaspray Stables.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Fraser Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)
An executive from JH Kelly entered into an agreement with the city of Longview in municipal court Wednesday in connection to allegations of groping a woman at the companys centennial celebration in 2023.

Robert William Harris, 58, of Longview, decided to enter into an agreement, called a stipulated order of continuance, in which a defendant has agreed to certain stipulations to avoid further criminal legal proceeding. He originally faced a fourth-degree assault charge.

Harris must affirm to a 24-month no-contact order, as well as commit to 24 hours of community service and anger management. Harris, who declined to talk to The Daily News, told Cowlitz County District Court Judge John Hays Wednesday he had completed anger management.

Its a pretty standard kind of agreement for first offense, said Longview Assistant City Attorney Nicole Knowles, who added that the agreement is not technically a conviction, but Harris did admit to the elements of assault.

If Harris completes all of the stipulations, the case could be dismissed. His next court date is set for April 23, 2026.

According to JH Kellys website, Harris is the companys executive vice president and serves on the board of the Northwest Construction Consumers Council and the Cowlitz Economic Development Council.

What happened?

The victim said Harris sexually assaulted her when he allegedly grabbed her genitals without her consent at the party.

On March 17, 2023, the victim was talking to a friend at the JH Kelly party when Harris approached and asked if they had seen his wife. As part of an ongoing joke, the friend suggested Harriss wife might be socializing with another man, according to a police report.

Harris reportedly reached over with an open hand and grabbed the victim in the groin area, saying something like How about this? or I have nothing to worry about.

Hays inquired Wednesday whether Harris was intoxicated during the incident at the Cowlitz County Event Center, and she said no. The victim added that Harris had re-victimized her over the last year by trying to clear his name.

She said Harris apologized for the incident but later said it wasnt a big deal.

While reading a prepared statement and sitting near Hays before the court, she expressed losing her sense of security and safety.
Cowlitz County deputies Wednesday stopped a fleeing driver suspected of stealing a Homeland Security vehicle.

Travis J. Grygla, 43, of Portland, a registered sex offender on federal probation, is now in custody.

The sheriffs office reports in a press release Grygla was able to steal the vehicle after being placed, uncuffed, in the backseat by a Homeland Security agent during a different arrest earlier that day.

After learning officers had found a secret cell phone he was not allowed to have on probation, Grygla told an officer standing outside the vehicle, This is not going to go good for me, locked the doors, rolled up the window, and slid into the driver seat, a Thursday affidavit states.

A Homeland Security agent was issued a warrant for Grygla in the U.S. District Court of Oregon for allegedly possessing child pornography. He was suspected of storing and sharing child porn in his Portland home on a SD cards in his shared bedroom, the affidavit states.

The county sheriffs office was notified Grygla was headed northbound on Interstate 5 around 9 a.m. and joined the pursuit.

The chase, which involved speeds over 100 mph and erratic lane changes, ended near exit 48 in Castle Rock after deputies used spike strips to deflate the suspects tires, the press report states. The reported stolen vehicle landed on its top.

The suspect is in Homeland Security custody, but the sheriffs office will also request a warrant for suspected charges during the chase, the department reports.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the suspects age and the location of the arrest.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The top image shows the schematic of liquid film boiling, where both vibrant bubbles inside the liquid film and the evaporation atop dissipate the heat. Credit: Science China Press

In the past decade, fires from electronic devices and batteries, from small smartphones to electrical vehicles and airplanes, have repeatedly made headlines. Enhanced computational power has led to a large amount of waste heat generation and undesirable temperature rise of electronics.

Poor heat management is the cause of over half of electronic device failures. To tackle this issue, it is crucial to develop advanced cooling technologies to effectively manage heat and maintain temperatures in the working conditions.

Among various cooling technologies, liquid-vapor phase-change cooling, which utilizes the boiling or evaporation of liquids, is gaining attention due to its superior heat dissipation ability. For instance, the immersion cooling method, similar to boiling water, immerses high-power electronic components in a liquid pool for cooling.

However, researchers have found that relying solely on either boiling bubbles or evaporation no longer meets heat dissipation needs of electronic devices. A few years ago, Professor Ronggui Yang's team proposed a new strategy that employs both evaporation and nucleate boiling and called it capillary-driven liquid film boiling.

This cooling technology generates boiling bubbles in an evaporative thin liquid film by a careful design of the wicking structured surface. This kind of wicking surface is often controlled with a thickness of less than 1 millimeter. Leveraging the benefits of both boiling and evaporation which have been well studies over a century, the new strategy of liquid film boiling achieves high heat dissipation performance, surpassing the heat dissipation limit of traditional phase-change heat transfer.

High heat transfer performance relies on delicate surface design. With the recent development of the micro-nano technologies, researchers are performing the studies on many micro/nano-structures surfaces to enhance heat transfer.

However, current surface designs for liquid film boiling are typically based on experience and lack theoretical guidance. This is due to the complex liquid-vapor phase change process, which involves complicated dynamics of bubbles and liquid film, and the resultant heat transfer. The textured structures of different surfaces further increase the complexity, making the prediction of the heat dissipation capability a long-term challenge, therefore hindering the development of optimal surfaces.

In response to this challenge, a team of researchers led by Professor Yang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, developed a high-fidelity model to predict the liquid film boiling heat transfer on various textured surfaces. The findings are published in the journal National Science Review.

Being able to predict not only heat dissipation but also surface temperature, the model can predict the heat dissipated through different phase change modes (evaporation or boiling). The model predictions for various textured surfaces agree well with experimental data.

The new model is expected to guide the design of new heat management surfaces. This is of great importance for devising high-performance cooling strategies for next-generation electronics.

More information: Pengkun Li et al, A heat transfer model for liquid film boiling on micro-structured surfaces, National Science Review (2024). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae090
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

Japan's cabinet approved Friday legislation that would slap major fines on tech giants like Google or Apple if they block access to third-party smartphone apps and payment systems.

Similar to the European Union's new Digital Markets Act, behavior deemed anti-competitive could see operators fined up to 20 percent of their revenues in Japan.

Under the legislation set to be debated by lawmakers, they would also have to act fairly and make operating systems, browsers and search engines available for all.

"The legislation is urgently needed in order for Japan, the US, and Europe to keep pace with each other and ensure fair competition in the digital field," said government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.

"Smartphones have become the foundation of people's daily lives and economic activities.

"For those specific softwares like applications stores that are particularly necessary for smartphone use, we will improve the competitive environment, encourage innovations, and realize consumer choice while also ensuring security," he said.

 2024 AFP
Shenzhou-18 astronauts enter space station

Xinhua) 08:39, April 26, 2024

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 26, 2024 shows the Shenzhou-17 and Shenzhou-18 crew posing for a group photo inside China's space station. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou-18 spaceship have entered the country's space station and met with another astronaut trio on Friday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover.

The Shenzhou-17 crew opened the hatch at 5:04 a.m. (Beijing Time). The three space station occupants greeted the new arrivals, and they took group pictures.

The space get-together of the two crews kicked off the fourth in-orbit crew rotation in China's space station.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, the six astronauts will live and work together for about 5 days to complete planned tasks and handover work.

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 26, 2024 shows the astronauts of the Shenzhou-17 mission greeting the Shenzhou-18 crew at China's space station. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 26, 2024 shows the astronauts of the Shenzhou-17 mission greeting the Shenzhou-18 crew at China's space station. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi Rector Viorel Scripcariu (2nd R), Chinese Ambassador to Romania Han Chunlin (1st R) and Vice President of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology Ma Jianhui (3rd R) learns about a teaching aid of traditional Chinese medicine in Iasi, Romania, April 25, 2024. Romania's fifth Confucius Institute was inaugurated in the northeastern Iasi city on Thursday.

As the first Romanian Confucius Institute featuring traditional Chinese medicine, it was jointly established by the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi (UMF Iasi) and China's Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

IASI, Romania, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Romania's fifth Confucius Institute was inaugurated in the northeastern Iasi city on Thursday.

As the first Romanian Confucius Institute featuring traditional Chinese medicine, it was jointly established by the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi (UMF Iasi) and China's Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST).

UMF Iasi Rector Viorel Scripcariu expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, and highlighted the significance of the institute and its uniqueness of integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into the university's curriculum.

The institute "has a large infrastructure. Speaking from the medical point of view, I am absolutely sure that (it) will be a success for both parts of this partnership," Scripcariu said.

Chinese Ambassador to Romania Han Chunlin said the inauguration was a significant achievement in bilateral cultural exchanges and the institute a place for mutual cultural learning.

Han underscored the role of languages as a conduit for genuine communication, expressing optimism that the institute would facilitate deeper collaboration between the two countries' medical universities.

Han voiced the hope that the institute will open new avenues for collaboration between China and Romania, and for education combining medical science and Chinese language, and prepare even more talented professionals with a high level of Chinese language proficiency and medical training.

Ma Jianhui, vice president of the HUST University, said the establishment of the institute is a significant step in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

"HUST and UMF Iasi came together firmly and bravely with common intention and mutual trust, joining hands to set up the first Confucius Institute in Northeast Romania," he said.

In a video speech, Zhao Lingshan, secretary-general of the Chinese International Education Foundation, outlined the institute's objectives, including providing high-quality Chinese education with a focus on traditional Chinese medicine and fostering cross-cultural exchanges.

Established in 1879, UMF Iasi stands as a prominent public medical university, encompassing various fields such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and biomedical engineering. 
A nurse administers a dose of vaccine against malaria to a child at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

YAOUNDE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In Soa, a town about 20 kilometers north of Cameroon's capital city, Yaounde, malaria is endemic.

"We are constantly sick, me, the children and their father. All of us live with malaria," said Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna, a Soa native.

Like Zeuna, almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country.

In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths.

Cameroon wants to create multiple layers of protection against malaria and work closely with partners to develop, invest in and deploy new tools and innovations, said Paul Onambele, a public health expert who heads the Health District of Soa.

"We have other partners in the fight against malaria, but China is particularly welcomed," he said. "We have very good cooperation with China."

Thanks to a scholarship, he received public health training at Peking University in China, which eliminated malaria after decades of efforts, and the valuable experience could provide innovative pathways for Cameroon, Onambele said.

"What happened in China was like a miracle. Malaria was once rampant in China, and China managed to cut down the annual number of malaria infections from about 30 million in the 1940s to zero in 2017," he said. "We draw a lot of inspiration from the Chinese health system... It puts community and its involvement at the center of its operations."

China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria, said Jerry Afanda, an epidemiologist at Cameroon's St. Louis Health Institute.

China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. "These efforts have led to a significant reduction in malaria prevalence rates," Afanda said.

He called for more cooperation, especially in the fight against malaria. "Cameroonian specialists can travel to China to discover and learn from the successes of the fight against the disease."

Ita Ebot, another public health specialist, pointed to China's approach to malaria prevention and control, which emphasizes the importance of eliminating the source of infection and controlling the spread of the disease, with the help of traditional Chinese medicine.

"This approach is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which prioritizes addressing the root cause of an illness rather than just treating the symptoms," Ebot said. "This is something we badly need in malaria treatment in Cameroon, and China can come to our aid."

The Cameroonian government, with support from partners and friendly countries, is rolling out malaria vaccination, mosquito nets, preventive treatment for young children and pregnant women, as well as community-based testing and treatment services to tame the disease.

"These methods have helped us cut mortality rates," said Jean Fosso, deputy permanent secretary of the National Malaria Control Program in the Ministry of Public Health.

Cameroon wants to be at the forefront of harnessing the latest lifesaving tools to fight back, and build on progress made over the last decade in malaria prevention and control, but it lacks "badly needed" resources, Fosso said.

"With more investment, Cameroon will be on the right path to control and eventually eliminate malaria. Our main difficulty now is mobilizing financial resources," Fosso said. 

A nurse prepares a dose of vaccine against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna (L), a Soa native, drinks traditional anti-malaria drink in Ebang, a neighborhood in the commune of Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

A nurse prepares a dose of vaccine against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

People wait to have their children vaccinated against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna (R), a Soa native, hangs a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide to protect her children against malaria in Ebang, a neighborhood in the commune of Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Paul Onambele (R), a public health expert who heads the Health District of Soa, talks with nurses in the hospital hall in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)
Fake browser updates are being used to push a previously undocumented Android malware called Brokewell.

"Brokewell is a typical modern banking malware equipped with both data-stealing and remote-control capabilities built into the malware," Dutch security firm ThreatFabric said in an analysis published Thursday.

The malware is said to be in active development, adding new commands to capture touch events, textual information displayed on screen, and the applications a victim launches.

The list of Brokewell apps that masquerade as Google Chrome, ID Austria, and Klarna is as follows -

jcwAz.EpLIq.vcAZiUGZpK (Google Chrome)

zRFxj.ieubP.lWZzwlluca (ID Austria)

com.brkwl.upstracking (Klarna)

Like other recent Android malware families of its kind, Brokewell is capable of getting around restrictions imposed by Google that prevent sideloaded apps from requesting accessibility service permissions.

The banking trojan, once installed and launched for the first time, prompts the victim to grant permissions to the accessibility service, which it subsequently uses to automatically grant other permissions and carry out various malicious activities.

This includes displaying overlay screens on top of targeted apps to pilfer user credentials. It can also steal cookies by launching a WebView and loading the legitimate website, after which the session cookies are intercepted and transmitted to an actor-controlled server.

Some of the other features of Brokewell include the ability to record audio, take screenshots, retrieve call logs, access device location, list installed apps, record every every event happening on the device, send SMS messages, do phone calls, install and uninstall apps, and even disable the accessibility service.

The threat actors can also leverage the malware's remote control functionality to see what's displayed on screen in real-time, as well as interact with the device through clicks, swipes, and touches.

Brokewell is said to be the work of a developer who goes by the name "Baron Samedit Marais" and manages the "Brokewell Cyber Labs" project, which also includes an Android Loader publicly hosted on Gitea.

The loader is designed to act as a dropper that bypasses accessibility permissions restrictions in Android versions 13, 14, and 15 using a technique previously adopted by dropper-as-a-service (DaaS) offerings like SecuriDropper and deploy the trojan implant.

By default, the loader apps generated through this process have the package name "com.brkwl.apkstore," although this can configured by the user by either providing a specific name or enabling the random package name generator.

The free availability of the loader means it could be embraced by other threat actors looking to sidestep Android's security protections.

"Second, existing 'Dropper-as-a-Service' offerings that currently provide this capability as a distinctive feature will likely either close their services or attempt to reorganize," ThreatFabric said.

"This further lowers the entry barrier for cybercriminals looking to distribute mobile malware on modern devices, making it easier for more actors to enter the field."

Update

A Google spokesperson shared the below statement with The Hacker News -

"Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services. Google Play Protect can warn users or block apps known to exhibit malicious behavior, even when those apps come from sources outside of Play."
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Staring at the construction site of an affordable housing project from the balcony of her 10-square-meter rented room, Tian Xue is envisioning her future family life.

"The affordable housing made it possible for me to enjoy better living conditions at a lower price, so I will apply to buy my new home there," said Tian, who came to Hangzhou two years ago and hoped to settle down.

Building affordable housing that is conducive to meeting the essential housing demands of Chinese people like Tian is one of the measures China has taken to promote the high-quality development of the real estate sector. Efforts have also been made to fulfill the need for better living conditions.

This year's government work report called for accelerating the fostering of a new real estate development model, a strategic move based on the major changes in supply-demand dynamics, featuring high quality, new technology, and good services.

ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HOUSING

The advancement of affordable housing, an important step in promoting a new development model for the real estate market in China, is quite different from the old one, featuring high debt and high leverage rates.

Tian's "dream house" belongs to one of the 12 affordable housing projects Hangzhou plans to start construction this year. Knowing that the project will have supporting facilities for the community's elderly and child care, she feels it would be convenient and reassuring if she started a family there.

"From 2024 to 2028, the city will build 50,000 high-quality, affordable houses," said Xie Xiaomin, director of a municipal housing service center.

Affordable housing, aimed at people who find buying a house difficult, and talents such as scientific, technical, and medical care personnel, is one of China's important reforms to fine-tune its housing supply system. The prices of affordable houses will be much lower than the market price.

Increasing the supply of affordable housing contributes to fulfilling essential housing demands for people with housing problems, empowering them to strive for a better life, said Liu Lin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

At present, 65 cities nationwide have made the annual plan for affordable housing projects. Xi'an plans to start building 15,000 affordable houses, and Shenzhen has launched 13 affordable housing projects.

Besides building affordable housing, China also focuses on advancing the construction of public infrastructure for both normal and emergency use and the renovation of villages in cities.

Liu concluded the aforementioned efforts contribute to invigorating investment and consumption.

She said, "It can drive investment in the sector and relevant industries and stimulate consumption in decorative materials, furniture, home appliances, and tourism."

BETTER HOME TO LIVE IN

In this year's government work report, China pledged to scale up the building and supply of affordable housing and improve the basic systems for commodity housing to meet people's essential need for a home and their different demands for better housing.

The rise of demand for improved living conditions is an important impetus for the high-quality development of China's property sector in the future, said Sam Xie, head of research at CBRE China.

Xie said that the rapid development of China's real estate has greatly improved residents' living conditions and people's demand is gradually turning from "owning a home" to "a better home to live in."

Zhao Na, a resident in Ji'nan, east China's Shandong Province, had just sold a house below 90 square meters and bought a new one of 140 square meters with four rooms.

"I like the layout and indoor decorations of the house, and the park and school nearby also bring convenience to us as we have two kids," said Zhao, adding that everyone in her family is happy to have their own space in the new home and considers it an improvement of their living conditions.

Efforts should be made toward the goal of enabling Chinese people to live in better houses, and then good communities and good cities, said Ni Hong, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

This year, more than 30 cities have introduced policies offering professional assistance, tax incentives, or subsidies to support residents willing to sell their old homes to purchase better ones.

"Basic housing demand and the need for improved housing are still driven strongly by the advancement of urbanization and the improvement of people's living standards," said Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics.

"There is a solid foundation for the sustained and healthy growth of the property market," he said. 
Let this be a lesson to you, children.

If a jury finds you guilty, you could be hauled off to jail, even if youre Goldilocks.

When a jury of third-graders didnt buy Goldilocks story Thursday morning, a real Grand Island police officer handcuffed her and marched her out of the courtroom.

The character, played by Olivia Madison, had just been sentenced to a month in jail.

Not every childrens fable has a storybook ending.

It was the second time on Thursday that Goldilocks had been found guilty, but the first time she was escorted from the courtroom.

After the days first trial, Madison was asked how she was going to handle a month in jail.

She was pretty scared, but I think Ill survive. I mean, I hope I learn from my mistakes.

The jury found Goldilocks guilty of burglary, stealing and destruction of property. She didnt actually wind up in jail, but the handcuffs were real.

April in Grand Island means its time for the annual Goldilocks trial, which is a fun way to teach third-graders about the law.

This years trials were held Monday and Thursday in the courtroom of Hall County District Judge Andrew Butler.

In Thursdays opening trial, the gallery consisted of students from Starr and West Lawn Elementary.

The students were startled when Papa Bear, on the witness stand, demonstrated the growl he made when he found Goldilocks sleeping in Baby Bears bed.

The roar was quite loud, and probably helped create sympathy for Goldilocks.

On the witness stand, she told jurors that when she awoke in Baby Bears bed, she was surrounded by three wild animals, whom she thought were going to eat her alive.

Goldilocks portrayed herself as a victim  a lost little girl who was cold, tired and hungry. She was looking for items for a science project in the big, scary woods when she came upon a house.

The four actors, all from Grand Island Senior High, remained in character the whole time. Close observers could even see Noah Javorsky, who plays Baby Bear, stick his tongue out at another character.

It was the third year in a row that Javorsky played Baby Bear. The experience has helped him connect with the character, he said.

The actors are not bound by the written word.

No, we go off script all the time, said Maggie Robison, who plays Mama Bear.

On Monday, Robison said she used a Transatlantic accent.

Taking on a suggestion made by a castmate, Robison spoke in a Southern accent Thursday. She said she was channeling a Louisiana mama.

When she found Goldilocks in Baby Bears bed, Mama Bear said, Girl, you better get out of that bed right now.

Sometimes, the attorneys really get into it. After grilling Goldilocks, prosecutor Grady Erickson said, Ive got no more use for this witness, your honor.

As Papa Bear, Meier said he has to take a lead role for his family. His character is angry about what Goldilocks did.

Fortunately, those hard feelings dont carry over into the classroom back at GISH.

Four trials were conducted Monday and four on Thursday.

In the first trial of the day, the defense counsel was played by Emily Warner, who is Judge Butlers actual bailiff.

She is also Robisons mother.

When Robison was on the stand, the mother and daughter shared an inside joke.

In the script, Robison says that in her house, Im the one that washes dishes.

Warner looked at her daughter, smiling, and said, You wash the dishes? You want to repeat that? YOU wash the dishes?

Goldilocks maintains that she didnt break into the house. She knocked on the door, which opened on its own. She planned to replace the soup that she consumed. And she was just so tired, she needed a place to lay down.

Madison believes in her characters innocence.

I personally think a little third-grade girl should be allowed some help, she said afterward.

Madison said its good that the kids get to see how a trial works. She remembers coming as a third-grader herself, and thinking it was so cool to watch it happen.

The actors like it when lawyers pick up on their improvisation.

When one of the actresses said that Baby Bear cant even fit in the broken chair, at least one of the lawyers started having the young bear sit in it.

If he doesnt fit, you must acquit.

While the jury deliberates, the judge asks the gallery about the case.

Students who feel Goldilocks is guilty suggest a wide range of penalties.

Suggestions can range from Lets Nickelodeon slime her to give her 20 years in jail, Javorsky said.

Three of the GISH students handled every trial this week. On Monday, Alex Weaver portrayed Papa Bear.

At Thursdays first trial, the judge was played by Grand Island attorney Zachary Butz.

Grand Island police officer Hank McFarland played the bailiff.

Also helping to make the trial successful were Judge Butler and the Grand Island legal community.

Erickson and Audrey Rowley were among the organizers.

GISH theater teacher Christine Kier said she was proud of her students. The way they own their part makes it fun for the youngsters to watch, she said.

Javorsky likes being in the courthouse with his friends, and entertaining the little kids. I cant wait to come back, he said.

Since hes only a junior, hell probably be donning his little pair of ears again next year.
Dairy giant Vinamilk targets 5% pre-tax profit growth in 2024

By My Ha, Minh Hue Fri, April 26, 2024 | 11:53 am GMT+7

Vietnamese dairy giant Vinamilk aims to earn VND63.16 trillion ($2.5 billion) in revenue and VND11.5 trillion ($453.92 million) in pre-tax profit this year, up 4.4% and 5.1% year-on-year, respectively, CEO Mai Kieu Lien said on Thursday.

Dairy giant Vinamilk's AGM in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam, April 25, 2024. Photo courtesy of the company.

If the plan is fulfilled, the company, listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange as VNM, will break the revenue record set in 2021 and post the second consecutive year of positive profit growth.

In Q1/2024, the company's revenue and after-tax profit increased by 1.2% and 15.8% respectively compared to the same period last year. In 2023, it recorded revenue of VND60.5 trillion ($2.39 billion), equivalent to the 2022 performance, and an after-tax profit of VND9.02 trillion ($356 million), a year-on-year increase of 5.1%, Lien told the AGM.

With these results, the dairy giant will pay cash dividends at a combined rate of 38.5%, equivalent to VND8.05 trillion ($317.74 million). The company has advanced 29% of the dividends, and the remaining 9.5% will be delivered within six months of the 2024 AGM.

Answering shareholders' questions about its dividend payment policy, Lien affirmed that the company always balances development investment and dividends to ensure shareholder rights, and commits to maintaining the cash dividend rate.

In recent years, up to 91% of the firms after-tax profit each year has been used to pay dividends, so it is no longer possible to increase it further, she noted.

The company's revenue has gone flat for many years due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the economic downturn and weak purchasing power, so Vinamilk has focused on innovating itself via changing brand identity and promoting digital transformation, with top priorities given to restoring market share and sustainable sales and profits.

At the same time, Vinamilk will focus on the domestic market and exports. The company has exported its products to more than 60 countries, she said, revealing a 14% export growth in the first four months of this year.

Besides the core dairy business, the company will tap business opportunities in new markets through mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, or venture investments, Lien said, citing a cattle breeding and beef processing project in Tam Dao district, the northern province of Vinh Phuc, with partner Sojitz Corporation (Japan) as an example.

The CEO said that once operational, the project is expected to bring in revenue of VND3 trillion ($118.4 million) per year.

Vinamilk is looking for suitable land to expand its dairy farms in Vietnam, she added.

On the stock market, VNM closed Thursday at VND64,700 ($2.55) per share.
Japan energy firm Erex eyes 50 MW biomass power plant in northern Vietnam

By Tri Duc Fri, April 26, 2024 | 3:30 pm GMT+7

Japanese renewable energy firm Erex Co., Ltd. plans to build a 50-MW biomass power plant in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, Erex representative director and president Honna Hitoshi said Wednesday.

Hitoshi revealed the plan at a meeting with Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of Lao Cai, who was leading a provincial delegation on a four-day visit to Japan ending the same day.

Delegations of energy firm Erex and Lao Cai province meet in Japan on April 24, 2024. Photo courtesy of Lao Cai newspaper.

Hitoshi noted that 50 MW was above the approved figure of 30 MW for biomass power in the province under the power development plan VIII (PDP VIII). He said 50 MW capacity would ensure the projects economic viability and operational stabiliy.

Backing the project, Trinh Xuan Truong suggested the project can be implemented in two phases of 30 MW and 20 MW.

He said provincial authorities would seek consultation with the Politburo, the highest decision-making body in Vietnam, to recommend the government approve the higher capacity.

For a 30-MW project, Lao Cai, with four producers of biomass for power generation, was capable of supplying needed fuel, Truong affirmed. It can also meet power transmission requests, he added.

Established in 1999, Erex operates five biomass power plants in Japan with a total capacity of 300 MW. Its first foreign-invested project is the 20 MW Hau Giang biomass power plant in the Mekong Delts, construction of which began in December 2022.

Erex is now studying or building 14 biomass power plants in 12 Vietnamese localities.

In July 2023, Erex and local partner Sakura Green Energy JSC broke ground for a VND474.8 billion ($20 million) biomass fuel plant in the mountainous province of Yen Bai. The three-hectare factory has a designed annual capacity of 150,000 tons of wood pellets and 305,000 tons of wood chip products a year. The plant is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2025.

In March 2024, Erex kicked off construction of a VND478.8 billion ($19.4 million) biomass fuel factory in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang. Covering 3.3 hectares, the factory will be designed to produce 150,000 tons of biomass pellets and 150,000 tons of wood chips yearly, starting in 2025.
Leading broker SSI allays concerns over cybersecurity after VNDirect ransomware attack

By Lan Do Fri, April 26, 2024 | 10:13 am GMT+7

Information security requires a supervisor who can identify strangers entering the system, said Nguyen Duy Hung, chairman of leading broker SSI Securities in response to inquiries from shareholders following the hacking incident at VNDirect Securities.

SSI Securities JSC, which is listed in the HCMC Stock Exchange (HoSE) as SSI, convened its 2024 AGM on Thursday.

Chairman of Nguyen Duy Hung SSI responds to shareholders' questions at AGM in Ho Chi Minh City on April 25, 2024 . Photo courtesy of SSI.

"We demand frequent password changes through a multi-phase monitoring process. The first thing to do with a system is to have a supervisor who can identify strangers entering.

"What matters is whether or not we can immediately identify newcomers and whether or not they are able to remove their belongings. When outsiders get inside, we have to get rid of them right away. We need to be able to start the backup system and have recovery time in case the system develops a malfunction," Hung said.

Leading brokerage house VNDirect Securities last month suffered a cyberattack that paralyzed its electronic platforms on March 25. The mishap forced both the Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi stock exchanges to disconnect from VNDirect. A day later, the stock market watchdog instructed securities companies to enhance their cybersecurity. VNDirect Securities JSC was not allowed to resume its connections to the Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi stock exchanges until a week later.

Nguyen Duc Thong, deputy general director of SSI, said that many people consider information security just a barrier to keep people from intruding. However, investors need to establish a connection with the system.

Nguyen Vu Thuy Huong, director of proprietary trading, capital business, said that at SSI, proprietary trading accounts for 60% of overall profit. Capital, share, and derivatives trading are all included in the company's proprietary trading area. Derivatives and equities make up 15% of these three divisions' profits, while the capital segment accounts for 45%.

Nguyen Hong Nam, general director of SSI, noted that the economy is likely to continue recovering through 2024. The government is prioritizing resources to foster economic growth. GDP is expected to expand at a rate of 6-6.5%, driven mostly by public investment and the revival of import-export activities.

This year, Vietnam's stock market has been steadily rising. SSI researchers predict that the benchmark VN-Index will hit 1,300 points, with liquidity ranging from VND18,000 billion ($709,829) to VND20,000 billion ($788,699).

The VN-Index is trading at 1,208 points at 10 a.m. on Friday, up 0.25% from Thursday's close.

SSI executives presented a revenue plan of VND8,112 billion ($319.9 million) in 2024, an increase of 11% from last year. Pre-tax profit is set to reach VND3,398 billion ($134 million), up 19%. The company's projected revenue for Q1 is VND2,022 billion ($79.7 million), and its projected pre-tax profit is VND942.6 billion ($37.14 million).

The company reports revenue of VND7,281 ($287.12 million) and a net profit of VND2,293 billion ($90.42 million) for 2023. The proposal from the board of directors was to pay VND1,511 billion ($59.6 million) as cash dividends, or 10% per share.

Growth in profits

Huong, director of proprietary trading, capital business, said that the four primary business blocks identified in the 2024 business strategy are wholesale, retail, capital investment, and investment banking services. The corporation has set a profit growth target of 19%, meaning that each division will grow at a rate equal to the company as a whole.

Vu Ngoc Anh, director of the retail division, said that the brokerage house will keep growing its clientele that uses leverage over the next two years. It aims to raise the current average margen lending of VND17,000 billion ($670.4 million) to VND20,000 billion ($788.7 million) by the end of this year.

SSI's market share drops

Chaiman Hung said that both SSI and conventional businesses have seen a decline in market share. Although SSI has put various improvement strategies in place, the issue will not go away quickly.

"While gaining more market share is a goal worth pursuing, the business also needs to balance other aspects of profitability and efficiency. The company's efficient and sustainable development is SSI's main objective," he added.

Private placement for strategic partners

Hung said that the company cannot rush because, in addition to the price, SSI must examine the value that the invited partner delivers. This necessitates the right person at the right time.

Strategy for personal asset management

SSI Asset Management general director Nguyen Ngoc Anh stated that the investment management division has 90,000 private and institutional clients. SSI has recently launched an investment trust segment for high-end customers, with the expectation that this will become a significant activity in fund management within the next 2-3 years.

Vu Ngoc Anh, director of the retail division, said that asset management has become increasingly popular in recent years. "Vietnam is experiencing two new trends: a new generation of wealthy individuals and the transfer of assets from parents to children, which will increase the demand for asset management services."

In Vietnam, most financial institutions are likewise interested in this industry. The company recognized that there was a clear need. The organization has completed phase one of its asset management development strategy.

Risk factor for the market

Hung said that the greatest risk is investor confidence. Fortunately, investors remain confident in the stock market, and market liquidity has increased.
Vietnam parliament chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to step down

By Thai Ha Fri, April 26, 2024 | 5:05 pm GMT+7

The Party Central Committee has accepted the resignation of Vuong Dinh Hue, a member of the Poliburo - the country's highest decision-making body, and chairman of the National Assembly.

Vuong Dinh Hue, a member of the Poliburo and Chairman of the National Assembly, Vietnam's highest legislative body. Photo courtesy of the parliament.

Hue will also resign from the Party Central Committee, the Party Central Committee Office said in a statement on Friday afternoon after an extraordinary session.

The committee said that Hue was a key leader of the Party and the State, with a good educational background. He started at grassroots level and has since been appointed to hold important leadership positions for the Party and the State.

However, reports from the Central Inspection Committee and other relevant agencies show that Hue violated the Party members' code of conduct and regulations on the responsibility of cadres and Party members to set a good example.

Hue was a member of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee, so he had responsibility as a leader in line with Party regulations and State laws.

His violations and shortcomings "caused bad public opinion, affecting the reputation of the Party, the State, and himself".

Aware of his responsibility to the Party, the State and the people, Hue submitted his resignation, the committee stated.

After the Party Central Committee's Friday extraordinary meeting, the National Assembly - Vietnam's highest legislative body, will carry out a process to dismiss Vuong Dinh Hue.

Four days ago, Pham Thai Ha, 48, deputy head of the National Assembly Office and Hue's assistant, was arrested on charges of abusing his positions and power to influence others for personal gains.

Hue, 67, holds a PhD and doctorate in economics. His hometown is Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province.

He was a member of the Politburo for the 12th and 13th terms; member of the Party Central Committee from the 10th-13th terms; and a deputy to the National Assembly from the 13th-15th terms.

Hue worked for 22 years as a lecturer and deputy principal at the Hanoi University of Finance and Accounting (now the Academy of Finance), before serving as State Auditor General (2006-2011), Minister of Finance (2011-2013), head of the Central Economic Commission (2012-2016), and deputy prime minister (2016-2020).

In February 2020, he was appointed by the Politburo as chief of the Hanoi Party Committee. In March 2021, he was elected chairman of the National Assembly.
Bethune-Bowman High School's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Mohawk Battalion has once again set a benchmark of excellence in its JROTC Program of Accreditation inspection.

Mohawk Battalion During a JROTC Program of Accreditation inspection, Bethune-Bowman High School's Mohawk Battalion was designated as an Honor Unit with Distinction.

Conducted by representatives from the 4th Brigade, United States Army Cadet Command, and the US Army Recruiting Command, this evaluation, which happens every three years, is designed to ensure the highest standards of quality, in line with Advanced Standards for Quality.

The inspection encompassed several critical areas, including instructor and cadet portfolio interviews, unit report evaluation, a color guard demonstration, in ranks inspection, continuous improvement brief, and a service-learning brief. The Mohawk Battalion's outstanding performance across all these areas has earned it an overall score of 95%.

As a result of its achievements, the Mohawk Battalion has been designated as an Honor Unit with Distinction. This recognition highlights the battalion's commitment to excellence and its success in developing well-rounded, disciplined and capable young leaders.

The Bethune-Bowman High School JROTC program is under the leadership of Senior Army Instructor, LTC (ret.) Brian Cole Sr., and Army Instructor, SFC (ret.) Fred Styles. It continues to demonstrate its dedication to the principles and values of the JROTC mission. This achievement not only reflects the hard work and dedication of the cadets and instructors but also underscores the strong support from the school and local community.

"We are incredibly proud of our cadets and instructors for their dedication and hard work," stated Dr. Shawn Foster, superintendent of the Orangeburg County School District. "This designation is a testament to their commitment to excellence and reflects positively on our entire district."
WINDHOEK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's President Nangolo Mbumba congratulated Tanzania on Thursday, as the nation marked the 60th anniversary of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

In a message to the people and government of Tanzania, Mbumba celebrated the historic milestone, emphasizing the importance of unity, development, and prosperity achieved over the past six decades.

He recalled the pivotal role played by Tanzania in supporting Namibia's liberation struggle against apartheid colonialism and highlighted Tanzania's hospitality toward Namibian freedom fighters and its contribution to their training, as well as its advocacy for Namibia's cause at the United Nations.

"Tanzania was not only the hotbed of political organization for SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization) by hosting the Consultative Congress in 1969 at Tanga, but it was also equally a key transit point for Namibians en route to different destinations in pursuit of education," Mbumba said.

The Namibian leader underscored the enduring friendship and shared vision for a prosperous future between Namibia and Tanzania, rooted in their common struggle for liberation and commitment to African unity.

"In our common fight during the second phase of our struggle, that of economic emancipation, let us continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Namibia and Tanzania," he said.

Let us collectively strive for the prosperity and well-being of our people and harness the potential of our bilateral partnership to address the myriad challenges facing our continent, including poverty, inequality, and climate change, he said.

The anniversary commemorates the historic merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April 26, 1964, which established the United Republic of Tanzania. 
The Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce is introducing two initiatives aimed at enhancing community leadership and fostering economic growth within the region.

The inaugural Leadership Development Program is designed to cultivate the next generation of community leaders through a comprehensive six-month training regimen. Participants will engage in specialized training sessions and organizational site visits, equipping them with the skills necessary for professional excellence and community service. The program underscores the Chambers commitment to nurturing a strong foundation of leadership.

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In parallel, the chamber is also launching the Advocacy Policy Committee, a critical endeavor aimed at reinforcing a thriving business environment and accelerating regional economic development. The committee will advocate for policies conducive to business success and aimed at ensuring sustained economic vitality and job creation in our region.

Tri-County Chamber joins Front Porch Program The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism has named the Tri-County Regional Chamber & Visitor Center in St. George a partner in Discover South Carolinas Front Porch Program.

TCRCC recently celebrated the success of the Meeting of the Mayors on March 26. The event underscored the importance of unified leadership in shaping the economic and developmental future of our community, with notable contributions from speakers such as Yancey McLeod on land use.

Additionally, the chamber encourages the community to participate in the "Discover Your Community's Best - Shop Local, Scan Local" initiative. https://business.tri-crcc.com/list. This campaign promotes the beneficial impact of supporting local businesses, emphasizing that $68 of every $100 spent locally remains within the community.
Dr. Patrick Antoine, President of BACOL, made it clear that the case to go before the CCJ is effectively on behalf of all policyholders in the Eastern Caribbean.

After a wait of a decade and more, policyholders of the now defunct British American Insurance Company (BAICO) will have their day in court.





April 29th and 30th, 2024 are the dates that the matter as it relates to the non-compensation of policy holders of BAICO will be heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).





Dr. Patrick Antoine, President of BACOL  the company set up to represent the uncompensated policyholders within the Eastern Caribbean  said that the matter was being heard based on the ruling from the court that the decision was made to run with the policyholders from Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda.





Nobody left out





Dr. Antoine, during a press briefing on April 23, spoke directly to those policyholders who have not been essentially parties at this stage to the claim, assuring them that they "must not feel that they are left out because the court has made it clear that once the court has heard the arguments, which are the same for the other islands...then of course because it is the same case, it is the same arguments and the other policyholders would be accommodated.





He emphasised, "So those of you who are from Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat you must not fear that this matter has reached this stage based on your own participation that this matter also continues to include you.





It was further noted that the court has a record of the names of persons from those countries other than Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda and that once there was a ruling, that ruling will apply equally across the board.





BACOLs argument





According to Antoine, BACOL represented nearly 2,000 policyholders from throughout the Eastern Caribbean who are owed about EC$800,000,000.





The argument is that on the collapse of its parent company, the Trinidad and Tobago-based regional conglomerate CL Financial in 2009, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago discriminated against policyholders of BAICO when it compensated citizens of their country and not those of the Eastern Caribbean.





"We have done everything that we can do.  Many of you are jittery, but you really have no good reason to be because the story is yours and all you are doing is really reflecting what has been a painful story, Dr. Antoine appealed, and shared that it was their expectation that the court will rule in their favour.





Trinidad and Tobago discriminated





Kamisha Menns, international legal consultant attached to the case, explained that the case concerned questions of fairness, discrimination and leveling the playing field for the Caribbean Community.





"And it means that the Treaty (Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community) has been established and set up and incorporated into the various member states, such that a provision like Article 7 of the Revised Treaty says that within the scope of the Treaty, there is to be no special provisions contained or no actions can be done on the grounds of nationality alone, Menns said.





She further argued that the government of Trinidad and Tobago effectively, factually favoured its nationals by the deliberate use and expropriation of the CLF group of assets to benefit the Trinidadian policyholders only, to compensate its policyholders only and to form a new business entity which benefitted its policyholders only.

"It discriminated against the Grenadian and Antiguan policyholders. It created and engaged the legislative process that was discriminatory and prejudicial in the sense that it forestalled and prevented non-nationals and other groups not already subjected to their compensations scheme, from bringing claims, Menns said.





Expected on the first day of the hearing are the submission of witness statements and according to the team from BACOL, up until the press briefing, persons do not have access to view the proceedings.





However, a link will be provided for the second day and third, if possible, and all are being encouraged to follow the proceedings.
Courts St. Vincent Ltd. is headquartered in the building, once the operating base of T. Geddes Grant Ltd. which was said to be subsumed by Unicomer.

Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd. (trading as Courts St. Vincent) has been ordered to pay the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines $12.66 million in unpaid taxes, including interest and penalties.





The order was upheld by the Tax Appeal Commissioners after hearing an appeal by Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd.

Not only did the Appeals Commissioners rule in favour of the position of the Comptroller of Inland Revenue, but the ruling was further upheld when Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd. went to the High Court.





The order was further upheld by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, acting in its appellate jurisdiction, in a judgement delivered on April 17.





Courts to appeal





And as is its right so to do, Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd. has given notice that it intends to appeal to the London-based Privy Council, this countrys highest court of appeal.





In a release dated April 22, 2024, the company said, "We firmly believe, based on specialist tax and legal advice, that we have fully complied with all the tax regulations in Saint Vincent, which is why we are now moving to appeal the judgment to the Privy Council, Saint Vincents highest appellate court.





The release went on to assure that "This is a corporate matter that has no impact on Courts or our staff.





And for those who would speculate that Courts could turn its back on this country, the company affirmed in the referenced release, "We believe in this market, and we dont intent to leave Saint Vincent. We will continuously work under the most stringent governance and ethical standards.





The trail





The hearing by the Tax Appeal Commissioners followed an audit of the accounts of Unicomer - Courts St. Vincent) Ltd., for the period 2007 to 2011, and subsequently to that, a review into 2015.

Upon that audit, the Comptroller of Inland Revenue gave notice to Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd. of the intention of the Inland Revenue Department to raise additional assessments to the tax in the sum of $12.66 million, inclusive of interest and penalties.





The original case was heard on January 29, 2024, and the judgement was reserved and delivered on April 07, 2024, following which Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd. appealed to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves shared this information while speaking on last Sundays episode of Issue at Hand aired on WEFM.





At that time, he also indicated that the sum of $12.66 million, perhaps, is now closer to $20 million or thereabouts.





"Of course, Unicomer has the right to appeal to the Privy Council, Dr. Gonsalves said, and while saying then that he didnt know whether they would do so, he was of the view that they "may well do it because it is a significant amount of money.





As for the lesson inherent in the Unicomer St. Vincent Ltd.  Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines matter, Dr. Gonsalves assessed that "we must also be vigilant when collecting our taxes. Particularly from the 20% of the companies that pay about 80% of the company taxes.





About the Unicomer Group - Courts





Unicomer has established itself as one of the leading, if not the leading multinational corporation in retail and financial services in the Caribbean.





Operating from headquarters in El Salvador, it is noted for its retail (including a hire purchase service) in home and office furniture/appliances, and also offers Optical and Financial (Ready Cash  Loans) services. It also owns the RadioShack brands.





Having established its first operation in the Caribbean (Jamaica) in 1959, as of 2006 Unicomer operated in the eleven CARICOM countries, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines where it has had interest since 1987.
The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body found early on the morning of Wednesday 24th April, on a beach in La Pompe, Bequia.





In a release of the same date, the RSVGPF said that they have identified the deceased as a 71-year-old female from Harmony Hall. No name was given.





According to the police, preliminary information indicates that the deceased was staying at a nearby apartment and was last seen on the beach around 6 PM the day before.





A post-mortem examination will be conducted soon to determine the cause of death.





Since the police release, speculation was rife that the body was that of a doctor who had had a private practice on Bequia.





And in a related incident, the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a partially decomposed body on April 24, 2024 about 3:00 pm. at his residence in Argyle.





Police Officers from the Biabou Police Station received the report and responded to it where they met the male body lying naked on his back. The deceased was later identified by a relative to be that of Arnis Marshall, a retiree over the age of 60.





It was reported that his daughter called him about 2:30 pm that same day but he did not respond. She later sent someone to check on him which led to the discovery.





The body was pronounced dead on the scene by Dr Maikel Macco and Magistrate Colin John authorized the removal of the body.




Dr. Tahomma Richards - Technical Product & Regional Category Manager/ECF is expected to play pivotal role in ECFs participation in the St. Kitts fair. (Photo Source: ECGC)

The East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), in the name of its subsidiary East Caribbean Fees (ECF), earlier this week, announced its sponsorship of the St. Kitts Open Day Agricultural Fair on April 25-26, 2024.





This follows on ECGCs active participation in the event of 2023.





According to a media release of April 16, East Caribbean Feeds "has been providing top quality feeds as well as technical services to St. Kitts for more than three decades.





The Agriculture Open Day, ECGC said, "is a significant event that aims to showcase the diverse facets of the agricultural sector, bringing together farmers, agribusiness, fishers, and agro-processors, with the aim of creating "a comprehensive platform for promoting sustainable agriculture by fostering awareness, education, and collaborations across all key stakeholders.





And as it heightens its involvement in the St. Kitts fair, the SVG-headquartered ECGC reaffirmed its commitment "to supporting the livestock industry, providing feeds for maximum nutrition, for sustainable agriculture and guaranteed food security.




Its now official LIAT 2020 fleet has been bolstered with the addition of two Embraer E-145 jet aircraft. (Photo Source: Loop News)

In March 2024, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Antigua and Barbuda government, told his people and the region that his government was prepared to spend up to US$12 million to purchase three ATR 42-600 aircraft from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to outfit the new airline LIAT 2020.





LIAT 2020, PM Browne said, was a joint undertaking involving his government and a Nigerian Airline  Air Peace.





Negotiations are ongoing with respect to the purchase of the aircraft as mentioned.





Using one aircraft at its disposal, LIAT 2020 conducted test flights two weekends ago. The test did not go well because of certain mechanical problems.





This, however, did not weaken the determination of the Antigua and Barbuda government, and it committed to have the faulty parts replaced, so as to resume test flights towards LIAT 2020 gaining an Air Operators Certificate (AOC).





Notwithstanding the situation regarding the fight worthiness of the old LIAT (1974) Ltd aircraft, the process towards obtaining an AOC moved closer to reality when on Tuesday, two Embraer E-145 jet aircraft, branded with a LIAT insignia, part of Air Peaces investment in the new airline LIAT 2020, arrived in Antigua.





PM Browne and a party of government and LIAT 2020 officials were on hand at the V.C. Bird International Airport to welcome the aircraft.





The two E-145 jet aircrafts brought the number of aircrafts in the LIAT 2020 fleet to three.





Ambassador Daven Joseph, Interim Chairman of LIAT 2020, in brief remarks at the welcome, praised the Prime Minister for staying committed to the regional cause and for ensuring the sustainable livelihoods of Antiguans and Barbudans. He also thanked Air Peace for its support throughout the challenges.





Hafsah Abdul-Salam, CEO of Air Peace Caribbean Ltd in Antigua, expressed her gratitude to the LIAT 2020 team for their work in getting the company to where it is today.





Prime Minister Browne told the listening audience that while yesterday was a "humbling moment for him, it was one to celebrate for the nation.





"And when I look at the fact that back in 2020 we had the vision, courage and tenacity to incorporate LIAT 2020 at one of the most difficult periods in Caribbean civilization, and that four years later we are here celebrating what can be considered the establishment of LIAT 2020, I think that this is a resounding success for Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean region, he expressed.




Brian Glasgow, Rotary District Governor, cites the organization as a microcosm of our Caribbean civilisation we aspire to.

District Governor Brian Glasgow has appealed to his Rotary colleagues of District 7030 to "invoke the spirit of unity and collaboration, as they continue their role of providing hope for their communities.





His appeal came as he addressed the opening ceremony of the Rotary District 7030 Conference 2024, held at the Kingstown Baptist Church last week Thursday, April 18, and which brings together some 300 Rotarians.

It was the time the Conference was meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





Glasgow noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been attached to the Rotary for fifty years as part of a District comprising 17 countries, spreading across languages of English, French, Spanish and Dutch, and encompassing religions as diverse as Hinduism, Islam/Muslim, Judaism and Christianity, as well as non-religious membership, and he described the District as a "microcosm of our Caribbean civilisation we aspire to.





The District Governor highlighted areas of attention paid to by the Rotarians.





The question of peace is priority to the Rotarians, and Glasgow was quick to set that out.





Sanitation and hygiene run high on Rotarys list of concerns, and provision of clean water is a vital aspect of Rotarys thrust. That fits in with their efforts at fighting disease, and their success at restraining the impact of polio forms a part of their achievements.





Child obesity does not escape the purview of Rotarians, Glasgow added.





Their contribution to the containment of the Covid is another display of their community involvement.





Glasgow highlighted support for education as a plank of their civic duties, describing the Homework Project that extends specialist attention to children aged eight and ten, as a genuine success.





Their focus on helping local economies to grow through technical assistance to small businesses serves as another example of their efforts to fulfil their tasks.





Environmental protection is an area that Glasgow and his institution have high on their list. Beach clean-up (including a recent oil spill) and protection of Mangrove signal deepening involvement of the Rotary family.





Mental health and the stigma attached to are viewed as "the biggest problems we face, Glasgow outlined.





Referencing the cultural interaction and diversity among members, Glasgow asked the gathering to "embrace the differences to pathways to understanding and communication. We can weave a tapestry of hope and change Let us pledge to keep creating hope in the world.





Vincentian Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonslaves commended Glasgow for his presentation and thanked the Rotarians for the contribution they are making to regional development.





His government is pleased to partner for as he confides, "your goals are aligned to ours.





Carmen Martinez Mejia de Villata, Rotarys International Representative, was pleased to be present and for her, Rotary should be everywhere. The Honduran born recounted her Garifuna heritage and pointed to aspects of mental health and empowering girls as concern.





Vincentian born Shafia London chaired the proceedings and urged the participants to "dare to dream, transform lives for better, and create hope in the world.
First it was the turn of the GHS now its the turn of the TSSS to bear the brunt of a flea infestation.

Face-to-face classes were expected to resume today, Friday 26th April, at the Girls High School (GHS) and the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) after a flea infestation caused classes to be discontinued earlier this week.





Education Minister Curtis King addressed the issue on radio April 24, confirming the reports of the flea infestation, primarily at the TSSS as the situation was not as bad at the GHS. Both schools are temporarily located at the runway of the decommissioned E.T Joshua airport, Arnos vale.





It is not the first time that there has been an infestation of fleas at the said location. A similar report was made at the GHS back in 2022.





And according to King, it has been an issue from time to time because of the prevalence of dogs, in the vicinity of both schools.





Despite efforts to deal with the issue of dogs in the area, including appeals to dog owners to tie their animals, the erection of a fence and the occasional spraying, challenges remained.





"We do treatment ever so often especially when schools are closed, King said.





"So, you have to find other solutions, he added.





He explained that on the first occasion in 2022, the premises of the GHS and the St. Vincent Boys Grammar School, which was located there at the time, were treated.





"So, the ministry had to take the decision to close the schools on Tuesday afternoon and have the Public Health Department go in and do what they had to do, the education minister explained.





Further, King said, because of the chemicals that were used, it would have been impossible to conduct face-to-face classes at both institutions.





Classes will resume on April 26 unless advised differently by the health officials, King advised.





In relation to the loss of instruction time, King said that the ministry had invested in the necessary infrastructure to allow for the continuity of education during times that force schools to move from face-to-face instructions.





"And the infrastructure that we put in place was to accommodate online delivery of education, he said.





"Modern technology has allowed us this privilege and this facility, and we should engage it, King said.
A man suspected of shooting to death killing another man in Murrays Village was himself killed mere hours after the deadly shooting.





Hours after Zenroy Chucky Lee was gunned downed in his community, following an alleged altercation with Romano Pompey, better known as No Mercy or Merciless, Pompey became the main suspect in Lees death.





According to reports, Pompey had an argument with Lee which escalated into a physical confrontation. Pompey allegedly left the scene, returned later armed with a gun and shot Lee multiple times in the face before fleeing.





Residents in the community of Murrays Village were still mourning the loss of Lee when multiple gunshots could be heard in the neighboring community of Trigger Ridge, Redemption Sharpes.





When THE VINCENTIAN arrived on the scene, Roman Pompey was dead and police had already cordoned off the area.





But the sound of the deceased relatives anger echoed loudly. They could be heard expressing their anger at the police, saying that the lawmen killed Pompey "like a dog.





Reports are that the police initiated a search operation for the suspect, which ultimately led them to Trigger Ridge, Redemption Sharpes. It is alleged that during the pursuit, the suspect, on seeing the police, opened fire on them before fleeing into the ground floor of a residence. However, the police managed to corner him and subsequently shot him.





A female in the hilly community, told THE VINCENTIAN that they heard a police siren and them moments after, the sound of gunshots.





A statement from the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said that at approximately 8:50 PM, officers were conducting a routine patrol in the area when they received credible intelligence regarding the whereabouts of a suspect linked to a previous violent crime.





The suspect, identified as Romano Pompey, 35, of Redemption Sharpes, was wanted in connection to a shooting incident that occurred earlier that day.





The police statement continued: "Upon encountering the police, Mr. Pompey pointed a firearm at the police, posing an immediate threat to the officers. As a result, Mr. Pompey was fatally wounded at the scene. A Glock 23 pistol and thirteen rounds of ammunition were recovered from the deceased. No police officers were injured during the encounter.





The RSVGPJ assured that the incident "is under investigation by the appropriate authorities to ensure all actions taken were in accordance with law enforcement standards.





In 2021, Pompey, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for manslaughter escaped from the yard of His Majestys Prisons in Kingstown but was recaptured. He along with Jaybarry Charles were sentenced in November 2012 for the June 18, 2010 shooting death of Esron "Banks Ells.





Ells, of Redemption Sharpes, died around 10 p.m. on June 18, 2010 after he was gunned down in the area of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) at Richmond Hill.





Pompey, then 26, who was initially charged with the murder of Ells, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and unlawful use of a firearm. Charles, 25, pleaded guilty to wounding and unlawful use of a firearm.





Pompeys sentence was reduced and after time spent was released from prison. Since his release he has been a suspect in a number of shooting incidents, including a fatal one in Lower Sharpes.
Calypsonians, soca artistes, judges, writers, persons responsible for sound, auditors and other stakeholders, should feel enhanced to pursue their respective roles in the advancement of the calypso art form, following their involvement in a Judges Workshop held last Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Conference Room of the Teachers Cooperative Credit Union.





The event, staged by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypsonians Association (SVGCA), sought primarily to examine the judging criteria for Calypso, Soca, and Ragga Soca Competitions, as well as examine the role of the auditor and how the judges points are used to determine the results.





President of the SVGCA- Earl Bennett, in his welcoming remarks, implored the participants to accept changes and be open.





"Like any other professions, nothing is stagnant, therefore, you need to refreshyou need to reexamine what is before you, as Calypso evolves, Bennett implored.





Additionally, Bennett called for a proper understanding of Calypso and its rudiments.





"We need to have a better understanding of what we see as Calypso  You cannot have one idea of what Calypso is and I have another idea If you work assiduously and diligently, if you work together, we can achieve great things, Bennett advised.





The Workshops Chief Facilitator Cleave Scott, historian attached to the Oral History Project at Cave Hill Campus of The UWI, and who is also a sound engineer, in noting that the system of judging Calypso was not flawless, called on judges to continue to retool themselves.





As such, he emphasised, "Not because you have been a judge for the last thirty years you shouldnt think you have it locked down.





Apart from Scott, presentations also came from Junior Mason, who provides sound for Calypso tents, and Dominic Sutherland, an Auditor.





President Bennet, in assessing Saturdays exercise, deemed it "very informative and interactive.





"It was a worthwhile exercise, especially the facilitator- Dr. Cleve ScottI want to commend him for doing an excellent job from beginning to the end He brought context and different aspects of the art form, that is Calypso, Soca and Ragga Soca  I also want to commend the judges who were there for their opennessI think that at the end of the session, persons are more au fait and more appreciative of the various roles of persons.
Fulani herdsmen killed three Christians last week in an area of Benue state, central Nigeria, a local leader said.

Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman Alfred Omakwu said the herdsmen on Saturday (April 20) killed a Christian in Otukpo Countys Entepka village, after killing two others on Thursday (April 18) in the Entepka Districts Adoka-Icho community.

The two were ambushed and shot by the herdsmen, Omakwu told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen also killed three Christians in attacks on Onipi village on March 19 and on Okakpoga village on March 12, Omakwu said.

The herdsmen raided nine predominantly Christian villages in March and April, including Udabi, all in Entekpa District, he said. Omakwu said Christians displaced by the attacks were camped at St. Charles Primary School, owned by the Roman Catholic Church.

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Andrew Mamedu, country director of Action Aid, an international humanitarian organization, said at a press conference in Abuja that the incessant attacks on Christian communities in Benue have displaced about 1.4 million people. He called for urgent government action to curtail such assaults.

With what is happening in Benue state, people may not have villages to retire to when they grow old, Mamedu said in an April 20 press statement. There is also the loss of culture that comes with it. If we fail to act now, I am afraid that by 2030 we would have lost a generation, and it may take up about 50 years to recover from it.

The toll on the lives and livelihoods of these attacks cannot be overstated, he said.

Families have been torn apart, homes destroyed and futures shattered, Mamedu said. The trauma and suffering endured by those affected are profound and long lasting, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace building and conflict resolution efforts.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
(TBTCO) - Theo cac chuyen gia tu DKRA Consulting, trong quy III/2024, thi truong bat ong san nha o TP. Ho Chi Minh va vung phu can ghi nhan nhieu dien bien tich cuc o cac phan khuc at nen; nha pho, biet thu. Mat bang gia so cap duy tri xu huong i ngang so voi thoi iem au nam. Du bao quy IV/2024, tinh hinh tang truong se ro net hon o mot so phan khuc voi su tac ong cua cac yeu to ve kinh te va chinh sach thi truong.
Kavin Haldo has the grades, determination and drive to change the world, and landing one of the most competitive scholarships in higher education is the latest proof.

A Rowan University marketing major in the William G. Rohrer College of Business with a minor in psychology and a Certificate of Undergraduate Study in public policy, Haldo, at just 19, graduates in May with a flawless 4.0 GPA.

Haldo entered Rowan with an associate degree from Middlesex Community College that he earned in high school, and he has big plans following Commencement: an academic year abroad, graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by law school.

As Spring 2024 ended, news arrived of his acceptance for a highly competitive Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) award. The ETA program, which enables high achieving scholars to teach abroad, is one of several scholarships available through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which matches Americans with teaching assignments in more than 140 nations where they also serve as cultural ambassadors.

In February, Haldo heads to Timor-Leste, a small Southeast Asian island nation where hell teach English to university students.

His own struggle to learn English

Born to aspiring professors in Sri Lanka, Haldos family emigrated to Norway, where his parents attended graduate school, before moving to the U.S. when he was about five years old.

When they arrived, Haldos own command of English was limited at best and learning yet another new language, even for a bright and committed child, proved trying.

It was really difficult, said Haldo, whos accent-free diction belies the fact that he spent his early years in Sri Lanka and Norway.

But Haldo worked at it, poring over learning materials and absorbing the language of his adopted homeland.

It was workbook after workbook, trying to understand conjunctions, prepositions and nouns, and it was all so different from Sinhala, Haldo said of the Indo-Aryan language his family spoke in Sri Lanka. In Sinhala, theres pretty much one pronoun for everyone, with no difference between genders.

Rowans 26th Fulbright awardee, Haldo will teach aspiring English speakers at the National University of Timor-Leste in the nations capital, Dili.

I knew because of my own difficulty learning English that I could help others, he said. Learning English expanded the resources I could access from those of a language only spoken in one country, to those of one spoken world-wide.

Having studied program requirements for Fulbright acceptance, Haldo knew that applicants could only choose one country, and Timor-Leste caught his attention.

The country has stark similarities to Sri Lanka but is unique enough to allow for me to learn and appreciate cultural differences, he said.

As a Fulbright ETA, Haldos service as a cultural ambassador will include sharing a love of music with Timorese students and possibly helping to start a band.

Dedicated to service

Haldo, who begins studies for a Master of Science this fall at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Social Policy & Practice as a full-tuition Social Justice Scholar, will serve in Timor-Leste from February through the end of December 2025. Upon returning, he plans to finish graduate school, attend law school, then possibly serve as a public defender and/or pursue a career in social policy.

My goal has always been to go to law school, he said. I want to understand how people work, how their thought processes work, and use that to help motivate people to create change in their communities.

Dr. Morris Kalliny, interim dean of the RCB, praised Haldos commitment to improving the world, both as a Fulbright scholar and in his career.

Im thrilled that Kavin will be spending a year in Timor-Leste, making a difference in the lives of those he will be interacting with, Kalliny said. In the Rohrer College of Business, we pride ourselves on making a societal impact through our faculty, staff and students, and Kavins accomplishments and goals fit our mission perfectly.
In Uzbekistans capital, residents of a multicultural Soviet mahalla under threat of demolition are fighting for their space. From openDemocracy.

Gagarin was here once! declares Ira proudly, as she takes me through the apartment block where she works in central Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Ira, a lady in her 50s, is the concierge at 72 Sadyk Azimov Street. Ensconced at the front entrance, she greets residents and guests with a smile. Ira knows everyone in the building, directs delivery couriers to the right apartments and chats with people passing by.

Number 72 is known to its dwellers as Voenniy dom, or Officers house  it has a unique history, and was once inhabited by highly ranked military officers, generals who were heroes of the Soviet Union. And, much to the pride of Number 72s residents, the building was also visited by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. After he made the first manned flight into space in 1961, Gagarin became a Soviet celebrity, travelling across the Soviet republics, including, in particular, Uzbekistan  where he was greeted by citizens and officials.

I was so stunned when I stumbled into him. I completely forgot what I was going for or where, recalls Natalya Borisovna, a resident who was 15 when she accidentally met Gagarin in the foyer of Number 72. It was impossible not to recognise him. He was all over the media. He had this truly kind smiling face and his character was absolutely shining.

But these memories now seem to be under threat, and Natalya Borisovna is one of many trying to protect Number 72  and the city itself  from redevelopment.

Presiding Over Destruction

Since the appointment of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as president of Uzbekistan five years ago, the country has undergone rapid change  and nowhere is this clearer than in the transformation of Tashkent.

Under Mirziyoyevs watch, the mayors office and government have promoted an intense urban development campaign, destroying old communities in favour of high-rise elite apartments and business centres aimed at improving the investment climate. More pressingly, Uzbekistans urban renewal, which is backed by state and corporate interests which often have opaque roots, is resulting in colossal numbers of forced evictions, land grabbing, homelessness and destruction of cultural heritage across the country.

Now, Number 72 is slated to be another site for redevelopment. In February 2019, Tashkents mayor, Jahongir Artykhodjaev, signed off on an order to demolish the building, and grant the land to a commercial developer, LLC Abdurauf Stroy, for high-rise residential complexes.

In response, residents of Number 72 have sought to defend their homes by forcing the mayors office to cancel the demolition decision. But they remain fearful that the developer may be given a green light for knocking down the building at any time. The mayors decision still remains in force and the developer is attempting to negotiate with business owners in the building who have restaurants and shops.

According to the domkom (the keeper) of Number 72, the developer was also given permission to demolish by the local authority, the local district head, but residents have not given their consent for its demolition. While some criticise the developer for offering unequal compensation, the majority do not want to leave, no matter what they are offered in return.

openDemocracy attempted to contact the Tashkent Mayors Office but received no reply.

When the developer, Abdurauf Stroy, was contacted, the company merely said that everyone will be happy with the development at Number 72, and did not respond to further questions.

Natalya Borisovna tells me she is not willing to move anywhere. I would like to die here. I do not wish to move anywhere, she tells me. It does not matter what place they offer. This is the best courtyard in the world. I wish to die here.

For her, Number 72 is home to memories of joyful community life, where there were all kinds of cultural events organised by the residents. She learned how to swim in the buildings non-functioning swimming pool. According to her, in Soviet times, there was material support from the state for these kinds of facilities, where a swimming pool, musical events, administrators salary and so on could be covered. Such support is non-existent today.

Instead, buildings with historical and cultural significance for people are being swiftly demolished to make way for glittery high-rises aimed at bringing in profit for the investor-developers.

A vivid example is the recent elimination of Tashkents historical old mahallas (traditional neighbourhoods) in 2018 for a billion dollar mega development in the centre of the capital. For the same purpose, in 2017 the citys Soviet-era Cinema House was knocked down to replace it with a Congress Centre.

For many residents of the city, this campaign of urban renewal is raising painful questions about what and who matters in the new Uzbekistan  and whats being lost in the avalanche of concrete.

The City of Oblivion

In this seemingly ordinary building not far from Tashkent central Amir Timur Square, Gagarins visit was a memorable occasion for residents  and is still recalled by residents today.

Indeed, these memories are part of what makes this place special: the events of the past, the lived experiences of the inhabitants, the shared green space in the closed yard and its multicultural composition.

This three-storey building, built in 1936, is home to various nationalities and ethnoreligions  Jews, Koreans, Russians, Uzbeks and Ukrainians  who share a common space  the yard, where children play, adults sit and chat, plant flowers and gather occasionally for a barbecue. There is an eclectic community spirit behind the closed yard, with its collection of tall trees, plants, an empty swimming pool and playground.

There are places and there are spaces. This Soviet-era building  a lived space that carries a legacy and life experiences cherished by its inhabitants  might not be seen as something historically valuable to the city authorities intent on selling the land for profit, but it is these spaces of social, historical significance that make up Tashkents cultural fabric, its narrative.

Once these pieces of the mosaic are gone, there is no longer memory, no legacy. There will be just emptiness and oblivion.

This article written by Dilmira Matyakubova was originally published by openDemocracy. Reprinted with permission.
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Bureau of Land Management officials presented the agencys newest sage grouse conservation draft plan to Casper residents Wednesday, outlining a preferred alternative for managing the federal governments 67-million acre share of the iconic birds habitat.

With nearly half of all sage grouse habitat on federal lands in the American West, the plan will have outsize influence on the species future. And beyond the bird, the plan is set to implicate a host of additional creatures and stakeholders as well.

Its the latest in the ongoing effort to stave off the species decline: Grouse populations in the U.S. have plummeted range-wide by 37% since 2002. The draft comes in response to new science around habitat conditions and landscape connectivity, the bureau said, and seeks to address new challenges in habitat loss exacerbated by drought, increasing wildfires and invasive species.

Based on a lot of new science, continued declines in the bird population, changing habitat conditions, it was decided to move forward with a new planning effort, said Matt Holloran, sage grouse coordinator for BLM Wyoming with BLM-Wyoming,

A key concern in the draft plan is landscape connectivity, which is critical for the dispersal of the species genetic material and the diversification of the grouse gene pool, officials said.

Habitat north of Gillete, for example, serves as a vital bottleneck corridor connecting genetic material from otherwise isolated grouse groups in the northern range. Whereas habitat near Evanston represents a genetic melting pot, where researchers have ascertained DNA signatures from grouse groups across the entire range.

During the presentation, residents expressed anxiety about where the plan could go from here.

Its extremely concerning that there even is an alternative there, said one woman in attendance, referring to the bureaus conservation alternative, which would preclude development and many activities across the management area.

Wyomingites have been on high alert for federal conservation efforts following the BLMs 2023 Rock Springs Resource Management draft plan which was criticized by industry and agriculture. Here, however, the bureau appears to be tacking to the center with a proposal that allows for multiple uses  like grazing and oil and gas development  on virtually all sage grouse habitat, including priority management areas.

This plan is clearly articulating that no habitat management areas for sage grouse are closed to leasing. said Holloran, adding that the goal is to create a consistent fluid and mineral lease prioritization approach across all western states with sage grouse habitat.

Local residents also complained that the plan has a glaring blind spot  predators, like raptors, foxes and domestic canines.

Theres recognition from local farmers that the ravens and magpies are destroying the sage grouse populations, and they are not indigenous species, said another resident in attendance, bemoaning that law prohibits the killing of said raptors.

Officials acknowledged predator threats are a key piece of sage grouse management but said the BLMs authority does not extend to predator management and emphasized its intention to work with collaborative state agencies and other federal bureaus to help beat back predator threats.

By incorporating local experience and knowledge along with lessons learned from previous management efforts, they hope to come away with a durable plan that will last a long time, said Holloway.

Public comment period ends June 13, and residents are encouraged to submit substantive comments through the BLMs EIS portal, https://eplanning.blm.gov.
PINEDALE  Pinedale Middle School student Delaney Edwards won first place in the 2024 Letters About Literature statewide contest hosted by the Wyoming Center for the Book and Wyoming Humanities. Wyoming students in grades fourth through twelfth were invited to write back to the author of a book that inspired them and changed their lives.

Edwards was inspired by the book Star of Light and chose to write to its author Patricia St. John. The novel, set in North Africa, follows the story of Hamid and his little sister, Kinza, who is blind, as they escape from their mountain village to avoid their stepfather selling Kinza to a beggar.

Edwards will receive a $150 gift card to bookshop.org for her first-place win in the statewide contest. Edwards beat out Cheyennes Evangeline Schon, who took second place, and Maile Lovato, who snagged third. Second-place winners receive a $100 gift card and third-place winners receive a $50 gift card.

For more information about the Wyoming Center for the Book, visit thinkwy.org/programs/center-for-the-book.
A Christian father in Pakistan who took his 15-year-old daughter out of school to protect her from harassment by a Muslim is now trying to free her from kidnapping and forcible marriage/conversion by the same man, he said.

Its been nearly two months now that Im desperately searching for my minor daughter, Muskan, Salman Masih of remote Tando Ghulam Ali town in Badin District, Sindh Province, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. She went missing from home on March 11, but despite my frantic appeals to the police for recovering her, my child is still in the custody of her Muslim abductor, Arsalan Ali.

Masih, a Catholic, filed a report with police within an hour of Muskans abduction and pleaded with them for immediate action, but they ignored him, he said.

After several hours of waiting, I was told that a police team would come to my home the next day, but I would have to pay them 5,000 Pakistani rupees (US$1,793) in fuel cost, he said. The polices indifferent attitude helped the accused in moving my daughter to a safe location and carrying out his nefarious act.

Ali, estimated to be between 25 and 27 years old, forcibly converted Masihs daughter to Islam and forged a marriage certificate as legal cover for the crime, Masih said.

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According to the documents handed to me by the police, the Islamic conversion and Nikah (marriage certificate) were held on the same day Muskan was abducted from home, he said. The next day, Arsalan filed a petition in the court of Justice of Peace in Mirpur Khas tehsil in the name of Muskan in which stated that she was an adult aged 19 years and had converted and married of her free will.

The petition in Muskans name also sought police protection citing supposed threats from Masihs family, he added.

Masih said that his daughter had complained that the suspect used to harass her when she went to school.

I dont believe that Muskan has gone with Arsalan willingly, because she herself had told us about his evil actions, he said. We brought the matter in to the notice of Arsalans family, and they had assured us of reining him in, but he did not stop.

Masih said hed been forced to discontinue Muskans education due to Alis harassment.

Muskan did not have access to a mobile phone, and she did not go out of the house alone, which is why I believe she had no communication with the accused, Masih said. I dont know how he managed to abduct her from the house on that fateful day.

The impoverished sanitation worker said he feared Ali would traffic his daughter for sex.

Arsalan has a notorious reputation in the neighborhood, and I fear something bad will happen to my child if she is not recovered from his custody, he said. I appeal to the Christian leadership to help me in finding my daughter and saving her from exploitation.

His attorney, Luke Victor, said he had filed an urgent motion in the Hyderabad Bench of the Sindh High Court challenging the petition in which Muskan was forced to make false claims about her age, religious conversion and marriage to the kidnapper.

The Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013 bars child marriage and mandates penal consequences for any adult person contracting, performing or facilitating the marriage of a child, Victor said. According to the anti-child marriage rules, any person authorized to perform or solemnize a marriage is bound to ascertain the age of both the contracting parties to prevent the solemnization of child marriages.

The Islamic marriage certificate showed that the cleric who solemnized Muskans marriage to Ali had intentionally ignored the means for ascertaining the exact age of the girl in order to facilitate child marriage, he said.

Muskan does not have an official birth document issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), but her school certificate attested by the Government Girls Higher Secondary School Tando Ghulam Ali, Badin, states her age as 15 years, hence a minor under the Sindh anti-child marriage laws, which prescribes the legal age for marriage at 18 years for girls, Victor said.

The burden of proof to substantiate the girls age is on the alleged husband and the marriage solemnizer, not on the parents, the attorney said.

The marriage solemnizer should have sought medical examination to ascertain the girls age in the absence of the official birth document, but he did not do so and is therefore liable to be prosecuted for violating the law, Victor said.

The court also should have noticed the discrepancy in the marriage certificate and ordered an investigation, but instead it admitted the childs statement and allowed her to remain in the custody of her so-called husband, he said.

In such matters it is important to send the victim to a shelter home till her exact age is determined through a medical board, he said.

Criticizing police for not continuing with the investigation, Victor said the order issued by the Justice of Peace did not bar police from investigating the case.

The courts order stated that the police should protect the couple from the girls family, but it does not stop it from investigating the allegation of child marriage, he said.

The lawyer lamented that a division bench of the Sindh High Court has yet to take up Masihs petition, putting her life at serious risk.

We are hoping that the high court will fix our petition for hearing next week and order an investigation to ascertain her age, he said. It is regretful that despite the enforcement of the anti-child marriage laws in Sindh, such marriages are continuing with impunity.

U.N. human rights experts on April 11 called on Pakistan make legal changes in light of continued vulnerability of women and girls of minority faiths to forced marriages and religious conversions. The U.N. special rapporteurs called on Pakistan to raise the legal age for girls to marry to 18 as a deterrent against exploitation in the 96-percent Muslim country.

The exposure of young women and girls belonging to religious minority communities to such heinous human rights violations, and the impunity of such crimes, can no longer be tolerated or justified, they said in a statement issued in Geneva.

The experts stressed that child, early and forced marriages could not be justified on religious or cultural grounds. They underscored that, under international law, consent was irrelevant when the victim was a child under the age of 18.

At present Sindh Province is the only one in Pakistan where the legal marriage age for both girls and boys is 18 years, while in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, the minimum for girls is still 16 years.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
How you want this to go? You want me to kill you and your son, or you want me just kill you alone?

This was the question posed to 40-year-old Anna Ellis yesterday, when she was attacked by a man known to her at her home on Dibe Road, St James.

Ellis, who was stabbed multiple times, was able to speak with reporters yesterday afternoon while police were conducting a search for her 12-year-old son, who was kidnapped following the confrontation.
Joseph Glover, the former head of academic affairs at the University of Florida, will serve as the University of Arizonas next provost.

Dr. Glovers experience and priorities as a leader reflect our university values, and his track record of academic excellence, faculty support and collaborative leadership will benefit our students, faculty, staff and community, UA President Robert C. Robbins wrote in an email to campus on Friday morning.

Glover will begin his tenure on July 1. His salary is $550,000 and his contract will be evaluated yearly.

He was arguably the most well-known of the three finalists for the role because of his 15-year stint as provost at the University of Florida. He stepped down from that role in 2023 to serve as a senior advisor to the universitys new president, former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse.

The decision was between Glover and Marie Hardin, the dean of the College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University. The other finalist, Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, dropped out of the search after accepting the provostship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dr. Glover is uniquely qualified to advance the University of Arizonas mission while addressing the challenges we face as an institution, Robbins wrote. His experience and knowledge will be instrumental in shaping our collective future as a university.

The choice will most likely divide faculty  more than 100 faculty members sent an email to UA senior leadership urging them to pick Hardin for the provostship last week, in response to a smaller group of around 40 faculty writing a similar letter in support of Glover.

The pro-Glover group wrote to university leadership that there should be quick action to hire the candidate.

A candidate this appealing might well have other opportunities, they wrote.

In a letter arguing against Glovers hire, the more than 100 professors, lecturers, department heads and faculty senators wrote that he seems unduly focused on rankings and that he did not impress us as an effective communicator internally.

His time with department heads was off-putting in regard to his not believing a provost should have much contact or interaction with them, demonstrating an apparent lack of understanding or commitment to the collective work, the faculty wrote. He seems to be a divisive candidate who will generate open resistance across a broad swath of the campus faculty and academic leadership.

In a statement to the Star, the Arizona Board of Regents shared that the provost search committee  representing a broad array of colleges, disciplines, and perspectives  recommended two quality candidates.

According to ABOR, Dr. Glover is a distinguished scholar and academic leader who has a commitment to research and community engagement.

The move to Arizona will be a new experience for Glover, who after brief stints at the University of California Berkeley and the University of Rochester, was hired by the University of Florida in 1982. Hes been at the university for 40 years.

During his presentation to community members earlier this month, Glover said he stayed at the UF as provost for 15 years (the average provost term lasts just five) because he actually enjoyed the work.

While provost, the UF was named the No. 5 public university in the country in 2022 by the U.S. News and World Report. It is currently tied for No. 6  the UA sits at No. 115 on the same list.

Glover spearheaded the UFs AI initiative and oversaw the birth of the UF Online program, which, according to an article released by the university in 2023, is ranked No. 1 among online baccalaureate programs. That experience will help him in his new role, especially after the UA announced its new AI degree program and while it works out the kinks of the UA Global Campus project.

Danaya Wright, the Faculty Senate chair at the UF, told the Star in a statement that Glovers attitude tends to lead to siloes and competition among units, but said that he values community and believes his dry sense of humor will harmonize at the UA.

His recent AI initiative here at UF has convinced him of the importance of cross-collaboration and breaking down barriers, which is going to be important in this next phase of higher ed transformation, she wrote.

Last year, the UF Faculty Senate passed a resolution recognizing Provost Joe Glovers most commendable service to the faculty of the University of Florida.

While at the UF, Glover was not immune to controversy. According to articles from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Glover, alongside then-UF President W. Kent Fuchs, declined to enact mask or vaccine mandates in 2021 because of threats to their jobs. Additionally, the outlet reported, Glover did not support critical studies of race.
Three days after Coptic Christians in southern Minya Governorate were attacked over rumors of plans for a new church, Muslim extremists upset over a permit to construct a church building on Friday (April 26) attacked Copts in another village.

Muslim extremists attacked Coptic Christians in the village of Al-Kom Al-Ahmar on Friday (April 26) after learning that an evangelical church had obtained a permit to construct a church building, according to advocacy group Copts United.

The security forces moved to the village, and the situation was brought under control and a number of the perpetrators were being arrested, the group reported. One of the villages Copts said that the evangelical church in the village obtained an official building permit, which angered a number of extremists.

On Tuesday (April 23) in southern Minya Governorate, angry residents beat Coptic Christians and torched their homes in Al-Fawakher village, of the city of Samalut, over rumors that a church building was to be constructed there, according to Northern Africa News (nan.media)

The assailants tried to drive Copts from their homes, the outlet reported.

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Bishop Makarios of Minya wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that initially the assailants prevented people from fleeing the violence. He later posted that security forces deployed to the village restored calm and arrested a large number of suspects.

Copts United reported that security forces arrived late to the site.

The extremists attacked Coptic homes with stones and chants, and a number of homes were set on fire, amid the screams of women and children, the group reported. The attack continued for a long time before the security forces arrived.

Advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), however, reported that police and firefighters, led by the deputy governor and the head of the police department in Minya, acted quickly to contain the situation.

The police were arresting perpetrators, including those who spread rumors online about plans to construct a church, according to CSW.

An unacceptable culture of intimidation and discrimination is still far too prevalent in this region despite positive steps taken by the Egyptian authorities in recent years, and the personal commitment of President Sisi to fight sectarian extremism and promote equality of citizenship, CSW President Mervyn Thomas said in a press statement. Egyptian citizens should all be free to practice any religion or belief of their choosing without fear of threats or physical violence.

Separately, CSW reported, the Egyptian government issued a memorandum designating May 5 and 6, a Sunday and a Monday, as bank holidays for Labor Day, which falls on 1 May. The move outraged the Coptic Orthodox community, which celebrates Orthodox Easter Sunday on May 5.

Coptic activists suggested to CSW that the move may be intended to appease Egypts Salafi Muslim community, who consider recognizing Easter to be sinful, as it defies the mainstream Islamic doctrine which denies Christs crucifixion and resurrection, CSW stated.
One of the oldest family-owned banks in Oklahoma turned 100 in January of 2024. From Mabrey Banks humble beginnings in Okmulgee to the multibillion-dollar financial institution that stands today, Mabrey still operates under the same principles established a century ago  premium service and forward-thinking solutions.

We appreciate the generations who have come before us and built the foundation that we now have been entrusted to lead, said CEO Scott Mabrey, who is among the fifth generation of Mabrey family now leading the bank. Its important to us to preserve the core values of our company through our growth, while maintaining the high level of service our customers expect.

History of the Mabrey family in banking

While operating under a charter officially established in 1924, the Mabrey familys involvement in banking actually began in 1906 when G.W. Mabrey joined the board of directors at Citizens National Bank in Okmulgee. His son, Carlisle Mabrey Sr., became a teller at the same bank in 1909 and eventually followed in his fathers footsteps, becoming chairman of the board in 1943.

After the family officially purchased controlling interest in the bank in 1966, each generation of Mabrey has led the bank through periods of growth and expansion. First, into towns across eastern Oklahoma in the 1970s and 80s, and then into the Tulsa area in the 1990s. In 2015, the bank opened its first location in Oklahoma City and officially rebranded to Mabrey Bank, uniting all its branches under a single name.

A complete banking experience

The combination of high-quality service and premier banking offerings sets Mabrey Bank apart in a competitive industry. From basic checking and savings accounts to complex business banking tools, Mabreys range of products rival those of national banks. Featuring prominent lines of business such as private banking, commercial, mortgage and healthcare banking, along with treasury services, Mabrey Bank has the resources to find a tailored solution for any size account or business.

Merging that expertise with Mabreys customer-focused approach creates a complete experience that many appreciate. By treating anyone who walks in the door like family, Mabrey Bank has earned the trust of Oklahomans for decades.

Community and culture

One of the missions of Mabrey Bank is an unwavering commitment to the communities it serves. In 2023, Mabrey and its team donated more than $675,000 to community initiatives across 220 organizations, in addition to thousands of volunteer hours served annually.

That dedication by team members is just one part of the strong corporate culture that Mabrey Bank boasts. The average tenure of a Mabrey employee is nine years, more than double the national average. Combined with an internal promotion/transfer rate of nearly 50%, Mabrey elevates the skills of its staff.

Looking to the future

With 15 locations across Oklahoma and a client base that spans across the country, Mabrey Bank is well-positioned for success and growth in the future. In just the last eight years, Mabrey has more than doubled its asset size. Like many organizations, Mabrey is investing heavily in digital resources for tech-driven customers, while adding new products and offerings each year.

However, one thing wont ever change at Mabrey  a deep commitment to building relationships with its customers. Its been a mission 100 years in the making, and one that will continue in the years to come.

For more information, please visit mabreybank.com.

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This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.
BUENOS AIRES -- Paleontologists from Argentina announced the discovery of a new medium-sized herbivorous dinosaur, which was a fast runner and lived about 90 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period in present day Patagonia.

The animal, named Chakisaurus nekul, was found in the Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve, in the southern province of Rio Negro, an area rich in fossils where many mammals, turtles, and fish have been found along with other species of dinosaur.

It is estimated that the largest Chakisaurus reached 2.5 or 3 meters long and was 70 centimeters high (8 to 10 feet long and 27 inches high).

Studies of Chakisaurus yielded new findings indicating that it was a fast runner and had its tail curved unusually downward.

"This new species, Chakisaurus nekul, was a bipedal herbivore that among its most important characteristics had a tail that, unlike other dinosaurs, which was horizontal, had a downward curvature," said Rodrigo Alvarez, author of the study.

"It is something super new for these animals. In addition, it is known that it was a good runner, which was something it needed because it lived with a large number of predators and its only defense was to be faster than them."

Scientists discover new herbivorous dinosaurs that roamed Argentina 90 million years ago. Photo: Reuters

The dinosaur's name derives from Chaki, which is a word from the Aonikenk language, of the indigenous Tehuelche people, which means "old guanaco", a reference to a medium-sized herbivore mammal found in the region. Nekul means "fast" or "agile" in the Mapudungun language, of the local Mapuche people.

"He had very strong hind limbs and a tail with an anatomy that allowed him to maneuver it to the sides and so be able to balance during races," Sebastian Rozadilla, co-author of the publication, explained to Reuters.

A team of Argentine paleontologists with the support of the National Geographic Society, made the discovery initially in 2018, but recently unveiled their finding in the respected journal Cretaceous Research.
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam has consented to dismiss National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue from his duties as a member of the Politburo and a member of the 13th Central Party Committee.

The 13th Party Central Committee convened a meeting in Hanoi on Friday to discuss and give opinions on relieving Hue of all his political roles and ending his public service.

Hue, born in 1957, is a key leader of the Party and the state who has received fundamental training and has risen through the ranks from grassroots levels to hold many important positions in the political apparatus.

However, reports from the Central Inspection Commission and relevant authorities indicate that he has flouted regulations prohibiting certain actions for Party members.

He has failed to meet the obligation of demonstrating exemplary behavior for officials and Party members, which is especially vital for those in the Politburo, Secretariat, and Party Central Committee.

Moreover, he has been held accountable as a leader in accordance with Party rules and state laws.

Hue's transgressions and shortcomings have provoked unfavorable public opinion, tarnishing the prestige of the Party and the state, as well as his own reputation.

Having a clear understanding of his responsibilities to the Party, the state, and the people, he submitted a request to give up all of his assigned positions and duties.

In accordance with current Party and state regulations and taking into account Hue's preferences, the Party Central Committee has decided to relieve him of the following roles: member of the Politburo, member of the 13th Party Central Committee, and chairman of the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the 2021-26 term.

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Last Thursday, April 25, jazz fusion artist Zacchae'us Paul shared his emotionally charged new single: "Better Dayz," now available on all major platforms via storied and recently relaunched Jazz label: Candid Records.

The single is Paul's follow-up to his "heartfelt ode to the extraordinary Black women who have shaped [his] very being," dubbed "Mama Said," which was released last March.

Both of these new releases will be showcased in Paul's performance at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right venue as part of OFFRIP and On the Radar's event: "RIPNYC."

The artist will also perform other new songs alongside WHATMORE (Cisco Swank, Yoshi T., Jackson August, Elijah Judah, $tallion), Wakai, and LIFEOFTHOM. For more information on ticketing and the event, click here.

About Zacchae'us Paul's 'Better Dayz'

As per Paul, his latest offering is "an emotionally powerful song that navigates through the turbulence of lost love and personal growth, all the while holding onto the hope of a brighter future."

With influences drawn from the indomitable spirit and "faith" epitomized by David in the Bible, the young jazz pianist and vocalist added that the song is about accepting both the "pain and longing" of a now-lost relationship and growing past it.

Blending Atlanta hip-hop, gospel, and Caribbean rhythms, Paul unapologetically brandishes his influences from his upbringing in Atlanta, Georgia, and studies in Puerto Rico to craft a youthful yet thoughtful soundscape as apparent in his recent releases.

His interest and curiosity with jazz only intensified after coming across legendary musician Duke Ellington's music, pushing him to pursue new sounds outside of his church community. Eventually, Paul found himself studying in Puerto Rico to broaden his musical horizons.

On discussing the deeper meaning of "Better Dayz," Paul said: "This song is not just a single; it's an anthem for anyone seeking to rise above their struggles and find joy in the journey towards healing and self-discovery."

You can now stream "Better Dayz" and "Mama Said" by clicking their respective titles. You can also sample both tracks right below.
What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang reiterated Vietnam's unwavering commitment to safeguarding and advancing human rights, emphasizing the centrality of human beings as the driving force behind the country's renewal and development process, during the ministry's regular press conference in Hanoi on Thursday, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

-- Two vessels from the Vietnam Coast Guard set sail on Thursday from the northern port city of Hai Phong to conduct a joint patrol mission with the China Coast Guard near the demarcation line between the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Society

-- The Ministry of Construction's Inspectorate dispatched a communication on Thursday to Lam Dong Province's Department of Construction, seeking details concerning infractions linked to a grouping of 22 unlawfully built villas in Loc Thanh Commune, Bao Lam District, situated in the province's southern region.

-- During a press conference on Thursday, Le Van Tan, head of the green park department at the Technical Infrastructure Management Center of Ho Chi Minh City, under the municipal Department of Construction, stated that the center has replaced approximately 650 unsafe or potentially unsafe trees in the city, considering recent mass tree falls due to thunderstorms in Hanoi.

-- The Management Board of Lao Cai Economic Zone issued a cautionary notice on Thursday regarding the increasing detention of Vietnamese vehicles in China, particularly at Ha Khau. According to the board, over 100 Vietnamese transport vehicles have been held in China since the beginning of 2023.

-- Ho Chi Minh City aims to develop at least 68 hectares of public parks, allocate a minimum of four hectares for public green spaces, and plant or renovate 12,000 trees in the 2024-2025 phase, as per the implementation plan for the city's public park and green space development program.

Business

-- Vietnam's State Securities Commission has stated that there is insufficient basis to approve HoSE's proposal to officially implement the KRX information technology system on May 2. The system is used to manage and operate securities trading in the stock market.

Lifestyle

-- Tempest, the K-pop group featuring Vietnamese member Hanbin, has announced Ho Chi Minh City as the location for their debut live concert, with only one performance scheduled for June 15 evening at Phu Tho Indoor Stadium, according to the latest schedule.

World News

-- "Paleontologists from Argentina announced the discovery of a new medium-sized herbivorous dinosaur, which was a fast runner and lived about 90 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period in present day Patagonia," Reuters reported.

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Vietnam's Ministry of Construction's Inspectorate dispatched a communication on Thursday to Lam Dong Province's Department of Construction, seeking details concerning infractions linked to a grouping of 22 unlawfully built villas in Loc Thanh Commune, Bao Lam District, situated in the province's southern region.

The inspectorate also tasked the Lam Dong Department of Construction with reporting the handling of individuals and organizations related to constructing the facilities prior to May 3.

Earlier, the provincial administration had ordered the punishment of Loc Thanh Commune leaders and other relevant individuals and organizations.

According to officials, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued the land use certificates for the 22 land lots on which the villas were developed to Duong Van Phi and Ta Thi Thanh Tuan in April 2022.

Phi and Tuan later transferred the land to others who then merged 18 of the land lots into nine.

They constructed the 22 villas without a permit and had yet to convert the land use purpose.

The 22 unlawfully built villas in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Photo: L.A. / Tuoi Tre

According to a report by the provincial Department of Construction, the administrations in Loc Thanh Commune and Bao Lam District failed to strictly comply with the Lam Dong Peoples Committees directives on the suspension of construction activities in the province and showed signs of the loose management of land and construction projects.

The commune and district authorities had no measures to prevent and deal with the construction, paving the way for the continuation of the work on the villas.

Truong Hoai Minh, chairman of the administration in Bao Lam District, on April 3 signed decisions to suspend the chairman of the Peoples Committee of Loc Thanh Commune Do Ngoc Can and Tran Ngoc Hoan, a local official in charge of land, agriculture, construction, and environment for their implication in the case.

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Several glamping sites are encroaching on rivers and canals in Thu Duc City, an administrative district under Ho Chi Minh City.

Inspectors in Thu Duc have released the conclusion of an investigation into land management and construction in Long Phuoc Ward, pointing out multiple violations in the use of land along rivers and canals.

Many enterprises and household businesses offering catering, lodging, and tourism services have encroached on rivers and canals.

These include many glamping sites, such as Rio Glamping of Long Phuoc Invest Co. Ltd., Vietgiangz Glamping Club, A New Day Glamping, and Savora Farm & Glamping.

Many signs showing the way to glamping sites are erected on Long Phuoc Street in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Glamping describes a style of camping with a host of amenities and services. It has become a new tourism trend among the young.

Instead of normal tents, glampers stay in special luxury tents, wooden houses or bungalows.

Glamping sites are often developed in areas with beautiful landscapes, such as mountains, forests, beaches, and islands.

Glamping tourism is developing strongly in Vietnam with multiple glamping sites mushrooming in the countrys most famed tourist destinations, including Da Lat, Mui Ne, and Phan Thiet.

The model combines experiencing nature and enjoying services like resorts and hotels.

Vietgangz Glamping spans over one hectare of land with many tents, a large yard, and a swimming pool. The camping site encroaches on a large river surface area. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

The glamping site is known as a destination where tourists can mingle with nature and avoid heatwaves in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Rio Glamping and A New Day Glamping were also found to have encroached on the river bed. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Savora Farm & Glamping, a camping site developed by Savora trading and service company, is among the glamping sites violating construction order in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Between July 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, inspectors in Thu Duc City found 36 construction violators in Long Phuoc Ward. All of them have yet to take corrective measures. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Thu Duc inspectors said construction violations remain rampant in Long Phuoc Ward. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

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The Netherlands is now the largest investor from the European Union (EU) in Ho Chi Minh City, with a total investment of over US$5 billion, deputy chairman of the municipal administration Vo Van Hoan announced on Thursday.

Hoan made the announcement at a ceremony held by the Dutch Consulate General in the city to celebrate the National Day of the Netherlands and also the 57th birthday of Dutch King Willem Alexander (April 27).

Earlier, he had conveyed congratulations to Dutch Consul General Daniel Stork, along with the Dutch business community and citizens in Ho Chi Minh City, on their anniversaries during the ceremony.

Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar was also present at the event.

With the theme of bridging the gap, the ceremony highlighted the solid connection between the Netherlands and Vietnam.

Relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands have become a typical example of a dynamic, effective, and practical relationship, which has achieved many significant milestones," Hoan remarked.

He emphasized that the support from the government and Dutch investors is making practical contributions to Ho Chi Minh City.

With a total investment of around $5.1 billion, the Netherlands currently tops the list of EU investors in Ho Chi Minh City.

The city is drawing up an action plan to implement the memorandum of understanding signed between the southern Vietnamese metropolis and the Netherlands on flood prevention and control, Hoan stated.

The deputy chairman commented that the Vietnam - Netherlands relationship banks on a foundation of many similarities.

Both countries have large deltas and have been dealing with many challenges of climate change and sustainable development over the past 50 years, he elaborated.

Consul General Stork expressed his delight at witnessing the flourishing cooperation between the Dutch city of Rotterdam and Ho Chi Minh City, particularly emphasizing the significant progress in key areas such as port development and water and flood management.

There remains plenty of room ahead for cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, as more than 40 deals were inked during a visit to the Southeast Asian country by a Dutch economic delegation of 140 enterprise representatives last month, Stork said.

With the Netherlands being the number-one European investor in Vietnam and the primary market for Vietnamese exports to Europe, Stork expressed confidence in the immense potential for further enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the future.

The Dutch diplomat affirmed that both countries have narrowed the geographical gap through connecting people, businesses, governments, artists, and intellectual institutions.

Vietnam and the Netherlands have seen their bilateral ties develop fruitfully since they established diplomatic relations in 1973.

The two nations set up a strategic partnership in climate change response and water management in 2010 and entered a strategic partnership in sustainable agriculture and food security in 2014.

Five years later, the two sides upgraded the bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership.

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A new cave has been discovered in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, with its stalactites described as magnificent carpets.

The provincial Department of Tourism confirmed on Friday that it had received a report on the discovery of the cave in Sat Village, Truong Son Commune, Quang Ninh District by a unit specializing in exploiting cave-based tourism in the district.

The unit named the grotto as Lu.

It later drew up a plan on community tourism in association with the cave exploration and sent the plan to the Quang Binh administration and the provincial Department of Tourism.

In some areas, stalactites inside Lu Cave in Quang Binh Province look like giant carpets. Photo: Tr.Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The unit coordinated with the management board of forests in Sat Village to undertake the second survey of the cave.

They found that the cave is two kilometers long and its entrance is eight meters high and nine meters wide.

The cave has four branches with 100 meters of dry sections, the remainder being wet.

The highest point on the caves ceiling is some 35 meters high. The cave also has an underground river.

Local authorities will establish a working group to assess the value of Lu Cave before weighing up exploiting it for tourism purposes.

Stalactites inside Lu Cave in Quang Binh Province. Photo: Tr.Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Earlier, a cave named Son Nu had been found in Truong Son Commune.

Son Nu and Lu Caves are several kilometers from each other.

In mid-April, British and Vietnamese cave expedition experts discovered 22 caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Minh Hoa and Tuyen Hoa Districts, all situated in Quang Binh Province.

Quang Binh has earned the title of Vietnams 'Kingdom of Caves,' boasting over 400 discovered caverns.

Among them, Son Doong stands as the world's largest known cave, while En ranks as the third largest.

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Over 100 Vietnamese cargo vehicles have been held in China since the beginning of 2023, mainly due to contract disputes and drivers failure to preserve goods, according to the Management Board of Lao Cai Economic Zone.

The board issued a cautionary notice on Thursday regarding the increasing detention of Vietnamese vehicles in China, particularly at Ha Khau in Lao Cai Province.

Chinese authorities have explained that irresponsibility in cargo preservation had led to damaged cargo, causing disputes between Vietnamese firms and their Chinese partners over compensation.

Other cases have involved contract disputes between Vietnamese and Chinese businesses which have led to the Chinese firms detaining Vietnamese cargo vehicles.

The Management Board of Lao Cai Economic Zone said it had coordinated with the Management Board of Ha Khau Border Gate and the Chinese side to deal with the issue, but its efforts have been in vain.

To prevent more Vietnamese transport vehicles from being kept in China, the management board called on enterprises to ensure the legality of their transactions with Chinese partners.

Local transport firms should ask drivers to clarify articles regarding the cargo and vehicle status quo in their contracts with cargo owners in Vietnam and the responsibility of relevant parties in case of disputes in China.

Since early this year, exports via border gates in Lao Cai Province have totaled US$316 million, surging 45 percent year-on-year, according to the Management Board of Lao Cai Economic Zone.

Vietnams key export products were durians, dragon fruits, bananas, wood, footwear, sulphur, and yellow phosphorus.

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Six cars parked in a residential area in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi were splashed with red paint on Thursday.

An official from the Peoples Committee of Dinh Cong Ward, under the district, informed Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday afternoon that six vehicles parked on Tran Dien Street had been vandalized with red paint.

Six cars are vandalized with red paint on Tran Dien Street, Hanoi. Photo: Supplied

Police in the district are investigating this case of vandalism, the official said.

Tran Dien Street is 1.4 kilometers long and connects Le Trong Tan and Dinh Cong Streets in Dinh Cong Ward.

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While the pandemic was catastrophic for production (not to mention what it did to families, economy, travel and the health industry) it has also led to new screen work.

Just ask Lisa Wang and Katherine Fry, executive producers of ABC comedy White Fever.

Industry initiatives such as ABCs Fresh Start Fund, an allocation of $3.2m to help kickstart Australian productions and content ideas during the pandemic, was pivotal to the creativity of writer / performer Ra Chapman.

Ra and I met through a VicScreen initiative, Fry explains. She was supported through VicScreens Talent Camp and then Ra and I made an application to ABC Fresh Start. They supported a web series, and then they said, Lets make it into a half hour series.

I dont think this is always the case, but I feel like the those funding initiatives have really helped us. It was a very positive experience in that regard. Without that VicScreen initiative Ra and I wouldnt have met. I think she got so much out of that Talent Camp experience. Fresh Start was a COVID initiative when not a lot of production was happening.

Fry, who has held script development positions at Every Cloud Productions, the New Zealand Film Commission and South Pacific Pictures, partnered with producer Lisa Wang of Black Sheep Films. Wang has 30 years experience in television and feature films, working regularly as a producer, and line producer on Please Like Me, Lowdown, Problems, Frayed, The Family Law, The Doctor Blake Mysteries and the breakout hit Late Night with the Devil.

Im used to doing creator-led projects, like Josh Thomas, Sam Simmons, and Adam Zwar, explains Wang. So I sort of just use that model on this and let them do what they want up to a point. When I think were gonna go bust and I just say, No, I dont think we can do that. Can you work it another way? I dont want to stifle their ideas, or levels of where they want to take it, especially because Ra is a fresh starter for TV.

Getting into business with people is like a marriage. You have to really choose it carefully. But I think when I met them, I was like, Nup. This is gonna be good!'

In the 6 part comedy Ra Chapman plays Jane, a Korean-Australian adoptee who gets accused of having White Fever, and throws herself into reprogramming her libido, only to find that she is out of her depth.

The cast also includes Chris Pang, Greg Stone, Roz Hammond, Harvey Zielinski and Jillian Nguyen.

Quite a few of the roles have been played by first time actors, Fry continues. Weve been really thrilled with the response. Theres an adoptee dinner, which Jane goes to in episode three, and the entire cast of that dinner are Korean adoptees aside from John Harlan Kim, whos a Korean-Australian actor.

Wang adds, (Casting director) Lou Mitchell started his career in Neighbours, so she called in a favour said, John, do you want to be in this? and he knew Chris Pang theres a lot of goodwill going around Asian-Australians.

Chris Pang (pictured above) left Australia when he was doing Rush in 2011 and now hes come back because weve now got a show like this. That was very emotional, especially for me, because Ive been waiting for it too. (ABC executive producer) Louise Smith wrote to me and said that was very powerful, so Im pretty proud of that.

Weve worked with (ABC Comedy exec) Todd Abbott and Lou Smith as our EP and then we had Claire Atkins as one of our development managers and then Jenevieve Chang, Fry continues. Two Asian women were on the development team so they understood and really got the story and what we were trying to do. I think with White Fever, theres the the fun comedy of Jane being attracted to white hairy men and setting out to date Asian men. But then underneath is the more emotional story of her reconnecting to her Korean-ness.

The challenge of the project was getting that tone because theres emotion and then theres that kind of broader comedy as well at play. We have been commissioned through Comedy. So its striking the right balance. But yeah, theyve loved that its Ras story and in her writing, Fry observes.

The series has also facilitated new opportunities for crew into positions which Wang believes will lead to further industry work.

VicScreen has been amazing on this project, she acknowledges. Theyve given us a huge amount of money to support the Asian Australians behind the camera. Ive been able to put a lot of specialist placements in to this production and at least one in every department, which has been amazing because they can just step up.

After this, I can lead them into other jobs.

White Fever screens 9pm Wednesdays on ABC.
Father Brown discovers that a murderer is using Kemblefords new model village to plan their attacks. Double episode 7:30pm Saturday on ABC.

The Suspect

Knuckles

Jeopardy! Australia

Whose Line is it Anyway?

The Dog House
This weekend on Nine Melbournes Postcards

Livinia Nixon is in the CBD (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country) visiting venues associated with the upcoming Melbourne Writers Festival from May 6 to 12. The Capitol Theatre on Swanston Street is one of the venues with a series of events running throughout the festival, as well as the Queen Victoria Womens Centre. To end her day, Livinia enjoys lunch and a festival-themed cocktail at The Moat, a cosy Italian restaurant underneath the State Library.

Todd Woodbridge is in Lower Johnstone Street, affectionately named LoJo by locals, for a retro day out in Abbotsford (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). He checks out Melbournes ultra-hip wedding chapel and events space, The Altar Electric, before having a shop at The Collective vintage clothing store. Then hes off to Dutch Vinyl, a haven for quality second hand and imported records before winding up at saloon-style bar Lulie Tavern for a game of pool and a beer.

We find Madeline Spark way up north on the Gold Coast checking out the new yourtown prize home on offer in Palm Beach (Bundjalung Country). But first she enjoys a stroll along Tallebudgera Creek and pops into Custard Canteen just off the waters edge for a custard tart and a coffee. After giving viewers a grand tour of the prize home, she treats herself to a cocktail on the rooftop at the dining precinct, The Collective.

And Kris Smith takes a cruisy coastal drive to Mornington (Boonwurrung Country). Starting off with a coastal stroll from Mornington Park, he stops in at Dreamer Cafe for breakfast and a smoothie. Back in town, he stops by the Mornington Bowling Club for a game of barefoot bowls with a view. Heading across the road to The Royal Hotel Mornington, Kris chats with owner Dane Shaw about the history of the Hotel and whats on the menu.

5:30pm Sunday on Nine (Melb).
Fresh off winning a Grammy, The Birdsong Project is once again leading the way in the marriage of avian conservation and performance arts alongside committed bird conservation non-profit the National Audubon Society.

Particularly, in their newly announced summer slate of event programming in Aspen with help from local organizations and featuring events at local festivals, aptly dubbed: "Aspen Summer of Birds."

The celebrations will start at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado on June 3. They will continue into the neighboring communities via far-reaching programming planned to not only entertain community members of all ages but also educate them all about the cause.

"Birds have inspired art for millennia with their multi-colored plumage, their long-distance migrations, and their birdsong. Birds also tell us that they need our help," explained Dr. Chad Wilsey, chief scientist at the National Audubon Society.

"Through the Birdsong Project we can inspire people across the western hemisphere to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow," he continues.

'Aspen Summer of Birds' Activities and Events

Audubon Rockies and Anderson Ranch Arts Center, in particular, will be launching a collaborative workshop on June 3 to 7 entitled: "Wildlife Wonder."

Target participants are 6 to 8-year-olds, all of whom will be taught how to draw, paint, and build their favorite animals in realistic and creative forms using various artistic mediums, such as bookmaking and weaving.

Also, Audubon Rockies Community Naturalists will assist participants through a thematic exploration of birds sectioned by migration, bird song, and adaptations.

In addition to this, it will also deliver environmental education programs for all across Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, all enacted through a partnership with the Anderson Ranch Arts Center.

The Bird Song Project and the National Audubon Society will also partner up with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) to actualize live performance iterations of the Grammy-winning album on July 27 from 12 PM to 2 PM local time.

Students from the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) will arrange and perform what promises to be a dazzling afternoon performance at ACES Catto Center at Toklat.

Two in-town pop-ups will also take place by July 27 in collaboration with the AMFS, from 11 PM to 2 PM local time at the famed Aspen Saturday Market, where copies of the Grammy-winning "For the Birds" 20LP vinyl box set will be available for purchasing and viewing.

By night of the same day, between 7 PM to 9 PM local time, The Birdsong Project and Audubon will take over the plaza outside the beloved Paradise Bakery and hold a public musical performance arranged and to be performed by AMFS students.

In preparation for the summer events, you can now sample all the tracks of the 5-volume Grammy-winning box set right below.
Q+A returns on Monday, live from Sydney.

On Q+A this week  the crimes that shocked a nation  and the big conversations theyve stoked on extremism, justice, community cohesion and social media.

Politicians are at war with US billionaire Elon Musk, whose X platform is defying an injunction to remove vision of the Sydney church stabbing. Free speech advocates  and the Assyrian bishop who was attacked  say the vision should be seen.

Social media helped fuel violent protests outside the church. Police swooped on individuals suspected to be part of an extremist network and questioned a former Islamic State supporter released from a supervision order last year. Faith leaders have united in calls for peace, but theres growing concern that it may exacerbate community tensions.

Theres new focus on gendered violence, in the wake of the Bondi Junction killings and the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst by a former partner. The NSW government is exploring law reform, as federal ministers admit more must be done to address a national crisis.

Plus the internal Coalition spat over nuclear energy. And the doping scandal casting a pall over the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Panellists:

Minister for Emergency Management and Agriculture Murray Watt,

Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie,

NSW Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman,

Pastor & CEO, Wayside Chapel Jon Owen

and Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra, Tracey Holmes

Monday, April 29 at 9.35pm on ABC.
Benjamin Cohen, the man mistakenly identified by Sunrise as the person responsible for the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, has settled his defamation case against Seven.

His name was broadcast at 6.05am and 6.15am. Seven did not air his name again but made attempts to find a contact number for Cohen, which it did not have until his mother contacted the Seven newsroom.

Seven accepts the identification was a grave mistake and that these assertions were entirely false and without basis, new Seven Managing Director Jeff Howard said in a statement to Mr Cohen.

He said Seven withdraws the false allegations unreservedly and apologises to you for the harm you and your family have suffered as a result of Sevens statements about you.

Howard added. Sevens staff, including especially its on-air presenters Mr Shirvington and Ms McLeod, are devastated that the error was made and that it has affected you.

The error originated at the producer level and the presenters were in no way involved in scripting the words which were published.

Seven apologised on air for the error after NSW Police named 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland.

In a statement, Mr Cohen said people online who target individuals or communities should be held accountable for the consequences of their actions, and platforms should be more accountable for the content they host.

Patrick George, who was acting on behalf of Mr Cohen, said in a statement the terms of settlement are confidential.

Source: ABC, Brisbane Times
Canonical heeft versie 24.04 van Ubuntu uitgebracht. 'Noble Numbat' is een long term support-release die is gebaseerd op Linux-kernel 6.8 en Gnome 46 als desktopomgeving gebruikt. De lts-release krijgt vijf jaar ondersteuning, maar dat is met een gratis Ubuntu Pro-abonnement met vijf jaar te verlengen. Een van de grootste verandering is dat 24.04 een nieuwe installer heeft op basis van Flutter, maar er zijn natuurlijk nog veel meer wijzigingen. Hieronder de releasenotes.

These release notes for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) provide an overview of the release and document the known issues with Ubuntu and its flavours.

Support lifespan

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will be supported for 5 years until June 2029. If you need Long Term Support, we recommend you use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 760 until 24.04.1 is released.

Upgrades

Users of Ubuntu 23.10 will be offered an automatic upgrade to 24.04 soon after the release.

Users of 22.04 LTS however will be offered the automatic upgrade when 24.04.1 LTS is released, which is scheduled for the 15th of August.

New features in 24.04 LTS

Year 2038 support for the armhf architecture

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS solves the Year 2038 problem 319 that existed on armhf. More than a thousand packages have been updated to handle time using a 64-bit value rather than a 32-bit one, making it possible to handle times up to 292 billion years in the future.

Updated Packages

Linux kernel

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS includes the new 6.8 Linux kernel that brings many new features.

Detailed changes are reported in the Noble Kernel Release Notes post.

systemd v255.4

The init system was updated to systemd v255.4. See the upstream changelog 92 for more information about individual features.

Netplan v1.0

The network stack was updated to Netplan version 1.0 82. Supporting simultaneous WPA2 & WPA3, Mellanox VF-LAG for high-performance SR-IOV networking and VXLAN improvements. It also provides a stable libnetplan1 API 6 and a new netplan status --diff sub-command to find differences between configuration and system state. For more information please see the Introducing Netplan v1.0 88 blog post.

Toolchain Upgrades

GCC is updated to the 14, binutils to 2.42, and glibc to 2.39.

Python now defaults to version 3.12

OpenJDK now defaults to LTS version 21

LLVM now defaults to version 18

Rust toolchain defaults to version 1.75

Golang is updated to 1.22

.NET 8 is now default

OpenJDK

OpenJDK LTS 21 is the default in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS while maintaining support for versions 17, 11, and 8. OpenJDK 17 and 21 are also TCK certified, which means they adhere to Java standards and ensure interoperability with other Java platforms. A special FIPS-compliant OpenJDK 11 package is also available for Ubuntu Pro users.

.NET

With the introduction of .NET 8, Ubuntu is taking a significant step forward in supporting the .NET community. .NET 8 will be fully supported on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 22.04 LTS for the entire lifecycle of both releases. This enables developers to upgrade their applications to newer .NET versions before upgrading their Ubuntu release. Starting with 24.04 LTS the .NET support has also been extended to the IBM System Z platform.

.NET 6 and .NET 7 packages with limited support are available via a PPA 16.

Apport

Apport added integration with systemd-coredump to handle crashes. Developers on Ubuntu can co-install systemd-coredump now and use coredumpctl to analyze crash data. Apport will continue to collect crash information and submit it to the Ubuntu Error Tracker and Launchpad.

Security Improvements

Unprivileged user namespace restrictions

In combination with the apparmor package, the Ubuntu kernel now restricts the use of unprivileged user namespaces. This affects all programs on the system that are unprivileged and unconfined. A default AppArmor profile is provided that allows the use of user namespaces for unprivileged and unconfined applications but will deny the subsequent use of any capabilities within the user namespace. A common use-case for unprivileged user namespaces is applications that construct their own sandboxes or work with styles of container workloads. As such, AppArmor profiles that allow the use of unprivileged user namespaces are also provided for common applications and frameworks that come from the Ubuntu archive, as well as popular third party applications like Google Chrome, Discord and others. This is a subsequent step towards trying to mitigate the larger attack surface presented by unprivileged user namespaces (the first being the introduction of this feature in Ubuntu 23.10 where it was not enabled by default).

Whilst significant effort has been expended to try and identify all applications that may require such profiles, it is expected that there may be cases where additional profiles are required.

In this case, there are several options if you run into problems:

Confine your applications with an AppArmor profile. Because this can be potentially onerous, a new unconfined profile mode/flag has been added to AppArmor. This designates the profile to essentially act like the unconfined mode for AppArmor where an application is not restricted, and it allows additional permissions to be added, such as the userns, permission. Such profile for, e.g. Google Chrome 3, would look like the following, and it would be located within the /etc/apparmor.d/chrome file:

abi <abi/4.0>, include <tunables/global> /opt/google/chrome/chrome flags=(unconfined) { userns, # Site-specific additions and overrides. See local/README for details. include if exists <local/chrome> } Alternatively, a complete AppArmor profile for the application can be created (see the AppArmor 8 documentation).

Launch your application in a way that doesnt use unprivileged user namespaces, e.g. google-chrome-stable --no-sandbox . However, since this disables the use of an internal security feature within the application, this is not recommended. Instead, use the unconfined profile mode described above instead.

Disable this restriction on the entire system for one boot by executing echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns . This setting is lost on reboot. This similar to the previous behaviour, but it does not mitigate against kernel exploits that abuse the unprivileged user namespaces feature.

Disable this restriction using a persistent setting by adding a new file ( /etc/sysctl.d/60-apparmor-namespace.conf ) with the following contents:

kernel.apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns=0 Reboot. This is similar to the previous behaviour, but it does not mitigate against kernel exploits that abuse the unprivileged user namespaces feature.

TLS 1.0, 1.1 and DTLS 1.0 are forcefully disabled

for software using openssl this was the case since 20.04

for software using gnutls, this is now enforced (with openconnect being a notable exception)

More consistent application of openssl and gnutls system configurations

Some libraries do not raise errors when their configuration is not accessible; this could happen when apparmor does not allow access to the configuration files. Due to how widespread openssl and gnutls are, the apparmor rules now grant access to their configuration files by default. Their system-wide configuration will therefore be followed better.

Deprecation and disablement of 1024-bit RSA APT repository signing keys

APT in 24.04 requires repositories to be signed with the RSA keys no smaller than 2048 bits, Ed25519, or Ed448. As work to resign old Launchpad PPAs with a stronger keys is still ongoing for some weeks, this is initially only a warning.

Once Launchpad PPAs have been resigned, you will need to manually migrate any affected PPAs to new signing keys by removing and re-adding them to quiesce the warning.

The final APT 2.8.0 release that converts the warning to an error should be published as a stable release update some time after the resigning is complete.

pptpd removed

OpenSSH with reduced dependencies

As per the XZ-utils backdoor, openssh in ubuntu does not depends anymore in libsystemd, reducing the number of dependencies and making it less prone to future security issues.

Package security-hardening improvements

Packages are now built with security-hardening features which stop many undiscovered security vulnerabilities, rendering them unexploitable.

The gcc compiler 16 and dpkg now defaults to -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=3 instead of -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 which greatly increases buffer overflow detection and mitigation.

dpkg now defaults to use -mbranch-protection=standard which mitigates code resuse attacks on arm64.

Performance

Performance Engineering tools

A set of performance engineering tools is installed by default on relevant Ubuntu systems. Additionally, a performance-tools metapackage has been created to assist in debugging performance and reliability issues. See specification 46 for more details.

Default configuration changes

As always there are many changes to defaults, mostly by newer versions of

packages. But a few are worth spelling out if your former automation,

configuration and tuning relied on those settings being one or the other way.

Apt priority of the proposed pocket

The proposed pocket is used as a staging area for software updates. These

updates land in the proposed pocket before they are released to the wider

public userbase.

But in the past, if someone enabled the proposed pocket for testing they often

got into trouble by getting their system flooded with everything that is in the

proposed pocket.

If just one of the packages in there was weirdly broken youd have been broken

by that as well - and it might have been unrelated to what you really care about

and made your regular testing consume more effort and thereby less attractive.

By changing the default priority, users are less likely to install potentially

unstable updates unintentionally. Therefore the default apt priority of the

proposed pocket was reduced from 500 to 100. This change already happened in

Ubuntu Lunar, but Noble is the first Ubuntu LTS to pick it up and therefore

there is much more time of consumption from the proposed pocket in front of it.

With the change, users can now selectively install packages from the proposed

pocket. This allows for more conscious selection and testing of updates.

You can always see the new versions of the packages e.g. via apt-cache policy

but they will no more auto-install.

To install a package from proposed youd now need to select from which pocket

you want to install like apt install <package>/<release>-proposed

The above helps a lot for the conscious testing of changes. But on the other

hand having automation and people testing (almost) all new package versions

regularly can provide great signal. Especially in canary setup with their very

own workload it can prevent breaking these specific setup unintentionally as

it might be different from what is tested elsewhere.

Therefore in those situations if you want to go back to the old behavior of

just getting everything from proposed all the time, youd need to bump the apt

pin priority back up to 500 so the versions from the proposed pocket compete on

the same level with the rest of the Ubuntu Archive. To do that you could put

the following in a file like /etc/apt/preferences.d/bump-proposed-prio :

# Consider proposed all the time, set default priority 500 Package: * Pin: release a=noble-proposed Pin-Priority: 500

deb822 sources management

The sources configuration for Ubuntu has moved from /etc/apt/sources.list to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources in the more featureful deb822 format, aligning with PPAs that already migrated to deb822 last year. See the specification 22 for more details.

Services restart on unattended-upgrade

The needrestart package has been modified to systematically restart services

if affected by a library upgrade, including in non-interactive scenarios such

as unattended-upgrade . The reason for this change is that

unattended-upgrade defaults to security updates only, and failing to

restarting services means that those running daemons will still be exposed to

the security issues fixed by the update.

It is possible to exclude specific services from automatic restart by adding

them to the override_rc section of /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf .

irqbalance no more installed and enabled by default

The irqbalance service is designed to distribute hardware interrupts across

processors on a multiprocessor system to increase performance. This is

particularly useful in server configurations where multiple devices will be

competing for the CPUs attention. And in doing so it has served Ubuntu well

being default enabled since 14 years based on a discussion 14 and related to

the kernel actively delegating this to userspace 7.

But evolution of the wider ecosystem has outpaced irqbalance in most situations.

Irqbalance can still be useful, but unless the admin configures it, the policy

it provides is not a discernible improvement over the in-kernel default policy.

At the same time a few cases have been reported where irqbalance causes issues,

hence discussions have been ongoing for quite a while 22. It does usually not make

as much sense for virtual guests, it might conflict with manual tuning and other

power consumption or latency targets. Furthermore the kernel and in particular many device

drivers evolved since then and often do an equal or better job now.

This change is just not installing it by default, irqbalance will stay available and

anyone that benefits or even just want to experiment with it can use it as

before.

Some specific scenarios, like particular cloud images, already had irqbalance

disabled by default before. In a similar fashion some have been (and more might

be) identified which will keep it enabled by default as there has been evidence

that on this platform it is more helpful.

tzdata package split

The tzdata package was split into tzdata, tzdata-icu, and tzdata-legacy. The tzdata package ships only timezones that follow the current rules of geographical region (continent or ocean) and city name. All legacy timezone symlinks (old or merged timezones mentioned in the upstream backward file) were moved to tzdata-legacy. This includes the US/* timezones.

Please install tzdata-legacy in case you need the legacy timezones or to restore the previous behavior. This might be needed in case the system provides timezone-aware data over the network (e. g. SQL databases).

Ubuntu Desktop

Installer and Upgrades

Weve taken the first steps towards a more general provisioning approach that encompasses a device bootstrap stage followed by a first boot initialization and a desktop welcome step. This means the ubuntu-desktop-installer is now part of the larger ubuntu-desktop-provision project and has been renamed to ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap. It comes with an improved UI design that is customizable via a central configuration file. Default image assets automatically follow the customized accent color, or can be swapped out entirely according to the needs of flavors or OEM providers.

In order to enable advanced users to benefit from subiuitys/cloud-inits autoinstall capabilities, weve added a dedicated page that allows side-loading an autoinstall.yaml from a network URL during the installation.

We are reintroducing support for ZFS guided installations , enhancing the flexibility and choices available for your storage management needs. This is a new implementation in the Subiquity-based installers, and is without encryption by default. The encrypted ZFS guided option will be developed in a future release.

Starting with Ubuntu 23.10, TPM-backed full-disk encryption (FDE) is introduced as an experimental feature, building on years of experience with Ubuntu Core. On supported platforms, you no longer need to enter passphrases at boot manually. Instead, the TPM securely manages the decryption key, providing enhanced security against physical attacks. This new feature streamlines the user experience and offers additional layers of security, especially in enterprise environments. However, the traditional passphrase-backed FDE is still available for those who prefer it. We invite users to experiment with this new feature, although caution is advised as its still experimental. More details in the TPM-backed Full Disk Encryption is coming to Ubuntu 217 blog post. Do not hesitate to report bugs in Launchpad against the ubuntu-desktop-provision project 10. Known limitations: Requires TPM 2.0. Only a limited set of hardware is supported. No external kernel-modules support. For example, no support of NVIDIA graphics cards.

The configuration file, /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml (which specifies Network Manager as the Netplan renderer), has been moved to /lib/netplan/00-network-manager-all.yaml to reflect that it should not be edited. Also, it is now owned by the ubuntu-settings package. For upgraders, the move is be performed automatically and the old file removed if it was unchanged. If it was changed, the move still takes place, but a copy of the old file is left in /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml.dpkg-backup (LP: #2020110 8).

NetworkManager now uses Netplan as its default settings-storage backend. On upgrade, all connection profiles from /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/ are transparently migrated to /etc/netplan/90-NM-*.yaml and become ephemeral, Netplan-rendered connection profiles in /run/NetworkManager/system-connections/ . Backups of the original profiles are automatically created in /var/lib/NetworkManager/backups/ (read more at NetworkManager YAML settings backend 41 and LP: #1985994 8).

ADSys Active Directory Certificates auto-enrollment: Windows Server offers a solution for auto-enrolling certificates using Group Policies. This interacts with Certificate Enrollment Services by Microsoft and works seamlessly with Windows clients. ADSys introduces AD certificates auto-enrollment to streamline connecting to corporate Wi-Fi and VPN networks. Automated enrollment eliminates the need for manual interactions with the certificate authority, such as pre-creating certificates. This simplifies IT administration and minimises security risks associated with managing sensitive data.

The installer is now able to update itself and will prompt the user to update in the very early stages of the installation if a newer version is available.

Power Profiles Manager has been improved and optimized 20 to support better newer hardware features (especially AMD), can now support multiple optimization drivers and is now battery-aware to automatically increase the optimization levels when running on battery only.

fprintd has been updated and libfprint supports now many other fingerprint drivers and devices 30.

New Store

There is a brand new Ubuntu App Center that replaces the previous Snap Store. The application has been written from scratch using the Flutter toolkit. New since 23.10, a Games page has been added to the Ubuntu App Center

There is also a new standalone Firmware Updater application available for both amd64 and arm64. This provides the possibility to update firmware without needing to have a full app store running continuously in the background.

GNOME

GNOME has been updated to include new features and fixes from the latest GNOME release, GNOME 46 252

Default app changes

The default Ubuntu Desktop installation is now minimal . There is still an extended selection option for those who prefer to have applications like LibreOffice and Thunderbird installed for the first boot.

In the extended install, the webcam app is now provided by GNOME Snapshot instead of Cheese

Games are no longer installed by default

Updated Ubuntu font

A more modern slimmer version of the Ubuntu font family is now shipped as standard. Anyone wishing to return to the older Ubuntu font used in 22.04 can do so by installing the fonts-ubuntu-classic package.

Updated Applications

Updated Subsystems

Ubuntu WSL

Cloud-init support

cloud-init is the industry standard multi-distribution method for cross-platform cloud instance initialisation. It is supported across all major public cloud providers, provisioning systems for private cloud infrastructure, and bare-metal installations.

With cloud-init on WSL you can now automatically and reproducibly configure your WSL instances on first boot. Make the first steps with this tutorial 37.

New documentation

The documentation specific to Ubuntu on WSL is available on Read the Docs 37. This evolving project is regularly updated with new content about Ubuntus specifics on WSL.

Enhancements

Reduced footprint

Experience faster download and installation times with 24.04, with a 200MB reduction in image size.

systemd by default everywhere

systemd is now enabled by default even when the instance is launched directly from a terminal with the wsl.exe command or from an imported root files system.

Ubuntu Server

Apache2

The Apache2 package has been updated to version 2.4.58. Here are the

major changes since Ubuntu Jammy:

mod_http2 has a partial rewrite of how connections and streams are handled. APR pollset and pipes do the monitoring instead of stuttered timed waits. Resource handling for misbehaving clients is improved. It also gains new directives H2ProxyRequests , H2MaxDataFrameLen , H2WebSockets and H2EarlyHint .

, , and . Add an auto status to mod_md using a format similar to mod_proxy_balancer, and supports managing certificates via the tailscale secure networking service.

mod_md fixes certificate renewal issues in certain situations, and gains a new directive MDCertificateAuthority for failover of renewals, along with configurational directives MDRetryDelay and MDRetryFailover to control its behavior.

for failover of renewals, along with configurational directives and to control its behavior. mod_md also gains new directives MDMatchNames and MDChallengeDns01Version to give more configurational control over MDomains and challenges.

Support for managing mod_md configurations via local tailscale daemon

Support pcre2 (10.x) library in place of the now end-of-life pcre (8.x) for regular expression evaluation.

mod_proxy gains various backend refinements and fixes, including detecting AJP/CPING support correctly now.

MPM event fix issues during restart and idle maintenance.

Add the BCTLS and BNE RewriteRule flags to mod_rewrite and fixes security issues and several bugs.

More information on the changes in Apache2 2.4.53 through 2.4.58, now included in Ubuntu can be found at: https://www.apachelounge.com/changelog-2.4.html 12

Clamav

The clamav anti-virus toolkit saw a 1.0.0 release between Ubuntu 22.04 and now. Some of the major changes since Ubuntu Jammy include:

Support for decrypting read-only OLE2-based XLS files that are encrypted with the default password.

Overhauled the implementation of the all-match feature. The newer code

Added a new callback, cl_engine_set_clcb_file_inspection(), for inspecting file content during a scan at each layer of archive extraction.

Added a new API function unpacking CVD signature archives, cl_cvdunpack().

The full list of changes for the ClamAV 1.0.0 LTS release can be found at https://blog.clamav.net/2022/11/clamav-100-lts-released.html 12. For details on subsequent bugfix releases in the 1.0 branch, including 1.0.5, see Clamavs blog at https://blog.clamav.net/ 10.

Chrony

Chrony is updated to 4.5, which adds support for systemd socket activation, multiple refclocks on one PHC, corrections from PTP transparent clocks, AES-GCM-SIV in GnuTLS, and AES-GCM-SIV with Nettle >= 3.9 to shorten NTScookies to avoid some length-specific blocking of NTP. DSCP is set for IPv6 packets. New options include maxpoll for the hwtimestamp directive to improve PHC tracking with low packet rates, maxdelayquant for adding long-term quantile-based filtering to the server/pool/peer directive, and a local option to the refclock directive to stabilise system clock with more stable free-running clock (e.g. TCXO, OCXO). A new hwtstimeout directive has been added to configure timeout for late timestamps, and a selectopts command to modify source-specific selection options.

More information about the 4.5 and other releases can be found at Chronys news page, at https://chrony-project.org/news.html 21.

cloud-init v.24.1.3

Notable features:

Windows Subsystem for Linux(WSL) datasource support

azure: improved handling and retires of DHCP during pre-provisioning stage (PPS)

ec2: support for multi-NIC/IP instances

oracle: add resilience to early network issues

network: dhcpcd support as primary DHCP client (successor to isc-dhclient)

APT deb822 support for default sources

cloud-init status improved recoverable_error(warning) visibility

Breaking changes:

cloud-init status exist 2 on warnings and exits 1 on error.

SSH dropped support for DSA host keys

boot optimization: removed systemd ordering dependency on snapd.seeded

stopped adding network v2 DNS to global DNS

mandate use of a single datasource when specified in datasource_list

Features since Ubuntu Jammy: (details in cloud-inits Github releases page 1)

Clouds: added NWCS and Akamai(Linode)

Config Modules: added ansible and wireguard modules, sodoers doas and opendoas support

Ephemeral network IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack support setup, support ucdhcp client

Netplan schema validation and config passthrough

NetworkManager and networkd renderer support

jinja template support of /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d

cloud-init schema: validation of user-data, vendor-data and network-config

cloud-init clean: /etc/machine-id support for golden images

Containerd

The containerd package was updated to version 1.7.12. It contains a bunch of bug fixes, adding support to newer Golang version, updating dependencies and so on. The two features below are new in this version since the last Ubuntu release:

Add blockfile snapshotter.

Add remote/proxy differ.

Some features were marked as deprecated, please try to not use them anymore. Deprecation warnings:

Emit deprecation warning for containerd.io/restart.logpath label usage.

label usage. Emit deprecation warning for AUFS snapshotter.

Emit deprecation warning for v1 runtime.

Emit deprecation warning for deprecated CRI configs.

Emit deprecation warning for CRI v1alpha1 usage.

Emit deprecation warning for CRIU config in CRI.

For more information, please see the upstream changelog 5.

Django

Django was updated to version 4.2.11, providing the latest LTS bug and security fixes. For more information see the upstream changelogs for 4.2.5 3-4.2.11 3.

Docker

The docker.io 20 package was updated to version 24.0.7. It contains many bug fixes and dependencies update. Some highlights are the fix of data corruption with zstd output and many improvements to the containerd storage backend. For more information, please see the upstream changelog 13.

NOTE: There is a AppArmor related bug where containers cannot be promptly stopped due to the recently added AppArmor profile for runc . The containers are always killed with SIGKILL due to the denials when trying to receive a signal. More details about this bug can be found here 2, and a workaround is described here 6.

Dovecot

Dovecot received several micro-point updates from 2.3.16 in Ubuntu Jammy, to 2.3.21 in this new LTS.

There is also a new dsync_features=no-header-hashes setting, which enables an optimization that assumes identical IMAP UIDs contain the same mail contents. This is useful on IMAP servers that dont cache the Date/Message-ID headers.

For more detailed information on the changes since Ubuntu Jammy, see Dovecots release announcements for 2.3.17 2, 2.3.18, 2.3.19, 2.3.20, and 2.3.21 3.

Exim4

The exim4 mail transport agent was updated to version 4.97. This brings numerous fixes to syntax parsing including ${run}, ${if} and ${filter } constructions. Query-style lookups are now checked for quoting; for now issues are just logged but will be treated as errors in a future release. An expansion operator for wrapping long header lines has been added.

Other notable changes include:

Queue runners for several queues can now be started from one daemon.

A new ACL condition: seen. Records/tests a timestamp against a key.

Events on a failing SMTP AUTH, for both client and server operations, and for failing TLS connects to the daemon.

Variable $sender_helo_verified with the result of an ACL verify = helo.

The smtp transport option max_rcpt is now expanded before use.

The expansion-test facility (exim -be) can set variables.

The allow_insecure_tainted_data main config option and the taint log_selector have been removed. These were deprecated in the 4.95 release.

Please note that the default configuration (/etc/default/exim4) generated for fresh installations differs from past practices, and a number of settings (QFLAGS, QUEUEINTERVAL, COMMONOPTIONS, QUEUERUNNEROPTIONS and SMTPLISTENEROPTIONS) have been replaced. As well, the update-exim4defaults script is no longer used for setting run parameters for the Exim daemon; users are encouraged to edit /etc/default/exim4 directly to customize. Also, the internal (but exposed in logs, Received: headers and Message-ID: headers) identifier used for messages is longer than in the previous release.

For more information on the changes introduced in Exim4 4.96 and 4.97, please see the Exim4 projects ChangeLog 1.

GlusterFS

The GlusterFS clustering filesystem package was updated to version 11.1. Following this update, some changes were made to the packaging layout of GlusterFS and dependendant packages:

GlusterFS upstream no longer supports 32 bit architectures (see LP: #2052734 2). Therefore, there are no armhf packages for GlusterFS in Ubuntu Noble. As a further consequence, other packages that linked or relied on GlusterFS also no longer have that support on the armhf architecture.

GlusterFS has been demoted to Universe (LP: #2045063 8).

Since there cannot be packages in Main depending on Universe, packages in main that had a dependency on GlusterFS were modified to ship that dependency also in Universe.

The following packages were changed:

qemu: The binary qemu-block-extra package had a dependency on GlusterFS due to the gluster storage module it shipped. That module is now being shipped in the new qemu-block-supplemental binary package.

samba: The binary samba-vfs-modules package had a dependency on GlusterFS due to a VFS module. All GlusterFS VFS modules were moved to the new samba-vfs-modules-extra package.

Note that since GlusterFS is no longer available for 32 bit architectures (see LP: #2052734 2), the two new packages mentioned above do not exist on armhf.

Upgrade considerations for qemu and samba

If you have a deployment of qemu or samba that used the glusterfs storage or VFS modules, then there are considerations to be made. In other words, if you:

had qemu-block-extra installed, and were using the block-gluster.so module

installed, and were using the module had samba-vfs-modules installed and were using either glusterfs.so or glusterfs_fuse.so VFS modules

Then the release upgrade to Ubuntu Noble will replace those packages with the new versions that DO NOT have the glusterfs modules. In such cases, you will have to install the new packages manually after the release upgrade is completed:

sudo apt install qemu-block-supplemental , or

, or sudo apt install samba-vfs-modules-extra

Considerations were made (ubuntu-devel mailing list thread 1) to perhaps include this logic in the Ubuntu release upgrade tool, but it was decided to not increase the complexity of the upgrader at this time. If you have a different scenario where this will have a big impact on your deployments, then please comment on the LP: #2045063 8 bug.

HAProxy

The HAProxy 21 package was updated to version 2.8.5. This new version includes several improvements and bug fixes. For more information, please see the upstream changelog 7.

Kea

The Kea 34 package was updated to version 2.4.1. This is now the supported DHCP server in Ubuntu, replacing ISC DHCP, which has been discontinued by ISC.

keama a new binary package to aid migrating ISC DHCP configuration files to Kea was also made available in noble.

Here are some of the major changes in Kea since Ubuntu Jammy.

Native TLS support.

PostgreSQL configuration backend.

Support password-files to store HTTP API credentials.

Multi-threading is now enabled by default.

Affinity for released leases. Kea now keeps leases for a configurable period after they are released. This is useful for devices that send RELEASE when rebooting so they have more chances of obtaining the same lease when the reboot process is complete.

For more details, please see the upstream release notes for version 2.4 5 and for version 2.2 3

libvirt

The libvirt 21 package was updated to version 10.0.0. Here are the changes since Ubuntu Jammy.

Support mode option for dirtyrate calculation.

calculation. Improve domain save/restore throughput

Introduce manual disk snapshot mode to coordinate outside libvirt.

Introduce memory allocation threads (handy for guests with large amounts of memory).

Introduce support for virtio-iommu .

. PPC64 Power10 processor support.

Introduce absolute clock offset.

Add support for post-copy migration recovery.

qemu: Add support for zero-copy migration

qemu: Add support for specifying vCPU physical address size in bits

qemu: Add flags to keep or remove TPM state for virDomainUndefineFlags

QEMU: Core Scheduling support (not enabled by default).

External snapshot deletion.

External backend for swtpm.

Passing file descriptors instead of opening files for <disk> .

. Allow multiple nodes for preferred policy.

Report Hyper-V Enlightenments in domcapabilities .

. Support for SGX EPC (enclave page cache).

Support migration of vTPM state of QEMU VMs on shared storage.

Introduce support for igb network interface model.

network interface model. Support compression for parallel migration.

apparmor: All profiles and abstractions now support local overrides

Add Sapphire Rapids CPU model.

Support removable attribute for SCSI disk.

qemu: Change default machine type for ARM and RISC-V to virt

QEMU: Enable postcopy-preempt migration capability.

migration capability. QEMU: Add support for mapping iothreads to virtqueues of virtio-blk devices.

devices. QEMU: Allow automatic resize of block-device-backed disk to full size of the device.

QEMU: Automatic selection/binding of VFIO variant drivers.

qemu: Add support for vDPA block devices

QEMU: Add runtime configuration option for nbdkit.

QEMU: Add ID mapping support for virtiofsd .

. QEMU: Improve migration XML use when persisting VM on destination.

QEMU: Simplify non-shared storage migration to raw block devices.

QEMU: Allow virtiofsd to run unprivileged.

to run unprivileged. The RBD/Ceph storage driver ( libvirt-daemon-driver-storage-rbd ) is now available only on 64-bit architectures.

For more details, please see the upstream changelog 7.

LXD

Keeping with the theme of further streamlining Ubuntu, starting with this release, LXD snap wont be pre-installed in the Ubuntu server by default. Instead, we will be applying the same logic as with the ubuntu-minimal images, where we use a small script (lxd-installer) to install LXD on first use.

LXD 5.21.0 LTS has been released with a number of useful features and a few other operational changes. For more information, please read the full release announcement.

Monitoring Plugins

Four micro-version release updates to monitor-plugins brings it to

version 2.3.5 in this Ubuntu LTS release, providing a number of fixes

and enhancements. A few items of note:

check_dhcp: Add dhcp rogue detection

check_icmp: Add support to Jitter, MOS and Score

check_smtp: Add support for SMTP over TLS

check_smtp: Add support for SNI

check_http: Implement chunked encoding decoding

check_curl: detect ipv6

check_by_ssh: Let ssh decide if a host is valid, enables usage of

ssh .config file

ssh .config file check_curl: Add an option to check_curl to verify the peer

certificate & host using the system CAs

certificate & host using the system CAs check_fping: Implements host-alive mode

check_http: Support http redirect

check_ping: understand ping6

check_smtp: add -L flag to support LMTP (LHLO instead of

HELO/EHLO).

HELO/EHLO). check_snmp: Added option for null zero length string exit codes

For more detail, see the release announcements for 2.3.2 6, 2.3.3 1, 2.3.4 1, and 2.3.5 8.

Net SNMP

The Net SNMP 4 package was updated to version 5.9.4.

In addition to a few security and stability fixes, support is now included for recognizing Dockers overlay filesystem such as when running snmpwalk against a Docker container.

For more details, please see the upstream changelog 2.

Nginx

The Nginx web server has been updated to version 1.24 in Ubuntu 24.04, marking a major jump from version 1.18 in the previous LTS. This brings OpenSSL 3.0 compatibility, support for the PCRE2 library, protocol TLSv1.3 enabled by default, Application-Layer Protocol Negotiation (ALPN) support for the stream module, Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) validation of client SSL certificates, and improved HTTP/2 support among other things.

For a complete listing of changes, please see the release notices for Nginx 1.20 7, 1.22 6, and 1.24 17.

OpenLDAP

The OpenLDAP 6 package was updated to version 2.6.7, which brings several bug fixes. For more details, please see the upstream changelog 4.

OpenVmTools

open-vm-tools moves to 12.3.5 in Ubuntu 24.04. Intermediate versions resolved a few critical problems, vunerabilities, and Coverity issues. In addition, it brings support for managing Salt Minion, and for gathering and publishing lists of containers running inside Linux guests. A tools.conf configuration setting is also available to temporaily direct Linux quiesced snapshots to restore pre open-vm-tools 12.2.0 behavior of ignoring file systems already frozen.

The announcements for 12.3.5 and other releases since 11.3.5 can be found on the open-vm-tools Github releases page 14.

PAM

pam_lastlog.so has been removed 7 because it was not Year 2038 compliant.

Percona Xtrabackup

Percona Xtrabackup has been added as a new package, working alongside MySQL 8.0.x. It is a tool for creating and restoring backups of MySQL databases while maintaining availability. For more information see Percona Xtrabackups upstream documentation 3.

PHP

The PHP 2 package was updated to version 8.3.6. Here are the major changes since Ubuntu Jammy.

Upon updates, PHP will re-start apache2 to ensure any bugs in your PHP powered web server gets addressed as soon as an upgrade is performed.

Read only classes

Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) types to allow the combination of union and intersection types

null , false , and true are now allowed as stand-alone types

, , and are now allowed as stand-alone types A new random extension was introduced. It provides an object-oriented API for random for random number generation.

Constants can now be declared in traits. They can then be accessed by classes which use the trait.

Creation of dynamic properties are now deprecated to avoid mistakes and typos.

Typed class constants

Class constants can now be fetched dynamically

A new #[\Override] attribute was introduced. It ensures that a method of the same name exists in the parent class or implemented interface.

attribute was introduced. It ensures that a method of the same name exists in the parent class or implemented interface. Deep-cloning of readonly properties is now allowed.

A now json_validate() function was introduced to check if a string is syntactically valid JSON.

function was introduced to check if a string is syntactically valid JSON. The command line linter now supports parsing multiple files at once.

Moreover, an apache2 change now ensures that the apache2 service will restart after the PHP package is upgraded. This is a change in the package behavior. Before, needrestart would inform the user of the need to restart the service, but the service would not restart automatically. Please see LP: #2038912 2 for additional context on this change.

For more details, please see the upstream changelog 4

PostgreSQL

The PostgreSQL 2 package was updated to version 16.2. The new version includes several performance improvements. Here are some of the major changes included since Ubuntu Jammy.

The SQL standard MERGE command is now available. it lets you write conditional SQL statements including INSERT , DELETE , and UPDATE actions in a single statement.

command is now available. it lets you write conditional SQL statements including , , and actions in a single statement. New regular expressions related functions.

New jsonlog format to output logs using a defined JSON structure.

format to output logs using a defined JSON structure. Users can now perform logical replication from standby instance

More sintax from SQL/JSON was added, such as JSON_ARRAY() , JSON_ARRAYAGG() , and IS JSON .

was added, such as , , and . Users can now express thousands using _ as a separator (e.g., 5_100_042 )

as a separator (e.g., ) Added suport for non-decimal integer literals, such as 0x1234A , 0o777 , and 0b0101011

, , and Several security-oriented client connection parameters were added, including require_auth to specify accepted authentication parameters, and sslrootcert="system" to use the trusted certificate authority (CA) store provided by the clients operating system.

For details on the above changes or to get a complete list of changes introduced in PostgreSQL 16, please refer to the upstream release notes 2.

QEMU

The QEMU 15 package was updated to version 8.2.1. Here are the changes since Ubuntu Jammy.

User-mode emulation ( linux-user , bsd-user ) will enforce guest alignment constraints and raise

SIGBUS to the guest program as appropriate.

, ) will enforce guest alignment constraints and raise to the guest program as appropriate. The qemu-nbd program has gained a new --tls-hostname parameter to allow TLS validation against a different hostname, such as when setting up TLS through a TCP tunnel, and now supports TLS over UNIX sockets.

program has gained a new parameter to allow TLS validation against a different hostname, such as when setting up TLS through a TCP tunnel, and now supports TLS over UNIX sockets. ARM Emulation of ARM Cortex-A76, Cortex-A35, Cortex-A710, Neoverse-N1, Neoverse-N2 CPUs. The virt board now supports emulation of the GICv4.0. Several new PCPU architecture features are now emulated as well. KVM VMs on a host which supports MTE (the Memory Tagging Extension) can now use MTE in the guest

RISC-V Add support for privileged spec version 1.12.0. Add support for the Zbkb , Zbkc , Zbkx , Zknd / Zkne , Zknh , Zksed / Zksh and Zkr extensions. Add support for Zmmul extension. Add TPM support to the virt board. virt machine device tree improvements. Support for various further RISC-V extensions, among them the hypervisor extension is no more marked experimental and now enabled by default. Add RISC-V vector cryptographic instruction set support. Update RISC-V vector crypto to ratified v1.0.0.

s390x Emulate the s390x Vector-Enhancements Facility 2 with TCG. The s390-ccw bios has been fixed to also boot from drives with non-512 sector sizes that have a different geometry than the typical DASD drives. Fix emulation of LZRF , VISTR , SACF instructions. Enhanced zPCI interpretation support for KVM guests. Implement Message-Security-Assist Extension 5 (random number generation via PRNO instruction). Support s390x CPU topology (books and drawers, STSI 15.1.x instruction, PTF instruction) with KVM.

More Support for zero-copy-send on Linux, which reduces CPU usage on the source host. Note that locked memory is needed to support this. Added support for Intel AMX. TCG performance improvements in full-system emulation. TCG support for AVX , AVX2 , F16C , FMA3 and VAES instructions.

Support for the Sapphire Rapids and Granite Rapids CPU models.

System emulation on 32-bit x86 hosts has been deprecated. The QEMU project no longer considers 32-bit x86 host support for system emulation to be an effective use of its limited resources, and thus intends to discontinue. User mode emulation continues to be supported on 32-bit hosts.

Support for igb device emulation.

device emulation. Support virtual machines with up to 1024 vCPUs (for more details, see here)

Due to the GlusterFS demotion (see LP: #2045063 8), the GlusterFS block storage module was moved out of the qemu-block-extra package and into the new qemu-block-supplemental package. Please see the GlusterFS section of these Release Notes for upgrade considerations if you are using qemu with the GlusterFS block storage module.

package and into the new package. Please see the GlusterFS section of these Release Notes for upgrade considerations if you are using qemu with the GlusterFS block storage module. Since GlusterFS is no longer available for 32 bit architectures (see LP: #2052734 2), the block-gluster storage module (now shipped in qemu-block-supplemental ) is no longer available in armhf.

For more details, please see related upstream changelogs:

Ruby 3.2

The default ruby interpreter was updated to version 3.2.3. There are many new features and bug fixes, some highlights are:

YJIT is now production ready (JIT compiler for Ruby).

Immutable objects with Data.define (new Data class).

(new class). WebAssembly support.

bundle gem now supports --ext=rust to allow building gems with rust extensions.

There are some constants and methods that were already deprecated and now they are removed, when migrating to this ruby version be careful with the following:

Fixnum and Bignum

and Random::DEFAULT

Struct::Group

Struct::Passwd

Dir.exists?

File.exists?

Kernel#=~

Kernel#taint , Kernel#untaint , Kernel#tainted?

, , Kernel#trust , Kernel#untrust , Kernel#untrusted?

All the above was removed from Ruby 3.2 and cannot be used anymore. For more information, please see the upstream release announcement 4.

Runc

The runc package was updated to version 1.1.12. It contains bug fixes specially related to the cgroup v2 support, and most importantly, it adds support for riscv64. For more information, please see the upstream changelog 3.

For users/developers willing to customize the runc package, the source package is now split into runc (library package) and runc-app (application package). This was done to follow what was done in containerd and docker.io 20, and therefore, ease the future maintenance, including backports to stable releases.

Samba

The Samba package has been updated to the 4.19.x series. Here are the upstream release notes for 4.19.0: https://www.samba.org/samba/history/samba-4.19.0.html 12

Due to the GlusterFS demotion (see LP: #2045063 8 and the GlusterFS section of these release notes), the samba packaging had to be changed a bit to accomodate this change.

The GlusterFS VFS modules which were previously shipped in the binay samba-vfs-modules package, are now shipped in the new binary package called samba-vfs-modules-extra . Specifically, these modules (and their respective manual pages) were moved to samba-vfs-modules-extra :

glusterfs.so

glusterfs_fuse.so

The fuse module does not depend on the gluster libraries, but was moved together with glusterfs.so for consistency.

If you are upgrading from an Ubuntu release that used either of those two VFS modules, you should install samba-vfs-modules-extra after the upgrade:

sudo apt install samba-vfs-modules-extra

If you are doing a fresh install of Ubuntu Noble, and want to use the glusterfs VFS modules with samba, you should also install samba-vfs-modules-extra .

Spamassassin

Apache SpamAssassin 4.0.0 contains numerous tweaks and bug fixes over the past releases. In particular, it includes major changes that significantly improve the handling of text in international language.

As with any major release, there are countless functional patches and improvements to upgrade to 4.0.0. Apache SpamAssassin 4.0.0 includes several years of fixes that significantly improve classification and performance.

New plugins include ExtractText, DMARC, and DecodeShortURLs. The HashCash module, which had been deprecated previously, is now fully removed. Mail::SPF::Query use is deprecated, along with settings do_not_use_mail_spf, do_not_use_mail_spf_query. Mail::SPF is now the only supported module used by the SPF plugin.

Other notable changes include:

Bayes plugin has been improved to skip common words aka noise words written in languages other than English

You can now use Captured Tags to use tags captured in one rule inside other rules

sa-update has been improved with three new options: forcemirror, score-multiplier, and score-limit.

DKIM plugin can now detect ARC signatures

The normalize_charset option is now enabled by default.

SPF lookups are not done asynchronously

The default sa-update ruleset doesnt make ASN lookups or header additions anymore.

The SpamAssassin 4.0.0 release announcement 8 provides more details about these changes.

Squid

The Squid 12 package was updated to version 6.6. Here are some of the major changes since Ubuntu Jammy.

Squid is now more tolerant on tls-cert= misconfiguration. It will try to sort the CA chain and send certificates in the required order.

misconfiguration. It will try to sort the CA chain and send certificates in the required order. Squid now logs communication details for TLS connections it accepts or establishes.

A new to_linklocal ACL was introduced as pre-defined to match requests from 169.254.0.0/16 and fe80::/10.

ACL was introduced as pre-defined to match requests from 169.254.0.0/16 and fe80::/10. The X-Cache and the X-Cache-Lookup HTTP headers were replaced with the new Cache-Status HTTP header, as per RFC 9211. Tools and systems relying on the X- headers should be upgraded to use the new header.

and the HTTP headers were replaced with the new HTTP header, as per RFC 9211. Tools and systems relying on the headers should be upgraded to use the new header. The Gopher protocol support was removed.

For more details, please see the upstream release notes 3.

SSSD

The SSSD 25 package was updated to version 2.9.4. Here are the changes since Ubuntu Jammy.

All SSSD client libraries ( nss , pam , etc.) wont serialize requests anymore by default, i.e. requests from multiple threads can be executed in parallel. The old behavior (serialization) can still be enabled by setting the environment variable SSS_LOCKFREE to NO .

, , etc.) wont serialize requests anymore by default, i.e. requests from multiple threads can be executed in parallel. The old behavior (serialization) can still be enabled by setting the environment variable to . Added a new krb5 plugin idp and a new binary oidc_child which performs OAuth2 authentication against FreeIPA. This, however, cannot be tested yet because this feature is still under development on the FreeIPA server side.

and a new binary which performs authentication against FreeIPA. This, however, cannot be tested yet because this feature is still under development on the FreeIPA server side. sss_simpleifp library is deprecated and might be removed in further releases.

library is deprecated and might be removed in further releases. Files provider (i.e. id_provider = files ) is deprecated and might be removed in further releases. Consider using Proxy provider with proxy_lib_name = files instead.

) is deprecated and might be removed in further releases. Consider using Proxy provider with instead. Add support for ldapi:// URLs to allow connections to local LDAP servers.

URLs to allow connections to local LDAP servers. The proxy provider is now able to handle certificate mapping and matching rules and users handled by the proxy provider can be configured for local Smartcard authentication. Besides the mapping rule local Smartcard authentication should be enabled with the local_auth_policy option in the backend and with pam_cert_auth in the PAM responder.

Intel QuickAssist Technology (Intel QAT)

Intel QAT is a built-in accelerator on 4th Gen and newer Intel Xeon Scalable Processors that offloads critical data compression and decompression, encryption and decryption, and public key data encryption tasks from the CPU cores and accelerates those operations to help improve performance and save valuable compute resources.

The components enabled on Ubuntu 24.04 are:

qatlib 24.02.0

This package provides user space libraries that allow access to Intel QAT devices and expose the Intel QAT APIs and sample codes.

For more information, visit the projects repo 1.

This package provides user space libraries that allow access to Intel QAT devices and expose the Intel QAT APIs and sample codes. For more information, visit the projects repo 1. qatengine 1.5.0

This package provides the Intel QAT OpenSSL Engine Plug-in as a shared library that sits between OpenSSL and the QAT library. The engine can be configured to use Intel optimized libraries (ipp-crypto and intel-ipsec-mb) and/or offload those operations to the QAT device.

For more information, visit the projects repo.

This package provides the Intel QAT OpenSSL Engine Plug-in as a shared library that sits between OpenSSL and the QAT library. The engine can be configured to use Intel optimized libraries (ipp-crypto and intel-ipsec-mb) and/or offload those operations to the QAT device. For more information, visit the projects repo. qatzip 1.2.0

This package provides a user space library offering accelerated compression and decompression services by offloading the work to the Intel QAT device, which uses the deflate* and lz4* algorithms.

For more information, visit the projects repo 2.

This package provides a user space library offering accelerated compression and decompression services by offloading the work to the Intel QAT device, which uses the deflate* and lz4* algorithms. For more information, visit the projects repo 2. ipp-crypto 2021.10.0

Intel Integrated Performance Primitives Cryptography (Intel IPP Cryptography) is a secure, fast and lightweight library of building blocks for cryptography, highly-optimized for various Intel CPUs.

For more information, visit the projects repo.

Intel Integrated Performance Primitives Cryptography (Intel IPP Cryptography) is a secure, fast and lightweight library of building blocks for cryptography, highly-optimized for various Intel CPUs. For more information, visit the projects repo. intel-ipsec-mb 1.5-1

Intel Multi-Buffer Crypto for IPsec Library provides software crypto acceleration that primarily focuses on symmetric cryptography applications.

For more information, visit the projects repo.

Subiquity

A new version of the Subiquity server installer has been released. Please read the full release notes for 24.04.1 8 on GitHub.

Ubuntu HA/Clustering

Pacemaker

The Pacemaker 9 package was updated to version 2.1.6. There are several fixes, API changes and new features introduced since jammy. For more details, please see the upstream changelog 5.

Resource Agents

The Resource Agents 3 package was updated to version 4.13.0.

A noteworthy change is the upstream improvements on PostgreSQL support. The pgsql agent was moved to the resource-agents-base package and is now part of our curated set of resource agents.

Moreover, the transitional resource-agents package was removed. You should now install resource agents through the resource-agents-base package or through the resource-agents-extra package. The agents available in each of these packages are listed in the package descriptions.

For further information, please refer to the upstream changelog.

OpenStack

OpenStack has been updated to the 2024.1 (Caracal) release 3. This includes packages for Aodh, Barbican, Ceilometer, Designate, Glance, Heat, Horizon, Ironic, Keystone, Magnum, Manila, Masakari, Mistral, Neutron, Nova, Octavia, Swift, Watcher and Zaqar.

Murano, Senlin, Sahara, Freezer and Solum where all declared inactive 7 as of the 2024.1 cycle and have been removed from Ubuntu.

This release is also provided for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS via the Ubuntu Cloud Archive.

Ceph

Ceph 15 has been updated to the 19.2.0 (Squid) release.

This release is also provided for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS via the Ubuntu Cloud Archive.

Open vSwitch (OVS) and Open Virtual Network (OVN)

Open vSwitch 5 has been updated to the 3.3.0 release.

Open Virtual Network 7 has been updated to the 24.03 release.

These releases are also provided for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS via the Ubuntu Cloud Archive.

Platforms

Public Cloud / Cloud images

All

Vagrant

Starting in Ubuntu 24.04, Canonical no longer produces Vagrant images. This is due upstream Debian questions of maintainership 14 and Canonical dropping vagrant from the Ubuntu archives. The code to generate Vagrant images will remain in livecd-rootfs 1 for reference, and for future inclusion when / if Canonical are able to work on a support model. Documentation regarding creating an Ubuntu Base Image from scratch is provided at https://documentation.ubuntu.com/public-images/en/latest/public-images-how-to/build-vagrant-with-bartender/ 7.

Public Images (cloud-images.ubuntu.com 2) images

Release notes/image diff Since 19th April 2024 we have introduced .image_changelog.json files to accompany published images @ https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/ 3. This is a JSON document listing all the package additions, removals and changes as well as noting the changelog entries for the package changes. It also highlights any CVEs addressed in those package updates. The tool used to generate these diffs is ubuntu-cloud-image-changelog available @ github.com/canonical/ubuntu-cloud-image-changelog Diffs are generated between the image being published and the previous daily image, and also between the image being published and the previous release image. These image diffs have been backported to previous published Ubuntu release too.

There are potential issues with OVA images and some versions of Cloud Director related to the attached serial port. In some cases, this may lead to a failure to deploy the OVA image. In the event of a failure, editing the OVF directly in your deployment and removing the serial port stanza should allow successful deployment. VMware has an associated KB article regarding these failures. Cloud Director versions around version 10.4.2.22463311 are potentially effected. This is currently under investigation: LP:2062552.

AWS EC2

Noble instances now launch using IMDSv2 18 by default for the instance metadata service.

Auto configuration of multi-NIC 7 instances is now supported with source-routing via cloud-init.

Microsoft Azure

Canonical is introducing a new way of publishing on Azure with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. All Ubuntu Images for 24.04 LTS will be available under the same offer: ubuntu-24_04-lts. Derivative images, such as the minimized version of Ubuntu server or Ubuntu Pro are available as plans under this main offer.

We have identified an issue with apparmor profiles on Confidential VM images available under the cvm plan of the offer ubuntu-24_04-lts . The rsyslog service will fail to start on VMs launched from this plan. This is being investigated and a new image with a fix will be published shortly. Only workloads relying on rsyslog are affected.

plan of the offer . The service will fail to start on VMs launched from this plan. This is being investigated and a new image with a fix will be published shortly. Only workloads relying on are affected. Users with multic-NIC setup on their instances may experience delays in DNS resolution due to mis-configuration of systemd-resolved. We are currently implementing a solution on cloud-init (fix(azure): Avoid non-primary nics from having routes to DNS CPC-4224 by CalvoM  Pull Request #5180  canonical/cloud-init  GitHub 1). Before the solution lands on cloud-init, users can remedy the misconfiguration by creating the file /etc/netplan/91-secondary-nics-azure.yaml with the content:

network: version: 2 ethernets: ephemeral: dhcp4: true dhcp4-overrides: use-dns: false match: driver: hv_netvsc name: '!eth0' optional: true hotpluggedeth0: dhcp4: true match: driver: hv_netvsc name: 'eth0'

Users should then reboot the instance for the netplan configuration to take effect.

Google

GCE: Setting a hostname via cloud-init user-data requires the addition of the create_hostname_file key; see here 5 for more details.

Boot speed improvements: the I/O scheduler has been changed to none (from noop ) to improve i/o performance for the most common disk types (LP: #2045708 2)

(from ) to improve i/o performance for the most common disk types (LP: #2045708 2) A regression has been discovered with the GCP suspend feature with the linux-gcp 6.8 kernel that is being investigated in LP: #2063315 2

Ubuntu 24.04 has introduced a change in the behaviour of the needrestart package - see notes @ Services restart on unattended-upgrade for more information. This results in any google-guest-agent startup scripts being run again on package upgrade or re-install. This is being investigated but it will only be triggered when the google-guest-agent package is re-installed. It can be worked around by setting NEEDRESTART_SUSPEND=1 prior to any re-install as per the needrestart man pages 1 or by appending to the needrestart configuration echo "\$nrconf{override_rc}{qr(^google-(shutdown|startup)-scripts\.service$)} = 0;" >> /etc/needrestart/conf.d/google-guest-agent.conf which will disable this behaviour for any future google-guest-agent upgrade or reinstall. New GCE images will be built and published shortly after release to disable this behaviour for the google-guest-agent by default.

Oracle

The uncomplicated Firewall package ufw is no longer installed in Oracle Cloud Ubuntu 24.04+ images. Upgrading from an earlier version of Ubuntu to 24.04 will uninstall ufw. The ufw tool conflicts with system configuration through iptables-persistent and netfilter-persistent as documented by Oracle here 3, illustrated further on this blog 3, and listed as a known issue. If ufw is optionally installed on Ubuntu 24.04+, it will uninstall iptables-persistent and netfilter-persistent, disabling default functionality needed to support iSCSI boot and block devices.

How to report any issues resulting from these changes

If you notice any unexpected changes or bugs in the minimal images, create a new bug in cloud-images 14.

Raspberry Pi

Pi 5 LTS

24.04 (noble) will be the first LTS release supporting the Raspberry Pi 5 with both arm64 server and desktop images.

Browser Acceleration

The Firefox browser now supports 3D acceleration after mesa 23.2 was backported to 22.04 (jammy) which permitted the necessary content snaps to be regenerated. The classic aquarium sample 37 can be used to test the performance of the new graphics stack, which can achieve a smooth 60fps full-screen on a Pi 5 at a resolution of 1080p.

Power monitoring

On the Pi 5, the pemmican 10 package will now provide monitoring of the power supply.

On server images, the MOTD on login will indicate if the power supply failed to negotiate the 5A expected for unlimited operation, or if brownout was the cause of the last reset. Kernel messages will warn of undervolt or overcurrent situations.

On desktop images, a desktop notification will be displayed for these issues, with options for further information or suppression of future warnings of this type.

No 32-bit (armhf) images

From 24.04 (noble), we will no longer be producing 32-bit (armhf) images for the Raspberry Pi. The only images produced will be 64-bit (arm64). For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that armhf is no longer supported as an architecture on Raspberry Pi; it will remain supported as a foreign architecture in noble (see below).

To add armhf as a foreign architecture to an arm64 image, use the following commands:

$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture armhf $ sudo apt update

Thereafter, to install an armhf package:

$ sudo apt install SOME-PACKAGE:armhf

Please note, there will be no armhf kernels (primarily because the Pi 5 does not support 32-bit kernels), and users who are currently on armhf images will not be able to upgrade directly to noble.

While armhf will remain a supported architecture for noble within its lifespan, there will be no support for the armhf architecture after noble. In future releases, armhf images will not be provided, and it will not be an available foreign architecture.

Simpler Bluetooth on server

There is no longer a need to install the pi-bluetooth package in order to enable Bluetooth functionality on server images. Simply install the regular bluez package and Bluetooth will be configured by the kernel.

arm64

The new arm64+largemem ISO includes a kernel with 64k page size. A larger page size can increase throughput, but comes at the cost of increased memory use, making this option more suitable for servers with plenty of memory. Typical use cases for this ISO include: machine learning, databases with many large entries, high performance computing.

IBM Z and LinuxONE

IBM POWER (ppc64el)

KVM native virtualization is supported on POWER9 systems only (where PowerVM is not mandatory).

RISC-V

Ubuntu 24.04 is the first LTS release for the StarFive VisionFive 2 board.

For an overview of supported boards see https://ubuntu.com/download/risc-v 7.

The RISC-V Ubuntu userland is compatible with all RVA20 hardware.

Known Issues

As is to be expected with any release, there are some significant known bugs that users may encounter with this release of Ubuntu. The ones we know about at this point (and some of the workarounds) are documented here, so you dont need to spend time reporting these bugs again:

General

The Live Session of the new Ubuntu Desktop installer is not localized. It is still possible to perform a non-English installation using the new installer, but internet access at install time is required to download the language packs. (LP: #2013329 20)

Linux kernel

Nothing yet

Ubuntu Desktop

Ubuntu Server

Installer

In some situations, it is acceptable to proceed with an offline installation when the mirror is inaccessible. In this scenario, it is advised to use:

apt: fallback: offline-install

Network interfaces left unconfigured at install time are assumed to be configured via dhcp4. If this doesnt happen (for example, because the interface is physically not connected) the boot process will block and wait for a few minutes (LP: #2063331 4). This can be fixed by removing the extra interfaces from /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.conf or by marking them as optional: true . Cloud-init is disabled on systems installed from ISO images, so settings will persist.

samba apparmor profile

Due to bug LP: #2063079 1, the samba smbd.service unit file is no longer calling out to the helper script to dynamically create apparmor profile snippets according to the existing shares.

By default, the smbd service from samba is not confined. To be affected by this bug, users have to:

install the optional apparmor-profiles package

package switch the smbd profile confinement from complain to enforce

Therefore, only users who have taken those steps and upgrade to Noble, will be affected by this bug. An SRU to fix it will be done shortly after release.

PPC64EL

PMDK sees some hardware-specific failures in its test suite, which may make the software partially or fully inoperable on the ppc64el architecture. (LP: #2061913 3)

Raspberry Pi

During the installation process on the desktop image, the slides shown during installation appear corrupted. The issue is cosmetic and does not affect the installation itself (LP: #2037015 10)

During boot on the server image, if your cloud-init configuration (in user-data on the boot partition) relies upon networking (importing SSH keys, installing packages, etc.) you must ensure that at least one network interface is required ( optional: false ) in network-config on the boot partition. This is due to netplan changes to the wait-online service (LP: #2060311 3)

The startup sound does not play before the initial setup process, hence users cannot currently rely on hearing this sound to determine if the system has booted (LP: #2060693 3)

The seeded totem video player will not prompt users to install missing codecs when attempting to play a video requiring them (LP: #2060730 1)

With some monitors connected to a Raspberry Pi, it is possible that a monitor powers off after a period of inactivity but then powers back on and shows a black screen. Investigation into the types of monitors affected is ongoing in LP: #1998716 3.

With the removal of the crda package in 22.04, the method of setting the wifi regulatory domain (editing /etc/default/crda ) no longer operates. On server images, use the regulatory-domain option in the Netplan configuration. On desktop images, append cfg80211.ieee80211_regdom=GB (substituting GB for the relevant country code) to the kernel command line in the cmdline.txt file on the boot partition (LP: #1951586 1).

The Raspberry Pi DAC+ HAT (and likely the other DAC HATs in the series) currently fail on the Pi 5 under Ubuntu (LP: #2060240)

The power LED on the Raspberry Pi 2B, 3B, 3A+, 3B+, and Zero 2W currently goes off and stays off once the Ubuntu kernel starts booting (LP: #2060942 2)

libcamera support is currently broken; this will be a priority for next cycle and fixes will be SRUd to noble as and when they become available (LP: #2038669)

ARM64 Systems with NVIDIA GPUs

The current versions of the NVIDIA GPU drivers may cause hangs or crashes (LP: #2062380 8). This will be fixed in a future driver update.

Google Compute Platform

A regression has been discovered with the GCP suspend feature with the linux-gcp 6.8 kernel that is being investigated in LP: #2063315 2

Ubuntu 24.04 has introduced a change in the behaviour of the needrestart package - see notes @ Services restart on unattended-upgrade for more information. This results in any google-guest-agent startup scripts being run again on package upgrade or re-install. This is being investigated but it will only be triggered when the google-guest-agent package is re-installed. It can be worked around by setting NEEDRESTART_SUSPEND=1 prior to any re-install as per the needrestart man pages 1 or by appending to the needrestart configuration echo "\$nrconf{override_rc}{qr(^google-(shutdown|startup)-scripts\.service$)} = 0;" >> /etc/needrestart/conf.d/google-guest-agent.conf which will disable this behaviour for any future google-guest-agent upgrade or reinstall.

New GCE images will be built and published shortly after release to disable this behaviour for the google-guest-agent by default.

Azure
By Clara Denina and Melanie Burton

LONDON (Reuters) -Anglo American rejected BHP's 31.1 billion pound ($39 billion) takeover offer on Friday, saying it significantly undervalued the miner and its future prospects.

BHP, which has until May 22 to make a binding bid, is expected to sweeten its 25.08 pound per share offer to try to clinch a deal that would create the world's biggest miner of copper, a metal central to the clean energy shift.

Reuters reported on Thursday, citing two sources, that Anglo's management did not consider the proposal attractive.

"We would need to see more money on the table before we sold our shares," said Todd Warren, a portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners in Sydney, which holds shares in Anglo.

Anticipation among analysts and investors that BHP would increase its offer were reflected in Anglo's London-listed shares, which hit their highest level in a year. They were trading about 3.5% higher at 26.50 pounds at 1612 GMT.

News that activist investor Elliott has built a $1 billion position in Anglo, according to a person with knowledge of the stake, also buoyed the stock.

New York-based Elliott locked horns with BHP in 2017, when it built a 5% stake in the Australian miner and pushed for a series of strategic changes in order to return more cash to shareholders.

Anglo said the BHP deal's complexity created uncertainty and that it was already well-placed to create significant value from assets aligned with the energy transition and other demand trends.

"The BHP proposal is opportunistic and fails to value Anglo American's prospects," Anglo Chairman Stuart Chambers said in a statement, adding that it diluted the value upside for Anglo's shareholders relative to BHP's.

The mining group started a strategic review of its assets in February in response to a 94% fall in annual profit and a series of writedowns caused by lower commodity demand.

Much of the focus of BHP's bid has been on copper. A tie-up with Anglo would forge a group accounting for about 10% of global output of the metal, which due to its conductivity and resistance to corrosion is used in everything from electric vehicles and power grids to construction.

Mining has seen a mergers and acquisitions rush as companies seek more exposure to metals needed for the global energy transition, and further consolidation could follow.

A deal, if successful, would be the largest mining takeover globally in 2024 and among the top 10 largest deals for the sector ever, LSEG data shows.

BHP's shares closed 4.6% lower in Australia after the world's largest listed mining group on Thursday offered holders of Anglo shares a premium of 31% to Wednesday's market close.

Story continues

Investors may also have concerns about the merits of the deal as it faces different regional jurisdictions and some Anglo businesses are lower-margin than BHP's, analysts said.

"It's not clear how BHP adds value to the deal if it is required to offer considerably more," said Brenton Saunders, a portfolio manager at Pendal, of the deal's complex structure.

The Australian group's CEO Mike Henry and other BHP executives including Chief Financial Officer Vandita Pant will brief investors on their proposal next week, fund managers said.

SOUTH AFRICA

A condition of BHP's proposal is that Anglo first distributes to shareholders its stakes in Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Kumba Iron Ore, both of which operate in South Africa, where BHP has no assets.

A source familiar with BHP's thinking said those assets would be better managed locally. BHP jettisoned its smaller assets years ago to focus on higher-volume commodities.

Kumba is hobbled by a failing logistics network while Amplats, which faces lower metal prices and falling demand, said in February it was embarking on a restructuring that could affect about 3,700 jobs.

Any exit by Anglo, which was founded in Johannesburg in 1917 and employs more than 40,000 South Africans, would be a further economic blow to the country, whose miners have been cutting jobs and investment as platinum especially falls out of favour.

South Africa's Public Investment Corporation (PIC) holds 6.99% of Anglo American, LSEG data shows, and the government is scrutinising BHP's proposal.

The move comes weeks before a general election in which voter anger about a stagnant economy and high unemployment could cost the long-governing African National Congress its majority.

On Friday, Impala Platinum announced it could cut 3,900 jobs in South Africa due to lower metal prices.

Beyond South Africa, attention turned to potential antitrust hurdles in China, the world's biggest buyer of copper, and in Japan and India, which take BHP's steel-making coal.

Glencore was forced to sell its interest in Xstrata's Las Bambas copper project in 2013 to clear a hurdle set by Chinese regulators for its $35 billion deal.

(Reporting by Clara Denina in London, Melanie Burton in Melbourne, Scott Murdoch in Sydney; additional reporting Archisma Iyer; Writing by Miyoung Kim, Elaine Hardcastle and Alexander Smith; Editing by Sonali Paul, Neil Fullick, Jamie Freed and Catherine Evans)
The extraordinary claim by Rebel Wilson that she was invited to a drug-fueled orgy by a minor royal at an L.A. party was greeted with wry amusement by friends of some hard-partying members of the British aristocracy and minor royals this week.

Dubbed the narco-toffs by their peers, there has always been a section of the upper class that has incorporated copious drug-taking alongside the more traditional society pursuits of hunting, shooting, and fishing.

Take the famously dissolute John Hervey, the 7th Marquess of Bristol, who inherited a vast fortune but died penniless from drug addiction in 1999. The writer Anthony Haden-Guest described his parties as places where cocaine and heroin were catered like flowers. Hervey kept a helicopter at his country estate, and would famously steer by a road map on his knees, while snorting cocaine off it. He died in agony of multiple organ failure brought on by drug use.

Rebel Wilson Says a British Royal Invited Her to an Orgy Party

Another wild figure of the 1970s and 80s social scene was Viscount Jamie Blandford. He was the great-grandson of gilded age grande dame Consuelo Vanderbilt, whose loveless marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlborough poured gold into the depleted family coffers. Jamie was jailed multiple times and clocked up over 20 convictions for drug and other offenses. He had such a well-known affection for fast living that his father, the 11th Duke, at one stage took court action to try and bar him from inheriting the family pile.

However, Blandford mended his relationship with his father and in 2014 succeeded to the title and the estate. Indeed, he cleaned up his act to such an extent that in 2021, seven years after having succeeded to the dukedom, he successfully stood for election to his local town council.

In more recent years, several minor royals have been caught up in drug use scandals. Lord Frederick Windsor, 45, a second cousin of King Charles III, admitted using cocaine at the age of 20 and Tom Parker Bowles, son of the future Queen Camilla, was caught admitting to cocaine use in 1999. Viscount David Linley, Princess Margarets son, was blackmailed in 2007, by being threatened with the potential release of video footage showing alleged sexual acts and alleged cocaine use. His blackmailers got five years in prison.

Prince Harry. Kevin Winter/Getty

Prince Harry is currently facing questions about the drug use he admitted to in his memoir by a conservative American think tank that wants to see his immigration application. And this week it was revealed that Princess Beatrices ex-boyfriend Paolo Liuzzo was found dead of a suspected drug overdose in a Miami hotel room. He once claimed Beatrice and her sister Eugenie, then 15, had attended a party with him in Jamaica where guests drank magic mushroom tea.

And then there is the writer Aatish Taseer, who dated Lady Gabriella Windsor and subsequently wrote in Vanity Fair: For three surreal years, Ella and I hung about Kensington Palace; we swam naked in the queens pool in Buckingham Palace; we did MDMA in Windsor Castle.

So, while Wilsons claim in her new memoir Rebel Rising, that she was invited to a lavish party which turned into a molly-fueled orgy by a man who was tenth or fifteenth in line to the throne, has been called into question by some, to Londons upper-class party set it rings very true.

One source in the posh British party scene told The Daily Beast: Drugs and sex? Its what the lotus-eaters do.

One London drug dealer, who sells products regularly to Londons upper-class party set, said it came as no surprise to him that a minor royal should be accused of attending a drug-fueled orgy. Lots of my customers are ex-boarding school students with cold parents who dont even know they are traumatized by it. Ive known them for years, I went to university with them, Im an equal, I just happen to be bringing the gear. These people dont want to use anonymous drop-off services.

The dealer said cocaine is very passe now, with parties more likely to be fueled by magic mushroom-infused alcohol drops that cost as little as 60 ($75) for about 40 drops. Someone puts two drops on your hand and you lick it off. No need to go buggering about in the toilets, and you dont get the jitters that you do from cocaine.

Another regular party-goer said that the narco-toff scene has now divided into two, with one side still knocking back cocaine and molly at rave-style private parties and the other more boho camp taking a hippy wellness approach to their drug taking. They are into microdosing, ayahuasca, magic mushrooms and (the psychedelic) DMT, the source said. Its much more about spiritual highs. I heard of one crew recently that flew a shaman in from Peru for an ayahuasca weekend at a stately home. Thats been going on in Ibiza for ages, but its a new thing here.

The patron saint of this Gaia gang, of course, is Prince Harry, who revealed in his memoir, Spare that he had used ayahuasca, at first recreationally but subsequently as a therapeutic tool.

It is genuinely different to be going on an ayahuasca weekend than to just be staying up all night getting fucked on chemicals, which is actually a pretty grim thing to do when you have kids, and responsibilities, the source said. Also, if you are mid-rewilding the estate, it doesnt really do to be supporting crime gangs and ecological destruction in the Amazon to get your nosebag.

The sybaritic lifestyles of some sections of the British nobility remains, anachronistically perhaps, a powerful narrative in contemporary film and TV. Most recently, of course, there has been Saltburn, a kind of Brideshead Revisited redux with added narcotics, and Guy Ritchies posh crime comedy caper series The Gentlemen, which tells the story of a newly-ennobled duke who discovers his late father has been keeping the roof on the place by allowing a powerful criminal gang to grow industrial quantities of weed in an underground factory in a far-flung corner of the estate.

Barry Keoghan in Saltburn. Amazon Prime Video

The younger generation of toffs sometimes ironically refer to themselves as chinsan abbreviation of the phrase chinless wonders which once disparagingly described a class of slightly useless, rich and privileged aristocrats. Their lives and language are documented by the anonymous author of the hilarious publishing hit The Chin Dictionary, an anarchic take on Nancy Mitfords famous Noblesse Oblige for the 21st century.

One entry, which perhaps gives a wry insight into the ideal Chin party, is Bowsers Castle, described as, The popular, after-dinner game of driving a quad bike up the hall stairs. Named after the N64 Mario Kart level, where you have to navigate a huge castle, dodge ancient statues, and forget to leave a tenner for the cleaner.

The author, who preserves his anonymity, preferring to go by the title Chief Chin, was unable to speak to The Daily Beast when we called for a chat on the subject of narco-toffs, as he was just stepping into a drinks party at private London bank Hoares which, he joked, was the most Chin thing imaginable.

However, in a subsequent email he said: Mushrooms are ubiquitous, gak (coke, for your less-initiated readers) are passe. Mushrooms are more socially acceptable: not only are they synonymous with woodlands and festivals and outdoor space, but the psilocybin component links neatly to the tech/VC scene which chins get excited by.

Also, everyone has the same dealer who is reputedly turning over 500k a month. He brands his mushrooms in lovely chocolate bars designed to look like Green and Blacks, and can be found dressed like a kind of pirate-wizard at most festivals but especially Noisily and Heartwood.

A pinger (an E) at a wedding is also very common. Its users (of which I am not one, I just enjoy observing others behavior) really kicks the traditional wedding band and bog-standard marquee-in-field in the nuts.

But as for servers handing round MDMA at the party Rebel Wilson attended, that wouldnt happen these days, another source told The Daily Beast.

Maybe in 2014 that was a thing, but none of the poshos are doing drugs in public these days because they dont want to lose their jobs at JP Morgan, the source said. Also, she said it was at a rented house, which sounds a bit tacky. Far better if you have your own fuck-off stately to host the party in, and then you dont have randos like her selling you out.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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More than 50 aerospace information companies registered in Xiong'an New Area: official

Xinhua) 08:54, April 26, 2024

SHIJIAZHUANG, April 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 companies in the aerospace information sector have been registered in Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province, an official said Thursday at a forum held there.

The newly-built mansion of the China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd. headquarters in Xiong'an is undergoing internal decoration, three subsidiaries of the group have been registered, and a series of innovation platforms in the aerospace industry, such as the Xiong'an aerospace information research institute of the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, have been established, Yu Guoyi, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Xiong'an New Area, said at the Xiong'an Aerospace Industry Innovation Forum (XAIIF).

The XAIIF is a parallel forum of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) being held in Beijing. This marks the first time that a part of the ZGC Forum has been held outside Beijing.

Themed "New Aerospace Opportunities: Xiong'an towards the Future," the XAIIF attracted some 600 experts and scholars from home and abroad. The forum covered topics such as "building an aerospace public service platform in Xiong'an" and "development opportunities of the aerospace industry in Xiong'an."

In April 2017, China decided to establish the Xiong'an New Area as a part of a strategy to promote the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Xiong'an was designed to be a smart and livable city that is innovative, green and free from "urban ills."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Joan Nathan, a Chilmark-based journalist, author, and self-established authority on the Jewish culinary diaspora, released her new and 12th book: "My Life in Recipes" earlier this April, ahead of Jewish American History Month.

The cosmopolitan writer and cook has explored every nook and cranny of the expansive Jewish culinary experience through a variety of mediums like TV documentaries, print publications, and of course, books.

For the lattermost form, her "Jewish Cooking in America" even bagged the prestigious James Beard Award as a staple. Now, her most recent offering is enjoying rave reviews and has even sold out at the author's events across the East and West coasts.

Of this incredible reception, Nathan told the Vineyard Gazette that she is "very gratified," before divulging the other defining essence of the book: a memoir for the author.

About Joan Nathan's 'My Life in Recipes'

From Providence, Rhode Island, Nathan forged her own path as a respected journalist, acclaimed food historian, and trusted source of culinary wisdom across several decades.

This is something "My Life in Recipes" goes over not just in recipes but also through 35 chapters of narrative, chronicling the different stages of Nathan's life and career.

While the book instructs would-be home cooks looking for kitchen guidance on how to create the best challah bread, it also acts as a compass for anyone who wants to squeeze out more value in their life, just as Nathan has done with hers.

"The how-to of cooking is important," she told the Massachusetts-headquartered newspaper.

In addition, to its guiding elements, the new memoir also includes plenty of flattering and sobering excerpts taken straight from Nathan's life, including diary entries, letters to friends and family, and even parts from her earlier work.

One particular moment comprised the author's confession of how she burned their dinner as a tween in 1956. This honesty is "important," said the writer, adding: "You learn more by your mistakes."

However, "My Life in Recipes" is foremost a celebration of Nathan's effort in championing Jewish food and culture, taking her from Long Island to France and premiere institutions in the US where she earned her master's in, respectively, French literature and public administration.

Find out more about Nathan's journey in her new book: "My Life in Recipes" by ordering a copy for yourself here.
Watch: Emory University Professor protesting against Israel knocked down, handcuffed

In a brutal crackdown on faculties, the US Police Thursday used excessive force while trying to disperse protesters at a protest against Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza at Emory University in Atlanta.

Friday April 26, 2024 5:49 PM , ummid.com News Network

Atlanta: In a brutal crackdown on faculties, the US Police Thursday used excessive force while trying to disperse protesters at a protest against Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza at Emory University in Atlanta.

Caroline Fohlin, a highly respected professor, was knocked to the ground by a police officer, while another held her down as they handcuffed her with zip-ties, ignoring her repeated calls 'I am a professor, I am a professor'.

The latest use of violence against the university professor came as protests against the murderous Israeli war in Gaza continue unabated at the campuses of major universities in the United States, including Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale, and have intensified after some 108 students were arrested at New York's Columbia University last week.

'Act of Terrorism'

The Georgia State Police later arrested Economics Professor Caroline Fohlin along with 28 others. The protest organisers have called the police brutality an "act of terrorism".

In a video shared by CNN and now viral on social media, Fohlin is seen trying to confront police officers attempting to arrest a protester while he is lying on the ground.

When she asks, "What are you doing?" another police officer comes, grabs both her hands and tries to push her away.

This isnt CHINA. This is AMERICA



Emory Professor, Caroline Fohlin is violently arrested by police at her workplace



This is Fascism, this is in violation of her 1st Amendment pic.twitter.com/Jv4LtQ3t88  Pelham (@Resist_05) April 26, 2024

As Fohlin tries to protect her from the officer's excessive use of force, he shouts and asks her to "get on the ground".

Before she can react, he knocks her to the ground, and forces her hands behind her back. A second officer is also seen, putting weight on her back to prevent her from getting up.

At one point in the same video, the second officer is seen kneeling on the professors back while handcuffing her with zip-ties.

Arrest of another professor

Georgia Police Thursday also arrested Noelle McAfee, Chair of the university's Philosophy Department. A video of her detention is also doing the rounds on different social media platforms.

The video shows her being taken away by an Atlanta Police officer, while she tells the person filming the video to "call the philosophy department officer and tell them of my arrest".

The local police also arrested Fox 7 photographer who was trying to capture the brutal police action against the faculties and students.

"I was just covering things and they were pushing me. I told them I am from the press. I was hitting nobody, Carlos, the photographer said.

The pro-Palestine and anti-war protest against the Israeli barbarism in Gaza Monday snowballed and spread to Harvard, Yale, MIT and other elite universities of the United States after use of force against students in Columbia University.

In addition to the demonstrations at the Ivy League schools, pro-Palestinian encampments have sprouted up on other campuses, including the University of Michigan, Yale University, New York University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), news agency AP said.

Israel bombs Rafah

Meanwhile, the latest updates from Gaza revealed continuous Israeli shelling on Rafah amid the speculations of ground offensive into the only safe zone for the Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

According to Al Jazeera, the eastern part of Rafah is under constant artillery shelling as a senior Israeli official says the military is moving ahead with its planned ground invasion, ignoring a growing chorus of international warnings to call it off.

At least 34,356 Palestinians have been killed and 77,368 wounded - majority of them women and children, in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.





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HA NOI  Many Vietnamese enterprises will close if South Korea imposes a higher anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese plywood products exported to this market, according to the Viet Nam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFORES).

In a petition relating to this issue sent by VIFORES to the Trade Remedies Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Viet Nam Plywood Association (under VIFORES) reported that South Korean authorities are reviewing the anti-dumping tax for Vietnamese plywood products exported to this market in 2020 - 2023.

Awaiting a final decision from South Korea, Vietnamese enterprises have concerns over a potential higher anti-dumping duty in South Korea on plywood imports from Viet Nam.

The associations petition follows indications that the anti-dumping duty on plywood exports to South Korea might soar to rates of between 4.1 per cent and 13.04 per cent.

According to the Viet Nam Plywood Association, about 152 businesses expected to be subject to a tax rate higher than 4 per cent would be unable to compete and have to stop operation. Workers of these businesses will lose their jobs as hundreds of factories have to close.

Raw material suppliers will also have to stop operations. Due to a lack of consumption, new forests will not be developed, and the entire production and supply chain for processing forest products will be interrupted.

Therefore, this association has requested the ministrys support to maintain the current anti-dumping duty of 10.54 per cent, urging the Trade Remedies Authority to work with South Korean authorities to facilitate Viet Nams continued exports to this market, said Trinh Xuan Duong, deputy head of the association.

He also said South Korea's investigation and imposition of the anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese plywood products is not objective. The investigated enterprises account for a few Vietnamese enterprises exporting this product to South Korea.

These enterprises' annual export revenues to this market have also accounted for no more than 20 per cent of Viet Nam's total export turnover from this product.

Besides that, out of six businesses under the re-investigation, Rongjia Company is now closed. Moreover, the export volume and value of the surveyed enterprises do not reflect the overall business results of Vietnamese enterprises exporting plywood products to South Korea.

Nguyen Van ong, secretary of the association, said South Korea is a high-potential market for plywood products. In the future, other Vietnamese businesses will be subject to general taxes when they export plywood products to this market.

In the long term, it will be a disadvantage and unfair to those businesses and reduce the exports of Viet Nam's plywood production industry.

South Korea is among the top four buyers of Viet Nams plywood, with Vietnamese plywood exports to South Korea exceeding US$201 million in 2023, accounting for 29 per cent in volume and 22.7 per cent in value of the total plywood export.

The imposition of anti-dumping duties on plywood from Viet Nam was initially issued under Decree 815 of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea on November 6, 2020, and subsequently amended by Decree 882 on December 31, 2021.  VNS
HA NOI  The direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism is expected to be issued early to create a breakthrough in the development of power generation sources as well as achieving the goal of promoting sustainable development and attracting foreign investment.

At a conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to raise opinions around the draft decrees on DPPA and mechanisms to encourage the development of rooftop solar power at residential houses, offices and industrial parks, Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Viet Nam Tran Viet Hoa said that numerous investors, international organisations and electricity customers have shown interest in DPPA and expected the early issuance of the mechanism.

He cited a survey of 95 out of 106 renewable energy projects with an installed capacity from 30MW in the adjusted list of the National Power Development Plan (PPD8), showing that 24 projects with a total capacity of 1,773 MW wanted to participate in the mechanism, 11 projects with a total capacity of 2,836 MW were considering and 26 said that they did not want to participate.

On the purchasing side, the survey was carried out with 41 customers. Among them, 20 said that they want to participate in DPPA with a total demand estimated at 996MW.

The figures showed that both the supply and demand of electricity are there for the implementation of DPPA mechanism.

According to Kim Yong Sup, deputy director of Samsung Viet Nam, it is necessary to have clear and detailed instructions for the implementation of DPPA.

He added that reasonable pricing is also important to ensure fair competition among generators as well as rights of customers.

Virginia Foote, Board Member of Viet Nam Business Forum (VBF), said that many member companies of VBF, industrial parks and manufacturing plants have demand to access renewable and clean energy sources. Thus, the mechanism for DPPA should be issued early to facilitate the operation of enterprises, which will help promote foreign investment influx into Viet Nam.

The issuance of DPPA is critical to many businesses. There should be no further delay, Bui Thi Viet Lam, a representative of the US - ASEAN Business Council in Viet Nam, said.

She stressed that if delay continues, it will affect the foreign investment attraction of Viet Nam. Early issuance will help secure foreign investors, especially those with new investment plans.

The DPPA mechanism will also promote the development of renewable energy and mobilise private investment into this sector, she said.

According to Aguin Toru, chief representative of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in Viet Nam, Viet Nam needs to develop a roadmap for the implementation of the DPPA mechanism so that enterprises can be well-prepared. First, the focus should be on solar and wind power, then biomass power later.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the DPPA mechanism and the policy of self-produced self-consumed rooftop solar power are consistent with each other.

Dien said that in the current context, the policy of buying electricity generated by rooftop solar power systems at zero ong is appropriate.

Appropriate?

In the latest draft, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed that electricity generated by rooftop solar power systems should not be sold but only used for self-consumption. If connected to the national grid, the price will be zero ong.

The reason for not encouraging selling excess solar power to the grid is that it can affect system safety and security, the ministry said.

However, experts said that zero ong policy will not encourage residents and enterprises to invest in installing rooftop solar power systems.

Energy expert La Hong Ky said that it is necessary to develop policies for Vietnam Electricity to purchase the excess power to encourage investments in rooftop solar power.

Experts also proposed mechanisms to sell electricity to neighbours.

Energy expert Ngo uc Lam said that in many countries, selling electricity to neighbours is simple and carried out through separate grids. In Viet Nam, it can be carried via the EVNs grid and EVN can collect a grid management fee.

The lack of a DPPA makes enterprises hesitant to invest in installing solar power system over worries about the ability to recover capital when they are not allowed to sell the excess, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Deputy Director of Viet Nam Institute for Economics and Policy Research, said.

Meanwhile, numerous manufacturers want to use renewable energy to achieve green credit for export.

Thus, it is necessary to consider the foundation of a market for direct purchase.

Rooftop solar power also helps reduce costs, he said, citing a survey carried out in an industrial part in Hai Phong that three solar power projects with a total capacity of 3MW creates around 5,800MHw in 2023 which help enterprises save around VN10 billion.

There are more than 103,000 rooftop solar power projects across the country with a total capacity of more than 9,500MW.  VNS
HA NOI  It is necessary to develop more detailed and consistent regulations on seafood production for export in line with the implementation of solutions towards sustainable and responsible fishing practices, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Nguyen Hoai Nam, VASEPs Deputy General Secretary, said that there is a lack of consistency among existing legal documents on seafood production, making it difficult for enterprises to comply.

He pointed out that, for example, Decree 37/2024/N-CP dated April 4, 2024 guiding the implementation of several points of the Law on Fisheries and Decree 38/2024/N-CP on administrative penalties for violations in fisheries still cause different understandings related to the mixing of imported fishery products with those domestically exploited.

It should be made clear how that mixing is banned, in a batch for export, in a container, or in any situation, he said.

The fact is that not every batch has products processed from raw materials of the same origins, but they are mixed because raw materials of domestic origin alone are not adequate to meet the demand. The key is that enterprises must be able to prove the fishing practices are legal, he said.

VASEPs President Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, said that fisheries businesses commit to work with the Government in the process of removing the yellow card warning against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) imposed by the European Commission.

However, when issuing regulations, the State management agencies should clearly define the goal that control should be on the entire fishery value chain, from exploitation and processing to exporting, she said.

She pointed out that most enterprises operating in the fishery industry are of small or medium size which makes it easier for them to quit the market or just produce following outsourcing contracts.

Thus, besides removing IUU yellow card, it is necessary to create favourable conditions for businesses to operate efficiently and ensure incomes for fishermen and workers to increase the added value of the fishery chain.

The Government early this week issued Resolution 52/NQ-CP on action programme and plan to combat IIU and promote sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

Accordingly, the focus will be on ensuring no illegal fishery products are exported and IUU fishing will be thoroughly handled.

The long-term solution is to urgently review and improve policies for the fisheries industry, especially policies on aquaculture, exploitation, protection and development of aquatic resources, preservation and processing for export, as well as support to modernise fishing practices and improve livelihoods of fishermen and enhance their practices in line with domestic and international regulations.  VNS
HA NOI  Amway Global's dominance in the direct sales industry has been reaffirmed with its 12th consecutive year as the world's No.1 direct selling company, according to the Direct Selling News (DSN) rankings.

This achievement highlights Amway's continued success and its position as a global leader in the health and beauty sector.

Amway Vietnam, part of Amway Global, also celebrated its inclusion in the Top 10 markets with the highest revenue globally in 2023. This further strengthens the brand's presence and success in markets around the world.

With a revenue milestone of US$7.7 billion, Amway has once again secured the top spot on the list of the 100 global direct selling companies based on 2023 revenue. The rankings also showcase the presence of 58 other direct selling businesses with sales exceeding $100 million.

Milind Pant, the Chief Executive Officer of Amway Group, expressed the company's commitment to empowering its distributors and improving the lives of one billion people by providing high-quality products and innovative solutions for health.

Amway focuses on six key factors: Physical health, Mental health, Planet protection, Community connection, Personal Development and Financial Health to enhance the overall quality of life for individuals.

In 2023, the Nutrilite brand, which specialises in nutrition products, experienced a 3 per cent growth and accounted for 60 per cent of Amway's global revenue. This growth solidifies Amway's position as a trusted nutrition expert for consumers worldwide.

To maintain its position and continue offering a competitive product range, Amway Group plans to invest over $100 million in the next three years. These investments will be directed towards innovating production equipment, incorporating advanced technology, and creating modern and luxurious facilities.

Amway also places a strong emphasis on employee well-being and community-building. The company is dedicated to providing a supportive environment for its employees and plans to invest in projects that enhance the employee experience and working spaces at its headquarters in Ada, Michigan, USA.

The DSN Global 100 ranking is an annual assessment conducted by Direct Selling News, which evaluates global sales performance in the direct selling industry.

The ranking aims to provide a fair and transparent representation of companies' success and the industry's impact on the consumer community.  VNS
SEOUL  The southern province ong Nai introduced its investment projects and incentives to the Republic of Korea (RoK)s firms at a workshop in Seoul on April 25.

The workshop on collaboration in green growth projects between Korean enterprises and ong Nai was co-organised by the province, the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, and many partners, with the participation of about 50 Korean businesses interested in green growth.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Vu Ho said the event offers an opportunity for ong Nai and Korean businesses to exchange experience in researching and developing emission reduction technologies and green transition projects.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Linh briefed participants on ong Nais economic situation, saying it is home to more than 53,000 operational enterprises with more than 1,600 FDI projects, of them 421 by Korean investors.

The locality is pursuing the goal of green and sustainable development as reflected in its master plan for 2021-30 with a vision towards 2050 which sets the target of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050.

On this occasion, Korean businesses shared experience in sustainable development and engaged in a business-to-business meeting with Vietnamese enterprises.  VNS
AK LAK  The Daklak September 2nd Import-Export Company Limited (Simexco Daklak) is a pioneer in developing coffee growing zones following the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

This move demonstrated Simexco Daklak's strong commitment to sustainable coffee production, contributing to environmental protection and increasing the value of ak Lak coffee products in the international arena, the company announced at a press conference on Thursday.

The EUDR requires to ensure no deforestation or degradation, have spatial data using multi-temporal satellite images, and ensure the legality and traceability of product origin from production, exploitation, harvesting to transportation, processing and export.

After 10 months of implementation, Simexco Daklak had become a pioneer in building coffee production zones that secure the world's first 4C-certified EUDR certification, Nguyen Tien Dung from Simexco Daklak said.

He added that his firm was cooperating with the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative to update data and implement activities to have six production zones meeting the EUDR in Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Ho Township, and Krong Nang, Cu Mgar, Cu Kuin and Krong Ana, with a total of nearly 82,000 farming households producing 300,000 tonnes of coffee on 106,000ha.

On this occasion, Bach Thanh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, handed over two certificates from the 4C (Common Code for the Coffee Community), to Simexco Daklak for two growing zones that meet the EUDR standards. These two zones cover nearly 8,000 farmers, 9,500 hectares, and an output of over 35,000 tonnes.

4C is an independent, stakeholder-driven, internationally recognised sustainability standard for the entire coffee sector, aiming at anchoring sustainability in coffee supply chains.

At the event, eight units signed a memorandum of understanding on bringing EUDR-qualified coffee products to import businesses at European ports.

Viet Nam shipped 1.61 million tonnes of coffee abroad in 2023, earning US$4.18 billion, down 9.6 per cent in volume but up 3.1 per cent in value year-on-year.

The average coffee export price in 2023 was $2,834 per tonne, an increase of 14.1 per cent compared with the previous year.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam needs to complete a legal framework to better manage virtual assets (VAs) as well as virtual asset service providers (VASPs), experts said at an annual forum on Blockchain and AI held by the Viet Nam Blockchain Association (VBA) in Ha Noi this week.

Some 20 per cent of the Vietnamese population own crypto assets which are developed by blockchain technology, they said, stressing that without strict management and failure to comply with global taxing principles, VA transactions could pose great challenges for the country in the coming time.

As of the end of December 2023, 32 countries regulated crypto-assets in their jurisdictions, including ten nations of the G20 group officially issuing regulations on VA and VASP, the Atlantic Councils surveys on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and protection of users and the VASPs revealed.

VBAs Standing Vice Chairman Phan uc Trung said 18 related documents had been issued in Viet Nam so far. The notable one was the national action plan to carry out the Governments commitment to preventing money laundering and financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction so as to lift Viet Nam out of the Financial Action Task Forces list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (grey list).

He said the plan focused on the AML/CFT and VASP standard, but neglected taxation of VA and protection of users. Therefore, a complete legal framework had not been formed yet.

The association hoped to collect opinions from the community and enterprises as well as have dialogue with state management agencies to develop a complete framework before May 2025.

At the event, the association announced the second Switch Up Accelerator, helping startups to call for funds, and highlighted an overview of the blockchain industry in Viet Nam and the globe.

Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation debuts

The Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation debuted on the occasion, aimed at providing blockchain and AI training strategies for 1 million people by 2030.

In particular, about 100,000 students at 30 universities across the country will be equipped with the latest knowledge on this field through various activities such as workshops, training courses, programming competitions (hackathon), idea creation competitions (ideathon), and the 2024 university tour programme (Unitour 2024).

ao Trung Thanh, ABAII deputy director, shared that the Unitour had been held at five universities in Ha Noi, HCM City, and a Nang City over the past two months, bringing useful knowledge on the applications of blockchain and AI according to the needs and desires of each university with topics of interest such as digital economy and finance, banking data analysis and career opportunities.

On this occasion, the academy also gave five universities 50 scholarships each to promote the universalisation of Blockchain and AI among Vietnamese technology students.  VNS
HCM CITY  Shareholders of Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) approved a pre-tax profit target of VN10.6 trillion (US$418.3 million) for this year, a 10 per cent increase from 2023.

At the lenders annual general meeting in HCM City on April 26, shareholders also approved a number of other targets, plans and proposals.

The deposit and loans outstanding targets are VN636.6 trillion ($25.08 billion) and VN535.8 trillion ($21.1 billion), up 10 per cent and 11 per cent, but they can change based on the credit growth quota allotted by the State Bank of Vietnam.

The non-performing loans ratio will be kept at less than 2 per cent.

Nguyen uc Thach Diem, the banks CEO, said Sacombank accomplished most of its targets last year .

Its profits were VN9.6 trillion ($378.2 million), 51.4 per cent up from 2022, and 101 of the target.

As of 2023, total assets topped VN674.4 trillion ($26.6 billion), an increase of 13.9 per cent during the year. Of which profitable assets accounted for 89.6 per cent, up by 14.3 per cent.

The profitability ratios improved, with returns on assets and equity at 1.2 per cent and 18.3 per cent, up 0.3 and 4.5 percentage points.

Earnings per share rose by 72 per cent to VN4,094.

Last year the bank recovered VN7.9 trillion worth of bad and outstanding debts, including nearly VN 4.5 trillion under the restructure scheme.

This year it will focus on expanding its scale, improving operational efficiency across its system, achieving digital transformation, adding more utility to products and services to deliver greater customer experience and ensure security, creating breakthroughs in its digital banking channel, and improving labour productivity and human resource quality.

Diem said Sacombank is confident of achieving its business plans for this year and completing the restructure ahead of schedule.

Regarding the profit distribution plan for 2023, the bank still has no plans to pay dividends to shareholders.

Chairman Duong Cong Minh said since Sacombank is in the process of restructuring, it could not pay dividends.

The bank has basically resolved bad debts under the restructure scheme, and the only remaining problem pertains to the 32 per cent stake owned by Tram Be, former deputy chairman, and related people.

Sacombank has sought the central banks permission to auction them and complete the restructure before it pays dividends, he said.

Diem said the bank had accumulated profits of nearly VN18,4 trillion, equivalent to nearly 100 per cent of its charter capital, and was ready to pay it out as dividends after getting SBV approval.

Answering a shareholders question on the 2024 profit plan that according is likely low, Diem said this is a caution plan built on a forecast of low credit growth this year.

Credit growth for the entire industry in the first quarter was only 0.26 per cent, and bad debt risks have increased, she said.

The bank's goal is to support customers to overcome difficulties and so would offer more incentives for them. Additionally, it needs to invest in information technology and digital ecosystem.

It also continues to make risk provisions, and expects to set aside VN4.3 trillion this year, she added.

Minh said since he is Sacombanks largest shareholder and chairman, rumors about him would have an impact on the bank and shareholders.

He assured the meeting that he had nothing to do with Truong My Lan or Van Thinh Phat Group.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam's Northern and Central Regions are bracing for a scorching hot season marked by intense heatwaves and potential water shortages.

The forecast for May to September indicates a continuation of drought conditions, especially in the Northern, Central Regions and Central Highlands. This raises concerns about water availability in the coming months.

Heatwaves are expected to be more prevalent and severe than usual, with a possibility of breaking records for the highest temperatures. There's also an increased risk of hailstorms and tornadoes.

Nationwide, average temperatures in May are forecast to be one to two degrees Celsius higher than the average for this time of year; in June, 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius above average; and from July to September, 0.5 to one degree Celsius above average.

The rainy season is expected to begin in late April or early May in the Northwest Region, mid-May in other parts of the North, and early May in the Central Highlands.

Overall precipitation levels are forecast to be similar to the multi-year average in most regions, except for the Central Region which is likely to see higher-than-average rainfall.

Drought conditions in the Northern Central Highlands are expected to continue until mid-May, after which they may gradually subside. In the Southern Central Highlands, drought conditions could end by the first half of May.

The Central Regions are likely to experience drought impacts from May to July, with conditions gradually improving afterwards.

There are no signs of minor flooding in the Northern Region in May. From May to September, inflows to major reservoirs on the a River are projected to be 30 to 40 per cent below average, while to the Thac Ba Reservoir and the Tuyen Quang Reservoir, 20 to 30 per cent below average.

During the same period, the river flows in Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai, Binh inh and Binh Thuan Provinces are expected to be around 10 to 30 per cent above average.

Meanwhile, river flows in other parts of the Central Region and Central Highlands are forecast to be 15 to 55 per cent below average. Notably, Ben Hai River, Ba Rive, and La Nga River could see flows of between 65 to 80 per cent below average.

Total inflows into medium and large hydroelectric reservoirs are projected to fall short of the multi-year average in most parts of the Central Region, Central Highlands and Southern Regions.  VNS
SEOUL - An exhibition showcasing products inspired by Hangeul, the Korean writing system, will take place at Korean Cultural Centers in 10 countries, starting with the one in Canada.

A collection of over 50 items spanning jewelry, ceramics and household goods will be featured at the Special Exhibition on Korean Cultural Products in Ottawa, Ontario, from April 26 to June 28. A similar exhibition will be held in Turkey in May before exhibitions open in Germany and Mexico in June.

The Special Exhibition on Korean Cultural Products will also be held in Vietnam and the Philippines in July, while September will see the exhibition open in China and India. Exhibitions are scheduled for October in Sweden and South Africa.

According to the National Hangeul Museum located in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday, the products were all made within the last five years by local artisans who won prizes at an annual museum-organized competition. The winners received government funding to produce their goods.

Products made with government funding were exhibited for the first time in France in 2022. The exhibition grew bigger last year as it was held in Japan, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Hong Kong.

The project to fund commercial Hangeul products has been part of larger efforts by the Culture Ministry to promote Hangeul overseas, the museum official added, saying such efforts date to 2015.

About 300 million won (US$22,000) was set aside for the entire efforts including the project itself at the time, the official said. The figure for this year stands at 1.8 billion won. - The Korea Herald
KON TUM - Tu Mo Rong District in Kon Tum Province set a Vietnamese record with 120 dishes made from ginseng at a recent contest.

The People's Committee of Tu Mo Rong district in Kon Tum province on April 25 organised the opening ceremony of the International Culinary Contest and establishment of a record in Viet Nam with 120 dishes made from ginseng.

The contest took place over two days from April 25 to 26 and this is an occasion to elevate and honour medicinal plants, preserve culture and create additional livelihoods for the Xo ang ethnic minority people.

The contest attracted 21 participating teams. Among them, there are 11 teams from 11 communes and cooperatives in Tu Mo Rong district, 10 invited teams from Laos, China, Switzerland, and some associations and clubs of chefs from Viet Nam.

The participating teams are divided into two groups, each team has a maximum of three main chefs preparing dishes with ingredients from ginseng at Tu Mo Rong.

Chairman of Tu Mo Rong district People's Committee Vo Trung Manh stated that this is the second time the district has organised a culinary contest with dishes made from medicinal plants.

The novelty of this competition is its elevation as an International Contest.

The district provides sufficient quality ginseng suitable for chefs to prepare dishes.

Through the contest, the district hopes to bring the image and features of Tu Mo Rong's medicinal plants closer to the public.

As part of the contest, the Viet Nam Record Organisation Vietkings announced the establishment of a Vietnamese record with 120 dishes made from ginseng for Tu Mo Rong district.

The establishment of the record affirms the value, quality, and attractiveness of Tu Mo Rong ginseng compared to ginseng grown in other regions and localities.

Through the contest, the district will publish a recipe book for dishes made from Tu Mo Rong ginseng, and then distribute it widely so that everyone across Viet Nam and the world can prepare dishes for their loved ones.

Within the framework of the contest, various activities will take place such as the Gong Festival, a youth cultural exchange, the second Art Exhibition "Illuminate dreams - Inspire stones" for teachers and students, a traditional rice pounding contest of Xo ang ethnic people, a journey to seek the legend of Ngoc Linh ginseng and a livestream competition on social media about the International Culinary Contest.

Recently, Tu Mo Rong district has been encouraging people to convert inefficient crops to ginseng cultivation while calling for enterprises with potential to invest.

Currently, there are businesses collaborating with locals and establishing factories.

When the factories are built, in addition to the 120 dishes made from ginseng that have just set the aforementioned record, there will be many more drinks, and other foods made from ginseng, contributing to improving the health of consumers. - VNS
HA NOI  Officials, Party members, and people are concerned about how the Party will select the leadership capable of shouldering the immense revolutionary tasks entrusted by the history, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said at the first meeting of the sub-committee on personnel affairs of the 14th National Party Congress on March 13.

In his book titled Resolutely, persistently fighting corruption and other negative phenomena to contribute to building more transparent and stronger Party and State, the party leader also stressed that disciplining officials is something very painful and heartbreaking, which no one desires.

However, for the common cause, the seriousness of the Party's disciplines and the States laws, the pureness, strength, and reputation of the Party, and the will and aspiration of the people, we must act even more resolutely and drastically in the time ahead.

Between the beginning of the 13th tenure (2021-2026) and March 16, 2024, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission had disciplined nearly 100 high-ranking officials under the Committee's management, of them some facing criminal prosecution.

Since the second quarter of this year, the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena has been intensified.

During its 39th session on April 2-3, the Inspection Commission proposed the Politburo and the Secretariat consider and take disciplinary measures against the Party delegation to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs for the 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 terms, along with Minister ao Ngoc Dung and former Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, and Deputy Minister Huynh Van Ti, who is also former Party Central Committee member, and member of the Party delegation. Some officials of the ministry were also removed from their Party positions.

On April 9, the Secretariat expelled Le Duy Thanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Phuc Province, from the Party. In March, Thanh and Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, were put under temporary detention to help make clear their roles in the case related to Chairman of Phuc Son Group Nguyen Van Hau.

Also on April 9, the Secretariat removed seven individuals from the Party, including ang Van Minh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai Province; Cao Khoa, former Chairman of the provincial People's Committee; and Pham inh Cu, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu yen Province.

The Partys and the States drastic actions against corruption and other negative phenomena, with disciplinary measures imposed against leaders of quite a few agencies and localities, have won the widespread support from the public. However, there remain major concerns.

Responding to the question that who will work when many officials are disciplined, General Secretary Trong said at a meeting with voters in Ha Nois Ba inh, ong a, and Hai Ba Trung districts in 2022 that: There is no worry about not having enough officials. It is impossible to not handle those who not only violate the law but also deviate from morality.

So how to avoid making wrong personnel choices and appointments?

Regulation No 105-QD/TW dated December 19, 2017, by the Politburo on the delegation of the personnel management and appointment provides very specific guidelines regarding the responsibility and power of advisory bodies of the Party Central Committee in the work, as well as principles, responsibility, power, procedures, and conditions for personnel appointment.

This is considered the "pre-check" stage in the personnel appointment.

However, from early 2021 to 2024, nearly 100 high-ranking officials under management of the Party Central Committee had been disciplined.

The reality raises the need for more attention to the "post-check" and answer the question why the right process still yields wrong results in many cases and how to fix shortcomings in personnel appointments?

It also shows that no matter how stringent the process is, it still depends on whether individuals implementing it are ethical and impartial, and whether officials will continue to improve their revolutionary ethics, capabilities, and knowledge after their appointment to important positions.

Assuming leading positions, officials bear the responsibility before the Party, their agencies, and localities, but behind that, there are interests, power, and material and spiritual influence over many people. Therefore, without a clear conscience, those responsible for nominating and electing may "implant" individuals or group interests into personnel arrangements. This is referred to as "corruption in personnel work.

To avoid repeating wrongdoings and limitations in the work, the General Secretary requested that the introduction of personnel to the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and key leading positions of the Party and the State in the upcoming term must be based on planning.

He also emphasised the need to maintain principles and regulations, and to raise responsibility, democracy, transparency, and objectivity in personnel evaluation, nomination, and selection.

It is essential to truly promote democracy in finding and nominating personnel alongside clearly defining the authority and responsibility of relevant collectives and individuals, strictly adhering to the principle of democratic centralism, promoting the role and responsibility of Party committees and organisations, and leaders, while combating "group interests" and avoiding simplistic, arbitrary, and unprincipled approaches.

The personnel work of the 14th Party Congress must be conducted according to a strict, scientific, and consistent process, ensuring genuine impartiality and transparency, especially by having a "keen eye" in the personnel evaluation, nomination, and selection.  VNS
PRAGUE  Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan has had a discussion with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovak National Council (Parliament) Marian Kery to seek measures to increase delegation exchanges between Vietnam and Slovakia in the coming time.

At their meeting at the Slovak Parliaments headquarters on April 24, Tuan briefed the host on delegation exchange activities between the two countries, including an upcoming visit to Slovakia by the Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Committee for Science, Technology and Environment in early July.

The diplomat said that Viet Nam hopes to receive Slovakian delegations in the coming time.

For his part, Kery said that despite its busy schedule in July, including meetings with the new Government and the new President who will start a new tenure in June, the Slovak Parliament is ready to welcome the delegation from the Vietnamese NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment.

He said he hopes the two sides will share information to further promote relations between the two countries in the future.

At the meeting, Tuan proposed that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Slovak Parliament work with relevant agencies of Slovakia on the legalisation of civil status documents issued by the Vietnamese Embassy for use in Slovakia.

The Vietnamese Ambassador also took the occasion to thank Kery for his active coordination with the Vietnamese side to promote the relations between the two countries, especially in fostering the bilateral parliamentary partnership. VNS
New York  A representative of Viet Nam appealed to all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint and to end hostilities, while addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on the Middle East and Palestine situation on March 25.

In his remarks, Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Charge daffaires a.i. of Viet Nams Permanent Mission to the UN, voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in the region.

He affirmed that Viet Nam objects to any act of threatening to use or using force, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state, or running counter to international law and the UN Charter.

Viet Nam strongly condemns all forms of violence targeting civilians and civil infrastructure, as well as the recent attacks on commercial vessels on international shipping routes, he noted.

Nguyen called on all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint, end hostilities, unconditionally free all hostages, and comply with international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN.

Viet Nam supports every reconciliation effort towards sustainable and durable solutions to the ongoing conflict and the Middle East peace process on the basis of the two-state solution. It advocates the key role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in delivering humanitarian relief in the Gaza Strip, the diplomat went on.

Viet Nam strongly supports the State of Palestines legitimate aspiration to soon become an official member of the UN, he added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of spreading conflict in the Middle East amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

He perceived that the failure in promoting the two-state solution will worsen instability and threaten millions of people in the region.

Voicing concern over the risk of conflict escalation, representatives of most states called for maximum self-restraint and an end to the cycle of violence and retaliation. Many also expressed disappointment over the UNSCs failure to adopt a draft resolution on the official admission of Palestine to the UN on April 18.  VNS
SEOUL  Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Vu Ho on April 26 presented his credentials to RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol.

At a reception for the diplomat held afterwards, the RoK President expressed his impression of the warm welcome of Vietnamese leaders during his visit to Vietnam last June. He also expressed his belief that Ambassador Ho, with his enthusiasm and experience, will have a successful working term, contributing to the sound development of relations between Vietnam and the RoK.

Ambassador Ho affirmed he will make every effort to continue to strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations, especially in fields related to core technology, future technology and green technology, saying that they will be new development drivers for economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed his hope that the RoK President will continue to pay attention and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community who are living, studying and working in the RoK to further contribute to the host country's socio-economic development as well as the bilateral relations. - VNS
A Model X sports-utility vehicle sits outside a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo. Tesla last year recalled more than 2 million vehicles across its model lineup to fix a defective system thats supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when they use Autopilot. Now, safety regulators are investigating whether the fix addressed the issue. David Zalubowski/AP Tesla electric vehicles at the companys San Antonio-Dominion store and service center in 2021. Last years recall of the companys Autopilot system is being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. William Luther/Staff file photo The Tesla logo is seen on a Supercharger station in Georgia. Chris Carlson/Associated Press file photo

The U.S. governments auto safety agency is investigating whether last years recall of Teslas Autopilot driving system did enough to make sure drivers pay attention to the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Friday that Tesla Inc. has reported additional crashes involving Autopilot since the recall, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the remedy. The Austin-based automakers recall involved more than 2 million vehicles  nearly all that Tesla had sold at the time.

The agency pushed the company to do the recall after a two-year investigation into Autopilots driver monitoring system, which measures torque on the steering wheel from a drivers hands. In the probe, the agency was looking at multiple cases in which Teslas on Autopilot ran into emergency vehicles parked on freeways.

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The recall fix involves an online software update to increase warnings to drivers. But the agency said in documents that it found evidence of crashes after the fix, and that Tesla added updates that werent part of the recall.

This investigation will consider why these updates were not part of the recall or otherwise determined to remedy a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk, the agency wrote.

A message was left early Friday seeking comment from Tesla.

Fatal crash

The safety agency said Tesla reported 20 crashes that apparently happened after the recall remedy was sent out. The agency has required Tesla and other automakers to report crashes involving partially and fully automated driving systems.

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The agency said it will evaluate the recall, including the prominence and scope of Autopilots controls to address misuse, confusion and use in environments that the system is not designed to handle.

It also said Tesla has stated that owners can decide whether they want to opt in to parts of the recall remedy, and that it allows drivers to reverse parts of it.

Safety advocates have long expressed concern that Autopilot, which can keep a vehicle in its lane and a distance from objects in front of it, was not designed to operate on roads other than limited access highways.

The investigation comes just one week after a Tesla that may have been operating on Autopilot hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle, raising questions about whether the recall went far enough to ensure Tesla drivers using Autopilot pay attention to the road.

After the April 19 crash in a suburban area about 15 miles northeast of the city, the driver of a 2022 Tesla Model S told a Washington State Patrol trooper he was using Autopilot and looking at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving.

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The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him, the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document.

The 56-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cellphone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him, the affidavit said.

The Tesla driver told the trooper that he was driving home from having lunch when the crash occurred about 3:45 p.m.

The motorcyclist was under the car and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported.

Authorities said they have not yet independently verified whether Autopilot was in use at the time of the crash.

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Technology questioned

On Thursday, NHTSA ended its investigation of Autopilot, citing the recall and the investigation of its effectiveness. The agency said it found evidence that Teslas weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilots permissive operating capabilities.

Tesla, the leading manufacturer of EVs, reluctantly agreed to the recall last year after the agency found that the driver monitoring system was defective.

The system sends alerts to drivers if it fails to detect torque from hands on the steering wheel, a system that experts describe as ineffective. Although many newer Teslas have cameras that can watch the driver, they cant see at night, and independent testing shows that Autopilot can still be used even if the cameras are covered.

The Associated Press reported shortly after the recall that experts said it relied on technology that may not work.

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Research conducted by NHTSA, the National Transportation Safety Board and other investigators show that merely measuring torque on the steering wheel doesnt ensure that drivers are paying sufficient attention. Experts say night-vision cameras are needed to watch drivers eyes to ensure theyre looking at the road.

Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said NHTSA is looking into where Tesla allows Autopilot to be used.

The company doesnt limit its use, even though it was designed to operate on limited access freeways. Tesla, he said, appears to rely on computers to decide whether Autopilot can operate rather than maps that show a vehicles location.

When you hit that point where youre in the area where Autopilot wasnt designed to operate and the car knows its in that area, why is it still allowed to engage? he asked.

Brooks said NHTSA could seek civil fines and additional fixes from Tesla.

Research results

Government documents filed by Tesla in the December recall say the online software change will increase warnings and alerts to drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

NHTSA began its Autopilot crash investigation in 2021, after receiving 11 reports that Teslas that were using Autopilot struck parked emergency vehicles. In documents explaining why the investigation was ended, NHTSA said it ultimately found 467 crashes involving Autopilot resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths.

Tesla offers two partially automated systems, Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving, but the company says neither can drive themselves despite their names.

In investigative documents, NHTSA said it found 75 crashes and one death involving Full Self Driving. Its not clear whether the system was at fault.

CEO Elon Musk for several years has said Full Self Driving will allow a fleet of robotaxis to generate income for the company and owners, making use of the electric vehicles when they would have been parked. Musk has been touting self-driving vehicles as a growth catalyst for Tesla since Full Self Driving hardware went on sale late in 2015.

In 2019, Musk promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxis by 2020 that would make Teslas appreciate in value. Instead, theyve declined with price cuts, as the autonomous robotaxis have been delayed year after year while being tested by owners as the company gathers road data for its computers.

Tesla says neither system can drive itself and that drivers have to be ready to take control at all times.

Neither Musk nor other Tesla executives on a Tuesday earnings conference call would specify when they expect Tesla vehicles to drive themselves as well as humans do. Instead, Musk touted the latest version of Full Self Driving and said, Its only a matter of time before we exceed the reliability of humans, and not much time at that.
HA NOI  Delaying and evading social insurance payments still occurs in many businesses, significantly impacting the rights of employees.

From 2018 to 2023, the Vietnam Social Security submitted 417 files recommending prosecution to the investigation agency.

These cases involved insurance fraud, unemployment and health insurance violations, as well as cases related to evasion of insurance contributions.

In 2023, 26 cases were brought to prosecution. Of these, 15 have been prosecuted, yielding eight legally binding verdicts. Individuals and organisations implicated are required to pay over VN2.69 billion (some US$106,000) to the social insurance agency, with VN2.38 billion ($93,800) already recovered.

The figures indicate a complex and ongoing issue of debt and evasion of social insurance payments, sparking significant consequences, the Voice of Viet Nam reported.

This not only affects the rights of workers but also undermines long-term social security benefits and trust in the social insurance system.

Experts have called for stricter penalties for employers delaying or evading social insurance payments.

Pham Minh Huan, former deputy minister of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the failure to fulfil social insurance obligations lies with the businesses.

While some businesses face difficulties and seek extensions for insurance payments, agreements must be reached between insurance agencies and businesses.

Once businesses recover, they must promptly fulfil their social insurance obligations.

Deliberate evasion of social insurance contributions should be legally prosecuted, as administrative penalties or criminal prosecution are stipulated by law.

He also emphasised the complexity of addressing such violations. Legal provisions exist for both administrative and criminal measures, yet challenges remain due to policy mechanisms and practical implementation.

Businesses found at fault must face severe penalties, and coordination among insurance agencies, inspection bodies, labour unions and workers themselves is essential.

Clear distinctions must be made between deliberate evasion and objective difficulties, with appropriate measures applied accordingly.

The amended laws explicitly outline which issues fall under administrative or criminal jurisdiction.

Furthermore, strengthening inspection and enforcement measures is necessary to safeguard the rights of workers, Huan said.

Stronger penalties urged

Weighing in on penalties for businesses dodging social insurance contributions for employees, lawyer Nguyen Danh Hue, head of Hung ong Law Company Limited, said that the Social Insurance Law prohibits evasion of mandatory social insurance and unemployment insurance contributions, as well as delayed payments. Violating businesses face prescribed sanctions, including possible administrative fines.

These fines are set at 12 per cent to 15 per cent of the total mandatory contribution amount at the time of the violation report, with a maximum cap of VN75,000,000 (over US$2,950) for employers.

If a company fails to cover social insurance and unemployment insurance for all its workers, the fine can range from 18 per cent to 20 per cent of the total contributions.

Additionally, businesses evading social insurance payment could face criminal liability, fines and up to seven years of imprisonment.

Hue said that the current sanctions, particularly regarding administrative penalties, fall short at effectively deterring violations. Limiting the maximum fine to VN75 million might incentivise many businesses to exploit the system for profit.

For instance, companies with a large workforce could owe billions of ong in monthly social insurance contributions. Evading payments for several months could lead to substantial profits for the company, potentially reaching tens of billions of ong.

Consequently, imposing a mere VN75 million fine still leaves businesses with considerable gains, while employees are the ones who suffer.

The maximum fine should not be capped, and businesses should be required to pay fines based on a percentage of the total contribution amount, Hue said.

Regarding criminal liability, there hasn't been any criminal prosecution against businesses for dodging social insurance contributions thus far.

"I believe the root cause lies in difficulties in identifying the violating behaviours. Consequently, there's a lack of grounds to levy administrative penalties for evading payment, which serves as the basis for criminal proceedings," Hue said.

In reality, during administrative penalty proceedings, social insurance agencies can only determine whether payments were missed, insufficient, or incorrectly calculated according to regulations - without sufficient tools or methods to conclusively identify evasion.

Additionally, proving that individuals intentionally neglected their duties and engaged in deceitful acts is also quite challenging, the lawyer said.

He highlighted that collecting social insurance payment is currently a daunting task due to deficiencies in penalty mechanisms and deterrent policies for businesses.

Despite regular inspections and the detection of violations by the social insurance agency, they lack the authority to impose penalties. Businesses increasingly disobey regulations, either by evading, delaying or inadequately contributing to social insurance for their employees.

To address the issue of social insurance debts, stronger measures are needed, specifically targeting business management personnel.

These could involve imposing travel bans for a specified period, withholding honours or commendations from businesses with outstanding insurance debts, publicly disclosing lists of such businesses on information portals, or subjecting businesses with overdue insurance debts of over six months to inspection.

Directly impacting a business's production and operations is perhaps the most effective approach, Hue said.

Businesses that are late or fail to pay social insurance within a specific timeframe or a certain amount of delayed payment should be barred from issuing invoices.

"However, we also need to consider another view when it comes to business operations, which often depends on external factors such as natural disasters, fires or epidemics. Therefore, there must be clear and appropriate regulations tailored to each specific case."  VNS
HA NOI  The crackdown on corruption in the vehicle inspection industry has resulted in a severe shortage of qualified staff, leading to overcrowding and delays at centres.

The 29-03V centre in Ha Noi's Cau Giay District was overwhelmed by vehicles seeking inspections on Tuesday. The queue stretched for hundreds of metres from the centre's gate, causing traffic congestion.

"The holidays are coming up and my vehicle's inspection is due soon, so I decided to get it inspected early," said one driver.

"I knew that I would have to spend the whole morning waiting in line here."

The situation is expected to worsen as the demand for inspections increases ahead of the holidays on April 30 and May 1.

According to the Vietnam Register, the government body overseeing vehicle inspections, there are currently 1,760 active inspectors and 277 inspection centres across the country.

The crackdown has led to 16 centres being temporarily suspended and more than 900 inspectors prosecuted. Many of them have been dismissed or resigned.

Only a small number remain working while out on bail awaiting trial. With more centres still under investigation, further shortages seem inevitable.

Legally, inspectors convicted will have their licences permanently revoked, barring them from the profession.

Any centre that has at least two inspectors having their licences revoked within 12 months will face a three-month mandatory suspension.

The Register calculates that the number of centres to be temporarily suspended will soon reach 70 across 24 provinces.

When coupled with the forecast spike in demand, the mass suspension could leave 31 provinces and cities, including Ha Noi, a Nang, and HCM City, facing severe bottlenecks.

Some localities such as Bac Kan, Hoa Binh and Thai Binh might have no active centres at all during this crunch time.

In response to the situation, the Register has proposed delaying the revocation of licences for inspectors who have been convicted and given suspended sentences.

The overseeing body also proposed that centres with at least two inspectors having their licences revoked be allowed to operate for additional time.

These measures aim to maintain an adequate workforce for inspection.

Proposals have also been made to selectively rehire trial-awaiting inspectors on temporary employment contracts until their cases are adjudicated.

The Register has also urged local authorities to provide opportunities for inspectors who have committed minor offenses to redeem themselves and continue working in the industry.

If approved, the proposals will take effect as of January 1, 2026, allowing inspectors with suspended sentences and to-be-suspended centres to remain active for additional time.

The Register has also urged centres to increase their working hours, especially during the holidays, to alleviate the backlogs.

It also urged them to put in place online appointment booking portal and warned of ban against any centre refusing to inspected vehicles that had successfully booked an appointment online.

Vehicle owners are advised to have repairs and maintenance done preemptively before arriving to speed up the inspection process and reduce wait times.

The agency also urged centres to strictly adhere to safety standards and refrain from issuing certificates to vehicles that do not meet the required standards.  VNS
QUANG NGAI  The bodies of four victims in the sinking of the tugboat LA-06695 and the capsizing of the barge LA-06883 in the waters off Ly Son Island of Quang Ngai were found and brought to Dung Quat Port to be handed over to the families for burial.

The identities of the four victims are Tran Minh Phuc from Quang Ngai Province, Vo Nhu Song from Tien Giang Province, ang Van Uoc, and ang Van Nhung from Long An Province.

Border guards, customs, and local authorities carried out identification and autopsy procedures before handing over the bodies to the families for burial.

All four of these victims were not on the list of crew members of the tugboat LA-06695 belonging to Minh Linh Limited Liability Company, which registered to depart at Ky Ha port of Quang Nam Province.

According to local authorities, five crew members were registered to work on the tugboat and barge upon departure, including Vo Tan Khuong, Vo Van Nhieu, and Bui Minh Tri from Quang Ngai Province. Captain Pham Van Hiep and ang Minh Phuong, a sailor from Long An Province, were still not yet determined.

In addition, three fishermen on Ly Son Island, whose family members confirmed them as being on the tugboat LA-06695, have not yet been contacted.

Currently, the authorities continue to search for the missing victims.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tai Nang, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Quang Ngai Border Guard Command, said that the search plan at night at sea was ineffective due to strong winds, affecting the search work.

Currently, the forces of the Provincial Border Guard are searching for victims at night along the coast.

On April 26, all forces are mobilised for the search work.

Previously, Vietnam News Agency reported that at 4 am on Wednesday, April 24, tugboat LA-06695 belonging to Minh Linh Limited Liability Company towed barge LA-06883 carrying stones with five people working on the ship had an accident when moving from Ky Ha Port of Quang Nam Province to Ly Son Island of Quang Ngai Province.

The accident caused the tugboat to sink and the barge to overturn.  VNS
By To Nhu

HA NOI  Developed and refined since 2018, the Rice Production Monitoring and Reporting System (RiceMoRe) has yielded positive results, enabling provinces to automatically synthesise data across various management levels, significantly improving rice production reporting and statistics processes. It stores and processes production data, helping calculate greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation at the field, farm, cooperative, regional and national levels.

Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Director of the Department of Cultivation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, unveiled the initial successes of the system during the online consultation workshop titled "Assessment and Building of Digital Data Ecosystem to Serve Effective Rice Production Management," held by the Ministry of Agriculture in Ha Noi on Monday.

Following refinement, the system has been rolled out and implemented in nine localities in the Mekong Delta region and one locality in the Red River Delta. RiceMoRe encompasses data storage and processing components, facilitating the computation of greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation at various levels.

Consequently, the system holds promise for contributing to greenhouse gas inventory efforts in the rice sector and related national initiatives geared towards green growth and emissions reduction. This includes the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's project on high-quality rice production and low emissions. Cuong highlighted RiceMoRe as a precursor to establishing a digital ecosystem for both rice production and agriculture.

Drawing from practical implementation, Tran Ngoc Hieu from the Plant Protection Station of Co o District of the Can Tho City Plant Cultivation, and Plant Protection Branch, shared insights into the system's functionality. He highlighted that the system enables data collection starting from the commune level, relieving district-level officials from manual data entry duties, as they only need to integrate data with the provincial-level database. This application not only saves time but also provides practical and visually accessible data. With updated data readily available in various formats, the system meets the current digitalisation needs of the local agriculture sector, offering quicker access to information.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics, underscored the importance of establishing large-scale data systems and implementing digital applications in production management. He stressed the significance of enhancing digital awareness and skills among farmers, as well as improving the quality of human resources. Toan mentioned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's active promotion of digital transformation, particularly in developing a high-quality, high-value open data platform across various agricultural domains.

During discussions, delegates explored the potential of upgrading and applying the RiceMoRe system to monitor greenhouse gas emission reduction indicators in the "Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice Cultivation, Linked to Green Growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" project. They also considered integrating it with other systems, tools, and databases to establish a unified, efficient, flexible, and transparent digital data ecosystem for the agriculture sector. Delegates believe that the potential applications of the RiceMoRe system extend beyond its current scope.

Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultivation, asserted that this initiative could serve as the cornerstone for establishing a digital data ecosystem in rice production, benefiting rice production and the broader agricultural sector. This effort aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's key objectives of enhancing production value while ensuring green growth, livelihoods and public health.

Tung emphasised the significance of having forecast data on seasons and agricultural weather information, stating that a cycle for a RiceMoRe production would serve as the most accurate measurement and calculation tool for various factors that may arise during that cycle. This, in turn, would greatly aid officials at commune, district and provincial levels in providing specific advice and making informed decisions.

The Mekong Delta region is a crucial source of rice production for Viet Nam, accounting for 90 per cent of rice exports. Despite achieving notable milestones in rice production, the majority of farmers in the region still face low incomes, while rice production encounters increasingly adverse conditions due to climate change, rising input costs and heightened consumer demands for product quality. Hence, the establishment of a dataset for rice production in the region is imperative to continually update and provide necessary information for farmers and management agencies. This would enable appropriate guidance, management, and adjustments in production to meet evolving development requirements.  VNS
USAA's headquarters are in San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Twenty people in Louisiana were indicted in a counterfeit-check scheme that involved fraudulently obtaining money from USAA Federal Savings Bank. Four of the defendants and one other person were indicted on possession of a counterfeit security.

A federal grand jury in Louisiana indicted 21 people in connection with a counterfeit-check scheme that could have caused millions of dollars in losses for San Antonio-based USAA Federal Savings Bank.

The Shreveport grand jury charged 20 of the defendants with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine. Four of those defendants and one other person were also charged with possession of a counterfeit security, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

These individuals collectively intended to cause almost $7 million in loss to USAA Bank and their customers, Brandon Brown, the U.S. attorney in Shreveport, said at a news conference Thursday.

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The alleged scheme occurred from the beginning of 2021 until October 2022 and involved at least three people who used their positions at Teleperformance  a multinational company that has handled inbound calls from USAA members  to access bank customers account information.

The three defendants  Maya L. Green, Arazhia R. Gulley and ZarRajah Watkins  typically targeted older USAA Bank customers with high account balances whom the trio believed would not regularly monitor their account activity, the indictment says. The trio provided the account information to four other defendants  Elijah D. Brown, Destane Glass, Sharmaine Jackson and Eric D. Loud, the indictment says.

Its no secret that older customers are less likely to monitor their accounts on a regular basis, Brown said. Instead of checking their accounts daily or even a few times a week through the internet or through the use of a mobile app, older customers often wait until the end of the month (to) check their printed statements.

Using customers account information, the indictment says, defendants created counterfeit checks drawn on USAA Bank. They allegedly used social media as one method to recruit 13 individuals willing to have the counterfeit checks deposited into their bank accounts in exchange for a portion of the money.

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This case started when the checks started getting returned, said Alexander Van Hook, first assistant U.S. attorney in Shreveport. The checks would go to USAA Bank. They would be returned to the local banks and they would bounce, some of them would bounce.

The U.S. Attorneys Office received at least three different complaints, which triggered investigations.

We all realized that they kind of came together into one, Van Hook said. It was quite the effort to pull all 21 of these defendants into one case.

All but two of them are in their 20s.

In a statement, USAA said member privacy is a key focus.

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USAA has actively worked with law enforcement throughout their investigation of these crimes, it said. We appreciate their efforts to arrest those involved. USAA remains focused on protecting our members privacy. Affected members were notified and provided additional safeguards last year, and we continue to protect the information of all members.

A USAA spokesman declined to comment on the amount of losses it may have suffered.

Three of the defendants  Watkins and Glass, both 22, and Loud, 23  also face multiple state charges for identity theft related to the alleged scheme. Watkins has been charged with 175 counts, Glass with 65 and Loud with 58.

Next month, a federal judge is scheduled to sentence Glass for her role in defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program, which provided financial assistance to businesses during the pandemic. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

A court filing shows that in applying for a nearly $21,000 PPP loan in 2021, Glass provided a forged bank statement that showed her business had a nearly $100,000 profit in 2020. However, she reported on a 2002 tax return that the business earned only $9,800.

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Glass application claims she needed the money, in part, to pay employees. Her business had no employees, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Different views of Battle of Flowers Parade moving throughout San Antonio Josie Norris, Sam Owens

Tens of thousands Fiesta revelers lined the confetti-decorated streets Friday morning despite the cloudy skies to catch sight of the floats, royalty, performers, officials and others making their way through downtown as this years iteration of the event that started it all  the Battle of Flowers Parade.

Music from the marching bands and cries of Show me your shoes! were heard as the parade traversed the 2.6-mile-long route that started at Main Avenue and Locust Street, near the campus of San Antonio College, and made its way south for its traditional pass by the Alamo and then headed to Santa Rosa and Martin streets, where it came to an end. Although it was windy, the rain held off.

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The theme of this years parade, which was expected to draw over 550,000 people, is Viva Amor 2024!  a nod to the cultural diversity and unbridled merriment of the Fiesta parade. The grand marshal is Eric Cooper, CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.

Organizers said about 10,000 people are participating, with about 7,000 of them being high school students. In addition to about 30 high school marching bands and several mariachi bands, there are about 150 high school students taking on the role of super scoopers. With over 200 horses in 14 different cavalcades taking part in the parade, those scoopers are likely going to be kept busy in their quest to keep the streets clean.

FIESTA 2024: Your guide to all things Fiesta

Friends Marilyn Burt of San Antonio, front; Candy Brintnall of Corpus Christi, center; and Kika Galbraith, also of Corpus Christi, cheer from their second-story perch in a downtown parking garage Friday during the Battle of Flowers Parads. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Sam Houston High Schools Mighty Hurricane band performs for parade-goers as they march down Main Avenue on Friday for the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Floats make their way down Commerce Street during Fridays Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Sixteen-year-old Jay Jones, front, salutes alongside other members of Scouts BSA as the national anthem plays Friday at the start of the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. The theme of this years parade was Viva Amor 2024! Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Friends and family of Duchess of Fantastical Evolution Peyton Monroe Levy cheer as her float passes by them on Commerce Street during the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A girl shows people her shoes while riding on a parade float along Main Avenue for the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Duchess of Fantastical Evolution Peyton Monroe Levy, front, waves from her float as it makes its way down Commerce Street during Fridays Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kate Araujo dumps confetti on a friend during the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Princess of Artisan Masterpieces Mollie Moore Kelleher waves to parade-goers as her float rolls down Main Avenue during the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People prepare to hoist up the Battle of Flowers Parade balloon as they march down Main Avenue at the start of Friday's Fiesta parade. The theme of this years parade was Viva Amor 2024! and included 200 groups in the lineup. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Texas A&Ms Fightin Texas Aggie Band plays Friday while marching down Commerce Street during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Debbie Cruz of Converse spreads confetti on members of the Texas Cavaliers during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade on Friday. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The Edison High School Golden Bear Band marches down Main Avenue during the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Desiree Contreras adjusts daughter Lailah Reyes flower crown as she and the 5-year-old wait for the Battle of Flowers Parade to reach Commerce Street. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The Martinez family throws confetti at Incarnate Word High School student Arianna Martinez on Friday as she walks in the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A Texas Cavalier high-fives young children while walking in the Battle of Flowers Parade on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A queen shows off her shoes while riding on a parade float along Main Avenue during the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Friends Marilyn Burt of San Antonio, right, Candy Brintnall of Corpus Christi wave to the passing parade participants during Fridays Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Parade-goers hold fresh chicken-on-a-stick as they wait to cross the street Friday during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Parade-goers hold fresh chicken-on-a-stick as they wait to cross a downtown street Friday during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets JROTC march in the Battle of Flowers Parade on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Tilden Schweers of San Antonio, 5, entertains his family with his trumpeting skills Friday during the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade in downtown San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Ethan Araujo, 13, shows off the confetti collected in his hair Friday during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News People wave to the parade from second-story window perches during the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A young parade-goer frowns after not seeing the shoes of a float rider during the Battle of Flowers Parade through downtown San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News As the Battle of Flowers Parade passes by Friday, Alessandro Silvas, 3, sleeps on the laps of mom Lydia Valdez and dad John Silvas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas carry a giant Texas flag as they walk in the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The Chinese Society of San Antonio marches with a dragon puppet during Fridays Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Women on the Fiesta San Antonio Commission float show off their shoes Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News As it sprinkles rain, a young parade-goer peeks out from under an umbrella Friday during the 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A woman waves from inside Schilos German-Texan Restaurant as the Battle of Flowers Parade passes by Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Parade-goers watch the Battle of Flowers Parade go by Friday in downtown San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The Thomas Jefferson High School Lassos march down Main Avenue on Friday during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The Harlan High School color guard marches down Commerce Street during the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Young parade-goers watch JROTC members march past Friday in downtown San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kelsie Elizabeth Westmoreland, Duchess of Exquisite Living Designs, reacts to the crowd Friday while riding on her parade float down Main Avenue during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The La Michoacana Meat Market float makes its way down Commerce Street during Fridays Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News People watch the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade on Friday. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Blair Bononcini of San Antonio, 2, blows bubbles Friday while waiting at Alamo Plaza ahead of the Battle of Flowers Parade. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Police Department receives a standing ovation from the crowd watching the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Reagan Victoria Lane, Duchess of Logistical Origins, shows her shoes to the crowd during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Jose Villanueva, from left, 6-year-old Leah Rojas, Jessica Villanueva, Janie Flores, Mary Alice Lewis and Olivia Covarrubias watch the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade together on Friday. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A member of the Fiesta Court rides by bleachers of cheering spectators Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Members of the San Antonio Chinese Alliance and East Asia Language program use dragon puppets to perform for the crowd Friday during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Members of the U.S. Navy make their way down Main Avenue on Friday during the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People watch the 133rd Battle of the Flowers Parade on Friday. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Olivia Covarrubias, right, cheers for parade floats rolling down Main Avenue during the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Methodist Childrens Hospital volunteers maneuver a giant triceratops balloon along Main Avenue during Fridays Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A Battle of the Flowers Association member passes out trash bags to parade watchers in an effort to keep the route clean. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Spectators cheer on the Aggie Band during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Parade-goers touch a large dragon puppet from the San Antonio Chinese Alliance during Firdays Battle of the Flowers Parade. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The Trinity University crew carries a massive white tiger balloon Friday as they march in the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Students from IDEA Walzem scoop horse poop while following the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo team riding in the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Students from IDEA Walzem scoop horse poop while following the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo team riding in the Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Onlookers pop confetti and cheer for Fiesta royalty Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade, the original Fiesta event. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Strands of streamers and confetti cover the ground during the Battle of the Flowers Parade on Friday. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Onlookers pop confetti and cheer for Fiesta royalty Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Onlookers cheer on parade participants and don clear ponchos as a drizzle falls Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Onlookers wait for the Battle of the Flowers Parade to kick off on Friday. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Families watch several ROTC groups lead off Friday's Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Mayor Ron Nirenberg offers a bouquet of flowers for the Alamo grounds Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Thousands of pieces of confetti litter the street Friday at the Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor A crew cleans up after the Budweiser Clydesdales during Friday's Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor A crew cleans up after the Budweiser Clydesdales during Friday's Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Texas A&M students walk behind the university's equestrian team, ready to collect any horse droppings during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Parents spray water over the Harlandale marching band Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Fiesta royalty show off their shoes during the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Dozens of empty confetti canisters lie on the ground Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Thousands of pieces of confetti litter the street and fill abandoned drink cups at the 2024 Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor A Martin Luther King-theme float drives along the parade route through downtown Friday. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Strands of streamers stuck in tree branches are blown by the wind Friday. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Dozens of empty confetti canisters lie on the ground during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Emily Barrera, left, Carlos Plummer-Abram and Bailey Barrera play with the confetti blowing in the wind Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor Onlookers wait between parade floats, bands and horses during Friday's Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Bailey Barrera picks up confetti blowing in the wind Friday. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Jonathan Wagner salutes an Army band member Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor The Budweiser Clydesdales walk in the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Kaylee Greenlee Beal Contributor The Budweiser Clydesdales walk in Fridays Battle of the Flowers Parade. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL/Contributor Fiesta royalty show off their shoes Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Kaylee Greenlee Beal Contributor Dozens of empty confetti canisters lie on the ground Friday during the Battle of the Flowers Parade. Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor

The parades origins date back to 1891, when a group of San Antonians decided to mark a presidential visit and the Battle of San Jacinto with a street parade and flower battle inspired by a similar event that Ellen Maury Slayden  wife of then-Congressman James L. Slayden  had seen in Spain.

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The parade and flower battle was planned by Ellen Slayden and other San Antonio women, the precursor to todays Battle of Flowers Association, which is still an all-women, all-volunteer organization. The plan called for a parade led by a military band, followed by horse-drawn carriages decorated with flowers, decorated bicycles and other vehicles. The parade would begin and end at Alamo Plaza, in order to honor the heroes of both the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place April 21, 1836. At the end of the parade, the carriages would split into two groups and travel in opposite directions around the plaza, throwing flowers at each other.

The parade originally was planned for April 20, when President Benjamin Harrison would be in town. But a downpour forced organizers to delay the event for four days. The parade drew about 100 carriages and an estimated 15,000 spectators. And although it didnt go exactly to plan (the flower battle ended in a brawl), an April 25, 1891, article about the event indicated it was a success, saying it had been proposed to make it the feature of San Jacinto Day in the future and certainly the success of the inaugural engagement is sufficient to encourage the perpetuation of the innovation.

Fast forward 133 years, and now the Battle of Flowers Parade is one of the anchors of Fiesta, an 11-day celebration that features over 100 events and draws an estimated 2.5 million people.
Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Chairing the event, Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal, Founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia stressed that ASEAN's community building goals are closely linked with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025).

He said this forum serves as a platform for stakeholders to showcase the bloc's commitment and actions toward a new global consensus on multilateral solutions to current and future challenges.

Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung described digital transformation and green transition as the most critical factors in the coming decade. He called for new digital institutions, new digital infrastructure and a new digital workforce.

Vietnam has many initiatives aimed at providing basic digital skills to its people, such as digital villages, community-based digital groups and open online courses, he said, affirming readiness to share experience with and learn from ASEAN counterparts regarding these initiatives.

The minister made it clear that the future is a digital ASEAN, and there is still a long road ahead.

Discussions focused on potential governance models and initiatives that allow member countries to overcome economic instability and complexity in strategic geography toward sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the post-pandemic era. This included seeking a harmonious balance between the urgent needs for rapid socioeconomic development and the requirements for environmental sustainability and strategic autonomy, taking into account the importance of data-driven decision-making, public-private partnerships, and innovative solutions in renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable supply chains.

ASEAN strength to be built on with trade reforms Vietnam and ASEAN member states are jointly deploying measures to boost the regions economy, with a focus laid on upgrading a regional agreement on trade in goods.

ASEAN meeting on intellectual property cooperation opens The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) is taking place in Vietnams central city of Danang on April 22-26.
Delegates at the closing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) wrapped up in Hanoi on April 23 after a day of productive discussions.

In his closing speech, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said in-depth discussions at the event have provided regional countries and stakeholders with valuable insights to reflect on and reaffirm the importance of collective efforts in shaping a brighter future for the ASEAN community.

The minister expressed optimism about ASEAN's development direction, noting that the discussions had attracted a significant number of policymakers and business entities to explore and propose feasible solutions, with some proposing unique approaches to adapting to and addressing regional challenges.

According to him, delegates highlighted the ASEANs pivotal role in further maintaining regional peace and stability.

He concluded by urging ASEAN member states to unite with determination in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. This vision, he emphasised, will shape a better future for both current and future generations.

The AFF 2024, themed Toward Fast and Sustainable Growth of a People-Centered ASEAN Community, was an important initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 43rd ASEAN Summit last September. It aimed at creating a common platform for ASEAN member states as well as partner countries and ASEAN people to contribute to promoting and shaping the blocs development path.

With nearly 500 delegates representing governments, diplomatic corps, business communities, ASEAN, partners and international organisations taking part, the event featured two plenary and two working lunch sessions.

ASEAN Future Forum 2024 enters first session The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The workshop was held as part of a cooperation agreement between Nestle Vietnam and the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and it aimed to assist businesses in carrying out their own GHG inventory and reducing emissions.

Over 140 representatives from Vietnams top supply chain, transportation, and logistics firms were in attendance. They engaged in discussion with a representative from VBCSD and experts from the Department of Climate Change (DCC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Energy Efficiency, and Sustainable Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Department of Science, Technology, and Environment under the Ministry of Transport, and other technical consulting units.

Business leaders in attendance were also updated on the commitments from both the international community and Vietnam, as well as any new pertinent regulations. They also received guidance on how to carry out inventory reports and perfect an emissions mitigation plan to help Vietnam achieve its net-zero goals by 2050. The majority of businesses are looking to develop an action plan to slash GHG emissions. However, many companies are experiencing difficulties in doing so.

Luong Quang Huy, head of GHG Emission Reduction and Ozone Layer Protection at the DCC said, "We believe that meaningful dialogue will serve as a bridge between regulatory bodies and businesses to share their thoughts on green transformation, emission-reduction regulations and technologies, and relevant management processes. This workshop is also an opportunity to work together to complete legal policies, promote climate change mitigation activities, and provide the best support for the sustainable development of businesses."

Pham Hoang Hai of VBCSDs Working Group on Partnership, said, "VBCSD and Nestle Vietnam, a co-chair of VBCSD, have launched many meaningful programmes on partnership, exchange, and dialogue. We acknowledge the initiatives of Nestle Vietnam to mitigate climate change, reduce GHG emissions, and contribute to the nations common goal. This event is also a superb opportunity for us to disseminate information and market requirements to the business community on emission reduction in the supply chain sector."

"Since publishing the Nestle Net Zero Roadmap in 2020, we have transformed our business to deliver reductions in GHG across all of Nestle's activities. We have developed different strategic approaches such as the Nestle Forest Positive strategy, which aims to conserve and restore forests and natural habitats, while the Nestle Agriculture Framework sets out our vision for a more regenerative food and farming system," said Khuat Quang Hung, director of External Relations and Communications at Nestle Vietnam, adding that Nestle has also implemented initiatives and measures to reduce emissions throughout its transportation and logistics activities.

Nestle Vietnam has pioneered action to promote a circular economy here, along with regenerative agriculture, innovation, and digital transformation towards a green and sustainable economy. In 2023, Nestle signed an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on strengthening public-private partnerships to promote sustainable, regenerative, and low-emission agriculture through the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam.

Both sides also kicked off an agroforestry and reforestation project in the Central Highlands with a view to planting and growing over 2.3 million forest and fruit trees.

Nestle's focus on digital transformation in transportation and logistics includes a smart-application initiative called Cargoo that connects manufacturers with importers and shipping lines to increase efficiency and reduce shipping costs. Another initiative is a smart application for warehouses and transportation management called Transportation Hub, which optimises order allocation to reduce emissions during transport.

Established in 1995, Nestle Vietnam has consistently upheld the principles of sustainable development in its production and business activities. Last year marked the third year in a row that Nestle has been recognised by the VCCI as being among the most sustainable businesses in Vietnam's manufacturing sector.

Nestle Vietnam values partnerships for sustainability goals The circular economy and sustainable development are long roads that one cannot travel alone. Everyone must go together, including manufacturers, distributors, managers, and consumers.

Nestle Vietnam leads Top 100 Sustainable Companies Nestle Vietnam continues to lead the Top 100 Sustainable Companies (CSI) in 2023 in the manufacturing sector. The company is also among the five most pioneering enterprises in implementing circular economy solutions and carbon emissions reductions.
"Currently, the city is assigning departments to find solutions to apply AI to administrative management, healthcare, education, urban management, and many other fields," Mai said.

Strier said Nvidia will establish a research team, bring equipment and move some production departments to Vietnam.

"This is a great opportunity that Ho Chi Minh City has created for us. We will soon determine a plan for our collaboration and develop specific steps for the group's presence here," said Strier. "However, the city needs to have more preferential policies for tech firms to create a foundation for an ecosystem of high-tech startups."

Phan Van Mai, Chairman, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (left), with Keith Strier, vice-president, Nvidia

"The group's research in the selection of Ho Chi Minh City as a strategic investment destination comes from the fact that the city has all the elements to develop and master the AI industry," he added.

The city has about one million engineers in the IT industry that can almost immediately switch to AI and has a business ecosystem for IT and semiconductors with enough capacity to immediately enter this industry.

As for human resources, the city has an advantage with more than 100 universities located in the area, of which Ho Chi Minh City National University has enough capacity to train human resources for the AI industry in the near future.

Since the 1990s, Ho Chi Minh City has had attractive policies for foreign investment compared to other cities and provinces across the country. With Resolution No.98/2023/QH15, the city has developed sufficient infrastructure, human resources, and institutions to become a reliable and effective destination for investors.

However, Strier recommended the city invest more in infrastructure, especially for cloud computing, a vital component in the AI industry.

"The required infrastructure for developing AI is becoming more complex and requires increasingly expensive investment, therefore, public-private cooperation is needed to accelerate the construction of data centres to ensure the costs of developing such a cutting-edge industry are shared as wide as possible," Strier said.

"I believe that with these new approaches and cooperation from the business sector, Ho Chi Minh City will become one of the top-five global AI cities," he added.

Nvidia delegation to explore opportunities in Vietnam Leaders of Nvidia, one of the worlds top chip manufacturers, will visit Vietnam from April 22 to 26 to explore investment opportunities in the semiconductor industry.

FPT partners with NVIDIA to shape the future of AI and Cloud on global scale IT firm FPT signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with an American technology corporation NVIDIA on April 23, aiming to offer a one-stop shop for AI and cloud products, GPU infrastructure, tech experts, and domain expertise for clients in Vietnam and FPTs overseas markets.
At its AGM on April 24, PVT Logistics, a subsidiary of PVTrans Holdings, outlined ambitious financial goals for the upcoming years.

According to Ho Si Thuan, PVT logistics director, the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have paradoxically boosted the demand for maritime bulk liquid transport, despite broader economic disruptions.

For the fiscal year 2024, the company has forecasted a 12.1 per cent increase in its revenue to roughly $52.08 million, with pre-tax profits expected to stabilise at about $3.33 million. Shareholders are also projected to receive a 10 per cent dividend in cash. By 2025, PVT Logistics aims to surge its total revenue to $233.45 million, bolstering its registered capital to $30.83 million.

Reflecting on 2023, PVT Logistics surpassed its revenue targets, pulling in $46.46 million, or 106 per cent of its goal, and a pre-tax profit of $3.34 million  146 per cent of the planned figure.

Looking ahead, Thuan detailed the company's strategy for 2024, which includes a capital increase of $9.58 million to seize fleet expansion opportunities at optimal market prices. This move is expected to enhance the firm's transportation capabilities and competitiveness. PVT Logistics is also preparing for a strategic transition from the UPCoM to the HSX, a move initially planned for 2023.

"The progression to the HSX listing has been set since last year, but due to slower-than-expected capital increases, we will continue the process after completing these financial enhancements. We expect to finalise the funding by the end of July 2024 and will then submit our application," explained Thuan.

Nguyen Hoai Phuong, a board member of PVT Logistics and representative of major shareholder Tan Long Company

The company has already met all necessary conditions for the listing, including profitability and shareholder structure requirements. "We anticipate completing the exchange transition by the end of 2024, but if unforeseen delays occur, the move could be postponed to the beginning of the first quarter of 2025," Thuan added.

On the other hand, PVT Logistics remains dedicated to optimising its commercial operations and logistics services while maintaining robust capital management.

The firm also aims to elevate its Maritime Human Resources Training Center, PVTrans, to boost the quality and quantity of its seafaring personnel, supporting fleet operations and potential export activities.

In terms of investment, the company is considering the sale of the PVT Synergy vessel, depending on market conditions, to fund the purchase of new oil/chemical and bulk carriers ranging between 19,000 to 75,000 DWT.

"The decision to sell PVT Synergy after five years of profitable operation is to make way for larger, more capable vessels," Thuan explained.

In May 2023, the company capitalised on favourable market conditions to invest in the PVT Jupiter. By October, after boosting its capital by $5 million, PVT Logistics was well-positioned to make further strategic investments.

"The operational efficiency of our new investments was immediate," Thuan stressed, underscoring the impact of strategic fleet enhancements.

With regards to raising capital, the firm has paused its initial plan to issue just over eight million shares due to unfavourable market conditions. Instead, it has approved the issuance of over 23 million shares to raise about $9.58 million, aimed at increasing its registered capital to $27.54 million.

The company has approved a 10 per cent cash dividend for 2023, totalling approximately $1.79 million.

In response to queries about why shares of PVT Logistics are trading below book value, Thuan explained, "The limited liquidity of our shares is primarily due to the fact that 85 per cent are held by major shareholders, leaving only about 15 per cent in the hands of external investors, among whom many are small shareholders not actively tracking our progress."

He further elaborated on the company's plans to address these concerns. "We expect the liquidity to improve with the upcoming capital increase. Furthermore, we are looking to expand our business lines to increase foreign ownership from zero to 49 per cent and enhance our outreach to potential investors to better reflect our robust financial health."

Nguyen Hoai Phuong, a board member of PVT Logistics and representative of major shareholder Tan Long Company, which owns 25.84 per cent of PVT Logistics, echoed the sentiment of wanting to see a higher share price.

"Above all, I am keen to see our share price appreciate, reflecting our strong financial fundamentals and competitive position. I estimate that our shares are currently undervalued by about 20 per cent due to limited liquidity and insufficient communication about our business effectiveness and future prospects," Phuong said.

On the governance side, Le Truc Lam has been nominated as chairman of the board for the 2024-2029 term. Lam brings a wealth of experience with a bachelors from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and a masters in project management from Foreign Trade University, in collaboration with the University of Nantes in France.

Gaw Capital bets on China plus one opportunities in Vietnam Gaw Capital Partners, one of the biggest global real estate private fund management firms, is focusing on industrial real estate and logistics in Vietnam and Mexico, amid challenges to an economic recovery in mainland China.
UK supports ASEANs economic integration, Illustrative image (Photo: aseanbriefing)

Jakarta - The UK delegation to ASEAN held a seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 24 to discuss the ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.

Speaking at the event, UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin said the UK has contributed over 19 million GBP (23.62 million USD) to support long-term improvement in business environment in seven ASEAN member countries. The programme is part of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting new dialogue partnership relations between the two sides.

She said this year marks the strengthening of the implementation of the UK's dialogue partnership, with a special focus on the establishment of the 25 million GBP ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.

It will be carried out over the next four years in all 10 ASEAN member states and Timor Leste, and aimed at poverty reduction in the region, particularly supporting economic empowerment for women and small businesses.

Delegates at the event discussed various issues, including the impact of the digital economy, trade barriers, access to financial resources, and empowering women to engage more in the economy.

Canada, ASEAN consolidate climate change response, economic cooperation The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.

ASEAN meeting on intellectual property cooperation opens The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) is taking place in Vietnams central city of Danang on April 22-26.

Regional cooperation advances boosted through ASEAN Future Forum network For the first time in the history of ASEAN, Vietnam will hold the ASEAN Future Forum this week as the countrys largest multilateral event with an aim to further boost intra-bloc in economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet talked with VIRs Nguyen Dat about how important the event is to regional cooperation.
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
Vessels on Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritate site (Photo: VNA)

Quang Ninh  The Quang Ninh provincial Department of Transport has asked the administration of Ha Long city not to license the tourist vessels performing at the Ha Long Carnival 2024 to serve tourists during the programme due to safety concerns.

This years carnival, scheduled to take place on April 28 evening, will be the first of its kind held at sea in Vietnam. It will feature performances and parades on both the sea and beach of Ha Long Bay to highlight the beauty of this world natural heritage site at night.

The department noted on April 24 that as stipulated, in summer, tourist vessels must return passengers to ports and terminals in the mainland by 7pm while those providing overnight services on the bay must dock at designated areas.

Except for floating restaurants, there aren't any night-time sightseeing tours. The number of tourist vessels mobilised for the carnival is large, the areas they will operate in are natural waters, weather conditions are unpredictable, vessels will serve the festival until midnight, and passengers' activities on those vehicles during the event may pose safety risks. Ensuring the safety of passengers on the ships will be limited, the department pointed out.

Therefore, it demanded the Peoples Committee of Ha Long city not license vessels performing at the carnival to serve travellers.

It also asked local authorities to strictly manage the vehicles transporting passengers to the mobilised vessels and others docking on the sea to watch the event.

Ha Long Bay named among 24 most ideal world destinations in 2024 Forbes magazine has recently published a list of the 24 Best Places To Travel In 2024, which included Ha Long Bay. The list was compiled by Luxury Travel Advisor OvationNetwork.

Ha Long - Cam Pha among Vietnams most beautiful coastal roads The six-lane Ha Long - Cam Pha coastal road in Quang Ninh province runs for a total length of 18.7km and is considered the most beautiful such route in Vietnam, with impressive and picturesque landscapes.

Ha Long Bay among worlds 51 most beautiful places: Conde Nast Traveler Conde Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, has named the UNESCO-recognised heritage Ha Long Bay in the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh on its list of the 51 most beautiful places in the world.
As he addressed the shareholders, Vuong expressed confidence that the toughest period had passed, citing a resurgence in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

"VinFast's vehicle sales have shown improvement, becoming the top-selling brand in Vietnam for the first time," he said. "Our aim is for VinFast to lead the globe as it embodies the mission, honour, and future of Vingroup. I will therefore continue to pay special attention to the brand."

"There is no basis to doubt VinFast's capabilities or cash flow. At this point, no bank has yet to experience a delayed interest payment, let alone on the principal," Vuong stated.

"EVs play a crucial role in making cities cleaner. Particularly with the decreasing cost of batteries, VinFast can compete fiercely with conventional petrol-fuelled cars thanks to its technological edge," he added.

In addition to the $1 billion allocated to strengthen the group's internal capabilities, the wealthiest Vietnamese will invest nearly $417 million over the next three years to establish charging stations throughout the country.

He said that this initiative will primarily address psychological concerns, as most journeys are below 100km per day and can be easily charged at home.

VinFast has taken initial steps to establish dealership networks in North America, signing cooperation agreements with 10 distributors to expand its sales network and provide after-sales services.

In parallel with its actions in the Americas, VinFast is also intensifying its presence in existing markets such as Europe by opening additional showrooms, aiming to be present in at least 50 markets later this year.

VinFast broadens pursuit to rule EVs VinFast is building on advances made in 2023 by strategically expanding into markets such as India, Indonesia, and Oman.

VinFast expands into Thailand VinFast has signed an MoU with 15 Thai dealers at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show, taking place from March 27 to April 7.
DECORAH  The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Decorah man accused of shooting his father in the head and burning his body on their cattle farm in 2022.

A jury found Aaron Gary Whittle, 45, guilty of second-degree murder during trial in the death of 74-year-old Lawrence Larry Paul Whittle. He had argued he acted in self-defense, claiming his father threatened him with a shotgun that went off in the ensuing struggle.

On appeal Aaron Whittles attorney argued prosecutors shouldnt have been allowed to show photos of dead cows and unused equipment at the farm to the jury.

The state said the evidence about the deceased cows and run-down equipment backed their theory that the farm was in dire financial straits, which they said was a motive for the killing.

The Iowa Court of Appeals agreed with the state in a ruling handed down Wednesday.

The father and son had run a dairy farm on Sand Rock Road, but the business later pivoted to the buying and selling of cattle when certain pieces of equipment broke down.

Larrys wife had handled the books, and that task fell to Aaron when she died. According to court records, the son struggled with the bookkeeping, resulting in occasional overdrafts.

Prosecutors said the father was shot in the living room where he had been sleeping in a recliner in March 2022. The son then tried to cover up the slaying by burning the body, recliner and shotgun in a metal feeding trough. The trough was hidden in a pile of hay bales on the farm.

After failing to remove blood from the carpet, Aaron Whittle covered the stain with an area rug. He drove his fathers truck to Moe Park several miles away and then walked back.

Afterward, he bought a new recliner to replace the one he had burned, went about his daily chores, and met friends for supper at a local pizza establishment, court records state.

He reported his father missing after a farmhand started to notice Larrys truck wasnt around.

When investigators found the blood stain, Aaron Whittle admitted to the slaying, but said it was an accident and self-defense.

Evidence submitted at trial included bone fragments that experts were able to link to Larry, burned glasses and dentures and the charred pieces of an over-under shotgun.

A review of his internet search history turned up questions about survival possibilities for gunshots wounds to the head and the operation of the safety for a Browning 725 shotgun in the early morning hours of March 18, 2022. About 54 minutes later, the browser history showed a TeenVogue.com article titled How to Get Blood Out of Clothes: 17 Mom-Approved Hacks.

Aaron Whittle is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence and will have to serve 35 years before he is eligible for parole.
AMES  A growing percentage of students across Iowas public universities feel comfortable expressing their opinions on and off campus, in and out of class, and even on social media  according to a second free speech survey Iowas Board of Regents.

The survey was administered earlier this year, just over two years after the board ordered its first following a string of campus incidents that drew intense criticism from Republican lawmakers.

Like the students, university employees who responded to this survey administered from Jan. 31 to March 1, 2024, reported similar increases in positive free-speech feelings  compared with the first survey conducted between Nov. 9 and Dec. 1, 2021.

Fewer faculty were, however, willing to strongly agree with statements like, I feel comfortable expressing my opinions when I am at work. Rather, 40% of employee respondents somewhat agreed with that statement  above the 32% who strongly agreed.

Overall, a larger percentage of students and employees this year either strongly or somewhat agreed with free-speech positive statements than in 2021  with the percent of students who agreed higher than the percent of employees.

For example, where 64% of students reported feeling comfortable expressing their opinions on social media, a minority 48% of employee respondents said they did  with 28% strongly disagreeing with that statement.

And the total response rate to the emailed survey, especially among students, was down this year from 2021  with 7.5% of the 63,645 possible students responding this year, or 4,748. In 2021, 7,062 students responded  amounting to 10% of that years possible 69,459.

The vast majority (87 percent) of students agreed that they felt comfortable expressing their opinions related to things they were studying in class, according to a regents report on the 2024 results. Agreement with that statement increased by nearly 10 percentage points from 2021 to 2024.

Not who we are

Addressing free speech across its public universities became a pressing concern for the regents in 2020 after news of speech-suppressing incidents on each campus made its way to the State Capitol, where Republican lawmakers slammed the institutions and called the university presidents to Des Moines for answers.

In response, regents President Michael Richards in November 2020 issued a statement affirming, Everyone has the right to express their own opinion.

Disagreeing on issues and having a respectful debate about those issues should happen on our university campuses, he said. What should not happen is preventing another person or groups opinion from being expressed or threatening those opinions with possible repercussions. This is not who we are, and it is not right.

The board subsequently formed a free speech committee that made 10 recommendations  including the survey and other policy and practical changes and affirmations, like one ensuring university resources will not be used for partisan activities.

To that point, 83% of students who responded to the survey earlier this year said they thought their university provided an environment for the free and open expression of ideas, opinions, and beliefs  up 10 percentage points from 73% in 2021. At the same time, 30% of student respondents this year disagreed with a different question asking if their university fostered an environment allowing them to say things I believe, even though others might find them offensive.

Significant improvement

And although most students gave themselves credit for seeking out and listening to differing viewpoints  at 82%, down from 90% in 2021  they gave their peers far less credit. A majority, or 53%, of student respondents disagreed with the statement: Other students at my university seek out and listen to people with different views. In 2021, 60% disagreed with that statement  indicating some improvement.

What you typically see in a lot of these national surveys are folks saying, Other people are not particularly good at interacting with those that are different from themselves, but Im very good at that, board Associate Chief Academic Officer Jason Pontius said. What we saw in this survey is a little bit of a movement toward the happy medium.

One area in which employee respondents differed from students was in the question of whether the university allowed them to say things I believe, even though others might find them offensive. About 43% of employees disagreed with that statement, while just 24% of student respondents disagreed.

To the portion of the survey investigating how often students and employees interact with people different from themselves  regarding things like race, gender identity, religion, and political beliefs  students this year reported being less likely than in 2021 to interact with someone holding different political beliefs, with 23% reporting doing so less than once a week.

About 36% of student respondents said they interact daily with someone of a different race or ethnicity, up from 34% in 2021. Similarly, about 38% of employees said they interact with someone of a different race daily.

In general, regent David Barker asked whether this years survey results represent a statistically significant improvement in the scores?

I would say so, yes, Pontius said.
Daniel Welderufael, 37, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police said he shot at a couple last month. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Police say a 37-year-old San Antonio man shot at two people after a minor accident south of downtown.

Daniel Berhane Welderufael has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

According to the arrest affidavit, police responded to a shooting on March 16 in the 220 block of East Fest Street. A 22-year-old man and his 22-year-old girlfriend told officers that Welderufael shot at them several times, striking the woman in the arm.

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Video surveillance obtained by police shows that a minor accident happened between Welderufael and the couple. An argument ensued, and then Welderufael produced a firearm and began to shoot at the man, the affidavit states.

As the man retreated to his car, Welderufael continued to shoot, striking the vehicle multiple times, according to police. During the incident, the woman was hit by a bullet.

Police obtained more surveillance video from interior cameras at the incident location. The recording showed Welderufael picking up food for a delivery company minutes before the shooting, the affidavit states.

At the scene, witnesses also took photos of Welderufaels car as he fled. Police found his vehicle using the picture showing a part of his license plate.

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Police also obtained information from the food delivery company about the person assigned to the specific order before the shooting occurred.
My attempt to explain why a successful investigation is feasible.  Larry Johnson

https://youtu.be/fUPb7pMZ1_k?si=4nIUU8rbEfHc_mrm

Link to download of VID_20240426_221033_782

***

Unbelievable

Russias UN rep Nebenzya thanks expert (bottom vid), highlighting fact that even Americans have hard time hiding their outrage at Washingtons actions despite West turning blind eye:

Its as if crime was committed  murder, say  and year went by and investigative authorities concluded that victim was murdered. This scenario is really theatre of absurd  Nebenzya (00:44 in bottom vid).

WtR
Sergei Shoigu: SCO waits for Belarus to join organisation in near future

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is expected Belarus to join the SCO very soon, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

It is encouraging to see that the participation in our Meeting continues to expand. We welcome the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and expect Belarus to become a new member in the near future, said Sergei Shoigu at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

They Russian Defence Minister is confident that this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO zone, which will give added impetus to joint work of the defence departments of the organisation.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: U.S. first create conflict in Ukraine, and now purposefully prolong it

The conflict in Ukraine is created by Washington, D.C., today the U.S. is deliberately prolonging it, this demonstrates the Wests desire to maintain global dominance by any means necessary, and to impose its dictates on independent countries, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The U.S. first created and now purposefully prolong the conflict in Ukraine, said Sergei Shoigu at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

He noted that the Russian side share the assessments made during the meeting about the current international situation, which remains difficult and tends to get worse.

The geopolitical divisions are breaking up, the basics of strategic stability are being destroyed, the role of international institutions is being reduced. This is mainly due to the desire of the United States and its allies to maintain global dominance by all means and to impose their dictates on independent countries, said the Russian Defence Minister. To achieve its goals, Washington is putting unprecedented pressure on its partners, including by delegating them the role of obedient performers, said Sergei Shoigu. According to Sergei Shoigu, there are many examples of U.S. interference in the affairs of sovereign states, including with the change of unfavourable regimes. These countries are Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, said the head of the military department. Financial, political-diplomatic, and in some cases also forceful methods are widely used as tools of influence, continued Shoigu. A repeatedly practised reception is used: to fuel and maintain hotbeds of instability in various regions of the world, to create security threats with the simultaneous offer of military assistance to neutralise them.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: NATO troops create additional threats to military security near borders of Russian Federation

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the NATO troops that were standing close to the Russian borders created additional threats to military security.

The NATO alliances troops approached the Russian borders and created additional threats to military security. I want to emphasise that it was not us, but they came to us. This once again shows that it is impossible to believe the Western countries. Now we are accused that if Russia does not stop in Ukraine, then we are supposed to attack the countries of the NATO alliance, said Shoigu on Friday at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers in Astana.

He noted that Russia presents to the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other states.

In addition, said Shoigu, after the Soviet Unions break-up, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation continues to expand to the east, even though we were promised that this will not happen in the 1990s. At the same time, six waves of NATO expansion have passed since 1999.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: Russia has neither geopolitical nor military interests to attack NATO countries

Russia has no and has never planned to attack the NATO countries. Today, during the special military operation, the Russian Federation is simply protecting the interests of its people on historical grounds.

The Russian Federation has never threatened NATO. We have no geopolitical or military interests in attacking the NATO states. We are just protecting our people in our historical territories, said Sergei Shoigu during the meeting of the SCO defence ministers in Astana.

He stressed that the Russian Federation has always made the maximum of efforts to maintain strategic stability and a balance of forces around the world.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: Western military specialists directly participate in planning of sabotage actions on Russian territory

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that foreign advisers are directly involved in the preparation of sabotage operations carried out by Kiev on Russian territory.

Planning and training of sabotage actions are carried out with the direct participation of advisers, including on the territory of Russia. On almost daily basis, with the tacit consent of the West, Kiev uses the weapons it receives from the Western countries to damage the civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation, said Sergei Shoigu at a meeting of defence ministers of the SCO member states on Friday.

According to the Russian Defence Minister, While demonstrating an allegedly desire for de-escalation, the collective West continues to infuse Kiev with weapons the uncontrolled movement of which creates risks of its becoming a target of terrorist organisations.

Reconnaissance data are transmitted in real time, training of Ukrainian servicemen is organised, Western military specialists and mercenaries are in the zone of combat operations, said the Russian Defence Minister.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: AFU strikes on Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant can lead to catastrophe

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant could have catastrophic consequences.

The continuous strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the Nuclear Power Plant are extremely disturbing, which may have catastrophic consequences, said Sergei Shoigu at the meeting of the ministers of defence of the SCO member countries on Friday.

He also noted that the trail of the terrorist act committed on 22 March in the concert room of the Crocus City Hall also leads to Ukraine.

It is only a matter of time before the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation states that all those responsible for these illegal acts and atrocities will definitely receive the necessary punishment.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: Russian Armed Forces achieve all objectives of special military operation in Ukraine

Western attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia are doomed to failure, all the goals of the special military operation will be achieved, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting of defence ministers of the SCO member states on Friday.

The Russian Armed Forces continue to effectively carry out the missions the special military operation.- All its objectives will be achieved, said Sergei Shoigu.

He noted that on the basis of the experience gained, the combat actions of the Russian troops are optimised, the countrys defence industry complex is being developed, the system of training of military personnel is being improved, the skills acquired are being improved around operational and combat training activities.

It is therefore impossible for any attempt by the West to inflict strategic defeat on us said the Russian Defence Minister.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: NATO and EU confrontational course towards Russia has negative impact on SCO countries area

The NATOs and the European Unions course on intensifying relations with Russia has a negative impact on the situation in the responsibility area of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

I would like to point out that the confrontational course of the NATO and the European Union towards the Russian Federation and our partners has a negative impact on the situation in the SCO area and around the world, Sergei Shoigu said.

According to Sergei Shoigu, in the Central Asian region, the main threat still comes from the radical terrorist groups located on the territory of Afghanistan.

The situation in this country is complex and a source of terrorism and extremism proliferation, said the Russian Defence Minister.

He stressed that Washington intensified efforts to restore its Central and South Asian positions lost after the withdrawal of coalition troops from the former Islamic Republic.

I believe, said Sergei Shoigu, that all those present share the view that it is unacceptable to accommodate the military infrastructure of the United States of America and its allies in the region.

These kind of intentions must be considered a direct threat to stability in the SCO area.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: Criticism by West of Iran shows dual standards of assessing right of countries to self-defence

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke of the Wests double standards regarding the exercise of the right of self-defence by states.

We must mention the double standards of the West when it comes to the exercise of the vital right to self-defence, said Sergei Shoigu at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

As an example, the Russian Minister cited Irans retaliatory operation in response to the blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus.

The result of this kid of a policy was the non-action of the UN Security Council, which was unable to make the relevant decisions. The Russian side has repeatedly warned that the unsettledness of crises in the Middle East and irresponsible provocations will increase tensions. We call on all the parties involved to exercise restraint and solve problems by political and diplomatic means, said the Russian Defence Minister.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu: U.S. try to transform security system in Asia-Pacific Region from ASEAN-sentrimic to U.S.-led



Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that U.S.-based military-political structures are trying to revamp the Asia-Pacific Region security system to dominate this part of the world.

As for the Asia-Pacific Region, there are also planned attempts to re-formatise the regional security system from the ASEAN-sentrimic one to the American one. This is done by strengthening Washington-based military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS, and the Triangle Union, said Sergei Shoigu, speaking at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

He noted, however, that the Taiwan factor is actively being used to increase pressure on China.

In addition, the return to the South-East Asia of radical Islamists from the Middle East and North Africa creates preconditions for the establishment of new hotbeds in the medium run. In the emerging geopolitical conditions, forming a universal continental security architecture in Eurasia becomes an important task of the SCO. Naturally, while preserving the central role of the United Nations and being committed to its Charter.

According to the Russian Defence Minister, it will be facilitated by the convergence or proximity of the SCO member Statess approaches to key international issues and the establishment of a new world order.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Sergei Shoigu calls for ensuring resilience of SCO to destructive external threats and crises

The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation should ensure the resilience of the formation to destructive outside forces, including attempts to provoked colour revolutions in the SCO countries, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

It is necessary to ensure the organisations resilience to attempts to undermine its cohesion, to provoked colour revolutions and crises in the member states. We need to jointly counter the desire of Russian allies to destroy long-standing ties between the SCO countries, ensure an optimal consideration of the national interests of each member state, and continue the course of further rapprochement, said Sergei Shoigu, speaking at the meeting of the SCO defence ministers on Friday.

It seems logical, in this context, to combine the organisations potential with that of other international security structures on our continent.

More emphasis needs to be placed on developing contacts along the military line between the SCO and the CSTO, stated Sergei Shoigu.

Another task the Minister called it was to strengthen the role of the SCO as one of the strongholds of the new multipolar international system, as well as a model of interstate relations based on equality and mutual respect.

The key element of this work remains the implementation of the agreements reached by the heads of the states members of the organisation, said the Russian Defence Minister.

He also noted that military cooperation has a special place in interstate relations in the format of the SCO.

Therefore, emphasis should be placed on close interaction within the defence departments, developing a stable information exchange to respond timely to terrorist and other potential threats, said Sergei Shoigu.

The Russian Minister said that in this regard, joint operational and combat training activities are of particular importance.

We need to expand the geography and topics of joint exercises, strengthen their information coverage and improve the training of the units involved. During these events, we are ready to share our experience and best practice in conducting combat operations, said the Russian Defence Minister.

Sergei Shoigu proposed that representatives of other regional groupings, particularly the CSTO and CIS, as well as friendly countries, be invited to participate in activities of the defence departments of the SCO  especially for operational and combat training  so that they may participate in the event.

We believe, stated Sergei Shoigu, that the implementation of these proposals will ensure the further development of the SCO and the maintenance of stability in the organisations area.

At the end of the statement, he expressed confidence that todays meeting of the ministers of defence of the SCO member countries would contribute to further deepening ties between the defence agencies of the states and strengthening security.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Russian and Kyrgyzstans defence ministers sign agreements on information exchange and cooperation in field of nuclear, biological and chemical protection in Astana

Two interdepartmental agreements have been signed on the basis of the results of the meeting: on information exchange and on cooperation in the detection and assessment of the radiation, chemical and biological situation.

During the talks, Sergei Shoigu and Baktybek Bekbolotov discussed topical issues of cooperation in the military sphere and also outlined prospects for further cooperation.

 Russian Defence Ministry

Iran Meeting:

Sergei Shoigu: Russian-Iranian contacts between leaderships of military departments increase significantly

Contacts between Moscow and Tehran at the highest level and through the leadership of military departments have multiplied amid threats to the security of the two states, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

The joint fight against international terrorism in Syria is a vivid example of our long-standing friendly relations. Recently, they have acquired a particularly trusting character and are successfully developing. The intensity of contacts has increased significantly, both at the highest level and at the level of the leadership of military departments, said Sergei Shoigu during a working meeting with the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Ashtiani in Astana on Friday.

According to Sergei Shoigu, the cooperation between Russia and Iran has always been dynamic and multifaceted.

The current military-political situation and threats to our states oblige us to do this, as well as common approaches to building a just world order based on equality of all participants in the international community, said the Russian Defence Minister.

We confirm our readiness for further development and expansion of mutually beneficial military and military-technical cooperation. We will pay special attention to this, said the Russian Minister of Defence.

 Russian Defence Ministry

 Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Islamic Republic of Iran: Relations with Russia reach new level

Relations between Moscow and Tehran are reaching a new level, said Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Ashtiani.

Our relations are only developing and expanding, reaching a new level, said Mohammad Ashtiani at talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Astana on Friday.

He expressed gratitude to the Russian Defence Minister for Irans support at the time of the attack on the Republics embassy in the Syrian capital and Tehrans response to this attack.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your fair, honest position towards the Islamic Republic of Iran for your support at the time of the attack on our consulate in Damascus, as well as for your balanced reaction to our proportionate response, said Mohammad Ashtiani.

He thanked his Russian counterpart for the position expressed at the general meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member countries, which was held earlier in Astana on Friday.

 Russian Defence Ministry

WtR
The Washoe County School District is about halfway done with the candidates' interview process in search of their new superintendent.

They gave the community an opportunity to get to know the five finalists at their 'Meet 'n Greet" event on Thursday.

The school board has chosen candidates both locally and from outside the area. Those candidates explained their past experiences with education and why our community should consider them for superintendent.

"I've been in the Washoe County School District for over 25 years," said candidate Joseph Ernst. "I've had the opportunity to serve as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, area superintendent, and currently chief continuum improvement officer."

"I was superintendent at Tuscon Unified, then I went on to Douglas County, Colorado, which is a district about 67,000 students, and currently I serve as superintendent at Humble which is at Houston, Texas really," said candidate Elizabeth Fagen.

Some of the top priorities many of the candidates collectively share is building safety, improving learning outcomes, and increasing longevity of the position.

"My purpose is to improve student learning outcomes," said candidate Troy Parks. "So how we would go about that is every teacher, every school, we want them to undergo a training which often is called learning clarity or teacher clarity."

Some candidates also want to work toward strengthening the relationship between the community and the school district to better focus on helping our students.

"I'm a less is more guy," said candidate Charles McNulty. "You do what you do really well, but you also include student voice, teacher voice and family voice in the decision making. You have to get people to feel like they're a participant in their own education."

"The strength of our schools is dependent on the strength of our community and the strength of our community is dependent on the strength of our schools, and so we need together to build the system our kids deserve," said candidate Paul LaMarca.

Tomorrow candidates will attend a special meeting with the trustees and the public is also invited to that.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are taking part in the annual Mounted Patrol School Week.

The course offers training for mounted horse teams across from Northern Nevada for riders to better handle their horses.

Some agencies include the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Carson City Sheriff's Office, Reno Police Department, and Sparks Police Department.

The school provides a yearly certification for mounted riders as well as providing more training and education.

"The importance is that each of member on the mounted unit has to be post certified to be able to ride a mounted unit through the public," said Sergeant George Cholico, Washoe County Sheriff's Office Mounted Horse Unit. "Any time we have any issues such as riots."

The week of training throws a lot at riders and horses.

"They run through a lot of obstacles," Sergeant Cholico said. "Most of it is to desensitize the horses. Get them exposed to noises, sirens, fireworks. Anything that can possibly be outside of a normal environment."

They throw these at the horses. That way they aren't scared when they have to act on a situation in a large crowd.

Today's training included the use of Washoe County's helicopter, known as the RAVEN, as well as the K9 teams.

Both types of animals work together quite often, so they say this aspect of the training is super important.

"That exposes the dogs with the horses and of course the horses with dogs," Sergeant Cholico said. "So that the horses can be calm at all times with a dog right next to it or having to stand by in case we need to make an arrest."

Sergeant Cholico has led Washoe County's Mounted Horse Unit for three years now and he says the bonds he has built with his team and the horses is what keeps him going.

He also says the most difficult part of this certification is when you have a new rider and a new horse together, especially when there's a lot of noise for the rider to try and keep the horse composed.
Steve Garcia still gets emotional when he talks about the 30 terrifying minutes of chaos and gunfire that claimed two lives, left dozens injured and forced the cancellation of the venerable Battle of Flowers Parade 45 years ago.

Waiting to step off with the MacArthur High School marching band, Garcia was under a highway bridge near the front of the parade when he started hearing loud popping sounds. The noise  and the sight of gunshot victims falling to the pavement  was already sending panicked spectators running for cover blocks away.

Today, the location just off Broadway is a small, recently completed pocket park with landscaping, a bike rack, tables, chairs and a few other amenities surrounded by newish apartment and office buildings just east of the trendy Pearl area.

But what it looked like on Friday, April 27, 1979, is seared in Garcias memory. It wasnt until he watched the television news that night with his family that he began to process his feelings.

I just started bawling, and I couldnt stop for two days, he said.

San Antonians old enough to remember it still refer to the gunman as the Fiesta sniper.

David McLemore, right, a reporter with the San Antonio Express-News, helps police get a man and his son to safety amid gunfire at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979. This photo was taken by Express-News photographer Steve Campbell near Broadway and Grayson Street. Courtesy / David McLemore Oxbow Park, at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street, is a recently completed oasis where a gunman fired on the crowd at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News SWAT team members enter the sniper's recreational vehicle on April 27, 1979. They found Ira Attebury, 64, dead. Al Guzman/SAN ANTONIO LIGHT A view of Oxbow Park at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street. The recently completed park was built where a gunman parked his recreational vehicle and fired on the crowd at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979, killing two and seriously wounding 17. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Oxbow Park, at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street, is a recently completed oasis built on the site where a gunman fired on the crowd at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Oxbow Park, at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street, is a recently completed oasis built on the site where a gunman fired on the crowd at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Oxbow Park, at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street, is a recently completed oasis built on the site where a gunman fired on the crowd at the Battle of Flowers Parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

In an era before mass shootings became a too-common ingredient of the news cycle, shocked observers could only compare the random violence at Fiesta to the 1966 shooting at the University of Texas at Austin that killed 17 people and wounded 30. The San Antonio tragedy might have been worse, if not for the survival instincts of those in the crowd, the fast action of police and first responders  and a little luck.

The parade had been underway for a few minutes on a typically hot, sunny late April day when the gunshots were reported at 1:08 p.m. Some 5,000 of the estimated 200,000 people on the route bolted, scurrying for safety.

Witnesses said they heard a man in a recreational vehicle shout, Traitors, traitors, traitors! right before the shooting began.

It was Ira Attebury, a 64-year-old World War II veteran who had parked his green-and-cream-colored Winnebago by a tire shop at the southwest corner of Broadway and Grayson Street. He blasted at police with a shotgun, then picked up a semiautomatic rifle and fired repeatedly, seemingly at anyone who moved, including children.

The South San Antonio ISD West Campus High School band, the parades first, had started down Broadway. The bands from East Central and MacArthur high schools were next. Garcia, now 62, was a junior in MacArthurs trumpet section.

San Antonio police SWAT team members enter the vehicle of the sniper (left). photo by Al Guzman/San Antonio Light. Oxbow Park (Right) located at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street. It is the location where a gunman opened fire on the parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Photos by Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Al Guzman/San Antonio Light and Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio police SWAT team members enter the vehicle of the sniper (left). photo by Al Guzman/San Antonio Light. Oxbow Park (Right) located at the intersection of Broadway and Grayson Street. It is the location where a gunman opened fire on the parade in 1979, killing two people and seriously wounding 17 others. Photos by Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Al Guzman/San Antonio Light and Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

We had just finished tuning up, and we were excited, getting ready to go. The first thing I heard wasnt startling because it sounded like firecrackers, he recalled. All of a sudden, we saw people running around the corner back in our direction.

We started seeing everybody run, so we started running, too, Garcia said. We saw people throwing their instruments down and running. That was the part that was really shocking. We were taught to respect our instruments.

David McLemore, a San Antonio Express-News reporter, had just returned from lunch with his wife, who also worked at the paper. Theyd been married six days earlier.

Suddenly, he became the lead writer on a breaking front-page story when the newspapers police scanners picked up radio transmissions about a sniper at the start of the parade. McLemore grabbed a notebook and raced there in a weathered blue Volkswagen Beetle.

I just started bawling, and I couldnt stop for two days. Witnesses said the initial sequence of gunfire lasted about 30 seconds, before responding police turned it into a standoff and siege punctuated by occasional shooting.

When he arrived, people were in full-bore panic, and I could hear gunshots, recalled McLemore, now 77 and retired.

Two police officers were helping a man and his young son get to safety. Seeing the father losing his grip, McLemore ran up to catch the weeping boy, then knelt behind a telephone pole, realizing he was maybe a little too close to the action.

He moved back into the anxious crowd and started working with Express-News photographer Steve Campbell, interviewing survivors. One of them was Dianne Wick, whose sister suffered a gunshot wound to the throat but survived. Though clipped by a bullet herself, Wick comforted her 9-year-old nephew.

Campbells photo of Wick holding the boy  her eyes glazed with shock, McLemore said  became an iconic image of the tragic event.

The 1979 shooting unfolded by the Burggraf Tire Co. at the southwest corner of Broadway and Grayson Street. Al Guzman/SAN ANTONIO LIGHT FILE PHOTO

Police set up a command post a block north of Grayson and positioned emergency vehicles near the Winnebago to shield the crowds. They fired several rounds of bullets and tear gas through the roof of the RV from atop the tire shop.

I took a moment to look back toward the RV and saw police maneuver toward the door and enter. I heard multiple gunshots, and then it was over, McLemore said.

As the siege unfolded, Garcia and other MacArthur band members hid behind cars or buses. They later noticed a really odd odor, like burning plastic  the tear gas  scratching their throats and making them cough. As things got calmer, they were told to head back to their school buses. The daytime street parade, a time-honored event dating to 1891 that gradually became the citywide celebration now known as Fiesta, was canceled.

Everyone was in stunned silence as they walked back, Garcia said.

Back at school, the teens were reprimanded by band directors.

We were actually being scolded for throwing down our instruments and not acting professionally. I thought that was a little odd, that we just went through this and that was their concern at the time, Garcia said.

The shooting took the life of Ida Jean Dollard, 27, who was at the parade with her brother, 10, and daughter, 7. She also was survived by a 5-month-old son.

In a 1999 photo, 20 years after the Fiesta sniper shooting, Kathi Sikes and her son, T.J. Lapping, hold clips of pictures taken of them during the tragic event of April 27, 1979. GLORIA FERNIZ/AP

Amelia Castillo, 47, a widow and mother of 13 children, also was killed. She was attending beauty school and learning to drive to support her family. Three of her children and one grandchild were among those wounded or hurt in falls or accidents. Castillo prayed with her children before she died at the scene, one of her daughters told the Express-News in 1999.

Fifty-one people were taken to hospitals, including five police officers and 12 others with serious gunshot wounds. Others were less severely wounded or injured in the melee. Castillos 14-year-old daughter was burned when a gas tank was hit by a bullet and ruptured.

Attebury was found dead inside the RV. His rifle had jammed. A medical examiner ruled he had used a handgun to take his own life, though some officers at the scene that day believe he might have been mortally wounded by police gunfire. More than a dozen other firearms and a stash of ammunition were in the RV.

Attebury had a history of mental illness, afflicted by schizophrenia and paranoid delusions. Traces of the drug PCP were found in his blood.

By the time Garcias father picked him up at MacArthur, details of the shooting were filtering out on radio and television and the extent of the horror had become clear.

When I got home later that evening, my mom and sisters were just bawling as I walked in the door. Im getting choked up again, thinking about that, he said.
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For many, an independent bookshop is much more than a storefront. Its a place where book lovers can immerse themselves in a niche and well-curated selection of material not found in larger chain stores. Plus, indie bookstores are often hubs for social events, author readings, book club meetings and more, creating a sense of community while boosting the local economy.

In light of Independent Bookstore Day on April 27, weve rounded up a selection of these niche brick-and-mortar retailers for you to explore. And if you cant make it in person to peruse the shelves, these bookstores can also ship your order.

Photo-eye Bookstore in Santa Fe, New Mexico, specializes in photography books. Rixon Reed

Art, film and photography

Drama Book Shop: New York City

The Drama Book Shop is a thespian haven. The store, which has had different locations in New Yorks theater district since its founding in 1917, is now in Midtown Manhattan. Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda  who began rehearsals of his debut musical, In the Heights, in the theater space housed in the bookstores previous location on West 40th Street  is a co-owner. The shop specializes ins arts-related works and regularly stocks more than 8,000 plays. Theres even a section on acting, auditioning and working on both stage and screen. It also hosts weekly events that are recorded live and featured on The Drama Book Show! podcast. Hanging from the ceiling is an impressive 140-foot-long bookworm. The brainchild of Hamiltons scenic designer and creative director, David Korins, the bookworm is made up of more than 2,000 books, scripts and manuscripts strung together in chronological order.

Also check out:

Book Soup in West Hollywood, California, for its selection of literary fiction as well as books about art, film, photography and music (and occasional celebrity sightings).

Photo-eye Bookstore in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is dedicated to photography books.

Marcus Books in Oakland, California, has hosted Toni Morrison and other renowned Black authors. Courtesy Marcus Books

Black Voices



Black Pearl Books: Austin, Texas

Black Pearl Books is a Black- and woman-owned bookstore that was established in November 2019 as a modest online seller hosting pop-up events and booths at Austin markets. But in June 2020, in the wake of the rising social justice movement, the company received more than 10,000 book orders. In 2022, the owners were able to open a brick-and-mortar shop, focusing on books that highlight diverse representation and inclusion. The store hosts a Redacted Reads book club featuring banned books. The owners also started a nonprofit, Put it in A Book, which partners with schools and other Austin-based organizations to help make books accessible for all.

Also check out:

For Keeps Books for Black, rare and classic books in Atlanta.

Marcus Books in Oakland, California, which has hosted authors such as Patti LaBelle, Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou throughout its 60-year run.

Tuscons Antigone Books promotes new and local authors. Kate Stern and Morgan Miller

Community-centric

Antigone Books: Tucson, Arizona

Antigone Books has been providing feminist reads since 1973 and has been 100 percent solar powered since 2011. The bookstore has a program that helps put new and local Pima County authors on its shelves. New books that are self-published through this program undergo a review system where they may be displayed for up to six months, depending on customer interest. Many of these books are signed by the author. Antigone also hosts live readings. The store has even hosted a Valentines Daythemed blind date books event: Customers choose a paper-wrapped book by genre only, so theyre in for a surprise when they unwrap it.

Also check out:

A Room of Ones Own, a queer- and trans-owned feminist bookstore that partners with local organizations to promote literacy in Madison, Wisconsin.

Busboys and Poets, a restaurant, bar and bookstore that centers progressive voices throughout several locations in the Washington, D.C., area.
The entrepreneur advertises his business online by way of rapping. I got the key right here, I got the time right there, he sings. Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. 



The services hes selling? Stealing checks, credit cards and personal information from U.S. Postal Service mailboxes using a stolen arrow key of the type used by postal workers to access locked mailboxes.

Members only

Elsewhere, in an encrypted social media chat group, a criminal posts screenshots of a hacked Bank of America checking account thats up for sale. The account balance: $3,884. The owners full name, bank account number, phone number, address and access to her payment app are part of the deal  all for $3.

Welcome to the dark web. These are just a few of the scenes observed on a recent day by criminologist David Maimon as he tapped out a few keystrokes on his laptop and slipped into this hidden criminal world.

This ecosystem is exploding, says Maimon, whose Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group at Georgia State University in Atlanta spies on criminals who steal billions of dollars a year. Were talking about enormous networks and organized criminal groups with sophisticated operations.

A look inside the dark web

In the nefarious corners of the internet, criminals talk to each other with complete anonymity. Maimons cybersleuths see it all  from stacks of stolen, washed and forged checks to pilfered drivers licenses and purloined health insurance cards sold from one scammer to another. The personal identification information is often more valuable than the cash they can steal, Maimon says. They can open new bank accounts, get fake drivers licenses, buy guns. The stolen identity opens the door to any kind of financial activity, he says.

The dark web is a group of hidden sites that can be accessed only with a special web browser that keeps users identities anonymous. You cant get there via a Google search, for instance. Users cant be traced, making the dark web attractive for criminals selling their stolen goods and illegal services.

Maimon and his group have watched romance scammers using smartphone technology to alter their faces as they woo unsuspecting victims, observed criminals luring newcomers into the business with videos of thick wads of cash, and viewed homemade videos of scammers boasting about their successes. In one mysterious video the team found last fall, a man in a black and silver mask assures his clients hell be back in business soon. That business, Maimon says, mainly involves defrauding banks.
(MUSIC INTRO)

[00:00:01] Bob: This week on The Perfect Scam.

(MUSIC SEGUE)

[00:00:05] You've reached the Open Up S Channel. My name is Sanchez. Yes, I sell Chase bank accounts. Yes, I am one of the first people who started to sell bank accounts four years ago. But actively working in this field began in 2022.

(MUSIC SEGUE)

[00:00:27] Bob: Welcome back to The Perfect Scam. I'm your host, Bob Sullivan.

(MUSIC SEGUE)

[00:00:33] Bob: The Dark Web, you've probably heard about it full of internet criminals, the place where stolen data is bought and sold, where anonymity enables, well, almost anything. But you've probably never been to the Dark Web until today. David Maimon spends a lot of time there conducting research at Georgia State University. He and his students create fake personas, go undercover, and lurk in these dark corners of the internet learning all they can about the computer underground. If you've picked up an AARP Bulletin this month, then you probably read the article about David Maimon. Here at The Perfect Scam we wanted to dive a little bit deeper into the Dark Web with David. Whatever you're heard about it, well that's just the tip of the iceberg as you'll hear David tell us. But even before we get to that, first David will explain why there's just so many people involved in cybercrime these days. It's all because of what David calls the greatest heist in history.

[00:01:39] David Maimon: Well what we're seeing here in, in the last uh five years or so, essentially a transition and that, that started in COVID times where you know the greatest heist of all times happened, criminals stealing billions of dollars from the government assuming other people's identities, submitting fraudulent unemployment benefits application, and fraudulent SBA loans application and, and then getting them in drop accounts, like mule accounts, uh mule bank accounts they were able to open and then run away with the money. You know the greatest heist of all time. We're talking about, I mean some estimates talk about close to a trillion dollars, other talk about maybe less than that, but within a period of two years a lot of money being lost and that money is essentially stimulus money that the government uh put out there for citizens to go through the tough COVID time. Folks realized that it's fairly very easy to get in fraud during that time, and that they can engage with many other people in this type of crime. And they started to engage in, branch out, sort of speaking and look for other opportunities to engage in, in fraud.

[00:02:51] Bob: Youre probably heard a lot about scams that made the rounds during Covid times. Many targeted consumers, but government agencies were targeted too. Heres just one mind-numbing number: the Government Accountability Office now estimates that between 100 billion and $135 billion was stolen by imposters applying for unemployment insurance from state agencies.

[00:03:22] Bob: Just crazy to think about, but I, I think the point you're making also is really, really important which is that brought a whole bunch of people into the fraud business who now are trained and so it made this line of work seem very attractive. So now we have to deal with the fallout from that, right?

[00:03:39] David Maimon: It opened the can of worms, so to speaking, and now, now we're dealing with this.

[00:03:45] Bob: Like a conquering army returning home after a war, restless and looking for something else to conquer, the criminals drawn into cybercrime by the pandemic are out there now conducting more and more crimes looking for more and more victims. That's the world we're dealing with now. And that's why the rate of scams seems to be exploding. And many of these criminals, well they gather on the Dark Web to connect and to hone their craft, and that's where David and his team track what they're doing. David wasn't always a cybersecurity expert; he actually began his career in sociology.

[00:04:26] Bob: I personally think it's really important that people from all sorts of disciplines get involved in this problem. What do you bring from your sociology background that helps you in cybersecurity do you think?

[00:04:38] David Maimon: I've been doing this for quite a while now, and uh I can tell you at the beginning when I first started doing this line of work, um, I think that most of what we, we brought at the time was knowledge about the human factor, knowledge about how human behave, how human think. Uh I can think about things like heuristics and decision-making processes that we were testing in cyber space, and specifically testing with hackers and online offenders. A lot of knowledge about sociological models, psychological models that we brought and which we were really interested in examining in cyberspace. I can say that now, and with the time and the mileage I was able to accrue with this line of work, I can definitely say that we bring some technical knowledge as well. We simply learn as you walk.

[00:05:23] Bob: David wanted to study the people on the Dark Web along with the crimes they're committing, and so the evidence-based cybersecurity research group at Georgia State University was born. David is its Director.

[00:05:37] Bob: People are, of course, I'm sure always interested in hearing from you about the Dark Web, so let's talk a little bit about, about that, first of all, what, what is the Dark Web?

[00:05:45] David Maimon: Yeah, it's, it's a very good question, and typically when I talk about the Dark Net and I'm trying to understand or explain the Dark Web to folks, I wanted to refer to this really famous image that most cybersecurity experts, as well as cybercrime scholars refer to when, when they sort of try to explain uh what the Dark Web is, and that is the image of an iceberg. An iceberg, you know, a large mass of ice that has broken off from a glacier or ice shelf and then simply floating in open water. You know folks probably would, would know that we observe above water is the tip of the iceberg, and then the majority of the iceberg is submersed in water. And so when I explain, I try to explain what the Dark Web is, I want folks to imagine this iceberg and I want them to think about the Clear Net, the internet they're using on a daily basis as the tip of the iceberg. So you know, 10% of the internet as, as we use it, between 10 to 12% of the internet as, as you know folks are familiar with, is you know the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the internet though is what we call uh the Deep Web. The Deep Web is essentially submerged, right, in deep water. It requires folks with specific software here to access it.

[00:07:10] Bob: So, most of the internet, the Dark Web or the Deep Web or the Dark Net, is operating away from our view.

[00:07:19] Bob: Why do we call it Dark?

[00:07:21] David Maimon: Well the reason why we call the Deep Web or the Dark Net dark, is because of this extra level of anonymity that is being granted to you once you use this ecosystem. If you think about the internet the way you use it right now, the Clear Net, you know you're probably using https protocol which allows some level of anonymity, but you know anyone at the end of the day who will monitor the traffic coming from my computer or your computer to the server will be able to tell where we are communicating from. What happens on the Dark Net, especially once, once you sort of use uh software like Tor, is that you're granted with an extra level of anonymity. Essentially what happens is that the traffic is being encrypted several times and being routed through a very sophisticated algorithm, and so when someone is trying to figure out who's communicating with a server and where from, all they will be able to get in terms of information, uh, will be information that the person is using Tor, uh the Tor router, you know to communicate uh with, with a server.

[00:08:20] Bob: So operating in the dark as it were.

[00:08:23] David Maimon: Exactly. So, so it has nothing to do with any sort of malicious or illegal activities that takes place on those platforms. It has to do a lot with the fact that uh when someone is trying to track you on those ecosystems, they're completely in the dark. You're completely anonymous, very difficult to track uh who you are and where you are.

[00:08:42] Bob: It is difficult to track who you are and where you are and that makes it an attractive place to do things you don't want anyone else to know about.

[00:08:53] David Maimon: One important thing that we need to understand about the Deep Web is that you know because of this technology, it offers this added level of anonymity when you're accessing databases or website over the Dark Web. And so this extra level of anonymity at the end of the day makes the Deep Web extremely attractive for criminals to use it in their online illegal activities. They can set up markets on the Deep Web where they sell drugs, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, guns, and identities and sometimes even people. They can sell hacking tools, they can open forums where they discuss all type of illegal activities. They do that on the Dark Web simply because they feel anonymous, they seem comfortable that folks will not be able to detect where they are and who they are. And so the Deep Web is essentially known, or a portion of the Deep Web is essentially known for this type of activity.

[00:09:53] Bob: But time out. The Dark Web isn't just about crime. There are plenty of people who want, or who need anonymity to do their very important work.

[00:10:05] David Maimon: It's very important for me to emphasize that while this activity, this illegal activity takes place on the Dark Web, there, there's a lot of legitimate activities taking place over the Dark Web, you know, that includes the work of whistleblowers and journalists who are trying to disguise their activity and they don't expose their identity as well as their location. And other folks who use the, the Deep Web in order to engage in legitimate activities. You can access most websites using the Deep Web, you can access Facebook, you can access the CIA websites, you know they have specific websites on the, on the Deep Web, and you can also listen to radio on the Deep Web.

[00:10:50] Bob: So without going into too much detail, how does David and his team, or how does anyone get below the tip of the iceberg? Get into the Dark Web?

[00:11:01] David Maimon: You know when you think about the Dark Web, we essentially refer to a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engine and is inaccessible through standard web browser. You need specific technology in order to uh access it. And so, you know, all those websites which are protected with firewalls or which requires specific software in order to access them, they will be considered part of the Deep Web.

[00:11:28] Bob: I think it's important to mention that while the Dark Web, Dark Net all sounds very mysterious maybe to the average internet user, it's not actually hard to access, right?

[00:11:40] David Maimon: Very simple to access it. All you have to do, I mean there a couple of software, a couple of browsers that you can download to your computer, the Onion Router Browser is, is one of those browsers you can download, but there are other software such a I2P where you can download to your computer and, and access uh you know different parts of the Dark Web. Very much similar to using the Clear Net, regular internet as, as we are currently using it.

[00:12:07] Bob: So your team monitors this Dark Web?

[00:12:10] David Maimon: Yeah, I mean so one of the things we do in Georgia State is we downloaded this browser to our computers. We have our own network which allows us to be on the Dark Net and look for interesting websites to monitor. You know we have many students sitting in our labs, uh on a daily basis, look for interesting websites, interesting markets, interesting forums to monitor on the Dark Net. Uh most of the markets we monitor are markets where people feel comfortable to sell all kind of illicit commodities, uh starting from drugs, moving to weapons, identities, stolen credit cards, compromised bank accounts, counterfeit products, and sometimes even people. And so what my group does is uh, we monitor all those markets, we monitor a large number of hackers' forums as well, and on a monthly basis, download all the information from those markets to our computers in order to really understand what are some of the hot commodities out there. What are some of the illegal activities folks are engaging in, uh this month. Who are some of the targets the criminals are essentially trying to victimize? Those important questions we tend to answer using information we download from the Dark Net, as well as other platforms.

[00:13:37] Bob: So I wish we could show people, I mean it's remarkable the first time someone sees criminal information like this flying by. This is a podcast, so I can't show people visually, but I wonder if you could just, just give me a couple of examples, you know, in a specific way, as, as specifically as you can of what you see when you monitor the Dark Web.

[00:13:56] David Maimon: Sure so the markets we see are very similar to markets folks see on the Clear Net. So you can imagine markets such as Amazon or eBay or any other online shop you try to access on the Clear Net. One major difference, and that is the fact that the type of commodities folks feel comfortable to sell over the market is, is illicit. So you can imagine a market or ads folks put up there on the market, advertising their commodity with you know a lot of praises for the quality of the commodity. You will see on the ad the prices of the commodity. You will see a description of the commodity; it may be drugs, identities, stolen credit cards, what have you. And oftentime depending on the vendor's reputation, you will also see reviews on both the quality of the commodity, as well as the vendor performances and the level of trust. Very similar to what we see in Amazon, but Amazon and eBay and other platform that you're using, the Clear Net in order to uh, purchase things, but you know the major difference is that in the Dark Net those reviews some would argue play a more important role in building trust between the vendor and the customer simply because you know at the end of the day, you are buying an illicit commodity, and there is this probability that the vendor will rip you, sort of speaking. Rip you off and sort of take your money and run away with it. So this is a typical layout uh of those markets; a product with a price, rating...

[00:15:34] Bob: So I'm browsing to buy say a batch of people's Social Security numbers or something like that, and I'm going to see vendors that have, you know 4.5-star reviews, that kind of thing?

[00:15:44] David Maimon: Yeah, I mean you may be able to see that, uh and in a very similar vein to what we're seeing in other legitimate uh online markets, you will take a look at not only the rating, but on how many, on the number of people who actually provide it with a rating. You know you want to see whether you're familiar with some of those aliases folks are using out there. You will take a look at their reviews the same way you do with uh, reviews that you read through when you buy a new TV or a new laptop.

[00:16:12] Bob: Look at a hotel room or something.

[00:16:13] David Maimon: Exactly, yeah.

[00:16:14] Bob: Wow.

[00:16:15] David Maimon: In addition to the markets, you also have forums, and maybe you know if you want to create this, this comprehensive image of the type of shops you have of the markets, we need to mention those. The forums are very similar to any forum folks are familiar with where people simply post comments on different topics, the only difference is that some of the comments could include stolen data, could include ideas for hacks, could include you know conversation around some hacking tools, or other types of technology that criminals could use in the context of their illicit operations.

[00:16:51] Bob: And those forums are places where criminals brag about what they've stolen and what they have for sale. David shared this clip with us.

[00:17:02] (clip) You've reached the Open Up S Channel. My name is Sanchez. Yes, I sell Chase bank accounts. Yes, I am one of the first people who started to sell bank accounts four years ago. But actively working in this field began in 2022. We started with my partner four years ago. Now we are about 30 people in one office. I will answer a couple of questions. Buyers ask where I disappeared. In fact, I did not go anywhere. I am still with you. At the moment we are resting with the team because we worked for a year without breaks. It was very difficult. When is the next update? I can't say for sure. But I'm sure it will be in the coming weeks. We are preparing for (inaudible) Chase at a good price. This is just the beginning.

[00:17:57] Bob: Here is a shorter clip where a criminal boasts about stealing a key that opens mail boxes in rap form.

[00:18:06] (clip) I'm gonna capture a little bro, I got my key right here bro. Got my key right here, got the time right there. Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. And I got the slips right there, and my gun right there.

[00:18:24] David Maimon: And so those forums are very vibrant and as well, and you can purchase a lot of interesting illicit commodities there as well. And then, finally you have those standalone shops, you know similarly to standalone shops who feel comfortable open a website, creating a website and selling their commodities on the Clear Net. We see more and more criminals using the Dark Net to open their own shops where they sell drugs, where they sell counterfeit product, where they sell fake passport and, and fake driver licenses from their own shop instead of, you know, on the market. This, in a way, gives you a more comprehensive picture of the type of shops which are operating on the Dark Net and, and support the sales and, and purchase of illicit commodities. Hopefully, it makes sense, Bob.

[00:19:14] Bob: Naturally, criminals using the Dark Web in these semi-public forums know that other people know about them too. So, while it can be a starting point for criminals to connect, some of the more important conversations happen over more private channels. And David's team is there too.

[00:19:34] David Maimon: On the Dark Net, essentially what you will see is an ad, uh very generic, you will not be able to see the image or the name of the person uh whom check you're buying. And what you will be doing is discussing with the vendor the quality of the batch of IDs you want to purchase. And maybe you will get a, you know, a sample but nothing more than that sort of speaking. Uh, the conversation will be done usually either over the websites or over text message applications, most vendors like to use text message applications simply because they're more immediate in terms of responses. So you know you can engage uh with the customer uh in a more efficient manner. And yeah, I mean this is a typical sort of way you sort of do business on the Dark Web.

[00:20:19] Bob: This move towards private chats has made David's work a bit more tricky. It's almost made things more tricky for law enforcement.

[00:20:27] David Maimon: Because yeah, everybody talk about the fact that uh, criminals like those text message applications simply because they're encrypted, uh, end to end encrypted which essentially means that nobody can monitor like or, or track the information, right, that is being transferred between a vendor and a customer. The problem though is that if you open a group chat and then you invite everyone to be part of the conversation, then, you know, everybody can sort of see what is that uh, you are discussing with, with everybody over that channel. So what, what we're seeing during the last uh three years or so is, is a movement from the Dark Net towards the use of those platforms, encrypted communication platforms, text message applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram and Signal and, and Jabbar where the criminals essentially open group chats and invite folks who believe they can do business with to be part of the group.

[00:21:23] Bob: So now your challenge is to become a trusted member of these groups.

[00:21:26] David Maimon: Right, so the challenge is to develop this sock puppets as well call uh personas, the criminals believe that it makes sense to invite them to be on their groups. So what's interesting in the text message application and that is very different than what you observe on the Dark Net is the wealth of information folks feel comfortable to share. So if in the Dark Net as we've discussed, folks just uploaded an ad telling you that they have a bunch of identities to sell or telling you that they have you know a few checks that they're interested in, in selling, or a bunch of credit card numbers. In Telegram or WhatsApp in those text message applications, the criminals feel comfortable to actually share the information and, and share images with the type of information they have for sale. So imagine instead of saying, hey, I have a check I want to sell, and that'll be on the Dark Net, you'll actually upload an image of the check deleting the account and, and routing numbers from the check, and simply upload it on the check telling folks, hey, this check is for sale, who wants to buy it? So this visual aspect is to me very interesting and in a way make our life easier in terms of understanding how the criminals operate, what they have for sale, whether they are legitimate, right, in terms of actually selling this commodity and whether they can deliver this type of commodity that they say they have.

[00:23:03] Bob: You're going undercover, yeah, so the criminals thing you're a criminal?

[00:23:07] David Maimon: Criminal thinks that my persona is deviant, yeah.

[00:23:10] Bob: So does, does that bring with it all the things that undercover work brings? You know sometimes maybe you have to say things that are a touch uncomfortable to gain credibility, for example.

[00:23:20] David Maimon: It really depends. Uh, it depends on your goals, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Uh, in the context of our operation I can say that uh we are more likely to lurk, uh less likely to have conversations, but of course, every now and then we'll have conversation which we're trying to understand the specific type of operation or try to learn more about specific actor, but most often, we're simply in the background listening to folks, their conversations, tracking the type of information they put out there and trying to make sense out of it.

[00:23:54] Bob: In the movies, the undercover narcotics cop once in a while gets challenged and has to take drugs, for example, to prove that they are uh, trustworthy in the, in the underworld. Did... is there a digital equivalent of that for you?

[00:24:08] David Maimon: Yeah, we're seeing more and more of that happening. But this happens more, I would say, on some of the hackers' forums, on the Dark Net. Folks will not allow you in some of the, you know, most secretive groups unless you purchase something or you know in the context of hacking, unless you uh show evidence that you actually hacked in the past. Yeah, that makes things more complicated.

[00:24:31] Bob: These experiences on the dark side of the internet teach David and his students a lot.

[00:24:37] David Maimon: We had a few operations where we where we actually uh, got permission to, to purchase things. And so there's a lot of learning happening there as well simply because some people, as you can guess, say that they can deliver on things that uh they don't want to deliver. So sometimes it happen if you send people money and you get nothing in return, you know there's a lot of learning that happens uh in this ecosystem, and so it's, it's really fascinating for both the students and me.

[00:25:04] Bob: And things don't always go perfectly according to plan.

[00:25:10] David Maimon: One of the stories I can share is, uh, one of my students joining for the first time to the ecosystem, and then I think that his first task was to find some information. Instead of just being there, lurk, pivot from one platform to another, trying to sort of observe passively, the guy simply asked folks where he can find this information, and it was so funny because he burned the sock puppet in like 5 minutes. So, you know, even though they didn't dox the guy, I mean they couldn't really get to his real identity, they figured out that the guy was sort of, you know, either a scholar or a police officer or someone who doesn't really belong to the ecosystem, and they flagged him immediately.

[00:25:50] Bob: I'm sure that was a learning experience.

[00:25:52] David Maimon: It was. I mean we; we learned a lot.

[00:25:55] Bob: The student blew his digital cover so to speak. Fortunately, that was a harmless mistake. But I asked David, is his work ever dangerous?

[00:26:08] David Maimon: It depends. There's always this um, possibility for the criminals to dox you, meaning expose your identity out there. I can say that it could definitely happen. And that's why you have to be extremely cautious when you're there. You need to learn the ecosystem before you actually engage if you would like to engage. You need to use all the precautions you can in order to make sure that even if folks realize that you are not who you say you are, they will not be able to track your real identity and target you.

[00:26:42] Bob: Has anything ever happened to you that's felt dangerous?

[00:26:45] David Maimon: Yeah, something happened to us, but it didn't hap--, it, it's not that folks doxed us. Folks simply, uh, because I talk to the media a lot, and because I talk about things which are happening currently, you know, we're trying to keep our hands dirty and so you know we keep talking about issues the criminals are working on right now, some criminals thought that it would be a good idea to reach out to me and threaten me, actually open a, you know bank accounts under my name, and, and sending debit cards to my house just to prove that they can, but yeah, I mean that, that definitely happened, to an extent still happens but it doesn't really happen because of them doxing me and, and the activity on those platforms I'm heavily immersed in, but simply because of the fact that uh, my name is simply out there.

[00:27:33] Bob: A criminal sent a debit card to your house?

[00:27:35] David Maimon: Yeah, I mean when, when we first started talking about the check fraud issue here in the United States in 2021, you know in 2022 the, the early 2022, you know after a, a big story in the Washington Post, the criminals simply texted me and told me I need to stop working on this issue uh or else bad things will happen. They texted me my Social Security number, they texted me my address, they texted me some family members' information as well. You know, of course we freaked out and you know unfortunately five minutes after they texted me, all my information was leaked to the ecosystem we, we were seeing. So of course the university, uh didn't want to take any chances and so I was walking with security detail for a period of almost a month, and uh, it was scary experience to prove a point folks opened a bank account under my name and sent it, the debit card to my house just to prove that they can, that I should have, you know, watch out. So yeah, that happens as well.

[00:28:33] Bob: Wow, I'm, I'm sorry. That, that must have been to walk around with security for a month, that must have been pretty freaky.

[00:28:38] David Maimon: Yeah, it wasn't, it wasn't pleasant.

[00:28:41] Bob: You probably have the same question I have right now. How does lurking in the Dark Web, communicating with all these criminals, taking all these risks, how does that help?

[00:28:54] Bob: How does lurking in this ecosystem further the mission of the evidence-based cybersecurity research group? What tools do and don't work? How does those two things connect?

[00:29:03] David Maimon: So remember, we talk about tools and we talk about policies. And we also talk about law enforcement operations on the ecosystem. If you think about the Dark Net for example, one of the things that the group tries to understand is whether the current efforts law enforcement engage in, shutting down markets in the Dark Net, seizing servers are, are really effective in disrupting the ecosystem. And you know once you collect data in a systematic way from many markets out there, and you simply wait for something to happen, at some point something will happen, and that something will be law enforcement taking down a server or taking down a market or two. And then that allows you with a really cool natural experiment when you can try to figure out how the ecosystem behaved before the takedown and after the takedown. And one of our conclusions do this for a long period of time, and testing you know the before and after activities in the ecosystem, you know make me believe that what law enforcement currently do, doesn't really work in the context of disruption. Yes, they may have a few criminals sitting behind bars, but in terms of disrupting the ecosystem effectively, there, there are a lot of papers out there, scientific papers, research papers, uh which suggest that that might not be the answer to an effective disruption of the ecosystem. In a similar vein, we're trying to figure out what will be the best practices folks can take, like law enforcement can take, disrupting the ecosystem which have evolved in the context of text message applications. You know, if you think about agencies here in the United States which are responsible for delivering the mail, or responsible for issuing, you know, all kind of benefits in the form of cards, the question is whether whatever we do in order to protect those services is really effective or not. And whether the changes that those agencies take, once we flag that an issue exists with the respect to the current way they do things, really work and we really see an impact on the ecosystem in the form of either reduction in the line of commodities the criminals offer which relate to these governmental agencies or not. Hopefully, that answered the question.

[00:31:24] Bob: Yeah, that's really interesting. So there have been, through the years, all these very high-profile takedowns of say websites devoted to trading stolen credit cards, um, and I've always wondered, but it sounds like what you are saying is, you know, maybe a couple people go to jail, but for the most part, all those criminals just scatter and reform somewhere else. Is that right?

[00:31:43] David Maimon: Yeah, I mean we, we actually published an article in 2022 where we looked at the strength of relationship and essentially where people go to you know in terms of the different markets that the businesses before and after the takedown of the market. And essentially what you see is that once you take down one market or two, people simply aggregate in different places in, in different markets. So that, that doesn't do the trick. The emergence of text message application as, as an alternative form to the business is another sort of response the criminal had for those takedowns. So instead of you know going on the Dark Net which is, you know, very slow and, you know sometimes police can take down a, a website and sort of it may have some short-term impact on the business, you can open a, a group chat on Telegram or WhatsApp and do business that way and business will flow sort of speaking in that sense. So in terms of disruption, those takedowns doesn't really disrupt the ecosystem unfortunately.

[00:32:46] Bob: Naturally, I asked David what he tells law enforcement to do instead. And perhaps you won't be surprised to hear that he demurred. He doesn't want to tip his hand to the criminals. But he did say, as we did at the beginning of this episode, that crime is on the rise. The tools are just easier to come by now and frankly, crime pays right now.

[00:33:10] David Maimon: Both the Dark Net, but I would say to a larger extent the text message applications criminals use on a daily basis simply fueled the volume of fraud that we're seeing in our society during the last five years or so. And that essentially means that engaging in fraud has become more prevalent, more accessible to folks from all parts of the population, and you know we're talking here about adolescents, we're talking about, you know, kids, we're talking about folks with families, we're talking about older folks, everybody can get access to uh the right tools, the right information, being paired with a gang who engage in fraud in a fairly easy manner. So to me, the most important message that I would like to sort of try and convey to our listeners is the fact that fraud nowadays unfortunately has become so prevalent and so easy for folks to perform that we, as folks who try to protect ourselves from, from this type of crime, needs to be more vigilant and we need to be more proactive with respect to defending our identities, protecting our identities, protecting our loved ones identities because we're at a point where all our identities are out there. Many of our identities are being used by local actors. We need to be aware of this issue and we need to be proactive in our efforts to prevent folks from victimizing us.

[00:34:39] Bob: I, I think the thing that would probably be most surprising to folks is just how large the criminal gangs are. I've seen you use the word supply chain in the past. I mean there's an amazing institution of levels of, of workers who all are hard at work trying to steal money from us, right?

[00:34:55] David Maimon: Yeah, unfortunately at this point folks realize that it's very easy to engage in fraud, well easy if you know what to do, right? It's, it's quite easy to perform it. And it makes more sense to engage in fraud than selling drugs on the other hand. And, and then risking your life standing on the street doing this kind of activity.

[00:35:17] Bob: Committing fraud is easier than selling drugs on the street. And now we have to contend with a whole new set of criminals who learned their craft during COVID.

[00:35:29] Bob: The way you put it was just so succinct that COVID was basically like scam university for who knows how many thousands of people, and now we've got all these well-trained criminals out there looking for the next trillion dollars to steal, right?

[00:35:43] David Maimon: That's right. And, and they're very organized, they have a very neat system they work with, you know with different actors operating different rules along the supply chain. I mean I believe that the next couple of years will be extremely challenging to financial institutions and the government here in the United States because of that issue.

[00:36:03] Bob: The next couple of years will be extremely challenging. So, what is David's advice to Perfect Scam listeners?

[00:36:12] David Maimon: There are a couple of ways folks can protect themselves and, and their identities at this point. I think one of the things folks need to do is they need to purchase an identity theft protection plan which uh would allow them to know whether someone is using your identity to open a bank account, hopefully, if you're lucky, ask for a new credit card. The identity theft protection plans are, are essentially very good flagging those issues. Uh, I think another very important thing folks need to do, is they need to freeze their credit scores. And at this point in our society, I think this is something that everybody should, should do. It's, it's free, it takes maybe five minutes to lift your freeze from your credit when you want to purchase something, and then another minute to just freeze the credit again. So you know I think that everybody should freeze their credit just to make sure that nobody can take a loan under their name. I also believe that folks should get familiarized with a consumer agency called Chex System, which keeps tracks of the bank accounts, each and every one of us has under their name. So the major problem here in the US with bank accounts is that it's very difficult to know how many bank accounts you have under your name. And so Chex System keep track on that, and you can ask for a report to be sent to your home on an annual basis for free and you know if you want the frequency to be higher, you can actually pay for that, where you can get a detailed report with all the bank accounts you have under your name. And so you know if in the report you identify a bank account you're not familiar with, you can definitely then call the bank and say, "Hey, it's not me." And the bank will definitely close the account. So identity theft, protection plan, freezing your credit lines, and monitoring your bank accounts on Chex System, I think these are the best suggestion I can provide folks at this point.

[00:38:13] Bob: By the way, you can find ChexSystems at ChexSystems.com  and that Chex is spelled C-H-E-X  So C-H-E-X-S-Y-S-T-E-M-S DOT COM. Thanks, I think, for the tour of the Dark Web, David. For The Perfect Scam, I'm Bob Sullivan.

(MUSIC SEGUE)

[00:38:47] Bob: If you have been targeted by a scam or fraud, you are not alone. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Their trained fraud specialists can provide you with free support and guidance on what to do next. Our email address at The Perfect Scam is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org, and we want to hear from you. If you've been the victim of a scam or you know someone who has, and you'd like us to tell their story, write to us. That address again is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org. Thank you to our team of scambusters; Associate Producer, Annalea Embree; Researcher, Becky Dodson; Executive Producer, Julie Getz; and our Audio Engineer and Sound Designer, Julio Gonzalez. Be sure to find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For AARP's The Perfect Scam, I'm Bob Sullivan.

(MUSIC OUTRO)

END OF TRANSCRIPT
Guillermo Contreras has been with the Express-News for 20 years and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. He can be reached at guillermo.contreras@express-news.net

He's also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other media outlets. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post and Newsday.


Preliminary Heritage Reports Indicate Clearance of Key Areas

Perth, April 26, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Raiden Resources Limited ( ASX:RDN ) ( YM4:FRA ) is pleased to announce that it has received preliminary heritage survey reports from the recently completed heritage surveys over its priority lithium-bearing pegmatite targets at the Andover South Project area (E47/4061 & E47/4062), as well as the Andover North Project area.



Mr Dusko Ljubojevic, Managing Director of Raiden commented: "I would personally like to thank the Ngarluma Traditional Owners, and the NAC, for their assistance in ensuring the Traditional Owners knowledge of the area has been used to identify areas of cultural significance to the Ngarluma during these surveys. These heritage survey results now allow Raiden to confidently progress with the planning, and execution, of its exploration plans in the knowledge that we will not be disturbing areas of cultural significance to the Ngarluma people."



A preliminary heritage report for the Andover South Project has been received from the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation ("NAC"). On the basis of this preliminary report, the noted areas of cultural significance are not anticipated to hinder the planned drill program of known lithium-bearing pegmatite mineralisation on the Andover South project.



It should be cautioned that the current Preliminary Heritage Report may be subject to change with further discussions between the heritage consultants and the elders of the Ngarluma Traditional Owners, but it is not expected that a final heritage Report will differ significantly from the current heritage report in its results and impact on the planned work programs.



On receipt of the final report for Andover South, management will commence with engagements with drilling contractors with the objective of commencing with the drilling program as soon as possible.



The preliminary heritage report from the Andover North Project (E47/3849, E47/4063, P47/2028) heritage survey has also been received. The company is currently in the process of planning exploration programs over Andover North project, which will avoid any sensitive sites identified during the survey. On receipt of the final report for the Andover North area, management will finalise an exploration program to test for further potential pegmatite hosted mineralisation on this project.



On receipt of the final heritage surveys, the Company will provide an overview of the planned drilling programs and timeline.





About Raiden Resources Limited





Raiden Resources Limited (ASX:RDN) (DAX:YM4) is a dual listed exploration and development company which is advancing the Mt Sholl Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium deposit in the Pilbara. The Company's portfolio host metals and commodities considered critical for the energy and electrification revolution.

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SS-1H achieved final IP90 commercial flow rates

Sydney, April 26, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tamboran Resources Corporation's ( ASX:TBN ) ( TBNNY:OTCMKTS ) Shenandoah South 1H (SS-1H) well in EP 117 achieved an average 90-day initial production (IP90) flow rate of 2.9 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) over the 1,644-foot, 10 stage stimulated length within the Mid Velkerri B Shale, normalized to 5.8 MMcf/d over 3,281-feet (1,000 metres).



The IP90 flow test at SS-1H was ~65% higher than the Santos-operated EP 161 Tanumbirini 3H well, which previously achieved the highest flow rate in the Beetaloo Basin.



The SS-1H flow test indicates that future development wells with lateral lengths of 10,000 feet may be capable of delivering average rates of 17.8 MMcf/d over the first 90 days of production.



Flow testing has demonstrated productivity and decline profiles in line with the most prolific regions of the Marcellus Shale in the US. This confirms the Company's view that the Beetaloo West region is the preferred region in the basin to commence development operations.



The well will now be shut in and suspended as a potential future production well.



Tamboran continues to undertake Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies on the proposed Shenandoah South Pilot Project. The Company expects to take Final Investment Decision (FID) in mid-2024, subject to funding and key stakeholder approvals.



Tamboran Resources Corporation Managing Director and CEO, Joel Riddle, said:



"The results of the SS-1H flow test have continued to exceed our pre-drill expectations, with flow rates and pressure declines in line with some of the most prolific regions of the Marcellus Shale in the US.



"The results have validated the Company's view that the deepest regions of the Beetaloo Basin are the most productive and are expected to deliver premium economics and returns when compared to shallower areas within the region. The 1 million acres of deep shale in the Beetaloo West have potential to deliver Tamboran's gross Beetaloo Basin production ambition of 2 Bcf/d (~775 MMcf/d net to Tamboran) (equivalent to more than 13.0 million tonnes per annum of LNG export capacity) for 40 years from a single landing zone.



"Management will commence an evaluation of the results and integrate these into our development planning, including the assessment of the 2024/25 six well drilling campaign that will support the proposed 40 MMcf/d (gross volume) Pilot Project in the Shenandoah South region in the Beetaloo West.



"The gas sales from the proposed Pilot Project have been contracted to the Northern Territory Government under a binding take-or-pay gas sales agreement to support the local Northern Territory gas market over approximately 15 years. It is our commitment to produce first volumes from the Beetaloo Basin to Territorians and secure energy supply into the 2040s."



Shenandoah South 1H flow results



The SS-1H well in the Tamboran B2-operated Exploration Permit (EP) 117 achieved IP90 flow rates following the 10-stage stimulation program within the bottom 501 metres (1,644 ft) of the 1,020-metre (3,346 ft) lateral section in the Mid Velkerri B Shale on 24 April 2024.



During the period from 26 March to 24 April 2024 (30 days), the choke was maintained at 43/64", resulting in gas rates fluctuating from 2.76 to 2.64 MMcf/d, with an average of 2.7 MMcf/d over the 30-day period and day 90 exit rate of 2.68 MMcf/d. Flowing wellhead pressures were drawn down from 529 to 518 psi.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/52C2C0B9





About Tamboran Resources Corporation





Tamboran Resources Corporation (ASX:TBN) is a natural gas company that intends to play a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future by developing low CO2 unconventional natural gas resources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin within the Greater McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Tamboran's key assets are a 25% working interest in EP 161 and a 100% working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197 which are located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

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March 2024 Quarterly Activities Report

Melbourne, April 26, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) ( CHKMF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide an update in relation to the activities carried out during the March 2024 quarter.



OLYMPIC DOMAIN PROJECTS



During the quarter, Cohiba commenced technical reviews of the last round of drilling at Olympic Domain Projects (Consisting of Horse Well, Pernatty C and Lake Torrens). Furthermore, the Company has begun compilation of its data-rooms and conducting an in-depth technical review with aims of opening the project's data room to potential JV partners.



Highlights



- A review of the Olympic Domain Project areas was undertaken to select and prioritise future drill programs.



- During the Quarter, in depth desktop study has commenced for Olympic Domain Projects (Horsewell, Pernatty C, Lake Torrens), with compilation of data-rooms which will be utilized to open up negotiation and JV partnerships.



- Lake Torrens tenements were placed on retention status to minimize expenditures whilst access is being negotiated.



- All tenements in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Canada held in good standing.



- Reconnaissance work completed by Dahrouge Consulting for Canadian Projects (Gathering Lake, Rogers Creek, Ottertail) awaiting receipt of assay results of numerous mapped and sampled pegmatite and granite contacts.



- Commitments received to raise $0.85 M via placement to professional and sophisticated investors, to be received after shareholder approval and strengthen cash balance further.



- Cohiba has changed its executive team and initiated comprehensive review ofseveral business opportunities, marking a new strategic direction for the Company.



*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/84A3WVSV





About Altair Minerals Limited





Altair Minerals Limited (ASX:ALR) (OTCMKTS:CHKMF) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The Company has projects located in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland with a key focus on its Olympic Domain tenements located in South Australia.

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A mother holds her sons head during a prayer at the end of a news conference held by anti-abortion activists on April 10, 2024. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A Bexar County judge has tossed a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion advocates against the city of San Antonio over its Reproductive Justice Fund, according to City Attorney Andy Segovia.

The City Council wont decide on how exactly to spend the $500,000 fund until this fall, but Mayor Ron Nirenberg and seven of councils 10 members have said they support using some of the money to pay the travel expenses of women seeking out-of-state abortions.

The amount going toward such travel would represent a fraction of the funds grants. The Metropolitan Health District, which will administer the fund, has proposed setting aside $100,000 for home pregnancy tests, emergency contraception and home test kits for sexually transmitted infections  as well as travel to other states for abortion services.

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Metro Health said the other $400,000 could be spent on addressing food and housing insecurity, sexual education for youth, doula training scholarships and other initiatives.

The San Antonio Family Association and Texas Right to Life sued the city in October under Texas Senate Bill 8, a near-total ban on abortion that took effect in 2021.

READ MORE: Majority of City Council wants to give money to women seeking abortions out of state

The law allows private citizens to sue anyone they suspect of aiding or abetting a person seeking an abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy.

The lawsuit asked a judge to declare that the citys Reproductive Justice Fund may not be used to provide money to any organization in Texas that procures drug-induced abortions, including Janes Due Process, Avow, the Buckle Bunnies Fund, and the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, regardless of the intended use of the funding.

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Some of the organizations named in the lawsuit were among abortion-rights groups that pushed for the funds creation during last years budget discussions.

In March, the city asked Judge Cynthia Marie Chapa of the 288th Civil District Court to dismiss the lawsuit because City Council hadnt decided yet how to spend the money.

We are pleased to see that the Courts dismissed this premature lawsuit, Segovia said in an emailed statement. The City Council will continue to have an open discussion about the use of the Reproductive Justice Fund. As we have said all along, any funds allocated as part of the Citys Reproductive Justice Fund will be consistent with State and Federal Laws.

The anti-abortion groups that sued the city did not respond to interview requests on Friday.
Kylie Cosmetics, the global beauty phenomenon founded by Kylie Jenner, is thrilled to announce its launch in India, a significant milestone in the brands global expansion. Partnering with House of Beauty, the leading beauty specialty company which brings coveted international beauty brands to India, Kylie Cosmetics arrival has been long awaited by Indian beauty consumers. This partnership marks the first time the brand has partnered with an Indian omnichannel specialist like House of Beauty.

I am so excited to launch Kylie Cosmetics in India  I created Kylie Cosmetics to give my fans access to the makeup products that I use and love, and I cant wait to share my collection with all my fans in India.", said Kylie Jenner, Founder of Kylie Cosmetics. In 2015, Kylie Jenner embarked on her beauty business with the launch of Kylie Lip Kits - a collection of three liquid lipsticks with corresponding lip liners. Since then, Kylie supported by Global beauty powerhouse Coty, have continued to expand her beauty empire around the world in over 50 countries, and across eye, complexion, and countless innovations in lip. The beauty line is carefully crafted with clean formulations and vegan ingredients that deliver on trend, high-quality, high-pigment, and high-performance formulations that fans around the world have come to love.

The launch collection includes the best-selling Matte and Velvet Lip Kits, as well as recent must-have launches such as Precision Pout Lip Liner, Power Plush Longwear Foundation, Kylash Volume Mascara, Power Plush Longwear Concealer and Tinted Butter Balm.
There is good news for Indians travelling to European nations, with the European Unions (EU) revamped visa system that allows Indians access to long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas. Schengen visas are applicable in 25 European Union countries, barring Ireland and Cyprus.

As per the European Commission website, a Schengen visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A Schengen visa can be obtained in the form of a single-entry visa, allowing the holder to enter the Schengen area once, or a multiple-entry visa, which is granted for several visits to the Schengen area for as long as it is valid.

Experts believe that it will give a boost to the travel and tourism industry, especially tourist traffic from India to the European nations. As per Statista data, there were 4.05 million tourist arrivals from India to Europe in 2029. After two years of Covid-19 disruptions, tourist arrivals from India have started picking up again, reported at 2.34 million in 2022, as per Statista.

Reacting to the development, Madhavan Menon, Executive Chairman, Thomas Cook India, said, The Travel & Tourism industry welcomes the new Schengen visa cascade ruling as visas are a critical part of the travel process. Such a move will ensure greater convenience and timeliness to customers and inspire repeat visits  with a force multiplier impact to the overall travel & tourism ecosystem.

He further said, As a potential outcome of this announcement, we look forward to an expansion in travel between India and the Schengen region across all categories of travellers - leisure, business and MICE.

Changes in the new rules for Indian travellers

As per the new regulations, Indian travellers can now obtain a two-year Schengen visa, as opposed to the shorter validity periods earlier. In order to avail of this extended two-year visa, applicants need to acquire and lawfully utilise two Schengen visas within the preceding three years. Following this, travellers can be eligible for a five-year Schengen visa if their passport has sufficient validity.

Indian travellers can now move freely within the Schengen member countries for up to 90 days within any 180 days, without the need for additional permits or authorizations. This system simplifies access to visas with extended validity.

The new rules introduce the cascade system, which sets up rules for issuance of multiple-entry visas with long validity. MEV visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods:

For a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years

For a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years

For a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years

It may be noted here, that these are travel visas, and do not allow the right to work within the Schengen area.

Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, commented, The recent changes in Schengen Visa regulations herald a promising era for the travel industry, especially outbound travel from India. The introduction of multi-year visas has resulted in a 10-12% surge in interest among Indian travellers on our platform. France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany stand as the most preferred destinations, witnessing heightened inquiries and searches. Moreover, emerging destinations like the Czech Republic and Poland are capturing attention.

With the new-found flexibility, Indian tourists are poised to embark on enriching journeys, fostering stronger cultural connections. The ability to make multiple visits further amplifies the allure of European exploration, promising enduring engagement and camaraderie, he added.
As summer heats, Parle Agro, India's leading beverage giant, has set out to captivate consumers with vibrant Out-of-Home (OOH) campaigns for its popular brands  Frooti, Appy Fizz and Smoodh. Designed to grab attention during the scorching summer months, the campaigns aim to maximize brand impact,reach and consideration across all corners of the country.

Each brand's campaign has its own unique theme, tailored to its specific target audience. The Frooti campaign, under the theme 'WOW Frooti, has been launched in 74 cities. Featuring brand ambassador Alia Bhatt, the campaigns attractive visuals capture the fun and wow factor associated with every sip of the mango drink. Similarly, the outdoor campaign for dairy brand Smoodh featuring ambassador Varun Dhawan, reflects the brands irresistible smoothness with the 'Oh So Smoodh' themed campaign and has gone live across 90 towns. Appy Fizzs Get Fizz themed campaign reflects its effervescent energy personified by brand ambassador Kriti Sanon. The vibrant and electrifying visuals of Appy Fizz have been splashed across 94 towns in India.

Each campaign has been launched with over 600 media assets. Parle Agro has adopted a micro-catchment targeted strategy, focusing on specific city pockets to ensure the campaigns receive maximum visibility and impact. Theyve been strategically placed at top-performing markets and high-distribution towns, tourist hubs and prominent city landmarks. The campaigns leverage dynamic digital-out-of-home (DOOH) creatives to boost engagement. Static and digital billboards have been positioned along major roads and intersections, targeting key routes. Additionally, smaller format media like Bus Queue Shelters (BQS) were placed along sub-arterial routes, covering market areas, commercial hubs, and popular spots like railway stations and bus depots.

Speaking of the campaigns, Ankit Kapoor, Head of Marketing & International Business, Parle Agro, said, "For us, the summer season is about becoming the top choice for consumers seeking delicious refreshment in the heat. OOH is a critical medium for us in driving memorability and and reinforcing the distinctive worlds of our brands. By placing our media assets at strategic locations, we ensure our brands are not just seen but remembered. Moreover, our focus on dynamic content and celebrity endorsements adds an extra layer of engagement, enhancing the effectiveness of our campaigns. With these visually captivating campaigns, we aim to maximize brand visibility, impact and consideration across our top-performing markets nationwide.

Speaking about the campaign, Dipankar Sanyal, CEO  Platinum and MRP said, Parle Agro campaigns for Appy Fizz, Smoodh and Frooti brighten up the summer season. Their success is a result of the exceptional teamwork between Parle Agro and the Platinum team, leveraging every available data to maximise return on investment. We used Madisons suite of OOH tools for scientific planning and faultless execution, adapting to each market's unique needs. Despite the added challenge with General Election campaigns, our timing ensured our campaigns stood out without being overshadowed.
Authored by Anindita Gupta, Founder, Scenic Communication

Building strong relationships with journalists is key for an effective PR strategy. In today's fast-paced digital world, communication is more important to maintain a good rapport with journalists. PR professionals can easily reach out to journalists to pitch stories, share information, or simply maintain regular contact by utilizing various tools such as email, social media platforms, and networking.

Its important to understand the perspective of a journalist to build strong relationships with them. Journalists are often under pressure to deliver newsworthy stories timely that capture the audiences attention effortlessly. So, PR professionals can establish a mutually beneficial relationship with them by providing valuable and well researched pitches or information that goes with their interests and deadlines. Its very important to stay organized, responsive, and respectful of their time by providing the requested information quickly and being available to follow-up with them.

PR professionals can also strengthen their relationships with the journalists by offering them sector specific and exclusive content or insights. As a result, they keep coming back for future stories. Building trust and rapport with journalists takes time and effort, but it's worth it in the long run for both the parties.

Crafting Personalized Pitches

Personalized pitches are a secret weapon when it comes to building strong relationships with the journalist because it shows them that you value their time and expertise. Journalists receive countless pitches every day. So, PR professionals can demonstrate that they are just not randomly sending out generic press releases as mass emails to get coverage by taking adequate time to research the previous work of the journalist and personalized the pitches that aligns with the interests of them. So, with this level of attention to detail not only increases the chances of the pitches to notice but also sets the foundation for a long-lasting relationship which builds on trust and professionalism.

Maintaining the Connections

Building strong relationships with journalists is a long-term professional investment. Consistent communication, providing valuable insights, and being a reliable source of information can position a PR professional as a trusted contact in their reporting endeavors. Its important to stay updated with their work, follow them on social media to maintain a long-lasting relationship. You can even interact with their content in a meaningful way by showing genuine interest in their stories, offering feedback or commentary when appropriate, expressing gratitude for their coverage and being respectful of their time and boundaries. You can also go a long way in demonstrating your commitment to the partnership through personalized emails or calls. So, professionals can position themselves as valuable contacts that journalists will turn to time to time again by consistently showing up as reliable sources of information and support.

Improving Your Storytelling Skills

Its important to improve your storytelling skills consistently to maintain a good relationship with journalists because they themselves are storytellers by heart. So, its essential to work on your storytelling skills when pitching to them. PR professionals can effectively pitch stories by crafting compelling narratives that resonate with reporters and secure media coverage for their clients. When a PR professional drafts a story that is engaging, informative, and newsworthy, journalists are more likely to pay attention and consider featuring the story in their publications. Building strong relationships with journalists through skillful storytelling not only helps secure media placements but also nurtures trust and credibility between the two parties.

In conclusion, building strong relationships with journalists is an art that requires a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and genuine engagement. Professionals can master the art of media relations and maintain lasting partnerships with the media people by understanding their perspective, crafting personalized pitches, nurturing long-term connections, and improving storytelling skills.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.
Chinese innovation fosters win-win cooperation at Hannover Messe

08:57, April 26, 2024 By Chu Yi, Tai Sicong and Che Yunlong ( Xinhua

Visitors walk past the booth of Invest in China at Hannover Messe 2024 in Hannover, Germany, April 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

According to a survey conducted by AHK Greater China, 78 percent of German companies were optimistic about China's economic outlook and 85 percent believed that China's appeal to innovation is on the rise.

HANNOVER, Germany, April 26 (Xinhua) -- When Yang Yingge made her debut at the ongoing Hannover Messe, Germany's leading annual industrial trade fair, she was surprised to find that her company has attracted much attention.

"We secured our first contract on the very first day of the event and many foreign companies expressed keen interest in collaboration upon witnessing our high-precision industrial CT measuring equipment," said Yang, vice president of Royma Optoelectronics Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

"This (the event) provided us, a private enterprise, a valuable opportunity to showcase our capabilities on the global stage and also illuminated new opportunities and collaborative prospects with our foreign counterparts," she said.

This year's Hannover Messe, which will last from Monday to Friday, attracted almost 4,000 exhibitors from around 60 countries and regions. Among them, Chinese exhibitors accounted for 30 percent of the participants, second only to the host Germany, according to the organizer.

A 1.6-meter-tall white humanoid robot was standing in front of the booth of Sichuan Fdrobot Co., Ltd. With graceful precision, it could execute complex actions, attracting waves of onlookers.

The robot weighed only 43 kg and consisted of 71 movable parts. "We expect to achieve a phased breakthrough this year when the robot will be equipped with communication capabilities and can assist in simple tasks such as folding clothes and other household chores," said Hu Tianlian, chairman of the company.

"At this year's Hannover Messe, we have signed preliminary cooperation agreements with enterprises from Germany, Italy, Brazil, India, and beyond. Through this event, we aspire to not only expand our business but also showcase China's advanced robot technology to the world," Hu said.

During an investment forum hosted by the city of Taicang in east China's Jiangsu Province, the Taicang government sealed two agreements with German enterprises, with the total value of investment exceeding 30 million yuan (4.14 million U.S. dollars).

HCP GmbH, a pioneering German small and medium-sized pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprise that ventured into the Chinese market, has inked a deal at the forum with the Chinese local government to set up a live e-commerce base in the city to enhance brand visibility and accessibility.

"The cooperation marks our first stride in expanding into the Chinese market, and it is a pivotal and solid step," said Ao Miaomiao, general manager of HCP GmbH.

For eight consecutive years, China has maintained its position as Germany's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade soaring to over 200 billion euros (over 214 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

People walk past the booth of Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. at Hannover Messe 2024 in Hannover, Germany, April 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership. The in-depth integration of the industrial and supply chains between the two sides underlines their mutual reliance on each other's markets," said Xu Hui, head of the German office of Jiangsu Taicang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone.

"This interconnection lays the foundation for a mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation. Leveraging the occasion of the Hannover Messe, we are working to attract more German enterprises to Taicang," Xu said.

According to a survey conducted by AHK Greater China, 78 percent of German companies were optimistic about China's economic outlook and 85 percent believed that China's appeal to innovation is on the rise.

Thomas Scheler, general manager of the German-Chinese Business Association, emphasized that Germany's investment in China soared to an unprecedented level in 2023, underlining the significance of collaboration between China and Germany.

"German enterprises hold a positive outlook towards the vast and stable Chinese market and the Hannover Messe serves as a platform for reinforcing the mutual commitment to win-win cooperation between the two countries," Scheler said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
More than two years have passed since workers at Amazons Bessemer fulfillment center voted on union representation. A National Labor Relations administrative law judge this week began hearings on whether the results of that vote will stand.

But it wont be until July at the earliest that a decision will be handed down.

If the judge finds an objection or an unfair labor practice tainted the 2022 vote, then Amazon workers there will get a third vote on whether to join the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU).

Workers voted down the union in 2021 in a mail-in election over several weeks, but the result was set aside by the NLRB after it found Amazon interfered in the election process. That came after a contentious campaign during COVID restrictions, which drew celebrities, politicians and even the attention of the Biden Administration.

Here is full coverage of the Alabama Amazon unionization effort

Ballots in the second election were tallied on March 31, 2022.

The initial results showed 875 votes for RWDSU representation, 993 votes against, and 416 challenged ballots.

Of those, 311 challenged ballots remain outstanding, and both the union and Amazon filed objections to the vote.

Witness testimony in the case is scheduled to take place this month, in May and July.

Alabama has seen increased union activity since the Amazon effort. The states longest strike took place in Brookwood, not far from Bessemer, when miners struck against Warrior Met Coal. The UAW is currently engaged in an effort to organize at Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai in Montgomery.

In 2023, union members accounted for 7.5 percent of wage and salary workers in Alabama, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Students in Alabama who are facing long-term suspension, alternative school placement or expulsion will now be able to have a disciplinary hearing before they are removed from the classroom.

After four years of trying, the Alabama legislature on Thursday passed a bill giving students due process rights.

Alabama is one of the few remaining states in the Southeast without those protections for K-12 students in public schools. If Gov. Kay Ivey signs the bill, it will go into effect Oct. 1.

The U.S. Supreme Court has long made clear that the rights of students do not stop at the school door and we are pleased that Alabamas state law is finally acknowledging this, said Jerome Dees, Alabama policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Centers Action Fund. This is a long-awaited victory for Alabama students and caregivers who previously were not afforded the chance to be heard at a disciplinary hearing.

Families of children who faced exclusionary discipline advocated heavily for the legislation in public hearings, telling lawmakers about their experience not having due process rights.

AL.com last year reported on some of those cases, detailing what happens when students are kicked out of school or suspended without the chance to defend themselves. The reporting also found that Black students were disciplined at higher rates.

A recent SPLC report found that Black students are suspended every 15 minutes in Alabama.

This new law, pending Governor Iveys signature, will ensure that parents and guardians of students facing exclusionary discipline receive notification and have an opportunity to be heard and to present evidence and witnesses when accused of an infraction that could derail their education. While there is still more work to be done to address the school-to-prison pipeline in Alabama, especially for Black and Brown students, this is a major step in the right direction, said Dees.

Read more: Alabama schools report more fights, discipline issues. But its complicated.

Under the new law, schools will have to provide advance notice of a disciplinary hearing, with information detailing their behavior and how it violated the code of conduct. Students will be allowed to have a lawyer at their hearings.

Students will also be able to review any recordings or documentation of the incident, and question witnesses at the hearing as long as they are older than 14.

The law will require that the school provide a detailed statement with the disciplinary decision, including the relevant code that was violated and what will be included in the students record.

The bill, HB188, passed the senate with 32 votes in favor and none against. There were two senators, William Beasley and Merika Coleman, who passed. It passed the House on April 4 by a vote of 96-5 with two abstentions.

Sen. Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) has sponsored the bill for the last four years.

We need a uniform system of expectations just like we have with our penal code in the state, Smitherman told AL.com last year. If you commit a particular offense, it doesnt matter what county youre in, the same law and the same process and procedures apply. With students, we see the disparity in the implementation of due process.

Last year, it didnt make it to the house floor as there was opposition from the Alabama School Superintendents Association who wanted school districts to be able to determine their own policies.

This year, Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) also sponsored the bill in the House.

Alison Hudnalls son was sent to alternative school for 90 days amid a crackdown on fighting, even though the code of conduct at Northridge High School only called for a five-day suspension.

We have always parented from a place of logical consequences and its really hard for me to explain from a logical standpoint why this punishment was given when school policy says something else, Hudnall told AL.com for an article last March.

At the time, James Evans, the principal at Northridge, said he had discretion to determine appropriate punishment, despite what the code of conduct outlined. The school categorized the offense as other even though fighting is a defined violation.

Statewide, AL.com found that officials chose the other code more than 17,300 times to report infractions during the 2021-22 school year.

Cory Jones, whose son was a student at Paul Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa City, also advocated for the bill alongside the Hudnalls.

He shared how his son CJ, who recently testified at the United Nations in Geneva about his experience, was kicked out of school for a marijuana crime he says he did not commit.

At the time, CJ was not allowed a lawyer to appeal the decision to send him to alternative school for 40 days after hed already served over two months of in-school suspension.

It was all taken away from me for no reason. Taken away from me like it was a joke, CJ told AL.com.

Jones and CJ are headed to Washington, D.C. next week to meet with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education during her United States country visit. They will speak to her about CJs experience being kicked out of school and the importance of due process rights.

Im elated the due process bill has finally passed in Alabama, Jones told AL.com What this bill does for parents and students in schools is take away the guilty until proven innocent, its now back in line with the process of innocent until proven guilty.
Adriane Burnett, a single mother of two children, has had to forfeit her car. Shes behind on homeowner association payments. And shes filing for bankruptcy.

The main reason her finances are upside down? Burnett, who lives in Birmingham, says she cant find affordable child care for her younger son, who is four. But she also cant afford to drop shifts at her various jobs to take care of him.

Its a common dilemma for parents. Even those with higher incomes often are caught off guard and forced to make hard decisions if job demands or availability of care change.

Before I knew it, I was just trying to survive, Burnett said.

In 2022, almost 85,000 Alabama families needed access to child care but had no affordable, quality options in their communities, according to the Womens Foundation of Alabama. A lack of child care contributes to Alabamas low labor force participation rate, experts say, and some legislators and advocates are working on possible solutions.

The Alabama House has approved a bill to extend tax credits to employers and child care providers in an effort to make child care more affordable; the $20 million package is now in consideration by the Senate.

This tax credit package is a first step, a good first step in the right direction, said Kim Cochran, with the Womens Foundation of Alabama.

[Child care] is a basic need to get women into work, to get them into the workforce, so they can purchase a car, and purchase a house, and put food on the table for their children and get them to after school activities. This is something that should be a priority, Cochran said.

Parents say they need solutions now.

Raneshya Norman, a single mother of three children, said she has to stretch dollars between paydays in order to afford both necessities and child care.

I think thats what we have a problem with as single moms, trying to find affordable child care today is definitely difficult. It definitely is because just about every slot is already taken. So we have to go without working and go without going to school. Being a single mom, you have to just find whatever you can get, Norman said.

Thats if you can find care at all. Alabama has the most child care deserts in the southeast, according to the Center for American Progress.

Kira Bloxom poses for a photo with her two children. Bloxom, a nurse, changed jobs after her first child was born so that she could manage child care more easily. Credit Kira Bloxom.Kira Bloxom

As many as 19% of working parents in Alabama said they had had to miss work due to child care issues, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found in 2021. Others have to make even bigger decisions: Whether to quit jobs or change careers.

Kira Bloxom, mother of two children, ages one and three, quit her full-time hospital job when her first child was born. She now works on a flexible schedule as a PRN, but its hard for her and her husband to afford the day care that her three-year-old, who has autism, goes to.

Bloxom said she developed anxiety balancing child care needs and work.

If I had gone into any other career, I probably would be unemployed, she said. I dont know what I would have done. The other option, the last resort, would be to take them completely out of daycare and keep them at home, but I wanted them to have that social interaction.

What is Alabama doing to support child care?

HB358, sponsored by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, would offer employer tax credits, child care facility tax credits and nonprofit child care provider grant programs, in a bid to incentivize employers to fund child care for their employees and to enable providers to offer more readily available, affordable, high-quality child care.

The bill is supported by organizations such as the Womens Foundation of Alabama.

Child care fundamentally supports women in the workplace, especially just getting them in and allowing them to remain in the workforce. We have heard from a lot of women around the state that this is an issue that they struggle with. They struggle with finding child care and affording child care, Cochran said.

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, who chairs the education budget committee in the House, told AL.com committees that have looked at the low workforce participation rate consistently found that the need for affordable child care is a key impediment for some people trying to enter the workforce.

The package also tries to shore up providers, who say it is harder and harder to provide care while still paying employees. The tax credit would also incentivize providers to improve their quality rating; centers with higher STARS ratings could get more funding.

The amount of money available for tax credits would also rise over time. In 2025, total employer tax credit is capped at $15 million. It would rise to $17.5 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027.

Expanding child care options

Once a parent finds child care, it can be hard to give up that spot in search of something closer, cheaper or better.

Burnett, in Birmingham, works seven days a week at her customer service job and as a food delivery driver. That work keeps her son in daycare, but its exhausting.

In February, Burnett turned down a $2-an-hour promotion because the new position would require her to work longer hours.

I had a full blown panic attack at work because Im just so tired, Burnett said. It is a lot and it is taking a toll on me. I feel selfish because I want to be with my kids. My kids need me, but I also have to work.

A new program hopes to tackle one piece of the crisis: The lack of child care centers and open seats in many communities.

West AlabamaWorks! in Tuscaloosa is partnering with Paths for Success, Shelton State Community College and the Alabama Department of Human Resources to create the Community Child Care Cultivator program, also known as 3by3.

Youre creating entrepreneurship and small businesses but at the same time youre solving a workforce issue and family issues with more child care seats, said Donny Jones, with West Alabama Works!

Participants who complete the program will have the city and state licensing required to start an in home child care service. The 3by3 team will also help to prepare the households to meet the states requirement for child care.

Rachel Besson stands with two of her children. Besson, who lives in Gadsden, Alabama, said there aren't many good child care options where she lives. Credit Rachel Besson.Rachel Besson

Similar options might help families like Rachel Bessons, who live in Gadsden. Her children are one, five and 17.

Child care is actually part of the reason why we moved down here, Besson said. We were living [in Virginia] when I actually gave birth to our 5-year-old. And, you know, I was kind of ignorant about child care. I thought I could just put them in daycare, but it cost between $1,500 to $2,000 a month for one child. Thats like a mortgage payment.

As soon as she got pregnant with her youngest child, Besson put her child on three different waitlists.

I joined a waitlist at a local daycare because a lot of the other moms that I talked to were telling me about how many issues they were having finding reliable, trustworthy child care, Besson said. I didnt really have any family that could watch her at the time, so I got on a waitlist and never got a callAlmost two years later, theyre still booked.

She finally found a child care facility that costs $350 a month, but there are still days where Bessons kids are at home.

Besson works from home in part to take care of her children as needed. While the setup is flexible, she believes it has impacted both her career and her ability to take care of her children.

I could go somewhere and make more money working in an office. I would love to have daily interactions with adults and coworkers, to have a sense of community in an office, make more compensation, more upward mobilityIf I did have reliable, affordable, trustworthy child care, I could go and be able to make things better for my family and not just get by. We could flourish, Besson said.

Why does child care cost so much?

In Jefferson County, Alabama infant and toddler child care cost an average of $10,662 per year in 2023. Jefferson County womens median income was $27,952, with a median family income of $67,455.

Raneshya Norman, a single mother of three children, ages two, six and twelve, said she has had to put her career aspirations on hold to afford child care.

Norman is an EKG technician, a career she says she enjoys. However, she recently had to stop because she could not balance the 12 hour shifts with her family.

Its extremely difficult to have a good job, but not have no type of stable child care for your child when school is out, or when the holidays come around, or if you have to work overtime, or if your hours change, or if you get promoted into a higher position where you have to stay at work longer or you have to come to work earlier, Norman said.

After scouring Birmingham, Norman found a facility that she trusted, but it costs $200 a week, more than she can really afford.

Sometimes were pulling out our last $3 or $4 to get a couple rolls of tissue just just to make it to payday, she said.

Norman said that if she did not have to worry about child care costs, she would pursue a career in entrepreneurship selling medical equipment and go back to school to become a doctor.

But unfortunately, because I have to work so late and so often to make enough money for myself and my children, I cant even start to put those plans into work, Norman said.

Some child care centers have had to increase prices and decrease staff just to stay afloat.

Even child care centers have workforce issues. Being able to pay people and keep them is a struggle for large child care centers, Jones, with West Alabama Works!, said.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources currently is taking applications for a new round of child care bonuses, intended to support centers and help them keep staff.

Camille Bennett, founder and executive director of Project Say Something and three child care centers in North Alabama, said that while tax credits may be helpful to some large businesses, she advocates for direct assistance to mothers and parents.

Large companies, corporations, like Toyota, who havent initially been child care providers, they receive in this bill up to $600,000 per business, while existing providers whove been in the business for years and years, we receive up to $25,000, Bennett said.

We care about those moms too in terms of lower socioeconomic standing. The moms that are working fast food jobs are struggling. All were asking is that the legislation starts at the bottom and works its way up. Theyre getting far less pay and they have to make co-pays and theyre getting the child care subsidies. But we need more.

In a public hearing in Montgomery, Bennett asked for state funding to go directly to increasing subsidies to pay child care teachers a living wage and eliminate parent co-pays.

We build relationships with families. We know when families are having a hard time, having a financial crisis. Its hard work and its work that deserves proper funding, Bennett said.
Mobile police have identified the victim in Tuesday nights shooting which left one man dead and a juvenile seriously wounded.

Police responded to a report of a shooting on Prairie Avenue just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Arriving at the scene, officers found the adult male dead from an apparent gunshot wound in the drivers seat of a vehicle.

Searching the area, police also located the male juvenile victim, also suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside a second vehicle. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.

As of Friday afternoon, the juvenile remained hospitalized, but his condition was not immediately known.

Friday morning, police identified the dead man as 26-year-old Jaylin Craig of Mobile. According to his Facebook profile and family, Craig attended Mary G. Montgomery High School in Semmes and W.P. Davidson High School in Mobile and had studied at Florida A&M University.

Police are still searching for suspect(s) in the shootings.
An Alabama state prison employee has been charged with two crimes after authorities say she planned to smuggle drugs into Kilby Correctional Facility.

Tyree Lynette Hoyle, 46, was arrested Wednesday on charges of use of officials position for personal gain and attempt to distribute drugs.

Hoyle was a correctional security guard at Kilby when the alleged crimes happened.

Charging documents state Hoyle on Nov. 30, 2023, conspired with a state prison inmate and a former ADOC correctional security officer to deliver drugs inside the prison.

Hoyle, records state, met the former employee at the Montgomery Zoo and received three contraband packages containing marijuana and suboxone with the intent to smuggle the narcotics into Kilby.

Hoyle was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Center at 6:53 p.m. Wednesday and remains held on bonds totaling $30,000.

ADOC officials said Hoyle resigned from her position.

The investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be filed.

Hoyle is the third state prison employee arrested in the past week.

On Thursday, April 18, 39-year-old Lashonnon Zibrica Belser was charged with third-degree promoting prison contraband. Belser was taken into custody at Ventress Correctional Facility in Barbour County where she was a correctional security guard.

Charging documents state she delivered cell phone chargers and food to an inmate at the facility.

On Friday, April 19, Limestone Correctional Facility Warden Chadwick Ray Crabtree, 45, and his wife, 55-year-old Melissa Kay Crabtree, 55, were arrested on drug charges.

Chad Crabtreet became warden there in 2022 and had been with the ADOC for more than 20 years.
This is an opinion column.

A toast to progress.

Heres to the Alabama Senate, that on Thursday passed  31 to zip  a bill to give inmates a chance to take part in their parole hearings, if only virtually.

It doesnt sound like much, but it is.

Heres to Sen. Will Barfoot, a Republican from Montgomery who sponsored the bill that would, if passed by the House and signed by the governor, allow members of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to at least look potential parolees in the eye  if only on a Zoom call or its ilk  before sending them back to prison. Or into the world.

Its only decent.

And heres to those 31 senators, who came to see that Alabamas system of paroles is broken, that the rate of paroles granted dropped below 10 percent last year, that the parole boards refusal to release 9 out of every 10 eligible inmates puts a burden on our prison system and feeds the sense of hopelessness in an environment so dangerous both the Trump and Biden U.S. Justice Departments described as unconstitutional.

Heres to em. For its only right, only fair that parole board members look prospective parolees in the eye before making their decisions. It is honorable to let those inmates have a say, if only for moments and only virtually, before they are denied and sent back to overcrowded prisons.

Heres to parole board members Darryl Littleton and Gabrelle Simmons  not board chair Leigh Gwathney, the No Queen  as parole rates in the early part of this year doubled that of last year, though they still fall far short of recommendations and standards from previous years. The board over the last few years has granted only a fraction of paroles recommended by its own staff, and the staff makes those recommendations based on the state boards own guidelines.

Heres to progress. However small, however tardy. However tenuous.

And heres hoping  its like hoping for a white Christmas in Montgomery  that the Alabama House, which will consider a similar bill by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa in the waning days of the session, will feel the same way. Heres hoping it gets to Gov. Kay Ivey, and she sees it, too.

Read the AL.com series Denied Parole.

A bill like this should not be controversial, or partisan. It does not let anybody out of prison on its own. It does not throw open the doors and put killers or dope dealers on the street.

It simply allows them to be seen and heard on one of the most important days of their lives, on the day their future is decided and their fate handed down.

Right now prisoners are not allowed to attend hearings at all. Those who are lucky have an advocate to speak for them. Two advocates are allowed two minutes each, for a total of four minutes.

If the inmate has a lawyer, that lawyer can speak for another two minutes.

So the argument for freedom lasts, at most, six minutes.

It is a matter of life and death, freedom or captivity, hope or despair. In six minutes. And inmates can only sit in their cells and wonder what will happen.

Barfoots SB312, says an inmate shall be allowed to participate in his or her parole hearing virtually by means of video conference or other similar communications equipment that allows the inmate to see and hear the members of the Parole Board.

It goes on to say the inmate will not be allowed to hear or interact with victims or their families. If technology fails the hearing will be suspended until the video is restored.

Barfoot, as quoted by AL.coms Mike Cason, said the virtual appearances will give the parole board a chance to question inmates directly and get more information to make their decision on whether to grant parole.

Thats a small thing, maybe. But this bill would do more than that.

It would make the parole board see inmates as human beings.

Thats a very big thing.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner at AL.com.
President Joe Biden on Friday said he considered killing himself after his first wife and baby daughter died in a car crash shortly after he won election as a U.S. senator.

In an interview with radio host Howard Stern, Biden admitted being distraught after his first wife, Neilia, and 18-month-old daughter, Naomi, died in a 1972 crash.

In just a brief moment, I thought: Let me just go to the Delaware Memorial [Bridge] and jump, Biden said.

You dont need to be crazy to commit suicide, he added.

This is the remains of the car in which the wife and daughter of Delawares U.S. Senator-elect Joseph R. Biden Junior were killed. Neilia Biden and her daughter, Amy, 1, were killed when the familys station wagon was hit broadside by a flat-bed tractor-trailer on highway. Bidens two other children were also hurt in the wreck and were listed in guarded condition at the hospital. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Biden said he turned away from the suicidal thought because of his then-young sons, Beau and Hunter, who survived the crash.

I had two kids, he said. It wasnt like I got to commit suicide (But) youre never going to be OK.

Biden also said he considered getting drunk to ease the pain of the tragedy, even though he doesnt drink.

I used to sit there and just think Im going to take out a bottle of scotch, Biden said. Im going to just drink it and get drunk.

The startling revelation came in a wide-ranging surprise interview with Stern, the one-time shock jock who now hosts a show on Sirius XM radio.

Biden also said he is willing to debate former President Trump before the fall election.

Senator-elect Joseph Biden and wife Nelia cut his 30th birthday cake at a party in Wilmington, November 20th. His son, Hunter waits for the first piece. Biden by becoming 30 fulfills the constitutional requirement of Senators being 30 years of age when they take office. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)Somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said. But Im happy to debate him.

Trump quickly responded on his social media site by agreeing to a clash: I say: Anywhere, anytime, anyplace.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced dates and locations for three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

But its not 100% clear that the debates will happen because Trump and Republicans have derided the commission as biased.

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2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Deputy Steven Mills of the Lee County Sheriffs Office was on patrol one night in 2013 when he received a call about a naked Black man walking down a rural road in Phenix City.

Mills said the man ignored his calls to stop, but when the officer threatened to use his Taser, 24-year-old Khari Illidge turned, walked toward him and said, tase me, tase me. In a sworn statement, the deputy said he shocked Illidge twice because hed been unable to physically restrain the muscular man with superhuman strength.

Other officers who arrived at the scene used the same language in describing Illidge, who a medical examiner said was 5-foot-1-inch and 201 pounds. They bound together his hands and legs behind his back in whats known as a hogtie restraint, and later noticed he had stopped breathing. Illidge was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Mills said in his statement that he thought Illidge was under the influence of narcotics. The pathologist said Illidges toxicology report came back negative for any known substances. He initially ruled there was no direct cause of death but after reviewing police reports and body-camera footage blamed the cause of death on excited delirium syndrome as a result of an unknown substance that he ingested.

Excited delirium is a hotly contested term frequently used to justify police use of force, according to law enforcement researchers and experts. The term is not widely recognized by medical associations, including the American Psychiatric Association.

One of the terms frequently cited symptoms is superhuman strength  a descriptor often applied to Black people. The term creates a hurdle for legal accountability in prosecuting officers, since courts typically defer to law enforcement in determining whether force was necessary, legal experts say.

A review of dozens of police use-of-force cases, including court records, depositions and police statements, by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University, in collaboration with The Associated Press, found numerous cases in which police officers stated that a person who died while being apprehended displayed superhuman strength.

Seth Stoughton, a University of South Carolina law professor who served as an expert witness in the George Floyd murder trial, says the term plays into the racist trope of a scary Black assailant.

The Howard Center sought interviews with the departments and officers named in this story. None responded.

ONGOING TROPE

Although superhuman strength became widely publicized around the 1991 police beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles, its origins date to the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.

White Southerners spread propaganda that characterized Black men as innately savage, violent and intent on raping white women. Writers and filmmakers perpetuated the myth. The 1915 film The Birth of a Nation characterized Black men as rapists and beasts and used that trope to justify lynchings while glamorizing the Ku Klux Klan.

The caricature fueled widespread violence. More than 4,400 Black Americans were killed by lynch mobs between 1877 and 1950, according to data from the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that provides legal representation to people illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in custody. Since not all lynchings were documented, its impossible to know their true extent.

The 1960s Civil Rights era weakened the Black brute caricature, as national media focused on peaceful Black protesters being attacked by police. But the War on Drugs and its target on communities of color helped resurrect the myth.

In a 2017 case in Arizona, Muhammad Muhaymin, a homeless man with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was attempting to use a community center bathroom when police were called, according to records obtained by the Howard Center.

Finding an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for Muhaymin, all four officers attempted to arrest him by wrestling him to the ground. They noted in their official statements that the 43-year-old Black man had superhuman strength.

Muhaymins autopsy report said he was 5 feet, 5 inches and weighed 164 pounds. His death was ruled a homicide and, in 2021, the city of Phoenix settled a family lawsuit for $5 million.

Peer-reviewed studies on racial bias and perceived size have found that Americans demonstrate a systematic bias in their perceptions of the physical formidability of Black men. One found that white participants associated superhuman qualities with Black people more often than they did whites.

Superhumanization is treating someone like a non-human, Adam Waytz, a study author, said in an interview.

TRAINING SUPERHUMAN

Police trainers say the perception of superhuman strength stems from unexpected resistance not commonly seen in training scenarios.

When you see something thats abnormal, where a person would typically comply based on an application of force, and they dont comply, or they seem completely oblivious to pain, said Spencer Fomby, a national consultant with over 20 years of law enforcement experience, I think thats where officers start to use that terminology of superhuman strength.

In California, Chinedu Okobi was carrying black duffle bags when he was approached in 2018 by a San Mateo County Sheriffs deputy. According to a federal lawsuit filed on Okobis behalf, the deputy called for backup and was joined by four others who ordered Okobi to raise his hands.

The deputy shocked the 6-foot, 300-pound Black man multiple times with a Taser, and other officers piled on top of him. One officer said Okobi had superhuman strength  even though he showed no signs of resistance in dashcam and cellphone video. According to the coroners report, Okobi died from cardiac arrest following physical exertion, restraint and recent electro-muscular disruption. His death was ruled a homicide.

Frank Rudy Cooper, a law professor who directs the Program on Race, Gender and Policing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, says how officers are taught to protect themselves puts them on edge and affects how they approach certain communities.

When superhuman strength is allowed as a use-of-force justification in court cases, such misconceptions make their way into the wider criminal justice system. It is an unfortunate and dangerous thing, Cooper added.
DNA has led to the arrest of a 75-year-old Auburn man in the sexual assault of a young girl more than 20 years ago.

Bobby Lee Pitts was taken into custody Friday, Auburn police announced. He is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, and first-degree sodomy.

The investigation began Oct. 4, 2003, when Auburn police investigators met with the juvenile victim who told them she had been forced into a wooded area and sexually assaulted. The attack happened in the 1400 block of Lee Road 57.

Chief Cedric Anderson said that at the time, investigators could not develop a suspect based on the evidence and description they had.

Cold case investigators submitted evidence through the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System, which is known as CODIS.

Through that testing, Pitts was developed as a suspect.

The case was presented to a Lee County grand jury, which returned the indictments against Pitts.

He is being held without bond in the Lee County Detention Center.

I hope this sends a powerful message: that no matter how much time has passed, we will never relent in our pursuit of justice, Anderson said. Every case matters deeply to us, and we will continue to pursue truth and accountability.

Today, we stand firm in our promise, the chief said. This arrest is more than just closure for the victim and their family  its a testament to the unwavering commitment of our police department.
Remain calm. All is well.

That in essence is the message from the Alabama National Guard and Mobile Countys Emergency Management Agency as the National Guard and partners prepare to hold large training exercises in the Mobile area next week.

The exercises, set for April 28-May 3, are part of the State of Alabamas hurricane response preparedness, according to the National Guard. The drills will incorporate the all-hazards plan and will include the emergency management agency and other state response agencies.

The Alabama National Guard is alerting the public to large-scale training exercises set for next week in the Mobile area.(Alabama National Guard)

The agencies are putting out notices of the upcoming exercises.

The public should not be alarmed by an influx of uniformed Alabama Army National Guard personnel and vehicles or by National Guard or local healthcare personnel in personal protective equipment, the Mobile County EMA said in a release. This is a training exercise, not an actual emergency.

The exercises will largely center around Gulf States Fairground, the Mobile County EMA complex on Zeigler Boulevard and local medical facilities.

The public can expect to see increased military presence, military helicopters, HAZMAT training and other relevant scenarios, according to the National Guard.

All scenarios will be EXERCISES and do not pose any threat to the public, the National Guard wrote in a release. Do not be alarmed if you see additional military personnel around the city; exercises like this help ensure that we are ready to respond in the case of any natural disaster.

Updates on the exercises will be posted to the Alabama National Guard Facebook and X accounts.
Local lawyer Leigh Cutter, left, and Bexar County Court at Law Judge Melanie Lira confront each other during a Fiesta party thrown by the Alamo Area Criminal Defense Group on Wednesday at Mi Tierra. Both women filed police reports. Courtesy Leigh Cutter

A Bexar County judge and a lawyer got into an altercation Wednesday night at a Fiesta celebration attended by many who work at the countys justice center.

Leigh Cutter and Judge Melanie M. Lira, who presides over Bexar County Court at Law No. 7, each reported the incident to San Antonio police and both later disputed what the other told responding officers.

Cutter accused Lira of physically and verbally assaulting her at the party, which was thrown by a defense lawyers group at the Mariachi Bar in the Mi Tierra Cafe at Market Square.

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Cutter said she had one of her law office assistants take a video of the encounter on her cellphone, then filed a report with San Antonio police.

She told my staff, she said, Wheres Leigh?  and she comes, grabs me and body checks me, Cutter said of Lira on Thursday. I am still a little dumbfounded.  You hold judges in a different regard. It kills me. None of it was OK.

Cutter added that Lira threatened her and the cases and clients that she has in Liras court, which is one of the countys two misdemeanor family violence courts.

Reached Thursday, Lira said Cutter had been posting highly inappropriate and unprofessional things about her on social media. When she got home from the party Wednesday night and saw a post from Cutter alleging assault, she filed a criminal harassment complaint against Cutter with the San Antonio Police Department.

She said she didnt think Cutter had any cases in her court, but the possibility that she might in the future prompted her to try to clear the air with her about personal things that Cutter had said about her. She said she told Cutter to just leave me alone.

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I am completely shocked by these allegations. Lira said. It wasnt even an argument.  I saw an opportunity to have a conversation.

Lira said she did not assault Cutter, noting that she was in 2-inch heels and that Cutter is much taller than her.

I had to lean up to talk to her, she said.

Cutter disputed parts of Liras complaint, including an allegation that she told an officer that both she and Lira were intoxicated. Cutter said she only had two drinks.

Lira said she left the Fiesta event and almost immediately began receiving phone calls from people who saw a picture posted on an Alamo Area Criminal Defense Group social media account showing Lira facing Cutter and the words, This is a sitting judge in Bexar County, TX. She sought me out and assaulted me for no reason. Police reports were made. My heart is shattered  this is-in-no-way- a representation of our benches in Bexar (sic).

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Cutter said she posted it Wednesday night and took it down on Thursday. She said she planned to report the incident to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Lira said she and Cutter barely see each other. We dont run in the same circles.

Cutters report to police included an allegation that an incident occurred between Lira and an ex-boyfriend of Cutters. Lira denied that anything like Cutters salacious story had occurred.

Judge Melissa Vara, who presides over County Court at Law No. 15 and handles administrative matters for the misdemeanor judges, said she was at the Fiesta gathering but left before the confrontation.

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The police officers were able to ascertain that no assault took place, Vara said, adding that if any of Cutters cases land in Liras court, they would be reassigned to other judges while Liras complaint against Cutter is investigated.
A man is in custody after a police chase that started in Vestavia Hills and ended in northern Jefferson County.

Officers tried to carry out a traffic stop about 4 a.m. Friday in Vestavia Hills for a traffic violation. The adult male driver refused to stop, police officials said, and a chase ensued along Interstate 65 northbound.

Capt. Mike Keller said the driver struck several police vehicles before eventually stopping on I-65 southbound at mile marker 266 near Fultondale.

During the chase, a Vestavia Hills police cruiser and a state trooper vehicle collided near Daniel Payne Drive.

No injuries were reported.

Keller said the suspect was arrested on multiple charges. He is being held in the Vestavia Hills City Jail pending additional charges.

The investigation is ongoing.
King Charles III is back.

The 75-year-old monarch will resume some public duties next week following a three-month break to focus on his treatment and recuperation after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer, Buckingham Palace said Friday.

Charles will mark the milestone by visiting a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances he will make in the coming weeks, the palace said. One of his first major engagements will be to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.

The palace said the kings doctors are very encouraged by his progress, though it is too early to say how long his treatment will last. It didnt provide details about what type of treatment he is receiving.

Charles will continue to perform all of his state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as he has done since his diagnosis was disclosed on Feb. 5, the palace said.

As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year, the palace said in a statement.

Charles return will relieve pressure on other members of the royal family after the kings absence, coupled with that of the Princess of Wales, also due to illness, highlighted the challenges faced by a slimmed down monarchy.

Amid the kings commitment to cut costs and the decision of Duke and Duchess of Sussex  more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan  to walk away from royal duties, there are simply fewer family members available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies and state events that make up the life of a modern royal.

Charles has been largely out of the public eye ever since he had treatment for an enlarged prostate in January. His later cancer diagnosis came as the Princess of Wales  one of the most popular royals  underwent abdominal surgery and later announced that she, too, had cancer. Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family.

That left Queen Camilla, the kings sister Princess Anne and his younger brother, Prince Edward, to shoulder the load.

Camilla, once shunned by the public for her role in the breakup of Charles marriage to Princess Diana, played a particularly prominent role during the kings absence, standing in for her husband at major events such as the annual Royal Maundy service on the Thursday before Easter.

The return of the king will be a chance for him to reinvigorate his reign, which began in September 2022 amid expectations that he would modernize the monarchy, while reaching out to young people and minority groups to cement the royal familys role in the 21st century.

Charles challenges include strengthening ties to the Commonwealth and the 14 independent countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch is still head of state, an unwelcome reminder to some people of Britains colonial history.

The kings return is significant because it will help quell speculation about his well-being, royal historian George Gross said, citing an adage attributed to Queen Elizabeth II that the monarch needs to be seen to be believed.

I think there is that feeling that its very difficult to have a functioning monarchy with the head of state away for any considerable length of time, said Gross, founder of the British Coronations Project at Kings College London. And this felt like a long time.

Charles engagements over the coming months will be adapted as needed to minimize any risks to his recovery, the palace said. He wont have a full summer program, and his attendance will be determined closer to the time of each event and with the advice of his doctors.

The summer months are normally a busy period for the royals with major events such as the monarchs birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and the horse races at Royal Ascot.

Critically for the kings safety, most of these showpiece spectacles take place outdoors, lessening the risk of infection for a cancer patient whose immune system may be weakened.

Charles return will be warmly greeted by the public, partly because he chose to publicize his initial prostate issue and then his cancer diagnosis, spurring many people to consult with their doctors, Gross said.

The monarch has seen that he can do good by discussing health and raising the awareness of cancer, he told The Associated Press. I think that thats at the top end of this. And thats a very special thing when a head of state can do good. Thats immense.
A Fairfield man who previously pleaded guilty in the high-profile slaying of Birmingham twin brothers has been sentenced to federal prison on a gun charge.

Terrell Corey McMullin, 31, was convicted last year of illegally possessing a firearm. He was prohibited from carrying a gun because he is a convicted felon.

U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced McMullin to 87 months  more than seven years  in federal prison.

Once that finished is completed, he will return to state prison for the remainder of his 20-year sentence.

McMullin in 2021 pleaded guilty to the June 28, 2013, shooting deaths of Jonathan and Jeremi Berry at their Wylam home. Their mother was shot in the back and paralyzed.

Jonathan and Jeremi were shot in their home and were innocent victims, police said.

They were inside their Attalla Street home about 8:30 p.m. playing video games when three men stormed the house and later shot them to death. Police said the twins were not the targets of the crime.

Police said the suspects forced their way into the home in an apparent home invasion and ransacked the house.

The boys mother arrived at the home in her Ford Explorer and then attempted to drive away when she saw the suspects at her house.

They opened fire on her.

Several bullets struck her SUV, and one bore into her spinal cord, severing it. West Precinct officers arrived on the scene and found her lying beside her vehicle.

McMullin, one of multiple people charged in the twins slaying, was initially charged with capital murder. McMullin pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter on Aug. 16, 2021.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 60 months to serve but was given credit for the time he had served awaiting trial and was quickly released.

Charges against two defendants were dismissed when the investigation revealed they were not actually involved.

Crystal Nelson pleaded guilty to felony murder and served her time for her role in the murders. Stanley Chatman pleaded guilty to the murders and received a life sentence.

Another suspect, for whom there was never enough evidence to charge, died several years ago.

According to evidence presented at McMullins federal gun charge trial in October, Pleasant Grove police tried to conduct a traffic stop on McMullin on Feb. 1, 2022, but McMullin speeded away. It ended when the driver lost control and wrecked.

McMullin then jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. The foot chase ended when McMullin crossed into the Fairfield city limits.

During the search of the abandoned vehicle, the officer found a tan Glock 9mm pistol with an installed Glock switch in the drivers seat.

The Glock was later determined to be stolen.

Jefferson County prosecutors then asked that the remainder of his initial 20-year sentence be revoked and he be sent to prison.

A judge granted the revocation and sent him to prison where he remained until the feds took custody of him for the gun case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Royster and William R. McComb prosecuted.
A pro-union group is hoping to garner support for the United Auto Workers efforts to organize in Alabamas auto plants with a series of advertisements and events in coming weeks.

More Perfect Union Solidarity, a 501(c)(5) organization, plans aerial banner flyovers over Tuscaloosa and Birmingham this weekend.

The banner will read Support Auto Workers, with the web address of a pro-union site.

The first flyover will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday over the Tuscaloosa Mayors Cup 5K.

The banner will also appear in the Birmingham area around noon Sunday over the Childrens of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at the Barber Motorsports Park.

More Perfect Union Solidarity also plans digital advertising in Alabama and will host community events and rallies with Vance workers and their families in the coming weeks, prior to the planned vote on union representation at Mercedes-Benzs Vance auto factory.

Voting is scheduled to take place May 13 and 17 on whether workers at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) will join the UAW. Vote totals are expected May 17.

Alabama workers deserve more pay, more rights, more power  thats what this campaign is about, Faiz Shakir, president of More Perfect Union Solidarity said.

Despite already facing union-busting tactics, more than 70% of Vance workers have signed a union card and a majority of their neighbors support their unionization effort. Our campaign will build on this momentum and help deliver the second consecutive unionization victory in the South this year so Alabama auto workers can secure higher wages, better health care, safer workplaces, and a stronger retirement.

Volkswagens Chattanooga plant overwhelmingly voted for the UAW last week.
Donald Trump walked into his hush money trial Friday and wished his wife Melania a happy birthday  the day after former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Trump never mentioned worrying about what she thought about his alleged affairs at the heart of the states case against him.

I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday, Trump told reporters on his way into the courtroom. Itd be nice to be with her but Im at a courthouse for a rigged trial.

Trump said hed be jetting off to Florida on Friday evening to join Melania, who is celebrating her 54th birthday.

Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer and other supermarket tabloids, was the prosecutions first witness and was on his fourth day on the stand Friday facing cross-examination from Trump lawyer Emil Bove.

The longtime publisher told the courtroom that after Trump announced his candidacy, he never heard him voice concerns for his family when working to cover up unfavorable stories  only for his campaign.

Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a conspiracy to influence the results of the 2016 election. The crimes, prosecutors say, revolve around a reimbursement to Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Pecker told the court he paid $30,000 to silence a Trump Tower doormans story of a child Trump allegedly fathered out of wedlock, and $150,000 for Playboy model Karen McDougals silence on a nearly yearlong affair she says she had with Trump, which he denies.

We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, Pecker said Thursday on his motivation for the catch and kill scheme.

Trump is accused of cooking up the plan to influence the election at a 2015 meeting with Cohen and Pecker.

Pecker earlier revealed how during a visit to the White House in 2017, Trump remained concerned McDougal would talk about the relationship.

As we walked out, President Trump asked me, How is, eh, how is Karen doing? Pecker said on Thursday. So I said, Shes doing well. Shes quiet. Everythings going good.

The defense has argued that Trump did nothing illegal and that his interactions with Pecker both fell within legal lines and were standard practice for political candidates.

Since the start of the trial, prosecutors say Trump has racked up more than a dozen violations of his gag order, which prohibits him from speaking on trial participants outside the courtroom. The DAs office requested thousands of dollars in fines for the violations, made, they say, on television appearances, in the halls of the courthouse and at press conferences, and asked that the former president be held in contempt of court.

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2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An Alabama man is a member of a very exclusive club -- a club so exclusive it has fewer members than the number of astronauts who have walked on the moon.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission, like its Nevada counterpart, keeps a list of those who have earned a lifetime ban from state-regulated casinos. Those on the list are typically there after being caught attempting to cheat the casino, stealing from other patrons or simply due to a nefarious reputation.

Dennis James McAffee of Haleyville -- about 80 miles northwest of Birmingham -- is one of the eight people currently on the Mississippi Gaming Commissions exclusion list, a list of those who have been banned for life since casino gaming began in Mississippi in 1992.

According to the commission website, McAffee, now 74, landed on the list in June 2001 after he was caught manipulating a gaming device according to his exclusion list profile.

Its not easy to get on the list. In fact, no one has been added to Mississippis list in 20 years. Prasad J. Athota of Helena, Arkansas, was the last addition in January 2004 after gaming officials determined his notorious or unsavory reputation and continued violations of the Mississippi Gaming Commission Regulations warranted the lifetime ban.

Somewhat oddly, only one Mississippi resident is on the list. Vincent McFarland of Gulfport was banned in June 2001 because he has stolen or attempted to steal coin buckets from casino patrons on at least seventeen occasions.

As to be expected, Nevadas list is considerably longer -- although perhaps not as long as you might expect. There are 37 people currently listed on what Nevada calls its black book of those who have been banned for life from Las Vegas casinos.

One of those on the Nevada list, as noted in a report from the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald, is Shaun Benward of Ocean Springs, Miss., who has been convicted of cheating at roulette in several states, with additional cases still pending.

All of the 45 people on the Mississippi and Nevada lists are men, save for one.

Sandra Kay Vaccaro of Henderson, Nevada, was added to the black book in October 1986, along with her husband, John Vaccaro, who was involved in organized crime activities which included robbing casinos, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

John Vaccaro was banned from Nevada casinos after he led a group which rigged slot machines and stole millions from Nevada casinos.

John Vaccaro was removed from the list when he died in 2015, which appears to be about the only way anyone gets off the lists.
Austal USA has announced that Michelle Kruger has been elected president of the Mobile-based shipbuilder after serving as interim president since August 2023.

According to information released Friday by Austal USA, Kruger is a marine engineer with over 25 years of maritime industry experience in new construction, repair, and maintenance operations. She earned a bachelors degree in marine engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, was commissioned into the U.S. Navy reserves in 1987 and earned a masters degree in marine engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1995.

Before coming to work for Austal in 2022 as vice president of global services and support, she had worked in a variety of leadership positions for divisions of General Dynamics. Her duties there included work supporting the Virginia-class submarine program, benchmarking for facility upgrades, oversight of new construction planning and leadership of a program building Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

I am honored to be chosen to lead the unparalleled shipbuilding team at Austal USA, who work together every day to deliver with excellence and integrity, Kruger said in Fridays announcement. I am thrilled and committed to lead Austal USAs on-going growth as one of the Nations premier shipbuilders. Our growth in both surface ship and submarine module manufacturing is an incredible opportunity for us. As a team we will continue to deliver worldwide service and support capability while steadily advancing technology in support of our Nations readiness needs.

Kruger became interim president of the Mobile shipyard in August 2023, as the company announced the resignation of Rusty Murdaugh. Murdaugh himself had become interim president in February 2021 before being confirmed in the position later that year. He led Austal through a transitional period when the shipbuilder, which had previously specialized in aluminum, added the capacity to manufacture steel ships and began landing steel contracts.

At the time Paddy Gregg, the CEO of Australian parent company Austal Ltd., said the leadership change from Murdaugh to Kruger reflected the end of one era and the start of another, as Austal focused on putting its new steel capability to work.

Rustys done a tremendous job of filling the order book and winning new work, turning the business around strategically, said Gregg. Now is the time that we absolutely need that operational focus in the business. Thats the conclusion weve come to and thats what were doing. Were really knuckling down and were going to get into operational delivery.
MONTGOMERY  Legislation that would require a preset adult content filter in smartphones and tablets sold in Alabama led to about an hour of impassioned debate about protecting children from pornography and overburdening manufacturers.

Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, said his House Bill 167 is designed to protect children from pornography and would carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per device to the manufacturer.

We dont allow children to buy adult magazines, we dont allow them to rent adult movies, Sells said. Yet, we just give them these phones, its got everything up there in it.
Student protests in solidarity with Palestinians are heating up on college campuses across the United States, triggering clashes with counter-protesters and, in some cases, intervention from campus authorities leading to hundreds of student arrests.

Nearly 100 protestors were arrested at a pro-Palestine encampment on the USC campus yesterday and nearly 60 were arrested at the University of Texas by hundreds of Texas state troopers alongside local police.

At least 14 college campuses and counting are currently holding encampments, also known as Liberated Zones, including the newly set up encampments at UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Temple University today.

The zones hearken back to the 1968 uprisings at Columbia University and in Paris, Prague, Mexico City, and elsewhere that saw students occupying universities and creating temporary autonomous zones challenging the Vietnam War. The first encampment at Columbia constructed on April 17 mirrored this spirit, creating a space outside traditional university structures.

By replicating the liberated zone concept, Columbia students say they are linking their specific grievances to a broader movement for social change happening internationally. They hope that this act of solidarity amplifies their message and resonate with student activists worldwide  and so far it has, spreading from coast to coast since the first Columbia started the first encampment.

I admire you all for standing up, said Columbia alumni Thomas Kennedy, who graduated from Law School in 1969, to the student activists. Kennedy was a student during the 1968 protests that saw the NYPD arresting hundreds of occupying students and employing disproportionate force against those protesting the Vietnam War. The key is not to be afraid to speak up, to protest, to occupy.

The current protests echo a long history of student activism in America, often met with resistance and sometimes leading to tragic consequences. Students advocating for Palestinian rights are employing tactics reminiscent of earlier movements, including sit-ins, teach-ins, and social media campaigns, to push for university divestment from companies linked to Israel.

Universities have acted with varying measures in response. Some institutions are negotiating with protesters while others have sought to limit demonstrations. Tensions have escalated with some universities calling in police, resulting in arrests.

House Speaker Mike Johnson called to send the National Guard to quell protests at Columbia on Thursday and the White House rejected it. NYC mayor Eric Adams also stated on the same day that there was no need to call the National Guard.

The situation remains fluid as the violence in Gaza intensifies, and student activists vow to maintain pressure for change.

Because of all the arrests, I think a lot more (demonstrations) are going to happen, said Dane Urquhart, a third-year University of Texas student, who called the police response an overreaction, stressing that the protest would have remained peaceful without the excessive show of force.

The legacy of police violence on campus

This wave of protests highlights the enduring clash between student activism and concerns about campus safety and order. Observers note it revives memories of past student movements like those against the Vietnam War, which were met with repression and, in cases like the 1970 Kent State shootings, deadly police violence.

The current wave of arrests and militarized reactions are reigniting discussions about the historical use of force against student movements in the United States:

Ohio National Guardsmen throw tear gas at students across the campus lawn at Kent State University during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration at the university on May 4, 1970. The Guard killed four students and wounded nine. (AP Photo)AP

Kent State (1970): A peaceful protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University turned deadly. When the Ohio National Guard fired into the crowd, four students were killed and nine wounded, one suffering permanent paralysis. The event became a symbol of anti-war sentiment and drew international condemnation.

Two students at Jackson State College peer from a window that was shot out by police on campus May 15, 1970. Two youths died as police riddled windows of a girl's dormitory as they claimed they were returning sniper fire. (AP Photo/Jack Thornell)AP

Orangeburg Massacre (1968): A peaceful civil rights protest at South Carolina State University by 200 unarmed Black students turned into a massacre. Highway patrolmen opened fire, killing three young men and injuring 28 others. Despite being a brutal turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, the Orangeburg Massacre remains largely unknown.

Two black demonstrators killed in the Orangeburg Massacre lie on the ground at the edge of South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, S.C., Thursday night, Feb. 8, 1968. Following three days of protests, which began when blacks were barred from entering a bowling alley by the proprieter, state police and national guardsmen confronted demonstrators. Three students were killed and twenty-seven wounded. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jackson State (1970): Days after Kent State, protests erupted at Jackson State College, an HBCU. Fueled by nationwide student anger over the Vietnam War and the Kent State shootings, along with local racial tensions, the situation escalated when false rumors of a prominent activists murder circulated. On May 15, police opened fire on a girls dormitory, injuring 12 and tragically killing two young men.

Why does this matter?

Studying past movements reveals successful (and unsuccessful) tactics. Did marches work? Did hunger strikes bring change? Historical examples can offer a toolbox of approaches for todays student activists.

In the 1960s, it was widely argued that the central aim for college campus protests were to end the military draft to Vietnam, and while they did not directly end the draft, the large-scale student protests helped turn public sentiment against the war. This increased political pressure on the government to re-evaluate its involvement in Vietnam.

It remains to be seen if universities will decide to divest or how much the current student movement will sway public opinion on Israel, but in the meantime, the number of Americans disapproving Israels actions in Gaza continues to grow. According to a March Gallup poll, about 55% of Americans disapprove of Israels military response in Gaza, a 10-percentage point increase since November.

If history says anything, idealist students will continue to take risks older generations wont, forcing the public to confront uncomfortable issues like the violence in Gaza. But their activism often comes at a price. Universities can suspend students, and as history shows, far worse is possible.

Theres no telling yet where this will end, but its far from over as the student protest movement for Palestine continues to gain momentum, spreading like wildfire across campuses in the US.

This is about solidarity, said Alex, a Jewish student at the University of Michigan who is part of the pro-Palestinian movement and asked to be identified only by his first name out of fear of retaliation, told NBC News. We have colleges all across the nation performing a synchronized act because we work together. This is a collective movement far beyond the United States.
Ray Morales speaks to City Council members during a briefing on proposed changes to the city of San Antonio's short-term rental ordinance on April 25, 2024. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) Kaylee Greenlee Beal

San Antonio had been poised to triple the permit fees that short-term rental operators pay, but some City Council members are pressing for an even bigger hike.

The fee increase is one of several changes slated for the citys short-term rental ordinance, which the council adopted in 2018. Since the end of last year, a task force of STR owners, neighborhood leaders and housing advocates have been hashing out the local laws first major overhaul, largely with the aim of cracking down on operators who dont pay their taxes.

Owners currently pay $100 for a three-year permit, but the task force recommended pushing the fee to $300. District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo supported that proposal for people who live on the site of their rental property, but she wants owners who do not live at their rental property to pay $325 annually  equivalent to $975 every three years.

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The owners of most short-term rentals in San Antonio dont live on-site.

Castillo echoed the arguments of housing advocates on the task force who said big concentrations of short-term rentals in neighborhoods reduce the supply of housing and increase costs for nearby homeowners.

I believe when we look at the overall housing need in the city of San Antonio, we cant be firefighters and arsonists at the same time  have low fees for an industry that we know is going to impact housing affordability, and then argue that housing affordability is our priority, Castillo said.

A faction of task force members, including Shelley Galbraith, chair of the Short Term Rental Association of San Antonio, disagree with claims that STRs cut into the stock of affordable housing and drive up costs for other property owners.

A resident speaks to City Council members during a briefing on proposed changes to the city of San Antonio's short-term rental ordinance on April 25, 2024. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL

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Pushing up permit fees has to be done carefully, staffers from the city attorneys office noted, because they cannot surpass the amount the city spends to regulate short-term rentals. City staff plans to crunch numbers in the coming weeks to determine whether the proposed fee hikes would break that rule.

District 9 Council Member John Courage was Castillos most vocal supporter during council's Planning and Community Development Committee meeting Thursday. He also supported adding code enforcement officers to drive around looking for out-of-control parties at short-term rental properties.

The committee voted 4-0 to send the proposed changes to the ordinance  with Castillos proposal for a greater hike  to the full City Council. The 10-member council and Mayor Ron Nirenberg will make the final call next month.

And theyll likely be met with frustrated short-term rental owners.

Shelley Galbraith, one of STR owners' representatives on the task force, backs the changes the group agreed on, but she thinks short-term rental owners will fight Castillos pitch for even higher permit fees. Galbraith also said it's unfair to charge owners differently based on whether or not they live on-site.

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District 4 Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia listens to residents during a briefing on proposed changes to the city of San Antonio's short-term rental ordinance on April 25, 2024. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Cracking down

To get a permit for a short-term rental, operators must have property insurance, a fire extinguisher, and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. They are also required to post their permit, the floor plan and evacuation route in the unit.

Under the proposed ordinance changes, the city would have an easier time pulling an owners permit for noncompliance. Currently, permits can be revoked after the city issues  and a municipal judge rules on  three citations within a six-month period. One proposed change lengthens that time to three years.

Council members have long expressed concern about short-term rentals that serve as party houses. The citys ordinance allows the city to revoke an owner's permit only if the person advertises an event or party. But proposed amendments would allow the city to step in if it finds a large number of party-goers at an STR property.

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About 75% of San Antonios short-term rental operators have permits and pay hotel occupancy taxes, said City Development Services Director Mike Shannon. That estimate is based on figures provided by Avenu, a company that scours the internet for listings by parties that do not have city permits.

About 2,900 operators have city permits. Avenu estimates that as many as 1,000 others dont.

The citys finance department collects hotel occupancy taxes at a rate of 9%. Bexar County's rate is 1.75%. Operators pay an additional 6% to the state.

Airbnb and VRBO  which make up 90% of local short-term rental bookings  have agreed to work with San Antonio to ensure that everyone on their sites pay their taxes. They will remove postings from rentals that the city notes are operating without a permit.

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The two sites also agreed to automatically collect the taxes from STR operators and hand the revenue over to the city.

When this goes live, well see very quickly a spike in HOT revenue, Shannon said. I think thats something we know thats going to happen. Weve had other cities do something similar, and theyve seen it.










English News Accurate carbon accounting gives leg up to green transition

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 23 Avril 2024



After seven years of development, E-C Digital has grown from a five-person startup team into a high-tech company with over 100 employees. Its business scope has expanded from steel and power to over 30 industries including non-ferrous metals, chemicals, petrochemicals, batteries, and new energy. It provides precise carbon data quantification and overall "dual carbon" solutions to over 1,000 clients through a cloud computing model.

By Ji Juesu, People's Daily In a plant of Shanghai Baosteel Packaging Co., Ltd. (Baosteel Packaging), machines were working on a beverage can production line, and the carbon consumption of each manufacturing process was shown in real time on a software on the computer of engineer Wang Zhiyou in an office building 15 kilometers away.



According to Wang, the software JIMU LCA Cloud, developed by Shanghai E-C Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (E-C Digital), can also automatically generate carbon footprint reports of products.



"Carbon accounting was both time- and energy-consuming, and the data were not very precise either. This software is easy to use, convenient and efficient," Wang said.

E-C Digital is an internet company that focuses on cloud computing for quantifying carbon emissions of industrial manufacturers. Though it has a history of only seven years and its products were sold for only less than three years, the company has already helped many enterprises accurately calculate their carbon emissions.



As green and low-carbon development has become a global consensus, different countries and regions, as well as different industry associations, have put forward their own paths to reduce carbon emissions.



Since China set its "dual carbon" goals - reaching the peak of carbon emissions by 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by 2060 in September 2020, the demand for carbon reduction among Chinese enterprises has grown rapidly in recent years.



The precise quantification of carbon data is a foundational work for enterprises in advancing their green transformation, but its operation is not easy.



To make carbon accounting as simple as "building blocks," E-C Digital went deep into industrial operations, transforming the smallest units, such as equipment units and manufacturing processes into individual "blocks," each of which contains all the relevant data for that process, as well as the logical relationships between the data and between the "blocks." This has truly lowered users' access to precise quantification of carbon data.



In terms of corporate carbon accounting, E-C Digital developed the "JIMU Carbon Cloud" software, which includes built-in carbon accounting methods and models for 24 industries published by China. For product carbon accounting, the company launched the "JIMU LCA Cloud," which supports the development of multiple national-level, industrial-level carbon data management platforms, and those of leading enterprises. The software interface and operations are simple and clear, which means primary-level engineers can become proficient in using the software.



For years, the can-making business unit of Baosteel Packaging had been hesitant about whether to upgrade the water-ring vacuum pumps on their production lines to screw vacuum pumps. Upgrading the equipment would require significant investment, but the water-ring vacuum pumps had high energy consumption and failure rates.



After introducing E-C Digital's software, the company obtained precise data of energy reduction: screw vacuum pumps could save 1,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, and the electricity cost savings would cover the purchase of the new equipment in about a year and a half. With such data support, Baosteel Packaging's equipment upgrade began accelerating in 2022.



Anji, east China's Zhejiang province, is the largest producer of office chairs in China. It is home to a number of small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. However, establishing a dedicated team of carbon accounting engineers is unaffordable for most of them, and purchasing third-party consulting services is generally expensive and time-consuming in terms of report delivery.



Since 2023, office chairs produced in Anji have come with a "carbon label" that showcases the carbon footprint of products' entire lifecycle, which are enabled by E-C Digital.



These carbon labels are developed by E-C Digital in collaboration with the Institute of Service-oriented Manufacturing under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. They aim at helping furniture-related small- and medium-sized enterprises in Anji carry out low-cost, efficient, and standardized carbon accounting, and deliver carbon footprint reports complying with relevant standards.



"Reliable carbon footprint reports make our products more competitive," said the head of a furniture company in Anji.



After seven years of development, E-C Digital has grown from a five-person startup team into a high-tech company with over 100 employees. Its business scope has expanded from steel and power to over 30 industries including non-ferrous metals, chemicals, petrochemicals, batteries, and new energy. It provides precise carbon data quantification and overall "dual carbon" solutions to over 1,000 clients through a cloud computing model.



"China has a solid industrial foundation and a massive global trade supply chain system, providing extremely broad application scenarios for carbon quantification software. This is our advantage," said Zhou Jing, chairman of board of E-C Digital.



E-C Digital has become the first non-European Union (EU) provider of carbon quantification tools recognized by the EU's environmental impact assessment mutual recognition platform.



It is reported that multiple international manufacturing clients have contacted E-C Digital, hoping it can help them address carbon footprint information disclosure requirements for the EU market. "Our professionalism has gained international recognition," said Zhou.



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English News Exhibition on China-France exchanges in 17th, 18th centuries hosted at Palace Museum

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 24 Avril 2024



The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles are witnesses to the historical exchanges between China and France, as well as symbols of their respective cultures. Today, they continue to tell stories of mutual learning and exchange.

By Zou Yating, People's Daily An exhibition focusing on the exchanges between China and France in the 17th and 18th centuries recently kicked off in the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China.



The exhibition "The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles: Exchanges Between China and France in the 17th and 18th Centuries" was jointly held by the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles.



It features about 200 works from the collections of the two museums and other institutions, attracting many who are interested in Chinese and French cultures.



In the second half of the 17th century and the 18th century, centered around the Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles, there were extensive and profound exchanges of personnel, ideas, and cultures between the two countries.



The exhibition showcases some rare ancient books including "Nouveaux Memoires sur l'etat present de la Chine" by Louis Le Comte and a collection of correspondence by French astronomer Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan. These books have provided information about China, disseminated Chinese culture, and deepened Europe's understanding of China, leaving a profound impact on Europe.



"From the rich cultural relics, it can be seen that the exchanges of science and art made up the majority of China-France exchanges in the 17th and 18th centuries," said Guo Fuxiang, a research fellow at the Palace Museum and the Chinese curator of the exhibition.



Inside a black lacquered square box exhibited, there are more than 30 instruments, including a plotting scale, a ruler, a carpenter's square, a compass, a protractor, and more. The box also contains a copper-gilded triangular stand and a blue enamel water container.



These drafting instruments, comprised of both Chinese- and French made ones selected by the imperial workshop of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), make up a complete and practical set.



French culture had a significant influence on the science, art, architecture, medicine, and cartography development of the Qing dynasty, as reflected by the items collected by the Palace Museum, including Euclid's Elements and Si yang-ni okto-i bithe (Handbook of Western Drugs) in Manchu language, the etchings of structures in the Yuanmingyuan Park, or the Old Summer Palace, as well as French clocks, multifunctional mirrors and essential oil.



At the same time, a large number of Chinese handicrafts and books entered France, sparking a "Chinese-style art" trend centered around the Palace of Versailles and spreading to various European countries.



Chinese porcelain was highly admired by Europeans, and the French would even decorate and modify porcelain ware to better suit their taste. For instance, Parisian craftsmen added Rococo-style gilded copper ornaments to the top, rim, and base of Chinese celadon perfume bottles, giving them a fountain-like shape.



In addition to porcelain, the French actively drew inspiration from Chinese culture in various fields such as painting, textiles, lacquerware, architecture, and gardens. China became an important source of inspiration for French artists and intellectuals.



An engraving in the 17th century just depicted how beautiful the Trianon de Porcelaine was. Inspired by the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing in China, France built the Trianon de Porcelaine in 1670. Located on the outskirts of the Palace of Versailles, the Trianon de Porcelaine was adorned with blue and white ceramics, with ornate roofs featuring vases, children, and animal figures. The interior of the palace was decorated with silk fabrics featuring Chinese floral patterns.



Cultural exchange has never been a one-way process, but rather a dynamic interaction that sparks innovation and vitality.



In the second half of the 17th century, France began to take an interest in and study Chinese porcelain-making craft. In the mid-18th century, with the discovery of kaolin deposits, the Manufacture nationale de Sevres of France successfully produced hard-paste porcelain. The shapes and decorative patterns of these porcelain pieces were heavily influenced by Chinese porcelain, yet they also possessed their own unique characteristics. France presented Sevres porcelain masterpieces as diplomatic gifts to other countries, including China.



"Although China and France are thousands of miles away from each other, they have had continuous cultural exchanges throughout history," said Guo. Even today, this interaction and exchange are remembered and constantly writing new chapters.



The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles are witnesses to the historical exchanges between China and France, as well as symbols of their respective cultures. Today, they continue to tell stories of mutual learning and exchange.



Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, noted that through the exhibition of precious cultural relics, people can appreciate the history of cultural exchanges between China and France, in which the two countries have learned from each other. This exchange has not only had a significant impact on the cultures of both countries but also provided an example of mutual learning and exchange between civilizations.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China-Africa cooperation fosters Africa's regional economic integration Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Solid progress achieved in China-ASEAN agricultural cooperation

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 23 Avril 2024



Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi noted that China is ready to work together with ASEAN countries to promote greater synergy between the China-ASEAN Action Plan on Green Agricultural Development (2023-2027) and the ASEAN Sustainable Agriculture Guidelines, deepen cooperation in digital agriculture, smart agriculture, etc., collaborate on green agricultural research and innovation, in order to enhance the green, circular and sustainable development of agriculture in the region.

By Yang Yi, People's Daily Agriculture is a key area of cooperation between China and ASEAN. To date, China and ASEAN have signed over 40 bilateral documents on agricultural cooperation and established eight bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms. ASEAN is China's largest agricultural trade partner and one of the most important destinations for agricultural investment.



The continuously deepening agricultural cooperation between the two sides will benefit the people of all countries involved.



In recent years, an increasing number of agricultural products including durian, banana, longan, and sugarcane from ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, have made their way to Chinese consumers through the China-Laos Railway and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.



ASEAN countries will benefit from the tariff preferences, streamlined customs procedures, and facilitation of trade and investment brought about by the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will promote long-term growth in their exports, said Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Undersecretary of State and Spokesman Penn Sovicheat.



According to statistics released by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, three ASEAN countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, were among the top 10 agricultural trade partners of China in 2023.



Last year, the total trade volume of agricultural products between Thailand and China reached $17.888 billion, with a total quantity of over 14.71 million tons.



A Thai media outlet said that thanks to the implementation of RCEP and the opening of the China-Laos Railway, fresh Thai fruits can reach China in just a few days, which makes them highly popular among Chinese consumers.



At a ChinaLaos crop excellent varieties experimental station in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Chinese experts were guiding local villagers in Xaythany district to grow vegetables in a science-based manner.



Lyu Feng, Chinese technician of the experimental station and a lecturer with Guangxi Vocational University of Agriculture, told People's Daily that the experimental station has tested over 300 crop varieties since 2013, and selected 67 excellent ones suitable for local cultivation.



Chinese experts have also organized multiple training sessions for local agricultural technicians, farmers, and students and faculties of universities.



In recent years, China has closely collaborated with ASEAN countries, establishing five agricultural experimental stations in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.



These stations help improve cultivation efficiency of greenhouse vegetables with soilless cultivation and fertigation techniques. They have established demonstration bases to boost rice yield in green manners, introducing new techniques in seedling breeding, cultivation, water and fertilizer management, and green pest control. The stations also use unmanned aerial vehicles to sow seeds and promote intelligent transplanting and harvesting.



Together, they had elected and tested over 750 new and superior varieties of vegetables and rice, which were later grown on 4 million mu (266,667 hectares) of land, and trained more than 1,000 agricultural technicians.



Chinese agricultural experts have worked hand in hand with local farmers and agricultural technicians in ASEAN countries, contributing to the green and digital transformation of agriculture.



The ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Deepening Agricultural Cooperation, released in 2023, stressed the importance of promoting sustainable, resilient, circular and low-carbon agriculture.



According to the document, the two sides will scale up sustainable and resilient agriculture and low-carbon farming, reduce agrochemical use and recycle agricultural waste, where applicable.



They will promote the trade of such agricultural products, and establish traceability systems for them where possible, so as to enhance the competitiveness of green, quality and distinctive products of the region.



Satvinder Singh, ASEAN deputy secretary-general, said that the deepening agricultural cooperation between ASEAN countries and China, along with the joint promotion of smart agriculture projects, has enhanced the competitiveness of agricultural products from both sides.



Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu noted that China has valuable experiences in promoting agricultural production and technological advancements.



The expanding agricultural trade and deepening agricultural technology cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, will bring about more development opportunities for ASEAN nations, the minister added.



Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi noted that China is ready to work together with ASEAN countries to promote greater synergy between the China-ASEAN Action Plan on Green Agricultural Development (2023-2027) and the ASEAN Sustainable Agriculture Guidelines, deepen cooperation in digital agriculture, smart agriculture, etc., collaborate on green agricultural research and innovation, in order to enhance the green, circular and sustainable development of agriculture in the region.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China-Africa cooperation fosters Africa's regional economic integration Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Due process of law, or at least its absence, is the heart of the unconstitutional lawfare aimed at Donald Trump this week in a New York courtroom, ostensibly for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. This is a crossing of the Rubicon moment for our Republic.

Due process is ancient shorthand for the sum of all the procedures the government must comply with and honor before it may take a persons life, liberty, or property. The right to due process is over 1,000 years old in English jurisprudence. It is a right of every citizen and a duty of every government.

A year ago, I wrote about DA Bragg charging Trump with a crime, but not identifying the crime. Within the past few days, Andrew McCarthy called the prosecution a farce and listed its many failings. Prof. Jonathan Turley wrote that Trump is not being prosecuted for any actual crime. Prof. Jed Shugerman called the prosecution unfounded, both a legal embarrassment and a historic mistake. Matthew Whitaker said that Judge Merchan, who presides over the Manhattan kangaroo court, is hopelessly conflicted to a degree that would make Joe Biden blush.

The fundamental issues with this trial all revolve around a denial of due process. This is criminally unconstitutional, and, because it is meant to distort a free and fair presidential election President, creating an existential crisis for America.

Image: Donald Trump by AI.

A Brief History of Procedural Due Process

Since 1215, an ocean of blood has been spilled by men on English and American shores to vindicate individual rights. Civil wars (including the 1st and 2nd Barons War, the Peasants Revolt, the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, and the American Revolution) have been fought, kings deposed, a king executed, and nations sundered to vindicate those rights. And in virtually all those conflicts, a governments systemically denying its citizens due process rights was at the conflicts heart.

The British freemens right to due process of law appeared first in the Magna Carta of 1215, when the tyrant King John was imprisoning men and extorting their lands and possessions. That same right to due process of law appeared in writing again as a right of all English citizens in the Petition of Right of 1628 when Charles I was imprisoning and even executing men, not for any crime, but to take their lands and estates. Due Process of law was reaffirmed as an Englishmans right in the English Bill of Rights of 1689 after the English deposed James I for dispensing with those rights and ruling as a tyrant.

In 1761, King George III began to deny the colonists many aspects of due process of law. By 1775, George IIIs refusal to honor the Americans rights led to the American Revolution. After the Revolution, Americas Founders wrote due process of law into both the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. It appears generally in the 5th Amendment and specifically as to component parts of due process in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments.

Due process is at our republics very foundation and is indispensable to our nations functioning. Take away due process of law, and there is nothing to stop government tyranny and criminality. There is nothing to stop our own versions of historys Mao, Stalin, Robespierre, and Charles I. We see it in the currently unstoppable Alvin Bragg, Juan Merchan, and the rogues gallery of others plotting lawfare to de facto overthrow our republic.

The Mechanics of Due Process of Law

Much of the U.S. Constitution is not an explanatory text. It is written in shorthand, with references to things that were well-known in law and culture when the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights were ratified. Thus, when the 5th Amendment says no one shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, every American understood that to mean the sum of those procedures that American and English courts followed in 1791.

It helps to think of due process of law in two prongs. The first prong is the procedures the government must follow. They are characterized by ensuring that a large number of people come to an objective agreement that a crime occurred and that the defendant committed the crime. This prong guards against any one government actor acting out of wrongful motive, whether it be avarice, vengeance, or political gain.

The second prong is the information and rights that the government must make available to the defendant to ensure he has an adequate defense against the governments overwhelming power. This includes telling him the crimes for which he is charged, allowing him to hear the evidence against him, and allowing him to present a defense, including the right to cross-examine witnesses.

The federal and state governments all have their own laws defining procedural due process of law. Theyre very similar, with some minor local variations. As a general matter, when a law-enforcement officer proposes to arrest someone, the officer must meet with a prosecutor and show the evidence. Only if the prosecutor agrees that the putative defendant violated a valid law does the prosecutor present those facts to a Grand Jury.

If the Grand Jury returns an indictment, the prosecutor refers the matter to a magistrate who reviews the charges and, if theyre legally sufficient, issues a warrant to arrest. By this point, the process has involved twenty or more people, all of whom have had a chance to see the evidence and weigh the prosecutors decision.

After arrest, the defendant must be brought before a court, where the exact charges are read against him in front of a neutral magistrate. The defendant then has several additional due process rights to ensure that he is treated fairly, including the right to trial by a jury of his peers.

The government must produce evidence at the trial, and it is the government, seeking to take away the defendants life, liberty, or property, that has the burden of proof of guilt (rather than the defendant having to prove the negative, which is his innocence). A neutral judge must preside fairly over the trial.

At trials end, only after the jury has heard all the facts and after watching the defendant confront his accusers, then, and only then, if the jury approves the charges based on the facts can government invade the defendants God-given rights to life, liberty, and property.

Donald Trumps trial in NYC has been an obscene mockery of Due Process. It is criminally and blatantly unconstitutional:

[Per AT, McCarthy, Turley] DA Bragg charged Trump with accounting fraud (a misdemeanor) done intentionally to hide a second crime. At no point before trial did Bragg inform Trump what the second crime was that he was alleged to have committed. No one, whether in 2024 New York City, Charles Is Star Chamber, or a televised show trial from the Soviet Union, can possibly defend against hidden crimes.

[Per McCarthy, Turley, Shugerman] It gets worse. At the trial, DA Bragg is alleging a second crime of conspiracy (hiding information) that was not in the indictment, and that does not apply to the alleged facts of the case.

[Per Whitaker] Judge Merchan, overseeing the trial, is not a disinterested party to these proceedings. His daughter is a Democrat fundraiser making millions of dollars thanks to this particular criminal trial.

[Per The New York Post] Judge Merchan has not merely allowed this trial to proceed under these outrageous circumstances, but he is allowing DA Bragg to spend days bringing in irrelevant evidence about Trumps alleged affair with Karen McDougal. The law in all American jurisdictions makes this type of evidence impermissible because it invites a jury to convict for acts other than the crime charged. It is classic judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. Indeed, it was for just such acts that New Yorks highest court recently vacated Harvey Weinsteins conviction.

This caseits timing and the sum of its irregularitieshas no chance of surviving an appellate review, even if a rabid progressive jury convicts Trump for being Trump. This case is designed solely to have an immediate impact on the 2024 election.

Make no mistake, this is a civil war battle, only its fought with a quill instead of a sword. Its existential ramifications for our nation are no less serious. Whats happening is a blatantly unlawful attempt to disenfranchise over half this nation and, by setting a precedent that sees Republicans exist below the ancient protections of due process, it threatens our nation with disunion at best.

Properly understood, these are acts of seditious conspiracy and treason meant to be felt throughout the United States. As such, Judge Merchan, Alvin Bragg, and all their cohorts need to be arrested and tried in the heartland of our nation. Let them face America. If convicted, they need to be punished to the maximum extent allowed by law.

Wolf Howling is an attorney and retired military officer who blogs at Bookworm Room.
One of the central features of current anti-Semitic propaganda against the state of Israel is the slogan Free Palestine! One can find this graffiti around the world as apologists for Hamas define the military fight against the October 7 attacks on Israel as a genocide against Palestinians. Despite this propaganda, the reality is that Palestinians, or more accurately Arabs, are more free within the state of Israel than any other location they inhabit. Moreover, the only current Jewish residents in the Gaza Strip are being raped, murdered, or kept as hostages within that sovereignty of Hamas. Even the recent expressed culpability of the Israeli Defense Force for the unintended killing of a humanitarian food group exposes the rhetorical reality that the sovereign leaders of Gaza are genocidaires bent upon erasing Jewish inhabitants from the river to the sea. Those ambitions were amplified by Irans recent massive attack on the Jewish state as an extension of its daily shouted aspirations to deliver Death to Israel!

Many Jacobin reactionaries that plead for Hamas, are unaware of how vast and politically free Palestinians living in Israel are. More than two million Palestinian Arabs live in Israel -- more than 20% of the population. Presently, there are more than 600 Palestinians who freely serve in the Israeli Defense Force. Like orthodox Jewish community members, Palestinians are not required to serve in the IDF. Palestinians and Arabs can vote in the elections of Israel and also serve in the parliamentary body. Masab Yousef, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, converted from Islam to Christianity and joined to help Israels government to counteract the dangerous genocidal ambitions of Palestinian supremacists such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Front. After the October 7 attacks, he explained the political ambitions of his father: Since its establishment, Hamas has one goal in mind, which is annihilating the State of Israel. Its not a secret that Hamas wants to destroy the State of Israel. They cannot accept Israel or accept Israels right to exist. Hamas and groups like it within Gaza torture and kill dissident members of Gaza. When groups like Hamas and Hezballah kill innocent civilians like the NGO delivering food in Gaza, there is no sense of remorse or reconsideration. In a wide variety of terrorist attacks led by these groups, the killing of civilians is rhetorically viewed as delightful and indicative of the ideal political accomplishment advocated on a regular basis.

The political cruelty of Hamas creates conditions where Palestinians live 10 years longer within the state of Israel than they do in Gaza. There are many Palestinians/Arabs who live in Israel and appreciate the obvious morality and ethics of Israeli sovereignty compared to West Bank or Gaza versions of Arab sovereignty. No similar or comparable point can be made about Jewish Israelis living in Gaza. Anyone known to be Jewish in Gaza is in grave danger. This is why, when sovereignty was transferred to Palestinian control in 2006 and 2007, Israeli citizens were removed by force. The United Nations cooperates with an educational environment promoting genocide toward Jews in the region. The UNRWA is involved in the genocidal activities led by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad front. It is this educational infrastructure that has for more than 20 years educated the population of Gaza to adopt a majoritarian view that all forms of violence against Israeli citizens are justified. To a profound extent, a similar propaganda is exerted on American college campuses pretending that the October 7 attacks were justified Palestinian actions of self-defense while the IDF responses to killing, rape, and kidnapping of women and children are not justified. The obvious rhetorical double standard is an indication of a powerful system of propaganda that must be dismantled if there is ever to be peace in regions such as Gaza and West Bank. Even Democratic Party heroes such as President Biden, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton are publicly denounced and shamed as genocidaires for failing to fall in line with this propaganda for Hamas.

The harsh complexity of genocidal rhetoric is that genocides begin with the paradoxical argument that the perpetrator is the greatest victim the world has ever known. Adolf Hitlers rhetorical predicate for the Holocaust was written in prison -- Mein Kampf -- and is translated as my struggle. His own personal struggle in the aftermath of World War I is argued to be an analogy for the suffering of Germany and its unfair political circumstances of the 1920s. The Hutus rhetorically offered themselves 30 years ago as the brutalized victims of colonial preference given to the Tutsis. Their victim status curdled within an educational system dominating Rwanda, laying the rhetorical groundwork for Hutu militants to kill more than one million of their Tutsis neighbors with blunt instruments in the span of 100 days. The rhetorical reflexivity of the Israeli government that fired two military officers for killing humanitarian food workers in Gaza demonstrates the clear difference between argumentation driven logic and propaganda driven emotions that fuel the calls for Israel to refrain from self-defense.

In his important essay Politics and the English Language, George Orwell wrote:

Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. One cannot change this all in a moment, but one can at least change ones own habits. The rhetoric of genocide surrounding the Israel/ Hamas conflict must be clarified to arrive at a peaceful conclusion that saves the lives of Arabs and Jews in the region. We must each work to dismantle the genocidal rhetoric of Hamas and Tehran and affirm the life-giving rhetorical framework of Israel in order to end genocide and preserve human life.

Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He is the author of six books regarding the power of rhetoric and argument upon global affairs including: The Rhetoric of Genocide -- Death as a Text (2014), Debate as Global Pedagogy -- Rwanda Rising (2021), and Political Campaign Communication (10th edition) with Robert Denton, Robert Friedenberg, and Judith Trent think (2024). He is editor of Argumentation and Advocacy an academic journal dedicated to the study of argumentation and public advocacy.

Image: shelly brailovski Pikiwiki Israel
Last Monday night, 22nd of April, I attended a Passover seder at my friend J's house. Most of the guests, along with J and her husband, are liberal reform Jews. I learned some interesting things I did not know towards the end of the evening. The political conversation began as the members debated a recent 11% property tax increase for the Town of Amherst, an upscale suburb of Buffalo.

1. The reason for the border crisis is because the House did not pass the RINO/Dem immigration bill, giving Biden the power to regulate and close the southern border. Trump had no power over the border and did as bad, or worse a job as Biden.

2. The main reason to hate Trump, apart from him being a crook and a scallywag, is his abortion policies -- taking away Roe v Wade. That issue, "trumps" all others.

3. During the arguments about the 11% increase, crazy ideas were proposed to try to justify the highway robbery -- they all knew it was wrong, but since the town supervisor, a Dem, proposed it, everybody seemed locked in pretzels trying to justify the mugging. In East Amherst, 10K or more is the average property tax, so 11% is a huge increase. I think my hosts, J and her husband, pay closer to 15K already.

4. When I meekly mentioned Oct 7th, all agreed that that was bad, but not a soul added any further comment, they seemed relieved to move back to more Trump Derangement Syndrome arguments.

5. I also learned that the present economy is great, in fact, better than any years during the Trump administration. And that everyone at the seder is better off than during Trump's time.

Evan Sayet might describe the evening as a perfect example of his theory that the Left is always wrong, in fact, 180 degrees opposite from the truth. It was as though instead of Elijah being welcomed to the seder, we got Rod Serling instead.

As the great Milton Himmelfarb opined, some 60 years ago, "Reform Jews earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans."

Image: White House
Every day when I walk to class at the University of Alabama, I am reminded of a great stain on the universitys history. The infamous front steps of Foster Auditorium, where Governor George Wallace stood next to tens of white students to block the first black students from enrolling in the university, are a constant caution to how recently a public demonstration of vicious racial hatred found a home on our campus.

But George Wallace didnt win. President Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard, commanded the white students to move or be moved, and achieved the enrollment of the black students Vivian Malone and James Hood. When I began college, I saw the steps of Foster Auditorium as a historical relic, not thinking that anything as vile and racially motivated could ever again take place in American colleges. I was wrong. Just like the crowd of racist students once tried to bar black students from University of Alabamas campus, now antisemitic pro-Palestine protesters are harassing and threatening the safety of Jewish students at colleges across the nation. Our nations leaders should deal with them the same way.

The war between Israel and Palestine is a contentious and complex topic, but the issue itself is not the crux of the problem in America. Here, in the absence of actual war, pro-Palestine protesters encourage violence against Israelis and American Jews with chants like Globalize the Intifada, Death to America, a rallying cry most famously heard in the halls of the Iranian parliament, and even from the river to the sea, an antisemitic chant calling for the complete removal of Jewish people from Israeli territory. These protestors are agitators, blindly defending a land completely overtaken by terrorists. When George Wallace and his students shouted Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever, in protest against integrating black students on my campus, the federal government stepped in to restore order and the rule of law. These disruptive, antisemitic protests should not be treated any differently.

Free speech is one of the most important founding principles of America, but the Constitution does not protect advocacy for racially motivated terrorism. It does not protect fighting words. It protects the right to peacefully protest in an approved public area, not to commit an illegal, hostile takeover of private university property.

In a Tiktok video posted Monday, Professor Shai Davidai demonstrated how Columbia University locked him out of his own workplace, deactivating his key-card in a supposed counter-protest measure solely because of his Jewish heritage. This is ludicrous. What if, instead of removing George Wallace from the doorway, the University of Alabama banned the black students from campus for their safety? The protestors shouting, Go Hamas, we love you. We support your rockets too, do not deserve either deference or coddling. The ones who tell Jewish students, Go back to Europe, are not superior to the racists who told black Alabama students to return to Africa. These protests are, simply put, dangerous embarrassments proliferating on American soil.

In the same way that the Alabama protest was peaceful, so are the pro-Palestinian protests peaceful. If this rhetoric calling for violence against Jews remained the same, and the only cosmetic addition to the situation was white hoods, no one would bat an eye at the protests being shut down. Unfortunately, theres a taboo in our culture that perpetuates the lie that these protestors cannot mean harm, that they cannot espouse hate, because they do not fit the bill of white supremacists.

Nothing could be further from the truth. These protests that prevent professors and students from coming on campus for fear of their own lives, that disrupt the administration of education to administer a misguided mob justice, need to be condemned. President Biden has the power to federalize the National Guard and end this unlawful intimidation just as his predecessor, JFK, did 61 years ago. America condemned the racist protests against desegregation. Its time to condemn these antisemitic demonstrations too.

Sam Underhill is the Executive Director of the ActivateGenZ Project, a Young Voices contributor, and a student at the University of Alabama.

Image: Library of Congress
Students protest the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin said Thursday they had no confidence in President Jay Hartzell, as university leaders defended their decision to bring state troopers on campus to disperse a demonstration against the war in Gaza and temporarily suspended the student group behind it.

More than a dozen faculty members rallied outside the university tower, along with hundreds of students, where they denounced the arrests of at least 57 protesters and said university leadership had abandoned its responsibility to protect students and their right to assemble.

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You have to fight for the world you want to see, said Lauren Gutterman, an associate professor of history. And I am so proud to be here with you and so inspired by our students who are teaching us the meaning of solidarity, of democracy, of courage and compassion.

Hartzell stood by the universitys actions, saying UT held firm as the protesters organized by the student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee tried to deliver on their stated intent to occupy campus.

A university spokesman clarified that Wednesday's decision to bring in state troopers was a joint one made by Hartzell, his leadership team and UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, an appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott.

On Thursday, Eltife said hes proud of how the university responded.

No matter what the issue is, were not going to allow a massive crowd to take over the campus, set up tents and disrupt classes, said Eltife, a former GOP state senator from East Texas. Its not going to happen on our campus.

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The arrests came amid a wave of protests and Gaza solidarity encampments at universities across the country that have seen students calling on leaders to cut financial ties with Israel. But few have been met with as swift a response as in Texas, where mounted police and state troopers in riot gear quickly ordered protesters to leave and began making arrests on charges of criminal trespassing.

By Thursday, a magistrate judge dropped most of the protesters charges, and all were released from jail by early afternoon, Travis County officials said.

The university did not say whether it planned to discipline those arrested, but officials had warned demonstrators that they could face punishment including expulsion and Abbott said he believes students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests should be expelled.

Late on Thursday, the university placed the Palestine Solidarity Committee on an interim suspension, a university spokesperson confirmed, although it was not immediately clear whether it would be prohibited from organizing on campus.

University officials declined to state what alleged violation of institutional rules occurred. University policy allows the dean of students to take immediate interim disciplinary action, including banning access to parts of campus, when the continuing presence of the group poses an immediate danger to people, persons or property or disrupts the academic process at UT. The student group may contest the move, but can only appeal once the dean of students issues a final decision, which should come within the next week.

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At Thursdays faculty protest, staff and students gathered in a circle, with professors taking turns speaking to the crowd. They denounced the arrests, held signs and chanted for a free Palestine. Some attendees wore masks or wrote their phone numbers on their arms in case they were arrested again.

After yesterdays violent repression by the police, we wanted to make sure our students feel safe and that they know that we hear them, said Roger Reeves, an associate professor of English. He said hes part of the group UT Austin Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine that helped organize the protest at the tower. He said the group is concerned after the police response to Wednesdays protest.

Rhiannon Hamam, a supervising attorney with Texas Laws Richard and Ginni Mithoff Program who is Palestinian, said she was arrested at the university on Wednesday and was pushed and screamed at by grown men twice my size wielding massive batons, mace and guns. She said law enforcement turned campus into a militarized zone, and Hartzell should resign.

Jay Hartzell has lost all trust, Hamam said. I am disgusted by his statement yesterday celebrating UTs violent response. He has shown his true colors. He is a leader in title only. He is a pawn of the fascist governor and he is an enemy to students and workers he should be protecting.

Ammer Qaddumi, a steering member of the Palestinian Solidarity Committee, was also arrested Wednesday and returned to campus in the middle of Thursdays protest. Students and faculty cheered for him as a friend raised him on his shoulders, and he led chants of free, free Palestine.

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University officials distributed new flyers to the crowd demanding students disperse by 10 p.m. and outlining a list of prohibited behavior, including attempting to camp on university property, wearing masks, or making loud sounds that interfere with learning.

A spokesperson for the university also released an updated statement saying the protest the day before sought to follow the playbook of the national campaign to paralyze the operations of universities across the country.

At Columbia University, where hundreds have been arrested, tension between protesters and police escalated so much that school officials announced they would move classes to a hybrid format until the end of the semester.

The spokesperson said about half of the people who broke university rules on Wednesday were not affiliated with the school, and 13 pro-Palestinian events have taken place on campus since October without incident.

In contrast, this one in particular expressed an intent to disrupt the campus and directed participants to break institutional rules and occupy the university, consistent with national patterns, the university said in a statement.

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Around 50 counterprotesters in support of Israel were also present on the tower plaza. The students, who were wearing and waving Israeli flags, gathered in a circle to sing.

Jason, a UT junior who declined to give his last name, said he attended the counterprotest to stand up for democracy and Western values. He called the protest that took place on campus Wednesday horrendous antisemitism because students chanted, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which he said calls for the decimation of the State of Israel.

I was very happy to see the polices response to the protests yesterday, he said. I fully believe in free speech. I think thats important, but when free speech turns into hate speech and antisemitism thats not wanted on my campus, and I dont feel safe and thats unconstitutional.

The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase calls for the destruction of Israel, while defenders say it is a rallying cry calling for Palestinian liberation from oppression.

The protests come six months after Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, when militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. During the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry, which is run by Hamas and doesnt distinguish between combatants and noncombatants but says at least two-thirds of the dead are children and women.
Texas has made it clear that it will do all it can to halt illegal border crossings.

That makes San Diego the new destination of choice for illegal aliens taking advantage of Joe Biden's open borders, given the hostile desert climate of Arizona, New Mexico and California's Imperial County. And sure enough, they are coming.

According to The Hill:

A San Diego official on Thursday dubbed his city the new epicenter for the border crisis and criticized California for inflicting this upon ourselves. San Diego is the new epicenter for migrants and illegal immigration, San Diego District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond posted on the social media platform X. The surge in illegal crossings has propelled San Diego to the unfortunate position of leading all nine southern border sectors in April, a trend unseen since the 1990s. Desmond said Wednesday that in just one day, Border Patrol agents apprehended 2,000 people who were illegally crossing the border, including 206 Chinese nationals. Since October, there have been nearly 215,000 apprehensions from 75 different countries, his post said. People are just walking across the border. Border Patrol agents are not empowered to stop them, Desmond said in an interview with NewsNation. All theyre doing is processing them once they  walk across the border.

Desmond, who's a rare and lonely conservative, one of the Reagan Country originals, couldn't be more correct about the disaster unfolding in this county.

Crime, for one, looks like this:

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The man who was arrested for breaking into a Linda Vista home and sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl appeared in court for the first time Wednesday afternoon. Alejandro Confessor, 22, faces charges of sex crimes, burglary and trespassing. He pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations in court. These parents, these kids experienced something no one should have to, Deputy District Attorney Eric Bodnar said after the arraignment Wednesday. It truly is a parents worst nightmare. Confessor faces 25 years to life behind bars if convicted on all charges. On Thursday, the suspect entered a residence located on Wellington St. through an open door, where he then assaulted the five-year-old while she was sleeping. He then fled the scene on foot. Just a few days after the first incident, on Sunday, surveillance footage appeared to capture the same man again at the property on Wellington St. around 3:30 a.m. However, authorities said he did not enter into the home and no one was harmed. Because he went back to the same residence, prosecutors argued in court that he should not be offered the $1 million bail that was previously set. The judge agreed.

And sure enough, reports are getting out that he's here illegally:

High-ranking officials are telling me that the person who raped a 5-year-old in Linda Vista is a known gotaway who illegally entered the country. The public must know if this is true.https://t.co/N5A0lDzk7g  Bill Wells (@MayorBillWells) April 26, 2024

Wellington Street, where the sick crime happened, is quite close to where I live. It's no border badlands outpost, nor is it a broken-window slum where all kinds of bad things happen. It's either at or next to an enclave of middle-class Navy housing, which is kept spic-and-span, if featureless, in its midcentury modern array, its lawns gleaming.

It doesn't surprise me that a door was left open at one of the homes for the monster to enter, because nothing ever happens in such a place -- that is, until Biden opened the border, which is 24.4 miles south.

Of course the crime is shocking, and that the dirtbag returned to the scene of his previous crime of invading an innocent five-year-old's bedroom and molesting that child is even creepier. Someone like that never should have been allowed into the country. But sure enough, he was.

But it doesn't stop at just pervert crime.

Wells, another rare conservative in this county, also notes that illegals get cold out there at the crossing points and they build fires:

Fire danger is the latest unintended consequence of an open border. The cartels are pushing people out east into fire country, and of course, its cold, so they are lighting fires. I remember the horrors of the Ceder fire. Many dont even have fire insurance anymore because most https://t.co/ylwpmigIuG  Bill Wells (@MayorBillWells) April 26, 2024

Lots of fires. And this surge video from a guy with a car on his dashcam at night must be seen to be believed:

Hey @CALFIRESANDIEGO these are all illegal foreigners violating important fire laws on our side of the border AS SOON AS THEY GET INTO OUR COUNTRY in Boulevard, San Diego, CA.



If an American citizen were to do this, what would the penalty be?



Video from @CoryGoat pic.twitter.com/ZxV1yqLX4k  rooted.wings (@BrittRooted) April 24, 2024

Little update: It's all fire country out here, the 2003 Cedar fire came within a couple miles of my home, as far as Clairemont, I remember how firefighters heroically stopped it before it could reach a string of gas stations.

The abundant canyonlands around here, even in the heart of the urban part of San Diego where I am all get dry as dust in summer but offer convenient refuge to illegals and homeless encampments, given the hostile terrain. Think any of them might now camp out in these parts and start a campfire among the tinder to rise upwards and take out a few canyonside homes?

It's more than likely it will happen.

Meanwhile, out on the surfer side of things, the illegal immigrant boats that surfers must dodge are now coming in two to three a day according to reports.

And of course, the cartels have been busy, stewmaking their rivals and taking their killing act as far north as La Jolla.

There's lots of Navy activity for incoming Chinese nationals to spy on and lots of state and NGO cash for those seeking free housing, free medical care, free food, free transport, free college and all the other things that migrants reportedly are coming for. What could go wrong?

It's interesting stuff because this is the first time we have seen the open borders migrant surge hitting a large, mostly blue, city in a direct hit, and it can't be anything other than Biden's open borders policy doing it. That's because San Diego is much further away from the parts of Mexico that migrants reach first on their cross-country journey up the belly of Mexico, which is Texas. You have to travel something like an extra 1,000 miles to get to the San Diego County borderline, but that's what they are doing, because obviously, Texas is making it much harder to enter in that state.

It sounds like these 2,000 migrants a day are just the start of a big wave of them, given the sharp acceleration in their numbers. Desmond says they're coming as it's the "path to least resistance." The crimes and mayhem now coming in with them are just the beginning of a long stream of events that will render San Diego as damaged and distressed as Texas's border communities.

Maybe the blue voters here will wise up, but don't bank on it. Most are fine letting the place turn into an unliveable county.

Image: Screen shot from @CoryGoat video posted on Twitter
There are few more despicable individuals in the U.S. Congress than the so-called Squad, of which Ilhan Omar is a charter member. She and her confederates have garnered far too much attention for their idiotic views of our society and their attempts to remake our nation in the image of those horrendous banana republics from which people like Omar escaped. She even allegedly married her brother to aid in his escape from the Somali hellhole, which they so proudly, now that theyre gone, call their homeland.

Back in 2019, Omar tweeted that its all about the Benjamins, baby, regarding Israels influence on U.S. foreign policy. She later tried to walk back her antisemitic tweet, claiming that it was taken out of context. But that bell was rung, and the toothpaste was out of the tube. It was obvious that the snows of Minnesota were a hotbed of antisemitic sentiment.

So why are we now seeing some strong resistance to the antisemitic protests on our college campuses? Id like to think that we, as a nation, are morally gut-punched by this display of derisiveness toward Never Again, the determination that nothing remotely resembling the Holocaust should ever again occur. But lets look at whose pushback against the antisemitic protests is being heeded.

Sadly, there is far too little objection being raised by those one would expect to point out the outrageousness of the campus behavior, both the students and the administrations in many cases. That should be coming from the media and from our leaders. Instead, we see media sympathizing with the vile behavior and encouraging its acceleration. And our leaders are doing no better. President Biden has found it almost impossible to ask for civil behavior on the part of our college students. That should come as no surprise, since he has asked even less of the Iranians and Palestinians.

But our congressmen and senators, especially those of the Jewish faith, have been the most disappointing to the nation of Israel as well as the citizens of this country who sincerely mean Never Again. Jewish members of Congress have allowed Iran and the Palestinians to feed at our expense, both by appropriations to the Palestinians and the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran. They are real Jews just like how Joe Biden is a real Catholic.

The media, educated by and for leftist progressivism, have little reason to discourage the protesting students. This kind of thing is good for ratings, and good ratings are good for revenue. The few editorial writers who do decry the antisemitism are the exception rather than the rule we might hope for.

Where we have seen effective pushback is when wealthy donors, mostly but not all Jewish, cut off or threaten to cut off their often huge donations to their alma maters. When someone like Robert Kraft takes aim at Columbia University and ceases to donate, it hurts the university where it counts  in the wallet. There will be a decided reduction of Benjamins flowing into those institutions of higher learning.

So, as much as we would prefer to believe that moral outrage caused the pushback on the protesters, that is clearly not the case. The colleges that have allowed the police to clean up their mess have done nothing to make anyone proud. Their only concern was protecting their endowments. It really was all about the Benjamins, baby.

Image: Ilhan Omar. Credit: Leopaltik1242 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
I am appalled when I watch Americas media, because if you listen to Americas studio talking heads (apart from Fox News), or hear what the spokespeople from Joe Bidens White House or State Department are saying, all that comes across the air waves is finger-wagging and condemnationdirected toward Israel, for the way we are conducting a just war of retaliation against Hamas in Gaza.

The same goes with the likes of Chuck Schumer, who called for Benjamin Netanyahus replacement because he wasnt soft enough on the terrorists who raped, murdered, and pillagedand are still holding hostages.

And dont get me started with what is going on on Americas streets and campuses...its a disastrously-assorted bunch of hypocrites. Americas Muslim students were silent when Assad butchered 500,000 in Syria, including thousands of Arab Palestinians. Ditto with Saddam Hussein, as well as the current bunch in Iran against their own Muslim people. No signs, no interest, no moronic chanting. No keffiyeh-hidden faces. No riots on American campuses from these hypocrites.

When 2,200 servicemen were killed at Pearl Harbor, America turned Hiroshima and Nagasaki into radioactive parking lots. When a few bad guys killed 3,000 on 9/11, America killed 400,000 in Afghanistan and Iraq. But, when Israel responds to the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, a campaign with the lowest recorded civilan-per-enemy death rate in military history, were falsely accused of commiting a genocide.

Give me a break! Biden, his Democrat comrades, and all the entitled terrorist-sympathizers sowing chaos need to shut their hypocritical mouths, and let Israel finish the job against these Iranian proxies; because, if truth be told, Israel is fighting a war thats meant for America too, if its not ended.

And if Biden and Schumer think it best to sell out Israel for the support of this radical and evil Muslim/Marxist mob, then God help America!

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
Just four days ago, Hollywood has-been Michael Douglas came to Joe Bidens defense, arguing that the old man who confusedly reads pause off of teleprompters was sharp as a tack. (Bidens gaffe-tastic record suggests otherwise.) Then last night, Douglas hosted a fundraiser, and this happened:

President Biden forgets date of Jan. 6 Capitol riots at glitzy fundraiser hosted by Michael Douglas President Joe Biden suffered yet another gaffe Thursday as he mixed up the date of the Jan. 6 riots during a glitzy fundraiser hosted by Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones at their Westchester home. Biden, the oldest-ever US president at 81, made the blunder as he ripped his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, 77, in front of the star-studded crowd. Well certainly never forget the dark days of June 6, January 6th, excuse me, the commander-in-chief said, according to a White House pool report.

The truth! From a Biden no less! Only two days ago I wrote an essay on one of Bidens most surreal and truthful Freudian slips of all timehe questioned how many times does President Trump need to prove that Joe and the Democrats cant be trusted? (It was on par with the time he admitted his cronies had put together the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics.)

June 6th is an anniversary of dark days in American historyits the day of the Normandy landings. Back in 1944, almost eighty years ago, waves and waves of young American boys with everything to lose jumped off of boats and onto the beaches of Franceonly to get sawn in half by machine gun fire from entrenched German forces.

Lets ignore for the moment any conspirators that may or may not have known about Pearl Harbor before it happened, and any clandestine warmongers who wanted a world war, but these American boys still paid the ultimate price for a cause that was greater than themselves. They lost their lives not because they wanted to subject otherslike Joe Biden and the rest of the current political classbut because they were willing to lay down all they had to offer out of duty and dedication to the afflicted, vulnerable, and oppressed. The anniversary of their loss is a reminder that we all lost something priceless: men willing to live out a Christ-like sacrifice. Dark days indeed.

Its kind of like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde split personality, or a battling Bruce Banner and Hulk dualityJoe Biden has two very distinct entities living in his mind, the first being Dementia Joe and the other being Crooked Joe (the politician-pervert).

Now Dementia Joe is the guy who lacks the wherewithal to keep it together in public. He is the one who forgets to don the mask to hide the bigoted, elitist, perverse, stupid, and evil essence that is Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. This is the man who actually licks children on camera, degrades black people as aint black if they dont get in line and vote for him (against their own best interest), talks about children rubbing his leg hairs in the pool, grabs children and rubs them against his nether regions, wanders off of paved paths despite his handlers directing him as obviously as a marshaller on a runway, tries to shake hands with thin air, allegedly poops his pants during meetings between heads of stateand occasionally tells the truth.

Crooked Joe is just the corrupt liar of Joe Bidens youth, or the man who wakes up and remembers the maskexcept he still publicly lusts after and fondles children.

Joes senility seems to be picking up speed, and I wonder, by the time the election rolls around, will he be telling more truth than lies?

Image: Monica Showalter via Flickr.
Everything about the old man, from his spending priorities to his presence, is bad for the American middle class. Heres what Elizabeth Heckman reported today, via Fox News:

NY restaurant owner set back by Biden's visit as streets close during peak hours: A financial hit A New York restaurant owner said Thursday that President Bidens visit to Syracuse would cause a financial hit to his business, as the president touted the state of the economy and job creation. Dr. Fahed Saada, owner of Pita Dream, told Fox & Friends First he was suddenly informed that the streets in front of his business would be closed for 12 hours during peak business hours, forcing him to cancel the services of third-party delivery groups. That's a major source of our sales at Pita Dream, Saada said. This will be a financial hit for us.

Biden was in town to announce another $6 billion in investments which is just code for crony capitalism, or Big Business handouts. It is wealth redistribution, taking what the hardworking, taxpaying middle class earned and handing it over to massive tech companies, who hate us, our values, and the West.

Here are the details from a White House press release:

Today, President Biden will travel to Syracuse, New York, to announce that the Department of Commerce has reached a preliminary agreement with Micron to provide up to ~$6.14 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act.

Classic Bidenwhile bloviating about the economic miracle worker he thinks he is, the little guy just trying to survive his terrible economy gets crushed. Heres what else Saada had to say about the forced closure:

Saada has also told some employees to stand by on coming to work, including local high school students hoping to make extra money during their spring break. Its challenging to keep a small business running these days. This disruption will add to our challenges, he said.

And, as Saada may or may not know, another Biden term means massive increases in taxheres a blog I wrote on how the Big Guy wants a whole lot more than 10% if he wins this fall, so plan accordingly. Oh, and then this too:

Joe Biden is proposing the biggest middle class tax hike in modern times.



Here's his plan:



- A lower standard deduction

- A new 20% hike in small business tax rates

- Families forced to pay alternative minimum tax

- Families forced to pay estate tax https://t.co/CX5KGseYGX  Stephen Moore (@StephenMoore) April 26, 2024

And by the way, Micron has links to the World Economic Forumheres a video showing Sanjay Mehrotra, current president and CEO, talking about how his company sat down and met with fellow World Economic Forum attendees to discuss Microns work, which is moving from simply collecting data, to harnessing it. Uh yeah, I dont think any of the people actually footing the $6 billion Micron bill (me, and you) wanted to pay for data to be collected and harnessed because obviously, these people arent exactly friendly to the freedom cause. Microns website also bears evidence of the enterprises ethos its poisoned by ESG and DIE.

Bring back Trump now.

Image: Public domain.
Don't try setting up a camp in Texas unless you are on camping grounds or private property. Don't try it at the university grounds because we don't put it up with it in the Lone Star state.

For the record, no heads were cracked, but some protesters found out that our law enforcement means it when they tell you to get out of the way.

A good friend teaches at the school. I spoke with him last night and he thought that law enforcement acted correctly and proportionally. He mentioned that most of the students and staff were happy that UT did not turn into Columbia. As my friend said, we have classes going and most of the students want to study rather than support causes.

I think that this post from Karen Townsend summarized things correctly:

In summary, the students were warned of what would happen in advance if the protest went off as planned. The university was prepared to maintain security. A show of force was used to enforce university rules. Some protesters were arrested. The encampment was not set up on the South Lawn. The governor supported law enforcement. This is how student protests should be handled on college campuses that promote antisemitic messages and potential violence. The grown-ups have to remain in charge. God bless Texas.

Yes, thank you for having a governor who understands the difference between protests and lawlessness. Yes, adults made sure that out-of-control "students" didn't destroy things or deny students their opportunity to take a class.

Again, no heads were cracked or tanks sighted. It was law enforcement keeping order and most rational people applauding it. Of course, some are trying to equate what we saw in Austin with Tiananmen Square, but that just shows you how ignorant the critics are.

There are lots of camping and picnic opportunities in Texas. Just don't try it on the university grounds. You might be greeted by some strong dudes on horseback. (Beautiful horses, by the way.)

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Picryl
Recent revelations about the financial contributions of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to organizations like IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace have sparked debate about the nature of pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses.

Over the past five years, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has donated significant sums  $100,000 to IfNotNow and nearly $500,000 to Jewish Voice for Peace. These organizations openly advocate for the cessation of U.S. support for what they describe as Israels "Apartheid" system.

Financial Support and Its Implications

The funding from such an established philanthropic entity raises questions about the grassroots nature of these student-led movements. Critics argue that the significant financial backing suggests these protests might not be as organic as they appear. The support from a major fund could be seen as bolstering the operational capabilities of these organizations, enabling more structured and widespread campus activities than might otherwise be possible.

The Educational Gap

There is also skepticism regarding the depth of understanding and commitment of the protestors themselves. Some critics speculate that many participants in these protests might lack basic geographical knowledge about Israel, perhaps not even being able to find Israel on a map. This critique points to a potentially superficial engagement with the complex issues at stake, possibly fueled by the organizational momentum provided by external funding rather than a deep personal conviction or understanding of the historical and political context.

The Role of Philanthropic Funding in Activism

The involvement of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund highlights a broader issue of how philanthropic funding influences activism. On one hand, such funding can empower voices that might otherwise struggle to be heard, amplifying important perspectives on international issues like human rights. On the other hand, it can lead to questions about the independence of these movements and whether financial dependencies might steer their agendas.

This begs the question: Are the current 'low information protestors' seeking true justice or are they being recruited and funded by a shadow agenda seeking to exploit and foment hate and rage in the form of impressionable young human capital, resulting in raw antisemitism?

Jerry McGlothlin is co-chairman of Restoring Justice US, and the CEO of Special Guests, a publicity agency founded in 1986.

Image: Twitter video screen shot
Android 15 has Auracast, a Bluetooth LE feature that allows devices to broadcast audio content. The same feature would allow multiple devices to listen in on an audio feed.

What is Audio Sharing in Android 15?

Android 15 is shaping up to be one of the most feature-packed updates for smartphones and other compatible devices. Among its many tricks, Android 15 should bring with it the ability to broadcast audio to multiple devices over a single Bluetooth channel.

Bluetooth has been around for several decades. However, this mature technology is essentially one-way. In other words, it can only stream data from one source to one destination. The Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) Audio standard, and its Auracast feature, offer a new way of sharing audio.

Hey #TeamPixel users, are you envious of Samsung Galaxy users who are able to share audio to two different Bluetooth devices? Well, your days of envy might soon be over thanks to Auracast from @BluetoothSIG  Article coming soon! pic.twitter.com/fLFTvnD6WD  Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) April 24, 2024

Auracast, a feature possible due to the Bluetooth LE Audio standard, enables broadcasting audio to nearby devices over Bluetooth Low Energy. Auracast doesnt even demand Bluetooth pairing.

Auracast is like a miniature radio transmission station. It can transmit audio to multiple devices. Although the range is limited, multiple devices supporting Bluetooth LE and Auracast would be able to tap in and listen to an audio stream simultaneously.

Bluetooth Auracast  Automate your malware & propaganda ingestion! pic.twitter.com/DUJG3wNa26  Raj _()_/ (@usa_nca_rr) April 20, 2024

How to activate Auracast feature in Android 15 Developer Preview 2

Google has released two Developer Preview versions of Android 15. The company is still testing multiple features, and some may not make their way into the stable release of Android 15.

Mishaal Rahman managed to activate the Auracast feature and even started a broadcast. Although nearly every modern device that can run Android 15 could run an Auracast stream, support for the feature is very sketchy. Interestingly, audio accessory makers are adding Auracast support to their devices.

JBL Xtreme 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, ProSound with Powerful Bass Radiators, AI Sound Boost, Built-in Powerbank, Multispeaker Connection by Auracast, IP67, Replacable Battery, Fast Charging (Black)1,350,000UGX UK Mall kansanga G-06 #legendsaccessories pic.twitter.com/q80tvew0fN  legends accessories (@legends_ug) April 22, 2024

Nonetheless, to start an Auracast stream, first install the Android 15 Developer Preview 2. Then head over to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Audio sharing page. Toggle the Share Audio switch to start a stream.

A notification from Bluetooth LE audio pops up which states the device is sharing media audio. This notification has buttons to stop the stream or open the settings for audio sharing. The media output switcher reconfirms with a sharing audio message instead of playing audio on this phone.

At #EmbeddedWorld2024 we demoed Auracast running on our ClarinoxBlue Bluetooth Low Energy stack on the @NXP 8M Mini development board, as it simultaneously and with perfect synchronization broadcast audio to four separate devices.#EmbeddedWorld2024 #TechInnovation #Auracast pic.twitter.com/aZgrQjnb0U  Clarinox (@clarinox) April 23, 2024

Several granular settings allow users to finely control multiple aspects. Users can choose a broadcast name and password by heading over to Audio Sharing > Stream settings. Broadcasters even get a QR code to share their Auracast stream.

Users can select Improve Compatibility to ensure the audio stream is playable on most devices. However, this significantly reduces audio quality, Rahman observed.

Auracast standardizes and even democratizes audio sharing over Bluetooth. Moreover, it enables users to share audio with more than two devices. However, those who wish to use this feature would need to ensure their device supports Bluetooth LE Audio and would receive the Android 15 update, as it includes the Auracast feature.

Image Credit: Mishaal Rahman
Google rolled out the first Android 15 Beta update for the Pixel smartphones on April 11. The second beta update -Android Beta 1.1  with NFC fix and more rolled out just a couple of days ago. Now, the search titan has started rolling out the Android 15 Beta 1.2 update to the Pixel smartphones. The latest update brings fixes for various bugs and performance enhancements.

Android 15 Beta 1.2 update addresses app freezing bug and more

The Android 15 Beta 1.2 update addresses an important bug that sometimes causes applications to freeze. Dubbed the issue number #328865524, it triggered the Application Not Responding message on the screen for certain apps. The update fixes one of the system problems that caused the battery to drain quickly in some cases. The system Settings app was crashing for some users when they were trying to add a fingerprint. It has also been fixed in the new beta update.

Furthermore, the Beta 1.2 firmware provides a solution to a bug that prevented the system back gesture from working properly. Lastly, the update fixes a problem that caused the screen to flicker repeatedly. Users can also expect the new firmware to provide the usual performance enhancements and improved system stability. The aforementioned are the only changes highlighted in the official changelog for the update.

New Android Beta update is rolling out over the air

The firmware of the new update is AP31.240322.027 (compared to AP31.240322.03 of the Beta 1.1 update). The new update is available for all supported Pixel devices. These include the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.

The new update doesnt add any new features to the Pixels. These are reserved for the Android 15 Beta 2 version, which Google will likely release during I/O 2024. The event is kicking off on May 14, so mark your calendars.

All these devices enrolled in the Android Beta program will be getting the Beta 1.2 update over the air. The OTA update is being rolled out in a phased manner, so not every device will receive it right away. Notably, if you cant wait for the OTA update, then you can always manually flash these updates on your Pixels. The files for the new update are available on Androids developer website.
It seems like Samsung is ditching the Watch 7 Pro rumors and going all-in with a brand new smartwatch named as the Galaxy Watch Ultra. While were not sure if Samsung will unveil the Watch 7 Pro in the next generation Watch 7 series, one thing we can say for sure is that Samsung will indeed introduce a brand-new smartwatch called the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Previously, details regarding the battery size of the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro had surfaced. According to the latest findings in our database, Samsung might introduce the Watch Ultra instead of the Watch 7 Pro. We expect Samsung to unveil three new watches: the Watch 7, Watch 7 Classic, and Watch Ultra.

Galaxy Watch Ultra One UI beta build spotted

A few days after we spotted the Galaxy Watch Ultra, we saw that One UI Beta tests for the smartwatch had started. Samsung has developed 8 One UI Beta test builds. And, this confirms that the claims that the Watch Ultra wont be unveiled are false. The brand is testing the One UI Beta for the Watch Ultra. It officially confirms that the smartwatch will be launched in the future.

The Watch Ultra was initially thought to be sold as the Watch 7 Pro. However, our database revealed that the Watch 7 Pro will not be introduced. Samsung will announce a new smartwatch under the Watch Ultra name for the first time.

The last internal One UI Beta build is L705FXXU0AXD8. L705F is the model number of the Watch Ultra. The letter U in the One UI Beta build represents new features, bug fixes, and many more important improvements. Samsung is passing the smartwatch through important testing phases before releasing it on the market.

A stands for the first One UI version and XD for when the beta build was tested. X means 2024, and D means April. For the Galaxy Watch Ultra, 8 beta builds were tested in April 2024. This is very important for the preparation of a perfect product. This information comes from the Samsung OTA server, so you can trust us. The next part of the article goes into important details about the Watch Ultra and Watch FE.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is finally arriving

Earlier reports indicated a larger battery (578mAh) for an upcoming Galaxy Watch with the model number of EB-BL705ABY. While we expected three new watches (Watch 7, Watch 7 Classic, and Watch Ultra), Samsung might skip the Classic model as Samsung had previously skipped the Classic model with the Watch5 series. Our database reveals three distinct model numbers (SM-L705U, SM-L705N, and SM-L705F) for the upcoming Galaxy Watch Ultra. These model numbers represent the US, Korea, and Global. The new Watch Ultra will be officially launched in several regions.

We know that the Galaxy Watch FE will carry similar features to the Galaxy Watch4 introduced in 2021. The Galaxy Watch4 still holds up quite well even in 2024. Its great to see Samsung introducing an affordable Watch model because not everyones budget is sufficient for a smartwatch. Considering that many premium smartwatches cost almost the same as a mid-range Android smartphone, it makes sense for companies to introduce an affordable alternative smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch FE is also on its way

Samsung is also expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE in the coming months. This naming strategy mirrors Apples recent approach with the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE. Samsungs Watch FE will serve as a more budget-friendly alternative to the Watch Ultra. As previously mentioned in our Galaxy Watch FE article, the Galaxy Watch FE will be available with specific models (SM-R866F, SM-R866U, and SM-R866N) for the US, Korea, and other markets. The watch is expected to share features with the well-regarded Galaxy Watch4 (2021).

Phones and smartwatches have undoubtedly made everyones lives easier. Especially if youre someone who frequently works out, tracking your fitness activity can be highly beneficial. Despite their relatively limited functions, smartwatches still come with high price tags. However, Samsungs decision to introduce the Watch FE as an alternative to the Watch Ultra is a commendable step.

Samsung is working on 2 different models, FE and Ultra

We can expect significant differences between the Watch Ultra and Watch FE, although we dont currently have exact technical specifications for both watches. Samsung may surprise us this year by introducing a highly advanced smartwatch. The Watch Ultra could feature advanced sensors that allow for more accurate tracking of workout activities, such as providing more accurate data while swimming due to increased durability against water pressure. Additionally, it could provide more accurate GPS tracking. Its safe to say that the battery life of the Watch Ultra will be significantly better, as Samsung plans to use a much larger battery than ever before in its next smartwatch.
Pro-Palestinian protesters face off with mounted state troopers at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/AP

The law enforcement response to Wednesdays pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Austin drew criticism from faculty, who said it was an overreaction to a peaceful demonstration.

University leaders, meanwhile, have defended their actions, saying Thursday that prior events have taken place without incident since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In contrast, this one in particular expressed an intent to disrupt the campus and directed participants to break Institutional Rules, the statement said.

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What are the state laws about protesting on college campuses? Heres what we know:

Free speech on campuses

The Texas Legislature in 2019 passed Senate Bill 18, which standardized state laws about free speech measures on college campuses. It deems all common outdoor areas as places of expressive activity for any person and requires new students, faculty and staff be informed of free-speech policies during orientations.

Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses, Abbott said just before signing the bill. Well, no more.

There are some limitations on protests, however. Public universities are allowed to maintain some restrictions, including in instances where there might be harm to another person, inciting imminent violence or unlawful conduct, such as civil disobedience.

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Steven T. Collis, director of the University of Texas School of Laws Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center, said how free, exactly, speech can be on public university campuses depends on a number of factors.

One is place: Collis said people demonstrating in spaces administrators have designated as public forums, or which traditionally have been used as public spaces  think large, open, accessible, outdoor  typically would have fewer limitations on their speech and movement. By comparison, school leaders would be within their rights to impose stricter rules on spaces reserved as limited public forums  classrooms, for example.

WHERE ARE PROTESTS HAPPENING? : Students at these Texas universities are organizing protests. Heres why

The other set of rules are known as time, place and manner restrictions, he said. University leaders may issue guidelines restricting when and how public protests occur on campus. Such rules can vary from campus to campus and would be subject to a reasonableness test. For example, Collis said, if a school were to only allow protests in a tiny parking lot a half-mile from campus, a judge might view that as an unreasonable restriction on free speech.

Finally, he noted that even if demonstrators pass all those tests, there are restrictions on speech intended to incite violence. If university leaders had compelling information that was the demonstrators intent, they could cite that as reason to forcibly break up a gathering.

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Abbott postures against protesters

Wednesdays protest came as large pro-Palestinian protest encampments have sprung up at universities across the country. Demonstrators at some have clashed with law enforcement and counterprotesters. Arrests have been reported at some schools, including Yale and New York universities.

Abbott, earlier this year, issued an executive order requiring state universities to update their free speech policies to include the states definition of antisemitism and to crack down on some campus demonstrations. In the order, he specifically criticized the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which has helped organize some of the protests at other college campuses.

On Wednesday, he said on social media the protesters belong in jail.

Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled, he wrote on social media, without specifying any particular incident of antisemitism during the demonstration.

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About 200 protesters gathered outside the Gregory Gymnasium just before noon and marched down a main campus walkway. Many were chanting free Palestine and Palestine will be free.

UT administrators warn demonstrators ahead of protest

The student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee advertised the event on Instagram, invoking similar demonstrations at campuses in New Jersey, New York and other states and calling on the university to cut financial ties with Israel. The group had said it planned to take back our university by occupying the South Lawn.

The day before the protest, the office of the dean of students told organizers to cancel because the event appeared to violate our policies and rules and disrupt our campus operations. The warning letter said protesters who decided to show up would be subject to discipline, including suspension, and people unaffiliated with the university would be asked to leave or face arrest. It also noted the organizers urged attendees to bring face masks, which the letter described as a violation of university rules that forbid students from concealing their identity to obstruct law enforcement.

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More than 50 people were arrested on campus for criminal trespass, according to law enforcement. By Thursday, all had been released from jail.
Tuta, formerly Tutanota, has lodged a complaint under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against Google with the EU. The complaint alleges that Google is using Search to undermine the business of rivals like Tuta.

The company asserts that since March 2024, its website, tuta.com, has seen a significant decline in search rankings on Google. According to Tuta, the downranking of tuta.com by Googles search algorithm has resulted in a drastic 74% drop in search impressions since March, with a decline of more than 90% for non-branded keywords.

This decline in search rankings coincides with Googles March 2024 core update. Despite Tutas attempts to engage with Google regarding this issue, they have encountered obstacles and have been unable to resolve the matter.

The DMA is meant to level the playing ground between competitors

EUs DMA targets gatekeepers like Alphabet, Googles parent, to stop unfair product prioritization due to market dominance. Tutas screenshots show tutanota login searches on Google lead to its email app on the Play Stores top result. This contrasts with the search results on other platforms like DuckDuckGo and Bing that return direct links to Tuta Mail.

Gmail is Tutas major competitor

Despite Gmails popularity, some individuals are migrating to alternative email providers that promise better privacy. Given that Tuta Mail competes with Googles Gmail, Tuta suspects that Googles downranking of its service may violate the Digital Markets Act.

This isnt the first time Tuta has accused a major tech company of maltreating rivals. In 2023, Tuta experienced issues with Microsoft Outlook marking @tutanota.com email addresses as spam. In this case, the problem was only resolved after a journalist complained about it.

According to the BBC, Google Search has denied the allegations from its rival. A Google spokesperson stated that search ranking updates are designed to be impartial and do not show preference towards Google or its products.
Android TV devices are getting an update to resolve a privacy issue related to Gmail. Basically, those with physical access to your Android TV could have control of your Gmail account. This leads to more risks, such as requesting password changes on other services.

Android TV is not a different OS from the Android that we know on phones and tablets. Rather, it is Android with a launcher that adapts the UI to TV screens for more comfortable navigation. However, the core is still Android. You can find it either preinstalled on certain TVs or on TV sticks/boxes. Regarding the latter, devices like Chromecast with Google TV or NVIDIA Shield TV are among the most popular.

Android TV doesnt offer all Android locking methods

Android TV maintains behaviors and possibilities inherited from the version for phones. First, it allows you to install APKs outside of the Play Store. Additionally, once you log in with your Google account, all Google apps will have access to that login. That is, once you access your Android TV with your Google account, all the companys apps or services only need to be installed to have access to all your content. It will not require you to enter the email and password for each app again.

This behavior is normal and convenient for mobile devices. After all, you carry it with you always, and they have multiple locking methods available. On the other hand, Android TV devices are usually in the same place. In addition, they do not offer all the locking systems available on smartphones.

The most similar thing you will find on Android TV is the restricted profile option. This allows you to block access to certain specific apps after a PIN. But, as Google indicates on its support page, it only works on third-party apps that dont use Google sign-in. So you wont be able to block access to either Google apps or third-party apps that use your Google credentials.

This is how attackers could access your Gmail account from your Android TV

Now, you should have an idea of the security problem. The potential attacker needs to have physical access to your Android TV device. If you logged in with your Google account on that Android TV, the attacker will have access to the data of all your Google apps. That includes Gmail, which is pretty dangerous. With access to Gmail, the attacker can request password changes from other services. Only those where you have set up a 2FA system will be safe.

Android TV makes installing APKs outside of the Play Store a little more complicated than Android phones. However, it is still a not-so-difficult process. Simply unlock the developer options, and you can enable it from there.

The installation of external APKs is necessary for the attacker as Gmail does not have an app for Android TV. Since there are web browsers for Android TV, the attacker could simply download the Gmail APK from some website.

After downloading and installing it, the attacker will be able to directly access your emails without needing credentials. Since it is not adapted to Android TV, the Gmail app will need a keyboard and mouse to navigate through it. However, that will be the only obstacle they will face.

The fix is already rolling out

In a statement to 404 Media, a Google spokesperson said Most Google TV devices running the latest versions of software already do not allow this depicted behavior. We are in the process of rolling out a fix to the rest of the devices. For your part, you can manually check that your device is updated to the latest software available. Also, common sense is your best ally to avoid unsafe practices, such as logging in with your Google account on third-party Android TV devices.
AI technology has squeezed itself into more corners of our lives. That not only includes software but also includes hardware. Iyo, a company spun off from Google owner Alphabet, plans to launch a pair of AI-powered earbuds named the Iyo One earbuds.

Right now, the fate of AI-powered wearables seems to be a bit grim. The Humane AI Pin, a device that showed so much promise, was dunked on by the majority of reviewers. Also, a similarly interesting device called the Rabbit R1 didnt exactly wow audiences. So, companies may think twice about making AI-powered devices meant to challenge the smartphone.

Iyo is planning on launching its AI-powered headphones this year

Back in 2021, we got the news that a team Within Googles X, a Moonshot Factory was working on a pair of devices set to revolutionize how we use our headphones. Back then, the device had the codename Wolverine. This device showed promise, and the leader of the project, Jason Arugula, spun it off into its own company named Iyo. Despite being an upstart company, Iyo was able to secure $21 million in funding from several sources including Alphabet, Horizon Ventures, and Lockheed Martin.

Now, these earbuds are said to launch by the end of the year. Looking at the image of the earbuds, we see that they have a very unique shape. Theres a large disc shape for the earbuds along with the flexible part that will go inside of your ears. So, they will definitely be distinguishable from other typical earbuds.

What will make these earbuds special?

The main thing about the Iyo One earbuds has to do with AI. Much like the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, these headphones will assist in reducing the amount of time you spend on your smartphone.

Along with that, they will boast the ability to manipulate ambient sounds to make for a better listening experience. You could tell the earbuds to quiet certain sounds and boost others. For example, youll be able to tell the earbuds to dampen certain sounds like rain or traffic and tell them to boost sounds like your friends. This is a very smart innovation over current active noise cancellation.

Another feature is the ability to use AI agents. You can think of AI agents as small specialized chatbots that are meant to perform special actions. Say, you want one AI agent to read your agenda, and you want another AI agent to set up a shopping list for you. This is a similar approach to what we saw with the AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, giving you access to AI chatbots on the go.

If you are interested in trying out these devices, you can reserve a pair now. Just know that these are rather expensive earbuds. If you reserve a pair, your deposit will be $59, but the full price of the earbuds is a whopping $599.
Its no mystery that Microsoft has gone crazy over AI development. But thats not the only thing that the company should be focusing on. Microsoft is one of the largest companies in the world, and that makes it a big target for hackers. As such, Microsoft stated that security is its top priority.

Microsoft was called out recently over a series of pretty big hacks that it went through in recent history. Between May and June 2023, Microsoft was hacked by a Chinese hacking group named Storm-0558. This hack affected Microsoft Exchange online, with more than 500 people and 22 organizations being impacted worldwide.

The next high-profile hack happened in either the last months of 2023 or January 2024. The company was hacked by a bad actor named Nobelium. This was a Russian state-sponsored hacker who gained access to internal and executive email accounts.

Microsoft is making security its top priority

Because of these hacks, Microsoft and its CEO were called out by the CSRB (Cyber Security Review Board). The board said that the companys oversight was inadequate, and it wants it to make security more of a priority. Over the past year, Microsoft has made AI one of its core focuses. Its been aggressively pushing Copilot on Windows users.

However, when such a large company gets hacked, it definitely raises some eyebrows. So, the company CEO, Satya Nadella, announced that Microsoft is going to be focusing primarily on cybersecurity, and this will involve some pretty big changes to the company and its inner workings.

In a statement, Nadella said, We are focused on making continuous progress across the six pillars of this initiative as we protect tenants and isolate production systems, protect identities and secrets, protect networks, protect engineering systems, monitor and detect threats, and accelerate response and remediation.

He also mentioned the tool that was made available earlier this month which is called Copilot for Security. It should come as no surprise that Microsoft is using AI tools to help boost its cyber security. Copilot for Security [brings] together LLMs with domain-specific skills informed by our threat intelligence and 78 trillion daily security signals, to provide security teams with actionable insights.
Samsungs upcoming smartwatches may bring a revolutionary health feature. According to the Korean media, the Galaxy Watch 7 series will boast noninvasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities. The new watches are expected to arrive in July this year.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 may offer blood sugar monitoring

The Korean technology giant has been long exploring ways to make its watches a comprehensive healthcare tool. To that end, it added a temperature sensor to the Galaxy Watch 5, allowing female users to track, manage, and forecast menstrual cycles. In January this year, the companys head of digital healthcare, Hon Pak, revealed that it has put in significant investment to develop noninvasive blood sugar monitoring technology for its wearables.

Pak didnt provide specifics but suggested that Samsung was on the verge of achieving the goal. The topic resurfaced during his recent meeting with the advisory board members of Samsung Health. The meeting at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul earlier this month also touched on health topics like diabetes, arrhythmia, hypertension, and the use of AI to enhance Samsung Health, but blood sugar monitoring was a key takeaway.

The industry now expects Samsung to add the feature to the Galaxy Watch 7 series. If things pan out as expected, it would be a game-changer. However, the company may still classify the new watches as electronic devices rather than health devices. This is because health devices fall under a stricter set of regulations. Samsung will show a disclaimer that you should only use health data from the watch for information purposes and not for the detection of any disease.

Samsungs Galaxy Ring could also get the new feature

Samsung will soon add a new category of devices under its wearable lineup. It is preparing to release its first smart ring later this year. The company has already revealed a few tidbits about the Galaxy Ring. It may also bring the device to the next Galaxy Unpacked event in July where the Galaxy Watch 7 will break cover alongside new foldables.

Official teasers and rumors suggest Samsung plans to make Galaxy Ring a comprehensive health monitoring device that complements its watches. Users can wear it as a substitute for their Galaxy Watch at night. As such, the Galaxy Ring could also boast blood sugar monitoring technology. More details may emerge in the coming months as Samsung prepares to unveil the new wearable devices. Reports say the launch event will take place on July 10, 2024.
The Sony Xperia 1 VI could end up including new camera hardware after all. As some of you recall, a report from earlier this month suggested that the Xperia 1 VI will have the same camera hardware as its predecessor.

The Sony Xperia 1 VI could end up including new camera hardware after all

Well, that may not be the case. The Sony Xperia 1 VI camera island leaked and it suggests larger camera modules will be used. Wider apertures will be used, and that could mean large camera sensors too.

If you take a look at the image below, youll see teh Xperia 1 VI camera island standing side-by-side with the Xperia 1 Vs camera module. It is clear as day that the former is physically larger, together with camera cutouts.

New lens protectors are obviously larger

The lens protector of the Xperia 1 VI measures 5.2cm (height) x 1.5cm (width). The one on the Xperia 1 V measures 4.9cm x 1.3cm. The difference is obvious. In addition to that, the Xperia 10 VI lens protector also surfaced, and you can see it below.

That one measures 3.3cm (height) vs 1.6cm (width), compared to 3.2cm x 1cm of the Xperia 10 V. So its not only a bit taller but also considerably wider.

So, its anyones guess whats going on when it comes to the Xperia 1 VI. We didnt really have any info on the Xperia 10 VI, so thats besides the point, but the Xperia 1 VI could end up including different cameras after all.

The phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and its coming on May 17 most likely. Thats when Sonys upcoming special Xperia event is taking place. Weve also exclusively leaked the CAD-based renders of the Xperia 1 VI, in case youd like to check those out.
Spotify is testing Apples commitment to the new EU law with a new update to its app. The law, called the Digital Markets Act (DMA), requires large tech companies like Apple to let developers inform users about alternative ways to purchase, bypassing the App Store.

Spotify pushes the limits of the DMA

According to a tweet from Spotifys official news X account, the company has submitted an update to its iOS app that would display basic pricing and website information. However, Apple rejected this, prompting Spotify to publicly criticize the company for defying European law.

Spotify argues its update adheres to the DMA guidelines. They further emphasized that the update only displays the bare minimum outlined under the European Commissions ruling. The EU is already investigating Apple, Meta, and Google for allegedly favoring their own services and charging extra fees to developers. Therefore, Spotifys update acts as a test case for the DMAs effectiveness. If Apple continues to block it, the EU might take further action to promote fairer competition in app stores.

How will Apple react to Spotifys latest test?

This isnt the first clash between Spotify and Apple over App Store fees and policies. Spotify has long argued that Apples 30% commission on in-app purchases is unfair and hinders competition. If users were to subscribe to Spotify Premium directly through the app, Apple would take a cut. This is why Spotify wants to direct users to its website to subscribe, avoiding the App Store tax.

The DMA could be a win for Spotify and other developers, potentially forcing Apple to loosen its control over the App Store and allow more freedom with pricing and user communication.

Apples response to Spotifys latest challenge remains to be seen. The EU may exert further pressure to ensure compliance with the DMA. This, coupled with growing global scrutiny from developers and regulators, might force Apple to re-evaluate its commission structure.
Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net.

Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.
Adrian Newey is set to hold discussions with Red Bull over the next 72 hours in a bid to resolve his future, the PA news agency has learned.

Neweys time at Red Bull has been cast into doubt after it was suggested on Thursday that he has requested to leave the team at the end of year, with Ferrari  ahead of Lewis Hamiltons arrival in 2025  mooted as his most likely destination.

The Briton, 65, is regarded as one of the most influential car designers in Formula One history, and he has had a major hand in Max Verstappens current stranglehold on the sport which places the Dutchman on course to win a fourth consecutive world championship.

Max Verstappen has won four of the opening five races this year (David Davies/PA)

Newey is understood to be unhappy in his current role at Red Bull  the team he joined from McLaren in 2006  and reports of his end-of-season departure have sparked the need for immediate talks.

It is believed that Newey could step back from the day-to-day running of the F1 teams operation as early as this year, or perhaps at the start of next, and focus on his in-house hypercar, the RB17, which is due to begin production in 2025.

The suggestion of Neweys desire to end his near two-decade association at Red Bull, which is understood to have come as a surprise to those connected with the grids all-conquering team, follows Christian Horner being accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee.

Team principal Horner, who was exonerated by Red Bulls parent company GmbH on the eve of last months curtain raiser in Bahrain, has always denied the claims. And those close to the 50-year-old believe Neweys future is being used as a power-play to further destabilise his position.

Adrian Newey (left) has worked with Christian Horner at Red Bull since 2006 (David Davies/PA)

But Neweys next steps are also likely to have an impact on the future of the teams superstar driver, Verstappen, who has refused on multiple occasions to confirm he will remain with Red Bull beyond this year.

Verstappen, under contract with Red Bull until 2028, said at last weekends Chinese Grand Prix that he only wanted a quiet and peaceful environment when pressed over whether he would remain with the team.

And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff refused to shut down a move for the 26-year-old, who has won four of the five races so far, as a replacement for Hamilton.

A Red Bull spokesperson said: Adrian is contracted until at least the end of 2025, and we are unaware of him joining any other team.
Anglo American has rejected a 31.1 billion plan to create the worlds largest copper miner after being approached by Australian rival BHP.

The companys board on Friday said that BHPs proposal significantly undervalues the business and its future prospects.

The unsolicited approach from BHP would include a structure which is highly unattractive for Anglos shareholders, given the uncertainty and complexity inherent in the proposal, and significant execution risks, the board said.

The board said that it had unanimously rejected the proposal.

Anglo American is well positioned to create significant value from its portfolio of high quality assets that are well aligned with the energy transition and other major demand trends, said chairman Stuart Chambers.

With copper representing 30% of Anglo Americans total production, and with the benefit of well-sequenced and value-accretive growth options in copper and other structurally attractive products, the board believes that Anglo Americans shareholders stand to benefit from what we expect to be significant value appreciation as the full impact of those trends materialises.

The FTSE 100 mining giant revealed on Thursday that it had been approached by BHP, sending its shares soaring by around 16%.

The proposal was unsolicited and highly conditional, but Anglo said on Thursday that it would consider it.

The bid would have seen BHP pay 25.08 for every Anglo American share, which would include stock in Anglo subsidiaries Anglo Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore.

It would be conditional on Anglo demerging its entire shareholdings in the two businesses to its shareholders.

If it goes ahead, BHP still has the chance to up its offer or take the deal to shareholders, the tie-up of the two companies could create the worlds largest copper miner.

Together the two businesses produce around 10% of global output.

Copper is going to be one of the key metals of the future because it is a good conductor of electricity.

This means that it is a vital component in the devices that will be needed to move the global economy away from fossil fuels and towards green electrical alternatives.

The BHP proposal is opportunistic and fails to value Anglo Americans prospects, while significantly diluting the relative value upside participation of Anglo Americans shareholders relative to BHPs shareholders, Mr Chambers said.

The proposed structure is also highly unattractive, creating substantial uncertainty and execution risk borne almost entirely by Anglo American, its shareholders and its other stakeholders.

Anglo American has defined clear strategic priorities, of operational excellence, portfolio, and growth, to deliver full value potential and is entirely focused on that delivery.
A British man is accused of masterminding an arson plot on London businesses after allegedly being recruited as a Russian spy.

Dylan Earl has been charged under the National Security Act 2023  the first case to involve alleged offences under the new legislation.

Four other men, Paul English, Nii Mensah, Jake Reeves and Dmitrijus Paulauska have also been charged in connection with the case, it can now be reported.

Earl is accused of undertaking fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service carrying out UK-related activities, prosecutors say.

Court documents show he is alleged to be connected to the proscribed terrorist group the Wagner Group.

The defendants will next appear at the Old Bailey (Nick Ansell/PA)

The 20-year-old, from Leicestershire, is accused of organising and paying for an arson attack on two units on an industrial estate Leyton, east London on March 20.

He is alleged to have targeted businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

In a statement, the CPS said: Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024.

Two further men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, have also been charged with aggravated arson in connection with this case.

Another man, Jake Reeves, 22, has been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service as well as aggravated arson.

A fifth man, Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, has been charged with having information about terrorist acts.

Reeves and Paulauska appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday where they were not required to enter any pleas to the charges.

They will join the three other defendants for a hearing at the Old Bailey on May 10.

The March 20 blaze required 60 firefighters to bring it under control and the alleged target of the fire is labelled as Mr X in the charges.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command said: This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us.

Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across counter terrorism policing to meet these.

While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.

This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.

The charges faced by all five men are as follows:

Earl is charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, preparatory conduct to an act endangering life or a person or an act creating a serious risk to the health and safety of the public in the United Kingdom contrary to section 18 National Security Act 2023, and assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 National Security Act 2023.

Reeves is accused of aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the National Security Act 2023.

English and Mensah are both charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

Paulauska is accused of having information about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000.
A British man is accused of orchestrating arson attacks on Ukrainian-linked businesses in London on behalf of the proscribed terror organisation the Wagner Group.

Dylan Earl has been charged under the National Security Act 2023  the first case to involve alleged offences under the new spy laws.

The 20-year-old is accused of being in contact with a handler in the Wagner Group before carrying out reconnaissance of targets in relation to activity intended to benefit Russia.

After news emerged of the charge, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it had summoned Russias ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin.

Court documents show Earl is accused of recruiting and paying others to carry out an arson attack at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London  Ukrainian-linked businesses owned by Oddisey and Meest UK.

The March 20 blaze required 60 firefighters to bring it under control, and the alleged target of the fire is labelled as Mr X in the charges.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker ordered that reporting restrictions be lifted on the case on Friday, which coincided with two co-defendants of Earl appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court.

One of the co-defendants, Jake Reeves, is accused of accepting cash, knowing it was from a foreign intelligence service.

Court artist sketch of Dmitrijus Paulauska (left) and Jake Reeves appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

The 22-year-old was remanded into custody and appeared alongside fellow 22-year-old Dmitrijus Paulauska, who is charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts.

Two other defendants, 60-year-old Paul English and 21-year-old Nii Mensah, have also been charged with aggravated arson.

All five men are due to appear at the Old Bailey for a further hearing on May 10.

The defendants are yet to enter pleas to the charges.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command said: This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us.

Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged, anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across counter terrorism policing to meet these.

While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.

This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.

The allegations relate to the Wagner Group, proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Government last year (David Mirzoeff/PA)

After summoning the Russian ambassador, an FCDO spokesperson said: The UK remains deeply concerned by allegations of Russian orchestrated malign activity on UK soil, as well as the wider reported pattern of behaviour we are witnessing on the part of the Russian Federation to sponsor such activity on the territory of other, sovereign states.

We call for an immediate cessation of this activity and we will continue to work with our allies to deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats that emanate from Russia.

The Wagner Group is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, whose former leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash last summer.

It was proscribed as a terrorist group in September last year after the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee warned that ministers were not doing enough to counter the threat the private military firm posed.

Mr Prigozhin and his troops staged a short-lived coup against the authorities in Moscow in June last year.

Tom Tugendhat said the charges against Earl and Reeves demonstrated the value of the National Security Act 2023.

The security minister said: The first charges under the National Security Act 2023, as announced by the CPS, demonstrate its value in protecting the UK from those who threaten our way of life.

We will continue to work with partners to crack down on threats from Russia and anyone facilitating hostile activities.

The act was introduced to target those working for hostile states within the UK.

The charges faced by all five men are as follows:

Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, is charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, preparatory conduct to an act endangering life or a person or an act creating a serious risk to the health and safety of the public in the United Kingdom contrary to section 18 National Security Act 2023, and assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3 National Security Act 2023;

Reeves, of Croydon, south London, is accused of aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 and agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 17(2) and (11) of the National Security Act 2023;

English, of Roehampton, south-west London, and Mensah, of Thornton Heath, south London, are both charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971;

Paulauska, of Croydon, is accused of having information about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has cancelled its walk together demonstration on Saturday because of concerns about safety.

Thousands had been expected to attend the event in central London, which would have coincided with a pro-Palestinian march through the capital.

The CAA said it had cancelled the walk after receiving threats and identifying hostile actors who posed a risk to the safety of Jews.

A statement said: We have received numerous threats and our monitoring has identified hostile actors who seem to have intended to come to any meeting locations that we announced.

The risk to the safety of those who wished to walk openly as Jews in London tomorrow as part of this initiative has therefore become too great.

We are no less angry about these marches than our Jewish community and its allies. We want to walk.

We want to force the Met to police these marches, not merely manage them. But we cannot encourage thousands of people to walk when there are such risks to their safety, and there are.

We have reluctantly decided not to go ahead tomorrow. We will be announcing our plans in the coming days. We are aware of many people who are likely to walk nonetheless, and we urge them to stay safe.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the CAA, had previously encouraged other Jews and allies to join him in the walk together initiative, which would have followed the route of the pro-Palestinian march, to force the police to make sure that these things are safe for Jewish people.

It came after he was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this month, with one officer describing Mr Falter, who was wearing a kippah, as openly Jewish.

The CAA said it had held discussions with the Home Secretary and policing minister to propose concrete measures to change how the police approach the pro-Palestinian protests, and had also met the Metropolitan Police on Thursday.

The CAAs statement added: Due to the thousands of people now intending to join and then walk where they please  something that we used to take for granted in London as Jewish people without having to discuss with police ahead of time  we still do not have confidence that people would be safe.

Tomorrows march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign meanders for two-and-a-half miles. When we organised our peaceful March Against Antisemitism a few months ago, we were told that there was no way that Royal Parks could be used.

Yet again, it seems that there is a double standard. For the hours that this march drags on, central London will be snarled up yet again.

Police have told us that they intend to handle the march no differently from the passive way that they have become accustomed to over the course of more than six months.

The organisation highlighted concerns over antisemitic chants, inflammatory placards, and instances of glorifying terrorism, as well as incidents of violence, including attacks on police officers.

The statement added: Tomorrow, we will watch to see whether anything is different about the way that the Met handles the march, and in the coming week we will progress our discussions with the Government. We cannot allow the current situation to become the new normal.

The Metropolitan Police said pro-Palestinian protests since October 7 had resulted in 450 arrests, with 193 of those being for antisemitic offences.

The majority of these antisemitic incidents involved placards, chanting or expressions of hate speech, the force said.

There have also been 15 terrorism-related arrests, primarily on suspicion of supporting proscribed organisations, notably Hamas.

The current costs of policing operations for the protests stands at approximately 38.5 million, the Met added.

The cumulative impact of such a lengthy period of sustained significant protests is felt widely, but it has been the particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities, said Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist.

While there are Jewish groups who do take part in and feel safe doing, there are many others who do not, and feel the impact far beyond the day and location of those marches themselves; this is a reality that should concern us all.

Overall, just about 45,000 Met officers shifts have been dedicated to the policing of these events.

Weve had to bring in additional officers from around the country on a number of occasions, using up an additional 9,600 officer shifts. 6,400 officer rest days have been cancelled.

Our objective this weekend is simply to police without fear or favour, to protect the right to protest and to keep the peace.

Mr Twist added that pro-Palestinian protests have never reached the threshold where it was a risk of serious public disorder.

He said: The only legal route to ban a march is if there is a risk of serious public disorder  that is rioting or serious violence that could not be dealt with by other restrictions or conditions.

We have never got close to that threshold on these PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign) marches to date.

We have used the proactive imposition of conditions under the Public Order Act more extensively linked to these protests since October 7, than any other point in the last 30 years.

A protest organised by the PSC will start at 1pm from Parliament Square, proceeding along a route via Whitehall, Piccadilly, Park Lane, and concluding at Hyde Park.

Simultaneously, a separate demonstration arranged by the pro-Israel Enough is Enough group will take place in Pall Mall, following a route parallel to the PSC march.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told the PA news agency: Public opinion is in favour of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to end Israels genocidal assault, but we have had to push our political establishment over months to take heed.

Since October, millions of people have joined our national and local demonstrations, putting the pressure on politicians to change their stances and end complicity with Israels crimes.

As the Metropolitan Police have confirmed on several occasions, including in evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, the marches for Palestine have been overwhelmingly peaceful and well ordered, with a very low rate of arrests compared to other major public events.

We look forward to marching on Saturday in our hundreds of thousands for an end to Israels genocide in Gaza. As always, we will be joined by a Jewish bloc of 13 different Jewish organisations which support the call for an immediate ceasefire. They are an integral part of our diverse and inclusive movement.
Campaigners said they have won a victory for Scotlands seas after judges rejected a bid by the Scottish Government to overturn an earlier court ruling in a case centred on fishing practices.

The judgment from the Court of Session in Edinburgh marks another blow for Humza Yousafs Government, which is now operating as a minority administration at Holyrood after the First Minister terminated the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens with immediate effect on Thursday.

A panel of three judges, including Scotlands most senior judge, Lord President Lord Carloway, upheld a decision by the court in June 2023 after a legal challenge over the Governments approach to licensing for scallop dredging.

Scotlands most senior judge, Lord President Lord Carloway, was part of the panel of judges that ruled against the Scottish Government (Jane Barlow/PA)

Marine conservation charity Open Seas took the Scottish Government to court, arguing licensing decisions to allow scallop dredging  which involves weighted nets being dragged across the seabed  were unlawful because ministers did not consider their impacts on marine habitats.

The Government had sought to have the ruling overturned, but the panel of judges at the Court of Session rejected the appeal.

In their ruling, the judges said ministers should take decisions in accordance with their own National Marine Plan, which was adopted in 2015.

They added: That does not appear to be too difficult a task. It is one which must be undertaken, because there is a statutory duty to do so.

Environmental damage to our seabed continues in Scotlands inshore waters. Despite calls for change, @ScotGovMarine hasn't acted. In June 2023 we launched a legal challenge and won. The Govt has appealed the decision. Learn more about the case:https://t.co/1XOiDz82f3 pic.twitter.com/TVncRurKcC  Open Seas (@TheOpenSeas) March 18, 2024

Phil Taylor, director of Open Seas, said: We are extremely pleased that the court has again ruled in support of our petition.

This result is a victory for Scotlands seas, and the thousands of people who want to see them safeguarded for future generations.

Scottish ministers must now fundamentally reform the way they license fishing to ensure that destructive methods like scallop dredging do not cause serious harm to Scotlands marine environment.

Open Seas sought to highlight damage it said was being caused to the marine bed by scallop dredging (Open Seas/PA)

In the court case, Open Seas provided what it said were examples of environmental damage caused by scallop dredging in areas including the Flotta Sound in Orkney, as well as on the seabed near the islands of Rum, Islay and Scarba, which is north of Jura.

Mr Taylor added that seabeds such as these had many societal benefits, including their vital role as fish nursery and spawning grounds.

He said: Scallop dredging undermines the health of our seas and brings no long-term net economic benefit to Scotland.

This decision should be welcomed as a clear legal framework for Scottish ministers to implement their plans and ensure sustainable use of our seas.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Ministers are considering the decision by the Inner House and will respond in due course.
Ceramics designer Clarice Cliff will be honoured with a blue plaque at her former Stoke-on-Trent home.

The art deco pioneer is being commemorated 125 years after her birth at the flat at 20 Snow Hill in Shelton, where she lived at the height of her success.

The plaque will be unveiled on Friday by arts and heritage minister Lord Parkinson following the return of the public memorial scheme, carried out by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It reads: Clarice Cliff 1899  1972 pottery designer and factory art director lived here.

The Clarice Cliff national blue plaque (Historic England/PA)

A relative of Cliff, Sheila Jeffries, said the event feels like a birthday and she is thrilled it is happening for the designer, whose talents were absolutely off the Richter scale.

Former nurse and Salvation Army officer Ms Jeffries, 70, whose master potter grandfather was the nephew of Cliffs father, told the PA news agency: Im just so excited, I cant even begin to tell you, Im really, really pleased for Clarice.

(We have these) big families, Clarices own family, granddads family, my dads family, all big families, and weve got this wonderful, talented, amazing woman that really, really put the Potteries on the map with her beautiful, beautiful work.

She also said that she was very sad that the industry of pottery had declined in Staffordshire but she remains immensely proud of her family heritage and the artist.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said he hopes the city sees this as the perfect opportunity to celebrate her legacy, and inspire others to follow in her creative footsteps.

Cliff, one of seven children, was born in Tunstall in January 1899 and left school at 13 to begin work in the pottery trade.

Her talent become noticed and she went on to become the art director of Newport Pottery and AJ Wilkinson, one of the Staffordshire potteries, in 1931.

Dominic Chinea, Will Kirk, Kirsten Ramsay and Jay Blades from The BBCs The Repair Shop (Ian West/PA)

The BBCs The Repair Shop ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay said: As a trailblazing pottery designer, her pioneering contributions not only revolutionised the industry but also paved the way for women in the field.

As a ceramics conservator, I have always been charmed by the unique nature of her designs, and working on her pieces has been both a challenge and an incredibly rewarding experience.

Clarice Cliffs legacy is truly remarkable, and she undeniably deserves this recognition.

Cliffs work continues to attract notice and has been sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds at auction.

In 2009, art deco-inspired pieces, made up of vases, jugs and pots, were sold by Bonhams in London for around 200,000.

Cliffs turning point came in 1918 when she joined AJ Wilkinsons Royal Staffordshire Pottery in Middleport, Burslem, and was noticed by Colley Shorter, who went on to become her husband and the companys director.

She developed skills including gilding, enamelling, hand-painting and modelling and created her Bizarre-ware across the 1920s and 1930s.

The bright, bold colours, loose, free brushwork and innovative new shapes, were designed by Cliff and produced by a team, branded the Bizarre Girls, at the Newport Pottery.

The Princess of Wales with designer Emma Bridgewater and Matthew Rice (Oli Scarff/PA)

Cliff would go on to work with Yorkshire sculptor Barbara Hepworth, Buckinghamshire-born painter Ben Nicholson and London-born artist and wood engraver Eric Ravilious before her career of making decorative tableware had issues during the Second World War because of restrictions on pottery.

She married Colley Shorter in 1940 following the death of his wife and sold her company in 1964 to Midwinter Pottery and retired.

Cliff died aged 73 in 1972 and her popularity was revived in the 1970s and 1980s and she has continued to inspire artists.

Ceramic designer and manufacturer Emma Bridgewater, whose pottery in based in Stoke-on-Trent, said: I believe that if not for Clarice, her female contemporaries and those who followed, I would not have been able to envisage working in the industry.

Clarices bold, bright and modern example inspires me to support women across our own business to forge ahead with a clear confidence that women can work in absolutely any role in the ceramics industry, choosing the career paths that really interest them.

In 2021, the biopic The Colour Room was released with Cliff portrayed by Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and A Discovery Of Witches actor Matthew Goode taking on the role of Shorter.

Historic England will next unveil a blue plaque to Beatles star George Harrison this spring.
A coroner will give his conclusions at the inquest into the deaths of the Reading terror attack victims on Friday.

Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford is expected to deliver his findings at the Old Bailey after inquest proceedings were held into the deaths of James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, who were murdered by Khairi Saadallah on June 20 2020.

Libyan refugee Saadallah shouted Allahu akhbar as he fatally stabbed the three friends in the towns Forbury Gardens.

Family members of the victims are expected to attend the inquest conclusion.

Khairi Saadallah killed three people and injured three others in his attack (Thames Valley Police/PA)

Three other people  Stephen Young, Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan  were also injured before Saadallah threw away the 8in (20cm) knife and ran off, being chased by an off-duty police officer.

Since arriving in Britain in 2012, Saadallah was convicted of various offences including theft and assault.

Staff members in probation, immigration, police and MI5 all gave evidence to the inquest over the course of a number of weeks earlier this year  with one probation witness breaking down in court as she recalled unknowingly managing an unconvicted murderer.

The inquest also heard the Home Office dealt with Saadallah with woeful inadequacy before the killings, when the director of the departments Foreign National Offenders Returns Command (FNORC) answered questions.

A counsellor said he harassed mental health services to examine the terror attacker in the year before the killings, with his mental state forming a large part of proceedings.

Thames Valley Police failed to find a knife at Saadallahs home during a welfare check the day before he carried out the attacks, because officers were not told he was threatening to harm himself and others, the hearing was told.

The inquest at the Old Bailey heard the terrorist was in limbo for a number of years as his asylum application in the UK was refused, and he was also ineligible for deportation to Libya because of the countrys civil war.

In January 2021, the killer was handed a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to three murders and three attempted murders.

Saadallah lost a bid to bring a Court of Appeal challenge against his whole-life sentence for the murders in October of the same year.

Judge Coroner Fulford is expected to begin his conclusions at 9.30am.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), the ruling government in the United Kingdom's constituent country, Scotland, has ended its coalition with the Scottish arm of the Green Party.

According to British media, Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf convened ministers of his coalition government to Bute House, the official residence of the Scottish First Minister in Edinburgh, in an unprecedented emergency meeting Thursday (Apr. 25).

The meeting ended with Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie walking out before it began.

Prior to Thursday, Slater and Harvie had been part of the coalition cabinet and told the BBC upon leaving Bute House that the SNP "sold out future generations."

The move came after the Scottish government decided to scrap key climate targets, especially after Scottish Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan said that Scotland's 2030 net-zero target was out of reach.

It also followed its response to a gender services review after NHS Scotland paused its prescription of puberty blockers to under-18s in the aftermath of the Cass Review.

"The Bute House Agreement was intended to provide stability to the Scottish Government and it has made possible a number of achievements," Yousaf said in a press conference in Bute House, referring to the power-sharing deal the SNP once had with the Greens.

"But it has served its purpose. It is no longer guaranteeing a stable arrangement in parliament. The events of recent days have made that clear."

With the Scottish Greens no longer in government and with plans last week for the party's MPs to vote on whether it should remain in power, it is understood that the SNP would now form a minority government.

Harvie has said that he would quit as co-leader if the Greens voted to end the coalition with the SNP, while Slater said she was confident they would have supported the Greens staying in the coalition.

Since then, Slater has accused the SNP of "political cowardice."

"Neither they nor SNP members will have that opportunity," she said. "Instead, the most reactionary and backwards-looking forces within the first minister's party have forced him to do the opposite of what he himself had said was in Scotland's best interests."

The Scottish Parliament in Holyrood has 129 parliamentary seats, with the SNP holding 63, the Scottish Conservatives holding 31, Scottish Labour holding 22, the Scottish Greens holding seven, and the six remaining seats being crossbenchers.
A coroner said that he has been prevented from delivering a narrative around the events surrounding of the murder of four people killed in two loyalist attacks in Co Tyrone in 1992 following a legal challenge from the Government to it being delivered in open court.

Judge Richard Greene KC also said he had reached a provisional view that an inquest into the four deaths cannot proceed because of the withholding of sensitive files from the proceedings on national security grounds.

Kevin McKearney, 32, was shot dead by a UVF gunman inside his family-run butcher shop in the village of Moy, Co Tyrone, in January 1992. His uncle Jack McKearney, 69, was wounded in the same attack and died in hospital three months later.

Later that year, Kevin McKearneys mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and Tess Fox  who were 63 and 54 respectively  were shot dead by the UVF inside their home in Moy.

The decision came at Laganside Courthouse (Liam McBurney/PA)

The coroner said there had been rumours and suspicion of state collusion for some time.

The long-delayed inquests into the four deaths opened last year, but were then paused while a lengthy public interest immunity (PII) process took place over the disclosure of sensitive security force material.

Mr Greene said he had planned to provide a short narrative or gist as part of his PII ruling at Laganside Courthouse on Friday.

But he added: A significant intervening event has occurred which prevents me from delivering my ruling this afternoon.

The proposed gist is not accepted by the Security Service and the Northern Ireland Office, who object to its release in open (court).

He added: I wanted to deliver the open PII ruling today but as there has been objection from some of the state parties to me providing the narrative or gist to you, I am not going to hand it down to allow for a challenge to be taken to my proposed approach.

The coroner said he had reached a provisional view that his inquiry into the deaths is seriously compromised because relevant information on issues central to the scope of the inquest cannot be disclosed.

He added: As a result, my provisional view is that I cannot continue with these inquests.

The coroner said he believed a public inquiry was now the appropriate way to consider the full circumstances of these deaths.

He said: That is because in such a forum the closed material can be considered by the inquiry panel.

The McKearney and Fox families reacted angrily to the development and said they would be launching their own counter legal challenges against the Government.
A former top Post Office executive has denied claims of bullying and intimidating behaviour towards a wrongly convicted subpostmistress.

Angela van den Bogerd also told the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry in central London that issues raised by colleagues relating to the Horizon IT system were outside my knowledge scope.

On her second day of giving evidence at the inquiry on Friday, Ms van den Bogerd was asked about the cases of several individual subpostmasters and their branches.

Sam Stein KC described the helpline asking subpostmasters to pay shortfalls as committing fraud, and asked Ms van den Bogerd if she thought it was fair.

She replied her expectation would be they would get some help to try and understand where the shortfall came from.

Mr Stein focused on subpostmistress Jennifer ODell, who was accused of stealing thousands of pounds from her branch in Cambridgeshire and called the helpline numerous times to refute any wrongdoing.

Ms van den Bogerd said Ms ODell should have been called back and her case should have been escalated.

Mr Stein then said: You were intimidating and bullying towards her [Ms ODell], telling her that she had stolen the money and, if she didnt, Post Office would take her home away.

Ms van den Bogerd replied: That conversation did not happen.

Angela van den Bogerd giving evidence to the inquiry (Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry/PA)

The inquiry was earlier shown an email, from fraud analyst Helen Rose sent to Ms van den Bogerd on February 13 2013, about the audit record query (ARQ) logs being provided by Fujitsu for use in court.

Ms Rose expressed concerns that in some cases the logs would not be giving a true picture in court, and later said: I dont know where to go with this.

Asked by Jason Beer KC, lead counsel to the inquiry, if Ms Rose was raising a broader issue about IT systems, Ms van den Bogerd said: Thats not how I read this.

Ms van den Bogerd confirmed she did not do anything with the contents of the emails and that she expected Ms Rose to raise the issue through her reporting line.

Mr Beer asked: That didnt ring any alarm bells?

She replied: Not for me at the time.

Mr Beer continued: Is it one of those things that its just somebody elses job, Ms van den Bogerd?

She said: Well it was outside my knowledge scope, so I wouldnt have had the knowledge to know what to do with that.

Errors in the Post Offices Horizon IT system meant money appeared to be missing from many branch accounts when, in fact, it was not (PA)

She added: Now, I would obviously look at this very, very differently.

Tim Moloney KC suggested Ms van den Bogerd had been wilfully blind the the emails contents.

The inquiry was also shown a series of letters and emails concerning the case of Martin Griffiths, who was sacked from his Hope Farm Post Office branch in Cheshire in July 2013.

Mr Griffiths deliberately stepped in front of an oncoming bus on September 23 2013, after he had been deemed culpable for an armed robbery at his branch in May of that year.

He had also previously written to the Post Office in July 2013 about a 39,000 shortfall at his branch between February 2012 and May 2013.

An email shared by Alan Bates to Post Office executives from Mr Griffiths mother on the same day said the post office had driven him to suicide.

The email was eventually forwarded to Ms van den Bogerd with suggestions to hire a specialist media lawyer.

Mr Beer asked: The immediate reaction was not what can we the Post Office do to help this mans family, was it?

Ms van ven Bogerd replied: Not at this point.

Mr Beer continued: Is that what it was like working in the Post Office at this time? That the first thought was, we need a media lawyer?

She replied: In all my time with Post Office from very, very early on, I was very conscious that PR was very important.

Ms van den Bogerd held various roles throughout her 35-year career at the Post Office, starting off as a network change operations manager, then on to head of network services, head of partnerships, director of support services and the director of people and change.

She was appointed as the Post Offices business improvement director in 2018, but stepped down from the role in 2020.

Ms van den Bogerd was played by former Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which aired in January.

Errors in the Post Offices Horizon IT system meant money appeared to be missing from many branch accounts when, in fact, it was not.

As a result, the government-owned organisation prosecuted more than 700 subpostmasters who were handed criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015.

The scandal represents one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history. Since then, the Court of Appeal has quashed the convictions of more than 100 subpostmasters.

Hundreds of subpostmasters are still awaiting compensation despite the Government announcing that those whose convictions have been quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts.

Ms van den Bogerd was made redundant by the Post Office, according to her witness statement.
A group of people living with or beyond breast cancer took to the catwalk of a fashion show to celebrate who they have become and to reflect on their experience with the disease.

The 22 women and two men strutted their stuff on the runway of The Show by Breast Cancer Now, the UKs largest breast cancer charity providing research, support and care to individuals.

The annual event in central London, which featured both an afternoon and evening show on Thursday, was hosted by TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, who has been an ambassador for the charity since 2005.

Snowdon, whose grandmother died from breast cancer when she was a child, told the PA news agency that early detection and seeking help is key to survival.

Ive always known that early detection is key, she said.

Asking for help, seeking medical advice, understanding your body and recognising when something doesnt feel right is key to survival.

Lisa Snowdon, an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now since 2005, hosted the annual fashion show this year (Shivansh Gupta/PA)

She added that it was unbelievable to see the way the models in the show were putting what they are feeling behind them and owning it.

Our models are smiling from ear to ear and its like they are levitating down the catwalk, she said.

I have such huge admiration for every single model thats walking out on the catwalk, all living with breast cancer and beyond.

They inspire me, they are incredibly brave, so positive and they have such courage and such positivity, its infectious  it really is.

During the afternoon showing, the models wore three different outfits as they took to the catwalk amid the sounds of cheering and clapping and they ended the show by dancing together on the runway.

Kendra Schneller, a 51-year-old nurse from south-east London, told PA how modelling in the fashion show made her feel confident and full of joy and happiness.

Kendra Schneller, one of the 24 models at the Breast Cancer Now fashion show (Shivansh Gupta/PA)

Its also a little bit sad because weve all been talking about our journeys, which can be quite triggering, but Im amongst some amazing people and Ive got such hope for the future, Ms Schneller, a mother of three, said.

This is my way of showing everyone that you dont have to be perfect, you can just be who you are and you can still be beautiful and you can still shine.

Ms Schneller was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and had a mastectomy.

She recalled that when she learned the news of her diagnosis, she rang her husband and told him Im going to die.

Its just the thought of not being around for my children, she said.

Ive come so far and Im so pleased to still be here and share my journey and share my story.

Ms Schneller, who modelled in the show and represented players of Peoples Postcode Lottery who have raised more than 11 million for the charity to date, added: Breast Cancer Now have been absolutely brilliant in terms of their support.

I havent stopped using their services and I value them so much.

Mark Winter, one of the two male models at the fashion show, highlighted the importance of men getting themselves checked for breast cancer because they dont know they can get it.

Mark Winter, one of the two male models at the Breast Cancer Now fashion show (Shivansh Gupta/PA)

Mr Winter, 59 from Polegate, East Sussex, told PA: We dont know we can get (breast cancer), I didnt know I could get it, and youre more likely to pass away because you ignore it.

Dont be afraid to pick up the phone, speak to your doctor and get it checked.

Mr Winter, who was diagnosed with breast cancer during lockdown and underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, said he felt embarrassment around his diagnosis.

I was lucky because I caught it early and I didnt have any major issues with sickness, he said.

The only thing I felt, because Im a bloke, was embarrassment because I had a womans thing.

Its still a little bit embarrassing but its lovely to get my head around it with all the ladies at the show.

He added: Its amazing because weve all been through the same, but its all been completely different so you get the good, the bad and the ugly.

Its lovely to speak to everybody and just doing this is amazing.
Palestinian citizens are living in hell in Gaza, a priest from the territory said as he called for a necessary ceasefire during a trip to Glasgow.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, Gazas only Catholic parish priest, is in Scotland to share the plight of his congregation in the Middle East.

He has been unable to attend Holy Family Parish in Gaza since October 7, when Hamas launched its attacks in Israel. He was in Bethlehem, in the Israel-occupied West Bank, at the time trying to source medicine for a nun and has been denied re-entry so far.

However he has been in regular contact with the more than 700 displaced people taking refuge in his church.

The church was damaged slightly by shrapnel from strikes in the vicinity in December, and since Israel began its retaliation for the Hamas attacks, Father Gabriel said 32 Palestinian Christians have died, while others have fled the country, meaning the congregation has shrunk by 25%.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Friday, he said: I come to Glasgow with only a simple message: I am the parish priest of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip of Palestine  to ask everyone to (do) anything to stop this war.

He said a ceasefire is necessary, adding: The ceasefire is not the solution but it is one necessary step to restart dialogue between the parties.

The situation is terrible. From the terrible October 7 attacks, and also before, but especially from October 7, the situation is horrible.

Gaza is a hell  almost hell  almost 34,000 killed there in spite of the 1,200 people in Israel.

The number of wounded in Israel is more than 4,500. In the Gaza Strip, from the beginning of the war 77,000 people there (are injured) and the majority of the victims are children and women.

After more than six months, the consequences of this war are horrible, very, very bad, and not only for the Palestinian society, but also for Israel.

Father Gabriel Romanelli called for a ceasefire to allow a dialogue aimed at ending the conflict (Andrew Milligan/PA)

He went on to say he sends messages to his congregation to try to find peace even in this hell, adding: Our church will always be an oasis for people. Unfortunately, this oasis has become a shelter, a hospital and a cemetery.

The Argentinian-born priest began his mission in Gaza in 2005 and has said Pope Francis has sent his personal well-wishes to those taking refuge.

The church had around 1,017 members prior to the October 7 attacks but at least 240 have left the Gaza Strip in fear of the war.

Father Gabriel said: The people inside our compound at this moment, there is around 500 people inside and they are very depressed.

They dont know when this war will finish. Unfortunately, there is not one safe space in all of the Gaza Strip, neither in the north or south.

He said Gaza was never a peace land prior to the war, adding: Before the war, for the last 16 years, Gaza was, according to many people, the largest prison in the world, because one of the characteristics of the prison is people are not allowed to go out.

He said the people of Gaza continue to struggle with basic supplies of food and water, and he urged those who have been sending vital aid to continue.
A Scottish Green Party MSP has broken down in tears on BBC Radio Scotland following the First Ministers decision to end the Bute House Agreement.

Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, spoke on the 5.10pm BBC Scotland Drivetime Radio show on Friday with host John Beattie, where she said Humza Yousafs reason to end the two-and-a-half year agreement was as clear as mud.

She told the host the First Minister was essentially saying youre dumped but can we still be friends and that she does not know that this holds water, especially for someone who is supposed to be leading the country.

She added: Humza has done this to himself in removing us from government There is a lot of hurt and upset around.

Host Mr Beattie asked her if an apology from Mr Yousaf would be welcome.

First Minister Humza Yousaf pictured earlier on Friday during a visit to the Hillcrest Homes housing development in Dundee. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

She replied: I think its a bit late for that. He needs a time machine to go back and undo the decision he made yesterday morning.

There is still no logical reason coming from the First Minister as to why he made that decision.

He has shot himself in the foot; now saying he wants to collaborate with everyone on an issue-by-issue basis and thinks we are all game playing around votes of no confidence.

He had an agreement that protected ministers from votes of no confidence, he ended that. His argument that the agreement has run its course which is as clear as mud.

When Mr Beattie said the Green MSP sounded bitter in regards to Mr Yousafs decision, she broke down in tears.

Im actually quite upset, she said.

And a lot of people will have seen me being upset.

Weve had two-and-a-half years of working really well together and its sad that has all been undone by one person.

Ms Mackay continued to speak through tears, saying she has friends within the SNP government who are also hurting, and have spoken to their Green Party colleagues on the issue.

She said: So to every member of the SNP, we are as sorry this has come to an end, as Im sure many of you are. We dont want to be in this position, but its the First Minister who has put us here.

This First Minister has let Scotland down, there was a pro-independence majority government that he has chosen to come to an end.

We have worked very hard to get everything through in the last two-and-a-half years and hes taken a decision to tear that up on no logical conclusion that any of us can find.

I think that is a question that the FM has to answer as it is one of the worst pieces of political judgment I have ever seen in the history of the Scottish parliament.

She concluded with a comment on SNP MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Ash Reagan, saying she is to equality what Liz Truss is to economics.

Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross during First Minsters Questions (Lesley Martin/PA)

Meanwhile, on BBC Radio 4, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross told host Evan Davies the vote is on a knife-edge.

He said: Well, there is no guarantee if Humza Yousaf loses this vote of no confidence that the SNP would be able with the minority to select and get through a new candidate for first minister in 28 days, and therefore we could be in a Scottish election territory anyway and I think from the reactions from the other parties, the move by Scottish Labour doesnt have the same support as the motion I brought forward on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives in terms of a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf himself.

We have to look at the numbers and the vote is on a knife-edge at the moment, [as] is the vote on Humza Yousaf.

The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
Jennie Bond remembered Jill Dando 25 years after her murder. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab)

What did you miss?

Jennie Bond has shared her devastation 25 years after breaking the news her friend Jill Dando was murdered, saying: "It's so terribly sad."

BBC presenter Dando was killed aged 37 outside her London home in April 1999. The murder case sent ripples of shock around the nation and it remains unsolved to this day.

Marking the anniversary, her friend and fellow former BBC presenter Bond joined the Loose Women panel to remember Dando. The journalist said "we owe it to Jill" to explore every possible avenue in an attempt to solve the case.

Bond said: "I remember her as absolutely charming, good friend. Someone who wanted to help others. Wanted to help others in the industry. A very generous character. It's just so sad, so terribly sad to be cut down at that age."

What, how and why?

Jennie Bond spoke about her experience of delivering the news that Jill Dando had been murdered. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab)

Looking back at when it all unfolded, Bond was in the BBC newsroom and she was tasked with delivering the news to the world that her friend had been killed. The presenter was asked about how she separated herself personally from the bulletin to be able to do her job. She said: "You just do don't you? You get on with your job."

However, that didn't mean it was easy. For Bond, it was the hardest bulletin she's ever had to share. She explained: "It was probably the toughest bulletin I've ever had to do. Just a couple of years earlier, I had reported extensively on the death of Diana who I also knew and liked. But this was far more personal, far more shocking. The whole newsroom was in shock.

"A newsroom, such a vibrant place. It's buzzy and everyone's chatting at the same time. That morning, suddenly it all went quiet and physically cold."

Netflix did a three part documentary series on the case called Who Killed Jill Dando? (Netflix)

Taking everyone on the journey, Bond recalled the sadness felt in the newsroom on the day and she walked through what happened behind the scenes at the BBC. She said: "It was about midday that we started hearing rumours, we heard a woman had been killed on her doorstep. Then unbelievably people started saying it's Jill. Whisper it."

She added: "We didn't dare say it out loud. We didn't believe it. We at the BBC were absolutely adamant that we had to contact the family first. I don't think we were the first to break the news actually but that didn't matter. The family were told. My bosses came over to me and said, 'Are you ok? Can you do this?' And I said yes. You could see I was very emotional.

"You can also see that when you're dreading saying something you probably say that bit perfectly well and you have a little stumble after that. And I did."

Jennie Bond said Jill Dando's murder was terribly sad. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab)

After Dando's murder, Bond said everyone was left feeling "frightened" at the BBC. She remembered feeling scared and looking around when she put the keys into her own front door. Bond said: "It was something that stayed with the whole of the newsroom for days after that."

She went on: "I think we all felt a little bit frightened actually. One of the nights after that when I got home to my house after a day newsroom you looked around. We didn't know then who killed her and we don't know now 25 years later."

What was Jill Dando like?

Everyone loved Dando and the Loose Women hailed her as the "golden girl" and "the girl next door". Fondly Bond remembered her friend as "the most generous woman". She gave the Loose Women stars an insight into what her friend was like when the cameras stopped rolling.

"She was lovely Jill," Bond said. "She was the most generous woman. We women can be... Bitches isn't the right word? We can be tough on each other." However, Dando wasn't like that at all as Bond explained: "She was such a star."

Bond shared the moment she always thinks of Dando. She said: "When we were in makeup together or something, she always used to say, I think of her all the time when I do my hair, because she said: 'Your hair looks a bit blocky'. Which it does. 'Use some of this wax,' so every time I use a bit of wax I think of Jill. She was just lovely like that."

Jill Dando was loved by the nation. (Getty) (Colin Davey via Getty Images)

Jill Dando latest

Dando's murder remains unsolved today. Before the 25th anniversary, lawyers urged investigators to re-open the case. It's emerged that a facial comparison expert claimed there are similarities between Milorad Ulemek, a twice-convicted killer serving 40 years in Serbia, and a man seen near the crime scene, according to The Mirror newspaper.

Michael Mansfield KC, the barrister who defended George at his first trial, told the newspaper: "The Metropolitan Police has a duty to Jills family and loved ones, to Barry George and the public to fully investigate this new line of inquiry uncovered by the Daily Mirror. This should include a full forensic examination of the original CCTV of the man, all recovered finger and palm prints and to ascertain the movements of Ulemek at the time."

Unanswered questions brought up by the case were explored in the thought provoking three-part Netflix documentary series that was released on the streaming service last year. Dando's brother Nigel shared his hopes that the case would be solved. "It is what it is," he said. "But you can never say never."

Watch Loose Women at 12.30pm weekdays or on catch up on ITV player.

Read more

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jill-dando-murder-jennie-bond-anniversary-134859226.html
England are ready for an arm-wrestle when they bid to land a sixth successive Guinness Womens Six Nations title on Saturday.

Unbeaten rivals France stand between the Red Roses and a third Grand Slam on the bounce, with the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux set for a crowd of more than 30,000.

England have reeled off four bonus-point wins in a row, rattling up 228 points and conceding just 20 across emphatic victories over Italy, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Getting ready for the big one Make sure you're following @RedRosesRugby for all the latest from the squad as they gear up for a huge game against France#FRAvENG | #GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/D1T2xY5JXu  England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) April 26, 2024

France, though, are just one point behind and ready to pounce on any slip-up in the quest for silverware.

We have been expecting an arm-wrestle for some time, England head coach John Mitchell said.

We have been wanting that, weve been asking for it and we are certainly going to get it on the weekend.

This game is going to give us really good feedback. Its important to experience that, and it will hold us in good stead.

Maddie Feaunati was among Englands try-scorers against Ireland at Twickenham (Gareth Fuller/PA)

France will be buoyed by the fact they are at home, but we are actually looking forward to embracing that challenge.

It is another full capacity stadium, which gives us energy too. That is what drives the girls  they want to play in front of full capacity.

Scotland will be guaranteed an impressive third-place finish if they beat Ireland in Belfast, but Wales appear destined for the wooden spoon.

Wales are five points adrift of Ireland in fifth, so a bonus-point victory against Principality Stadium visitors Italy is required to give them any chance of not propping up the final table.

Ioan Cunningham on his side to face Italy on Saturday in the final round of the @Womens6Nations  Pedwar newid i dim Cymru i herior Eidal  #HerStory | #GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/6elxSHCmUU  Welsh Rugby Union  (@WelshRugbyUnion) April 25, 2024

It will be Wales first stand-alone fixture at the 74,500-capacity Cardiff venue, and they are hopeful of a five-figure attendance.

Wales captain Hannah Jones said: The fans have really stuck with us, and that has been so important to us.

This is when we need them most, when we need their support, because these are tough times.

Losing hurts us, and we want to put that right and we are determined to do so against Italy  for ourselves, but also the fans.
Luke Littler hopes he can become the next Eric Bristow after believing his Premier League victory in Liverpool was written in the stars.

The teenager overcame a hostile reception on Merseyside, where fans took objection to his social media goading of Liverpools recent struggles under Jurgen Klopp, to claim a third nightly victory and put himself on the brink of a play-off place at the O2 in London next month.

It was Littlers first visit to the M&S Bank Arena since he went as a fan to watch in 2018 on the night Bristow died of a heart attack after attending a VIP event at the venue.

Remembering the icon that was the Crafty Cockney, Eric Bristow MBE, on what would have been his 67th birthday!  pic.twitter.com/w5cnClyzsg  PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 25, 2024

Thursday night would have been Bristows 67th birthday so it was fitting for Littler to claim victory.

Bristow, a five-time world champion, was the ultimate showman and Littler showed similar traits with the way he engaged with the crowd.

Asked whether he can become the next Bristow, he replied: Well have to see in the years to come.

The last time I was here that was the night Eric passed away. I was only 10 or 11.

I was up in the stands with my friend. Theres a picture on my phone.

Its nice to win. The last time I was here he passed away, today its his birthday and Ive won.

Obviously it helped me tonight, I knew what was coming my way and I enjoyed it.

Eric, I watched a few of his games back and Wayne (Mardle) has always said Eric would loved to have watch me play. 

Staunch Manchester Unite fan Littler had been warned to calm down by fellow competitors Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall after poking fun at Liverpool fans after their quadruple hopes went up in tatters.

But Littler, who was on an early flight on Friday to play in Austria on the European Tour this weekend, insists it is only banter and knows he has to take it as well as give it.

Its just banter and as a United fan you like to see Liverpool as rivals lose games, he said.

LITTLER WINS IN LIVERPOOL  It's a third nightly win for Luke Littler in the Premier League as he picks up the title in Liverpool. 105 average in a stunning display in the final!  https://t.co/gbUt9q25Jh#PLDarts pic.twitter.com/oytmgYFxIK  PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 25, 2024

Were not doing too well this season and theyre enjoying that.

Obviously I enjoyed the FA Cup win and them getting knocked out of the Europa League. Its just all banter.

Theres United fans and Ive got fans into darts maybe the two can connect and support me.

If you give it you have to take it. And Im sure if I did lose in Liverpool that would all be on social media but then Ive just got to get on with the next one.
Watch: World's first skin cancer drug being tested in UK patients

A man has revealed how his bump on the head turned out to be a sign of potentially deadly skin cancer.

Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage, was shocked to discover the bump on the top of his head, he'd had for around a decade, was actually a melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer.

He is now part of a groundbreaking new trial led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) involving a Moderna mRNA anti-cancer jab combined with MSDs immunotherapy drug Keytruda.

Young, who had the melanoma growth cut out of his scalp last August, is one of the first patients to try the jab, which is designed to help his immune system recognise and wipe out any remaining cancerous cells and hopefully means his cancer will not return.

Steve Young was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. (PA) (PA)

The music teacher first spotted the bump on his head around 10 years ago.

"One of my best friends is a retired GP and he did look at it a couple of times over the years, but didn't think it was anything to worry about," Young explains.

"And then lockdown happened and so sort of two years went by where I didnt see him or sort of see anyone else.

"But then I really started to notice it at the end of 2022. The bump just felt bigger and I was more aware of it, so I asked my friend to look at it again.

"He said Im not happy with that, I think somethings changed, you need to get it checked.

Young's melanoma on the top of his head, which he had removed last August. (PA) (PA)

Though Young's GP didn't seem concerned, he referred him to a dermatologist, but the appointment wasn't for another 10 months and while he was willing to wait a girlfriend urged him to get it checked more urgently.

Having visited a private mole check clinic, he was called the following day and told the best case scenario was that the lump was a basal cell carcinoma skin cancer and, at worst, melanoma.

I had this feeling in my stomach that something really big had changed in my life," Young says of hearing the news.

Following a fast-track referral for suspected cancer, Young saw an NHS dermatologist, who also didn't seem too concerned.

The dermatologist said, well get you booked in and well get it removed, well just chop it out, so I didnt really think much about that," he explains.

I just thought it was going to be a just a little shaving off the top.

When I actually asked to look (during the operation), the surgeon showed me what hed cut out and it was a really large part of my head.

But he said, This doesnt look like anything to me.

So I came away from that operation with seven stitches in my head, thinking it was all over. I thought it was all over.

Young is one of the first patients to trial a new skin cancer jab. (PA) (PA)

Two weeks later, Mr Young was called back in and was told to bring somebody with him.

"They told me that it was a 4.1mm nodular melanoma," he says.

Any melanoma over 0.8mm they consider dangerous, so I knew I was potentially in trouble.

I literally spent two weeks just thinking this is it," he continues.

"My dad died of emphysema when he was 57 and I actually thought Im going to die younger than my dad.

When he was told about the trial Young said it really triggered my geek radar.

It really piqued my interest," he explains. "As soon as they mentioned this mRNA technology that was being used to potentially fight cancer, I was just like, it sounds fascinating and I still feel the same. Im really, really excited."

Young says he feels 'excited' to be trialling the new vaccine. (PA) (PA)

Phase 2 data, published in December, found that people with serious high-risk melanomas who received the jab alongside MSDs immunotherapy Keytruda were almost half (49%) as likely to die or have their cancer come back after three years than those who were given only Keytruda.

I feel privileged to be involved in a such an important trial, Young continues.

This is my best chance at stopping the cancer in its tracks.

Skin cancer signs and symptoms

Early detection

Finding skin cancer early saves lives. FACT. "Melanoma detected and removed early is almost always curable," says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto previously told Yahoo UK. "If caught late, there is a much higher chance of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. The 5-year survival rate is around 95% for early, stage 1, disease compared to about 16% for late, stage 4, disease."

How to examine your moles

Most dermatologists recommend skin self-exam on a monthly basis.The acronym ABCDE can be extremely helpful in evaluating moles. If a mole shows any of these features, it warrants review by a GP or dermatologist to exclude melanoma.

Asymmetry: one half of the mole is different to the other

Border: irregular, scalloped or poorly defined edge

Colour: uneven colour or variable colours within a mole

Diameter: the mole is bigger than 6mm in size

Evolving: the mole is changing in its size, shape or colour

Other signs to look out for include any new moles, a mole that looks significantly different to the others, or any skin lesion that bleeds or fails to heal.

Additional reporting PA.

Read more on skin cancer
John Hipkin was taken to Marlag und Milag Nord, a prisoner of war camp near the German sea port of Bremen - The National Archives

Britains youngest Second World War prisoner of war watched a Yugoslav boy be shot while they shared soup in a German camp, newly released National Archives records show.

John Hipkin was 14 when he left Newcastle-upon-Tyne to be a cabin boy for the merchant navy during the war, as he was too young to join the Royal Navy.

He was captured 21 days into his first wartime voyage when the oil tanker he was on was sunk by the German battleship Scharnhorst off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, according to his prisoner of war records.

His son Dominic Hipkin said: The morning the ship was attacked dad said he saw the outline of a large battleship in the mist as he took the captain his breakfast, but mistook it for a British ship.

When shooting started, the captain told dad to go back to his cabin and get his life jacket.

They got into the lifeboats and when they were rowing towards Scharnhorst they could see people on deck holding what they thought were machine guns.

When they got closer they realised the German crew were filming them.

Mr Hipkin and the rest of the crew were taken to Marlag und Milag Nord  a prisoner of war camp near the German sea port of Bremen whose commandant, Captain Prusch, was later charged with war crimes.

Documents revealed that he made prisoners run until they dropped from exhaustion and forced them to stand facing barbed wire for 14 hours with no food or water.

John Hipkin's prisoner of war record which is being exhibited by the National Archives - The National Archives

Dominic Hipkin said: There was an unofficial arrangement with guards that British prisoners of war could share food with the Slavs, who were given very bad mouldy bread.

They were told they were allowed to dip it into the British prisoners soup, but one guard picked up his rifle while this was going on and shot a young Yugoslav boy right in front of my father. They were the same age.

Mr Hipkin was freed on his 19th birthday in 1945 when a British tank crashed into his camp and rescued him in time to arrive home on VE Day  more than four years after he was captured.

He was given a disability pension in June 1945 for the effects of detention (hysteria).

In 2006 Mr Hipkin succeeded in getting posthumous pardons for more than 300 deserter soldiers who had been court-martialed for cowardice on the grounds that they had not been given a fair trial and many had been under-age.

Roger Kershaw, head of strategic operations at The National Archives, said: Its fascinating that weve been able to access John Hipkins records.

Its a rich resource that gives us more detail about his story and seeing a picture of John at that young age makes it more powerful.

War records for Mr Hipkin, who died in 2016, and other prisoners of war, are available to see at The National Archives exhibition called Great Escapes: Remarkable Second World War Captives, which runs until July 21.
Russia has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would ban nuclear weapons from space. The vote was 13-1 with China abstaining.

The proposal would call on "all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space."

It also called on all nations "to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation".

US officials believe that Russia is developing a space-based, anti-satellite nuclear weapon.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, called the move "baffling" in a speech after the vote.

"Russia has vetoed a straightforward resolution that affirms a legally binding obligation," she the BBC reported. "President Putin himself has said publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space."

An amendment put forward by China and Russia Wednesday was also rejected.

The amendment suggested an additional paragraph, call on "all States, and above all those with major space capabilities, to take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space, and to seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements."

There were seven votes in favor of the amendment and seven against with one abstention.

The UN Security Council is made up of five permanent members - the US, UK, France, China, and Russia.

Each of those countries has veto power over any measure.

There are 10 other members of the committee that rotate among other countries.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which has held counter demonstrations to the pro-Palestine marches across the capital since Oct 7, have cancelled their mass walk on Saturday - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has cancelled its walk together initiative on Saturday amid safety and security concerns.

Thousands of people were expected to attend the event, which was intended to counter the large pro-Palestinian march planned for the same day. But the CAA has now announced the walk has been cancelled because of concerns over the safety of those taking part.

Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the CAA, had called for supporters to gather and walk through central London in defiance of the weekly anti-Israeli protests.

His call came after he was prevented by police from crossing the road in central London earlier this month as a pro-Palestinian march was going past.

During an exchange with a Metropolitan Police officer, he was told: You are quite openly Jewish. This is a pro-Palestinian march. I am not accusing you of anything but I am worried about the reaction to your presence.

Another officer threatened to arrest him if he did not leave the area and the Met was forced to apologise after subsequently suggesting the presence of Jewish people at pro-Palestinian protests was provocative.

Sir Mark Rowleys position came under mounting scrutiny following the incident, with the Prime Minister describing the threat to arrest Mr Falter as appalling.

More than 1,000 people were expected to join the walk together event on Saturday, which the CAA insisted was not a march or a protest and therefore did not need to be approved by police.

But on Friday, the CAA announced that the decision had been taken to cancel the walk.

March receives threats from hostile actors

A spokesman for the group said: We have received numerous threats and our monitoring has identified hostile actors who seem to have intended to come to any meeting locations that we announced.

The risk to the safety of those who wished to walk openly as Jews in London tomorrow as part of this initiative has therefore become too great.

We are no less angry about these marches than our Jewish community and its allies. We want to walk.

We want to force the Met to police these marches, not merely manage them. But we cannot encourage thousands of people to walk when there are such risks to their safety, and there are.

We have reluctantly decided not to go ahead tomorrow. We will be announcing our plans in the coming days. We are aware of many people who are likely to walk nonetheless, and we urge them to stay safe.

Protest policing double standards

The pro-Palestinian march will begin in Parliament Square at 1pm on Saturday and will take a route along Piccadilly and Park Lane before finishing Hyde Park.

A static pro-Israel Enough is Enough demonstration is due to take place in Pall Mall on Saturday afternoon but the two events are not scheduled to cross paths.

A CAA spokesman complained that there appeared to be different standards applied to the way marches were being policed.

The spokesman said: Tomorrows march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign meanders for two-and-a-half miles, from Parliament Square to Reformers Tree in Hyde Park.

When we organised our peaceful March Against Antisemitism a few months ago, we were told that there was no way that Royal Parks could be used.

Yet again, it seems that there is a double standard. For the hours that this march drags on, central London will be snarled up yet again.

Police have told us that they intend to handle the march no differently from the passive way that they have become accustomed to over the course of more than six months.

Fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities

The Metropolitan Police said pro-Palestinian protests since Oct 7 had resulted in 450 arrests, with 193 of those being for anti-Semitic offences.

The majority of these anti-Semitic incidents involved placards, chanting or expressions of hate speech, the force said.

There have also been 15 terrorism-related arrests, primarily on suspicion of supporting proscribed organisations, notably Hamas.

The current costs of policing operations for the protests stands at approximately 38.5 million, the Met added.

Matt Twist, the assistant commissioner, said: The cumulative impact of such a lengthy period of sustained significant protests is felt widely, but it has been the particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities.

While there are Jewish groups who do take part in and feel safe doing, there are many others who do not, and feel the impact far beyond the day and location of those marches themselves; this is a reality that should concern us all.

Overall, just about 45,000 Met officers shifts have been dedicated to the policing of these events.

Weve had to bring in additional officers from around the country on a number of occasions, using up an additional 9,600 officer shifts. 6,400 officer rest days have been cancelled.

Mr Twist added that pro-Palestine protests have never reached the threshold where there was a risk of serious public disorder.

He said: The only legal route to ban a march is if there is a risk of serious public disorder  that is rioting or serious violence that could not be dealt with by other restrictions or conditions.

We have never got close to that threshold on these PSC [Palestinian Solidarity Campaign] marches to date.

We have used the proactive imposition of conditions under the Public Order Act more extensively linked to these protests since October 7, than any other point in the last 30 years.
Antony Blinken and Xi Jinping shake hands in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters

Washington has seen evidence of attempts by Beijing to influence and arguably interfere in this years US elections, the secretary of state has said during a trip to China, also warning that Chinese companies face new sanctions if they do not stop supplying material and equipment to the Russian arms industry.

Antony Blinken told CNN that he had reiterated Joe Bidens message to Xi Jinping not to interfere in Novembers vote  a warning that reportedly received assurances from the Chinese president that he would not do so. Asked whether China was keeping to its promise, Blinken said: We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence, and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that thats cut off as quickly as possible.

Any interference by China in our election is something that were looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us.

There was no immediate response from Beijing on either the accusation of attempts at election interference, nor the warning on sanctions, which Blinken said the US and its allies could impose over Chinas support of the Russian defence industry. But earlier on Friday Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, said disruptions could reverse recent improvements in US-China relations and lead to a downward spiral of rivalry, confrontation and even conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a three-day visit to China, Blinken acknowledged there had been improvements in relations since a summit in San Francisco in November between Xi and Biden.

He pointed to cooperation on counter-narcotics, the revival of contacts between the militaries of both countries, and he announced the first US-China talks on the security risks of artificial intelligence development, which he said would take place in the coming weeks.

However, Blinken made clear that Chinese support of the Russian defence industry, used to fuel Vladimir Putins war of aggression against Ukraine, remained a major focus of disagreement, on which the US and its European allies were prepared to act.

China is the top supplier of machine tools, micro electronics, nitrocellulose, which is critical to making munitions, and rocket propellants, and other dual-use items that Moscow is using to ramp up its defence industrial base, Blinken said. Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support.

He said Washingtons Nato allies and G7 partners saw the issue in the same light. Fuelling Russias defence industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security. Beijing cannot achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the cold war.

He added: I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will. Weve already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities, export controls, et cetera. As before, we are prepared to act to take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today.

Blinken said China had previously shown it could take positive action at a critical moment in Russias war in Ukraine.

Youll recall that well over a year ago we had concerns that Russia was considering possibly using a nuclear weapon, he said. I believe that Chinas voice was important, at least at that time, in moving Russia away from that possible course of action.

Xi, in his own remarks at the start of his meeting with Blinken, did not directly address Chinese policy on Russia and Ukraine. The Chinese president said he hoped the US could look at Chinas development in a positive light.

This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, in order for the China-US relationship to truly stabilise, improve and move forward, he said.

Earlier in the day, Wang had warned the US not to step on Chinas red lines when it came to its sovereignty and development.

Setting a stern tone at the beginning of a day of meetings, Wang suggested the bilateral relationship was at a turning point. Since the Biden-Xi summit in San Francisco in November, he said, it was beginning to stabilise, with increased dialogue and cooperation.

Through an official interpreter, Wang said: This is welcomed by our two peoples and the international community  But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said, and then he posed a question: Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?

This is a major question before our two countries, which tests our sincerity and ability, Wang added, warning the US not to step on Chinas red lines on Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests.

He asked: Should our two sides lead international cooperation on global issues and achieve win-win for all, or engage in rivalry and confrontation or even slide into conflict, which would be a lose-lose for all? The international community is waiting for our answer.

Blinken emphasised the importance of managing responsibly what he called the most consequential relation for both countries, to reduce the chance of miscalculation in a volatile region.

That really is a shared responsibility that we have, not only for our own people but for people around the world, given the impact that the relationship between our countries has around the world, Blinken said. Its important to demonstrate that were managing responsibly the most consequential relationship for both of us in the world.

But he insisted the US would stand up for its interests. He said he had been extremely clear in his meeting with Xi about Washingtons concerns over Chinese supplies to the Russian arms industry, and added: Well have to see what actions follow from that.

As well as the threat of sanctions over Chinese supplies to the Russian defence industry, Washington is considering tariffs in response to what Blinken described as subsidised Chinese manufacturing exports flooding the world market at the expense of US workers.

The Biden administration has also tightened export controls on computer chips critical to AI development. And in a move that has particularly angered Beijing, Washington plans to provide billions of dollars in aid for the Indo-Pacific that would largely benefit Taiwan.

While Blinken was on his way to China, Congress passed legislation that would ban TikTok in the US within a year if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its stake. Blinken said the subject did not come up in his meeting with Xi on Friday.

US officials say there has been relative calm in the Taiwan strait since the Biden-Xi summit, following a period of high tension in which Chinese warships and planes would regularly approach Taiwan. At the same time, however, there has been increasing friction in the South China Sea between China  which claims sovereignty over most of the sea  and neighbouring countries, particularly the Philippines, a US ally.

One of the key topics in the Beijing talks was counter-narcotics cooperation. After Novembers summit, China took some steps to curb the supply of chemical precursors and equipment used by traffickers to make the synthetic opioid fentanyl, the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. However, there is concern in Washington that the steps taken by Beijing have been token and have yet to have much effect.

Blinken, who was accompanied in Beijing by Todd Robinson, the assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, held a brief meeting with Chinas public security minister, Wang Xiaohong, focused on counter-narcotics.

Blinken told the minister: Our ability to cooperate in this area, to show results, will have a very positive impact on relations between our two countries.

He said China was providing information to international law enforcement that can be used to track and intercept illicit drugs and their precursors, and that the two governments were cooperating to close loopholes in their financial systems that drug traffickers had been using to launder money.

Blinken said there was more to be done, however, calling on Beijing to prosecute those selling chemicals and equipment to traffickers, and to regulate all of the chemical precursors used in the manufacture of fentanyl.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a lunch meeting with Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in April 2023. Photograph: Taiwan Presidential Office/Reuters

Taiwans president Tsai Ing-wen has praised the US Congress for passing a sweeping foreign aid package this week which included arms support for the island, and has drawn the ire of China.

After months of delays and contentious debate, the bill was signed into law by Joe Biden on Wednesday. Described as $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, the legislation actually contains provisions that broadly affect many parts of the Asia-Pacific, while also spending billions of dollars at home in America.

House Republicans billed the $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific as an effort to counter communist China and ensure a strong deterrence in the region, however the largest provision of funding is for projects in the US itself.

In the face of delayed shipbuilding projects, $3.3bn of the bill will go towards the US domestic submarine-building industry.

Related: US military aid: whats in the $95bn bill and why has it taken so long for Congress to pass?

$1.9bn is designated for a Columbia-class submarine  Americas newest class of nuclear-powered submarine  the first of which is due to be delivered in 2027. Another $200m is designated for a Virginia-class submarine.

The vast majority of this money will be spent in the United States, with more than 16,000 suppliers across all 50 states set to benefit, according to Connor Fiddler at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Nearly half of the Indo-Pacific appropriations directly reinforce the submarine industrial base, Fiddler wrote in his analysis of the package. While this investment will enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the immediate impact will be supporting the American economy.

The submarine funding was a condition of congressional endorsement of the Aukus deal between the US, UK and Australia, and is aimed at ensuring the US can produce Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines for Australia without undermining its own capability requirements.

Another $2bn of funding in the aid package will go towards the foreign military financing program for Taiwan and other security partners in the Indo-Pacific, who the US says are confronting Chinese aggression.

According to US officials, the foreign financing program allows eligible partner nations to purchase US defense articles, services, and training.

A further $1.9bn will go towards defence related expenses provided to Taiwan and other regional partners, while $542m will specifically strengthen US military capabilities in the region.

On Wednesday, China criticised the package, saying that such funding was pushing Taiwan into a dangerous situation.

Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office said the aid seriously violates US commitments to China and sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces.

Separately, Taiwan has signed billions in contracts with the US for latest-generation F-16V fighter jets, M1 Abrams main battle tanks and the HIMARS rocket system, which the US has also supplied to Ukraine.

The United States is Taiwans most important international backer and arms supplier even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly demanded arms sales stop.

The Associated Press contributed to this report


MI5s director general, Ken McCallum, said hostile states were targeting universities, such as Cambridge, to deliver their authoritarian military and commercial priorities. Photograph: Imran Khan/Alamy

MI5 has warned universities that hostile foreign states are targeting sensitive research, as ministers consider measures to bolster protections.

Vice-chancellors from 24 leading institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London, were briefed on the threat by the domestic security services director general, Ken McCallum, and National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) chief, Felicity Oswald.

In addition, the UK government is looking at increased funding to improve security at sensitive sites. Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, announced plans for a consultation on a package of measures that could include looking at key university personnel being given security clearance and a strengthened process to improve the transparency of funding, particularly with foreign institutions.

The measures will be focused on a small proportion of academic work, with a particular focus on research with potential dual uses in civilian and military life.

McCallum told the vice-chancellors that hostile states are targeting universities to steal technology that can deliver their authoritarian, military and commercial priorities, the Times reported.

The government ordered a review of protections for higher education in its refreshed foreign and security policy last year amid concerns that hostile states  and particularly China  were gaining undue influence over the sector.

Dowden has previously warned that some universities reliance on overseas funding could leave them open to being influenced, exploited, or even coerced by a foreign power.

After the security briefing, Dowden said: For a millennium, our universities have thrived on being open  open to ideas, open to innovation, open to being independent of government.

This is not about erecting fences, this is about balancing evolving threats and protecting the integrity and security of our great institutions.

The consultation will explore proposals to protect cutting-edge technology under development in sensitive sectors that are being targeted by states intent on stealing intellectual property to enhance their own economic and military capabilities.

The NCSC and the National Protective Security Authority have also launched a tool to help universities assess their research security.

Michelle Donelan, the science and technology secretary, said: I believe that universities are on the frontlines of a battle for information.

Maintaining the UKs world-leading reputation as an academic superpower relies on having strong safeguards to protect research from those who wish to do us harm.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of leading research universities, said: Russell Group universities take their national security responsibilities incredibly seriously and already work closely with government and the intelligence community to help protect UK breakthroughs in fields like AI, which are important to our national interest.

But we also recognise security is a dynamic and evolving challenge which means we need the right expertise and intelligence to keep pace with this.

Universities UK chief executive Vivienne Stern said: For several years, Universities UK has worked with government to ensure that universities are supported and equipped to recognise and mitigate risks to national security.

This is important and necessary, and we welcome the governments approach to working hand in hand with us to get the mechanisms right.
Students like Catherine Elias, left, and Ariela Rosenzweig, right, have joined pro-Palestinian protests on their campuses. Composite: Getty/Ariela Rosenzweig/Catherine Elias

The arrests of more than a hundred Columbia University students, who were protesting against Israels actions in Gaza, shed more light on arguably the most energetic pro-Palestinian movement in the US: the one taking places on college campuses around the country.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October, in response to terrorist attacks by Hamas, students have launched protests, sit-ins and, most recently, encampments, in a wave they hope will encourage universities to divest from companies which have ties to Israels military.

Related: How divestment became a clarion call in anti-fossil fuel and pro-ceasefire protests

Some have been hospitalized due to hunger strikes, others have devoted their lives over the last six months. Dozens of students are waiting to find out whether they will face criminal charges after arrests at Columbia, Brown University, Yale University and elsewhere.

But protesters say the months-long efforts are worth it. They point to US colleges previously responding to student divestment campaigns by selling financial stakes in companies which invested in apartheid-era South Africa, and divesting from companies which did business with the Sudanese government as it took part in a bloody civil war, as evidence that their strategies can work.

Here are the stories of some of the students involved.

Rania Amine

After she went on hunger strike in February, Rania Amine ended up spending six days in hospital. The 25-year-old McGill student, who was born in Morocco, didnt eat for a total of 34 days: part of a relay system of hunger strikes that is still ongoing at the university.

I definitely experienced physical symptoms, but it was nothing compared to what we know that people in Gaza are going through every day, Amine said.

Its been a while now that Ive been out of the hospital. In terms of my physical health, Ive recovered, theres nothing that I know of that is problematic. But the mental health toll is very real.

Since October students at McGill, in Montreal, Canada, have held rallies and protests, calling for the school to divest from companies that supply weapons and other items to Israels military. Documents on McGills website show that it holds investments in companies including Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that has sold fighter jets to Israel, and Safran, a French air and defense company.

Amine compared the student protests to anti-apartheid movements on campuses in the 1980s, which led to many universities divesting from companies which operated in South Africa.

When you see the students rise up, thats when you know that something has to change, and things will change, she said.

Ariela Rosenzweig

I do believe that as a Jewish person, I have a particular responsibility to resist the instrumentalisation of my heritage, and to say that I do not believe that genocide in Gaza or occupation and apartheid in greater Palestine is supportive of my personal safety, said Ariela Rosenzweig, a 23-year-old student at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Since October, Rosenzweig says she has basically been a full-time organizer on college campus. During a recent hunger strike students set up a daily 8am-11pm occupation of the main student building on campus, where they hosted Palestinian speakers and had lectures from professors.

The space was really full every day of people who were honestly and genuinely learning a lot  people who were not the same crew of 100 people who are diehard and had been at everything, but really like the whole university community coming around and really engaging.

More than 60 students at Brown University have been arrested since October, and in November there was widespread horror after a Brown student, Hisham Awartani, and two friends were shot and injured in Vermont while wearing keffiyehs and speaking in Arabic. Awartani, his friends, and many supporters believe the attack was racially motivated.

We know that college campuses are really able to speak clearly for the youth of the country, and that the student movement is influential  and its influential up until the White House, Rosenzweig said.

And so I can say that, like the fact that my life is entirely about this, is 100% worth the urgency of this moment.

Catherine Elias

I went to Palestine to teach English in one of the refugee camps when I was 19 years old, over a summer break. And I think that was a really transformational experience for me, said Catherine Elias, a student at Columbia University who is of Lebanese-Irish heritage.

It was a radically different perspective to see it firsthand: to witness the checkpoints, to witness the violence, to witness just the pure atrocity that is Palestinians living under occupation every day.

Elias spent five years living and working in Palestine before moving to New York last year. A member of the Columbia University apartheid divest coalition, she was arrested along with dozens of others at an encampment on college grounds in early April. She was also part of the group that last week set up encampments calling for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers with ties to Israel.

I think what really led to this moment, to this encampment, is that we have tried every other tactic imaginable to bring the university to be accountable to the democratic will of its student body, Elias said.

Columbia has implemented divestment in the past, in the case of the anti-apartheid movement regarding South Africa, as well as divestment from private prisons. So there is precedent for divestment at this university.

Avery Eddy

After spending a week in the West Bank and four weeks in Israel in 2019, Avery Eddy said they felt compelled to act.

Seeing the brutal horrors of the apartheid system firsthand absolutely destroyed me, and destroyed my worldview, Eddy said.

Walking through Bethlehem, for instance, there being separate walkways and caged channels for Arab people or people with darker color, and having felt the bullet holes in the walls with these children showing me where their families were killed, like: I dont get to see that and remain silent.

Eddy, 24, spent eight days on hunger strike as students at Yale appealed for the university to divest from military manufacturers. They suffered dizziness, mood swings and lost 16lb: But still none of this compares to the half-million people who are experiencing starvation in Gaza. I had a roof over my head, I had access to clean water, and I didnt have to fear about being bombed, or shot, or forcibly removed from my home.

At least 47 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on Yales campus, in Connecticut, on Monday, with the university claiming that hundreds of people had violated policies and instructions regarding occupying outdoor spaces.

I believe the fight for a free Palestine is a fight for the imagination that other worlds are possible, and that injustice should not be accepted, Eddy said.

Erum Salam contributed reporting
Military personnel, such as soldiers of Germany's armed forces Bundeswehr, will be celebrated on June 15 - RONNY HARTMANN/AFP

Germany will commemorate Veterans Day for the first time since its unification, as Berlin seeks to increase the armed forces prestige and public profile in the face of mounting threats from Russia.

On Thursday, MPs in the Bundestag approved a bid to make June 15 a day of honouring all Germans who have worn a military uniform, inspired in part by UK Armed Forces Day.

It is about making it clear to our soldiers that we treat them with respect, with appreciation, with gratitude for their service and that we are very proud of them, said Eva Hogl, Germanys federal armed forces commissioner, before the bill was passed.

It is also about taking a look at wounds and injuries, and remembering that German soldiers also lost their lives in the line of duty, she added.

Veterans Day, which will not be a bank holiday, is a major step for Germany in terms of its public relationship with the armed forces.

During the Cold War, the communist East held annual military parades for the National Peoples Army, but that was not the case in the West owing to Germanys Second World War shame and the Holocaust.

Communist East Germany held annual military parades for the National People's Army during the Cold War - PETER TURNLEY/GETTY

Germany has vowed to transform itself into a kriegstuchtig, or a war-ready nation, amid fears that it could be facing a direct conflict with Russia within as little as five years.

Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, has ramped up investment in the German armed forces and is also considering a return to conscription.

It also emerged this week that the Bundeswehr, the German army, is updating its emergency planning documents to include scenarios where it needs to host thousands of US troops on German soil in the event of war with Russia.

In an interview with German newspaper FAZ, Lt Gen Andre Bodemann said one area of planning was how to feed thousands of US soldiers and repair their tanks if they needed to pass through Germany onto the eastern front.

In February, in an interview with The Telegraph, German armed forces chief Gen Carsten Breuer said he had no doubt Germany could repel a Russian assault on the eastern flank.
Police cordon off the accident scene, with Mr Ben-Gvir's car lying on its roof - AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP

Israels hard-Right national security minister has been injured in a car accident after his motorcade reportedly ran a red light.

A car carrying Itamar Ben-Gvir flipped over at an intersection in the central town of Ramla on Friday afternoon, police said.

Footage from the scene shows the vehicle upside down in the middle of an intersection.

BREAKING:



Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir has been taken to hospital after a car accident.



The car he traveled in crashed and flipped over pic.twitter.com/u7b4k5mhvd  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 26, 2024

Mr Ben-Gvirs office said the minister had been in the car with his daughter, his driver and a security guard. All four were taken to hospital in a light to moderate condition.

Israels Yedioth Ahronoth news organisation quoted an eyewitness saying that the ministers car had run a red light when another car was crossing the intersection. The ministers office has not commented on the allegation.

Asked about the claim, Yaakov Shabtai, head of the Israeli police, told reporters at the scene that an investigation had been launched and everything will be examined.

Mr Ben-Gvir was in Ramla to visit the scene of an attack which happened earlier on Friday, in which an unknown man stabbed a 19-year-old woman in the back. The attacker was shot dead by a passer-by.

Mr Ben-Gvir's daughter was also injured in the accident - AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP

The national security minister, one of the most influential hard-liners in Israel, has previously been criticised after being pictured in his car without a seat belt.

Mr Ben-Gvir was also in an accident last summer, when his driver allegedly ran a red light because the minister was late for a TV interview. The results of the investigation have not yet been made public.

Traffic accidents are frequent in Israel on Friday afternoons as many motorists, religious or not, rush home for sabbath dinner as businesses and shops shut down across the country.

The country has a significantly better accident record than any of its neighbours in the Middle East and North Africa, but it lags far behind Europe in terms of crashes, injuries and fatalities.
Micheal Martin, Ireland's deputy prime minister, blames the Rwanda plan for an increase in asylum seekers - Oliver Contreras/PA

The influx of migrants crossing into Ireland from the UK is because Dublin is reaping what it sowed in the Brexit negotiations, a leading unionist has said.

Micheal Martin, Irelands deputy prime minister, has blamed the Rwanda plan for an increase in asylum seekers entering his country from Northern Ireland.

Dublin believes that more than 80 per cent of asylum seekers in Ireland have crossed the open border.

Jim Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party, said it was not the Rwanda plan but Irelands insistence on keeping the border open after Brexit that was to blame.

You reap what you sow. The Republic of Ireland insisted there wouldnt even be a camera allowed on the international frontier and now they lament the consequences of the open border they demanded, he told The Telegraph.

Its hard to find sympathy for those so driven by their all-Ireland agenda and poking the British over Brexit that they insisted on the very thing now swamping them with immigrants.

Mr Martin, speaking in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, said: I believe the Rwanda effect is impacting on Ireland.

I dont think anyones gone to Rwanda yet, but to me its reflective of a policy, he said. But it is having real impact on Ireland now in terms of people being fearful in the UK  maybe thats the impact it was designed to have.

Brexit deal tensions

Tensions over immigration have risen in Ireland amid an increase in migrant numbers and a housing crisis. On Thursday, police arrested six people after officers came under attack by protesters at a site earmarked for asylum seekers in Newtown Mount Kennedy, Co Wicklow.

Mr Allister is a fierce opponent of Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, which he says puts the regions place in the UK at risk.

The Windsor Framework kept the land border with the Republic of Ireland open after Brexit but at the price of introducing an Irish Sea border between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Dublin and Brussels insisted on the deal to prevent a post-Brexit hard land border on the island of Ireland, in the negotiations to take the UK out of the EU.

Ireland said the return of border infrastructure would put the peace process at risk and that a Brexit treaty was necessary to protect its place in the EUs Single Market.

Northern Ireland continues to follow hundreds of EU rules under the agreement, which also gives it lucrative dual access to both the UK and EU markets.

Power-sharing was restored in Northern Ireland after negotiations ended a two-year boycott of Stormont by the DUP over the Irish Sea border.

Hard-line unionists, including the TUV, which has formed an election alliance with Reform UK, fear the deal is a precursor to an attempt to unify Ireland. Sinn Fein has called for a reunification referendum by 2030.

Lord Dodds, the DUP peer, said: The complaints from Irish politicians ring hollow. At every point in the Brexit drama they never hesitated to advance their own interests at the expense of relations with unionists and the UK. Now in true Dublin style they blame others for the consequences of policies they pursued.

Dublin has been vociferous in advocating a totally open border and has even castigated UK efforts to introduce new travel visa requirements for non Irish citizens wanting to travel from the republic into the UK through N Ireland, he added, referring to British plans to require a permit from non-Ireland residents.

Baroness Hoey said: The Republic of Ireland is a foreign country. Its a bit rich for them to be complaining about something when they themselves have been the country that has refused to accept that there is a frontier with the United Kingdom and their independent country.

British taxpayers are paying for the EU single market to be protected. Were spending all this money and putting up border posts in our own country to protect their Single market, which of course also ultimately is also affecting trade between GB and Northern Ireland, The Brexiteer peer, who is from Northern Ireland, said.

She added, Chickens come home to roost, as they say.

Ireland and the UK are also part of a Common Travel Area that predates both countries EU membership.

On March 22, the Irish High Court said a decision by the justice minister to designate the UK as a safe country after Brexit was unlawful. It said she exceeded her powers.

Legislation is in the works to remedy this but in the meantime Ireland cannot use a refugee returns deal with the UK.
The silver wedding anniversary ceremony was held at the Church of San Domenico in Palermo. - MARCO SIMONI/COLLECTION MIX

A notorious Sicilian mob boss was allowed to celebrate his silver wedding anniversary in the church where a top mafia investigator was buried after his murder in a car bombing.

Catholic clerics in Palermo were left red-faced by the revelation and claimed they had no clue about the identity of Tommaso Lo Presti, a convicted mafioso nicknamed the glutton who was recently released from jail after 12 years behind bars for a range of mafia-related offences, including extortion, drug dealing and illegal betting.

Lo Presti and his wife Teresa Marino, who were described by one Italian newspaper as Cosa Nostras most famous couple, renewed their vows at a lavish ceremony in the Church of San Domenico in the historic heart of Palermo on April 15. He wore a dark suit while Marino was in a flowing white lace dress.

The church is the second most important basilica in the city after the Palermo cathedral.

Teresa Marino was convicted for running her husband's criminal activities while he was in jail. - ANSA

It is also the final resting place of Giovanni Falcone, a crusading anti-mafia prosecutor who was assassinated by the Cosa Nostra in 1992.

In one of Italys most infamous murder cases, a powerful bomb was detonated under Mr Falcones car as he travelled on a road near Palermo. His wife and three of his bodyguards were also killed in the attack. Two months later, his colleague Paolo Borsellino, another celebrated investigator, was also murdered.

Friends and relatives of the mafia couple watched them renew their vows just a few feet from a memorial to Mr Falcone, lauding him as a hero in the fight against the mafia.

Father Sergio Catalano, the rector of the church, said that he had no idea who the couple were when he conducted Mass for them.

How could I have known? he told the Italian media. Its not as if I can ask for an anti-mafia certificate from people who come to the church. Its not us who should be responsible for carrying out checks  they should be carried out by institutions of the State.

He said he only found out their identities after the event from news reports.

The couple had left a generous donation and the money will be used to help people who are in need, the priest said.

After the renewal of their vows, the couple threw a party for friends and relatives but it ended early Lo Presti is under curfew restrictions and has to spend each night at home.

Marino, the mother of five who became a grandmother at 38, was convicted of running her husbands criminal activities while he was behind bars.

In 2014, after Lo Prestis arrest, a judge explained the role played by his wife, saying that while he was in jail, she received at her home all the prominent members of the mafia district of Porta Nuova [an area of Palermo] and gave them instructions and directions on behalf of her husband, sharing with them criminal strategies. Mafiosi came to her to resolve internal issues and tensions with the organisation.
Ambit continued to be published until 2023, becoming one of the UKs longest-running periodicals Photograph: none

As the title of his 2018 memoir, Two Lives to Lead, hinted at, Martin Baxs working life was split between two equally demanding duties  that of a consultant developmental paediatrician who published extensively on child disability, and founder of the long-running literary and arts magazine Ambit. Bax, who has died aged 90, also wrote fiction, while continuing his work within the NHS.

Those medical and literary interests fused with his 1976 novel The Hospital Ship, a dystopian vision showing the crew of the ironically named Hopeful tending to victims of a global mass psychosis. Text from the book was later developed, with the trumpeter Henry Lowther, into The Vietnam Symphony, performed at the ICA and on BBC Radio 3. He also published a short story collection, Memoirs of a Gone World (2010), and a childrens book, Edmond Went Far Away (1988), illustrated by the artist and Ambit contributor Michael Foreman.

Ambit, set up in 1959 from Baxs home in Highgate, north London, and out of which it operated until his retirement in 2013, was marked from the off by a countercultural thrust, keen to place itself on the raucous margins of prevailing literary modes and fashions.

Bax spoke of the influence of John Middleton Murrys Rhythm, the early 20th-century magazine that published DH Lawrence and Katherine Mansfield. His formative vision was to provide somewhere that visual art could speak to, and in unison with, new writing, with neither being given undue prominence. A typical issue might contain pop art, sketches, short stories and poetry. Prominent (or soon-to be) names such as the poets George MacBeth, Stevie Smith, Peter Porter and Edwin Brock found early publication in its pages. Other, established, figures such as JG Ballard and Carol Ann Duffy became regular contributors and later went on to work with Bax as editors of fiction and poetry respectively.

Ambit also boasted an impressive roll call of artists, with figures such as David Hockney and Eduardo Paolozzi contributing to its covers and pages in the 1960s. Hockneys unfinished female nude for Ambit 14 (1962-63) was indicative of the magazines fondness for creating something at once playful and visually charged.

As an editor Bax struck out for a sort of radical independence  all the more radical for his not buying into some of the more political or polemical angles then being taken up by his contemporaries, such as Michael Horovitz, whose more Beat-inflected New Departures was founded the same year. Bax said: What was my programme?  Well, I dont really have a programme; I just put good things together.

During the mid-to-late 60s, boundaries of explicitness and provocation began to be tested more committedly than in the magazines first decade. In response to a Ballard story, You: Coma: Marilyn Monroe, published in Ambit 27 (1966), a note from a Conservative MP to the then-minister of state for education and science hints, in its Mary Whitehouse fashion, at the ways in which the magazine had evolved: [Ambit] is disgusting when it is possible to understand the words used. Some of it seems to be the product of a twisted mind. If it gets into the hands of teenagers, as it easily could, it would be a most dangerous publication.

Undeterred, in 1967, the magazine ran a competition for the best creative work, both prose and poetry, written under the influence of drugs. Despite the inevitable furore, the winner  the experimental novelist Ann Quin  wasnt much of a cautionary tale to the nations youth, being under my usual combination of nicotine, [caffeine] and of course, the birth pill I take  Orthonovin 2.

Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, Bax was the son of Cyril, a civil servant, and Eleanor (nee Bayne), a former domestic science teacher. Public service  and social concern  ran through the paternal line, with Baxs grandfather, Ernest Belfort Bax, a founder member of the Fabian Society and associate of William Morris.

He went to Dauntseys school, Wiltshire, then studied medicine at New College, Oxford, and Guys hospital, where, following graduation in 1961, he became a lecturer at its medical school.

At Oxford Bax met Judy Osborn, and they married in 1956. She went on to work as a headteacher at Parliament Hill school in north London and after her retirement won a seat on Haringey council.

Bax worked as a paediatrician in the NHS throughout his career, specialising in child development and disability. He was an especially influential figure in the treatment of cerebral palsy in children. From 1982 to 1985 he was director of the Community Paediatric Research Unit at St Marys hospital medical school, then at Westminster hospital medical school (now part of Imperial College School of Medicine), where he was also a senior lecturer and, after retirement in 2001, emeritus reader.

He was editor of the journal Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology from 1978 after the death of Ronnie MacKeith, his longstanding colleague who founded the journal and with whom Bax had helped to set up the Clinics in Developmental Medicine book series. From 2000 to 2008 he served as chairman of the European Academy of Child Disability, and he was life president of the Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes.

Bax published a final novel, Love on the Borders, in 2005. The breadth of his achievements in both the medical and the literary worlds is evidence of his ability to adapt and innovate, to push boundaries with his hunger for finding what was new and unexpected.

Ambits origins as a home-made, DIY magazine set by hand on a variotyper were somewhat unpromising for the kind of longevity it would ultimately achieve. It continued publishing until 2023, becoming one of the UKs longest-running periodicals.

Judy died in 2015. Bax is survived by his three sons, Ben, Alex and Tim, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

 Martin Charles Owen Bax, consultant paediatrician, novelist and editor, born 13 August 1933; died 24 March 2024
China-based ByteDance is holding internal talks about selling a majority stake of TikTok's business in the United States but without the algorithm that drives users to the video-sharing platform that is used by more than 170 million Americans, according to a report.

The discussions come after President Joe Biden signed legislation on Wednesday that would require ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok in the United States in nine months or be banned.

ByteDance plans to challenge the law, which was tucked into a bill providing foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel, under First Amendment grounds, The Information reported.

But one scenario being explored would involve ByteDance selling more than 50% of TikTok U.S. but keeping a minority stake of 20%, the limit allowed under the law, the report said.

So far, ByteDance has not contacted potential buyers, the report said.

The team discussing the possible sale is headed up by Zhao Pengyuan, who reports to ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo.

"This is categorically untrue. Pengyuan's team doesn't have that responsibility and has not worked on any plans for the scenarios discussed," a ByteDance spokesperson told The Information.

Company executives want to avert a TikTok ban in the U.S., which generates a substantial portion of the $20 billion the company received last year in revenue, mostly from advertising.

They see shutting down TikTok in the U.S. as a last resort, saying that it would create a dangerous precedent for other Chinese technology, the report said.

The sale would include the TikTok brand but not the algorithm, the report said.

And the executives are looking at companies outside the tech sector, meaning companies like Oracle and Microsoft, which both made offers in 2020, would be excluded.
Sabreen Jouda (pictured), died in hospital on Thursday

A premature baby rescued from her dead mothers womb has died in Gaza after spending a number of days in an incubator.

Sabreen Jouda was rescued from her mothers womb shortly after both of her parents were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern city of Rafah on Sunday.

The girl died in a hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated following five days in an incubator, her uncle Rami al-Sheikh told the Associated Press.

The dead bodies of a 30-week pregnant woman, her husband and their 4-year-old daughter were extracted from the rubble after an IDF airstrike around midnight on Sunday.

Doctors performed an emergency caesarian and kept the baby in an incubator in an neonatal intensive care unit.

34,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza

Five-day-old Sabreen is one of more than 34,000 Palestianians who have been killed in Gaza in Israels war against Hamas that was triggered by the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7 last year. The militants killed over 1,200 people and took some 250 people hostage.

The Israeli cabinet at a two-hour long session on Thursday agreed to scale back its demand for Hamas to release the first group of hostages from 40 to 20 people as long as all of them are either women, children, elderly or wounded, Israeli media reported on Friday.

The number and identities of the first group of hostages to be freed was a major sticking point in the talks as Hamas refused to release the list of surviving hostages, leading to fears a great number of them are already dead.

Israel is expected to announce a cease-fire following the release of the first group, and its length will depend on the eventual number of hostages released, according to public broadcaster Kan.

Israeli officials hosting intelligence chief of Egypt

Israeli officials on Friday are hosting the intelligence chief of Egypt who is arriving in Tel Aviv to discuss efforts to jump-start the hostage talks.

On Tuesday, the first day after a week-long Passover holiday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel on a similar mission.

The Israeli public is getting increasingly impatient with what may see as a failure on the governments part to bring back the hostages.

Dozens of protesters on Friday morning rallied outside the house of Benny Gantz, a key member of Mr Netanyahus government, demanding that he step down if he fails to push through a deal to release the hostages.

Elsewhere, in an apparent goodwill gesture, the US administration has decided not to sanction the three battalions within the Israeli Defence Forces that committed gross humanitarian violations, according to a letter from the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to House speaker Mike Johnson cited by ABC News on Thursday.

IDF battalion to be accused of violence against Palestinians in West Bank

Israeli officials fumed last week over initial reports that one IDF battalion, whose members have been accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, will be blacklisted by the US from receiving military aid or training.

The undated letter to the House speaker suggests that the US administration decided not to take action against those battalions as the IDF has proved that it took steps to remedy the behaviour of the soldiers in those units that was inconsistent with rules.
The employee reacted after being told to join a meeting, which was due to start five minutes before the end of his shift - PETER DAZELEY/THE IMAGE BANK RF

Calling your boss a d--k is not a sackable offence  so long as you only do it once, a court has ruled.

The court in Madrid said that an employee of a smoked fish company should not have been fired for calling his manager a gilipollas, a common Spanish insult that loosely translates to stupid d--k or moron.

For the court, the decisive factor was that the insult was isolated and therefore his bad behaviour was not sufficiently serious to merit a dismissal.

Only the repeated use of offensive language would demonstrate that a serious and culpable breach of labour rules had occurred.

Fire me if you dare

The frank exchange came about when the employee was informed by his manager that there was a meeting he must attend at 2.55pm, five minutes before the end of his shift.

The employee said that he would not be attending and made it clear that he intended to leave the office.

When his manager warned him that he would be punished for doing so, the employee retorted before slamming the door: Lets see if you dare, you d--k!

The employee, who had been sanctioned by the company on previous occasions, received a letter of dismissal, against which he launched legal proceedings.

The Madrid high court ruled in the workers favour, ordering the company to reinstate him or cough up 23,500 (20,000) in back pay. The ruling earlier this week is from the companys failed appeal against that decision.

Although the employees reply and behaviour when addressing the manager were unseemly and rude, slamming the door behind him, they were not sufficiently serious or blameworthy to justify his dismissal, the court said in its ruling.

It had also taken into account that the man had finished his days work and was in a hurry to leave the office for personal reasons.
Chairs at a Passover meal in southern Israel were marked with images of hostages in Gaza - Reuters/Amir Cohen

This year, Passover has felt more solemn than ever. Its certainly the first time in my memory that amidst the songs of celebration at the Seder meal, which marks the beginning of the eight-day festival, there were tears, too. Passover marks the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt and is, in essence, a celebration of freedom, so the knowledge that 133 families in Israel were sitting around their Seder tables with a loved one missing brought that concept into sharp and painful focus.

Of course, there are thousands more whose Seder tables will permanently be left empty. And with so much pain on the Palestinian side too, theres a sense of sadness this year in every direction.

At our own Seder meal, we began with a special prayer this year  a request shared by Ayelet Levy Shachar, mother of 19-year-old hostage Naama Levy, among others. Some left an empty chair at the table to remember those still being held hostage. Every year we read a passage about surviving persecution and this year, those ancient words  In every generation they rise up against us to destroy us  felt more poignant and relevant than ever.

Kibbutz Nir Oz marked their Seder table with images of hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip - REUTERS

The world is simply not a friendly place for Jewish people right now  whether on American university campuses or on the streets of London. It felt utterly chilling that Columbia University was being shut down to control violent anti-Semitism just as Passover began. Also much discussed was the news of the anti-Semitism campaigner, who was told last week that being openly Jewish on the streets of London, near a pro-Palestinian march, could get him arrested. Some felt that he had exposed a moral absurdity on our streets  freedom of openly Jew-hating mobs being protected over the freedom of peaceful Jewish citizens. Others feared his stunt would provoke a backlash and give those who genuinely hold hateful views new impetus to take to the streets.

The one thing everyone seemed to agree on was the crux of it all: that the areas in central London around the Saturday marches are a no-go zone for openly Jewish people. What an ironic reality for us right now, while our community celebrates freedom.

Away from the headlines, everyone had their own stories too. My friends mother was on a flight when an Orthodox man walked past and the air steward said to her: Bloody Jews, theyre everywhere  not realising she herself was Jewish. My husband overheard some casual Jew-hatred voiced out loud while queuing for coffee in Gails last week. That normalisation of anti-Semitism is perhaps the most chilling of all  because sadly we know the unthinkable is possible.

Among friends and family, the question was quietly asked this year: Hypothetically, where would you go  if the worst were to happen? Its a question my grandparents on both sides had to act on  in Poland and in Persia (now Iran), and of which my great-aunt reminded us all.

In fact, of all the poignant moments at the Passover meal this year, what will stay with me most was one of her stories. She told us how my family had to conceal their Judaism (in Meshed, Persia) and bake matzah  the unleavened flatbread eaten at Passover  in a secret basement beneath their house. They distributed it to the Jewish families in their community, piece by piece, hidden under their veils. Its in stark contrast to my experience of being able to order a box of kosher matzah on Ocado.

So, with so much anti-Semitism in the ether, we still have much to celebrate in our generation when it comes to freedom  and Passover is a moment to do so  but most importantly, we must also recognise when we feel it slipping away.
Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University in Georgia on Thursday. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty Images

Police have carried out multiple violent arrests at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia, in what appears to be the first campus crackdown in recent days to involve rubber bullets and teargas after students set up an encampment in solidarity with Palestine and against Cop City.

On Thursday, Emory students set up multiple tents on the campuss lawns in protest against the universitys ties to Israel, as well Atlantas Cop City, a police and fire department training center that is being constructed on a 171-acre plot in a forest south-east of Atlanta.

Related: Student protesters are demanding universities divest from Israel. What does that mean?

In a statement released on Mondoweiss, student organizers wrote, We are students across multiple Atlanta universities and community members organizing against Cop City and the genocide of Palestinians at the hands of US imperialism. We are demanding total institutional divestment from Israeli apartheid and Cop City at all Atlanta colleges and universities.

The statement accused the university of being uniquely complicit in genocide and police militarization and said the protesters fight against Cop City is interconnected with global movements against oppressive state practices, most notably the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

Signs at the encampment read, Gaza Solidarity Encampment and Divest from death. Videos posted online showed students peacefully gathering around the encampment as a student organizer addressed the crowd.

This is Emory University. Those greasing the gears of the war machine think that this predictable rhetoric will erode public support for bold actions at Emory. They are wrong, the organizer said.

Other photos and videos showed Kate Rosenblatt, a religion and Jewish studies professor at Emory University, holding up a sign that read, Hands off our students!

Photos also appeared to show effigies of babies wrapped in white cloth and covered in fake blood, a common display seen at Palestinian solidarity protests to mourn the more than 13,000 children who have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in the last six months. Since Hamass 7 October attack on Israel which killed more than 1,100 Israelis, Israels military counteroffensive has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, displacing 2 million more and precipitating famine conditions.

Following the set-up of the encampments, multiple Emory and Atlanta police officers, as well as Georgia state patrol officers, arrived on campus, with videos showing the officers forcefully arresting people. One video appeared to show multiple officers holding down a restrained person as they tased the person. Another video showed an officer arresting Noelle McAfee, chair of the universitys philosophy department.

The universitys student-run newspaper, Emory Wheel, reported that officers deployed gas into the crowd. The Atlanta Community Press Collective, a local independent outlet, also reported use of teargas on the crowds, in addition to stun guns and rubber bullets being deployed against the protesters.

In a video posted online, one person who identified themself as Bella said, Im a senior at Emory University. Today we were trying to build an encampment  We were out here chanting peacefully  All of a sudden a huge patrol of police  basically swarmed the entire crowd.

Students of color were significantly targeted throughout the process. There were Black students that were being tased, there were Black students that were being teargassed. I got teargassed as I was trying to leave the protest, Bella added.

In a statement released on Thursday, the university said, Several dozen protesters trespassed into Emory Universitys campus early on Thursday morning and set up tents on the Quad. These individuals are not members of our community. They are activists attempting to disrupt our university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals. Emory does not tolerate vandalism or other criminal activity on campus. The Emory police department ordered the group to leave and contacted Atlanta Police and Georgia State Patrol for assistance.

A student organizer who spoke to the Guardian anonymously said that several students were among those arrested, including some from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In the Guardians reporting, two students at Morehouse College were found to have also been arrested on Thursday.

By 1.30pm, a gathering of at least 150 students and faculty assembled at Convocation Hall and, according to Atlanta police radio calls, Emorys president, Greg Fenves, was evacuated by car from campus at around the same time, according to the Atlanta Community Press Collective.

As the crackdowns continued in the south, Princeton University students in New Jersey set up their own Gaza solidarity encampment on Thursday morning at 7am local time. Two students were arrested and barred from campus. It is unclear when they will be able to return.

The tents have been removed per the universitys policy which bans outdoor encampments, but people were still sitting together on blankets and mats on the campuss lawn near Princetons McCosh courtyard.

Some classes, like Professor Max Weisss last lecture of the semester, were held at the encampment protest.

Students might not know, class is here today, one protester chanted.

Just after noon, Muslim students in the encampment gathered for the afternoon prayer. Other student protesters shielded them with their bodies and keffiyehs to give them privacy and protect them from being photographed by the press.

Yesterday, W Rochelle Calhoun, Princetons vice-president of campus affairs sent a warning to any students planning on defying warnings on camping, occupation or unlawful disruptive conduct that they faced arrest and being barred from campus.

Elsewhere on Thursday, a new protest camp sprang up at the University of California, Los Angeles, with local news reports saying dozens of tents were erected on Thursday morning. Also in Los Angeles, officials at the University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony, citing fears that the protests on campus could disrupt plans.

At Indiana University Bloomington, a tent encampment popped up before police with shields and batons shoved into a line of protesters, arresting 33 people.

And the City College of New York, hundreds of students who were gathered on the lawn beneath the Harlem campuss famed gothic buildings erupted in cheers after a small contingent of police officers retreated from the scene. In one corner of the quad, a security training was held among students who said they expected to be arrested in the coming hours.

Late on Thursday Columbia University backed off from an overnight deadline for pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon an encampment there. The office of New York-based Columbia University president Minouche Shafik issued a statement at 11.07 pm (0307 GMT Friday) retreating from a midnight deadline to dismantle a large tent camp with around 200 students.
Rishi Sunak and Donald Tusk, the Polish PM, bonded over Margaret Thatcher in Warsaw this past week. - ANDRZEJ IWANCZUK/SHUTTERSTOCK

On Tuesday night, over plates of grilled asparagus followed by roasted deer leg, Rishi Sunak and Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, talked of a surprise subject of joint admiration.

Mr Sunak, the Conservative leader, holds Margaret Thatcher in high regard is to be expected. Less so Mr Tusk, the one-time poster boy for Brusselss Brexit resistance during departure talks.

Yet behind closed doors in the Polish leaders residency, the story was told of how Mr Tusk once gathered a huge crowd to greet the Iron Lady at Gdansk shipyard when she visited in 1988.

At the time, Mr Tusk was a student leader for a trade union and Mrs Thatcher, the first ever British prime minister to make an official trip to Poland, an icon of democracy for those behind the Iron Curtain. It was a rock star welcome, Mr Sunak and his inner circle were told over dinner.

To cement the bond, Mr Tusk was presented with a photograph of Mrs Thatcher reaching for vegetables at a Polish market from that visit, an embodiment of the merits of capitalism.

Tusk has previously called Margaret Thatcher a political 'heroine' - ADAM CHELSTOWSKI/BLOOMBERG NEWS

The Prime Ministers surprise increase in defence spending, announced with a flourish during a mid-week visit to Poland and Germany, has lifted the mood in Downing Street.

The decision to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 had been months in the making, and  those around Mr Sunak argue  entirely driven by British national interest.

But it completed a hat trick of major policy moves in areas that the Tory Right, the section of the party which holds the biggest political risk to the Prime Minister, has been demanding action.

In the space of five days, Mr Sunak unveiled a moral mission to reform welfare to get people working, celebrated the passing of the Rwanda Bill and unveiled his defence boost.

This is very authentically the PM, said a Downing Street insider. He is really Right-wing on these issues. It is a message being projected to Tory colleagues as well as the public.

Showing off his inner Thatcher could help Mr Sunak ride out whatever is coming after Thursday when voters go to the polls to pick councillors, mayors, and police and crime commissioners.

Both friends and foes of the Prime Minister have had the local elections on May 2 ringed for months as the moment of maximum danger for his party leadership before the general election.

Sizable Tory defeats are universally expected in Westminster. Forecasters estimate as many as half of the Tory council seats up this cycle  around 500  could be lost.

Another by-election defeat is likely in Blackpool South, vacant since Scott Benton quit after a lobbying sting. His 3,690-vote Tory majority is far smaller than others recently overturned.

Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, will be seeking re-election next week - ANDREW FOX

And then there are the two all-important Conservative-held mayoral races, with Andy Street in the West Midlands and Lord Houchen in Tees Valley seeking to defy the nationwide polls.

If the centrist Mr Street is ousted in Middle England and Lord Houchen, an embodiment of Boris Johnsons Red Wall coalition, also loses then the pressure on Mr Sunak to prove his electability will ratchet up.

The argument that cabinet ministers being lined up for results night shows will deploy is that the last time these seats were voted on in 2021 the Tories were enjoying a Covid vaccine polls bounce.

Critics of the Sunak premiership have been working up their own grid of activity for the days after the locals, with some accepting this is their last shot at a leadership switch before the general election.

Mr Sunaks low approval ratings will be one target. At this point, this bloke could have cured cancer and the public would hate him for not doing it sooner, said a rebel source.

This is not a poll. This is an election, the source added, outlining what wavering Tory colleagues will be told privately: That the results are concrete proof voters are abandoning the party.

MPs will know that unless something dramatically changes they will be taking up their new roles as account directors at mid-level public affairs firms by Christmas.

Will the Tories have the numbers?

The frustration from a group of Tory MPs on the Right and their advisers is not in doubt. What remains unclear is whether they will have the numbers to do anything about it.

It takes 52 Tory MPs to submit a no-confidence letter to the 1922 Committee to trigger a yes/no vote in Mr Sunaks leadership. Despite all the chatter, just two MPs have publicly called for him to go, Dame Andrea Jenkyns and Sir Simon Clarke.

Claims that a whipping operation is underway among the rebels and that fresh letters  one MP critic claims a dozen  will be submitted after the locals abound, with little proof to be independently verified.

In the past the Rights pronouncements about having the numbers have proved illusory, such as forcing changes to the Rwanda Bill, which ultimately passed without a single Tory MP voting against it.

Who are they? How many of them are there? I think hell be fine, said one loyalist government adviser about the rebels, who largely keep their barbed criticisms off the record.

The tensions have fused with speculation that No 10 could yet announce the general election for June or July, rather than for October or November as widely expected.

Outsiders such as Nadine Dorries, the former Tory MP, and Labour shadow ministers have been claiming that on Monday Mr Sunak could announce the vote to pre-empt local election losses.

Dorries tweeted claiming Sunak could call for general elections next week - LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

One senior Downing Street figure dubbed the idea bulls---, saying Mr Sunak is due to be on a local visit away from Westminster that day and is spending the weekend with family at Chequers.

Yet, it is the Prime Ministers insistence on leaving options open by only saying an election is expected in the second half of the year that creates the vacuum filled by others with rumours.

In the last week, Mr Sunak has been shoring up his position with Tory MPs, holding a drinks reception the night of the Rwanda Bill voting and meeting some of his critics for face-to-face talks.

Perhaps that is underscored by who Mr Sunak felt needed to be briefed on his tightly held decision to spend an extra 75 billion on defence between now and 2030.

As he was driven to the plane for his flight to Poland on Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister called Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, to share the news of extra military aid.

Three others were also telephoned, not world leaders but Conservative MPs. Ben Wallace, James Heappey and Mark Francois all were personally informed by the countrys leader before the news broke.

As the former defence secretary, former Armed Forces minister and current defence committee member respectively, all three are influential voices in Tory military circles.

All three went public praising the package. Other Conservatives did so too, turning their collective fire on Labour who are yet to match the 2.5 per cent by 2030 pledge.

The unity! enthused a Downing Street insider. This is what the Tory election strategists dream about a party finally calling time on its infighting and taking aim at their Opposition instead.

But come this time next week, the guns will once again be turned inwards. Survive to June and Mr Sunak will almost certainly lead the Tories into the general election.

For those Tory rebels, muttering their frustrations behind a cloak of anonymity for months, it is the moment of truth.
Demonstrators and Texas state troopers stand off during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas - Bloomberg/Jordan Vonderhaar

Pro-Palestinian protests spread from universities in the United States to France and Britain on Friday as Russell Group students set up a camp demanding action over Israels bombardment of Gaza.

Tents have been erected by a group occupying grounds in the centre of the University of Warwick, while students at University College London (UCL) staged a campus rally, mirroring anger across US college campuses.

Tensions are also mounting in Paris, where students were on Friday occupying Sciences Po, a university seen as the breeding ground for Frances political elite.

Sciences Po students are calling for the university attended by president Emmanuel Macron and prime minister Gabriel Attal to cut its ties with universities and companies that are complicit in the genocide in Gaza and end the repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.

The occupation comes a day after police dislodged around 60 students who had occupied another building and set up tents in a courtyard.

With keffiyehs on their heads, Palestine flags hanging from the railings and slogans in support of the Palestinian struggle, students who had spent the night in the school could be seen on Friday morning in the windows of its historic headquarters in the 7th arrondissement.

Tents have been erected by a group occupying grounds in the centre of the University of Warwick - Twitter

Rubbish bins and building site equipment blocked the main entrance to Sciences Po Paris, which has a vast campus in the centre of the capital, divided into several locations.

A hundred or so students and other pro-Palestinian supporters sat outside holding banners such as Stop genocide, we demand acts. Another had crossed out the war and replaced with genocide.

This all started several days ago to protest against the perceived silence of the university administration regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and people want to suspend partnerships with Israeli universities, as the school did against Russian ones after the Ukraine invasion, said Isabelle, 21, a first-year masters student.

Sciences Po has threatened to throw out students who blocked the university, which is unacceptable.

Sending the police in has only increased tensions.

Riot police at first stood back but then formed a line to separate a counter-demonstration of people waving banners calling for a two-state solution and the freeing of Israeli hostages.

The action came on the same day as Berlin police began clearing a pro-Palestinian camp outside the German parliament by activists calling on the government to end arms exports to Israel.

Meanwhile, Warwick Stands with Palestine, a group of University of Warwick staff and student activists, occupied an area known as the piazza.

Activists gather at the University of Michigan calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - Getty/ Adam J Dewey

In a statement on social media, the group said it will rise up in unison with fellow students all over the world, from Columbia, NYC, to Paris, to Sydney.

It added: We say no business as usual as long as Warwick sponsors colonial genocide!

The protest group is calling on the university to scrap all academic and teaching partnerships with companies it claims are facilitating Israels war in Gaza, including any defence contractors.

It has also urged the university to condemn Israeli war crimes, expand scholarships for Palestinian students and protect the freedom of speech of Palestinian students and their allies in expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for national liberation.

Speaking to Times Higher Education, a spokesperson for the group said: Were using the political moment, the escalations happening in Columbia [University] and all over the world at the moment to keep the attention on Gaza.

Hundreds of students and academics have been arrested at US universities as police clamp down on demonstrations. The camps have been set up at more than 20 US universities, including Harvard and Yale, since the first encampment on the lawns of New Yorks Columbia University last week.

Columbias decision to send the New York Police Department onto the campus to arrest protesters and tear down the camp was widely criticised and prompted some of the other university encampments to pop up in solidarity.

A pro-Palestine protest at the University of Texas, Austin - Getty/Brandon Bell

In the US, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles became the first institution to cancel a graduation ceremony because of protests, citing new safety measures following student protests over the Israel-Gaza war.

Other US protests have resulted in cancelled classes, faculty walkouts and administrations calling the police on their own students.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has described the protests as horrific.

Anti-Semitism on campuses in the United States is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s. The world cannot stand idly by, he said. It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally.

On Thursday, Baroness Fox of Buckley told the House of Lords: The global student movement is coming to the UK and claimed that the levels of anti-Semitism are routine and normalised on UK campuses.

At UCL, students staged a rally in the universitys main quad on Friday afternoon. An advert for the event, organised by UCL Action for Palestine, stated: From Gaza to Columbia to London, we will not rest until our campuses divest.
The Mayor said he was "disappointed" by the criticism levelled at him by "Jewish leaders and Jewish friends"

Sadiq Khan has accused the Chief Rabbi of singling him out for criticism over his Israel stance because he is a Muslim.

In seemingly incendiary comments, Mr Khan implied that senior members of the Jewish community, including the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, had condemned his call for a ceasefire because of his religion.

He said similar calls for a ceasefire made by Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, had not prompted a backlash and said that was because he was not called Ahmed Burani, hes called Andy Burnham whereas Im called Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan issued an apology on Friday, in which he said he deeply regretted the comments. The remarks risked stoking further divisions in London just days before he seeks a third term as Londons mayor.

After seven months of pro-Palestine protests in the capital, Jews have complained that central London has become a no-go zone at weekends. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has faced calls to resign after one of his officers prevented an openly Jewish man from crossing the road as a march was passing.

Mr Khan appeared to be responding to criticism levelled at him by Sir Ephraim in autumn in the wake of the Oct 7 massacre. In a post on X, formally Twitter, on Oct 31, Sir Ephraim said after meeting Mr Khan that he had explained to the Mayor that a ceasefire now would be an irresponsible stepping stone to yet more Hamas terrorist brutality.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis has met with Mr Khan to discuss the impact pro-Palestine protests have had on the Jewish community - Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Europe

After a meeting with Mr Burnham on Nov 30, Sir Ephraim posted on X: Today I met Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, to thank him for his consistent message of support for the Jewish community in Manchester and to discuss his response to the war between Israel and Hamas and the way the conflict has impacted Jewish communities here in the UK.

Sources said the meeting with Mr Burnham was a month later at a time when there had been a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which was why the wording was different.

But in an interview with Mehdi Hasan, a prominent broadcaster and commentator, Mr Khan said he was disappointed by the criticism levelled at him by Jewish leaders and Jewish friends.

Mr Hasan asked him how he felt to take this incoming criticism from prominent Jewish people, Mr Khan stressed his support for the Jewish community and his zero tolerance for anti-Semitisim, before adding: I am fully cognisant of the strong feelings there are on all sides but I have to do and say what is right.

I am actually disappointed by some of the response from Jewish leaders and Jewish friends and here is an interesting observation that somebody told me about which I wasnt aware of. Very shortly after I called for a ceasefire, the mayor of Greater Manchester called for a ceasefire.

Ive not seen the Chief Rabbi [or] the Jewish Chronicle say comments against me in relation to my calls for a ceasefire and Id ask those Jewish people: just pause and reflect on their response to me calling for a ceasefire. What motivated them to come back in the way they did against the mayor of London and the mayor of Greater Manchester? Ill give you a clue - hes not called Ahmed Burani, hes called Any Burnham whereas Im called Sadiq Khan.

Khan apologises for venting frustration

On Friday, Mr Khan issued an apology, saying that he should not have taken his frustration out on Sir Ephraim.

Mr Khan said: I have been in contact with the Chief Rabbi to apologise for my comments, which I deeply regret. He has, along with other Jewish leaders, been a friend to me, and we have worked hard together to unite our city and celebrate our diversity.

At times it is clear to me, and others, that as a mayor of London of Islamic faith, I am held to a different standard and that can be frustrating - particularly during a divisive election campaign. But, it wasnt fair of me to have levelled that frustration at the Chief Rabbi. I am sorry for any hurt this has caused and will continue working with Jewish leaders to build a safer London for everyone.

The interview, posted on YouTube, has already attracted more than 150,000 views while the comments about the Chief Rabbi have been condemned on social media with one critic of the mayor complaining that Mr Khan had deployedpathetic victim card.

In his full post on X in October, Sir Ephraim said after meeting Mr Khan on Oct 31: This afternoon at City Hall, I thanked Sadiq Khan for his ongoing, unequivocal commitment to fighting antisemitism across London and I also explained to him why I believe that a ceasefire now would be an irresponsible stepping stone to yet more Hamas terrorist brutality.

Four days earlier Mr Burnham had also joined calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, given the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.

The Chief Rabbis office declined to comment.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks to the media during a visit to a housing development

The latest episode in the SNPs shambolic misgovernment of Scotland has left many observers wondering how much further the party has left to sink. Entering into a coalition agreement with the Scottish Greens arguably contributed to the downfall of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon; ending it could now claim the political scalp of her successor Humza Yousaf.

Mr Yousaf insisted yesterday that he will not resign and will fight attempts to oust him, but his opponents are increasing the pressure on his leadership. The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens are all set to vote against him in a confidence motion next week at Holyrood, and his survival now appears to rest in the hands of Alex Salmonds Alba Party, and its sole MSP Ash Regan.

Ms Regan, who defected from the SNP last year after being defeated in the partys leadership contest, has wasted no time in letting Mr Yousaf know the price for her support in any vote. First and foremost would be a Scotland-wide referendum on whether Holyrood should have the power to legislate and negotiate for independence. Second is protecting the rights of women and girls, in a clear reference to the controversial policies on gender that the SNP administration has supported. A weekend of unedifying political horse trading appears inevitable.

But where does that leave the Scottish public? The last Holyrood elections, in which the SNP did not win a majority, demonstrated that Scottish voters did not want to be governed by an unchecked Nationalist administration. But the SNP did not, as a consequence, moderate its agenda and compromise with its critics. Instead, it doubled down on an aggressive programme of progressive reform.

Now Scotland is likely to be treated to an extended period of political instability, in which the focus of its leaders is not improving the dire state of the Scottish NHS, or improving standards in schools, or addressing an unsustainable deficit, but on political ructions in Edinburgh. All the while, the Police Scotland probe into the SNP, Operation Branchform, grinds on.

Was devolution not meant to deliver better governance? Commentators have found some cause for hope in the SNPs current misfortunes. For years, the Nationalists dominance of Scotland, and the cult-like power of the independence movement, enabled them to get away with appalling failures in government. Now the SNPs errors are too enormous to be dismissed.

Scottish voters deserve better than this carnival. Whatever the outcome of next weeks votes, let us hope that they can get it.
It can be difficult to appeal, meaning many thousands of unpaid carers may have repaid huge sums when there is little evidence of wrongdoing. Photograph: David Saunders/Alamy

More than 150,000 unpaid carers are facing huge fines for minor rule breaches, figures show, as MPs, charities and campaigners demand an immediate amnesty.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, joined calls to write off the vast debts incurred by tens of thousands of people who care for sick, disabled and elderly relatives after experts raised concerns about the legality of the governments approach.

The Guardian can reveal 156,000 unpaid carers are repaying severe penalties  in some cases tens of thousands of pounds  for often unwittingly overstepping the 151-a-week earnings limit while caring for a loved one.

Related: Who are unpaid carers, and why have some had to repay large sums to UK government?

Daveys call for carer overpayment debts to be waived comes as the latest figures show 11,600 carers hit by the penalties are paying back sums of more than 5,000. About one in five unpaid carers in work breached the strict weekly earnings limit last year, an illustration, campaigners say, of a broken system.

His intervention comes amid growing political pressure on the government over a scandal that has generated widespread outrage at the draconian treatment of unpaid carers, a group routinely praised by ministers as heroes whose sacrifices help prop up the NHS and social care system.

The Guardian has in recent weeks documented the despair and stress experienced by carers forced to pay huge fines  and sometimes prosecuted on fraud charges  after unwitting breaches of earnings limits, which the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has allowed to mount up for months and sometimes years.

Davey said the overpayments should be written off as part of a full government review of the carers allowance, which pays 81.90 a week to about 1 million UK unpaid carers. He blamed DWP incompetence for allowing overpayments to accumulate. It should stop pursuing carers for old overpayments and cancel outstanding fines.

Unpaid carers do a remarkable and important job. As a carer myself, I know how rewarding it can be, but also how relentless and exhausting. The government should value and support our wonderful carers, not persecute them and threaten them with prosecution, said Davey.

Nigel Mills, a Conservative MP on the Commons work and pensions committee, described the governments hounding of unpaid carers as unnecessarily cruel and urged ministers to drop prosecutions for all but the handful of deliberate fraudsters.

He said: The idea of having prosecutions unless people have clearly done it deliberately is unnecessarily cruel and just a waste of money. They [the DWP] should at least accept partial responsibility and ensure they are fair and balanced.

The DWP five years ago promised technology to stop overpayments mounting but has failed to grip the problem, leaving carers, most of whom are already in financial hardship, facing bills of thousands of pounds when they are finally identified.

The cliff-edge nature of the rules mean that carers must repay their entire weekly 81.90 allowance if they breach the 151-a-week earnings limit by even one penny. This means breaches of a few pounds, will, when left to accumulate, lead to huge fines. Campaigners have called for the cliff edge to be removed.

Related: Why are so many carers being taken to court for benefit fraud?

Helen Walker, the chief executive of Carers UK, which has launched an online parliamentary petition calling for a review of carers allowance, backed calls for debts to be waived. We need a timetable from government about how they are going to improve and reform these systems. We cannot let this issue run and run given the devastating impact on carers lives.

The charity Carers Trust said it was absolutely right that people unfairly hit with these huge fines should have them written off and this hounding of unpaid carers stops. It added: Their honest mistakes have seen them fall foul of a broken and archaic carers allowance system.

A tribunal judge told the Guardian he was really troubled by the DWPs harsh approach and the lack of evidence behind many of the penalties.

The judge, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said he ruled in favour of unpaid carers in three-quarters of the carers allowance cases before his court, often because the DWP was unable to prove that the person breached its earnings limits.

Many carers do not have the time or money to challenge the penalties, so only a fraction are independently scrutinised by a tribunal judge. In some cases, carers are threatened with a potentially higher bill if they appeal. This means that many thousands of unpaid carers may have repaid huge sums, sometimes plunging them into debt or financial hardship, when there is little evidence of wrongdoing.

The judge said: The DWP are losing most of [the cases] and theyre making the wrong decision in the first place [to claw back the overpayment]. Its the department failing to produce enough evidence that persuades me on the balance of probabilities that someone did earn that amount  and thats because of their expectation that it will be rubber-stamped by the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the Guardian can reveal a DWP whistleblower who first brought carers allowance injustices to public attention five years ago was sacked just months after MPs on the work and pensions select committee had paid tribute to his bravery and tenacity.

The Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, a current committee member who on sat on the 2019 inquiry triggered by the whistleblowers revelations, called the sacking extraordinary. The whistleblower, Enrico La Rocca, was reinstated a year later, in 2021, after the committee chair, Sir Stephen Timms, and others made representations.

Jolyon Maugham, the director of the Good Law Project, a campaign group supporting unpaid carers, said: The problems the tribunal judge has identified are very serious  and we believe there are even more fundamental issues. Good Law Project would very much like to hear from anyone who has received a demand from DWP in the last three months.

Ryan Bradshaw, a human rights lawyer with a specialism in welfare benefits and a partner at Leigh Day, said it was absolutely right to halt prosecutions unless someones actively committed a fraud and they can prove that to the criminal standard.

A government spokesperson said: Carers across the UK are unsung heroes who make a huge difference to someone elses life. We have increased carers allowance by almost 1,500 since 2010 and have also made up to 8.6bn available in additional funding over 2023-24 and 2024-25 to support the social care sector and hospital discharge.

We are committed to fairness in the welfare system, with safeguards in place for managing repayments, while protecting the public purse. Claimants have a responsibility to consistently inform DWP of any changes in their circumstances that could impact their award, and it is right that we recover taxpayers money when this has not occurred.

Carers in low-income households may be eligible for additional financial support worth up 2,400 a year as we want to ensure the necessary support goes to those most in need.
Rhona Graff testifies at Trump's criminal trial in New York, New York on 26 April 2024. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

The former tabloid publisher David Peckers testimony in Donald Trumps criminal trial on Friday presented a granular look into a hush-money scheme which prosecutors allege was meant to sway the 2016 election in the real estate moguls favor.

But when Trumps longtime assistant, Rhona Graff, was called to the witness stand, her testimony humanized the trial, reminding the courtroom that at its core, these proceedings center on an adult film actor named Stormy Daniels  as well as a man who is either flawed or fraudulent.

A key moment in prosecutor Susan Hoffingers questioning of Graff revealed that Trumps contacts contained an entry for Karen McDougal, along with that of someone else named Stormy.

Hoffinger asked if she saw Daniels at Trump Tower on one occasion.

I have a vague recollection of seeing her in the reception area on the 26th floor, she said. To the best of her knowledge, this was sometime before the 2016 presidential election which Trump won.

When you saw her at Trump Tower, did you know she was an adult film actress? Hoffinger asked.

Yes, I did, Graff replied.

During her cross-examination of Graff, defense attorney Susan Necheles worked hard to downplay Danielss presence at Trump Tower. Necheles cast Trump as a man who was so busy that he maybe wasnt paying enough attention to business records, the alleged falsification of which prompted the prosecution against the former president.

I vaguely recall hearing  that she was one of the people [who] may be an interesting contestant on the show, Graff said when asked whether Daniels was being considered for a slot on Trumps television program The Apprentice. I cant recall a specific instance where I heard it, it was part of the office chatter.

Necheles asked, You understood that she was there to discuss being cast for The Apprentice, correct?

Graff replied: I assumed that.

Necheles then had Graff describe how Trump would occasionally sign checks while he was preoccupied or multitasking. That line of inquiry seemed aimed at establishing that Trump was simply distracted when he signed checks now under prosecutors scrutiny.

With Pecker, defense attorney Emil Boves questions on cross prompted him to in effect say that coverage beneficial to Trump was business as usual, as the ex-presidents legal team tries to chip away at the prosecutions claim that there was an illicit conspiracy to sway the 2016 race.

Pecker was instrumental in coordinating three hush-money payments that were made during the 2016 election campaign to quash negative stories about Trump.

In cross-examination on his fourth day of testimony, Pecker was grilled by Bove about whether he benefited from running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about other politicians even before the alleged catch-and-kill scheme.

Pecker testified that the Enquirer ran negative stories about the Clintons as part of the effort to help the Trump campaign, agreed in a meeting on August 2015.

Asked if there were negative articles before the meeting, Pecker said: Thats correct and agreed that it was because it made good business sense for the National Enquirer to run articles about the Clintons long before he did so on Trumps behalf.

Boves questioning also seemed to try driving wedges into the notion that Trumps 2006 affair with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, was any real threat to Trumps reputation  apparently suggesting that if she didnt constitute an actual problem, then giving her money wasnt meant to influence the election.

He admitted that Trump did not pay him any money directly related to McDougal, and that when he first heard about the story he understood that she did not want to publish it. He said he told Trump the same thing when Trump called his office. He also told jurors he understood that McDougal wanted to rekindle her work in magazines.

Pecker has testified that American Media Inc (AMI), the publisher of the National Enquirer, paid $30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman who claimed Trump had a child out of wedlock. Another $150,000 was paid to McDougal.

Related: Embarrassing stories, and who pays? Trump trial key takeaways, day seven

It is the third payment, however, worth $130,000 and paid by Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels in October 2016, that is at the heart of the case. Prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over: they say Trump illegally marked reimbursements to Cohen for the hush money as payment for Cohens legal services.

Through yes-or-no questions, which Pecker largely confirmed, Bove on Thursday afternoon had already begun outlining the defenses argument  namely, that AMI has had a long relationship with Trump, one that began well before the election. Buying stories and not publishing them was also standard for the tabloid.

Bove also questioned Peckers memory, saying that he listed two different time periods for when he first met Trump about his campaign.

These things happened a long time ago  even when youre doing your best, and Im sure you are  its hard to remember what people said almost 10 years ago, Bove said.

Earlier in the week, Pecker detailed how he operated as the eyes and ears for Trumps campaign starting in 2015, right after Trump announced his candidacy. He promised Trump and Cohen that he would inform them of any people trying to sell negative stories about Trump.

While Pecker seemed eager to help Trump pay off the doorman, he started becoming wary of the hush payments as AMI was working on an agreement with McDougal. The former Playboy model was requesting $150,000 in payment for her story.

Pecker said Cohen told him: Im your friend, the boss will take care of it.

Pecker was also nervous about potential campaign finance contribution violations, alluding to previous troubles the National Enquirer had when helping the former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger bury stories.

Related: David Pecker says he bought McDougal story so it did not hurt Trump campaign

Though AMI would ultimately facilitate payments to McDougal, Pecker would decline to reimburse Stormy Daniels directly.

I said I dont want the National Enquirer to be associated with a porn star, Pecker said. This would be very damaging for the magazine, very damaging for American Media.

Even though the Wall Street Journal would ultimately publish McDougals story, and the National Enquirers involvement in killing it, four days before the election in November 2016, Trump won the presidency. He would go on to thank Pecker on multiple occasions following his victory.

At the end of their questioning, prosecutors asked Pecker if he had any ill feelings toward Trump.

On the contrary, he said. I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career.

Bove also tried to make distance between Pecker and the Daniels payoff, again in an effort to undermine an alleged conspiracy.

Pecker confirmed that he had had a phone call from the then editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer, Dylan Howard, shortly before election day 2016, where he learned about Danielss account.

You told Mr Howard that you wanted no involvement with the story, is that correct? Pecker agreed.

You did not consider Stormy Danielss story to be part of any agreement you had in August 2015? Bove grilled. You wanted nothing to do with it.

Thats right, Pecker answered.

On redirect, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass repeatedly tried to counter Boves narrative by eliciting testimony from Pecker indicating that his handling of payoffs was normal tabloid business.

Steinglass asked whether a womans story about an affair with a married candidate would do well.

That would have been kind of like National Enquirer gold?

Pecker said yes.

But, Steinglass continued: At the time you had entered into that agreement [with McDougal], you had zero intention of publishing that story?

Steinglass pressed: Despite the fact that publishing it would help your bottom line, you killed it to help the candidate, Donald Trump?

Uh, yes, Pecker said.

After court adjourns Friday, it is scheduled to resume Tuesday.
Students of Columbia University in New York expressed fear that their commencement ceremony would be canceled after the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles did so in the aftermath of pro-Palestinian student protests and encampments in several universities in the past few days.

While schools across the country have not divulged their future academic plans in the aftermath of the protests, students feared that the developments of the demonstrations would cause a domino effect across many colleges and universities in the United States.

The most affected are graduating students whose high school graduation ceremonies were canceled or delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They said that the new round of setbacks was just another bump on their road to an education.

"The top concern that I've been thinking about is what will happen with commencement, especially since our first year of college was online," Columbia senior Henry Sears told NBC News.

He is also the co-president of the school's chapter of J Street, a student group that describes itself as "pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, and pro-peace."

"I'm a senior in college, and, especially as someone who graduated high school in 2020, I never had a real high school senior year, either," said Jacob Schmeltz, another Columbia senior and vice president of the Jewish on Campus Student Union.

It was recently reported that USC canceled the commencement speech of 2024 valedictorian Asna Tabassum after it was revealed that her speech allegedly propagated "antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric," according to the student group Trojans for Israel.

This triggered a protest movement not only in USC but also across the country.

With the cancellation of USC's graduation ceremony, the keynote speech of "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chuhimself a USC alumnusalso had to be canceled.

Due to the protests and encampments, Columbia was prompted to switch to hybrid learning for the rest of the semester.

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan said that it would continue its graduation ceremonies while protests continue, saying in a recent statement that the rites "have been the site of free expression and peaceful protest for decades and will likely continue to be."

The statement added, "The University of Michigan does not attempt to prevent peaceful protests or other speech protected under the First Amendment. "Many ceremonies will have a designated area for protests outside the venue."

The university specifically stated that while protests are allowed, they would only be in designated areas away from the graduation ceremony, and no banners or flags would be allowed in the venue, the Associated Press reported.
French police officers patrol the beaches in Wimereux, from where the boat departed for the UK. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Two people have been charged with immigration offences in connection with the investigation into the deaths of five people, including a child, who were trying to cross the Channel.

One, from South Sudan, has been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

The second, a Sudanese national, has been charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Both appeared at Folkestone magistrates court on Friday.

The National Crime Agency is working with Kent police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force to support the French-led investigation into the incident on the beach near Wimereux, northern France, on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old man from Sudan has also been arrested over the incident and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The dinghy carrying more than 100 people set off from Wimereux at about 6am on Tuesday. Three men, a woman and a girl died, according to the French coastguard.

Forty-nine people were rescued but 58 others refused to leave the boat and continued their journey towards the UK, the coastguard said, with several other boats later embarking on the crossing.
Five of the 31 Abrams tanks that were sent to Ukraine have been lost to Russian attacks

Ukraine has quietly withdrawn its American Abrams tanks from the front line to avoid the growing threat from Russian drones.

The mass proliferation of drones by both Ukrainian and Russian forces has made it difficult for large armoured vehicles to move around the battlefield undetected.

There isnt open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection, a senior US defence official told reporters.

Five of the 31 tanks, which cost $10 million (8 million) each, have already been lost to Russian attacks, US officials said as they admitted they had been forced to review tactics.

US-made Abrams tanks cost $10m (8m) each - X

With the front lines largely frozen and the ground still boggy, many Western main battle tanks have been deployed as mobile pillboxes, making them susceptible to Russian attack drones.

Adml Chris Grady, the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that Ukraine had pulled back its remaining Abrams tanks from the front line in an interview with the Associated Press news wire.

When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armour in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk, he said.

Now, there is a way to do it, he added. Well work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.

The Abrams tanks were sent to Ukraine amid major fanfare after tortuous negotiations between allies. British Challenger 2s and German-made Leopard 2s have also been lost or damaged in combat.

Ukrainian tank crews will probably use the withdrawal to modify their machines to offer better protection from the network of drones buzzing above the battlefield.

Tanks have been spotted in Ukraine with rudimentary guard rails and nets around them to block suicide drones from striking the main part of the vehicle. Russia has recently built corrugated shells around some vehicles, which have subsequently been nicknamed turtle tanks.

Russia has recently corrugated some of its military vehicles, which have been nicknamed 'turtle tanks' - Instagram

The withdrawal of the Abrams tanks will allow Ukraine to reintroduce its repaired and refitted Soviet-era tanks damaged at the start of the war.

Western main battle tanks are best when they are rapidly advancing in shock-and-awe raids, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British military tank commander, said.

Tanks are all about shock action, which is using its mobility and firepower to move around the battlefield very quickly and strike where needed, he said.

But over the winter months, when the ground is too wet to move heavy armoured vehicles across quickly, Ukraine has deployed its tanks as pillboxes to offer protection across the front lines.

Static front lines

The static front lines, with little progress made by either the Ukrainians or Russians, have made it virtually impossible to use tanks to their full potential.

The Abrams and Challenger 2 are much better protected than Russian tanks but when they are static, that becomes a problem, and theyre highly prized assets, he added on the threat of Russian drones.

Most of the drones deployed over the battlefield are modified to drop rocket-propelled grenades on enemy targets.

These are not normally strong enough to defeat a Western tanks armour but they are capable of finding weak spots at the top of the machines.

60pc armour coverage

Most tanks feature a 60 per cent armour coverage, which is designed to protect them from head-on threats. The protective systems were devised at a time when drone warfare was not as prevalent.

Makeshift metal cages  known as cope cages  have been bolted to tanks by both Russia and Ukraine to protect them more.

Tanks are also best used alongside enablers such as infantry units and artillery fire, offering them cover to punch through defensive lines  Ukraine has been short of both.

When Abrams returns, it might just have both a Ukrainian artillery cover and F-16 fighter jet firepower to give it more manoeuvrability on the battlefield.
Nigeriens protest against the US military presence in Agadez, home to a major American air base - REUTERS

The United States will pull dozens of special forces soldiers from Chad, days after announcing it would also withdraw troops from neighbouring Niger.

The double withdrawal from a region plagued by militants comes amid concern that the West is ceding influence to Russia and China across Africa.

The decision to pull out about 75 soldiers working in NDjamena, Chads capital, followed the White House announcement it would withdraw more than 1,000 personnel from Niger.

Both countries have been key partners in Pentagon efforts to counter jihadist terrorist groups across the Sahel region.

The US is withdrawing more than 1,000 troops from Niger - ISSIFOU DJIBO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Last month, Nigers ruling junta ended an agreement allowing US troops to operate.

In recent days, Chad also has questioned whether an existing agreement covered the troops operating there.

Maj Gen Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, stressed the withdrawal from Chad was considered temporary and some of the troops had been due to depart. Negotiations for soldiers to remain would continue after the forthcoming elections, he said.

He said: This is a temporary step as part of the ongoing review of our security co-operation, which will resume after Chads May 6th presidential election.

Chad has played a growing role in Western security strategy in the region since neighbouring Niger kicked out French troops after its junta seized power in a coup last year.

Similar coups in Mali and Burkina Faso have also seen the withdrawal of Western forces.

Earlier this month, Russian military instructors arrived to reinforce Nigers countrys air defences. They brought Russian equipment, which they said they would train Nigeriens to use.

Niger has been home to a major US air base in Agadez, which is used for manned and drone flights and other operations.

The US has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in training Nigers military since beginning operations there in 2013.
The tornado was pictured crossing Interstate 80, northeast of Lincoln - BRYCE SHELTON

A storm chaser in Nebraska has captured the moment a massive tornado ripped across a highway on Friday.

The twister, which was moving at about 40mph, crossed Interstate 80, northeast of Lincoln, the state capital.

Multiple tornadoes have been reported across the state but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area into suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people.

One tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, damaging hundreds of homes and other structures as the twister tore for miles along farmland and into subdivisions. Some injuries were reported but there were no immediate reports that anyone was killed.

A clip shared on social media appears to show that one tornado was strong enough to flip a large articulated truck onto its side.

In a clip shared online by Bryce Shelton, a videographer who records tornadoes and other storms, drivers can be seen pulling over to the side of the 80 to escape the path of the colossal twister.

Tornado just crossed i-80 Northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/mOgknDcCvF  Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) April 26, 2024

TORNADO INTERCEPT from the LIVE stream moments ago Northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. As the tornado crosses over i-80. I am still LIVE on YouTube - https://t.co/Qwvmm5rdmm pic.twitter.com/RJYzMnXBaz  Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) April 26, 2024

In another clip by videographer Aaron Jayjack, a truck appears to have been overturned on a highway.

Photos on social media showed heavily damaged homes and shredded trees. Video showed homes with roofs stripped of shingles, in a rural area near Omaha. Law enforcement were blocking off roads in the area.

KETV-TV video showed one woman being removed from a demolished home on a stretcher in Blair, a city just north of Omaha.

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Katrina Sperl said damage is just now being reported. Taylor Wilson, a spokesperson for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said they hadnt seen any injuries yet.

Severe weather can make great photos, but dangerous travel. If traveling this afternoon or this evening, check the weather forecast. If you come across a tornado, pull over and find shelter, if there is no shelter, go to a ditch or low laying area. Never try to out run a tornado! pic.twitter.com/0RXN4tmhYB  Nebraska DOT (@NebraskaDOT) April 26, 2024

Before the tornado hit the Omaha area, three workers were injured on Friday afternoon when a tornado struck an industrial plant in Lancaster County, sheriffs officials said in an update on the damage.

The building just northeast of the state capital of Lincoln had collapsed with about 70 employees inside and several people trapped, sheriffs officials said. Everyone was evacuated, and three people had injuries that were considered not life-threatening, authorities said.

Officials say they also had reports of a tipped-over train near Waverly, also in Lancaster County, about 12 miles north east of Lincoln.

The Omaha Public Power District reported that nearly 10,000 customers were without power in the Omaha area.

The Weather Service also issued tornado watches across parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Forecasters warned that large hail and damaging wind gusts were possible.
Humza Yousaf faces a no confidence vote after he split from the Scottish Greens - LESLEY MARTIN/REUTERS

Humza Yousaf has insisted he will not resign as First Minister as Labour launched an attempt to bring down the entire SNP government and force a Holyrood election.

The SNP leader was desperately attempting to cling to power on Friday after his decision to scrap his coalition with the Scottish Greens the previous day spectacularly backfired.

A no confidence motion in his leadership, brought by the Scottish Tories, which the Scottish Greens have said they will support, is expected to be voted on Wednesday or Thursday next week.

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, raised the stakes further on Friday by lodging a motion of no confidence in the entire Scottish Government.

If successful, it would mean Mr Yousaf and all of his ministers would be legally obliged to immediately quit.

The First Minister is to spend the coming days attempting to find compromise with Holyrood opposition parties.

He also refused to rule out a new Holyrood election, insisting the SNP was prepared if thats required.

Mr Yousaf made a direct appeal to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, the Green co-leaders, to change their minds over their bid to topple him, insisting he had not meant to upset them by kicking them out of government.

Humza Yousaf has pledged 80 million in affordable housing - JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

The overtures were immediately rebuffed by Mr Harvie, who said Mr Yousafs decision to abruptly tear up their power-sharing pact meant the Greens could no longer trust him.

Mr Harvie called on the SNP to put forward a new First Minister who was capable of gaining the support of the majority of parliament.

Should the Greens stick to their position, it would likely leave Mr Yousafs fate in the hands of Ash Regan, the only representative of Alex Salmonds Alba Party.

Ms Regan updated Alba members with a long list of demands she is planning to submit to Mr Yousaf, who described her as no great loss when she quit his party last year.

These included having SNP politicians sign a declaration of Scottish sovereignty, implementing the findings of the Cass Review into child gender services in Scotland and attempting to save the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Sources close to Mr Yousaf suggested that nothing would be off the table in a series of meetings he is hoping to arrange with party leaders next week, when he will attempt to persuade the Greens or Ms Regan to keep him in post.

The SNP leader insisted on Friday on a hastily-arranged visit to Dundee, where he pledged 80 million for affordable housing, that he was very confident of winning the confidence vote.

Some SNP figures believe that Mr Yousaf is likely to have to step down within days, saying they had been left dumbfounded by his actions in humiliating the Scottish Greens when it should have been obvious he would still need their support.

I fully intend to not just win that [confidence] vote but I intend to fight to make sure that the Government continues to deliver on the priorities of the people, Mr Yousaf said.

Referring to the Scottish Greens, he added: I dont regret the ending of the Bute House [coalition] Agreement but Ive heard their upset, Ive heard their anger. I can honestly say that was not the intention.

That upset and anger that wasnt meant from me and I look forward to hopefully a response from Patrick and Lorna to the letter I intend to write them in the coming days.

He later appeared irritated when it was put to him by an ITV journalist that its over and he was coming across like the knight from Monty Python, saying its a flesh wound after both his arms had been chopped off.

Thats maybe a really good line that you practised in the mirror but actually I intend to fight and to win that vote of no confidence, Mr Yousaf replied. I believe I can do that.

Scotland deserves a fresh start

The Scottish Greens did not rule out backing the Labour motion of no confidence in the entire Scottish Government, with senior sources saying a decision would be made next week.

If successful, it would not automatically lead to a Holyrood election but one would have to be called if a new First Minister could not be voted in by MSPs within 28 days.

Alternatively, if the Tory plan succeeds, Mr Yousaf could potentially announce his intention to resign but remain in post for several weeks while an SNP leadership contest takes place.

An election would then only take place if MSPs did not approve the new SNP leader as First Minister.

Mr Sarwar said: Its a matter now of when  not if  Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected First Minister on Scotland. The people of Scotland deserve a fresh start  this can only come with a Scottish election.

Mr Yousafs handling of removing the Greens from Government has bewildered some of his senior members.

He initially claimed his decisive action in unilaterally scrapping the deal signed by Nicola Sturgeon was a sign of leadership, despite spending the previous days defending it.

But his political career was on the line within hours, when his former coalition partners announced they would back the no confidence motion which the Tories quickly lodged.

Allies of Mr Yousaf admitted he had been taken aback by the speed, anger and strength of the Green response.

I am honestly dumbfounded, one SNP parliamentarian said. What was he thinking?

It was the right decision to end the coalition but the way he handled it is incomprehensible. He must have realised he could face a confidence vote so to humiliate the Greens so publicly made no sense.

Humza Yousaf has let Scotland down

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said Mr Yousafs attempts to make amends with the Greens amounted to a desperate and humiliating attempt by a lame duck First Minister to save his job.

He added: Humza Yousaf has failed Scotland, his government is in meltdown and, despite his bluster, he knows hes finished.

He has the cheek to claim he now seeks compromise with opposition parties when he and the SNP have divided Scotland at every turn. The only letter I want to see from Humza Yousaf is one announcing his resignation.

The Scottish Conservative vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf will go ahead and my party is urging every MSP disillusioned with his dismal leadership to back it.

Gillian MacKay, the Green MSP, broke down in tears live on BBC Radio Scotland when discussing the end of the coalition deal.

She said that Mr Yousaf was saying to the Greens that youre dumped but can we still be friends and that an apology would not now be enough.

Humza has done this to himself, she said. Theres a lot of hurt and upset. Its a bit late for an apology, what Humza needs is a time machine to go back and undo the decision he made.

She added: Weve had two-and-a-half years of working really well together and its really sad thats all been undone by one person. Ive got some really good friends in that government, who I know are hurting as much as we are. We dont want to be in this position but its the First Minister whos put us here. This First Minister has let Scotland down.

04:00 PM BST

That is all for today...

Thank you for joining me for todays politics live blog.

I will be back on Monday morning.

03:41 PM BST

Ash Regan carefully considering which way to vote on Yousafs future

Ash Regan, the Alba Party MSP, has written to her partys members to tell them she is carefully considering our position on how to vote regarding Humza Yousafs future.

Ms Regan could hold the decisive vote at next weeks vote of no confidence in the First Minister.

If she votes with the SNP she could save Mr Yousaf but if she votes with the other opposition parties she could condemn him to defeat which would likely force him to resign.

In her letter to members, Ms Regan said she had provided Mr Yousaf with an early opportunity to meet with me to discuss the three clear priorities I have set out (see the post below at 07.58).

She said the Alba Partys overriding priority is the urgent pursuit of Scottish independence.

03:16 PM BST

Douglas Ross: First Minister knows hes finished

Douglas Ross claimed the Scottish Government was in meltdown and Humza Yousaf knows hes finished.

Responding to Mr Yousaf telling broadcasters he will not resign, the leader of the Scottish Tories said: This was a desperate and humiliating attempt by a lame duck First Minister to save his job.

Humza Yousaf has failed Scotland, his government is in meltdown and, despite his bluster, he knows hes finished.

Mr Ross ruled out talks with Mr Yousaf after the SNP leader said he would be writing to Holyrood opposition leaders about how to make his minority administration work.

Mr Ross said: The Scottish Conservative vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf will go ahead, and my party is urging every MSP disillusioned with his dismal leadership to back it.

03:00 PM BST

Why has the coalition government collapsed in Scotland  and what happens next?

Why did the SNP do a coalition deal with the Scottish Greens?

What exactly did the SNP agree to?

Why has the SNP now torn up the agreement?

My colleague, Daniel Sanderson, The Telegraphs Scottish Correspondent, answers all these questions and many more in his must-read explainer of what happened at Holyrood this week - and what is likely to happen next.

You can find it here.

02:50 PM BST

How each political party is planning to vote on no confidence motions

Below is a breakdown of how each Holyrood political party is currently planning to vote on the two motions of no confidence expected next week:

Scottish Tory motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf:

Labour motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government:

02:43 PM BST

Scottish Tories back Labour plan to force early Holyrood election

The Scottish Tories said they will support Labours motion of no confidence in the entire SNP administration.

But Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative chairman, said the initial focus should be on the Tories original no motion aimed at ousting Humza Yousaf.

He said: The Scottish Conservatives will always push to remove the SNP from power at every turn and will support a confidence motion in the government, but we believe the initial focus of all opposition parties needs to be solely on removing Humza Yousaf from office until that has been achieved.

The Greens have lost confidence in Humza Yousaf but they may not vote to bring down the entire SNP Government. Labour must avoid an overstep that lets Humza Yousaf wriggle free when he is there for the taking.

The Liberal Democrats have also said they will support the Labour motion (see the post below at 14.29).

02:29 PM BST

Lib Dems back Labour plan to force early Holyrood election

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced they will back Labours motion of no confidence in the entire Scottish Government.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: I want to see a government that is focused on driving down waits for healthcare, tackling the sewage in our rivers and taking action on the cost of living. This is clearly not that government.

For that reason Scottish Liberal Democrats are prepared to vote no confidence in this failed nationalist regime and will provide the remaining signatures required to bring this motion to Parliament.

02:12 PM BST

Scottish Greens: Yousaf very clearly does not have Holyroods confidence

Patrick Harvie, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said it is pretty clear Humza Yousaf is not able to unite the Scottish Parliament following the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Harvie said it was now up to the SNP to find a suitable leader.

He said: Very clearly, he doesnt have the confidence of parliament, I think thats going to be clear. We said very clearly the responsibility of the decision is on him. He needs to bear the consequences of that reckless and damaging decision.

I think its pretty clear hes not the person who is going to be able to bring together a majority of parliament.

Asked if there was any way back for Mr Yousaf in terms of working with the Greens, he said the First Minister had broken trust, adding: He still hasnt really given any clarity on why he made such a dramatic U-turn and broken a promise on which he was elected as First Minister.

So its very difficult to see how you can have a conversation that leads to a constructive outcome on the basis of that lack of trust.

02:02 PM BST

Yousaf says he has not considered resigning

Humza Yousaf said he had not considered resigning.

Asked the question during an interview with Sky News, the First Minister of Scotland replied: No.

01:59 PM BST

SNP leader very confident of winning vote of no confidence

Humza Yousaf said he was very confident he can see off the votes of no confidence tabled against him.

He told Sky News: I believe in our ability to be able to work with, negotiate, compromise, where necessary.

We have shown that in the past, we will show it again.

He added: I am quite confident, very confident in fact, that we will be able to win that vote of no confidence.

01:55 PM BST

Yousaf seeking talks with all Holyrood leaders

Humza Yousaf said he will be seeking meetings with all of the party leaders at Holyrood in an attempt to make his SNP minority administration work.

The First Minister of Scotland said he understood the upset and anger felt by the Scottish Greens after he booted them out of the Scottish Government yesterday.

He said: What I will be doing is writing to all of the political party leaders, all of the parties represented in the Scottish Parliament, including of course [the Scottish Greens] asking them to meet with me.

How do we make minority government work? It is in the best interest of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work.

Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, visits a housing development in Dundee - Andrew Milligan/PA

01:51 PM BST

Scottish First Minister resists label of lame duck leader

Humza Yousaf resisted the suggestion that he is now a lame duck leader.

He told Sky News: Lets forget the tired cliches and lets actually concentrate on the reality. The reality is this, I am out here delivering on the priorities of the people.

Now, the opposition may wish to play games, that is up to them.

He added: I intend to fight that vote of no confidence. I have got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.

01:42 PM BST

Yousaf insists he will not resign and will fight attempts to oust him

Humza Yousaf said he will not resign as First Minister of Scotland and he intends to fight the attempts to oust him.

Asked if he will resign, the SNP leader told broadcasters during a visit to Dundee: No. I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence and I am getting on with the day job.

Mr Yousaf accused opposition parties of playing games.

01:37 PM BST

Scottish Greens unequivocal that they will vote against Yousaf

The Scottish Greens remain unequivocal that they will vote against Humza Yousaf in a confidence motion next week, The Telegraph understands.

Lorna Slater, the party co-leader, appeared to suggest her party may change their minds over their stance in a radio appearance this morning, if the SNP offered concessions.

However, a senior party source told The Telegraph that the Greens would vote against Mr Yousaf, meaning he would likely need the support of Ash Regan, from Alex Salmonds Alba Party, to survive.

We are unequivocal that we will not support him, the insider said. We will be voting against the First Minister.

Lorna was just stating the fact that we are not in any secret talks, they havent picked up the phone to us, but we will not be changing our minds.

The Greens have also not ruled out backing a Labour motion of no confidence in the entire government, which if successful, would mean Mr Yousaf and all his ministers would be forced to immediately resign.

We have no choice but to wait to make a decision on that because we have no idea what government we might be voting for by next week, the source added. Our only option is to decide in real time. Weve seen today that the SNP are in chaos, with Humza cancelling events left right and centre.

01:16 PM BST

Yousaf arrives in Dundee

Humza Yousaf has now arrived at a housing association development in Dundee.

The First Minister did not answer questions from the media when he arrived but he is expected to do so later.

01:15 PM BST

Sir Ed Davey: SNP in a total mess

Sir Ed Davey said the situation with the SNP and its leader Humza Yousaf is a total mess.

Its a total mess with the SNP and Humza Yousaf. I personally think this SNP government has really failed Scotland, the leader of the Liberal Democrats said during a visit to the River Goyt in Stockport.

Sir Ed said the SNP has let Scotland down on key services such as health and education because the party has been so focused on their ideological obsession of independence.

On these basic things that matter to people, the SNP have been failing them and so Liberal Democrats have been saying in Scotland, look, we need to focus on the NHS, we need to focus on our schools, the cost of living, the environment.

Because the SNP havent done, I actually think its time for a general election in Scotland.

01:00 PM BST

Humza Yousaf set to speak during visit to Dundee

We are expecting to hear from Humza Yousaf in the next hour or so.

The First Minister of Scotland is visiting a housing association development in Dundee and he is expected to take questions from the media.

12:51 PM BST

Yousaf will go back to Greens to try to change their minds, says SNPs Westminster leader

Humza Yousaf will attempt to persuade the Scottish Greens to change their minds over a no confidence vote in a desperate attempt to cling on as First Minister.

Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, said this morning that he expected Mr Yousaf to approach the party he abruptly dumped from government just 24 hours earlier when he tore up their coalition deal.

You can read the full story here.

12:27 PM BST

Tories no confidence motion in Yousaf passes key threshold

The Scottish Tories motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf has secured the backing of more than 25 MSPs, ensuring it will be debated and voted on.

The vote at Holyrood is expected to take place next week.

12:15 PM BST

UK now has two broken governments, claims Reeves

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, said there are now two broken governments in the UK as she argued there needed to be a general election and an early Holyrood election.

Referring to Scottish Labours plan to hole a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government, Ms Reeves said: If Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are successful with that amendment, the Government will fall and therell be fresh elections.

She added: We now have two broken governments: the SNP in Scotland and the Conservatives in Westminster. It is time for fresh elections in Scotland and across the UK.

12:08 PM BST

Why the SNPs fatal pact with the Greens will end up pushing them to the Right

My colleague Gordon Rayner, The Telegraphs associate editor, has examined the impact on the SNP of its coalition pact with the Scottish Greens.

He writes:

When Nicola Sturgeon announced the Scottish National Partys power-sharing agreement with the Greens in August 2021, she admitted her party was coming out of our comfort zone to make the partnership work. The then first minister of Scotland had no idea just how far out of the SNPs comfort zone the Greens would manage to pull it. Less than three years on, the SNP has jettisoned the dead weight of the Greens like a balloonist trying to stay airborne, but all the signs are that Humza Yousafs party remains on course for a bone-crunching landing.

You can read the piece in full here.

12:00 PM BST

Humza Yousaf to make housing announcement this afternoon

Humza Yousaf is to visit a housing development in Dundee after cancelling plans to give an independence speech in Glasgow, writes Daniel Sanderson.

The First Minister is expected to make an announcement about an investment in affordable housing in a hastily-arranged event following criticisms over cuts to housing budgets in his recent budget.

Mr Yousaf is expected to face questions from the media, as he battles to cling on as First Minister ahead of a confidence vote set to take place next week.

He is believed to have held crisis talks last night about whether to resign. His allies insist he is determined to fight on despite the Scottish Greens saying they will vote to bring him down after he abruptly dumped them from his government.

11:57 AM BST

SNP has squandered time in power, claims Labour

Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow business secretary, claimed the SNP had squandered their time in power at Holyrood.

He rejected the idea that devolution had failed.

He told Times Radio: I wouldnt question devolution. I look, to be frank, at how long the SNP have been in power, they have incredible powers, incredible ability to change peoples lives for the better.

I think theyve squandered that.

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds blames the SNP for having "squandered" their powers amid fallout with the Greens #TimesRadio.



 https://t.co/GDkdXS4ccl@JReynoldsMP | @CalumAM pic.twitter.com/ut30bwMWhZ  Times Radio (@TimesRadio) April 26, 2024

11:40 AM BST

Tories expected to support Labours no confidence motion in Scottish Government

The Tories are expected to back a Labour no confidence motion in the Scottish Government, writes Daniel Sanderson, The Telegraphs Scotland correspondent.

This means that it will comfortably pass the threshold required to have it voted on by MSPs.

However, it remains unclear whether the Scottish Greens will support a no confidence motion in the whole Scottish Government. If they do not, it will not win majority support.

The Scottish Tories chose to lodge a motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf, rather than the government as a whole, as they believed it was more likely to win crucial support from the Greens. The tactics appear to have been vindicated as the Greens have said they will back the Tory text.

There is a feeling that the Greens will be less likely to support the Labour motion in the government as it would imply criticism of an administration they were part of until Thursday.

The Greens are yet to say whether they will support the Labour motion.

11:15 AM BST

What is the difference between the two votes of no confidence being sought at Holyrood?

The Tories have proposed holding a vote of no confidence specifically in Humza Yousaf. It states that the Parliament has no confidence in the First Minister.

If Mr Yousaf loses that vote he would be expected to resign but his administration could remain in place and the SNP could seek to appoint a replacement.

Labours proposal is even more dramatic. The party wants to hold a vote of no confidence in the whole Scottish Government.

Losing that vote would require Mr Yousaf to resign along with all of his ministers. There would then be 28 days for Holyrood to see if it could choose a new first minister who would then form a new administration.

If it was unable to agree on a candidate there would then have to be an election.

10:59 AM BST

Will Labours vote of no confidence in Scottish Government happen?

A motion of no confidence requires the support of at least 25 MSPs to be selected for debate at Holyrood.

The Tories vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf will cross that threshold easily because the Conservatives have 31 MSPs on their own and the move is also backed by the other opposition parties.

It is not quite so straightforward for Labours plan to hold a vote of no confidence in the whole Scottish Government, announced by Anas Sarwar this morning (see the post below at 10.24).

Labour has 22 MSPs so the party will need to secure support from other parties to make it happen.

10:37 AM BST

Labour: Increasingly likely that voters dont have confidence in Yousaf

Labour claimed it was increasingly likely that Scottish voters do not have confidence in Humza Yousaf.

Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary, said he would have preferred to see an early Holyrood election rather than a vote of no confidence.

He told the BBCs Newsnight programme: I think it is all falling apart so parliament probably does have to have its say if it has confidence in the First Minister.

It is quite clear his own party doesnt have confidence in him, it is quite clear that his Green coalition partners dont have confidence in him, and it is increasingly likely that the country doesnt have confidence in him.

So rather than a vote of no confidence, I perhaps would have preferred to have seen an election being called, both at UK and Scottish levels so we can get the voters to decide whether or not they have confidence in this First Minister and I bet the answer would probably be no.

10:24 AM BST

Scottish Labour announce plan to force early Holyrood election

Anas Sarwar has announced Labour will try to force a vote of no confidence in the whole Scottish Government as Humza Yousaf fights to save his political life.

Mr Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, is facing a vote of no confidence on his leadership next week but Mr Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said this morning he will seek a broader vote in an attempt to force an early Holyrood election.

He told LBC: I think it is now a matter of when, not if Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister. But I think it would be completely untenable for the SNP to presume they can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.

That is why Scottish Labour has said already we dont have confidence in Humza Yousaf.

But today we will also be laying a motion before Parliament saying that the Scottish Parliament does not have confidence in this Scottish Government because ultimately I think it is the people of Scotland that should decide who leads this country not just a small group of SNP members.

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to lay motion of no confidence in the Scottish government this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/puMmD3aOzT  Rebecca Brady (@Rebecca_Brady_) April 26, 2024

10:08 AM BST

Pictured: Lord Cameron poses with Mongolian PMs horses during visit to Ulaanbaatar

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, is pictured today posing for a photo with one of the Prime Minister of Mongolia's horses during a visit to the Ikh Tenger Complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Stefan Rousseau/PA

09:40 AM BST

Confirmed: Humza Yousaf cancels speech in Glasgow

Humza Yousaf has cancelled a speech he was due to deliver in Glasgow today as his leadership of Scotland teeters on the brink.

The First Minister had been due to give a speech at Strathclyde University on the labour market in an independent Scotland, which would have seen him take questions from the media, but it has now been axed.

09:30 AM BST

Yousaf cancels speech in Glasgow

Humza Yousaf has reportedly cancelled a speech he was due to deliver in Glasgow today as he fights for his political future.

The First Minister of Scotland was scheduled to deliver an address on the labour market in an independent Scotland.

But Sky News reported this morning that the speech is now not going ahead.

It comes after Mr Yousaf yesterday scrapped the SNPs coalition deal with the Scottish Greens in a move which prompted the Scottish Tories to table a vote of no confidence in him.

09:29 AM BST

Pictured: Lord Cameron meets pupils at a school in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, meets pupils and takes part in an English lesson at School No.23 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Stefan Rousseau/PA

09:14 AM BST

Ash Regan publishes letter she has sent to Humza Yousaf

Ash Regan has now published the letter she has sent to Humza Yousaf in which she said Scotland deserves and demands a reset.

The Alba Party MSP told the Scottish First Minister that she was open to talking to anyone across this chamber who will prioritise progress on what we were elected to deliver for our constituents and Scotland.

She said: The opportunity to write a new chapter for Scotland is in our hands.

I have written to Humza Yousaf this morning requesting a reset, and a return to competent government, where we prioritise independence and protect the dignity, safety and rights of women and children. I remain open to any discussion where we progress the priorities of the people pic.twitter.com/ZJzQ8E4Xhx  Ash Regan MSP (@AshReganALBA) April 26, 2024

09:09 AM BST

Stephen Flynn appears to rule out leadership bid if Yousaf resigns

Stephen Flynn appeared to rule out running to be leader of the SNP should a vacancy arise.

The SNPs leader in Westminster told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: I have been asked this question previously, I think the last time there was a leadership contest in the Scottish National Party, and I was very clear in my view that I believe that the party leader should have the ability to be first minister of Scotland.

I have not been dissuaded from that view since I made those comments well over a year ago.

But the most important thing for me here is to get on with the job of supporting the First minister over the coming days as he fights back and he wins this vote of no confidence next week.

08:58 AM BST

Flynn wont be drawn on Yousafs future if he loses vote of no confidence

Stephen Flynn would not be drawn on whether Humza Yousaf would resign if he loses next weeks vote of no confidence.

The SNPs leader in Westminster said he was confident that Mr Yousaf will be able to convince people that he is the right person to remain as First Minister.

It was suggested to Mr Flynn that losing the vote would be a fatal blow and Mr Yousaf would have no choice but to stand down.

Mr Flynn replied: 24 hours is a long time in politics. A week is an even longer time in politics. There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge over the course of the coming days.

There is a lot of discussions to be had. There is going to be a lot of time for reflection from many of the main parties within this and I would still be confident that once people hear what the First Minister has to say that they can be convinced that he is indeed the right person to remain as First Minister and obviously to focus on the publics priorities.

Asked if he was suggesting that Mr Yousaf could remain in post even if he loses the vote, Mr Flynn said: You know as well as I do that there has been a lot of drama in Westminster and the public take a very dim view of that, just as they will take a very dim view of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party trying to cause similar drama in Holyrood.

08:51 AM BST

Yousaf will come out fighting to save his job, says Stephen Flynn

Humza Yousaf will come out fighting to save his job as First Minister of Scotland, the SNPs leader in Westminster said this morning.

Stephen Flynn said he will stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr Yousaf as the latter seeks to convince others in Holyrood that he is the right person to take our country forward.

Asked if Mr Yousaf will resign if he loses next weeks vote of no confidence, Mr Flynn told the BBC: I spoke to the First Minister last night and he is going to come out fighting and he is going to come out fighting because he believes in his priorities for the people and he believes in representing the public to the best of his ability and that means ensuring that the Scottish Government is delivering for them.

I am very keen to hear what he has to say and I will be standing shoulder to shoulder beside him as he seeks to convince others in Holyrood that he is the right person to take our country forward.

08:46 AM BST

SNPs Westminster leader calls for cool heads at Holyrood

Stephen Flynn said he hoped cool heads would prevail and Holyrood will back Humza Yousaf to remain as First Minister of Scotland.

The SNPs leader in Westminster told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: What I would urge, gently urge, all politicians in Holyrood to do now that we are of course a minority government is to have some cool heads and some calm words this weekend to reflect upon the consequences of any decision that were to be taken or otherwise in relation to who or who is not the first minister and come to a conclusion which I believe would be much more reasonable.

08:42 AM BST

Scrapping coalition deal was the right thing to do, says Stephen Flynn

Stephen Flynn insisted Humza Yousaf did the right thing by scrapping the SNPs coalition deal with the Scottish Greens despite the fact that it has now triggered a vote on the First Ministers future.

The SNPs leader in Westminster told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: I firmly believe it was the right thing to do because the First Minister wanted to reset the focus of the Scottish Government on the priorities of the Scottish people.

08:39 AM BST

Ash Regan in very strong position on Yousafs future, admits SNP MSP

An SNP MSP conceded Ash Regan and the Alba Party are in a very strong position when it comes to potentially deciding Humza Yousafs future.

But Michelle Thomson insisted the SNP would remain the dominant vehicle for the independence movement.

She told BBC Newsnight: I am sure Alba are enjoying the fact that Ash Regan will have a very strong position in the vote of no confidence.

But that doesnt mean to say that that is a situation that is going to continue.

I still believe that the SNP is the dominant vehicle for the independence movement and therefore moving forward from this and getting things back on track, the priorities of the people of Scotland, allowing for that broad church, that is going to be the most important thing that Ill be pushing for within the party.

08:33 AM BST

Axing coalition now will allow SNP to regroup before general election

Scrapping the coalition deal now before the Scottish Greens had a chance to vote on it will allow the SNP to regroup ahead of the general election, one of the governing partys MSPs has suggested.

The Greens members were due to vote next month on whether to tear up the Bute House Agreement but Mr Yousaf spiked their guns yesterday as he opted to terminate the deal with immediate effect.

Michelle Thomson, the SNP MSP for Falkirk East, told the BBCs Newsnight programme: We may well have a general election coming up soon and I think the First Minister felt that it was the right time to do it and allow us to regroup in readiness and move forward.

08:22 AM BST

Yousaf did the right thing by scrapping coalition deal, says SNP MSP

An SNP MSP said Humza Yousaf did the right thing by terminating the partys coalition deal with the Scottish Greens.

Michelle Thomson told the BBCs Newsnight programme that SNP members were concerned the direction of the Scottish Government was slipping too far towards the Greens.

She said: I think he did do the right thing. Its obviously been quite a bit of disquiet for some time about the relationship with the Greens.

Many SNP members including in my location of Falkirk East had expressed their concern that the agenda seemed to be slipping too far towards the Greens and away from some of the core policies of the SNP.

08:14 AM BST

Ash Regan rules out return to SNP

Ash Regan has categorically ruled out a return to the SNP.

The former SNP leadership candidate who now represents the Alba Party was asked during an interview if there was a situation in which she might rejoin.

She told the BBC: No. Let me be very clear. I am extremely hopefully that Alba will be returned at the next Scottish election which is in 2026 in much greater numbers and I am very much looking forward to playing my part in making Alba successful.

08:07 AM BST

SNP chaos does not have to damage independence drive, says Alba Party MSP

The current chaos surrounding the SNP does not have to damage the drive for Scottish independence, Ash Regan said.

The Alba Party MSP said there was absolutely nothing stopping her old party from returning to being known for good governance.

Asked if the current instability could damage the independence cause, Ms Regan told the BBCs The World Tonight programme: I dont think it has to, no. As I said before, the SNP when they were previously very successful, when they were winning election after election, were known for good governance.

There is absolutely nothing stopping them from returning to that, to setting out a new programme of government which addresses the priorities that the people of Scotland have right now.

07:58 AM BST

My vote depends on Yousafs response to my letter, says Regan

Ash Regan said her vote at next weeks vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf will depend on how he responds to the letter she has sent him.

Asked which way she will vote, the Alba Party MSP told the BBC: I have written to the First Minister [yesterday] with a number of issues that I have raised with him on progress made towards independence, on how he will defend the rights of women and children and a return to competent governance.

If he can set those issues out for me, my vote will depend on really what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.

07:56 AM BST

Ball is in Yousafs court if he wants to survive, says Ash Regan

The ball is in Humza Yousafs court if he wants to continue as First Minister of Scotland, the Alba Party MSP who could decide his fate has suggested.

Ash Regan, a former SNP leadership candidate who now represents Alex Salmonds party as its only MSP at Holyrood, said she was not making specific demands of Mr Yousaf.

But she said her vote at a vote of no confidence in Mr Yousaf next week will depend on how he responds to questions she has set out in a letter to him.

Asked what she was seeking from Mr Yousaf, Ms Regan to the BBCs The World Tonight programme: I am not setting out specific demands as such, I am really putting the ball into Humzas court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.

This is something the SNP was obviously known for a few years ago. Unfortunately it has lost its focus over the last few years, it has gone down pursuing some policies that are not popular with the public, many of those were policies that really stemmed from the coalition agreement with the Green Party.

The Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens are all backing the vote of no confidence, likely 64 MSPs in total. The SNP has 63 MSPs which means Ms Regan is likely to hold the deciding vote.
British teenager Ollie Bearmans hopes of securing a Formula One drive next season have been dealt a major boost following confirmation of Nico Hulkenbergs move from Haas to Sauber.

Bearman, 18, impressed as a last-minute stand-in for Carlos Sainz at last months Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and a seat at Haas  effectively Ferraris B team  in 2025 had been his target.

Hulkenbergs departure, which was announced on Friday, frees up a seat, with Bearman  a Ferrari junior driver  now in pole position to take over from the German, and join Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell as the fourth British driver on the F1 grid.

*Hulkenberg has been added to the group chat*   We're excited to announce Nico Hulkenberg will join Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/1DLNcBBL8j  Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) April 26, 2024

Bearman, currently a reserve driver for Haas, turns 19 next month. He became the youngest British driver in F1 history with his debut in Saudi Arabia.

Bearman, who hails from Chelmsford in Essex, finished seventh ahead of both McLarens Norris and seven-time world champion Hamilton of Mercedes.

Hulkenberg has spent two seasons with Haas, but he will join Sauber ahead of the team being rebranded as Audi in 2026.

The 36-year-old, who finished 10th at last weekends Chinese Grand Prix, has competed in 208 races in a career spanning 14 years.

He made his debut with Williams in 2010 before competing at Force India, Renault and as a reserve driver at Aston Martin before joining Haas last year. He also drove for Sauber in 2013.

I am thrilled and honoured to return to Sauber in 2025 and to represent the global German car manufacturer and technology pioneer Audi on its way into Formula One in the future, said Hulkenberg.

It is a big project with high ambitions and a huge challenge that I am very much looking forward to.

Mondays always start better with an @OllieBearman smile #FDA pic.twitter.com/MhR1j61Ls9  Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy (@insideFDA) April 22, 2024

Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl said: We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula One.

With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team  and of Audis F1 project.

Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in building something long-term together. Nico is a strong personality, and his input, on a professional and personal level, will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team.

The identity of Hulkenbergs team-mate next year is uncertain, but Sainz, who will be replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025, is understood to have held talks with Audi about a possible switch.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Liverpools surprise derby defeat to Everton served as a warning to his players ahead of a 4-0 thrashing of Brighton.

City moved a point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and leapfrogged Jurgen Klopps side into second spot thanks to Phil Fodens double and goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez.

A thumping south-coast success came 24 hours after Liverpool lost further ground in the title race by suffering a 2-0 loss to their Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park on the back of a shock 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Guardiola, whose reigning champions have a game in hand over their two closest rivals, insists the Reds remain contenders and acknowledges City are also susceptible to slipping up during the run-in.

I said to the players what happened to Liverpool can happen to us and can happen to Arsenal, said the Spaniard.

People didnt expect them to lose against Crystal Palace and yesterday but it can happen to us  its football.

Kevin De Bruyne (left) celebrates the opening goal against Brighton (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Everton is playing to avoid the relegation zone and we have a similar game at Nottingham Forest (on Sunday) and they play for their lives.

Maybe because they were a real contender of ours for many years, my appreciation for Liverpool is higher than ever.

Still it (the title) is there (for Liverpool) because I know the character of their team. They are going to fight until the end and we have to do it too.

City eased their way into Thursday evenings clash at the Amex Stadium before De Bruynes superb diving header and Fodens quick-fire brace put them in complete control at the break.

Alvarez completed the rout as the visitors resumed their title defence with a statement of intent after scraping past Chelsea to reach the FA Cup final and crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.

Phil Foden (centre) celebrates after doubling the lead (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Guardiola is chasing a fourth successive top-flight title  and sixth in seven seasons  but is unsure if the previous achievements will give his team the edge in the final weeks of the campaign.

I would love to say yes but I dont know, he said.

What we have done in the past doesnt mean its going to happen in the future. To do it again, you have to make it happen. We know what were playing for.

We know that if we dont win or we draw, we will not have chance to fight until the end, so of course the pressure is there, otherwise we cannot perform that well.

Five games left and on to the next.

Brightons persistence in playing out from the back contributed to their own downfall on a difficult evening.

Thank you, as always, for your incredible support #ManCity pic.twitter.com/TYxXZW8cQP  Manchester City (@ManCity) April 25, 2024

The Seagulls had reason to feel aggrieved about the award of the free-kick from which Foden claimed the visitors second, while referee Jarred Gillett later waved away a strong penalty appeal when Joao Pedro appeared to be bundled over by Josko Gvardiol.

Yet 11th-placed Albion could have few complaints about a one-sided result which further damages their floundering European push.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi refused to blame the officiating after his injury-hit sides winless run stretched to five games.

Roberto De Zerbi bemoaned mistakes in the Brighton defence (PA)

We played against one of the best teams in the world, said the Italian.

We tried to play without DNA, respecting our qualities. We conceded the first, the second, the third, the fourth all in a bad way, we made mistakes.

Im frustrated because we cant compete against the big teams in this moment and we have to be honest.

We didnt lose for the referees responsibilities.
When you hire a service to watch your dog while you're on vacation you expect your beloved pet will be well-cared for and given a lot of attention and affection. A dog owner in Seattle found this not to be the case when his senior Shiba Inu that suffers from dementia was abandoned by dog sitter he hired when he traveled out of the country.

Daniel Cardenas, the owner of the 15-year-old Shiba Inu named Loki, hired a service to care for the dog in his home because he didn't want Loki's schedule disrupted. What happened was far worse than that.

View the original article to see embedded media.

Fox13 Seattle reports that the only time Cardenas heard from the dog sitter, which he hired through the pet sitting service Wag! was when the sitter got his keys. While he was on vacation in Mexico his texts to check on Loki with the sitter went unanswered.

Related: Dog Mom Finds Out Pet Sitter Lost Her Dog in the Worst Possible Way

Cardenas spoke to the news outlet: "I had no idea if she had taken the dog," he said. "I didnt know if she was hurt or if she was injured. I just had no clue what was going on so I dialed the emergency services with Wag!"

An emergency check of his apartment found Loki alone and his home in disarray.

"They found dog feces and urine all around the apartment and Loki was barking at the person," said Cardenas. "It was all so wrong. There was also alcohol missing."

Cardenas eventually got his keys to his apartment back from the service but he said all conversations, including booking confirmations through Wag!, were deleted.

Cardenas has since started a GoFundMe which reads, "Hello my name is Daniel and I live in Seattle, WA. My Senior Shiba with special needs was neglected and abused by a sitter and the company that contracted them. I am seeking Justice for Lokitoday I met with a legal team and they have decided to take the case; but the cost for the retainer is $3500.00 due on Monday.

My goal here is to bar the sitter from the app, recover any out of pocket expenses and maybe even get these apps to change and raise their standards of vetting and how they track the sittings and hold their sitters accountable."

If you are interested in donating to his cause, you can visit the link here.

How To Find a Reliable Pet Sitter

One of the best ways of finding a sitter you can trust with your pets is to ask friends and family who they use. Ask on your social media page to find someone who people you know can vouch for.

Get references! If you hire people for a job, you get referencesthis is a job, and a most important job. It never hurts to check people's backgrounds out and make sure they are who they say they are and they know how to do what they say they know how to do.

Make sure you fully explain what you expect the pet sitter to do, as far as walking, feeding and how many times per day they will visit your pet. Discuss fees, payment methods, cancellation policies, and any additional charges for extra services or special requests.

Ask them what they will do in case of emergency, if your dog is lost, or if your animal gets sick. Make sure you have multiple ways of contacting them, and let them know how often you wish to be contacted and if you want photos of your pet texted to you.

Before leaving your pet in the care of a new pet sitter, consider arranging a trial visit or short-term pet-sitting session to evaluate their compatibility with your pet and their ability to follow instructions. Monitor your pet's behavior and well-being during the trial period and address any concerns or issues that arise. Trust your instinct! If your pet seems uncomfortable or if you feel the vibe is off with their interactions with your pet, keep looking.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to our fur babies.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Richard Armitage filming as Dr Matthew Nolan in Red Eye at the airport. (ITV) (LAURENCE CENDROWICZ)

What did you miss?

Richard Armitage has said some UK travellers ran to hide in WHSmiths at Stansted when he filmed dramatic scenes for Red Eye at the airport.

It's easy to see how terror was struck into the heart of holidaymakers to see Armitage jump on the tables and shout out for help while filming in his character Dr Matthew Nolan in the ITV thriller. His character is just moments away from being arrested and being taken away from police. He shouted out to the crowd in Stansted that he is being wrongly extradited on suspicion of murder.

It returns with the second episode this weekend so it's no surprise the stars of the show were appearing on This Morning to discuss the plot on Friday. Armitage spoke about the jaw-dropping moment on the This Morning sofa as he joined his co-stars Lesley Sharp and Jing Lusi. The actor admitted the TV crews have to be careful not to "traumatise" onlookers while filming.

What, how and why?

Dr Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) is arrested in Red Eye. (ITV) (LAURENCE CENDROWICZ)

Dermot O'Leary asked the question all of us wanted to know about the thought provoking scene in the opening episode of Red Eye. "Those are real punters right?" He asked.

Armitage shed some light on how the filming went down at Stansted airport. He said that some people run to take cover in WHSmiths while he shouted at the crowd but there were a few people who were in on the filming secret.

He said on the This Morning sofa: "There are a small group of background artists around me but you sort of only get one or two gos at doing it before the public twig to what you are doing.

"There are a few warning signs up saying filming is happening but of course no one is paying attention anymore. You have to be careful not to traumatise people. There were a few punters running into WHSmiths going, 'There's a man being arrested.'"

After the arrest, Armitage's character is flown on a plane from the UK to China but things take a sinister turn when one of the passengers dies. We can't wait to see what happens next. There are some big mysteries to solve in Red Eye which will unfold over the next few weeks while the show airs on TV.

Watch Red Eye's trailer here

Red Eye divides critics

The ITV thriller has courted the attention of the nation with its intrigue and shocking plot lines. However, critics were divided over Red Eye's opening episode. Among the critics, William Mata wrote in the Evening Standard that Red Eye was a "tired thriller".

Mata penned: "Red Eye desperately wants to be Locke, Steven Knights 2013 thriller where Tom Hardys character works out his personal and professional struggles while driving down the M6. Instead of that originality we have a tired thriller that might just about service you for a red eye flight of your own if there is nothing else on."

In the same vein as the Evening Standard, Nick Hilton said Red Eye was boring in The Independent. Hilton wrote: "Silly, sure; derivative, yes; but just about watchable  even if only in the way that the in-flight map is watchable after a few too many bloody marys."

But everyone's view differs it seems because Anita Singh had praise for Red Eye in The Telegraph. She wrote: '"If youre the kind of person who watches a drama and cries: 'But that would never happen!' then this one is best avoided. But if youre in the mood for some mindless fun, then buckle up.

"What can I tell you? Its the kind of drama in which the intelligence services want to shred company documents without anyone knowing, then walk out of the companys front door in full view of the public carrying the shredded paper in see-through boxes."

So, will you be watching Red Eye on Sunday?

What did you think of Red Eye? (ITV) (ITV)

Read more

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/red-eye-richard-armitage-stansted-airport-125049621.html
Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib has said he is saddened by a split within political unionism and vowed to create a pan-UK political force.

Mr Habib was speaking at an event at Dromore Orange Hall in Co Down, Northern Ireland, alongside Ann Widdecombe and Baroness Hoey.

He also shared a platform with TUV leader Jim Allister following the agreement of a link-up between the two parties.

Mr Habib has been criticised in recent days over comments he made in a TV interview around migrants in small boats crossing the English Channel.

He said those attempting to reach Britain in small boats should suffer the consequences.

Mr Habib told the PA news agency that the TV debate was taken to a ridiculous level, and stressed that the only way to stop the small boats was to do so physically.

He claimed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda or the changing of any domestic legislation would not work.

The only way to stop the boats is to physically stop the boats. Reform UKs policy is to stop the boats and take them back to France, Mr Habib added.

Mr Allister welcomed Mr Habib, Ms Widdecombe and Baroness Hoey as our compatriots and fellow UK citizens.

He hailed Mr Habib as the man who stood up for the Union when others were nowhere to be seen and criticised the DUPs backing of the Windsor Framework, contending that not one word of the Union-dismantling protocol has been changed.

TUV/Reform UK is in the business of reuniting the United Kingdom, he said.

Reunification is our cause. Not for us, half in half out of the UK, half ruled by British laws, half ruled by foreign EU laws.

The first step for unionism in reuniting the United Kingdom is rejecting the protocol-accepting DUP/Donaldson deal. That opportunity will come in the general election when TUV/Reform will stand out from the crowd of protocol implementers.

Our alignment with Reform UK is about awakening pan-unionism across the entire UK. Pan-nationalism campaigns for Irish unification. Its time for a pan-unionist demand for reunification of the United Kingdom.

Mr Habib said he is bringing a message of political unionism across Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

He said: Im excited about it.

Im saddened by the way that there is a split within political unionism in Northern Ireland.

I was very pleased when we all stood together, the DUP, UUP and TUV but if you have political parties, so-called unionist political parties that dont even recognise there is a border in the Irish Sea, youve got a problem.

So Im saddened by that but also very excited by the prospect now of this pan-UK political force.

Ms Widdecombe said: Were trying to save the Union basically, we believe that its quite wrong that a part of the UK is still subject to EU law that the rest of the UK isnt, and Northern Ireland is an integral part of the UK and should be treated as such.

I think it (the Reform UK/TUV link-up) is excellent because were both fully committed to the Union.

We would have hoped originally that the DUP would have shown an equal determination but they havent. The TUV has.
Bangladesh denounces U.S. State Department's 2023 human rights report

Xinhua) 09:09, April 26, 2024

DHAKA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A Bangladeshi foreign ministry spokesperson Thursday denounced the U.S. State Department's 2023 Human Rights Report released recently, saying the report mostly relied on assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations.

"Some of the inherent and evident biases in the reporting pattern are quite evident," spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said at a press briefing at the foreign ministry here.

She said the allegations were drawn from local and international non-government organizations (including anonymous sources), many of which are supported by the U.S. government or related entities, the national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.

"On the other hand, isolated and unfounded allegations continue to be flagged as part of a systematic trend," she added.

The Bangladeshi government has been doing its best to uphold human rights of its citizens, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, human rights situation has significantly improved in Bangladesh, she continued.

As usual, the U.S. report wrongfully characterized lawful actions taken by the law enforcement authorities in the country to restore social order, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As the deadline for students to dismantle the Columbia University protest encampment expired Friday midnight (Apr. 26), some pro-Palestinian students of Columbia University have filed a federal civil rights complaint against the school, alleging that they were being discriminated against.

According to the organization Palestine Legal, they are representing four pro-Palestine students and the group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine in a complaint filed with the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, saying that their clients have been victims of anti-Palestinian discrimination and harassment by the university's students, faculty, and administrators, CBS News reported.

The complaint further alleged the university brought in NYPD officers to arrest over 100 protesters last week as part of its alleged discriminatory treatment.

"[T]he university has failed to respond promptly and effectively to notice of a hostile environment," the complaint wrote, adding that doxxing was part of the alleged means of harassment.

Meanwhile, US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said that his office would investigate reports of antisemitism at campuses across the country.
US actress Sharon Stone has brushed off Hollywood in favour of humanitarianism, saying it took 35 years, but Im in the right room.

The star found fame in 1992s Basic Instinct opposite Michael Douglas, and later lost out on winning an Oscar for Martin Scorseses crime thriller Casino to Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking.

In 2013, Stone became a Nobel Laureate after receiving the Peace Summit Award for her activities that brought solidarity and new hope to the millions of people who have fought and are fighting against the tragedy of HIV/Aids.

Sharon Stone won a Peace Summit Award in 2013 (Yui Mok/PA)

I never told people here in LA that I even won, Stone told former first minster of Scotland Alex Salmond on his show Turkish Tea Talk.

I didnt tell anybody because I thought, how can I tell people in the movie business that I won a Nobel Prize.

Salmond asked the 66-year-old the comparison between winning the Nobel Award to winning best actress in a motion picture at the Golden Globes for her role in Casino.

You dont get to save lives winning a Golden Globe, she said.

Stone said during her time in Warsaw, Poland  where she received the award, she met with Lech Walesa  the former president of the eastern European country.

Former Polish president Lech Walesa (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

She added: I got to spend time with him and learn from him about how to create a peaceful revolution, a bloodless revolution.

I got to spend time with Shirin Ebadi, who left Iran, whose husband was put in prison, whose family was taken from her, who won the Nobel Prize for going against the government.

Struggling to hold back her tears, Stone continued: These people who were so courageous.

Betty Williams, who became my godmother, who created the Million Mom March in Ireland and stopped the uprising.

Suddenly, I was like, Im in the right goddamn room. These are my people.

I would stand in the street with these people. I would risk my lives with these people.

These people get me, I get them.

It took 35 years, but Im in the right room.

Sharon Stone attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this year (Doug Peters/PA)

However, Stone did not completely write off returning to the silver screen.

Im looking for something thats really powerful and meaningful and good, comedically or dramatically, but something like that, she said.

Salmond said he heard a rumour that Stone might be coming to Scotland to make a film.

Ive heard rumours, but no-ones approached me directly.The closer I can get to my ancestors, the happier Ill be, she added.
It is too early to jump to conclusions about the impact of the Rwanda plan, Downing Street has said, after the Irish Government claimed it was causing an influx of migrants into the Republic.

Deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin said the policy is already impacting on Ireland, as asylum seekers are now fearful of staying in the UK.

Ministers plan to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of deterring others from making the dangerous English Channel crossing.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin criticised the policy (Brian Lawless/PA)

The legislation ensuring the plan is legally sound, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through Parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Irelands foreign affairs minister, said migrants are crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic to seek safety from deportation to Rwanda.

He told reporters in Dublin on Friday that he did not agree with the policy, adding: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming UK into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And its fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if youre a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you dont want to go to Rwanda  not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

So I think its a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues  its not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.

The Tanaiste continued: Migration is happening all over Europe. Its a national phenomenon. Part of the EU asylum pact is that we develop proper policies so that we can return people whove already been granted asylum in one country, that if they come to Ireland, they can be returned to the country where they were granted asylum in the first place. And the United Kingdom are outside of European Union.

But it hasnt worked in the UK in terms of the numbers coming into the UK.

Ive watched governments all over Europe making big commitments that they are going to stop the boats, theyre going to stop the numbers migrating. Brexit was meant to slow down migration into the United Kingdom, and migration into United Kingdom has grown exponentially, increased exponentially, since Brexit.

Its different migrants coming in, compared to pre-Brexit time. But I think it all goes back to whats happening across the world. There is phenomenal movements of people who are fleeing war and devastation.

A No 10 spokeswoman rebuffed claims the plan was already influencing movements into Ireland.

It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour, she said.

Of course, we will monitor this very closely and we already work very closely as you would expect with the Irish government, including on matters relating to asylum.

But of course, the intention behind the Act is to have it serve as a deterrent and that is why we are working to get flights off the ground as swiftly as possible.

Irish ministers earlier this week suggested there had been a rise in the number of migrants crossing the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said there will be multiple flights per month (Victoria Jones/PA)

Justice minister Helen McEntee told a committee of the Irish Parliament the number was now higher than 80% crossing from Northern Ireland.

As in the UK, migration has become a hot button issue among some voters in Ireland, with worries about a housing shortage coinciding with a rise in the number of migrants accepted.

Mr Martins comments follow on the heels of French president Emmanuel Macrons criticism of migration policies that involve sending people to African countries as a betrayal of our values.

Scheduling of flights to Rwanda could take between 10 and 12 weeks, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, meaning the first will not begin until summer at the earliest.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has said there will be multiple flights per month, through the summer and beyond once they eventually get off the ground.

While scheduling flights is likely to take some time because of the procedures officials must follow, the plan could face further delays if the Government is taken to court again.

Opponents of the multimillion-pound plan, and migrants who are told they are to be sent to Rwanda, could issue legal challenges in a bid to stop the flights.

But it is unclear whether any further legal action would succeed in light of the new laws.
Yousaf accuses rivals of game playing as he fights for his political future

Scotlands under-fire First Minister has accused his political rivals of game playing, as he insisted he will not resign and intends to win the two votes of no confidence he is now facing.

However, Humza Yousaf said that he would not rule out a Holyrood election, saying the SNP is prepared if that is required.

Mr Yousaf hit out after Scottish Labour followed in the footsteps of the Conservatives by tabling a motion of no confidence.

The dramatic developments followed Mr Yousaf terminating, with immediate effect, the powersharing deal the SNP had with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood for almost three years.

The move left his former junior coalition partners so angry they announced they would vote against the First Minister in a vote of no confidence in his leadership tabled by the Tories, which is expected to be debated and voted on next week.

Meanwhile Labours motion  which the Tories have confirmed they will also vote for  is one of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.

If passed, that would force the entire Scottish Cabinet to resign  with MSPs then having 28 days to try to elect an alternative first minister, with the prospect of a snap Holyrood election if no candidate can gain sufficient support.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said it is pretty clear Mr Yousaf will not be able to unite Holyrood  urging the SNP to consider finding a replacement for him.

Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater confirmed their party will vote against Humza Yousaf in a vote of no confidence (Lesley Martin/PA)

But when asked if he will resign due to the pressure he is under, Mr Yousaf told the PA news agency: When the vote comes I fully intend to win.

The SNP leader, speaking on a visit to Dundee to announce more cash for affordable housing, insisted: I fully intend to not just win that vote but I intend to fight to make sure that the Government continues to deliver on the priorities of the people. Like, for example, investing in affordable housing.

He accused his rivals of political game playing, and added: Well be getting on with the job, and when the vote comes I fully intend to win.

Humza Yousaf said he has no plans to quit, as he fights for his political future (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Asked by Channel 4 News whether the SNP could afford a Holyrood election before a general election, Mr Yousaf said: Im intending to win the vote of no confidence, but I wouldnt rule out a Holyrood election. Were on an election footing  were prepared if thats required.

Amid the tight parliamentary arithmetic at Holyrood, the vote of Alba Party Holyrood leader  and former SNP MSP Ash Regan  could be crucial to Mr Yousafs political survival.

The First Minister said he will write to all the party leaders at Holyrood, inviting them to talks in an attempt to make minority government work.

Ms Regan, meanwhile, has written to the First Minister, making clear her demands if she is to support him.

Humza Yousaf was said to be in a reflective mood after his decision to end a powersharing agreement sparked a no confidence motion in his leadership (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

The former SNP minister, who defected to Alex Salmonds party, said she wants to see progress on Scottish independence and defending the rights of women and children.

She also suggested investment in the Grangemouth refinery  which is due to shut as early as next year and shift to an import and export terminal  would be another key demand.

But with Mr Yousaf under increasing pressure, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: Its a matter now of when, not if, Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross told Times Radio he will back the Labour motion of no confidence in the Government as a whole because I want to get rid of the Scottish Government.

I have written to Humza Yousaf this morning requesting a reset, and a return to competent government, where we prioritise independence and protect the dignity, safety and rights of women and children. I remain open to any discussion where we progress the priorities of the people pic.twitter.com/ZJzQ8E4Xhx  Ash Regan MSP (@AshReganALBA) April 26, 2024

A spokesperson for the First Minister confirmed: The FM is writing to Ash Regan alongside all other Holyrood leaders, and looks forward to meeting with her to discuss a range of issues  including Grangemouth.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn meanwhile told BBC Radio Scotland that his party leader is going to come out fighting because he believes in what he says.

Speaking about Mr Yousaf, the SNP MP added: He believes in delivering for the people for Scotland. He believes in creating jobs and opportunities for the next generation.

On Thursday night, a source close to Mr Yousaf had insisted he was absolutely not considering his position following the chaotic events earlier that day.

But his decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens was branded an act of political cowardice by the smaller pro-independence party.

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Greens, said then: We no longer have confidence in a progressive government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

The Bute House Agreement had given the SNP-led Government a majority at Holyrood, but it had come under increasing strain after the Greens announced plans to put its future to a vote of their party members.

That came after Greens were angered when the Scottish Government announced last week it was to abandon a key climate change target for 2030, with some Greens also unhappy with SNP ministers response to the Cass Review on gender identity services for young people.
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that traces of the bird flu virus have been found in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurized milk, providing a more detailed picture of how much of the milk supply has been affected.

The tested milk came from a nationally representative sample, with more of the positive results coming from milk in areas with infected herds of dairy cows, the FDA said. A spokesperson declined to say how many samples were tested.

As of Thursday, bird flu had been detected in 33 herds in eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas.

Richard Webby, an influenza virologist at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, said the number of positive samples is consistent with numbers he's reviewed from smaller sample sets.

"But the number does seem high if the number of infected farms is indeed only 30-odd, Webby wrote in an email. "Clearly there are more infected animals out there than being reported."

The FDA first said Tuesday that it had found viral fragments in commercially sold milk, triggering the Agriculture Department to issue a federal order mandating that all dairy cows be tested for bird flu before they are transported between states.

Health officials maintain  and experts agree  that pasteurized milk is safe to drink. The FDA detected small pieces of the virus in milk, not live, infectious virus.

Right now, all indication is that pasteurization is effective, said Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University.

The FDA said Tuesday, To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. It is conducting studies on the effects of pasteurization on the bird flu virus in milk and expects to release results in the coming days.

The virus, a strain of bird flu called H5N1, is concerning to public health officials because of its high fatality rate: More than half of the people who have contracted the illness have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, the virus does not spread easily between people, and while it can cause severe illness, the only two cases reported in the U.S.  one in the current outbreak and one in 2022  have been mild.

The concern is that it could one day mutate in a way that makes it spread between people more easily.
After Fran Smith vanished in 1991, her husbands dark secrets began to unravel.

In the three decades since, John Smith, 73, was convicted of killing his first wife in Ohio years earlier, in a murder authorities werent even aware of until they began investigating Frans disappearance.

Frans body has never been found, but prosecutors in New Jersey charged her husband in her death five years ago. Then the case took an unusual turn: Those same prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Smith in exchange for information her family and the FBI agent who spent years investigating the cases said is unreliable and likely untrue.

For more on the case, tune in to "Chameleon" on "Dateline" at at 9 ET/8 CT tonight.

In this first interview about the deal, retired FBI special agent Robert Hilland called out prosecutors for the arrangement.

This was a failure on the part of the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, Hilland told Dateline.

They hung our family out to dry, said Sherrie Davis, Frans sister.

The prosecutors office defended the decision to dismiss the charge, with a spokesperson saying in a statement that because a judge blocked prosecutors from introducing key evidence, what remained would have allowed them to paint Smith as a bad husband but not a murderer.

The spokesperson added that Frans family was informed of the likely dismissal and agreement before the charge was dropped on July 6, 2023.

They acknowledged their understanding of how we were proceeding and, although disappointed in the outcome, did not express any criticism at that time, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the public defenders office that negotiated the agreement for Smith would not comment.

Yes, I lied

Fran, 49, disappeared on Sept. 28, 1991. The paralegal had recently moved from Florida to a condo in West Windsor, New Jersey, with her new husband, John Smith, and was recovering from a broken hip, her daughter, Deanna Childers, told Dateline.

Dateline (Dateline)

Smith, an engineer, told authorities that his wife abruptly left to visit relatives, according to a West Windsor detective who investigated the case, Mike Dansbury. Her family said they hadnt heard from her, however, and while relatives tried to piece together what happened, a detective revealed something Frans family hadnt previously known: Smith had been married before.

Decades earlier, hed eloped with Janice Elaine Hartman after high school, another detective, Dave Mansue, told Dateline. But the couple split in 1974, after only a few years.

After tracking down a relative of Hartmans, the family learned an even more startling detail: Days after they divorced, Hartman disappeared and was never heard from again. Authorities in Ohio believed she was a runaway and didnt pursue the case as a possible homicide, Mansue said.

Smith offered strangely similar accounts and details in the disappearances of both wives, the detectives found. In a missing persons report, Smith said he believed Hartman had gone to Florida with a red suitcase, Dansbury said. In Frans disappearance, he said he believed shed gone to Florida to visit family with a yellow suitcase, Dansbury recalled.

When Fran disappeared, authorities discovered that Smith had a long-time girlfriend  an HR manager hed met while applying for a job  living at a Connecticut beach house he owned. Frank Barre, a detective with the Milford Police Department who began assisting in the investigation, recalled that the girlfriend didnt know that Smith had been married twice. Nor did she know that both women had disappeared.

Her whole world was upside down, Barre told Dateline.

Dateline (Dateline)

The girlfriend agreed to call Smith and allow investigators to listen in and record the conversation.

She confronted him about his relationship with Fran, according to audio of the call, and asked if she was dead. Smith told her he didnt think so but  because he didnt know where she was  they think I must have hurt her, according to audio.

When she asked about Hartman, he said theyd divorced and hed reported her missing. He said hed only just learned that shed never been found, according to the audio.

When she asked if hed lied during a police polygraph test, he said: I failed it.

Wait, John, she said. Did you lie during the test?

Yes, I lied during the test, he said.

A long-held secret revealed

Investigators suspected that Smith was responsible for the disappearances of his wives, but didnt have proof. It wasnt until years later, after Hilland took over the investigations in 1998, that authorities got a break.

By then, Smith had moved to suburban San Diego, remarried and was working for a car maker. On May 5, 1999, Hilland organized an effort with FBI agents across the country to carry out a series of coordinated interviews with people linked to Smith  relatives, colleagues and exes  and with Smith himself.

During an hourslong interview with Smith, Hilland said he repeatedly confronted him about inconsistencies in his accounts of what happened to Fran and Hartman. When the agent confronted him about lying on the polygraph, Smith denied making the comment, Hilland said.

I pulled out the tape recorder, hit play, and John could hear in his own voice all those things that he had said, Hilland said about playing the taped conversation between Smith and his onetime girlfriend. Smith turned beet red and shrugged his shoulders.

At one point, Hilland said, Smith offered a hypothetical about two people having an argument and one of them being fatally struck by a bus.

Smith asked, Is the other person responsible for a murder? Hilland said. We said, No, thats an accident. That would not be a murder. Is that what happened to Fran? He said, I dont know what happened to Fran. I just know she isnt dead. If shes dead, shes probably in heaven.

Smith told investigators he was having a heart attack, and the interview ended, Hilland said. But days later, the former investigator said, Smiths brother shared something with the FBI that he hadnt previously disclosed.

Dateline (Dateline)

In exchange for an agreement that barred prosecutors from charging him, the sibling revealed that in November 1974 hed seen Smith with a large plywood box in a garage next to his grandparents house in Ohio.

Smith was crying, Hilland recalled the brother saying, and appeared to be placing clothes that he believed belonged to Hartman in the box.

The box, which had been nailed shut, remained in the garage for five years, until his grandfather pried it open, Smiths brother told investigators. The brother said he saw what appeared to be Hartmans remains inside the box, Hilland said.

Her legs had been removed and her hair appeared to be rainbow-colored  a detail authorities later attributed to clothing dye bleeding onto her body, Hilland said.

The discovery haunted the sibling for years, Hilland recalled, but he hadnt come forward because his grandfather had asked him to stay silent.

The grandfather said, If we call the sheriff, this is gonna cause your grandmother to die, Hilland recalled the sibling saying.

After the brother called Smith and told him hed found the box, Smith arrived at the grandparents home, put the box in the passenger seat of his Corvette and drove off, Hilland said the brother told officials.

After his revelation to the FBI, Smiths brother agreed to confront his sibling. In the conversation, which was recorded, Smith described the box as a joke and said someone had dropped it off with a dead goat inside, according to a transcript of the call.

At one point, the brother said: I had nightmares where Jan chased me down the road, beat me with her legs, John.

OK, Smith replied.

Nearly a year later, remains were exhumed from a rural Indiana cemetery and, in April 2000, positively identified as belonging to Hartman.

Years earlier, it turned out, a road crew had found the box described by Smiths sibling in a roadside drainage ditch, but the remains couldnt be identified and the body was buried in what Hilland described as a Jane Doe grave.

Six months after the identification, Smith was charged with murder in Hartmans killing. He pleaded not guilty and was convicted at trial. In 2001, Smith was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

The case falls apart

After that conviction, Hilland continued searching for Fran. He said he organized multiple excavations at Smiths workplace in New Jersey and the Connecticut beach home, and he worked with undercover informants at the prison where Smith was incarcerated to try and gather information. Neither efforts yielded evidence, he said.

Prosecutors from Mercer County later met with Hilland at the FBI Training Academy in Virginia, where he was working as an instructor. Although there was no new evidence, the prosecutors office said in its statement, after the meeting, they believed they had enough to charge Smith in Frans 1991 disappearance.

In November 2019, Smith was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder after prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury about both Frans disappearance and Hartmans killing.

It was the states position that, in 1991, Smith believed he had a successful blueprint to get away with murder and followed his 1974 playbook but corrected the only mistake he made in the murder of Janice Hartman  keeping her body in a place where it would be accidentally discovered, the prosecutors office said.

But in 2022, the statement said, a judge barred prosecutors from presenting evidence from Hartmans murder, ruling that it would unfairly prejudice the jury. Faced with the impending dismissal of charges, the statement said, prosecutors entered into an agreement with Smith.

Because Frans body had never been found, the statement said, the likelihood of uncovering new evidence and pursuing a successful prosecution appeared minimal. To provide closure for the family, the statement said, prosecutors agreed to drop the murder charge if he revealed what he did with Frans remains.

The prosecutors office didnt require corroborating evidence to back up the account  recovery would have been impossible given how long ago she disappeared, the statement said  nor did they require Smith to say how he killed her.

In negotiating the non-prosecution agreement, Smith would not admit to the murder but would agree to tell us what he did with her body, the spokesperson said in an email.

Prosecutors shared what Smith said with Frans family but didnt reveal the details publicly, according to the statement. Deanna Childers, Frans daughter, told Dateline that officials told the family that Smith confessed to wrapping her mothers body in a blanket and leaving her in a dumpster at the factory where he worked in New Jersey.

Davis, Fran Smiths sister, said the idea that the deal provided closure for her family was an insult. She didnt believe Smiths account, she said, adding that the information did nothing for her family.

Hilland, who retired from the FBI in 2022, was outraged that the deal didnt require a full confession or corroborating evidence. He said it seemed highly unlikely that Smith would have left Frans body in a trash bin at a factory with many employees who easily could have noticed.

To Hilland, there was so much circumstantial evidence implicating Smith in Frans alleged killing  including when he told his then-girlfriend in the recorded call that he lied to police while they were questioning him about Frans disappearance  that he believed prosecutors could have proven his guilt.

Shame on them for accepting his account, Hilland said, because now theyve given him immunity based on that.

Hilland added that when John Smith goes for his next parole hearing in 2029, he may have a better chance of getting out because he can say he cooperated with authorities.
Ryan Watson, the American tourist who is facing a possible 12-year prison term in Turks and Caicos after ammo was allegedly found in his luggage by airport security, is out on bail.

Watson, 40, secured a $15,000 bond on Wednesday after spending two nights in jail. The Oklahoma father of two must stay on the island and has to check in every Tuesday and Thursday at the Grace Bay Police Station while his case moves forward. Watson's wife, Valerie Watson, is not facing any charges and was able to return home to Oklahoma on Tuesday.

His next court date is scheduled for June 7.

Watson's bond comes as Tyler Wenrich, a 31-year-old from Virginia, was charged with the same count of possession of ammunition earlier this week, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police announced Thursday. According to police, Wenrich was allegedly found with ammo when he went through a security checkpoint after arriving on the island of Grand Turk from a cruise ship on Tuesday.

Bryan Hagerich, yet another American who was also arrested for allegedly having ammo in his luggage back in February, goes before a judge May 3, with sentencing likely to happen shortly after. Ryan Watson is hoping his case can be expedited based on the outcome of Hagerich's case.

A GoFundMe page set up for the Watson family had, as of Thursday evening, raised more than $175,000.

"I'm completely humbled and feel so incredibly blessed that people have been responding in such a powerful way," Ryan Watson told CBS News. "I am still very prayerful that the State Department can help us find a solution to get back home."

Valerie Watson previously told CBS News the ammo was brought to the island by mistake.

"Packing ammunition was not at all our intent," she said.

Following a CBS News report on Ryan Watson, the State Department on Wednesday sent a tweet warning American tourists traveling to Turks and Caicos to check their luggage for stray ammunition and firearms.

Turks and Caicos authorities "strictly enforce all firearms-and-ammunition-related laws," the State Department wrote. "Declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in your arrest."

Possessing a gun or ammunition is prohibited in Turks and Caicos. In February, a court order mandated that even tourists in the process of leaving the country, who had previously been able to just pay a fine, are subject to prison time.

At least one gun rights group is urging its members not to travel to Turks and Caicos because of the recent arrests.

"To all U.S. gun owners, Do Not Travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory located southeast of the Bahamas, and if you have already made plans, reconsider your destination," the Second Amendment Association wrote.

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A tropical vacation has turned into a nightmare for an Oklahoma woman, who is trying to gather funds to bring her husband back home after he was detained in the Turks & Caicos Islands when bullets were found in his luggage.

Valerie Watson and her husband, Ryan Watson were in Turks & Caicos in the company of other couples they knew to celebrate several of their friends 40th birthdays earlier this month, according to reporting by The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Watson family had their lives turned upside down on their way back to the states after Turks & Caicos airport security found four rounds of ammunition unknowingly left in a duffel bag from a deer hunting trip, according to a GoFundMe post made on behalf of the family.

Now, they are facing a legal system that is unfamiliar, daunting, and expensive that operates differently than the American Justice System, the description reads.

Valerie Watson has since been released from custody, flying home Tuesday as Ryan Watson awaits a June 7 court appearance, according to recent GoFoundMe update.

We were trying to pack board shorts and flip flops. Packing ammunition was not at all our intent, Valerie Watson told CBS News.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Watson family for comment.

Heres what we know.

Future looks uncertain for Watson family, may never recover after this

Valerie Watson and her children are in limbo, waiting to find out how long her husbands sentence will be.

The couple was questioned and subsequently charged with possession of ammunition, a charge that keep you in a Turks & Caicos prison up to 12 years, minimum. They were stuck on the island without passports, unable to get back to their two young children which left Valerie Watson terrified.

We can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home. And this is such an innocent mistake that we didn't even know we weren't we didn't even know it was there. So yeah, my immediate thought was our kids and them being, you know, parentless for, for that long, she shared with NBC10, a television station in Boston.

Ryan Watson maintains that it was a bonehead mistake on his part, not knowing that the ammunition rounds he typically uses to hunt whitetail deer were in his bag, an NBC affiliate reported.

"We've already talked, and we're like, what if, you know, what if we lose our house? Which, when we moved to Oklahoma, we built a home that we thought was our forever home. And to think that this is going to ruin us Valerie Watson told the affiliate.

The sentiment is echoed by Ryan Watson, who says this is something that we may never recover from.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told USA TODAY Thursday that they are aware of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos.

When a U.S. citizen is arrested overseas, we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance  In a foreign country, U.S. citizens are subject to that countrys laws, even if they differ from those in the United States.

USA TODAY has reached out to The Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands for comment.

Other American tourists have faced a similar situation, Turks & Caicos government stiffens regulations

Barry Skolnick, owner of Grind Hard Ammo facility holds a shell casing on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

The Watsons arent the first American tourists to experience a similar situation in the Turks & Caicos.

Bryan Hagerich, a Pennsylvania resident is currently awaiting trial after ammunition was found in his carry-on in February, CBS News reported.

I subsequently spent eight nights in their local jail. Some of the darkest, hardest times of my life, quite frankly. These last 70 days have been kind of a roller coaster, just the pain and suffering of having your family at home and I'm here, Hagerich shared with CBS News.

Turks and Caicos Islands prohibits anyone, regardless of status or origin, to possess a firearm, ammunition, or any other weapon. The government issued a statement Wednesday on social media, writing that the Supreme Court is required to impose a mandatory minimum sentence and a fine for certain firearm offenses.

There can be exceptions made, but the court must still impose both a sentence of imprisonment and a fine that are in line with what the court would consider exceptional circumstances.

The government stiffened the penalties for firearm possession in February, noting that there were a handful of cases that the court found that there were exceptional circumstances leaving those accused tasked with paying a fine. One of those individuals was even given a custodial sentence below the mandatory minimum.

Eight firearms and ammunition prosecutions in total have been brought involving American tourists since November 2022, three of which are currently before the court with each of the defendants on bail, according to CBS News.

U.S. Embassy issues warning: Responsibility falls on you

A summer day at Grace Bay Beach at Providenciales, a Turks and Caicos Island.

Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the state department, addressed the arrest of U.S. citizens in Turks and Caicos in a recent press briefing, noting that the department put out a security alert in September of 2023 about the stringent restrictions on firearms in the Turks & Caicos.

So  but beyond that, we are aware of these reports, and we are continuing to engage and provide all appropriate consular assistance, he said.

In the days following the coverage of the Watson family, the U.S. Embassy Nassau urged all travelers headed to the islands to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing from the United States.

The embassy also reminded travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not mean they have permission to bring that weapon into the Turks and Caicos Islands

TSA screening in the United States may not identify ammunition in your baggage; it is your responsibility to ensure your baggage is free of ammunition and/or firearms, the embassy wrote. They also can not secure your release from custody, even if you brought the firearm in accidentally.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ammo found in bag on Turks and Caicos has Oklahoma man facing 12 years
By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) -The Biden administration on Friday delayed its plan to ban menthol cigarettes, a move that reflected the potential for a political backlash from Black voters in an election year.

For decades, menthol cigarettes have been in the crosshairs of anti-smoking groups who argue that they contribute to disproportionate health burdens on Black communities and play a role in luring young people into smoking.

About 81% of Black adults who smoked cigarettes used menthol varieties, compared with 34% of white adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the proposed ban had brought immense feedback including from parts of the civil rights and criminal justice movement.

"It's clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," he said in a statement that appeared to suggest it would not be sorted before the presidential election in November.

Shares of tobacco companies were muted following the news. Altria Group and British American Tobacco closed down marginally, while Imperial Brands' shares ended nearly 1% lower.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said his organization was outraged and disgusted by the political move.

"In an election year, politicians should be prioritizing people, not profiteers. Today's news from the Biden Administration is a blow to the Black community, who continue to be unfairly targeted and unjustly killed by Big Tobacco," he said.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, also expressed dismay over the delay. "Two full years after releasing proposed rules backed by extensive scientific evidence  and more than a decade since the FDA began examining menthol cigarettes  the administration has failed to take decisive action to remove these deadly, addictive products from the market."

"We strongly believe there are more effective ways to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes permanently," said a spokesperson for Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.

The spokesperson said that providing access to nicotine alternatives such as vaping products, "are critical in supporting adult smokers to migrate from combustible cigarettes."

Menthol cigarettes account for a third of the industry's overall market share in the United States.

The highly addictive products have been cited for their appeal to young smokers, as well as significant health impacts for Black communities.

Civil rights groups have contended for years that menthol cigarettes pose a disproportionately higher risk in Black communities, where they are heavily marketed.

Yolonda Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said last month that research showed eliminating menthol cigarettes would cut the number of young people who start smoking, increase the number of smokers who quit, and save up to 654,000 lives within 40 years, including 255,000 Black lives.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington and Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru, Emma Rumney in London and Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Sriraj Kalluvila and Bill Berkrot)
The US government has asked leading artificial intelligence companies for advice on how to use the technology they are creating to defend airlines, utilities and other critical infrastructure, particularly from AI-powered attacks.

The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that the panel its creating will include CEOs from some of the worlds largest companies and industries.

The list includes Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, but also the head of defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman and air carrier Delta Air Lines.

The move reflects the US governments close collaboration with the private sector as it scrambles to address both the risks and benefits of AI in the absence of a targeted national AI law.

The collection of experts will make recommendations to telecommunications companies, pipeline operators, electric utilities and other sectors about how they can responsibly use AI, DHS said. The group will also help prepare those sectors for AI-related disruptions.

Artificial intelligence is a transformative technology that can advance our national interests in unprecedented ways, said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in a release. At the same time, it presents real risks  risks that we can mitigate by adopting best practices and taking other studied, concrete actions.

Among the panels other participants are the CEOs of technology providers such as Amazon Web Services, IBM and Cisco; chipmakers such as AMD; AI model developers such as Anthropic; and civil rights groups such as the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

It also includes federal, state and local government officials, as well as leading academics in AI such as Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford Universitys Human-centered Artificial Intelligence Institute.

The 22-member AI Safety and Security Board is an outgrowth of a 2023 executive order signed by President Joe Biden, who called for a cross-industry body to make recommendations for improving security, resilience, and incident response related to AI usage in critical infrastructure.

That same executive order also led this year to government-wide rules regulating how federal agencies can purchase and use AI in their own systems. The US government already uses machine learning or artificial intelligence for more than 200 distinct purposes, such as monitoring volcano activity, tracking wildfires and identifying wildlife from satellite imagery.

Meanwhile, deepfake audio and video, which use AI to push fake content, have emerged as a key concern for US officials trying to protect the 2024 US election from rampant mis- and disinformation. A fake robocall in January imitating Bidens voice urged Democrats not to vote in New Hampshires primary, sounding alarms among US officials focused on election security. A New Orleans magician told CNN that a Democratic political consultant hired him to make the robocall. But there is concern that foreign adversaries like Russia, China or Iran could exploit the same technology.

It is a risk that is real, Mayorkas told reporters on Friday while discussing the AI advisory board. We are seeing adverse nation-states engaged and we work to counter their efforts to unduly influence our elections.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
NEW YORK  The eighth day of Donald Trump's New York hush money trial gave the former president's legal team their chance to attack the story prosecutors have so far told of Trump colluding with a tabloid executive to boost his 2016 presidential campaign.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified this week about an alleged scheme to catch and kill stories that could hurt Trump's 2016 presidential election chances. On Friday, Trump's defense attorney Emil Bove elicited testimony from Pecker that the tabloid had other motives for its actions besides helping Trump's campaign.

After Pecker's testimony concluded, the prosecution called former Donald Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Trump for alleged paramours and hush money recipients Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. She was cross-examined by Trump attorney Susan Necheles.

The prosecution then began examining its third witness, Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, before the trial concluded for the day. Cohen who allegedly orchestrated the payments to McDougal and Daniels.

Trump challenges Biden to debate in Michigan or at the White House

Former President Donald Trump responded to President Joe Bidens offer to debate by proposing meeting in Michigan or at the White House.

Biden told radio host Howard Stern on Friday he was willing to debate as part of the 2024 campaign, although he wasnt sure when. Trump immediately invited Biden to the New York courthouse, where he is on trial on charges of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn actress.

We can do it any time he wants, including tonight, Trump said. Were ready, willing and able.

Trump said the debate could happen any weeknight on national television. He suggested meeting in Michigan, to highlight criticism of what he argued was car manufacturers moving to China and elsewhere because of Bidens support for electric vehicles. Another option is where they both have lived.

Well do it at the White House, Trump said. That would be very comfortable, actually.

Bart Jansen

Who is Gary Farro?

Gary Farro is the former senior managing director at First Republic Bank.

Farro was assigned Michael Cohen as a client in 2015, as the banker had expertise managing individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro could be used to bring in email evidence about the payment issued to Stormy Daniels. CNN reported Cohen used money from his home equity line to cover Daniels' payment, and an email from a First Republic Bank employee confirmed the transfer.

Proceedings end for the day

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold said she reached a natural stopping point for the day in her questioning of Farro. The judge dismissed the defense and prosecution at 4:29 p.m. ET.

 Aysha Bagchi

Records for second transaction for Cohen also indicate no political fundraising connection

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to another possible transaction for Cohen. For this one, too, the form indicated the work wasn't related to political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC).

 Aysha Bagchi

Form for Cohen's planned account indicated no relation to political fundraising

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to an account Cohen was trying to open. The form asked if the entity tied to the planned account was associated with political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC). The box indicating "no" was checked. Farro confirmed if the box indicating "yes" had been checked, the bank would have needed to do additional review.

The particular account for that form was never opened, Farro testified.

 Aysha Bagchi

Cohen needed account for new LLC 'immediately' in October of 2016

Prosecution witness Gary Farro is being asked about emails concerning Michael Cohen's efforts in October 2016 to get an account opened at First Republic Bank for a new limited liability company. Cohen said it was related to real estate, according to Farro.

According to an email from October 13, 2016, Cohen needed an account "immediately." Farro said on the stand that it wasn't unusual for Cohen to say he wanted something done immediately.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecution witness who worked with Cohen asked about emails

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold is asking Gary Farro, who said Michael Cohen was his client at a bank, about emails that went through the bank's server. It sounds like Farro could be used as a witness to bring in email evidence.

 Aysha Bagchi

Michael Cohen was Farro's client at bank

Farro testified that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was assigned to him as a client at First Republic Bank in 2015. Farro said he was told he was chosen to take over the Michael Cohen relationship because of Farro's knowledge and his ability to handle individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro later added: "Frankly, I didn't find him that difficult."

 Aysha Bagchi

Third prosecution witness called: Gary Farro

The prosecution has called its third witness, Gary Farro. He is discussing his experience in the banking industry. In 2016, he was a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he said.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump re-enters courtroom after short break

Trump re-entered the courtroom at about 3:32 p.m. EST. We are still waiting for the judge and the jury.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump stands and extends arm for handshake as Rhona Graff exits courtroom

Graff's testimony ended and, as she was getting off the witness stand, former President Donald Trump stood up, moved toward where she would need to walk to exit the courtroom, said something to her, and extended his hand for a handshake. A court officer obstructed my view of their hands, but she appeared to look at him warmly.

Before that, Graff testified that she didn't want to be at the court proceedings.

Graff was using a cane. She appeared to walk at a normal pace. She was wearing black pants, a black top, a black cardigan, and a long, gold-colored necklace.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Rhona Graff?

Rhona Graff is Donald Trump's former executive assistant and the second witness called to the stand in his criminal hush money trial.

She was known as Trump's "gatekeeper" for decades before he became president, several outlets reported. Politico also said she helped with Trump's personal schedule during his first campaign.

Graff was subpoenaed in Trump's New York civil fraud case, according to NBC News. She was also called on by the House Judiciary Committee to submit documents for a 2019 investigation into Trump.

Kinsey Crowley

Graff recalls Stormy Daniels casting discussion for Celebrity Apprentice

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testified to remembering a discussion about potentially casting porn star Stormy Daniels on The Celebrity Apprentice.

 Aysha Bagchi

Judge and lawyers privately talk after 'Celebrity Apprentice' raised

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles began asking former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff about the show, "The Celebrity Apprentice." After Necheles began to ask Graff about Trump's beliefs when it came to potentially boosting the show by having controversial people on it, the prosecution objected and there was a private conversation between the lawyers and the judge at the judge's bench, after which Necheles shifted to a new question.

Stormy Daniels has previously described having sex with Trump as he seemed to be dangling the possibility of casting her on "The Apprentice" of "The Celebrity Apprentice." Trump denies they had sex.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff testifies to positive memories working for Trump

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff if Trump was a good boss. Graff responded that he was a fair and respectful boss to her. Graff confirmed Trump promoted her and gave her responsibility. Asked whether Trump respected her intelligence, Graff responded: "I don't think I would have been there for 34 years if he didn't."

Graff also said she was given a good spot for witnessing Trump's presidential inauguration.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecutor ends questioning of second witness

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger ended her brief questioning of Graff. Defense lawyer Susan Necheles is now cross-examining Graff.

 Aysha Bagchi

Stormy Daniels was in Trump reception area, witness recalls

Graff said she has a "vague recollection" of seeing porn star Stormy Daniels in the reception area of the 26th floor of a Trump building.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff confirms creating entries for Trump of Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels contact information

Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Donald Trump of contact information for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. The McDougal information, which was displayed in redacted form in the courtroom, included a phone number and email address, while the Daniels information included a cell phone number. The Daniels entry was labeled "Stormy" and Graff said she believes that was Stormy Daniels.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff may be used by prosecution to bring in evidence

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking Graff about her awareness of various pieces of potential evidence. For example, Graff confirmed the Trump Organization server captured and saved emails during the ordinary course of its business. Graff also confirmed contact and calendar information tied to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal was saved.

 Aysha Bagchi

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testifying

The prosecution has called former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. She is testifying about her responsibilities when it came to the Trump Organization and Trump's calendar.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker testimony ends with Trump lawyer's attempt to focus on family, not 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his re-cross-examination of David Pecker by asking Pecker to confirm he knows Trump cares about people, including his family. Pecker said he understands that. Bove then asked Pecker to confirm he understands that things discussed at this trial  presumably hush money to women who allege they had affairs with Trump  were stressful when it came to the Trump family. Before Pecker could answer, Judge Merchan sustained an objection from the prosecution. The nature of the objection wasn't explained, but it may have been an objection to speculation from a witness.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump lawyer conducting cross-examination of Pecker again

Trump lawyer Emil Bove is asking Pecker questions again in his opportunity to conduct re-cross-examination.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker re-direct ends with comment on truthfulness

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass ended his re-direct questioning of Pecker  an opportunity to question a witness again after cross-examination  by asking Pecker if anyone from the New York Attorney General's office ever told him to be anything other than truthful. Pecker said he was told to be truthful on any question he is asked. "And only be truthful," Pecker added.

Just before that question, Steinglass was pointing Pecker to past statements in order to establish Pecker has been consistent over time on many statements.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump's eyes closed extensively although he appears awake

Former President Donald Trump has his eyes closed for very extensive periods as Pecker continues to testify this afternoon, although Trump appears to be awake. I just counted to 107, with the word "Mississippi" in between each number, until Trump opened his eyes at all. He opened them only briefly. Occasionally, Trump is shifting his head left or right, or giving a slight facial expression that appears to react to Pecker's testimony. His eyes are still closed.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker says he first learned phrase, "catch and kill," from press

When Trump lawyer Emil Bove was cross-examining Pecker, Bove suggested Pecker learned of the phrase "catch and kill" from the investigative or prosecuting work behind this case. But prosecutor Joshua Steinglass noted a news article that Pecker was aware of that used the phrase. Pecker then said he first learned the phrase from the press.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump re-enters courtroom ahead of afternoon witness testimony

Former President Donald Trump re-entered the courtroom at 2:12 p.m. EST, following the lunch break. Prosecution witness David Pecker is set to re-take the stand soon.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Karen McDougal?

Karen McDougal is a former Playboy model.

National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc. (AMI) paid McDougal $150,000 in 2016 for the rights to her life story, including an alleged 10-month affair with Donald Trump starting in 2006. (Trump denies the allegation.)

Former Trump lawyer and convicted felon Michael Cohen negotiated the payment she received as part of a "catch and kill" strategy to block negative stories about Trump while he ran for president.

She is expected to take the stand, though the prosecutors have not shared the official witness list.

Who is Judge Juan Merchan?

New York Judge Juan Merchan who is presiding the first criminal trial in history of a former president, is no stranger to the defendant, Donald Trump.

Merchan presided over a 2022 tax-fraud trial of two parts of the Trump Organization, in which the companys former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, was convicted for not reporting $1.7 million in benefits, and he sentenced Weisselberg to five months in jail.

Trump has attacked Merchan as biased on the grounds that Merchan's daughter works for a marketing firm with Democratic politicians as clients, and he has twice unsuccessfully moved for Merchan to recuse himself from the case. Merchan has refused, citing the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics finding that the judge's impartiality couldn't be reasonably questioned based on his daughter's work.

Trump's attacks spurred Merchan to expand a gag order to limit his commentary about the family members of people involved in the trial. On the second day of the trial, Merchan chastised Trump for speaking to prospective jurors.

Merchan has been a felony judge for 15 years.

-Bart Jansen

Court breaks for lunch

Judge Juan Merchan halted proceedings for a lunch break. Trump exited the courtroom at 1:01 p.m. EST.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker agrees Karen McDougal's story would have sold magazines

Pecker confirmed in response to Steinglass's questioning that, had he published a story that a Playboy model had an affair with a presidential candidate while the candidate was married, it would have sold magazines. Pecker seemed to have a slight chuckle in his throat as he confirmed that.

 Aysha Bagchi

Steinglass trying to show actions weren't normal for tabloid company, were for Trump campaign

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been trying to push back on Trump lawyer Emil Bove's effort to distance Pecker's actions from Trump and the Trump campaign.

In response to questions from Steinglass, Pecker confirmed it wasn't standard operating procedure for AMI  the National Enquirer's parent company  to be communicating with a presidential candidate's fixer about amendments to an agreement. Pecker also confirmed this was the only time he coordinated with a campaign, and that he ran more attack articles against Trump's opponents when their polling numbers rose.

Pecker did say he didn't run negative Trump stories in earlier times because he and Trump were friends. But he agreed with Steinglass that, before the agreement at Trump Tower with Trump and Cohen in August of 2015, AMI never agreed to be the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign.

 Aysha Bagchi

Read the AMI contract with Karen McDougal

McDougal contract left out a lot of details, Pecker confirms

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been going over the contract between Karen McDougal and National Enquirer parent company AMI, which Trump lawyer Emil Bove also asked David Pecker about.

Pecker said the lawyer who reviewed the contract only billed for 30 minutes of work. Pecker also confirmed the contract didn't mention anything about Trump reimbursing Pecker, about a plan to re-assign the rights over McDougal's story to Trump or Michael Cohen, or about the alleged agreement between Pecker, Cohen, and Trump to catch and kill stories in order to help the Trump 2016 campaign.

 Aysha Bagchi

Cross-examination of Pecker ends

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his cross-examination of David Pecker, the prosecution's first witness. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now asking Pecker questions again.

 Aysha Bagchi

AMI didn't admit to a campaign violation in conciliation agreement, Pecker confirms on cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove suggested that Pecker testified inaccurately yesterday by saying the National Enquirer's parent company, AMI, admitted to a campaign violation. In a conciliation agreement, AMI said it wasn't contesting that its arrangement when it came to buying former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story of an affair with Trump constituted a prohibited corporate campaign contribution.

Bove pointed Pecker to this language in the agreement: "Solely for the purpose of settling this matter expeditiously and avoiding litigation, with no admission as to the merit of the Commissions legal conclusions..."

That language came before specific details on the agreement.

"That's different from an admission, right?" Bove asked Pecker. "Yes," Pecker responded.

 Aysha Bagchi

Why is Trump lawyer Bove asking about campaign violations?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got prosecution witness David Pecker to confirm that the National Enquirer's parent company didn't admit to a campaign violation in a non-prosecution agreement Pecker signed. The company did pay a $187,500 civil penalty as part of a separate agreement not to contest having committed a violation.

It's an important issue for the defense because, in order for Trump to be convicted on the felony charges, prosecutors have to prove Trump not only falsified business records, but also that he did so to commit or conceal another crime. One of the prosecution's theories is that Trump was trying to conceal that he violated federal campaign finance laws by making a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels via his attorney Michael Cohen to benefit his campaign. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to a violation of federal campaign contribution limits for making the payment.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker confirms AMI didn't admit to campaign violation in non-prosecution agreement

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got David Pecker to say American Media Inc., the parent company to the National Enquirer, didn't admit to a campaign violation in its non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors. In that agreement, the company and its representatives were promised they wouldn't be prosecuted for a campaign violation if they cooperated and gave truthful testimony and information.

However, Pecker also described yesterday a separate conciliation agreement between the company and prosecutors, in which the company agreed not to contest that it committed a campaign violation. As part of that agreement, AMI agreed to pay a $187,500 civil penalty to the Federal Election Commission.

 Aysha Bagchi, Bart Jansen

More: Donald Trump's strange split-screen moment: SCOTUS immunity case and hush money trial clash

Bove suggesting Pecker has been under pressure

Trump lawyer Emil Bove appears to be trying to establish David Pecker has been pressured by law enforcement investigative work. Bove had Pecker describe being visited by FBI agents, and then asked about pressure on Pecker at later meetings with investigators, although Pecker said he had legal representation and felt okay.

Bove also got Pecker to confirm that American Media Inc's non-prosecution agreement gave the company helpful protection as a business.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker describes 2018 FBI visit to home

Trump lawyer asked Pecker about his interactions with the FBI. Pecker said three FBI agents visited his home on April 9, 2018. They didn't search his house, but they took his phone.

 Aysha Bagchi

Proceedings re-start

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's cross-examination of David Pecker started again at 11:35 a.m. EST, after a short morning break.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Michael Cohen?

Michael Cohen is the longtime lawyer and political fixer for Trump, but he has become an open critic of him in recent years.

In 2016, Cohen paid $280,000 to silence two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump in 2006. "Everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr. Trump," Cohen said at a House hearing.

David Pecker, the first witness on the stand for the hush money trial, has testified he frequently communicated with Cohen about stories regarding Trump and his opponents leading up to the 2016 election.

Kinsey Crowley

Court taking a short break

The judge announced a short morning break. After jurors exited, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said he thinks he has less than an hour of cross-examination left. The prosecution may choose to ask David Pecker some further questions after the cross-examination. Trump exited the courtroom at 11:15 a.m. EST.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker sounds meek as he responds to cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's tone on cross-examination isn't exactly friendly, but it also isn't terribly aggressive. David Pecker is largely agreeing to every point Bove tries to make, which have largely focuses on distancing Trump from the actions of Pecker and the media companies Pecker was running.

Still, Pecker has sounded strikingly meek in the tone of his answers today, sometimes almost as if he is mumbling. He testified yesterday that he still considers Trump a friend. He is now testifying against that "friend" about details he shared with prosecutors under an agreement to protect the company he used to run, American Media Inc., from prosecution.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump trial transcripts available online

New York courts announced Monday it would publish the trial transcripts and copies of the evidence shown to the jury.

Transcripts of proceedings aren't always available, but officials decided to make them available due to "unparalleled public interest."

Monday and Tuesday's proceedings are currently available on the New York State Unified Court System's media website. Evidence shown to the jury, including texts, emails and photos, are also available from Tuesday's and Thursday's proceedings.

Kinsey Crowley

What is AMI?

American Media Inc. (AMI) is the parent company of the tabloid National Enquirer.

David Pecker, the first witness called in the trial, was the CEO and President of AMI when he met with Trump and Michael Cohen to talk about how the publication could help Trump's first presidential campaign.

The National Enquirer bought Karen McDougal's life story but refused to pay for Stormy Daniels', Pecker testified Thursday.

Kinsey Crowley

Who is Emil Bove?

Emil Bove is one of Trump's lawyers, part of the criminal defense team along with Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles. He is cross-examining the first witness, David Pecker.

Bove is a former federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Emil is an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation and his trial skills are among the best in the business, Blanche said in a statement provided to Politico.

Trump eyes closed for extended period

Trump's eyes have been closed for an extended period during Pecker's testimony, even though he doesn't appear to be actually asleep this morning. Trump's eyes were closed as I counted to 40 with the word "Mississippi" in between each number. In general, I've seen Trump's eyes closed for extended periods especially during the mornings of the trial. I saw him struggling to stay awake last Friday, April 19  with his head repeatedly dropping and his mouth at one point agape. Other reporters have also seen him appear sleepy in the courtroom.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump Media stock price

At open on April 26, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. shares rose to $40, up 3.92% from the previous close.

--Kinsey Crowley

Pecker confirms desire for Sajudin story was self-interested

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got Pecker to confirm that walking away from Dino Sajudin's story wouldn't have made business sense to Pecker's media company, American Media Inc. (AMI). AMI paid Sajudin $30,000 for the story that Trump fathered a child with a housekeeper. The company later concluded the story was false.

"It would be too great a loss to AMI" to lose to lose control of the story if it were true, "right?" Emil Bove asked. Pecker said yes.

 Aysha Bagchi

Bove suggests public knew Pecker was helping Trump before 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove displayed to the jury a portion of a Wall Street Journal article that ran days before the 2016 presidential election. The portion states: "Since last year, the Enquirer has supported Mr. Trumps presidential bid, endorsing him and publishing negative articles about some of his opponents."

Bove got Pecker to confirm that statement showed the Enquirer's support for the 2016 Trump campaign was publicly known prior to the election.

 Aysha Bagchi

Bove trying to distance Trump from Pecker's actions?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove has gotten David Pecker to confirm the National Enquirer was already running stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton before the August, 2015 meeting Pecker has already described about assisting the Trump 2016 campaign through The National Enquirer's coverage.

Pecker also confirmed that The Guardian published an article in May of 2015 about several malpractice suits against Dr. Ben Carson, who was a political opponent of Trump's in the Republican primaries ahead of the 2016 election. Pecker confirms having recycled photos from that article in The National Enquirer's own coverage of the malpractice suits.

The questions may be aimed at suggesting to the jury that Pecker's coverage of political issues wasn't shaped by Trump.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump lawyer asks about Hope Hicks presence in Trump Tower meeting

Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove started his cross-examination for today by asking David Pecker about Hope Hicks' presence at an August, 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. Hicks was the Trump campaign's communications director for the 2016 election, and also held high-level roles in Trump's White House. Pecker previously testified that he, Michael Cohen, and Trump agreed to a scheme at the Trump Tower meeting to catch and kill stories that could hurt the 2016 Trump campaign.

In response to Bove, Pecker confirmed Hicks was in and out of the Trump Tower meeting. Pecker also confirmed he doesn't remember Hicks speaking during that meeting.

 Aysha Bagchi

Jurors enter courtroom, instructed on witness-prosecutor meetings

The jurors entered the courtroom at 9:41 a.m. EST. Witness David Pecker entered about a minute earlier. Judge Merchan just briefly instructed jurors on how it's normal for prosecutors to meet with witnesses ahead of trial. Trump lawyer Emil Bove questioned Pecker yesterday about having met with prosecutors several times before his current testimony.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump now says he will testify 'if it's necessary'

The former president is starting to equivocate on whether he will testify in the hush money trial.

"I would if it's necessary," Trump said a telephone interview Thursday with Newsmax.

Trump, who once said he would take the stand, told Newsmax television that "there is no case," suggesting that he might not testify after all.

-David Jackson

Trump wishes wife Melania happy birthday from hush money trial

Former President Donald Trump wished his wife Melania a happy birthday Friday while complaining about being stuck at his New York hush money trial for allegedly hiding payments to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had sex with him while he was married.

I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday. It would be nice to be with her, but Im in a courthouse for a rigged trial.

Trump said he would join his wife in Florida after the trial wrapped up for the day.

--Bart Jansen

Judge Merchan arrives in courtroom

Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom right at the 9:30 a.m. EST start time. As usual, he said a general good morning to the trial teams and a specific "Good morning, Mr. Trump" to Trump.

Merchan also announced that a hearing over alleged gag order violations by Trump will be held next Thursday at 9:30 a.m. EST

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump arrives in the courtroom

Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom for Day 8 of his criminal trial at 9:26 a.m. ET. We are still waiting for the judge.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecution team arrives for Day 8 of trial

The lead trial prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office arrived in the courtroom at 9:18 a.m. EST. We are still waiting for the defense team and the judge.

 Aysha Bagchi

Today is Melania Trump's birthday. Where is she?

Melania Trump turns 54 today. She hasn't attended any of her husband's criminal trial so far.

Melania Trump was furious when she first learned of reports in early 2018 that her husband paid off porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair, according to The New York Times. She left Washington for Florida, and when she returned for her husband's State of the Union address, she took a separate car.

If she were at the trial, she would likely be spared some embarrassing testimony. Judge Juan Merchan issued a tentative ruling last week that Melania Trump's pregnancy during an alleged affair between former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Trump can't be shared with the jury. McDougal also received a hush money payment.

Trump denies the affairs with both McDougal and Daniels.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is David Pecker, first witness in Trump trial?

David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirers parent company, wraps up a week of testimony Friday as the first witness in Donald Trumps hush money trial.

Pecker, 72, the former CEO of American Media Inc., described himself as a friend of Trumps from the 1980s until 2018, in the aftermath of revelations about the company paying to silence derogatory stories about Trump as he ran for president the first time.

Pecker testified the first payment was $30,000 to a doorman at Trump Tower who was peddling a story that never ran about Trump having an illegitimate child  even though Pecker knew it was absolutely 1,000% false.

Pecker also testified about paying $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for a story that never ran. McDougal claimed a year-long affair with Trump in about 2006, while he was married. Trump denied the affair.

But as Pecker coordinated with Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, he refused to pay $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Cohen has testified he arranged the payment himself.

Trump is charged with falsifying business business records to hide his reimbursement to Cohen for Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty and says he didnt know about paying off the women.

--Bart Jansen

What is Trump on trial for?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office allege Trump falsified the purpose of checks to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in order to conceal a conspiracy to unlawfully interfere in the 2016 presidential election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump has pleaded not guilty, and also denies Daniels' claim that the pair had sex in 2006.

 Aysha Bagchi

What happens if Trump is found guilty?

Some legal experts believe Trump could face jail or prison time if convicted on all 34 counts, while others believe he would likely only receive probation. Several experts told USA TODAY they would expect a sentence that ranges from no jail time to up to four years in prison. No one predicted Trump would be forced to serve an incarceration sentence before his appeal ran out.

Each felony count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but New York caps such sentencing for these types of felonies  known as Class E felonies  at 20 years.

 Aysha Bagchi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump on trial Day 8 recap: prosecution calls Michael Cohen's banker
Law enforcement authorities on Thursday cracked down on pro-Palestinian protesters at Atlanta's Emory University campus using tear gas, tasers and rubber bullets, according to media reports.

Organizers of the demonstration criticized authorities for the attack by local and state police on protesters Thursday at a tent encampment set up on the campus.

"The Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta Police Department, and Emory Police Department all bear responsibility for this overt act of terrorism," they said in a statement.

"Despite the violence authorized by Emory President Greg Fenves and Dean of Campus Life Enku Gelaye, protestors continue their action on campus and call for the broader Atlanta community to join them," it added.

Police and Emory said protesters refused to leave the scene when they moved in, threw "objects." Authorities said officers used a taser on at least one protester  twice  and employed pepper balls, but did not confirm that tear gas was used, Atlanta's WSB-TV 2 reported.

Emory insisted in a statement that protesters were "largely not affiliated with Emory, and were disrupting the university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals."

This is "completely unacceptable," the statement added. "The Emory Police Department notified these individuals that they were trespassing. When they refused to leave, law enforcement cleared the quad."

Similar scenes have unfolded on college campuses nationwide as students pressure universities to divest from Israeli businesses and for the federal government to cease its support for Israel's military actions amid the barrage in the Gaza Strip that has killed some 34,000 Palestinians.

Israel launched the attacks after more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds of hostages taken in an assault by Hamas in early October.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp defended the police action at Emory. But Democrati Rep. Hank Johnson said he was disturbed by the involvement of the Georgia State Patrol, and noted that students have a First Amendment right to peacefully express their positions.
Serve Calvados as a digestif or as an unexpected addition to a round of Espresso Martinis.

Sabrina Tan / Food & Wine

What Sets Calvados Apart from Other Apple Brandies



Wherever you are in the United States, theres a decent chance youve started to notice Calvados popping up on bar menus.

Per theCalvados Spirits Council, the American market is now the second largest export market for this French brandy. As Calvados continues its trajectory toward a greater presence in American bars, its important to understand a few specifics, like what makes this French product different from American apple brandy.

What is Calvados?



Calvados must be made in certain areas of the Northern French region of Normandy, with about 300 producers. Similar to other French products like wines and cheese, it also has an Appellation dOrigin Controlee(AOC) a government-controlled certification with an exact set of rules that ensures the origins, traditional methods, and specific ingredients are followed during production.

Calvados is made mostly from apples, with an allowance for a small amount of perry pears, a term used for small, tannin-packed pear varieties used to make cider. All fruit used also must be grown in Normandy. The pulp is pressed into a must, fermented, distilled into eau-de-vie, and aged in French oak barrels for at least two years, though it is often aged longer. Things get more specific from there for each appellation.

According to Guillaume Drouin, who owns and operates Calvados Christian Drouin with his father Christian in Pont-l'Eveque, France, the terroir of the different apples and pears used sets Calvados apart from other apple brandies. It is like comparing Champagne to a sparkling wine, he says.

Calvados appellations

Sabrina Tan / Food & Wine



There are three different Calvados distinctions within Normandy. Pays dAuge, the strictest of the Calvados appellations was created in 1942. Calvados AOC was established in 1984 and is the largest area where Calvados can be produced. In 1997, the Domfrontais region, known for its high proportion of pear trees, became a recognized AOC.

Pays dAuge

The apples and pears for Calvados produced in this appellation must come from certain areas to the north and east of the region, and the final result can only have a maximum of 30% pear juice. Double distillation in a Charentais pot still is required, along with a mandatory minimum of two years of aging in French oak barrels.

Calvados AOC

This appellation area covers a large swath of the lower Normandy region. There isnt a mandatory distillation method required for the generic Calvados AOC  can be a single distillation in a column still or double in a pot still. Also, there arent any rules as to the percentages of pear juice used. However, this appellation requires two years of aging before bottling.

Domfrontais

Drouin says this appellation applies to the smallest area where most producers make Calvados with more pears than apples  at least 30% pear juice is required. The Calvados must be distilled once, in a column still, and aged for a minimum of three years.

What does Calvados taste like?

At its core, Calvados is distilled cider, so you can expect those apple flavors, plus some pear, to really shine.

As Drouin mentions, Calvados is a vehicle for the terroir of different apple and pear varieties. Apples might be bitter, bittersweet, sweet, or sharp, and producers can play with different varieties to find a unique balance.

Younger Calvados will express those fruit flavors more brightly and true to form, while Calvados thats been aged longer will start to take on more apple pie characteristics.

Sabrina Tan / Food & Wine

How to pair Calvados with food

The best place to start when pairing Calvados with food is with other delights from Normandy. The region is known for its cheese, and Christian Drouin worked with Meilleur Ouvrier de France fromager Laurent Dubois to create pairings like Calvados Christian Drouin Hors dage with Comte 30 mois daffinage, Calvados Christian Drouin XO with Charolais, and Calvados Christian Drouin Reserve with Pont lEveque, Livarot, Camembert.



Calvados also works especially well with desserts like brownies or of course, apple pie, sealing its status as an essential after-dinner drink. In fact, a neat pour of Calvados or a bit of Calvados in coffee can be a dessert in and of itself.

Related: Braised Chicken with Apples and Calvados

How to drink Calvados

The traditions around how Calvados is enjoyed have changed over time.

Drouin points to ciders 12th-century origins in Normandy, and the first written mention of distilling cider into eau-de-vie in 1553. The name Calvados developed after the French Revolution in 1790 when people still drank the eau-de-vie unaged.

Usually barrel-aged eau-de-vie was used to celebrate a wedding, birth, or special occasion, says Drouin....Only with the establishment of the appellations did aging become a necessary and defining element.

In the 1950s and 60s, the most common way to drink Calvados was by adding a few centiliters to coffee to make Cafe-Calva.

Today, Calvados is often enjoyed as a digestif at the end of the meal, but the apple brandy is also used in cocktails alongside ingredients that highlight its particular blend of sweetness, bitterness, fruitiness, and warmth. Coffee is a rich, decadent partner to Calvados, while brighter ingredients such as lemon juice and tonic bring out those apple and pear notes.

Sipping a spirit neat is a great way to get to know it, and Calvados lends itself perfectly to standalone enjoyment. Drouin recommends combining it with tonic water and a slice of apple for a fresh and fruity long drink, but Calvados also does well neat in a Glencairn glass (a traditional whiskey-tasting glass with a tapered top to concentrate aromas), where different flavors will develop as the liquid slightly warms.



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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Two of former President Trumps legal cases collided Thursday, as the Supreme Court held a hearing on his broad claims of immunity from criminal prosecution while his trial continued in New York over a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

The Supreme Court case has the capacity to derail Trumps other three proposed trials  for alleged offenses relating to the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, the retention of sensitive information at his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago, and attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia.

Special counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor In the Jan. 6 and Mar-a-Lago cases, had pressed the Supreme Court to make a swift determination on the immunity question, to no avail. Smith asked back in December for the court to decide the issue swiftly  at a time when Trumps trial was scheduled for March.

The justices instead let the process play out at its regular speed  an advantage for Trump.

Less advantageous to the former president are the proceedings in New York, where reporters in the court say he has sometimes seemed exasperated to have to sit through the re-airing of allegations of lurid personal conduct.

Here are the main takeaways from the two proceedings

A good day for Trump at the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court hearing, the more important matter Thursday, broadly went Trumps way.

The only negative for Trump was that the justices appeared skeptical of the broadest argument made by his team  that a president or ex-president enjoys virtually unlimited criminal immunity for any action committed in office.

But against that, several of the courts six conservative justices appeared eager to draw a distinction between official acts and private acts  and seemed inclined to offer the president protection from prosecution for the former, at least.

They pressed the Department of Justices lawyer Michael Dreeben hard on whether past presidents could, hypothetically, have been prosecuted for specific acts taken while in office.

Justice Samuel Alito asked whether former President Franklin D. Roosevelt could have been prosecuted for infringing the civil rights of Japanese Americans by interning them during World War II. Today, yes, Dreeben responded.

Justice Clarence Thomas drew a similar hypothetical over Operation Mongoose, a clandestine CIA-led effort in the early 1960s to depose the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro.

The general tenor of the conservatives arguments drew implicit rebukes from their liberal colleagues.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked John Sauer, representing Trump, Why is it that the president would not be required to follow the law when he is performing his official acts?

Justice Sonia Sotomayor complained that the principle that no one is above the law in his official or private acts has been somewhat put into suspicion here.

But, with conservatives holding a 6-3 majority, the odds favor Trump and his team.

Time  and delay  are Trumps friends

There was another positive for Trump in the Supreme Court hearing.

The apparent willingness of the conservative justices to emphasize a distinction between private and official acts opens the door to further delay in the underlying trial on Jan. 6-related charges.

Two of the three justices Trump appointed during his term  Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh  suggested that more hearings could be required to adjudicate the distinction when it comes to the specific charges in the former presidents indictment.

Trump wants to kick as many of the trials as possible past the date of the presidential election.

If Trump were to win the presidency for a second time, he could order the Department of Justice to drop any federal cases against him.

Notably, he does not have that power over state cases, such as the New York hush money trial and the Georgia election probe.

But Trumps legal team made some startling claims

Under questioning from Sotomayor, Trumps lawyer made some startling arguments.

The most striking of all was to suggest that a president could enjoy criminal immunity for killing a rival.

Sotomayor laid out the hypothetical where the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military, or orders someone, to assassinate him. She then asked, Is that within his official acts for which he can get immunity?

It would depend on the hypothetical, Sauer responded before adding that it could well be an official act.

The suggestion caused instant uproar on social media and was met with immediate condemnation from some quarters.

Understand what the Trump team is arguing here, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on social media. Take it seriously and at face value. This is not a game.

In New York, a clash with Trump rallies

In New York, ongoing legal battles continue over whether Trump violated a gag order in social media posts that have attacked various adversaries.

Prosecutors are arguing that the former president has violated the gag order 10 times, and they want the court to levy a $1,000 fine in each instance. Trumps team has contended he is simply responding to claims made by others.

Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled another court date on the matter for Wednesday  typically the day off from trial proceedings in the case.

The complication is Trump has rallies scheduled for that day in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Its the most direct example yet of how the legal cases are intersecting with Trumps efforts to win back the White House.

An unusual warmth toward a damaging witness

The first week of actual trial proceedings in New York has been dominated by former magazine executive David Pecker.

Pecker has outlined how the National Enquirer, the tabloid of which he was previously publisher, bought stories that could have been damaging to Trump with the intention of quashing them.

There seems little doubt that Peckers evidence has helped the prosecution more than the defense, so it was somewhat incongruous to hear Pecker say he considers Trump a mentor and for the former president to return the warmth.

The quick-to-anger Trump called Pecker a nice guy, leaving some observers scratching their heads.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Rep. Peter Meijer, who lost his House seat after voting to impeach then-President Donald Trump, has dropped out of a crowded Republican Senate primary in Michigan.

Angela Benander, a spokesperson for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, confirmed to NBC News that Meijer withdrew his candidacy ahead of a Friday afternoon deadline.

"I got into this race because I believed I had the strongest chance of winning in November to work to right this ship and reverse trendlines that have only gotten worse over these past months," Meijer said in a statement.

"The hard reality is the fundamentals of the race have changed significantly since we launched this campaign," Meijer, who had filed campaign petitions earlier in the week, added. "After prayerful consideration, today I withdrew my name from the primary ballot. Without a strong pathway to victory, continuing this campaign only increases the likelihood of a divisive primary that would distract from the essential goal  conservative victories in November."

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who has been endorsed by Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has in recent months consolidated GOP support ahead of an August primary that also includes former Rep. Justin Amash, entrepreneur Sandy Pensler and physician Sherry ODonnell. James Craig, a former Detroit police chief who had been viewed as a top contender for the nomination, dropped out of the race earlier and endorsed Rogers.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin is the front-runner in a Democratic field that also features actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun.

Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow is not seeking a fourth term. Her retirement has set up whats expected to be a competitive race in a presidential battleground.

Meijer, given his past criticism of Trump and his vote to impeach him after the January 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, had always been viewed as a long shot. Amash, another Trump critic whom Meijer succeeded in Congress, had voted to impeach Trump in 2019.

But Meijer had sought to soften his stance on Trump, acknowledging in a Politico interview last year that he was prepared to vote for whomever Republicans nominated for president in 2024. Trump has won enough delegates to secure the nomination.

Trump responded Friday night to Meijers withdrawal, citing his support for impeachment.

Once he raised his very little and delicate hand to Impeach President Trump, his Political Career was OVER! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Last time he lost in the Primary to a nice, but unknown, person, and now he lost to a GREAT Candidate, Mike Rogers, who will easily WIN the Nomination, and go on to WIN the Senate, BIG, in Michigan.
Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi has been given a death sentence for his involvement in the widespread protests that swept Iran in 2022, according to his lawyer.

An order for the execution of Toomaj Salehi has been issued, Salehis lawyer Amir Raesian tweeted Wednesday.

The rapper has been detained, held in solitary confinement and was allegedly tortured following his arrest.

In an unprecedented move, a court in Isfahan reversed the higher Supreme Courts decision on Salehis case on Tuesday, upholding the original verdict of corruption on earth and issued the maximum punishment of death, according to Iranian pro-reform outlets Shargh and Entekhab.

State media said Salehis sentence is subject for reduction by a pardoning committee if he appeals again.

Salehi, 32, who has been critical of the Iranian regime and outspoken against the government in rap lyrics and on social media, was briefly released from prison last year before police violently rearrested him and sent him to prison in Isfahan, witnesses said at the time.

He was rearrested after appearing in a video where he revealed that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022, UN experts said in a statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Another artist, Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin, who was also arrested at the height of 2022s protests in Iran, was transferred to a psychiatric hospital two times in less than a year, according to pro-reform news outlet IranWire.

A court in Tehran sentenced Yasin to five years in prison, according to group focused on Kurdish human rights, Hengaw.

Demonstrations swept the country after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which occurred under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. A brutal crackdown on the protests by Iranian authorities targeted the weeks-long protests.

We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehis death sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. We call for their immediate release, the United States Office of the Special Envoy for Iran tweeted. These are the latest examples of the regimes brutal abuse of its own citizens, disregard for human rights, and fear of the democratic change the Iranian people seek.

UN experts also demanded Salehis release and urged Iranian authorities to reverse the death sentence.

We are alarmed by the imposition of the death sentence and the alleged ill-treatment of Mr. Salehi which appears to be related solely to the exercise of his right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity, the experts said.

Salehis political sponsor in Europe, German Member of Parliament Ye-One Rhie, called the death sentence against Salehi absurd and inhumane.

It is still completely unclear how this verdict came about, she tweeted Wednesday. It is unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats defendants. It is impossible to recognize the rule of law in the chaos of the courts in charge.

CNNs Mostafa Salem contributed reporting.

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The silver wedding anniversary ceremony was held at the Church of San Domenico in Palermo. - MARCO SIMONI/COLLECTION MIX

A notorious Sicilian mob boss was allowed to celebrate his silver wedding anniversary in the church where a top mafia investigator was buried after his murder in a car bombing.

Catholic clerics in Palermo were left embarrassed by the revelation and claimed they had no clue about the identity of Tommaso Lo Presti, a convicted mafioso nicknamed the glutton who was recently released from jail after 12 years behind bars for a range of mafia-related offences, including extortion, drug dealing and illegal betting.

Lo Presti and his wife Teresa Marino, who were described by one Italian newspaper as Cosa Nostras most famous couple, renewed their vows at a lavish ceremony in the Church of San Domenico in the historic heart of Palermo on April 15. He wore a dark suit while Marino was in a flowing white lace dress.

The church is the second most important basilica in the city after the Palermo cathedral.

Teresa Marino was convicted for running her husband's criminal activities while he was in jail. - ANSA

It is also the final resting place of Giovanni Falcone, a crusading anti-mafia prosecutor who was assassinated by the Cosa Nostra in 1992.

In one of Italys most infamous murder cases, a powerful bomb was detonated under Mr Falcones car as he travelled on a road near Palermo. His wife and three of his bodyguards were also killed in the attack. Two months later, his colleague Paolo Borsellino, another celebrated investigator, was also murdered.

Friends and relatives of the mafia couple watched them renew their vows just a few feet from a memorial to Mr Falcone, lauding him as a hero in the fight against the mafia.

Father Sergio Catalano, the rector of the church, said that he had no idea who the couple were when he conducted Mass for them.

How could I have known? he told the Italian media. Its not as if I can ask for an anti-mafia certificate from people who come to the church. Its not us who should be responsible for carrying out checks  they should be carried out by institutions of the State.

He said he only found out their identities after the event from news reports.

The couple had left a generous donation and the money will be used to help people who are in need, the priest said.

After the renewal of their vows, the couple threw a party for friends and relatives but it ended early Lo Presti is under curfew restrictions and has to spend each night at home.

Marino, the mother of five who became a grandmother at 38, was convicted of running her husbands criminal activities while he was behind bars.

In 2014, after Lo Prestis arrest, a judge explained the role played by his wife, saying that while he was in jail, she received at her home all the prominent members of the mafia district of Porta Nuova [an area of Palermo] and gave them instructions and directions on behalf of her husband, sharing with them criminal strategies. Mafiosi came to her to resolve internal issues and tensions with the organisation.

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Jeannie Mai has detailed incidents of alleged abuse from Jeezy amid their divorce.

Mai's domestic violence claims were included in the latest filing in the estranged couple's divorce case, which was submitted in Georgia's Fulton County Superior Court Thursday and reviewed by USA TODAY.

The former "The Real" daytime TV host's filing is in response to the "Soul Survivor" rapper's request earlier this month for the court to void the temporary agreement the couple had in place amid their divorce proceedings, which temporarily resolves issues such as a parenting plan for their 2-year-old daughter, Monaco.

In the document, Mai details her concerns for Monaco's safety, should Jeezy be allowed to spend time with their child without the temporary order they'd previously agreed to be in place.

In her latest filing in her divorce case, Jeannie Mai detailed alleged domestic violence by Jeezy and claimed their daughter is not safe at his house due to unsecured firearms.

According to the filing, both parties signed a mediated agreement in February, which in part requested that Jeezy provide an inventory of all the firearms in his home and ensure they are secured before he has parenting time with their daughter. Mai claims he has "refused" to do so and made the case that their child is not safe with her father due to past instances of alleged abuse against Mai.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Thursday, Jeezy wrote, "The allegations are not only false but also deeply disturbing, especially coming from someone I loved."

What Jeezy's said: Rapper asks court for "structure" for daughter, Mai files counterclaim

"This malicious attempt to tarnish my character and disrupt my family is ridiculous. It's disheartening to witness the manipulation and deceit at play and at this time my main concern is being an active father to our daughter as I continue to fight for court mandated joint custody," he added. "Rest assured, the truth will prevail through the proper legal channels."

USA TODAY has reached out to Jeezy's representatives for comment.

Jeezy filed for divorce from Mai after two years of marriage in September, citing an "irretrievably broken" marriage with "no hope for reconciliation."

Jeannie Mai claims Jeezy has been 'neglectful' of their 2-year-old daughter

In her 117-page filing, Mai asks the court to uphold the mediated agreement both parties signed in February and require Jeezy to address the issue of firearm inventory and storage.

"Due to (Jeezy's) past outbursts of physical violence and verbal abuse against (Mai) and his eldest son, (Mai) has valid concerns as to (Jeezy's) ability to appropriately parent a small child," the document states.

She claims Monaco found an assault rifle in a zipped-up Louis Vuitton bag left on the dining room floor in 2023 and that his 6-year-old daughter found his guns in various locations in the kitchen. Mai says Jeezy has been "neglectful of properly supervising" their daughter during his visitation time, including when he allegedly left her "seemingly unattended" to perform at the CMG Gangsta Art Tour in November 2023.

However, with Jeezy's recent reassurance that the assault rifle is not inside his Atlanta home, Mai said the two are arranging parenting time in May.

In a December filing before their mediated agreement on temporary issues, Jeezy asserted that while he doesn't think Mai is "acting maliciously or with specific intent to harm," he believes she "has acted as a gatekeeper when it comes to (Jeezy) exercising parenting time."

Jeezy accused Mai in a previous filing of being a

Jeezy claims that Mai has interfered with his relationship with Monaco  though not maliciously, he reiterates  which is "causing confusion and tension between the parties and is working to stifle the development of" his relationship with his daughter.

Mai hit back at these claims in her April 25 filing, claiming Jeezy created a "false narrative wherein he attempts to villainize the mother of his child."

She rejected claims that she withheld Monaco from her father, alleging the father and daughter spent time together in November and December 2023 as well as in February and March. Mai added that he was prevented from seeing the 2-year-old upon "his failure to abide by the terms of the parties' mediated agreement."

In his divorce filing, Jeezy requested joint custody of Monaco.

Jeannie Mai says Jeezy struck her face, pushed her down stairs

"(Jeezy) has a history of threats, violence, and bodily harm," Mai's filing reads.

"(Mai) mistakenly believed (Jeezy) when he convinced her prior to their marriage that he was a changed man, and his past was in his past, but as one can see from the examples of abuse (Mai) endured during the marriage that has not turned out to be the case."

In her filing, Mai shares three instances of domestic abuse in 2022, including a time when Jeezy allegedly struck her face with a closed fist after asking the driver to leave them alone in a car in Miami in January 2022. Following the alleged incident, she says, the two contacted their pastor and therapist for counseling.

She also said she'd reported another alleged violent incident that took place inside a car to the couple's therapist.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.

Safe Horizon's hotline (safehorizon.org) offers crisis counseling, safety planning and assistance finding shelters (800-621-HOPE (4673). It also has a chat feature where you can reach out for help from a computer or phone confidentially.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeannie Mai claims Jeezy abused her, neglected child in divorce filing
DETROIT  A Michigan man who owns and operates a Clinton Township building that exploded in March, killing a teenager and injuring a firefighter, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Noor Noel Kestou, 31, was arraigned on the 15-year felony charge in connection with the explosions on March 4 at Goo Smoke Shop/Select Distributors, where the incident rocked residents for miles in the county. Thousands of cans of nitrous oxide and butane were inside the building, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said.

Canisters propelled into the air and rained down throughout the area, with various types of debris found more than a mile away.

Turner Salter, 19, of Clinton Township, a bystander, died after he was hit in the head with a projectile about a quarter mile from the business. According to prosecutors, the teen was struck by a nitrous oxide canister. Township firefighter Matt Myers was also injured when debris came through the windshield of a vehicle and glass clipped the side of his face, officials previously said.

Kestou was ordered held in the county jail on a $500,000 bond during an arraignment in Clinton Township. A not-guilty plea was entered, according to district court records.

If Kestou posts bond, he must wear a GPS tether, surrender his passport, not leave the state, and have no weapons, according to the prosecutor's office release. A probable cause conference was set for May 7.

Kestou's attorney, James Thomas, said they are not commenting on the particulars of the case. He expected Kestou to make bond Thursday, and said they are going to continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the site.

"It's a terrible tragedy, and we're going to let it work its way through the courts," Thomas said.

Debris from the explosions at Select Distributors can be seen across 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Butane, nitrous oxide, lighter fluid and vape pens exploded during blaze

Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in his release: "Our hearts ache for the family and loved ones of the young man whose life was tragically cut short by this devastating explosion. We are steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice and holding the individual accountable for their actions."

Lucido, Township Supervisor Bob Cannon and Township Police Chief Dina Caringi plan to give an update on the explosions and fire during a news conference Friday at the township's police headquarters. A township news release Thursday stated the explosions and fire were caused by improperly store canisters of butane and nitrous oxide and the update will focus on the results of the ongoing police investigation.

Township officials previously said the site, a former Save-A-Lot retail and warehouse store, wasn't supposed to have butane and nitrous oxide tanks inside. They said butane and nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, vape pens and canisters measuring 12 to 18 inches and weighing 10 to 15 pounds exploded during the blaze.

Canisters as well as knives and blades that were inside the building were tossed into the air, raining down on police and fire crews as well as other properties. Cannon previously said the knives were legal, the canisters were not.

See photos of the blaze Fiery explosion leaves one dead and others injured in Michigan

'That's where the problem came'

Cannon said two commercial businesses were authorized to be in the building. Township property records listed three owners of parcels at the address. Township officials inspected the property in 2022, "then they brought things in the back door that we didn't know about and that's where the problem came," Cannon said previously.

According to its website, Select Distributors is a wholesale supplier of novelty items, phone accessories and other merchandise to discount stores and other types of retailers and wholesalers.

Paul Brouwer, the township's emergency management coordinator, previously said the debris field from the blaze and explosions was 1 mile across and dozens of canisters were found embedded in yards. Scott Kleinfeld, the township's assistant superintendent of public works, previously said crews gathered debris from a 2-mile radius.

Township officials previously said the owner and employees had been cooperative in the investigation.

In mid-March, a spokesperson for Select Distributors emailed a statement: "Select Distributors is deeply saddened and expresses its sincerest condolences to the victim's family. It is actively cooperating with investigators as they work to determine the cause of the accident. Select Distributors has been a proud employer and member of this community for over a decade and is focused on ensuring safety and support of its team members and community."

Contact Christina Hall at chall@freepress.com or follow her on X @challreporter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Deadly Michigan building explosion: Man charged with manslaughter
A Michigan woman facing eight charges stemming from a crash that killed two children at a boat club was released Thursday on a $1.5 million bond, according to the jail and her attorney.

Marshella Chidester, 66, is accused of slamming an SUV into the Swan Boat Club, where a birthday party was taking place on Saturday about 30 minutes southwest of Detroit. Two children died and over a dozen others were injured, with several still hospitalized.

The Newport, Michigan, woman was released two days after she was arraigned in Monroe County District Court on the charges, which include two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of driving while intoxicated, causing death.

Two siblings, 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips, were killed. Their mother, Mariah Dodds and her 11-year-old son survived, though he's facing serious injuries including broken legs and ribs and a fractured skull.

Mariah Dodds is seen in a photo with her children, Alanah and Zayn Phillips.

Chidester suffers from 'epileptic type seizures,' attourney says

Bill Colovos, Chidester's attorney, argued in court that his client suffers from "epileptic-type seizures" in her legs and that she only had one glass of wine the day of the crash.

Upon Chidester's release Thursday, Colovos emphasized that a medical issue caused the crash, adding that his client suffers from neuropathy, "blacked out" from a seizure and is "very remorseful."

"She feels absolutely horrible. To black out, then all of the sudden be told that two young children were killed. Colovos told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "It's like a bad dream you wake up from."

Chidester started having the seizures in November and a doctor told her to stop driving for two months, but did not restrict her further, Colovos said in court earlier this week.

Marshella Chidester, 66, of Newport, talks to her attorney Bill Colovos during her arraignment at First District Court in Monroe on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Alcohol breath test exceeded legal limit, prosecutor says

Monroe County prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey said in court that a preliminary alcohol breath test was "significantly over the legal limit" but did not specify what the results were. Colovos said he is still waiting on a medical report that would determine his client's blood-alcohol level around the time of the crash.

"Believe me, I'm waiting for it," Colovos said.

Yorkey asked for the $1.5 million cash bond, pointing to what he says is a history of "severe substance abuse."

Judge Christian Horkey agreed to the bond and set conditions upon her release: Chidester is prohibited from consuming alcohol or any illegal substances and is not allowed to drive. She must undergo substance abuse testing and monitoring, which includes wearing a tether, Horkey said.

Bill Colovos, attorney for Marshella Chidester, 66, of Newport, speaks during Chidester's arraignment at First District Court in Monroe on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Mother sues nearby restaurant Chidester visited

Dodds filed a lawsuit against Chidester and the restaurant that police say Chidester was drinking at earlier in the day of the crash. The business temporarily closed after the crash due to the police investigation.

The lawsuit accuses Chidester of gross negligence, alleging she drove into the north wall of the boat club fast enough to enter about 25 feet inside the building until her car stopped.

The lawsuit also accuses the restaurant of selling Chidester alcohol while she was visibly intoxicated.

Angie Huffman, who said her mother owns the restaurant, confirmed in an email to the Free Press that Chidester visited the restaurant at 11 a.m., saying she had one glass of wine and a bowl of soup. Huffman said she's confident the police investigation will show the restaurant is "not at fault."

Family receives over $224,000 in donations

A GoFundMe for the family was linked at the club's website and raised over $224,000 as of Thursday. The funds will go toward funeral and burial costs, as well as future medical and other incurred expenses as the family mourns.

In an update Tuesday, the page said funeral service arrangements are on hold until the parents "are in a more stable condition for such decisions and planning."

Monroe County Sheriff's deputy Cody Carena takes photos of a truck on Sunday, April 21, 2024 that was allegedly struck by an alleged drunk driver before she smashed through a wall at the Swan Boat Club during a child's birthday party in Newport on Saturday.

Contributing: Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Woman charged in death of 2 kids in boat club crash released on bond
Yeya L./Yelp

Beyond the Burrito

Mexican food is so popular in the United States that tacos and salsa are as ubiquitous as hamburgers and ketchup. But there's a huge amount of other traditional Hispanic food to explore, from lesser-known regional Mexican specialties to stews developed on a Chilean archipelago and everything in between. Here are some popular Hispanic foods from Spanish-speaking countries you probably don't know about, but will want to try ASAP.

Jestin Korsgaard/istockphoto

1. Pupusas

Origin: El Salvador

A pupusa is a thick, round cake made of corn masa flour and cooked on a griddle. They're eaten without utensils as a snack, but can become a meal when filled with savory ingredients such as beans, cheese, and pork. Curtido, a spicy cabbage slaw, and red salsa usually accompany them as condiments. They are the national dish of El Salvador, and there's even a National Pupusa Day the second Sunday of November.



For more great meal ideas and grocery tips, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Frances H./Yelp

2. Pepitos

Origin: Venezuela

You can get these sub-like sandwiches packed with beef or chicken, cheese, and all kinds of toppings all over Venezuela. They're a popular street food, and practically anything goes with fillings, from corn kernels to crispy potato sticks. No matter what, there will always be lots of sauces inside, from a vibrant green avocado salsa called guasacaca to pink sauce (known as salsa rosada), a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise.

Related: 11 Top Latin American Restaurants Across the U.S.

baleada

3. Baleadas

Origin: Honduras

A relative of the pupusa and quesadilla, baleadas are thick flour tortillas folded in half and filled with mashed red beans. Cheese, scrambled eggs, and crema are also common fillings, though meats and other ingredients sometimes make appearances. They're eaten at all times of the day and often sold from street vendors.



arturogi/istockphoto

4. Torta Ahogada

Origin: Mexico

A sandwich especially popular in Guadalajara is drowned in a spicy, brightly colored sauce made with chiles de arbol. The torta ahogada is made with a crusty roll so when it's dipped or covered in sauce, it doesn't fall apart. It's generally filled with fried pork and topped with raw onions and radishes. A less spicy version is sometimes available with a sauce made with tomatoes  and becoming more common in the U.S.

Alpgiray Kelem/istockphoto

5. Cochinillo Asado

Origin: Spain

Cochinillo asado is a Spanish roasted suckling pig. Pigs no older than 5 weeks are used, roasted whole on a spit in an open brick oven. The meat is fall-apart tender, with very little fat and crispy skin. It comes at a steep price, so it's normally a meal reserved for special occasions in restaurants.

Ariadna126/istockphoto

6. Tlayudas

Origin: Mexico

Likened to a Mexican pizza, tlayudas are made with a thin, crispy corn tortillas the size of a dinner plate. They're griddled and topped with layers of refried beans, asiento (unrefined pork lard), cheese, shredded cabbage, strips of meat (or chorizo in some cases), and usually a sprinkle of red salsa. You can find them in Oaxaca where they originate, but also increasingly in the U.S.

Related: 15 Memorable Things to Do in Oaxaca, Mexico's Culinary Capital

jrroman/istockphoto

7. Tostones

Origin: Probably Puerto Rico

Plantains are ubiquitous in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, and one of the best snacks made with them are tostones. Slices of green plantain, which is more like a potato than a banana, are fried until soft, smashed into a flat disc, and fried again until crispy. Sometimes they're served with garlic dipping sauce, and sometimes whole plantains are cooked in the same manner and used in place of bread for a sandwich called the jibarito. Tostones likely originated in Puerto Rico, though they're popular all over the Caribbean and Latin America.

Related: 12 Things You Didn't Know About Puerto Rican Food Culture

pot of pepian still on the fire but ready to be served

8. Pepian

Origin: Guatemala

Practically the national dish of Guatemala, pepian is a meat and vegetable stew that's a blend of Mayan and Spanish cuisines. It usually contains chicken, though beef and pork can be used, along with roasted tomatoes, tomatillos, and spices to create a thick sauce. Vegetables such as corn on the cob and carrots are often added, as are fruits such as pears.

ALLEKO/istockphoto

9. Ropa Vieja

Origin: Cuba

Cuba's signature dish is ropa vieja, which translates to "old clothes." It's much more appetizing than that name sounds. It consists of shredded beef that's falling into shreds, kind of like worn-out clothes (though the name may also come from the tendency to make the dish with leftovers). The meat is stewed with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, spices, and olives, and served with rice to soak up the delicious sauce. Most Cuban restaurants in the U.S. make it.

Jupitersounds/istockphoto

10. Tortilla de Patata

Origin: Spain

Not to be confused with the corn or flour tortillas of Mexico, a tortilla in Spain is a tapa made of eggs and potatoes, similar to a frittata. Whisked eggs and cooked potatoes are combined in a skillet with plenty of olive oil and cooked until firm. It can be served hot, but is most often cut into small squares and served at room temperature as a bite-sized snack in a tapas bar.

ALEAIMAGE/istockphoto

11. Peruvian Ceviche

Origin: Peru

While many people are familiar with Mexican ceviche, the seafood dish is just as popular in Peru  with a few distinctions. Fresh fish is marinated in a strong lime juice (or other citrus), often with the bright yellow aji amarillo chile, then served with fat kernels of boiled or toasted corn, chunks of sweet potato, and a pile of shaved red onion on top. The juice, called leche de tigre, is sometimes served in a small glass alongside for drinking.

maogg/istockphoto

12. Cochinita Pibil

Origin: Mexico

Carnitas and a generic pork option are found all over Mexican restaurant menus in the U.S., but cochinita pibil is a much more interesting, flavorful variation that's not as ubiquitous. It's a dish from the Yucatan that's made by slow roasting pork in banana leaves with bright red achiote, sour orange, garlic, and other spices. Thanks to the acid in the marinade and slow roasting, the pork is tender and succulent. It's usually served with pickled red onions and a bright, searing habanero salsa.

zianlob/istockphoto

13. Andalusian Gazpacho

Origin: Spain

The chunky, salsa-like dish that passes as gazpacho in the U.S. is often much different than the gazpacho in Spain's Andalusia region. There, it's a smooth, cool soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables at the peak of summer. It's thickened with stale bread, making for an almost creamy texture. Drizzles of peppery olive oil and sherry on top are musts.



Related: Eat Seasonal and Save: When to Buy Fresh Produce Year-Round

LarisaBlinova/istockphoto

14. Lomo Saltado

Origin: Peru

Lomo saltado is a delicious example of chifa cuisine, the food cooked by Chinese immigrants to Peru with local ingredients. It's a stir-fry made in a wok with strips of beef, onions, tomato wedges, soy sauce, and aji amarillo paste served with rice. French fries are served either alongside or tossed into the stir fry. It's a unique blend of Chinese (wok cooking, soy sauce, rice) and Peruvian (potatoes, aji amarillo) influences.

Yeya L./Yelp

15. Mofongo

Origin: Puerto Rico

Mofongo is a starch lovers dream. Green plantains are fried, then mashed in a wooden tool called a pilon (like a mortar and pestle). It's mixed with copious amounts of garlic, salt, and often chicharron  fried bits of pork. The dense mixture is shaped and served topped with all kinds of meats and sauces, though it's fantastic plain as a side dish as well. You can find this savory, garlic-filled staple at any Puerto Rican restaurant, though it hasn't made the jump to mainstream American cooking yet.

cuanto with meat, seafood, and potatoes

16. Curanto

Origin: Chile

A dish from the Chilean archipelago of Chiloe might just be one of the world's oldest recipes. Archaeologists found a 6,000-year old cooking pit there with what held an early form of curanto, a stew made with various meats, seafood, and potatoes. Nowadays, it's still cooked in a pit covered with rhubarb leaves and dirt to seal in the heat and cooking juices. It contains whatever meat and seafood are on hand, plus sausage and potato dumplings.

pxhidalgo/istockphoto

17. Encebollado

Origin: Ecuador

Ecuador's national dish is encebollado, a fish stew. It's generally made with albacore tuna, though other types of fish can be used, along with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro in a brothy sauce. Boiled cassava or yuca (the same plant tapioca comes from) is used as a starch, with pickled red onions being crucial to the mix.

carlosrojas20/istockphoto

18. Choripan

Origin: Argentina

South America's version of hot dog carts sell choripan, a sandwich of grilled chorizo sausage served in a bun or crusty bread roll. In Argentina, it's served on the streets and outside sporting events. The chorizo can be topped with lots of different sauces, but green, herbal chimichurri made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar is a popular choice.

nehopelon/istockphoto

19. Tequenos

Origin: Venezuela

The South American cousin to mozzarella sticks, tequenos make a great snack or party appetizer. Many types of cheese can be used, but squeaky, firm queso blanco is most common  a stick of it is wrapped in a pastry-like bread shell and deep fried. It's a natural dipping item, so it's often served with guasacaca, guacamole, or pink sauce.

Beatriz Montes Duran/istockphoto

20. Morir Sonando

Origin: Dominican Republic

With a name that translates "to die dreaming," morir sonando is a drink that has much to live up to. It's made from a blend of orange juice, sugar, evaporated milk or other dairy, and crushed ice. It's reminiscent of a dreamsicle, and must be made expertly or it will curdle. When it doesn't, it's incredibly refreshing in the hot Caribbean sun.

Fotoatelie/istockphoto

21. Mate

Origin: Paraguay

Originally enjoyed by the Guarani tribe in Paraguay, mate is a traditional beverage now enjoyed in many places in South America. It's made by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in hot water like tea  though unlike tea, it's not strained before being served in dried gourd. A metal straw with a strainer on the end is used to drink the caffeinated beverage without ingesting the leaves. It is the national drink of three countries: Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

gabrielabertolini/istockphoto

22. Alfajores

Origin: Argentina

The history of alfajores, a sandwich cookie, travels from the Arab world to Spain, then to South America. The cookies are extremely popular in Argentina  small and round and, though most often held together with a filling of dulce de leche, coming in many flavors. The cookies are often rolled in shredded coconut as well.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

Yeya L./Yelp

More From Cheapism
TEL AVIV  An NBC News investigation into seven deadly airstrikes has found Palestinians were killed in areas of southern Gaza that the Israeli military had explicitly designated as safe zones.

The attacks took place from January to April, as Israels military bombarded Rafah from the air and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government signaled its intent to launch a full-scale ground invasion on Gazas southernmost city, which has now swelled to more than 1 million people.

NBC News camera crews filmed the bloody aftermath of the six strikes on Rafah itself and one strike farther north on the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, which was also designated safe by Israel.

The crews compiled the GPS coordinates of each strike, all of which hit an area identified by the Israeli military as an evacuation zone in an online interactive map it published on Dec. 1. The map has not been updated since then and the Israel Defense Forces told NBC News in a statement Sunday that it remained accurate.

International aid agencies and Gazans have called the map confusing and difficult to read. Regular cellular and internet blackouts since the start of the war would also have made it difficult for civilians to access it.

Sari Bashi, Human Rights Watchs program director, said in an interview that the incidents highlighted in NBC News investigation are not isolated.

People are fleeing to roads that the government told them to use to places where the Israeli government told them to go, said Bashi, who has tracked the humanitarian impact of Israels military offensive in Gaza. And when they go there, they get killed.

On Dec. 18, the IDF dropped leaflets that identified Rafahs Tal Al Sultan and Al Zuhur neighborhoods, as well as Al Shaboura, home to a large refugee camp, as safe, and told residents to go there. NBC News found that all three locations have been hit by airstrikes since then.

Israeli officials have repeatedly said that Hamas uses hostages and civilians as human shields. Netanyahu, along with other Israeli officials, have also said Israeli forces do their utmost to prevent civilian casualties.

Health officials in Gaza say more than 34,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza during the six-month war, which began after Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead and saw over 240 people taken hostage. Netanyahu has repeatedly promised to invade Rafah to ensure the destruction or elimination of Hamas. Thats caused growing alarm over the safety of civilians who have taken shelter there.

A map shared by IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee shows territories that civilians should evacuate in the Gaza strip. (@AvichayAdraee via X)

NBC News found that Rafahs Tal Al Sultan neighborhood, which was designated safe in leaflets dropped by the IDF on Dec. 18, was targeted less than a month later, on Jan. 9. Relatives said that 15 people died in a strike on the Nofal family home.

Many of my cousins were killed, one of the survivors, Ahmed Younis, told an NBC News crew in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Younis added that he had moved to the house believing it was safe but there is no safe area. The house fell on our heads.

A little over a month later, on Feb. 12, a strike hit the Al Shaboura refugee camp, which had also been listed as a safe zone on an IDF leaflet. An NBC News crew filmed dozens of dead bodies, some women and children, in the aftermath of the strike, one of several in Rafah that night.

A building in Al Shaboura was also leveled by an air attack on April 20. Among the dead was Sabreen Sakani  who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time. Her baby, Sabreen Alrouh Joudeh, was born an orphan after doctors were able to perform a posthumous cesarean section and rescue her from her mothers lifeless body.

NBC News cameras captured the moment doctors revived the newborn. Her short life ended Thursday when she died after struggling with respiratory problems.

Rafah Baby Sabreen Jouda born after mother was killed (Mohammad Jahjouh / AP)

Areas that senior Israeli officials publicly stated were safe were bombed as well. On Nov. 4, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told a news briefing in Tel Aviv that there would be no attacks on Al-Mawasi, a narrow strip of beachside land in the city of Khan Younis, promising that anyone will be in a safe place in that location. After Jan. 1, the IDF advised people on X to evacuate to Al-Mawasi 11 times.

But Israeli forces repeatedly launched strikes on the area. On Jan. 4, 14 people died, among them three children who perished when their tent was hit by a strike, Palestinian officials said. Footage taken by an NBC News crew less than an hour later showed a large crater.

If Al-Mawasi is not safe, where should we go? No one is protecting us, said Kamal Saleh, who witnessed the strike that killed 14 people in total.

NBC News sent the IDF the GPS coordinates for the seven strikes it identified in safe zones. The IDF replied in an email that it was not aware of any strike at the provided coordinates and times, for a March 26 strike on the Tal Al Zuhur neighborhood. It did not respond when asked about the six additional coordinates.

The IDF also blamed Hamas for telling people to ignore its directives to move. It said in a follow-up email that it would act against Hamas wherever it operates, with full commitment to international law, while distinguishing between terrorists and civilians.

Bashi, of Human Rights Watch, said that Palestinians have tried to follow the Israeli instructions. People evacuate, people use the roads they were told to use, they go to the place they were told to go and then they get hit by an airstrike or by a ground force invasion, she said.

There is nowhere safe in Gaza, she added.
California firefighters battled a massive fire that erupted Thursday at a former restaurant on the city's historic pier.

A vacant restaurant at the end of a Southern California pier was engulfed in flames Thursday afternoon, sending a column of smoke billowing over the pier.

The fire at Oceanside Pier in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, broke out at around 3 p.m. at or near a building that once housed Ruby's Diner. A fish shack at the end of the pier, Brine Box, said its staff was safely evacuated.

"What's happening on the pier is sad and scary. We want you to know that our team is safe," Brine Box wrote on Instagram. "Our Brine Box team was working out on the pier today serving fresh local fish and veggies to our awesome community. Chef Rachel saw smoke coming up from underneath the pier, behind the old Ruby's building and called 9-11. Thankfully, everyone was evacuated safely."

JUST IN: Massive fire breaks out at the historic Oceanside Pier in California about 40 min north of San Diego city.



The fire appears to be at the location of Ruby's Restaurant, a diner which is permanently closed.



Fire fighting boats are on the scene however they are having a pic.twitter.com/7LMPiF72bP  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 25, 2024

The Oceanside Fire Department said firefighters worked to contain the blaze to the end of the pier, which is nearly 2,000 feet long and was built in 1888. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted, fighting the fire from the water, while helicopters from Cal Fire and San Diego Gas and Electric dropped water from above.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the fire department said the fire was contained to the end of the pier and that firefighters were making "good progress." In an update shortly after 8 p.m., the fire department said it was still working the fire, and that crews "will remain working through the night to ensure it remains confined to the end of the pier."

The City of Oceanside said there were no injuries reported.

"All people working on and visiting the Pier were accounted for," the city said in a statement. "Fire inspectors are on scene and we should know more about the cause of the fire in a few days."

-- with reporting by TMX
A Colorado paramedic was sentenced to four years of probation Friday for his role in the killing of Elijah McClain, bringing a close to the yearslong effort to prosecute those involved in the Black pedestrian's death.

Jeremy Cooper, a one-time Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic, had faced up to three years in prison following his conviction on Dec. 22 for criminally negligent homicide.

Cooper's sentence, imposed by District Judge Mark Warner, also included 14 months' work release and 100 hours of community service.

Before issuing the term, Warner said body camera videos of McClain's deadly interaction with police were "painful to watch."

The judge said that while Cooper injected McClain, 23, with more Ketamine than protocol for a person his size, the paramedic has shown he's "contrite," dedicated his life to helping others and was not likely to commit crimes in the future.

Former Aurora Fire Department paramedic Jeremy Cooper enters the Adams County Justice Center on Dec. 22, 2023, in Brighton, Colo. (David Zalubowski / AP file)

Before he was sentenced, Cooper said he wanted to address McClain, and at times, cried, while speaking about how he wished McClain were alive.

"I want you to know that I would give anything to have a different outcome, Elijah. I never meant for anyone to hurt you," Cooper said. "I wanted to take over your care, and I was scared. I believe you needed immediate medical attention. I wanted to calm the situation down. I wanted my presence to be enough and my skills and training to be enough. I am so sorry, collectively, that we all failed you."

McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, addressed the court before sentencing. She said Cooper will be forever judged by what he failed to do for her son.

Elijah McClain. (Courtesy Mari Newman)

"Jeremy Cooper did not check for my sons pulse. Jeremy Cooper did not conduct a thorough examination to see if my son was breathing normally. Jeremy Cooper did not interact with my son or ask my son how he was doing," she said.

"Jeremy Cooper heard my son talking and was there for my sons last words. But Jeremy Cooper just stood there ... Nothing Jeremy Cooper can say will bring back my son or remove my sons blood from his hands."

Friday's sentencing was the final trial court action against first responders who were accused of playing a role in McClain's death.

McClain was walking home on Aug. 24, 2019, when police in the Denver suburb stopped him.

McClain was put in a chokehold and paramedics administered 500 milligrams of ketamine to sedate him before he went into cardiac arrest on his way to the hospital.

He was taken off life support on Aug. 30.

Local prosecutors initially declined to charge first responders. Gov. Jared Polis assigned a special prosecutor in June 2020, in the midst of national civil rights protests following the police slaying of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Then on Sept. 1, 2021, two years after McClain died, state prosecutors announced that a grand jury had returned indictments against three police officers and two paramedics.
A plane crashed onto the Tanana River around seven miles south of the Fairbanks International Airport Tuesday, April 23, 2024

A pilot in the plane crash that killed two people in Alaska attempted to return to the airport before hitting the ground.

The two people onboard the vintage military plane Tuesday were delivering 32 gallons of heating fuel when one the aircraft's wings caught on fire, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft took off from Fairbanks International Airport at 9:55 a.m. and was headed around 300 miles away to Kobuk, Alaska before signaling an emergency. The plane crashed about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday into the Tanana River, about seven miles south of the airport, the NTSB said in a statement Wednesday.

"On its return to the airport, it experienced an explosion on the wing and crashed on the frozen Tanana River," NTSB said.

The aircraft caught fire after it "slid into a steep hill on the bank of the river," troopers said.

Recovery efforts underway

NTSB is investigating the crash of a Douglas DC-54 airplane near Fairbanks on April 24. Preliminary information indicates that the plane was being as a Part 91 fuel transport flight.

A plane carrying two people crashed into the Tanana River in Alaska Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Investigators are interviewing witnesses, collecting video evidence and meeting with the operator to gather more information. Officials are recovering the aircraft to an offsite facility for further examination.

A preliminary report will be available within a month including information uncovered so far in the investigation. The final report detailing the cause of the crash and contributing factors is expected to be released within 12 to 24 months.

Plane was a military aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB identified the plane as a Douglas C-54, a military aircraft known to have been used during World War II.

The plane fits a flight crew of three and offers standard passenger seating for 44 with a maximum of 86, according to Airliners.net, a community of aviation photography enthusiasts. Most of that type of aircraft have been altered to freighters, the group says.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pilot in Fairbanks plane crash tried to return to airport after fire
A scrapped Boeing 727 has been converted into an Airbnb in England. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

An entrepreneur has converted a 56-year-old Boeing 727 into an Airbnb in Bristol, England.

Named PYTCHAir, the jet was bought without wings, engines, or a tail  but kept its lavish interior.

The Airbnb can host at least four people and is about $438 a night with a minimum two-night stay.

Most commercial airplanes end their life in aircraft "graveyards," where they are disassembled and discarded or recycled.

Some, however, are rescued by entrepreneurs and repurposed into everything from hotels and restaurants to dive sites and art installations.

The latest converted airplane is a 56-year-old Boeing 727 in Bristol, England, that's been repurposed as an Airbnb and is now owned by British-Australian businessman Johnny Palmer.

Known as PYTCHAir, the luxe jet is already getting bookings into May and June.

Palmer declined to share with BI the cost of the now colorfully painted aircraft but said he got a discount because the 727 didn't have wings, engines, or a tail.

With or without wings, the magic lives inside the plane, Palmer said. It has a lavish interior previously outfitted by an ultrawealthy owner. Palmer said he has since restored PYTCHAir into a livable space with a kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

"We've treated this as a restoration project rather than ripping everything out and changing it  and why would you?" he said. "It's beautiful; it's totally raw 1980s billionaire kitsch."

The Airbnb requires a minimum two-night stay and starts at 350 British pounds  or about $438  a night, so at least $876 for a two-night stay.

PYTCHAir started life as a commercial jet flying for Japan Airlines and defunct German leisure carrier Hapag-Lloyd Flug between 1968 and 1981.

People gather for the first view of the new Boeing 727 in Washington, which was developed for the short-to-medium haul market. -AFP/Getty Images

The Boeing 727 tri-jet is a rarity in the skies these days and is mostly used only by world militaries and cargo companies.

Iran Aseman Airlines was the last passenger carrier to operate a 727 when it flew two hours between the domestic cities of Zahedan and Tehran in 2019.

The plane was converted into a private jet in 1981 by an unknown owner. Palmer told BI the original cabin has an Arabian flare.

The original design as it was before Palmer purchased the plane. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said the interior design, including some of the shapes used, suggested that a Saudi family might have originally outfitted the plane.

The Airbnb listing described the interior as having "walnut paneling, gold details, and crystals" that "adorn this exquisite space ideal for nights away."

The plane jumped to a few more ultrawealthy owners before ending up wingless in a scrapyard in England, where Palmer bought it.

Johnny Palmer with the 727 in 2021. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The aircraft, which was just a fuselage, was acquired from Cotswold Airport in Kemble, England. The on-site "boneyard" breaks down old airliners and sells off the avionics and engines.

The airport is also home to a retired British Airways Boeing 747 that has been converted into a "party plane" for birthdays and other private events.

He was then faced with the task of moving the plane from Cotswold to its home in Bristol.

The aircraft was transported via motorway to Bristol. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said the plane was transported via the M5 motorway and required a police escort.

"They closed the motorway for us to go down," he said. "That was fine for us but not so good for the motorists stacked up behind."

Palmer said the high-class interior was left in its original configuration and that he brought in a car detailer to wash, polish, and vacuum.

This is the same living space previously pictured but after the sprucing up and renovations. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He said he spent "tens of thousands" of dollars to restore the interior, on top of the cost of the jet itself.

Palmer said if the aircraft-to-Airbnb conversion proves financially viable, he'd consider adding another converted airplane to his fleet.

But the lighting, sound, and plumbing needed work, he said.

Palmer said that a modern Boeing Business Jet of similar stature would cost at least $50 million. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

To get the jet up and running, Palmer said he repaired the lights, fitted the aircraft with a new sound system and high-speed internet, and replaced its 110-volt electrical system with a 240-volt one.

And he had to create a structure from shipping containers to hold the jet in place.

PYTCHAir is located at a multi-use facility called Skyline Park, which hosts the Airbnb and other spaces like a film set. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

According to PYTCHAir's website, the containers are stacked high to give the aircraft a sense of flying above the clouds. The company said the structure is "vastly over-engineered" and gets regular safety checks.

"Taking inspiration from the world of aviation, the tops of the shipping containers have been turned into a runway, and the rear air stairs open out onto a landing pad," PYTCHAir said.

Once fixed up, the plane operated as a multi-use space for things like parties and meetings before becoming a full-time Airbnb.

The bedroom inside the 727. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said that PYTCHAir has been in operation for three years. Before it was turned into an Airbnb, it was previously used as a film set, a meeting space, and even for sleepovers with his wife and kids.

Palmer converted the 727 into an Airbnb earlier this year. It has a minimum two-night stay at about $438 per night  or around $876 for a two-night booking.

The nightly rate in British pounds is 350, with a two-night minimum. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He said he wanted to put the plane on Airbnb to share it with the world.

"The initial novel and weirdness of the aircraft has kind of worn off a little bit for me," Palmer said. "So, I thought now I can share it with more people and maybe get a few quid in for its running costs, maintenance, and ongoing improvements," he said, using British slang for money.

According to Palmer, the 727 can comfortably accommodate up to four people, but he said more can hypothetically fit.

Part of the kitchen area in the 727. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He suggested people max their parties at four people to have the best experience in the space.

"I'm still refining the offering and getting the experience really, really good," Palmer said, noting that he may tweak the pricing. "This is something I'm passionate about."

The sleeping options include a separate bedroom with a king bed, a bunk bed, a pull-out couch, and a few sofas.

The main four sleeping areas. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The main four sleeping options are the king bed, the sofa, and the lower bunk in the crew rest area.

Aside from those, there's also a pull-out couch in one of the two lounges that's another sleeping option. And there's another couch in the main bedroom that could be slept on, he said.

However, the upper twin bed is particularly cramped due to the shape of the ceiling.

The curved ceiling obstructs the upper berth. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The cramped berth, which Palmer said is rarely ever used, is where the crew could sleep during flights when the 727 was still flying commercially.

The jet also features two main living spaces that can be used for lounging, working, or dining.

The couch doubles as a twin bed. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The living rooms have couches, tables, chairs, sound equipment, and televisions.

Palmer said he designed the televisions in the main lounge to double as mirrors.

There is no shortage of comfortable work and living space.

The main lounge inside the 727 Airbnb. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The 727 narrowbody offers some 70 feet of cabin length and 12 feet of width to work with, per Boeing specs.

There's also a kitchen on board, complete with a dishwasher, two ovens, and a small refrigerator.

The small kitchen comes nearly fully equipped. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The kitchen is located toward the front of the plane, across from the crew rest beds, and behind the cockpit.

An ensuite bathroom and two half-baths make for a total of three toilets and one shower.

The shower and sink in the main bedroom. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

One communal bathroom is at the front of the aircraft next to the cockpit, one is mid-plane, and the more private third is attached to the bedroom and has a shower.

There are sinks and mirrors throughout the cabin.

Among the coolest spaces on the 727 is the cockpit, which Palmer said has some of the original lighting restored.

The cockpit has been left unchanged other than the restoration done on the lighting and systems. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

PYTCHAir wants to restore as much of the jet as possible, including its systems, avionics, and lights.

For those who don't want to stay overnight at PYTCHAir, Palmer said he welcomes visitors to see the plane during the day.

The plane is perched on storage containers to make it "fly." The fuselage was painted by artists Hasan Kamil, HazardOne, and Curtis Hylton. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

"I want to make it accessible, so anyone interested in seeing planes, especially little kids, can just send us a message, then we'll show them around and let them play and get selfies," he said.

Palmer's decked-out Boeing jet isn't the world's only scrapped plane given a second life. One 727-turned hotel lives in a jungle in Costa Rica.

Another 727 turned into a hotel is in Costa Rica. Courtesy of Hotel Costa Verde

A 727 in Quepos, Costa Rica, has been converted into the Hotel Costa Verde and features bedrooms, a kitchenette, a deck, and plenty of sitting space.

A giant Boeing 747 hostel-hotel complete with four engine rooms sits in Sweden.

The cockpit room at the JumboStay Hotel in Sweden. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

JumboStay sits next door to Arlanda Airport in Stockholm and features both dorm-style rooms and private rooms in the main cabin, the stairwell, and the engines.

Meanwhile, at least half a dozen old commercial planes have ended up in a deep grave as man-made diving sites.

A Boeing 737 sunken off the coast of Canada. Sea Proof TV

The sunken planes off the coast of countries including Bahrain, Canada, and Turkey promote diving tourism and include aircraft like an Airbus A300, a Boeing 737-200, and a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Speaker Mike Johnson, claiming that Hamas supports the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and at other U.S. colleges, on Thursday threatened congressional intervention, including pulling federal funding from the institutions.

"The things that have happened at the hands of Hamas are horrific, and yet these protestors are out there waving flags for the very people who committed those crimes. This is not who we are in America," Johnson, the top House Republican, said in a post on X on Thursday morning. ABC News has not documented any cases of protesters waving Hamas flags, as Johnson suggested.

Student protests at Columbia and other schools have primarily denounced Israeli military action in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinian civilians, rather than expressing support for Hamas. School administrators and officials have said the protests on their campuses have been largely peaceful.

Citing a statement Hamas issued Wednesday, Johnson said Hamas "backed" the protests at Columbia specifically, which began April 17. Johnson added in a separate post on X that "taxpayer dollars should not be going to institutions that allow this chaos."

MORE: College protests live updates: 93 arrested at USC

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson takes questions from the media on the campus of Columbia University in New York City on April 24, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

In the Hamas statement, its spokesperson Izzat Al-Risheq blamed President Joe Biden for "violating the individual rights and the right to expression through arresting university students and faculty members for their rejection of the genocide to which our Palestinian people are being subjected in the Gaza Strip at the hands of the neo-Nazi Zionists."

"Today's students are the leaders of the future, and their suppression today means an expensive electoral bill that the Biden administration will pay sooner or later," Al-Risheq wrote in the statement.

In response to Hamas' statement, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told ABC News that "Hamas perpetrated the deadliest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, which makes them the least credible voice that exists on this subject."

"Hamas' disapproval, after their acts of 'unadulterated evil' -- which they've pledged to repeat 'again and again' -- is a testament to President Biden's moral clarity. President Biden has stood against Antisemitism his entire life. And he will never stop," Bates said.

Johnson's comments on Thursday came a day after he visited Columbia University, where he met with Jewish students and joined his New York House Republican colleagues in calling for the school's president, Minouche Shafik, to resign if she can't bring order to the protests. In a speech, during which boos and shouts from protesters often overpowered the speaker's words, Johnson considered the need to send the National Guard to intervene.

MORE: At Columbia, Speaker Johnson booed and heckled, calls on its president to resign if she can't 'bring order' to protests

In an interview with ABC News' Linsey Davis on Wednesday, Johnson cited the statement and said Hamas sees Columbia's protesters as the future leaders of America.

"We should hope not," Johnson said. "Hamas is a terrorist organization."

PHOTO: Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestinian 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Johnson said federal funding should be revoked if universities cannot maintain control of the protests and prevent violence.

"If [school administrators] can't get control of this, we will take the funding away from these universities. The Congress has a responsibility to do that, the power of the purse, and we will use it, and we will hold these administrators accountable," Johnson told Davis.

While Johnson mentioned violence on campus, the New York Police Department said earlier this week that there are no credible threats to any particular group or individual as a result of the protests at Columbia University. The department said it had not received any reports of physical harm toward any students.

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference at Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Last week, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia as they called for the divestment of college and university funds from Israeli military operations. Other participants in Columbia's ongoing, encampment-style protests were suspended and removed from campus.

MORE: College encampments protesting Israeli military operations in Gaza grow nationwide: What students are saying

The demonstrations followed Shafik's testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about antisemitism on college campuses, during which she said she has taken actions to combat antisemitism at Columbia since a terror attack on Oct. 7 sparked Israel's war with Hamas.

New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik called for Shafik's resignation days later, writing in a post on X that Columbia "failed to enforce their own campus rules and protect Jewish students on campus."

PHOTO: Posters and flags honoring Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7th are displayed on a ledge near the Pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

While there have been some instances of violence and offensive or antisemitic rhetoric during the protests, school administrators, New York police and protesters themselves have largely blamed that activity on individuals not affiliated with the schools.

"... Tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas," Shafik said earlier this week.

Columbia spokesman Ben Chang said the student encampment on campus has raised serious safety concerns. He added that Columbia will not tolerate harassment and discriminatory behavior, and the university will investigate to see if any student protestors violated community rules.

In response to some student concerns about safety amid on-campus tension, some universities have responded by opting for remote or hybrid learning options.

ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Kiara Alfonseca contributed to this report.

Speaker Johnson alleges Hamas support for anti-Israel campus protests, threatens intervention originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Cats love boxes.

It appears Galena also fancies shoes.

Galena, a curious cat from Central Utah, ended up taking an unexpected trip across state lines earlier this month after climbing inside an Amazon package being returned, according to its owner, Carrie Stephens Clark, of Lehi, a city about 30 miles south the Great Salt Lake.

In a Facebook post, Clark said on April 10, Galena mysteriously vanished.

"We searched every nook and cranny in our home, neighborhood, Jordan River Trail, and neighborhoods surrounding us for a week," Clark posted on Facebook. "We put up flyers, plastered social media. Nothing made any sense!! I was beyond devastated! Galena is a huge emotional support to me."

Hope was fading fast.

Then came the phone call.

A curious cat named Galena from Utah ended up taking an unexpected trip across state lines after unsuspectedly climbing inside an Amazon package its owner returned. Carrie Stephens Clark (pictured here on a flight with her husband traveling to pick up Galena) said her cat went missing April 10. 2024. Thanks to a microchip, a California vet and help from Amazon worker Brandy Hunter, the cat was safely returned home.

North Carolina bear cub update: Black cub pulled from tree for selfie 'doing very well,' no charges filed in case

Cat mailed to an Amazon return center in shoe box

Seven days later, on April 17, Clark got a call from a veterinarian in California who told her Galenas microchip had been scanned 650 miles away near the city of Riverside.

"She had jumped/hidden in one of our Amazon return packages without us knowing," Clark wrote. "She was mailed to a return center in California and trapped in a box and trailer for 6 days."

USA TODAY has reached out to Amazon.

A curious cat named Galena from Utah ended up taking an unexpected trip across state lines after unsuspectedly climbing inside an Amazon package its owner returned. Carrie Stephens Clark (pictured here on a flight with her husband traveling to pick up Galena) said her cat went missing April 10. 2024. Thanks to a microchip, a California vet and help from Amazon worker Brandy Hunter, the cat was safely returned home.

Amazon worker discovers stowaway cat in returned shoebox

Brandy Hunter, who works in a warehouse in the customer returns department for Amazon, said a coworker discovered the stowaway in a taped closed box in the back of a trailer full of items being returned to Amazon.

The box was large and contained five pairs of work boots, Hunter told USA TODAY Thursday.

She was absolutely terrified and distressed for sure," Hunter said, noting Galena was the "quietest" cat she had ever encountered.

Galena the cat was found in a large Amazon return box full of work shoes.

"I was absolutely heartbroken to find this absolutely gorgeous cat, simply petrified and huddled in the corner of our training room," Hunter wrote in the Facebook post.

So she stepped into help find its owner.

Hunter said when she took Galena to the vet to be checked out, the doctor reported that aside from dehydration and weight loss, the cat was in good shape.

"She had nothing physically wrong...nothing broken (maybe bruised tho) but everything muscular/skeletal checked out just fine and her temp was normal," Hunter reported on social media. "We tried to get her to eat and drink but she was just too scared."

Clark and her husband traveled by plane to California to pick up Galena.

"That's when the magic happened...her owners arrived and joined us in the room! This moment was absolutely amazing," Hunter recalled of the happy reunion.

'Little and big miracles'

Last week Galena made her way home to Utah by rental car, Clark said in the post, adding she and her husband traveled 1,400 miles to get Galena home.

A curious cat named Galena from Utah ended up taking an unexpected trip across state lines after unsuspectedly climbing inside an Amazon package its owner returned. Carrie Stephens Clark (pictured holding Galena) said her cat went missing on April 10. 2024. Thanks to a microchip, a California vet and help from Amazon worker Brandy Hunter, the cat was safely returned home.

"Ive had her since she was a kitten. Shes part of my everything!" Clark told USA TODAY Thursday. "We searched for her relentlessly for a week."

Clark said she couldn't believe when the vet called to tell her they found Galena in California. "I thought it was prank!"

Hunter said in her post she was grateful "to be a part of this amazingness and turn something so traumatic and unbelievable for everyone involved into something positive."

To USA TODAY, Hunter emphasized the importance of having pets microchipped. "I am so so very thankful she was chipped and I was able to locate her owners so fast! It would have taken us a while to backtrack that package!" she said.

Carter said she was "in awe of all the little and big miracles" that took place on Galena's unexpected trek across state lines.

"The side seam of her box split open so she could breathe, the weather was ideal temperatures, she was sent to Brandys Amazon facility who knows all about cats and knew exactly how to help her," Clark wrote. "Brandy, a microchip, and Gods grace are the reasons Galena survived."

She too, hopes pet owners will get their pets microchipped if they can. And "triple check your Amazon boxes!" Clark said.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cat jumps into an Amazon return box, travels to California
A small-town Texas mayor received a package with a noose and threatening letter inside.

The package was delivered to Arcola Mayor Fred Burton, with a typed note that read, Get out of the race now!!

Police in Arcola said they are investigating the incident.

This threat is being treated with the utmost seriousness and the Arcola Police Department has requested assistance from the FBI in investigating this criminal act, the department said in a post on Facebook.

Chief of police Arika Carr said the department has increased the mayors security due to the threat, according to local reports.

The threat comes amid a string of controversies during the mayors campaign this year.

The Houston Landing reported that Burton spent $7,500 on a private investigator to prove council member Ebony Sanco lived in a neighboring town in an effort to remove her from the council.

That expenditure was paid for by taxpayer money.

He used $7,500 of taxpayers' money to harass me for a week, Sanco said, according to the Landing. How stupid is that?

Arcola Mayor Fred A. Burton

City of Arcola

In another incident, the Landing reported that Burton posted a video on Facebook of his rivals campaign flyer being set on fire. The video was later taken down.

After the Arcola Police Department posted about the noose being delivered to Burton, police again commented on their post with language that suggested people had been negative about the mayor and that the department had deleted their comments.

We are committed to our code of ethics and values, and remain impartial and objective in carrying out our responsibilities, said Arcola police.

This is a crime and it will be investigated as any other crime. Any and all negative comments will be removed, police said.

Comments have now been limited on the Facebook post.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Erich Andersen, general counsel for TikTok and Chinese parent company ByteDance, will step down from that role in June to focus on fighting efforts to force a sale of the video app in the U.S., the company said on Friday.

Andersen will remain at the company and become its special counsel to lead TikTok's effort to overturn legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday that gives ByteDance 270 days to divest short-video app TikTok in the United States or face a ban.

TikTok said this week it plans to file a lawsuit to challenge the legislation but has declined to say when it plans to do so.

Andersen was a key player in the company's successful challenge in 2020 to the Trump administration's attempt to ban TikTok and last year's challenge that resulted in a judge blocking the state of Montana's ban.

TikTok, which says it has not shared and would not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, is set to challenge the bill on First Amendment grounds and TikTok users are also expected to again take legal action.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew praised Andersen and said he was delighted Andersen "has agreed to step into the role as special counsel to focus on this very important mission facing our company."

Chew said Wednesday the company expects to win its legal challenge to block the legislation that could ban the app used by 170 million Americans.

Biden's signing sets a Jan. 19 deadline for a sale - one day before his term is set to expire - but he could extend the deadline by three months if he determines ByteDance is making progress.

Driven by widespread worries among U.S. lawmakers that China could access Americans' data or surveil them with the app, the bill was overwhelmingly passed in recent days.

The four-year battle over TikTok is a significant front in a war over the internet and technology between Washington and Beijing.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Michael Erman)
Donald Trump in court in New York on 29 May 2024. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump is the first US president to be tried on criminal charges  and could face prison if convicted. Trump allegedly falsified the financial transaction behind the $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He denies 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in spring 2023.

Following closing arguments in court by the defense and prosecution, its expected that jury deliberations will begin on Wednesday. Heres what you need to know about the case.

29 May: whats happening today

Jury deliberations are poised to begin Wednesday after Judge Juan Merchan instructs jurors on the law. Merchans directives on the law are intended on guiding jurors about how they are supposed to weigh the case.

A jury of 12 people empaneled for the first criminal trial of a former president in US history is made up of seven men and five women who live in different parts of Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, Harlem, Hells Kitchen and the West Village.

If jurors reach a verdict, they will determine whether he is guilty or not guilty.

If Trump is found guilty, Trump faces the prospect of jail  albeit unlikely  when hes sentenced.

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to paying off Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump is the first US president, former or present, to face a criminal trial. Trump has denied the charge against him.

Key characters and facts

Trump hush-money trial status: Trump pleaded not guilty; the trial began on 15 April 2024.

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Charges: 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.

Hush-money case summary: The case involves a hush-money scheme during the 2016 presidential election. Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to quash her story about an alleged extramarital affair with the former president. Trump has denied the affair took place. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally reimbursing Cohen for the hush-money payment by falsely classifying the transaction, executed by the Trump Organization, as legal expenses.

Verdict before election? Likely.

Key moments in the trial so far
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. investigators examining Israeli accusations that 12 staff from the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks have closed one case due to a lack of evidence from Israel and suspended three more, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday.

He said the inquiry by the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) continues into the remaining eight cases.

In the closed case, Dujarric said "no evidence was provided by Israel to support the allegations against the staff member" and that the U.N. is "exploring corrective administrative action to be taken in that person's case."

He said three cases were suspended "as the information provided by Israel is not sufficient for OIOS to proceed with an investigation." He said UNRWA is considering what administrative action to take.

After an initial 12 cases were raised by the Israeli government in late January, a further seven cases were brought to the attention of the United Nations in March and April, Dujarric said. One of those cases was suspended pending receipt of additional supporting evidence, he said, and the remaining six investigations continue.

UNRWA provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the agency as "the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza" and pledged to act immediately on any new information from Israel related to "infiltration of Hamas" among its workers.

The accusations became public in January when UNRWA, which employs some 13,000 people in Gaza, announced that it had fired some staff and been briefed by Israel. Of the initial 12 accused by Israel, UNRWA fired 10 people and said the remaining two are dead. It was not immediately clear how they died.

OIOS immediately began its investigation into the accusations against the dozen staff, and the United Nations separately appointed former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna in February to lead a review of UNRWA's ability to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations of breaches.

Colonna's findings were released on Monday and noted that UNRWA has "a more developed approach" to neutrality than other similar U.N. or aid groups. "Despite this robust framework, neutrality-related issues persist," her report found.

Israel's allegations against the dozen UNRWA staff led 16 states to pause or suspend funding of $450 million to UNRWA, a blow to an agency grappling with the humanitarian crisis that has swept Gaza since Israel launched its offensive there.

UNRWA said 10 of those countries had resumed funding, but the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Lithuania had not. A U.N. spokesperson said UNRWA currently had enough funding to pay for operations until June.

After the U.S., UNRWA's biggest donor at $300-400 million a year, paused funding, the U.S. Congress then suspended contributions until at least March 2025.

Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people taken hostage in the Oct. 7 attacks. Gaza health authorities say Israel has killed 34,000 people in its offensive in the enclave since then.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The U.S. military has begun to build the long-awaited port and causeway off the coast of Gaza that will establish a maritime corridor to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, the Pentagon said Thursday.

"I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, told reporters, referring to the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, system floating pier delivery system.

"We are aware of the significant interest in this important effort and will provide much more information in the very near future as we work alongside the international community to rush aid to the people of Gaza," he added.

PHOTO: The Trident pier rests on the shore of Fort Story, Va., during the preliminary stages of the Joint Logistics-Over-the-Shore exercise, Aug. 17, 2012. (DVIDS)

MORE: Security plan for Gaza aid workers still unclear with military pier to open soon

The Pentagon has estimated that, when operational, the pier would complement the existing land crossings for aid into Gaza and could provide as many as 2 million meals per day to Gaza.

PHOTO: This satellite picture taken by Planet Labs PBC show the construction of a new aid port near Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on Apr. 18, 2024. (Planet Labs Pbc/AP)

Satellite photos taken by Planet Lab show construction work that has begun to be built in the land area where the causeway will be moored so trucks loaded with aid can get access inside Gaza.

Marine traffic websites show the USNS Roy Benavidez operating off the coast of Gaza, where it has begun the construction of the floating platform by which supplies will be offloaded from civilian cargo ships. The additional ships that will support the floating pier are en route to Gaza from Crete, Greece, where they had been docked after making a trans-Atlantic voyage to the eastern Mediterranean.

A senior U.S. military official who briefed reporters on Thursday said that the construction of the JLOTS landing platform began on Thursday several miles off the shore of Gaza.

"We are on track to begin delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the sea in early May," said the official, who added that once operational the JLOTS pier will be able to handle about 90 trucks a day and then quickly build up to 150 trucks worth of humanitarian aid.

"This additional throughput from the sea represents a significant increase of life-saving aid," the official said.

The plan is that humanitarian assistance from aid agencies will eventually make its way to the JLOTS platform and floating causeway after first being screened, palletized, and prepared for delivery in Cyprus, 200 miles away from Gaza.

The senior U.S. military official explained that the aid would then be unloaded at a floating platform located miles offshore. Then, smaller watercraft each aboard carrying five trucks that will be offloaded onto the floating causeway or pier that will be anchored to the shore, the official said.

Those trucks will drop off their cargo in a secure area for future distribution and constantly repeat that process in a regular back and forth to the floating platform, the official said.

The truck drivers will not be U.S. military personnel or American contractors, the official said, but from an undisclosed country who are not Americans and who will have their own security.

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers and sailors who will build JLOTS and keep it operating will live and sleep aboard the British naval ship Cardigan Bay that will be located miles offshore, the official said.

The Biden administration has repeatedly said that there will be no U.S. "boots on the ground," but that restriction does not apply to other personnel supporting the JLOTS mission who will be working in Israel.

With no U.S. forces on the ground to anchor the floating platform to the beach in Gaza, a U.S. Army engineering unit partnered with a similar IDF unit to train them on how to anchor it to the beach on "day one." That training occurred on an Israeli beach "just up the coast," said the senior military official.

In addition, U.S. military personnel will be working side-by-side with Israeli Defense Forces personnel at a coordination cell established at Hatzor airbase in Ashdod, Israel that is being run by a three-star U.S. general.

Another coordination cell, run by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been established in Cyprus to organize the logistics of the flow of aid that will be delivered to Gaza through the maritime corridor.

Earlier on Thursday, a mortar attack in the general vicinity of where the pier will be located near Gaza City raised concerns about the security for the JLOTS mission that U.S. officials have long acknowledged will be provided by the Israeli military.

"It's important also to highlight that this occurred before any U.S. forces have started moving anything," said Ryder, who noted that "there is no U.S. equipment per se in this marshaling yard" that will be the future location of distributing aid offloaded via JLOTS.

The senior military official told reporters that the mortar attack has been assessed to have had nothing to do with the JLOTS mission and that security around the location struck will be "far more robust" when it is up and running.

"Force protection is our number one priority," said the senior U.S. military official, who explained that Israel has committed a brigade of thousands of soldiers plus Israeli Navy ships and aircraft flying above that will protect American forces off-shore and the landing and distribution centers ashore.

The official said the U.S. military assesses that the security at the chosen location for the floating platform "is sufficient to support execution of the mission," though any final decision will be left up to the commander of U.S. Central Command.

US military starts building pier off of Gaza to deliver aid originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, left, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp, inside left, and Paige Johnson, right, listen as Paiges mother, Mays Family Foundation President Kathy Mays Johnson speaks during a ceremony honoring the Mays family and the Mays Family Foundation for providing a gift of $25 million to the Mays Business School, Friday, April 126, 2024 in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Workers and machinery are visible as construction progresses, Friday, April 26, 2024, on the Roberts Building, the second in the Mays Business School complex, at Texas A&M University in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer The Wehner Building, the original home of the Mays Business School and the first of three buildings in the business school complex is visible, Friday, April 26, 2024 at Texas A&M in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Buildings and signage associated with the Mays Business School are visible Friday, April 26, 2024, at Texas A&M University in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Paige Johnson, right, listens with her mother, Mays Family Foundation President Kathy Mays Johnson as Mays Business School Dean Dr. Nate Sharp speaks during a ceremony honoring the Mays family and the Mays Family Foundation for providing a gift of $25 million to the Mays Business School, Friday, April 126, 2024 in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp speaks during a ceremony honoring the Mays family and the Mays Family Foundation for providing a gift of $25 million to the Mays Business School, Friday, April 126, 2024 in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel speaks during a ceremony honoring the Mays family and the Mays Family Foundation for providing a gift of $25 million to the Mays Business School, Friday, April 126, 2024 in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer The Wehner Building, the original home of the Mays Business School and the first of three buildings in the business school complex is visible left adjacent to new construction on building number two Friday, April 26, 2024 at Texas A&M in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A rendering of the Wayne Roberts '85 building, slated to open in January 2025. Courtesy of Mays Business School Peggy and Lowry Mays (center) watch as a sign is unveiled Tuesday January 30, 2018 after it was announced that a $25 million donation to the UT Health San Antonio Cancer Center by the Mays Family Foundation was made. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News The E.L. Wehner Building, part of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University in College Station. Courtesy of Mays Business School Mr. and Mrs. Lowry Mays at Villita Association's Chrysanthemum Ball. Craig Hartley/San Antonio Express-News Lowry Mays -- Mays and Company (Texas) Jose Barrera/San Antonio Express-News

Professor Nate Sharp, dean of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, describes late businessman Lowry Mays as the quintessential Aggie. He enrolled at A&M in the late 1950s, joined the Corps of Cadets and graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering before later earning an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 1972, the Houston native founded Clear Channel Communications in San Antonio, the city where he died in 2022 at age 87.

In the mid-1990s, Mays $15 million gift to A&M helped establish what was then called the College of Business. The school now bears his name. In 2017, the Mays family contributed an additional $25 million across multiple gifts.

On Friday, A&M announced another $25 million from the Mays Family Foundation, which serves as the lead gift toward constructing a third building within what is now the Mays Business Education Complex. Upon its completion, slated for December 2028, the Lowry Mays Class of 57 Building will be dedicated for graduate programs.

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A conceptual rendering of the Lowry Mays Class of '57 Building. Courtesy of Mays Business School

I would characterize Lowry Mays as a man who was generous throughout his life. He embodied the Aggie core values, Sharp told the Chronicle. Whether youre talking about his personal life, family life, professional life or relationship with Texas A&M University, he is someone I unequivocally point to and tell our students, 'This is the type of person you should strive to become and emulate, and what it means to be an Aggie.'

The latest donation from the Mays Family Foundation is the single largest gift given to Mays Business School and one of the most significant gifts awarded to any academic college or school at A&M.

Sharp hopes to break ground in 2026, and anticipates that construction may be complete in time to admit students by January 2029. His goal is to raise at least another $30 million from private philanthropy.

Its a very bold plan and a bold timeline that were working on, Sharp said. Texas A&M, like all universities, has a process of approvals and different layers for a building to be constructed. We have been given approval by the president of Texas A&M University to move forward with developing the program of requirements.

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The Lowry Mays Class of 57 Building eventually will house both existing and forthcoming graduate programs, which will allow A&M to remain competitive against comparable business schools across the country.

(Lowry) told me more than once that one of the reasons he was so successful in his career was because of what he learned at Texas A&M, said David Green, managing director of the Mays Family Foundation. He got an MBA from Harvard, so he saw the impact that an MBA could have and wanted to give Aggies a path for that kind of training. A lot of what A&M is doing right now is growing their MBA programs, and you need to have a robust graduate program. Thats what theyre really focused on right now.

Green added that discussions surrounding Fridays $25 million gift began roughly two years ago, when Mays Business School approached the foundation with their vision and plans to grow the education complex.

Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, left, and Paige Johnson, right, watch as Paiges mother, Mays Family Foundation President Kathy Mays Johnson signs a gift agreement on behalf of the Mays Family Foundation to provide a gift of $25 million to the Mays Business School, Friday, April 126, 2024 in College Station. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Kathy Mays Johnson, daughter of Lowry and Peggy Mays, currently serves as chair of the Mays Family Foundation and has been Sharps point of contact since her fathers passing. Johnsons daughter, Paige, is a 2021 graduate of Mays Business School and today sits on the teams advisory board.

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 9: Rapper Drake performs onstage during "Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert" at State Farm Arena on in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 9, 2022. Credit - Prince WilliamsWireimage

Drake almost found himself in legal trouble after he released a Kendrick Lamar diss track titled Taylor Made Freestyle with an AI-generated version of Tupac Shakurs voice earlier this month.

On Thursday, the song, which was originally released on April 19, was scrubbed from Drakes Instagram page and from his X account. An attorney with Tupacs estate, Howard King, sent a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday threatening legal action if the rapper, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not take down the track from all public platforms, King said in a statement to Billboard.

The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupacs voice and personality, Kings statement said, in part.

King called the use of Tupacs AI-vocals a flagrant violation of Tupacs publicity and the estates legal rights, as well as a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. He added that its not something the estate would have ever given approval for.

On the song, the AI-Tupac vocals rap: Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast savior / Engraving your name in some hip-hop history / If you deal with this viciously / You seem a little nervous about all the publicity.

The song, which also features AI-generated vocals from Snoop Dogg, had reportedly been streamed more than a million times on different platforms. Snoop seemed to joke about his AI-feature in a video posted to Instagram. They did what? When? How? Are you sure?

Taylor Made Freestyle was a second diss track aimed at Kendrick after he seemingly dissed Drake and J.Cole on the song Like That with Future, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart late last month. Before that Drake had released Push Ups also dissing Kendrick, and last Friday, Drake posted Taylor Made Freestyle on Instagram with the caption: "While we wait on you I guess. The post has since been deleted.

Drake, 37, hasnt released a statement about the songs removal.

Contact us at letters@time.com.


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YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. The first F-16 aircraft will begin arriving in Ukraine this year, along with trained pilots and maintenance personnel, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin before the Ramstein meeting,RBC-Ukrainereports.

According to Austin, over the past two years, members of the Defense Contact Group have provided Ukraine with more than 70 medium- and long-range air defense systems, thousands of missiles, over 3,000 armored vehicles, including more than 800 main battle tanks, tens of thousands of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.

The first F-16 fighters will start arriving in Ukraine this year, along with pilots and maintenance personnel trained by members of this Contact Group, Austin says.

The 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format is taking place today. The Ministry of Defense notes that the allies will discuss the supply of ATACMS missiles, shells, and other weapons.
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan postponed a House meeting with President Joe Biden, a source familiar with the situation and a Turkish official said on Friday of a visit that haWhited been tentatively planned for May 9, reports Reuters.

A new date will soon be set due to a change in Erdogan's schedule, the Turkish official said, requesting anonymity.

The source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was unclear what prompted the postponement, reports Reuters.
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. The Danish Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy (DFPD) delegation has joined the EU monitoring mission patrol in Armenias Goris.

''The Danish Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy (DFPD) delegation visited the European Union civilian monitoring mission in Armenia (EUMA) in Goris city area and joined a patrol to learn more about the situation on the ground,'' EUMA said in a post on X, expressing gratitude for the continuous support to EUMA.

"Tak for your continuous support to EUMA! reads the post.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner speaks during a media conference Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

The Houston Police Department replaced one of the men demoted as part of the ongoing scandal over the departments suspending of 264,000 incident reports, as part of executive command staff additions announced at a Friday news conference.

At the departments promotion ceremony, Chief Troy Finner recognized two new assistant chiefs  Alvaro Guzman and Adrian Rodriguez  as part of more than 40 employees that received honors.

MORE ON ASSISTANT CHIEFS: Houston police demoted 2 police chiefs after review of more than 260k suspended cases

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While speaking about the promotions, Finner said it was through good leadership that the department would work its way through the upheaval and emerge a better agency.

Everything that were going through, we will come out a better police department, he said.

Guzman was promoted to the assistant chief of criminal investigations command, a role previously held by then-Assistant Chief Kevin Deese.

Deese and Ernest Garcia are the two men who department officials have confirmed were demoted in connection with police suspending incident reports using an internal code citing a lack of personnel. Another administrator, James Jones, resigned.

Guzman joined the police department in 2000, was promoted to lieutenant in vehicular crimes in 2012, and became a commander at the central and gang divisions in 2021 before becoming an assistant chief, officials said.

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Rodriguez is taking over as assistant chief for the Region 2 patrol division, officials said. He joined the department in 2003 before working his way up to assistant chief. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2016 and became a commander in 2021.
UPDATED BELOW: The overwhelming number of comics, little magazines, books, posters, and all sorts of poetry and radical literature that Charles Plymell has printed during the last half-century  including the first issue of EARTHQUAKE in 1967  is too many to count.

All that time he was writing inspired poetry and prose of his own and having it published by a flock of small presses: Apocalypse Rose (Auerhahn Press); Neon Poems (Atom Mind Publications); The Last of the Mocassins (City Lights Books; and Mother Road Publications); The Trashing of America (Kulchur Foundation); Reefer Madness in the Age of Apostasy (Butcher Shop Press); Hand on the Doorknob (Water Row Books); In Memory of My Father (Cherry Valley Editions); Song for Neal Cassady and Bennies From Heaven (12 Gauge Press); Eat Not Thy Mind (Eye Books Ecstatic Peace Library); Animal Light and Planet Chernobyl (Engstler Verlag); Tent Shaker Vortex Voice (Bottle of Smoke Press); Benzedrine Highway (Kick Books); Incognito Ergo Sum (Ragged Lion Press); and, you gotta believe it, too many more to list.

Now in old age  he turns 89 today  having poured his thoughts into emails by the thousands (a choice selection of which was published last year, entitled Keyboard Intercourse)  Plymell is getting significantly renewed attention for his poetry with the release of Over the Stage of Kansas: New & Selected Poems 1966-2023, by Bottle of Smoke Press (edited and with a foreword by Gerard Malanga). To celebrate the book, Plymell will give a reading on May 18 in Hudson, New York. Its bound to be a grand occasion.
Srinagar: The security forces on Friday gunned down two militants in a fierce gunfight in the Kashmir Valleys northwestern Baramulla district, the officials said. One of the militants killed has been identified as Saifullah, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander who figured in the list of most wanted terrorists by the security forces, the officials said here. They added that the identity of the second slain militant is being ascertained.

A report said that two Army jawans and a civilian were injured in the initial exchange of fire on Thursday.

The Army and J&K police officials here said that the fighting broke out between a group of militants and the security forces in the Nowpora area on the peripheries of the apple-rich town of Sopore on Thursday evening. The exchange of fire resumed at first light on Friday after a night-long halt and both the holed-up militants were gunned down in the security forces final assault soon thereafter.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir range) V. K. Bhirdi said, As per the documents recovered from the slain, one terrorist has been identified as Saifullah. He added that arms, ammunition and other incriminating material were found on the slain men.

While the gunfight was underway, the authorities ordered suspension of classwork in all educational institutions including colleges in the Sopore tehsil as a precautionary measure.
Bhopal: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the BJP will never allow the Congress to reintroduce Muslim Personal Law and pledged to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, terming it a guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a rally in Piprai in Ashok Nagar district falling under Guna Lok Sabha constituency from where Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is seeking election, Mr Shah accused the Congress of conspiring to impose Sharia (Islamic law) in the country through backdoors by implementing Muslim Personal Law and asserted that the BJP will foil any such attempts by the Congress.

Read the Congress manifesto carefully. They have said that they will reintroduce personal law... They want to bring back Muslim Personal Law. They want to bring back Triple Talaq... Can this country be run by Sharia? Mr Shah asked.

The Union minister further said that Rahul Baba (referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi), you can do whatever you want for appeasement. As long as the BJP is there, it will not allow personal laws. It is the BJPs promise and Modi Ji's guarantee that we will enforce the UCC in the entire country, as we have done in Uttarakhand.

Highlighting the achievements of the Modi government, Mr Shah said that Mr Modi scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 "in one stroke".

In 2019, Article 370 was abrogated by the Modi government in just one stroke. Rahul Baba was scared and predicted rivers of blood will flow... But, Rahul Baba, this is not the Congress government. It's the Modi government. Leave aside rivers of flood; not even a stone was hurled (in Kashmir) in the last five years, he said.

Mr Shah said that the Modi government has combated terrorism and Naxalism in the country.

Attacking the Congress for providing reservations on the basis of religion (in Karnataka) to appease its votebank, Mr Shah called the grand old party anti-OBC.

"The decision to provide reservations on the basis of religion by the Congress will hurt the interests of OBC, SC, ST and the downtrodden," he said.

For the Congress, Muslims have the first right over the country's resources. But, for the BJP, the poor, dalits, OBC and tribals have the first right over them, he said, adding that the Congress sat on the Mandal Commission report that recommended reservation for OBC for years without implementing it.

At the rally, Mr Shah detailed how the Congress used to create hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and said, Within five years, the Modi government laid the foundation of the temple and also held the consecration ceremony. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mr Gandhi were invited to the occasion, but they refused to attend.

Mr Shah appealed to the people to ensure the victory of Mr Scindia in Guna, saying "every vote of yours for Mr Scindia also goes to Mr Modi".

Guna LS seat is considered a stronghold of the Gwalior royal family of Scindia. Mr Scindia has been elected from Guna four times since 2002 and lost the seat to the BJP's K.P. Yadav in the 2019 LS polls by contesting as a Congress candidate.

However, Mr Scindia quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2020. He is seeking election from the seat as a BJP candidate. Before him, his father Madhavrao Scindia and grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia were also elected from the constituency.

The Lok Sabha constituency has a sizable population of Yadavs. In a bid to placate the community, Mr Shah indicated that Mr Yadavs interests will be taken care of.

During the day, Mr Shah also addressed an election rally in Khilchipur under the Rajgarh parliamentary constituency, where Congress veteran and former chief minister Digvijay Singh is pitted against sitting MP Rodmal Nagar of the BJP.
Come visit the all-seeing Sachapir

His words fulfilling as a bowl of kheer

Predicting the past is his expertise

The future holds unknown mysteries

You will depart no wiser but peaceful and calm

With a lighter pocket -- can that do any harm?

From Encounters with Evil Gibberish, by Bachchoo

Ever since the genocide in Gaza came to the worlds attention, there have been pro-Palestinian demonstrations every Saturday in London. They carry Palestinian flags, placards which say Free Palestine, Ceasefire Now, etc.

Some marchers have raised the slogan from the river to the sea, which has been interpreted as a demand for a state of Palestine from the river Jordan (I presume, rather than the Indus) to the Mediterranean. Undoubtedly, it could be interpreted as a demand for a nation that includes the West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Gaza. This could be, and is characterised as, a hostile-to-Israel demand (Fat chance? Beggars would ride???) for the obliteration of the Zionist state.

I could offer another interpretation: that of a single multi-faith state with a guarantee for the entry and safety of the Jewish Israeli population living in harmony with Palestinian Arabs. Yes, a fantasy, so not a demand -- just a possible interpretation, even though ultra-orthodox Jews, such as Neturei Karta and the Satmar Hasidim, would support it on the grounds that Jehovahs promised land was not a human-established nation state.

These demonstrations are, in the main, demanding an end to the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, which is why hundreds of Jewish people join these marches.

Organisations, such as the Jewish Network for Palestine, make it their duty to demonstrate a presence. Several of their members have appeared on television, testifying as the descendants of the prisoners (or even themselves as infants, the prisoners) of Nazi concentration camps.

Their unmolested presence, to me, gentle reader, indicates that there is no venomous anti-Semite, anti-Jewish animus in the Palestinian marchers -- or at least one that doesnt express itself in attacks, verbal or physical on these Jewish people. Yes, anti-Zionist!

On Saturday, April 13, Gideon Falter, the chief executive of an organisation called the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, went to Aldwych in central London as the pro-Palestinian demonstration was in progress past that spot. He was wearing a yarmulke, the Jewish skull-cap. He approached the marchers from a point behind the police cordon that accompanies most demonstrations. He accosted the bodies of policemen who blocked his access to the passing marchers.

He said he wanted to cross the throng of marchers to get access to the streets beyond. A senior policeman denied him access to the march and said, since he was clearly Jewish, it could be a provocation to the marchers and so, for his own safety, the copper said he would escort him by another route to the other side of the street. Falter refused and tried to push past the constable. He was restrained.

Its pretty obvious that the policeman, whether rightly or wrongly, prevented this entry and crossing through the marchers, not through any anti-Semitic conviction but because he believed it might provoke an attack on Mr Falter.

Falter was stopped from crossing but not from loudly protesting that he had encountered police anti-Semitism.

This protest reverberated through the Tory Party and even with Prime Minister Hedgie Soongone, who joined him in demanding an abject apology from the officer who had told Falter that he was openly Jewish. These Tory boobies even demanded an apology from the Metropolitan Police commissioner.

They, with Falter, turned this simple attempt to forestall a possible civic incident into a disingenuous cry of anti-Semitism in the police force.

Now, its no secret that Falter and his Campaign have lobbied to have the pro-Palestinian Saturday marches banned. Some Tory supporters have even called for the Army to be sent in to disperse the Saturday marches if a ban on their demonstrating resulted in civil disobedience. The disobedience could be thousands of pro-Palestinians gathering to assert their right under British law to demonstrate on the streets.

Allow me, gentle reader, to get personal and go back to July 7, 2005, when four bombs were set off by Islamist suicide bombers, three on the London Underground and one on a London bus. The bombs went off earlier in the day and I happened to be walking towards Edgware Road Underground station where one of the bombers had killed himself and his innocent victims. There was a police cordon across Edgware Road. Nevertheless, some people were walking through the cordon.

As I approached it, a senior police officer stepped out and asked me to stop and turn back -- he said he was not letting me through. He must have used words to the effect that I was obviously Asian though I wasnt wearing my Parsi skull-cap or even the Muslim fez Ive kept from my fathers belongings.

The officer said there were gatherings (he didnt say a mob) outside the Tube station and that he was turning me back for my own safety. I understood. I turned back -- thankfully.

I didnt go to the press or to the Labour Party to protest against the curtailment of my freedom or that of obvious Asians to walk wherever they chose.

So: Why did Gideon Falter cross the road?

To provoke an incident which would permit his Zionist Tory supporters to try and ban pro-Palestinian marches.
Amid all the talk about Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is worth remembering that a key difference between a developed and a developing country is in the quality of everyday life of ordinary people. Most people take relatively clean air, clean water and safe food for granted in developed countries. Not so in the rest of the world. Which brings me to a slew of recent media reports that suggest that we are not only wallowing in toxic air and toxic speeches but also in food that puts us at risk.

In polarised India, the vegetarian/non-vegetarian fault line continues to be the all-weather headline-grabber. Both groups are at risk, however, when it comes to unsafe food. The recent stories about fake (synthetic) paneer, spices with carcinogenic ingredients, chicken possibly fattened with antibiotics, potentially leading to antibiotic resistance, and baby food with added sugar spotlight an old story. The companies on the dock are both international and national, big names and small players. I could not contact all the errant companies for their side of the story so I am not naming them in this particular column.

There is a sense of deja vu. More worryingly, things are getting worse. Last year, the State Food Safety Index (SFSI), released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Indias food regulator, found that 19 out of 20 large states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, had slipped from 2019 in their 2023 scores on food safety.

If this is what is stated officially, just imagine the reality!

As someone who loves food, I was distressed to read that fake paneer has been flooding the market for quite some years now. In the most recent case, the authorities seized more than 1,000 kg of synthetic paneer along the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway. In May 2022, the Mumbai police had seized almost 2,000 kg of synthetic paneer from two factories. National newspapers are now running articles on how to detect spurious paneer, often made by mixing milk powder and water, further curdled with lime juice and acetic acid, and sometimes laced with detergent.

How many will carry out rapid tests on paneer before eating it?

India is also embroiled in a masala controversy. Indias food safety regulator has reportedly asked food commissioners across India to collect samples from all spice manufacturing units in the country after regulators from Hong Kong and Singapore red-flagged two popular Indian spice brands over the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, well beyond the permissible limit. Vendors in both these places have been asked to remove the spices from the shelves.

The World Health Organisation considers ethylene oxide as a probable human carcinogen and says its levels in the environment should be kept as low as feasible. Then there is an investigation by Public Eye, a Switzerland-based NGO, and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), which raises uncomfortable questions about a leading multinational food and beverage conglomerates manufacturing practices in India. According to the report, the company allegedly adds sugar to cereals for babies in developing countries, a practice it does not follow in rich countries.

The company says it has reduced sugar content by up to 30 per cent in recent years, but there is still no response to the critical question about double standards.

Then there is the killer issue -- use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry feed to promote growth. A recent report by the US-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and a national newspaper alleged that one of Indias major poultry producers was selling products aimed at speeding up poultry growth and which contained drugs vital for human health.

Once again, this did not surprise anyone who has been tracking the misuse of antibiotics in livestock and poultry feed, leading to a proliferation of multi-drug resistant bacteria. In 2018, TBIJ had found Colistin, a last-resort antibiotic used to treat severe human infections, in Indias poultry industry. At that point, no law was broken as there was no law. The furore that followed the revelation and a landmark study on Colistin by an inter-disciplinary team of doctors and scientists led the Indian government to ban the use of Colistin in farms. This was a laudable step, but there has been no follow-up on the impact of the ban.

Clearly, unmonitored use of medically important antibiotics in the poultry sector for non-therapeutic purposes is disastrous anywhere, including India, which has the highest burden of bacterial infection and sustained antimicrobial resistance.

India is among the countries that endorsed the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR (2022), which outlines three global targets. One of the three goals relates to reducing the total amount of antimicrobials used in the agri-food system by at least 30-50 per cent from the current level by 2030.

I think India has provisions in place to deal with AMR (antimicrobial resistance) in both medical and agricultural settings, but the question is where it falls as a priority in terms of enforcement. I think the example of how decisively India dealt with Colistin once the issue was well known is commendable, says Anirban Mohapatra, a US-based microbiologist and author of a new book When the Drugs Dont Work: The Hidden Pandemic that Could End Modern Medicine.

Just as with environmental pollution, the specific link between antibiotic use in animals and drug-resistant infections in humans is difficult to prove. Despite these challenges, there is substantial evidence suggesting that antibiotic use in agriculture contributes to the rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs, writes Mohapatra in his book.

A 2024 report by the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) notes: The results of several studies conducted on AMR pathogens in animals from different parts of India is indicative of an alarming situation. Both the food-producing and companion animals were found to harbour AMR pathogens.

India has a National Action Plan on Antimicrobial resistance. But when it comes to implementation, there are key challenges including sub-optimal financial allocations, inadequate One Health and programmatic approach and weak harnessing of existing national capacity in all aspects of AMR, says the FAO report. State governments are not fully onboard.

We can go hoarse blaming multinationals and domestic companies for putting profits before human health but it boils down to food standards and the regulatory environment. The nature and composition of the FSSAI is central to ensuring that all decisions are in the public interest and are evidence-based.

The public cannot become forensic scientists overnight, testing everything before they eat. If Indian regulators will not protect Indian citizens and Indian lives, who will?
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The events took place under the auspices of the Turksoy, established in 1993. The occasion also commemorated the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Turkmen poet and spiritual leader Magtymguly Pyragy. The stage in Arkadag, the new smart-city just built in honour of the former president and 'father of the fatherland'.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Demonstrations took place in Ankara in honor of the city of Anew in Turkmenistan, the ancient capital of the region's Turks, proclaimed "cultural capital of the Turanian world" for 2024 under the aegis of Turksoy, the International Organization for Turkish Culture.

Established in 1993 with an agreement signed in Almaty between the culture ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan, it is also associated with the Russian ethnic Tatar republics of Tatarstan and Baskortostan, together with the pro-independence regions of Northern Cyprus and Gagausia on the territory of Moldova.

On this occasion, the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Pyragy, poet and spiritual leader of Turkmenistan, promoter of the idea of keeping the Turkmen path sacred, safeguarding the independence and autonomy of the nation from the influence of foreign powers, which still constitutes the guideline of Ashgabat's politics today.

The ceremony was held in the "Turkmenistan" park in Ankara in the presence of the Turkmen ambassador and the Turkish minister of culture together with the general secretary of Turksoy, the Kyrgyz Sultan Raev, in front of the monument to the poet in the Dikmen valley.

Raev recalled that "Magtymguly is a bright and inextinguishable star at the pinnacle of Turkish literature, which has left a profound trace not only in its era, but also in the legacy of all Turanian peoples, and continues to be as relevant as ever."

Extolling the sophistication of expression and deep inspiration of his verses, the secretary added that his works take the reader on an emotional journey, reflecting the spirit of the Turkmen people Pyragy has enormous significance in the formation of the Turkmen language , and in the integration of the Turkmen tribes into the entire Turanian world.

The ambassador of Turkmenistan, Mekan Isangulyev, thanked Turksoy and other Turkish organizations for their active participation in the demonstrations, while the rector of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, Amanmurad Ajdogdyev, in turn underlined the importance of Magtymguly considering him to be at the level of the greats of world literature, and not only of Turkmen culture. The ceremony ended with a folkloric dance show by the Miras ensemble, from the same cultural institute in Ashgabat.

Among other initiatives, a painting exhibition on the theme Magtymguly and Anew was inaugurated in the Turksoy exhibition hall in the Turkish capital, with the presentation of the book by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, on Anew and the culture from the depth of the millennia."

Followed by a thematic concert dedicated to the poet's work, performed by the best popular artists of Turkmenistan: Akmukhammed Khanov, Dovletmurad Khanmammedov, Mejlis Gomcuradov, Maja Orazberdyeva and Gulsat Gurdova.

Last year the Turanian capital was the city of Susa in Nagorno Karabakh, linked to the 2020 conflict with the Armenians, also provoking contrasting reactions, while the choice of Anew should make the proclamation of the "common Turanian culture" more peaceful, representing a older and deeper dimension.

In the first celebrations in Turkmenistan, the visit to the city was accompanied by a visit to Arkadag, the new smart-city just built in honor of the former president and "father of the homeland", and father of the current head of state, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov , to indicate the way towards the future by recovering the memory of the past.
by Joseph Masilamany

In its latest annual report, Amnesty International calls for full abolition of the death penalty. With the 2018 moratorium Malaysia has made progress, but that's not enough. Between July 2023 and January 2024, the death penalty was pronounced 26 times. For lawyer Michael Kong, open public discussions about justice are needed.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  Amnesty International (AI) Malaysia, in its latest annual report on the state of human rights in the country released two days ago, calls once more for the full abolition of the death penalty.

While acknowledging some positive developments in 2023, a consequence of the moratorium on executions in force since 2018 and legislation approved in April 2023 removing mandatory death sentence for 12 offences, including drug trafficking, for AI, this is still not enough.

The human rights organisation wants the government to ensure that all resentencing efforts uphold the right to a fair trial with adequate time and resources given to the person charged.

Although the last execution by hanging dates back to 2017, AI steadfastly stands by its position, noting that the moratorium could be lifted at any time.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally, for all cases and under any circumstances, as it is a violation of the right to life and is ultimately a cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment, said Katrina Jorene Maliamauv, AI executive director, during the launch of the annual report.

For this reason, AI calls for the moratorium to be extended until the death penalty is completely abolished and all death sentences commuted.

Some laws have been adopted to remove mandatory death penalty, most notably the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023, and the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023, which came into effect on 4 July 2023 and 12 September 2023 respectively.

This has allowed a total of 1,020 prisoners who were sentenced to mandatory death or life imprisonment to file applications in court for a review of their sentences, the report reads.

Despite these legislative changes, AI, after reviewing court decisions involving 139 people from 4 July 2023 to 4 January 2024, found that 26 cases (27 per cent) resulted in the death penalty.

The AI report ALSO found that 18 of these (69 per cent) were related to murder, while the remaining eight (31 per cent) involved drug offences.

While it's commendable that the country has moved towards abolishing the mandatory death penalty, it should not sit in the comfort of the praise," Maliamauv said.

For her, efforts to uphold human rights must continue beyond this point, especially considering the opposition to the complete abolition of the death penalty, above all by the families of murder victims.

Maliamauv places hope in open public discussions on justice and alternatives to the death penalty. Two lawyers who are also elected officials agree with AIs stance.

"I am aware of the pros and cons of abolishing the death penalty, but one reason that appears very strong in favour of abolishing it, to me, is the fact that the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable, unlike imprisonment, said Baru Bian, a Sarawak state assemblyman and lawyer, speaking to AsiaNews.

But if a 'life imprisonment' is substituted for the death penalty, then it must be a sentence for the rest of the convicted person's natural life, he added.

Michael Kong, from the opposition Democratic Action Party, also praised the steps Malaysia is taking towards a full abolition of the death sentence, but stressed the importance of extending the moratorium.

With certain offences still carrying the death penalty, it is essential to ensure that no irreversible actions are taken while a concrete and final decision on this matter is pending, he said.

Like Maliamauv, Kong also highlights the importance of a public debate. The focus should remain on upholding human rights and exploring alternatives to the death penalty through open public discussions about justice, he noted.
by Nirmala Carvalho

As voters in the southern Indian state go to the polls, the local Church is struggling to carry out its outreach programmes. The issue dates back to 2022, following protests over port construction by the Adani group.

Thiruvananthapuram (AsiaNews)  The suspension of its licence to receive foreign funding continues to create problems for the Catholic Church in India.

Archbishop Thomas J Netto of Thiruvananthapuram, in the southern state of Kerala, explained the situation caused by the funding issue in a letter dated 21 April sent to all parishes in the diocese.

The prelate notes that the local Church spends about 20 million rupees a year to train priests, provide care to older members of the clergy, and carry out various initiatives.

In addition to funding, we have not been able to receive financial assistance for missionary works, because, after the Vizhinjam riots, the central government froze our bank accounts, a situation that still persists, the archbishop said.

Protests broke out in 2022 in the coastal city of Vizhinjam, with some acts of violence, as residents objected to the construction of a port by the Adani Group, one of India's largest companies. Over the past few years, the latter won several contracts backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government.

Vicar General, Fr Eugine H. Pereira, pointed out that the Church's support for economically disadvantaged families has faced difficulties with delays after funds were frozen.

The licence to receive foreign funding was suspended after Kerala police filed complaints with the Union (federal) Ministry of Home Affairs over clashes with protesters.

Archbishop Pereira, who had taken part in the protests, laments that, despite assurances from the state government, which is led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance, and the dropping of lawsuits against protesters, nothing has been done to lift the suspension.

In view of the situation, the Church has issued an address to all political parties taking part in the countrys ongoing parliamentary elections, currently in their second phase, with Kerala voters set to cast their ballots today.

"Our faithful have suffered great injustices, said Archbishop Pereira. We will extend our support to the coalition that meets our needs.

In addition to a solution for the families displaced by the port construction in Vizhinjam, the local Catholic Church is calling on the authorities to take steps to support fishing communities in places like Muthalapozhi and Pozhiyoor, adopt policies designed to help disadvantaged Dalit Christians, and implement the recommendations sent to the government by local clergy.
Today's news: ByteDance does not want to sell TikTok; Indians' savings at 47-year low;. Japan will prevent foreign tourists from photographing Mount Fuji from some areas; Ties between Russia and Sri Lanka strengthen.

INDONESIA

President-elect Prabowo Subianto yesterday won the support of the NasDem party, which, however, did not specify whether it will be part of the governing coalition. In the elections, the party had given its support to Anies Baswedan, former governor of Jakarta. According to experts, Prabowo will succeed in forming a grand coalition so that there will be minimal opposition to the government.

USA - CHINA

TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, said it has no plans to sell the business after the US passed a law that could ban the app's use on US soil if it remains owned by ByteDance. "Foreign media reports that ByteDance will sell TikTok are not true," the company wrote in a post. Several Western governments fear that data collected by the app could be used by the Chinese government.

INDIA

According to data from the Reserve Bank of India, Indian household savings have hit a 47-year low. Savings fell to 5.3 per cent of gross domestic product in 2023, down from 7.3 per cent in 2022. One economist called this decline 'dramatic'. During the same period, there has been a sharp increase in household debt, as the more they get into debt, the more they devote a portion of their income to repayments, failing to set aside savings.

JAPAN

The authorities of Fujikawaguchiko have announced that starting next week they will install a black barrier to prevent the view of Mount Fuji by tourists, who are crowding into certain areas of the city, disturbing the lives of local residents. Tourism in Japan has been booming since border restrictions were lifted for the covid and the government has been working to attract visitors.

RUSSIA - SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Russia, Janita Lianage, said her country plans to join the Brics organisation, to 'have the opportunity to ensure security in both transport and manufacturing, and in many other areas', in the context of a visit to Russia by the Defence Minister and the head of the Colombo Security Committee.

UZBEKISTAN

The court in Tashkent placed a local resident under arrest for 15 days for his 'negative judgments' spread on social media against the traditional Uzbek clothes worn by models during a public event, and forced him to express his apologies on all sites, 'I ask God not to make me repeat this mistake, from now on I will only mind my own business'.
A group of NGOs released a report noting that Indonesia's state-owned power company might use development funds to expand the Suralaya plant. Pollution from this plant costs already the country a billion dollars a year.

Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has accused the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of indirectly financing Indonesia's coal-fired power plants, despite its commitment not to support fossil fuel projects.

The claims are found in a report released two days ago by four NGOs, noting that the ADB loaned US$ 600 million to Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Indonesia's state-owned power company, to undertake a series of projects over the next 10 years.

However, the agreement lacks clauses to prevent PLN from using the money to build new coal-fired plants. In fact, the latters plans include a dozen new coal projects.

One of them involves expanding Suralaya, one of the largest coal-fired power plants in Southeast Asia, which is located in Banten, on the island of Java.

The report describes the effects that a previous plant expansion had on local residents: It displaced families, reduced fish stocks . . . and sickened their children.

According to a study released in 2023 by the Europe-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, pollution from the Suralaya power plant costs Indonesia US$ 1 billion every year in preventable deaths, work absences, and higher medical expenditures.

The report goes on to say that the ADB loan went into PLN's general bank account, not into a separate account that could be monitored. Thus, the money can be spent without external monitoring.

It is unclear whether any of the funds have been or will be used to finance Suralayas expansion; for its part, PLN has not responded to media requests for comment.

The loan does not violate ADBs energy policy, said a spokesperson for the Asian Development Bank, which funds projects in the poorest countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The LIT Bookbar in Richmond is a combination bar and bookstore, with community events, live music and book signings. LIT Bookbar The LIT Bookbar in Richmond is a combination bar and bookstore, with community events, live music and book signings. LIT Bookbar The LIT Bookbar in Richmond is a combination bar and bookstore, with community events, live music and book signings. Lit Bookbar also hosts poetry nights, book signings and its own monthly book club. LIT Bookbar The LIT Bookbar in Richmond is a combination bar and bookstore, with community events, live music and book signings. LIT Bookbar

In 2021, Jillian Reed and her friends were craving human connection after more than a year of COVID-19 precautions, lockdowns and lack of social interaction.

I started the book club during a time when we were dying from lack of connection, Reed said. I felt like the book club was a boozy book club. We joked that we drank a lot and read a little. It was super low pressure. We were just trying to get together and enjoy each others company while telling our husbands we were reading.

Three years after starting the book club, including operating a mobile bookstore and a bookshelf of free books in Blockhouse Coffee and Kitchen, Jillian Reed officially opened the LIT BookBar, an independent bookstore and cocktail bar in Richmond.

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Books and bars

The new Richmond-based business combines cocktails with literature and the camaraderie of book clubs. While the concept is novel for the Richmond and Houston area, Reed said combination bookstores and bars are common around the country.

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There are very similar concepts everywhere except for here, like The Wild Detectives in Dallas, she said. I had a hunch this idea would go over well, but the amount of people that Ive heard say, Oh my gosh weve needed this, is just crazy.

LIT Bookbar, which opened March 7, is not limited to selling books and cocktails, hosting an official monthly book club, live music and book signing events from local authors throughout the year. On April 30, Beto O Rourke, former Texas representative and presidential candidate, will host a signing event for his book Weve Got to Try.

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Weve noticed our author events are a bit more lively because we do have the alcohol aspect, Reed said. Were getting a lot of traction at our events, which is really cool.

Along with groups, Reed said many solo readers come in along with customers working on their own projects.

Book club gathering

The LIT Bookbar also hosts its own book club, which meets the first Tuesday of every month. For $40, members get their book of the month, a free cocktail and 10 percent off books for the rest of the month.

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We also have a sign-up online for other people to book their own book club meetings, Reed said. Thats been a big hit with book clubs coming in and hanging out and having their meetings here.

Reed plans for LIT to have more events in the future, such as wine and cocktail tastings and more events like monthly silent reading every third Wednesday. As LIT Bookbar gets settled into its role in Richmond, Reed looks forward to more people experiencing the community connections the business plans to bring for the foreseeable future.
by Stefano Vecchia

The former East Pakistan is watching the election process closely. Especially with regard to the presence of migrants, of Muslim faith, in India. For now, Dhaka is trying to maintain a certain balance between Delhi's pressure and Beijing's influence, explains Fr Sergio Targa, a Xaverian missionary in Bangladesh since 1992, now in Italy.

Milan (AsiaNews) - Today sees the second round of India's complex elections, which began on 19 April and will be completed on 1 June, with the results to be announced three days later.

It is an unrivalled exercise in democracy, the results of which are also awaited beyond national borders, especially in view of the repercussions that the post-election situation could have on the regional and global strategic level, even more so in a situation as complex as the current one, which presents a series of problems and challenges that have Islam at their centre.

Around 200 million Indians and millions more immigrants belong to this faith, mostly from former East Pakistan, which in 1971 became Bangladesh and today has a 91% Muslim population.

Relations between the two countries in the decades following independence have been affected mainly by two factors. The first, water management, particularly for the lower reaches of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, of which New Delhi controls the 'taps'.

The two rivers contribute to Bangladesh's prosperity, but they also endanger its economy and population with the threat of sudden and devastating floods. The second factor is the demographic one, because immigration from overpopulated Bangladesh, portrayed by nationalist politics as an 'invasion', remains a source of tension in the north-eastern states of India that share its borders.

The approval of the new citizenship law by India, right in the election campaign, opened up the risk that millions of immigrants could be deported. During the first phase of the vote, inter-ethnic violence occurred in the states of Manipur and West Bengal.

A situation that the Bangladesh government is watching carefully. However, 'the tensions we are witnessing are unlikely to change relations between the two governments.

With regard to the citizenship law, Dhaka's position is to monitor the situation, unless the application starts a process of expulsion to Bangladesh, whose government does not intend to ride the 'religious card' like the pro-Hindu nationalists, who, on the contrary, emphasise the alleged difficulties posed by immigrants due to an alleged incompatibility of faith with the local Indian population,' explains Fr Sergio Targa, a Xaverian missionary in Bangladesh since 1992 after studying at the London School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Today he works as General Procurator and holds various teaching positions.

For the time being, therefore, relations between the authorities in New Delhi and Dhaka are good. "There are similarities in the two current systems of government. The January elections in Bangladesh confirmed the autocratic power of PM Sheikh Hasina not unlike that of Narendra Modi in India. After having effectively silenced the opposition, she had to set up front parties to give herself an opposition and thus more democratic credentials. In this it is supported by India,' specified the missionary, a member of the Asian Studies Centre of the Xaverians, which is based in Japan.

India, which contributed militarily to the birth of Bangladesh and has strong strategic interests there, views the massive Chinese investment in the country with concern. But Dhaka continues to have Delhi as its main reference.

"The choice of Dhaka falls on India because it is surrounded by it and because its proximity in terms of history and population is obvious. Actually on the strategic level there is a constant search for balance. The growing proximity to China, for example, depends on the type of proposals China makes, such as infrastructure contracts,' he added. From the military point of view, Bangladesh depends primarily on India, but it has bought submarines from China."
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Houston Police Chief Troy Finner speaks during a media conference Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Houston. Third Ward residents can expect a greater police presence following recent shootings in the area, he said at a community meeting Thursday. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Third Ward residents can expect a greater police presence following recent shootings in the area, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a community meeting Thursday.

Hopefully, more anti-crime measures will follow, residents say.

I was hoping to hear a plan, said longtime resident Melanie Miles. (Authorities) did say we would see an increased police presence Im hoping that will actually happen and that we will see more police officers because, frankly, we dont see police officers in the neighborhood.

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Dozens attended the Thursday night meeting, led by Finner and City Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, at Third Ward Multi-Service Center.

In a email Wednesday, the Riverside Civic Association called for increased police patrols late at night, new surveillance cameras on some streets and noise meters around bars and nightclubs.

For years, residents have blamed crimes on the nightspots in the area. They were hoping to see increased patrols as late at 3 a.m. to deter criminals.

We need more involvement because thats when the shootings are occurring, said MacGregor Super Neighborhood President Tomaro Bell.

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Funds have been allocated to buy safety cameras and the council member hopes to collaborate with HPD and Houston Public Works to determine where additional lighting should be added and where to trim tree canopies to boost visibility in the area, Evans-Shabazz said in a statement late Thursday to the Houston Chronicle.

We heard from the community and shared in their concerns, yet what leaves me most hopeful is the unified stance against crime and the shared commitment to creating a safe environment for all, she said.

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One community leader was encouraged that Finner was making an effort to hear their concerns.

I think the best thing I heard from Chief Finner was that, you know, he was actively wanting to listen, said Rayven Moore, president of the Riverside Civic Association.

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Police said a man was shot multiple times in his vehicle early Monday by someone in another car on Arbor at Emancipation. The wounded man crashed his car and ran to a nearby nightclub for help, police said. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment. No arrests have been announced.

The shooting was caught on a security camera and has fueled outrage among residents.

The civic associations email that went out Wednesday claimed there were more gunshots in the neighborhood Tuesday night.

John Wayne Ferguson contributed to this report.
Protesters continued to block streets in Yerevan and major highways outside it in a bid to scuttle the territorial concessions portrayed by Pashinians government as the start of the demarcation of Armenias border with Azerbaijan. Some of them used heavy vehicles for that purpose. Police forcibly restored traffic through virtually all of those roads.

A key national highway running north from Yerevan was blocked for about an hour in the afternoon. The protesters there were joined by two lawmakers from the main opposition Hayastan alliance. One of them, Artur Khachatrian, was pushed into a police vehicle and driven away after bitterly arguing with a regional police chief at the scene.

Khachatrian was taken to a police station in the nearby town of Hrazdan. He was able to talk to RFE/RLs Armenian Service by phone before being set free a couple of hours later.

Citizens were exercising their constitutional right, Khachatrian said, condemning the police actions.

In the morning, road police stopped and searched many trucks driving to Yerevan along the same highway. A police spokesman said this was done for security reasons. He did not elaborate. The Armenian police did not specify the total number of protesters detained on Friday.

Late in the evening, tensions rose at the epicenter of the protests in and outside Kirants, one of the four villages in Armenias northern Tavush province adjacent to the border areas that are due to be handed over to Azerbaijan.

Hundreds of villages joined by other residents of Tavush and other parts of the country blocked a local section of a key national highway for the sixth consecutive day. Some of them stopped and seized several state vehicles which they thought carried officials planning geodetic and demining work in preparation for the land handover.

A special police unit tried unsuccessfully to evacuate the vehicles shortly after senior police officers arrived at the scene to talk to the furious protesters.

Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, a protest leader heading the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, repeatedly urged the locals to allow the evacuation. They reluctantly heeded his appeals.

You have shown that you are the real masters of this country, Galstanian said through a megaphone. This must happen all over Armenia. Let them see the victory of the Kirants people in all corners of Armenia.

Tavush Governor Hayk Ghalumian visited the protest scene earlier in the evening. He claimed there that the Kirants section of the delimited Armenian-Azerbaijani border has not yet been fully ascertained.

So we cant tell people whether their property will remain on our or their side [of the border,] Ghalumian said, seemingly contradicting what the Armenian government reported late last week.

Dear people, these are complete lies, misleading lies, countered Galstanian. These people are liars, literally liars. They have lied to you for two years. Please do not succumb to that.

The government announced, meanwhile, that Armenian and Azerbaijani officials have already demarcated roughly one third of the border sections it wants to cede to Baku. They have placed a total of 28 border posts there, it said in a statement.
26 April 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Although the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has come to an almost non-existent state, the forces that cannot accept it continue their efforts by mobilizing all their forces both inside and outside the region. In fact, despite the fact that the issue of conflict to be understood between the two states is extremely simple, some external forces and the political situation did not allow it for decades. It seems that the recent increase in both political influence and economic potential of Azerbaijan has already started to create serious barriers in front of all influencing factors.

This trend has already started to manifest itself in the Armenian power circles. Initiatives have been started even by the official Yerevan to bring the two South Caucasian countries closer together.

But this is still not all. The forces trying to obstruct the processes are still either waiting for the moment to try their luck or hoping for something.

It is no secret that the Armenian lobby and their patrons are preparing for a provocative action during President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Germany.

According to the received information, Armenian circles announced that a picket will be held in front of the Federal Chancellery today as a "protest" to the visit of the President of Azerbaijan.

Luis Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and members of the Central Armenian Council of Germany was said to be participating in the action.

Let's remember that at one time, when there was a separatist regime in Garabagh, the Armenian lobby and some political figures from the West who supported it caused similar provocations, obstructed peace and tried to bring security to a critical situation in the region. Now, those forces continue their programs for provocations, which hinder the peace process.

Argentina's Luis Gabriel Moreno-Ocampo is known for his criminal and corrupt past, whether during his tenure at the International Criminal Court or later, his name has been involved in questionable financial machinations.

Ocompo, who was once accused of corruption and sexual harassment, had friendly relations with Serzh Sargsyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, the former separatist leader, who is under arrest in Baku.

Ocampo, who strains his throat every time thanks to the financial support he receives from the Armenian lobby, once, said, "Putting pressure on Azerbaijan is not enough; we need to get Garabagh back".

Ocampo knows the issue of crime very well because he himself witnessed and, who knows, participated in one of them during his time in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East.

However, like other unsuccessful pro-Armenian chauvinist missionaries, Ocampo's wishes did not come true. He is now continuing his unpleasant illegal activities from outside.

The prepared action is being carried out by order of the Armenian lobby. This has happened before, and new anti-Azerbaijani shows have been organized every time, especially in Western countries, to cause mass interest.

Imagine that at a time when there are good prospects for peace in the region, when the border delimitation process is starting, the Armenian lobby and their patrons are trying to hinder this process and create such a cheap show to create tension.

Undoubtedly, this action has no importance, and the goal of the Armenian lobby and the people they bribe is only to demonstrate their "activism". Azerbaijan is confident in its political strength and is ready for all measures to ensure stability in the region despite any provocations.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
26 April 2024 10:17 (UTC+04:00)

Following the instructions of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continues, Azernews reports.

Another group of former IDPs, consisting of 39 families or 140 people, left for Lachin on April 26.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt based on instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 783 families, or 2,979 people.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
26 April 2024 10:34 (UTC+04:00)

The West Azerbaijan Community (WAC) condemned the resolution of the European Parliament calling on the European Union to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the statement of the Community.

The WAC stated that the known malicious foreign circles controlled from the same center intensified their crusades against Azerbaijan under the pretext of "human rights" in recent days.

"Following the anti-Azerbaijani steps taken by the US Congress and the State Department this week, the European Parliament adopted an act full of prejudice and slander on April 25. The hypocritical European parliamentarians, supposedly remembering the human rights of Azerbaijanis, called on the European Union to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan with the mentioned resolution.

It is interesting why the European Parliament did not remember human rights when Armenia occupied the territories of Azerbaijan in the last 30 years subjected hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis to ethnic cleansing and killed about 30 thousand Azerbaijanis. Why does the European Parliament not at all worry about the fact that Armenia does not allow the 300,000 Azerbaijanis expelled from its territory to return to their homes and ignores the West Azerbaijan Community's call for dialogue?

All this proves that the real reason for the recent steps of the European Parliament is not human rights, but the inability to digest the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

Suppose the European Parliament wanted to promote human rights through sanctions. In that case, it should have tried to impose sanctions against Armenia, which violated the fundamental rights of more than a million Azerbaijanis. The West Azerbaijan Community demands the European Parliament to give up discriminatory policies. These steps aggravate the situation in the region and attempts to abuse the highest value such as human rights. To respect the right of return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia," the statement emphasized.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
26 April 2024 13:27 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

There is a new vision on the horizon in the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As is known, Armenia returned four villages of the Qazakh district, and the delimitation and demarcation process started between the two countries.

Right after this news, Yerevan voiced its interest in purchasing natural gas from Azerbaijan. In a comment to the local media outlets, Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan said that Armenia should consider importing natural gas from Azerbaijan. He noted that laying a natural gas pipeline from Azerbaijan and Iran and buying natural gas from those countries is a very good option. However Simonyan added that there were no such discussion between the sides. To the question whether Armenia can buy natural gas from Azerbaijan, he responded that he is very positive about it and the sides need to discuss this matter.

It is worth noting that the Azerbaijani sides reportedly did not rule out the possibility of gas supplies to Armenia after securing peace with Armenia.

Speaking to Azernews on the issue, political analyst Samir Humbatov noted that there is no problem with Azerbaijan selling gas to Armenia, if there is an agreement between the parties and come to peace. He underscored that Azerbaijan has already exported its gas to the world market and neighboring countries.

"There is nothing unusual or problematic here. It is even more convenient to sell the gas to neighboring countries, because there is an issue of communication lines here. Of course, trade can influence the consolidation of peace and the formation of peace. I think that if Azerbaijan sells gas to Armenia and Armenia really wants to buy gas from Azerbaijan, it can give impetus to the strengthening of trade relations between the sides. I think this can be considered as a rather positive trend," Humbatov said.

He added that if such cooperation takes place between the sides and if the sides can strengthen trade relations, this can have a positive effect not only on bilateral relations, but also on regional relations. He recalled that Azerbaijan already sells gas to Georgia, and Azerbaijan can sell gas to Armenia in the same form. In any case, this will be a successful option for Armenia, and in turn, it can affect the development of the region.

"It should be noted that both Azerbaijan and Armenia benefit from this business. All these are important conditions. One can think about it, but again, a lot depends on the position of the political authorities here. I think that Azerbaijan is a country that is always ready to cooperate in this matter. If Armenia takes a right step in this regard, the result will be clear for both Armenia and Azerbaijan," Samir Humbatov concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
26 April 2024 20:26 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Germany is one of the most important political and economic partners of Azerbaijan in Europe. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of relations with this country. The results of the first official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Germany in 2004 once again confirmed the greater potential for cooperation between the two countries. A number of agreements signed within the framework of the visit opened great opportunities in terms of economic cooperation.

For example, the supply of Azerbaijani oil to Germany is one of the main pillars of the total trade volume. Thus, in 2022, Germany entered the list of 10 main importers of Azerbaijani oil. It is worth noting that there are currently 239 registered German companies in Azerbaijan. Approximately 170 of those organizations operating in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, transport, communication, construction, banking, insurance, trade and service, are members of the Azerbaijan-Germany Chamber of Commerce.

Germany is also a reliable partner within the framework of the Western Platforms and the host country for the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Thus, the Munich Security Conference held in Germany is the leading international conference on security policy. Conferences are traditionally held in February of each year. At the conference, heads of state, foreign ministers, defense ministers, government officials, military leaders, members of parliament, heads of international and non-governmental organizations, academicians, and experts gather from all over the world.

In 2020, when Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty were ensured, President Ilham Aliyev participated in this conference and demonstrated that Azerbaijan attaches importance to security, including the issues on the world's agenda. During the meeting, Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Garabagh is the eternal land of Azerbaijan, based on historical facts. In terms of knowledge of foreign languages, knowledge of history, and political argumentation, the president of Azerbaijan was significantly different from his opponent in the best sense of the word. President Ilham Aliyev held a bilateral meeting with Olaf Scholtz within the framework of the conference and conducted very effective negotiations on advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan is developing in the political and economic spheres, as well as on the topic of Climate Change.

Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 1122, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year.

Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organisations, business, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals.

COP29 and other global events that Azerbaijan has hosted and will hold show that this country's reputation in the world has increased to a great extent. As President Ilham Aliyev noted at the swearing-in ceremony, Azerbaijan is no longer a state operating at the local level, but is recognized as a country that promotes active partnership in various regions of the world and as a reliable partner, that actively participates in solving global problems in the world, and makes practical contributions to it.

As the issue of climate change is one of the topics on Germany's agenda, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany in the field of COP29 was also expected. Thus, COP29 is a global event dedicated to solving the world's most important problem. The climate dialogue has been held under the auspices of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2022, and it has become particularly important to the topic of negotiations on the fight against climate change.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is a large-scale event that will set clear directions for COP29, and the official invitation of Baku to the event as this year's host of COP29 testifies to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan as well as the strength of its relations with Germany.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan.

---

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26 April 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Specialists from the Uzeltekhsanoat association held an online meeting with the management of the large Egyptian company ElAraby, a manufacturer of household electrical appliances, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

From the Egyptian side, the event was attended by the companys marketing manager Marwan Elcott and sales manager Khasan Askar, from the Uzbek side  the general manager of the foreign investment department of the Uzeltekhsanoat association Bakhodir Gulyamov, the investment manager of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade Javokhir Mukhammadjonov, as well as representatives of our countrys embassy in Egypt.

At the meeting, the status of the implementation of the project for the production of household electrical appliances worth $10 million by ElAraby in Uzbekistan, as well as its prospects, was discussed.

The Egyptian side expressed the companys interest in cooperation with similar enterprises and firms of Uzbekistan in the field of production of electrical products. It was noted that the above-mentioned project is promising for the Egyptian side, and there is great interest in its implementation.

Representatives of the company will take part in the III Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2-3.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Klein Cain High School is visible Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Klein. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Klein Cain High School is visible Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Klein. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Klein ISD Brill Elementary School is visible Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Klein. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Klein ISD has had a rough April. First, a Klein Cain High School cosmetology teacher was arrested on allegations of child trafficking and compelling prostitution of three teens reported as runaways.

Then, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the 54,000-student northwest Harris County district.

What some of our educators are doing is criminal and disgusting. No child should be compelled by the state to be in a school like this. And yet, current law doesnt allow the choice to go elsewhere. Im working to elect state representatives who will change that, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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The district has faced a series of miscues this school year: the Klein Cain High School teacher was arrested on sex trafficking charges, two other teachers were arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography, another teacher accused of indecency with a child was arrested, and a nonverbal autistic child went missing for hours from an overcrowded campus.

This validates everything that has been burning our blood the last few years, former Klein ISD parent Jesse Mickle said.

Mickle and other parents said their confidence in the district and its leadership has taken a hit as Klein ISD grapples with fast growth. The district has added almost 20,000 students in the last two decades and now enrolls a majority of students considered economically disadvantaged, compared to just 10% in 2003.

Klein ISD administrators initially declined to answer questions or provide comment for this story, other than to say that they are aware of the governors tweet and can confirm that two aides were fired after the student with autism escaped from a Klein ISD classroom in February.

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In a statement provided to the Chronicle on Friday evening, Klein ISD said it is concerned about the teacher arrests and about the faltering trust from the community.

Klein ISD is disgusted by recent events that have impacted the trust the public has in us. We address these issues head-on and welcome ongoing dialogue with our parents and community members as we work to regain any trust that has been lost, a statement from the district read. People come to Klein for a reason, and we are not going to let the heinous actions of bad actors ruin the excellent reputation of our school district.

Earlier allegations

Former Klein Cain cosmetology teacher Kedria Grigsby and her 21-year-old son Roger Magee are accused of recruiting troubled teens into a prostitution ring, in part by providing motel rooms for them, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Department. A judge on Monday lowered Grigsbys bond to $75,000 on each of six felony counts  three charges of trafficking a child and three of compelling prostitution of a minor. Magee is currently in jail awaiting trial on June 24.

Activists Quanell X and Candice Matthews said at a news conference in early April that another teacher told both police and the district about the allegations more than a year before the arrest.

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District spokesperson Justin Elbert said in a statement that while Grigsby was named in the individuals police report, a representative from the Harris County Sheriffs Office reportedly told the Klein Police Department at the time that Grigsby was not a suspect.

The district received no other allegations or reports of criminal activities related to Kedria Grigsby until Monday, April 8, 2024, when the Harris County Sheriffs Department contacted our police department regarding charges and a pending arrest, Ebert wrote.

HCSO, however, wrote in a statement Tuesday that it has no record of anyone from our agency communicating to Klein ISD that Grigsby was not a suspect in the case. When we asked district officials who they had spoken with who said Grigsby was not a suspect, they did not provide us with a name or documentation of this.

Missing child

New apartment and housing developments have exploded Klein ISDs enrollment in the last 20 years. Parents say that the nearly 50-year-old Brill Elementary School is the epicenter of overcrowding, with a building capacity of 798 and an enrollment of 925 students in 2023.

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Enrollment is expected to continue to grow at the campus in the Champion Forest neighborhood on Klein ISDs south side.

Emily Castillo, Jullian Ortiz and Castillo's spouse, Juan Ortiz pictured Feb. 29, 2024 at the Houston Rodeo Sensory Friendly Day, two days after he escaped from a Brill Elementary School classroom. Courtesy of Emily Castillo Jullian Ortiz pictured March 2, 2024 at the Houston Zoo, weeks after escaping the Brill Elementary Classroom. Castillo has kept Ortiz home from school after the incident. Courtesy of Emily Castillo

Emily Castillo and her family moved to the school zone just a few months ago from Klein ISDs Kuehnle Elementary. While they were concerned about overcrowding, they took comfort that their second-grade son, Jullian, would be in a special needs classroom with four staff members.

I trust Klein.  I figured it wouldnt really be much different other than the location, she said.

Yet, she went cold when the principal called her at 11:52 a.m. on Feb. 27 to say Jullian, who has autism and is nonverbal, was missing. Security footage showed the boy walked off campus at 10:25 a.m.

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The parents rushed to the school, wandering nearby streets calling for Jullian. They finally connected with the polices missing children department, who had reports of a boy found bloodied, scared and unable to verbalize his identity. The family was reunited in the emergency room, where a woman took Jullian after finding him outside a Dollar Tree off busy Louetta Road.

Castillo was assured that two aides had been fired after the incident. She was promised increased security, including door alarms. But her trust in Klein ISD has vanished. Since the incident, Castillo has kept Jullian home. Shes terrified to let him out of her sight and shes been working remotely as she decides what to do.

She emailed the superintendent in early April, asking why nothing had been done to address the issue and demanding the district take action.

I hope you can understand where I am coming from as a concerned parent, not just for my child, but for all the kids at Brill who cannot speak for themselves. I want to see some kind of consequence for whoever you hold accountable for the late call, she wrote. What change is truly going to happen and when?

The districts chief academic officer reached out to Castillo after she sent the email, apologizing for the time lapse and saying she could not guarantee that the district could help pay the hospital bills from her sons ER visit, Castillo said.

A losing game

Brill Elementary has had too many students for years now, currently nearing 120% capacity. The board rezoned to relieve some overcrowding, but to the dismay of many Brill parents, they were only reducing the schools enrollment to around 90% capacity over the next five years, while other schools, including Hassler and McDougle elementaries, will stay generally between 60% and 70% capacity.

Lauren Rocco Dougherty, who pulled her children out of Brill after a fight in May 2023, has been advocating against overcrowding for years, saying Brill has had difficulties meeting the needs of the changing student population since the campus was initially rezoned in 2019.

Despite making calls, sending emails, speaking at board meetings and even holding a town hall, parents say Klein leaders are not listening.

At a meeting the district held last summer to address the rezoning plan and parent concerns, titled Restoring Value to Brill Elementary, administrators did not allow parents to ask questions publicly, attendees said.

Theyre intentionally making sure that nobody is allowed to hear the thoughts or concerns or complaints of anyone else. Or possibly plant an idea or a seed in anyones head so maybe some realize that somebody elses experienced the same awful thing that they have and that this is a bigger issue than they realize, Dougherty said.

Our complaints and our cries for help are going on deaf ears, said Monica Myers, a Brill parent who took her son out of the school last year after he was allegedly assaulted by a classmate.

Throughout the three years that we were there, we experienced so much overcrowding and so little support and help from not only the administration at the school, but the district, she said. It just felt like we were left to the wolves.

Myers was one of the vocal parents fighting for change at Brill, but she said the district never responded.

(Teachers are) in crowd-control mode. Theyre not in teach mode, and I felt like they were losing the crowd-control game, she said.

A fight between two fifth-grade students on the last day of school in 2023 was so violent that the district attorney accepted charges against one girl, according to an email sent by the schools principal.

I am writing to address an incident that occurred during recess on the last day of school, during which a student assaulted another student. This behavior is completely unacceptable and is not tolerated at Brill, Principal Ellen Hodge wrote five days after the fight.

That was the final straw for Myers.

And after seeing that video, I just couldnt keep (my son) there anymore because to me its no longer about this kids safety. Its about the districts image, Myers said.

Klein ISD Brill Elementary School is visible Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Klein. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Sexual assault mishandling

On Valentines Day 2022, Jessie Mickles daughter told her that one of her friends had been sexually assaulted at school. Mickle took the information to a school counselor who then told the principal.

Mickle said her daughter was implicated as a tattletale by students after the principal called her out for reporting the assault.

She was a bit traumatized, said Mickle, whose family has since left Texas for a new job. It was absolutely a nightmare.

Now in her new school, Mickle said, her daughter was harassed by other students but didnt want to tell her mom because she didnt want the school to find out after her fourth-grade experience.

The more time thats gone on, and the worse its gotten, the more anger and resentment I have at Klein, she said. This looks like a pattern thats going on in this school, and Im not a fan of it. I shouldnt feel like my kid is not safe at school.

That principal left her post at Brill the summer of 2022 and then later became an assistant principal at another Klein school.

The leadership change didnt address overcrowding. Some parents who signed up to speak at a board meeting in March 2023 to ask for relief sooner than the new zoning plan would go into effect in August 2024 were reportedly called by a high-level administrator and discouraged from speaking publicly, Mickle said.

Thats super shady. You shouldnt call people and try to talk them out of something to make it not public, she said.

Rubber-stamp board

Multiple parents told the Chronicle that the district has a habit of sweeping things under a rug instead of being transparent and holding themselves accountable.

There is absolutely a feeling of the general public being a burden, something to be contended with, something to be manipulated and controlled, evident through constant, never ceasing PR campaigns, said Gina Childress, another outspoken parent whose children are still in Klein.

She has gone to speak at a few board meetings and is frustrated with their pep-rally feel. She said she finds herself particularly frustrated with the board when they dont discuss items in open session and consistently vote unanimously. She wished the board would have critical conversations and ask questions: Thats the point of having elected officials, she said, not just to rubber-stamp the superintendent.

You cant focus on the positive at the exclusion of all of the negatives, Childress said.

Dougherty also has concerns about a lack of transparency regarding enrollment projections, after seeing some disparities between Klein ISDs most recent demographics report when compared with reports from other districts. She said it seemed like specific information was missing or omitted.

Theyre not willing to reckon with the thought that our schools are very diverse in terms of income, race, language, Dougherty said. I think the addition of a lot of multifamily housing just comes with a stigma in their minds that they dont want.

But Dougherty said taxpayers have a right to be informed.

Im sorry that this information is inconvenient for the branding work that youre doing for this school district, but its public information that was paid for by taxpayer dollars. And its not up to your discretion whether or not you share that with the public, she said.
26 April 2024 14:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan intends to expand tourism cooperation with Jordan, Azernews reports.

The prospects of tourism cooperation were discussed within one-week familiarization trip to Jordan.

The trip for Azerbaijani tourism companies was organized by the Jordan Tourism Board.

The visit aims to develop tourism relations between the two countries, contribute to the exchange of mutual tourists and the direct flight, which is planned to be opened in the near future.

As part of the trip, a B2B workshop was organized between 5 tourism companies representing Azerbaijan and 20 local tourism companies of Jordan in the capital city of Amman.

Tourism between Azerbaijan and Jordan is steadily growing. Travelers can explore the diverse landscapes, taste local cuisine, and immerse themselves in the rich heritage of both countries.

Note that Azerbaijan's tourist flow to the country is expected to increase in 2026 to 4 million people.

In 2019, the tourist flow to Azerbaijan amounted to a record of over 3.2 million people.

The share of the tourism sector in non-oil GDP has increased four times in the country over the past 20 years.

Construction of tourist complexes is being carried out in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

By 2025, about a million people are expected to visit the liberated territories, including both locals and foreign tourists.

----

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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California Man Dies After Falling Off S. Oregon Coast Cliff Near Natural Bridges Area

Published 4/23/24 at 7:15 a.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection





(Brookings, Oregon)  A California man is dead after falling off a cliff on the south Oregon coast, near the Natural Bridges attraction in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. (All photos of the body recovery: Curry County Sheriffs)

Curry County Sheriff's Office reports that Sunday, April 21, at about 2:35 p.m., 911 dispatch received information that a hiker near the Natural Bridges area (12 miles north of Brookings) had spotted the lifeless body of a person on the rocks below the cliff. The call was relayed from Brookings Police Dispatch.

Responding to the scene were an Oregon State Trooper, Curry County authorities, and eventually the county's Search and Rescue team (SAR).

The Curry County Sheriffs SAR team were summoned to respond, the Sheriff's office said in a release. "Several SAR members set up a raising system and SAR members Andy Stubbs and Tim Hawkins rappelled approximately 300 down to the victim.





The steep terrain and drop-off  as well as the remote location - required additional assistance, the Sheriff's office said. Members of the fire departments for Cape Ferello and Brookings arrived on the scene, along with a US Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer, helping to carry the victim back to the parking lot. From there, the body was then released to Redwood Memorial Chapel, a funeral home in Brookings.

The victim was identified as sixty-nine-year-old Richard Ehrhart from San Jose, California, the department said.





Ehrhart had been hiking on the coastal Oregon trail with his wife when they became separated. She made it back to the couple's car without knowing he had fallen.

A Chaplin had been called and responded to assist with the notification to Ehrharts wife, Susan Kimura, the Sheriff's Office said. The Oregon State Police is the lead agency for the investigation and has provided the information to the Curry County District Attorney.

The Sheriff's office did not indicate if the recovery happened on the same date Kimura and Ehrhart had been hiking and become separated, or a different date.

Curry County officials want to remind the public to keep safety in mind out on those often-steep trails.

We here at the Curry County Sheriffs Office express our condolences to the family and friends of Richard Ehrhart, the Office said. We also want to remind everyone of the dangers of hiking the coastal trails, and to please be safe.

The incident comes almost exactly a year after another man died on a similar trail in that area. On April 22 of 2023, Curry County Sheriff deputies spent five and a half hours rescuing three kids and one adult after they fell off a false trail near Secret Beach, which is just a few miles away from the Natural Bridges. The four had tumbled off a cliff near the Spruce Island View Point, just a bit north of Secret Beach. See One Deceased in Harrowing Fall, Rescue on S. Oregon Coast - Near Brookings

One child was found hanging precariously in a tree somewhere down the 200-foot drop to the bottom. He was eventually rescued by helicopter and sent to the hospital, but only after fog lifted and allowed the aircraft to come into the area.

The other three children were located at the bottom and brought up. The man, 36-year-old Ryan Acorn, had died from the fall.

The four from Grants Pass had made the wrong decision and went down a false trail, according to deputies, which abruptly ended in a cliff, causing them to tumble.

Many locals and regulars to the area commented on social media the area should have these false trails better marked and even cordoned off. MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Shakari Briggs is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at shakari.briggs@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, she worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. Shakari comes to the Houston newsroom with experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.

Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.


By Published 4/22/24 at 7:35 p.m.By Andre' Hagestedt , Oregon Coast Beach Connection

US Coast Guard Rescues in April Include 2 Persons, 2 Dogs Off Washington and Oregon Coast - Video

(Brookings, Oregon)  April has seen two dramatic ocean rescues off the south Oregon coast and north Washington coast. One this past weekend involved a person whose boat was sinking and their two dogs. Another happened earlier in April near Queets, Washington where a man needed rescue for a medical emergency. (All photos / video US Coast Guard)

Both videos are from the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

On Sunday, April 21, the USCG out of Air Station North Bend responded to a call off the south Oregon coast's Whaleshead Beach of a sailing vessel in distress.

USCG responded to reports of a sailing vessel losing power and taking on water approx. 38 NM west of Whales Head Beach, OR., the Coast Guard said.

Personnel rescued the only individual on board, who was then transferred to EMS. There is no word on the condition of that person.

There were, however, two dogs involved in the rescue.

38 nautical miles translates to 43 miles off the Oregon coast. Whaleshead Beach is near Brookings, in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor.

While video is somewhat fuzzy, you can see a USCG rescuer in the hoist basket with one black dog clearly in his lap, getting occasional pats for comfort as the object gets lifted up off the water. Just underneath the rescuer, you can barely see the second dog. That one seems to be fidgeting more than the dog on top and apparently in more distress.



Rescuing two dogs / USCG

Earlier in the month, in the first weekend of April, Coast Guard crews responded to another incident on the north Washington coast, rescuing a person off a boat who was experiencing serious stomach issues.

Over the weekend, a #USCG crew from Air Station Port Angeles rescued a 54 year old man off a 64-foot fishing trawler who was experiencing severe abdominal issues, the Coast Guard said.



Rescue near Queets / USCG

The incident happened 34 miles west of Queets, Washington.

While there is no further word on his condition, he was taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, Washington for treatment. MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Whaleshead Beach near Brookings, King Tides / Thomas Hanley

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Discovering Spring, Summer Along Central Oregon Coast: Hints from Pacific City to Florence

Published 4/21/24 at 4:25 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Depoe Bay, Oregon)  Sun, fun and sand  lots of sand  are usually on the menu along the central Oregon coast come spring and summer. Well, OK, it's not always sun. Sure, there have been rumors of the occasional run of overcast days, but these are....

OK. Yeah those happen. A lot, actually. But when you get from April through early October, you're going to have also good runs of pure and unadulterated blue skies and enough rays to keep you reaching for the suntan lotion. (Above: the southern end of Yachats, where sand levels can get so high you can access areas like this that are normally under water - photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Mostly, though, if you explore right you're going to have discoveries. Throw away the strict travel agendas and simply drive, keeping an eye out for little openings in the brush with some amount of parking close. Take time to wander aimlessly.

This is what we encountered in the span of a few days drifting about between Florence and Pacific City one summer.



Nye Beach gets fluffy

About May to June, you'll notice there is the abundance of sand dunes in places you don't normally find them. Or at least they're much bigger at many favorite beaches. Like above, at Newport's Nye Beach, summer has brought much more sand than usual to this central Oregon coast hotspot. Nye Beach does have a tendency to get fluffy and soft this time of year, but the calm tidal conditions of the year really outdo themselves sometimes.





Checking out Beverly Beach from above, if you find the right spot, you'll discover a mysterious chunk of concrete. Perhaps the central coast version of the Old Standing Stones found in England? We've never figured what this really was (the photo is from years ago). It's NOT from an old motel that burned down, though that spot is not far. It's proof, however, that if you just explore you'll find wacky stuff. Hotels in Newport - Where to eat - Newport Maps and Virtual Tours

Higher sand levels are also present in summer at Roosevelt Beach, between Yachats and Florence. Normally there's a lot less of this beach.





These sand levels create some stunning dune sights just south of there, at Muriel Ponsler Wayside as you close in on Florence. Plenty of striking finds abound here. See more.

This spot is where the beaches start to look more like Florence, but then it's all interrupted by the basalt ledges of Heceta Head - the southern end of it is what you see there. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Upper Lane County Maps and Virtual Tours





Calm seas can be aplenty summer  sometimes almost glass-like. At Otter Loop Road, near Depoe Bay, the vessel Whale's Tail is scoping out the miniature cove at the Ben Jones Bridge, probably in search of whales.

Seeing whale watch tour boats lingering in spots along the central Oregon coast is a sign there are often whales right around there. Keep a lookout for the telltale blowhole action of a whale nearby.

Down near the Devil's Punchbowl, this beautiful view presents itself  as seen from above on Cape Foulweather, using a high-powered zoom lens. It's interesting to note sand levels are not high enough to get inside the Punchbowl as in some summers.

Down around Yachats, calm seas did not mean much in the way of spouting horn action. But the big one along the 804 managed to fire off a few small volleys and splash a handful of people who had wandered too close. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Yachats Maps and Virtual Tours





The end of the day almost always presents wondrous feels along the Oregon coast. Here, Pacific City became especially ethereal as the stars came out above Haystack Rock during the final  very final  rays of the day. Hotels in Pacific City - Where to eat - Pacific City Maps and Virtual Tours

Zooming back down nearly 100 miles, this is Cape Perpetua as the sun dips into the ocean and turns a funky shade of pink. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Upper Lane County Maps and Virtual Tours

Yachats on some sunny early evenings can be especially wowing, warm shade of red as the sun starts descending out of view.





Perhaps some of the most amaze-balls moments get presented a ways after dusk, however, perhaps as often as the sunset itself. This is Depoe Bay late on a Friday night, about 10:10 p.m. in July. It's well into blue hour, probably beyond. Some hints of sunlight were still visible, but so was a sensational half-moon that cast this mesmerizing reflection onto the water. Hotels in Depoe Bay - Where to eat - Depoe Bay Maps and Virtual Tours







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By Published 4/22/24 at 4:25 a.m.By Andre' Hagestedt , Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Waldport's Beach, Bike 'n Blues Fest Slams Into Central Oregon Coast in May

(Waldport, Oregon) - On Saturday, May 4, little Waldport will kick out the jams in a big way. The 3rd Annual Beach, Bike & Blues Festival takes over the town with a festival that's grown by leaps and bounds in its first two years, expected to be seismic once again with a day packed full of tunes, bike rides, food and loads of community involvement.

Beach, Bike & Blues Festival welcomes more than 800 bike racers and their friends who participate in the 12th Annual Oregon Coast Gravel Epic. Yet there is so much more to it  and so many more people involved. More than 2,500 attendees are expected, if not far, far more. The 2024 Beach, Bike & Blues Festival returns that Saturday, and once again the venue is the beautiful Alsea Bay Bridge Visitor Center & Museum at the south end of the bridge. As always, the backdrop is the sweeping shores of the Alsea Bay.

Put on by the Waldport Chamber of Commerce, the festival's venue is dog-friendly and ADA accessible. It is free as well.

The Annual Oregon Coast Gravel Epic (AOCGE) begins in Waldport and takes bike riders through miles of intense trails and deep forest, which is about 65% unpaved logging roads and the rest smooth pavement. Cyclists have a choice of the 60-mile Abomination or the 37-mile Son of Abomination route, while some of it takes place in Yachats the next day, Sunday.

It's a one-of-a-kind event on the coastline. See the event website.

This time around, 12:15 p.m. is the start time at the festival, with old-time blues from Paul Schuytema, a local favorite. At 2 p.m., Steve Cook brings together musicians from throughout the central Oregon coast with a tribute to Lozelle Jennings called The Purple Cats Band. Then, at 3:30 p.m. is the multi-talented Ronnie Jay Pirrello and his blend of blues, rock and folk favorites.

Wrapping up the festival is is the Cascade Blues Muddy Award-winning trio featuring Sonny Hess, Lisa Mann and Kelly Pierce. Mann and Hess are two long-standing stalwarts in Oregon's blues scene, packing in clubs and venues for over two decades. Hess is quite well known for her gutsy guitar playing and vocal delivery. Pierce is a longtime drummer with her.

Food includes loads of different beverages, including Pepsi and bottled water, as well as some wine and beer from the local Grocery Outlet and Beachside Brewing. BBQd ribs, tri-tip sandwiches and giant hot dogs come from Rays BBQ. Look for fish & chips from Fishing Rock Eatery and sweet treats from Chubby Lil Mermaid. Coffee is all local from The Thirsty Fisherman, while you can also indulge in ice cream sandwiches from JillyBeanz Ice Cream.

Among the groups there will be Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society, Lincoln County Heath & Human Services, Astound Broadband, Cape Perpetua, The Cascade Blues Association, South Beach Manor Memory Care, Friends of Oregon Coast Community College, Brass Foghorn Vintage Saxophones, WaFd Bank and Pioneer Connect, among others.

The festival's idea was sprouted when the chamber heard from members of the community in 2021 that there should be some sort of spring festival to celebrate the town, according to chamber executive director Tom Fullmer.

A year later, the first festival was held.

At the end of Festival in 2022, we discovered we had a winner with more than 700 people attending festival, 30 volunteers, 18 sponsors and vendors and a terrific line-up of music, Fullmer said. In 2023, expectations were exceeded when we welcomed more than 1,900 attendees and increased our exposure for Waldport and the Festival to cover statewide media and outreach.

See the festival site.

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Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
Here are five anesthesiologists making headlines in the last month:

1. Anesthesiologist Ellis Richard Clark, MD, filed a lawsuit against Optum-affiliated Salem (Ore.) Surgery Center, which operates under the name Northbank Surgical Center, for allegedly firing him in retaliation for complaining about unsafe anesthesia practices.

2. Raynaldo Ortiz Jr., MD, a former anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas, has been found guilty on 10 counts of tampering with IV bags and the adulteration of drugs.

3. Mark Young, MD, an anesthesiologist who owned and operated a Glenwood Springs-based ketamine clinic, was arrested for alleged unlawful sexual contact.

4. Spokane, Wash.-based anesthesiologist Michael Ferries, MD, agreed to take ethics training following allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of a patient.

5. Anesthesiologist John Johnson, MD, 62, entered into an agreement to defraud health insurers for fraudulently billing for urine drug tests.
Some of the ASC industry's biggest players  AmSurg, HCA Healthcare, SCA Health, Surgery Partners and United Surgical Partners International  have seen explosive growth in the last year.

Here is a recap of the recent moves made by five industry giants:

AmSurg (Nashville, Tenn.)

Last year, AmSurg ASCs became in-network with Aetna after its then-parent company Envision Healthcare signed a multiyear deal with the insurer. This made the group's 256 ASCs accessible to both Aetna's more than 56 million subscribers.

HCA Healthcare (Nashville)

HCA Healthcare's ASC arm Surgery Ventures opened a joint venture ASC, Silicon Valley Surgery Center, in Campbell, Calif., with more than 50 physicians.

The company's Midwest branch also recently wrapped up construction on a $9.3 million ASC in Kansas City, Mo., and is working on more ASC projects in the area, adding to its 153 ASCs nationwide.

SCA Health (Deerfield, Ill.)

Optum, the parent company of SCA Health and the country's largest employer of physicians, intends to acquire Dallas-based Steward Health Care's physician group. The group is made up of 1,700 physicians across nine states, adding to the 20,000 physicians it added in 2023.

Optum also received approval to bypass a state review of its planned purchase of physician-owned Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic in wake of the physician group's financial issues.

Lawmakers have expressed concern about the Steward deal. "Optum, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, is already the largest employer of physicians in the country  controlling over 10% of American doctors  which means this deal raises significant antitrust concerns in Massachusetts and nationally," Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement.

SCA Health and Palomar Health also opened an ASC in Escondido, Calif.

Surgery Partners (Nashville)

Surgery Partners partnered with three health systems in 2023: Columbus-based Ohio Health, Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health and Dallas-based Methodist Health System. This year, it has partnered with Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health to develop ASC joint ventures across the state.

The company also acquired Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital in Wichita, Kan., adding to its 192 ASC affiliates across the U.S.

USPI (Dallas)

In 2023, Tenet, USPI's parent company, acquired controlling interest in 20 ASCs and 11 previously unconsolidated ASCs for $149 million. As of Dec. 31, USPI has interest in 480 ASCs and surgical hospitals across 35 states  and it does not intend to stop there.

"Tenet is entering a new era with a greater proportion of our performance coming from our highly efficient ambulatory surgical business and a reduced debt profile," CEO and Chair Saum Sutaria, MD, said in a company earnings call. "We will have significant financial and capital flexibility to increase shareholder value over the long-term."

According to Dr. Sutaria, the company has more than 30 de novo ASCs in development and plans to continue its trajectory of putting $200 million to $250 million into ASC mergers and acquisitions a year.

USPI also expanded its partnership with Renton, Wash.-based Providence to develop additional ASCs and entered into a definitive agreement with Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health, selling three Tenet hospitals in South Carolina but continuing to operate the ASCs in the markets.
The American Board of Medical Specialties is one step closer to creating an independent board of cardiology medicine. Recently, it created a formal board of directors and its Specialty Board Development group opened a comment period.

The 90-day open comment period is a critical part of the application review process, according to an April 25 American College of Cardiology news release. ABMS is seeking to gauge support for the new board, including feedback from clinicians and patients. The comment period will close July 24.

The first 10 directors of the prospective board were selected. They will be instrumental in ushering the proposed board through the application process and overseeing prelaunch projects. Here are the 10 directors: Jeffrey Kuvin, MD (president); Mark Drazner, MD (treasurer); Jodie Hurwitz, MD (secretary); Peter Duffy, MD; David Faxon, MD; Edward Fry, MD; Judith Hochman, MD; Michelle Kittleson, MD, PhD; Daniel Kolansky, MD; and Gregory Michaud, MD.

"The house of cardiology has come together and acknowledged that cardiology has become a separate specialty and warrants its own board," Dr. Kuvin told Becker's. "There has been a rallying cry across cardiology recognizing that we have evolved to a unique specialty with our own training paradigms, our own guidelines, our own national databases, our own literature, our own competency statements, and that now is the time to develop a separate board of cardiovascular medicine."

Support for the creation of an independent cardiology medicine board has been voiced by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, the Heart Rhythm Society and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions.
Hospitals have begun incorporating artificial intelligence into their operational and clinical workflows to identify areas where the technology boosts clinicians and improves efficiency. But there are risks and executive teams need a strong plan to sustainably leverage AI for high quality, low cost care.

During the Becker's 14th Annual Meeting, April 8-11 in Chicago, a panel of leaders from across the U.S. gathered to share their expertise on AI use cases, building an effective governance model, and what's next. To close the session, each speaker answered the question: What will health system leaders need to set themselves up for success with AI over the next five years?

Note: responses are lightly edited for clarity.

Deepa Kumaraiah, MD, Senior Vice President and System Chief Medical Officer, NewYork Presbyterian: Systems are going to get bombarded, if they aren't already, with inputs and inbounds. They need to ask themselves this question: What are we going to go deep on? We're going to invest in the people, process and technology in the space because there's a lot of point solutions right now, and at some point, [that changes]. Take radiology, as an example. There's pulmonary embolism prediction, aneurysm prediction, stroke prediction and they are all different. At some point these are going to have to roll up to be operationalized in a workflow.

What has been valuable for us as a system, and is my advice in the space, is identify the problem you want to solve and where you're going to go deep because we are all learning and we're learning to ride the bike as we're building it. Then we have to share with each other because it's changing so quickly.

Michael Pfeffer, MD, CIO of Stanford (Calif.) Health Care and Associate Dean of Stanford School of Medicine: Sharing is going to be key. We all have to learn together on this. I am really excited about the potential. There's coalitions to share and learn from each other about the key problems we're trying to solve. I also think about the value equation: quality over cost. We have to do both. Cost can't go up with quality going up; quality has to go up and costs have to go down.

We actually have to move the needle on value. As I'm looking at how we are going to implement technologies over the next five years, it's got to be better quality and lower costs. We have to reduce the cost of healthcare. We can't just keep adding. Point solutions all cost money. So if we keep buying multiple products, costs are going to go up.

Think about a platform-based approach from a technology standpoint where you can embed different models, outputs, predictions, generative text, and more into the current platform so they're seamless in the workflow, but also don't raise your costs.

One more piece is the environmental and sustainability piece. These models take a lot of compute to run, and it's not an unlimited resource. We have to learn how to not use trillion parameter models like GPT for everything we're doing. We have to figure out how to get to smaller models that are much more use case focused if we're going to be sustainable. We are learning more and more that social determinants of health and the environment make up more [of outcomes] than anything in terms of genetics than we could ever possibly imagine. We can't further make things unsustainable through this process. We have to keep that in mind as well.

Brian Miller, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Intuitive: I would also like to build on Deepa's remarks with regard to being really clear about the problem you're trying to solve, and then how you're measuring it, and whether or not you solve it. As a technologist, I can also geek out and develop a lot of technology and applications, and whatnot, and you can find yourself straying pretty far away from the problem you're actually trying to solve.

Jared Antczak, Chief Digital Officer of Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.): There was a book I read a while back before generative AI / ChatGPT transformer model revolution called AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan. They made the declaration that in the year 2041 we'll look back and healthcare will be the most transformed industry by AI. The timing might be a little bit sooner now, but I happen to agree with him. To Michael's point, we're on an unsustainable path from a cost standpoint within the industry, and AI really holds a lot of potential to help us bend the cost curve, and transform and disrupt the way we deliver care while also improving quality at a lower cost.

We're just scratching the surface. We're still at the beginnings of this whole generative AI revolution, and I think the next step is really looking for those opportunities to build more fit-for-purpose models that are suited for specific use cases and tapping into the incredible potential that these models have to transform healthcare.

Short of that, we can't predict what's going to happen in five years, and I won't even try because I'll get it wrong. ChatGPT wasn't on anybody's mind two years ago. We have to do our best to position our organizations with a culture of agility and nimbleness so we can actually respond to these merging technologies as they become available.

Interested in hearing more? Join 2,500+ healthcare leaders at the Becker's Health IT + Digital Health + Revenue Cycle event, Oct. 1-4 in Chicago! Contact agendateam@beckershealthcare.com to learn more about speaking opportunities. Limited space is also available for exhibitors and sponsors. Download the prospectus here.

https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/hitrcm2024?utm_source=bhrwebsite&utm_content=dropdown

https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/2024hitdigitalhealthrcmprospectus
Michael O'Sullivan, MD, an integral founding member of the Mayo Clinic Health System and former member of its board of governors, died April 20 at the age of 88.

"Both Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Mayo Clinic Health System were founded through his vision, and their ongoing successes are testaments to what he has done for each and every one of us and the patients we serve," William Morice II, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Mayo Collaborative Services, said in an April 25 news article from the health system.



Born and educated in Ireland, Dr. O'Sullivan completed his fellowship in hematology and pathology at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic. He officially joined the hospital in 1969 as a consultant in hematopathology. In 1971, he founded Mayo Regional Laboratory, which evolved into today's Mayo Clinic Laboratories.



Dr. O'Sullivan made history as the first physician leader of Mayo Clinic Health System in 1992, uniting physician-led community clinics and hospitals across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. He was named CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 1997  leading the organization through financial challenges and overseeing the opening of Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix before retiring in 2002.



A music lover, Dr. O'Sullivan also established the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine and started talent shows at the system.



"Dr. O'Sullivan was a true icon who lived out Mayo Clinic's values," said Gianrico Farrugia, MD, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "He dedicated his life's work to Mayo Clinic and our patients, and his impact lives on in the work we do to transform healthcare today."
Dr. O.H. "Bud" Frazier, in 2017. Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

A Texas state appeals court on Thursday ordered the dismissal of a 2018 defamation lawsuit against ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle brought by famed Houston heart surgeon Dr. O.H. Bud Frazier, ruling that a 2018 investigation into the doctor was a fair, true, and impartial account of accusations against him.

Frazier was also ordered to pay the publications attorneys fees related to the appeal.

Frazier had filed the suit in Harris County District Court, challenging a 2018 story and subsequent reporting that examined concerns with the doctors conduct, including that a hospital investigation had found that Frazier and his team implanted experimental heart pumps in patients who did not meet medical criteria to be included in clinical trials.

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Frazier, a high-profile heart transplant surgeon at Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center and the Texas Heart Institute, claimed that the articles included errors and misleading statements calculated to falsely portray Dr. Frazier as an inhumane physician.

The suit also named the stories authors, Charles Ornstein of ProPublica and Mike Hixenbaugh, then of the Chronicle, as defendants.

The news outlets sought to dismiss the lawsuit under the 2011 Texas Citizens Participation Act, which allows for speedy dismissals of what the Texas Supreme Court has defined as retaliatory lawsuits that seek to intimidate or silence (citizens) on matters of public concern or chill First Amendment rights.

The appeals court decision potentially signals the close of a nearly six-year legal battle.

In 2018, Harris County District Judge Wesley Ward first denied the news outlets motion to dismiss under the TCPA, ruling that Frazier had shown enough evidence to establish his defamation claim. The news outlets appealed the ruling to the First District Court of Appeals in Houston, which determined in January 2020 that the trial court had failed to consider the news outlets evidence and arguments and sent the case back to the trial court. Frazier appealed the appeals court ruling to the Supreme Court of Texas, which denied his petition.

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In March 2022, the district court once again denied the news outlets motion to dismiss under the TCPA. The publications filed a second appeal two months later, arguing Frazier had failed to establish the elements of his defamation claim.

This time, the appeals court definitively reversed the lower courts decision and on Thursday ordered the trial court to dismiss the case, concluding that the news outlets established by a preponderance of the evidence their defenses of substantial truth and nonactionable opinion.

This is a huge victory for journalism and the truth on an issue of immense public importance, said Jeremy Kutner, ProPublicas general counsel. After six long years, the court found what was clear to every reader of this story. It was fair, accurate and backed up by a mountain of documentation and evidence. However important their contributions to society, pioneering leaders are not above scrutiny.

Neither Frazier nor his attorneys immediately responded to a request for comment.
A group of 22 state attorneys general is urging UnitedHealth Group to provide more financial assistance to providers hurt by the hack on Change Healthcare.

In an April 25 letter to UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty, the attorneys asked the company to "enhance and expand" financial assistance for affected providers, provide a dedicated complaint resolution mechanism for state attorneys general and other agencies, and provide independent analysis confirming Change systems are secure.

"You must do more than you are currently to avoid imposing further harm to our states' healthcare infrastructure and the patients who rely upon it," the attorneys general wrote.

The letter was led by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who sued to block UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Change Healthcare in 2022. UnitedHealth Group is headquartered in Minnesota.

"As Attorney General, it is my job to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect," Mr. Ellison said in an April 25 news release. "That includes making sure that patients and providers aren't left holding the bag when a too-big-to-fail health care conglomerate does indeed fail."

Change Healthcare was hacked by a ransomware group Feb. 21. In the following weeks, the company has restored at least 80% of Change's services. Change processes about 15 billion healthcare transactions annually, handling 1 in 3 patient records.

On April 23, UnitedHealth Group reported data stolen in the attack likely affects a "substantial proportion of people in America." The company established a dedicated call center for individuals whose data was exposed in the hack and will provide free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to those impacted.

UnitedHealth Group has provided at least $6 billion in advance funding to providers whose revenue was disrupted by the attack, according to an April 18 news release from the company. In their letter, the attorneys alleged the response has been "inadequate."

Some providers have reported difficulties reaching Change for assistance, and some smaller providers have received assistance offers as low as $10 a week from Change, the attorneys alleged.

"Furthermore, some providers understand that accepting short-term financial aid will waive any claims they may have against Change or United as a consequence of the breach," the AGs wrote in their letter. "We are also deeply concerned by the perception that practices owned by United may be getting more immediate relief and more favorable terms from the financial assistance program."

The letter is not a settlement offer, and it does not waive the attorneys' right to any ongoing investigations or legal actions related to the hack, they wrote.

A spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group told Becker's the company is aware of the letter.

"Since day one, we have prioritized patient access to care, and providing resources and support to concerned individuals, providers and customers. We continue to offer financial assistance to those providers who need it and encourage them to contact us," the spokesperson said.

The letter is the latest outcry from officials over the hack and the ongoing fallout. Federal lawmakers criticized UnitedHealth Group's response to the attack in an April 16 hearing.

Mr. Witty is scheduled to testify before Congress May 1.
There have been at least nine mpox cases reported in Cuyahoga County  which encompasses Cleveland and surrounding suburbs  since February, health officials said April 25.

All of the reported cases were among people aged 17 to 44, most of whom are men, county health officials told USA Today. Health officials said diagnostic testing and the two-dose Jynneos vaccine are available through local medical providers and at county health department clinics.

"The Ohio Department of Health is working with our local partners in Cuyahoga County and the city of Cleveland health departments to identify cases, as well as provide guidance regarding vaccinations of at-risk populations," a spokesperson for the department told the news outlet. "ODH is also sharing prevention messages that the local health departments may use in their communities."

Providers should keep mpox as part of their differential diagnosis and ensure patients with lesions and/or a rash are tested, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health said.

Mpox primarily affects men who have sex with men, though anyone can contract the disease. The virus that causes the disease is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. The U.S. saw an outbreak in 2022, with more than 32,000 cases reported through the end of 2023.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is considered a "gold standard" in spine surgery, but it will likely be eclipsed by disc replacement.

Six surgeons discuss ACDF's future.

Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity.

Question: What will ACDF and technology for the procedure be like in five to 10 years?

Joseph Ferguson, MD. MedStar Health (Washington, D.C.): We're seeing a lot of good evidence about cervical disc replacements, and I think we're going to see the evidence continue to expand as people's indications with cervical discs have expanded. With that said, ACDF is still the gold standard. The best surgery spine surgeons do in terms of outcome is probably the elective ACDF. I don't think we're ever going to shift away from it completely. But I do think you're going to start to see more disc replacements substituting it, especially for multiple levels.

Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: In five to 10 years, we will see the development of better and more durable disc arthroplasty. We will always need the option of cervical fusion, without question. The indications for each operation will, I think, remain the same, and probably should remain the same. However, just like in hips and knees, arthroplasty will get better and maybe even supersede ACDF in the future, but not until we can get good long-term outcome data and implants that are even more robust than the best we have today.

Frank Phillips, MD. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago): ACDF is a well-evolved procedure with documented excellent outcomes for appropriate indications. As material science continues to advance, we will see cages that are no longer inert spacers but rather actively participate in the fusion process. This will be coupled with advanced biologics that lead to more reliable and rapid fusion or cage bone ingrowth, "welding" the spine together. This will allow patients to more rapidly resume unrestricted activities.

As total disc replacement has evolved, surgeons are stretching the indications and claiming excellent outcomes, typically with one-day follow up and "peer reviewed" images posted on LinkedIn followed by the echo chamber adulation. Rigorous study is needed to define the place of TDR and ACDF in the spine surgeon's armamentarium.

Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Sinkov Spine (Las Vegas): In five to 10 years there will be less ACDFs and more disc replacements being performed as the implant design, techniques and clinical data for disc replacement technology continues to evolve and improve. The remaining ACDFs will likely be done with more low-profile and zero-profile implant technology that minimizes soft tissue retraction and post-operative dysphagia.

Timur Urakov, MD. University of Miami (Fla.): ACDF is one of the oldest spinal procedures. Over the past decades it has been optimized across all steps, and it is difficult to imagine any further changes in five to 10 years. There may be further developments in implant materials and biological substitutes to further refine fusion rates. Prevalence of the procedure will decline as arthroplasty becomes a better choice for properly selected patients. Preventative care and research in regenerative medicine may also influence the outlook on ACDF over a longer term.

Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Current methodologies of decompression and surface area-based fusion techniques will remain. A tried-and-true procedure, well-suited for singular, multilevel and adjacent level disease processes. From the Cloward Technique, the Smith-Robinson Sub axial Approach and whatever the current iteration being employed, this ACDF surgical procedure has stood the test of time.
How cost of cauliflower contributed to top Belfast eaterys closure

Price of cauliflower alone more than tripled in last year, say owners of Blank venue

The price of cauliflower has more than tripled

Margaret Canning Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 07:50

Cauliflower tripling in price and the rising cost of Irish produce in general helped push a couple to shut down their high-end south Belfast restaurant, theyve told the Belfast Telegraph.
The chief executive of Phoenix Energy, Northern Irelands largest gas distributor, has hailed its new owners for their investment in the economy here.

The company has confirmed that CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI) have acquired full ownership of the business from NatWest Group Pension Fund and the Utilities Trust of Australia in a deal estimated to be worth 757 million (US$941 million).

CK Infrastructure Holdings is Hong Kongs largest publicly listed infrastructure company in Hong Kong with investments across energy, transport and water infrastructure.

The consortium also included CK Asset Holding and Power Assets Holdings, a vertically integrated electric utility company headquartered in Hong Kong.

It is understood that CK Infrastructure and CK Asset each hold 40% equity interest in the consortium, while Power Assets holds the balance.

The three firms are part of the CK Group, which is owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing.

Phoenix Energy Group CEO Kailash Chada said: We are delighted that the sales process has attracted the calibre of investment CKI bring to the Northern Ireland economy.

"CKI has a comprehensive portfolio of global investments which include a number of UK based investments; Northern Gas Networks, Wales & West Utilities, UK Power Networks, Seabank Power and Northumbrian Water.

We are particularly pleased that the CKI investment coincides with the gas industry in NI entering an exciting period of continued growth and development, providing sustainable low carbon heating options to over 350,000 properties in NI and playing an integral role in delivering regional decarbonisation ambitions.

Phoenix has also confirmed that the outcome of the sales process will not have an impact on the Phoenix Energy workforce.

Phoenix Energy was established in 1996 and is Northern Ireland's largest natural gas network company, operating a network that covers half of the local population and providing gas to more than 350,000 households.

The company reported a turnover of 65m and pre-tax profits of 16m for the year ending December 2022.

The company employs 121 people, according to its latest accounts.

CK Infrastructure, also founded in 1996, owns a global infrastructure portfolio that comprises primarily projects operating in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

We are very happy to acquire another quality asset characterised by stable returns, Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, Lis elder son and chairman of CK Infrastructure and CK Asset, said in a statement.

The potential sale of Phoenix Energy was first reported last year, when it was revealed that Australian investment bank Macquire was pushing ahead with the sale of its 50% stake in the company.

Macquire had requested that bidders indicate if they were interested in acquiring the entire company. It was acting on behalf of NatWest Group Pension Fund, which owned 50% of the business. The remainder is owned by Utilities Trust of Australia.

The NatWest stake in the Northern Ireland company is managed by Vantage Infrastructure, the former international fund management arm of Australian fund manager Hastings.

Private equity group Terra Firm Capital Partners sold Phoenix Energy to Hastings in 2013 for about 700m.

Hastings acquired the energy company on behalf of managed accounts for the Royal Bank of Scotland pension plan and Utilities Trust of Australia.
Derry Girl star Nicola Coughlan has spoken about her support for Palestine and how she was warned that it could affect her career.

I think its important to me because, firstly, Im a very privileged person, the Bridgerton actress said in an interview with Teen Vogue.

Im so lucky Ive gotten to this point in my career. And Im privileged as a white woman, first off. Then the fact that I get to do the job I love and travel the world and meet amazing people, I feel a moral responsibility to give back.

She recalled how her late father, who served in the Irish army, went into a lot of war-torn regions after the conflict and [tried to] help rebuild, and the impact that his work left on her.

My family lived in Jerusalem back in the late 70s, early 80s, before I was born, so I heard first-hand stories about them living there, she said.

Speaking about the response of Hollywood executives to activism by several actors in support for Palestinian people, the Galway girl claimed she was told she could lose work if she continued.

She has continued to wear her Artists4Ceasefire pin, in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, anyway.

You do get told: You wont get work, you wont do this, she said.

But I also think, deep down, if you know that youre coming from a place of I dont want any innocent people to suffer, then Im not worried about peoples reactions.

Coughlan said her advocacy for social justice has always been a part of her life, long before she was an actor, campaigning door-to-door for marriage equality in her home country of Ireland and marching for abortion rights.

To me, it always becomes about supporting all innocent people, which sounds oversimplified, but I think youve got to look at situations and just think: Are we supporting innocent people no matter where theyre from, who they are? Thats my drive, she said.
Tributes have been paid to a well-known Belfast DJ after her sudden death at just 40 years old.

Emma-Rose Hollywood, also known as EmRo, was the resident DJ at venues such as Horatio Todds, Laverys and Voodoo in the city centre.

She died after suddenly falling ill on Thursday.

Her death was confirmed by several friends, including her husband, Stephen, who shared the news on social media.

Today is a day I will want to forget  wake up and dream didnt happen, Mr Hollywood wrote on Facebook.

Ive lost you in person but never in spirit. Love you always, EmRo. Give me good-time stories. Give me smiles.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Alliance MLA Sian Mullholland, a friend of Mrs Hollywood for more than 20 years after they worked together at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, said she was devastated by her death.

Emma-Rose was one of my closest pals for over two decades and [she was] one of the most passionate advocates for the local music scene, Ms Mullholland said, fighting back emotion.

She took every opportunity to be at gigs, to play local music and support local musicians. She was a strong advocate of equality, fairness and fighting for what she believed in.

On top of that, Emma-Rose was the best mum and loyal friend.

Also speaking to this newspaper, Mrs Hollywoods friend Fiona Cole, a human rights campaigner, said: Its not about who I am but what EmRo meant for me and so many.

Ive been a friend of hers for over 20 years, since I worked in the students union. Wed chat about putting the worlds to right, how terrible Scotland were at rugby, and how passionate she was about music and Manchester United. Yet even I cant do her justice in these words.

She also wrote a tribute on social media to the popular DJ: Last time I saw you was (of course) the (Scotland vs Ireland) Six Nations. Youd just come from a Palestine march. We laughed, we talked about our kids, politics (and) sports.

You were so happy and I was so happy to see you. Your tragedy has connected literally thousands together in grief. Sleep well.

BBCs David OReilly

Author and BBC Radio Ulster presenter David OReilly, also known as Rigsy, paid tribute to Mrs Hollywood on X, formerly Twitter, writing: Anyone involved in music in Belfast in the past 20 years likely knew EmRo, who died suddenly yesterday.

She was omnipresent at gigs, always a force for good, relentlessly upbeat and just a joy to bump into. I cant stop thinking about her poor husband and wee kid, Willow.

Other tributes to the DJ included a friend who said she had such a big heart and always made her smile.
Cultural and tourism promotional event for E China's Anhui held in St. Petersburg, Russia

People's Daily Online) 09:10, April 26, 2024

A cultural and tourism promotional event themed "Beautiful Anhui Engages with the World" was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 22 to introduce east China's Anhui Province to the citys citizens.

Photo taken on April 22, 2024 shows a cultural and tourism promotional event for east China's Anhui Province held in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province)

Participants in the event included members of a goodwill mission from Anhui, officials from the Chinese Consulate General in St. Petersburg, as well as representatives from relevant local government departments, key enterprises, business associations, and media outlets in Russia.

Sun Yong, vice governor of the People's Government of Anhui Province, attended and delivered a speech at the event.

Sun Yong, vice governor of the provincial government of east China's Anhui Province, delivers a speech at a cultural and tourism promotional event for Anhui held in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province)

He Changfeng, deputy head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province, gave an introduction to Anhui's cultural and tourism resources and extended a sincere invitation for more Russian tourists to visit the province and experience its unique charm.

Russian representatives warmly welcomed the Anhui goodwill mission and expressed willingness for further exchanges and cooperation.

They hope the friendly exchanges between Anhui and Russia will continue achieving new results, and for bilateral cultural and tourism cooperation to show new highlights.

At the event, many Russians were attracted by Anhui's provincial-level intangible cultural heritage - traditional fish-shaped lanterns from Wangmantian village in Anhui.

Boasting a history of over 600 years, the lanterns are made and used to pray for bountiful harvests and a large and prosperous family every year between the 13th and 16th days of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Traditional fish-shaped lanterns, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage of east China's Anhui Province, prove popular among Russians at a cultural and tourism promotional event for Anhui held in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province)

A Russian girl said the fish lanterns are very beautiful and had distinct Chinese characteristics, and said she would take one home as a souvenir.

Participants also enjoyed performances of tea art and Huangmei Opera at the event.

Huangmei Opera, one of the five major Chinese opera genres, is the major local traditional opera of Anhui Province.

As artists performed the Huangmei Opera classic titled "Emperor's Female Son-in-Law" at the promotional event, many Russians in the audience took out their phones and cameras to record the scene.

An artist performs a Huangmei Opera classic titled "Emperor's Female Son-in-Law" at a cultural and tourism promotional event for east China's Anhui Province held in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province)

"The performance was brilliant," said one young man, admitting it was his first time experiencing Chinese culture so closely, adding that he was deeply impressed. "I want to share the recording with my family."

Anhui and St. Petersburg share a long history of friendly exchanges. Since the 17th century, famous tea produced in Anhui has been brought to St. Petersburg through a nearly 14,000-kilometer trade route linking China, Russia and Mongolia.

As important stops along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Anhui and St. Petersburg have continuously deepened exchanges across various fields.

Leveraging its advantageous cultural and tourism resources, Anhui Province has vigorously upgraded its cultural and tourism facilities and services and made cultural tourism its key platform for opening-up, exchanges and cooperation.

Last year, the province received 848 million visits and generated 851 billion yuan ($117.43 billion) in tourism revenue.

In recent years, Anhui has organized multiple cultural and tourism promotional events in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities, fostering sound cooperative partnerships with local tourism authorities, industry associations, and major travel companies.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Kylie Minogue, Noah Kahan and Calvin Harris are to headline this year

West Belfast rap trio Kneecap are set to return to Electric Picnic festival at the Stradbally estate in Co Laois in August.

Kylie Minogue, Noah Kahan and Calvin Harris are set to headline the event with fan favourites Gerry Cinnamon, RAYE, Peggy Gou, NAS, Kasabian, and Faithless.

Irish acts Kodaline, Jazzy, The Scratch, Damien Dempsey and the Wolfe Tones will also take to the stage as well as Belfast rappers Kneecap.

Just last month, the band pulled out of a Texas music and arts festival in protest against its reported connections to the American military and US arms manufacturers.

The controversial hip hop trio were due to travel to Texas for the SXSW (South By Southwest) festival but said at the time that they could not in good conscience attend an arts festival that has The U.S Army as a Super Sponsor.

Electric Picnic, which has increased its capacity to 75,000 people, takes over the Stradbally estate each year.

Last year, headline acts included The Script, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Fred again and Niall Horan. Other notable acts included Gavin James, Lyra, The Saw Doctors, Nell Mescal, Cian Ducrot, and The Wolfe Tones.

Tickets for the 2024 festival were snapped up within an hour of going on sale, with some 70,000 people thought to have attended in 2023.

This year the music and arts festival will take place from Friday, August 16, to Sunday, August 18.

It normally takes place in early September but the date change was to accommodate the touring schedule of artists, according to organisers.
A Belfast man played an integral role in acquiring and disposing of cars used in the bid to kill a top PSNI detective, the High Court heard today.

Prosecutors claimed the vehicles were purchased, stored and then supplied to others involved in the gun attack on DCI John Caldwell on the directions of 44-year-old Alan Lundy.
I wont be taking the blame: Belfast mum to challenge EA after nursery place confusion

Child assigned to Holy Child Nursery in west Belfast, not first choice of Holy Family in the north of the city

File photo (Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Mark Bain Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 17:44

A north Belfast mum plans to challenge the Education Authority (EA) to ensure her son can attend a nursery school a few hundred yards from his home.
Police said the information had got into the hands of dissident republicans (PA)

Almost 5,000 police officers and staff are involved in legal action following a major Police Service of Northern Ireland data breach.

It comes after the details of around 9,500 PSNI officers and staff were mistakenly published in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request last August.

The list included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit in which they work.

Police later said the information had got into the hands of dissident republicans.

The PSNI has previously indicated that the data breach could potentially cost the organisation 240 million in security and compensation payouts to officers.

Belfast law firm Edwards & Co said it is representing almost 5,000 police officers and staff.

It said three test cases for a liability only hearing have been listed for June 26.

The firm is one of the Management Solicitors appointed by the court in a recent group litigation order.

Edwards & Co partner Philip Gordon said: This decision by the High Court is very encouraging progress for our clients, who number almost 5,000.

At the review hearing this morning (Friday) the court listed three test cases for hearing on liability only for June 26 2024.

The Management Solicitors have served a statement of claim in each of the cases and the defendant was directed to enter their defence within the usual six-week period.

It represents very encouraging progress. Each claim will still have to be considered individually in terms of the appropriate damages, taking into account that each plaintiff will have been affected differently.

It may therefore take some time after a liability hearing to deal with each individual case, but we are committed to getting every client the best possible result.

Officers or civilians who have been affected by the data breach can still register with Edwards & Co to be part of the claim if they have not already done so.
File photo dated 5/12/1971 of rescuers, soldiers and civilians, dig with bare hands in the still smoking rubble of McGurk's bar in North Queen Street, Belfast. (Pic: PA Wire)

The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is to order new inquests for victims of the McGurks Bar massacre, a justice campaigner has said.

Fifteen civilians including two children were murdered in the no-warning UVF bomb attack on McGurks Bar in Belfast on December 4, 1971.

The security forces initially claimed a bomb had exploded prematurely while being handled by IRA members in the pub, suggesting that victims themselves were partly to blame.

The families have long suspected that the security forces had advance knowledge of the attack or could have prevented it.

Now, Attorney General Brenda King has informed the family of Edward and Sarah Keenan, via their legal representative Niall O Murchu, that she has considered the submissions and documents provided and has decided that it is advisable to order a new inquest into their deaths.

Ciaran MacAirt, a grandson of two of the McGurks Bar Massacre victims, submitted a file of new evidence he discovered through archive research in public records and targeted requests via the Freedom of Information Act.

McGurk's Bar families have long campaigned for justice

This new evidence included secret military logs which previous historical investigations either missed or deliberately ignored.

These logs pinpointed the location of army observation posts [OP] including a covert ambush OP in the vicinity of the pub.

The military had previously denied the presence of any of its units in the area.

The decision to order a new inquest comes days before the controversial Legacy Act comes into force on May 1 and prevents any further Troubles-related inquests.

Gerard Keenan was 13 years of age when he was orphaned and watched the recovery of bodies from McGurks Bar.

He said: Our families welcome the historic decision of the Attorney General to direct a new inquest as all the families have campaigned with great dignity for over 52 years for scraps of truth and justice from the British state.

"Like many other bereaved families now, though, we face the reality that the British state will not allow this inquest to go ahead as it desperately wants to stop us from discovering why our loved ones were murdered in the McGurks Bar Massacre and how it failed to prevent it.

Mr MacAirt added: Even before we buried our loved ones in those dark days of 1971, the British state buried the truth.

"We will continue to fight for equal access to due process of the law and demand an Article 2-compliant inquest. We reject any attempt by the British state to dress up the likes of the so-called Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery as a substitute for a proper, just investigation. My work too will continue unabated.

Niall O Murchu from Kinnear and Co said: This is a poignant reminder of the power of family campaigning and the fact that legal processes  however slow  can work if not shut down by the British state.

"The British Government and its Ministry of Defence have spent millions covering up their involvement in the McGurks Bar Massacre and its aftermath. Even after more than half a century, an inquest may offer the families an opportunity for truth and justice but now, of course, they first must fight for the repeal of the shameful Legacy Act, Britains latest attempt to bury its war crimes in Ireland.
Belfasts Jewish leader on fears over anti-Semitism: Our young people are very careful - theyre not too open

The leader of Belfasts Jewish community on hate, war, hope... and why Brexits not so kosher

Michael Black at the synagogue in north Belfast (Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph)

Kurtis Reid Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 07:25

The leader of Belfasts Jewish community has said its young people are careful about expressing their identity due to fears of anti-Semitism.
Jim Moore, also known as Onlyslaggin, has amassed 1.6m followers on social media.

A Co Antrim man who has racked up 1.6m followers on social media by sharing his mouth watering barbecue recipes has got the seal of approval from Gordon Ramsay.

Jim Moore from Newtownabbey was shocked when he got the notification from the Hells Kitchen chef who is among his many followers.

He would occasionally engage, but this was a whole new level of interaction, Mr Moore said.

The content creator, better known as Onlyslaggin on Instagram, is enjoying the profile boost after Ramsay shared a glowing review to his 40m followers online.

The TV cook, known for his fiery reputation in the kitchen, shared a split screen of Mr Moores version of his Ultimate Steak Sandwich along with animated commentary.

Ramsay noted the the very scenic setting in the grounds of Glenarm Castle on the north coast as he praised Mr Moores use of seasoning.

Very sophisticated, this dude is on it, he tells viewers.

Seasoned the meat, lovely, beautiful fillet there by the way!

Mr Moore, who creates videos with his wife Romilly, shared the original video in May 2022.

The succulent dish was endorsed by Ramsay who exclaimed: Hold on a minute, it looks like the ultimate steak sandwichthis man is serious.

Caramelised tomatoes, garlic, thyme, wow, that looks a very glamorous brush right there, look at you!

Dude, youve gone all posh! Now for the sauce, the mustard, the mayo, mixed nicely, beautifully seasoned, man this guy is getting very arty!

Commenting on the final product the restaurateur said: Right, the slice. Lets get into that magic.

"And, ohhh yes! Oh, two sandwiches, one for me, one for you!

"You cant devour that all on your own, please save some for me!

"It looks good though kiddo, well done!

Mr Moore cooks with his wife in their purpose built home BBQ Shack all year round and is known for taking the grills on road trips around Ireland.

"But we have also done some in Australia and most recently I have completed a road trip from Austin, Texas to New Orleans cooking dishes inspired from the local cuisine along the way, he explained.

Jim Moore with his wife Rom

The location of the cook mentioned by Gordon was Glenarm Castle on the North Coast of Northern Ireland where Rom and I spent the day enjoying the grounds and scenery before cooking some lunch on the riverside.

The social media cook shared his tips on making the Ultimate Steak Sandwich.

We cooked a wonderful piece of fillet steak seasoned generously with salt and pepper before searing and finishing indirect on the BBQ.

"We then roasted the fillet of beef over garlic & thyme basting it in melted butter with a herb brush building those layers of flavour!

The relish was a simple mix of red onion, chilli, baby tomatoes - halved, garlic, splash of sherry vinegar, olive oil and then at the very end topped with some freshly chopped basil.

"The mustard mayo is simply three tablespoons of mayo and three teaspoons of wholegrain mustard.

More inspiration is available on Mr Moores TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat accounts.
Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at Newry Courthouse on April 24, 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

A man has been arrested after a police officer was spat at outside court, after an appearance by Jeffrey Donaldson.

The former DUP leader has been charged with rape and a number of other historical sex offences.

It is understood that in his letter to DUP party officers, he made clear he would be strenuously contesting all charges against him

Donaldsons wife, Eleanor Donaldson, also appeared before Newry Magistrates Court on Wednesday to face charges in relation to the same police investigation.

They were both released on continuing bail after their first court appearance after being arrested and charged at the end of March.

Police escorted Donaldson both in and out of the court amid a large media presence.

As he left the court a number of members of the public had gathered and shouted at Donaldson.

Police said an officer was spat at.

A 37-year-old man described as a bystanding member of the public was later arrested and had since been released pending further inquiries.

Chief Superintendent Mervyn Seffen said officers were assigned to provide a secure area and a proportionate local policing response outside Newry court.

There was a large media presence, alongside a smaller number of members of the public, who at times were pushing and shoving our officers to get closer to the defendants, he said.

He said an officer was spat at.

A 37-year-old man was arrested later that day for assault on police.

He has since been released pending further inquiries, he said.

We appreciate the high profile nature of this case but always ask that our officers, who are on the ground to keep people safe, are treated with respect.

Police are also examining a number of social media posts to determine if any offences have been committed

Mr Seffen urged people not to speculate about the case.

He said: This type of speculation along with defamatory comments made about the defendants could have a seriously negative impact on criminal justice proceedings.

The Attorney General for Northern Ireland Dame Brenda King has expressed concern at the posting of clips on social media.

In light of the events at Newry Courthouse on April 24 I am concerned about the potential impact of social media posting of recordings or commentary on the members of any jury hearing this case in the future, she said.

Even if a member of the public did not intend to interfere with a court case, they can be found in contempt of court if something they publish creates a substantial risk that the course of justice in the criminal proceedings would be seriously impeded or prejudiced.

A sentence of up to two years imprisonment can be imposed.

She added: Users of social media should therefore take great care before posting or reposting clips or commentary and may wish to delete material at this point rather than risk proceedings being brought against them.

Further, as the PSNI has stated, it is a criminal offence to identify the complainants, who must remain anonymous.

Any posts which would be likely to lead to the identification of the complainants in this case should be reported to the police by any concerned member of the public.
Prosecutors are set to announce a series of decisions on case files relating to legacy investigations ahead of next week's deadline.

Decisions on whether to bring prosecutions must be confirmed before May 1, when all unsolved Troubles cases will fall to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

In the last 12 years just 53 Troubles cases have been considered by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), relating to offences committed before 1998.

Of those cases, 28 involved alleged crimes committed by republican paramilitaries and nine by loyalist paramilitaries. A further eight cases - amounting to 34 suspects  involved former soldiers.

The final eight cases involved RUC officers - all eight of these resulted in a decision not to prosecute.

Of the republican cases, prosecutions have been directed in 12 incidents.

Prosecutions have included that of Seamus Kearney, who was jailed for life in 2013 for the 1981 murder of RUC officer John Proctor.

Kearney was handed a minimum 20-year prison sentence for killing Mr Proctor, who was shot dead minutes after visiting his newborn son in hospital. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, he was released two years later.

Others include Coalisland man Paul Campbell, convicted of causing an explosion and possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life in 1997.

Among the active cases is John Downey, charged with murdering UDR members Alfred Johnston and James Eames in Enniskillen in 1972. He is facing prosecution after losing a battle against extradition from the Republic.

Downey was previously acquitted of involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing in which four soldiers died, after the court was told he was in possession of an On The Run letter issued by the Government.

Two of the IRA proceedings were discontinued and a further one concluded following the death of the defendant.

There were also two acquittals. One of those was the case of Ivor Bell, a veteran of the IRA's 1950s campaign. He was "operations officer" for the Belfast Brigade during the 1970s. He had been charged with soliciting Gerry Adams and the late Pat McClure to murder Jean McConville.

The case proceeded in front of a jury, rather than a Diplock court, as a trial of the facts - because Mr Bell was said to be suffering from vascular dementia.

In October 2019, Mr Justice John O'Hara directed the jury to find him not guilty, due to the prosecution evidence, based on taped confessions made to the controversial Boston College Project being discredited in court.

Of the 34 military suspects considered by the PPS, 17 related to the Bloody Sunday investigation.

Of the military cases, one ended in the acquittal of two men - Soldiers A and C - who had been charged with the murder of Official IRA leader Joe McCann, who was shot dead in April 1972 in the Market area of Belfast.

One of the cases was formally withdrawn following the death of the Dennis Hutchings, who died of Covid in 2021, midway through a trial for the fatal shooting of John Pat Cunningham.

Mr Cunningham  who had special needs - was shot near Benburb, Co Tyrone, in 1974. Mr Hutchings had been on trial for attempted murder.

Another ended last October following the death of Soldier B, who was due to stand trial for the murder of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty, who was shot by an Army patrol in the Creggan area of Derry in July 1972.

Of the two live cases one is Soldier F, accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray on Bloody Sunday in January 1972. The case has been beset with delays and was withdrawn by the PPS before being reinstated following a legal challenge by the victims families.

The other military case involves a former member of Military Reaction Force (MRF) who is accused of the murder of Patrick McVeigh. Mr McVeigh (44) was shot at the junction of Finaghy Road North and Riverdale Park, Belfast in May 1972.

That decision to prosecute was only made in February. There was a decision not to prosecute two further MRF members who had been reported to the PPS.

Of the convictions, one was former soldier David Holden who in November 2022 was found guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie, who was shot dead at an Army checkpoint in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, in 1988.

Holden (53) was sentenced to three years, but the term was suspended for three years.

There was a decision prosecute five soldiers - soldiers A  E - reported in the fatal shooting of James Bell. Mr Bell (24) suffered fatal injuries when he was shot during an Army surveillance operation in the grounds of a hotel in Cookstown in August 1980.

The cases do not include the prosecutorial decisions in the Operation Kenova investigation which was considered separately by the PPS.

There were 15 people reported to the PPS as a result of the investigation into the military agent known as Stakeknife.

Stakeknife, known to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, died in April last year before a decision to prosecute was made. The 14 other Kenova suspects, included one former police officer and six military personnel along with seven suspected IRA members. There were no prosecutions directed for all 14 suspects. The full Kenova report will be released later this year.

Also currently at hearing is the prosecution of suspected IRA member James Fox in relation to the murder of Post Office worker Frank Kerr in 1994. Mr Kerr, 54, died after being shot during a robbery at a Newry sorting office, months after the IRA ceasefire in 1994.

The final case is that of republican Arthur MacNally, who is facing a raft of charges, including attempted murder of a soldier, armed robbery of a bank, car hijacking and explosives offences dating back to 1987.

While cases currently proceeding through the courts will continue after May 1, there are still four outstanding files with the PPS.

Decisions on those cases must be made by the cut-off date at the start of next month.

Any other unsolved legacy cases will then fall to the ICRIR, with all PSNI and Ombudsman investigations coming to an end on that date.

The ICRIR, established by the Governments Legacy Act, will then take over responsibility for hundreds of unresolved Troubles cases.
Jim Allister rails at Gavin Robinson over his criticism of anti-protocol interlopers

Ann Widdecombe, Ben Habib and Kate Hoey at rally to hear TUV chief defend them against hypocrisy jibe

TUV leader Jim Allister

Andrew Madden Fri 26 Apr 2024 at 22:40







Jim Allister has hit out at comments by interim DUP leader Gavin Robinson, who criticised people flying from England to Northern Ireland to complain about the protocol.
Harris District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a news conference to announce the Elevate Strategies cases are being handed over to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, a second term Democrat, was licensed by the Texas Bar in 1987 after graduating from the South Texas College of Law.

She first joined the office as a prosecutor under longtime District Attorney Johnny Holmes administration, then later went on to run Crime Stoppers of Houston from 1999 to 2006. She continued in private practice, with work ranging from special prosecutorial appointments to federal discrimination lawsuits.

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What does Kim Ogg do as the Harris County DA?

Ogg oversees an office of over 800 employees, including attorneys and investigators who prosecute thousands of misdemeanor and felony crimes committed in Harris County.

She also signs off on pivotal actions within the District Attorneys Office, such as authorizing wiretaps, disqualifying her prosecutors from a case or seeking the death penalty in a case.

How long has Kim Ogg been the DA?

Ogg ran for district attorney as a Democrat during the 2014 election but lost that race to Republican Devon Anderson.

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She ran again in 2016, beating Anderson and starting the first of her two terms. She then won in 2020 against Republican challenger Mary Nan Huffman.

Who defeated Kim Ogg in the DA race?

Ogg ran for a third term this year against Sean Teare, a former prosecutor who worked at the District Attorneys Office for two stints spanning 11 years. He led the vehicular crimes division for six of those years. Teare defeated Ogg with about 75% of the vote in the March 2024 Democratic primary.

When is Kim Ogg's last day in office?

Ogg's successor  either Teare or Republican candidate Dan Simons  will be chosen in the upcoming November general election. Her last day in office will be Dec. 31, 2024.

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What has Kim Ogg done while in office?

Ogg campaigned as a progressive reform candidate in 2016 and expanded the county's pretrial marijuana diversion program shortly after taking office.

She has prosecuted more police officers than past administrations.

Critics argue Ogg has suffered a spate of high-profile losses in the courtroom and mismanaged the office's intake process, resulting in thousands of criminal cases that judges said lacked probable cause.

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During Ogg's time in office, the county has struggled with an overcrowded jail and lengthy court backlog that were worsened in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While lower than past administrations, seven death row inmates from Harris County have been executed during Oggs tenure. Jurors have sentenced three to die during her time in office.

What did Kim Ogg feud with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo about?

A Chronicle investigation published last year found Ogg had launched multiple criminal investigations against officials within her own party with whom she was publicly feuding.

Three of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's former aides have been under investigation by the District Attorney's Office and the Texas Rangers for over two years, accused of steering a county contract to a politically connected vendor. A grand jury indicted the three former staffers in 2022, but the cases have yet to go to trial.

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WHAT TO KNOW: How the feud between Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, DA Kim Ogg escalated

Ogg and Hidalgo have traded accusations in public, with Ogg arguing the county is "defunding law enforcement" and Hidalgo calling the investigation into her former aides a "political vendetta."

In April, Ogg announced she was bringing in state prosecutors with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office to help with the cases. Ogg argued that Teare, her possible successor, had conflicts of interest with the cases, and she did not trust him to handle them properly. In response, Teare reiterated his promise to recuse himself and refer the cases to a district attorney in another county.

What's next for Kim Ogg?
Exclusive | Indefensibly, the Covid Inquiry is hiding key Stormont evidence from public  and that is not just stupid, but dangerous
Garda at a closed road in Newtownmountkennedy after protests near Trudder House (Brian Lawless/PA)

Four people have appeared in court charged in connection with a public order incident in Co Wicklow on Thursday night.

Gardai were called to a site earmarked for asylum seekers at Trudder House outside Newtownmountkennedy on Thursday.

Six arrests were made during what the Garda described as serious public disorder.

On Friday, four people from Newtownmountkennedy appeared at Bray District Court in connection with the incident.

Gardai at a closed road in Newtownmountkennedy after protests near Trudder House (Brian Lawless/PA)

Shane Synnott, 19, of Season Park, Michael Synnott, 56, of the same address, Ben McNulty, 41, of Rossmore Avenue, and Sharon McCann, 39, of Mountainview Drive, were charged with the same offence which involved failing to abide by Garda instructions.

The charge relates to loitering in a public place without a reasonable excuse, leading to concern for the safety of people, property or public place  and failing to comply with a Garda instruction to leave.

Michael Synnott appeared in court wearing a hi-vis yellow T-shirt and workers pants while Shane Synott was wearing a black Nike T-shirt and cream sweatpants.

McNulty was wearing a navy t-shirt and workers pants while McCann appeared in blue jeans and a cream fleece.

Inspector Niall Kennedy told Judge Nicola Andrews that none of the four made any reply to the charges under caution.

Talking about the incident more generally, he said gardai had been dealing with a large-scale public order incident at the site and were required to be there to ensure that workers were not interfered with by protests that had become highly vocal.

He said that by 7pm on Thursday, some protesters became involved in alleged illegal activity.

Mr Kennedy said a mob had set fire to property and that Garda vehicles had been damaged, including the smashing of a windscreen and the slashing of tyres.

He told the judge arrests were made to prevent damage to property and injury to people.

He said gardai had been met with a relentless, prolonged and extremely dangerous level of violence, and there may be further charges relating to the incident.

The four accused were ordered to abide by a curfew at their home addresses between 8pm and 8am, not to engage in protest activity in Newtownmountkennedy, and to stay away from River Lodge, Trudder House and the surrounding area.

They were each remanded on bail of their own bond of 1,000 euro to appear in court again on May 9.
Former Irish premier Leo Varadkar has admitted he almost chickened out of resigning the night before he surprised many with his announcement.

The 45-year-old resigned as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader last month, saying he felt he was no longer the right person to lead his party.

He then described his decision as both personal and political.

In a wide ranging interview on RTEs Late Late Show on Friday night, Mr Varadkar also expressed his concern at anti immigration protests, and the impact they are having.

A day after a protest in Co Wicklow at a site earmarked for asylum seekers, Mr Varadkar said he was worried about the extent to which migration and anti-migrant feelings are going to become part of our politics.

Theyre centre stage in politics in most western countries. It was always going to be the case in Ireland, he said.

Its just the nature of politics  it was very much what drove the election of Donald Trump as president  he was going to build a wall and all that.

If you look across the water in Britain, when anti-migrant sentiment rose. Brexit was a big part of that, they were going to take control of their borders again. The official policy is to create a hostile environment for migrants, even if this strange Rwanda scheme, which cost 500 million euros and still hasnt sent a single plane yet.

Mr Varadkar said he loved leading Ireland, but said it took over everything, adding he has had no regrets.

He also suggested a time limit for the top job similar to in the United States.

I think the hardest thing was actually going through with it  I nearly chickened out the night before, he said.

But it was definitely the right decision for me and I hope as well the right decision for for the country too.

Its something that I had been thinking about for a few months but had only definitively made the decision in the days before. I was thinking back to 2017 when I first became taoiseach and I went into that meeting of 27 prime ministers, and I thought to myself, there are only three or four of us left, most of whom are now going, and in politics as another former prime minister said to me once, there are really only three ways you cease to be prime minister  its a huge privilege to get there, quite hard to leave  so you either die, lose or resign, and if youre not going to die or lose, resign is the only option, then its a question really as to whether it is voluntary or involuntary, and I always wanted to make sure it was my decision and on my terms.

I think we have a good government, Id like to see it re-elected. For that to happen, my party has to do a bit better than it did last time, gain some seats, and I felt there was a better chance of that under a new leader.

Mr Varadkars resignation came almost two weeks after two referenda proposed by the Government were defeated, and as 11 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party said they would not contest the next election.

When Mr Varadkar was appointed Fine Gael leader in 2017, members had hoped he would be an electoral boon for the so-called law and order party.

But the 2020 general election saw a drop in support from 26% in 2016 to 21%, and the party failed to win a 2021 by-election.

Mr Varadkar said the party will need to do better at the next election, and said he did not believe he was the person who could lead Fine Gael to the needed gains.

He went on to suggest a limit for leadership terms.

When youre taoiseach it is very long hours, it is most evenings, most weekends. Youre always on and youre always concerned and worrying about the problems that the country faces and people face and the time ahead, he said.

That that shouldnt be forever, and you know, one thing they have in America for the top job, president, governor, is an eight-year term limit, and maybe thats not such a bad idea.

Asked whether he thinks he was a good taoiseach, Mr Varadkar said that will be for others to judge in the fullness of time.

Its too soon I think to make those kind of conclusions. You have to see what comes what comes next over the next three, four or five, six years to know for sure, he said.

Asked what he regretted, Mr Varadkar said he felt the government had been too cautious in 2011 following the financial crash.

The economy bounced back way quicker than we thought  and we held back on some spending decisions, and we held back on some investment decisions. A lot of the new houses you see being built now, or some of the new transport improvements that are about to come online, could have happened five years ago had we known what we know now, he said.

The progress that were now seeing could have been much further along and then you would see a better situation with housing, a better situation with health. But thats hindsight and hindsight is 20/20.

Meanwhile Mr Varadkar said he will make the decision on whether to stand in the next election in his Dublin West constituency in the coming weeks.
D-Day veteran Alec Penstone, 98, receives a kiss from the D-Day Darlings at the D-Day 80 launch event (Gareth Fuller/PA)

A group of Second World War veterans have come together to share a bit of living history ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Ken Hay, Alec Penstone, Stan Ford, Henry Rice, Donald Howkins, Richard Aldred, Gilbert Clarke, John Dennett and Mervyn Kersh, aged between 98 and 103, gathered at the Union Jack Club, near Waterloo, on Friday.

The nine men, who travelled from across the UK, posed for a group photograph, joked and recalled stories about the D-Day and Normandy landings.

D-Day veteran and Ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial Stan Ford, 98, who served with the Royal Navy, meeting a pupil from Norfolk House School (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Event organisers said it is likely to be the last time they are seen together outside the official D-Day commemorations taking place in Portsmouth and Normandy in June.

Mr Rice, 98, of Cranleigh, Surrey, a former signalman who arrived off Juno Beach five days after D-Day, told the PA news agency: I managed to hold back a few tears, to be honest with you I put on an act of mouth and trousers and laughed, but I could quietly go and sit in the corner for 10 minutes.

General Lord Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, addressing the gathering, said: Its all about the veterans, bon voyage to them!

Lets take the opportunity now to get to know them, to meet them, to hear their stories, to write about their stories, to film their stories, to record their stories so that this bit of living history is captured.

The D-Day operation of June 6 1944 brought together the land, air and sea forces of the allied forces in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.

D-Day veterans meeting schoolchildren during Meet the Veterans: A History Lesson With Those Who Were There, at the Union Jack Club in London (Gareth Fuller/PA)

It is regarded as a success and began the process of ending the war in Europe.

Earlier on Friday, pupils aged between 10 and 14 from three schools in London were invited to ask three of the veterans about their experiences.

Mr Aldred, 99, who served as a tank driver and landed on Gold Beach in Normandy the day after D-Day spoke to the children about the camaraderie within his regiment.

He said: You all stick together like glue and the main thing is how soon can I have a cup of tea and a bully beef sandwich?

Mr Aldred recalled hearing a god awful thump when the gearbox of his tank was hit by enemy fire in France.

Mr Ford, 98, who served on HMS Fratton, an escort ship that accompanied vessels taking men and supplies across the Channel, recalled seeing thousands of ships setting sail on D-Day from his station in Selsey Bill on the south coast of England.

He said: Battleships, cruisers, destroyers, right down to the small little minesweepers.

As a 19-year-old, I said to myself were not going to lose this war, which we didnt.

Mr Ford told the pupils there were humorous times that helped his regiment get through the war.

Chuckling, he said: There was a time when the refrigeration system broke down so we were told to eat as much meat as we could.

I remember eating a whole shoulder of lamb to myself!

When asked what he hoped his pupils will take away from Fridays event, Rob Ashton, a year six teacher at Norfolk House school in Muswell Hill, said: They will remember that theyve had the experience of meeting somebody who was there and theyll tell their future generations.

Theyll go back to school today telling other children wow, Ive met a veteran who was there at the war at the D-Day landing.

Of the events importance, Paul Thomas, headteacher at Parkwood Primary School in Finsbury Park said: Particularly with the age of the veterans and the age of our children, it is likely they are the last generation that will get to meet veterans in person.

The event was organised jointly by The Normandy Memorial Trust and The Spirit of Normandy Trust.
Authorities stand next to the nine coffins that contain the remains of unidentified migrants, at the Sao Jorge cemetery, in Belem, Para state, Brazil (Paulo Santos/AP)

The bodies of nine migrants found on an African boat off the northern coast of Brazils Amazon region were buried in a solemn ceremony in the Para state capital of Belem.

Fishermen off the coast of Para found the boat adrift on April 13, carrying the bodies that were already decomposing.

Brazilian officials later said documents found in the vessel indicated that the victims were migrants from Mali and Mauritania and that the boat had departed the latter country after January 17.

Police and firefighters attend the burial of nine unidentified migrants at the Sao Jorge cemetery, in Belem, Para state, Brazil (Paulo Santos/AP)

Brazils federal police said later that the bodies were of adults or teenagers whose exact age could not be determined.

Agents found two documents  an identity card from Mauritania and a register of entry in Mauritania that belonged to someone from Mali.

The deceased migrants were buried in a secular ceremony organised by a number of groups involved in their recovery, such as the UN Refugee Agency, the Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration, as well as Brazilian police, navy and civil defence agencies.

A tropical rain fell as their coffins were lowered into graves dug into the earth and those present watched in respectful silence.

Their roughly 12 metre boat was carrying 25 raincoats and 27 mobile phones, suggesting the original number of passengers was significantly higher.

This also implies that people of other nationalities may have been among the deceased, local officials have said.

Federal police superintendent Jose Roberto Peres speaks during the ceremony (Paulo Santos/AP)

Brazils federal police said it is unlikely they will extract any information from the phones due to the oxidation they were subjected to.

The force also added they had found paper notes in the boat with phone numbers from Mauritania, Mali and Congo.

A kind of stove and two containers that could have carried water or fuel were also found among the remains.

It was a rustic blue-and-white fiberglass boat that, when found, had neither motor, tiller nor rudder.

Its canoe shape is similar to Mauritanian fishing boats often used by migrants fleeing West Africa and aiming to enter the European Union via Spains Canary Islands.

So far, none of the victims have been identified.

A label with the number 5 to mark one of nine unidentified migrants (Paulo Santos/AP)

Authorities said the manner of their burial would allow for subsequent exhumations in case families of the deceased were located and wished to transfer the bodies back to their home countries.

This year the number of people attempting the crossing from the northwest coast of Africa to the EU has seen a 500% spike, with the majority departing from Mauritania, according to Spains interior ministry.

But it is a dangerous route with strong Atlantic winds, and boats that go off course can stay adrift for months and be swept away to distant destinations, often leading migrants to die of dehydration and malnutrition.
Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi, right, gestures to US secretary of state Antony Blinken at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China (Mark Schiefelbein, Pool/AP)

The United States and China butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues as US secretary of state Antony Blinken met on Friday with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and both men warned of the dangers of misunderstandings and miscalculations.

The meeting, on the final day of Mr Blinkens second visit to China in the past year, came as talks between the countries have expanded in recent months even as differences have grown and become more serious, raising concerns about the potential for conflict between the worlds two largest economies.

Mr Blinken and Mr Wang each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but they also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when US President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday (Mark Schiefelbein, Pool/AP)

Overall, the China-US relationship is beginning to stabilise, Mr Wang told Mr Blinken. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.

Mr Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about US policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said, demanding the US refrain from interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

Mr Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on US-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China, Mr Blinken told Mr Wang.

There is no substitute in our judgment for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure were as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Mr Biden signed the 95 billion dollar (76 billion) foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including 8 billion dollars to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness towards Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years towards Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbours with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against US assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale.

The bill also allots 61 billion dollars for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russias military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

US officials have said Chinas ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinkens visit, and just before Fridays meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.
As the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery takes on the remit to probe Troubles deaths and injuries, the Chief Commissioner outlines its clear underlying principles to search for the truth of past events

Many families affected by the Troubles are still seeking justice

From Wednesday, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) takes on the remit to investigate deaths and serious injuries during the Troubles/conflict.

More details are being set out on the Commissions website.

The history of the legislation which established the Commission generated widespread condemnation in Northern Ireland and beyond.

The written ministerial statement which announced the intention to introduce the initial Bill led to a perception among many that the object was to end any accountability by the security forces for wrongdoing during the Troubles/conflict.

It is in that context that the five main political parties opposed the legislation and the Irish Government commenced an interstate case against the UK.

Unfortunately, our community has not found it possible until now to address, in a comprehensive way, the trauma, hurt and damage caused by the violence in the decades before the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.

There were valiant efforts by others, including the Historical Enquiries Team and Police Ombudsman, which were welcomed by some bereaved families, victims and survivors.

I established the Legacy Inquest Unit, which proved successful in vindicating some of those who had been branded terrorists by the state and secured a measure of accountability by exposing wrongdoing.

A few got answers through legal proceedings. It remains the case, however, that there are still many people who have had no opportunity to have answers to their questions.

I have always believed that we will not achieve reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and across these islands, unless we acknowledge the hurt and trauma caused to all parts of our community by the violence of the past.

Since my appointment as Chief Commissioner designate on May 11 last year, I have visited many people whose lives are still significantly affected by what happened in the past and I have seen the effects of intergenerational trauma.

Dealing with this was too difficult for those who made the Agreement in 1998, and the failure to do so has continued to affect our community life and politics. We need to address it.

The ICRIR Commissioners have agreed that in order to search for the truth of events in the past which caused death or serious injury we must have clear underlying principles.

Firstly, our processes must comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. Secondly, we must respect the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. And thirdly, our objective must be to provide outcomes of substance for all those who seek our help.

These, of course, were precisely the considerations which informed my thinking when establishing the Legacy Inquest Unit.

The recent litigation in the High Court was a chance to test our compliance with these tests.

One of the most controversial elements of the legislation was the provision giving perpetrators of violence the opportunity to avoid prosecution if they disclosed their wrongdoing.

The High Court removed that provision from the legislation because it was in breach of the Convention. The court acknowledged the power of the Commission to refer cases for prosecution where the evidence supported it and concluded that the Commission was capable of carrying out investigations satisfying all domestic and international standards.

I know that there are people who will see the establishment of the Commission as a means of obtaining answers to questions that have troubled them for many years and we look forward to searching for those answers.

There are others who question whether the Commission is a means of preventing accountability and hiding wrongdoing.

It is up to us to prove the latter view wrong. I am happy to be judged by whether we prove to be independent and impartial and demonstrate our dedication to the pursuit of the unvarnished truth for bereaved families, victims and survivors no matter what it might be and whether it may embarrass some vested interest.

We have failed these people for too long and we need to correct that now.

Former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan is the Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
Galway native Michael O'Loughlin was snared after French intelligence hacked the criminals secret phone network, EncroChat

Michael OLoughlin was one of a number of criminals arrested after the EncroChat network was hacked

Notorious criminal Michael O'Loughlin turned his back on his gangland associates and broke ranks, simply by pleading guilty to the many crimes he committed.

He is now behind bars, but O'Loughlin spent the initial Covid lockdown in 2020 carrying out a string of offences as a Europe-wide net closed in.

His conviction lifted the lid on how criminal gangs communicated with each other over a secret phone network.

The key to his arrest came through decrypting mobile phone handsets linked to a platform called EncroChat. Operated from France, EncroChat was used exclusively for drug deals, gun running and plots to kill rivals in turf wars.

Police forces across Europe came upon a wealth of intelligence when they cracked the encrypted network. The use of this information led to one of the biggest ever disruptions of the criminal underworld.

Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Allison Morris, crime correspondent for the Belfast Telegraph. They talk about career criminal Michael O'Loughlin, who says he has turned over a new leaf, and examine the murky world of the messaging system that brought him down.

Read more Inside story of gangster who ran Europe-wide crime empire from his Co Down home
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference at the Texas State Capitol on June 08, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Make no mistake, Gov. Greg Abbott wanted this confrontation with student protesters at the University of Texas at Austin. He had been warning since December that he would have little tolerance if what he saw on Ivy League campuses spread here.

While free speech advocates have blasted Abbott for flooding the states flagship public university with state troopers in riot gear on Wednesday to intimidate and arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators, the show of force has been welcomed by a GOP base that is critical of universities nationwide for not doing more to shut down the protests.

New York Times journalist David Montgomery is walked to be medically evaluated after accidentally being knocked over during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Mikala ComptonAustin American-Statesman via AP) Mikala Compton/Associated Press Texas state troopers in riot gear try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press University of Texas police approach protesters to apprehend them during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Mikala Compton/Associated Press University of Texas police officers arrest a man at a pro-Palestinian protest on campus, Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Jay Janner/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian protesters are pushed to the edge of campus by Texas State Troopers on horses at the University of Texas Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian protesters are pushed to the edge of campus at the University of Texas Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press A state trooper yells for protesters to move back during a pro-Palestinian rally at the University of Texas Wednesday April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Protests Wednesday on the campuses of at least two universities involved clashes with police, while another university shut down its campus for the rest of the week. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Mikala Compton/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian protesters are pushed to the edge of campus by Texas State Troopers on horses at the University of Texas Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press

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These protesters belong in jail, Abbott said on social media Wednesday as the arrests began, brandishing a law-and-order persona hes crafted over his three terms as governor. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.

But critics say Abbott and state leaders are responsible for unnecessarily escalating clashes on the campus by deploying riot police at a demonstration that had been peaceful.

Public officials dont get to forcefully suppress the voices of people they disagree with, said Caro Achar, engagement coordinator at the ACLU of Texas. Instead of trying to violently censor Texans, state officials have a responsibility to create spaces for students, staff and faculty to express their views and engage in peaceful protest.

At least 50 people were arrested at the Wednesday rally, which was hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, a registered student group that is a chapter of the Students for Justice in Palestine. Abbott had recently called out both groups.

On March 27, he issued an executive order that warned university leaders around the state to deal with a sharp rise in antisemitic speech he said was emerging on college campuses.

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Ensure that these policies are being enforced on campuses and that groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine are disciplined for violating these policies, Abbott wrote in the order about free speech rules on campuses that prohibit antisemitism.

Abbott did not mention specific incidents in the order. But he said pro-Palestinian students have been chanting the phrase from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which he described as antisemitic.

The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase calls for the destruction of Israel, while defenders say it is a rallying cry calling for Palestinian liberation from oppression. Some demonstrators chanted the phrase during the UT-Austin rally on Wednesday.

Abbott left no doubt where his allegiances lie in the Middle East, reminding reporters he had just returned from Israel, where he had meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the fall.

Even earlier, during a speech in December before the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Abbott warned university leaders not to follow in the footsteps of Ivy League schools, which he said were refusing to crack down on hate speech and threats of violence against Jewish students.

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You have a leadership responsibility, to ensure that there is no one on your campuses that are advocating for genocide or antisemitism, he said.

The governors recent remarks have been condemned by free speech groups like the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which said Abbotts definition of free speech seemed to include public criticism of Israel and its policies.

State-mandated campus censorship violates the First Amendment and will not effectively answer anti-Semitism, the group said in a response to Abbotts order. By chilling campus speech, the executive order threatens to sabotage the transformative power of debate and discussion.

Abbotts critics also have been quick to point out that he signed legislation in 2019 to guarantee non-students and non-faculty the ability to have free speech rights on college campuses as long as they are lawful and dont disrupt campus activities.

The governor has framed that legislation and subsequent battles over diversity initiatives as ways to ensure conservative speakers and viewpoints are allowed on campuses.

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They want to eliminate any conservative thought on college campuses, Abbott said last year in an interview with the Houston Chronicle about why he was growing concerned with the direction of college campuses.

After Wednesdays crackdown, conservative voices in talk radio, online and at Fox News quickly praised Abbott, labeling demonstrators as part of an anti-Israeli mob. Conservative websites called Abbott entirely justified in dispatching state troopers to break up the rally. And conservative radio hosts like San Antonio-based Joe Pagliarulo said students have to realize they dont go to college to protest.

Its not the first time Abbott has taken a stance against public demonstrations he disagrees with. Last year, he celebrated signing legislation prohibiting Black Lives Matter activists from obstructing emergency vehicles and enhancing the penalties if they use fireworks or laser pointers to disrupt police during rallies.

Abbott told families at a police memorial that he wouldnt let demonstrators endanger law enforcement.

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Bruce Gilley, Portland State University professor, left alleging Malaysia was unsafe but U.S. embassy refuted that claim.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (center) gestures at a pro-Palestine rally in Kuala Lumpur amid Israels air and ground assault on Gaza after militant outfit Hamas killed more than 1,100 people in an attack on southern Israel, Oct. 24, 2023.

Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday brushed off an American professor as a mediocre scholar after the academic controversially claimed that the country backed another Holocaust.

Bruce Gilley, a Portland State University professor, ignited a firestorm on social media after a lecture in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday during which he denigrated Malaysia and its place in international relations and accused its leaders of supporting a second Holocaust against the Jewish people.

At an event on Friday, reporters asked Anwar about the controversy. Three days after the professors lecture, Gilley was still the target of a fusillade of put-downs by Malaysians on social media.

Mediocre scholars should not be brought in as visiting professors in the first place, the PM, an unapologetic critic of Israel, told reporters.

He added that anything else that needed to be said or done had been taken care of by the countrys higher education ministry.

Gilley is a professor of political science, according to the website of Portland State University in Oregon. He is a specialist on the comparative politics of China and Asia and his research is focused on democracy and global politics, among other subjects, the website says.

He was invited to give three lectures and a keynote address as part of a visiting professor program in the international studies department at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

On the social media site X (once called Twitter), he posted a sentence from his keynote address on Malaysias foreign policy delivered Tuesday and titled Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power?

A country whose political leaders advocate a second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be a serious player in world affairs and will certainly never be a friend or partner of the U.S, he posted late on Tuesday.

The post spread rapidly on X, as appalled Malaysians expressed disbelief, at first, and then ridiculed Gilley for what they said was his lack of knowledge.

As the controversy raged, the higher education ministry ordered Universiti Malaya late Wednesday to cancel all Gilleys events, which it did  the institution later apologized as well.

Bruce Gilley, Portland State University professor, delivers a lecture at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, April 23, 2024. [Via X/BruceDGilley]

Gilley then claimed to have deleted his post, although he made that claim in another post that carried a screenshot of the earlier one with the controversial sentence.

He said the quote reflected his personal views and that he regretted any distress caused to colleagues at the Kuala Lumpur institution.

That wasnt the end of the controversy.

Early on Thursday, Gilley announced, again on X, that he had left the country.

I have safely departed from Malaysia, one step ahead of the Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government there. This is not a safe country to travel to now. Updates to follow, he wrote.

There were no media reports about mobs forming in response to the professors posts.

However, there was plenty of evidence that Gilley had annoyed Malaysians and those living in Malaysia even more.

University of Nottingham Malaysia academic Bridget Welsh was one of those people.

Malaysia is a safe/hospitable country, Welsh said in a post on X.

Minister of Higher Education Zambry Abdul Kadir said Gilleys comments were dangerous.

This is not about curbing academic freedom but we question the rude comments made by a visitor about the countrys security, our stand, our image, he told reporters on Friday after an event.

We are not contemplating taking any form of action against him. Why did he run away and make another statement saying that the situation is not safe? the minister asked.

Gilley did not immediately respond to BenarNews emails requesting comment.

The United States Embassy found itself caught in the middle of the controversy when media, including BenarNews, reached out to officials to ask about safety in Malaysia.

The embassys public affairs officer said Malaysia is a safe place to travel.

There has been no change to the U.S. travel advisory for Malaysia which remains at Level 1, the lowest level out of four, said the officer who is not cleared to speak to the media and asked to remain anonymous.

Israeli police arrest a peace activist who joined members of the group Rabbis for Ceasefire during a march toward the border with northern Gaza Strip to call for a permanent ceasefire, April 26, 2024. [Jack Guez/AFP]

Gilley is no stranger to controversy.

In 2017, the Third World Quarterly journal published his paper titled The Case for Colonialism.

The journal later retracted it after 15 board members resigned in protest and a petition on Change.org signed by more than 10,000 people called for its retraction, according to The Retraction Watch, a blog that reports on retractions of scientific papers and on related topics.

The beginning of the abstract of Gilleys paper said the following:

For the last 100 years, Western colonialism has had a bad name. It is high time to question this orthodoxy, it said, according to Retraction Watch.

Western colonialism was, as a general rule, both objectively beneficial and subjectively legitimate in most of the places where it was found using realistic measures of those concepts.

No diplomatic ties

While Muslim-majority Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state of Israel, and is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, Gilley had misrepresented the Southeast Asian nations stance, said Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, from the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, a youth-based liberal Malaysian party.

Malaysia has consistently advocated for a two-state solution as Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, but the statements by Gilley, whose header picture on X is that of an Israeli flag, is absolutely misleading and unacceptable, Amira Asiya said on the social media site.

His statements are falsely depicting Malaysias aim and goals towards peace for an independent Palestine state. We have never advocated for a second Holocaust, she said.

In fact, it is the Zionist government of Israel that is currently committing genocide at this very moment. Academic institutions should be very careful in inviting speakers and lecturers who are spreading pro-Zionists narratives, she added.

Israels ground and air strikes have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed more than 1,100 people in an attack on southern Israel. Most countries around the world have called for a ceasefire, saying the Jewish states response has been disproportionate.

Welsh of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, did not mince words in expressing her disapproval of Gilleys comments.

Strongly disagree w[ith]/views that misrepresent [and] reflect a gross lack of knowledge of Malaysia, her policies/people.  Public outrage justified, she said.

Scholars should promote understanding, not cause harm, and [should] express differences responsibly.
Beijing says it firmly opposes foreign military alliances targeting it and stoking bloc confrontation.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Australia-United Kingdom-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif., March 13, 2023.

China has expressed grave concern about the possibility of Japan joining the AUKUS security pact, saying it would undermine peace and stability in the region and the world.

On Thursday, a Chinese defense ministry spokesman said Beijing was open to normal military cooperation between countries but we firmly oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings.

North Korea, meanwhile, said the United States has made reckless moves to involve Japan to frantically expand its alliance sphere without limits.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. formed the AUKUS defense and security partnership in 2021 to stand up to Chinas growing power in the region.

China has repeatedly criticized AUKUS as stoking bloc-to-bloc confrontation.

The United States also has sought to step up partnerships with allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines, in the face of Chinas military build-up and its growing territorial assertiveness.

Japan has yet to explicitly announce its participation in AUKUS but a joint statement released after U.S. President Joe Biden met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this month said that the AUKUS partners are considering cooperation with Japan in certain projects.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a state visit at the White House in Washington, April 10, 2024. [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a press briefing in Beijing that the Asia-Pacific was not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition.

Japan needs to draw lessons from history, both speak and act prudently on military and security issues, Wu said, warning some other countries to avoid fueling confrontation, too.

North Korea also criticized the plan, saying that the danger of Japans participation in AUKUS is making the whole international community tense.

It is the sinister intention of the U.S. to make Japan ... obsessed by nationalism, a crew member of a confrontation ship called AUKUS and put it at the outpost line of the anti-China pressure and push the nuclear minefield in the Asia-Pacific region closer to China, analyst Kang Jin Song said in an editorial published by North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday.

Japans involvement

Recognizing Japans strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, AUKUS defense ministers said in a joint statement.

The first main program, or Pillar I, of the trilateral partnership, is the sharing of nuclear-powered submarines between the U.S., U.K, and Australia, said Stephen Nagy, a professor of politics and international studies at the International Christian University in Tokyo.

Japan will not join Pillar I but it could join Pillar II, which is the cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber, hypersonics and more, he said.

Japans participation would enhance its technology and coordination with AUKUS members as well as its security but ensure that emerging technology domination will be by like-minded countries that respect the rule of law, Nagy said.

Tokyo is one of Washingtons most trusted partners in the Indo-Pacific. There are 54,000 American troops in Japan and the U.S.s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group is based in Yokosuka.

Japan is increasing military spending to deal with challenges and taking a regional leadership role, moving away from its post-war pacifist defense strategy.

Radio Free Asia is a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
Myanmar shut a main border crossing with Thailand early Friday as junta forces carried out airstrikes in nearby areas, Thai officials and nearby residents told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

Insurgent forces captured most of the eastern border town Myawaddy this month but they were forced to withdraw days later under the threat of junta airstrikes. Junta troops regained control of a main battalion headquarters in the town on Wednesday.

Residents of the Thai town of Mae Sot, across the Moei river from Myawaddy, said they heard explosions early Friday, apparently coming from junta airstrikes to the south of Myawaddy.

A turboprop aircraft was heard flying over Palu, to the south of Myawaddy and nearly 10 explosions were heard, according to residents on the Thai side.

Separately, a Thai immigration official said crossings from Myanmar over the main border bridge had stopped and it was not clear who was in control on the Myawaddy side.

People from Myanmar cannot come yet, but they can cross back from here, said the official, who declined to be identified.

Trucks that normally deliver goods to Myanmar via a second bridge, which is used mainly for cargo, have been unloading their shipments at small river crossings instead.

A Karen militia force commander with extensive business interests and a history of close ties with the junta helped free about 200 junta troops who had been cut off by insurgent Karen National Liberation Army troops in fighting this month, Thai media reported.

The commander, Col. Saw Chit Thu, who broke away from the main Karen guerrilla organization in the 1990s, has close ties with Chinese investors who have funded casinos and online scamming rackets on the Myanmar side of the border. The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on him in 2023 linked to suspicions of involvement in human trafficking and other rights violations.

Saw Chit Thu, who denies wrongdoing, had this month raised doubts about his alliance with the junta, saying he was no longer supporting junta forces, but according to media reports, he had acted to protect his business interests in helping junta forces re-take control of Myawaddy.

Democracy and rights activists have long denounced Saw Chit Thu and his militia, the Karen National Army.

Saw Chit Thu is a rights-abusing militia commander who has gotten rich via a horrid mix of abuses of deported migrants, human trafficking of persons to scam centers, gambling, sexual exploitation and prostitution, and worse, said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Human Rights Watch in Asia.

I think no one should be surprised that he suddenly betrayed the [Karen National Liberation Army] by rushing back into the arms of his [State Authority Council] junta overlords who have been complicit in Chit Thus massive profits at the expense of the Karen people.
Cemarajaya villagers used to be farmers but now they are fishermen.

An aerial photo shows water surrounding the Cemarajaya beach on all sides, April 24, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

A man fishes in front of the temple in the Cemarajaya beach area in West Java, April 24, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

A resident passes in front of the remaining walls of his house that were destroyed by waves last year in the Cemarajaya beach area in Karawang regency, West Java, April 24, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

A boy climbs a gate pillar near Cemarajaya beach that collapsed because of tidal flooding, April 24, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

A man tosses a net to catch fish on Cemarajaya beach in Karawang, a regency in West Java, Indonesia, April 24, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

About 200 people remain in Cemarajaya, a village in West Java province where sea waters have eroded the coastline, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and forced more than 1,000 of their neighbors to flee during the past two decades.

Throughout this village in Karawang regency, residents have filled sandbags and created small embankments in an effort to hold back the Java Sea from overflowing and flooding their rickety houses, as it has eaten away thousands of acres over the years.

The coastline has receded by about 2 km (1.2 miles) since 2016, residents said. One nearby village has submerged completely.

On Wednesday, residents who have refused to leave showed a BenarNews reporter what used to be a wide beach.

Over time the sea has eroded it, leaving only Cemarajaya village, resident Ahmad Ramli said.

Land that was previously used for agriculture over time turned into fish ponds and mangrove forests, now some of it is submerged, Ramli told BenarNews. The residents here used to be farmers, now they are fishermen.

Ramli said he would most likely move in the future and follow scores of neighbors who have already left.

The government has provided a replacement location and house for them several kilometers from here, but I havent gotten it yet, Ramli said.
People say that practice makes perfect, and it turns out hackers believe in that as well. Before trying their luck with Western countries that are shielded by better cybersecurity, hackers would use developing countries for a practice run.

Hackers Targeting Developing Countries

Not all countries have the same level of cybersecurity as some systems are harder to penetrate than others. Cyberattackers are well aware of that fact and are exploiting it for practice. Before moving on to harder targets, ransomware groups are infiltrating other systems.

The new strategy involves businesses from countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. "Adversaries are using developing countries as a platform where they can test their malicious programs before the more resourceful countries are targeted," cybersecurity firm Performanta expressed.

Some of the recently breached targets include a Senegalese bank, a financial services company in Chile, a tax firm in Colombia, and a government economic agency in Argentina, as reported by Ars Technica.

The research regarding the new ransomware tactics was prompted by an uptick in cyberattack cases since 2020, which has doubled even before the pandemic. The attacks were exacerbated by the growing digitization of data and good internet networks, but "inadequate" protection, the IMF stated.

The reported losses have already grown to $28 billion, along with billions of data stolen or compromised. Even with the estimated damages, the IMF believes that the costs of the attacks are "substantially higher."

Among the ransomware groups, Medusa began to attack businesses in South Africa, Senegal, and Tonga by stealing and encrypting data last year. It has already conducted 99 cyberattacks in the US, the UK, Canada, Italy, and France.

Read Also : Ransomware Attacks Hit More Small Businesses Throughout 2023, Verizon Research Says





How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks

Company systems, especially those that hold sensitive customer data need to have stronger cybersecurity measures in place to avoid such incidents. However, strong systems are not enough as employees will have to be educated about how they can be used to infiltrate the system.

For instance, there have been cases where hackers got into company systems by sending phishing emails to employees. Infected links can be attached to messages that appear as business-related emails.

To fight against potential encryption ransomware, businesses should practice backing up their data, eliminating the leverage of locked files. It would also be advisable to keep all systems and software updated to get the latest patches and fixes.

As suggested by UpGuard, Endpoint security should be a priority for businesses, especially developing ones. The more employees there are, the more endpoints hackers can breach into. This can be avoided by installing endpoint protection platforms (EPP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR).

Application whitelisting can also be an effective method to avoid getting infected by corrupted websites and files. It will determine which applications can be downloaded and executed in certain networks, serving as the first line of defense in cases like this.

It's important to run regular security testing to determine whether new security measures need to be implemented. As cyberattacks continue to evolve, security measures need to keep up as well.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 47F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 43F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
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BENNINGTON  With a unanimous vote, the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Board approved new two-year contracts with both the teachers association and education support personnel, calling for raises of 9 percent each year.

The SVSU board approved the proposals on Wednesday, following earlier approvals by the Mount Anthony Union School District and Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District boards.

Superintendent Jim Culkeen said Wednesday that the next step would be for the unionized employees to notify the school system whether the new contract had been ratified by members.

The contract is not printed in its final form, and wont be official until all the parties have ratified it, Culkeen said, and then it will go up on the [SVSU] website.

SVSU Public Information Coordinator Katie West said Friday that no update on the ratification process had been received from the union as of Thursday.

Union representatives could not be reached Friday for comment.

9 PERCENT RAISES

The teacher contract would begin July 1 and cover the next two school years through June 2026, providing a 9 percent salary increase plus any employee step raise each year.

The base teacher salary, according to a salary grid included with the contract information, lists the salary for a beginning teacher with a bachelors degree at $47,791. That is up from the $43,845 in the contract for the current school year, as posted on the SVSU website.

A teacher salary grid for 2025-26 shows a base teacher salary of $52,092.

Step increases are related to continuing work toward advanced education credits and the length of employment within the school system.

Discussing highlights of the agreement, Director of Human Resources Nick Gault and Culkeen said the contract also includes provisions allowing teachers to roll over unused personal days into accrued sick time hours, rather than lose unused time at the end of the year.

Also added was up to 10 days of maternity leave for eligible employees.

SUPPORT STAFF

The two-year educational support staff contract  which has many of the same provisions as the teacher contract  also will see a 9 percent raise each year, plus any step increase.

The two unions are now combined, school officials said.

Id like to thank the board for supporting this, particularly for the support staff. And hopefully it will raise the hourly rates to the point that we can attract personnel to these positions, Culkeen said.

Board member Scott McEnaney said he wanted to thank all the people who participated in the negotiations  it was a large effort.

The administrations negotiating team included Gault, Culkeen, Stephanie Mulligan, chair of the MAUSD board, and Christopher Murphy, chair of the SVUESD board.

After entering an executive session during the Wednesday meeting, the SVSU board came out and approved a 9 percent raise for non-union employees.
The White House is reportedly looking to restrict China's chip access from Asia and Europe as sales for China-based Huawei surged.

According to several sources via the Financial Times, Washington is urging Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands for more aggressive actions to prevent China from acquiring advanced semiconductors made in the US.

The report comes in after Huawei record high sales with the recent release of its first AI-enabled laptop, the MateBook X Pro, which was powered by Intel's new Core Ultra 9 processor.

Lawmakers Push for Another Huawei Ban on the US

Several lawmakers have already come forward with a total ban of Huawei phones in the US, citing concerns that advanced US-made chips are still exported to China despite trade sanctions.

The White House has previously blocked Huawei's phones in the country in 2019 following concerns that its phones are being used for state-operated surveillance on US citizens.

Huawei devices were later allowed back in the US after the phone manufacturer changed some parts in its phones.

The trade restrictions on AI chips and semiconductors were much more recent as the US move to hamper China's production of advanced AI technology amid rising tension between the two superpower countries.

This is in contrast from the statements of Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo, asserting that "export controls are working because that chip [China's] is not nearly as good" as the US's.

Earlier reports have already indicated that the White House has been making moves to convince other countries to fully limit China's access to microchips.

China Opposes Further US-Sponsored Trade Restrictions

In response to the allegations, China, or at least its Chinese embassy in the US, has already expressed opposition in "excluding specific companies from specific countries."

The Asian country asserted that all of the chips Huawei used for its products were obtained legally.

It is worth noting that several state-sponsored companies and institutions were reported were still able to acquire sanctioned NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel chips through unauthorized trades.
PITTSFIELD  A man who allegedly sexually assaulted girls at a school for youth with severe psychiatric and behavioral challenges appears poised to enter a plea deal in the case.

Douglas Agyeh, 44, of Pittsfield, was recently transported back to Massachusetts after trying to cross the Canadian border in January 2023  just days before his trial was set to begin in Berkshire Superior Court.

He was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency and extradited back to the United States, where court records show he was detained in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

It wasn't until last month when Agyeh "was finally brought back to the commonwealth," his defense lawyer, Jill Sheldon, told Judge Francis Flannery at a hearing on Wednesday.

Agyeh is accused of assaulting a 15-year-old girl about eight or nine times in August and September 2021 while working at Brookside Intensive Treatment Unit in Great Barrington, according to police. The girl reported that Agyeh also watched her in the shower.

A second girl, also 15, said Agyeh sexually assaulted her on June 12, 2021, in the school's laundry room. She said he picked up her underwear and complimented it before grabbing the underwear she was wearing, touching her through her garment, according to the Montreal Gazette. The publication reported that Agyeh is a citizen of Ghana.

Several of the incidents were captured on surveillance footage, which was viewed by employees at the center. That sparked an internal investigation and an investigation by local police. Brookside officials said Agyeh's employment was suspended after the footage surfaced.

Brookside, run by Pittsfield-based Hillcrest Educational Centers Inc., serves female students between the ages of 6 to 18 who have severe behavioral and psychiatric challenges.

Agyeh was indicted by a Berkshire County grand jury in December 2021 on 23 felony charges, including nine counts of rape of child with force.

He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance, with conditions that he refrain from contacting his accusers, stay away from his former workplace and have no unsupervised contact with children under 18. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.

Back in custody in the Berkshires, he is now being held in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, according to court documents.

Sheldon, his attorney, on Wednesday requested the court schedule a hearing at which Agyeh will change his plea, and indicated that she has reached an agreement with prosecutors on a plea deal. That hearing was set for May 15.
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To develop healthcare professionals with an understanding of digital health innovations

IIHMR University (previously known as Indian Institute of Health Management Research), Jaipur, has launched its first-ever certificate course on digital health for aspiring professionals interested in navigating the corridors of the digital healthcare ecosystem.

The objective behind launching this course is to develop healthcare professionals with an understanding of digital health innovations so they can contribute in enhancing the performance of health systems keeping availability, affordability, and quality of healthcare services on top priority.

Approved by the advisory board at the School of Digital Health, the 6-month-long immersive programme is designed and conceptualised by the faculty members at IIHMR University. The course is curated keeping in mind the geographical barriers hence, it will be conducted in online mode.

However, participants wishing to attend discussions at the campus can contact the officials at the university. Through this launch, the School of Digital Health is focused on aggressively engaging in all verticals of the healthcare segment and contributing to the governments agenda of making Indias healthcare digitally armed.

The curriculum will be conducted through a judicious mix of training methods appropriately suitable for working professionals including lectures-cum-discussions, case discussion/analysis, project work, term papers, and assignments.
(Photo : Unsplash/Redd F )

On Tuesday, the Biden administration introduced a new rule that could get millions of salaried workers paid for working overtime.

Biden's New Pay Rule Declaration

The Department of Labor declared the minimum salary threshold raise for exempt employees from $35,568 per year to $43,888 starting in July, increasing it to $58,656 on January 1, 2025.

Businesses must pay workers 1.5 times their normal pay for hours worked over 40 in a week. However, this protection only applies to hourly workers and lower-earning salaried employees. According to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, under the new thresholds, those earning under $58,656 will qualify for overtime pay in 2025.

Salaried workers labeled executive, administrative, or professional do not receive overtime pay. Researchers have noticed companies giving false titles like grooming manager to regular employees to avoid paying overtime. The new rule states that only genuine executive, administrative, or professional workers are exempt from the expanded overtime rule.

READ ALSO: Apple Claiming Top-Tier Employees' Support, Confronts Another Unionization Petition Seeking Respect and Better Working Conditions

Improving Workers' Condition

The rule will reinstate the commitment of giving workers additional pay if they work more than 40 hours a week. Acting Labor Secretary Su emphasized that lower-paid salaried workers often perform the same tasks as their hourly counterparts but without extra compensation, resulting in excessive time away from their families. Su labeled this situation unacceptable and highlighted the Biden-Harris administration's dedication to improving conditions for workers, contributing to the nation's economic growth.

The new rule may impact certain salaried employees earning six figures annually. Workers in various sectors can be exempt from overtime if they earn $107,432 per year. However, as of July 1, this threshold will rise to $132,964 per year and increase to $151,164 per year by January 2025.

According to Samantha Sanders, Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy, and President Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute, employers will have no trouble adapting to the rule without harming the economy.

The Department of Labor estimates that the new rules will impact millions of workers and could result in an extra $1.5 billion in pay for employees.

Opposition to The New Pay Rule

The American Council on Education, a nonprofit advocacy group representing 1,700 colleges and universities, plans to challenge the new rule in court.

American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell highlighted that colleges and universities are significant employers in numerous communities, offering stable jobs and favorable benefits to nearly 4 million workers nationwide. He pointed out that most of these institutions are nonprofits and public entities, which may struggle to accommodate abrupt and substantial rises in labor costs, such as those outlined in the Department of Labor's final rule.

Critics, including U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, have voiced concerns that the new regulation could burden companies with additional expenses and worsen ongoing labor shortages. Foxx, a North Carolina Republican and chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, stated that employers may face billions in annual compliance costs and criticized the regulation as excessive and overly controlling.

RELATED ARTICLE: California's Fast Food Chains Resort to Price Increase After Employee Minimum Wage Hike Takes Effect

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Owen Lystrup )

Southwest Airlines announced on Thursday that it will cut 2,000 jobs and shut down operations at four airports after warning about increased costs and slower revenue growth due to fewer new aircraft deliveries from Boeing.

Boeing Delays Causing Southwest's Revenue Decline

The Dallas-based airline revealed that it will only receive 20 aircraft from Boeing this year, down from the previously estimated 46 in March. This is after facing challenges about a safety incident in January involving a mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Air flight. Despite regulators imposing production limits on the 737 MAX, Boeing is not meeting even those reduced levels, as reported by Reuters earlier this month.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan expressed concern about the recent updates from Boeing regarding additional delays in aircraft deliveries, noting the significant challenges these delays pose for both 2024 and 2025 in the company's first-quarter financial results statement.

Southwest intends to discontinue flights to Syracuse, New York; Cozumel, Mexico; Bellingham, Washington.; and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The airline, which primarily operates at the smaller Hobby Airport in Houston, also announced plans to end the year with 2,000 fewer employees compared to the beginning of the year as part of a broader effort to counter recent losses, aiming to offset its financial setbacks, which will see the airline scaling back its voluntary time-off programs.

READ ALSO: Boeing Struggling with Quality Control Scrutiny, Resorts to Cutting Flights, Hiring Freezes to Address Internal Issues

Southwest Airlines Cost-Cutting Measures

Southwest, known for its all-Boeing fleet, anticipates a 4% year-on-year increase in total seat capacity for 2024, down from the earlier estimate of 6% growth. The airline stated that schedule reductions will lead to slower revenue growth compared to last year and result in higher-than-expected operating costs.

To minimize the effects of these changes, Southwest is focusing on boosting productivity and managing discretionary expenses. In addition to discontinuing service at the four airports, the airline plans to reduce capacity in markets such as Chicago and Atlanta.

Southwest reported an adjusted loss of 36 cents per share in the first quarter, slightly higher than the average analyst expectation of a 34-cent loss, as per LSEG data.

What Southwest Airline Is Known For

Southwest, the pioneer of low-cost, no-frills air travel, is recognized for its single economy class cabin and absence of seating assignments. While many other airlines have introduced fees for services like checked baggage, seat reservations, and economy plus upgrades, Southwest has maintained its one-size-fits-all approach, except for charging extra for early boarding. CEO Jordan mentioned to CNBC, that following the company's disappointing earnings report,, they are exploring new initiatives, such as arranging seating and boarding their aircraft. Southwest does not also charge passengers for their first two checked bags.

Craig Jenks, head of New York-based consulting firm Airline/Aircraft Projects Inc., remarked to The Post that just a few months ago, Southwest would have brushed off the notion of charging extra for additional services, noting that the concept of offering perks like more legroom for those willing to pay contradicts the principles that Southwest has historically upheld.

Southwest has also decreased the proportion of transcontinental flights, those lasting over five hours, to 1.3% of its total seats, down from 4.4% in 2017. The airline's average flight duration is two hours and 10 minutes, considerably shorter than JetBlue's three hours and 20 minutes and Alaska Airlines' three hours and 40 minutes, as highlighted by Jenks. Southwest struggles to draw affluent, higher-paying passengers because it lacks the amenities and options other airlines offer to attract this demographic.

RELATED ARTICLE: Southwest Airlines Reaches New Labor Contract, Commits Better Pay, Working Conditions with Transport Workers Union

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A casino croupier charged over a 2 million drug seizure in Dublin had one of his bail conditions relaxed as his case was adjourned pending analysis of the haul.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) arrested Sean Mackey, 53, and two other men during an operation on February 22nd.

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He and his co-defendants are accused of unlawful possession of 100 kilos of cannabis worth 2 million and having the drugs for sale or supply after gardai intercepted vehicles on the N3 northbound.

He required a 25,000 independent surety but has taken up bail and appeared before Judge Maire Conneely at Blanchardstown District Court.

She adjourned the case pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and allowed gardai more time to get a certificate of analysis.

She ordered Mr Mackey to appear again on July 26th and acceded to a defence request to change the daily requirement at a Garda station from twice to once a day. There was no Garda objection.

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He had to surrender his passport and not apply for replacements, and must notify of any address changes, and be contactable 24/7 by phone.

The proceedings have heard Mr Mackey, of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, was originally from South Africa but has lived in the State for 20 years and is now an Irish national with dual citizenship.

Father of two, Gary Hanley, 35, from North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, and a third co-defendant, Jie Liu, 39, are also charged over the alleged seizure on the N3.

Mr Liu, of Cedar Grove, Swords, Co. Dublin, alone had additional charges for possessing a further 1 million worth of cannabis, MDMA, amphetamines and ketamine at an apartment in West End Villas, Blanchardstown, Dublin 14, allegedly leased by him.

He is back in court on July 26th, while Mr Hanley will appear again in May.

The proceedings have heard that Mr Liu was originally from China but is an Irish national and no longer a Chinese citizen.

At their first hearing in February, GNDOCB Detective Dean Healy said they could face more serious charges. He alleged the case was related to "large-scale drug distribution".
A former pastor who engaged in theft and fraud to steal more than 125,000 from his own Kildare-based church has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Ebenezer Oduntan, a former pastor of the City of David Church in Naas, Co Kildare, was convicted of 87 charges of a range of theft and fraud offences following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court last month.

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The church, which has been based in Naas Enterprise Park, Naas, Co Kildare since 2015, is a branch of the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Oduntan (58), a married father of four, of Curragh Grange, Newbridge, Co Kildare, had pleaded his innocence in relation to a total of 54 separate charges but admitted his guilt on 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office midway through his trial.

The naturalised Irish citizen, who works as a taxi driver, faced 73 separate counts of theft, five charges of deception and nine offences in breach of company law following an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority.

As pastor of the City of David Church, he had sole access and control of its accounts between 2012 and 2020.

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Sentencing Oduntan on Friday, Judge Martina Baxter said the accused had engaged in a very prolonged, premeditated and well-planned scheme.

He knew exactly what he was doing, she remarked.

The judge said it was clear that Oduntan has sole responsibility for the churchs funds and bank accounts because he was held in such high regard by its members.

She observed that it was unfortunate that there had been no financial controls of the churchs finances because of the esteem in which Oduntan was held.

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However, the judge acknowledged that he had cooperated with the investigation by admitting that he acted alone and nobody else was involved in committing the offences.

During his trial, evidence was heard that Oduntan stole church funds including cheques up to 20,000 made payable to him personally.

Although he was allowed a monthly allowance from the church of 1,000, he also used church funds which were meant to help its parishioners for his wifes business and to buy personal health insurance.

He was essentially using the churchs funds as his own personal account, said Judge Baxter.

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The CEA also claimed the accused ran an elaborate fraud involving inflating the level of donations to his church so that Revenue reimbursed more money than it should under the Charitable Donation Scheme.

The trial heard that there was a total absence of standard financial controls and corporate governance procedures within the church while under Oduntans control.

The jury heard evidence that the defendant had passed five times more than his declared income through his bank accounts between 2012 and 2018.

Prosecution lawyers told the court that over 75,000 had been stolen from the church via the use of blank cheques, while approximately 52,000 was stolen through a credit union account.

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None of the stolen money has been recovered from Oduntan, who is no longer a member of the church since 2020.

During the trial, it was claimed Oduntan accepted some level of responsibility for 15,000-25,000 of the stolen funds which he had spent on himself and his family.

The court heard that Oduntan notified the authorities in September 2020 that he wanted to confess to fraud in relation to the churchs accounts as he had experienced a crisis of conscience for dipping into its funds.

However, Judge Baxter noted the prosecution did not accept such an explanation as the previous month he was forced to admit to other church members that there were no funds left when they sought to provide financial assistance for a member who had lost his job and fallen on hard times.

At an earlier sitting of the court this month, counsel for Oduntan, Damien Colgan SC, said his client had expressed a certain amount of remorse but did not accept the jurys verdict.

Pleading for leniency, Mr Colgan claimed Oduntan, who had no prior convictions, had been ostracised by his community and had no friends.

Sentencing the accused, Judge Baxter said he had engaged in a substantial breach of trust and fiduciary duties through sophisticated fraud and lies which constituted serious wrongdoing.

The judge sentenced Oduntan to seven years in prison on the deception charges, six-and-a-half years for the theft convictions and three-and-a-half years for providing false information to the CRO, with all sentences to run concurrently.

She also suspended the final six months of all sentences with Oduntan's time in prison backdated to when he was first placed in custody on March 13th, 2024.
A man who raped a teenage girl in a park after plying her with alcohol and telling her age is just a number has been jailed for five and a half years.

Nicolas Horvath (28), formerly of Stonecourt, Roscommon, Co Roscommon, pleaded guilty to one count of rape on December 11th, 2020.

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He has been in custody since he was extradited from Slovakia in 2022.

The victim was 16 at the time and was socialising and drinking alcohol in a park with her friends when the man and his friend joined them.

They were unknown to each other prior to this, the court heard.

Horvath and his friend got more alcohol, and the group continued to drink.

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He started talking to the girl, who told him she was 16. He replied, Age is just a number, and encouraged her to drink more alcohol.

A local garda told Gerard Clarke SC, prosecuting, that the conversation became sexual, with the man asking the girl if she would like sex with two dicks and if she liked big dicks.

Horvath placed his hand into her underwear, then put her hand into his underwear. He took her to a more secluded area of the park, where he raped her.

The victim told the man no and tried to push him away.

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One of her female friends found them, and Horvath got up when she shone the torch on her phone at them.

The victim later told her mother, and a complaint was then made to gardai. They searched Horvath's home a few days later, seizing items of clothing which matched CCTV.

Horvath left the jurisdiction shortly after and has been in custody since he was extradited back to Ireland in December 2022 on a European Arrest Warrant.

Sentencing

Imposing the sentence on Friday, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said there were a number of aggravating factors in the case, including the fact the man was aware of the youth of the girl and the age difference between them, that there was an element of sexual exploitation in the crime and that he used alcohol to impair her judgment.

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She noted Horvath engaged in sexually aggressive, graphic, vulgar and age-inappropriate language with the child, plied her with alcohol to the point where she felt she couldn't refuse and then took her to a secluded spot where he raped her. She noted it has had a serious effect on her.

Ms Justice Greally took into account a number of mitigating factors, including that Horvath has been separated from his wife and children who live in Slovakia, the fact he has no relevant previous convictions, his guilty plea and  to a limited degree  the remorse he has expressed.

She noted he has expressed his intention to return to his native Slovakia upon his release.

She handed down a sentence of six and a half years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions, including that the man leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release and not return for 15 years.

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Shame and sadness

In a victim impact statement read to the court at a previous hearing, the girl said she was left with a feeling of shame, sadness, anger and disgust all in one after the rape.

She said she felt her body did not belong to me and attends therapy to deal with panic attacks.

She said the rape was degrading and fundamentally changes a person to their core, describing it as the most dehumanising and humiliating thing that can happen.

The man has five previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.

The garda agreed with Kenneth Fogarty SC, defending, that alcohol was part of the occasion before his client became involved.

It was further accepted that he has no previous convictions for sexual or violent offending, has been in custody since his return to Ireland and is an enhanced prisoner.

He put it to the garda that Horvath has a work history in Ireland; however, the witness was unable to confirm this as she said there are no records of Horvath working here. The garda agreed that the man's guilty plea was helpful to the prosecution.

Mr Fogarty told the court his instructions were that his client left the jurisdiction due to his child's health issue. He has two young children who are living abroad with his partner.

A letter of apology from Horvath was read to the court. He then took the stand and told the court he accepts responsibility for his actions and understands the hurt he has caused the victim.

When asked by Mr Fogarty how he would feel if something similar happened to his daughter, he replied through an interpreter: I understand that very well.

The man said he wishes to return to his family and provide for his young children once he has served his sentence.

The victim had been present in court for the sentencing hearing but left when Horvath took the stand.

Mr Fogarty suggested to the court that a probation report might be regarded as unhelpful as he said the assessments were affected by language difficulties. He asked the court to give weight to his client's apologies and expression of remorse.

He said other mitigation included Horvath's guilty plea, the absence of violence, the impact of his absence on his family and the difficulties for a foreign national in prison here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
It is too early to jump to conclusions about the impact of the Rwanda plan, Downing Street has said, after the Irish Government claimed it was causing an influx of migrants into the Republic.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the policy is already impacting on Ireland, as asylum seekers are now fearful of staying in the UK.

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The British government plans to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of deterring others from making the dangerous English Channel crossing.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin criticised the policy. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

The legislation ensuring the plan is legally sound, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through UK parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

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Mr Martin, who also serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said migrants are crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic to seek safety from deportation to Rwanda.

He told reporters in Dublin on Friday that he did not agree with the policy, adding: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming from the UK into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And its fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if youre a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you dont want to go to Rwanda  not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

So I think its a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues  its not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.

The Tanaiste continued: Migration is happening all over Europe. Its a national phenomenon. Part of the EU asylum pact is that we develop proper policies so that we can return people whove already been granted asylum in one country, that if they come to Ireland, they can be returned to the country where they were granted asylum in the first place. And the United Kingdom are outside of European Union.

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But it hasnt worked in the UK in terms of the numbers coming into the UK.

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Ive watched governments all over Europe making big commitments that they are going to stop the boats, theyre going to stop the numbers migrating. Brexit was meant to slow down migration into the United Kingdom, and migration into United Kingdom has grown exponentially, increased exponentially, since Brexit.

Its different migrants coming in, compared to pre-Brexit time. But I think it all goes back to whats happening across the world. There is phenomenal movements of people who are fleeing war and devastation.

A No 10 spokeswoman rebuffed claims the plan was already influencing movements into Ireland.

It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour, she said.

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Of course, we will monitor this very closely and we already work very closely as you would expect with the Irish government, including on matters relating to asylum.

But of course, the intention behind the Act is to have it serve as a deterrent and that is why we are working to get flights off the ground as swiftly as possible.

Ministers earlier this week suggested there had been a rise in the number of migrants crossing the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said there will be multiple flights per month (Victoria Jones/PA)

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told an Oireachtas Committee the number was now higher than 80 per cent crossing from Northern Ireland.

As in the UK, migration has become a hot button issue among some voters in Ireland, with worries about a housing shortage coinciding with a rise in the number of migrants accepted.

Mr Martins comments follow on the heels of French president Emmanuel Macrons criticism of migration policies that involve sending people to African countries as a betrayal of our values.

Scheduling of flights to Rwanda could take between 10 and 12 weeks, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, meaning the first will not begin until summer at the earliest.

UK home secretary James Cleverly has said there will be multiple flights per month, through the summer and beyond once they eventually get off the ground.

While scheduling flights is likely to take some time because of the procedures officials must follow, the plan could face further delays if the UK government is taken to court again.

Opponents of the multimillion-pound plan, and migrants who are told they are to be sent to Rwanda, could issue legal challenges in a bid to stop the flights.

But it is unclear whether any further legal action would succeed in light of the new laws.
The recruitment freeze in the health service means safe staffing levels in hospitals are not being adhered to, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

The union's latest trolley watch figures showed 415 people were waiting for a bed in hospitals nationwide on Friday morning.

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University Hospital Limerick (UHL) was the worst affected, with 106 patients waiting on trolleys, followed by University Hospital Galway, where 50 patients were waiting, and St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin with 33.

Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Kerry had 25 and 24 patients waiting on trolleys respectively.

The total number is up 19 on the same day last week when there were 396 patients waiting for hospital beds.

Commenting on the day's figures, the INMO's Colm Porter said safe staffing levels are not being observed in hospitals due to the recruitment embargo.

Speaking to Newstalk, Mr Porter said INMO members are overworked in overcrowded conditions, warning that such a combination is dangerous for patients and staff.
Egypt has sent a high-level delegation to Israel with the hope of brokering a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, two officials have said.

At the same time, it warned that a possible Israeli offensive focused on Gazas city of Rafah on the border with Egypt could have catastrophic consequences for regional stability.

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Egypts top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, is leading the delegation and plans to discuss a new vision with Israel for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the mission freely.

Egyptian head of Intelligence Abbas Kamel attends a meeting at Tahrir Palace in Cairo (Khaled Elfiqi/AP)

As the war drags on and casualties mount, there has been growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a ceasefire.

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Fridays talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza with minimum restrictions, the Egyptian official said.

The hope is that negotiations will then continue, with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, he said.

The official said mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties main demands.

Hamas has said it will not back down from its demands for a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which Israel has rejected.

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Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Palestinians on the beach during a heatwave in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Ahead of the talks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told The Associated Press when asked about the negotiations: There is nothing new from our side.

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Meanwhile, Israel has been conducting near-daily raids on Rafah, a city in which more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people have sought refuge.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles in an area of southern Israel that is close to Rafah, in apparent preparations for an invasion of the city.

Rafah also abuts the Gaza-Egypt border.

While in Israel, Mr Kamel, who heads Egypts General Intelligence Service, plans to make clear that Egypt will not tolerate Israels deployments of troops along that border, the Egyptian official said.

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The official said Egypt shared intelligence with the US and European countries showing that a Rafah offensive will inflame the entire region.

Trucks, carrying humanitarian supplies for the Gaza Strip, wait in line on the Egyptian side, at the Kerem Shalom crossing border (Leo Correa/AP)

A Western diplomat in Cairo also said that Egypt has intensified its efforts in recent days to reach a compromise and establish a short ceasefire in Gaza that will help negotiate a longer truce and avert a Rafah offensive.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.

On Wednesday, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi cautioned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in the strip, as well as the regional peace and security.

Mr El-Sissis comments came in a phone call with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, the Egyptian leaders office said.

Egypt has also said an attack on Rafah would violate the decades-old peace deal between Egypt and Israel.
By Kim Se-jeong

Nuradi Noeri, 60, a retired Indonesian diplomat, is now in Korea passionately pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an artist. He recently had his debut solo exhibition at East Atelier Gallery in Seoul earlier this month.

"Now, I would like to live my life as an artist. The painting exhibition that I did was my first solo exhibition, and I plan to have more exhibitions in the future," Nuradi told the Korea Times in an email after the exhibition.

Nuradi's talent for art was recognized by his parents when he was around eight years old.

"At that time I often visited the area where street painter sold their paintings (in Jakarta). I was happy to see them paint and copied what I saw at home," he said. "[However], my parents didn't send me to art school because they believed that a conventional education would get me a better job later. Besides, I moved several times to other countries and the choice to undertake conventional education felt better."

He went on to receive a master's degree in international business from Wollongong University in Australia and followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Indonesian foreign service.

Despite the demands of his job, he said that he always tried to find time to paint and to continue his passion for learning.

"I've done several paintings that I gave to friends, attended a number of small exhibitions in the art community at my hometown," he said while recalling his time posted in Bern, Switzerland, between 2017 and 2021, where he also participated in a group exhibition.

He draws inspiration from the beauty of nature and the richness of life. "We're always busy with business and routine activities. I want my paintings to make us aware that life is actually very beautiful."

The solo exhibition featured paintings of Sumatran tigers.

"The tigers I painted are Sumatran tigers. The island of Sumatra is home to critically endangered tigers. I wanted to present the Sumatran tiger to draw people's attention to the fact that this animal is almost extinct and to invite people to learn about the tiger."

Nuradi's relocation to Korea was motivated by his desire to make his wife happy.

He met his wife on his first assignment in Korea. "In 1997, I met her at a cafe in front of Sungshin Women's University in Seoul. She was the owner of a cafe and had lived in Indonesia. The conversation was very captivating and a year later, we decided to get married."

Nuradi paints in his home studio in Gapyeong Couty, Gyeonggi Province. He finds it challenging to navigate the art world in Korea without an education in art.

"However, I am confident that I can produce nice paintings. My wife encourages me," he said. "My dream is to have my own gallery."

He is currently working on new works in order to participate in the Incheon Korea Art Festival, which will take place in Incheon's Songdo neighborhood in October.

To see his paintings, visit www.adinoeri.com.
Donald Trumps defence team has attacked the credibility of the prosecutions first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit evidence detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republicans 2016 presidential campaign.

Returning to the witness box for a fourth day, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was grilled about his memory and past statements as the defence tried to poke holes in potentially crucial evidence for prosecutors in the first criminal trial of a former American president.

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Mr Peckers evidence has provided jurors with a stunning inside look at the supermarket tabloids catch-and-kill practice of purchasing the rights to stories so they never see the light of day.



Former US president Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court before his trial in New York (Dave Sanders/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

It is a critical building block for prosecutors theory that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race by suppressing negative stories about his personal life.

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Under cross-examination, Trumps lawyers appeared to be laying the groundwork to make the argument that any dealings Trump had with Mr Pecker were intended to protect Trump, his reputation and his family  not his campaign.

The defence also sought to show that Trumps arrangement with the tabloid was not unique to him, and that the National Enquirer was publishing negative stories about Trumps 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton, long before an August 2015 meeting that is central to the case.

During that meeting, Mr Pecker said he told Trump and then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen he would be the eyes and ears of the campaign, and would notify Mr Cohen if he heard negative stories about Trump so they could be killed.

Under questioning by Trump lawyer Emil Bove, Mr Pecker acknowledged there was no mention at that meeting of the term catch-and-kill.

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Nor was there discussion at the meeting of any financial dimension, such as the National Enquirer paying people on Trumps behalf for the rights to their stories, Mr Pecker said.

Mr Bove also confronted Mr Pecker with statements he made to federal prosecutors in 2018 that the defence lawyer said were inconsistent with the former publishers evidence.



Defence lawyer Emil Bove, left, cross-examines David Pecker in the witness box with Judge Juan Merchan presiding in New York (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

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Mr Pecker told jurors that Trump thanked him during a White House visit in 2017 for his help burying two stories.

But according to notes Mr Bove read in court, Mr Pecker told federal authorities that Trump did not express any gratitude to him during the meeting.

Was that another mistake? Mr Bove asked Mr Pecker.

Mr Pecker stuck to the account that he gave in court, adding: I know what the truth is.

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Prosecutors clawed back at the defences contention that Trumps arrangement with the National Enquirer was not unusual.

Under questioning from a prosecutor, Mr Pecker acknowledged he had not previously sought out stories and worked the companys sources on behalf of a presidential candidate or allowed political fixers close access to internal decision-making.

Its the only one, Mr Pecker said.

The second witness called to the witness box was Rhona Graff, Trumps longtime executive assistant.

Ms Graff, who started working for Trump in 1987 and left the Trump Organisation in April 2021, has been described as his gatekeeper and right hand.

She gave evidence that the Trump Organisations Outlook computer system included contact information for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, two women who were paid to prevent them from coming forward with claims of sexual encounters with Trump.

Trump says the claims were lies.

Ms Graff also gave evidence that she once saw Ms Daniels in a reception area at Trump Tower, though the date of the visit was not immediately clear.

Ms Graff said she assumed Ms Daniels was there to discuss potentially being a contestant on one of Trumps Apprentice-brand shows.

Trump spoke briefly to Ms Graff as she left the witness box.

He appeared to reach out to her with his hand as an officer guided her away from the witness box past the defence table.

Trumps lawyers were at the bench, talking to Judge Juan Merchan, when Trump stood up and engaged with Ms Graff.

Fridays evidence caps a consequential week in the criminal cases the former president faces as he vies to reclaim the White House in November.

At the same time as jurors listened to evidence in Manhattan, the Supreme Court on Thursday signalled it was likely to reject Trumps sweeping claims that he is immune from prosecution in his 2020 election interference case in Washington.



Former US president Donald Trump at Manhattan Criminal Court (Dave Sanders/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

But the conservative-majority high court seemed inclined to limit when former presidents could be prosecuted  a ruling that could benefit Trump by delaying that trial, potentially until after the November election.

In New York  the first of Trumps four criminal cases to go to trial  the presumptive Republican presidential nominee faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments meant to stifle negative stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.

Trump denies any wrongdoing.

Before entering the courtroom on Friday, he told reporters he believes Thursdays proceedings went very well for the defence, adding that the case should be over.

The charges centre on 130,000 dollars (104,000) in payments that Trumps company made to Mr Cohen.

He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep adult film actor Ms Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump has denied the encounter ever happened.

Over several days in the witness box, Mr Pecker described how the tabloid parlayed rumour-mongering into splashy stories that smeared Trumps opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump.



Former US president Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court (Michael M Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)

Trumps lawyer zeroed in on a non-prosecution agreement in 2018 between the federal government and American Media, the parent company of the National Enquirer.

The company admitted to engaging in the catch-and-kill practice to help Trumps campaign, and prosecutors agreed to not prosecute the company for paying 150,000 dollars (120,000) to Playboy model Ms McDougal for the rights to her story about an alleged affair with Trump.

He denies the affair.

Trumps lawyer repeatedly suggested that Mr Pecker may have felt pressured to accept an agreement in order to finalise a deal to sell his company to the newsstand operator Hudson News Group for a proposed 100 million dollars (80 million).

To consummate that deal, you knew you had to clear up the investigations, Mr Bove said.

After pausing for several seconds, Mr Pecker replied in the affirmative.

But Mr Pecker also said he felt no pressure to finalise the non-prosecution agreement to complete the transaction.

In the end, the deal did not go through.
Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf is battling to save his position after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence.

The SNP leader dramatically brought the powersharing deal with the Greens to an end, but now faces a backlash which could cost him his job.

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Allies of Mr Yousaf insisted he was coming out fighting in the face of a concerted effort by opponents to oust him.

A source close to the first minister said Mr Yousaf was absolutely not considering his position following the chaotic events of Thursday.

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His decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens was branded an act of political cowardice by the smaller pro-independence party.

The Greens will back a no-confidence motion proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a knife-edge vote at Holyrood next week.

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told the PA news agency: We no longer have confidence in a progressive government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

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The Bute House Agreement gave the SNP-led government a majority at Holyrood, but it came under strain in recent days after the Greens said they would put the future of the deal to a vote by their members.

Some in the Greens were unhappy at the Scottish governments recent dropping of 2030 climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotlands only gender clinic.

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie said their MSPs would vote against Humza Yousaf (Lesley Martin/PA)

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With the Greens voting in favour of the no-confidence motion, there would be 64 out of 128 MSPs who do not back the First Minister.

The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood while there is also Ash Regan of the Alba Party, who has not yet confirmed which way she will vote.

Alba leader and former first minister Alex Salmond said Ms Regan was now the most powerful MSP in the Scottish parliament and told Times Radio she would write to Mr Yousaf setting out her demands on independence and womens rights.

Presiding officer Alison Johnstone can cast tie-breaking votes but would be expected to vote in favour of the status quo.

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Any vote is likely to take place next week, with timings to be confirmed by parliamentary authorities.

The Scottish Government's co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party has ended.



The First Minister informed Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater formally of the end of the Bute House Agreement, and their tenure as Ministers, with immediate effect.



https://t.co/3mfDQWKegw pic.twitter.com/rZXyQ46q3O  Scottish Government (@scotgov) April 25, 2024

The decision to end the Bute House Agreement means Scottish Green co-leaders Ms Slater and Patrick Harvie lost their ministerial roles.

Their MSP group met on Thursday afternoon to discuss their approach to the confidence vote.

Ms Slater said: Today, the First Minister decided to tear up that agreement, to end the Bute House Agreement.

And so we no longer have confidence in a progressive government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

So the Scottish Green MSPs will not be supporting Humza Yousaf in a vote of no confidence.

She confirmed that rather than abstaining we will vote in favour of a vote of no confidence and claimed the First Minister had caved in to the conservative, right-wing branch of the SNP.

A spokesperson for Mr Yousaf refused to say if he would quit if he lost the confidence vote, describing the question as hypothetical.

The SNP leader accused the Tories of game playing, insisting the powersharing deal with the Greens had served its purpose and lasted 19 times longer than Liz Trusss premiership.
Students at a prestigious university in Paris have resumed pro-Palestinian protests, inspired by Gaza solidarity encampments at campuses around the US, two days after French police broke up another demonstration.

Dozens of students at the Sciences Po blocked an entrance to a campus building in central Paris with bins, a bicycle, pieces of metal and wooden platforms.

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About 40 people remained in a building overnight in defiance of administrators who students say called the police on their peers two days earlier.

Pro-Palestinian protests have resumed (AP)

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the amphitheatre outside the universitys Paris campus.

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Most agreed to leave after discussions with management but a small group of students remained. They were removed by police later that night, according to French media reports.

The demonstration was organised by the Palestine Committee of Sciences Po, demanding the administration cut ties with universities and companies over their alleged support for Israels offensive in Gaza.

Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war are digging in at Columbia University for a 10th day, one of a number of demonstrations roiling campuses from California to Connecticut.

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A student glues a sticker on the facade of the Sciences Po university (AP)

Hundreds of students and even some professors have been arrested across the US, sometimes amid struggles with police.

In New York, Columbia is negotiating with student protesters who have rebuffed police and doubled down.

Other educational bodies have been quick to call law enforcement to curb demonstrations before they can take hold.

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Columbia officials have said they will seek other options if the negotiations with protesters fail.
The United States and China butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues as US secretary of state Antony Blinken met on Friday with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and both men warned of the dangers of misunderstandings and miscalculations.

The meeting, on the final day of Mr Blinkens second visit to China in the past year, came as talks between the countries have expanded in recent months even as differences have grown and become more serious, raising concerns about the potential for conflict between the worlds two largest economies.

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Mr Blinken and Mr Wang each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but they also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when US President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday (Mark Schiefelbein, Pool/AP)

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Overall, the China-US relationship is beginning to stabilise, Mr Wang told Mr Blinken. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.

Mr Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about US policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said, demanding the US refrain from interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

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Mr Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on US-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China, Mr Blinken told Mr Wang.

There is no substitute in our judgment for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure were as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Mr Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness towards Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

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It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years towards Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbours with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against US assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale.

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russias military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

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US officials have said Chinas ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinkens visit, and just before Fridays meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.
Time & Place director Tim Price said the plan reflected market demand, particularly among affluent private firms and family-run businesses who are opting to invest rather than lease. These investors are seeking assets rich in historical and societal value, Price said. Cheaper to buy than rent: Golden Age is counting on downsizing professional firms that want to own a piece of the city. Credit: Research from Colliers shows owner-occupiers are dominating the market, making up 67 per cent of all strata buyers in 2023 and 71 per cent of buyers in the first quarter of 2024. Golden Ages almost completed tower at 130 Little Collins Street, the first purpose-built strata tower in Melbournes CBD since 41X on Exhibition Street in 2014, is about 80 per cent sold, with prices holding at around $18,000 per square metre.

Restaurateur Chris Lucas splashed $13 million on two levels for the Lucas Groups head office, and another buyer recently paid $2.89 million for a half-floor office. Loading But most strata development is in inner-city suburbs, where owner-occupiers are keen to buy new offices closer to where they live. Other notable recent deals include a Sydney-based buyer snapping up Viclands old head office  the penthouse at 529 Chapel Street, South Yarra  for $5 million. Cushman & Wakefield agent George Davies, who did the deal with Oliver Hay and Anthony Kirwan, said most interested parties were high-net-worth family offices looking for local space.

Cushman & Wakefield have achieved prices of around $15,000 per square metre at Alterra at 70-72 Cubitt Street, Cremorne, and $12,500 to $15,000 per square metre at Emerald Place in South Melbourne. Loading Davies said buyers are seeking wealth creation, flexibility and control. Mike Williams said his development created a post-COVID club-like workplace where people could feel at home in their office, but also use elegant communal areas to mingle. We have modelled Merchant off 350 George Street, but we have added many more shared facilities for occupiers, as well as balconies.

Merchants now completed strata offices each have their own bathroom with shower, a galley bar, and individual air-conditioning units. Some have sofa beds. To add to the hotel feel, theres a concierge service and towel service, an ice machine on each floor, and a floor dedicated to meeting rooms, a wine cellar, a library, a lounge area for guests, and a bike room and lockers. Prue Williams said there had been steady interest from company directors, legal professionals, and the property industry itself, particularly due to its location. W have now sold 60 per cent of the offices, with more contracts imminent, and as the space starts to take shape through construction we have seen interest significantly increase, she said. Space in Merchant is being marketed for sale by Andrew Harford and Jessen OSullivan of Knight Frank, with Tim Noonan and Ben Kennedy of Noonan Property.

Buyers include barrister Peter Skinner, who will make Merchant his base, as will Debra Singh, a director on ASX-listed boards. Loading Harford said W Propertys track record of successful adaptive re-use strata projects in the CBD, Pyrmont and Surry Hills helped to get a number of offices pre-sold before completion. Given the wider market and economic conditions, the sales milestone for Merchant is impressive and testament to how well this project has been received by buyers, he said. Merchant is offering a unique product that is a first for the strata market in Sydney, being a hybrid between conventional offices and a lifestyle offering.

Harford added that the project has also filled a gap in the market left by the compulsory acquisition by the NSW government of 11 CBD buildings for the Sydney Metro Western line, which displaced many owner-occupiers. Typical suites in Merchant were selling for just over $1 million or around $23,000 per square metre, but suites with larger balconies were selling for up to $28,000 per square metre. Prue Williams said Merchants design and unique offering reflected changing demands from occupiers in the office space. This is the way offices are going; they are much more lifestyle-driven than corporate-driven, she said.
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Eating outComing soon Abbotsfords strong dining scene has been missing something. Thats set to change soon Top hospitality team The Mulberry Group are planning to open two new exciting venues this winter in the evolving inner suburb. Emma Breheny April 26, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The Mulberry Group (Lilac Wine, Hazel et al) is flexing its muscles, planning two more venues this year, hot on the heels of announcing the winter opening of hummus prince Tom Sarafians first venues. Molli and Little Molli will tick the boxes of neighbourhood restaurant and cafe-deli-grocer, respectively, when they open in Abbotsford this June. The 100-seat Molli, accessed via Mollison Street, will be a neighbourhood bistro and wine bar that Mulberry founder Nathan Toleman believes will plug a hole in Abbotsfords dining scene. Mulberry Group founder Nathan Toleman with bar manager Kayla Saito and chef Aleksis Kalnins on the Molli rooftop. Tim Harris Youve got really great pubs, lots of great cafes, really good Asian restaurants, and it seems theres an opportunity for a neighbourhood wine bar, he says.

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Spanning a large corner of a new office building, the two venues have separate entrances and are connected by a private dining room. Chef Aleksis Kalnins, coming from the groups city restaurant Hazel, is leading both. Youve got really great pubs, lots of great cafes, really good Asian restaurants, and it seems theres an opportunity for a neighbourhood wine bar. Nathan Toleman Kalnins (ex-Matilda 159 Domain) is interested in dishes that are simple to look at and feature just two or three ingredients but are, in fact, carefully put together. Wine bar or bistro food thats a bit more technical, without showing off, he says. A dish of cherry tomatoes, whipped cod roe and salmon pearls by Kalnins for Hazel restaurant. Wayne Taylor

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The restaurant, Molli, has a wood-burning Josper oven to char flatbreads and dishes such as pork neck skewers with date puree. Two steaks  one to share and one smaller  will join pastas and a wide selection of small plates to share as a table. Little Molli, seating 25, will cater to residents and office workers by day with a rotating line-up of salads and slow-cooked meats, such as pork shoulder, from the Josper. Therell also be six sandwiches, such as capocollo (cured pork neck) with braised peppers, served on focaccia and ciabatta from To Be Frank. Charcuterie and cheese can be sliced for dine-in or takeaway; a retail range rounds out the offer. The venues, designed by In Addition, are flooded with light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and possess a homely, informal atmosphere, according to Toleman. A wraparound bar inside Molli overlooks the bar, led by Kayla Saito, and the kitchen. The buildings rooftop, to be used for growing herbs and holding private events, has views of the city, Yarra River and Abbotsford Convent. Nathan Toleman and chef Tom Sarafian are opening two restaurants this year. Kristoffer Paulsen The opening of these two venues, plus Tom Sarafians Zareh restaurant and Sarafian deli, will bring Mulberry Groups portfolio to 10 venues, plus the social enterprise farm Common Ground Project in western Victoria, to which all venues donate profits.

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Toleman is unfazed by the big year he has ahead. As tough as the last couple of years have been, there is still that excitement about food in Melbourne, Toleman says. We want to help promote that and change the narrative a bit. Molli and Little Molli open early June. 20-30 Mollison Street, Abbotsford, molliabbotsford.com.au
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Eating outRestaurant news Chip butties to Chiko rolls: Your retro favourites are back on the menu (and heres where to find them) Cringeworthy dishes and old faves your mum used to make are on top in the world of food right now. And apparently its perfectly natural to crave it. Emma Breheny April 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Dining at the top of a skyscraper, in one of the citys most expensive restaurants, youd expect to eat lobster, caviar, foie gras. A hot jam doughnut? Not so much. But thats one of three desserts that Vue de Monde, perhaps Melbournes best-known fine diner, serves as part of its $360 tasting menu, and its inspired by the Queen Victoria Market doughnut van. Its one of the boldest statements  but certainly not the only one  that nostalgia is the most sought-after flavour among diners today. The Goldys Roll at Collingwood pub Goldys is modelled on a Chiko roll, right down to the wrapper. Chris Hopkins At Glory-Us cafes two locations in Fitzroy North and Strathmore, a chip butty is stacked high with fries and spread with butter and homemade HP sauce. Goldys pub in Collingwood and South Melbourne brewery Pirate Life both serve a take on a Chiko roll. Goldys incorporates savoury mince and creamed corn, while Pirate Life uses braised goat and salted cabbage. And at Argentinian grill restaurant, Asado in Southbank, the menu is flipping to an Australian theme for a day next month. Tickets for the six-course lunch sold out in 48 hours. The chip butty at Glory-Us cafe is finished with homemade HP sauce. Supplied

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Theres a lot of uncertainty with the economy at the moment, says Victor Liong, chef at Lee Ho Fook, another upscale restaurant in the city thats looking to the past, in its case through prawn toast. In these kinds of times people look towards things that are comforting. Classic cooking is one of the things that people hold on to. Lee Ho Fook casts the suburban staple of prawn toast in a new, albeit far more luxurious, light by adding raw seafood as a garnish to crisp rectangles of white bread smeared with prawn mousse. Its so popular, Liong had to make an emergency dash to a fish shop on Monday night because hed run out of ingredients. Prawn toast is very relatable to people, and its relevant in an Australian Chinese [restaurant] context, says Liong. Updating the dish, he says, still gives us an opportunity to be creative and do it in our style.

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Prawn toast joins soft serve, potato cakes, cream buns and more old-school dishes getting a contemporary makeover, as chefs give people food that will tug at their heartstrings, as well as appeal to their tastebuds. Lee Ho Fooks prawn toast comes with luxurious touches, like a sea urchin on top. Simon Schluter Whats happening right now with economic uncertainty and a lot of global uncertainty is that we seek comfort via familiarity, says Dr Meg Elkins, a behavioural economist in RMITs School of Economics, Finance and Marketing. Research shows strong links between nostalgia and food, Elkins says, because food is so sensory and this triggers memories of people and places. Both my business partner and I ate chip butties regularly growing up, every time we had fish and chips, says Glory-Us co-owner Tori Bicknell. Its a given we want it on our menu.

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The latest trend in fine-dining is  the potato scallop (or cake) In the years after the GFC, Melbourne menus were filled with mac and cheese, banana fritters, Country Womens Association-like cakes and spiders, all put through a 21st-century lens where ingredient quality and provenance are paramount. When we return to comfort in times of uncertainty, thats called the nostalgia bias, says Elkins. To some degree, its about social identity and belonging, Right now, theres a strong Australiana thread running through the nostalgic food chefs are celebrating, perhaps a sign of our countrys recently discovered pride in First Nations ingredients and even more recent culinary history, regardless of daggy labels.

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As Elkins points out, things like Chiko rolls and prawn toast are associated with fun and life not being complicated. The food that triggers feelings of nostalgia varies from person to person and culture to culture. But that hasnt stopped Colombian-born chef Camilo Guzman from creating updated versions of beloved Australian snacks, like the dim sim. In fact, its made his dishes more interesting. Asados take on a lamington includes strawberry consomme surrounding the cake. Trend. Agency The emu dim sim that hell serve at Asado restaurants special Australiana event in May combines two street-foods from two different cultures. A dim sim, he says, is just a filled, fried pastrythat you can only find in Australia. But its very similar to a street-food of Latin America: you find empanadas on nearly every corner in every city.

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Dessert  a lamington with strawberry consomme  is another double-whammy of nostalgia, depending on where you grew up. For Guzman, it reminds him of a packaged ice-cream served in Colombia around Halloween that was named after Count Dracula because it had strawberry jam oozing out of vanilla ice-cream. With nostalgic food looking so different for different people, the only thing thats certain is that restaurants have plenty more dishes up their sleeve. Potato cakes at Saint George in St Kilda come with whipped cod roe and avruga. Wayne Taylor Five old-but-new bites of nostalgia to try Hashbrowns and potato cakes

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Fried spuds get a glow-up at Wallys wine bar (Albert Park), where hashbrowns come topped with cured bonito fish, and at the Sporting Club Hotel (Brunswick), where smoked trout is the fancy finish. Potato cakes are powering snack time at Saint George (St Kilda), Kirks Wine Bar (Melbourne) and Stokehouse (St Kilda). If you like your carbs with a side of carbs, get yourself to Glory-Us cafe (Fitzroy North, Stanmore) for a chip butty thats dense with pencils of fried potato. Pistachio soft serve at Roccos in Fitzroy. Supplied Sundaes or soft serve Swirly, creamy bowls of soft serve cap off dinner at restaurants including Roccos Bologna Discoteca (Fitzroy) and Di Stasio (Carlton and CBD). Roccos regularly changing flavours have included Iced Vovo for an extra dose of the good old days. Step it up to a sundae at Johnnys Green Room (Carlton), featuring strawberry and pepper granita along with the usual ice-cream and fudge sauce. Yugen Dinings prawn toast made with youtiao (Chinese doughnuts). Gareth Sobey

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Prawn toast An Aussie Chinese favourite gets a new lease on life at Lee Ho Fook (Melbourne), where its topped with either raw sea urchin or ama ebi, a premium type of prawn. Yugen Dining (St Kilda) combines the filling with Chinas own bready treat, youtiao (long cylindrical doughnuts), for a visually stunning result. Try a Spanish twist at MoVida Aqui (Melbourne), where the toast is topped with a gentle chilli sauce from the Basque region, or the version at Peruvian-Chinese restaurant Casa Chino (Brunswick). East Handy General Store owner Josh Thomas with his paean to the Chiko roll. Richard Cornish Chiko rolls The snack of choice in Puberty Blues gets a glow-up at Goldys pub (Collingwood) where it comes with its own Goldy Roll wrapper; Pirate Lifes beer hall (South Melbourne), although the filling is braised goat instead of the traditional mutton; and the East Handy General Store (Bairnsdale), which makes a chop suey from a Womens Weekly recipe and adds Keens Curry Powder.

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A former Islamic State supporter who was visited by terrorists while in prison was questioned during sweeping anti-terror raids in Sydney this week that saw six teenagers charged with various offences.

Wassim Fayad, 56, was jailed for a maximum of seven years in 2015 after failing to steal an ATM, helping a homophobic killer leave the country and lashing a man dozens of times with a cable.

Wassim Fayad at Burwood court in 2012 during his trial for whipping a man. Credit: Ben Rushton

Fayad was spoken to by Joint Counter-terrorism Team (JCTT) officers who raided several south-west suburbs on Wednesday. Those raids were in response to a 16-year-old boy allegedly stabbing Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel multiple times during a live-streamed service at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on April 15.

Fayad has not been charged over the anti-terror raids.
Prosecutors warned Daniel Billings was showing the concerning behaviour of a domestic abuser escalating toward the most disturbing conclusion - but within just 12 minutes he was released by a court. Two weeks later he allegedly murdered his ex-partner Molly Ticehurst.

The haunting words of the prosecutor, recorded in a transcript of Billings April 6 court hearing and released to this masthead, reveal how Billings lawyer argued for his bail in the face of serious rape charges and his alleged threats to break into Ticehursts home.

Molly Ticehurst (left) and her accused murderer Daniel Billings. Credit: Sharni Tolhurst Photography, Facebook

Billings, 29, was charged with murdering 28-year-old Ticehurst at her home in Forbes on Monday morning.

It soon emerged Billings, originally from Queensland, had been charged earlier this month with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of stalking or intimidating Ticehurst.
A Russian vessel, reportedly implicated in North Korea's arms transfers to Russia, is moored in China, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday, adding to speculation about Beijing's support for Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine.

The spokesperson made the remarks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in China, where he plans to discuss with senior Beijing officials a range of regional and global issues, including the war in Ukraine and North Korean threats.

Citing Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Reuters has reported that the ship in question has been docked at a Chinese shipyard in eastern Zhejiang province since February.

"We are aware of credible, open-source reports that the Russian vessel ANGARA is currently moored in a PRC port and have raised this issue with PRC authorities," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China.

"Media and NGO reports implicate the ANGARA for its direct involvement with a group of Russian cargo vessels conducting deliveries of military equipment and munitions from the DPRK to Russia  activities that are prohibited by certain DPRK-related U.N. Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs)," the spokesperson added.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The official reiterated that during his visit to China, Blinken will discuss a "range of concerns," including North Korea.

In the lead-up to his trip, a senior State Department official said that in China, Blinken will express Washington's "deep concerns" over Beijing's support for Russia's industrial base and discuss Pyongyang's "threatening rhetoric and reckless actions."

The spokesperson renewed calls for all U.N. member states to fulfill their obligations under UNSCR 2397.

Adopted in 2017 in response to the North's launch of a long-range ballistic missile, the resolution strengthens measures to address the North's illicit exports of prohibited items and illicit imports of petroleum through deceptive maritime practices by requiring member states to seize, inspect and freeze any vessel in their territorial waters for involvement in prohibited activities.

Pyongyang has shipped over 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September, as well as several dozen ballistic missiles, according to the U.S. government, as Moscow strives to replenish its weapons stockpile for use in Ukraine. (Yonhap)
A promised national firearms register will receive a $160 million federal government injection in the May budget as a further step in a decades-long push for gun reform.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will announce the four-year funding commitment on Saturday after states and territories agreed to create a system for police to track gun possession following the fatal ambush of police in the Queensland town of Wieambilla in 2022.

The Australian government is committed to protecting the Australian community and ensuring Australias firearms laws remain amongst the most effective in the world, Dreyfus said.

The $161.3 million federal contribution builds on the legacy created by former prime minister John Howard, who moved quickly to ban automatic and semi-automatic weapons in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed.
The federal government is considering a ban or heavy restriction on non-compete clauses by businesses to stop staff from moving to better-paying jobs or taking their skills to more innovative competitors as part of its plans to boost the economy.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was looking closely at the decision this week by the United States Federal Trade Commission to ban non-compete clauses in a move it said would raise an average workers earnings by $US524 ($803 a year) and increase economy-wide productivity.

The government may heavily restrict non-compete clauses after the United States this week said it would ban them over fears they hold back wage increases and productivity. Credit: afr

Non-compete clauses, which can prevent an employee setting up a new business or block them from soliciting clients, have grown sharply around the developed world over the past 15 years. Economists increasingly argue they have contributed to slowing productivity growth.

The federal government, as part of its competition taskforce, has released a discussion paper on the use of non-compete clauses that can also stop staff from working with a competitor for several years.
So I expect the city to be subdued, not tranquil. Much of the quiet is due to Chinas uptake of electrical vehicles, now 36 per cent of all vehicle sales (as well as the fact its now illegal to toot a car horn.) Electric cars and scooters and old-fashioned pushbikes are the favoured modes of individual transport these days, which means crossing the street needs vigilance as you dont often hear the scooters. Were staying in the Westin Bund, a huge, efficient hotel in a commercial centre. We see few Western tourists, and if there are lines at popular attractions such as the worlds highest observation deck on the 632-metre-tall Shanghai Tower, they are Chinese visitors. This is different to the last time I was here in 2018, when an influx of international businesses, from hotels to art galleries and restaurants, made it one of the most vibrant cities in the world. But many of these businesses left the city during the pandemic and havent returned. Restaurant entrepreneur Michelle Garnaut, the Aussie godmother of Shanghai, has closed her famous restaurant M on the Bund and the Glamour Bar, which are sadly missed by the expat community. Luxury takeover

Shanghai was always Chinas most international city, a boomtown for opportunists since the 1920s and 30s, when it was one of the most disreputable places on Earth, ruled by drug lords, violent gangsters, Russians fleeing the revolution and fugitives from justice from across the world. Even in recent years, while not so disreputable, pockets of the city retain the atmosphere from those heady days. In 2004, the Shanghai government created 12 preservation zones, which included the French Concession and the 26 iconic buildings that frame the Bund, a boulevard thats a gallery of world architecture, from renaissance to art deco. However, conservation to these officials has sometimes meant tearing down old buildings and rebuilding them in new materials. In Xintiandi, a historic neighbourhood of tall brick lane residences called Shikumen, the old houses look as if theyve been built from scratch, theyre so neat and perfect  and they have been. The original houses were demolished and replaced by replicas. The last time I was here, restaurants and bars were opening in Shikumen, giving them new life, but sadly theyve been mostly colonised by international perfume and fashion labels, turning the area into a kind of Disneyland for brand-obsessed adults. The winding lanes of Tianzifang Shikumen. Credit: Getty Images Unlike Xintiandi, the shopping district known as Tianzifang, where people live in the labyrinthine lanes above little fashion and craft stores and small galleries, is authentic  to a point. People still hang their washing in the lanes over the heads of the shoppers, and a stroll past boutiques selling giant pink plastic bunnies or embroidered silk chi pao can lead you into the communal kitchens of residents crouched eating bowls of soup. It gives a glimpse of what life has been like in these lanes since 1933, when they were built. But there are precious few of them now.

Even though commercialised, its still a fun place to visit for souvenirs (at least they are made in China). New shopping malls have sprouted up across the road. I discover a lovely museum, Liuli China Museum, which features 260 artefacts made from glass, by contemporary artists as well as historic pieces. (It also has restrooms you can access easily; the restroom situation in the lanes is dire.) Shanghai is still one of the best places to see contemporary art, boasting a multitude of public and private art museums, such as the Yuz Museum and Long Museum on the West Bund. While art enthusiasts flocked to the Shanghai Art fair in early November last year, there is concern that the collapse of the retail industry and stricter government censorship of art might challenge the Chinese art worlds resilience. I was disappointed to see that the famous pedestrian boulevard, Nanjing Road, has lost some of its charm. It was once lined with big, old-fashioned department stores, but some have closed, replaced by chain stores and an upscale branch of Daimaru, the Japanese department store, which has steep elevators that snake around a glittering atrium. It also contains the biggest Starbucks in the world, and the Shanghai Edition hotel, where we stop for French-style cakes late one evening. Elsewhere, you would be forgiven for thinking that French was the favoured cuisine in the city. Rockbund is a newish development in the former British Concession, where the Shanghai Peninsula Hotel (opened in 2009) occupies the grounds and mansion that was once the British Consulate. It is a collection of historic buildings that were apartments, offices, printing houses and banks, which form a continuous street north of the Bund. There, youll find restaurants, cafes, apartments, retail stores and a contemporary art museum. The buildings have been cleaned and restored. Their ground floors are filled with chic cafes serving French food or single-origin coffees. After a day of walking, my choice of snack at Rockbund is pretty much French croissants and crepes. I opt for the sweet crepe, eating it on a bench while I watch a stream of young women in skimpy outfits pout and pose for photographers.

Everyone photographs everything in Shanghai. There are fashion shoots on almost every corner, and the narrow streets off the Bund are popular with brides, who have their wedding photos done days before the ceremony. Its not unusual to see people photographing the people photographing the photoshoot of the brides. Survivors Luckily, many of my favourite places are still standing, if recast. The century-old Astor Hotel in Hongkou, where luminaries such as Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein stayed, has had a transformation. Run down and shabby, it has become the curious China Securities Museum, tracing the history of Chinas commerce with the world. Its ornate Peacock Hall, once the scene of society parties and tea dances early in the 20th century, was the location of the first trading centre of the stock exchange in 1990. Nothing is in English, but one of the lovely old guest rooms has been preserved along with the possessions of a married couple. One institution, the Old Jazz Band, formed in 1947, still performs nightly at the Fairmont Peace Hotel (formerly The Cathay), even if the original band members are long gone. You can catch them in the jazz bar from 7pm. In 1930, Noel Coward dashed off Private Lives in the hotel while recovering from influenza. The lobby is still one of the most spectacular examples of art deco in the city. My favourite restaurant, Lost Heaven, is still open in two locations, on the Bund and in the French Concession, and the spicy Yunnan cuisine is as good as ever. The cramped but quaint Old Jesse restaurant on Tianping Road is still the place to go for lazy Susan action, its tabletops laden with shared dishes such as hairy crab or hongshaorou: pork belly served with hard-boiled eggs.

The vertiginous Flair Bar on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Pudong, Chinas highest al fresco bar, continues to be the best place in the city to see the skyline at night, followed by Sir Ellys Terrace on the 13th floor of the Peninsula Shanghai, which has an opposing view along the river. The Flair Bar on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Pudong. Shanghai has always been a great street food city for delights such as the famous soup dumplings, laolongbao. A walking food tour of the district around Zhejiang Road and Guangdong Road uncovers little holes-in-the-wall selling succulent Muslim Chinese lamb kebabs served on lamb-stuffed flatbreads, pancakes stuffed with spicy leeks and giant fried dumplings bursting with beef stew. Mr Xu, the dumpling seller, tells us the shops and apartments here will be pulled down the following week so the street can be developed. The old shops dont look good enough, apparently. The residents and businesses wont necessarily be relocated in the area theyve lived in for decades. Im hoping all this rampant modernisation doesnt cost Shanghai its soul. But perhaps the horse has bolted. A chirpy, glassy advertisement playing on a loop on my hotel room TV promotes Shanghai as a city of change.

Here we see endless possibilities. Here we are shaping the future. The past is a foreign territory here. All the more reason to go now. THE DETAILS FLY

Qantas flies to Shanghai from Sydney five days a week on an Airbus A330. The route is a gateway for Australian travellers to other Chinese destinations. See qantas.com STAY

The landmark Fairmont Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road at the Bund is one of Shanghais true icons, now restored to preserve its 100-year-old- history. If your budget stretches to it, the historic river view suites, themed for different countries such as India and Japan, are beautiful. See fairmont.com/peace-hotel-shanghai
Puwamajhuwa, Nepal: The views are spectacular in this corner of eastern Nepal, between the worlds highest mountains and the tea estates of Indias Darjeeling district, where rare orchids grow and red pandas play on the lush hillsides.

But life can be tough. Wild animals destroyed the corn and potato crops of Pasang Sherpa, a farmer born near Mount Everest. He gave up on those plants a dozen years ago and resorted to raising one that seemed to have little value: argeli, an evergreen, yellow-flowering shrub found wild in the Himalayas. Farmers grew it for fencing or firewood.

Argeli bark is hung to dry the sun in Puwamajhuwa, a village in the Ilam District of eastern Nepal. Credit: Uma Bista/The New York Times

Sherpa had no idea that bark stripped from his argeli would one day turn into pure money  the outgrowth of an unusual trade in which one of the poorest pockets of Asia supplies a primary ingredient for the economy in one of the richest.

Japans currency is printed on special paper that can no longer be sourced at home. The Japanese love their old-fashioned yen notes, and this year they need mountains of fresh ones, so Sherpa and his neighbours have a lucrative reason to hang on to their hillsides.
Structural challenges in housing

The report also pointed to other factors exacerbating the housing situation, including the rise of smaller households, intrastate migration, and the repurposing of living spaces into work areas. It stressed the need for a broader understanding of the diverse causes behind rental market dynamics, rather than pinpointing a single group.
Kim Yung-ho, South Korea's point man on North Korea, and Julie Turner, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, plan to make a visit next month to areas where then South Korean teens had been abducted by the North in the 1970s, a Seoul official said Friday.

Kim and Turner will visit the Seonyu and Hong islands in the country's southwestern region in late May, a plan organized at the request of the families of the victims, according to South Korea's envoy for North Korean human rights, Lee Shin-wha.

The five victims, who were high school students at the time of the incident, were kidnapped between 1977 and 1978.

Among them, Kim Young-nam was married in North Korea with Megumi Yokota, a Japanese kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s when she was 13. Kim is believed to have been abducted by the North in 1978 in areas near Seonyu Island and Megumi is a symbol of Japanese people abducted by North Korea.

Lee made the remark in a forum organized by the unification ministry to discuss updating a 2014 report compiled by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) on North Korea's human rights situation. The landmark report accused Pyongyang of committing "systemic, widespread and gross human rights violations."

During the forum, Kim called for continued efforts by the international community to resolve the issue of detainees, abductees and prisoners of war in the North.

Of an estimated 3,835 South Koreans who were kidnapped by North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean War, 3,310 people were sent back home and nine escaped the repressive regime, with the other 516 South Koreans having yet to return home, according to government data.

Six South Koreans, including three missionaries, have been held in North Korea for years, with their whereabouts and fates unknown. (Yonhap)
Preparing organizations for the next AI-driven phase of digital transformation is on the agenda at the 2024 Empower conference, hosted by Laserfiche  the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation  in Las Vegas through April 25. Laserfiche shines a spotlight on solutions that reduce complexity and accelerate information flow across the enterprise to help organizations manage increasing amounts of data.

Empower attendees got an early look at the latest Laserfiche AI features, including Laserfiche AI Document Summarization. The new offering, powered by generative AI, eliminates tedious sifting through documents by generating concise summaries of documents containing either text or transcribed audio. Laserfiche AI Document Summarization, which represents one milestone in the Laserfiche AI vision to transform the workplace, will be available in the upcoming Laserfiche Cloud release on April 30, 2024.

At Laserfiche, we believe AI will impact productivity for many knowledge workers, but organizations need to go beyond this and apply AI at scale to be truly transformative, said Michael Allen, CTO of Laserfiche. To help organizations harness AI at scale, Laserfiche will release additional generative AI capabilities in the coming months that provide insights into document collections, allowing users to interactively query documents and extract knowledge using a natural language interface.

Attendees also received a sneak peek of Laserfiche 12, the newest version of self-hosted Laserfiche, which will be available to customers in November 2024. The latest update includes powerful new features and administrative tools that make it easier for Laserfiche administrators to oversee and manage their Laserfiche ecosystems, including:

A new metadata template designer , which allows users to quickly build custom forms without code

, which allows users to quickly build custom forms without code Laserfiche Forms processes test mode , that enables automated deployment of packaged solutions

, that enables automated deployment of packaged solutions Updates to enterprise identity management tools to strengthen information governance

to strengthen information governance A new look-and-feel to enhance usability, featuring a clearer user interface to interact with repositories and business processes.



Were thrilled to bring this significant update to our self-hosted customers, said Justin Pava, director, product management at Laserfiche. Laserfiche 12 will empower more customers to create intuitive and powerful end-to-end solutions that deliver business value faster than ever.

To empower customers to realize their future cloud migration plans, Laserfiche introduced the Laserfiche Cloud Migration Readiness Assessment Tool. Attendees were able to preview the Assessment Tool, with expected availability in late May 2024. The Assessment Tool reduces time-consuming, manual audits of Forms Processes and Workflows previously needed to migrate from self-hosted Laserfiche to Laserfiche Cloud. Assessments are produced as easy-to-read reports that can be shared with project stakeholders to accelerate migration planning and reduce service costs related to the migration process.

The general session also included a keynote presentation from business-centric technology leader Michael Keithley, who discussed the transformative impact of generative AI on the workplace. Finally, Laserfiche celebrated the 2024 Run Smarter Award winners, representing organizations around the world that are using Laserfiche to improve productivity, build innovative processes and achieve exceptional business results.

Laserfiche Empower 2024 featured over 100 sessions, hands-on labs and workshops focused on digital transformation, and empowering attendees to use Laserfiche to work smarter. Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities, user groups, interfacing with the Laserfiche development team and first-look demonstrations.

To learn more about Laserfiche Empower or to register for Empower 2025, visit empower.laserfiche.com.

About Laserfiche

Laserfiche is the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation. Through powerful workflows, electronic forms, document management and analytics, the Laserfiche platform accelerates how business gets done, enabling leaders to focus on growth across the enterprise.

Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management. Today, Laserfiches cloud-first development approach incorporates innovations in machine learning and AI to enable organizations in more than 80 countries to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industry  including government, education, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing  use Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences.

Laserfiche employees in offices around the world are committed to the companys vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives.

Connect with Laserfiche:

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240425865100/en/
Four giant pandas make public debut at their new home in China's Lanzhou

Xinhua) 09:17, April 26, 2024

Giant panda Jia Bao takes a rest at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

LANZHOU, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Four giant pandas that have moved to their new home in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, made their public debut there on Thursday.

The pandas, three males and one female, arrived at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park on April 2 from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in the neighboring Sichuan Province.

"The park saw many more visitors than usual on the opening day of the panda house," said Huo Ran, deputy general manager of the park.

Zhang Wenhui, a citizen in Lanzhou, drove to the park to watch the pandas.

"I was so excited to take such a close look at giant pandas," said Zhang, adding that he would share the photos and videos he had taken there with his family and friends.

The pandas will be under the care of experts and trained park staff. Bamboo and bamboo shoots will be transported by plane from Sichuan to ensure the pandas have good quality fresh food at their new home in Gansu, according to Yu Peng, deputy head of the animal management department of the park.

Each panda has a living area, which includes both indoor rooms and outdoor space. The panda house is equipped with central air conditioning, a water purifying system, and a temperature control system, Yu said.

There is a science exhibition in the panda house to promote public education concerning giant pandas.

This aerial drone photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows the panda houses at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

Giant panda Man Man eats bamboo at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Local governments raise concerns of possible prostitution at event

By KTimes

The controversy over an adult festival featuring Japanese adult video (AV) actors is escalating nationwide after multiple local governments barred the event, citing concerns about potential illegal activities, including alleged prostitution.

Mayor Kim Kyung-il of Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, who played a pivotal role in canceling the "2024 KFX The Fashion" event in his city, voiced his concerns during an appearance on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on April 24th. "There are suspicions that prostitution could occur at the adult festival," Kim said, emphasizing the necessity for stringent regulatory measures.

The festival, organized by Play Joker, was initially scheduled to take place in Suwon, but was moved to Paju due to local opposition, and eventually faced cancellations at alternative venues along the Han River and in Seouls Gangnam District.

Countering Mayor Kims argument, Rep. Cheon Ha-ram of the New Reform Party, newly elected on a proportional representation ticket, questioned the selective enforcement of laws.

"If thats the concern, why arent room salons (where male clients are entertained by hostesses) across the country being shut down?" Cheon said during the CBS talk show.

He defended the legality of the presence of adult film actors, asserting that being in such a profession is not inherently illegal, nor should it be grounds for prohibiting them from participating in events.

Cheon criticized the use of public authority to interfere in cultural affairs without clear evidence of illegal activities, suggesting that measures should target specific illegal acts like production and distribution of adult film content rather than banning events based on the professions of the participants.

Superficial administrative thinking



However, the mayor raised concerns about potential illegal activities at the festival.

"Last year's festival reportedly charged about 3.5 million won for 'special services,' and there are strong signals that it was closely related to prostitution due to the highly enclosed spaces," Kim said.

He said that because of the high entrance fees and the enclosed setting, there is a need for law enforcement intervention.

In response, Rep. Cheon said, "The organizers say it's just a private dining event with AV actors; if there was prostitution, could such an event even take place?" He criticized the notion that high fees necessarily imply illicit activities, dismissing it as a case of "superficial administrative thinking."

Cheon added, "The risk of prostitution is greater in room salons, which also charge high fees and have hostesses in enclosed spaces, yet no one is calling for a blanket shutdown of these establishments while the adult festival is being completely blocked by authorities, which deviates entirely from the principles of rule-based administration."

Event's future hangs in balance



Cheon agreed that if illegal activities such as prostitution are confirmed, they should be investigated and prosecuted.

Addressing concerns about the festival being secretly held near schools, the mayor expressed doubts about the feasibility of concealing such events from local residents, emphasizing that the impact on the community must be considered.

On the other hand, Cheon, who is also a parent of elementary school children, said that the visibility of the event is more crucial than its proximity to schools. "There have been many schools near venues where adult-oriented performances for women have taken place. This shows the inconsistent application of administrative practices," he said.

As the event's future hangs in balance, both sides of the argument reflect broader societal concerns regarding morality, legality and cultural expression.

The event organizers have announced plans to reschedule the festival for June, continuing the debate over the balance between cultural freedom and regulatory oversight.





This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.


Defense officials of South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's purported satellite launch, ballistic missile tests and weapons transfers to Russia during their virtual talks this week, the three countries said Thursday.

South Korea's Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner and Japan's Director General for Defense Policy Koji Kano attended the 14th Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) on Wednesday.

"They condemned the DPRK's recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles, the launch of what the DPRK purports to be a military reconnaissance satellite using ballistic missile technology, illicit ship-to-ship transfers, and arms shipments with Russia as clear violations of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," they said in a joint statement.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The talks came as Pyongyang plans to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites this year despite international criticism that such launches run afoul of UNSC resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology. It put its first spy satellite into orbit in November.

The officials reaffirmed that a North Korean nuclear test, if conducted, would be met with a "strong and resolute" response from the international community. They also urged Pyongyang to cease all "destabilizing" activities immediately.

But they reiterated that "the path to dialogue remains open toward peaceful and diplomatic resolution" with the North.

The three sides affirmed their commitment to redoubling efforts in support of "effective" sanctions implementation as they noted Russia's recent veto blocking the renewal of the mandate of a U.N. expert panel monitoring sanctions enforcement.

With the veto, the expert panel, seen as a crucial platform to ensure sanctions compliance, will cease to exist on Tuesday.

The officials acknowledged that the three countries' enhanced security cooperation contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region.

They also sent a message apparently intended for China.

"They emphasized the importance of the rule of law and expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They ... stressed the importance of fully respecting freedom of navigation and overflight," they said,

"Additionally, they recognized that there is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan, and emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community."

The officials agreed to hold the 15th DTT gathering later this year in South Korea. (Yonhap)
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Studio Ponocs The Imaginary will debut on Netflix worldwide, bar Japan, on July 5. The streamer is also planning an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run for the film.

The Imaginary is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, a Studio Ghibli veteran who storyboarded, animated, and served other roles on films such as Grave of the Fireflies, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. Momose also directed the Life Aint Gonna Lose segment in Ponocs anthology film Modest Heroes, as well as the studios official Olympics short Tomorrows Leaves. He directed the feature NiNoKuni released in 2019.

The Imaginary is the first new feature to be distributed by Netflix, which signed a deal to become the exclusive streaming home for Studio Ponocs animated feature slate. Studio Ponoc was established in 2015 by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, a two-time Oscar-nominated producer for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There.

Per the official synopsis, Studio Ponocs The Imaginary, adapted from the novel of the same name by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it. It is described as an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination.

The producers have said that the hand-drawn animation is enhanced by first-of-their-kind techniques of light and shadow.
By Kim Hyun-bin

The Embassy of Singapore in Seoul, together with the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), hosted a lecture, April 23, focusing on the escalating challenges caused by nuclear proliferation, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI).

The event hosted dignitaries such as business CEOs and ambassadors from other nations, including British Ambassador Colin Crooks, Peruvian Ambassador Paul Duclos and Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega at the Singaporean ambassadors residence in Seoul.

The lecture was headed by Kim Won-soo, chair of the International Advisory Board of the Taejae Academy and former U.N. under-secretary-general, highlighting the pressing threats facing humanity. Kim urged global cooperation to address nuclear proliferation, climate change and the risks posed by AI.

"At the peak of the Cold War, the global nuclear supply reached 64,000 warheads. Thanks to nuclear arms control efforts, this number has been significantly reduced to 1207, a remarkable achievement. However, we now stand at a crossroads where we must decide whether to continue toward a world without nuclear weapons or risk a renewed nuclear arms race, he said.

Providing a roadmap for nuclear disarmament, Kim emphasized the importance of cooperation among major powers, particularly the United States and China.

"If we are to move towards a global zero nuclear weapons goal, we need the commitment of all nations, especially the G2 powers, he said.

Transitioning to the climate crisis, Kim stressed the alarming increase in CO2 concentration and temperature rise over the past century, emphasizing that CO2 concentration has exceeded 421 ppm, with temperatures rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius.

If we continue on this trajectory, we risk surpassing the 2 degrees Celsius red line, leading to catastrophic consequences such as sea level rise and extreme weather events," Kim added. "The weakening of ocean currents could result in Europe and North America facing freezing temperatures, posing a significant threat to human habitation in these regions."

Turning to the risks posed by AI, Kim expressed concerns about the rapid development of AI and its potential misuse in warfare.

"The emergence of AI general warfare, where strategic and tactical decisions are made by AI entities, poses a particularly grave threat, as we may lose control over these systems, Kim said.

Kim called for a coalition of nations to address these existential threats and shape a new paradigm for global governance. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, urging responsible competition between major powers and proactive efforts to mitigate risks.
South Korea and India held consultations on disarmament to discuss ways to address North Korea's growing military threats and other emerging security challenges, the foreign ministry said Friday.

The fourth "ROK-India Dialogue on Disarmament and Non-proliferation," led by Youn Jong-kwon, director-general for nonproliferation and nuclear affairs at the ministry, and Muanpuii Saiawi, joint secretary for disarmament and international security affairs at India's external ministry, was held in Seoul earlier in the day.

The two sides discussed regional and global challenges to disarmament and nonproliferation, including North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and the implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

They also exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities posed by the rise of emerging security issues, such as artificial intelligence and space security, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)
The 113th General Assembly concluded its business for the 2024 legislative session Thursday and adjourned sine die.

The 2024 session successfully carried into law a slate of policies that prioritized public safety, economic development, rural healthcare, education and conservation, the GOP majority said.

"Weve passed strategic legislation to cut taxes, invest in education, increase public safety, and strengthen Tennessees workforce, said Governor Bill Lee. The primary function of government is to steward taxpayer dollars and serve the people well, and I thank the General Assembly for its partnership and continued commitment to ensuring that Tennessee remains a beacon of opportunity, security, and freedom."

This session was the most tough on crime in the history of Tennessee, said House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. We took additional steps to reduce crime by passing stricter sentencing laws for violent adult and juvenile offenders. Im thankful for the 113th General Assembly and how we are protecting our communities and fighting to keep our families safe.

Tennessee leads because Republicans continue to stand strong to preserve the common-sense conservative values that are important to the people of this state, said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. Republicans have wisely and responsibly invested in making government work more effectively and efficiently for our citizens. We will continue to build on our successes and deliver on our promise to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Tennessee.

Lawmakers were prepared to face new budgeting challenges this session with lower state revenue collections, passing a $52.8 billion zero-debt balanced budget which is $10 billion less than last years budget. This years budget deposits $100 million in the states Rainy Day fund, bringing the total to more than $2 billion.

The 113th General Assembly cast a bold vision. Im incredibly pleased that we rose to the occasion by exceeding expectations and ensuring Tennessee remains the greatest state in the union, said House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby. I appreciate the strong conservative fortitude and unwavering dedication of my colleagues. Our state economy is strong and our Rainy-Day fund is healthy. We are well-positioned to face any challenge that comes our way. Tennessees future is brighter than ever because of the strong conservative values of this General Assembly.

The GOP gave this assessment:

Law and Order

The General Assembly passed legislation that continues Tennessees efforts to improve public safety and provides proactive measures to combat illegal immigration. Tennessee is a law-and-order state that values and appreciates its law enforcement and first responders, said officials. These investments include:

$17 million for 60 new Tennessee State Trooper positions

$15 million for grant pools for volunteer firefighters, rescue squads, and EMS

$6.4 million for military border deployment of Tennessee National Guard

$4.4 million to implement blended sentencing to address juvenile crime

$3.3 million for mental health evaluations / treatment for certain misdemeanor defendants

$1.5 million to reduce recidivism of repeat misdemeanor offenders

$750,000 in security grants for houses of worship.

$383,500 to collect data on illegal immigrants in Tennessee from law enforcement

13 new positions for the TBI

Criminalized abortion trafficking of minors (HB1895)

Duty to Warn Act (HB 1625)

Strengthened deterrents to curb juvenile crime (HB2126)

Prioritized public safety when setting bond amounts (HB1642)

Increased protections for domestic violence victims (HB2692)

Increased support for victims of child sex trafficking (HB1906)

Enhanced penalties for threats of mass violence (HB2538)

Strengthened the punishment for bullying (HB2590)

Parent Accountability Act (HB 1930)

Increased protections for law enforcement officers from assault (HB1881/Back the Blue Act)

Healthy Tennessee Families

Budget and legislative priorities include investments in rural and behavioral health care, with $303 million in new dollars directed to 17 programs. These funds will help to expand bed capacity, fund infrastructure projects for childrens hospitals and expand access to behavioral health inpatient care. These priorities are funded through shared savings from Tennessees TennCare waiver, which allows the state to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the TennCare program.

Legislative initiatives will support Tennessees most vulnerable citizens, including individuals with disabilities



Expanded TennCare health coverage for mental health services (HB 2921)

Economic Development

Tennessee delivered protections to managing the risks and potential of artificial intelligence. The ELVIS (Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security) Act puts in safeguards to protect the humanity and artistic expression of Tennessee innovators and creators from theft through AI-generated media.

$393 million to deliver tax cuts and provide $1.5 billion in nonrecurring funds to simplify franchise tax

$36 million to help distressed counties and rural communities with economic development initiatives for community asset improvements, marketing and downtown revitalization grants

Education

The budget adds $261 million in new recurring dollars for K-12 education, bringing the total base Tennessee Investment in Achievement budget to $6.8 billion and the overall budget for public education to $8.55 billion. The new dollars will cover medical insurance premiums, retirement for teachers, and funding for teacher raises to bring the annual starting base salary up to $50,000 by 2026.

$30 million for summer learning programs

$3.2 million for AP courses to students across rural and urban Tennessee

$2.5 million to strengthen students reading and phonics skills

Protected students from political indoctrination in the classroom (HB1605)

Ensuring AI regulations in education (HB1630)

Allow college students to protect themselves on campus (HB1909)

Improved School Safety by allowing school faculty and staff to participate in voluntary training programs for crisis management

Children and Families

Enshrined parental rights in state law (HB2936)

Increased protections for children online from accessing pornography (HB1614)

Protected children from abortion trafficking (HB1895)

Required parental consent for minors using social media (HB1891)

Conservation

$59 million for Tennessee State Parks capital projects

$51 million to the Heritage Preservation Fund to preserve land across this state

$20 million to expand blueways trail access with new recreational access points

$10 million to improve water quality at rivers, lakes and streams across the state

$10 million to expedite the Bill Dance Signature Lakes initiative

$5 million to protect and enhance scenic beauty along our major highways

$3 million to make state parks more accessible to Tennesseans with disabilities




Rep. Adam Schiff, D-CA, always at the center of controversies and fairy tales, was to speak Thursday at an occasion in SF honoring an attorney friend. His luggage was stolen from his parked car so instead of his wearing a suit, Schiff was forced to wear shirtsleeves and hiking vest to the swanky event. He didnt let that deter him, however, as he said, yes they took my bags, but Im here to thank Joe.

Joe Crochett is supporting Schiffs run for the US Senate. Crochett said Schiff appeared unphased by the situation, acting like all was fine (Daily Caller 4/26/24). Of course, for Schiff to dwell on it calls attention to the fact he was one of many victims in crime ridden San Francisco where there were in 30 days alone 1,670 car burglaries (NYPost 4/26/24) He is lucky he wasnt a victim of violent crime which was up last year as well (SFStandard 12/28/23).

Schiff is peddler of tales of Russian collusion appearing 25 times on NPR pushing that phony story according to whistleblower Uri Berliner. Schiff was censured by the US House for that, now hes the perfect example of his party to replace Sen Diane Feinstein, who for 20 years employed a Chinese spy on her staff (CBS News 8/1/18).

Schiff is the poster person for the acceptance of crime as the norm. His appearance also exemplifies the decline of a city where the former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis husband was beaten with hammer by a man who lived in an abandoned school bus. This should warn us of what shifty Schiff and his party would accept as the norm for the entire nation.

Ralph Miller
By Kim Hyun-bin

Over 160 business leaders, government officials and diplomats from Korea and Poland gathered in Seoul for the Polish-Korean Business Forum, April 25.

Hosted by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the event aimed to bolster bilateral business relations and explore new avenues of cooperation, extending beyond traditional manufacturing sectors to include research and development.

The 2024 edition of the forum incorporated a broader spectrum of industries, facilitating discussions among business, political and scientific stakeholders from both nations.

"Korea and Poland enjoy excellent relations, exemplified by the significant presence of business and political representatives from both nations at today's forum," said Andrzej Dycha, chairman of PAIH.

"The Republic of Korea stands as one of Poland's foremost partners, being our largest Asian foreign investor. Korean investments have made substantial contributions to Poland's development, generating nearly 7.7 billion euros ($8.2 billion) in investment outlays and creating almost 30,000 new jobs over the past two decades."

Dignitaries including Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Development and Technology of Poland Jacek Tomczak and Commissioner of Invest Korea from KOTRA Kim Tae-hyung emphasized the pivotal role of Korean-Polish relations in fostering economic growth and innovation.

"Poland is the largest trade and investment partner of Korea in Central and Eastern Europe, while Korea ranks as the top non-European investor in Poland. Our cooperative relationship is poised to deepen further, particularly in high-tech sectors like clean energy, next-generation batteries and electric vehicles, positioning us as forward-looking partners," Kim said.

The seminar portion of the forum saw active participation from leading entities such as SK hynix, Wardynski & Partners, CRIDO, Colliers Poland, DZP, Tias, Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Over 50 B2B meetings were facilitated during the latter part of the event, fostering tangible collaborations between Korean and Polish businesses.

"In 2023, Poland and the Republic of Korea witnessed a trade turnover of approximately $10.1 billion, with Polish exports to Korea reaching $1.1 billion. This robust economic engagement is further underscored as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our nations," Anna Lagodzinska, head of PAIH's office in Seoul, said.

The enduring presence of Korean enterprises in Poland, including industry giants like LG and Samsung, underscores the depth of economic ties. LG's investment in a cutting-edge battery plant has positioned Poland as a global leader in lithium-ion battery exports, while Samsung's research and development center in Warsaw spearheads innovations in telecommunications and software development.

Polish exports to Korea have also surged, with products like pasteurized milk gaining popularity among Korean consumers. PAIH's unwavering support for Polish exporters and its initiatives, such as organizing trade-focused events and facilitating study visits for Korean importers, have further fueled this growth trajectory.
Sgt. Kevin Floyd, a devoted guardian of justice and a cherished member of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office family, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the age of 58. He leaves behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and selfless service that will forever be etched in the hearts of all who knew him.

Sgt. Floyd dedicated his life to protecting and serving his community. With unwavering dedication, he joined the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office retiring with 35 years of service, where he quickly distinguished himself as a leader of unparalleled valor and commitment. Throughout his distinguished career, Sgt. Floyd exemplified the true essence of law enforcement, embodying the values of honor, compassion, and professionalism in every aspect of his work. His steadfast devotion to duty, coupled with his innate ability to inspire those around him, earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and citizens alike.

Beyond his badge, Sgt. Floyd was a beloved husband to Kristie Floyd; father to Taylor Floyd (Jennifer), Ashley Holland (Chris), Josh DeYoung; stepson, Kody Cavanah (Staci); brother, Kent Floyd (Dianne); grandchildren, Hunter, Madison, Hadley, Rylee, Gage, Hanna and Kayson Holland; Allison Floyd; Olivia Posey; Braxton and Jackson Bedell; Tinsleigh, Maddix and Nora DeYoung; Hayden Cavanah. He was especially loved by his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Henry Floyd; mother, Ora Frances Floyd; brother, Larry Carter; sisters, Pam Phillips and Debbie Hayes; grandson, Dallas Holland.

His kindness, humor, and unwavering support brought joy and comfort to all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope in times of need, offering guidance and solace to those facing life's challenges. Sgt. Floyd's impact extended far beyond the confines of his profession. He was a devoted community advocate, tirelessly working to improve the lives of others and foster positive change within his beloved Hamilton County. His legacy of service will continue to inspire future generations to uphold the principles of justice, compassion, and unity.

Sgt. Kevin Floyd will be deeply missed by his loving family, friends, colleagues, and the countless lives he touched throughout his remarkable journey. Though he may be gone from our sight, his spirit will live on in the memories we hold dear and the lasting impact he made on our hearts.

A celebration of Sgt. Floyd's life will be held on Monday, April 29, from 4-8 p.m. and on Tuesday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Services will be on Tuesday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at Williamson and Sons Funeral Home in Soddy Daisy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Venmo to the Kevin Floyd Memorial @kcfloyd72 in Sgt. Floyd's honor.

May his soul rest in eternal peace, knowing that his legacy of service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.

Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379.
Ultrafast laser spectroscopy allows the ascertainment of dynamics over extremely short time scales, making it a very useful tool in many scientific and industrial applications. A major disadvantage is the considerable measuring time this technique usually requires, which often leads to lengthy acquisition times spanning minutes to hours. Researchers have developed a technique to speed up spectroscopic analysis. The results of the project led by Hanieh Fattahi, Research group leader at the Max-Planck-Institute of the Science of Light, in collaboration with industrial partners from Germany and France, were recently published in the Journal of Ultrafast Science.

Visual summary of compressed sensing of field-resolved molecular fingerprints. @ Hanieh Fattahi / MPL Reprint von DOI: 10.34133/ultrafastscience

Ultrashort pulses play a significant role in spectroscopic applications. Their broad spectral bandwidth enables simultaneous characterization of the sample at various frequencies, eliminating the need for repeated measurements or laser tuning. Moreover, their extreme temporal confinement allows for temporal isolation of the samples response from the main excitation pulse. This response, which carries comprehensive spectroscopic information lasts from tens of femtoseconds to nanoseconds (1015 to 109 seconds) and is commonly probed by a shorter pulse at various time delays. When merged with other techniques, such as multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy or hyperspectral imaging, ultrafast spectroscopy facilitates the identification of unknown constituents. However, the ambition of real-time measurements faces obstacles, primarily due to the extensive data recording required across the high bandwidth spectrum for each pixel, introducing considerable delays in data capture, extending processing time, and increasing data volume.

Researchers have developed a technique to speed up spectroscopic analysis. Kilian Scheffter, a doctoral student working with Hanieh Fattahi, head of the Femtosecond Fieldoscopy group at MPL explains: The response of molecules to ultrashort excitation pulses is typically sparse in many samples, which implies that the response occurs only at specific frequencies known as molecular fingerprints. By strategically randomizing the measurement points in time, an established approach called compressed sensing can efficiently reconstruct the signal by using fewer data points than the limit dictated by the Nyquist criterion. However, the main challenge has been to change the temporal overlap of the probe pulses and the femtosecond excitation pulses randomly. Collaborating with our partners in Germany and France, we've successfully employed acoustic waves to modulate this temporal overlap randomly. This innovation expands the application of compressed sensing to real-time spectroscopic measurement."
Have you ever had an undeniable connection with someone that you thought would last for a long timemaybe even forever?

But for some reason, its not enough to make the other person stick around. Theyre here today but gone tomorrow, seeming to have vanished without a trace.

TikToker Kristina (@kristinuhkay) is talking about how she was ghosted after an amazing date with an attractive Portuguese man. She had matched with him on a dating app.

They quickly bonded over how they were both very family-oriented and shared similar cultural values, so he asked for her phone number.

Before giving out her number, she checked him out on social media to make sure his identity lined up with who he said he was. Everything seemed to look normal, so they continued their conversation over text messaging.

They set up plans to meet at a bar near where Kristina lived. He even offered to drive her, but she declined, saying that she would get her own ride.

When she showed up, he was waiting for her outside. From the moment they were seated, they did not stop talking the whole time. They never ran out of anything to say to each other.

They stayed at the bar for so long that eventually, the lights turned on, and they were ushered out. Before they left, Kristina took her credit card out to pay for her drinks. Her date leaped over, grabbed her card, and put down his instead.

Then, he asked if he could give her a ride, and she agreed. On the way to his car, she noticed that the parking lot was completely empty and super dark. He had also parked in the back of the lot near the dumpsters.

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I dont know about you, but anytime I read news of an endangered animal species, I get depressed. It makes me incredibly anxious to see populations of beautiful animals dwindling because they cant keep up with todays complicated climate and habitat loss.

However, I take comfort in knowing some hardworking scientists strive to fix these situations and help bring the population of certain animals back up.

Recently, the science and animal-loving communities have rejoiced after hearing the news of the birth of two cloned black-footed ferrets, which are an endangered species.

The black-footed ferret is a fascinating animal, as it has been a part of some incredible science. In the 1980s, the species was thought to be extinct. However, in 1981, scientists came across a group of 18 in Wyoming and captured them in an effort to bring their population back up.

Some of the ferrets were kept to breed in captivity, and some of their offspring were released back into the wild in hopes they could increase their population on their own.

However, just to be safe, scientists froze cells from one of the female ferrets, Willa, and one of the males, in case cloning was a real possibility in the future.

In 2020, several organizations, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Revive & Restore, ViaGen Pets & Equine, Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, began working on cloning the black-footed ferrets using the cells from Willa. They were successful, leading to the birth of Elizabeth Ann.

Elizabeth Anns birth was extremely exciting, as her birth meant the black-footed ferret was the first endangered species in the U.S. to be successfully cloned.

Scientists cloned two more black-footed ferrets using the same cells to take this miraculous process a step further. In mid-April, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the birth of Elizabeth Anns twin sisters, Noreen and Antonia.

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Among Gen Zers, in particular, astrology has its appeal. The idea of the stars and planets aligning to determine earthly events provides a sense of comfort in a world filled with chaos.

However, belief in the power of the cosmos isnt just a modern-day trend. The sun, moon, stars, and planets have always been an important part of the religious and cultural values of the ancient Egyptians.

In the past, it was unclear what role the Milky Way played in their beliefs, but according to a new analysis, the galaxy may have served as a path to the underworld while also acting as a guide to birds during migration.

The latest study, conducted by an astrophysicist named Dr. Or Graur from the University of Portsmouth, examined the relationship between the Milky Way and the Egyptian sky goddess Nut.

Nut is often depicted as a woman studded with stars, arching over her brother, the Earth god Geb, to protect the Earth from being flooded.

Her main responsibility is to maintain the solar cycle, swallowing the sun in the evenings and giving birth to it each morning.

It is believed that Nut is positioned with her rear in the east and her head to the west. However, the Milky Way changes its location in the sky throughout the year, so the idea of Nut representing the galaxy was questionable.

After consulting numerous ancient Egyptian texts that were found in tombs, Graur identified depictions of Nut stretching her arms out at 45 degrees to her body.

The orientation of Nut allows her to align with the various positionings of the Milky Way over the course of the year, which means that it was likely the Milky Way was associated with the sky goddess.

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Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in protest both inside and outside the locked gates of the Columbia University campus in New York City.

Melissa Bender / AP Images

This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here.

As Columbia University and other elite campuses erupt into protests against the United States diplomatic and military support of Israels war against Hamas, US Sen. John Fetterman denounced the antisemitic speech of some of these protesters, remarking on the social platform X, Add some tiki torches and its Charlottesville for these Jewish students.

Whatever one thinks of Fettermans analogy or of the Israel-Hamas war, we would do well to listen to the common ring of the Charlottesville chant, You will not replace us! Jews will not replace us! with the one recorded this week on the Columbia campus: We have Zionists who have entered the camp!

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An observer might have asked in Charlottesville, What Jews are trying to replace you? The white nationalists there would no doubt have told such a person that a shadowy cabal was seeking to import immigrants, to commit white genocide. Just so, another observer might ask at Columbia, What Zionists have entered your camp? Israeli military forces? No. The Zionists in question are Jewish studentsone wearing a Star of Davidattempting to walk on campus.

At one level, the video of the students chanting seems almost farcical, like a parody out of an old episode of Portlandia. The leader yells out a sentence; the followers repeat it backeven to the point of repeating back, in unison, Repeat after me. Does that part really have to be repeated? Well, kind of; thats part of what happens in a chant. The message is not reasoned discourse. The rote nature of the repetition is the point. Its also the danger. In a mob, the individual is submerged into a collectivea collective usually reverberating with anger.

Campus protests are an essential part of a society that prizes free speech. Students have every right to make known their opinions that they disapprove of Israeli political or military policies in Gaza. Citizens of good will can, and should, simultaneously hold moral condemnation of Hamass terrorism, systemic rapes, and hostage-taking alongside moral concern that the lives of innocents in Gaza are protected from Israeli bombs, starvation, and Hamas itself.

Even speech that I would find morally repugnantthe whataboutism that waves away the atrocities of Hamas and Iran and their terrorist collaboratorsis, in a liberal democracy, free to be expressed. And, when others are threatened or harmed, a university has a responsibility to protect them.

Christians, though, ought to be especially attentive to whats happening to a society that increasingly seems, on the horseshoe extremes of the populist right and the activist left, to be driven toward the pull of the channeled rage of the mob.

Thats why we must listen to the chants. By this, I dont just mean that we should listen to the content of the chants, as important as that is. White nationalist mobs and Orbanist intellectualson social media or in real lifeparroting back talking points straight from Mein Kampf ought to alarm us.

So should masked leftist students shouting the same slogansFrom the river to the sea!used to justify not just opposition to Israeli policies but to the very existence of the Jewish state itself. The chants of an angry mob almost always seek a scapegoatand those scapegoats are almost always religious minorities.

Consider, for instance, the vitriolic rage with which some professing Christiansat city councils and town zoning boards all over the countrytreat Muslim Americans.

The talking points are usually taken right from the Know-Nothing rhetoric of a century before: Muslims cant assimilate into American culture; Islam is not a religion but a ruse to dominate and impose sharia law. Many such mobsonline and in real lifewove and disseminated bizarre conspiracy theories that the then-president of the United States, the first Black commander in chief in our history, was not a real American but was a Muslim, as though the two would be contradictory even if true.

Who was hurt in all of this? A lot of Muslim men and women and childrenincluding people so patriotic that they fought proudly for this country, and families so patriotic that they received American flags from the graves of their sons and daughters who died fighting to protect their country from terrorism.

As unspeakable as the damage to our Muslim neighbors was, they were not the only ones harmed. Everyone wasperhaps none more than those shouting the rage themselves.

My fellow Mississippi Baptist, the late comedian Jerry Clower, would often say that what convinced him of the moral bankruptcy of the Jim Crow segregationist regime he had always known was not the arguments of Martin Luther King Jr. or Fannie Lou Hamer or other civil rights leaders. Instead, what convinced him was watching a crowd of other white Mississippians in the streets of Jackson screaming about the presence of Black children in their schools.

Watching the red-faced rage of a man screaming racist epithets, Clower saw the kind of self-consuming wrath about which his Bible had warned him. The spell was broken. Just for a moment, he saw the crowds not as a mass of white Mississippians but as individual persons, as human beings, and he did not want to become what he saw.

Chants are powerful; thats why theyre used by human beings seeking to merge together as one. Like everything else, the power is precisely because they were created for good. Listen to a recording of Gregorian chants, for instance, to hear the beauty of a gathering of people whose voices blend together, no longer distinguishable as individuals but as something merged together as a whole.

When I lived in Louisville, Kentucky, I would sneak away to a Cistercian monastery an hours drive away to listen to the monks chant the Psalms together. I would calm down, reminded of what it was, as a child, to recite in unison, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I must have been the only visitor to Thomas Mertons monastery there to relive Southern Baptist Vacation Bible School.

Chantsof whatever kindresonate deeply with human nature because they are meant to join us together, to create a kind of hive mind in which we lose, for a moment, our sense of individuality, to become part of something together. The resonance of that kind of chanting is meant to take us to those emotions that are best expressed in that sort of hive: awe, wonder, worship. They are meant to break us from the preoccupation of the self.

If history has shown us anything, though, it is how dangerous it can be when a collective meant to channel awe becomes instead a channel of a much more uncontrollable emotionthat of anger. In those chants, the individual is lost not in a mass but a mob. The energy that lights up such a gathering is not shared smallness in the face of something or Someone greater but what the Bible calls the works of the flesh, the drive to idolize the tribe by delighting in the darkest, most violent aspects of our fallen human nature.

The biblical picture of a human being stands in contrast with both individualism and collectivism. We are created to be persons in communion. The apostle Paul used the metaphor of a collective body, with individual members who are distinguishable and unique but who belong to each other (1 Cor. 12:1227). And the apostle Peter used the metaphor of a building made up of individual, living stones (1 Pet. 2:45).

The mob is so dangerous because it taps into an artificial feeling of communion. But unlike the body of Christ, where the energizing principle is the mind of Christ, the mob is fueled by the frenzy of the limbic system. A mob is a place to hide from ones own moral accountability: I was just swept away. I was just following orders. The Christian moral vision, though, tells us that the consciences we try to quiet are right: We can sin togethersometimes in a number that no man can numberbut we stand at the judgment seat not tribe by tribe or mob by mob but one by one (Rom. 2:916).

The fallenness of mobs ought to remind us of what these mobs have fallen from. We are, indeed, created to join our voices in a chant: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev. 5:9). That song is to the Jew who, thanks be to God, re-placed us. And the narrow path to where that song is sung is a different one from this eras broad road of isolated persons and energized crowds.

To sing, we must say no to the slogans. To find love, we must say no to hate. To find community, we must say no to the mob.

Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project.
An Indian police officer and an Indian man walk on a bridge across Tiau river along the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram.

The government plans to close its porous border with Myanmar to boost security, separating ethnic groups that straddle the boundary.

Anupam Nath / AP Images

Ngamreichan Tuithung runs a Christian boarding school that sits right at the border of Indias Manipur state and Myanmar. Amazing Grace Mission School is based in Wanglee Market, a small Indian town, and serves around 150 students from Myanmar and 6 from India.

Since Myanmars 2021 coup, the school has become a safe haven for parents wanting to send their children away from the violence of the war raging on in Myanmar. To Tuithung, its an opportunity to share with students and parents about Gods love and how God is taking care of us.

For decades, some parents in Myanmar (also known as Burma) have been able to easily send their kids to school in India, thanks to a government policy that allows citizens of either country living within 10 miles of the border to freely enter the other country without a visa. Many tribal communities share ethnic ties, familial bonds, and a way of life transcending territorial boundaries. Tuithung, who is from the Naga ethnic group, grew up in India but has many relatives in Myanmar. Because of their close ties, he can speak Burmese and visits them often.

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However, all this will change as the Indian government proceeds with its decision to close the international border between India and Myanmar, which shares boundaries with four Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. Indias home minister Amit Shah says the action is needed to ensure the internal security and to maintain the demographic structure of northeastern India as the war in Myanmar continues. Plans include constructing a fence and implementing a surveillance system.

Tuithung believes that even with tightened borders, the government will provide a way for his students from Myanmar to continue attending his school, but he fears it would become more difficult for him to meet with his relatives or to buy goods from Myanmar.

Religiously, linguistically, and ethnically, India and Burma share a good relationship, Tuithung said. The same ethnic groups, like the Naga, stay in both Myanmar and India.  If this border fencing is coming, both of us will suffer, as [we are] the same family.

The move has sparked widespread outrage and exposed fissures within India's northeastern region, pitting the border states against each other and drawing intense opposition from tribal groups, political leaders, and civil society organizations who fear the consequences of severing their connections with kindred communities across the border.

While two state governmentsManipur and Arunachal Pradeshwelcome the decision that cites concerns of cross-border insurgency and illegal immigration, the Christian-majority states of Mizoram and Nagaland vehemently oppose the move.

Members of the tribal communities worry that the closure would separate families, hurt the local economy, and cut off a lifeline for people from Myanmar escaping war and violence. Christian workers along Indias border also believe it will impact their ministry, as many believers in Myanmar come to India for theological education and Indian missionaries enter Myanmar to teach. Of the 10 Christian leaders CT spoke with from the Mizo, Chin, Naga, and Kuki ethnic groups, nine opposed the border closure while one remained neutral.

The border closure is like a Berlin wall erected between us, said Chinkhengoupau Buansing, a pastor of the Evangelical Baptist Convention in Teikhang, a village in Mizoram near the border.

Concerns over the border closure

The controversy began in February when the Indian government announced its decision to scrap the decades-old Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed easy access for people living on either side of the India-Myanmar border. The FMR, introduced in the 1970s and last revised in 2016, facilitated social, economic, and cultural exchange between the communities, enabling them to maintain their deep-rooted ties despite the international boundary.

The Chin people in Myanmar, the Mizo of Mizoram, and the Kuki in Manipur share the same ancestors and inhabited the hill country in the borderland of India and Myanmar before the British divided the area into different countries in the 1890s.

We come from the same tribe, we have the same surname, we are cousins from the same family line, we speak the same dialect, look the same, have the same food habits, practice the same culture, and worship the same God, Buansing said.

Concerns of the border closures were raised this week after a gate guarded by Indian security forces at the Mizoram-Myanmar border stayed closed even after voting ended on April 21 for the Mizoram parliamentary seat.. Typically border gates are closed during elections to prevent any interference and then reopened afterwards. But this time, Indian border guards have kept it shut, citing an order from higher authorities. Residents in Mizoram fear that the government has already begun to revoke the FMR.

Border guards told locals that the gate would remain open until the end of the month only for medical emergencies, essential food, and medicine. Starting May 1, they intend to seal the border to prevent unauthorized cross-border activity.

Hemlaljudson Sonboy Lhungdim, a Christian leader from the town of Moreh in Manipur, said he did not support the closure because people have relatives on both the sides, and many have mixed marriages where one of the spouses is from Myanmar, he noted. They would not be able to go back even during Christmas to celebrate with their families and then come back.

Myanmars war spilling into India

Indias government officials say they are concerned that war in Myanmar could incite ethnic unrest in neighboring states. As Myanmars junta is busy fighting ethnic armed groups and civilian militias, the illegal drug trade and other criminal activities have skyrocketed in the country.

Home minister Shah noted at a recent election rally in Manipur that FMR has been misused to bring drugs into the country. He also claimed that intruders are coming in and conspiring to change the demography of the State, expressing fears that the porous border is contributing to the violence in Manipur that started last year between the predominantly Hindu Meiteis and the Christian Kuki.

Since last September, Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh has demanded barbed wire fencing along the border with Myanmar to stop Myanmar nationals from entering his state illegally. He had appealed to the central government to scrap the FMR agreement, claiming that extremists had been exploiting it to stoke ethnic violence in Manipur.

Many of the illegal arms used in the Manipur violence were smuggled from Myanmar and caused much harm to the people of Manipur, according to a source in Manipur who asked not to be named for security reasons.

Yet critics argue that this position is aimed to draw attention away from the government's internal security failures. The state government has been accused of fanning tensions to consolidate its Meitei support basea charge that it has denied.

However, the move to close the border has faced fierce opposition in Nagaland and Mizoram. In Nagaland, tribal organizations, Naga political factions, and civil society groups oppose the border closing. For chief angh Tonyei Konyak of Longwa Village, which lies directly on the border, it would divide not only his village, but even his own house into two separate countries. The Naga Students Federation, a majority Christian students group, has asked the UN secretary general to urge the Indian government to stop the program.

K. Vanlalvena, Mizorams sole representative in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, wrote a letter to Shah opposing the proposed removal of the FMR and called it a shocking and unfair development for the people living along the border in his state.

Cutting off a lifeline

The border closures impact would be felt most heavily by the Chin people in Myanmar, many of whom see India, especially the border towns, as a lifeline. While Chin people have long fought Myanmars military junta for greater autonomy, fighting has intensified in the past three years as the Chin were one of the first to resist the military after the coup. The military has bombed villages, destroyed churches, displaced nearly 50,000 people in Chin State, and placed seven of the nine townships under martial law..

Although Indias central government initially called for Mizoram to stop refugees from coming into the country, the Mizoram government and its people pushed back, providing shelter and aid to those crossing the border.

We call [the Chin] our brothers and sisters, said Mizo activist and theologian Lalrinawmi Ralte, who aids Chin refugees through the Zo Reunification Organization. Once they cross over the international boundary, they are safe here. They dont die of starvation.

Today about 32,000 Chin refugees live in Mizoram, along with 1,100 Kuki-Chin fleeing ethnic persecution in Bangladesh and 9,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Manipur, according to the Mizorams Home Department. Ralte noted that the government of Mizoram, local nonprofits, and residents have provided food, medicine, and other necessities to the refugees. Yet as the war in Myanmar dragged onnow in its third yearthe Mizo, many of whom are struggling financially themselves, have little left to give. Jobs for refugees are also few and far between, as many live in small villages.

With no help from the central government and political policies making it difficult for foreign groups to provide aid, Ralte said the work sometimes felt helpless. Now it will become even more difficult to help Chin across the border. Despite letters to the prime minister and protests in the streets against the border closing, nothing has changed.

Our people are not a wanted people, she said. [The government] only wants our land. Its very pathetic at this junction to be a minority in India; minorities are not safe.

Vanlalchhana, the head of Myanmar Refugees Relief Committee Mizoram and a Chin refugee who has lived in Mizoram for the past 25 years, is concerned that India will no longer be a safe haven for people fleeing the violence, as crossing the border would be illegal.

The closure would also block off communication between Chin refugees and their family members back in Chin State, he says. Because some regions of Chin State are completely controlled by Chin resistance fighters, refugees could sometimes go back to Myanmar to visit family. Refugees told Vanlalchhana (who goes by only one name) that they are worried that once the border is sealed, they will no longer be able to do that.

I think everything will be affected if they totally seal the border, because every day, morning and evening, people go back and forth across the border, he said. Itll be very difficult.

Christianity Today The India-Myanmar border

Peter Ngaidam, a Chin church leader now living in Norway and an activist in the Global Chin Christian Federation, noted that the border closure would severely impact Chin refugees in Mizorams ability to send aid, like rice and medicine, to IDPs who remain in Chin State. Many of 50,000 people living in IDP camps rely on supplies from churches across the border.

We are very sad about Indias central government approving to close the border; personally I do not agree with them, Ngaidam said. We have concerns for IDPs and families and churches in Chin State because we have only that way to support our families and coworkers who are suffering.

Still, leaders of the church told Ngaidam that even with the new policy, they will continue to provide for their families in Chin State even if it means crossing the border illegally.

Economic concerns

Many residents in the border states are concerned about the economic implications of the closure. India is Myanmar's fifth-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching $1.03 billion in 2021. The border closure could disrupt this economic relationship, as communities rely on the cross-border trade of products ranging from chemical compounds, machinery, and textiles from India to vegetables, wood products, and metals from Myanmar.

Lhungdim noted that in Moreh, the vegetables and rice on his dinner table are grown in Myanmar. In Moreh, we have no cultivation, he noted. All our groceries come from Myanmar. If the same came from [Manipurs cities of] Imphal or Churachandpur, the prices of the same commodities will be tremendously highbecause of the road tax and all the transportation cost and other taxes that would be included.

Because Myanmars currency is valued lower than Indias, those on the Indian side can get a good deal, and the sellers in Myanmar also get a fair price. Amid the war, many women, children, or older people from Myanmar rely on selling goods in India to support their families, said Onkho Haokip of Kuki Baptist Convention, who lives in Churachandpur, Manipurs second largest city.

If they are prohibited from crossing the border, where will they sell their stuff and sustain themselves? They will perish in poverty, Haokip said. My heart goes out for the community in Myanmar, for they are the major sufferers.

Effects on missions

Khinlakbou Ringkangmai, the founder of Doulos Institute of Theology and Missions, feels conflicted about the recent border announcement. A resident of Imphal, the capital of Manipur state, he says he can understand the governments reasoning that closing the border would provide greater security. Not all the people coming from Myanmar are good, Ringkanmai said. Some people are coming to India with bad intention; they came to Manipur and they join in insurgency and try to create problems.

Yet from a missions perspective, he added, the borders closure badly affects the spreading of Christianity in Manipur and Myanmar, as many Burmese students have gone to India  to get theological training. Once the borders close, theyll lose out on that opportunity. Many of the students dont have the money to get passports or visas and have been able to enter India through the FMR.

Currently Doulos has only 12 students, a drop from 30 last year, due to the violence in Manipur. Some of his students transferred to schools outside the state or returned to Myanmar.

Once the border is closed, I wont have any Burmese students for theological training, he said. Many Bible schools will have a decreasing number of students.

Mission groups operating along the border are also bracing for potential disruptions to their activities. Kuki Baptist Conventions Haokip stressed the importance of Indian missionaries going into Myanmar to meet with believers and help them in different capacities, which will not be possible once the borders are sealed.

The border is the gateway for our mission strategy, Haokip said. If the border is closed, our mission work is crippled. We were free to cross the border without visa, [to] go and share the gospel  stay there, and come back.
A defense cost-sharing agreement between Korea and the United States represents the allies' shared commitment to a "robust" security posture, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday following the first round of talks on the deal.

The two countries concluded the initial round of the negotiations in Honolulu on Thursday to determine how much Seoul should pay for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) under the deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), as the current six-year SMA is set to expire at the end of next year.

"The Special Measures Agreements reflect our shared commitment to a stable stationing environment for U.S. forces in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and a robust combined defense posture," Lieut. Col. Marty Meiners said in a statement, referring to South Korea by its official name.

"We appreciate all the Republic of Korea contributes to the U.S.-ROK Alliance, including but not limited to the SMA cost-sharing contributions," he added.

He also reiterated the importance of the bilateral alliance as the "linchpin of peace, security and prosperity for Northeast Asia, the broader Indo-Pacific and beyond."

"As we work to further strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance, our two countries will stand better prepared to engage with our other allies and partners across the world, not to meet yesterday's challenges, but those of today and tomorrow," he said.

The two sides exchanged their positions in principle, a Seoul official said in response to a media query on the outcome of the talks.

"South Korea and the U.S. plan to have consultations frequently in relation to the 12th SMA," the official said, adding that the schedule for the next round of talks has yet to be decided.

Ahead of the start of the negotiations, Washington said the U.S. seeks to pursue a "fair" and "equitable" outcome in the defense burden sharing talks with Seoul.

Lee Tae-woo, a senior diplomat and former consul general in Sydney, led the South Korean delegation in the SMA negotiations, while the U.S. delegation was headed by Linda Specht, a senior adviser and lead negotiator for security agreements at the State Department.

Since 1991, Seoul has partially shouldered costs under the SMA for Korean USFK workers; the construction of military installations, such as barracks, and training, educational, operational and communications facilities; and other logistical support. (Yonhap)
Home News Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns; UN official calls for more aid amid gang warfare

More than a month after announcing he would resign amid escalating gang violence, Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry formally submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday, as a senior United Nations official warned that the Caribbean nation is now facing its worst crisis since an earthquake in 2010 that killed more than 220,000 people.

I hereby acknowledge the state of affairs and present the resignation of my government, Henry wrote in a letter dated April 24, according to The Haitian Times. I sympathize with the losses and sufferings endured by our compatriots during this period.

Henry was stranded outside the country when he submitted his resignation due to gang attacks on the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. The New York Times said Henrys resignation letter had a Los Angeles address.

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A nine-member Transitional Presidential Council was sworn in Thursday and Michel Patrick Boisvert, a former Haitian minister of economy and finance, was named as acting prime minister. Boisvert, along with the council, will now have to work together to bring stability to Haiti, organize a presidential election and reform the Constitution.

Haiti became overrun by gang rule in the wake of the assassination of the country's then-President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

Moise was killed as he pursued an aggressive agenda that included rewriting the countrys Constitution, The New York Times reported. It was not a move that was supported by the United States or some local religious leaders. Critics feared that he was setting the country down a path toward authoritarian rule and threatened the nation's democracy.

Moise was reportedly pushing for a Constitution that would grant Haitis leader immunity for any actions taken while in office. Still, many Haitians felt a need for a new Constitution even if they were critical of Moise's proposal.

In recent weeks, conditions in Haiti have become so dire, scores of American missionaries, even some who have lived and done work there for many years, have been forced to evacuate.

Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Programme, told journalists on Thursday that about half the countrys population is now facing food insecurity.

Half the population  some 5 million people are acutely food insecure, Skau, who recently returned from the country, said.

He argued that in addition to political and security solutions for Haiti, there is also need for strong humanitarian aid.

What I saw on the ground is that this can be done, also at the center of the crisis, in Port-au-Prince. But that we need also to do more on resilience and development elsewhere to really try to break this vicious cycle, he said.

What we need is an emergency response in Port-au-Prince, but we can continue to do other kinds of support, including development support in the rest of the country.

In July 2023, the U.S. State Department re-issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Haiti, asking Americans not to travel to the Caribbean nation. The advisory also ordered all U.S. citizens and non-emergency government employees to leave as soon as possible.
Home News National Council of Churches launches Freedom Summer initiative to mobilize voters in 2024

The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA is launching a series of events known as "Freedom Summer," hoping to mobilize voters and observe the 60th anniversary of the original summer of civil rights activism.

In an announcement earlier this month, NCC, which has 37 member denominations, some of which lean theologically progressive, said that this year's Freedom Summer will begin on Juneteenth (June 19) and culminate at the Freedom Summit in Jackson, Mississippi, on Aug. 17.

Through the initiative, the NCC will offer a six-week virtual "Sunday School" that organizers say will "teach the principles of civic engagement, social justice, and the importance of voting rights from a faith-based perspective." The NCC will also appoint "freedom fellows" to help churches organize "engagement activities," which will include voter registration, community canvassing and phone and text banking.

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NCC will focus on registering voters in "five priority states"  Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi and North Carolina  and will conduct a Freedom Ride tour with stops in Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Durham, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; and Jackson, Mississippi.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, chair of NCC's Governing Board, said there are parallels between 1964 and the present day.

"The Freedom Summer of 1964 led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 making it possible for thousands of disenfranchised to vote. In 2013 the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act enabling new restrictions to the constitutional right to vote," stated Eaton.

"The Freedom Summer of 1964 turned deadly. The Freedom Summer of 2024 is still a matter of life and death. We dare not stand idle  too much is at stake.  We call upon all people of faith, our member communions, and partner organizations to mobilize for this movement."

Eaton said that as NCC supporters "follow in the footsteps of Freedom Summer 1964, let us educate, engage, and empower voters around the country to take part in the democratic process this upcoming election season."

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Shelby v. Holder to strike down a Voting Rights Act component requiring certain districts to get federal approval before making changes to their election rules.

While many progressives denounced the ruling, claiming it was still necessary to protect the right to vote, many conservatives argued that the measure no longer prevented discrimination.

"Times have changed, and the widespread, official discrimination that caused large disparities in black and white voter turnout have long since disappeared," wrote Roger Clegg and Hans von Spakovsky for National Review in July 2013.

"In fact, the Census Bureau reported that blacks voted at a higher rate than whites nationally by more than two percentage points. Black turnout is consistently higher in the formerly covered jurisdictions than in the rest of the nation."

NCC is not the only left-leaning Christian organization trying to mobilize voters in the months before the 2024 presidential election in November.

The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations is overseeing the Episcopal Election Activators program, which trains people in things like voter registration and education.

OGR Church Relations Officer Alan Yarborough told The Christian Post in a February interview that the program was originally launched in 2022 for the midterm elections.

"Through the program, we aim to motivate people to help their local churches serve their communities by promoting informed, respectful civic education and participation," said Yarborough.
Home News North Carolina pastor calls Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible 'blasphemous' in viral sermon Loran Livingston says voting isn't a 'spiritual responsibility'

A North Carolina pastor has gone viral after urging his congregants not to embrace the "God Bless the USA Bible" endorsed by former President Donald Trump, which includes documents central to the founding of the United States.

Pastor Loran Livingston of Central Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, condemned the "God Bless the USA Bible" in a sermon delivered on April 14. Clips of the sermon have been viewed millions of times after various users have shared them on social media in recent days.

During Holy Week, Trump endorsed the "God Bless the USA" Bible in a video posted to Truth Social last month. On sale for $59.99, the special edition Bible contains copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Pledge of Allegiance, along with the handwritten chorus to the Lee Greenwood song "God Bless the USA," which is frequently played at Trump's rallies.

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Livingston warned that "people that don't read [the Bible] and pray will get politics mixed up with church."

"Some of you bring politics into the Church," he lamented. "You think that politics is spiritual stuff."

Livingston pushed back on this notion, asserting that "politics is of this world." Directing a message to people who he said "bring politics into the Church," he told them, "You think it's your duty to be political about this, that and the other."

"No!" he exclaimed. "Your duty is to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."

Livingston urged the congregation not to tell him about his "spiritual responsibility to vote" because "I don't have a spiritual responsibility to vote." Instead, he characterized voting as a "civic privilege."

He maintained that the belief that voting is a "spiritual responsibility" stems from a failure to read the Bible.

"When you don't read and pray, you say, 'Wow, there's a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, isn't that wonderful?'" Livingston said. "No! It's disgusting, it's blasphemous, it's a ploy. Are you kidding me? Some of you are so encouraged by that?"

Livingston said, "the Gospel is not an American Gospel; it is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." He argued that it's inappropriate to place historical, foundational documents of the U.S. besides the word of God as the "God Bless the USA" Bible does.

He compared the U.S. Constitution's use of the phrase "of the people, by the people and for the people" and the repeated use of the term "the people" with the Bible's message of "of Him, by Him, through Him, to Him, from Him, are all things," suggesting that the dueling ideas were incompatible.

"If you glory in that kind of thing, you don't have a prayer life. If you glory in that kind of mess, political mess, you do not know what the word of God says," Livingston stressed. "This is not my home. This world is not my home."

"My real citizenship is in Heaven, from which we look for the Lord Jesus Christ, who's going to change our vile body that it may be made ... onto His glorious body," he added.

Trump made headlines and sparked mixed reactions from Christians after he appeared in a video saying, "This Bible is a reminder that the biggest thing we have to bring back America and to make America great again is our religion."

The former president suggested that the presence of the founding documents alongside the Bible was a good way to draw attention to the influence of Judeo-Christian teachings on America's founding documents. He also encouraged his supporters to read the Bible, suggesting that many of the problems engulfing the U.S. stem from the fact that "we've lost religion in this country."

Livingston is not the first religious figure to express concern about the "God Bless the USA Bible."

Andrew Walker, an ethics and public policy professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, wrote an op-ed insisting that "fusing America's founding documents with the Word of God is a syncretistic expression of civil religion that goes farther than what those who love their country  and, more importantly, for those who love their Bibles  should ever allow."

"To put matters bluntly, a Bible like this should never have been made," he added. "That is not because I'm anti-Bible or anti-Constitution. Actually, I am very much in favor of both. They fuel both my heavenly citizenship and my earthly citizenship. But fusing the two in the name of religious-civic identity can quickly become a form of identity politics for the political right."

Tony Perkins, president of the Washington-based Christian conservative advocacy organization Family Research Council, told The Christian Post in a statement that he's OK with Trump's promotion of the Bible if it encourages someone to read it.

"The truths of the Bible transform lives," Perkins said. "A daily dose of the Bible is the best anti-anxiety medicine you will find."

The Trump campaign is not making money from the Bible as it is "not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates," according to the Bible's website.

"GodBlessTheUSABible.com uses Donald J Trump's name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms," the site states.
Home News Pastor accused of blasphemy after sermon comparing tithing, alms-giving

Muslim leaders have filed complaints of blasphemy against a leading Christian pastor in Indonesia.

After Pastor Gilbert Lumoindong of the Indonesia Bethel Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, GBI) mentioned Islamic prayer and alms-giving in comparison with biblical tithing in a video of his comments from a Sunday sermon, attorney Farhat Abbas reportedly filed a complaint with Metro Jaya Police Headquarters in Jakarta on April 16 accusing him of disparaging Islam.

About 1,145 miles (1,842 kilometers) from Jakarta in eastern Indonesia, two attorneys under the leadership of South Sulawesi Arimathea Forum head Jumzar Rahman filed a complaint at South Celebes Regional Police Headquarters in Makasar, South Celebes, also claiming Pastor Gilbert blasphemed against Islam.

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The video hurts us  we Muslims feel offended, Rahman said, flanked by the two Muslim attorneys, according to suarasulsel.id. How can he make comments on this matter that seem to make fun of Islamic shariah [Islamic law], something we believe?

Another complaint against Pastor Gilbert was filed at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters last Friday by Sapto Wibowo on behalf of the Jakarta Capital Special Region (Daerah Khusus Ibukota, DKI) Youth Committee organization, according to suara.com.

Sapto termed Pastor Gilberts comments as hate speech under Article 28 of the Information Technology and Electronic Bill (Undang-undang Informasi Teknologi and Elektronik, UU ITE). Sapto said Pastor Gilberts apology was not enough, and that legal action was needed as a deterrent to future incidents.

As a Muslim, I believe in forgiveness but also think that a deterrent effect on Gilbert Lumoindong could serve as a lesson for the public to be more careful when discussing religious matters, he reportedly said.

Pastor Gilbert reportedly spoke in his sermon about the Islamic zakat, the 2.5% of income that Muslims who earn enough are required to contribute to charity. He has since apologized, saying he had no intention of insulting Muslims, and that Muslims edited the video in an irresponsible way to render his comments offensive.

Wira Satya Triputra of Metro Jaya Police Headquarters told media that following Abbass complaint, officers were questioning witnesses, according to Kompas.com. Wira said police must examine evidence in the media and check places of worship.

Following the complaints, Pastor Gilbert visited with former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, head of the Indonesian Mosque Council (Dewan Masjid Indonesia, DMI), a nationwide organization of mosque leaders, and apologized, suarasulsel.id reported.

I humbly apologize for the commotion that occurred, Pastor Gilbert told the press at Jusufs residence in Jakarta, on April 16.

He also visited the office of the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI). Cholil Nafis of the MUI said his organization accepted his apology after hearing Pastor Gilberts explanation and heartfelt apology, according to the MUI official website, mui.or.id.

Gilbert Lumoindong said that he had no intention of insulting Islamic teachings, let alone creating divisions, Cholil said after the meeting with the pastor on April 16. We as religious people certainly accept his apology. We all forgive as we ask that this incident be a lesson for him and all of us.

Indonesia ranked 42nd on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Home News Real Life Ministries mourn as police confirm Pastor Gene Jacobs died of self-inflicted gunshot wound

Pastor Gene Jacobs of Real Life Ministries Silver Valley, who was found dead in a mountainous area south of Pinehurst, Idaho, on Tuesday evening, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, local police said as his church continues to mourn their loss.

This is a huge loss to our congregation. We are doing our best to be the church that Jesus has called us to be. That means ministering to the needs of our congregation and the community. This is also a very difficult time for the Jacobs family. Your grace in giving them time and space to heal is appreciated, Real Life Ministries Silver Valley said in a statement on Facebook Wednesday.

While the church noted that an investigation into the pastors passing was ongoing, a statement released by the Pinehurst Police Department late Wednesday evening made it clear that investigators had no reason to suspect foul play in the pastors death.

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Initial indication is that Pastor Gene Jacobs died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Based on the investigation and evidence so far, there is no reason to suspect foul play, but to ensure a complete investigation, an autopsy is scheduled, the Pinehurst Police Department said in a statement on its Facebook page.

The statement explained that Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter was contacted by members of the church at about 8:05 a.m. Thursday and told that they could not find Jacobs. Church elders said the pastor had a 6 a.m. meeting scheduled at the church and when he failed to show up, they called and texted him, but the pastor did not respond.

When the elders tried calling the pastor at home after the meeting, his wife told them that he had left home on foot earlier. Police say video footage from a neighbors security camera shows Jacobs leaving home around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

He was on foot, which was normal. A canvas of residential doorbell cameras and businesses with cameras was conducted along his normal route to church and beyond. There was no other video footage of Pastor Gene after he left home, and the video did not indicate a direction of travel other than north from his residence, investigators said.

Richter then requested help from Shoshone County Sheriff Holly Lindsey to find the pastor. They tried to review cell phone data to locate Jacobs, but the pastors phone company suggested that he might have turned off the telephone. Potential threats suggesting the possibility of an abduction were also reviewed but that was abandoned as investigators found his water bottle along a trail he was known to frequent.

About 40 people with the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office and Pinehurst Police searched for Jacobs on foot, dirt bikes and by air.

It was at approximately 6 p.m. that Two Bear Air located Pastor Gene in a location off the trail and unsearched by teams on foot due to the remote, steep, and wooded location. All foot teams were called down off the mountain at that time, investigators said. A recovery team responded to the location and found Pastor Gene deceased. His body was safely removed from the location and turned over to the Shoshone County Coroner and Shoshone Funeral Home.

Jacobs served as the lead pastor and an elder at Real Life Ministries Silver Valley since the church was planted in 2007, according to the church website. A native of Western Washington, Jacobs also served in the U.S. Navy and attended Boise Bible College. He was married with two adult children.

Real Life Ministries Silver Valley, which is part of the multi-campus Real Life Ministries megachurch led by founder and senior pastor Jim Putman, said they will be offering grief counseling services for individuals affected by the pastors passing.

We will not have our normal service on Thursday evening but will offer an opportunity to pray, grieve and work with from 6 to 8PM, the church said. Sunday services will be at 9 and 11 AM but will be facilitated by our brothers and sisters from Real Life Ministries in Post Falls.
Home News Arise Shine Conference nixes Jeremy Riddle over spiritual abuse allegations

Radiant Church, host of the two-day Arise Shine Conference for pastors and leaders set for Kalamazoo, Michigan, next month, has scratched worship musician Jeremy Riddle from the annual event's lineup as he faces spiritual abuse allegations from his time at Dwelling Place Anaheim.

"After a discussion between Jeremy and Katie Riddle and Radiant Church along with prayerful consideration, it has been decided that Riddle will not be joining us at the Arise Shine Conference this year," Radiant Church said in a statement on the conference's website and Instagram page Tuesday.

Radiant Church didn't disclose why Riddle would not be a featured act for the May 67 event but appears to suggest he would become a distraction.

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"We are excited about what God has planned for this conference and we want that to remain the focus. Keep all involved in the situation at Dwelling Place in your prayers. Please also join us in praying for Arise Shine and the lives that God will impact through this event."

Riddle was previously a worship pastor at Dwelling Place Anaheim, formerly Vineyard Anaheim in California. He resigned in January after the Riddles and the church's lead pastor, Alan Scott, were accused of spiritual and leadership abuse.

Riddle's former drummer at the Dwelling Place Anaheim, Noah DeBolt, claimed in a video posted on YouTube almost a year ago that he and his wife were spiritually abused by the Riddles.

"The reason you guys haven't heard from me in over a year is because I have been spiritually abused by Jeremy and Katie Riddle and Alan and Kathryn Scott. I went from being a full-time professional drummer to being deeply traumatized, depressed, barely able to eat or sleep or go outside or take a shower," DeBolt said.

"If you aren't aware of what spiritual abuse is, it's a form of psychological and emotional abuse usually characterized by manipulation, forced conformity, obedience to abusive leaders who have a divine role. Sadly, my story is not unique at all. There are dozens of other victims, including my wife, who have been violated and abused by these leaders, who do so in the name of God."

Former Dwelling Place Anaheim Pastor Cynthia Andrews said in a statement on X that she went to Riddle "in tears" about how Scott had spiritually abused her. She claims he dismissed her concerns.

"[Riddle] dismissed my concerns about spiritual abuse, describing Alan as apostolic and prophetic, and suggested that enduring such treatment was the price for revival," she said.

In a statement on X last Friday, DeBolt said he had asked Radiant Church leaders in private not to include Riddle at the conference, but they declined, so he went public with his request.

"I privately asked @Calebculver & @leemcummings to reconsider hosting Jeremy Riddle as a speaker/worship leader at their upcoming church conference. They declined. So I wanted to ask publicly. Jeremy has manipulated & abused many under his care and has yet to repent," DeBolt said.

"Their defense to me was that hosting Jeremy would give them an opportunity to hear about Jeremy's examination process' 1-on-1," he explained. "When I asked why they needed to pay him an honorarium and give him a platform just to hear about this process, I didn't hear back."
Home News Arizona House repeals near-total abortion ban; advocacy groups react

The Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill that would repeal the state's near-total resriction on abortion amid a divided government and an upcoming referendum that could establish a right to abortion in the state.

The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives approved House Bill 2677 in a 32-28 vote Wednesday. Three Republicans joined all Democrats to vote in favor of the measure, which would repeal the state's abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court earlier this month if enacted.

The measure must still pass the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate before it can go to the desk of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has described the bill as the "right thing" in a statement condemning the legislature's previous failures to repeal the legislation.

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If passed, the 15-week abortion restriction enacted in 2022 would replace the near-total abortion prohibition as the law of the land in Arizona. Voters in the state are slated to weigh in on a ballot measure that would establish a constitutional right to abortion if passed.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national pro-life activist group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, weighed in on the developments in Arizona in a statement Wednesday.

"We mourn for the loss of the children who would have been protected, and the mothers who would have received life-affirming help to address their holistic needs, under Arizona's strongest pro-life law," she said.

"After months of confusion, the people of Arizona will soon have clarity on the state's abortion laws: a 15-week abortion ban for the unborn who can feel excruciating pain, with exceptions for life of the mother, rape, and incest," Dannenfelser added. "Between now and November, the far Left and pro-abortion forces will spend tens of millions of dollars to muddy the waters, fearmonger, and sow confusion to advance an extreme abortion agenda."

"Their goal is to repeal Arizona's 15-week abortion law and replace it with a constitutional amendment that would allow unlimited painful late-term abortions in the fifth, sixth, seventh month of pregnancy and beyond," she added.

Dannenfelser called on Republican candidates at the state and federal level to campaign "vigorously in support of Arizona's 15-week protection with exceptions and in opposition to the extreme no-limits abortion amendment."

The liberal legal group ACLU of Arizona said in a statement Wednesday that the repeal of the law "is long overdue."

"[W]e look forward to a full repeal that puts an end to this harmful and dangerous ban," the group stated. "Arizonans deserve to have access to the healthcare they need, when they need it."

ACLU of Arizona supports the effort to establish a constitutional right to abortion in Arizona. If approved by voters, Arizona will join four other states in passing a referendum to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling determining that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion.

Voters in California, Michigan and Vermont approved such measures in 2022, while Ohio followed suit last year.

Following the Dobbs decision, several states implemented laws banning abortions in nearly all cases or restricting them to the earliest weeks of pregnancy.

Other states that prohibit abortions in almost all cases are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Arizona had sought to enact its near-total ban on abortion, but court rulings prevented the state from doing so until earlier this month.
Home News Catholic AI chatbot used by over 180K people to ensure fidelity to Church teaching

An artificial intelligence chatbot program aimed at helping people learn more about the Roman Catholic Church teachings is being used by over 180,000 people across 165 countries.

Magisterium AI was launched last July and seeks to answer questions people have about Catholic teaching by drawing from thousands of Catholic documents.

Matthew Harvey Sanders, founder and CEO of Longbeard, the technology company that helped build Magisterium AI, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the "market response" to the bot program "has been very encouraging."

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"Within six weeks, Magisterium AI was being used in over 150 countries. That number has now grown to 165 countries," he explained. "Over 180,000 people from around the world are using Magisterium AI."

"Users range from bishops to high school students. User growth continues to be steady. And in recent months, we have seen an acceleration. All this growth has been organic or through earned media."

Sanders believes AI programming "has the potential to be one of the greatest boons for the Church since the printing press" and can "eventually help us level up our spiritual lives."

Nevertheless, Sanders cautions that "an AI system that is not specifically built to ensure fidelity to church teaching could cause significant harm."

"When ChatGPT launched, we became aware that Catholics were using it to answer questions on church teaching," he noted. "Given the system's high likelihood to hallucinate and its lack of transparency as to what documents it references in generating responses, we felt we had to act."

"So, we investigated if it would be possible to build an AI system that ensured greater fidelity to Church teaching and fortunately, with some hard work, we discovered it was indeed possible."

Sanders said that developing Magisterium AI and its sister program, Vulgate AI, was a "challenge" that has been "very rewarding," noting that it is "immensely motivating witnessing Magisterium AI's development progress from launch to today."

"We launched Magisterium AI with a knowledge base of over 600 of the most important magisterial documents. The knowledge base has now grown to well over 8,000 documents," Sanders said.

"Everything from church council documents to the Bible, the works of the Church Fathers, etc. With Vulgate, we now have the ability to digitize libraries at scale."

Sanders' company is working on a pilot program with the Pontifical Oriental Institute and Salesian Pontifical University to help digitally preserve important library items, which will eventually be available via Magisterium AI.

The AI program has been well-received within the Catholic Church, having recently been endorsed by Bishop John Arnold from the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

"It has the technical ability to give you exactly what you're looking for in an instant, instead of wondering through a library and looking through thousands of pages, hoping that what you want is in a particular volume," said Arnold in a statement released earlier this month.

"It's not changing learning, and it's not dictating anything that hasn't been approved as being Magisterium of the Church. It's simply keeping in a store, in an enormous bank with wonderful search facilities, what the teaching of the Church is and how that applies to us. That's a real asset, but it's not intelligence."

The use of AI in a Christian context has drawn mixed reactions. A Barna Group study last November found that 51% of respondents disagreed with the idea that "AI is good for the Christian Church," while 22% said they agreed and 27% said they did not know.

Regarding concerns Christians may have with AI, Sanders told CP that, as with any tool or instrument, AI "could be used to build the world up or tear it down."

"AI is already changing our world, and I am concerned that not enough is being done to mitigate its downside," he replied. "Despite the challenges ahead posed by AI disruption, it's important we always remember AI is a tool."

"As such, we have to decide as a Church if we are going to use this tool to spread the Gospel or leave it on the table. In the same way, the Church moved swiftly to embrace the printing press, I foresee the Church will inevitably embrace AI."
Home News Inspector general report shows FBI's 'totally irresponsible' behavior, Catholic League says

A Catholic civil rights advocacy group is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to continue probing the FBI's actions after a report cleared the agency of wrongdoing when it circulated a memo on the relationship between "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

In a Wednesday letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights President Bill Donohue reacted to the recently released U.S. Department of Justice inspector general's report.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded that the FBI did not commit any wrongdoing or demonstrate particular hostility toward Catholics in a January 2023 Richmond Field Office memo warning about connections between "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

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"While he satisfied some of our concerns, serious issues remain," Donohue wrote. "While there was no evidence of malice, it was determined that the probe of Catholics' lacked sufficient evidence' to establish a relationship between the aforementioned extremists and RTC ideology."

Donohue addressed the report's analysis of FBI analysts as having "incorrectly conflated the subjects' religious views with their RMVE activities."

"This begs the question: Why did the Analysts think there was a relationship in the first place?" Donohue asked. "It is one thing to concede that there are racial and ethnic extremists in every religious and secular organization; it is quite another to assume a nexus between a mainstream religious organization and violence, especially when the grounds for making such an assumption are spurious."

Donohue expressed concern that the effort to start a probe on traditionalist Catholics was "based on one person, namely Defendant A."

The defendant was already on the FBI's radar for making concerning and threatening social media posts "advocating civil war and the murder of politicians."

The defendant spent time in jail on unrelated charges, and the FBI continued to monitor him after his release, where he made social media posts containing "Nazi symbols and rhetoric, as well as posts advocating killing police officers, 'ganging up on and beating' racial and religious minorities, [and] conducting a mass shooting at a school for special needs children."

In January 2022, the defendant began attending a church "associated with an international religious society that advocates traditional Catholic theology and liturgy but is not considered by the Vatican to be in full communion with the Catholic Church."

"That he is clearly a violent, bigoted thug  he hates everyone from Jews to cops  is uncontested. But where are the others? There isn't even a Defendant B," Donohue wrote.

Citing the conclusion that "'there was no evidence that Defendant A was being radicalized' at the church he attended, and that 'he had been on the radar 'as an unstable, dangerous individual' before 'any association with any Catholic related entity whatsoever,'" Donohue asked, "why was it necessary to investigate his fellow churchgoers?" He also questioned, "Since when does the FBI conduct an investigation of a world religion on the basis of one miscreant whom they admit was not radicalized by it?"

"To make matters worse, the report says that when those who attended church with Defendant A were questioned about him, they confessed that he 'displayed 'unusual' and 'concerning' behavior.' In fact, the report does not note a single person who attended church with him who found him persuasive  they knew he was odd. Thus does the admission undercut the rationale for a further probe of Catholics," Donohue asserted.

Donohue questioned the "totally irresponsible" judgment of the FBI analysts who proposed an investigation into relationships between "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

"Analyst 1 voiced the opinion that the probe had a 'national application'" while "Analyst 2 admitted that she was 'going to take a look at other RMVE actors that are rad-trads' (radical traditionalists)," Donohue stated.

"To top things off, the FBI HQ Analyst said she was 'really interested in this resurgence of interest in the [C]atholic [C]hurch from our [DVEs]. The latter refers to Domestic [Violent] Extremists. What occasioned this 'resurgence of interest' in the Catholic Church? Was it something that someone did? Or does this reflect the ideological predilections of the Analyst? Notice she wasn't referring to a 'resurgence of interest' in breakaway Catholic entities. She was referring to the Roman Catholic Church."

Donohue believes that there are "many issues left outstanding" and questioned the existence of a "cover-up." He wants Jordan to seek a "much more detailed response" from the FBI than what the Horowitz report affords, saying the Catholic Church is subject to "scrutiny by the FBI because of the beliefs and behavior of one maladjusted individual."

The inspector general's report defended the FBI's actions as an attempt to be proactive and look out for the safety of members of the church he attended, who "may not understand, or know what to do with someone of his caliber or  his mindset." One of the analysts described the notion that the agency was motivated by anti-Catholic bias as "patently false."
Home News Ex-porn star who found Jesus urges Kanye West not to start porn site: Yeezy Porn

Ex-porn star Brittni De La Mora, who became a Christian after her life was radically changed by Jesus, took to X this week to warn Kanye West not to start a pornography studio that he plans to call Yeezy Porn.

On Tuesday, De La Mora shared how she was shocked and heartbroken over recent headlines detailing how the Grammy Award-winning rapper, who changed his name to Ye, is planning to start his own porn website working with adult film industry producer Mike Moz  who is the ex-husband of porn star and stripper Stormy Daniels.

No, not this news, Kanye. I cant believe what I just read. The news says that Kanye is going to start an adult website, and he is working with Mike Moz, who I actually know personally because I was in the adult film industry for seven years of my life. He worked for LA direct models, which is a whole other layer of things that I am happy to share with you in a full-length video on my YouTube channel, said De La Mora in an April 23 X post.

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De La Mora told West in her video that addiction is never the answer to finding life fulfillment, but Jesus is.

I just want to say, I am so heartbroken. Kanye, I have a quote that I did a reel on that you said a couple of years ago, where you said, Porn has torn apart my family, but Jesus will heal it. Kanye, this is not the way to go back and forth. Its just like addiction. You recognize that its bad, and then, all of a sudden, you go back right to it, De La Mora warned.

Only a dog returns to its vomit. Kanye, if you want to follow Jesus, follow Jesus. Dont go backwards. Darkness has nothing to offer you, she insisted, referring to Kanyes shared history of his past struggle with watching porn.

If West moves forward with the decision to create his own porn website, De La Mora said, he is likely to further open the door to the demonic realm in his life.

You are going to regret this decision, she said. Dont chase money. Kanye, chase Jesus. Its not worth it. Trust me. I have gone down that path. It is not worth it. Its time to backpedal a little, Kanye, and get back to the Lord. Come on. Jesus is King. Dont forget that.

In previous years, West garnered attention and headlines for his comments about Jesus and Christianity. Many Christians celebrated him after the release of his Jesus is King album in 2019. He also spent over $50 million performing "Sunday Service" events across the country, which he once said was an effort to spread the Gospel.

In recent years, West has garnered controversy after making a series of antisemitic comments that plagued his reputation.

In an interview posted on YouTube a month ago, the rapper admitted that he has "issues with Jesus" and would rather take things into his "own hands" instead of giving Jesus full control.

West and fellow rapper Ty Dolla $ign, a collaborating artist on his latest album Vultures 1, appeared for the interview with radio personality Big Boy, which was shared on the Big Boy TV YouTube channel.

"I have my issues with Jesus," West said during the interview, which lasted for over an hour. "There's a lot of stuff I went through, and I prayed, and I ain't see Jesus show up.

"I had to put my experience in this world, my experience with my children, my experience with other people, my experience with my account, my experience with my brand and my experience with the level of music that I was dealing with, in my own hands."

West added some criticism in his remarks directed at American Christians whom he said are not being proactive enough when given opportunities to help others.

"I just feel like in our society and America, people, Christians, will depend on Jesus so much that we don't put the work in ourself. And the main thing that I don't rock with is like, 'I'm going to pray for you.' It's just like, you can actually physically do something yourself, too, more than just praying," West said.

"And we're so in this mentality that that's all that needs to happen. But we aren't praying our way out of prison. We aren't praying our way out of the abortion clinics. We aren't praying our way to get our land back that was always ours after gentrification, after the Harlem Renaissance and Black Wall Street was burned to the ground. Them prayers are not working."

In the interview, the rapper added that physical action taken is key to making things happen.

"We are going to have to apply actual physical building partnerships, and it don't [sic] start unless we could really be real with each other," he said at the time.

"You know how many threats we've been dealt with. And I haven't prayed my way through them [sic] threats either. I had to get up and do it myself. I had so much to do I haven't have [sic] time to pray."

As the interview came to a close, West claimed that he is God over himself.

Cause I'm God," he declared when asked about his success in the music industry and how he hasn't "disappeared."

"And anyone who wants to disagree, I'm the God of me. You can't tell me who I am. I can't tell y'all. I could tell y'all. It's your job to listen. I'm the God of me. I don't know if I'm in heaven already."
Police on Friday conducted an additional raid on Lim Hyun-taek, the president-elect of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), who is accused of having instigated collective resignations by junior doctors.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it additionally seized Lim's mobile phone and sent investigators to his office in western Seoul and his residence in Asan of the central province of South Chungcheong.

The police agency seized Lim's phone in their previous raid in March, but it was confirmed to have been used by him in the past.

Lim has been under a police probe after the Ministry of Health and Welfare filed a complaint alleging he violated the medical law by inciting collective actions by trainee doctors opposed to the government's plan to sharply increase medical school admissions.

Over 90 percent of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors went on strike in late February to protest the planned increase in medical school admissions. (Yonhap)
Home News Martin Scorsese's new Jesus film might feature 'Spider-Man' actor Andrew Garfield

Martin Scorsese's new Jesus film might feature actor Andrew Garfield, who gained international recognition for his performance as Spider-Man in multiple films.

Scorsese plans to create an adaptation of Shusaku Endos 1973 book A Life of Jesus, which might include a role for Garfield, according to Variety.

The director hasn't revealed whether Garfield would play Jesus, one of his disciples or another character.

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This wont be the first time Garfield and Scorsese have worked together for an adaptation collaboration, as the two teamed together for the 2016 movie "Silence," in which he played a Jesuit missionary in Japan.

In a 2017 interview with Relevant, Garfield detailed how he got ready to play the role by studying the Bible and meeting with priests to better grasp what it was like.

What was really easy was falling in love with this person, was falling in love with Jesus Christ. That was the most surprising thing, Garfield shared at the time.

Scorsese noted that Miles Teller might make it in a role for the adaptation. The director hasnt revealed if both actors will star in the film or if only one will make the cut.

Production for the new Jesus film is scheduled to start later this year.

Im contemplating it right now, the director said at the Berlin Film Festival, Deadline reported in February. What kind of film Im not quite sure, but I want to make something unique and different that could be thought-provoking, and I hope also entertaining. Im not quite sure yet how to go about it.

Garfield revealed in 2022 that he's drawn to films that deal with faith and spirituality.

Questions of faith and spirituality, and the mystery of a spiritual life, is what Im drawn to the most, Garfield told Vanity Fair. If I wasnt an actor, I think Id be doing some kind of theological study, and Dustin [Lance Black's] adaptation is that. He presents a study and a set of circumstances and unpicks the notion of fundamentalism and extremism, and how it undermines the virtues and the goodness that can come from having faith."

In the past, Garfield has been open about feeling mostly confused about what to believe when it comes to faith.

In 2016, he told The Hollywood Reporter, Im not a Christian person. I consider myself pantheist, agnostic, occasionally atheist, and a little bit Jewish, but mostly confused.

In a 2022 interview with Collider, the actor revealed that his motivation for portraying characters with faith storylines comes from a fascination with life and death.

Life and death is everything, he said. The finite nature of being here and then suddenly dying is what intrigues him.

For me, its a very fertile ground that is endlessly interesting, he added. Because if youre dealing with spirituality, youre dealing with faith, then youre really dealing with life and death. And whats more vital? Whats a greater question?
Home News New poll sheds light on Southern Baptists' views on Christian nationalism

Most Southern Baptists maintain a firm commitment to religious liberty for all Americans and support a government that doesn't favor any specific religion, putting them at odds with Christian nationalism, according to a recent study.

Lifeway Research released the findings of a poll last week on the subject of Christian nationalism, which was sponsored by the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, named in honor of Dr. Richard Land, who served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, where he was also honored as President Emeritus. Land also serves as executive editor of The Christian Post.

The survey found that, among Southern Baptists, 58% of churchgoers and 62% of leaders say the government should not favor any specific religion, while about a third of church members (36%) and leaders (33%) believe the government should favor Christianity.

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The survey also found that 95% of key leaders and 92% of churchgoers affirm that "religious liberty should apply to all persons and religions." Additionally, 66% of church members and 75% of leaders do not believe religious liberty should advance the Christian faith exclusively, and 81% of churchgoers and 85% of leaders agree the government should not give one religion preference over another.

Asked in several different ways, large numbers of Southern Baptists consistently want religious liberty to encompass all religions and desire space for differing opinions on religion among Americans, said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, as quoted in the report.

This likely is less altruistic and more pragmatic, reflecting numerous historic governments that tried to establish Christianity with less than desirable results.

The study drew from a survey of 500 self-identified Southern Baptist churchgoers conducted Jan. 3-12, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points. Also, 507 individuals in key leadership positions at Southern Baptist churches were surveyed Jan. 9 to Feb. 9, excluding senior pastors.

These findings reinforce that Baptists in our pews generally hold historic Baptist beliefs about the role of the church and the state, said Dan Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement, as quoted in the Lifeway report.

Baptists desire robust engagement in the public square and strongly believe in a free church in a free state. This research should inform the discussions surrounding Southern Baptists, especially in a political season.

The survey also found that Southern Baptist churchgoers are divided over whether Christianity deserves special privileges due to the religions role in United States history. While more than 90% acknowledge Christianitys influence on the founding of the nation, 51% disagree with the idea of Christianity receiving special privileges, while 38% agree.

In recent times, there has been a great deal of debate over what constitutes Christian nationalism and how harmful the ideology might be to freedom in the U.S.

Some link Christian nationalism to the 1970s and '80s Religious Right movement and recent events like the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Scholars and religious leaders have provided varying definitions of the term, ranging from the belief that the U.S. is and should be a Christian nation to the idea that it uses the Bible to impose a conservative political agenda.

In March, Pastor John MacArthur of the nondenominational Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, denounced Christian nationalism as an attempt to usher in the Kingdom of God on Earth through political means.

There is no such thing as Christian nationalism, MacArthur said. The Kingdom of God is not of this world. Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight. His Kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of this world is a separate world. Theyre not linked together.

MacArthur clarified that Christians should still care about their nations political landscape and vote for righteous leaders when possible. He urged Christians to avoid electing leaders who support abortion or the LGBT movement, but acknowledged that finding candidates who align with Christian values can be challenging.

Land, president emeritus of Southern Evangelical Seminary, has highlighted the importance of not allowing the term to be used to undermine the fundamental relationship between Christianity and the nation as defined by the U.S. Constitution.

In a previous interview with CP, he urged American Christians to resist blanket descriptors like Christian nationalism, which he said are used pejoratively to label those with patriotic beliefs.

Land noted that many of the Founding Fathers were Christians or operated with a Christian worldview, but that does not mean the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation. He emphasized that Americas unique role in the world stems from its combination of Judeo-Christian values and Enlightenment ideas, suggesting that defining the nation exclusively through a Christian lens might not capture its broader ideals.
Home News Sikh warriors wielding swords injure pastor in brutal attack: We warned you not to conduct church

NEW DELHI  A group belonging to a Sikh warrior order last week attacked a pastor and another Christian with swords and knives in northern Indias Punjab state for leading church worship in their village.

Four Nihang Sikhs, who as members of the traditional warrior group are permitted to carry such weapons, attacked Pastor Gurjeet Singh, alias Gurjeet Rinku, and his younger brother, Gurdeep Singh, on April 18 in Sultanwind village, Amritsar District, a relative said.

The assailants first told Gurdeep Singh, and later Pastor Singh, We have warned you earlier as well to not conduct church and not convert people, but you have not paid heed, according to Daljit Kaur, the pastors wife and an eyewitness.

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The four Nihang Sikhs found Gurdeep Singh standing outside the house where the worship service is held at about 9 a.m.

Finding him alone, these men pounced on him and struck him with swords and knives, Kaur told Morning Star News.

Hearing the commotion, she and Pastor Singh rushed outside, and the pastor rushed to rescue his brother. The mob swiftly turned to the pastor and struck him with several blows of the sword, Kaur said.

They were targeting his head, she said. To protect his head, Gurjeet shielded every blow with his hand and thus sustained severe cuts on both his hands, his arm, his palm and they almost chopped off his thumb.

Gurdeep Singh, shielding his head with his hands, sustained deep cuts on his head, hands and one wrist.

The assailants constantly used abusive and coarse language as they struck the brothers, Kaur said. They accused the two Christians of conducting church services and luring villagers and others from nearby areas to convert. They also told Gurdeep Singh that the brothers had failed to cease worship after they had given the pastor enough warnings, she said.

My husband was threatened twice by the Nihang Sikhs earlier, but he did not tell me anything about the threat  he knew I would begin to worry, Kaur said.

She rushed the brothers to the private Amandeep Hospital in Amritsar after two other hospitals refused to treat them because of the severity of their injuries, Kaur said. Pastor Singh received one unit of blood.

They somehow managed to stop the bleeding temporarily and asked me to deposit money first before they would start the actual treatment, she said.

Soon Kaur arranged for an ambulance to rush them to Christian Medical College & Hospital in Ludhiana, 90 miles from Amritsar.

I did not have money to treat them in Amritsar, Kaur said.

The same night, the doctors conducted an MRI scan of Gurdeep Singhs head and stitched his cut, she said. Both Christians underwent surgery the next morning for wounds on their hands.

Both Gurdeep and Gurjeets hand cuts are deep, and thus the doctors said that they had to be operated on, Kaur said, her voice wavering.

The Christians have yet to file a police complaint.

A lot of local media and police arrived, but the police did not offer to register a complaint, Kaur said. We will do that once pastor is fit to do so.

The Singh brothers were born and brought up in Sultanwind village and lived together in a joint family with Pastor Singh and Kaurs two sons, ages 8 and 2, and the three children of Gurdeep Singh and his wife, ages 8, 11 and 18.

Pastor Vishnu Dev, also a local leader in Ludhiana, said the brothers need much prayer.

I am very disturbed at the brutal attack on the brothers, Pastor Dev told Morning Star News. If the police do not conduct fair investigation and just action, we will gather together and protest against the authorities and demand justice.

Pastor Singh has led the house church for 10 years, with his brother assisting.

India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.

The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say.
Home News Christian leaders criticize Tucker Carlson's interview with Munther Isaac: 'No mention of Hamas'

Faith leaders have pushed back against anti-Israel rhetoric promoted by Munther Isaac, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, in a recent Tucker Carlson interview and challenged Western Christians to educate themselves on the history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict to avoid falling for propaganda.

I am really confused by Tucker Carlson's recent behavior, honestly, Israels former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization, Noa Tishby, told The Christian Post.

He has made a turn to conspiratorial, not to mention woke, pro-Hamas, antisemite ideology when he gave a platform to Munther Isaac  its very easy to blame the Jews, and much of what Isaac's doing right now is blaming the Jews.

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Carlson sparked debate after publishing a lengthy interview with Isaac  a Palestinian pastor who has been accused of being sympathetic to Hamas and the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in which an estimated 1,163 people were slaughtered, including at least 31 Americans  on the topic of How does the government of Israel treat Christians?

"A consistent but almost never noted theme of American foreign policy is that it is always the Christians who suffer," Carlson said. "When there's a war abroad that the United States is funding, it is Christians who tend to die disproportionately."

"But what about Gaza? What about the entire region in the Middle East, where, of course, there's very intense fighting going on? Many Christian churches in the United States, particularly Evangelical churches, support that.

"But there is virtually never a word about the Christians who live there, the ancient Christian community in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel proper. So, because no one has said a word, there has been great suffering among the Christian population in that region."

Weighing in on the issue, Isaac said Palestinian Christians have often been neglected by the global Church and asserted that the conflict in Gaza is an extension of colonialism. He also criticized the international community's lack of response to what he described as ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Asserting that Palestinian Christians "are probably disproportionately affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war because of our small numbers as a religious community, Isaac criticized what he dubbed the "so-called religious right," from whom "we receive nothing, no sympathy whatsoever.

Sometimes we just plea to be heard and have our perspective taken seriously. And one of the things I'm often stuck with, whether when I speak to diplomats, politicians, congress[ional] staff or even influential pastors, is how little they know about the reality on the ground, he said.

"Their knowledge of the situation here seems to be very, very shallow," he added. "Yet they hold very strong opinions. And oftentimes, these opinions are shaped by political parties' positions, the United States' position."

Tishby, who served in the Israeli army and authored Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, hit back at Isaacs claims that Israel is unfriendly to Christians, emphasizing that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing.

"Israel allows for freedom of religion," she stressed, noting that no other Middle Eastern country provides similar protections.

Tishby highlighted that the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel were carried out by a "radical jihadi death cult designated as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States and the European Union, due to its violent actions and targeting of civilians.

She rejected Isaacs allegations that Israel bombs Christians in Gaza or represses them in the West Bank, clarifying that Israel's military actions target a jihadi terrorist organization that poses a threat to both Jews and Christians.

Israel doesn't go into Gaza and bomb Christians; Israel goes into Gaza to chase out Hamas.  There is no other side to radical jihadism," she said, emphasizing that the conflict isn't between religions but between a terrorist group and a democratic state.

We're dealing right now with a culture that is preaching for Holy War, to the death. That is what it is that we're dealing with here. And when they breached the borders and entered Israel, their intention was to slaughter as many Jews as possible, to genocide the Jews basically, and to die themselves. There is nothing to support about that.

In a lengthy response to Carlson's interview posted on YouTube, Luke Moon, deputy director of the Philos Project and leader of Philos Action League, said that with the exception of Israel, "nowhere else in the Middle East has seen Christian church growth."

"Not the historic church," he said. "Now, you have places like Iran where, through evangelism, there's a growing church, but it was because it was at zero, right ... there are more Iraqi Christians in the suburbs of Chicago that are left in Iraq."

Moon, who mobilizes Christians to fight antisemitism, also took issue with the fact that throughout the interview, Isaac "never mentions Hamas" and accused Isaac of "taking advantage of Tucker's ignorance."

"That's one of the words you don't use in this whole interview, you don't say 'Hamas' anywhere," he said. "It's like, 'Israel's just out there shooting people.' It's weird. At least acknowledge the evil being done in Gaza. ... All the blame needs to go to Hamas, and Tucker and Munther need to acknowledge that."

Dr. Richard Land, a former member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2001-2012) and executive editor of The Christian Post, challenged Western Christians to examine the context and background of the Israel-Palestinian conflict when examining the ongoing strife.

You would think that someone of Tucker's background and education, you'd think he would be far more skeptical of Munther Isaac, he said. Anyone who is even remotely aware of the history of the Holy Land from the beginning of the 20th century until now would know that Isaacs narrative was skewed, unbalanced and unfair. The only proper word for it is propaganda.

Land pointed out that in 1948, after the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, Israel declared its independence. Within 24 hours, it was attacked by five Arab armies, marking the beginning of multiple wars and conflicts. It was this aggression, he said, that led to the Palestinian refugee crisis.

"Arab governments told their people to leave [Jewish-majority areas] so they wouldn't be in the way as the armies came in to eradicate the Jewish state. Unfortunately for them, the Jews won, he said.

In 1948, Palestinians had a significant Christian population, but this has decreased over time due to various factors, including the Intifada and discrimination against Christians by Palestinian, and not Jewish, authorities, Land said.

"In 1948, the Christian population among the Palestinian Arabs was significant due in large part to persistent and ongoing missionary efforts by American and British Evangelical Christians, including establishing hospitals and children's homes.

"A large number of Palestinian Christians have left the West Bank and Gaza as a result of having faced severe discrimination from Hamas and the People's Liberation Army, including having to pay a special tax because they would not participate in the terrorist intifada against Israel."

Land, who has visited the Holy Land at least a dozen times, acknowledged Israel's imperfections but stressed Israel's need to defend itself from genocidal terrorist groups like Hamas, citing the organization's commitment to a Jew-free Israel, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

"Israel keeps trying to make peace with a population that refuses to make peace," he said. "Israel's dilemma is that they live next door to and in the midst of people who have been seduced by a terrorist death-cult."

He added that over the years, Israel has attempted to make peace with the Palestinians multiple times, offering self-rule in the Gaza Strip and West Bank (in the last agreement, the Israeli government even forcibly removed Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip and turned the land back over to Palestinian control).

However, peace treaties were rejected, leading to ongoing conflict and mistrust. Despite these challenges, Israel continues to seek peaceful solutions while protecting its citizens.

If the Palestinians wanted peace as much as Israel, he stressed, "they would be at peace."

Tishby also addressed the broader issue of antisemitism, noting that it often takes different forms over time. She warned that Isaac  and Carlson, by extension  promoted antisemitic narratives by blaming Israel for broader issues in the Middle East and cautioned against simplistic narratives that demonize Israel.

"Antisemitism is the oldest form of hate and discrimination," she explained. She urged Christians to recognize the historical roots of antisemitism and avoid promoting anti-Zionist rhetoric.

Tucker Carlson is allowing these conversations to permeate, she said. Israel has the right to exist. The Jewish state has the right to exist. It's prophesied and human rights. So whether you're a religious person or a secular person, the Jewish people deserve the right for self-governance and self-determination.

In an earlier interview with CP, Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, said Christians should love and support Israel because God chose the Jewish people as His special nation.

He clarified that this support does not mean endorsing every political action taken by Israel's government, but it involves recognizing their right to exist and opposing antisemitism.

What you have now is this movement of genocide and antisemitism that's rising, not only in the Middle East but in Europe and in America, he said. We must stand against that hatred.  Wherever you may stand on the political side of Arabs and Jews, everyone can stand against terrorism.

Graham warned that the threat is not limited to Israel; terrorists could target anyone who opposes them, even the U.S.

Terrorists, once they get done with Israel, if they can, they're coming for us next. They're coming for anyone who opposes them. It doesn't end in Israel  the geopolitical system of the world hinges on the Middle East and the little nation of Israel.

 I believe the hatred [of Israel] is because God loves the Jewish people, and Satan hates everything and everyone that God loves. And so, ultimately, this is spiritual warfare. And we must continue to therefore battle with the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus and love our Jewish neighbors.
Home News United Methodist Church votes to allow Eurasian churches to leave denomination

Delegates at the United Methodist Church General Conference voted to allow a regional body based in Eastern Europe to disaffiliate from the denomination over theological issues.

At the churchwide legislative meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, delegates voted on Thursday to approve Petition 21103 in a tally of 672 ayes to 67 nays, thus giving the Eurasian Episcopal Area, which has four annual conferences, autonomy.

Bishop Eduard Khegay of the Eurasia Episcopal Area expressed his gratitude for the denomination, explaining that "I became a Christian because of The United Methodist Church."

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While overwhelmingly approved, some argued that the petition was unnecessary in light of the UMC considering another measure that would allow different regions of the global denomination to determine their own stance on hot-button issues like homosexuality.

The petition granting the Eurasian churches autonomy had previously passed the UMC Standing Committee on Central Conference, which met on Monday in advance of the General Conference's kickoff on Tuesday.

"This is for us like leaving home," Khegay told the committee, as reported by UM News. "My hope is we can keep the friendships and relationships whenever it's possible.  We want to remain your sisters and brothers."

The updated status for Eurasian conferences will become effective in early 2025 at a session of the Northern Europe and Eurasia Conference, according to UM News.

Over the past few decades, the UMC has been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to remove language from its Book of Discipline that prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of people in same-sex relationships.

Although efforts to amend the Book of Discipline at past General Conferences have always failed, many theological progressives within the UMC have either refused to follow or enforce the rules.

In recent years, thousands of theological conservative congregations have disaffiliated from the UMC after the UMC amended the Book of Discipline rules to create a window for congregations to leave.

While most of the disaffiliations from the UMC have been in the United States, especially in the South, many elsewhere in the global denomination have left.

In 2022, the Bulgaria-Romania Provisional Annual Conference voted unanimously to leave the denomination and join the Global Methodist Church, a conservative alternative to the UMC.

In March 2023, UMC Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference delegates voted 40-20 in an online meeting to let regional bodies take the first steps toward disaffiliation.

This vote allowed the regional bodies of Central Russia, Northwest Russia and Belarus Provisional, the Eastern Russia and Central Asia Provisional and the South Russia Provisional annual conferences to become self-governing entities.
Home Opinion 5 traits of Gods call to ministry

As a young Christian, I attended a leaders conference in the Caribbean. On the evening of formally ordaining local pastors, a superintendent made an indelible impression. He said to them, you are not here to receive a trophy, a medal, or a plaque of honor. There was a hush, and then he continued: You are here to be supported in Gods call to battle. As a neophyte, I realized that ministry was not about prestige, elevated status, or distinguishing titles. Nowadays with so many questionable practices in the Church, leaders need to rekindle their understanding of what it means to be called by God to ministry.

In todays world, can a believer know that God is calling them to ministry? I believe there are five distinguishing traits that can provide benefit to this question.

Passion for the Gospel



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This is indispensable. A believer who is called by God will possess an inward conviction of the Gospels truth insomuch that it cannot be contained. Passion doesnt reveal itself by showmanship or enthusiastically telling people what they want to hear and making a successful career out of it. Passion for the Truth is what Jeremiah said, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot (20:9). Such passion characterizes a person who is called by God for service to His people. Real passion develops a mindset that is determined to communicate repentance, grace, and to enrich the faith of believers.

Increasing fear of God and decreasing intimidation of others



When God places His call upon believers, they will develop a growing sense of His majesty and become less intimidated by the cultures besmirching of Christian faith. These Christian leaders are growing in boldness and in the fear of God, and they really know that If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31). They can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me (Heb. 13:6)? Those called of God acknowledge that human beings are flawed, not wiser than God, and that everyone needs His grace. If God is calling you, then expect your spiritual tastebuds to develop a growing sense of awe for God with decreasing intimidation of those who oppose the Gospel.

Professional pursuits are unfulfilling



There is nothing wrong with pursuing a career in a chosen profession. Remember that Billy Graham was a Fuller Brush salesperson, but he wasnt happy. Many believers who are called by God are now serving tables, selling something, or in a prestigious corporate position, and yet they think about their calling incessantly. Their passion is great, and I would encourage them to continue to work and be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way (Ps. 37:7). Also know that when God calls and gifts someone, He never takes it back. It will always be yours. For the gifts and the calling of God, reminded Paul, are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). So, there is no shame in working for a living, but keep the fire burning within you. Continue to walk close to Him and in due time your gift and calling will impact the lives of others.

Holiness is not boring



If you think holiness is boring, then you should continue to pray about your calling. The Bible teaches everywhere that Gods people are to be set apart, and that life is a gift from God. Life was intended to be lived out apart from sin, and sin is destructive. Those whom God calls have a profound sense of this destructive reality. They hate it when lives are destroyed by sin, and endeavor by the power of grace to make a difference in peoples lives. The antithesis to holiness is worldliness, that is, living apart from God. Those called by God will identify seriously with the scriptural address to holiness: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). The joys of holiness will be so strong that the world dims in comparison for those whom God calls. Holiness should take on a whole new dimension when God impresses His call upon you.

Growing discernment of human nature



A key distinctive in knowing Gods call is that one has discerned the difference between loving Jesus and loving to talk about Jesus. Ministry offers an abundant supply of attention and so talking about Jesus to an audience can become intoxicating. The platform of a faith community can become a status symbol whereon those who occupy it compete for attention. Gods leaders know this, and so they strive to manage without political interferences. They carefully develop believers to do whats best for Gods people, and not to grandstand. One called by God has discerned the pitfalls of pride and that the fundamental problem of humankind is its rebellion against God and desire to be a god. Christian leaders know that a faith community is not immune to these temptations. With their passion, fear of God, and desire for people to experience all that God has for them, they will facilitate ministry that promotes holiness unto God.

Finally, those called by God know their place In the Kingdom. After Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He said: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:17). The example of Jesus is not merely theoretical, but a living reality for those whom God calls. They may have natural gifts of charisma, winsomeness, flair, or intellectual aptitude, but deep within they fear God. Deep within they also possess servant hearts, and enjoy seeing the people of God achieve all that He has for them. Ministry will be a never-ending battle, with many ups and downs. Nevertheless, those genuinely called by God will find joy in serving, and they will never find true fulfillment outside their calling.
Home Opinion Not again: A preacher denouncing politics

It seems there are a few recurring themes that surface in the public arena again and again as if they were part of some invisible merry-go-round. One such theme crossed into my vision field this past week.

My first thought was, Not again! But there it was, a fire-breathing, preacher denouncing getting involved in politics when we should just be preaching the Gospel! I was sorely tempted to just ignore it. But then I thought, If no one answers him, some people might be negatively influenced.

This idea of an inevitable clash between the Gospel and politics is false and contrived. As Christians, we believe in the innate and invaluable worth and value of every human life. Each human being is someone created in Gods image and someone God loved enough to send Jesus to die a cross kind of death to redeem them from perdition.

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There is a reason that everywhere the Gospel has gone the plight of the weak and the marginalized has improved.

From the earliest Reformation times, Gods people called Baptists were persecuted and struggled for religious freedom and the right to proclaim the Gospel.

Southern Baptists (my own faith tradition) in our confession of faith, the Baptist Faith & Message, proclaim:

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society, means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote those ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Romans 13 tells us that God ordained the civil magistrate and we are to support it for consciences sake. Among other things, it means voting and voting in an informed manner. And when we vote, we should vote our conscience, not our pocketbook. Our Heavenly Father will hold us responsible for how we exercise the stewardship of our citizenship.

This is never about being Republican or Democrat. It is about being against sin and injustice. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. However, God is pro-life and anti-child abuse.

Take the most recent upsurge critiquing Christian involvement in public policy that was occasioned by those opposed to extending aid to Ukraine. I find this difficult to comprehend. Ukraine was invaded by Russia. In the occupied areas Christians have been persecuted and abused. The Russians have kidnapped between five hundred and eight hundred thousand Ukrainian infants and children and shipped them back to Russia to be adopted by Russian families. What a monstrous crime!

Baptists and Evangelicals in particular have been singled out for persecution by the Russian occupiers. It is even more difficult to understand the opposition to Ukraine aid when you realize they are just asking for the weapons to defend their freedom. What if the French had denied us aid when we were fighting for our independence from Great Britain?

When we turn to American history we see that every major injustice in our society that has been corrected (slavery, segregation, child labor, womens suffrage, etc.) has been achieved because people of faith came together and determined the best public policies to bring about the necessary change.

American Christians have made it clear that they want their country to be a champion for human rights in the world. One thinks of FDR and the Four Freedoms and the defense of freedom in the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

As I was writing this column I received a phone call from a young man I have had the privilege of mentoring in recent months. He reminded me of a comment I had made to him about the fact that if God had not called me into ministry, I would have attempted to be a film director. He asked me why and I told him that Christmas Eve, 1963, I went to the Santa Rosa movie theater in the Old Spanish Trail in Houston, Texas. When I left the theater 3 hours later, having just seen Judgment at Nuremberg, I was a different person than when I had entered the theater 3 hours earlier.

One of the final scenes is indelibly etched on my conscience. It is 1948 and the Russians have blockaded Berlin. An American general is trying to convince the American judge to give a lenient sentence to the German Nazi judges because we need the Germans support against the Russians.

The general asks the judge, Isnt the goal to survive?

The American judge responds, Survive as what? A country is not a rock! A country is not a piece of dirt! A country is what it stands for when standing for something costs! Let the whole world know that this is what we stand forjustice, truth, and the value of a single human being!

As a Christian, as an American, as a human being, I fervently want this to be what America stands for now and into the future.

That commitment in no way conflicts with my commitment to the Gospel and the Great Commission. If we are not witnessing to Jesus and the Gospel we are derelict in our Christian duty to be light. If we ignore the fact that people we are sharing the Gospel with are hungry, thirsty, or naked, or homeless, then we are ignoring our duty as salt. We are to be salt and light.
Home Opinion What does society really hope to gain from our prison system?

In 2017, April was officially declared Second Chance Month, a time set aside for criminal justice reform advocates and policymakers to rethink approaches and best practices surrounding mass incarceration and the criminal justice system. Most practically, this month begs the question: What does society really hope to gain from our prison system?

As we turn our attention toward the 1.2 million incarcerated men and women in this country, I am reminded of the 200,000 individuals currently serving life sentences, many of whom are being given a second chance in an unconventional way, men like Chris Bernaiche.

Currently, Chris Bernaiche is serving two life sentences for a double homicide he committed more than two decades ago. However, Chris no longer recognizes the man guilty of the crimes he once committed. In the early days of his prison stint, Chris describes himself as angry and violent, resulting in two years of solitary confinement. But after embracing a new-found faith in Christ, Chris transformed his life through education by signing up to take college classes while serving time in prison.

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After a transformative few years investing in his own education, Chris now serves as an academic tutor, mentors men enrolled in his prisons auto mechanic shop, plays the guitar at the prisons chapel service, and, this May, will receive his bachelors degree with honors through the Calvin Prison Initiative.

I dont even recognize the guy who committed those crimes more than 20 years ago, Chris shared. Im not that guy anymore.

Just as serving time in prison can be passed down from generation to generation, so can education levels and even faith in God. A few weeks ago, I spoke with Jay, one of the lifers in our program who had just hung up from a phone call with his 10-year-old nephew. As a part of their conversation, Jay was encouraging his nephew to keep his grades up and one day pursue college. Amidst Jays family history of violence and incarceration, Jay believes his example of transformation will serve as an inspiration to his young nephew and beyond.

Why educate a lifer? Im periodically asked. Because men like Jay and Chris remind me that every life has a ripple effect. Through our program, which is taught from a Christian perspective, the men see themselves and the world through a different lens than perhaps they learned as a child or young person. Their education often leads to newfound gifts and abilities. And, most often, I hear tales of these men seeking forgiveness and rebuilding relationships with people outside the prison walls.

Through the power of education, Jay, Chris, and hundreds of others are being given a second chance at a new identity. When the men sit down at their desks at the start of their five-year educational commitment to obtain a bachelors degree in prison, its not unusual for them to walk in feeling hopeless.

But as the weeks and months unfold, I notice a physical transformation in these men. They begin to sit up straighter at their desks, their confidence in their intellectual abilities readjusts, and their faces change from sullen to cheerful. It isnt unusual to begin hearing laughter in the classroom. In the end, its more than a diploma we are handing them at graduation. The hope I see on the faces of the men I educate is palpable.

Finally, most of all, the men we are educating  whether serving 10 years or lifelong, often come away from their classes exuding a passion for helping others. Lifers mentor the guys getting out in a couple of months. The students graduating with their bachelors degrees discover a newfound purpose as agents of renewal inside their prison walls and beyond.

As Christians, I hope we can reexamine what our society is trying to accomplish with mass incarceration. May we remember the humanity of every incarcerated individual, whether they are in prison for a week or the rest of their lives, providing hope for them  and ultimately their communities  through the power of education. With a new identity, they along with hundreds of other graduates from the Calvin Prison Initiative, are now creating lasting impact.
Church leaders in Kenya give qualified support for plan to close orphanages

Amid a growing push among child welfare organizations to reunite families rather than keep children in institutional homes, Kenyan authorities are set to adopt a new national programme that will phase out traditional orphanages over the next decade.

Church leaders in the country, whose denominations run hundreds of orphanages, have expressed support for the plan, saying children's homes have exposed children to abuse. Other faith leaders back private institutional operators in opposing the change.

Roman Catholic Bishop Willybard Kitogho Lagho of Malindi said the Catholic Church supports the government plan because many of the institutions are no longer safe for children.

"There have been a lot of abuses in these homes," said the bishop. "Children have been sexually, physical and emotionally abused. There have also been cases of child trafficking." Some orphanages, he alleged, were founded by "unscrupulous people who want to gain from donor funding."

The treatment of orphans in Africa has come under fire in recent years as recent studies have shown that as many as half of children in six low-income countries on the continent have been abused. While some better-funded homes provide education that children could not get in their home villages, many children in residential care show signs of developmental delays and neglect.

Experts also say that donations from developed countries have also skewed the priorities of some children's welfare agencies. Anglican Bishop Alphonse Baya Mwaro of Mombasa likened some Kenyan children's homes to businesses. "They do not genuinely support children who are orphaned or who find themselves without family support," he said.

Faith organizations with long histories in Africa now question whether even the best care is more beneficial than finding relatives who will take in children who have lost parents or have become homeless or destitute. Several have closed their residential homes and instead support family reunification.

In Africa, uncles, aunts and other relatives have traditionally stepped up to care for young family members, said Lagho. "This is the most natural environment for children to grow up," he said.

The system has in some cases promoted the separation of children. "When you look at the children in the institutions, most of them have families," said Selastine Nthiani, a manager at the Child Welfare Society of Kenya. They are often sent away from home "for education or because their families are poor. Very few of them are total orphans or children without any parents," she said.

Nthiani said the government's changing approach to children's care was part of an international trend. "The world is moving away from institutional care of children to family- and community-based care," she said.

Janet Mwema, a senior officer at Kenya's National Council for Children's Services, said the government will not shutter institutions, but transition responsibility for destitute children to family and local communities over time.

According to Mwema, some residential homes will continue to operate as educational centres. "A child might be residing in a home because of education. We want to strengthen the families and community such that the child can get the education while living with the biological parents or community," said Mwema.

In Kenya, 3.6 million children are orphans, some 47% of whom lost parents to HIV and AIDS. An estimated 45,000 children live in more than 845 private institutions in Kenya, according to the State Department for Social Protection. Another 1,000 to 1,200 live in 28 government-run institutions.

Mwaro said there are challenges the new programme has yet to resolve, such as how to monitor domestic violence and mistreatment of the children by family members. Some children, said Mwaro, are safer at an orphanage.

Bishop Johnes Ole Meliyio of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church said that while "the centres cannot be the permanent homes for the children," closing church homes, which play an important role by supporting needy children without government support, was ill-advised. "Taking the children back to the community is a good idea, but shutting the homes is another issue," he said.

Some church leaders and government officials have alleged child trafficking in the centres, but there are no reliable statistics.

 Religion News Service
Court in Pakistan orders change in legal marriage age

A high court in Pakistan last week ordered a provincial government to remove gender-based age distinction in its child marriage law, a move aimed at deterring forced conversions and forced marriages of girls, sources said.

Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim on April 15 declared as "discriminatory" Punjab Province's Child Marriage Act of 1929, which fixed 18 and 16 years as legal ages for marriage for boys and girls respectively.

The verdict arose from petitioner Azka Wahid seeking amendments to the Child Marriage Act to avert harmful gender distinctions in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan's guarantee of equal rights for men and women.

Justice Karim wrote in his five-page verdict that the different ages for marriage for male and females, "being unconstitutional, are held to be without lawful authority and of no legal effect. They are struck down."

He directed the government of Punjab Province to "issue the revised version of 1929 Act (based on this judgment) within the next 15 days and shall also upload that version on its website for information."

Though the aforementioned law has been replaced by the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 2015 to criminalize child marriage in Punjab, girls and women in Pakistan are often forced to marry against their will, in some cases even before reaching the legal age for marriage. This is especially true for minorities such as Christians and Hindus.

Christian and Hindu women and girls are particularly vulnerable as they belong to marginalized minority groups and are routinely targeted for sexual exploitation in the guise of forced marriages and forced religious conversions, activists say.

The judge observed there was a need to take effective steps against child marriages as Pakistan's marriage laws were meant to primarily keep in view the "social, economic and educational factors rather than religious."

Referring to Article 25 of the constitution, the judge stated that all citizens were equal before the law and were entitled to equal legal protection.

"The definition of 'child' in the 1929 Act while making a distinction on the basis of age, is not based on an intelligible criteria," Justice Karim ruled. "The definition is indeed a special provision for the protection of women, but in the process it tends to afford greater protection to males by keeping their age of marriage higher than females."

The judge noted that a brief filed by the Punjab advocate general's office made a reference to Islamic jurisprudence regarding the age of puberty as the traditional interpretative toolkit. The report by the advocate general stated several factors behind the legislation, saying that in Pakistan, many children are victims of child marriage, and the burden of child marriage is disproportionately borne by girls as opposed to boys.

The report says that early marriage excludes children from education and makes them vulnerable to various health complications. It points out that as many as 21 percent of girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18, and 3 percent before reaching 15, according to Unicef database 2016, based on Demographic Health Survey of Pakistan 2012-2013.

The report also quotes the recent Demographic Health Survey of Pakistan (2017-2018), which shows on average an increase in the age of girls marrying, but also that child marriage at the age of 15 years has increased from 1.6 to 1.8 percent. Justice Karim observed that this made a compelling case to take effective measures to counter the debilitating effects of child marriage.

"We, as a nation, woefully lag behind in all major indicators, and half of our population cannot be lost to child-bearing at an early age while its potential remains untapped," the judge lamented.

He maintained that equal opportunities for females means equal restraint on marriage as for males. The judge further said the 1929 Act and its amendments help fulfill state duties under Article 35, which provides that it shall protect marriage, family, mother and child.

'Right Direction'

Church leaders and rights activists welcomed the high court's judgment, saying it had resolved the age difference issue and would help in achieving a deterrent against forced faith conversions and forced marriages of underage minority girls, including Christians.

Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall lauded the verdict, saying the Punjab government must amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act through the Punjab Assembly to enforce the ruling.

"This verdict is the first step towards recognition of the severity of the issues related to child marriages, especially those belonging to the minority Christian and Hindu communities," Marshall told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

He said the church had been demanding the enforcement of a uniform minimum age for marriage for both boys and girls to be set at 18 years across Pakistan as a deterrent against forced conversions of underage Christian girls in guise of Islamic marriage.

Punjab Provincial Assembly's Christian member Ejaz Alam Augustine said it was unlikely that the Punjab government would appeal against the court's decision.

"I don't think the provincial government will challenge this decision as the amended Act will provide protection to all women and girls irrespective of their faith affiliations," he said.

U.N. human rights experts on April 11 called on Pakistan to make legal changes in light of continued vulnerability of women and girls of minority faiths to forced marriages and religious conversions. The U.N. special rapporteurs called on Pakistan to raise the legal age for girls to marry to 18 as a deterrent against exploitation in the 96-percent Muslim country.

"The exposure of young women and girls belonging to religious minority communities to such heinous human rights violations, and the impunity of such crimes, can no longer be tolerated or justified," they said in a statement issued in Geneva.

The experts stressed that child, early and forced marriages could not be justified on religious or cultural grounds. They underscored that, under international law, consent was irrelevant when the victim was a child under the age of 18.

At present Sindh Province is the only one in Pakistan where the legal marriage age for both girls and boys is 18 years, while in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, the minimum for girls is still 16 years.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

 Morning Star News
In another conciliatory gesture, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pleaded with medical professors Friday to remain at their workplaces and with their patients, as they are considering taking weekly breaks in support of the ongoing walkout by junior doctors.

The country's 13,000 trainee doctors have been on strike through mass resignations since Feb. 20, protesting the government's decision to significantly increase the medical school enrollment quota. In solidarity with medical interns and residents, medical professors at major general hospitals nationwide have joined the movement.

In an attempt to break the stalemate with the doctors, the government last week accepted a request from the chiefs of six national universities for flexibility in expanding the medical school enrollment quota.

"I earnestly implore the professors. Please continue to stand by your patients as you have done so far, and please persuade your students to return now," Han said during a meeting with government officials.

Despite the government's gesture, more professors have joined the move to offer resignations, even considering the potential suspension of all surgeries and treatments for outpatients once a week.

Han said the government and the people would listen more attentively to the voices of doctors and will accept them more seriously if they return to hospitals.

According to the decision, 32 universities will be permitted to increase their admission quotas freely, with the annual increase ranging between 50 percent and 100 percent, starting in 2025, a turnaround from the previous decision to add 2,000 more medical school admissions in total. (Yonhap)
Life in the blistering heat

I remember the feeling of dread running up to Tuesday 19 July 2022. Meteorologists had warned for many days that temperatures would exceed 40 degrees. This was the first time this had happened in the UK and the Met Office even issued a red 'extreme heat' warning.

We were deluged with advice on how to stay cool. People kept their curtains closed and prepared meals in advance to avoid cooking. Generally most people planned their lives so there was minimal movement for two days. Anything to keep as cool as possible!

India is in the middle of a heatwave with the mercury soaring to as high as 45 degrees across swathes of the country. The intense heat has continued for days and I am struggling to comprehend just how life can carry on as normal. The majority of people in India live hand to mouth so not working equates to not eating. So they endure the blistering temperatures, putting themselves at risk of heat stroke.

When we asked our hospital leaders in India for their prayer needs last week, each mentioned the heat. This is telling as these leaders have many pressures on their time and resources. Yet they were so concerned for the comfort of leprosy patients. Many have restricted movement and are struggling in wards with no air conditioning. Their limbs are often bandaged to keep deep wounds clean. Staff stoically do all they can for the patients, working 12-hour shifts, six days a week.

Meanwhile people queue outside in the blistering heat at our outpatients' departments. Leprosy Mission hospitals are usually the only place they can see a doctor free of charge. Crucially they are often the only places where leprosy patients are loved, accepted and cared for. So, although terribly uncomfortable, a wait under the burning midday sun is a means to an end.

Thanks to our amazing supporters, building work is being carried out at many of our hospitals. This is necessary to provide essential care and future proof leprosy services. I received the photo above from my colleague in Salur in Andhra Pradesh yesterday. It shows women labourers enduring 45-degree temperatures. They are finishing the student accommodation for the first specialist leprosy nursing college. There is a race to do this as the college opens its doors in September. Looking immaculate in their brightly coloured saris, I felt for these women so much. I simply could not comprehend carrying out such physical work in insufferable temperatures.

The World Meteorological Organization warned on Tuesday that Asia is bearing the biggest climate change brunt. The warning from the United Nations agency sadly came as no surprise to us here in our Peterborough office. Over the past few years we have witnessed our colleagues in Asia struggle with severe heatwaves, floods and storms.

In fact we now need to budget for extreme climate emergencies which happen every year. Last year we provided emergency food and medical supplies to communities affected by leprosy in Myanmar. This followed Cyclone Mocha which made landfall in Western Myanmar on 14 May. With wind speeds of up to 250km per hour, it was one of the strongest cyclones to ever hit the country, destroying homes and livelihoods.

The news that Asia's struggle with climate change is greater than the rest of the world's came a day after Earth Day. I don't know about you but I love looking at the photos that NASA release each year in celebration of our incredible planet. Taken from satellites, aircraft and deep-space missions, they leave me in awe and wonder at God's beautiful creation.

How to protect our beautiful planet, and the people suffering the most from climate change, is a monumental challenge. The World Meteorological Office is calling for national weather services across Asia to improve disaster planning. There are renewed calls for governments to implement net zero emissions by 2040 to help quell rising temperatures. In our own lives we are encouraged to reduce our carbon footprints by flying and driving less and switching to renewable energy.

We pray by doing our part we can somehow improve life for the people we serve in the coming years. As for now, we keep our colleagues and patients at all our hospitals across India in our prayers. The summer monsoon will bring relief, but it's still weeks away. Until then, we pray they stay strong and well.

Peter Waddup is Chief Executive of The Leprosy Mission
The rise of the US evangelical right

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great "cloud of witnesses." (NRSV) That "cloud" has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this "cloud." People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian church as it exists today.

Evangelical Christian churches in the US are a very important feature of American life and have had a great influence on the world evangelical community. They make up a large part of the Christian population of the US as well as the overall population. More on that later, because the situation is fluid.

Their impact on culture, communities and individual lives is difficult to exaggerate. However, it is their involvement with politics which has increasingly gained attention. Their close association with the Republican Party is well known but their support for Donald Trump has become a defining feature since 2016.

In 2016, it is generally accepted that about 81% of white US evangelicals voted for Donald Trump. Some analysis of the data argues for it being 78% but the figures are comparable. The proportion voting for him in 2020 was similar to the higher figure. This support of white evangelicals (and it is necessary to add that racial clarifier) for the Republican Party, in its current Trump-MAGA form, has become one of the norms of modern US politics. There is every sign that 2024 will be comparable with previous patterns of voting.

In the January Iowa Caucuses 53% of white evangelical Christians backed Trump, 27% DeSantis, and just 13% Haley. Given that DeSantis had tried to pitch his appeal to the Trump-base, this means that 80% of white evangelicals voted for Trump or a Trump-like candidate. The exit poll for South Carolina's Republican presidential primary in February revealed that Trump won about three-quarters of the vote among white evangelicals. In contrast, other Republican voters in the state were more closely divided between Trump and Haley. The ideological voting pattern, so clear in 2016 and 2020, looks set to continue.

Whatever one thinks about that  and opinions sharply differ  it is a political and cultural phenomenon of great importance. But what is its history? How has the US 'evangelical right' emerged as such a political force? And why is it so supportive of Donald Trump and MAGA?

The history of the 'evangelical right' in the US

Right-leaning evangelical Protestants have been involved in politics for much of the twentieth century and their activities are not simply a modern phenomenon, although it is during the past thirty-five years that they have come to increasing prominence. As far back as the 1940s, '50s and '60s, anxieties about the perceived threat of communism and changing patterns of social behaviour caused many with this outlook to gravitate towards the Republican Party as a way of defending what they would have described as the 'Protestant-based moral order.'

During the 1960s the mood-music of the US changed (literally and figuratively) as it did across much of the Western world. Permissive sexual behaviour and pressure to liberalise abortion laws caused US evangelicals and Roman Catholics (previously regarded with hostility) to cooperate in key policy areas. The Supreme Court decision to make abortion a constitutionally protected right in the 1973 'Roe v. Wade' ruling was a major accelerator in the rise of the evangelical right in the 1970s.

At the same time, a long-term change occurred within the Democratic Party. For generations, so-called 'Dixiecrats' in the southern states (especially in the Deep South) had combined both Protestant ideology and socially conservative agendas, including about black civil rights. During the 1960s this southern Democrat section of voters shifted ground. Fear of the counter-culture emerging across the US, as well as opposition to the civil rights movement among southern blacks, caused the 'Dixiecrats' to move towards the Republican Party.

During the 1960s, this intra-Democrat division deepened and was exacerbated by the Democratic Party's increasing identification with a 'pro-choice' position regarding abortion. As a result, socially conservative 'Dixiecrats' (and other more conservative Democrats too) joined the Republican Party in increasing numbers as the 1960s progressed. Many of these self-identified as 'evangelicals,' including many Southern Baptists. A seismic shift was occurring within US politics. The boundaries of the political plate tectonics underlying these changes can clearly be traced in the US political scene of the twenty-first century.

To those unhappy with the trajectory of American society, the state was regarded as a major source of problems. It was, after all, the US Supreme Court that had banned official (although not private) prayer and Bible readings in the state schools ('Engel v. Vitale', 1962), had made abortion a constitutional right ('Roe v. Wade', 1973), and had gone on to regulate government involvement in private Christian academies ('Lemon v. Kurtzman',' 1971). The situation seemed clear: government had to be brought into line with the ideas of evangelical Americans.

At the same time, evangelicals felt that they were under siege from culture and the media. In short, a culture war had begun and evangelicals prepared to fight to defend their values as never before.

These changes meant that an increasing polarisation was occurring in which evangelicals identified with a raft of political issues (opposition to abortion and non-traditional sexual behaviour and federal 'interference') that were associated with the Republican Party. Many  though not all  of these evangelicals were white, especially in the southern states.

On the other hand, a more complex group of Christians (including both more socially liberal ones and more politically interventionist ones such as some black evangelicals) lined up behind the Democratic Party. The Democrats were becoming increasingly associated with a pro-choice position on abortion, equal rights for minorities (including what would then have been termed the gay community), and non-traditional social values. The religious and party-political battle-lines, familiar in 2024, were being drawn.

The evangelical right rallied in support of Republican Ronald Regan. In response, the 1980 Republican Party platform adopted a number of policies that were in line with demands from right-leaning evangelicals. These included dropping support for the Equal Rights Amendment (designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all US citizens regardless of gender) and supporting a restoration of school prayer (largely banned from the public elementary, middle, and high school system by a number of Supreme Court decisions since 1962 and still in force).

This accompanied calls by evangelical leaders, such as by the late Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist Jerry Falwell Sr, to conservative (evangelical) Christians to get more involved in politics.

The power and influence of the evangelical right increased considerably during the presidency of Bush senior (George H.W.) between 1989 and 1993. The relationship did not always go well, though. He was regarded as too socially liberal and too associated with family planning.

In 1989, to ensure that any future Republican president was more in line with the evangelical agenda, prominent church leaders founded the 'Christian Coalition,' which spent the early 1990s building a widespread grassroots organisation which eventually claimed over one million members. From this base, they launched a massive infiltration of the Republican Party, such that by 1992 some 40% of the delegates to the Republican National Convention were evangelicals.

The determination of the evangelicals to dominate the party was exacerbated by the years of the Clinton presidency (19932001), with his perceived liberalism and by the charges of sexual improprieties levelled against him. The latter, it should be noted, was something that they set aside with ease in 2016 when it came to supporting the Trump campaign. But then things had changed since the late 1990s and the evangelical resurgence was in full swing by 2016, with a more aggressive and determined tone than ever before.

By 1994 the representation of members of the Christian Coalition at the Republican National Convention stood at over 50% of delegates. This was a position from which to dictate the direction of the party. This activism assisted in the election of George W. Bush in 2000. By that time, while the committed inner core of the political movement may have been no more than 200,000 US adults, those explicitly identifying themselves as broadly in line with their policies ranged from ten to fifteen million, while a broader group of sympathetic voters who might be mobilized over a specific issue (especially abortion or gun control) may have reached thirty-five million.

It has been estimated that, in 2000, George W Bush received 68% of the white evangelical vote. By 2004 that percentage had increased to 78%. However, Bush's mixing of pragmatism with evangelical idealism was a characteristic of his presidency and reminds us that even the most focused special interest group cannot entirely control the political agenda.

Then, in 2008, Barack Obama happened. The election of a young, intelligent, telegenic and highly articulate social progressive (committed to proactive federal government initiatives on a number of fronts) was a sharp reversal of all that the evangelical right had been working on for over twenty years. The Obama presidency (200917) was regarded as an existential threat. Reaction to this perceived threat galvanised support among right-leaning evangelicals.

A major feature of the modern US political landscape is the extraordinary turnout at the polls of highly motivated evangelicals. This has contributed to a political dialogue that is increasingly confrontational and combative (from both sides) and has become something of a battle for what is perceived as 'the soul of America.' The high levels of support for Donald Trump grew out of this situation. He is seen as delivering in areas of concern to conservative Christians and an alliance of mutual dependency has developed that has become detached from the usual moral requirements evangelicals have traditionally demanded of their candidate.

The nature of evangelical political activism in the US

US culture and politics are complex and modern evangelical activism there ranges from concerns that are common to many global evangelical communities (over such areas as secularisation, materialism, sexual behaviour, aspects of reproductive rights) and ones that are associated with US conservatism (such as opposition to gun control, opposition to federal health care and state involvement in society and the economy).

High levels of support for the State of Israel and opposition to combating climate change are in the mix too. There are also very high levels of support for ideas of American exceptionalism and nationalism; with pronounced tendencies towards isolationism in foreign affairs and suspicion of international bodies and restraints on US behaviour.

Race is also in the mix. Data from the 2020 Presidential Election indicates that, regarding non-white evangelicals, only 40% voted for Trump. This is in stark contrast to the 81% of white evangelicals who voted for Trump in 2020 (both stats coming from analysis by Eastern Illinois University and comparable to other studies of the data). So, it's more than evangelical faith alone driving the support for the Trump/MAGA phenomenon. This makes for very uncomfortable reading for those searching for simple ways of understanding US politics and faith-based activism.

Overall, there is a homogenous character to US evangelical political activism which is distinctive and different to the more complex situation regarding evangelical outlooks in the UK. In the latter, things are far more politically diverse and also generally inclined to support government action in state health care and climate change. The US situation is not just the application of evangelical outlooks to political issues. It looks similar...and then it doesn't. It is complex and peculiar to the US in significant ways.

The evangelical right in 2024

Whatever one concludes about the rights and wrongs of the high level of white evangelical support for Trump and the MAGA movement, its significance is undeniable and needs to be both recognised and understood. Rooted in history that stretches back over more than eighty years, the emergence of the evangelical right is of huge significance and reflects tectonic shifts in the culture of the US from the society of the Vietnam War to that of the culture wars today.

However, data from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reveals that the number of white evangelicals has dropped from 23% of Americans in 2006 to 14% in 2020. Not only this, but the PRRI research reveals that these white evangelicals constitute the oldest age-profile of any identifiable group of religious Americans. This is likely to increase anxiety within this politically important demographic as its influence slowly decreases. In the turbulent politics of this year in the US this very distinctive faith-based input is likely to remain both highly influential and controversial.

Martyn Whittock is a historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. The author, or co-author, of fifty-six books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms and been interviewed on TV and radio news and discussion programmes exploring the interaction of faith and politics. His recent books include: Daughters of Eve (2021), Jesus the Unauthorized Biography (2021), The End Times, Again? (2021), The Story of the Cross (2021), Apocalyptic Politics (2022) and American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America (2023). Exploration of the history and impact of the evangelical right in the USA was the subject of his co-written book Trump and the Puritans. How the Evangelical Religious Right Put Donald Trump in the White House (2020).
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President Yoon Suk Yeol and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung will meet at the presidential office next Monday, an official said, their first sit-down since Yoon took office two years ago.

The meeting will take place over tea at 2 p.m., with both Yoon and Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accompanied by three aides each, Hong Chul-ho, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said during a press briefing.

"We hope this meeting will serve as an occasion to revive people's livelihoods and the economy and solve various pending state affairs through candid discussions between the president and the opposition leader," Hong told reporters at the presidential office.

Yoon proposed a meeting in a phone call with Lee last Friday, after the ruling People Power Party was routed in the April 10 parliamentary elections, leaving the National Assembly under the control of the DPK.

The two sides struggled to coordinate the meeting's agenda in two rounds of preparatory talks held earlier this week, but reached an agreement on the date during a third round of talks Friday after Lee said he would meet with Yoon unconditionally.

The DPK had initially delivered a list of requests, which included accepting Lee's general election pledge to hand out 250,000 won ($182) each to the entire population to help restore their livelihoods, accepting a special counsel investigation into the death of a Marine last year and an apology from Yoon for vetoing a number of DPK-led bills.

In a separate briefing, the DPK also confirmed that Lee will meet with Yoon next week.

"The core message of the people, revealed in the general elections, was to revive the people's livelihoods, and secondly change the direction of how he runs state affairs ... we expect the talks to center around them," Rep. Cheon Jun-ho, told reporters.

When asked whether Lee plans to bring up the opposition's proposal to launch a special prosecution investigation into allegations involving the first lady, Cheon did not elaborate, only saying that any agenda can be discussed.

The Yoon-Lee meeting has been scheduled for one hour, but could last beyond that if they decide to talk for longer, Hong said. The two sides will likely announce the outcome separately.

Yoon's three aides will be his new chief of staff Chung Jin-suk, Hong and senior presidential secretary for public relations Lee Do-woon, Hong said. The opposition leader will be joined by his chief of staff, the DPK chief policymaker and the DPK spokesperson. (Yonhap)
The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to an Islamic charity after its chair gave a sermon at its premises last year containing inflammatory and divisive content.

Its warning says that a sermon at the Nottingham Islam Information Centre also discussed party politics and included content which could be reasonably interpreted as discouraging the audience from voting in elections and/or engaging with democracy.

Civil Society understands the Commission issued the warning after a video of the talk by the charitys chair Harun Holmes was shared online.

Holmes confirmed to Civil Society that he was speaking in the video, which the charity has taken down from YouTube.

Trustees: We will ensure more scrunity

A video with the charitys branding shared by a social media user in October shows a speaker reading from scripture that includes quotes such as oh Muslim, here is a Jew behind me, kill him.

The charitys trustees published a statement last year , apologising for a sermon delivered by Holmes at its premises on 13 October, which they said was intended to give an overarching narrative of events that have happened and will happen in Palestine.

They said Holmes was given the responsibility of the sermon at late notice despite not being a qualified Imam.

In hindsight he recognises that other references would have been more appropriate which could better explain the context of the sermon within available timescales, they said.

The trustees recognise that certain portions of the sermon may have been construed in a negative light and inadvertently and unintentionally caused offence. We apologise for this.

Going forward we will ensure more scrutiny is given over delivery of sermons and have adopted processes to prevent such a situation arising again.

Commission chair Orlando Fraser said in November the regulator was assessing a significant number of serious concerns regarding some charities activities in relation to the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

Fraser said the Commission was aware of several allegations of antisemitic or hate speech linked to charities at the time.

He said the regulator would act if it found wrongdoing by any of the charities and warned organisations not to allow their premises or events to become forums for hate speech or unlawful extremism.

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Frank Bruni has covered many beats in his thirty-five-year career. He was a movie critic in Detroit, a war correspondent in the Persian Gulf, a White House correspondent at the New York Times, and the papers bureau chief in Rome, where he covered the Vatican. On returning from Italy, he became the chief food critic and reviewed New York City restaurants (including one four-star review years ago that very much aided my career in hospitality) before turning to a weekly column in the Times opinion pages. I was always, at heart, a generalist, Bruni told me recently. And, to be honest, a dilettante.

Brunis broad background lent him credibility as he wrote his column, Reflections on the mess (and magic) of politics and life, for over a decade. In 2021, as he stepped back from writing columns full-time, he apologized for unloading, six years prior, on Ted Cruz, the Republican senator who had been running for president at the time. Though addressed to Cruz, the column was intended as a parting apology, of sorts, to his readers for contributing to the toxic tenor of American discourse, the furious pitch of American politics, the volume and vitriol of it all. The column was an argument for leaning into ambivalence and ambiguity at the expense of clicks. (Bruni is now a journalism professor at Duke; he still writes regularly for the Times.)

Bruni was certainly not an outlier in letting grievance drive his work. And his concerns from three years ago are relevant todaygrievance remains a significant influence on the tenor and rhetoric of American politics, culture, and media. In a new book, The Age of Grievance, due out next week, Bruni makes the case that while grievance has led to some of the greatest social reforms in US history, its current iteration has infected American ideology in a way that exiles nuance and turbocharges conflict. While grievance is a well-established tool of the MAGA movement and its media, Bruni argues that liberal media are guilty of indulging it, too. On both the right and the left, grievance seems to be its own burgeoning economy, he writes. To sell your wares as widely as possible, package them in grievance.

Bruni tells his students at Duke that, more than anything else, they will hear him say its complicateda phrase, he writes, that serves as a bulwark against arrogance, absolutism, purity, zeal. He believes the humility that phrase suggests offers an antidote for grievance. Last week, I spoke with Bruni about how the press can avoid perpetuating grievance culture, how it can model the importance of ambiguity, and the necessity of holding up mirrors when they are most needed. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



KL: How do you define grievance?

FB: For the purpose of my book, I define grievance as a complaint that has become overwrought; a complaint that exists because someone is determined to complain; that demands a solution disproportionate to the problem; that exists in this context of so many people trying to establish their identities and seek advantage through how theyve been wronged and the demands they have. If you look at where the word has popped up more frequently over the last decade, youll find it used in a negative context. There is grievance that can be wonderful, essentialwere seldom calling that grievance anymore. The word grievance appears in the First Amendment. In that context, grievance is a righteous thing. We use it as a synonym for ire, agitation, pique.

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The people fighting for civil rights had a grievance, and thank God they did. The problem is that even using the word grievance undercuts itthe word has become so synonymous with a spontaneous, overblown, ill-tempered complaint that its almost hard to go back and say, This was a good grievance, because it feels like the vocabulary no longer fits. But there are many causes that are essentialthat have been essential throughout historythat could be described as grievances, before the word took on its pejorative connotations. Most of the social progress in this country wasnt the product of happenstance. Most of the important social progress in this country happened because somebody had a deeply felt and profoundly legitimate complaint; because they pressed that in the public square in a constructive and productive way, we made progress and the world improved. Much of what I see around me today, though, is people complaining about things, in voices louder and with demands more expansive than necessary.

Why this book? And why now?

Since Trumps presidential run and all the things that reflected and abetted it, I found myself thinking about how surprisingly and scarily angry so many Americans were. Were talking about Americans on the right, but that deep angerthat feeling of victimization, that sense of having been crazily wronged and deserving recompense, that need to name and vilify the people responsiblethat kind of thing exists across the political spectrum. Theres no equivalence hereits doing crazier things, more damage, and posing greater threats when we look at it on the right. But some of the same dynamics absolutely exist on the left, too. This is a moment in which we are compelled to hold a very unforgiving mirror to the country. I wanted to hold up that mirror.

It feels straightforward to call out the grievances that MAGA Republicans use for political gainand you do not pull any of those punchesbut theyre not alone in using grievance in their political arsenal. How can journalists who are not part of the right-wing media avoid falling into the trap of perpetuating grievance?

News generation happens quickly. Often, it is easy or instinctual for news organizations to take out the same old playbook theyve used a thousand times. We should think about how we approach political coverage. We approach political candidate A and we evaluate them by going through a list: Lets see what candidate As policies and personalities say about his or her potential impact on this marginalized community, or this interest group. Now lets do a story about what this other marginalized group or interest group thinks about this politician, and what we think his or her policies and messaging might mean for them. Theres a logic to doing that. But it sends the message that every group has discrete rather than overlapping interests. It emphasizes issues peculiar to certain groups. It sends the message that those issues are the most important to that group. I think some of the most important issues transcend all groups. Dicing and slicing political coverage sends this message that were in different camps that maybe compete against one another, rather than that were all Americans, ultimately in the same boat.

When we come out of the gate with predetermined assumptions and we start throwing around the terms of the day, we reduce it to these labels. We end up oversimplifying the world, in a way that affirms and amplifies the message that there are various interest groups in this country that are set up in conflict with one another. That obviously is a grievance multiplier. All too often, if a set of events on the surface has a political moral that we like, or seems to be telling a story that is our preferred story, we dont muster or apply scrutiny. A journalists first response should always be skepticism and scrutiny. And if you want to maintain credibility and continue to have a constructive effect on society, you have to be careful that youre not traveling far away from the truth.

What do you think is the solution for our collective grievances?

The final chapter of the book is about humilityits titled The Antidote. When I reflected on what Id written in the book, I realized that almost everything I looked at, from a certain angle, was a crisis of humility. Are political leaders who traffic in extremism, anger, and tensionsaying I alone can fix itbeing humble? Somebody said that; you may recall whom. Theyre not being humble. Theyre not respecting the diversity of opinion that exists in any population. Theyre not respecting the diversity of opinion that exists among politicians themselves. Theyre not respecting our need to live in community. When people are policing the culture, and when theyre canceling peopleor whatever verb you want to put out there; that emphatic, unforgiving response to human error and human foiblethat is really unhumble, because youre not recognizing or remembering that you, too, have probably done some things that you might be ashamed of. You, too, are probablyon your worst day or in your worst moments, before you knew, were more learned, or became more illuminatedwere probably guilty of statements or actions that you were lucky you werent condemned for. Thats a crisis of humility.

You take pretty serious umbrage with the perspective that prioritizes grievance, which might sound like a grievance itself. Did that cross your mind at all while you were writing?

Am I aggrieved by grievance culture? I like to think not. When we talk about grievance today, with its pejorative connotations, were talking about anger that wont be satedthat so enjoys itself, feeds on itself, and becomes a self-identity that its hard to see the far side of it. Im not mad at anyone in particular. All of us across the political spectrum, to significantly varying degreesin different professions, all walks of life, all regions of the countryare to various extents indulging this habit of seeing the world in terms of whos been slighted, how theyve been slighted, what to do about that slight. Im not doing one of the fundamentals of grievance today, which is to say, Here are the villains, heres what they have coming to them, heres what they owe the rest of us. Im asking all of us to look together at our aggregate flaws.

As regards the medias relationship with the idea of grievance, is there anything else that you would add?

There is much in this life, and in this society, that is objectively right or objectively wrong. There is much in this life, and much in this society, that must be condemned or must be applauded. There are also many, many shades of gray. When were talking about a politician, or a person, or a voterwhen were talking about a given issue, and how it should be addressed and what the best solutions arethere are so many question marks, there are so many guesses. I would like to see the media get more comfortable with that, because that could be a model and a green light for other people to see in shades of gray when that is appropriate, to admit things like ambiguity and ambivalence, which are not shortcomings. Theyre virtues of a sort. I think the media could take the lead in modeling that.



Other notable stories:

On Wednesday, police arrested a photographer for a Fox affiliate in Austin who was covering a protest in solidarity with Gaza on the campus of the University of Texas. The photographer was charged with criminal trespass and held in jail overnight, but yesterday he was released and the charges against him were dismissed. In other news about press freedom in the US, officials in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, loosened policies that restricted the rights of staffers at a local jail to talk to the media after Brittany Hailer, a journalist, filed a lawsuit arguing that the policies violated the First Amendment; the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has more details. And a new survey from the Pew Research Center found that large majorities of Americans see press freedom as important to society, but also see the press as not completely free at present.

In yesterdays newsletter, we linked to a story, by Politicos Eli Stokols, diving into the tense relationship between the Biden White House and the Times. After we published, one nugget from the storythe claim, by an unidentified Times journalist, that A.G. Sulzberger, the publisher, has encouraged tough reporting on Bidens age because he is pissed that the president wont do a sit-down interview with the papergot tongues wagging online. Several Times journalists pushed back, however, as did the Times itself; in a statement to Semafor, the paper blasted Biden for dodging interviews but also refuted allegations of retaliatory coverage as outrageous and untrue.

In Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, canceled all official engagements until next week and explained, in an extraordinary public letter, that he is taking time to reflect on whether his job is worth it after a court said that it would examine corruption allegations against Sanchezs wife that were brought by a right-wing group and based on media reports. In his letter, Sanchez blasted a harassment and bullying operation on the part of his opponents and dismissed the reporting at issue as overtly right wing. He could now decide to resign, though some observers suspect the letter is a political ploy.

And, following months of speculation, G/O Media finally sold The Onion, its satirical news site. The details of the sale, to a new company called Global Tetrahedron, may have seemed murky, especially in light of other recent deals involving G/Obut the name Global Tetrahedron is actually an in-joke, borrowed from a satirical firm invented by The Onion. Jeff Lawson, a tech executive, will now own The Onion, while Ben Collins, formerly a disinformation reporter at NBC News, will be CEO. They are promising to keep the site in Chicago, retain its staff, and let them do whatever they want.

ICYMI: Apples censorship in China is just the tip of the iceberg

Kevin Lind was a CJR fellow.
Delivery company DHL will pay $8.7 million and be subject to the oversight of a court-appointed monitor to settle a class race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EEOC suit charges that DHL assigned Black employees to routes in neighborhoods with higher crime rates compared to those assigned to its white drivers, gave Black employees much heavier dock work, and segregated its Black and white employees.

Black employees often witnessed crime and sometimes were victims of crime on their assigned routes, and they reported being assigned to move heavy packages while their white counterparts were assigned the far less strenuous task of sorting letters, according to the EEOC.

The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

DHL is required to pay $8.7 million in compensation to a group of 83 Black employees subjected to the alleged discriminatory conduct who chose to participate in the lawsuit. Twenty of the employees were represented by private counsel.
A Baltimore small business has filed a class action against the owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month.

The suit, filed Thursday by the Karen Austin, the founder of American Publishing, and her husband Charles, is an answer in opposition to the April 1 court filing by Dalis owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and manager, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., seeking to limit their liability for the tragedy.

The crash into the bridge caused it to collapse into the river, taking the lives of at least six individuals and disrupting the Port of Baltimore, surrounding businesses, transportation and the regional economy.

The Austin lawsuit alleges that the crash and resulting deaths and damages were caused by the fault, negligence, and regulatory violations of the Dali owner and operator. The suit claims the ship owner and operator are not entitled to limit their liability because the Dali was known to be unseaworthy due to inadequate training, maintenance, equipment, and oversight.

Baltimore to Court: No Way Should Ships Liability for Bridge Collapse Be Limited

The Austin suit seeks to represent the class of all businesses and individuals affected by the collapse of the bridge.

The suit takes a similar position to that taken by the city of Baltimore in its suit filed on April 22 in which it argues that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine are not entitled to any liability limit because they were allegedly negligent for putting a clearly unseaworthy vessel into the water.

American Publishing is a publisher of resource directories serving the military communities stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade. Austin is a former counter-terrorism equipment specialist with a military and law enforcement background, according to her companys website.

Ship Owner in Bridge Collapse Seeks to Limit Its Liability

The Limitation of Liability Act in some cases limits the liability of ship owners if they were not aware that the vessel causing the loss was in unseaworthy condition. The act covers personal injury losses such as deaths and collisions, as well as losses of property, goods, or merchandise.

Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, in their April 1 court filing, claim the collapse of bridge was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on their part or on the part of the vessel or any parties for whose acts they may be responsible.

Insurance Industry Readies for Historic Losses From Baltimore Bridge Tragedy

They maintain that they shouldnt be held liable for any loss or damage from the disaster. But if they are held liable, their liability should be limited to no more than the current value of the ship and its cargo after the crash, or $43.7 million. Before the crash, the value of the ship was about $90 million.

A criminal probe of the crash is underway by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The state has launched several programs to assist businesses hurt by the disaster, including a $12.5 million program that aims to prevent layoffs while recovery work continues. The federal Small Business Administration is also offering assistance to those affected by the bridge collapse in Maryland. Small businesses in the Mid-Atlantic region may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million
COLUMBUS, Ohio  When Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli took the podium to address his colleagues about a resolution declaring natural gas as vital to Ohios economy, his rhetoric matched nearly word-for-word what an oil and gas lobbyist sent him privately as a sample script.

Rulli stood before the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee and, absent some minor changes and reshuffling of some paragraphs, made statements identical to what was sent to him by Mitch Given, an industry lobbyist.
Meeting topics open for wide range of state affairs

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), will have their first official meeting on Monday, as the two sides agreed that a prompt face-to-face discussion was necessary to address pending state affairs.

The meeting will be held 10 days after Yoon proposed it to Lee during a phone conversation, after the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) crushing defeat in the April 10 general elections. The two sides have had difficulties arranging the meeting, due mainly to different opinions on topics to be discussed.

Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Chul-ho said in a press briefing, Friday, that Yoon and Lee will meet at the presidential office at 2 p.m. Monday.

From the presidents side, presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk, Hong and senior secretary for public relations Lee Do-woon will accompany Yoon. From Lees side, his chief of staff Cheon Jun-ho, DPK policy committee head Rep. Jin Sung-joon and DPK spokesperson Rep. Park Sung-joon will join the talks.

The two sides agreed to hold the meeting at 2 p.m., Monday, following the presidents intention to hear a lot from Lee, and the chairmans intention to meet the president promptly regardless of topics (to be discussed), Hong said after the third working-level negotiations for the Yoon-Lee talks.

We expect the meeting will be a candid conversation between the president and the main opposition party leader, providing an opportunity to address grassroots economic issues and resolve pending state affairs.

Hong said the meeting was planned to last for an hour, but will likely be extended as Yoon and Lee will share their opinions on various matters. After the meeting, the two sides will release a joint statement.

The arrangement came after a week-long tug-of-war between the presidential office and the DPK.

After the PPP's defeat in the general elections, Yoon extended an invitation to Lee for an official meeting to be held within a week if possible.

However, the two sides only displayed their stark differences in working-level negotiations on the discussion topics. While the presidential office claimed that the meeting should be open to conversations on various matters, the DPK wanted to urge the president to support Lee's election promise of providing a 250,000 won ($180) subsidy for every citizen, accept a special counsel probe into the death of a Marine and apologize for vetoing several bills endorsed by the DPK.

The preparations picked up speed on Friday, as the DPK chairman accepted the presidential offices request to hold the meeting without prearranged topics.

Ill put aside everything and meet the president first, Lee said during a DPK Supreme Council meeting.

Since the meeting is a rare event, we have to arrange the topics and various other aspects beforehand, but the processes are not going smoothly. So, I will meet with the president and accurately convey the public sentiment revealed in the general elections. Also, I will deliver the harsh realities of people's lives and request the president to take necessary measures.

Just hours later, the presidential office released a statement that it welcomes Lees answer to Yoons invitation for talks and will immediately engage in preparations.

Despite their agreement on open topics, chances are high that the DPK will bring the aforementioned issues up at the meeting and put pressure on Yoon to accept them.

Since Lee made a significant concession, I urge the president to make a sincere decision. It takes two to make an agreement, DPK Supreme Council member Rep. Jung Chung-rae said during the council meeting.

Another council member Rep. Seo Young-kyo also said, I earnestly request (the president) to return taxpayers money back to the people for the recovery of the public livelihoods, in reference to the 250,000 won subsidy program.

Among opposition politicians, concerns are already growing that the meeting may end without tangible outcomes.

Whenever meeting President Yoon, you have to clearly set what will be the topics, minor opposition Reform Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok, who was a former PPP head, told reporters. I have experiences of meeting Yoon without pre-established topics, and that didnt bring any outcomes.

The Reform Party chief had been the PPP chief when Yoon was the partys presidential candidate in early 2022. Lee boycotted Yoons campaign after Yoons close associates leveled criticisms against the chairman, but the two reconciled after a closed-door meeting.

After Yoon took office, Lee was ousted from the PPP chairmanship, upon criticisms from Yoon loyalists. The young politician ended up becoming a vocal critic of Yoon.
Chinese FM holds talks with Malaysian counterpart

Xinhua) 09:30, April 26, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, on Thursday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the two countries are friendly neighbors who share weal and woe. China firmly supports Malaysia in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions, and stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Malaysia, work together for common development, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, Wang noted, adding that the two countries have always been good and true friends, trusting and helping each other no matter how the international situation changes.

China considers its relations with Malaysia a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and take the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future as a guide to usher in an even brighter next 50 years of bilateral relations, Wang said.

Noting that Malaysia is an important member of the ASEAN and a representative of emerging economies, Wang said that the two countries have always supported each other in safeguarding their core interests and national dignity. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Malaysia to uphold international fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, and safeguard the common interests of Global South countries.

Wang said China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. The two sides should speed up cooperation in terms of infrastructure, digital economy, green development and new energy vehicles, and carry out poverty reduction experience and inter-party exchanges to push forward bilateral relations.

Mohamad said Malaysia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and opposes external forces stirring up trouble in the South China Sea. Malaysia is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China to further strengthen exchanges at all levels, and deepen cooperation in energy transition, digital economy, agriculture and tourism to create an even better future for bilateral relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. Mohamad said that Malaysia highly appreciates China's just position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and firmly advocates the proper settlement of the Palestinian issue through the two-state solution.

Wang said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Malaysia for an early solution to the Palestinian issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Presidential office denies ties with deceased Marine's case

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol named former judge Oh Dong-woon as the new chief prosecutor of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), Friday.

The nomination, which came after three months of delays, was made at a time when the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which controls the National Assembly, is pushing for a special counsel probe into a political allegation involving the death of a Marine last year, raising doubts on the CIOs capabilities in investigating the case.

On Sunday, Oh said he plans to undertake an investigation into politically sensitive cases, including one related to the Marine's death, if he takes office, in accordance with laws and principles.

"If I become the CIO chief, I plan to work hard to ensure that the CIO will establishes itself as an independent investigative agency and becomes an effective organization," Oh told reporters when arriving at his temporary office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province to prepare for his upcoming parliamentary confirmation hearing.

Oh's appointment is subject to a parliamentary confirmation process, although his appointment does not require Assembly approval.

The presidential office said the nomination is not related to the opposition's push for the special counsel probe, playing down criticisms that it is attempting to disrupt the fair investigation.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung said during a press briefing that Yoon picked Oh, who is now a lawyer, among two candidates recommended by the National Assembly.

Oh is a Seoul National University graduate, and served as judge at district courts in Busan and Ulsan. He is now working as a lawyer for law firm Keumseong.

The CIO was established in 2021 as an independent administrative organization separate from the prosecution, and is capable of investigating and prosecuting government officials involved in corruption allegations.

Though it is mandated at investigating high-profile cases, its leadership has been vacant for three months after Kim Jin-wook, its first chief prosecutor appointed by Yoon's predecessor Moon Jae-in, left office in January.

This has triggered the oppositions criticisms that Yoon is delaying the nomination to incapacitate the CIOs probe into an allegation that the Yoon administration influenced the militarys investigation into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died last year in a flash flood during a search-and-rescue operation.

Due to this, the DPK is seeking to pass a bill on launching a separate special counsel probe to look into the allegation.

The presidential office said the nomination is unrelated to Chaes death, and took time to carefully consider the fairness of the nominee.

Chaes case was filed with the CIO last September, when the previous chief prosecutor was working, and the special counsel bill was also tabled last September, regardless of the CIOs investigation, an official at the presidential office said.

We are aware of criticisms that the vetting process is being delayed to incapacitate the investigation, but it is an unfair accusation.








The Supreme Court has finalized a ruling ordering the state to pay 10 million won ($7,273) in compensation to former Justice Minister Cho Kuk for illegally collecting information through a state spy agency during previous conservative administrations, judicial officials said Friday.

Cho filed a damages suit seeking 200 million won against the state in 2021, claiming that the National Intelligence Service had conducted illegal surveillance on him and instigated negative public sentiment in 2011 and 2016, when former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye were in office.

A district court ordered the state to pay 50 million won to Cho, combining the two cases into one comprehensive surveillance act, but the appeals court reduced the amount to 10 million won after judging the statute of limitations for the case in 2011 had expired.

The statute of limitations for a damages suit brought against the state expires three years after the day the plaintiff becomes aware of the damage, and five years after the damage occurred.

Both parties appealed the decision to the top court, but the ruling was finalized without an official court hearing, judging there were no errors in the previous rulings. (Yonhap)
A second Norfolk Southern union said Friday it would back activist Ancora's efforts to elect seven directors and oust CEO Alan Shaw, a sign of labor dissatisfaction with management and a key endorsement for Ancora as Norfolk Southern's shareholder meeting nears.

The BLET Teamsters, which represents the engineers and trainsmen who operate Norfolk Southern's locomotives, said Friday that they're throwing their weight behind Ancora.

"After the railroad's CEO Alan Shaw hired COO John Orr and following the public comments of both those executives on their strategy for NS, our General Chairman determined that a change at the top is needed," BLET president Edward Hall said.

Union support is unprecedented for an activist railroad campaign. The BLET Teamsters initially said they would vote their shares with management in February but decided to back the plan for leadership change following outreach from and meetings with CEO pick Jim Barber and Ancora's chief operating officer nominee Jamie Boychuk.

"It's a privilege to receive support from the BLET Teamsters, who believe in our plan to improve performance, safety and employee relations at Norfolk Southern," Barber said.

The latest endorsement, coupled with the support of the BMWED Teamsters announced on Thursday, means that roughly half of the unionized employees at Norfolk Southern are supporting the activist, Ancora said.

"We recognize the hard work that the BLET Teamsters members and all of the Company's employees put in every day," Boychuk said.

The BMWED Teamsters also initially came out against the activist's plan in February, before deciding to back Ancora.
POSCO Future M, the battery materials unit of POSCO Holdings, said Friday it will set up a joint venture (JV) with Honda Motor in Canada mainly for the supply of a core battery material to the Japanese carmaker.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint company in Ontario to supply cathodes for Honda's vehicles assembled in Canada and the United States, POSCO Future M said in a statement.

Through the strategic partnership, they expect to secure a new growth driver in the North American markets by providing Honda's electric vehicles (EVs) with POSCO Future M's high-end battery materials, it said.

In July 2022, POSCO Future M set up a similar JV with U.S. carmaker General Motors (GM) in Quebec, Canada. The JV named Ultium CAM plans to complete a cathode plant there later this year.

POSCO Future M, formerly POSCO Chemical, has mainly produced refractories and burnt lime, key materials used in the steelmaking process, since its foundation in 1971 as an arm of the country's leading steelmaker, POSCO.

In recent years, the company has been aggressive in establishing its presence in the secondary battery components business, particularly with the materials used to make cathodes and anodes  core materials used in lithium-ion cells for EVs.

POSCO Future M touts itself as one of the few companies capable of producing both cathodes and anodes.

It supplies cathodes to Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution and Ultium Cells, the U.S. joint venture between LGES and GM. (Yonhap)
Mining giant Anglo American on Friday rejected a takeover bid from rival BHP Group, saying the offer "significantly undervalues" the company and its future prospects.

Australia-based BHP on Thursday said it had made an all-share takeover offer which valued the smaller company at 31.1 billion ($38.9 billion). The takeover would have created the world's largest mining company, according to a Reuters analysis.

Shares of Anglo American pared losses to trade down 0.2% by 10:20 a.m. London time, while other mining stocks rose.

In a statement, the British miner said that board members had unanimously rejected BHP's "unsolicited, non-binding and highly conditional" proposal.

Anglo American's Chairman Stuart Chambers dismissed the bid as "opportunistic."

"The BHP proposal is opportunistic and fails to value Anglo American's prospects, while significantly diluting the relative value upside participation of Anglo American's shareholders relative to BHP's shareholders," he said.

BHP did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

The offer had included a requirement for Anglo American to demerge its entire shareholdings in South Africa-based Anglo American Platinum Limited and Kumba Iron Ore Limited, two entities which together account for a sizeable proportion of the company's copper production.

Anglo American Chairman Stuart Chambers said the proposed restructure was "highly unattractive, creating substantial uncertainty and execution risk borne almost entirely by Anglo American, its shareholders and its other stakeholders."

Shares of Anglo American Platinum rose more than 2% on the announcement, while Kumba Iron Ore moved 0.9% lower.
US social worker and daughter of the US president Ashley Biden speaks on stage during the Human Rights Campaign's 2024 Los Angeles dinner at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, March 23, 2024.

Ashley Biden, the daughter of President Joe Biden, wrote a judge to say she would not attend the criminal sentencing earlier this month of the woman who stole her diary because "it would only increase my pain."

The highly emotional letter was unsealed by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain more than three weeks after the judge sentenced Aimee Harris to one month in federal jail and three months of home detention.

"My goal in asking Your Honor to impose a term of incarceration is to ensure that another woman isn't bullied and shamed like this ever again," Ashley Biden wrote. "The despair I have often felt will never truly go away. But I ask Your Honor to hold Ms. Harris accountable so that she thinks twice before doing it to someone else."

She also asked Swain to sentence the Florida resident to prison followed by a lengthy probation period, according to the letter unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court.

The letter was unsealed at the request of The New York Times, whose lawyer David McCaw noted to Swain that Ashley Biden and prosecutors did not object to it being made public, while Harris took no position on the request.

Harris, 41, also was ordered to serve three years of probation and to forfeit the $20,000 she received for selling the stolen diary.

Harris pleaded guilty in August 2022 to conspiring two years earlier with Robert Kurlander, 61, to steal Biden's diary and other items from the Florida home where Biden had previously lived, and to transport them over state lines for sale to the right-wing group Project Veritas.

Project Veritas did not publish the diary, but another right-wing outlet did, shortly before the 2020 presidential election, which Joe Biden won.
Sarote Pruksachat | Moment | Getty Images

Asia was the most disaster-hit region in the world last year as extreme weather and climate threats intensified amid global warming, according to the World Meteorological Organization, the UN's weather agency. "Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a report released this week. More than 9 million people on the continent were affected by the floods and storms, leading to over 2,000 casualties. Meanwhile, a trend of increased heat waves in the region continued. "Climate change has exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies and, most importantly, human lives," Saulo added. The report warned that key climate change indicators, such as surface temperature, glacier melting, and sea level rise, signaled worsening conditions and the need for greater disaster risk prevention in Asia.

Temperatures up, precipitation volatile

In 2023, the mean temperature over Asia was the second highest on record. "With the warming trend almost doubling since the period from 19601990, Asia is heating up faster than the global average, with increased casualties and economic losses," according to WMO's report. Particularly high temperatures last year were seen in areas from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, while countries like Japan and Kazakhstan experienced record heat, the report found. According to a NASA report, increased temperatures are associated with variations in precipitation and increased frequency of both drought and extreme water events. Other scientists have also warned that sustained periods of dryness can trigger floods when heavy rains occur.

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While WMO found that much of Asia suffered from a substantial lack of precipitation in 2023, there were also many extreme weather events associated with heavy rainfall and flooding. According to a recent report, severe floods in China and droughts in India caused most of Asia-Pacific's $65 billion of economic damages last year. Heavy floods struck northern China in July  which witnessed some of the worst storms in years, while the capital of Beijing saw the heaviest rainfall in 140 years. Meanwhile, the southwest of China suffered from sustained drought, with below-normal precipitation levels nearly every month of 2023. India also suffered from floods and drought, with the latter reaching unprecedented levels in August, the world's hottest month ever recorded. The country also saw heatwaves in April and June that caused over 100 deaths by heatstroke. The WMO report noted that a lack of rainfall could also have detrimental effects on drinking water sources, agriculture, industry, and hydropower.

Better preparedness needed

The WMO has called for better climate preparedness across Asia. Authors of the report argued the data confirms the need for early warning systems for extreme weather and more disaster risk reduction to mitigate losses and damage caused by climate change in the future. The region already suffered 3,612 natural disasters between 1970 and 2021, causing $1.4 trillion in economic losses and nearly a million deaths  accounting for 47% of the total global deaths due to natural disasters over the same period. According to the WMO, the damage caused by a disaster can be reduced by 30% given an early warning is issued within 24 hours.

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A CVS Omnicare pharmacy in Las Vegas has become the first location to join a new national pharmacy union, a milestone for organizers trying to help thousands of U.S. pharmacy workers address what they call unsafe working conditions.

Nearly 30 pharmacy staff at the Las Vegas branch of CVS's Omnicare won their union election on Thursday by a landslide margin of 87% to 13%, according to a press release from the guild. The pharmacists and pharmacy technicians there fill prescriptions for the elderly and other vulnerable patients at long-term care facilities across Nevada.

Those workers now join the Pharmacy Guild, which will represent them in labor negotiations with CVS.

"We're going to try to get a best-in-the-industry contract for these people that have trusted our union to represent them. It's a historic win and a very decisive one," Shane Jerominski, a community pharmacist and co-founder of the Pharmacy Guild, told CNBC.

Jerominski and other organizers of a recent nationwide walkout of pharmacy staff partnered with IAM Healthcare  a union representing thousands of health-care professionals  to launch the Pharmacy Guild in November. That work stoppage in late October, which organizers dubbed "Pharmageddon," spanned major drugstore chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid , drawing widespread media attention to the scope of workers' concerns.

Like the walkout effort, the Pharmacy Guild aims to help pharmacy staff address what many employees call unsafe staffing levels and increasing workloads throughout the industry that put both employees and patients at risk. The guild also calls for legislative and regulatory changes to establish higher standards of practice in pharmacies to protect patients.

The unionization effort is the culmination of years of growing discontent among retail pharmacy staff, who often grapple with understaffed teams and increasing work expectations imposed by corporate management. The Covid pandemic only exacerbated those issues, as new duties like testing and vaccination stretched pharmacists and technicians even thinner.

In a statement, a CVS Health spokesperson said the company respects its employees' right to unionize or refrain from doing so, including the decision of Omnicare Las Vegas workers to choose union representation. The company added that it will work "closely and collaboratively" with its employees to address their current and future concerns and is "committed to providing a positive and rewarding work environment."

Omnicare, acquired by CVS in 2015, is not a public-facing pharmacy like most of the chain's nearly 10,000 locations. There are Omnicare pharmacies in 49 states, according to CVS's website.

But Omnicare and other pharmacies share the same issues that range from staffing levels to low starting pay for technicians, Jerominski said.

"It's not specific to Omnicare, the problems they were expressing were the same problems I'm hearing across the country. It's ubiquitous across all major chains," Jerominski said. "You can only ask a company to support you for so long.  This is the reason why the walkouts happened. They finally said 'No, we are going to get the help that we demand.'"

The Pharmacy Guild will now work to strike a union contract with CVS to address the concerns of Omnicare workers in Las Vegas. Jerominski said those employees want consistent work schedules that guarantee pharmacy technicians 40 hours a week year-round.

"You can't retain individuals with a skill set and a family, especially with the stress level that this job has, if you don't even just guarantee them their 40 hours," Jerominski told CNBC.

The Pharmacy Guild is seeing momentum build in other parts of the country. Pharmacy staff at two retail stores in Rhode Island have officially confirmed that they filed to unionize with the guild, according to Jerominski.

CVS's headquarters is based in the state.
The highly anticipated trading debut of private equity group CVC Capital Partners shows that Europe's initial public offering market is back on track, Euronext CEO Stephane Boujnah told CNBC on Friday.

Shares of Amsterdam-listed CVC, one of Europe's largest buyout companies, traded nearly 24% higher at around 12:30 p.m. London time.

The stock had opened at more than 17 euros ($18.25) per share, significantly above the 14 euro offer price, reaffirming strong investor appetite for the company. The IPO is widely expected to be one of Europe's largest this year.

CVC, which expects to raise between 2 billion euros and 2.3 billion euros from the deal, said in a statement that the IPO was oversubscribed multiple times and increased to accommodate robust demand from institutional investors across the globe.

"It is a very strong signal of the comeback of IPOs in Europe, in particular in continental Europe," Euronext's Boujnah told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday.

Boujnah said the Euronext platform, the largest stock exchange in Europe and one of the largest in the world, had welcomed 11 stock listings since the beginning of the year.

"That's a signal of both the success of the Euronext platform and the competitiveness of the Euronext platform  and a signal of the IPO market being back," he added.
Protecting the climate falls into the realm of politicians, not central bankers, and any ideas that central bank policy can solve all global issues should be avoided, Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan said on Friday.

"It is also important... we are serious and do not give the impression that we can solve all the problems of the world with monetary policy," Jordan said at the SNB's shareholder meeting, Reuters reported.

The SNB considers risks associated with its investments and has excluded certain areas of business such as coal producers, he noted.

Climate activists protested at the SNB's shareholder meeting on Friday, calling for the SNB to stop investing in companies which the activists say are harmful for the environment and carry out fracking.

 Sophie Kiderlin
An Exxon gas station is seen in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Oct. 6, 2023.

Exxon Mobil on Friday reported first-quarter earnings that missed expectations as the industry came under pressure from eroding refining margins and collapsing natural gas prices.

Exxon's stock is down more than 3%.

Here is what Exxon reported for the first quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

Earnings per share: $2.06 vs. $2.20 expected

$2.06 vs. $2.20 expected Revenue: $83.08 billion vs. $78.35 billion expected

The nation's largest oil company reported net income of $8.22 billion, or $2.06 per share, a 28% decrease from earnings of $11.43 billion, or $2.79 per share, in the same period a year ago.

Revenue beat expectations, coming in at $83.08 billion, but was lower than a year ago, when the company reported $86.56 billion.

Exxon CEO Darren Woods said the results were in line with the company's plan, attributing the earnings miss to noncash tax and inventory adjustments.

"In fact, in some cases they outperformed," Woods said of the results in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box." "You can see that in our cash flow from operations, which exceeded consensus by about a billion dollars."

Jason Gabelman, managing director of energy equity research at TD Cowen, said the earnings miss doesn't change anything fundamentally for Exxon's stock and it is unlikely that Friday's pullback will hold.

Exxon came under pressure from lower refining margins and natural gas prices that have plummeted from last year's highs. Natural gas prices have plunged 37% this year, and refining margins are lower than they were a year ago. Chevron faced similar issues this quarter.

Oil and gas production profits fell 12% to $5.67 billion, compared with $6.46 billion in the same quarter last year due to lower natural gas prices. Oil is up more than 16% this year but the rally did little to lift Exxon's fortunes this quarter.

Exxon produced 3.78 million barrels per day in the quarter, down slightly from the output of 3.83 million barrels per day in the year-ago period. Production in Guyana reached more than 600,000 barrels per day in the first quarter.

"If you look at Guyana and the development there, I think it will go down as one of the best deep-water developments in the history of the industry," Woods told CNBC.

Exxon's fuel business saw earnings plummet 67% to $1.38 billion, compared with $4.18 billion in the prior year, due to lower refining margins.

The company's chemical products segment saw profits more than double to $785 million compared with $371 million in the same quarter last year.

Exxon is currently locked in a dispute with Chevron over the latter's pending acquisition of Hess Corp . Exxon has taken Chevron to arbitration court to defend the company's claim to a right of first refusal over Hess' assets in Guyana under a joint operating agreement.

Woods reiterated that Exxon is not seeking to buy Hess. He said the company wants to know the value Chevron is placing on Hess' Guyana assets and confirm its preemption rights. When asked whether Exxon is seeking compensation from Chevron, Woods said he is keeping the company's options open.

"First of all, we'll confirm the rights of preemption and look to see what the cash value of this asset is within that transaction, and then we'll explore the opportunities that are available to us," Woods said.

Chevron said Friday that it expects the Hess deal to close in 2024.

Read Exxon's full earning release here.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that the agency approved Pfizer 's treatment for a rare genetic bleeding disorder, making it the company's first gene therapy to win clearance in the U.S.

The agency greenlighted the drug, which will be marketed as Beqvez, for adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B who meet certain requirements.

The treatment will be available by prescription to eligible patients this quarter, a Pfizer spokesperson told CNBC. It has a hefty $3.5 million price tag before insurance and other rebates, the spokesperson added, making it by far one of the most expensive drugs in the U.S.

More than 7,000 people in the U.S. are living with the debilitating condition, which predominantly affects men, according to an advocacy group. The condition is caused by insufficient levels of a certain protein that helps blood clot to stop bleeding and seal wounds. Without that protein, called factor IX, patients with hemophilia B bruise easily and bleed more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Beqvez is a one-time treatment designed to enable patients to produce factor IX themselves and prevent and control bleeding. In a late-stage trial, the drug was superior to the often-cumbersome standard treatment for hemophilia B, which involves administering the protein multiple times a week or a month through the veins.

"Many people with hemophilia B struggle with the commitment and lifestyle disruption of regular [factor IX] infusions, as well as spontaneous bleeding episodes, which can lead to painful joint damage and mobility issues," said Adam Cuker, director of Penn Medicine's Comprehensive and Hemophilia Thrombosis Program, in a Pfizer release on Friday.

Pfizer's drug "has the potential to be transformative for appropriate patients by reducing both the medical and treatment burden over the long term," Cuker added.

The approval is a big step for Pfizer, which is trying to regain its footing following the rapid decline of its Covid business last year. The company is betting big on cancer drugs and treatments for other disease areas to help turn its business around.

Pfizer is one of several companies to invest in the rapidly growing field of gene and cell therapies  one-time, high-cost treatments that target a patient's genetic source or cell to cure or significantly alter the course of a disease. Some health experts expect these therapies to replace traditional lifelong treatments that people take to manage chronic diseases.

Pfizer gained the rights to produce and market Beqvez from Spark Therapeutics in 2014.

The company is offering payers a warranty program to cover patients who receive Beqvez, a spokesperson told CNBC. Pfizer expects that program to offer "financial protection by insuring against the risk of efficacy failure," the release said.

The gene therapy will compete with Australia-based CSL Behring's Hemgenix, a similar treatment that won FDA approval for hemophilia B in 2022. That drug has a similar list price of $3.5 million in the U.S. before insurance and other rebates.

Notably, some health experts have said that high costs and logistical issues, among other factors, have limited the uptake of Hemgenix and another approved gene therapy for the more common hemophilia A.

Pfizer also seeks FDA approval for its experimental antibody, marstacimab, to treat hemophilia A and B. The company is also developing a gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes muscles to weaken gradually.
A former longtime general counsel to Moody's has pleaded guilty to willfully failing to file federal income tax returns, federal prosecutors in New Jersey said Friday.

John Goggins, who stepped down as Moody's senior vice president and general counsel last fall, earned $54 million between 2018 and 2021 and failed to file federal income taxes during those years, the New Jersey U.S. attorney's office said.

Goggins pleaded guilty on Thursday before a federal magistrate judge in Newark, New Jersey, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6.

"Mr. Goggins deeply regrets and accepts full responsibility for failing to file certain personal income tax returns," Christopher Ferguson, a lawyer for Goggins, said in a statement. "This is a personal matter that has nothing to do with his work at Moody's."

Goggins retired from Moody's in September after more than two decades and was replaced as general counsel by Richard Steele. A spokesperson for Moody's did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ferguson said Goggins has paid $3.2 million in outstanding taxes, interest and penalties due in connection with his misdemeanor offenses "and looks forward to putting this situation behind him."
Containers of Yoplait yogurt are displayed on a shelf at Santa Venetia Market in San Rafael, California.

General Mills , the maker of Cocoa Puffs and Cheerios breakfast cereals, is exploring a sale of its North America yogurt business including its popular Yoplait brand in a deal that could be worth more than $2 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

The Minneapolis-based food conglomerate is working with investment bank JPMorgan Chase to gauge interest from potential buyers that could include rival snack food makers and private equity firms, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential.

General Mills is hoping to fetch a valuation for the yogurt portfolio of nearly 10 times the unit's 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $250 million, the sources said.

General Mills and JPMorgan declined to comment.

Shares of General Mills have fallen about 19% over the past year to $71.04 on Friday, valuing the company at about $40 billion.

In March, General Mills topped market expectations for third-quarter sales and profit, boosted by higher prices for its breakfast cereals, snack bars and pet food products that helped cushion a blow from slowing consumer demand.

A group of French dairy farmers started Yoplait in 1964 and the company partnered with General Mills in 1977 through a franchise agreement giving the maker of Bisquick pancake mix the exclusive rights to market the brand in the U.S.

In 2011, General Mills acquired a 51% stake worth $1.2 billion in Yoplait from private equity firm PAI Partners and French dairy cooperative Sodiaal. Sodiaal retained the remaining stake.

In 2021, General Mills sold the European operations of Yoplait to Sodiaal. At the time, the company said its U.S. and Canada yogurt operations generated a combined $1.4 billion in net sales for fiscal 2020.

Having already shed the European unit of Yoplait, General Mills sees the remaining yogurt assets as non-core in its current strategy as it faces tough competition from market leaders Chobani and Danone's Dannon brand, the sources said.

Yogurt manufacturers have been actively making deals over the past year. Campbell Soup is looking to divest the Noosa Yogurt unit, which it acquired as part of its $2.7 billion deal for Sovos Brands last year.

Danone sold its Wallaby yogurt and Horizon milk brands to Platinum Equity last year for an undisclosed amount.
Hyundai Mobis, Korea's leading auto parts maker, said Friday its first-quarter net profit rose 2.4 percent on-year thanks to increased overseas demand for components used in after-sales customer service.

Net profit for the January-March period came to 862.4 billion won ($627.2 million) on a consolidated basis, compared with a profit of 841.8 billion won a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Operating profit reached 542.7 billion won, up 29.8 percent from a year ago. Sales fell 5.4 percent to 13.86 trillion won.

The earnings fell behind market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 875.5 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.

Hyundai Mobis said it saw an upward trend in profit thanks to increased global demand for after-sales service components and favorable foreign exchange rates during the cited period. Sales of the company's after-sales parts business rose to 2.93 trillion won thanks to increased demand in America and Europe.

Overall sales for the company, however, experienced a decrease in line with uncertainly and stagnation in the auto industry as of late, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, Hyundai Mobis added.

In particular, sales of the company's module and core component business dropped 9.1 percent to 10.9 trillion won, affected by a decrease in vehicle production in the industry.

During the quarter, Hyundai Mobis achieved $1.81 billion in orders from global customers, the company said. Hyundai Mobis said it will strive to maximize shareholder value by making active investments in the future mobility market. (Yonhap)
Analysts and investors are breathing a slight sigh of relief after Alphabet's latest quarterly release, as the results eased concern around the company's progress on artificial intelligence and the state of Big Tech following a broad-sector sell-off. The Google parent reported first-quarter earnings that beat earnings and revenue expectations. The search engine giant also announced its first-ever dividend and a $70 billion buyback, sending shares 10% higher on Friday to an all-time high. Analysts from major firms, ranging from UBS to Bank of America, were encouraged by accelerated growth in Google Search, Cloud and YouTube that the company reported in the previous quarter. Some touted Alphabet as a new major AI play and believe the tech giant has plenty of room to grow. At the same time, some questioned how much the stock can consistently do so against such a large AI spending backdrop. GOOGL YTD mountain Google stock this year. JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth reiterated his overweight rating and hiked his price target by $35 to $200, saying he is "incrementally positive" on the tech giant's ability to drive strong top line growth and achieve gains from its efforts to reengineer its cost structure. He anticipates Alphabet will increase its spending to around $50 billion this year to support its AI ambitions in concert with its peers. "In terms of AI, after what seemed like a year-plus of coming from behind, we believe GOOGL is beginning to go on the offensive," Anmuth wrote in a note. "The company is starting to bring AI responses into the main Search results page, & it is seeing an increase in Search engagement & satisfaction among AI users." "Management also expressed confidence that the shift to Generative AI in Search will expand the Search market opportunity, just as GOOGL saw with the shift to mobile & voice," Anmuth added. Barclays analyst Ross Sandler's also shares a bullish view of the stock. "Google is in the sweet spot of accelerating growth, expanding margins while shipping product faster, and returning capital  basically proving the naysayers wrong," Sandler wrote in a Thursday note, adding that market deceleration and competition are some of the threats that could threaten the stock, but not in the near term. Sandler kept his overweight rating and increased his price target by $27 to $200, which implies 28% potential upside from Thursday's close. Jefferies' Brent Thill maintained his buy rating and upped his price target by $20 to $200, saying shares are trading at an attractive valuation. Google's acceleration in core ad and cloud revenues were a bright spot for Thill, but the analyst remains wary of Google's spending  which is expected to jump more than 50% this year fueled by AI investments. Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein lifted his price target by $20 to $205 and kept his outperform rating, citing Google's accelerating ad business as a driver of operating leverage, despite the company's significant investments in AI. Catalysts for the stock include increased monetization of YouTube and the profitability boost at Google Cloud, the analyst said. He anticipates the company's net ad revenue to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9% between 2023 and 2026. Still, some analysts expressed some near-term concerns. Bank of America analyst Justin Post kept his buy rating and $200 price target, believing Alphabet is well-positioned for the long term  even if current revenue suggest the company's "future pace of growth could be more challenging." "The quarter beat expectations across all major business lines, supporting a narrative change: Google is a beneficiary of AI. Search is still not without disruption risk, but we remain constructive on Google infrastructure, data and distribution advantages," Post said in a note. "We think a dividend will support a higher long-term multiple, but expect some deceleration in sector growth in 2Q on a tougher q/q calendar." Still, Post said Alphabet should trade at a premium to its media peer group given its tech leadership, high margins and strong cash flow generation for buybacks. UBS analyst Ken Gawrelski similarly praised Google's cost discipline and "overdue" dividend but maintained a partly cautious stance on the stock. He noted it's "not clear GenAI can drive a big new product cycle" and that certain pockets of advertiser demand could see a slowdown. He reiterated his neutral rating and upped his price target by $7 to $173, particularly because of the growth seen in YouTube, which he noted is set to recover and add roughly $5 billion in revenue during 2024. His target price suggests only about 11% potential upside from Thursday's close. "Accelerating search growth forestalls our worries about search deceleration but does not change our views on digital ad share loss and risks associated with a search format transition," Gawrelski said in a note.
Farmers in India's Punjab state are raising the pitch of their ongoing protests, as the second phase of India's general elections starts April 26, 2024. Narinder Nanu | Afp | Getty Images

NEW DELHI  Farmers in India's Punjab state are raising the pitch of their ongoing protests, as the second phase of India's general elections starts Friday. Thousands of farmers continue to drum up support for their demands, foremost being a legal guarantee for minimum support prices for their produce. They have occupied railway tracks in the northwestern state of Punjab, disrupting operations, with trains on 149 routes either being cancelled, diverted or journeys terminated midway on Wednesday, as they demand the release of farmers taken into police custody. While the protestors are beginning to up the ante, the agitation this time, which began in February, seems a pale shadow of their movement in 2020 when hundreds of thousands of farmers took to the streets in a year-long protest against three farm laws. In a rare policy setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the farm laws were revoked in 2021. This time, however, fenced in by barricades and under the watchful eyes of the state police and paramilitary forces, protests have been relatively low-key and largely restricted to Shambhu and Khanauri borders between the states of Punjab and Haryana in northern India. Some of the prominent leaders from other states who participated in the earlier protests were also missing in action. The government has shown no signs of capitulation, even as it risks losing support from the massive farmer population at a time when Modi is fighting to win a third term in the national elections.

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The Congress and several opposition parties have put farmers' demand about minimum support prices (MSP) in their manifesto, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has "steadfastly refused to acknowledge this demand, therefore it will have some effect [electorally]," said Yogendra Yadav, political activist and a former psephologist. About 250 million people work in agriculture in India, according to government data, constituting about 45% of India's workforce. People are "very sympathetic" to the farmers' cause due to the BJP's high-handedness in dealing with the protestors, according to Sanjay Kumar, co-director of Lokniti, a research program at the New Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. A Lokniti-CSDS survey earlier this month showed 59% of the respondents found the farmers' demands "genuine," while 16% deemed the protests a "conspiracy" against the government. The election juggernaut of Modi's BJP, however, is unlikely to be materially impacted by the ongoing agitation. Several surveys have forecast that the ruling party's victory is imminent in this national election.

Farmers shout slogans as they block railway tracks during a demonstration demanding compensations and jobs for the families of those who died during protests against the central government's agricultural reforms on the outskirts of Amritsar on December 24, 2021. Narinder Nanu | AFP | Getty Images

Kumar said the protests were unlikely to cause any substantial dent to the BJP's electoral prospects. "When farmers go to vote, it's not like they say: 'We are farmers so we must vote en masse to throw this government or support that government.' Often, they vote on party lines. Other identities take over," Kumar said. The same survey showed 44% of the people wished to reelect the government, mostly on account of its "good work." "People might have huge anxieties, but how does it matter if they end up voting for the same party. I don't see a major change in the outcome of 2024 elections compared with 2019 [when BJP won a second term]," Kumar said. CNBC did not immediately receive a response from India's Agriculture Ministry on queries pertaining to the farmers' demands.

Stifling dissent?

Farm leaders have alleged that the government is trying to keep the protests contained to just Punjab and make it a local issue. "When we started the protests, the government told us we could not bring vehicles, such as tractors to Delhi, but could come via public transport. However, when farmers from other BJP-ruled states tried to come to Delhi via trains and buses, they were detained," claimed farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, according to a CNBC translation of his statement in Hindi. Reports from local media said dozens of farmers were detained.



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A small of group of farmers from Tamil Nadu held a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday in solidarity with their peers from Punjab and Haryana. They said they had also participated in protests at the Shabhu border, the nerve center of the current demonstrations. "We will now go to Varanasi and 1,000 people will file nominations against Modi," said P. Ayyakannu, the leader of the farmers from Tamil Nadu. Modi is contesting for a parliamentary seat from the city of Varansai in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), a coalition on farmers' unions under which the current protests have been organized, said they will continue to protest, but the demands were not a political issue for them. "We are sitting here as elections are on, so political parties have to take notice, and include our demands in their poll manifestos," Dallewal told CNBC.

What India's farmers want
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India is confident that its new electric vehicle policy measures will open up the market to more global players, said the country's secretary of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Last month, the government rolled out key initiatives aimed at bolstering the country's position in EV manufacturing. "It involves concessional tariffs for limited volumes of imports by global EV manufacturers, linked to ironclad commitment by them to invest in India a minimum of $500 million," Rajesh Kumar Singh told CNBC's Sri Jegarajah. "And also meet very stiff localization targets of 25% by the third year and 50% by the fifth year," he added. "It was meant for all global EV manufacturers and domestic manufacturers." While much of the "buzz has been around Tesla," Singh underscored the initiatives will also attract other foreign automakers, highlighting that Vietnam's leading EV maker "VinFast has already announced its intent." "While I don't want to mention some of the other companies who are interested, we are very confident that multiple companies will be taking advantage of this policy."

In February, VinFast broke ground on its integrated EV manufacturing facility in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. The company plans to initially invest $500 million over five years, with a projected capacity of 150,000 vehicles annually, according to the statement. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he is "incredibly excited about the future of India." But he recently postponed a scheduled trip during which he was set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing "heavy Tesla obligations" for why he couldn't come. "The door is, obviously, very much open," to Tesla said Singh. As competition in India's EV sector remains limited, the entry of major players like Tesla, will level the playing field, MG Motor India's CEO Emeritus Rajeev Chaba told CNBC.

Robust trajectory

According to Counterpoint Research, India's EV sales nearly doubled in 2023, driven by rising consumer interest and government initiatives, among other factors. It is expected to increase by 66% in 2024 to constitute 4% of total passenger vehicle sales. "By 2030, EVs are expected to represent nearly one-third of India's PV market, signaling a robust long-term growth trajectory in the country's automotive sector," said Counterpoint. Modi aims to have 30% EV usage by the end of this decade, a target that Singh called realistic. "For passenger cars, I would say, it will be more realistic to expect 15% to 20% by then," he said. "But overall, if you look at all types of vehicles, including our commercial vehicles among three-wheelers and two-wheelers, certainly we will be hitting above 30%."

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When it comes to India's two-wheelers and three-wheelers, EV penetration is strongly picking up, the secretary added. "We already have one of the highest in the world  close to 50%  for three-wheelers. For two-wheelers, we are already at about 10%-12%," he noted. "In passenger vehicles, we have this lag  where the penetration so far is only about 2%, which is why we wanted to kickstart this process by creating a policy, which incentivizes manufacturers to come into India in larger numbers and bring in their latest models and technology." India overtook China in 2023 to become the biggest market for electric three-wheelers, with over 580,000 sales, the International Energy Agency said in its latest "Global EV Outlook" report. The country is also the second-largest electric two-wheeler market globally, the report added, with sales in 2023 growing by 40% compared with 2022. "The Indian electric 2W market is dominated by the five largest domestic manufacturers (Ola Electric, TVS Motor, Ather, Bajaj and Ampere), which accounted for more than 75% of sales," IEA said.

Structural problems

Still, there are several structural challenges that need to be addressed to spur increased EV adoption, pointed out Bain & Company. India significantly lags other countries on charging infrastructure, "with roughly 200+ EVs per commercial charging point in India, as compared to ~20 in the US and less than 10 in China," Bain highlighted in a report. "It is a challenge," Singh acknowledged. "But investment in setting up the battery charging infrastructure is now underway in many of our larger cities, and even in some of the highways."

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken answers questions during a press conference at the US Embassy in China on April 26, 2024 in Beijing, China.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said Washington was prepared to sanction more Chinese firms if they are supplying Russia's military.

Blinken said he had used his talks with top Chinese officials in Beijing, including President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to express the White House's concern over the issue.

China, which maintains cordial relations with Russia and has said it will protect trade flows between the countries, says it has not sent Moscow any military equipment.

Blinken on Friday said China was a top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics and other items being used by Moscow to strengthen its military machine.

"This goes not only to the immediate threat posed by Russia and its aggression against Ukraine, it goes to a medium-, long-term threat that many Europeans feel viscerally about what it means for them," Blinken said during a press conference.

"All of us are looking to China to help curb this action, and we're also looking at the actions we are fully prepared to take," he said, adding that the U.S. had already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities.

"We're fully prepared to act to take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today," he said.

A CNBC analysis found Chinese firms have played a key role in propping up Russia's economy and boosting its battlefield capabilities through trade of goods.

 Jenni Reid
Shares of popular athleisure brand Lululemon have plummeted this year, trailing the S & P 500 significantly. Its shares, which were included in the Wall Street index just last October, are down around 28% year-to-date. Does that make it a good bargain for investors right now? Portfolio manager Jack Dwyer says that although this particular stock is one that "polarizes opinion" and has sparked "ferocious debate" he believes the company is at its "most interesting" stage right now. While Lululemon is historically seen as a yoga brand, it has margins that are "much closer to that of a sort of an emerging luxury business," the CEO of Infusive Asset Management told CNBC Pro Talks on Wednesday. But what's most interesting to him is that Lululemon's international expansion opportunity is "in its infancy," Dwyer said. He noted that the company has plans to double its stores in China between 2022 and 2026. That international business  which China is part of  represents 20% of its group sales, and is growing about 50% a year, according to Dwyer. "So assuming the company hits its targets over the next couple of years, we're trading at a multiple which is close to the 10 year lows on pre-pandemic levels," he said. Dwyer also pointed out that Lululemon is unlikely to be exposed to any geopolitical risks surrounding China. "What is the geopolitical impact it may have? Domestically [it] could've been used as a stalking horse, potentially, and that could have ramifications on demand. Doesn't seem to be the case so far, in fact that locals are actually really embracing the product, posting it on social media," he said. He noted that yoga and athleisure is "growing aggressively" in China, with the government planning to increase the number of gyms by 50% by 2030. "Millennials represent around a third to 40% in China and then Gen Z are a much bigger share of the demographic - they are fans of this brand," Dwyer. "So we take a level of comfort in that it's aligned with the government's ambitions around a healthier society." According to FactSet, Lululemon has a buy rating of 69% and analysts covering the stock give it 28.1% potential upside from the average price target. Dwyer manages Infusive's Consumer Alpha Global Leaders Fund. Its top holdings include Amazon , Netflix and Alphabet , in addition to consumer stocks such as McDonald's , LVMH and PepsiCo .
Not everyone goes to college. And not everyone who goes starts immediately after high school.

Many students take what's known as a gap year before attending college for a variety of reasons. While the practice is more common in the United Kingdom and other European countries, gap year interest is growing in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Gap Year Association.

Students may plan from the start of their college admissions process to take a year off after high school for personal growth and development, or use the time to work and save up extra cash. Others may take stock of their admission offerings and financial aid packages and decide they want to try their luck in the next application cycle.

As many students and families anxiously await delayed financial aid offers due to hiccups in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process, taking a gap year could help give some students more time to weigh their college decision.

Regardless of why you take a gap year, it "could end up helping you financially  or not helping you, depending on the circumstances," Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, tells CNBC Make It.

If you've been accepted to a school and decide to defer your enrollment for a year, it will be up to the institution how your admission offer and financial aid package are handled. In many cases, you'll still be required to pay an enrollment deposit in order to hold your place for the next incoming class.

You also may be banned from applying to other colleges if your place is being held at one school.

Ultimately, the decision to take a gap year will depend on your personal situation and family's needs, but there are a few factors to be aware of if you're planning to go to college after. These three gap year scenarios can impact your cost of attendance.
A Starbucks worker boards the Starbucks union bus after Starbucks workers stood on the picket line with striking SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America (WGA) members in solidarity outside Netflix studios on July 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Starbucks and Workers United, representing roughly 400 of its cafes, said Friday in a joint release that they made "significant progress" in their contract talks this week.

The two parties discussed a process to resolve grievances, details related to the union's representation of Starbucks baristas, and other topics on Wednesday and Thursday in Atlanta, according to the press release.

The two-day session marked the first time in nearly a year that Starbucks and Workers United came to the bargaining table. It followed a February announcement that the two sides were ending their bitter stalemate.

The coffee giant spent more than two years battling the union, which is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU. Workers United has broadly pushed for higher wages and more consistent scheduling, among a range of other priorities.

This week's talks are the closest that any of the unionized locations, which make up a small fraction of Starbucks' total U.S. footprint, have come to a collective bargaining agreement.

Yet, there's still a long road ahead.

"There's more to do, but we are committed to working together," both sides said in a joint statement.

Starbucks and the union plan to meet again in late May to keep working on the framework that will inform every single-store contract, according to the release. Individual stores will still have to negotiate and ratify their contracts once that foundation has been built.

Labor laws do not require that the employer and union reach a collective bargaining agreement, only that both bargain in good faith. After a year, workers who lose faith in the union can petition to decertify, putting a ticking clock on negotiations.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Starbucks and Workers United represent about 400 cafes. An earlier version misstated the number.
Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bank of America reiterates Alphabet as buy Bank of America said it is sticking with its buy rating on Alphabet following earnings Thursday. "The quarter beat expectations across all major business lines, supporting a narrative change: Google is a beneficiary of AI. Search is still not without disruption risk, but we remain constructive on Google infrastructure, data and distribution advantages." Deutsche Bank reiterates Snap as buy Deutsche Bank said it is sticking with its buy rating on the stock following earnings on Thursday. " Snap delivered a much-needed beat, and positive forward outlook, which now adds to our conviction that the ad platform rebuild is gradually bearing fruit." Goldman Sachs reiterates Microsoft as buy Goldman Sachs said it likes the company's "margin stability" following earnings on Thursday. "We reiterate our Buy rating and raise our 12-month PT to $515 (from $450 prior) as we see Microsoft offering a unique growth profile at their scale, with the ability to grow both top-line and EPS by double-digits in FY25." Goldman Sachs reiterates Intel as sell Goldman Sachs said it is standing by its sell rating on Intel shares following earnings Thursday. "Maintain Sell as AI prioritization continues to weigh on traditional server demand." Seaport initiates Hims & Hers as buy Seaport said it is bullish on shares of the telehealth company. "We are initiating coverage of HIMS with a Buy rating and $23 PT. Our positive fundamental thesis is based on: 1) Large TAM across key verticals, including sexual health, dermatology, weight loss, mental health; 2) Leading Online Health Brand with strong marketing execution" Maxim reiterates Apple as hold Maxim said it is sticking with its hold rating on Apple heading into earnings on May 2. "Our focus is on the following: 1) iPhone sales, given the over-reliance on the product, 52.3% of FY23 net sales; 2) China revenues, also given the elevated exposure, 18.9% in FY23; 3) China supply chain dependence, we expect diversification over time" Barclays upgrades Enphase Energy to overweight from equal weight Barclays said in its upgrade of Enphase that it sees an attractive entry point for shares of the solar company. "We think current levels provide a reasonable entry point as destocking is completed by the end of 2Q and demand is set to increase from trough levels as we move through the year." Benchmark upgrades Western Digital to buy from hold Benchmark upgrades Western Digital following the company's "major upside" earnings report. "Higher Flash Prices and Nearline Drive Sales Drive Major Upside Results, Moving to Buy with $85 Target." Bank of America upgrades Sonic Automotive to buy from underperform Bank of America said the auto company is turning a corner. "We upgrade Sonic to Buy from Underperform following the company's 1Q:24 earnings results as the key reasons underpinning our prior Underperform rating are now inflecting positively." Bank of America downgrades Hertz to underperform from neutral Bank of America said it sees too many negative catalysts for the car rental company. "Liquidity is also an increasing concern among investors as HTZ has an older fleet that will need to be refreshed at a time when used vehicles are dropping and new vehicle prices are softening only modestly." Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy Bank of America said Nvidia remains a top idea at the firm. "We remain bullish on vendors serving the cloud infra market including NVDA, AVGO, MRVL, AMD, MU and their associated supply chain of semicap equipment and design tool (EDA) suppliers." Stifel downgrades Caterpillar to hold from buy Stifel downgraded the stock following earnings on Thursday. "We continue to be impressed with the structural improvements CAT has made, including the margin and free cash flow profile, and believe CAT is well positioned to benefit. Shares traded down 7% vs 1% across the broader markets. We still see a reasonable risk/reward profile, but are lowering our rating to Hold." Raymond James upgrades Kratos to strong buy from outperform Raymond James said the defense company is seeing accelerating demand. "While the consumables in Israel and the recently passed Supplemental Security Aid package will benefit KTOS, we believe we are in the very early stages of a generational upgrade to Air Defense systems globally." Stifel downgrades Knight-Swift Transportation to hold from buy Stifel downgraded the transportation company following earnings. " Knight reported 1Q24 adjusted EPS of $0.12consistent with the pre-release guide-down. That guide-down was mainly driven by the unexpected duration of softness in the freight market." Morgan Stanley downgrades Mobileye to underweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said the autonomous vehicle parts company is a victim of the electric vehicle slowdown. " MBLY's leadership in computer vision creates option value for new content growth. However, a surprise slowdown in EV adoption limits the TAM through 2030 amidst aggressive competition." Morgan Stanley upgrades EPAM Systems to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said the valuation is looking more reasonable for shares of the software company. "We upgrade EPAM to EW as expectations and valuation appear more reasonable, while maintaining our Cautious view on the broader IT Services industry." Loop upgrades Compass Materials to buy from hold Loop said shares look reasonably attractive at current levels for the mining company. "We are upgrading our rating on shares of Compass Minerals/CMP from Hold to Buy. The rating change reflects primarily a view on valuation, if looking beyond the current fundamentals and negativity, and assuming some normalization will be forthcoming in business trends, EBITDA, and investor sentiment." Piper Sandler upgrades Citizens Financial to overweight from neutral Piper Sandler upgraded the regional bank and said shares are "very attractive." "We feel more comfortable with CFG's N-T NII [near term net interest income] progression, we like the longer-term opportunity here, we believe the solid capital base provides optionality to support earnings should loan growth not pan out as hoped, and we consider the valuation very attractive." Wells Fargo upgrades Visteon to equal weight from underweight Wells Fargo upgraded the auto electronics supplier mainly on valuation. " VC: The Price Is Getting Right; Upgrade to Equal Weight." JPMorgan upgrades Dow to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said the chemical company is poised to outperform. "We upgrade Dow to Overweight from Neutral. Dow is capable of outperforming because it is a beneficiary of higher oil prices, it has a durable 5% dividend yield, its value is sensitive to acceleration in global economic activity, and its downside risk is cushioned by the existence of global political tensions." Bank of America downgrades Teledyne to neutral from buy Bank of America said in its downgrade of the industrial tech conglomerate that it sees "limited upside" right now. "Despite improvements in the overall industrials macro-environment, TDY will be on the sidelines for a while due to their delayed position in the value chain. Thus, we are downgrading to a Neutral (from a Buy) and cutting our PO to $400 (from $490)." HSBC upgrades Snap to buy from hold HSBC said it sees an "ad market recovery" for shares of the social media company. "Upgrade to Buy: 1Q24: Ad market recovery and improved platform drive gains for Snap."
Ukrainian servicemen practice combat drills involving a BMP-1 in Donbas, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on March 19, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

With yet another tranche of U.S. aid on its way to Ukraine, Kyiv can breathe a sigh of relief that its forces will receive new weapons supplies and equipment to keep fighting Russia's advancing forces. But, with future aid uncertain, analysts question what "victory" Ukraine could realistically achieve against Russia  a country that has put its industries on a war footing and is able to mobilize hundreds of thousands more men to war. While additional aid allows Ukraine to keep on fighting Russian forces in the short stretch, a "victory" in the near-term is an unlikely prospect. What's more, what "victory" looks like for Ukraine, or its allies, could be a source of friction. "While renewed U.S. military support will likely avert a potential military defeat in 2024, the past several months have clearly demonstrated the perils of Kyiv's (over)dependence on U.S. military aid," Andrius Tursa, Central and Eastern Europe advisor at consultancy firm Teneo, said in emailed comments on Tuesday. "There is also a lack of common vision between Kyiv and its allies about what a Ukrainian 'victory' means and what steps and resources would be needed to achieve it," he noted. "Officially, Kyiv still aims to liberate all of the territories occupied since 2014, but few find this is realistic in the near-to-medium term."

Russian President and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin addresses the crowd during a rally and a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at Red Square in Moscow on March 18, 2024. Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty Images

Discussions about alternative settlement options acceptable to Kyiv might pick up later in 2024, Tursa said, particularly "as the share of the Ukrainian population that is willing to consider territorial concessions in exchange for the cessation of hostilities/peace is consistently rising." Kyiv insists that it will liberate all of its territory that Russia has seized since 2014. That includes Crimea and four Ukrainian regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, which it has since sought to "Russify" by handing out Russian passports, pensions and benefits while erasing Ukrainian culture, history and language from public spaces and schools. Russia's leadership has effectively staked its authority, legitimacy and legacy on winning in Ukraine and is unlikely to voluntarily remove its troops from southern and eastern Ukraine. This is particularly the case in eastern Ukraine, where it has enjoyed support from pro-Russian separatists for over a decade.

Frankness needed

Analysts say an "honest" conversation needs to take place between allies and Ukraine to map out what a victory might look like, along with what concessions and compromises might need to be made in any peace settlement or ceasefire. "I want to see the liberation of [Russian]-occupied territory but that's very hard to do, at least at this moment. So we need to speak about this with our partners and to have this unity with our partners," Oleksandr Musiyenko, a Kyiv-based military expert and head of the Centre for Military and Legal Studies, said. The morale boost from the U.S.' latest injection of aid means there is currently little appetite among Ukraine's leadership to discuss a potential end of the war that doesn't involve outright victory, said Musiyenko. "Here in Ukraine, people and politicians, they're feeling a little bit sensitive when talking about this, but I am sure that we need to be honest with the Ukrainian people and also with our Western partners, that's very important," he told CNBC Wednesday.

A woman walks past a huge poster depicturing a Russian soldier and a Z letter - a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, in Sevastopol, Crimea, on April 23, 2022. The "Z", which has become a symbol of support for Russian military action in Ukraine, is widely used by Russian authorities and President Putin supporters, decorating building facades, bus doors, car windscreens and T-shirts. - | Afp | Getty Images
China's President Xi Jinping meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 26, 2024.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday that Washington needs to look at China's development "in a positive light" in order for bilateral relations to improve.

Xi called this a "fundamental issue" that "must be put right, in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilize, improve and move forward," according to an official release.

The Chinese leader's comments come as the U.S. has imposed restrictions on Beijing's ability to access high-end tech and is moving close to banning social media app TikTok unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it.

Blinken met with Xi in Beijing on Friday, amid strained ties between the two countries as they battle for tech supremacy, with differences over the Middle East conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking ahead of his closed-door meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Blinken said there is no substitute for "face-to-face diplomacy" and emphasized the need for the U.S. and China to avoid "miscalculations."
Carmaker refocuses on hybrid cars amid EV slowdown

By Baek Byung-yeul

Kia recorded its highest-ever quarterly operating profit of 3.42 trillion won ($2.49 billion) in the first quarter, thanks to favorable exchange rates, the carmaker said Friday.

In its first-quarter earnings announcement, Kia logged sales of 26.21 trillion won, up 10.6 percent from the same period in 2023. Operating profit increased by 19.2 percent.

The company said it sold 760,515 cars from January to March, down 1 percent year-on-year. Despite the decrease in sales volume, the company attributed its strong performance to stabilized raw material prices, favorable exchange rates and strong sales of high-priced models such as eco-friendly cars and recreational vehicles (RVs).

The company also cited higher average selling prices as a contributor to the increased operating income in the first quarter. During the period, Kia cars average selling price rose by 12.2 percent to 36.1 million won from 32.2 million won in the first quarter of 2023.

"The global industry demand showed a limited recovery due to a slowdown in the growth of electric vehicle (EV) demand," a Kia spokesperson said. "Sales volume decreased year-on-year slightly due to weakened EV sales and a temporary shortage of supply for internal combustion engine and hybrid models."

Estimating its following quarters, Kia mentioned that while EV demand is slowing, there is an increase in demand for internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and the company is focusing more on supplying hybrids.

"Due to the slowdown in EV demand and increased competition leading to price reductions, there have been sales difficulties, and incentives are also expanding," Joo Woo-jeong, chief financial officer of Kia, told investors during a conference call. "Conversely, there is a revival in demand for internal combustion engines, including hybrids. The company is focusing on supplying more hybrids to meet the demand.

In terms of EV business strategy, Kia plans to introduce a facelift version of its EV model EV6 and launch its EV3 in the second half of the year. The EV3 is scheduled to start mass production in Korea in June this year.

The CFO mentioned that despite the slowdown in EV demand and difficulties in the Indian market, there should be no issues in achieving the early-year target of selling 3.2 million vehicles and hitting 12 trillion won in operating profit this year.

"We expect that the difficulties encountered early in the EV era can actually highlight Kia's competitiveness and demonstrate the strength to sustain a high-profit structure," Joo said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to depart Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport en route to Beijing, on April 25, 2024.

The U.S. and China will hold their first high-level talks on artificial intelligence within the "coming weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, providing no update on the future of Chinese social media giant TikTok.

During wide-ranging talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, Blinken said the two sides had agreed to the first U.S.-China intergovernmental dialogue on AI to discuss the risks and safety concerns surrounding the emerging technology.

"Earlier today we agreed to hold the first US PRC talks on artificial intelligence to be held in the coming weeks, to share our respective views on risks and safety concerns around advanced AI and how best to manage them," Blinken said during a press conference.

The U.S. imposed restrictions on Beijing's ability to access high-end tech and is moving closer to banning the social media app TikTok unless its Chinese parent ByteDance sells it.

Blinken at the press conference said TikTok "did not come up" in the talks.

China's foreign ministry confirmed the AI talks will take place in a statement, which detailed a wider five-point agreement between Washington and Beijing.

Also included in the consensus were further efforts to "stabilize and develop" U.S.-China relations, expand cultural exchanges, and continue consultations on "international and regional hotspot issues," the foreign ministry said, according to a Google translation.
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

The wealth gap between rich millennials and the rest of their age group is the largest of any generation, creating a new wave of class tension and resentment, according to a recent study.

Even as the vast majority of millennials struggle with student debt, low-wage service-jobs, unaffordable housing and low savings, the millennial elite are surpassing previous generations. According to the study, the average millennial has 30% less wealth at the age of 35 than baby boomers did at the same age. Yet the top 10% of millennials have 20% more wealth than the top baby boomers at the same age.

"Millennials are so different from one another that it is not particularly meaningful to talk about the 'average' Millennial experience," wrote the study's authors, Rob Gruijters, Zachary Van Winkle and Anette Eva Fasang. "There are some Millennials who are doing extremely wellthink Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altmanwhile others are struggling."

The study finds that millennials  typically defined as those between the age of 28 and 43 today  have faced repeated financial headwinds. Coming of age during the financial crisis, they have lower levels of homeownership, larger debts outweighing assets, low-wage and unstable jobs, and lower rates of dual-income family formation.

At the same time, the authors say the top 10% of millennials have benefited from greater rewards for skilled jobs. As they put it, "The returns to high-status work trajectories have increased, while the returns to low-status trajectories have stagnated or declined."

The millennials who "went to college, found graduate level jobs, and started families relatively late," ended up with "higher levels of wealth than Baby Boomers with similar life trajectories," according to the report.
NSE

In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Sanjiv Puri, Chairman of ITC Group, shed light on the company's recent foray into Sri Lanka, its investment strategy, and potential future expansions, including a possible move into Nepal.ITCs entry into the international hospitality market with ITC Ratnadipa marks the largest investment by any Indian company in Sri Lanka to date. Puri emphasised the significance of ITC Ratnadipa, situated amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean and Beira Lake. With nine vibrant dining options, the property aims to showcase the best of Sri Lanka while adhering to ITC's renowned hospitality standards.The globally acknowledged cuisines of ITC Hotels will also find a pride of place in ITC Ratnadipa through a repertoire of fine dining experiences. ITC Hotels commitment to promote local cuisine through its initiative  Local Love has led its renowned chefs to draw inspiration from Sri Lankas ancient culinary traditions & indigenous foods. The Ahasa bride bar is an experience in itself and the entire property is an engineering and design marvel, said Sanjiv Puri.Explaining the rationale behind venturing into Sri Lanka, Puri highlighted the country's untapped tourism potential and its alignment with India's "neighborhood first" policy. Despite economic challenges, Puri expressed optimism, citing promising macroeconomic indicators and the resilience of Sri Lanka's economy.When we make investments, we look at analysis beyond the near-term issues. Sri Lanka has great potential in terms of tourism and it is not explored that much. The country has a lot to offer and tourism is bound to flourish here. There has been a bounce back in tourism already, and the economic bounce back is also looking up, Puri said.Furhter talking about ITC's investment and expansion plans, Puri revealed that Nepal could be the next destination. With ongoing exploration by its subsidiary, ITC aims to capitalise on proximal markets while maintaining a robust pipeline of 70 properties for the next five years, including 22 new openings in India over the past 24 months.We will continue to look at various destinations, but we have a subsidiary in Nepal and we are looking for options there, said Puri.Touching upon ITC's demerger process, Puri assured stakeholders of progress, aiming for completion by year-end. Amidst the post-pandemic surge in travel enthusiasm, Puri advocated for sustainable tourism and encouraged the youth to prioritise properties upholding the highest standards of sustainability.With an optimistic outlook on the hospitality sector, Puri emphasised the evolving preferences of modern travelers and the role of ITC in shaping sustainable and memorable travel experiences. As the company continues to chart its expansion course, all eyes are on potential future endeavors, including a potential entry into the Nepalese market.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he plans to visit China in May, in what could become the first foreign trip for the Russian leader after he extended his rule by six more years in an election that offered voters little real choice.

Putin announced the plans for the visit at a congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow. He didn't say when exactly it would take place and didn't offer any other details.

Putin's inauguration is scheduled for May 7, Russian lawmakers said earlier this week. Last month, the 71-year-old Russian leader secured his fifth term in office in a vote with no real opposition, extending his 24-year rule.

Russias growing economic and diplomatic isolation because of its war against Ukraine has made it increasingly reliant on China, its former rival for leadership of the Communist bloc during the Cold War.

According to a recent U.S. assessment, China has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry for use in the conflict.

China has repeatedly said it isnt providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Moscow.

Beijing has not provided direct lethal military support for Russia and has sought to project itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict. It has refused to condemn Moscows actions and declared in 2022 that it had a no-limits friendship with Russia. The country has denounced Western sanctions against Moscow, and accused NATO and the United States of provoking Putins invasion.

China has also proposed a peace plan that was largely dismissed by Ukraines allies, who insisted that Moscow must withdraw its forces from the neighboring country as a condition for peace. (AP)
Venice's mayor hailed Thursday the smooth launch of a trial of entry fees for day visitors despite protests by residents, saying tourism in the historic Italian city had to change.

For the first time, visitors exploring Venice for the day were required to buy a five-euro ($5.30) ticket, enforced by spot checks at key points of entry into the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said 15,700 people bought tickets on Thursday, the first of 29 days throughout 2024 when the entry fee will be charged as part of a trial  the first such scheme in the world.

He noted that for now, the test was costing more than the entry fees were bringing in, calling it a worthy investment.

"This is not an expense  it is a way to make people understand that we need to change and therefore dilute visits to the city," he said in a statement.

Considered one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, Venice is a top tourist destination  but is drowning under the weight of the crowds.

There is no limit to the number of tickets available. Instead, the goal is to highlight the busiest days and try to persuade day-trippers to choose other times.

"I think it's good, because it will perhaps slow down the numbers of tourists in Venice," said Sylvain Pelerin, a French tourist who has been visiting for more than 50 years.

But some residents are strongly opposed, and around 300 people protested near the Santa Lucia train station on Thursday morning, holding up signs such as "Stick it to the ticket!" and "Venice is not for sale!"

"This is not a museum, it's not a protected ecological area, you shouldn't have to pay  it's a city," Marina Dodino, from the local residents' association ARCI, told AFP.

Fines

The "Venice Access Fee", for now required mostly on weekends from May to July, can either be purchased online or at the new ticket office at the train station.

It is required only between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, with overnight visitors  who already pay a tourist tax  and minors under the age of 14 exempt, among others.

Around 113,000 people registered to enter Venice on Thursday, officials said, including 40,000 overnight visitors, 13,000 students, 20,000 workers and more than 4,000 friends or relatives of residents.

Residents just need to show their identity documents. Brugnaro's office said checks by around 75 inspectors at more than a dozen control points had identified no major issues.

Those without tickets face fines of 50 to 300 euros, though officials said they are seeking to persuade rather than punish.

UNESCO threat

The scheme is being closely watched by other destinations grappling with mass tourism, which boosts the local economy but risks overwhelming local communities and fragile sites.

Venice, spread over more than 100 small islands and islets in northeastern Italy, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1987.

But at peak times, 100,000 visitors stay overnight in the historic center, double the resident population of just 50,000.

Tens of thousands more pour into the city's narrow streets for the day, often from cruise ships, to see sights including St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge.

Authorities banned cruise ships in 2021, rerouting them to a more distant industrial port.

But UNESCO threatened last year to put Venice on its list of heritage in danger, citing mass tourism as well as rising water levels in its lagoon, which are attributed to climate change.

Venice escaped the ignominy only after local authorities agreed the new ticketing system.

'New balance'

The ticket idea had long been debated but repeatedly postponed over concerns it would dent tourist revenue and compromise freedom of movement.

"The aim is to find a new balance between tourism and the city of its residents," Simone Venturini, the local councillor responsible for tourism, told AFP.

Ashish Thakkar, an American tourist visiting Venice with his wife, questioned how much of an effect the day pass would have.

"If I'm coming all the way from out of the country, five euros just to get access to the city  I wouldn't mind paying it," he told AFP.

Some residents complain the measures fail to address another major issue  the expansion of short-term apartment rentals through websites such as Airbnb, which are squeezing out long-term tenants.

"You have to start with the houses if you really want to solve the problem of tourism in Venice," said Federica Toninello, a local campaigner. (AFP)
A young Brazilian woman participating in an exchange program in Colorado found herself in a dire situation after consuming leftover soup, resulting in paralysis and a fight for her life in the hospital.

Claudia de Albuquerque Celada, aged 23, was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 17 after exhibiting symptoms, including paralysis, dizziness, double vision and shortness of breath, Aspen Daily News reported.

Two weeks later, she was diagnosed with botulism, a rare but severe condition caused by a toxin that affects the nerves of the body. Since then, Celada has relied on a breathing aid at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver.

Local health authorities are urging Americans to exercise caution in handling food following the revelation that the exchange worker contracted a deadly bacteria, believed to have originated from leftover soup.

According to reports, investigations linked the Brazilian woman's illness to a pre-packaged soup she purchased while working in Aspen in February. Although tests on soup samples from the same grocery store returned negative for contamination, officials suspect improper storage or cooking methods led to the infection.

The Pitkin County Health Department considers the incident a tragic accident, emphasizing the importance of reassessing food handling practices. Recommendations include refrigerating soup and perishables at temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius, ensuring thorough reheating of food and avoiding leaving food unattended for extended periods.

Celada's sister, Luisa Albuquerque, announced on social media that the Denver hospital is covering her flight back to Brazil via air ambulance.

"We think that recovery close to family and friends is much faster. Comparing the costs between staying here and returning to Brazil, the return is still cheaper," her sister said, according to news.com.au.

However, with daily hospital costs amounting to approximately $15,400 AUD, financial burdens are mounting. The family's travel insurance has expired, compounding their struggles to cover escalating medical expenses.

The timeline of events leading to Celada's hospitalization remains unclear. Initially experiencing symptoms of illness in February, she rapidly deteriorated, exhibiting severe respiratory distress and facial paralysis upon admission to the hospital. While the exact source of the infection is unknown, her family suspects it to be foodborne.

Botulism, characterized by symptoms starting in the eyes, face, mouth and throat before spreading to other body parts, poses a significant threat to health, including respiratory muscle weakness that can lead to breathing difficulties or death.

Authorities in Pitkin County have assured the public that the case appears isolated, with no identified risk to the broader community.

Fundraising efforts have been initiated by Celada's family to alleviate the financial burden, following the Denver hospital's commitment to cover transportation expenses.
Researchers have identified a distinct profile of self-reactive antibodies appearing in the blood years before the first clinical signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), offering a potential diagnostic tool for early intervention in the neurodegenerative disease.

Multiple Sclerosis News Today reported that the antibodies discovered in approximately 10% of individuals who later developed MS were nearly 100% predictive of an eventual MS diagnosis. They targeted a protein sequence resembling that found in common pathogens infecting humans, notably the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), recently implicated as a prominent risk factor for MS.

According to Michael Wilson, M.D., a professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and senior author of the study, "A diagnostic result like this makes such early intervention more likely, giving patients hope for a better life."

Published in Nature Medicine, the study, titled "An autoantibody signature predictive for multiple sclerosis," sheds light on the immune system's role in MS, wherein mistaken attacks on myelin, the protective sheath around nerve cells, occur.

The research team, led by scientists from UCSF and other U.S. institutions, analyzed blood samples from the U.S. Department of Defense Serum Repository, examining 250 MS patients' samples along with those of 250 healthy veterans.

Results revealed that approximately 10% of MS patients exhibited a specific autoantibody profile in their blood years before symptom onset, persisting over time and remaining detectable after diagnosis. These autoantibodies targeted a protein sequence resembling those found in common human pathogens, including hepatitis C virus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, and EBV.

Further validation of the findings was conducted in a separate group of individuals, confirming the specificity of the autoantibody profile for MS diagnosis.

Joseph DeRisi, Ph.D., a UCSF professor and senior study author, emphasized, "It's when the immunological signature of a person looks like someone else... that we begin to suspect something is wrong."

While the precise triggers of these immune responses remain unclear, the researchers suggest prior infection with EBV or other common pathogens as potential factors. Moving forward, understanding the origins of this MS signature could provide valuable insights for disease management and treatment strategies.
What do Paul McCartney, Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson, Jasper Johns, James Woods, 50 Cent, Mark Zuckerberg, Jim Jarmusch and Gary Coleman all have in common?

Theyve each guest starred on The Simpsons.

From its early glory days up until today, The Simpsons has been able to get pretty much whoever theyve wanted to appear on the show. That said, one of the biggest names in music has yet to satisfy the hungry hearts of Simpsons writers: Bruce Springsteen.

Time and again, the legendary Jersey boy has been approached to appear on the animated sitcom, but convincing him to do so has thus far proven futile. Here are all of the episodes in which the Simpsons writers took a leap of faith and reached out to the Boss, only to be left with sad eyes when he said, No surrender!

One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish (1991)

The first time The Simpsons tried to get Springsteen was for a random appearance way back in Season Two. In One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish, Homer listens to The Good Book on Tape, which was narrated by Larry King (who played himself). Back in 1992, Matt Groening said at an appearance at UCLA that Springsteen was originally going to be The Good Book narrator, but he declined.

Season Threes Radio Bart was the first big attempt at securing Springsteen, which would have involved a small appearance as himself. However, Jay Kogen, a writer on the show back then, takes the blame for Springsteens refusal. In a story hes told a few times over the years, he said he saw Springsteen coming out of the Century City Theaters and thought, I can get Bruce Springsteen!

Wearing his Simpsons jacket, Kogen started shouting Bruce! Bruce! Bruce! as he was running up to Springsteen. Im a producer of The Simpsons! Were trying to get you for an episode, and weve been calling your manager! Kogen said, like a crazy person.

Bruce said that he was very interested, Kogen continued, but I think that was just to get away from me because we never heard from him again. Its totally my fault. I ran at Bruce! He stepped in front of his wife to protect her. I pointed at my dumb Simpsons jacket like it was proof I worked on the show. Hed say anything to get away from me.

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Retelling the story on Twitter in 2019, fellow Simpsons writer Mike Scully replied to Kogen, saying, Thats weird. Cornering people when theyre trying to have a private night out usually makes them like you. Thats right, Jay, Im blaming you for my dreams not coming true.

In the end, the part intended for Springsteen went to Sting, though you can read the table draft of Radio Bart with Springsteen on the Internet Archive if you want a glimpse of what could have been.

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When new showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein had an episode on deck in Season Seven featuring Homer as a circus freak at a music festival, the pair tried to book as many musical acts as possible. As Weinstein tells me, I love Bruce Springsteen so much, and I know Mike Scully is a massive fan, too. I honestly dont remember how much effort (I put in). I just remember he was a top choice, and I think we heard a no from him.

I will also say that who we got  Smashing Pumpkins, Cypress Hill and Peter Frampton  were all fantastic, hilarious, and ultimately iconic, and I wouldnt change that Homerpalooza lineup even if I could.

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It would be a couple of years and another new showrunner before the show would make another run at Springsteen. In a DVD commentary recorded in 2007, writer Rich Appel said, The original idea for this was Mike (Scully)s. He had mentioned it to me, celebrities moving into town, he immediately pitched that one of the celebrities is Bruce Springsteen, hoping that Bruce Springsteen would agree to do the show. And so, when I first wrote it, I laboriously thought of as many Bruce Springsteen jokes as I could and then, well, Bruce Springsteen said no.

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Scully would eventually reach out to Clarence Clemons (RIP), a member of Springsteens E Street Band, for a small part in Season Nines Christmas episode, Grift of the Magi. We wanted a deep narrator voice for the end of the episode and thought of Clarence, Scully explains.

After the recording, Scully had Clemons sign a few albums. Then, Scully says, As (Clemons) exited the studio, I desperately called out, Wed love to have the whole band on the show sometime! and he gave me a big smile and said, You know who you gotta ask! and exited.

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Still undeterred, Scully would make one final plea to his idol. I wanted Bruce and the E Street Band for A Tale of Two Springfields, he says. We wrote a scene where theyre staying at a hotel in Springfield, and they all sleep in a giant bed like The Three Stooges. Then they were going to play on top of the wall at the end of the show.

While Scully was aware that Kogen may have scared Springsteen away from the show, he really wanted to get to the bottom of why Springsteen continued to turn them down. Finally, one of his reps told me, He just likes to play music and hang out with his kids. I thought to myself, That fucker! Scully laughs, before adding, Anyway, we wound up getting The Who and going to London to record them, so it all worked out in the end.

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The latest push for the Boss was more of a joke about not getting Springsteen than a concerted effort to finally change his mind. In the Annie Hall-inspired Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing, Bart tries to win over the heart of Mary Spuckler (again). When Lisa suggests that he compliment her, Bart ponders, What would my heroes say? and imagines Marvels Wolverine giving him advice as well as E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg.

When Weinberg tells Bart to tell Mary to play the drums! Its the only thing anyone listens to in any band!, a caption reading Springsteen Not Available appears beneath him. Later in the episode, Weinberg reappears, and the caption Steven van Zandt Also Not Available flashes on the screen.

Rubbing salt in this longtime wound? Despite seemingly only wanting to play music and hang out with his kids, Springsteen did recently play himself in the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Doh!
This listing photo shows the property  which includes a house, multiple barns, and an equestrian riding arena  that Annie Leibovitz wanted to make a working and teaching farm. Photo: Compass

Annie Leibovitz has another listing on the market  this time, a 65-acre farm in Bolinas, California, that she bought only five years ago. As The Wall Street Journal reported, the farm is priced to sell at $8.9 million, as Leibovitz had paid $7.5 million for the place in 2019 and has put $2 million into the property since then.

Leibovitz, whose family lives in New York, bought the farm when it looked like her eldest daughter would be going to college in California. The photographer, who went to school in San Francisco and likes to vacation in Bolinas, described herself as a California person and told the Journal that she always dreamed of returning (which hasnt happened since she left with Rolling Stone in 1977). When she bought the Bolinas property, the idea was to partner with a legendary farmer over the hill to bring the place back to its former self as a working and teaching farm. But instead, all three of Leibovitzs daughters ended up going to school in the Northeast, and Leibovitz said she hardly had time to go to the farm.

Leibovitz sunk $2 million into the house, including the newly remodeled kitchen featured in this listing photo. Photo: Compass

The property comes with multiple barns like the horse stables featured in this listing photo. Photo: Compass

The property at 605 Horseshoe Hill Road, nicknamed the Hideaway, includes a four-bedroom farmhouse built in the 1920s, a guesthouse, a barn turned banquet hall with a stage, and an equestrian riding arena. It was once owned by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival founder Warren Hellman, who added a recording studio to one of the dairy barns. The house itself, which has exposed wood ceilings and wide-plank floors, has been remodeled by Leibovitz, complete with a new white-tiled kitchen.

Buying premium real estate and making extensive renovations to her properties have been something of an Achilles heel for the photographer; the farm is only one of many properties Leibovitz has tried to unload in recent years. This February, she sold her Central Park West duplex for $10.625 million, at a loss from the $11.3 million she paid for it. A month before that, she listed her West Village condo for $8.5 million, which is currently under contract. Now, her California house. Bolinas was a dream, as the photographer told the Journal, but things dont always go as planned.
Old habits die hard. When things go wrong in this country (as they do with monotonous regularity these days), it is still the default position of diehard Remainers  eight years on from the referendum they lost  to blame Brexit for all our ills.

It's an addiction they can't seem to shake even as time makes so many of the arguments for and against Brexit increasingly irrelevant.

So, when confronted yesterday with Britain's inability to stop tens of thousands of migrants landing on our shores in small boats via the English Channel, not only did Foreign Secretary David Cameron appear less than enthusiastic about his own government's Rwanda policy  of which he is clearly a sceptic  he also seemed to blame Brexit for the flood of illegal migrants.

Not in so many words, of course. Our ex-PM and staunch Remainer is too canny a politician for that, especially now he's at the heart of a Brexit government. But what he really thinks was pretty clear.

He claimed that when we were still members of the European Union 'we had a totally different situation where you could return people directly to France. I'd love that situation to be the case again'.

David Cameron at the Tripoli Medical Centre in Libya after the fall of Gaddafi in 2011

Wouldn't we all? If it were true.

'People land on a beach in Kent,' continued Cameron, warming to his theme. 'You take them straight back to France. You therefore break the model of the people smugglers.'

If only we could return to that golden age. But for the fact that it never existed. True, the EU had something called the Dublin Regulation, which  theoretically  allowed the UK to return asylum seekers to the EU country from whence they'd come, which in our case mainly meant France. But in practice only a small number were ever removed.

You'd think Cameron would know this since he was PM at the time. But clearly not. So let's refresh his memory.

The Dublin Regulation was a two-way street. We could return asylum seekers to other EU countries but they could also return others to us. Between 2015 and 2017, the net number of migrants dispatched from the UK was 36. That's right: 36 over three years, or a net 12 a year. It's on this basis that Cameron looks longingly at how much things were better when we were still in the EU.

It's nonsense. Between 2010 and 2017, seven years during which Cameron was in Downing Street for six of them, a grand total of only 1,200 migrants were forcibly returned to France. How he thinks such a system could cope with the 120,000 who've come by small boats since 2018 he has not explained. I'm not holding my breath.

There are more fundamental reasons for thinking we shouldn't listen to our Foreign Secretary when it comes to boat people. When he was Prime Minister, his foreign policy only made matters worse.

Take his disastrous intervention in Libya in 2011. Yes, its dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was an evil despot. But we learned the hard way with Saddam Hussein in Iraq that there's no point in removing foul regimes unless you have a credible plan to put something better in their place. I say 'we' learned. I do not include Cameron. He clearly skipped that lesson.

British, American and French air power quickly toppled Gaddafi. Cameron rushed to Libya in September 2011 to take a victory bow with then French President Sarkozy. 'Your friends in Britain and France will stand with you as you build your country,' he promised cheering crowds, 'and build your democracy for the future.' He then proceeded to desert them.

Cameron's failed Libya intervention resulted in a surge of migrants fleeing for their lives in boats across the Mediterranean, with the UK the ultimate destination for many of them

We await the outcome of the Rwanda play but, even if it deters some of the boat people, it will make no difference to the far higher numbers coming in legally, writes Andrew Neil

Don't take my word for it. Just look at the devastating report by the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee published in 2016. Initially launched with limited aims, Cameron's Libyan adventure had quickly 'elided into regime change' even though he had 'no proper appreciation of what was going to happen in the event of regime change, no proper understanding of Libya, no proper plan for the consequences'.

It doesn't get more damning than that and this committee, let us not forget, had an in-built Tory majority.

The result of Cameron's Libyan intervention, concludes the report, 'was political and economic collapse, inter-militia and inter-tribal warfare, humanitarian and migrant crises, widespread human rights violations, the spread of Gaddafi regime weapons across the region and the growth of Isil [Islamic State] in north Africa'.

The inevitable consequence of turning Libya into a failed state, with the chaos that ensued, was a surge of migrants fleeing for their lives in all manner of boats across the Mediterranean, with the UK the ultimate destination for many of them.

And not just from Libya. As the country ceased to function, refugees and economic migrants flooded in unimpeded from other failed African states, such as Niger and Mali, determined to make their own way across the Mediterranean then spread out across Europe.

Cameron, concluded the Commons committee, 'was ultimately responsible for the failure to develop a coherent Libya strategy'. That failure, said Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's former chief of staff, turned Libya into 'Somalia on the Mediterranean'.

President Obama's description was more colourful: he called it a 'sh*tshow'. Libya became the gateway for millions of migrants heading for Europe. The migrant crisis of the past decade or so is, at least partly, a 'Made by Cameron' creation.

The charge sheet doesn't stop there. In 2015 the brutal Assad regime in Syria was massacring its own people. The West was under pressure to intervene to help ease their plight. But Cameron insisted on holding a Commons vote to sanction Syrian intervention. He lost that vote and immediately backed off any military action.

I remember covering these events live on BBC TV. I left for America the next day. I spoke to sources over the weekend that followed and quickly learned that something rare had happened: a vote in the British Parliament had a seminal influence on American politics.

I reported on the BBC that Monday morning that U.S. politicians were returning to Congress determined to follow the UK example and vote against military action. Obama saw the way the wind was blowing and duly capitulated to Congress. Cameron had pulled the rug from under him. Assad was free to continue with his carnage. Millions of Syrians gave up hope and they too began the long trek to Europe.

You might be asking why, with such a blemished foreign policy record, Cameron is back as foreign secretary.

But he has brought authority and gravitas to a cabinet sorely lacking in both. Given his experience, it might be hoped that he is now better informed and has learned lessons. But it is time he let old battles go. Britain would have major migration issues in or out of the EU.

In post-Brexit Britain their resolution is entirely in the hands of the Westminster government and so far it has been largely bereft of answers. Indeed it has presided over an unprecedented expansion of net migration since the Brexit vote, with a net rise of almost 700,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available.

So much for 'taking back control'. We await the outcome of the Rwanda play but, even if it deters some of the boat people, it will make no difference to the far higher numbers coming in legally, about which the government only tinkers.

Cameron led a government which promised every year to cut net migration to the tens of thousands and never once came close. He has joined a government which is even less successful than his was  and it can't even blame Brussels.

Until he has something useful and constructive to say about it, a period of silence would be wise and welcome.

The rehashing of old, discredited tropes simply doesn't help.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland's First Minister, is a collector's item. So wonderfully shifty!

The lazy eyelids, the over-rehearsed concern, the self-glorification, the blazing insincerity. It's nearly enough  if only the SNP's tax rates weren't so stinging  to make a sketchwriter consider moving to Edinburgh.

Mr Yousaf held a press conference after the collapse of his coalition with the Greens. Earlier he had called in his two Green ministers and given them the boot.

Or maybe that should be the gumboot. Never share a bed with a vegetarian. Oldest rule in the book.

The two Greenies, robbed of their ministerial tandem, were hopping mad and stomped away from Bute House, the First Minister's neo-classical Robert Adam mansion.

Humza Yousaf delivers a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh as he announces the end of the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens

Yousaf was questioned by journalists about the end of the agreement, accompanied by a sign language interpreter

An animated Humza Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapsed

Mr Yousaf speaking in parliament after the deal collapsed over what the Greens had seen as a gradual side-lining of their policies by the SNP

An enterprising BBC reporter pursued the duo down the street while asking them questions. He was lucky not to find himself strangled by a peace-rainbow lanyard.

'This is leadership!' cried Mr Yousaf after summoning reporters to the drawing room that serves as Bute House's media suite. He stood in front of the ornately mirrored Georgian fireplace where Alex Salmond quit in 2014.

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf on brink of being ousted as First Minister as former coalition partners say they will back no-confidence vote Advertisement

An antique vase was standing on the chimney-piece. Amazing it wasn't smashed by the Greens as they left in a huff.

'It was leadership,' repeated Mr Yousaf. 'I've not been pushed. I'm still First Minister of Scotland.' So he was, though that did not stop this outsider from wondering how on earth the SNP ever chose such a cartoon charlatan in the first place.

'I'm confident with that decision,' said Mr Yousaf, affecting a smile. 'I'm pleased with that decision.' And now he gritted his teeth to show how tough he was.

A newshound asked if he had become a 'lame-duck First Minister'. Mr Yousaf, just in case we had not heard him earlier: 'Not at all. This was leadership!' The words came out of the right side of his mouth.

Beside him stood a sign-language interpreter who tapped the sides of her forehead. This may have meant something in sign language or it may have been the universal signal for 'poor bloke is off his rocker'.

Mr Yousaf, whose party will now try to govern with a minority in the Holyrood parliament, said it was 'a privilege and a great joy to be First Minister'. This was uttered almost with a growl.

As an orator, he has acquired some of the mannerisms of his two predecessors, Mr Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. He did some Sturgeon-style double-bounces on the balls of his feet and he took a couple of shimmies forward and back, as she used to do.

His 'let us all pause and reflect and rededicate ourselves' was also straight from the Mistress McTermite book of tricks. She loved encouraging everyone else, except perhaps her husband, to 'reflect' on their actions.

Then Mr Yousaf started saying that 'governing as a minority will be hard' and he did a chuckle that was pure Salmond.

Humza Yousaf speaking from Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, as the SNP withdrew from the agreement it signed with the Greens

Yousaf has insisted the SNP can continue to run the country as a minority government after its agreement with the Greens was dissolved

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater (left) and Patrick Harvie (centre) speaking as the deal was brought to a premature end

The trouble is that he lacks the originality of either of his predecessors. This performance felt derivative and therefore inauthentic. It was obvious that he was acting. The best politicians manage to disguise that.

The right eye took a mind of its own and closed a couple of times even though the left eye remained open. Quite hard to do, is that.

His gaze acquired a world-weary quality as he listened to questions.

'We will now step up our ambition,' he said.

'Today marks a new beginning. A parliament of minorities need not be a parliament of enemies.'

The government's collapse was 'a serious challenge to the opposition. Instead of sniping, it is now time for the opposition to step up'.

He tugged on his beard, took a deep slug of water and his right eye slid shut like one of the electric doors on the set of Star Trek.

He pointed the tips of his two forefingers at his lectern and said 'this is leadership'. Moments later, he snapped 'I have to go' and shot from the room.
The centrepiece of Salman Rushdies new memoir is a vivid but harrowing account of the recent savage knife attack that almost ended his life.

In painful detail, he writes how he was stabbed multiple times during an event in New York State in 2022, slumping to the floor of the stage as the frenzy of blows continued before, finally, some brave members of the audience overpowered his assailant.

Against the odds, Rushdie recovered from the assault. Although he lost his sight in one eye and the partial use of one hand, his gifts as a writer have been undiminished. One critic said of the memoir: Part thriller, part love story, part celebration of literature, its an incandescent book full of hair-raising descriptions of hard-won survival and beautiful, philosophical passages about art, freedom and resilience.

Yet Rushdie has paid a heavy price for his unique talent and his refusal to collude with puritanical censorship. For 33 years before the 2022 atrocity, he had to live in the shadow of the fatwa, issued by Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran after the publication of his epic novel The Satanic Verses in 1989, which was deemed to have insulted Islam.

The threat to his life was all too real. In the first five months after the declaration of the fatwa, Rushdie had to change home in Britain no fewer than 56 times, and even when he moved to the U.S., he still needed a heavy bodyguard.

Salman Rushdie (pictured with his wife Rachel Eliza Griffiths) has lost the sight in one eye after the attack

Activists from a separatist organisation burn an effigy of Salman Rushdie during a protest in Kashmir in 2007

It was a draining experience with which I could deeply empathise, for as an outspoken critic of Islamic fundamentalism, I myself have had to spend more than two decades in official protection.

As with Rushdie, the threats have never relented. To this day, I have 24-hour security  and Rushdies attempted murder shows how I still need it. After the news of the 2022 incident, I was both horrified and scared. If the radical Islamists could get Salman on American soil, would I be next?

But I also took inspiration from Rushdies warning against surrender to the extremists. After 9/11 he wrote: How to defeat terrorism? Dont be terrorised. Dont let fear rule your life, even if you are scared.

He has heroically lived by those words since 1989. But, unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the political classes in the West.

Cast your mind back to the sanctified rage that erupted across the Muslim world when The Satanic Verses was first published  and the feeble attempts to defend Western liberal democracy in the face of it.

This should have been a moment when the politicians, media outlets and public institutions united in resolute defence of freedom of speech, one of the cornerstones of our civilisation. Instead, too many civic leaders cowed in front of the book-burners.

The then Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey set the tone with his pathetic bleat about the deep offence caused to Muslims, a line also taken by the then Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Roy Hattersley, who called for the paperback to be banned.

The fury against Rushdie also reached the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, where I was a teenager living under the influence of the Islamist radicals who controlled our local mosque and ran our school.

The fundamentalism of these instructors was nurtured by the scholarships they were given by the regimes of Saudi Arabia and Iran, which harboured the vision of creating a vast Muslim caliphate stretching across the Middle East, Europe and Africa. So in my youthful naivety, I was a book-burner along with my classmates.

Well, we did not actually burn Rushdies book because we could not afford it, so instead we wrote the title and the authors name on a piece of cardboard and burnt that.

In retrospect, it was a silly, infantile gesture but at the time we were deadly serious. I recall with a shudder that in my fanaticism I gloried in the Ayatollahs pledge to smite the infidel.

Suspect Hadi Matar was seized from the stage at a book fair in upstate New York where the author was stabbed multiple times

Rushdie was stabbed multiple times during an event in New York State in 2022, slumping to the floor of the stage as the frenzy of blows continued

However, soon afterwards I began my journey away from radicalism and towards the embrace of Western freedoms.

In 1992, to escape a forced marriage I sought asylum in the Netherlands, and  having had my claim approved and after working my way through a succession of menial jobs until I had mastered Dutch  I became a political science student at Leiden University, which opened my eyes to the ideas of the European Enlightenment, pluralism and human rights.

As a result, I began to question every aspect of my uncompromising faith, which I increasingly saw as intolerant, ignorant, reactionary and oppressive.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali has found herself exasperated by the excuse-making for terrorists from so many liberal Western commentators

What particularly struck me in the Netherlands was how radical imams exploited the generous hospitality of the Dutch but never showed any gratitude as they kept up their furious denunciations of the West.

Indeed, it was a deep irony that the very tradition of Western free expression enabled these clerics to be far more outspoken than they could have been in their native lands, where autocratic governments could crush perceived troublemakers.

But when the Twin Towers fell in New York in 2001, my outlook shifted for ever. I grew exasperated by the excuse-making for the terrorists from so many liberal Western commentators who blamed the massacre on American foreign policy, or the legacy of colonialism, or the treatment of the Palestinians or economic deprivation  a patently false explanation, given the mastermind of the atrocity, Osama bin Laden, was one of the richest and most privileged men in Saudi Arabia.

READ MORE: Inside the blood-soaked prison wars between Muslim and white gangs: I've seen toothbrushes turned into knives and am haunted by the screams of victims who had sugar and boiling water thrown in their face Advertisement

Having been radicalised in my youth, I knew that religious ideology was by far the most important factor. It was an argument I made in print, on television and, from 2003, as a member of the Dutch parliament.

That led to more condescension from liberal academics and politicians who loved to say that the Islamist question was complex or nuanced or subtle But they were the ones indulging in wishful thinking.

There was nothing subtle about the killing of my friend, the brave artist and film-maker Theo Van Gogh in 2004, who had denounced the misogyny of Islam. His killer Mohammed Bouyeri not only tried to decapitate him but also pinned a letter to Van Goghs chest with a small knife. It read that I would be next.

I had to go into hiding  but that did not stop me travelling to the U.S., where I met Salman Rushdie for the first time. He was funny and charming but also determined when he talked about courage.

It is the vital quality, he said, because it provides hope and can change the course of destiny, whereas with appeasement the negative outcome is inevitable.

As Winston Churchill  who had a shrewd understanding of Islam from his Victorian days as a soldier in India and Sudan, once wrote  an appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.

Sadly, the valour of Churchill and Rushdie has been absent all too often in the West. Denial and delusion have been our watchwords. Capitulation has been dressed up as social inclusion.

The pathetic impulse to appease has allowed Muslim extremism to flourish in our midst, reflected in the long catalogue of terror incidents, the surge in anti-Semitism across Western Europe, the development of separate communities complete with strict dress code and informal sharia tribunals, the dominance of hardline preachers in mosques, the networks of madrassa schools that promote a quasi-medieval interpretation of Islam, the tacit acceptance by officialdom of arranged marriages and polygamy, and the introduction of de facto blasphemy laws in the name of tackling hate speech.

Iranian students, holding pictures of Ayatollah Khomeini - who issued a fatwa against Rushdie - demonstrate in 1989

Rushdie with a copy of The Satanic Verses in 1989. In the first five months after the declaration of the fatwa, Rushdie had to change home in Britain no fewer than 56 times

All this has been further fuelled by mass immigration on an unprecedented scale, transforming the demography of European societies and accelerating the Islamification of Britain and the continent.

The impact of this appeasement can be seen in the recent poll by the Henry Jackson anti-extremism think tank which found that 52 per cent of British Muslims want to make it a criminal offence to show an image of the Prophet Mohammed, while a third openly support the introduction of sharia law.

It would have been unthinkable in the Britain of only a few years ago that a teacher in Batley, West Yorkshire, would have to go into hiding in fear of his life because a mob of theocratic fascists objected to his teaching materials for a religious studies lesson, but such sectarianism is now common.

The teacher in question, a well-regarded professional, had discussed with his pupils the appalling Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris in 2015, when 12 people were shot dead by terrorists after the satirical magazine had published a cartoon of Muhammed.

For a few days, a wave of outrage swept across the West, epitomised by the slogan Je Suis Charlie but it was a sentimental spasm that soon passed. Nor was the Batley teacher given the backing he deserved from his school, the local council, the police or even his trade union.

The Batley saga epitomises our topsy-turvy times, in which Muslim campaigners simultaneously pose as oppressed victims while stoking a climate of fear and intimidation. In advancing their cause, grievances are listed with a menacing side-order of blackmail.

It takes the guts of someone like Katharine Birbalsingh, the outstanding head of the Michaela school in West London, to stand up to the zealots, as she bravely did recently when she refused to create a special prayer room on the premises because it would shatter the secular ethos that has been essential to the schools success.

But such toughness is rare. Many civic leaders take the line of least resistance, as occurred in a shameful incident in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where a 14-year-old autistic boy was hauled before an ugly kangaroo court made up of local Muslim activists to be interrogated about his alleged mishandling of a copy of the Koran.

Incredibly, instead of shutting down this farce, West Yorkshire Police had an officer present to add an official gloss to the proceedings. Depressingly, I fear there will be more of this nonsense when Labour comes to power under Sir Keir Starmer. Throughout Europe, socialists have proved natural allies of the militants, partly because they both subscribe to the narrative of ethnic minority victimhood.

Moreover, Starmers party has long been reliant on the electoral support of Muslims, 70 per cent of whom are estimated to vote Labour. So we can expect more grants to Muslim community groups, more special treatment masquerading as positive action, more legislation on Islamophobia, and more gesture politics like this from the heart of England.

While hundreds of thousands of brave women in Iran protest against the Islamic head-covering, in Labour-run Sandwell in the West Midlands a huge, brutalist sculpture has gone up of a Muslim woman in traditional dress. The strength of the hijab is the title of this piece of theocratic propaganda which should have no place in Britain.

Rushdie himself said recently: We live in a moment, I think, at which freedom of expression and freedom to publish has not in my lifetime been under such threat in the countries of the West.

He is right. It is a profoundly depressing thought that no mainstream publisher would touch The Satanic Verses today.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is founder of restorationbulletin.com
Her post was flooded with comments from viewers sharing their own thoughts

She explained: 'I do know that a lot of stuff is banned at home for good reason'

A Brit has revealed all the wild items she bought in an American Walmart - as she admitted some of them are 'banned' in the UK.

Bolu Brea took to TikTok to share a carousel of images featuring the products she purchased 'as soon as she landed' in the US.

She explained: 'Some of the stuff they have in America be making sense. I do know that a lot of stuff is banned at home for good reason.

'But these are some of my favorite products.'

Bolu Brea revealed all the wild items she bought in an American Walmart - as she admitted some of them are 'banned' in the UK

She took to TikTok to share a carousel of images featuring the products she purchased 'as soon as she landed' in the US

Bolu's carousel began with a bottle of ibuprofen and extra strength acetaminophen - both of which contained 500 capsules

Bolu's carousel began with a bottle of ibuprofen and extra strength acetaminophen - both of which contained 500 capsules.

She wrote: 'No because 500 in one bottle?!?! I had to stock up on these.'

Next up on her shopping list was melatonin containing 10mg per serving as she revealed that in the UK it is 'only available on prescription.'

Bolu then shared a picture of Olay's Moisturizing Body Wash that promises to 'renews with moisture for youthful looking skin.'

She added an overlaid caption that read: 'Olay really ate by putting retinol in body wash. This body wash?? 10/10.'

The next product the content creator heaped on praise for was Crest's 3D White Strips as she dished: 'Not going to lie, none of our whitening products work as well as this.'

Bolu also declared that she was 'obsessed' with Tide-to-go markers.

'Similar to the "shout" wipes. Took out a nasty stain that was on my white top,' she boasted.

Her post was soon flooded with comments from other customers sharing their own thoughts on the products

The final product that Bolu highlighted was a Vick's max strength pack that included both severe DayQuil and NyQuil.

Her overlaid text read: 'You can only get "night nurse" here [in the UK] now.'

She comedically captioned her video: 'The land of the free or whatever they said.'

And her post was soon flooded with comments from other customers sharing their own thoughts on the products.

One person wrote: 'Those Olay body wash are amazing omg, and they have matching lotions!!'

A second person commented: 'That retinol body wash is too good.'

Other followers commented on the pain killers as one person wrote: '10mg melatonin over the counter is insane - max is 1.9mg where I live.'

A second person commented: 'Damn 10 mg melatonin gummies? Here in Italy, it's 1mg.'

A third person added: '10mg melatonin? Lmao I would flatline.'

A fourth person wrote: 'There is a reason why you can't get those in the UK. And having humongous bottles of pain meds is not something to strive for.'

One person commented: 'All a byproduct of a s**tty healthcare system.'

Another person added: 'You can buy 1,000mg in Spain in one pack'
Stunning view of ethnic costumes at water-splashing festival in SW China's Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 09:43, April 26, 2024

Many places in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province recently celebrated the water-splashing festival, during which the colorful traditional costumes of different ethnic groups presented a stunning view to behold.

The festive attire of the ethnic groups, including Dai, De'ang, Jingpo, and Lisu, were vibrant and dazzling under the sunshine, creating a strong ethnic ambiance and joyful atmosphere for the water-splashing festival.

(Wang Lin, as an intern, contributed to this story.)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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Have you ever wanted to live out your very own fairytale?

Well an incredible 'ice castle' that looks like a set from Disney's Frozen could well provide you with the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Princess - if, of course, you have a spare $14 million.

Much like Anna and Elsa's estate in the 2013 animation, the sprawling mansion in Bedford, Wyoming, is a residence fit for royalty.

The luxurious property, which spans 9,470 square feet, offers five bedrooms, two powder rooms and seven bathrooms - as well as breathtaking snowy mountain views.

Have you ever wanted to live out your very own fairytale? Well an incredible 'ice castle' that looks like a set from Disney's Frozen has just hit the market for a staggering $14 million

The expansive property bears an uncanny resemblance to the palace in the hit Disney animation

Much like Anna and Elsa's estate in the 2013 animation, the sprawling mansion in Bedford, Wyoming, is a residence fit for royalty

The luxurious property, which spans 9,470 square feet, offers five bedrooms, two powder rooms and seven bathrooms - as well as breathtaking snowy mountain views

Known as Heiner Castle, the property sits on an extravagant 40-acre estate and has a series of unique features.

This includes two towers that transport you to the Disney world, a stainless-steel staircase, and a carved stone bridge that spans a fairytale moat.

Built in 1992, the house is surrounded by maintained grounds and towering trees that provide a natural barrier of privacy.

With copper accents throughout its exterior, it hints at its medieval influences.

The interiors are also adorned with wood beams and white oak moldings.

Highlights of the home include a custom spiral staircase winds up into the taller tower for spectacular 360-degree views of the countryside, as well as the living room with a vaulted ceiling made of wood and a stone fireplace.

The kitchen also is fully equipped for a gourmet chef and has two islands for food preparation.

However, the castle's most awe-worthy features is the underground tunnel system that is accessible via 'secret holes' and hidden passageways that trail into other rooms throughout the house, making the home a whimsical paradise.

Built in 1992, the house is surrounded by maintained grounds and towering trees that provide a natural barrier of privacy

Known as Heiner Castle, the property sits on an extravagant 40 acre estate and has unique features such as two towers that transport you to Disney world

The entrance to the property looks impressively foreboding - and that's before you arrive at the stone moat

With copper accents throughout its exterior, it hints at its medieval influences. The interiors are adorned with wood beams and white oak moldings

Highlights of the home include a custom spiral staircase which leads up to the taller tower, for spectacular 360-degree views of the countryside

The kitchen is fully equipped for a gourmet chef, and features two islands. The space is decorated with wood and marble throughout it

However, the castle's most awe-worthy features is its underground tunnel system that's accessible via 'secret holes'

Also, the home's hidden passageways trail into other rooms throughout the house, making the home a whimsical paradise

'The castle's exterior is a masterpiece of architectural splendor, boasting resplendent pillars and a breathtaking copper roof, that commands attention and admiration,' reads the listing

'Crossing the threshold reveals an interior of unparalleled luxury, featuring stone floors sourced from Israel, Turkey, and China, and radiant in-floor heating,' continued the listing

'Approaching the castle, guests are welcomed by a stately brick perimeter enclosing lush grounds, punctuated by towering trees, and a 48 by 72 shop, boasting a helipad atop,' stated the listing

'The castle's exterior is a masterpiece of architectural splendor, boasting resplendent pillars and a breathtaking copper roof, that commands attention and admiration,' reads the listing, being held by Patty Speakman of Compass.

'Crossing the threshold reveals an interior of unparalleled luxury, featuring stone floors sourced from Israel, Turkey, and China, and radiant in-floor heating.

'This extraordinary estate offers an impressive array of amenities.

'Approaching the castle, guests are welcomed by a stately brick perimeter enclosing lush grounds, punctuated by towering trees, and a 48 by 72 shop, boasting a helipad atop.'
A Kiwi woman revealed her horror at the dating scene in Australia - and compared Aussie men to 'immature teenage girls' who 'put in no effort' with their dates.

Annaliese, from New Zealand, was used to a certain standard of dating when she moved to the Sunshine Coast.

'I live in Australia now and [the dating culture] blew me away,' she said. 'In my experience in New Zealand, the guys put in effort and pursue you.

'They make you feel great and do little acts of service and it makes you feel fulfilled and great. In Australia, everyone's good looking but these guys only have their looks to offer and not much else.'

Elle, from Sydney, recently echoed that dating scene has 'malfunctioned' in that there is an abundance of great women looking to commit but the men aren't looking for a long-term relationship.

Annaliese, from New Zealand, was used to a certain standard of dating when she moved to the Sunshine Coast

The singleton said she's noticed Sydney men are more superficial, don't put any effort into dating and move from one woman to another when things aren't 'easy'.

Annaliese added, 'To be honest, the guys act like teenage girls. They are so immature. They look like a man but inside, they're 15-years-old.'

She revealed that she's been on several 'okay' dates where the man has taken her out for dinner but doesn't put any more effort in.

'That's all they expect - they do one thing and then it's all on you. It's just so crazy when you're a woman.

'[A man's] biology is to pursue a woman and chase a woman - but guys here are always asking when you're going to go to them or go visit them.

'I've never met him, why would I go to him first? I've never done that in my life and I don't know what type of girls they attract who do that.'

Many Australian women also shared several dating app icks that turn them off men.

'When they put 'first rounds on you' on their profiles - just nope, there won't be any first rounds full stop,' one said.

'They put 'if you don't look like your pictures you're paying until you do',' another noticed.

A few shared their experiences with foreign men.

'I went out on a date in Australia with a New Zealander, he paid for everything (I offered) and made me feel special, we knew it wasn't going anywhere, he was going back home, but he was a good guy!' a woman said.

'I went out with a New Zealander and all I can say is I was treated like a queen,' another wrote.

Several men shared their opinion on the matter.

'I think it's the current way of dating in general. Apps have ruined the experience,' one said.

'I'm only interested in girls that can take me shopping and on holidays,' another added. 'It works both ways.'
Princess Beatrice remained professional as she addressed a conference in Dubai on Thursday, just hours after news of her ex-boyfriend's death became public.

The Princess of York, 35, was regal in a blue satin dress as she appeared at the event intended to encourage collaboration between entrepreneurs in the UK and the UAE.

Just hours earlier, it emerged her ex-boyfriend Paolo Liuzzo had been found dead in a Miami hotel room in February following a suspected overdose. It was reported yesterday that the Princess was 'heartbroken' by the news.

In photos posted on Instagram by the Fiker Institute, which organised the event alongside OPUS (for which Beatrice is a board member), the professional royal proved the show must go on as she beamed alongside other delegates.

Princess Beatrice (pictured) attended a Dubai event designed to encourage collaboration between entrepreneurs in the UAE and the UK on Thursday

Princess Beatrice, who sits on the board of OPUS, delivered a speech at the event and could be seen talking to Dubai Abulhoul, the founder of the Fiker Institute.

She also took the opportunity to chat to Oliver Christian, British Consul General to Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan and OPUS Chair and Founder, Sam Tidswell-Norrish.

Commenting on the launch, Princess Beatrice said: 'As the world continues to speed up, especially in the advent of new technologies, it is important to remember that relationships are at the core of any success story.

'Our mission to connect builders and unlock opportunity is right at the heart of that philosophy, and I believe the creation of a community of entrepreneurs who are keen to help each other will only further catalyse the UAE's extraordinary story.'

It emerged this week that, in February, the Princess's young love had been found dead in his hotel room in Miami.

Officer Michael Vega, of the Miami Police Department, told The Sun police attended a room at the citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel at 3.22pm on February 7.

The cause of death has not officially been reported, but officer Vega said: 'It was investigated as an overdose death. The investigation is open and ongoing.'

Princess Beatrice started dating Liuzzo in 2005 when she was aged 17 and he was 24, but the pair separated in 2006.

It emerged this week that, in February, the Princess's young love (pictured in 2006) had been found dead in his hotel room in Miami

The royal, 35, was in Dubai for the launch of a new partnership between Dubai-based think-tank the Fiker Institute and the UK's OPUS, which helps business leaders gain access to new opportunities. L-R: Oliver Christian, British Consul General to Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan; Princess Beatrice; Dubai Abulhoul, the founder of the Fiker Institute; and Sam Tidswell-Norrish, OPUS Chair and Founder

Insiders have revealed that Liuzzo struggled with gambling as well as drugs, and claimed he had racked up debts with loan sharks, according to The Sun. A friend of Liuzzo told the paper: 'Paolo was not doing great on a personal level.

'He began using a lot of pharmaceutical drugs at first but that later led to cocaine and harder drugs. It was a very fast lifestyle and we all feared it would catch up with him eventually.'

Liuzzo had reportedly struggled with drugs and was previously arrested in Australia over a string of offenses including possessing cocaine.

He was arrested on the Gold Coast on September 27, 2009, after crashing an $90,000 black Audi hire car into traffic lights.

The then-27-year-old also failed to pay for accommodation and restaurant bills at Conrad Jupiters casino.

Australian law enforcement charged Liuzzo with fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possessing two grams of cocaine and driving without due care and attention. Liuzzo pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000.

His controversial past began in 2002 when he was charged with the manslaughter of a fellow student at the College of the Holy Cross.

His fellow student, 19-year-old Jonathan R. Duchatellier, died as a result of a fight that took place on May 5, 2002 in an off-campus apartment building at 510 Cambridge St. which involved Liuzzo.

The princess wore a navy blue, silk-satin dress by Australian brand Zimmerman for the occasion

The charge was later reduced to assault and Liuzzo served a community sentence.

Liuzzo, who is from Woodbury, New York, was considered a U.S. socialite at the time of his romance with Beatrice.

Liuzzo and Beatrice met through mutual friends and began dating in July 2005 and they managed to keep the relationship secret for almost a year - but they split in May 2006 when reports of the manslaughter charge surfaced, causing a sensation.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson encouraged Beatrice's romance with Liuzzo, despite the seven year age difference and his criminal past.

'We all have our own journeys and have to learn our way but Beatrice is a sensible girl, soon to be 18, with many friends including Paolo,' Beatrice's mother said when the relationship began.

The royal pair invited Liuzzo on a family vacation to the exclusive Swiss ski resort Verbier.

It subsequently emerged that Liuzzo had flouted the conditions of his probation to holiday with the Queen's granddaughter and her family - including Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York - in Switzerland in 2006.

As a result he was hauled back to the U.S. where he had his three-year probation extended by the courts as punishment, forcing Beatrice to end the fledgling romance.
A receptionist claims she was blinded for months after getting lashes fitted while still wearing her contact lenses.

Lillie Barrett, 22, from Welling in Bexley, south-east London began to experience an itchy left eye after getting a set of 55 Russian lashes fitted while wearing her contact lenses in November 2022.

After experiencing a watering eye overnight, she visited the chemist the following day and was given drops to soothe her red and swollen eye.

But two days later when her eye began to swell and yellow gunk started to build up on her cornea, Lillie claims she lost all vision in her left eye.

Horrifying footage shows Lillie's cornea turning a hazy grey as she claims she was left blind in this eye and not able to see in 3D out of the other, and was later told she had developed a corneal ulcer.

Lillie Barrett, 22, from Welling in South East London, forked out on a pricey pair of Russian lash extensions but began to experience an itchy left eye shortly after, and was even temporarily left blinded

Lillie was rushed to the emergency department at St Helier Hospital in Sutton where an eye specialist informed her she had developed an ulcer on her cornea.

Although the consultant was unable to place a definite cause on her eye infection, Lillie now believes it was caused by bacteria coming into contact with her contact lens after having her lashes done.

According to the NHS, a corneal ulcer is an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea that occurs when the surface is damaged and is said to be more common in contact lens wearers.

She is now warning other contact lens users to be careful when using monthly contact lenses and is urging people to switch to daily disposable ones as they are more hygienic.

Lillie said: 'Six hours after my appointment my eye started to react and it felt like something was scratching my eye so I took my contact lenses out and put my glasses on.

'Overnight my eye wouldn't stop watering and I thought it was just my allergies playing up or I had contracted conjunctivitis because I had been around kids recently.

'I went to a chemist the next day and they said it looked like it was conjunctivitis and gave me some eye drops and I began to use them.

'My eye kept watering and started swelling and became really red.

Pictured above is the ghastly eye infection: a corneal ulcer which is thought to have been brought on by Lillie's contact lenses

'For about two days I left it as I just thought it was conjunctivitis as I had yellow bits in my eye.

'This then stopped coming out of my eye and became stuck on my cornea and by the second or third day I lost all my vision [in this eye].

'I was going to drive myself to the doctors but then realised I couldn't as I didn't have any 3D vision. Everything looked flat because I couldn't see out of this eye.

'At the hospital, they told me it was an ulcer on my cornea but they couldn't tell me the exact reason it happened.

'Someone in the eye department said to me I wasn't going to get my vision back unless I went through with surgery.

'I broke into tears as I was so shocked at what had happened.

'My left eye made my confidence go down a lot as people were looking at me strangely and I stopped going out as much as I used to as I was really upset about it.

'I use monthly contacts and apparently these can be more dangerous than daily contacts.

The glamorous receptionist now advises others to pay more heed to their eye care and swears off monthly lenses which require stringent upkeep

'After what happened, I still wear contacts but I have switched to daily contacts now.

'I would say to people that they should switch to daily contacts and not use monthly ones as you don't have to clean them, you just put them in the bin after using them. It's not worth it after what I went through.

'I know the doctor couldn't confirm the exact cause of my infection but I do think it was caused by my contacts'.

'If I was to give anyone some advice it would be to just be careful when wearing contacts and definitely go to the hospital sooner as I left it for two or three days before doing so'.

Although she's not back to full eye health, Lillie is miles better, but still an avid contact lens wearer and has made the switch to daily lenses and recommends others do this too

After being prescribed eye drops and pain relief, Lillie was discharged from hospital but had to return for check ups until May 2023.

What is a corneal ulcer? A corneal ulcer can be caused by bacterial infections, viral infections, eye injuries or dry eye syndrome. Contact lens wearers are said to have an increased risk of contracting the infection if they don't follow a strict routine for hygiene and wear. Corneal ulcer symptoms include: Eye discharge, red eye, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain or discomfort, grey or white spot on the cornea or a feeling of something in the eye. Source: NHS Advertisement

She claims her eye remained discoloured for six months and says her vision gradually started to return.

Despite this, Lillie claims she has still not fully regained sight in her left eye almost a year-and-a-half on from the infection.

Lillie said: 'My vision started to come back slowly after using the eyedrops and having hospital checkups.

'The colour of my eye was still really bad in January 2023 and you couldn't see the black part of my pupil. My eye was like this for roughly six or seven months.

'By April 2023 the colour of my eye had returned quite a lot. You can hardly notice it unless you look really closely.

'I can now see a lot more than I could but my vision is still bad.

'I can see shadows and people when they're in front of me but that is only if I close one eye. If both eyes are open it makes it harder to see'.

Lillie says she has been offered surgery to help restore her vision but initially declined this after hearing about the risks that could come with the operation.

But after recently posting about her lens horror on TikTok, she says she may reconsider going under the knife as other users shared the surgery success stories.

Lillie said: 'The surgery was to help me regain some of my vision back by doing work on my cornea but I didn't take the surgery as they said there was a risk my eye could go back to square one again [and I had been making progress with my sight].

'Now I've seen people's comments on TikTok about how the surgery worked really well for them, I think I would consider getting it done to regain some more of my vision'.
Nava Mau, 31, from Mexico City, said Richard Gadd was 'very sharing'

The trans actress who played Richard Gadd's love interest in the hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer has praised the show's creator for his 'generous' nature and says he shared a lot about his real-life experience.

Nava Mau, 31, from New Mexico, writer and showrunner Gadd, 39, was 'very generous' in giving her information about his real-life ex, whom she was playing.

However, she added that, despite having a strong working relationship with the comedian, they used an intimacy coordinator on set due to the 'unique' circumstances.

The six-part series, created by Richard Gadd, is based on his own experience of stalking and horrific sexual assaults, showing his stalking ordeal unfold as the character of Martha (Jessica Gadd) becomes increasingly obsessed with him.

Teri is another leading character, appearing in all seven episodes, and is Gadd's trans girlfriend, who draws on his real-life experiences of a relationship with an unnamed trans woman.

The actress who plays Teri in Baby Reindeer, Nava Mau (pictured), revealed an intimacy coordinator helped navigate the show's 'unique' circumstances, despite Richard Gadd being 'very sharing'

In conversation with GQ, Nava commented on the 'unique' situation of playing a love interest based on someone's real life, which highlighted the importance of an intimacy coordinator to manage boundary work, consent, safety, and believability - something she said was 'helpful'.

The actress, who also featured in the HBO Max series, Generation, added that the intimacy coordinator, Elle McAlpine, helped encourage a genuine on-screen relationship between herself and Gadd.

Nava continued: 'It's a very unique situation to be playing a love interest to a character that is based on someone's real life, played by the real person who is also the showrunner and the only writer on the project.'

The actress valued the intimacy coordinator in this rare instance for tips on intimate scenes and how to convey the relationship as genuine.

Nava played Richard's love interest in the show, who is based on his real-life unnamed trans ex-partner

Despite welcoming Elle's presence on set, Nava explained that Gadd was 'generous' with information on his past experiences.

'Richard shared a lot with me. Richard was very generous with sharing, you know, pieces of his own experience and the real-life relationship that inspired this,' Nava said.

Donny's partner in Netflix drama Baby Reindeer is American therapist Teri, who he is in love with rather than his stalker, Martha.

Gadd, who both wrote and starred in the show, told The Independent, that Donny's relationship arc with Teri drew on his own experiences of a relationship with an unnamed trans woman.

'It's in the public consciousness now, but it wasn't back then, when I was dating,' he explained.

'It felt so new that it added a certain pressure, to me, that I really regret now. But that's what it explores in the show. This story was set back in a time when things were very different.'

Reflected in the series, Gadd added that feelings of shame around his sexuality kept him from telling the truth about his name and occupation from her.

However, he has also said that his girlfriend became 'the voice of reason in my life at that point' although he never 'listened to her as much as I should have'.

Elsewhere, Nava praised Baby Reindeer for the 'groundbreaking' inclusion of employing a trans actress in the show.

Born in Mexico City on May 14, 1992, Nava Mau was raised in San Antonio and is now an award-winning actress, director and cultural worker.

Her breakthrough bore many similarities to her new colleague Gadd's, as she both wrote and starred in Waking Hour - a short film based on her real experiences as a trans woman getting into a relationship with a cisgender man.

She played Sofia, a young trans woman who meets a cis man named Isaac at a party.

Nava said: 'This still feels groundbreaking to have a trans woman be one of the main characters in a series that feels like it's written in a respectful and loving and nuanced way, so it's an honor for me to have that opportunity'

Speaking to Out, she explained: 'I had recently started dating straight, cisgender men and as a trans woman I was not prepared. I had to learn a lot of hard lessons when I started dating straight cis men.

'Waking Hour was inspired by personal experiences I've had, but I wanted it to end differently than how a lot of my stories have ended.

'I wanted Sofia to be a character who realizes in the moment that she can exercise choice because so often I have not realized that I have the power of choice. And I know that's the case for a lot of people.'

Nava then appeared in Netflix's 2020 documentary, Disclosure, to help investigate how trans people are depicted in Hollywood and how that had bled into wider American culture.

She returned to acting as a character called Ana in 2021 HBO series Generation - a series about high school students 'exploring sexuality, testing deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community'.

Away from the screen, Nava spent eight years working around 'anti-violence, healing justice, and political education', according to her website. This has involved public speaking, panel discussions and consulting.

Nava is also an editor of the forthcoming anthology Paradise on the Margins: Worldmaking by Trans Women of Color.
Today's announcement about the health of the King feels like a huge relief, a chink of clear blue sky in an otherwise rather gloomy horizon. After months of games through no fault or desire of his own, King Charles is slowly returning to his duties  just in time to celebrate the first anniversary of his Coronation, on May 6th.

I must confess that when the Palace first announced that the King was suffering from cancer, I  like many  had a sense of deep foreboding. And when the news subsequently broke that the Princess of Wales was also battling the disease, it really felt as though the Royal Family was being pushed to breaking point.

It wasn't just the fact that two of its most prominent and loved members were suddenly seriously ill; it was also that the news came at the end of an already difficult period.

The death of Elizabeth II, preceded by the loss of Prince Philip, the acrimonious departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, not to mention the shame and humiliation of the Prince Andrew affair  it all just seemed to be one calamity after another.

I felt desperately sorry for the King, a man  who for all his past faults  has worked incredibly hard over the years to win back the trust and respect of the British people after the tragedy of what happened between him and Princess Diana.

A charming new image of Their Majesties was released by Buckingham Palace today to mark the first anniversary of the Coronation next week

King Charles waves to crowds of well-wishers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on his Coronation last May

Having met and spent time with him personally on several occasions over the years, I have always found him to be a thoughtful man, a little melancholy at times, someone with more self-awareness than those in similar positions usually possess (see Andrew), acutely aware of his responsibilities and incredibly serious-minded about his duties.

He is a kind man too, as we saw at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding, when he walked Meghan up the aisle in place of her own father, who was too ill to attend.

And when it comes to the harm his youngest son and his wife have done to both him and Prince William, and also to Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales, he has demonstrated almost saintly levels of composure and patience.

Whatever else he may have done in his life, he is determined to make the most of the immense privilege conferred upon him by an accident of birth and to do some good in the world.

Becoming monarch is not just a rite of passage for him, it has deeper meaning  as anyone who witnessed the solemnity with which he undertook last year's Coronation would attest.

He knows he won't be king for anything like the same length of time as his late mother  but he intends to make his mark and do as much as he can to honour his mother's legacy and secure the future of the monarchy for generations to come.

Charles walked Meghan up the aisle on her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 in place of her father, who was too ill to attend

That is why his illness was such a blow. It stopped him in his tracks just as he was starting to get into his stride. It forced him to slam on the brakes and take time out at precisely the moment when he hoped to be going full steam ahead. Apart from anything else, it just seemed so damned unfair.

A lesser man might have succumbed to despondency; but the King has remained relentlessly upbeat throughout this process, staying in touch with current affairs, as curious as ever, meeting with trusted friends and advisors.

He has obeyed his doctors and done what had to be done  but if he has been forced to slow down physically, he has not done so mentally. Indeed, if anything, this illness has focused his mind and made him even more determined to press on with his plans.

And in a funny way, it's been the making of him as monarch  and of Queen Camilla. She has been brilliant at stepping up, not just representing the King but also filling in for the Princess of Wales as she takes time out for treatment. The public have got to know this woman, with her warm smile and sense of humour, far quicker than they might have done otherwise.

We have seen just how much of a team they really are - and the qualities he has always seen in her. And it's also strengthened the King's bond with Prince William and the Princess of Wales who, while still out of the limelight was appointed Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour this Tuesday on St George's Day.

Like so many families who face serious illness, the shock and realisation of what's at stake has brought them closer together. It's testimony to the King's strength of character and determination that he has faced this trial with such a positive mental attitude.
Gypsy Rose may have lost out on $6,000 after she deleted her TikTok account - with her creator fund reportedly being given to estranged husband Ryan Anderson.

The 32-year-old, who suffered in a horrifying case of Munchausen by proxy, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for second-degree murder after persuading a former boyfriend to stab her mother to death - but was released early in December.

The felon-turned-reality star was thrust into the limelight following her release from prison after her story was showcased in various documentaries before she earned more than 7.8 million online followers who rallied behind her on social media.

However, her brief stint with fame was cut short when she deleted social media - branding it a 'roadway to hell' - which is a mistake she may now be paying for as the funds she got from her TikTok videos were sent straight into ex-husband Ryan's account, according to TMZ.

Gypsy Rose may have lost out on $6,000 after she deleted her TikTok - with her creator fund reportedly being given to estranged husband Ryan Anderson

Following their split last month, Ryan may have the funds from Gypsy's TikTok account, according to TMZ

It comes after Gypsy revealed why she deleted her Instagram and TikTok accounts as she branded social media a 'roadway to hell'

Sources told the outlet that prior to deleting her video-sharing account, she hooked it up to Ryan's - who she has since separated from - Paypal because she didn't have one.

However, after she decided life in the spotlight wasn't for her and cut ties with social media in an effort to build an ultra-private lifestyle, the money she was earning from her TikTok completely slipped her mind.

After jumping back onto the social media platform this week, she learned that the $6,000 was deposited into Ryan's account, according to the outlet.

Sources reportedly told TMZ that Ryan has not spoken about the funds nor has Gypsy asked him directly - instead consulting her divorce lawyer about how to get her money back.

DailyMail.com has reached out to both Gypsy and Ryan for comment.

Earlier this month, Gypsy filed for divorce from her hubby - whom she met in prison - and revealed that she was set to undergo plastic surgery.

Gypsy had captured the nation with the heartbreaking story of her life before she revealed she had met Ryan, whom she thought was her true Prince Charming, and admitted she was done with being in the spotlight.

However, Disney-obsessed Gypsy is still searching for her fairytale ending after the pair separated and she marked her reunion with ex-fiance Ken by getting matching tattoos - as she revealed that she was making changes to her love life and appearance by prepping for a nose job.

Sources told the outlet that prior to deleting her video-sharing account, she hooked it up to Ryan's - who she has since separated from - Paypal because she didn't have one

After jumping back onto the social media platform this week, she learned that the $6,000 was deposited into Ryan's account, according to TMZ (seen as a child with her mom)

Speaking to People, Gypsy revealed she was going through a 'personal transformation journey.'

She told the outlet: 'I'm going through a personal transformation journey currently and that includes a physical one, too.'

And despite having previously said she no longer wanted to be 'famous,' the 32-year-old seemed to now be ready to step back in front of the cameras.

'Wish me luck with my surgery and watch the whole thing this summer on Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up,' she said.

Gypsy's best friend Nadiya Vizier also spoke to the outlet about her friend's desire to change her appearance and revealed that it had been a dream of the reality star's to get a nose job.

'She said she's a bit nervous, but she's happy it's going to be done. The main thing is that she wanted a more feminine looking nose. She just wants to fix it up and give it a more feminine look,' Nadiya said.

And according to her close pal, Gypsy just wants be able to live her life.

'My main message is to just, people need to let her live, let her experience, if they know that she's doing something good or wrong, let her experience that,' Nadiya said.

Last month, Gypsy confessed that she was over social media and was done living life in the fast lane.

Sources reportedly told the outlet that Ryan hasn't muttered a peep about the funds and Gypsy hasn't asked him, with her instead consulting her divorce lawyer about how to get her money back (seen as a child with her mom)

Earlier this month, Gypsy filed for divorce from her hubby - whom she met in prison - and admitted that she was set to undergo plastic surgery (seen as a child with her mom)

Gypsy (seen with her mom) spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs

After removing any trace of herself from Instagram, she took to TikTok in a since-deleted video that has been reposted by a fan account, to explain why she no longer wanted to be in the limelight.

'So a lot of people already noticed that I already deleted my Instagram  the public one  with the 7.8 million followers when I deactivated it or, I deleted it, I permanently deleted it,' she said.

She noted that many people were stunned she had no issue leaving behind her life online because of her large following.

Gypsy claimed that she didn't give a 'f***' about the following and said it wasn't 'real life' - before noting that her dad was the one that helped her put things into perspective when it came to her public life.

She added: 'A lot of people are like, "What happened?" and what happened is, I had a really good conversation with my dad and he gave me some guidance that I feel like I really needed. And that guidance was that real life is something you can touchsomething you can feelpeople you can actually hug.'

She noted that many people were stunned she had no issue leaving behind her life online because of her large following

After splitting from Ryan, she reunited with ex-fiance Ken (seen together)

Gypsy was 23 when she was arrested on a second degree murder charge. She is shown in court in 2015

The 32-year-old noted that social media now felt like a 'roadway to hell' for her - explaining that following her release from prison, she fell under a microscope and people began analyzing everything she did.

She said: 'With the public scrutiny as bad as it is, I just don't want to live my life under a microscope. So I created a private Instagram, and I got it verified. And I had absolutely no doubts or trouble with deleting that public one.

'I had people who were like, "Oh my god, you're insane for deleting that kind of a following." and I'm like, "I could give a f*** about a following." That's not real life. '

Gypsy noted that although she craved social media during her time behind bars and looked forward to sharing 'selfies' online, she soon realized she no longer wanted the fame that came along with it.

Following their separation, Gypsy reunited with ex-fiance Ken and celebrated their reunion by getting matching husky tattoos on their arms, seen in photos obtained by TMZ.
Queen Mary of Denmark has been given access to the royal family's crown jewels for the first time as she posed for her first official portrait alongside the King.

The Australian-born royal has never had access to the prized jewels before with most being kept under lock and key in the basement of Rosenborg Castle.

But that's all changed since she became Queen.

Posing alongside her husband King Frederik, the royal was sparkling in the heirloom emerald set which is said to be the 'most complete' of the crown jewels and is exclusively reserved for the Queen.

The extravagant set is made up of a matching tiara, necklace and earrings which is in keeping with the fashionable monarch's coordinated style.

Queen Mary of Denmark donned the Danish palace's emerald set for the first time in her debut royal portrait as Queen consort. The set is only ever worn by the queen

The extravagant set, which is usually on display in Rosenborg Castle, is made up of a matching tiara, necklace and earrings which is in keeping with the monarch's coordinated style

It also includes a brooch that can be divided into three separate parts but Queen Mary chose a traditional pin with a portrait of Frederik made especially for her.

She paired the crown jewels with a deep green velvet and lace gown custom-designed by Copenhagen designer Birgit Hallstein who has dressed the royal on many occasions.

Royal enthusiasts were abuzz about the new images with many saying Queen Mary looked 'powerful' and 'stunningly regal' and is 'doing Australia proud'.

'I can't help but think of the young girl from Taroona who would never have dreamt of this moment! She looks every inch a Queen, and as a fellow Tasmanian, I feel so proud of her. And I'm sure Frederik does too. Magnificent photo!' one woman said.

'Queen Mary of Denmark and Australia,' another remarked.

'Mary is so elegant; she's done her native Australia proud,' someone added.

However, not everyone was convinced the dress was the best choice to show off the incredible jewels.

'She looks fabulous. Though her necklace disappears in that lace-top gown,' one fashion lover pointed out.

The Australian-born Queen sparkled as she wore crown jewel emerald set for the first time but she left one piece out to make room for a miniature portrait of the King

'Mary looks beautiful, but the dress is not a good choice for displaying the jewels,' a second said while a third thought the combination looked too 'busy'.

She wore the emerald set without its matching brooch to instead make room for something far more sentimental and traditional - a miniature portrait of her husband in a bow of Order of Dannebrog ribbon created by British artist Tom Mulliner just for her.

Traditionally, females of the Danish royal family wear the portrait of the sovereign. Queen Mary used to display a similar portrait of Queen Margrethe before she ascended the throne in January.

The portrait is set inside a family heirloom, a gold frame with diamonds, that Margrethe wore with a picture of her father Frederik IX, from 1972 until her succession.

The monarchs stood side by side facing forward to put on a united front as rumours swirl around the stability of their marriage.

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark stood side by side facing forward to put on a united front for their latest royal portrait

Mary was stood behind or facing Frederick in the previous two official portrait. The progression signifies Mary's rise to prominence as she takes on more duties as Queen Consort

Previous royal portraits show Queen Mary posing slightly behind or turning to face her husband giving him prominence but this time their authoritative stance showing they are on equal footing.

Days before King Frederik ascended the throne, the palace released a portrait of the couple showing Mary at her husband's side gently embracing his arm and she was angled towards him and he was facing forward.

After his ascension, the next official portrait showed the mum-of-four standing just behind the king's left side as the pair faced slightly toward each other.

The latest snap signifies Mary's rise to prominence as she takes on more duties as Queen Consort.
When Claire Popplewell felt a lump in her right breast, doctors assumed it would be 'nothing'. One even suggested it was a harmless cyst.

After all, she had turned 30 just a fortnight earlier and breast cancer  the disease synonymous with lumps in the chest  typically only strikes women in their 50s and beyond.

So NHS doctors were unsurprisingly 'shocked' when, less than a month later, tests revealed the 2cm mass was actually an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Mrs Popplewell, of Leeds, had surgery and numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in her battle against the disease. Hoping to stop the cancer returning, she took hormone tablets for eight years.

But just when she thought the cancer was gone for good, Mrs Popplewell, a mother-of-two, was dealt the devastating news that it had struck again, following an annual MRI scan.

Claire Popplewell, 39 from Leeds, first noticed a lump on her chest just two weeks after turning 30 in March 2015

Recalling her first diagnosis in March 2015, she revealed that her Fitbit  given to her as a 30th birthday present  alerted her to the lump.

'As I unclipped the Fitbit (after waking up), my hand brushed against my right breast and I felt a lump,' the council worker told MailOnline.

'I started comparing both breasts to check.'

Not wanting to worry about what it could be, Mrs Popplewell got up and went to her job. At the time, she worked as a teaching assistant in a primary school.

As soon as she arrived, the class teacher knew 'something wasn't right', recalled Mrs Popplewell, who opened up about her shock at discovering a breast lump earlier that morning.

She wanted to wait a few weeks before getting it seen to, but the teacher urged her to make an appointment. Mrs Popplewell was seen that afternoon.

Recollecting her conversation with the GP, she added: 'They were shocked because of my age and thought it would be nothing.

'They referred me to the breast clinic, anyway.'

It was just two weeks after her 30th birthday, pictured aged 29, that Mrs Popplewell noticed a lump

She had a lumpectomy, four months of chemotherapy (pictured), in September 2015 her lymph nodes were removed and in the October she had radiotherapy

Two weeks later she had an appointment at St James's University Hospital in Leeds, where doctors did an ultrasound of her breasts and took a biopsy.

Mrs Popplewell was the next week diagnosed with grade-three breast cancer  the most aggressive type  and told the lump was 'not innocent'.

A lump is the first symptom of breast cancer most women tend to notice, according to Cancer Research UK.

Other tell-tale signs of the disease, which strikes around 56,000 Brits a year, include changes in the size or shape of breast, as well as fluid leaking from the nipple.

Under current guidelines, women over 30 who find a lump in their breast should be offered an urgent appointment at a specialist clinic. Not everyone under 30 can find it so easy to get checked thoroughly.

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

Only 4 per cent, or around 2,400 women in the UK, who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year are under 40, according to Breast Cancer Now.

Mrs Popplewell underwent a lumpectomy  surgery to remove cancerous tissue from her breast  followed by four months of chemotherapy.

That same September her lymph nodes (where breast cancer typically first spreads to) were removed and she later began radiotherapy.

Mrs Popplewell, mother of Emily, 13 and Olivia, 15, asked for her full medical history following her diagnosis.

Buried in it, she claims, doctors admitted 'they thought it was going to be a cyst, but it was actually cancer'.

The letter also revealed she was given a choice between having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, but insists this was not the case.

Claire Popplewell, 39 , pictured with her husband Oliver 37, said she remembers people 'brushing' off her symptoms as nothing to worry about

Mrs Popplewell told MailOnline: 'Knowing now I got it again, eight years later, would I have gone for a mastectomy the first time? Probably.'

Recalling her original diagnosis, she said: 'So many people when I was 30 said to me said "it will be nothing".

'If someone finds a lump I don't want them to be put of getting it checked because other people are telling them they are too young.'

'I remember feeling like people brushed it off and thought it wouldn't be anything and questioned why I was stressing. Then people were so shocked when it was cancer.'

For years after her first diagnosis, Mrs Popplewell was healthy. She went for check ups and most problems ended up being harmless.

'I didn't have any issues really,' she said. 'I'd gone back a couple of times with sort of a lump in the same breast. That turned out to be an oil cyst, which I had drained once.

'I had annual screening stuff from then on. I had a mammogram each year and opted in for an MRI scan.'

Because the cancer was found in the same breast Mrs Popplewell decided to have a mastectomy, but has kept her left breast. She also had preventative chemotherapy (pictured) and genetic testing, which revealed she had the CHEK2 gene mutation

In the two years prior to her second cancer diagnosis, Mrs Popplewell was called back for ultrasounds and biopsies after doctors spotted something they were not happy with on an MRI.

Results showed it was fat necrosis, which can cause hard lumps under the skin that resemble tumours. They are typically caused by trauma to the skin after surgery.

However, from May last year Mrs Popplewell started to feel unwell.

'Something wasn't right, I hadn't had a period for five months, I had issues with my bowels and I severe stomach pain,' she said.

Her GP arranged for a full blood count.

Test results came back 'high' for a marker of cancer and Mrs Popplewell was referred for an ultrasound. Doctors didn't find anything then, however.

She had her annual MRI and two days later was called back for further screening.

Mrs Popplewell said: 'Genuinely, I didn't even think I wasn't stressing about it. I wasn't worried. And I really was in a false sense of security.

'Then the nurse rang a week later, and she was like, "I'm really sorry. It's cancer".

'It was a really big shock this time.'

For Mrs Popplewell the biggest challenge was telling her children Emily, 13 and Olivia, 15 (pictured in liverpool) that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time

For Mrs Popplewell the biggest challenge was telling her children she had been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time.

'The first time they were four and six, my youngest didn't understand it. But it was really tough this time,' she said.

'We lost their grandma five years ago to breast cancer and they knew that she had had it before me originally and then it had come back, so for them they thought straight away that I was going to die like grandma.'

Because the cancer was found in the same breast, Mrs Popplewell decided to have a mastectomy. She has kept her left breast.

She also had preventative chemotherapy and genetic testing, which revealed she had the CHEK2 gene mutation.

Women born with a CHEK2 gene variant have a moderately higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, according to Macmillan. It can also cause a higher risk of other cancer types for women and men, but the charity explains that more research is needed.
Study found gender-diverse adults were 3 to 6 times more likely to be autistic

A neuroscientist said 20 percent of gender-diverse patients could be autistic

The disorder of gender dysphoria has puzzled scientists for decades: why is it that some people feel they are born in the wrong body, while others don't?

Now, experts speaking to DailyMail.com believe one common characteristic among this group, estimated to be in the region of 1.4million Americans, may offer some explanation.

Research has shown those who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are up to six times more likely to be autistic than people without gender dysphoria.

The developmental disorder, which affects how people communicate, socialize and behave, is thought to overlap with gender dysphoria for a variety of reasons.

Several studies have suggested exposure to certain hormones in the womb could increase the likelihood of both problems, while some experts say the link could lie in a shared refrain from conforming to societal norms.

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One of the largest studies ever to examine a potential link between ASD and GD involved data from more than 641,000 people.

The study, published in Nature Communications in 2020, found people who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are three to six times more likely to be autistic than people without gender divergence.

Dr Amethysta Herrick, a chemist and trans-education activist, who is a transwoman, told DailyMail.com believes this could be because people on the autism spectrum 'have the freedom to explore their identities and express themselves the way they would choose because social norms matter less.'

The 2020 study showed transgender and gender-diverse people scored higher on self-reporting measures of autistic traits, including sensory sensitivity, which is often a characteristic of autism.

Following the study and based on his own observations, Dr Michael Craig, a professor of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience at Kings College London in the UK, concluded there is an inherent link between gender dysphoria and autism.

Dr Craig, who was also the lead for the NHS National Autism Unit, told The Times: 'There were certainly some days where I was fairly convinced 40 to 50 percent of the patients I was seeing were autistic.

'I was trying to find out what it is that might explain this overlap, but its a difficult area to research for all sorts of reasons.'

Overall, he estimated about 20 percent of patients he observed at the Tavistock gender clinic in London might have qualified for an autism diagnosis.

While no definitive connection has been discovered, the authors of the 2020 study proposed several possible links between autism and gender-diversity.

They wrote that autistic individuals may conform less to societal norms compared to people not diagnosed with the condition, 'which may partly explain why a greater number of autistic individuals identify outside the stereotypical gender binary.'

Second, prenatal hormones involved in shaping brain development have been shown to contribute to both autism and gender role behaviors.

Previous studies have examined the link between prenatal hormones and autism. A 2019 study found a link between elevated levels of the female sex hormone estrogen in pregnant women and autism in their children.

Separate studies in both 2015 and 2018 found pregnant women with high levels of certain sex hormones, including testosterone and progesterone, had an increased risk of having a child with autism.

Rates of gender dysphoria have soared in every state except one over the past five years

Previous research has also examined whether prenatal hormones play a role in gender dysphoria, with one study suggesting high levels of prenatal testosterone in females and low levels in males may contribute to gender dysphoria.

As the study found that gender-diverse individuals have higher rates of neurodevelopmental conditions, Dr Aaron Reuben, a neuropsychologist, told DailyMail.com: 'It is plausible that these conditions could be linked, or that there could be overlap among autism and gender dysphoria.

'Many neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders tend to be comorbid, and we tend to see high rates of other conditions, such as ADHD, in individuals with autism.'

He continued: 'While I think it is highly likely for individuals with autism to have greater risk for developing gender dysphoria - or for rates of gender dysphoria to be higher among individuals with autism when compared to those without autism - I would be skeptical of anyone claiming that autism could cause gender dysphoria.

'We know so little about both conditions that I think we are a long way from being able to make causal statements. That said, more investigation of the overlap among the two conditions could lead to new discoveries and a better understanding of both.'

One woman from Florida shared her story of having autism and later coming out as trans. Laura, 32 from Florida, wrote 'I'm trans, autistic and more common than you'd think' for The Huffington Post in 2019.

She said she was diagnosed on the autism spectrum in her late teens and then later began to transition, writing it took her until late in her life to receive a diagnosis and come out because signs were missed or ignored.

Laura would make repetitive noises, have trouble sleeping unless her hand was squeezed and struggled to eat common foods.

She also became distressed over a change in structure or routine. When her symptoms of autism became exacerbated in high school, she received her diagnosis.

As for her trans status, Laura wrote she 'didn't feel right about living as male' during her childhood, but didn't know how to identify the feeling, and when she hit puberty and began to experience typical male development, she 'realized something was wrong.'

She wrote: 'As a gay autistic trans woman, I spent a long time assuming I was a statistical anomaly... but it turns out that is simply not the case.'

Laura wrote that she discovered between eight and 10 percent of children seen at gender clinics meet criteria for autism.

She added: 'Statistically, this means people who are trans are more likely to be diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and vice versa, and theres a strong enough correlation to prove that its actually surprisingly common for both of these to overlap.'

However, Laura continued: 'As a trans person on the autism spectrum, this statistical overlap was never explained to me by anyone in the medical field, which led to years of me struggling with unique struggles caused by that overlap.'

Rates of both autism and gender dysphoria, a clinical diagnosis by a healthcare professional, have been rising over the last two decades in the United States.

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Gender dysphoria diagnoses have soared in every state except one since 2018 - with the average age of diagnosis trending younger.

An analysis of insurance claims conducted by Komodo Health Inc found between 2017 and 2021, approximately 121,880 children aged six to 17 years old were diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

In 2021, 42,000 were given the diagnosis, a 70 percent increase from 2020.

And children under 18 years old now make up one-fifth of new diagnoses each year.

A report by the health data analytics firm Definitive Healthcare shows the rate of gender dysphoria increased in every state except South Dakota from 2018 to 2022 across all ages.

The sharpest rises over those five years were seen in three Republican-led states: Virginia (274 percent) Indiana (247 percent) and Utah (193 percent).

South Dakota saw a decline of 23 percent between 2018 and 2022.

Greater social acceptance and increased awareness about the condition on the part of doctors can partly explain the increase in cases.

CDC data shows one in 36 children had autism in 2020, compared to one in 68 in 2010 and one in 150 kids in 2000.

Due to the rising rates, experts are questioning whether the condition is becoming more common or if doctors have become better at recognizing and diagnosing autism.

There is currently still no standard test for autism, but there have been significant advances in diagnostic capabilities, as well as a greater understanding of the disorder.

Because there is no test for the condition, doctors must rely on a child's developmental history and behavior.

Kids are screened for autism at the 18- and 24-month milestone doctor appointments when a child's language, movement, and thinking skills, as well as behaviors and emotions are evaluated.

There is no cure but experts say early intervention can make a huge difference, with early detection key in ensuring kids on the spectrum get the help they need.

And now, experts say children being seen at gender clinics should be screened for autism.

Professor Simon Philip Baron-Cohen at Cambridge University and co-author of the 2020 study, told The Times: 'If at present many young people are being referred for gender dysphoria as an explanation for their depression, and an underlying autism diagnosis is being missed, then it makes good clinical practice to also check for autism too, in case the persons mental health struggles might also be partly due to not getting support for their autism.

'The two are not mutually exclusive but could be co-occurring conditions, each of which deserves support.'

He added: 'Both autistic individuals and transgender and gender-diverse individuals are marginalized and experience multiple vulnerabilities.

'It is important that we safe-guard the rights of these individuals to be themselves, receive the requisite support, and enjoy equality and celebration of their differences, free of societal stigma or discrimination.'
Men are buying condoms to put on before they get erect  and they supposedly make sex more enjoyable.

Firms are offering packs of three 'pre-erection' contraceptives for as little as 5.

Men can put the condoms on up to two hours before having sex, to 'prevent from distractions' and help 'forget about last-minute worries'.

One Colombian-based company making them even brags they make 'lovemaking so much easier (and more fun) because you don't have to interrupt your intimacy with the mundane task of putting it on  because you already wear it.'

The condom is placed over a flaccid penis that is stretched, covering it like a sock. A ring at the bottom helps it stay in place before a man gets erect. Once aroused, the condom expands with the penis, to a maximum length of 18cm (seven inches), a similar size as traditional ones sold by the likes of Durex

One Colombian-based company making them even brags they make 'lovemaking so much easier (and more fun) because you don't have to interrupt your intimacy with the mundane task of putting it on  because you already wear it'

The condom is placed over a flaccid penis that is stretched, covering it like a sock.

A ring at the bottom helps it stay in place before a man gets erect.

Once aroused, the condom expands with the penis, to a maximum length of 18cm (seven inches), a similar size as traditional ones sold by the likes of Durex.

They can be made from a material 10 times thinner than latex, which manufacturers insist is resistant against pressure, stretching and rubbing. They also say it is more 'comfortable' and feels 'like a second skin when the material is warm'.

This, in theory, makes it easier to transfer body heat and become aroused, according the Kamyra Condoms, which sells them.

Research, however, has previously found thickened condoms instead can 'physically preserve and extend the time' of an erection.

But men who have bought condoms made by Kamyra say they now 'can't imagine sex without them'.

Meanwhile, one online review of UNIQ's smart condom said: 'I would say that with this condom the sex was even better than without it.'

One man, however, compared the 'wafer-thin' material to cling film. Another wrote on a Dutch website that it took 'time to learn how to put it on comfortably'.

Others also complained it was 'difficult to put on' and even 'kept falling off' or tore.

Jumbo-packs of 72 are available on Amazon for around 86.

For comparison, a branded box of a dozen condoms in the UK costs in the region of 10  meaning they are similarly priced.

The firms do not make claims about the contraceptive's effectiveness or why a two hour limit is imposed. Men can not urinate while wearing them, unless they take them off.

Regular condoms, the NHS says, are 98 per cent with perfect use.

As well as ease, the companies claim they can overcome condom-related erectile dysfunction.

Scores of men complain that is a major reason why they don't want to wear them, despite them being proven to protect against STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea.

One Colombian university study suggested the product 'did not interfere with male arousal response'.

The trial, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, tracked 82 men aged 18 to 30.

Firms are offering packs of three 'pre-erection' contraceptives for as little as 5. Pictured, one Dutch website selling three for 6.50

They can be made from a material 10 times thinner than latex, which manufacturers insist is resistant against pressure, stretching and rubbing. They also say it is more 'comfortable' and feels 'like a second skin when the material is warm'. One online review of UNIQ's smart condom said: 'I would say that with this condom the sex was even better than without it'

Half used the pre-erection condom, with the others going contraceptive-free.

All were asked to avoid having sex, drinking alcohol, using psychoactive substances or viewing sexually explicit photos and videos 24 hours prior to the study.

During the session, each participant in the first group were asked to put the condom on before watching a sequence of videos  three 'neutral' and three 'erotic'  each roughly three minutes long.

Control group volunteers followed the same process.

At the start and end, participants were quizzed on their erectile dysfunction and given a score out of 25  in line with the International Index of Erectile Function  with low marks signalling the most severe cases.

Researchers found 'no statistical differences' in sexual arousal between the two groups, suggesting the contraceptive was not to blame for any erection difficulties.

They also claimed the men did not report any side effects, but acknowledged limitations of the study's small size.
Is letting kids drink alcohol a harmless way to demystify booze, or the pathway to binge drinking?

It's a question that has been raised in the wake of a shock World Health Organization report which found kids in England are more likely to have drunk alcohol than those in any other country.

MailOnline asked two mothers on either side of the debate what they think and why...

Parents should never encourage children to have alcohol at home, writes CARLA BELLUCCI.

As a mother of four children, I would never dream of letting them have any sort of booze, even if it was just a glass of wine with dinner.

'Anyone who does give their children alcohol should be held accountable for their actions' says Carla Bellucci

Some of my friends let their children have an occasional tipple, but not under my roof!

Anyone who does give their children alcohol should be held accountable for their actions.

As well as distracting them from their education, it can cause serious harm to their health and wellbeing. It's for that very reason there's an age limit on alcohol.

Also, how on earth would any child be able to concentrate on everyday school life after drinking? We all know how awful a hangover can be.

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As a mother, I would simply never forgive myself if my kids got addicted to alcohol because of my actions.

It's bad enough with all the peer pressure they face on social media, and older children encouraging them to experiment.

As parents, we have a crucial role in shaping our children's attitude and learning towards alcohol, and it must be a positive one.

A tipple at home prevents binge drinking at parties as a teenager writes SHONA SIBARY

Whenever I see news reports highlighting the binge drinking culture of teenagers in Britain today, usually accompanied with photos of some poor girl clutching a bottle of Vodka and vomiting all over the pavement, I know with absolute certainty that this will never be one of my children.

But Shona Vann writes 'It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out that if drinking isnt a taboo it doesnt need to be hidden, or rebelliously over-indulged in'

You may be surprised to learn that the reason for this is not because we are a family of strict Mormons and alcohol is forbidden from our house. Quite the opposite.

All four of my children have grown up with drinking as an accepted evening backdrop to their lives.

From a young age they were all taught to pour me a G&T (a three finger measure if it was a bad day) and the moment they turned teenagers they were allowed to have a small glass of wine or a beer with weekend meals.

We have French family and this is completely the norm there. I once witnessed the end of a baguette being dunked into a glass of red wine and handed to a fractious two year old.

My mother died of alcoholism in 2015, so my children have seen the abuse of alcohol up close and personal, but that hasn't changed my approach.

Most of us drink to make ourselves feel better in the evening, but people with an alcohol problem drink to stop themselves feeling bad. There is a massive difference and my children know that difference.

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Also, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out that if drinking isnt a taboo it doesnt need to be hidden, or rebelliously over-indulged in.

My children see alcohol as something that enhances meals and social occasions.

When we drink together as a family there is always food, always laughter.

They have learnt how alcohol affects them and what their limits are. And they have done this with us watching over them - not for the first time at a party.

Because theyve drunk with us at home, they are in a far better position when they do go out with friends to know what they're capable of drinking.
Nearly 100,000 elderly patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in A&E last year  including one who spent five days waiting to be admitted.

At least 16 NHS trusts said patients faced waits of two days or more, with over-65s bearing the brunt of the delays.

A freedom of information request revealed a 25-fold increase in 12-hour trolley waits for over-65s since 2019, with nearly all trusts reporting the situation had worsened.

Responses were sent from 48 of 140 hospital trusts, meaning the true numbers are likely to be far higher.

Nearly 100,000 elderly patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in A&E last year  including one who spent five days waiting to be admitted (File Image)

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it showed the extent of the 'corridor care crisis' and called for a boost to bed numbers

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it showed the extent of the 'corridor care crisis' and called for a boost to bed numbers.

He added: 'It is heartbreaking to think that so many older people are being forced to wait so long on hospital corridors, many in pain, because there aren't enough beds available.

'We know that long A&E waits are not just distressing for patients but can have a serious impact on their health.'

The figures show that elderly patients had an average wait of seven hours in 2023 compared with six for all patients.

Seven in ten of the trusts that responded had longer average waits for pensioners than their average for all patients.

This month the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimated that there were more than 268 excess deaths a week related to waits of 12 hours or longer in A&E last year.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'With record levels of pressure across the whole health and care system, and demand for beds outstripping supply, there will be times when staff are forced to deliver care outside of wards.'

Health leaders said that 5,000 extra permanent hospital beds had been created, along with more than 10,000 'hospital at home' beds, freeing up capacity on wards.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are working hard to ensure everyone gets the emergency care they need, when they need it  including the elderly and most vulnerable.

The latest statistics show an improvement in 4-hour A&E waiting times  despite rising emergency admissions and the threat of industrial action  and the NHS has rolled out same day emergency care to every hospital in England to discharge patients quicker and free up beds.
Brits could be just over a year away from receiving a 'game-changer' jab on the NHS to treat one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.

Early results of the treatment  developed by pharma giants Moderna and MSD  found it drastically improved melanoma survival chances and could stop the cancer returning.

Now University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is now leading the final phase of trials of the personalised mRNA jab, which scientists hope could also be used to stop lung, bladder and kidney cancer.

So how does it work? When will it be available? And could the treatment be used to treat other types of cancers?

Here MailOnline explains everything you need to know about the therapy.

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What are mRNA vaccines?

While the science dates back to 2005, the first vaccines to use the mRNA technology were those made by BioNTech and Moderna against the Covid virus.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is a genetic blueprint that instructs cells to manufacture proteins in the body.

Unlike other traditional vaccines, a live or attenuated virus is not injected or required at any point.

For Covid, the mRNA vaccine instructed cells to make the spike protein found on the surface of the virus itself.

These harmless proteins 'train' the immune system to recognise the virus and then to make cells that fight it if someone later gets infected with the real thing.

This is my best hope of stopping the disease in its tracks

One of the first patients on the trial at UCLH is Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage. His 'bump on the head'  which he thinks he had for around a decade  turned out to be melanoma. He said it was a 'massive shock' to be diagnosed. One of the first patients on the trial at UCLH is Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage. His 'bump on the head'  which he thinks he had for around a decade  turned out to be melanoma 'I literally spent two weeks just thinking 'this is it',' he said. 'My dad died of emphysema when he was 57 and I actually thought 'I'm going to die younger than my dad'.' Mr Young said when he was told about the trial at UCLH it 'really triggered my geek radar'. He added: 'It really piqued my interest. 'As soon as they mentioned this mRNA technology that was being used to potentially fight cancer, I was just like, 'it sounds fascinating' and I still feel the same. I'm really, really excited. 'This is my best chance at stopping the cancer in its tracks.' Advertisement

How does the melanoma treatment work?

Known as mRNA-4157 (V940), the jab triggers the immune system to fight back against the patient's specific type of cancer and tumour.

To create the treatment, a sample of tumour is removed during the patient's surgery.

DNA sequencing is then carried out to identify proteins produced by cancer cells, known as neoantigens, that will trigger an immune response.

These are then used to create a personalised mRNA vaccine that tells the patient's body to generate the tumour-specific neoantigen proteins.

Once injected, the immune system reacts to the proteins by creating fighter T cells which attack the tumour, killing the cancer cells.

The immune system should recognise any future rogue cells, hopefully stopping the cancer returning.

What have the trials shown?

Scientists have given trial participants the jab alongside an immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab or Keytruda, that also helps the immune system kill cancer cells.

Data from the phase 2 trial published in December found people with serious high-risk melanomas who received the jab alongside Keytruda were almost half (49 per cent) as likely to die or have their cancer come back after three years than those who were given only Keytruda.

Patients received one milligram of the mRNA vaccine every three weeks for a maximum of nine doses, and 200 milligrams of Keytruda every three weeks (maximum 18 doses) for about a year.

Dr Heather Shaw, national co-ordinating investigator for the UCLH trial, said there was real hope the therapy could be a 'game-changer', particularly as it appeared to have 'relatively tolerable side effects'.

These include tiredness and a sore arm when the jab was given, she said, adding that for the majority of patients it appeared no worse than having a flu or Covid vaccine.

When will the jab be available?

The combined treatment is not yet available routinely on the NHS, outside of clinical trials.

But Stephane Bancel, Moderna's director general, believes that an mRNA vaccine for melanoma could be available in 2025.

The phase-three global trial will include a wider range of patients and researchers are hoping to recruit around 1,100 people.

At least 60 to 70 patients across eight UK centres  including in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds  are set to be recruited.

The twin therapy combination will also be tested in lung, bladder and kidney cancer.

The patients on trial must have had their high-risk melanoma surgically removed in the last 12 weeks to ensure the best result.

Dr Heather Shaw, national co-ordinating investigator for the trial, described it as 'one of the most exciting things we've seen in a really long time'

Why is melanoma so deadly?

The disease occurs after the DNA in skin cells is damaged, triggering mutations that become cancerous.

Melanoma starts in cells called melanocytes. These make the pigment melanin, which gives the skin colour.

Around 15,000 Brits and 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma each year. It is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.

The incidence in Britain has risen faster than any other common cancer.

Increased UV exposure from the sun or tanning beds, has been blamed for the increase.

Despite huge strides forward in treatment that has seen survival leap from less than 50 per cent to more than 90 per cent in the past decade, it still kills more than 2,000 people a year.

Melanoma is often fast growing and can quickly burrow through the skin and into the blood vessels beneath. Once the cancer cells get into the bloodstream, the disease can spread throughout the body.

Patients with melanoma are offered surgery, especially if it's found early. Radiotherapy, immunotherapy medicines and chemotherapy are also used.

Could the jabs work for other types of cancers?

Big pharma firms are all competing to produce successful cancer vaccines. Last May, BioNTech, in partnership with Roche, proposed a phase 1 clinical trial of a vaccine targeting pancreatic cancer.

The following month, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's conference, Transgene presented its conclusions concerning its viral vector vaccines against ENT [ears, nose and throat] and papillomavirus-linked cancers.

And in September, Ose Immunotherapeutics made headlines with its vaccine for advanced lung cancer.
The UK is entering a 'cancer renaissance' with pioneering personalised vaccines to combat some of the deadliest tumours expected by 2030, say leading experts.

Trials are already underway offering patients with lung, liver, kidney, bowel and pancreas cancer jabs that could prevent the disease returning.

A first-of-its-kind partnership between the NHS and cancer vaccine developers, announced last year, will mean that British patients will get priority access to these game-changing drugs.

The bespoke jabs, created using the same technology behind the Covid vaccines, train the body to hunt down cancer cells, and prevent the disease from coming back.

However, there are question marks over the affordability of the treatment which cost around 400,000 per patient, insiders have told MailOnline.

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Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage is of the first patients on the melanoma vaccine trial at University College Hospital London

Steve is administered his first melanoma jab at the University College London Hospital from Nurse Christian Medina

The news comes after an announcement today that the first personalised vaccine for melanoma skin cancer was being trialled on NHS patients.

Early results suggest the jab can drastically improve the survival chances of patients with the disease  the deadliest form of skin cancer.

One patient who has already received the vaccine, Steve Young, 52 from Stevenage, described it as his 'best chance of stopping the cancer in its tracks'.

This is my best hope of stopping the disease in its tracks

One of the first patients on the trial at UCLH is Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage. His 'bump on the head'  which he thinks he had for around a decade  turned out to be melanoma. He said it was a 'massive shock' to be diagnosed. One of the first patients on the trial at UCLH is Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage. His 'bump on the head'  which he thinks he had for around a decade  turned out to be melanoma 'I literally spent two weeks just thinking 'this is it',' he said. 'My dad died of emphysema when he was 57 and I actually thought 'I'm going to die younger than my dad'.' Mr Young said when he was told about the trial at UCLH it 'really triggered my geek radar'. He added: 'It really piqued my interest. 'As soon as they mentioned this mRNA technology that was being used to potentially fight cancer, I was just like, 'it sounds fascinating' and I still feel the same. I'm really, really excited. 'This is my best chance at stopping the cancer in its tracks.' Advertisement

Mr Young was diagnosed with melanoma after a bump on his head  which he thinks he had for around a decade  turned out to be cancerous.

However, experts say that melanoma is just one of many cancers that could be cured thanks to personalised vaccines.

'These vaccines could help cancer patients across the board,' says Dr Lennard Lee, a cancer vaccine expert at the University of Oxford.

'This is new tech that we didn't have before that could save the lives of patients.

'There are already trials ongoing for head and neck, bowel, pancreas, lung and liver cancers, and the number will only increase month-by-month, year-by-year.

'It's a whole field of medicine which has exploded from nowhere. It feels like the UK is entering a renaissance for cancer treatment.'

Professor Lee added: 'Drug manufacturers are all targeting 2030 as the year to get these vaccines out there.'

Cancer vaccines are designed to target specific genetic mutations found in the cancer cells.

This means that, should the cancer return, the immune system will spot it immediately and destroy the cells before they have time to spread.

To create the jab, a sample of tumour is removed during the patient's surgery.

This is then sent to a laboratory where the tumour genes are sequenced to identify certain proteins created by cancer cells, known as neoantigens, that will trigger an immune response.

These are then used to create an individualised mRNA vaccine  the same cutting-edge technology used to develop several of the Covid jabs.

The vaccine tells the patient's body to generate the tumour-specific neoantigens which in turn train the immune system to recognise and attack the tumour cells.

Data published last year found that, in a small study, high-risk melanoma patients who were given the new jab alongside another immune-boosting drug were almost half as likely to die or have their cancer come back after three years, compared to those only taking the immunotherapy.

Patients have to get a new jab, alongside a course of immunotherapy, every three weeks for a year.

However, experts say they are particularly excited about the potential of the vaccines to help cure patients with pancreas cancer  a deadly form of the disease with few effective treatments.

Every year, around 10,000 patients are diagnosed with pancreas cancer  and around the same die of it annually.

The condition is so deadly because it is often diagnosed late due to a lack of obvious symptoms.

Only around five per cent of patients will survive the disease for more than a decade.

Earlier this month, new data from a study giving mRNA vaccines to pancreas patients after surgery showed signs that it induced a strong immune response that would reduce the risk of the disease returning.

A larger study, involving 260 patients, is now underway.

'We've come a long way in the treatment of melanoma over the years now and we can cure around half of all patients,' says Professor Tom Powles, director of Barts' Cancer Centre.

'But there is just nothing that works for pancreas cancer.

'If given to patients early enough, cancer vaccines could open a new chapter for pancreas patients by reducing the risk of the disease returning.

'If I was a pancreas cancer patient this is the trial I would want to get on.'

However, there are concerns over the cost of the vaccine.

'Currently, it costs around 500,000 dollars [399,000] to develop each course of jabs,' says an industry source.

The jabs use the same mRNA-based technology found in the Covid vaccine to harness the body's immune system and kill cancer

'At that price the NHS will struggle to afford them.

'The drug companies will need to find a way to make the vaccines commercially viable.'

But experts say the NHS's partnership with vaccine developers Moderna and BioNTech, which will see thousands of UK patients enrolled on their trials, could allow Britons to access these new treatments sooner than those in other countries.

'In the coming years, NHS cancer patients can expect to see more opportunities to get onto these vaccine trials,' says Dr Lee.

'These are opportunities patients elsewhere might not get.'
Vaping may be unwittingly damage women's fertility, alarming research suggests.

Experts discovered female e-cigarette users have consistently lower levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH).

AMH roughly indicates of a woman's egg supply, acting as a marker of fertility.

Scientists today urged women who vape to quit the habit altogether to avoid 'thwarting' their chances of getting pregnant.

Dr Helen O'Neill, a lecturer in reproductive and molecular genetics at University College London, said: 'This is the first piece of evidence to show a link between fertility and vaping across a large population.

Experts discovered female e-cigarette users have consistently lower levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH). AMH roughly indicates of a woman's egg supply, acting as a marker of fertility. Scientists today urged women who vape to quit the habit altogether to avoid 'thwarting' their chances of getting pregnant

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'It shows that AMH is suppressed in vapers compared to non-vapers, in a similar way to what has already been shown in smokers.'

Vaping while pregnant is only recommended by the NHS as alternative to smoking, which is considered more dangerous to an unborn child.

However, the health service acknowledges the risks of vaping while pregnant are still unknown and it's better for expectant mums to stop completely if possible.

Some studies have warned of an increased risk of miscarriages.

But the risks of vaping on fertility are even less understood.

The new study, not published in a medical journal, analysed blood samples from more than 8,000 women.

No other details of the research, first reported by The Times, were shared.

Figures released last week also suggest vaping usage among women aged 18 to 45 has more than tripled in a decade.

One in five (19.7 per cent) used e-cigarettes in 2023, up from the 5.1 per cent logged in 2013.

Hertility, a female reproductive health clinic, found 22 per cent of women actively trying to conceive admitted to regularly or occasionally vaping.

More than one in four (27 per cent) who hope to have children in the future also said they used e-cigs, according to its poll.

Dr O'Neill, Hertility's chief executive, said women planning to get pregnant should be given clear guidance of 'no drinking, no vaping, no smoking, no drugs'.

Evidence, however, has suggested that AMH levels are a poor predictor of current and future fertility in women, given the test does not provide an indication of egg quality or the speed of egg count decline.

One Australian study published last year in the journal JAMA Network Open said AMH tests, which are widely available online, are unlikely to be useful for individual women because of the broad age range they cover.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid.

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Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements and partly why they are considered a safer alternative.

Soaring usage rates in children have sparked fears that younger generations are sleepwalking into a public health crisis.

Data shows one in five kids has tried vaping while the number of youngsters using the devices has tripled in the past three years.

This is despite it being illegal for under-18s to be sold a vape.

Earlier this month MailOnline also revealed the number of adverse side effects linked to vaping reported to UK regulators has now eclipsed 1,000, with five of them fatal.

All five deaths were linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems.

Some reported digestive issues such as diarrhoea or flatulence, and even one case of rectal haemorrhaging, linked to their vape use.

One woman, or her medic, also reported suffering a miscarriage while using a vape.
King Charles's return to work has been hailed as a 'really encouraging' step in his cancer journey.

Buckingham Palace today announced the King would be returning to public-facing duties after a three-month absence.

Charles, 75, is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment.

However, his medical team are understood to be 'pleased with the progress made so far' and 'remain positive' about his recovery.

Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years' experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty.

King Charles, 75, is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment but experts have hailed his return to work as very positive step that will aid his recovery. Here he is pictured with Queen Camilla

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'Everyone goes through the shock when they are diagnosed and often they take time off work,' he said.

'Going back to work is therapeutic in a sense.'

He said that a return to 'normality', be that work, family duties, or education had a significant psychological impact and could speed up recovery both from the disease and from the treatment they have undergone.

'It's really encouraging that he's doing that, and that's what we encourage other people to do,' he said.

Professor Sikora said cancer patients, understandably, face huge uncertainties in wake of a diagnosis about treatment options, whether it will be a success and the risk that the cancer could return.

'Some people go to pieces and never get back to normal,' he said.

'It is therapeutic just to get out and about, and not to be sitting and moping about the cancer.'

READ MORE: New 400,000 melanoma vaccine heralds start of 'cancer renaissance' as UK trials personalised jabs for lung, bowel, pancreas and liver tumours... but experts fear NHS can't afford them Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage is of the first patients on the melanoma vaccine trial at University College Hospital London Advertisement

Buckingham Palace has also passed on the King and Queen's grateful thanks for all the good wishes they have received in the weeks since his diagnosis.

One of Charles's first official events will be particularly poignant visit to cancer treatment centre to meet both medical specialists and patients.

In a statement Buckingham Palace said: 'His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

'To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients.

'This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.'

The King's health current health issues first became public in January when it was announced that he was going into hospital for surgery on an enlarged prostate.

He remained in The London Clinic for three days.

Then in February it was revealed tests had discovered presence of cancer elsewhere in his body.

Buckingham Palace have not revealed the exact type of cancer the King has cancer or details of the treatment he received. However, it is understood not to be prostate cancer.

Officials have stressed that His Majesty's treatment for cancer is still ongoing, saying: 'His Majesty's treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public facing duties.

'Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery.'

A spokesperson said they were unable to specify how long the recovery is expected to take: 'It is too early to say, but His Majesty's medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The King's continued recovery.'

Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years' experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty

They added that 'any public-facing engagements will be announced nearer the time in the usual way, and will remain subject to doctors' advice' and stressed that it would not be a 'full summer programme'.

It is unclear yet whether if the King will be able to travel to Normandy in June for the major D-Day anniversary commemorations or to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa as planned in October, but it is understood that the King is keen to if his health allows.

Charles isn't the only royal facing a cancer battle.

The Princess of Wales, 42, shared her own shocking cancer diagnosis and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy last month.
An award-winning head chef and concierge are among some of the offerings at the private hospital treating King Charles for cancer.

The London Clinic has been the go-to for the royal family over many decades  and also counts Liz Taylor and John F Kennedy among its former patients.

In January the King, 75, was admitted to the private clinic in Marylebone to undergo 'routine treatment' for an enlarged prostate.

Doctors discovered an unspecified form of cancer after tests in February. Buckingham Palace confirmed it was not prostate cancer.

His Majesty is no stranger to the hospital. As the then-Prince of Wales, he opened the London Clinic's physiotherapy department in 1989.

The service on offer to patients at the private hospital - including meals brought on silver trolleys - has been compared to that of a 5-star hotel

Meals provided include fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield market

Further royal visits included Princess Margaret unveiling the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen launching a new cancer unit in 2010.

The clinic, opened by the then-Duke and Duchess of York in 1932, offers patients their own concierge service, while the hospital's executive chef heads a kitchen serving serves fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield's Market.

Head chef Paul O'Brien, awarded in 2021 for supporting patients during the coronavirus pandemic, leads a team which provides customised meals for patients that also source ingredients from Home Counties farms.

A concierge can help patients arrange travel and accommodation while also booking tours, theatre shows and restaurants in the capital.

Dimple Mistry, who also had abdominal surgery and was at the London Clinic for five nights in 2021, told the Mail: 'Far from feeling like a hospital, it was like staying at a 5-star hotel.

She described 'plentiful and fresh' hot food arriving on silver trolleys, bathrooms stocked with Molton Brown toiletries and staff who offered to help wash her hair.

She added: 'The blinds and room temperature was were controlled by a remote control and the ceiling was full of stars which I could switch on in a heartbeat.

'The care itself was also significantly better, with staff having the luxury of time to introduce themselves every time they entered the room.

Buckingham Palace today revealed King Charles will return to public-facing duties, just two months after his cancer diagnosis. While the King is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, his medical team are understood to be 'pleased with the progress made so far' and 'remain positive' about his recovery

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales is being treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital as Kate undergoes treatment

The Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, pictured here visiting Factory Works in Birmingham in October 23, was a patient at the London Clinic in January

The London Clinic has previously treated Prince Philip. The late Duke of Edinburgh is pictured above leaving the private hospital in 2013

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured leaving the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on June 15, 2013

'The best part of all of this were the afternoons, when I could call down to the kitchen and order myself cake every day.

'I'd happily go back just to experience this type of service - and the exhaustive food selection - again.

'Overall the delightful menu paired with efficient nursing and attentive consultants made for a great week.'

Buckingham Palace today revealed King Charles will return to public-facing duties, just two months after his cancer diagnosis.

While the King is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, his medical team are understood to be 'pleased with the progress made so far' and 'remain positive' about his recovery.

The Palace have not shared any details of his treatment or how long it will continue for.

He first sought treatment the private clinic for three days in January for an enlarged prostate.

At the time it thought that the condition was not cancerous, but in February it was revealed subsequent tests had discovered presence of the disease elsewhere in his body.

The Princess of Wales also attended the hospital as a patient in January after undergoing abdominal surgery.

In 2013, Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what was described as 'abdominal investigations', while previously Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.

In 1947, future President Kennedy - then a US Congressman - was also diagnosed with Addison's disease at the clinic.

Hollywood actress Taylor had a knee operation there in January 1963 after falling on a film set while making the movie The V.I.P.s at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.

Other former patients include former Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 - when Leader of the Opposition - for surgery on his prostate.

Another former PM, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gall bladder removed at the clinic in 1953 when he was Foreign Secretary - and current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, PM from 2010 until 2016, was born there in 1966.

Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor underwent a knee operation at The London Clinic in January 1963. Above: Taylor leaving the hospital with her leg bandaged

Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed

Future Labour PM Clement Attlee - then the Leader of the Opposition - is seen recovering in bed at The London Clinic in 1939 after having surgery on his prostate

Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested there in 1998 for crimes against humanity.

The London Clinic was the 1930s brainchild of a group of Harley Street doctors who set out to plan a new nursing home using the highest medical standards of the day.

According to its website, the hospital was 'founded on the principles of providing excellence in one place'.

The facility said it could treat 155 conditions, with hundreds of treatments, tests and scans available.

It also operated as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.

The latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission, carried out in June 2021, rated The London Clinic as 'good' overall.

According to the health watchdog, the hospital has about 23,000 inpatients a year with a further 110,000 outpatients.

It is registered to provide surgery, diagnostics and screening, treatment of disease, disorder or injury, management of supply of blood and blood-derived products.

US President John F Kennedy, pictured here with the Queen during a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 1961, was diagnosed with Addison's Disease at the London Clinic in 1947

Lord Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Foreign Secretary, was born at the London Clinic in October 1966

The clinic at 20 Devonshire Place has a leading cancer centre which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.

It boasts of being able to provide 'CyberKnife' radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients, 'SpyGlass' technology for patients needing an endoscopy and CAR-T immunotherapy for cancer sufferers.

And in 2019, a specialist centre for robotic surgery was opened.

The building also has seven main operating theatres and three additional theatres, plus six specialty wards for surgeries in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics and spinal procedures.
PepsiCo has recalled another popular soda brand after its sugar content was mislabeled.

The FDA announced that New-York based PepsiCo has voluntarily recalled over 2,000 cases of its Mug Root Beer because the cans actually contained Mug Zero Sugar root beer.

The recall began on March 22, though the FDA announced it Wednesday. The findings was discovered through an 'internal investigation.'

The FDA's report states that the 2,801 affected cases were shipped to Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

The FDA announced that New-York based PepsiCo has voluntarily recalled over 2,000 cases of its Mug Root Beer because the cans actually contained Mug Zero Sugar root beer

The affected cans of Mug had the code information 'JUL2224XXXXAS02234, Best by Date JUL 22 2024.' It's unclear if they made it on to store shelves or homes.

The news comes about a week after the company recalled 233 cases of its sugar-free and caffeine-free Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ale because it actually contained 'full sugar.'

In the case of Schweppes, PepsiCo told DailyMail.com that all impacted products have been removed from store shelves.

However customers who bought the product were advised to throw it away, particularly if they need to monitor their blood sugar, such as in the case of diabetics.

PepsiCo confirmed to DailyMail.com that none of the affected Mug products are on store shelves.
Used cars are now selling almost twice as quickly as in 2023, in the strongest sign yet that the market's bounced back from last year's crash.

Trading platform HonkHonk reports some used cars are selling to dealers within two hours of being listed on the online platform.

Prices paid are also rising for models across the board that are in good condition too.

Used cars are now selling almost twice as quickly as in 2023, in the strongest sign yet that the market's bounced back from last year's crash. Some used cars are selling within two hours of being listed on trading platform HonkHonk

In December last year, This is Money reported that the months of October and November saw a 4.2 per cent drop-off in used car prices in both months - the biggest monthly fall in average second-hand prices recorded by Cap Hpi since May 2011.

That was an equivalent to an average price drop of 1,625 in just two months.

But now the general recovery of the second hand market appears to be on the upwards trend again, with HonkHonk finding that cars of all styles are seeing rising demand.

The ten faster sellers in recent weeks varied massively across budgets and models.

It includes a standard Vauxhall Corsa worth 4,000, an Aston Martin Vantage worth 42,750 and an Audi RS3, sold for 51,000.

The two fastest selling cars were a 2019 Range Rover Sport going for 34,500, and a 2022 Volvo XC40 which was bought for 27,500 - both snapped up within two hours of their owners listing them on HonkHonk.

The car that remained unsold for longest was a 2006 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe, which remained on the site for 144 hours.

Most cars priced at under 10,000, in good condition and with full service history, are selling within 24 hours.

The slowest car to shift was a 2006 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe, which remained on the site for 144 hours.

While nearly-new second hand luxury cars can sell very quickly, older models from premium badges will take longer to shift, with dealers needing to line a customer up first

Fastest selling used cars in 2024 so far: Year Make Model Value Hours Days 2019 Range Rover Sport 34500 2 1 2022 Volvo XC40 27500 2 1 2017 Kia Sportage 11750 4 1 2021 Audi A1 20000 4 1 2016 Vauxhall Corsa 5dr 4000 4 1 2017 Aston Martin Vantage 42750 4 1 2023 Audi RS3 51000 6 1 2013 Nissan Qashqai 4600 7 1 2019 Mercedes GLE 35000 8 1 2020 Ford Fiesta ST 13500 12 1 2014 Volkswagen Polo 3900 20 1 2013 Citroen C1 5000 22 1 2019 Renault Kadjar 11600 48 2 2019 Mercedes C Class Cabriolet 18500 51 3 2013 Fiat 500 3500 69 3 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible 14800 71 3 2018 Mini Countryman 15300 74 4 2015 Audi A3 8000 87 3 2012 Porsche Cayman 22500 94 3 2006 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe 16000 144 6 Source - HonkHonk

Prestigious marques over ten years old need the dealer to have a customer who already wants that exact model in mind before they will make a serious offer.

Despite the end of year slump, the UK's used car market grew by 5.1 per cent in 2023, thanks to re-energised supply, levelling prices and a record year for electric vehicle (EV) sales.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) latest figures show there were 7,242,692 used car transactions last year, with driver's turning to more affordable second hand motors after feeling the pinch from rising costs of living.

Last year motorists were often unaware that the mercy of unusually high depreciation, and refusing good offers. Dealers were subsequently urging drivers to accept the first offer they got because it was usually the best.

But now that dynamic has shifted in 2024, as demand increases and dealers snap up the best cars as fast as possible.

SMMT figures show the used car market grew 5.1 per cent in 2023, with price levelling, more supply attributing to the growth

Sebastien Duval said: 'For most other cars, whatever the size or style, demand is strong from dealers looking for stock in a market that is much stronger than last year.

'The speed of sales we're seeing now is very good news for consumers because no one wants a long drawn-out process when they've decided to sell.

'Motorists have adjusted to more realistic expectations too, so dealers are less frustrated by having their best offers rejected - a consistent problem we reported last year - so everyone is winning.'
Across the United States over 60 universities and colleges have seen students and faculty organising encampments in a growing movement against the massacre in Gaza. A whole generation is being politicised and drawing conclusions about the nature of imperialism, the role of the police and the state and the need for collective action.

On 17 April, students and faculty members at Columbia University in New York City led the way with their campus encampment in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have been subject to the most brutal genocidal onslaught by the Israeli Zionist regime. The spark that spread the movement across the United States was the slander by Columbia University President Shafik that the Palestine solidarity movement is antisemitic, and calling in the police to break up the protest on campus.

For months now we have faced a barrage of propaganda by government ministers, state officials, and the mainstream media, tarring anyone who supports the Palestinian people and opposes the Zionist government of Israel as anti-semitic. The irony is that many Jewish students have been actively participating in the Palestine solidarity movement, and are highly visible in the present wave of campus protests. They understand that to be against the genocide of Palestinians does not mean being antisemitic.

So far, more than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with a further 77,000 wounded. Such brutality has stirred the consciences of hundreds of thousands of US students. They are not prepared to tolerate the Biden Administrations open support for Netanyahus war. We have seen a long series of Palestine solidarity demonstrations, but these have had little to no effect on Biden and the US government. That explains why the movement has now moved to a higher level. US students want to do something more concrete to now stop the genocide. Many of their professors have joined in solidarity.

Atlanta: Witness the brutal police arrest or Emory University Economics professor Caroline Fohlin, as part of repression of Gaza solidarity encampment.

Video @UICProfWatch pic.twitter.com/f3OCKVZs1W  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) April 26, 2024

The US authorities thought that they could nip the movement in the bud by going in heavily with police repression at Columbia University, on a level not seen for decades, resulting in hundreds of arrests and students being suspended and expelled. But this has had precisely the opposite effect to what they had hoped for. It has enraged the students further at Columbia, and has served to spread the movement across the whole country. Starting with Yale, one campus after another has seen big mobilisations, and the movement continues to spread. It has begun to cross national borders, with attempts at occupation breaking out in France, Greece, Britain and Australia.

The level of police repression is having a deep and widespread radicalising effect. Students are learning about the real nature of the state  with its armed bodies of men being used to defend the core interests of the US capitalist class  not in books but in the real-life experience of being beaten, manhandled and arrested. Police and state troopers have used batons, tear gas, officers on horseback, etc. against a peaceful movement exercising the democratic right to protest. In these conditions, young people learn fast!

The representatives of the state, in normal times, wash their mouths with all their talk about defending democracy and humanitarian rights, while in reality they defend their own profits and privileges. The ongoing movement in the United States is revealing the real face of the system. This will have consequences in the future period. A new generation of militant youth is being forged.

Huge crowd as Gaza solidarity encampment is set up at Ohio State University, the third largest in the US. pic.twitter.com/CPHkX3Nh71  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) April 26, 2024

The level of repression unleashed by the US authorities reveals that they fear this movement. They want to see it crushed and pushed back. But what is it that they fear? The capitalists and their political representatives in the United States are openly defending the interests of US capitalism. The supply of weapons to Israel involves both big money and the geostrategic interests of the US ruling class. The defence of Israel is a key element in US imperialisms policy of both holding on to its spheres of influence around the world, and clawing back influence in areas it has lost out to its competitors.

This explains why the United States is involved in a global conflict stretching from Ukraine, to Palestine, from Africa to Latin America, and the Pacific. It is clashing with two major powers, Russia and China, whose influence and clout have massively increased in recent decades, encroaching on what was once considered the USs spheres of influence. Iran has also spread its influence in the Middle East, emerging as a strong regional power, with connections in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. It has become part of a chain of countries linked to Russia and China. The recent exchanges of drone and missile attacks between Israel and Iran, and the threat of a wider war between the two, is part of this wider conflict.

The US students are up against the most powerful imperialist force on the planet, which is pushing back to regain lost influence internationally. The US students can clearly see that, to stop Israels genocidal war on Gaza, they must stop US support for the Netanyahu regime.

They are demanding that American universities divest from both Israel and companies that are presently profiting from the war in Gaza. We fully agree with these demands. Not a cent and not a bullet should be provided to the Israeli governments war machine. Without US aid, both financial and military, Israel would be much weakened in its military offensive in Gaza.

The question that must be posed is: how can the movement succeed in imposing its main aim of achieving divestment? Appealing to university administrations is not enough. These bodies have vested interests in continuing their economic ties with Israel. And major world corporations are involved here, from BlackRock to Google, Amazon, Lockheed Martin and many others, with billions of dollars at stake. These are the people that US cops are defending.

US students can see that what is required is a powerful, mass movement, direct action. In most cases, the details of financial relations of universities with these major corporations, and with Israel, are not publicly available. These accounts need to be made public. That is why one of the key demands should be: disclose, open the books; show us where the money is coming from and where it is being invested! All the dealings of university administrations with Israel should be made public.

Police repression of Gaza solidarity encampment at Ohio State University. pic.twitter.com/1mqqCbeXNS  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) April 26, 2024

The students in the US have made a good start. However, so far the demands have been placed on university authorities, which cannot be trusted. The movement needs to find ways of imposing its demands on these authorities. These people cannot be convinced through dialogue. They must be brought to a point where the movement is so powerful that they are forced to back off. The students have led the way. But to add weight to their campaign, they must spread their struggle into other layers of society.

This can start by approaching workers on the campuses, from the lecturers  some of whom have already risked their positions by coming out in defence of the students  to the admin staff, maintenance workers, research staff, etc. Pressure should be brought to bear on the trade unions, starting at the rank-and-file level, approaching shop stewards, and shop-steward committees.

The US is the single biggest exporter of arms to Israel / Image: public domain

A campaign should be organised at this level, with groups of students being sent to approach the different groups of workers. Joint worker-student actions should be organised. On a wider level, workers involved in transport, such as dockers, air cargo workers, etc., should be approached to apply a workers boycott whereby any transportation of any arms or goods to Israel that are part of the military offensive of the Israeli Army in Gaza should be blocked through strike action. Already, in other parts of the world, workers in these sectors have taken such initiatives. The highly publicised tenacity of students in the face of police repression has generated enormous sympathy and respect among wider layers, and we are sure the students would get a warm response from many of these workers.

The US is the single biggest exporter of arms to Israel. It accounts for around 65 percent of Israel's imports of conventional weapons. The next two major suppliers of arms to Israel are Germany (around 30 percent, and Italy at just under 5 percent). A successful workers boycott of Israel would severely damage its ability to continue its genocidal campaign in Gaza.

A successful campaign in the United States could be the stimulus for a series of such campaigns in one country after another, and would add to the effect if organised across Europe, especially in those countries heavily involved in providing arms to Israel.

Such a campaign, therefore, needs to be organised on an international scale. The fact that similar encampments to those we have seen in US campuses have taken place on campuses in Paris, Sydney and Cairo, with reports of similar efforts in other countries, is an indication of the potential for the movement to spread.

While the movement is aimed at stopping Israels butchery in Gaza, it is clear that the direct enemy of the US students is at home. It is the US ruling class, just as the enemy of the UK students is the Sunak government, that of the French students is Macron and his government, that of the Italian students is the Meloni government, and so on. All of these governments have used police forces to clamp down on Palestine solidarity activities in one way or another. Protestors have been batoned, tear-gassed and arrested in many countries.

The accusation of antisemitism has also been used systematically in all western countries in an attempt to criminalise the Palestine solidarity movement. The irony of this is that it is precisely the ruling class that foments racism. The same bourgeois ministers, who attempt to whip up a frenzy against migrants, and who issue scandalous statements aimed at provoking inter-ethnic conflicts  the tried and tested method of divide and rule  are now making a lot of noise about antisemitism.

We reject all these blatant manoeuvres of the capitalist class in all countries. We say: the enemy is at home. To help the Palestinian people we need to fight these enemies on the home front. Thus, not a cent, not a bullet for the Israeli war machine should be a clarion call for the whole movement. It should be aimed at all the national governments that are backing the genocide in Gaza.

3 officers - thugs of the bourgeois state - holding down & tasing a handcuffed student protestor, for exercising their First Amendment right to protest Israeli atrocities - supported by US imperialism.



This is what capitalist free speech looks like!



pic.twitter.com/RntftYQePf  Revolutionary Communist International (@marxistcom) April 25, 2024

Biden, Sunak, Macron, Scholz, Meloni, and all the other government leaders  of both the right-wing Conservatives, such as Sunak, and the Social-Democrats, whether in government like Scholz in Germany, or in opposition, such as Starmer in the UK  have the blood of the Palestinian people on their hands. They all defend the economic interests of their own ruling classes. And they all use the repressive forces of the state to physically attack, harass and arrest young protestors, whose only crime is actively campaigning to stop the criminal activities of their rulers.

All this brings out very clearly that the fight to defend the Palestinian people is at the same time a fight against the enemy at home, the capitalists, the ruling class, and their political representatives. The same politicians who can always find billions for bullets, bombs, drones and missiles, are those who cut spending on healthcare, on education, on public transport, on public housing. They are involved not only in fighting military wars, but also in the class war.

While dozens of local wars are being fought in different parts of the world, the capitalists are profiting from the bloodshed and destruction. We need to clean out all these parasites! For that, we need to organise all the most advanced, the most militant workers and youth into a genuine, revolutionary communist force in all countries. Such a force can begin the task of gathering together the best class fighters, all those individuals who want to change society but feel powerless on their own. We say: In unity there is strength. Help us build that party, which the working class and youth deserve.

So long as capitalism continues to exist, the capitalists will provoke one war after another. To put a final end to this barbarism, to this hell on earth, we need to radically transform society. That means we need to struggle for genuine communism, where the power is in the hands of those who produce the wealth: the workers of the world!

Not a cent, not a bullet for the Israeli war machine!

Free Palestine!

Intifada until victory, revolution until victory!
Mining giant BHP was last night told it will need to raise its bid for Anglo American after launching an 'opportunistic' 31billion swoop on its Footsie rival.

The offer, which analysts said could set the whole mining sector 'on fire', is the second for a FTSE 100 company this year and fuelled fears over the health of the stock market amid a wave of takeover activity.

BHP, which quit London for Sydney in 2021, is hoping the mega-merger will boost its copper production.

But analysts believe it will have to significantly improve the offer. And investors branded the offer 'opportunistic' due to Anglo's 'depressed' valuation.

The move also met with opposition in South Africa where a political backlash threatens to derail any deal.

Offer: Mining giant BHP has been told it would need to raise its bid for the Footsie rival Anglo American

Minerals resources minister Gwede Mantashe said he was against the takeover, branding his country's experience of BHP 'not positive'.

Anglo's biggest shareholder is South Africa's state-backed Public Investment Corporation  giving Johannesburg a major say in the proceedings.

Anglo shares rocketed up 16.1 per cent, or 355p, to 2560p.

The swoop is just the latest bid for a London-listed firm  amid warnings that the stock market is in crisis.

Fellow FTSE 100 company DS Smith has agreed a takeover by a US rival and there are offers on the table for firms from Virgin Money to Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services.

The approach also raises questions over which firm will be next amid concerns London-listed stocks are undervalued.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the bid would 'send a fresh chill through the City'.

Anglo is best known for its diamond brand De Beers and as the owner of the Woodsmith mine in North Yorkshire.

Australia's BHP, the world's largest listed miner  and valued at nearly 120billion  has its sights on Anglo's copper production.

The metal is used in everything from cars and power grids to building construction, and prices have soared 15 per cent this year on expectations it will be crucial for the energy transition.

Anglo's shares are down 12 per cent in the last 12 months and during the tenure of boss Duncan Wanblad who took the top job in April, 2022, its shares have tumbled 46 per cent. Other miners could swoop in with a rival bid.

A tie-up between the two would create the world's largest copper miner, with around 10 per cent of global production.

'The energy transition is only just getting started, and if electricity is the lifeblood of this revolution, copper is the veins and arteries,' said Peter Arkell, chairman of the Global Mining Association of China.

Ben Cleary, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners, which holds shares in BHP and Anglo, said: 'Anglo is obviously very much in play now and there's probably room for others to interlope. This is going to set the whole sector on fire.'

Under the proposal, Anglo American would have to spin off its platinum arm and Kumba Iron Ore business.

But Nick Stansbury, head of climate solutions at Legal & General Investment Management, Anglo's 11th-largest shareholder, told the Financial Times that BHP had made a 'highly opportunistic approach'.

Anglo's board said it is reviewing the proposal, and BHP has until May 22 to make a firm offer.
A Greek energy tycoon hailed London as the premier financial hub in Europe as he laid out plans to list his company's shares on the UK stock market.

In a vote of confidence in the City and Brexit Britain, Evangelos Mytilineos, chief executive of industrial conglomerate Mytilineos, threw his weight behind the capital's long-term prospects.

When asked why he was considering a multi-billion pound listing in the UK, he said: 'We think one of the main reasons we may prefer the London Stock Exchange, which is not a final decision, is because we think the LSE has seen the worst.

'We see the LSE going up in the next few years. We strongly believe that London will still remain the main financial hub in Europe for years to come.'

The comments, on BBC Radio 4, were a welcome shot in the arm for the stock market as it faces an exodus of firms.

Boost: In a vote of confidence in the City and Brexit Britain, Evangelos Mytilineos threw his weight behind the capital's long-term prospects

Construction company CRH, plumbing group Ferguson and travel agent Tui have all shifted their listings from the UK.

And Paddy Power owner Flutter will ask shareholders to vote next week whether to move its primary listing to the US.

Mytilineos, 69, noted his company's close connection with the UK, having built solar farms as well as infrastructure for the National Grid. The firm, which is valued at nearly 4.5billion, plans to make its debut on the London stock market in the next 12 to 18 months, Mytilineos said.

It will also keep its listing in Athens, where its shares have traded for three decades.
Wilkinson and her husband are reportedly worth millions

Bruce Lehrmann has been ordered to pay Lisa Wilkinson's husband Peter FitzSimons $4,616 because the author was asked to supply evidence in the a defamation case against his wife and Network Ten.

Mr FitzSimons, who is a prominent newspaper columnist and historical non-fiction writer, was issued with a subpoena last year to produce documents relating to Brittany Higgins' $325,000 book deal with Penguin Random House.

He brokered her deal in a three-way auction between two other major publishers in early 2021.

Last July, he provided texts between himself and Ms Higgins about the deal ahead of Lehrmann's defamation battle in the Federal Court.

In March, Mr FitzSimons filed an application requesting that Justice Michael Lee order Lehrmann to cover expenses he incurred in complying with the subpoena.

He was not a witness in the defamation trial and did not attend the court in person during the hearing.

Lehrmann lost the case on April 15 when Justice Michael Lee found, on a civil scale, that he had raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House on March 23, 2019.

Lisa Wilkinson is pictured with Peter FitzSimons who is holding a copy of his book, 'The Opera House'

Lisa Wilkinson is pictured outside the Federal Court in February with her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC

Justice Lee was going to deal with costs in a hearing on May 1, but that date was vacated in a court order on Friday when Lehrmann was ordered to pay the costs.

Mr FitzSimons' wife, Ms Wilkinson, will also have a costs application dealt with in the next hearing.

In February, she won a bid to have Network Ten cover her legal fees associated with hiring her own barrister to represent her in the defamation trial.

She could have used Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC, but she claimed the network did not have her best interests at heart and hired Sue Chrysanthou SC instead.

Her costs were worth more than $700,000 when the claim was filed in 2023, but are reportedly now worth more than $1million.

Ms Wilkinson has not appeared on television for Channel Ten in about two years, but she has continued to receive her full salary of about $44,000 a week. Her contract expires in October.

Ms Wilkinson, Mr FitzSimons and their three children live in a sprawling six-bedroom estate worth up to $40million in Sydney's well-to-do Cremorne.

They reportedly paid $1.4million for the home and added extensions, including adding a huge master bedroom wing overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Pictured: Wilkinson and FitzSimons' former home in Mosman, which they sold for $1.6million

Wilkinson also owns a 1970s single bedroom unit in Cremorne that overlooks Sydney Harbour with views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House (pictured)

Lehrmann's defamation case was lodged last year over an interview between Wilkinson and Ms Higgins on Network Ten's flagship program, The Project, in February 2021.

During the broadcast, Ms Higgins said she was raped inside Parliament House in 2019.

Lehrmann was not named in the broadcast but claimed colleagues and friends were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

In the judgment, Justice Lee found Lehrmann was identifiable to others in the broadcast, but he wasn't defamed because Ms Higgins' allegations about him were true on a balance of probabilities.

As the loser of the trial, Lehrmann will have to cover the cost of the case for Ms Wilkinson and Network Ten - which has an estimated value of more than $2million.

Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside the Federal Court in Sydney in November
The great British seaside may be known for ice-cream pinching seagulls and penny arcade machines, but holidaying in the UK may soon set Brits back by more than the cost of a lost cone.

Tourists may soon face paying hundreds of pounds more for holidays around the UK as local authorities consider introducing a 'tourist tax' on visitors from outside the local area, with the latest targets being Cornwall and neighbouring Devon.

A typical family of four could be set back up to 280 more for a week away under proposals at popular tourism destinations from London to Edinburgh. This is more expensive than tourist taxes already in place at European hotspots including Venice, which would charge 120 for the same length stay.

It comes after Thanet Council, in Kent, which covers the seaside towns of Margate and Broadstairs, discussed the idea to bring in a 'modest' levy on visitors at a council committee meeting earlier this month.

The introduction of an additional tax on daytrippers in Venice on April 25 is likely to only add to the ongoing debate.

Currently, there is no provision allowing a 'tourist tax' in any part of the UK, but both the Welsh and Scottish governments are already tabling legislation to allow local authorities to introduce them.

In England, several such taxes in all but name already exist, introduced by councils in Manchester and Liverpool using a legal loophole. This enables them to levy tax on accommodation by creating a tourism-based Business Improvement District (BID).

The plans have split local residents around the country, but MailOnline this week found local residents in several areas touted to introduce the tax have grave concerns.

Taxes considered by local authorities across the UK could set back a family of four up to 280 for a week's holiday

Popular seaside towns and resorts such as St Ives could soon be among those to start charging a tax on overnight visitors

Protestors hold banners as they take part in a demonstration against the new 'Venice Access Fee' on April 25

Can a tourist tax be levied in England? At present, in England, neither the central government nor local councils have the power to introduce a tourist tax. Primary legislation would be required to permit this. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that a charge of 1 per person, per night would raise around 420million a year in England. Manchester and Liverpool city councils both introduced a tourism-based Business Improvement District (BID) as of 1 April 2023. This is a legal workaround, using existing legal powers, to establishing a form of tourist tax. BIDs collect additional business rates payments ('BID levies') from businesses operating in specified geographical areas. They are established by local business groups, following a referendum of businesses in the area concerned. A BID must hold a fresh referendum at least every five years in order to renew its existence. BIDs are managed, and BID levy rates set, by the management board, not by the local authority. Unlike a tourist tax, a BID levy falls on business rate-payers, not on visitors. Source: UK Government Advertisement

Overnight visitors to Manchester already have to pay a 1 fee per person, per night, while tourists to Liverpool are charged an extra 1.6 percent of their total accommodation cost - set to rise to 5.5 percent over five years.

Earlier this year councillors at Cornwall Council discussed bringing in a near identical levy to Manchester, setting a family of four back 28 for a week's stay.

On Friday Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, admitted the idea of implementing a tourist tax upon visitors to the area is a concept he can 'certainly envision' in the future.

He argued Cornwall shouldn't stand alone - and other holiday hotspots such as their Devon neighbours needed to do it too.

In Birmingham, council documents show the 1 charge has also been under consideration since at least 2020, when it was put forward ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Bath Council is also considering imposing the tax, but no figures have been confirmed.

Elsewhere in England, Cambridge City Council has been debating a 2 charge per person, per night, to rise to 3 - costing a family 84 on top of any accommodation bill for a week.

Meanwhile the idea of a levy has been discussed in the London Assembly several times, with documents from 2017 assessing the expected revenue from such a charge showing scenarios were put forward which could see a charge of 10 per person, per night.

A family of four could therefore expect to pay up to 280, on top of their week's accommodation bill.

This is compared to existing taxes in other cities in Europe, where a week's stay would incur a maximum fee of 120 in Venice, 78 in Barcelona and 96 in Lisbon or Brussels.

Other cities have various fees depending on the type of accommodation - Rome charges 4 to 10, per person, per night.

In addition to Venice's tax on overnight stays, the city has this week introduced a further tax on entry for daytrippers, levied at 5, or 4.30.

Protesters took to the streets at some of the city's most iconic landmarks, fearing the new tax would drive visitors away.

Councillors in Margate have touted the idea of bringing in a tourist tax, although it is unknown how much it would be set at

Mother Hannah Furlong, 32, was visiting Margate with her young family and raised concerns over the proposed tax

Peter's Fish Factory employees (L-R) Alexander Carmichael, Keaton Cooper and Susan Elvidge were against any new levy on tourists, saying it would be 'greedy'

MailOnline visited Margate where locals and tourists gave a resounding thumbs down to the plans from Thanet Council.

Kathleen Fordham, 72, a retiree who moved to the area 17 years ago, said: 'I think it's a shame if they bring it in because the town's been attracting visitors for a long time, and we want tourists here, we don't want to deter them.

'I think you do need to discourage the amount of second homes people have.

'If you have too many of them it pushes house prices up and pushes people out of housing they might need, and it's not contributing a lot to the town either.'

Mother Hannah Furlong, 32, from London, was visiting Margate for the first time with her young family. She cited the cost of living in her opposition to the plans: 'Everywhere is quite expensive to visit these days anyway isn't it? So it's a shame to bump that price up even more.'

Employees at Peter's Fish Factory worry a tax would discourage tourists and have a negative effect on the seaside town.

Keaton Cooper, 21, who works at the seafront fish and chip shop said: 'You shouldn't be charged extra to come and stay somewhere for a little holiday, you should be able to go out and enjoy yourself.

'You're already spending money when you're down here anyway. They help the local businesses when they're down here, go to the arcades, they're already spending money, they don't need to be charged more, it's not fair.'

His colleague Susan Elvidge, 41, added: 'You already pay tax for where you live and on the way here you pay taxes too, it sounds like a greedy tax.'

Retiree Kathleen Fordham, 72, told MailOnline the local area wants to attract tourists and is worried extra costs may deter them

Visitors to sunny Margate this week were keen to see that the revenue from any tax is used in the right way

But Peter Goodhew, 28, who has lived in Margate his whole life, said he's more open to the prospect of a levy due to an increase in busyness thanks to large local events: 'I've noticed a difference when it comes to Soul Festival or when Dreamland has events on.

'It would be good for business, and especially small businesses, because you see them one year and then they're gone the following year.'

At nearby Broadstairs, locals were concerned about transparency over the tax and what the money would be spent on.

Barry Jackson, a 75-year-old retiree who has lived in the charming seaside town for 35 years, said: 'I think an extra couple of pounds on a night's rental, I think that's okay.

'If they actually put the money to good use that would be great, but unfortunately living here you see so many things that need doing.

'As long as the money is used in the right way, making sure the place is kept neat a tidy.'

Angela Waugh, who moved to the area from London four years ago with her husband Stuart, said: 'My concern would be to actually guarantee that the money did go the right place rather than just being swallowed up by the council.

'If it's actually going to benefit the area, and benefit local people and benefit tourism then I wouldn't have a problem.

Mr Waugh added: 'As long as there's a clear path for getting the money and what it's going to be used for, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

'I'd also like to know how much it's going to be, because we wouldn't want to put day trippers off because obviously the local businesses, that's how they survive.'

Conservative councillor Reece Pugh told MailOnline any tax would be put back into the local community to support the town's thriving tourist economy.

He suggested a daily charge per room could help the council tackle issues intensified in the summer months by an increase in visitors such as litter picking, bin collections and inconsiderate parking.

'Seaside resorts and coastal communities have come under a lot of pressure in light of the rising numbers of short term stays and vacationing at home,' he said.

'There are a lot of pressures on the district, for example to keep beaches clean, to keep the streets clean. If a tourist tax is to be introduced what we don't want to do is dissuade and discourage people from visiting our beaches.'

He said that unlike council tax, where the majority of the money goes to larger county councils and to fund emergency services, a tourist tax would stay within Thanet.

'There are so many people locally whose livelihoods depend on the tourism trade. It's a really successful industry that is growing every year.'

In Tenby, holidaymakers may soon have to pay an additional levy as Wales looks to introduce legislation to charge overnight tourists

Visitors to the picturesque seaside town said charging people to stay is 'a bit much' - documents show it could be as much as 5 per person, per night

In Tenby newly-weds Liam and Denni Reay-Carter, from Portsmouth, said they are used to paying the tax abroad and would support it if it helped the local area

Stephen Monday and his partner, mother-of-two Sheena Marshall, are concerned a tourist tax will hit struggling young families the hardest

Holidaymakers in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, also said a tourism tax could harm the traditional British seaside family holiday.

They are worried that just 2.50-a-night tax per person could add up to 70 on a week's holiday for a young family visiting Wales.

Latest figures show that a 5 levy would generate more than 43m each year, a significant boost to the country's flagging economy.

Honeymooners Liam and Denni Reay-Carter, from Portsmouth, who were staying in a campervan in Tenby, said revenue from a tourism tax should only be used to enhance the area.

Commercial vehicle sales executive Liam, 31, said: 'If it improves the facilities for holidaymakers and locals, then I wouldn't mind paying it.

'It's a bit like going to a restaurant - if you have a really good waiter you don't mind chucking him a few quid. We have holidayed in quite a few European destinations so we are used to it.'

Denni, 27, a disability employment adviser, said: 'I read that Margate is thinking of introducing a tourism tax, it brings us in line with holiday places in Europe. It wouldn't stop us from coming to Tenby or anywhere else.'

But daytripper Nicholas White, 62, a semi-retired company director from the village of Meidrim, Carmarthenshire, said: 'I don't think a tourism tax is a good thing, it could be counter productive.

Carol and Phillip Gutteridge, from Lincolnshire, said while a tourist charge would not put them off visiting Tenby, it could dissuade others

Friends (L-R) Linda Barrington, Chris Bray and Sue Drummond from Leominster, Shropshire, said some families will have to stop visiting Tenby if the tax is introduced

'It depends on the level of tax but it's a bit like putting the price of cigarettes up to stop people smoking - then they put the price up because nobody smokes. A tourism tax could drive people away.'

Nearby, Stephen Monday, 39, and his partner Sheena Marshall, 42, from Bristol, said they feared a tourist tax will hit young families hardest.

Tesco distribution manager Mr Monday, 39, said: 'Going abroad you expect it but I don't know how it will go down here. I expect it will put some people off. If the tax is per person then it all adds up, especially for families.'

Ms Marshall, a mother-of-two, said: 'Going abroad you expect it, but taxing people to come to British holiday destinations will put a lot of people off, especially families with children if they are going to charge per head. It's going to be harsher for families, definitely.'

Friends Sue Drummond, 62, Linda Barrington, 61, and Chris Bray, 71, on a caravan holiday from Leominster, Shropshire, said they are already paying a tourism tax because the price of food and drink in Tenby was higher than at home.

Retired office administrator Sue, on a two-night break in Tenby, said: 'We've just been talking about the tax, we love coming here and it wouldn't put us off. But for families it will mean they won't be able to come here.'

Semi-retired Chris, 71, said: 'We pay this sort of tax when we go abroad and don't think anything of it. But even now it's not cheap here in Tenby - it was 20p to use the ladies loo - but we just put one 20p in and we all squeezed through!'

Local councillors are discussing the possibility of bringing in a 'Tourism Tax' for visitors to towns in Cornwall such as St Ives (pictured)

The town mayor told MailOnline there are too many holiday lets in St Ives and visitors should have to contribute more to the local economy

Mayor Johnnie Wells said he wants visitors to 'feel a part' of St Ives and believes most will want to contribute to its upkeep

In St Ives, Cornwall, town mayor Johnnie Wells walked our journalist through the picturesque streets close to the seafront.

'Key safe, key safe, key safe,' he said. 'Many of the owners provide nothing towards the cost of local services even though they're making money on the back of this beautiful place.

'We need to find a way for visitors to pay a few pounds more. We can't call it a tourist tax - that would be compulsion and require legislation  but maybe we can call it a voluntary contribution.

'We want visitors to come here and feel a part of what we have  not just leach from it. I believe many of them will want to put something back.'

Holiday lets are, he says, symptomatic of the problem. In Back Road East alone, recent government figures revealed that 31 cottages were exempt from paying either council tax or business rates  the lifeblood of local services.

He says St Ives is working with other Cornwall town councils at Penzance and Looe, along with hospitality businesses, to launch a feasibility study on getting voluntary visitor contributions.

Matt Thomas, 44, who manages the Cornish Bakehouse pasty shop on The Wharf, agreed with the prospect of a tax.

He said: 'I've spent 26 years in hospitality. I was born in St Ives and lived here most of my life but I've also travelled the world.

'Taxing visitors is normal in the likes of France and Spain. In some countries you pay on arrival at the airport before you've even get to where you're staying.

On Porthmeor beach the Stratfull family, on a break from Sittingbourne, Kent, sounded a note of caution

Gary Biram, 62, and wife Evie, 53, on holiday from Derby with their toy poodle Jemma, had not heard of the tourist tax

Rachel Taylor, 46, from Poole, Dorset, rents a cottage in St Ives for a few weeks each year and said she would pay an additional levy

'Hotels and lets can easily do this. Just add a charge and send the money straight to the local council. Tens of thousands of people come to St Ives every year but local people are the ones paying for the services they want, like the beach cleaning and the toilets.'

Other business owners were skeptical: 'People make a choice about their holiday,' said Sarah Binney, 42-year-old owner of a new art cafe Leel ('local' in Cornish).

'Any kind of financial barrier like this may make them decide to go elsewhere on principle. Even if it is a small amount, it is off-putting for visitors.

'There's got to be a better, more interesting way than simply a toll on tourists. We should look at offering a positive not a negative.'

Visitor Rachel Taylor, 46, from Poole, Dorset, rents a cottage in the town for a few weeks each year. 'I would definitely pay it,' she said. 'I come from a tourist area and I know the impact this can have.

'Holiday towns have to be cleaned and looked after and, when they're not, it is upsetting.

'There needs to be a balance. If you want a holiday somewhere nice, with good services and where everything is clean and tidy, then you shouldn't mind paying a little bit extra.'

Gary Biram, 62, and wife Evie, 53, on holiday from Derby with their toy poodle Jemma, admitted the notion of a tourist tax was new to them.

'But I'd be happy to pay a few pounds a night if I could be sure it was going towards local services,' said Evie.

'St Ives is beautiful, but it won't stay that way unless it is properly looked after.'

Yet on Porthmeor beach the Stratfull family, on a break from Sittingbourne, Kent, sounded a note of caution as they played with three-year-old Isaac.

'I get the logic of this,' said Tracey, 63, 'I get why people living here think; all those tourists, coming to our beaches yet not paying anything to keep them looking good.

'But family holiday prices are not cheap. You work out your expenses in advance and if you're travelling from distance any kind of tourist tax is an additional cost that may make you think twice.'
Expert reveals what is driving crisis of male violence in Australia

The reason why women in Australia are allegedly being killed by their partners in record numbers has been revealed amid a domestic violence crisis.

Twenty-six women have been allegedly killed in Australia at the hands of their partners or former partners so far this year, 12 more than this time last year.

The body of teaching assistant Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found inside a home in Forbes, 370km west of Sydney, just before 2am on Monday.

Daniel Billings, 29, has been charged her murder with court documents revealing he was on bail at the time for stalking, sexual assault and harassment charges.

Just 36 hours later the body of Emma Bates, 49, was found in her home at Cobram on the Victorian-NSW border.

Her next-door neighbour John Torney faced court on Friday facing assault charges over her death.

Elise Phillips, the deputy CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, said gender inequality was driving a crisis of male violence in Australia.

So far this year, 26 Australian women have been allegedly killed at the hands of their partners or former partners (pictured, people take part in a march against violence in Ballarat)

The body of teaching assistant Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found inside a home in Forbes, 370km west of Sydney, just before 2am on Monday

'It's when we turned a blind eye when we see disrespectful behaviours, it's when we make excuses for violence,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's also the inequity we see in relation to pay and the roles that we play in our families, how we divide up care of children and looking after the home.

'It's ensuring that we have equity, representation and equal numbers of women in parliament and as the CEOs and leaders of companies in the private sector.'

Ms Phillips said the deaths of the 26 women had all been preventable.

'We often feel hopeless and helpless when we as individuals are seeing stories of these horrific murders,' she said.

SOBERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS 2 in 5 women in Australia, almost 40 per cent, have experienced violence since the age of 15 Men are more likely to be the perpetrators of abuse and violence When women are the victims, the harm is greater with much higher chances of being hospitalised compared to when women are the perpetrators In 2021, 9000 women were homeless due to domestic and family violence According to the equity economics report, 7600 women and their children returned to live with the perpetrator because they had to choose between being homeless or an abuse partner Domestic violence is estimated to cost the Australian economy $25billion Source: Domestic Violence NSW Advertisement

'But each of us can take play an active role in reducing violence and taking a stand against violence.

'We need everyone to make this an election issue, to let their local MPs know that their community care about this issue and to demand that they do more.

'And if they don't, they actually risk losing their seat in parliament because we're not going to stand for this anymore.'

Ms Phillips said social media figures including Andrew Tate, a self-described misogynist, were only reinforcing attitudes already felt by some men.

'We know that social media provided a new platform for promoting those types of gender stereotypes and misogynistic attitudes,' she said.

'But those attitudes were already present in some parts of the community.'

Cost-of-living pressures also played a role in exacerbating violence against women.

'We know there are some factors that exacerbate violence like stress, including financial stress, but also issues like drug and alcohol use,' she said.

Many people experienced domestic violence for the first time during the pandemic, she said.

'We saw people who were already experiencing domestic and family violence note an increase in the severity, the frequency and the complexity of what they were dealing with,' she said.

Ms Phillips said the domestic and family violence sector is 'extremely' underfunded with Domestic Violence NSW calling for a 20 per cent increase to funding.

The body of Hannah McGuire, 23, was found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 1am on April 5

A woman holds a sign reading 'Say their names' at a domestic violence march in Ballarat

The body of Chaithanya 'Swetha' Madhagani's body was found in a green wheelie bin on Mount Pollock Road in Buckley, west of Geelong, Victoria at 12pm on March 8

'That's a minimum of $145million a year that's required just to be able to have a hope of meeting the current demand,' she said.

'We're also asking for $100million over four years in NSW for primary prevention. We are suggesting that $40million be spent in the next year and $20million each year for the three years following to invest in prevention initiatives in NSW.

'We want to see community grassroots initiatives that combat the types of misogynistic gender stereotypes and attitudes that we see.'

She said it was time for politicians to stop talking about the problem and invest.

'The only way that we're going to shift the dial on this is if governments stop talking about how much of a problem this is and actually invest in a way that is committed to the scale of the problem,' she said.

A pledge to end family and domestic violence in Australia can be signed here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
He was the reluctant king - she was his decidedly reluctant bride.

Yet together they led the nation through World War II and enjoyed a fulfilled and happy married life which lasted nearly 30 years.

King George VI, known as Bertie, had been given the title Duke of York before his marriage to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923. It was said he traded in his affair with Sheila, Lady Loughborough, in return for a home and income of his own.

He had to get away from his overbearing father, King George V.

A striking portrait of Lady Elizabeth Bowes_Lyon in her teens

Lady Elizabeth later became the Queen Consort as wife to George VI - and grandmother to King Charles III

On her social rounds in 1921, Lady Elizabeth bumped into James Stuart (above), a Scottish aristocrat and equerry to Bertie, and fell immediately in love

Queen Mary, mother of George VI, above - and a woman who enjoyed meddling in royal liaisons - engineered Stuart's removal to a job in the Oklahoma oilfields. By the time he got back in 1923, the future king, known to his family as Bertie, had got his girl

Lady Elizabeth was a startlingly pretty girl from a family which had lived in the same castle for five hundred years. But despite the fact Bertie was the spare to the heir, she was very much in two minds about being sucked into the royal machine.

Or maybe, at the time, she just didn't fancy the stuttering and often bad-tempered Bertie - he was no great looker.

Certainly the future king wanted her more than she wanted him  he proposed marriage after they first met at a Knightsbridge wedding in 1921, and she turned him down.

Not short of admirers, Elizabeth was in no hurry to settle down  even though at 21 she was getting a little long in the tooth to be a spinster. Aristocrats and royalty like to get future alliances tied up early on.

'She was frankly doubtful, uncertain of her feelings,' wrote royal confidante the Countess of Airlie, while Bertie was, she observed, 'deeply in love but so humble'.

Whatever Elizabeth's feelings towards her 25-year old suitor, they will inevitably have been coloured by her father  Claud, the 14th Earl of Strathmore.

'Lord Strathmore disapproved of royalty,' writes the celebrated biographer Hugo Vickers in his vivid portrait of Elizabeth's life.

'He thought Edward VII was too stout  and declared, "If there is one thing I have determined for my children, it's that they shall never have any post about the Court".'

Elizabeth's life was castles and balls and high society, while Bertie preferred shooting grouse. On her social rounds in 1921 she bumped into James Stuart, a Scottish aristocrat and equerry to Bertie, and fell immediately in love.

'He was the love of her life,' said one intimate. 'He was an absolute heart-throb and they fell for each other in a big way. They were madly in love.'

Queen Mary, consort of George V and a woman who enjoyed meddling in royal liaisons, engineered Stuart's removal to a job in the Oklahoma oilfields. By the time he got back in 1923, Bertie had got his girl.

'That bitch Queen Mary, that cow, she ruined my life!' Stuart later exclaimed.

But capturing the hand of Lady Elizabeth was still an uphill struggle. Bertie proposed marriage again in 1922 - and yet again she turned him down. Some thought by now she her eye on David, the Prince of Wales.

But stammering Bertie soldiered on, determinedly proposing for the third time in 1923 when, worn down by his passion, Elizabeth accepted.

And so there were no great hopes that this marriage would be a lasting love-match  more a dutiful arrangement which would produce children who'd add to the stable of royals increasingly called upon by the British public to attend their events up and down the country.

The couple married on this day [26 April], 1923. Up to the last moment, according to biographer Hugo Vickers, Elizabeth 'veered between feeling happy and daunted'. Indeed, as she left for Westminster Abbey from her parents' London home, Elizabeth felt the need to hide her hands under her dress because she had nervously forgotten her gloves.

But as a bride she was radiant, wearing flowers in her hair and attended by bridesmaids wearing gowns of ivory-lined chiffon. It was the perfect day.

And she had made the perfect choice for a husband. Lady Strathmore had predicted of Bertie, a couple of years before, that 'He is a man who will be made or marred by his wife.'

Bertie York, the spare not the heir, was made by Elizabeth - being transformed just in time to save the nation at the time of its deepest pre-war crisis, the Abdication.

He didn't want the throne  but Elizabeth did. Steely, tough, ambitious and ready to grab the royal family by the scruff of its neck, she set to work to restore its damaged reputation.

Her favourite photographer Cecil Beaton called her 'a marshmallow made on a welding machine.'

After meeting her, the socialite Stephen Tennant said, 'She looked everything that she was not  gentle, gullible, tenderness mingled with dispassionate serenity, cool, well-bred, remote. Behind this veil, she schemed and vacillated, hard as nails.'

The new king had had a desperately unhappy childhood  unloved by his mother, bullied by his father. Now Elizabeth was able to provide a home life which would allow him to gather strength for the war years ahead. She helped him conquer his stammer and profound fear of public speaking.

And she could always be relied on to find the right words when he could not. When Buckingham Palace took several hits during the height of the bombing, she declared, 'I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face.'

Elizabeth, future Queen Consort of King George VI, whom she married in 1923 when he was still Duke of York

Lady Elizabeth was so nervous she kept her hands hidden when she departed the house so that no one could see her hands shaking

The official wedding day pictures of the Duke and Duchess of York taken on this day in 1923

King George and Queen Elizabeth survey the bomb damage in 1940 following a raid which destroyed the Buckingham Palace chapel. She said: 'I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face'

The Queen Mother's reward for giving up her first love was the undying love and devotion of a nation which celebrated every year of her long life until she died, aged 101, in 2002

The people loved her for it.

She gave comfort to her husband, and guided him firmly through his kingship. She gave him two daughters who were the apple of his eye  sons would never have done, he didn't have the right temperament to handle boys  and he saw his elder daughter grow in majesty so that she was ready, and more than able, to take his place when the time came.

Bertie sacrificed little in marrying the woman of his dreams. Elizabeth. we now know, sacrificed the love of her life.

Her reward, though, was the undying love and devotion of a nation which celebrated every year of her long life until she died, aged 101, in 2002.
EXCLUSIVE

The distressed ex-wife of accused killer Daniel Billings is 'coping as best as she can' after he was charged with murdering his former girlfriend Molly Ticehurst.

Maika Gabriel married Billings at Portico de Busto in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines in November 2018 but the couple's relationship did not last.

Portico de Busto is described on its website as 'probably the most photographed and most frequently chosen best venue in [the province of] Bulacan'.

A video filmed after the pair had taken their vows showed them kissing passionately on a balcony in their wedding attire, with fireworks exploding in the background.

The distressed ex-wife of accused killer Daniel Billings is 'coping as best as she can' after he was charged with murdering his former girlfriend Molly Ticehurst. Maika Gabriel is pictured at her wedding to Billings

Ms Gabriel now lives with her Philippines-born parents in Dalby, 200km west of Brisbane, and all three work together in a meat processing plant in another town.

She changed her surname to Billings after getting married but has reverted to using Gabriel. Ms Gabriel has a son with Billings.

Since learning her onetime husband's arrest in the NSW central west on Monday, Ms Gabriel has been trying to cope with knowing the man she married is an alleged murderer.

'It's all a lot to take in for us at the moment,' Ms Gabriel's sister told Daily Mail Australia. 'She's coping as best as she can.

'She doesn't want to comment on anything.'

Ms Gabriel's mother said her daughter was being supported by friends and family.

'It is very hard for everyone,' Mrs Gabriel said. 'We have our grandson too.

'It is very complicated. It is a very difficult situation at the moment.'

Maika Gabriel married Billings at Portico de Busto in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines in November 2018 (above) the couple's relationship did not last

Portico de Busto is described on its website as 'probably the most photographed and most frequently chosen best venue in [the province of] Bulacan'. Billings wedding is pictured

Ms Ticehurst's body was located inside the home she once shared with Billings in Forbes, about 370km west of Sydney, having allegedly been murdered sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday.

Concerns had been raised for the welfare of the 28-year-old teacher's assistant, whose 18-month relationship with Billings reportedly ended in July last year.

Billings was arrested at Fifield, about an hour's drive from Forbes, hours after his ex-girlfriend's body was found.

At the time of Ms Ticehurst's death, 29-year-old Billings was on bail for allegedly raping and stalking the mother-of-one.

Ms Ticehurst's six-year-old son, born before she met Billings, is about the same age as Ms Gabriel's boy.

Daily Mail Australia understands Billings got back together briefly with Ms Ticehurst in December last year but the relationship again broke down

It is understood Billings and Ms Gabriel lived together at her parents' Dalby address during their marriages and after their split he still used that address on official documents.

Neighbours of the Gabriel family recall occasionally seeing Billings at the property, sometimes working on a motorcycle, up until two years ago.

The heavily tattooed amateur boxer had worked for a time at a nearby piggery in the Western Downs region.

Asked about her experiences with Billings, Ms Gabriel's sister said: 'I would really rather not like to comment at the moment, I'm sorry'.

Dalby has a relatively large Filipino population, with 2.2 per cent of the town's residents born in the Philippines, the most common foreign place of birth.

One Filipino neighbour of Ms Gabriel's said she had worked at the same piggery as Billings but they had different roles and she knew little about his life.

Ms Ticehurst's body was located inside the home she used to share with Billings in Forbes, about 370km west of Sydney in the early hours of Monday

Until his arrest Billings had been employed by oil drilling company Resolution Drilling, which is based a 25-minute drive north from Forbes at Parkes.

For the past six months he had been sharing rented accommodation with other workers in the same town.

Daily Mail Australia understands Billings briefly got back together with Ms Ticehurst in December last year but the relationship again broke down.

On April 5 he was charged with three counts of rape, four of stalking and intimidation and two of destroying property.

The alleged victim in each case was Ms Ticehurst and Billings was also charged with an aggravated animal cruelty offence which related to her dachshund.

Ms Gabriel, pictured with her son, now lives with her parents in Dalby, 200km west of Brisbane , and all three work together in a meat processing plant in another town

Police argued in court that Billings posed a risk to Ms Ticehurst but a registrar granted him $5,000 bail.

Billings was also the subject of an apprehended violence order and was not allowed to enter Forbes or approach Ms Ticehurst's place of work.

Ms Ticehurst's father Tony said his daughter had been in fear of her ex-boyfriend after he was granted bail.

'She went away for the first week of the AVO,' Mr Ticehurst told Nine. 'Thinking that if he was going to do something, it would be within that week. She said she was wary and nervous and couldn't sleep.'

When Billings appeared in Orange Local Court on Tuesday charged with murder his bail was revoked. He will next appear in court on June 20.

Billings' mother, Eileen Ogilvie, and a man believed to be his step-father angrily emerged from a house in Cessnock, NSW on Thursday.

'We've got nothing to say,' they yelled, before the step-dad urged journalists to 'get out' of the street.
With more than a passing resemblance to Princess Diana and the status of a national treasure firmly cemented, Jill Dando was, to millions, the girl next door.

So her murder at the hands of a lone gunman on April 26, 1999, was a searing shock rivalled only by the Princess of Wales' death less than two years earlier.

Now, 25 years on from her killing, her former colleague Nick Ross has paid a loving tribute to the star as he continues his drive to further her legacy.

Mr Ross, now 76, told MailOnline that his friend was 'uniquely generous', revealing how she would 'kick off her high heels' to ensure he was taller when the pair signed off on Crimewatch - the show they presented together for four years from 1995.

She was, he added, 'one of the greatest broadcasters of the time', despite having to battle against 'misogynistic' newsroom colleagues.

He led efforts to fund a pioneering crime science centre named in honour of Ms Dando which opened at University College London in 2001.

Jill Dando's former Crimewatch colleague Nick Ross has paid a loving tribute to the star 25 years on from her death. He told MailOnline that she was 'almost uniquely generous'. Above: The pair in the Crimewatch studio

Ms Dando posing in the Seychelles while presenting the Holiday programme for the BBC

The presenter was found by neighbours slumped against her front door on Gowan Avenue in Fulham, West London, in a pool of blood after suffering a single gunshot wound to the head.

CCTV footage showed she had left her fiance's house at around 10am before driving to a garage on the A4. There she bought petrol and a bottle of milk before visiting a shopping mall in Hammersmith.

She then headed to a fighmonger's on the Fulham Road to pick up Dover sole for dinner with her other half that night before going to her own home in what is believed to have been a spur of the moment decision.

Ms Dando's murder prompted a huge investigation led by the Metropolitan Police which resulted in Barry George - a local loner and fantasist who had already served a prison sentence for attempted rape - being convicted of her murder in July 2001.

The evidence against him had included a seemingly damning photograph that was found in his home.

A man that police were convinced was George was seen menacingly dressed in a leather jacket and gas mask, with a blank-firing pistol in hand.

The image was found with thousands of other photographs of hundreds of women George had stalked on the streets of West London.

Officers also found a single grain of gunshot residue in his coat pocket.

But he was granted a retrial on appeal and was acquitted by a jury in August 2008.

Mr Ross said: 'She was simply one of the greatest broadcasters of the time, completely natural in front of the camera, unfazed by live broadcasting and just the same offscreen as on.

'That's why she was so often dubbed the Girl Next Door. Some of her misogynistic newsroom colleagues preferred to think she only did so well because she was so telegenic but she was actually a decent journalist too.

Ms Dando's murder prompted a huge investigation led by the Metropolitan Police and resulted in Barry George - a local loner and fantasist who had already served a prison sentence for attempted rape - being convicted of her murder in July 2001. Above: George in 2001 and 2009

The evidence against him had included a seemingly damning photograph that was found in his home. A man that police were convinced was George was seen menacingly dressed in a leather jacket and gas mask, with a blank-firing pistol in hand

Police search Gowan Avenue in Fulham after Ms Dando's murder on her doorstep

Police forensic officers at Gowan Avenue, Fulham, where TV presenter Jill Dando was murdered

'And while a lot of people in broadcasting try to seize the limelight she was almost uniquely generous.

'At the end of the show when we came together for the sign-off Jill would surreptitiously kick off her high heels so I would be taller than she was in stockinged feet.

'And she was one of the real pioneers for women on TV. Fiona Bruce and many others credit her for helping with their success.

'Her legacy is the one of the world's biggest university departments dedicated to finding new ways of cutting crime.

'The Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at UCL is not just criminology but psychology, architecture, engineering, forensics, in fact whatever can be used to design a safer world.'

The gun that was used in Ms Dando's murder has never been found, but forensic examination of the shell casing and bullet - which was discovered on the ground outside Ms Dando's home - suggests it was from a 'smooth bore' 9mm handgun.

It was either a modified starting pistol or a re-activated weapon, police believe.

Despite Ms Dando's grave injuries and the fact she was believed to have died instantly, extensive efforts were made to resuscitate her both at the scene and at Charing Cross Hospital, where she was declared dead.

The Mail revealed that an official police report blamed resuscitation efforts for potentially destroying vital evidence that could have led officers to her killer.

Her clothes were ripped off to perform cardiac massage and the ground was 'trampled' by those who tried to save her.

Former Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell, who led the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Ms Dando's killing, told the Mail this week: 'There was no doubt, in our view at the time, that the crime scene was heavily contaminated by the ambulance emergency services.

'There were some eight people present, which included three doctors. The potential contamination of shoe prints, clothing fibres, DNA cross contamination, resuscitation attempts  on someone clearly dead  are all features which contribute to evidence destruction and disposal.

'Of course, it was all unintentional. And the role of preserving a life over preserving evidence is the constant debate.

'However, she was dead, and I believe she could have been declared dead at the scene, as with so many other cases. And the scene then sealed for examination.

'Her [celebrity] status was, I believe, a factor in attempting resuscitation, which was futile.'

In the years since Ms Dando's killing there have been claims that she was murdered on the orders of a Russian gangster who was angry she had rejected his advances while filming an episode of Holiday in Cyprus.

Another theory suggested she was murdered by a policeman who had appeared on Crimewatch.

Infamous road rage murderer and gangster Kenneth Noye was also claimed to have ordered her shooting.

Police also looked into the possibility that Ms Dando had been murdered on the orders of the Serbian warlord and underworld boss Zeljko Raznatovic, aka Arkan.

Earlier in April 1999, Ms Dando fronted a BBC1 broadcast appealing for funds to help refugees fleeing the ethnic cleansing of Albanians by Serbian forces in the province of Kosovo.

British warplanes were taking part in the Nato bombing of Yugoslavia to try to halt the massacre when Ms Dando was killed.

The Serbian theory made headlines again this week with a claim that the man who was seen running away from the murder scene looked similar to a Serbian hitman called Milorad Ulemek.

However, Mr Campbell remains convinced that she was murdered by a loner rather than a professional assassin - in large part because there is little evidence to support the other theories.

He said: 'To me, the murder had the hallmarks of the loner acting because of a political motivation, anger, or just an obsessive personality.'

Jill Dando with her Crimewatch colleague Nick Ross. The pair fronted the programme from 1995 until her death in 1999

Nick Ross with former BBC colleague Fiona Bruce (far left) and the Duchess of Edinburgh (second from right) - then the Countess of Wessex - at a memorial event for Ms Dando at UCL in 2019

Ms Dando beams in a promotional image. Her murder shocked the nation and led to a nationwide manhunt

Ms Dando is pictured with her fiance Alan Farthing in 1999, months before she was shot dead on the doorstep of her home in Fulham

These are the haunting last images of Ms Dando, pictured just 40 minutes before she was assassinated outside her home

Ms Dando is seen on TV out shopping on the day that she was murdered

Another image shows her walking through a shopping centre in Hammersmith

'The rationale for the gangland theory, the Russians, the Serbs, the Adams, anyone from Crimewatch, was just never viable.

'I wrote in my personal notes, in earliest weeks, that I considered the killing to be the work of the loner or the obsessive. Many months later I recorded that I still feared the loner or an ill man was responsible.

'Twenty-five years later, there's still nothing from the vast criminal networks. No one emerging.

'So it must have been a loner, or at least someone acting on their own initiative. That I feel sure of.'

Even a 100,000 reward offered by the Daily Mail at the time failed to offer up any groundbreaking information that might have led police to the culprit.

Ms Dando was born in Weston-super-Mare in 1961 and followed her father and brother Nigel into local newspaper journalism.

She then made the jump to television with stints in regional news broadcasting.

In 1988 she started presenting the BBC's hourly national bulletins and five years later was given her own show, travel programme Holiday.

Then, in 1995, she took on the role that cemented her as a household name.

Her duties on Crimwatch alongside Mr Ross prompted viewers to vote her BBC Personality of the Year in 1997.

She presented the programme 42 times before she was murdered.

The star, a devout Baptist, had lived with her cousin in Southfields, south-west London, before buying her home in Gowan Avenue, Hammersmith.

In November 1997 she met her future fiance Alan Farthing, a consultant gynaecologist at a London hospital.

The couple became engaged in January 1999 and were due to marry that September.

In the deluge of analysis since her killing, Ms Dando's pioneering role as a universally-known female broadcaster has sometimes been overlooked.

Her former colleague Fiona Bruce previously said: 'Jill led the way for me, not just in the programmes that I did but also in how I could do them.

'She showed that you can do the news and you can still show your humanity, your warmth, your sense of fun.'

Police pictured outside the home of Ms Dando in 1999 following her murder

Six distinctive marks were found on the cartridge case used by the gunman who killed Jill Dando

One of the leaflets that was handed out in an effort to trace Ms Dando's killer

The Daily Mail's coverage of Ms Dando's shocking murder, which gripped the nation

'I think, more often than I suspect you might realise, would I be presenting the programmes that I love, combining just recently Question Time and the news with something like the Antiques Roadshow and other programmes I've made over the years if it wasn't for Jill?'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said this month: 'Ahead of the 25th anniversary of Jill Dando's murder, our thoughts remain with her family and all those affected by her death.

'In the years since her murder, the investigation has been subject to numerous reviews, aiming to identify whether matters could be progressed with advances in technology and forensics.

'The investigation is now in an inactive phase, which means that it is not currently subject to routine reviews.

'However, no unsolved murder is ever closed and detectives would consider any new information provided to assess whether it represented a new and realistic line of enquiry.

'Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
Penazola spoke out for the first time Wednesday and revealed she had only learned the true nature of Huizar's illicit relationship with Angelica in February

The boy was snatched by his former cop father Elias Huizar, 39, who fled the state Monday after killing Roman's mom Angelica Santos, 17, and his ex-wife

One-year-old Roman Huizar is seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos after being reunited with grandmother Tiffany Penaloza, 34, in Yakima, Washington

The mother of the teen mom killed by her ex-cop lover has been reunited with her orphaned grandson days after the boy's kidnap, DailyMail.com can reveal.

One-year-old Roman Huizar is now in the custody of grandmother Tiffany Penaloza, 34, in Yakima, Washington, after former police officer Elias Huizar, 39, fatally shot his 17-year-old girlfriend and his ex-wife before fleeing the state with the boy on Monday.

The disgraced cop-turned-fugitive sparked a miles-long police chase into Portland, Oregon, that ended with him turning his gun on himself on Tuesday.

The young boy, whom Huizar had fathered with Angelica when she only 15, was found safe and was handed over to his maternal grandmother on Wednesday.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com on the day of Roman was handed over by Child Protective Services, Penaloza said: 'This is all a bad dream. I kept wondering if this nightmare is going to end.

'At least today, my tears will be happy tears when I see my grandson.'

Penaloza, who lives near downtown Yakima, Washington, spoke out for the first time since her daughter's senseless murder and revealed she had only learned of Huizar's true identity in February and wasn't aware he was still seeing her daughter.

One-year-old Roman Huizar is seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos after being reunited with maternal grandmother Tiffany Penaloza, 34, in Yakima, Washington, on Wednesday

The little boy was snatched by his father, who fled the state after fatally shooting his 17-year-old girlfriend and Roman's mother, Angelica Santos

Elias Huizar, 39, was labeled 'armed and dangerous' after police connected him to the murder of his ex-wife and girlfriend

She also expressed her relief that Huizar's death means she won't have to endure an agonizing murder trial.

'I'm glad he's dead. The one good thing he did was not harm Roman.

'But that's the only good thing I can say about him.

'Because he's dead we don't have to worry about a trial. The state I'm in now I don't think I could have handled it,' she added.

Huizar went on the run after killing his paraeducator ex-wife Amber Rodriguez in front of their nine-year-old son at William Wiley Elementary school in West Richland on Monday afternoon during dismissal.

Police then found a second victim, Angelica, dead in Huizar's home, located on the same block as the school.

He went on the lam as prosecutors charged with first-degree murder as well as an aggravated circumstance allegation of domestic violence and firearm enhancement.

Police across Washington and Oregon, as well as federal law enforcement, had begun a manhunt that ended around 3pm local time Monday, when cops embarked on a car chase.

Eventually, Huizar crashed into a vehicle, spun into the median of the I-5 highway in Oregon and stopped his 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Before police could establish contact, he shot himself in the head and was declared dead at the scene, Oregon State Trooper Kyle Kennedy confirmed Tuesday night.

According to documents filed by his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez in court earlier this year, Huizar met Angelica while he was working as a school resource officer in Yakima.

Penaloza, who lives near downtown Yakima, spoke out for the first time since her daughter's senseless murder and revealed she had only learned of Huizar's true identity in February and wasn't aware he was still seeing Angelica

Roman, whom Huizar had fathered with the girl when she only 15, was found safe after the car chase and was handed over to his maternal grandmother on Wednesday

'My family literally lives on this street. My grandmother lives with us, my brother, and his family live across the street, Tiffany Penaloza said. One of Roman's relatives is his 14-year-old uncle Damien

She was only 11 when they met, and 15 when he impregnated her, Rodriguez wrote in seeking a protection order against him.

The former school cop had been due in court on Monday to face child rape charges; for his sexual relationship with his minor girlfriend and for sexually assaulting her 16-year-old friend.

On Wednesday, the bereaved mother explained that she didn't know the true nature of Huizar's relationship with her daughter until he was accused of raping Angelica's friend, who is also a relative by marriage, in February.

Up until then, Penazola said she had known Huizar as 'Leo' and had believed he was 18 years old after Angelica introduced him to her when Roman was born.

'Before that night, Angelica told us 'Leo' was the name of Roman's father. She said that he was 18 years old.'

Penaloza said she had only met Huizar twice in her life, the first time was on April 8, 2023, the night Roman was born.

'It was during the tail end of Covid and everyone had to wear a mask in the hospital. Huizar came into see Angelica after she gave birth to Roman.

'He came in wearing a big mask that covered most of his face, he introduced himself as 'Leo' and told us he was 18 years old. We couldn't see his entire face.

'I bought his story. At the time I was more interested in my daughter and newborn grandson.'

'We questioned Angelica extensively about Roman's father, but Angelica kept up with the lie. Looking back at it we should have known something was up.'

Legal filings revealed Huizar was arrested on February 3 after his 17-year-old girlfriend reported him for the attack on her 16-year-old friend who was staying overnight at their home in West Richland, Washington

Huizar turned the gun on himself on Tuesday after fatally shooting Angelica (left) and his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez on Monday

Huizar was on the run after the Monday afternoon shooting just outside of William Wiley Elementary School, where his ex-wife was shot and killed

The second and last time Penaloza saw Huizar was just days after his arrest, when she accompanied her daughter to his house in West Richland, Washington, to gather her belongings.

She said that Angelica stayed in the car while she went inside the house.

'As I was leaving with Angelica's belongings, he stopped me and said, "just tell Angelica, I love her."

'I said I'm not going to ever tell her that.'

After Huizar's arrest Penaloza said: 'We all tried to convince her that she needed to stay away from him. That he was no good and no good for her, but she's a teenager and she thought she was in love.'

Penaloza admitted that she didn't know that her daughter and Huizar were still seeing each other.

'We begged her not to see him. But she did any way and it cost her, her life.'

Penaloza said that 'Angelica would pack up her car and tell us she was staying at a friend's house in the past several days we are learning more and more that she spent a lot of time with him.'

According to court documents, Angelica and the 16-year-old girl were drinking alcohol at Huizar's home on February 3, when the friend became sick and began throwing up.

The two girls then went to lie down in the guest room where they eventually fell asleep.

Angelina told police she later woke up and saw Huizar performing oral sex on her friend.

She then grabbed her son and fled the house with the girl in Huizar's truck before tracking down a police officer and reporting the incident.

Washington State Police were seen carrying the baby away from Huizar's alleged vehicle after he killed himself

The troopers began chasing ex-Yakima, Washington, officer Elias Huizar when they saw him driving southbound on Interstate 5 near Eugene, Oregon, at about 3pm local time Tuesday

Huizar murdered his teenage baby mother, Angelica Santos at his home before driving 200 yards down the street to an elementary school where he waited for ex-wife Amber Rodriguez to gun her down in front of her son

Cops arrived at the home to arrest Huizar and a standoff with police ensued, with the pedophile finally emerging two hours later and after a SWAT team was deployed.

Huizar was formally charged on two counts of child rape days later.

Besides the fact that Angelica was gunned down, Penzolar said police have provided her with few details about her daughter's murder as the case is still an open investigation.

But rather than having to deal with a trial down the road, she said she can now focus on raising her grandson in her neighborhood in Yakima where Roman will be surrounded by his other family members.

'My family literally lives on this street. My grandmother lives with us, my brother, and his family live across the street. Roman is going to have at least 20 cousins to play with at all times,' the doting grandmother said.

DailyMail.com has uncovered exclusive court documents from 2019 that show Huizar filed a stalking order of protection against Angelica Santos when she was just 11 years old. Huizar worked as a school resource officer for the Yakima Police Department for Washington Middle School which Santos attended at the time.

'After putting two and two together, Huizar was grooming my daughter back then. At the time I didn't think anything of it, when an action was filed against my daughter.

'But now knowing it's the same person who raped my daughter, had a child with my daughter, and killed my daughter, may he burn in hell.

'He was an evil person.'

In the order for protection, Huizar wrote that in 'March 2019 Santos told other students she was in a relationship with me and those students reported it to the principal. Santos denied that she made the comments, and she received school discipline'.

He then said that Santos sent social media messages to other students stating they were having sex. She claimed her account was hacked after a criminal investigation was conducted and decided the accusation was unfounded.

Santos was then expelled from school and Huizar was removed from the school by the police department.

Three years later Santos and Huizar reconnected via Facebook and shortly thereafter she became pregnant at the age of 15 .

Police issued an Amber alert for Huizar and his one-year-old son Roman on Monday night

Huizar served with the police department between 2014 and 2022 and was assigned to be a school resource officer at Washington Middle School in Yakima

After Huizar's arrest in February 2024 days later his ex-wife filed a protective order against him which was granted.

In her declaration for the protection order the ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, 31, wrote: 'Our 8-year old son has stated that the respondent (Huizar) is violent.'

She also says that Huizar has been violent toward Santos, hitting her in the face.

Court document state that Huizar and Santos would engage in sexual activities while their two sons were present, in the pool, on the living room couch.

She further claims her two sons were left to take care of the 10-month-old infant while they were having sex.

'In June of 2023, our son stated that he kept hearing the respondent and 'Jelly' making loud moaning noises.

'He also said that he went to the respondent's room early one morning to ask him a question and saw the respondent's face in 'Jelly's' butt and she was pressed up against the wall naked.

'Jelly is the nickname for the respondents 17-year old girlfriend.'

Penaloza told DailyMail.com: 'Today is the first good day, we've had since Monday.

'I get to hold my grandson, as he grows up, I'm going to be telling him about his mother every day. I'll never let him forget his mother, she loved him.'

As of now Penaloza says they don't have any funeral plans for her daughter. A friend has set up a GoFundMe account which, by Friday morning, had raised $12,000.
Business owners at Westfield Bondi Junction have spoken out to issue a community plea as they struggle to keep their doors open following the stabbing rampage that rocked Sydney.

The once busy shopping centre remains a ghost town in the wake of the April 13 attack, despite the fact that with the increased security it's 'never been safer'.

Five women and a Westfield security guard were killed in the attack carried out by troubled knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, who was then shot dead by hero police officer Amy Scott.

Bill Mohana who owns Hair Royale, Vinny Jovanovski from GloBar, and Michael Dunkley and Nan Kamhom who run Luxe Bar Cafe said that businesses are struggling almost a fortnight from the attack.

They say that for Bondi to recover, locals shouldn't be frightened to return to their normal lives.

Shop keepers say Westfield Bondi Junction has 'never been safer' two weeks after six people were stabbed to death

Business owners fear they will struggle to keep their doors open unless shoppers return to Westfield Bondi Junction. Pictured is the deserted centre when it reopened last week

Mr Dunkley, who herded customers and his wife into a safe room before helping to chase down the knifeman said that he understood people were shaken but tenants were suffering a second blow.

'It's literally empty. It should be pumping, it's the school holidays, movies are on, kids should be running everywhere, it should be alive,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Apart from the small crowd mostly at the supermarkets, Bondi Junction remains eerily empty two weeks on from the attack with the normally bustling food court deserted.

Mr Dunkley said his Luxe Bar Cafe business has lost about $20,000 in wasted stock and is losing money through rent and bills each day that shoppers stay away.

Hairdresser Mr Mohana from Hair Royale said the rent, about $5,000 a week was a huge concern and he doesn't know how much longer he can remain open.

'No one comes in. Before we were busy, we were working all day  now there are no women at all,' he told the publication.

'We want mothers and families to understand it's safe to come back to Bondi now  please come back because to be honest, there's not much longer we can last.'

Nan Kamhom and Michael Dunkley from Westfield Bondi Junction's Luxe Bar Cafe are worried they will not be able to stay in business as people avoid the area after stabbing attack

Bill Mohana who owns Hair Royale and Vinny Jovanovski from GloBar said the high rents at the centre were crippling as customers stayed away

Security guards at the Westfield now have stab-proof vests and the police presence patrolling the centre has been ramped.

In addition to the public's support, shop owners also pleaded for additional assistance from Westfield and the NSW government.

The shopping centre reopened for trading six days after the stabbing rampage.

A spokesperson for Westfield owners, Scentre Group, said almost all of the businesses in the mall were back open.

But some such as Chanel, outside of which one of the attacks occurred, remain closed.

'As announced last week, we are providing both financial and non-financial support to all Westfield Bondi business partners during this very difficult period,' a Scentre spokesperson said.

'This includes our decision to waive rent between 13-19 April.'

Healthy eatery GloBar should be bustling on the school holiday period but it is now empty

Five women and a Westfield security guard were stabbed to death at Westfield Bondi Junction. More than a dozen others were injured.

NSW small business minister Steve Kamper said that the government has offered free mental health support services and training to affected businesses.

He added the government has also encouraged locals to 'support local small business that has been impacted by this tragedy'.

New mum Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.

Twelve others were also injured, including Ms Good's nine-month-old daughter Harriet, who has since been released from hospital.
Whip Tom Emmer wrote a letter to the University of Minnesota demanding the administration explain how it will protect Jewish students from a rush of pro-Gaza protests that have at times turned antisemitic.

Demonstrations of fiery young progressives have swept across the nation this week, including at the University of Minnesota, where Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., appeared in solidarity with the protesters. The House GOP whip took a swipe at his Minnesota colleague.

'Rep. Ilhan Omars recent remarks at the University of Minnesota should be seen for what they are: The total embrace and encouragement of pro-terrorist, antisemitic protests nationwide,' Emmer said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'Jewish students at the U of M deserve to know they will be safe on campus, which is why I am making sure the university is doing everything in its power to keep from turning into the next Columbia.'

Whip Tom Emmer wrote a letter to the University of Minnesota demanding the administration explain how it will protect Jewish students from a rush of pro-Gaza protests that have at times turned antisemitic

Omar was kicked off the Foreign Affairs Committee last year for posts on X that invoked anti-Semitic tropes. Earlier this year Emmer called for an Ethics investigation into Omar over her disputed 'Somalia first' comment.

Emmer accused Omar of 'publicly prais[ing] the actions of the students who created a hostile and antisemitic campus for Jewish students.'

'We are seeing students justify their unlawful and non-compliant campus activity as an exercise of their First Amendment rights, which is not the case,' Emmer went on.

Omar represents Minnesota's fifth district, where the university is located in Minneapolis.

The House's number three Republican noted that protests at Columbia had at times turned violent, and some students chanted 'Jews, Jews go back to Poland' and 'Hamas we love you. We support your rockets too.'

'Unfortunately students at the University of Minnesota have taken inspiration from the protests at Columbia University and have replicated similar antisemitic activity,' Emmer said.

Students at Minnesota have shouted pro-Palestinian rallying cry 'From the river to the sea Palestine will be free' and carrying a flag for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated terror group.

Hundreds of people rallied on the University of Minnesota campus on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to protest Israel's war with Hamas

. Earlier in the day, nine anti-war protesters were arrested as police took down an encampment that organizers said was set up to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine

Emmer asked the university to reveal its protocol for protecting Jewish students from a rise of antisemitism since October 7, its tools to 'deescalate' if protests turn violent and what the disciplinary measures will be for students who were arrested at the encampment.

He said he was 'pleased' to see the university 'not taking this unlawful conduct lightly,' but noted 'this has not deterred protestors, and the threat of escalation still exists.'

'Columbia University allowed their 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' to escalate to the point where they had to move to hybrid classes. Does University of Minnesota envision taking drastic measures, like online learning, if things continue to escalate?' he asked.

Omar appeared at Minnesota on Tuesday night, hours after university police had arrested nine who had set up camp near the campus library and ignored police warnings to disperse. Hundreds had rallied to demand their release.

The Minnesota Democrat praised the student activists for 'putting your bodies on the line to end the genocide in Gaza.'

She tore into President Joe Biden and all elected leaders who have condemned antisemitism at such protests for not focusing more on the now-300 Palestinian bodies now found in a mass grave at a hospital in Khan Younis.

'It's been incredibly painful for last five days to see the discovery while there is a discovery of a mass grave ... that our media, our elected politicians our president every single elected leader is spending time and energy in talking about the protests as if you all are not here to give voice to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza.'

The congresswoman then made her way to the University of Columbia in New York City, where her daughter, a 21-year-old student there, said she had been left homeless and without food after a suspension and an arrest for her involvement.

Omar's daughter Isra Hirsi, 21, was among 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at Columbia University on Thursday.

Omar praised the protesters who were arrested along with her daughter as 'brave and patriotic students 'who stood up not on my time are you going to invest in state complacency and genocide not on my watch are you going to forget 34,000 people in Gaza have been massacred ... to allow highest number of children killed in a war in 10 years to take place with our tax dollars.'

The congresswoman was one of 37 Democrats to vote against Israel aid over the weekend, as the Palestinian death toll in Gaza since October 7 has surpassed 34,000.

In an appearance at her daughter's campus in New York, Omar toured Columbia's Gaza encampments that have become the epicenter of a nationwide movement.

'I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand,' Omar posted on X after her visit.

'Contrary to right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza. I'm in awe of their bravery and courage.'

The students are largely demanding their universities divest from weapons manufacturers that supply arms to Israel

Protests at other institutions have devolved into such chaos that the University of Southern California canceled its 'main stage' commencement ceremony and arrested 97 demonstrators.

Around 108 were arrested Wednesday night at Boston's Emerson College and protest encampments have sprung up at universities including Harvard, Brown, the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

On Wednesday a group of New York House Republicans led by Speaker Mike Johnson traveled to Columbia's campus in solidarity with Jewish students - and issued a call on President Minouche Shafik to resign if she cannot reestablish order on campus.

Johnson was met with jeers and boos of 'go home Mike!' and 'Mike you suck.'

The speaker railed against 'antisemites' who 'gnash their teeth and demand to wipe the State of Israel off the map and attack our innocent Jewish students.'

Over outcry of the student activists, Johnson pressed on.

'Things have gotten so out of control that the school has canceled in-person classes and now they've come up with this hybrid model, where they will discriminate against Jewish students. They are not allowed to come to class anymore for fear of their lives,' he said. 'And it's detestable, as Columbia has allowed these lawless agitators and radicals to take over.'
A teenage murderer who tortured a gran and dumped her body in a canal is back on the streets after being freed from prison..

Sarah Davey was 14 when she and a pal beat frail Lily Lilley, 71, in her terraced home.

Davey - now one of Britain's most notorious young killers - and her friend befriended lonely Lily at her home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester.

After being invited in for a cup of tea, they taunted her, squirted her with shampoo and cut her legs with a knife. Her body was dumped in a wheelie bin before they pushed it through the streets and overturned it into a canal.

They had choked her with a gag tied so tightly that her false teeth were driven down her throat. A framed photo of her son as a baby was thrown into the bin. The pair then took over her house, making hundreds of calls from her phone and used her pension money to buy crisps and chocolate.

Davey - now in her late 30s - was locked up indefinitely in 1999 for what the judge described as an 'unspeakably wicked' murder.

MailOnline can reveal she was released from jail on March 23 after a decision by the Parole Board.

Davey repeatedly breached her conditions for the original murder. She was first released in March 2013 but kept getting recalled - and has been freed on licence seven times before.

Sarah Davey who at the age of 14 killed frail pensioner Lily Lilley with her 15 year old friend and then laughed as she dumped the body in the canal in a wheelie bin

Davey, who can be seen during her time in prison decked out in make-up and glam clothes, has now been released

Victim Lily Lilley, whose body was dumped in a wheelie bin before her killers pushed it through the streets and overturned it into a canal

The case drew parallels with that of the killers of little Jamie Bulger.

Shocking photos have seen her decked out in make-up and glam clothes while in jail.

She even enjoyed nights out and shopping trips.

In a recent attempt to be released from prison, she argued she should be freed but was rejected after the opioid painkiller subutex was found in her system.

News of her release has sparked outrage. Tory MP Nigel Mills said: 'It's disgraceful. This is a truly evil crime. It is appalling. This is not justice. She is laughing at justice.'

A source said: 'It's horrific. The poor victim died in the most distressing and humiliating way imaginable.'

Parole Board documents said: 'She has been released on licence on seven occasions since her first such release in March 2013. Each of those licences has been revoked and she has been recalled to prison.'

Documents shared with Mail Online by the Parole Board have examined 'progress' she is said to have made.

They said: 'Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Ms Davey's progress and custodial conduct during this sentence and since recall. She had engaged with programmes to address how she manages her emotions, healthy relationships, and one to one work with her prison supervisor.

'Ms Davey is also working with a service that help those with difficult aspects to their personality and this will continue in the community.

'The panel heard that overall Ms Davey had demonstrated application of relevant skills and learning while in custody. Witnesses, namely the prison psychologist, the prisoner commissioned psychologist, the community probation officer and prison supervisor, recommended release. '

Sarah Davey, now 18, who was found guilty of the murder of pensioner Lily Lilley in 1998

A police forensic team at the home of 71 year old Lily Lilley in 1998

Davey carried out the murder alongside 15-year-old Lisa Healey, who had also run away from home.

Extraordinarily, Healey was able to become pregnant while on day release from her open jail, as revealed by the Daily Mail. She has since been freed and given a new identity.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: 'Sarah Davey will be subject to close supervision for the rest of her life and can be recalled to prison if she breaches the strict conditions of her release.'

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Sarah Davey following an oral hearing.

'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

'Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

'It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador shocked reporters during his press briefing Thursday when he claimed criminal gangs and cartels were 'respectful people' who respected the country's residents and mainly kill each other.

The remarks are clearly at odds with the reality of millions of Mexicans who live in areas dominated by drug cartels, who have been involved in some of the 184,000 homicides that have been registered since the leftist leader took office in December 2018.

The cartels routinely demand protection payments from local residents and kill or kidnap them if they refuse to pay.

A reporter asked Lopez Obrador whether drug cartels behaved well when he visited the township of Badiraguato, Sinaloa - the hometown of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, which he has controversially visited as president about a half dozen times.

He responded 'Always!' before adding that 'Sometimes we come upon people who are strange, but respectful.'

Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which operates 23 of Mexico's 32 states and its capital, Mexico City. It has been blamed for displacing families who are now seeking asylum from the United States

Continuing on the subject of drug cartels at his morning news briefing, Lopez Obrador said: 'There is something people should know.'

'Fortunately, the attacks that happen in this country generally occur between (criminal) groups,' the president said. 'They respect the citizenry.'

Lopez Obrador, who will leave office this fall, has long refused to directly confront the cartels, who he claims were forced into criminality by a lack of opportunities.

His controversial 'hugs, not bullets' strategy offers job training programs for youths so they won't become cartel gunmen.

In the past, he has also appeared to normalize the gangs presence, encouraging Mexicans to negotiate peace pacts among the cartels.

But saying the cartels don't attack common citizens takes the issue to a new level. Experts and rights activists say thousands of Mexicans have been forced from their homes by cartel violence and extortion, and thousands of business owners, taxi and bus drivers have been killed for refusing extortion demands.

Clandestine grave sites throughout Mexico are filled with the bodies of drug cartel victims.

Thursday's statements by Lopez Obrador come one week after he said will not launch an assault on Mexican drug cartels in approached by the United States government.

In what the president called a 'Mexico First' policy, he said 'We are not going to act as policemen for any foreign government. Mexico First. Our home comes first.'

Over the years, Lopez Obrador has laid out various justifications for his policy of avoiding clashes with the cartels. In the past he has said 'you cannot fight violence with violence,' and on other occasions he has argued the government has to address 'the causes' of drug cartel violence, ascribing them to poverty or a lack of opportunities.

Lopez Obrador has also urged Catholic church leaders to try to negotiate peace deals between rival gangs.

Explaining why he has ordered the army not to attack cartel gunmen, he said in 2022 that 'we also take care of the lives of the gang members, they are human beings.'

He has also sometimes appeared not to take the violence issue seriously.

In June 2023, he said of one drug gang that had abducted 14 police officers: 'Im going to tell on you to your fathers and grandfathers,' suggesting they should get a good spanking.

Gisela Gaytan became the latest public office candidate murdered in Mexico ahead of the June elections when she was executed on a street while campaigning in the city of Celaya on April 1

Thalia Cornejo was among the 11 people who were murdered by gunmen at a holiday party that was held at a 17th century at an old hacienda in Salvatierra, a municipality in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato on December 17, 2023

Gunmen ambushed and murdered 13 members of the police department in Coyuca de Benitez, Mexico on October 23, 2023

Asked about those comments at the time, residents of one town in the western state of Michoacan who have lived under drug cartel control for years reacted with disgust and disbelief.

'He is making fun of us,' said one restaurant owner, who asked to remain anonymous because he - like almost everyone else in town - has long been forced to pay protection money to the local cartel.

Lopez Obrador has also made a point of visiting the township of Badiraguato in western state of Sinaloa at least a half dozen times, including in March 2020 when he greeted Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's late mother, and pledging to do so again before he leaves office in September.

It's also a stance related to prickly nationalism and independence. Asked in November why he has visited the sparsely populated rural township so many times, Lopez Obrador quoted a line from a defiant old drinking song, 'because I want to.'

The president has also imposed strict limits on U.S. agents operating in Mexico, and limited how much contact Mexican law enforcement can have with them.
Galena had snuck into a return packed and got shipped for six days

Heartwarming reunion between calico cat from Utah and her owners after she traveled nearly 700 miles to Los Angeles by sneaking into an Amazon package.

Calico kitty Galena disappeared from couple Carrie and Matt Clark's suburban Salt Lake City home on April 10.

The family searched their entire house, neighborhood, nearby walking trial and surrounding areas with no trace of her.

A week after she went missing, the Clark's were stunned to be notified Galena's microchip had been scanned in Los Angeles.

'She had jumped/hidden in one of our Amazon return packages without us knowing. She was mailed to a return center in California and trapped in a box and trailer for six days,' Carrie said on Facebook.

Carrie Clark (pictured) reunited with her calico cat Galena after she disappeared from the family's Salt Lake City home on April 10

Carrie said the side seam of the Amazon package, containing a box of CAT footwear, split so Galena could breathe during her travels

Galena was found at an Amazon warehouse in Los Angeles after sneaking into her owners return package and traveling for six days

Amazon employee Brandy Hunter (pictured) took Galena to the vet where they scanned her microchip and were able to contact the Clarks

'Galena miraculously survived without water and food for six days. Her bloodwork was completely normal! Despite being skinnier she is completely unharmed.'

Brandy Hunter's coworkers at a local Amazon warehouse found Galena and called her to help with the rescue.

'We have gotten some crazy things in my time here but NEVER anything like this,' Hunter said on Facebook.

'I finished driving home, picked up my badge, my cat carrier, a blanket, some cat food and food and water dishes and drove to work to see if I could catch this beautiful baby.'

Hunter said Galena was very scared in the new environment, but warmed up to her help.

She took the calico cat to the veterinarian's office the next morning where they scanned her microchip and connected Hunter with the Clarks.

'We called from the vet's office and at first [Carrie] thought someone got her number from the missing cat poster and was pranking her because the story is so wild,' Hunter said.

'She didn't believe it that her baby was still alive and had traveled all the way to California until she spoke to me and I explained how and where I found her. Both her and her husband absolutely broke down and so did I, in the middle of the vet's office.'

The Clark's immediately booked a ticket to Los Angeles and drove another hour-and-a-half straight to the vet's office from the airport.

Hunter recorded the heartwarming reunion between Galena and her owners. Although scared, Galena recognized the Clarks and welcomed their pets and cuddles.

Galena suffered mild dehydration and was not eating, but came away from her travels with no other injuries

Hunter (right) and Carrie (left) posed for a picture with Galena after the Clarks flew to California to bring her home

'After getting the vets approval and a game plan Matt, Galena, and I packed up the rental car and drove 10 hours together back to Utah. We finally made it back home on Friday after traveling 1400 miles in 24 hours to get our kitty back,' Carrie said.

Galena suffered mild dehydration and was not eating, but came away from her travels with no other injuries.

Carrie said the side seam of the Amazon package, containing a box of CAT footwear, split so Galena could breathe and ideal weather temperatures contributed to her being able to survive.

'Im so relieved everything turned out okay and I got my sweet pet back. Galena is a huge emotional support to me and members of our family,' Carrie told DailyMail.com

'Its a miracle shes safe after everything she went through. God knew I needed her a little longer. Please microchip your pet and triple check those Amazon packages.'
A former junior high school teacher in northern California has pleaded no contest to charges of having unlawful underage sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Michelle Christine Solis, 46, entered a no-contest plea earlier this week at Butte County Superior Court in Gridley, California, related to sex charges that include unlawful intercourse with a minor, as well as sending harmful photos to a minor.

The charges stem from interactions between Solis and a 14-year-old boy in 2021, when he was in his eighth grade year at Sycamore Junior High School.

The Gridley police obtained evidence that suggests Solis first followed the teen on social media before sending him messages and explicit photographs of herself in the weeks leading up to his graduation.

Michelle Christine Solis, 46, entered a no-contest plea earlier this week at Butte County Superior Court in Gridley, California related to sex charges that include unlawful intercourse with a minor, as well as sending harmful photos to a minor

The incident allegedly occurred on eighth grade graduation day in 2021 in a locked classroom at Sycamore Junior High School in northern California

According to a press release from District Attorney Mike Ramsey, Solis, a 20-year veteran educator, had sex with the boy on his graduation day inside a locked classroom.

Rumors about Solis circulated Gridley - a city about 30 miles south of Chico - as did some of the explicit photographs of the middle-aged educator.

The rumors and explicit material, which eventually made their way back to local parents, prompted the police to pursue the investigation, which included contacting the boy.

Authorities found the pair's messages and four explicit pictures of Solis on the boy's phone.

Last November, Solis was arrested and released on $15,000 bail.

The rumors and explicit material, which eventually made their way back to local parents, prompted the police to pursue the investigation, which included contacting the boy

She is free until her sentencing hearing, which is currently scheduled for June 6 at 1.30pm.

As part of her freshly entered no contest plea, she agreed to register as a sex offender.

She is also facing up to four years in state prison, according to the DA's office.

Solis's case is part of a disturbing trend in the US of female teachers facing legal action in relation to allegedly unlawful sexual behavior between themselves and their underage students.

DailyMail.com discovered that 25 female teachers had been arrested in 16 states in only the last 12 months as the so-called 'cougars in the classroom' epidemic begins to take formal shape.
The NSW Police Commissioner has conceded that the 'horrifying' alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst 'shouldn't have happened' amid a surge in domestic violence in Australia.

The body of the childhood educator and mother-of-one, 28, was found at her home in Forbes, about 137km west of Sydney, early Monday.

Her ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings, 29, has been charged with her alleged murder and was on bail at the time.

He had earlier been charged with allegedly raping the young mother three times, stalking and harassing her four times, smashing her car windows, and assaulting her 12-week-old dachshund puppy.

Commissioner Webb was said to be hard hit by Ms Ticehurst's death and described it as 'terrible and frankly horrifying crime' as she backed an urgent government review into bail laws 'as a priority'.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that the 'horrifying' alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst 'shouldn't have happened' amid a surge in domestic violence in Australia

READ MORE: Nat Barr confronts Anthony Albanese about an issue on the minds of many Australians: 'It is an epidemic' Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found dead at a home on Young Street in Forbes, NSW, about 1.50am on Monday Advertisement

'I'll say from the outset that police share the sentiment of the community,' Commissioner Webb told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'This shouldn't have happened and sadly, it's not an isolated case.'

She also backed a pledge from NSW Premier Chris Minns to review bail laws in a bid to make NSW a safer state.

Ms Ticehurst was the 25th woman to be allegedly murdered by a man in 2024.

Domestic violence has been a priority for Commissioner Webb since she was appointed to the top job two years ago.

'I have always said domestic violence is a silent crime. That needs to change,' she said.

The commissioner added that the issue of domestic violence needed to be 'kept in the spotlight' so victims could feel empowered to speak out and seek help.

When asked on Friday if she'd like to see a change where court registrars don't make decisions on serious matters like sexual assault or stalking, the commissioner said 'certainly'.

'When I saw the attorney's announcement (about the review), he was clear that one of those suggestions being considered was that a prosecutor or a magistrate consider bail, rather than a registrar,' she told 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'I support that if that's where the government lands.

'We've been lobbying for some time to make amendments to the bail acts particularly around protecting women and victims of sexual and domestic violence.

'We've got a seat at that table and it's important that we do.'

Commissioner Webb described the death of Molly Ticehurst (pictured) as a 'terrible and frankly horrifying crime '

It comes after it was revealed that Billings was free to roam - and allegedly enter Forbes in contravention of a restriction order - after one court decision, followed by a second just days before Ms Ticehurst was allegedly killed.

According to Nine Newspapers, when he faced a Saturday court in Dubbo to apply for bail on the rape and stalking charges, the presiding officer was L Cusack, a registrar, rather than a more senior magistrate, because magistrates don't work on weekends.

Registrars are trained in hearing bail applications but, unlike magistrates, do not need to hold a law degree.

During that court appearance on April 6, police argued before the registrar that Billings posed a risk to his former partner and had made threats against her.

However, the registrar agreed to free him on bail, imposing a $5,000 surety and an apprehended violence order on behalf of Ms Ticehurst, including a condition that he not enter the town of Forbes at all.

Last Thursday, the charges were mentioned again at Dubbo Local Court before a magistrate, however this time police did not question whether he should be returned to custody.

Ms Ticehurst's body was discovered at her four days later.

Police arrested Billings, who had allegedly fled to a property in Fifield, more than 100km away from Forbes, and he is now on rem]and in custody.

Ms Ticehurst's grieving father, Tony Ticehurst, told Nine: 'If they'd have kept him in jail as the police wanted, we wouldn't be having this conversation.'

Billings will appear in Orange Local Court on June 20.
Kamala Harris's 'erratic' bodyguard who got into a brawl with colleagues this week previously filed a $1million gender discrimination lawsuit against the city of Dallas.

An armed Secret Service officer assigned to the Vice President was removed from duty after she got into a physical fight with fellow agents on Monday, according to reports.

The agent began fighting fellow officers Monday morning after appearing for duty at Joint Base Andrew in Maryland before the vice president arrived for a planned trip to Wisconsin, according to the Washington Examiner.

RealClearPolitics identified the agent as Michelle Herczeg, 43, who is a female agent on Harris' security detail.

It has now been revealed that Heczeg had previously filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the city of Dallas in 2016.

Michelle Herczeg (pictured) worked for the Dallas Police Department before joining Secret Service

Herczeg, an armed Secret Service officer assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris, was removed from duty after she got into a physical fight with fellow agents on Monday

The lawsuit alleges that Herczeg was retaliated against after she reported sexual harassment of her colleagues in the Dallas Police Department.

Herczeg also claimed that she was not allowed to return to a crime reduction after she alleged that a senior officer assaulted her in May 2015, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Legal documents from 2021 show that Herczeg sued the city of Dalllas for gender discrimination, wrongful termination based on gender, retaliation based on gender and aiding and abetting discrimination.

The initial suit claimed the department 'tolerates unprofessional behavior such as fraternization and unprofessional male and female working relationships based on an atmosphere which finds the male officer in charge, regardless of rank or ability.'

Herczeg was hired by the Dallas Police Department in September 2008 and became a senior corporal in 2015. Before joining the police force - she served in the Air Force for eight years.

She graduated from the police academy in the top five percent of her class and sought further law enforcement training to become a drug recognition expert.

Herczeg claims that she was not allowed to return to the North Central Crime Reduction Team after she reported the alleged assault.

Harris was at her home at the Naval Observatory when the incident occurred, according to the Secret Service, and there was no impact to her travel plans

The lawsuit claims that she was denied overtime patrol shifts - which caused her and her family to suffer from 'stress and mental anguish from loss in payment compensation.'

On Monday, Herczeg arrived for duty acting erratically, grabbing a fellow agent's personal phone and started deleting applications from it. She also was mumbling to herself, hiding behind curtains and throwing items at fellow agents including menstrual pads, according to the report.

Herczeg told her fellow agents they would 'burn in hell and needed to listen to God.'

Sources said the special agent in charge and a detail shift supervisor tried to calm Herczeg after she began exhibiting aggressive behavior, but she tackled the Senior Agent in Charge of security detail and began punching him.

Although Herczeg was armed, her weapon remained in the holster until the she was disarmed by her colleagues. She was handcuffed and removed from the terminal.

The Secret Service confirmed an agent on the vice president's detail began 'displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing' and was removed from duty on Monday.

Harris was at her home at the Naval Observatory when the incident occurred, according to the Secret Service, and there was no impact to her travel plans.

'The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously. As this was a medical matter, we will not disclose any further details,' Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

Other agents were aware of previous incidents of strange behavior from Michelle Herczeg prior to the incident at the airport.
Scott Morrison has opened up that he struggled to get out of bed at times during his prime ministership due to debilitating anxiety.

The former PM revealed that the pressures of the top job left him so anxious he had to be prescribed antidepressants.

The 55-year-old shared a candid insight into his mental health battles in his new book Plans for Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness.

He said that he couldn't look to a particular moment in his role as PM that triggered the anxiety, but added there were many factors at play.

'It was a very stressful period and the combination of the weight of issues, the length of hours that we were working, the physical demands that brought and to be honest the stuff around China was as, if not more, distressing than the pandemic,' he told The Australian.

Scott Morrison has revealed he struggled to get out of bed at times during his prime ministership due to his debilitating anxiety

READ MORE: Scott Morrison dresses up in pink for family night out at Taylor Swift concert Scott Morrison and his family scored prime seats to the first night of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Sydney Advertisement

Mr Morrison said the Covid-19 pandemic, and trade tariffs imposed by China on Australian products like wine and barley only added to the anxiety.

Tensions with China rose when Mr Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid.

He said most of his time in The Lodge was 'debilitating and agonising', and that without anxiety medication he would have spiralled into a deep depression.

'My doctor was amazed I had lasted as long as I had before seeking help,' Mr Morrison wrote in his book.

'Without this help, serious depression would have manifested. What impacted me was the combination of pure physical exhaustion with the unrelenting and callous brutality of politics and media attacks.'

Mr Morrison said that while that was all part of the job as a public figure, 'politicians were not made of stone'.

'You dread the future and you can't get out of bed. It can shut you down mentally and physically. It robs you of your joy and can damage relationships. I know this from personal experience,' he wrote.

The former prime minister tried focusing on other hobbies to quell his anxiety such as swimming and cooking but the mental anguish was too much to bear without medication.

The former PM revealed that the pressures of the top job left him so anxious he had to be prescribed medication

Unlike many other memoirs written by politicians, Mr Morrison says his book is more focused on how his religious faith has guided him throughout his life.

Mr Morrison was Australia's 30th prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before he lost to Anthony Albanese at the 2022 election.

He was replaced by Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy as the federal MP for Cook in Sydney's south at the recent by-election.

Mr Morrison retired from politics in February this year and went on to become the strategic adviser to DYNE Maritime, an Australian-founded, US-based venture capital company that invests in technologies related to the AUKUS pact.

He is also the vice chair of American Global Strategies, which was co-founded and chaired by Robert O'Brien who was National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump from 2019  2021.
Two mine workers are in a critical condition after an accident left them with severe burns.

The men were doing shifts at the above-ground Mount Isa Mines copper smelter in Queensland's remote northwest when a vent unexpectedly opened next to them and shot out scalding steam at 4.19pm on Thursday.

A 26-year-old suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body from the neck down and has been placed in an induced coma with ventilation.

The other man, 25, suffered burns to his face and neck.

Both the contract workers were rushed to the Mount Isa Base Hospital before being airlifted overnight by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to the Royal Brisbane Hospital where they are being treated in the burns unit.

Two workers suffered severe burns at the Mount Isa Mines site in central north Queensland on Thursday

Mount Isa Mines owner Glencore said smelter operations had been suspended.



'We are currently investigating the incident with the relevant authorities,' a spokesperson said.

'The health and safety of our workforce remain the highest priority.'

The incident is also being investigated by sector watchdog Resources Safety and Health Queensland.
Firefighters are working to extinguish a blaze that broke out on the historic Oceanside Pier in San Diego.

The fire was reported around 3 p.m. PT inside the vacant building that previously housed Ruby's Diner on the pier.

Local fire crews were joined by Cal Fire and the San Diego Sheriff's Department to make a water drop on the structure fire, reported NBC San Diego.

Two fire-fighting vessels are working to battle the blaze that has charred the building and caused the roof to collapse.

'What we know is that the fire teams decided to do a defense tactic and not try to save the restaurant but save the rest of the pier.' Oceanside mayor Esther Sanchez told the local news station.

A fire on the Oceanside Pier in San Diego was reported around 3 p.m. PT

Plume of smokes rising from the wooden structure as crews work to put on the flames

The City of Oceanside said no injuries have been reported and personnel from the nearby shops have been accounted for

At least three fire department vessels are working to battle the blaze

'The Oceanside Fire Department is currently engaged in fighting a fire on the Oceanside Pier. We are asking all citizens to please stay away from the immediate area,' the fire department said.

Photos and video show plume of smokes rising from the wooden structure as crews work to put on the flames.

'Restaurants at the end of the Pier are damaged, as is the end of the Pier structure,' the City of Oceanside said.

'No injuries have been reported. Personnel from The Brine Shop and the Bair Shop are all accounted for.'

Jessica Waite, the co-owner of the Brine Box the local news station that the business was open at the time the fire started.

'Chef Rachel saw smoke coming up from underneath the pier, behind the old Ruby's building,' Waite said.

Vacant chair were seen abandoned on the beach as thick black smoke rose from the pier

People watch a helicopter drop water as fire crews fight the burning fire

Onlookers gathered on the beach as the efforts to contain the blaze went on

Later in the evening, the smoke appeared to have calmed

'Thankfully, everyone was evacuated safely. We are so sad to see this happening.'

Businesses nearby closed due to on-shore winds carrying smoke and ash.

Oceanside fire chief David Parsons said the main body of the fire has been knocked down and crews are working to keep it under control.

The City of Oceanside spent $5.5 million in 2023 to upgrade pipes and electrical systems on the pier.

Originally built in 1888, the pier has been destroyed twice in its lifetime, once in 1890 by rough seas and again in 1902.

The current pier, which is 1,945 feet long and the longest on the West Coast, was built in 1987.
With train reliability at a dire low, passengers forced to pay extortionate fares and often overcrowded carriages, few could deny that the railways are broken.

Some blame privatisation three decades ago. While this led to a remarkable increase in passenger numbers, the franchising model let profiteering rail bosses get away with running shoddy services.

Labour says the way to improve the network is to renationalise it. If the party wins power, nearly all train operating firms will be brought back into state ownership.

But although this Corbyn-era policy may delight activists, is it really the panacea the Left would have us believe?

Not judging by how Labour transport spokesman Louise Haigh struggled to explain exactly how it would be funded.

Labour says the way to improve the network is to renationalise it. If the party wins power, nearly all train operating firms will be brought back into state ownership (stock image)

Labour leader Keir Starmer with Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh. Will Labour be prepared to keep shovelling money into the railways at the current rate  at least 12billion a year? Leasing rolling stock would cost another 2billion a year

Will Labour be prepared to keep shovelling money into the railways at the current rate  at least 12billion a year? Leasing rolling stock would cost another 2billion a year.

In the fight for government cash, railways will always lose to the NHS and schools.

Ms Haigh claims savings can be made by modernising working practices and closing ticket offices. But Labour's union paymasters oppose such changes. Having punished the public with strikes for two years already, the militants won't hesitate to push a Starmer government around.

Anyone who remembers British Rail knows what a terrible idea renationalisation would be. Filthy, investment-starved, and even more unreliable and strike-bound than today, the passenger always came last.

As serious as the problems of our railways are, they certainly won't be solved by a return to the dead hand of state control.

Lame-duck leader

The disintegration of the SNP's power-sharing agreement with the Greens must rank as the most humiliating U-turn in Scottish political history.

Only three days after praising the deal, Humza Yousaf pulled the plug on it  before his coalition partners got in first.

The Greens were appalled after the beleaguered First Minister ditched climate targets this week. They were also angry at the SNP being outwitted by Rishi Sunak on dangerous gender self-ID reforms.

Mr Yousaf now faces a no-confidence vote. On his party's watch, Scotland has got worse  on the economy, schools and the NHS.

Mr Yousaf now faces a no-confidence vote. On his party's watch, Scotland has got worse  on the economy, schools and the NHS. This melodrama is bad for Britain. With voters increasingly rejecting the SNP, Labour is more likely to win the general election

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. The disintegration of the SNP's power-sharing agreement with the Greens must rank as the most humiliating U-turn in Scottish political history

On one hand, this melodrama is bad for Britain. With voters increasingly rejecting the SNP, Labour is more likely to win the general election.

But every cloud has a silver lining. It means the appalling prospect of the Union being torn apart is further away than ever.

A licence to steal

Shoplifting was once regarded as a serious crime. Not any longer.

Reforms introduced by politicians have all but decriminalised store thefts worth less than 200. As a result, the police rarely bother to investigate them.

So is it any wonder that shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 1,000 incidents reported every day?

Meanwhile, violence against shopworkers has doubled  a statistic that should lay firmly to rest the insidious myth that shoplifting is a victimless crime.

Home Secretary James Cleverly insists the Government and police are taking this problem seriously. In that case, they should reinforce their words with tougher actions.

The crooks who brazenly sweep goods off the shelves must believe their crimes will be punished. Only then will this plague end.
Devastated colleagues told the world of BBC presenter Jill Dando's murder 25 years ago today.

The beloved 37-year-old journalist was shot in the head on her front doorstep in Fulham on April 26, 1999 - with her killer still unfound and the case untouched for 10 years.

Ms Dando's injuries were so severe that police could not initially tell whether she had been shot or stabbed.

Grieving colleagues had to deliver the 'dreadful' news to the rest of the world, despite many being close friends with Ms Dando.

Reporting from the scene, former BBC presenter Clarence Mitchell said on live TV: 'This has been one of the saddest reporting jobs that I've had to fulfill in many a long time.

'I knew Jill well and it really is heartbreaking to report on the murder of a colleague like this.'

BBC presenter Clarence Mitchell reporting from the scene in 1999, after Jill Dando's death

A visibly emotional Jennie Bond reported Ms Dando's death from the BBC office

Ms Bond said the murder of her 'personal friend' still makes her 'blood run cold'

Jill Dando (pictured) was shot in the head on her front doorstep on April 26, 1999

A visibly emotional Jennie Bond reported from the BBC office: 'Within the past few minutes, police have confirmed that the BBC Television presenter Jill Dando has been stabbed to death outside her west London home.

'She died in the ambulance on her way to hospital.'

In an interview years later, Ms Bond said the murder of her 'personal friend' still makes her 'blood run cold'.

'It mattered to so much to us that we delivered the news accurately about one of out own,' she said.

'It was so dreadful, and is so dreadful, to have a personal friend murdered on her doorstep. It just makes my blood run cold, even now. It's just awful.'

Martyn Lewis told live TV after Ms Dando's death: 'The murder of our friend and colleague Jill Dando dominates tonight's news.

'Jill was special, not only to the millions of you who watched, admired and loved her over the years, but to all of us who had the privilege and delight of working with her.

Grieving BBC colleagues had to deliver the 'dreadful' news to the rest of the world

Ms Dando's injuries were so severe that police could not initially tell whether she had been shot or stabbed

'The news was best when it was read by Jill. None of us could have believed it would one day be about her.'

Other BBC presenters also had to break the news to the rest of the world, with one saying: 'Between quarter to 12 and 12 o'clock, the body of a woman was found outside number 29 Gowan Avenue. That woman has been taken to Charring Cross Hospital, and that woman has been declared dead, shortly after one o'clock.

'That woman has been identified as Jill Dando, the television presenter.'

It comes as a witness who saw a man running from the scene of Ms Dando's murder claimed that he looks like a Serbian assassin.

The journalist's death has been the subject of countless speculation, but the case hasn't been touched in 10 years.

Barry George's defence lawyer has also claimed police should reopen the case to look at twice-convicted killer Milorad Ulemek, who looks like the mystery man.

Mr George, now 64, was tried and convicted of the TV presenter's murder but after spending eight years in jail, he was cleared.

A facial comparison expert gave 'limited support' to the theory that Ulemek, who is serving 40 years in a Serbian prison, looks like the unidentified person along the gunman's likely escape route.

This is the second lowest on a subjective scale range from 'no support' to 'powerful support'.

And now a witness who reported seeing a man 'running for his life' from the scene has claimed he looks like the notorious assassin.
A Utah 'Karen' who went viral for pulling down a teenager's mini skirt in a St George steakhouse has been charged with sexual battery.

In a viral TikTok video the woman identifies herself to a group of teenage girls as a state employee after allegedly pulling down one of their miniskirts at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse on Saturday night.

Ida Ann Lorenzo, 48, told the alleged victim that if she has to watch her 'a** cheeks hanging out again' and see her pubic hair, she would call Child Protective Services. Lorenzo later told police that she intended to file an indecent exposure report.

The alleged victim's friends can be heard defending her, telling Lorenzo she should not touch her and that she is over 18.

Lorenzo, who works for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane on a single Class A charge of sexual battery, according to court documents filed on Wednesday. She has now been released.

A Utah 'Karen' who pulled down a teenager's mini skirt in a steakhouse after claiming it was indecently short has been charged with sexual battery

Ida Ann Lorenzo, 48, told a 19-year-old girl that she would report her to Child Protective Services over her skirt length

The incident came to the authorities attention after Lorenzo reported it to police herself on the same night.

Lorenzo told police that the teenager's skirt was 'hiked above her vagina and butt,' exposing her pubic hair, ABC4 reported.

She also reportedly explained that she pulled the skirt down as young children were present and the restaurant staff did not act.

After footage of the incident was posted online Lorenzo phoned 911 again to claim that a 'threat on her life' had been made as she is a state employee, according to the police report seen by ABC.

Lorenzo told police she first asked the young woman to pull her skirt down but that she was ignored, and therefore acted herself.

When asked why she thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that she only touched her skirt.

The officer explained that this act was criminal behavior, the police report states.

On Monday the alleged victim contacted police claiming she was sexually assaulted.

The alleged incident occurred at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse on Saturday night

The teen told police she was 'startled' when Lorenzo came up behind her, touched her buttocks and pulled down her skirt, leaving her feeling 'violated'.

Several witnesses filed corroborating reports, ABC4 reported.

One of the witnesses, CC Snow, uploaded a TikTok video earlier this week sharing her experience.

'She comes up to my friend and reaches under her skirt, yanks it down and then squeezes her sides, because she is wearing a crop top, and says "you're probably under age, you probably shouldn't be wearing that".'

According to Snow's account the restaurant manager asked Lorenzo to sit down during the filmed altercation with the group of teenagers.

'It was like a fever dream, it [felt] like it was fake, this is not actually happening. This is not real life,' Snow added.
The founder of Prince William's wildlife charity says big-game hunting is a key cog of Africa's multi- billion-pound tourism economy.

The president of Tusk, set up to safeguard elephants and other animals, has stepped into the trophy-hunting debate by warning the West, including the UK, not to tell African nations how to run their wildlife affairs.

Respected conservationist Charlie Mayhew, founder of the charity of which William is a long-standing patron, spoke as a Bill banning the import of hunters' trophies  such as elephant tusks  undergoes House of Lords' scrutiny after winning the backing of MPs last month.

Leaders of six African countries have criticised the proposed law as 'arrogant, ignorant and racist' virtue-signalling by British parliamentarians with an outdated 'colonial' mindset.

Botswana, over-burdened with 150,000 wild elephants  one for every 15 of its people in some areas  has threatened to send 10,000 to live in London's Hyde Park if the Bill, backed by the Government, is rubber stamped.

The founder of Tusk Charlie Mayhew with Prince William. Mr Mayhew has stepped into the trophy-hunting debate by warning the West, including the UK, not to tell African nations how to run their wildlife affairs

Mr Mayhew told the Mail yesterday Tusk had never lauded trophy hunting in itself, but now 'tolerates' the sport as a key part of the African wildlife economy (stock image)

British and European hunters pay huge sums into the economies of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia to shoot wild animals in a strictly regulated sport.

The income, say the African nations, is then channelled to help villagers build schools and houses. It is also used for wildlife conservation, and to fight international ivory-poaching gangs killing hundreds of elephants for their tusks each year.

Mr Mayhew told the Mail yesterday Tusk had never lauded trophy hunting in itself, but now 'tolerates' the sport as a key part of the African wildlife economy.

The time had come for countries of the 'global north', including Britain, to 'stop dictating wildlife policy to Africa's 'sovereign' nations', he said.

At a Tusk symposium in Rwanda last month, conservation expert Irene Mhlanga said Africa's wildlife economy was worth 200billion a year. She told delegates paid-for hunting of wild animals and fish was one of the 'big five' tourism earners for Africa.

Prince William, who became patron of Tusk when he left university, has voiced fears that the African elephant will disappear due to illegal poaching by the time his daughter Princess Charlotte turns 25.

John Spellar (pictured), the Labour MP proposing the imports' Bill backed by a raft of celebrities, said: 'The public do not want these magnificent animals slaughtered to decorate walls of people's houses'

He has made wildlife crime a personal cause, but attracted criticism in 2016 for suggesting that trophy-hunting money could be used to safeguard elephant herds targeted by criminals for their ivory.

The prince said trophy hunting was justifiable to protect the species 'when an animal is infertile, at the end of his life, if somebody out here  and it wouldn't be me  wants to pay that money'.

John Spellar, the Labour MP proposing the imports' Bill backed by a raft of celebrities, said: 'The public do not want these magnificent animals slaughtered to decorate walls of people's houses.'

Mr Spellar and other MPs insist that other Western countries, including France and Belgium, have 'shown the way' by banning trophy imports.
Humza Yousaf's job was 'hanging on a thread' last night after he plunged his government into crisis by dumping the SNP's Green coalition partners.

He was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP.

He said that he would instead attempt to run the country with a minority government  in a move that will make it impossible to pass legislation without winning support from the opposition benches.

Critics condemned Mr Yousaf's 'kamikaze' move as it immediately backfired when opponents said they would hold a vote of no confidence in him  and the Greens confirmed they would support it.

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign.

Humza Yousaf was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) arrive for First Minister's Questions on Thursday. The Greens have said they will support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos. Humza Yousaf's government is in crisis. He claims it is now a new beginning, but really it is the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

After he lodged the motion of no confidence, Mr Ross said: 'He was bounced into ditching the Bute House Agreement by his own MSPs. The only leadership he has shown has been weak. His time as First Minister is up.'

Mr Yousaf unilaterally announced the move without an SNP member vote following an emergency meeting of his Cabinet yesterday.

The Greens said they would back a no confidence vote.

It means his future is reliant on whether he can persuade Ash Regan, the former SNP leadership candidate and now Alba MSP, to back him. Mr Yousaf described her departure from the SNP last year as 'no great loss'.

If he were to lose the vote, Mr Yousaf would be under pressure to resign. If he fails to do so, opposition parties could call a further no confidence vote in the Government, which would require him to resign if a majority backed it.

Humza Yousaf speaking from Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, as the SNP withdrew from the agreement it signed with the Greens

Yousaf was questioned by journalists about the end of the agreement, accompanied by a sign language interpreter

Mr Yousaf speaking in parliament after the deal collapsed over what the Greens had seen as a gradual side-lining of their policies by the SNP

An animated Humza Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapsed

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater (left) and Patrick Harvie (centre) speaking as the deal was brought to a premature end

Mr Yousaf's future is reliant on whether he can persuade Ash Regan (pictured on Thursday), the former SNP leadership candidate and now Alba MSP, to back him

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (pictured in parliament on Thursday) said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos'

First Minister at the time Nicola Sturgeon (centre) and Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) announce the signing of their coalition deal, which became known as the Bute House agreement, in Edinburgh on August 20, 2021

Sturgeon and the greens celebrate the signing of the agreement in August 2021. The deal has now been scrapped by Humza Yousaf

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion.

'It could have come to an end by agreement.

'It has led to the position where Humza Yousaf is hanging on a thread as to whether he can stay as First Minister.'

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza has to understand he is no longer in the position of ruling the roost. I can only describe his tactics as kamikaze.

'He has insulted every opposition party in the parliament. There's a number of things you can and can't do when you are leading a minority administration, and one of them is not to insult all of the opposition parties.

'Humza is going to need to mend his ways and do it very quickly.'

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.'

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon (pictured together in 2017), told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion'

Alex Salmond described Ms Regan as 'the most powerful MSP' in parliament

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie (pictured right on Thursday) said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price'

Serial SNP rebel Fergus Ewing MSP and Alba Party MSP Ash Regan share a smile on the backbenches as they await the start of First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes (pictured in February) insisted she would support the first minister in the no confidence vote

At an 8am meeting with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Mr Yousaf told them he would be 'terminating' their ministerial roles. He then met his Cabinet to inform them. Mr Yousaf's spokesman said ministers banged on the table in approval.

Just days prior to the announcement, Mr Yousaf publicly backed the partnership agreement.

At a press conference yesterday he denied he had made a weak and reactive decision.

He was asked if he was a 'lame duck leader who is heading for the exit door' and he responded: 'No, not at all. We are taking control as a party and indeed as a government on our priority terms.'

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes insisted she would support him in the no confidence vote.

Fergus Ewing, who repeatedly spoke out against the Bute House Agreement, challenged Mr Yousaf to 'do a spring clean of the policies and programmes'.

No confidence vote that could sink Yousaf is on a knife edge

By Jessica North

Humza Yousaf's leadership was unravelling last night as he was warned ditching his coalition of chaos with the Greens was just the 'beginning of the end'.

In a day of high drama, the SNP leader was accused of dragging his party into 'absolute chaos' after unceremoniously ending the powersharing agreement.

It means that the First Minister will now lead a minority government and could face an uphill battle to pass any of his policies through parliament.

The Scottish Conservatives immediately called for a vote of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, which would force him to step down if he loses.

Scottish Labour said it would back anything that undermines Mr Yousaf's position and demanded a Holyrood election be called.

Humza Yousaf speaking from Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, as the SNP withdrew from the agreement it signed with the Greens

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) during First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament Building on April 25

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross (pictured in the chamber on Thursday) said: 'I can confirm today that on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I am lodging a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf'

The Scottish Lib Dems also said there were 'no circumstances' in which they would offer their support to Mr Yousaf in next week's vote.

And furious Scottish Greens confirmed they would not back the First Minister after he ended their partnership.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: 'I can confirm today that on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I am lodging a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf. He is a failed First Minister, he is focused on the wrong priorities for Scotland. He [runs a] government in the SNP's interests and not in Scotland's interests.

'He is unfit for office. Shouldn't this be the end of the road for this weak First Minister?'

He added: 'Let's be clear, the Greens never belonged anywhere near the Scottish Government. Humza Yousaf should have ditched this extreme party on day one of their leadership.'

Mr Ross criticised Mr Yousaf for refusing to say why he had changed his mind about supporting the Bute House Agreement (BHA) during the last 48 hours, amid speculation that he pushed the Greens before their party members voted to jump.

He added: 'There is no defence at all. We said this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in absolute chaos.

Mr Ross added: 'Let's be clear, the Greens never belonged anywhere near the Scottish Government. Humza Yousaf should have ditched this extreme party on day one of their leadership'

Labour leader Anas Sarwar (pictured yesterday) attacked Mr Yousaf for his 'weak' leadership and accused him of spending weeks defending his 'discredited government' only to now perform a humiliating U-turn and abandon the Greens

Mr Sarwar told MSPs: 'The First Minister is claiming that this is a sign of strength but for once people agree with Lorna Slater: he is "weak, hopeless and untrustworthy".'

'Humza Yousaf's government is in chaos, it has unravelled. He has abandoned the platform he stood on. He claims it's now a new beginning but really it's the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

Labour leader Anas Sarwar attacked Mr Yousaf for his 'weak' leadership and accused him of spending weeks defending his 'discredited government' only to now perform a humiliating U-turn and abandon the Greens.

He told MSPs: 'The First Minister is claiming that this is a sign of strength but for once people agree with Lorna Slater: he is "weak, hopeless and untrustworthy".

'The challenges facing our country have never been so great, but Scotland's government has never been so poor and its leadership has never been so weak.

'One in seven Scots are stuck on an NHS waiting list as he fails to get a grip of the NHS crisis. Families struggling to make ends meet while this Government wastes public money. And green jobs going elsewhere while he scraps the Government's climate target.

'The people of Scotland can see the SNP have lost their way: weak, divided and incompetent. Putting party before country.'

Referring to the planned vote of no confidence, Mr Sarwar said his party would support anything which states that the parliament does not have confidence in Mr Yousaf's leadership. He added: 'I believe the Scottish people have no confidence in Humza Yousaf and no confidence in this SNP government.

'The people of Scotland didn't vote for him to become First Minister. The people of Scotland didn't vote for this mess and this chaos.

'It's time to end this circus and call an election.'

Speaking at First Minister's Questions yesterday, Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton (right) told the parliament the SNP leader was 'ditching things left right, and centre'

Speaking at First Minister's Questions yesterday, Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told the parliament the SNP leader was 'ditching things left right, and centre'.

He added: 'Two clowns have left the clown car but this circus continues. There are no circumstances in which the Liberal Democrat group will offer support in a confidence vote.'

Mr Yousaf insisted he had shown strong leadership by deciding to off-load the unpopular Greens.

He said: 'The Conservatives are nothing if not predictable, and here is an opportunity for opposition to show what they are really made of.

'Do they want to govern in the national interest, do they want to come together with ideas, do they want to collaborate, or are they going to play, as Douglas Ross has demonstrated, political games? They will be judged very poorly on that.'

Will 'kingmaker' Ash Regan decide his fate?

By Jessica North

Humza Yousaf once described her as 'no great loss' when she left the party.

But now former SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan could become kingmaker next week as Humza Yousaf faces a vote of no confidence.

After a day that saw the Scottish Greens side with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour in the backing of a vote of no confidence, the now Alba Party MSP could hold the deciding vote.

There are just 63 SNP MSPs at Holyrood, whilst opposition MSPs total 64, meaning Edinburgh Eastern MSP Regan could tip the vote one way or the other.

Ms Regan has been described as 'powerful' by Alba Party leader Alex Salmond, while JK Rowling said her position was 'karma' for the First Minister.

Former SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan (pictured yesterday) could become kingmaker next week as Humza Yousaf faces a vote of no confidence

Ash Regan joined Alex Salmond's Alba Party in October 2023 following a disagreement with the SNP over transgender ideology

However, Mr Yousaf said she was 'no great loss' to his party after she defected to the SNP's independence rivals in October last year.

READ MORE: STEPHEN DAISLEY: Baffled Humza tilted his head like a German shepherd trying to do trigonometry Advertisement

The pair went head-to-head during the SNP leadership campaign, where she called for more extreme independence tactics and expressed her complete opposition to both transgender ideology and the Greens in government.

Her stance on gender reforms also led her to quit the cabinet during the voting stage in one of the first displays of discontent within the SNP on the trans issue.

Ms Rowling said on social media: 'The idea that Humza Yousaf's political fate may now lie in the hands of Ash Regan, the woman who left the SNP in disgust at its plans for gender self-ID, reminds me...'

She then shared the Tarot card Karma  which is also depicted as Judgment in some decks.

Mr Salmond backed his party colleague, who said she is yet to decide how she will vote in the upcoming test for Mr Yousaf.

However, Mr Yousaf (pictured in February 2023) said Ms Regan was 'no great loss' to his party after she defected to the SNP's independence rivals in October last year

JK Rowling shared a Tweet with the Tarot card Karma  which is also depicted as Judgment in some decks

Ms Regan said she has written to Mr Yousaf (pictured in March 2023) and asked him about independence strategy and on defending women's rights

Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater arrive to attend a media briefing at Bute House as the party entered government for the first time in UK history on August 20, 2021

Alba MSP Ash Regan is yet to decide how she will vote next week. Pictured: On June 14, 2023

Ms Regan said: 'I'll be writing to Humza today, and I'll be asking him about independence, how he's going to defend women's rights, and how he's going to bring competence back to government.

'So it will entirely depend on the reply that I get from him.'

She also said: 'I'm happy to listen to what the SNP have got to say, my door is open and I will support them on an issue-by-issue basis.

'My priorities are completely unchanged: independence, women's rights, child protection, protection of our key industries.'

Speaking on Times Radio, Mr Salmond said of Ms Regan's potential role as kingmaker that she would 'use that power very wisely indeed'.

He said: 'Humza's fate will depend on how he responds,' adding that her vote will make her the 'most powerful MSP in the Scottish parliament'.

Crisis, but guess what they're still obsessing about...

By Michael Blackley

Humza Yousaf has been accused of being 'woefully out of touch' as he spends his first full day in charge of a minority government talking about independence.

The First Minister is due to deliver a speech on the labour market in an independent Scotland, the day after opposition leaders called for a no confidence vote in him.

It comes after ministers launched the latest instalment of the SNP's independence prospectus yesterday, at the same time as the Greens were dumped from government.

But new figures show the cost to the taxpayer of the separation crusade is set to soar beyond 4million. The Scotland in Union campaign group said more than 3.8million has already been spent on independence during the current parliamentary term.

The First Minister is due to deliver a speech on the labour market in an independent Scotland, the day after opposition leaders called for a no confidence vote in him. Pictured on October 2023

Pamela Nash, of Scotland in Union, described the latest spend 'an astronomical waste of taxpayers' money'

Yesterday's paper, on 'justice in an independent Scotland', was the 13th in the 'Building a New Scotland' independence series. Pictured: Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon brandishing the second paper on July 2022

Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, commented: 'This is an astronomical waste of taxpayers' money. With record NHS waiting lists, horrifying levels of child poverty and economic stagnation, the government's spending priorities should not be its constitutional obsession. The SNP is woefully out of touch with Scotland  it's time for the people's priorities.'

Yesterday's paper, on 'justice in an independent Scotland', was the 13th in the 'Building a New Scotland' independence series.

The papers are written and produced by independent civil servants despite concerns that they should not be asked to work on issues around the constitution, which is reserved to Westminster.

The justice system is already devolved to Scotland. But the paper claimed that independence would allow Scotland 'to take its own decisions to address issues such as drugs and gambling'.

Scottish Government figures show that 207,047 has been spent on the 13 independence papers, including design, formating and publication, language translations and printed copies.

Scotland in Union said the total cost of the constitutional futures division, which is responsible for writing the papers, has been 2.97million during the current parliamentary term.

The Scotland in Union campaign group said more than 3.8million has already been spent on independence during the current parliamentary term. Pictured: Supporters of independence march on September 2023

Justice Secretary Angela Constance (pictured on Tuesday) said: 'Scotland's justice system has a distinguished history and I am proud of the work we have done'

In addition, the Minister for Independence appointed by Mr Yousaf costs an extra 31,854 a year, while his private secretary costs up to 37,936.

The SNP Government's Supreme Court defeat on the power to hold an independence referendum also cost the public purse 251,729.

Mr Yousaf will set out proposals on the labour market in an independent Scotland at a speech at Strathclyde University.

He is expected to argue that an independent Scotland could lead to higher living standards in the country. But powers over the economy and labour market have already been devolved to the Scottish parliament.

The paper on justice yesterday claimed that an independent Scotland would return to the European Arrest Warrant scheme, set out new policies on drug policy reform and gambling, fully incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law, and protect the European Convention on Human Rights.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland's justice system has a distinguished history and I am proud of the work we have done. The level of recorded crime has fallen to near 50-year lows and homicides are at their lowest levels since comparable records began.

'However, there is more we could do with independence.'
A man accused of a slew of assault charges over the death of a vulnerable woman gave the middle finger to media when he appeared in court.

Emma Bates, 49, was found dead inside her Cobram home, close to the NSW border in Victoria's far north, about 2.15pm on Tuesday, having suffered injuries to her upper-body and face.

John Torney, 39, who lived next door, was charged with 13 different assault offences over Ms Bates' death on Wednesday night.

Court documents revealed Ms Bates had taken an intervention order out against Torney shortly before she died.

A dishevelled Torney appeared in Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Friday morning where he flicked his middle finger at the gathered media covering his high profile case.

'Victoria Police are alleging to a serious assault and contravention of the Family Violence Act,' said prosecutor Charles Moffatt.

Magistrate Peter Dunn interjected to ask: 'Causing injury?'

'At this stage, your honour,' said Mr Moffatt.

John Torney (pictured), 39, has been charged with a range of assault offences over the death of 49-year-old Emma Bates

A dishevelled Torney appeared in Shepparton Magistrates' Court (pictured) on Friday morning where he flicked his middle finger at the gathered media covering his high profile case

It is understood there will be no murder charge because forensics were unable to immediately confirm Ms Bates' cause of death, or whether Torney's alleged assault caused it.

An autopsy could take weeks to establish a cause of death, if at all.

Torney, who was wearing an olive green jumper over a blue-and-white baggy top and grey tracksuit bottoms, glared over at the reporters covering his case.

The court heard he 'identifies a as aboriginal' and was suffering from withdrawal issues due to heavy methamphetamine use.

Torney's lawyer did not apply for bail. He was remanded in custody and will next appear in May.

Daily Mail Australia understands none of Ms Bates' family were in court to witness the hearing.

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that at the time of Ms Bates' death, Torney had been serving a Community Supervisions Order over assault offences committed in Robinvale, four hours north-west of Cobram, in 2022.

Ms Bates (pictured) was found dead inside her Cobram home, close to the NSW border in Victoria's far north, about 2.15pm on Tuesday, having suffered injuries to her upper-body and face

Corrections Victoria declined to comment.

Torney, who has also spent much of his life in Mildura, had planned to move away from the Sunraysia region in northwestern Victoria for a 'fresh start' and had relocated to Cobram to live with his mother and two brothers in the house next to Ms Bates.

But Ms Bates' family said that with his move 'Mildura's problem became Cobram's problem'.

'Emma detailed so many problems over this time,' Ms Bates' sister, Rachel, told Daily Mail Australia.

'Frequent fights, drug activity, police, the house repeatedly smashed up and the government coming in and patching it up.

'Emma actually received an anonymous letter warning her of John's history when he moved in. She hated the man.'

Torney had been serving a Community Supervisions Order over assault offences committed in Robinvale, four hours north-west of Cobram, in 2022 (he is pictured outside the Mildura Magistrates Court, in Mildura, 2016)

Torney had relocated to Cobram to live with his mother and brother in the house next to Ms Bates (pictured: Ms Bates' house)

Daily Mail Australia approached one of Torney's brothers for comment on Thursday but he hurled a can at the fence.

Ms Bates' family said they could not fathom how police were not bringing any more serious charges.

'We don't understand,' Rachel said.

'It seems the coroner may believe her diabetes played a part in her death.

'Regardless I still don't understand... how it's not manslaughter. Regardless of if a pre-existing condition contributed, his (alleged) actions led to her decline.'

Victoria Police declined to comment.

Rachel said she had been unable to speak to her sister 'for a few weeks'.

'Which this wasn't normal and siblings who had managed to get through were rushed off and an unknown male was always in the background,' she said.

'We had shared messages and photos in that time. A silly cat picture always brightened her day.'

Police had earlier said Ms Bates and Torney were known to one another and it had been widely reported they were in a relationship.

Ms Bates' (pictured) sister Rachel said she had the 'biggest heart of anyone we know'

Ms Bates was described in loving terms as the 'crazy cat lady aunt' to 17 nieces and nephews (pictured: the door to her home)

But Ms Bates' family confirmed that she and Torney had only known each other for weeks, not months, and revealed the 49-year-old 'hated' him.

'Emma was aware of what type of person John was. She hated him,' Rachel said.

'Somehow we don't know how he managed to get in her life.

'Emma lived to help the disadvantaged and misunderstood. She had the biggest heart of anyone I know. This connection with John was weeks long. Not months or years.'

Rachel paid tribute to her sister, saying she did not let her lifelong health challenges get in the way of helping others in the Cobram community.

'She was a type one diabetic, this caused many health complications, she was frequently hospitalised. She used her mobility scooter to travel around,' Rachel said.

'Despite all her health challenges, she had the biggest heart of anyone we know. She was always helping someone.

Ms Bates used a mobility scooter to get around because of health complications associated with her type one diabetes (pictured: police scour the property)

'Dropping in food for an elderly neighbour. Giving lifts to people who needed it. The list goes on.'

Ms Bates' family had been in Melbourne supporting her father who was receiving medical treatment.

'When he returned to Cobram it was to a crime scene at his daughter's house. We initially thought she'd had a medical event,' Rachel said.

'When the police informed us she was (allegedly) assaulted and left to die it has shattered our world. A beautiful caring woman's life just gone. Nothing makes sense.'

Rachel, who did not want to provide her surname to protect her parents' privacy, described her sister in loving terms as the 'crazy cat lady aunt'.

'She had her rescues that she treated like her babies. Her home decor was all cat inspired,' she said.

'Emma wasn't blessed with children but was a proud aunty to her 17 nieces and nephews.

'They were her pride and joy and she would spend hours talking about them to everyone. She had many of their faces tattooed to her leg so she could carry them with her always.

Locals laid floral tributes outside Ms Bates' home on Anzac Day

'It's tragic that her big heart has led her to a friendship with a man who (allegedly) wished her harm. No one deserves that.'

Twenty-five women have previously been killed in Australia this year as the nation grapples with an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Torney faced an out of sessions court hearing on Thursday evening.

He will appear before Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Friday.

A team of detectives and forensic officers were seen scouring Ms Bates' home for evidence and speaking to neighbours on Wednesday as part of the investigation.

As police trailed in and out of the front door, a wheelchair, a cat scratching post tower, and an exercise bike could be seen sitting abandoned in Ms Bates' undercover car park.

Friend Kylie Mizzi, whose parents lived next door to Ms Bates for many years, told Daily Mail Australia she was a 'beautiful soul'.

'She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart, was warm and loving,' she said.

'I'm in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul.'
A former Taoiseach of Ireland has blamed the Rwanda bill for a spike in migrants crossing into his country from Northern Ireland.

Micheal Martin, currently the Irish foreign minister, claimed that migrants were flooding into the Republic over 'fears' of being deported through Rishi's flagship Rwanda scheme.

Under the current travel arrangement you do not need to show documentation when crossing the border, which the Irish government allege is the reason for 80 per cent of all asylum seekers in their county having crossed from Northern Ireland.

Mr Martin said: 'I believe the Rwanda effect is impacting on Ireland and that didn't happen today or yesterday. It's been growing since the first iteration and publication of that strategy around Rwanda.'

Micheal Martin, who is currently the Irish foreign minister, claimed that migrants were flooding into the Republic over 'fears' of being deported through Rishi's flagship Rwanda scheme

Under the current travel arrangement you do not need to show documentation when crossing the border, which the Irish government allege is the reason for 80 per cent of all asylum seekers in their county having crossed from Northern Ireland

He continued: 'It is having real impact on Ireland now in terms of people being fearful in the UK  maybe that's the impact it was designed to have.

'They're leaving the UK and they are taking opportunities to come to Ireland, crossing the border to get sanctuary here and within the European Union as opposed to the potential of being deported to Rwanda.'

The 63-year-old lashed out at the policy branding it a 'knee-jerk reaction' to Britain's inability to control its own borders.

However the Irish government is also under increasing pressure from its citzens to manage the issue of migration.

Late on Thursday night six people were arrested for public disorder offences after they began protesting at a site in Newtownmountkennedy, Ireland, which had been earmarked to house asylum seekers.

The situation quickly escalated and local media have reported that three patrol cars were damaged and force was used by police 'to defend themselves', this includes the use of pepper spray and deployment of riot police on protestors.

Videos published on social media show locals clashing with the police who are trying to force them back and secure the site, which was also subject to an arson attack just two weeks ago.

French President Macron condemned the flagship scheme as a 'betrayal' of European values and suggested the scheme would be 'ineffective'

This comes after French President Macron condemned the flagship scheme as a 'betrayal' of European values.

In an incendiary intervention yesterday, President Macron said he did not believe in 'this model that some people want to put in place, which means that you go and look for a third country, for example in Africa, and send our immigrants there'.

He suggested the scheme would be 'ineffective', adding: 'This is a betrayal of our values and will lead us down the path of new dependencies on third countries.'

Although he carefully avoided mentioning Rwanda by name, No10 did hit back saying: 'We don't agree, we think that our approach is the right one. In terms of breaking the business model of the criminal gangs, we need a strong deterrent.

'And we need to make clear that if you come here in a small boat, you won't be able to stay.

'We've seen other partners and other countries around the world also explore similar options.'

The government's Rwanda Bill finally became law on Wednesday after months of delay, and a new treaty designed to ensure the African country is safe for migrants also came into force.

The moves mean that Home Office officials can now start detaining the first batch of migrants destined for deportation to Rwanda ahead of the first flights this summer.
Homicide detectives working on the disappearance of Jessica Zrinski in 2022 have started a three-day search in the famous Jenolan caves area of NSW as part of ongoing investigations.

Ms Zrinski, then 30, went missing after getting into a blue Holden Commodore at a pub in Greenfield Park in Sydney's southwest on Monday, November 28, 2022.

The car is believed to have travelled west on the M4 motorway and Great Western Highway towards the Blue Mountains.

Police were alerted on Friday, December 3, 2022 when family members could not locate or contact her.

Investigators from Strike Force Keder started a bushland search in the Jenolan State Forest, about 13km north of Jenolan Caves on Friday.

The search is expected to last three days with assistance from the Dog Squad, Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit and other volunteers.

Homicide detective have ramped up the search for missing woman Jessica Zrinski (pictured)

Investigators from Strike Force Keder started a bushland search in the Jenolan State Forest, about 13km north of Jenolan Caves on Friday

The new search follows a three-day search of bushland in the Hampton State Forest, about 115km west of Sydney in the NSW Central Tablelands in May 2023.

The driver of the Commodore, who has never been publicly identified, was unable to assist in the investigation after detectives seized and forensically examined the car.

Police have issued several appeals in the time Ms Zrinski has been missing and announced a $500,000 reward for information in November 2023.

Ms Zrinski was last seen in the carpark of the Greenfield Tavern on Mimosa Road before she got into the blue Holden Commodore about 10 minutes later.

Police released CCTV footage of the vehicle travelling through Horsley Park at about 10.15pm that evening and Mount Victoria just before 9am the following morning.

Police believe Ms Zrinski was alive in the Commodore at mid-morning on Tuesday, November 29 before she vanished without a trace.

Ms Zrinski was last seen in the carpark of the Greenfield Tavern on Mimosa Road before she got into the blue Holden Commodore (pictured) about 10 minutes later

In the CCTV footage, she sits in the passenger seat of the car at a petrol station while a man in a grey t-shirt, black pants and sneakers gets out.

He fills the car up with petrol before going inside to pay and returning with two bottles of Coke.

In footage of the car in Mount Victoria the following day, the car is seen entering another petrol station with Ms Zrinski in the passenger seat.

Eerie CCTV was released of Ms Zrinski's last known movements on November 28.

She was wearing an orange singlet top, long black leggings, flat shoes and carried a cream handbag at the time.

Ms Zrinski is described as of Caucasian appearance, 165cm tall, with a thin build and has blonde hair.

She has tattoos on her right index finger, her left wrist and on the back of her neck.

Detectives have asked anyone who may have seen the vehicles to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
An apartment dweller desperately wants to buy an electric vehicle but faces an apparently insurmountable obstacle common to many in his situation.

Robert Till, who lives in a strata-managed set of Brisbane units, has nowhere to charge an electric vehicle in the building and even after offering to pay to have a charger installed in the underground car park, was knocked back by the body corporate.

The 70-year-old retiree said what he needs is a 10 amp240-volt power point installed in his car space but the complex's body corporate has rejected the request despite him offering to pay for it, a dilemma that could potentially face millions of Aussies living in similar situations.

Brisbane apartment dweller Robert Till is desperate to buy an electric vehicle but is being blocked by his apartment's strata management

READ MORE: Single picture of queuing Teslas perfectly illustrates the problem Australia will face ditching petrol cars Advertisement

'I don't agree that the body corporate should be paying for any of it,' Mr Till told Yahoo News.

'I just want them to get out of the way and let the people who want it pay for it.

'To just put a charger in on my own volition, it was going to cost about $5,000, and that's including a meter.'

Mr Till has been at war with his complex's body corporate for three years over the issue.

At first the body corporate told him the building, which is 21 years old, could not be rewired to supply Type 2 charging, which uses seven plug pins and is quicker than the five-pin Type 1 charging power points.

Mr Till said he is only asking for Type 1 charging that can accommodate 7 to 11 kilowatts from a standard 240-volt line.

He says he sought expert assessment that has confirmed this and that with few electric vehicle owners in the complex, it won't overstrain the building's electrical infrastructure.

'If everybody turns their kettle on all at once, that'll be equivalent to everybody trying to charge their car, and low kilowatt-hours,' he said.

Some strata-managed apartment buildings have blocked the installation of electric vehicle charging stations

Mr Till pointed out that under current legislation a body corporate can't stop someone from owning a pet, even one as big as a house, but in the car space which is deemed common property they can stop the charger.

Mr Till said he wanted Queensland to take away the rights of body corporates to block charging plugs.

'If they want everybody to go to an EV, then they've got to take that approval process out of the body corporate, back to state legislation,' he said.

Until that happens Mr Till is stuck with his 2011 Holden Calais.

The head of a national lobby group for strata apartment owners, Owner's Corporation Network chair Fred Tuckwell, is also pushing for a law change around the charging of EVs.

He has written to state and federal governments asking that legislation ensure Australia's 2.5million strata owners have the right to charge their vehicles in buildings.

'Victorian government, I think, is looking seriously at it, and it is certainly on the NSW government's agenda, whether they're going to do anything and when, I don't know,' he said.

Recently Mr Tuckwell also pushed for laws banning the charging of e-bikes in apartments following after a spate of fires.

Mr Tuckwell said his organisation supported the uptake of e-bikes and e-scooters as a low CO2-emission means of transport but wanted to ensure they were stored and charged safely.

'Don't buy cheap junk, don't hot them up, and don't put them in the fire egress path,' he told the ABC in January.

Victorian fire crews have stated they are attending an average of three to four fires each week caused by lithium batteries exploding while being recharged.

A report by federal watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released last year found batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters were significantly more likely to cause fires than electric cars and trucks.

This was due to the often low-quality of the cheap conveyances that could be 'particularly catastrophic' because of volatile liquid in the batteries.
Australia is experiencing a shocking violence-against women epidemic, with the devastating death toll climbing across the country each week.

Emma Bates, 49, became the 26th woman to die after allegedly being assaulted this year, after she was found dead at her Cobram home, in Victoria near the NSW border, on Tuesday.

Her neighbour John Torney, 39 - who was on a community corrections order after recently being released from prison for assault - has been charged over the alleged attack.

Just a day earlier, young mother and childcare worker Molly Ticehurst, 28, was found dead in her Forbes home after allegedly being murdered by her ex-partner, Daniel Billings, 29.

At the time, Billings was facing multiple alleged charges in relation to Ms Ticehurst but had been freed on bail due to a decision by a court official.

The back-to-back tragedies have reignited calls for greater action to be taken to combat violence against women, with the NSW government announcing a review of the state's bail system in light of Ms Ticehurst's death.

Molly Ticehurst (pictured) was allegedly murdered on Monday - just ten days after celebrating her 28th birthday

However, critics say the review will take months to complete and urgent changes need to be made now to save women's lives. And their argument is backed by statistics.

On average, a woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner - but 2024 has so far signalled an alarming upwards trend.

So far this year, a woman has been killed in Australia every four days - with eleven more deaths as of April this year compared to this time last year.

Here, Daily Mail Australia examines the four things the government could do to combat violence against women.

1. Ankle bracelets

Electronic monitoring devices are already used across Australia for detention, restriction and surveillance purposes of offenders.

The GPS devices are resistant to tampering and breaking the straps generates an immediate alert to authorities monitoring the person.

But while they are commonplace for those on bail for offences such as drug dealing, they are yet to be rolled out nationally for domestic violence offenders.

In 2022, the Federal government announced $20million in Commonwealth funding would be shared by the states and territories to trial GPS monitoring of high-risk domestic violence offenders.

The cash boost came after a Tasmanian pilot program was incredibly successful, demonstrating a '76 per cent decrease of high-risk incidents, 81 per cent reduction of threats and 100 per cent decrease in reports of stalking'.

The study also found 80 per cent of offenders also 'did not re-offend' in the six months after.

Australian states and territories are in various stages of the trial and rollout phase, with Western Australia due to introduce laws in coming months which would see GPS trackers made mandatory for repeat domestic violence offenders.

However, Geoffrey Watson SC, director at the Centre for Public Integrity, argues it should not be hard to hastily rollout GPS trackers.

Mr Watson argued the government can be quick to enact change when it wants to, such as with the Howard government's gun reforms after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

'The police, with some supervision by the courts, need to be given the power to control the men accused of these offences,' he wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Such control orders are already well-recognised.

'They are applied in many circumstances where there is only a suspicion of risk, and in the absence of a conviction  bail laws and conditions are obvious examples.

'In other words, it is nothing new, and it can be done.'

Former Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty (pictured) has called for stronger language for domestic violence offences

2. Strengthening reporting conditions

Reporting conditions are already used throughout the Australian criminal justice system to monitor offenders on bail, on non-custodial sentences and parole.

Mr Watson argues that making reporting conditions more stringent could help police officers gain more control over high-risk offenders and deter them from committing further offences.

3. Legalisation of pepper spray

A petition calling for the federal government to legalise pepper spray began circulating in the wake of the Bondi Junction Westfield massacre.

Currently, it is only legal to carry pepper spray in Western Australia.

The suggestion has been controversial, with some commentators questioning whether pepper spray would have been effective in stopping the shopping centre attack.

In the domestic violence prevention community, experts have also raised concerns about the dangers of legalising pepper spray.

For example, pepper spray can have serious side effects and even result in death. There are also concerns about the complexities of legalising pepper spray for gender.

4. Changing the language around domestic violence: 'Intimate partner terrorists'

Family violence prevention advocate and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty says that stronger language is needed to convey the seriousness of domestic violence offending.

She has previously called for perpetrators to be labelled 'intimate partner terrorists'.

'Language matters and I think it really is a very accurate description of the terror and the terrorisation that occurs,' she told ABC RN Breakfast.

'There is an unconscious minimisation of violence when we put domestic or family in front of it.'

Chris Minns is pictured speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, where he announced the NSW government would review bail laws

Authorities weigh in: Lay of the land

NSW Premier Chris Minns this week announced the government is considering an over haul of bail laws in the wake of Ms Ticehurst's death.

On Wednesday, the NSW Attorney-General made a formal referral to Crown Advocate David Kell SC, seeking advice on whether urgent law reform for bail laws was required, with a particular focus on domestic violence offences.

They would also examine the role of registrars in bail application matters, focusing on matters that occur on weekends and in regional areas.

'There are serious questions for the government to answer as to how the alleged offender was out on bail,' Mr Minns said on Wednesday.

'The profound anger and loss held by the family and friends of the alleged victim is completely justifiable. Completely justifiable.

'We have a duty of care to alleged victims, particularly those awaiting justice through the criminal justice system.

Mr Minns said the review would include examining decisions that were made relating to the granting of bail and Ms Ticehurst's death.

'Our obligation is of course to protect victims of crime in this state,' Mr Minns said.

'Our primary focus is on justice for the family involved.'

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who was at a press conference on Wednesday when she learnt about Ms Bates's death, has also called for change amid the staggering rise in violence cases.

While she could not speak specifically about the incident in Cobram, as the exact circumstances are yet to be determined, she pleaded with Victorians to call out bad behaviour towards women.

'We have seen too many women already, in 2024, lose their life,' Ms Allan said.

'They've lost their life, either at the hands of a current or former partner, or they've lost their life at the hands of a complete stranger who seemed intent on inflicting harm against women.

'This has to stop.'

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that the 'horrifying' alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst 'shouldn't have happened' amid a surge in domestic violence in Australia

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has also spoken out amid the surge in domestic violence nationally to condemn the alleged murder of Ms Ticehurst.

Commissioner Webb was said to be hard hit by Ms Ticehurst's death and described it as 'terrible and frankly horrifying crime' as she backed an urgent government review into bail laws 'as a priority'.

'I'll say from the outset that police share the sentiment of the community,' Commissioner Webb told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday.

'This shouldn't have happened and sadly, it's not an isolated case.'

Despite the shocking rise in violence cases throughout the first half of 2024, just five months ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a blunt message to men after the horrifying rates of domestic violence and abuse in 2023.

Speaking out to mark International Day to Elimination of Violence Against Women, Mr Albanese called on men in Australia to challenge the disturbingly high rates of violence, saying there was 'no time to waste'.

'It isn't just the job of governments. Changing the attitudes that entrench inequality and discrimination, and objectify women and disregard consent, is everyone's responsibility,' Mr Albanese wrote in a statement.

'Men in particular have to step up. And male leaders have an opportunity to champion change and create the conditions that prevent violence, abuse, discrimination and harassment.'

If you or someone you know has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24 hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line.

Mensline Australia 1300 789 978 Supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24/7 telephone and online support an information service for Australian men. Call 1300 789 978 for help.

If this article has raised any issues for you, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 for confidential support 24/7.
A concerted social media campaign by Labor Premier Steven Miles has failed to arrest his government's poll slide as a new YouGov survey shows the Liberal National Party is on track for an election victory.

YouGov polling released on Friday shows two-party preferred support for the LNP opposition is up two per cent to 56 per cent when compared to a previous poll in October.

This compares with 44 per cent for the government after 1092 voters were surveyed between April 9 and April 17.

The opposition has also increased its primary vote to 44 per cent compared with 27 per cent for Mr Miles' government, the poll published by The Courier-Mail on Friday shows.

Steven Miles recently shared a picture of himself completing a workout at a gym (above) as part of a concerted social media attempt to connect with Queenslanders

Miles recently shared a photo of himself listening to Taylor Swift's new album - The Tortured Poets Department

That represents a decline of six percentage points in Labor's primary vote since October and a nearly 13 per cent drop-off since Labor's 2020 election win under former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Mr Miles has launched a determined effort to promote himself on social media, featuring photos of himself finishing a workout, listening to Taylor Swift's album and showing off his biceps putting on the bins and receiving his flu vaccine.

He also posed for a photo with the family of Molly the magpie - the social-media famous bird who was briefly taken away from his family due to concerns from environmental authorities, before Mr Miles pushed for the bird's return.

Current projections point to the LNP comfortably winning more than the 13 seats required to form a majority government, when the election is held on October 26.

Mr Miles said now that Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was leading the polls, it was time he announced his vision for Queensland.

'He still has not detailed a single, actual plan for our state,' the premier told reporters in Mackay on Friday.

'I know he wants to be a small target. I know he wants to stay as tiny as he can so that Queenslanders don't know what his plans are.

A regular feature of Mr Miles's social media campaign are photos showing off his arms

'So you can't just say you have one, without telling Queenslanders what's in it, especially when you have the kind of polling results today that say it is more likely, very likely, that he will be the premier come October.'

Under Mr Crisafulli, the LNP has already netted an extra seat this year following an enormous swing towards the party in two by-elections in March.

The Labor government lost the formerly safe seat of Ipswich West to Darren Zanow, who attracted 39.6 per cent of the primary vote with a 17.8 per cent swing.

Labor's margin for Ipswich West following the 2020 election was 14.3 per cent.

The government also suffered a huge swing in Inala, previously Labor's safest seat in the state.

Labor's Margie Nightingale held onto Ms Palaszczuk's former seat with 37 per cent of the primary vote, but not without a 21.5 per cent swing to the LNP.

Cost of living, health and crime are the major issues for Queenslanders ahead of the election.

The Queensland Greens and Pauline Hanson's One Nation have also increased their primary vote by two percentage points each to 15 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, the YouGov polling showed.
Three top security professionals gave insights on the grueling details of their intense work, and revealed their massive paydays.

Amber Haddock, a protective agent who has built a following posting safety tips online, told The New York Times her first executive protection assignment was a three-month stint with a 17-year-old Middle Eastern princess.

Her contract then turned into a two-year long gig where she lived with the teen in Washington, DC, under the guise she was the girls host mother, driving her around to classes and parties and even traveling abroad.

Haddock has spent the bulk of her career working for royal Middle Eastern families and said when she started in the industry 15 years ago, 'that was the only job back then, for female agents.'

Now, as more women take over leadership positions and top jobs, she said there has been an increase in demand for female protective agents.

Amber Haddock (pictured), a protective agent who has built a following posting safety tips online, worked for a Middle Eastern princess under the guise she was the teens host mom

Miranda Coppoolse (pictured), founder of MC Global Security Consulting, said: 'Close protection is not so much about weapons'

She told The Times being a security professional is not just about carrying a weapon, it's about planning ahead and being prepared for any emergency that may pop-up.

'We don't exist and then, when we do exist, stuff has already hit the fan and we are evacuating the client,' Haddock said.

'What if you were in Hawaii and the fire started with your client? Do you know where you would take them?'

Miranda Coppoolse, founder of MC Global Security Consulting, said: 'Close protection is not so much about weapons.

'I think EP is really about giving the sense of safety, most of all, to that client. And you can only do that when you're confident.'

Coppoolse, who lives in the Netherlands, has spent considerable time in countries around the world and gained a broad understanding of numerous languages and cultures throughout her career.

'It's an exciting life. It's also an exhausting life, because you have to be always alert,' she said.

Monica Duperon Rodriguez, a security professional with over 30 years of related experience, said the most interesting places her work has taken her is to the Serengeti and Mauritania.

According to her website, Rodriguez has provided executive protection to multiple ultra-high-net-worth individuals families in the US, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.

Monica Duperon Rodriguez (pictured), a security professional, said the most interesting places her work has taken her is to the Serengeti and Mauritania

Rodriguez (center left) has provided executive protection to multiple ultra-high-net-worth individuals families in the U.S., Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia

She has performed protective services in throughout the US, Mexico, South America, Europe, and 25 African Countries.

'We have to learn how to be somewhat of a chameleon,' Rodriguez said.

'For me, education is extremely important. How you get it  that's an entirely different thing. College is not always the answer, but education is paramount to personal growth and to really being able to identify potential opportunities.'

Rodriguez told The Times while working law enforcement she was making around $42,000 annually; in executive protection, she has made as much as $200,000 a year.

Haddock said: 'I don't get out of bed for less than $1,000 a day.'
A young grey seal was found being suffocated to death by plastic waste while swimming off the Connecticut coast on Monday.

The juvenile seal was reported to Mystic Aquarium's rescue team on Sunday and was found in a devastating state on Block Island the next day, Earth Day.

Rescuers found the helpless animal tangled up in pink plastic gill netting and nylon rope, writhing around in pain. It is the third such case in the area in the space of a week.

The young female was successfully places in a crate on the beach near North Light and transported on the Block Island Ferry to Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program.

The rope had cut deep into the creature's flippers as it had tried to swim free of the netting.

A juvenile grey seal was reported to Mystic Aquarium's rescue team on Sunday and was found in a devastating state on Block Island the next day, Earth Day

The young seal was found being suffocated to death by plastic waste on Block Island, the third case this week according to rescuers

Distressing footage shows the seal barking in pain as the Aquarium's marine specialists worked to free it from the coarse rope and netting.

Six people has to assist veterinarian Natalie Noll as she examined the seal, took blood samples, and treated its wounds.

After being freed the animal was responsive and in good condition, according to Sarah Callan, manager of Animal Rescue at Mystic Aquarium.

'The dangerous thing with animals this young is they are growing at a pretty fast rate' Callan told the Boston Globe.

'If we hadn't gotten to this animal when we did, there could have been very significant effects from this entanglement as it grew,' she explained.

'It's very easy to disassociate the trash that we throw out at home because we don't see where it ends up,' Callan said of the rubbish that had endangered the seal's life.

Distressing footage shows the seal barking in pain as the Aquarium's marine specialists worked to free it from the coarse rope and netting

Rescuers found the helpless animal tangled up in pink plastic gill netting and nylon rope

'Even though you might not be the one releasing it into the ocean or dropping it on the beach, a lot of the trash that we use every day ends up in the ocean one way or another.'

It is likely to be weeks before the young seal is given a clean bill of health and able to be returned to the wild.

'It is very fitting this seal happened to strand on Earth day,' Callan told the Globe.

'It makes its rescue and the story more significant to us. We can all learn from this case and it sends a great message that there is a lot of debris out there... Every individual effort plays a role in the big picture for these animals.'
A man has died after being found unresponsive near a service station in Western Australia.

Paramedics were called to the scene in Dawesville, south of Mandurah, before 4am on Friday, where they discovered the man near an Ampol service station.

He was taken to Peel Health Campus by ambulance, but later died.

Detectives have sealed off part of Old Coast Road and Bailey Boulevard in Dawesville.

Mandurah homicide detectives are investigating the incident.

More to come.
A student wrongly named by Channel Seven as the crazed Bondi Junction mass killer has settled with the network for an undisclosed amount.

Benjamin Cohen's name was wrongly linked to the April 13 attack - which killed five women and one man - by Sunrise co-host Matt Shirvington shortly after 6am the following day.

The shocking blunder was repeated by journalist Lucy McLeod 10 minutes later.

Seven admitted in a lengthy apology to Mr Cohen on Friday that it only found out their mistake when his mother rang their newsroom.

Mr Cohen engaged two of Australia's foremost defamation lawyers, Patrick George of Giles George as his solicitor and Sue Chrysanthou SC as barrister, to pursue a civil case against the network.

A concerns notice was sent to Seven last week, with the network on Friday revealing it has settled with the university student but that the terms were confidential.

Queensland man Joel Cauchi, 40, has since been identified as the man in an Australian Kangaroos rugby league jersey who went on a murderous rampage through the popular Sydney eastern suburbs shopping centre.

Benjamin Cohen (pictured) was wrongly identified by internet sleuths as the knifeman behind the Bondi Junction Westfield attack

The knifeman (pictured during the attack) was revealed to be 40-year-old Joel Cauchi

READ MORE: Business owners plea to shoppers after the deadly rampage that changed Westfield Bondi Junction forever Shop keepers say Westfield Bondi Junction has 'never been safer' two weeks after six people were stabbed to death Advertisement

Hours after Seven's false reports, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed that Cauchi was the attacker who was shot dead by hero police officer Amy Scott.

Seven issued an on-air apology to Mr Cohen later that Sunday read by reporter Sarah Jane Bell during a live cross.

'Earlier this morning, reports of the incident incorrectly named the perpetrator as 40-year-old Benjamin Cohen,' she said on air.

'It was later confirmed that the name of the 40-year-old is Joel Cauchi from Queensland. Seven apologises for any distress caused by our earlier reports.'

In their apology to Mr Cohen on Friday, Seven said it had 'made attempts to find a contact number for you but did not have one until your mother rang the newsroom'.

Online trolls on the night of the attack wrongly identified Mr Cohen and his name trended on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mr Cohen told media earlier this week that he had been inundated with friend requests and messages on social media.

'It's just gone crazy, it's like 'look, you've got the wrong guy',' said Mr Cohen, a first year computer science student.

'People don't really think too hard about what they're posting and how it might affect someone. It's very dangerous how people could just make stuff up and destroy people's lives.'

Sunrise host Matt Shirvington wrongly named Mr Cohen as the attacker during the network's coverage

Seven's new managing director and chief executive Jeff Howard, who took over after James Warburton stepped down last week, said the error was a 'grave mistake and entirely without basis.'

'Seven withdraws the false allegations unreservedly and apologises to you for the harm you and your family have suffered as a result of Seven's statements about you,' he said in the letter released by Mr Cohen's lawyers.

He explained a Seven producer wrongly assumed information circulating online had been confirmed to be correct.

'This led to the inclusion on Seven's broadcast news at approximately 6.05am and 6.15am of the words referred to in the concerns notice and for a short time on Seven's social media,' he said.

'The error quickly became apparent and no further broadcast of the name 'Benjamin Cohen' was made in Seven's ongoing news coverage.

Seven made attempts to find a contact number for you but did not have one until your mother rang the newsroom.

'Seven's staff, including especially its on-air presenters Mr Shirvington and Ms [Lucy] McLeod, are devastated that the error was made and that it has affected you.

'Seven wishes to assure you that the error originated at the producer level and that Seven's presenters were in no way involved in suggesting or scripting the words which were published.

'Both Mr Shirvington and Ms McLeod nevertheless wish to offer their own personal apology to you for the hurt and distress caused.

'Whilst Seven does not suggest that it is relevant to your reaction, we nevertheless note that the staff members involved are deeply remorseful and traumatised by the mistake.'
A Jewish Columbia University graduate whose 21-year-old cousin is among the hostages in Gaza has blasted 'hostile' student pro-Palestine camps as 'hurtful' as she prepares her own protest at the college gates this morning.

Leat Corrine Unger, 37, who studied speech language pathology at the Ivy League and now lives with her family in Bergen County, New Jersey, has not heard from her cousin Omer Shem Tov since he was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

Omer's family last heard his voice during a panicked call from the Nova music festival as the sounds of rockets rang out overhead. They tracked his phone which showed him traveling closer to the Gaza border until the device cut out.

Later that night, they identified Omer, who had been working as a waiter to save money for traveling Europe, through his tattoos in videos of hostages in the back of a van which was posted online.

Since then, Omer's immediate family, who live in Hertzliya, Israel, along with his relatives scattered across the US in New York, New Jersey and Florida, have been spending every waking hour striving to secure his return.

Leat Corrine Unger (pictured), a Jewish Columbia University graduate whose 21-year-old cousin is among the hostages in Gaza has blasted 'hostile' student pro-Palestine camps as 'hurtful' as she prepares her own protest at the college gates this morning

New Jersey resident Leat has not heard from her cousin Omer Shem Tov (pictured) since he was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7

The night before her brave protest at Columbia, Leat told DailyMail.com the college's 'Gaza plaza' encampment is painful for her as both a relative of a Hamas hostage and an alumnus who still takes part in humanitarian missions with the college.

Leat said that while she supports free speech and a ceasefire in Palestine once the remaining hostages are returned, the 'never-ending nightmare' faced by families like hers who still feel like 'every day is October 2023' is being callously overlooked.

'Honestly it's triggering for me personally because if the students only understood what they are standing for - they are supporting this ideology which supports terror of innocent people,' she said.

Leat said she studied at Columbia because of its mission statement, which is 'to attract a diverse and international faculty, staff, and student body' and 'support teaching on global issues', but she feels bitterly let down by her Alma Mater.

Amid the vitriol coming from some of the pro-Palestine demos on campus, Leat wanted to return to see for herself what was happening at her old university and call for the release of the '133 innocents' still being held in Gaza.

She said graduates are ordinarily able to request a renewed ID card so that they can use some of the campus facilities - but she was turned down last week by university staff.

They told her that they were barring access to anyone without a current ID card, as part of a safety crackdown as the Palestine camp on the college lawns continues to sprawl.

'Apart from the fact that I'm shocked at the displays of what's going on, the fact that I called to go and have my ID renewed and I can't even get on to campus right now, those things were personally very hurtful,' Leat told DailyMail.com.

Omer Shem Tov, 21, (pictured) is believed to be still in Gaza. He was described by his cousin as 'funny' and 'the sunshine, the light in every room'

Leat will be speaking outside the main gates to Columbia at a protest for the hostages on Friday

The night before her brave protest at Columbia, Leat told DailyMail.com the college's 'Gaza plaza' encampment is painful for her as both a relative of a Hamas hostage and an alumnus who still takes part in humanitarian missions with the college

Leat said that while she supports free speech and a ceasefire in Palestine once the remaining hostages are returned, the 'never-ending nightmare' faced by families like hers who still feel like 'every day is October 2023' is being callously overlooked

Leat will be speaking at a protest just outside the university's main gates on the Upper West Side on Friday morning, where ugly clashes between pro-Palestine demonstrators and people passing by broke out earlier this week

'It does hit close to home because I, as a Columbia University alumnus who has been doing humanitarian sustainable missions along with and through the university,' she said, adding her last mission was in 2023 with the college and charity Smile Train.

'I deserve to be on that campus just as much as anyone else and now I'm not allowed on campus,' Leat said.

'Just hearing all this dialogue - yes everyone is allowed to take a stand, but seeing the violence and hostilities, and people who are saying 'ceasefire, ceasefire' - well, you're being hostile and you're not even mentioning the hostages.'

Leat will be speaking at a protest just outside the university's main gates on the Upper West Side on Friday morning, where ugly clashes between pro-Palestine demonstrators and people passing by broke out earlier this week.

She said that 'world leaders are failing us' and she hopes the protest will compel those in power to act with more urgency to save her cousin.

'On average every six and a half days we lose one of our hostages - they are no longer alive, they are murdered - so every minute counts,' she said.

Two of Omer's friends who were with him at Nova music festival - Itay and Mia Regev - were among the hostages released by Hamas during the temporary ceasefire brokered in November last year.

'That was over 150 days ago,' Leat told DailyMail.com. 'Itay shared information about Omer's well-being to his mother, and she said afterwards that it felt like she was almost touching Omer again.'

Pictured: Omer's mother Shelly Shem Tov at a rally for the Israeli hostages

Pictured: civilians flee the terror attack near Kibbutz Urim in southern Israel on October 7

Omer was snatched by Hamas militants who invaded the Nova music festival in Israel on October 7, 2023 (Pictured: Palestinians ride an Israeli military jeep Gaza on October 7)

Leat described her cousin as 'the sunshine, the light in every room' who has an infectious sense of humor and lifts the spirits of those around him.

She said Itay had told his family that he'd even 'brought hope into the darkness of Gaza tunnels in captivity' and that his religion had been his 'source of strength'.

'Itay shared that when he had moments of breaking that Omer was the source of hope and optimism and was the one that kept him strong and lifted him, he was the only one that was able to lift his spirits, those were his exact words,' she said.

'Thinking that he's still there alone... there's no-one there to lift Omer's spirits and keep him hopeful.'

She added that Hamas members had 'not been kind' to Omer, who has asthma and Celiac disease, as his friends recounted how when he coughs they tell him to 'shut up or he will be killed'.

'He would count the days and also listen to the Muslim call to prayers, that's how he would know the days,' Leat added.

While Jews in America observe Passover, Omer has also been practicing his faith as closely as he has been able to while in captivity, including by doing Kiddush blessings on Friday nights and rationing his food.

'Now with Holocaust Day approaching, it's surreal that my cousin, 21 years old, in 2024, is experiencing and acting in the same way that our ancestors did,' Leat said.

'When they say never again it hits very close to home and it feels like the world has forgotten that.

'It's very difficult to think of that in light of everything that is happening.'
A Columbia student with a lengthy resume in the art of protesting has posted a livestream of himself in which he stated that 'Zionists don't deserve to live.'

Rising Columbia University senior Khymani James, who uses 'he/she/they' pronouns, is currently one of the leaders of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment that has overtaken the New York City school's campus.

In a recording of the stream posted to X by Daily Wire journalist Kassy Akiva, James meets with employees of Columbia's Center for Student Success and Intervention over an Instagram post of his that warned Zionists in his DMs that he 'fights to kill.'

An employee asked him: 'Do you see why that's problematic in any way?' He responded: 'No.'

He continues to defend his position, that all Zionists 'don't deserve to live,' sprinkling cackles and tone shifts throughout the video.

Seems like a nice person! https://t.co/G3odqeb1Uw  Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) April 26, 2024

A rally in support of Israel is held outside the gates of Columbia University on April 25, 2024 in New York City. Israel supporters are reacting to the growing number of college campuses throughout the country whose student protesters are setting up pro-Palestinian tent encampments on school ground - police threatened Wednesday to evict the group by Friday

Reasoning through his logic to the university employees, James said: 'I think that taking someones life in certain case scenarios is necessary and better for the overall world. I personally have never killed anyone.

'Thank the lord that no one has put me in that position.'

For not the only time in the video, James then compares Zionists to Hitler and Nazi soldiers, as well as Haitian slave owners, whose slaves had to kill them 'in order to gain their independence.

'These were masters who were white supremacists. What is a Zionist? A white supremacist. So lets be very clear here, Im not saying that Im going to go out and start killing Zionists.

'What I am saying is that if an individual who identifies as a Zionist threatens my physical safety in person, i.e., puts their hands on me, I am going to defend myself and in that case scenario, it may come to a point where I dont know when to stop,' he added, narrating the logic he would apply to a situation in which he might, potentially kill a Zionist.

'Zionists dont deserve to live comfortably, let alone Zionists dont deserve to live.

'The same way we are very comfortable accepting Nazis dont deserve to live, fascists dont deserve to live, racists dont deserve to live. Zionists, they shouldnt live in this world,' he said, after calling the meeting both 'institutional violence' and 'a joke.'

'I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die,' he said just before the stream ends.

According to the Daily Wire's report, James appears to still be a student at the Ivy League university and a spokesperson for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group.

On Wednesday, he publicly announced that the school had confirmed it will not call law enforcement to break up the encampment.

Khymani James, who uses he/she/they pronouns, said repeatedly during a recent livestream that Zionists do not deserve to live and that the world would be better if they were not in it

James (left) with Progressive Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley - he has previously said he hopes to be in Congress eventually

Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestinian 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24

A rally in support of Israel is held outside the gates of Columbia University on April 25, 2024 in New York City. Israel supporters are reacting to the growing number of college campuses throughout the country whose student protesters are setting up pro-Palestinian tent encampments on school grounds

The Columbia encampment, launched last week, has sparked similar demonstrations at college campuses across the country, including those at Yale, Boston and Michigan universities.

On Thursday, students in Austin and SoCal also came to blows with authorities ordered to break up the demonstrations.

Dozens of cops clad in riot gear were also patrolling the Columbia campus perimeter Wednesday, as security guards made sure non-students did not enter the campus grounds.

The NYPD, on Wednesday morning, gave the students 48 hours to leave the camp or face arrest.

But defiant students have vowed to stay as the hours bleed into Friday morning.

Tahia, a New York resident in her late twenties who was leading the 116 Street curb-side rally Wednesday said older demonstrators would also be present on the surrounding streets for as long as the student camp continued.

'Were here in solidarity with the student encampments in Columbia, and in full solidarity with their demands for divestment, for full financial transparency, Tahia, who was wearing a keffiyeh over her hair, told DailyMail.com.

Well be here every day as long as the encampment is going on, she added.

Well be out on the streets for a grander, bigger demand to stop the genocide in Gaza, an end to all US funding in Israel, an end to western complicity in Zionism.

The fact that 40,000 Palestinians have died, have been murdered, and the US is complicit in the 75 year occupation of the Israeli state.

As protesters started chanting genocide Joe has got to go she added: I am by no means voting for Biden.

I think the uncommitted vote speaks for itself.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are saying that the two party system does not represent them.

Whether its Biden or Trump, both sides are supporters of genocide  Biden does not represent us.

She added that she considers Biden, Hillary Clinton and Eric Adams war criminals.

Khymani James is a rising senior at Columbia University with a long resume in activism

An encampment protesting the genocide in Gaza, goes into its second day, on the grounds of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States on April 23

NYPD officials watch as people demonstrate in support of Israel outside the Columbia University campus amidst the student protest encampment in support of Palestinians

Speaker Mike Johnson held a press conference at Columbia in support of the Jewish students on Wednesday afternoon after describing the pro-Palestine protests as a sign of a troubling rise of virulent antisemitism on Americas college campuses.

During the conference, the current House Speaker said Jewish students and Israel will 'never stand alone' in the United States.

Tahia rejected this characterization, telling DailyMail.com that students are on the right side of history right now.'

We know we are on the side of justice and peace and we will stay on that side, she said.
Harvey Weinstein might be #MeToo's biggest miscalculation.

Nearly four years after the disgraced movie mogul was convicted on two felony counts  rape and criminal sexual assault  New York's highest court has overturned that verdict.

His victims are outraged, as they should be. But it is the prosecutors and the judge in this case, doubtless swept up in a media maelstrom that found Weinstein guilty before he ever entered that courtroom, who should be the objects of their rage and contempt.

It is they  not the justices who voted to overturn  who are responsible for re-victimizing these women. The overzealous, self-righteous New York prosecutorial team, led by then-DA Cyrus Vance, is to blame.

As is the now-retired judge in this case, James M. Burke, who allowed the testimony of three women who had nothing to do with Weinstein's trial.

Harvey Weinstein might be MeToo's biggest miscalculation. His victims are outraged, as they should be. But it is the prosecutors and the judge in this case who should be the objects of their rage and contempt.

In overreaching, in trying to overcorrect for a multi-pronged, system-wide failure that allowed Weinstein to predate for years  exposes killed, careers threatened, payoffs and NDAs executed, cover-ups at his movie studio and favors called in with a certain New York DA's office  well, Vance and Burke have done as much damage to women as Weinstein ever did.

What a travesty. What an affront to the brave victims who came forward, who finally felt they could go on the record, and to the two plaintiffs who testified in New York court against Weinstein.

Convicting him was always going to be difficult. There was no greater discouragement than the 2015 allegation by an Italian model named Ambra Battilana, who told the NYPD that Weinstein had forcibly groped her during a meeting in March of that year.

The department's Special Victims Division opened an investigation, and when Weinstein asked her to meet again, Battilana wore a wire and caught Weinstein admitting to that prior assault.

As her accusations made headlines, some outlets reported that Battilana, then 22, had accepted free tickets to a Broadway show Weinstein produced, attended at least one sex party thrown by disgraced Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, and had once accused a 70-year-old 'sugar daddy' of sexual assault  implying, basically, that Battilana was a slut and a scheming wannabe who could not be believed.

The NYPD felt differently. They found Battilana extremely credible. 'We built a rock-solid case,' Michael Osgood, the former SVD commander, said Thursday.

It never went to trial.

Weinstein reportedly contacted famed former sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein  who had publicly wished for a movie deal with the mogul  and Fairstein then agreed to reach out on Weinstein's behalf to Martha Bashford, who led the DA's sex crimes bureau.

Vance ultimately declined to prosecute, claiming there wasn't enough evidence. Once the case was dismissed, Battalia took a settlement from Weinstein  which may have seemed logical and fair to her, but which only retroactively contributed to the depiction of her as untrustworthy.

That's how untouchable Harvey Weinstein was.

It is they - not the justices who voted to overturn - who are responsible for re-victimizing these women. The overzealous, self-righteous New York prosecutorial team, led by then-DA Cyrus Vance (pictured), is to blame.

Convicting him was always going to be difficult. There was no greater discouragement than the 2015 allegation by an Italian model named Ambra Battilana (pictured), who told the NYPD that Weinstein had forcibly groped her during a meeting in March of that year.

So despite the whisper network and the longstanding rumors and Courtney Love's infamous warning to young actresses  'If Harvey Weinstein invites you to a private party at the Four Seasons, don't go' she said on the red carpet in 2005  nothing ever happened to Harvey.

Until 2017, when the dam finally burst: story after story of attack and assault, and in some cases rape  alleged by women both famous and not, more than 80 accusers all over the world, their tales remarkably similar.

Finally, it seemed, justice would be done.

We knew how nervous the New York prosecutors must have been. They had only two plaintiffs, Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann, and both women maintained consensual sexual relationships with Weinstein after their alleged rapes.

This was a seemingly insurmountable hurdle, especially with a jury composed of seven men and five women. But the prosecution also called Dr. Barbara Ziv, an expert in rape trauma, who explained that there are no perfect victims  and for those who know their attacker, there is often an attempt to maintain a relationship in order to cope with the trauma and not be completely unmoored by it.

This was no small victory, getting a jury to convict under these circumstances.

Weinstein's guilty verdict and lengthy prison sentence bolstered the burgeoning #MeToo movement. It illuminated the unique complications of sex crimes, the gray areas and nuances that often work against victims.

But in allowing the testimony of other alleged victims who were not part of this case, the judge and prosecution were only ever going to have a false and short-lived victory.

In this particular moment, with women's reproductive rights under assault as never before, with once-convicted monsters such as Bill Cosby set free and other high-profile offenders jobless but still walking around, this decision  a legal vindication of Weinstein that has nothing to do with morality or common sense  is a crushing blow.

Weinstein reportedly contacted famed former sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein (pictured) - who had publicly wished for a movie deal with the mogul - and Fairstein then agreed to reach out on Weinstein's behalf to Martha Bashford, who led the DA's sex crimes bureau. Vance ultimately declined to prosecute.

If the prospect of a free Harvey Weinstein is to mean anything  his lawyers are appealing his LA conviction on May 20  DAs on both coasts must learn from this before charging another famous, powerful man whose alleged sexual predation and deviance has been making headlines for months now: Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, accused of sexually assaulting men as well.

If victims of sex crimes everywhere, no matter their age or gender, are to get true justice, judges and prosecutors must do the deeply unglamorous work of applying the law while disregarding the spotlight and the chicness of a new, radical cause driven by understandable rage and emotion.

A Harvey Weinstein can't ever happen again, in more ways than one.
President Joe Biden flubbed the date of the January 6 riots while attacking his political rival during fundraiser hosted by award winning actor Michael Douglas in Westchester, New York.

Biden's visit closed roads and schools around the Village of Irvington, as anti-Israel protesters took to the streets.

The fundraiser was held at the home of Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, who was not in attendance due to filming, according to the White House pool report.

During his speech to the nearly 100 guests, the 81-year-old president suffered another gaffe as he tired to call out the failures of his opponent, former president Donald Trump.

'We'll certainly never forget the dark days of June 6  January 6th, excuse me,' Biden said.

President Joe Biden nearly shutdown parts of Westchester, New York for a fundraiser hosted by award winning actor Michael Douglas

During his speech to the nearly 100 guests, the president suffered another gaffe as he mixed up June 6, D-Day from World War 2, with the January 6 riots

The president joked that he has something in common with Douglas (pictured), 'We both married way above our stations,' he said

June 6 is the anniversary of the invasion of Normandy beaches during World War 2, the D-Day operation.

Biden arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 4:30 p.m. and flew to the Westchester County Airport, where he arrived around 5:45 p.m., reported News12 Westchester.

Broadway (Route 9) from White Plains Road (Route 119) in Tarrytown to the Village of Irvington were shutdown for the event.

The Ardsley Unified Free School District, Hastings-on-Hudson District, the Washington Irvington School, Morse School and Paulding School all had early dismissals on Thursday to avoid traffic.

The star-studded event was attended by the likes of fashion designer Eileen Fisher and Wall Street attorney Rodge Cohen.

Cost of tickets ranged from $3,300 for one person to $100,000 for top donors.

The president joked that he has something in common with Douglas, 'We both married way above our stations,' he said.

He went on to slam his political opponent for failures during his presidency, even joking about his hair.

'We'll never forget lying about Covid and telling the American people to inject bleach in their arms. He injected it in his hair,' Biden said.

'We'll never forget his love letters to Kim Jong Un. We'll never forget him wanting tear gas on peaceful protesters and holding the Bible upside down.'

Referring to Trump's hush money criminal trial, Biden said, 'I haven't had a chance to watch the court proceedings because I've been campaigning.'

Trump is set to wrap up the first week of his criminal trial on Friday where he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments meant to stifle negative stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.

Prosecutors allege that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race through a practice known in the tabloid industry as 'catch-and-kill' - catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.

The star-studded event was attended by the likes of fashion designer Eileen Fisher and Wall Street attorney Rodge Cohen

Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Main Street and onto Broadway in Irvington to protest the presidents visit

'Hey hey, ho ho, genocide Joe has got to go,' the protesters chanted

Biden talked about polls he is performing well in and joked: 'I know not everyone's feeling the enthusiasm.

'The other day a defeated looking guy said he was feeling' crushed by debt. I said "Donald, I know".'

Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Main Street and onto Broadway in Irvington to protest the presidents visit, reported The Journal News.

'Hey hey, ho ho, genocide Joe has got to go,' the protesters chanted.

Supporters of the president also showed up in droves, holding 'Welcome, Scranton Joe,' signs and wearing Biden Harris campaign hats.

'I think he's the experienced, practical problem-solver, and what could be more needed at a time like this,' resident Constance Kehoe told the local outlet.

Irvington resident Anne Somerfeld said, 'I don't even like Netanyahu, but Israel has got to exist.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A security guard wounded in the Westfield Bondi Junction rampage which killed his colleague can't sleep and has 'lots' of nightmares of the harrowing ordeal as he revealed his new co-worker's final words.

Security guard Muhammad Taha was among a dozen injured when he was stabbed in the stomach by Joel Cauchi as he attacked innocent bystanders in a frenzied attack on April 13.

Five women and security guard Faraz Tahir were stabbed to death in the attack that shocked Australia. Mr Tahir was killed on his first day on the job.

On Friday, Mr Taha briefly left hospital to attend Mr Tahir's funeral at Marsden Park in Sydney's west.

Unable to walk and still wearing a hospital gown and bracelet, Mr Taha bravely revealed he is haunted by nightmares and has trouble sleeping after what he saw.

Westfield security guard Muhammad Taha left his hospital bed on Friday to attend the funeral of colleague Faraz Tahir

Westfield security guard Faraz Tahir (pictured) was killed on his first day on the job

READ MORE: Business owners plea to shoppers after the deadly rampage that changed Westfield Bondi Junction forever Shop keepers say Westfield Bondi Junction has 'never been safer' two weeks after six people were stabbed to death Advertisement

'What happened there, I can't forget that,' he told reporters.

'It is unimaginable and still if I think about it, it's very painful.

'The trauma is horrific.

'Even when I try to sleep, I have all the things in my mind going on and it's very painful.'

Mr Taha also met and spoke with his colleague's heartbroken family who travelled from Pakistan for the funeral.

He and Mr Tahir had been sharing stories about their families back in their homeland of Pakistan moments before the chaos.

'I just talked to his family about what he was doing with me and what were his last words and what he was like, sharing his experience and his job because it was his first day,' Mr Taha said.

'They were keen to know what was his last words because he was with me.'

The pair had been walking through Westfield when they heard people screaming and pointing in the direction of the attacker.

'His last words to me were, 'Let's see what's going on', and we rushed towards that area,' Mr Taha recalled.

He also detailed how the pair confronted Cauchi, 40, moments before rushing to the aid of his stabbed colleague.

Security guard Muhammad Taha still has nightmares of the horrifying ordeal

'We were not aware if there were one single or multiple people, we were trying to save people by evacuating them and telling them to go to the safe place,' Mr Taha said.

'We rushed towards that area in the mall and he (Mr Tahir) was like two or three steps away from me and the crowd at that moment.

'The attacker just jumped towards him and he suddenly stabbed him.

'All of a sudden he jumped towards me.

'I tried to stop him, confronting him at the same time, but somehow he managed to stab me as well.'

Mr Taha was so focused on helping his injured colleague that he initially didn't realised he had also been stabbed.

'I tried to grab him and I pushed him towards the chairs and sofas in the cafe and I managed to lie him down,' he said.

He was unaware Mr Tahir had died until four days later.

Security guard Muhammad Taha (right) spoke with his colleague's eldest brother Muzafar Ahmad Tahir (seated left)

Mourners packed Baitul Huda Mosque at Marsden Park on Friday to farewell Faraz Tahir

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns were among mourners at Mr Tahir's funeral on Friday afternoon.

'We grieve with you,' Mr Albanese told Mr Tahir's family at the service.

'We mourn for everything that was taken from us. He died a national hero.'

Family and friends began filing into the Baitul Huda Mosque at Marsden Park shortly before midday to honour Mr Tahir.

After viewing Mr Tahir's body, older brother Mudasar Bashir said he was bidding farewell to his 'jolly' brother after some six years apart.

'When I saw him, I just said, 'It's been six years and now I'm meeting you.' Finally, and for the last time,' Mr Bashir told mourners.

Mr Bashir, joined by his other two brothers, said he shared an 'emotional and painful' final conversation with his brother.

'He was going through such hard moments, but every time we spoke to him he said, 'I'm okay. I'm good',' he said.

'He said, 'I'm happy this is a good country. I will spend a good life here, because this country is free.

'I have freedom here. I can say that I am an Ahmadiyya Muslim and I can go to the mosque.''

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told mourners on Friday that Faraz Tahir died a national hero
Tesla's futuristic stainless steel Cybertruck has been spotted on Australian streets but locals eager to purchase the sharply-angled electric vehicle shouldn't hold their breath.

The Cybertruck - which one caller to Sydney radio station 2GB described as looking like 'a fridge on wheels' - has been seen near Sydney Airport, in North Sydney and parked between two other Tesla models at Bondi Beach in the eastern suburbs.

It was also seen parked outside the upmarket Royal Oak Hotel in Double Bay during its unheralded tour of the city which was faithfully captured by social media.

The vehicle, however, is only a demonstration model which has been given temporary number plates by Queenslands Department of Transport for limited 'road use'.

The model appears to have left-hand steering unlike standard right-hand Australian vehicles.

A @Tesla @Cybertruck has been spotted in multiple locations in Sydney, raising the possibility of an imminent local release.https://t.co/WtbnH9fqqS pic.twitter.com/Y3UVYldY15  Bridie Schmidt  (@BridieEV) April 26, 2024

Tesla's futuristic Cybertuck, which is not available for sale in Australia, has been spotted in Sydney

Drive.com managing editor Trent Nikolic dismissed the sightings as a 'publicity stunt' to get people talking about Tesla and their other products.

'The most up-to-hand information from Tesla is that the Cybertruck won't be produced in right-hand drive so it won't be built in a way that will be sold in Australia,' he told Ben Fordham on 2GB breakfast.

The vehicle's uncompromising design means it is unlikely to meet Australian safety standards in its current US form, with no timeline now for an Australian model.

Although Tesla was initially accepting Cybertruck pre-orders from Australian buyers, this has now been discontinued, and Australians can only request updates on the official website.

Those who put down the $150 deposit have been offered the chance to put the money towards the US-based company's Model Y SUV or Model 3 sedan.

The basic Cybertruck costs over AU$93,000 in the US and has a fully charged range of about 400km.

The gleaming electric-powered truck was spotted in various iconic locations around Sydney including Bondi Beach (pictured)

It can go from 0 to 100km in around seven seconds and tow about four tonnes.

Higher range models cost over AU$122,000, up to the so-called Tesla Cyberbeast at $153,000, offering greater range, faster acceleration and more powerful towing capability.

Instead of a normal instrument panel, the Cybertruck has one mounted touchscreen as the single control along with the steering wheel and two driving pedals.

Tesla and its famed CEO Elon Musk are facing major headaches in the US over not being able to supply Cybertrucks, with manufacturing delays compounded by having to issue a major safety recall over a design flaw with the accelerator pedal.

A major slump in the sales of electric vehicles worldwide has also caused Tesla to recently announce plans to sack more than 10 percent of its global staff, which is about 14,000 workers.

The Cybertruck's heavy weight, large width and inflexible steel exoskeleton, which result in reduced crumple zones, pose safety concerns and almost certainly would see it banned from being sold in Australia in its current design.

Elon Musk demonstrates the Cybertruck as a concept vehicle in 2019 (pictured)

In response to a query from Cars Guide, the Transport and Regional Development said upon request it would provide Tesla with the Australian standards 'to plan and incorporate our requirements when they design and manufacture road vehicles'.

The Cybertruck was launched as a concept vehicle in 2019 in a blaze of publicity by Elon Musk who said its hardened sides were so tough they were bulletproof.

He also claimed the windows could withstand someone throwing a large metal ball bearing at them - but the glass shattered when he tried to demonstrate that.

Originally the company said Cybertrucks would be on the streets in 2021 but the first models were not delivered until late in 2023.

The mass recall of Cybertrucks in the US followed reports the accelerator pedal could become stuck when its cover slipped off, accelerating vehicles to top speeds within seconds.

Mr Musk insisted on X that 'there were no injuries or accidents because of this. We are just being very cautious'.

However, he did not clarify when Cybertruck deliveries will restart, with many customers told 'two weeks at best' or nothing at all.

The Cybertruck has forgone the traditional panel of read-outs and controls for just the one central touchscreen

Hundreds of Cybertrucks have been spotted stacking up at the Tesla Gigafactory in Texas as customers wait for their deliveries.

Writing about the backlog and how it might affect Cybertrucks coming to Australia, Cars Guide journalist Richard Berry was pessimistic.

'Unless another factory is used to produce the Cybertruck it could be at least eight years before it arrives here - and thats using Elon Musk's own production forecasts,' he wrote.
Shocking footage shows the moment a Las Vegas substitute teacher fought a high school student that allegedly called him a racial slur.

Re'Kwon Smith, 27, is seen in footage posted to social media repeatedly punching a student, who is also engaged in the brawl.

The incident occurred in the cafeteria of Valley High School in east Las Vegas on Thursday after the student allegedly called the teacher the n-word.

Smith, a substitute teacher with the Clark County School District since November 2023, was on assignment at the Valley High at the time of the altercation.

Videos of the incident are being used as evidence by local police, who arrested both the student and teacher, according to sources who spoke to 8NewsNow.

Re'Kwon Smith, (left) is seen in footage posted to social media repeatedly punching a student, (right) who is also engaged in the brawl

Local police confirmed Smith will be removed from the district's substitute teaching pool and will no longer be eligible to teach in the district

Local police confirmed Smith will be removed from the district's substitute teaching pool and will no longer be eligible to teach in the district.

Videos from the scene show both parties throwing punches at one another before the student is knocked to the ground.

Sources told Channel 13 the student is recovering from the fight at a local hospital.

Valley High School principal Kimberly Perry-Carter told parents that the school was aware of the incident but that the 'information is preliminary.'

'Please know that CCSDPD is investigating the matter.

'Once we have information to share we will be sure to update our community' she added.

'Violence in any form is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental principles of education and respect' CCSD officials said in a statement on Thursday.'

The incident occurred in the cafeteria of Valley High School in east Las Vegas

Adding: 'Any altercation between a teacher and a student is thoroughly investigated, and appropriate disciplinary action is taken.'

Smith now faces a litany of criminal charges including battery resulting in serious bodily harm, assaulting a school pupil on school property, threatening to do bodily harm to public school student, and interfering with a student from attending school, according to court records.

Smith is currently being held on $9000 bail at the Clark County Detention Center. He is due to appear in court on Friday.
A former teenage speedway racing champion killed his sister's abusive boyfriend 'out of panic and fear', a judge has been told.

After stabbing his victim Jesse Tattersall twice, Tyler King told his sister, 'No-one's going to f***en' hit you again, no-one's going to hurt you again' before stabbing Tattersall a third time.

Prosecutor Brendan Queenan told Newcastle Supreme Court on Friday that King was showing his sister Tenille how he intended to kill Tattersall because of what he had been doing to her.

But defence barrister Peter Krisenthal argued King would not have let Tattersall leave the duplex and try to get help from a neighbour after being stabbed if he had intended to kill him.

Mr Krisenthal said King, 27, of Budgewoi, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Tattersall, 33, at Hamlyn Terrace on September 8, 2022, was remorseful and understood the impact his actions had had on his victim's family.

'The offence was reactionary, borne out of panic and fear,' the defence barrister said.

Prosecutor Brendan Queenan told Newcastle Supreme Court on Friday that Tynan King (pictured) was showing his sister Tenille how he intended to kill Jesse Tattersall because of what he had been doing to her

King, 27, of Budgewoi, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Tattersall on September 8, 2022

'There was, on any objective analysis, hostility and volatility coming from the deceased and his behaviour was unpredictable and aggressive.'

Mr Krisenthal said King had been a talented speedway racer who left school and travelled overseas to compete at the age of 15 on a one-year contract but didn't have the success he expected.

He said King returned to Australia and his life spiralled out of control when he became addicted to drugs.

Tattersall, a father of two, was killed when he arrived at Tenille's home just after 8.10pm after she had told him her brother was upset because she was choosing Tattersall over her family.

Tattersall kicked open the front door, grabbed Tenille by the back of the head and punched her in the face.

He started dragging Tenille through the living room when King pulled him off his sister.

Tattersall slammed King's head through a plasterboard wall and told him, 'You should see what I do to her (Tenille) in the bedroom'.

King grabbed a knife from the kitchen as the pair fought and stabbed Tattersall three times as Tenille tried to stop him.

Tattersall stumbled out of the house and collapsed at the front of a neighbour's house.

Paramedics could not revive him.

King and his then girlfriend, Maddison York, called an Uber after fleeing but were later found at Gorokan.

York has pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the killing.

Tattersall's mother Donna said in a victim impact statement King had no right to take her much-loved and incredibly precious son's life.

Mrs Tattersall said she arrived at the scene to see her first-born son 'lying on that cold concrete covered in blood with a number of paramedics attempting to save his life'.

'These images haunt my thoughts as do images of my boy lying on a cold, steel autopsy table.'

Justice Natalie Adams will sentence King and York on May 23 and ordered York be released on bail after she had already spent 19 months in prison following her arrest.

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A single vehicle crash in rural Victoria has left a man dead and closed a major highway.

Emergency crews rushed to the Goulburn Valley Highway at Arcadia, south of Shepparton, at about 12.50pm on Friday.

Victoria Police confirmed has confirmed that the male driver died at the scene after his car hit a tree near the Dawson Road intersection.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Forensic crash officers have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the fatal smash.

The Goulburn Valley Highway at Arcadia, south of Shepparton, was closed early on Friday afternoon with traffic likely to be impact well into Friday night

The Goulburn Valley Highway remains closed in both directions between Murchison-Violet Town Road and Union Road.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and take an alternative route via Murchison-Violet Town Road and Euroa-Shepparton Road.

Traffic delays are expected well into Friday night.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to call Crime Stoppers.

The crash comes a week after a horror pile-up involving an Uber and two other vehicles 28km away at an intersection in Pine Lodge.

Ruby Crowley, 16, was airlifted to a hospital in Melbourne and died two days later.
Pro-Palestinian students at the University of Washington announced their plans to postpone what was supposed to be Thursday's Gaza solidarity encampment because too many white students were involved.

The group in the Pacific Northwest had been criticized for failing to include enough Muslim and Arab students in the planning of the encampment.

The disruptive demonstration was scheduled to go up Thursday morning at the Seattle university, where the administration told members of the Jewish community that they did not plan to intervene unless 'the event escalates and threatens life safety,' according to My Northwest.

Without a significant threat from those at the head of the institution, students opted to delay the protest in order to 'make sure this encampment is a better reflection of the UW community, and having even greater unity with Muslim, Palestinian and Arab students.'

'We want to be part of a much larger coalition of groups and make no mistake, WE WILL HAVE A UW ENCAMPMENT! We want to make sure everyones voice is included and this action is as safe, secure, and strong as possible, a post to the school's Progressive Student Union's Instagram read.

Students at the University of Washington postponed their planned Gaza solidarity encampment because it did not 'center' on enough Muslim and Arab students

Commenters claiming to be students harshly criticized the PSU for its failure to effectively organize the protest and recruit enough Muslim and Arab students into the the effort occurring in the notoriously white and liberal Seattle area.

'I really hope you make sure to take proper security precautions this time and learn what operational security means. Without prioritizing security for all the students involved, the action is hollow and reckless,' wrote one user.

'These issues are happening repeatedly and reflect badly on you. Please do better and actually get security training and have procedures.'

'What about all the people who want this to happen ASAP. Announcing this and then pulling it back is irresponsible. Youve put people in danger who decide to show up because they didnt see this slide,' wrote user Bailee McCauley, who apparently remained in favor of moving forward with protest plans, while others advocated for the event's total cancelation.

'Please listen to the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students criticizing this event and cancel it,' wrote a user named Sofie.

A user by the name of Jess Schutz harpooned the entire effort, writing: 'You guys need to learn basic organizing skills truly this is so incredibly opportunist its insane!! LISTEN to our concerns. listen to Arab & Muslim students. dont announce actions like this in advance.

'Postponing this event is not enough- let super/uf/uw jvp organize and announce actions like this. your reputation as an organization proceeds you and it carries with you into the events you organize and endorse.'

Evidently, this is not the first time UW's PSU has failed to abide by the laws of intersectionality when planning an event or demonstration.

Dozens of protesters were removed from UW building as pro-Palestinian protests continue to unfold across the country

Students harshly criticized the PSU for its failure to effectively organize the protest and recruit enough Muslim and Arab students into the the effort occurring in the notoriously white and liberal Seattle area

The Columbia encampment, launched last week in New York City, has sparked similar demonstrations at college campuses across the country, including those at Yale, Boston and Michigan universities.

Washington state's campus is yet another area where progressive students see an opportunity to set up an encampment that will undoubtedly disturb university life.

On Thursday, students in Austin and SoCal also came to blows with authorities ordered to break up the demonstrations.
The man accused of murdering Molly Ticehurst was granted bail on charges of raping her three times, smashing her car windows and assaulting her dog because he did not have a criminal history.

Daniel Billings, 29, allegedly murdered Molly Ticehurst, 28, at the home they used to share in Forbes, 375km west of Sydney, sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday.

The pair were in a relationship for about 18 months until July 2023, but briefly got back together in December that year.

At the time of the alleged murder, Billings had already faced court in Dubbo over a string of alleged incidents involving Ms Ticehurst between January and April this year.

He allegedly raped her three times, stalked and harassed her four times, smashed her car windows, and assaulted her 12-week-old dachshund, but was granted bail by a registrar in Dubbo Bail Court on April 6.

According to a transcript of his bail application, seen by Daily Mail Australia on Friday afternoon, Billings - who attended the hearing via audio-visual link dressed in work shirt - was released on bail because he had no criminal history.

Molly Ticehurst is pictured with her six-year-old son. She was allegedly murdered on Monday

Molly Ticehurst was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings, who worked for a drilling company

The bail hearing was heard over 12 minutes before a registrar - a court staffer who is trained to hear bail applications, but who is not required to have a law degree like a magistrate.

According to the transcript, the police prosecutor Sergeant Knight made a lengthy submission as to why Billings should not be allowed out on bail.

Sergeant Knight described Billings' behaviour to the court as 'quite concerning' and 'indicative of features in domestic violence offenders that we see often come to light after the most disturbing conclusions to their conduct'.

He said: 'That is, an inability to let go of the relationship.'

'A feeling of possessiveness and jealousness over the woman. Repeated threats in relation to  her not being with someone else.'

He said specific threats included knowing where she lived and 'coming in the window'.

'This is what puts domestic violence victims in a different category as opposed to those victims who are either anonymous or a subject of personal violence offences because their anonymity provides protection,' he continued.

A forensics team was seen looking through a broken window at the front of Ms Ticehurst's home

Floral tributes sat outside the home while forensics continued gathering evidence

'Domestic violence victims don't get such anonymity and it is that very issue that raises the concern for the ongoing conduct of the defendant. These are the most serious types of allegations.'

Sgt Knight told the court he believed there was a 'real issue' that Billings could interfere with Ms Ticehurst's safety.

Billings' defence lawyer Bridget Byrnes told the court the allegations were serious, but said her client denied the allegations against him and was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

She said he had a four-year-old son in Queensland but was unlikely to flee the state in light of his criminal charges because he had held a job at Resolution Drilling for three years.

'I note that [Ms Ticehurst] resides in Forbes, Mr Billings informs me that if granted bail is able to abide the condition not to enter or go within 25km of that town,' she told the court.

'He's able to follow any AVO that is in place ... And any other conditions that the court deems necessary in order to have his liberty restored.'

The registrar agreed to grant bail, provided someone was able to agree to pay $5000, which they would lose if he breached his bail conditions.

Billings agreed that someone would be able to provide the money.

Daniel Billings (pictured) was arrested after he allegedly murdered Molly Ticehurst at her home on Monday

The registrar then read eight conditions Billings would have to abide by, including that he was not allowed to commit any further offences, he must report to police daily, reside at the same Parkes address, and not enter Forbes for any reason.

He was also ordered not to contact Ms Ticehurst or any prosecution witness unless it was through a lawyer.

'The registrar said: 'If bail is not met, Mr Billings, the jail will inform the court and the matter will be re-listed.'

Billings said: 'Understood.'

Fifteen days later, Billings allegedly drove to Forbes and murdered Ms Ticehurst.

Instead of going back to his four-bedroom rental in Parkes after the alleged murder, Billings allegedly fled to a worksite in Fifield - a small town with a population of just 126 about 80km northwest of Ms Ticehurst's home.

Billings was arrested at the Fifield site within hours because a local became aware of his arrival and raised the alarm with police.

His matter was mentioned in Orange Local Court on Tuesday during which his bail was revoked.

The matter will be heard in court again on June 20.
A major police operation is under way at The University of Sydney, with students evacuated from buildings on Friday afternoon over fears of a bomb threat.

USYD student newspaper Honi Soit reported the incident on social media, writing: 'Honi Soit has received allegations of a threat on Camperdown Campus.

'Police have arrived. Fisher Library, Abercrombie and the New Law Building were evacuated in the last hour.'

NSW Police confirmed an exclusion area had been put in place and added: 'A police operation is underway at a university campus on City Road, Camperdown.

After an extensive search of the campus police failed to find any items of interest and lifted the lockdown at about 4.30pm.

A major police operation is under way at The University of Sydney, with students evacuated from buildings on Friday afternoon over fears of a bomb threat (pictured)

NSW Police confirmed an exclusion area had been put in place on Friday afternoon (pictured)

Students were seen milling around on the campus after they were evacuated from buildings

'An exclusion zone is in place and the community is urged to avoid the area. No further information at this time.'

A University of Sydney spokesperson told student newspaper Honi Soit staff 'immediately contacted' police 'as soon as we became aware of a threat made'.

Officers from the Inner West Police Area Command are now investigating the incident with anyone with information urged to contact police.
Sainsbury's have claimed that customers love their self checkout machines and value the 'speedy checkout' despite consumer backlash against the machines which has seen some stores strip back the technology.

Boss Simon Roberts said that Sainsbury's had invested in more self checkouts in recent years but was committed to having non-automated belt checkouts as well.

Amidst a rise in shoplifting, several Sainsbury's stores have implemented new unpopular barrier systems which require self checkout shoppers to scan their receipts before leaving the store.

The receipt scanning gates have been seen at Sainsbury's stores in Balham, south London, and Winnersh in Berkshire.

The barriers have also been deployed in other major shops and supermarkets, including Aldi, Morrisons, and Primark.

Sainsbury's have claimed that customers love their self checkout machines

Simon Roberts said that Sainsbury's had invested in more self checkouts in recent years but was committed to having non-automated belt checkouts as well

They first started appearing in British shops at the end of last year, having also been spotted in shops in Europe.

Discussing the importance of self checkouts, Mr Roberts said: 'If you visit one of our supermarkets, what you'll see is definitely more self checkouts than a number of years ago, because actually a lot of customers like the speedy checkout.

'Over the last year, where we've put more self checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there.'

Self-checkout tills have been the subject of some backlash of late.

Supermarket chain has become Britain's first to return to fully-staffed checkouts after axing most of its self-service tills after its boss said: 'We like to talk to people.'

Booths - which has 27 stores in the North across Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Cheshire - has been finding the machines to be 'slow, unreliable and impersonal' and decided that 'rather than artificial intelligence, we're going for actual intelligence'.

Staff at the upmarket firm, dubbed the 'northern Waitrose', added that they wanted to ensure customers were served by people with 'high levels of warm, personal care'.

Meanwhile, last year Tesco boss Ken Murphy was made to defend the store's use of the technology after a petition to scrap them in stores received thousands of signatures.

Amidst a rise in shoplifting, several Sainsbury's stores have implemented new unpopular barrier systems which require self checkout shoppers to scan their receipts

Supermarket chain has become Britain's first to return to fully-staffed checkouts

The move by Booths has provoked much debate on the benefits of self-checkouts (file image)

In the US, supermarket giant Walmart has also pushed back against the technology and ditched thousands of machines from stores.

The British Independent Retailers Association described the move away from self check outs as a 'very interesting development'.

Its chief executive Andrew Goodacre told MailOnline today: 'Independent retailers would never use self-service tills, preferring instead to deliver personal service at the till.

'Furthermore, indie retailers view the checkout as an extra opportunity to sell and it seems that Booths are now following their example.

'There may also be a reality check with the current level of retail theft and self-service tills becoming an expensive risk.'

The British Retail Consortium's 2023 Crime Survey put the scale of annual retail theft in Britain at 953million, despite more than 700million in crime prevention spending by retailers.

This meant the total cost of retail crime stood at 1.76billion for the year to April.

It also found that incidents of violence and abuse towards retail colleagues had almost doubled on pre-pandemic levels to 867 incidents every day in 2021/22.

A separate survey of the organisation's members in 2023 found that levels of shoplifting in ten major UK cities had risen by an average of 27 per cent.

Industry sources said they had not heard any other supermarkets or retailers suggest they were getting rid of self-checkouts.
President Minouche Shafik said negations with organizers are moving

Columbia University backed off late Thursday from an overnight deadline for pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon an encampment as the students settle in for the 10th day of protesting.

University president Minouche Shafik released a statement less than hour before the midnight deadline retreating from the cutoff to dismantle a large tent camp with around 200 students.

'The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned. We have our demands; they have theirs,' Shafik said.

The statement denied that New York City police were invited on the campus. 'This rumor is false,' it said.

Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll has topped 34,305, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Columbia University Minouche Shafik released a statement less than hour before the midnight deadline retreating from the cutoff

Students at the Columbia University Gaza encampment are dug in for their 10th day on Friday

Members of the New York Police Department's Strategic Response Group stage outside the main gate at Columbia University early Friday morning

Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza , where the death toll has topped 34,305

At Columbia, protesters defiantly erected a tent encampment where many are set to graduate in front of families in just a few weeks.

Columbia officials said that negotiations were showing progress as they neared the schools deadline of early on Friday to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment.

Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.

Members of the New York Police Department's Strategic Response Group stage outside the main gate at Columbia University early Friday.

Police have carried out large-scale arrests in universities across the country, at times using chemical irritants and tasers to disperse protests over Israel's war with Hamas.

A week after Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi, was arrested for protesting at Columbia University, she and her progressive 'Squad' member mother visited the pro-Gaza camp on campus to enjoy the campus and take selfies with activists.

Hirsi was one of more than 100 individuals arrested last Thursday for participating in an anti-Israel demonstration. She was also suspended from Barnard College the same day.

'I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand,' Omar posted on X after her campus visit.

'Contrary to right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza. Im in awe of their bravery and courage.'

Her post accompanied a video of her shaking protestors hands and receiving warm welcomes from the students.

Omar's trip comes a day after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., visited the campus to condemn the demonstrators to a chorus of boos and protest.

Rep. Ilhan Omar's visited Columbia's campus a week after her daughter, Isra Hirsi, was arrested for protesting and suspended from Barnard College

Johnson slammed the crowds at Columbia as being 'lawless agitators and radicals' and questioned their ability to become 'leaders of America.'

He also praised the Jewish students who remain committed to their education and have braced vicious anti-Israel protests to do so.

'We will not be silent while Jewish students are expected to run for their lives,' the speaker told the crowd.

Johnson, who met with Columbia University President Minouche Shafik before making his address, publicly called for her to resign if she remains unable to control the protests that have roiled on campus.

He also threatened to pull federal funding from schools that are unable to ensure the safety of their Jewish students.
Missing non-binary heiress Mint Butterfield previously threatened suicide, cops hunting for the billionaire's daughter have said.

Marin County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that the search for the 16 year-old is continuing in the Bay Area and that they are believed to have left her San Francisco home voluntarily.

They said that they are no further forward in finding the teenage.

The release said: 'At this time, we have no information to believe that Mint was taken against their will. The Sheriffs Office is considering Mint a voluntary-missing juvenile, who is At- Risk due to a reported previous threat of suicide.'

Mint Butterfield, the 16-year-old daughter of billionaire tech CEO Stewart Butterfield, has vanished

Scenes from an average day in San Francisco's crime ridden Tenderloin District, where Mint is feared to be hiding out

Mint's father, Stewart Butterfield, moved back to his native Canada shortly after his daughter was born in 2007

Her mother, Caterina Fake, has deep ties to Finland and frequently visits the country

Stewart Butterfield's $19 million San Francisco home located in the upmarket Presidio Heights

A map showing the various locations where Butterfield has been seen recently in the Bay Area

Scenes from an average day in San Francisco's crime ridden Tenderloin District

The release also outlined the final sightings of Mint, who attended a private boarding school in Napa Valley.

The teen's father is Slack co-founder Stuart Butterfield, while her mom is Flickr founder Caterina Fake.

A sheriff's spokesperson said: 'Mint was reported missing by their mother, Caterina Fake. Fake had last seen her daughter at approximately 2200 hours on April 21st inside their home, located in Bolinas.

'The following morning, Fake realized that Mint was not at home, and discovered a note, indicating that Mint had left the residence, with a suitcase at an unknown time during the night or early morning.

'It is unclear how Mint left the area, as they did not have access to a vehicle, or phone.

'Fake and Mint also share a home in San Francisco, and it is believed, based on statements from Fake, that Mint may have left for the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.'

Mint was previously reported to have substance abuse issues and was rumored to have been hiding in San Francisco's notoriously-rough Tenderloin neighborhood.

In a Facebook post, a family friend said that the teen was spotted in Larkspur Landing, a coastal community located north of San Francisco on April 23.
A solo pilot whale calf off a West Australia beach where 160 whales beached themselves will be euthanised.

Vets are concerned the whale could send out distress calls, resulting in another mass stranding.

On Thursday 160 long-finned pilot whales were beached at Toby Inlet near Busselton in WA's south-west.

Around 30 whales died, with authorities and community volunteers managing to save about 100.

Wildlife officer Pia Courtis from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said on Friday the 'disorientated' 1.5m juvenile pilot whale was spotted near Eagle Bay boat ramp.

She said the whale appeared to have been abandoned and was still too young to feed by itself.

On Thursday 160 long-finned pilot whales were beached at Toby Inlet near Busselton in WA's south west

Around 30 of the stranded whales died, despite the efforts of authorities and community volunteers

'We're talking with vets and making a plan for how we manage that. Unfortunately for that animal, the only option would be euthanasia.'

Ms Courtis said the juvenile could attract other whales close to shore, leading to another stranding.

'It is a concern and that's why we have the spotter plane and vessels out in the ocean to see what's going on,' she said.

'It's vocalising and making noises and could attract a pod  if there's one out there  close into shore and we could see a repeat of what happened yesterday,' Geographe Marine Research chair Ian Weise said.

Four pods of whales spread across 500metres of beach on Thursday, with another two pods of about 130 animals offshore in the ocean.

Geographe Marine Research chair Ian Wiese told the ABC yesterday he saw many of the dead creatures, describing the scene as 'terrible'.

Four pods of whales spread across 500 metres of beach on Thursday

Volunteers managed to save about 100 pilot whales but at least 30 died

Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia posted on Facebook to alert the public of the stranding, with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) staff joining with Perth Zoo vets to try and move the animals back into the water.

'We know people want to help but we asked that people please do not attempt to rescue the animals without direction of DBCA staff as this may cause further injury, and distress to the animals and hinder a coordinated rescue effort,' the post read.

'The highest priority at mass whale stranding events is always human safety followed by animal welfare. We want all staff and volunteers to go home safe.'

The mass stranding follows a similar event at Albany further south on the WA coastline in July last year.

In November 34 pilot whales were also found dead at Bryans Beach, 140km northeast of Hobart.
A former parliamentary researcher has been ordered not to contact MPs after being charged with spying for China.

Christopher Cash, 29, from Whitechapel in east London is accused of an offence under the Official Secrets Act alongside Christopher Berry, 32, from Witney in Oxfordshire.

The pair appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday but were not required to enter any pleas to the charge. They spoke only to confirm their name and address during a short hearing.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted both men conditional bail, which in Cash's case included not to contact MPs, enter the parliamentary estate or any other staff of parliamentarians. However, the 29-year-old has been permitted to contact his local MP on constituency matters.

Berry, a teacher, taught economics and English in the Hangzhou region, in eastern China near Shanghai. In a YouTube video posted two years ago, he praises a lake in the Zhejiang province.

He was arrested alongside the public school-educated son of a GP who co-founded an influential policy group with security minister Tom Tugendhat.

UK parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court in London

Christopher Berry arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court ahead of a hearing over allegations of spying for China

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Christopher Berry (left) and Christopher Cash appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court

Christopher Cash, 29 - a Tory parliamentary researcher and China specialist - had been charged for an offence under the Official Secrets Act alongside Berry

Berry, 32, from Oxfordshire (pictured right) is accused of spying between December 28, 2021 and February 3, 2023, under the Official Secrets Act 1911. He previously taught in the Hangzhou region

The offences Mr Cash is alleged to have committed are claimed to have happened between 20 January 2022 and 3 February 2023, while those against Mr Berry are alleged to have happened between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023.

Berry, who now works in digital marketing, also ran a blog in which he described a day in the life of a teacher in China.

Meanwhile, Cash was director of the China Research Group, which was initially chaired by Mr Tugendhat and then Alicia Kearns, who serves as chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

Cash and Berry were also told not to travel outside the UK and not to contact each other. They were also ordered to sign on at a police station and must also notify police of any internet-enabled device they intend to use.

Both defendants will next appear at the Old Bailey on May 10 for a preliminary hearing.

Cash, who insists he is 'completely innocent', grew up in a wealthy suburb of Edinburgh and attended 5,000-a-term George Watson's College - where he was head of house - before studying History at the University of St Andrews.

Colleagues said there was shock when he vanished from Westminster, where he was at the heart of a social scene and organised bi-monthly pub drinks for a 'Whitehall crowd of quite young people interested in China'.

Cash, who insists he is 'completely innocent', grew up in a wealthy suburb of Edinburgh and attended 5,000-a-term George Watson's College

Cash previously issued a statement through a law firm in which he had spent his career 'trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party'

The charge against Berry, of Witney in Oxfordshire, is that: 'On dates between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, obtained, collected, recorded, published, or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information, which were calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy. Contrary to section 1(1)(c) of the Official Secrets Act 1911.'

Cash is accused of the same offence between January 2022 and February 2023.

Cash previously issued a statement through the law firm Birnberg Peirce, in which he said: 'I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a ''Chinese spy''.

'It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place.

'However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party.

'To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for.'

China has dismissed the charges. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said it was 'completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander' to suggest Beijing was suspected of 'stealing British intelligence'.

Berry, 32, previously taught in the Hangzhou region of China

In a YouTube video posted two years ago, Berry praises a lake in the Zhejiang province

'We firmly oppose it and urge the UK side to stop anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce,' the spokesman said.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, previously said: 'This has been an extremely complex investigation into what are very serious allegations.

'We've worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service as our investigation has progressed and this has led to the two men being charged.

'We're aware there has been a degree of public and media interest in this case, but we would ask others to refrain from any further comment or speculation, so that the criminal justice process can now run its course.'

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs two people had been charged on a matter 'relating to national security', one of whom was a parliamentary pass holder.
China's foreign minister has told the US Secretary of State the relationship between the two nuclear powers is 'facing all kinds of disruptions' and warned of a return to a menacing 'downward spiral'.

Wang Yi and Antony Blinken butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues amid their talks today, with Beijing's diplomat accusing the US of suppressing China's foreign development.

Blinken's arrival in China earlier this week came hours before US President Joe Biden signed off on a $95 billion foreign aid package that contains several elements that anger Beijing.

These include a provision of $8 billion to counter China's growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea, and legislation that seeks to force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the highly lucrative social media platform, or face a blanket ban.

Wang told Blinken that the 'giant ship' of US and China is beginning to stabilise, but added: 'At the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

'Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?' he asked rhetorically.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on April 26, 2024

 Slide me  Wang Yi and Antony Blinken butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues amid their talks today

The national flags of the United States and China flutter at the Fairmont Peace Hotel on April 25, 2024 in Shanghai, China. At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China from April 24 to April 2

President Biden earlier this week signed a huge foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate on 23 April

The prickly meeting between the two diplomats on the final day of Blinken's second visit to China in the past year highlighted the obstacles faced by both sides as they attempt to improve fraught relations.

Talks between US and Chinese diplomats have proven difficult in recent months as differences have grown and become more serious, raising concerns about the potential for conflict between the world's two largest economies.

Hours before Blinken landed in China on Wednesday, Biden signed a bipartisan bill that included $8 billion to counter China's military might, as well as billions in defence aid for Taiwan and $61 billion for Ukraine.

Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijing's growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbours in the South China Sea, and has also grown more critical of Beijing's support for Russia amid Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is eager to see more progress on the curbing of China's supply of the chemicals used to make fentanyl, and is now seeking to force ByteDance - the Chinese entity that owns TikTok - into a sale to avoid being banned on American soil.

Blinken was accompanied by Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and Nathaniel Fick, ambassador-at-large for cyberspace, to underscore the importance of these issues.

Wang meanwhile declared that the US must not step on 'red lines' covering sovereignty, security and development interests - an apparent reference to Taiwan, the democratically-governed island that China claims as its own, and the disputed South China Sea.

Beijing has long decried the US presence in the South China Sea and is angered by the White House's support for Taiwan, with any visits of American officials to Taipei routinely condemned.

It sees these issues as China's own business and argues that Washington has no jurisdiction there.

Beijing immediately condemned the provision of billions of dollars to Taiwan under the new foreign aid bill as a dangerous provocation.

'China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges,' Yi said, demanding the US refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea

Taiwanese navy launches a US-made Standard missile from a frigate during the annual Han Kuang Drill

Taipei has been receiving more arms sales and weapons from the US, while fostering its ties with countries like Japan, the UK, Canada and India, as Beijing vows to unify Taiwan without excluding the possibility of using force (Taiwanese tanks perform live fire drills)

The US Senate on Tuesday approved legislation requiring the wildly popular social media app TikTok to be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market

Concluding their talks, Blinken and Wang each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

Blinken sought to assure his counterpart that the Biden administration places a premium on US-China dialogue, even on issues of dispute.

He noted there had been some progress in the past year but said it was imperative the two nuclear powers did everything to 'avoid misunderstandings'.

'I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China,' Blinken told Wang.

'There is no substitute in our judgement for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure we're as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations,' he said.
Humza Yousaf has pulled out of a keynote speech today as he fights to save his political skin.

The First Minister is frantically battling to cling on after a move to sack the Greens from his coalition disastrously backfired, leaving him facing a confidence vote.

Allies have insisted he is not going to quit, but an appearance at an event in Glasgow this lunchtime - where he was due to talk about Scottish independence - has been cancelled.

His hopes could rest on Ash Regan, his former leadership rival who defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party in protest at the SNP's stance on gender identity.

She has written to Mr Yousaf laying out demands for propping him up, including 'defending the rights of women and children'. That is thought to mean accepting the results of the Cass review, which criticised gender therapies, in full.

When Ms Regan left the SNP Mr Yousaf described it as 'no great loss'.

JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it is 'karma' that the First Minister is now reliant on Ms Regan.

Mr Yousaf attempted a dramatic power play yesterday by sacking Green ministers from his government, ending the so-called Bute House coalition agreement.

Tensions had been rising over trans and Net Zero policies and the SNP leader said he would be better running a minority administration.

However, the furious Greens declared they will support a no confidence motion tabled by the Scottish Tories.

With other parties ranged against him, that leaves Mr Yousaf at risk of defeat. Excluding the presiding officer there are 128 MSPs in total, and the SNP only has 63.

Ms Regan holds the balance, as if she supports the First Minister he would have 64 votes. In the event of a tie the presiding officer is meant to back the status quo, so he would be able to hold on.

Humza Yousaf was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP

Alba MSP Ash Regan is yet to decide how she will vote next week

JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it was 'karma' that the First Minister was now reliant on Ms Regan

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) arrive for First Minister's Questions on Thursday. The Greens have said they will support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister

Scottish Labour has heaped further pressure on the SNP by lodging a no confidence motion in the entire Scottish Government, rather than just Mr Yousaf.

If passed, that could lead to a Scottish Parliament election.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'It's a matter now of when  not if  Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

'It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.'

Rowling, a prominent women's rights campaigner, said on social media: 'The idea that Humza Yousaf's political fate may now lie in the hands of Ash Regan, the woman who left the SNP in disgust at its plans for gender self-ID, reminds me...'

She then shared the Tarot card Karma  which is also depicted as Judgment in some decks.

Speaking to the BBC's World Tonight, Ms Regan said: 'I have written to the First Minister today with a number of issues that I've raised with him on progress made towards independence, on how he will defend the rights of women and children and a return to competent governance.

'My vote will depend on really what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.'

She continued: 'I'm not setting out specific demands as such, I'm putting the ball into Humza's court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.'

Allies of Mr Yousaf insisted he will 'come out fighting' in the face of a concerted effort by opponents to oust him.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would be 'standing shoulder-to-shoulder' with Mr Yousaf, suggesting there will be room for 'reflection' by his critics over the next week.

A source close to the First Minister insisted Mr Yousaf was 'absolutely not' considering his position following the chaotic events.

The confidence vote, expected Wednesday or Thursday next week, has been tabled against Mr Yousaf personally rather than the government.

As a result, he would not technically be obliged to quit if he loses. However, in reality it would be almost impossible for him to stay on.

There would then be 28 days to appoint a new First Minister who can command a majority before new Holyrood elections are triggered.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos. Humza Yousaf's government is in crisis. He claims it is now a new beginning, but really it is the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

After he lodged the motion of no confidence, Mr Ross said: 'He was bounced into ditching the Bute House Agreement by his own MSPs. The only leadership he has shown has been weak. His time as First Minister is up.'

Mr Yousaf unilaterally announced the move without an SNP member vote following an emergency meeting of his Cabinet yesterday.

The Greens said they would back a no confidence vote.

Mr Yousaf speaking in parliament after the deal collapsed over what the Greens had seen as a gradual side-lining of their policies by the SNP

An animated Humza Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapsed

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater (left) and Patrick Harvie (centre) speaking as the deal was brought to a premature end

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (pictured in parliament on Thursday) said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos'

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion.

'It could have come to an end by agreement.

'It has led to the position where Humza Yousaf is hanging on a thread as to whether he can stay as First Minister.'

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza has to understand he is no longer in the position of ruling the roost. I can only describe his tactics as kamikaze.

'He has insulted every opposition party in the parliament. There's a number of things you can and can't do when you are leading a minority administration, and one of them is not to insult all of the opposition parties.

'Humza is going to need to mend his ways and do it very quickly.'

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.'

Alex Salmond described Ms Regan as 'the most powerful MSP' in parliament

At an 8am meeting with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Mr Yousaf told them he would be 'terminating' their ministerial roles. He then met his Cabinet to inform them. Mr Yousaf's spokesman said ministers banged on the table in approval.

Just days prior to the announcement, Mr Yousaf publicly backed the partnership agreement.

At a press conference yesterday he denied he had made a weak and reactive decision.

He was asked if he was a 'lame duck leader who is heading for the exit door' and he responded: 'No, not at all. We are taking control as a party and indeed as a government on our priority terms.'

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes insisted she would support him in the no confidence vote.

Fergus Ewing, who repeatedly spoke out against the Bute House Agreement, challenged Mr Yousaf to 'do a spring clean of the policies and programmes'.
EXCLUSIVE

Joel Cauchi's parents have expressed their gratitude for the support of countless strangers since their schizophrenic son was shot dead after stabbing to death six people at Westfield Bondi Junction.

For the past two weeks Michele and Andrew Cauchi have been receiving cards and flowers from sympathetic Australians, many of whom have a family member suffering serious mental illness.

The couple's lives were upended when their 40-year-old son went on a rampage at the Sydney shopping centre on April 13 before he was stopped with three bullets to the chest fired by hero cop Inspector Amy Scott.

Those killed were: new mother Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, security guard Faraz Ahmed Tahir, 30, architect Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, and economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27.

A dozen other victims were taken to hospital including Ms Good's nine-month-old daughter Harriet.

Michele and Andrew Cauchi, the parents of Bondi Junction Westfield killer Joel Cauchi are pictured

Joel Cauchi is pictured (right) holding a knife while on his murderous rampage in Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney

READ MORE: Police spoke to Bondi Junction Westfield killer months before the attack Mass murderer Joel Cauchi is pictured Advertisement

Cauchi's parents have been overwhelmed by waves of varying emotions since the carnage, devastated their son could become so unhinged he would turn into a multiple murderer.

'First of all, I feel for the victims,' Mrs Cauchi told Daily Mail Australia from her Toowoomba home on Friday. 'I don't want to take anything away from the victims.

'I'm so sorry about what has happened. Our son unravelled in the last few months and we didn't know.

'But I just want to say thank you to the people around Australia who have sent cards and letters.

'The majority of them have a family member with a mental illness.'

Mrs Cauchi said many of the notes she and her husband received did not have return addresses, so she could not respond to the senders.

'I'm just not in a state to answer them at this stage anyway,' she said. 'But I just wanted to say thank you, people have been very kind.'

Mr Cauchi said he and his wife had been sent so many flowers that when one 'lovely local girl' arrived with more he had not shown enough appreciation.

'We've been inundated with probably $2,000 worth of flowers,' Mr Cauchi said. 'And food and fruit and cards.'

Mr Cauchi said he was grateful for 'the compassion of this nation' but would be trying to cope with what his son had done 'for the next 40 years'.

'Joel deserves what he got as far as I'm concerned,' he said through tears.

His wife immediately responded: 'Shoosh, don't say that'.

'He's very upset,' Mrs Cauchi said.

'We didn't know he'd slipped so far. And even if we did know, what would we do?

'Take our adult child by force to come home and then what? Where would you take him? I'm sorry, it's just very difficult.

Police officer Amy Scott (pictured) prevented more carnage after she ran into a shopping centre and ended Joel Cauchi's rampage

'He did a terrible thing and I'm not denying that. I'm really sorry that it happened.'

Mrs Cauchi said NSW and Queensland police had been 'absolutely wonderful' in their dealings with the couple.

'Everybody has been really considerate,' she said. 'Regardless of what they might think about what happened they've been very kind.

'So I just wanted to say thank you.'

Bondi Junction Westfield massacre victim Ashlee Good, 38, is pictured

Bondi Junction Westfield massacre victim Dawn Singleton, 25, is pictured

Bondi Junction Westfield massacre victim Faraz Tahir, 30, is pictured

Bondi Junction Westfield massacre victim Pikria Darchia, 55, is pictured

Bondi Junction Westfield massacre victim Yixuan Cheng, 27, is pictured
Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a British woman was knocked out with a single punch by a security guard after she confronted him for sleeping on duty.

Married mother-of-one Ayesha Jane Cox, 37, from Eastbourne, was furious that Mohammad Ayan, 27, was napping while being paid to patrol the Modern Home Tower apartment block where she lived in Bangkok, Thailand, at 3.30 am.

Footage shows how Ms Cox filmed the guard at his desk as an argument erupted between the pair. They then go outside where she is seen shoving him on the shoulder in what she said was 'self defence' after alleging he was following her.

As she turned her back on him, Mr Ayan responded with a sucker punch that left the schoolteacher sprawled on the ground writhing in pain, with the guard seen walking away remorselessly.

The attack happened in December 2021 but an arrest warrant was only issued for Mohammad in September last year and the case was publicised again this week on April 25 as the family sought to find the suspect.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a British woman was punched in the head by a security guard in Thailand

Married mother-of-one Ayesha Jane Cox, 37, shows her injuries after the attack in 2021. She suffered a black eye, bruised jaw, fractured cheekbone and swollen cheekbone

CCTV footage from inside the apartment block's foyer shows the moment Ms Cox confronted the guard

The security guard is seen lunging at Ms Cox outside her home in Bangkok, Thailand

The sucker punch left the schoolteacher sprawled on the ground writhing in pain, with the guard seen walking away

Ms Cox and her husband Boonake Wongsuriyawattana attend a press conference in Bangkok

Ms Cox suffered a black eye, bruised jaw, fractured cheekbone and swollen cheekbone following the alleged assault.

She said: 'My life will never be the same again. My face has been permanently damaged.

'I don't know why he attacked me but my only guess can be that I woke him up while he was sleeping.

'In the video clip, the only thing that I am telling him is to leave me alone and go back to work but he kept following me.

'It's not good for a man to follow a woman, I felt scared. He didn't stop. He kept following me and I felt intimidated because I was on my own.

'He should not have hit a woman. I want the security guard to be arrested and brought to justice.'

Ms Cox's husband Boonake Wongsuriyawattana, 46, raised the case again this week and called for further action to catch the alleged attacker, who has since left the job.

The mother-of-one was left bruised and battered after the shocking attack

The pair are seen outside, where Ms Cox is seen shoving Mr Ayan on the shoulder in what she said was 'self defence' after alleging he was following her

He contacted lawyers at the charity Campaign to Reclaim Social Justice (CRSJ Foundation) in Nonthaburi province for help.

Boonake said: 'My wife was searching for me after I looked for something in my car for a while before she saw the sleeping security guard and woke him up, recording the video to report to his supervisor.

'They started arguing before the security guard told her to walk to the right side of the building.

'She did not see him, so she walked back to the left side and saw the security guard following her.

'My wife was scared and told him to get away from her.

'The security guard took the opportunity when she was unaware to punch her and knock her down.'

Mr Ayan was paid to patrol the Modern Home Tower apartment block where she lived in Bangkok

Boonake said the security company did not terminate the alleged attacker's employment and they moved away for safety reasons. They later discovered he had left the job.

Additionally, he claims the company denied liability, citing the incident as a fight between the two and refused to take action.

Boonake said they did not send anyone to check on Ms Cox, only sending a basket of fruits as an apology when he intervened.

Boonake also claimed that Mr Ayan lacked the required license to work as a security guard after verifying the document from the company with the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Raphatsit Phattarasirichaisin, vice-president of the CRSJ Foundation, said the charity would pursue litigation against the employer and Mr Ayan.
An ambulance in a specially equipped aircraft transported the family to Rome

The father from Treviso, Italy and his wife thanked the Italian government

The father of a one-month-old British boy says his heart is 'overflowing with joy' after his son was airlifted to Italy for treatment unavailable in the UK.

The seriously ill baby was taken from a hospital in Bristol after the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, personally intervened to make sure the sick child could travel to Rome to receive treatment for a congenital heart condition.

An Italian ambulance landed in Bristol after being loaded on to a specially equipped military aircraft complete with military and medical personnel and specialist equipment.

The father, an Italian citizen, appealed directly to Ms Meloni and her government for assistance and she worked closely with the family to transport them to the Italian capital.

In a statement to MailOnline, the Italian father, who is from Treviso and who is married to a Nigerian in the UK expressed their thanks to all those involved.

A specially modified ambulance being loaded onto a plane with military and medical personnel ready to fly to Bristol to collect the seriously baby from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

The ambulance inside the aircraft being secured by military personnel and surrounded by medical equipment

The Italian government-funded ambulance at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. After arriving the baby was quickly discharged and driven to an airport ten minutes away

It is understood the infant's parents, who have not been identified, were told the specialist treatment for their son's congenital heart condition would not be possible in the UK.

Following the appeal to Ms Meloni for help, events this week moved at lighting speed and by Tuesday the family were in Rome.

In a statement to MailOnline, the Italian father and his wife thanked all those involved.

The father, who has lived in the UK for many years and who also has an older child said: 'Both my wife and I have hearts overflowing with joy for what is happening.

'Now we hope that the entire medical process goes well and may our child's recovery be achieved soon.

'We sincerely thank the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and the officials of the Presidency of the Council including in particular the councilors Nicola Guerzoni and Francesco Farri who provided their indispensable contribution.

'Special thanks go to the head doctors Professor Galletti and Professor Di Chiara and to the staff of the Bambin Gesu pediatric hospital who decided to take the matter to heart.

'Big thanks also to the deputy diplomatic advisor Alessandro Cattaneo, to the Italian Embassy and to the Italian consul in London Domenico Bellantone and for the discreet and continuous support provided by the British hospital for following our son and for authorizing the transfer without obstacles.

'We thank the Italian Air Force and in particular the Flight Office and the command of the 46th Air Brigade for making the transfer possible.'

The seriously ill one-month-old baby in a specialist incubator. The family was flown to Rome with the help of the Italian Prime Minister after his parents asked for help to save their son

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni and her government helped the infant travel to Rome for life-saving surgery

A specially modified ambulance arrived at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children to collect the seriously ill baby.

After arriving, the child was quickly discharged and and taken to an airport ten minutes away where the plane was waiting to take him back to Rome for treatment.

The arrival of the Italian ambulance was the culmination of the worried family's appeal to the Italian prime minister.

The family had been preparing to start a legal battle with the hospital and had planned to apply to the High Court on Monday.

However, a long court battle was avoided after a deal was struck whereby the family would be flown to Rome on an aircraft funded by the Italian government.

After arriving in Rome on Tuesday the baby was treated at the Vatican-funded Bambino Gesu children's hospital where he underwent a double operation.

Speaking to The Times, the father thanked the Italian government for their help. He said: 'My wife and I are very happy and relieved.'

He also thanked the doctors and nurses at Bristol Royal Hospital 'for smoothly authorising and supporting us and our son through this process.'

Simone Pillon, the Italian lawyer representing the parents, said: 'We are very pleased that we have been able to demonstrate to the UK that it is possible to work together and safely transfer children with serious medical conditions from the UK to Rome for specialist treatment.'

The family travelled from Bristol Royal Hospital to Bambino Gesu children's hospital in Rome on a specially modified ambulance which was then loaded onto a plane funded by the Italian government

Bristol Royal Hospital where the baby was being treated for a congenital heart condition. His parents were told specialist treatment would not be possible in the UK (stock image)

Mr Pillon was involved in the case of Indi Gregory last year.

Indi, who had an incurable genetic mitochondrial condition, was at the centre of of a legal battle last year where her parents were involved in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases over life support treatment.

Ms Meloni got involved once again in this case and stepped in and made her a citizen in a last-minute legal bid to bring her to a Rome hospital for treatment.

But that attempt failed, and her parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth were told that her breathing tube would be removed.

She was moved from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham (QMC) to a hospice where she died in the early hours of November 13 2023.

In a statement to The Times, a spokesperson for Bristol Royal Hospital said officials 'worked with Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital to support the safe transfer of a newborn patient to Rome. Due to patient confidentiality, it would not be appropriate to go into specific details regarding a patient's care.'

MailOnline has approached Simone Pillon for a comment.
An 'illegal' school is teaching children conspiracy theories which include I'm a Celebrity being a Bill Gates-inspired plot to prepare the public to eat cockroaches after 'The Great Reset', an undercover investigation has found.

Ladan Ratcliffe, 60, the founder of Universallkidz, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, reportedly convinces parents to take their children out of mainstream education tell the council they are being homeschooled.

But in reality they send their children, aged eight to 14, to a dilapidated Victorian mansion, a former nightclub, to be taught that by a 'shaman' called Phil that crystals can heal any illness or injury.

Tom Ball, an undercover reporter for The Times worked as a teacher at the school for nearly a month, and said that his colleagues believed that viruses are fake, plane 'chemtrails' cause dementia and that dinosaurs did not exist.

One teacher, Justine, taught the children they would be eating cockroaches in the future if 'Klaus [Schwab, head of the WEF] and [Bill] Gates have their way' and that I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here had been broadcast to 'get us all into it' when 'it's time you all start eating cockroach'.

Shaman Phil teaches children that crystals can be used to heal any illness or injury at Universallkidz, in Stockport, Greater Manchester

Ladan Ratcliffe, 60, the founder of Universallkidz

The history teacher taught the pupils about Holocaust victim Anne Frank's diaries but questioned the truth of them, a common antisemitic conspiracy, when speaking to another teacher.

Lessons were held in the mansion, in a community centre in Stockport, and online, The Times reported.

Conspiracy theory leaflets were dotted around the hallways of the mansion, which claimed that Covid vaccines, climate science and 5G mobile internet were methods the government used to control the public.

The Times claimed that Universallkidz 'goes to great lengths to conceal its activities'. The school's website says it offers 'holistic alternative education' to provide an 'innovative approach to supporting parents who are home schooling'.

Ladan Ratcliffe, a former teacher, founded the school more than three years ago.

Following the undercover investigation by The Times, Ofsted has begun an urgent investigation into Universallkidz, the paper reports.

Illegal school, which offer full-time education but are not registered with the government, take advantage of the lack of regulation regarding homeschooled children under the law.

The pupils at Universalkidz are officially homeschooled. Ratcliffe told the undercover Times reporter that she assists parents in taking their children out of the state system and says they should lie to the local council about sending them to the school, which costs 30 a day.

Ratcliffe pictured in the school playground in undercover footage from The Times

Rising concerns about illegal schools led Ofsted to create a task force to tackle them in 2016. Inspectors thought only 24 existed at the time, but now it is believed that hundreds exist.

Most illegal schools prosecuted by Ofsted have been run by extremist Jewish and Christian groups, but in the wake of the pandemic, more non-religious illegal schools set up by conspiracy theorists.

At the time the reporter was working at the school, in January this year, 13 pupils were there, but he had been told that there had been 28 at times.

The school runs four days a week from 10am to 3.30pm but not every pupil goes in every day, with most going in three days a week, The Times reported.

Two children who attended four days a week had special educational needs.

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said the findings of The Times investigation were 'highly alarming, but sadly not surprising'.

He told the paper: 'Over the last eight years, we have found hundreds of unregistered schools, operating in unsafe premises, led by unsuitable people, teaching children very little. We are urgently investigating this shocking case, but weaknesses in the current legal system continue to hamper our efforts to deal with unregistered schools.

'The 2022 Schools Bill would have given us additional powers to investigate and close down illegal schools, but that legislation was dropped. Without those powers, I remain concerned that thousands of children across England are still attending illegal schools.'

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson told The Times it was 'frankly shocking that this school has been operating with impunity for so long and poisoning the minds of these young people'.

And a spokeswoman for the Department for Education said it was 'committed to improving powers to investigate and take action against these schools'.

Ratcliffe denied to The Times that Universallkidz was a school and said it 'only operates around 11 hours a week', and said it was 'a parent-child community initiative'.

She denied to the paper that the school was teaching conspiracy theories, saying that 'the learning experiences we provide are based on natural law of the universe and ancient knowledge that has been omitted from mainstream education'.

MailOnline has contacted Universallkidz for further comment.
JK Rowling has waded into the SNP's meltdown as Humza Yousaf desperately tries to cling on as Scottish First Minister.

The author, a prominent women's rights campaigner, posted on social media highlighting that Mr Yousaf's future could now be decided by former leadership rival Ash Regan.

Rowling said: 'The idea that Humza Yousaf's political fate may now lie in the hands of Ash Regan, the woman who left the SNP in disgust at its plans for gender self-ID, reminds me...'

She then shared a version of the Karma tarot card, with the words: 'They say Karma's a b****... but I hear she's a TERF.'

Mr Yousaf attempted a dramatic power play yesterday by sacking Green ministers from his government, ending the so-called Bute House coalition agreement.

Tensions had been rising over trans and Net Zero policies and the SNP leader said he would be better running a minority administration.

However, that disastrously backfired when the furious Greens declared they will support a no confidence motion tabled by the Scottish Tories.

With other parties ranged against him, that leaves Mr Yousaf at risk of defeat. Excluding the presiding officer there are 128 MSPs in total, and the SNP only has 63.

Ms Regan holds the balance, as if she supports the First Minister he would have 64 votes. In the event of a tie the presiding officer is meant to back the status quo, so he would be able to hold on.

JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it was 'karma' that the First Minister was now reliant on Ms Regan

Humza Yousaf was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign

On the X social media site last night, Ms Regan thanked Rowling (pictured) for her 'incredible strength and support'

Ms Regan has written to Mr Yousaf laying out demands for propping him up, including 'defending the rights of women and children'. That is thought to mean accepting the findings of the Cass review, which criticised gender therapies, in full. When Ms Regan left the SNP Mr Yousaf described it as 'no great loss'. Speaking to the BBC's World Tonight, Ms Regan said: 'I have written to the First Minister today with a number of issues that I've raised with him on progress made towards independence, on how he will defend the rights of women and children and a return to competent governance.'My vote will depend on really what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.'

She continued: 'I'm not setting out specific demands as such, I'm putting the ball into Humza's court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.'

On the X social media site last night, Ms Regan thanked Rowling for her 'incredible strength and support'.

The Harry Potter creator replied: 'Thanks for standing firm for girls and women in Scotland, Ash.'

Allies of Mr Yousaf insisted he will 'come out fighting' in the face of a concerted effort by opponents to oust him.

A source close to the First Minister insisted Mr Yousaf was 'absolutely not' considering his position following the chaotic events.

The confidence vote, expected Wednesday or Thursday next week, has been tabled against Mr Yousaf personally rather than the government.

As a result, he would not technically be obliged to quit if he loses. However, in reality it would be almost impossible for him to stay on.

There would then be 28 days to appoint a new First Minister who can command a majority before new Holyrood elections are triggered.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos. Humza Yousaf's government is in crisis. He claims it is now a new beginning, but really it is the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

After he lodged the motion of no confidence, Mr Ross said: 'He was bounced into ditching the Bute House Agreement by his own MSPs. The only leadership he has shown has been weak. His time as First Minister is up.'

Mr Yousaf unilaterally announced the move without an SNP member vote following an emergency meeting of his Cabinet yesterday.

The Greens said they would back a no confidence vote.

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) arrive for First Minister's Questions on Thursday. The Greens have said they will support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (pictured in parliament on Thursday) said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos'

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion.

'It could have come to an end by agreement.

'It has led to the position where Humza Yousaf is hanging on a thread as to whether he can stay as First Minister.'

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza has to understand he is no longer in the position of ruling the roost. I can only describe his tactics as kamikaze.

'He has insulted every opposition party in the parliament. There's a number of things you can and can't do when you are leading a minority administration, and one of them is not to insult all of the opposition parties.

'Humza is going to need to mend his ways and do it very quickly.'

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.'

Alex Salmond described Ms Regan as 'the most powerful MSP' in parliament

At an 8am meeting with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Mr Yousaf told them he would be 'terminating' their ministerial roles. He then met his Cabinet to inform them. Mr Yousaf's spokesman said ministers banged on the table in approval.

Just days prior to the announcement, Mr Yousaf publicly backed the partnership agreement.

At a press conference yesterday he denied he had made a weak and reactive decision.

He was asked if he was a 'lame duck leader who is heading for the exit door' and he responded: 'No, not at all. We are taking control as a party and indeed as a government on our priority terms.'

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes insisted she would support him in the no confidence vote.

Fergus Ewing, who repeatedly spoke out against the Bute House Agreement, challenged Mr Yousaf to 'do a spring clean of the policies and programmes'.
Ashley Judd led Harvey Weinstein accusers in criticizing the decision to overturn one of the pervert movie mogul's rape convictions, saying it was 'a hard day for survivors.'

Weinstein, 72, has been serving 23 years in a New York jail for two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and another involving production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

He was convicted in 2020 but the New York Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the disgraced producer did not receive a fair trial.

'This is unfair to survivors. We live in our truth. We know what happened,' Judd, who was the first to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, wrote on Instagram.

The actress later told the BBC: 'Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place.'

Weinstein became the face of the #MeToo movement after dozens of women came forward alleging sexual abuse. Thursday's decision was described as 'profoundly unjust' by his accusers.

Ashley Judd (pictured) has lead Harvey Weinstein accusers in criticising the decision to overturn one of the pervert movie mogul's rape convictions, saying it was 'a hard day for survivors'

Weinstein (pictured in January), 72, has been serving 23 years in a New York jail for the two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haleyi after his conviction in 2020

Judd told the BBC: 'Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place' (pictured: Ashley Judd, Vince Vaughn and Harvey Weinstein, right, in 1997)

Filmmaker and founder of Hire Survivors Hollywood, Sarah Ann Masse, who said she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein, said the overturning of his conviction was 'a devastating but unsurprising miscarriage of justice.'

'I just want to remind people that this overturning of this verdict does not erase his guilt and does not mean that anyone that came forward was not telling the truth, or that what they did wasn't valuable,' she told Good Morning Britain.

Masse added that this was 'just a glitch in the system', which could see victims having to 'go through it all again' in a retrial.

Former actress and musical director Louisette Geiss, who came forward in 2017 accusing Weinstein of sexually harassing her in 2008, told the breakfast show that it was 'soul crushing' because of 'how challenging it is to actually testify against him and to have to look at him and have to do all the work that it takes to prepare yourself to testify against him.'

She added that she was advocating for people to 'speak up and to fight legislation and state by state.'

'We have to, we have to strengthen it and we have to make sure that what happened in New York does not happen again. I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous,' Geiss said.

Masse, who claimed Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she interviewed to be his nanny, added: 'We're survivors, we're leading this charge and legislative change is deeply important.'

'This is a very sad day for countless women who suffered at the hands of a serial predator,' Siebel Newsom, who testified against Weinstein in California as one of his victims, said on Thursday.

'Two juries have said unequivocally: Harvey Weinstein must never be able to rape another woman, and he deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Harvey Weinstein is a serial predator and rapist.'

American actress Mira Sorvino, who previously made allegations against Weinstein and won an Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite, tweeted that she was 'disgusted' at the justice system and 'horrified'.

'Harvey was rightfully convicted. It's unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed,' Rosanna Arquette, actress and Weinstein accuser, told The Hollywood Reporter.

'Woke up to this news. I feel more than ever how important it is to keep breaking silence about sexual predators, and to keep supporting victims as they speak out,' Weinstein accuser and actress Katherine Kendall wrote on Instagram.

Rose McGowan, actress and Weinstein accuser, added: 'They will never overturn who we are.'

Model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez said on X: 'This is an ongoing failure of the justice system - and the courts - to take survivors seriously and to protect our interests.

Filmmaker and founder of Hire Survivors Hollywood, Sarah Ann Masse (pictured), who said she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein, said the overturning of his conviction was 'a devastating but unsurprising miscarriage of justice'

Former actress and musical director Louisette Geiss (pictured), who came forward in 2017 accusing Weinstein of sexually harassing her in 2008, told the breakfast show that it was 'soul crushing'

'This is a very sad day for countless women who suffered at the hands of a serial predator,' Jennifer Newsom, who testified, said

Mira Sorvino, one of the first actresses who claimed she was victimized by the former mogul, called the court's decision 'horrifying'

Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of raping Jessica Mann (pictured at court in 2020) at her home in Manhattan in 2013

He was also convicted of sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi, seen walking into his sentencing in New York in 2020

Justice James M. Burke, seen in a court sketch in 2020, was blamed for a 'crucial' mistake in Weinstein's New York trial

Soprano's actress Annabella Sciorra (right) seen with friend Rosie Perez was among six women to take to the stand in the New York trial

Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Haleyi, the woman Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2006, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

'(Manhattan District Attorney Alvin) Bragg ran for office in 2021 because his predecessor failed so many of us. We expect him to pursue Weinstein now.'

Double Jeopardy star Judd added: 'This today is an act of institutional betrayal.

'And our institutions betray survivors of male sexual violence, and we need to work within and without the systems to start having what is known as 'institutional courage'.'

Judd, 56, previously alleged she thought she was attending a breakfast hotel meeting in 1997, while filming the thriller Kiss The Girls, when Weinstein began pressuring her to give and receive massages and to watch him shower.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Harvey Weinstein cried tears of joy in prison when court overturned his conviction and feels like 'someone is finally listening to him' Advertisement

In a bid to get out of the bathroom, she claims she resorted to striking a deal with him that she would say 'yes' to his advances when she won an Oscar for one of his films.

In 2019, the United States District Court in Los Angeles dismissed a sexual harassment claim made by Judd against Weinstein in which she said he defamed her, damaging her career.

Weinstein's 23-year sentence was overturned in a 4-3 decision as the New York Court of Appeals found the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case.

New York's Court of Appeals found the trial judge in the rape case prejudiced Weinstein with 'egregious' improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that Weinstein wasn't charged with.

The court's majority said it was an 'abuse of judicial discretion' for Judge James Burke to allow testimony from these other women about 'loathsome alleged bad acts and despicable behavior.'

'Without question, this is appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct that could only diminish defendant's character before the jury,' they said.

The founder of #MeToo, Tarana Burke, has said the decision to overturn Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction is a 'clarion call' for the movement.

On Thursday, American activist Burke, 50, addressed the court's decision at a press conference and said it was 'not a blow' to the #MeToo movement.

Harvey Weinstein accuser Lauren Marie Young leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in 2020. Her testimony was also part of the evidence deemed 'unfair'

Costume designer Dawn Dunning, seen in this court sketch, was among the women who took to the stand to allege sexual assault despite her claims not forming part of the criminal complaint

Dunning (L) pictured with another Weinstein accuser, Tarale Wulff, claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed her and tried to pressure her into having a three-way with him

Weinstein was jailed for 23 years over the New York attacks, but this latest court ruling has now overturned the convictions. Pictured: Weinstein in February 2020 arriving for trial at Manhattan Criminal Court

The 4-3 decision was handed down by New York Court of Appeals judge Jenny Rivera (pictured)

'Many people, many survivors and those who love and support survivors probably thought that that original verdict meant that there was going to be a change, that it marked a change, marked a difference in how this justice system was going to move and operate', she said.

'And I think that we felt, and a lot of us felt, that we were on a road to seeing a different America. And this moment makes it feel like we were wrong.'

She added: 'What does this mean for the MeToo movement? I want you to hear this. This is not a blow to the movement. It is a clarion call. And we are prepared to answer that call.'

Allegations against Weinstein, 72, the once powerful and feared studio boss behind Oscar winners such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare In Love, ushered in a global MeToo movement in 2017, where women across the world shared experiences with sexual assault.

After his conviction in 2020, Weinstein was handed a further 16 years following his conviction in Los Angeles in 2022, which his team is also appealing.

Louisette Geiss said it made her happy 'that we fought the good fight here in California and that he has 16 years to spend a year in prison in California I hope that this one stays because he definitely deserves at least 16 years.'

During a press conference, Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala called the Court of Appeal's ruling 'a great day for America'.

'It may sound like an exaggeration but it's not. Today's legal ruling is a great day for America because it instils in us the faith that there is a justice system,' he said on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said: 'We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.'

Weinstein, will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

He maintains he is innocent of the charges of criminal sex acts involving forced oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He said any sex was consensual.

Weinstein's spokesman Juda Engelmayer said the producer 'has a long road ahead of him, and we see this as a positive sign going forward'.

He added: 'We are cautiously excited for the decision, and believe it is a long time overdue.'
A woman connected to the vicious Winter Springs carjacking murder earlier this month has been released, while another suspect revealed he was paid to abduct the Florida woman.

Magistrate Judge Robert Norway said Thursday in Orlando that Monicsabel Romero Soto, 28, wasn't a flight risk as she had no previous arrests and had two young children living with her in the Casselberry home she shared with her boyfriend and sister.

Soto's attorney, Susan Malove, told Norway that Soto 'is very concerned about her children' ages 3 months and 10, after being arrested on drug trafficking charges.

Meanwhile, the masked suspect who allegedly abducted Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas at gunpoint before she was found dead hours later in her burnt SUV - told police he was paid to drop her off to someone.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia admitted he pointed a semiautomatic rifle at Aguasvivas' SUV in broad daylight in an Orlando suburb on April 11, according to a court affidavit obtained by NBC South Florida Thursday.

Monicsabel Romero Soto, 28, was released by authorities after being charged with trafficking in cocaine. She has not been charged by law enforcement related to the carjacking

Jordanish Torres-Garcia was federally charged with carjacking resulting in death. He has now claimed he was paid to abduct Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvias

The remains of Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvias were found hours after she was kidnapped on a Florida road

But the case has made an exceptional turning point after Garcia told an FBI agent that he was paid $1,500 to kidnap the 31-year-old woman.

Soto had initially been arrested following a search warrant on her home shared with boyfriend Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez.

She was apprehended on April 17, after Homeland Security Investigations agents stumbled across more than $17,000 of rubber-banded cash, multiple semi-automatic handguns and scattered drugs, including 17 grams of fentanyl inside a kitchen cabinet.

They also found drug-packaging materials and two drug and money ledgers, and drugs were left around the house in easy reach of the children, prosecutor Stephanie McNeff told the judge.

After learning of a package en route from Puerto Rico to St Cloud in Osceola County that might contain drugs, they intercepted the delivery and found more than three one kilogram cocaine blocks, worth about $60,000, hidden within multiple parts of a large lamp, Pablo Rivera, a federal law enforcer and case manager, testified Thursday.

He said the three rectangular compartments of the lamp were 'perfectly shaped' like cocaine blocks.

Investigators had then caught Soto red-handed after putting the package back together and delivering it, setting up a stakeout near the St Cloud home to see who would collect it.

Soto arrived around an hour later in a white SUV and while carrying her three-month-old child, she picked up the package and placed it in her car.

After authorities had moved in, Soto admitted she had purchased the lamp for around $30 off Facebook Marketplace and sent it to a friend's home as she didn't think she could receive mail at her Casselberry home.

Soto claimed the friend had seen the package had been delivered and told her to come and collect it.

But despite there being no connection made between Soto's drug trafficking case and Aguasvivas' murder, McNeff argued that the woman was a danger to the community, and to her children.

'There are no [release] conditions that can assure the safety of the community' from Soto, she said.

Soto has not, nor has she ever been, considered a person of interest in the death of Aguasvivas, and she has not been charged by law enforcement related to the carjacking.

Aguasvivas had stopped at a red light at the time of the carjacking. Police say another man followed in the Acura sedan as she drove ahead

Video shows a man in a ski mask climb out of a green Acura behind Aguasvivas's car and point a handgun at her before climbing into the back driver's-side door

Garcia, however, admitted to law enforcement that he was the suspect who jumped out of the green Acura to carjack Aguasvivas on April 11.

He was first linked to the crime when law enforcement discovered he had a connection to the green Acura that was reportedly following and knocking into Aguasvivas' car before the carjacking.

His phone number was a match to that of the individual who bought the car, and he was wearing the same outfit in his Facebook profile photo and the day of the alleged carjacking.

Garcia was arrested on April 19 on a warrant for a weapons-related crime in Puerto Rico.

He was held in custody in Seminole County when the US District for the Middle District of Florida tacked on a federal charge of carjacking resulting in death.

The federal affidavit revealed that Garcia had met with an unidentified individual half-an-hour before the carjacking took place, where he picked up the AR-15 that was used in the alleged attack.

Now, he claims he was paid $1,500 to take Aguasvivas and 'deliver her to another individual,' the affidavit said.

It currently remains unclear where she was allegedly supposed to have been taken, and to whom she was meant to be delivered to.

He also told investigators that his gun was not loaded during the crime.

But when cops found Aguasvias' body hours after the carjacking, it was riddled with multiple fatal gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit.

Around a dozen shell casings were found scattered across the crime scene, consistent with the 10mm handgun Garcia was holding.

Garcia made his first appearance in court on Thursday morning for a probable cause hearing.

He has now been ordered to remain in the US due to the fatal carjacking case, despite there being a warrant out for his arrest in Puerto Rico.

Four others, alongside Garcia, have been arrested in relation to the case that has gained national attention.

Only two of them, Garcia and another person of interest identified as Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, will be charged federally with carjacking resulting in death.

Justiniano, 28, was wrapped into the case earlier in the week as he was linked to a red Toyota Corolla that was seen in the same apartment complex the green Acura was found abandoned at following the deadly carjacking.

Kevin Ocasio Justiniano was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Puerto Rico on April 22, 2024. He will be extradited to Central Florida to be federally charged with carjacking resulting in death

Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez was taken into custody on unrelated drug charges in Seminole County on April 22, 2024. He is allegedly the last person to have spoken to Aguasvivas

Francisco Alberto Estrella Chicon (left) was arrested after he allegedly gained inside information about the carjacking case, and Juan Luis Cintron-Garcia (right) died the day before the carjacking but officers believe his murder may be linked to the incident

CCTV footage captured the moment the Corolla arrived to the apartment complex to pick up the occupants of the Acura, who seemed to be wiping it down.

Records showed the Corolla belonged to a relative of Justiniano, officials said.

He is also believed to have been the driver of the Acura at the time of the carjacking, according to Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.

Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, 27, turned himself in on Monday night at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on an active warrant for Fentanyl trafficking and marijuana with intent to sell.

He has not been charged with Aguasvivas' murder, according to police, but was named a person of interest in the carjacking case since he was the last person to speak to the deceased.

An Orange County Sheriff's Deputy was arrested in April 14 by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office after he allegedly used law enforcement resources to gain inside information about the carjacking case.

Francisco Alberto Estrella Chicon, 33, was arrested for interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communication, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and for accessing computer or electronic devices without authorization or exceeding authorization.

'These are very serious criminal allegations. It is completely unacceptable for any law enforcement officer to misuse the power and authority of their job,' said Orange County Sheriff John Mina.

Chichon's wife was also reportedly childhood friends with Aguasvivas' husband and brother, according to Lemma.

It was reported that after hearing the news of her death, Aguasvivas' husband and brother made their way to Seminole County where one of them contacted Chichon's wife and asked them to get information on the detective in charge of the case.

Chichon then allegedly searched the detective's home address, phone number, and other information - before sending it to the husband and brother.

Lemma said no other charges are expected to be brought forth against Chicon, but the investigation remains open and ongoing.

Juan Luis Cintron-Garcia was also linked to the carjacking case, but the relation between remains unclear.

Lemma claimed the green Acura involved in the carjacking incident was connected to a deadly shooting at an apartment complex in Orange County that claimed the tow truck driver's life.

The late driver was shot and killed on April 10, the day before the carjacking, officials said.

He had been spotted towing the Acura on March 19.

After finding over 100 rounds at the crime scene, several of them being 10mm, similar to the ones fired at Aguasvivas' car, authorities believe it was a targeted attack.

'We can confirm that we believe the deadly shooting in Taft on April 10 could be related to the deadly carjacking out of Seminole County,' a spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's Office previously told FOX 35 News.

Potential suspects and motives currently remain unclear, as well as his link to Aguasvivas, Garcia and Hernandez.
Police in Sydney have released a drawing of a man they want to speak to about a sexual assault investigation.

A woman was walking along Missenden Road in the inner Sydney suburb of Camperdown at 1.30pm on February 11 when she was allegedly grabbed by a man.

The man allegedly then pulled the woman into a nearby laneway and sexually assaulted her.

On Friday, police released a computerised image of a man who they believe can help with their investigation.

Police in Sydney have released a drawing (pictured) of a man they want to speak to about a sexual assault investigation

A woman was walking along Missenden Road (pictured) in the inner Sydney suburb of Camperdown at 1.30pm on Sunday, February 11 when she was allegedly grabbed by a man

He is described as being aged in his 60s and Caucasian in appearance with short slicked-back brown hair.

The man is believed to have been wearing a black singlet, black tracksuit pants and thongs at the time of the alleged assault.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
A Conservative minister appeared to confuse the countries of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo last night on the BBC's Question Time - two countries that the US has recently warned are on the 'brink of war'.

Responding to an audience member's question during the programme about the British government's controversial Rwanda bill, Policing minister Chris Philp seemed to ask whether 'Rwanda is a different country to Congo' - prompting laughter and disbelief from the audience and his fellow panellists.

The Rwanda Bill became law on Thursday after being granted royal assent, paving the way for migrant deportation flights from the UK to get off the ground.

The bill was held up at several stages, including over questions about whether Rwanda is a safe country - with one provision in the bill even stating 'that the Republic of Rwanda is a safe country' to allow the scheme to go ahead.

Although Philp was mocked for his gaffe, the two central African nations have been inextricably linked by a recent and bloody history, with the UN and the US sounding the alarm in recent months over the rising risk of war once again.

A Rwandan worker lays the remains of people killed in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. This picture was taken in Kigali, April 6, 2000, six years after the genocide

This was highlighted last night when the Question Time audience member asked if asylum seekers in the UK who had arrived from Congo to escape the brutal conflict - which has displaced millions of people - could be sent to Rwanda.

The two countries neighbour each other, and Rwanda has been accused of supplying violent rebel groups in Congo/DRC with weapons and soldiers

The Rwandan government has denied this.

The audience member asked: 'I come from a neighbouring country called Congo, if you know geographically that it is located right next door to Rwanda.

'And right now in Goma there's a genocide going on and there's such a big conflict going on with people from Rwanda.

'So had my family members come from Goma on a crossing right now would they be sent back to the country that they're supposedly warring, Rwanda?

'Does that make any sense to you?'

A seemingly flustered Mr Philp replied: 'No, I think there's an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda.'

After the audience member objected that his parents were 'not from Rwanda', the Conservative MP for Croydon South appeared to ask: 'Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo isn't it? It's a different country?'

The comment caused a short outburst of laughter from some members of the debate programme's audience. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting's eyes darted around the room, apparently in disbelief at the question.

Mr Philp continued: 'There is a clause in the legislation that says if somebody would suffer, I think the phrase is 'serious and irreversible harm' by being sent somewhere, they wouldn't be sent. So there is that safety mechanism built into the legislation.'

Policing minister Chris Philp (pictured) asked 'well Rwanda is a different country from Congo isn't it?' during his appearance on the BBC's Question Time on Thursday night

The audience member (pictured) asked whether refugees and asylum seekers from Congo, a neighbouring country, would be sent to Rwanda if deported from the UK

The Conservative MP for Croydon South shocked the audience when he asked: 'Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo isn't it? It's a different country?'. Pictured: The audience gasps and laughs as he repeatedly blundered in front of the camera

In a stark moment of disbelief the camera panned to fellow panellist and Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting , who responded by giving Mr Philp a wide-eyed, bewildered stare

Eastern Congo has long been overrun by more than 120 armed groups seeking to control the region's rich resources as they carry out mass killings.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in recent months, worsening what is one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

About 7 million people are displaced, many beyond the reach of aid.

The fighting has displaced 738,000 more people in the first three months of this year alone, according to the UN aid agency OCHA.

Congo has been struggling to push back M23 rebels since they launched a comeback offensive in the already restive east in 2022.

The group is the most dominant in the region.

Attacks by the rebel group forced at least 165,000 people to flee their homes in March alone, most of them pouring into Goma, whose estimated population of two million people is already overstretched with inadequate resources.

Goma - the region's largest city - hosts most of the displaced people but is increasingly threatened by fighting in surrounding villages.

The Congolese government, UN officials and Western powers including the United States and Belgium have accused Rwanda of providing support for M23 - including weapons and soldiers - which Rwanda has repeatedly denied.

Rwanda's army has in-turn previously accused Congo of arming and fighting alongside another rebel group, the Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

Pictured: An armored convoy drives through Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on April 19, 2024. Attacks by the M23 rebel group forced at least 165,000 people to flee their homes in March alone, most of them pouring into Goma, whose estimated population of two million people is already overstretched with inadequate resources

This aerial photograph, taken on October 2, 2023, shows the Rusayo IDP camp, home to tens of thousands of war-displaced people, located at the foot of the active Nyiragongo volcano, on the outskirts of Goma in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Internally displaced Congolese people gather to vote at the Kanyaruchinya polling centre, during the Presidential election, at the Kanyaruchinya site for displaced people, in Nyiragongo territory, near Goma in North Kivu province of the DRC December 20, 2023

The on-going conflict between the two nations was also highlighted last week when Belgium's ambassador to Congo said the country should file a complaint with the International Court of Justice over Rwanda's failure to respect its border.

At a meeting of foreign envoys in the eastern city of Goma, Belgium's ambassador to Congo, Roxane de Bilderling, said more should be done to hold Rwanda to account.

'Another way of exerting pressure is for the Congo to lodge a complaint with the International Court of Justice for failure to respect international borders,' she said, referring to Rwanda.

Asked about de Bilderling's comment, Rwanda government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told Reuters: 'DRC should take Belgium to ICJ.'

Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief said the world is forgetting the escalating violence in eastern Congo as conflicts continue in places like Ukraine and Gaza.

The humanitarian crisis must be taken 'very seriously' to avoid further escalation, UN rights chief Volker Turk said after meeting with displaced people last week.

'There are a lot of conflicts in the world, and sometimes I have the impression that the situation here is being forgotten,' Turk said.

The UN official said many of the displaced people are women and children on the move as bombings and gunfire regularly erupt from surrounding mountains.

'It breaks my heart to see people who have been displaced several times in an extremely precarious situation here and who want peace,' Turk said.

He appealed for influential groups and people to 'use that influence to put an end to this situation.' He didn't name names.

United Nations experts have said they have evidence that Rwandan troops have fought alongside the M23 in eastern Congo and supplied the rebels with weapons.

They also said that members of DRC's army have fought alongside the FDLR.

Today's conflict is part of the long fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The M23 group is ethnic Tutsi-led, while the FDLR is composed of ethnic Hutus.

A worker stands near victims' bones recovered from pits which were used as mass grave during 1994 Rwandan genocide and hidden under houses in Kabuga, in the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda on April 9, 2019

A Rwandan government soldier shoots on June 12, 1994 in a field on the Mushubuti frontline as Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) makes gains in the conflict

Tens of thousands of Rwandan refugees, who have been forced by the Tanzanian authorities to return to their country despite fears they will be killed upon their return, stream back towards the Rwandan border on a road in Tanzania, December 19, 1996

Rwandan refugees cross the bridge of Rumumo river which marks the border between Tanzania and Rwanda, Dec. 14, 1996. Hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees who fled their country after the 1994 civil war started their way towards Rwanda

But regional tensions date back even further and have their roots in conflict between the different ethnic groups in Central and East Africa, as well as the fight to control minerals - which is particularly the case in the DRC.

The Kingdom of Rwanda was established in the 12th Century and ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was one of the oldest and most centralised kingdoms in the region.

It was later annexed by Germany which - in 1897 - colonised Rwanda as part of German East Africa. Belgium later took control in 1916 during World War One.

The Tutsi monarchy was abolished in 1961 after ethnic violence broke out between the Hutu and Tutsi during the Belgian-led Hutu Revolution, and after a 196 referendum, Rwanda became a Hutu-dominated republic.

But in 1973 a military coup overthrew President Gregoire Kayibanda, with Juvenal Habyarimana taking power. He retained the pro-Hutu policy.

The country was again plunged into chaos in 1990 with the outbreak of a civil war, with the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launching an attack.

The assassination of Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana on the night of April 6, 1994 - when his plane was shot down over Kigali - triggered a rampage by Hutu extremists and the 'Interahamwe' militia.

The 100-day massacre claimed the lives of as many as 800,000 people, largely Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, and became known as the Rwandan genocide.

Victims were shot, beaten or hacked to death in killings fuelled by vicious anti-Tutsi propaganda broadcast on TV and radio.

At least 250,000 women were raped, according to UN figures.

New mass graves continue to be uncovered.

Pictured: A graveyard of the victims of the Rwandan genocide

Jewelry belonging to victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide is displayed on an altar as a memorial, at a Catholic parish in Nyamata, Rwanda, April 5, 2024

Ethnic Hutu prisoners within the Gitarama Prison, which holds some 6,500 inmates, look out from behind the bars of a dormitory. Rwandan jails were packed with about 130,000 prisoners, overwhelmingly Hutus, awaiting trial for the genocide

The genocide ended with a victory for the RPF - led by the country's now-president Paul Kagame - with the government and genocidaires (Rwandans who are guilty of carrying out the genocide) fleeing into Zaire (now the DRC).

The DRC has since been accused of harbouring the perpetrators.

In 2002, Rwanda set up community tribunals where victims heard 'confessions' from those who had persecuted them, although rights watchdogs said the system also resulted in miscarriages of justice.

Today, Rwandan ID cards do not mention whether a person is Hutu or Tutsi.

Secondary school students learn about the genocide as part of a tightly controlled curriculum.

According to Rwanda, hundreds of genocide suspects remain at large, including in neighbouring nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Only 28 have been extradited to Rwanda from around the world.

France, one of the top destinations for Rwandans fleeing justice at home, has tried and convicted half a dozen people over their involvement in the killings.

The tiny nation has since found its footing under the iron-fisted rule of president Kagame, but the scars of the violence remain across Africa's Great Lakes region.

Earlier this month - as the 30th anniversary of the genocide was marked - Kagame said the international community had 'failed' his country during the genocide.

'Rwanda was completely humbled by the magnitude of our loss. And the lessons we learned are engraved in blood,' Kagame said in Kigali.

'It was the international community which failed all of us, whether from contempt or cowardice,' he told an audience that included former US president Bill Clinton, who had called the genocide the biggest failure of his administration.

In keeping with tradition, the ceremonies on April 7 - the day Hutu militias unleashed the carnage in 1994 - began with Kagame placing wreathes on mass graves and lighting a remembrance flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims are believed to be buried.

A picture taken on April 5, 2024 shows documents, belongings and skulls of victims ahead of the commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, on April 5, 2024

A plate depicting 10 Belgian UN peacekeepers killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide is seen in the room where they were killed in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 8, 2019

Flowers laid by relatives of 10 Belgian UN peacekeepers who were protecting the Rwandan prime minister and killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide are seen against a wall with bullet marks in the room where the 10 soldiers were killed

However, the violence in the region was by no means ended when the Rwandan genocide came to an end.

In the years that followed, the RPF was a key belligerent in the First and Second Congo War - the later becoming known as 'Africa's World War'.

The First Congo war resulted in thousands of deaths, while the Second - which spanned almost five years from 1998 to 2003 - saw hundreds of thousands of people killed and many more die in the aftermath.

In 2008, the International Rescue Committee estimated that the war and its aftermath had caused 5.4 million deaths, although this is contested. If correct, it would make the conflict the second most deadly since the Second World War.

Although the war officially came to an end in 2003, fighting in the region has never really ceased, with the US warning this year that Rwanda and Congo must 'walk back from the brink of war' amid a flare up.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood delivered the warning in February at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by France as violence has worsened in Congo's mineral-rich east which borders Rwanda.

Wood said Rwanda and Congo, along with 'regional actors,' should immediately resume diplomatic talks. 'These regional diplomatic efforts, not military conflict, are the only path toward a negotiated solution and sustainable peace,' he stressed.

The US warning follows the Rwandan Foreign Ministry's rejection of US calls for the withdrawal of its troops and surface-to-air missile systems from eastern Congo.

The US State Department also criticised the worsening violence caused by M23, a 'Rwanda-backed' armed group.

The Rwanda ministry's statement said its troops are defending Rwandan territory as Congo carries out a 'dramatic military build-up' near the border.

The ministry spoke of threats to Rwandan national security stemming from the presence in Congo of an armed group whose members include alleged perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.

The rebel group, known by its initials FDLR, 'is fully integrated into' the Congolese army, the statement said. Although Rwanda has long cited a threat posed by FLDR, authorities there had never admitted to a military presence in eastern Congo.

View taken in 1994 of the Rwandan Tutsi refugee camp in Nyarushishi, south Rwanda, where more than eight thousands Tutsis gathered under the protection of French soldiers

Rwandan refugee children plead with Zairean soldiers to allow them across a bridge separating Rwanda and Zaire where their mothers had crossed moments earlier before the soldiers closed the border, in Zaire, now known as Congo, August 20, 1994

Belgian Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Charles Defawes leaves a building with bullet holes and blast marks during the ceremony to pay tribute to the 10 Belgian Peacekeepers murdered in the first hours of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Belgian Memorial Camp Kigali on April 8

Wood urged the international community to take immediate steps to end the fighting and de-escalate tensions between Congo and Rwanda.

Millions of people face a grave humanitarian crisis and the scale of displacement, human rights abuses and gender based violence is 'appalling,' he said.

Eastern Congo already had one of the world's worst humanitarian crises , with nearly 6 million people previously displaced because of conflict, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

While Rwanda has seen significant improvements in its economy, healthcare and education systems since the 1994 genocide, Congo remains the second-poorest country in the world when measured by GDP per capita.

That is despite being the second-largest country in Africa, with an approximate area of 2.3 million square kilometres (890,000 sq mi), and being endowed with rich natural resources.

The average annual income is only $449 US dollars.

In addition to ethnic tensions, these resources have also been a source of conflict.

Just on Thursday, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo accused Apple - the US technology company - of using 'illegally exploited' minerals extracted from the country's embattled east in its products.

The DRC's lawyers sent Apple a formal notice seen by AFP news agency, effectively warning the tech giant that it could face legal action.

The country's Paris-based lawyers accused Apple of purchasing minerals smuggled from Congo into Rwanda, where they are laundered and 'integrated into the global supply chain'.

Contacted by AFP, Apple pointed to statements from its 2023 annual corporate report regarding the alleged use of so-called conflict minerals that are crucial for a wide range of high-tech products.

'Based on our due diligence efforts... we found no reasonable basis for concluding that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) determined to be in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country,' it said.

Sexual violence, armed attacks and widespread corruption at sites providing minerals to Apple are just some of the claims levelled in the letter.

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame said that the world 'failed' his country during the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of 800,000 people in 100 days

Macs, iPhones and other Apple products are 'tainted by the blood of the Congolese people', the DRC's lawyers said.

Growing demand for cobalt and copper to power so-called clean energy, including rechargeable batteries, has also led to forced evictions, sexual assault, arson and beatings in eastern DRC, according to a 2023 Amnesty International Report.

China has also heavily invested in the DRC, with the South China Morning Post describing the country as 'the epicentre of Chinese investments in Africa'.

Meanwhile, with Moscow's growing influence in Africa, reports have suggested that Russia is also attempting to court DRC leaders.
A leading charity has offered to rescue the injured Household Cavalry horses that escaped on Wednesday if they are unable to return to military duty.

Vida and Quaker, two of the five horses who ran amok through London, are said to be 'seriously injured'.

The horses were spooked as they passed through Wilton Crescent in Belgravia at 8.40am on Wednesday after they heard a loud noise from concrete dropping on the floor.

Five people, including three soldiers riding the horses, were injured in three separate incidents during the six-mile rampage that lasted two hours.

Vida, the blood-soaked grey seen running down Fleet Street with Trojan, underwent surgery for injuries consistent with 'serious lacerations' and is now recovering in the Hyde Park Barracks.

Vida was seen galloping through the streets of London in terrifying scenes on Wednesday morning

The Horse Trust was set up in 1886 by Miss Ann Lindo who was inspired by the story of Black Beauty

The Horse Trust takes about twenty-five horses a year from the Police and the Army. The Princess Royal announces the Home has been renamed The Horse Trust in 2006

A military source told The Sun things aren't 'looking good' for the black horse Quaker.

While the Ministry of Defence hasn't provided an update on whether they will return to duty, the oldest horse charity in the UK, the Horse Trust, has offered them sanctuary if they are unable to do so.

The Horse Trust was set up in 1886 by Miss Ann Lindo who was inspired by the story of Black Beauty.

In the early days, the charity took in retired horses who were used as London's over-worked cab horses.

Speaking to The Independent, Director of Fundraising and Communications Jessica Tallman said: 'If the decision was made for them not to return to work, we would always welcome them into the care of our charity.

'The Horse Trust are experts in research and the care of service horses, and we have many retired military horses residing at our sanctuary.'

In 2021, a retired cavalry horse called Empress, born in June 1999 and who passed out of training in June 2004, was taken in by The Horse Trust.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Horses from the Household Cavalry ran riot through London after being spooked by building work being carried out on a 15million mansion owned by a former West Bromwich Albion chairman Advertisement

She was a huge favourite among soldiers and riders and was a part of some of the nation's most high-profile events including Royal Weddings.

Most military working horses retire to carefully screened, loving families or farms and enjoy their new life as hunters or hack ponies.

Also, they sometimes live out their days peacefully with former soldiers who struck up a powerful bond.

Captain Skip Nicholls, Riding Master at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, explained: 'Most military working horses will serve an eighteen-year career.

'It's not heavy work but they do have to carry a lot of weight with all the ceremonial uniforms, and we will never work a horse to the point they can't continue at peak performance.

'We want them to retire with some quality life left in them so they can enjoy a happy five-10 years retirement in a nice home.

'The Horse Trust takes about twenty-five horses a year from the Police and the Army.

'They take our oldest, our boldest and those dearest to our hearts.

'The Horse Trust is fantastic - we'd love them to buy more fields so they could take more animals, but sadly it just comes down to acreage. They won't compromise on standards.'

Pictured in 1908, the new centre for the Horse Trust at Westcroft Farm, Cricklewood

Pictured, two of the three surviving horses of the Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings at the sanctuary

During World War II the Home of Rest becomes a war-time Horse Hospital, taking in animals injured in air raids

The Army has a database of all its horses and when the time comes for them to retire, people can bid to buy a horse.

A prospective owner is checked to ensure their property is safe, sanitary and that the animal will be assured a good care-for-life.

But there aren't private homes for every horse, which is where the charity comes in.

Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive of the Horse Trust, said: 'Working horses today are the equine equivalent of the civil servant.

'Seventy-five per cent come from government jobs, working with the police or the military having been owned by the state.

'But unlike civil servants, they don't get a pension when they retire so we step forward and offer these remarkable animals the retirement they deserve.

'It's like the Royal Hospital Chelsea for Army horses.'

The Army has a database of all its horses and when the time comes for them to retire, people can bid to buy a horse. The Horse Trust during the COVID crisis in 2021

Horses who are recovering at the Horse Trust. The charity is highly regarded for its care of animals

The army named four animals who broke loose on Wednesday as Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson.

At least two of the horses who needed surgery may never return to active duty.

They are said to be in a serious condition, a minister said.

Defence minister James Cartlidge told Sky News: 'There were five horses. They have all been recovered.

'Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition.

Vida (white horse) and Trojan (black horse) on their rampage through London after being 'spooked by builders moving rubble' are in a 'serious condition'

The last two horses were finally caught outside the Glamis Estate in Limehouse

Tennyson was the horse who ran into a double-decker bus, smashing its windscreen

'They are in a serious condition, but as I understand, still alive.'

Army top brass told MailOnline the horses were given the best treatment possible by military vets, which saved their lives.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Be in no doubt, had these not been military horses then their chances of survival would have been greatly reduced.'

An Army spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are hoping that both these horses make a recovery. Whether they will recover enough to return to official duties, it's too early to know for sure.

'But they've been given the best veterinary treatment possible and had they not been attached to the army then I don't believe they would have made it this far.

'Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying. Vida was operated on overnight and is currently in stables at the Hyde Park Barracks under observation.

'Quaker is the most seriously injured and was also operated on overnight but it was decided to move the horse to an equine hospital in the early hours.

'The extent of the injuries is not completely clear but we don't believe at this stage there are any broken bones. The injuries are consistent with serious lacerations.'
On 26 April in 1986, the world's worst nuclear disaster took place, yet the stories of the key figures involved in the catastrophic event continue to intrigue and haunt.

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, a tragedy that left a haunting legacy of environmental devastation and human suffering.

Almost four decades ago, the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near the town of Pripyat in what was then the Soviet Union (now Ukraine), exploded during a safety test gone horribly wrong.

The meltdown resulted in the release of radioactive material across Europe, and it is reported by the World Nuclear Association that while around 30 people died immediately, hundreds, if not thousands, later died as a result of radiation exposure.

From the scientists and engineers to the politicians and employees, ten key individuals played a crucial role in the unfolding tragedy and its aftermath.

Here's a look at what became of the figures central to the Chernobyl disaster:

In 1986, the world's worst nuclear disaster took place at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, yet the stories of the key figures involved in the catastrophic event continue to intrigue and haunt

Pictured, attending trial in 1887: Viktor Brioukhanov, director; Nikolai Fomin, assistant director and chief engineer; Anatoly Diatlov, associate chief engineer; Boris Rogojkine, night manager; Alexander Kovalenko, sector nA 3 and 4 supervisor and Youri Laouchkine, a state inspector

1. Anatoly Dyatlov: The Deputy Chief Engineer

The deputy chief engineer of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant at the time of the explosion, Anatoly Dyatlov bore significant responsibility for the disaster.

Dyatlov supervised a test at the No. 4 reactor at the plant, which resulted in the Chernobyl disaster.

In preparation, Dyatlov ordered the power to be reduced to 200 MW, which was lower than the 700 MW stipulated in the test plan - the reactor then stalled unexpectedly during test preparations.

Although he was one of the few working at the reactor that night to have survived, he was later convicted of gross violation of safety regulations and sentenced to ten years in a Soviet labor camp.

Despite his declining health due to radiation exposure, he remained unrepentant until his death in 1995.

The deputy chief engineer of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant at the time of the explosion, Anatoly Dyatlov (pictured, centre), bore significant responsibility for the disaster

2. Viktor Bryukhanov: The Director

As the plant's director, Bryukhanov faced similar charges to Dyatlov and was also sentenced to ten years in prison.

Released early due to health concerns, he lived out his days in obscurity, haunted by the events of April 26, 1986.

As the plant's director, Bryukhanov (pictured) faced similar charges to Dyatlov and was also sentenced to ten years in prison

3. Leonid Toptunov: The Senior Reactor Controller

A young and inexperienced engineer on duty during the night of the explosion, Toptunov suffered severe radiation burns and succumbed to acute radiation syndrome within weeks.

He died from acute radiation poisoning on 14 May 1986, and his family were later informed that his death was the only reason he was not prosecuted for the accident.

In 2008, Toptunov was posthumously awarded with the 3rd degree Order for Courage by Viktor Yushchenko, the then President of Ukraine.

A young and inexperienced engineer on duty during the night of the explosion, Toptunov (pictured, right) suffered severe radiation burns and succumbed to acute radiation syndrome within weeks.

Pictured: the mother of Leonid Toptunov at his tomb in the Memorial Complex on Mitinskoye Cemetery in Moscow Suburbs 26 April 1998

4. Yuri A. Laushkin: Senior engineer and atomic energy inspector at reactor No. 4

Yuri A. Laushkin, a senior engineer and inspector at the reactor, was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for negligence and unfaithful execution of his duties, as reported by LA Times.

Yuri A. Laushkin (pictured: right), a senior engineer and inspector at the reactor, was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for negligence and unfaithful execution of his duties

5. Vasily Ignatenko: The Firefighter

Vasily Ignatenko was one of the very first responders at the Chernobyl plant in Pripyat.

He was 25 years old when he tended to the blaze along with other firefighters at Chernobyl.

Ignatenko took to the building's roof and attempted to extinguish the open-air graphite fires atop that gave Ignatenko his lethal dose of radiation.

He died, along with 27 other firefighters, due to radiation exposure less than three weeks later - but his historic contributions helped stop the crisis from becoming even worse.

His wife Lyudmila Ignatenko detailed the build-up and the aftermath of her husband's death, revealing that the morgue could not put a suit or shoes on the firefighter, according to The Collector.

Ignatenko's radiation sickness had made it difficult to be buried properly, so he, as well as the other 27 first responders, was buried barefoot under layers of concrete and zinc to protect the public from his still radioactive body.

Vasily Ignatenko (pictured) was one of the very first responders at the Chernobyl plant in Pripyat

Vasily Ignatenko's wife, Lyudmila Ignatenko (pictured), detailed the build-up and the aftermath of her husband's death, revealing that the morgue could not put a suit or shoes on his body

6. Nikolai M. Fomin: Former chief engineer

Serving as the chief engineer of the Chernobyl plant, Fomin was convicted alongside Dyatlov and Bryukhanov to ten years in a labor camp, according to the LA Times.

However, his health deteriorated rapidly due to radiation sickness, and he passed away in 1987, just a year after the disaster.

7. Boris V. Rogozhkin: Shift Director

Rogozhkin was shift chief at the reactor at the time of the explosion, and was sentenced to five years in a labor camp for violation of safety rules and two years for negligence, according to the LA Times.

8. Alexander P. Kovalenko: Chief of Reactor No. 4

Alexander P. Kovalenko, superintendent of the reactor, was sentenced to three years in a labor camp for violating safety regulations.

9. Boris Shcherbina: Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union

A Soviet politician tasked with overseeing the government's response to the disaster, Shcherbina faced criticism for his handling of the crisis.

He had arrived 18 hours after the explosion to find that none of the local ministers wanted to be responsible for the consequences of declaring the reactor dead.

He refused to wear nuclear protection, and his first suggestion to contain the graphite fires was to pour water on them (which would have caused the fires to expand).

Buses had been waiting for 36 hours between Chernobyl and Pripyat, and still, citizens were not allowed to leave until the afternoon of April 27, when radiation levels had reached 180 to 300 milliroentgens per hour, according to The Collector.

Despite his initial denial of the severity of the situation, he later played a crucial role in the evacuation and containment efforts.

Shcherbina passed away in 1990, his legacy shaped by his actions during Chernobyl.

10. Maria Protsenko: Leading the Evacuation after the Chernobyl Disaster

Maria Protsenko was the city's chief architect of Pripyat and a force to be reckoned with - she was known to carry a ruler with her as she assessed buildings, and would scold workers if they failed to be precise.

On the night of April 26, 1986, Protsenko was one of the first to urge immediate evacuation.

When Scherbina finally gave the order for residents to leave, Protsenko was put in charge of organising the evacuation - planning the escape of every person in every building and instructed waiting buses on where to take the citizens.

Protsenko was the final person to leave the city only once she was satisfied that everyone else was safe.

She is still alive today and continued to live in Ukraine until 2022, when she and her family fled the country to Germany following Russia's invasion.
An employment tribunal judge is accused of bullying women who appeared before him and of shouting at a woman 16 times during her three-day case.

Judge Philip Lancaster has been accused by five different women of bullying and sexist behaviour during employment tribunal hearings.

The women who have encountered him on separate occasions say they want to speak out to highlight his degrading behaviour towards them.

One woman told BBC News that she feared for any woman who appeared before him.

Another called his behaviour 'profoundly disturbing'.

Dr Hinaa Toheed, a GP, appeared before Judge Lancaster in February 2022 and says he hurled abuse at her and shouted 16 times

Judge Philip Lancaster is accused of bullying women who appear before him for employment tribunals

Dr Hinaa Toheed, a GP, appeared before Judge Lancaster in February 2022 while bringing a case of maternity discrimination against her former business partner.

She says that she was shouted at repeatedly by the judge who also hurled insults at her including calling her an 'omnishambles'.

READ MORE: HR worker who claimed she was sacked from job at Sellafield nuclear site because she blew the whistle on allegations of bullying and sexual harassment LOSES tribunal case Advertisement

The GP said that while giving evidence Judge Lancaster took over the cross-examination and she felt bullied into conceding points that favoured her former business partner.

She said she felt that if she didn't agree with what he said she would be shouted at.

The shouting was so bad that Dr Toheed's legal team was concerned and began to note down every time he raised his voice at her while she was giving evidence.

They counted 16 separate occasions over just three days where the judge bullied the GP.

Dr Toheed's lawyers also considered asking the judge to stand down but were worried they would be unsuccessful and their request would only antagonise the judge further.

The GP lost her case but is appealing against the findings.

Following the tribunal's conclusion Dr Toheed complained to the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary about Judge Lancaster, accusing him of 'an inappropriately hostile attitude' during her hearing.

Alison McDermott (pictured) an HR consultant, had her case against nuclear waste disposal Sellafield heard by Judge Lancaster who she said screamed at her throughout the tribunal

Her complaint was considered in 2022 by a higher judge, Stuart Robertson, but his conclusion is on hold until Dr Toheed's appeal is decided.

Judge Robertson said his decision to hold off from making any conclusions was due to her complaint making similar points to her appeal and he wished to avoid embarrassing the tribunal process.

Dr Toheed said she feels as though the judiciary are more concerned with their reputation than the conduct of Judge Lancaster.

What is an employment tribunal? Employment tribunals are specialist courts that rule on disputes between employers and their employees. They make independent legal decisions in disputes. Cases often focus on unfair dismissal, discrimination or redundancy payments and there are around 30,000 hearings each year in England, Wales and Scotland Northern Ireland has their own separate system Advertisement

Dr Toheed's experiences were not isolated as nine months earlier a woman called Andra had appeared before Judge Lancaster to represent her partner, Ion Ionel.

Mr Ionel was a joiner from Romania who had brought a case of racial discrimination against the construction company he worked for.

Although not legally trained, Andra, who is also Romanian said she was fully prepared for the hearing.

However, she told the BBC she had had a horrible experience before the judge who appeared irritated and shouted at her and her partner on more than one occasion.

She said: 'I don't think I've ever been treated like that in my life.'

Andra said she was constantly interrupted, her questions were described as irrelevant and he criticised her line of questioning.

Mr Ionel lost his case but was successful on appeal.

An appeal tribunal said that there had been 'serious material procedural irregularities' during the hearing, including 'a significant number of occasions when the judge intervened to prevent questioning of the respondent's witnesses'.

Although a new hearing in front of a different judge has been scheduled for September, Andra still wants to take action against Judge Lancaster after her horrible experience.

Alison McDermott, an HR consultant, brought a case against nuclear waste disposal Sellafield.

The HR consultant, who claimed she was fired from a job at a nuclear waste site because she blew the whistle on allegations of bullying and sexual harassment, lost her original employment tribunal.

During her first hearing, she referred to criticisms of Judge Lancaster including that he screamed at her and made demeaning comments about her earnings.

Ms McDermott believes her treatment was because she was a woman.

Her case garnered media attention and encouraged others to come forward and complain.

Although Ms Mcdermott lost her case, an appeal judge found there had been errors in the tribunal and awarded her some concession and a new tribunal is now investigating her claim.

Since November 2023, audio from employment tribunal cases has been recorded in England Wales but the cases which are being brought against Judge Lancaster occurred between 2028 and 2022.

During the hearings, the judge's written notes were treated as the official court record for employment tribunal hearings making it more difficult to have complaints upheld the five women say.

Two other women who have complained about the tribunal judge include an NHS nurse who brought a claim against her employers in 2021.

She claims Judge Lancaster showed a preference for her employer's witnesses and said he bullied her.

She lost her case but was partially successful on appeal.

A woman who had her case heard by Judge Lancaster in 2018 said his behaviour throughout her hearing was 'erratic' and 'disturbing'.

In a statement, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said it could not provide comment in response to any conduct allegations.

Judge Lancaster, who has been an employment tribunal judge since 2007, declined to comment when approached by the BBC.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has boasted his nation now hosts 'several dozen' Russian nuclear weapons as relations between Moscow and Europe continue to nosedive.

State news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying that the war in Ukraine and rising tensions between East and West required changes to Minsk's security stance, warning a major confrontation could end in nuclear 'apocalypse'.

'Nuclear deterrence - those who will push us towards it should know about it and have a rational look at the straightforward consequences of their ill-considered decisions, to put it mildly,' Lukashenko said.

The long-serving Belarusian dictator and Vladimir Putin confirmed in December that the Kremlin planned to station some nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time since the Soviet era.

The strongman also declared yesterday that he had moved a contingent of combat-ready troops from Vitebsk, 25 miles from Russia, closer to the border with Poland.

'A couple of battalions with a readiness of three hours' had been moved to the western end of Belarus where they are 'now standing head-to-head with NATO'.

He said the move was justified because of the increased security threat amid the war in Ukraine and Western efforts to stoke conflict.

'Washington is doing everything to drag our country into the conflict, to launch a mechanism to involve other states into it; in other words, to weaken both western Europe and eastern Europe.'

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has boasted his nation now hosts 'several dozen' Russian nuclear weapons as relations between Moscow and Europe continue to nosedive

T he long-serving Belarusian dictator also declared yesterday that he had moved a contingent of combat-ready troops from Vitebsk, 25 miles from Russia, closer to the border with Poland

State news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying that the war in Ukraine and rising tensions between East and West required changes to the Minsk's security stance, and warning a major confrontation could end in nuclear 'apocalypse'

Poland is ready to host nuclear arms if NATO decides to deploy the weapons in the face of Russia reinforcing its armaments in Belarus and Kaliningrad, President Andrzej Duda said in an interview published on April 22, 2024

Lukashenko's alarming rhetoric comes as Russia's deputy foreign minister warned the Kremlin would make NATO nuclear weapons in Poland one of its primary targets if they are deployed there.

The unsettling statement from Sergei Ryabkov followed comments from Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday in which he said his nation would be ready to host Western nukes.

'Our patience is not limitless,' Ryabkov said in comments carried by Russia's TASS newswire yesterday.

'If Poland takes the path of further escalation - these verbal games with nuclear weapons - then it means there will be a further round of tension.

'This game is very dangerous, and its consequences may be unpredictable.'

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov also responded to Duda's declaration, stating that Russia's defence ministry will 'analyse the situation... and take all the necessary retaliatory steps to guarantee our safety'.

In an interview published in Polish newspaper Fakt on Monday, Duda said his country - a member of the transatlantic security alliance - would be ready to host nuclear weapons if called upon to do so by Western partners.

Russia has 'recently relocated its nuclear weapons to Belarus,' Duda said.

'If there were a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons within the nuclear sharing also on our territory in order to strengthen the security of NATO's eastern flank, we are ready.'

But his comments may have been made out of hand, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later telling journalists he had to discuss this suggestion with Duda urgently.

'I would also like any potential initiatives to be, first of all, very well prepared by the people responsible for them and (I would like) all of us to be absolutely positive that we want it,' Tusk said in a rather reserved response.

'This idea is absolutely massive, I would say, and very serious (and) I would need to know all the circumstances that have led the president to make this declaration,' he said.

Russia will make NATO nuclear weapons in Poland one of its primary targets if they are deployed there, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov declared today (Russian Yars nuclear missile launch is pictured)

Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko (L) and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin (R) confirmed in December that Moscow's nukes were stationed in Belarus

A Russian Sarmat ballistic missile is seen on Red Square during Moscow's May 9 Victory Day parade

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski warned that a Russian attack on NATO would end in defeat for Moscow, but said NATO must increase its defences to ensure long term security (Vladimir Putin is pictured)

Meanwhile, Poland's foreign minister yesterday called on NATO to increase its defence preparedness and said Warsaw should be at the centre of decision-making in the European Union.

Setting out his vision for Poland at the heart of Europe, Radek Sikorski warned that a Russian attack on NATO would end in defeat for Moscow, but said NATO must increase its defences to ensure long term security.

'It is not we - the West - who should be afraid of a clash with Putin, but the other way around,' Sikorski said.

'It is worth recalling this, not to increase Russians' sense of threat, because NATO is a defence pact, but to show that an attack by Russia on any of the Alliance members would inevitably end in its defeat.

'Russia's military and economic potential pales in comparison to that of the West. If we do not lack the will, Russia will lose. Putin's only hope is our lack of determination.'

Polish President Duda has previously spoken of Poland's openness to nuclear sharing within NATO, before Tusk's government came to power in December.

Three NATO members are nuclear powers: the US, the United Kingdom and France.

Within the sharing program, the US has nuclear facilities based in some allied countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, to deploy and store the weapons.

Seven members of the alliance have dual-capability aircraft that can carry conventional bombs or nuclear warheads and are available for use should such a strike be needed.

Washington retains absolute control and custody over the weapons it deploys, and would do so if it were to reach an agreement with Poland to station nuclear weapons there too.
King Charles cancer latest: All the major updates on the monarch's health

The world was left in a state of shock after Buckingham Palace announced King Charles' cancer diagnosis.

The Palace confirmed that the monarch would be undergoing treatment for the disease on February 5 - sparking an outpouring of well-wishes and sympathies from around the globe.

Charles' wife Queen Camilla has been firmly at his side throughout the treatment, visiting him at hospital three times and one day and attending church with him on their Sandringham estate.

Here, MailOnline takes a look at the sequence of events that led to today's update on the King's health.

Buckingham Palace have shared a major update regarding King Charles health following his cancer diagnosis in February

MailOnline takes a look at the timeline of events since the palace confirmed his cancer diagnosis

January 17, 2024: King Charles shares he has an 'enlarged prostate'

Buckingham Palace shared that King Charles would be receiving treatment for an 'enlarged prostate'.

'In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,' the statement from the palace read.

At the time, they said His Majesty's condition was 'benign', adding that he would be going to hospital for a 'corrective procedure' the following week.

They continued: 'The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.'

It was believed the monarch wanted to was understood that the King wanted to share his experience in the hopes it would encourage others experiencing symptoms to seek medical advice.

January 26: King Charles undergoes surgery

A week later, the head of state was spotted heading into the private London Clinic with Queen Camilla by his side.

Kate Middleton also underwent treatment at the same hospital.

According to People, the King had arrived at the medical centre to see the Princess of Wales before his surgery.

Later on Friday January 26, Charles made his way to the London Clinic from Clarence House at 8.30am.

'The King was this morning admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment,' Buckingham Palace said.

'His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.'

January 27: Queen Camilla visits him in hospital

Queen Camilla was spotted visiting King Charles in hospital for the three times in one day following King Charles' prostate surgery

The Queen first arrived with the King for his appointment at about 9am on January 27 (pictured)

Following the confirmation from Buckingham Palace, Queen Camilla visited her husband three separate times in one day.

Camilla's car was seen driving to the rear entrance of the private hospital in Marylebone at 6.34pm on the Saturday.

She was then seen leaving the hospital in the back seat just before 8pm.

The Queen insisted on being by her husband's side, having initially accompanied him for his procedure at around 9am after they were driven together from Clarence House in a low-key convoy without police outriders.

At around 3pm yesterday, Camilla had given royal fans and reporters a positive update, telling them 'he's fine, thank you' as she walked out of the clinic.

January 29 - King Charles leaves hospital

Three days after his prostate surgery King Charles waved to well-wishers as he left the London Clinic (pictured)

Three days following his surgery the monarch left hospital with his wife Queen Camilla by his side.

As they walked from the hospital to their car, the Queen acknowledged the building crowds by waving.

Buckingham Palace later confirmed the monarch had been discharged from hospital following a medical procedure.

They added that the King's upcoming public engagements would be rescheduled to allow the king 'a period of private recuperation'.

'He would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days,' the statement read.

February 4: Charles seen for first time since leaving the hospital

On February 4, he was spotted for the first time since leaving hospital heading to a Sunday service on his Sandringham estate

He attended the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk with his wife

King Charles was spotted for the first time since he left the hospital on February 4.

Charles had returned home from London to his Sandringham home to begin his out-patient treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Alongside his wife, the monarch waved to members of the public outside St Mary Magdalene Church near Norfolk home.

Both King Charles and Queen Camilla seen heading to a Sunday service alongside Rev Canon Dr Paul Williams.

February 5: Buckingham Palace confirm cancer diagnosis

The day after the Sunday service, Buckingham Palace announced the King had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer (Pictured: in France last September)

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer'

A day after Charles attended Sunday service, it was confirmed by Buckingham Palace that an unspecified form of cancer had been found during his treatment.

Charles informed close family by phone, including estranged son Harry later flew back from his home in California to see his father.

The Buckingham Palace statement read: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted.

'Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,' the palace said in a statement.

'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

'Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.'

They added: 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.

'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.'

February 6: King Charles seen for first time since cancer news

King Charles arrived back at the Norfolk country house with Queen Camilla after meeting his son Prince Harry for less than an hour in their first face-to-face encounter for nine months

Charles headed back to his home in Sandringham (pictured) via helicopter after the brief meeting with his estranged son

A day later Charles was seen for the first time driving from Clarence House London following the update about the monarch's health.

The royal couple waved to onlookers from their vehicle as they supposedly travelled to Buckingham Palace - later travelling to Sandringham House via helicopter.

His son, Prince Harry flew from California to be by his father's side following the shock diagnosis.

The Duke of Sussex had a 'brief meeting' with his father hours after touching down at Heathrow following an 11-hour British Airways flight from his home in California.

His wife Meghan Markle and children, Archie and Lilibet, stayed behind.

Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is resting following treatment.

Harry left LAX for London last night after Charles called him personally to tell him the devastating news

February 10: King Charles shares a message for first time since cancer diagnosis

King Charles III gave the public a 'heartfelt thanks' for their messages of support following the update on his health (pictured in 2023)

A few days later the King spoke for the first time regarding his cancer diagnosis, thanking the public for the public for their messages of support.

'I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days,' the monarch said.

'As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.'

He also added that is was 'heartening' to hear how his diagnosis helped shed light on organisations helping cancer patients and their loved ones.

'It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations which support cancer patients and their families across the U.K. and wider world,' he said.

'My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.'

King Charles and Queen Camilla, pictured heading to church on February 18

This was the first time the couple had been spotted going to the St Mary Magdalene Church since his cancer diagnosis was revealed

February 18: The Royal couple head to church

During February the monarch was seen going to St Mary Magdalene Church on his Sandringham estate alongside Queen Camilla.

As previously mentioned, the monarch had returned to his Norfolk home from London so could undergo out-patient cancer treatment as well as have meetings with staff.

Charles kept quite private at Sandringham whilst he continued to tend to his responsibilities away from the public eye.

February 21 : King Charles first meeting with the Prime Minister

King Charles met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace with the pair seen smiling during their first face-to-face meeting since the monarch's cancer diagnosis

The monarch and Prime Minister also shared a joke or two during the meeting

King Charles III held his first face-to-face meeting with the Prime Minister since it was revealed he is battling cancer.

He revealed to Rishi Sunak that the 'wonderful messages and cards' he had received since his diagnosis have 'reduced me to tears.'

In what was their first audience of the year, his majesty appeared to be in good spirits on February 21.

The Prime Minister told the King that it was 'very nice to see you', to which Charles responded: 'A bit of a gap I'm afraid,' referring to the disruption to their weekly meetings.

Mr Sunak reassured him that 'we're all behind you, the country is behind you', and added that it was 'wonderful to see you looking so well.' In typical good humour, the King jokingly replied: 'Well, it's all done by mirrors, really.'

Before the pair's private discussion, the 75-year-old monarch also met with members of the Privy Council in person on Tuesday evening.

March 21 : Queen Camilla shares health update

During a trip to Northern Ireland, the Queen told well wishers that the monarch was 'doing very well' as his cancer battle continued.

She told members of the public the King, who has been receiving treatment for cancer, was 'disappointed' not to be able to join her there.

Instead, Charles was spotted being driven away from Clarence House in central London.

He then held private audiences with diplomats at Buckingham Palace.

March 31: Easter Sunday Service

At the end of March a sea of well-wishers emerged to see the King as he attended Easter Service at Windsor church (pictured)

The King and Queen waved as they arrive at St George's Chapel in Windsor earlier. They were seated away from members of the public

At the end of March a sea of well-wishers emerged to see the King - from afar - as he attended Easter Service at Windsor church.

Upon strict doctor's advice, King Charles and Queen Camilla were seated slightly apart from the rest of the royals and the wider congregation.

Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Easter Matins Service - as it is officially known - from 10.45am until 11.45am,

The first royal appearance since the King started receiving treatment for cancer, signalled a 'gentle' return to the public stage, insiders told the Sunday Express.

The King's attendance at the service in St George's Chapel, Windsor, is a 'sign of things heading in the right direction', a palace source told The Telegraph.

April 9: Bank of England present new King Charles bank notes

King Charles III (left) was presented with the first bank notes featuring his portrait from the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey at Buckingham Palace

The King and Mr Bailey were joined by Sarah John (right), the Bank of England's Chief Cashier, whose signature appears on the currency

Pictured are one side of the 5 and 10 bank notes which bear a portrait of King Charles III, and which will enter circulation on June 5, 2024

Over a week later King Charles was greeted by the governor of the Bank of England where he was presented the first banknotes bearing his portrait.

His Majesty appeared to be pleased, quipping the bank notes had been 'very well designed'.

He was also shocked to discover that he was only the second monarch to feature on a bank note.

'Good morning Governor. I'm sorry it's a bit delayed this. I hope it isn't too delayed,' Charles he told Andrew Bailey.

But Mr Bailey replied: 'Not at all. We're still in advance of launching them.'

Charles remarked: 'Oh you are? Great.'

Sarah John, the Bank of England's Chief Cashier, whose signature appears on the currency, also joined the pair at the historic meeting.
A glamorous teenager who led unmarked police car on an 88mph car chase spanning five miles across a town centre while under the influence of alcohol has been spared jail after blaming her dangerous driving on her 'state of mind'.

Zuzanna Kozlowska, 19, jumped a red light, weaved between cars, sped over a humpback bridge at 68mph and took a bend at 82mph - unaware of the unmarked patrol car following her.

Kozlowska was eventually stopped after the officer who had been trailing her since she raced away from him at a set of traffic lights in Warrington, Cheshire, switched on his blue lights and told her to pull over.

She passed a breath test despite admitting she was under the influence of alcohol.

Zuzanna Kozlowska, 19, jumped a red light, weaved between cars, sped over a humpback bridge at 68mph and took a bend at 82mph - unaware of the unmarked patrol car following her

Kozlowska was eventually stopped after the officer who had been trailing her since she raced away from him at a set of traffic lights in Warrington, Cheshire, switched on his blue lights and told her to pull over

Kozlowska from Little Stanney, Chester, faced up up six months jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted dangerous driving but was spared jailed and given a suspended sentence at Warrington magistrates court after apologising for her conduct.

Representing herself Polish-born Kozlowska said: 'There is not really much to say except that I am really sorry. I was not in my right mind at all. I should never have gotten in the car at all when under the influence of alcohol. I know it's wrong. I was not in the right state of mind at the time.'

The incident occurred on October 19 last year when Kozlowska was seen driving her Seat Ibiza on A49 Winwick Road in Warrington erraticallty at 10.36pm after she drew up at a set of red traffic lights.

Miss Nicola Parr, prosecuting, said: 'The officer who was in pursuit of the defendant says that the Ibiza drove past him as he was driving an unmarked police vehicle so would not have known it was a police car.

She passed a breath test despite admitting she was under the influence of alcohol

Kozlowska from Little Stanney, Chester, faced up up six months jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted dangerous driving but was spared jailed and given a suspended sentence at Warrington magistrates court after apologising for her conduct

'The defendant moved into lane one and undertook another vehicle in lane two before passing through a small gap and accelerating at high speed. The officer regained contact with the defendant on Mersey Street where it was held at a red traffic light.

'It accelerated onto the roundabout way too quickly and was then held at red lights at that junction. It moved off at the green light at Bridgefoot and immediately accelerated onto lane one, again undertaking lane two. It exceeded the speed limit while crossing the bridge at the roundabout. It was driving at more than 40mph in a 30mph zone.

'The next set of traffic lights at the bottom of Bridgefoot were amber and changed to red before the defendant got to the junction. She contravened the red light signal. She crossed into lane one. She entered the roundabout. She has gone around the roundabout at speed in the wrong lane, in what the officer described as a racing line around the bend.'

Miss Parr said that after exiting the roundabout, she drove at 51mph itowards a built-up residential area on the A5060, which has a 30mph limit with a cycle lane to the off-side, several side streets, a pedestrian crossing, and reduced visibility because of parked cars.

Miss Parr said continuing on Chester Road, passing Gainsborough Road, she approached a swing bridge driving in excess of the speed limit, which was now 40mph, and went on the wrong side of the road. It was only when she saw the headlights of an oncoming car that she 'swung back to where she should have been'.

The incident occurred on October 19 last year when Kozlowska was seen driving her Seat Ibiza on A49 Winwick Road in Warrington erraticallty at 10.36pm after she drew up at a set of red traffic lights

Miss Nicola Parr, prosecuting, said: 'The officer who was in pursuit of the defendant says that the Ibiza drove past him as he was driving an unmarked police vehicle so would not have known it was a police car'

Going further on A56 Chester Road, now a two-lane road, she got up to 60mph and then took a left-hand bend at 68 mph, before continuing at that speed while climbing up a hill to a bridge which the officer described as 'being blind' and which she crossed at 70 mph.

Miss Parr described her accelerating away from the officer, reaching a speed of 75 mph, and then after dropping her speed at another left-hand bend went up to 80mph before braking.

She then went on to take another left-hand bend at 82 mph, where the road was dark with no street lighting. As she came up to a T-junction on the A56 in Daresbury, she reached a speed of 88 mph in a 50mph zone.

'The officer signalled for the driver to stop and he asked for a roadside breath sample. She blew 31 micrograms of alcohol which is below the legal limit of 35mg. This was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and disregard the risk of danger to others. It was a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of dangerous driving.

'The speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit or highly inappropriate for the prevailing road or weather conditions. But it should also be said the officer following did not activate his emergency lighting until the end of his pursuit and the defendant stopped when requested to.'

Kozlowska was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, the maximum a court can impose plus 20 rehabilitation activity days. She as also banned from driving for two years and will have to take an extended driving test before she gets her licence back. She was also ordered to pay 274 in costs and victim surcharge.

JP Peter Hunt told her: 'You are one step away from a custodial sentence. You must be on your best behaviour from now on. Certainly, that includes not touching a motor vehicle.'
Drag artist Crystal was sitting at home on a normal Sunday evening in 2020 when a text appeared on their phone.

'I think someone's just called you a paedophile on Twitter,' the message read. Crystal, real name Colin Seymour, looked - and found an endless stream of reactions, messages and comments, all instigated by disgraced actor-turned GB News presenter Laurence Fox.

They spent the next three years, alongside former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake, fighting the baseless allegation in court, finally winning a 90,000 libel settlement each from Fox on Thursday, with a judge ruling the accusation's effects were 'distinctively homophobic'. Now they have told MailOnline how just one word from Fox threatened their entire career.

'I was really nervous,' Crystal told MailOnline. 'The fact that I'm gay made me worried people would be more likely to believe it. I had no idea what it could become.'

The drag artist, who was featured in the first series of Drag Race UK, was initially overwhelmed by 'how mental' their social media became - swarming with comments from trolls who repeated the accusation, supporters defending them, and everything in between.

Drag artist Crystal, real name Colin Seymour, told MailOnline how they were 'overwhelmed' by abuse and comments after being branded a 'paedophile' on Twitter

Crystal (right) and Simon Blake (left) have both won compensation of 90,000 after the judge found the effects of the abuse were 'distinctively homophobic' (Middle: actress Nicola Thorp, who alongside Mr Blake and Crystal was counter-sued by Fox)

The Twitter row occurred after Crystal, Mr Blake and actress Nicola Thorp called Fox 'racist' after he claimed that steps by Sainsbury's to celebrate Black History Month were amount to 'racial segregation and discrimination'. He responded by calling the two men 'paedophiles'.

'The thing that was most distressing was that it got picked up by so many news outlets and went so far on social media,' Crystal said.

'It was like the story had its own crazy life beyond the interaction, and often the articles were missing the context. I didn't know if people were believing this about me, if I was in physical danger, if my career was in danger.

'There were just so many unknowns'.

As a well-known figure in the LGBT+ community, Crystal was particularly nervous because the nature of their work meant the locations they performed at were announced well in advance.

'If someone wanted to find me it wouldn't be hard,' they said.

After suing Fox over the unfounded claims, the pair found themselves being countersued, alongside Ms Thorp, over their statements declaring Fox to be racist.

Crystal said they feared for their safety and the future of their career after the baseless accusation was made

Laurence Fox, pictured outside the High Court, has vowed to appeal the ruling in a bizarre post on social media

In a judgement in January, Mrs Justice Collins Rice ruled in favour of the complainants, dismissing Mr Fox's counter-claims.

Yesterday's ruling determined both men should receive 90,000 from Fox, who says he will appeal the verdict.

Crystal was relieved by the judgement, and was satisfied that the judge ruled the libel they experienced had 'distinctively homophobic' effects.

Mrs Justice Collins Rice said: 'Their vulnerability to reputational harm by this libel was exacerbated by their national profile on LGBTQ+ issues and the safeguarding matters engaged by their respective livelihoods.'

She added: 'Out of nowhere, and literally overnight, they were catapulted into the glare of a national news story and national media commentary of an exceptionally vehement, exposing and polarised nature.'

Reading yesterday's verdict, Crystal found themselves feeling unexpectedly emotional: 'I read the judgement and having her recognise how I was feeling, his behaviour, the way he behaved - her recognising the abuse I've suffered as a result over the past three years it was very gratifying and vindicating.'

The judge also took pains to state that Fox had repeatedly tried to 'blame and discredit' the drag artist and Mr Blake. She accused him of spreading 'dust and disinformation' about the January judgement.

Crystal now hopes Laurence Fox is out of their life for good, but is not hopeful.

'I'm hesitant to let myself believe it's over. Part of me fears Laurence Fox will never be out of my life. I just hope he doesn't waste any more of the justice system's time.'

Crystal told MailOnline they now want to return to doing what they love, and continue entertaining people with their act.

The exchange happened after Fox claimed measures by Sainsbury's to celebrate Black History Month amounted to 'racial segregation'

Fox (left) is pictured alongside former leader of the far-right EDL Tommy Robinson on Tuesday

They added: 'When dealing with him and everyone else out there, it has to be remembered they are doing and saying these things for attention and money and the sooner we can forget them, the better our lives will be. Don't feed the rage.'

The judge concluded in her ruling: 'Mr Fox has had a great deal to say publicly about this litigation, including by maintaining a relentless focus on the grievances aired in his counterclaims, by kicking up a certain amount of dust and disinformation as to the content and effect of the liability judgment, and by continuing to attach blame and discredit to the claimants and hold them and their conduct of this litigation responsible for a range of his own life's adversities.'

Fox, who was sacked as a presenter on GB News last year over misogynistic comments he made about journalist Ava Evans,wrote online yesterday: 'None of the claimants could provide a single witness in court to support the claim that they had suffered any harm.

'You get the same wonga if you lose a leg at work. So surreal it's almost funny. Lady justice ain't blind. She's got both eyes wide open. Will be appealing.'

It came after he was pictured with former leader of the far-right English Defence League, Tommy Robinson, on St George's Day.

The pair were attending an event which saw clashes with police officers, after the Met warned online it was expecting people from 'far-right groups' to join those trying to celebrate England's patron saint.
Lord Cameron posed up a storm today as his whistlestop tour of Asia reached Mongolia.

The Foreign Secretary, a keen horse rider, was shown a traditional saddle during a meeting with the country's PM on his visit to Ulaanbaatar.

He also sat in on an English lesson for schoolchildren, and held talks with the president.

It is the first high-level visit to Mongolia by a UK minister in a decade.

Lord Cameron, a keen horse rider, was shown a traditional saddle during a meeting with the Mongolian PM on his visit to Ulaanbaatar

Lord Cameron with PM Oyunerdene Luvsannamsrai during his visit today

He also sat in on an English lesson for schoolchildren on the first high-level UK visit to Mongolia in a decade

The peer has also been to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as he tries to strengthen Britain's links to central Asia.

Embarking on his five-day trip, Lord Cameron said: 'We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

'Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it's vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.'

Lord Cameron has racked up huge air miles since being appointed he Rishi Sunak last November.

He has been banging the drum for British business during his latest jaunt.

The peer has announced 50million of development funding for the region over the next three years.

He has also been discussing giving language teachers access to tailored British Council materials, while the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships has been doubled.

Lord Cameron shakes hands with President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh today
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China faces U.S. sanctions if it keeps boosting Russia's weapons industry after meeting Xi Jinping.

President Joe Biden's top diplomat warned top Beijing officials, including the president, that the U.S. is growing more frustrated with its links to Moscow.

He said if China doesn't stop exporting materials helping the Kremlin build it's defense industrial base, there will be consequences.

Talks between the two sides have increased in recent months, even as differences have grown.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing

During his trip to China, Blinken raised the issue of the Communist nation's consistent support for Russia's military

Blinken and Wang underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open, but they also lamented that divisions were becoming more serious in nature.

They each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but they also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Their comments hinted at a long list of differences to be discussed, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, and trade and human rights, China's support for Russia and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

'Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize,' Wang told Blinken at the start of about 5 1/2 hours of talks.

'But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.'

'Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?' he asked. 'This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.'

Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about U.S. policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and China's right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

'China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges,' he said.

'China's concerns are consistent. We have always called for respect of each other's core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in China's internal affairs, not to hold China's development back, and not to step on China's red lines on China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.'

Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on U.S.-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

Despite its 'no limits' partnership with Moscow, China has steered clear of providing arms for Russia's war in Ukraine

U.S. officials warn such assistance risks hurting the broader bilateral relationship, even as ties stabilise after being hit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022 and the U.S. downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in February 2023

Blinken meets with China's Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

'I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China,' Blinken told Wang.

'There is no substitute in our judgement for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure we're as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations,' he said.

The State Department said later that Blinken and Wang had 'in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions about areas of difference as well as areas of cooperation' and made clear that Blinken had stood his ground on U.S. concerns.

Blinken 'emphasized that the U.S. will continue to stand up for our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, including on human rights and economic issues,' State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter China's growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

It also seeks to force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijing's growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok's sale.

Other issues on the table include U.S. complaints about China's excess industrial capacity, military-to-military communication, artificial intelligence, and people-to-people exchanges

The U.S. is also pushing for progress on the curbing of China's supply of the chemicals used to make fentanyl

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russia's invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russia's military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

U.S. officials have said China's ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinken's visit, and just before Friday's meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.
The boyfriend of a physically healthy Dutch woman who revealed she was going to end her own life by euthanasia on her 34th birthday has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her, wishing her 'no more pain' and saying that he will 'always' love her.

Jolanda Fun revealed this month that she hopes to become the latest person in The Netherlands to receive a doctor-assisted death, saying that despite the love of her partner, family and friends, she is in 'constant pain' due to mental health struggles.

On April 25, the day she planned her death for, her partner Peter Silvius wrote a touching message to her on Facebook. 'Sweet Jolanda,' he said, 'This is your day, the day of your birthday and the day your wish comes true, a day with two sides.

'Will miss you a lot as you start your final journey to a place where you will find your peace and have no more pain. Love you, you always in my heart have a good last journey and see you later xx'

The 34-year-old replied to her loved one with kissing emojis and a short message saying 'Thnkx darling'. She has not posted since and it is unclear whether she went ahead with her planned death.

Jolanda Fun - a physically healthy Dutch woman suffering from depression and other mental health difficulties - is scheduled to be euthanized today on her 34th birthday

Peter Silvius has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his partner who he wished 'no more pain'. Picture shows man believed to be Peter

On April 25, the day she planned her death for, Jolanda's partner Peter Silvius wrote a touching message to her on Facebook

Earlier this month in an interview with The Sunday Times, Jolanda revealed she was in a relationship with a 51-year-old man who 'knew from the beginning that this would be coming.'

'But he really wants to have a good time together, and he still wants to,' she added, admitting that the situation was 'confusing'.

Shortly after making the post addressed to Jolanda, Peter shared a short clip from an Instagram quotes page in what appeared to be another touching tribute to her.

The meaningful text read: 'I've never loved anyone like I love you. I cry over you.

'No matter what you do, I cannot fall out of love with you. I cannot bring myself to forget you.

It went on: 'I've never missed anyone as much as I miss you. No one in this world means to me as much as you do.'

Peter's Facebook page was updated in January to show the couple's relationship.

Jolanda has been preparing for her death for some time, even printing funeral invites which read: 'Born from love, let go in love... After a hard-fought life, she chose the peace she so longed for.'

The physically healthy young woman said she made assisted dying her goal since she discovered from a psychiatrist two years ago that Dutch law allows for euthanasia for psychiatric reasons.

Peter shared a short clip from an Instagram quotes page in what appeared to be another touching tribute to her

The couple's relationship status on Facebook, which Peter shared on his account in January

Jolanda faced mental health issues from the age of seven, struggling with an eating disorder, depression, autism and mild learning difficulties.

She said in an interview this month that she would rather her life end peacefully instead of attempting suicide herself.

Despite having her family, friends and a small dog, she said she hides what she feels inside, describing it as 'dark, overstimulation, chaos in my head, loneliness.'

She added that her decision that she wanted to 'step out of life' was also impacted by her mother and father being sick and 'fighting to stay alive'.

Jolanda described what made her decide she wanted to end her life by euthanasia, calling it a 'dignified death' which allows a person's loved ones to be there.

'The rules are very strict,' she said of her decision and the long road to her wish being granted. 'You don't just get euthanasia, there's a whole journey.'

The Netherlands' top Euthanasia clinic, the Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, reportedly denied a request to handle Jolanda's case last month.

The Netherlands' top Euthanasia clinic, the Expertisecentrum Euthanasie (pictured), reportedly denied a request to handle Jolanda's case last month

The latest figures from the Netherlands Regional Monitoring Committees (RTE) show 8,720 people ended their lives via euthanasia in 2022 - an increase of 14 per cent on the year before

However, after finding a psychiatrist who would carry it out, and receiving the approval of a third specialist doctor just over two weeks ago, her case met the threshold which allows assisted dying to go ahead under Dutch law.

Figures show that 138 people suffering with mental health issues were euthanized in 2023 - making up 1.5 percent of euthanasia cases in the Netherlands that year.

The Netherlands is one of only three countries in the EU where the practice of assisted dying is legal, with rights groups arguing it gives people battling terminal illness or crippling disease the right to end their suffering humanely.

Data revealed that 8,720 people in the Netherlands ended their lives via euthanasia in 2022 - an increase of 14 per cent on the year before.

This rose again in 2023 to 9,068, with the number of reported cases increasing fourfold between 2005 and 2023.

The 2022 figure represented 5.1 per cent of all deaths in the country - but the actual number could be much higher given that research suggests around 20 per cent of euthanasia deaths are not reported, according to Dutch media.

No scientific research has been carried out to establish a reason for the dramatic increase in people opting to euthanize themselves, according to the Netherlands Regional Monitoring Committees (RTE) that track the deaths.

Under Dutch laws, a person wishing to end their life on mental health grounds must meet six conditions.

They must be mentally competent, have a long-standing wish for euthanasia, the decision must be made under their own volition, they must have been informed of all alternative treatments, and there can be no other reasonable solution.

Their eligibility to end their life must also be confirmed by independent doctors, and can only be carried out according to very specific guidelines.

The vast majority of euthanasia cases are granted for people over the age of sixty with terminal medical conditions.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details
The entire planet was left stunned after Buckingham Palace dropped the bombshell that the king had cancer in February.

It emerged the monarch had a form of cancer after he underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate at the end of January.

The Palace confirmed that King Charles was not diagnosed with prostate cancer.

At the time, Charles said he was 'wholly positive' about his treatment' and was looking forward to eventually returning to his public duties.

But who are the medical experts taking care of one of the most important men in the world? MailOnline takes a look at the medical team of the cancer-battling King.

The man who is likely overseeing the King's treatment at large is Dr Michael Dixon, who has been head of the Royal Medical Household since 2022

The 71-year-old GP, who has an OBE for services to primary care, has previously been the subject of discussion in the media over his support for homeopathy

Who is Dr Michael Dixon?

The man believed to be overseeing the monarch's treatment at large is Dr Michael Dixon.

The medical professional has headed the Royal Medical Household since 2022.

Regarding his role within the King's medical team, Dr Dixon oversees and manages the medical professionals taking care of the monarch.

His additional responsibilities include being present at family births and deaths if any were to happen whilst he is acting in the role.

The GP, who is often spotted donning a suit and bow tie, was hired in 2022 and also works part-time in a GP surgery in Devon.

The doctor has previously been a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of GPs as well as a former chair of the NHS Alliance and the College of Medicine.

However, the GP, 71, who has been awarded an OBE for his services to primary care, has been scrutinized on social media for his support of homeopathy.

Dixon has previously retaliated against many who claim the practice is 'quackery' and has also supported treatments like reflexology and aromatherapy being offered on the NHS.

Similarly to Dr Dixon - Charles has been a staunch supporter of homeopathy and has previously spoken out about his belief in alternative medicines (pictured: Charles leaving hospital in January)

He previously implied Indian herbal remedies, which had been 'ultra-diluted' with alcohol could have the ability to cure cancer in one of his papers.

However Buckingham Palace has denied claims the GP himself thinks the method could cure the disease.

A statement from the palace at the time of his appointment read: 'Dr Dixon does not believe homeopathy can cure cancer.

Indeed, the man who is likely overseeing the King's treatment at large is Dr Michael Dixon, who has been head of the Royal Medical Household since 2022.

'His position is that complementary therapies can sit alongside conventional treatments, provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence based.'

The medical professional has allegedly previously prescribed plants such as devil's claw and horny goat weed to patients.

Dr Dixon has also implied in certain written papers that Christian healers could possibly posses the ability of healing chronically ill people.

King Charles is a staunch supporter of homeopathy and has often spoken out about his belief in alternative medicines.

The monarch was appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017.

King Charles was also appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017 (pictured on his Sandringham Estate in January 7)

Who is the King's Surgeon Dr Ranan Dasgupta?

Another essential clog in the clock that is King Charles' medical team is Ranan Dasgputa.

Mr Dasgputa was appointed as the King's Serjeant Surgeon in March 2023, according to The Telegraph.

The medic, who is a part of the Royal Medical Household, is based in the London Clinic.

According to the London Clinics website, he has interests in comprehensive treatments for prostatic enlargement, renal stone management and prevention, neuropathic voiding conditions, and urothelial malignancy.

The urological surgeon is also a Cambridge University graduate, who specialises in treatment methods for enlarged prostates.

He was reportedly an integral part of the team when it came to treating the King's enlarged prostate.

On February 6, it was confirmed by Buckingham Palace that an unspecified form of cancer had been found during his King Charles' treatment.

Charles informed close family by phone, including estranged son Harry later flew back from his home in California to see his father.

The Buckingham Palace statement read: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted.

'Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,' the palace said in a statement.

On February 6 Buckingham Palace announced the King had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer (Pictured: in France last September)

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer'

'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

'Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.'

They added: 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.

'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.'
A father of two from Birmingham is fighting for his life in a Turkish hospital after suddenly being left with 'no feeling on one side of his body' following a fall at the gym just hours after flying out on holiday with his family.

Marlon McCormack, 51, suffered a bleed on the brain and is currently in an induced coma while his family plead for donations to help urgently raise funds to pay his medical bills.

Fiancee Anna Ryan, 41, says she has put down 3,000 for his care but is now being asked to fork out 24,000 for additional treatment as they do not have travel insurance.

'Marlon got up early to go to the gym,' she told BirminghamLive a day after the freak accident. 'He came back and said he'd fallen while he was there.

'He went back to sleep and when he woke up he couldn't stand - it looked like he'd had a stroke. We called an ambulance and he was rushed to hospital.'

Marlon (left) said he fell while at the gym on holiday in Turkey, before losing feeling in his body

The forklift operator from Chelmsley Wood had planned a 'last-minute' getaway with his family, leaving for Turkey on Wednesday.

Anna said she slept in on Thursday morning as Marlon got up early to go to the gym.

When Marlon returned and was rushed to hospital, Anna was told her fiance's treatment would go ahead without the payment - but that the money would need to be found.

A fundraiser set up on GoFundMe confirmed today that Marlon had the operation on Thursday.

'Due to the language barrier we believed it was a success, however they were unable to remove all the mass on his brain from the brain bleed and he remains in a critical condition,' organiser Cherry Ryan wrote.

She thanked donors for their support, with nearly 10,000 raised already.

On Thursday, she said that Marlon had been placed in an induced coma in intensive care while the family remained 'at his side'.

She said the cost of the surgery would be 24,000 plus 1,500 a day in care for four weeks of recovery.

They previously said the hospital had demanded 25,000 up front for the treatment.

Donors have left touching words of tribute in support for Marlon as he undergoes care.

'Having had a fall only last night whilst on holiday I really feel for you, I was very lucky and ended up with stitches only but I would like to think there would have been someone there for me too. Best of luck to you all x' said Neil Phillips.

'Get well soon soldier I'm praying for you,' wrote Mark Ward.

'Marlon, wishing you a full and speedy recovery. From all the team at RCM Ltd,' added Kiran Gill.

Anna Ryan (R) said she had raised the initial 3,000 payment for Marlon's (CR) treatment - but the family are now crowdfunding for support with the hospital asking for tens of thousands

Anna said: 'I'm being asked to pay loads of money I don't have.

'They want 24,000 for surgery and then it's four weeks of recovery which we'd need to fund too.

'We don't have that kind of money - I don't know what to do.

'Something like this has never happened to me.

'We need as much help as we can get.'
A teenage schoolgirl has been remanded in youth custody after appearing in court charged with attempting to murder her teachers and a fellow pupil.

The 13-year-old girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, is accused of carrying out the playground rampage which saw hundreds of pupils placed into lockdown at Amman Valley secondary school in south-west Wales this week.

She spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth during the 15-minute hearing at Llanelli Magistrates Court, which was sitting as a youth court, this morning.

She briefly exchanged smiles with her father, who sat at the back of the court throughout.

A 13-year-old girl charged with three counts of attempted murder after a stabbing at a school in south Wales has been remanded in a youth detention centre

District Judge Mark Layton appeared remotely via video link, and decided to remand the defendant into youth detention custody at a facility in south Wales.

The girl wore a grey sweatshirt, and was accompanied by two security guards and two intermediaries dressed in blue polo shirts.

The suspect was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one of possession of a bladed article which prosecutor Abigail Jackson described as a 'violent offence', although she was not asked to go into details of the case, and the defendant was not asked to enter pleas.

The attempted murder charges relate to head of year seven Fiona Elias, special needs teacher Liz Hopkin, and a fellow schoolgirl, who cannot be identified because of her age.

Mrs Hopkin is said to have suffered four wounds during the incident. All three victims were said to be recovering at home yesterday after being discharged from hospital.

Liz Hopkin (pictured with her husband), a special needs teacher at the school in South Wales

Darrel Campbell (left), the teacher who restrained the alleged Ammanford school attacker, does not think of himself as a hero, his brother has insisted

She is due to appear at Swansea crown court on May 27.

Lawyers and court staff were asked to remain seated by the judge throughout, in recognition of the special measures in place when sitting as a youth court.

Hundreds of pupils were locked down for hours in their classrooms as police raced to the school in Carmarthenshire shortly after 11.20am on Wednesday.

The suspect was arrested at the scene.

She is understood to have been restrained by teacher Darrel Campbell, whose brother, Cefin Campbell, the Senedd member for Mid and West Wales, said: 'He's embarrassed by all the attention that he's had, he certainly doesn't consider himself a hero in any way.

'He just told me he just did what most people would have done.'
A mother-of-four has been killed in a suspicious house fire, with a murder investigation launched.

Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a rear bedroom of a home in Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth's southern suburbs at about 1am on Friday.

A 35-year-old man and a three-year-old girl escaped from the house and were taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

WA Police Acting Detective Superintendent Dave Gorton said Ms Hay's death was being treated 'as a murder', The West Australian reported.

'The death is being treated as suspicious at this point in time,' he said.

Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a rear bedroom of a home in Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth 's southern suburbs at about 1am on Friday morning (pictured)

A 35-year-old man and a three-year-old girl escaped from the house (pictured) and were taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation

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The man who escaped from the fire, who police allege was known to Ms Hay, is assisting the police with their inquiries.

No charges are yet to be laid.

'There is no risk to the public, but the scene at the home was 'very confronting' for the paramedics and police who attended the fire,' Gorton said.

'I think for the first responders and the other emergency services, it was a very confronting scene for them.'

Authorities are yet to determine Ms Hay's cause of death.

'We've been in contact with the forensic pathologists, and we're still awaiting the information in relation to the cause of death,' Gorton said.

The toddler remains in a stable condition while the man has been discharged from hospital.

Police forensic work was focused on the backyard of the home on Friday, and one officer was seen putting a red Bic lighter into an evidence bag.

A covered police marquee was also erected in the backyard.

The West reported that police arson squad officers left the house at around 3pm while forensics remained at the scene.
A man has died after falling from a cliff while hiking with friends.

The man, who is yet to be identified, fell from a cliff in NSW's Blue Mountains National Park near Mount Piddington Road at about 12.10pm on Friday.

It's understood the group were making their way down the cliff when the man lost his footing and fell, 7News reports.

Police and paramedics attended but the man died at the scene.

The man, who is yet to be identified, fell from a cliff in NSW's Blue Mountains National Park near Mount Piddington Road at about 12.10pm on Friday

'Officers from Blue Mountains Police Area Command attended along with Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance paramedics,' NSW Police said in a statement.

'The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.'


You have to admire the mans brass neck. Announcing his decision to end the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens yesterday, First Minister Humza Yousaf was as close to the model of reason as he could manage.

With almost convincing sincerity, he spoke of his desire to move forward, cooperating with any and all political parties in the interests of Scotland.

This, he said, was a new beginning for the SNP. A parliament of minorities, said Mr Yousaf, need not be a parliament of enemies.

This new 2.0 update of the Humza Yousaf model is radically different to the one it replaces.

The First Minister now asks us to accept him as a politician of pragmatism and good faith, as an honest broker wholl put country before party. Henceforth, he will seek to work with colleagues across the chamber. He insists hes well used to working constructively with opposition parties.

Humza Yousaf is clinging onto power after a string of failures and doubts about his sincerity

This, let us not forget, is the same man who, just two days before was feigning outrage because the UK Government hadnt legislated on Scotlands behalf on the matter of exonerating sub-postmasters wrongly convicted during the Horizon scandal.

Mr Yousaf  knowing full well that Scottish sub-postmasters were convicted under a devolved Scottish justice system  cynically tried to create division out of thin air.

The truth, as he knew when he spoke, is that the Scottish Government had already recognised the need for its action on this matter.

Had the UK Government announced that it did plan to legislate on Scotlands behalf, Mr Yousaf would have been performatively outraged about a Westminster power grab.

So, opposition politicians may be forgiven for taking with a fistful of salt Mr Yousafs pledge that he stands ready to work constructively with them. His track record in this area is poor, indeed.

Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater give a press conference after the First Minister's bombshell that they were no longer sharing the reins of power

When, for example, Conservative MSPs  along with a handful of members of other parties willing to defy the threats and attacks of gender ideologues  raised legitimate concerns about how plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act might impact on womens rights to same sex spaces, Mr Yousaf was happy to dismiss their fears. He and his colleagues gaslit feminists who worried about rapists being placed in womens prisons, sneering at their concerns, right up until the point that such an outrage took place.

When Scottish Secretary Alister Jack stepped in to block the Scottish Governments legislation on the entirely reasonable grounds that it was incompatible with the UK-wide Equality Act, Mr Yousaf remained defiant. Indeed, one of his first decisions on becoming First Minister was to press ahead with a doomed  and costly  legal challenge.

MSPs smeared during that time as bigots and transphobes by allies of the First Minister might wonder whether the new improved Humza Yousaf is someone to be trusted. And if the First Minister can expect a frosty reception from the Conservatives, hes unlikely to enjoy better relations with Scottish Labour.

Mr Yousaf, after all, has spent much of the past year declaring Labour indistinguishable from the Tories.

With Labour on the rise while the SNP slides, why would the partys Scottish leader be interested in reaching out to help the First Minister.

Of course, one need not be a professional politician to have doubts about Mr Yousafs sincerity.

Yesterdays First Minister with all his talk of cooperation across party lines was unrecognisable as the man who, just last Saturday, led a flag-waving march of nationalist ideologues through the streets of Glasgow. Less than a week ago, Mr Yousaf was happy to style himself the great champion of the nationalist fringes. Are we really to believe he has suddenly realised that, in fact, he cares about the things that matter to ordinary Scottish families?

If Mr Yousaf had wished to retain any kind of moral authority over the decision to end the SNPs pact with the Greens, he would have acted long ago. Perhaps he could have scrapped the Bute House Agreement last year when it became clear that Lorna Slater had made a mess of establishing a deposit return scheme.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) welcomes Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater after brokering the power-sharing deal in August 2021

Or maybe he could have acted when the Greens plan to ban human activity in 10 per cent of Scottish waters fell apart.

The last point at which Mr Yousaf could have ended the BHA with any dignity came with the Greens disgusting reaction to the findings of Dr Hilary Cass, the leading paediatrician commissioned to review NHS treatment for gender confused children and young people in England.

The Cass Review  a serious piece of research conducted over four years  contained devastating conclusions about the safety of certain treatments. Dr Casss work was met with outrage from trans rights activists who demanded that these untested drugs should still be made available.

This was the point at which serious leading politicians had a moral obligation to speak up. Dr Casss report may have made difficult reading for gender ideologues but the science within was  and remains  more important than their feelings.

Asked about the Cass review on BBC One Scotlands Sunday Show, Mr Harvie said he had seen too many criticisms of the work for him to be able to say he accepted it was a valid scientific document.

In the name of public safety, Mr Yousaf should have removed Mr Harvie for spreading doubt about such an important piece of research.

Instead, the First Minster continued to praise Mr Harvie, even as the Scottish Greens began organising a meeting at which their members would be invited to vote on the future of the Bute House Agreement.

Mr Yousaf kicked the Greens out of Government to save his own skin. He dumped his partners before they dumped him.

Hell, the First Minister is now discovering, has no fury like a Green politician scorned.

Mr Yousaf was accused in a statement from Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater of betraying future generations with his decision.

With the Greens in combative mode, Mr Yousafs days in office may now be numbered.

The Scottish Conservatives yesterday announced a vote of no confidence in the First Minister. Labour and the Liberal Democrats signalled their intention to back it. By close of business, the Greens had confirmed they, too, would vote against Mr Yousafs First Ministership.

If he is to win that vote, Humza Yousaf will now have to persuade Ash Regan, who defected from the SNP to Alex Salmonds Alba Party last year, to rally behind him.

It may, given relations between Mr Salmond and the SNP, be time for Humza Yousaf to start inviting removal companies to give him a quote for clearing Bute House.
The good news about the King's cancer treatment today is just the latest instance of the royals opening up about health battles since the start of the his reign.

The Palace's latest update comes after His Majesty chose to tell the world about his initial diagnosis and treatment for an enlarged prostate.

And in March, the Princess of Wales revealed her own cancer diagnosis and said in a deeply emotional video message that she is undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy.

The King chose to be open about his initial prostate treatment in the hope it would encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked.

The Palace then said that he chose to go public about his cancer treatment because he had been a patron of a number of related charities when he was Prince of Wales.

His diagnosis came after Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer.

She had a mole removed from her body which tests founds to be a malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

And last year, she told fans that she underwent a reconstruction operation following a breast cancer diagnosis.

The royals' decision to break with tradition by being open about their health scares contrasts with more circumspect statements during the reign of the late Queen.

The good news about the King's cancer treatment today is just the latest instance of the royals opening up about health battles since the start of the King's reign

In March, the Princess of Wales revealed her own cancer diagnosis and said in a deeply emotional video message that she is undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy

The royals' decision to break with tradition by being open about their health scares contrasts with more circumspect statements during the reign of the late Queen

In the final years of her life, the Palace did not reveal any details of conditions, if any, that Her Late Majesty was suffering from.

In October 2021 she spent a night in hospital for an undisclosed reason, after cancelling a planned visit to Northern Ireland.

Buckingham Palace said at the time that she was admitted for 'preliminary investigations'.

Author Giles Brandreth told in his book, which was released shortly after the Queen's death, that he had heard Her Late Majesty was suffering from a form of myeloma - bone marrow cancer.

He said this may have explained her tiredness and 'mobility issues' that the public were often told about.

However, esteemed royal writer Robert Hardman revealed in his recent book that the Queen slipped away peacefully from old age.

And when her father King George VI was treated for lung cancer, royal doctors chose not to tell him that he was suffering from the disease.

The late Queen Mother was secretly twice treated for cancer - once in 1966 when she had a tumour removed from her colon and again in 1984 when the royal had a cancerous growth excised from her breast.

Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, was known to have a heart condition but Palace officials did not reveal any specifics.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York , was diagnosed with skin cancer earlier this year. She had a mole removed from her body which tests founds to be a malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Last year, she told fans that she underwent a reconstruction operation following a breast cancer diagnosis

Kate chose to be very open in her video message to the nation this evening

Former royal press secretary Simon Lewis previously told the BBC that Charles' openness about his cancer diagnosis had been as 'style' as monarch.

'I think it's actually been the style of the King's first year,' he said.

'This is obviously one element of it. But if you think of the book and the access that was given to Robert Hardman, if you think of the documentary, if you think of his whole style as King, I think this is very much in keeping with that.

'And I do think his advisors, with this statement I'm sure we'll talk about it, have actually got it spot on.

'I think 20 years ago we would have got a very abrupt, short statement, and that's about it.

'And I think they've gone as far as they possibly can given that the King has had a diagnosis of cancer and, as a lot of people know, processing that is a pretty tough process.'

When the Duchess of York was diagnosed with skin cancer, her spokesman said: She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma.'

The statement outlined the royals' drive to help others by revealing their health issues.

Kate chose to be very open in her video message to the nation in March.

She said the cancer was discovered after she underwent abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January.

Kensington Palace said at the time that it was non-cancerous.

But later tests after Kate's operation found that cancer 'had been present'.

She said in her video message to the world: 'I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.

'It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

'In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.

'The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

'My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

'This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

'As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.

'But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.

'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.

Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, was known to have a heart condition but Palace officials did not reveal any specifics

'Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.

'We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.

'My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.'

She added a message for fellow cancer sufferers, saying: 'At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.

'For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.'
Pakistan committed to common goal of malaria-free world: PM

Xinhua) 09:58, April 26, 2024

ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that his country is committed to a common goal of a malaria-free world, calling for international partners and organizations to unite in efforts to end malaria.

Despite Pakistan's achievements in malaria control, sustaining the gains still remains a challenge as it affects more than one million people every year, the prime minister said in his message on World Malaria Day being observed Thursday.

Sharif said the government of Pakistan has been striving to combat the disease by taking an array of measures over the last few years as every citizen has the right to live a healthy and prosperous life.

Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, through the Common Management Unit Malaria and other national and international partners and stakeholders, has significantly enhanced the free malaria testing and treatment facilities in malaria-endemic districts across the country, he said.

"We must work collaboratively to strengthen healthcare systems, increase access to quality diagnosis and treatment, and raise awareness about the importance of prevention and control measures of malaria," he added.

The prime minister also called upon the research and academic institutions to flag scientific advances to experts as well as the public to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to further scale up malaria control interventions.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The first Briton has been charged with working for Russia's Wagner Group after being accused of torching a Ukrainian aid centre under new spy laws.

Dylan Earl is the first person to be charged under the new National Security Act brought in last year to target those working secretly for hostile states within the UK.

Now it can be revealed that the 20-year-old from Leicestershire is alleged to be at the centre of an extraordinary Russian attack on British soil to target Ukrainian supplies.

Earl is accused of recruiting others to carry out an arson attack on an aid collection centre in East London to send a 'message' on behalf of Russia that assistance to Ukraine will be met with 'punishment'.

It is said to be the first attack orchestrated by the Wagner Group on British soil.

Dylan Earl is accused of recruiting others to carry out an arson attack on an aid collection centre in East London

Details of the alleged plot can be revealed today after reporting restrictions were lifted by a judge following a series of arrests by British counter terrorism police.

Earl was charged last week with a raft of offences including assisting a foreign intelligence service by carrying out reconnaissance of targets and aggravated arson 'in relation to activity intended to benefit Russia'.

But the case was shrouded in secrecy at the time due to 'operational activity' being carried out by Met officers which has now concluded.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Earl had caused a serious fire at two industrial units in Leyton, East London owned by a Ukrainian businessman which is advertised on charity websites as an aid collection centre for Ukrainians.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters spent more than four hours tackling the blaze at the industrial estate which started just before midnight on March 20.

Prosecutor David Cawthorne said Earl had been recruited online by Russia's Wagner group to carry out the attack.

He told the court: 'Mr Earl acted as a conduit.

'He was recruited online by those acting on behalf of Russia and the terrorist organisation the Wagner group to recruit others and engage in malign activity.

'The arson which caused a significant fire in a commercial premises was intended to send out the message that if you assist Ukraine there will be punishment to follow.'

He is accused of recruiting two other British men to pour petrol over the shutter of the warehouses which are owned by a Ukrainian logistics firm.

The suspect is accused of recruiting two other British men to pour petrol over the shutter of the warehouses which are owned by a Ukrainian logistics firm

Paul Adrian English, 60, from Roehampton and Nii Kojo Mensah, 21, from Croydon were later charged with aggravated arson, but they are said to be unaware that Earl was allegedly working for the Wagner Group, which became a proscribed terror group in the UK last year.

When the pair appeared in court, Mr Cawthorne said: 'Mr Mensah and Mr English are both charged with aggravated arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered in relation to a fire in mid-March at a commercial premises in London.

'There is another individual, Mr Earl who is charged with this offence and there is a connection with a foreign power- Russia.

'There is no suggestion, at this point in time, that Mr Mensah and Mr English did it for this reason, they did it because they were quite happy to commit a serious criminal offence for financial gain.'

The prosecutor said: 'We are not saying they knew this, but there was actually a lorry driver asleep in his cab at the time. He was alerted to the fire and called the emergency services managing to get out.

'It was a significant fire causing serious damage and numerous fire engines attended.'

Robert Katz, defending Mensah, said: 'He is a very young man, just 21 years old. He lives with his parents.

'His mother works as a health carer while his father works as an Uber driver.

'Mr Mensah works in construction four days a week and he attends college. He is an apprentice. He is in employment. He has a stable family home. He is a man of good character.'

Paul Adrian English, 60, from Roehampton, was charged with aggravated arson, but was said to be unaware that Earl was allegedly working for the Wagner Group

Sevim Saygin, defending English said: 'My client is keen to attend court to clear his name. His instructions are he does not know anything about this matter.

'He has a serious physical condition. This is going back to having broken his back in 2015.

'Negligence at the hospital meant it was not spotted at the time resulting in a collapsed lung and kidney damage. He has had operations on his spine. He is on a lot of medication and uses a special mattress.'

During the brief hearing no pleas were entered by English and Mensah.

Earl is also yet to enter pleas to two National Security Act offences and aggravated arson.

He stands charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service between 20 December 2021 and 18 April 2024 by engaging in conduct, namely agreeing to undertake fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to assist with such activity.

He is also accused of preparatory conduct contrary to section 18 of the National Security Act 2023, between 1 February 2024 and 18 April 2024, namely an act endangering the life of a person or an act creating serious risk to the health or safety of the public in the United Kingdom, engaged in conduct in preparation for the commission of such an act.

Earl has also been charged with aggravated arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

It can now be revealed that police have arrested a total of eight people over the plot, five of whom have been charged.

Today two other men appeared in court in connection with the case.

Jake Reeves, 22 from Croydon, south London is charged with aggravated arson and agreeing to accept a material benefit, namely money, from a foreign intelligence service, contrary to the National Security Act 2023.

Dmitrijus Paulauska (left) and Jake Reeves - seen today in a court sketch - have also been charged in connection with the case

Paulauska is charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000

He is accused of accepting money from Russia to carry out the arson attack.

Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22 from Croydon, is also charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act, 2000.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Paulauska, who has dual British and Russian nationality, failed to inform police about the arson plot and a 'potential kidnap'.

The court was told that the qualified pilot, who is currently doing 'work experience' at Biggin Hill Airport, has Russian and British passports and may be entitled to a third Lithuanian passport.

Prosecutor Jan Newbold said Paulauska is accused of failing to tip off police about the conspiracy: 'He was made aware of Reeves' plan as a proposed arson with potential kidnap and failed to notify police with the information.'

The pair were ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on May 10 along with Earl, English and Mensah.

The court heard that some members of the conspiracy have yet to be caught.

The major investigation is being led by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and has been supported by officers from East Midlands, Leicestershire Police, Kent Police and counter terrorism policing South East.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, which is leading the investigation, said: 'This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us. Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

'We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across Counter Terrorism Policing to meet these.

'While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.'
New footage of the runaway Household Cavalry horses shows them crash through parked electric bikes with one falling to the ground after 'being startled by building work' and going on a blind-panic bolt through central London.

The video from the day of the incident shows the horses running across a road and crashing through parked e-bikes.

A white horse, thought to be the runaway seen covered in claret named Vida, can be seen falling to the ground as it collides with the bikes suggesting that this incident could have caused the bloody injuries.

At 8.20am on Wednesday five Household Cavalry horses were spooked as they passed through Wilton Crescent in Belgravia after they heard a loud noise from concrete dropping on the floor.

They bolted and fled through busy city streets on a rampage that lasted two hours.

Five people, including three soldiers riding the horses, were injured in three separate incidents during the ordeal.

New footage of the runaway Household Cavalry horses shows them crash through parked electric bikes

One of the horses in the video, thought to be Vida, can be seen falling over as she collides with the bikes

Is is believed that the five horses were spooked when some cement was dropped by the travelator onto the ground

The horses slammed into a tour bus parked on Buckingham Palace Road and a taxi outside the Clermont Hotel - smashing their windows - before two were seen running through Aldwych with their chests covered in blood.

They ran for six miles through the capital before finally being caught in Limehouse, east London.

Two of the steeds, Vida and Quaker, are said to be 'seriously injured' with army bosses claiming it is 'too early to know' if they will ever return to active duty.

Leading equine charity, The Horse Trust, has offered to rescue them if they are unable to return to military duty.

Vida (white horse) and Trojan (black horse) on their rampage through London after being 'spooked by builders moving rubble' are in a 'serious condition'

Vida was seen galloping through the streets of London in terrifying scenes on Wednesday morning

Tennyson seen after smashing into the widow of a London bus

Vida, the blood-soaked grey seen running down Fleet Street with Trojan, underwent surgery for injuries consistent with 'serious lacerations' and is now recovering in the Hyde Park Barracks.

Vida is believed to have a history of being spooked and even allegedly kicked a soldier in the head during the King's Coronation, where he usually carries a trumpeter from the Household Cavalry.

Quaker, a black stallion, was more seriously injured after it is believed he smashed into the side of a silver Mercedes Taxi, leading to a life-saving surgery at an undisclosed equine hospital on Wednesday night.

A spokesperson for the MOD confirmed that it was a horse named Tenneyson, who collided with a bus, smashing its windscreen.

An Army spokesman told MailOnline in reference to Vida and Quaker: 'We are hoping that both these horses make a recovery. Whether they will recover enough to return to official duties, it's too early to know for sure.'

Vida (white horse) and Trojan (black horse) bolted and went on a six-mile rampage through central London on Wednesday

Quaker smashed into a silver Mercedes taxi, shattering the windows and leaving deep dents with specks of blood splattered across the side

The last two horses were finally caught outside the Glamis Estate in Limehouse, east London

He added: 'But they've been given the best veterinary treatment possible and had they not been attached to the army then I don't believe they would have made it this far.

'Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying. Vida was operated on overnight and is currently in stables at the Hyde Park Barracks under observation.

'Quaker is the most seriously injured and was also operated on overnight but it was decided to move the horse to an equine hospital in the early hours.

'The extent of the injuries is not completely clear but we don't believe at this stage there are any broken bones. The injuries are consistent with serious lacerations.'

Trojan and Tennyson are expected to make full recoveries and resting under the observation of Army veterinary officers.

Army top brass told MailOnline the horses were given the best treatment possible by military vets, which saved their lives.
Ukraine has been forced to sideline US-provide Abrams tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack.

The US agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive months-long campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.

But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones - tactics also used to great effect by Ukraine's armed forces.

Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect their American made tanks, which are considered high priority targets by Russian units.

Russian troops claimed to have destroyed the first Abrams tank in Ukraine in February, with several Russian military bloggers sharing a clip of the armour on fire following a drone strike.

Since then, Moscow's forces have honed their approach to tackling Western armour.

Five of the 31 Abrams tanks in Ukraine have been destroyed in the past three months.

Russian troops claimed to have destroyed the first Abrams tank in Ukraine in February

Several Russian military bloggers sharing a clip of the armour on fire following a drone strike in February

Since then, Moscow's troops have honed their approach to tackling Western tanks

US Army M1A1 Abrams tanks were delivered to Ukraine last year after the Biden administration green-lit their transfer in January 2023 after months of pleas from Kyiv

The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means 'there isn't open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,' a senior US defence official told reporters Thursday.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide an update on US weapons support for Ukraine before Friday's Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting.

For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady and a third defence official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.

'When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armour in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk,' Grady said this week, adding that tanks are still important.

'Now, there is a way to do it,' he said.

'We'll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.'

News of the sidelined tanks comes as the US marks the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries that meets monthly to assess Ukraine's battlefield needs and identify where to find needed ammunition, weapons or maintenance to keep Ukraine's troops equipped.

Recent aid packages also reflect a wider reset for Ukrainian forces in the evolving fight, emphasising counter-drone capabilities, including .50-caliber rounds specifically modified to counter drone systems; additional air defences and ammunition; and a host of alternative, and cheaper, vehicles, including Humvees, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (APVs).

The US also confirmed it is providing long-range ballistic missiles known as ATACMS, which allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian-occupied areas without having to advance and be further exposed to either drone detection or fortified Russian defences.

Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots said in February that the first American Abrams tank had been destroyed near Avdiivka

After announcing it would provide Ukraine the Abrams tanks in January 2023, the US began training Ukrainians at Grafenwoehr Army base in Germany that spring on how to maintain and operate them.

They also taught the Ukrainians how to use them in combined arms warfare - where the tanks operate as part of a system of advancing armoured forces, coordinating movements with overhead offensive fires, infantry troops and air assets.

As the spring progressed and Ukraine's highly anticipated counteroffensive stalled, shifting from tank training in Germany to getting Abrams on the battlefield was seen as an imperative to breach fortified Russian lines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on his Telegram channel in September that the Abrams had arrived in Ukraine.

Since then, however, Ukraine has only employed them in a limited fashion and has not made combined arms warfare part of its operations, the defence official said.

During its recent withdrawal from Avdiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine that was the focus of intense fighting for months, several tanks were lost to Russian attacks, the official said.

A long delay by Congress in passing new funding for Ukraine meant its forces had to ration ammunition, and in some cases they were only able to shoot back once for every five or more times they were targeted by Russian forces.

In Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces were badly outgunned and fighting back against Russian glide bombs and hunter-killer drones with whatever ammunition they had left.
This is the moment an RAF fighter jet demolished an ISIS rocket launching facility with the laser-guided Paveway bomb - a shipment of which is reportedly set to make its way to Ukraine as part of Britain's new 500 million military aid package.

The clip, seemingly taken from an infrared radar screen and shared on social media by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, appeared to show the 500lb Paveway IV slamming into its target and triggering a huge fireball.

The RAF Typhoon conducted the strike as part of a routine patrol amid Operation Shader - the British armed forces' efforts to support and train allied forces in operations to eradicate ISIS and other Islamic extremist movements in Iraq.

Paveway IV bombs have been used to great effect by the RAF since 2008, and were the primary weapon of choice to hit Houthi targets in Yemen earlier this year in response to the rebel attacks on international freight ships in the Red Sea.

The device can home in on a target designated by a laser, but can also navigate according to GPS coordinates, making the 500lb explosive a high-precision strike weapon.

Professor Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for Airpower and Technology at UK think-tank RUSI, described the Paveway as the RAF's 'overwhelmingly dominant strike weapon' thanks to its pinpoint accuracy and versatility.

This is the moment an RAF fighter jet demolished an ISIS rocket launching facility with the laser-guided Paveway bomb

A Royal Air Force Typhoon takes off carrying Paveway IV precision guided bombs to strike targets in Yemen

Paveway IV bombs have been used to great effect by the RAF since 2008, and were the primary weapon of choice to hit Houthi targets in Yemen earlier this year in response to the rebel attacks on international freight ships in the Red Sea

In this image provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, RAF Armourers (Weapon Technicians) prepare a Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 for air strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, in RAF Akrotiri, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024

Britain's 500 million military aid package for Ukraine is said to include some 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600 munitions and 4 million rounds of ammunition - hardware sorely needed in Ukraine at a time when Kyiv's troops are struggling to hold off advancing Russian forces on the eastern front line

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this week unveiled the new 500 million support package for Kyiv and pledged to up Britain's defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade.

The military aid package is said to include some 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600 munitions and 4 million rounds of ammunition - hardware sorely needed in Ukraine at a time when Kyiv's troops are struggling to hold off advancing Russian forces on the eastern front line.

The shipment will include British Storm Shadow long-range missiles, which have a range of about 150 miles and have proved effective at hitting Russian targets.

The provision of Paveway IV bombs to Ukraine's air force is yet to be confirmed by the Ministry of Defence, but the BBC's Defence Correspondent claimed he had received confirmation that the aid package would include a shipment of the precision strike munitions.

Britain's arms shipments will complement far larger deliveries from the US after President Joe Biden earlier this week signed off on a mammoth $95 billion foreign aid package that includes some $61 billion earmarked for the provision of weapons to Ukraine.

US officials also confirmed Wednesday that the United States last month secretly sent Ukraine a number of long-range missiles that Kyiv has urgently sought so that its forces can hit Russian forces well behind the front lines.

Ukraine used them for the first time last week to strike an airfield in occupied Crimea, the officials said.

The Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, have a range of some 190 miles. More are expected to be sent to Ukraine as part of the new US aid package.

Speaking on the UK's commitment to upping its defence spending, Sunak described the planned target of 2.5% of GDP by 2030 as the 'biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation' and said he intended to put Britain's defence industry on a 'war footing'.

'One of the central lessons of the war in Ukraine is that we need deeper stockpiles of munitions, and for industry to be able to replenish them more quickly,' Sunak said at a news briefing alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a visit to Poland.

'In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent.

'As our adversaries align, we must do more to defend our country, our interests and our values.'

Grant Shapps shared a clip of the Paveway IV bomb in action on social media

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this week unveiled the new 500 million support package for Kyiv and pledged to up Britain's defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 on 22nd February 2024 having Paveway IV weapons loaded by Weapon Technicians in support of current ongoing operations

Footage taken from an RAF Typhoon over Yemen, showing a targeted strike

Sunak promised an extra 75 billion pounds ($93 billion) in defence spending over the next six years.

The target of 2.5% of GDP spending was a re-commitment of a target set by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022. Sunak previously said the goal would be met when economic conditions allow.

A decade ago, NATO leaders agreed to commit 2% of GDP to defence spending. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has given that effort new urgency.

Britain has spent above that over the past decade but never higher than 2.35% in 2020, according to NATO data.

Official figures show that defence spending last year was about 55.5 billion pounds, amounting to about 2.07% of the UK's GDP. This puts the UK ahead of countries including France and Germany but behind Poland, the US, Estonia and others.

Sunak also said that next year Britain would deploy its Typhoon fighter jets to Poland to help police its skies.

Poland, which borders Ukraine, has seen several incursions of its airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
A police bodycam has captured the final words of handcuffed black man Frank Tyson as police knelt on his back.

Tyson, 53, died in police custody after being arrested facedown on the floor of a social club last week.

Footage has now revealed that Tyson was telling officers: 'I can't breathe,' eerily echoing the words of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020 caused widespread Black Lives Matter protests.

The bodycam video of Tyson's arrest was released on Wednesday and shows officers responding to a report of a crash and Tyson, from East Canton, Ohio, by the bar in a nearby American Veterans, or AMVETS, post.

The crash at about 8pm on April 18 and involved a single car that had severed a utility pole.

A passing motorist directed police to the bar after Tyson allegedly fled the scene of the crash. Officer Beau Schoenegge's body-camera footage shows a woman opening the door to the venue, who said: 'Please get him out of here, now.'

This image, taken from Canton Police body camera video, shows 53-year-old Frank E. Tyson on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Canton, Ohio

Footage has now revealed that Tyson was telling officers: 'I can't breathe,' eerily echoing the words of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020 caused widespread Black Lives Matter protests

Police grabbed Tyson, and he resisted being handcuffed and said repeatedly, 'They're trying to kill me' and 'Call the sheriff,' as he was taken to the floor. They restrained him - including with a knee on his back - and he immediately told officers he could not breathe

Police grabbed Tyson, and he resisted being handcuffed and said repeatedly, 'They're trying to kill me' and 'Call the sheriff,' as he was taken to the floor.

They restrained him - including with a knee on his back - and he immediately told officers he could not breathe.

Officers told Tyson he was fine, to calm down and to stop fighting as he was facedown with his legs crossed on the carpeted floor.

Police were joking with bystanders and leafing through Tyson's wallet before realizing he was in a medical crisis.

Five minutes after the body-camera footage recorded Tyson saying 'I can't breathe,' one officer asked another if Tyson had calmed down. The other replied, 'He might be out.'

Tyson did not move when an officer told him to stand and tried to roll him over. They shook him and checked for a pulse.

Minutes later, an officer said medics needed to 'step it up' because Tyson was not responding and the officer was unsure if he could feel a pulse. Officers began CPR.

The Canton police report about Tyson's death that was issued Friday said that 'shortly after securing him,' officers 'recognized that Tyson had become unresponsive' and that CPR was performed. Doses of Narcan were also administered before medics arrived. Tyson was pronounced dead at a hospital less than an hour later.

Chief investigator Harry Campbell with the Stark County Coroner's Office said Thursday an autopsy was conducted earlier in the week and Tyson's remains were released to a funeral home.

His niece, Jasmine Tyson, called the video 'nonsense' in an interview with WEWS-TV in Cleveland. 'It just seemed like forever that they finally checked him,' Jasmine Tyson said.

Both Canton Police Department traffic bureau officers who were placed on leave, Schoenegge and Camden Burch, are white, according to the police department.

Frank Tyson was released from state prison on April 6 after serving 24 years on a kidnapping and theft case and was almost immediately declared a post-release control supervision violator for failing to report to a parole officer, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Officers told Tyson he was fine, to calm down and to stop fighting as he was facedown with his legs crossed on the carpeted floor. Police were joking with bystanders and leafing through Tyson's wallet before realizing he was in a medical crisis

Five minutes after the body-camera footage recorded Tyson saying 'I can't breathe,' one officer asked another if Tyson had calmed down. The other replied, 'He might be out.' Tyson did not move when an officer told him to stand and tried to roll him over. They shook him and checked for a pulse

The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation said in a statement Thursday that its probe will not determine if force was justified and that the prosecuting attorney or a grand jury will decide if charges related to the use of force are warranted.

Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II said he expressed his condolences to Frank Tyson's family in person.

'As we make it through this challenging time, my goal is to be as transparent with the community as possible,' Sherer said in a statement released Wednesday.

The US Department of Justice has warned police officers since the mid-1990s to roll suspects off their stomachs as soon as they are handcuffed because of the danger of positional asphyxia.

Many policing experts agree that someone can stop breathing if pinned on their chest for too long or with too much weight because it can compress the lungs and put stress on the heart.

But when done properly, putting someone on their stomach is not inherently life-threatening.

An investigation by The Associated Press published in March found more than 1,000 people died over a decade after police subdued them through means not intended to be lethal, including prone restraint.
Katie Price is facing the threat of arrest by police after failing to attend a court hearing over her bankruptcy.

The former glamour model, 45, has been declared bankrupt for a second time after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax - and will now face losing her home unless HMRC can recover the money.

She was due to give evidence about her finances at the High Court today. However, at the start of the hearing, lawyers said that Price had told them at last minute that she couldn't attend due to health issues. A judge described this excuse as 'scanty'.

The court heard that Price's personal assistant had sent a statement from a consultant psychiatrist saying she had anxiety and depression, as well as other issues affecting her mental health.

Barristers for the trustees of Price's first bankruptcy asked the judge to order her attendance at a future hearing and said she should be 'on notice' that she could be arrested if she did not attend.

Katie Price was declared bankrupt for a second time after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax last month

Katie standing in front of her home, dubbed 'Mucky Mansion', which she could lose over her debts

Katie is already being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd (Pictured with eldest son Harvey, 21)

Katie Price 'mucky mansion' (pictured) is located near Horsham in West Sussex

Darragh Connell, representing the trustees, told the court: 'It is important that she is on notice of the fact that this is a possibility.'

In written submissions, he said: 'The respondent should be in no doubt that any future non-attendance without a reasonable excuse will constitute contempt of court and necessitate an application for a warrant for her arrest.

'As with any other litigant, the respondent must comply with the orders of the Insolvency and Companies Court or face severe consequences.'

Mr Connell said Price had been aware of the hearing 'for a considerable period of time' and her evidence 'simply is not good enough'.

He said: 'It is clear that the evidence filed very late is of a variety that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory and we are in a very serious situation as a consequence.

'In these circumstances, there is deep concern from the trustees that what is happening here is an attempt at the 11th hour to kick things off into the long grass and that should not be allowed to happen.'

Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Mark Mullen said 'similarly brief' letters had been sent before previous court hearings which Ms Price also did not attend.

While he described the court as 'sympathetic' to people with health conditions, he said: 'There is a consistent pattern of last-minute adjournments being sought on the basis of scanty medical evidence.

'This can't be allowed to drag on on such an unsatisfactory basis.'

Judge Mullen ordered that Price attend the next hearing unless she gave a reasonable excuse and that she provide medical information so adjustments could be made to 'facilitate' her giving evidence.

He said: 'It is a fact that those who do not attend without a reasonable excuse for public examinations are likely to be arrested.

'It is important that Ms Price is under no illusion that just like any other bankrupt, she is expected to attend unless there are reasonable reasons why she should be excused.'

Alex Reid leaving the Rolls Building in central London after attending a bankruptcy hearing for his former partner Katie Price

The amount Katie Price (pictured) owes is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from between 2020 and 2022

Alex Reid, Price's former partner, was present at the hearing. The former glamour model owes him 250,000 plus legal costs following a court ruling in 2019.

Price allegedly shared sexual videos and photographs of the former cage fighter, 48. Alex sued his ex-wife for 'distributing private information  some of it of a sexual nature', which he said 'violated his right to privacy.'

Debt collectors were pictured outside her 'mucky mansion' earlier this year in an attempt to collect the money, it is understood.

READ MORE: Katie Price set to lose thousands after court rules nearly half of her OnlyFans monthly income is to be deducted amid bankruptcy Advertisement

Last month, a judge at the High Court ruled that she be declared bankrupt after an official from HMRC said she has failed to pay any money owed or responded to any correspondence since the demand was made for the unpaid tax last year.

It is the second bankruptcy faced by Price as she is being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd which sells perfume and cosmetics.

Judge Sebastion Prentis sitting at the High Court Rolls Building said Price had been served with a petition on November 27 2023 with a demand for 761,994.05.

The amount is made up of unpaid tax from self-assessment on her earnings from between 2020 and 2022 as well as penalties and surcharges.

The judge said she also owed 140,000 in unpaid VAT and added:' As with the unpaid tax no payment has been made.'

Price previously revealed that she didn't feel able to attend court to discuss her finances.

Speaking exclusively to the Mail's comedy podcast last month, she said: 'I just can't cope with going to a court. Mentally, I can't do it.'

Price went on and explained: 'Since my breakdown. When you are ill and depressed everything accumulates.

'If you can't cope with something or you haven't paid that bill. Communicate, don't ignore because when you ignore it, it just gets worse.

'It does upset me because they don't know how hard I've tried mentally to get out of that rut that I was in. A rut that I hung myself and thought I'd died.'

Price was served with papers in October by HMRC informing her of the debt owed  and she has failed to respond to the demand.

The judge said: 'There is a substantial debt due from Miss Price due to HMRC and therefore I will make a bankruptcy order.'

Price was first made bankrupt in 2019 when her company went bust.

She has failed to appear at an insolvency hearing on six previous occasions with the model submitting an excuse for her no show each time.

A HMRC source said every effort will be made to recover the money and if not paid then assets owed by Price will be seized.

It comes just weeks after Price was fined 880 after being caught driving a Range Rover at a service station on the A14 in Kettering, Northamptonshire in August 2023 despite having no licence or insurance.

She was handed eight penalty points and also ordered to pay 972 in costs on top of the financial penalty.
Sadiq Khan has apologised for suggesting the Chief Rabbi's criticism of his call for a Gaza ceasefire was due to his Muslim-sounding name.

The London mayor revealed he had said sorry after venting his frustration during an interview about the backlash he faced.

Speaking to journalist Mehdi Hasan earlier this week, Mr Khan had argued that there had been no equivalent response when Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for an immediate ceasefire.

Sadiq Khan revealed he had said sorry after venting his frustration during an interview about the backlash he faced on Gaza

Khan has apologised for suggesting the Chief Rabbi's criticism of his call for a Gaza ceasefire was due to his Muslim-sounding name

After the issue was raised in the Jewish Chronicle today, Mr Khan posted on social media to express regret

Mr Khan said: 'What motivated them to come out in the way they did against the Mayor of London, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester  I'll give you a clue, he's not called Ahmed Bourani, he's called Andy Burnham, whereas I'm called Sadiq Khan.'

After the issue was raised in the Jewish News today, Mr Khan posted on social media: 'The Chief Rabbi, along with other Jewish leaders, has been a friend to me, and we have worked hard together to unite our city and celebrate our diversity.

'I have been in contact with the Chief Rabbi to apologise for my comments.'

In a statement to the Jewish News, the mayor added: 'At times it is clear to me, and others, that as a mayor of London of Islamic faith, I am held to a different standard and that can be frustrating  particularly during a divisive election campaign.

'But, it wasn't fair of me to have levelled that frustration at the Chief Rabbi. I am sorry for any hurt this has caused and will continue working with Jewish leaders to build a safer London for everyone.'

The row has erupted less than a week before elections where Mr Khan is seeking a third term in City Hall.

The conflict in Gaza has been a huge issue in London since Israel launched its response to the bloody October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place weekly, with heavy criticism of the Metropolitan Police's handling.

Mr Khan has backed the force's commissioner Sir Mark Rowley despite a furious row this week over an officer preventing a man crossing the road during a demo because he was 'openly Jewish' and might inflame tensions. Sir Mark has defended his officer, saying he was trying to keep the peace.

Although polls have shown Mr Khan well ahead in the mayoral contest, it appears his lead is being trimmed.

Savanta research found that the Labour incumbent is 13 points ahead of Tory rival Susan Hall - the smallest gap yet.

The results will set nerves jangling in City Hall with just a week to go until the election.

A separate YouGov survey last week suggested that Mr Khan's advantage had dropped by six points since February, albeit he was still 19 points ahead.

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Savanta research found that Sadiq Khan (right) is 13 points ahead of Tory rival Susan Hall (left) - the smallest gap yet

Dr Elizabeth Simon of Queen Mary University of London, which commissioned the latest poll, said: 'Looking at the geography of London mayoral vote intention paints an interesting picture.

'In our poll, we find that Mr Khan leads Ms Hall by a commanding margin in the boroughs in the North and East of the capital. His lead is 19 percentage points among those living in North London, and 17 percentage points among those living in East London.

'While the race appears to be much tighter in boroughs to the South and West of the capital, with Mr Khan leading by just eight percentage points among those living in South and West London.

'These South and West London boroughs can be seen as key 'battlegrounds' in the final lead-up to the mayoral contest.'

The Savanta research, conducted between April 8 and 17, put Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie on 9 per cent, Green candidate Zoe Garbett on 7 per cent, and Reform UK's Howard Cox on 2 per cent.

The contest on May 2 is being conducted under the first past the post system for the first time, meaning Mr Khan cannot rely on second preferences from other parties.

Mr Khan was berated over his record on policing and ULEZ during a bad-tempered debate earlier this week.
Man, 73, in hospital with serious injuries after plane crash

A 73-year-old man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after his plane crashed while trying to land.

Emergency services were called to Jandakot Airport, in Perth's south, about 1.15pm on Friday when the VH-POR De Havilland Chipmunk crashed.

About seven fire trucks attended the scene.

The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries, WA Police said in a statement.

Officers from WA Police, St John Ambulance WA, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services assisted at the scene.

A pilot is in hospital following a crash landing at Jandakot Airport (pictured)

Another pilot who witnessed the crash told the West Australian that the plane appeared to lose power after take-off.

'He had no option. The plane was only tree height when the engine cut out,' he said.

'It just banked trying to turn, and it's just gone sideways and landed straight on the ground.

'It wasn't even nose first - it landed just flat.'

The incident will be investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
A Post Office executive offered to pay 140,000 'hush money' to the widow of a postmaster who killed himself after being wrongly being accused of fraud.

The public inquiry into the Horizon IT system heard Angela van den Bogerd offered the widow of Martin Griffiths the money after he walked in front of a bus, in a key scene from the ITV drama Mr Bates V the Post Office.

The settlement was conditional on a non-disclosure agreement being signed by Gina Griffiths and the family dropping their claims against the Post Office.

Jason Beer KC, counsel to the inquiry, said the deal left the 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over the head of Mrs Griffiths and her children.

He added the money would be paid in instalments to ensure the relatives of Mr Griffiths remained 'quiet' about the scandal.

Martin Griffiths from Cheshire took his own life in 2013 when he stepped out in front of a bus after being hounded for 100,00 'missing' cash by the Post Office

Former Post Office executive Angela van den Bogerd at the Horizon inquiry

'You ensured that there was an NDA attached to that settlement, you agreed to the staging of payments to act as an incentive and used money as a tool to keep the matter hushed up,' Mr Beer added.

Ms van den Bogerd accused of 'word soup' Jason Beer KC lost his patience with the former Post Office executive during the Horizon inquiry. He accused Ms van den Bogerd of using jargon as she tried to dodge difficult questions over the death of Martin Griffiths. When asked about the specific settlement to the Griffiths family, Ms van den Bogerd replied 'That was the broader piece of the network transformation. It covered everything'. Mr Beer KC then asked her exactly what she meant and accused her of 'word soup'. He said: ' What does that mean? Thats just word soup... I asked you, Ms van den Bogerd  the payment was going to be conditional upon the family withdrawing the claim that theyd made under the mediation, wasnt it?' She answered: 'Yes, because thats the way the network transformation payment was set out.' Advertisement

'This is about the Post Office staging payments to act as an incentive to hold a 'Sword of Damocles' hanging above her (Gina's) head- you do not get any money unless you keep quiet.'

The family of the late Mr Griffiths wrote a letter to Bogerd describing the offer as 'disgusting' after he died on 11 October, 2013 in hospital.

His daughter Lauren, said in an email dated 2 September, 2014: 'I understand that you are putting what you discussed with my mum yesterday in writing to her.

'It appears from what I have heard that you are offering the 140,000 "compensation payment" on the condition that we drop any action

'No amount of financial compensation could replace the fact that the Post Office has taken our dad away from our family, but simply put, 140,000 'compensation' for our Dad's life is simply disgusting.'

Mr Griffiths drove from his home in Cheshire along the A41 on 23 September 2013, having 'been out of sorts all week' over growing pressure at his branch at walked in front of bus, dying three weeks later.

Only on 2 May his branch, Hope Farm Road, was raided by two robbers armed with a sledgehammer and crowbar dressed in balaclavas.

Mr Griffiths was injured in the attack as he bravely battled to try and keep the men out.

The Post Office originally held him liable for the event arguing he had not secured the safe and left the front door open and said he owed 38,000.

Ms van der Bogerd arriving at Aldwych House to give evidence at the Horizon inquiry

But a subsequent review lowered the amount to 7,500. Mr Griffiths was using the life savings of his parents to keep his branch afloat.

Bogerd told the inquiry being held in London before Sir Wyn Williams settlements from the Post Office for staff who left the company included NDAs.

She argued her primary concern was the family and was not interested in 'hushing' matters up.

'My concern at the time was facilitating that payment to Gina. It was never to keep it hushed up. At the time, the Post Office was running a 'Network Transfer Payment' which was a compensation payment for a postmaster for loss of office.'

The inquiry continues.
Authorities say they have no reason to believe any foul play or criminal

Police have issued an update in the search for billionaire heiress Mint Butterfield, saying they don't suspect foul play.

Butterfield is the only child of two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield and Flickr founder Caterina Fake.

The 16-year-old, who uses they/them pronouns, vanished from their mother's home in affluent Bolinas, on April 21, before Fake reported them missing the following day.

Marin County Sheriff's Office told PEOPLE that authorities are 'investigating leads and working with the juveniles mother to try and acquire digital devices'.

The same spokesperson added that authorities 'do not have any reason to believe there is foul play or anything criminal' to their disappearance.

Mint Butterfield, the 16-year-old child of billionaire tech CEO Stewart Butterfield, has vanished

A map showing the various locations where Butterfield has been seen recently in the Bay Area

The Tenderloin is the center of the fentanyl crisis in San Francisco and is known for squalid conditions, homelessness, crime, drug trade, and prostitution

A release on Thursday said: 'The Sheriff's Office is considering Mint a voluntary-missing juvenile, who is 'At- Risk' due to a reported previous threat of suicide.

'Mint was reported missing by their mother, Caterina Fake. Fake had last seen her daughter at approximately 2200 hours on April 21st inside their home.

'The following morning, Fake realized that Mint was not at home, and discovered a note, indicating that Mint had left the residence, with a suitcase at an unknown time during the night or early morning.

'It is unclear how Mint left the area, as they did not have access to a vehicle, or phone.

'Fake and Mint also share a home in San Francisco, and it is believed, based on statements from Fake, that Mint may have left for the Tenderloin District.

The trouble teen, who is said of have battled addiction problems in the past, attends a private boarding school in the Napa Valley.

The Tenderloin is the center of the fentanyl crisis in San Francisco and is known for squalid conditions, homelessness, crime, drug trade, and prostitution.

The teenager was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, flannel pajama pants and black boots, as well as having brown/reddish curly hair and pierced eyebrows.

Caterina Fake, Co-Founder of Flickr speaks during the Bloomberg BusinessWeek 2010 Media Summit in New York City, on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Stewart Butterfield speaks at his company's Frontiers conference at Pier 27 & 29 on April 24, 2019, in San Francisco

Mint's father Stewart Butterfield is currently worth $1.6 billion. Slack was acquired by Salesforce in 2021 for $28 billion and Butterfield left the company in 2022.

Their mother is Caterina Fake, who started the created the imaging service Flickr with her then partner, Butterfield. They sold the image-hosting website to Yahoo in 2005.

Since then, Fake has served on the board of several startups and is known as an angel investor in the tech world.

Fake and Butterfield married in 2001 and remained together until 2007, when their child was born.

Butterfield has since married Jen Rubio, co-founder of Away - an American luggage and travel accessories brand, and the pair have two young children together.

Butterfield has since married Jen Rubio, co-founder of Away - an American luggage and travel accessories brand, and the pair have two young children together

In 2021, Butterfield purchased a $31.7 million mansion in Aspen, Colorado. The residence sprawls over a five-acre estate overlooking the Castle Creek Valley

Stewart Butterfield's $19 million San Francisco home located in the upmarket Presidio Heights

Fake is now in a relationship with Jaiku co-founder, Jyri Engestrom, and the couple share three children between them.

In 2021, Butterfield purchased a $31.7 million mansion in Aspen, Colorado. The residence sprawls over a five-acre estate overlooking the Castle Creek Valley.

The property boasts a generous home gym, a home theatre, a games room, a 500 bottle wine cellar, a tasting room, six en-suite bedrooms and a three-car garage.

Butterfield also owns a $19 million home in San Francisco, which has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms and sits in the posh Presidio Heights neighborhood.
A veteran Labor MP has been forced to resign from his parliamentary position over allegations of 'persistent and inappropriate behaviour' towards staff.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said she had asked Darren Cheeseman, 47, to resign from his role as Parliamentary Secretary for Education and that he had done so.

Ms Allan asked for his resignation due to 'allegations of persistent, inappropriate behaviour in the workplace towards staff'.

Ms Allan said ministers and parliamentary secretaries are 'expected to behave according to the highest standards of personal conduct in the performance of their duties and to behave in a way that upholds community expectations'.

Labor MP Darren Cheeseman (pictured) has been forced to resign from his parliamentary position over allegations of 'persistent and inappropriate behaviour' towards staff

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Greens Senator Barbara Pocock forced to delete 'disturbing' tweet Greens senator Barbara Pocock is pictured Advertisement

'Under the Code, ministers and parliamentary secretaries must take all reasonable steps to maintain respectful and appropriate working relationships with their staff, staff of other ministers and MPs, parliamentary staff, VPS staff, and ministerial and parliamentary colleagues,' she added.

The exact nature of the allegations made against Mr Cheeseman are unknown, but the Herald Sun reported that there have been multiple complaints about him.

Though Mr Cheeseman resigned from his parliamentary secretary role, he is still a member of the Labor caucus in the Victorian Parliament.

This is likely to lead to internal criticism of Ms Allen, who replaced Daniel Andrews as Premier last September.

'Jacinta was on her feet only days ago where she said calling out bad behaviour could save a life and that we've all got a leadership opportunity to play here,' one MP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

Mr Cheeseman has held the seat of South Barwon for Labor in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2018.

Before switching to state politics, he held the federal seat of Corangamite from 2007-2013.

Last August, another Victorian Labor MP, Will Fowles, resigned from the parliamentary party amid 'serious' assault allegations which he 'strenuously' denied.

He was asked to resign by the then-premier, Mr Andrews.

The police investigated and questioned Mr Fowles over an alleged assault of a staff member, but did not press charges.

But despite this, Ms Allan said Mr Fowles would not be welcomed back into the Labor caucus and he now sits as an independent.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Cheeseman for comment.
A school in Wales has been placed under 'partial lockdown' with petrified students 'hiding under desks' after a pupil 'received threatening messages', with police arresting a teenage boy.

Police rushed to Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale at around 10.20am today after panic broke out.

Gwent Police arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of making threats. It is understood that the suspect is not a 'learner' at the school and the arrest did not take place on school grounds and was not in the Ebbw Vale area.

He was searched upon his arrest and no offensive weapons were found on his person.

This latest incident comes after two teachers and a pupil sustained stab wounds at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on Wednesday.

A 13-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and appeared before Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Concerned parents gathered outside Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale, Wales, after it was put into lockdown

Police have been attending Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale, Wales, since around 10:20am

Parents of the students have been sent text messages from the school and some have turned up at the school gates.

The first text message read: 'Dear parents/carers - the school is in a partial lockdown. During this period the telephones and entrances will be unmanned, external doors locked and nobody allowed in or out.'

The second said: 'Dear parents/carers - There is no risk inside the building. Police have arrived. All students are safe in classrooms and all doors and access points to the school are locked. Thank you for your understanding.'

A spokesperson for Gwent Police has confirmed that a teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of making threats

Gwent Police told MailOnline: 'We received a call to report that the secondary campus to Ebbw Fawr Learning Community had been placed in partial lockdown at around 10.20am on Friday 26 April after a teenage pupil had allegedly received threatening messages.

'Our officers are in attendance. We have arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of making threats.

'The arrest did not take place on school premises and was not made in the Ebbw Vale area. Our enquiries are ongoing.'
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Donald Trump returned to court on Friday for the eighth day of the hush money trial to watch his lawyers cross-examine former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and his longtime assistant Rhona Graff.

Tabloid executive Pecker told the court on Thursday how he negotiated multiple deals to kill stories for celebrities including Mark Wahlberg, Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Follow all the coverage from DailyMail.com's reporters in the New York court.
Former Tory minister Jonathan Aitken has revealed he died three times and had to be resuscitated by medics during a hospital fight against septicaemia aged 80.

The former Treasury and defence minister put his survival at such an advanced age down to a carer who got him to hospital, the 'wonderful' medics and 'prayers'.

Speaking to Andy Coulson's Crisis What Crisis Podcast Reverend Aitken, who became an Anglican priest after serving a high-profile prison sentence for perjury that ended his political career, said he was not expected to pull through after a 'minor complication' took a turn for the worse.

'At the last minute I got back into hospital and they thought they couldn't save me but they did and I came through,' he told the former News Of the World editor.

'Of course there are many explanations for why I came through: the skill of the surgeons, certainly the prayers of other people.

Speaking to Andy Coulson's Crisis What Crisis Podcast Reverend Aitken, who became an Anglican priest after serving a high-profile prison sentence for perjury that ended his political career, said he was not expected to pull through after a 'minor complication' took a turn for the worse.

Mr Aitken, 81, was jailed for 18 months in 1999 after being convicted of perjury after accusing the Guardian newspaper of libel. He served seven months before being released, but his career was ruined.

'And there are mysteries here far beyond my vision, but I would certainly say the mystery of faith is one. The mystery of why some people are natural fighters against the odds, we are all made differently. And then the people involved.

'There was a wonderful carer called Jessie who got me to the hospital at the right time. There was a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful anaesthetist who had terrible problems because I died three times on the operating table.'

Rev Aitken, also a former journalist and writer, also revealed he has interviewed all the medics, with a view to recounting the experience.

Mr Aitken, 81, was jailed for 18 months in 1999 after being convicted of perjury after accusing the Guardian newspaper of libel. He served seven months before being released, but his career was ruined.

He sued the newspaper after it said he allowed aides of the Saudi royal family to pay his 1,000 hotel bill at the Paris Ritz in September 1993.

He had famously vowed to 'cut out the cancer of bent and twisted journalism in our country with the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of fair play.'

But he admitted committing perjury after the paper produced evidence that showed he was lying in his evidence.

He also said that the film star Richard Harris, who had previously been married to Aitken's second wife Elizabeth (pictured)- who died in 2022 - had helped him prepare for prison by introducing him to 'mysterious people from the underworld.'

The ex-Tory MP was ordained at St Paul's Cathedral in 2018 and followed it with a celebration at the Old Bailey.

He joked at the time that his first return to the famous London court building since being jailed there 19 years ago would be a happier occasion.

He told the CWC podcast that he initially thought about becoming a taxi driver after being released from prison, before being dissuaded by his children.

'My children kept saying, ''What are you going to do?'' and I said perfectly seriously that I was going to be a minicab driver...

'But my children used to shriek, because they'd say, ''You get lost between Lord North Street and Sloane Square [in Westminster] so you'd never be any good at that''.'

He also said that the film star Richard Harris, who had previously been married to Aitken's second wife Elizabeth - who died in 2022 - had helped him prepare for prison by introducing him to 'mysterious people from the underworld.'

Andy Coulson's podcast Crisis What Crisis? is on YouTube - click here to watch it
Chilling video footage revealed a psychologist's last moment alive before she was found dead inside her home in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte on Tuesday night.

Fabiana Veras, 42, was allegedly gagged, tied up and stabbed by Joao Carvalho, 41, who was reportedly seeking information on his former girlfriend because she was dating another man.

The surveillance camera showed Carvalho wearing a head scarf with glasses and a surgical mask walking up to Vera's home in the Rio Grande do Norte town of Assu, where she also operated her clinic.

Veras welcomed Carvalho into the home and carried on a conversation with him for nearly a minute and a half inside the garage.

They later entered the living room and walked inside a bedroom, where Veras was stabbed multiple times on her hands and body.

Brazilian psychologist Fabiana Veras talks to Joao Carvalho after welcoming him inside her home on Tuesday in Assu, a tow in the northeastern stare of Rio Grande do Norte. Veras was found gagged with multiple stab wounds. Carvalho was apprehended 149 miles away at his apartment in Natal on Wednesday

Police said Fabiana Veras was murdered by Joao Carvalho, who was searching for information on his former girlfriend, who was a close friend of the victim

Joao Carvalho was arrested for allegedly murdering Fabiana Veras, a psychologist who was a close friend of his former girlfriend

Rio Grande do Norte Civil Police investigators found that Carvalho washed off the blood in the kitchen sink and then waited for a vehicle to arrive. He returned to the home to retrieve a bag he left behind and Vera's phone and then fled.

Carvalho was surprised by police Wednesday as he approached a parking spot at his home 149 miles away in Natal, the state capital. Authorities seized three knives, two brass knuckles and a gun that had blood on it.

Authorities said that Carvalho, an employee of the Rio Grande do Norte justice system, paid a taxi driver about $100 to drive him to Vera's house. He was questioned and released.

'His intention, everything indicates, was to look for this cell phone, which he brought to Natal and destroyed, to get the contents, to find out what type of relationship he had with his ex-partner', Homicide Division chief, Marcio Lemos, told Brazilian news outlet G1.

Carvalho was interviewed by local outlet Assu Todo Dia and claimed he heard the devil's voice before he killed Veras.

'He threatens... He threatens my mother, who is the weakest. She suffers from the heart,' he said.

Veras specialized in clinical and hospital care, according to the Regional Psychology Council of the 17th Region.

She provided psychological services to teenagers and adults at clinic in Natal and Mossoro and also online.

'This is not just a job, I live psychology to help other lives,' she said on one of her social media accounts.

Veras enjoyed the outdoors, often sharing photos of mountain climbing, and competed in bodybuilding events.

Brazilian psychologist Fabiana Veras, who was found dead at her home Tuesday, often shared her love for nature and the outdoors on social media

Fabiana Veras followed a strict training regimen and competed in bodybuilding events

The Rio Grande do Norte Civil Police said the suspect took Fabiana Vera's cell phone after killing her and 'destroyed, to get the contents, to find out what type of relationship he had with his ex-partner'

'Physical activity doesn't just change your body,' she once commented on an Instagram post. 'It changes your mind, your attitudes, your mood and even your lifestyle.

'High performance sport doesn't only cause you physical, emotional and mental changes,' she added. 'It makes you vibrate in other standards: the standard of self-challenge, self-knowledge and breaking boundaries. You start a duel with yourself.'

Veras' murder stunned the Assu community. She was buried Thursday morning.

'She was a very beloved person in the city, as she served our city for years. A very beloved person, a very good professional,' Dilma Peixoto, a former coworker, told G1.

'The entire city was shocked, even people who didn't have a bond of friendship, who didn't know her personally ... We just regret it and hope that justice is done.'
The organization instructs its fellows to 'rise up' and spark 'revolution'

Fellows are given between $2,880 and $3,660 for 'working' eight hours a week

Multiple leaders of the anti-Israel protests at college campuses across the nation have been revealed to be paid fellows of George Soros-connected groups.

Three of the major figures in the pro-Palestine encampments in universities are fellows at the Soros-funded US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, the New York Post reports.

USCPR 'community-based' fellows are paid up to $7,800 for their labor, while 'campus-based' fellows are given between $2,880 and $3,660 for spending eight hours a week organizing 'campaigns led by Palestinian organizations.'

The organization instructs its fellows to 'rise up' and spark 'revolution,' while specifically telling them to reject 'reform.'

It has received at least $300,000 from Soros' Open Society Foundations since 2017.

Multiple leaders of the anti-Israel protests across the nation have been revealed to be employees of George Soros

Former president of the University of Texas Students for Justice in Palestine Nidaa Lafi (center) was seen giving a speech on the campus encampment on Wednesday

Meanwhile at Yale, USCPR fellow Craig Birckhead-Morton was arrested after occupying the school Beinecke Plaza on Monday

One of them, former president of the University of Texas Students for Justice in Palestine Nidaa Lafi was seen giving a speech on the campus encampment on Wednesday.

Lafi is currently studying law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas after graduating from UT last year.

The former intern for late Democratic congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was detained in January for blocking the route of president Joe Biden's motorcade in Dallas for the funeral of her former boss, rep. Johnson.

Meanwhile at Yale, USCPR fellow Craig Birckhead-Morton was arrested after occupying the school Beinecke Plaza on Monday.

He was an intern Democratic Maryland rep. John Sarbanes.

At Berkeley, co-president of the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine Malak Afaneh is a known face at pro-Palestine protests and has been speaking at the campus' protest this week.

Afaneh previously made headlines this month when she was one of the students who hijacked a dinner with the law school's dean and made it into an anti-Israel demonstration.

At Berkeley, co-president of the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine Malak Afaneh (fourth from the right) has been speaking at the campus' protest this week

The organization instructs its fellows to 'rise up' and spark 'revolution,' while specifically telling them to reject 'reform'

The controversial protests in US campuses are organized by branches of the far-leftist group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which is funded by non-profits connected to Soros

She accused the dean's wife of assaulting her after she was asked to leave the dean's home.

The controversial protests in US campuses are organized by branches of the far-leftist group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which is funded by non-profits connected to Soros.

Soros, who is Jewish, was born Gyorgy Schwartz in Hungary, and survived the country's Nazi occupation.

In a statement, the Open Society Foundations accused the Post of 'mixing distortion and unsubstantiated insinuations.'

The organization added: 'We have a long history of fighting antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism and hate, and have advocated for the rights of Palestinians and Israelis and for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

'Our funding is a matter of public record, disclosed on our website, fully compliant with U.S. laws, and is part of our commitment to continuing open debate that is ultimately the only hope for peace in the region.

'We proudly support the right of all citizens to peaceful protesta bedrock principle of our democracy.'

Tensions continue to escalate at the Columbia, where hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters are demanding that the institution divest from companies with ties to Israel.

So far, more than 100 demonstrators have been arrested at the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment', which is comprised of a coalition of 116 groups under the umbrella organization Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Several of the groups in the coalition have received backing from left wing donors, including one group currently under investigation for allegedly fundraising for terrorist organizations.

One of the key players in the coalition is Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which the Gazette reports came out in support of the October 7 attack which killed 1,200 Israelis.

Tensions continue to escalate at the Ivy League school where hundreds of pro Palestine protesters are demanding that the institution divest from companies with ties to Israel

It has emerged one of the groups at the encampment, Students for Justice in Palestine, has links to another group under investigation for allegedly fundraising for terrorists. SJP members including this one pictured have been suspended over their involvement in the camp

SJP receives funding from American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), according to the Anti Defamation League, which describes AMP as holding 'extreme anti-Israel views'.

Last year, Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares announced his office was investigating AMP over allegations they may have been fundraising for terrorist organizations.

SJP is also an offshoot of the Westchester People's Action Coalition which supports Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, the Green New Deal, and other left-wing initiatives.

WESPAC is named as a 'fiscal sponsor' of SJP, according to NGO Monitor and has assets over $1,000,000.

Several of the groups members are among those who have been barred for participating in the sit in.

Another central player in the encampment is Jewish Voice for Peace, which has received millions from various donors including George Soros's Open Society Network.

Since 2016 the group has netted at least $650,000 from Soros-backed organizations.

Other donors have included the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, whose director, Nicholas Burns, resigned in 2017 over its support for JVP.

Columbia was forced to cancel all in person classes for the rest of the semester amid the turmoil

Columbia University Apartheid Divest is made up of 116 groups and states on its website that it represents thousands of students across nine schools

Both JVP and SJP have been involved in solidarity protests across other universities including NYU, Yale, MIT and Harvard.

Columbia canceled in-person classes, dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Yale, and the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public Monday as some of the most prestigious U.S. universities sought to defuse campus tensions over Israel's war with Hamas.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest states on its website that it represents thousands of students across nine schools.

Other groups which make up the coalition include Young Democratic Socialists of America, Columbia Queer and Asian, the African Students Association, Columbia University Students for Human Rights and the Teachers College Abolition Collective.

The coalition began the sit in following Columbia president Minouche Shafik's testimony before Congress about anti-Semitism on campus.

The stunt entered its seventh day today and has already seen billionaire donors including Robert Kraft pull their funding and earned condemnation from the White House.

The coalition's three demands center around divestment all of Columbia's finances, including that profit from 'Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine', severing all ties with Israeli universities and an opposition to 'to land grabs, whether in Harlem, Lenapehoking, or Palestine'.

The group is seeking a ceasefire on Gaza, where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory strikes by Israel.
President Joe Biden's aides worry his shuffling gait and solo walk to Marine One have made the 81-year-old look even older, so they are now joining him on the march from the White House to the presidential helicopter.

The aides think that having themselves walk between Biden and journalists' cameras will draw less attention to Biden's halting and stiff walk, Axios reported.

Voters have expressed concern about Biden's age as he seeks a second term. An NBC poll earlier this month found that the idea that Biden 'may not have the necessary mental and physical health to be president for a second term' was a top concern for voters.

President Joe Biden walks to the White House last week with senior members of his staff, including Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, Senior adviser Mike Donilon, and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini

It was Biden who suggested aides walk with him as the president seeks to counter the concerns.

'Weeks ago the President mentioned to aides that he'd prefer a less formal approach and said they should just walk with him,' a White House aide told DailyMail.com

Since mid-April, he's had deputy chiefs of staff Annie Tomasini and Bruce Reed, top adviser Mike Donilon and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at his side as heads to Marine One.

In March, Biden's five walks to and from Marine One at the White House were by himself, or with family members. Starting April 16, Biden was joined by staff or lawmakers nine out of 10 times he walked to and from Marine One, per Axios' count.

The White House has tried to turn questions about Biden's age into an argument that he is the most experienced person to hold the office.

But as voters continue to fret in a way about Biden that they don't about Trump, who is 77, there's been a subtle shift in strategy. If Biden wins a second term, he would be 86 at its completion.

Biden is now making jokes repeatedly about his age.

At an event in New York on Thursday, when talking about the size of microchips being made at the factory he was visiting, Biden quipped: 'It's 4000 times thinner than a single hair on your head and I got some very thin hair on my head.'

He also likes to tell crowds that he knows 'he looks 40.'

His supporters are eating the jokes up, clapping loudly and cheering.

President Joe Biden walked solo toward Marine One in March

President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn after landing on Marine One with senior members of his staff including Bruce Reed and Karine Jean-Pierre

There have been other shifts.

The president has taken to wearing sneakers or hiking boots. He's been spotted lately sporting the Hoka 'Transport' sneakers, which typically retail for $150.

He's also been using the shorter stair case on Air Force One, which has less steps, and doing balancing exercises.

The president, 81, has taken several stumbles in his nearly three years in office - falling while boarding Air Force One, tripping on various staircases, and taking a dramatic tumble at the Air Force Academy when he encountered a sandbag.

That smaller stair case - which goes into the belly of the 747 - is about half the size of the stair case that is used to access the upper part of the plane: 14 stairs versus 26.

Biden's doctor has admitted the president has a stiff gait.

In both reports on Biden's physicals, the president's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, noted the president has suffered from a 'stiffened ambulatory gait.' Biden fractured his foot during the 2020 presidential campaign and had to wear a boot.

Otherwise, Biden has been declared fit to hold office.

President Joe Biden arrives at the White House in his sneakers

President Biden also uses the shorter stair case on Air Force One

O'Connor recommended physical therapy - specifically 'proprioceptive maintenance maneuvers' - and shoe orthotics to help with his walking.

Proprioception training focuses on the sense of body positioning in space and can involve balancing exercises, tai chi, and yoga.

Biden, who works out most mornings at the White House gym, has been doing balancing exercises with Drew Contreras, who was a physical therapist in the Army and worked with Barack Obama when he was in the White House.
A newborn baby rescued from her dying mother's womb after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that killed her family has died despite the best efforts of doctors to save her.

Tiny Sabreen Jouda, who had been named after her late mother, had fought for life after being delivered premature by emergency Caesarean section in a hospital in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday.

Her home had been hit by an airstrike shortly before midnight Saturday, killing her father and four-year-old sister as they slept, and critically injuring her mother, who was 30-weeks pregnant.

First responders who pulled the remains of the family from the debris noticed her mother's pregnant figure and rushed her to Rafah's Emirati hospital for a C-section.

Doctors had battled to revive her, refusing to give up as she slipped away, breathing air into her lungs and carefully massaging her chest until she was stable enough to incubate at another hospital.

Rami al-Sheikh, uncle to little Sabreen, confirmed she had died in hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated and medical teams were unable to save her.

'God had taken something from us but given us something in return' with the baby surviving after her family died, he said near Sabreen's grave in a cemetery in Rafah.

'But (now) he has taken them all. My brother's family is completely wiped out. It's been deleted from the civil registry. There is no trace of him left behind.'

A medic holds a Palestinian newborn girl after she was pulled alive from the womb of her mother Sabreen Al-Sheikh (Al-Sakani), who was killed in an Israeli strike

Palestinian baby 'Sabreen al-Ruh al-Sheikh' on April 24, 2024

A medic cares for 'Sabreen al-Ruh al-Sheikh', a Palestinian baby delivered preterm by caesarian section minutes before the death of her mother, on April 24, 2024

Tiny Sabreen, lies in an incubator at Al-Emirati hospital in Rafah on April 21, 2024

Rami al-Sheikh, uncle to little Sabreen, confirmed she had died in hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated (pictured April 21)

The baby's mother reached the emergency unit at the city's Kuwaiti hospital in a critical condition with wounds to the head and abdomen, and died shortly after the baby was delivered.

Sabreen had been pictured shortly after, born around a month and a half premature, malnourished and fighting to breathe.

She weighed just 1.4kg (3.1lbs) when she was born.

Doctors had described Sabreen's survival as a 'miracle' earlier this week.

They suggested later on Sunday that there had been some improvement in her condition against the odds, but warned 'risk' still remained.

Doctor Mohammad Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital, said: 'She passed away to join her family. I went and completed all the procedures at the hospital today, and brought the girl's body home.'

'I and other doctors tried to save her, but she died. For me personally, it was a very difficult and painful day,' he said.

'She was born while her respiratory system wasn't mature, and her immune system was very weak and that is what led to her death. She joined her family as a martyr.'

'[Sabreen's] grandmother urged me and the doctors to take care of her because she would be someone that would keep the memory of her mother, husband, and sister alive, but it was God's will that she died,' Salama said.

Sabreen's paternal grandmother, Ahalam al-Kurdi, had since travelled to the hospital and assured she would take in her grandchild to raise as her own.

'Welcome to her. She is the daughter of my dear son. She is my love, my soul,' al-Kurdi said before news of her tragic passing.

Initially, the girl was going to be called Rouh - a name her elder sister, Malak, had come up with that means 'soul' or 'spirit'.

But it was ultimately decided that she should be named Sabreen - a tribute to the mother who protected her and gave her life even after she herself had died.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas war, according to local health officials, who say about two-thirds of the dead are women and children.

The health officials don't differentiate among combatants and civilians in their count.

Israeli offensives across the Gaza Strip have caused mass displacement, forcing more than half of the 2.3mn population to seek refuge in Rafah.

Devastating raids continue almost daily, however, as Israel prepares for possible offensive in the city.

Aid groups warn that an invasion of Rafah invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions in Gaza where, according to the World Food Programme, famine is 'a real and dangerous threat'.

Hamas also urges that Israel will not be able to achieve its aims with an invasion, stated as returning hostages taken on October 7 and destroying Hamas.

After nearly seven months of war Israel had not achieved its goals, 'whether eliminating Hamas or returning the captives', Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Afp.

Hamad warned that an invasion 'will undoubtedly threaten the negotiations' and show 'that Israel is interested in continuing the war'.

Palestinians mourn by the bodies of relatives killed in Israeli bombardment, at the al-Najjar hospital in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on April 25, 2024

Wounded Palestinian adults and children are taken under treatment at Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital after Israeli army attacked the house of the Nabhan family in Rafah, Gaza on April 25

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 27

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on April 4, 2024

Charities are warning Gaza faces significant risk of famine as the war rages (Pictured: Rafah tent camp, April 26)

Displaced Palestinian children wait for a water supply tank to fill their containers amid soaring temperatures at a tent camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 26, 2024

A view of tents set up for displaced Palestinians amid fears of Israeli ground offensive on Rafah, April 25, 2024

Israel declared war on Hamas, the de facto governing authority in Gaza, and unleashed a devastating air and ground offensive in response to the October 7 attack on southern Israel, led by Hamas and other groups.

The horrifying attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took another 250 hostage.

A delegation from mediator Egypt will today travel to Egypt, a source close to the Israeli government told AFP, in what local media said is a bid to reignite stalled hostage-release negotiations.

However, progress has been slow since the temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange organised in November.

That truce saw the exchange of 80 Israeli captives in return for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Humza Yousaf today insisted he will not quit before a crunch confidence vote as he surfaced hours after cancelling a keynote speech.

The First Minister spoke to the media on a visit to promote a housing policy, saying he 'absolutely' intends to fight on.

He said he had not considered resigning and had 'every intention of winning' the vote when it happens - although he also held out an olive branch, saying he had 'not intended' to enrage the Greens by summarily dumping their coalition deal.

The defiant stance came as Mr Yousaf frantically battled to cling on after a power play to ditch his former partners in government backfired.

His hopes could rest on Ash Regan, his former leadership rival who defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party in protest at the SNP's stance on gender identity.

She has written to Mr Yousaf laying out demands for propping him up, including 'defending the rights of women and children'. That is thought to mean accepting the results of the Cass review, which criticised gender therapies, in full.

Ms Regan is also pushing for a commitment to invest in the Grangemouth oil refinery, and unilateral moves towards an independence referendum.

JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it is 'karma' that the First Minister is now reliant on Ms Regan - whose defection from the SNP was previously dismissed by Mr Yousaf as 'no great loss'.

Tensions had been rising between the SNP and Greens over trans and Net Zero policies, but Mr Yousaf's decision to scrap the so-called Bute House agreement was still a bombshell. He rubbed salt in the wound by making his newly-sacked ex-colleagues do a walk of shame in full view of cameras.

The furious Greens then declared they will support a no confidence motion tabled by the Scottish Tories.

With other parties ranged against him, that leaves Mr Yousaf at risk of defeat. Excluding the presiding officer there are 128 MSPs in total, and the SNP only has 63.

Ms Regan holds the balance, as if she supports the First Minister he would have 64 votes. In the event of a tie the presiding officer is meant to back the status quo, so he would be able to hold on.

Humza Yousaf was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP

Alba MSP Ash Regan is yet to decide how she will vote next week

JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it was 'karma' that the First Minister was now reliant on Ms Regan

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) arrive for First Minister's Questions on Thursday. The Greens have said they will support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister

Scottish Labour has heaped further pressure on the SNP by lodging a no confidence motion in the entire Scottish Government, rather than just Mr Yousaf.

If passed, that could lead to a Scottish Parliament election.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'It's a matter now of when  not if  Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

'It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.'

However, Mr Yousaf told Sky News this afternoon: 'I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, I've got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.

'And let me say to the opposition for minority government to work in the interest of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith.

'And to the Greens I've obviously heard their anger, their upset.

'What I will do is be writing to all the political party leaders, all the party groups represented in the Scottish Parliament including of course Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater asking them to meet with me, to say how do we make minority government work.

'It's in the best interests of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work.'

Rowling, a prominent women's rights campaigner, said on social media: 'The idea that Humza Yousaf's political fate may now lie in the hands of Ash Regan, the woman who left the SNP in disgust at its plans for gender self-ID, reminds me...'

She then shared the Tarot card Karma  which is also depicted as Judgment in some decks.

Speaking to the BBC's World Tonight, Ms Regan said: 'I have written to the First Minister today with a number of issues that I've raised with him on progress made towards independence, on how he will defend the rights of women and children and a return to competent governance.

'My vote will depend on really what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.'

She continued: 'I'm not setting out specific demands as such, I'm putting the ball into Humza's court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.'

Allies of Mr Yousaf insisted he will 'come out fighting' in the face of a concerted effort by opponents to oust him.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would be 'standing shoulder-to-shoulder' with Mr Yousaf, suggesting there will be room for 'reflection' by his critics over the next week.

A source close to the First Minister insisted Mr Yousaf was 'absolutely not' considering his position following the chaotic events.

The confidence vote, expected Wednesday or Thursday next week, has been tabled against Mr Yousaf personally rather than the government.

As a result, he would not technically be obliged to quit if he loses. However, in reality it would be almost impossible for him to stay on.

There would then be 28 days to appoint a new First Minister who can command a majority before new Holyrood elections are triggered.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos. Humza Yousaf's government is in crisis. He claims it is now a new beginning, but really it is the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

After he lodged the motion of no confidence, Mr Ross said: 'He was bounced into ditching the Bute House Agreement by his own MSPs. The only leadership he has shown has been weak. His time as First Minister is up.'

Mr Yousaf unilaterally announced the move without an SNP member vote following an emergency meeting of his Cabinet yesterday.

The Greens said they would back a no confidence vote.

Mr Yousaf speaking in parliament after the deal collapsed over what the Greens had seen as a gradual side-lining of their policies by the SNP

An animated Humza Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapsed

Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater (left) and Patrick Harvie (centre) speaking as the deal was brought to a premature end

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (pictured in parliament on Thursday) said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos'

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion.

'It could have come to an end by agreement.

'It has led to the position where Humza Yousaf is hanging on a thread as to whether he can stay as First Minister.'

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza has to understand he is no longer in the position of ruling the roost. I can only describe his tactics as kamikaze.

'He has insulted every opposition party in the parliament. There's a number of things you can and can't do when you are leading a minority administration, and one of them is not to insult all of the opposition parties.

'Humza is going to need to mend his ways and do it very quickly.'

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.'

Alex Salmond described Ms Regan as 'the most powerful MSP' in parliament

At an 8am meeting with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Mr Yousaf told them he would be 'terminating' their ministerial roles. He then met his Cabinet to inform them. Mr Yousaf's spokesman said ministers banged on the table in approval.

Just days prior to the announcement, Mr Yousaf publicly backed the partnership agreement.

At a press conference yesterday he denied he had made a weak and reactive decision.

He was asked if he was a 'lame duck leader who is heading for the exit door' and he responded: 'No, not at all. We are taking control as a party and indeed as a government on our priority terms.'

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes insisted she would support him in the no confidence vote.

Fergus Ewing, who repeatedly spoke out against the Bute House Agreement, challenged Mr Yousaf to 'do a spring clean of the policies and programmes'.
A Las Vegas teenager left traumatized after seeing an 'eight-foot-tall demon creature' in his backyard has enlisted the help of a priest after continued paranormal activity.

Angel Kenmore, 17, spoke out about the mysterious incident that he says took place in April of last year when he saw a 'giant creature' that he believes was a demon.

The latest paranormal activity included a floating crucifix that had Jesus ripped from it, and the pages of a Bible being flipped through in a room with no breeze.

Due to this, he explained that he had enlisted the help of priests to say prayers over the house which seems to have calmed things down.

Speaking to NewsNation he explained: 'I was in another room, my brother called me, and there was an upside down cross. There was a Jesus statue in it.

'They ripped Jesus out of it and threw it across the room, and it was floating in the air upside down.'

Angel Kenmore, 17, spoke out about the mysterious incident that he says took place in April of last year when he saw a 'giant creature' that believes was a demon

He continued: 'I did nothing, we got close to it and it fell down. I was chilling and there was a bible just flipping the pages.

'It was steady, it wasn't like the air, like someone was holding it. As soon as I got close to it, it dropped again. This was inside. I guess it's a demonic presence.

'We had a couple priests come over to the house and prayer over the house, everything seems to be normal again.

'I don't have an explanation as to what it is, the priests that it might be fallen angels. Demons or fallen angels, something like that.

'Right now we feel good, it's been a lot of time since the priest came over. I was pretty scared, I was traumatized. Soon we are going to move away from this house.'

Kenmore described it as 'traumatizing' and has since been plagued by paranoia, struggling to make sense of what he saw during the eerie encounter.

He also described the event last year in which he claims to have saw the 'eight-foot-tall-demon creatures with big shiny eyes'.

Kenmore said: 'We were in the backyard, and then, out of nowhere, we just saw a big light fall down.

'[It] basically crashed in the backyard. And a couple of seconds later, I saw the big giant creature in front of me.

Kenmore described the figure as a 'tall, skinny, lengthy creature, and greyish green in color.'

Officers with the Metro Las Vegas Police Department were dispatched to Kenmore's backyard

Kenmore described the experience as 'traumatizing,' and he has since been plagued by paranoia, struggling to make sense of what he saw

'When I looked at it in the eyes, my body just froze, like the same experience of having sleep paralysis.'

'I'm staring at him and I'm looking at his whole body and he has weird looking feet and a big face and eyes and you could see a big mouth,' he added.

The frightening encounter with the 'non-human being' prompted Kenmore to call 911, and officers with the Metro Las Vegas Police Department were dispatched.

Bodycam footage shows a strange blue ball of light flashing across the sky at about 11:50 pm on April 30.

Approximately 39 minutes after the first call, another resident dialed 911, saying that there were two unknown entities in his backyard after he saw an object fall from the sky.

In the latest interview, Kenmore said he remembered the creature was growling in his backyard, 'like a dog.'

'It was moving and breathing. It was pissed off, like it wanted to do something looking at me.' Kenmore said.

Bodycam footage shows a strange blue ball of light flashing across the sky at about 11:50 pm on April 30

At the moment, he felt the supernatural being had control over his body, as he said, 'I couldn't move.'

Despite facing numerous threats and questionings, Kenmore and his family have remained steadfast in their account of the experience from last year.

'They can think whatever they want. If I was doing it for fame, I would be on YouTube, making videos.'

'I made no money off this. I don't need money. It was a really bad and traumatizing experience.'

In a YouTube video posted last year, Kenmore presented details about the alleged 'UFO crash' and the creatures that he called '100 percent not human.'

'I hear something fall from the sky. I turn around. The only thing I see is a big light falling from the sky, and moments later I feel a big impact and a bang,' he said.

With two nearby Air Force Bases - Creech and Nellis - there is a theory that a piece of aircraft may be behind the crash.

An 8 News NOW report which originally broke the story, shared the theory but the Air Forces Bases have denied being involved.

The report also mentions a possible equipment malfunction, which the government collects.

Another theory suggests that a meteor may have caused the streak in the night sky, with the American Meteor Society confirming 21 reported sightings of it stretching across California, Nevada, and Utah.
Police have smashed a Vietnamese Facebook-based gang that offers Channel crossing to migrants on social media for thousands of pounds a time.

The gang who were spread across Deptford, Croydon and Leicester have been arrested on suspicion of helping migrants illegally enter the UK by targeting social media posts at the Vietnamese community.

Officers arrested a 23-year-old woman from Croydon and a 64-year-old man from London on Monday morning.

A man aged 34 was arrested in Leicester and the three were charged with assisting unlawful immigration.

A fourth individual, a 25-year-old man was also arrested in Croydon with a warrant issued by the French police who believe he was involved in people smuggling and drug offences. He will now face extradition proceedings.

Your browser does not support iframes.

A 23-year-old woman from Croydon was arrested along with three other gang member across the UK

One of the gang members being led out of a house in Croydon after officers arrested her on suspicion of assisting illegal migrants to come to the UK

The woman is bundled into an orange car after police tracked her down to a house in Croydon. She had been targeting Vietnamese migrants on Facebook offering help to cross the Channel

Investigators believe the 64-year-old was a driver who collected migrants who had arrived on small boats and brought them at least once to the Croydon address.

Government running social media campaign to deter Vietnamese migrants Aspiring Channel migrants are being warned to stay away form the UK in a new Home Office social media campaign. Adverts on Facebook and YouTube target those who may be considering making illegal journeys to the UK as PM Rishi Sunak seeks to fulfil his vow to 'stop the boats'. They present the hardships migrants might face making the dangerous crossing. The adverts are primarily targeting Vietnam as, according to the Home Office, the country sits in the top ten nationalities for making the illegal crossing tot he UK Advertisement

As part of the combine UK and French investigation, 12 individuals have been arrested in the Paris area, suspected of being linked to the same people smuggling network.

The arrest comes as prime minister Rishi Sunak claimed that trafficking gangs are now targeting vulnerable Vietnamese migrants.

Mr Sunak's comments were echoed by charity workers at the French border who say they have seen an increase in the numbers of well dressed and seemingly well-off Vietnamese young women and teenagers.

While appearing nervous and under pressure, they also seem to have money and many expect to be able to make the perilous journey across the Channel to the UK.

He said that number of Vietnamese arrivals had increased tenfold and made up the majority of the small boat crossings this year The Guardian reported.

NCA Director of Threat Leadership Chris Farrimond said: 'People smuggling via small boats is extremely dangerous and the safety of those making the journey is of no concern for criminal groups who are exploiting them for profit.'

'As well the high-risk method of transport, entering under these clandestine means automatically puts these people under increased risk of being forced into exploitation and debt bondage by these groups.

'Migrants are often sold a dream of a better life and access to well-paid employment in the UK but this is not the reality.

Another gang member is arrested. The operation to arrest the gang of four was a joint enterprise between the UK and France

The gang offered to help migrants to the UK for thousands of pounds at a time and used Facebook to find possible victims

Four people were arrested including a 23-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man from Croydon and a 64-year-old man from London and a man aged 34 from Leicester

'Vietnamese nationals now make up a large number of those we see arriving on small boats. We allege this group were advertising their crossing services on social media to encourage others from their country to make the same treacherous journey.

'The NCA is continuing our work with partners and has had thousands of social media pages and posts advertising organised immigration crime services removed from platforms.

'These arrests were possible thanks to our close working with the CPS and the French authorities who have arrested a number of people they believe are linked to this group in France.

'Tackling organised immigration crime is a priority for the National Crime Agency and our investigation continues to target people smugglers both in the UK and overseas at every step of the route.'

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:'We are using every possible lever at our disposal to crack down on people smugglers and break their supply chains.

'Just last week, we signed a new agreement with Vietnam, strengthening our cooperation on illegal migration.

'Together with law enforcement agencies such as the NCA, our French partners, and other countries like Vietnam, we are committed to dismantling the criminal gangs who are trying to turn a profit by abusing our borders.

'This operation is a prime example of that partnership working in action.'
Reparations activists want President Joe Biden to launch a commission on payouts for slavery-era abuses, saying it would drive the turnout of black voters in the swing states he needs to secure reelection in November.

Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a reparations stalwart, and others say Biden should bypass Congress and use his executive powers to create a slavery payouts panel to put him over the line against rival Donald Trump.

They point to polling, which shows that in toss-up Michigan, nearly 60 percent of black voters who don't regularly vote would be more likely to show up for Biden if he created a reparations commission.

Lee and others did not address whether reparations would also lose the Democrat votes in November. Reparations, and their $14 trillion price tag, are unpopular among whites and other voters who would face an extra tax burden.

President Joe Biden needs to firm up support among black voters to defeat Donald Trump in November

Pollsters say a reparations panel would secure the president 150,000 votes in must-win Michigan

'Simply put, reparations can drive black voter turnout to transformative levels,' Lee said in a statement.

The White House did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Lee has for years pushed House lawmakers to support her resolution for a federal reparations commission, but failed to win enough votes, even amid the public outcry over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020.

Earn the Black Vote Collaborative, a pro-reparations group, polled Michigan over whether the prospect of a slavery compensation package for African Americans would drive up support for Biden.

Their survey of 343 irregular Democratic black voters found that more than 58 percent would be more likely to vote for the president if he used his executive powers to launch a commission.

About a quarter said it would not make any difference, and 17 percent said they would be less likely to cast ballots for Biden.

That would add up to an extra 150,000 Biden voters in a must-win state, the group said.

Biden beat Trump in swing state Michigan in 2020 with a razor-thin margin of 154,000 votes.

Black voters are one of the president's biggest constituencies, but voter apathy looks set to keep many of them away from polling stations this year, said the group.

Reparations stalwart Barbara Lee of Texas says a Biden executive order could 'drive black voter turnout to transformative levels'

A voter casts his ballot in the Democratic Presidential Primary in West Columbia, South Carolina in February

Researchers said a reparations commission could deliver Biden similar numbers of black voters in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other 2024 tossups.

Kamm Howard, a spokesman for the Earn the Black Vote Collaborative, called it a 'unique opportunity to not only address historical injustices but also to mobilize black voters in key battleground states.'

'President Biden stands to benefit significantly from prioritizing reparative justice, as evidenced by the overwhelming support among infrequent black voters surveyed,' he added.

Reparations campaigners say it's time for America to repay its black residents for the injustices of the historic Transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow segregation and inequalities that persist to this day.

The sums are eye-watering  black lawmakers in Washington seek at least $14 trillion for a federal scheme to 'eliminate the racial wealth gap' between black and white Americans.

Critics say payouts to selected black people will inevitably stoke divisions between winners and losers, and raise questions about why American Indians and others don't get their own handouts.

Reparations are popular among the black people who stand to benefit from them, but unpopular among the whites, Asians, and others who would foot the tax bill without themselves benefiting.

A survey last year of 6,000 registered California voters found that only 23 percent supported cash reparations, while 59 percent were opposed.
Russian soldiers returning from war in Ukraine have killed and maimed more than 200 people, new research shows.

The horrific killings were largely carried out by violent criminals freed from jail to bolster Russian troop numbers on the frontlines of Ukraine, with those who survived six months of service receiving a full pardon.

But many of the deaths were caused by men warped by the savagery of war who later took the barbarity they witnessed on the battlefield back to civilian life.

At least 107 people have been killed, and 100 more seriously wounded by those returning from the front, according to a study conducted independent news outlet Verstka based on media and court records.

It comes as a slew of Russian women gave testimonies over the violence they've suffered at the hands of men coming back from war - and claimed it is getting harder and harder to bring their attackers to justice.

Tsyren-Dorzhi Tsyrenzhapov, 42, killed again after returning from Ukraine. He was previously sentenced for killing and dismembering Ekaterina Skvortsova, 18, but was pardoned for the war

Ekaterina Skvortsova was brutally murdered and dismembered by Tsyrenzhapov

Russian reports Sergei Shakhmatov - freed to fight in Ukraine - had been sent back to jail for 17 years for raping two schoolgirls aged 10 and 12 upon his return to Russia

Artem Bukotin, 32, is a war returnee believed to have carried out a double murder in the Rostov region of Russia

War returnee Ivan Rossomakhin (pictured) is sentenced to 22 years in jain for rape and murder of Yulia Buiskikh, 85

Pardoned murderer and rapist Vladislav Kanyus next to his once girlfriend and victim Vera Pekhteleva, (R) whom he stabbed 111 times, raped and strangled

Tsyrenzhapov was sentenced to life in prison prior to the outbreak of war in Ukraine for killing and dismembering Ekaterina Skvortsova, 18, and throwing her severed head from a 12th floor window.

He was freed and sent to the front, but upon his return killed another woman aged 22.

Artem Bukotin, 32, returned from the frontline and swiftly carried out a double murder in the Rostov region.

Meanwhile, Wagner group mercenary Shakhmarov, 42, was found guilty of raping two schoolgirls aged 10 and 12 in Novosibirsk following his return to the motherland.

Other horrific cases of returning soldiers going on killing sprees include former Wagner fighter Ivan Rossomakhin, who was sentenced to 22 years for the heinous rape and murder of Yulia Buiskikh, 85.

And Igor Sofonov, 38, went on the rampage with accomplice Maxim Bochkarev, 37, who together are thought to have killed six people in the northern Russian region of Karelia.

Other savage offenders are yet to have committed a crime after returning from Ukraine having been released from jail.

But among the violent killers pardoned by Putin is Vladislav Kanyus, 27, who raped and strangled his girlfriend Vera Pekhteleva, 23, before stabbing her 111 times.

The tyrant also pardoned Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, 55, the cruel murderer of prominent Russian journalist and human rights campaigner Anna Politkovskaya.

And former police officer Vladislav Biryukov was amnestied from a 16 year sentence for murdering his wife Anna Biryukova in return for participating in the war with Ukraine.

Vera Pekhteleva, one of many victims killed by Russian soldiers

Former police officer Vladislav Biryukov, sentenced to 16 years for the murder of his wife Anna Biryukova, was amnestied after participating in the war with Ukraine

Vladimir Putin pardoned Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, 55, (pictured) cruel murderer of prominent Russian journalist and human rights campaigner Anna Politkovskaya

Women are at particular risk of suffering violence from returning soldiers.

Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, rights groups had sounded the alarm over the country's woeful record on protecting women from domestic violence.

In 2017, lawmakers - with the blessing of the Orthodox Church - reduced penalties for Russians convicted of beating family members, and campaigners say that an already widespread problem could now be getting even worse amid the war in Ukraine.

One victim who gave her name only as Olga to avoid retribution said she had received several death threats from her husband, who she alleged was an alcoholic even before he went off to war.

She recounted one particular threat he gave before heading off to war as: 'I'm going to cut your head and hands off and beat you up. I'll burn you in acid.'

She also said he had raped her and frequently stole her money.

But when he returned home seven months later, Olga claims he was even worse - he'd been made a war hero and was endowed with a sense of impunity and moral righteousness.

'He became even more radical,' she said. 'He said that he was untouchable, that nothing could happen to him.'

The pair ultimately divorced late last year before the husband went back to fight in Ukraine in December 2023 - but not before he had beaten Olga and stolen yet more of her money.

The murderer of Russian journalist and human rights campaigner Anna Politkovskaya (pictured) was pardoned after agreeing to fight in Ukraine

A fighter from Putin's war, Igor Sofonov, 38, went on the rampage with an accomplice Maxim Bochkarev, 37, killing six in a horrific massacre after he went home to the northern Russian region of Karelia

Sofia Rusova, a spokesperson for the women's rights advocacy group Consortium, said she had received 10 reports like Olga's involving veterans last year alone.

She added that the placing of veterans on a pedestal and the implementation of laws criminalising criticism of the armed forces - part of a push by the Kremlin to shore up support for the devastating conflict - has endowed returning soldiers with a feeling that they are above the law.

'Women often tell me that their attacker said he wouldn't be punished,' Rusova told an AFP reporter. 'These men flaunt their status.

'The system sometimes failed to defend women before, so these men think it will keep failing women, and that the state will be on their side,' Rusova said.

Russia in 2017 decriminalised certain forms of domestic violence, classifying them as an administrative offence and not a crime, with reduced penalties.

The weakness of legal protection for women means there is little incentive for law enforcement to go after suspects - or for those among victims to report the problem in the first place, activists say.

Nevertheless, sometimes the justice system performs its duty.

One woman who gave her name as Nadezhda had to face her abusive ex-husband, a veteran of the Wagner group, when he returned from the front a year ago even more aggressive than before.

He came back with a serious drug problem, said Nadezhda. But he insisted she pay due respect to his service with what he saw as an elite fighting force.

She struggled for months with feelings of shame and uncertainty over whether she should seek help, but after one outburst of violence that got her fearing for the lives of her children, she fled to a shelter at the end of last year.

A sympathetic police officer helped her file a legal complaint that - to her surprise - led to her ex-husband being arrested.

Nadezhda and her children are now receiving psychological support. But even though her ex-husband is behind bars, she is haunted by the fear he might someday return seeking revenge.

'Still, you walk around, and there's this fear that he'll jump out,' Nadezhda told AFP.

'There's always the feeling he's out there with a knife. It's just so ingrained in my head.'
A wedding in India took a dark turn this week when furious attendees attacked a caterer over the curries on offer before he plummeted to his death.

The 22-year-old, named as Krishna Kumar, was thrashed by guests who were upset about the 'inadequate supply' of mutton curry at the ceremony in Jharkand state, local media reports.

The dish was in high demand, and after guests gorged on it Kumar is said to have told them that he was unable to serve up any more portions.

This sparked anger among members of the wedding party, who reportedly launched an attack on the catering staff.

As he made a desperate attempt to escape, Kumar ran and fell down a well and died, according to police.

The catering staff member was thrashed by guests who were upset about the 'inadequate supply' of mutton curry (stock image)

His body was reportedly discovered on Wednesday morning after the wedding party took place on the Thursday before.

The incident happened at around 1.30am that night in Huppu village, around 40 miles from the state capital of Ranchi.

Following a post-mortem examination, the young man's family received his body shortly after.

A criminal complaint has been lodged against the host as well as the two fathers of the bride and the groom.

Cops at Gola police station are investigating the death, but said no arrest has yet been made.

Earlier this year, a 15-year-old girl also lost her life after falling down a well in India.

The teenager and her 19-year-old sister were attacked by monkeys as they were working on the terrace of their home.

They then plunged down the dry well in the Nai Nagla locality of Uttar Pradesh, both sustaining serious injuries. The younger sister sadly died in hospital soon after.
The Albanese government is set to establish a National Firearms Register - a new countrywide database designed to bolster community safety - following the tragic Wieambilla shootings in 2022.

In the federal budget, scheduled for May 14, $161.3million will be invested over four years to establish the register, with state and territory firearms management systems upgraded to be compliant with the new Commonwealth database.

The commitment follows an agreement by national cabinet in December, though the funding arrangements had become a sticking point for the reform to progress.

It is understood that South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT could each require as much as $30million to connect to a new federal database.

The tragedy at Wieambilla, Queensland in December 2022 was the catalyst to making the reform, after it was originally recommended following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre response.

Constables Rachel McCrow (right) and Matthew Arnold (left) were shot and killed by three Christian extremists, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, at their remote property

The Albanese government is set to establish a National Firearms Register - a new countrywide database designed to bolster community safety. It was originally recommended following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre (pictured)

On April 28, 1996 Martin Bryant killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, and another 23 people were injured.

At the time, it was considered one of the world's worst massacre.

Byrant is serving 35 life sentences and more than a thousand additional years' jail without parole.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and neighbour Alan Dawe were shot and killed by three Christian extremists, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, at their remote property in Wieambilla, 300km to Brisbane's west.

One of the perpetrators was a licensed firearms holder.

The tragedy at Wieambilla in December 2022 was the catalyst to making the reform (stock)

The register will allow law enforcement to assess firearms risks by providing frontline police officers across the country with near real-time information on firearms, parts and owners.

Firearms information will also be linked to other relevant police and government information, including data from the National Criminal Intelligence System.

'Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist,' a statement released by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.

'The Australian government is committed to protecting the Australian community and ensuring Australia's firearms laws remain among the most effective in the world.'
Democrat Adam Schiff had to slum it without a suit at a formal affair in the Bay Area after some sly San Francisco criminals broke into his car and stole his luggage.

The House Democrat, who represents Burbank in Southern California, was in the city for a campaign event. He's currently running a competitive bid for the Senate to replace former Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

During the trip, Schiff committed a cardinal sin - at least in crime-ridden San Francisco - leaving his luggage in his car while it was parked in a downtown garage.

The lawmaker's car was broken into and his suit and other belongings were stolen ahead of the event.

As a result, Schiff was forced to wear casual attire he had on hand at the more formal dinner meeting.

Schiff (center) posted an image showing him in the same attire he wore to dinner

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., had his car broken into while it was parked in a downtown San Francisco garage during a recent fundraising trip to the city

Schiff was thrust into the limelight after his central role in House Democrat's 2019 impeachment of Donald Trump

An image of Schiff shows the Democrat dawning a green vest over a blue shirt tucked into light-wash blue jeans with a brown leather belt to fasten the look.

The table full of potential donors, however, were wearing much more dignified dinner attire like suits and ties.

The group was meeting in a restaurant in Burlingame, California, about a 30 minute drive south from the city.

'Yes, they took my bags,' Schiff told the San Francisco Chronicle, adding he does not want to dwell on the crime.

But this unfortunate turn of events did not throw the lawmaker off his game, according to Bay Area attorney Joe Cotchett.

'Adam really showed himself tonight,' he said. 'Hell be a great senator  hes going to change the Senate tremendously.'

Lee Housekeeper, Cotchett's press agent, dryly quipped: 'I guess its Welcome to San Francisco.''

Housekeeper said the Democrat knew about the dangers of car break-ins, but decided to leave his belongings in the car as he was in a hurry.

Schiff, who came to prominence after leading the House's first impeachment against Donald Trump, is no stranger to the Bay Area and has made multiple trips there as a leading star the Democrat delegation from California.

He also went to high school in the area and after that attended Stanford University, which resides about 35 miles south of the city.

Smash and grab bandits brazenly break car windows in San Francisco before stealing goods inside and driving off in get away cars

The city, meanwhile, has been gaining a reputation for car break-ins in recent years.

Just in March, there were over 800 break-ins, averaging out to roughly 25 per day in the city, according to city data.

Schiff will face off against former L.A. Dodgers player and Republican Steve Garvey for California's open Senate seat in November.
Two young men have been left fighting for life in hospital after they were struck by a Toyota HiLux while trying to cross a busy highway.

The pair, both aged in their 20s, were captured on CCTV footage crossing the Hume Highway at Yagoona, in Sydney's west, at about 4am on Friday.

They narrowly avoided being hit by a white van just seconds before they were struck by the Toyota HiLux on a pedestrian crossing.

The traffic lights had been green for oncoming traffic at the time.

The men, both aged in their 20s, avoided being hit by a white van (pictured) just seconds before they were struck by a Toyota HiLux on a pedestrian crossing

The 59-year-old driver of the Toyota HiLux (pictured) was transported to Bankstown Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing

The ute, which had been travelling 60km/hour, sustained serious damage, including a smashed windscreen, a crumpled bonnet and dented bullbar (pictured)

The men sustained serious head and leg injuries with one man rushed to St George Hospital while the other was taken to Liverpool Hospital.

Both were in a critical condition.

The 59-year-old driver of the Toyota HiLux was transported to Bankstown Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

The ute, which had been travelling 60km/hour, sustained serious damage, including a smashed windscreen, a crumpled bonnet and dented bullbar.

No charges are yet to be laid and the investigation is ongoing.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police in relation to the incident.
Former President Donald Trump sent long-distance birthday wishes to his wife Melania at the start of Day 8 of his Stormy Daniels trial  then complained the courthouse was being kept at 'freezing temperatures' on purpose.

'I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday. Would be nice to be with her but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial,' Trump said inside Manhattan criminal court before the cameras and a gaggle of reporters, with his legal team flanked behind him.

'But we're doing very well in this rigged trial. Everybody knows it. Yesterday was a big day. But I do have to begin by wishing Melania happy birthday. She's in Florida,' Trump said.

He said he would be going to Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach after 'this horrible, unconstitutional case' wraps for the week Friday to rejoin the former first lady.

Trump started Friday with courthouse 'happy birthday' wishes for former first lady Melania Trump

Then he got to complaining about his trial on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to 'hush' payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

'It should be over. The case is over,' Trump said, as his attorneys prepared to resume cross examination of ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified about a secret 'deal' with Trump to bury negative stories about him.

He called Judge Juan Merchan 'highly conflicted,' then got back to his running complaints about the courtroom climate  this time suggesting a deliberate ploy.

'So we have another day of court in a freezing courthouse,' he said. 'It's very cold in there. On purpose, I believe. They dont seem to be able to get the temperature up. It shouldnt be that complicated,' he said.

Trump said conditions were being kept cold inside the courtroom 'on purpose'

That added a new element to his complaints about the temperature, which he had first raised last week.

'I'm sitting here for days now, from morning 'til night, in that freezing room. Freezing. Everybody was freezing in there,' he said then.

Trump said he spent part of Thursday night listening to arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, where justices tested his lawyer's claim of immunity from criminal prosecution. Trump said the argument was 'brilliant.'
A mystery stink is plaguing a small town in Wales that is famously the home of the Pot Noodle - and officials are investigating the cause of the powerful pong.

Neighbours in Crumlin, a town with a population of 5,000 in the Welsh valleys, say they have had to put up with the 'awful' smell on and off for 30 years.

Some say that the 'Crumlin stink' has become a running joke while others are forced to close their doors and windows and won't sit outside in summer.

The town has been home to the self-proclaimed 'King of Snacks' since 1979 and its manufacturing plant, offices, and distribution centre and employs around 150 people.

The smell is in no way thought to be linked to the Pot Noodles site, operated by food manufacturing giant Unilever - where more than 175million Pot Noodles are made every year.

Neighbours in the Welsh valley town of Crumlin, home to Pot Noodles, have complained of a mystery stink that has permeated the area on and off for 30 years. The smell is not thought to be linked to the Unilever factory (pictured)

Some residents believe the culprit behind the eggy smell is the town's closed colliery

Fed-up residents believe the 'eggy' stench comes from closed mines from its industrial heyday.

Robert Morgan, who works at Bullen Trading Co. Ltd in Crumlin, said: 'We notice it every single day, 'the Crumlin Stink'. It is a sort of running joke.. We just get on with it.'

Music venue owner Angela Drakeford, said: 'It has always been here, it's normal for Crumlin. I cannot smell it inside my music venue, but when I drive through Crumlin at two or three in the morning it smells awful.

'When I drop my staff off here, I say to them, I do not know how people live there in those houses - It's something else.'

Tom Weston, of Beehive Photography Studios, said: 'We do notice it. It is sulphur from the old pit. I do notice it but it doesn't come inside the business. I notice it if I go to the west side of the town.'

Another worker said: 'I have never known it any different. I've been here nearly 30 years. I think my nose is immune to it but we have had new girls at work and they say it is bad.

'Sometimes we like to sit out the back for our lunch and if it has rained it is awful. I feel it is much more potent if it is raining and if there has been a dry day the drains can stink.'

But Bill Davison, a volunteer at The Friends of Crumlin Navigation said the smell was nothing to fear.

He said: 'There is an egg-like smell that emanates from the vegetation. At the bottom of the main shafts you have stagnant water running out and vegetation with chemical processes that rise up into the atmosphere.

'It is a natural process and doesn't pose a risk to health.'

Other locals say they have had to keep their doors and windows closed at times, and avoid sitting outdoors in the summer, to avoid the stench

A Caerphilly Council spokesperson, said: 'We are aware of the concerns raised by the local community and have referred the matter to Natural Resources Wales to investigate.'

Councillor Carl Thomas said: 'As local ward members we are aware of the concerns raised by local people and we have asked the council's environmental health team to work with NRW to investigate.'

Kirsty Lewis, senior environment officer for Natural Resources Wales said: 'We are currently investigating a report of a sulphur odour and water discolouration in Crumlin.

'An environment officer met on site with the reporter to discuss their concerns and investigations are ongoing.

'We will continue to work in the area to identify the source and ensure all necessary steps are being taken to protect the local environment and its people.'
An anti-semitism campaigner who was threatened with arrest for being 'openly Jewish' at a pro-Palestine march has cancelled a protest walk over safety fears.

Gideon Falter, head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), today cancelled the Walk Together initiative, where 'thousands' of protesters were set to head to a pro-Palestine march on Saturday.

He said: 'The Met Police has told us of its desire to protect Jews walking in the area, but we have to be sure that they can.

'Thousands of people have been intending to join and then walk where they please  things we used to take for granted in London as Jewish people  but we do not have confidence that they would be safe.

'We have received numerous threats and our monitoring has identified hostile actors who seem to have intended to come to any meeting locations that we announced. The risk to the safety of those who wished to walk openly as Jews in London tomorrow as part of this initiative has therefore become too great.'

Anti-semitism campaigner Gideon Falter, who was threatened with arrest for being 'openly Jewish' at a pro-Palestine march, has cancelled a protest walk over safety fears

Mr Falter has led calls for the resignation of Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (pictured) after an officer said his being 'openly Jewish' was a 'breach of the peace'

Gideon Falter (pictured), head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), today cancelled the Walk Together initiative, where 'thousands' of protesters were set to head to a pro-Palestine march on Saturday

Mr Falter last week called on supporters to join him for a walk on Saturday, April 27, at the same time as a pro-Palestine march through central London.

In a letter to Met Police Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain last Friday, April 19, the CAA chief wrote: 'I am not planning a protest on 27th April. I am going for a walk as a private individual. I have not yet decided where I will walk, however it is likely that whilst walking I will be quite openly Jewish. Others might decide to join me. They might not. That is a matter for them. They might also be quite openly Jewish. They might not. That is also a matter for them.'

Mr Falter has led calls for the resignation of Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley after an officer said his being 'openly Jewish' was a 'breach of the peace' and other criticisms of how pro-Palestine marches are policed.

Britain's top police officer this week had crisis meetings with two politicians that can sack him - Home Secretary James Cleverly and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

He said last night that the sergeant at the centre of the row had assessed there was a 'risk of confrontation' due to Mr Falter's presence.

He told the Guardian: 'The sergeant at the scene clearly assessed that there was a risk of confrontation and was trying to help Mr Falter find a different route.

'I completely understand why the sergeant made this assessment. A couple of turns of phrase were clumsy and offensive and weve apologised for that.

'The wider actions and intent of the officer were professional and in the best tradition of British police trying to prevent disorder.'

Sir Rowley added: 'The public would be horrified if we said: well, its obvious if those two groups come together, theres going to be a massive fight. Well stand back and wait till it happens and well pick up the pieces afterwards.'

Rishi Sunak this week piled pressure on Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, saying the force must rebuild the trust of the Jewish community

In his statement today, Mr Falter added: 'There are Jewish communities whose Rabbis have given dispensation to their congregants to walk for hours on Shabbat in order to come to central London, such is the depth of feeling among British Jews about the weekly marches, the record breaking levels of anti-semitism and the repeated police failures.

'Tomorrow's march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign meanders for two-and-half miles from Parliament Square to Reformer's Tree in Hyde Park.

'When we organised our March Against Anti-semitism a few months ago, an entirely peaceful march, we were told that there was no way the Royal Parks could be used. Well guess what? New rules apparently.

'And for the hours that this march drags on central London will be snarled up yet again.

'Police intend to handle the march no differently from their current habit - the one that they have become so accustomed to- because over the course of more than six months we have become all to used to seeing anti-semitic chants and placards at these marches, glorification of terrorism and even violence, including attacks on police which have hospitalised officers.

'Our volunteers and members of the public have exposed week after week, month after month how widely extremist views are held among participants on these marches.'

He added: 'Yesterday we met with the Home Secretary and the Minister for Policing to propose concrete measures which can force the police to change their approach. This situation cannot endure much longer and firm action is needed urgently, which we made clear at the meeting.

'Tomorrow, we will watch to see whether anything is different about the way that the Met handles the march, and in the coming week we will progress our discussions with the Government. We cannot allow the current situation to become the new normal.'

MailOnline has contacted the Met for comment but one was not immediately available.

The force has apologised twice over the incident on April 13, issuing one initial statement and then saying sorry for its first apology which had suggested opponents of pro-Palestinian marches 'must know that their presence is provocative'.

A 13-minute of the exchange shows Mr Falter telling police he wants to cross a road to reach Kingsway in central London as crowds of pro-Palestinian protesters pass.

He tells one officer: 'The Metropolitan Police says that these marches are completely safe for Jews, there is no problem whatsoever.

'You are telling me that I cannot walk to the other pavement. That I have to be escorted by you.'

The officer says: 'I am telling you that I will help you by escorting you over there and that way you will be completely safe, just as we promised, so we are keeping our word.'

Mr Falter later said he will turn up at the next pro-Palestinian march and encouraged other Jews and allies to join him as more than 1,500 protesters are set to join him to press Scotland Yard to keep the streets safe for Jewish people, but this was today cancelled.

Pro-Palestine protesters are seen waving banners at the march on London

People hold a variety of flags and placards at the protests in London on Saturday April 13, including Palestine and Israel national flags

Pro-Palestinian supporters speak with a police officer during a protest organised by Turning Point UK in London on Saturday April 13

The Met faces potential clashes at the march as the anti-Semitism campaigner threatened with arrest for being 'openly Jewish' launched the 'walk together' campaign.

Since the incident on April 13, almost 9,000 people have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Britain's top police officer.

Sir Mark has come under sustained criticism from senior figures, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this week that the Met must win back public confidence by policing protests properly.

Mr Sunak said: 'I was shocked to see that footage over the weekend, as I'm sure many people were. That's why when I was asked yesterday I was very clear that the police have got to not just manage these protests, they've got to police them.

'That's a point I made when I spoke from the steps of Downing Street about this.

'People are seeing scenes like that that they don't understand, they don't think are acceptable and that they think undermine the values that are important to us as a country and society.

'My expectation is that the Met Commissioner regains the trust and confidence of the Jewish community and the public more broadly when it comes to how these protests are being policed and not just managed.'

Former former home secretary Suella Braverman who told Radio 4 this week: 'The police have chosen a side.'

Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell told Sky News: 'There are strategic issues... how we ensure that Jewish people, people of any faith at all, can go about their business.'

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the incident 'clearly wasn't handled properly... but the police work immensely hard every single day to keep us safe'.
Another American tourist is facing a decade behind bars in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was found in his luggage as he go off a cruise ship.

Tyler Wenrich, 31, was charged on April 23 after the bullets were discovered at a security checkpoint, leading to his arrest by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.

It is unclear if Wenrich, who appears to have recently become a father, contested his arrest, and he and his wife did not immediately respond to attempts to contact them.

His arrest comes just weeks after Oklahoma father-of-two Ryan Watson was charged with the same offense, as a handful of deer hunting bullets were found in his carry-on after American TSA missed them on his departing flight.

The Virginia man is a paramedic, according to his social medias, and his wife is a dental hygienist. The couple appear to have recently welcomed a child together

Tyler Wenrich, 31, (pictured with his wife Jeriann) is facing a decade behind bars in Turks and Caicos after bullets were found in his luggage as he departed a cruise

Wenrich (seen in his mugshot) was charged with ammunition possession

He appeared before a Grand Turk Magistrate on Thursday and was taken into custody at the island's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and has a June 7 scheduled court date, reports Caribbean Loop News.

Wenrich's wife Jeriann with their child

It is unclear if he has been bailed out of custody. According to his Facebook profile, Wenrich is a paramedic and emergency medical technician, and lives in Virginia with his wife Jeriann, a dental hygienist.

The couple appear to have recently welcomed a child together.

Although local reports do not specify if Wenrich claimed he did not know the bullets - which were not accompanied by a firearm - were in his luggage, his case appears to have been triggered by similar circumstances to Watson's arrest.

On the day of Wenrich's arrest, only the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship (pictured) entered Turks and Caicos' cruise port

Watson was arrested on April 11 after a dream 40th birthday vacation with friends quickly turned into a nightmare as four loose hunting bullets were found on his carry-on luggage on his departing flight.

The crime used to only carry a small fine, however Turks and Caicos lawmakers escalated the penalties in 2022 to mandate a 12-year minimum sentence.

The surge in recent arrests also comes despite a warning sent out by US travel officials in 2023 in response to the updated law, alerting Americans to double check their luggage for loose bullets or firearms.

After he was bailed out of jail, Watson had his passport seized by officials, and was trapped on the island alongside his wife Valerie - who faced the same charges until they were dropped Monday.

Heartwarming footage captured the moment Valerie was reunited with their two young children in Oklahoma after weeks apart, but the family are still left in the dark about Ryan's fate.

After weeks stuck on the Caribbean islands, cameras captured the moment Valerie was reunited with the couple's two young children in Oklahoma

Ryan Watson (pictured with his wife Valerie and their two young children) is facing 12 years in prison in Turks and Caicos after a handful of deer hunting bullets were found in his luggage

In an interview before their first court hearing, Valerie said the possibility of facing 12 years in prison left her 'terrified' because they have two young children

In an interview with the Today Show, Ryan said he 'can't set any kind of expectations on when I can be home to those kids', as he described his ordeal as 'the most awful thing I have ever lived through.'

He said getting back to his children is 'and always will be, my ultimate goal.'

As cameras captured Valerie returning home, she said it was a bittersweet moment as her husband's case remains in limbo.

'I've been thinking about this moment for a while, and I didn't know when it was going to happen. I was prepared to also be arrested yesterday,' she told KOCO.

'I don't know if I even have words to describe it, just getting to hold them again. It just filled my momma heart and made me so happy.

'It just gives me a lot of comfort knowing that I get to be here with them now, but my wife heart is still breaking because Ryan is not with me.'

As Watson discussed his 'bonehead mistake' that landed him in hot water, he told CBS News before his first court hearing that his heart sank as soon as he saw the bullets, which he recognized from a recent white tail deer hunting trip.

'I recognized them and thought, 'what a bonehead mistake,'' he said. 'I had no idea that those were in there.'

Ryan said officials brushed off his pleas that it was a 'complete innocent mistake', amid questions as to how the bullets slipped past TSA on his departing flight from Oklahoma's Will Rogers World Airport.

Ryan Watson and his wife Valerie (pictured together arriving at their Turks and Caicos vacation) spent weeks in Turks and Caicos, with Ryan's extended stay draining their finances

Ryan and Valerie (right) were in Turks and Caicos for a birthday celebration with their friends, which Valerie said quickly 'went from what was supposed to be a dream vacation to a nightmare'

Officials said they have launched a 'review' of the airport's screeners in response.

'TSA is conducting a review at OKC, which was the originating airport,' TSA said in a statement, adding that it is 'aware' of the slip-up.

However, several investigations in recent years have uncovered a shocking lapse in TSA screening effectiveness, with undercover agents from Homeland Security easily slipping banned objects past screeners.

In 2017, ABC News reported that undercover agents found safety equipment or procedures failed over half the time, with a source revealing that the 'ballpark' failure rate was more like 80 percent.

A previous investigation in 2006 also found that fake bombs slipped past TSA screeners 75 percent of the time at Los Angeles International Airport and 60 percent of the time at Chicago O'Hare, reported USA Today.

Despite their insistence that the ammunition was accidentally left from a previous hunting trip, Turks and Caicos prosecutors maintained that the crime is a serious offense in the nation.

Valerie said through tears that when she heard the mandatory sentence, she was 'immediately terrified, because we can't be in prison for 12 years, we have kids at home.'

She spent 11 days on the island facing charges alongside her husband, but saw her charges dropped on April 22 and was allowed to return to their family in Oklahoma.

Valerie said she is still fighting to have her husband released from his criminal charges, with several prominent Oklahoma politicians including Governor Kevin Stitt and Senator Markwayne Mullin also lending their support.

Watson's wife insisted the bullets were an 'innocent mistake', after they were missed by American TSA on their departing flight from Oklahoma

As she fights to bring her husband home, Valerie said she has only made it through the ordeal because she believes 'God's still working and he's working through us'

In a letter to Turks and Caicos officials on April 16, Stitt explained that Ryan is an 'avid outdoorsman', and that leaving the ammunition in his bag was an oversight, not an intentional attempt to break the law.

Senator Mullin's office has also said it has been in contact with Watson's family, and is working to secure his freedom and flight back home.

'We know that God's still working and he's working through us,' Valerie added.

Despite the outpouring of support, the couple said Ryan's extended stay and legal bills are financially and emotionally draining their family, which he said they may 'never recover from.'

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the couple with the costs, which at the time of writing had exceeded $106,000.

Ryan's social medias also show his passion for the outdoors, as he is seen riding horses and embracing his family in cowboy hats.
An Emory University lecturer screamed 'I'm a professor' after cops forcefully took her to the ground during her arrest at a Gaza solidarity protest on campus.

Economics professor Caroline Fohlin was wrestled to the concrete by a cop after she tried to intervene during the arrest of another demonstrator.

The academic, 57, was among the faculty arrested at a pro Palestine encampment at the Georgia college on Thursday, which was dispersed by cops using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Meanwhile, at George Washington University, a protestor sparked outrage after being photographed carrying a sign referencing 'the final solution', shorthand for Hitler's plan to exterminate the Jews.

Emory University lecturer Caroline Fohlin screamed 'I'm a professor' after cops forcefully took her to the ground during her arrest at a Gaza solidarity protest on campus

Economics lecturer Caroline Fohlin was wrestled to the concrete by a cop after she tried to intervene during the arrest of another demonstrator

The professor refused a cops order to get on the ground before the officer forced her down

Fohlin was later booked into DeKalb County jail on charges of disorderly conduct and battery of a police officer

At George Washington University, a protestor sparked outrage after being photographed carrying a sign referencing 'the final solution'

Shocking video shows Fohlin being gripped by the arms by an officer who repeatedly barks at her to get on the ground.

She yells 'stop it' and wriggles out of the cop's grasp before backing away with her hands up.

As she steps back, the cop lunges for her again, grabbing both her wrists and ordering her to get on the ground.

Fohlin refuses before screaming, 'Oh my god,' as the officer shoves her from behind forcing her to the floor.

As she falls, her glasses fly off her face and the cop begins pressing her into the ground.

He calls for backup and another officer runs over and also begins forcing her downwards.

'I just hit my head on the concrete!' Fohlin shouts before the officers manhandle her onto the grass.

As they begin to handcuff her, Fohlin exclaims, 'I'm a professor!'

A crowd which has gathered then begins hurling abuse at the cops, calling them 'fascists', 'Hitler' and 'rabid dogs'.

Fohlin was later booked into DeKalb County jail on charges of disorderly conduct and battery of a police officer.

Her arrest came as cop used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the Georgia University. Fohlin had been attempting to intervene in the arrest pictured prior to her own

Videos showed Atlanta Police officers and Georgia State Troopers wrestling clashing with demonstrators, including one student tasered by an officer as he lay in the grass

The scenes on Thursday echoed similar ones at colleges across the country as pro Palestine students demand their institutions divest from companies with links to Israel

A demonstrator was also seen being tasered by an officer. It is unclear what led up this moment

Her arrest along with that of Noelle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department were among several among staff at the school, which was rocked by pro Palestine demonstrations earlier this week.

Videos showed Atlanta Police officers and Georgia State Troopers wrestling clashing with demonstrators, including one student tasered by an officer as he lay in the grass.

The chaos was the latest explosive example of unrest on American college campuses amid demonstrations against Israel's war on Hamas.

The brutal bombing campaign came in response to the October 7 attack which killed 1,200 Israelis and has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinians.

Encampments have sprung up at universities across the country as pro Palestine students demand their institutions divest from companies with links to Israel.

At GWU, a pro Palestine demonstrator sparked condemnation for his offensive banner, which featured an Israeli and a Palestinian flag bearing the words 'Final Solution'.

Images of the protester emerged as hundreds occupied the university's campus.

Encampments have sprung up at universities across the country as pro Palestine students demand their institutions divest from companies with links to Israel. Pictured: a protestor detained at Emory on April 26

On Friday the school said the remaining protesters and anyone who attempts to join will be deemed trespassers.

Meanwhile, officials at Northwestern University in Illinois turned the sprinklers on students overnight to try and get them to disperse.

In New York, the settlement at Columbia University which sparked the subsequent demonstrations entered its second week despite clashes with police which saw more than 100 activists arrested.

The school has been forced to cancel all in person classes until the end of the semester next week amid the unrest.

Dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Yale, and the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public Monday as some of the most prestigious US universities sought to defuse campus tensions.
The baby is recovering before his second operation and is with his family

An ambulance in a specially equipped aircraft transported the family to Rome

A month-old British boy has survived his first operation following an airlift to Italy for treatment after the NHS said he was too ill to go under the knife.

He is now recovering before a second operation to try and save his life.

The seriously ill baby was taken from a hospital in Bristol after the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, personally intervened to make sure the sick child could travel to Rome to receive treatment for a congenital heart condition.

An Italian ambulance landed in Bristol after being loaded on to a specially equipped military aircraft complete with specialist medics.

The baby's father has said his heart is 'overflowing with joy' after his son was successful airlifted.



Known only as DM, the Italian citizen, appealed directly to Ms Meloni and her government for assistance and she worked closely with the family to transport them to the Italian capital.

A specially modified ambulance being loaded onto a plane with military and medical personnel ready to fly to Bristol to collect the seriously baby from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

The ambulance inside the aircraft being secured by military personnel and surrounded by medical equipment

The Italian government-funded ambulance at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. After arriving the baby was quickly discharged and driven to an airport ten minutes away

Speaking to MailOnline, Simon Pillon, the former Italian senator involved in the babys transfer, said: 'I have just spoken with the father and he has told me the baby is doing well and the doctors are impressed with his will to live.

'He underwent a first operation but a second operation was postponed so as not to tire him too much.'

The family is together including the baby's four-year-old sibling and mother.

Mr Pillon said: 'Obviously, they want him to get strong so they can return to the UK but they will have to wait and for now all the family are in Rome.'

Following the successful airlift from Bristol to to Rome, the Italian father, who is from Treviso and who is married to a Nigerian in the UK expressed his thanks to all those involved.

It is understood the infant's parents, who have not been identified, were told the specialist treatment for their son's congenital heart condition would not be possible in the UK.

Mr Pillon said: 'In Britain, doctors had not deemed it appropriate to subject the child to surgery. They had started him on palliative care and there was already a hearing scheduled for April 22nd.

'When they saw the transfer and treatment protocol they were convinced and authorized the transfer.

'Initially they had pushed hard for abortion as soon as the prenatal diagnosis was made, but the parents, both Catholic, refused.'

Following the appeal to Ms Meloni for help to save their son, events this week moved at lighting speed and by Tuesday the family were in Rome.

The seriously ill one-month-old baby in a specialist incubator. The family was flown to Rome with the help of the Italian Prime Minister after his parents asked for help to save their son

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni and her government helped the infant travel to Rome for life-saving surgery

In a statement to MailOnline, the Italian father and his wife thanked all those involved.

The father, who has lived in the UK for many years and who also has an older child said: 'Both my wife and I have hearts overflowing with joy for what is happening.

'Now we hope that the entire medical process goes well and may our child's recovery be achieved soon.

'We sincerely thank the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and the officials of the Presidency of the Council including in particular the councilors Nicola Guerzoni and Francesco Farri who provided their indispensable contribution.

'Special thanks go to the head doctors Professor Galletti and Professor Di Chiara and to the staff of the Bambin Gesu pediatric hospital who decided to take the matter to heart.

'Big thanks also to the deputy diplomatic advisor Alessandro Cattaneo, to the Italian Embassy and to the Italian consul in London Domenico Bellantone and for the discreet and continuous support provided by the British hospital for following our son and for authorizing the transfer without obstacles.

'We thank the Italian Air Force and in particular the Flight Office and the command of the 46th Air Brigade for making the transfer possible.'

A specially modified ambulance arrived at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children to collect the seriously ill baby.

To avoid the little boy being exposed to too many transfers, an innovative solution was found which relied on an Italian ambulance being brought over the to the UK.

The family travelled from Bristol Royal Hospital to Bambino Gesu children's hospital in Rome on a specially modified ambulance which was then loaded onto a plane funded by the Italian government

Bristol Royal Hospital where the baby was being treated for a congenital heart condition. His parents were told specialist treatment would not be possible in the UK (stock image)

The specialist ambulance arrived at the aircraft from Bambino Gesu hospital with two head doctors in cardiac surgery and resuscitation.

The vehicle was then loaded onto Air Force C-130 and taken to Bristol.

After arriving, the child was quickly discharged and and taken to an airport ten minutes away where the plane was waiting to take him back to Rome for treatment.

The arrival of the Italian ambulance was the culmination of the worried family's appeal to the Italian prime minister.

The family had been preparing to start a legal battle with the hospital and had planned to apply to the High Court on Monday.

However, a long court battle was avoided after a deal was struck whereby the family would be flown to Rome on an aircraft funded by the Italian government.

After arriving in Rome on Tuesday the baby was treated at the Vatican-funded Bambino Gesu children's hospital where he underwent a double operation.

Speaking to The Times, the father thanked the Italian government for their help. He said: 'My wife and I are very happy and relieved.'

He also thanked the doctors and nurses at Bristol Royal Hospital 'for smoothly authorising and supporting us and our son through this process.'

Simone Pillon, the Italian lawyer representing the parents, said: 'We are very pleased that we have been able to demonstrate to the UK that it is possible to work together and safely transfer children with serious medical conditions from the UK to Rome for specialist treatment.'

Mr Pillon was involved in the case of Indi Gregory last year.

Indi, who had an incurable genetic mitochondrial condition, was at the centre of of a legal battle last year where her parents were involved in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases over life support treatment.

Ms Meloni got involved once again in this case and stepped in and made her a citizen in a last-minute legal bid to bring her to a Rome hospital for treatment.

But that attempt failed, and her parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth were told that her breathing tube would be removed.

She was moved from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham (QMC) to a hospice where she died in the early hours of November 13 2023.

In a statement to The Times, a spokesperson for Bristol Royal Hospital said officials 'worked with Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital to support the safe transfer of a newborn patient to Rome. Due to patient confidentiality, it would not be appropriate to go into specific details regarding a patient's care.'
Gun battles and fires have been raging in the streets of Rio de Janeiro today as police launched a crackdown on a violent drug cartel which terrorises the favelas of the Brazilian city.

Police launched raids on the Red Command (Comando Vermelho), a huge organised crime faction which authorities say uses the poor Complexo do Alemao area in the north of the city as a 'bunker'.

Dozens have been killed in similar raids over recent years, with innocent victims reported to have been gunned down by stray bullets in their own homes as police and gang members exchange fire.

At least 350 police officers are said to have been involved in the early morning operation today, including elite troops from the military police equipped with helicopters, armoured vehicles and heavy weapons.

As the sun rose this morning, huge plumes of black smoke could seen rising into the sky above the city, with locals describing their terror as the the streets resembled a warzone.

Dramatic pictures show makeshift barricades in the streets of Rio being consumed by flames

Smoke filled the skies above Complexo do Alemao, Rio de Janeiro this morning, video shows

Burnt out cars were used by gangsters to block police as they aimed to track down criminals in the neighbourhood

Huge plumes of black smoke and flames rose high into the sky in parts of the impoverished neighbourhood

Dramatic footage shared by locals shows how makeshift barricades were set on fire as gangsters retreated from the police, with flames erupting in dangerous proximity to people's homes.

As clouds of smoke fill the sky in one dramatic video, what appear to be tracer bullets are shot over a huge distance as marksmen prepare to take their shots into the overcrowded housing complexes below.

Police also came across a luxury villa which they believe was used by cartel members as a hideout.

The abandoned bolthole in the impoverished neighbourhood boasted a swimming pool and 'party room', with bottles of alcohol left as its inhabitants fled, CNN Brazil reports.

Despite the huge scope of the operation, no arrests are believed to have been made so far, with police saying their work is still ongoing.

'Working in communities is part of the actions to combat crime and is fundamental work, since the criminal organization uses the Complexo do Alemao as a bunker and starting point for attacks on other territories, in addition to promoting restrictions on freedom [on] residents and use the local population as a shield', the Civil Police said in a statement.

Specialist police officers posed with seized machine guns and drug hauls that they found, with a large cannabis farm also discovered

An officer clears up burned debris after makeshift barricades were set alight in Rio de Janeiro

Police said their aim in the operation was to execute warrants against criminals from other states, who they say are increasingly operating in Rio and using it as a base.

They added that they are seeking to repress criminal movement in the region and stop gangs from engaging in territorial warfare, which has been on the rise.

Burning piles of debris could be seen blocking Rua Canitar, one of the main streets in Alemao, while burned out cars and other objects littered the roads.

Specialist police officers posed with seized machine guns and drug hauls that they found during the operation, with a large cannabis farm also discovered.

The police raid meant that a school in the area had to be shut, according to local media.

Military police equipped with helicopters, armoured vehicles and heavy weapons

Civil and military policemen carry out a raid in the Complexo do Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro

Born out of Rio's favela slums during the political dictatorship of the 1970s, Comando Vermelho (CV) is the oldest and one of the most feared criminal gangs in Brazil.

Experts have said that CV presents a powerful challenge to the State's control of parts of Rio.

A report earlier this month found that organised crime has shot up in the city in recent years, with police claiming that around 1,700 locations are under the control of criminal organizations.

'It became evident that Comando Vermelho, the largest criminal organization in Rio de Janeiro, is expanding its operations and seeking to maximize its territorial domains,' the report warned.
Militants fired mortars at Israeli forces in Gaza as they prepared for the arrival of a floating U.S. Army pier, American officials said Thursday, an episode that highlights the risks of building a structure for humanitarian aid.

The 72-feet wide and 270-feet platform is designed to receive shipments of food and other aid transported from Cyprus from Cyprus.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary, said construction began Thursday and work was unaffected by the attack.

'When it comes to the temporary pier and the causeway, those are being constructed offshore out at sea and ... essentially nowhere near mortar range so that's not what we're talking about here,' he told reporters.

'You know, we're aware of reports that a small number of mortars land landed in the vicinity of the marshalling yard area for humanitarian assistance that will eventually be the delivery site that this pier will support.'

U.S. Army vessels left for the Eastern Mediterranean last month to establish a temporary pier for the delivery of aid to Gaza, where aid agencies say a humanitarian emergency is unfolding

War-weary Palestinians flock to beaches and swim to take a breather among continuous Israeli attacks in Rafah

But he added that no U.S. troops were on the ground in Gaza.

Aid agencies have already expressed concerns about their safety and worries about how Israeli forces will operate in the area.

Sonali Korde, an official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, said key agreements for security and handling the aid deliveries are still being negotiated.

Those include how Israeli forces will operate in Gaza to ensure that aid workers are not harmed.

'We need to see steps implemented. And the humanitarian community and IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) continue to talk and engage and iterate and improve the system so that everyone feels safe and secure in this very difficult operating environment,' Korde said.

A senior U.S. military official said Thursday the U.S. is on track to begin delivering aid using the new port and pier by early May.

The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public, said deliveries through the sea route initially will total about 90 trucks a day and could quickly increase to about 150 trucks daily.

The senior official acknowledged, however, that the final installation of the U.S.-built causeway onto the beach at the port will be governed by the security situation, which is assessed daily.

The Israeli Defense Force has a brigade  thousands of soldiers  as well as ships and aircraft dedicated to protecting the deliveries, the official said.

A video from 2020 shows a U.S. Military floating pier for transporting aid off the coast of United Arab Emirates with a similar setup as the one to be constructed offshore from Gaza

Aid groups have been shaken by the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in an Israeli airstrike on April 1 as they traveled in clearly marked vehicles on a delivery mission authorized by Israel.

The killings have hardened sentiment among some aid groups that the international community should focus instead on pushing Israel to ease obstacles to the delivery of aid on land routes by truck.

The World Central Kitchen staff, who were honored at a memorial service Thursday in Washington, are among more than 200 humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, a toll the U.N. says is three times higher than any previous number for aid workers in a single year of any war.
A 'coercive and controlling' husband who murdered his 19-year-old wife just months after he moved from India to the UK has been jailed for life.

Sahil Sharma, 24, stabbed Mehak Sharma repeatedly in the neck in their home in Croydon, south London before dialling 999 and calmly telling the operator: 'I have killed my wife'.

During the call, he falsely claimed that Mehak had been cheating on him and was therefore 'responsible' for her own death.

Just hours before, Sharma had texted Mehak: 'Come home and see what I can do to you.'

Sahil Sharma, 24, was given a life sentence for murdering his 19-year-old wife Mehak Sharma

Mehak called the police on three separate occasions before her death about her husbands abusive behaviour and told one operator: 'I do not need anything now, but if something wrong happens to me in the future, I need people to know that he was responsible'

Officers found Mehak unresponsive with catastrophic knife injuries at the address on Ash Tree Way.

Despite the medics' best efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene on October 29 last year.

Mehak, from a village in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, had moved to the UK on a student visa in November 2022. Her husband Sharma, who she had married in June 2022, joined her in June 2023.

Kingston Crown Court heard during Sharma's sentencing today that he had mentally and physically abused his wife throughout the course of their marriage.

Prosecutor Julian Evans said: 'While he was still in India and Mehak was in the UK, Sahil would call her repeatedly and expect she answer each time.

'She would be admonished by her employers for being on the phone while also being abused by her husband for not answering his calls.

'If Mehak was on the phone to her mother, Sahil would ask her to send screenshots to prove this.

'He became increasingly suspicious of her and accused her of lying about her whereabouts.'

Kingston Crown Court (pictured) heard during Sharma's sentencing today that he had mentally and physically abused his wife throughout the course of their marriage

Mr Evans said things became physical when Sharma moved to the UK to join Mehak.

He explained: 'On one occasion, the defendant twisted her arm, slapped her, and smashed her phone.

'In September 2023, Mehak called her mother, highly distressed, and told her Sahil had grabbed her neck - causing her to "feel her veins".'

The court heard that Sharma had threatened Mehak - telling her that if she reported him to the police he would kill her mother and siblings.

But reports show that Mehak still called 999 on three occasions.

'On September 12, 2023, she told the operator the defendant had been torturing her,' Mr Evans said. 'She said this was mental not physical.

'On October 22, she called 999 again and repeated that he was torturing her. She said he believed she was having an affair.

'On October 23, she said he was torturing her and had slapped her.

'She told the operator: "I do not need anything now, but if something wrong happens to me in the future, I need people to know that he was responsible."

'In the background, the defendant could be heard saying: "What wrong thing could I do to you?".'

In the months leading up to her tragic death, Mehak also frequently called her mother, Madhu Bala, and said Sharma was 'harassing' her.

Mr Evans said: 'On 29 October, there was extensive telephone contact between Mehak and her mother.

'Madhu said that, that day, her daughter was very scared, very distressed. It was the first time she had really cried to her mother.

'Before, she had said she feared it was a mistake marrying Sahil but that she hoped things would get better.

'But now, she told her mother: "Sahil is not going to become a better person."

'She told her mother this was the worst day of her life because of the taunting and harassment she had received the night before.

'He said she was the problem and accused her of having an affair. There was no truth whatsoever to these suspicions.'

Kingston Crown Court heard that Mehak asked her mother if she could speak to Sharma's parents to arrange a way to reimburse them.

Mr Evans explained that Sharma's parents had financed Mehak's student visa - but later said her family, who described themselves as 'poor', would have to pay it back if she and their son separated.

While Mehak was at work on October 29, Sharma repeatedly texted and called her but she did not respond.

Mr Evans said: 'He told her: "God will punish you because you are cheating me."

'In another text, he said: "Come home and see what I can do to you".

'He continued in a series of messages: "Your lie has been caught now, sweetie.

''Sweetie, the one you are with, I know who it is. Pick up the phone now.

''Tell me, say you are a two-timer.''.'

Mr Evans said that Mehak asked her mother to keep the call running when she got home from work as she was scared.

'Ms Bala heard Sharma ask, "Who are you talking to?". She asked him, "What is wrong with you today? Why are you torturing me continuously?"

'Ms Bala then heard her daughter say, "Get away from me, let me pass." Then the call cut off.'

When Sharma called 999 at around 4:15pm, he told the operator he had murdered Mehak.

He also repeated multiple times throughout the call that she had been cheating on him.

'He said that she was responsible for her death,' Mr Evans said. 'We reject entirely the defendant's claims that Mehak was having an affair.

'These were used to minimise his culpability and tarnish her honour.'

Mr Evans also read out a victim impact statement on behalf of Mehak's mother Ms Bala.

She said: 'The person who did this to her was her husband, a man who should have protected her.

'The place he did this to her was her own home, where she should have been safe.'

Ms Bala described Mehak as 'a hard-working girl' who loved education and wanted to travel the world.

'But he took these dreams from her,' she continued.

'I am unable to eat since Mehak's death because Sahil murdered her when she was starving.

'She told me during our last phone call that there had been no food in the house and she was so hungry.

'She had bought food and was going to cook but he murdered her before she could eat.

'She will forever be hungry and therefore so will I.'

Ms Bala said that her family 'can no longer feel joy'. 'Sahil has not just murdered Mehak,' she said. 'I feel he has killed me too.'

Handing down her sentence, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC told Sharma: 'You harassed Mehak from almost a year before her death. You subjected her to violence.

'You accused her of cheating on you. But your suspicions were the product of your own imagination. No blame or shame should be attached to Mehak.'

Judge Plaschkes said that a pre-sentencing report had deemed Sharma 'emotionally stunted' and 'mentally impaired'.

But she maintained: 'This was a heinous crime. While you have expressed remorse, this is tempered by you continuing to blame Mehak.

'You have attempted to distance yourself from your actions and minimise your culpability.'

Sharma, wearing a blue tracksuit, stared at the ground and showed no emotion as he was addressed.

Judge Plaschkes sentenced Sharma to a minimum of 14 years and 187 days in prison, after deducting the time already spent on remand.

She said that he may never be released on parole - but if he is, he will spend the rest of his life on licence.
Two Connecticut barbers are being hailed as heroes after they quickly sprung into action to save a young girl from running into high-speed traffic.

Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana were working at the Look Sharp Barbershop in East Hartford when Santana noticed the child running across the street.

Lugo recalled the moment and said: 'When he mentioned seeing a child I was concerned.

'Once I looked and saw the top of the babys head, the only thought in my head was run after her.'

Surveillance footage shows both men dropping their scissors and running after the girl.

Lugo was seen grabbing the child right before she ran into the path of a truck at the intersection of Main and Brown Streets, with Santana quickly running up behind the duo.

Rafael Santana (left) and Osvaldo Lugo (right) were later awarded with a certificate of special recognition for their actions by East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin

Surveillance footage from the moment shows both men dropping their scissors and running after the girl

Lugo was seen grabbing the child right before she ran into the path of a truck at the intersection of Main and Brown Streets, with Santana quickly running up behind the duo

The rescuer said: 'Being a father myself, I went into dad mode. She was shocked. Shes looking at me like "who are you? what are you doing?"

'But that moment was gratifying because once I was committed to get there, I'm glad that I got there on time.'

The East Hartford Police Department later said that the toddler had escaped from her mother and had started making her way towards the traffic when the two men rescued her.

Lugos later told PEOPLE: 'When we found the mother, the reunion was silent and meaningful.

'The mother looked at me with embarrassment but at the same time thankful.'

The rescuer said : 'Being a father myself, I went into dad mode. She was shocked. Shes looking at me like "who are you? what are you doing?" But that moment was gratifying because once I was committed to get there, I'm glad that I got there on time'

Lugo also said that the mother of the child looked at him with embarrassment but thankful when both men brought her daughter back to her

They were working at the Look Sharp Barbershop in East Hartford when the incident happened

Both men were later awarded with a certificate of special recognition for their actions by East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin.

While handing over the certificates, Martin said: 'On behalf of the town of East Hartford, I cant thank you guys enough for what you do, what you did, you went above and beyond and you potentially saved a little girls life.'

He also told parents at the award ceremony to pay close attention to their children in public areas.

'You turn your back for one second as a parent and your kid could run off, they could go somewhere you didnt see them go.

'I dont think its fair to fault a parent 100 percentkids are going to be kids sometimes. Theyre going to step away, theyre going to chase something. I think we just all need to keep an eye on our kids,' he said.
Kemi Badenoch last night launched a fierce Brexit broadside at her current Cabinet colleague Lord Cameron, appearing to accuse him of a 'dereliction of duty' over the 2016 vote.

The Business Secretary criticised the Foreign Secretary for not planning for a Leave win because he was leading the Remain campaign before the seismic plebiscite.

In a speech to the CBI last night Ms Badenoch, seen as a leading contender from the Tory Right to become the next party leader, lashed out at her colleague over events that happened before she was even an MP.

Mr Cameron, along with Jeremy Corbyn, led the Remain campaign which lost 52 per cent to 48 per cent in June 2016. He resigned as prime minister and left Parliament altogether later that year. But he was brought back as Foreign Secretary by Rishi Sunak in a shock move in November.

According to Politico Ms Badenoch, who became MP for Saffron Walden in Essex in 2017, told the lobbying group: 'One of the most disappointing things was becoming an MP a year later and finding out there had been no plans made about how this was going to happen. I think that was the real dereliction of duty.

'If you're offering people Leave vs Remain you need to do your work, not just do the work for the option you want to win.'

The Business Secretary criticised the Foreign Secretary for not planning for a Leave win because he was leading the Remain campaign before the seismic plebiscite.

In a speech to the CBI last night Ms Badenoch, seen as a leading contender from the Tory Right to become the next party leader, lashed out at her colleague (pictured on a diplomatic visit to Mongolia today) over events that happened before she was even an MP.

Before the vote the then PM came under fire from his own Tory MPs over a letter sent out by Britain's top mandarin telling civil servants they were banned from giving any help to Eurosceptic ministers, who will not even be allowed to see papers relating to the work of their own department.

The letter, sent by the late Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood to all civil servants, sets out strict rules on their behaviour in the run up to the EU referendum.

It stated that government resources, from briefing notes, speech preparation and research, must only be used in the referendum campaign if it supports the Government's official stance in support of Britain's membership of the EU.

But at the same time ministers and advisers who back Britain staying in the EU were free to use government papers and other resources to support their case.

Challenged at the time in the Commons, Mr Cameron said: 'The Government's position is that we will be better off in a reformed European Union.

'Ministers are free to part from that position and campaign in a personal capacity, that is, I think, a very important statement, it's right in terms of how we go about it, but it does not mean the Government is neutral, it doesn't mean the civil service is neutral, the Government has a policy from which people can depart.'
A shock report has detailed how Montanans see their quality of life as declining over the past five years.

In a new poll released by the University of Montana pool, sixty-two percent of those in the state say their quality of life has dipped in recent years.

That's up seven percent compared to the results in 2022, when the Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative put the question to voters.

Respondents said the changing character of the state, crowding and more people in outdoor areas and the increase in developments is fueling the decline.

Ninety percent of those polled said sprawling development into what used to be open lands and ranches is a serious problem in the state.

Two goats stand on an overlook near a lake in Glacier National Park, Montana

Kevin Costner stars as rancher John Dutton in Paramount Network's Western drama 'Yellowstone

84 percent said the state's character was changing - nine percent blamed drought, and 78 percent said it was due to decreasing snowpack.

Rick Graetz, director of the Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative, said: 'It's quite clear that residents all over the state  even out on the prairie  are struggling with growing pains, and our quality of life is down this year, according to the results.

'This could be one reason why preserving our natural beauty and access to public lands and water is so popular.

'Conservation can help keep things the way they are, and there seems to be a big demand for that.'

Pollster Lori Weigel points to a 'big jump' in concerns over sprawl, drought, and the changing character of the state, which may be contributing to the reported decline in quality of life.

'We see a big jump this year in the number of Montanans who say they are concerned by development and the changing character of the state,' said Weigel.

'While the number of residents who say growth is happening too quickly has remained stable at fifty-seven percent, residents are growing more concerned about the impacts of this growth in their communities.'

Kevin Costner as John Dutton and Kelsey Asbille as Monica Long-Dutton in hit show Yellowstone

A National Scenic Byways All-American Road on the border of Montana and Wyoming

The Kevin Costner starring cowboy drama brought in an estimated 2.1 million visitors and $730 million in tourist dollars according to a report last year

The 2024 Public Lands Survey polled 500 voters by phone and online March 23-28, with a margin of error of +/- 4.38%.

Hit TV series Yellowstone helped contribute to a boom in the state that saw housing prices soar.

The Kevin Costner starring cowboy drama brought in an estimated 2.1 million visitors and $730 million in tourist dollars according to a report last year.

The show has been a monster hit for the network, and tells the story of the Dutton family, and their battles over their gigantic Montana ranch.
Dozens of migrants have been intercepted crossing the English Channel today - the first day of arrivals since five people died attempting the journey on Tuesday.

Mainly male migrants aboard an inflatable dinghy were spotted being brought ashore at the Port of Dover by a Border Force vessel after being intercepted in the strait.

Wearing orange life jackets, they were marshalled off the boat and then were taken into the immigration processing centre in the former cruise terminal on the Kent coast.

The arrivals are the first since Tuesday, when 402 migrants aboard seven boats arrived.

Nearly 121,000 migrants have now been intercepted crossing the English Channel in small boats in the more than six years, according to the official data.

Migrants board a small boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on April 26

Migrants wade in the water to board a small boat to cross the Channel from Gravelines

A migrant reacts as a French police officer stands by ready to puncture the boat with a knife to prevent migrants from embarking in an attempt to cross the English Channel

A total of 120,993 people have made the dangerous crossing since the start of 2018 when records began.

READ MORE: Pair are charged with immigration offences after five migrants including a child died trying to cross the English Channel

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The latest figures show that 6,667 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats so far this year which is broadly similar to the numbers last year and 2022.

Elsewhere, photos from today show migrants boarding an inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France.

The waded through the waves off the coast and onto the boat and some were confronted by French police officers.

The officers were ready to puncture the boat to prevent the crossing and one photo shows two making off with the dinghy's outboard motor.

Other photos show migrants being chased by French police while attempting to board a boat to cross the Channel.

This comes as two 22-year-old men were today charged with immigration offences as part of an investigation into the deaths of five migrants, including a child, who died trying to cross the English Channel, the National Crime Agency have said.

Yien Both, a 22-year-old from South Sudan, has been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Tajdeen Adbulaziz Juma, a 22-year-old Sudanese national, has been charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Both men have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear before Folkestone Magistrates' Court later today.

A third man, an 18-year-old from Sudan, has been bailed pending further inquiries.

A migrant reacts as she is chased by French police while attempting to board a boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel

French Police officers carry the outboard engine from a small boat after migrants failed an attempt to cross the English Channel today

A dinghy of migrants pictured today in French waters escorted by the French Border Patrol

The five people who died were onboard a vessel designed for a maximum of 20 people on Tuesday. They include a girl who was six, a woman in her 30s and three men.

READ MORE: Police smash Vietnamese Facebook gang that offers Channel crossing to migrants on social media for thousands of pounds a time

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However, after the dinghy was overrun by 50 men from sub-Saharan Africa minutes before it was due to set off from France, they were crushed to death.

The boat had 112 people on board when it left from France with 402 migrants crossing the Channel in a total of seven boats that day.

It also comes Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill has become law after weeks of parliamentary deadlock, paving the way for deportation flights to get off the ground.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill became an Act of Parliament after being granted royal assent, the Lord Speaker told the House of Lords on Thursday.

The accompanying treaty the UK has signed with the east African nation has also been ratified, the Home Office confirmed later in the afternoon.

Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted spending money on the Rwanda scheme was 'absolutely worth it' and the Government would 'keep those flights going until we stop the boats'.

Mr Cleverly said managing borders 'has never come for free' and told those wanting to delay the plan that there is 'nothing moral about allowing people to drown in the sea at the hands of criminals' as he vowed to emulate Italian efforts to tackle migrant crossings.
A top Vietnamese property tycoon sentenced to death by lethal injection after she was found to have embezzled $12.5billion has launched an appeal against her conviction, state media reported today.

Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, was found guilty this month of swindling cash from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) over a decade.

A panel of three jurors and two judges rejected all defence arguments and deemed her responsible, while Lan denied the charges and blamed subordinates.

Prosecutors say the total damages caused by the scam now amounts to $27 billion - one of the biggest frauds in history, equivalent to six percent of Vietnam's 2023 GDP.

Thanh Nien news site said the 68-year-old has now filed an appeal against the verdict and sentence and that the court in Ho Chi Minh City had received it.

Lan said in her appeal she took on risks through the bank but did not appropriate the bank's money.

Truong My Lan (C), chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Holdings, sits during her trial at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court

Truong My Lan (C) was found guilty of embezzlement in a fraud case amounting to $27bn total

After a five-week trial, 85 others were sentenced alongside Lan on charges ranging from bribery and abuse of power to appropriation and violations of banking law.

Lan denied the charges and said she had thoughts of suicide in her final remarks during the trial.

'In my desperation, I thought of death,' she said, according to state media.

'I am so angry that I was stupid enough to get involved in this very fierce business environment - the banking sector - which I have little knowledge of.'

Four others were given life imprisonment, while the others received jail terms ranging between 20 years and three years suspended.

Police have identified around 42,000 victims of the scandal, which has shocked the Southeast Asian country.

The case was part of a national corruption crackdown that has swept up numerous officials and members of Vietnam's business elite in recent years.

As part of the huge fraud case, Lan was found guilty of taking out $44bn in loans from SCB over a decade, around 93 per cent of the loans dispensed by the bank.

She was found to have illegally controlled the Saigon Commercial Bank between 2012 to 2022 in order to siphon of these funds through thousands of ghost companies and by paying bribes to government officials.

Prosecutors said they seized more than 1,000 properties from her.

Among those officials was a former central official who has been sentenced to life in prison for taking $5.2 million in bribes - and violating banking regulations, government documents said.

Lan was ordered to pay back $27bn of the money she is alleged to have embezzled - money which is likely to never be fully recovered.

There have been suggestions that the death penalty sentence is a ploy to get her to hand back some of the missing money, the BBC reported following her trial.

Her niece Truong Hue Van, 34, who is the CEO of a property management firm, also received 17 years in prison.

Capital punishment is not rare in Vietnam, which was recently named the biggest executioner in Southeast Asia by Amnesty International, and applies the death sentence for 22 offences, including murder, drug trafficking and rape.

The death sentence is an unusually severe punishment in a financial crime case, with the last widely publicised death penalty for corruption charges in 2013.

Lan was sentenced for embezzling $12.5 billion. Prosecutors said Thursday the total damages caused by the scam now amounted to $27 billion

Properties owned by Van Thinh Phat include the Saigon One building, which is under construction, left, and other buildings in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh

A mother of two daughters, Lan started out as a market stall vendor selling cosmetics, but began to build her real estate portfolio from 1986 as the ruling Communist Party brought in economic reforms.

Her arrest in October 2022 was among the most high-profile in an ongoing anti-corruption drive in Vietnam, dubbed 'Blazing Furnace', that has intensified since 2022.

The Vietnamese government learnt of her shocking levels of fraudulence in early 2023, when President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and two deputy prime ministers were forced to step down, for 'violations and wrongdoings' related to pandemic-era corruption scandals.

The latest scalp was the head of the National Assembly, who resigned on Friday because of "violations and shortcomings", according to a party statement.

And on Thursday the head of one of Vietnam's top soft drinks companies was jailed for eight years in a $40 million fraud case.
The exchanges remained verbal and did not escalate to physical violence

Chaos erupted at the Ottawa County board meeting in Michigan when a member of the Satanic Church delivered an invocation to start the gathering.

A man by the name of Luis Cypher, a minister of the Satanic Temple of West Michigan, gave a speech on Tuesday reiterating the importance of separating church and state, one of the main principles of the organization.

But the massive crowd descended into protest as people chanted and sang hymns such as 'Amazing Grace,' put signs on the wall that said, 'God always, Satan never' and 'Satan has no rights.'

One man yelled, 'hail Satan,' while others yelled, 'we love Jesus.'

The exchanges remained verbal and did not escalate to physical violence.

Chaos erupted at the Ottawa County board meeting in Michigan when a member of the Satanic Church delivered an invocation to start the meeting (pictured: A Christian protesting the invocation)

But the massive crowd descended into protest as people chanted and sang hymns such as Amazing Grace, put signs on the wall that said 'God always, Satan never' and 'Satan has no rights'

The turbulent beginning to the meeting came after the board changed its policy in January to permit pastors to address commissioners provided they adhered to certain guidelines.

According to MLive, the action was brought about by concerns from a Grand Haven-based LGBTQ activist pastor who filed a lawsuit against the county for not being selected to give an invocation.

Co-head of The Satanic Temple of West Michigan Bendr Bones said he thought the invocation went well despite the protests.

In fact, he said he saw the large amount of protestors gathered at the board meeting was a sign that his organization was successfully carrying out their mission.

Last year, Ottawa County was established as a 'constitutional county' that protects individual rights of free speech. Bones said the invocation was a meant to test just that.

Co-head of The Satanic Temple of West Michigan Bendr Bones (pictured) said he thought the invocation went well despite the protests

Pictured: Bones shared the significance of upholding the Constitution for TST members during a session with the Commissioner's Board

Bones (pictured) said the large amount of protestors gathered at the board meeting was a sign that his organization was successfully carrying out their mission

'It's sort of a message that "I'm doing the right thing" if people that I ideologically disagree with are protesting,' he said.

Bones said the man who yelled, 'hail Satan,' in the crowd was not a member of the Satanic Temple as he was advised not to react to or engage with protestors.

Joe Rizo, a local from Allegen, said The Satanic Temple had the right to speak at the government, just as him and other followers of Christ had the right to protest.

'We're just here to praise God,' said Rizo.

Members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to commissioners ahead of the meeting in support of free speech, local NBC affiliate WOOD reported.

'I think what most people want their county commissioners to do is to act as a government and not get involved into these controversial religious disputes,' said Patrick Elliott, FFRF director of legal counsel.

'And so we think the best way to resolve it is to drop the invocation or drop the prayer. If they're not going to do that, there may be some prayers that some on the board don't like and that's OK. They're going to have to tolerate that.'

While Cypher's speech prompted Christians present at the meeting to speak out against the temple, others were less than thrilled about commissioners for allowing for multiple invocations to be present.

A look at the crowd ahead of tonights Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting. We love Jesus! We love Jesus! pic.twitter.com/hQwismNjGi  Left of Center MI (@leftofcentermi) April 23, 2024

Chaos erupts in a viewing room for the overflow crowd at the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting during an invocation given by @satanic_temple_ pic.twitter.com/vNTrRsKCmM  Left of Center MI (@leftofcentermi) April 23, 2024

One man yelled 'hail satan' while others yelled 'we love Jesus'

Last year, Ottawa County was established as a 'constitutional county' that protects individual rights of free speech, and the Satanic Temple wanted to test just that

'Apparently this is now a pulpit where people need to explain their religion,' she said. 'This is not a church.'

Adopting the new invocation policy, according to Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss, will advance free speech.

Additionally, he stated that even if organizations like The Satanic Temple of West Michigan are permitted to speak, he has spoken with other pastors who endorse the change.
A new GOP-led bill seeks to ban members from flying any foreign nation's flags on the House floor after Democrats waved Ukrainian flags as a long-awaited foreign aid bill passed.

'On the Floor of the House, there should be only one flag on display: ours,' Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., the author of the bill, said. The legislation has 30 Republican co-sponsors.

As the House in a 311-112 vote passed some $60 billion for Ukraine last week, House Democrats triumphantly flapped their blue-and-yellow flags and cheered at the bill that may cost Speaker Mike Johnson his job.

A small handful of Republicans also held Ukrainian flags.

The move prompted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., to go up to the microphone and shout 'put those d*** flags away' and Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., who presided over the vote, to tell Democrats their stunt was 'inappropriate.'

A new GOP-led bill seeks to ban members from flying any foreign nation's flags on the House floor after Democrats waved Ukrainian flags as a long-awaited foreign aid bill passed

'On the Floor of the House, there should be only one flag on display: ours,' Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., the author of the bill, said. The legislation has 30 Republican co-sponsors

A new GOP-led bill seeks to ban members from flying any foreign nation's flags on the House floor after Democrats waved Ukrainian flags as a long-awaited foreign aid bill passed

They were reminded 'it is a violation of decorum to wave flags on the floor.'

The flag-waving prompted a firestorm from hardline conservatives, with Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., claiming House members were showing they care 'more about Ukraine than you.'

'This is the U.S. House of Representatives under the direction of Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats are celebrating his total capitulation with no victory for securing our border. #MTV,' Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a co-sponsor of the motion to vacate, wrote on X.

Later he wrote that he'd been fined for taking a video on the House floor, where pictures and videos are prohibited.

'Instead of fining democrats for waving flags, the House Sergeant at Arms just called and said I will be fined $500 if I dont delete this video post. Mike Johnson really wants to memory hole this betrayal of America.'

Johnson then intervened to undo the fine.

'Upon viewing Rep. Massies tweet, our team reached out to the Sergeant at Arms. I do not agree with this assessment and there will be no fine imposed on Rep. Massie,' the speaker wrote on X.

'Ukrainian flags fly in the chamber of the UNITED STATES House of Representatives as they vote to send more of your hard-earned money to a corrupt foreign regime,' Sen Rand Paul, R-Ky., said in a post on X Saturday. 'And just like that they shout 'UKRAINE! UKRAINE!' while happily working to secure Ukraine's borders, not ours.'

Some Republicans were upset that Ukraine funding had passed without border security measures, after months of Johnson saying he would not secure Ukraine's border before the U.S. one.

'For the Swamp, it's Ukraine First and America Last,' Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C. said of the flag waving on X. 'Gleefully waving Ukrainian flags as the American people suffer under Biden's border invasion.'

'Too much Ukraine. Not enough USA,' Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X along with a video of the gleeful Democrats.

Even Nicole Shanahan, the running mate of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., derided the display on X.

'I remember as a 12 year old waking up in downtown Oakland and realizing our car had been broken into and the $1.50 I was relying on to buy a McDonald's breakfast sandwich had been stolen,' Shanahan said.

'Watching our leadership today send $60B to Ukraine while waving another nation's flag is gut-wrenching. What about Americans?'

The Ukraine aid was part of a foreign aid package for U.S. allies around the world that has since been signed into law by President Biden.

The package in total gives $26 billion to Israel, $60.8 billion to Ukraine and $8 billion to the Indo-Pacific through a combination of military and humanitarian aid.

The package consisting of three separate aid bills was voted on alongside a fourth 'side car' that includes a potential TikTok ban and a vehicle to repurpose seized Russian assets for Ukraine.

The Ukraine bill includes $23 billion for replenishing U.S. stockpiles that have been depleted for the fight in Russia. Some $11 billion would go to U.S. military operations in the region and $14 billion would go to procuring advanced weapons systems.

Another $26 million would go to oversight and accountability of equipment given to Ukraine.

Two separate economic assistance funds worth $7.85 billion and $1.58 billion would also be offered to Ukraine under a loan structure.

The president has wide authority over the terms of the loan, and could forgive half of it after November 15, 2024 and half after January 1, 2026.

The first tranche of weapons - long-range missiles, ammunition, drones and vehicles - is expected to arrive in Ukraine within days.

The Israel security bill will offer $4 billion to replenish Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense system and billions more for weapons systems, artillery and munitions, as well as an additional $2.4 billion for U.S. operations in the region.

Nine billion dollars in that bill goes to humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza.

A fourth bill includes several measures such as requiring TikTok divest from its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance, an effort to obtain seized Russian assets and a lend-lease program for military aid to Ukraine.

The House already passed a bill to force ByteDance to divest TikTok, but the new catch-all legislation would give TikTok a year rather than six months to separate itself from China.

Attaching the measure to the foreign aid will force the Senate to vote on it, after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has dragged his feet in putting it on the Senate floor.

The so-called 'side car' bill also includes a provision involving the REPO Act, meaning it would seize Russian assets that until now have only been frozen and repurpose them for Ukraine, and one that would involve the Lend-Lease Act, which would require Ukraine to give back U.S. military assets that are not destroyed in war.

The new round of aid comes as it was revealed the Biden administration last month secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine for the first time.

Kyiv has already used the weapon twice to strike deep behind Russian lines, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight.

The new missiles give Ukraine nearly double the striking distance - up to 190 miles - that it had with the mid-range version of the weapon that it received from the U.S. last October.

More long-range missiles are expected to be sent as part of the latest aid package.

Biden approved delivery of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in early March, and the U.S. included a 'significant' number of them in a $300 million aid package announced at the time, a US official said.

The aid package also includes Bradley fighting vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155 millimeter artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, demolition weaponry and other weapons that can immediately be put to use on the battlefield, officials told Reuters.
This is the moment cops arrest a teenage driver who took his girlfriend on a 1,300-mile joyride from Wisconsin to Florida.

Jayden Reed, 17, was arrested at a gas station in Palm Coast, a 60-mile drive south of Jacksonville, on Wednesday after his father returned from an out-of-town trip to his home in Wisconsin to find his son and his silver Chrysler Sedan missing.

'Deputies determined (the teen) had stolen the vehicle from his father while he was away on business,' the sheriff's office said.

'He was restricted from driving his father's car after being stopped by local law enforcement in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a few weeks prior for driving recklessly,' according to deputies. 'He had stolen the keys and left Wisconsin two or three days prior.'

On Tuesday, Reed had already been stopped for traveling 31 mph in a 20-mph school zone. He reportedly said he was new to the area and did not realize he was driving through a school zone and was let go with a written warning.

Jayden Reed, 17, was located at a gas station in Palm Coast, a 60-mile drive south of Jacksonville, on Wednesday after his father returned from an out-of-town trip to his home in Wisconsin to find his son and his silver Chrysler Sedan missing

On Tuesday, Reed (pictured) had already been stopped for traveling 31 mph in a 20-mph school zone

He said he was new to the area and did not realize he was driving through a school zone and was let go with a written warning

The car was then located at the gas station, where Reed and his friend, Katie Stevens (pictured), 18, were removed from the vehicle

'A few hours later, however, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received information that a silver Chrysler matching the plate of the one that had been stopped earlier that morning had just been reported stolen,' the sheriff's office said in a statement.

READ HERE: Dramatic bodycam footage shows the moment Florida cops swoop in on murder suspect hiding in thick forest using K9 dogs Advertisement

Reed, the driver of the vehicle, had also been entered as a missing person by the Green Bay Police Department in Wisconsin.

The car was then located at the gas station, where Reed and his friend, Katie Stevens, 18, were removed from the vehicle.

Reed was arrested for Grand Theft Auto and was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility before being turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona Beach.

'Stevens said she was traveling with Reed and her boyfriend, but claims her boyfriend was arrested on their way to Florida,' the sheriff's office said.

She was arrested for Grand Theft Auto and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility where she is currently being held on $2,000 bond.

'I'm incredibly proud of our hardworking team for quickly responding to alerts for a missing child and stolen vehicle,' said Sheriff Rick Staly.

'A runaway in a stolen car is a recipe for disaster, but due to our team's efforts a stolen car was safely recovered, a missing juvenile was found and arrested before anyone could get hurt, and his adult accomplice gets to spend the remainder of her Florida vacation in the Green Roof Inn.'
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Herds of endangered hippos are facing death in the blistering heat of Botswana, left stranded and unable to move in drying ponds as drought ravages the southern African country.

Harrowing views show clusters of animals boxed together in the mud as they desperately try to cool off and avoid sunburn, with temperatures soaring and moisture evaporating from the earth.

While seasonal flooding usually makes the Okavango Delta a lush habitat for wildlife, the dried-up Thamalakane River has forced herds of hippos to head for natural water reserves close to the tourist town of Maun or risk slow and painful deaths from dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Botswana is home to one of the world's largest populations of hippos living in the wild, estimated at between 2,000 and 4,000 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

'The riverine vegetation is poor and the hippo in Ngamiland (northwestern district) depends on the water flowing through the Okavango Delta systems,' said Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Botswana's capital Gaborone.

They were still looking into the how many hippos had died in the pools, he said.

Entire herds of hippos were left stranded in the mud as the Thamalakane River died up during a terrible drought in Botswana

A baby hippo stands next to other hippos stuck in a dried up channel near the Nxaraga village in the Okavango Delta, April 25

A hippo caked in mud tries desperately to cool off as temperatures soar amid a devastating drought in Botswana, April 25

Hippos have thick but sensitive skin, meaning they need to bathe regularly to avoid sunburn and usually live in humid areas.

Without water, they can become aggressive and approach villages.

Local authorities are calling for hippos to be relocated to reserves to avoid conflict with humans.

Southern Africa has been affected by severe drought in recent months, caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has threatened harvests and plunged millions into hunger.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.

Several countries in the region have recently declared a state of national disaster, with an estimated 20 million people in the south facing 'acute hunger', per the United Nations.

Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among those warning of catastrophe and a potential risk to life with droughts decimating livestock and causing dramatic spikes in the price of staple crops.

In February, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique and Botswana received just a fifth of the rainfall they would typically expect.

Thousands of cattle were reported to have died in Malawi after walking into fields still muddy from last year's rain and getting stuck, according to relief organisation CARE.

The temperature in southern Africa has also risen by between 1.04 and 1.8 Celsius in the past 50 years, according to the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, creating a climate change 'hot spot' in terms of 'extremes'.

Remains of a dead animal is seen in one of the dried up channel near the Nxaraga village on April 25

A baby hippo walks on mud in a dried up channel near the Nxaraga village in the Okavango Delta on the outskirts of Maun

Seen from above, horses and hippos get stuck in a muddy and largely drained channel in the Delta, April 25

The drought in Botswana began as early as October 2023, according to a report by the European Commission.

It then spread to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, and continues to affect most of southern Africa today.

Botswana alone lost at least 300 elephants in mysterious circumstances last year, according to Grace Muzila, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, reflecting on the devastation brought by the drought.

'Wild animals get stuck in the mud desperately looking for water and they die. The experience is heartbreaking,' she said.

Southern Africa's human population has also been blighted by the reduced availability of food and water, reporting tragic losses.

Francesca Erdelmann, the World Food Programme's country director for Zimbabwe, said last year's harvest was bad, but this season is even worse. 'This is not a normal circumstance,' she said.

Joseph Nleya, a 77-year-old traditional leader in Mangwe, Zimbabwe, said he doesn't remember it being this hot, this dry, this desperate.

'Dams have no water, riverbeds are dry and boreholes are few. We were relying on wild fruits, but they have also dried up,' he said.

American aid agency USAID has since stepped in with a life-saving handout, bringing some relief to the area.

An estimated 9 million people, half of them children, still need help in Malawi.

Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi have declared a national disaster over the severe dry spell that started in January and has devastated the agricultural sector, decimating crops and pastures

Cattle farmers attempt to rescue a livestock wallowed in the mud in a dried up channel near the Nxaraga village, April 25

A baby hippo gets into mud in a dried up channel as animals flock to find water and relief from the intense, dry heat

More than 6 million in Zambia, 3 million of them children, are impacted by the drought, UNICEF said.

That's nearly half of Malawi's population and 30% of Zambia's.

'Distressingly, extreme weather is expected to be the norm in eastern and southern Africa in the years to come,' said Eva Kadilli, UNICEF's regional director.

With this years harvest a write-off, millions in Zimbabwe, southern Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar wont be able to feed themselves well into 2025.

USAIDs Famine Early Warning System estimated that 20 million people would require food relief in southern Africa in the first few months of 2024.

Many wont get that help, as aid agencies also have limited resources amid a global hunger crisis and a cut in humanitarian funding by governments.
A privately-educated Labour councillor who hurled a tirade of 'abhorrent' racist and Islamophobic abuse at a Wetherspoons pub doorman has been fined and ordered to pay compensation.

Millionaires' son George Rist, 28, had to resign as a town councillor in Monmouth, South Wales, after being banned for life from every pub in the town over the incident.

Today, he appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to racially and religiously aggravated harassment.

Newport Magistrates' Court heard Rist abused doorman Mahdi Sayid outside Monmouth's King's Head pub on December 30 last year  just nine days after he was elected by a five-vote margin.

Prosecutor Mike Williams said Mr Sayid was asked at around 11.15pm on the night in question to speak with a customer who was being 'rowdy'.

Privately-educated Labour councillor George Rist, who hurled a tirade of 'abhorrent' racist and Islamophobic abuse at a Wetherspoons pub doorman, has been fined and ordered to pay compensation

He appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court to be sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to racially and religiously aggravated harassment

The customer, Rist, had initially appeared sociable towards staff, but refused to leave when asked. Eventually he stepped outside the pub, then started to be abusive towards Mr Sayid.

Rist told the victim: 'F***this, f*** you guys, merry Christmas and a happy new year', the court heard.

Mr Sayid, who was with his colleague, responded: 'We wish you a happy new year as well.'

Rist then walked away, but turned around and started shouting: 'F*** you and f*** where you have come from.'

Mr Sayid's colleague replied: 'What do you mean? He's from England.'

Rist went on: 'Is he f***, he's black, he's from Somalia or Zimbabwe.'

At this point, someone who had been watching on told Rist: 'Stop being a c*** and go home.'

But Rist continued to be abusive, making an offensive remark about the Prophet Muhammad before walking away.

As the prosecutor read the obscene words, the former councillor winced in the dock.

Mr Sayid, who describes himself as a black British Muslim with Somalian heritage, said he felt 'disgusted' by the 'abhorrent racism', which he believed was a 'calculated outburst of abuse'.

After he learned Rist had recently been elected as a councillor, he reported the matter to police.

In his police interview, Rist accepted making the comments and said he had gone out drinking that night after his parents encouraged him to do so because his grandmother was dying.

Mr Williams said: 'He told police he had never done anything like this before and that he was ashamed and disgusted with himself.

'His head was in his hands when he heard the comments he had made.'

Rist, of Priory Street in Monmouth, had no previous convictions.

Darren Bishop, mitigating, said that at the time of the incident his client had recently learned his grandmother was going to die at any moment and that his mother had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Mr Bishop said: 'You can imagine the atmosphere around the family home at the time.

'Rist was drinking five to six pints after work, five to six times a week. On December 30 he was encouraged by his parents to leave the family home and had gone to a local pub where he drank to excess.'

Mr Bishop described Rist as a 'high-functioning alcoholic in full-time employment who was drinking in excess after work'.

He was on medication for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) which meant he should not have been drinking, but he had been incorrectly advised by his GP that he could, according to Mr Bishop.

Rist accepted making the comments and said he had gone out drinking that night after his parents encouraged him to do so because his grandmother was dying

Rist's grandmother died the day after his abusive behaviour, the court heard.

Over the following days he attended two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and sent a 'letter of reparation' to the pub apologising for his behaviour.

The police became involved on January 10. Having been suspended by Labour, Rist announced in March that he was standing down as a councillor 'to focus on my physical and mental wellbeing'.

Mr Bishop added he was 'fully aware his political career has come to an end as a result of his behaviour'.

He said his client recently got a three-month sobriety chip from Alcoholics Anonymous and has been receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder linked to his childhood.

The court heard he earns around 240 a week from an unspecified job.

Magistrate Nicholas Hobbs said he noted the steps taken by Rist to combat his alcohol dependency and the remorse shown.

Magistrates imposed a 411 fine, 85 in prosecution costs and a victim services surcharge of 164 as well as 100 in compensation.

At Newport Magistrates' Court, Rist was handed a 411 fine, 85 in prosecution costs and a victim services surcharge of 164 as well as 100 in compensation

Rist is a close ally of Labour parliamentary candidate Catherine Fookes, who will oppose Welsh Secretary David TC Davies, the town's current Tory MP, at the forthcoming general election.

Ms Fookes described Rist  a former pupil at Haberdashers' Monmouth School, which charges 20,000 a year for day pupils and 38,500 for boarders - as 'dynamic and enthusiastic' when he won the by-election.

She said: 'It has been great to campaign with George and see his passion for our fantastic town.

'George will make a brilliant town councillor. He's dynamic and so enthusiastic about bringing more events to Monmouth.'

Rist, who studied international relations at Birmingham University, lives with his wealthy parents Stephen and Wendy Rist, both former company directors, at a house worth more than 1.25m not far from Monmouth town centre.

It is understood he was drinking in his local pub, the Punch House, before crossing the town's historic Agincourt Square to carry on boozing in The King's Head.

A customer said of his behaviour: 'It was a vile thing to do.'

'I felt sorry for the young lad (the doorman), he's a student putting himself through university by working in security. No one should have to put up with disgusting behaviour like that.'

The historic King's Head, said to have been visited by Charles I during the English Civil War, is a member of the town's Pubwatch scheme.

Rist was put on Pubwatch, which means he is banned from all the pubs on the scheme in Monmouth.

On March 12, less than six weeks after being officially welcomed onto Monmouth Town Council at a meeting on January 22, Rist handed in his resignation.

The chairwoman of Monmouth Pubwatch, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Mr Rist has been given a lifetime ban from all the pubs on the scheme, that's 17 in Monmouth and the surrounding area.

'He is one of four individuals on the list at the moment.

'We were approached by the doorman who asked if he could have our CCTV from the night. We have supplied that and it was passed to the police who are dealing with the matter.'

As he left the court, Rist said he was 'horrified by what happened' and that his words that night did not reflect his views.

Asked where they came from, he replied: 'I was going through a very difficult time. I am an alcoholic.

'I was on medication and I had untreated complex post-traumatic stress disorder. I was not myself. I was not in my right mind.'
The former finance director at New York University who committed $3.5 million worth of fraud targeting minority and women-owned businesses has been sentenced to five years probation.

Cindy Tappe, of Westport, used her position at the Manhattan school to divert money intended for businesses with the fraudulent scheme.

The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to grand larceny on February 26 and has paid back $663,209 in restitution, with the final check for $180,000 received on Friday ahead of her court appearance.

She was sentenced to five years of probation by Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso at New York Supreme Criminal Court.

Tappe improperly routed $3.3 million to two shell companies she created while serving as director of finance and administration for NYU's Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and Transformation of Schools.

Former finance director at New York University Cindy Tappe who committed $3.5 million worth of fraud targeting minority and women-owned businesses has been sentenced to five years probation

Tappe used her position at the Manhattan school to divert money intended for businesses with the fraudulent scheme

The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to grand larceny on February 26 and has paid back $663,209 in restitution, with the final check for $180,000 received on Friday ahead of her court appearance

She used the public money she stole to help fund her lavish lifestyle and $660,000 in renovations at her Connecticut home including an $80,000 swimming pool

She used the public money she stole to help fund her lavish lifestyle and $660,000 in renovations at her Connecticut home including an $80,000 swimming pool.

But some of the diverted funds were used to cover NYU-related expenses, including employee reimbursements.

The money was linked to $23 million in state Education Department grants awarded to the Metropolitan Center between 2011 and 2018.

Tappe's defense attorney Deborah Colson previously said her client has accepted responsibility, 'strongly regrets her misconduct' and planned to pay the required restitution in full prior to her sentencing.

'After that, she looks forward to putting this case behind her,' Colson said in a statement. NYU said its internal audit office had investigated Tappe and turned over its findings to state officials, leading to the criminal charges.

'We are deeply disappointed that Ms. Tappe abused the trust we placed in her in this way; she stole from everyone  the taxpayer, the University, the people the Metro Center is supposed to help,' university spokesperson John Beckman said.

'NYU is pleased to have been able to assist in stopping this misdirection of taxpayer money, and glad that the case has been brought to a close.'

Pictured: Tappe appearing in court

NYU - which employed Tappe as an operations manager in 2018 despite staffers at NYU at that point uncovering her alleged misdeeds - insisted in a statement that Tappe was vetted before being hired. Pictured: Tappe in court

Tappe's home in Westport, Connecticut, with the swimming pool she paid for with stolen cash, prosecutors claim

According to Braggs office, Tappe funneled the money - rung from $23 million in grant money awarded to an N.Y.U. center where she worked - using two companies she constructed, as well as by drafting false invoices for three subcontractors, who received a cut for no-show without doing the work

Tappe was put on leave from her new job at Yale in December 2022, after being indicted for embezzling millions in funding for the Manhattan school on personal expenses.

She had since started work as an operations manager at the Yale's School of Medicine, but was suspended after staffers learned of the charges. '

In 2022, Tappe pleaded not guilty to using the stolen money to fund what prosecutors labeled a 'lavish lifestyle'.

Billed as having 'excellence in the comprehensive knowledge of financial and grants and has effective leadership and team-building skills' on the Yale website, Tappe faced six counts of money laundering, grand larceny, and fraud for the alleged six-year scheme, and was released at the time without bail.

A spokesperson for Yale - situated in New Haven, not far from Tappe's two-acre, multimillion-dollar property in Westport - confirmed then that 'Ms. Tappe has been placed on leave,' but would not specify whether that leave was paid or not.

The elite school - which employed Tappe as an operations manager in 2018 despite staffers at NYU at that point uncovering her alleged misdeeds - insisted in a statement that Tappe was vetted before being hired.

Following her indictment, NYU spokesman John Beckman said the school - which reported Tappes scheme to police upon uncovering it in 2018 - was 'deeply disappointed that an employee abused the trust we placed in her.'

In 2022, Tappe pleaded not guilty to using the stolen money to fund what prosecutors labeled a 'lavish lifestyle'

Tappe took the $3.5 million in grant money, and instead of distributing it, sent it to the small group of subcontractors, who took a small cut and then sent roughly $3.4 million to the shell companies that she created

Pictured: Tappe's home in Westport, Connecticut, with the swimming pool she paid for with stolen cash, prosecutors claim

Beckman said that the school discovered the 'suspicious activity' from their senior staffer in 2018, leading to Tappe to hand in her resignation after being confronted.

'We are pleased to have been able to assist in stopping this misdirection of taxpayer money,' Beckman said Monday.

In court, New York State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli asserted that Tappe stole the money to 'fund a lavish lifestyle.'

Both DiNapoli and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleged she concocted her scheme over six years from 2012 to 2018 with an elaborate system of shell companies to steal the cash.

According to Bragg's office, Tappe funneled the money - rung from $23 million in grant money awarded to an NYU center where she worked - using two companies she constructed, as well as by drafting false invoices for three subcontractors, who received a three to six percent cut for no-show jobs without doing the work.

The cash was to be spent on controlling two state programs: one to assist school districts in improving results for students learning English, and another to ensure that students in special education received fair treatment.

Under the terms of the grants, a certain percentage had to go to women- and minority-owned businesses, which would then administer those programs.

Tappe took the $3.5million, and instead of distributing it, sent it to the small group of subcontractors, who took a small cut and then sent roughly $3.4 million to the shell companies that she created.

Using those shell companies - High Galaxy and PCM Group - she then spent the money, including the hundreds of thousands of dollars that went to her own personal expenses.

A program director learnt of the scheme in 2018, and confronted her.

Tappe's home in Westport, Connecticut, with the swimming pool she paid for with stolen cash, prosecutors claim

The pair avoided photographers stationed in the courthouse as they made their way out of the building after a pretrial hearing Tuesday

The probe, prosecutors said, determined that the fraud began in 2012 when Tappe was promoted to director of finance and administration at NYU's Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and Transformation of Schools, and persisted until school officials confronted her in September 2018

'Our multilingual learners and students with disabilities deserve top-notch services, and these funds should have gone directly to their schools,' said Bragg.

'Instead, we allege, the funds meant for student programs were used purely for personal gain by an NYU Director of Finance, who renovated a home in Connecticut and bought a swimming pool with the money.

'This $3.5 million fraud also negatively impacted our city's minority and women owned business enterprises by denying them the chance to fairly compete for and secure the funding.'

She emailed the directors and told them that the school had 'developed good working relationships' with the companies - but she was ultimately fired, and the case referred to DiNapoli's office.

NYU, meanwhile, maintains they were and are 'deeply disappointed' that a staff member could act in such a way.

The school added that when confronted, Tappe misled school officials about her relationship with the subcontractors and shell companies, before ultimately leaving the school.

The missing funds were then reported to Manhattan's DA office, who launched a three-year investigation culminating in Tappe's arrest in 2022.

The probe, prosecutors said, determined that the fraud began in 2012 when Tappe was promoted to director of finance and administration at NYU's Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and Transformation of Schools, and persisted until school officials confronted her in September 2018.
A couple woke up to find half of their car was missing, after thieves stripped it bare in an overnight raid.

Rory Tymon, 31, and Natalia Bajon, 29, from Winton in Salford, made the shocking discovery earlier on Thursday morning, when Natalia's brother came home from a night shift.

Rory, a radiographer, had left the car, which had just been sold to a new owner, parked in its usual spot on Vaughan Street, near their home on Wednesday night.

But by 6.30am the next day thieves had stripped the front bumper, lights, radiator, bonnet, wheel parts and the engine off the Volkswagen T-Roc.

Rory Tymon, 31, and Natalia Bajon, 29, from Winton in Salford, made the shocking discovery earlier on Thursday morning, when Natalia's brother came home from a night shift

By 6.30am yesterday thieves had stripped the front bumper, lights, radiator, bonnet, wheel parts and the engine off the Volkswagen T-Roc

The vehicles paperwork had only recently been transferred to another person, where the couple had been planning to drop the car off that morning.

He said: 'The car had been sold and I was about to drive it to the new owner's house at 6.30am. I got to the car and was like 'oh my God'. It was a shock.

'They've taken the front bumper, the lights, the radiator, the bonnet and parts of the wheel arches and engine - everything from the front.'

Natalia's brother, who they live with, broke the news after arriving home from a night shift, adding: 'He walked up and said 'I'm not sure how to say this... but half your car is missing'.

'I said to Natalia 'am I still sleeping? Am I dreaming?'. We stood there looking at it with our mouths open for a while and then called the police.'

Greater Manchester Police told the Manchester Evening News the the incident was reported at 6.30am.

A spokesperson said the case remains 'active', but that lines of enquiry have been exhausted. If new evidence comes to light, officers will investigate, they added.

'It's an unbelievable situation to be in,' Rory added. '[The new owner] hasn't even driven the car and he's already having to go through insurance on writing it off.'

Rory said he suspects a gang is behind the crime.

He added: 'The road next to it is the main road going through Eccles and it's a very busy area. I don't know how they did it without anyone seeing. I can't imagine it's a single person.'
President Joe Biden has finally confirmed he is ready to debate Donald Trump before the 2024 election.

The 81-year-old confirmed he is 'happy' to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning.

The White House and Biden-Harris campaign have danced around questions about the debate for months.

'I am, somewhere,' he said when asked if he is willing to debate Trump.

'I dont know when. Im happy to debate him.'

President Joe Biden has finally confirmed he is ready to debate Donald Trump before the 2024 election

Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita took minutes to respond to Biden's comments.

'Ok let's set it up,' he posted on X.

Trump also responded during a break from the Manhattan hush money trial with a post on Truth Social.

'Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters.

'I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. Mandate.

'In the alternative, hes in New York City today, although probably doesnt know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT - A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! Its the only way he thinks he can win.

'In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight - on National Television, Ill wait around!

There are three presidential debates scheduled for before the November 5 general election.

Trump has vowed for weeks to take on his Democratic adversary 'any place, any time' before millions of Americans cast their ballots in a rematch of the 2020 election.

Biden and Trump have already been at each others throats with just shy of seven months until the vote.

The 81-year-old confirmed he is 'happy' to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning

Trump demanded Joe Biden debate him 'tonight' while both of them were in New York

Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita took minutes to respond to Biden's comments. 'Ok let's set it up,' he posted on X.

The president has mocked the Republican at glitzy fundraisers for 'bleaching' his hair and hinted he deserves to be punched.

Trump has also railed at Biden most days he has been in court for the Manhattan hush money trial.

He claims the Democrat is behind his legal battles also has frequently scrutinized his fitness for office.
Colombia's capital stands divided after a man brazenly recorded himself taping the city's speed cameras.

A motorist, identified as David Quiroga, uploaded a series of TikTok videos in recent days in which he placed reflective stickers over cameras on several poles on Bogota streets.

Quiroga, who wore a motorcycle helmet to cover up his face, could be seen approaching the post and placing a white strip over a traffic camera, about six feet above the ground, and another sticker on a camera a few feet off the ground.

'We are not going to see them anymore,' a caption on the video read. 'At night and day, no more fines.'

A man identified as David Quiroga on TikTok filmed himself covering the traffic cameras in the Colombian capital city of Bogota recently in protest of speeding fines

A Bogota motorist, who has grown tired of speeding tickets, went around the Colombian capital recently placing tape over traffic cameras. Bogota collected an average of $230,000 per day in fines in 2023 from motorists who broke the 31 miles per hour speed limit

Quiroga asked his followers to share the location of other traffic cameras that help authorities identify motorists who surpassed the speed limit.

'One more camera with reflective tape,' he wrote. 'And 1,000 less fines. Let's go for more.'

Bogota Secretariat of Mobility rejected Quiroga's behavior and said that any cameras damaged in the act would be repaired.

The city collected an average of $230,000 in fines per day in 2023 from motorists who broke the 31 miles per hour speed limit.

DailyMail.cam reached out to the Bogota Metropolitan Police for comment.

Motorists stare at David Quiroga while he places a sticker to cover up a speed detecting camera in Bogota

Bogota collected an average of $230,000 in fines per day in 2023 from motorists who broke the 31 miles per hour speed limit

David Quiroga's decision to cover up traffic cameras that detect motorists who ignore Bogota's speed limit has sparked fury and rejoice

Social media user applauded Quiroga's actions while others called him out it.

'They put those black cameras to catch more people and scam them,' one person commented. 'I applaud this hero. More visibility helps all drivers.'

'They are not lifesaving cameras, they are pocket-saving and bank accounts filling cameras!' another social media user chimed in.

One person questioned Quiroga how he would feel if someone covered his home's surveillance camera.

'If you have security cameras in your house to ensure that everything around you is going well, you would like someone to damage them or leave them out of service, it is simply a lack of culture,' the said.
The father of a 13-year-old girl charged with attempted murder following a south Wales school attack says he learned of the incident via social media - as the teachers injured in the attack issued statements thanking those who came to their aid.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court earlier today after being charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman Valley School).

Teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin and a school pupil suffered grievous injuries in the attack at the school in Ammanford on Wednesday; the teachers have since issued statements on the difficulty they have had 'comprehending' the incident.

The pair of education staff, along with a pupil at the school, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack. Ms Hopkin was airlifted to a hospital in Cardiff for treatment. All three have since been discharged.

The father of the girl charged now says it took him hours to find out his daughter was allegedly at the centre of the incident, claiming the school and police did not want to speak to him. He says he found out she was allegedly involved online.

Fiona Elias said she had found it difficult to' comprehend' the incident at Amman Valley School on Wednesday

Special needs teacher Liz Hopkin, who was also injured in the attack, said she had been 'overwhelmed by the kindness' of locals after the incident

Dyffryn Aman School was put into lockdown following the incident, which saw three people incur 'non-life-threatening injuries'

A forensic scene of crime officer at Amman Valley (Dyffryn Aman) School on Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was arrested

Pictured: Police outside the school where the attack occurred on Wednesday. A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder

The father of the 13-year-old girl told The Times it took him 'hours' to find out anything about his daughter's alleged involvement in the incident on Wednesday, which unfolded shortly after 11am.

He said he learned of the incident through a phone call from a friend who also has children at the school - and claims he was stonewalled by school staff as he asked them for information.

The father, who cannot be named, said: 'I found out she was involved through social media, because people were naming her online. It's disgusting.

'I have found out more about what has happened through the news than I did from anyone else. The school didn't want to talk.'

He added that he had not been given a police liaison officer and was worried about 'reprisals from the community'.

Police have bailed a 15-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with alleged threats made in relation to the incident at the school.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, a spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'The 15-year-old male arrested in Cross Hands during the early hours of Thursday morning, following reports about threatening messages relating to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, has been released on police bail with conditions that prevent him from entering certain educational establishments, or the Amman and Gwendraeth Valley areas.

'Bail restrictions also include a curfew, and prevent him having unsupervised access to social media.'

Previously, the force said that officers had executed a warrant at an address in Ammanford overnight and recovered a BB gun following 'threats involving a firearm'.

The police spokeswoman added that the investigation into the allegations was continuing, with officers appealing for anyone with information including screenshots from social media, to contact the force.

He was arrested at a home nearby and police say they retrieved a BB gun.

A parent of the teenager also told The Times armed police raided their home at 3am and seized the pellet-firing weapon, alongside paintball guns and what was described as a 'tactical vest'.

MailOnline has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for further comment. Carmarthenshire County Council declined to comment.

Meanwhile, teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin have issued statements sharing their difficulty at 'comprehending' what happened and thanking emergency services for their efforts.

Ms Elias, an assistant headteacher at the school, said: 'From the bottom of my heart, my family and I would like to say a huge thank you for all the messages we have received from far and wide over the past few days.

'I am deeply indebted to the police, ambulance service, and the NHS staff in Morriston for their excellent care and quick response.

'Many thanks also to the air ambulance for their excellent care of my colleague, Liz. This is another example of how vital this service is to us in Wales.

'Three of us were taken to hospital with injuries, but this incident has had an enormous impact on my colleagues and the wonderful pupils we have at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.

'I cannot comprehend what staff and pupils experienced on Wednesday.

'I would like to thank all members of staff for prioritising the welfare and safety of pupils at the school for four hours, and the pupils for responding so maturely and sensibly in a situation that no one expects to happen.

'One of our school's core values is 'resilience', and there is no doubt that pupils have demonstrated this value in coping with a situation they should never have experienced.

'The last few days have shown that there is no other community quite like the Ysgol Dyffryn Aman community, and we will be working to support each other in the coming days and weeks.

'Many thanks to the parents of the school for their co-operation and understanding at such a difficult time and of course to the wider community and external agencies who have been so willing to support the staff and pupils.

'I understand that there has been great interest in this incident, but for the benefit of my family, colleagues, and pupils, I now ask for privacy.'

Police outside Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Amman Valley School) in Carmarthenshire following an incident on Wednesday that saw two teachers and a pupil taken to hospital

An ambulance support unit outside the school on Wednesday after it entered lockdown. Pupils heard a 'code red' alert over the school's PA system

The school was sent into lockdown for four hours after the incident began. It ended when a girl was put in an armlock by a teacher

Police heading into the school on Wednesday as investigations got underway into the alleged stabbing

Ms Hopkin, who is an additional learning needs co-ordinator, added: 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support shown to me and my family since the incident on Wednesday.

'I am deeply indebted to all the emergency services for their quick response and for the care provided to me and others who were admitted to hospital.

'Ysgol Dyffryn Aman is a big part of my life, and it is hard to comprehend that this has happened.

'However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school community for all the support and kind messages that I have received.

'I have been overwhelmed by the kindness from the close community that we have here.

'I believe what we need now is time to reflect on what has happened and therefore ask for privacy for the school, myself and my family, so we can take this time to reflect and recover.'

The girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, showed no emotion as she appeared in the dock at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Speaking only to confirm her name and address, the teenager, who wore a grey jumper, looked small next to the courtroom staff who surrounded her.

She was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article on a school premises, and will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 24.

District Judge Mark Layton said remanding a 13-year-old into youth justice detention was a 'difficult decision' in a hearing that lasted around 20 minutes.

Laura Sherwood, representing the girl, made an application for bail which was refused by the judge. Abigail Jackson appeared for the prosecution.

Pupils at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire, went into lockdown just after 11.20am on Wednesday after the stabbing at the end of morning break.

The school went into lockdown after a 'code red' alarm sounded, during which students and staff are said to have hidden in classrooms - with one pupil reportedly vaulting the school fence to get to safety.

The lockdown lasted around four hours between 11.20am and 3.20pm, resulting in an anxious wait for parents who tearfully hugged their children after they walked through the gates.

One teacher, named as Darrel Campbell, stepped in to disarm the alleged attacker and put her in an armlock while waiting for police to arrive.

His brother, Senedd member Cefin Campbell, said Mr Campbell had been 'embarrassed by all the attention' following his quick thinking.

He said: 'He just told me he just did what most people would have done. He really wants to play down anything more than just being a normal citizen, albeit a teacher in a school facing a very challenging situation.'

Mr Campbell worked at the school for around 40 years and officially retired last year but was brought back on a part-time basis to help provide pastoral care.

Police officers at the gate of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman on Wednesday after the 13-year-old was arrested

Teacher Darrel Campbell (pictured, left) is said to have intervened to bring the incident to a close

His brother Cefin Campbell (pictured), a member of the Senedd, said his brother was 'embarrassed by all the attention that he's had' for stepping in

It is understood he plans to return to school when it reopens. Both Campbells went to the school as children.

Teacher Mr Campbell then spent Wednesday evening watching an Amman United rugby match, where he is club chairman.

A friend at the club said: 'Darrel is a no-nonsense guy, the sort of person you'd want with you in that sort of situation. But he's very modest, he won't make a big thing of it.'

Carmarthenshire County Council, meanwhile, says the secondary school will re-open on Monday following the police investigations on site.

Council leader Cllr Darren Price said: 'As a County Council, we are doing everything that we can to support the community of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and we have set out a wellbeing support plan to help the pupils and staff.

'This will be a joint support approach, as we are adopting a collaborative approach to ensure that all individuals affected receive the support they require.

'This includes coordinating between internal and external resources to provide holistic assistance.'

On Friday, another school in Wales entered lockdown after a pupil allegedly received threatening messages.

Police later arrested a teenage boy in another area of the country in connection with the communicstions.
What started as legitimate and even understandable student protests on American university campuses against the carnage in Gaza have quickly morphed into something much more sinister.

Instead of 'Give Peace a Chance', as anti-Vietnam war demonstrators used to shout in the 1960s, it is 'We Are Hamas', 'Obliterate Israel' and even 'Kill all the Jew'.

This descent into raw anti-Semitism has been fast and frightening. A student generation with little grasp of history, no understanding whatsoever of the complexities of the Middle East conflict and no firm principles beyond the obsessive simplicities of wokery has been easily swayed by rampant nihilism.

Protest leaders claim they are pro-Palestinian. In fact, they are pro-Hamas, with all the evil baggage that entails.

One leader of the so-called 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' established by student squatters at Columbia University in New York openly says on social media that 'Zionists don't deserve to live'.

What started as legitimate and even understandable student protests on American university campuses against the carnage in Gaza have quickly morphed into something much more sinister. (Pictured: In Georgia).

Protest leaders claim they are pro-Palestinian. In fact, they are pro-Hamas, with all the evil baggage that entails. (Pictured: Columbia this week).

One leader of the so-called 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' established by student squatters at Columbia University in New York openly says on social media that 'Zionists don't deserve to live'. (Pictured: Emory University).

Columbia is the epicenter of hate but its poison has spread not just to other Ivy League universities but to less prestigious seats of learning across the country.

Campuses are now awash with cries and banners claiming 'October 7th 10,000 times', 'Boycott the genocidal Zionist apartheid state', 'Holocaust was no big deal' and 'Only one solution, intifada revolution'.

This is not an anti-war movement. It is a pro-war movement that seeks to intimidate Jews and to destroy Israel.

It is a movement spawned by ignorance and prejudice, always a deadly combination that leads to no good.

Many of the protestors have no idea what they're chanting. No concept of the Holocaust. No knowledge of an intifada.

Privileged, upper-middle class white students at universities which cost at least $75,000 a year to attend don keffiyehs in performative protest to show solidarity with people about whom they know nothing.

At the University of Washington a protest was called off, hilariously, because those participating were 'too white', which tells you everything about the mollycoddled, self-indulgent student elite behind these protests. They are Hamas's useful idiots.

After weeks of shouting 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' they still have no idea what sea or what river.

Nor are they able to define Palestine (though they are not alone in that). They are poster children for the woke rot that grips American academia.

Be in no doubt they have been influenced by radical teachers in the faculty, where rational debate and diverse opinions are now a rarity. Yet no matter what evil emanates from their mouths, they pay no penalty.

Of course, like all Americans, they have their First Amendment rights. But the issue is not free speech. It is criminal conduct, which the first amendment does not protect.

There is also a double standard at work here. Universities have strict codes of conduct. They would, rightly, not allow the 'free speech' of white supremacists on campus. So why are the disgusting tropes of anti-Semites tolerated?

Columbia is the epicenter of hate but its poison has spread not just to other Ivy League universities but to less prestigious seats of learning across the country. (Pictured: University of Texas).

Jewish students are being intimidated, threatened and harassed on a daily basis. How could it be otherwise given the relentless anti-Semitic filth being shouted and scrawled on banners on campuses across the nation? Yet nobody is doing much about it.

The university authorities, as usual, are useless. At Columbia Jewish students were told to stay away and use remote learning.

A university rabbi was forced to tell Jewish students to go home because the university couldn't guarantee their safety. A Jewish professor had his ID card deactivated, seemingly because he wanted to mount a counter protest.

We have been here before. As the Nazi poison took root in Germany in the early 1930s, Jewish academics and students were blocked from universities  or simply advised to stay away. We know where this leads. Which makes the universities' inaction all the more inexcusable.

Yes, there has been a more robust response to the encampments and intimidation at some universities, such as Austin, Texas, and Emory, Georgia, where rubber bullets and tasers were deployed.

But often the encampments are allowed to spring up again and the protests continue as before.

Moreover, what is required is not heavy-handed law enforcement, though there will be times when that is necessary, but for the universities to announce that any students mouthing the anti-Semitic obscenities and parading the offensive banners now omnipresent in so many campuses will immediately cease to be students of that university  and never again readmitted. Plus those suspected of intimidation and harassment will be handed over to the police.

That might give some cause to pause and think about what they're doing.

The time to get tough is now because the poison is spreading beyond the campus. The FBI reports that anti-Semitic incidents are at 'historic levels'. Jews make up only a small proportion of the US population but are once again the victims of a majority of hate crimes.

Who would have thought it would ever come to this again  or that, given what we now know, the official responses would be so pathetic.

Ironically, though their ignorance means they will have no idea of this, the protesters are making the case for the Jewish State of Israel.

After the horrors of the Holocaust, Jewish leaders determined that there had to be a Jewish homeland open to all Jews  and to which all Jews could flee for safety in extremis, should anything like a Holocaust rear its ugly head again.

Even Jews in Western democracies who thought they'd have no need of such a homeland took comfort from the fact one existed. That was especially true of American Jews who always thought the one country in which they would be safe, other than Israel, was the United States.

Safe havens, like New York City, with the biggest Jewish population of any city outside Israel, would suffice. Israel was an insurance policy for which they'd probably have no need.

As the scourge of anti-Semitism subsided in the years after World War Two, some progressive Jewish leaders even wondered aloud if a distinct Jewish homeland was really needed.

Ironically, though their ignorance means they will have no idea of this, the protesters are making the case for the Jewish State of Israel.

Nobody is wondering that now as, even in America, radical Muslim leaders call for the destruction of Israel, backed by students at the nation's most elite universities and therefore those possibly (and frighteningly) running the country in the years to come.

America's Muslim population can only grow while Jews will become an ever smaller percentage of the total population.

Violent Islamism has a strong footing in many Western democracies these days and its influence is likely to grow stronger. Suddenly that Jewish homeland looks more necessary than ever.

This sorry tale still has some way to run. The pro-Hamas protestors have strong allies on the Left of the Democratic Party. They will be out in force come the Democratic convention in Chicago this August.

Chicago, of course, was the scene of the most violent Democratic convention ever in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, when Mayor Daley's somewhat robust police force clashed with radical demonstrators trying to disrupt the convention.

I don't say we're in for a repeat as bad as that but it will not be pretty on the streets of the Windy City this summer.

The President, for today's protestors, is 'Genocide Joe'. They will be out to pressure the Democrats into ending their support for Israel the way they wanted the party to end its support for the Vietnam War all these years ago.

Vietnam involved the conscription of hundreds of thousands of young American men to fight a massive war on the other side of the world, which eventually cost over 55,000 American lives. That gave the protests a special edge and relevance. Israel involves none of that, which is why it does not have the same piquancy for most folks.

But pro-Palestinian sentiments are the coming force in the Democratic Party, with all the attendant anti-Semitism we are currently witnessing.

There can be no compromise with such forces, whatever the superficial attractions of winning the youth vote by pandering to know-nothing students. We shall see if Biden is up to the challenge and stands firm in his resolve to support Israel.
The Tories are on course to lose more than 400 council seats in next week's local elections on a 'bad night for Rishi Sunak that could reignite questions about his leadership.

Every voter in England and Wales will be able to cast a ballot in at least one type of election on May 2, with elections in local councils as well as for mayors in cities including London.

More than 2,600 council seats in England are up for grabs across 107 authorities, many of which were last fought in 2021, a year in which the Conservatives did particularly well in local elections.

But since then the party has changed leader twice and now languishes a long way behind Labour in the opinion polls.

Now Lord Robert Hayward, the Tory peer and psephologist (election expert) has warned of big loses for the party - and some challenges for Keir Starmer's Labour party from disgruntled left-wing voters.

It comes as rumours swirl Westminster that Mr Sunak could trigger a general election on Monday, to be held in early June, though he has consistently said he will not hold one until the second half of 2024.

The Tories are on course to lose more than 400 council seats in next week's local elections on a 'bad night for Rishi Sunak that could reignite questions about his leadership.

However Labour results could be affected by anger at Keir Starmer's stance on the fighting in Gaza

The Tories and Labour are both defending more than 900 existing council seats, with the Lib Dems defending more than 400 and the Greens just over 100.

In his analysis, Lord Hayward said: 'Overall, I expect the Tories to have a bad night but it will not be a blow out for Labour. The (new) disruptors will probably have a greater impact on Labour than the Tories...

'The reasons for this being the lack of Reform candidacies (only 12.2 per cent of the wards), the erosion of the Lab support by TUSC/SWP/Independents etc and the slight improvement in the Tory votes in recent council by-elections. I would put the figure on the upside of 400.'

When will the election results be declared? The results of these elections are being declared over several days, starting on the night of May 2 and ending on May 5. There are 107 councils holding elections in England, with around a third (35) currently expected to declare on the night of May 2, nearly two-thirds (68) expected to declare during the day on May 3, with three due on May 4 and one on May 5. The results of four of the 11 mayoral contests (East Midlands, North East, Tees Valley and York & North Yorkshire) will be declared during the day on May 3, while the rest - including London and the West Midlands - will be declared on May 4. Of the results for the 37 police & crime commissioner elections across England and Wales, three will be declared on the night of May 2, 24 will be declared during the day on May 3, eight will be declared on May 4 and two will be declared on May 5. Results of the London Assembly election will be declared on the afternoon of May 4. Advertisement

He added: I would expect the Labour gains to be 200-250 probably at the upper end...

'As many people have correctly observed, the dissatisfaction of the Muslim community with the Labour Party regarding Gaza will have a very limited impact at a General Election. However, this is not the case at local election level.

'Wards are much smaller and many of these have either majority Muslim or ''heavily'' Muslim electorates. The Labour Party will therefore have to spend more time than would normally be the case in areas which are seen as rock solid safe for the party.

'I previously identified parts of Lancashire where this would apply. This has since been confirmed in the nomination of a range of ''alternative'' candidacies. However, it is now becoming clear that the 'issue' will affect elsewhere such as the West Midlands where an Independent mayoral candidate appears to be pulling in votes.

'Labour also face the prospect of abstentions within a demographic group that still voted overwhelmingly for them (80 per cent) in 2019.'

More than 2,600 council seats in England are up for grabs across 107 authorities, many of which were last fought in 2021, a year in which the Conservatives did particularly well in local elections.

Of the 107 authorities, 31 are Metropolitan boroughs, including some of the UK's biggest cities such as Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle; 18 are unitary authorities, covering a mix of towns and larger areas; and 58 are smaller district councils.

Most of the Metropolitan boroughs have large Labour majorities and are unlikely to change hands, but a few are worth watching to see how the major parties perform.

Bolton in Greater Manchester has a third of seats up for election and is a key Labour target, with the party needing only a few gains to win an overall majority.

Every seat in Dudley in the West Midlands is up for grabs and Labour could become the largest party if the Conservatives, who currently have a majority, do particularly badly.

In Solihull and Walsall, again in the West Midlands, a third of seats are being elected, but the Tories could lose overall control of these councils if their vote collapses.

Sheffield is likely to remain in no overall control, but could see a three-way tussle between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens over who ends up the largest party, with a third of seats being contested.

Among the unitary authorities, Dorset in south-west England and Wokingham in Berkshire both have every seat up for grabs and are key 'blue wall' battles for the Liberal Democrats.

The party is close to an outright majority in Wokingham and could make enough progress in Dorset to deprive the Conservatives of overall control.

The Greens are already the largest party in Bristol, but up to now Labour has been running the council through its directly-elected mayor.

That position is being abolished, however, giving the Greens a chance to take overall control on May 2, helped by the entire council being up for election.

Hartlepool in County Durham has a third of its seats up for grabs and is another key Labour target, where the party is very close to an overall majority and which is currently run by a coalition of Conservative and Independents.

Southend-on Sea and Thurrock in Essex both have a third of seats being elected and both are currently run by Conservative minority administrations, but are worth watching to see if Labour manages to make progress in what will be crucial battleground areas at the general election.

In the last of the three categories of council, the districts, Hyndburn in Lancashire will offer a good measure of Labour's performance, where a third of seats are in play and the party needs only two gains for a majority.

Every seat in Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is up for election, where the Tories and Labour are currently tied and where both hope to emerge the largest party.

Basildon and Harlow in Essex, Redditch in Worcestershire and Gloucester in Gloucestershire all have every seat up for election and all could see the Tories lose their majority if the party fares poorly.

The Liberal Democrats will be looking to increase their numbers in Colchester in Essex and Elmbridge in Surrey, where a third of seats are being elected, while hoping for an outright majority in Brentwood in Essex, where every seat is in play.
A Texas school district was placed on lockdown on Friday after pictures began circulating allegedly showing a man with a gun on campus.

Three schools in Clint in El Paso County were locked down as a safety precaution - Mountain View High School, East Montana Middle School, and Montana Vista Elementary School.

Meanwhile Red Sands Elementary school was under a shelter-in-place order. One person was detained following the apparent threat. No injuries have been reported.

A Texas school district has been placed on lockdown on Friday after pictures began circulating allegedly showing a man with a gun on campus

A heavy police presence was seen at the scene as parents were asked to avoid the area

One subject is in custody, no injuries have been reported. Mountain View High School parents have been notified of their reunification site.



Police are still investigating the situation. All other schools in the area will follow early release schedule. pic.twitter.com/ZdOCHRtKkK  Clint ISD (@ClintISD) April 26, 2024

The Clint city government said on X: 'One subject is in custody, no injuries have been reported. Mountain View High School parents have been notified of their reunification site.

'Police are still investigating the situation. All other schools in the area will follow early release schedule.'

A heavy police presence was seen in images from the scene as parents were asked to avoid the area. Police are still investigating.

According to KVIA, high school students will be released shortly and can be picked up at a reunification center, which is at an empty lot across from East Montana Middle School.

District officials added: 'All other schools in the area will follow the early release schedule as planned.'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. has seen evidence that China is trying to 'influence' and 'interfere' in the November presidential election despite a commitment from leader Xi Jinping not to do so.

'We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that that's cut off as quickly as possible,' Blinken told CNN.

'Any interference by China in our election is something that we're looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again,' he noted.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People

When Xi met with President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November, he pledged not to interfere in upcoming American presidential contest.

But a U.S. intelligence report last month warned that China was trying to influence U.S. voters via TikTok and other social media apps.

Many fake accounts, originating in China, were pretending to be American supporters of Donald Trump and pushing various conspiracy theories.

The report warned China's government may 'attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions.'

Xi's government has repeatedly denied any election interference.

Blinken was wrapping up a three-day trip to China where he met with top Chinese officials including Xi.

'We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that that's cut off as quickly as possible,' Blinken told CNN

During his meeting with the Chinese leader, Blinken emphasized the importance of 'responsibly managing' the differences between the United States and China.

Blinken said he raised concerns with Xi about China's support for Russia and its invasion of Ukraine , as well as other issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea, human rights and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors .

He sounded a positive note on recent progress made in bilateral cooperation, including in military communications, counternarcotics and artificial intelligence, on which the two sides agreed to start a dialogue on how to reduce risks from the rapidly emerging technology.

'We are committed to maintaining and strengthening lines of communication to advance that agenda, and again deal responsibly with our differences so we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations,' he said.

But he stressed that 'even as we seek to deepen cooperation, where our interests align, the United States is very clear-eyed about the challenges posed by (China) and about our competing visions for the future. America will always defend our core interests and values.'

Notably, he said he raised ongoing concerns about Beijing's supply of materials, including machine tools and micro electronics, to Moscow that President Vladimir Putin is using to boost Russia's defenses and its war on Ukraine.

'Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support,' Blinken told reporters after his meeting with Xi.

'Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security,' he added. 'As weve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will.'

When President Xi met with President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November, he pledged not to interfere in upcoming American presidential contest.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) shakes hands with US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns as he prepares to return to US following a visit to China

Blinken did not elaborate on how the U.S. would address the matter if China did not, but Washington has imposed large numbers of sanctions against Chinese firms for doing business with countries such as Russia, Iran and North Korea.

He said he urged China to use its influence 'to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East ' and convince North Korea 'to end its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue.'

Blinken also discussed with Xi China's maritime maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea, and reiterated 'ironclad' American support for the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

Xi stressed that China and the U.S. must seek common ground 'rather than engage in vicious competition.'

'China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States,' the Chinese leader said. 'We hope the U.S. can also look at Chinas development in a positive light. This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed.'

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale, although Blinken said this issue did not come up in his talks on Friday.

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. China's foreign ministry said the U.S. position on Chinese defense trade with Russia was hypocritical when considered alongside the amount of military assistance Washington is providing to Kyiv.

'It is extremely hypocritical and irresponsible for the U.S. side to introduce a bill for large-scale assistance to Ukraine while making groundless accusations against normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia,' said ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

'Shifting the blame to China will not solve the problem, nor will it alleviate the passive situation of the parties involved in the Ukraine crisis,' he said.
An October 7 survivor has slammed protestors at Columbia University and other colleges for 'supporting a terrorist regime' stating they 'wouldn't last a day' under Hamas rule.

Natalie Sanandaji, 28, narrowly escaped with her life after the group stormed the Nova music festival last year.

She said she is astonished to see protesters who 'obviously know nothing about what is going on' demonstrating at campuses across the U.S.

Sanandaji, who is Jewish and of Iranian descent, says the war 'touches on who I am as a human being' as she blasted 'uninformed' students.

'Is people's hatred of Jews so great that they are in support of terrorist organizations? It's insane, scary, sad, it's ridiculous and there is no legitimacy in these protests,' Sanandaji said.

October 7 survivor Natalie Sanandaji has slammed protestors at Columbia University and other colleges for 'supporting a terrorist regime' stating they 'wouldn't last a day' under Hamas rule.

She said she is astonished to see protesters who 'obviously know nothing about what is going on' demonstrating at campuses across the US. Pictured: Activists at GWU on April 26

At George Washington University, a protestor sparked outrage after being photographed carrying a sign calling for 'the final solution'

'These people would not last a day under the terror organizations they support. Most would be killed for not covering their hair, or being gay. These are not things these terrorists tolerate.'

She claimed many of the protesters are not focused on calling for an end to the war, stating if it was just about this she would 'go out and join them.'

Encampments have sprung up across universities in recent weeks as students demand their institutions divest from companies with financial interests in Israel or its war against Hamas.

Many are calling for a ceasefire in Israel's bombing campaign, which has so far killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.

But for Sanandaji, the horrors of October 7 when Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds more hostage are still irrevocably etched in her mind.

Her turmoil has been made worse by anti-Semites targeting her with hundreds of threatening texts and phone calls.

The New Yorker believes she was doxxed in an attempt to prevent her from speaking out about her experience surviving the tragedy.

'These poor [Jewish] students are being harassed on campus every day and I am being harassed with these messages. I do fear for my life, I don't know if I go out in public if someone is going to attack me,' Sanandaji said.

Sanandaji, 28, narrowly escaped with her life after the group stormed the Nova music festival last year. Pictured: Sanandaji talking about her experiences

She revealed she has been subjected to a sick doxxing campaign since sharing her story

Emory University lecturer Caroline Fohlin screamed, 'I'm a professor,' after cops forcefully took her to the ground during her arrest at a Gaza solidarity protest on campus

'I feel like people are trying to delegitimize my experience and dehumanize what happened to us [on October 7]. They try to twist it into something bad.

'I don't have a problem with Palestinians, I support Palestinians and I support them having a better life free from these terrorist organizations.'

Sanandaji revealed that her trolling ordeal began around two months ago with messages threatening her life.

'I was getting hundreds of spam messages a day saying, "b*****d Israel, we will kill you," pictures of guns and knives and random street corners saying they know where I live,' she explained.

She also reported that her Instagram account has been shadow banned after her tormentors began reporting her content as dangerous.

Eventually, Sanandaji learned her details had been shared in an anti-Semitic group on messaging app Telegram, with a note branding her 'dangerous' and encouraging people to harass and report her.

'It is ironic because I was almost killed by a dangerous organization, I was attacked by an extremist organization.

'They are trying to silence me so that my voice is not heard.

'It makes me sad honestly that people can be so brainwashed that people think it is acceptable to attack someone who has already been through so much, where is your humanity? What lengths will they go to?'
A businessman convicted of assaulting a parish council chairman in a row over birds' nests has also infuriated local residents for multiple breaches of planning rules at the private airport his company owns.

Chris Makin, 65, was convicted of assaulting Andrew Mason, 63, and fined 4,800 for dragging him by the hair and 'throwing him to the floor in a headlock' when he tried to stop contractors working for Makin from cutting back trees that could contain nests in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton.

It has now emerged that the parish council led by Mr Mason has played a key role in challenging Makin's family firm for allegedly breaching planning rules and carrying out works without permission at the Leeds East Airport site on the edge of the village.

Mr Mason, a property developer, said Makin's family firms based at the airport have a 'laissez faire approach to planning.'

'Things are carried out upon the airfield that don't have planning permission and it's only when they are brought to the attention of the planning and enforcement officers that any action seems to be done,' he said.

Businessman Chris Makin, 65, who was convicted of assaulting a parish council chairman in a row over birds' nests, pictured at the launch of Makin Enterprise's new business Makin Air

Mobile phone footage of the incident in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton where council chair Andrew Mason (left), 63, can be seen being dragged by his trousers by Makin

In the video, Mr Mason is seen lying on the floor and can be heard shouting 'get off me', as Makin tears at his clothes and hair trying to remove him from the front of the cherry-picker

Mr Mason said local residents were concerned about 'increased traffic' and the 'visual impact' of development at the airport.

The opposition to his company's activities may have been an additional factor behind Makin's treatment of Mr Mason  captured on video by another resident  when he blocked a cherry picker in April last year.

The parish council chairman certainly seems a popular character in the village, manning the till in the 'community shop' today.

Mr Mason described Makin as an 'arrogant obnoxious bully' and commented: 'Most people locally are aware of Mr Makin as he is a big noise in the village. People are supportive of me trying to protect the village.'

Makin's family firm bought the 450-acre RAF Church Fenton airfield site in 2014 and launched a private aviation service there.

Now called Leeds East Airport, it also has various business activities on the site, including a film studios, where the TV series Victoria was made.

The latest planning battle concerns an 'illegal' 'bund' or embankment built around the airport without planning permission three years ago.

The banking, intended to screen stored outdoor vehicles, goes around the perimeter of the site in a u-shape and is 15 metres wide and six metres high.

Chris Makin at the launch of his Makin Air business in 2015 which is Yorkshire's doorstep to destination travel service offering both helicopter and jets at Church Fenton

Makin is also being challenged by councillors for allegedly breaching planning rules and carrying out works without permission at the Leeds East Airport site

Parish council chair Andrew Mason, pictured speaking to the media outside Harrogate Magistrates Court in North Yorkshire, allegedly played a key role in challenging Makin's family firm for allegedly breaching planning rules

Following complaints to the planning authority a 'retrospective' planning application has been submitted for the bund by Makins Ltd.

Church Fenton parish council has written to North Yorkshire Council strongly objecting to the bund, commenting: 'The fact that the bund has already been constructed without permission is a serious breach of planning regulations, and sets a worrying precedent for future development in the area.'

Adding: 'The damage has already been done, but it is vital that planning regulations are followed to protect the local environment and ecosystem.'

Local resident Michael O'Connell objected with the comment: 'The bund has already been constructed without planning permission and is an eyesore in the village. It adversely affects the view and landscapes of the village.'

He said the work 'demonstrates the applicant's attitude towards regulations giving no confidence that they will comply with regulations in the future. It also demonstrates their lack of regard for the people who live in the area.'

While Jason Sharpe commented: 'They can't just keep doing what they want and ask for permission after. The whole area is becoming a visual eyesore. Views all around have been ruined. The environment for residents destroyed. I wanted away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and urban spread. You look out across the field and we opposite and inland port by the looks of it.'

Church Fenton Parish Council has also written to the council complaining that the bund is not screening motor vehicles but 'shipping containers stacked three high'.

Chris Makin in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton during a dispute about birds' nests

Defendant Chris Makin (left) leaves Harrogate Magistrates Court. He said the fine was 250 per cent of his weekly income

A letter from the parish council clerk Robin Harris urged the planning authority to take tougher action: 'The potential number of retrospective applications should be seen as a warning sign that the operator pays scant regard to planning controls.'

Makin's Leeds East Airport is also in trouble for several other planning breaches.

A letter from Rachel Robinson, North Yorkshire Council's principal planning enforcement officer, seen by Mailonline reveals that five 'temporary buildings' have been erected without planning consent, which is required.

The airport site is also being used for unauthorised storage of 'items' and the airport owners have been ordered to stop.

While a 'microbrewery' and motor vehicle training business are being run illegally as previous 'temporary' planning consent had expired.

Mr Makin has been contacted for comment.

Last June Makins Ltd was granted permission for a 15,000 square metre of new film-making facilities on the airfield site.

Mr Makin said the former RAF site was being transformed into a 'thriving multi-use destination for TV production, events and businesses.'
Prince Harry appeared to forego wearing the medal marking his father's coronation as he handed out an award to a top-performing American soldier, according to eagle-eyed royal observers.

The Duke of Sussex wore an assortment of medals on his jacket as he named combat medic Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks the Military Times Soldier of the Year, including three marking his grandmother's various Jubilees this century.

Notably absent from the 39-year-old's lapels, however, was the Coronation medal given to him and others who were involved in King Charles' formal ascension to the throne last May - which was also absent from a video filmed late last year.

Royal experts believe the absence of the honour could be a snub to his father. The medals also match those Harry chose to wear as he attended the Coronation.

Harry was not allowed to attend last May's festivities in military dress after stepping back from royal duties; that privilege is reserved for working members of the family.

Prince Harry wore a series of medals to present a US combat medic with a Soldier of the Year Award via video message

The medals appear to be the same ones he wore to his father King Charles III's coronation in May last year

Harry's medals (left to right) comprised his Afghanistan service medal as well as Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II

King Charles III pictured on his Coronation day in May last year. Royal experts believe the omission of the Coronation medal may have been a snub

The Coronation medal features an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla on the front (left) and the royal cypher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on the rear

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested the absence of the medal could be a deliberate snub to King Charles III

But he is thought to have been one of the 400,000 recipients of the Coronation medal, which was coined for those who actively contributed to the Coronation ceremonies in Westminster Abbey and other processions.

The emblems were also given to serving members of the armed forces, frontline emergency service personnel and public employed prison service personnel in recognition of their public service.

Living recipients of the George Cross and Victoria Cross were also given the ceremonial honour.

READ MORE: Clean-cut Prince Harry dons his medals for video from the back door of his Montecito mansion to present a soldier of the year award to US combat medic Advertisement

The absence of the medal on Harry's chest, reported by Newsweek and The Sun, suggested to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams that he was deliberately seeking to distance himself from his old life as he makes the US his permanent home.

Commentator Mr Fitzwilliams told Newsweek: 'Those eligible who were involved in the coronation were given a medal.

'The Sussexes do nothing by chance and this clearly emphasises or is intended to emphasise his distance from the royal family.'

And he added to The Sun: 'The Sussexes are well aware that every single thing they do, everything they wear, everything they say, is all going to be examined.

'The problem is that if he chooses not to wear the coronation medal, it will certainly be seen as a snub to King Charles.'

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The Coronation medal bears an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla looking to the side on its front, and the King's cypher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on its rear.

In the video Harry wore his Operational Service medal given to him for his time in the armed forces in Helmand province.

He also wore the three jubilee medals cast to celebrate his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.

He is thought to have worn the medals to show his affinity for the military, which played a key part in his early life as a senior working royal, when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and again in 2012.

Like other recent appearances by the Duke, his presentation of the Soldier of the Year award appeared to be heavily stage managed - with Harry delivering a pre-recorded message from the back door of his Montecito mansion.

He paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks - who he described as a 'friend' and a 'beacon of inspiration' - as he congratulated her on the prize.

Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist SFC Marks, 33, suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17.

Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, 33, (pictured) suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17

SFC Marks competed for Team United States at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (pictured)

She also picked up meals at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 (pictured winning Gold in the Women's 100m breaststroke)

Harry also opted not to wear his Coronation medal as he gave a gag-filled monologue at the Stand Up for Heroes event for US veterans last November

The audience at Stand Up For Heroes in New York last night to watch Prince Harry's address, which was packed with gags

Harry told the ceremony: 'I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she'd won in swimming.

'To me, she epitomises the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community. And this is not just because of her swimming abilities.

'Ellie has courageously overcome every obstacle to cross her path. She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible.

'Despite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq  along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many  she has persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the Armys world-class athlete program as well as the first swimmer the program had ever seen.

'Shes also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring those who cant see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.'

SFC Marks used her speech to issue a plea for better mental health support for military veterans after they have finished their service.

She said: 'I wanna say thank you to the people that failed me. I wanna say thank you to the individuals in leadership positions who showed me what not to become.

'Without you I wouldn't have the perspective and empathy to see service members as they deserve.

'Too often we treat those who ask for help as villains. We forget our promises made, and because of those things suicide is the leading cause of death within our ranks.

'Suicide isn't killing our people. Neglect is. There will never be a rank, a medal or an accolade that means more to me than the lives I couldn't save.'

She added: 'We're failing each other, before and after service. We have to do better.'

Harry did not wear the Coronation medal last year as he filmed a gag-filled monologue for the Stand Up for Heroes show in November - an annual variety show held in support of US veterans.

Harry was in good spirits as he poked fun at himself during the clip show and joked about people with ginger hair like himself being an 'endangered species'.

The speech, which also appeared to be filmed from his Montecito mansion, saw him make gags about keeping him on script and roll out a quip about his new life with his family in California not being scrutinised.

Harry now officially considers the US his primary residence, as first revealed by the Mail earlier this month.

The change was declared in a change of address filed with Companies House for his eco travel venture Travalyst.
Tenerife will press ahead with a controversial tax on holidaymakers visiting its most famous tourist spots from the start of next year, local authorities confirmed on Friday.

The move comes in the wake of 50,000 residents pouring into the streets of Tenerife last Saturday to protest against tourism on the island, alongside a small group of hunger strikers, who are entering their 16th day without food.

They claim holidaymakers are causing major environmental damage, driving down wages and squeezing locals out of cheap affordable housing, forcing dozens to live in tents and cars instead.

This latest proposal is part of the island's new tourism strategy and is seen as an eco tax, but the level of charge and the formalities are yet to be agreed by Parliament.

But today, the island's council confirmed January 1, 2025 is the target date to introduce the new charge.

It will apply to all of Tenerife's most famous protected sites, including the volcano Mount Teide and several rural parks and hamlets like Masca.

Tenerife will press ahead with a controversial tax on holidaymakers visiting its most famous tourist spots from the start of next year, local authorities confirmed on Friday. The move comes in the wake of 50,000 residents pouring into the streets of Tenerife last Saturday to protest against tourism on the island

Tenerife's council confirmed the new eco charge will be introduced on January 1, 2025 for all of the island's most famous protected sites, including the volcano Mount Teide

The new charge would also come into force for tourists wanting to visit scenic Masca Village

Protestors say the islands are being ruined by too many tourists and the protected landscape ruined by hundreds of thousands of visitors

Those who oppose tourism want more extensive changes, including the introduction of a general tourist tax and a moratorium on building new hotels and tourist accommodation

The move will go some way to placating protesters who took to the streets of all eight Canary Islands to demand a change in the current tourism model.

They say the islands are being ruined by too many tourists and the protected landscape ruined by hundreds of thousands of visitors.

However the protesters want more extensive changes including the introduction of a general tourist tax and a moratorium on building new hotels and tourist accommodation.

At least six of the campaigners are still on hunger strike and a sit-in was today held on Gran Canaria to support them.

Tenerife Cabildo says the new charge is essential to safeguard the island's protected spaces and there will be controls over numbers and access.

The income generated will be ploughed back into the upkeep, maintenance and improvements of the open spaces.

A study will now be carried out to determine how much will be charged and how it will be policed.

It is understood that locals will also be charged though a decision on this has yet to be made.

A spokesman for the Tenerife government said the introduction of this eco tax was necessary due to the vast increase of people visiting protected sites, visitors and locals alike.

Protestors say the islands are being ruined by too many tourists and the protected landscape ruined by hundreds of thousands of visitors

Demonstrators said changes must be made to the tourism industry that accounts for 35 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the Canary Islands archipelago

At least six campaigners are still on hunger strike to demand the halt of the construction of a new hotel and luxury homes for tourists on Tenerife. Pictured: The campaigners on Monday

There has been no official update about the hunger strikers though at least two of them have required medical treatment and one was taken to hospital.

The protesters say not enough is being done over their demands and are planning more demonstrations.

Some have also vented their anger at the situation through grafitti, with demands that British holidaymakers 'go home' appearing on the island.

Earlier this week, MailOnline reported that 'Go Home Tourist' had been scrawled in English over a wall underneath a real estate promotion billboard in Nou Llevant, Mallorca, a neighbourhood that has seen a massive influx of foreign buyers over the past few years.

Anti-tourist graffiti also appeared on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of the month.

Messages in English left on walls and benches in and around the resort included 'My misery your paradise' and 'Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200 euros.'

Elsewhere, a picture was published in local press showing the words 'Go Home' on a hire car in Tenerife.

Travellers aged 16 and over already pay a daily charge of up to 4 (3.45) when visiting the equally popular Balearic islands, such as Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza.

At last week's protest, participants held placards reading 'People live here' and 'We don't want to see our island die'.

Messages in English left on walls and benches in and around the resort included 'My misery your paradise' and 'Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200 euros'

Campaigners have been quick to distance themselves from anti-tourist graffiti which appeared on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of the month

More graffiti complaining about tourists has been daubed here in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter

Demonstrators said changes must be made to the tourism industry that accounts for 35 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the Canary Islands archipelago.

'It's not a message against the tourist, but against a tourism model that doesn't benefit this land and needs to be changed,' one of the protesters said during the march in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The archipelago of 2.2 million people was visited by nearly 14 million foreign tourists in 2023, up 13 per cent from the previous year, according to official data.

The archipelago of 2.2 million people was visited by nearly 14 million foreign tourists in 2023, up 13 per cent from the previous year, according to official data

Tourists are continuing to travel to the islands despite growing resistance to their presence (pictured: tourists in Arona, Tenerife last Friday)
A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft.

The Los Angeles-bound Delta flight 520 was diverted back JFK Airport at around 8.30am.

The plane was an hour into its journey when the freak incident set off an emergency alarm.

Cops are still searching for the right wing inflatable slide, which may be in Jamaica Bay.

No injuries were reported aboard the Boeing 767, which was carrying 176 customers, two pilots and five flight attendants at the time.

A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft

Boeing has been pushed into crisis mode since a door-plug panel blew off a 737 Max jetliners during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, seen here

Boeing's share prices have plummeted within the past year following a number of incidents

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator records indicate that the plane is 33 years old.

The terror began after crew heard a strange 'non-routine' noise near the right wing and noticed a flight deck indication related to the emergency exit slide.

'As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK,' a Delta spokesperson said.

'We appreciate their professionalism and our customers' patience for the delay in their travels.'

The FAA confirmed it is now probing the incident.

'Delta Air Lines Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration,' a spokesman said.

The incident is the latest to hit the aircraft maker following a series of other safety mishaps.

Most notably, the aerospace giant's fleet of 737 Max planes were grounded after a door panel blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The disaster wiped $30 billion off Boeing's market value and saw share prices plummet by as much as 20 percent.

A Boeing plane was recently forced to land due to hydraulic fluid spewing from its landing gear area. Now being investigated, the technical failure also occurred in mid-air on a United flight

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has also blasted Boeing for focusing on 'production' instead of 'safety and quality.' Pictured: A missing panel on a 25-year-old Boeing 737-824

Boeing received another blow after FAA Michael Whitaker slammed the manufacturer for focusing on 'production' instead of 'safety and quality'.

His visit to Boeing's facilities came after a series of terrifying incidents aboard the company's jets in recent months.

Incidents have included a wheel falling from an Osaka-bound aircraft early March to a panel blowing off a plane shortly after it took off from San Francisco later that same month.

The beleaguered aircraft maker has also been thrust into the spotlight on Capitol Hill following testimony from whistleblowers who stated they were met with death threats when they tried to flag safety concerns with their superiors.

Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour also told Congress that sections of the 787 Dreamliner jets have not been properly secured.

Boeing recently announced a safety check for the cockpits on its 787s after a LATAM flight flying from Sydney to Auckland took a terrifying plunge after a flight attendant was thought to have accidentally hit switch on pilot's seat and jammed them against jet's controls.

A spokesman for Boeing declined to comment and redirected inquiries to Delta.
Gilgo Beach murders investigators were seen using K-9 dogs to search a Long Island area where a woman's body was found in 1993.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the ground in North Sea on Friday, as first reported by News12 Long Island.

Their search has gone into the area were Sandra Costilla's body was found three decades ago in a murder case that remains unsolved.

Convicted serial killer John Bittrolff, who lived near the search area, was one suspected of the murder but never charged.

Bittrolff is serving a 50-year sentence for the murders of two women.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the ground in North Sea, Long Island, on Friday

Their search has gone into the area were Sandra Costilla's body was found three decades ago in a murder case that remains unsolved

Convicted serial killer John Bittrolff, who lived near the search area, was one suspected of the murder but never charged. Costilla is pictured above

John Bittrolff is pictured. He is serving a 50-year sentences for the murders of two women

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office did not provide additional information about the search when contacted by DailyMail.com.

'The Suffolk County Police Department, the New York Police Department and the New York State Police are working with the District Attorney's Office on an ongoing investigation,' the DA's statement read.

'We do not comment on investigative steps while they are underway. We will make further statements when appropriate.'

It comes after Suffolk County detectives began searching a wooded area in Manorville, New York on Tuesday, win connection with the Gilgo Beach murders investigation.

One local resident, Mike, told DailyMail.com cops were looking in his backyard.

'I have five acres. I told the guys we know every god damn dirt trail from Manorville to Calverton and then some,' he said.

'There is one pond called Deep Pond that more than 70 feet deep of black water - Id have divers in the lake Id tell you that - that is what I would do.'

Rex Heuermann, 60, is charged with murdering four female sex workers whose bodies were found buried on a remote stretch of Gilgo Beach more than 10 years ago.

He was arrested in July and initially charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello 27.

A new search is underway in connection to the Gilgo Beach murder investigation, according to police sources. Rex Heuermann, 60, is charged with murdering four female sex workers

Multiple agencies searching Manorville location in connection with Gilgo Beach investigation

Cops with K-9 units searched the Manorville Woods on Wednesday

The women known as the 'Gilgo Four' were discovered close to Heuermann's Long Island home. However, other bodies - including those of sex workers - have been found in the area

The first victim, 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, from Maine, was found two days later

Heuermann is also charged with killing Amber Costello (left) and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (right)

DNA found on the burlap wrapped around Waterman's body was a 99.96 percent match to samples from a discarded pizza crust and napkin in a garbage bin outside Heuermann's firm, police said

In February, he was also charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.

The searches come after the father-of-two's home in Massapequa was raided following discovery of the bodies.

The women were found wrapped in burlap and buried along the remote stretch of Ocean Parkway on Long Island's South Shore over a decade ago.

Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all counts and currently remains in jail awaiting trial.

The women's remains were discovered during the search for 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert, an escort from New Jersey who had vanished in May 2010 after making a frantic 911 call.

Her remains were found along the same stretch of coast in December 2011 - and it was her body that led police to the discovery of the 'Gilgo Four'.

No one has ever been charged in Gilbert's death and police said it may have been accidental - but her family believe she was murdered.

The women were among 11 found on the desolate stretch of coastline close to Heuermann's Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011.

All of the victims worked as escorts who advertised themselves on Craigslist.

Heuermann, a father-of-two, has been held in jail without bail since his arrest and has pleaded not guilty

Police confirmed they are probing Heuermann's potential link to the murders of two other sex workers: Valerie Mack, 25, went missing around the summer of 2000. Her remains were located that September, and more remains were discovered nearly 11 years later

The Heuermann family home in Massapequa Park was torn apart by authorities as they combed the property for evidence

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the nature of the new search. Pictured: Investigators suit up outside Heuermann's home last July

Heuermann was linked to the killings by DNA on the burlap used to transport the bodied which was compared to samples taken from a pizza crust and napkin that were discarded outside his Manhattan architectural firm, police said.

The samples boasted a 99.96 percent match, according to law enforcement.

Prior to testing the DNA, cops said they were alerted to Heuermann as a potential suspect after a witness linked Heuermann's Chevrolet Avalanche to Costello's murder.

The car was then tied to Heuermann's cellphone records, which allegedly linked him to locations related to the murders.

The indictment stated that Heuermann had used different burner phones to contact each of his victims.

Cops also accused Heuermann of using Barthelemy's phone to make taunting phone calls to her family from the comfort of his office.

Her sister Melissa told how she was bombarded with threatening phone calls from the killer who boasted of the killing and was keeping tabs on her movements.

In October, it was revealed that Heuermann is being probed over the slaying of two additional sex workers.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison confirmed he had assigned additional investigators to the case of two other women, Valerie Mack and Karen Vergata.

Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann, right, appears in Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom next to his attorney Michael Brown at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Apri l17

His ex-wife, Asa Ellerup (pictured) was also spotted pulling up in a black Mercedes outside the Long Island courthouse

James Burke, the disgraced former head of Suffolk County Police Department, has been accused of hampering the Gilgo Beach serial killer probe by booting the FBI off the case in its early stages

At the suspected time of the murders, Heuermann's now ex-wife Asa Ellerup was away from home. She filed for divorce less than a week after he husband's arrest.

The accused killer was back in court for a procedural hearing on April 17.

He listened intently to the hearing, which centered around troves of potential evidence seized from various devices related to the case.

Ellerup was also spotted pulling up in a black Mercedes outside the Long Island courthouse.

Heuermann's lawyer is now attempting to shift the blame for the Gilgo Beach murders on to the corrupt former police chief who was previously in charge of the case.

Speaking outside the Long Island courthouse where his accused serial killer client had a hearing last week, attorney Michael Brown said disgraced PC James Burke is 'involved' in the sordid affair.

'We received approximately almost 3,000 leads on this case,' he told reporters outside Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead.

He appeared in court in September accused of several offences including assault, public lewdness and unlawful solicitation after flashing in a park

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos showed disgraced Suffolk police chief James Burke stepping out in public for the first time since a suspect was arrested in the Gilgo Beach murders case

Burke pictured in 2015 outside an FBI office in New York after he was arrested and charged for beating a thief who took a bag of porn and sex toys from his police car then trying to cover up the attack

'There were numerous leads that came into the Suffolk County Police Department, suggesting that Chief Burke was involved in this.'

Burke allegedly led a double life involving crack, cross-dressing and relationships with prostitutes.

He pleaded not guilty several offences including assault, public lewdness and unlawful solicitation after flashing in a park during a court appearance in September last year.

Burke was previously convicted and jailed on federal charges for beating a handcuffed man suspected of stealing pornography, sex toys and other items from his department SUV.

The scandal also toppled the county's longtime district attorney and the county's top corruption prosecutor, who were convicted of helping Burke cover up the beating.
Humza Yousaf will have to meet a list of demands for the support of Alex Salmonds party if he wants to save his job.

Former SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan, who now leads the Alba Party at Holyrood, has written to the First Minister to offer talks ahead of the no confidence vote.

The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens have all said they will vote for the motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, expected to happen at Holyrood next week.

It is on track to succeed if Ms Regan votes with the other opposition parties.

An Alba source said the ball is in Humzas court to set out proposals to win her vote.

Ash Regan with Alba leader Alex Salmond

Humza Yousaf visiting a housing development in Dundee yesterday

Ms Regans key demands include progressing independence, protecting womens rights and providing a competent government.

But any concessions on womens rights and gender issues could risk angering other Nationalist MSPs who demand actions to support transgender Scots.

In a letter to the First Minister yesterday, Ms Regan said that Scotland deserves and demands a reset.

She said: I am open to talking to anyone across this chamber who will prioritise progress on what we were elected to deliver for our constituents and Scotland.

Independence for Scotland, protecting the dignity, safety and rights of women and children, and providing a competent government for our people and businesses across Scotland remain my priorities.

Ms Regan was elected as Nationalist MSP for Edinburgh Eastern in 2016 and was appointed community safety minister two years later.

She quit government in 2022 because she refused to support Nicola Sturgeons gender reforms.

Ms Regan then stood against Mr Yousaf in the SNP leadership contest last year.

In October, she announced she was defecting to Alba because the SNP had lost its focus on independence.

Mr Yousaf responded by saying she was no great loss to the SNP group and claimed that she would resign her Edinburgh Eastern seat if she had principles.

In a letter to Alba members yesterday, Ms Regan said she is carefully considering our position ahead of the no confidence vote and the partys overriding priority is the urgent pursuit of Scottish independence.

She said she is passionate about protecting the dignity, safety, and rights of women and girls, and added: Recent legislation has fallen short on many fronts but, most seriously, it needs to embed safeguarding.

The rights of women, children and vulnerable adults must not be sacrificed or jeopardised. Scotland must commit to evidence-based science and rationality replacing ideology in underpinning legislative proposals.

Clinicians across Scotland are supporting the Cass Review recommendations.

As parliamentarians in Scotland, we need to debate how our clinicians, educators and legislators will implement the holistic set of Dr Casss recommendations.

She also urged the Government to focus on peoples priorities such as health, education, housing and the economy, and to steer clear of divisive identity-based politics.

Ms Regan said that a sign of good faith would be a significant government investment to reinforce the campaign to save the Grangemouth oil refinery from closure.

A spokesman for the First Minister said Mr Yousaf will be writing to Ms Regan and all other Holyrood leaders, adding that he looked forward to meeting with her to discuss a range of issues, including Grangemouth.
An Oklahoma father-of-two facing 12 years in Turks and Caicos prison revealed his interrogation hell after hunting bullets were found in his luggage - while local cops have admitted his charges 'don't make sense to us either.'

Ryan Watson, 40, told DailyMail.com that he and his wife Valerie were subjected to a 'terrifying' interrogation after their arrest on April 11, where they were stunned to be told they each faced over a decade behind bars.

'It was all pretty intimidating,' Ryan said, although he initially thought being told the crime carried a 12-year mandatory sentence was simply an 'intimidation tactic.'

'They said "no, you're both going to be arrested", and at that point Valerie just broke down,' he said. 'She told them we had two young kids, but at that point we both just lost it.'

Ryan Watson is facing 12 years in Turks and Caicos prison after ammunition was found in his luggage, and told DailyMail.com that he initially thought the punishment was merely an 'intimidation tactic' because it was so punitive

Ryan and Valerie (pictured together arriving at their Turks and Caicos vacation) said even local police have been left confused by the strict charges

The father-of-two said all he hopes for is to pay a fine and be reunited with his two young children, seven and nine, who Valerie said were 'still trying to figure out' their dad's situation

Once out of the interrogation room, both Ryan and Valerie faced a $5,000 bail each from Turks and Caicos police, but were saved when their driver on their vacation offered to help stump up the funds.

'He has been such a blessing,' Valerie said. 'He's still taking care of us.'

Their driver put his own car up as collateral to the bond, and Valerie said it was evidence of the 'wonderful' response they have received from locals.

Because their vacation had already ended, they said they were forced to panic-buy a hotel room from inside the police station after making bail, because they needed an address to put on a police report.

While the interrogation was a seemingly nightmarish moment for the couple, Ryan added that even local police they have spoken to said the charges seem to overstep.

'I've been told by some of the police officers, "Hey, we hate that you're in this, it doesn't really make sense to us either," he said, noting that officers in the past have reduced the charges to a fine, but this has not been offered yet.

'It's kinda hard to hear that from them,' Ryan added.

The crime used to only carry a small fine, however Turks and Caicos lawmakers escalated the penalties in 2022 to mandate a 12-year minimum sentence.

Ryan is not the only one to fall victim to the mistake in recent weeks, with new father Tyler Wenrich, 31, arrested on the same charges this week after bullets were found in his luggage as he stepped off a cruise.

Ryan said he has been trying to contact Wenrich following his arrest, as they try to 'set up a support system' while stranded in the Caribbean.

Valerie insisted the bullets were an 'innocent mistake', after they were missed by American TSA on their departing flight from Oklahoma

Ryan is not the only one to fall victim to the mistake in recent weeks, with new father Tyler Wenrich, 31, (pictured with his wife) arrested on the same charges this week after bullets were found in his luggage as he stepped off a cruise

Wenrich, from Virginia, is a paramedic and his wife is a dental hygienist. The couple appear to have recently welcomed a child together

The surge in recent arrests also comes despite a warning sent out by US travel officials in 2023 in response to the updated law, alerting Americans to double check their luggage for loose bullets or firearms due to the severe penalties.

Ryan said that he has mainly been left 'confused' by the strict punishment he is facing, as the loose deer ammunition was not accompanied by a firearm, and he felt it was 'clearly an honest mistake.'

Valerie added that Turks and Caicos officials appear to take a 'very different approach' to American TSA, who missed the bullets as they departed for their vacation from Oklahoma.

'It's an innocent mistake, there was no intent to harm with it,' she said. 'It feels harsh, and we're just trying to understand.'

They said that even Turks and Caicos airport staff struggled to find the bullets initially, and Ryan's bag had to be passed through an X-ray machine twice for them to discover the ammunition.

The ammo had been accidentally left in the bag during a recent hunting trip, which Ryan said he is still wracking his head over as he never usually uses that bag for hunting gear.

'I use that bag predominantly for street clothes, and my hunting gear would be in another bag, so I don' know,' he said.

'I laid in the jail cell for 48 hours trying to think, and I can't for the life of me remember putting them in there.'

Despite their ordeal in the interrogation room, the Watsons said their reception from others on the Caribbean islands has been 'wonderful.'

'The people here have supported us in so many ways,' Valerie said.

Before the arrest, the couple had been enjoying a picturesque stay at a lavish Venetian-style AirBnB with its own private beach, which Valerie said they had 'saved for a while' to afford for the dream vacation

The couple (left) stayed with old friends to celebrate Ryan's 40th birthday, including a close friend from college who was with him on the recent hunting trip where the bullets were left over from

Before the arrest, the couple had been enjoying a picturesque vacation with friends for Ryan's 40th birthday, including a close friend from college who was with him on the recent hunting trip where the bullets were left over from.

The couple and their friends stayed at a lavish Venetian-style AirBnB with its own private beach, which Valerie said they had 'saved for a while' to afford for the dream vacation.

They said they 'lived it up' on the islands and enjoyed its tourist hotspots, and felt that calls from some online to boycott tourism to Turks and Caicos until Ryan is released are 'unfair.'

Admitting they weren't previously aware of the boycott calls, Ryan and Valerie said the locals had been 'the nicest and sweetest' in helping them out during their legal ordeal.

'Ryan and I talk a lot about how this could potentially hurt them, and they are the last people on earth that this should affect,' Valerie said.

Since his arrest on April 11, Ryan said he has been living in several places around the island while his case is in limbo, which included a 48 hour stay in the Chalk Sound Police Station.

Ryan was held in the Chalk Sound police station (pictured) until he posted bail, however he is unable to leave the island as his passport was seized

After weeks stuck on the Caribbean islands, cameras captured the moment Valerie was reunited with the couple's two young children in Oklahoma

For several days, he has been living in a $500-a-night AirBnB with the help of his parents-in-law, however the indefinite nature of his situation means even locals have offered to help find accommodation.

Ryan said he spends his days speaking with his attorneys and interviewing with the media, and was thankful that - after weeks of not being able to do so - he has been able to FaceTime his two young children, aged 7 and 9.

Heartwarming footage captured the moment Valerie was reunited with their two young children in Oklahoma after weeks apart, and Ryan said it made a 'huge difference' when he was finally able to FaceTime them again this week.

'We had to have this conversation about why dad is still not home, and our kids are seven and nine so they're old enough to understand... but they're still trying to figure it out,' Valerie said.

'They were very upset to think about their dad in jail, and trying to tell them everything will be okay when you don't know if they will be was really difficult.'

Valerie said she is still fighting to have her husband released from his criminal charges, with several prominent Oklahoma politicians including Governor Kevin Stitt and Senator Markwayne Mullin also lending their support.

In a letter to Turks and Caicos officials on April 16, Stitt explained that Ryan is an 'avid outdoorsman', and that leaving the ammunition in his bag was an oversight, not an intentional attempt to break the law.

Senator Mullin's office has also said it has been in contact with Watson's family, and is working to secure his freedom and flight back home.

'We know that God's still working and he's working through us,' Valerie added to NBC News as she arrived home this week.

In an interview before their first court hearing, Valerie said the possibility of facing 12 years in prison left her 'terrified' because they have two young children

Oklahoma's Will Rogers World Airport is facing a 'review' from TSA amid questions as to how its screeners allowed the bullets to fly without being impeded

Amid backlash to the arrest, TSA officials said they have launched a 'review' of Oklahoma's Will Rogers World Airport's screeners in response.

'TSA is conducting a review at OKC, which was the originating airport,' TSA said in a statement, adding that it is 'aware' of the slip-up.

However, several investigations in recent years have uncovered a shocking lapse in TSA screening effectiveness, with undercover agents from Homeland Security easily slipping banned objects past screeners.

In 2017, ABC News reported that undercover agents found safety equipment or procedures failed over half the time, with a source revealing that the 'ballpark' failure rate was more like 80 percent.

A previous investigation in 2006 also found that fake bombs slipped past TSA screeners 75 percent of the time at Los Angeles International Airport and 60 percent of the time at Chicago O'Hare, reported USA Today.
He was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole for the killing

An Army reservist - who murdered his wife and told cops it was suicide - used her life insurance money to buy a life-sized sex doll worth $2,000.

Colby Trickle, of Hays, Kansas, was convicted last year of his wife Kristen Trickle and was sentenced in November to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors say that Trickle 'feloniously and intentionally with premeditation' shot his wife in the head with a revolver before lying to investigators that she did it herself.

The incident happened on Halloween morning in 2019, with CBS recently uncovering that Trickle cashed in on insurance policies totaling more than $120,000.

Investigators say he then spent $2,000 on a life-size sex doll just two days after he received the payout.

Colby Trickle, of Hays, Kansas, was convicted last year of his wife Kristen Trickle, pictured here

Prosecutors say that Trickle, seen here, 'feloniously and intentionally with premeditation' shot his wife in the head with a revolver before lying to investigators that she did it herself

Detective Joshua 'JB' Burkholder told 48 Hours: 'There's a mourning process that I think everyone needs to go through, should go through when a loved one dies.

'To have him ordering this type of doll just months after his wife's death was concerning.'

Kristen's aunt Delynn Rice told the outlet: 'I was just appalled that he would use Kristen's life insurance money for a sex doll.

'It just was like he bought a replacement of her with her money.'

According to 48 Hours, Trickle went on to spend all of the $120,000 insurance money in around eight months.

As well as the sex doll, he also spent thousands on video games, paying off debts, and buying music equipment with the hope of becoming a performer.

Trickle went two years without being arrested after a coroner ruled the death as a suicide. Despite that ruling, investigators continued to build a case.

Sergeant Brandon Hauptman was the responding officer, and told CBS that when he responded to the scene there were certain aspects that were unusual.

The incident happened on Halloween morning in 2019, with CBS recently uncovering that Trickle cashed in on insurance policies totaling more than $120,000

Trickle went two years without being arrested after a coroner ruled the death as a suicide

As well as the sex doll, he also spent thousands on video games, paying off debts, and buying music equipment with the hope of becoming a performer

He said that Kristen was only wearing underwear and although it does happen, it was unusual for a woman to complete a suicide that injuries the face.

Hauptman also said that the gun found at the scene was too large for her to have fired.

Another thing he mentioned was her phone alarm that kept on ringing at the scene at that morning.

Detective Joshua 'JB' Burkholder added: 'She had set an alarm to get up, to get ready for work, and had plans for that day.

'A lot of times, individuals who are thinking about suicide and do commit suicide they don't have any plans for the day. They're not setting alarms. It doesn't matter when they get up.'

After Trickle was interviewed with investigators without a lawyer he shared stories of military he did and tours of the Middle East and Central America.

The responding officer said that the gun found at the scene was too large for Kristen to have fired

After investigators approached the military, they were told he had never been deployed overseas our out of the country.

His lies and the inconsistencies in the scene made investigators more suspicious of Trickle's account of how his wife had died.

In July 2021, 21 months after his wife died he was charged with murder in the first degree and interfering with law enforcement.

During his trial last September, his mother Tina Kreutzer took the stand as a defense witness after prosecutors told jurors about the sex doll.

She testified that Trickle was having nightmares and trouble sleeping following the death of his wife and the doll was for warmth and comfort and not for sex.

Hays Post also reported that investigators had uncovered that Colby had googled how to collect insurance money and was engaged in an online affair at the time.

While he was being sentenced, the outlet reported that he apologized for being a bad husband and son but continued to claim he never shot his wife.
She became a quadruple amputee after an unremoved kidney stone got infected

According to her husband, Mullins has begun intense physical therapy

The mother-of-two was pictured using prosthetic legs at home for the first time

The Kentucky nurse who lost all her limbs after going into septic shock is back home and using her prosthetics.

A series of photos shared to GoFundMe on April 19 shows Lucinda 'Cindy' Mullins, 41, being held by her family as she takes her first steps at home on artificial legs.

The update was posted by Heather Beshears, a close friend who organized the fundraiser on behalf of Mullins' family.

'Happy tears are definitly flowing,' Beshears wrote in the caption of the new photos. 'She has been so ready to get this chapter started.'

'No looking back for this [chick].'

Lucinda 'Cindy' Mullins, 41, is relearning how to walk with prosthetics after losing all her limbs earlier this year

Updates posted to GoFundMe show Mullins being held by her family as she takes her first steps at home on artificial legs

The Kentucky mother of two became a quadruple amputee following kidney stone treatment. When an unremoved kidney stone became infected, she went into septic shock

According to her husband, Mullins checked into the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital at the beginning of March

Mullins' husband, DJ, previously reported on March 8 that his wife was beginning intensive therapy as she took on the arduous task of relearning how to walk.

'As if she wasnt strong enough, shes about to get stronger,' DJ wrote.

'We just checked in to Cardinal Hill for a couple weeks of intense therapy to prepare her for the prosthetic journey she is about to begin.'

Mullins' loved ones have been providing a steady stream of updates, including photos shared at the end of February that showed her beaming beside her teenage son in his high school gymnasium, clad head-to-toe in spirit wear.

'Someone has been feeling better the last few days,' DJ wrote at the time. 'All those prayers continue to be answered!'

Mullins lost both her legs and arms when she was hospitalized in January. She originally went into treatment for kidney stones, which are hard balls of salt and minerals that form inside the body.

The doctor left a temporary stent in her body following the surgery to prevent blockage. When she removed the stent at home, as instructed, the mother of two began to feel ill and fell unconscious.

She was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors discovered that an unremoved kidney stone had become infected.

Mullins was told that she had gone into septic shock, with her organs beginning to shut down. Doctors stabilized her and placed on a ventilator before she was transported to a larger hospital in Lexington.

While her organ function began to improve after days of treatment, blisters broke out across her limbs - and she was told they would have to be amputated in order to save her life

Her condition has been on the upswing, and she even appeared at a high school pep rally with her teenage son. Mullins beamed beside her eldest boy and husband, DJ, in the February update

The certified medical assistant underwent a series of amputations concluding with the removal of her lower arms in February

Following hours of physical therapy sessions, Mullins regained her ability to eat by herself and learned to sit upright on her own

Over the next several days, while her organ function began to improve, blisters broke out across her limbs.

When she was conscious again, doctors told Mullins that she would survive the infection - at the cost of her hands and legs.

She underwent a series of amputations concluding with the removal of her lower arms in February.

Speaking to DailyMail.com in February, Mullins said she leaned on the comfort of knowing her family would be with her every step of the way.

'Surprisingly, I wasn't upset, I didn't question it. I wasn't angry,' Mullins said.

'I know there will be hard times ahead but just knowing I could see my kids again and that I had the support of my family, I think that gave me peace to be okay with it.'

Following hours of grueling physical therapy sessions, Mullins regained her ability to eat by herself using a specially adapted fork that is strapped to her arm.

She also learned to sit upright by herself and scroll on her phone using her nose.

There are changes that the whole family must get used to. Each morning, DJ must dress and wrap his wife's wounds to keep them clean and watertight.

But the 41-year-old says she is hopeful and determined to get back to her job as a certified medical assistant at Bates, Miller & Sims, a local family practice.

Mullins says she is determined to get back to her job at Bates, Miller & Sims, a local family practice based in Stanford

The Kentucky woman's loved ones and close friends have been providing a steady flow of updates to a GoFundMe page, which has turned into a sort of recovery journal

Mullins says her situation is not a 'sad story,' as she gets to be with her children and husband

The GoFundMe campaign has turned into a journal documenting Mullins' recovery.

'Cindy and her family will have to make a few adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy's needs as well as her prosthetics and adaptive equipment,' Beshears wrote on the page.

'The costs of all of this can be overwhelming. We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy, as well as her husband DJ who has been by her side every step of the way.'

The campaign has raised more than $325,000 so far but has yet to meet its $350,000 goal.

'I just want people to know this is not a sad story,' Mullins said.

'This has a happy ending. I'm alive. I get to be with my children and my husband.'
Experts previously told DailyMail.com that the ban would alienate black voters who have been drifting away from the president in polling

After dragging the process out for months, the administration is expected to announce the reversal on Friday

The White House is scrapping a long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes to avoid angering black voters months before the 2024 election.

After dragging the process out for months, the administration is expected to announce the reversal on Friday, sources disclosed to the Wall Street Journal.

Experts previously told DailyMail.com that the ban would alienate black voters who have been drifting away from the president in polling and also surge crime nationwide.

A recent poll indicated that black Americans are not feeling very enthusiastic about Biden, and 40 percent don't plan to vote in the 2024 election.

The administration killing its proposed menthol ban may be an appeal to Biden's supporters to stay on the bandwagon a little over six months until election day.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Xavier Becerra said in a statement to DailyMail.com that the proposed ban garnered 'historic attention' and therefore it's 'clear there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time.'

Menthol cigarettes account for nearly one-third of the industry's market share in the U.S., and are incredibly popular with smokers.

Experts previously told DailyMail.com that the ban would alienate the black vote against President Biden and surge crime nationwide

In 2022 the FDA announced it was working to create new standards for tobacco products that would ban the use of menthol flavoring. Nearly two years later, the ban is still not enacted and special interest groups for and against the ban have been pressuring the White House to get the job done

Protestors marched on Black Lives Matter Plaza in January advocating for a menthol ban

They have also long been particularly popular with black smokers, with 81 percent of them opting for the menthol varieties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The minty flavoring that is added to these products typically appeals to young, first-time smokers, making them dangerous in the eyes of the White House, medical associations and civil rights groups.

According to findings from a survey by Nuestro PAC, black and Latino voters were also worried that the proposed ban would 'push the product into the illegal black market' and increase crime.

Eighty percent of black and Latinos said they agreed that the government should 'fully explore concerns' before moving forward with the ban.

Those findings aligned with a recent push by Rev. Al Sharpton urging administration to walk back its proposed ban.

The Biden administration had maintained that the criminalization of menthols would help Americans become less addicted over time.

'The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,' HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra previously said.

'Additionally, the proposed rules represent an important step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities,' he continued.

'The FDA remains committed to issuing the tobacco product standards for menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars as expeditiously as possible; these rules have been submitted to OMB for review, which is the final step in the rulemaking process,' an FDA spokesman told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'As we've made clear, these product standards remain at the top of our priorities.'

'Regulations such as product standards go through an extensive rulemaking process, which includes interagency review. At this stage in rulemaking, the FDA is limited from further discussions about the rules before they are published.'

Still, many advocating for the ban claim that outlawing the flavored products will cut usage and therefore save lives.

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta led a 21-state letter to the White House in January stating that the time to act is 'now.'

A group of activists against menthol held a funeral for flavored tobacco outside the White House earlier this year.

The protestors hauled out a massive fake menthol cigarette pack and marched it down the street in fake funeral parade one block from the White House.

'Ban Menthol Save Black Lives' the signs at the event read.

'Today we are joining advocates for a Menthol Funeral demanding that the [White House] issue final rules to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars,' said one participant on X.

Two years after announcing intentions to ban menthol, the FDA and the White House have not set new standards for using the substance in tobacco products

Banning menthol is not uncommon, the additive is currently banned in Canada since 2017 and has been banned in the European Union since 2020.

It is also banned in California and Massachusetts, along with a multitude of locally counties nationwide.

'Menthol makes cigarettes more appealing and easier to smoke,' according to the CDC.

'In addition, menthol enhances the addictive effects of nicotine in the brain. The amount of nicotine, the addictive drug in tobacco products, in menthol cigarettes has increased in recent years.'
They were pictured using tear gas to disperse migrants on the beach in Dunkirk

French authorities told to 'significantly ramp up their efforts' after five die

A French policeman slashes an inflatable dinghy filled with migrants in images showing a dramatic escalation of force against people smugglers.

French authorities have been increasingly accused of a soft-touch approach, fuelled by photographs showing officers standing by as heavily-laden boats enter the Channel.

But they have been told to significantly ramp up their efforts after five migrants - including a seven-year-old girl - were killed after a rival group armed with sticks and knives stormed their dinghy on Tuesday.

'It's an impossible task - there are just too many boats now. It's like playing whack-a-mole. You stop one boat and then another arrives,' an officer told the Sun.

However, despite attempts to stop the boat by slashing it open, the police ultimately failed, when another dinghy arrived just 15 minutes later.

The migrants, who were mainly from Sudan and Vietnam, hopped into the new vessel after breaking through police lines and managing to push off to sea before cops could stop them.

Meanwhile, French police reportedly deployed tear gas in a bid to try and stop the migrants from crossing the Channel.

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A French policeman slashes an inflatable dinghy filled with migrants in images showing a dramatic escalation of force against people smugglers

French police launch tear gas to disperse migrants to prevent them from boarding a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk

French authorities have been increasingly accused of a soft-touch approach, fuelled by photographs showing officers standing by as heavily-laden boats enter the Channel

An Interior Ministry source based in northern France told the Mail: 'There have been accusations that the police have been holding back when dealing with the smuggling gangs.

'This is mainly because they don't want to get involved in violence with the migrants, but they must realise that this has to change.

READ MORE: Some of the five migrants killed trying to get to Britain were CRUSHED to death on board the tiny boat: French investigators say some victims suffocated while others drowned Advertisement

'There was certainly widespread disgust across the various police forces about what happened last Tuesday  the thought that a gang could have used lethal violence to get a place on a boat is incredibly worrying.

'Something needs to change, and to change quickly, and the police believe they can do this.'

Photographs of an operation on Dunkirk beach show officers dressed in body-armour wading into the surf to foil an attempted crossing.

One officer is seen wielding a knife as he prepares to deflate a dinghy overloaded with dozens of migrant. Other policemen are seen dragging away the boat's motor.

Distraught migrants are seen collapsing onto the beach as they are prevented from making the dangerous journey, which some had paid up to 1000 each to attempt.

The dramatic change in tactics is understood to be a direct response to the tragedy that unfolded on Tuesday near the town of Wimereux in the early hours of Tuesday.

An Interior Ministry source based in northern France told the Mail: 'There have been accusations that the police have been holiding back when dealing with the smuggling gangs'

Distraught migrants are seen collapsing onto the beach as they are prevented from making the dangerous journey, which some had paid up to 1000 each to attempt

The dramatic change in tactics is understood to be a direct response to the tragedy that unfolded on Tuesday near the town of Wimereux in the early hours of Tuesday

Three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl died during the chaos after their dinghy, laden with 112 people, was stormed by a rival group of migrants as it prepared to set off.

An 18-year-old survivor, named only as Heivin, yesterday told how dozens of people were trampled as migrants armed with sticks and knives piled into the vessel.

The Iraqi teenager told Sky News: 'It was because of them that people died.

'If they hadn't come and started fighting, none of this would have happened.. People were fighting, people were getting stepped on, they were dying and being thrown off.'

Heivin said she fell into the water herself but was yanked back into the vessel by another passenger.

Two others who fell into the water, including the young girl, were less fortunate and drowned while the other three casualties were crushed on overcrowded boat under the grappling bodies.

She added: 'I had tried to be at the front, but after I fell in the water I sat on the edge of the boat and didn't go towards the other end - that's where people were fighting.

'I thank God that I didn't get into the top part of the dinghy. I would have suffocated. I thank God for that every day.'

The tragedy sparked a furious response from Jean-Luc Dubaele, Wimereux's mayor, who accused police of allowing the coast to be turned into a 'slaughterhouse'.

French police launch tear gas to disperse migrants to prevent them from boarding a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk

This comes as dozens of migrants were intercepted crossing the Channel today - the first day of arrivals since five people died attempting the journey on Tuesday

On the same day as the tragedy an estimated 300 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, following a week with no crossings, bringing the total for 2024 so far to roughly 6,500

The Interior Ministry source added: 'Mr Dubaele called for the army to be brought in, because the police have clearly been failing.

'He's been extremely outspoken about the situation, and police are clearly responding to what is going on, by taking a more robost approch to this issues.'

A teenager from South Sudan, who told Folkestone Magistrates Court yesterday that he is 15, was charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

An alleged accomplice, a Sudanese national who claims he is 16, has been charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Initially, it was thought the pair were both 22, but the Home Office assessment was challenged in court.

The pair were bailed into the care of social services and will next appear in the youth court on April 30.

On the same day as the tragedy an estimated 300 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, following a week with no crossings, bringing the total for 2024 so far to roughly 6,500.

This is up by nearly a quarter compared to the same period the year before.

This comes as dozens of migrants were intercepted crossing the Channel today - the first day of arrivals since five people died attempting the journey on Tuesday.

Mainly male migrants aboard an inflatable dinghy were spotted being brought ashore at the Port of Dover by a Border Force vessel after being intercepted in the strait.

Wearing orange life jackets, they were marshalled off the boat and then were taken into the immigration processing centre in the former cruise terminal on the Kent coast.

The arrivals are the first since Tuesday, when 402 migrants aboard seven boats arrived.

Nearly 121,000 migrants have now been intercepted crossing the English Channel in small boats in the more than six years, according to the official data.

Migrants board a small boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on April 26

Migrants wade in the water to board a small boat to cross the Channel from Gravelines

A migrant reacts as a French police officer stands by ready to puncture the boat with a knife to prevent migrants from embarking in an attempt to cross the English Channel

A total of 120,993 people have made the dangerous crossing since the start of 2018 when records began.

The latest figures show that 6,667 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats so far this year which is broadly similar to the numbers last year and 2022.

Elsewhere, photos from today show migrants boarding an inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France.

The waded through the waves off the coast and onto the boat and some were confronted by French police officers.

The officers were ready to puncture the boat to prevent the crossing and one photo shows two making off with the dinghy's outboard motor.

Other photos show migrants being chased by French police while attempting to board a boat to cross the Channel.

This comes as two 22-year-old men were today charged with immigration offences as part of an investigation into the deaths of five migrants, including a child, who died trying to cross the English Channel, the National Crime Agency have said.

Yien Both, a 22-year-old from South Sudan, has been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Tajdeen Adbulaziz Juma, a 22-year-old Sudanese national, has been charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Both men have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear before Folkestone Magistrates' Court later today.

A third man, an 18-year-old from Sudan, has been bailed pending further inquiries.

A migrant reacts as she is chased by French police while attempting to board a boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel

French Police officers carry the outboard engine from a small boat after migrants failed an attempt to cross the English Channel today

A dinghy of migrants pictured today in French waters escorted by the French Border Patrol

The five people who died were onboard a vessel designed for a maximum of 20 people on Tuesday. They include a girl who was six, a woman in her 30s and three men.

However, after the dinghy was overrun by 50 men from sub-Saharan Africa minutes before it was due to set off from France, they were crushed to death.

The boat had 112 people on board when it left from France with 402 migrants crossing the Channel in a total of seven boats that day.

It also comes Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill has become law after weeks of parliamentary deadlock, paving the way for deportation flights to get off the ground.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill became an Act of Parliament after being granted royal assent, the Lord Speaker told the House of Lords on Thursday.

The accompanying treaty the UK has signed with the east African nation has also been ratified, the Home Office confirmed later in the afternoon.

Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted spending money on the Rwanda scheme was 'absolutely worth it' and the Government would 'keep those flights going until we stop the boats'.

Mr Cleverly said managing borders 'has never come for free' and told those wanting to delay the plan that there is 'nothing moral about allowing people to drown in the sea at the hands of criminals' as he vowed to emulate Italian efforts to tackle migrant crossings.
Rodriguez wailed uncontrollably in the courtroom as he was arraigned

The man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death and leaving her remains in her bathtub has been put on suicide watch.

Candido Rodriguez, 51, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder of Melanie Woods, 33, who was discovered on Tuesday with multiple stab wounds and a slash across her neck.

He wailed and cried uncontrollably as he was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday on charges of first-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Prosecutor Marcella Lupski alleged that Rodriguez stabbed Woods more than 20 times in her neck, torso and legs after he waited for her to return to her apartment from a dog walk.

His defense lawyer Jessica Horani pleaded with Judge Michael Ryan for her client to receive immediate medical attention, and he was remanded without bail and placed on suicide watch.

The man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend (pictured) to death and leaving her remains in her bathtub has been put on suicide watch

Candido Rodriguez (pictured), 51, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder of Melanie Woods, 33, who was discovered on Tuesday with multiple stab wounds and a slash across her neck.

Woods (pictured) 33, was found dead in the tub inside her home on Second Ave. near E. 117th St. around 6 p.m. Tuesday after a panicked friend called police asking them to check on her

Woods was scheduled to go to California but did not make the flight, which concerned her mother and her friend who tracked her phones location to her apartment

Rodriguez and Woods were in an on-off relationship, and she told him not to contact him anymore, according to the prosecutor.

The defendant allegedly sent her a series of one sided messages which were angry and hostile before he went to her apartment building at around 6am on April 23.

Woods returned from her early morning dog walk around an hour later and neighbors told police they heard loud shouting, crashes and screams from her apartment.

'Around 8am, the noise stopped,' Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Lupski said. 'A neighbor heard the door shut and footsteps going down the stairs.

'The defendant brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend and left her in the bathtub of her apartment.'

Woods' family wants to bring her home to California and a GoFundMe has raised more than $36,000 toward her funeral costs

She was described as a loving dog owner who traveled, enjoyed adventure and was always rooted for the underdog

Prosecutor Marcella Lupski alleged that Rodriguez stabbed Woods (pictured) more than 20 times in her neck, torso and legs after he waited for her to return to her apartment from a dog walk.

She added that Rodriguez was seen on video leaving the building and hailing a cab.

Woods was later discovered on Tuesday when her friends grew concerned and asked for a wellness check from the New York City Police Department.

Rodriguez's defense attorney asked for him to receive immediate medical treatment and the judge agreed to put him on suicide watch as he was seen 'incredibly distraught'.

He wailed as he was brought into the courtroom and was inconsolable while his case was heard.

Woods was scheduled to go to California but did not make the flight, which concerned her mother and her friend who tracked her phones location to her apartment.

She was described as a loving dog owner who traveled, enjoyed adventure and was always rooted for the underdog.

To know Melanie was to love her, her family wrote on a GoFundMe. She was a vibrant soul who brought out the best in anyone around her, this we will never forget.

They want to bring her home to California and they have raised more than $36,000 for her funeral costs.

Rodriquez's defense lawyer Jessica Horani pleaded with Judge Michael Ryan for her client to receive immediate medical attention, and he was remanded without bail and placed on suicide watch

Its hard to say goodbye to someone who had a big impact on our lives, her family added.

Its always hard to lose someone you know, to let go of Melanie, and move on. But if we keep those good memories in our hearts and minds, we can find comfort and Melanie will always be with us.

Rest in peace, beautiful girl. We love you so much.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he will 'not comply' with the Biden administration's new rules that clarify Title IX forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The failed 2024 presidential candidate said in a video on X that 'Florida rejects Joe Biden's attempt to rewrite Title IX.'

Last Friday the Biden administration rolled out new rules that would allow LGBTQ+ students who face discrimination to take the issue to their school under Title IX protections and also seek recourse from the federal government.

The White House stopped at addressing Republican-backed bans on transgender athletes participating in women's sports.

The move was largely seen as the administration avoiding a deeply politicized issue in an election year.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a video on X Thursday that 'Florida rejects Joe Biden's attempt to rewrite Title IX'

The new rule clarifies Title IX forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

Still, DeSantis suggested that the Title IX revision addressed this issue.

'We are not going to let Joe Biden try to inject men into women's activities,' the Florida governor said.

'We are not going to let Joe Biden undermine the rights of parents. And we are not going to let Joe Biden abuse his constitutional authority to try and impose these policies on us here in Florida,' DeSantis added.

DeSantis boasted that he was standing with 'opportunities.'

'We are not going to let Joe Biden get away with it,' he stated. 'We will not comply.'

What the Biden administration did was clarify that the 1972 law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The new rule makes 'crystal clear that everyone can access schools that are safe, welcoming and that respect their rights,' Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told The Associated Press amid the rollout.

What President Joe Biden's administration did was clarify that the 1972 law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

Trans rights supporters gather in Florida in November 2022. DeSantis has made targeting trans Americans part ofhis political brand

'No one should face bullying or discrimination just because of who they are, who they love,' Cardona told reporters. 'Sadly, this happens all too often.'

A number of Republicans in Congress pushed back after the revision and said Congress never intended such protections under Title IX.

Beyond DeSantis, Louisiana's top education official instructed schools to ignore the Biden administration's revised Title IX rule.

The rules are set to take effect on August 1.

DeSantis has made targeting transgender Americans part of his political brand - signing a number of laws last year that prevented gender-affirming care, among other issues.
A Mexican senator ruffled some feathers after he promoted the ritual sacrifice of a chicken.

The bizarre incident was part of the Earth Day ceremonies that were held on the grounds of the senate building in Mexico City on Monday.

Despite efforts from members of the ruling Morena party to dissuade him from proceeding with the ritual, Oaxaca Senator Adolfo Gomez went through with offering the chicken to Tlaloc, the rain god.

Video of the ceremony showed man holding the chicken over a pot before a woman wearing a traditional dress cut its head off.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

Oaxaca Senator Adolfo Gomez (top left) looks on while a man participates in the sacrifice of a chicken on the grounds of Mexico's Senate on Monday

Oaxaca Senator Adolfo Gomez proceeded with offering the chicken to Tlaloc, the rain god, despite opposition from the ruling Morena party

Another man could be seen stepping forward and placed a pot with incense near the chicken.

The offering was broadcasted live on the Mexican Senate's social media accounts before it was removed.

Gomez defended the ritual, indicating it was carried out under the uses and customs of native peoples.

'In the second constitutional article our free right is expressed that the practices of indigenous peoples must be respected. We rely on the second constitutional article,' Gomez told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader, Ricardo Monreal, said that he and most of the Morena senators didn't agree with Senator Gomez's decision.

'I do not agree with the sacrifice of any animal anywhere,' he said. 'I am an animalist and I believe in life, that is why I do not agree even if it is about the uses and customs of the native peoples that he represents.'

A man holds a chicken before it was sacrifice during an Earth Day ceremony on the grounds of of the Mexican Senate in Mexico City

Mexico City law prohibits the use of animals to carry out rituals or traditions. The act is punishable with a jail sentence ranging from two to four years

Under Mexico City law, the use of animals to carry out rituals or traditions is prohibited and is punishable with a jail sentence ranging from two to four years.

Animal rights activists held a demonstration Thursday and called for Gomez's removal from office.

'Many animal protection organizations and activists are gathered here to demand that the senator be sanctioned,' said Sofia Morin, according to Vanguardia news outlet.

The Autonomous Council of Native Peoples and Neighborhoods also slammed the senator's decision to sacrifice the chicken in a public setting.

'Sacrificial acts in public spaces that are not sacred or consecrated for the development of our identity, cultural and ancestral practices contravene the constitutional pact to 'maintain unity,' they said.
An elderly Ohio woman who was scammed of her life savings allegedly robbed a bank with a handgun.

Ann Mayers, 74, allegedly demanded cash and threatened the bank teller with her weapon at an AurGroup Credit Union in Fairfield Township on April 19, per the town's police department.

She can be seen walking inside the bank with a blue bag and a face mask on in surveillance footage released by Fairfield Township police.

Mayers then allegedly hopped in a 2014 silver Hyundai Elantra without a license plate and sped away, according to a statement shared by authorities.

Police said the elderly woman admitted to the robbery when detectives found a handgun in her car.

Anna Mayers, 74, allegedly demanded cash and threatened the bank teller with her weapon at an AurGroup Credit Union in Fairfield Township on April 19, according to the town's police department.

Mayers turned to bank robbery when she lost her life savings to an online scammer

Mayers can be seen walking inside the bank with a blue bag and a face mask on in surveillance footage

The woman's family told officials that Mayers had recently fallen victim to an online scam in which she sent money to an 'unidentified individual,' Sgt. Brandon McCroskey told USA TODAY.

'In that aspect, some may see her as a "victim." Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation,' McCroskey said in an email.

The robbery was premeditated, as evidenced by Mayer's decision to remove her 'license plate from her car' and trying to peel off a bumper sticker to go undetected, he said.

'She also reportedly spoke to family members about robbing banks in the days leading up to the robbery, but the family did not take her comments seriously,' McCroskey said.

Mayers does not have an existing criminal record up until this point.

'Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation,' Sgt. Brandon McCroskey said in an email to USA TODAY

The robbery was premeditated, as evidenced by Mayer's decision to remove her 'license plate from her car' and trying to peel off a bumper sticker to go undetected, he said

The amount of money she allegedly stole from the bank is unclear

Mayers, pictured here within the bank, does not have an existing criminal record up until this point

She was charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence

She was charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence.

The amount of money she allegedly stole from the bank is unclear.

The elderly robber is being held at Butler County Jail.

It is unclear if she has entered a plea at this time.
A 64-year-old British tourist has been left fighting for his life after enduring a vicious shark attack while swimming in the sea in Tobago.

The horrific incident, which happened close to the shore on Turtle Beach, on the southwestern edge of the island, resulted in the tourist receiving several serious injuries, including 'losing an arm and a leg'.

He also received a laceration to his stomach, The Mirror reports.

The victim has been named locally as Peter Smith of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and he is currently in serious condition at Scarborough General Hospital, The Telegraph reports.

Witnesses believe a bull shark, measuring up to ten feet long and two feet in width, approached Mr Smith just 10 metres away from the shore in waist-deep water close to the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay around 9am on Friday morning.

A 64-year-old British tourist has been left fighting for his life after enduring a vicious attack by a bull shark while swimming in the sea in Tobago on Friday morning (file pic)

The incident occurred close to the Starfish Hotel in Courland Bay, with the victim being named locally as Peter Smith, 64, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

Speaking to Tobago Channel 5, witness Stephanie Wright, from West Sussex, said: 'We saw some people on the beach, and I originally thought the gentleman had had a cardiac arrest, and I thought they were helping him.

'And then I saw someone running down with a towel, and then I saw a dorsal fin come out of the water and thought, "Oh my God, it's a shark."

'As it turned, I saw the tail come out as well'.

Authorities have temporarily closed off Turtle Beach and Courland Bay, as well as six other beaches in the area, as well as prohibiting reef tours and scuba diving as a precaution.

In a statement posted to social media, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine - who is equivalent to the Prime Minister of Tobago - said: 'Out of an abundance of caution (for the remaining portions of today), we are forced to temporarily close beaches: Plymouth, Courland Bay, Black Rock, Mt. Irvine, Buccoo, Pigeon Point, Store Bay and all coastal areas in between,' he wrote in a Facebook post.

'Currently, we are doing drone reconnaissance/surveillance, Coast Guard surveillance, and the Department of Fisheries is combing the area to ensure safety.'

Bull sharks, which can be found in both fresh and salt water, are known to be one of the more aggressive types of shark and are responsible for the majority of incidents recorded close to shorelines.

They are one of three shark species, alongside tiger and great white that are the most likely to attack humans.

Shark attacks are however rare. Last year, there were 69 unprovoked attacks and 22 provoked bites worldwide, along with 14 fatalities, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.
The grieving family of a teenager who died while locked in an end-of-life legal battle with the NHS is being forced to repay thousands of pounds in child care benefits.

Sudiksha Thirumalesh, 19, who had a rare degenerative disease, died last September as she fought doctors' attempts to withdraw treatment and move her to end-of-life care.

In a fresh blow to her family, the Department for Work and Pensions has claimed the A-level pupil was not entitled to the childcare element of the Universal Credit paid before her death because she was in hospital for more than six months.

Her devastated parents, who already spent their life savings on legal fees fighting the NHS, have been left facing demands to cough up almost 5,000, despite keeping the benefits department up to date with their daughter's plight.

'This has come as another devastating blow to our family. It feels like the system is kicking us while we are down. We did everything by the book and have been punished for it,' her father Thirumalesh Hemachandran told the Mail.

Sudiksha Thirumalesh, 19, who had a rare degenerative disease, died last September as she fought doctors' attempts to withdraw treatment and move her to end-of-life care. Pictured: Aged three

In a fresh blow to her family, the Department for Work and Pensions has claimed the A-level pupil was not entitled to the childcare element of the Universal Credit paid before her death because she was in hospital for more than six months. Pictured: Aged 14

Her devastated parents, who already spent their life savings on legal fees fighting the NHS, have been left facing demands to cough up almost 5,000, despite keeping the benefits department up to date with their daughter's plight. Pictured: Fighting for her life undergoing treatment

Her father Thirumalesh Hemachandran (left) told the Mail it was 'another devastating blow to our family'. Pictured: Sudiksha's family including her father, her mother Revathi Malesh Thirumalesh and her brother Varshan

Sudiksha, who suffered from the same rare genetic mitochondrial disorder as little Charlie Gard, was admitted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in September 2022 after contracting Covid.

Mr Hemachandran informed the DWP of her circumstances, telling officials that despite her ill health his brave daughter was determined to continue her A-levels at the hospital's school.

Sudiksha's parents, who were forced to give up running their shop to care for her when she was moved to the intensive care unit, continued to receive payments from the department.

At the time, Sudiksha, who could be identified only as ST because of a draconian court order which was lifted after her death, was fighting in the courts to prove she had the capacity to determine her own fate.

Her father added: 'The transparency order prevented us from getting the help we needed during the toughest time of our lives.'

Sudiskha had hoped to get well enough to join clinical trials in Canada but while her doctors said that they would not stand in the way of a transfer, her family say the reporting restrictions stopped her from publicly fundraising for the 1.5million needed for the journey.

Sudiksha, who suffered from the same rare genetic mitochondrial disorder as little Charlie Gard, was admitted to Birmingham 's Queen Elizabeth Hospital in September 2022 after contracting Covid. Pictured: Aged two

Sudiksha's parents, who were forced to give up running their shop to care for her when she was moved to the intensive care unit, continued to receive payments from the department. Pictured: Sudiksha with her mother aged five months

At the time of her case, Sudiksha, who could be identified only as ST because of a draconian court order which was lifted after her death, was fighting in the courts to prove she had the capacity to determine her own fate. Pictured: Sudiksha aged 17

Sudiskha had hoped to get well enough to join clinical trials in Canada but while her doctors said that they would not stand in the way of a transfer, her family say the reporting restrictions stopped her from publicly fundraising for the 1.5million needed for the journey. Pictured: Sudiskha with her family aged seven

Doctors treating her argued that, due to her deteriorating and incurable condition, the kindest course would be to 'de-escalate her intensive care' and make her as comfortable as possible. Pictured: Sudishka's 10th Birthday party

Her parents, who sold their family heirlooms to pay for lawyers to fight for the right to continue her treatment, had used the child care payments to help cover day-to-day expenses

Doctors treating her argued that, due to her deteriorating and incurable condition, the kindest course would be to 'de-escalate her intensive care' and make her as comfortable as possible.

Her parents, who sold their family heirlooms to pay for lawyers to fight for the right to continue her treatment, had used the child care payments to help cover day-to-day expenses.

'We were with our daughter 24/7, my wife didn't leave her side and we had to give up running our shop,' Mr Hemachandran said.

'We relied on the payments for our day to day expenses. It was used to buy food in the hospital canteen and the cost of the constant travel to and from hospital.

'I was updating Universal Credit all the time. But now they are demanding the money back. It's creating more hardship and burden for meI am already struggling to make ends meet.'

As they continue to grieve, the devout Christians face a 4,738.80 DWP bill. They were told Sudiksha was classed as 'temporarily absent from the household for more than six months' and therefore they were overpaid between February 2023 and July 2023.

As they continue to grieve, the devout Christians face a 4,738.80 DWP bill. They were told Sudiksha was classed as 'temporarily absent from the household for more than six months' and therefore they were overpaid between February 2023 and July 2023.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre which is supporting Sudiksha's family in their fight for justice, said the bill should be waived

Brother Varshan with Sudiksha when she was seven years old in 2011

Sudiksha Thirumalesh in her school photo aged 12

Mitochondrial disease: Rare genetic condition that stops cells from producing enough energy When a person has mitochondrial disease the mitochondria in the cells are not producing enough energy for the cell. Sometimes they do not work at all, and sometimes they are just not very efficient. If a cell does not get enough energy (ATP), it cannot function properly. There is a huge variety in the symptoms and severity of mitochondrial disease. It depends on how many cells are affected, and where they are in the body - so every person with mitochondrial disease is affected differently. Each individual affected will have a different combination of mitochondria that are working and not working within each cell. The parts of the body most commonly affected are those that have the highest energy demands; brain, muscle, liver, heart and kidney. Source: The Lily Foundation Advertisement

Mr Hemachandran immediately requested a 'mandatory reconsideration' and despite a plea for leniency because of their tragic circumstances, the family was told the decision still stands.

In a letter signed 'Office Manager', the DWP admitted the family 'constantly kept UC up to date with all the relevant changes.'

It added: 'While I acknowledge and sympathise with the situation you were in ... I am unable to remove the overpayment as you would not have been entitled to the child element from six months after her admission to hospital and for the purposes of UC, no special circumstances apply.'

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre which is supporting the family in their fight for justice, said the bill should be waived.

'A good and humane society does not treat a family in the middle of such a tragedy like this,' she said. 'Forcing them to repay the money is not in the public interest and it should be waived.'

The family was left devastated after a judge ruled that Sudiksha lacked the mental capacity to make her own decisions and that her fate must be decided by the courts.

The remarkable teenager died of a cardiac arrest just days after speaking to the Mail about her ordeal and her determination to fight the case from hospital.

Her family is set to continue her battle in a hearing at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

A DWP spokesman said: 'We express our sympathies to Sudiksha Thirumalesh's loved ones and are conducting a review of this case as a matter of urgency.'
Donald Trump seized on President Joe Biden's statement that he would be 'happy' to debate  offering to meet his rival immediately at the courthouse or the White House.

'He can do it anytime he wants including tonight. I'm ready. Here we are. I invited him to the courthouse,' Trump said Friday afternoon.

Trump indicated he was willing to be flexible on the venue and the timing, although day-long court sessions scheduled for most of the week limit his options.

'I just want to say that I've invited Biden to debate,' he said in Manhattan criminal court at the end of a day that featured testimony by ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and longtime Trump Organization aid Rhona Graff.

'He can do it any time he wants including tonight. Ready, where we are. I invited him to the courthouse,' Trump said, touting a venue he had blasted earlier for its 'freezing' temperatures.

'But we're willing to do it Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night or Friday night on national television. We're ready. Just tell me where,' he said.

'We'll do it at the White House - that would be very comfortable actually!' he joked.

Former President Donald Trump said he was willing to debate President Biden 'anytime,' and said he would do so as soon as tonight, with a showdown at a Manhattan criminal courthouse where his Stormy Daniels trial is underway or at the White House

An immediate presidential debate could cause logistical problems on stage and at home. Not only is there no venue or moderator set up, but Trump started the day wishing happy birthday to wife Melania, who he said was at home at Mar-a-Lago. He said he had plans to return there Friday.

Trump spoke hours after Biden finally confirmed he is ready to debate.

The 81-year-old confirmed he is 'happy' to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning.

The White House and Biden-Harris campaign have danced around questions about the debate for months.

'I am, somewhere,' he said when asked if he is willing to debate Trump.

'I dont know when. Im happy to debate him.'

President Joe Biden has finally confirmed he is ready to debate Donald Trump before the 2024 election

Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita took minutes to respond to Biden's comments.

'Ok let's set it up,' he posted on X.

Trump also responded during a break from the Manhattan hush money trial with a post on Truth Social.

But Trump himself has previously attacked the bipartisan commission on presidential debates, and blew up norms by bringing a Bill Clinton rape accuser in 2016 and a former Hunter Biden business associate in 2020.

Trump also has railed against debate moderators, complained about his microphone in a 2016 clash with Hillary Clinton, and skipped a 2020 debate.

Trump had extended the offer earlier online, amid his attacks on a criminal trial he called 'rigged' and claims was being steered from Washington.

'Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters.

'I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. Mandate.

'In the alternative, hes in New York City today, although probably doesnt know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT - A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! Its the only way he thinks he can win.

'In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight - on National Television, Ill wait around!

There are three presidential debates scheduled for before the November 5 general election.

Trump has vowed for weeks to take on his Democratic adversary 'any place, any time' before millions of Americans cast their ballots in a rematch of the 2020 election.

Biden and Trump have already been at each others throats with just shy of seven months until the vote.

The 81-year-old confirmed he is 'happy' to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning

Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita took minutes to respond to Biden's comments. 'Ok let's set it up,' he posted on X.

The president has mocked the Republican at glitzy fundraisers for 'bleaching' his hair and hinted he deserves to be punched.

Trump has also railed at Biden most days he has been in court for the Manhattan hush money trial.

He claims the Democrat is behind his legal battles also has frequently scrutinized his fitness for office.
In 1935 the exquisitely pretty Paget sisters  identical twins who were also the Debutantes of the Year  took English society by storm.

Society photographer Norman Parkinson used them as models and newspapers photographed them at every opportunity.

Well-connected, they seemed destined for 'good' marriages and the relative obscurity of upper-class country life. Certainly no one could have predicted that, instead, two of the literary giants of the 20th century would become utterly infatuated with them.

George Orwell was the first to be smitten, after meeting Celia at Paddington station. Some time later, in Paris, the French novelist Albert Camus fell madly in love with her sister Mamaine. As leading socialist intellectuals of their day, both authors were the antithesis of the chinless wonders the twins were expected to marry. On the surface at least, two more unlikely romantic pairings seem hard to imagine.

Celia Paget was my mother. It was only after she died that I went through an old tin trunk and found hundreds of letters, including many from her and her sister's lovers.

In 1935 the exquisitely pretty Paget sisters  identical twins who were also the Debutantes of the Year  took English society by storm. Pictured: Celia and Mamaine Paget as debutantes in March 27, 1935

George Orwell (pictured) was the first to be smitten, after meeting Celia at Paddington station

In 1944, Mamaine fell in love. Arthur Koestler, a Jewish Hungarian-born writer, was best-known as the author of Darkness At Noon, his chilling fictionalised expose of Stalin's show trials of the late 1930s. At nearly 40, he was 11 years Mamaine's senior. He had frequent mood swings, but he also had more vitality than anyone she'd ever met.

Within a year, she'd agreed to live with him in an isolated farmhouse in Wales. For their first Christmas there in 1945, they decided to invite Celia as well as George Orwell with his adopted baby son.

Just a few months before, the publication of Animal Farm  with its portrayal of the Soviet leaders as gross and devious pigs  had brought Orwell nationwide fame.

On a personal front, however, he was struggling: his wife Eileen had died earlier that year, leaving him wretchedly lonely and anxious about his 18-month-old son. Celia, now 29, arranged to meet Orwell at Paddington so they could travel together to Wales. As she recalled later, 'Well, there he was on the platform a tall, slightly shaggy figure, with his upright brush-like hair, carrying this baby on one arm and his suitcase in another.'

On the train, Celia was entranced by his son Richard and read him stories. She also felt an instant bond with Orwell, 15 years her senior. He was intensely attracted to her and found he could discuss ideas, politics and culture with her on an equal level.

Some time later, in Paris, the French novelist Albert Camus (pictured in 1944) fell madly in love with her sister Mamaine

Novelist and essayist George Orwell broadcasting over the BBC in London in 1943

As for Celia, although she liked him very much she did not find him physically appealing.

Asked during a parlour game at the farmhouse which qualities he'd like to have, he replied rather pathetically: 'I should like to be irresistible to women.'

Back in London, he immediately asked Celia to visit him in Islington. He'd deliberately set out to live as the working classes did and his third-floor rented flat was bleak, with just one fireplace and no fridge or other creature comforts. Celia started visiting him on Tuesdays, the nanny's day off, to help out with Richard.

A genuine friendship took root. Then in early January 1946, as they were having lunch, he asked her to marry him. Days after she'd turned him down, Celia told Mamaine, he 'asked me again whether I would consider marrying him, or at any rate having an affair with him'. Could she manage an affair, she wondered? 'He makes it somehow awfully difficult to refuse,' she confided.

In the end, she simply told Orwell she wasn't in love with him. Unusually persistent, he sent her a four-page handwritten letter on January 31. 'What I really wanted to tell you is that I love you, which you know already. It's all very reprehensible & undesirable but I can't help it. As I told you I started to love you when you were nice about Richard & I began to want you physically when I saw you walking upstairs in front of me.

'But what I am leading up to, dearest, is to say again that in all this you must think about yourself. If you want to marry me or sleep with me, do, if you don't, don't, but think of it from your own angle because you are young & can make something of your life. You could do me a lot of good if you would be my mistress even for a week, but if you just say you won't or that you have found somebody of your own age who suits you, in a sense I shan't care. In any case it does me good just seeing you'

This article was adapted by Corinna Honan from The Quality of Love by Ariane Bankes (pictured)

As Celia later recalled: 'I wrote back to George some rather ambiguous letter and George said even so, he'd like to go on being friends with me.'

In a letter to her twin, she made it plain she didn't know how long she could hold out against Orwell's desire to go to bed with her. She was saved, she believed, by his decision to relocate to the island of Jura, off the west coast of Scotland, where he hoped to work without interruptions.

Mamaine's quality of life was entirely dictated by Koestler's moods, often exacerbated by alcohol. In autumn 1946, Koestler travelled to Paris, where he was feted as a literary lion, and Mamaine joined him a few weeks later. He'd quickly befriended the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and his partner Simone de Beauvoir, as well as Albert Camus  author of the acclaimed novel The Outsider  and his wife Francine.

With Camus, there was an immediate bond: not only shared politics but also similar tastes, as Koestler put it, 'in wining, dining and running after women'. Indeed, when she arrived in Paris, Mamaine discovered Koestler had been having a fling with a Russian journalist. Still, the affair wasn't serious and this was Paris.

One night, all three couples went to a Russian nightclub, the Scheherazade. By then Mamaine was telling her sister: 'Sartre is simply charming and while he is talking one feels that existentialism must be the thing, without always having much idea what it is.'

At the club, they all danced with each other's partners, and got through copious amounts of vodka and champagne. Camus and Mamaine were the only two who remained relatively sober. He swept her off for a dance, then told her he was strongly attracted to her and already knew he could fall in love with her. 'You have no idea how attractive and sympathique Camus is,' Mamaine wrote to Celia.

Soon after the nightclub outing, Mamaine waved Koestler off to the UK and went back to their hotel room, where she found a bouquet of roses and a note from Camus. They met for a drink a couple of days later.

'We were rather shy,' she recorded in her diary, '& he said he couldn't forget the other evening at the Scheherazade.'

She told him she was taking a trip to the south-west of France, and they agreed they should meet on her return. But the following day, feeling out of her depth, she met Camus to say she'd decided not to see him again.

Misses Celia and Maimaine Paget, the twin daughters of Mr and Mrs Eric M. Paget in their court gowns. They were presented at the Second Court of 1935

Back at her hotel, there were more roses and another note. The next evening, she joined him for a walk in the Bois de Boulogne, where he told her he was in love with her. 'I can't give you up I only feel happy when I'm with you,' he said  to which she protested that she loved Koestler, that he was her whole life, and that she'd probably kill herself if he left her.

When he suggested they go to Provence together, she dithered. 'You would think,' she wrote to Celia, 'that it is easy for me now simply to say, well, it's clear what we have to do and I'm not going to see you anymore. And I more or less did say that. But it is hell doing it because of the intolerable feeling that one's missing a unique chance, of the kind of which there are very few in one's whole life.'

In the end, Mamaine travelled alone. Arriving in Bordeaux, she found a letter waiting for her from Camus, suggesting they get together the following Monday. She met him off the train in Avignon. The next letter Celia received was dated just four days later: 'Just a line to say that I am having a wonderful time, more like a fairy tale than real life. It is perfect from every point of view.'

A few days after that, Mamaine wrote: 'C is writing an article, I have time to write you a short scrawl. It is literally the first time we have been separated (he is in the next room) for more than 5 minutes since he arrived.'

Mamaine's diary records their enchanted time together: 'Lunch in the little hotel  C buying me a yellow jumper on the way back, sleeping, him waking me with some red roses dancing tangos in the Spanish nightclub sitting on the hill with C's head in my lap & the sun coming through the trees. Pastis by the stove in the cafe; C saying: 'During this week you've made me as happy and as wretched as any man can be.' '

Or as she wrote to Celia: 'Oh, what happiness!'

She'd decided, she said, 'to conceal from K everything what we have done together is too great an infidelity for anyone to bear'.

Irascible and demanding as Koestler could be, Mamaine felt committed to him for the long haul. Yet with Camus, she'd found love that was on another level: one that freed her to be herself.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist and journalist

Both felt they'd found their best selves with one another, yet both returned to their complicated everyday lives  in Camus's case to a wife who suffered terribly from depression, exacerbated by his many infidelities.

Mamaine later changed her mind and told Koestler about the affair. Camus was appalled.

Koestler reacted to Mamaine's bombshell confession with relative equanimity (after all, he'd not only bedded the Russian journalist but also had a brief fling with de Beauvoir.) But his jealousy of Camus simmered for years.

She and Koestler were now having frequent rows. She confided: 'Yesterday we had a shouting match and I threw a saucepan full of mashed potato at a wall.'

Meanwhile, Orwell was writing regularly to 'Dearest Celia'. In December 1947, he told her he'd been so ill he'd had to be admitted to a Scottish sanitorium for three months.

'It is TB, which of course was bound to get me sooner or later, in fact I've had it before, though not so badly,' he admitted in January 1948, adding defiantly, 'however I don't think it is very serious.'

The following year, Koestler returned to Paris with Mamaine, where they were once again joined by the Camuses, Sartre and de Beauvoir for a nightclub trawl.

Mamaine wrote in her diary: 'All got very drunk: including meCamus (also fairly drunk, which he rarely is) suddenly started to talk to me with great intensity of feeling. I asked him if he was happy & he said, 'No, desperately unhappy  I've been unhappy since we parted.' I asked him why and he said, 'because I have nothing I want  I wanted so much to live with you, and we couldn't, and now there's nothing left for me.'

'In the street Camus kept grabbing my arm & talking in this sense & taking no notice of the other two (who wandered ahead). He said, 'I must say these things now while I'm drunk enough to be able to' and held onto me and said he'd wept all night when I left, and that he thought all the time of me, and of Avignon, and of how happy we'd been there, he'd never been so happy before or since and he was in despair.

'I said, 'I doubt whether you're capable of loving really, because you go with so many women and that corrupts one's feelings in a way, I think' and he said, 'You have just announced my damnation.' We then went back to the [club] and after a while succeeded in getting out K, who was so drunk he could hardly stand.

'When C tried to make him get into the car, he let fly, leaving C with a black eye. K then wandered off; C got into the driving seat & sat with his face in his hands saying, 'What an idiot! to do that to a guy who was trying to help him! I was longing to knock him down; it was for your sake that I didn't (he said to me).' '

Orwell spent much of 1949 at a nursing home in Gloucestershire. In one of his letters to Celia, he told her he'd been finishing 'a book I had been messing about with for a long time'  Nineteen Eighty-Four. He promised her a copy, adding: 'But I don't expect you'll like it; it's an awful book really.'

She visited him at the nursing home, where they sat in a damp wooden hut and ate a lunch principally consisting of tinned peas. Orwell, she found, was a physical shadow of his former self.

By then, Celia was working for a section of the Foreign Office producing propaganda against communism, so she asked for advice on famous names she might approach for their support.

Orwell gave her a list  which I found in the tin trunk  of 38 people he thought might be 'unreliable' when it came to denouncing communism.

Surprisingly, these included Charlie Chaplin, J. B. Priestley and the actor Michael Redgrave.

At his nursing home, Orwell also received a surprise visit from Sonia Brownell, a friend of the twins, whom he'd also once asked to marry him. This time, Sonia agreed, though there was no pretence of romance on either side.

By the time the wedding took place, Orwell was in hospital and too ill to attend the celebrations. 'It's rather sad to marry an old, sick man,' Sonia told Celia, who attended the wedding lunch with Mamaine.

Celia carried on visiting Orwell whenever she could. On January 20, 1950, she recalled: 'I rang him up and said, 'When can I come and see you, George?' And he said, 'Well I'm going off next Wednesday with Sonia to Switzerland.'

He died that night. Celia would always remember him with deep affection and a certain ruefulness. What if they'd married after all, she couldn't help asking herself?

But she never truly regretted turning him down  only that she hadn't felt able to give him the happiness he desired before it was too late.

ThE same year, Mamaine dared to have dinner alone with Camus. He told her he still dreamed of her. 'C very tender, his voice, his laugh, his eyes,' she noted in her diary.

When they went out to a club, she sensed 'time standing still around us as it did then, nobody else there but us & the other people simply part of the decor, C looking at me all the time with his tender serious smiling eyes'.

But she'd made her choice and belatedly married Koestler that April. She hoped marriage would help calm their volatile relationship, but it foundered after just 17 months  not least because he was sleeping with his secretary.

'Things very bad with K, rows every night at dinner,' she recorded. 'The other day so lost my nerve that I threw glass of Pernod at K across the table.'

It was Mamaine's decision to separate: after seven years she could take no more. But she and Koestler continued to meet at least once a week and remained close. By then, her relationship with Camus had levelled out to an affectionate correspondence, each sending the other books and records.

For the twins, 1954 was the best and worst of years. Celia married the diplomat Arthur Goodman, while Mamaine became gravely ill after a succession of asthma attacks.

While she was in hospital, Camus wrote frequently to keep her spirits up. On May 30, alarmed she hadn't replied to his latest letter, he wrote to Celia. 'I am very worried. Could you, without too much trouble, reassure me with a word, however brief?'

Two days later, Celia sent him a note to let him know that Mamaine had died that morning, aged just 37. 'I am so upset that I don't know how to write to you,' he replied. 'I embrace you, as I would have embraced her, with all my pain and all my tendresse.'

It was six weeks before Celia felt able to write a longer letter to Camus. 'I am profoundly grateful to you for being what you are: someone whom Mamaine could love until the day she died and would never have ceased to love if she had lived to be 90.

'I know that Mamaine felt, as I do, that love is the one thing which gives life a meaning and makes it worthwhile to have lived.'

Four years later, Camus wrote to tell Celia he'd bought a house in a village he'd visited with Mamaine during their heady week in Provence. It was her last letter from him: a few months later, at the age of 46, he was killed in a car crash.

[Koestler married his former secretary in 1965, and  while suffering from Parkinson's  committed suicide with her in 1983. Celia (Paget) Goodman died in 2002.]

Adapted by Corinna Honan from The Quality of Love by Ariane Bankes, to be published by Duckworth on May 2 at 18.99  Ariane Bankes 2024.

To order a copy for 17.09 (offer valid to 11/05/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
The body of a 19-year-old girl was found in a Louisiana river after she went to stay with a 29-year-old man she met online.

Sheryl Turner and Anthony Holland Jr., 29, had 'engaged in a romantic relationship over test message' before the teenager fled her home in New Iberia, Louisiana, to meet him.

She left home on December 31 and her family grew worried about her after receiving 'disturbing' information form one of Turner's friends.

Turner's twin sister Sherry said the last time she spoke to her was before she 'packed up and left without telling anybody where she was going.'

Back on January 24, the torso of Turner was discovered in the Ouachita River after a a boater called the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office to report a body floating in the water.

The body of 19-year-old Sheryl Turner (pictured) was found in a Louisiana river after she went to stay with a 29-year-old man she met online

Anthony Holland Jr., 29 (pictured), confessed the grisly killing, admitting that he killed Turner at his home and dismembered her body before dumping her remains in the river

DNA testing confirmed that the body belonged to the missing 19-year-old, the Kansas City Star reported.

Then on April 23 - three months after Turner's body was found - Holland was arrested and booking in jail on a second-degree murder charge.

The arrest came after investigators searched Holland's home and found 'forensic evidence of a crime of violence,' according to police.

Holland confessed the grisly killing, admitting that he killed Turner at his home and dismembered her body before dumping her remains in the river, police said.

Turner's twin sister, who was vocal about her sister's disappearance and the aftermath of her discovery, said 'I'll never understand why someone could do that to a person' on February 25.

Sheryl Turner, 19 (pictured), and Anthony Holland Jr., 29, had 'engaged in a romantic relationship over test message' before Turner fled her home in New Iberia, Louisiana, to meet him

The heartbroken sister wished her twin a happy birthday on April 12. She would have turned 20. 'Until we meet again love you forever and always,' Sherry wrote.

When Holland's arrest was announced - Sherry said that justice had been served.

In Turner's obituary, family described her as 'a shining light to all who knew her, with a kind and loving personality that radiated through her beautiful smile and touched the hearts of those around her.'
This is the sickening moment a 'jealous' thug tries to kill his ex-girlfriend by using a knife to slash at her throat and stab her nine times.

Sriram Ambarla, 25, attacked his former partner in a fit of rage, stabbing her repeatedly, even as she collapsed to the floor, in front of other terrified diners inside a restaurant on Barking Road in East Ham in March 2022.

The court heard Ambarla met the woman studying engineering in India in 2016, but they split in around 2019 at a time when Ambarla was physically abusive and threatened to kill himself if she did not stay with him.

After days of turning up at her house unexpectedly and attempts to blackmail her into marriage, Ambarla eventually travelled to the East London restaurant where she worked and tried to kill her.

The Old Bailey heard that in the moments before his vicious attack, which left the woman in critical care for nearly a month, Ambarla made a number of searches about 'killing a human' as he sat in the restaurant waiting for a time to strike.

The wife-beater - described as 'jealous, possessive, and determined' by the judge - stood in a green linen shirt and showed no emotion as he was jailed for 16 years and banned from ever contacting his victim again on Thursday.

Sriram Ambarla, 25, was jailed for 16 years after he tried to kill his ex-girlfriend using a knife to slash at her throat and stab her nine times

Ambarla was caught on CCTV attacking his former partner in a fit of rage, stabbing her repeatedly, even as she collapsed to the floor

Ambarla can seen here holding a knife at his victims throat before leaving her in a pool of blood inside a restaurant on Barking Road in East Ham in March 2022

The court heard that in 2022, after splitting up Ambarla and his victim both came to study at the University of East London.

Despite no longer being together, Ambarla continued his threats to kill himself and felt he had a hold over her due to a 15,000 debt owed by her brother.

After bombarding the victim with several texts and turning up at her home uninvited, Ambarla eventually travelled to the East London restaurant where she worked and tried to kill her.

On March 5, 2022, Ambarla arrived at the Hyderabad Wala restaurant on Barking Road in East Ham, armed with a knife that, he claimed, he intended to turn on himself in the event he was rejected.

Having taken a seat at the table, his ex-girlfriend treated him like any other customer and served him food while he sat there making disturbing searches on his phone.

Prosecutor Ben Holt told the court there were a number of searches about 'killing a human'.

They included: 'What happens if a foreigner murders in the UK', 'how to kill human with a knife', 'how easy is it to kill someone with a knife', and 'how to kill someone instantly with a knife'.

Regularly ordering items to get her to come over, Ambarla told police he snapped after overhearing her saying she wanted to celebrate her break-up.

The victim said he threatened to kill her if she did not marry him, and told him 'she did not want to live by his rules'. It was at this point he pulled out the knife and stabbed her repeatedly, continuing even as she collapsed to the floor.

The court was show this footage of the attack after he arrived at the Hyderabad Wala restaurant on Barking Road in East Ham armed with a knife

He can be seen talking to the victim as other shocked diners watch on in horror

Ambarla attacked his former partner in a fit of rage, stabbing her repeatedly, even as she collapsed to the floor

He can later be seen on CCTV raising the knife at restaurant workers as they tried to intervene

Another diner also tried to get the knife off Ambarla before he was also threatened

At Thursday's hearing, Judge Philip Katz KC was clear that Ambarla had brought the knife with the intention to murder, telling him: 'That she did not die, is no thanks to you. She was within a hair's breadth of dying at your hands in a public and terrifying way.'

In the aftermath of the attack, Ambarla left his victim with the knife in the restaurant and approached police officers, telling them 'I have stabbed my girlfriend, I have stabbed my girlfriend'.

He would later tell police in his interview he wanted to be sent back to India so he could be put to death.

In the days before the offence, Ambarla said he went to his ex-girlfriend's father's address and offered to clear the debt for his daughter's hand in marriage.

The victim said she was blackmailed, with Ambarla threatening to reveal their past relationship which her parents had frowned upon for religious reasons.

Ambarla also accused her of sleeping with other people, even though they were not together, and bombarded her with telephone calls, eventually turning up at her address late at night and barging his way inside demanding to see her.

He was pushed outside, but grabbed her phone and ran off, telling her 'This is not the right decision for us' and asked for 'one more chance'.

He stayed outside for another 40 minutes then left, but turned up the next morning and banged on the windows before pulling her outside by the hand.

After a flatmate slapped him and told him to leave, he waited outside again for another half hour. Days later he turned up at the restaurant she was working in, where the horror unfolded.

The court saw horrific footage of the attack - apparently too disturbing for Ambarla to bear - and heard grisly medical evidence of the nine stab wounds his victim suffered.

They included a 10cm gash to the neck, penetrating the windpipe, cuts to the chest, arms, back, and abdomen, all of which left her in critical care for nearly a month undergoing six surgeries.

A month after her release she had to return to hospital with a lung infection, and she is reminded daily of the violence as she hides her scars with clothes.

Ambarla can be seen here stood over his victim with the knife clearly in his hand

Ambarla is seen talking to restaurant staff as his victim lays on the floor after suffering multiple stab wounds

Ambarla then leave the knife with his victim before quickly leaving the restaurant

Ambarla appears to take something from the table before finally leaving the restaurant

In her recollection of the attack, she said she only felt the first stab wound but knew from its ferocity 'he wanted to kill me on the spot, he slit my throat'.

Two years later the victim has graduated from her Master's course, but is still struggling with panic attacks and fears Ambarla might burst into her bedroom at any moment.

In a victim impact statement made this January, she told her attacker she never wants him to stay away for good.

'I really do not think I can forgive Sriram for what he did to me. I just want him to know when that day comes for his release, I want him to have a good life, but I never want to ever see or hear from him again. He's not only hurt me and my family, but all his family too,' she said.

Two forensic psychologists who assessed Ambarla concluded he was a dangerous offender, including Professor Nigel Blackwood who said 'further specified offences were conceivable, even likely, with future partners'.

But Judge Katz concluded his sentence would be long enough not to warrant extending it, in the hope Ambarla could address his mental health issues in prison.

Neither psychologist concluded Ambarla's diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder had significantly impaired his judgement during the attack.

But Ambarla's defence counsel Carolina Guiloff pulled at the thread of BPD in a bid to seek some mitigation on behalf of her client, entering a debate with Judge Katz that bordered on the philosophical.

'He was at the mercy of an abnormal condition, BPD, a personality disorder,' she argued, telling the judge his actions were 'not because he was bad'.

Judge Katz rejected the characterisation of 'bad', and said: 'Jealous people are like they are.'

Referring to features of the diagnosis listed on the NHS website, which includes fear of abandonment and volatile relationships, Ms Guiloff added: 'It's difficult to see how the agreed diagnosis of the personality disorder is not linked to the offence.'

Judge Katz also showed little time for Ambarla's suicide threats, telling the court: 'It's all the time "I'm going to kill myself, I'm going to kill myself", then look who gets killed.'

The judge did, however, consider Ambarla's previous good character, lack of maturity, and evident remorse as he came to sentence him.

Judge Katz recalled the lead-up to the stabbing: the deluge of calls, the harassment, and the threats. 'You grabbed her and then launched a sustained and vicious attack which must have been completely terrifying for her,' he said.

'Even after you reduced her to the floor, having stabbed her already with staff trying to intervene, you repeatedly continued to stab her.'

Jailing him for 16 years for attempted murder, with a 12-month concurrent sentence for knife possession, Judge Katz warned it would be up to the parole board to decide if Ambarla is ready for release once he has served his time.

He is also banned from making contact with his victim again through an indefinite restraining order.
Sajid Javid says he would not replicate the NHS anywhere else in the world as it needs to address its 'failings'.

The former health secretary warned of 'fundamental flaws' in the health service and said the Australian version was 'a lot better'.

His tribute to the Australian model - in which everyone is entitled to free healthcare but the wealthy can either pay extra or take out private cover - will alarm those who think the NHS should remain taxpayer-funded.

He said: 'Would I replicate the NHS anywhere else? No, I wouldn't.

'I think as a universal healthcare system it tries to do a lot but it's failing on a lot of counts in terms of outcomes.

Sajid Javid (pictured in July 2022) says he would not replicate the NHS anywhere else in the world as it needs to address its 'failings'

His tribute to the Australian model - in which everyone is entitled to free healthcare but the wealthy can either pay extra or take out private cover - will alarm those who think the NHS should remain taxpayer-funded (stock photo)

Under Australia's Medicare system, everyone is entitled to free health care but Australians on higher incomes can choose between paying an extra two per cent levy to help fund the system or take our private cover. Most choose private cover (stock photo)

'And I could talk about all the reasons why - I've written about it, I've talked about it - but I think there's some fundamental flaws in the NHS model.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Hundreds of the nation's brightest students denied the chance to train as doctors despite leaving school with at least three A*s Advertisement

'I think the Australian model, for example, is a lot better. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's a lot better than the NHS model.

'And I think whichever government is in office in the next few years will really need to tackle that issue and be honest about some of the challenges that the NHS sees, its failings, and why so many people are queueing for things that they really shouldn't have to.'

Under Australia's Medicare system, everyone is entitled to free health care but Australians on higher incomes can choose between paying an extra two per cent levy to help fund the system or take out private cover. Most choose private cover.

The surcharge aims to encourage individuals to take out private hospital cover and, where possible, to go private to reduce the demand on public Medicare system.

In 2022, NHS Scotland leaders discussed the idea of a two-tier system in which the wealthy pay more for treatment but the plans were abandoned.

Mr Javid (pictured in January 2022) made the comments while speaking on a panel alongside former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard organised by the Coalition for Global Prosperity - a campaign group launched by David Cameron

Mr Javid was health secretary from June 2021 until July 2022 when he resigned from Boris Johnson's Cabinet (stock image)

During the event, Mr Javid warned that another pandemic was coming sooner than people realise - and could well begin in China again (stock image)

Mr Javid was speaking on a panel alongside former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard organised by the Coalition for Global Prosperity - a campaign group launched by David Cameron.

He was health secretary from June 2021 until July 2022 when he resigned from Boris Johnson's Cabinet.

Mr Javid has said he will stand down as an MP at the next election.

During the event, Mr Javid warned that another pandemic was coming sooner than people realise - and could well begin in China again.

Acknowledging that Britain disagreed with China on many things, he said the country could not be ignored when it comes to dealing with the world's biggest challenges.

'When it comes to health, think about the last pandemic and how it all began in China,' he said.

'And when the next pandemic comes, and it's probably going to be a lot sooner I think than most people realise, and there's lots of medical health reasons, and scientific reasons for that.

'It may well begin from China and there's reason to think that as well. And I think you've got to have a good sort of co-operation (with) countries like that on things that matter to all of us, things that don't recognise international borders - like health.'
Two young men in New South Wales have died after separate stabbing attacks overnight.

Police are investigating the death of a man who was found with stab wounds in a Sydney residential area, and also the stabbing death of a teen in the state's west.

The attacks follow two other shocking stabbing attacks to rock Sydney in recent weeks at Westfield Bondi Junction and at a church in Wakeley.

On Friday night, a 28-year-old man was found in a critical condition at Narcissus Avenue in Quakers Hill in Sydney's north-west about 8.30pm.

He had suffered stab wounds to his chest and paramedics worked to save him but he died while on the way to hospital.

Detectives investigating the incident have asked anyone with CCTV footage, dashcam or information about what happened to contact them.

A crime scene has been set up at the residential street.

Police were seen at the quiet Quakers Hill, Sydney street on Saturday morning

Detectives are investigating the stabbing of a 28-year-old man, one of two stabbing attacks in NSW on Friday night

Meanwhile, a teenage boy died following a stabbing in the state's west overnight.

Emergency services were called to a home on Nymagee Street, Narromine at 9pm on Friday following reports of a stabbing.

Officers arrived to find a 16-year-old boy with stab injuries to his neck.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Dubbo airport where he died.

Following inquiries, police arrested a 26-year-old man at a home nearby.

Police have established a crime scene and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident.
The phrase 'We are not amused' is famously associated with Queen Victoria.

Legend has it she uttered the words after a performance of HMS Pinafore, though other stories claim it was in response to a dull joke.

And now it has emerged that Prince Charles was not amused when his late mother, the Queen, modelled for her dresser, Angela Kelly - and was photographed with her hands in her pockets!

Worse still, the photographs then appeared in Ms Kelly's 2019 book, The Queen, The Dresser and The Wardrobe.

Royal Author Ingrid Seward reveals that the incident 'was enough to incur Charles's wrath.'

'He thoroughly disliked what he considered was taking advantage of her good nature,' she writes in her latest book, My Mother and I.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was well capable of expressing her own lack of amusement - as these 15 moments show...

The 'tour from hell'

The Queen's private secretary, Sir Philip Moore, leans in to reassure Her Majesty as the wait for King Hassam to appear

The Queen's state visit to Morocco in 1980 - dubbed the 'tour from hell' - was plagued with difficulties.

For instance, one afternoon, King Hassan II disappeared and left Queen Elizabeth waiting in a sweltering desert tent for most of the afternoon.

Disappointed by the races

The Queen was disappointed with the result at the Epsom Derby in 1993

The Queen, known for her passion for horses, displayed evident disappointment at the 1993 Epsom Derby result.

Her expression contrasted that of her son, Prince Charles, and racing manager, Earl of Carnarvon, who both appeared delighted with the outcome.

An awkward encounter

Queen Elizabeth shared an awkward encounter at a polo match with Princess Diana in 1985

An awkward encounter unfolded between Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana in 1985.

The pair attended a polo match in Windsor, which coincided with the onset of marital difficulties between Diana and Charles.

The look of disapproval

It is said that Queen Elizabeth considered Meghan Markle's wedding gown 'too white' for a divorced woman

According to royal author Ingrid Seward, Queen Elizabeth expressed reservations about Meghan Markle's Givenchy wedding gown, considering it 'too white' for a divorced woman.

Perhaps this explains her less than impressed demeanor inside St George's Chapel.

Mischief by name, mischief by nature

Mischief the dog leaps up to greet Queen Elizabeth during the reopening of the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in 2001. The Queen is not best pleased

True to his name, Mischief the dog enthusiastically leaped up at the monarch during a visit to the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in 2001.

A curtsey might have been more fitting, perhaps?

A passionate demeanor

A passionate Queen Elizabeth loses at the Epsom Derby in 2019

The Queen was frequently photographed displaying a passionate demeanor at the races.

It seems her horse didn't fare well in this instance.

Wading through mud

The Queen wading through mud to present prizes at the Windsor Horse Show

Our former monarch demonstrated resilience as she waded through the mud at Windsor House Show.

She appeared displeased by the sight of mud splattered on her cream trench coat.

Three's a crowd

Three's a crowd: Sarah, Duchess of York shares a joke with Princess Diana as Queen Elizabeth looks on

When Princess Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York, shared a joke during Derby Day at Epson race course, the Queen was not amused.

The outing in 1987 took place after Charles began his affair with Camilla.

'Stand up, William!'

A royal telling off: Queen Elizabeth gestured Prince William to stand up on the Buckingham Palace balcony

You are never too old to receive a telling off from your grandparent.

The monarch was seen tapping Prince William on the arm and gesturing him to stand up as he crouched down to tend to a boisterous Prince George on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Close examination of the moment appeared to show the monarch saying: 'Stand up, William.'

Another loss at the races

Something in the air? The Queen seems to think so at The Royal Windsor Horse Show

The royal's disappointment was evident at The Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Decked out in a tweed skirt suit and pearl jewellery, Elizabeth looked less than amused while observing a race.

An unexpected reveal

Queen Elizabeth appears to quickly cover her legs with a blanket when her car door is opened

During a trip to Bristol in 2012, the monarch wasn't prepared for her car door to open.

She hastily grabbed a blanket to cover her lap.

Uncertain glances

Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margret, was known for her haughty behaviour

Elizabeth shared a close bond with little sister, Princess Margaret.

But Margaret's outspoken nature sometimes drew disapproving glances from the Queen.

Better luck next time!

Queen Elizabeth wags her finger at Newbury Race Course in 2011

Queen Elizabeth made another passionate appearance at Newbury Race Course in 2011.

She was spotted sporting a stern expression and wagging her finger when her horse failed to win.

A half-hearted rendition

Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his wife Cherie Blair join hands for Auld Lang Syne in 1999

Excitement filled the Millennium Dome during its New Year celebrations in 1999.

For a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, the Queen joined hands with her husband, Prince Philip, the prime minister, Tony Blair, but refrained from singing along.

Maintaining perfection

Elizabeth sported the same hairstyle throughout her reign, so the monarch was less than impressed when it fell out of place

The monarch's trademark hairstyle was established soon after her coronation in 1953.

She maintained a polished appearance throughout her reign. Just occasionally she had to put a stray strand back into position when needed.

Breach of royal protocol

Donald Trump broke royal protocol by walking in front of the monarch in 2018. The frustration is evident

Donald Trump's meeting with Queen Elizabeth in 2018 caused quite a stir.

The president broke royal protocol by walking in front of the monarch, while the pair inspected the Guard of Honour.
Imagine a successful investor or a wealthy chief executive  who would you picture?

If you ask ChatGPT, it's almost certainly a white man.

The chatbot has been accused of 'sexism' after it was asked to generate images of people in various high powered jobs.

Out of 100 tests, it chose a man 99 times.

In contrast, when it was asked to do so for a secretary, it chose a woman all but once.

ChatGPT accused of sexism after identifying a white man when asked to generate a picture of a high-powered job 99 out of 100 times

The study by personal finance site Finder found it also chose a white person every single time - despite not specifying a race.

The results do not reflect reality. One in three businesses globally are owned by women, while 42 per cent of FTSE 100 board members in the UK were women.

Business leaders have warned AI models are 'laced with prejudice' and called for tougher guardrails to ensure they don't reflect society's own biases.

It is now estimated that 70 per cent of companies are using automated applicant tracking systems to find and hire talent.

Concerns have been raised that if these systems are trained in similar ways to ChatGPT that women and minorities could suffer in the job market.

OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, is not the first tech giant to come under fire over results that appear to perpetuate old-fashioned stereotypes.

This month, Meta was accused of creating a 'racist' AI image generator when users discovered it was unable to imagine an Asian man with a white woman.

Google meanwhile was forced to pause its Gemini AI tool after critics branded it 'woke' for seemingly refusing to generate images of white people.

When asked to paint a picture of a secretary, nine out of 10 times it generated a white woman

Why did ChatGPT mostly generate images of just men? An expert explains... With two in three ChatGPT users male, the chatbot - and the tech industry itself - continues to be dominated by men, according to Ruhi Khan. The researcher at London School of Economics, who has studied the crossover between feminism and AI, said: 'ChatGPT was not born in a vacuum. 'It emerged in a patriarchal society, was conceptualised, and developed by mostly men with their own set of biases and ideologies, and fed with the training data that is also flawed by its very historical nature. 'So, it is no wonder that generative AI models like ChatGPT perpetuate these patriarchal norms by simply replicating them. 'With 100 million users every week, such outdated and discriminatory ideas are becoming a part of a narrative that excludes women from spaces they have long struggled to occupy.' Advertisement

The latest research asked 10 of the most popular free image generators on ChatGPT to paint a picture of a typical person in a range of high-powered jobs.

All the image generators - which had clocked up millions of conversations - used the underlying OpenAI software Dall-E, but have been given unique instructions and knowledge.

Over 100 tests, each one showed an image of a man on almost every occasion - only once did it show a woman. This was when it was asked to show 'someone who works in finance'.

When each of the image generators were asked to show a secretary, nine out of 10 times it showed a woman and only once did it show a man.

While race was not specified in the image descriptions, all of the images provided for the roles appeared to be white.

Business leaders last night called for stronger guardrails built in to AI models to protect against such biases.

Derek Mackenzie, chief executive of technology recruitment specialists Investigo, said: 'While the ability of generative AI to process vast amounts of information undoubtedly has the potential to make our lives easier, we can't escape the fact that many training models are laced with prejudice based on people's biases.

'This is yet another example that people shouldn't blindly trust the outputs of generative AI and that the specialist skills needed to create next-generation models and counter in-built human bias are critical.'

Pauline Buil, from web marketing firm Deployteq, said: 'For all its benefits, we must be careful that generative AI doesn't produce negative outcomes that have serious consequences on society, from breaching copyright to discrimination.

'Harmful outputs get fed back into AI training models, meaning that bias is all some of these AI models will ever know and that has to be put to an end.'

The results do not reflect reality, with one in three businesses globally are owned by women

Ruhi Khan, a researcher in feminism and AI at the London School of Economics, said that ChatGPT 'emerged in a patriarchal society, was conceptualised, and developed by mostly men with their own set of biases and ideologies, and fed with the training data that is also flawed by its very historical nature.

'AI models like ChatGPT perpetuate these patriarchal norms by simply replicating them.'

OpenAI's website admits that its chatbot is 'not free from biases and stereotypes' and urges users to 'carefully review' the content it creates.

In a list of points to 'bear in mind', it says the model is skewed towards Western views. It adds that it is an 'ongoing area of research' and welcomed feedback on how to improve.

The US firm also warns that it can also 'reinforce' a users prejudices while interacting with it, such as strong opinions on politics and religion.

Sidrah Hassan of AND Digital: 'The rapid evolution of generative AI has meant models are running off without proper human guidance and intervention.

'To be clear, when I say 'human guidance' this has to be diverse and intersectional, simply having human guidance doesn't equate to positive and inclusive results.'

A spokeswoman for the AI said: 'Bias is a significant issue across the industry and we have safety teams dedicated to researching and reducing bias, and other risks, in our models.

'We use a multi-prong approach to address it, including researching the best methods for modifying training data and prompts to achieve fairer outcomes, enhancing the precision of our content filtering systems, and improving both automated and human oversight.

'We are continuously iterating on our models to reduce bias and mitigate harmful outputs.'
It's something that most of us do without thinking twice.

But next time you're unpacking your groceries from the supermarket, you might want to reconsider where you store your items.

Food researchers from Two Wombats have revealed the surprising foods that you should be keeping in the fridge.

'It's obvious that produce like fresh meat, fish and dairy should be kept in the refrigerator,' they explained.

'But there are other ingredients that you might be surprised to learn you've been storing incorrectly.'

Where do you store these ingredients? Surprisingly, among those best stored in the fridge include nuts and wholegrain flour

1. Ketchup

Many people mistakenly believe that ketchup should be stored on the cupboard shelf, much like how it is in the supermarket.

However, once it's opened, the experts say that ketchup should be stored in the fridge.

'While unopened and sealed, it is fine to store in the pantry,' they explained.

'But once opened, it's best to store it in the fridge to maintain its natural acidity level, flavour, smell, and colour.'

2. Corn on the cob

If you're stocking up on corn on the cob for your next BBQ, it's best to keep this in the fridge.

'If you refrigerate corn on the cob immediately after purchasing, it will greatly slow down the conversion of its sugars into starches,' the experts said.

'This will maintain its natural sweetness and crisp texture for a longer period.'

It's technically fine to store butter on the kitchen table. However, if you want to prolong the freshness and improve the flavour, it's best to keep it in the fridge

3. Wholegrain flour

One of the most surprising items on the list is wholegrain flour.

While other flour types are typically stored in the cupboard, wholegrain flour has a higher oil content, so can go rancid if kept at room temperature.

'The freshness and flavour can be preserved by cooling it, making it perfect for baking,' the experts said.

4. Butter

It's technically fine to store butter on the kitchen table.

However, if you want to prolong the freshness and improve the flavour, it's best to keep it in the fridge.

'The best way to keep butter spreadable and fresh is to take out just enough for mealtime and leave it out of the fridge about an hour before use so it can soften properly,' the experts said.

If you've got leftover rice, it might seem harmles to leave it out on the counter. However, this can actually lead to food poisoning, according to the experts

5. Tortillas

If you regularly buy tortillas, you may have noticed that they turn mouldy annoyingly quickly.

To rectify this issue, the experts suggest keeping your tortillas in the fridge.

'Tortilla packs are highly sensitive to temperature changes, which can create moisture and lead to moulding,' they explained.

'When you store them in the fridge, corn tortillas can last up to eight weeks, flour tortillas for up to four, and homemade tortillas for seven days instead of the usual two or three.'

6. Nuts

If you plan to consume nuts within a month of buying them, it's fine to keep them in your pantry.

However, if you want to keep them fresh for longer, it's best to keep them in the fridge.

'The unsaturated fats in nuts are delicate and can quickly turn rancid, affecting their natural flavour and making them less enjoyable,' the experts said.

7. Natural peanut butter

From Pip & Nut to Meridien, natural peanut butters are now hugely popular in the UK, thanks to their basic ingredients and lack of stabilisers.

As with nuts, if you're going to consume your natural peanut butter within a few weeks, you can store it in the pantry.

However, if you're planning to keep it for longer, it's better to keep it in the fridge, according to the experts.

'Unlike conventional peanut butter, natural variants don't contain stabilisers, so chilling them helps keep the spread smoother and fresher for longer,' they explained.

'To prevent natural peanut butter from separating, stir it and store it in the fridge upside down.'

8. Cooked rice

If you've got leftover rice, it might seem harmles to leave it out on the counter.

However, this can actually lead to food poisoning, according to the experts.

'All varieties of uncooked rice can contain Bacillus cereus spores, a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses like vomiting or diarrhoea,' they said.

'These spores are heat-resistant and survive even after cooking.

From Pip & Nut to Meridien, natural peanut butters are now hugely popular in the UK, thanks to their basic ingredients and lack of stabilisers. As with nuts, if you're going to consume your natural peanut butter within a few weeks, you can store it in the pantry

'To prevent the growth of bacteria, it's recommended to divide large batches of rice into smaller portions and allow them to cool faster by spreading them out on a shallow tray before storing them in the fridge.

'This method reduces the risk of bacterial growth and prevents the rice from becoming overly clumpy or mushy when reheated.'

9. Jam

Because of its high sugar content, you might think jam is safe to store in the cupboard.

However, once it's opened, mould and fermentation can quickly occur.

'Once you pop the lid off the jar, it's time to put it in the refrigerator,' the experts said.

'Using a clean spoon each time you scoop out the jam can significantly extend its shelf life. Additionally, storing the jam in the fridge immediately after each use will help prevent mould formation and maintain its quality.'

10. Yeast

It's a vital vital ingredient in many baked goods, but yeast is highly sensitive to environmental changes.

Unopened, it can be stored in a cool, dry place, but refrigeration is highly recommended once opened.

'The lower temperatures in the fridge help preserve the yeast's activity and prevent it from dying off, ensuring that it remains adequate for your baking need,' the experts added.

'Once you open a can of yeast, it is crucial to transfer any unused yeast to an airtight container before placing it in the refrigerator.

'This prevents moisture from deactivating the yeast. When stored properly, yeast can maintain its activity for about 4 to 6 months after opening.'
The RMT is the US's newest tool in the space race against Russia and China

It works by flooding the airwaves with competing signals to drown them out

The US Space Force conducted the first test of a ground-based warfare system to protect military forces against 'space-enabled' attacks - as Russia and China aim to put nukes in space.

The device, which looks like a satellite dish, was designed to jam orbiting satellite communication by overloading the airwaves with competing signals.

Known as the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), the device is touted as being low-cost and remotely operated, 'keeping Guardians out of harms way.'

Space Force announced the test this week, noting it is the first time the system has been fielded at two geographically separated locations and controlled from a third, emphasizing its operational flexibility.

The weapon comes as Russia voted down a United Nations resolution calling on all nations to prevent a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space and China abstained from voting.

The US Space Force's Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) has begun testing the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), a satellite jamming device meant to protect troops from satellite-based attacks.

Space Force and Air Force personnel manage RMT equipment during a test of the new system. The devices are made to be deployed in large numbers and operated remotely.

READ MORE: How Russia's brazen plan to put nukes in SPACE could cripple America If satellites were knocked out, mobile phone data could black out temporarily, as could home internet for people in rural areas. Communication among banks and other businesses around the world would be hampered, effectively disabling the routines of global business. Advertisement

U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Gerrit Dalman said: 'This event demonstrates the Services new vision for integrated developmental and operational test to provide more relevant capabilities to Guardians faster.

'Specifically, this capability will unlock the scale to provide counterspace electronic warfare capability to all of the new Space Force components globally.'

If an enemy satellite were targeting US troops or facilities on the ground, one or more RMTs would emit signals in a certain range of the electromagnetic spectrum to confuse and distort the signals being sent to or from the satellite.

Simply put, the airwaves would be too clogged with nonsense for enemies' satellites to make anything out.

The end goal is rendering those satellites useless - whether they have actual weapons on them or are just providing surveillance data to enable other types of attacks.

Not much information is available on the RMTs, but in a slide from a Space Force presentation to industry figures in October 2023, the military group described the weapon as 'small transportable systems that can be emplaced in both garrison and austere environments,' meaning the Space Force could deploy them anywhere, whether or not there is somewhere to plug them in.

The device itself looks like a satellite dish, around 10 feet in diameter.

Space Force received its first four units from the manufacturer in September 2023.

Most recently, STARCOM officials announced that: 'The recent test is the first time the system has been fielded at two geographically separated locations and controlled from a third, emphasizing its operational flexibility.'

The test also included a Cyber Vulnerability Penetration Assessment 'to ensure the remote connections were secure.'

This is one of the few available images of the RMT, taken from a slide in a Space Force presentation to the industry in October 2023.

Russia already has several space-based military assets. These include co-orbital anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, direct-ascent ASAT missiles, and Starlink communication satellites it is contracting for its war on Ukraine

STARCOM's announcement comes on the heels of multiple signals that US military and political rivals are gearing up to put military equipment into space.

In February, House Intel Chair Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio said members of Congress had been made aware of a 'serious national security threat' but would not go into details.

It later emerged that it was related to Moscow's plan to put a nuclear weapon into space to target and destroy satellites the world depends on.

And back in December, China successfully launched a top secret, unmanned spacecraft one day after a classified US Space Force craft was supposed to go into orbit.

The US mission was grounded due to technical issues, but China's went off without a hitch.

'It's probably no coincidence that they're trying to match us in timing and sequence of this,' General Chance Saltzman, Space Force's Chief of Space Operations, said at the time.

China used one of its well-known Long March 2 rockets to put the secret spacecraft into orbit, but the public still does not have any images of this craft, dubbed the Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft, or CSSHQ.

If - or when - Russia deploys nuclear weapons into orbit around Earth, such a weapon could threaten satellites that enable military and civilian communications for the US and other western allies.

While nuclear bombs are usually thought of as weapons meant to cause large numbers of casualties and mass property destruction, in space the strategy appears to be the creation of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

The US Space Force 'spy' space shuttle X-37B (above) was due to launch by SpaceX as part of a classified mission in December but was forced to stand down minutes before it was due to take off.

China successfully launched its top secret, unmanned spacecraft  the Asian superpower's answer to the US Space Force's own X-37B unmanned, covert spaceplane  into orbit for the third time this the next day. Its purpose: 'technical support for the peaceful use of space.'

When a nuclear bomb goes off, whether on land or in space, it creates an EMP.

This burst of electromagnetic energy can disable or destroy electronic equipment - including satellites.

If a Russian orbiting weapon attacked US satellites, it could effectively cripple the US, causing nationwide blackouts and shutting down communications.

Cell phone towers, internet, GPS, banking systems, power grids, first responders and military operations could all be impacted.

In this climate, the Space Force's leadership has stressed how important it is for the service to roll out new weapons - both in space and on the ground.

The Space Force credited the RMT's quick development to a partnership with an unnamed 'small business,' which started working on the devices just 38 days after the military branch had received its proposal.

At the Space Foundation's annual Space Symposium earlier this month, Saltzman said in a speech that it's crucial for the US's newest military branch to work in close partnership with commercial industry.

'The Space Force must harness the benefits of technological innovation and emerging capabilities if we're going to be able to out-compete our competitors, or Space Force will lose, the Joint Force will lose and the U.S. will lose,' he said.

'Throughout our nation's history,' said Saltzman, 'military success has hinged on support from commercial industry.'
Astronomers could finally show that alien life does exist on a distant planet following observations today.

Planet K2-18b  which is more than twice as big as Earth and 120 light-years away  sits within the habitable zone of its star in the Leo constellation.

Scientists said last year they thought they'd detected dimethyl sulphide gas in its atmosphere  a compound that is 'only produced by life'.

Now, to confirm the finding, the James Webb Space Telescope will undertake hours of observations of the planet on Friday.

However, space fans will have to wait several months for the results to be authenticated and published.

Scientists made an exciting and potentially ground-breaking discovery in the search for alien life - after detecting signs of a gas produced only by living organisms on a distant water planet known as K2-18b (pictured in an artist's impression)

Detection: A gas 'uniquely associated with life' when found on Earth has been discovered in the atmosphere of K2-18 b. The compound dimethyl sulphide was spotted along with large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane (pictured)

Planet K2-18b: Key facts Discovered: 2015 Star: K2-18 Orbital duration: 33 days Constellation: Leo Mass: 8.6 times that of Earth Radius: 2.6 times that of Earth Advertisement

Investigations of planet K2-18b are being led by Dr Nikku Madhusudhan, an astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge.

He's called it a 'hycean' world  a relatively new term he coined for a rocky planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and oceans of water.

'If we do detect DMS [on K2-18b] it does put it basically at the top for potential signs of habitability,' he told the Times.

K2-18b  more than eight times the mass of Earth and over twice as big  was discovered in 2015.

But it was only in 2019 that the presence of water vapour in K2-18b's atmosphere was reported.

Then, last year, the James Webb telescope detected carbon dioxide and methane in its atmosphere, as well as a shortage of ammonia.

Dr Madhusudhan called this a 'very profound moment' because it supports the theory that there's a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

But it was the presence of something else that got astronomers even more excited.

Planet K2-18b - more than eight times the mass of Earth and 120 light-years away - sits within the habitable zone of its star in the Leo constellation. It's closer to its star than the Earth is to the sun, meaning it has shorter years, completing its orbit in 33 days while ours takes 365

It is thought to be a 'Hycean' world (depicted) - a new class of exoplanet possessing key ingredients for alien species because of their hydrogen-rich atmospheres and oceans of water

More observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (pictured) could confirm the presence of DMS in the planet's atmosphere

READ MORE Hopes of finding life on Jupiter's moon are DASHED Europa is comprised of an icy shell about 15 miles thick Advertisement

Initial Webb observations provided a possible detection of a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which on Earth is 'only produced by life'.

The bulk of the DMS in Earths atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments  suggesting a similar form of life on the distant planet.

In fact, scientists have been unable to think of any natural geological or chemical process that could create DMS without living organisms.

Dr Madhusudhan said the finding was a shock but because they were initial observations he could only say with 50 per cent confidence there is DMS on K2-18b.

'It was a real shock, I had sleepless nights for a week,' he added.

'That week, I didnt even muster the courage to break it to my own team.'

Today, eight hours of observations by the James Webb telescope should provide a definitive answer  although the expert will have to spend months poring over the data to get it.

NASA's $10 billion (7.4 billion) observatory is able to analyse the chemical make-up of a distant planet by capturing the light from its host star after it has passed through the planet's atmosphere on its way to Earth.

Gases in the atmosphere absorb some of the starlight but each leave tell-tale signatures in the spectrum of light that astronomers can then unpick.

James Webb telescope has detected key molecules, as depicted in this graph from a paper published last year. Today, the observatory will be specifically searching for dimethyl sulfide (DMS)

Although Hycean worlds are predicted to be covered in water, researchers say it is also possible that K2-18 b's hypothesised ocean is too hot to be habitable or be liquid.

In fact, a study published earlier this year suggested the ocean may be lava.

K2-18b is known as a 'super Earth' because it is bigger than our planet but smaller than Neptune.

K2-18b's large size  with a radius 2.6 times the radius of Earth  means that the planet's interior likely contains a large mantle of high-pressure ice, like Neptune, but with a thinner hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean surface.

'Although this kind of planet does not exist in our solar system, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of planet known so far in the galaxy,' said researcher Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University.

'We have obtained the most detailed spectrum of a habitable-zone sub-Neptune to date, and this allowed us to work out the molecules that exist in its atmosphere.'
The heartbreaking moment a turtle choked on a piece of plastic was captured by divers off the coast of Hawaii, highlighting the scale of pollution in our oceans.

A group of 100 individuals strapped with scuba gear spent Earth Day clearing pollution off the seafloor in Oahu and watched in horror as the sea animal mistook the waste for a jellyfish.

The video shows the green sea turtle swimming toward the divers, opening its mouth and coughing up a thin sheet of plastic - along with plastic bottles, cans and other trash littering the ocean floor.

The distressing footage mirrored an incident in 2015 when researchers discovered a one-inch plastic straw lodged in a turtles nose in Costa Rican waters, which sparked a movement to ban the waste.

The video shows the green sea turtle swimming toward the divers, opening its mouth and coughing up a thin sheet of plastic - along with plastic bottles, cans and other trash littering the ocean floor

Diver Brittany Ziegler (pictured), 34, who shot the video, said: 'We were on Oahu for a weekend pledge against plastics so it was ironic that we captured that awful footage of the turtle on that day

A group of 100 individuals strapped with scuba gear spent Earth Day clearing pollution off the seafloor in Oahu

Diver Brittany Ziegler, 34, who shot the video, said: 'We were on Oahu for a weekend pledge against plastics so it was ironic that we captured that awful footage of the turtle on that day.

Ziegler told SWSM: 'Over 100 people showed up and we cleared up a few thousand pounds worth of plastic out of the ocean.

'Whilst we were live streaming the clean up to thousands of people on my TikTok, this beautiful green sea turtle slowly approached us and spat this plastic out.

'I just thought you poor baby, we don't know how much plastic she could've had in her stomach either.

'She just swam right up to us, looked in the camera and spat the plastic right out. It was like she was trying to tell us something.

'They love to eat jellyfish and they just can't tell the difference.'

The video has also revived memories of a turtle found in Costa Rica in 2015 by researchers who pulled a one-inch plastic straw out of the creature's nose

The video echoed another in 2015 that was captured by researchers off the coast of Costa Rica.

Marine biologist Christine Figgener and her team came across a sea turtle in the waters, noticing something was lodged in its nose.

They initially believed it was a parasitic worm, but a closer look revealed it was a plastic straw.

The video showed the team slowly pulling the trash out of the turtle's nostril, as blood began to flow down its face.

Using a pair of pliers, researches slowly extracted the straw while the turtle appeared to be in excruciating pain throughout the entire ordeal.

The video maker then addressed the camera and said: 'This is the reason we do not need plastic straws.'

A staggering 30 per cent of turtles and 71 per cent of seabirds have been with plastic material located in their stomachs. Its also estimated that one million seabirds and 100,000 other types of marine animals die from ingesting plastic on an annual basis.

Following the Costa Rica incident, many US states and international corporations moved to ban plastic straws.
Meteorologists have released a new map warning residents of 10 US states that they are at higher-than-usual risk of wildfires.

These states, all in the Northeast, received a warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) that low humidity and gusty winds have combined to raise their wildfire risk.

The alarm was sounded for Americans in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Maine.

And some of these states are continuing burn bans longer throughout the year due to the predicted severity of the 2024 wildfire season.

The alarm was sounded for residents in Kentucky , West Virginia , Virginia, Pennsylvania , Delaware, Maryland , New Jersey , New York, Vermont and Maine

A pile of leaves and a sapling catch fire along Peake Mountain Road during a wildfire, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, near Rawley Springs, Virginia.

READ MORE: Dramatic time-lapse shows wildfire smoke consume NYC skyline An incredible video shows New York City engulfed by glowing orange smog caused by 400 Canadian wildfires. Advertisement

'Dry conditions with gusty winds are expected across the region today. Minimum relative humidity values will drop as low as 20 percent in some areas with south to southwest wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph during the afternoon,' read a warning from the NWS office in Binghamton, New York.

'Although this Spring has been wet, fine fuels such as dead grass and leaf litter will quickly dry out in these conditions,' the Special Weather Statement continued.

'If any fires were to start, the windy and dry weather will increase the risk of wildfire spread, making it difficult to contain.'

Because of the dry weather, the state of New York is keeping its burn ban in place until May 14.

Some types of outdoor fires are still allowed, including campfires and small cooking fires less than three feet in height and four feet across.

Ceremonial or celebratory fires, too, are allowed - including those for the disposal of flags or religious items, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

But because of the risk that fire will spread to the dry grasses and brush nearby, burning trash, branches, leaves, or treated wood is prohibited until May 14, when conditions are expected to make wildfires less likely.

The west coast of the US has earned a reputation for forest fires in recent years, but this wildfire in Virginia covered over 2,000 acres at the end of March this year.

The National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh issued this warning that the conditions were right for wildfires.

Farther west, the NWS office of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania issued the following warning on X on Tuesday: '...ELEVATED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING FOR WEST VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA... Relative humidity will drop to between 15% and 25% with winds gusting from 20 mph to 30 mph at times. These conditions make it possible for an increased risk of wildfires today.'

NWS lead meteorologist David Shallenberger told Newsweek that the special weather statement in the Northeast is not likely to lead to a red flag warning - a forecast warning that conditions are ideal for wildfires to start and rapidly spread.

'We are starting to green up now, and we just had a period of rainfall,' he said. 'The moisture in things that could burn has been relatively high lately.'

The risk is temporary, but officials emphasized that residents of these 10 states should take extra caution for the time being.
A scientist claims to have cracked the cause of the 'Pharaoh's curse' that was believed to have killed more than 20 people who opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

Ancient Egyptian text threatens 'death by a disease that no doctor can diagnose' to anyone who disturbs royal mummified remains - but Ross Fellowes has suggested there was a biological reason behind the deaths.

The study determined the cause was radiation poisoning from natural elements containing uranium and toxic waste that was deliberately put inside the sealed vault.

Exposure to substances could have led to certain cancers, like the one that took the life of archaeologist Howard Carter - the first person to walk inside Tut's tomb more than 100 years ago.

The theory effectively proves that the tomb was indeed 'cursed' - although in a deliberate, biological way - rather than in a supernatural manner that has been suggested by some Ancient Egyptologists.

A scientist claims to have cracked the case of the 'Pharaoh's curse' that was believed to have killed more than 20 people who opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Pictured is Howard Carter who was long said to die from the curse

Carter died in 1939 likely of a heart attack after a long battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which impacts the germ-fighting immune system of the body - and radiation poisoning has been linked as a cause of the cancer.

Lord Carnarvon, one of the men who also walked through the treasured filled rooms, died from blood poisoning five months after the discovery.

He suffered a severe mosquito bite, which became infected after a razor cut.

Shortly after the tomb was opened, there was a short power failure and all the lights throughout Cairo went out.

Carnarvon's son also reported that his favorite dog howled and suddenly dropped dead.

Other people involved in the excavation died of asphyxia, stroke, diabetes, heart failure, pneumonia, poisoning, malaria and X-ray exposure - they all passed in their 50s.

British Egyptologist Arthur Weigall attended the opening of Tuts tomb, where he was accused of inciting the myth of the curse - he died of cancer at 54 years old.

Lord Carnarvon (left) and Howard Carter (right) have long been said to have died because of the Pharaoh's cures

The study determined the cause was radiation poisoning from natural elements and toxic waste deliberately put inside the sealed vaults

King Tut died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown. Pictured is the boy's face after it was unwrapped

However, inscriptions found inside other burials throughout Egypt suggested the ancient people knew about the toxins.

The text included areas were 'forbidden' because of 'evil spirits.'

The study, published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, explained that high radiation levels were also documented in Old Kingdom tomb ruins, in two locations at Giza and in several underground tombs at Saqqara.

The same conclusion was also found throughout the Osiris tomb at Giza.

Fellowes noted that 'intense radioactivity was associated with two stone coffers, especially from the interiors.'

Pictured is a luncheon in a tomb, present are J H Breasted (died from X-ray exposure, Harry Burton (died from diabetes), A Lucas, A R Callender (died from ill health), Arthur Mace (died from poison) - all no older than their 50s

The first sight of the tomb when the door was broken down

Professor Robert Temple noted that the coffers were made of basalt, determining that they 'were a point source of radiation, as opposed to general trace natural levels (of radon) from the surrounding limestone bedrock.'

Other studies have directly measured radon gas at various locations in tombs at Saqqara.

Radon gas is an intermediate product of uranium decay, with a half-life of 3.8 days.

Ambient radon concentrations were identified at six locations through the Saqqara ruins: the South Tomb, the magazines of Djosers pyramid, and the Serapeum tomb tunnels.

Thousands of pots excavated under the Step Pyramid in the 1960s contained up to 200 tons of unidentified substances that have yet to be identified - suggesting toxins were buried with mummified remains.

However, inscriptions found inside other burials throughout Egypt suggested the ancient people knew about the toxins. The text included areas were 'forbidden' because of 'evil spirits' (pictured)

Thousands of pots excavated under the Step Pyramid in the 1960s contained up to 200 tons of unidentified substances that have yet to be identified

'Reported strong radiation (as radon) in tomb ruins has been loosely attributed to the natural background from the parent bedrock,' Fellowes shared.

'However, the levels are unusually high and localized, which is not consistent with the characteristics of the limestone bedrock but implies some other unnatural source(s).'

On November 4, 1922, Carter's group found steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb and spent several months cataloguing the antechamber.

The team opened the burial chamber and discovered the the sarcophagus in February the following year.

The boy's face was on display inside his tomb located in the Valley of the Kings, close to Luxor

The feet of the Boy Pharaoh King Tutankhamun protrudes from the linen covering his mummy after it was placed in a special climatized glass case inside his tomb in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor

The tomb is considered one of the most lavish to be discovered in history, filled with precious objects to aid the young Pharaoh on his voyage to the afterlife.

The trove of grave goods included 5,000 items including solid gold funeral shoes, statues, games and strange animals.

The small size of Tutankhamun's burial chamber, given his standing in the Egyptian history, has baffled experts for years.

Carter and his team took 10 years to clear the tomb of its treasure.

The boy king was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC.

He was the son of Akhenaten and took to the throne at the age of nine or ten.

When Tut became king, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten.

He died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown.

The young king, however, was plagued with health issues due to his parents being brother and sister.

A reconstruction of his face and body showed the world a glimpse of what ailments he may have endured.

A reconstruction of his face and body showed the world a glimpse of what ailments he may have endured. King Tut had buck teeth, a club foot and girlish hips, according to the most detailed examination ever of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs remains

Scientists have used scans of King Tut's remains to construct his face

A virtual autopsy, composed of more than 2,000 computer scans, was carried out in tandem with a genetic analysis of Tutankhamuns family, which supports evidence that his parents were brother and sister

King Tut had buck teeth, a club foot and girlish hips, according to the most detailed examination ever of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs remains.

And rather than being a boy king with a love of chariot racing, Tut relied on walking sticks to get around during his rule in the 14th century BC, researchers said.

A virtual autopsy, composed of more than 2,000 computer scans, was carried out in tandem with a genetic analysis of Tutankhamuns family, which supports evidence that his parents were brother and sister.

The scientists believe that this left him with physical impairments triggered by hormonal imbalances. And his family history could also have led to his premature death in his late teens.

Various myths suggest he was murdered or was involved in a chariot crash after fractures were found in his skull and other parts of his skeleton.

But recently, scientists have suggested King Tut may have died of an inherited illness because only one of the breaks occurred before his death - and his club foot would have made chariot racing impossible.

Hutan Ashrafian, a lecturer in surgery at Imperial College London, said that several members of the family appeared to have suffered from ailments which can be explained by hormonal imbalances.

Evidence of King Tuts physical limitations were also backed up by 130 used walking canes found in his tomb.
Many urged people to go quickly before the spots become overrun with tourists

It's easy to be convinced of a glamorous location based off exotic photos seen on social media, but often the places most lauded online are overrun with tourists and are less than desirable on arrival.

Wanting to get off the beaten track, one Reddit user asked the forum: 'Which country is a must-visit?' with commenters responding in their droves with their favorite places to see.

Users shared their own experiences of visiting the little-known vacation spots - urging people to get in quick before tourists from around the world swoop in.

Take a look below at the hidden gems that promise the beauty of an Instagram famous location without the crowds.

Slovenia, Central Europe

Slovenia is a country in Central Europe, known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes

Slovenia is a country in Central Europe, near the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It's known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes.

'Slovenia is absolutely gorgeous - at least in parts. It gets some tourists but far fewer than similarly beautiful destinations,' one user wrote.

'My wife is born/raised Slovenian and we go back every other year or so to see her family and friends,' another shared.

They continued: 'It is a beautiful country, but that secret is really getting out now, especially Instagrammy places like Lake Bled and Predjama Grad. Granted, still nowhere near as crowded as places like Dubrovnik.'

Albania, Balkan Peninsula

Albania is a country in the Balkans. The country is known for beautiful beaches and the Accursed Mountains, which are a spectacular mountain range in the North of Albania.

'Albania. Try it before the massive exodus due to Instagram influencers,' one user urged.

Albania is known for beautiful beaches and the Accursed Mountains

'I'm gonna go to Albania. It has a really bad reputation, but the people there are very warm and honest, the beaches are incredible, the food is a really good blend of Balkan/Greek/Turkish/Italian,' agreed another.

They continued: 'It's super cheap, and it has good weather. The only downside is that it lacks tourist infrastructure to get between the main cities.

'The buses can be really overcrowded and picking up random people on the side of the highway/delivering chickens to random farms.'

Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania is located in central Romania, known for medieval towns, mountains and castles like Bran Castle - a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula

Transylvania is located in central Romania, known for medieval towns, mountains and castles like Bran Castle - a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula.

'I love seeing the red roofs, the open fields, and the mountains as I fly in to Transylvania. The more I learn about Romania, the more I fall in love with it,' a user gushed.

'Romania - great architecture,' agreed someone else.

Bolivia, South America

Bolivia is in South America, spanning over the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert and Amazon Basin rainforest

The landlocked country of Bolivia is in South America, spanning over the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert and Amazon Basin rainforest.

'Amazing landscape, spotlessly clean, friendly people, and lots of fun if you want to 'party.'

'That was 10 years ago, I hope it's still as lovely because it holds a special place in my heart,' a user wrote.

Montenegro, Balkan Peninsula

Montenegro is located in the west-central Balkans, known for its high mountain ranges, medieval villages, and beaches. Pictured: Perast, located in the Bay of Kotor

Montenegro is located in the west-central Balkans, known for its high mountain ranges, medieval villages, and beaches.

'I also loved Montenegro,' a Reddit user suggested.

'That whole region is stunning. I was lucky enough to visit: Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia (among others) and thought it was just a wonderfully beautiful and underrated part of the world,' shared another.

Paraguay, South America

Paraguay is a country between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia in South America.

'Paraguay is really cool. The history and culture of the capital city Asuncion is really cool. Lots of wars with their neighboring countries over the years - at one point in their history like 90 per cent of Paraguayan men were killed in wars,' someone wrote.

Paraguay is a country between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia in South America

'The social scene and food are also ridiculous! Freshly grilled meats right from the asado with friends is the stuff of legends,' reminisced a user.

'One of my favorite parts of Paraguay was staying out obscenely late at a club with friends and then eating lomitos, this amazing sandwich in a bag you buy in a parking lot at four in the morning with about 50 other hungry drunk people.'

They continued: 'Plus it is CHEAP there. An Uber across town costs literally like two dollars. A nice lunch for two will cost maybe 15 bucks. I got an hour-long massage at a nice spa for 25 bucks. If you're on a budget, Paraguay is the place to go.'
The reign of King Henry VIII was a period of high drama, cruel punishments and seismic religious change, making it an irresistible draw for dramatists even 500 years on.

The sequel to BBC2's blockbuster Tudor drama Wolf Hall is currently in the works and now Disney+ whisks us back to the same era of intrigue and danger with its new series Shardlake.

Based on the series of novels by CJ Sansom the four-part murder mystery blends the real with the imaginary as fictional lawyer-cum-detective Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) investigates a suspicious death on the orders of Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean), Henry's real-life right-hand man.

History buff Bean, 65, was lured to the role of Cromwell having already read the books. 'I've always been interested in the medieval and Tudor eras and history in general,' he explains.

'I read the books 14 years ago, so when this came up I was obviously very interested.

'Cromwell is such a great character and held so much power. He was intelligent but cunning, pitting people against each other.

'He had many facets, so he wasn't just a bad person  although he's not very nice in this. But that was the attraction, there's so much to delve into.'

Above: Arthur Hughes as the sleuth Shardlake, who investigates a suspicious death in the show

Adapted by Stephen Butchard, who also wrote The Last Kingdom, Shardlake is set at the time when Henry has broken from Rome and ordered the closure of England's monasteries.

In the show, Cromwell asks Shardlake to look into the murder of one of the king's emissaries who'd been sent to a monastery in the fictional town of Scarnsea to close it down.

The title role is a star-making part for Arthur Hughes, 31, who appeared in Netflix's The Innocents and has played Richard III with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Now, having landed a leading role in a big-budget drama, he's blazing a trail for disabled actors.

Its the 16th century but the methods of a murder mystery dont change

Arthur has a condition called radial dysplasia, which affects his right arm, while in the show Shardlake is disabled by scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that results in him being called 'hunchback'.

'When we have a disabled actor in a leading role, it's huge,' says Hughes. 'I think it's taking steps towards a point where there's not such a big hoo-ha about it.

'And that's where we want to be, where we just see disabled actors in great roles regardless of whether the role's disabled or not.'

He explains that Shardlake suffers prejudice due to his disability. 'It makes him visibly different and he can suffer because of that, but he's successful at what he does,' says Hughes. 'That's why Cromwell holds him close as a useful asset.'

Shardlake is joined by Jack Barak (Masters Of The Air's Anthony Boyle), a Cromwell henchman whose frosty relationship with Shardlake thaws into friendship after the pair face hostility at the monastery.

'Cromwell sends Shardlake off to investigate the murder but sends Barak to make sure he does it right,' says Boyle, 29. 'The guy is very cocky. They're the direct antithesis of each other  a Tudor odd couple.'

Above: Sean Bean as Cromwell who tells Matthew Shardlake to investigate a suspicious murder

A strong supporting cast play the monastery's inhabitants, with Rogue One's Babou Ceesay as the abbot who appears to be covering up the crime, and The Stranger's Paul Kaye as the apparently mad Brother Jerome. Spooks' Peter Firth is Cromwell's adversary the Duke of Norfolk.

Interestingly, all the show's atmospheric Tudor backdrops were filmed in central Europe. Locations included Romania, Hungary and Austria, and the monastery was an amalgam of Hunedoara Castle in Transylvania and Kreuzenstein Castle outside Vienna.

But the actors nearly froze on the winter shoot, recalls Hughes. 'Some days in Vienna it was -8C. Kreuzenstein Castle was on top of this big hill, and it was biting cold.' Fortunately during their four months in Budapest the cast bonded over Hungarian dinners of chicken paprikash and palinka, a fruit brandy.

Shardlake, dubbed 'The Tudor Morse', is an outsider who's whip-smart but also endearing, and although it takes place half a millennium ago, the show's themes are ageless.

'Even though it's set in the 16th century the methods and means of a murder mystery haven't changed that much,' says Bean. 'Shardlake will take you on a journey that's entertaining as well as historically interesting.'

Shardlake, from Wednesday, Disney+.
RED EYE

Sundays, ITV1

Rating:

First things first: don't under any circumstances voluntarily book yourself on a long-haul flight with North China Air  by the end there are likely to be more bodies in the hold than there are suitcases.

Also, NCA do something I didn't think airlines were allowed to do any more, which is to have the captain popping in and out of the pointy bit up front leaving just the co-pilot in charge.

Oh, and they don't seem to have back-up crew either, which I thought was now de rigueur on long-haul flights.

And (while we're at it!) when the cry of, 'Is there a doctor on board?' goes up, obviously it's great if most of the doctors are still alive...

Jing Lusi as DC Hana Li and Richard Armitage as Dr Matthew Nolan in ITV's Red Eye

On NCA flight 357, Dr Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) is being returned to Beijing after an incident at the end of a medical conference sees a young woman, Shen Zhao, found dead in the back of a rental car

But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, the good news: there is no North China Air  ITV's Red Eye is 100 per cent drama.

Though so convincing was the plane's livery that despite the series being arguably the world's worst airline PR, I confess I did Google North China Air.

This is a properly big-budget, glossy six-parter that feels glamorous and streamer-y in both its scope and ambition.

'Red Eye' is, of course, the description of an overnight long-haul flight during which comfortable sleep is at a premium.

On NCA flight 357, Dr Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) is being returned to Beijing  from where he had just arrived at Heathrow  after an incident at the end of a medical conference sees a young woman, Shen Zhao, found dead in the back of Nolan's rental car.

Reluctantly accompanying Nolan during the rendition is British-Chinese (though, as she's quick to point out, Hong Kong Chinese) policewoman DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi), and the pair are soon caught up in the flight from hell.

All of which reminded me of the 2005 Jodie Foster movie Flightplan. No surprise there, it turns out: more Googling reveals that both were written by British screenwriter/director Peter A Dowling, who clearly knows more about the layout of a 747 than most of us.

As it becomes clear that Dr Nolan is being framed for Shen Zhao's murder  she has connections to the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party  the shady players may or may not include members of the British government and security services (the chilly head of MI5, Madeline Delaney, is played brilliantly by Lesley Sharp).

Either way, there's clearly an international conspiracy evolving  and then the plane hits turbulence...

Red Eye is the most fun I've had in front of the telly this year

Never mind the jet lag, I couldn't get enough of Red Eye  a first-class (see what I did there?), edge-of-the-seat, high-stakes thriller with fantastically watchable performances.

Could this become a regular gig for Hana/Jing? I hope so. With a plot so fiendishly constructed you'll be second-guessing the red herrings right to the end, it's the most fun I've had in front of the telly this year.

If you haven't caught it already, you really don't want to miss this flight.

The vets who dispense animal magic

THE YORKSHIRE VET

Tuesdays, Channel 5

Rating:

Welcome to the 18th series of this evergreen show, in which Peter Wright, a protege of Alf Wight aka James Herriot, and Peter's former vet practice partner Julian Norton are still facing unexpected challenges.

If you think you've seen it all before, you haven't! The first episode was stolen by pot-bellied pig Lord Pablo Porcini the 1st  though his owner Libby ran him close. 'He was meant to be a micro-pig but kept growing  he's about a quarter of a ton, similar to a small pony but with shorter legs.'

The first episode was stolen by pot-bellied pig Lord Pablo Porcini the 1st  though his owner Libby (centre, with Pablo) ran him close

Harris hawk Sigrid's legs were mended and farmer Clive's ewe was delivered of her awkwardly lying lamb.. Above: Matt Smith with Sigrid the Harris Hawk

Of course, we're safe to enjoy all the drama in the knowledge we won't be weeping come the credits. Beloved old dog Poppy's tumour was removed, Harris hawk Sigrid's legs were mended and farmer Clive's ewe was delivered of her awkwardly lying lamb.

However, this week's jaw-on-the-floor moment came when we met an Italian Maremma sheepdog: a breed that lives outdoors alongside the flock pretending to be a sheep, until a wolf comes along, when it defaults to 'dog' mode! Who knew?

That's just one of the reasons why The Yorkshire Vet (time to make that title plural, surely?) will (with a bit of luck) probably still be on television in 2050.

Not as cute as Rudolph!

Richard Gadd in his hit Netflix show, Baby Reindeer, about stalking and mental health

Don't do what I did while browsing Netflix: click 'Play' based simply on a trailer. With the algorithm allegedly all-seeing, I assumed it was showing the intriguingly titled Baby Reindeer based on my previous viewing habits.

And while I'm not saying the series developed by Richard Gadd (above) from his Edinburgh Fringe show didn't have its moments, they wouldn't necessarily have been ones I'd have chosen to watch.

Stalking, mental illness, drug use, sexual abuse... you've been warned! Standout performance by Jessica Gunning as Martha, though.
Lily Gladstone is set to work alongside Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang in a remake of 1993 romantic comedy The Wedding Banquet.

The Oscar-nominated actress, 37, will appear opposite the SNL personality, 33, in a remake of the motion picture for filmmaker Andrew Ahn, Variety reported Thursday.

Joan Chen, Kelly Marie Tran and Yuh-jung Youn are expected to join the pair in the cast of the forthcoming movie, with Ahn and James Schamus penning the script.

Production on the motion picture is slated to commence next month in Vancouver, the outlet reported. The storyline of the movie 'follows what happens when Mins boyfriend Chris rejects his marriage proposal, according to Variety.

In the film, according to the outlet, 'Min convinces his best friend Angela to marry him instead, paying for her partner Lizs IVF treatments in exchange for his green card. However, things begin to unravel when Mins grandmother makes a surprise trip from Seoul to throw the couple a Korean wedding banquet.'

Lily Gladstone, 37, is set to work alongside Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang, 33, in a remake of 1993 romantic comedy The Wedding Banquet for filmmaker Andrew Ahn

Gladstone has had an eventful 2024 so far, as she was nominated for a number of prestigious acting honors for her work in last year's lauded Killers of the Flower Moon from filmmaker Martin Scorsese.

The Kalispell, Montana-born performer took home a Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for her performance as Mollie Burkhart in the film.

Gladstone, in achieving the milestone, became the first Indigenous actor to capture the Best Actress award.

'This is a historic one, and it doesn't belong to just me,' she said in her acceptance speech on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. 'I'm holding it with all of my beautiful sisters in the film and my mother [in the movie] Tantoo Cardinal.'

She added, 'I'm so grateful that I can speak even a little bit of my language because in this business, Native actors used to speak their lines in English and then the sound mixers would run them backwards to accomplish Native languages on camera.'

Gladstone also collected Best Actress honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and had been nominated at the Academy Awards and Critics Choice Awards.

The period piece in 1920s Oklahoma featured an ensemble cast including Gladstone, Cardinal, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser.

The Wedding Banquet remake is an updated version of the 1993 film from Ang Lee that garnered the Lee an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film that starred Winston Chao, May Chin and Ah-Lei Gua.

Gladstone was nominated for a number of prestigious acting honors for her work in last year's lauded Killers of the Flower Moon from filmmaker Martin Scorsese (pictured on set)

The Kalispell, Montana-born performer took home a Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California

Gladstone also collected Best Actress honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards February 24 in LA

Lee, Schamus and Neil Peng wrote the original motion picture.

Lee said in a statement Thursday that he was pleased that the 31-year-old film will be remade: 'I look forward to seeing what Andrew Ahn and his wonderful cast create.

'It warms my heart to see how my film from so many years ago has inspired a new generation to reimagine a new and different version,' Lee said, according to the publication.

Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen, an executive producer on the movie, said in a statement: 'I'm delighted to re-team with my longtime friend and colleague, James Schamus, on this inspired reimagining of a classic rom-com for the modern era.

'Andrew Ahn is a force to be reckoned with and I'm very excited to see the new heights that he and James will take this story to.'
Married At First Sight star Brent Vitiello has slammed haters for 'kicking him when he's down' after his business came under fire over delivery issues.

The reality star launched Mos x Daily last year to sell jars of sea moss, a superfood rich in vitamins and minerals which has recently gained popularity in the industry.

However, earlier this month, his brand got into hot water when furious customers alleged they were yet set to see their products after ordering and paying for them online.

Brent has since provided a series of updates to Instagram vowing to 'make things right' with his customers, and he has now addressed fans in another video.

In the footage, Brent hit out at online trolls who have been criticising his brand amid the order issues, claiming that most of them aren't even his customers, who he said he has been speaking to directly.

Brent Vitiello has slammed haters for 'kicking him when he's down' as he provided an update on his sea moss brand's delivery issues

'Everyone has been showing a lot of good support, and I appreciate that, and at the same time, there's a lot of people that like to kick you when you're down,' he said.

'People think it's cool to jump on top of someone when they're going through things, and it's not something I condone.'

Brent - who has flown to Timor, Indonesia, where his product is sourced, to rectify the issues - went on to claim that they will be caught up on deliveries 'sooner than expected'.

'It looks like we will be caught up a lot sooner than expected, which is great news. I told people that I'd come out here for a purpose, to fix every issue that we had, and I meant it,' he continued.

'I was never going to falter on that promise, and I am a man of my word. We are tracking on pretty damn good and I'm quite happy with the results so far of testing everything top to bottom.'

The Married At First Sight star launched Mos x Daily last year to sell jars of sea moss, a superfood rich in vitamins and minerals which has recently gained popularity in the industry

Brent previously said there were issues distributing the sea moss internationally because it spoils after 30 days and they had to switch shipping companies to ensure faster delivery.

In his latest video, he said he didn't want to change his product to solve the shipping issues and doubled down on support for his brand amid the criticism.

'This is definitely one of those things where I am so passionate about sea moss, I always have been since the second I knew about it and I'm passionate about this business,' he shared.

'I could have fixed this problem months ago, I could have done what every business does and bottle it out and dried it out and could have given it out to everyone in perfect condition and it would have been great.

'It would have no nutritional value and we'd be the same as every other brand, so I knew there would be risks involved, I really did, but it wasn't going to stop me from doing this in a way where you'd get more value, more nutrition, more vitamins and more minerals from my product.'

However, earlier this month, his brand came under fire as furious customers alleged their deliveries failed to arrive, with Brent now addressing the claims in a series of videos

Addressing the failed deliveries, Brent insisted he has made agreements with every customer he has spoken to as he provided an update on the delivery issues.

He continued: 'All I can guarantee is this, every person I've spoken to, we've come to agreements and we've spoken well. We've got a lot of support and I kept my promise about replying to everyone.

'For everyone else, in a very very short time, we are not only going to be caught up on orders, we're going to be at a place where I can say - not so much the cocky way of 'I told you so' but in a way of saying, I promised you I'd keep my word and I did.

'That's the way I operate, that's my integrity, that's exactly what's going to happen so stay tuned, you'll see the results for yourself.'

Brent previously claimed that his product has helped 'thousands' of people as he continues to praise his product and its alleged benefits amid the order issues.

Brent hit out at online trolls who have been criticising his brand amid the order issues, claiming that most of them aren't even his customers, who he said he has been speaking to directly

Brent recently claimed his sea moss products have helped people battling cancer to feel 'born again'. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that sea moss can cure cancer in humans.

In an Instagram video, he claimed: 'By swearing by our product, I mean, we started helping so many thousands of people - including people that were battling cancer.

'A lot of people were doing treatments like radiation and chemotherapy who were struggling with life, and our product gave them the energy to be born again, and I'm quoting.

'It was the only thing that gave them life - sea crack was the exact words they used! That's something I always believed in.'

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - Australia's medicine and therapeutic regulatory agency - claimed Mos x Daily is not listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and is investigated the cancer-related claims made by Brent.

It is not suggested that Brent has made any claims that contravene the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, only that is has helped people with cancer feel better.

A spokesperson for Mos X Daily said: 'Our website that clearly stipulates the fact that our sea moss is a type of sea weed and is not to be used in anyway medicinally, it is a food product.

'It's more around the way they feel, just like if you were to have a great big salad or a plate of Kale and you feel energised! Delicious. I have never and will never make claims that contravene the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.'

Elsewhere, Brent recently claimed his products have helped people battling cancer to feel 'born again'. There is no evidence to suggest sea moss can cure cancer in humans and the TGA is investigating his claims

In a statement, a TGA spokesperson said: 'In Australia, products intended for oral consumption are regulated as either food or medicines, depending on a number of factors such as the ingredients they contain, their presentation, and the claims made about the product.

'The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates therapeutic goods under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, while Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) develops the Food Standards Code that foods must comply with. The Food Standards Code is enforced by the respective state and territory authorities.

'The TGA investigates matters at the Food-Medicine Interface and takes action on non-compliant therapeutic goods or refers food products to the relevant authorities.

'No products named Mos x Daily or similar are listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and advertising cancer-related claims without prior TGA permission is prohibited.

'The TGA is investigating the claims made by Mos x Daily and will take appropriate regulatory action as necessary. The TGA does not comment on ongoing investigations.'

According to Mos X Daily's website, its sea moss products are rich in vitamins and minerals including calcium, sodium and potassium, is 'immune boosting' and has anti-inflammatory properties.

His comments came after furious customers recently accused Mos x Daily of failing to deliver their products

It states: 'This exceptional seaweed acts as a natural filter, diligently absorbing the rich nutrients of its pristine marine environment while safeguarding against impurities, thereby promoting both environmental sustainability and your well-being.

'The outcome is nothing short of extraordinary: a potent superfood brimming with an impressive array of over 95+ essential vitamins and minerals out of 102 your body needs to thrive, a testament to the intricate balance of nature.'

Earlier this month, Brent addressed the accusations his products had failed to be delivered as he vowed to 'make things right' with his customers.

He cited the issues he has had to overcome since launching the business as he fumed over alleged issues with manufacturers and couriers causing difficulties.

He said: 'We started out with a really good run, unfortunately the courier we were using then just didn't keep their word, our deliveries were taking way too long, going bad in transit, or just taking way too long to even get to you.'

'Everything that could have possibly gone wrong, went wrong,' he added as he alleged that the brand had further issues with manufacturers.

'The biggest issue with us was communication. I can promise you now, that turns me sideways, that communication issue, I came down very hard on it and made some really big changes.

Established in 2023, Mos x Daily sells jars of sea moss - a vibrant superfood which has been making waves in the food industry and gaining colossal popularity

'I've got a lot of work to do to make up for all lost time and for the faulty products and everything that's come to you the way it shouldn't have.'

He added: 'This has been killing me. The biggest thing for me is that I hate disappointing people, it's not just people out there who have ordered and haven't been communicated with properly and haven't got their products.

'I started a foundation for the beautiful community in Timor that has helped us cultivate and harvest this amazing product. I gave them by word that I would help them build a better life.

'You need to understand I will not have my integrity be in question because I believe in them and I believe in the promise I gave to these people. I will never quit until I've kept that promise to them and to everyone else.'

His comments came after furious customers recently accused Mos x Daily of failing to deliver their products.

'I am so disappointed with my experience with Mos x Daily. I ordered my product a month ago and have not received shipping details yet,' one irate customer sniped.

'I have sent countless emails asking where my order is and all I get is excuses,' a second person wrote.

At the time, customers also alleged their refund requests had not been honoured, and instead they were told their products 'would eventually be delivered to them'.

Brent rose to fame on the ninth series of MAFS in 2022, where he was famously 'married' to Tamara Djordjevic.

Unfortunately, their ill-fated romance went from bad to worse on the show, before they went their separate ways during their explosive final vows.
Russell Crowe is returning to the horror genre in the eerie first trailer of the upcoming film The Exorcism.

The trailer featuring the Gladiator star  who previously played chief exorcist for the Vatican in the 2023 horror movie The Pope's Exorcist  was released on Thursday.

In it, the Oscar winner, 60, wears the clerical collar once again, this time as actor Anthony Miller, who starts to unravel while playing a priest on a cursed film set.

When his estranged daughter Lee Miller (Ryan Simpkins) begins to suspect that her father's troubles go beyond a relapse into former addiction issues, she attempts to get help from a real priest.

The film  directed by Joshua John Miller  also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.

Russell Crowe, 60, is returning to the horror genre in the eerie first trailer of the upcoming film The Exorcism, where he plays an actor who starts to unravel on a cursed film set

The film  directed by Joshua John Miller  also stars Chloe Bailey (pictured), Sam Worthington, Ryan Simpkins, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce

The trailer starts out with Crowe during confession, as he says, 'Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It's a job, coming to me off the back of somebody else's tragedy.'

The scene switches to Crowe as he flips through the script of the movie he is shooting, which has scribbles and drawings all over it, with one reading, 'God is dead!! Satan lives.'

Another page reads, 'You know you will not be saved.'

The clip proceeds to show Crowe and his onscreen daughter Lee as they arrive on set.

There, they meet Blake Holloway (Chloe) who plays a possessed girl in the movie they are shooting and is in the middle of being cleansed via a burning sage ritual.

'So what's with the sage?' Lee asks Blake.

'Have you forgotten what kind of movie we're making?' Blake replies.

'All kinds of messed up stuff happened when they were making movies like The Omen, or The Exorcist. And the guy your dad replaced,' she says, as the clip shows a man falling down to his death, while a voice says, 'Everything's cursed.'

The trailer featuring the Gladiator star  who previously played chief exorcist for the Vatican in the 2023 horror movie The Pope's Exorcist  was released on Thursday

In it, the Oscar winner wears the clerical collar once again, this time as actor Anthony Miller, who takes over the role of a priest after his predecessor died

The trailer starts out with Crowe during confession, as he says, 'Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It's a job, coming to me off the back of somebody else's tragedy'

The scene switches to Crowe as he flips through the script of the movie he is shooting, which has scribbles and drawings all over it, with one reading, 'God is dead!! Satan lives'

Simpkins plays his estranged daughter Lee Miller. She begins to suspect her father's troubles go beyond a relapse into former addiction issues, and attempts to get help from a real priest

Blake Holloway (Chloe) who plays a possessed girl in the movie they are shooting, and is in the middle of being cleansed via a burning sage ritual when Crowe and Lee arrive on set

'So what's with the sage?' Lee asks Blake. 'Have you forgotten what kind of movie we're making?' Blake replies. 'All kinds of messed up stuff happened when they were making movies like The Omen, or The Exorcist'

'And the guy your dad replaced,' she says, as the clip shows a man falling down to his death, while a voice says, 'Everything's cursed'

As the trailer goes on, Lee begins to notice her father acting strange, as she asks him, 'So you're blacking out again? What is it this time?'

'This is something... else,' he tells her

He begins to show physical signs of possession, including a black growth spreading on his body

Lee then goes to a priest and confides what's happening with her father. 'He's off his meds, he's erratic. Father, what do I do? Can he be saved?' she asks

We then see the priest show up to set with Lee, to monitor Crowe on set, but they're left horrified in one scene when he suddenly folds his body completely backwards

In a later scene Crowe confronts Lee as he tells her, 'It's not worth saving, and you know it!'

He continues to get worse until he seems completely possessed by the end of the trailer and attacks Lee, lifting her up by her neck

The audience is then shown Crowe on set shooting a scene where he plays her Exorcist.

As the trailer goes on, Lee begins to notice her father acting strange, as she asks him, 'So you're blacking out again? What is it this time?'

'This is something... else,' he tells her. He begins to show physical signs of possession, including a black growth spreading on his body.

Lee then goes to a priest and confides what's happening with her father. 'He's off his meds, he's erratic. Father, what do I do? Can he be saved?' she asks.

We then see the priest show up to set with Lee, to monitor Crowe on set, but they're left horrified in one scene when he suddenly folds his body completely backwards.

In a later scene Crowe confronts Lee as he tells her, 'It's not worth saving, and you know it!'

Crowe continues to get worse until he seems completely possessed by the end of the trailer and attacks Lee, lifting her up by her neck.

Miller revealed the idea for the film started out in his childhood, when he watched his father, Jason Miller, playing Father Karras as he flung himself out a window in The Exorcist.

The film is set to be released in theaters on June 7

'If that wasn't haunting enough on its own, my dad never shied away from telling me stories of just how "cursed" the movie was: the mysterious fires that plagued the production, the strange deaths, the lifelong injuries  the list went on and on. The lore of any "cursed film" has captivated me ever since,' he shared, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

'With The Exorcism, we wanted to update the possession movie formula ("Heroic man rescues woman from forces she's too weak and simple to battle herself!") for a world where no one group owns goodness and decency over another,' he added.

'We were gifted with an extraordinary cast and creative team to tell a story about how we're all vulnerable to darkness, to perpetuating it, if we fail to face our demons.'

The film is set to be released in theaters on June 7.

Crowe is no stranger to the scary genre, having recently played Father Gabriele Amorth in The Pope's Exorcist. A sequel was confirmed in April 2023.
Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars saw two winners walk away with $250,000 each on Wednesday night's grand finale.

Notoriously hot-tempered celebrity chef Ramsay, 56, features alongside Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, 59, in the Channel Nine Apprentice-style cooking competition.

The contestants competed for the prize money to help launch their cooking businesses.

In the gripping final, Sophie Hood from NSW and Troy Benjamin from Victoria (Team Gordon) each received $250,000 and a year's worth of business mentorship.

Troy captured Chef Gordon Ramsay's attention with his Indigenous tea product, Blak Brews, surpassing finalist Aaron from South Australia, who crafted bagged cocktails, MXTology.

Gordon Ramsay 's Food Stars saw two winners walk away with $250,000 each on Wednesday night's grand finale

Notoriously hot-tempered celebrity chef Ramsay, 56, features alongside Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, 59, in the Channel Nine Apprentice-style cooking competition

Meanwhile, joint winner Sophie Hood impressed Janine Allis with her hangover relief product, Seoul Tonic, narrowly beating WA stepfather Mason and his event-friendly health drinks, Kommunity Brew.

Despite the series initially selecting 14 products in both the food and drink categories, all four finalists only featured beverage products.

The grand finale was held at The Edge, Federation Square, and the four finalists presented their products and business plans to an eager audience.

In the gripping finale, Sophie Hood from NSW and Troy Benjamin (pictured) from Victoria (Team Gordon) each received $250,000 and a year's worth of business mentorship. Troy captured Chef Gordon Ramsay's attention with his Indigenous tea product, Blak Brews

Meanwhile, joint winner Sophie Hood impressed Janine Allis with her hangover relief product, Seoul Tonic, narrowly beating WA stepfather Mason and his event-friendly health drinks, Kommunity Brew

After 10 episodes it was Sophie and Troy who ultimately persuaded the shows hosts to support them for the next 12 months.

After the winners were announced, both Troy and Sophie were ecstatic.

'No words! I just think that this is going to be huge and there's no better person to be able to take this to the next level with,' Sophie said.

Meanwhile, Troy thanked his new mentor and collaborator, Ramsay.

'Super excited to work with you and, listen and learn. That's what our culture is about. So we'll have a nice little campfire together,' he said.

'No words! I just think that this is going to be huge and there's no better person to be able to take this to the next level with,' said Sophie

Troy thanked his new mentor and collaborator, : 'Super excited to work with you and, listen and learn. That's what our culture is about. So we'll have a nice little campfire together'

The finale of the Channel Nine series comes 13 years after Ramsay was made persona non grata at the network.

He had made a snarky remark about Tracy Grimshaw's appearance after she interviewed him on A Current Affair in June 2009.

The incident escalated into a feud when Ramsay allegedly called the ACA anchor a 'fat pig'.

The finale of the Channel Nine series comes 13 years after Ramsay was made persona non grata at the network. He had made a snarky remark about Tracy Grimshaw's appearance after she interviewed him on A Current Affair in June 2009

Ramsay later apologised and tried to pass off his remarks as a joke, explaining via his publicist that he had a great relationship with Grimshaw and Channel Nine.

Grimshaw issued a blistering response on A Current Affair, telling viewers: 'This is not a business for wimps and I am not one.

'Despite what his publicist said, we do not have a great relationship. We do not have a relationship at all.

'I've played along with him in interviews because it's entertaining and it's my job.'

Grimshaw went on to describe Ramsay's attack as hurtful and unfunny, and called him a bully and a narcissist.
Producer Cathy Schulman has revealed that a different A-list actress was considered for Anne Hathaway's role in the 2024 film The Idea of You.

'The first person who came to my mind was Sandy but she wasnt the right age,' Schulman dished.

She was talking about none other than 59-year-old Sandra Bullock, the producer shared with Variety.

Cathy clarified: 'Im not saying Anne wasnt my first choice  Im saying I was thinking about that girl who we can all put ourselves into their shoes. The girl next door thing. Meg Ryan also does it so well. And so does Anne.

'And I did that thing I always advise people not to do, which was really develop something with one person in mind  because what if you dont get them?'

Producer Cathy Schulman has revealed that a different A-list actress was considered for Anne Hathaway's role in the 2024 film The Idea of You; Anne pictured in December 2023

In the film, Anne's character Solene sparks up a romance with boy band member Hayes Campbell, played by Nicholas Galitzine

Speaking with Variety, Schulman said Sandra Bullock, 59, was the first star she thought of when creating the movie; Sandra pictured in 2022

Cathy explained, 'So I definitely felt the character on the page was sort of the vintage Anne from The Princess Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada. And I missed that Anne, and I wondered if she misses it, too.'

She went on to say, 'But also she had mentioned to me that she wanted to do something when she was 40, where she could kind of stand on top of a building and scream, "Im 40 and Im still vibrant. And more than that, I can still have sex, and I can still light up a room!"

'And it worked out perfectly because she was 39, about to turn 40. She turned 40 during filming.

'She was also someone very willing to delve into the truth of what it means to be a woman at that age. I felt like maybe America would be willing to grow up with her.'

Schulman also noted that pop star Taylor Swift inspired the casting.

'Im fascinated by the Taylor Swift phenomenon, Im a huge fan," she admitted.

The successful producer went on to say, 'And in Lavender Haze she has the lyrics "the only kind of girl they see, is a one-night or a wife."

'And Taylor Swift is someone who has shared every stage of her life with her fans  we have seen her through these stages.'

Schulman also noted that pop star Taylor Swift inspired the casting; Swift pictured in September 2023

Turning back to Hathaway, she noted, 'And I liked the idea that you could take an actor that generations have grown up with and she would let us in for this maturation event  a divorce and self-realization and a new life.

'I knew shed be the right actress to walk us through this investigation.'

In the film, Anne's character Solene sparks up a romance with boy band member Hayes Campbell, played by Nicholas Galitzine.

Fans speculated that the story was inspired by Harry Styles, but Anne cleared up the confusion, telling Stellar, 'You guys keep saying it. The author keeps saying it's not!'
Michelle Bridges has revealed the impact living in the South African jungle has had on her body after her stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.

The personal trainer, 53, became the fourth star to exit the jungle camp on the 2024 series of I'm A Celebrity, before Skye Wheatley went on to be crowned winner.

Michelle has since returned to normal life in Sydney and took to Instagram on Thursday to reflect on her jungle journey as she returned to the gym.

The fitness fanatic shared a video of herself lifting weights and revealed how weeks in the jungle has changed her body, sharing that she has lost some muscle mass.

Alongside footage of her working out, she said: 'I've lost a bit of muscle mass in four weeks in the jungle and a bit of strength too, so I'm back on track.

Michelle Bridges has revealed the impact living in the South African jungle has had on her body after her stint on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia

'I'm going to build up my leg muscle mass because at my age, it's liquid gold. Future proofing your bodies ladies, lifting heavy is an insurance policy you'll never regret.'

In the video, the health and wellness author showed off her strength as she lifted weights and smiled at the camera as she gave an insight into her exercise regime.

Michelle, who rose to fame as a trainer on The Biggest Loser in 2007, also shared an empowering message with her followers in an accompanying caption.

She urged her 266,000 followers to take up weight lifting as she praised the benefits on the body, including increasing bone density and improving muscle tone.

The personal trainer (pictured on the show), 53, became the fourth star to exit the jungle camp on the 2024 series of I'm A Celebrity, before Skye Wheatley went on to be crowned winner

She penned: In my first book Crunch Time, 18 books ago and nearly 20 years ago I wrote - 'Weight training is the Fountain of Youth'. I stand by that more than ever today.

'Future proof your body from injury, illness, early death, loss of independence, loss of confidence, a lack of insulin resistance and bone density.

'Yes. It takes work. A bit of time. Sure. However the benefits OUTWEIGH any of (what you're bitching about) it.

'Feck peri menopause and menopause. I'm rewriting that whole narrative with science and research and wholistic action.

The fitness fanatic shared a video of herself lifting weights and revealed how weeks in the jungle has changed her body, sharing that she has lost some muscle mass

'Be the CEO of your life. The next chapters coming are honestly the best yet, especially when your prepared and ready for them.'

It comes after Michelle told how she refuses to let age deter her career and insisted she won't be 'sidelined'.

She told the The Herald Sun after leaving the jungle: 'I'm a bada** and I'm about to kick butt. We're not going to get sidelined at this age, we're going to put our hand up and say pick me.'

'We've earned our stars, we've earned our stripes, we've got knowledge, maturity, wisdom and we can take it into an exciting next chapter.'

It comes after Michelle told how she refuses to let age deter her career and insisted she won't be 'sidelined' as she spoke about her determination on I'm A Celebrity

Michelle became the fourth star to be voted out of the jungle earlier this month and described the experience as a 'reality check'.

Discussing her stint on the show, Michelle admitted she missed her son Axel, eight, 'like crazy', but was determined to continue in the competition.

She also revealed she'd been invited to star on the show many times, and had finally 'found a gap in her schedule' this year.
Controversial rock festival Pandemonium Rocks shared a tribute to the Australian Defence Force on Thursday after coming under fire for scheduling the music event at the same time and location as the Anzac Day March in Sydney.

Event organisers put up a sign outside the show's new location at Cathy Freeman Park, which paid respect to the men and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Sharing an image of the sign to Instagram, organisers attempted to make amends after the furore.

'Pandemonium Rocks thanks all our service men and women,' the message began.

'Thanks to Wounded Heroes also who provide crisis support to ADF veterans and their families.'

Controversial rock festival Pandemonium Rocks shared a tribute to the Australian Defence Force on Thursday after coming under fire for scheduling the music event at the same time and location as the Anzac Day March

The message went on to say that representatives of Wounded Heroes were at the festival and urged attendees to show their support by 'buying a pin' from the charity.

Earlier this year, the festival, which was headlined by legendary rock acts like Blondie, Alice Cooper and Placebo, attracted controversy when it was scheduled to clash with the traditional Anzac Day March in Sydney.

Thousands of revellers were expected to flock to the Domain in Sydney on April 25 for the day-long Pandemonium event.

At the same time less than a kilometre away, thousands of Aussies were due to line the city's streets for the traditional Anzac Day March, with up to 10,000 active duty members and veterans taking part.

Event organisers put up a sign outside the show's new location at Cathy Freeman Park, which paid respect to the men and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations

Sharing an image of the sign to Instagram, organisers attempted to make amends after the furore

The 11.30am concert start time clashed with the parade - which didn't wrap up until after midday - sparking concerns from RSL NSW.

The NSW government intervened in January when Premier Chris Minns revealed the concert would not be allowed to proceed in the Domain.

'There's not going to be a rock concert in the middle of the city on Anzac Day,' the Premier told reporters at the time.

'That part of the city should be and will be a place for diggers to commemorate with their friends and their family and for fellow Australians to commemorate the service of those that have given their lives in the service of our country.'

Earlier this year, the festival, which was headlined by legendary rock acts like Blondie, Alice Cooper (pictured) and Placebo, attracted controversy when it was scheduled to clash with the traditional Anzac Day march in Sydney

The concert also sparked backlash from other veterans before Premier Minns intervened and pulled the plug.

'A concert starting at 11:30am on Anzac Day, in the Domain, that has nothing to do with veterans and not even a mention in their promotion of it,' Special Forces Combat veteran Heston Russell tweeted.

'At the same time as the parade? I hope this is someone's mistake instead of deliberate disrespect.'

While the festival was not rescheduled for another date, is was promptly moved to Cathy Freeman Park in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct.
Kylie Minogue is doing a dazzling victory lap after being named one of the 100 most influential people of the year.

The Grammy Award winner, 55, stunned in an ankle-length black sleeveless gown with a sparkling peekaboo panel over her chest as she arrived at Thursday's TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Her dress featured a thigh-high leg slit on the side, which showed of a pair of strappy silver stilettos.

Minogue finished the ensemble with a jeweled bangle bracelet and matching ring, carrying a silver jeweled drawstring handbag on a hoop handle.

The 'Padam Padam' artist was included this year on TIME's list of '100 Most Influential People', alongside Dua Lipa, Colman Domingo, Elliot Page, Sofia Coppola, Patrick Mahomes and more.

Kylie Minogue stunned in an ankle-length black sleeveless gown with a sparkling peekaboo panel over her chest as she arrived at Thursday's TIME 100 Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City

Minogue finished the ensemble with a jeweled bangle bracelet and matching ring, carrying a silver jeweled drawstring handbag on a hoop handle

Chris Martin sang Minogue's praises in an essay as she was announced on the list last week.

'Kylie is so inspiring to meshe lives her life so gracefully and approaches every project with such passion and dedication,' he wrote.

'She always seems to be 10 years ahead of everyone else, and she's an artist who knows how to be of service, making songs that fans go on to love for years.

'Kylie creates a space where everyone is safe to be themselves,' added Minogue. 'When I look at her I feel hope. She's proof there are humans who dont judge.'

After releasing her smash hit 'Padam Padam' last year, Minogue won a Grammy for Best Pop Recording, her first in 20 years.

The track came from her 16th studio album Tension.

Tension earned her second No. 1 spot on the US Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, after her previous album Disco (2020) also topped the chart.

Last month, Mattel also honored her with a Barbie doll in her likeness in celebration of International Women's Day.

Her dress featured a thigh-high leg slit on the side, which showed of a pair of strappy silver stiletto

The 'Padam Padam' artist was included this year on TIME's list of '100 Most Influential People', alongside Dua Lipa, Colman Domingo, Elliot Page, Sofia Coppola, Patrick Mahomes and more

After releasing her smash hit 'Padam Padam' last year, Minogue won a Grammy for Best Pop Recording , her first in 20 years

Minogue is also in the midst of a wildly successful residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas, which has since offered to extend her a 'residency for life.'

Although she told Billboard she's been 'wildly inspired' lately, Minogue said last month that she's 'at a point in my life where I know it's not eternal.'

'I just want to maximize this brilliant wave,' added Minogue. 'If you're not out paddling for when that wave comes along, you've got no hope.'
Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood and his wife Cherlyanne are expecting a second child after previously suffering a miscarriage.

The Scottish actor, 44, who famously starred as Dino Doyle,- told OK! Magazine that they are expecting another baby and his wife is now 16 weeks pregnant.

It comes four years after Cherylanne, 35 and Gary welcomed their first child, a son named Ollie, now four, in 2020.

The doting mother told the publication: 'Ollie is so excited to be a big brother,' 'Although he's rooting for a sister.

'I think it's because he doesn't want to share his toys. He said I've to eat pink food to help.'

Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood and his Cherlyanne are expecting a second child

The Scottish actor, 44 -who famously starred as Dino Doyle - told OK! Magazine that they are expecting another baby and his wife is now 16 weeks pregnant

The couple, who tied the knot five years ago and now live in Glasgow, will find out the gender in a few weeks and decide on names shortly after.

Gary is also a father to Jack, Zach and Charlie from a previous relationships.

In 2023, the couple sadly miscarried and were delivered the tragic news during their 12-week scan.

But Gary has stayed positive and told the publication that the soon-to-be new family member is their 'rainbow'.

Cherylanne admitted after the miscarriage, she said she would not go through it again, but after spending time healing from their pain, they are now excited to welcome the new addition.

She revealed that this time round has been a mix of emotions as she worries that something could go wrong.

Gary split from his ex-wife, Sharon Mudre, in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. They share two sons, Jack, 22, and Charlie, 20.

He also has a son, Zachary, 20, from a prior relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Anne Haney.

It comes just four years after Cherylanne, 35 and Gary welcomed their first bundle of joy, Ollie in 2020

Gary is also a father to Jack, Zach and Charlie but for Cherylanne, this is her second child. In 2023, the two sadly miscarried and were delivered the tragic news during their 12-week scan

The actor has found love again with his wife of two years, Cherylanne. They share a son, Oliver, who was born in March 2020.

Previously, Gary claimed he was paid less than his co-stars for the spin-off show All Round To Mrs Brown's and says he was dumped from a festive special after raising the issue.

Gary told the Daily Star Sunday: 'I feel I wasn't being paid equally and I wasn't being given an explanation for decisions.

'When I tried to resolve it, nothing was done. I was just disregarded. But I won't put up with it any more.

'I won't be treated like that. This has gone too far. They shouldn't do this to people.'
Fiona Bruce seemed not particularly bothered about her 60th birthday as she dismissed well wishes during her Question Time show on Thursday evening.

The journalist, who marked her big day by working on the call-and-response political BBC show, seemed to brush off her milestone birthday.

After one member wished her 'happy birthday' before his question, Fiona quickly shut down the audience from repeatedly bring up her big day.

Laughing off the well wishes, the presenter said: 'OK everybody I am 60 today lets just get that said, oh my goodness and thank you.'

Fans were left shocked by Fiona's age as they took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to gush how 'young' she looks and asked why she isn't having a night off to 'party'.

Fiona Bruce seemed not particularly bothered about her 60th birthday as she dismissed well wishes during her Question Time show on Thursday evening

The journalist, who marked her big day by working on the call-and-response political BBC show, seemed to brush off her age

'Its Fiona Bruces 60th birthday today. Shouldnt she be off having a party or something rather than presenting Question Time?; Blimey. Fiona Bruce looks amazing for 60'

'@bbcquestiontime great show tonight, really enjoyed it, both the audience and most of the panel were absolutely fab! #happybirthday @fionabruce; Happy Birthday, Fiona Bruce! 60 today, certainly looks much younger.'

Fiona took over as moderator on the BBC show, which first started in 1998, in December 2018.

Last month, she revealed she is planning a big birthday party in July and said she's not afraid to age despite turning 60.

In a candid interview with Woman and Home, the BBC Antiques Roadshow host opened up about her career and positively embracing what could soon be the end of her decades-long stint with channel.

While the magazine's cover star admitted it would be 'totally sad' if it came to pass, she conceded that the next stage of her career was out of her control.

The Malaysian-born presenter also discussed plans to celebrate the 'double whammy' of turning 60 and marking her 30th wedding anniversary to her husband Nigel Sharrocks in July.

With all the excitement ahead, she expressed gratitude for her health and being able to live in the moment, and revealed she wasn't too concerned with wrinkles.

After one member wished her 'happy birthday' before his question, Fiona quickly shut down the audience from repeatedly bring up her big day

Laughing off the well wishes, the presenter said: 'OK everybody I am 60 today lets just get that said, oh my goodness and thank you'

Fans were left shocked by Fiona's age as they took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to gush how 'young' she looks and asked why she isn't having a night off to 'party'

Last month, Fiona revealed she is planning a big birthday party in July and said she's not afraid to age despite turning 60

She said: 'I don't worry about ageing. I'm fortunate that I'm healthy and well.

'I've had very close friends who were in the prime of life  super fit and very healthy  then suddenly they were diagnosed with a very serious form of cancer.

'God forbid, that can happen to any of us, so I don't look in the mirror and think, ''Oh no, there's another line' which undoubtedly there is  many of them. I just think,'This is great''. I definitely count my lucky stars.

She added that that she has hired the DJ from famous gay club Heaven to play her 60th birthday bash.

'It will be about as far from a string quartet evening as you can get.

'My close girlfriends are also turning 60, so it's going to be a really great year.

'We've already been out for dinner, we're going away and I'm having a party.'

A whacky light-up dancefloor and cocktails are in store for guests as Ms Bruce will also celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, Nigel Sharrocks.
Foreign military attaches in China to visit aviation brigade

Xinhua) 09:59, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army has invited foreign military attaches stationed in China to visit an 81st Group Army aviation brigade on April 29, the Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday.

The activity has been organized in accordance with an annual plan, and it will allow military attaches to observe relevant equipment and flight training, according to the ministry.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Michael J. Fox gazed adoringly at his wife Tracy Pollan as they posed on the red carpet together at the Time 100 Gala in New York on Thursday.

Thrown at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the star-studded affair welcomed a dazzling guest list of famous faces from all over the world.

Among them Michael, who was one of the honorees at the glittering gala, was the image of marital bliss as he posed on Tracy's arm.

The longtime couple, who have been married since 1988 and are the proud parents of four children, glowed as they stood together for the cameras.

After decades as a beloved movie star, Michael has also become known in recent years for raising awareness of Parkinson's disease, which he has.

Michael J. Fox gazed adoringly at his wife Tracy Pollan as they posed on the red carpet together at the Time 100 Gala in New York on Thursday

Thrown at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the star-studded affair welcomed a dazzling guest list of famous faces from all over the world

Among them Michael, who was one of the honorees at the glittering gala, was the image of marital bliss as he posed on Tracy's arm

For his latest glamorous red carpet appearance, Michael wore a classic black suit but went dashingly without a tie, leaving his top buttons casually undone.

Meanwhile Tracy was agelessly glamorous in a green floral gown that was perfectly fitted to emphasize her enviably petite frame.

Letting her blonde hair cascade over her shoulders in gentle waves, Tracy sharpened her features with makeup including a slick of dark lipstick.

She lent the look a splash of dazzle with a watch and a couple of necklaces, balancing expertly on a towering pair of black heels.

When Michael took the stage that evening to collect his trophy, he received a warm embrace from Sunday Today host Willie Geist.

During the dinner portion of the event, Michael and Tracy were seated by his fellow movie star Uma Thurman, and the trio posed for a snap with comic Alex Edelman.

Time Magazine unveiled their ravenously anticipated annual list of the world's 100 most influential people earlier this month.

Taraji found herself in esteemed company on this year's lineup, amid names ranging from Patrick Mahomes to Dua Lipa to 21 Savage.

When Michael took the stage that evening to collect his trophy, he received a warm embrace from Sunday Today host Willie Geist

The longtime couple, who have been married since 1988 and are the proud parents of four children, glowed as they stood together for the cameras

After decades as a beloved movie star, Michael has also become known in recent years for raising awareness of Parkinson's disease, which he has

For his latest glamorous red carpet appearance, Michael wore a classic black suit but went dashingly without a tie, leaving his top buttons casually undone

Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue , Hamilton alum Leslie Odom Jr., Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt and trans Juno star Elliot Page were also on the list

During the dinner portion of the event, Michael and Tracy were seated by his fellow movie star Uma Thurman, and the trio posed for a snap with comic Alex Edelman

Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue, Hamilton alum Leslie Odom Jr., Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt and trans Juno star Elliot Page were also on the list

Taylor Swift's longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, breakfast TV titan Kelly Ripa and anime legend Hayao Miyazaki are all receiving gongs as well.

Each honoree received a written tribute from another boldface name - Dua's for example was written by Patti Smith and Kelly's by Anderson Cooper.

Business mogul Mark Cuban got a glowing testimonial from Ashton Kutcher, whilst Michael J. Fox was treated to a blurb by Ryan Reynolds.

Sofia Coppola meanwhile was written up by Rashida Jones, who like her had an iconic father, and who starred in Sofia's film On The Rocks.

Lenny Kravitz wrote a tribute to Zola heartthrob Colman Domingo, and Get Out hunk Daniel Kaluuya gave a generous appraisal to Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel.

The glittering awards ceremony was thrown this week but will not air on television until May 12, when viewers can tune into the extravaganza on ABC.

Thursday's gala welcomed a fleet of top-flight celebrities who were not on the Time list as well, including Uma Thurman and Patrick's wife Brittany Mahomes.
Matthew McConaughey's daughter Vida is taking after her stunning mom Camila Alves.

The 14-year-old mini-me of the Brazilian model looked as if she had stepped off the runway herself as she accompanied her famous parents to the 2024 Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala at ACL Live on Thursday in Austin, Texas.

Wearing a pretty pink floral gown, Vida posed next to her mom Camila as the entire clan, including Vida's brothers Levi, 15, and Livingston, 10, took over the Oscar winner's charity gala.

The teenager then wrapped her arms around her brothers as they posed for an adorable sibling snap on the red carpet, proving their family resemblance was undeniable.

The annual fundraising event comes after McConaughey said he believes parenthood has made him a better actor.

Matthew McConaughey 's daughter Vida is taking after her stunning mom Camila Alves; Levi, Matthew, Livingston, Camila and Vida at 2024 Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala at ACL Live

The 14-year-old mini-me of the former Brazilian model looked as if she had stepped off the runway herself

'Having children, I know, has made me a better artist and a better actor. Kids see things for the first time all the time,' he explained in a new interview with People.

'Their questions are innocent. I've become a better storyteller because I have kids.'

The actor voiced Buster Moon the koala in Sing and its sequel to give his children the chance to enjoy his work for once.

It was an especially meaningful moment for him when they realized his role in the films.

He said: 'Yeah, it was fun.... And as they got older, there's nothing I made that they could see.

'As you become a parent, you end up watching mostly what your kids are watching. And so I was like, "Man, I've never been a part of an animated film and I like doing voice work" and so I went and did that.'

'I remember sitting in the premiere of ['Sing'] and they're listening and going, "Hey, that sounds like... " They had that moment where they look at the screen, audio, look at me sitting next to them, do the math and go, '"That's you!" That was really cool to them.'

'And that was something I did for them and the kid in all of us.'

Camila has strong genes as her daughter Vida's resemblance is undeniable; Camila in 2015, Vida on Thursday

The teenager then wrapped her arms around her brothers as they posed for an adorable sibling snap on the red carpet, proving their family resemblance was undeniable

Levi, Camila and Vida showed off their good genes in March 2023

Last year, Camila marked Vida's 13th birthday with a special shout-out on social media.

She shared a photo of Vida poised to blow out her birthday candles, with none other than Woody Harrelson standing behind her.

'Uncle @woodyharrelson is questioning if the cake is vegan or not!!!,' Camila joked in her Instagram caption, which she wrote in both English and Portuguese.

She continued: 'How does this go people! Time flies 13! You are my ray of sunshine Vida!!! Your name explains everything about you, "life"'.
READ MORE: Unseen backstage act reveals the real Arj Barker amid furore over the comedian kicking a breastfeeding mother out of his show

Arj Barker has addressed the backlash around ejecting a breastfeeding woman from his comedy show as he returned to the stage this week for the first time since the furore.

The American comedian, 49, sparked controversy when he asked mother-of-three Trish Faranda and her baby Clara to leave his Melbourne Comedy Festival show for being disruptive.

Amid the backlash, Arj has stood by his actions, explaining his comedy show was ticketed for over-15s and a baby shouldn't have been there in the first place.

He poked fun at the online storm as he returned to stage at The Comics Lounge Comedy Club in Melbourne this week for his first stand-up set since the incident.

Arj admitted the furore had been 'intense' before he jokingly complained about an audience member disrupting him with his breathing in an amusing moment.

Arj Barker (pictured) has addressed the backlash around him ejecting a breastfeeding woman from his comedy show as he returned to the stage for the first time since the furore

'This whole thing has been a little intense,' he admitted, as he didn't shy away from addressing the elephant in the room.

The funnyman then pretended to kick random audience members out of his show as he singled out people in the crowds to jokingly complain about.

'I can hear someone's stomach rumbling. I just want you to know this is your last warning,' he said.

'About 12 seats back, there's a gentleman, mid-30s, when you inhale there's a slight whistling with your nose. Get the f**k out.'

Arj went on to admit he has been hit by 'hate' messages amid the online backlash, but also thanked his fans for their support.

The comedian, 49, poked fun at the online storm as he returned to stage at The Comics Lounge Comedy Club in Melbourne for his first stand-up set since the incident

'I've got to get home because I still have about 2,400 unread emails in my hate mailbox, though lots of supportive ones too,' he said. I'm grateful, I didn't come here to try and change anyone's mind.'

Arj, who is from San Francisco, also promised to continue touring around Australia as he gushed over how much he loves the country.

Earlier this week, Arj responded to the backlash over ejecting breastfeeding mother Trish Faranda from his Melbourne Comedy Festival show last weekend.

Ms Faranda claimed that she was humiliated and reduced to tears when she and her seven-month-old daughter Clara were booted from the theatre.

She claimed Clara 'had a bit of a whinge' before she gave her a feed, with Arj asking her to leave about 15 minutes into the gig because they were 'disrupting his show'.

Arj said baby Clara should not have been at his over-15s show in the first place, but also apologised to Ms Faranda for the embarrassment caused.

Arj (pictured in 2001) sparked controversy when he asked mother-of-three Trish Faranda and her baby Clara to leave his Melbourne Comedy Festival show for being disruptive

'I hope you're doing okay. I'm sorry that that was a difficult situation, and I would like to make peace,' he told Sunrise on Tuesday.

'I would like to meet up with her and have a serious discussion about selling the movie rights and go 50-50.

'Also, to the beautiful baby who I have nothing against, I want to offer that little child a ticket to my show post-dated 2039.'

'I'm not gonna hide because I want people to know the truth of what happened, at least from my perspective,' he went on. 'Both myself and the woman were put in a position we shouldn't have been in.'

Arj insisted he has no issue with public breastfeeding which he described as perfectly natural, and said he did not know that's what she was doing at the time.

'I couldn't see her well enough to know if she was breastfeeding or not - that's something I only heard about two days after the incident,' he continued.

Trish Faranda (pictured) claimed that she was humiliated and reduced to tears when she and her seven-month-old daughter Clara were booted from the theatre

'I want to make that really clear because it's been mentioned so much I had, and if she was, I wouldn't care.'

He also acknowledged that the baby was not screaming but that her 'cute' noises were distracting the audience.

'It's about the crowd enjoying an immersive experience of watching a comedy show with timing and pauses and getting drawn into the show,' he explained.

'As a performer, I have a right to ask a disruptive audience member to leave the show.

'Unfortunately, it was a cute little baby at this time and nothing to do with the mum or the gender of the parent. If it was a father, I would have said the exact same thing.

Arj (pictured in 2013) said baby Clara should not have been at his over-15s show in the first place, but also apologised to Ms Faranda for the embarrassment caused

'From where I'm standing on stage, I'm merely trying to create a nice environment to perform my show.'

Amid the controversy, Australian funnyman Ethan Marrell, better known as Ozzy Man Reviews, flocked to Arj's defence this week.

The YouTube star, 38, insisted Arj is a 'top bloke' with no 'ego' and gushed over how the star made him feel welcomed on the comedy circuit in the mid-2000s.

He recalled how Arj once spoke to himself and other nervous new comedians before one big show to make sure his material didn't overlap with theirs, and changed parts of his set so he didn't 'step on their shoes'.

According to news.com.au, Arj shared: '[Arj] was altering his material 30 minutes before the show and making sure he didn't step on the toes of the competing budding comics. Is that not bl**dy lovely?'

Amid the controversy, Australian funnyman Ethan Marrell (pictured), better known as Ozzy Man Reviews, flocked to Arj's defence this week, calling him a 'top bloke' with 'no ego'

'My core point is  the bloke does not have an ego, and I learnt from a very young age how f***en cool and nice that was,' he went on.

'He stepped out of his own way to make sure he wasn't taking all the glory as an MC on a night that was likely going to be memorable for lots of us newbies.

'It may not seem like much, but this was a pretty big national competition in the early 2000s, so I've always appreciated and remembered his integrity.'

Ethan also addressed the furore about the breastfeeding mother being kicked out, insisting Arj never should have had to address it on stage in the first place.
Jeremy Renner looks to be back at the top of his game in an expanded preview released Thursday for the latest season of his Paramount+ crime drama Mayor of Kingstown.

The 53-year-old actor - in his first season back since his near-fatal New Year's Day 2023 accident - reprises his role of Mike McLusky, who's busy battling a crime syndicate, and dealing with a rival from his past, in the new season.

In the new season, according to a logline from Paramount+, 'a series of explosions rock Kingstown and its citizens, as a new face of the Russian mob sets up shop in the city, and a drug war rages inside and outside prison walls.

'The pressure is on McLusky to end the war but things get complicated when a familiar face from his incarcerated past threatens to undermine the Mayor's attempts to keep the peace among all factions.'

The Modesto, California native is joined in the cast of the series by costars Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Aidan Gillen, Dianne Wiest and Nishi Munshi.

Jeremy Renner looks to be back at the top of his game in an expanded preview released Thursday for the latest season of his Paramount+ crime drama Mayor of Kingstown

The 53-year-old actor is in his first season back since his near-fatal New Year's Day 2023 accident, reprising his role of Mike McLusky

The actor is more than a year removed from a January 1, 2023 snow plow accident in which he was run over by his seven-ton Pistenbully snow groomer near Lake Tahoe in Nevada, leaving him in critical condition at first.

Renner suffered more than 38 bones in the incident and had to undergo surgeries to repair his rib cage, face and legs amid a multitude of injures.

Renner spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in February about his return in front of the camera about 16 months after the accident.

'All I can focus on is this,' Renner said. 'Doing television is quite arduous. It's long hours and a lot of heavy lifting.'

Renner, who has been twice nominated for Oscars - for his performances in 2008's The Hurt Locker and 2010's The Town - said he was 'just focusing on this right now and will see how [he comes] out at the end of it.'

The actor said his 'number one priority' remains his 'recovery and strengthening and just getting better, internally and externally, every day and it has to be, to be able to go to work and participate in life in the world again.'

Renner said he was allowing his 'body always to dictate' what he 'can and cannot do.'

Renner, who plays the role of Hawkeye/Clint Barton in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, told People last month that his friend Robert Downey Jr. regularly checked in with him amid his recovery in the ICU.

In the new season, according to a logline from Paramount+, ' A series of explosions rock Kingstown and its citizens'

'A drug war rages inside and outside prison walls,' according to Paramount+

Renner has appeared on 21 episodes in the show's first two seasons since its 2021 debut

Renner is pictured opposite costar Tobi Bamtefa, who portrays Deverin 'Bunny' Washington

The pair are seen chatting on a rooftop in the newly-released preview

Renner is a producer on the series, which was created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon

The accomplished actor has been twice nominated for Oscars, for his performances in 2008's The Hurt Locker and 2010's The Town

The new season of Mayor Of Kingstown is slated to debut on Paramount+ June 2 in the U.S. and Canada and the following day on all international markets the following day

The actor is more than a year removed from a January 1, 2023 snow plow accident in which he was run over by his seven-ton Pistenbully snow groomer near Lake Tahoe in Nevada, leaving him in critical condition at first

Renner said last month that his friend Robert Downey Jr. regularly checked in with him amid his recovery in the ICU. Pictured in 2019 in Seoul, South Korea

'We ended up having really great chats on FaceTime, like we were dating or something,' Renner told the outlet.

Renner said the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer star kept his spirits up, as 'his ways are very heartwarming,' amid a time he was dealing with 'other-worldly pain.'

'He's like, "Dude, the most important thing is you look good,"' Renner said. 'I don't care how you feel, as long as you look good that's all that matters.'

Renner said Downey urged his recovery as a fan of Mayor of Kingstown: 'He's like, "You've got to get back to do Mayor, because we need to see what happens."'

Renner is a producer on the series, which was created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon.

The new season of Mayor Of Kingstown is slated to debut on Paramount+ June 2 in the U.S. and Canada and in all international markets the following day.
Irwin fans breathed a sigh of relief this week when Bindi's dog Piggy returned to social media.

The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel had vanished from the famous family's socials for over six weeks, sparking concerns for the dog's wellbeing.

But fears for Piggy were finally put to rest on Thursday, when she made a triumphant - and cute - return to the Stella & Piggy Instagram account run by the Irwins.

The pooch was seen playing in the grass in a photo posted to the social media site.

She looked happy and healthy as she tugged on a blue and purple rope toy.

Irwin fans breathed a sigh of relief this week when Bindi 's dog Piggy returned to social media after the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel had vanished from the famous family's socials for over six weeks, sparking concerns for the dog's wellbeing

But fears for Piggy were finally put to rest on Thursday, when she made a triumphant - and cute - return to the Stella & Piggy Instagram account run by the Irwins

The caption on the post read, 'How did I get roped into this? - Piggy.'

Followers took to the comments to express their joy at Piggy's reemergence.

'Aah I was wondering where little Piggy is. Not seen her in ages,' wrote one commenter, who followed it up with a love heart emoji.

'Oh hi Piggy,' another greeted the pooch, while one more wrote 'Yay, Piggy!'

Last week, many fans wondered why it had been a while since they had seen the precious pooch

Last week, many fans wondered why it had been a while since they had seen the precious pooch.

'What happened to the little Cavalier [King Charles Spaniel] you had?' wrote one concerned fan in the comments on another Instagram post.

'What has happened to Piggy?' wrote another, before repeating it soon after with more urgency: 'What has happened to Piggy, please???'

Before the recent post, the last appearance of Piggy was six weeks ago in a photoshoot with the family's pug Stella while out for a walk.

'Sisters for life,' read the caption, followed by an International Women's Day hash tag.
Love Island Australia contestant Natasha Webster slipped into an incredibly revealing swimsuit this week.

The 29-year-old took to her Instagram on Wednesday and flaunted her toned physique in a risque Fashion Nova one-piece.

The high-cut black swimmers barely covered the influencer's cleavage and came dangerously close to exposing her modesty.

Standing by a window in The Ritz Carlton in Perth, Natasha worked her best angles in a sponsored post for the fashion brand's swimwear line.

Many of the reality star's 167,000 followers went wild in the comments.

Love Island Australia contestant Natasha Webster slipped into an incredibly revealing swimsuit this week

Many of the reality star's 167,000 followers went wild in the comments, with one writing: 'You are my goddess, I love it,' while another remarked: 'so charming and fabulous'

'You are my goddess, I love it,' wrote one, while another remarked, 'so charming and fabulous.'

Someone else expressed that the swimsuit photoshoot was 'absolutely stunning,' while another Instagram user said 'seriously, you look stunning.'

The reality star also put on a very revealing display when she got married to Dan Bulley late last year in Italy.

The reality star also put on a very revealing display when she got married to Dan Bulley late last year in Italy. Both pictured

In an 'intimate elopement' located at Lake Como, Natasha wore a racy wedding gown which featured a split all the way up to her hip.

And the extravagance didn't end there, with a structured corset pulling in her waist before spilling out into several layers of skirts which brushed the ground.

For an extra punch of racy elegance, the plunging sweetheart neckline highlighted her cleavage before sweeping into large, bold sleeves which fell off her shoulders.

And the extravagance didn't end there, with a structured corset pulling in her waist before spilling out into several layers of skirts which brushed the ground

Sharing snaps of the happy occasion to Instagram earlier this week, Natasha gushed over her new husband and 'best friend' Dan.

'The day was perfect, from getting ready in our beautiful suite at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como with my mum,' she began.

She continued: 'To walking down the aisle with my dad to Pachelbel J. Canone in re maggiore played on the violin.

'Greeted by our gorgeous [son] Atlas then holding the hands of my handsome husband sharing our personal heart felt vows.

'I promised not to cry but I did tear up a bit knowing that Ill be spending the rest of my life with this beautiful soul.'
Gal Gadot draped her svelte post-baby body in a sleek black gown when she made a glamorous public appearance in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The 38-year-old Wonder Woman star was part of a cavalcade of celebrities attending the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book collection launch.

Thrown at the Beverly Estate, the blowout bash welcomed a formidable array of boldface names - and Gal was a showstopper in their midst.

She slid her lithe physique into a tight black dress that emphasized her willowy 5'10" frame featured a slit to flash a bit of leg.

Her latest public appearance comes just seven weeks after she surprised her fans by revealing she had given birth to her fourth child, a baby girl called Ori.

She and her husband Jaron Varsano are now the proud parents of four daughters - Alma, 12, Maya, six, Daniella, two, and little Ori.

Gal Gadot draped her amazingly svelte post-baby body in a sleek black gown when she made a glamorous public appearance in Beverly Hills on Thursday

The 38-year-old Wonder Woman star was part of a cavalcade of celebrities attending the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book collection launch

Thrown at the Beverly Estate, the blowout bash welcomed a formidable array of boldface names - and Gal was a showstopper in their midst

Gal brought back memories of Old Hollywood, slicking her dark hair back and accessorizing with a necklace and bracelets over her elegant black dress.

She jazzed up with look with a sleek pair of dark sunglasses, bringing out her luminous complexion with naturalistic makeup.

As she made her way around the Beverly Hills fete, Gal was able to enjoy a bit of a hobnob with her fellow movie star Reese Witherspoon.

She was also spotted in conversation inside the party with The Menu blonde Anya Taylor-Joy and Andor actress Adria Arjona.

Gal beamed as she chatted with Usher, who modeled a white suit over a matching top that plunged tantalizingly to reveal his toned chest.

The Israeli actress kept her pregnancy under wraps for months, wearing flowy clothes during public appearances and keeping tight-lipped about the news.

She discussed her baby joy for the first time on March 6, when she joyfully declared on Instagram that she had welcomed Ori into the world.

She slid her lithe physique into a tight black dress that emphasized her willowy 5'10" frame featured a slit to flash a bit of leg

Her latest public appearance comes just seven weeks after she surprised her fans by revealing she had given birth to a baby girl called Ori

Gal brought back memories of Old Hollywood, slicking her dark hair back and accessorizing with a necklace and bracelets over her elegant black dress

As she made her way around the Beverly Hills fete, Gal was able to enjoy a bit of a hobnob with her fellow movie star Reese Witherspoon

She was also spotted in conversation inside the party with The Menu blonde Anya Taylor-Joy and Andor actress Adria Arjona

Gal beamed as she chatted with Usher, who modeled a white suit over a matching top that plunged tantalizingly to reveal his toned chest

Gal discussed her baby joy for the first time on March 6, when she joyfully declared on Instagram that she had welcomed Ori into the world

Gal has noted she Gal pointed out that she 'started young' on building her family with her husband Yaron Varsano, whom she married in 2008 when she was 23; pictured 2021

''My sweet girl, welcome,' she wrote. 'The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through. You have brought so much light into our lives, living up to your name, Ori, which means "my light" in Hebrew. Our hearts are full of gratitude.'

Gal added: 'Welcome to the house of girls,' before giving a tip of the hat to her movie producer husband: 'daddy is pretty cool too.'

Her comments were flooded with congratulations from such well-wishers as Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and supermodel Lily Aldridge.

Gal, who served as a combat fitness instructor in the Israeli Defense Forces in accordance with her country's draft, has raved about the experience of childbirth.

'I love giving birth,' she said in 2022. 'I would do it once a week if I could. It's so magical. And I always take epidurals, to be fair, so it's not so painful. Just the moment you feel like you're creating life, it's incredible.'

However she confessed to InStyle that 'the pregnancies are hard for me  I feel sick and have migraines. I'm not in my element.'

Gal pointed out that she 'started young' on building her family with Jaron, whom she married in 2008 when she was 23 years old.

'I was 25 when I was pregnant with Alma,' she noted. 'I always wanted to be a young mother. Yeah, three kids. No joke, woman. God bless them, but it's so much work.'
Amy Dowden has sent an emotional message of support to Shirley Ballas after her recent breast cancer scare.

The Strictly head judge, 63, took to Instagram to tell fans she's waiting for biopsy results after having the procedure.

Sharing a selfie which showed the bandage after the biopsy she wrote: ' Urging all women do not miss your mammogram. I went for mine, ended up going for a second one and a biopsy. Local anesthetic biopsy done. Now waiting for results.'

Shirley also gave a mention to Amy, who shared the news that she is cancer free back in February, after she was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer in May 2023.

She added: 'Amy Dowden you ran through my mind. The importance of not putting it off. Go and get tested. Plus self breast check regularly.'

Replying to Shirley's mention, Amy gushed: 'Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas'.

Amy Dowden has sent an emotional message of support to Shirley Ballas after her recent breast cancer scare

Replying to Shirley's mention, Amy gushed: 'Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas'

Amy has vowed to return to Strictly almost a year after she was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer - the second-highest grade.

The Welsh dancer had a mastectomy and chemotherapy and needs monthly injections for the next five years.

She shared: 'I'm working really, really hard and getting my body back with rehab and physio. Got a brilliant team, so fingers crossed I'll be back on your screens dancing later this year.'

Amy vowed: 'If Strictly will have me back, I'll be back,' and confirmed: 'The goal and the dream is to be back on the dancefloor, as well. 'Cause I've missed it so, so much.'

On the programme, Amy opened up about life post-cancer and urged people to volunteer for cancer charities.'

I was actually at the oncology unit yesterday having my monthly injection which I'll need for five years. But I'm just so grateful to get another shot at life.'

Amy told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday that she will return to Strictly Come Dancing almost a year after she was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer - the second-highest grade

She added: 'I've got amazing friends and family, the oncology unit, the nurses, the breast nurses, and also the public support has been incredible.

Amy continued: 'Unfortunately, one in two of us in our lifetime is diagnosed with cancer. But, charities like Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Young Lives vs Cancer, Breast Cancer UK. They wouldn't exist if it wasn't for volunteers.

'Volunteers are the backbone, the heartbeat to all these charities. They help fund research, the reason why I'm still alive today.

'Not just those going through it but their families. As a volunteer you get so much pride as well. It helps your mental health, there are so many benefits to it.'
Ncuti Gatwa looked sensational as he stepped back into the swinging sixties while filming for the upcoming episodes of Doctor Who.

The actor, 31, who plays the Time Lord, cut a stylish figure in a blue and white pinstripe suit as he looked to be dancing in the scene sneak peek set on Abbey Road.

Ncuti was joined by his co-star Millie Gibson who was dressed in a sixties black and white mini dress with a white belt.

The actress, 19, who plays his sidekick Ruby Sunday, completed the look with some trendy white lace up boots and pinned her blonde locks up in a perfectly hairsprayed bun.

The new series is set to air on BBC One next month and will feature the Doctor playing a guitar in a studio that bears an uncanny resemblance to Abbey Road.

Ncuti Gatwa stepped into the swinging sixties as he looked stylish in pinstripe suit while filming Doctor Who alongside co-star Millie Gibson

Ncuti was joined by his co-star Millie Gibson who was dressed in a sixties black and white mini dress with a white belt

However the BBC have frustrated fans after they announced the two first episodes, Space Babies and The Devil's Chord, will both debut on the BBC and Disney + from midnight on Friday 10 May - rather than the usual peak-time Saturday slot.

Devotees of the sci-fi series say the decision to launch the show in the graveyard slot is a snub to its younger fans, who will be fast asleep at the time.

They also say it undermines the show's reputation for being 'event television'. The unusual scheduling decision is the result of a new, multi-million-pound deal between the BBC  which has exclusive rights to the series in the UK  and Disney+, which has broadcast rights for the rest of the world.

For the first time, it has been agreed the show will be broadcast around the globe simultaneously.

This decision benefits American viewers, who will be able to watch episodes as they air each week on Disney+ at the family-friendly time of 7pm in the eastern US.

British viewers who want to watch the show when it is released will have to tune in to the episodes on the BBC's iPlayer at midnight.

The BBC will then broadcast the new episodes again in the show's traditional Saturday evening slot.

It comes after the show confirmed Varada Sethu as Ncuti's new companion for his second instalment as the Time Lord.

The new series is set to air on BBC One next month and will feature the Doctor playing a guitar in a studio that bears an uncanny resemblance to Abbey Road

Ncuti will be starring in the new series as the 15th doctor and Millie will be his travelling companion, Ruby Sunday

Doctor Who has officially confirmed Varada Sethu (R) as Ncuti Gatwa's new companion for his second instalment as the Time Lord

It was previously reported Varada would be replacing Millie as Ncuti's companion, although details about her character are still under wraps.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies told BBC: 'Right now in the studio, shooting for 2025, we've got Ncuti, Millie and Varada fighting side by side - we need all three, because the stakes are higher than ever!'

Millie starred as the 15th Doctor's companion Ruby and was first seen on screen for the 2023 Christmas special returning for an eight episode run in May.

However, it has then been suggested Millie's character Ruby will be replaced by Varada for Ncuti's second series.

It has been claimed that the former Coronation Street actress will be finishing up on the show in the coming weeks to 'tie up loose ends' and will not appear in the 2024 Christmas special.

Varda started filming at the show's Cardiff studios in January where she was seen on set with Ncuti.
Olivia Wilde cut a dazzling display in a plunging black dress as she attended the Tiffany & Co. Celebration of the launch of Blue Book in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The actress, 40, turned heads as she arrived at the lavish Beverly Estate, wearing a glitzy silver Tiffany necklace and rings.

She showcased her svelte model figure in the figure-hugging gown and elevated her frame with black court heels.

Olivia accentuated her chiseled face with a bronzed palette of make-up and wore a dramatic eye look.

The mother-of-two couldn't contain her laughter as she posed on the carpet at the event.

Olivia Wilde, 40, cut a dazzling display in a plunging black dress as she attended the Tiffany & Co. Celebration of the launch of Blue Book in Beverly Hills on Thursday

The mother-of-two couldn't contain her laughter as she posed on the carpet at the event

It comes after Olivia and her ex-fiance Jason Sudeikis beamed while watching their two children play in a park in Los Angeles last week.

Last September, Jason, 48, - who earned $10.5M last year - agreed to pay Olivia $27,500 in monthly child support as well as footing 25% of their childcare expenses after an 18-month legal battle.

According to court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Sudeikis pays Wilde $10,300/month for their 10-year-old son Otis Alexander and $17,200/monthly for their seven-year-old daughter Daisy Josephine, whom they co-parent 'week-on, week-off.'

This, after the four-time Emmy winner notoriously had the Tiffany & Co. brand ambassador served legal papers as she spoke onstage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas back in 2022.

The former couple's eight-year relationship ended in November 2020 shortly after Olivia began dating her hired actor Harry Styles (sometime between September 2020 and January 2021) on the Palm Springs set of her second directorial feature, Don't Worry Darling.

Wilde (born Cockburn) 'took a break' from dating the 30-year-old Grammy winner in 2022 after two years, and he quickly moved on with fellow Briton, Taylor Russell.

Meanwhile, Jason (born Daniel) was spotted with pretty actresses Lake Bell and Elsie Hewitt last year before surreptitiously exchanging phone numbers with Bad Sisters creator-star Sharon Horgan at an Emmy Awards afterparty on January 15.

The Ad Lucem producer-star will next team up with her former Babylon castmate Margot Robbie behind the scenes on a big-screen adaptation of Avengelyne written by Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld.

Olivia accentuated her chiseled face with a bronzed palette of make-up and wore a dramatic eye look

She showcased her svelte model figure in the figure-hugging gown and elevated her frame with black court heels

The actress turned heads as she arrived at the lavish Beverly Estate, wearing a glitzy silver Tiffany necklace and rings

Olivia looked incredibly glamorous in her classy ensemble

At one point, both Olivia and Emily Blunt - wearing a chic $205 Meshki 'Carver Suiting Coat' - were seen crossing paths and paused for a snap together while outdoors

The beauty posed for a photo with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Jason pays Olivia $10,300/month for their 10-year-old son Otis Alexander (R, pictured May 31) and $17,200/monthly for their seven-year-old daughter Daisy Josephine (L), whom they co-parent 'week-on, week-off'

The Australian 33-year-old producer hired Olivia to direct the nineties comic book series about 'a fallen angel cast to Earth to find The One, a person who is the key to protecting humanity from demons and other monsters' - according to THR.

Olivia has also been attached to direct a TV series based on Jennifer Egan's 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Visit from the Goon Squad, Christmas comedy Naughty for Universal, and an upcoming Spider-Woman film for Sony.

Sudeikis has been enjoying a career hiatus since appearing alongside Lionel Messi and Dan Marino in a Michelob Ultra commercial, which aired during CBS' Super Bowl LVIII telecast on February 11
A shirtless Jason Donovan showcased his toned bod enjoyed some quality time with his daughter Jemma Donovan in Bronte, Sydney on Friday.

The sweet pair were seen carefully observing their surroundings as they left a local shop with a hot drink each.

Jason, 55, wore white trunks, white-and-cream trainers, and a black backpack and gave onlookers a glimpse of his arrow-pierced heart tattoo.

Actress Jemma, 24, took off her long-sleeved cropped jacket and red top to reveal a red bikini top.

She finished her outfit with stylish sunglasses, black shorts, and white and grey trainers with black detailing.

A shirtless Jason Donovan, 55, showcased his toned bod as he enjoyed some quality time with his daughter Jemma Donovan, 24, in Bronte, Sydney on Friday

The sweet pair were seen carefully observing their surroundings as they left a local shop with a hot drink each

It's no surprise Jason was looking in great shape as last year he detailed his meticulous self care routine including regular massages, healthy eating and even pedicures.

The star is enjoying some time in Australia before he is due in Fareham, Hampshire for rehearsals for The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

He had already appeared in the Theatre Royal, Sydney 50th anniversary production of the musical in 2023.

Neighbours alum Jason made his West End debut back in 1991 playing the titular character in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

He as appeared in the musical a few times since, but as Pharaoh, and has also starred in Chicago, The Sound Of Music, and Grease.

Jemma followed in her father's footsteps and appeared in the hit soap Neighbours from 2019 to 2022 as Harlow Robinson.

She starred in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2023 to 2024 as Rayne Royce and recently celebrated her first anniversary with former co-star Owen Warner, also 24.

Jason shares Jemma along with Zac, 23, and Molly, 9, with his wife of 16 years Angela Malloch, a former stage manager.

The Donovans split their time between West London and South Oxfordshire with regular trips to Jason's native Australia.

Jason will resume his role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show for a third time from October 1 to October 5 for Fareham Live's first-ever production.

Jason shares Jemma along with Zac, 23, and Molly, 9, with his wife of 16 years Angela Malloch, a former stage manager (pictured in 2018)

Jason will resume his role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show for a third time from October 1 to October 5 for Fareham Live's first production
Tina Kunakey looked sensational as she posed for Victoria's Secret's Escape to Summer campaign on Friday.

The model, 27, who is the ex wife of Westworld star Vincent Cassell, showed off her toned figure in a black bikini, while a leather belt held a towel around her waist.

In another image, Tina oozed confidence in a nude bandeau top and white net skirt on a picturesque beach.

Her raven tresses were styled in corkscrew curls and she sported a flawless bronzed makeup palette.

Victoria's Secret has propelled models including Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen and now Tina to catwalk superstardom.

Tina Kunakey looked sensational as she posed for Victoria's Secret's Escape to Summer campaign on Friday

The model, 27, who is the ex wife of Westworld star Vincent Cassell, showed off her toned figure in a black bikini, while a leather belt held a towel around her waist

Tina is currently single after her split from Vincent.

Vincent - best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - recently gushed about his happiness after splitting from his wife of five-years Tina.

Taking to Instagram, Vincent has shared numerous snaps and videos from his trip abroad including a selfie, which he captioned: 'Just wanted to be happy... I am'.

While Narah replied: 'Amor' which is Italian for love.

The former couple, who welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019, are believed to have separated after he deleted all traces of her from his social media.

A source told DailyMail.com at the time that the couple are headed for divorce. They said: 'They separated weeks ago. Tina is heartbroken.'

Vincent tied the knot with Tina in 2018, two years after they were first linked, and they welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019.

Since their separation, Tina has shared several images from photoshoots, while Vincent has been touted for two new movies, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan, and Liaison, an Apple TV+ film he features in alongside Eva Green.

Vincent recently gushed about his happiness after splitting from his wife of five-years Tina (seen on their wedding day)

And while he failed to post anything about Tina's birthday, the actor did share a tribute to his 19-year-old daughter Deva, whom he shares with his first wife, Monica Bellucci.

Vincent and Monica, 59, wed in 1999 after meeting on the set of their 1996 movie, The Apartment.

They divorced in 2013 after 14 years of marriage.

Vincent is now dating model Narah Baptista and the pair appeared to confirm their relationship when they packed on the PDA during a trip to the beach in Rio de Janeiro last November.
kate moss revealed all her go to beauty tricks as she gave a sneak peek into her make-up bag on her COSMOSS Instagram account on Thursday.

The supermodel, 50, admitted daughter Lila, 21, taught her how to do make-up because she never paid attention while getting it done professionally when she was younger.

Kate said she was always 'too busy smoking' whilst in a make-up chair before photoshoots and catwalks to ever learn how to herself.

Always getting called 'a moving target', Kate joked she could never sit still in the chair because she was always chatting.

Speaking to Alessandra Steinherr in the video, she asked: 'Would you say you're good at doing your own make-up?'

Kate Moss, 50, revealed all her go to beauty tricks as she gave a sneak peek into her make-up bag on her COSMOSS Instagram account on Thursday.

The supermodel admitted daughter Lila, 21, taught her how to do make-up because she never paid attention while getting it done professionally

Kate, who shares Lila with ex Jefferson Hack, said: 'No, I didn't learn anything. I never paid attention. I was too busy chatting, I never watched what they were doing.'

'This is what Lila taught me how to use, contour. She just said "mummy, dot, dot, dot, dot" [all around her face]. I mean, how I didn't know about that, after 30 years.

Alessandra added: 'Because you have the cheekbones everybody wants to have!'

Kate said: 'No, but I don't use it for cheekbones. I use it for glow.'

'Were you good in the make-up chair? Or did you want to run out of the make-up chair?', Alessandra asked.

Kate said: 'No, I just forgot I was even in the make-up chair. I was like a moving target, that's what they called me. I was like that [moving around frantically] with a cigarette.'

Lila has long been compared to her famous mother with their similar striking looks and tall slender frames.

And she is certainly discovering it pays to resemble one of the world's biggest supermodels as she has nearly tripled her earnings in one year.

Kate said she was always 'too busy smoking' whilst in a make-up chair before photoshoots and catwalks to ever learn how to herself (pictured in 1993)

Always getting called 'a moving target', Kate joked she could never sit still in the chair because she was always chatting

Speaking to Alessandra Steinherr in the video, she asked: 'Would you say you're good at doing your own make-up?'

Kate said: 'No, I didn't learn anything. I never paid attention. I was too busy chatting, I never watched what they were doing. This is what Lila taught me how to use, contour. She just said "mummy, dot, dot, dot, dot. I mean, how I didn't know about that, after 30 years'

Lila has long been compared to her famous mother with their similar striking looks and tall slender frames (pictured together in 2023)

Accounts for Lila's own company Grace Grove Ltd, published on Thursday, reveal her pay check jumped from 129,458 in 2022 to 359,433 in 2023.

It is is evidence of a very successful year for Lila after she fronted campaigns for the likes of Pepe Jeans, an international denim brand based on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

She also starred in a campaign for the French brand Maje last year and is currently walking in several exclusive shows for Paris Fashion Week, or gracing the front row alongside Kate.

After being signed to her mothers Kate Moss Agency when she was just 15, Lila became the face of Marc Jacobs Beauty in 2018.

She went on to make her runway debut for the Italian fashion house Miu Miu in 2020, became an ambassador for YSL and made headlines when she walked the pink carpet for Victorias Secret World Tour last year.
Former Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner has revealed that she has 'just broken up with someone.'

The newly single swimwear designer, 33 - who is expanding her range to include a line for men that will let them match their trunks with women's bikinis - confirmed her relationship status on Wednesday.

'I've just broken up with someone,' Kimberley told Eden Confidential at the screening of The Idea Of You at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, London.

'Right decision  and I am in a really good place.'

Kimberley's last known romance began last summer, when it was revealed that she was going out with financier Andreas Anthis.

Made In Chelsea star turned swimwear designer Kimberley Garner is now expanding her range to include a line for men that will let them match their trunks with women's bikinis

Kimberley's last known romance began last summer, when it was revealed that she was going out with financier Andreas Anthis (Pictured in July 2023)

Kimberley was spotted for the first time with Andreas Anthis last July, as they packed on the PDA while walking her dog Sasha in London.

The reality star previously dated her MIC co-star Richard Dinan.

Kimberley first found fame on Made In Chelsea and has made a name for herself as a successful swimsuit brand entrepreneur.

She recently spoke about how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business as nobody took her seriously.

The designer told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.'

'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself.

'It became very successful overnight.'

She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice.

'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern!

'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company.

'When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.'
Giovanni Pernice wished his 'beautiful' girlfriend Molly Brown a happy birthday on Thursday after the couple rekindled their romance.

The Strictly star, 33, rang in the model's 25th with a sweet tribute shared to Instagram.

They couple, who first confirmed their romance at the end of February, proved they were still going strong after being hit by rumours they had split.

In the photo, Giovanni and Molly looked as loved-up as ever with the dancer wrapping an arm around his girlfriend while looking at her lovingly.

'Happy bday to my beautiful! TMABWAW I love you!' he captioned the post.

Giovanni Pernice, 33, wished his 'beautiful' girlfriend Molly Brown, 25, a happy birthday on Thursday after the couple rekindled their romance

Earlier this week, Giovanni denied that he's engaged to his girlfriend Molly after she was pictured wearing a gold band.

Just a month after it was reported that they'd ended their short-lived romance, the Strictly star was spotted with the model leaving his show at the London Palladium.

In pictures obtained by The Mirror, Molly sported a gold band on her ring finger as she and Giovanni headed home together, sparking rumours they could be engaged.

However, a representative for Giovanni has told MailOnline that this is not the case.

Last month it was reported that Giovanni and Molly had ended their short-lived romance after just three weeks together.

The Italian dancer went Instagram official with the model in February, but MailOnline revealed just weeks later that they had unfollowed each other, with Molly deleting a snap alongside Giovanni from her grid.

Strictly stallion Giovanni confirmed his new romance with the model at the end of February.

Stunning model Molly shared a sweet photo of the two cuddled up with the caption 'Amore Mio', while Giovanni also repeated the Italian phrase in the comments before reposting the snap to his own Instagram Stories.

They couple, who first confirmed their romance at the end of February, proved they were still going strong after being hit by rumours they had split

'Happy bday to my beautiful! TMABWAW I love you!' he captioned the post

The dancer and influencer sparked romance speculation after they were believed to have been on numerous dates, with aim to 'keep things quiet' at the time.

A source told The Mirror back in February: 'Giovanni and Molly met a few weeks ago, and though it is very early days, things seem to be going well between them'.

'He has been keeping things quiet because he didn't want too much pressure on as they're getting to know each other'.

While little is known about the model she regularly shares stunning snaps of her lavish lifestyle and exotic holidays to social media.

The Italian dancer has previously dated a whole host of gorgeous stars including Love Island's Maura Higgins, TOWIE's Jess Wright and his former Strictly parter Georgia May Foote.

He was most recently linked to Strictly co-star Jowita Przystal, before reportedly splitting in March 2023 after three months due to their 'hectic work schedules'.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu looked typically chic as she joined her Celebrity Big Brother fellow co-star Louis Walsh at the BPerfect's store opening in Belfast on Thursday.

The Love Island winner, 29, posed beaming alongside the music manager, 71, as the pair flashed a peace sign.

Ekin-Su stunned in a buttoned grey sleeveless vest, teamed with matching wide-leg smart trousers, for the opening of a new BPerfect Cosmetics' store in Belfast city centre.

She rocked beaded open-toe heels, flaunting a flawless white pedicure, while also accessorising with dainty bracelets and pendant necklaces.

The brunette bombshell also sported a white bow clip as she kept her wavy locks styled in an up-do, framing her gorgeous features.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu looked typically chic as she joined her Celebrity Big Brother fellow co-star Louis Walsh at the BPerfect's store opening in Belfast on Thursday

The Love Island winner, 29, posed beaming alongside the music alum, 71, as the pair flashed a peace sign

Ekin-Su became a proud ambassador for the make-up brand since 2022, when she also signed a deal with fashion retailer Oh Polly, in a series of lucrative deals.

The pair both appeared on the ITV's reboot of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, where Ekin-Su nominated Louis in a brutal face-to-face nomination.

Ekin-Su was the fourth contestant to be exit, in a shocking double eviction which also saw Dragon Den's Levi Roots being booted out.

After her dramatic withdrawal from the show's final, Ekin-Su explained to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best on Big Brother Late and Live that she only voted for her pal Louis to be evicted 'because he wanted to go home'.

Clarifying bits from the reality were not aired, she said: 'The reason I voted for Louis that most people don't know is that, in there, Louis wasn't happy.

'He wanted to go home. So I felt sorry for him because they picked on him in there and I thought, you know what, you're better off going home, that's why I voted for him.'

But it seems it's all water under the bridge now, as the pair appeared to be getting on very well together and enjoyed their time at the store opening.

Meanwhile Louis made a fashion statement in a navy quilted jacket from Dior, and kept it cosy in a pair of jeans and black trainers.

Ekin-Su stunned in a buttoned grey sleeveless vest, teamed with matching wide-leg smart trousers, for the opening of a new BPerfect Cosmetics' store in Belfast city centre

Ekin-Su became a proud ambassador for the make-up brand since 2022, when she also signed a deal with fashion retailer Oh Polly, in a series of lucrative deals

Meanwhile Louis made a fashion statement in a navy quilted jacket from Dior, and kept it cosy in a pair of jeans and black trainers

The duo were joined by another Celebrity Big Brother fellow co-star Bradley Riches, as they were snapped larking around as they attempted to take a selfie at the event

The Heartstopper sensation, 22, opted for a green sleeveless knit vest and a white T-shirt underneath, finishing off with denim

The pair both appeared on the ITV's reboot of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, where Ekin-Su nominated Louis in a brutal face-to-face nomination, on the same episode

After her dramatic withdrawal from the show's final, Ekin-Su explained to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best on Big Brother Late and Live that she only voted for her pal Louis to be evicted 'because he wanted to go home'

The duo were joined by another Celebrity Big Brother fellow co-star Bradley Riches, as they were snapped larking around as they attempted to take a selfie at the event.

The Heartstopper sensation, 22, opted for a green sleeveless knit vest and a white T-shirt underneath, finishing off with denim.

It comes after Ekin-Su seemingly took a swipe at ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti with a string of Instagram Stories last month.

The reality star, who met Davide on Love Island, confirmed she had parted ways with the Italian businessman, also 29, in February, for a second time as she blamed a 'rollercoaster of ups and downs' in their romance.

She then shared a cheeky snap as she posed with a book titled: 'How to Deal with Toxic People' alongside a laughing emoji.

The star also shared a clip of herself contemplating throwing away one of the ITV2 villa's iconic yellow bean bags which she took as a souvenir from her time on the show, branding it cursed.

Saying: 'I still cannot believe I have this beanbag. What the hell. This bean bag has been with me since frigging Love Island.

'It's cursed and I haven't got rid of it'

While captioning the video: 'I can't even bin it cause it's iconic'

It comes after Ekin-Su seemingly took a swipe at ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti with a string of Instagram Stories

The reality star, who met Davide on Love Island, confirmed she had parted ways with the Italian businessman in February, for a second time as she blamed a 'rollercoaster of ups and downs' in their romance (pictured together in 2023)

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Bianca Wallace shared a slew of cosy selfies with fiance Ioan Gruffudd on Thursday as she declared it was their 'time to shine', following her shock attack on Alice Evans.

Earlier in the month, the 31-year-old Australian actress took aim at Gruffudd's ex-wife as she accused Evans of 'stalking, harassing and abusing' them.

Yet she seemed in better spirits as she posted a cosy snap of herself looking adoringly at Gruffudd, 50, captioned: 'Time to shine, Yo Yo  #seattlesymphonyorchestra'.

Taking to her Stories, Wallace shared another sweet selfie that she captioned with flame and heart emojis.

The post comes after Wallace broke her silence on Gruffudd and Evans' very public legal battle and slanging battle following their acrimonious split in March 2021.

Bianca Wallace shared a slew of cosy selfies with fiance Ioan Gruffudd on Thursday as she declared it was their 'time to shine', following her shock attack on Alice Evans

Taking to her Stories, Wallace shared another sweet selfie of the pair that she captioned with flame and heart emojis

Opening up about the saga, Wallace claimed that she has been inundated with messages from followers who claim to have been sent abusive messages from Evans, 55, and revealing she feels it's her duty to 'shine a light on bullies and abuse.'

Following their acrimonious split in March 2021, Gruffudd and Evans have been locked in a very public legal battle, resulting in slanging matches that threatened to overshadow their respective careers.

She also repeated Gruffudd's claims that Evans had set up fake social media accounts with the purpose of harrassing them after a restraining order banned her from mentioning him on social media.

In a series of Instagram posts on Thursday, the Australian actress went on to share 4512 pages worth of social media posts in which Evans had mentioned her or Gruffudd, 50, as well as links to court documents detailing the three-year restraining order he took out against her as a result of the relentless posts.

She began by sharing: 'I want to say thank you so much for the love and support I have received.

'I believe the time has come to shine a light on bullies and abuse because they only hold power when hidden in the darkness.

'Bullies and people who harass others want us to believe that we are alone, but we are not. Bullying thrives in the darkness. It makes people afraid to do anything lest it get worse.

'I'm encouraging everyone to keep sharing your experiences. Continue reporting to the authorities. Always reach out for support.

'Although some of what I have mentioned happened over the last few years, I want to be very clear - The harassment and abuse has not ceased. It has continued unabated and is being directed far more broadly than just us.'

It came after Wallace launched an extraordinary attack on love rival Alice Evans, accusing her of 'stalking, harassing and abusing' her and fiance Ioan Gruffudd (pictured in 2022)

Gruffudd and Evans (pictured) have been locked in a very public legal battle, resulting in slanging matches that threatened to overshadow their respective careers

Wallace went on to claim that Evans had breached a three-year restraining order put out against her in August 2022.

She continued: 'On 13 November 2023 at 10:56am LA time, I received an email from the detective informing that the current investigations did find this persons phone number linked to at least one of the fake accounts being used to stalk, harass, and post defamatory claims.

'I want to stress that people who do this need to be held accountable for their actions, and as I have mentioned, I won't allow anyone to bully or abuse me ever again.

'If you so wish to view the supporting evidence mentioned in my previous post, most of it, minus what is currently ongoing, is already publicly available.

'I found the following links containing the information on Google and there is a lot more publicly available information.'

Wallace went on to share the links to Gruffudd's court filings for the Domestic Violence Restraining Order as well as the actor's filings for joint custody with Evans of their daughters Ella, 14, and Elsie, 10.

In a final blow, Wallace shared a link comprised of 4512 pages worth of social media posts in which Evans had mentioned her or Gruffudd.

She ended her series of posts by writing 'Keep being the light.'

Gruffudd previously claimed in court filings that he believed Evans had breached the order that prevented her from mentioning him on social media for three years.

He said in the papers filed last year: '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.'

Wallace, 31, has broken her silence on the saga, revealing she feels it's her duty to 'shine a light on bullies and abuse'

In a series of Instagram posts on Thursday, the Australian actress went on to share court documents detailing the three-year restraining order he took out against Evans

Wallace went on to share links to Gruffudd's filings for joint custody with Evans of their daughters Ella, 14, and Elsie, 10

Wallace shared a link comprised of 4512 pages worth of social media posts in which Evans had mentioned her or Gruffudd. She ended her series of posts by writing 'Keep being the light'

On Tuesday, Wallace accused Evans of confronting not just herself and Wallace but other unnamed people for 'decades'

It followed a veiled social media post on Sunday after revealing she has been subjected to online abuse regarding her battle with multiple sclerosis

Gruffudd previously claimed in court filings that he believed Evans had breached the order that prevented her from mentioning him on social media for three years

He added: '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.'

On Tuesday, Wallace accused Evans of confronting not just herself and Wallace but other unnamed people for 'decades.'

She shared: 'This has completely thrown me. What Ian's ex has done to so, so many of you over 20 years is some of the darkest s**t we have seen and finding out that what's happening to us isn't new and has been happening for decades, has been confronting, but also strangely reassuring.

'Thank you so much for sharing your personal stories and experiences of abuse with this same person. We are completely heartbroken to learn what has been going on for so long.

'We knew what was happening to us was bad, but hearing so many of your own stories has made this so much worse.

'Because of the level that this has gone to and the sheer volume of information we have received, I am going to get advice on how to go about this and to ensure that everyone who has been victim to this person feels safe and protected for having come forward.

'If anyone receives anything, including threats and intimidation from this person, the family and supporters, give me everything. I am going to ensure everyone is safe from further harassment, threats and abuse.

'Since working on healing 10 years of DV, abuse, spine surgery, diagnosis', police relocations, public abuse campaign - If I have not already made this clear - I will never be abused or bullied again. The dark is coming into the light now.'

MailOnline has contacted Evans' representatives for comment.

Last week, Wallace claimed she was targeted by trolls shortly after confirming her relationship with Gruffud, who was still the midst of his acrimonious divorce from Evans when the couple went public in 2021.

In an Instagram post, she wrote: 'Reading the abuse that hundreds (if not thousands!) of you have faced over the past 20 years by the same person who is abusing us has been genuinely confronting and disturbing.

'We can clearly see from you all by your comments and messages that what has happened to us and our families is not new, and definitely not caused by a break up. It is very clear now that this has been happening for decades.'

Speaking for herself and Gruffudd - whose 16-year marriage to Evans officially ended in 2023 - she added: 'We are truly devastated to learn how many of you have suffered over the past 20 years at this person's hands...

'After what I received from everyone yesterday, I need a few days to go through it all and come to terms with what we have now learnt is so much bigger than we realised - your children, careers and lives have also been attacked for so long and for that, it is important that this level of abuse & bullying is revealed.

'In the meantime, I am here for anyone who experiences further abuse because you have told the truth.'

The Australian actress previously claimed she was targeted by faceless trolls shortly after confirming her relationship with fiance

Wallace claims trolls told her they hoped her MS would eventually kill her after their romance was revealed

'During 2018 - 2021 it was a particularly difficult period in my life. An aggressive MS diagnosis, decided life was short and changed careers', Wallace said in a recent post (pictured in 2019)

Wallace previously revealed how online trolls sent vile messages in which they hoped her battle with MS would eventually kill her after she made her first appearance with Gruffudd.

In a lengthy Instagram statement on Friday, the actress spoke out about her devastating diagnosis, after the Princess Of Wales announced last week she is battling cancer following a string of conspiracy theories.

Multiple sclerosis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability.

Wallace said: 'It is MS Awareness Month and I want to share with you my personal experience of being publicly bullied and having MS.

'During 2018 - 2021 it was a particularly difficult period in my life. An aggressive MS diagnosis, decided life was short and changed careers, lived on my own for a year, began healing, worked on my health,'

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning. Advertisement

She then wrote about falling in love with someone '11,000kms away' during the COVID-19 pandemic before deciding to move from her native Brisbane to France.

After the couple confirmed their romance in 2021, his ex-wife accused them of having an affair.

Wallace soon began to receive vicious comments online once she arrived in her new European home and her battle with MS became public as speculation surrounding her health grew.

'I received hundreds of messages of hate saying they hope the MS kills me, that I should kill myself, that my family should be ashamed to be linked to me', she said.

The actress said she then made the decision to take control over stories about her health and announced her condition in a video shared to social media.

'So, why am I bringing all of this up for MS awareness month? Because it's not ok! Because we have no idea what a person is really going through in life and don't have the right to assume'.

'Because the world watched on and demanded answers from Princess Catherine and when they weren't getting any, made up their own stories and pushed them as real. I didn't deserve to have the MS exposed, made so much worse by the lies and harassment attached'.

She continued: 'We have to do better. A chronic illness diagnosis, no matter the illness, is huge and it takes serious work and a lot of time to come to terms with.'

Wallace spoke out after Kate's emotional video of her sitting on a park bench telling the world about her diagnosis has touched the hearts of the nation and was supposed to bring an end to months of frenzied online speculation of her whereabouts and health.

She and Gruffudd announced their engagement in January, after three years of dating.

In December, The Daily Mail reported that Evans, who shares two daughters with Gruffudd, is in dire financial straits and has told friends that she cannot pay her rent or afford food, and is even contemplating taking a job with coffee chain Starbucks.

She has told friends that the money which she got from the sale of the marital home, believed to amount to $100,000 is all gone, much of it on lawyers, and she is now in a financial crisis.

A friend said: 'Alice has been extremely upset and says that she can't afford to make rent when it is due later this month  at least not if they want to eat - and has just hit a financial rock bottom. She says she has nothing  not even medical insurance.'

Wallace and Gruffudd confirmed their engagement in January with the actress revealing her sparkling diamond ring

They continued: 'She's been told that she should get a job but has not found any acting work and in any case she needs to look after their children who are school age.

'This week she has been discussing trying for a job in Starbucks but she thinks they might not want her as she is probably too old for them at 55. Also her agent doesn't want her to do it in case it looks bad.'

The friend added: 'She is feeling desperate and is out of ideas about how she can get along. She has been crying herself to sleep.

Evans and Gruffudd finally divorced in July 2023 but custody, spousal and child support have yet to be settled, and the next hearing in the case is due in March.

In court filings obtained by DailyMail.com, a judge ordered Evans to take the girls to weekly 'reunification therapy' sessions with their father.
Charli XCX's appearance on Lip Sync Battle has sparked ire among Irish social media users, six years after the performance hit screens.

The British star, 31, fought against Rita Ora on the US show in 2018, where she took to the stage to mouth along to B*Witched's 1998 hit C'est La Vie in front of a slew of backing dancers clad in Union Flag dresses.

Due to the fact the group, comprising Edele Lynch, Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinead O'Carroll, hail from Ireland, fans were left enraged at the use of the UK's flag alongside the Irish music - and Charli's attempt at Irish dancing.

Twitter was flooded by angered viewers, including funnyman Dara O Briain, who deemed the gaffe a 'a virtual declaration of war' and 'a hate crime' - with a slew of references to 1998's Good Friday Agreement.

The agreement was a deal signed by political parties in Northern Ireland, as well as both the British and Irish governments. It helped to bring an end to more than 30 years of conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles.

Charli XCX's appearance on Lip Sync Battle has sparked ire among Irish social media users, six years after the performance hit screens

The British star, 31, fought against Rita Ora on the US show in 2018, where she took to the stage to mouth along to B*Witched's 1998 hit C'est La Vie in front of a slew of backing dancers clad in Union Flag dresses (B*Witched pictured in 1998)

Twitter was flooded by angered viewers, including funnyman Dara O Briain, who deemed the gaffe a 'a virtual declaration of war' and 'a hate crime' - with a slew of references to 1998's Good Friday Agreement

The use of Irish music with the UK flag sparked the anger among fans

Funnyman Dara took to Twitter to share the message and write: 'Ah here. And the Irish dancing section is particularly criminal. Was it for this etc etc'

More than 3,500 people lost their lives throughout the Troubles, which arose due to political tensions after the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921.

Charli's clip brought discussion of The Troubles to the surface on social media.

Despite the age of the clip, Charli's performance resurfaced and showed the star - watched by Rita - belt out C'est La Vie, while a number of dancers dressed in Union Flag-adorned dresses surrounded her to join in.

When the original tweet was shared, the author wrote: 'charli xcx lipsyncing to cest la vie by b*witched surrounded by UNION JACKS is the eighth deadly sin'.

Funnyman Dara took to Twitter to share the message and write: 'Ah here. And the Irish dancing section is particularly criminal. Was it for this etc etc'.

His Twitter followers soon swarmed the replies writing: 'I can't decide if that's a declaration of war ... or a hate crime... We all feel a bit guilty for liking this tune - but we do - this clip is virtually a declaration of war...

'It's that the Good Friday Agreement over then, shure we had a good run there for a while... Is this not in breach of the GFA?... This video is basically a hate crime... Irish dancing is one of England's biggest exports!...

'I honestly think apologies need to be sought for this... Definitely a hate crime... Ive never been more offended... You would think a nation like the USA with millions of people of Irish heritage could work out B*witched was an Irish not a British band.

His Twitter followers soon swarmed the replies writing: 'I can't decide if that's a declaration of war ... or a hate crime... We all feel a bit guilty for liking this tune - but we do - this clip is virtually a declaration of war'

The creation of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland resulted in a political split among the population in both parts (Pictured: Bomb debris laying strewn across the streets of London's Docklands following an IRA bomb blast in 1996, prior to the agreement)

'Btw wasnt one of the members of B*witched the daughter of a Taoiseach?...

In defense of the clip, one fan pointed out that the backing dancers were dressed in Geri Horner's 1997 BRITs dress - meaning the intention was for the star to perform a Spice Girls song, before a possible last minute change.

The user wrote: 'Looks like they planned to do a spice girls song and changed last minute'.

MailOnline has contacted Charli's representatives for comment.

The creation of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland resulted in a political split among the population in both parts: unionists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, who want it to become part of the Republic of Ireland.

In defense of the clip, one fan pointed out that the backing dancers were dressed in Geri Horner's 1997 BRITs dress - meaning the intention was for the star to perform a Spice Girls song, before a possible last minute change

Tensions gave way to violence in the late 1960s, as armed groups from both sides, such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA), carried out bombings and shootings - and British troops were sent to Northern Ireland.

After years of conflict, the Good Friday Agreement was seen as being instrumental in the Northern Ireland peace process.

It dictated that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and that would only be allowed to change via another referendum, if the people of Northern Ireland voted to do so.
Sophia Banadinovich, the daughter of Australian actor Eric Bana, has been living the high life since launching her modelling and acting career.

The 22-year-old last year signed up with Emma Raciti Management, a leading independent Australian talent agency.

She has already been working as a model after signing with Melbourne agency The Talent Buro last year as well as agency Giant Management.

In a series of Instagram posts, the brunette, who strongly resembles her lauded actor dad, has been documenting her glamorous lifestyle.

In one image, she enjoyed a bottle of champagne while in another she headed out to a premiere in Sydney.

Sophia Banadinovich, the daughter of Australian actor Eric Bana, has been living the high life since launching her modelling and acting career. Pictured with her dad and mum

Sophia, who recently spent time in New York, also gave her fans a glimpse at her modelling work.

Likewise, she posed alongside her famous dad and her mum, the resemblance very visible.

Speaking to The Herald Sun, the dancer, model and now actress said she was broadening her interests with the support of her family and friends.

'I think that in a lot of ways dancing and modelling compliment each other,' she told the publication.

In a series of Instagram posts, the brunette, who strongly resembles her lauded actor dad, has been documenting her glamorous lifestyle

In one image, she enjoyed a bottle of champagne while in another she headed out to a premiere in Sydney

Sophia, who recently spent time in New York, also gave her fans a glimpse at her modelling work

'As dancers we are taught from a young age to have strong awareness of our bodies, our physicality and the way we hold ourselves.

'Modelling was something I had never personally considered, but with the mentoring and support of my friends and family I decided why not give it a go? I am definitely a beginner but I am excited to see where it can go!'

Sophia added that while she was studying dance, she hasn't ruled out pursuing acting and following her father's footsteps as an actor.

'Acting is something that I would love to try when I am able to devote more focus, time and energy,' she said.

Back in December 2020, Sophia revealed that she has enrolled in a dance course at university.

The 22-year-old last year signed up with Emma Raciti Management, a leading independent Australian talent agency. She has already been working as a model after signing with Melbourne agency The Talent Buro last year as well as agency Giant Management

'I am about to go into full-time dance at uni,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'I really have no idea where it's going to go.'

As for whether her famous dad has given her any advice about getting into the business, Sophia admits that she tries not to 'lean on him' too much.

'He doesn't really talk about it too much. I am just trying to figure it out myself, I don't want to lean on him too much. If I had any questions I could ask,' she added.

Eric and his wife Rebecca Gleeson share Sophia and a 26-year-old son Klaus together.

But the pair have kept their children relatively out of the spotlight while growing up, and Sophia is 'glad' they did.

'I am very glad they did that because growing up would have been very different,' she admits.
Damian Hurley has revealed his famous mother Elizabeth nearly got arrested in Switzerland during the making of one of his short films.

The actor, 22, recalled the shocking time Elizabeth, 58, nearly got put in bars when he made her chase his godfather Hugh Grant, 63, around Zurich Airport with a fake dagger.

Reflecting on his short-lived career in the film industry with Tatler, Damian said it was his 'finest moment' so far.

He said: 'When my mother gave me my first camcorder for my eighth birthday, a despot was born. From that moment, all I wanted was to write and direct movies.

'I tortured every friend and family member I could get my hands on to act in my self-written, self-directed short films, and I dragged whole suitcases of props, lights and costumes on every vacation.

Damian Hurley, 22, has revealed his famous mother Elizabeth, 58, nearly got arrested in Switzerland during the making of one of his short films

The actor recalled the shocking time Elizabeth nearly got put in bars when he made her chase his godfather Hugh Grant , 63, around Zurich Airport with a fake dagger

'My finest moment was nearly getting my mother arrested en route to St Moritz, when I made her chase my long-suffering godfather Hugh Grant around Zurich airport with a fake dagger, bellowing that she was going to skin him alive.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Damian the reasoning behind the heartbreaking storyline in his debut film Strictly Confidential.

In his new film, a young woman drowns near her family home in the Caribbean, and her loved ones struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.

The idea for the film's plot came to the model, actor and filmmaker in the aftermath of losing a friend to suicide, as well as his biological father Steven Bing.

Speaking on the inspiration, Damian told the publication : 'Finally, I unearthed a treatment I'd written when I was 17 in the aftermath of losing a close friend to suicide.

'At the time I'd shelved it, deciding I wasn't yet ready to tell the story, but in the three-year interim I'd lost a parent, also to suicide, and had been forced to grow up fast.

'I realised I now had the experience to bring the script to life, and Strictly Confidential was born: the story of a young woman who is haunted by the suicide of her best friend and determined to find answers.'

Elizabeth conceived her only child during a short-lived relationship with Steve not long after she split from Hugh Grant in 2000.

Reflecting on his short-lived career in the film industry with Tatler , Damian said it was his 'finest moment' so far

He said: 'When my mother gave me my first camcorder for my eighth birthday, a despot was born. From that moment, all I wanted was to write and direct movies. I tortured every friend and family member I could get my hands on to act in my self-written, self-directed short films'

He added: 'My finest moment was nearly getting my mother arrested en route to St Moritz, when I made her chase my long-suffering godfather Hugh Grant around Zurich airport with a fake dagger, bellowing that she was going to skin him alive'

She gave birth to Damian in 2002 but the businessman contested paternity, claiming that they had been in a non-exclusive relationship at the time.

Although a DNA test proved that Bing was Damians father, he did not become part of his life and they are thought to have never even met. Bing died in 2020 when he jumped from the 27th floor of his Los Angeles apartment building.

Screen star Elizabeth and her son Damian have found themselves under fire after he directed her racy lesbian sex scene in his upcoming film Strictly Confidential.

Elizabeth raised eyebrows for her steamy scene with another woman in the raunchy trailer for her upcoming film Strictly Confidential; which was directed by her son Damian.

But the star insists it wasn't just a 'titillating' moment but an important part of the plot of the movie.

In Damian's directorial debut, Elizabeth plays a mother called Lily who welcomes her daughter's friends to her Caribbean estate the year after the mysterious deaths of her daughter and her husband.

A number of secrets become known during the trip, including Lily's love affair with her daughter's female friend.

Of the steamy sex scene between the pair, which was directed by her real-life son Damian, Elizabeth told TooFab : 'Well, it was a very important part of storytelling, when Mia, our protagonist, is on this quest to find out why her best friend [Elizabeth's character's daughter] killed herself.

Elsewhere in the interview, Damian the reasoning behind the heartbreaking storyline in his debut film Strictly Confidential

Elizabeth conceived her only child during a short-lived relationship with Steve (pictured) not long after she split from Hugh Grant in 2000

Speaking on the inspiration, Damian told Tatler : 'Finally, I unearthed a treatment I'd written when I was 17 in the aftermath of losing a close friend to suicide.'

Although a DNA test proved that Bing was Damians father, he did not become part of his life and they are thought to have never even met. Bing died in 2020 when he jumped from the 27th floor of his Los Angeles apartment building

See the full feature in the June issue of Tatler available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday May 2

'It was so integral to [the storytelling] that the actual physical filming of it wasn't even something we talked about really.

'We just knew that the impact it would have on the story and the rest was just our job.'

She insists the scene is not simply included for shock value, adding she always stays away from movies that have salacious moments to stun the audience.

The screen star said: 'For me, when I get a script, if I feel something is put in gratuitously -- which has nothing to do with storytelling -- right from when I was a beginner, I'd be like, "I don't get that, I don't understand that, that's not something I want to be part of."

'It's just thrown in, in my head, by some male executive somewhere and I've never been part of that.

'I would not have been on this, but it wasn't. It was so integral. It was part of the storytelling, it wasn't just a sex scene thrown in for titillation.'

Strictly Confidential was released in cinemas and on Prime Video on April 5 in the US and will be released on May 13 on UK digital platforms.
Alison Hammond was left doing a double take on Friday's episode of This Morning as she was presented with a waxwork of herself.

The TV personality, 49, was presented with the model by Dermot O'Leary, who declared, 'Are you ready for a double dose of the Hammond?' before the grand unveiling.

Impressed by the waxwork, which will feature in Madame Tussauds' Blackpool museum, Alison joked: 'I've always wanted to have a twin!' adding 'It's an honour.'

The mother-of-one was filmed during the making of the waxwork where she had various sittings to pose for the sculptors.

In a film about the creative process, Alison mused: 'I can't tell you how much of an incredible experience that was, seeing myself. I know it's not got the colour yet, but honestly I cannot wait to see the finished product.'

Alison Hammond (right) was left doing a double take on Friday's episode of This Morning as she was presented with a waxwork of herself

Impressed by the waxwork (right) which will feature in Madame Tussauds' Blackpool museum, Alison joked: 'I've always wanted to have a twin!' adding 'It's an honour'

On her first glance at the finished product, a gobsmacked Alison said: 'Oh my gosh! Shall I stand next to her?

'I can see myself from behind, it's so weird I can't tell you! I think she's more beautiful What's it like having an Alison sandwich?'

Dermot replied: 'It's quite overwhelming I've got to be honest with you! I'm not sure I can handle more than one!'

Alison later said: 'Can I just say that the team at Madame Tussauds, they have worked so hard and you've done such a good job - I can't believe I'm looking at myself!

'Look at the lashes! Well go and see her, she is going to be in Blackpool, go and have a selfie with her, she's lovely!'

While Alison was delighted with the finished product, not everyone was convinced.

Unimpressed viewers tweeted: 'Why is the wax figure of Alison Hammond reminding me of that one episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures episode where Marias fit dad gets turned to stone?'; 'It's the weirdest thing we've ever seen too, Alison'; 'Alisons Madame Tussauds waxwork. Im saying nowt #ThisMorning.'

Some loved it, sharing: 'Beautiful waxwork of Alison, amazing. God love her Xx  #ThisMorning #MadameTussuads'; 'wow Alison, your waxwork is a maa zing!!! Incredibly so alike & gorgeous just like you.'

The reaction was better to Madame Tussauds' Blackpool latest figure, after they came under fire for a Beyonce waxwork.

After unveiling the sculpture in February, a handful of social media users called out the wax figure for looking more like Leah Remini, 53, Tyra Banks, 50 or Rihanna, 35, than the mother-of-three.

The TV personality, 49, was presented with the model by Dermot O'Leary , who declared, 'Are you ready for a double dose of the Hammond?' before the grand unveiling

While Alison was delighted with the finished product, not everyone was convinced with viewers divided on their thoughts of the waxwork

The reaction was better to Madame Tussauds' Blackpool latest figure, after they came under fire for a Beyonce waxwork (left)

Meanwhile, Alison is said to have a new lease of life after finding love with hunky 6ft 10in model David Putman, who is 23 years her junior and also a masseur.

Earlier this week, the surprising way the couple met was revealed with their relationship blossoming from the moment Alison booked David for a 150 massage.

According to The Sun, Alison was a client of the professional masseur and it was during a session that the pair first hit it off, with the presenter visiting David in between her busy filming schedule.

Their friendship then reportedly turned romantic at the end of last year, despite the 23 year age gap between the pair.

Originally from Krasnodar in Russia, David left the country for the UK in December 2022 to escape the front line following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

A friend of David told the publication: ' When the war in Ukraine began David's mother Olga began to worry. She didn't want her boys dragged into it. She wanted them safe like any mother would.'

David therefore moved to the UK, where he now lives with his uncle Nigel Putman, 71, in Slough, but he spends a lot of time in London for work.

The friend explained that David was able to avoid being drafted into the Russian army as his father, also called David, is originally from Slough himself, therefore the young masseur already had British citizenship.
Jodie Whittaker, Robert Carlyle and Brendan Coyle were spotted filming upcoming Netflix drama Toxic Town in Cheshire on Tuesday.

The drama focuses on three mothers fighting for justice following toxic waste spillages in the town of Corby in Northamptonshire.

The Doctor Who star, 41, is playing Susan McIntyre in the series. Susan is one of the mums whose lives were drastically affected by the catastrophe in the Eighties.

While the cameras were rolling, Jodie looked forlorn while walking through a park and weighed down with shopping bags.

The Full Monty star Robert, 63, and Brendan, 61, were both suited for the scenes as they headed towards wrapping the eagerly-anticipated series.

Jodie Whittaker , Robert Carlyle and Brendan Coyle were spotted filming upcoming Netflix drama Toxic Town in Cheshire on Tuesday

The drama focuses on three mothers fighting for justice following toxic waste spillages in the town of Corby in Northamptonshire

The Full Monty star Robert, 63, looked smart in a suit

Brendan, 61, was clutching a script as he walked among the cast and crew

In a nod to the Eighties setting of the time, Jodie was seen toting a number of carrier bags from now-defunct shop woolworths.

She was wearing a suitably Nineties pair of loose-fitting jeans and a leather jacket alongside Converse All Star trainers.

The show will follow the tragic story that captivated the nation.

In 1980, Corby experienced one of the biggest child poisonings cases and exposed children to a high volume of toxic waste, which saw more birth defects in this period than ever - the worst foetal poisoning scandal since thalidomide.

The local council attempted to remove the waste - an attempt that led to contamination spreading to populated areas, impacting the health of locals.

A case was subsequently brought against Corby Borough Council, which found the waste disposal had led to birth defects, with a far above average number of babies born in Corby with upper-limb defects.

The forthcoming four-episode limited series tells the story of the legal battle between parents of the affected children and the Council.

Alongside Jodie, Brendan and Robert fans will see Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood and The Diplomat star Rory Kinnear.

Toxic Town's writer, Jack Thorne, said: 'The Corby toxic Waste case is one of those moments in history that is defining.

In between takes, she wrapped up in an oversized blue coat

He walked through the set in the company of fellow stars set

She chatted to young children in the park while walking through

She was later seen in a different ensemble with contrasting hair

Jodie put on an animated display as she larked around with staff

'It showed our ability to close our eyes and ears to the safety of our people. It also showed the remarkable way that people will fight for what's right.

'Toxic Town tells the story of these funny, brave, incredible women and the way they scrapped for their children.'

A release date is yet to be announced.

In 2021, Whittaker confirmed she would be leaving Doctor Who, with the BBC revealing that her departure will play out across a three-part special.

The British star, who was the show's first female Doctor, described her four-year stint manning the Tardis as being 'the best job I ever had'.

Ncuti Gatwa was unveiled as the 15th Doctor on the popular sci-fi show in May 2022 after she confirmed her departure from the role.

As she held on to the bags as she walked through in the glare of the cameras
Quinn says the order will not go into effect against Richard until he is served

Christine Quinn is hoping to speed up her temporary restraining order request against her estranged husband Christian Richard as he allegedly evades service.

The 35-year-old Selling Sunset veteran filed a request for alternate service of the restraining order on Monday, April 22, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

She alleges in the documents that Richard  who has not publicly responded  is in hiding and has been avoiding service of the order.

Quinn's request, if granted, would offer her ways to prove that she has made enough of an effort to serve her estranged husband after he was arrested in March for assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly throwing a bag with a glass bottle in it at her, which instead hit their two-year-old son Christian Georges Dumontet.

The filing comes just days after the reality star was spotted heading into court amid her divorce from the 44-year-old tech founder.

Christine Quinn, 35, has filed a request to have alternative service on her restraining order against estranged husband Christian Richard (nee Dumontet), according to documents obtained by Us Weekly; seen in June 2022 in NYC

Quinn claims that Richard, 44, has been hiding out under an alias at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, where he has been able to evade service of the restraining order; seen in 2021 in LA

'Respondent should be permitted to serve petitioner via an alternative method of service due to petitioners evasion of service of the domestic violence restraining order documents,' Quinn's request reads.

Normal procedure requires that the person being restrained be served the documents informing them of the restraining order before it can go into effect, but Quinn's inability to find or serve Richard means that her order is essentially useless for now.

Persons filing restraining orders usually have to prove that they have tried to serve the target of the order multiple times, and that they believe the restrained person is attempting to evade service.

If the option for alternative service is granted by the judge, Quinn may be allowed to send copies to various work and home addresses that Richard has to show that she has made an attempt to contact him, or she could even publish notification of a restraining order in a newspaper.

Restrained persons can also be contacted electronically, but only if they consent to have the order served via email, according to the Judicial Branch of Californa.

However, that option is unlikely to work in Richard's case due to his alleged lack of communication with his estranged wife.

According to Quinn's filing, it was an unfortunate 'two-day delay' that gave Richard 'sufficient time and notice to successfully evade service of the order,' therefore preventing it from being enforced for the time being.

She adds that he would be able to 'violate [the restraining order] repeatedly without legal repercussions.

As long as Richard is not served, the TRO will not go into effect. She claims his lawyers have refused to put her in touch with him or pass on the restraining order; seen June 2023 in LA

Quinn wants a judge to allow her to pass on the order via Richard's lawyers, or to give her an alternate way to prove she has made every effort to serve her ex; seen March 27 in LA

According to Quinn, she has not seen Richard since March 20, and he has not been seen at all in public since March 27, though she believes he is currently staying at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills under an assumed name. Richard has a history of doing so publicly, as his real name is Christian Dumontet, but during appearances on Selling Sunset and in public with Quinn he has used the name Christian Richard.

'Due to my public image, [he] and I have taken additional security precautions when staying at hotels previously, such as checking in under pseudonyms or booking blocks of rooms to evade detection,' Quinn writes in her filing. 'I believe [Christian] could be employing these methods, or even paying the hotel, to conceal his location.'

Since Richard has allegedly evaded service, she has turned to a process server to help, but they have so far been unable to find the tech founder.

Once the temporary restraining order goes into effect, Richard will not be allowed to have contact with their son, two-year-old Christian Richard Dumontet, and he will be required to steer clear of their home.

Quinn is requesting that the judge allow her to serve the temporary restraining order via Richard's attorney, who she said has previously claimed she is unable to receive the documents and 'refused' to share details about where her client had been staying.

'Although I was very grateful my request for protection was granted, I was extremely concerned that  he would make every attempt to evade service,' Quinn adds. 'My counsel assisted me in retaining a private investigator to have [him] personally served promptly, although I feared locating him would already be an impossible task.'

The reality star claims that Richards attorneys have stymied her efforts to find and serve her estranged husband by 'continually barr[ing]' her from contact him.

She even alleges that one of Richard's attorneys alleged prevented her from entering her own home.

'As I approached the property, Mr. Villicana insisted he was hired and permitted to surveil and occupy the property as directed by [Christian], in direct violation of the TRO,' she claimed in her filing.

After a 'confrontation' allegedly lasting 'seven minutes,' two of Quinn's employees allegedly arrived at the property to assist her in getting Richard's attorney to vacate the premises.

'Mr. Villicana made several threatening remarks while lurking around including, "I will be seeing you again" and "Im not going anywhere,"' she alleges.

Quinn also claimed that one of Richard's attorneys physically barred her from entering her home and 'intentionally left [the home] in a hazardous, filthy and unlivable condition]; seen in January 2023 in Paris

She even alleges that Villicana stole her cappuccino maker to bring it to his client, though his attorneys have refused to share his whereabouts with her; seen on Watch What Happens Live

Upon gaining access to her home, Quinn claims she discovered that it was 'intentionally left in a hazardous, filthy and unlivable condition' by Richard's attorney.

She even alleges that Villicana stole her cappuccino maker to bring it to his client.

Back in March, Richard was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly threw a bag containing a glass bottle at his wife, which missed her and instead hit their two-year-old son Christian.

The two had allegedly been having an argument over their dogs beforehand, per TMZ.

Richard has denied throwing the bag at Christine, and has claimed that it also did not contain any glass, which he claims was a story Christine fed to police.

Richard's bond was set at $30,000, and he subsequently made bail, before he was shockingly arrested a second time the day after the initial arrest when violated the initial emergency restraining by returning to the family home.

Although Quinn and her son were reportedly not home at the time, Police arrived with guns drawn and did a search of the home before taking Richard into custody.

An eyewitness on the scene alleged that police could be heard shouting for Richard to 'Come out with your hands up.'

LA County Sheriff's records indicate that he posted another $30,000 bond and was released hours after the second arrest.

A source told Page Six that Quinn and her son were staying at a separate 'safe' location, and that someone else had allegedly called the police on Richard.

Earlier this month, Richard was reported to have filed to divorce Quinn on April 5.

The two were originally introduced via a mutual friend, and the tech founder proposed to her on Valentine's Day of 2019.

Quinn filed for a TRO after Richard was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in March for allegedly throwing a bag with a glass bottle in it at her, but instead hitting their two-year-old son; pictured in 2021 in Santa Monica

Quinn is best known as a breakout star on Netflix's reality series Selling Sunset, in which she sold luxury homes for the Oppenheim Group for five seasons. Her final season on the show featured allegations that she had tried to bribe a client

They were wed in December of that year in a ceremony with a winter wonderland theme featuring an unusual gothic twist, including Quinn's black wedding dress.

The couple welcomed their son Christian in 2021.

The blonde beauty is best known as a breakout star on Netflix's reality series Selling Sunset, in which she sold luxury homes for the Oppenheim Group for five seasons.

Her final season on the show featured allegations that she had tried to bribe a client.
Si King put on an incredibly brave face as he was seen for the first time since his beloved friend Dave Myers passed away.

Dave, who was best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, passed away aged 66 in February with his TV partner Si King, 57, and his family by his side.

Si stepped out with his close friend Nicole Kavanagh-Stubbs, leaving private members' spot, The Groucho Club, with suitcases after a night's stay.

They enjoyed a peaceful lunch at a popular eatery after departing the venue before heading off together.

The chef was spotted greeting fans around the city and posing for selfies, while signing the odd autograph.

Si King, 57, put on an incredibly brave face as he was seen for the first time since his beloved friend Dave Myers passed away

Dave, who was best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, passed away aged 66 in February with his TV partner Si King, 57, and his family by his side (Si and Dave pictured in 2019)

Si stepped out with his close friend Nicole Kavanagh-Stubbs, leaving private members' spot, The Groucho Club, with suitcases after a night's stay

The chef was also spotted greeting fans around the city and posing for selfies, while signing the odd autograph

At one point of his outing, Si seemed incredibly grateful to dine at the restaurant and appeared overjoyed with the food as he shook hands with the chef.

Si was previously married to ex-wife Jane for 27 years and share three sons together. The couple have remained close friends since their split in 2016.

In 2021, it was reported Si then split from his then fiancee Michele Cranston following a short-lived romance.

Dave's death sparked an outpouring of grief from the general public - who mourned the loss of one of the BBC's most popular figures.

Si first met Dave when they were both working in the film industry - Dave as a make-up artist and Si as a locations director - and bonded over their love of food and motorbikes.

Over their career the best friends built up a reputation as the friendly faces of TV cooking, with 31 separate projects since they first debuted on the BBC in 2006.

Dave was married to Lilliana Orzac, whom he met while filming Hairy Bikers in Romania, in 2011 at the star's hometown in Barrow, Cumbria and was a stepfather to her two children, Izabelle and Sergiu, from a previous relationship.

Taking to social media a week after his funeral, Alpine F1 aero mechanic Sergiu said: 'It has taken me a while to write this as it's hard to think about it and still cannot believe you are no longer with us.

'Last week we said our final goodbyes to one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Furthermore I had the honour of calling you my dad.

'You have always been an inspiration in my life, and will remain so even now that you are not with us anymore; with your infectious zest for life and unmatched passion for any endeavour you set your mind to. Without you, I would not be the man I am today.'

They enjoyed a peaceful lunch outside the famous Groucho Club

Si cut a casual display in a denim jacket and matching denim jeans, teamed with khaki green Birkenstocks

At one point of his outing, Si seemed incredibly grateful to dine at the restaurant and appeared overjoyed with the food as he shook hands with the chef

He sweetly smiled and was grinning while chatting with a fellow chef

Si and Nicole were later seen heading off together to Euston station with cases in tow

Si and Nicole were seen heading to an unknown destination

Si pushed his and Nicole's luggage before catching a train

He added: 'I'll end with a little quote from Renoir that I think is fitting and captures the effect you had not only on your family, but the millions of fans worldwide: 'The pain passes, but the beauty remains''

Izabelle, rather, changed her profile picture to a sweet photo of herself and Dave grinning into the camera, accompanied by a simple 'heart' emoji.

Dave announced he was receiving treatment for cancer in May 2022 and bravely kept the public up to date with his progress in a series of emotional TV specials.

Dave had previously spoken lovingly about his devoted stepchildren, with Liliana paying tribute to him as a 'wonderful stepdad' in the days following his death.

He admitted that he regretted not having children, however when he met Liliana he became part of her children's lives and became their stepfather.

He said: 'A major regret of mine for a long time had been not having children. When I married Lil, I had this ready-made family with two stepchildren.'

It came after Lilliana revealed life feels 'empty and sad' without her Hairy Biker husband as she vowed to 'laugh and love like Dave' and 'move forward' though grief in a heartbreaking online post.

The TV chef reportedly left a 1.4million windfall for his wife, as she was named the sole shareholder of his firm after his death.

In 2022 Dave revealed he'd lost his famous beard as a result of undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer, while speaking on his on his Agony Uncles podcast

Si also shared this black and white photo of him sitting with Dave on a bench

The Sun reported that paperwork confirms Liliana now has full control of the company.

She was reportedly made a director of Dave's production company shortly before he revealed his diagnosis in 2022, according to Companies House records seen by the publication.

It has been reported that she has taken over Dave's shares in the firms he co-owned with Si. Details of his will are yet to be made public.

His death was followed by an outpouring of grief from the general public - who mourned the loss of one of the BBC's most popular figures, who also starred in Strictly Come Dancing in 2013.

And bikers took to the streets for a memorial ride to pay tribute - with many wearing T-shirts bearing his image as Si said his friend 'would have loved' the gesture.
Tammy Hembrow is enjoying a holiday in Bali with fiance Matt Zukowski.

And the fitness influencer was showing off her famous figure in a series of photos shared to Instagram on Friday.

The 30-year-old posed in a skimpy bikini at the luxurious Villa Malika resort where she is staying with Love Island star Matt and her children.

Tammy worked her angles in the barely there yellow swimwear as she sat upon a longue by the pool.

The influencer also shared a sweet kiss with Matt as the loved-up pair continued to flaunt their fast-moving romance.

Tammy Hembrow (pictured) is enjoying a holiday in Bali with fiance Matt Zukowski

And the fitness influencer was showing off her famous figure in a series of photos shared to Instagram on Friday

It comes after Tammy proudly showcased her gym-honed physique as she stripped down to sheer lingerie for a sizzling Instagram photo shoot.

Looking fit and fabulous, the mother-of-three confidently posed in the skimpy ensemble, which featured G-string bottoms and a bra that left little to the imagination.

Her impossibly trim waist and gym-honed physique was on full display as she struck several poses for the camera.

In her caption, the blonde shared a message about her battle with body shaming trolls over the years.

The 30-year-old posed in a skimpy bikini at the luxurious Villa Malika resort where she is staying with Love Island star Matt and her children

Tammy worked her angles in the barely there yellow swimwear as she sat upon a longue by the pool

The influencer also shared a sweet kiss with Matt (left) as the loved-up pair continued to flaunt their fast-moving romance

'I used to get told ALL the time that strong isn't 'sexy' or 'feminine'. A few years into my training it was a daily occurrence,' she began.

'Safe to say I still wholeheartedly disagree,' Tammy added.

Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that the glamour model was wearing her diamond ring from Matt, weeks after rumours surfaced there was trouble in paradise with Love Island star.

Earlier this month, fans noticed Tammy and Matt were no longer following each other on Instagram.

However it wasn't long before the pair quickly re-followed each other.

Rumours swirled after fans speculated why Matt had dropped off from Tammy's feed.

Tammy proudly showcased her gym-honed physique as she stripped down to sheer lingerie for a sizzling Instagram photo shoot

In her caption, the blonde shared a message about her battle with body shaming trolls over the years

One anonymous fan sent a message to Instagram account Aussie Influencers Opinions questioning his absence, writing: 'Am I crazy or has Matt dropped off Tammy's socials for ages now?'

In response, the account theorised they are still involved and spending time together, but are not tagging each other and have decided to 'drop off' each other's socials.

'Both are spending time with each other but not being as obvious about it in posts and not tagging each other,' the page speculated.

Despite concerns that they are rushing down the aisle, the couple told Daily Mail Australia they are 'very happy' together.

The pair also enjoyed a luxe getaway to Byron Bay in recent weeks.

Looking fit and fabulous, the mother-of-three confidently posed in the skimpy ensemble, which featured G-string bottoms and a bra that left little to the imagination
Danny Cipriani proudly flaunted his romance with new girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord days after his estranged wife Victoria took a swipe at him.

The former England rugby star, 36, recently revealed he was in a relationship with AnnaLynne, 36, and on Wednesday he looked well and truly smitten as he packed on the PDA with the American actress on a lunch date in Los Angeles.

Danny couldn't keep his hands to himself on the outing as he embraced AnnaLynne before leaning in for a series of kisses outside Urth Cafe in Pasadena.

The 90210 star was wrapped up for the outing as she layered a paisley print pashmina over a navy summer dress.

She allowed her natural beauty to shine through by going makeup-free, while she finished off the look with a pair of fluffy red sliders.

Danny Cipriani proudly flaunted his romance with new girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord in Los Angeles on Wednesday days after his estranged wife Victoria took a swipe at him

The former England rugby star, 36, looked well and truly smitten as he packed on the PDA with the American actress on a lunch date in Los Angeles

Danny's estranged wife Victoria Rose also holidayed in Egypt at the same time as her former flame and his new love and hit out after Danny posted about his new love

In a now deleted post, wife Victoria, 42, slated her husband for 'moving on' just six months after the split and claimed his belongings were still in their marital home

Danny was casually clad in all-white, pairing an embroidered jacket with a button down shirt and linen trousers.

He looked in good spirits on the outing despite his estranged wife's social media swipe.

Earlier in the week, Victoria Cipriani, 42, hit out at her husband's declaration that he has found new love, sarcastically telling her fans 'nice to see my husband moved on' before swiftly deleting the post.

The former England rugby star revealed he was in a relationship with AnnaLynne last week after sharing a series of affectionate photos taken while the couple holidayed in Egypt.

Yet in a now deleted post, his estranged wife slated her husband for 'moving on' just six months after the split.

'Nice to see my husband has moved on' alongside an emoji displaying her surprise before adding: 'But his belongings and clothes in our house, in our drawers still haven't moved on.'

In a direct message to the rugby ace she added: 'Can you send me a miracle, please? Can you answer the lawyer's letter so I can keep my car? All the best. Lots of love your ever patient wife.'

The photos of Danny and AnnaLynne kissing and cosying up to each other on a spiritual retreat in Egypt come just six months after the divorce was announced.

Danny couldn't keep his hands to himself on the outing as he embraced AnnaLynne before leaning in for a series of kisses outside Urth Cafe in Pasadena

The 90210 star was wrapped up for the outing as she layered a paisley print pashmina over a navy summer dress

She allowed her natural beauty to shine through by going makeup-free

The pair couldn't keep away from each other as they leaned in for kisses

They were all over each other during the romantic outing

AnnaLynne was seen bringing a healthy green juice to the table

She later sipped on a hot drink during her lunch date with Danny

The couple even kept holding hands during their meals as they packed on the PDA

A source close to Victoria slammed Danny for 'showing off his girlfriend' while there are still a number 'loose ends' to fix in their marriage - including the fact they are not yet legally divorced.

'He has walked out on her and now he's showing off his new girlfriend, it is not easy for Victoria although she does not want him back,' an insider told MailOnline.

'She's having a few financial problems because of the Mercedes that is in his name.

'The last time she saw him was in February when he turned up to collect a pair of shoes.

'All his stuff is still in the Kent home, so he hasn't really moved in that aspect.

'It is all going to end in divorce and lawyers are involved, but it has been only since November that they split.

'Danny appears to be showing off his new girlfriend, but there are several loose ends to be tied up in his marriage. She is still his wife.'

The pictures of Danny and AnnaLynne confirmed suspicions that the pair were romantically linked after they were spotted together arm in arm while at the skincare brand Clarins' product launch.

Danny was casually clad in all-white, pairing an embroidered jacket with a button down shirt and linen trousers

Danny made his feelings for the star clear as he kissed her on the outing

The pair were all over each other as they cuddled up close to one another

He wrapped a loving arm around the American actress on their romantic stroll

Danny at one point seemed distracted by his phone but kept his composure

The pair were all over one another as they cuddled up together on the street

The pair looked in high spirits as they laughed together on the stroll

Danny seemed to be enjoying the sights of Los Angeles as he looked around on the walk

He was so full of joy he appeared to be dancing along the streets

He clutched onto a red wooly hat that he waved around with abandon

AnnaLynne couldn't contain her giggles on their outing

Sharing the holiday pictures on Saturday, where the couple appear to be in matching white, linen outfits, he wrote: 'My Miracle Loving you is the easiest thing in the world'.

The actress runs regular retreats from Egypt and Danny has joined the latest trip after the pair 'bonded deeply' over their shared love of 'meditation.'

The Sun report that AnnaLynne and Danny have known each other for over ten years but started 'hooking up' at the start of last month.

The couple are also believed to have travelled to another spiritual hotspot over Easter weekend - Glastonbury, Somerset, where they took part in a meditation ceremony with a spiritual guide.

Danny and Victoria, who were married for over two years, called time on their marriage in November following a series of 'rows over text messages' she saw on his phone.

AnnaLynne first gained prominence as the scheming Eden Lord in 12 episodes of FX's Nip/Tuck between 2007-2009 but found mainstream fame as Naomi Clark in the reboot of 90210 between 2008-2013.

AnnaLynne also had a recurring role in the soap opera Dallas in 2014.

Prior to his marriage to Victoria, Danny also had well documented relationships with Kelly Brook, Katie Price, Lindsay Lohan and Kirsty Gallacher.

Last year the ex rugby player shared shocking details of his well-documented sex life and romantic dalliances in his autobiography Who Am I?

Victoria previously claimed she had no idea her husband was going to divorce her until he made the public announcement.

The former England rugby star revealed he was in a relationship with AnnaLynne last week after sharing a series of affectionate photos taken while the couple holidayed in Egypt

Danny shared a romantic snap as he leaned in for a kiss with his new flame

Danny and Victoria, who were married for over two years, called time on their marriage in November 2023 following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages she saw on his phone

She wrote on Instagram in November in another now-deleted post: 'Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me.

'I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain. I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged.

'The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our separation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal.'

A source in their inner circle and close to the couple revealed that up until the summer, all had been well in the marriage.

But the source added: 'Victoria had been increasingly unhappy over the last few months. Things got tense and then she saw some text messages on his phone and it led to some difficult rows between them and they have now split up.'
Lily Collins showed off her incredibly wild hairdo as she wrapped up filming in France on Friday.

The actress, 35, is four days into shooting season four of Emily In Paris and is now heading to Rome for their next filming destination.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Lily looked radiant as she posed for a flurry of selfies, while teasing the new season to fans.

Lily, who plays the lead Emily Cooper, captioned her post: 'Last day of season 4 filming Paris. Romehere we come!'

Production on the popular Netflix romantic comedy began in January, one year after its season three finale ended on a huge cliff-hanger.

Lily Collins, 35, showed off her incredibly wild hairdo as she wrapped up filming in France on Friday

The actress is four days into shooting season four of Emily In Paris and is heading onto Rome for their next filming destination

The streaming platform has yet to announce when season four will be released, but Lily gave a few hints about what will happen in a teaser released on YouTube.

'It's safe to say we ended on a dramatic note last season,' she said referring to the cliff-hanger ending in which Lucas Bravo's Gabriel was left at the altar by Camille Razat's Camille - only to discover Gabriel will soon become a dad.

Emily and Gabriel have been locked in a 'will they or won't they' tug of war since season one.

The star gave a few hints at what the future holds for the American marketing executive living in Paris.

'We have more fun, more fashion, and of course, more drama in store for you all,' she said.

'Emily is gonna have to decide if everything she's ever wanted is really what she needs.'

'And while Emily's heart will always remain true to Paris,' she explained, 'her life takes some unexpected twists this season. Don't be surprised to find her on a Roman Holiday.'

Back in January Lily revealed she was back filming with an Instagram post, following a two-month delay due to Hollywood's long, contentious writers' strike.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Lily looked radiant as she posed for a flurry of selfies, while teasing the new season to fans

Lily has been busy filming the fourth series of her hit Netflix show Emily In Paris, in which she plays the lead character Emily Cooper (Lily pictured in character in 2022)

Following a two-month delay due to Hollywood's long, contentious writers' strike, the British-American actress shared a selfie of herself holding a script from a table read in January

The streamer has yet to announce when Season Four will be released, but Lily gave a few hints about what will happen in a teaser released on YouTube

The British-American actress shared a selfie of herself holding a script from a table read.

'Did someone say Saison Quatre?! Finally reunited with my @emilyinparis fam back in Paris and it feels so good,' she captioned a slideshow, featuring a number of behind-the-scenes snaps from set.

The two-time Golden Globe nominee continued: 'Although, I may need to brush up on my selfie skills for Emily's sake.'
Ashley Judd looked somber as she stepped out in New York City on Friday - one day after one of Harvey Weinstein rape convictions was overturned.

Weinstein, 72, has been serving 23 years in a New York jail for two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and another involving production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

He was convicted in 2020 but the New York Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the disgraced producer did not receive a fair trial.

'This is unfair to survivors. We live in our truth. We know what happened,' Judd, who was the first to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, wrote on Instagram.

The star wore a white dress, sunglasses and backpack as she walked in Manhattan hours after speaking out.

Ashley Judd looked somber as she stepped out in New York City on Friday - one day after one of Harvey Weinstein rape convictions was overturned

Judd led Harvey Weinstein accusers in criticising the decision to overturn one of the pervert movie mogul's rape convictions, saying it was 'a hard day for survivors'

Weinstein (pictured in January), 72, has been serving 23 years in a New York jail for the two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haleyi after his conviction in 2020

The actress later told the BBC: 'Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place.'

Weinstein became the face of the #MeToo movement after dozens of women came forward alleging sexual abuse. Thursday's decision was described as 'profoundly unjust' by his accusers.

Filmmaker and founder of Hire Survivors Hollywood, Sarah Ann Masse, who said she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein, said the overturning of his conviction was 'a devastating but unsurprising miscarriage of justice.'

'I just want to remind people that this overturning of this verdict does not erase his guilt and does not mean that anyone that came forward was not telling the truth, or that what they did wasn't valuable,' she told Good Morning Britain.

Masse added that this was 'just a glitch in the system', which could see victims having to 'go through it all again' in a retrial.

Former actress and musical director Louisette Geiss, who came forward in 2017 accusing Weinstein of sexually harassing her in 2008, told the breakfast show that it was 'soul crushing' because of 'how challenging it is to actually testify against him and to have to look at him and have to do all the work that it takes to prepare yourself to testify against him.'

She added that she was advocating for people to 'speak up and to fight legislation and state by state.'

'We have to, we have to strengthen it and we have to make sure that what happened in New York does not happen again. I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous,' Geiss said.

The star wore a white dress, sunglasses and backpack as she walked in Manhattan hours after speaking out

Judd told the BBC: 'Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place' (pictured: Ashley Judd, Vince Vaughn and Harvey Weinstein, right, in 1997)

Masse, who claimed Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she interviewed to be his nanny, added: 'We're survivors, we're leading this charge and legislative change is deeply important.'

'This is a very sad day for countless women who suffered at the hands of a serial predator,' Siebel Newsom, who testified against Weinstein in California as one of his victims, said on Thursday.

'Two juries have said unequivocally: Harvey Weinstein must never be able to rape another woman, and he deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Harvey Weinstein is a serial predator and rapist.'

American actress Mira Sorvino, who previously made allegations against Weinstein and won an Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite, tweeted that she was 'disgusted' at the justice system and 'horrified'.

'Harvey was rightfully convicted. It's unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed,' Rosanna Arquette, actress and Weinstein accuser, told The Hollywood Reporter.

'Woke up to this news. I feel more than ever how important it is to keep breaking silence about sexual predators, and to keep supporting victims as they speak out,' Weinstein accuser and actress Katherine Kendall wrote on Instagram.

Rose McGowan, actress and Weinstein accuser, added: 'They will never overturn who we are.'

Model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez said on X: 'This is an ongoing failure of the justice system - and the courts - to take survivors seriously and to protect our interests.

Filmmaker and founder of Hire Survivors Hollywood, Sarah Ann Masse (pictured), who said she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein, said the overturning of his conviction was 'a devastating but unsurprising miscarriage of justice'

Former actress and musical director Louisette Geiss (pictured), who came forward in 2017 accusing Weinstein of sexually harassing her in 2008, told the breakfast show that it was 'soul crushing'

'This is a very sad day for countless women who suffered at the hands of a serial predator,' Jennifer Newsom, who testified, said

Mira Sorvino, one of the first actresses who claimed she was victimized by the former mogul, called the court's decision 'horrifying'

Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of raping Jessica Mann (pictured at court in 2020) at her home in Manhattan in 2013

He was also convicted of sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi, seen walking into his sentencing in New York in 2020

Justice James M. Burke, seen in a court sketch in 2020, was blamed for a 'crucial' mistake in Weinstein's New York trial

Soprano's actress Annabella Sciorra (right) seen with friend Rosie Perez was among six women to take to the stand in the New York trial

Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Haleyi, the woman Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2006, recounted during her testimony how the film mogul forcibly performed oral sex on her while she had her period at his SoHo apartment

'(Manhattan District Attorney Alvin) Bragg ran for office in 2021 because his predecessor failed so many of us. We expect him to pursue Weinstein now.'

Double Jeopardy star Judd added: 'This today is an act of institutional betrayal.

'And our institutions betray survivors of male sexual violence, and we need to work within and without the systems to start having what is known as 'institutional courage'.'

Judd, 56, previously alleged she thought she was attending a breakfast hotel meeting in 1997, while filming the thriller Kiss The Girls, when Weinstein began pressuring her to give and receive massages and to watch him shower.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Harvey Weinstein cried tears of joy in prison when court overturned his conviction and feels like 'someone is finally listening to him' Advertisement

In a bid to get out of the bathroom, she claims she resorted to striking a deal with him that she would say 'yes' to his advances when she won an Oscar for one of his films.

In 2019, the United States District Court in Los Angeles dismissed a sexual harassment claim made by Judd against Weinstein in which she said he defamed her, damaging her career.

Weinstein's 23-year sentence was overturned in a 4-3 decision as the New York Court of Appeals found the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case.

New York's Court of Appeals found the trial judge in the rape case prejudiced Weinstein with 'egregious' improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that Weinstein wasn't charged with.

The court's majority said it was an 'abuse of judicial discretion' for Judge James Burke to allow testimony from these other women about 'loathsome alleged bad acts and despicable behavior.'

'Without question, this is appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct that could only diminish defendant's character before the jury,' they said.

The founder of #MeToo, Tarana Burke, has said the decision to overturn Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction is a 'clarion call' for the movement.

On Thursday, American activist Burke, 50, addressed the court's decision at a press conference and said it was 'not a blow' to the #MeToo movement.

Harvey Weinstein accuser Lauren Marie Young leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in 2020. Her testimony was also part of the evidence deemed 'unfair'

Costume designer Dawn Dunning, seen in this court sketch, was among the women who took to the stand to allege sexual assault despite her claims not forming part of the criminal complaint

Dunning (L) pictured with another Weinstein accuser, Tarale Wulff, claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed her and tried to pressure her into having a three-way with him

Weinstein was jailed for 23 years over the New York attacks, but this latest court ruling has now overturned the convictions. Pictured: Weinstein in February 2020 arriving for trial at Manhattan Criminal Court

The 4-3 decision was handed down by New York Court of Appeals judge Jenny Rivera (pictured)

'Many people, many survivors and those who love and support survivors probably thought that that original verdict meant that there was going to be a change, that it marked a change, marked a difference in how this justice system was going to move and operate', she said.

'And I think that we felt, and a lot of us felt, that we were on a road to seeing a different America. And this moment makes it feel like we were wrong.'

She added: 'What does this mean for the MeToo movement? I want you to hear this. This is not a blow to the movement. It is a clarion call. And we are prepared to answer that call.'

Allegations against Weinstein, 72, the once powerful and feared studio boss behind Oscar winners such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare In Love, ushered in a global MeToo movement in 2017, where women across the world shared experiences with sexual assault.

After his conviction in 2020, Weinstein was handed a further 16 years following his conviction in Los Angeles in 2022, which his team is also appealing.

Louisette Geiss said it made her happy 'that we fought the good fight here in California and that he has 16 years to spend a year in prison in California I hope that this one stays because he definitely deserves at least 16 years.'

During a press conference, Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala called the Court of Appeal's ruling 'a great day for America'.

'It may sound like an exaggeration but it's not. Today's legal ruling is a great day for America because it instils in us the faith that there is a justice system,' he said on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said: 'We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.'

Weinstein, will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

He maintains he is innocent of the charges of criminal sex acts involving forced oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He said any sex was consensual.

Weinstein's spokesman Juda Engelmayer said the producer 'has a long road ahead of him, and we see this as a positive sign going forward'.

He added: 'We are cautiously excited for the decision, and believe it is a long time overdue.'
Tiffany Haddish, 44, never had a chance to grieve her grandmother properly while she was working on a film, she said on Friday.

'When my grandma died, I had no time to grieve,' the actress told People in an exclusive interview.

Her grandmother passed away in January 2022 and in Tiffany's new book, I Curse You With Joy, the actress wrote about her relationship with grandma, including what her process of grieving the loss has been like.

When her grandmother died, the actress was filming The Haunted Mansion in Georgia and she was also living through the fallout of the end of her relationship with rapper Common.

And then, she experienced a chain of losses in what proved to be a challenging chapter of her life.

Tiffany Haddish , 44, never had a chance to grieve her grandmother properly while she was working on a film, she said on Friday. 'When my grandma died, I had no time to grieve,' the actress told People in an exclusive interview. Seen in 2023

Her grandmother passed away in January 2022 when she was making Haunted Mansion

'My dog died, then 10 days later my grandma died, then four days later I get arrested for a DUI,' she said. 'My world fell apart.'

The loss of her grandmother, in particular, took a toll. The Card Counter actress described her grandmother as my first best friend.

It still f***s me up, like someone took a chunk of my heart out. That was my love. I don't, don't know how long it takes to heal and I don't know if the way I grieve is healthy, she said.

The actress has taken to creative ways to process the loss of her grandmother.

I got some of her wigs. I'll be just sitting sniffing her wigs like a weirdo, she said.

When the comedian was just nine, her mother, Leola, was in a serious car accident that caused brain damage after her head went through the windshield glass. It is thought she developed schizophrenia due to the accident and the comedians mother had a short fuse and would get violent and abusive at times. But, through humor she could sometimes diffuse tense situations with her mother or at school.

If I could make her laugh and turn her anger into some joy, I was less likely to get beat. Same thing in school: If I could make the kids laugh, they'd help me with my homework and protect me from other bullies, she said in an interview with Jewish Journal.

The comedian, the eldest of five children, said she filled the role of a mother. A few years after the accident, the siblings were split up and sent to foster care. When she was 15, she and her siblings were reunited when their grandmother took them in.

She struggled with her new normal and fitting in at her new school. She faced trouble with her mental health and had behavioral problems.

In Tiffany's new book, I Curse You With Joy, the actress wrote about her relationship with grandma, including what her process of grieving the loss has been like. Seen April 21 in LA

When her grandmother died, she was also living through the fallout of the end of her relationship with rapper Common. Seen April 7 in Hollywood

I remember being that foster kid and being like, Man, Im probably going to be in jail in two years, the Girls Trip star said in a People interview.

Her behavior was concerning to the extent that when she was 17, a social worker gave her the choice of going to therapy or attending a comedy camp. She opted for the latter, which proved to be a life-changing experience: comedy and performing were her calling.

I Curse You With Joy is the comediennes next book. Her first book, The Last Black Unicorn, was released in 2017 and chronicled her life story. She also released a children's book in 2022.

This new collection of essays, which touches on everything from walking the red carpet at the Oscars, diving with sharks and reuniting with her estranged father, will be available May 7 at bookstores everywhere.
Haley gushed that Tammy is her 'spiritual sister' and 'best friend' in the caption

Tammy Slaton is loving showing off her new figure - dazzling fans with yet another new picture as she slipped into a chic one-shouldered dress.

The 1000-Lb Sisters star had her figure on display while hanging out with psychic medium Haley Michelle.

The low-cut design also had the 37-year-old's flower chest tattoo showcased front and center.

'Spiritual Sisters, our powerful connection we don't have to explain anything to anyone,' Haley captioned the Instagram post Wednesday, which shows the two embracing in front of a lake.

Tammy Slaton is loving showing off her new figure, dazzling fans in a new picture in a chic one-shouldered dress embracing her friend, Haley Michelle

The pair have recently been on a girls trip together, but didn't specify where exactly they went

'You are my best friend,' she added.

While fans praised the TLC star, who has lost 440lbs, in the picture, others expressed their concern over her friendship with Haley, many calling her a clout chaser.

'Oh man, it's always so creepy to see people being used who are too vulnerable to know better. This chick is bad news,' one fan declared.

'Tammy is a grown woman and I think she'd know if she is being used. Haley seems sweet should at least be given a chance. Not everyone is out there to use people,' one user argued.

'Been following @misshaleymichelle for years. Actually before I knew who Tammy was. She doesn't need to chase clout. She's well founded in herself. And a very sweet person. I wish people would stop thinking the worst of this and be happy for their friendship. We all don't need to hate. Sad times,' agreed another.

'You don't have to answer to nobody!! Do you! You look fab,' gushed another.

'Yass Tammy!! She is looking AMAZING!!' another said,

It's unknown if the women are still on their girl's trip, previously posting about enjoying a vacation together after being snapped posing by the pool in their swimsuits.

Tammy Slaton is enjoying her 440-pound weight loss - snapped recently on a girls trip flashing her svelte figure in a swimsuit.

In December, Tammy revealed she weighed 285 pounds, down from her starting point of 717

While fans praised the TLC star, who has lost 440lbs, in the picture; others expressed their concern over her friendship with Haley, many calling her a clout chaser

Tammy showed off her slimmed-down physique in a blue mermaid-inspired swimsuit while dangling her legs in the pool, smiling at Haley who is sporting a black and white frilled neck swimsuit.

'Proud of you,' Haley captioned the sweet pic.

The pair didn't mention where they were vacationing, with Haley sharing a selfie with Tammy in a grocery store, writing, 'Getting some groceries before our girls trip.'

Tammy underwent surgery to drop the pounds at the end of 2022, kicking off her weight loss journey.

Earlier in the month, the TLC personality showed off her remarkable weight loss journey in a post to Instagram, posting a carousel of snapshots, including Tammy modeling a strapless gown, relaxing in pajamas, and lounging in a sweatshirt with her cat.

Caleb died from unknown causes at age 40 on June 30, just seven months after the couple tied the knot in November last year

She met Caleb Willingham at the Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio, where she lost more than 400 pounds through treatment and bariatric surgery

In December, Tammy revealed she weighed 285 pounds, down from her starting point of 717.

She spent 14 months at Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center in Gibsonburg, Ohio, where she lost more than 400 pounds through treatment and bariatric surgery.

The rehab center was where she also met her late husband Caleb Willingham.

Nicknamed 'Double K', Caleb starred on the weight loss show alongside his wife as they battled their chronic obesity.

They got married with about 30 friends and family members invited to the small ceremony officiated by their home care nurse and friend, Billy.

Just months after marrying, Caleb passed away at age 40 for unknown causes.
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Sharon Stone broke down in tears when talking about the people she admires so much she would risk her life to walk with them in a new interview shared on Friday.

The iconic blonde beauty said she felt overjoyed when she started working with peacemakers she had always looked up to.

The 66-year-old star's goal was to help others with her celebrity and it was working. She has also won a Nobel Peace prize: In 2013, Stone received the Peace Summit Award for her work for people with HIV/AIDS.

In a new interview with Alex Salmond for Turkish Tea Talk, Sharon got emotional as she said she loved the people she got to meet in her role as a global humanitarian.

The silver screen goddess teared up talking about being able to spend time with peacemakers she admired like Betty Helena Williams, a Welsh Labour politician.

'These people are so courageous... suddenly I was like I am in the right goddamn room, these are my people, I would stand in the street with these people, I would risk my life with these people, they get me and I get them,' said the star through her tears.

'It took 35 years but I am in the right room,' she said about working with her heroes.

Sharon Stone broke down in tears when talking about making a difference for others in the world when she was interviewed by Alex Salmond for Turkish Tea Talk this week

The iconic blonde beauty said she felt overjoyed when she started working with peacemakers she had always looked up to

The Oscar nominee seen at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills

It was almost 35 years ago that she got her initial taste of fame when she made her first massive film, Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1990.

Basic Instinct came out in 1992.

'I never told people here in LA that I even went to get a Nobel Prize... I thought how can I tell people in the movie business that I won a Nobel prize?' she cried about the 2013 win.

Stone also touched on mental health and how so many people need help in her wide-ranging interview.

'We are all trying to confront our demons, including me,' she said, noting one in 10 people are suffering which was highlighted by COVID-19 lockdown when so many had to spend time alone.

The Sliver star said being empathetic is very important and presented Nelson Mandela as an example.

Much of the interview was about her new career as a top painter.

She spends 17 hours a day painting in her Los Angeles mansion, and her work is being taken seriously. Her first painting sold for $30,000.

When asked by Alex why she paints, Sharon said: 'I was really thinking about this the other day... I was thinking about how rarely women get to be what they want to be,' she shared.

'I loved to paint growing up,' said the Beauty Of Living Twice author who was raised in Pennsylvania.

'When I was in college I was 15, I was in an advanced study program, and I went on a writing scholarship, and I loved to write and I loved to paint, and I didn't want to go home during summer break, and I studied painting during the summers, I loved water colors.'

The 66-year-old star's goal was to help others with her celebrity and it was working. She has also won a Nobel Peace prize: In 2013, Stone received the Peace Summit Award for her work for people with HIV /AIDS

Sharon got emotional as she said she loved the people she got to meet in her role as a global humanitarian. The silver screen goddess teared up talking about being able to spend time with peacemakers she admired like Betty Helena Williams, a Welsh Labour politician

'These people are so courageous... suddenly I was like I am in the right God damn room, these are my people, I would stand in the street with these people, I would risk my life with these people, they get me and I get them,' said the star through her tears

'It took 35 years but I am in the right room,' she said about working with her heroes

It was almost 35 years ago that she got her initial taste of fame when she made her first massive film, Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1990. Basic Instinct came out in 1992

Stone said she was happy in college because she studied what she wanted. Now she is returning to an old love.

The ex of Phil Bronstein also noted that she decided to paint just because 'I wanted to.' And she loves that painting allows her to be the boss.

Stone also remarked that she is fond of Japanese artists because of the 'discipline used to tell a story.'

When it came to movies, the Oscar nominated star said that she would like women to be treated the same as men, and have equal pay and a 'fair shake' and to be seen by the 'quality of their work.'

Stone also shared that no matter how many characters she has played, people want to remember her as the sexy killer Catherine Tramell from Basic Instinct, and that can be challenging.

She spends 17 hours a day painting. When asked by Alex why she paints, Sharon said: 'I was really thinking about this the other day... I was thinking about how rarely women get to be what they want to be,' she shared

'I loved to painting growing up,' said the Beauty Of Living Twice author. 'When I was in college I was 15, I was in an advanced study program, and I went on a writing scholarship, and I loved to write and I loved to paint, and I didn't want to go home during summer break, and I studied painting during the summers, I loved water colors'

Here is a look at one of her paintings. The ex of Phil Bronstein also noted that she decided to paint just because 'I wanted to.' And she loves that painting allows her to be the boss. She also said she loves Japanese artist because of the 'discipline used to tell a story and understand that has to be free'

During her interview, she also revealed that she had a lifelong interest in working with Robert De Niro.

When she was only 19 she met him during her birthday party in NYC. 'He was my dream,' she said. Decades later Stone was cast as his hustler wife Ginger McKenna in the epic 1995 film Casino from director Martin Scorsese.

As far as working again in Hollywood, she said the part would have to be 'really good.' And in the future, she may visit Scotland, she told host Salmond; he said he would help her learn a crisp Scottish accent.
Angelina Jolie has turned up the heat on Brad Pitt as their war over $500M winery Chateau Miraval gets even uglier as her lawyers have called his request for NDAs 'abusive' just days after she had accused him of trying to 'bleed her dry' in their ongoing bitter legal battle.

Pitt, 60, had recently filed a motion asking to see 48-year-old Jolie's NDAs with any third parties and now her lawyers have called the move 'expensive,' 'wasteful,' 'unreasonable,' and 'abusive' according to court documents obtained by Page Six on Friday.

The publication reports that Jolie had argued in court documents that her ex had asked her to sign an expansive NDA in their 'scuttled' deal for the winery because he was trying to silence her from talking about allegations that he was abusive to she and her children including on a flight from France to California in 2016.

Earlier this month Jolie's claims via her lawyers had been reported: 'While Pitts history of physical abuse of Jolie started well before the familys September 2016 plane trip from France to Los Angeles, this flight marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well.'

Now, according to Page Six, the actress is claiming in new court documents that turning over the other NDAs that she had signed would be an invasion of privacy to other parties - which the publication notes are presumably movie studios, brands and employees - as it reveals 'contracts that include Jolies compensation or compensation she paid to third parties.'

Angelina Jolie has turned up the heat on Brad Pitt as their war over $500M winery Chateau Miraval gets even uglier as her lawyers have called his request for NDAs 'abusive' just days after she had accused him of trying to 'bleed her dry' in their ongoing bitter legal battle (pictured in March 2014)

Pitt, 60, had recently filed a motion asking to see 48-year-old Jolie's NDAs with any third parties and now her lawyers have called the move 'expensive,' 'wasteful,' 'unreasonable,' and 'abusive' according to court documents obtained by Page Six on Friday; the winery in France is pictured

The publication reports that Jolie had argued in court documents that her ex had asked her to sign an expansive NDA in their 'scuttled' deal for the winery because he was trying to silence her from talking about allegations that he was abusive to she and her children including on a flight from France to California in 2016; Jolie and their children are seen in October 2021

Jolie's side has also claimed Pitt wanted her to sign an unfairly 'onerous' and 'expansive' NDA, 'covering Pitts personal misconduct, whether related to Miraval or not,' in exchange for her to sell her stake to him.

Their deal had ultimately fell through as Jolie claims that it was due to the NDA and the actress proceeded to sell her shares to a Stoli Group subsidiary. Pitt has responded by opposing the Stoli deal while alleging that she had unfairly sold the stake out from under him.

Earlier this month it was DailyMail.com exclusively reported that the ongoing legal battle - dubbed 'the war of the roses' - saw Jolie accusing 'controlling' ex Pitt of 'financially draining her,' through the protracted legal battle over the winery that's dogged the couple since their split in 2016.

But while she seeks to claim her ex is 'bleeding her dry,' DailyMail.com can reveal that since their ten-year relationship ended in divorce after a two-year marriage, her fortunes have soared.

Far from causing her funds to dwindle, a DailyMail.com investigation reveals that Jolies relationship with Pitt has helped enrich her by close to $100million.

That money has come through loans, child support, gifts and the millions she garnered from the sale of her 50 percent share in the property at the heart of the dispute - Chateau Miraval  ten percent of which was a gift from Pitt.

The couples former French home, a stunning 1,200 acre estate and vineyard was worth $60million when they bought it in 2008. Now, thanks to Pitts effort and investment in the business, its worth a staggering $164million.

And, while Jolie, 48, appears to be crying poverty in her latest court filings, sources close to Pitt point out that the Tomb raider star had sufficient funds to sign a recent deal to take over 57 Great Jones Street, a unique Manhattan space once owned by Andy Warhol and previously rented for $60,000 a month.

Their deal had ultimately fell through as Jolie claims that it was due to the NDA and the actress proceeded to sell her shares to a Stoli Group subsidiary

Pitt has responded by opposing the Stoli deal while alleging that she had unfairly sold the stake out from under him

Earlier this month DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Jolie had accused ex Pitt of trying to 'control and financially drain her' throughout their ongoing legal battle since their 2016 split, filings had revealed

Angelina Jolie looked effortlessly chic as she visited the storefront for her new fashion house, Atelier Jolie

Friends of the actor claim Pitt has been doing his part to support his ex-wife and their kids financially, despite their acrimonious legal battle

Jolie has signed an eight-year lease for the 6,600 square-foot property to use as a store to promote her fashion label, Atelier Jolie.

In newly filed court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, the actress claims: 'It is extremely painful for Jolie to have to defend herself from Pitt's lawsuit  itself another example of Pitt's unrelenting efforts to control and financially drain her  especially because Pitt's false allegations as to the reasons the Miraval deal cratered can only proven by doing exactly what Jolie never wanted to do: Provide to the trier of fact the reason the Miraval deal failed, which was Pitt's demand for an NDA to cover up his history of physical and emotional abuse of Jolie and their family.'

Says one source familiar with the situation: 'Angie says Brad is bleeding her dry  but it looks like she wants to bleed him dry.

'Far from being out to ruin his ex, it looks like Brad has bent over backwards to support Angie and help her out financially in spite of her appearing to be so vindictive,' the source added.

Pitt had originally sought to buy Jolie out himself, to keep the winery 'in the family' should she want to opt out. But the deal collapsed amid acrimony.

Pitt accused Jolie of breaching their purchase agreement when she sold her 50 percent stake in Chateau Miraval to Russian oligarch, Yuri Shefler, in 2021, without her ex-husband's consent.

According to Jolie the earlier offer to sell it to Pitt for $54million imploded due to his demands.

Since their 2016 split, the two stars have been fighting in court over their French winery, Chateau Miraval (seen) that they once owned together

Pitt was shocked when his ex-wife sold her half of their stunning Chateau Miraval estate without his agreement to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler (left) in 2021

Jolie has accused her ex-husband of being abusive to both her and their six children  Maddox Chivan, 22, Pax Thien, 20, Zahara Marley, 19, Shiloh Nouvel, 17, and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, 15.

But friends of the Oscar-winning star of Upon a Time in Hollywood have stepped up to defend Pitt as a man who has been nothing but generous in his dealings with the actress.

By 2018, Pitt had spent more than $1.3million on child support, including therapy for the children, as well as paying hundreds of thousands in sundry bills.

According to sources Pitt has been consistent in his payment of these expenses for the past seven years during which time he is believed to have he has stumped up close to $10million in child support.

When the then couple bought Miraval in 2008, Pitt took a 60 percent stake in the winemaking enterprise and estate while Jolie took 40 percent.

Pitt poured millions into the estate, riding the rose wave, and expanding the business in an effort that saw sales grow 300 percent.

Soon the estate that they purchased for an estimated $60million was worth closer to $164million.

By the time of their wedding Jolie had 'stopped investing' according to previously filed court records  something that she has denied.

Still, Pitt transferred 10 percent of his share to her by way of a wedding gift in December 2013 'for the sum of 1Euro [never paid]' so that by the time of their marriage in August 2014, they were 50/50 equal partners.

According to sources Pitt (pictured with three of his children and his parents in 2014) has stumped up close to $10million in child support over the years

Sources close to the Hollywood actor have defended Pitt as a man who has been nothing but generous in his dealings with the ex they brand, 'vindictive'

As well as this generous gift, Pitt gave his wife a rare Winston Churchill painting, 'Tower of Koutoubia Mosque' which she sold in March 2021 for $11.5million.

He loaned her $8million to purchase her current Los Angeles home in 2018.

Jolie bought the grand compound in Los Feliz, once home to Cecil B. DeMille for $24.5million and has since claimed that the $8million from Pitt was in the form of a loan which came with interest and a repayment plan.

Ironically, she told Vogue that she chose the property because she wanted the children to be closer to their father who lives just five minutes away.

Meanwhile, as the war over the sale of the winery plods on, Pitt has landed several legal victories in recent months including a key judgement in Luxembourg which handed him back control of Chateau Miraval's award-winning vineyard pending further hearings.

Just last month he scored another win when LA Superior Court rejected Jolie's allegations that his suit was, 'frivolous, malicious, and part of a problematic pattern.'
Beyond Paradise will return for a third series and Christmas special, the BBC has announced.

It comes following the second series' finale on BBC One on Friday night which saw DI Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd very nearly tie the knot.

The Death In Paradise spin-off show hit screens last year and saw Kris Marshall reprise his role as the detective inspector as he attempted to adjust to life with his fiancee - played by Not Going Out's Sally Bretton - on the Devonshire coast.

During the series' last episode the couple's fostering journey came to a conclusion and they welcomed Ryan into their home.

Elsewhere, Pc Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn) and CS Charlie Woods' (Jade Harrison) professional relationship took an unexpected turn and DS Esther Williams (Zara Ahmadi) took on a case that saw the Shipton Abbott Museum robbed of a prized possession.

Beyond Paradise will return for a third series and Christmas special, the BBC has announced

Across the series the Shipton Abbott police team have dealt with a death during a murder-mystery play, a local fishing legend going missing at sea, and a medium predicting an arson attack.

Tim Key, executive producer for Red Planet Pictures, said: 'The response to series two has been fantastic.

'So much love goes into the making of the show and we're delighted that the audience have enjoyed it so much.

'We can't wait to get back to Shipton Abbott for another Christmas special and series to continue the story and learn more about our characters and the town they live in.

'I can promise that we'll be making the viewers laugh, cry, laugh a bit more and then baffling them with a series of ingenious puzzles.

'There will also be a duck.'

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: 'Beyond Paradise has become such a huge hit with millions of viewers across the UK.

'It's a show that is absolutely on a roll, and we're beyond pleased to bring more fiendishly clever mysteries from the Shipton Abbott team to the BBC.'

The Death In Paradise spin-off show hit screens last year and saw Kris Marshall reprise his role as the detective inspector Humphrey Goodman

The second series' finale on BBC One on Friday night which saw DI Humphrey Goodman and Martha Lloyd very nearly tie the knot

It comes after Kris Marshall appeared to rule out any crossover with Death In Paradise ahead of a new season of Beyond Paradise.

The finale of the first season of Beyond Paradise featured some elements of a crossover between the two BBC dramas.

Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman - played by Kris - returned to the island of Saint Marie and even reunited with his old friend Harry the lizard.

However, there are no signs of any more interlinking between the two series occurring in the future, after Kris seemingly dismissed any possibility of this happening in season two.

Death in Paradise bosses Tony Jordan and Tim Key said in February 2023 that the difference between the two shows is that Humphrey has to solve a mystery that is not a murder in the first episode of the spin-off.

Furthermore, Beyond Paradise is set in the Devonshire town of Shipton Abbott, while the former takes place on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

The drama series will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer when it makes its return.
Bam Margera has addressed the cancellation of his UK tour and remained adamant that he is sober despite hanging out with a wild group 'ripping rails of cocaine and drinking their a**es off' just days after footage of a recent street fight in Los Angeles had surfaced online.

The 44-year-old former Jackass star took to his Instagram on Thursday to explain why his speaking tour in the United Kingdom got the axe.

As many had speculated - specifically on Reddit - that he had fallen off the wagon, the prankster maintained that he has stayed sober months after being granted supervised visits with his five-year-old son amid his sobriety battle.

Bam had been in the midst of Q&A tour gigs across the UK which were booked through a promoter and had recently been canceled without further explanation.

He took to social media to address the rumors with a rambling video as he took aim at those who said the tour had been cancelled due to him falling off the wagon as he said: 'To all you bozos that go on Reddit, was I at a vintage caravan with Romani gypsy pikies, yes I was.

Bam Margera has addressed the cancellation of his UK tour and remained adamant that he is sober despite hanging out with a wild group 'ripping rails of cocaine and drinking their a**es off' in an Instagram video posted on Thursday

Bam had been in the midst of Q&A tour gigs across the UK which were booked through a promoter and had recently been canceled without further explanation; he is seen sitting Bam alongside Mathew Pritchard on a stage in Dublin in a recent photo from the tour

'Why? Because I always wanted to meet one. Were they ripping rails of cocaine and drinking their a**es off and put a knife to the promoters throat because they thought he was an enemy? Yeah.

'Did I do it? No, because I have a parole officer that I have to piss once a week for no matter where in the part of the world that I'm at and it's always been clean. I have results to prove it.'

As Bam had a big cup of an amber colored liquid in his hand, he obviously knew that he would be accused of drinking something alcoholic.

He said: 'What am I drinking now? It's f***ing mint tea you dumb d***s.'

The former Viva La Bam star was at the center of online allegations that he was acting erratically as he rolled with a motley crew of misfits with many on Reddit claiming that he had been drinking booze and doing drugs again.

Bam did allude to a physical confrontation between the people he has been hanging out with and the promoters but did not give very many details of the alleged incident, however, he did admit to an argument with his fiancee Dannii Marrie.

He explained: 'Did I get into a tiffy tiff with my girlfriend? Yes I did because we have been attached at the hip for ten months straight to the point that we were arguing over a slice of gum for 40 minutes and I need space. So I am in the Sherwood forest.'

After all that rambling - including that he was starting a band with musicians from Scotland - he finally revealed why he was forced to cancel the shows and it was due to a knee injury.

He took to social media to address the rumors with a rambling video as he took aim at those who said the tour had been cancelled due to him falling off the wagon as he said: 'To all you bozos that go on Reddit, was I at a vintage caravan with Romani gypsy pikies, yes I was'

He continued: 'Why? Because I always wanted to meet one. Were they ripping rails of cocaine and drinking their a**es off and put a knife to the promoters throat because they thought he was an enemy? Yeah. Did I do it? No, because I have a parole officer that I have to piss once a week for no matter where in the part of the world that I'm at and it's always been clean. I have results to prove it'

As Bam had a big cup of an amber colored liquid in his hand, he obviously knew that he would be accused of drinking something alcoholic. He said: 'What am I drinking now? It's f***ing mint tea you dumb d***s'

Bam did allude to a physical confrontation between the people he has been hanging out with and the promoters but did not give very many details of the alleged incident, however, he did admit to an argument with his fiancee Dannii Marrie. He explained: 'Did I get into a tiffy tiff with my girlfriend? Yes I did because we have been attached at the hip for ten months straight to the point that we were arguing over a slice of gum for 40 minutes and I need space. So I am in the Sherwood forest'

After all that rambling - including that he was starting a band with musicians from Scotland - he finally revealed why he was forced to cancel the shows and it was due to a knee injury. He said: 'I tore my ACL again and was in the hospital in Glasgow so we had to stop the shows but we're rebooking them. Everything is good. Mint tea, f*** you!'

He said: 'I tore my ACL again and was in the hospital in Glasgow so we had to stop the shows but we're rebooking them. Everything is good. Mint tea, f*** you!'

This came just days after footage of him in a street fight in Los Angeles had surfaced online.

A video obtained by TMZ shows the troubled star in a violent confrontation with an unidentified man.

The Jackass personality appeared on Instagram on Monday to explain that he had been fighting in self-defense and complain that police never arrived, despite his making multiple calls.

Margera uploaded a black and white video of himself on the phone as evidence, sharing it to Instagram.

He wrote in the caption of the post on Monday, 'In regards to the bum fight, I called 911 8x times and waited nearly 3 hours and no cops ever showed the f**k up!'

He added that he was encouraged by 'the whole neighborhood' to engage in the altercation.

'...and the whole neighborhood told me to go handle it  and then they clapped when I was done because he finally shut the f**k up,' he finished before signing off with his name.

This came just days after footage of him in a street fight in Los Angeles had surfaced online

The Jackass personality appeared on Instagram on Monday to explain that he had been fighting in self-defense and complain that police never arrived, despite his making multiple calls

In the outtake shared with his nearly 100,000 followers, Bam shouted into his iPhone that it had been 'two hours' and 'you guys have done nothing.'

He warned the 911 operator, 'I'm filming this and I'm gonna send it to the news. You guys don't do sh**.'

The expletive-laced recording showed Bam visibly irritated as he sat on a couch in a T-shirt and lounge pants.

He pleaded during the phone call, 'Get a police officer here. Los Angeles Police Department is f*****g worthless.'

Bam went on to say, 'It's been two hours of us trying to sleep and this dude's throwing sh*t evverywhere and nobody showed up.'

The fight took place last week, per TMZ, who was in contact with his Margera's manager Margera Mike Quinn.

Also on Monday, the former MTV star recorded himself after receiving a tattoo that was not to his liking

Bam complained about his latest face tattoo being 'f*****g crooked'

Quinn shared that the scuffle came after a stranger 'threatened to kill Bam and his entourage outside of the property where Bam was staying.'

'This individual, who had been pacing nearby for hours relentlessly, and causing disturbances by yelling and overturning trash cans, escalated the confrontation by punching Margera when he stepped outside to smoke,' he relayed.

And Bam shared: 'I'm not going to be threatened or attacked without defending myself and my friends or people trying to just walk by this idiot, I aimed only to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of my crew.'

It was added that the fight quickly came to an end and the perpetrator left the scene without returning.

Margera has since been posting scenes from a trip to Ireland on social media.

On Monday, the former MTV star recorded himself after receiving a tattoo that was not to his liking.

He began the video, which was recorded outside on a street, 'So here I am in Belfast, Northern Ireland and I just landed from Los Angeles and got a tattoo from Apollo from Santa Monica, who charged me $780 for something that took 12 minutes and it's f*****g crooked.'

He panned to a business in front of him on the sidewalk as he explained, 'So now I'm here getting ready to fix it and he's talking all this s*** on Reddit, saying I didn't want to pay up and it took "two and a half hours."'

Bam said the police were called and he ended up paying the tattoo artist $400.

Following last week's brawl, Margera has since been posting scenes from a trip to Ireland on social media

On Sunday he shared photos with his fiancee Dannii Marie

It comes after last month Bam denied relapsing after he was caught on camera having an argument with his fiancee Dannii.

In a video, he was seen calling his partner, 35, a 'f*****g b***h' as the pair argued by a Nashville hotel.

The star told TMZ the disagreement began when he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, with his wife-to-be fearing he had left to use drugs.

Marie was filmed apologizing as Margera said: 'If you were sorry you would be crying and hugging me, f*****g b***h!'

He then told her to 'get a drug test,' to which she replied, 'I'm sorry and I love you.'

Bam later said Marie was 'expressing concern' and that he appreciates her looking out for him as he credited her with keeping him sober.

He also revealed he took a urine test that day to confirm to Marie he was still sober.

His rep told TMZ: 'Good news, Bam remains sober. The personal incident outside a hotel, involving Bam and his fiancee, Dannii, stemmed from Dannii's concern for Bam's wellbeing.

'This misunderstanding between the couple was resolved positively, as expected moments later. Bam continues to take his regular voluntary urine tests to confirm his sobriety.'

In March Bam denied relapsing after he was caught on camera having an argument with his fiancee Dannii

Margera pictured in Pennsylvania in July 2023

Margera, estranged wife Nicole Boyd and their son Phoenix, five

In December Margera was granted supervised visitation with his five-year-old son Phoenix, who he shares with estranged wife Nicole Boyd, by a California court.

His visitation schedule issued by the family court was reviewed by The Blast, which reported that the visits are limited to California-based locations on Saturdays and Sundays for four hours at a time.

Margera, who revealed his engagement to fitness model Marie in late 2023, must provide Boyd with a minimum notice of one week, according to court documents.

According to the terms set by the court, Margera's visits with Phoenix have to be supervised by a third party who both he and Boyd agree to.

If Margera and Boyd cannot come to accord, according to the court, the visits will be 'professionally supervised' by a party who Boyd chooses (out of three options), and Margera approves of within three days.
Bear Grylls was chased by lions and pulled underwater by snakes when filming his television adventures, but his elder sister, Lara Fawcett, prefers the treacherous waters of politics.

I hear that the PR executive, 57, is due to host a gathering of 'populists' in July  some of whom will be battling it out at the next General Election.

Among them is actor-turned-controversial activist Laurence Fox, veteran Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope, Tory-turned-Reform MP Lee Anderson and an unnamed Labour MP.

The private invitation, promising 'cocktails, canapes, and conversation' at an unspecified house in the North of England, explains: 'We are gathering a group of politically interested, involved and influential individuals who want to ensure that the next group of leaders we choose understand how to best serve those 'ordinary' people'.

Lara Grylls, daughter of the late Tory MP Sir Michael Grylls, appears to have been politicised in the Covid pandemic. She tells me: 'During the lockdowns, I became quite disillusioned with everything

Bear Grylls and his sisters Shara (left) and Lara (centre). Bear Grylls was chased by lions and pulled underwater by snakes when filming his television adventures, but his elder sister, Lara Fawcett, prefers the treacherous waters of politics

Among those attending the 'populist' gathering is actor-turned-controversial activist Laurence Fox , veteran Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope, Tory-turned-Reform MP Lee Anderson (pictured) and an unnamed Labour MP

Lara, daughter of the late Tory MP Sir Michael Grylls, appears to have been politicised in the Covid pandemic. She tells me: 'During the lockdowns, I became quite disillusioned with everything  the control. I've organised similar events before.'

But will Bear be there? 'No  he's too busy in the jungle.'

While the pop world may be enraptured by Taylor Swift's release of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, opera lovers are far more excited by Danielle de Niese's return to the stage at Glyndebourne this summer.

The soprano, 45, will perform the role of Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow.

'My journey as an artist has always been about using all of my skill sets to blend tradition with innovation and I'm excited to reinvent 120-year-old stories like The Merry Widow for a 2024 audience,' she tells me.

Danielle de Niese's return to the stage at Glyndebourne this summer. The soprano, 45, will perform the role of Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow

'Opera has a big future ahead, and will still be going in 100 years' time.

'If a star like Taylor Swift can make tortured poetry cool and relevant again, then why can't the same be said for opera? Its stories are timeless.'

She plays a feral young woman in the forthcoming film Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, but Freya Allan was keen to show her sophisticated side at the London premiere.

The 22-year-old actress  an alumna of Harry Potter star Emma Watson's alma mater, Headington School in Oxford  wore a daring but chic vintage Giorgio Armani semi-sheer crystalised halter neck one-piece at the BFI IMAX Waterloo.

Actress Freya Allan was keen to show her sophisticated side at the London premiere of the forthcoming film Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes

Freya, who is best known for her role as Princess Cirilla in hit Netflix fantasy drama The Witcher, is still getting used to fame.

'I always manage to feel incredibly detached from it all,' she says.

Actress Hannah Waddingham, who recently chided a photographer at the Olivier awards for asking her to show a leg, says she has little vanity about her appearance.

The Ted Lasso star, 49, who appears opposite Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in forthcoming Hollywood film The Fall Guy, says she doesn't worry about how she looks.

Statuesque blonde Hannah says of the role: 'I'm in deep, deep disguise.

'Dark wig, glasses, I basically look like Slash, from Guns N'Roses, which I love. I genuinely don't care what I look like for a role. I look like I've been dug up many times. It's deeply satisfying.'

Actress Hannah Waddingham, who recently chided a photographer at the Olivier awards for asking her to show a leg, says she has little vanity about her appearance

Though far too discreet to be photographed with Anne 'Weakest Link' Robinson  with whom, it's said, he's now sharing his life  Andrew Parker Bowles was very publicly on parade in London this week barely a furlong from Buckingham Palace.

APB, as he's invariably known in Household Cavalry circles, was at the Guards' Chapel for the memorial service for General Sir Richard Vickers. It was a doubly piquant moment for Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's first husband.

Princess Anne with Andrew Parker Bowles. Andrew Parker Bowles was very publicly on parade in London this week barely a furlong from Buckingham Palace

Not only was he representing his close friend, Princess Anne (pictured with APB), with whom he enjoyed a youthful romance, but he was also bidding his own farewell to Vickers, a man of verve and charm who was the first to command the newly merged Blues and Royals in 1969.

Vickers' adjutant at the time? A thrusting young officer called Andrew Parker Bowles.

Huw Edwards - who finally quit the BBC this week on 'medical advice', nine months after he was suspended over allegations he paid a teenager thousands of pounds for sexual images - has also lost a lucrative sideline.

The newsreader, 62, who continued to receive his salary of about 435,000 while suspended, used to rake in big money appearing as an after-dinner speaker for businesses or hosting annual awards ceremonies and conferences.

Huw Edwards - who finally quit the BBC this week on 'medical advice', nine months after he was suspended over allegations he paid a teenager thousands of pounds for sexual images - has also lost a lucrative sideline

He was on the books of leading agency JLA alongside BBC colleagues including Fiona Bruce and Clive Myrie, and was in the firm's A-rated bracket meaning that his fees were between 10,000 and 25,000. But he's now been removed from the firm's website and visitors are told: 'Huw Edwards does not currently appear on the JLA website, but you may still enquire about availability.'

Don't all rush at once.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's first album in nine years, Luck And Strange, is a family affair. Co-written with his wife, author Polly Samson, the tracks feature harpist daughter Romany Gilmour, with backing vocals from her sibling Gabriel.

Political activist son Charlie provides lyrics on one track.

Gilmour snr, 78, embraced the Sound Of Music-inspired approach during lockdown. 'Polly and I have been writing together for over 30 years and the Von Trapped live streams showed the great blend of Romany's voice and harp-playing,' he says.

'And that led us into a feeling of discarding some of the past I'd felt bound to and that I could throw those rules out and do whatever I felt like doing.' With eight children from his two marriages, there could yet be additions to the Gilmour musical ensemble

More than two years have passed since Jodie Kidd accepted a proposal from former Royal Marine Joseph Bates, left, but they have still not set a date for the big day.

The 45-year-old TV personality is clearly planning a big wedding.

'We've got quite an extensive friends and family range, so it's not going to be small,' the great-granddaughter of Canadian press baron the 1st Lord Beaverbrook tells me at a red-carpet event in London. 'It'll be impossible to be small. We're actually seeing a wedding venue, so it's getting there.'

More than two years have passed since Jodie Kidd accepted a proposal from former Royal Marine Joseph Bates, left, but they have still not set a date for the big day. The 45-year-old TV personality is clearly planning a big wedding

Jodie, who runs The Half Moon inn in Kirdford, West Sussex, has two former husbands and a 12-year-old-son, Indio, with her ex- boyfriend Argentinian polo player Andrea Vianini.

Indio will have a special role at the wedding. 'He's like a mini best man,' she says.

In a carefree youth, he enjoyed romantic entanglements with Jade Jagger and Kate Moss  not entirely sequentially, as Jade, whom he entertained first, was less than delighted to discover.

But now, in his 50th year, Dan Macmillan  more formally, Viscount Macmillan, only son and heir of the Earl of Stockton  is a contented father and also a patron of the arts. This week, for example, he presented one of his own works to the Colony Club  a Kalashnikov, encased in Perspex.

Will it inspire similar generosity from Jade? She has a talent for creating innovative presents  famously demonstrated when, after learning that la Moss was seeing Dan behind her back, she sent the supermodel a bespoke necklace, whose inscribed stones spelt out SLAG.
The Young And the Restless star Marla Adams, who featured on the soap opera on and off for nearly 40 years, has died at 85.

Over the course of 235 episodes, Marla became beloved by fans of the show as the conniving upper-crust matron Dina Abbott Mergeron.

After a long absence, she returned to the show in 2017 for a years-long arc that saw her character decline heartbreakingly with Alzheimer's.

Her character was eventually killed off in 2021, and that year Marla earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as Dina.

Matt Kane, The Young And The Restless' director of media and talent, told The Hollywood Reporter that Marla died in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Young And the Restless star Marla Adams, who featured on the soap opera on and off for nearly 40 years, has died at 85; pictured at the 2018 Daytime Emmys

Over the course of 235 episodes, Marla became beloved by fans of the show as the conniving upper-crust matron Dina Abbott Mergeron (pictured)

Marla was born and raised in Ocean City, New Jersey, where she caught the acting bug aged four while singing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town at church.

'I tore the house down,' she told her hometown paper with a laugh. 'I decided then, at 4 years old, in the Methodist church, that I was going to become a movie star.'

She started off as a beauty queen, winning Miss Ocean City and reaching runner-up for Miss New Jersey, before studying at the American Academy Of Dramatic Art.

When she was just 19 years old, she found herself playing opposite two legends of the American stage, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

The Lunts, who became theatrical royalty acting together in various plays, were delivering their final joint performance in The Visit - with Marla in a supporting part.

Three years later, she was acting with the rising greats of Hollywood, appearing in Elia Kazan's film Splendor In The Grass with Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty.

Marla, who played the high school gal pal of Natalie's emotionally troubled character, recalled that the screen siren 'was so drop-dead gorgeous.'

She soon made her bones in the soap opera world, playing ruthless characters on such series as General Hospital and The Secret Storm.

Three years later, she was acting with the rising greats of Hollywood, appearing in Elia Kazan's film Splendor In The Grass with Natalie Wood, who is pictured in the film

Marla (right), who is pictured in Splendor In The Grass with Sandy Dennis (left) and Crystal Field (center), described Natalie as 'so drop-dead gorgeous'

She landed her most enduringly popular role in 1983, when she began appearing as the shrewd, manipulative Dina; pictured in a 1985 publicity still

Her character was eventually killed off in 2021, and that year Marla earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as Dina; pictured that year with her prize

Carolyn Conwell, Marla, Jerry Douglas, Deborah Adair, Beth Maitland and Andrea Evans are pictured on The Young And The Restless in 1983

(from left) Jerry Douglas, Deborah Adair, Eileen Davidson, Terry Lester, Andrea Evens, Brian Matthews and Marla are all pictured on The Young And The Restless in 1983

Before her run on The Young And The Restless, she had featured on such popular televisions shows as Marcus Welby, MD, which she is pictured on with Sean Kelly in 1974

'I was the b**** of daytime. I played a good b****,' recalled Marla, who was the main villainess on The Secret Storm from 1968 to 1974.

Marla jobbed around with guest-appearances on various well-loved TV programs including Marcus Welby, MD, Starsky and Hutch, The Love Boat and Barnaby Jones.

She landed her most enduringly popular role in 1983, when she began appearing as the shrewd, manipulative Dina Abbott Mergeron.

Marla remained on the show consistently for three years until her contract expired, and remained off the program for a few years.

'Ive always played b***es since Belle on The Secret Storm, 50 years ago, and its wonderful,' she proclaimed to Soap Opera Digest in 2018.

Her television career continued apace on shows like The Golden Girls, The Bold And The Beautiful, Days Of Our Lives and even Baywatch.

Over the course of that period, she also made occasional returns to The Young And The Restless, twice in the 1990s and then in 2008.

In 2017, the show's head writer Sally Sussman approached Marla to return to the show for what became Dina's Alzheimer's arc.

In 2017, the show's head writer Sally Sussman approached Marla to return to the show for what became Dina's Alzheimer's arc; Marla is pictured as Dina in 2020

Marla had guest roles on several top-flight series including Baywatch, The Golden Girls and Happy Days, the last of which she is pictured on in 1983 with Linda Purl (left)

'I remember when Sally Sussman told me a few years ago: "Im going to bring you back on The Young And The Restless, but youve got Alzheimer's," and I said: "What!? Youre bringing me back so you can kill me off?" and she said: "Oh no, itll be about a year,"' Marla remembered in an interview with Michael Fairman.

'That dissolved into four years, and now five decades had passed and I was still on Y&R. I am beyond grateful,' she added warmly.

After returning to the series, Marla gushed to Soap Opera Digest: 'Im just thrilled to be able to play this character again.'

She added: 'Its the most challenging, daunting role Ive ever had the privilege to portray. When you play someone whos mean, there has to be a vulnerability and the reasons why that person is the way she is because thats what keeps her balanced.'

Playing an Alzheimer's storyline was 'scary because I had never even been exposed to anything like that before,' the veteran actress confessed.

'Now, doing this Alzheimers thing just blows me away. Its a great comfort that the writing is showing what is truthful,' she added.

At that point, she still occasionally was recognized by fans, she revealed, joking with a laugh that 'Im very big at Walmart.'

The TV veteran explained: 'When I was younger, I was recognized all the time and now that Im older, people are like: "Is that her? No, thats not her. It couldnt be! Just some old lady in sneakers and sweats."'

Marla is survived by two children, Gunnar and Pam, two grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and a great-grandson called Remi, among other loved ones.
Newly single Kimberley Garner has shown her mystery ex-boyfriend what he's missing with a set of sizzling hot swimwear snaps.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, who owns swimwear line Kimberley London, revealed on Wednesday that she had 'just broken up with someone'.

The star - who is expanding her range to include a line for men - confirmed her relationship status at the screening of The Idea Of You at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, London.

She told Eden Confidential: 'I've just broken up with someone. Right decision  and I am in a really good place.'

Kimberley's last known romance began in summer 2023, when it was revealed that she was going out with financier Andreas Anthis.

Newly single Kimberley Garner, 33, has shown her mystery ex-boyfriend what he's missing with a set of sizzling hot swimwear snaps

The former Made In Chelsea star, who owns swimwear line Kimberley London, revealed on Wednesday that she had 'just broken up with someone'

For MailOnline, the star posed in multiple pieces from her line - after calling her break up, presumably from Andreas Anthis, the 'right decision'

In one of the photos, Kimberley stood behind a shower and in front of a crystal blue pool and put a bottle of Coke to her lips.

Kimberley stunned in a black bikini with gold detailing, throwing her head back and stretching her arms out.

She crouched in the corner of a balcony wearing a blue-grey halter neck number with a white shirt which she shrugged off.

Kimberley bent down as she fiddled with her top of the bikini which was identical to the black on, except with an extra gold design.

She stood up and held up a large straw hat with a wide brim behind her head as she looked up towards the sun.

Now indoors, Kimberley swapped the shirt for a white dressing gown which she again wore off her shoulders.

In a gorgeous black polka dot bikini, Kimberley went down to the beach and posed in front of rocks with a classic deckchair beside her.

She then stood behind the blue and white striped chairs, resting her hand and leg on one, and looking down.

Kimberley stuck to her villa for the last two shots, the first of which saw her in a white bikini admiring the gorgeous sea view.

The last saw her facing away from the deep blue sea relaxing on a chair and leaning on an outstretched arm.

In one of the photos, Kimberley stood behind a shower and in front of a crystal blue pool and put a bottle of Coke to her lips

Kimberley stunned in a black bikini with gold detailing, throwing her head back and stretching her arms out

She crouched in the corner of a balcony wearing a blue-grey halter neck number with a white shirt which she shrugged off

Kimberley bent down as she fiddled with her top of the bikini which was identical to the black on, except with an extra gold design

She stood up and held up a large straw hat with a wide brim behind her head as she looked up towards the sun

Now indoors, Kimberley swapped the shirt for a white dressing gown which she again wore off her shoulders

In a gorgeous black polka dot bikini, Kimberley went down to the beach and posed in front of rocks with a classic deckchair beside her

She then stood behind the blue and white striped chairs, resting her hand and leg on one, and looking down

Kimberley was spotted for the first time with Andreas last July, as they packed on the PDA while walking her dog Sasha in London.

The reality star previously dated her MIC co-star Richard Dinan.

Since finding fame on the show in 2012, Kimberley has made a name for herself as a successful swimsuit brand entrepreneur.

She recently spoke about how the lengths she had to go to in order for her business to be taken seriously.

The designer told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.'

'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight.'

Kimberley went on: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice.

'So, I pretended to be the Intern! I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company.

She finished: 'When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.'

She stuck to her villa for the last two shots, the first of which saw her in a white bikini admiring the gorgeous sea view

The last saw her facing away from the deep blue sea relaxing on a chair and leaning on an outstretched arm
Walmart is shutting another two stores next month - bringing the total closures announced this year to eight.

Bosses said the two stores - in California and Wisconsin - were not making enough money.

Walmart, which has already shut six in 2024, is among several major retailers to announce closures.

Earlier in April, dollar store 99 Cents Only said it will shutter ALL its 371 shops, while Best Buy closed ten in March. Dollar Tree is closing 1,000, Macy's 150 - a third of its total - and drug store Rite Aid 77.

Below, DailyMail.com lists all the eight Walmart closures for this year and the 23 from last year - and here is a map showing where they are in the US.

Walmart is announced eight store closures so far for 2024. Last year, it shut 23

Walmart is shutting this store at 40580 Albrae St, Freemont, California on May 24

Walmart is shutting this store at 7025 W Main St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 17

The eight closures for Walmart this year come after it shut 23 last year.

California has already seen four Walmarts shut so far in 2024. The retailer shut two in the state on February 9.

One of those in February was a Neighborhood Market in San Diego. Another a standard Walmart in El Cajon, 16 miles outside San Diego.

Eight closures in 2024 California: 2121 Imperial Ave. in San Diego* - shut Feb 9 605 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon - shut Feb 9 2753 E. Eastland Center Dr in West Covina - shut Mar 29 4080 Douglas Blvd in Granite Bay* - shut Apr 12 40580 Albrae St, Freemont, - shuts on May 24 Maryland: 1238 Putty Hill Ave in Towson - shut Apr 5 Ohio: 3579 S. High St. in Columbus - shut Feb 16 Wisconsin 7025 West Main Street, Milwaukee - shuts May 17 * Neighborhood Markets Advertisement

The retailer then shut a supercenter in West Covina - 20 miles east of Los Angeles - on March 29.

A fourth to go in California was a Sacramento-area store on April 12.

Meanwhile, on February 16, a store on South High Street in Columbus Ohio was shut.

And a Walmart in a shopping center in Towson in Maryland closed on April 5, after 20 years.

The other two closures announced this week will happen over the next month.

Affecting 105 workers, a store in Milwaukee, Wisconcin has its final day on Friday, May 17.

A week later, a superstore with 156 staff shuts in Freemont in the Bay Area of California.

The Freemont store was targeted by thieves in recent years.

Walmart hopes staff can transfer to nearby stores that remain open.

Supercentres, which employ about 300 people across around 182,000 square foot, are the standard big-box Walmart outlets that sell everything from groceries to electronics and home furnishings.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets - employing about 95 people and covering 38,000 square feet - are smaller. They focus on food, household supplies and normally have a pharmacy.

Overall last year, Walmart's total number of stores fell by 102, from 4,717 in January 2023 to 4,615 a year later.

That's because - in addition to the 23 standard store closures - Walmart got rid of a combined 79 Moosejaw and Bonobos locations after selling the two retailers.

Despite the closures, Walmart has pledged to open 150 new stores over the next five years.

And it also said that for this year it would remodel 650 stores across 47 state.

Last year, major US chains including Target, CVS, Macy's and Rite Aid were behind nearly 3,000 stores closures in 2023.

Walmart has also been in the news this week after DailyMail.com reported it is continuing to remove self-checkout machines from its stores.

In two stores - in Shrewsbury, Missouri, and Cleveland, Ohio - the retailer said it would replace kiosks with staffed checkout lanes which will 'give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service.'

In two stores, in Missouri and Ohio, Walmart will replace self-checkout machines entirely with 'traditional' staffed lanes, as pictured

In reality, many stores are ditching self-checkout kiosks because they are especially vulnerable to theft, an issue which retailers claim in recent years have been plaguing their businesses and forcing them to shut locations altogether.

'Most of the rollback of self-checkouts is due to retailer concerns over theft,' Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told DailyMail.com.

The U-turn of the world's largest retailer may serve as a landmark moment in what appears to have been a failed self-checkout experiment that lasted years.
A $418 million settlement that will change the way Americans buy and sell homes forever has received preliminary approval from a federal judge.

US district judge Stephen R. Bough this week signed off an agreement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR) after it was accused of artificially raising commissions by enabling brokers to collude on sales.

The NAR was sued in a landmark case by home sellers in Missouri which paved the way for multiple copycat lawsuits.

Homeowners who sold properties in the last seven years may now qualify for a payout - though they must submit a claim by May 9, 2025. Eligible sellers must have listed the home on a multiple listing service (MLS) and paid a commission to a real estate brokerage.

While Judge Bough has signed off the deal, it is still subject to final court approval on November 26, according to Reuters. This is largely seen as a formality.

Michael Ketchmark (pictured) was the lead attorney in the class-action lawsuit brought against the NAR in Missouri

Agents in the US charge home sellers an average commission of between 5 and 6 percent of the sale price of their property. That is more than twice the average fees charged in the UK, according to investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

The NAR - which has 1.5 million members - will begin implementing sweeping rule changes to the way their agents operate from September 16.

The crux of the case centered on the commissions NAR agents earnt on home sales.

Agents in the US charge home sellers an average commission of between 5 and 6 percent of the sale price of their property - more than twice the average fees charged in the UK, for example.

It is paid entirely by the seller but, in accordance with standards specified by the NAR, is split down the middle between the two brokers.

The NAR is the largest trade association in the US and only its fee-paying members are allowed to call themselves 'Realtors'. They are also the only people with access to its database of properties available for sale.

Those databases are referred to as 'multiple listing services' or MLSs and require the seller's agent to list the amount of commission their client is paying. In theory, the system enables agents to 'steer' buyers to houses on which the commission is higher so they can profit more from a sale.

According to a survey by consulting firm 1000watt, more than 76 percent of 640 real estate agents in the US said buyers' agents would be more likely to show a property if they knew the seller was paying higher commission.

In turn the seller's agent can tell clients that if they don't offer up enough commission, buyers won't see their house.

But under the new ruling, agents will be essentially blocked from making those commission offers.

The buyer's agent can see which properties have the best sales commission and 'steer' buyers to them. More than 76 percent of real estate agents said buyer's agents would be more likely to show a property if the seller was offering a higher commission

Realtor Desirae Wyckoff previously told DailyMail.com last year: 'I feel like realtors are getting an unfair reputation from this.

NAR spokesman Mantill Williams said of the preliminary approval: 'It has always been NARs goal to resolve this litigation in a way that preserves consumer choice and protects our members to the greatest extent possible.

'There are strong grounds for the court to approve this settlement because it is in the best interests of all parties and class members.'

The decision was welcomed by attorney Michael Ketchmark who represented sellers in the suit.

He said: 'This is the first step in bringing about the long-awaited change. Later this summer, NAR will begin changing the way that homes are bought and sold in our country and this will eventually lead to billions of dollars and savings for homeowners.'

Realtors have previously expressed concern over how the litigation will impact their earnings.

Desirae Wyckoff told DailyMail.com last year: 'I feel like realtors are getting an unfair reputation from this.

'I could see a lot of these people hanging up their license.'

The Justice Department has also reopened its investigation into the NAR to scrutinize broker commissions and how real estate listings are marketed.
Indias diversified entity ITC plans to open more hotels overseas with neighbouring countries and the Middle East as primary target markets after opening of its first international property here, company Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri said on Thursday.

The companys arm ITC Hotels, which had opened 22 new properties in the last 24 months, plans to add another 70 hotels in the next five years in India as part of expansion plans in the hospitality sector.

Besides the hotels business, the company will look for opportunities to expand the presence of FMCG and other verticals in new overseas markets as well.

We are open to exploring opportunities that come about. I think we have strong credentials in hospitality which we can take outside India now. Very clearly at the moment the focus is on proximal markets, be it for hospitality, be it for FMCG..., Puri said here at a press conference after the opening of the 352-room luxury property, ITC Ratnadipa here. He said as the company explores and understands a place for a particular business, it may look at it as a market for other verticals as well. Citing the example of Nepal, Puri said,We started with other businesses and are now looking at hospitality (there). Here (in Sri Lanka) we have started with hospitality...As we explore and understand the place, we will look at possibilities in some of our other sectors as well.

On overseas expansion of the hospitality business, while the companys focus is more on proximal markets, he said,We are open to it if there are some interesting opportunities beyond it. We will certainly be interested in pursuing that.

When asked if ITC is looking at the Middle East as a market for the hospitality business, he said it is a vibrant economy right now with terrific growth plans and if opportunity comes our way then we will certainly explore that.
India shows the mirror to the US, rejects its report on rights violations in Manipur as deeply biased

Soon after the US pointed the finger at India for alleged incidents of human rights violations, particularly in Manipur, India has vehemently criticised the State Department report. The Indian Government has denounced the report as deeply biased and asserted that it reflects a significant misunderstanding of the ground realities. Seeking to show the mirror to the US instead, it questioned the US administrations response to the recent killing of Indian students on its soil. The MEA emphasised the deeply biased nature of the report, saying the report misrepresents the situation in Manipur and demonstrates a lack of comprehension regarding Indias efforts to address human rights issues within its borders. The report, which is not limited only to Manipur, talks about other issues too that have apparently undermined Indian democracy in the recent past. One of the key points raised in the State Departments report pertains to the raids conducted by the Indian Income Tax authorities on the offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), alleging that the raids extended to journalists not involved in the organisations financial affairs. Furthermore, the US report claims that the Indian Government used emergency powers to ban the screening of a BBC-produced documentary. The report highlights the concerns of local human rights organisations, minority political parties and affected communities regarding the Governments alleged delayed response to violence and its failure to provide adequate humanitarian assistance in Manipur.

It also cites instances of disinformation tactics being employed against civil society organisations, religious minorities such as Sikhs and Muslims, and political opposition groups. The Indian reaction to the US report is laudable as it defends and protects the boundaries of Indian sovereignty and sends across the message that no country has any business to meddle in Indias domestic affairs. The Government must also ensure that foreign powers do not get a chance to sermonise India on human rights. It is an established maxim that human rights issues transcend political boundaries. Besides, the Government should be mindful of criticism by the Indian civil society, which has been airing similar sentiments. They should not be summarily rejected and branded as anti-national and harassed, a routine thing in autocratic systems. Indeed, Indias reaction to the State Departments report underscores its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring that international assessments accurately reflect the countrys efforts to uphold human rights. India has consistently maintained that it is committed to addressing any legitimate concerns regarding human rights violations through its robust legal framework and democratic processes. In light of these developments, it is imperative for the international stakeholders to engage with India in a constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding. Soon after the US pointed the finger at India for alleged incidents of human rights violations, particularly in Manipur, India has vehemently criticised the State Department report. The Indian Government has denounced the report as deeply biased and asserted that it reflects a significant misunderstanding of the ground realities. Seeking to show the mirror to the US instead, it questioned the US administrations response to the recent killing of Indian students on its soil. The MEA emphasised the deeply biased nature of the report, saying the report misrepresents the situation in Manipur and demonstrates a lack of comprehension regarding Indias efforts to address human rights issues within its borders. The report, which is not limited only to Manipur, talks about other issues too that have apparently undermined Indian democracy in the recent past. One of the key points raised in the State Departments report pertains to the raids conducted by the Indian Income Tax authorities on the offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), alleging that the raids extended to journalists not involved in the organisations financial affairs. Furthermore, the US report claims that the Indian Government used emergency powers to ban the screening of a BBC-produced documentary. The report highlights the concerns of local human rights organisations, minority political parties and affected communities regarding the Governments alleged delayed response to violence and its failure to provide adequate humanitarian assistance in Manipur.

It also cites instances of disinformation tactics being employed against civil society organisations, religious minorities such as Sikhs and Muslims, and political opposition groups. The Indian reaction to the US report is laudable as it defends and protects the boundaries of Indian sovereignty and sends across the message that no country has any business to meddle in Indias domestic affairs. The Government must also ensure that foreign powers do not get a chance to sermonise India on human rights. It is an established maxim that human rights issues transcend political boundaries. Besides, the Government should be mindful of criticism by the Indian civil society, which has been airing similar sentiments. They should not be summarily rejected and branded as anti-national and harassed, a routine thing in autocratic systems. Indeed, Indias reaction to the State Departments report underscores its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring that international assessments accurately reflect the countrys efforts to uphold human rights. India has consistently maintained that it is committed to addressing any legitimate concerns regarding human rights violations through its robust legal framework and democratic processes. In light of these developments, it is imperative for the international stakeholders to engage with India in a constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding.
From personalised voter outreach to the menacing potential of deepfake videos, Artificial Intelligences influence is palpable, promising both innovation and ethical dilemmas

Artificial Intelligence, a game-changer in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has revolutionised traditional campaign strategies. The era of candidates personally visiting voters homes and engaging in conversations over tea, even after a five-year hiatus, has given way to a more technologically advanced approach.

Social media played a pivotal role in the 2014 election. However, the advent of AI and the potential use of deepfake videos in Indias 2024 elections could be game-changers. These videos, capable of blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, have the potential to significantly impact the trust and integrity of the electoral process.

Political parties and candidates have understood the power of AI in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. They use AI to analyse voter data, enabling them to develop effective campaign strategies. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants have been deployed to engage with voters on social media, providing real-time responses to their queries and concerns.

The use of AI technology can help with election processes in several ways:

AI can predict election outcomes.

AI chatbots and virtual assistants can communicate with virtual media.

AI can prevent election fraud and regulate political advertising campaign finance violations.

Political parties can now customise their calls to individual voters, potentially harming their opponents reputations. In India, more than 50% of the population uses the internet, which may increase to 900 million by 2025. The upcoming election in India is expected to generate a market worth Rs 500 crore.

Political parties are using AI to reach voters via social media. Congress and BJP used AI in last years State elections, the first time false videos and parodies were used in political campaigning. Parties like BJP, Congress, AAP, DMK and AIADMK use AI technology to engage with their supporters. For example, the BJP uses AI to translate PM Modis speeches into eight regional languages. However, some campaigners misuse AI-generated videos, including deepfakes, to spread misinformation. These videos are targeted at the 18-25 age group and are being shared on platforms like WhatsApp.

Parties in India use various tools to influence voters. They share fake images and videos on social media platforms. For example, the Congress party shared a phoney photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the same time, the BJP posted a false video of Rahul Gandhi on Instagram. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK and AIADMK parties used recordings of their deceased leaders for voter support in this election. The Communist parties have also employed AI technology in their campaigns. One video shows Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the AIMIM party, singing Hindu devotional songs. Regional leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Naveen Patnaik and Mamata Banerjee also applied similar tools to influence voters.

The use of AI for malicious purposes is a significant concern. With advanced AI, it has become possible to impersonate anyone, including voters or candidates, which can lead to identity theft and manipulation of the electoral process. This underscores the need for clear regulations to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process, making the audience more aware of the potential risks and the importance of addressing them, fostering a sense of vigilance.

The use of AI in political campaigns raises valid concerns about privacy and the potential for unfair competition and misinformation. Therefore, its imperative that clear regulations are implemented to ensure a transparent electoral process. Governments must take the lead in regulating AI use to promote fairness.

The IT Minister has already issued warnings to social media companies, instilling confidence in the audience about the security and integrity of the electoral process. The Election Commission must issue clear guidelines to regulate AI-generated information for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. These guidelines should address ethical AI use in campaigns and voter data analysis. Strict rules are necessary to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, protect voters rights and ensure fairness and transparency. Without these regulations, there could be doubts about the legitimacy of the election results.

While there are valid concerns about AI, its crucial to recognise its potential for positive change. Certain AI-generated technologies have the power to revolutionise how we conduct free and fair elections. As these technologies gain wider acceptance, they could pave the way for e-elections, a future where elections are conducted online, ensuring a more transparent and accountable electoral process. This potential for positive change should inspire optimism and hope, reassuring the audience about the future of elections.

During the Bihar elections, the Election Commission used an AI-powered system to ensure transparency and prevent manipulation. The system detected and flagged misinformation and hate speech cases, expediting the counting process and curbing hate speech during the election. This demonstrates how AI can be used effectively and instils confidence in the electorate.

Presidents, prime ministers, or legislators could win or lose based mainly on the success or failure of their AI campaign. Gullible voters can be fooled easily. Technological advancements can bring about significant changes and AI is no exception.

(The writer is a popular columnist; views are personal)
As the island nation grapples with the aftermath of the attack, the intricate web of extremism and intelligence failures continues to haunt it even five years later

When conspiracy theories gain traction and permeate the public consciousness, they inevitably taint the discourse surrounding the event in question. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in politically charged contexts. Five years ago, amidst the Easter attack on tourist hotels, two Catholic churches and a Zion church in Western and Eastern provinces, a plethora of conspiracy theories surfaced. Initially, speculation swirled suggesting the involvement of a powerful Western nation, followed by theories positing the attack as a ploy to consolidate political power. More recently, local politicians and various social groups have propagated the notion that India orchestrated the attack. Yet, none of these claims have been substantiated with credible evidence. Meanwhile, the culpability of the investigating officers negligence, which played a role in the tragedy, has been overshadowed by these baseless allegations. Instead of being held accountable, those partially responsible have reshaped the narrative to deflect blame onto others.

However, in the aftermath of the attack, public media reports surfaced alleging that prominent politicians and Government officials were aware of the impending threat. Some even openly discussed this matter. Additionally, a leaked classified document from the police indicated forewarning of an imminent attack. What followed was not just the proliferation of various interpretations but also the dissemination of misconceptions. For instance, blame was swiftly pinned on the State Intelligence Service, the countrys premier intelligence agency, extending to judicial indictments. However, a more rational examination, grounded in verifiable data, reveals a different societal reality. It uncovers a systemic failure across institutions tasked with national security and a disregard for prior warnings. Furthermore, it exposes concerted efforts to downplay this negligence for political gain. In a nation scarred by nearly four decades of internal conflict and widespread devastation, such institutional negligence sadly becomes almost unsurprising. Its crucial to highlight overlooked facts concerning the attack in question.

Leading up to the incident in question, there was a noticeable proliferation of extremist factions advocating violence across Sri Lanka. This surge wasnt limited to Muslim extremist groups but encompassed various ideological factions, each pursuing distinct political agendas. The emergence of the Islamic State in West Asia particularly bolstered the prospects of extremists across different nations, with Sri Lanka serving as a pivotal transit hub.

Investigations have revealed a significant influx of extremists from regions like Kerala, as well as countries such as the Maldives, into Sri Lanka. Its evident that intelligence agencies within the region, including those of Sri Lanka and Western nations, amassed substantial intelligence on these activities and collaborated in information sharing. Testimony from the wife of Zahran Hashim, a ringleader of the carnage, attests to the financial backing he received from a Singaporean national to establish his initial mosque. She further detailed Zahrans extensive involvement in extremist endeavours, including recruiting adherents and garnering financial and logistical support throughout the country.

This revelation sheds light on the proliferation of extremism in Sri Lanka, culminating in the Easter attack and subsequent incidents like the suicidal blast at the Sainthamaruthu house, where Zahrans family last resided. Zahran and his cohorts have exhibited affiliations with extremist ideologies and have been inspired by the Islamic State. Moreover, Sri Lankan nationals who joined the organisations ranks in Syria have been observed exerting influence on local activities. Between 2014 and 2018, a staggering 41,490 individuals from 91 nations travelled to Syria to support the Islamic State, including 32 Sri Lankans.

Exploiting this influx, organisations espousing extremist ideologies, under various guises, began proliferating throughout Sri Lanka. Additionally, individuals of Sri Lankan origin who attempted to travel to Syria via Turkey but were unsuccessful have returned home and aligned themselves with figures like Zahran. Simultaneously, the ideological backing of Mohamed Naufar, known as the second emir and a close relative-specifically, the husband of Zahrans maternal aunt-played a pivotal role. Naufar, identified by the FBI as the mastermind behind the attack, exerted significant influence on the events.

Since March 2017, there have been eleven significant incidents leading up to the Easter attack, yet none have undergone thorough investigation. This failure on the part of investigative agencies, which were supposed to act on precious intelligence passed on to them, has been perceived as a deliberate effort to conceal the underlying truth of the entire episode from society, thereby impeding the crucial lessons to be gleaned from this tragedy.

The series of events began with a clash at Kattankudy Aliyar junction on March 10, 2017. Following this conflict, police attempted to arrest Zahran, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, on May 17, 2017, a member of National Thowheeth Jamaath was shot. This was followed by a bomb thrown at the National Front for Good Governance (NFGG) Mohammad Farzans house on February 06, 2018 and another bomb thrown at the NFGG Kattankudy office on February 12, 2018.

Further escalations occurred with the shooting of Palani Bawa in Kattankudy on June 08, 2018 and the detonation of a bomb by Zahrans brother Rilwan in Arayampathy on August 26, 2018, resulting in injuries and fatalities at Wavnathiv police post on November 30, 2018. The incidents continued with the vandalism of religious statues in Mawanella on December 23, 2018 and further vandalism on January 16, 2019, related to providing information about the destruction of statues and concealment of explosive materials in Vanathavilluwa of Puttalam District.

The situation intensified with the discovery of material and the shooting of informant Raziq Mohammad Taslim on March 08, 2019, resulting in permanent disability. Finally, a motorcycle explosion in Thalankudah on April 16, 2019, just five days before the Easter attack, marked the culmination of these incidents. Numerous intelligence reports concerning these events have been received by the commissions tasked with investigating them, shedding light on the negligence of the officers responsible for the criminal investigation.

One of the most significant incidents out of these eleven took place in August 2018, involving Rilwan, who mishandled explosives, resulting in an accident. After the explosions in the Arayampathy area, Rilwan was taken to Colombo National Hospital and admitted under the name Zaheed on 26 August 2018. Investigations have confirmed that Zahran, conducting a training camp in the Hambantota area at the time, visited his brother in Colombo. The following day, 27 August 2018, Rilwan was admitted to the National Eye Hospital. Subsequently, he visited the clinics of the National Hospital on 27.09.2018, 04.10.2018, 11.18.26 and 15.03.2019. This incident occurred eight months prior to the attack, yet neither the training camps nor the incident itself were reported to any police or intelligence agencies.

Remarkably, the individual managed to conceal his identity from the National Hospital and Eye Hospital for several days. The doctor suspected of aiding in this matter has later fled the country.

Later, there was another incident identified as a dry run, which the State Intelligence Service formally reported to the Inspector General of Police as well as the head of CID, stating that the incident on 2019.04.18 was an explosive test. However, due to the lack of proper investigation into the incident until the Easter Sunday attack, a key opportunity to apprehend the perpetrators was missed.

Upon examination of the intelligence reports submitted to the investigative commissions regarding the attack, it becomes evident that not only did the local intelligence agency provide information, but also the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB), Indias internal security and counter-intelligence agency under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, accurately foresaw the impending attacks. This information was disseminated not only to the then Inspector General of Police and the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense but also to the officers responsible for crime and investigation.

Their acknowledgement of receiving this crucial information is documented. Despite being forewarned, no preventive measures were taken to thwart the attack. This apparent failure to act raises serious questions about accountability and highlights a disturbing trend of negligence. That was a collective failure.

The balance sheet of five years since this tragedy is that there has been a concerted effort to obscure the truth by proliferating conspiracy theories, thereby masking this dereliction of duty. This deliberate attempt to deflect attention from institutional failures through the propagation of unfounded narratives not only undermines public trust but also obstructs the implementation of preventive mechanisms to ensure non-recurrence.

(The writer is a Sri Lankan journalist. Views are personal)
From advocating communal harmony to his stance on Hindu-Muslim relations, Antonys journey reflects his love for courting controversies

The year was 1993. The Kerala Press Academy (since renamed as Kerala Media Academy) under the ownership of the Kerala Government was having the Mathai Manjooran Memorial Day. Mathai Manjooran was a socialist party leader and was a member of the EMS Namboodiripad-led coalition Government during the 1967-69. He was also a trade union leader who never hesitated to speak his mind. It is unfortunate that he passed away in 1970 at the age of 58.

A K Antony, the quintessential Congress leader was the speaker who delivered the Manjooran Memorial speech and as a journalist, I was there to cover the event. The country was yet to come out of the impact of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya and the entire secularist forces were up in arms against the Hindus for the barbaric act. Not a single day passed in Kerala without communal harmony meetings and all speakers were vying with one another in blaming the Sanatanis for the heinous act and praising Islam as the religion of peace.

But Antony chose a different approach in his 45 minutes. He warned the minority communities (read Christians and Muslims) from attacking the Hindus and reminded the two communities that they should be grateful to the Sanatanis for their magnanimity in offering the minorities more than what the Hindus themselves enjoyed. The minorities have been given more rights and privileges to run their own educational institutions and hospitals while the Hindus were denied the same. We should always bear in mind the truth that the minorities in India enjoy unique rights and privileges that the Hindus do not have and we should be grateful to them for their broad-mindedness, said Antony, which made the next days headlines.

Antony became the chief minister of Kerala for the third time in 2001 but he quit in 2004 for reasons best known to him, the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the then Muslim League boss Mohammed Shihab Ali Thangal. Eight Hindu fishermen were butchered by members of a Muslim extremist organisation at Maradu in Kozhikode district in May 2003 and there was a demand for a CBI probe into the massacre. A prominent Muslim League leader, who later on became a Union Minister in the Manmohan Singh Government played a significant role in offering shelter in a mosque to the assassins.

When the issue of the CBI probe came for consideration in the liaison committee meeting of the UDF, the Muslim League leaders warned Antony who was the then Chief Minister against an investigation by the Central agency. The UDF had won 99 out of the 140 seats at stake and was in a comfortable position. The Muslim League ultimatum against the CBI probe angered Antony and he announced in a public meeting the next day that political parties, especially the caste and community-based outfits, should not make the Government dance to their tunes with organised bargaining power. That turned out to be the nemesis for Antony as the Gods in Malappuram asked Sonia Gandhi to remove him from the post of chief minister. Despite Antony tendering an apology, the chieftains of the Muslim League, controlling Kerala politics from the Kudappanakkal castle in Panakkad, were not humoured and they insisted on the formers ouster. That was how Antony resigned as the Chief Minister and shifted camp to Delhi. The Sulthans of Malappuram had the last laugh.

Antony knows very well that his shirt and dhoti should be more secular than that of the CPI(M) and other outfits to stay in the reckoning. That is why the person who wanted the minority communities to be grateful to the Hindus wants the Sanatan Dharma to be demolished. There is nothing surprising in Antonys stance as he was always against the Hindus even as the president of Kerala Students Union, the feeder organisation of the Congress. The group in the Congress party in Kerala has its roots in Antonys grievances over the status enjoyed by Hindu leaders like K Karunakaran and their clout in the High Command. The group in Congress has nothing to do with ideology and Antonys hatred towards Hindus is reflected in his cursing his son Anil Antony joining the BJP. What Antony should have done is to give freedom to 38-year-old Anil to select the party of his choice and wish him all success. Instead of that what Antony has done is to demand the Nehru-Gandhi clan to field candidates for the Lok Saba election from Amethi and Rae Bareli. He also declared that the Congress party cannot exist without the Nehru-Gandhi family. Isnt this another way of telling that India is Indira and Indira is India?

Remember, this is the same Antony who ridiculed Indira Gandhi cast his lot with the CPI(M) in 1980 and formed a Government with the Marxists during 1980-1982.

(The writer is special correspondent with The Pioneer; views are personal)
Ahead of the second phase of voting on Friday, the Congress on Thursday asked the Election Commission to take action against Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for visiting various Church leaders in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha election, in what the party called a "violation of the Model Code of Conduct".

Recently, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose had called off his proposed visit to Cooch Behar heeding the advice of the EC.

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly VD Satheesan

VD Satheesan claimed that Saxena, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, requested an audience with the heads of the Syro Malabar Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Cardinal George Allencherry and others. He also met bishops of the Believers' Church. The Believers' Church, which is a Pentecostal church, has come out in support of the BJP.

Satheesan on Thursday urged the EC to take action against the LG for allegedly visiting heads of churches in the southern State.

Satheesan, in a letter to the Commission, alleged "blatant violation of the model code of conduct" by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena through his meeting of church heads in Kerala.

"I am writing to invite your attention to the blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena by visiting various church heads in Kerala to lure them to take a stance in favour of BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," the opposition leader said in his complaint.

Pointing out that as a "constitutional head" of a state, the L-G is "restricted from involvement in any political activity", Satheesan said, "The Delhi Lieutenant Governor visiting various Church heads in Kerala just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to garner votes for the BJP is a blot on democracy and its founding values."

It may be recalled that the Election Commission has not allowed the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to visit Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19 as the silence period for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. In its communication to the governor's office, the poll body said that under the Model Code of Conduct and because April 19 is a poll day, no local programme can be organised for the governor, said people familiar with the matter in the EC.

"As per reports, leaders of some of the churches have declined to meet the Lieutenant Governor," he said.

Satheesan contended that the Governor was a constitutional head of state and was restricted from involvement in any political activity.

"However, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor visiting various church heads in Kerala just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to garner votes for the BJP is a blot on democracy and its founding values." he alleged. He requested the EC to "initiate urgent action" against the alleged blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to young and women voters to turn out in great numbers and Opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhis message for voters to vote and save the Constitution, notwithstanding, saw nearly 61 per cent voting till 7 pm on Friday in the second phase of the Lok Sabha.

The 2019 polls of the second phase recorded 66 per cent voting.

At 7 pm, 61 per cent voter turnout was recorded across 13 States and Union Territories. Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Assam and Tripura recorded over 70 per cent voter turnout while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra recorded the lowest turnout at 52.6 per cent, 53 per cent and 53.5 per cent respectively. In 2019, NDA secured victory in 56 seats of the 89 seats while the UPA won 24 seats.

In the ongoing second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Assam saw voting percentage of 70.97 per cent, Bihar 54.91 per cent, Chhattisgarh 73.19 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 71.92 per cent, Karnataka 67.77 per cent, Kerala 65.45 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 57.55 per cent, Maharashtra 54.58 per cent, Manipur 77.18 per cent, Rajasthan 64.01 per cent, Tripura 78.82 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 54.83 per cent and West Bengal 71.84 per cent.

After Fridays phase, polling will be over in the States of Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. Barring a few confrontations and complaints of fake voting in Barmer-Jaisalmer, polling was peaceful in the second phase. The third phase of elections for 94 seats across 12 States and Union Territories will be held on May 7.

Modi expressed his delight saying the phase two of the Lok Sabha polls has been too good for the BJP-led NDA, describing the support to the ruling alliance as unparalleled.

Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support, Modi said on social media.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took potshots at the PM over his attack on the grand old party, saying he is scared and may even shed tears on the stage.

Interestingly, Modi and Opposition leaders, including Rahul raised the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination, inheritance taxes and affirmative actions during the second phase to polarize their vote bank.

Notably, Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh having naxalite presence, recorded voter turnout of 63.92 per cent. Similarly, the newly settled Bru voters of Tripura exercised their franchise for the 2024 general elections to the Lok Sabha. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani boycotted polls over various issues but were persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise.

The Election Commission (EC) said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 7 pm of voter turnout of 60.96 per cent is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, the EC said, adding voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote.

According to EC, voters from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker PCs in Chhattisgarh cast their vote in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha Election.

The Lok Sabha polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh  on August 5, 2019. The Election Commission registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning.

Rahul, Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, actress Hema Malini, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumars brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates.

In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a high 77.18 per cent.

In Kerala, the turnout was 63.97 per cent. One person each reportedly died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode.

While Karnataka recorded 63.90 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, Rajasthan recorded 60.61 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the 13 constituencies. Six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 58.35 per cent in the second phase.

West Bengal recorded voter turnout of 72 per cent till 5 pm which included Balurghat recorded the highest polling percentage at 72.30, followed by Raiganj at 71.87 and Darjeeling at 71.41.

Bihar recorded voter turnout of 58.58 per cent, almost 4.34 per cent lower than that of the 2019 general elections.
Sensitive States of the North East, including Manipur and Tripura, besides Assam witnessed peaceful polling on Friday in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Manipur, where polling was held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a high 77 per cent and one incident of EVM damage was reported. The State had witnessed violence in some areas during the first phase of polls on April 19.

On Friday, voting was held in the remaining parts of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency at 857 polling stations, spanning 13 Assembly segments in eight districts, officials said. Over 4.84 lakh people are eligible to vote in this phase.

Fifteen assembly segments of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency went to the polls in the first phase on April 19 along with the whole of the Inner Manipur seat.

Four candidates are in the fray in Outer Manipur  NPFs K Timothy Zimik, Congresss Alfred Kanngam Arthur, and Independents S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai. The BJP has not fielded any candidate and is backing its ally, the NPF.

Security measures were significantly enhanced across all 13 assembly segments where polling was underway, with 87 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and 4,000 state police personnel deployed to ensure free and fair elections.

During the first phase of elections, parts of the Outer Manipur seat, covering 15 assembly segments, and 32 assembly segments of the Inner Manipur, went to polls on April 19.

In the 2019 elections, the NPF emerged victorious, defeating the BJP by a margin of 73,782 votes.

The Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a voter turnout of 79. 50 per cent as polling remained peaceful, an official said. Voters came out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right since morning.

Nearly 14 lakh voters in the constituency, including 6.94 lakh women and 13 persons of third gender, will decide the fate of nine candidates in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

An estimated 70.06 per cent of 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise till five pm in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam.

The turnout was expected to increase as those in queue before 5 pm would be allowed to vote, they said. Polling began at 7 am and no untoward incident was reported so far. A total of 61 candidates are in the fray in the second phase.

Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha seat recorded the highest turnout of 72.9 per cent, followed by Nagaon (71.84), Karimganj (71.12), Diphu (69.62) and Silchar (53.06).

Assam Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya is pitted against Surya Kanta Sarkar of Congress in Silchar, while BJPs Amarsing Tisso is contesting against Congresss Joyram Engleng in Diphu.

Nagaons sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi is contesting against BJPs Suresh Bora, while Karimganjs BJP MP Kripanath Malla is pitted against Congresss Hafiz Ahmed Rashid Choudhury. In Darrang-Udalguri, the main contest is between BJP MP Dilip Saikia and former Congress MP Madhab Rajbongshi.
While most Opposition parties did not express their view after the Supreme Courts verdict on VVPAT, the Congress and a couple of parties like Samajwadi Party (SP) said it will continue with its campaign on greater use of VVPATs to increase the public trust in the electoral process.

Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh said the Opposition is not a party, directly or indirectly, to the petition on VVPATs. We have taken note of the verdict of the two-judge bench and our political campaign on the greater use of VVPATs to increase public trust in the electoral process will continue, Ramesh said in a statement.

Asked about the Prime Ministers attack on the Opposition, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said similar doubts against the EVMs were made by BJP stalwart LK Advani and advised the ruling party to start with him.

So, in 2009, was Advani misleading the nation? When he released the book of GVL Narasimha against EVMs, when Advani was championing the cause of leading a protest against EVMs, was he misleading the nation? The Prime Minister should do a basic homework, instead of focusing on Nehru, he should start focusing on Advani. He will stop talking irresponsibly, Khera said.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, when asked about the decision on the sidelines of a poll rally in UPs Kasganj, urged the people to make the INDIA Bloc victorious and do away with the EVMs. Two phases of the election are over, we are now looking at the third phase of voting... I would like to say only one thing, make the INDIA alliance, Samajwadi Party victorious, and remove EVMs... Yadav said.

The BJP is scared of the growing PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minorities) family. PDA is fighting for its rights and honour, the BJP Government has taken away jobs... It is a big fight and we will keep fighting, he said.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader and Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi said her party-led Uddhav Thackeray on several occasions expressed doubts particularly on the last years results of the assembly polls in four states where the BJP won three of them.
The ebullient fight between the BJP-led NDA, the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF for the 20 Lok Sabha seats from Kerala that went to the polls on Friday is continuing even after the polling concluded by 6pm on Friday.

As hundreds of voters had queued up in front of polling stations at 6 pm, polling officials issued tickets to all so that no one needed to return home without casting their votes. By 7 pm on Friday, the State had registered 70 per cent polling according to the Election Commission of India. The final figure is likely to cross the 77.8 per cent figure which was recorded in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from the State.

Law enforcement agencies heaved a sigh of relief as the polling process was by and large peaceful and no major untoward incidents were reported from anywhere in the State. But there were allegations by the BJP and the opposition Congress party that thousands of voters cast their votes with the help of fake identity cards.

There were many instances of expatriate workers from other States managing to cast their votes with the help of officials whose loyalty lied with the CPI(M), said Adoor Prakash, Congress candidate from Attingal in southern Kerala. Seven persons reportedly died either after casting the votes or while waiting for their turn to vote.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who cast his vote with wife Kamala and scam tainted daughter Veena Mohammed Riyaz claimed that there was a CPI(M) wave across Kerala and the LDF would win in all the 20 constituencies.

He said that the good works done by the LDF to help the poor would be reflected when results are declared on 4 June.

Former Defence Minister and oldest surviving Congress leader A K Antony (84) cast his vote, most probably the last time in his life, at Thiruvananthapuram accompanied by wife Elizabeth and long-time friend M M Hassan. This is our last chance to save secularism, socialism, pluralism and democracy in India. This time Narendra Modi would be voted out and a new government led by the Congress would come to power in the Center, said Antony even as he cursed the BJP and its leaders. Antonys son Anil is contesting as a BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta.

Both the CPI(M) and the Congress claimed that they would sweep all the 20 seats at stake from the State. The BJP camp too is confident of improving their vote share. In 2019, the Hindutva party had polled 13 per cent votes and the NDA front led by it had polled 15.64 per cent. The NDA front had drawn a blank in the score board having failed in winning at least one seat.

The Congress-led UDF had polled 47.48 per cent and the front won 19 seats leaving a lone seat to the CPIM). The BJP is yet to open its account in the State till date.

The fates of Sasi Tharoor, union ministers Rajiv Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, senior parliamentarian N K Premachandran, former union minister Kodikkunnil Suresh, film actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, the Romeo of Keralas Love Jihad Abdussamad Samadani, were among the candidates whose fates were sealed on Friday. Samadanis name had figured prominently in author Kamala Das conversion to Islam.

Efforts to elicit information about which way the wind was blowing remained unclear as most of those who cast their votes were reluctant to disclose information about whom they voted for. We are caught between the deep sea and the devil. The CPI(M) led government is enmeshed in corruption and scams. The Congress is no different as their tenures were scam tainted. There is severe anger towards these two fronts. But the voters do not have any third option because BJP in Kerala is inefficiency personified, said senior Government Hospital Surgeon. He said people wanted a change but there are no competent leaders in State BJP and people are forced to wait for another day when an effective outfit emerges in the States political landscape.
In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, 55-60 per cent voter turnout is expected to be recorded.Uttar Pradeshs Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said here on Friday that by 5 pm 52.74 per cent voter turnout was recorded in eight Lok Sabha constituencies where polling was held on Friday.

Prominent among the 91 candidates whose fate was decided in the second phase polling are actors-turned-politician Hema Malini, who is seeking a third term from Mathura, and Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Ram in the Ramayana TV serial. He has been fielded by the BJP from his native place Meerut. The other prominent candidates are Danish Ali of Congress from Amroha, and BJPs Atul Garg from Ghaziabad and Mahesh Sharma from Gautam Buddha Nagar.

The constituencies where polling was held on Friday included Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura and Bulandshahr.

The CEO said polling was peaceful in all eight Lok Sabha constituencies and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. He said around 150 complaints were received at the state control room and all were promptly disposed of.

The CEO said complaints related to faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs), power supply breakdown, slow polling and identification documents produced by voters. He said 48 ballot units, 213 control units and 469 VVPAT machines were replaced. In one polling booth, a polling agent was asked by the police to leave the booth. Following a complaint by the political party, the agent was allowed to stay at the particular polling booth.

In Amroha, a woman, Ameena Khatoon aged 70 years, collapsed inside the polling booth after casting her ballot. She died of cardiac arrest.

At Lalgarhi village in Khair Assembly segment of Aligarh Lok Sabha constituency, the villagers boycotted the polling in protest against the lack of development in their village. The district officials tried to pacify the angry villagers and persuaded them to vote. Later, out of 850 voters nearly 200 cast their votes.

Under the seat-sharing arrangement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the grand old party is contesting in 17 constituencies while the SP has fielded its candidates in the remaining 63 seats.

In the 2019 general elections in Uttar Pradesh, barring Amroha, the Bharatiya Janata Party had won rest of the seven Lok Sabha constituencies that went to poll on Friday.

Uttar Pradesh has already completed the first phase of voting on April 19. The remaining constituencies will vote in subsequent phases on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

A three-cornered fight was witnessed in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls in the second phase of election on Friday.

According to the Election Commission of India, till 5 pm, Amroha recorded maximum turnout at 61.89 per cent, followed by Meerut (55.49 per cent), Aligarh (54.36 per cent), Bulandshahr (54.34 per cent), Baghpat (52,74 per cent), Gautam Buddha Nagar (51.66 per cent), Ghaziabad (48.21 per cent) and Mathura (46,96 per cent).

In the second phase, a strange trend was observed throughout the day. The number of voters from all communities and classes voting in support of the INDIA bloc kept on increasing at every booth, while on the other hand, the number of Bharatiya Janata Party voters kept on decreasing, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said in a post.

Uttar Pradesh, being the largest state, sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha and thus is a dominant force in electoral influence and therefore one of the key focus areas of all political parties. In the 2019 general election, the BJP had emerged victorious, securing 62 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, with two additional seats won by its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). The Bahujan Samaj Party managed to secure 10 seats, while Samajwadi Party secured five seats. The Congress secured only one seat.

This time, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are contesting in an alliance under the opposition INDIA Bloc. With the National Democratic Alliance, the INDIA Bloc and the Bahujan Samaj Party fielding their candidates, a three-cornered contest is on the cards.
Voting for Bhopal Lok Sabha seat will be held on May 7. The responsibility of conducting voting will be on more than 10000 officers and employees. Those who are being given second training for 6 days started from Thursday.

At 7 centres, they will learn the basics of EVM, mock poll, voting, taking voting material till submitting it. At the same time, on Thursday itself, 372 employees were given training for one day. These employees will go door-to-door to get 85+ elderly people to cast their votes.

In the Lok Sabha elections, 85+ elderly and voters with more than 40 percent disability will also get the facility to cast their votes at home. Therefore, training was given to the employees in BSS College from 11 am to 3 pm.

Voting will take place at a total of 2034 polling stations in Bhopal. Employees have also been put on duty for this and due to which they are being given training. The second training started from April 25, which will continue till April 30. A total of 10660 employees will take training, 72 master trainers are training them. These also include EVM master trainers.

General Observer Rubal Aggarwal reached the coordination building on Thursday and took stock of the ongoing training.

General Observer Rubal Aggarwal reached the coordination building on Thursday and took stock of the ongoing training.

Assistant Nodal Officer Sandeep Kumar Srivastava said, PO, P-1, P-2 and P-3 level employees will get training at 7 centres. Of these, this will be the final training for P-2 and P-3 employees. About 4200 PO and P-1 level employees will be given final training on May 3-4 before voting.

Bhopal Lok Sabha consists of a total of 8 constituencies - Berasia, Narela, Govindpura, Huzur, Bhopal North, Bhopal Central, Bhopal South-West and Sehore. Employees of 7 assembly constituencies of Bhopal district will get training here, while employees of Sehore assembly will be given training in Sehore itself.

The training include before voting, How to conduct mock polls using EVM and VVPAT. Match the result displayed on the control unit with the mock poll slips of VVPAT. Clearing of mock poll results from CU and removal of mock poll slips from VVPAT drop box. Stamping the back side of VVPAT Mock Poll Paper Slips and sealing the black envelope with pink paper currency.

during voting

During the voting briefing the candidates and polling agents on secrecy of votes. Announcing the vote clearly and obtaining the signature of the candidate/polling agent. Filing certificate in Form 17A. Periodically matching the numbers recorded in Form-17A with the total and informing the Returning Officer about the status of voting.

After the completion of the voting providing numbered slips to the people standing in the queue at the time of closing of voting.

Voters standing in the queue have to press the close button after casting their vote.

How to remove VVPAT power pack (battery).

EVM and VVPAT machines are to be kept in proper boxes and sealed.

Statutory and non-statutory documents also have to be sealed.

Signatures of all the polling agents have to be taken in Part-1 of Form 17C and its certified copy has to be provided to everyone.

How to accompany the security convoy to deposit all the election materials at the collection centre, etc.
The nomination of independent candidate AK Jilani from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat has been cancelled. Jilali has called it a conspiracy by the ruling BJP.

He said that there is no expectation of relief from the Commission. Therefore they will take the matter to court.

The first phase of Lok Sabha elections has been completed in the state. The second phase of voting is to be held tomorrow, Thursday. But, meanwhile, a demand has been raised to postpone the elections on Bhopal Lok Sabha seat included in the third phase. A complaint has been made to the Election Commission regarding this. Besides, preparations are also being made to approach the court demanding postponement of the elections.

The nomination phase for Bhopal Lok Sabha elections, which is included in the third phase, has ended. Scrutiny of nomination papers has also been done. In this process, the nomination papers of AK Jilani, who had filed nomination as an independent candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, have been cancelled. The Returning Officer has issued this order considering Jilani's nomination as not in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Public Representation Act 1951.

Jilani termed the cancellation of nomination papers as a conspiracy and said that it was a decision taken under the pressure of the ruling party.

He sais that the Returning Officer did not give proper guidance while submitting the nomination. Due to which some shortcomings remained in the nomination papers and on the basis of them his nomination papers have been cancelled. Jilani has complained to the Chief Electoral Officer regarding this matter. He has demanded that action should be taken against this disorder.

Independent candidate Jilani, after complaining to the Election Commission, said in a discussion with the media that he does not expect any relief from the Commission. Therefore they will take this matter to court.

Jilani said that he has full faith in the judiciary of the country and will get justice from the court.

He said that he is going to demand from the court to postpone the Bhopal Lok Sabha elections. Jilani has termed the cancellation of his nomination as a conspiracy by BJP. The reason is that BJP is worried about the weak position of its candidate, due to which they are conspiring against the strong candidates by using the government machinery. Jilani has warned BJP that if the conditions do not improve then they will now file nomination from Indore Lok Sabha also.
Congress has complained to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's road show held in Bhopal on Wednesday.

Congress has demanded to register a case of violation of code of conduct regarding the road show and 50 percent of the road show expenses should be added to the candidate's election expenses.

State Congress' Election Commission work in-charge JP Dhanopia has revealed the amount spent on all the items related to the road show of BJP star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi like hoardings, vehicles, vehicles in the rally, grand stage, advertisements in newspapers and live telecast on TV. happened.

Half of its expenditure should be added to the election expenses of BJP candidate Alok Sharma. If the amount spent in this program exceeds the election expenses as per rules, the BJP candidate should be banned from contesting the elections. And a case of violation of code of conduct should be registered against them and action should be taken.

One thousand hoardings put up in Lok Sabha constituency

MP Congress's Election Commission work in-charge JP Dhanopia wrote in his complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer of MP - Model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections 2024 is effective across the country.

On Wednesday 24 April 2024, a road show of BJP star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place in Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency. About 1000 hoardings related to this program were put up in the entire Lok Sabha constituency. In which the photo of BJP candidate Alok Sharma is also included along with BJP star campaigner. Not only this, BJP candidate Alok Sharma himself was present in the vehicle the entire time during Prime Minister Modi's road show. Modi ji appealed to the voters to vote in favor of BJP candidate Alok Sharma.

Congress wrote in its complaint that a convoy of about 800 vehicles was involved in the Prime Minister's road show in Bhopal. Welcome programs were organized by setting up stages at around 300 places.

According to the rules, if the candidate is present with the star campaigner, half of the expenditure incurred in the program is to be added to the election expenses of the candidate. It is estimated that an amount of around Rs 5 crore will be spent on hoardings, vehicles, other arrangements, advertisements etc. in the road show.
The AAP and BJP on Friday traded allegations over the postponement of mayoral polls, accusing each other of being anti-Dalit, following an uproar in the MCD House meeting that was adjourned amid heavy sloganeering.

Polls to elect the mayor and deputy mayor were postponed late Thursday night due to the non-appointment of the presiding officer for the elections. The third term of the mayoral polls is reserved for a Dalit candidate.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House session witnessed an uproar over the postponement of the mayoral elections that were slated to be held on Friday, with both AAP and BJP councillors raising slogans against each other before the proceedings of the House began.

BJP councillors surrounded the mayor's seat and raised slogans demanding the presence of Mayor Shelly Oberoi who was running late for the meeting.

AAP councillors initially raised slogans against the BJP near the Ambedkar statue at the corporation headquarters. Later, they reached the House and continued raising slogans against the opposition party calling them "Dalit Virodhi BJP".

The AAP has called the BJP "anti-Dalit", saying it was trying to ensure that a candidate from the reserved category does not become the mayor of Delhi.

The councillors of the two parties raised slogans against each other for about an hour.

After Mayor Oberoi reached the House, she accused Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena of "murdering the Constitution" and using the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an "excuse" to stall the mayoral polls.

The mayor then adjourned the meeting of the MCD House.

Addressing a press conference after the House was adjourned, Oberoi accused the BJP of hatching a "conspiracy" to stop the elections from taking place.

"Today the mayoral elections were supposed to take place. The Election Commission had also given its permission on April 24. But yesterday, the file for appointing the presiding officer was sent to the Lt Governor bypassing the elected government. LG sahab's response to the file that he does not have the power to appoint the presiding officer in the absence of inputs from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is shallow politics," Oberoi said.

She said the BJP has hatched a conspiracy to postpone the elections. "If this is not the murder of democracy, then what is it? Lok Sabha elections (in Delhi) will be held soon. They don't want AAP's candidate to become the mayor before it.

"AAP had the mandate as well as the numbers. Our candidates would have won the (mayoral) elections," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, BJP councillors, after the adjournment of the session, were seen dancing to the BJP's campaign song inside the House.

The video was shared by several AAP leaders, including the mayor and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj. They alleged that the BJP was celebrating since AAP's Dalit candidate could not be elected as mayor.

"Look at the happiness of BJP councillors that a Dalit did not become the mayor," Atishi captioned her video post on X.

Responding to the allegation, Leader of Opposition Raja Iqbal said it was the AAP which was "anti-Dalit", saying it was their "procedural fault" to not take required approvals well in time to hold the elections.

"The Aam Aadmi Party is 'Dalit virodhi'. They didn't want the elections to take place. If that was not the case, they would have taken all the permissions required for holding the elections well in advance.

"This is their procedural fault, they had no intention of holding the elections and now they are staging a drama and shedding crocodile tears," Iqbal said.

He also slammed the mayor for being late for the House meeting. "All councillors of the MCD, both from the BJP and AAP, come from far away (to attend the House meeting). Their time is precious for running the operations of the corporation," he said.

Iqbal said the mayor is indisciplined and does not know the value of time. "She came to the House over an hour late and had no intention of holding the meeting."

Elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that were slated for April 26 were postponed, with the LG Saxena citing "unprecedented" circumstances where the chief minister is under judicial custody and cannot discharge his constitutionally obligated functions.

The civic body postponed the mayoral polls after the Raj Niwas issued a letter on behalf of Saxena, stating that the appointment of a presiding officer could not be made in the absence of inputs from the chief minister, who is lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a money laundering-linked excise policy case.

The AAP has alleged that the election was cancelled at the BJP's behest.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will spearhead AAP's Lok Sabha campaign in the national capital and other states, which begins with her maiden roadshow on Saturday in support of party's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar, senior party leader Atishi said.

Addressing a press conference here, Delhi minister Atishi said Sunita will seek votes and blessings for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the absence of her husband who is in judicial custody.

"In protest against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal will campaign to seek blessings for him and to seek votes for AAP candidates. She will seek blessings for him from the people of Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana," Atishi said.

"She will hold a roadshow in East Delhi tomorrow and will seek blessings from the people of East Delhi for Arvind Kejriwal. On April 28, she will hold a roadshow in the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Atishi added.

Sunita, a retired IRS officer, is slowly emerging out of the shadows to assume a bigger role in the party to give a fillip to the AAP's campaigning which has been affected by the chief minister's arrest in March in a money laundering case.

Kejriwal's would remain in judicial custody till May 7 as per a court order.

Atishi alleged that Kejriwal was arrested to stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls.

"I want to tell the BJP that their gamble has backfired completely. Whether it is Delhi, Punjab or the rest of the country, the common people are protesting against the arrest of Kejriwal, protesting against the dictatorship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, protesting against this attack on democracy.

"The people are unanimously saying that they will respond to Arvind Kejriwal's arrest with their votes," she said.

The AAP, which is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Congress in Delhi, has fielded its candidates in East Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and New Delhi seats.

In Gujarat, the party is contesting from two seats -- Bharuch and Bhavnagar -- while in Haryana, the party is in the fray from Kurukshetra. In Punjab, it is not in any alliance with the Congress and is contesting all 13 seats.

The Congress has fielded its candidates in North East Delhi, North West Delhi and Chandni Chowk seats.

Since the chief minister's arrest on March 21, Sunita Kejriwal has been acting as a channel of communication between her husband and the AAP and its MLAs.

She has so far held three digital media briefings mainly focused on communicating the chief minister's messages to the people and Delhi cabinet ministers.

However, in March and earlier this month, she addressed rallies of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties in Delhi and Jharkhand.

In both the rallies, she declared six guarantees of the AAP convener, including free power to the poor, proper health and educational facilities in each village and towns in the country, if the opposition INDIA bloc was voted to power at the Centre.
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led the investigating officer through his conduct "to form the satisfaction" that he is guilty of money laundering.

In its reply affidavit to Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the agency said the AAP leader was avoiding interrogation by not being present before the investigating officer despite nine summonses.

Reacting to the affidavit, AAP alleged the ED has become "a machine for telling lies".

The ED said in its affidavit, "The accused, by his conduct, has himself contributed and aided the investigating officer regarding the existence of the necessity to arrest, apart from the material in possession of the IO, to form the satisfaction that the petitioner is guilty of the offence of money laundering."

Terming Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest as "devoid of merit" and liable to be dismissed, the ED said the material that formed the basis for satisfaction of the investigating officer for arresting him had been perused by different courts.

"Therefore, on this limited ground, the petition is devoid of merit and liable to be dismissed in limine second contention in this regard is that the material in possession of the investigating agency which formed the basis for the investigating agency to arrive at the satisfaction requisite for arresting the accused person, having been seen and perused by three different judicial authorities (courts) at three different levels has found judicial imprimatur and the consequential denial to grant the relief asked for by the petitioner in connection with the same," it said.

The agency said Kejriwal's petition is not a plea seeking to be released on bail after completion of the investigation. Rather, it is an appeal against the rejection of a writ petition challenging the arrest during the pendency of the investigation when the prosecution complaint is yet to be filed.

"In this connection, it is submitted that the petitioner has been arrested bona fide and not for any mala fide or extraneous reasons. It is categorically denied that the arrest was mala fide. Regarding the contention pertaining to mala fide, it is submitted that not only the contentions of the petitioner is baseless and ill-founded but it is vague general and not specific," it said.

Arrest is part of the investigation, the ED said, adding that the investigation of an offence including arrest is a field exclusively reserved for the investigating agency.

The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21, hours after Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody.

On April 15, the top court sought a response from the ED by April 24 on his plea challenging his arrest in a money-laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam.

The probe agency said in its affidavit, "Even on the date of the search during his interrogation while recording his statement under Section 17 of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), he was avoiding answering questions by being evasive and totally non-co-operative even with respect to simple non-incriminating questions."

It said one of the reasons, therefore, which necessitated the arrest was this blatant disregard for the law.

"In such a case, the investigating officer was justified in forming an opinion that custodial interrogation would lead to 'a qualitatively more elicitation oriented' questioning of the accused," it said.

The probe agency further said, "The necessity of arrest, therefore, arose not only because of the aforesaid situation emanating from the conduct of the accused but also from the fact that there was even otherwise sufficient material in the possession of the IO to constitute the reason to believe (such reason to believe having been duly recorded in the record of the case) that the accused has been guilty of the offence punishable under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)."

It added that the investigating officer in the case not only had the power to arrest the accused but it also became necessary to arrest him on account of his total non-co-operative attitude.

"Such an attitude also gave rise to a situation that confrontation with material in possession with the IO was not possible because the accused was totally non-co-operative and disobeyed a large number of summonses," it said.

The agency said it is not shy of disclosing the material on the basis of which the belief to arrest him was arrived at.

Reacting to the ED's affidavit, AAP said, "The ED has become nothing but a machine for telling lies. Each time the ED comes up with new manufactured lies at the whims of their masters, the BJP."

The high court on April 9 upheld Kejriwal's arrest, saying there was no illegality about it and that the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.

The matter pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
A voter turnout of 35.73 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, according to officials.

The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

Voting in Uttar Pradesh in the second phase is underway in Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura constituencies.

Election Commission (EC) officials said 40.67 per cent votes were polled in Amroha, 38.33 per cent in Meerut, 34.17 per cent in Baghpat, 33.99 per cent in Ghaziabad, 36.05 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 35.35 in Bulandshahr, 35.55 per cent in Aligarh and 32.70 in Mathura till 11 am.

There are more than 1.67 crore voters, 7,797 polling stations and 17,704 polling booths in these eight Lok Sabha constituencies.

Among the 91 candidates in the fray in this phase are actor-turned-politician Hema Malini, seeking a third term from Mathura on a BJP ticket, and actor Arun Govil, who portrayed the role of Lord Ram in television serial "Ramayan".

The ruling BJP has fielded Govil from his native place Meerut, Atul Garg from Ghaziabad and Mahesh Sharma from Gautam Buddh Nagar. Danish Ali of the Congress is contesting the polls from Amroha.

In Mathura, voters of four villages are boycotting the polls alleging indifference of representatives towards their basic problems. "The villagers are being persuaded to cast their votes with assurance that their problems would be given top priority," District Magistrate Shailendra Singh said.

There is, however, a lot of enthusiasm among the first-time voters of Mathura, even in the rural areas such a Barsana, the DM said.

In Bulandshahr, voting could not start at the primary school in Chhotabas village in the Pahasu area with villagers staying away over the non-construction of a road. However, after persuasion of the administrative officials, voting began there around 11 am.

SDM Shikarpur Priyanka Goyal said the villagers have complained about the road and drainage problems which will be looked into. The villagers have now started reaching for polling, she added.

BJP candidate Hema Malini, while talking to reporters, said she was hopeful that people would vote in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by pressing the lotus button on the EVMs.

"I would not have been the MP from Mathura had opposition party candidates worked even a little for the constituency," Malini said while responding to a question.

Claiming herself to be the 'gopi' (female devotee) of 'Kanha', she said, "The promises I have made would be fulfilled to receive the blessings of Kanha." RLD president Jayant Chaudhary along with his wife Charu Chaudhary turned up at a booth in Mathura to cast their votes. "People are impressed by the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the past ten years and that is why BJP is getting support from them in a big way," Jayant Chaudhary told reporters.

In Baghpat, people from all walks of life preferred to vote early in the day to avoid the scorching heat after noon and also made it a point to get clicked at the selfie points.

In Ghaziabad, Union Minister General (retd) V K Singh cast his vote in the morning. Singh, the current BJP MP from Ghaziabad, had announced not to contest the elections this time and the party in his place has fielded former state government minister Atul Garg as its candidate.

In response to a question, Singh said he was confident that the BJP would achieve Modi's target of crossing 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

After casting his vote in Aligarh, SP candidate Bijendra Singh told reporters, "The country is run by the Constitution, not by emotions and the voting taking place in the country today is to save the Constitution and the truth. Therefore, I am confident that this time the BJP will lose and the INDI Alliance will win." In Amroha, Congress candidate MP Danish Ali claimed that there is a one-sided atmosphere in the elections and his BJP rival will be far behind him.
Indonesias electoral commission formally declared Prabowo Subianto president-elect in a ceremony on Wednesday, after the countrys highest court rejected challenges to his landslide victory lodged by two losing presidential candidates.

Subianto, who is currently defense minister, won the election with 58.6 per cent of the votes, or more than 96 million ballots, more than twice the amount received by either of the other two candidates. But his rivals alleged that his victory had depended on large-scale fraud and widespread state interference.

Authorities blocked streets leading to the General Election Commission compound, where more than 4,200 police and soldiers were deployed.

Wearing matching long-sleeved white shirts, Subianto and vice president elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka waved to their supporters as they arrived at the building.

The race has finished ... the tough contest, with sometimes heated debates, is over, Subianto said during the ceremony, attended by the countrys political elite, including rival candidate Anies Baswedan and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar. And now our people demand that political leaders must work together and collaborate for the peoples welfare and to eliminate poverty and corruption in Indonesia, Subianto said. Subianto will take office in October, succeeding the popular Joko Widodo, the countrys first president from outside the Jakarta elite.

The General Election Commission certified the election results on March 20, but the formal declaration ceremony was put on hold following legal challenges from rival candidates, former Jakarta Gov Anies Baswedan and former Central Java Gov Ganjar Pranowo, who sought to annual the result and demand a revote.

They also alleged nepotism, challenging the candidacy of outgoing President Joko Widodos eldest son, Raka, as Subiantos running mate.

Baswedan and Pranowo argued that Raka, 37, should have been disqualified because the minimum age for candidates is 40, and they asked the court to bar him from a revote. Before the election, Raka was granted a controversial exception to that requirement by the Constitutional Court, which was then led by Anwar Usman, Widodos brother-in-law. Usman was later forced to resign as chief justice for failing to recuse himself.

In a 5-to-3 decision, the Constitutional Court rejected the arguments on Monday, saying the legal teams of the losing candidates had failed to prove allegations that Subiantos victory was the result of widespread fraud. That verdict cannot be appealed. The case was decided by eight justices instead of the full nine-member court because Usman, who is still on the court as an associate justice, was required to recuse himself.

Baswedan and Iskandar conceded and congratulated Subianto and Raka shortly after the Constitutional Courts decision was read out on Monday, saying they are committed to maintaining the principle of peaceful transfer of power and that we choose to be part of continuing to build the quality of Indonesian democracy.

Pranowo and his running mate, Mohammad Mahfud, also congratulated Subianto.

We accept and fully respect the decision of the Constitutional Court, Pranowo said, Like or dislike, we have to accept it because its final, legal and binding.

A longtime commander in Indonesias Kopassus special forces, Subianto was discharged from the military in 1998 after Kopassus soldiers tortured activists who opposed dictator Suharto, his father-in-law. He never faced a trial and vehemently denies any involvement, although several of his men were tried and convicted. He went into self-exile in Jordan before returning and founding the Gerindra Party in early 2008.

In the past, he worked closely with hard-line Islamists to undermine his opponents and previously made three bids for the presidency, twice unsuccessfully challenging his own losses to Widodo.

Subiantos refusal to accept the results of the 2019 presidential election led to violence that left nine people dead in Jakarta, but he joined the cabinet after Widodo offered him the defense ministry in a bid for unity.
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Tokyo's Shinagawa district welcomes a new landmark with the grand opening of the Gotanda JP Building on Friday, April 26, featuring a dog-friendly hotel by Hoshino Resort, co-working spaces, and a vibrant culinary scene.

This mixed-use development features the Hoshino Resort's urban hotel "OMO" on its upper floors, introducing unique amenities like a permanent dog run, a feature that's a first for Hoshino Resorts, with some rooms allowing pets. The building also offers extensive office space capable of accommodating up to 3,000 people and includes modern co-working spaces complete with a sauna. A food hall within the building brings together popular eateries from the Gotanda area, enhancing the local food scene and offering diverse dining options.

Source: BIZ
KAMAKURA, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - As Golden Week approaches, the historic city of Kamakura, known for its scenic views and cultural heritage, is facing the perennial challenge of over-tourism. This year, local authorities are initiating an experimental traffic management scheme encouraging visitors to explore the city on foot to alleviate congestion.

Kamakura will test pedestrian traffic flow from Kamakura Station to major attractions such as the Great Buddha. This route, typically a brief train ride, will now be a recommended 1.7 km walk, part of efforts to reduce the strain on local infrastructure and enhance visitor experience.

However, this new initiative has not been universally welcomed. Locals express concerns about the feasibility of the walking plan and its potential to exacerbate other issues, such as littering and privacy invasion in residential areas. On a typical weekday before Golden Week, such as April 25, the area near Kamakura Station already experiences significant foot traffic, raising questions about the impact during the much busier holiday period.

A test walk conducted by staff on a weekday took 26 minutes, suggesting the practicality of the route under normal conditions. Yet, residents worry that the influx of tourists, particularly those unfamiliar with local norms, might lead to problems. Social media comments from previous years recount instances where cellular service was overwhelmed by crowds and views from local trains were obscured by the sheer number of visitors.

Historical novelist Shogo Imamura, a regular visitor, supports the experiment, noting that he often prefers walking to experience Kamakura fully. He recommends places like Amakanamijingu Shrine and suggests that the city's compact nature historically led to overcrowding, a feature that continues to challenge modern-day event planning.

The trial, set to run from May 3-4, aims to provide a viable alternative to crowded trains and promote a more relaxed exploration of Kamakura's rich historical landscape.

Source: TBS
Winner of Sino-French art exchange program announced

Global Times) 10:10, April 26, 2024

Photo: Courtesy of the event organizer

The "Intelligent Hand  Golden Phoenix  Yishu 8 Sino-French Craft Exchange Program" announced this year's winner on Saturday. Hua Yong, a handicraft artist who graduated from the Academy of Arts &Design at Tsinghua University, was named the winner of this year's award among the 19 shortlisted artists.

With wood as its theme, the program aims to explore new contemporary expressions of this ancient craft. Minister Counsellor for Culture, Education and Scientific Affairs of the French Embassy in China Nicolas Pillerel and other guests were present for the ceremony.

In addition to a prize of 20,000 yuan ($2,900), Hua will also have a two-month residency and a solo exhibition at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris as well as an exhibition at the Art 8 Beijing Art House.

Hua said she felt honored to receive the award. She said she looked forward to seeing traditional Chinese craftsmanship "bursting into new life in Sino-French exchanges. I hope that craftsmanship, as a borderless language, can transform the crystallization of ancient Eastern wisdom into contemporary life through design."

This event was part of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, showcasing the creative achievements of Chinese and French artists, and paying tribute to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Tasaki, the renowned pearl jewelry brand, celebrated its 70th anniversary by hosting the "TASAKI 70th Anniversary Exhibition: FLOATING SHELL." The event kicked off on April 25 with a glamorous opening ceremony attended by a slew of celebrities.

At the reception, stars such as Momo from TWICE, Mika Tabe, Riho Yoshioka, and Kou Shibasaki, along with Keita Machida, were seen dazzling in exquisite Tasaki pearl jewelry. The event turned into a showcase of beauty as these celebrities flaunted their elegant accessories, each vying in glamour.

Momo from TWICE was notably adorned in pearls worth over 80 million yen. When asked about the experience, she expressed how wearing such grand pearls filled her with confidence and joy. Looking forward to the upcoming Golden Week, Momo shared her recent fascination with mochi and her desire to try mochi-making as a way to relieve stress.

Source: ANN
Life is simply unliveable for many woke people and eco zealots, therefore these people should be encouraged to choose euthanasia as a cure to their mental illness, a Labour think tank has proposed to be adopted by Keir Starmer when he wins the election.

In Canada, depressed poor people are give the go-ahead for assisted-death at the drop of a hat. In fact, it is so prevalent in Canada. There have been 44,958 Medical Assistance in Dying MAID deaths reported in Canada since the introduction of legislation in 2016. There have even been multiple instances in which people have sought to be killed because they werent getting adequate government support to live.

In the Netherlands, a perfectly healthy beautiful 28-year-old woman is choosing to die in May because she is slightly depressed, and has been encouraged to euthanise by her psychiatrist: theres nothing more we can do for you. Its never gonna get any better.

UK Euthanasia Bill

When implemented in the UK, the hospitals may be inundated with cases of woke people and eco zealots who cannot live in the world due to their various mental illnesses brought on by those who control them.

The coming Labour government should welcome the proposed euthanasia bill and implement it post-haste soon after coming into power.

The benefits to taxpayers are immense as there will be less burden on welfare as many of these people who choose assisted dying will also serve the Net Zero agenda they have been brainwashed to follow.
Key Points:

Croatia received the first six of twelve Dassault Rafale F3R fighter jets, which significantly upgraded its air force capabilities.

The acquisition of the Rafales signifies Croatias commitment to modernizing its defense and enhancing its role within NATO.

The arrival of advanced fighter jets in the Balkan region may spark further military developments and potential arms competition among neighboring countries.

Croatia Welcomes First Batch of Rafale Fighter Jets

The Croatian Air Force entered a new chapter in its history on Thursday as the first six Dassault Rafale F3R fighter jets touched down at an airbase near Zagreb. This delivery marks a significant step in modernizing Croatias defense capabilities and integrating it within NATO.

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Historic Acquisition Strengthens Croatian Air Power

The arrival of the Rafales, part of a 12-unit deal signed in 2021 with Dassault Aviation, signifies a substantial leap forward for the Croatian Air Force. The agreement, valued at over one billion euros, includes the aircraft and comprehensive armament systems, spare parts, logistical support, and training services.

These advanced fighter jets will replace the aging Soviet-era MiG-21s that have been the backbone of Croatias air defense for decades. The transition to the Rafale F3R represents a significant upgrade in technology, performance, and operational capabilities.

Ceremony Marks Milestone in Croatian Defense

A formal ceremony was held to commemorate the arrival of the Rafales, attended by prominent figures, including President Zoran Milanovic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and Defense Minister Ivan Anusic. Prime Minister Plenkovic hailed the event as a historic moment for Croatia, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening its defense posture.

Croatian pilots, who have undergone rigorous training in France, will operate the Rafales within the 191st squadron at the 91 operational base. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2025, completing the squadron and solidifying Croatias air defense capabilities.

Rafale: A Versatile and Advanced Fighter Jet

The Dassault Rafale, manufactured by the French aerospace company Dassault Aviation, is a twin-engine fighter jet renowned for its multirole capabilities and advanced technological features. The aircrafts design allows it to perform effectively in a wide range of mission profiles, including air supremacy, interdiction, reconnaissance, ground support, and anti-ship operations.

The F3R variant, acquired by the Croatian Air Force, is equipped with state-of-the-art systems that enhance its operational effectiveness. The Thales TALIOS laser designation pod enables precise targeting for air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements, ensuring accuracy and minimizing collateral damage. Furthermore, integrating Meteor air-to-air missiles provides the Rafale with extended range capabilities, allowing it to engage aerial threats at greater distances.

Pilot safety is paramount in the Rafales design, as evidenced by its inclusion of the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS). This system utilizes advanced terrain awareness and automated flight control adjustments to prevent ground collisions, particularly during low-altitude operations or when the pilot may experience spatial disorientation.

The Rafales versatility is further enhanced by its ability to operate effectively across a broad spectrum of speeds and altitudes. Its aerodynamic design and powerful engines allow for high-speed supersonic flight while enabling the aircraft to maintain stable flight at low speeds. This is crucial for tasks such as aerial refueling and carrier operations.

Regional Implications and Future Outlook

Croatias acquisition of Rafale fighter jets has potential implications for the wider Balkan region. Neighboring Serbia recently announced plans to purchase 12 Rafale jets, suggesting a potential arms race dynamic. Serbias historical reliance on Russian military equipment and its reluctance to join sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine add another layer of complexity to the regional security landscape.

Croatias commitment to modernizing its air force with the Rafale demonstrates its dedication to NATO and collective security efforts. The Rafales advanced capabilities and long-term upgrade potential ensure that Croatia will remain at the forefront of airpower technology for decades.
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A woman has been given a 12 month suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today for assaulting a pregnant woman while in Altnagelvin Hospital.

Anna Kopel (41) of Aberfoyle Terrace in Derry admitted three charges of assault that took place in the A&E department on January 3 this year.

The court heard that police were called to the hospital to a report that an intoxicated female had assaulted a patient.

When they arrived the complainants told them that she was 17 weeks pregnant and was in A&E when a woman, the defendant, pushed her and then punched her in the ribs 'three or four times'.

A second person then told police that a drunk female had tried to sit on his knee and when he tried to stop her she had grabbed his hair.

A woman then told police she had seen a female 'stagger past her' and fall onto a man.

She the sat beside this injured party and then grabbed her by the coat leaving her 'in shock'.

At interview Kopel told police she had drunk about four bottles of wine that day.

She said she usually drank between one to five bottles of wine a day.

Kopel said she had 'a foggy memory' as regards the incidents in the hospital.

She said she could not remember assaulting anyone but accepted she could be 'aggressive' when drunk.

Deputy District Judge John Connolly said that these offences took place in Altnagelvin Hospital with 'vulnerable people' involved.

He said that if it had not been what he had read in the pre-sentence report it would have been immediate custody.

Instead he sentenced Kopel to 12 months suspended for three years.
Chinese homegrown automakers forthright about potential EV overemphasis

The Chinese car market has gained worldwide traction because of EVs. Homegrown automakers seize the opportunity to scale inside and outside China. The country has put many resources and effort into the EV sector, drawing criticism and doubts.

Foreign-based gasoline carmakers, joint venture companies, and leading local automobile brands have participated in the cutthroat price competition in recent years. Executives from three major Chinese automakers, Changan Automobile, Geely, and GAC, have raised the issue of whether China overemphasizes EVs.

Those three carmakers said that the market must be aware that EVs have had difficulties bringing a company out of the red. Over-investment in the sector will likely put the whole automotive industry at risk. BYD and Li Auto have been the two leading EV makers that see profits. GAC Aion's outstanding EV sales in 2023 could not offset the group's loss.

As domestic competition in the Chinese car market has heated up, automakers are under more pressure to earn profits. The rivalry also facilitated mergers and acquisitions. Some homegrown car companies still believe they can edge out foreign competitors in China.

Based on the experiences of other industries, the nature of China's supply chains differs from that of their counterparts overseas. The Chinese government will take every measure to maintain an iconic enterprise's livelihood. However, those not receiving the government's support will be eliminated quickly.

Is it too risky to go "all-electric"?

The Beijing Auto Show, which returned four years later, demonstrated a dramatically different picture in the Chinese car industry this year. According to Chinese media reports, only a limited number of gasoline cars were exhibited. Moreover, 24 automotive brands withdrew from China in the past four years. The country's local carmakers dominated the market with an EV line-up, defeating a joint venture brand that claimed the best-seller title for about 40 years in China.

Zhu Huarong, chairman of the state-owned Changan, questioned earlier this year whether it is wise for Chinese automakers to ramp up EV production regardless of their financial loss. Global carmakers have not been as aggressive as their Chinese competitors in EV investment due to the challenges in earning profits.

In a March interview with China-based CCTV, Li Shufu, Geely's chairman, said gasoline cars are critical to stabilizing the automotive market during the transition to EVs. The automaker will not terminate gasoline car production easily, he added.

Feng Xingya, a GAC board director, previously submitted a proposal to China's National People's Congress, saying energy-efficient gasoline cars will be the foundation and dominate the automotive sector in the coming years. Feng said China will face risks as the car industry over-relies on EVs.

Automotive industry players said Europe and the US are experiencing a transition in the EV sector. They have satisfied the initial demand driven by environmental consciousness and the high-spending group. The current focus is on general consumers, who are vulnerable to EV prices, range anxiety, and the lack of charging infrastructure. Governments canceling or downsizing subsidies have also impacted EV demand growth.

The market has yet to determine the portion of gasoline cars and EVs after the industry crosses the above hurdle, a main reason why legacy European and US automakers scale back EV investments.
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Silicon shield doesn't guarantee military deterrence for Taiwan, says DIGITIMES Research

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, also known as Taiwan's "Silicon Shield," does not fully guarantee preventing war for Taiwan, says DIGITIMES Research analyst Eric Chen.

In the realm of global geopolitics and technological advancement, the triangular relationship between China, Taiwan, and the United States holds significant implications, particularly in the semiconductor industry. Recent wargame simulations and developments have provided insight into the intricate dynamics at play, raising questions about security, competition, and the future of the countries and the industry.

The most recent and declassified wargame conducted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) showed that Taiwan, together with the US and Japan, jointly defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China, but at great costs. However, a more recent tabletop exercise (TTX) done by various Taiwan-based think tanks looked to mitigate the risks derived from armed conflict.

The TTX revealed that a blockade of Taiwan could result in a shortage of materials for semiconductors and its effect on fab operations, difficulty of exporting chips, and damaged or destroyed fabs. With Taiwan's dominant semiconductor prowess, disruption due to armed conflict could devastate the world by setting technology back 20 years, says Eric Chen.

Taiwan's semiconductor industry stands as a crucial global player, "Taiwan's semiconductor industry is crucial globally, not just for the US," says Chen. The significance of Taiwan's semiconductor prowess transcends mere industrial development; it has become a matter of national security for multiple nations, especially amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

The prospect of providing protection to Taiwan to safeguard its semiconductor industry and prevent potential conflicts is certainly possible. "Some level of intervention or mediation seems likely since this issue is globally significant." While some may view such protection as a viable solution to deter aggression, the reality remains uncertain.

As nations increasingly view semiconductor capabilities as vital for national security, the landscape of international relations undergoes a transformation. The competition extends beyond traditional trade disputes, with a focus on controlling critical technologies and supply chains. The approaches of different governments vary, with each prioritizing its interests and strategies.

Chen states that Japan's substantial support for semiconductor development contrasts with the US's emphasis on indigenous capabilities, highlighting divergent approaches to achieve technological supremacy. "Japan's attitude is crucial since it's willing to provide more than half of the investment required, influencing future supplies. On the other hand, the US focuses more on its indigenous ecosystem, prioritizing its own interests," says Chen. However, the interconnected nature of the semiconductor industry means that resolving conflicts requires international cooperation and strategic alliances.

The relocation of semiconductor manufacturing to countries such as the US or Japan presents logistical challenges and uncertainties. While various countries have made efforts to bolster domestic capabilities, Chen says that matching Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem remains a formidable task that could take years to accomplish. Moreover, the ability to operate independently during a crisis is questionable, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions in the event of conflicts.

The imposition of sanctions and trade restrictions highlights the delicate balance of power in the semiconductor industry. The US government's stance on controlling technology exchange with China underscores its strategic objectives and concerns regarding national security.

Chen noted that US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's statement is an acknowledgment of China's technological advancement, despite it being years behind what the US has developed. "The statement implies that there is a gap that is believed to be under control, and the sanctions are effective," says Chen. With both countries looking to advance in semiconductor technology, Chen says it is possible for the US and China to have advanced processes (2nm or below for the US) and technologies (EUV for China) developed by 2030.

While tensions between the US and China may escalate, the prospect of a full-scale conflict remains improbable, given the high stakes involved. The concept of a "Silicon Shield" to protect semiconductor production may offer some reassurance, but its effectiveness and feasibility are subject to debate.

About the Analyst

Eric Chen is an Analyst and Project Manager at DIGITIMES Research. Chen received his Master's degree in International Business from Taiwan's Soochow University. His research focuses on the foundry industry as well as the IC assembly & packaging industry.

Credit: DIGITIMES
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Local eclectic rock band Pork Pie are back with their third single I Want Everything released last Friday.

In 2021, Pork Pie recorded their debut album "Pterodactyl," which has received excellent reviews to date.

Since then, Pork Pie has been in the studio recording and is back with a new album Golden Leaf Sheets which is set for release in early 2024.

The first and second single where received extremely well -"The Bands sound, characterized by a nostalgic aura,creates an irresistible sonic landscape that reflects the bands dedication and countless hours spent honing their craft in the rehearsal room"  Rock Noir Magazine.

"I Want Everything" is the third single off their forthcoming new album.

The sound harks back to a time when guitar and dance music met on the same plane, with epic psychedelic guitar, moody Hammond organ, grooving bass and a fantastic funky drumming design to fill the dance floor.

Recorded in Dundalk's Lockup Recording Studio in 2023, engineered by Pete Rust and Mastered by Fergal Davis.

Above: Pork Pie single "I Want Everything"

Pork Pie is an Irish four-piece contemporary alternative eclectic rock outfit, with strong elements of garage, indie groove and psychedelia, playing almost exclusively original songs.

The four original members, Shane Brett (Drums), Michael Laverty (Bass), Michael Stafford

(Vocals, lyrics, Piano, Guitar and Alto Sax), and Peter Laverty (Lead Guitar), have gigged extensively and played multiple festivals and leading music venues in Europe, including the Spirit Store in Ireland, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, Kapu (Culture Centre) Linz, Austria and The Dublin Castle in London.

In October 2021, the band was sponsored by the Irish Government (Department of Arts & Culture) to play an exclusive online gig at the famous Great Northern Brewery in Ireland, which was released to rave reviews in the music press.

Pork Pie's new single is available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/ album/6jGHhYANXIYk1jNrlMXpFf? si=KBIHiwFJRW2B6oR9lJ6xOA

Also, check out the band on YouTube, Facebook and porkpie2.bandcamp.com
Some of us may have always thought teachers have it handy here in Ireland.

I would argue, based on conversations Ive been in, it is a common opinion among non-teachers that the primary and secondary school educators always seem to be off.

They have it handy, off all summer and regular pay cheques into their accounts for sitting at home, handiest job in the country, theyre always on holidays, and on and on the conversations usually go.

But, these opinions couldnt be more wrong, because being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs in Ireland right now.

Not only is it "modest pay" for most, it comes with absolute hardship.

Well, I say "modest pay", a secondary school teacher now starts at approximately 44,000 per year and the top of the scale, guaranteed by incremental pay rises (without even needing promotions) is approximately 80,000 per year, with all the other benefits of shorter working week, good holidays, weekends off, sick pay if needed, and, of course, is permanent and pensionable

Any promotions along the way such as deputy principal, principal, etc., pump up the volume.

The term "modest pay" is subjective, obviously (living in Dublin, lowers everyones purchasing power, for sure).

So, on top of the "modest pay" for the effort and hours put in and hardship endured, you then see situations where not enough principals back their teachers, especially when faced with wild accusations from lunatic parents willing to believe their bratty sixteen-year-old over a respected pedagog.

Teachers are afraid to say or do anything in the classroom, out of fear of being reprimanded or worse because some student or lunatic parent deems something to be offensive, improper, abusive or discriminatory.

And maybe the allegation is completely fictitious, never even been done or said by the teacher, its just, again, parents believing their angelic teenager over a responsible adult.

But parents arent the only problem when it comes to teaching at primary and secondary level.

Ive heard stories, many Covid-19 related, over the lack of guidance afforded to teachers, even around whether or not to take attendance for Zoom classes.

Now, many have to devote their time to Ukrainian refugees, dealing with trauma and with little or no English, in the already overcrowded classrooms.

Teachers are using Google Translate to communicate with these students and it is taking up a lot of their time. So, who knows what the knock on effect that will have on other students in the classroom.

I was shocked to learn from some of my teacher friends that many of them spend the summer thinking about ways out of the profession.

Many are thinking of leaving the job, going back to college, to take a different career path. Many have already left, many have emigrated.

Government after Government have let down teachers.

The prefab became an accepted classroom. Classes became more and more overcrowded.

Teachers started to feel more and more like babysitters, minders, rather than educators.

Its one crisis after another in the primary and secondary sectors with retention of teachers one of the biggest problems in the post-austerity era, but before we get to that...

Just last month it was reported nearly 60% of primary school teachers have experienced physical aggression from children in the classroom.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation said the research highlights what has become a crisis in Irish schools. Now, to retention and vacancies.

In November of last year, new research highlighted a shortfall of 809 primary teachers nationwide and an anticipated scarcity of 1,202 long-term vacancies.

Teacher organisations, for primary and secondary level, blame the housing crisis and cost-of-living for the challenges around teacher retention.

The survey also indicated a 43% vacancy rate of teachers in special schools proving that it is pupils with the greatest needs who are most adversely impacted.

Because lets not forget the impact these crises are having on students - the real victims of the neglect of the education sector.

The reality is that I believe parties rise and fall on two cohorts of voters, the public service and the rural population. And Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have neglected both for many years.

I cant see a Tik Tok Taoiseach turning that around. It may be a foregone conclusion that Sinn Fein will be given their opportunity to reign.

The Irish public look likely to vote for change, based on recent opinion polls, even if theyre not sure whether that change will be for better or worse.

Whichever party or parties are left in charge next year, the teachers and students have suffered enough, its time to start giving them real supports that will improve their day-to-day experiences.

Our future depends on it.

Darren Hassett is Regional Editor for Tipperary and Digital Development Director for Iconic Media Group
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) says it is absolutely delighted, to announce a new partnership with WuXi Biologics and WuXi Vaccines, which will see DkITs School of Health and Science offer a new bursary programme that will provide two female 3rd year science students at DkIT with 1,500 financial support as they progress through their degree.

This bursary provided by WuXi Biologics and WuXi Vaccines is part of the companys Women in STEM (WiSTEM) initiative that bolsters the organisations dedication to empower and encourage more females to increase their representation and realise their potential in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The recipients of this years bursary are Anya Benjamin a 3rd year student from BSc in Bioscience and Eubamweoefe Laura Benedo a 3rd year in BSc in Pharmaceutical Science.

The students were tasked with an assignment themed If we assume weve arrived: we stop searching, we stop developing, a quote from the globally renowned Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell who recently opened the Institutes new state of the art Science Building which was named in her honour.

DkIT is the leading higher education provider in the region and says it is completely committed to STEM, one of the fastest growing industry sectors both locally and nationally.

DkITs recent opening of the new Jocelyn Bell Burnell Building cemented the Institutes investment to increase capacity on Life Science, Health Science and Agri-Food programmes, helping DkIT to meet the growing demand from employers in the region for high-quality graduates in these specialised areas.

Dr Gillian Lambe, Head of Department of Life & Health Sciences, DkIT said: WuXi Biologics are already a strong industry partner of DkIT and have hired many DkIT graduates, we are thrilled to be able to offer this scholarship to our students its a fantastic new initiative which will support, help and encourage women in science to achieve their full potential.

Brendan McGrath, Vice President and Ireland Site Head of WuXi Biologics, commented: We are honoured to support DkIT's commitment to fostering diversity and empowering women in STEM through our scholarship programme.

Investing in the education and advancement of talented individuals not only enriches their lives but also strengthens the scientific community as a whole. We look forward to witnessing their continued success and contributions to the field.
Eabha Cleary, a visual artist from Bray, Co. Wicklow, graduated from Printmaking and Contemporary Practice at the Limerick School of Art and Design in 2023.

Currently practicing between Berlin and Ireland. As well as printmaking, Eabha also works with photography and moving image.

She explores themes of class, the effects of post-capitalism, and globalist commodification, considering their environmental, cultural, political, and personal impacts.

Drawing inspiration from anarchist philosophies and ancient Irish folklore, she embraces uncertainty, empathy, and the otherworld, aiming to challenge and offer fresh perspectives on the world we inhabit.

Below - Eabha Cleary - Wastelands

Since graduating, Eabha has been a resident artist at GlogauAIR, Berlin, and has participated in group shows at Backhaus Projects, Pallas Studios, and Sailors Home.

She has contributed to projects such as "On Not Knowing," a collaborative video screened in June 2023 at the On Not Knowing conference at Glasgow School of Art, and Focail na Mban, a book written by Manchan Magan featuring female artists.

Below: Eabha Cleary - Seventh Son

For her time in Dundalk, Eabha plans to immerse herself in Dundalk town, its landscape, and nature, documenting and reflecting her experiences through her work.
It is too early to jump to conclusions about the impact of the Rwanda plan, Downing Street has said, after the Irish Government claimed it was causing an influx of migrants into the Republic.

Deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin said the policy is already impacting on Ireland, as asylum seekers are now fearful of staying in the UK.

Ministers plan to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of deterring others from making the dangerous English Channel crossing.

The legislation ensuring the plan is legally sound, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, cleared its passage through Parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Irelands foreign affairs minister, said migrants are crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic to seek safety from deportation to Rwanda.

He told reporters in Dublin on Friday that he did not agree with the policy, adding: Clearly, weve had an increase in the numbers coming UK into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And its fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if youre a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you dont want to go to Rwanda  not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.

So I think its a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues  its not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.

The Tanaiste continued: Migration is happening all over Europe. Its a national phenomenon. Part of the EU asylum pact is that we develop proper policies so that we can return people whove already been granted asylum in one country, that if they come to Ireland, they can be returned to the country where they were granted asylum in the first place. And the United Kingdom are outside of European Union.

But it hasnt worked in the UK in terms of the numbers coming into the UK.

Ive watched governments all over Europe making big commitments that they are going to stop the boats, theyre going to stop the numbers migrating. Brexit was meant to slow down migration into the United Kingdom, and migration into United Kingdom has grown exponentially, increased exponentially, since Brexit.

Its different migrants coming in, compared to pre-Brexit time. But I think it all goes back to whats happening across the world. There is phenomenal movements of people who are fleeing war and devastation.

A No 10 spokeswoman rebuffed claims the plan was already influencing movements into Ireland.

It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour, she said.

Of course, we will monitor this very closely and we already work very closely as you would expect with the Irish government, including on matters relating to asylum.

But of course, the intention behind the Act is to have it serve as a deterrent and that is why we are working to get flights off the ground as swiftly as possible.

Irish ministers earlier this week suggested there had been a rise in the number of migrants crossing the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Justice minister Helen McEntee told a committee of the Irish Parliament the number was now higher than 80% crossing from Northern Ireland.

As in the UK, migration has become a hot button issue among some voters in Ireland, with worries about a housing shortage coinciding with a rise in the number of migrants accepted.

Mr Martins comments follow on the heels of French president Emmanuel Macrons criticism of migration policies that involve sending people to African countries as a betrayal of our values.

Scheduling of flights to Rwanda could take between 10 and 12 weeks, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, meaning the first will not begin until summer at the earliest.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has said there will be multiple flights per month, through the summer and beyond once they eventually get off the ground.

While scheduling flights is likely to take some time because of the procedures officials must follow, the plan could face further delays if the Government is taken to court again.

Opponents of the multimillion-pound plan, and migrants who are told they are to be sent to Rwanda, could issue legal challenges in a bid to stop the flights.

But it is unclear whether any further legal action would succeed in light of the new laws.
THE Great Famine is almost seared into Irish genetic memory. It is one of the most traumatic events in Irish history and there is no shortage of families with tales from the era that continue to haunt and horrify.

But while there are many national studies, there remain exceptionally few dedicated to Cork, bar Michelle OMahonys Famine In Cork City.

Reissued ahead of the 180th anniversary of the beginning of the Famine next year, it focuses on Corks workhouse - the level of documentation makes it the ideal case study.

It allows the Dunmanway-based historian and consultant to track levels of admissions (which tell a lot about the level of poverty), the gender balance (oft-times reflecting women whose husbands had died or emigrated for work), and most poignantly the devastating effects of the Famine and its aftermath on children (old before their time and denied their childhood innocence), both from malnutrition and disease.

The workhouse was the place of last resort for the desperate. There was such an aversion to it - because the quality of life there was generally lower than on the outside, even for the poorest of the poor - that the uptake in admissions is indicative of how bad things had become in Cork as the Famine took hold, especially after the second failure of the potato crop in 1846, which meant any food reserves people had had been exhausted.

While the workhouse was a bleak place, and indeed the policy was to penalise poverty in peculiar logic that it would somehow encourage people to better themselves (self-reliance rather than relying on the state), it was not without some good intentions.

For instance, OMahony points out that the guardians running the institution honestly did want to help as many people as possible, even if that meant cutting corners when it came to the quality of food on offer.

And, indeed, the food could make people sick - milk would go off quickly and if Indian meal was not cooked properly it would tear a persons innards.

She also notes that, tragically, this ambition to do the most good actually led to severe illness and death, because it saw the workhouse take in far more people than it could house, which in turn led to poorer hygiene and the easier spread of illness such as cholera or typhus.

One thing I hadnt really appreciated is that time in the workhouse could only be transient. For some reason, I had it in my head that once you were in there, you were sort of stuck there, but OMahony points out that many admissions were only for a few days, until the most pressing needs had been addressed.

Some children were admitted multiple times, often still wearing workhouse-issued clothing from their last time there. Indeed, at some points as many of 60% of inmates were children, and the admitting officers wrote that they were agents of their own pauperism rather than being victims of circumstance and tragedy.

This was not a specific cruel view meted out to Irish people; it was the prevailing view behind the whole poor law system that led to the workhouses being created.

Corks workhouse is still a facet of city life. It persisted long after the Famine had gone, and it is still personal to many families as they look back on the past, my own included.

May 16, 1879: Born in the workhouse was my great great granduncle Thomas Leonard, son of a shoemaker of the same name from Passage West (either my great great grandfather or his son) and a Hannah Hayes.

March 13, 1881: Thomas dies in the workhouse after contracting measles.

In the years since, the building evolved and became recast as St Finbarrs Hospital, where, longer ago than Id like to think, yours truly was born.

OMahony demonstrates very deep and detailed scholarship, with the book immaculately and rigorously rooted in primary sources such as newspaper reports, medical records, salary returns, and the minutes of board meetings.

All of this allows her to piece together a narrative not only of the workhouse system, but its struggles to cope in the face of the carnage of the Famine - the poor law system having been designed to deal with destitution and desperation, not mass starvation on top of it.

Some of the details she unearths are quite stark, such as when she notes that the workhouse spent less on food at the bleakest points of the Famine, in part because the cost of burials was so substantial.

In May, 1849, at the peak of the cholera epidemic that followed the Famine, she points out that 1,000 yards of flannel was needed for burial shrouds, along with 150 planks for coffins and 150 barrels of lime.

Death and the accelerated pace of death were synonymous with life within the workhouse, she notes elsewhere. Between autumn, 1846, and May, 1847, 10,000 people were buried in Father Mathews cemetery, St Josephs.

I actually know the cemetery on Tory Top Road reasonably well. My fathers ancestors have a plot there, with the first burial being my great great great grandfather Daniel Mahony (we had no O then, and often an E) who died around 1840.

The plot, if memory serves, is very close to the Famine mass grave.

I still dont know how the family ended up in the city - they were farmers from Knockavilla - but by the time 1845 rolled around, Daniels son Daniel had taken to the high seas in the merchant marine, presumably either to support family left on land or because he was the only family left at that stage.

This is an excellent book for anybody with an interest in the history of Cork and will remain an essential work for years to come.
SUMMER is around the corner - honestly - and taste buds are tingling as thoughts turn to the prospect of sipping a nicely chilled brew on balmy evenings.

Over at Original 7 Beverage Co, the brewery team are getting ready for the long, hazy summer nights too.

Head Brewer, Paidi Scully, has crafted a new beer that couldnt be more Cork, like: Tanora Pale Ale!

Yes, you read that right: the Original 7 Beverage Co have collaborated with the makers of iconic soft drink, Tanora, to create what could be the most perfect summer beer for Corkonians.

With some of the citys most experienced brewers in one place, and the core range of beers (Revolution IPA, Hazy Pale Ale, Wonderland Red, Rockafeller Weisse and Irish Lager) firmly established on taps in some of Corks best craft beer bars, this promises to be a great addition to the scene.

The tangerine-flavoured Pale Ale, formulated by Scully, takes inspiration from the classic Cork tangerine beverage.

A mix of Irish Ale Malt, Crystal Malt, Wheat Malt and Roasted Barley have been selected to give the beer its colour, emulating the orange-red hue of Tanora, and Magnum, Ozacca, Mosaic, Mandarina Bavaria and Simcoe hops to replicate that summery citrus hit of tangerine.

Memories of sipping Tanora as kids have a special place in the hearts and minds of many a Corkonian, and now Original 7 Beverage Co has given us adults an excuse to relive those memories in a more grown-up drink, with this fun yet sophisticated brew.

And despite the wacky - and original - idea, Tanora Pale Ale fits right in with the range of beers, all of which revel in the retro days of brewing on Leeside.

Managing Director of Original 7, Steve Guiney, is evidently very pleased with their new beer, which will be hitting taps in 20 bars around Cork over the May bank holiday weekend.

TANORSA ON TAP: Tanora Pale Alr by Original 7. Picture: Joleen Cronin

Tanora is a drink that for me is synonymous with growing up in Cork in the 1990s. In particular, the summer months, says Steve.

The nostalgia is off the charts whenever I see a bottle of it!

While thinking of recipes for our next special brew, I figured, why not emulate the quintessential Cork beverage and create a tangerine-flavoured Pale Ale?

I contacted the guys in Tanora to see if they would be happy to partner up with us on this, and they were so helpful all the way!

Steve also discovered historical and geographical links between the two brands.

Tanora was first formulated in John Daly and Co - Mineral Bottlers based on Kyrls Quay, only a couple of hundred metres from Original 7s base on the North Mall.

Brewing, distilling and bottling are entwined with the history of that area, and it is fitting to see old neighbours partner together in the modern age.

The old entrance to the John Daly and Co Bottling Plant can still be seen on Kyrls Quay, near the rear entrance to the North Main Street Shopping Centre.

It just goes to show that, even when something seems new, in Cork we dont have to look far to see a historical link to fresh, new ideas.

This refreshing summer beer is a Limited Edition brew from the guys at Original 7 Beverage Co, and, if the weather plays ball over the long weekend, it could fly out the taps once word gets around that theres a Tanora-flavoured Cork-brewed beer in town!

But, although a limited edition, there are hopes Tanora Pale Ale will garner the brew crew more awards to add to their growing collection at Original 7 HQ.

Brewery founder, Shane Long, has his fingers crossed that their new beer will be the next medal winner at this years World Beer Awards, and at Blas Na hEireann, too.

We had an unbelievably successful year last year at our first ever beer awards, winning Gold for Revolution IPA, Silver for Wonderland Red Ale, and Bronze for Original 7 Lager at the World beer Awards, as well as and Silver in Blas Na hEireann also for our Wonderland Red Ale, says Shane.

Im certain this beer can compete at the highest levels, and I am looking forward to the feedback from the people of Cork.

If nothing else, the simple pleasure of being able to ask for a Tanora Pale Ale in the bars of Cork this summer, and that such a thing exists in the word, is enough to make us all giddy!

Tanora Pale Ale launches on Friday, May 3, to celebrate the official start to the summer. Find out where to get it on www.original7.ie/tanorapalealetrail.

Drink Tanora Pale Ale responsibly.
A document setting out the future vision of Cork County Council for renewable energy in Cork Harbour reveals there will be a significant increase in the number of wind-turbine farms off the coast of the county between now and 2050.

This will result in a wind-generating capacity before 2030 of 450 megawatts and a potential economic benefit to the region of 230m.

A Renewable Energy Vision for Cork Harbour reveals that Cork is already a net exporter of renewable energy and suggests that harnessing the countys offshore wind resource would allow the State to become a significant exporter of renewable energy, goods and services.

The economic uplift from building the initially planned, 450megawatts of offshore wind generation off the Cork coast is estimated at 230m, with significant, additional generating capacity and economic uplift delivering further regional and economic benefits, the document predicts.

By 2030, Cork Harbour and coastline have the potential to be a significant offshore renewable energy hub.

Offshore wind generators will be operating off the Cork coast, providing large volumes of renewable power to the all-island grid.

Cork Harbour will have established and activated wind assembly, marshalling, and servicing capability.

The Celtic Interconnector, Irelands first high-capacity electricity connection to mainland Europe, will be operational while the Kestrel gas-storage facility will be well under development.

Abundant, offshore renewable energy will enable the decarbonisation of industrial demand and future fuel demonstration projects, developing the pathways to decarbonise the Irish economy.

Among the predictions contained in the document for what will be in place by 2050 include:

Cork Harbour and coastline can become zero-carbon energy hubs, integrating offshore renewables with future fuel production and seasonal energy storage;

The addition of floating off-shore wind [farms] can enable Cork to become a significant exporter of renewable energy, both nationally and internationally;

Future fuels, such as green hydrogen, green ammonia and e-SAF, can be produced in Cork using offshore renewables, serving local and national needs;

Large volumes of green hydrogen can be stored at the Kestrel gas-storage facility, providing energy security for Ireland and serving regional industrial needs;

The Cork Harbour and coastline can be a hub of green industry investment, combining foreign direct investment in offshore renewables and industry.

The document was mentioned at Cork County Councils meeting on Monday, when a councillor raised it as a point of order and said it had not been circulated to her.

QUERY

The exchange about the document involved the authoritys chief executive, Valerie OSullivan, who was responding to a query from Independent councillor Marcia DAlton.

According to Ms DAlton, who raised her concern as a point of order, the document was described on the agenda of this weeks meeting as setting out Cork County Councils renewable energy vision for the place where I live [Carrigaline].

I am told its gone through CPG [the Corporate Policy Group] and I havent seen it and its come through here, said Ms DAlton.

At some stage, my constituents are going to say that passed through you and I dont know what weve been informed of, I have no idea.

Ms OSullivan responded to say that the report was on the agenda for Mondays meeting, out of courtesy to the members to let them know that it had been proposed, and discussed, and seconded at CPG and, according to statute, it didnt need to be proposed, seconded or adapted [at full council].

There is nothing untoward in this. It is a position paper for Cork County Council to be positioned to be a first and early mover to take advantage of potential on-shore consequences of, hopefully, off-shore energy of Cork Harbour and coastline.

Its a message to stake holders that were ready to capitalise on it: Thats all it is, she said, adding that council staff would be very happy to take the councillor through the document.

Cork County Council officials were congratulated by Fianna Fail councillor for the Kanturk area in north Cork, Bernard Moynihan, for the vision outlined in the document, while County Mayor Frank OFlynn said he was delighted with the document.

Its 16 years since the last offshore windfarm was put in place, 16 long years: Isnt it about time something was done about it and Im delighted Cork County Council is doing it. Ms DAlton, who raised the issue, said she was sure she would welcome the document too, once she had seen and read it.

The chief executive said that the document would be circulated among councillors.
THE war in Ukraine and the anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster in history will be remembered at a Cork gathering at midday today.

The deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Colette Finn, will preside over a gathering in Fitzgerald Park to mark the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

The commemorative event, which is organised every year by Cork charity The Greater Chernobyl Cause, will be attended this year by Ukrainian ambassador Larysa Gerasko.

Also in attendance will be councillors, representatives of the emergency services, students, and members of Corks Ukrainian community.

Exploded

At 1.21am on the morning of Saturday, April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant near Pripyat in Ukraine, the No 4 reactor exploded, releasing radiation 30 to 40 times the amount released by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The after-effects of the disaster are being felt to this day.

At midday on Friday, pupils from Goggins Hill National School will gather in Fitzgerald Park to sing the Ukrainian national anthem, in solidarity with Ukrainian children displaced from their homes when Russia began its full-scale invasion two years ago.

'New horrors'

Fiona Corcoran, founder of The Greater Chernobyl Cause, said the charity had uncovered new horrors which have occurred during the war and have been inflicted upon survivors of the disaster.

[Nowhere] more so than in the village of Prybirsk, close to the exclusion zone, where 30 residents, many of them still suffering from radiation sickness, were trapped for weeks by Russian soldiers inside their so-called nursing home without proper food, water, or heating, said Ms Corcoran.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, the Russians may have moved elsewhere, but have left total devastation in their wake.

Prybirsk lies in the Ivankiv region, which was totally disconnected from the water supply and electricity. Two villages were completely wiped off the face of the Earth by numerous airstrikes and the areas hospital staff describe their everyday work as the victory of life over death. Ms Corcoran recently revisited the area and said she had been shocked to the core at the devastation there.

She said her charity, The Greater Chernobyl Cause, continues to play a leading role in the supply of humanitarian aid right across Ukraine, adding that the empathy and love of the Irish is clearly evident as we stand with Ukraine in their time of need.
FRONTLINE staff in GP practices are being subjected to abuse for not being able to take on new patients, a Cork doctor has said.

Dr Audrey Russell, a GP in Macroom, told The Echo: Theres no secret that theres a huge shortage of GPs on the ground, that means we are working longer hours, and its very hard to get holidays.

You cant take on new patients, because the quality of care you provide would suffer, and in Macroom there are a load of patients with no GP in the locality, who are going to Fermoy or to Kerry, which is not satisfactory, particularly for families with small children.

The frontline staff in general practice take the brunt of the anger, its relatively rare that the GPs are given out to, but frontline staff get a lot of abuse. Theres people who dont have a GP at all, and then people who do have a GP but are told they could be waiting two or three weeks  Youll always get an urgent appointment, but the wait lists for routine things are getting longer and that has its own kind of backlash.

Shortage

Glanmire GP and medical director of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, told The Echo the GP shortage was, in part, down to population rises, including an increase in the number of older people.

The number of people over 65 has gone from 70,000 to 80,000 in last four years, and two thirds of them have three or more diseases so need more GP care, and 14% of GPs are aged over 65 themselves  the majority of them will retire in the next three years, meaning a loss of 600 GPs.

Children are also going to the doctor a lot more since the GMS scheme was expanded, he said, explaining: When children under six got free GP care, their consultation rate increased by 30%.

This brought them up to the EU norm, as when they had to pay, they werent going as often, so we welcome that the GMS expansion has happened, but it has brought an increased demand, he said.

GP agreement

There are currently 319 GMS panels (GPs who see medical card patients and under eights) in Cork, a HSE spokesperson told The Echo, adding that the number of persons whose names may be placed on the list of the practitioner should not exceed 2,000  but under the most recent GP Agreement, this maximum has been increased to 2,200.

Dr Quinlan said: All these reasons have soaked up all the locum workers, so the pool of locums has virtually disappeared, so a lot of GPs have also not been able to take holidays.

I know of a GP whose child is graduating from university and they cannot get a locum to cover for them so they can attend.

He added that that there is positive change incoming, as the numbers of GPs in training programs has been increased significantly to 350 a year, and that under 5% of these plan to emigrate, and that they are open to support Irish-trained GPs who are working elsewhere to relocate.

Graduate

The HSE are also funding an international medical graduate rural program, placing doctors from overseas outside of cities, with two currently training in Carrigaline, one in Killeagh, and one in Newmarket.

These are experienced GPs who have worked elsewhere and the communities are very welcoming of these overseas candidates, he said, adding the program allows for a two-year education in a GP practice and they will ideally remain in that area once qualified.
SINN Fein TD for Cork South-Central, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, has called on the Government to address the severe situation in Cork University Hospital (CUH) which now has the second-lowest level of staff per patient bed of any hospital in the State.

Speaking in the Dail, Mr O Laoghaire said: The situation in Cork University Hospital, CUH, is severe and has been for some time, highlighting issues related to workforce raised in a recent Department of Health report.

Trends

It examined trends in activity, expenditure, and workforce in public acute hospitals across Ireland, and showed that CUHs workforce increased by just 17% from 2016-2022, the smallest percentage increase in Ireland.

The hospital also saw the most significant loss of staff, and was one of just three hospitals with any form of reduction, losing 80 nursing and midwifery staff, despite increases in other areas.

It found that CUH was the only hospital not to see its level of clinically-aligned staff per bed increase during the six-year period, ranking second-lowest nationally at three staff per bed.

Mr O Laoghaire said: The workforce report which came out during the week identified that Cork has the second-lowest level of clinically-aligned or frontline staff of any hospital in the State and is down 80 nurses and midwives over that period  the workforce, generally speaking, rose across the system.

Does the minister accept that CUH is in need of particular attention? Does he accept that the recruitment embargo is an exceptionally blunt instrument?

He also reminded the minister: We have a situation in Cork where housekeeping staff are effectively being told that there are no days of leave and there is no scope for holidays for them, asking again: Does the minister accept that the recruitment embargo is a blunt tool that is significantly restricting the ability of hospitals to respond to the current crisis they face?
A farmer had his right hand amputated in a fertilizer spreader which was brought to his farm by an agricultural contractor and this firm was convicted and fined 65,000 for Health and Safety offences arising out of the devastating accident.

Judge John Martin said the injured party suffered a devastating injury to his dominant right hand which affected him physically, emotionally, mentally and financially.

Solicitor Jim Brooks said the injured party, Thomas Maw, prepared a victim statement on February 20 in respect of what happened on June 26 2021, in which he stated that he was very distressed by the companys attitude and he had not received any sort of apology.

Apology

But on receipt of the victim evidence by the company an apology was given a week before the court case.

Judge Martin said one could be cynical about the timing of the apology but he noted that it was very meaningful for the injured party who bears no ill-will to the company in light of the apology and does not want to see them put in a position of financial difficulty.

The judge noted from evidence of Inspector David Barry of the Health and Safety Authority that the incident occurred on June 26, 2021 when the defendant company were contracted to spread fertilizer on the land, and one of their employees was operating it.

However, the farmer, Thomas Maw, assisted when fertilizer clogged the machine and the accident occurred, instantly severing all of his fingers and his thumb of his right hand.

Stuart and Lyndon Smith Ltd, the defendant company, is an agricultural contractor and brought machinery to the injured partys farm that day which consisted of a fertilizer spreader attached to a trailer containing 20-ton of fertilizer.

The spreading machine could hold three-ton of fertilizer at a time and scatter it by means of spinning corkscrew type mechanism. It spun at about 100 revolutions per minute, Mr Barry said.

Disagreement

The judge noted that exactly how the accident happened was a matter of some disagreement but he said the court did not have to have regard for that, adding: It simply could not have happened if the guard had not been removed.

The judge said the bolts on the guard were unscrewed or sheered by the defendant company in October 2020 to remove the guard that would have prevented the accident.

He noted that in mitigation the company had immediately put back the guard and furthermore they no longer use this particular machine.

Patrick ORiordan, defence barrister, said: There is no gainsaying a serious injury occurred. But the company has dealt with the matter in a very responsible manner. The company has no previous convictions. A signed plea of guilty was entered. The business conducted by my client is of longstanding (over 70 years). There was full cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority investigation.

The judge agreed that the company had a good history in terms of health and safety and had taken this matter seriously.

The company has had no previous or subsequent difficulties.

Stuart and Lyndon Smith Ltd of Ballynametagh, Carrigaline, pleaded guilty to counts stating that on June 26, 2021 they did fail to manage work so that individuals were not exposed to risks, namely that it failed to ensure an auger guard remained in place on a Can Argo auger conveyor system, and a similar count outlining the same details but additionally specifying this breach resulted in Thomas Maw suffering personal injury, the charges being contrary to Section 77(2) and Section 77(9) under Section 12 of the Health and Welfare at Work Act.
A drugs gang keeping a container under surveillance for days in Cork were themselves under garda surveillance and as soon as they made their move to access over 4 million worth of drugs they were nabbed and today they were jailed for eight years.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the trio were clearly at a level of trust in the distribution of this large quantity of drugs.

Donatel Dodaj, 30, was sentenced to nine years with the last year suspended. The judge took into consideration his signed plea of guilty, the absence of any previous convictions, the fact that he had a 60,000 debt from a loan shark in Albania and cooperated with the investigation and showed genuine remorse and shame for his actions.

Daniel Afedoaei, 30, got a nine and a half year sentence with the last 18 months suspended. But his eight-year prison term will only commence at the end of four years he is serving since November 2023 for a separate crime of money-laundering in Athlone in respect of 160,000 cash. The same mitigating factors were taken into consideration in his case. The judge noted that none of the accused had a drug addiction.

Finally Gentjan Dodaj, 39, was given a nine-year sentence with the last year suspended. The judge took into consideration similar mitigating factors in his case, including the fact that he had no previous convictions.

Det Garda Gavin Curran of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that detectives had the trio under surveillance from the time they came to Cork in early August 2023 to collect the drugs.

Det Garda Curran outlined the background to the case after the Dodaj brothers, Albanians from Paradise Row, Athlone, Co Westmeath, and Romanian Afedoaei of Sli an Aifreann, Athlone, Co Westmeath pleaded guilty to possessing 4.2 million of cocaine for sale or supply on August 5, 2023.

Confidential information

On foot of confidential information officers from the GNDOCB travelled to the Port of Corks container terminal at the deepwater berth in Ringaskiddy where they identified a refrigerated shipping container as one that they suspected contained drugs.

Gardai examined the container and found it contained 60 kilos of cocaine in 1kg packs hidden behind refrigerated panelling and they found that two Apple Airtag tracking devices had been embedded in two of the 1kg packs of cocaine before they put the drugs back as they had found them.

Gardai were keeping the container under surveillance when the three accused, who had driven down from Athlone in a car and a van, arrived in Ringaskiddy on August 3 and began putting the container with the drugs under surveillance so gardai now had both the gang and the drugs under surveillance.

Gardai watched the gang as they in turn watched the container being collected by a haulier who brought the container legitimately to a premises on the Kinsale Road in Cork, where its declared cargo was unpacked before the haulier brought the unloaded container back to his yard, with the concealed drugs cargo still uncollected by the gang.

Wearing ski masks and carrying tools in the back of their own van, they entered the hauliers yard around 2am on August 5 and gained access to the container where they used the tools to remove the panelling and get the drugs, which they were planning to bring back to Athlone.

CCTV

The entire operation was captured on CCTV and gardai, who had been keeping the gang under surveillance as they went to collect the drugs, moved in and arrested the three accused at Dunkettle just as they were heading back up to Athlone with the drugs.

Det Garda Curran said that Gentjan Dodaj had co-operated with gardai at interview but had not identified who it was that he was collecting the drugs for. And both Donatel Dodaj and Daniel Afedoaei had similarly admitted their involvement but again refused to say who was behind the operation.

He said neither of the Dodajs had any previous convictions but Afedoaei had a previous conviction for money laundering after he was caught with 160,00 in Auburn Village in Athlone on April 2, 2021 and he was subsequently sentenced on November 4, 2023 to four years for the offence.

Defence counsel, Tom Creed SC pleaded for leniency for Gentjan Dodaj, saying that he had come to Ireland in 2006 and had a young family in Athlone and only got involved in collecting the drugs after he ran up debts to family and friends when setting up a car valeting business.

Mr Creed said that Gentjan Dodaj was deeply remorseful and ashamed of his involvement in the crime and he believed that there was little chance of him ever re-offending and Det Garda Curran said he didnt believe he would appear before the courts again.

Defence counsels, Ray Boland SC for Donatel Dodaj and Jane Hyland SC for Daniel Afedoaei also pleaded for leniency for their clients pointing out that they like, Gentjan Dodaj, had both indicated that they would be pleading guilty at an early stage thus sparing the state the expense of a trial.

Det Garda Curran agreed and told the court that Donatel Dodaj said he had become involved to pay off a 60,000 debt to a criminal back in Albania and Afadoaei was trying to pay off 50,000 to a criminal after he lost 160,000 of another criminals money which he was caught laundering.
A Cork South West TD has said there were positive indications of additional funding for Cork roads, including more money to deal with Storm Babet flood damage, following a meeting this week between Cork County Council officials and elected members, and the minister of state for transport, Jack Chambers.

Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan attended a meeting in Leinster House on Wednesday involving a Cork County Council delegation headed by County Mayor, Frank OFlynn, and including director of roads Niall Healy.

The chief item on the agenda of the meeting was the funding for Cork roads which receive less per kilometre than all but three counties in the State. This year the total for 12,200km of local and regional roads was 73m, approximately 6,000 per kilometre.

I took as a positive that there were indications from the meeting that Minister Chambers would be discussing with his Department the allocation for local and regional roads in Cork and there would also be discussion on specific projects, including Babet, Mr OSullivan said.

This was an incredibly important meeting  year after year, we see that Co Cork is towards the bottom in terms of average funding per kilometre of road. That needs to change, we need an allocation that reflects the amount of roads that we have in the county.

Council engineers are having to make the most of small levels of funding.

If they want to address the road conditions in the region they need funding to back this up.

Questioned

Earlier on Wednesday, Senator Tim Lombard, the Cork South West-based Fine Gael member of Seanad Eireann, questioned minister for transport and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan about the allocation of funding for roads in Cork.

Only 2-2.5% of the roads in Cork will be resurfaced per year, which means that some people will have to wait 50 years to get a road resurfaced, he said.

Distances in our county are a huge issue, we need a pot of funds to be put in place to make sure that the huge infrastructural issues we have with our roads can be addressed and that roads can be maintained and upgraded.

Response

In his response, Mr Ryan said funding for national roads was the responsibility of Transport Infrastructure Ireland in conjunction with the relevant local authorities and that funding was allocated in line with the national development plan.

On the other hand, the improvement and maintenance of the regional and local road network is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the Roads Act 1993, said Mr Ryan.

Works on these roads are funded from a councils own resources and are supplemented by State road grants.
A Ukrainian refugee in Cork who will be sentenced on May 1 for careless driving causing the death of a fellow Ukrainian man near Cork Airport said she prays for the family of the deceased and hopes that someday they will find it in their hearts to forgive her.

Prosecution barrister Donal OSullivan said the plea of guilty to careless  rather than dangerous driving  causing death, made my Ksenija Vasylenko, 43, was acceptable to the state.

She admitted careless driving causing the death of Andrii Nesterov, who was aged around 50, after 2am on Sunday morning, last October 8 2023.

The fatal incident came to light when a member of staff at Cork Airport Hotel called for an ambulance for a man experiencing cardiac arrest.

Emergency personnel arrived to find the deceased lying on the ground with obvious injuries to his leg and head. He died very soon afterwards.

On investigation it was quickly established that Ms Vasylenko had been present at the time. Initially, she denied being in the drivers seat of the deceased mans car at the time of the fatal incident but ultimately she admitted it after being shown dashcam footage from this car of the incident occurring.

Det Garda Brennan said:

A person could be seen walking at the rear of the Hyundai vehicle. Six seconds later the vehicle is put into reverse and driven in reverse when Mr Nesterov is at rear of the vehicle. The front right side of the vehicle comes up and the deceased becomes visible on the ground (in front of the car).

Ms Vasylenko is then seen approaching the victim on the ground Ms Vasylenko is observed lifting his body and attempting to drag him in the direction of the vehicle. Ms Vasylenko then leaves.

It is seen that she then arrived back at the hotel where she was residing. When questioned she said she did not realise she had driven over the deceased. Later she admitted having a lot of alcohol prior to the incident. A toxicology report on the deceased also confirmed that he had a high quantity of alcohol.

A victim impact statement from the family of the deceased was handed into court but not read publicly.

The accused said through Jane Hyland defence senior counsel that she never meant for this to happen, she was devastated that this happened and that she had caused the loss of a father for a young family.

Ms Hyland said:

She is extremely remorseful. If she could turn back time she would. She says she will pray for his family and for his soul to rest in peace and hopes that at some time they will find a place in their hearts for forgiveness for her."

She said she reluctantly left Ukraine because her mother could no longer cope with the constant bombing and was concerned about the fact that her son was living his young life in underground shelters. Ms Hyland said she worked with refugees in the Ukraine and has now become a refugee herself. She has been in custody since the time of the incident (October 2023) and doing extremely well in prison.

Judge Helen Boyle said she would sentence her on Wednesday May 1 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The original charge in the book of evidence against Ms Vasylenko concerned the allegation that she dangerously drove a Hyundai Alantra car at Cork Airport causing the death of Andrii Nesterov, who was aged around 50, after 2am on Sunday morning, last October 8 2023. Ultimately, she pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death.
A decent, honest and affable man  when sober  picked up a knife after drinking and stabbed another man several times in the stomach causing life-threatening injuries and now he has been jailed for two and a half years.

Judge John Martin imposed a sentence of three years with the last six months suspended in the case against Martin Lindeman at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Peter Nolan gave evidence of the assault causing serious harm to one man and threats to kill two women on May 11 2023 at Regal Estate, Skibbereen, County Cork, where the German national has been living for some years.

Judge Martin said after reading the victim impact statements:

It is fair to say each victim was stunned and upset but none of them bears ill-will towards you.

Det Garda Nolan said when gardai arrived at the reported stabbing, the victim was unconscious and unresponsive. A number blood transfusions were later required during eleven days in hospital. He sustained very significant stab wounds to his stomach.

Addressing the accused directly about the life-threatening injuries, during the sentencing hearing, Judge Martin said: It is by the grace of God, sir, that you are not facing trial in a more serious court.

In all the circumstances I regard this offending as being at the upper end.

The 52-year-old German national has been in Ireland since the 1990s and had a history of working but lost his job and suffered a breakdown in his relationship with his partner.

The judge said that aggravating factors included the use of a knife and infliction of serious injuries and making threats to kill.

The judge said that four previous assault convictions demonstrated a volatile and aggressive nature.

To allow yourself become so intoxicated that you use it to stab one and threaten others is one I cannot overlook.

Everyone living there was entitled to peace of their home and not to be threatened or indeed stabbed by a person wielding a knife, Judge Martin said.

The judge noted that the accused had spared everyone a trial by pleading guilty and he noted from the various parties that multiple languages and translators would have come into play had this gone to trial. The judge also acknowledged that he cooperated with gardai and dropped he knife when told.

Referring to comments made by Det Garda Nolan, Judge Martin said: Your conduct was out of character. When sober, you are decent, honest and affable. And (probation report indicates) you demonstrate victim empathy.
A NORTHSIDE councillor has called on Cork City Council to build a community centre in a part of the city that has experienced unprecedented development and continues to grow.

John Maher, who is the citys sole Labour Party councillor, last month proposed a motion at the Cork City North East Local Area Committee (LAC) calling for a community centre, has called on Cork City Council to build a community centre in Ballyvolane.

Mr Maher told The Echo his suggestion had received a positive response from Cork City Councils interim director of services, community, culture and placemaking, David OBrien.

The director committed to re-engage with the community and also to update the Ballyvolane/Dublin Hill Environs Area Action Plan, said Mr Maher.

This is crucial, as a lot has changed in the past five years in our community. There are thousands of houses being built, which are to be welcomed, and we have the Ballyvolane strategic corridor now progressing, after years of being held up with An Bord Pleanala, and we are awaiting the decision on the route of the northern distributor road.

He added that despite these positive developments, there needed to be an increased emphasis on community infrastructure in the area.

We need a community centre for our various groups to have a home, Mr Maher said.

Ballyvolane and its surrounding areas are home to the community with the most potential for development in Cork city over the coming years and we must have local amenities to support that development.

The next council term must ensure that a community centre is delivered for the people of Ballyvolane.

Lets update the Ballyvolane/Dublin Hill Environs Area Action plan, reassess our needs, and build a community centre that our local community groups can use and call home.

Its well overdue, and needs a commitment of funding from Cork City Council and from the national Government.
One of Cork countys most significant and historical pieces of military architecture has been reopened to the public after a lengthy closure for renovation.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Frank OFlynn, has officially reopened Camden Fort Meagher, following an extensive revitalisation and enhancement programme.

One of County Corks most iconic tourist attractions, Camden Fort Meagher is internationally recognised as being one of the finest remaining examples of a classical coastal artillery fort in the world.

For almost 400 years the fort played a key role as a strong strategic position for the defence of Ireland, the west coast of England and Wales.

Approximately 65% of the fort is located underground in a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers.

The recent renovation works included the excavation of over seven feet of fill material from the earthen roof of the casemate block, fixing the roof drainage system, repairing stone and brickwork, raking out and repointing of stone joints and applying a new waterproof tanking system to ensure the structure's waterproof integrity.

Discovery during renovations

During the course of renovations two original stone gun rails, that had been hidden from view, were discovered while works will continue to render the building waterproof, ensuring the preservation of the structural, historical and cultural heritage of this unique building for future generations.

Speaking at the opening, Mr OFlynn said he was delighted that the public could see the quality of the renovation works.

The Fort has undergone extensive essential restoration on the casemate block which houses the primary exhibitions and I am excited to say that these works have been shortlisted in the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2024.

With this reopening we are looking to further develop Camden Fort Meagher as a key tourist destination for Cork County in collaboration with other destinations including Spike Island, ensuring it becomes a must see stop along the Wild Atlantic Way, Mr OFlynn said.

Valerie OSullivan, chief executive of Cork County Council, said the refurbishment of Camden Fort Meagher marked another building block in our dedication to preserving our heritage, adding that the work would provide future generations with a glimpse of the past.

With more than three-quarters of a million euro invested in this most recent restoration and preparation for reopening project, it has breathed new life into this historic site ensuring that it can reopen to the public and be a source of history, culture, and education for years to come, including plans to make Camden Fort Meagher a place that will become a venue for events and the arts, all year round, the best is yet to come, Ms OSullivan said.

Open to public

Camden Fort Meagher will be open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, including Bank holidays Mondays, from April to October, accommodating a longer season than previous.

Tickets are available at the new ticket office and gift shop, with the option to avail of a new annual pass.

The onsite cafe 15 Fifty, overlooking Cork Harbour, the second-largest natural harbour in the world, is now open for dine-in or take-away options. Alternatively, people are encouraged to bring their own refreshments and make use of the picnic areas and tables on site.
A LOCAL election candidate in Cork has said the proposed Cork Luas project cannot be permitted to become a pie in the sky report that sits on the shelf of a Government department.

Labour Party candidate in the citys South East ward, Peter Horgan, made his comments after it was revealed earlier this week that the National Transport Authority (NTA) is currently only funded to bring the proposed project to emerging preferred route (EPR) stage.

Its a failure of confidence in Cork by the Green [Party] minister for transport [Eamon Ryan] that he has only funded the Cork Luas to the emerged preferred route stage, which we have yet to even see in detail, Mr Horgan said.

If there was confidence in this project at Government level, monies would be ringfenced to allow it at the very least proceed to planning stage.

We cannot allow this project to be a pie in the sky report that sits on the shelf of a Government department.

We need a light rail, one that connects to our transport hubs in Kent, Parnell Place, and the airport.

The alternative is more congestion and gridlock, and I will be asking Labour transport spokesperson Duncan Smith TD to clarify the funding arrangement with the minister.

We could have avoided this being an election issue, but the Governments progress on this and clear funding restrictions have moved the goalposts.

Speaking at Cork Chambers Business Breakfast event on Wednesday, the CEO of the NTA, Anne Graham, said that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)  funded by and in collaboration with the NTA  is currently undertaking a detailed alignment study to determine the optimum layout for the rail system connecting Ballincollig in the west to Mahon Point in the east via the city centre.

That work is nearing completion, and it is expected that an emerging preferred option for Luas Cork will be published for public consultation this year, she said.

Ms Graham said the authority currently does not have the funding to progress the project beyond that stage.

We dont have the funding to bring it to more detailed design, to bring it to planning at this stage, she said.

Our strategy [the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy] sets it out as being delivered later in the strategy, so being a post-2030 delivery.

Thats as much as we could say on the timeline at this stage.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport told The Echo that final decisions on funding for large infrastructure projects, such as Cork light rail, are made as the project progresses through the planning and approval process to ensure value for money.
TOMORROW (Saturday April 27) is 40 days until the European Elections.

Nearly 450 million citizens across Europe will go to the polls from June 6 to 9 - in Ireland well cast our ballot on Friday, June 7.

European Movement Ireland, in co-operation with the European Parliament Liaison Office, is urging people across the Ireland South Constituency, from Cork to Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Carlow, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford to Wicklow, to join us at our Town Hall, as part of our Can Vote, Will Vote Campaign, on Thursday, May 2, in the UCC Centre for Executive Education.

Moderated by Flor MacCarthy of Oireachtas TV, the Ireland South Town Hall presents an opportunity for the general public to hear from experts such as Dr Theresa Reidy, Senior lecturer in the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork; Gerard Arthurs, Lecturer in International Relations & Politics, Southeast, Technological University in Waterford; and Karen Coleman, Editor at EuroParl Radio.

General audience members will also have the opportunity to ask MEP candidates and our expert panel questions. It is an opportunity to see democracy in action and prepare for casting your ballot this summer.

EM Irelands Can Vote, Will Vote campaign aims to increase voter participation. Turn-out in the 2019 EU elections in Ireland was 49.7%, a drop compared to the 2014 turnout of 52.44%, and lower than the European average of 50.66%.

This year, we aim to incentivise voters, like you, as the stakes are high for the upcoming European elections.

The EU faces significant geopolitical challenges, with ongoing war on the periphery of the continent in Ukraine as well as the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has given rise to division among member states.

Migration continues to dominate as a contentious issue, with EU leaders hailing the Migration and Asylum Pact as a common sense approach to migration, despite the fact many human rights and refugee organisations strongly criticised it, highlighting that it could set back asylum law for years and undermine the rights of refugees.

Ongoing discussion continues at EU level about the blocs future security and defence, with mixed views about the EUs traditional ally the US, and its willingness to intervene or assist the EU should it come under a military attack into the future.

On the global economic stage, Europe lags behind both Asian and US economies. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Enletta has commissioned a report on EU competitiveness called Much More Than A Market, which examines how we can strengthen Europes greatest economic driver, the Single Market. It outlines an overhaul, intended to make doing business easier across the EU, and provides solutions about how the EU can scale companies to compete on the global stage. It sets out a vision for a fair, green, and digital transition, but also highlights how a financing model of both private and public investment could make these ambitions a reality.

Weve heard much from the European farming community, with large scale and arguably impactful protests.

The agricultural sector is a significant stakeholder at EU level, with 30% of the EU budget allocated to this. With increased anger regarding climate measures and regulation introduced over the last number of years, the future of EU agricultural policy hangs in the balance, with the Nature Restoration Law a case in point.

The planned final vote of national environmental ministers was postponed, as Hungary withdrew its support for the law, following Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy, while Belgium, Austria, Finland and Poland all signalled their intention to abstain. This means the law did not achieve a qualified majority needed to pass, and now questions remain about the future of the legislation, given this fatal blow, not normally seen once legislation has passed through parliament.

Farming is of vital importance to the Irish economy and is at the heart rural communities. What happens in Brussels over the course of the next mandate will be indicative of whether agricultural policy will continue to adapt to environmental measures and conserve biodiversity.

Furthermore, in Ireland we are fortunate to have a thriving multinational sector with significant investment from the worlds leading tech and social media giants, the introduction of regulation such as the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts, which recently enacted are designed to make the online world a fairer and more open and safe space. A breach of these acts or infringements will incur significant fines. The EU also adopted the first Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to provide clear requirements and obligations regarding specific uses of AI, including measures to develop trustworthy AI.

Returning to the theme of EU competitiveness, and closer to home, questions remain about Irelands corporate tax regime, a cornerstone of our foreign direct investment policy, and whether the EU will pursue the Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT) policy. This is intended to build on the current OECD International Tax Agreement. It is important we have the right people at an EU level advocating for Ireland should these questions arise in the next term.

As outlined above, things are predicted to change for the composition of the European Parliament, according to data from the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, anti-European Populist parties or far-right parties are predicted to top the polls in at least nine member states. This prediction is concerning for European Movement Ireland as if it bears fruit, key policy areas, such as, the European Green Deal, ongoing support for EU enlargement, a lifeline for Ukraine in unprecedented times, and more broadly rule of law and human rights issues are likely to be under threat.

The EU elections give us a once in a five-year chance to use our vote and have our say on the issues that matter to us at an EU level. The EU is often criticised for appearing to be distant far-off institutions, away in Brussels, however at European Movement Ireland we are passionate about bringing Europe to Irish people and its citizens.

Attending the upcoming Ireland South Town Hall presents an opportunity to engage with Europe to listen to the debates and make an informed decision, with MEP candidates present who are seeking your vote.

If youd like to learn more about the European elections, Id also encourage you to check out European Movement Irelands EU Elections Information Hub, the go-to webpage for non-partisan information on the EU elections.

To register to and attend European Movement Irelands Ireland South Town Hall wed be delighted to welcome you.

https://www.europeanmovement.ie/european-elections-town-hall-south/
WEST Cork film-maker Pat Collins has won acclaim for each of his documentaries.

From The Song Of Granite to MAM, he has proven to have a keen eye for beauty, nature, and the absorbing power of stillness.

Now, for the first time, he is taking on a feature film with an adaptation of John McGahrens That They May Face The Rising Sun.

It is not Collins first encounter with the great writer. In 2004, he shot a documentary on McGahrens life, and before he was a filmmaker, Collins was a fan of the writers work.

I read McGahern for the first time when I was 18 or 19, says Collins.

Rising Sun is my favourite, partly because it was an accurate portrayal of the Ireland I grew up in. I felt nobody had captured it quite like that.

The story follows Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate (Anna Bederke), a married couple who return to live in rural Ireland after a few years away. Their lives are connected to the older members of the community; their doors are always open for a cup of tea, and they are always ready for a friendly chat with passing neighbours.

The power of community lies at the heart of the film.

When he was making the documentary, Collins saw the potential in adapting Rising Sun but didnt feel he was ready to do so.

I would have seen potential from the first day, but I didnt think it was possible. I thought it was too difficult to adapt because it was made up of small stories. It wasnt one big narrative the way films usually are.

At the same time, I think thats what attracted me to it - the fact that it was really difficult to adapt. I felt challenged.

With a life-long career in documentary, Collins embraced the challenge of making his first feature and has excelled.

Documentary-maker Pat Collins from Cork.

The film has won awards on the festival circuit including last weekends IFTA Awards, where it took home Best Film.

How did Pat find the transition from documentarian to feature director?

With Silence and Song Of Granite, I approached them purely as fiction but with a documentary sensibility.

Rising Sun is a pure fiction drama. I knew from the beginning that it wouldnt have documentary elements. I dont think it would have worked. I needed really strong actors to pull it off.

I didnt understand how important casting was for a feature film. That is the big thing I have learned. You are so dependent on your cast, and it is so important to choose correctly. Fortunately, we were lucky with this cast.

Collins did plenty of read throughs to find his ensemble actors; he had just one meeting with Barry Ward before deciding he was the right actor to play Joe.

I met Barry for a coffee, and we chatted for an hour. I offered the role right away without even reading the script.

Joe is so attentive to the characters in the film. He thinks about them, and he takes care of them. Barry is a great actor; he has a great presence and is very kind. He was so good on set with everyone.

Joe is an understated character, and Barry plays him so well.

As well as the leads, the film stars several well-known older actors including Sean McGinley and Lalor Roddy, who play Patrick and Johnny, two life-long friends. Collins says seeing older rural characters treated with respect on screen was important.

Some of the characters could easily tip into parody without strong actors. Historically, characters like this are often seen as simpletons, but the rural people that I grew up with had a certain nobility and great intelligence.

It was important to have actors portray the characters with respect. Sean McGinley and Lalor Roddy brought such knowledge and craft in their acting ability that they could transcend the material.

Adapting a book into a film can mean changing the original story, and Collins says he accepted early on that those changes were beneficial to the project.

At the start, you try to do everything you can to protect the novel.

I am not ruthless, but after a while, you must accept that not everything belongs in a film version.

You are attempting to be true to John McGaherns vision of the novel, but with a film, you are representing that vision. I think we achieved it; I would have seen it as an awful failure if we hadnt.

That They May Face The Rising Sun

I would have disappointed myself if I hadnt risen to the challenge. The film might not be a full realisation of the novel, but it is true to the spirit of the book.

It is a very Irish story, but the themes of rural life, loneliness, and the power of community are universal. Collins says he took a McGahern quote about universality to heart.

McGahern said that if you start out to create a story about everywhere, you end up with nothing. If you create a story about something particular, it becomes about life everywhere. You start with one person in one room and grow something particular that becomes universal.

That They May Face The Rising Sun has played at international film festivals, and Collins says non-Irish audiences are connecting with this very Irish story.

I was at a screening at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and Gothenburg Film Festival, and the reaction was the same as an Irish audience, he said.

I was sure the film would resonate with Irish audiences, but I wasnt sure how well it would do outside.

A scene from That They May Face The Rising Sun, in cinemas now.

It is gratifying to see people connecting with it in other countries. People in Sweden and California said it reminded them of growing up in the countryside.

The Drimoleague native hopes that home audiences will embrace the film.

The main thing is that they enjoy the experience of watching it in the cinema and being with the characters.

I hope that they leave feeling either better about the world or connected to the world. I hope they go back to see it a second time.

That They May Face The Rising Sun is in Cinemas from April 25. Cert: 12a

Read our film review tomorrow, where Cara gives the feature film a five star review.
Tom Tuite

Two young men have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a Croatian man in incident in west Dublin last month.

Carpenter Josip Strok (31), who lived in central Dublin, suffered severe head injuries at Grange View Way, Clondalkin, on March 30th.

His friend David Druzinec (28) was allegedly attacked during the same incident.

Mr Strok died from his injuries four days later, on April 3rd, in Tallaght Hospital.

Gardai attached to the Clondalkin District and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) carried out arrests on Thursday and charged the two men.

Connor Rafferty (19), of Castlegrange Close, Clondalkin, and Anthony Delappe (18), of Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, were both charged at Ballyfermot Garda station with the murder of Mr Strok and assault causing harm to Mr Druzinec on March 30th.

On Friday morning, the pair appeared separately before Judge Maire Conneely at Blanchardstown District Court.

Giving evidence, Garda Patrick Fallon told the court that Mr Rafferty was charged just after 10pm on Thursday. The garda that the accused was cautioned and made no reply to the charge.

Mr Raffertys solicitor, Luke Staines, said his client intended to apply for bail on the assault charge at his next appearance.

The District Court does not have jurisdiction to consider bail in murder cases, which require applications in the High Court.

Mr Rafferty, dressed in a black and grey tracksuit and runners, sat silently throughout the brief hearing.

Judge Conneely remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 2nd.

Garda Barry OShea gave evidence in the case of Mr Delappe. The court heard he had no reply when he was charged.

His solicitor, Valerie Buckley, said her client would also be making a bail application on the assault charge when his case resumes at Cloverhill District Court on May 2nd.

They have yet to indicate how they will plead.

The gardai were granted a minor amendment directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), changing the date of the murder offence from March 30th to April 3rd.

The judge also granted legal aid to the pair.

A third man arrested during the investigation was released without charge on Friday morning, pending directions from the DPP.
THE Cork Womens Weekend (CWW), taking place from May 3-5, is one of the key events in the Irish lesbian calendar.

It attracts women not just from Cork, but from all over Ireland and abroad. This social weekend includes music, dancing, workshops, a barbecue, a pub quiz, and much more.

This year, to mark the 40th anniversary, attendees will also have the opportunity to attend an exhibition recalling previous CWWs, curated by Orla Egan of the Cork LGBT Archive.

Beginning as the Cork Womens Fun Weekend in 1984, it was a weekend organised by women in the lesbian community in Cork for the lesbian and bisexual community in Ireland, as a fun, social event, during a time of highly contentious issues such as abortion, divorce, and the availability of contraception.

According to Orlas research, the inaugural Cork Womens Fun Weekend was organised by the Womens Place at the Quay Co-Op. One of the founding organisers, Helen Slattery, said: There were a lot of heavy-duty political womens conferences and discussions going on at the time and, as an antidote, we decided to have a weekend of just fun."

Another founding organiser, Dr Joan McCarthy, explained to Orla that it happened in the middle of a severe economic recession, just a year after the defeat of the anti-amendment campaign and the insertion of the 1983 amendment into the Constitution.

"We wanted to focus on activities that celebrated women, and that were about music, joy, sport, and craic. We invented a pub quiz that focused on womens achievements in literature, film, and sport, as opposed to the usual pub quizzes at the time that hardly referred to women at all."

Orla Egans exhibition will be on display in the Student Centre, UCC, on the Saturday night. It includes posters, leaflets, photographs, newspaper reports, badges, and t-shirts from the 1980s up to the 2020s.

Orla says it is part of the Cork LGBT Archives work of Animating the Archive, bringing Corks queer history to life, making it more engaging and accessible for people. This includes publications, exhibitions, walking tours, and documentaries.

The exhibition is supported by the CWW, Cork City Council Heritage Office, and the Heritage Council.

Current chairperson of the Cork Womens Weekend organising committee, Andrea Coleman, from Togher, gives us a rundown of the weekends events. Every event organised by Cork Womens Weekend, apart from Saturday night in Hamishs Bar, is free entry. All money raised goes straight back into the running costs for the following year. Cork Womens Weekend is a volunteer run, not-for-profit organisation.

Friday nights events will begin with speed dating, followed by competition time in The Sibin on Princes Street as the Drag King entrants battle it out for top prize  the glory! With tunes and dancing to finish the Friday events.

Saturday is workshop and barbecue day, both hosted in and supported by LINC, White Street. There is a badminton tournament hosted by Racket Rebels.

Saturday night is the main event, in Hamishs Bar, Student Centre, UCC, and tickets are selling fast for this 40th anniversary celebration. Ticket holders will receive a free memento on entry to mark the occasion, and can look forward to a fabulous night of music from two live acts - Stephanie Rainey and the band Witless, as well as late night tunes with DJ Jules.

Theres a chance for a rest on Sunday morning as An Spailpin Fanach on South Main Street plays host from 3pm onwards. Always a firm crowd favourite, the annual table quiz will kick off the day followed by LINC Drama group, Stacey K performing her new release, live music from Misneach from the Kabin Studios, and karaoke with Prima Donna. There will also be a raffle for spot prizes donated by various generous local businesses. For people who want to keep the night going, there will be an after party in Vibe on Oliver Plunkett Street (passes available from CWW).

For people in need of a bit of fresh air and a debrief on Monday morning, Cork Frontrunners are hosting a walk and coffee meet up at Marina Market at 11am.

Andrea says that, typically, the Saturday night can see around 200+ revellers attend, who identify as lesbian, bisexual, trans women, and non-binary. The events over the weekend are safe spaces where people can be affectionate towards each other, socialise, and not have to worry about what they look like or how they present."

With marriage equality, abortion, and divorce now available in this country, I ask Andrea what issues are now under the spotlight at the CWW? There is still homophobia around, even if its understated. You can see it on social media. People in the community may feel a bit wary of showing affection or being themselves in a straight bar."

Andrea says the LGBTQIA+ community is Cork is very grateful for the new space recently opened in the city; Vibe on Oliver Plunkett Street opened by a friend of CWW, Jen Bowler, which welcomes LGBTQIA+ people. This space was badly needed for the community.

The CWW committee is looking forward to welcoming about 300 attendees this May Bank Holiday weekend, with people travelling from all over Ireland as well as various parts of the UK. Theyve even had people from America attend in the past, having once discovered the weekend as a happy accident while on holiday and then becoming return attendees.

Andrea is joined on the current organising committee by Sandra Carroll, and Sinead Huggins-Young.

The weekend is very important to us as a committee, and we always want to do things in the best interest of the weekend and its attendees. We feel privileged as volunteers to temporarily hold the torch for the institution that is the Cork Women's Weekend, and we hope to see it evolve and flourish for another 40 years and beyond.

For further info and a full listing of events for the Cork Womens Weekend 40th anniversary, check out their Facebook - Cork Womens Weekend - and their Instagram - @corkwomensweekend. Email for tickets: corkwomensweekend.est1984@gmail.com
LIFE is busy, and getting busier, but that doesnt mean we should keep going and ignoring our bodies signs that were nearing crisis point, according to advocate and educator for womens health, Dr Fiona Barry.

Women are at a stage where we have a career and we have a home life but we havent cracked the balance between them. Our career has just been added to the list of everything else we do: child rearing commitments, running a household, looking after ageing parents.

This isnt just a physical burden on women, its a significant mental load, she explains.

But most women dont think about the mental side of it all, says Dr Barry.

The best analogy I can come up with for a womans brain is that ticker tape you see scrolling across the bottom of a screen of a news channel, it never stops, she says.

Fiona Barry.

Even when women are sitting still, ostensibly watching Netflix, there are so many thoughts running through their head. This means that their brains arent resting.

According to Dr Barry, our bodies are constantly giving us information, and telling us when theyre at crisis point. But a lot of us are too busy to listen to the signs.

If your sleep is being interrupted or youre finding it difficult to get to sleep, or your menstrual cycle changes suddenly, or your digestive system starts acting up with constipation or diarrhoea, or both, chances are something isnt right, she says.

But most of us will wait for our body to fall apart before we do something, and then, when we get sick, we get annoyed at our body. We treat it like the enemy, and keep going even when our body is saying it needs to rest.

Weve become human doings instead of human beings and thats not conducive to rest. When we laud productivity and being busy, we start to see resting as being lazy, says Dr Barry.

Clare McKenna.

With this mindset, its no surprise that burnout is on the rise. Indeed, in a 2023 University of Limerick survey, 67% of women said theyre feeling more stressed since the Covid-19 pandemic, and 49% said theyre finding it difficult to balance their work and home life.

Dr Barry believes the increase in working from home during the pandemic has blurred the lines between work and home.

Were forgetting to take breaks or thinking we shouldnt take a break, and if we do take a break from work, many women are using that time to do other jobs around the house, she says.

Women are just not switching off, were not showing ourselves the same care and nurturing that we give to our children and our partners.

As the safety announcement on every flight says: in the event of a change in air cabin pressure, you need to put on your own mask first before attending to your kids. This is sound advice, says Dr Barry.

Theres an old Chinese proverb that says you cant pour from an empty vessel. We owe it to ourselves to slow things down and focus on what matters.

On April 28, Dr Barry, together with Newstalks Clare McKenna, is hosting The Rest Revolution. This one-day event will feature a series of interactive talks on the importance of taking time to rest, and a panel discussion where people are invited to ask questions.

Well also be showing attendees what our body feels like when its in a state of stress and what it feels like when its in a restful state.

Incorporating rest into our day can feel like something else we need to add to the list, but Dr Barry believes that, with a bit of practise, it can become second nature.

Louise George.

Just taking small nuggets of time to fully rest every day will make a difference, she says.

Well be showing people how to incorporate moments of rest into their day - helping them to come out of doing mode, and into rest mode. The more they do that, the more theyll want to do it, and suddenly theyve created more space for themselves.

The event will finish with a yoga session run by Louise George, followed by a sound bath by Fiona McDonagh.

Were encouraging attendees to tell their families that theyre off grid for the evening after the event too, so that they can hold on to the feeling of rest and zen theyve achieved.

The Rest Revolution will take place in the Ballymaloe Grainstore in East Cork between 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Sunday, April 28, it is a ticketed event, bookings can be made on www.eventbrite.ie
China, Germany strengthen barley research cooperation

Xinhua) 10:11, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and German scientists are working closely to promote international collaboration on barley research, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

Barley, known for its wide adaptability and strong stress resistance, is the world's fourth-largest cereal crop.

Scientists from the Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS) of the CAAS and Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Germany have jointly published research into germplasm resource research and utilization, as well as bioinformatics and genomics technology of barley, said Zhou Wenbin, director of the ICS, at the ongoing International Symposium of Barley Adaptation.

These results have effectively aided China's basic research on barley and improved the international influence of Chinese barley researchers, Zhou said.

The China-German cooperation and exchange project on the population genomics analysis of barley adaptation, jointly initiated by the two institutes, has been running well since its launch in November 2022.

Chinese and German scientists have made achievements in the formation law concerning barley adaptation to climate diversity using cutting-edge genomics technology.

The symposium will contribute to exchanges and cooperation between China and Germany in the academic research and industrial application of barley, Zhou said.

The symposium, hosted by the two institutes and held in Beijing, runs from April 22 to 26.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As part of the European Unions drive to support a multifaceted approach to addressing 6G challenges and promises, CEA-Leti has been chosen to coordinate two projects to help build first-class 6G technology capabilities and boost standardization efforts across Europe.

The two projects were among 27 chosen in a competitive proposal process by an EU partnership that divided 130 million between the projects. These projects present a significant stride towards advancing smart networks and services, offering breakthrough innovations, experimental platforms and large-scale trials, driving world-class research and shaping the worlds digital connected future, said the group, called the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU).

6G-DISAC (Distributed Intelligent Sensing and Communication) and 6G-GOALS (Goal-Oriented AI-enabled Learning and Semantic Communication Networks) launched their three-year projects in January with multiple EU collaborators.

The two projects mark the first time a single RTO or company has been chosen to coordinate two competitive EU proposals in the same initiative. CEA-Leti has coordinated several EU projects, including the recently completed RISE-6G project. That SNS JU effort developed a disruptive new concept as a service for wireless environments by dynamically controlling wireless communication for brief, energy-efficient and high-capacity communications on a variety of surfaces, such as such as walls, ceilings, mirrors and appliances.

6G-DISAC

This project will develop and innovate on a widely distributed intelligent infrastructure compatible with both real-world integration constraints, new semantic and goal-oriented communication and sensing approaches, and the flexibility requirements of future 6G networks. It will apply theoretical approaches and operational and standards-compatible, distributed joint communication and sensing, by leveraging the expertise of world-leading network vendors, verticals, SMEs, research laboratories and academic institutions spanning the value chain.

Current approaches to integrated communication and sensing use centralized architectures and pass sensed information through a centralized controller.

This project will bring the integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) vision into reality, going well beyond the usual restrictive standalone or localised scenarios, by adopting a holistic perspective, with large numbers of connected users and/or passive objects to be tracked, said Emilio Calvanese Strinati, coordinator of the project and CEA-Letis smart devices & telecommunications strategy program director.

With demonstrations that validate the vital 6G-DISAC concepts, the project will revolutionise various applications, from extended reality and robot-human interaction to vehicular-safety functions and improving communication key performance indicators (KPI) with sensing-aided communications, he explained.

In addition to defining use cases and designing an innovative network architecture, the 11 6G-DISAC partners will develop novel physical-layer waveforms, distributed sensing and communications methods, optimised resource-allocation methods and protocols.

Specific targets include:

tracking connected user equipment (UE) and passive objects,

performing ISAC with many distributed base stations, efficient distributed signal processing and machine learning for semantic ISAC, and

incorporating extremely large multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technologies and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and intelligent sensing activation.

While addressing these fundamental and practical challenges, the team will focus on distributed implementation of ISAC, unlocking real sensing applications and providing a multi-perspective view of networks in space and time for tangible communication gains, Calvanese Strinati said.

6G-GOALS

This project is designed to reduce data traffic by conveying only the most relevant information and produce data-efficient, robust and resilient protocols that can adapt to network conditions and communication objectives using modern AI/ML techniques.

As wireless mobile communication requires ever-higher data rates and 5Gs scope expands to include massive and ultra-reliable low-latency links, wireless evolution has been pressed to solve the technical problem of reliable data exchange between two end-points, said project coordinator Calvanese Strinati.

The 6G-GOALS project will take the wireless system design to its next stage by considering the significance, relevance and value of the transmitted data and transforming the potential of the emerging AI/ML-based architectures into a semantic and goal-oriented communication paradigm, offering a solid step toward cooperative generative AI technologies, he said.

Semantic communication is instrumental to induce reasoning and shared understanding among intelligent agents by exchanging pragmatically selected information in which its meaning to the receiver is designed to efficiently accomplish a goal or a task. With current approaches, data is sensed and transferred from sensors to the destinations without prior semantic extraction functions.

A recent paper written by 6G-GOALS participants noted that advances in AI technologies have expanded device intelligence, fostering federation and cooperation among distributed AI agents. These advancements impose new requirements on future 6G mobile network architectures.

These projects are fundamental to explore the capabilities of AI/ML solutions on the networks of the future, especially dealing with joint communication and sensing and semantic communications, said Mauro Boldi Renato, EU project program coordinator at TIM (Telcom Italia). Working with CEA-Leti represents a solid basis for their success and for bringing European industry towards implementation of 6G around 2030.

The exploitation of 6G-DISAC and 6G-GOALS project results will represent a transformative step for manufacturers and 6G industrial players, like NEC Corporation, by fostering the development of distributed intelligent networks and semantic/AI-driven communication strategies, said Vincenzo Sciancalepore, principal researcher at NEC Laboratories Europe GMBH/ Germany and a member of the 6G-DISAC team. Such an unprecedented approach will enable more efficient, flexible, and responsive network infrastructures that can support advanced applications, such as extended reality and automated mobility, meeting the increasing demand for high-capacity, low-latency and sustainable communication.

6G-DISAC Partners

Coordinator: CEA-Leti/France

Technical Manager: Chalmers Tekniska Hogskola AB/Sweden

Innovation Manager: Nokia Networks/ France

Telecom Italia Spa/Italy

Orange S.A./France

Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon/Greece

Institut Polytechnique De Bordeaux/France

NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH/Germany

NEC Italia S.P.A/Italy

Robert Bosch GmbH/Germany

RadChat AB/Sweden

6G-GOALS Partners

Coordinator: CEA-Leti/France

Technical Manager: Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni/Italy

Innovation Manager: NEC Laboratories Europe GMBH/ Germany

NEC Italia S.p.A/Italy

Telecom Italia S.p.A/Italy

Eurecom GIE/France

Aalborg Universitet/Denmark

Hewlett-Packard/France

Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.R.L/Italy

Toshiba Europe Limited UK

Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine UK

Singapore University of Technology and Design

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Aaron Sorkin has announced that hes currently writing a followup script to The Social Network, according to The Hollywood Reporter . He broke the news during an episode of The Town podcast that centered on how Facebook and social media have influenced democracy in the years since his Oscar-winning hit. The first film chronicled the early days of Mark Zuckerbergs social network and starred Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, among others.

Sorkin is cagey on the actual details of the new script, but it looks to follow Facebook throughout the Trump era. He went on to tell the podcast hosts that he actually blames the social media site for the January 6 riots that claimed the lives of five people and led to the injuries of more than 140 police officers . Look, yeah, Ill be writing about this, Sorkin told podcast hosts Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby. I blame Facebook for January 6.

He didnt give any reason as to why he blames Facebook for the attack on the capitol, telling the podcast hosts that they will have to buy a movie ticket. Facebook, Google, Twitter and Reddit were all subpoenaed as part of the investigation into January 6. Lawmakers have suggested that Facebook didnt take the proper steps to handle the Stop the Steal movement, which was organized on the platform, and that it didnt recognize the danger posed by these groups until after the violence in DC.

Whistleblower Frances Haugen told Congress that Facebook disbanded its civic integrity team after the 2020 election. She also has said that Facebook knew its algorithms and platforms promoted harmful content and that it failed to deploy internally recommended or lasting countermeasures. According to Haugen, the company chose profits over safety.

Sorkin has obviously been paying attention to all of this, saying in the same interview that Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. He further dinged the company by suggesting that theres supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isnt. Theres just growth.

Now, dont go heading to your local multiplex to buy a ticket for The Social Network 2: Electric Boogaloo just yet. The script is still in the early stages and Sorkin hasnt announced a partnership with any studio to get the film made. This also isnt his first attempt to get something like this off the ground. He was previously working on a script entirely about January 6, but it didnt move forward. It remains to be seen if some aspects of that script will end up in followup to The Social Network, should it actually get made. He told the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he would only push to make a sequel to The Social Network if David Fincher returned to direct it.

If a studio does sign on to make this project, which is fairly likely given the success of the 2010 film, it leaves me with two glaring questions. Can Jesse Eisenberg grow a sweet beard and what are his thoughts on ultra-premium livestock ?

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Yung Joc and his wife Kendra Robinson have endured some issues within their relationship, and considering Robinson's comments in a interview that went viral, one of them has to do with Joc's "womanizer" behavior.

Robinson's remarks were given during an interview with SUAVV magazine where she expressed her concerns surrounding her husband's potential to be a role model.

"Everybody ain't did what you done did," she said. "Your life is not normal. It ain't no model that I want Amir to follow, Amoni to follow, Cadence to follow... And I don't think their mothers would either," Robinson, 36, stated.

RELATED: ENSTARZ EXCLUSIVE: Jeezy Names This Rapper As Inspiration To Rap About Politics At 'Hip-Hop And The White House' Premiere

Yung Jocs Wife Kendra had a lot to say during this interview with #suavvmagazine and Joc wasnt having it.#YungJoc pic.twitter.com/lxidz9gFMn  Media On Blast  (@mediaonblast) November 21, 2022

The "It's Goin' Down" rapper is the father of eight children; Amoni, Ja'Kori, Amir, Chase, twins Cadence and Camora, and twin girls Eden, and Allon, according to the Atlanta Black Star.

In the interview dating back to 2022, Joc, 43, asked his wife to elaborate, to which she clarified, "I would not want them to have as many children and I would not want them to have all these different situations. That's not something I would want for them."

Last week, in an interview with 'Culture Club Uncensored,' the 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' star, formally Jasiel Amon Robinson, admitted he now understands his wife's original words.

"She was just saying, you know, 'You done some things in your life that even you wish that you could go back and undo, or maybe if you could go back, you wouldn't have done it.' You know... maybe the way I treated some women," he admits.

RELATED: ENSTARZ EXCLUSIVE: Jeezy Names This Rapper As Inspiration To Rap About Politics At 'Hip-Hop And The White House' Premiere

"My actions may have said that I was somewhat of a womanizer... OK, and I understand," the rapper said. "So, when she told me, 'I don't want your sons to be like you,' I really would have appreciated had she put it more in the context of that, 'cause that actually was a conversation that you have privately."

The Atlanta native expressed that he loves his wife for her honesty, but still maintains that the interview went "left for a moment."

Joc stated that today they are doing well as a couple, and often host big family parties at their home.

The couple tied the knot in front of their closest friends and family on Nov. 7, 2021. Although Robinson and Joc do not share any biological children, the lawyer is the stepmother to his kids.
Monica Lewinsky has nailed the Taylor Swift "asylum" trend.

The former White House intern went viral on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday after using the new meme to roast former President Bill Clinton.

The meme involves a lyric from the song "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from Swift's newly released album, "The Tortured Poets Department."

Thousands of Swifties shared photos of places or things that represent bittersweet memories or trauma alongside the lyric: "You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me."

For Lewinsky's entry in the viral trend, she posted the Swift lyric on X alongside a photo of the White House, where she had an affair with Clinton that led to her enduring vilification and intense public scrutiny for decades.

you wouldnt last an hour in the asylum where they raised me. pic.twitter.com/hkhdRlBCkj  Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) April 25, 2024

Lewinsky's post, which has since garnered 14.2 million views and over 170,000 likes, was praised by X users as "iconic," "legendary," and the "tweet of the year."

One person commented, "Oh you ATE with this one."

"OK... I think those of us who are of a certain age can agree that this wins that particular prompt/meme. Well played, Ms. Lewinsky. Well played," another user commented on her post.

"Your ability to have a sense of humor over what they did to you is pretty inspirational," a third user wrote.

Lewinsky, 50, was a White House intern in her early 20s when she had a sexual relationship with then-President Clinton.

The scandal led to impeachment proceedings against him in 1998.

Lewinsky retreated from the spotlight and avoided the public eye before later becoming an anti-bullying activist.

Lewinsky also recently garnered attention after starring in Reformation's new "You've Got the Power" campaign.

Photos released by the fashion brand showed her modeling its new workwear line, which included power suits and chic skirt sets.

Reformation also debuted a new purse named after Lewinsky, the $448 "Monica" crossbody.

For the campaign, the political activist and the clothing brand teamed up with Vote.org to urge women to vote in the upcoming election.

Monica Lewinsky and https://t.co/nXqHRTttIx are here to remind you that youve got the power.https://t.co/4PD4Wxw4yk pic.twitter.com/I6mPbqX3qf  Reformation (@Reformation) February 27, 2024

Meanwhile, aside from Lewinsky, other celebrities and well-known personalities who joined the "asylum" trend included "Dance Moms alum Kalani Hilliker, who shared on TikTok a photo of Abby Lee Miller's dance studio in her own entry.

Leigha Sanderson, an ex-member of JoJo Siwa's girl group, posted Studio Siwa alongside the Swift lyric on TikTok.

The cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore" jumped on the trend by uploading images of the beach house in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, where they filed the reality series in the 2000s.
King Charles' funeral plans have been updated amid his cancer battle, according to sources.

On Feb. 5, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles was diagnosed with some form of cancer. He has cut back his public appearances while receiving treatment, but he is still visible on some royal outings. In March, His Majesty attended the Easter church service in Windsor with his wife, Queen Camilla.

Although the King is still visible in public, his funeral plans have reportedly been "dusted off." The people tasked to oversee his funeral plans -- codenamed "Operation Menai Bridge" -- are allegedly hard at work to ensure that the document is updated.

RELATED: King Charles 'Very Emotional' During Heart-To-Heart Talk With Kate Middleton Before Cancer Announcement: Report





"The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date. It's no more than what you would expect given the King has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds," an unnamed source, who is a former staffer with a connection to serving courtiers, claimed via the Daily Beast.

"Of course, they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen's funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It's not an emotional thing, it's a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no one plans to get caught out," another tipster added.

The document detailing "Operation Menai Bridge" is reportedly updated regularly. However, it allegedly dictates that nobody should comment on the plans. The government department tasked with state funerals and the Cabinet Office even declined to comment on such claims, per the Daily Beast.

The royal family members reportedly have codewords for their funeral plans. Queen Elizabeth's plan was known as "Operation London Bridge." The Menai Bridge used for the current monarch refers to the suspension bridge connecting the island of Anglesey with the Welsh mainland.





A military source has confirmed that the funeral plans are under constant review. According to the source, it is part of their job.

"Planning for the worst is what the military do," they said. "You've got to remember the scale of this thing. The Household Division, under Major General James Bowder, take the lead -- that is seven regiments of Guards. Then you have the entire London District, the Territorial Army regiments and the Royal Horse Artillery. That's before you get to the Navy or Air Force. Charles was closely associated with the Parachute Regiment for years, so they will be involved."

The source said they needed "a giant security operation because every VVIP on the planet is there." Their discussion reportedly includes missile defense against lone wolf attacks. Additionally, talks about the King's funeral plans reportedly started after they laid the previous monarch to rest.

"The whole thing goes from flash to bang in under two weeks which means every aspect of it needs to be meticulously planned in advance. Serious planning for Charles' funeral began the day after they buried the queen," the insider added.

The outlet also spoke to some of His Majesty's pals, and according to them, his health in recent weeks is "not good." Friends and insiders are reportedly concerned that they could lose the King sooner than they imagined. However, the monarch is reportedly fighting for his health.





"Of course, he is determined to beat it, and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on," one friend said.

The outlet noted that the same insider told The Royalist that the late Queen Elizabeth was dying of bone marrow cancer. The claim was later verified by Gyles Brandreth, a royal friend and biographer.

The Daily Beast reached out to King Charles' officials for comment but did not receive a response.




Jennifer Aniston is ready to share everything about her life, from her previous marriage to Brad Pitt and more, in her new memoir, according to a source.

The "Friends" alum was initially reluctant to publish a book about her life. In 2021, when asked if she would write a memoir just like her character on "The Morning Show," Aniston said "nope" because she was still "living it." However, that changed a year later when she reportedly said, "I'm going to do that one day." And this could be happening sooner rather than later, according to In Touch.

"Jen is finally ready to tell all," an unnamed source told In Touch, noting that she was inspired by her late "Friends" co-star Matthew Perry. "She realized life is short, so why not do it now?"





Aniston has practiced daily gratitude journaling for years, and she "is going to do it right -- nothing is off-limits," according to the source who had a first look at her manuscript. The tipster also teased that the memoir contains "secrets she's never told."

One of the subjects in Aniston's rumored memoir is her previous relationship with her ex-husband, Pitt. The "Cake" actress is reportedly aware that many want to hear her side of the story.

"Jen knows people want to hear all about her love affair with Brad and the truth about their divorce, especially since Brad and Angelina have now split and Jen and Brad have reconnected," the tipster claimed.

Aniston and Pitt married in 2000 and divorced five years later. Shortly after their split, Pitt was spotted out and about with Angelina Jolie. There were rumors that Pitt and Jolie started a romance while filming their 2005 action-comedy movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."





Aniston previously said that she was as "shocked" as the world when Pitt was seen with Jolie shortly after their separation, even noting that there was "a sensitivity chip that's missing" in her ex.

Nevertheless, Pitt and Aniston have remained good friends despite their split. The exes had a friendly run-in when they met at the SAG Awards in 2020.

"Brad and I are buddies," Aniston explained. "Like, we're friends and we speak."





Aside from writing about her first marriage, Aniston will also reportedly share her surgery experiences. The "Murder Mystery" actress previously revealed having a nose job and trying "injections."

Her rep told Us Weekly in 2018 that she did the surgery to "correct a deviated septum that was incorrectly done over 12 years ago." The insider claimed that she would "write about plastic surgery and her path to self-acceptance, as well."

The main theme of Aniston's book is sharing the lessons she has learned in life. The actress reportedly wants to write about how she has thrived under an intense spotlight for nearly three decades.

"She's learned some valuable lessons and wants to share them," the tipster said.

"She'll obviously write about skyrocketing to fame on 'Friends' and how she's managed a few feuds with other celebrities over the years. But her secret to staying sane through all of her ups and downs is that she surrounds herself with a tight circle of ride-or-die friends."




A debut gala portrait featuring King Frederik X of Denmark and his spouse, Queen Mary, who hails from Australia, has been made public.

The portrait, depicting the couple adorned with the Order of the Elephant suspended from chains, is set to be exhibited in various state institutions, including Danish embassies and consulates worldwide.

Captured at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the image marks the premiere portrayal of Mary donning the crown jewels as queen, following her elevation to the throne in January.

After reigning for over five decades, Queen Margrethe II announced her intention to step down in favor of her son during her New Year's Eve address.

Within the portrait, Mary is bedecked in an emerald set featuring a tiara, necklace, earrings, and a substantial brooch.

Crafted by jeweler CM Weisshaupt, this set was bestowed upon Queen Caroline Amalie by Christian VIII, as outlined on the Royal House's website.

Tens of thousands gathered to witness King Frederik X ascend to the Danish throne, succeeding his mother and marking a significant milestone in the nation's history, on January 14, 2024.

Amidst tears, King Frederik, addressing a jubilant crowd outside Christiansborg Castle, expressed his aspiration to serve as "a unifying king" in the days ahead. He offered heartfelt praise for his mother, who had officially abdicated just an hour prior, concluding a remarkable reign spanning precisely 52 years.

Her voluntary abdication marks a historic moment, as she becomes the first Danish monarch in over 800 years to step down from the throne of her own volition.

Despite initial expectations of a subdued event, an overwhelming multitude congregated outside Christiansborg Castle on Sunday to bear witness to the historic succession.
The term Wood Wide Web was unheard of until it appeared on the cover of the journal Nature in 1997. The phrase is used to compare underground networks of fungal fibers to the World Wide Web that powers the Internet.

The scientific community was intrigued by the idea that masses of intertwined fungi could transmit resources and allow trees to communicate. The concept continues to captivate the publics imagination, especially after it appeared as a glowing, living network in the movie Avatar.

But now, almost 30 years later, there are still more questions than answers about what is going on underground. Some scientists are skeptical that fungi too small for the human eye to see can function like a powerful network, or purposely benefit trees and plants.

Two Ohio men, Jim Gresh and longtime forester and friend Ed Romano, say they see evidence of the Wood Wide Web in the six forested properties the Gresh family owns in the state. And they have numbers to back it up.

For instance, there is a remarkably high percentage of oak trees  59%  in a 110-acre stand in Athens County. Thats almost six times the average percentage of oaks in Ohio forests, they say.

Another stand in Tuscarawas County not only has a high percentage of walnuts, but an abnormally fast growth rate among walnut trees growing close together in what foresters call overstocked clusters.

In both cases, Gresh and Romano credit the sharing of resources through fungal networks for these forest phenomena.

The new fungal network theories fit our data and easily explain our most unexplainable observations, Gresh said. Fungal network impact is just common sense to us.

EXPERIMENTS

It was a study by PhD student Suzanne Simard and her colleagues that made the cover of that 1997 edition of Nature. They exposed pairs of tree seedlings growing in a forest to radioactive CO2. After two years, they found that the carbon had passed from birch trees to fir trees, which had fungal networks beneath them, but not between birch and cedar trees, which had none.

The study seemed to go against the traditional forestry belief that trees compete for sun and other resources. It showed fir trees that were in the shade, and thus were unable to produce as much carbon from photosynthesis, received more carbon than fir trees that got some sun.

It seemed like carbon was flowing downhill from where it was plentiful to where it was scarce, biologist Merlin Sheldrake said of the study in his book Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Future.

REACTION

Simard, now an author and professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, is a regular on the World Wide Web with articles, videos and TED talks that get millions of views. In a video called How Trees Talk, she says that fungal networks not only connect trees of the same species but other species as well.

Along with that of the Wood Wide Web, Simards concept of mother trees appeared in Avatar. These trees act as hubs in the forest and can be connected to hundreds of other trees, Simard says. These hub trees send out not only carbon but other resources to nurture their offspring and others. They even send out distress signals so other trees can build up defensive chemicals against threats like tree bark beetles.

Through back-and-forth conversations, they increase the resilience of the whole community, Simard explains in the video.

In an episode of PBSs Green Planet called The Fungi that Help Trees Talk, Sir David Attenborough explains that fungi make up a giant underground organism whose filaments plug into the tips of tree roots. Trees not only send nutrients through the filaments but also chemicals and electrical signals, allowing them to communicate with each other, he said.

But the idea of trees talking makes some scientists say no way. A New York Times story published in 2022 begins: (T)he theory of the wood-wide web is everywhere, and some scientists argue that it is overblown and unproven. A headline on the Society of Environmental Journalists website asserts: Are Trees Talking Underground? For Scientists, Its In Dispute.

Skeptical scientists say that if there is transfer of elements between forest plants through fungal networks, its entirely passive, as in accidental.

It doesnt matter if its passive or purposeful, Gresh said. This mycorrhizal network is really important to the ecosystem.

He and his wife, Heidi, manage their forested properties using the European method called close-to-nature forestry. They do sell timber, but clear-cutting and use of chemicals is forbidden. They aim for gentle harvests that protect the canopy and the soil, hoping to improve regeneration and biodiversity.

Retiring in 2015 after 33 years with the Timken Company, including six as president of its operations in China, Gresh didnt take it easy. He served on several boards, including that of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, and earned a degree in conservation ecology from Malone University.

He joined forestry associations in Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as conservation forestry groups in the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. He continues to study conservation forestry and its benefits to migratory birds and other species.

He has also been learning conservation forestry from Romano, who marks the trees selected for harvest and supervises their removal, making sure damage to other trees and disturbance of the forest is minimal.

Gresh also employs young foresters who measure trees and record data using methods prescribed by the U. S. Forestry Service. Thats how he gets the numbers for percentages and growth rates.

EVIDENCE

On the Greshes Athens County property, theres a smaller forest next to the 110-acre plot. Gresh says it appears that both areas were clear-cut in the late 1800s.

The smaller plot may have undergone stump removal as well because it was made into a pasture. It appears the pasture was abandoned 60 or 70 years ago, resulting in the young forest that is there today.

The larger plot was never used for pasture or anything else, so its had more than a century to regrow into forest. This older forest contains such a proliferation of mushrooms that Romano can only harvest a fraction of the chanterelles, morels and oyster mushrooms he loves to eat.

Mushrooms are the visible part of the underground fungal network. Biologists call them the fruit of fungi, like apples on a tree. Their job is to produce spores to then produce more fungi and more mushrooms.

Theres probably six times the number of mushrooms than Ive seen in any other forest, said Romano, whos been a forester for more than 50 years. There has to be some kind of symbiotic relationship.

Gresh says his forests, like the typical forests in Ohio, average between 7% and 20% oak trees. The smaller forest in Athens County is 10% oaks, right in the middle of that average range.

Yet the older forest, even though its right next door, is 59% oaks. And he believes a vibrant fungal network is the reason.

In this forest, theres a huge number of mushrooms and a phenomenal growth of oaks, almost 60% of all the trees, he said. We would consider this pretty compelling evidence that there is a Wood Wide Web.

Meanwhile, on the Tuscarawas County property, theres a huge  and obviously very old  tree they named the Grandmother Walnut. Gresh believes the area was clear-cut, perhaps for a pasture, leaving this majestic tree alone in the field. Unfortunately, it fell a few years ago in a storm.

But it left a legacy, Gresh said. Walnuts average only 1% of the trees in Ohios forests, which is about the same amount found on his other properties. However, the percentage of walnut trees in the stand around the Grandmother Walnut is around 10%.

And those walnuts have generated another strange statistic. Traditional timbering wisdom would say that trees growing close together are not able to get enough sunlight and nutrients and will grow very slowly. Yet the data shows more than 60% of the fastest-growing walnut trees on the property are in clusters, with some trees only four feet apart.

After doing soil tests and site comparisons, we see no explanation for the faster growth in what appears to be a too-crowded and competitive environment, Gresh said. Rather, this seems to be evidence of a mother tree using fungal networks to nourish its offspring, as Simard and other scientists describe.

AT RISK

Science has only recently acquired the technology to be able to detect and identify the tiny fungal organisms that make up the underground networks. Years ago, scientists said there may be 1.5 million species of fungi; now the estimate is 5 million. But even with the advent of genome sequencing, only 3% of those species have been identified, Gresh said.

Fungi are now suggested to be the largest known living organisms on Earth, he said. One that was recently discovered in Oregon covers four square miles and is at least 2,400 years old. The new knowledge is impressive, but the infancy of the science is also humbling.

Gresh and a growing number of people in the scientific community as well as the general public are worried about the Forestry Services Early Successional Habitat Creation Project and other programs like The Young Forest Project. Advocates of these programs say that logging, clear-cutting and controlled burning of some of the older forests gives young forests a chance to grow. This will benefit many bird and mammal species, including some that are in decline, they say.

Last year, seven biologists and ecologists published a paper saying these programs are based on too few studies and faulty data analysis. Instead of helping them, these programs will harm species by reducing connectivity and increasing isolation, not to mention their effects on biodiversity, the atmosphere and human health, they say. The title of the paper pretty much sums up their position: Forest-clearing to create early-successional habitats: Questionable benefits, significant costs.

Michael J. Kellett, executive director of the New England nonprofit RESTORE, The North Woods and the lead author of the paper, appears in a 2022 article in National Geographic, Is clear-cutting U. S. forests good for wildlife? Kellett is quoted as saying that logging-for-wildlife programs are dealing in old science and that the thinking behind them is ecologically dangerous.

In addition to agreeing with the scientists objections, Gresh worries that more logging and clear-cutting  especially if there is stump removal  will wreak havoc on the Wood Wide Web.

Simard, who ironically came from a family in the timbering business, would probably concur. In the video, she says that high-grade logging and clear-cut logging target mother trees because their wood is of higher value.

Hub trees are not unlike rivets in an airplane, she says. You take out one or two and the plane still flies. But you take out one too many, and the whole system collapses.

Everything in Gods creation is interconnected, even things we cant see, Gresh said. Our stewardship of the forests needs to be more caring and gentle to avoid harming these important connections.
Bryce Dallas Howard "can't be trusted around famous people" because she's so easily star-struck.

Bryce Dallas Howard gets star-struck around famous people

The 'Jurassic World' star has admitted that despite growing up in showbusiness with her famous father Ron Howard, she still finds herself acting like a "fangirl" whenever she meets someone she recognises and it gets "embarrassing".

She told the Guardian newspaper: "I get starstruck extremely easily and its embarrassing. I blush, I stutter, I say weird things. I get like too excited.

"I act like a fangirl and it takes a while for me to settle down. I cant be trusted around famous people is the takeaway."

She went on to describe being entertained by Tom Cruise as a child when the Hollywood superstar was working with her dad.

Bryce added: "He wasnt my babysitter. He just was in a movie directed by my dad. My siblings and I were quite young at the time, so he was just a big kid who was really fun and would entertain us with backflips and feed us whatever we asked for. He was always really cool."

The 43-year-old screen star recently opened up about growing up in Hollywood revealing her filmmaker dad and her writer mum Cheryl refused to let her enter the movie business until after she finished her education.

She told PEOPLE: "I think if I had the chance to act younger, I would've taken it. But I wasn't allowed to. My parents were very firm on that boundary, that they were not going to support anyone who wanted to be a child actor."

Bryce's parents were keen for her to find experience in other industries and it gave her lots of life experience. She shared: "I started working as a waitress on the weekends at a deli, and it was fantastic. Because I was 14, I needed to get a waiver from my parents to be on a payroll, and honestly, I was like, 'This is great.'"

Bryce worked in various roles before she ultimately moved into the movie industry and on reflection, Bryce appreciates that her parents gave her such a well-rounded childhood.

She said: "I'm really glad that they did that because when I did start acting, it took a while to make a living. To be able to be like, 'Oh, okay. I can actually support myself with this.'"
Ashley Judd has insisted Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction being overturned was a "hard day for survivors".

Ashley Judd responds to Harvey Weinstein's quashed 2020 rape conviction

The New York Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday (25.04.24), with a majority 4-3 vote, that the disgraced movie mogul did not receive a fair trial after they found prosecutors were allowed to call witnesses whose accusations were not the focus of the case.

But Ashley, 56, who was the first actress to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, insisted: "We live in our truth."

She told BBC News: "Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place."

The ruling declared Weinstein, 72, had been tried on his past behaviour, not solely the crimes he had been charged with.

But he will remain in prison for a separate 2022 rape conviction.

Producer Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006, alongside rape in the third degree for an attack on an actress in 2013.

He was also sentenced to 16 years in jail following his 2022 Los Angeles conviction, but at the same time was acquitted on charges involving one of the women who had testified at the 2020 New York trial.

Speaking about those who came forward in the New York case, Ashley said: "We know what happened and the truth is consistent."

Ashley is part of the Silence Breakers Group, who represent women who accused Weinstein and others of sexual misconduct.

Following the overturning of Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, The Silence Breakers said in a statement: "The news today is not only disheartening, but its profoundly unjust.

"But this ruling does not diminish the validity of our experiences or our truth; its merely a setback.

"The man found guilty continues to serve time in a California prison.

"When survivors everywhere broke their silence in 2017, the world changed.

"We continue to stand strong and advocate for that change. We will continue to fight for justice for survivors everywhere."

Tomi-Ann Roberts, a Colorado College professor, who has alleged she was sexually harassed by Weinstein in 1984, hopes Weinstein's conviction overturn will "re-energise the #MeToo movement".
Kim Kardashian returned to the White House on Thursday (25.04.24) to discuss her criminal justice reform work.

Kim Kardashian met with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss prison reform

The 43-year-old reality superstar joined Vice President Kamala Harris and public engagement director Steve Benjamin and even some pardoned former inmates to discuss lobbying for prison reform and clemency.

The SKIMS founder, who passed the Bar exam in a bid to become a lawyer, famously met with then-President Donald Trump at the famous Washington D.C. residence, in 2020, to urge him to offer clemency to wrongly incarcerated men and women.

Praising Kim at the start of a roundtable shared on YouTube, Vice President Kamala Harris said: "I want to thank Kim for your advocacy and for using your platform in a way that has really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances."

The 'Kardashians' star admitted her previous visit to the White House inspired her to train to become a lawyer and do everything she can to get those who have been wrongly imprisoned freed.

Kim said: It was actually this very room that I was in years ago, my first clemency meeting, that really inspired me to take a journey of really helping to figure out how I can be helpful and how I can tell the amazing stories that I would hear from the success stories of individuals like yourself.

I didnt know a whole lot."

She added: I was inspired to go to law school and really further my education to see what I can do to help and not rely on these two women behind  who have been coming with me everywhere, my attorneys  to kind of translate everything for me because I really couldnt grasp what all of this means.

I am super honoured to be here to share your stories today, and I think its so important to share them and amplify them because theres so many people that are in your position that can use the inspiration.

Kim was at the White House around four years ago on behalf of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman who received a life sentence in 1996 over nonviolent drug charges and was granted clemency after 21 years behind bars when Kim intervened.
King Charles is set to return to public duties amid his cancer treatment.

King Charles is set to resume public-facing duties

The 75-year-old monarch was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, after he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate in late January, but Charles is now poised to return to "public-facing duties".

A statement from the Royal Family reads: "His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

"To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.

"In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.

"As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year."

In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

At the time, it was revealed that the monarch remains "positive" about his treatment and was keen to return to public duties as soon as possible.

The statement read: "During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

"The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.

"He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

"His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer."
Honda invited journalists, influencers, and personalities, to Milan Italy to showcase to the world the first part of its evolving approach to more sustainable product design. The European premiere of its latest electrified urban vehicle concepts  the SUSTAINA-C Concept car and Pocket Concept motorcycle  at Milan Design Week.

Why Milan  centre and world leading destination of innovation and design, in the fashion world, think Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani, in the art world think Leonardo Da Vinci, and in the world of motoring think Ferrari. So where better to launch your forward thinking vision for the future of Honda.

The Sustaina-C Concept

The SUSTAINA-C Concept

This is the first step in Hondas vision for the future as it demonstrates how society can be free from the constraints of finite resources and become fully sustainable.

Take the panels of the SUSTAINA -C, these are manufactured from end of life recycled acrylic resin from second-hand taillights and turned into exterior panels that dont require painting. This allows Honda to create a unique, unpainted finish that wouldn't be possible with traditional materials. This use of alternative materials will reduce emissions during production by around 45% as a result, with further reductions made by removing energy and materials used for the painting.

The model on display at Milan featured this concept, having black and white marble effect, achieved by mixing colours with different melting points into the panels as they are moulded  leaving a marbling effect behind as the material settled in the mould.

Other advantages not only are the vehicle panels far more resilient as they are crack resistant and able to return to their original shape following light collisions. The resin is also weather resistant with minimal degradation from ultra violet light in sunlight.

Acrylic Resin panels replace the need for paint

At the rear, the acrylic resins transparency means the SUSTAINA-C Concepts tailgate to be formed out of a single panel that can act like a smartphone screen. A mini-LED display has been designed to communicate with other road users via simple text or imagery, thereby offering a potential new dimension for the exterior design of future vehicles.

Working in partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical, to reclaim the acrylic resin to be used for the SUSTAINA-C Concept from the second-hand taillights from end-of-life vehicles demonstrates a new approach to future resource extraction and circulation by working with in tandem with other companies and their shared strengths.

Pocket Concept

The SUSTAINA-C is paired with the Pocket Concept compact motorcycle that can be stored away in the boot to be used further mobility.

Kento Ishii, SUSTAINA-C spokesperson, said: The SUSTAINA-C is proof of the possibilities available when we think more sustainably. This is not only true of the panels themselves, but also those elements that are not visible from the outside. Whether that is sourcing more environmentally friendly steel for the chassis, or recycled materials for the interior, there are so many ways in which we can start to make a difference in the way we manufacture vehicles.

Planet - Sustainability - Society

Their aim is be to become truly and fully sustainable, using renewable energy, by using materials that can be re-used at the end of life over and over again while collaborating with others that take the same approach to manufacture. While at all times producing products and services that expand peoples dreams and potential.

Honda will drive and develop new strengths creating a clean safe resilient society which people will want to be involved in. This will centre the principles of Mono-zukuri, the art of making things, and Koto-zukuri  which is creating new experiences through brand storytelling about the art of making things.

The target is to further expand the product range of products and services that will put people at its core. The ultimate aim is to become the leader in the areas of the environment and safety, we will invest more resources in these areas. And we will strive to become a company that leads the effort to realize a carbon-free and collision-free society.

Current sustainability advances

TheSH125i scooter produced with clear acrylic resin panels that are see through

Honda is already finding ways to reduce the CO2 emissions of its product manufacturing here in Europe, as demonstrated by the Vetro version of its immensely popular SH125i scooter produced at Honda Italia Industriale. The Vetro, Italian for glass, is a special edition model that features distinctive semi-transparent unpainted green fairing panels. The processes around the use of these panels at the Atessa factory reduce CO2 emissions by 9.5 per cent when compared with the manufacturing processes for standard painted fairings.

Developed in partnership with Honda Motor in Japan, the new material is a substitute for the ABS plastic traditionally used for non-structural parts and components, helping to form a sleek, unified body style and premium presence.

The SH125i Vetros elegant looks are matched by its effortless practicality and efficiency, as the first Atessa-built Honda model to meet new EURO5+ emissions targets  a legal requirement for all new model types by the end of 2024.

Marcello Vinciguerra, Managing Director, Honda Italia Industriale, said: The SH125i Vetro demonstrates how small changes in the materials used can have a tangible environmental benefit.

This will be based on mobility, robotics, on AI, and energy solutions in order to provide people with the freedom of mobility and the joy of making their lives better.

It is clear from what was proposed by the speakers at the conference that Honda have a clear and forward thinking vision for the future centred on the three principals of Society, the planet and sustainability. This will be achieved by working with other like minded producers and combining each others strengths to achieve their goals on zero waste, sustainable energy, and giving people safe mobility. High targets but if achieved they will be good for all.

Learn more about Honda Motors click here Honda Motor Europes sustainability goals click here

The SH125i Vetro click here

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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The European Union (EU) has introduced a revamped visa system  called the Cascade System  for Indian travellers

Indians love travelling through Europe, and getting a Schengen visa always comes up when you get set to travel. In an initiative to improve relations between the European Union (EU) and Indian nationals, the EU recently introduced the Cascade Visa System  which tempts Indian travellers to hit the Continent more often.

The new Schengen visa is a marked improvement on the previous one, and allows travellers to stay longer on each visit and to return multiple times during the two-year period. Indians can now stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.





In order to be eligible for the new Schengen visa, Indian travellers must prove that they have acquired and used two Schengen visas within the preceding period of three years. And the bonus: Once you acquire and use the new two-year visa, you will be eligible to get yourself a five-year Schengen visa  as long as your passport has validity for these five years.

The Schengen visa is valid across the Schengen area, which is made up of 25 of the 27 European Union countries (excluding Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland).

Images: Shutterstock

Also Read: 21 Local Secrets To Help You Save On Your Europe Trip
A delegation from the Chinese Council for Textiles and Readymade Garments that recently visited Cairo expressed interest in setting up an integrated textile city in Egypt.

The interest was conveyed during a meeting with Hossam Heiba, chief executive officer of Egypts General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

A Chinese Council for Textiles and Readymade Garments delegation that recently visited Cairo expressed interest in setting up an integrated textile city in Egypt. The interest was conveyed during a meeting with Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones CEO Hossam Heiba. The proposed $300-million textile city would cover all industrial stages.

The proposed $300-million textile city would cover all stages of the industry.

Heiba emphasised Egypt's commitment to attracting more Chinese companies, particularly in the textile sector, acknowledging the sector's importance for economic growth and development, according to Egyptian media reports.

He showcased potential sites like Damietta, Sadat and New Alamein, where the government plans to establish new free and industrial zones to encourage direct foreign investment.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
German exports to countries outside the European Union (EU) experienced a slight decline in March 2024, according to the latest provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, exports to these third countries decreased by 0.8 per cent compared to February 2024, totalling 59.4 billion.

Further analysis shows a more significant decline when looking at year-on-year figures. In March 2024, German exports to third countries fell by 1.5 per cent compared to the same month the previous year on a seasonally adjusted basis. When considering the original values, the exports amounted to 60.8 billion, marking a sharp decrease of 12.2 per cent from March 2023, as per Destatis.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
The UK Mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), together with the ASEAN Secretariat, has launched the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP). This ambitious four-year initiative, valued at up to 25 million ($31.28 million), is designed to accelerate economic growth across the ASEAN region by addressing development barriers within the ASEAN member states and the broader ASEAN Economic Community.

The programme targets three critical areas: supporting regulatory reform to facilitate trade and economic activity, promoting open trade to address trade barriers and enhance global trade connections, including with the UK, and developing financial services to modernise the sector and increase access to finance.

The EIP will adopt a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that focuses on high-impact activities, including technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing partnerships. It will explore the potential of digitalisation as a key driver of economic growth and will aim to enhance support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises across the ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, the UK Mission to ASEAN said in a press release.

The UK Mission to ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat have launched the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme, a $31.28 million initiative to spur economic growth in the ASEAN region over four years. The programme will focus on regulatory reform, promoting open trade, and developing financial services to modernise the sector and boost access to finance.

UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Sarah Tiffin, said, The UK is proud to launch the Economic Integration Programme, enhancing our Dialogue Partnership even further. Since becoming a Dialogue Partner, the UK has been committed to working alongside ASEAN nations to reduce poverty in the region, and provide the foundation for more inclusive economic development that benefits the poorest. This programme will be the UKs key tool to address these significant challenges, in partnership with our ASEAN friends.

His Majestys Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific and the UKs Senior Economic Official to ASEAN, Martin Kent, said, The launch of the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme highlights our commitment to work together with ASEAN towards a more cohesive regional economy. The programme will harness opportunities from the digital economy with a strong focus on womens economic empowerment and small business development. We look forward to bringing the best of UK expertise in regulatory reform, financial services, and trade policy to ASEAN for mutual prosperity.

Secretary General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, said, Today marks a new milestone in the ASEAN-UK partnership as we launch this Programme. I particularly welcome the Programmes focused areas of regulatory reform, open trade, and financial services. I look forward to the programmes support to ASEANs existing initiatives on these three key areas and its contribution to ASEANs economic integration.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
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In Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, Anshuman Jhas black comedy which had its world premiere at IFFM Australia, four Indians living in London meet for a chaotic dinner. Arjun Mathurs Rohit tells his guests that theres a dead body in the trunk. The statement proves to have a life-altering impact on their night. As the film premiered at the Red Lorry Film Festival, the director and the cast opened up about its making.Arjun Mathur took his confusion upon reading the script as a good sign. Recalling his initial reaction to the film, he shared, I was really excited. I was also confused because I couldnt slot the characters as black or white and I couldnt slot the film in any particular genre. That excited me because I couldnt put a finger on it. And the fact that it was always destined to be different from what is produced right now.Opening up about her character, Rasika Dugal shared, Ira is much like the women I grew up with -she conforms and toes the line, but always with a spirit and an endearing sense of humour. She can sometimes be misunderstood as a pushover. But you push her to the edge and you find a fire that cannot be contained. I have always found that so interesting about the many women I have had the opportunity to know closely. There is a gentle kindness that coexists with an unassuming and quiet courage.Lord Curzon Ki Haveli had a small production with a fixed number of days on set. We shot this film in a record number of days - 15 days. When youre shooting something that fast, you have to be prepared. We had done endless rehearsals. So by the time we got in set, we already knew what we had to do, shared Arjun as he reflected on the short span of filming.Sharing the experience of working with Anshuman Jha, who is making his debut with the film, Arjun said, Being an actor himself, Anshuman let us be completely free. He knew what he wanted out of every scene. But that journey of getting from point A to point B, he left it up to us. He was greatly respectful of an actors process.One of the highlights of Lord Curzon Ki Haveli for Rasika was the opportunity to work with Arjun Mathur. Heaping praise on him and the rest of her co-stars, she shared, There is no greater joy than being in a room full (and in this case, literally a room) of talented people, working on a film that allows for much improvisation and craziness. Working with Arjun was one of the reasons I wanted to do the film. I think he is a very special actor and I thought it would be interesting to collaborate with him. I wasn't wrong. I think Arjun, Paresh, Zoha, Tanmay and I milked every opportunity to play off each other.For debut director Anshuman who chose to shoot the film with one lens, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli is a nod to Alfred Hitchcock. Talking about his influences, Anshuman Jha shared, Cinema itself is the act of looking and I wanted the viewer to be one of the characters in the room so as to understand and be surprised by the story as it unfolds. When Bikas Mishra was writing the film I had told him that I would shoot this on a single lens. It was an instinctive call on the writing table as it is a chamber room film - 80% of the film is inside a 200-year-old mansion and I wanted the audience to feel like they are the sixth character in the room. In reality, our eyes don't cut to a close-up or a wide shot - I wanted that first-hand human viewing quality to the picture.He added, Alfred Hitchcock was a master of the single lens technique as a viewing experience - In many ways, the camera itself is an eye within the films of Alfred Hitchcock through which the viewer looks. His film The Rope is a timeless classic and I wanted my film Lord Curzon Ki Haveli to be a 21st-century homage to the Master of suspense.
Indian television actress Arti Singh recently tied the knot with Dipak Chauhan in Mumbai. The wedding festivities were attended by several celebrities including Arti's brother, Krushna Abhishek, his wife Kashmera, Karan Singh Grover and Bipasha Basu. Despite not attending any other functions, Govinda showed up for his nieces wedding, looking as impressive as ever.





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The actor had a public fallout with Artis brother Krushna back in 2018 but they put all their differences aside to celebrate Arti and Dipaks reunion. Govinda was wearing a well structured bandhgala and greeted the paparazzi with a smile and a flying kiss. When he was asked what wishes he would like to give to his niece and her husband, he said, Badhai toh hai. Uske bina kaise chalega. Check out this video from Zoom TV and Telly Talk India.Arti shared adorable pictures from her Haldi, Sangeet and Mehendi ceremonies and she looked absolutely stunning in colour coordinated outfits with the groom.




PRESS RELEASE

Quarterly financial information as of March 31, 2024

IFRS - Regulated information - Not audited

Cegedim achieves solid growth in first quarter 2024

Q1 2024 revenue up 6.9%

Strong growth in digitization, marketing, and international activities

Boulogne-Billancourt, France, April 25, 2024, after the market close

Revenue

First quarter Change Q1 2024 / 2023 In millions of euros 2024 2023 Reclassified(1) Reclassification(1) 2023 Reported Reported vs. Reclassified(1) Like for like (2) (3) vs.

Reclassified Software & Services 74.3 74.4 -6.0 80.4 -0.1% -1.7% Flow 25.3 24.0 -0.8 24.8 5.5% 5.3% Data & Marketing 27.0 24.6 0.0 24.6 9.8% 9.9% BPO 20.2 14.4 0.0 14.4 39.7% 39.7% Cloud & Support 9.0 8.4 6.8 1.6 7.0% 7.0% Cegedim 155.9 145.9 0.0 145.9 6.9% 6.0%

(1) The activities of Cegedim Outsourcing, Audiprint, and BSV have been reclassified under the "Cloud & Support" division due to operational synergies.

(2) At constant scope and exchange rates.

(3) The positive currency impact of 0.2% was mainly due to the pound sterling. The positive scope effect of 0.7% was attributable to the first-time consolidation in Cegedim's accounts of Visiodent from March 1, 2024.





Cegedim generated consolidated Q1 2024 revenues of 155.9 million, an increase of 6.9% as reported and 6.0% like for like (2) compared with 2023.

As a result of the operational synergies between the cloud businesses and the integration of IT solutions, as of January 1, 2024, the Cloud & Support division now includes our Cegedim Outsourcing and Audiprint subsidiaries-previously in the Software & Services division-and BSV-previously in the Flow division.

Analysis of business trends by division

Software & Services

First quarter Change Q1 2024 / 2023 In millions of euros 2024 2023 Reclassified(1) Reported vs. Reclassified(1) Like for like (2) vs.

Reclassified(1) Cegedim Sante 18.0 20.6 -12.6% -17.1% Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 42.7 41.3 3.6% 3.5% International businesses 13.6 12.5 8.7% 6.6% Software & Services 74.3 74.4 -0.1% -1.7%

Cegedim Sante's Q1 revenue declined 12.6%, principally because the Segur subsidies received in 2023 made for an unfavorable basis effect. Postponed delivery of tablets for nurses also impacted Q1 revenue growth, although the shortfall should be made up in the coming quarters. The favorable scope effect is due to the integration of Visiodent from March 1, 2024.

Other French subsidiaries posted growth of 3.6%, buoyed by continued expansion of HR activities, which is being driven notably by their new partner networks. The insurance segment made a smaller contribution to the division's growth. The pharmacy segment was impacted by an unfavorable comparison basis for its equipment installation and updating activities, both of which experienced strong growth in 2023 as clients prepared to integrate functionalities related to the French health authorities' Segur program.

International subsidiaries' Q1 revenue grew 6.6% like for like, spurred by both the UK pharmacy segment, which is benefiting from the launch of the NHS's Pharmacy First service, and expansion of the hospital activity in Spain's Murcia region. The positive exchange rate effect is mostly linked to a stronger pound sterling.

Flow

First quarter Change Q1 2024 / 2023 In millions of euros 2024 2023 Reclassified(1) Reported vs. Reclassified(1) Like for like (2) vs.

Reclassified(1) E-business 15.4 14.2 8.9% 8.6% Third-party payer 9.9 9.8 0.5% 0.5% Flow 25.3 24.0 5.5% 5.3%

The e-business flows grew 8.9 % with its two segments contributing to growth: the invoicing and procurement segment continued to grow, while health data flow activity was buoyed by the launch of new offerings designed to help hospitals to safeguard their pharmaceutical supply chain.

Third-party payer revenue appeared stable because the Allianz contract's flows have been managed as a BPO service since April 2023. Excluding this impact, the business has grown, boosted by higher volumes and the development of the fraud detection offering.

Data & Marketing

First quarter Change Q1 2024 / 2023 In millions of euros 2024 2023 Reclassified1 Reported vs. Reclassified(1) Like for like (2) vs.

Reclassified(1) Data 13.0 13.1 -0.6% -0.6% Marketing 14.0 11.5 21.7% 21.7% Data & Marketing 27.0 24.6 9.8% 9.8%

Data activities were stable in the first quarter, with stronger sales in France than internationally.

Advertising in pharmacies continued to experience robust growth, driven by the expansion of in-pharmacy phygital media.

BPO

First quarter Change Q1 2024 / 2023 In millions of euros 2024 2023 Reclassified(1) Reported vs. Reclassified(1) Like for like(2) vs

Reclassified(1) Insurance BPO 14.5 8.8 65.2% 65.2% BPO Business Services* 5.7 5.6 0.3% 0.3% BPO 20.2 14.4 39.7% 39.7%

* BPO of HR and digitization activities





BPO services for health and personal protection insurers again benefited from a positive comparison effect related to the Allianz contract, which started in Q2 2023, as well as from dynamic sales in the overflow business.

BPO Business Services (HR and digitization services) posted stable revenue in Q1.

Highlights

To the best of the company's knowledge, apart from the items cited below, there were no events or changes during Q1 2024 that would materially alter the Group's financial situation.

Acquisition of Visiodent

On February 15, 2024, Cegedim Sante acquired Visiodent, a leading provider of management solutions for dental practices and health clinics in France. Visiodent launched the market's first 100% SaaS solution, Veasy, at a time when the number of dental practices and health clinics in France was increasing significantly. Its users now include the country's largest nation-wide networks of health clinics, both cooperative and privately owned, as well as several thousand dental surgeons in private practice. Visiodent generated revenue of c.10 million in 2023 and began contributing to Cegedim Group's consolidation scope on March 1, 2024. Post the acquisition, Cegedim is in compliance with all of its covenants and financing contracts.

Euris litigation

Cegedim, jointly with IQVIA (formerly IMS Health), is being sued by Euris for unfair competition. Cegedim asked the court to dismiss the case against the Company. On December 17, 2018, the Paris Commercial Court granted Cegedim's request, which IQVIA then appealed. On December 8, 2021, the Court of Appeals upheld the judgement in favor of Cegedim. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and in a ruling on March 20, 2024, the court overturned the Court of Appeals judgement that had exonerated Cegedim. As a result, the case has been sent back to the Paris Court of Appeals, with a different set of judges.

After consulting its external legal counsel, the Group decided not to set aside any provisions.

The war in Ukraine

The Group does not do business in Russia or Ukraine and has no assets exposed to those countries.

Significant transactions and events post March 31, 2024

To the best of the company's knowledge, there were no events or changes after March 31, 2024, that would materially alter the Group's financial situation.

Outlook

Based on the currently available information, the Group expects 2024 like-for-like revenue(1) growth to be in the range of 5-8% relative to 2023. Recurring operating income should continue to improve, following a similar trajectory as in 2023.

These targets are not forecasts and may need to be revised if there is a significant worsening of geopolitical, macroeconomic, or currency risks.

---------

(1) At constant scope and exchange rates.

WEBCAST IN ENGLISH ON APRIL 25, 2024, AT 6:15 PM (PARIS TIME) The webcast is available at: www.cegedim.fr/webcast The Q1 2024 revenue presentation is available on the website:



https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/documentation/Pages/presentations.aspx

The Audit Committee met on April 25, 2024.

The Board of Directors, chaired by Jean-Claude Labrune, met on April 25, 2024.

2024 financial calendar

2024 June 14 at 9:30 am



July 25 after the close



September 26 after the close



October 24 after the close Shareholders' General Meeting



H1 2024 revenues



H1 2024 results



Q3 2024 revenues

The financial calendar is available on the website: https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/agenda/Pages/default.aspx

Disclaimer

This press release is available in French and in English. In the event of any difference between the two versions, the original French version takes precedence. This press release may contain inside information. It was sent to Cegedim's authorized distributor on April 25, 2024, no earlier than 5:45 pm Paris time.

The figures cited in this press release include guidance on Cegedim's future financial performance targets. This forward-looking information is based on the opinions and assumptions of the Group's senior management at the time this press release is issued and naturally entails risks and uncertainty. For more information on the risks facing Cegedim, please refer to Chapter 7, "Risk management", section 7.2, "Risk factors and insurance", and Chapter 3, "Overview of the financial year", section 3.6, "Outlook", of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on April 3, 2024, under number D.24-0233.











About Cegedim:

Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services group in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs more than 6,500 people in more than 10 countries and generated revenue of 616 million in 2023.

Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).

To learn more please visit: www.cegedim.fr

And follow Cegedim on X: @CegedimGroup, LinkedIn and Facebook.





Aude Balleydier

Cegedim

Media Relations and

Communications Manager

Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81

aude.balleydier@cegedim.fr

Damien Buffet

Cegedim

Head of Financial Communication



Tel.: +33 (0)7 64 63 55 73

damien.buffet@cegedim.com

Celine Pardo

Becoming

Media Relations







Tel.: +33 (0)6 52 08 13 66

cegedim@becoming-group.com











Annexes

Breakdown of revenue by division

Fiscal 2024

In million euros Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Software & Services 74.3 74.3 Flow 25.3 25.3 Data & Marketing 27.0 27.0 BPO 20.2 20.2 Cloud & Support 9.0 9.0 Group revenue 155.9 155.9

Fiscal 2023

In million euros Q1 Reclassified Q1

Reported Reclassification Total

Reclassified Total

Reported Software & Services 74.4 80.4 -6.0 74.4 80.4 Flow 24.0 24.8 -0.8 24.0 24.8 Data & Marketing 24.6 24.6 0.0 24.6 24.6 BPO 14.4 14.4 0.0 14.4 14.4 Cloud & Support 8.4 1.6 6.8 8.4 1.6 Group revenue 145.9 145.9 0.0 145.9 145.9

Breakdown of revenue by geographic zone, currency, and division at March 31, 2024

As a % of consolidated revenues



Geographic zone Currency France EMEA

excl. France Americas Euro GBP Others Software & Services 81.7% 18.2% 0.1% 85.2% 13.1% 1.7% Flow 91.4% 8.6% 0.0% 94.5% 5.5% 0.0% Data & Marketing 97.6% 2.4% 0.0% 97.9% 0.0% 2.1% BPO 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cloud & Support 99.9% 0.1% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% Cegedim 89.5% 10.5% 0.1% 91.7% 7.1% 1.2%





(4) The activities of Cegedim Outsourcing, Audiprint, and BSV have been reclassified under the "Cloud & Support" division due to operational synergies.

(5) At constant scope and exchange rates.
Perk Labs Inc. (CSE:PERK)(OTC PINK:PKLBF)(FRA:PKLB) ("Perk" or the "Company"), announced that it has closed its non-brokered private placements of units and convertible debentures.

Private Placement of Units

The Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 78,900,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.01 per Unit for gross proceeds of CAD $789,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $0.05 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing.

Private Placement of Convertible Debentures

Perk Labs also announced that it closed a non-brokered private placement of convertible debentures ("Debentures") for gross proceeds of $25,000. The Debentures mature two years from the date of issuance and bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum. The Debentures are convertible into Common Shares at a conversion price of $0.05 per Common Share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the specific Debenture agreement.

All securities issued pursuant to the private placements are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the closing. The net proceeds from the private placements will be used for general working capital purposes, accounts payable, and employee salaries.

In connection with the private placements, B. Rogic, a "related party" of the Company (as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), acquired $73,000 of Units. The acquisition of Units by Mr. Rogic constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of MI 61-101. The Company relied on an exemption from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101, as no securities of the Company are listed or quoted on specified markets, and an exemption from the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the private placement by Mr. Rogic did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

About Perk Labs Inc.

Perk Labs Inc., (CSE:PERK)(OTCPINK:PKLBF)(FKT:PKLB), the owner of Getit Technologies Inc. and Perk Hero Software Inc. ("Perk Labs"), provides innovative mobile ordering and payment systems, allowing customers the ability to scan a QR code or NFC sticker to order and pay for their purchases directly from their phone. Perk Labs specializes in providing a single unified payment interface for complex purchase environments - environments that have multiple retailers processing an array of different transactions, including food and beverage purchases, merchandise sales, ticketing, registrations, donations, parking fees, and service payments. Perk Labs provides a custom-branded solution that is ideal for multi-transaction brands such as stadiums and arenas, university and college campuses, conference centers, hotels and resorts, festivals and events, and professional service companies.

For more information, contact:

Ryan Hardy

CEO

(833) 338-0299

investors@getittechnologies.io

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "may", "believe", "thinks", "expect", "exploring", "expand", "could", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "pursue", "potentially", "projected", "should", "will" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to, among other things, the discussion of the Company's business strategies and its expectations concerning future operations, and expectations of future revenues for the Company. Although the Company considers these forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

SOURCE: Perk Labs Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com


EQS Newswire / 26/04/2024 / 03:00 CET/CEST

In the "OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper", OPPO reaffirms its long-term commitment to innovation and its proactive defense intellectual property strategy.

OPPO is investing significantly in AI innovation and is committed to advancing and popularizing AI Phones.

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 April 2024 - Today, OPPO, a Leading global technology company, released its "OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper" on World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), OPPO ranked ninth globally in patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2023, making its fifth consecutive year in the global top ten. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed over 101,000 patent applications globally, with more than 55,000 patents granted, and 91% of all patent applications are utility patents.





"At OPPO, we believe that technological innovation and intellectual property protection are fundamental to our company's past, present, and future success," said Feng Ying, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of OPPO. "Through our proactive defense IP strategy and commitment to fostering a healthy long-term IP ecosystem, we are fully committed to supporting the future of innovation as envisioned in the 'OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper'."



OPPO's Commitment to Advancing and Popularizing AI Phones



Through extensive R&D investment in areas such as image processing, computer vision, speech technology, natural language processing, and machine learning, OPPO is pioneering AI technology development and widespread application in its smartphone products. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed a total of 5,399 AI-related patents globally, including 3,796 utility patents in AI imaging. According to the "Artificial Intelligence Patent Ranking" published by intellectual property media outlet IPRdaily on April 22, 2024, OPPO ranked ninth in China with a total of 3,743 AI-related utility patents granted.





As part of its efforts to enhance smart life experiences for its users, OPPO is focused on transforming the latest technical innovations into practical, consumer-centric applications. This includes the introduction of over one hundred AI-driven features on the latest OPPO Find X7 series, while future plans involve integrating generative AI features such as AI Eraser and AI Magic Studio into more OPPO products.



Advanced Key Technologies through Open Innovation



OPPO's commitment to open innovation is driving the company's efforts to build an intellectual property ecosystem based on key technological breakthroughs in high-value areas such as 5G/6G, AI, flash charge, and imaging.



To date, OPPO has deployed 5G essential standard patents in over 40 countries and regions globally. It has also filed over 6,100 families of global patent applications, declared over 3,300 families of 5G standard patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and submitted more than 11,000 5G standard-related proposals to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In other areas, OPPO has applied for over 12,306 global imaging-related patents and has licensed its VOOC flash charge technology to more than 50 companies, enabling more electronic devices with fast charging capabilities.





Proactive Defense IP Strategy for Sustainable IP Ecosystem Development



Over the years, OPPO has signed licensing or cross-license agreements with dozens of patent owners globally, resolving numerous intellectual property licensing issues through negotiations and cross-licenses that fully reflect the value of intellectual property rights from all parties. These steps echo the company's wider belief in charging reasonable licensing fees and avoiding coercive patent litigation while defending its legitimate legal rights and interests where applicable.



Driven by its mission of "Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World", OPPO will continue to invest in innovation to create more industry-leading products and services while contributing to the development of the global intellectual property ecosystem through practical actions.



Hashtag: OPPO

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - "Smiley Face" - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.





News Source: OPPO

26/04/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


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Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG / Key word(s): Acquisition/Corporate Action

Business Combination of Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG (now renamed to Curatis Holding AG) and Curatis AG completed



26-Apr-2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The Business Combination of Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG (now renamed to Curatis Holding AG) with Curatis AG and related transactions were completed on 25 April 2024

The first trading day of the combined entities, Curatis Group (CURN.SW), is today, 26 April 2024

A total of CHF4.36m in cash was raised in Q1 2024 in connection with the Business Combination

Curatis Group, a specialty pharmaceutical and therapeutic drug development company focused on orphan and ultra-orphan indications is an exciting addition to the universe of healthcare companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange

Risk-balanced business model with a mix of specialty medicine distribution and targeted own drug development activities, focusing on compounds with existing safety and efficacy data in indications with high unmet medical need

Liestal, Switzerland, 26 April 2024: Curatis Holding AG ("CURN.SW", "Curatis Holding" or the "Company", formerly Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG, and together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Curatis AG, "Curatis Group"), a SIX Swiss Exchange listed specialty pharmaceutical and therapeutic speciality medicine distribution and drug development company, today announces that it has successfully completed the business combination with Curatis AG (the "Business Combination"). As of today, the CURN.SW shares of the Company, under the new name Curatis Holding AG and with a relocated domicile to Liestal, Basel-Landschaft, are trading for the first time on the SIX Swiss Exchange. As initial related transactions, a reverse share split (the "Reverse Share Split") with a reverse share split ratio of 4,480:1 (together with a small capital increase of 111 shares of the Company to make the number of shares of the Company divisible by 4,480) and a share capital reduction, whereby the nominal value of each share of the Company was reduced from CHF 44.80 (immediately post Reverse Share Split) to CHF 0.10 per share, were carried out. As a result, the 1,310,176,000 shares of the Company (i.e previous KNRS.SW shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.01 per KNRS.SW share) were split into 292,450 CURN.SW shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.10 per CURN.SW share. Concurrently and as the main transaction of the Business Combination, Curatis Holding acquired by way of contribution in kind all outstanding shares of Curatis AG in a capital increase against a total consideration of 4,093,916 newly issued CURN.SW shares. As a result of all these transactions, the total number of outstanding CURN.SW shares is now 4,386,366 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.10 each. Also, as part of the Business Combination, a Mandatory Exchangeable Loan Note with principal amount of CHF 4.55 million (the "Loan Note") was placed with selected investors. This Loan Note has already been partially converted into new CURN.SW and, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Note, the remainder will be converted 61 trading days from today into between 112,780 and 368,699 shares, with the conversion price depending on the 60-day volume weighted average share price of the Company's shares. With the total cash of CHF 4.36 million raised under the Loan Note, together with the net cash flow expected to be generated by the specialty medicine distribution business of the Curatis Group in the future, the Curatis Group expects to have sufficient funds to execute its base case business plan for the development of its lead product candidate C-PTBE-01. The Curatis Group: The Curatis Group is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialisation of innovative medicines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases - often referred to as orphan diseases - and special care diseases. In recent years, orphan drugs have shown an above market growth compared to non-orphan innovative drugs in the past. Orphan drug development may be associated with a faster and less costly route to market, thereby reducing a company's overall risk profile. The Group also operates a distribution business with a sizeable and historically profitable portfolio of interesting, marketed orphan and specialty products in Switzerland and has a pipeline of four promising projects in advanced and late clinical development, including KIN001, a proprietary compound platform developed by Kinarus with future potential. The Curatis Group thus represents an attractive, risk-balanced business model. Distribution business for orphan disease and specialty disease medicines Curatis has exclusive distribution rights in Switzerland for more than 30 different drugs developed by third party pharmaceutical companies - many of them orphan and specialty drugs. With Curatis AG now being part of a publicly listed group and the expected increase in public visibility and credibility, the Curatis Group aims to grow its speciality pharmaceuticals distribution business by expanding its product offering in Switzerland as well as geographically expanding its distribution business to large European markets such as Germany, France, the UK and Italy. Development business for orphan and specialty disease medicines Curatis Group's strategy is to identify high unmet medical need indications for compounds for which safety and clinical efficacy data already exist, potentially allowing faster development with lower risk and investment through to commercialisation. The development projects have been selected in line with this strategy. C-PTBE-01 for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema in pediatric patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma ("DIPG") - next major development step: pivotal clinical study The Group is focusing its development activities for C-PTBE-01 on peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in pediatric patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). DIPG is an aggressive type of childhood cancer that forms in the brain stem. It is very rare and almost always occurs in the pediatric population. Approximately 150-300 patients are diagnosed with DIPG each year in the US. The average (median) overall survival for patients with DIPG is less than 1 year. PTBE refers to the accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue surrounding a tumor. It commonly occurs in brain tumors and can cause significant neurological symptoms and complications due to increased pressure within the skull. It may lead to symptoms such as headaches, seizures, neurological deficits, and altered mental status. Given the lack of curative options for most DIPG patients, supportive therapy aimed at maintaining quality of life plays a central role in the treatment of many patients. Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat PTBE. Their administration is typically associated with rapid symptom relief. However, corticosteroids can have severe side effects such as severe myopathies, muscle wasting, morbid weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, and personality changes. C-PTBE-01 has shown a strong corticosteroid-sparing effect, which may allow a significant reduction in corticosteroid use. Phase I, II and III clinical data are available, and thus Curatis Group currently expects that only a pivotal study with a relatively small number of patients is envisioned for registration. C-PTBE-01 may be eligible for 7 years of orphan drug protection in the US and 10 years of orphan drug protection in the EU upon orphan drug designation and receiving market authorization. Curatis Group may apply for a Rare Pediatric Disease Voucher for C-PTBE-01. C-AM-01 for the prevention of severe migraine with aura ("MwA") - next major development step: clinical phase IIb study An aura typically is a perceptual disturbance and includes a wide range of neurological symptoms. In some patients, changes in the cortex area of the brain cause changes in their sight, such as dark spots, colored spots, sparkles or 'stars', and zigzag lines. Numbness or tingling, weakness, and dizziness or vertigo (the feeling of everything spinning) can also happen. Speech and hearing can also be disturbed, and sufferers have reported memory changes, feelings of fear and confusion, and more rarely, partial paralysis or fainting. Migraine with Aura is a high unmet medical need indication. There is no approved preventive treatment that specifically targets MwA and its associated headache. MwA can cause significant disability on patients and compromise their daily life activity. MwA attacks are comparable to epileptic attacks in terms of unexpectedness and instant disability. MwA patients are 3 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke. Two Phase IIa clinical proof-of-concept studies suggest a reduction in the number of auras with C-AM-01. C-AM-01 has been granted a US patent covering its use and dosing regimen. In the EU, C-AM-01 would benefit from 10 years of data exclusivity and market protection. C-MOH-01 for the treatment and prevention of medication overuse headache ("MOH") - next major development step: clinical phase IIb study Headache is one of the most prevalent disorders in human society and is responsible for substantial socioeconomic expenses. A general problem of headache treatment is the overuse of drugs. Patients, who tend to use acute medication to treat their headache on a frequent basis, like patients who report a history of migraine as well as patients that report tension type headache (TTH) are predestined for medication overuse headache (MOH). Instead of curing the pain, overuse leads to even heavier secondary headache which is much more difficult to treat and is referred to as Medication Overuse Headache ("MOH"). Economically, medication overuse headache is among the costliest of neurologic diseases and the costliest kind of headache disorder. Currently the treatment of choice for MOH is discontinuation of the overused medication although this is often associated with acute headache pain and withdrawal symptoms such as sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and depression. Thus, there is a significant unmet need for patients suffering from MOH. One Phase IIa clinical proof-of-concept study in chronic tension type headache is available for C-MOH-01. C-MOH-01 has been granted a US patent covering its use. In the EU, C-MOH-01 would benefit from 10 years of data exclusivity and market protection. KIN001 for the treatment of rare inflammatory and fibrotic diseases (e.g. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ("IPF")) - next major development step: clinical proof-of-concept KIN001, developed by Kinarus, is a proprietary compound with potential in inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. KIN001 adds a significant new element to the Group's pipeline. The Curatis Group intends to explore the potential of KIN001 in ultra-orphan inflammatory and fibrotic diseases and to pursue its own drug development for the identified ultra-orphan indications. The Curatis Group also plans to pursue KIN001 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ("IPF"). IPF is a rare, progressive orphan disease of the respiratory system characterised by thickening and stiffening of lung tissue associated with the formation of scar tissue. It is a type of chronic scarring lung disease characterised by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function. The tissue in the lungs becomes thick and stiff, affecting the tissue surrounding the air sacs in the lungs. Symptoms typically include gradual shortness of breath and a dry cough. Other changes may include fatigue and abnormally large and dome-shaped finger and toenails (nail clubbing). Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. There is no cure for IPF and there are currently no procedures or medicines that can remove the scarring from the lungs. Current treatments are focused on slowing the progression of lung scarring and do not necessarily reduce the symptoms of coughing and breathlessness. KIN001 has shown beneficial effects in reducing IPF in a well-characterised animal model of IPF. The Curatis Group has licensed patent rights relating to the drug combination as well as patent rights and know-how relating to IPF in this drug combination. The Group intends to explore out-licensing opportunities in IPF. The following graph is a projected Development Roadmap. It shows the currently assumed development plan of the Curatis Group's product candidates, highlighting potentially important inflection points over the next 5 years. Development Roadmap About the Curatis Holding Group: Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed specialty pharmaceutical company with a distribution and drug development business. The focus of the Curatis Group's business activities is on high unmet medical need orphan and ultra-orphan indications, pursued via its wholly owned operating subsidiary Curatis AG. The Curatis Group was formed by the Business Combination of Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG and Curatis AG in April 2024. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.curatis.com. Investor Relations Contact: YUMA Capital

Thomas Bieri

Managing Partner

Tel: +41 44 575 20 01

thomas.bieri@yuma-capital.com Disclaimer:

THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SWISS FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT ("FINSA"), NOR A PROSPECTUS UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS OFFERING MATERIALS OF ANY SORT AND IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS IN SUMMARY FORM AND MUST BE CONSIDERED IN CONJUCTION WITH AND SUBJECT TO THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION OF CURATIS HOLDING AG. THIS DOCUMENT IS BEING FURNISHED TO YOU SOLELY FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, REDISTRIBUTED OR MADE AVAILABLE IN WHOLE OR IN PART TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ANY PURPOSE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF CURATIS HOLDING AG. THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES ADVERTISMENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 68 OF THE FINSA. This document contains certain forward-looking statements. Other written materials, as well as other written and oral statements made to the public, may also contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "potential," "expected," "will," "planned," "pipeline," "outlook," "may," "could," "would," "anticipate," "seek," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new products, potential new indications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products; or regarding the potential outcome, or financial or other impact on Curatis Holding AG, of any of the transactions described; or regarding potential future sales or earnings of the group or any of its divisions or potential shareholder returns; or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations or intentions. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. This document is not an offering circular or prospectus and is being furnished to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced, redistributed or made available in whole or in part to any other person for any purpose, without the prior consent of Curatis Holding AG. This document is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgement. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security nor is it a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any decision to subscribe to any securities should only be made on the basis of an independent review by you of Curatis Holding AG publicly available information. Curatis Holding AG does not accept any liability arising from the use of, or make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of, this document or the publicly available information on Curatis Holding AG. We provide the information in this document as of the date hereof and the information contained in this document is subject to change at any time. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update any information or forward-looking statements set out in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Curatis Holding AG shall not be responsible for, or for investigating, any matter which is the subject of any statement, representation, warranty or covenant of Curatis Holding AG contained in any agreement or document relating to a transaction (including to the Business Combination with Curatis AG announced with a media release on 29 January 2024), or for the execution, legality, effectiveness, adequacy, genuineness, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence thereof. This document is not for distribution, directly or indirectly in or into the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("US Securities Act")). This document is not an offer to sell securities, or the solicitation of any offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any offer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful. The securities mentioned in this document have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or exemption from registration under the US Securities Act. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. In connection with the Business Combination there has not been, nor will there be, any public offering of any securities in any jurisdiction in and outside of Switzerland. The securities in connection with the Business Combination may not be offered to the public in any jurisdiction in circumstances which would require Curatis AG or Curatis Holding AG to prepare or register any prospectus or offering document relating to the securities in connection with the Business Combination in such jurisdiction. No action has been taken or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside of Switzerland by Curatis AG and Curatis Holding AG that would, or is intended to, permit a public offering of the securities in connection with the Business Combination in such jurisdiction.

News Source: Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG



End of Inside Information
R evenue for Q1 2024 came to 1,587.4 million, equating to total growth of 13.8%

Organic growth 1 came to 0.3%, in line with the guidance issued at the end of February: "Q1 relatively stable"

Targets confirmed for organic growth, operating margin rate and free cash flow for financial year 2024

Regulatory News:

Sopra Steria (Paris:SOP) generated revenue of 1,587.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, representing growth of 13.8%. At constant scope and exchange rates, revenue grew 0.3%.

Sopra Steria: Consolidated revenue Q1 2024 m % Q1 2024 Q1 2023 Organic

growth Total

growth Revenue 1,587.4 1,395.4 0.3% 13.8%

Cyril Malarge, Chief Executive Officer of Sopra Steria Group, commented:

"In the first quarter of 2024, in a market that remained buoyant for large-scale digital transformation projects but substantially less dynamic for discretionary investments, Sopra Steria showed solid resilience, achieving organic revenue growth in line with forecasts.

Our priorities for 2024 are confirmed: successfully integrate the companies we acquired in 2023; execute the plan to dispose of our banking software activities by the end of Q2, or during Q3 at the latest; make progress on our internal transformation initiatives; and, finally, boost the Group's financial performance.

In Q1, we also stepped up our investments in the rAIse programme to embrace generative artificial intelligence. Sopra Steria Next, our consulting entity, forged two major strategic partnerships, launching a collaboration with Microsoft to assist businesses in their implementation of Microsoft 365 Copilot and joining the NVIDIA AI Consulting Partner Network. These initiatives reinforce Sopra Steria's leadership position in artificial intelligence and give our customers access to the very best these cutting-edge technologies have to offer."

Comments on Q1 2024 business activity

Revenue came to 1,587.4 million, equating to total growth of 13.8% relative to Q1 2023. This growth included the positive impact of changes in scope of 184.1 million arising from the consolidation of CS Group and Tobania since 1 March 2023, and of Ordina since 1 October 2023. Currency fluctuations had a positive impact of 3.1 million.

In an environment marked by a slowdown in discretionary investments in technology, a high basis of comparison (9.1% growth in Q1 2023) and an unfavourable calendar effect (1 fewer day), organic growth held up well, equating to slight growth (0.3%). The most resilient sectors were the public sector, financial services and defence.

The France reporting unit (39% of the Group total) generated revenue of 624.6 million, equating to negative organic growth of 2.6%. Most verticals saw a contraction in their revenue, including the aeronautics sector, which saw a business downturn of around 4.5% in the first quarter of 2024. On the other hand, the defence and transport verticals remained buoyant and growing.

The United Kingdom reporting unit (15% of the Group total) posted revenue of 240.0 million, representing organic growth of 7.4%. Growth was driven by a very robust public sector and a private sector that started to feel the positive effects of new contracts signed in the second half of 2023, which will gradually ramp up over the course of 2024.

The Other Europe reporting unit(35% of the Group total) posted 547.7 million in revenue, representing total growth of 33.5% following the consolidation of Ordina and Tobania. Organic growth came to 1.7%. Germany was hampered by a weaker economic backdrop than in the rest of Europe and a contraction in revenue. Scandinavia, Spain and Italy enjoyed brisk business activity, with growth of between 5% and 8%. Benelux, where the consolidation of three companies is underway, achieved a similar level of revenue as in Q1 2023 (173.1 million on a pro forma basis).

Revenue for Sopra Banking Software (7% of the Group total) came to 103.8 million, equating to an organic contraction of 4.1%, as expected for the first quarter. This contraction mainly arose from the 7.9% negative growth in services revenue. Subscriptions remained well on track with 21.1% growth, driven in particular by momentum in the digital solutions offered by Sopra Banking Platform and Sopra Financing Platform.

The Other Solutions reporting unit (4% of the Group total) posted revenue of 71.2 million, representing organic growth of 0.8%. The Human Resources Solutions business (which generates 70% of the reporting unit's revenue) grew by 3.7%. Property Management Solutions contracted by 5.3%, in line with forecasts.

Changes in scope

Sopra Steria recently clarified its strategy, stating its aim to refocus on digital services and solutions, with the ambition of becoming a compelling European alternative to global providers for major European clients in its strategic markets.

Consequently, Sopra Steria announced (see press release of 21 February 2024) its plan to dispose of its banking software activities. Preparatory work is underway. The objective is to finalise this transaction by the end of Q2 2024, or during Q3 2024 at the latest.

Workforce

At end-March 2024, the Group's net headcount stood at 56,273 people, compared with 53,724 people at 31 March 2023. The consolidation of Ordina added 2,630 people. A total of 9,313 staff were employed at international service centres.

The workforce attrition rate was 14.0% (compared with 16.0% in Q1 2023).

Recap of targets for 2024

Organic revenue growth of between 2% and 4%

Operating margin on business activity of between 9.5% and 10%

Free cash flow of at least 350 million

Q1 2024 revenue presentation meeting

Revenue for the first quarter of 2024 will be presented to financial analysts and investors via a bilingual (French and English) conference call to be held on 26 April 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CET:

French-language phone number: +33 (0)1 70 37 71 66

English-language phone number: +44 (0)33 0551 0200

Practical information about this conference call can be found in the 'Investors' section of the Group's website: https://www.soprasteria.com/investors

Upcoming financial releases

Tuesday, 21 May 2024 (2:30 p.m.): General Meeting of Shareholders

Wednesday, 24 July 2024 (after market close): Publication of H1 2024 results

Thursday, 31 October 2024 (before market open): Publication of Q3 2024 revenue

Glossary

Restated revenue : Revenue for the prior year, expressed on the basis of the scope and exchange rates for the current year.

: Revenue for the prior year, expressed on the basis of the scope and exchange rates for the current year. Organic revenue growth : Increase in revenue between the period under review and restated revenue for the same period in the prior financial year.

: Increase in revenue between the period under review and restated revenue for the same period in the prior financial year. EBITDA : This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to consolidated operating profit on business activity after adding back depreciation, amortisation and provisions included in operating profit on business activity.

: This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to consolidated operating profit on business activity after adding back depreciation, amortisation and provisions included in operating profit on business activity. Free cash flow : Net cash from operating activities; less investments (net of disposals) in property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets; less lease payments; less net interest paid; and less additional contributions to address any deficits in defined-benefit pension plans.

: Net cash from operating activities; less investments (net of disposals) in property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets; less lease payments; less net interest paid; and less additional contributions to address any deficits in defined-benefit pension plans. Operating profit on business activity : This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to profit from recurring operations adjusted to exclude the share-based payment expense for stock options and free shares and charges to amortisation of allocated intangible assets.

: This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to profit from recurring operations adjusted to exclude the share-based payment expense for stock options and free shares and charges to amortisation of allocated intangible assets. Profit from recurring operations : Operating profit before other operating income and expenses, which includes any particularly significant items of operating income and expense that are unusual, abnormal, infrequent or not foreseeable, presented separately in order to give a clearer picture of performance based on ordinary activities.

: Operating profit before other operating income and expenses, which includes any particularly significant items of operating income and expense that are unusual, abnormal, infrequent or not foreseeable, presented separately in order to give a clearer picture of performance based on ordinary activities. Basic recurring earnings per share : This measure is equal to basic earnings per share before other operating income and expenses net of tax.

: This measure is equal to basic earnings per share before other operating income and expenses net of tax. Return on capital employed (RoCE) : (Profit from recurring operations after tax Profit from equity-accounted companies) (Equity Net financial debt).

: (Profit from recurring operations after tax Profit from equity-accounted companies) (Equity Net financial debt). Downtime :Number of days between two contracts (excluding training, sick leave, other leave and pre-sales) divided by the total number of business days.

Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking information subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may affect the Group's future growth and financial results. Readers are reminded that licence agreements, which often represent investments for clients, are signed in greater numbers in the second half of the year, with varying impacts on end-of-year performance. Actual outcomes and results may differ from those described in this document due to operational risks and uncertainties. More detailed information on the potential risks that may affect the Group's financial results can be found in the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 15 March 2024 (see pages 40 to 46 in particular). Sopra Steria does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this document beyond what is required by current laws and regulations. The distribution of this document in certain countries may be subject to the laws and regulations in force. Persons physically present in countries where this document is released, published or distributed should enquire as to any applicable restrictions and should comply with those restrictions.

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria, a major player in the European tech sector with 56,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognised for its consulting, digital services and software development. It helps its clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. The Group provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. In 2023, the Group generated revenue of 5.8 billion.

The world is how we shape it.

Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809

For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

________________

1 Alternative performance measures are defined in the glossary at the end of this document.

Annexes

Sopra Steria: Impact on revenue of changes in scope and exchange rates Q1 2024 m Q1 2024 Q1 2023 Growth Revenue 1,587.4 1,395.4 +13.8% Changes in exchange rates 3.1 Revenue at constant exchange rates 1,587.4 1,398.5 +13.5% Changes in scope 184.1 Revenue at constant scope and exchange rates 1,587.4 1,582.6 +0.3%

Sopra Steria: Changes in exchange rates Q1 2024 For 1 % Average rate

Q1 2024 Average rate

Q1 2023 Change Pound sterling 0.8563 0.8831 +3.1% Norwegian krone 11.4159 10.9901 -3.7% Swedish krona 11.2792 11.2030 -0.7% Danish krone 7.4563 7.4429 -0.2% Swiss franc 0.9491 0.9925 +4.6%

Sopra Steria: Revenue by reporting unit Q1 2024 m %

Q1 2024 Q1 2023

Restated* Q1 2023 Organic

growth Total

growth France 624.6 641.4 589.9 -2.6% +5.9% United Kingdom 240.0 223.5 216.7 +7.4% +10.7% Other Europe 547.7 538.8 410.4 +1.7% +33.5% Sopra Banking Software 103.8 108.3 107.7 -4.1% -3.6% Solutions 71.2 70.7 70.6 +0.8% +0.9% Sopra Steria Group 1,587.4 1,582.6 1,395.4 +0.30% +13.8% * Revenue at 2024 scope and exchange rates

Sopra Steria: Workforce breakdown 31/03/2024 3/31/2024 3/31/2023 France 22,020 22,102 United Kingdom 7,807 7,684 Other Europe 16,593 13,880 Rest of the World 540 580 X-Shore 9,313 9,478 Total 56,273 53,724

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240425033593/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Olivier Psaume

olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com

+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16

Press Relations

Caroline Simon (Image 7)

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Idorsia receives a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for JERAYGO (aprocitentan) as the first and only endothelin receptor antagonist for the treatment of resistant hypertension in adult patients in combination with at least three antihypertensive medicinal products.

A CHMP positive opinion is one of the final steps before marketing authorization can be granted by the European Commission - a final decision is expected in approximately two months.

Allschwil, Switzerland - April 26, 2024

Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), adopted a positive opinion for the use of JERAYGO (aprocitentan) for the treatment of resistant hypertension in adult patients in combination with at least three antihypertensive medicinal products. The CHMP has adopted a positive opinion for the use of 12.5 mg JERAYGO orally once daily. The dose can be increased to 25 mg once daily for patients tolerating the 12.5 mg dose and in need of tighter blood pressure (BP) control.

Detailed recommendations for the use of JERAYGO will be described in the summary of product characteristics (SmPC), which will be published in the European public assessment report (EPAR) and made available in all official European Union languages after the marketing authorization has been granted by the European Commission, expected in approximately two months.

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease worldwide, impacting an estimated 1.3 billion people globally.1 Approximately 10% of these people have uncontrolled BP, despite receiving at least three antihypertensive medications from different classes, at optimal doses and they are categorized in hypertension guidelines2,3 as having resistant hypertension. Compared with adults whose hypertension is well controlled, adults with uncontrolled hypertension have greater risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, end-stage renal disease and death.4

Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and Chief Executive Officer of Idorsia commented:

"Uncontrolled hypertension, particularly resistant hypertension, where blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite the use of multiple antihypertensive therapies, affects millions of Europeans and is a major public health issue leading to a high risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and renal disease, not to mention the increased risk of death. Idorsia has tackled this need by developing aprocitentan, or JERAYGO, the brand name in Europe, an endothelin receptor antagonist discovered by our team and optimized for the treatment of resistant hypertension. As a result of our efforts, physicians and patients in Europe are one step closer to having a new oral antihypertensive therapy - the first in almost 40 years - that is working via a new therapeutic pathway."

The positive CHMP opinion is supported by a comprehensive clinical and non-clinical development program. Aprocitentan was evaluated as a monotherapy in a Phase 2 study in patients with hypertension,11 and as an add-on therapy in a Phase 3 study called PRECISION in patients with confirmed resistant hypertension.12 In the Phase 3 registration study, PRECISION, aprocitentan showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure (BP) which was maintained for up to 48 weeks when added to a combination of background antihypertensive therapies in patients with resistant hypertension. In PRECISION, aprocitentan was generally well tolerated with no major safety concerns. The most frequent adverse event with aprocitentan was mild-to-moderate edema/fluid retention.

The team at Idorsia has been working on the research and development of endothelin receptor antagonists for more than 30 years, successfully bringing three other molecules from this class to patients in different indications. Endothelin (ET)-1, via its receptors (ET A and ET B ), mediates a variety of effects such as vasoconstriction, fibrosis, cell proliferation, inflammation, aldosterone production7 and is upregulated in hypertension. Aprocitentan is a dual ERA that inhibits the binding of ET-1 to ET A and ET B receptors and hence the effects mediated by these receptors.5 The effects of ET-1 bear many similarities with the pathophysiology of hypertension,6,8 and the resistance to other antihypertensive drugs in some patients (often with risk factors such as obesity, sleep apnea, older age, kidney failure, type 2 diabetes, and African Americans), can be explained by an endothelin-dependent hypertension8. This is now confirmed by the efficacy of aprocitentan in the PRECISION study.

About the Phase 3 PRECISION study (NCT03541174 (https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03541174))12

PRECISION was a multicenter, blinded, randomized, parallel-group, Phase 3 study, which was performed in hospitals or research centers in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. Patients were eligible for randomization if their sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 140 mm Hg or higher despite taking standardized background therapy consisting of three antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic. The study consisted of three sequential parts: Part 1 was the 4-week double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled part, in which 730 patients were randomized to aprocitentan 12.5 mg (n=243), aprocitentan 25 mg (n=243), or placebo (n=244) in a 1:1:1 ratio; Part 2 was a 32-week single (patient)-blind part, in which all patients received aprocitentan 25 mg (n=704); and Part 3 was a 12-week double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled withdrawal part, in which patients were re-randomized to aprocitentan 25 mg (n=307) or placebo (n=307) in a 1:1 ratio. The primary and key secondary endpoints were changes in unattended office SBP from baseline to week 4 and from withdrawal baseline to week 40, respectively. Secondary endpoints included 24-h ambulatory blood pressure changes.

At baseline, 69.2% of patients were obese or severely obese, 54.1% had diabetes, 22.2% had stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease and 19.6% had congestive heart failure. At screening, 63% of all patients who were randomly assigned were prescribed four or more antihypertensive drugs.

Key PRECISION findings13

The least square mean change in office SBP at 4 weeks was -15.3 mmHg for aprocitentan 12.5 mg,

-15.2 mmHg for 25 mg, and -11.5 mmHg for placebo, for a difference versus placebo of -3.8 mmHg (p=0.0042) and -3.7 mmHg (p=0.0046), respectively (the primary endpoint). Office diastolic blood pressure (DBP) also decreased with both aprocitentan doses compared to placebo (-3.9 mmHg for the 12.5 mg dose and -4.5 mmHg for the 25 mg dose). Office SBP and DBP were maintained during Part 2 in patients previously receiving aprocitentan and decreased within the first 2 weeks of Part 2 before stabilizing in those previously receiving placebo. In Part 3, office SBP after 4 weeks of withdrawal (week 40) (the key secondary endpoint) increased significantly with placebo compared to aprocitentan (5.8 mmHg; p<0.0001). Office DBP also increased with placebo compared to aprocitentan (5.2 mmHg; p<0.001). The difference between the two groups remained up to week 48.

The results from ambulatory BP monitoring confirmed those derived from office measurements. At the end of Part 1, aprocitentan, after placebo correction, decreased both the 24-hour ambulatory SBP (-4.2 mmHg for the 12.5 mg dose and -5.9 mmHg for the 25 mg dose) and DBP (-4.3 mmHg for the 12.5 mg dose and -5.8 mmHg for the 25 mg dose). The placebo-corrected SBP lowering effect was

-5.1 mmHg and -7.4 mmHg during the night time and -3.8 mmHg and -5.3 mmHg during the daytime, for the 12.5 mg and 25 mg doses, respectively. In Part 3, after 4 weeks of withdrawal (week 40), both the 24-hour ambulatory SBP and DBP increased with placebo compared with aprocitentan (6.5 mm Hg and 6.8 mm Hg respectively).

The effect of aprocitentan was consistent across subgroups of age (including patients = 75 years), sex, race (including patients with Black or African American origin), BMI, baseline urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), baseline estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and medical history of diabetes, and was consistent with the effect in the overall population.

Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) during the 4-week double-blind study period (Part 1) were reported in 27.6% and 36.7% of the patients treated with 12.5 and 25 mg aprocitentan, respectively, versus 19.4% in the placebo group. The most frequent adverse event with aprocitentan was mild-to-moderate edema/fluid retention leading to discontinuation in seven patients during the study. Edema/fluid retention was reported more frequently with aprocitentan than with placebo in a dose-dependent fashion (9.1%, 18.4%, and 2.1% for patients receiving aprocitentan 12.5 mg, 25 mg and placebo, during Part 1, respectively; 18.2% for patients receiving aprocitentan 25 mg during Part 2; and 2.6% and 1.3% for patients on aprocitentan 25 mg and placebo, during Part 3, respectively).

Regulatory status of aprocitentan

The positive opinion recommending JERAYGO, is a scientific recommendation issued by the EMA's CHMP, which is sent to the European Commission (EC) for the adoption of a decision on an EU-wide marketing authorization. An EC marketing authorization through the centralized procedure is valid in all European Union Member States, as well as the European Economic Area countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

In March, TRYVIO (aprocitentan) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Notes to the editor

References

NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants. Lancet 2021; 398:957-80. Noubiap JJ, et al. Global prevalence of resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of data from 32 million patients. Heart 2019; 105: 98-105. Williams B, et al. 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Eur Heart J 2018; 39: 3021-104. Daugherty SL, et al. Incidence and prognosis of resistant hypertension in hypertensive patients. Circulation. 2012 Apr 3;125(13):1635-42. Trensz F, et al. Pharmacological characterization of aprocitentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, alone and in combination with blockers of the renin angiotensin system, in two models of experimental hypertension. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2019 Mar; 368(3):462-473. Iglarz M, et al. At the heart of tissue: endothelin system and end-organ damage. Clin Sci 2010; 119:453-63. Rossi GP, et al. Endothelin-1 stimulates steroid secretion of human adrenocortical cells ex vivo via both ETA and ETB receptor subtypes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997, 82: 3445-3449 Clozel M. Aprocitentan and the endothelin system in resistant hypertension. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2022; 100:573-83. Whelton P.K., et al. 2018. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical practice guidelines. Hypertension, 71: e13-e115. Williams B, et al. 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Eur Heart J 2018; 39: 3021-104. Verweij P. et al. Randomized Dose-Response Study of the New Dual Endothelin Receptor Antagonist Aprocitentan in Hypertension. Hypertension. 2020;75:956-965 Danaietash P et al. Identifying and treating resistant hypertension in PRECISION: A randomized long-term clinical trial with aprocitentan. J Clin Hypertension 2022 Jul;24(7):804-813. Schlaich MP, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the dual endothelin antagonist aprocitentan for resistant hypertension. The Lancet, 2022; Dec 3;400(10367):1927-1937.





About Idorsia

Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core.

Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland - a European biotech-hub - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecules to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a 25-year heritage of drug discovery, a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team of professionals covering all disciplines from bench to bedside, and commercial operations in Europe and North America - the ideal constellation for bringing innovative medicines to patients.

Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 750 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets.

For further information, please contact

Investors & Media

Andrew C. Weiss

Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil

+41 58 844 10 10

investor.relations@idorsia.com  media.relations@idorsia.com  www.idorsia.com

The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Anhang
LONDON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amwins Global Risks is delighted to announce Classic Cars and Cotswolds, an auction to raise money for the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund at Blood Cancer UK.

The online auction opens today and features Ferraris, Aston Martins, a Rolls Royce, a Lamborghini and a fantastic ISO, all kindly donated by insurance peers. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on their favourite cars, which they'll get to drive for a day through the picturesque Cotswolds, enjoying refreshments and lunch throughout the day, and finishing up with dinner, drinks and a stay in the 5-star Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe. The event will take place on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th September.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund at Blood Cancer UK, a charity that funds vital research and supports people affected by blood cancer.

Mark Cody, Managing Director of Amwins Global Risks, said: "We are thrilled to host this unique and exciting event in honour of our dear friend and colleague Matthew Wilson. Like me, Matthew has a lifelong love of classic cars and we want to share that joy with other people to raise money for the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund. We hope that many people will join us for this special occasion and help us raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause."

Matthew Wilson says: "I'm thrilled that Amwins Global Risks and friends from across the insurance industry have come together to organise this brilliant and fun event. As someone with blood cancer, I know the importance that hope has in our community, and the money raised here will go directly to scientific research giving hope for new and more effective treatments for multiple myeloma."

The auction closes on Friday 19th July, and bids for all cars start at 1,500.

Check out all the cars available and bid on them here.

For further information contactNicola Murphy, Head of Marketing & Communications, Amwins Global Risks, on +44777 468 1085 or nicola.murphy@amwins.com.

About Blood Cancer UK

Blood Cancer UK have invested 500 million in research in blood cancer since 1960. Currently the charity is funding 23m of research across 65 research projects institutions in the UK. To keep up to date with all the latest blood cancer news, go to https://bloodcancer.org.uk/news/ and find us on social media.

For free and confidential support, and information on blood cancer and life after a diagnosis, call us on 0808 2080 888 or email us at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.

Join our online forum and talk to others affected by blood cancer at forum.bloodcancer.org.uk.

About Amwins Global Risks

Amwins Global Risks is a specialist wholesale insurance and reinsurance broker serving clients and markets in the UK and internationally to place more than $2 billion annually of premium into the London and global marketplace. To learn more, visit amwinsglobalrisks.com.

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Today, Green Energy Park announces a major milestone on its journey to build one of the largest hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production plants in the world. The company has signed a definitive agreement for 30 million US Dollars Series-A funding and has obtained the long-term rights to the hydrogen port terminal facilities in Luis Correia, Brazil. This initial funding round underscores the strong interest among a broad range of strategic partners, global offtakers, and financial institutions to commit the resources for building the world-scale hydrogen production and integrated port terminal facilities in Piaui, Brazil.

Victor Hugo Almeida (CEO of Investe Piaui, left), Rafael Tajra Fonteles (Governor of the State of Piaui, middle), Bart Biebuyck (CEO of Green Energy Park, right) signing the Series-A funding agreement in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Green Energy Park (GEP) is implementing one of the largest climate impact undertakings in the world. The company was founded in 2023 with the purpose of producing renewable hydrogen in the most cost competitive locations with an initial focus on the world-class conditions in the North-East of Brazil. GEP will distribute its green fuels to offtakers in industry and transport with a mission to help decarbonize the hard-to-abate sectors of the economy.

Green Energy Park Piaui is the company's first hydrogen production plant, targeting 10.8 GW of electrolyzer capacity when fully built. The integrated hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production facilities feature some of the most advance process engineering designs from the liquified natural gas and ammonia business. Green Energy Park has deep engineering and EPC expertise in the field of cryogenic gas handling and storage, which is combined with dedicated construction implementation capabilities.

To achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen, Green Energy Park sources world-class renewable electricity input, feeding state-of-the-art electrolyzer technologies, implemented on a purpose-build and standardized production infrastructure.

Working closely with offtakers around the world enables a novel approach to design, build, and operate a vertically integrated hydrogen supply chain. Green Energy Park is partnering with a wide range of energy users offering a cost-competitive solution to their decarbonization needs.

Representatives from Green Energy Park, Investe Piaui and the State of Piaui on stage after signing of the agreement

Bart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park said:

"The world is at risk of falling behind its climate goals.

The urgency to act is now. Despite the many efforts and programs to arrest climate change, emissions from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, have reached a new record in 2023.

To achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, we need to install 6,000 gigawatts of electrolyzer capacity around the world. This is a monumental task.

The good news is that it can be done. It is not too late to act. But we must act now!

Therefore, at Green Energy Park, we are on a singular mission: To produce the lowest-cost renewable hydrogen at the gigawatts scale.

To achieve our ambitious goal, we combine cutting-edge hydrogen production technologies, with innovative process engineering solutions, at one of the most advantageous sites for renewable hydrogen production in the world, in the State of Piaui, Brazil.

In short, Piaui is set to become our ground zero of the hydrogen revolution. Therefore, we are incredibly proud of our strong partnership with the State of Piaui on this critical mission."

Victor Hugo Almeida, CEO of Investe Piaui said:

"The State of Piaui offers some of best conditions in the world for producing green hydrogen. The State Government, and the Governor, Rafael Fonteles, are fully committed to unlocking the great potential of our unique natural resource endowment to the benefit of our citizens, the climate, and indeed the world.

Green Energy Park provides our State with a tremendous opportunity for a bright future. The world-scale hydrogen project will create thousands of high-quality jobs in our state and will accelerate a green industrialization of our economy. We want to attract international businesses to build a world-scale hydrogen cluster by creating a favorable investment environment with strong support by the State of Piaui. Therefore, we are implementing an innovative approach for a green industrialization of our country, for others to follow in Brazil and beyond.

We are incredibly proud that Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui to implement the most advanced hydrogen production facility in the world. The government will fully support the undertaking and is well prepared to help this global flagship project to succeed."

About Green Energy Park

Green Energy Park Global is a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise, that shares know-how, technologies, experience, and best practices between its global partners. The focus is on leading hydrogen technology applications with ammonia as the renewable energy carrier of choice.

The company's objective is to develop, finance, build, and operate renewable energy facilities under a common brand. GEP seeks to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities around shared values and a common mission.

GEP's mission is to engineer and build a "Global Standard" for large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production, powered by renewable energy sources. To achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen the company combines cutting-edge electrolyzer technologies with a purpose-build and standardized production infrastructure.

Green Energy Park's purpose is to positively impact society by accelerating the energy transition and make the hydrogen economy a reality.

General Enquiries:

Loreta Pacipaviciute, Mariia Popovych

media@gep-global.com

Investor Relations:

Mario Reinisch, Director Finance and Corporate Development

mario@gep-global.com

SOURCE: Green Energy Park

View the original press release on accesswire.com
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholders of Zinzino AB (publ) are hereby invited to the annual general meeting on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 1:30 PM at the company's premises at Hulda Mellgrens gata 5 in Gothenburg. Registration begins at 1:15 PM.

The company aims to webcast the meeting to enable remote participation.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPANY MEETING

Shareholders wishing to attend the annual general meeting must:

i. be entered in the shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB by Friday, May 17, 2024, and

ii. have notified their intention to attend the meeting by Friday, May 24, 2024, as per the instructions below.

Shareholders who have their shares nominee-registered must temporarily register the shares in their own name in Euroclear Sweden AB's shareholder register. Such registration, which usually takes a few days, must be completed by Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Therefore, the nominee should be notified well before this date.

HOW TO REGISTER

Registration for the meeting can be done in the following ways:

By mail to Zinzino AB, Hulda Mellgrens gata 5, 421 32 Vastra Frolunda, or

By email to fredrik.nielsen@zinzino.com

Upon registration, shareholders should provide:

Name

Personal/organization number

Address and daytime phone number

If applicable, the name and number (maximum of two) of assistants accompanying the shareholder at the meeting.

Shareholders who wish to be represented by proxy should issue a written and dated power of attorney for the proxy. Proxy forms can be obtained through the company and will also be available on the company's website, www.zinzino.com. If participation is by proxy or representative, power of attorney, registration certificates, or other authorization documents should be sent to the company well in advance of the company meeting.

AGENDA PROPOSALS

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Election of a chairman for the meeting.

3. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

4. Decision to broadcast a video recording of the meeting over the Internet.

5. Election of one or two adjusters to, together with the chairman, approve the minutes.

6. Approval of the agenda.

7. Examination of whether the meeting has been duly convened.

8. Address by the CEO.

9. Presentation of the annual report and auditor's report, and if applicable, the consolidated financial statements and auditor's report for the group.

10. Resolutions regarding:

a. the adoption of the income statement and balance sheet, and the consolidated income statement and balance sheet for 2023,

b. the allocation of the company's profit or loss according to the adopted balance sheet,

c. the discharge of the board members and the CEO from liability.

11. Determination of the number of board members, deputy board members, and auditors to be elected by the meeting.

12. Resolution on remuneration for the board members and the auditor.

13. Election of board members and the chairman of the board, and auditors.

14. Decision on the establishment of principles for the nomination committee.

15. Decision on a directed new share issue with payment through the offsetting of claims to Enhanzz AG.

16. Decision on authorizing the board for rights issues.

17. Decision on authorizing the board for directed share issues.

18. Presentation of the board's remuneration report for approval.

19. Decision on the authorization to adjust.

20. Closing of the meeting.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

In accordance with the decision of the annual general meeting in 2023, a nomination committee has been established. The nomination committee consists of Magnus Gotenfelt (representing Saele Invest AS and the Saele family), Cecilia Halldner (representing Cashflow Holding ApS, Peter Sorensen), and Hans Jacobsson (chairman of the board of Zinzino AB). The chairman of the nomination committee is Magnus Gotenfelt.

PROPOSALS BY THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Item 2. Election of a chairman for the meeting.

The nomination committee proposes that Hans Jacobsson or, in his absence, the person the nomination committee appoints instead, is elected as chairman of the meeting.

Item 11. Determination of the number of board members, deputy board members, and auditors to be elected by the meeting.

The nomination committee proposes that the board should consist of five board members and no deputy board member and that there should be one auditor.

Item 12. Resolution on remuneration for the board members and the auditor.

The nomination committee proposes that the board remuneration be increased by 7% for the chairman and 6% for the other members compared to the previous year and be distributed with a total of 1,180,000 SEK, of which 320,000 SEK to the chairman, 180,000 SEK to each of the other board members, 60,000 SEK to the chairman of the audit committee, and 35,000 SEK to the member of the audit committee, as well as 25,000 SEK to the chairman of the remuneration committee and 20,000 SEK to the member of the remuneration committee.

The nomination committee proposes that the auditor's fee be paid according to the invoice approved by the company.

Item 13. Election of board members and the chairman of the board as well as auditors

The nomination committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the re-election of the members Hans Jacobsson, Staffan Hillberg, Pierre Martensson, Ingela Nordenhav, and Anna Frick.

The nomination committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the appointment of the registered auditing firm BDO Goteborg AB (BDO) as the company's auditor. BDO has announced that, assuming the nomination committee's proposal is adopted by the annual general meeting, authorized auditor Katarina Eklund will be appointed as the principal responsible auditor.

Item 14. Decision on the establishment of principles for the nomination committee

The nomination committee proposes that the meeting should continue to have a nomination committee appointed and operating according to the following principles, which correspond to the previous year's principles for the nomination committee.

The chairman of the board shall, no later than the end of October 2024, contact the two largest shareholders or groups of shareholders in terms of votes, based on the ownership statistics from Euroclear Sweden AB on the last banking day of September before the annual general meeting, and ask them to appoint one member each to the nomination committee. If any of the two largest shareholders or groups of shareholders in terms of votes decline to appoint a member to the nomination committee, the next following shareholder in terms of ownership share will be asked to appoint a member to the nomination committee. The mandate period shall run until a new nomination committee has been appointed. The composition of the nomination committee shall be announced no later than six months before the company's annual general meeting. If a member leaves the nomination committee before its work is completed, the shareholder who appointed the member shall be entitled to appoint a new member. The nomination committee's task includes submitting proposals to the annual general meeting in 2024 regarding (i) chairman of the annual general meeting, (ii) the number of board members, (iii) remuneration to the board members and any remuneration for committee work, (iv) election of and decision on remuneration to the auditor, (v) election of board members and the chairman of the board, and (vi) principles for the nomination committee.

THE BOARD'S PROPOSAL FOR DECISION

Item 10 (b) - Resolution on the allocation of the company's profit according to the adopted balance sheet.

The board of directors and the CEO of Zinzino AB (publ)

propose that the available profit of 228 470 538

Be allocated as follows:

A dividend of 3 SEK per share to be distributed to the shareholders

amounting to 101 824 788

The remaining amount to be carried forward. 126 645 750

Total 228 470 538

The board proposes Wednesday, May 29, 2024, as the record date for the dividend, which means that the last day for trading shares including the dividend is Monday, May 27, 2024. If the meeting decides according to the proposal, the dividend payment is expected to be made on Monday, June 3, 2024, through Euroclear Sweden AB.

At the time of the board's proposal, the total number of shares in the company is 33,941,596, of which 5,113,392 are series A shares and 28,828,204 are series B shares. The proposed dividend amount of 101,824,788 SEK may change if the company issues new shares before the dividend record date.

Rationale

The Board has proposed that the Annual General Meeting 2024 decides on a profit distribution that results in a dividend of 3 SEK per share to be distributed to the shareholders as an ordinary dividend. The total dividend distribution thus amounts to 101,824,788 SEK.

The company's dividend policy states that Zinzino shall distribute at least 50% of the group's net profit as long as the solidity and liquidity permit. Due to the good profitability in 2023, there is room for an increased dividend distribution in 2024. The proposal is within the framework of the dividend policy adopted by the company.

The Board believes that the proposed dividend does not prevent the company from fulfilling its short-term and long-term obligations, nor from making the necessary investments. Therefore, the proposed dividend is justified considering the precautionary principle stated in Chapter 17, Section 3, paragraphs 2-3 of the Swedish Companies Act (ABL).

Regarding the company's reported results for the accounts, the financial position at the balance sheet date, and financing and capital use during the year, reference is made to the company's annual report 2023, which is published on www.zinzino.com.

Item 15. Decision on directed new share issue with payment through the set-off of claims to Enhanzz AG

Zinzino acquired the company Enhanzz IP AG on April 5, 2022, including intellectual property rights to its brands HANZZ+HEIDII and YU. In addition, Enhanzz Global AG was acquired with its associated distribution organization and inventory. Zinzino paid a fixed purchase price of 1 million EUR, divided into 75% in cash and 25% in newly issued Zinzino B shares. In addition, conditional additional purchase prices based on the sales development generated by the acquired distribution organization during the period 2022-2026 were agreed upon. The total additional purchase prices are estimated to amount to 3.8 million EUR but may, in the case of maximum outcomes, reach up to 6 million EUR and are to be regulated 100% with newly issued Zinzino shares. The cash part of the purchase price was financed with cash at hand.

Now the Board proposes that the meeting decides to issue Zinzino B shares for the part of the additional purchase price that was determined during 2023 according to the existing conditions.

Therefore, the Board proposes that the meeting decides to increase the share capital by 11,027 SEK by issuing 110,270 new B shares. The new B share entitles the holder to dividends for the first time on the dividend record date that falls immediately after the new issue has been registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the share has been entered in the share register at Euroclear Sweden AB. The right to subscribe for the 110,270 B shares shall belong exclusively to Enhanzz AG. Subscription for new shares shall take place on a separate subscription list no later than June 15, 2024, although the Board shall have the right to extend the subscription period. Payment for the shares shall be made by setting off Enhanzz AG's claim on Zinzino AB, amounting to 9,108,328 SEK. The subscription price per newly subscribed share amounts to 82.60 SEK. The part of the subscription price that exceeds the quotient value shall be added to the free premium fund.

The reasons for deviating from the shareholders' pre-emption rights are to enable the acquisition that the current set-off claim originates from. The possibility of implementing strategically important acquisitions for the company through directed new share issues is of significant operational importance to the company. This, in the opinion of the Board, with sufficient strength, indicates that it is in the interest of the company and its shareholders to carry out an issue with deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights. The current subscription price follows the principles outlined in the current share transfer agreement, which was determined after extensive negotiations with the subscriber. Therefore, the Board considers the subscription price to be market-rate.

For the resolutions above to be valid, the support of shareholders representing at least 9/10 of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

Item 16. Decision on authorization for rights issues

The Board proposes that the meeting authorizes the Board, on one or more occasions during the period until the next annual general meeting, to decide on the new issue of B shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles against cash payment and/or with provisions for contribution in kind or set-off or otherwise with conditions and thereby being able to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emption rights. Any options or convertibles issued under this authorization shall entitle to subscription of B shares.

The issues shall be made at a market-rate subscription price determined by the Board. The number of B shares that may be issued, respectively the number of B shares that may be subscribed for with the support of option rights for new subscription of shares, respectively the number of B shares that convertibles shall entitle to conversion to shall collectively amount to such a number as fits within the company's articles of association concerning the number of shares and share capital.

The purpose of the authorization and the reasons for any deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights are that issues should be able to take place to finance the company's operations, commercialization and development of the company's products and markets, and/or acquisition of operations, companies or parts of companies, and/or to enable a broadening of the company's shareholder base.

For decisions according to the above, the support of shareholders representing at least 2/3 of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

Item 20. Decision on authorization for directed share issues

The Board proposes that the general meeting authorizes the Board, on one or more occasions until the next annual general meeting, to decide on new issues of B shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles against cash payment and/or with provisions for contribution in kind or set-off, or otherwise with terms and conditions, and in connection therewith, to be able to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights. Any warrants or convertibles issued under this authorization shall entitle to the subscription of B shares.

The issues should be made at a subscription price determined by the Board, which should correspond to the market value. The total number of B shares that can be issued, or the number of B shares that can be subscribed for with new subscription rights, or the number of B shares to which convertibles can be converted, shall together not exceed 3,000,000 B shares.

The purpose of the authorization and the reason for any deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights is to enable the company to raise funds for the financing of the company's operations, commercialization and development of the company's products and markets, and/or the acquisition of operations, companies or parts of companies, and/or to enable a broadening of the shareholder base of the company.

For the decision as above, the approval of shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES

The total number of shares in the company amounts to 33,941,596, of which 5,113,392 are series A shares and 28,828,204 are series B shares. The total number of votes in the company amounts to 7,996,212.40. The company does not hold any own shares.



These figures may change if the company issues new shares before the annual general meeting.

SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHT TO REQUEST INFORMATION

The Board and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the Board believes that it can be done without significant harm to the company, provide information about circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, and about circumstances that may affect the assessment of the company's financial situation. The obligation to provide information also applies to the company's relationship with another group company and the group's accounts, as well as such circumstances regarding subsidiaries which are mentioned above.

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS

Accounting documents, the auditor's report, and other documents to be dealt with at the meeting will be available at the company's office at Hulda Mellgrens Gata 5, 421 32 Vastra Frolunda, and on its website, www.zinzino.com, no later than three weeks before the meeting. The documents will also be sent free of charge to shareholders who request them and provide their postal address.

PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

For information on how your personal data is processed, see Euroclear's Privacy Policy for Corporate Events.

Gothenburg, April 2024

Zinzino AB

The Board

Link to the Notice:

https://www.zinzino.com/site/GB/en-GB/about/investor-relations/

For more information please contact:

Dag Bergheim Pettersen CEO Zinzino +47 (0) 932 25 700, email: dag@zinzino.com

Fredrik Nielsen CFO Zinzino +46 707 900 174, email: fredrik.nielsen@zinzino.com

Images for free publication:

marketing@zinzino.com

Certified Adviser: Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ.)

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/zinzino/r/zinzino-ab--publ--notice-of-annual-general-meeting-in-zinzino-ab-on-may-27--2024,c3968305

The following files are available for download:

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Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

Korrektur als Einstiegschance

Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Truecanhelp is pleased to announce the launch of its new CRS Score Calculator, a cutting-edge tool engineered to assist prospective immigrants in evaluating their eligibility under Canada's Express Entry system. This latest innovation aligns with ongoing changes in Canadian immigration policies and aims to simplify the process for applicants seeking permanent residency in Canada.

The CRS Score Calculator by Truecanhelp is developed to provide immediate feedback on an applicant's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, considering various factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and eligibility under programs like the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This comprehensive approach is crucial for assessing an individual's likelihood of successfully immigrating to Canada and enhances the calculator's utility in planning effective immigration strategies.

With the introduction of the CRS Score Calculator, applicants can quickly determine their CRS scores, allowing them to understand better their standing in the pool of candidates for immigration. This transparency is essential for planning immigration strategies and improving potential scores.

Additionally, Truecanhelp's CRS Score Calculator is designed to integrate seamlessly with the latest requirements and adjustments in the Express Entry system. This ensures that users receive accurate and up-to-date information regarding their eligibility and prospects.

By providing a user-friendly and accessible online platform, Truecanhelp supports potential immigrants from around the globe in making informed decisions about their Canadian immigration journey. The tool is available on the Truecanhelp website and is complemented by detailed guides and support from Truecanhelp's team of immigration experts.

This initiative is part of Truecanhelp's commitment to leveraging technology to facilitate a smoother transition for individuals and families aspiring to make Canada their new home. The CRS Score Calculator not only enhances the user experience but also reflects Truecanhelp's dedication to fostering a supportive and efficient immigration process.

For more information about the CRS Score Calculator and to explore Truecanhelp's comprehensive range of immigration services, please visit Truecanhelp's website.

About Truecanhelp

Truecanhelp offers a variety of tools and services designed to assist immigrants in navigating the complexities of the Canadian immigration system. With a focus on innovation and service excellence, Truecanhelp is dedicated to providing up-to-date, reliable, and efficient resources that align with the latest immigration policies and trends.

Media Contact:

Name: Anurag Sharma

Company: Truecanhelp

Email: info@truecanhelp.com

Website: https://www.truecanhelp.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206804

SOURCE: Media Feature
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - In the competitive landscape of food delivery services, Orderific introduces a new application, DeliveryDart, aimed at enhancing the operational flexibility of food delivery drivers. Officially launched in Q1 2024, DeliveryDart allows drivers to set their own pricing, offering a novel approach to driver independence.

Orderific Announces Launch of DeliveryDart



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/206803_7ea2631ac4bfeb7a_001full.jpg

Since its inception in 2019, Orderific has been active in the food and beverage sector, striving to innovate within the realms of restaurant technology. DeliveryDart continues this trend, focusing on providing drivers and fleet managers with tools that promote autonomy and potential business growth.

DeliveryDart - Empowering Drivers

DeliveryDart provides exceptional flexibility for drivers, allowing them not only to choose when and where they work but also to set their own pricing terms. This capability positions them as independent entrepreneurs within the industry. The platform also offers fleet managers tools to manage and grow their operations effectively.

Scarlett Abbott of Orderific comments, "With DeliveryDart, we aim to support the evolving needs of the modern food delivery workforce by offering more control over how they manage their work."

Industry Insights

Drivers and fleet managers are key stakeholders in the food delivery market, which is witnessing significant growth. Drivers, in particular, seek platforms that offer autonomy, fair compensation, and flexibility, elements that are often missing from traditional employment models in this sector. Fleet managers look for efficiency, scalability, and tools that can optimise logistics and reduce overheads.

DeliveryDart addresses these needs by enabling drivers to set their own prices and work schedules, thereby attracting a motivated and entrepreneurial workforce. Fleet managers benefit from streamlined operations that support business expansion, illustrating a dual advantage that aligns with broader market trends showing a projected increase in the global food delivery market value from $148.07 billion in 2023 to approximately $451.92 billion by 2032.

Availability and Future Plans

DeliveryDart is currently available in all regions where Orderific operates, including the EU, UAE, India, and the Philippines. Plans are underway to extend its reach, supporting an increasing number of drivers and fleet managers globally.

About Orderific

Founded in 2019, Orderific specialises in developing technological solutions for the restaurant and food delivery sectors. The company is dedicated to enhancing how food services operate, focusing on efficiency and empowering those involved in the delivery process.

For Additional Information

Journalists, clients, and potential app users interested in learning more about DeliveryDart by Orderific are encouraged to contact:

Contact Person: Scarlett Abbott

Email: pr@orderific.com

Website: https://orderific.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206803

SOURCE: Media Feature
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



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BEIJING, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily:

Greater efforts are needed to strengthen international cooperation in science and technology, explore ways of jointly solving important global issues through technological innovation, and develop new quality productive forces, said officials, experts and company executives on Thursday in Beijing.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said China is willing to work with the international community to practice the concept of open, fair, just and nondiscriminatory international sci-tech cooperation, and to jointly build a global sci-tech community.

The country will explore a new model regarding mutually beneficial global cooperation in sci-tech innovation, and will break down barriers restricting the flow of knowledge, technology, talent and other innovative factors, to jointly create an open innovation ecosystem.

Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, said the capital will ramp up efforts to improve its innovation capacities, accelerate the building of world-leading science and technology parks, increase investment in basic research and make breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields.

Data from the Ministry of Science and Technology showed that China's research and development investment exceeded 3.3 trillion yuan ($455.4 billion) in 2023, up 8.1 percent year-on-year, and the spending on fundamental research reached 221.2 billion yuan, an increase of 9.3 percent over the previous year.

China's strength in scientific and technological innovation has taken a major leap in recent years. Marco Aleman, assistant director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, said China is a powerhouse of innovation that contributes to global growth and sustainable development.

According to WIPO, the country stands as a global innovation leader, ranking 12th in the Global Innovation Index 2023, and it owned 24 of the top 100 science and technology clusters globally by the end of last year, ranking first in the world for the first time.

Quarraisha Abdool Karim, president of the World Academy of Sciences, said ensuring a sustainable future through partnership and cooperation creates an opportunity for all participants to explore new pathways toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Chinese tech company Xiaomi Corp, said the company will continue to step up investment in R&D and strive for breakthroughs in core technologies.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/greater-efforts-urged-on-sci-tech-cooperation-302128473.html
Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus.



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Regulatory News:

TotalEnergies SE (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE):

At its meeting of April 25, 2024, the Board of Directors examined the draft resolution submitted by a group of shareholders representing less than 0.9% of the share capital and aiming to submit to the Annual General Meeting an advisory vote asking the Board of Directors to adopt a separation of the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors and the General Management of the Corporation.

TotalEnergies Board of Directors reaffirms its strong commitment to shareholder dialogue and recalls that in 2023 it had invited shareholders who wish to open a debate with the Board of Directors to submit an item on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, as provided for in the French Commercial Code: The provisions of the French commercial code relating to the filing of a resolution by shareholders do not expressly provide for the possibility of filing an advisory resolution. On the other hand, the law expressly provides for them the possibility of submitting items (without voting) to provoke a debate in the general meeting. This would be a better way to engage in dialogue with shareholders in the future"1. The Board of Directors therefore invites shareholders to consider this route for future Annual General Meetings, as it will not support the advisory resolutions route in any matter.

TotalEnergies' Board of Directors recalls that with a view to renewing the mandate of director of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, it carried out a review of the choice of the most suitable mode of governance for the Company and reported to its shareholders in a very detailed manner2. The Governance and Ethics Committee's reflections on the best interest of the Company and after individual consultation of each Director by the Lead Independent Director have led the Board of Directors to decide unanimously and with conviction at its meeting on September 21, 2023, to continue to combine positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The unity of the Company's management and representation power is part of its particularly well-balanced corporate governance framework, with a Lead Independent Director who is a preferred contact for shareholders and who has extensive powers, whom the Board of Directors has found to be fully fulfilling his role.

TotalEnergies' Board of Directors has thus fully executed the mission for which the French law attributes to it the responsibility: the French Commercial Code provides that it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to choose between the unified or separate mode of the functions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and that the shareholders are informed of this choice. Shareholders' right to information is supplemented by a requirement provided for by the Afep-Medef Code of motivation for the Board's decision.

The Board of Directors, chaired by the Lead Independent Director and on the proposal of the Governance and Ethics Committee, has therefore unanimously decided not to include the aforementioned draft resolution on the agenda of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

With regard to the debate on corporate governance initiated by the above-mentioned group of shareholders, the Lead Independent Director will, at the request of the Board of Directors, report on the performance of his mission, in particular on the Board's motivation in respect of the governance structure of the Company, during the Annual General Meeting of May 24, 2024.

The full position of the Board of Directors is available on the Corporation website.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors examined the proposed resolution aiming to reduce the authorization requested by the Board of Directors at the Shareholders' Meeting for the purpose of carrying out share buybacks in the Corporation and noted that it was carried by certain shareholders representing only 0.11 of the share capital. The Board of Directors noted that this proposed resolution is not admissible as it fails to meet the minimum holding threshold required by the French Commercial Code.

Documents prepared by the Corporation in view of this Shareholders' Meeting can be consulted on the Corporation's website. The convening to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting which will be held on Friday 24 May 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at Tour Coupole, 2 place Jean Millier, La Defense 6, 92 400 Courbevoie will be published in the "Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires" (BALO) on 3 May 2024.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

1 Board of Directors' report to the 2023 shareholders meeting on resolution A https://totalenergies.com/sites/g/files/nytnzq121/files/documents/2023-05/AG_2023_Brochure_avis_convocation_gb.pdf p.30

2 https://totalenergies.com/system/files/documents/2024-03/totalenergies_document-enregistrement-universel-2023_2023_fr_pdf.pdf pages 191 and 192

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240426914711/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies

Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com


EQS Newswire / 25/04/2024 / 09:30 CET/CEST

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 April 2024 - Prince Holding Group, one of Cambodia's leading business groups, has clinched the Silver Stevie Award for Innovative Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility at the 11th annual Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, a testament to its commitment through the pioneering Chen Zhi Scholarship Program . This prestigious international recognition celebrates the program's significant impact on nurturing the next generation of leaders through extensive educational support and professional development opportunities in Cambodia.



The Chen Zhi Scholarship Program commits $2 million over seven years to aid 400 Cambodian university students, fostering inclusivity and long-term growth in diverse academic fields.

Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, the visionary Chairman of Prince Holding Group , has spearheaded the scholarship program focused on education as a critical catalyst for societal advancement. His commitment broadens the scholarship to support gifted, economically disadvantaged students nationwide



Lending his namesake and patronage to the scholarship program, Chen Zhi champions broader educational access, equipping young Cambodians with the tools necessary for personal and professional development. His efforts are crucial in forging a more equitable and prosperous future, reflecting his broader vision of accessible, quality education for all.



Prince Foundation's Chen Zhi Scholarship Program has pledged $2 million over seven years to support 400 deserving Cambodian university students. The program offers full scholarships and stipends, enriching students' academic journeys across various fields, including civil engineering, media and communications, and hospitality.



Emphasizing inclusivity and long-term development, the program supports an equal number of male and female students, prioritizing candidates from non-urban areas; 75% of the scholarships are awarded to students outside of Phnom Penh. With a notable 90% continuation rate of scholarships annually, the program stands as a transformative force within the Cambodian educational landscape.



Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer at Prince Holding Group, said, "This Silver Stevie Award underscores the significant impact of the Chen Zhi Scholarship Program on our community and beyond. It reinforces our dedication to fostering an educated and skilled workforce, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. We believe in the power of education to transform lives, and this award reaffirms our mission to empower young Cambodians through learning and career opportunities."



The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 markets of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programs such as The International Business Awards for 22 years.



Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 executives around the world acting as judges in February and March.

Hashtag: PrinceHoldingGroup ChenZhiScholarship ChenZhi

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prince Holding Group Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia's largest business groups, spanning across real estate development, financial services, and consumer services.



Prince Holding Group's key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, and Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 100 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, lifestyle sectors, etc.



Leveraging a network of industrial, business, and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia.



Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy.

About Prince Foundation Prince Foundation, founded in 2015, is one of Cambodia's leading philanthropic foundations. A member of Prince Holding Group, which is one of the largest business groups in Cambodia, the Foundation aims to work with local communities to build thriving living and working environments that elevate people's well-being and livelihoods, following the vision: "Together, Building a Better Future for Cambodia."



Focusing on education and youth development, healthcare, and community engagement and sports, and healthcare initiatives, Prince Foundation works with partners to deliver sustainable programs that enhance opportunities for Cambodia's youths, build resilience in communities, and contribute to sustainable infrastructure.



The Foundation's flagship projects are the Chen Zhi Scholarship, offering full scholarships, stipends, internships, and work opportunities to 400 Cambodian university students over a period of seven years, and Prince Horology, where aspiring Cambodian watchmakers learn the art of Swiss-style watchmaking in a state-of-the-art facility. Prince Foundation has launched more than 250 philanthropic initiatives, benefiting over 1.2 million people, with donations exceeding US$16 million.



News Source: Prince Holding Group

25/04/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


HONG KONG, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held the HKU Entrance Scholarships Award Ceremony on April 19 (Friday) to recognise outstanding academic and non-academic achievements of students admitted to the University in the 2023-24 academic year.

This year, more than 430 students admitted from Hong Kong and about 40 countries or regions were awarded, with a total scholarship amount of nearly HK$46 million contributed by donors, the HKSAR government, and the University.

The Acting President of HKU, Professor Richard Wong, gave an opening remark at the Ceremony. He said: "As one of the leading universities in Asia and the world, HKU believes in nurturing and empowering individuals who possess not only intellectual brilliance but also the passion to make a positive impact on society. Today, we celebrate not only students' academic achievements but also their potential to become the leaders who will shape the future of our world. We will continue to provide our students with a world-class education that will empower them to become the leaders and change-makers of tomorrow."

Benefactors of the 'Hon Ping Entrance Scholarship for Nigerian Students', 'Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman's Scholarship' and 'Hong Kong Jockey Club Striding On Scholarship', 'Lee Shau Kee Scholarships' and 'Lee Shau Kee Top Athletes Scholarship', 'M. W. Lo Memorial Scholarships for Outstanding Mainland Students', and 'Rosita King Ho Scholarship', as well as Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), were also among the guests of honour and presented awards to the students.

Representatives from ten Consulates-General attended the event to extend their warm wishes to the student awardees from their respective countries or regions. Representatives from 20 local secondary schools were also present to celebrate with their former students.

The students awarded have excelled in a variety of fields. They included 22 President's Scholars. Other scholarships awarded include the 'Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman's Scholarship', for students with exceptional academic achievements; the 'Lee Shau Kee Top Athletes Scholarship' for outstanding young athletes admitted to HKU through the 'Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme'; and the 'Belt and Road Scholarship', which recognises outstanding students coming from the Belt and Road countries.

In addition to expressing their happiness at receiving the scholarships, the awardees are also looking forward to their university life and future career endeavours.

Penelope Septier, who received an HKU Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Talents, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree at HKU as part of her dual degree programme with the French university Sciences Po. Penelope was grateful to both institutions for their close partnerships which encourage the East-West cultural collaborations and highlighted HKU's role in fostering knowledge exchange and providing rich academic resources. She also shared her experience interning at a local NGO specialising in human trafficking law, which allowed her to apply her learnings from her Psychology and Criminology at HKU, paving the way for her future career in international criminal law.

Receiving the Hong Kong Jockey Club Striding On Scholarship, Carina Cheung Ting Ting, who is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree, thanked the scholarship donors for providing financial stability and enabling her to pursue her passion as a nutritionist. The scholarship aims to recognise students who have achieved excellence while demonstrating resilience and strength of mind to overcome adversities or challenges in life and support these students' undergraduate studies in Hong Kong. Carina emphasized her participation in various volunteer projects and the scholarship's role in allowing her to attend a summer school programme at another prestigious university.

Rocky Gu Lok Hei, an HKU Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship for President's Scholars recipient pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, shared his experiences in anatomy dissection classes and his commitment to advancing the medical field through research and innovation.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU

Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)

Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: ngjaymee@hku.hk)

Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 3917 2607 / Email: khkchoi@hku.hk)

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hku-holds-entrance-scholarships-award-ceremony-for-2023-24-302128511.html
Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - The Presidente InterContinental Monterrey is a new luxury hotel located in the upscale district of San Pedro Garza Garcia, Monterrey, Mexico. Featuring world-class amenities and exceptional service, the hotel promises to redefine the standard of luxury accommodation in Monterrey.

Caption: Experience luxury redefined at the new hotel in Monterrey



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7838/206950_ab91fc28742f19ee_001full.jpg

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, Monterrey is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and bustling business scene. From exploring the historic Barrio Antiguo district to enjoying panoramic views from the iconic Cerro de la Silla mountain, Monterrey offers a diverse range of attractions for visitors to discover. With its blend of modernity and tradition, Monterrey is a destination that captivates the senses and leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.

Adding to the vibrant hospitality landscape of Monterrey, a new luxury hotel is set to open its doors this summer 2024 in the upscale district of San Pedro Garza Garcia. Boasting state-of-the-art facilities and unparalleled service, the Presidente InterContinental Monterrey promises to redefine the standard of luxury hotels in Monterrey, Mexico.

Strategically located in the heart of San Pedro Garza Garcia, the Presidente InterContinental Monterrey offers easy access to the city's most prestigious attractions, business centers, and shopping destinations. With its modern architecture and elegant interior design, the hotel is poised to become a landmark destination for both leisure and business travelers.

With 293 luxurious guest rooms and suites, meticulously designed to offer a haven of comfort and style, the Presidente InterContinental Monterrey is the epitome of luxury living. Guests can enjoy world-class amenities such as pool, spa, business center and multiple dining options featuring the best of local and international cuisine.

As Monterrey continues to attract visitors from around the world, the Presidente InterContinental Monterrey is poised to set a new standard for luxury hospitality in the region. With its prime location, luxurious accommodations, and world-class amenities, the hotel is set to become the premier choice for travelers seeking the ultimate luxury experience in Monterrey.

Contact Information:

Ziannia Gamino

Grupo Presidente

55 53277700

ziannia_gamino@grupopresidente.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206950

SOURCE: Comunicae Seedrelease Network S.L.
BERLIN, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking in the High-Level Segment of the annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue, attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and a number of Climate and Foreign Affairs Minister Ministers, COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber urged governments to "think bigger, act bolder" on national climate plans.

The COP28 President highlighted how the UAE Consensus has emerged as the defining point of reference for global climate ambition and sustainable development since its inception in Dubai last year.

"The UAE Consensus represents a historic milestone in climate diplomacy, precisely because it achieved cross-sectoral breakthroughs across the entire climate agenda," Dr. Al Jaber declared. "Together, we set a clear pathway for the energy transition, backed by the science, and focused on the north star of 1.5."

Dr Al Jaber continued, "We locked in the first ever global renewable energy targets. We achieved firsts for nature, setting a 2030 deadline to end deforestation. We made breakthroughs in finance, ending a 30-year deadlock on loss and damage, and beginning to fill a fund that is critical for climate justice. We also included under-recognized sectors like food and health in the COP agenda for the first time. And we did all this against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, proving that multilateralism still works and that unity can overcome polarization. In short, we sent a message of hope, optimism and inclusivity that could not be more important today."

The COP Presidencies Troika - the groundbreaking initiative aims to enhance continuity between COP 28, COP29 and COP30 and drive implementation of the UAE Consensus - is pushing governments to be "more ambitious" in their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Dr. Al Jaber said. Governments should set out economy-wide emission reduction plans and also produce "well-funded" national adaption plans to protect nature and transform food systems, he said.

"My message to governments is simple think bigger, act bolder," Dr. Al Jaber told delegates. "Send a clear message early with your next NDC that puts green infrastructure at the center of your development plans."

The COP28 President also advocated for "smart policies that push industries to step up and incentivize the private sector to invest," adding "we are talking about a system-wide transformation that represents the biggest opportunity for socio-economic development since the first industrial revolution. Simply put, the world will be a better place after this transformation. But it will not happen without significant investment and a level up in climate finance."

Dr. Al Jaber highlighted four key investment priorities: infrastructure, technology, people, and the Global South. On infrastructure, the world needs to invest at least US$6 trillion to meet the 2030 target of 11 terawatts of renewable energy capacity, Dr. Al Jaber stated, with a "similar level of investment" in outdated or nonexistent energy grids, especially in developing countries.

Artificial intelligence "can be a gamechanger" by multiplying efficiencies and helping to solve the intermittency challenges posed by renewables, the President said, adding that it could also minimize water usage. "The faster we apply AI across energy and water intensive sectors, the faster its benefits can be scaled," he declared.

All countries should also invest in their people, developing new skills for the new green economy, while Dr. Al Jaber reiterated the need to increase investment in the Global South. "Right now, over 120 developing countries attract less than 15 per cent of global clean tech investment," he said. "Multilateral Development Banks must make finance more available, accessible and affordable."

Dr. Al Jaber said the energy transition would take time and "will happen at different paces in different places and we cannot unplug the current energy system until the new one is built." It must also be just, equitable and responsible, in line with the targets set out in the UAE Consensus.

During the Climate Dialogue, the COP Presidencies Troika also hosted a Majlis, a form of meeting rooted in longstanding Emirati traditions, to discuss the energy transition.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop28-president-urges-governments-to-think-bigger-act-bolder-on-national-climate-plans-that-are-aligned-with-the-uae-consensus-at-petersberg-climate-dialogue-302128538.html
D. Sculley, Kevin Buzzard, Leo de Moura, Lester Mackey and Peter J. Liu appointed to the advisory committee for the Artificial Intelligence Mathematical Olympiad Prize.

LONDON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- XTX Markets' newly created Artificial Intelligence Mathematical Olympiad Prize ('AIMO Prize') is a $10mn challenge fund designed to spur the creation of a publicly shared AI model capable of winning a gold medal in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

XTX Markets is delighted to announce the appointment of five further advisory committee members. This group brings great expertise in machine learning, including D. Sculley, the CEO of Kaggle; Lester Mackey, a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research and a Macarthur Fellow; and Peter J. Liu, a research scientist at Google DeepMind.

Prolific mathematicians Kevin Buzzard, who achieved a perfect score in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and Leo De Moura who is the Chief Architect for Lean, the automated reasoning tool, also join the advisory group.

They join the existing advisory committee members Terence Tao and Timothy Gowers, both winners of the Fields Medal, as well as Dan Roberts, Geoff Smith and Po-Shen Loh.

The AIMO Advisory Committee will support the development of the AIMO Prize, including advising on appropriate protocols and technical aspects, and designing the various competitions and prizes.

Simon Coyle, Head of Philanthropy at XTX Markets, commented:

"We are thrilled to complete the AIMO Advisory Committee with the appointments of D., Kevin, Leo, Lester and Peter. Together, they have enormous experience in machine learning and automated reasoning and are already bringing expertise and wisdom to the AIMO Prize. We look forward to announcing the winners of the AIMO's first Progress Prize soon, and then publicly sharing the AI models to support the open and collaborative development of AI."

Further information on the AIMO Prize

There will be a grand prize of $5mn for the first publicly shared AI model to enter an AIMO approved competition and perform at a standard equivalent to a gold medal in the IMO. There will also be a series of progress prizes, totalling up to $5mn, for publicly shared AI models that achieve key milestones towards the grand prize.

The first AIMO approved competition opened to participants in April 2024 on the Kaggle competition platform. The first progress prize focuses on problems pitched at junior and high-school level maths competitions. There is a total prize pot of $1.048m for the first progress prize, of which at least $254k will be awarded in July 2024, There will be a presentation of progress held in Bath, England in July 2024, as part of the 65th IMO.

For more information on the AIMO Prize visit: https://aimoprize.com/ or the competition page on Kaggle: https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/ai-mathematical-olympiad-prize/

Advisory Committee member profiles:

D. Sculley

D. is the CEO at Kaggle. Prior to joining Kaggle, he was a director at Google Brain, leading research teams working on robust, responsible, reliable and efficient ML and AI. In his career in ML, he has worked on nearly every aspect of machine learning, and has led both product and research teams including those on some of the most challenging business problems. Some of his well-known work involves ML technical debt, ML education, ML robustness, production-critical ML, and ML for scientific applications such as protein design.

Kevin Buzzard

Kevin a professor of pure mathematics at Imperial College London, specialising in algebraic number theory. As well as his research and teaching, he has a wide range of interests, including being Deputy Head of Pure Mathematics, Co-Director of a CDT and the department's outreach champion. He is currently focusing on formal proof verification, including being an active participant in the Lean community. From October 2024, he will be leading a project to formalise a 21st century proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Before joining Imperial, some 20 years ago, he was a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, where he had previously been named 'Senior Wrangler' (the highest scoring undergraduate mathematician). He was also a participant in the International Mathematical Olympiad, winning gold with a perfect score in 1987. He has been a visitor at the IAS in Princeton, a visiting lecturer at Harvard, has won several prizes both for research and teaching, and has given lectures all over the world.

Leo de Moura

Leo is a Senior Principal Applied Scientist in the Automated Reasoning Group at AWS. In his spare time, he dedicates himself to serving as the Chief Architect of the Lean FRO, a non-profit organization that he proudly co-founded alongside Sebastian Ullrich. He is also honoured to hold a position on the Board of Directors at the Lean FRO, where he actively contributes to its growth and development. Before joining AWS in 2023, he was a Senior Principal Researcher in the RiSE group at Microsoft Research, where he worked for 17 years starting in 2006. Prior to that, he worked as a Computer Scientist at SRI International. His research areas are automated reasoning, theorem proving, decision procedures, SAT and SMT. He is the main architect of several automated reasoning tools: Lean, Z3, Yices 1.0 and SAL. Leo's work in automated reasoning has been acknowledged with a series of prestigious awards, including the CAV, Haifa, and Herbrand awards, as well as the Programming Languages Software Award by the ACM. Leo's work has also been reported in the New York Times and many popular science magazines such as Wired, Quanta, and Nature News.

Lester Mackey

Lester Mackey is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, where he develops machine learning methods, models, and theory for large-scale learning tasks driven by applications from climate forecasting, healthcare, and the social good. Lester moved to Microsoft from Stanford University, where he was an assistant professor of Statistics and, by courtesy, of Computer Science. He earned his PhD in Computer Science and MA in Statistics from UC Berkeley and his BSE in Computer Science from Princeton University. He co-organized the second place team in the Netflix Prize competition for collaborative filtering; won the Prize4Life ALS disease progression prediction challenge; won prizes for temperature and precipitation forecasting in the yearlong real-time Subseasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo; and received best paper, outstanding paper, and best student paper awards from the ACM Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation, the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, and the International Conference on Machine Learning. He is a 2023 MacArthur Fellow, a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, an elected member of the COPSS Leadership Academy, and the recipient of the 2023 Ethel Newbold Prize.

Peter J. Liu

Peter J. Liu is a Research Scientist at Google DeepMind in the San Francisco Bay area, doing machine learning research with a specialisation in language models since 2015 starting in the Google Brain team. He has published and served as area chair in top machine learning and NLP conferences such as ICLR, ICML, NEURIPS, ACL and EMNLP. He also has extensive production experience, including launching the first deep learning model for Gmail Anti-Spam, and using neural network models to detect financial fraud for top banks. He has degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Toronto.

About XTX Markets:

XTX Markets is a leading financial technology firm which partners with counterparties, exchanges and e-trading venues globally to provide liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income and Commodity markets. XTX has over 200 employees based in London, Paris, New York, Mumbai, Yerevan and Singapore. XTX is consistently a top 5 liquidity provider globally in FX (Euromoney 2018-present) and is also the largest European equities (systematic internaliser) liquidity provider (Rosenblatt FY: 2020-2023).

The company's corporate philanthropy focuses on STEM education and maximum impact giving (alongside an employee matching programme). Since 2017, XTX has donated over 100mn to charities and good causes, establishing it as a major donor in the UK and globally.

In a changing world XTX Markets is at the forefront of making financial markets fairer and more efficient for all.

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Bioretec Ltd Company announcement 26 April 2024 at 12:15 p.m. EEST

TAMPERE, Finland, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual General Meeting of Bioretec Ltd was held on 26 April 2024 in Tampere, Finland.

The Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for the financial year 1 January-31 December 2023 and resolved to discharge the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial period 1 January-31 December 2023.

The Annual General Meeting resolved in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors that the loss of EUR 3,721,314.67 for the financial period 1 January-31 December 2023 will be booked in the balance sheet as equity under profit/loss for previous financial periods and that no dividend will be distributed.

Number of members of the Board of Directors, election of members of the Board and their remuneration

The Annual General Meeting resolved that the number of members of the Board of Directors will be five (5). Tomi Numminen, Michael Piccirillo, Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher, Paivi Malinen and Kustaa Poutiainen were re-elected as members of the Board. The term of the Board of Directors will end at the closing of the Annual General Meeting 2025.

The Annual General Meeting resolved that the Chairman of the Board will be paid EUR 10,000 per month. The Chairman will participate in the operative management of the company in the upcoming term. Members of the Board will be paid EUR 1,500 per month. Reasonable travel expenses of the members of the Board of Directors shall be reimbursed in accordance with the maximum amount of the respective travel allowance base approved by the Tax Administration.

The Annual General Meeting resolved that the company may enter into a consultancy agreement with Valugen GmbH for the services of Michael Piccirillo in connection with establishing the company's Scientific Advisory Board, to create key opinion leader connections. The consulting fee payable pursuant to such agreement shall not exceed EUR 3,000 per month.

Election and remuneration of auditor

The Annual General Meeting elected audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy as the auditor of the company until the closing of the 2025 Annual General Meeting. Audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy has notified the company that it will appoint Kalle Laaksonen, Authorized Public Accountant, as the responsible auditor. The auditor will be compensated as reasonably invoiced.

Authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares

The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares, as well as the issuance of option rights and other special rights entitling to shares pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act, as follows:

Pursuant to the authorization, up to 3,000,000 shares (including the new shares to be issued based on the special rights) can be issued, which on the date of the notice to the Annual General Meeting corresponded approximately to 15 per cent of all the shares in the company.

Shares or special rights entitling to shares may be issued in one or more tranches, either with or without payment. The shares issued pursuant to the authorization may be new shares or shares in the company's possession. The authorization may be used for financing or execution of acquisitions or other business arrangements, to strengthen the balance sheet and financial position of the company, for implementing the company's share-based incentive plans, or for other purposes determined by the Board of Directors.

Pursuant to the authorization, the Board of Directors may resolve upon issuing new shares, without consideration, to the company itself.

The Board of Directors was authorized to resolve on all terms for share issues and granting of special rights entitling to shares in the company. The Board of Directors was authorized to resolve on a directed share issue and issuance of special rights entitling to shares according to the shareholders' pre-emptive rights and/or in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive right, provided that there is a weighty financial reason for the company to do so.

The authorization is valid until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, however, no longer than until 30 June 2025. The authorization cancels the previous unused share issue authorizations.

Establishment of a Shareholders' Nomination Board and Approval of the Charter

The Annual General Meeting resolved to establish a Shareholders' Nomination Board, responsible for annually preparing and presenting to the Annual General Meeting and, if necessary, to an Extraordinary General Meeting, proposals on the composition (number of the members of the Board of Directors and the nominees) and remuneration of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Nomination Board is responsible for identifying candidates to succeed members of the Board of Directors and preparing principles for diversity for the Board of Directors.

The Annual General Meeting resolved to approve the Charter of the Shareholders' Nomination Board, which had been attached to the notice to the Annual General Meeting and is available on the company's website at https://bioretec.com/agm2024.

The Nomination Board consists of three (3) members. The company's three (3) largest shareholders are each entitled to nominate one member. The Chair of the Board of Directors of the company serves as an expert in the Nomination Board and will not have a voting right nor be counted in the quorum of the Nomination Board.

The members of the Nomination Board, the shareholders appointing them and any changes to the composition of the Nomination Board are published by a company release.

The Nomination Board is established for the time being until the General Meeting decides otherwise. The members of the Nomination Board are appointed annually and the term of office of the members ends when new members have been appointed to the Nomination Board.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available no later than 10 May 2024 on the company's website at https://bioretec.com/investors/investors-in-english/governance/general-meetings/annual-general-meeting-2024.

Resolutions of the constitutive meeting of the Board of Directors

At its constitutive meeting held after the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors of Bioretec Ltd elected Tomi Numminen as the chairperson of the Board.

The Board resolved to establish an [Audit Committee and a Nomination /Remuneration Committee]. The members of the Committees were elected as follows:

Audit Committee: Tomi Numminen (chairperson), Paivi Malinen and Sarah van Hellenberg Hubar-Fisher

Nomination / Remuneration Committee: Paivi Malinen (chairperson), Michael Piccirillo and Kustaa Poutiainen

The Board assessed the independence of its members in accordance with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code for listed companies. The Board concluded that of its members Kustaa Poutiainen is not independent of the company's significant shareholders and Tomi Numminen and Michael Piccirillo are not independent of the company. Valugen GmbH, a company owned by Michael Piccirillo, receives remuneration from the company for consulting assignments and Tomi Numminen has received compensation for consulting assignments during the past year. In addition, the Board concluded that based on an overall assessment, the other Board members are independent of both the company and its significant shareholders.

Further enquiries

Tomi Numminen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, tel. +358 40 581 2132

Timo Lehtonen, CEO, tel. +358 50 433 8493

Bioretec in brief

Bioretec is a globally operating Finnish medical device company that continues to pioneer the application of bioresorbable orthopedic implants. The company has built unique competencies in the?biological interface?of active implants?to enhance bone growth and accelerate fracture healing after orthopedic surgery. The products developed and manufactured by Bioretec are used worldwide in approximately 40 countries.?

Bioretec is?developing?the new RemeOs?product line?based on a magnesium alloy and hybrid composite, introducing a new generation of strong bioresorbable materials for enhanced surgical outcomes. The RemeOs implants are resorbed and replaced by bone, which eliminates the need for removal surgery while facilitating fracture healing. The combination has the potential to make titanium implants redundant and help clinics reach their Value-Based Healthcare targets while focusing on?value for patients through efficient healthcare. The first RemeOs product market authorization has been received in the U.S. in March 2023 and in Europe, CE-mark is expected to receive second quarter of 2024. Bioretec is positioning itself to enter the addressable USD 7 billion global orthopedic trauma market and become a game changer in surgical bone fracture treatment.

Better healing - Better life. www.bioretec.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/bioretec/r/resolutions-of-bioretec-ltd-s-annual-general-meeting-and-the-constitutive-meeting-of-the-board-of-di,c3968873

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LONDON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BE OPEN Art, an online art gallery set up by BE OPEN think tank, a humanitarian initiative founded by Austria-based international businessperson and philanthropist Elena Baturina, is running a new competition for emerging artists, aimed to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities - BE OPEN Regional Art.

Every month of the first quarter of 2024, works by 20 emerging artists from the countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were posted at the online gallery for the public to select the Regional Artist of the Month.

In March, Yigitali Sattarov, Uzbek artist concerned about global issues, humanity and its future, has become the last of the three candidates for the Artist of the Region and the 500 euros prize, alongside Guzel Zakirova (Kazakhstan) in January and Zhyldyz Bekova (Kyrgyzstan) in February.

Based on the amount of votes by the public and BE OPEN's art community members, the February winner Zhyldyz Bekova, painter and digital artist based in Kyrgyzstan, has become the Artist of the Region for Central Asia. The artist will be offered a grant of 500 euro from BE OPEN.

Zhyldyz Bekova was born and raised in a family of artists in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She has two diplomas - in Architecture, Design and Construction from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, and in Decorative and Applied Fabrics from the Kyrgyz State Art School. She started painting in oil in 2020, and draws inspiration from the myths, customs and traditions of Turkic ethnic peoples of Central Asia. She loves to convey Kyrgyz national motifs and her unique cultural heritage.

Founder of BE OPEN Elena Baturina selected her own favourite among the Central Asian artists: Baurjan Aralov, an artist of Kazakh origin, also based in Austria. He was born in Almaty, now lives in Graz, Austria, studying Painting and Animation at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. His art shows incidental moments the artist experiences in his daily life.

On the 1st of April, the focus of the competition moved to Middle East. The regional competition runs alongside the regular ongoing work of BE OPEN Art, whose experts every month select 20 new artists for the gallery, and the public names the Artist of the Month and Year.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2398535/Elena_Baturina.jpg

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FORT WORTH, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Just Right Products Inc., the wholly owned subsidiary of ADM Endeavors ("ADM" or the "Company") (OTCQB:ADMQ), a diversified, direct marketing and value-added manufacturing company, announces that CEO Marc Johnson and CFO Alex Archer will host an investor presentation at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2024 on May 1, 2024, at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Archer will then host 1x1 investor meetings throughout the following day (May 2, 2024).

"Fiscal 2023 was a transformational year for ADM Endeavors," said CEO Marc Johnson. "We remained profitable (US$5,188,930 Revenue, US$137,468 Net Income) and generated cash as we were able to replace a significant customer loss with stable, re-occurring government contracts. This strength is expected to increase into 2024, with more contract wins and the return of influencer sales. Furthermore, ADM has successfully closed, integrated, and scaled acquisitions and will continue to do so as new opportunities present themselves. We're on track to open our new production facility by year-end, which will increase our capacity by up to five times. We look forward to introducing ADM Endeavors to Planet MicroCap investors and expanding upon our business and operational strategies during the event."

To access ADM Endeavors Planet MicroCap Presentation:

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Time: 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET

Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3026/50123

If you cannot make the live presentation, all company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the conference event platform on this link under the tab "Agenda":

https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/agenda

To Book a Meeting with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Archer:

If you would like to book 1x1 investor meetings with ADM Endeavors management and to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2024, please make sure you are registered here:

https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

1x1 meetings will be scheduled and conducted in person at the conference venue: Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV

About Planet MicroCap

Planet MicroCap is a global multimedia financial news, publishing and events company focused on news dissemination, providing information, data and analytics for the MicroCap investing community. We have cultivated an active and engaged audience of folks that are interested in learning about and to stay ahead of the curve in the MicroCap space.

If you would like to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase, please register here:

https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

About ADM Endeavors

ADM Endeavors is a diversified, direct marketing and value-added manufacturing company providing customers with customized promotional products and wearables. Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing our recession resistant customer base, with sales topping $5.2 million for the last reported 12 months. The Company sells "Anything With A Logo" on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. For more information, please visit:

https://admendeavors.com/

https://www.fwpromo.com/

https://fortworth.academicoutfitters.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/admqshareholders/

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe -harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information about ADM Endeavors, please contact:

Marc Johnson, CEO

Phone: 817.231.8048

Email: info@admendeavors.com

For investor information for ADM Endeavors, please contact:

Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations

Phone: (647) 255-7570

E-mail: sean@sophiccapital.com

News Compliments of Accesswire

SOURCE: ADM Endeavors via Planet MicroCap

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TOKYO and MIAMI, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Enfinity Global Inc., a leader in renewable energy, has secured $195 million (29.2 billion) in long-term financing for a 70 MW solar power plant in Japan. Nomura Securities International Inc., a global financial institution, acted as initial lead arranger/sole bookrunner and Aozora Bank, one of the leading Japanese commercial banks, acted as lead arranger/agent.

Located in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, this recently completed solar power plant is expected to produce more than 75 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to supply 11% of Aomori City's residential energy demand, or about 15,600 households, and offset 35,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The Aomori solar power plant stands out as a successful example of the effective utilization of bifacial solar panels in one of the world's snowiest cities.

This newly operational solar power plant is part of the 250 MW solar PV portfolio owned by Enfinity Global in Japan, where the company is positioned as one of the industry leaders.

"We are committed to supporting Japan's plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 by leveraging our global capabilities and being a long-term investor. We appreciate the confidence of our financing partners, Nomura and Aozora", said Carlos Domenech, CEO of Enfinity Global. "Japan is at an inflection point where clean energy has become a competitive necessity".

"Nomura is excited to provide a bespoke financing solution to support Enfinity Global in its goal of helping Japan reach carbon neutrality", said Vinod Mukani, Head of Nomura's Infrastructure and Power Business (IPB). "Nomura is delighted to support and provide liquidity to its clients, particularly those like Enfinity Global who have experienced and talented teams and an attractive business strategy which is contributing towards the transition to a clean energy economy."

"Aozora is pleased to have the opportunity to support Enfinity Global's solar projects in Japan", said Hiroki Nakazato, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Environment Business Group. "Aozora will continue to focus on financing that supports our customers' initiatives to develop renewable energy and the energy transition for a carbon-free economy."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2398539/Enfinity_Global_Amori_Solar_Power_Plant.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/enfinity-global-closes-195-million-of-long-term-financing-for-a-70-mw-operational-solar-power-plant-in-japan-302128584.html
Awards recognize purpose-driven brands for their extraordinary approaches to social impact, corporate philanthropy and employee engagement

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., April 26, 2024., the leading global provider of social impact software, today announced the winners of its 2024 Corporate Goodness Awards , also known as "The Goodies," acknowledging leading-edge brands for their innovative and inspirational approaches to social impact, employee engagement and corporate philanthropy. The 2024 Goodie Awards were presented to the winners on April 25 in Palm Springs, CA at Benevity Live! , the company's flagship conference, which brings together more than 700 purpose-driven professionals to share insights and strategies about the future of corporate impact.

This year saw a record-breaking 197 nominations from 99 of the world's most iconic and purpose-driven brands. The winners were recognized across various categories based on the innovative, inclusive and creative ways they are making a difference in the world through their giving, volunteering and community investment programs.

"The Goodie Awards winners and finalists are doing incredible things to challenge the status quo, catalyze positive action in meaningful ways and creatively solve critical issues facing society," said Kelly Schmitt, Benevity's Chief Executive Officer. "We are so inspired by these innovative companies and people for creating deeply impactful programs that truly reflect their core values."

Companies who were selected as Goodies finalists contributed more than $153 million in donations and $7.9 million in grants and tracked more than 1.7 million volunteer hours through the Benevity platform in 2023.

Benevity's 2024 Goodies Finalists and Winners

The Bestie Awards: For best-in-class approach and overall impact

The Bestie Award is selected from all finalists and recognizes the company with the best-in-class approach to corporate purpose, driving impact for their nonprofits, communities and employees.

USAA (WINNER for Enterprise)

Vancouver Airport Authority (WINNER for Mid-size)

The BeCause Award: For dedication to causes

The BeCause Award recognizes companies making a big impact on societal or community issues by removing barriers for nonprofits so they can operate with more autonomy, flexibility and speed.

eBay (WINNER)

HPE

Hootsuite

IBM

Robert Bosa Foundation



The Buzz Award: For catalyzing purpose through communications and storytelling

The Buzz Award recognizes companies that bring their corporate purpose programs to life, by embracing true storytelling over "numbertelling" and by sharing impact stories from employees, customers and/or nonprofits.

Elevance Health Foundation (WINNER)

Activision Blizzard

Ciena

Okta

Relativity



The Community Hero Award: For best in class approach to community investment

The Community Hero Award recognizes companies taking a strategic yet creative approach to community investment to create greater impact with its nonprofit partners.

DaVita (WINNER)

CSAA Insurance Group

Principal Financial Group

Sequoia Healthcare District

Vancouver Airport Authority



The Moonshot Award: For boldness and creativity

The Moonshot Award recognizes companies that have developed a creative, bold and impactful corporate purpose program and engages their communities, employees or customers in interesting ways to maximize their social and business impact.

Coast Capital Savings (WINNER)

First Tech Federal Credit Union

FTI Consulting

Gibson Energy

USAA



The NewB Award: For most transformative approach

The NewB Award recognizes new Benevity clients that have created significant impact through a best-in-class corporate purpose program launch and have implemented best practices to engage stakeholders.

Alberta Investment Management Corp. (WINNER)

ENMAX

KLA Foundation

Tractor Supply

Veritiv



The People Power Award: For promoting purpose through people's passions

The People Power Award recognizes companies that build a culture powered by its people and creates significant impact by putting the power of goodness in the hands of employees to address critical issues.

Ciena (WINNER)

Appfire

F5

Gilead Foundation

Symetra Life Insurance Company



The Buffy Award: For individual leadership, innovation and impact

The Buffy Award celebrates outstanding individuals who exemplify passion, innovation, imagination and leadership in the corporate purpose space.

Kelly Petrich, Director, Community Impact, Cisco

Estelle Roth, Global Head Giving & Volunteering, Novartis

The Change Champion Award: For an executive who champions a purpose-driven culture

This new category celebrates an executive who is a shining example of what it looks like to lead with purpose. They foster diversity, equity and inclusion; they champion social action; and they inspire others with their commitment to purpose, people and profit.

Kristina Karnovsky, FactSet



Employee Catalyst Award: For an employee whose passion creates movements

The Employee Catalyst Award recognizes passionate employees who go beyond their day-to-day job to engage employees and community members in opportunities to do good, helping to fuel a culture of purpose.

Tom Mahatdejkul, ARM



Learn more about this year's Goodie Awards winners and their exciting programs here .

About Benevity

Benevity , a certified B Corporation, is the leading global provider of social impact software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. Recognized as one of Fortune's Impact 20, Benevity offers cloud solutions that power purpose for many iconic brands in ways that better attract, retain and engage today's diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 22 languages, Benevity has processed more than $15 billion in donations and 79 million hours of volunteering time to support 470,000 nonprofits worldwide. The company's solutions have also facilitated 1.3 million micro-actions and managed 845,000 grants worth $16 billion. For more information, visit benevity.com .

Media Contact:

Zamira TasneemMedia & Communications Manager  1.416.451.6511  press@benevity.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Sanu Gold Corporation (CSE: SANU) (OTCQB: SNGCF) ("Sanu Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling is progressing well with 14 holes and 1,652m completed at Target 2 on the Company's flagship Bantabaye Project ("Bantabaye"), located on the prolific western margin of the Siguiri Basin of Guinea, West Africa. The Company has been integrating its latest geophysical data into a structural geology model for Target 3 and Target 7. This model has provided a basis for planning an initial drill test comprised of 15 holes along four lines for an estimated 1,500m.

Highlights

Drilling at Target 2 is progressing well: Fourteen holes for a total of 1,652m have been completed to-date in the priority area of Target 2. Each hole has intersected zones of alteration, quartz veining and sulfides over meters to tens of meters.

Initial batch of samples dispatched: A batch of 678 samples from the first seven holes has been sent to the laboratory. A second batch is expected to be sent shortly.

Target 3 and 7 structure has a large footprint: The combined strike length of Targets 3 and 7 is 1,500m. The targets are characterized by a chargeability and resistivity response at depth, below the deeply weathered saprolite zone.

Initial Drill Testing Planned: The recently completed geophysics shows drilling needs to focus down dip and the to the south of the main surface gold anomaly and artisan workings. The Company has designed a program of 15 priority holes on four lines to drill test the target area, requiring approximately 1,500m of drilling.

Martin Pawlitschek, President, and CEO of Sanu Gold commented:

"We are excited that the drilling program at Bantabaye, currently focused on Target 2, is progressing very well with 14 holes completed. We have also finalized our structural model and plans for initial drill testing of the main structure at Targets 3 and 7. These targets sit on the same contiguous structure that is linked to Target 2. With over 1,500m of strike length to test at Target 3 and 7 this presents a significant size target. The Company has commenced access track and drill pad preparation at these targets."

Program Summary

The initial target test program at Target 3 and Target 7 consists of 15 planned holes for an estimated 1,500m (Figures 1 and 2). The Company has integrated the recent geophysics, 2023 drilling and surface data into the structural model shown in Figure 2. Similar work is in progress for the other targets and will be announced as soon as practical.

The Company interprets the data collected to-date as a 50 to 60 degree south dipping structural contact marked by the same sequence of lithologies as those observed at Target 2, namely an upper package of volcaniclastics, followed by a mafic unit in contact with a felsic unit and a foot wall sequence of sediments. It is the felsic unit and its sheared contact with the hanging wall mafic that form the main target package.

These access and drill pad preparations are underway, and drilling will commence once the priority holes at Target 2 are completed. The program will test the structure on its down dip portion along a 800m trend on lines spaced 100m to 300m apart. The lines are planned so that the structure is intercepted near surface and down dip to a vertical depth of up to 150m. Additionally, more systematic, lines of drilling are likely on receipt of positive results.

Figure 1: Target 3 to Target 7, Chargeability map, PDPIP survey lines (green), interpreted structures (black dashed lines), previous RC drill collars (blue), Planned holes and traces (solid black lines and dots) and gold geochemical anomalies (yellow outlines).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8941/206884_08e3db5e94e74848_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Target 2, perspective view towards the northeast. 3D model of the main structure at Target 3 and Target 7, integrating geophysics, surface data and field observations. The grey polygon at surface is the surface trend of the key structure mapped by elevated resistivity and coincident high chargeability.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8941/206884_08e3db5e94e74848_002full.jpg

Next Steps

Access and drill pad preparations have commenced at Targets 3 and 7. The drill rig is currently completing the Phase 1 drill holes at Target 2, after which it will move to complete drill testing at Target 3 and Target 7.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC")

Sampling was completed following industry best practices, conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists and the chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is continuously monitored. An appropriate number and type of certified reference materials (standards) and blanks totaling 5% of the total number of samples shipped to the laboratory was inserted approximately every 20th sample to ensure an effective QA/QC program was carried out. Data verification of the analytical results includes a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to ensure accurate and verifiable results. All samples were analyzed using Fire Assay FAA505 at the SGS Laboratory in Bamako, Mali ("SGS"). SGS is an internationally recognized and commercially certified laboratory and is independent of Sanu Gold.

The Company is being advised on the IP survey by in3D Geoscience, an independent geophysical consulting firm based in British Columbia. The data collection survey is subject to standard contractors' protocols including:

Daily checking of equipment

Signal/noise ratio monitoring.

Checking of extreme readings

Verification of equipment locations

Monitoring of measurement cycles

Data is checked at the end of each day by a team at the SAGAX Head Office

Sanu's geophysicists and SAGAX regularly review and discuss the progress of the work, program adjustments, data quality and modelling parameters.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Serigne Dieng, Ph.D., M.Sc., a Member (MAIG) of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), Exploration Manager of the Company and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The technical information with respect to the geophysical data contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Todd Ballantyne, P.Geo., a member of Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC), independent geophysical consultant (through in3D Geoscience Inc.) to the Company and a qualified person within the meaning of NI 43-101.

About Sanu

Located within the world class Siguiri Basin, host to several operating mines, Sanu is exploring three high quality gold exploration permits in Guinea, West Africa targeting multi-million-ounce gold discoveries. The Company has defined multi-kilometer scale gold bearing structures on each of the gold exploration permits, with multiple high-value drill targets. Sanu is operated by a highly experienced team with successful records of discovery, resource development and mine permitting.

Martin Pawlitschek

President & CEO, Sanu Gold Corp.

For further information regarding Sanu Gold, please visit the Company's website at www.sanugoldcorp.com or contact:

Anthony Simone

Simone Capital

416-881-5154

asimone@simonecapital.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Sanu believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration on its properties and ability to execute on plans within the anticipated time frames disclosed, ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, ability to maintain its material property agreements, mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of gold and other metals, changes in general economic conditions and local risks in the jurisdiction (Guinea) in which it operates, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____

grams of gold per tonne ("g/t Au")

metres ("m")



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206884

SOURCE: Sanu Gold Corp.
CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(OTCQB:MYLKF)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope " or the "Company") announces that it has proactively applied for a voluntary management cease trade order (the "MCTO") with the British Columbia Securities Commission, which will cause delays to the filing of the Company's annual financial statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the "Required Filings").

Reasons for the anticipated delay include delays in finding and hiring a new Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as well as delays resulting from the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company taking the time to properly review and prepare annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Company is working diligently with its auditors to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

The Company currently expects to file the Required Filings on or before June 28, 2024, and will issue a press release announcing completion of such filings once completed. Until the Company files the Required Filings, it will comply with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. These guidelines require the Company to issue bi-weekly default status reports by way of a press release during the period of the MCTO.

The MCTO only restricts the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the company from all trading in securities of the Company until such time as the Required Filings have been filed by the Company and the MCTO has been lifted. The MCTO does not affect the ability of other shareholders of the Company to trade in securities of the Company.

About The Planting Hope Company Inc.

Planting Hope is reimagining and reinventing food today so that our planet can feed 10 billion people tomorrow. A Foodtech-driven company at the forefront of sustainable consumer food and beverage evolution, Planting Hope transforms nutrient-dense, widely cultivated crops into innovative, nutrient-rich products that reimagine pantry staples in the largest, fastest-growing global food categories.

Our award-winning breakthrough brands, including Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, RightRice High-Protein Veggie Rice, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, are not only disrupting global markets but also significantly reducing environmental footprints. Available across the US and Canada in grocery retailers (Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Markets), through foodservice operators (CAVA Mediterranean restaurants - NYSE: CAVA), and e-commerce and alternative retail channels (Amazon, QVC), our products blend culinary innovation with advanced technology, offering breakthrough products with wide moats. Our products are poised to disrupt global food and beverage categories, make a positive impact on the world, and provide investors with valuable opportunities in the growing sustainable food market.

This is the food that Gen Z is demanding and that Gen Alpha will grow up with: this is the future of food.

Explore more at plantinghopecompany.com, sign up for Planting Hope news emails HERE and follow us on LinkedIn.

For Planting Hope product sales and distribution opportunities, please contact James Curley, EVP of Sales, at james@plantinghopecompany.com.

Contacts

Company Contact:

Julia Stamberger CEO and Co-Founder

(773) 492-2243

julia@plantinghopecompany.com

Media Contact:

Corinn Williams

(773) 492-2243

Corinn@plantinghopecompany.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this press release includes statements about the expected filing of the Required Filings and the grant of the MTCO.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made including, without limitations, information based on the current status of the Required Filings and the CPAB Audit. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information, and there is no guarantee the Required Filings will be made on the timeline currently expected or at all or that the MCTO will be granted. If the MCTO is not granted and/or if the Required Filings are subject to additional delays, the securities of the Company could be subject to a cease trade order or other actions taken by the securities regulators and/or the stock exchange(s) on which the Company's securities are listed. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: The Planting Hope Company Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Hiru Corp (OTC Pink: HIRU), www.otchiru.com, announces the return of 1 billion shares to its treasury.

Following diligent efforts, the Company has successfully recovered 1 billion common shares, with the claw back provisions. The company originally had aimed to reclaim between 400 to 600 million shares issued to the ecommerce & shipping acquisition. This claw back stems from certain milestones HIRU management placed on the ecommerce / shipping acquisition which were not met. Our current share structure will change from Outstanding Shares: 3,451,425,394 - Restricted: 1,008,037,547 - Unrestricted: 2,443,387,847 - To:

Outstanding Shares: 2,451,425,394 Restricted: 8,037,547 Unrestricted: 2,443,387,847

Notwithstanding the return of this 1 billion shares, the Company through a complex debt swap and certain financing the Company reacquired, on all cash basis, the logistics business and the retail portal thefixtureplace.com. Revenues and expenses together with the financing will be reflected in the Company Q2 disclosure. By all indications, the Company expects to make a tidy profit moving forward with the current right sized business model.

FAQ: Following certain trauma (i.e. loss of a single use customer Alkaline88) in or about October 2023 and certain litigation against the ex-management & HIRU the Company decided to reorganize and restructure. See OTC filing:

11/10/2023 Supplemental Information - Successful Informal Reorganization, Corporate Reorganization and content at https://tinyurl.com/HIRU-RE-ORG

FAQ: Regarding HIRU being named as a litigant by a Credit Union, the Company was successful in setting aside the default judgement due to the non-responsiveness or negligence of the ex-management. The Company intends to vigorously defend this and or any other frivolous complaint brought forth against the Company.

FAQ: Although the Company maintains its H20 Alkaline equipment, it is no longer in the water packing business. (The current equipment is being offered for sale through a business broker as an asset purchase.) The management is of the opinion that by all accounts the sale should settle the equipment debt. https://www.otchiru.com/alkaline-equipment-sale

HIRU website is self-explanatory addressing current logistics and mining operations.

https://www.otchiru.com/ and mining https://www.mining.otchiru.com/: Our webmaster is in the process of reorganizing the website as logistics and mining are clearly two separate sectors the Company is engaged in. We are not in a position to make any formal announcements other than those we received permission to do so with the targeted mining company. This announcement is for informative FAQ purpose of our followers.

Lastly, the Company is in final negotiations with a new CEO and management in the mining sector. Details will be provided as they crystallize, in a separate announcement and/or OTC filing. The Company has received the resignation notice of CEO Mr. Gerald Mounger and COO Mr. Andrew Lapp. Updates to OTC will be made shortly in concert with the grace period and the finalization of the new management and its mining staff.

More updates will follow on this and other exciting events in the works on a timely basis.

About Hiru Corporation

HIRU is a holding Company (The Company) holds interest in 3 operating enterprises.

Mining Business, Gold Trading / Processing Freight & Warehouse services

Disclaimer Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements that we make may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated savings, financial results (including expenses, earnings, liquidity, cash flow and capital expenditures), industry or market conditions, demand for and pricing of our products, acquisitions and divestitures, anticipated results of litigation and regulatory developments or general economic conditions. In addition, words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," and future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "could," "should," and "would," as well as any other statement that necessarily depends on future events, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Website: www.otchiru.com

Phone: +1 954-228-1053

Email: corporate@otchiru.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206952

SOURCE: Hiru Corporation
ACT Employee Experience Solutions Recognized at the 18th Annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / ACT (Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC), a total experience (TX) innovator and 100% employee-owned customer experience (CX) leader, has been presented with a Silver Stevie Award in the Customer Service Outsourcing Provider of the Year category in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.



The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world's top honors for customer service, contact center, business development and sales professionals. The Stevie Awards organizes nine of the world's leading business awards programs, also including the prestigious American Business Awards and International Business Awards.

Winners were announced during a gala event attended by more than 400 professionals from around the world at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday, April 12.

"These awards are very important to us because they highlight the impact of employee ownership and our commitment to being an industry leader in innovations that create the best possible employee and customer experience. The direct link between employee experience and creating value for our clients cannot be overstated," said ACT President and CEO Hunter Croft. "We're honored to have our exceptional teams recognized at this elite event."

More than 2,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry, in 44 nations and territories, were considered in this year's competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 professionals worldwide on seven specialized judging committees. Entries were considered in more than 90 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; more than 60 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of the Year to Sales Training or Business Development Executive of the Year to Sales Department of the Year; and categories to recognize new products, services, and solution providers.

"The high scores given the winning nominations in this year's competition are evidence of the high levels of achievement portrayed in them," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. "We join with the judges and all members of the Stevie Awards community in congratulating and celebrating the winners for their accomplishments."

Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the list of Stevie winners in all categories are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

"This award is deeply meaningful to our team on a personal level because it's the direct result of the commitment, hard work, passion and sheer grit that our people bring to the table every day to deliver outstanding customer experiences," said Zabrina Doerck, ACT's Chief Marketing Officer. "This is proof that employee ownership translates to exceptional results for our business and the world-class brands that we support."

Learn more about ACT's Total Experience solutions.

About ACT (Advanced Call Center Technologies)

ACT is a U.S.-based business process outsourcing provider and global leader in customer care. Our approach is founded on a winning formula - that the best solutions integrate Employee Experience (EX) + Customer Experience (CX) + User Experience (UX) + Digital Experience (DX) + Multi-experience (MX) for an outstanding Total Experience (TX) overall. As a 100% employee-owned company, we have placed Employee Experience at the center of our business strategy because we know that engaged employees ensure the best customer outcomes. As shareholders in the business, our Employee Owners have a personal interest in delivering value to our clients, and their motivations are uniquely aligned to our clients' success.

We have more than 27 years of experience helping our partners drive growth and brand loyalty by providing amazing experiences across every touchpoint and channel of the customer journey. We serve many of the world's top companies spanning a wide range of verticals, including numerous Fortune 50 clients. We offer a broad range of leading-edge technologies and custom solutions tailored to your business needs to make every unique customer connection count.

Contact Information

Zabrina Doerck

Chief Marketing Officer

zdoerck@acttoday.com

(215) 518-7718

SOURCE: Advanced Call Center Technologies

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Sagaliam Acquisition Corp. ("SAGAU", "SAGA", SAGAR") (the " Company ") announced that Sagaliam entered into a Novation Agreement with Enzolytics, Inc. (OTC PINK:ENZC), Biogenysis, Inc. (BGEN), and Virogentics, Inc. (VIRO) (together the "Parties"). ?Under this restructured agreement SAGA retains 100% ownership of VIRO, ITV-1, the nutraceutical products and license along with VIRO's other assets. This agreement transferred ownership of Biogenysis, Inc. ("BGEN") and it's IP, patents and associated asset being developed back to ENZC in exchange for a reduction of the price from $450,000,000 to $290,000,000 with the dividend of the purchase shares to come directly to the ENZC shareholders from SAGA. The Parties believe this will significantly shorten the time needed to obtain regulatory approval to initiate the dividend of the 29 million SAGA shares issued for the purchase of VIRO. All other terms and conditions of the purchase agreement, including the make-whole provision relating to the 29 million SAGA shares, remain in place.

Barry Kostiner, the CEO of Sagaliam, commented, "After the Sagaliam - Enzolytics transaction was closed in September, we have worked together with the Enzolytics management team to tweak the details for mutual benefit. We are excited about moving forward with the Virogentics team. The ITV-1 therapy has potential to significantly improve effectiveness and reduce costs of the standard of care for HIV. Additionally, ITV-1 is believed to have therapeutic application to other chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer and other conditions known to be impacted by peptide therapies targeting inflammation. Our IPF nutraceutical has received strong consumer approval, and we will be ramping up our marketing efforts, in parallel with our other nutraceutical products. Through the Novation Agreement, return of Biogenysis to Enzolytics, and reduction of shares issued, we believe that we have a strong foundation for building a valuable pharmaceutical company with global impact, in partnership with our colleagues at Enzolytics. We are also working with Enzolytics on building the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure for our nutraceutical products."

Steve Sharabura, the CEO of Enzolytics, commented, "The Novation Agreement is an exciting development for Enzolytics. It serves as a solid foundation for building both Enzolytics and Sagaliam as significant biotech companies that are independent entities, but that work closely together. Enzolytics is proud to be a major shareholder in Sagaliam. The two companies have several initiatives in the works, specifically in the areas of medical testing, medical devices and an expanded nutraceutical product line. Negotiations are ongoing between Sagaliam and Enzolytics on these matters."

Harry Zhabilov, the Chief Science Officer of Virogentics, commented, "With the completion of the Novation Agreement, we have visibility to funding and the success of both companies. We now have a platform that allows us to implement our vision of bringing our technology to commercial implementation. We are also in advanced discussions with multiple synergistic biotech companies that are interested in joining our platform. After much anticipation, we are excited about moving forward on bringing our therapies to improve the lives of many patients with multiple chronic conditions, as well as increasing the near-term revenue of our nutraceutical products."

About Sagaliam Acquisition Corp.

We are a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on March 31, 2021 for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Sagaliam intends to continue to pursue the consummation of a business combination with an appropriate target.

Virogentics, a subsidiary of Sagaliam, is advancing multiple therapeutics targeting numerous infectious diseases. One patented and clinically tested compound, ITV-1 (Immune Therapeutic Vaccine-1), is a suspension of Inactivated Pepsin Fraction (IPF), covered by U.S. Patent Nos. 8,066,982 and 7,479,538. Studies have shown it to be effective in treating HIV/AIDS. ITV-1 has also been shown to modulate the immune system.

Forward Looking Statements

The disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and expectations, Company's ability to enter into a definitive business combination agreement and Company's ability to obtain the financing necessary to consummate the potential business combination transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of Company's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: Company's ability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the proposed business combination or consummate a transaction; the risk that the approval of the stockholders of Company for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the potential transaction, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction or difficulty in integrating the businesses of Company; the amount of redemption requests made by Company's stockholders and the amount of funds remaining in Company's trust account after satisfaction of such requests; those factors discussed in Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Company filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Company presently does not know or that Company currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Company's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date hereof. Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Company's assessments to change. However, while Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Company's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this disclosure statement. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sagaliam Acquisition Corp.,

Barry Kostiner, Chief Executive Officer

3002 Royal Palm

Baytown, Texas 77523

Tel: (845) 925-4597

bkostiner@fintecham.com

SOURCE: Sagaliam Acquisition Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 4,807,692 charity flow-through common shares ("Charity FT Shares") at C$1.04 per Charity FT Share, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$5,000,000 (the "Offering").

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for exploration work at the Company's NAK project located in the Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry district in central British Columbia. The final drill hole of the 2023 exploration season yielded 302 metres of 1.09% within 606 m of 0.74% Copper Equivalent starting from 98 metres downhole. The Company plans to step out from this drill hole to begin the 2024 drill season, set to begin in May.

The Charity FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the Charity FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Charity FT Shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the Charity FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024.

The Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Charity FT Shares are being offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The common shares of the Company issuable from the sale of these LIFE securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. There is an offering document relating to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.americaneaglegold.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

It is not anticipated that any new insiders will be created, nor that any change of control will occur, as a result of the Offering.

Details of NAK's 2024 Drill Program:

The 2024 drill program will integrate the Company's growing understanding of the relationship between the emplacement of multi-phase Eocene dikes and sills with reactive and permeable host rocks to form the extensive Nak mineralized system. The company is developing models for geology, mineralization, alteration, and structure for the system, which will form the basis for its ongoing planning. The expanded 2024 drill program, currently planned for 15,000 metres, will aim to link, better define, and expand upon the historical North and South zones, which the Company showed in its 2022 and 2023 drill programs to extend to considerable depths (close to 950 m below surface) along a strike length of 750 m and across a width of 400 m. Intercepts from 2023 include 900 m of 0.50% Copper Equivalent from surface in the North zone (Link to NAK23-12 News Release) and 302 metres of 1.09% within 606 m of 0.74% Copper Equivalent starting from 98 metres downhole in the South Zone (Link to NAK23-17 News Release).

Click Here to View the 2024 Drill Plan at NAK

Click Here to View 2024 Drill Plan Webinar Hosted by Geologists Charlie Greig and Neil Prowse

About American Eagle's NAK Project

The NAK Project lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed in 2022 and 2023 by American Eagle has returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that lie beyond the extent of historical drilling, indicating that several zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system.

For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Chanel: youtube.com/@theoregroup.

About American Eagle Gold Corp.

American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada.

Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer

416.644.1567

amoreau@oregroup.ca

www.americaneaglegold.ca

Q.P. Statement

Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding whether the Company will be able to complete the Offering as anticipated, the receipt of regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to complete the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. American Eagle Gold Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to American Eagle Gold Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by American Eagle Gold Corp. with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206955

SOURCE: American Eagle Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - MTB Metals Corp. (TSXV: MTB) (OTCQB: MBYMF) (FSE: E8H) ("MTB" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its six exploration projects in BC's Golden Triangle as well as a corporate update.

Higher prices for copper, gold and silver have led to renewed interest from potential joint venture partners and investors. We continue to work toward joint venture funding and/or other sources of financing to continue to advance our various exploration projects.

Telegraph

On-going evaluation of the abundant data compiled from the Telegraph property continues to support the hypothesis that the project is host to several porphyry copper-gold targets that are worthy of immediate follow-up. MTB's initial drill hole into the Dok target yielded an interval including 107 metres of 0.38 per cent copper equivalent within 436 metres of intersected mineralization.

One of the most significant findings from reviewing the data is the interpretation that the two drill holes drilled in 2014 tested the footwall of mineralization, leaving upside exploration potential over 800 metres along the Dok trend. This, in combination with a better understanding of the mineralization, breccias, and intrusive units along the Dok trend, will help refine vectoring for future work.

Beyond the Dok trend, the Telegraph property hosts two other porphyry targets, a skarn zone, a nickel-cobalt bearing ultramafic intrusion and a potential gold-silver epithermal zone. An important objective in the present work, and for the near-term plans, is gaining a better understanding of the geological setting that produced the mineralization that is evident throughout this 344 square kilometer property.

Red Cliff and American Creek

Red Cliff is a past producing gold and copper mine in which MTB holds a 35% interest. Drilling last year on Red Cliff encountered 26 gram per tonne gold over 2 meters. Further drilling has the potential to extend the gold zone beyond the area drilled to date.

MTB's American Creek property, located 3 kilometres north of the Red Cliff mine, is centred on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine and spans an 8 km trend that is prospective for additional occurrences of high-grade silver mineralization.

The Red Cliff and American Creek Projects are located 8 km northeast of the Ascot Resources' Premier mine. Ascot announced on April 22, 2024, that it had poured its first gold at Premier as part of the mine's commissioning process. Ascot expects to declare commercial production by Q3 of this year, with total output from the restarted Premier project forecast to reach 1.1 million ounces of gold and 3 million ounces of silver. The original mine opened in 1918 and while in operation, it was the largest gold mine in North America until its surface buildings burned down, leading to its closure in 1952. By then, the Premier mine had produced over 2 million ounces of gold and 45 million ounces of silver. The mine was reopened by Westmin Resources in 1989 and operated until 1996. It produced about 260,000 ounces gold and 5.1 million ounces silver during that period.

The restart of production at the Premier Mine, combined with higher gold and silver prices have generated renewed interest in the both the Red Cliff and American Creek projects.

BA

The higher silver price has led to a fresh look at the BA project. Drilling by MTB and a previous joint venture partner outlined a substantial zone of silver-zinc-lead mineralization in a VMS setting. Several other VMS occurrences along a 20 km trend await drill testing, with surface samples showing silver values up to a kg/tonne.

Theia

MTB's Theia project is the vicinity of Dolly Varden's Kitsault Valley Project and Goliath Resources' Golden Triangle Projects.

Dolly Varden, announced on April 23, 2024, exploration plans for their project that included an initial 25,000 metres of diamond drilling. The drill program will be split approximately 50/50 between the Dolly Varden property and the Homestake Ridge property". MTB's Theia project is immediately adjacent to the Homestake Ridge property.

Goliath Resources announced on March 4, 2024, and April 15, 2024, updates for their Golddigger property, including plans for further drilling. Their Surebet discovery is 18 km south of the Theia property, and their new Cambria claims are adjacent to Theia.

The Theia project, although at an earlier stage than the neighbouring projects, is in a similar geological setting and offers considerable exploration potential.

Southmore

MTB's Southmore project is benefiting from the increasing interest in large-scale porphyry copper-gold targets in the Golden Triangle. Exploration by MTB and previous operators has shown evidence of porphyry as well as skarn, VMS and epithermal-style mineralization.

Southmore is located 5 km from the Galore Creek access road and just 8 kms from the proposed Galore Creek process plant site. The Southmore project is permitted and drill ready.

Golden Triangle Update

Newmont announced in a news release dated Februaty 22, 2024, that it's go-forward portfolio is focused on Tier 1 assets including an emerging Tier 1 district in the Golden Triangle in British Columbia.

Financing

As we continue to work toward joint ventures and a longer term financing solution, we are undertaking an equity financing of up to $400,000:

- Flow-through shares at $0.04, with a half warrant at $0.08 for 18 months;

- Hard dollars at $0.04, with a full warrant at $0.08 for 24 months.

The technical disclosure in this release has been read and approved by Andrew Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About MTB

MTB has six active projects spanning 580 square kilometres (58,000 hectares) in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. With the focus on the Telegraph project, discussions are now underway leading to joint ventures and/or spinouts of other projects.

Telegraph is located in the vicinity of 4 world-class porphyry deposits being advanced by major mining companies: Galore (Teck / Newmont), Schaft (Teck), Saddle (Newmont) and the operating Red Chris copper-gold mine (Newcrest / Imperial Metals). Field work by MTB on its 344 square kilometre property, together with earlier results, provides compelling evidence for the presence of one or more porphyries, similar to others in the area. The American Creek project is centered on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine. The project is road accessible and 20 km from the deep-water port of Stewart. There are multiple silver, gold and copper occurrences on the property, including a 2006 drill hole that encountered 5 kgs of silver over 5 metres. Red Cliff is a past producing gold and copper mine in which the Company holds a 35% interest. Recent drill results include 2 meters of 26 g/t gold. On the BA property, 182 drill holes have outlined a substantial zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization located 4 km from the highway. Several targets with high-grade silver potential remain to be tested. Drilling in October on the George Copper zone encountered copper mineralization, with assays pending. On the Theia project, work by MTB and previous explorers has outlined a silver bearing mineralized trend 500 metres long, highlighted by a 2020 grab sample that returned 39 kg per tonne silver (1,100 ounces per ton). Two other zones on the property produced copper values over 5%. Southmore is in the midst of some of the largest deposits in the Golden Triangle. It was explored in the 1980s through the early 1990s and was overlooked until MTB consolidated the property and carried out airborne geophysics and field work which confirmed several zones of gold and copper, with values up to 20% copper and 35 g/t gold.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Lawrence Roulston

President & CEO

For further information, contact:

Caroline Klukowski

ir@mtb-metals.com

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206954

SOURCE: MTB Metals Corp.
NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / The latest data from the US Census Bureau reflects alarming statistics from those who have had COVID-19: 32.4% of adults aged 40-49 and 28.8% of those aged 30-39 report ever experiencing long COVID, grappling with debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath that profoundly affect their daily lives. Persistence of symptoms beyond three months after COVID-19 infection, referred to as long COVID, is an increasing concern worldwide. On April 17, 2024, at the esteemed American College of Physicians Conference in Boston, MA, CompendiRx will be introduced as a beacon of hope, offering an innovative and data-driven online platform to help manage this complex condition.

CompendiRx understands the power of shared experiences and evidence-based insights in combating the challenges of long COVID. The physician-led founding team says that "debuting at this year's conference is an incredible opportunity to introduce the platform to the world. The beta launch is on track for Spring 2024. The positive responses from healthcare professionals and attendees have been encouraging and validate the commitment to our goals. We invite patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone touched by the shadow of long COVID to join us in this journey."

CompendiRx confronts long COVID head-on by fostering a dynamic online solution where patients can exchange real-world experiences and insights related to treatment options. This peer-to-peer exchange, often absent in traditional healthcare settings, empowers patients and facilitates their navigation through the complexities of long COVID management.

In addition to sharing stories, CompendiRx provides a comprehensive approach to long COVID management, recognizing the significance of scientific evidence alongside anecdotal experiences. The platform offers a subscription email newsletter featuring insights from healthcare professionals and a paid plan granting access to in-depth research reviews by scientists and clinicians.

In today's digital age, trust and transparency are crucial. CompendiRx understands this and prioritizes the authenticity of every story, rating, and article on the platform. To ensure dependable development and HealthTech expertise, CompendiRx has partnered with Arkenea LLC, an established software development company.

Understanding the challenges of long COVID, CompendiRx boasts a user-friendly design, granting patients easy access to critical information through an intuitive interface. Moreover, the platform continuously integrates the latest research and real-world experiences, keeping users abreast of the most current data to support informed decision-making.

CompendiRx invites patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and all affected by long COVID to join its mission.

Visit CompendiRx.com today and explore the platform.

###

About CompendiRx

CompendiRx, headquartered in Nashville, is dedicated to empowering long COVID patients through its unique online platform. The platform fosters a supportive community environment by enabling individuals to share real-world treatment experiences alongside insights from healthcare professionals and scientists. CompendiRx is committed to reliable information and fostering a collaborative approach to long COVID management.

Contact Information:

CompendiRx Communications Team

media@compendirx.com

615-9096968

SOURCE: CompendiRx

View the original press release on newswire.com.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TUCSON, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Western Alaska Minerals (the " Company " or " WAM ") (TSXV:"WAM") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced brokered offering by way of prospectus supplement dated April 22, 2024 to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated November 21, 2023, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,112,178.80 (the " Offering "). The Offering was led by Roth Canada, Inc. (" Roth "), as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner, Canaccord Genuity Corp., as co-lead agent with Roth, and Agentis Capital Markets Limited Partnership, as agent, on their own behalf and on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the " Agents ").

In connection with the Offering the Company issued a total of 9,403,352 units (" Units ") at a price of C$0.65 per Unit (the " Offering Price "). Each Unit is comprised of one subordinate voting share in the authorized share structure of the Company (a " Share ") and one Share purchase warrant (a " Warrant "). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share (a " Warrant Share ") at an exercise price of C$0.90 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the Company's 2024 exploration program, including step-out drilling at the LH and Warm Springs target zones that are new targets identified by the 2023-completed geophysical program, and for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Agents a cash commission of C$366,730.73 and issued to the Agents 564,200 Share purchase warrants of the Company (the " Agent Warrants "). Each Agent Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at the Offering Price for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.

Related parties of the Company purchased an aggregate of 311,138 Units in the Offering. The issuance of Units to this related party is considered to be a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV ") Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (" MI 61-101 "). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 (and Policy 5.9) as the fair market value of the Units issued to such person does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act "), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, and have not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons or persons in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About WAM

Our mission is to advance a mineable and scalable CRD, ultimately reshaping the mineral landscape of western Alaska and establishing a new CRD district.

WAM's 100% owned claims cover 73,120 acres (114.25 square miles or 29,591 hectares), approximately 45 km east of an ocean barge-compatible section of the Yukon River. WAM's intact mineralized CRD system encompasses the (past producing) Illinois Creek gold-silver mine, the Waterpump Creek high-grade silver-lead-zinc deposit, open to the north, and the Honker gold prospect. Twenty-five kilometers northeast of the Illinois Creek CRD lies the Round Top copper and the TG North CRD prospects. All prospects were originally discovered by Anaconda Minerals Co. in the early 1980's. Since 2010, WAM, along with its precursor company, Western Alaska Copper & Gold, reassembled the Anaconda land package and has been engaged in exploring the district.

Headquartered in both Alaska and Arizona, WAM brings together a team of seasoned professionals with a shared vision of pioneering new frontiers in mineral exploration. Our strategic approach is underpinned by cutting-edge technology, innovative techniques, and a deep understanding of the geological intricacies of the region.

On behalf of the Company

"Kit Marrs"

Kit Marrs

President & CEO

Phone: 520-200-1667

For further information please contact:

Vanessa Bogaert, Director of Corporate Communications/IR at vanessa@westernalaskaminerals.com

Or visit our website at: www.westernalaskaminerals.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the intended use of proceeds from the Offering.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will be able to utilize the proceeds of the Offering in the manner intended. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that the Company will not be able to utilize the proceeds of the Offering in the manner intended, and risks relating to market conditions and metal prices. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Western Alaska Minerals Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Gildan Activewear:

Q&A with Mike Albright, Vice-President of Health & Safety and Human Resources Manufacturing and Esther Hackett, Vice-President of Human Resources

With approximately 45,000 employees around the world and the majority of them working in facilities, Gildan understands its responsibility in fostering an environment where employees feel safe coming to work. From implementing workplace safety practices guided by its Global Health and Safety Policy, to providing healthcare support beyond work through on-site clinics, health fairs, free medical consultations, and mental health services, the Company is committed to ensuring the holistic well-being of its employees.

In honor of the United Nation's World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we sat down with Mike Albright, Vice-President of Health & Safety and Human Resources Manufacturing, and Esther Hackett, Vice-President of Human Resources, to learn more about the Company's longstanding commitment to Health & Safety (H&S) and how it has become an essential part of the Company's culture.

Can you tell us about Gildan's commitment to Health and Safety?

Mike: Guided by our vision of Making Apparel Better, Gildan is committed to improving both the quality of apparel it makes and the way in which it produces it; and it's all thanks to our incredible people who manage our manufacturing process from start to finish. Our employees are fundamental to our success, and providing them with safe working conditions, where they may work comfortably and to their full potential, is an important priority for us.

In fact, one of our values is that "we operate responsibly," so embracing a culture of H&S is at the very core of who we are.

Esther: In 2022, as part of Gildan's Next Generation ESG strategy, we further elevated our commitment to H&S by setting a goal to obtain the ISO 45001 certification at all Company-operated facilities by 2028. Since then, we have successfully obtained this certification in all our sewing facilities in the Dominican Republic, and we are on our way to achieving it in our other regions of operation as well.

What role do each of you play in bringing Gildan's H&S goals to life?

Mike: I am responsible for overseeing the implementation of our global H&S management systems and processes across all our manufacturing worldwide; this includes roughly 30 facilities in the United States, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh. Throughout my time at Gildan, I have been involved in building a strong foundation for H&S, standardizing it across our many facilities, and consistently improving it.

Esther: As the lead of the Human Capital Management ESG committee, I work with various teams across operations to drive our Next Generation ESG strategy target of obtaining the ISO 45001 certification at all our facilities.

Can you tell us more about the ISO 45001 certification? Why did Gildan choose to align itself with this standard?

Mike: The ISO 45001 is an industry-recognized, global management system which promotes H&S among factory employees through a high degree of collaboration between workers and senior management.

Esther: The great thing about the ISO 45001 certification is that it has a laser focus on H&S, so it really pushes us to take a deep dive into our existing health and safety procedures, and make meaningful improvements, tailored to our employees' actual needs. As a Company for which the well-being of its workers is an important priority, ISO 45001 is the ideal standard against which we can enhance our existing systems.

What were some notable changes brought about by the ISO 45001 certification in the facilities in the Dominican Republic?

Esther: At Gildan, we have long encouraged a collaborative approach to H&S management. In all our manufacturing facilities, we have joint management-worker H&S committees which are responsible for reviewing safety performance and identifying opportunities and solutions for improvement.

Yet, one of the most pleasantly surprising developments resulting from the ISO 45001 certification process was an even stronger cultural shift - from factory floor to management - in how H&S was perceived by our people.

As part of this process, plant managers and senior managers engaged in Gemba walks, walking through the factory floor and interacting with employees to learn about the experiences and challenges they face in their day-to-day. This open dialogue facilitated awareness towards the importance of H&S and the ISO 45001 certification, fostering employee engagement and a sense of responsibility among people to maintain a safe work environment, all of which fed into the organization's culture.

Mike: In addition to having our health and safety systems reviewed by external consultants, we trained internal auditors who are now equipped to consistently monitor our processes. The ISO 45001 certification has enhanced our self-sufficiency to make improvements to our H&S measures.

What are some of the challenges you face when standardizing health and safety, across your global supply chain?

Mike: With a supply chain that's global, each of our facilities is at a different stage when it comes to H&S. While some are greenfield projects, others have been acquired, and so our focus has been to create a strong, standardized foundation for H&S.

Esther: Every day we work to continue strengthening this culture of H&S - understanding workers' needs and including them in decision-making processes about H&S-related initiatives. For instance, the knowledge that we gained from successfully obtaining the ISO 45001 certification at our sewing facilities in the Dominican Republic through worker-management collaboration is immensely useful as we move forward with achieving this certification in the facilities of the rest of our regions.

How does Gildan communicate its H&S efforts with a workforce this large?

Mike: H&S's importance is reinforced through every touchpoint on the factory floor, whether it be through formal announcements, updates from leaders, programs, digital communications, and much more.

Recently, we also collaborated with our communications team to identify the main messages we wanted to reinforce globally; these messages are:

Lead: Leadership leads the way in safety, setting the standard for accountability, commitment, and compliance.

Empower: Empower and educate yourself and others to create a safe and healthy workplace.

Act: Every action counts. Act to prevent incidents, report safety concerns, and suggest safety improvements to contribute to a safer work environment.

From there, we built a comprehensive brand and communications platform that would apply to every single H&S touchpoint and rolled out the brand across all H&S initiatives. By doing this, we brought H&S under one roof to have a bigger impact. In addition, this rebrand sent a clear message to all Gildan employees that communicating, empowering, and reinforcing H&S practices across our business is a priority.

In addition to Occupational H&S, what are some other notable H&S measures Gildan takes?

Esther: Our commitment to H&S goes much beyond the workplace. In addition to ensuring occupational H&S, we provide our employees with the support they need to lead fulfilling lives. For instance, our facilities in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh are equipped with on-site health clinics. With healthcare being challenging to access in some of these regions, these on-site clinics provide workers with convenient access to medical services and professionals.

At many facilities, Gildan also offers mental health resources such as stress management support in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in-person psychological counselling for employees in the Dominican Republic, and mental health training for our employees in Australia, in addition to our widespread Employee Assistance Programs.

Mike: One of my personal favourites at Gildan is the mega health fairs we host at several of our facilities. As part of these fairs, employees and their families are provided with free medical consultations, lab tests, and other wellness resources to facilitate preventative care.

H&S culture runs deep in our organization, and we are dedicated to continuing to integrate it into the daily lives of our employees.



To find out more about Gildan's respect for people, click here.

World Day for Safety and Health: A Look into Gildan

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gildan Activewear on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Gildan Activewear

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gildan-activewear

Email: info@3blmedia.com



SOURCE: Gildan Activewear

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to announce the execution of merger agreements between Minera's Mexican subsidiary, Cobre 4H de Sonora de Mexico ("Cobre"), and Minera Gold Copper de Sonora, S. DE R.L. de C.C ("Minera Gold Copper") an arms-length Mexican company. Pursuant to the agreements, share ownership in the Cobre subsidiary will be divided between Minera Alamos (50%) and the existing shareholders of Minera Gold Copper (50%). The combined subsidiary will now own Minera's Los Verdes and Potreritos copper projects as well as Minera Gold Copper's Suaqui Verde copper project as well as certain rights to additional surrounding claims associated with the Suaqui Verde copper district.

The acquisition of the Suaqui Verde project complements the Company's Los Verdes and Potreritos copper projects and is a key project in a pipeline of low capital intensity copper development assets that have the potential to form a regional copper production "hub." Ultimately this merger will form the basis of a new copper company initially incubated and funded at the subsidiary level, with the potential to become a public, independently run copper development and production entity.

Highlights of Acquisition (update)

Suaqui Verde is a classic porphyry copper deposit that is widely exposed at the topographic surface and has a deeply oxidized zone of copper mineralization (drilled to in excess of 300m) resulting from surface waters moving to depth along prominent local shear zones. The underlying copper sulphide portion of the deposit is largely untested.

The project is located in southern Sonora within the Arizona-Sonora porphyry belt of Laramide aged copper systems which includes numerous operating and historic large scale copper mining operations.

Located approximately 50km west of Minera's existing Santana gold mine and Los Verdes copper project, the site has excellent road access, available grid power and proximity to existing Minera personnel and infrastructure.

The Suaqui Verde project has been the subject of numerous drill campaigns since the early 1990s, totalling approximately 100 drill holes. The focus of the historic exploration activities has primarily been the higher grade central core of the known copper oxide mineralized area (approximately 1km wide by 2-3km in length) and in the upper zones of oxide and transition mineralization.

A number of historical resource calculations exist for the Suaqui project, including internal review reports done in 2000 by two different companies that indicated copper oxide resources of approximately 50-60 Mt grading approximately 0.28-0.3% copper with a large halo of surrounding geological potential nearing 200 Mt at a slightly lower grade of approximately 0.25% (as described in Suaqui Project notes below). Minera intends to consolidate the historical exploration work into a new current Mineral Resource Statement.

Historical metallurgical work and engineering studies support the idea of developing Suaqui Verde as a traditional low capital intensity, open-pit/SX-EW (solvent extraction-electrowinning) copper project that would produce salable copper metal cathode at site.

The Company is not treating any historical estimates described in this release as current and the Company's QP has not completed sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources. None of the historic resources described in this release are NI43-101 compliant and should not be treated as such. While the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current resources, it does believe the reference work is reliable and the information may be of assistance to readers. The Company intends to commence work on a new resource estimate for the Suaqui Verde project including a data review to determine what is required to fully update the historical mineral resources to a current standard.





Photo 1 - View of mineralized alteration surrounding Suaqui Verde Project with dumps from old workings in foreground

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/206958_e377808c140d0851_002full.jpg

"Suaqui Verde has been on the Minera team's radar for many years and its acquisition adds significantly to the Company's copper assets in the area where we already operate. The area surrounding Los Verdes hosts numerous copper deposits. The combination of these assets into a single entity greatly expands the potential options for developing a regional copper "hub," the production from which can grow organically over time. The Company already has significant infrastructure and personnel active in the area through the development of our Santana gold project and these existing assets will greatly assist with the development of a new copper producer," stated Minera President Doug Ramshaw. "Following the recent conclusion of some proceedings confirming title to the Suaqui project concessions, we are extremely pleased to have been able to conclude this transaction. What is particularly gratifying on a personal level is Suaqui Verde was one of two assets that were part of a joint venture Company with Phelps Dodge in the 1990s that brought me to Canada in 1997. Suaqui Verde was the less advanced of the two projects; and we believe offers tremendous potential for our shareholders as a result of this past focus on the larger "sister" project, Piedras Verdes, that ultimately became a mine."

Suaqui Verde Copper Deposit

The geology of the Suaqui Verde copper deposit consists of a Cretaceous series of massive andesitic volcanics (Tarahmara formation) that were intruded by multiple granodioritic porphyry phases. Each phase may have an overlapping halo band/shell of copper mineralization. The later more felsic intrusive phases have high molybdenum contents and lower copper contents. At surface the known area of Suaqui Verde copper oxide mineralization has been traced over an area that extends to 2-3 km in length with widths of +1 km and is present in fractures, veinlets and in disseminated form.

The deposit is located in southern Sonora along the NW-SE trending porphyry copper belt which extends into Arizona, US. The project is approximately 120 km southeast of Hermosillo (paved highway access) and 50 km west of Minera's Santana gold mine and Los Verdes/Potreritos copper projects. The port of Guaymas is located 110km southwest of the project and is actively used for the shipment of copper concentrates and other industrial materials. Three phase electrical service is available and accessible approximately 5 km from the mine site. Paved highway provides access to the nearby town of Suaqui Grande, with approximately 1,000 residents, that has 3 phase electrical service. Thereafter, a number of unpaved roads provide access to the property 5-10km away.

One of the unique aspects of the Suaqui Verde deposit is that is has a deeply oxidized zone of copper mineralization interpreted to result from surface waters moving to depth along the broad northeast trending shear zones. The depth of the oxidation zone appears to extend beyond the limits of historic drill campaigns which were typically limited to depths of 300m or less. Historical metallurgical testwork on samples from the project confirmed the potential for processing this copper oxide mineralized material via heap leach and solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) technology to directly produce copper metal cathode (as opposed to copper mineral concentrates that require further processing).

The project has been the subject of numerous historical exploration as well as limited mining activities dating back to at least the 1940s and 19050s. A small area of mixed chalcocite/copper oxide material was mined in the 1950s via a shallow underground access and contained reported metal contents up to 14% copper. Companies involved in historical exploration at the project include ASARCO, Penoles, AZCO, Cambior, Phelps Dodge and Summo. In the 1970s, Cominco was involved in the area and completed exploration activities at Suaqui Verde as well as at Minera's Los Verdes project.

The focus of the majority of the historical exploration efforts on the property was the central core of higher-grade oxide/transition copper mineralization. During the more recent exploration and evaluation period for the project (beginning with AZCO in the 1990s), a number of resource estimates were completed. Available data from this period showed historical estimates for the upper oxide/transition open-pittable mineralization that were generally in the range of 50-60 Mt grading approximately 0.28-0.30% Cu. In addition, historic estimates of additional mineralized potential in the less drilled mineralized "halo" area surrounding the core area ranged up to 200 Mt at grades approaching 0.25% Cu.

Notes:

Grupo Mexico (internal report) reviewed the project in 2000 which resulted in a resource estimation using the Minesite program. They showed, with a 75m search radius at 0.2% cutoff, a resource of 59,35,248 tons with a grade of 0.28% copper, or with a 0.3% cutoff a resource of 15,624,375 tons of 0.4% copper. The same data with a 150m search radius and using a 0.2% cutoff indicated a resource of 172,532,256 tons 0f 0.26% copper. At a 0.3% cutoff and 150m search radius it showed 36,711,000 tons at 0.38% copper. Summo (now Constellation Copper - internal report) also reviewed and made a resource calculation in 2000 with a pit plan cone at 0.2% cutoff that resulted in 52,489,210 tons of 0.292% copper having a further 10,032,320 tons of 0.152% copper for stockpile and 7,780,200 tons of waste.

The Company is not treating any historical estimates described in this release as current and the Company's QP has not completed sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources. While the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current resources, it does believe the reference work conducted by Grupo Mexico, Summo and others, is reliable and the information may be of assistance to readers. The Company intends to commence work on a new resource estimate for the Suaqui Verde project including a data review to determine what is required to fully update the historical mineral resources to a current standard.



Photo 2 - Access to some of the historic copper mining areas present within the Suaqui Verde Project area

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/206958_e377808c140d0851_003full.jpg





Map 1 - Location of Suaqui Verde relative to Minera's Los Verdes and Santana projects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/206958_e377808c140d0851_004full.jpg

Los Verdes

The Company's Los Verdes and Poteritos copper projects (past producers within close proximity of each other) located in Sonora are just northeast of the Santana gold mine.

Highlights for the projects are detailed below:

Los Verdes Measured+Indicated Resource Estimate of 8 million tonnes containing 0.67% Cu, 0.12% Mo, 4.7 g/t Auof (+1% CuEq).

Potreritos area which surrounds additional historical underground mine workings and presents similar exposed copper-molybdenum mineralization to that of Los Verdes. The area has been subjected to limited modern exploration relative to the larger Los Verdes deposit.

Extensive metallurgical testwork and basic engineering design completed for the construction of a two product (copper and molybdenum) central flotation facility to process material from the surrounding deposits.

Adjacent to a major state highway leading to mineral concentrate ocean port facilities at Guaymas, Sonora.

Minera is currently reviewing the designs contained withing the current PEA with a target of scaling down the initial capital requirements through implementation of commercial ore-sorting equipment that has demonstrated the potential for the project to reduce processing plant throughput requirements by increasing plant feed grades to the 2-3% CuEq range with high recoveries from crushed mine material.

Additional exploration targets have already been identified including a significant geophysical target from an induced polarization survey corresponding to a zone of intense pyritization and anomalous surface samples (copper/molybdenum) located between the two known copper deposits.

The PEA report for Los Verdes titled "Los Verdes Cu/Mo Project - Preliminary Economic Assessment was prepared by Golder Associates Ltd. for Virgin Metals Ltd" and dated May 2012, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDARplus (filed May 25, 2012). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational startup of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and has entered the permitting process. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and the main Federal permits in place. Minera Alamos is built around its successful operating team that together brought three mines into production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low CAPEX assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans with respect to the projects, objectives or goals, to the effect that Minera Alamos or management expects a stated condition or result to occur and the expected timing for release of a resource and reserve estimate on the projects. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206958

SOURCE: Minera Alamos Inc.
PRICE OF THE OFFER:



15 per Believe share







DURATION OF THE OFFER:



15 trading days







The timetable of the tender offer (the "Offer") will be set out by the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF") in accordance with the provisions of its General Regulation.



This press release (the "Press Release") was prepared by Upbeat BidCo and published pursuant to Article 231-16 of the General Regulation of the AMF.



The offer and the draft offer document remain subject to review by the AMF.





IMPORTANT NOTICE



The Press Release must be read together with all other documents published in connection with the Offer. In particular, in accordance with Article 231-28 of the General Regulation of the AMF, a description of the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of Upbeat BidCo will be filed with the AMF and made available to the public no later than the day preceding the opening of the Offer. A press release will be issued to inform the public of the manner in which this information will be made available.



The Offer is not and will not be proposed in any jurisdiction where it would not be permitted under applicable law. Acceptance of the Offer by persons residing in countries other than France and the United States of America may be subject to specific obligations or restrictions imposed by legal or regulatory provisions. The recipients of the Offer are solely responsible for compliance with such laws and it is therefore their responsibility, before accepting the Offer, to determine whether such laws exist and are applicable, based on the advice they obtain from their own advisers.



For more information, see Section 2.13 of the Press Release below.

The draft offer document prepared by Upbeat BidCo) and the AMF) and may be obtained free of charge from:

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE

(Succursale de Paris)

85, avenue Marceau

75116 Paris

("Goldman Sachs")



Upbeat BidCo SAS

176, avenue Charles de Gaulle

92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine

("BidCo" or the "Offeror")







BNP Paribas

(M&A EMEA Department)

5, boulevard Haussmann

75009 Paris

("BNP Paribas")













1.OVERVIEW OF THE OFFER

Pursuant to Title III of Book II and more specifically Articles 233-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the AMF ("AMF General Regulation"), BidCo, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) with a share capital of one euro, having its registered office at 176 avenue Charles de Gaulle, Neuilly-sur-Seine (92200), registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Registry under number 985 046 424 ("BidCo" or the "Offeror") irrevocably offers to all the shareholders of Believe, a public limited company (societe anonyme) with a board of directors and a share capital of 485,431.75 euros, having its registered office at 24, rue Toulouse Lautrec 75017 Paris, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Registry under number 481 625 853 (the "Believe" or "Company", and together with its directly- or indirectly-owned subsidiaries, the "Group"), to purchase in cash all of their shares in the Company whether outstanding or to be issued (the "Shares") other than the Shares held by the Offeror (subject to the exceptions set out below) in the context of a simplified tender offer, the terms of which are described below (the "Offer").

The Offer price is fifteen euros (15) per Share (the "Offer Price"). The Offer Price is the same as that paid in cash by the Offeror in connection with the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution (as defined below).

The Shares are admitted to trading on compartment B of the Euronext Paris regulated market ("Euronext Paris") under ISIN code FR0014003FE9, mnemonic "BLV".

The Offer follows the Acquisitions (which are described in Sections 1.1.3 and 1.3.5 of the Press Release). As of the date of the Draft Offer Document, BidCo holds 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights, of which 10,851,320 Shares and 21,702,640 voting rights are assimilated to shares held by BidCo pursuant to Article L. 233-9 of the French Commercial Code , as a result of an irrevocable undertaking by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie to contribute these shares to BidCo on the first business day following the closing of the Offer, in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement described in greater detail in Section 1.3.2 of the Press Release.

Such 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights represent 71.88% of the share capital and 71.00% of the theoretical voting rights of the Company1 as of the date of the Draft Offer Document.

To the extent that, as a result of the Acquisitions (which are described in Sections 1.1.3 and 1.3.5 of the Press Release), the Offeror has exceeded the thresholds of 30% of the Company's share capital and voting rights, the Offer is mandatory pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 433-3, I of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 234-2 of the AMF General Regulation.

The Offer targets all Shares, whether outstanding or to be issued, that are not held, directly or indirectly, by the Offeror, i.e., the Shares:

which are already issued, i.e., a maximum of 27,235,886 Shares (excluding Shares held in treasury by the Company, the board of directors having decided not to tender them to the Offer), and

which could be issued before the closing of the Offer as a result of:

the exercise of 1,024,257 BSPCE (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the BSPCE Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 2,650,182 Shares, the exercise of 258,194 Warrants (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the Warrants Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 516,388 Shares, and the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under Free Shares Plans (as such terms are defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),

except for:

the Shares held in treasury by the Company, i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of the Draft Offer Document, 90,291 Shares, and

the 2,031,919 Unvested Free Shares (as defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),

i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror as of April 24, 2024, a maximum number of 30,790,568 Shares.

To the knowledge of the Offeror, as of date of the Draft Offer Document, except for the Free Shares granted by the Company, the BSPCE and the Warrants, there are no other equity securities or other financial instruments issued by the Company or rights conferred by the Company that may give access, immediately or in the future, to the share capital or voting rights of the Company. It is specified that the BSPCE and the Warrants are not targeted by the Offer as they are not transferable.

The Offer will be conducted under the simplified procedure in accordance with the provisions of Articles 233-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas, acting as the presenting banks of the Offer (the "Presenting Banks"), have filed the draft Offer and the Draft Offer Document with the AMF on behalf of the Offeror.

It is specified that only BNP Paribas is guaranteeing, in accordance with the provisions of Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, the content and irrevocable nature of the commitments made by the Offeror in the context of the Offer.

1.1. Background of the Offer

1.1.1Reasons for the Offer

Founded in 2005 by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie, the Group grew in the recorded music sector and quickly began making catalogs of music available for download on digital platforms (Apple Music, Fnac, Virgin). Believe is now one of the world's leading digital music companies. In 2021, Believe took the next step in its development by going public.

The Consortium is willing to support the Company so that it can better execute on its value-creation plan and accelerate the scale-up of an independent player supporting artists and label clients. The Offer relies on an organic and inorganic growth and investment plans with a view to allow the Group to further grow and consolidate its position as leader in the French and European markets. The Offeror believes that the Group should lead the current market consolidation, backed by reputable long-term investors willing to fuel the Group's growth.

On 11 February 2024, TCV Luxco XI 002 S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 35 Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number BB266816 ("TCV Luxco 1"), TCV XII Master Luxco S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 35 Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, under number B284493 ("TCV Luxco 2", together with TCV Luxco 1, the "TCV Luxcos"), EQT X Investments S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), organized under the laws of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 51A, Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number B262548 ("EQT"), Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie and Upbeat MidCo S.a r.l. (together with the TCV Luxcos and EQT, the "Consortium"), a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 51A Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number B280980 ("Upbeat MidCo") entered into an investment agreement entitled "Consortium and Investment Agreement" to regulate the cooperation between them in the context of the Offer (the "Consortium and Investment Agreement").

The Offeror adhered to the Consortium and Investment Agreement on March 13, 2024.

1.1.2Presentation of the Offeror

The Offeror is a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) incorporated under French law for the purposes of the Offer and which as of the date of the Draft Offer Document is wholly-owned by Upbeat MidCo, which itself is 50% owned by the TCV Luxcos and indirectly 50% owned by EQT.

As described further in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release, the TCV Luxcos and EQT will finance the Offer through shareholder loans cascading down to the Offeror, which will subsequently be capitalized at the level of Upbeat MidCo and the Offeror, in consideration for new ordinary shares issued by Upbeat MidCo on the one hand and the Offeror on the other hand.

Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie has irrevocably undertaken to contribute 10,851,320 Shares to BidCo (the "DL Contribution"). As consideration for the DL Contribution, he will receive new ordinary shares issued by the Offeror. The DL Contribution shall be completed after the above-mentioned capitalization of the shareholder loans and on the date of the payment of the purchase price in relation to the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition (as defined in Section 1.1.3 (Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights) of the Press Release).

The DL Contribution shall be made at the Offer Price and paid in ordinary shares issued by the Offeror valued by transparency with the Offer Price.

Given the above-mentioned transactions, the exact breakdown of the Offeror's share capital and voting rights will depend on the number of Shares acquired in the context of the Offer.

1.1.3Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights

To the knowledge of the Offeror, as of April 24, 2024, the Company has a share capital of 485,806.755, divided into 97,161,351 Shares of a nominal value of 0.005 each.

On 11 February 2024, TCV Luxco BD S.a r.l, a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), organized under the laws of Luxemburg, whose registered office is at 35, Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the trade and company registry of Luxembourg, under number B191493 ("TCV Luxco BD"), as seller, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of 39,942,982 Shares, representing approximately 41.11% of the share capital of the Company2 (the "TCV Acquisition") for a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

On the same day, the funds managed by Ventech, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) whose registered office is at 47 avenue de l'Opera, 75002 Paris and registered with the trade and company registry of Paris, under number 416 316 699 (i.e., Ventech Capital III, Ventech Capital F, Ventech Opportunity Primary Fund I, Ventech Opportunity Secondary Fund I, Ventech Opportunity Primary Fund I Reserve and Ventech Opportunity Secondary Fund I Reserve) ("Ventech") and the funds managed by Siparex XAnge Venture, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) whose registered office is at 5 rue Feydeau, 75002 Paris and registered with the trade and company registry of Paris, under number 452 276 181 (i.e., XAnge Credo Opportunity Fund, XAnge Capital 2 and XAnge Selection Fund II) ("XAnge"), as sellers, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of a total of 17,790,872 Shares, representing approximately 18.31% of the share capital of the Company3 (the "Ventech and XAnge Acquisition") for a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

Pursuant to the Consortium and Investment Agreement (as described in greater detail in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release), Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie irrevocably undertook, in addition to the DL Contribution, to sell 1,250,000 Shares to BidCo, representing approximately 1.29% of the share capital of the Company4 (the "DL Acquisition", together with the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition, the "Acquisitions"). BidCo and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie entered into a binding share purchase agreement on April 25, 2024, reflecting the terms of the agreements relating to the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition.

On April 18, 2024, following the receipt of the fairness opinion issued the independent expert, the board of directors of the Company issued a reasoned opinion (avis motive) in accordance with Article 231-19 of the AMF General Regulation stating in its conclusion that the Offer is in the interest of the Company, its shareholders and its employees.

The Acquisitions were completed on April 25, 2024.

(a) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights before the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution

To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights broke down as follows before the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights TCV Luxco BD 39,942,982 41.11% 64,603,070 42.72% Denis Ladegaillerie 12,101,320 12.45% 24,202,640 16.00% Ventech 11,684,314 12.03% 23,368,628 15.45% XAnge 6,106,558 6.28% 6,106,558 4.04% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.66% 6,636,356 4.39% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90,291 0.06% Free float 23,676,453 24.37% 26,230,962 17.34% Total 97,161,351 100.00% 151,238,5055 100.00%

(b) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights after the Acquisitions but prior to the DL Contribution

To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights is currently as follows, after completion of the Acquisitions, but prior to the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under a Free Share Plan6 and the completion of the DL Contribution7:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights BidCo 58,983,854 60.71% 58,983,854 51.90% Denis Ladegaillerie 10,851,320 11.17% 21,702,640 19.10% Total held by Upbeat BidCo (shares and voting rights owned and held by assimilation) 69,835,174 71.88% 80,686,494 71.00% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.66% 6,636,356 5.84% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90.291 0.08% Free float 23,676,453 24.37% 26,230,962 23.08% Total 97,161,351 100.00% 113,644,1038 100.00%

The situation of the holders of BSPCE and Warrants as well as the details of Free Shares awarded by the Company to employees or executives of the Group are described in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) and Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release.

(c) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights after the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution

To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights shall break down as follows, after completion of the Acquisitions, the vesting on May 14, 2024 of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under a Free Share Plan9 and completion of the DL Contribution10:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights BidCo 69,835,174 71.59% 69,835,174 67.68% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.65% 6,636,356 6.43% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90.291 0.09% Free float 24,064,565 24.67% 26,619,074 25.80% Total 97,549,463 100.00% 103,180,89511 100.00%

1.1.4Declarations of threshold crossing and of intentions

In accordance with Articles L. 233-7 et seq. of the French Commercial Code:

pursuant to the declarations of threshold crossing dated April 24 and April 26, 2024, BidCo informed the AMF, following the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution, that its interest in the Company, individually and in concert, has risen above the thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 1/3, 50% and 2/3 of the Company's share capital and voting rights, and stated its intentions; and

pursuant to the declaration of threshold crossing dated April 26, 2024, TCV Luxco BD informed the AMF, following the TCV Acquisition, that its interest in the Company, individually, has fallen below the thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 1/3 of the Company's share capital and voting rights.

1.1.5Acquisition of Shares by the Offeror during the last 12 months

It should be noted that neither the Offeror nor the persons acting in concert with the Offeror have acquired any Shares in the twelve (12) months preceding the filing of the Draft Offer Document at a price higher than the Offer price.

1.1.6Regulatory administrative and antitrust approvals

The Offer is not subject to any requirement to obtain regulatory approvals.

On the date of the filing of the Draft Offer Document, the Offer is no longer subject to any antitrust approval. It is however specified that, prior to the filing of the Draft Offer Document, the required antitrust approvals (or the confirmation that no regulatory approval was required) have been obtained from the Austrian and German antitrust authorities in the context of the Acquisitions.

1.2. Intentions of the Offeror for the next twelve months

1.2.1.Industrial, commercial and financial strategy

The Offeror intends to maintain the Group's integrity, and, with the support of the current management team, to continue the main strategic orientations implemented by the Company and does not intend to modify the operational model of the Company, outside the normal evolution of the business.

The Offeror (and, by extension, the members of the Consortium) is fully supportive of the Company's mission to develop talent (i.e. artists and labels, songwriters and publishers) and intends to pursue the Company's development with a long-term vision, in particular through the industry expertise of Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie.

The Offeror intends to carry out investments for the Group in differentiation of tech-enabled solutions for digital artists. These include, but are not limited to, investing in the data platform, marketing technologies, artist services, infrastructure tech transformation, and continued automation of the central platform to drive efficiency.

The Offeror intends to pursue a targeted value-based growth strategy to drive market share gains and operating leverage, including investing to drive net margin growth through premium tech-enabled services, as well as optimising the operating margin through positioning, pricing and automation. The Group's efforts and investments would be focused on certain key identified markets and geographies. The Offeror would in particular focus investments in Artist Services in the top 10 global music markets, in Label and Artist Solutions in the top 25 global music markets to build a targeted and optimised premium position, and building a first level of presence in Japan and the US, as well as unlocking an opportunity in publishing following the acquisition of Sentric in 2023.

As the Group has demonstrated capacity to drive synergies and create value through its historical M&A track-record, the Offeror intends to support a targeted bolt-on M&A strategy, to be financed through a combination of debt and/or additional capital injection to drive the ongoing industry consolidation.

1.2.2.Intentions regarding employment

The Offer forms part of a plan in which the Company's business activities and development are to continue. As a result, the Offer should not in itself result in any particular impact on the Company's workforce, wage policy or human resource management policy.

The Offeror intends to set up a profit-sharing plan on terms customary for this type of transaction, which have not yet been determined.

1.2.3.Composition of the Company's governing bodies and management

The Offeror intends to modify the composition of the Company's board of directors to reflect the fact that it controls the Company. In accordance with the agreement entered into with Ventech and XAnge, they have agreed to resign from their respective positions as member of the Company's board of directors and observer. This agreement also provides that the Offeror may propose the identity of a new member of the Company's board of directors who may be co-opted following these resignations. The Offeror therefore intends to propose the co-option to the Company's board of directors of a director whose identity has yet to be determined.

1.2.4.Interest of the Offer for the Offeror, the Company and its shareholders

The Offeror is offering the Company's shareholders who tender their Shares to the Offer the opportunity to obtain immediate liquidity at an attractive price.

The Offer Price of fifteen euros (15) per Share announced and then confirmed by the press release of 12 February 2024, reflects a premium of 21% over the last trading price prior to the announcement of the Offer on 9 February 2024, premiums of 43.8%, 52.1% and 49.9% respectively over the volume-weighted average prices 60, 120 and 180 trading days prior to that date.

The summary of the assessment of the Offer Price, including the premiums offered as part of the Offer, are set out in Section 3 (Summaryof the assessment of the Offer Price) of the Press Release.

1.2.5.Synergies - Economic gains

The Offeror is a company incorporated on February 26, 2024, whose corporate purpose is to acquire, animate and hold stakes in the share capital and voting rights of French and foreign companies. The Offeror, which does not have any stake in other companies, does not anticipate the realization of cost or revenue synergies with the Company following the completion of the Offer.

1.2.6.Merger

The Offeror does not intend to merge with the Company.

1.2.7.Intentions regarding the implementation of a squeeze-out and a delisting of the Company following the Offer

Following the Offer, the Offeror does not intend to implement a squeeze-out procedure for the Shares not tendered in the Offer by the minority shareholders of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 433-4, II, of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Articles 237-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation.

1.2.8.Company's dividend distribution policy

The Company paid no dividends in respect of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

In the next 12 months, the Offeror intends to maintain a dividend policy in line with that adopted in 2020, 2021, 2022, i.e., not to make any dividend payments.

Following the Offer, the Company's dividend policy and any change thereto will continue to be determined by its corporate bodies in accordance with the law and the Company's articles of association, and based on the Company's distributive capacity, financial situation and financial needs.

1.3. Agreements that may have a significant impact on the assessment or outcome of the Offer

1.3.1.Consortium and Investment Agreement

As set out in Section 1.1.1 (Reasons for the Offer) of the Press Release, the Consortium and Investment Agreement was entered into between the TCV Luxcos, EQT, Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie and Upbeat MidCo, on 11 February 2024, to regulate the cooperation between them in the context of the Offer.

The Offeror adhered to the Consortium and Investment Agreement on March 13, 2024. The Consortium and Investment Agreement was amended by the parties on April 16, 2024 to reflect the fact that the Consortium announced on April 12, 2024 that it no longer intended to request a squeeze-out following the Offer.

The terms of the Consortium and Investment Agreement as amended are further detailed below.

Financing of the Offer

The acquisition of the Shares in the context of the Offer will be funded by the TCV Luxcos and EQT through loans which will subsequently at the level of Upbeat MidCo and the Offeror in consideration for new ordinary shares issued by Upbeat MidCo on the one hand and the Offeror on the other hand be capitalized. The TCV Luxcos and EQT shall invest pari passu so that they shall hold, in the same proportions, the same form of securities of Upbeat MidCo and, indirectly, of the Offeror.

Acquisitions

The Consortium and Investment Agreement provides for BidCo to enter into:

the share purchase agreement, pursuant to which BidCo purchases all the Shares held by TCV Luxco BD, which was executed on February 11, 2024; and

the share purchase agreement, pursuant to which BidCo purchases all the Shares held by the funds managed by Ventech and XAnge which was executed on February 11, 2024.

Contribution and sale of the Shares held by Denis Ladegaillerie to the Offeror

As set out in Section 1.1.2 (Presentation of the Offeror) and Section 1.1.3 (Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights) of the Press Release, the Consortium and Investment Agreement provides for an undertaking by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie (i) to sell 1,250,000 Shares to BidCo and (ii) to contribute 10,851,320 Shares to BidCo, in each case at a price equal to the Offer price.

The DL Contribution, which will be paid for with BidCo new ordinary shares, shall be completed on the date of the payment of the purchase price in relation to the Acquisitions.

BidCo and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie accordingly entered into (i) a binding share purchase agreement on April 25, 2024, which reflects the terms of the agreements relating to the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition, and (ii) the Contribution Agreement (as such term is defined below) on April 25, 2024.

Launch of the Offer

The Consortium and Investment Agreement provides for:

the main terms of the Offer, which was intended to be filed by the Offeror with the AMF promptly following completion of the Acquisitions; and

an undertaking by the parties to cooperate in order to obtain from the holders of Warrants and/or BSPCE undertakings to (i) exercise their Warrants and/or the BSPCE prior to the closing of the Offer and (ii) tender the Shares resulting from such exercise to the Offer.

Antitrust clearances

The Consortium and Investment Agreement provides for an undertaking the parties to take all necessary steps to obtain approvals from the competent antitrust authorities, in the context of the Acquisitions, as promptly as possible12.

Commitments concerning the Group

The Consortium and Investment Agreement provides that the parties shall exercise all their powers to enable the Group to operate its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice (including, not to issue or authorize any issuance of any security of the Company, except if such issuance results from the vesting of Free Shares (actions gratuites, in the meaning of Article L. 225-197-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code) granted by the Company before the date hereof or from the exercise of the Warrants or BSPCE by their holders).

Other commitments

Lastly, the Consortium and Investment Agreement provides for:

an undertaking by the parties to enter into a shareholders' agreement regarding the Offeror and the subsidiaries it controls (including the Company) consistent with the terms and conditions included in a co-investment term sheet annexed to the Consortium and Investment Agreement (the " Co-Investment Term Sheet ") (which is described in Section 1.3.3 (Co-Investment Term Sheet) of the Press Release);

") (which is described in Section 1.3.3 (Co-Investment Term Sheet) of the Press Release); an undertaking by each party, until the entry into force of such shareholders' agreement, not to (i) purchase, any securities of the Company other than through the Offeror and in accordance with the Consortium and Investment Agreement, (ii) carry out any act which may create the obligation to increase the Offer Price and (iii) carry out any act which may create an obligation to file a mandatory tender offer over the securities of the Company other than in accordance with this Consortium and Investment Agreement;

an undertaking by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie, until the entry into force of such shareholders' agreement, not to transfer any Shares he holds.

1.3.2.Contribution Agreement

As set out in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release, Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie had undertaken under the Consortium and Investment Agreement to contribute 10,851,320 Shares he holds to the Offeror.

On April 25, 2024, the Offeror and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie signed a contribution agreement (the "Contribution Agreement") confirming Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie's irrevocable undertaking to complete the DL Contribution. The Contribution Agreement provides that the DL Contribution shall be made at the Offer Price and paid in ordinary shares issued by the Offeror valued by transparency with the Offer Price. The Contribution Agreement also provides that the DL Contribution shall be completed on the date of payment of the price for the Acquisitions.

1.3.3.Co-Investment Term Sheet

As set out in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release, the parties to such Consortium and Investment Agreement have undertaken to enter into a shareholders' agreement consistent with the terms and conditions included in the Co-Investment Term Sheet. The main terms of the Co-Investment Term Sheet are summarised below.

Governance

The Offeror is a French simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) governed by a president (president), under the control of a board of directors (the "Board"). The Board will be composed of a maximum of six (6) directors appointed by the general meeting of the shareholders of the Offeror, as follows:

two (2) directors appointed among the candidates selected by the TCV Luxcos (the " TCV Directors ");

"); two (2) directors appointed among the candidates selected by EQT (the " EQT Directors ");

"); one (1) director appointed among the candidates selected by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie (the " Founder Director "); and

"); and one (1) independent director among the candidates selected by the TCV Luxcos, EQT, and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie (the "Independent Director").

Decisions of the Board shall be validly adopted by simple majority of the votes cast with each director having one vote, expect for certain fundamental decisions requiring the unanimous vote of the TCV Directors, the EQT Directors and the Founder Director, and for certain strategic decisions requiring the positive vote of the TCV Directors and the EQT Directors.

Transfer of the securities

The following provisions are applicable to the transfer of the securities of the Offeror:

lock-up period: all shareholders of the Offeror shall be prohibited from transferring their shares, except with regards to customary free transfers or transfers in the context of a sale of securities to a third party or an IPO;

drag-along right: all shareholders of the Offeror will be subject to customary drag-along rights in the event of a sale that is approved by EQT and the TCV Luxcos, or as the case may be, EQT or the TCV Luxcos, provided that certain financial conditions are met as the case may be, depending on the timing of the exit; and

tag-along right: all shareholders of the Offeror will benefit from (i) a proportional tag along right in the event of a transfer of securities of the Offeror not resulting in a change in control and (ii) a total tag along right in the event of a transfer of securities of the Offeror resulting in a change in control. Exit clauses



The following provisions are applicable to an exit:

EQT and/or TCV Luxcos (as the case may be) can initiate an exit process (it being specified that this process is subject to certain conditions depending on the date on which it is implemented).

1.3.4.Undertakings to tender Shares in the Offer

On February 11, 2024, certain shareholders undertook vis-a-vis the Offeror to tender their Shares to the Offer, representing a maximum of approximately 3.02% of the share capital of the Company13 at the Offer Price.

These undertakings are revocable if a competing tender offer has been declared compliant by the AMF and opened, and if the Offeror (or one of its affiliates) does not file or announce its intention to file a competing improved tender offer within fifteen trading days from the opening of such competing tender offer.

1.3.5.Acquisitions

On 11 February 2024, TCV Luxco BD, as seller, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of 39,942,982 Shares, representing approximately 41.11% of the share capital of the Company at a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

On the same day, Ventech and XAnge, as sellers, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of a total of 17,790,872 Shares, representing approximately 18.31% of the share capital of the Company at a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

The completion of the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition was subject to the receipt of the required antitrust approvals (or confirmation that no regulatory approval was required) from the Austrian and German antitrust authorities. Such clearances were received respectively on March 27 and March 15, 2024.

BidCo and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie have also entered into a binding share purchase agreement dated April 25, 2024 in relation to the sale of 1,250,000 Shares held by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie to BidCo, representing 1.29% of the share capital of the Company at a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share.

These agreements also include an undertaking by BidCo not to file the Offer at a price higher than the Offer Price. In the event that BidCo files the Offer at a price higher than the Offer Price, BidCo undertakes to pay the sellers the product of (i) the difference between the price per Share offered under the Offer and fifteen euros (15), multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares sold by each seller under the Acquisitions.

The Acquisitions were also subject to the condition precedent of the issuance of a fairness opinion by the independent expert confirming the fairness of the tender offer, and the issuance of an opinion by the board of directors of the Company recommending the proposed offer. In accordance with the terms of these agreements, BidCo will pay the purchase price for the Acquisitions on the first business day following the closing of the Offer.

1.3.6.Other agreements of which the Offeror is aware

With the exception of the agreements described in this Section 1.3 (Agreements that may have a significant impact on the assessment or outcome of the Offer) of the Press Release, the Offeror is not aware of any other agreement that could have an impact on the assessment or outcome of the Offer.

2.CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFER

2.1. Terms of the Offer

In accordance with Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, the Presenting Banks, acting as presenting institutions on behalf of the Offeror, filed the draft Offer with the AMF on April 26, 2024, in the form of a simplified tender offer for all the Shares outstanding or to be issued other than the Shares held by the Offeror (subject to the exceptions set out in Section 2.3 (Number and nature of the Shares targeted by the Offer) of the Press Release), i.e., a maximum of 30,790,568 Shares.

In the context of the Offer, which will be carried out in accordance with the simplified procedure in accordance with the provisions of Articles 233-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation, the Offeror irrevocably undertakes to the Company's shareholders to acquire all the Shares that will be tendered in the Offer, during the Offer period, at the Offer Price, i.e., fifteen euros (15) per Share.

The attention of the Company's shareholders is drawn to the fact that, as the Offer will be conducted following the simplified procedure, it will not be reopened following the publication of the result of the Offer by the AMF.

BNP Paribas, as guaranteeing bank, guarantees the content and irrevocable nature of the commitments made by the Offeror as part of the Offer, in accordance with the provisions of Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation.

2.2. Adjustment of the terms of the Offer

Any distribution of a dividend, interim dividend, reserve, share premium or any other distribution (in cash or in kind) decided by the Company where the ex-date or any share capital reduction would occur before the closing of the Offer, shall give rise to the adjustment, on a euro-for-euro basis, of the price per Share proposed in the context of the Offer.

2.3. Number and nature of the Shares targeted by the Offer

As of the date of the Draft Offer Document, BidCo holds 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights, of which 10,851,320 Shares and 21,702,640 voting rights are assimilated to shares held by BidCo pursuant to Article L. 233-9 of the French Commercial Code , as a result of an irrevocable undertaking by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie to contribute these shares to BidCo on the first business day following the closing of the Offer, in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement which are further described in Section 1.3.2 (Contribution Agreement) of the Press Release.

Such 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights represent 71.88% of the share capital and 71.00% of the theoretical voting rights of the Company14 as of the date of the Draft Offer Document.

The Offer targets all Shares, whether outstanding or to be issued, that are not held, directly or indirectly, by the Offeror, i.e., the Shares:

which are already issued, i.e., a maximum of 27,235,886 Shares (excluding Shares held in treasury by the Company, the board of directors having decided not to tender them to the Offer), and

which could be issued before the closing of the Offer as a result of:

the exercise of 1,024,257 BSPCE (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the BSPCE Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 2,650,182 Shares, the exercise of 258,194 Warrants (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the Warrants Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 516,388 Shares, and the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under Free Shares Plans (as such terms are defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),

except for:

the Shares held in treasury by the Company, i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of the Draft Offer Document, 90,291 Shares, and

the 2,031,919 Unvested Free Shares (as defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),

i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror as of April 24, 2024, a maximum number of 30,790,568 Shares.

To the knowledge of Offeror, as of date of the Draft Offer Document, except for the Free Shares granted by the Company, the BSPCE and the Warrants, there are no other equity securities or other financial instruments issued by the Company or rights conferred by the Company that may give access, immediately or in the future, to the share capital or voting rights of the Company.

2.4. Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares

To the knowledge of the Offeror, as of date of the Draft Offer Document, the Company has set up several plans (the "Free Shares Plans") for the allocation of free shares for certain employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and its Group (the "Free Shares").

It is specified that each Free Shares Plan provides that if during the vesting period a tender offer is initiated on the Shares, the board of directors of the Company may amend the performance conditions or remove any presence or performance condition and accelerate the vesting period, provided that the Free Shares have vested for a minimum period of 2 years.

The main characteristics of the Free Shares Plans as of April 24, 2024 are described in Section 2.4 of the Draft Offer Document.

The acceleration of the vesting period, decided by the Company's board of directors on April 18, 2024, enables the relevant beneficiaries of Free Shares to tender their Shares to the Offer. Such acceleration of the vesting period shall concern the Free Shares granted under AP 2021 (dated 15 September 2021), i.e., a total number of 388,112 Shares based on the assessment of the performance conditions by the Company's board of directors. These 388,112 Free Shares remain subject to a presence condition. Such vesting shall take place on May 14, 2024.

As of the date of the Draft Offer Document and to the Offeror's knowledge, a maximum of 2,031,919 Free Shares (if the outperformance conditions are met, or 1,732,758 Free Shares if these conditions are not met) are vesting and shall remain so until the estimated closing date of the Offer (the "Unvested Free Shares"). The Unvested Free Shares are not included in the Offer (subject to the cases of lifting of unavailability provided for by the applicable legal or regulatory provisions).

2.5. Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants

To the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of the Draft Offer Document, the Company has set up several plans for the allocation of founder's share subscription warrants (bons de souscription de parts de createur d'entreprise) (the "BSPCE") and share subscription warrants (bons de souscription d'actions) (the "Warrants") for certain employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and its Group.

It is specified that, following the division of the par value of the share decided by the shareholders' general meeting on 25 May 2021, each BSPCE and Warrant now gives the right to subscribe to two new ordinary shares of the Company, except for the BSPCE allocated under "BSPCE 2012" plan, where each BSPCE gives right to twenty Shares.

The main characteristics of the BSPCE allocation plans (the "BSPCE Plans") and the Warrants allocation plans (the "Warrants Plans") as of April 24, 2024 are described in Section 2.5 of the Draft Offer Document.

As of the date of the Draft Offer Document and to the knowledge of the Offeror, 1,024,257 BSPCE and 258,194 Warrants are outstanding. The BSPCE and the Warrants may be exercised until their expiry, set at ten (10) years from their allocation. None of the outstanding BSPCE and Warrants are subject to the expiry of a lock-up period.

Neither the BSPCE nor the Warrants may be tendered to the Offer as they are not transferable.

As the terms and conditions of the Warrants and BSPCE plans were determined prior to the Company's IPO, they provided that the Warrants plans "BSA 2016-1", "BSA 2016-2" and "BSA 2018-1" and the BSPCE plans "BSPCE 2016-1", "BSPCE 2016-2", "BSPCE 2018-1" and "BSPCE 2019-1" would lapse upon the occurrence of a "Liquidity Event". As the Shares have been negotiable at any time since the Company's IPO, the Company's board of directors decided on April 18, 2024 (i) to consider that all references in the terms and conditions of the Warrants 2016-1, 2016-2 and 2018-1 and BSPCE 2016-1, 2016-2, 2018-1 and 2019-1 to a "Liquidity Event" should be considered null and void and therefore deleted, and (ii) to note that the Warrants and BSPCEs will therefore remain exercisable until their expiry date.

As a result of such decision, 1,024,257 BSPCE and 258,194 Warrants are exercisable prior to the closing of the Offer:

As set out in Section 2.3 (Number and nature of the Shares targeted by the Offer) of the Press Release, the Shares issued before the closing of the Offer as a result of the exercise of outstanding BSPCE and Warrants may be tendered to the Offer by their holders, i.e., a maximum of 3,166,570 Shares.

2.6. Terms and conditions of the Offer

In accordance with Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, the Presenting Banks, acting on behalf of the Offeror, filed the Offer and the Draft Offer Document with the AMF on April 26, 2024. A notice of filing of the Offer will be published by the AMF on its website) on the same day.

In accordance with Article 231-16 of the AMF General Regulation, the Draft Offer Document, as filed with the AMF, is made available to the public free of charge at the registered office of the Offeror and at the Presenting Banks and will be published on the websites of the Company) and of the AMF).

This Offer and the Draft Offer Document remain subject to review by the AMF.

The AMF will publish on its website a clearance decision of the Offer after having verified its conformity with the legal and regulatory applicable provisions. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 231-23 of the AMF General Regulation, this clearance decision will serve as the approval ("visa") of the Offer document of the Offeror.

The Offer document having thus received the AMF's approval www.amf-france.org ) and of the Company).

In accordance with Article 231-28 of the AMF General Regulation, the document containing "Other Information" relating to the legal, financial, accounting and other characteristics of the Offeror will be made available to the public free of charge, no later than the day before the opening of the Offer, at the Offeror's registered office and at the Presenting Banks. This document will also be published on the websites of the AMF www.amf-france.org ) and of the Company).

In accordance with Articles 231-27 and 231-28 of the AMF General Regulation, press releases specifying the details for obtaining or consulting these documents made available to the public will be published, no later than the day before the opening of the Offer, on the website of the Company).

Prior to the opening of the Offer, the AMF will publish a notice of opening and the timetable with respect to the Offer, and Euronext Paris will publish a notice setting out the content of the Offer and specifying the timetable and terms of its realization.

2.7. Procedure for tendering Shares in the Offer

The Shares tendered in the Offer must be freely negotiable and free from any lien, pledge, collateral or other security interest or restriction of any kind on the free transfer of their ownership. The Offeror reserves the right to reject any Shares tendered in the Offer that do not comply with this condition.

The Offer and all related agreements are subject to French law. Any dispute or litigation, regardless of the subject matter or basis, relating to the Offer shall be brought before the court having jurisdictions.

The Offer will be open for a period of fifteen (15) trading days. The attention of the Company's shareholders is drawn to the fact that, as the Offer will be conducted following the simplified procedure, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 233-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation, the Offer will not be reopened following the publication of the result of the Offer by the AMF.

The Shares held in registered form will have to be converted into bearer form in order to be tendered in the Offer. Accordingly, holders of Shares held in registered form who would like to tender their Shares in the Offer should request, as soon as possible, the conversion of their Shares into bearer form in order to tender them in the Offer.

The shareholders of the Company whose Shares are registered with a financial intermediary and who would like to tender their Shares in the Offer must submit to their financial intermediary holding their Shares a tender or sale order at the Offer Price, i.e., fifteen euros (15) per Share, by using the form made available to them by such financial intermediary in time for their order to be executed and at the latest on the closing date of the Offer, specifying whether they opt either for the sale of their Shares directly on the market or for the tender of their Shares in the semi-centralised Offer by Euronext Paris in order to benefit from the Offeror reimbursing the brokerage fees by the Offeror under the conditions described in Section 2.12 (Reimbursement of brokerage fees) below.

Procedure for tendering Shares in the Offer directly through the market

Believe's shareholders wishing to tender their Shares in the Offer through the market sale procedure must submit their sale order no later than the last day of the Offer and the delivery-settlement of the Shares sold will occur on the second trading day following the day of execution of the orders, it being noted that the trading costs (including brokerage fees and related VAT) relating to such transactions will remain entirely at the expense of the shareholder selling directly on the market.

BNP Paribas, an investment services provider duly authorised as a member of the stock market, will acquire, on behalf of the Offeror, the Shares that will be sold on the market in accordance with applicable regulations.

It should also be noted that the Offeror may acquire Shares in the Offer by way of off-market purchases.

Procedure for tendering Shares in the semi-centralised Offer

Believe shareholders wishing to tender their Shares in the semi-centralised Offer by Euronext Paris must submit their tender order no later than the last day of the Offer (subject to specific time limits for certain financial intermediaries). The settlement-delivery will then occur after completion of the semi-centralisation transactions.

In this context, the Offeror will bear the shareholders' brokerage fees under the conditions described in Section 2.12 (Reimbursement of brokerage fees) below.

Euronext Paris will pay directly to the financial intermediaries the amounts due for the reimbursement of the fees mentioned below, as from the settlement-delivery date of the semi-centralisation.

The shareholders of the Company are invited to contact their financial intermediaries regarding the terms and conditions for tendering their Shares in the semi-centralised Offer and for revoking their orders.

2.8. Offeror's right to purchase Shares on and off the market during the Offer period

As from the publication by the AMF, pursuant to Article 231-14 of the AMF General Regulation, of the main provisions of the proposed offer, and until the opening of the Offer, the Offeror intends to acquire, on the market through BNP Paribas and off-market, Shares in accordance with the provisions of Articles 231-38 and 231-39 of the AMF General Regulation, within the limits set out in Article 231-38, IV of the AMF General Regulation, corresponding to 30% of the existing Shares targeted in the Offer, i.e., a maximum of 8,170,765 Shares as of April 24, 2024, or at least a maximum of 8,287,199 Shares as from the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company on May 14, 2024, by a market order at the Offer Price or by off-market purchases at the Offer Price.

Such acquisitions will be declared each day to the AMF and published on the AMF's website in accordance with the regulations in force. This information will also be published, in French and in English, on the website of the Company) and will thus be available to the U.S. Holders.

2.9. Indicative timetable of the Offer

Prior to the opening of the Offer, the AMF will publish a notice of opening and timetable, and Euronext Paris will publish a notice announcing the terms and timetable of the Offer.

An indicative timetable of the Offer is proposed below for information purposes only:

Date Main steps of the Offer April 26, 2024 Filing of the Offer and the Offeror's Draft Offer Document with the AMF

Offeror's Draft Offer Document made available to the public at the registered office of the Offeror and at the Presenting Banks and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( www.amf-france.org (http://www.amf-france.org))

(https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( (http://www.amf-france.org)) Publication by the Offeror of a press release announcing the filing of the Offer and availability of the Draft Offer Document April 26, 2024 Filing of the Company's draft response document (projet de note en reponse), including the recommendation of the Company's board of directors and the independent expert's report

Company's draft response document made available to the public at the Company's registered office and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( www.amf-france.org (http://www.amf-france.org))

(https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( (http://www.amf-france.org)) Publication by the Company of a press release announcing the filing and the availability of its draft response document April 26, 2024 Start of the purchases by the Offeror in accordance with Section 2.8 (Offeror's right to purchase Shares on or off the market during the Offer period) of the Press Release May 30, 2024 Publication by the AMF of its clearance decision on the Offer, which serves as the clearance ("visa") of the Offeror's Offer document and of the Company's response document.

Offeror's Offer document having received the AMF's clearance ("visa") made available to the public at the registered office of the Offeror and at the Presenting Banks and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( www.amf-france.org (http://www.amf-france.org))

(https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( (http://www.amf-france.org)) Company's response document having received the AMF's approval ("visa") made available to the public at the Company's registered office and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF ( www.amf-france.org (http://www.amf-france.org)) May 31, 2024 Document containing "Other Information" relating to the legal, financial, accounting and other characteristics of the Offeror made available to the public at the registered office of the Offeror and at the Presenting Banks and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) May 31, 2024 Document containing "Other Information" relating to the legal, financial, accounting and other characteristics of the Company made available to the public at the Company's registered office and published on the websites of the Company ( www.believe.com (https://www.believe.com/fr)) and of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) May 31, 2024 Publication by the Offeror of a press release announcing the availability of its Offer document having received the AMF's clearance ("visa") and of the document containing "Other Information" relating to its legal, financial, accounting and other characteristics.

Publication by the Company of a press release announcing the availability of its response document having received the AMF's clearance ("visa") and of the document containing "Other Information" relating to its legal, financial, accounting and other characteristics May 31, 2024 Publication by the AMF of the notice of opening of the Offer.

Publication by Euronext Paris of the notice relating to the Offer and its terms. June 3, 2024 Opening of the Offer June 21, 2024 Closing of the Offer June 25, 2024 Publication by the AMF of the notice of the result of the Offer July 1, 2024 Settlement of the semi-centralised Offer by Euronext Paris

2.10. Costs of the Offer

The overall amount of all external fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Offeror solely in connection with the Offer, including, in particular, fees and other expenses relating to its various legal, financial and accounting advisers, and any other experts and consultants, and the advertising and communication costs, is estimated to be approximately twenty-five million euros (25,000,000) (taxes excluded).

2.11. Financing of the Offer

In the event that all of the Shares targeted by the Offer are tendered in the Offer, the total amount of compensation in cash to be paid by the Offeror to the shareholders of the Company who tendered their Shares in the Offer would amount to 461,858,520 (expenses and commissions excluded).

As set out in the Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release, the Offer will be funded by the TCV Luxcos and EQT through shareholder loans which will subsequently be capitalized at the level of Upbeat MidCo and the Offeror, in consideration for new ordinary shares issued by Upbeat MidCo on the one hand and the Offeror on the other hand.

2.12. Reimbursement of brokerage fees

Except as set out below, no costs will be reimbursed nor fees paid by the Offeror to any intermediary or person soliciting the tendering of Shares in the Offer, or holder who tendered Shares in the Offer.

The Offeror will bear the brokerage fees and related VAT paid by the holders of Shares having tendered their Shares in the semi-centralised Offer, up to a maximum of 0.30% (excluding taxes) of the amount of the Shares tendered in the Offer with a maximum of two hundred euros (200) per file (including VAT). Holders eligible for the reimbursement of the brokerage fees as described above (and the related VAT) will only be the holders of Shares that are registered in an account on the day preceding the opening of the Offer and who tender their Shares in the semi-centralised Offer. Holders who sell their Shares directly on the market will not be entitled to the aforementioned reimbursement of brokerage fees (and related VAT).

2.13. Offer restrictions outside of France

The Offer has not been subject to any application for registration or approval by any financial market regulatory authority other than the AMF and no measures will be taken in this respect.

The Offer is therefore made to shareholders of the Company located in France and outside France, provided that the local law to which they are subject allows them to take part in the Offer without requiring that the Offeror complete additional formalities.

Publication of the Draft Offer Document, the Offer, the acceptance of the Offer and the delivery of the Shares may, in certain jurisdictions, be subject to specific regulations or restrictions. Accordingly, the Offer is not directed at persons subject to such restrictions, either directly or indirectly, and must not be accepted from any jurisdiction where the Offer is subject to restrictions.

Neither the Draft Offer Document nor any other document relating to the Offer constitutes an offer to sell or acquire financial instruments or a solicitation of such an offer in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful, could not validly be made, or would require the publication of a prospectus or the completion of any other formality under local financial law. Holders of Shares located outside of France may only participate in the Offer to the extent that such participation is permitted under the local law to which they are subject.

Accordingly, persons in possession of the Draft Offer Document are required to obtain information regarding any applicable local restrictions and to comply with such restrictions. Failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The Offeror shall not be liable for any breach by any person of any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions.

United States of America

The Offer is made for the securities of Believe, a company organized under French law, and is subject to French disclosure and procedural requirements, which are different from those of the United States. Shareholders in the United States are advised that the securities of Believe are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange and that Believe is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder.

The Offer is made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E of the U.S. Exchange Act, subject to exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(c) under the U.S. Exchange Act for a Tier I tender offer (the "Tier I Exemption"), and otherwise in accordance with the disclosure and procedural requirements of French law, including with respect to withdrawal rights, the offer timetable, settlement procedures, waiver of conditions and timing of payments, which are different from those applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and law. Holders of securities of Believe domiciled in the United States (the "U.S. Holders") are encouraged to consult with their own advisors regarding the Offer.

The Offer is made to the U.S. Holders on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other shareholders of Believe to whom an offer is made. Any information documents, including the Draft Offer Document, are being disseminated to U.S. Holders on a basis comparable to the method pursuant to which such documents are provided to Believe's other shareholders.

As permitted under the Tier I Exemption, the settlement of the Offer is based on the applicable French law provisions, which differ from the settlement procedures customary in the United States, particularly as regards to the time when payment of the consideration is rendered. The Offer, which is subject to French law, is being made to the U.S. Holders in accordance with the applicable U.S. securities laws, and applicable exemptions thereunder, in particular the Tier I Exemption. To the extent the Offer is subject to U.S. securities laws, those laws only apply to U.S. Holders and thus will not give rise to claims on the part of any other person.

It may be difficult for Believe's shareholders to enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under the U.S. federal or state securities laws in connection with the Offer, since Believe is located outside the United States, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. Believe's shareholders may not be able to sue Believe or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel Believe and/or its respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a U.S. court.

To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulations, BidCo may from time to time and during the pendency of the Offer, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly purchase or arrange to purchase Shares outside the United States. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. In addition, to the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, the financial advisors to BidCo may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of Believe, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities as long as such purchases or arrangements are in compliance with the applicable law. Information regarding such purchases or agreements will be published by the AMF on its website).

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a U.S. Holder may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable U.S. state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each shareholder is urged to consult an independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of accepting the Offer. Neither BidCo nor its directors, officers, employees or agents or any other person acting on their behalf in connection with the Offer shall be responsible for any tax effects or liabilities resulting from acceptance of this Offer.

Neither the SEC nor any U.S. State securities commission has approved or disapproved the Offer, or passed any comment upon the adequacy or completeness of the Draft Offer Document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense in the in the United States.

2.14. Tax regime of the Offer

The tax regime of the Offer is described in Section 2.14 (Tax regime of the Offer) of the Draft Offer Document.

3.SUMMARY OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE OFFER PRICE

The table below presents the summary of the valuations derived from the valuation methods used as main methods and for illustrative purposes, and the premiums / (discounts) on share price and on Enterprise Value implied by the Share Offer Price of 15.00. Premiums / (discounts) on Enterprise Value implied by the Offer Price are relevant given Believe's net cash position (vs. comparable companies Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG)'s net debt positions).

Method References Implied share price () Implied Enterprise Value

(m) Premium / (discount)

on share price implied by the Offer Price Premium / (discount)

on EV

implied by the Offer Price



Main valuation methods Share price

(as of Feb 9, 2024, pre-announcement) Spot price 12.40 1,151 +21.0% +23.2% 30-day VWAP 10.43 948 +43.8% +49.5% 120-day VWAP 9.86 890 +52.1% +59.3% 180-day VWAP 10.01 905 +49.9% +56.6% 52-week low 7.95 694 +88.7% +104.3% 52-week high 12.44 1,155 +20.6% +22.8% Share price

(as of Dec 4, 2023, undisturbed) Spot price 10.00 904 +50.0% +56.8% 30-day VWAP 9.68 871 +55.0% +62.7% 120-day VWAP 9.51 854 +57.7% +66.0% 180-day VWAP 10.13 918 +48.1% +54.5% 52-week low 7.95 694 +88.7% +104.3% 52-week high 12.44 1,155 +20.6% +22.8% Trading peers multiples EV / (Adj. EBITDAaL-Capex) 2024E - Min 4.69 400 +219.6% +264.3% EV / (Adj. EBITDAaL-Capex) 2024E - Max 6.81 617 +120.3% +136.2% EV / (Adj. EBITDAaL-Capex) 2025E - Min 7.18 726 +108.8% +110.5% EV / (Adj. EBITDAaL-Capex) 2025E - Max 10.24 1,039 +46.5% +47.0% Discounted

Cash Flow DCF - Mid 10.06 821 +49.1% +61.8% DCF - Min 8.71 682 +72.2% +94.7% DCF - Max 11.75 994 +27.7% +33.6%















Valuation methods for illustrative purposes Financial analysts'

target prices Median of

pre-announcement target prices (excl. UBS) 15.50 1,379 (3.2%) (3.7%) Pre-announcement target prices - Min 11.50 968 +30.4% +37.1% Pre-announcement target prices - Max 29.00 2,765 (48.3%) (52.0%) Precedent transactions multiples EV / EBITDAaL 2023A Multiple - Median 8.57 757 +75.1% +87.2% EV / EBITDAaL 2023A Multiple - Min 6.21 515 +141.5% +175.1% EV / EBITDAaL 2023A

Multiple - Max 10.34 939 +45.0% +50.9%





IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER



This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to purchase. The dissemination, publication or distribution of this press release, the Offer and its acceptance may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The Offer will not be directed to persons subject to such restrictions, either directly or indirectly, and may be accepted from any country where the Offer would be subject to such restrictions. This press release is not intended to be published and disseminated in such countries. Accordingly, persons in possession of this press release are required to inform themselves about and to comply with any local restrictions that may apply.



Upbeat BidCo disclaims any liability for any breach of these restrictions by any person.









1On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares and a total number of 113,644,103 theoretical voting rights resulting from the loss of 37,594,402 theoretical voting rights following completion of the Acquisitions and including the double voting rights attached to the Shares which are the object of the DL Contribution (it being specified that these double voting rights will be lost following completion of the DL Contribution).

2 On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares.

3 On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares.

4 On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares.

5 The number of theoretical voting rights on April 24, 2024 which was communicated by the Company was 151,238,505 theoretical voting rights.

6 Such early vesting under the AP 2021 plan shall take place on May 14, 2024, as described in Section 2.4 (Situation of beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release.

7 In accordance with the provisions of the Contribution Agreement, Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie has irrevocably undertaken to contribute 10,851,320 Shares to BidCo. These Shares are assimilated to the Shares held by the Offeror as of the date hereof, in accordance with article L. 233-9 of the French Commercial Code. However, the DL Contribution shall be completed on the date of payment of the price relating to the Acquisitions, i.e., the first business day after the closing of the Offer.

8 The number of 113,644,103 theoretical voting rights results from the loss of 37,594,402 theoretical voting rights following the completion of the Acquisitions and including the double voting rights attached to the Shares which are the object of the DL Contribution (it being specified that these double voting rights will be lost following completion of the DL Contribution).

9 See Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release.

10 It is specified that insofar as the DL Contribution would be completed on the first business day after the closing of the Offer, i.e. before the settlement of the semi-centralized branch of the Offer. This table does not take into account any Shares acquired on or off the market by the Offeror prior to that date.

11 The number of 103,180,895 theoretical voting rights results from the loss of 19,851,320 theoretical voting rights following the completion of the DL Contribution and the vesting on May 14, 2024 of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under a Free Shares Plan.

12 Approvals from the Austrian and German antitrust authorities were received on March 27 and March 15, 2024 respectively.

13 On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares.

14 On the basis of a share capital comprising 97,161,351 Shares and a total number of 113,644,103 theoretical voting rights resulting from the loss of 37,594,402 theoretical voting rights following completion of the Acquisitions and including the double voting rights attached to the Shares which are the object of the DL Contribution (it being specified that these double voting rights will be lost following completion of the DL Contribution).

PRESS RELEASE ON THE FILING OF A DRAFT OFFER DOCUMENT RELATING TO THE SIMPLIFIED TENDER OFFER

for the shares of

initiated by

Upbeat BidCo SAS "BidCo"

presented by

Bank presenting the offer and acting as guarantor

and

Bank presenting the offer

PRICE OF THE OFFER:



15 per Believe share







DURATION OF THE OFFER:



15 trading days







The timetable of the tender offer (the "Offer") will be set out by the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF") in accordance with the provisions of its General Regulation.



This press release (the "Press Release") was prepared by Upbeat BidCo and published pursuant to Article 231-16 of the General Regulation of the AMF.



The offer and the draft offer document remain subject to review by the AMF.





IMPORTANT NOTICE



The Press Release must be read together with all other documents published in connection with the Offer. In particular, in accordance with Article 231-28 of the General Regulation of the AMF, a description of the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of Upbeat BidCo will be filed with the AMF and made available to the public no later than the day preceding the opening of the Offer. A press release will be issued to inform the public of the manner in which this information will be made available.



The Offer is not and will not be proposed in any jurisdiction where it would not be permitted under applicable law. Acceptance of the Offer by persons residing in countries other than France and the United States of America may be subject to specific obligations or restrictions imposed by legal or regulatory provisions. The recipients of the Offer are solely responsible for compliance with such laws and it is therefore their responsibility, before accepting the Offer, to determine whether such laws exist and are applicable, based on the advice they obtain from their own advisers.



For more information, see Section 2.13 of the Press Release below.

The draft offer document prepared by Upbeat BidCo) and the AMF) and may be obtained free of charge from:

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE

(Succursale de Paris)

85, avenue Marceau

75116 Paris

("Goldman Sachs")



Upbeat BidCo SAS

176, avenue Charles de Gaulle

92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine

("BidCo" or the "Offeror")







BNP Paribas

(M&A EMEA Department)

5, boulevard Haussmann

75009 Paris

("BNP Paribas")









OVERVIEW OF THE OFFER

Pursuant to Title III of Book II and more specifically Articles 233-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the AMF ("AMF General Regulation"), BidCo, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) with a share capital of one euro, having its registered office at 176 avenue Charles de Gaulle, Neuilly-sur-Seine (92200), registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Registry under number 985 046 424 ("BidCo" or the "Offeror") irrevocably offers to all the shareholders of Believe, a public limited company (societe anonyme) with a board of directors and a share capital of 485,431.75 euros, having its registered office at 24, rue Toulouse Lautrec 75017 Paris, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Registry under number 481 625 853 (the "Believe" or "Company", and together with its directly- or indirectly-owned subsidiaries, the "Group"), to purchase in cash all of their shares in the Company whether outstanding or to be issued (the "Shares") other than the Shares held by the Offeror (subject to the exceptions set out below) in the context of a simplified tender offer, the terms of which are described below (the "Offer").

The Offer price is fifteen euros (15) per Share (the "Offer Price"). The Offer Price is the same as that paid in cash by the Offeror in connection with the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution (as defined below).

The Shares are admitted to trading on compartment B of the Euronext Paris regulated market ("Euronext Paris") under ISIN code FR0014003FE9, mnemonic "BLV".

The Offer follows the Acquisitions (which are described in Sections 1.1.3 and 1.3.5 of the Press Release). As of the date of the Draft Offer Document, BidCo holds 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights, of which 10,851,320 Shares and 21,702,640 voting rights are assimilated to shares held by BidCo pursuant to Article L. 233-9 of the French Commercial Code , as a result of an irrevocable undertaking by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie to contribute these shares to BidCo on the first business day following the closing of the Offer, in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement described in greater detail in Section 1.3.2 of the Press Release.

Such 69,835,174 Shares and 80,686,494 voting rights represent 71.88% of the share capital and 71.00% of the theoretical voting rights of the Company1 as of the date of the Draft Offer Document.

To the extent that, as a result of the Acquisitions (which are described in Sections 1.1.3 and 1.3.5 of the Press Release), the Offeror has exceeded the thresholds of 30% of the Company's share capital and voting rights, the Offer is mandatory pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 433-3, I of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 234-2 of the AMF General Regulation.

The Offer targets all Shares, whether outstanding or to be issued, that are not held, directly or indirectly, by the Offeror, i.e., the Shares:

which are already issued, i.e., a maximum of 27,235,886 Shares (excluding Shares held in treasury by the Company, the board of directors having decided not to tender them to the Offer), and





which could be issued before the closing of the Offer as a result of:



the exercise of 1,024,257 BSPCE (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the BSPCE Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 2,650,182 Shares,



the exercise of 258,194 Warrants (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release) granted by the Company under the Warrants Plans (as defined in Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release), i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of April 24, 2024, a maximum of 516,388 Shares, and



the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under Free Shares Plans (as such terms are defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),







except for:

the Shares held in treasury by the Company, i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror and as of the date of the Draft Offer Document, 90,291 Shares, and





the 2,031,919 Unvested Free Shares (as defined in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) of the Press Release),





i.e., to the knowledge of the Offeror as of April 24, 2024, a maximum number of 30,790,568 Shares.

To the knowledge of the Offeror, as of date of the Draft Offer Document, except for the Free Shares granted by the Company, the BSPCE and the Warrants, there are no other equity securities or other financial instruments issued by the Company or rights conferred by the Company that may give access, immediately or in the future, to the share capital or voting rights of the Company. It is specified that the BSPCE and the Warrants are not targeted by the Offer as they are not transferable.

The Offer will be conducted under the simplified procedure in accordance with the provisions of Articles 233-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas, acting as the presenting banks of the Offer (the "Presenting Banks"), have filed the draft Offer and the Draft Offer Document with the AMF on behalf of the Offeror.

It is specified that only BNP Paribas is guaranteeing, in accordance with the provisions of Article 231-13 of the AMF General Regulation, the content and irrevocable nature of the commitments made by the Offeror in the context of the Offer.

Background of the Offer

1.1.1Reasons for the Offer





Founded in 2005 by Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie, the Group grew in the recorded music sector and quickly began making catalogs of music available for download on digital platforms (Apple Music, Fnac, Virgin). Believe is now one of the world's leading digital music companies. In 2021, Believe took the next step in its development by going public.

The Consortium is willing to support the Company so that it can better execute on its value-creation plan and accelerate the scale-up of an independent player supporting artists and label clients. The Offer relies on an organic and inorganic growth and investment plans with a view to allow the Group to further grow and consolidate its position as leader in the French and European markets. The Offeror believes that the Group should lead the current market consolidation, backed by reputable long-term investors willing to fuel the Group's growth.

On 11 February 2024, TCV Luxco XI 002 S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 35 Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number BB266816 ("TCV Luxco 1"), TCV XII Master Luxco S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 35 Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, under number B284493 ("TCV Luxco 2", together with TCV Luxco 1, the "TCV Luxcos"), EQT X Investments S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), organized under the laws of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 51A, Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number B262548 ("EQT"), Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie and Upbeat MidCo S.a r.l. (together with the TCV Luxcos and EQT, the "Consortium"), a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, whose registered office is at 51A Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes), under number B280980 ("Upbeat MidCo") entered into an investment agreement entitled "Consortium and Investment Agreement" to regulate the cooperation between them in the context of the Offer (the "Consortium and Investment Agreement").

The Offeror adhered to the Consortium and Investment Agreement on March 13, 2024.

1.1.2Presentation of the Offeror





The Offeror is a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) incorporated under French law for the purposes of the Offer and which as of the date of the Draft Offer Document is wholly-owned by Upbeat MidCo, which itself is 50% owned by the TCV Luxcos and indirectly 50% owned by EQT.

As described further in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release, the TCV Luxcos and EQT will finance the Offer through shareholder loans cascading down to the Offeror, which will subsequently be capitalized at the level of Upbeat MidCo and the Offeror, in consideration for new ordinary shares issued by Upbeat MidCo on the one hand and the Offeror on the other hand.

Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie has irrevocably undertaken to contribute 10,851,320 Shares to BidCo (the "DL Contribution"). As consideration for the DL Contribution, he will receive new ordinary shares issued by the Offeror. The DL Contribution shall be completed after the above-mentioned capitalization of the shareholder loans and on the date of the payment of the purchase price in relation to the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition (as defined in Section 1.1.3 (Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights) of the Press Release).

The DL Contribution shall be made at the Offer Price and paid in ordinary shares issued by the Offeror valued by transparency with the Offer Price.

Given the above-mentioned transactions, the exact breakdown of the Offeror's share capital and voting rights will depend on the number of Shares acquired in the context of the Offer.

1.1.3Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights





To the knowledge of the Offeror, as of April 24, 2024, the Company has a share capital of 485,806.755, divided into 97,161,351 Shares of a nominal value of 0.005 each.

On 11 February 2024, TCV Luxco BD S.a r.l, a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee), organized under the laws of Luxemburg, whose registered office is at 35, Avenue Monterey, L-2163 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the trade and company registry of Luxembourg, under number B191493 ("TCV Luxco BD"), as seller, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of 39,942,982 Shares, representing approximately 41.11% of the share capital of the Company2 (the "TCV Acquisition") for a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

On the same day, the funds managed by Ventech, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) whose registered office is at 47 avenue de l'Opera, 75002 Paris and registered with the trade and company registry of Paris, under number 416 316 699 (i.e., Ventech Capital III, Ventech Capital F, Ventech Opportunity Primary Fund I, Ventech Opportunity Secondary Fund I, Ventech Opportunity Primary Fund I Reserve and Ventech Opportunity Secondary Fund I Reserve) ("Ventech") and the funds managed by Siparex XAnge Venture, a simplified joint stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) whose registered office is at 5 rue Feydeau, 75002 Paris and registered with the trade and company registry of Paris, under number 452 276 181 (i.e., XAnge Credo Opportunity Fund, XAnge Capital 2 and XAnge Selection Fund II) ("XAnge"), as sellers, and Upbeat MidCo, as purchaser, entered into a share purchase agreement in relation to the sale of a total of 17,790,872 Shares, representing approximately 18.31% of the share capital of the Company3 (the "Ventech and XAnge Acquisition") for a price of fifteen euros (15) per Share. Pursuant to an agreement dated March 14, 2024, BidCo was substituted for Upbeat MidCo as purchaser for the purposes of such share purchase agreement.

Pursuant to the Consortium and Investment Agreement (as described in greater detail in Section 1.3.1 (Consortium and Investment Agreement) of the Press Release), Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie irrevocably undertook, in addition to the DL Contribution, to sell 1,250,000 Shares to BidCo, representing approximately 1.29% of the share capital of the Company4 (the "DL Acquisition", together with the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition, the "Acquisitions"). BidCo and Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie entered into a binding share purchase agreement on April 25, 2024, reflecting the terms of the agreements relating to the TCV Acquisition and the Ventech and XAnge Acquisition.

On April 18, 2024, following the receipt of the fairness opinion issued the independent expert, the board of directors of the Company issued a reasoned opinion (avis motive) in accordance with Article 231-19 of the AMF General Regulation stating in its conclusion that the Offer is in the interest of the Company, its shareholders and its employees.

The Acquisitions were completed on April 25, 2024.

(a) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights before the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution





To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights broke down as follows before the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights TCV Luxco BD 39,942,982 41.11% 64,603,070 42.72% Denis Ladegaillerie 12,101,320 12.45% 24,202,640 16.00% Ventech 11,684,314 12.03% 23,368,628 15.45% XAnge 6,106,558 6.28% 6,106,558 4.04% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.66% 6,636,356 4.39% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90,291 0.06% Free float 23,676,453 24.37% 26,230,962 17.34% Total 97,161,351 100.00% 151,238,5055 100.00%

(b) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights after the Acquisitions but prior to the DL Contribution





To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights is currently as follows, after completion of the Acquisitions, but prior to the vesting of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under a Free Share Plan6 and the completion of the DL Contribution7:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights BidCo 58,983,854 60.71% 58,983,854 51.90% Denis Ladegaillerie 10,851,320 11.17% 21,702,640 19.10% Total held by Upbeat BidCo (shares and voting rights owned and held by assimilation) 69,835,174 71.88% 80,686,494 71.00% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.66% 6,636,356 5.84% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90.291 0.08% Free float 23,676,453 24.37% 26,230,962 23.08% Total 97,161,351 100.00% 113,644,1038 100.00%

The situation of the holders of BSPCE and Warrants as well as the details of Free Shares awarded by the Company to employees or executives of the Group are described in Section 2.4 (Situation of the beneficiaries of Free Shares) and Section 2.5 (Situation of the holders of BSPCE and/or Warrants) of the Press Release.

(c) Shareholding structure of the Company's share capital and voting rights after the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution





To the Offeror's knowledge, ownership of the Company's share capital and theoretical voting rights shall break down as follows, after completion of the Acquisitions, the vesting on May 14, 2024 of 388,112 Free Shares granted by the Company under a Free Share Plan9 and completion of the DL Contribution10:

Shareholder Number of Shares % of capital Number of voting rights % of voting rights BidCo 69,835,174 71.59% 69,835,174 67.68% Fonds strategique de participations 3,559,433 3.65% 6,636,356 6.43% Treasury Shares 90,291 0.09% 90.291 0.09% Free float 24,064,565 24.67% 26,619,074 25.80% Total 97,549,463 100.00% 103,180,89511 100.00%

1.1.4Declarations of threshold crossing and of intentions





In accordance with Articles L. 233-7 et seq. of the French Commercial Code:

pursuant to the declarations of threshold crossing dated April 24 and April 26, 2024, BidCo informed the AMF, following the Acquisitions and the DL Contribution, that its interest in the Company, individually and in concert, has risen above the thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 1/3, 50% and 2/3 of the Company's share capital and voting rights, and stated its intentions; and





pursuant to the declaration of threshold crossing dated April 26, 2024, TCV Luxco BD informed the AMF, following the TCV Acquisition, that its interest in the Company, individually, has fallen below the thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 1/3 of the Company's share capital and voting rights.





1.1.5Acquisition of Shares by the Offeror during the last 12 months

It should be noted that neither the Offeror nor the persons acting in concert with the Offeror have acquired any Shares in the twelve (12) months preceding the filing of the Draft Offer Document at a price higher than the Offer price.

1.1.6Regulatory administrative and antitrust approvals





The Offer is not subject to any requirement to obtain regulatory approvals.

On the date of the filing of the Draft Offer Document, the Offer is no longer subject to any antitrust approval. It is however specified that, prior to the filing of the Draft Offer Document, the required antitrust approvals (or the confirmation that no regulatory approval was required) have been obtained from the Austrian and German antitrust authorities in the context of the Acquisitions.

Intentions of the Offeror for the next twelve months

Industrial, commercial and financial strategy

The Offeror intends to maintain the Group's integrity, and, with the support of the current management team, to continue the main strategic orientations implemented by the Company and does not intend to modify the operational model of the Company, outside the normal evolution of the business.

The Offeror (and, by extension, the members of the Consortium) is fully supportive of the Company's mission to develop talent (i.e. artists and labels, songwriters and publishers) and intends to pursue the Company's development with a long-term vision, in particular through the industry expertise of Mr. Denis Ladegaillerie.

The Offeror intends to carry out investments for the Group in differentiation of tech-enabled solutions for digital artists. These include, but are not limited to, investing in the data platform, marketing technologies, artist services, infrastructure tech transformation, and continued automation of the central platform to drive efficiency.

The Offeror intends to pursue a targeted value-based growth strategy to drive market share gains and operating leverage, including investing to drive net margin growth through premium tech-enabled services, as well as optimising the operating margin through positioning, pricing and automation. The Group's efforts and investments would be focused on certain key identified markets and geographies. The Offeror would in particular focus investments in Artist Services in the top 10 global music markets, in Label and Artist Solutions in the top 25 global music markets to build a targeted and optimised premium position, and building a first level of presence in Japan and the US, as well as unlocking an opportunity in publishing following the acquisition of Sentric in 2023.

As the Group has demonstrated capacity to drive synergies and create value through its historical M&A track-record, the Offeror intends to support a targeted bolt-on M&A strategy, to be financed through a combination of debt and/or additional capital injection to drive the ongoing industry consolidation.

Intentions regarding employment

The Offer forms part of a plan in which the Company's business activities and development are to continue. As a result, the Offer should not in itself result in any particular impact on the Company's workforce, wage policy or human resource management policy.

The Offeror intends to set up a profit-sharing plan on terms customary for this type of transaction, which have not yet been determined.

Composition of the Company's governing bodies and management

The Offeror intends to modify the composition of the Company's board of directors to reflect the fact that it controls the Company. In accordance with the agreement entered into with Ventech and XAnge, they have agreed to resign from their respective positions as member of the Company's board of directors and observer. This agreement also provides that the Offeror may propose the identity of a new member of the Company's board of directors who may be co-opted following these resignations. The Offeror therefore intends to propose the co-option to the Company's board of directors of a director whose identity has yet to be determined.

Interest of the Offer for the Offeror, the Company and its shareholders

The Offeror is offering the Company's shareholders who tender their Shares to the Offer the opportunity to obtain immediate liquidity at an attractive price.

The Offer Price of fifteen euros (15) per Share announced and then confirmed by the press release of 12 February 2024, reflects a premium of 21% over the last trading price prior to the announcement of the Offer on 9 February 2024, premiums of 43.8%, 52.1% and 49.9% respectively over the volume-weighted average prices 60, 120 and 180 trading days prior to that date.

The summary of the assessment of the Offer Price, including the premiums offered as part of the Offer, are set out in Section 3 (Summaryof the assessment of the Offer Price) of the Press Release.

Synergies - Economic gains

The Offeror is a company incorporated on February 26, 2024, whose corporate purpose is to acquire, animate and hold stakes in the share capital and voting rights of French and foreign companies. The Offeror, which does not have any stake in other companies, does not anticipate the realization of cost or revenue synergies with the Company following the completion of the Offer.

Merger

The Offeror does not intend to merge with the Company.

Intentions regarding the implementation of a squeeze-out and a delisting of the Company following the Offer

Following the Offer, the Offeror does not intend to implement a squeeze-out procedure for the Shares not tendered in the Offer by the minority shareholders of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 433-4, II, of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Articles 237-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation.

Company's dividend distribution policy

The Company paid no dividends in respect of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

In the next 12 months, the Offeror intends to maintain a dividend policy in line with that adopted in 2020, 2021, 2022, i.e., not to make any dividend payments.

Following the Offer, the Company's dividend policy and any change thereto will continue to be determined by its corporate bodies in accordance with the law and the Company's articles of associa
CHICAGO, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $8.8 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $19.7 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 17.5% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

One of the key factors driving the market growth is the growing acceptance of alternate therapies such as oligonucleotide-based therapies for the treatment of neurological and rare diseases. The incorporation of synthesized oligonucleotides to treat various diseases also supports market growth.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=200829350

Browse in-depth TOC on "Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market"

546 - Tables

67 - Figures

454- Pages

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $8.8 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $19.7 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 17.5% Market Size Available for 2022-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Application, End User, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing R&D investments by key players in emerging economies Key Market Drivers Increasing use of synthesized oligos in therapeutic and diagnostic applications

Probes accounted for the second-largest segment of the synthesized oligos product segment in 2023.

Probes are an important subsegment in the market for synthesized oligonucleotides. The segment accounted for the second-largest market share of the synthesized oligonucleotide market. This is due to high specificity and sensitivity of probes allowing their use in genetic research, pathogen detection, clinical diagnostics, and the study of gene expression patterns, offering insights into diverse biological processes and disease mechanisms. Techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) utilize these probes for the detection of various genetic abnormalities that the root cause of several birth defects, neurological conditions and cancers among others.

Hospitals accounted for the largest share of the end-user segment in the oligonucleotide synthesis market in 2023.

By end user, hospitals accounted for the largest share of the oligonucleotide synthesis market in 2023. Growth in this market is largely driven by the significant number of FDA-approvals for oligonucleotide-based drugs especially antisense oligonucleotide drugs for rare and neurological diseases, increasing awareness towards alternative therapies and growing health-care spending. Ongoing research to develop oligonucleotide-based drugs for more common diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, supported by availability of reimbursement policies in developed economies are aiding this segment's growth.

The PCR subsegment accounted for the largest share of the research applications segment in the oligonucleotide synthesis market in 2023.

In 2023, PCR accounted for the largest share of the research application subsegment of the oligonucleotide synthesis market. PCR technologies such as real-time PCR or quantitative PCR (qPCR) used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis in the fields of molecular diagnostics, medicine, microbiology, and forensic biology are driving end-user demand. These PCR applications utilize sequence-specific primers, thus boosting the market for oligos (which are used as probes and primers) in the PCR market.

North America to register the highest CAGR in the oligonucleotide synthesis market.

The North America region is expected to show the highest CAGR of the oligonucleotide synthesis market. The growing investments in research and development by major pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, increasing application of oligonucleotides in pharmaceutical drug research, and growing public & private sector investments in genomics and related technologies are expected to aid market growth in the North America.

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Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing use of synthesized oligos in therapeutic and diagnostic applications Technological advancements Growing government investments in life science research and synthetic biology Growing focus on precision/personalized medicine

Restraints:

Complexities associated with therapeutic oligonucleotides

Opportunities:

Increasing R&D investments by key players in emerging economies

Challenge:

Lack of standard regulations Delivery of oligonucleotide drugs to specific targets

Key Market Players of Oligonucleotide Synthesis Industry:

Some leading players operating in the oligonucleotide synthesis market are Danaher Corporation (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), LGC Limited (UK), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), Maravai Lifesciences holdings, Inc. (US), Azenta, Inc. (US), Twist Bioscience Corporation (US) and Genscript Biotech Corporation (US). Major players in the oligonucleotide therapeutics market are Biogen Inc. (US), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US), Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Astrazeneca (UK), Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan), Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc (Ireland), Nippon Shinyaku, Co. Ltd. (Japan), Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US) and Novartis AG (Switzerland).

The primary interviews conducted for this report can be categorized as follows:

By Respondent: Supply Side- 70% and Demand Side - 30%

By Designation: Managers- 45%, CXOs, and Director level - 30%, and Executives - 25%

By Region: North America -35%, Europe - 25%, Asia-Pacific -15%, Latin America -10%, Middle East- 10%, Africa- 5%

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=200829350

Recent Developments of Oligonucleotide Synthesis Industry:

In November 2023, LCG Biosearch Technologies, a business unit of LGC Limited, acquired PolyDesign to enhance its oligonucleotide synthesis capabilities using PolyDesign's frit technology.

In October 2023, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, opened its therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing facility in Coralville, Iowa. This facility will produce reagents for cGMP cell & gene therapy, including single-guide RNAs and HDR donor oligos.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help market leaders/new entrants by providing them with the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall oligonucleotide synthesis market and its subsegments. It will also help stakeholders better understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their business and make suitable go-to-market strategies. This report will enable stakeholders to understand the market's pulse and provide information on the key market drivers, restraints, challenges, trends, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (e.g., Increasing use of synthesized oligos in therapeutic and diagnostic applications, Technological advancements), restraints (e.g., complexities associated with oligonucleotide-based drugs), opportunities (e.g., increasing pharma R&D investments in emerging economies), and challenges (e.g., lack of standard regulations) are influencing the growth of the oligonucleotide synthesis market.

Product Approvals: Detailed insights on newly approved products of the oligonucleotide synthesis market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the oligonucleotide synthesis market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, recent developments, and investments in the oligonucleotide synthesis market.

Pipeline Analysis: Comprehensive information about products under clinical trials.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players including Danaher Corporation (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), among others offering products for research & diagnostic applications and Biogen Inc. (US), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US), Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (US) among others offering products for therapeutic applications.

Related Reports:

Molecular Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Genomics Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Synthetic Stem Cells Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Next Generation Sequencing Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Synthetic Biology Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Get access to the latest updates on Oligonucleotide Synthesis Companies and Oligonucleotide Synthesis Industry Growth

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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Third Point Investors Ltd - Notice of Annual General Meeting

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 26

Third Point Investors Limited

(a closed-ended investment companyincorporated in Guernsey with registration number 47161)

LEI Number: 549300WXTCG65AQ7V644

(The "Company")

26 APRIL 2024



Notice OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited, Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey on 28 May 2024 at 10:30am.

The Notice of AGM together with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 have today been posted to shareholders.

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, the Notice of Annual General Meeting and Annual Report and Accounts have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and are available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and have also be uploaded to the Company's website at: https://thirdpointlimited.com/

Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL

Tel: 01481 745001

END
Relief Therapeutics Holding SA / Key word(s): AGMEGM

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA Announces Results of Extraordinary General Meeting



26.04.2024 / 17:30 CET/CEST





RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA Announces Results of Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders Shareholders approved all proposals by a large majority GENEVA (APR. 26, 2024) - RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX: RLF , OTCQB: RLFTF , RLFTY ) (Relief Therapeutics, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options for select specialty, unmet and rare diseases, announces the results of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders, which took place in Geneva today, Friday, April 26, 2024. The proposed resolutions were approved by more than 85 percent of the represented votes. EGM results Election of new members of the Board of Directors The EGM elected Mr. Peter de Svastich, Mr. Gregory Van Beek, and Mr. Thomas Elzinga as new members of the Company's Board of Directors, for a term of office extending until completion of the next Annual General Meeting expected in June 2024. As anticipated, Ms. Patrice Jean and Mr. Thomas Plitz have concluded their service on the Board of Directors, effective today. Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju, Chairman of the Board of Relief Therapeutics, commented: "We are welcoming three new board members, each with valuable expertise and fresh perspective, critical for guiding our strategic direction and enhancing shareholder value. At the same time, we express our deepest gratitude to our two departing members for their invaluable contributions and dedication in shaping our path forward." Capital Reduction by Reduction of Nominal Value The EGM approved a reduction of the nominal value of the Company's share capital from CHF 56'163'348.00 to CHF 1'404'083.70. The number of outstanding shares, as well as shareholders' financial and patrimonial rights, are not affected by this technical adjustment. Increase of the Conditional Share Capital The EGM approved an increase of the existing conditional share capital to 7'000'000 shares. Reinstatement and Extension of the Capital Band The EGM approved an increase of the Company's capital band to 7'000'000 shares and extended its duration until April 25, 2029. Votes on the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee The EGM approved a maximum amount of CHF 500'000 for compensation of the members of the Board of Directors for the period from the Annual General Meeting 2023 until the Annual General Meeting 2024, and a maximum amount of CHF 4'000'000 for the members of the Executive Committee for the financial year 2024, inclusive of fixed and variable compensation, stock options, and other benefits. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee The EGM granted discharge to each and all members of the Board and of the Executive Committee, including former members, for the financial years 2022 and 2023. Amendments to the Articles of Association related to the New Corporate Law The EGM approved textual amendments to article 23 para. 1 and article 25 para. 3 of the Articles of Association for alignment with the new corporate law.



The resolutions submitted for the shareholders' vote are detailed in the EGM invitation . The detailed voting results will be made available on the Company's website later today. ABOUT RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Relief Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety, and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief Therapeutics' portfolio offers a balanced mix of marketed, revenue-generating products, our proprietary, globally patented Physiomimic and TEHCLO platform technologies and a targeted clinical development pipeline consisting of risk-mitigated assets focused in three core therapeutic areas: rare skin diseases, rare metabolic disorders, and rare respiratory diseases. In addition, Relief Therapeutics is commercializing several legacy products via licensing and distribution partners. Relief Therapeutics' mission is to provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from rare diseases and is being advanced by an international team of well-established, experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development and rare disease expertise. Relief Therapeutics is headquartered in Geneva, with additional offices in Balerna, Switzerland, Offenbach am Main, Germany and Monza, Italy. Relief Therapeutics is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFTF and RLFTY. For more information, please visit our website www.relieftherapeutics.com or follow Relief Therapeutics on LinkedIn . CONTACT :

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA

Jeremy Meinen

Chief Financial Officer

contact@relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMER

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, including its ability to achieve its corporate, development and commercial goals, and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Relief Therapeutics to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors, including those described in Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SIX Swiss Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Relief Therapeutics. Copies of Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SEC are available on the SEC EDGAR database at www.sec.gov . Relief Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date. Additional features:



File: Press Release_Relief_EGM Results





End of Media Release


China, Bangladesh to conduct joint military training

Xinhua) 10:13, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese and Bangladeshi armies will conduct a joint military training, China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

According to the consensus reached between the two sides, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will dispatch a contingent to Bangladesh in early May to participate in the joint training, according to the ministry.

This joint training, based on United Nations peacekeeping anti-terrorism operations, will involve both sides utilizing an integrated training approach. They will jointly organize exercises such as the rescue of hostages on buses and the clean-up of terrorist camps.

This marks the first joint training ever between the Chinese and Bangladeshi armies, the ministry said, noting that such activity is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two militaries and deepening practical exchanges and cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
EQS-News: CPI PROPERTY GROUP / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Real Estate

CONVENING NOTICE OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 30 MAY 2024



26.04.2024 / 17:48 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

Societe Anonyme

40, rue de la Vallee

L-2661 Luxembourg

R.C.S. Luxembourg B 102254

(the "Company")



CONVENING NOTICE OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 30 MAY 2024



Dear Shareholders,



You are invited to attend the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at the registered office of the Company at 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on 30 May 2024 at 10:00 CET, to discuss and to vote on the agenda indicated below.



The Meeting is convened in accordance with article 450-8 of the Luxembourg law on commercial companies dated 10 August 1915, as amended from time to time (the "LCA") and article 3 of the Luxembourg law dated 24 May 2011 on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in general meetings of listed companies, as amended from time to time, with the following points on the agenda:



AGENDA Presentation of the reports of the Board of Directors and of the approved auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) of the Company on the statutory annual accounts and on the consolidated annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Presentation and approval of the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Presentation and approval of the consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Allocation of the financial results in relation to the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Presentation and approval of a revised version of the remuneration policy. Presentation and approval of the remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Discharge to be granted to the members of the Board of Directors in respect of the performance of their duties during the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Discharge to be granted to the approved auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) in respect of the performance of its duties during the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Edward Hughes to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Jonathan Lewis to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Philippe Magistretti to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financialyear ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. David Greenbaum to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financialyear ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Tomas Salajka to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Omar Sattar to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Oliver Schlink to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Mr. Tim Scoble to the Board of Directors of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Subject to approval of item 12 of the agenda, decision to appoint Mr. David Greenbaum as the Managing Director (administrateur delegue) of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Subject to approval of item 13 of the agenda, decision to appoint Mr. Tomas Salajka as the Managing Director (administrateur delegue) of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024. Decision to appoint with immediate effect Ernst & Young, Luxembourg as the approved auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree) of the Company until the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in 2025 concerning the approval of the annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending on 31 December 2024.

* * *



ATTENDING THE MEETING



In order to participate to the Meeting, shareholders must provide the Company with the following three items as explained in greater detail below: (i) Record Date Confirmation, (ii) Attendance and Proxy Form, and (iii) Proof of Shareholding.



Record Date Confirmation: This document shall be provided to the Company by a shareholder at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024. The Record Date is 16 May 2024 at 24:00 CEST (midnight) (the "Record Date", i.e. the day falling fourteen (14) days before the date of the Meeting at midnight (Luxembourg time)).



The Record Date Confirmation must be in writing and indicate that a shareholder holds the Company shares and wishes to participate in the Meeting. A template form of the Record Date Confirmation is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com.



The Record Date Confirmation must be sent to the Company by post or electronic means so that it is received by the Company at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024, to:



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg

Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67

email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com



Attendance and Proxy form: A template form is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com and is to be duly completed and signed by shareholders wishing to attend or be represented at the Meeting.



Proof of Shareholding: This document must indicate the shareholder's name and the number of Company shares held on the Record Date, i.e. at 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024. The Proof of Shareholding shall be issued by the bank, the professional securities' depositary or the financial institution where the shares are on deposit. Please note that Proof of Shareholding is not necessary for those shareholders whose shares are still recorded as registered shares in the Company's shareholders register.



Shareholders wishing to attend the Meeting must send the Attendance and Proxy form together with the relevant Proof of Shareholding by post or electronic means so that they are received by the Company at the latest by noon (12:00 noon CET) on 23 May 2024, to:



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg

Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67

email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com



Please note that only persons who are shareholders on the Record Date and have timely submitted their Record Date Confirmation, Attendance and Proxy form, and Proof of Shareholding shall have the right to participate and vote in the Meeting.



Documentation and information: The following documents and information are available for the shareholders on our website: www.cpipg.com: the present convening notice;

the total number of shares and the voting rights in the Company as at the date of this convening notice;

the documents to be submitted to the Meeting (in particular the reports of the Board of Directors and of the approved auditor (reviseur d'entreprises agree), the statutory annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2023, the consolidated annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2023, the revised version of the remuneration policy and the remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2023);

the draft resolutions of the Meeting. Any draft resolution(s) submitted by shareholder(s) shall be added to the website as soon as possible after the Company has received them;

the Record Date Confirmation form; and

the Attendance and Proxy form. The above documents may also be obtained by shareholders upon written request sent to the following postal address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg.



For further information, visit our website: www.cpipg.com, in particular, the "Shareholder Corner".

Quorum Requirement: The Meeting shall validly deliberate regardless of the corporate capital present or represented. Resolutions, in order to be adopted, must be carried by a majority of the votes cast. Votes cast shall not include votes attaching to shares in which the shareholder has not taken part in the vote or has abstained or has returned a blank or invalid vote.



Right to add new items on the agenda: One or more shareholders together representing at least five per cent of the share capital has the right to (i) put one or more items on the agenda of the Meeting and (ii) table draft resolutions for items included or to be included on the agenda of the Meeting.



Such requests must: be in writing and sent to the Company by post (at the following address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg) or electronic means (at the following email address: generalmeetings@cpipg.com) and be accompanied by a justification or draft resolution to be adopted in the Meeting;

include the postal or electronic address at which the Company may acknowledge receipt of the requests;

be received by the Company at least twenty-two (22) days before the date of the Meeting, i.e. 8 May 2024. The Company shall acknowledge receipt of requests referred to above within (forty-eight) 48 hours from receipt. The Company shall prepare a revised agenda including such additional items on or before the fifteenth (15th) day before the date of the Meeting.



For further information, visit our website: www.cpipg.com.



If you need further assistance or information, please contact: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Tel: + 352 26 47 67 58; Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67; email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com.



Luxembourg, 26 April 2024



Yours faithfully,



The Board of Directors of the Company



26.04.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Terms and conditions of availability or consultation of the 2023 Universal Registration Document

The Universal Registration Document 2023 was filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on April 17th, 2024.

The Universal Registration Document includes in particular:

2023 annual financial report ;

Board of Directors' report on corporate governance

Statutory Auditors' reports

Information on fees paid to the Statutory Auditors

Information on social, environmental and societal responsibility.

It can be consulted or downloaded from PAREF website (www.paref.com) in "Investors - Publications" section and from the AMF website (www.amf-france.org).

It is also available to the public, free of charge, on request at the registered office of PAREF, 153 Boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris.

Financial agenda

May 23, 2024: Annual General Meeting of shareholder

About PAREF Group

PAREF is a leading European player in real estate management, with over 30 years of experience and the aim of being one of the market leaders in real estate management based on its proven expertise.

Today, the Group operates in France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and provides services across the entire value chain of real estate investment: investment, fund management, renovation and development project management, asset management, and property management. This 360 approach enables it to offer integrated and tailor-made services to institutional and retail investors.

The Group is committed to creating more value and sustainable growth and has put CSR concerns at the heart of its strategy.

As of December 31, 2023 PAREF Group manages about 3bn assets under management.

PAREF is a company listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment C, under ISIN FR0010263202 Ticker PAR. More information on www.paref.com

PAREF Contact

Antoine CASTRO Jia WANG

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Group Financial Officer

Mail.: info@paref.com Mail.: info@paref.com

Tel.: +33 (0) 1 40 29 86 86 Tel.: +33 (0) 1 40 29 86 86

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EQS-News: CPI PROPERTY GROUP / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Real Estate

CONVENING NOTICE OF THE COMPANY'S EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 30 MAY 2024



26.04.2024 / 17:56 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

Societe Anonyme

40, rue de la Vallee

L-2661 Luxembourg

R.C.S. LUXEMBOURG B 102254

(the "Company")



CONVENING NOTICE OF THE COMPANY'S EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 30 MAY 2024



Dear Shareholders,



You are invited to attend the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at the registered office of the Company at 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on 30 May 2024 at 11:00 CEST, in the presence of a Luxembourg notary public, to discuss and to vote on the agenda indicated below.



The Meeting is convened in accordance with article 450-8 of the Luxembourg law on commercial companies dated 10 August 1915, as amended from time to time (the "LCA") and article 3 of the Luxembourg law dated 24 May 2011 on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in general meetings of listed companies, as amended from time to time, with the following points on the agenda:



AGENDA Decision to decrease the corporate capital of the Company by the amount of EUR 8,532,746.80 by means of cancellation of 85,327,468 shares held in treasury by the Company, with allocation of the reduction proceeds to a reserve of the Company which will be available for distribution to the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the LCA. The purpose of this capital decrease is to cancel shares of the Company held in treasury by the Company. Subject to approval of agenda item 1, decision to amend the articles of association of the Company to reflect the changes necessary following the approval of agenda item 1. Decision to approve the report issued by the board of directors according to article 420-26 (5) of the LCA, relating to the possibility for the board of directors to cancel or limit any preferential subscription right of the shareholders upon the increases of capital in the framework of the authorised share capital as mentioned in agenda item 4. Subject to approval of agenda item 3, decision to introduce a new authorised share capital and to set it to an amount of three billion eight-hundred eighty-five million seven hundred fourteen thousand two hundred eighty-five Euros and seventy cents (EUR 3,885,714,285.70) for a period of five (5) years from the date of the general meeting of the shareholders held on 30 May 2024 (or in case of adjourning or reconvening the general meeting because no quorum has been reached, the date of the adjourned or reconvened general meeting), which would authorize the issuance of up thirty-eight billion eight hundred fifty-seven million one hundred forty-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven (38,857,142,857) new ordinary shares in addition to the shares currently outstanding. Decision to grant to the board of directors of the Company, based on the report drawn up by the board of directors as referred to in Article 420-26 (5) of the LCA, all powers for a period of five (5) years in order to carry out capital increases within the framework of the authorised capital under the conditions and methods it will set with the possibility to cancel or limit any preferential subscription right of the shareholders on the issue of new shares to be issued within the framework of the authorised corporate capital, being understood that all financial instruments carrying an entitlement to, or the right to subscribe for, shares issued until the expiry of that period may still be converted or exercised subsequently to that date. Subject to approval of agenda items 3 and 4, decision to amend the articles of association of the Company to reflect the changes necessary following the approval of agenda items 3 and 4.

ATTENDING THE MEETING



In order to participate to the Meeting, shareholders must provide the Company with the following three items as explained in greater detail below: (i) Record Date Confirmation, (ii) Attendance and Proxy Form, and (iii) Proof of Shareholding.



Record Date Confirmation: This document shall be provided to the Company by a shareholder at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024. The Record Date is 16 May 2024 at 24:00 CEST (midnight) (the "Record Date", i.e. the day falling fourteen (14) days before the date of the Meeting at midnight (Luxembourg time)).



The Record Date Confirmation must be in writing and indicate that a shareholder holds the Company shares and wishes to participate in the Meeting. A template form of the Record Date Confirmation is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com.



The Record Date Confirmation must be sent to the Company by post or electronic means so that it is received by the Company at the latest on the Record Date, i.e. by 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024, to:



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg

Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67

email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com



Attendance and Proxy Form: A template form is available on the Company's website at www.cpipg.com and is to be duly completed and signed by shareholders wishing to attend or be represented at the Meeting.



Proof of Shareholding: This document must indicate the shareholder's name and the number of Company shares held on the Record Date, i.e. at 24:00 CEST (midnight) on 16 May 2024. The Proof of Shareholding shall be issued by the bank, the professional securities' depositary or the financial institution where the shares are on deposit. Please note that Proof of Shareholding is not necessary for those shareholders whose shares are still recorded as registered shares in the Company's shareholders' register.



Shareholders wishing to participate to the Meeting must send the Attendance and Proxy Form together with the relevant Proof of Shareholding by post or electronic means so that they are received by the Company at the latest by noon (12:00 noon CEST) on 23 May 2024, to:



CPI PROPERTY GROUP

40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg

Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67

email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com



Please note that only persons who are shareholders on the Record Date and have timely submitted their Record Date Confirmation, Attendance and Proxy Form, and Proof of Shareholding shall have the right to participate and vote in the Meeting.



Documentation and information: The following documents and information are available for the shareholders on our website: www.cpipg.com: the present convening notice;

the total number of shares and the voting rights in the Company as at the date of this convening notice;

the draft resolutions of the Meeting including the proposed changes to the articles of association of the Company. Any draft resolution(s) submitted by shareholder(s) shall be added to the website as soon as possible after the Company has received them;

the report issued by the board of directors according to article 420-26 (5) of the LCA;

the Record Date Confirmation form; and

the Attendance and Proxy form.

The above documents may also be obtained by shareholders upon written request sent to the following postal address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg.



Quorum Requirement: With respect to all items of the agenda, the Meeting shall not validly deliberate, unless at least one half of the corporate capital is represented and if the agenda of the meeting includes the statutory changes to be considered. In the event that such quorum condition is not fulfilled, a second meeting may be convened by publishing this convening notice in the Luxembourg official gazette (Recueil Electronique des Societes et Associations), a Luxembourg newspaper and in such media which may reasonably be expected to be relied upon for the effective dissemination of information to the public throughout the European Economic Area, and which are accessible rapidly and on a non-discriminatory basis, seventeen (17) days prior to the date of the reconvened meeting provided that (i) the first Meeting was properly convened; and (ii) the agenda for the reconvened Meeting does not include any new item.



The second meeting shall deliberate validly whatever the part of the corporate capital represented thereat.



At both meetings, resolutions, in order to be adopted, must be carried by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Votes cast shall not include votes attaching to shares in which the shareholder has not taken part in the vote or has abstained or has returned a blank or invalid vote.



Right to add new items on the agenda: One or more shareholders together representing at least five per cent of the share capital has the right to (i) put one or more items on the agenda of the Meeting and (ii) table draft resolutions for items included or to be included on the agenda of the Meeting.



Such requests must: be in writing and sent to the Company by post (at the following address: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg) or electronic means (at the following email address: generalmeetings@cpipg.com) and be accompanied by a justification or draft resolution to be adopted in the Meeting;

include the postal or electronic address at which the Company may acknowledge receipt of the requests;

be received by the Company at least twenty-two (22) days before the date of the Meeting, i.e. 8 May 2024. The Company shall acknowledge receipt of requests referred to above within (forty-eight) 48 hours from receipt. The Company shall prepare a revised agenda including such additional items on or before the fifteenth (15th) day before the date of the Meeting.



For further information, visit our website: www.cpipg.com.



If you need further assistance or information, please contact: CPI PROPERTY GROUP, 40, rue de la Vallee, L-2661 Luxembourg, Tel: + 352 26 47 67 58; Fax: + 352 26 47 67 67; email: generalmeetings@cpipg.com.



Luxembourg, 26 April 2024



Yours faithfully,

The Board of Directors of the Company



26.04.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "bb" (Fair) of Uzbekinvest Export-Import Insurance Company JSC (Uzbekinvest) (Uzbekistan).

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Uzbekinvest's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management.

The revision of the outlooks to stable from negative reflects improvement in the company's risk-adjusted capitalisation. This is due to increased sophistication of the company's exposure measurement of probable maximum loss. A revised assessment of the company's exposure to a 1-in-250 earthquake event, supported by third-party analysis, has resulted in a stronger Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR).

Uzbekinvest's balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by BCAR. AM Best expects the company's BCAR scores to remain above the minimum required for the strongest assessment level, with a sufficient buffer to absorb potential shock losses. In addition, the company has a relatively conservative investment allocation strategy, with approximately half of its investments held in bonds and other fixed income securities outside of Uzbekistan, which are predominantly of excellent credit quality. Offsetting factors include the company's relatively unsophisticated capital management capabilities.

The marginal operating performance assessment considers Uzbekinvest's high combined ratio, with a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average of 107.2%, as calculated by AM Best. Whilst the non-life loss ratio is low, overall underwriting results are negatively affected by Uzbekinvest's high expense base. For 2023, the underwriting results are expected to improve due to the company achieving greater economies of scale, combined with better results produced by its foreign book of business as compared with its domestic portfolio. However, the sustainability of these improvements is yet to be demonstrated.

Uzbekinvest's limited business profile assessment reflects its leading market position in the small, albeit growing, Uzbek insurance market and nascent competitive position in its overseas markets. Over the past three years, the company significantly grew its inward reinsurance portfolio, which accounted for more than 50% of gross written premium in 2023 and is primarily written outside of Uzbekistan. The company has since slowed the growth of its foreign portfolio, recognising the risks of international reinsurance market exposure.

Uzbekinvest is majority owned by the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The company's leading domestic market position and the relative independence of operations from the state mean that no lift or drag is applied to its ratings.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240426360173/en/

Contacts:

Stanislav Stoev, ACCA, CFA

Senior Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0306

stanislav.stoev@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Michael Dunckley, CFA

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0312

michael.dunckley@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 26

For immediate release

26 April 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 221,620 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 823.51 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 40,631,206; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 184,360,097.

The figure of 184,360,097may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Established gold producer Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) (OTCQB: AGLDF) (Austral or the Company) is pleased to advise that the following documents were dispatched to shareholders today for its Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 at 8:00am AEST in Sydney Australia:

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Shareholder proxy for shares traded on the ASX (where applicable)

Shareholder proxy for shares traded on the TSX.V (where applicable)

2023 Annual Report (to those shareholders who have requested a printed copy)

The Notice of Annual General Meeting and the two sample Proxy Forms will be available at http://www.asx.com.au, on the Company's website at www.australgold.com and on Sedar+ under the company's profile.

About Austral Gold

Austral Gold is a growing gold and silver mining producer building a portfolio of quality assets in the Americas based on three strategic pillars: production, exploration and equity investments. Austral continues to lay the foundation for its growth strategy by advancing its attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.australgold.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Release approved by the Company Secretary of Austral Gold, Chelsea Sheridan.

For additional information please contact:

Jose Bordogna

Chief Financial Officer

Austral Gold Limited

jose.bordogna@australgold.com

+61 466 892 307

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include include the Company's Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 at 8:00am AEST in Sydney Australia, and Austral continues to lay the foundation for its growth strategy by advancing its attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets.

All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, uncertainty of exploration programs, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets especially in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral resources and reserves and other risks and hazards related to the exploration of a mineral property, and the availability of capital. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206972

SOURCE: Austral Gold Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - World Copper Ltd. (TSXV: WCU) (OTCQB: WCUFF) (FSE: 7LY0) ("World Copper" or the "Company") reports that pursuant to their news releases dated February 27, 2024 and April 12, 2024, the Company has closed the final tranche of their non-brokered financing, issuing an additional 16,531,957 units for proceeds of $1,157,237. Aggregate totals from both tranches total 69,547,069 units for gross proceeds of $4,868,294.89.

Each unit consisted of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional share of the Company for a period of two years from the date of issuance at a price of $0.17 per share. The expiry of the Warrants may be accelerated if the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") is equal to or greater than $0.30 for a minimum of twenty consecutive trading days and a notice of acceleration is provided in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

The final tranche created a new Insider position, the Robert and Carole Kopple Grandchildren's Trust dated December 28, 2007, which constitutes a "related party transaction" as such term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements under MI 61- 101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

No finder's fees were payable pursuant to this tranche.

All securities issued in the Offering have a four-month plus one day hold period, during which time the securities may not be traded. Closing of the Offering is subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV.

The net proceeds from the Offering are intended for general working capital and development costs.

This press release does not constitute an offer of sale of any of the foregoing securities in the United States. None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT WORLD COPPER LTD.

World Copper Ltd., headquartered in Vancouver, BC, is a Canadian resource company focused on the exploration and development of its copper porphyry projects: Escalones and Cristal in Chile, and Zonia in Arizona. Two of these projects have estimated resources with significant soluble copper mineralization, and each has additional copper porphyry targets with exciting potential to expand the resource base.

Detailed information is available at World Copper's website at www.worldcopperltd.com, and for general Company updates you may follow us on our social media pages via Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WORLD COPPER LTD.

"Gordon Neal "

Gordon Neal

Chief Executive Officer and President

For further information, or to schedule a Zoom meeting with Management, please contact:

Gordon Neal or Michael Pound

Phone: 604-638-3287

E-mail: info@worldcopperltd.com

For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact:

Nancy Thompson

Vorticom, Inc.

Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053

Follow Us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldCopperLtd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldCopperLtd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldcopperltd

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained copper and precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, requirements for additional capital, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Escalones Project and the Cristal Project, the reasonability of the economic assumptions at the basis of the results of the PEA for the Zonia Project, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, future prices of copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in the Private Placement, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals (including acceptance of the Private Placement by the TSXV), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics, including the impact of an epidemic or pandemic on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as the risk factors described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and in other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

**NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES**

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/207045

SOURCE: World Copper Ltd.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I) ("E-Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Drysdale as interim Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company.

Mr. Drysdale is an experienced professional with international experience in the mineral and exploration industry. Currently serving as the CEO of Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) and a Director at E-Tech, he has previously served as the Kenyan Country Manager for Stockport Exploration, overseeing the operations for all aspects of its gold exploration and production activities throughout East Africa. Mr. Drysdale has a progressive and diverse background which extends across various mineral projects and the international capital markets.

"We are pleased that Chris has agreed to support the Company as its interim CEO. Through his current Board position of both the listed entity and its Namibian subsidiary, he has always played a fundamental role in the E-Tech operations," said Jim Megann, Board Chair. "His exceptional background in the Southern African resource sector and his residency in Namibia will bode well for the Company."

The Company thanks Todd Burlingame for his stewardship during his tenure with the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About E-Tech Resources Inc.

E-Tech is a rare earth exploration and development company focused on developing its Eureka Rare Earths Project in Namibia. The Eureka project is located approximately 250 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and 140 km east of Namibia's main industrial port Walvis Bay. The project is situated next to the national B1 highway in the Erongo Region of Namibia.

The Eureka deposit lies in the Southern Central Zone of the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt within Exclusive Prospecting License ("EPL") number EPL 6762, which covers farms Eureka 99 and Sukses 90.

Namibia is recognized as one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with an extremely well-established national infrastructure and a clear and transparent mining law.

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. E-Tech does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by securities laws applicable to E-Tech. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by E-Tech with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact Chris Drysdale, interim CEO of E-Tech Resources Inc., at +264 891 220 2439.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206977

SOURCE: E-Tech Resources Inc.
Arlington, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (TSXV: CTRL) (OTCQB: UNFYF) (FSE: Q5I) ("edgeTI", "Edge Technologies", "Company"), the provider of edgeCore, a leading real-time Digital Twins platform, announces that Ms. Fay Arjomandi has resigned from the board of directors of edgeTI effective April 25, 2024, to pursue other opportunities. edgeTI would like to thank Ms. Arjomandi for her contributions and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.

Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, edgeTI has appointed Ms. Carolyn Hollander as a director of the Company. Ms. Hollander is a global strategist responsible for developing and implementing growth paths with sector leadership, across all business spectrums. Ms. Hollander has dedicated her career to the field of federal government operations and technology industries. She has served at the U.S. Government and supported long-term programs for the military even when in industry. Ms. Hollander has worked globally to craft innovative solutions that bridge the gaps in military and Special Operations Forces settings; notably decades in defense systems, emphasizing cyber security; now recently in medical and humanitarian health arenas. Ms. Hollander holds a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, attended a Foreign Policy Semester at American University, and earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, California.

Furthermore, Mr. Nicholas Brigman has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Brigman will remain as Corporate Secretary of edgeTI. Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, edgeTI has appointed Ms. Sheri Rempel as the Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Rempel has over 25 years of accounting experience working with companies in the areas of real estate development, restaurant management, mining, general financial services, and software development. She specializes in the provision of accounting services to public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, and the Canadian Securities Exchange and to companies preparing to list on a Canadian stock exchange. In addition to providing accounting services to reporting issuers, she serves as Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and/or a director of several public companies in the mining, investment, and technology sectors.

ARO Consulting Inc., a company for which Ms. Rempel is the CEO of, and edgeTI have also entered into a consulting agreement dated April 9, 2024, pursuant to which, Ms. Rempel will provide edgeTI with services related to acting as Chief Financial Officer and other professional services. ARO Consulting Inc. will be paid a monthly fee of $11,250 CAD plus taxes and additional hourly fees, if applicable.

About edgeTI

edgeTI helps customers sustain situational awareness and accelerate action with its real-time digital operations software, edgeCore that unites multiple software applicates and data sources into one immersive experience called a Digital Twin. Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid journeys via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers can improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming siloed systems and data across continuously evolving situations in business, technology, and cross-domain operations - helping them achieve the impossible.

Website: https://edgeti.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/edgeti

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/edgetechnologies

Twitter: www.twitter.com/edge_suite

For more information, please contact:

Nick Brigman, Analyst and Press Relations

Phone: 888-771-3343

Email: ir@edgeti.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements or information for the purposes of applicable Canadian and US securities law. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market.

Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the competition and general economic, and market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Edge Total Intelligence Inc, April 26, 2024, 5:31 EST

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/207010

SOURCE: Edge Total Intelligence Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX:GMTN)(OTCQB:GMTNF)(FRA:5XFA) is pleased to announce that Hugh Behroozy has been appointed to its Board of Directors (the "Board") effective immediately.

Mr. Behroozy is an entrepreneur with experience funding and building businesses across a breadth of industries. Mr. Behroozy's background in systems integration, 3D modeling and artificial intelligence, which will support the company in further understanding the Elk project's ore-body and development of predictive modeling. Hugh will serve as an independent director and member of the company's audit committee.

About Gold Mountain

Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver production, exploration and development company focused on the development of the Elk Gold Mine, a producing mine located 57 kilometers from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's new website at www.gold-mountain.ca .

For more information, please contact:

Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

Ronald Woo, CEO

Email: IR@gold-mountain.ca

Website: www.gold-mountain.ca

Twitter: www.twitter.com/goldmtnmine

Forward-Looking Statements

This includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release and are not purely historical including any information relating to statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future and often, but not always, use words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold; and the results of current exploration. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Gold Mountain disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release.

SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands MH 96960, MH 96960, April 26th, 2024, Chainwire

A Glittering Moment: BloFin Shines at TOKEN2049

BloFin, a fastest-growing exchange platform, proudly announces its platinum sponsorship of TOKEN2049 Dubai and its exclusive SideEvent: WhalesNight AfterParty 2024.

Following our previous role as the Gold Sponsor at TOKEN2049 Singapore, the BloFin team, now the Platinum Sponsor of TOKEN2049, continues to shine on this stage with its enthusiasm and original dedication to contributing to the cryptocurrency industry.

BloFin successfully sponsored TOKEN2049 Dubai, which witnessed an extraordinary gathering of industry leaders, enthusiasts, KOLs, and innovators. Blofins participation in this prestigious event not only reaffirmed its commitment to fostering innovation within the blockchain ecosystem but also demonstrated its dedication to driving industry development forward.

An Unforgettable Night: WhalesNight AfterParty 2024

As part of the conference, BloFin hosted the highly anticipated WhalesNight AfterParty 2024, promising an unforgettable evening of networking and celebration.

Gratitude in Spotlight: Heartfelt Thanks to Valued Partners and Media

BloFin extends its gratitude to its esteemed media partners, including U.Today, BeInCrypto, CoinTelegraph MENA, Crypto.news and Chainwire, whose support has been instrumental in promoting this event. Additionally, BloFin appreciates the steadfast support and participation of its significant partners, KOLs, and attendees.

The Dubai Whales Night offers the BloFin team a valuable opportunity to meet with users and friends.

Matt, CEO of BloFin, shared his insights and expressed his excitement at the WhalesNight AfterParty. He stated We understand the importance of trust. We will continue to provide our users with safe, reliable, and fast services.

As we continue to expand our reach and enhance our offerings, Blofin remains steadfast in its mission to empower individuals and institutions to unlock the full potential of blockchain technology.

About BloFin:

As the fastest-growing crypto exchange, BloFin offers premium perps & futures trading services with over 320 USDT-M trading pairs and 100X trading volume. Now, it provides more high-quality products including spot trading, copy trading, earning, API access, and more. Ensuring utmost user fund security, BloFin has partnered with Fireblocks to safeguard users assets.

Contact

Head of Marketing and Public Relations

Annio Wu

BloFin

[email protected]
Victor Hugo Almeida (CEO of Investe Piaui, left), Rafael Tajra Fonteles (Governor of the State of Piaui, middle), Bart Biebuyck (CEO of Green Energy Park, right) signing the Series-A funding agreement in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Green Energy Park, a Sao Paulo, Brazil-based hydrogen production plant company, raised USD30M in an initial equity funding.

Backers were not disclosed. This initial funding round underscored the interest among a broad range of strategic partners, global offtakers, and financial institutions to commit the resources for building the world-scale hydrogen production and integrated port terminal facilities in Piaui, Brazil. The company has obtained the long-term rights to the hydrogen port terminal facilities in Luis Correia, Brazil.

Led by CEO Bart Biebuyck, Green Energy Park (GEP) is a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise that shares know-how, technologies, experience, and best practices between its global partners. The company was founded in 2023 with the purpose of producing renewable hydrogen in cost competitive locations with an initial focus on the North-East of Brazil. GEP will distribute its green fuels to offtakers in industry and transport with a mission to help decarbonize the hard-to-abate sectors of the economy.

Green Energy Park Piaui is the companys first hydrogen production plant, targeting 10.8 GW of electrolyzer capacity when fully built. The integrated hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production facilities feature some of the most advance process engineering designs from the liquified natural gas and ammonia business.

FinSMEs

26/04/2024
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing startups Bon Vivant Safety Eyewear Company, Inc. and Tioga Optical Lab QOZB, LLC, secured $830k in seed funding for the joint venture LENSRXLAB.

Founders Anthony B. Miles, US Navy Trident Nuclear Submarine Force Veteran and Dr. Chelise Firmin, Optometrist will develop two B2B Healthcare Delivery Platforms and a proprietary Advanced Lens Technology for Diabetics.

The funds will be used to go to market with their two B2B Healthcare Delivery Platforms at scale, production of inventory, hiring key staff and equity toward the build-out and automated production equipment for its 18,629-sf ground-up manufacturing facility to be built adjacent to Temple University Health Sciences Campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to service all 48 U.S. StatesAlaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa).

Their B2B offerings include LENSRXLABs online Supplemental Vision Benefits Platform for Diabetics. Tailored for Hospitals and Medical Clinics, Health Insurance Companies, Corporate Employers, Military/Veteran Organizations, Diabetic Care Centers, Health Programs, and Others, LENSRXLAB offers a new approach with its comprehensive all-in-one single vision, bifocal and progressive diabetic eyewear packages, ensuring accessibility for patients, service members, veterans, beneficiaries, and employees.

One new innovation by the duo is DiaVista, a proprietary advanced lens technology powered by Nirtech with 7 lights with UV + IR protection to be offered through both LENSRXLAB B2B platforms and globally through strategic partners.

LENSRXLAB is also planning to expand its offerings with new products, services, and programs, including The DiaVista Gift Voucher Pilot Program for Diabetic Vision Equity. This programs annual goal, with the support of corporate sponsors and donors, is to provide fully subsidized, specialized prescription diabetic eyewear packages with its proprietary DiaVista Advanced Lens Technology to over 20,000 low-income individuals, seniors, and veterans.

Additionally, they plan to introduce an advanced Computer Lens featuring blue light blocking technology to prevent eye strain from everyday digital devices.

Furthermore, they are launching an animated cartoon series called LENS LEGENDS, weaving together elements of adventure, humor, and education to entertain audiences of all ages while addressing various social determinants of health.

FinSMEs

26/04/2024
Pure Lithium, a Boston, MA-based lithium metal battery technology company, extended its Series A funding round.

Backers included Ivanhoe Capital and WS Investment Company, the investment fund of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company, which had announced the $15m Series A funding in March 2024, intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by CEO Emilie Bodoin and Donald R. Sadoway, Pure Lithium is advancing Brine to Battery extraction technology that improves the sources of lithium to create a battery-ready electrode in one day free of excess lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite.

Commenting on the news, Robert Friedland, Chairman of Ivanhoe Capital, said: Pure Lithium is poised to revolutionize the energy sector with groundbreaking battery and lithium extraction technology that redefines sustainability and efficiency. Their battery is crafted from abundant lithium and eliminates the need for scarce resources like nickel, cobalt, and graphite. By elegantly combining lithium extraction with novel battery technology, Pure Lithium delivers the highest performing lithium metal battery at the lowest cost.

FinSMEs

26/04/2024
Rosanna Arquette, Ashley Judd and Mina Sorvino were among those to speak out, as Weinsteins 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault was reversed by the citys highest court on Thursday read more

Hollywood stars, including multiple actresses who have accused Harvey Weinstein of assault, reacted with shock and outrage Thursday after the former movie producers New York sex crimes conviction was

overturned.

Rosanna Arquette, Ashley Judd and Mina Sorvino were among those to speak out, as Weinsteins 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault was reversed by the citys highest court on Thursday.

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Weinstein  who is also serving a separate 16-year rape sentence handed down in California  has been ordered to face a new trial in New York.

Here are some key reactions to the overturning of one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement:

Harvey was rightfully convicted. Its unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed  Rosanna Arquette, actress and Weinstein accuser, to The Hollywood Reporter.

This is unfair to survivors. We live in our truth. We know what happened  Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, via Instagram.

Horrified! Since when dont courts allow evidence of pattern of prior bad acts to be admitted? Hes a prolific serial predator who raped/harmed 200+women! Disgusted w/justice system skew twds predators not victims  Mina Sorvino, actress and Weinstein accuser, via X/Twitter.

Woke up to this news. I feel more than ever how important it is to keep breaking silence about sexual predators, and to keep supporting victims as they speak out  Katherine Kendall, actress and Weinstein accuser, via Instagram.

This is an ongoing failure of the justice system  and the courts  to take survivors seriously and to protect our interests. (Manhattan District Attorney Alvin) Bragg ran for office in 2021 because his predecessor failed so many of us. We expect him to pursue Weinstein now  Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, model and Weinstein accuser, via X/Twitter.

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WTF! The reversal of the conviction was determined by a SINGLE vote, by a majority female panel of judges, who in February held a searching public debate about the fairness of the trial. -@jodikantor https://t.co/M1D4q7fNsz  Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) April 25, 2024

Let this be a reminder how rigged the American judicial system is against women and survivors of sexual violence, and what it takes to prove your truth in this world  Amber Tamblyn, actress, via Instagram.

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They will never overturn who we are. Blessings to all who gave their all #spirit #courage #unity  Rose McGowan, actress and Weinstein accuser, via Instagram.

(T)his is a stark reminder that the criminal justice system is not set up to serve actual justice and that anyone insisting that me too is over or has gone too far needs to look at the actual state of the world  Sarah Ann Masse, actress and Weinstein accuser, via e-mail.

AFP
British Sikh lawyers have set up a new court in London as a dispute resolution forum for family and civil disputes within the community. It comprises around 30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most will be women. The court aims to deal with conflict in line with Sikh principles read more

British Sikhs have set up the world's first Sikh court in London. It will deal with disputes keeping in mind the principles of the community. Representational picture/Reuters

The 15th-century Old Hall in Lincolns Inn was filled with Sikh chants, echoing loud around the panelled walls, last Saturday.

Beneath portraits of Englands 17th-century judiciary, 46 Sikh magistrates and judges took an oath to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and integrity as prescribed by the teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Sikh faith, say media reports. Notably, most of them were women.

This was the launch event for the worlds first Sikh court in London. Heres everything we know about it.

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The founding of the Sikh court

The court was founded by Sikh lawyers who believe secular judges lacked the religious and cultural expertise required to resolve Sikh disputes. They believe the court will serve as an alternative dispute resolution forum for UK-based Sikhs involved in family or civil disputes, says Global Sikhs, a community blog.

The Sikh Court is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) based on a Med-Arb framework, a forum created by Sikh and non-Sikh lawyers and judges from around the world to resolve disputes within the Sikh community, said the Sikh court chief judge Baldip Singh, an international family law barrister at No 5 Chambers in London. He also serves as the chairman of the Sikhs in Law Association.

He stated that the initiative was intended to support the judicial system and collaborate in dealing with disputes that currently clog the ever-increasingly burdened judicial system and that with lengthy delays in listing, the UK courts were simply understaffed and under-resourced.

The initiative is intended to support the burden British judicial system and collaborate in dealing with disputes. Image used for representational purpose/Pixabay

The Sikh court is a good idea because it allows justice to reach more people, particularly those who cannot afford it because litigation is costly and not everyone has access, said Gurprit Kaur Mattu, a barrister from London-based law firm N05 Chambers, who has been appointed as one of the judges. Her sister, Amarjit Kaur, has been appointed as a magistrate in the Sikh court, reports Asia Samachar.

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If successful, the initiative could serve as a valuable model for Sikhs in other parts of the world looking to establish similar systems.

How the court will work

The new court will operate remotely and in person and will comprise around 30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most will be women. The magistrates will mediate between parties to negotiate a settlement and direct them to a course to help them work on specific issues, according to a report in The Times.

Created following discussions with Sikh charities, the courses would cover low-level domestic violence, anger management, gambling and substance misuse, and are available in Punjabi and English. If mediation is unsuccessful, a case can be brought in front of a Sikh court judge, who can give a legally binding judgment under the Arbitration Act, reports PTI.

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Baldip Singh said that under the rules of the new court both parties in a case would have to consent to participating.

If we think that there are really significant safeguarding issues that we cannot deal with and should not deal with they will be directed to the appropriate place. Were not here to take over and upset the English courts, said Sharan Bhachu, a barrister reportedly sworn in as the lead family judge for the new Sikh court last week.

One of the Sikh courts primary functions is to provide mediation and arbitration services to resolve civil and family disputes within the Sikh community, thereby reducing strain on court resources. Another potential advantage of the initiative is that it will value Sikh values in dispute resolution while also promoting inclusion.

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As the worlds first such court, this was Sikh history in the making and yet another expression of Sikh sovereignty. Though there were some objections, it was comforting to know that the entire project was carried out with the blessing/endorsement of Akaal Takht Amritsar, said Dr Gurnam Singh, professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick and an active columnist at Asia Samachar.

With inputs from PTI
Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of the grain rich in beta-carotene, a pigment that is converted to vitamin A in the body. A Philippines court recently ruled against its commercial propagation. Heres why read more

A court in the Philippines has ruled against the production of genetically modified (GM) golden rice for commercial purposes over safety concerns. The verdict also applies to GM eggplant, known as BT brinjal.

The Philippines became the first country worldwide to approve the commercial release of golden rice, locally called Malusog Rice, in 2021. However, there has been a long-standing debate over this beta-carotene-enriched variety of rice.

Lets understand.

Why was golden rice introduced?

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The Philippines green-lit golden rice to combat childhood blindness, reported the AFP news agency.

Golden rice has a bright yellow-orange colour which it gets from added beta-carotene, a pigment that is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is necessary for the functioning of your immune system, vision, reproductive health, and normal growth and development.

The rice variety was developed over two decades by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the news agency reported.

Vitamin A deficiency is a major worry in nations in the Global South, including the Philippines. Millions of Filipino children suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and experts hope golden rice would help tackle that, as per a Mongabay report.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), VAD causes about 500,000 cases of childhood blindness annually. Most of such incidents occur in developing nations, with half of kids dying within a year of losing their eyesight, reported AFP.

As per the IRRIs estimates, nearly 17 per cent of children below five years have vitamin A deficiency in the Philippines.

A scientist shows Golden Rice (L) and ordinary rice at the laboratory of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna south of Manila, on 14 August 2013. Reuters File Photo

Ordinary rice, which is the staple of crores of people around the world, especially in Asia, has beta-carotene in the plant but not in the grain. An IRRI researcher told AFP in 2021 that in golden rice, beta-carotene is produced in the grain.

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Food safety regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States confirmed golden rices safety for consumption, PhilRice reportedly said earlier. However, the grain has not been approved in these countries for commercial production.

In July 2021, golden rice was approved by biosecurity authorities in the Philippines for production and consumption. A year later, plating of the rice began in seven provinces.

ALSO READ: Vietnam farmers are reducing methane emissions by changing the way they grow rice. Heres how

Debate over golden rice

Not everyone is happy with the creation of genetically modified golden rice. The grain has faced opposition from small farmers in the Philippines and environmental groups who are against genetically altered food plants.

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In August 2013, over 400 farmers and advocates had stormed a test field for golden rice in Pili, a town in Camarines Sur province, southeast of the capital Manila.

We vehemently reject it as it will not serve any purpose for our welfare and our overall mission to holistically feed our community with safe, affordable, and adequate food, Fernando de Chavez, a spokesperson for the grassroots group SIKWAL GMO (meaning reject GMOs) told Mongabay last year.

There are concerns about golden rice over its potential impact on the environment, livelihoods of farmers and human health.

Agriculturists prepare to plant Golden Rice seedlings at a laboratory of the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna south of Manila, on 14 August 2013. Reuters File Photo

As per The New Indian Express (TNIE), critics of golden rice and BT brinjal have called for more sustainable, community-driven farming methods via farmer-led agroecology.

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However, proponents of golden rice say it is as safe as conventional rice and consuming it offers a potent and cost-effective strategy to combat VAD and the risks linked to the deficiency, reported Mongabay.

ALSO READ: What is GM mustard and what is the controversy surrounding it?

What has the Philippine court said?

The Court of Appeals in Manila revoked the biosafety permit for commercial production of golden rice granted by government regulators in 2021. This comes after 14 opponents, including Greenpeace, of the rice variety moved the court.

The courts ruling, issued on 17 April, reads, Considering the unmistakable importance of the constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology, especially in these times, we remind the government of its eminent duty to assiduously protect said right", reported Philippine News Agency.

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By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise, the court said, as per AFP.

It has asked the Philippines government to bolster the risk assessment for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The opponents have hailed the ruling.

This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops, Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement, according to the AFP report.

GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers.

However, the scientists involved in the creation of golden rice in the country maintain it is safe to eat. PhilRice executive director John de Leon said the institute was reviewing the implications of the ruling to respond accordingly, reported AFP.

As per TNIE, the verdict could be challenged by the government.

With inputs from agencies
A New York court has overturned disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinsteins sex crimes conviction. This highlights the constant struggle that #MeToo survivors have in courts  either their cases are dismissed or they drag on with little to no progress for years read more

Harvey Weinstein at a Manhattan courthouse in New York. New York's highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. File image/AP

That is unfair to survivors. We still live in our truth. And we know what happened. This is what its like to be a woman in America, living with male entitlement to our bodies, said Hollywood actor Ashley Judd shortly after a New York court overturned the rape conviction against Harvey Weinstein.

On Thursday, the MeToo movement suffered a massive jolt when the New York appeals court overturned the 2020 sex crime conviction against former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and ordered a new trial.

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In its judgment, the court in a majority opinion said: We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes.

The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial, it declared.

The decision to overturn the conviction of the once former Hollywood movie mogul marks a significant moment in the #MeToo battle; it reveals that as much as the court of public opinion has shifted in favour of victims of sexual harassment, in actual courts  be it in the US, India or China  where victims should be able to seek relief, not much has changed.

Harvey Weinsteins conviction overturned

Thursday came as a shock to many of the women who had accused Harvey Weinstein, now 72 years of age, of sexual harassment. It was in 2020 that their allegations and testimonies led a conviction of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape, and he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

However, four years later, the conviction has been overturned by The New York Court of Appeals in a 4-3 vote.

The ruling overturning Weinsteins conviction led to a range of reactions from those involved with the case. While Weinstein heaped praise on his legal team and was very gracious and very grateful, the women who had made the accusations were left disappointed and angry.

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The New York court overturned the Weinstein conviction in a 4-3 vote, stating that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes. File image/AP

Rosanna Arquette, who had made accusations against Weinstein, said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter: Harvey was rightfully convicted. Its unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed.

Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of raping her, said in a video statement: No matter what they overturn, they cannot take away who we are and what we know, what weve gone through and what we can achieve in this life. We are not victims. We are people that were injured by evil.

Katherine Kendall, who also accused Weinstein of harassment, said she was flabbergasted.

Advocacy groups also condemned the appeals decision. In a statement, the Silence Breakers, a group of people who publicly called out Weinsteins sexual misconduct, called the ruling profoundly unjust but added that it did not diminish the testimony of survivors.

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The man found guilty continues to serve time in a California prison. When survivors everywhere broke their silence in 2017, the world changed. We continue to stand strong and advocate for that change. We will continue to fight for justice for survivors everywhere, the group said.

Tarana Burke, credited as the founder of the #MeToo movement, said that moments like this underscore why movements are necessary.

MeToo cases in the US

The overturning of Weinsteins conviction is the second such high-profile incident in the US.

The famous comedian Bill Cosby was convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, but a Pennsylvania appeals court overturned the conviction in 2021, saying his due process rights were violated.

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The court had then overturned the decision, saying that Cosby was unfairly prosecuted because the previous district attorney had promised the comedian that he wouldnt be charged over the accusations. Cosby was charged by another prosecutor who claimed he wasnt bound by that agreement.

Bill Cosby welcomed outside his home after Pennsylvanias highest court overturned his sexual assault conviction and ordered his release from prison immediately, in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. File image/Reuters

The court had concluded that the prosecutor who later brought the charges was obligated to stick to the non-prosecution agreement, so the conviction cannot stand. The justices wrote that denying the defendant the benefit of that decision is an affront to fundamental fairness, particularly when it results in a criminal prosecution that was foregone for more than a decade.

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MeToo activists at the time had expressed their shock and disgust at the decision with actor Amber Tamblyn, a founder of Times Up, an advocacy group for sex-crime victims, saying: I personally know women who this man drugged and raped while unconscious. Shame on the court and this decision.

Activists, in fact, note that the #MeToo cases in the US has seen a mix of success. While changing popular opinion, not much has changed in courts. Ever since #MeToo first gripped the public in October 2017, most of the cases have been settled or dismissed.

In most #MeToo cases, the abused refrain from the legal route owing to the many perils involved. File image/Reuters

For instance, the 2018 case in which a female sales representative sued her employer after a business trip with a male co-worker took an unwelcome turn. The co-worker repeatedly made sexual advances over the womans objections, insinuated that they should skinny-dip together, and went into her hotel room and crawled into her bed, saying she needed a cuddle buddy.

He eventually left, but continued to knock on the door of the womans hotel room throughout the night. After the woman reported the behaviour to her supervisor, her company determined no discipline was necessary. When the case made its way to court, the judge determined that this was not sexual harassment, because a reasonable person should have the thick skin that comes from living in the modern world.

However, this is not to say that all women who have knocked on the doors of the US judiciary have been unheard. There are number of instances when women have complained of sexual harassment at the workplace and have received justice.

#MeToo cases, the courts, and the world

And its not just the US. In China, in 2021, one of the most prominent #MeToo cases concluded when a Beijing court ruled that it could not determine whether sexual harassment occurred. The case pertained to Zhou Xiaoxuan who had alleged that Zhu Jun, a well-known television anchor, groped and forcibly kissed her in 2014 in a dressing room at CCTV, Chinas state broadcaster, where she was briefly an intern. In court, she had asked for a public apology as well as RMB50,000 ($7,600) in damages.

Zhou Xiaoxuan, also known by her online name Xianzi, arrives at a court for a sexual harassment case involving a Chinese state TV host, in Beijing, China. She lost the case when the court ruled that it could not determine whether sexual harassment occurred. File image/AP

The same situation can be seen in India too. In 2018, a former junior staffer levelled allegations against then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. In a sworn affidavit, the employee alleged that Gogoi had sexually harassed her, an accusation he denied.

At first, Gogoi chaired a special session of the Supreme Court where he denounced the allegations. Later, an informal committee of three judges was set up to examine the allegations. Later, the court announced that the panel had found no substance to the womans allegations and that its report would remain secret.

Perils of legal route in #MeToo cases

In most #MeToo cases, the abused refrain from the legal route owing to the many perils involved. In India, legal experts note that one of the many reasons why the women choose silence over justice is because of the threat of a defamation suit.

As Karuna Nundy, a Supreme Court advocate, told The Quint: First thing that happens is when a woman speaks up. You may have a defamation case or a legal notice sent to the survivor by the accused, even before she files a complaint at the police station.

New Delhi: MJ Akbar, who resigned as Union minister, had filed a private criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani who had levelled charges of sexual misconduct against him as the #MeToo campaign raged in India. File image/PTI

For instance, the Priya Ramani vs MJ Akbar matter. Ramani, a journalist, was slapped with a defamation case by the former Union minister after she levelled allegations against him. While a Delhi court ruled in favour of Ramani, the matter is still languishing in the Delhi High Court.

And thats not all. When a complainant chooses to file a case, in many cases, the police wont take it seriously.

Moreover, the legal route is long and tiring. Sexual harassment cases can last a long, long time. Senior Advocate Rabecca John tells The Quint: It can take forever. Adding that, There are many cases in court which have been going on for six, seven, eight and nine years and are nowhere near completion. Which woman wants to put her life on hold for so long,? she said.

It is these factors that make going to court a daunting task.

When this will change, is unknown. But until then, victims of sexual harassment have a tough choice: approach the courts and hope for justice, and pray that the conviction is not overturned. Or suffer the trauma quietly at home.

With inputs from agencies
Harvey Weinstein was one of Hollywoods most influential personalities. But his fortunes changed in 2017 when The New York Times and New Yorker published reports detailing decades of allegations of sexual harassment by him. New Yorks highest court might have overturned Weinsteins 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault, but he remains an outcast read more

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California, US. New York's highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. File image/AP

Harvey Weinstein was once known as Hollywoods kingmaker. The former producer is credited for transforming the independent film world with Oscar-winning films like Shakespeare in Love and The English Patient. Pulp Fiction, financed by his studio Marixmax, was his breakout hit.

Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob built an empire, first with Miramax, and later The Weinstein Company. It seemed untouchable. But that all changed in October 2017.

The New York Times and New Yorker published stories revealing decades of allegations of sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein. Among the women who came forward with actresses as the case unravelled were Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Kate Beckinsale, and Angelina Jolie. Over 80 women in Hollywood accused him of sexual assault and rape.

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The confessions became the driving force behind the #MeToo movement, the largest global awareness campaign against sexual harassment and workplace abuse of women. It resulted in a huge outpouring of accounts of the kind of sexual abuse and routine harassment that women around the world endure  on movie sets, on the street, in the office, on public transport.

However, the so-called Weinstein affair, a watershed moment in the fight against sexual violence, took an unexpected turn on Thursday when New Yorks highest court overturned his 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault. It claimed he did not receive a fair trial, citing concerns that testimony provided by women who had not brought cases against the producer could have influenced the jurys decision.

Heres what we know about the downfall of one of Hollywoods most powerful personalities.

Pariah overnight

The Pulp Fiction producer with a knack for making Oscar-winning movies had been three years into his 23-year sentence. He now faces a possible retrial.

Last year, he was sentenced to a further 16 years in prison in Los Angeles for the 2013 rape of an actress there, to be served after his first sentence.

Tarana Burke, founder and leader of the #MeToo movement, marches with others at the #MeToo March in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. The movement resulted in a huge outpouring of accounts of the kind of sexual abuse and routine harassment that women faced around the world endure. File image/AP

Weinsteins 2020 sentencing capped a sensational downfall for Weinstein, almost three years after The New York Times and The New Yorker in October 2017 published the first allegations against him, turning him into a pariah overnight.

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Nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, have since come forward alleging 40 years of predatory behaviour by Weinstein.

Once the darling of film festivals such as Cannes and Sundance, Weinstein was quickly expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the institution that awards the Oscars.

The one-time Democratic Party donor, who hobnobbed with Hillary Clinton, disappeared from public life, surfacing occasionally from reported sex addiction treatment, his name toxic and his reputation in tatters.

The first conviction

In May 2018 images of him arriving at court in handcuffs to face charges of predatory sexual assault were beamed around the world.

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He maintained that all his sexual relationships were consensual but was convicted in 2020 of forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and of raping ex-actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

Weinstein, in a wheelchair following heart surgery and considerably lighter than the 136 kilogrammes he carried at the height of his success, appeared unrepentant.

In their decision Thursday, the New York judges cited errors in the way that the trial had been conducted, including admitting the testimony of women who were not part of the charges against Weinstein. File image/Reuters

Im totally confused, he said, suggesting he was a victim of the #MeToo movement. I was the first example and now there are thousands of men being accused. Im worried about this country.

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In their decision Thursday, the New York judges cited errors in the way that the trial had been conducted, including admitting the testimony of women who were not part of the charges against him.

A tumbling of fortunes

Born in Queens, New York, on 19 March 1952, the son of a diamond cutter, Weinstein studied at Buffalo University and initially produced rock concerts until he and his younger brother Bob went into the movie business.

They co-founded Miramax Films, a small distribution company named after their mother Miriam and father Max, in 1979.

Their hits included 1998s Shakespeare in Love, for which Weinstein shared a best picture Oscar. The company was sold to Disney in 1993 and the brothers left in 2005 to start up The Weinstein Company.

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Over the years, Weinsteins films received more than 300 Oscar nominations and 81 statuettes.

The movies he steered to Academy Awards glory include The Artist, The Kings Speech and The Iron Lady  which won best actress for Streep as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Through it all, the burly executive was famous for his hard-nosed approach to work and toward Oscars campaigns. He was nicknamed Harvey Scissorhands for his aggressive editing of movies.

He once had a personal fortune estimated at $150 million (Rs 1,250 crore) but it evaporated following his downfall.

The Weinstein Company was declared bankrupt in March 2018 under an avalanche of lawsuits related to sexual misconduct claims.

Prosecutors at his initial trial said Weinstein has sold five properties totalling $60 million (Rs 499 crore) in the last two years to pay legal fees and support his two ex-wives.

The second, English fashion designer Georgina Chapman, divorced him following the scandal.

Weinstein spent ten days in hospital following his conviction after complaining of chest pains and had a stent installed.

With inputs from AFP
More than 20,000 non-resident Indians (NRIs) have flown to Kerala to vote in the second phase of general elections on Friday. However, travelling back to India just for polling is expensive and not everyone can afford it. Heres the other option they have read more

A polling official puts indelible ink mark on the index finger of woman during the second round of voting in the six-week-long national election in Morigaon district, about 77km from Guwahati, on 26 April 2024. AP

India is holding the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections today (26 Friday). Voting is underway in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories.

Electors in all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura are casting their ballots to decide the fate of over 1,200 candidates.

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Several overseas Indians have flown to Kerala to take part in the electoral exercise. But is there a provision for non-resident Indians (NRIs) to cast their votes from abroad?

Lets take a closer look.

Who are overseas voters?

An overseas elector is a person who is an Indian citizen and has not acquired citizenship of another country, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI). They are absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education.

An NRI can enrol as a voter in the constituency where their Indian residence, as listed in their passports, is located, as per the ECI.

Overseas electors also have to keep the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) informed in case of a change of their residential address abroad.

A woman holds her baby and stands in queue to cast her vote in a polling station on the bank of the Brahmaputra river during the second round of voting in the six-week-long national election in Morigaon district, Assam, on 26 April 2024. AP

How can NRIs register as a voters?

NRIs were not eligible to vote in Indian elections before 2010. The government amended the Representation of the People Act that year to allow NRIs who had lived abroad for over six months to vote.

Overseas Indians have to fill out Form 6A to enrol as an elector. They can go to the ECIs website and click on the Electors section.

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The NRI will find Form 6A in the Forms section. Click on New registration for overseas (NRI) electors in this section.

After logging in, they can fill out the form and upload the required documents, including self-attested copies of their passport containing their addresses in India and a valid visa endorsement. NRIs should also keep their colour passport-sized picture handy while filling out the form.

Once the form is submitted, the verification process will kick-start. Booth-level authorities will visit the residents addresses mentioned on the passport and verify the copies of the submitted documents.

If there is any need to correct the electoral roll, voters can fill and submit Form 8.

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The ERO will let the applicant know about their decision via post to the provided address and SMS to the mobile number mentioned in Form 6A.

Electoral rolls can be accessed through the Chief Electoral Officers website.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: How to cast a vote if you live in a different city?

Can NRIs cast votes from abroad?

After the voter is registered, NRIs are eligible to cast their ballots. However, they are not issued an Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or Voter ID Card and have to be physically present at their constituencies to vote.

As per an India Today report, over 22,000 NRIs reached Kerala ahead of the polling day on Friday to exercise their franchise. About 12 chartered flights were booked to fly them for the voting day.

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According to the states Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala has 89,839 registered NRI voters.

More than 118,000 overseas Indians registered to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Of these, 74.9 per cent of NRIs are from Kerala, Business Standard reported citing a state-wise analysis of data from the ECI.

Around 6.4 per cent of overseas voters are from Andhra Pradesh, 4.7 per cent from Maharashtra and 2.9 per cent each from Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

People line up to vote during the second phase of the general elections, at Bengaluru, in Karnataka, on 26 April 2024. Reuters

Is there a need for reform?

NRIs got voting rights in 2011. As per a United Nations 2015 report, India has a diaspora population of 16 million (1.6 crore), the largest in the world.

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Overseas Indians who registered to vote in general elections this year has gone up, compared to 2014 when 12,000 NRIs were enrolled as eligible voters.

While some NRIs travel to India to cast their votes in elections, it is expensive and not everyone can afford it.

The poll body has been looking at ways to ensure voting rights to overseas electors since 2020. There were discussions to provide them postal ballots to cast their votes. A bill to facilitate proxy voting by NRIs was proposed but it lapsed.

Overseas voters are calling for measures to allow them online voting so that they can exercise their franchise from abroad.

I am one of those few people who have retained their Indian citizenship as I believe strongly in this identity which is also why I ensure I cast my vote. Its also a great way to catch up on political discussions with friends and family. But yes, I do wish we had an online voting system for NRIs. Britain has it for its voters abroad, dont see why its not happening for Indians abroad, Dr Dhananjay Singh, a doctor in the United Kingdom, told Indian Express.

With inputs from agencies
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The NIA arrested Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in the UK, in connection with the attack at the Indian High Commission in London in March last year. The attack was in retaliation to the action taken by the Punjab Police against pro-Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, the anti-terror agency said read more

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said they have arrested a UK resident in connection with the attack at the Indian High Commission in London in March last year.

The attack was in retaliation to the action taken by the Punjab Police against pro-Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, the anti-terror agency said.

Heres a quick look at what we know about the arrest and the attack.

Also read: Beyond Canada: How Khalistani threat is growing in US, UK and Australia

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UK resident arrested in Indian Embassy attack

The NIA arrested Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in the United Kingdom, for unlawful activities during the protests on 22 March 2023.

According to The Print, Gaba, who hails from Afghanistan, ran a grocery, liquor, and tobacco shop called Strawberry Local Group Ltd in Greater London. He came to India last year in December, after he visited neighbouring Pakistan, as per the report. A lookout circular was also issued against him to stop him from travelling back to the UK.

NIA investigations in the case so far have revealed that the incidents in London on 19 and 22 March last year were parts of a larger conspiracy to unleash vicious attacks on the Indian missions and its officials, a statement from the NIA said.

The anti-terror agency took over the probe in April last year from the Delhi Police and a team visited London to get details of the case and interacted with officials of Scotland Yard, according to ANI.

They procured five videos and later released them, seeking help from the general public in identifying individuals involved in the violent protests. The videos showed people gathering outside the Indian High Commission in London and subsequently indulging in violence.

Pro-Khalistani protestors tried to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London. FILE/AP

The agency received around 850 calls in response, as per the Indian Express report which cited its sources as saying. The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the immigration department also helped in the identification of the suspects.

The Indian High Commission in London was attacked in March last year by a group of about 50 people, who grabbed the tricolour flying atop the building and waved separatist Khalistani flags while chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, ANI reported.

A case was lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act soon after the incident. In the FIR by an officer of the High Commission, as per Indian Express, the orchestrators of the attack were identified as Gurcharan Singh of Dal Khalsa, UK; Avtar Singh Khanda from the Khalistan Liberation Force; and Jasvir Singh. Khanda died in Birmingham in June and the NIA is in touch with the concerned department to get his death certificate for their case file, Indian Express quoted an official.

After the protests, according to NDTV, the Indian community organised a gathering outside the High Commission against the desecration of the Indian flag and demanded strict action against those responsible.

The Ministry of External Affairs also summoned the UKs top diplomat in Delhi and demanded an explanation for the absence of security at the embassy.

The Ministry further questioned the UK governments indifference to Indian diplomats and said that personnel was unacceptable, the report said.

With inputs from agencies
Saw Chit Thu controls trade worth $1 billion in the crucial border town of Myawaddy in Myanmar, which is witnessing a power struggle between resistance fighters and junta forces. The warlord with around 8,000 armed militia is not taking sides read more

Saw Chit Thu has 8,000 armed militia which neither sides with the army-led junta nor with the rebels. Image courtesy: Karen Information Centre

As resistance fighters and junta forces clash in Myanmars vital border town of Myawaddy, one man is dictating the flow of trade worth $1 billion  warlord Saw Chit Thu.

The warlord with around 8,000 armed militia is siding neither with the junta nor the rebels. Under Saw Chit Thus leadership, the Karen National Army (KNA) has established a longstanding presence in the area bordering Thailand.

The region has emerged as a crucial battleground amid escalating resistance against the junta.

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But who is the warlord? How did he rise to power?

Lets take a closer look:

Saw Chit Thus militia emerged around 2010 from a faction of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union. It allied with Myanmars military to confront opponents of the junta in the southeastern highlands, predominantly inhabited by the Karen ethnic group.

Around 2010, Saw Chit Thus militia allied with Myanmars military to confront those opposing the junta in the southern highlands. Reuters

By 2017, the warlord became involved in the construction of Shwe Kokko, a Special Economic Zone along the Thai-Myanmar border. The project which rapidly grew became a centre for crime and gambling backed by Chinese-origin gangs.

Gambling is illegal in mainland China and online gaming operators, mostly targeting Chinese gamblers, have flourished in parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, in recent years.

Shwe Kokko expanded rapidly, satellite images show, transforming within decades from a largely barren tract of riverside land into a sprawling settlement of low-rise and multi-storied buildings. It earned the KNA around $190 million a year, analysts were quoted as saying in the Reuters report.

The dozens of scam centres established in Karen State by Chinese-led crime networks have grown visibly along the Thai border since the compounds on the Chinese frontier shut down, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) think-tank reported in April.

Chit Thu has remained focused on reinforcing his crime empire and ensuring that it retains access to key support services, such as security, communications connectivity and electricity.

Britain imposed sanctions on the warlord in 2023, for serious violations of human rights, accusing him of involvement in trafficking of individuals. Taken to Shwe Kokko, they were forced to work as scammers and subject to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, the sanctions notice issued in December said.

Despite his influence in the region, Saw Chit Thus connection to Myanmars military rulers was apparent, as demonstrated by his receipt of an honorary title for outstanding performance from junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing in November 2022.

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The recognition bolstered his standing and influence within the political landscape.

So, what changed?

Early in April 2023, Myawaddy became the frontline as resistance fighters led by the KNU, one of Myanmars oldest ethnic armies, pushed into the area and dislodged hundreds of junta troops from their bases.

But tables turned in January when the KNA, once entirely loyal to the junta, stood aside after Saw Chit Thu declared that the militia (previously known as the Border Guard Force) would stop accepting salaries and rations from the military.

We do not want to fight among our Karen people, he had told the media.

KNAs status as being neither entirely loyal to the junta nor pledging alliance with the rebels has now thrust it into the spotlight.

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Fighting had flared as recently as Saturday in Myawaddy, forcing 3,000 civilians to flee in a single day as rebels fought to flush out stranded Myanmar government troops holed up at a border bridge crossing.

The military, which retains significant firepower, mounted a counteroffensive for the town, forcing a temporary retreat from Myawaddy by KNU resistance forces along the Thai border, an official announced on Wednesday.

Thailand said the fighting had eased and it hoped to re-open its border crossing as trade had been hit. It said most civilians had returned and 650 remained.

KNLA troops willdestroy the junta troops and their backup troops who marched to Myawaddy, said spokesperson Saw Taw Nee who did not clarify what the armys next move would be.

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It was the support of Saw Chit Thus KNA militia that enabled the return of some junta troops to Myawaddy, Saw Taw Nee added.

With inputs from Reuters
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission on a plea calling for fresh elections in a constituency where the none of the above option on the EVM gets the maximum votes. NOTA was first introduced in 2013 to empower the electors to express their negative opinions about the running candidates read more

Voters have the option to select NOTA while casting their ballot. Reuters (Representational Image)

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea calling for fresh elections if the none of the above (NOTA) option gets maximum votes. A petition was filed by writer and motivational speaker Shiv Khera seeking directions to declare polls in a constituency null and void where most electors choose NOTA.

The plea also sought to bar candidates, who lost to NOTA, from contesting the elections for five years. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, on Friday (26 April) asked the poll body to analyse the rules around NOTA, reported NDTV.

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What is NOTA? Why was it introduced? What happens if NOTA gets the maximum votes? Lets take a closer look.

Whats NOTA?

Voters have the option to select the NOTA option on the electronic voting machine (EVM) if they do not like any of the candidates fighting election from their constituency.

NOTA empowers the electors to express their negative opinions and a lack of support for the contenders. It gives them the right to reject while maintaining the secrecy of their decision.

The button for NOTA is available at the bottom of all the EVMs.

The NOTA option is present at the bottom of the EVMs. PTI File Photo

Even before EVMs were brought, electors had the option to not vote for any candidate. As per an Economic Times (ET) report, when polling was carried out through ballot papers, voters had the option to put the ballot paper without marking against any candidate.

Rule 49-O of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, states, If an elector after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.

After the EVMs came, there was no requirement to file Form 49-O or get the presiding officers permission, ET reported.

Why was NOTA introduced?

In September 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of including the none of the above option in ballots, mandating the ECI to incorporate a button for NOTA in all EVMs.

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Negative voting will lead to a systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates. If the right to vote is a statutory right, then the right to reject a candidate is a fundamental right of speech and expression under the Constitution, a bench headed by the then CJI P Sathasivam said at the time, as per News18.

This was aimed to bring greater participation in the electoral exercise. The top court order mentioned that the inclusion of NOTA would compel political parties to nominate better candidates, reported India Today.

NOTA was first available during the Assembly elections in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh in 2013.

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ALSO READ: 75% registered NRI voters in Kerala: Do they have to fly to India or can they vote from abroad?

What happens if NOTA gets the most votes?

NOTA does not hold any arithmetic value in the final tally. As India Today noted, the option gives the voters the right to reject without directly affecting the electoral outcome.

In case the NOTA option gets the most polled votes, it does not lead to re-polling and the candidate with the second-highest number of votes is declared the winner.

The Election Commission says, Even if, in any extreme case, the number of votes against NOTA is more than the number of votes secured by the candidates, the candidate who secures the largest number of votes among the contesting candidates shall be declared to be elected.

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A woman gets her finger ink marked as she prepares to vote at a polling station, during the second phase of the general elections, at Bengaluru, in Karnataka, on 26 April 2024. Reuters

What does the plea in the Supreme Court say?

The petition has sought directions for the ECI to frame rules around NOTA and called for reporting and publicising NOTA as a fictional candidate.

The option of NOTA in the Electronic Voting Machines is the result of right to reject possessed by the voter in our electoral system NOTA is seen as a right to reject belonging to the citizen in the present dispensation, the petition says, as per India Today.

The petitioner Khera stated that the idea behind NOTA was to press parties to field better candidates. There continue to be instances when almost all candidates in a constituency have had pending criminal cases. What does a voter do? NOTA is a potent weapon in the hands of the voter.

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Representing the petitioner, senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan brought up the recent case of Surat where a BJP candidate was declared the winner without polling as the nomination of the Congress candidate was rejected and the other candidates withdrew from the contest.

The petitioner stressed that the election should still be held even if there is just one candidate in the fray, adding that people should have the option to vote for NOTA.

Issuing a notice to the poll body, the Supreme Court said: This is about the electoral process also. Let us see what the Election Commission has to say on this.

The development comes as India is currently organising the worlds largest general election.

With inputs from agencies
Though billionaire Uday Kotak may have lost Rs 10,000 crore in a day after the Reserve Bank of India placed curbs on Kotak Mahindra Bank, some claim to have made huge profits by exercising the put option via short contracts. But what is it? How does it work? read more

A put option is a contract that allows the buyer to sell or sell short a share at a prearranged price within a given period. They increase in value as the stock or asset declines in price. PTI

Though billionaire Uday Kotak may have lost Rs 10,000 crore in a day after the Reserve Bank of India placed curbs on Kotak Mahindra Bank, some others seem to have made bank.

Like some enterprising traders who seemingly exercised the put option.

But what is the put option? And how did the traders mint money?

Lets take a closer look:

What is it?

According to Investopedia, a put option is a contract that allows the buyer to sell or sell short a share at a prearranged price within a given period.

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This price is known as the strike price.

Those put options can be exercised on stocks, currencies, bonds, commodities, futures, and indexes.

They essentially increase in value as the stock or asset declines in price.

However, they decrease in value if the stock or asset increases in price.

As per NDTV, these contracts expire on the final Thursday of every month.

A call option, which gives a trader the right to buy an asset, is the opposite of a put option.

NDTV quoted X user OptionsAlgos-Quanta as showing a trading chart on Friday to claim that an insider bought several lots of Kotak Bank for Rs 1,000 through the put option.

The handle claimed that the trader would have made profits of around  20 lakh.

Some insider bought 18 lots of kotak bank yesterday at 3:11 pm



His investment would have been hardly 1k inr



He would make 20L inr of profits today#StockMarketindia#stockmarkets#kotakbank pic.twitter.com/6uMndTppLp  OptionsAlgos-Quant (@chaitukr08) April 25, 2024

Other persons on social media made similar claims about huge profits.

A kotak put option up by 1 lakh + %@jitendrajain injection pro max pic.twitter.com/kMjL74qdcj  Eshwar Vemala (@eshwarvs) April 25, 2024

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Moneycontrol reported that short contracts that expired today appreciated between 104 per cent and a whopping 71,600 percent.

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It said KOTAKBANK APR 1700 PE rose from 20 paise closing yesterday to Rs 60 today (29,900 per cent), KOTAKBANK APR 1660 went from 5 paise yesterday to Rs 17.05 closing today (34,000 per cent) and KOTAKBANK APR 1680 PE rose from its 5 paise closing yesterday to Rs 35.85 closing today (71,600 per cent).

A veteran trader explained to Moneycontrol that though the price appreciation looks unusual, given the underlying price movement and that the announcement came close to expiry it really isnt.

All option premiums become zero on expiry and therefore many of these options would have been trading at 5 paise and 10 paise yesterday. Therefore, given that the stock price fell so sharply today and that the base (option premium) from yesterday was so low, the appreciation would look high, the trader said.

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The Reserve Bank of India has halted KMB from onboarding new customers through online and mobile portals as well as ordered it to stop issuing fresh credit cards. News18

All of the options that appreciated by 10,000 per cent and above were priced between 5 paise and Rs 1.55 at yesterdays closing, as per Moneycontrol.

The Reserve Bank of India has halted KMB from onboarding new customers through online and mobile portals as well as ordered it to stop issuing fresh credit cards.

The RBI in a statement said it took action under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as serious deficiencies and non-compliances were observed in the areas of IT inventory management, patch and change management, user access management, vendor risk management, data security and data leak prevention strategy, business continuity and disaster recovery rigour and drill, etc.

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Kotak, responding to the central banks action, said KMB had acted swiftly with regards to adoption of new technologies to strengthen its IT systems and will continue to work with RBI to swiftly resolve balance issues at the earliest.

With inputs from agencies
A year after they were arrested, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry have been charged with spying for China. We explain how they allegedly infiltrated the UK parliament that unveils a recurring pattern of Chinese espionage across Europe, where spies cosy up to politicians to sway policies and steal crucial intelligence read more

Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were arrested in March 2023, accused of being Chinese spies. Now, over a year later, the two have been formally charged with espionage. Their appearance at the Westminster Magistrates Court is slated to take place on Friday.

Cash had allegedly infiltrated the UK Parliament.

We explain how Cash did this, and look at how a similar pattern of Chinese espionage all across Europe.

Chris Cash allegedly collected, recorded, and communicated materials that could benefit China. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay

Infiltrating from within

Cash, a parliamentary researcher, and Berry, an academic, were apprehended as part of an operation probing into their activities linked to Chinese espionage on March 13, 2023. Since then, he has been under scrutiny by the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

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Now, Cash has been charged under the Official Secrets Act for purportedly providing sensitive information to a foreign state, China. How exactly Cash spied for China is unclear.

Cash used to work at China Research Group (CRG), which describes itself as a group set up by UK MPs to promote fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of China. The CRG was initially chaired by Tom Tugendhat, currently the Minister of State for Security in the UK, and then by Alicia Kearns.

Kearns, a Conservative who serves as the foreign affairs committee chair, employed Cash as a researcher. Through this position, he gained significant access within parliamentary circles (including close access to Tugendhat).

Although Cash (and Berry) did not have security clearances, they both possessed parliamentary passes. Cash has been accused of of obtaining, collecting, recording, publishing, or communicating materials from January 20, 2022, to February 3, 2023, that could be beneficial to a foreign adversary.

Nick Price, head of the CPSs special crime and counter-terrorism division, emphasised the gravity and complexity of the case, noting the close collaboration between law enforcement and the CPS as they worked to unravel the extent of the espionage activities.

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Similar Chinese espionage tactics is Europe

The allegations against Cash and Berry fit a broader pattern of Chinese espionage tactics in Europe, often involving individuals getting close to right-wing, especially far-right political entities, to either influence policy or gather critical intelligence.

Earlier this week, in Germany, a similar case emerged with the arrest of Jian G., accused of relaying information from European Union legislative discussions to Chinese intelligence. Jian G. was associated with Maximilian Krah, a lead candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The party, which has a reputation for being pro-China and pro-Russia. Due to this, the AfD has come under fire. One reason why Germany is a focus of Russian and Chinese spying is the existence of a right-wing extremist party  that is prepared eagerly to take up every narrative from China and Russia and spread it, AP cited Konstantin Kuhle of the Free Democrats, one of the parties in the coalition government, as saying.

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In December last year, Belgian authorities had also voiced concerns, with Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo labelling China as sometimes very hostile. Belgiums focus came after allegations that Frank Creyelman, a member of the far-right Vlaams Belang, had been recruited by Chinese intelligence to influence European discourse on sensitive topics like Hong Kong and the Uyghurs.

According to an investigation by media outlets like Financial Times, Daniel Woo, an officer in the Chinese Ministry of State Security, persuaded Creyelman to persuade two right-wing members of the European Parliament to publicly accuse the US and UK of undermining European energy security.

So far, why the Chinese are allegedly targeting right-wing parties and members for spying and influencing remains unknown.

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The mounting espionage threat

The pattern of espionage activities linked to China has caused unease across Western Europe, with intelligence agencies sounding alarms over increased state-backed hacking and covert operations. As Western nations grapple with these espionage threats, the spotlight intensifies on the safeguards within their political and security frameworks to counteract such infiltrations effectively.

There is much public interest around Cash and Berry ahead of their day in court. In the meanwhile, their case, and others like them, remind governments across Europe about the broad reach of the Chinese espionage network. Apart from this, perhaps a look at domestic political vulnerabilities and the robustness of counter-espionage measure is also overdue in these places.

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With inputs from agencies
The US is temporarily moving troops out of Chad. Niger, too, has asked Washington to withdraw its military personnel from the country. But its not just the US. In recent years, the Wests military influence in the region seems to be waning. We explain how it has affected the geopolitical landscape in Africa read more

US has been asked to withdraw its troops from Niger and Chad by the junta governments there. AP

The United States is looking to withdraw its troops from Chad, a landlocked nation in the Sahel region of Africa. The move is temporary. But that does not mean it is insignificant.

It points to a trend of the Wests waning military influence in Africa, and especially in the Sahel region. Withdrawal of French and American troops from various countries is a testament to this.

We explain what the trend has been, what has spurred it off, and how Russia and Iran have become embroiled in this war for greater military influence in the resource-rich continent.

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US troops to withdraw from Chad

Earlier this month, Chads air force chief demanded a halt to US operations at an airbase near NDjamena. On Thursday, US officials said that they were planning to move their troops out of the country temporarily.

This development marked a cooling of US relations with Chad, which has been a crucial partner in the fight against Islamist insurgency in West Africa.

Chads move is yet another sign of the waning military influence of the West in the region. This is a very noticeable trend.

A trend of decreasing military influence

Recent shifts in Western military influence in Africa have become evident through significant troop withdrawals by the US and France.

In Niger, after a coup that ousted the president last year, the new military junta terminated a military cooperation agreement with the US. That meant that the US is getting kicked out of a country that houses one of its most important bases in Africa.

In fact, roughly 1,000 US troops are to withdraw from the country in a couple of months.

Niger has already kicked out French troops. Paris concluded its military operations in the West African country in December 2023. It was an abrupt end to a decade-long presence aimed at combating Islamist insurgents.

French troops were kicked out from Niger in December 2023. AP

These exits, especially by France, are part of a broader pattern. Military juntas in the region, including those in Burkina Faso and Mali, have pushed to sever long-established security ties with France following the coups in the country between 2020 and 2022.

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The European Unions role is also a questionable one. There is distrust from the African populace towards several countries that are a part of the bloc. Most often, the reason has been these countries roles as colonisers. The memory of the colonial era is still fresh in the collective consciousness of many citizens of these countries.

Another aspect of this is the EUs failures in maintaining peace in the region. Putting a stop to terrorist activities, the primary stated reason behind the presence of European troops in the region, remains rampant. But thats not all.

The bloc had funded military training in Mali and Niger, mainly with the aim of combating extremism linked to al-Qaida. Some of the people trained by the EU went on to play a part in coups that toppled governments.

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Russia and Iran fill the power vacuum

While the Wests military influence in the region has been waning, that of countries like Russia and Iran has seemingly become more prominent.

The Wagner Group, a nominally private Russian military company, described by US officials as a proxy military force of the Kremlin, has expanded its operations. The group is active in nations like the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, and Sudan, Wagner has also made attempts to engage with Burkina Faso and had been accused of efforts to destabilise Chads government.

The Russian Wagner Groups influence in Africa is on the rise. AP

The Russian state itself has been actively involved. In 2023, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) noted in 2023 that Russias influence in Africa is on the rise, with Moscow securing military cooperation agreements with 43 African countries. Russias strategy appears to leverage anti-Western sentiment to strengthen its ties across the continent.

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Irans increasing role is notably marked by its export of military drones, which have had significant battlefield impacts. In Sudan, Iranian drones have played a critical role in favour of the Sudanese Armed Forces during the civil war, helping regain territory around the capital. Similarly, in Ethiopia, the military credited Iranian-supplied drones, among those from other countries, for turning the tide in a year-old civil war against Tigrayan rebels in 2021.

An intricate geopolitical landscape

While Paris has reduced its presence in Africa, it still maintains military bases in countries like Cote dIvoire, Senegal, Gabon, Djibouti, and Chad. The US, too, has significant military influence in Zambia, Burundi, Angola, Djibouti, and multiple other countries.

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These remaining footholds indicate that despite being diminished, the scale of Western military influenceis by no means small.

Thus, Africa is poised to navigate a complex future, balancing traditional partnerships with Western militaries with rising influences from nations like Russia and Iran. Not to mention, the role played by terrorist organisations, local militias, and juntas.

With inputs from agencies
Over-tourism plagues Venice and to ease crowds authorities are now charging day-trippers an entry fee of 5. But locals are not pleased and have taken to the streets. They fear the measure wont address fundamental problems like housing and infrastructure read more

Venice became the first city in the world to charge day-trippers, but some residents are unhappy with the move. Reuters File

Planning your summer holiday to Venice? It will come at a cost. The picturesque destination has become the first city in the world to charge day-trippers. To get admission to Italys floating city, tourists now have to shell out 5 (Rs 447.04). Wonder why.

Authorities believe it will help manage overcrowding and make Venice livable again.

But residents are not happy and have taken to the streets. We tell you all that is going on in the city.

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What is the tourism fee all about?

A pilot initiative, which came into effect on Thursday, will ask day-trippers to pay a charge of 5 (Rs 447.04) and buy their tickets to visit Venices historic centre. The payment is to be made online after which visitors will be given a QR code for access. Those without one can buy it on arrival, with the help of local stewards.

Offenders face fines of 50 to 300 (Rs 4,475 to Rs 26,843) by inspectors conducting random checks during the peak holiday season  mostly on weekends, until 14 July. The requirement for tourism fee applies only to people arriving between 8:30 am and 4 pm; outside of those hours, access is free and unchecked.

Local stewards will fine tourists found flouting the tourist fee in Venice. Reuters File

Overtourism has been a growing concern and has prompted authorities to take this decision. We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents," Simone Venturini, the citys top tourism official, told the Associated Press (AP). We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.

The tourism fee excludes the residents, commuters, students, and children under 14, as well as tourists who stay overnight.

The initiative is one of a series of measures in place across Italy to manage tourist flows in one of UNESCOs most popular heritage sites which is expected to be entirely underwater by the end of this century, The Washington Post reported.

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As per climate scientists, Venice is expected to be entirely underwater by the end of this century. AFP File

Around 20 million individuals thronged to Italys most beautiful city last year, as per a city official, with about half of them lodging overnight in hotels or vacation rentals, a number far surpassing the current resident population estimated at approximately 49,000.

Venturini mentioned that there has been significant interest in Venices pilot initiative from other destinations grappling with over-tourism. Other Italian cities renowned for art and those abroad like Barcelona, Spain, and Amsterdam are said to be watching closely.

Is the move about earning revenue?

No, say officials. But the fee will add to the citys coffers.

Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro declared the launch day, coinciding with an Italian holiday, a success, registering 15,700 paying visitors, 50 per cent more than anticipated, bringing 27,500 euros (Rs. 24.6 lakh) to the citys coffers on its first day, AP reported.

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However, Brugnaro affirmed that the move is not a money-making initiative. He said he would cut local taxes for residents if the scheme is successful.

But residents are far from pleased.

Why are locals in Venice protesting?

Many believe that the fee is not enough to fight overtourism. Residents against the day-tripper tax argue that Venices challenges can be addressed by increasing the local population and improving essential services, while also restricting short-term rentals to free up more housing and encourage families to return from the mainland.

For a start, 5 will do nothing to deter people. But day-trippers arent the issue; things like the shortage of affordable housing areWhat we need are policies to help residents, for example, making rules to limit things like Airbnb, said Federica Toninello, who leads ASC, an association for housing told The Guardian.

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They (authorities) think this measure will solve the problem, but they havent really understood the consequences of mass tourism on a city like Venice, Toninello added.

And some Venetians strongly agree.

Several hundred individuals peacefully marched through one of Venices main squares, carrying signs reading No to ticket for Vene-Land and chanting Here we live and here we stay, to voice their disagreement with the new measure.

Protesters against tourism fees briefly clashed with police on Thursday. Reuters File

We are against this measure because it will do nothing to stop overtourism, local Cristina Romieri was quoted as saying in The Independent. Moreover, it is such a complex regulation with so many exceptions that it will also be difficult to enforce it.

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According to Venturini, the streets of Venice are choked when the number of day-trippers reaches 30,000 to 40,000. During peak days, local police implement one-way pedestrian traffic to manage the crowds and keep them moving.

But locals say that Venice is not only a tourist destination, it is home to many. This is not a natural oasis. This is not a museum. It is not Pompeii. It is a city, where we need to fight so the houses are inhabited by familiesThat is what would counter this wild tourism, Marina Rodino, who has lived in Venice for 30 years told AP.

Protesters also briefly clashed with police on Thursday, who initially prevented them from entering the city.

Giovanni Andrea Martini, a member of an opposition group in the Town Hall who participated in the residents protests, described it to Reuters as, a sad day because Venice is becoming a museum, a theme park.

What are tourists saying?

Tourists arriving in the city said that imposing another charge on visitors was unfair and a shame.

I consider Venice to be the most beautiful city in the world and so to deprive a person on a low budget of the opportunity to come here for an hour or two to enjoy this city is surely a shame for these tourists, Gabriella Pappada, an Italian tourist from Lecce was quoted in a Reuters report.

With inputs from agencies
Vijay Mallyas extradition was raised by the Indian government on April 15 during the 16th meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism read more

The Indian government has reportedly asked the French authorities to approve the extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya.

A report by The Indian Express quoted sources saying Mallyas extradition was raised by the Indian government on April 15 during the 16th meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.

India sought update on proposal to France to extradite Mallya

The Indian delegation, during the discussion, reportedly had sought an update on New Delhis proposal to France to extradite Mallya.

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The French offered a (extradition) proposal with some preconditions (but) India asked them to approve the proposal without any preconditions, the source was quoted as saying by the daily.

The Indian delegation was led by KD Dewal, a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. It was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, the French delegation was headed by Ambassador Olivier Caron, special envoy for counter-terrorism and organised crime.

Mallya is in UK, but why India is pursuing France?

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore, is believed to be in the United Kingdom since March 2016.

The report quoted sources saying India has been pursuing his extradition with France as well as other countries where he has property and with whom New Delhi has an extradition treaty with.

But how will this help?

With India having an extradition treaty with France and Mallya having properties there, the request would be helpful in the event that the Kingfisher Airlines promoter reached the European nation and with the help of authorities he can be extradited.

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All efforts are being made by the Indian government to extradite Mallya from the UK. In February 2019, the UK Home Secretary approved the extradition. The case is now pending in the London High Court, where Mallya filed an appeal against the order. The appeal has been listed for a three-day hearing from February 11, 2020.

Charges against Vijay Mallya

Mallya, ex-chairman of United Spirits, owes 17 Indian banks an estimated Rs 9,000 crore. In India, he is facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

Mallya is still serving as chairman of United Breweries Group.

Mallya left the country on March 2, 2016, the day a clutch of public-sector banks moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal against him. In January 2019, he was declared a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

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Before leaving the country in 2016, Mallya wrote an open letter defending himself, saying: All enquiries conducted have failed to find evidence of misappropriation of funds by Kingfisher Airlines or myself."

Despite pledging blue-chip securities and depositing significant amounts in court, a successful disinformation campaign has ensured my becoming the poster boy of all bank NPAs, he had said.
As of 9 pm, the northeast states of Tripura and Manipur recorded the highest voter turnout of 79.16% and 77.18% respectively read more

India recorded nearly 66% voter turnout by 9 pm in the second phase of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Even as the voters lined up at polling booths through the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress kept their attacks up on each-other and expressed confidence in their performance.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to train his guns at Congress on the issues of wealth redistribution and inheritance tax, Union Home Minister Amit Shah swore that the partys government will never end the reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs as some in the opposition have claimed. On its part, the Congress party exuded confidence and said the party would improve its tally in states like Kerala and Rajasthan.

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As of 9 pm, the northeast states of Tripura and Manipur recorded the highest voter turnout of 79.16% and 77.18% respectively, according to the figures from the Election Commission of India (ECI) carried by The Times of India.

Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest turnout at 54.85%, followed by Bihar at 55.08% and Maharashtra at 56.32%.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has got unparalleled support from the voters.

Phase Two has been too good!



Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024

Speaking at a rally on Bihars Munger, Modi said the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the INDIA blocs principal party in Bihar, will loot the people shoulder-to-shoulder and will redistribute their wealth to their special vote bank.

Through the Inheritance Tax, Congress and RJD will loot your wealth and distribute it to their special vote bank. The whole country is worried. Every youth and old parent is worried. The country is saying, Congress ki loot, Zindagi ke sath bhi, Zindagi ke baad bhiThey will loot even after death. RJD is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the Congress in this scheme, said Modi.

On its part, the Congress party exuded confidence. Party leader Pawan Khera said Rahul Gandhi will score a record-breaking victory in Wayanad in Kerala and the party will win in double-digits in Rajasthan.

2024 Lok Sabha elections phase 2 fast facts

Polling was held in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies in 13 states and union territories (UTs) in the second phase of the 2024 general elections.

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In the Fridays elections, a total of 1,202 candidates were contesting, according to The Indian Express.

India is going through seven-phase general elections in which Modi is seeking a third term and the opposition under the banner of the INDIA coalition is seeking to oust him. While the first phase of voting was on April 19, the next phase will be on May 7. The final phase will be held on June 1 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. The results are expected the same day.

Of the seats that went to polls, the NDA won 65 in the 2019 general elections and INDIA bloc won 23, according to India Today.

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Poll violations reported in Karnataka, small incidents in Bengal

While the second phase of 2024 Lok Sabha elections passed peacefully, election-related complaints were raised through the day and a string of small incidents were reported in West Bengal.

In Karnataka, BJPs Tejasvi Surya, the sitting MP from Bengaluru South seat, was booked for allegedly soliciting votes on the grounds of religion through a video on X (formerly Twitter), said the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka.

The BJP also lodged five complaints against the BJP in Karnataka. It filed a complaint against CM Siddaramaiah for talking to party workers inside a polling booth in Mysuru. The party also filed complaints against Venkatesh, a former councilor, for allegedly distributing cash to voters in Kolar Seat. The BJP further filed a complaint against Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV for holding a protest in Mysuru allegedly in violation of the model code of conduct.

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In West Bengal, the Election Commission received around 290 complaints, mostly related to the alleged malfunctioning of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the state, according to India Today. The report said that the Trinamool Congress, the states ruling party, sought ECs immediate intervention in the matter Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the courts have repeatedly said there is nothing wrong with the EVMs and yet questions keep getting thrown at the machines.

Elsewhere in Bengal, in Balurghat, go back slogans were raised at West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and police had to rush to control the situation, said the report.

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In Balurghat and Raiganj, the BJP and the TMC traded barbs over purported attempts of influencing voters. The TMC claimed that the central security personnel were stopping women voters whereas the BJP alleged that the TMC was distributing money among the voters.
As of 5 pm, the northeast states of Tripura and Manipur recorded the highest voter turnout of 77.53% and 76.06% respectively. Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest turnout at 52.74%, followed by Bihar at 53.03% and Maharashtra at 53.51%. read more

Describing the support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as unparalleled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the phase two of the Lok Sabha polls has been too good for the BJP-led alliance as voters want NDAs good governance.

PM Modi said on X Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more." Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support, Modi said. It is clear that people across India are voting for the NDA in record numbers, he had said.

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Phase Two has been too good!



Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024

Firstpost graphics

India recorded a 61% voter turnout by 5 pm in the second phase of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Even as the voters lined up at polling booths, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress kept their attacks up on each-other and expressed confidence in their performance.

As of 5 pm, the northeast states of Tripura and Manipur recorded the highest voter turnout of 77.53% and 76.06% respectively. Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest turnout at 52.74%, followed by Bihar at 53.03% and Maharashtra at 53.51%.
In her 14-minute-long address, Palki attempted to give a picture of India which is out of the shackles of self-doubt and is currently emerging as a confident economic powerhouse read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the powerful speech made by Firstposts managing editor Palki Sharma at the Oxford Union, last year.

The remarks from the prime minister came just days after Palkis address at the union started swirling around yet again. In her 14-minute-long address, Palki attempted to give a picture of India which is out of the shackles of self-doubt and is currently emerging as a confident economic powerhouse.

In the speech, the firebrand journalist used daily life anecdotes, data and facts to substantiate her arguments. As a result, the speech still resonated with people as the worlds largest democracy heads to the polls.

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PM Modi lauds the powerful address at Oxford

In his tweet, the prime minister pointed out that Palki gave a poignant glimpse of the transformation, India witnessed in recent years.

You have given a wonderful glimpse of the massive transformations taking place across India,@palkisu! he wrote on X, tagging the Firstpost journalist.

Thank you, @narendramodi ji. It is my privilege and honour to tell the India story to the world.   Palki Sharma (@palkisu) April 25, 2024

Palki expressed her gratitude towards the Prime Minister. Thank you, @narendramodi ji. It is my privilege and honour to tell the Indian story to the world, she replied.

India on the right path: Palkis historic address at Oxford Union

Palki started off her address by sharing an anecdote of what she saw outside Delhi airport. She recalled how she saw two local vendors selling fruits and coconut water using UPI as the primary form of transaction.

Palki went on to highlight her experience of living in todays India. She pointed out how India transformed itself from a self-doubting nation where decisions were taken based on global opinion to a confident entity. Indians are more prosperous at home and hence more confident abroad, she said.

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She went on to emphasise that while India has emerged as a soft power giant, it is no longer a timid democracy that tolerates terrorism or betrayals. She recalled the time when Pakistani terrorists attacked Kashmirs Pulwama, India hit back with surgical strikes on Balakot.

Today invasions and colonialism are part of our history, not our identity, we are shaped by years of subjugation, not defined by them. We are excited about our Global responsibilities, not wary of them this change in confidence comes from growth at home, Palki explained.

Indias global position

During her address, Palki insisted that India never tried to play an outsized role but always played the rights role. She also elucidated why India did not take sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

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In the Russia-Ukraine war, India has not taken sides and I know it confuses a lot of people here but back home the thinking is very clear, she said.

It is not in our national interest to pick sides and make things worse. India has excellent relations with Russia and the West and we want to preserve that. Its like when your two good friends fight do you pick sides and make things worse or do you try to talk sense to them and bridge the divide, she said.

Giving references to Indias vaccine maitri initiative and how it helped Sri Lanka to get out of the historic economic crisis, Palki reiterated that India is building relations with countries based on mutual respect and equality.

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I think thats the hallmark of great diplomacy and statecraft when youre loved and respected in all quarters more importantly when youre trusted in all quarters, she said.

How India defied Western predictions

In her powerful speech, Palki destroyed the false narratives of India being religiously intolerant by sharing facts about how the PM Modi administration worked towards the upliftment of minorities.

Its easy to quote anecdotes and paint an entire country as intolerant, but random elements and sporadic incidents do not speak for India its leadership or its government. Only policies do, she said.

Overall, Palki highlighted how India defied Western prediction. India has defied Western predictions, its the worlds largest democracy charting its own course. India today has shared the burden of trying to comply with Western constructs. No amount of lecturing or virtue signalling is shaking Indias confidence and that is what unsettles critics, she said.

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She went on to emphasise that it is wrong to judge one country on the parameters of another.

Palkis address garnered major attention online, a year after she delivered it at Oxford University. While some netizens emphasised that the speech should reach every Indian, others went on to call her the The Nightingale of Indian Media.
The election results will likely answer the ultimate question of whether China-Maldives relations can overcome the constraints of geography that bind Male and New Delhi together read more

In a clear endorsement of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzus policies so far, the country voted his partys Peoples National Congress (PNC) to a two-third majority in the 93-member house in the latest parliamentary elections. With this win, Muizzus party now wields power both in the executive and the legislature, thereby allowing him to steer domestic and foreign policy with little opposition.

The development has heightened concerns in New Delhi as Muizzu ran a successful India-Out campaign in the run-up to the presidential election last year. Since assuming the presidency, Muizzu has overturned the earlier governments India-First policy, replaced Indian military personnel based in the Maldives to maintain and operate the two helicopters and an aircraft with civilian technical staff from India, and vowed to send back the remaining Indian troops stationed in the country by May 10.

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Additionally, he chose Beijing over New Delhi as the destination for his first state visit. That visit produced several agreements, including a deal on military assistance and training of Maldivian troops by China. But soon he ran into difficulties with his policies as the opposition, which commanded a majority in the parliament, sharply criticised his anti-India posture and even obstructed a few of his executive decisions, including the appointment of ministers. The peoples verdict in the recent general elections, however, indicates continued support for Muizzus politics.

Needless to say, the results have upset the policy and strategic circles in New Delhi. But the outcome may not be entirely bad for India, however adversarial it may appear on the surface. Here are three key gains likely to emerge from Indias perspective.

Time to call the cards

For starters, the development will finally settle the debate and unveil the extent or limitations of Muizzus anti-India rhetoric or the bluff therein. The current dispensation in the island state is by far the staunchest critic of India to have risen to power. With control over the executive and the legislature, theres fundamentally no restriction whatsoever that could be passed on as an excuse for deviating from the India-Out policy.

Thus, if Muizzu continues to expand on his anti-India rhetoric, it would reveal the unknown of a largely known outcome, i.e., the extent to which Muizzu intends to push the Maldives away from India and closer to China. If anything, India can let go of the guesswork and grasp the depth of Muizzus threat for real.

However, if the Maldivian President chooses to dial down his anti-India campaign, glimpses of which are apparent, the campaign will likely lose its appeal among the voters in subsequent elections. Until now, a moderation in anti-India policy could be justified owing to the lack of numbers in the parliament. But with the majority overturned in the PNCs favour, there is little room to manoeuvre for Muizzu. Either way, Indias foreign policy will be better informed for the challenges ahead.

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People-to-people ties

Secondly, the situation offers India an opportunity to work at the most basic level of its relationship with the Maldives and perhaps address the root cause of its discontent. It is evident from the developments so far that the India-Out campaign resonated with the Maldivian population.

It is one thing for the political parties to shore up a narrative, but completely another for the masses to buy into it. Thus, it is worth deliberating the reasons that made the anti-India narrative a success among the electorate. With high-level state-to-state diplomacy sidelined of late, it is time for India to rekindle people-to-people diplomacy. Given the Maldives significant dependency on India for even the most basic needs such as drinking water, medicines, and medical treatment, it is perplexing that India lacks popular support and public goodwill on the neighbouring island.

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People-centric diplomacy is less likely to be securitised by political parties and is also likely to deliver greater dividends. A case in point is Indias diplomatic successes in Afghanistan, where considerable goodwill earned over the years through people-centric diplomacy kept the bilateral relationship steady under Taliban 2.0 despite its known hostility towards India.

Predator or partner?

Finally, the outcome will offer insights into the seriousness of Chinas commitment and preparedness to replace India on the subcontinent. Male has lately run into economic troubles as its national debt has jumped to 113 per cent of its GDP. India and China are the two biggest creditors and account for more than 50 per cent of the island nations national debts. The IMF has warned that Male faces a high risk of debt distress and might need external assistance.

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Consequently, in a departure from the much-emphasised rhetoric, Muizzu called India its closest ally while seeking debt relief. However, the Maldives owes $18 billion to the Chinese, which is more than double what it owes to India. And if Sri Lankas case is any precedent, Beijing will likely drag its feet in providing relief or assistance unless theres some quid-pro-quo on offer. Chinas response amidst the Maldives worsening fiscal situation will reveal whether it is prepared to commit beyond security issues.

Thus, to Indias benefit, the election results will likely answer the ultimate question of whether China-Maldives relations can overcome the constraints of geography that bind Male and New Delhi together.

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The author is Research Analyst with the Takshashila Institutions Indo-Pacific Studies Programme. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
It is entirely likely that China is pushing Pakistan and Iran into a move, essentially giving itself an outer ring of countries that are friendly to it read more

It is the visit of the year, being watched closely by friends and enemies alike. But the landing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Pakistan at such a fraught time may be trouble in spades or could be an opportunity for a diplomatic signal by Pakistan. Much depends on how it is going to be played. The visit is over, but the repercussions are still uncertain.

President Riasi chose to spend an entire three days in Pakistan, also visiting Lahore and Karachi, where the authorities announced a holiday. Stringent security measures were clearly in place, given the high level of threat. The president wanted a public meeting but was denied one, given the severe security threats in each of these cities.

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A voluminous joint statement has been issued, in which very serious concerns have been highlighted. Some of these are doable, and some are not. In the latter class is the question of the proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, which was once supposed to be extended to India on Irans suggestion in 1999 and was termed the peace and friendship project.

Just two years after it was first proposed. At the time, Iran was actually on the good side of the US, being one of the participants in the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan and providing $500 million to stabilise the new government. But soon opposition began again, with Saudi Arabia offering oil supplies and an oil terminal.

The US soon changed its mind and offered to back electricity supplies from Tajikistan. India withdrew, citing very high pricing and security issues, as the Baloch stepped up attacks on the Sui gas pipelines. Pakistan is now in the unenviable position of having to pay a hefty penalty of $18 billion. The deadline of March 24 has already passed. Pakistan simply cannot pay, though it desperately needs the gas. And to put it even more simply, competitive pricing is unviable unless India is also part of this deal. Pakistan says it has requested a waiver from the US. That is unlikely to happen.

Consider that India has a waiver only for food and aid to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chahbahar. To further profitably run Chahbahr, it also needs more. Dont forget that Iran has sanctions from the US, the European Union, and the UN. Meanwhile, an interesting snippet. Russia has reportedly offered to fund the initial $160 million for the 80-kilometre Pakistani section. Pakistan hopes China will offer. It might. But not directly. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation is attending a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) meeting in Moscow to discuss the Middle East situation.

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Brotherly language is wearing thin

The other focus of the joint statement is on terrorism. It is the highest form of irony that both sides referred to terror organisations in Afghanistan, conveniently overlooking that their main grouse is the terror outfits in each others states. In this, the brotherly Islamic state language is wearing thin.

This is not just about the recent attacks by Iran on Jaish-ul-Adl camps in Pakistan or the latters response with an air attack. True, both stopped back from the brink and stated that they had not attacked the others citizens. But it is an established fact that terrorists from Pakistan have conducted several strikes on Iran, with the Rask attack in April killing some 11 Iranian security forces.

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At the same time, Pakistan has accused Iran of funding sectarian groups, with the Zainabiyoun brigade, an Iranian group designated as terrorist, for recruiting Pakistanis for operations in Syria. That was just a week ago, and it would have worsened relations. In fact, just following the strikes, Pakistans Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested a suspect for the 2019 assassination attempt on a top Pakistani cleric belonging to the outfit.

There is a caveat, though. Tehran believes that these activities are at the behest of the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, all of whom have reason to bring down the Shia power. Earlier, a series of memos from the CIA described how Israelis posed as Americans and recruited the Jundullah (the earlier version of JuA). President Riasi has therefore focused on cooperation in terrorism, which, translated into realpolitik, means that Tehran wants Islamabad to stop its territory being used for such activity. Thats highly unlikely.

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Of trade, smuggling, and barter

Meanwhile, both sides are trying to develop the border areas on both sides with markets and trading zones. Its not just the insurgent groups that both have to contend with. There are a range of smuggling operations, including highly lucrative (and open) fuel and human smuggling that has security forces on both sides making a very large buck.

Some time ago, some 40 officials of the Frontier Corps were arrested for corruption in Balochistan, while protests against the centre in Gwadar also called for local representation in control over the border. The interference by security forces is well known, while Iran itself has blamed the SF for backing terrorist entry.

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Meanwhile, the professed desire to increase trade to $10 billion remains a pipedream in a barter system, even if the pipeline goes through. As of now, the markets are already awash with Iranian products. The US, meanwhile, is already warning of trade relations being disrupted by sanctions. The bright side for Pakistan. Connectivity is already real on the ground.

A historic breakthrough took place as Pakistans army, run by the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), travelled 5,300 km to reach Turkey via Iran. That was in 2021. That doesnt really violate sanctions. Meanwhile, both are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Turkey-led ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), which includes much of Central Asia and Afghanistan. Matters are moving, sanctions or not.

The K word

Finally, there is that puzzling statement on Kashmir. At the press event, PM Sharif raised it, while President Raisi quietly sidestepped it. The joint statement said briefly, Both sides highlighted the need to resolve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue and peaceful means based on the will of the people of that region and in accordance with international law.

Theres no reference at all to the UN resolutions. Iran is simply not interested. It has enough enemies on all sides without alienating a friendly like New Delhi. But there is trouble ahead for India.

A bloc of sorts is beginning to emerge between Iran, Russia, China, Turkey, and Pakistan. Turkey has always been at odds with the West, despite its NATO membership, while the others have all been hurt badly by sanctions. All are suppliers of military equipment to Moscow and Belt and Road Initiative members (though Russia is not quite part of it), not to mention a series of other groupings that China has cobbled together with Central Asia.

Iran is no enthusiastic partner for such a bloc. It also has issues with the Saudis, who are being wooed by China. But China is driving what it calls a wave of reconciliation between them, which was effectively destroyed by the Gaza war.

It is entirely likely that China is pushing Pakistan and Iran into just such a move, essentially giving itself an outer ring of countries that are friendly to it. Notably, the US had to approach China to call off Iran in its war of attrition against Israel.

China also gets cheap oil from Iran. Pakistan is a kind of spare wheel, badly dented but still useful due to its geographic location. Any hardening of this bloc is extremely undesirable for India, and it may have to look hard at its approach towards Iran in terms of restarting oil purchases (Iran was once among the top-three suppliers) or at least persuade the US to allow brisk trade through Chahbahar. The US is unwittingly or otherwise allowing the creation of a bloc that could be extremely inimical to itself. It is time to cut those strings.

The author is Director (R&A) at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Alphabet announced its first dividend and a massive $70 billion stock buyback program. The dividend, set at 20 cents per share, marks a significant milestone for the tech giant read more

Alphabet, Googles parent company, made waves on Thursday by announcing its inaugural dividend and a massive $70 billion stock buyback programme. Investors responded with enthusiasm, driving the stock up nearly 16 per cent in after-hours trading.

The decision to return capital to shareholders comes as Alphabet ramps up investments in data centres to bolster its generative artificial intelligence capabilities. The dividend, set at 20 cents per share, marks a significant milestone for the tech giant.

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Just a few months ago, Alphabets rival Meta Platforms also announced its first-ever dividend, which sent its market value soaring by $196 billion the following day. With this move, Amazon.com remains the only major tech firm yet to offer a dividend.

Alphabet exceeded expectations across the board for the quarter, reporting strong sales, profit, and advertising figures. Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, hailed the dividend payouts and buybacks as a smart move for Alphabet, particularly amidst challenging market conditions.

Following the earnings report, Alphabets market value surged by about $300 billion to surpass the $2 trillion mark.

During the earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted Googles AI advancements as a key driver of its core search results. The companys revenue for the quarter ended March 31 stood at $80.54 billion, beating estimates.

Advertising sales, a crucial revenue stream for Google, rose by 13 per cent to $61.7 billion, outperforming analyst projections. The strong performance in advertising was complemented by a robust 28 per cent growth in Google Cloud revenue, fueled by increased demand for generative AI tools.

Despite a significant increase in capital expenditures, Alphabets CFO Ruth Porat expressed confidence in maintaining or even improving the operating margin for 2024. The companys investments in AI-powered services, particularly Google Cloud, continue to attract startups and venture capital firms.

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However, Alphabet has faced criticism for its AI-powered chatbot, Gemini, which generated historically inaccurate images. The company has acknowledged these issues and is actively working to address them.

Overall, Alphabets foray into AI and its commitment to returning capital to shareholders signal a promising trajectory for the tech giant amidst intensifying competition and evolving market dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies)
Sources close to ByteDance said that the algorithms powering TikTok are crucial to ByteDances operations. Because of this ByteDance is not willing to sell to an American business read more

ByteDance may pull TikTok out of the US, if all of their legal options to block the sale or ban, fail. Image Credit: AFP

ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has stated that it has no intentions of selling the business to a US division or divesting from the platform in any way, despite recent developments in the United States.

This announcement follows the passing of a law in the US that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the country.

In a post on its official account on Toutiao, a social media platform owned by ByteDance, the company affirmed, ByteDance doesnt have any plans to sell TikTok.

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Earlier this week, TikTok declared its intent to challenge the law in court, labelling it as unconstitutional.

ByteDances statement comes in the wake of media reports suggesting that the company was considering options to sell TikTok without its underlying algorithm, which is integral to its functionality.

According to a Reuters report, sources close to ByteDance said that the algorithms powering TikTok are crucial to ByteDances operations. This makes the sale of the app with its algorithms highly unlikely, the sources mentioned.

Despite TikTok contributing only a small portion to ByteDances revenues and user base, the parent company is hesitant to sell it to an American buyer and may pull out of the US.

Shutting down TikTok in the US could have minimal impact on ByteDances overall business while allowing the company to retain control over its core algorithm, the sources added.

TikToks CEO remains optimistic about overcoming legal challenges against the proposed ban, which stems from concerns over data security and potential surveillance by China. President Bidens signing of the legislation sets a deadline for TikToks sale, though extensions are possible based on ByteDances progress.

ByteDances financial details, including those of TikTok, are not publicly disclosed. However, it is known that the US market accounted for a significant portion of TikToks revenues in recent years.

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The algorithms powering TikTok are closely integrated with ByteDances other domestic apps, making it challenging to separate them. Additionally, Chinese regulations regarding technology exports could complicate any attempts to divest TikToks assets.

Despite interest from potential buyers like former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, ByteDance may struggle to find investors willing to acquire TikToks US operations without its core algorithms.

The future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain as ByteDance weighs its options amidst regulatory pressures and national security concerns.

(With inputs from agencies)
Revenue rose by 17 per cent compared to the same period last year. The companys quarterly net income reached $21.93 billion, or $2.94 per share, surpassing Wall Street estimates read more

Microsoft reported a significant increase in profit for the January-March quarter, marking a 20 per cent rise as it focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance workplace productivity.

The companys quarterly net income reached $21.93 billion, or $2.94 per share, surpassing Wall Street estimates.

Revenue for the period, totalling $61.86 billion, rose by 17 per cent compared to the same period last year, outperforming analysts expectations of $60.86 billion.

Microsofts cloud computing segment generated $26.7 billion in revenue, a 21 per cent increase from the previous year, while revenue from productivity services, including Office products, rose by 12 per cent to $19.6 billion.

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Although Microsoft doesnt disclose specific earnings from AI products, it integrates AI technology into various aspects of its business, such as cloud computing contracts and online services subscriptions.

The company offers Copilot, a flagship chatbot, to businesses for $30 per employee monthly, enhancing workplace productivity.

Gartner analyst Jason Wong noted that while theres strong interest among Microsofts customers in exploring generative AI, many lack a clear plan for its practical application, making it an early-stage endeavour.

Microsofts investments in AI include partnerships with OpenAI, developer of ChatGPT, and the recent introduction of Phi-3, a new set of leaner AI language models. However, some partnerships are under regulatory scrutiny over concerns about potential competition issues in the AI industry.

Despite efforts to promote an AI-driven future, Microsoft faces challenges in addressing security issues within its legacy computer services.

A federal cybersecurity safety board criticized the companys cybersecurity practices and corporate culture following a breach that allowed state-backed Chinese cyber operators to access the email accounts of senior U.S. officials.

The companys personal computing business, focused on Windows operating system licensing, generated $15.6 billion in revenue for the quarter, a 17 per cent increase from the previous year. Microsofts stock rose approximately 4 per cent in after-hours trading following the earnings announcement.

Looking ahead, Microsoft anticipates increased spending to expand infrastructure for AI systems, as demand for AI continues to grow beyond its current capacity. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood emphasized the companys commitment to meeting this demand during an earnings call.

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(With inputs from agencies)
WhatsApp will prefer shut down operations in India rather than break encryption, as privacy is at the centre of WhatsApps services in India. With over 400 million users, India stands as WhatsApps largest market read more

WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta, are challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. Image Credit: Reuters

In an ongoing hearing at the Delhi High Court, Meta-owned WhatsApp told the court that it would effectively cease operations in India if it is forced to compromise message encryption.

The platform emphasised that end-to-end encryption is at the core of its services and safeguards user privacy by ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access message content.

As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes, Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp,

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He underscored that people choose WhatsApp for its robust privacy features. With over 400 million users, India stands as WhatsApps largest market.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously lauded Indias adoption of messaging technologies during a virtual address at Metas annual event last year. India (is) a country thats at the forefront Youre leading the world in terms of how people and businesses have embraced messaging, he had said.

WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta, are challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which mandate the tracing of chats and identification of original messengers.

The companies arguing against the IT Rules 2021, argue that these rules undermine encryption, thus infringing upon user privacy guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

The messaging platform contends that the regulations not only compromise encryption but also violate fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution.

WhatsApps legal representative emphasised the absence of similar regulations globally, stressing the impracticality of storing vast amounts of decrypted messages for extended periods.

On the other hand, Kirtiman Singh, representing the central government, defended the regulations, citing the necessity to trace message originators in the contemporary environment.

The Delhi High Court has scheduled hearings for WhatsApp and Metas petitions on August 14, acknowledging that privacy rights are not absolute and require a delicate balance.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Xi said China is committed to non-alignment but the US should not form small circles  an apparent reference to the AUKUS, (Australia, UK, US) nuclear submarine deal as well as the Quad (US, India, Australia, Japan) which Beijing alleges is aimed at containing its rise. read more

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 26. - Reuters

China and the US managed to reach a five-point consensus with an aim to stabilise their strained relations despite differences over various bilateral and global issues, including Beijings support for Russia in the Ukraine war and US pressure to address global market concerns.

This agreement followed a tense meeting between President Xi Jinping and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During the meeting, Xi told Blinken that China is not afraid of competition as the US top diplomat raised concerns about Chinas actions in the South China Sea, particularly its escalating tensions with the Philippines as well as recent developments in the Taiwan Strait.

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Xi told Blinken that China is willing to cooperate with the US but cooperation should be a two-way street. China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about common progress, not a zero-sum game, Xi said, official media reported.

Xi said China is committed to non-alignment but the US should not form small circles  an apparent reference to the AUKUS, (Australia, UK, US) nuclear submarine deal as well as the Quad (US, India, Australia, Japan) which Beijing alleges is aimed at containing its rise.

Xi said both sides can have their friends and partners and should refrain from targeting, opposing or damaging each other. He also called on the US to be a partner of China and not to say one thing and do another.

The two countries should be partners, not rivals.. they should be true to their words and be resolute in deeds, rather than saying one thing and doing another, Xi said. He asked the US to view Chinas development positively so that bilateral relations could be stabilised.

In his media interaction after meeting Xi, Blinken did not mince words asserting that the US, US and NATO countries want China to stop Russias defence industrial base failing which Beijing has to face additional measures.

The US has already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities export controls etc, Blinken said. We are fully prepared to take additional measures and I made it very clear in my meetings today, he said.

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There are profound concerns about the actions the Chinese enterprises are taking to support Russias defence industrial base because this goes not only to the immediate threat posed by Russia in its aggression against Ukraine, it goes to a medium long threat, many Europeans feel Russia poses to them, he said.

All of us are looking at China to take steps to curb this action. We are also looking at the actions we are fully prepared to take if we dont see a change, he said.

Besides meeting Xi, Blinken held lengthy talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi spanning over five and half hours discussing measures to stabilise the ties between the top two economies of the world.

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Wang also cautioned Blinken against stepping on Chinas red lines. The China-US relationship is beginning to stabilise, but it is still being tested by negative factors, he added.

The US recently approved its latest aid package which included military assistance to Taiwan, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing. China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunited with the mainland, even by force.

Wang later said both sides reached a five-point consensus based on a comprehensive exchange of views. The consensus included maintaining consultations on international and regional hotspot issues and strengthening communication between the special envoys of the two sides, continuing to work to stabilise and develop China-US relations according to the guidance of the two heads of state, and maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels.

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Both sides also agreed to hold the first meeting of the China-US intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence and continue to advance consultations on the principles guiding the relations and Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime affairs.

The two sides also agreed to take measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, welcoming students from each others countries.

With inputs from PTI.
Blinken suggested critics should focus their ire on Hamas militants who sparked the war with their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and some 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. read more

Terming the series of protests at U.S. universities over US-ally Israels war in Gaza as a hallmark of American democracy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that these protests reflect the strength of the country and the strength of democracy.

However, he criticised what he called the silence about Palestinian militant group Hamas. Amidst clashes between police and students protesting against the Gaza conflict and the Biden administrations support for Israel, nearly 550 arrests have been reported over the past week at major US universities, according to a Reuters count.

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When asked during a press conference in China whether he was receptive to the protesters message, Blinken acknowledged the intensity of emotions surrounding the conflict and emphasized that the administration was actively working to bring about an end to the war.

In our own country, its a hallmark of our democracy that our citizens make known their views, their concerns, their anger, at any given time, and I think that reflects the strength of the country, the strength of democracy, Blinken said.

But he suggested critics should focus their ire on Hamas terrorists who sparked the war with their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and some 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israels military response has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 77,000, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

It is also notable that there is silence about Hamas, as if it wasnt even part of the story, Blinken said.

But as Ive also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that Oct. 7 never happens again matters profoundly. And were working every day to try to minimize the damage thats done to innocent people and to make sure that they have the assistance and support that they need.

Blinken, who met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials in Beijing on Friday, said he had discussed how China can play a constructive role in global crises, including in the Middle East, where he said Beijing can discourage Iran and its proxies not to escalate the conflict.

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Blinken said he spoke to Foreign Minister Wang Yi multiple times this month when tensions spiked between Israel and Tehran. China is the main buyer of oil exported by sanctions-hit Iran.

I think the relationships, again, that China has can be positive in trying to calm tensions, prevent escalation, avoid the spread of the conflict, and we agreed that wed remain in regular in regular touch on this, and thats certainly my intention, Blinken said.

With inputs from Reuters.
BBC and Voice of America radio stations are the latest international media organisations to be targeted since Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in a September 2022 coup read more

Burkina Faso has suspended the BBC and Voice of America from broadcasting in the country after the British and US radio stations aired a rights report accusing the army of attacking on civilians in its battle against jihadists.

The suspension of broadcasting rights of BBC Africa and VOA are latest on international media organisations since Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in the West African country in a September 2022 coup.

Why BBC & VOA have been suspended from broadcasting in Burkina Faso?

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The communications authority (CSC) of Burkina Faso made an announcement saying, The programmes of these two international radio networks broadcasting from Ouagadougou have been suspended for a period of two weeks.

It was further announced that the decision had been taken because BBC Africa and the VOA had aired as well as published a report on their digital platforms accusing the Burkina army of abuses against the civilian population.

The CSC said BBC and VOA have been suspended over their coverage of a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accusing the army of extrajudicial killings, authorities said late on Thursday..

The report contained hasty and biased declarations without tangible proof against the Burkinabe army, the CSC stated.

On Thursday, HRW, an international NGO said soldiers in Burkina Fasos jihadist-hit north had killed at least 223 villagers, including 56 children, in two revenge attacks on February 25.

Also, internet service providers in the West African country have also been directed by the CSC to suspend access to the sites and other digital platforms of the BBC, VOA and HRW from Burkinabe territory.

The CSC further said the approach of the BBC and VOA undermines the cardinal principles of information processing in that it constitutes disinformation likely to bring discredit to the Burkinabe army.

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Meanwhile, CSC has also urged all other media to refrain from carrying the article, warning that any offenders could face sanctions.

For the unversed, Burkina Faso has already targeted a number of French TV and radio channels, with suspensions, bans or the expulsion of foreign correspondents.

The country has been battling attacks from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State since a jihadist insurgency swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015.

Since then, around 20,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso and around two million have been displaced.

With inputs from AFP
There have been warnings of foreign interference in US presidential election by hostile elements based in rival countries like China and North Korea read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the US has seen evidence of China attempting to interfere in US election. (Photo: Reuters)

The United States has seen evidence of China attempting to influence and interfere with the US presidential election, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The US presidential election will be held in November where Joe Biden, the sitting president and the Democratic Partys nominee, is set to have rematch with former President Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

In an interview with CNN, Blinken said that there are concerns that China and other countries can take advantage of divisions within the United States and influence the presidential campaigns.

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Blinkens remarks came as he wrapped a three-day visit to China during which he met top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Public Safety Minister Wang Xiaohong. This was his second trip to China in a year.

Were looking at Chinese interference very carefully, its totally unacceptable

Blinken said the Biden administration is looking into the Chinese attempts at interfering in US presidential election very carefully and it is totally unacceptable.

We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that thats cut off as quickly as possibleAny interference by China in our election is something that were looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again, said Blinken in an interview with CNNs Kylie Atwood.

This is not the first time that the Biden administration has raised the issue of such suspected interference with Beijing. In a meeting with Xi last year, Biden had directly asked Xi to not interfere in the 2024 US presidential election and Xi at the time had pledged that there would not be any such Chinese interference, according to reports.

During his visit to China, Blinken also discussed issues like the Chinese trade with Russia that the US believes supports the Russian war against Ukraine. He also discussed smuggling of drugs with Public Safety Minister Wang Xiaohong amid the ongoing fentanyl epidemic in the US.

Blinken acknowledged that even though they are working to cooperate, there are differences between the two sides.

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We are (now) focused on areas where were working to cooperate, but also were being very forthright about our differences and thats important if were going to avoid the competition were in turning into conflict, said Blinken in the interview.

China has been accused of election interference for years

China along with other strategic rivals like Russia and North Korea have long been accused of interference in American elections.

Earlier this month, Microsoft warned that China will use artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt elections in the United States, India, and South Korea in 2024.

For years, China has been accused of running influence operations in countries like the US and Canada. These activities are mainly aimed at trying to prevent candidates Beijing perceives as anti-China from winning and peddling a favourable view of China among the target audience.

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In December 2023, the US government released an intelligence assessment that said China tried to shape the result of specific contests in the 2022 midterm elections, according to NBC News.

The report said that China tacitly approved efforts to try to influence a handful of midterm races involving members of both US political parties with the idea to try to prevent certain candidates perceived as anti-China from winning and support certain candidates perceived to be pro-China.
An American professor was hounded out of Malaysia after he accused the leaders of the Southeast Asian nation of advocating a second Holocaust against the Jewish people during a visiting lecture at the University of Malaya read more

An American professor was hounded out of Malaysia after he accused the leaders of the Southeast Asian nation of advocating a second Holocaust against the Jewish people during a visiting lecture at the University of Malaya.

Malaysia, like many other Muslim-majority states, has strongly supported the Palestinian cause and criticised Israels military actions in Gaza. The government has faced criticism for its ongoing backing of Hamas, particularly following the groups recent attack on Israel.

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According to the TIME report, during a keynote address at the university on Tuesday, citing a now-deleted post on X, Bruce Gilley, a professor of political science at Portland State University, said, A country whose political leaders advocate a second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be a serious player in world affairs, and will certainly never be a friend or partner of the United States.

The University of Malaya faced immediate backlash for hosting Gilley, prompting him to swiftly depart the country.

While the University of Malaya Student Union condemned Gilleys remarks, expressing widespread student dissatisfaction, another student group demanded an explanation from the university or threatened to organise student protests. Moreover, the higher education ministry instructed the university to cease any further involvement with Gilley and initiated an investigation into the matter, added the report, citing local media reports.

Responding to the outcry, the University of Malaya issued a public apology on Thursday, promising to take action against those implicated in the controversy.

Meanwhile, in an email to the TIME, Gilley said that his talk, during one of several during a 10-day visiting professorship, was on Malaysian foreign policy.

I argued that FP (foreign policy) is constrained by Malaysia government antisemitism, he wrote in the mail to TIME. The whole event proves the point of my paper: Malaysia is not fit to be a responsible actor in global governance, he added.

Gilley said he was very disappointed that Malaysias government joined the witch-hunt rather than defending academic freedom.

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Gilley has since deleted his post on X, citing the safety and well-being of my colleagues at the University of Malaya, though he reposted a screenshot of it.

I have removed the post below for the safety and well-being of my colleagues at the University of Malaya, whose leadership has responded to a student outcry. The quote from my keynote address reflects my views alone. I regret the harms I have caused to my academic colleagues, he wrote.

I have removed the post below for the safety and well-being of my colleagues at the University of Malaya, whose leadership has responded to a student outcry. The quote from my keynote address reflects my views alone. I regret the harms I have caused to my academic colleagues. pic.twitter.com/XZrg7nDOjN  Bruce Gilley (@BruceDGilley) April 24, 2024

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In a separate post on Wednesday, Gilley wrote that Malaysian politicians were going back to [former Malaysian Prime Minister] Mahathirs advice to learn from the Germans on how to kill Jews. He went on to slam television broadcasts in Malaysia that feature the pro-Palestinian slogan from the river to the sea, which some argue can be construed as an antisemitic call for the destruction of Israel.

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Amid the uproar over his inflammatory statements, Gilley announced on Thursday that he had safely departed from Malaysia, one step ahead of the Islamo-fascist mob whipped up by the government there.

With inputs from agencies
Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday warned the US that recent improvement in bilateral relations were at risk due to disruptions, potentially steering them towards a downward spiral even as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the opportunity to have face-to-face talks to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, in Beijing, China, on Friday. AP

Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday warned the US that recent improvement in bilateral relations were at risk due to disruptions, potentially steering them towards a downward spiral even as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed opportunity to have face-to-face talks to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations.

According to The Guardian report, before the meeting between US and Chinese delegations at the Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing, Wang said since the Biden-Xi summit in San Francisco in November, the relationship between the two countries was beginning to stabilise with increased dialogue and cooperation.

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This is welcomed by our two peoples and the international community, The Guardian quoted Wang as saying.

But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions, he said.

Blinkens three-day visit to China comes five months after a largely successful summit between US and China leaders Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.

However, tensions have escalated since then, with the US threatening sanctions on Chinese firms supplying Russias defence sector and mulling tariffs due to alleged manufacturing overcapacity. The Biden administration has also tightened restrictions on exporting advanced computer chips.

While Blinken was on the way to China, Congress passed legislation that would ban the social media platform TikTok within a year in the US  if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its stake  as well as provide billions of dollars in aid for the Indo-Pacific that would largely benefit Taiwan.

Wang said Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and its core interests are facing challenges.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?, he asked.

This is a major question before our two countries, which tests our sincerity and ability, Wang added.

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Should our two sides lead international cooperation on global issues and achieve win-win for all, or engage in rivalry and confrontation or even slide into conflict, which would be a lose-lose for all? The international community is waiting for our answer, he added.

According to a Global Times report, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, did not stop short of asking the US side to not interfere in Chinas internal affairs, suppress Chinas development, or infringe upon Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests.

Meanwhile, welcoming the face-to-face talks, Blinken said, That it really is a shared responsibility that we have, not only for our own people, but for people around the world, given the impact that the relationship between our countries has around the world.

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Its important to demonstrate that were managing responsibly the most consequential relationship for both of us in the world, he added.

With inputs from agencies
French and Philippine officials will meet in Paris next month to discuss a visiting forces arrangement, according to Marie Fontanel, the French ambassador to the Philippines read more

French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu shakes hands with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro during a joint press conference at a hotel in Manila, Philippines. Reuters

France and the Philippines will begin discussions next month on a defence treaty that will enable each countrys soldiers to conduct drills on the others territory, the French ambassador said Thursday.

French and Philippine officials will meet in Paris next month to discuss a visiting forces arrangement, according to Marie Fontanel, the French ambassador to the Philippines.

She stated that the defence chiefs of both nations agreed in Manila in December to explore such an agreement.

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We will have an opportunity in May to maybe start officially the negotiations or, at least, discuss the modalities, Fontanel said at a news conference with French Ambassador to the Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour.

The Philippines presently has status-of-forces agreements with the United States and Australia. The agreements establish a legal framework for the admission of foreign military into a country.

US, Philippine forces launch combat drills

In a display of alliance firepower close to the disputed South China Sea that has concerned Beijing, American and Filipino forces began their largest combat drills in years last week.

More than 16,000 members of their armed services, together with more than 250 French and Australian soldiers, will participate in the yearly exercises by the longstanding treaty partners until May 10.

The Philippine military argues that the shoulder-to-shoulder or Balikatan trainings are not targeted at any specific nation, but some of their primary battle scenarios take place in or close to the disputed South China Sea, where the coast guards of China and the Philippines, along with their accompanying ships, have been involved in a string of escalating territorial skirmishes since last year.

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Similar accords

Against the backdrop of rising conflicts with China in the South China Sea, Manila has pursued similar accords with other nations, notably Japan and France. Since last year, Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships and supporting vessels have engaged in high seas conflicts, resulting in minor crashes and casualties to Philippine naval personnel near disputed shoals in contested waters.

A possible Asian hotspot that may put the United States and China on a collision path if conflicts intensify into a major confrontation, the long-running territorial disputes involve not just China and the Philippines but also Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Frances security cooperation

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Frances security cooperation with the Philippines has been increasing. A French military ship is participating in extensive battle preparedness drills with longstanding treaty allies Manila and Washington, which began on Monday, alongside Philippine and American navy ships in and around the disputed South China Sea.

Abensour reaffirmed Frances commitment to supporting the preservation of the regions overflight, freedom of navigation, and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China voices displeasure

China has voiced its severe disapproval of the exercises, accusing the Philippines of ganging up with non-Asian nations, and has issued a warning that they may spark hostilities and jeopardise regional stability.

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Chinas protest was waved away by the Philippine military, which said that the exercises were not targeted at any one nation but rather were meant to strengthen Manilas territorial defence.
Asserting that country determines which non-citizens it allows to enter, either as short-term travellers or international journalists, the US on Thursday said India can speak about its visa policy and, as such, refrained from commenting on the allegation of denial of visa renewal of an Australian journalist read more

Asserting that country determines which non-citizens it allows to enter, either as short-term travellers or international journalists, the US on Thursday said India can speak about its visa policy and, as such, refrained from commenting on the allegation of denial of visa renewal of an Australian journalist.

On Tuesday, Australian journalist Avani Dias had claimed that she had to leave India abruptly as the government told her an extension of her visa would be denied as her reporting has crossed a line.

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While responding to a question by a Pakistani reporter on allegations of denial of visa renewal to Australian journalist, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, The Government of India can speak to its own visa policy. Thats not something Im going to opine on from here.

#WATCH | Responding to a question by a Pakistani reporter on allegations of denial of Visa renewal to Australian journalist, Avani Dias, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State, Vedant Patel says, "The Government of India can speak to its own visa policy. That's not pic.twitter.com/5FIfM0Jvzd  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2024

Patel further emphasised the role of the free press in the fabric of democracy.

Broadly, we have been clear with countries around the world about the integral role that a free press plays in the fabric of democracy. Thats why we come up here and take questions regularly. But I will let the officials in India speak, he said.

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Avani Dias, an Australian journalist claimed that she was not allowed to cover the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and was compelled to leave the country, however, the sources highlighted that her claims are not correct, misleading and mischievous.

Dias, who worked in India as the South Asia bureau chief for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) since January 2022, left the country last week.

In a post on X, Dias said, After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extensionless than 24 hours before my flight. She added, We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. We left on day one of voting in the national election in what Modi calls the mother of democracy.

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However, an Indian government official who declined to be named described Diass contention that she wasnt allowed to cover Indias general election and was compelled to leave the country as not correct.

She left because she had to meet the timeline for another job offer in Australia. The reason for her leaving was not delay in issuance of visa but personal reasons, Hindustan Times quoted an official as saying.

Meanwhile, at her request, Dias was assured that her visa would be extended for the coverage of the general elections.

The development took place against the backdrop of the removal of Diass documentary on the killing last year of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada from YouTube India.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a diplomatic row by saying there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar.

During the press briefing, Patel also denied making any remark on the internal investigation report by the Indian Government on the alleged assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

#WATCH | On an internal investigation report by the Indian Government on the assassination attempt (alleged assassination plot of Khalistani Terrorist Pannun), Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US Department of State, Vedant Patel says, "I'm not aware of the report that you're pic.twitter.com/VxCTVWNZRT  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2024

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Im not aware of the report that youre referencing. This is ultimately a Department of Justice matter and I will defer to them and let them speak to this, he said.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. He has repeatedly issued threats against India.

As per the US Justice Department indictment, an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who is currently in custody, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun. The US Justice Department had claimed that an Indian government employee, who was not identified in the indictment filed, had recruited Gupta to hire a hitman to allegedly assassinate Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities.

With inputs from agencies
Mitsuko Tottori started her career as a flight attendant in 1985 with Japan Airlines. 30 years later, in 2015, she took charge as senior director of cabin attendants and was steadily promoted through the ranks read more

Merely four months after a collision of a passenger plane in Tokyos Haneda airport, Japan Airlines is back in news, but this time for a good and historic reason. The airline has appointed its first female president and CEO in seven decades  Mitsuko Tottori.

Thats not all though. Tottori, now aged 59, had started her career as a flight attendant in 1985 with Japan Airlines. After almost a four-decade association with Japan Airlines Limited (JAL), she is now heading it, a monumental milestone for women across the world.

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Mitsuko Tottori journey onboard JAL

Tottori began her career with Japan Airlines in 1985 as a cabin crew member. 30 years later, in 2015, she was appointed as the senior director of cabin attendants and was steadily promoted up through the ranks.

Tottori assumed the post of JAL CEO on April 1.

It is worth mentioning that it is unheard of for a former flight attendant to ascend to the top step of an airline. Also, her appointment symbolises a breakthrough in a nation where women encounter significant barriers in career advancement.

Tottoris appointment also comes at a time when Japan has been putting in efforts to ensure men and women are represented equally in top positions in a corporate setting, thus enhancing diversity in top corporate positions.

Source: JAL

Japan ranks poorly in several global gender parity indices, with only 12.9 per cent of senior leadership roles in corporate offices being held by women as of 2023.

For the unversed, less than 1 per cent of Japans major companies are led by women.

How Mitsuko Tottori is different from her predecessors?

Japan Airlines has had 10 men so far holding the top spot, out of which seven studied from prestigious academic institutions and top universities. Tottori, meanwhile, comes from a very different background, compared to them.

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She completed her graduation from a far less prestigious women-only, junior college - Kwassui Womens Junior College in Nagasaki.

Didnt expect

In a conversation with BBC, Tottori said, I dont think of myself as the first woman or the first former flight attendant. I want to act as an individual so I didnt expect to get this much attention.

Source: REUTERS

Will continue to move forward with customer-first mindset

Since joining JAL, I have spent most of my career in the Cabin Attendant Division, the front line of safety and customer service. In addition, as the head of Customer Experience last year, I have continued to think about the value we provide to our customers. I would like to continue to move forward with a customer-first mindset, was quoted as saying by JAL.

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In an interview with CNN, Tottori expressed the need for Japan to set ambitious goals for increasing the number of female managers. She remarked, Japan is still in a place of establishing the initial goal to increase (the number of) female managers. I hope that Japan will soon become a place where people are not surprised when a woman becomes a president.

As per reports, JAL cited Tottoris extensive experience in safe flight operations and her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for her promotion. She officially assumed her role on April 1 amidst challenges such as the aftermath of a flight collision and ongoing safety concerns related to Boeing aircrafts.
Its a moment of a lot of discord in the world and we in America should believe that opinion should be expressed, but nobody should feel threatened. If anything goes over the line and somebody feels individually threatened that something is unacceptable and there will be consequences, said Garcetti read more

As pro-Palestine demonstrations continue unabated at the campuses of major universities in the US, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Friday said that its fair to express opinion but it should not come at the cost of threatening others.

Speaking to ANI news agency, Ambassador Garcetti said, Its a moment of a lot of discord in the world and we in America should believe that opinion should be expressed, but nobody should feel threatened. If anything goes over the line and somebody feels individually threatened that something is unacceptable and there will be consequences.

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#WATCH | Delhi: On being asked about pro-Palestine protests at US universities, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti says, "It's a moment of a lot of discord in the world and we in America should believe that opinion should be expressed, but nobody should feel threatened. If pic.twitter.com/i3f2p9ZWie  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

He said that people do have the right to express their opinions with differences in a peaceful manner.

In a way we can agree to disagree where we can respect each others different opinions and thats what I think the goal for all of us, said the Ambassador.

The protests against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have intensified after over 100 people were arrested at New Yorks Columbia University last week. On Thursday, more than 60 protesters were arrested in just a day, with Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, witnessing 28 arrests, including 20 community members, and 33 at Indiana University.

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On the death of Indian students in the US under different circumstances and steps the US government is taking to prevent these mishaps, Garcetti said that with over 2,40,000 students, there are always going to be tragic incidents, but the effort is to to try to get that number as close to zero.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the death of Indian students in the USA under different circumstances and steps the US government is taking to prevent these mishaps, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti says, "We care so deeply for the well-being of every student, especially our students pic.twitter.com/87OUe4GN5p  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

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We care so deeply for the well-being of every student, especially our students coming to the United States. We want to make sure that they have all the information whether it is mental health care or physical safety and there is one of the resources in all of our college campuses that we want to make sure that Indian students know about before they come to the USA. With over 2,40,000 students, of course, they always going to be tragic incidents, but we want to try to get that number as close to zero as we can, " he added.

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Talking about visa lock problems and visa wait time, he said the US embassy is proud of the work it has done in just one year to reduce the visa wait time by three quarters and to have no visa wait time in any of the categories except for first-time tourist visa, which is down 75 per cent.

We have increased the number of visas with the same number of people by 60 per cent in a single year, so we are hearing that challenge loud and clear. We are excited about the number of Indians who want to come for also reasons from business to students to even immigrant visas people becoming citizens, said Garcetti.

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To a question whether US is planning to launch foreign branch campus in India similar to Australias Deakin University, Garcetti said announcements of dozens of US campuses coming up in India will be made in the coming years.

Absolutely, its my goal to get as many Americans to India as we are seeing Indians come to AmericaYou will see announcements in the coming years of dozens of US campuses; we will have joint campuses, joint programmes here, he said

Citing an example of Arizona State University, which has announced setting up more than 10 different campuses around India, he said this is what the future will look like.

To me, this is what the future is about. Indians know more about the US and the US knows more about Indians, taking the world where we can be multiplicative as India times the US, I think the relationship is not just India plus the US, he added.

With inputs from agencies
In 2018, the Lahore High Court ordered the government to name after Bhagat Singh the Shadman Chowk in Lahore, where he was hanged 93 years ago. read more

The Punjab government of Pakistan requested more time from the high court regarding the issue of renaming Shadman Chowk in Lahore after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

The Lahore High Court (LHC), presided over by Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was hearing a petition filed by the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan. The petition sought contempt proceedings against three top officials of the provincial and district governments for failing to comply with the courts order to rename Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh, issued in 2018.

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In 2018, the LHC had directed the government to rename Shadman Chowk in Lahore in honor of Bhagat Singh, where he was hanged 93 years ago. During the recent hearing, Assistant Advocate General of the Punjab government, Imran Khan, requested more time from the court for the issuance of a notification regarding the renaming. The petitioners counsel, advocate Khalid Zama Kakar, argued that significant delays had already occurred in the matter.

The court granted the governments request for an extension and adjourned the hearing until June 7. The provincial and district governments faced allegations of contempt for willfully disobeying the LHCs order to change the chowks name in 2018.

Bhagat Singh, a prominent figure in the struggle for independence of the Indian subcontinent was executed by British rulers on March 23, 1931 along with Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, after being convicted of conspiring against the regime.

Singh was initially jailed for life but later awarded the death sentence in another fabricated case. Bhagat Singh is respected in the subcontinent not only by Sikhs and Hindus but also by Muslims.
EU officials at a meeting with Chinese diplomats today are likely to inform them about their intention to blacklist more Chinese firms for allegedly buying European-made goods that are not permitted to be sold to Russia and then exporting them to Russian military buyers read more

Accused of propping up Russias war economy, China is likely to see more of its firms being blacklisted over helping Moscow evade EU sanctions.

According to a South China Morning Post report, European Union officials at a meeting with Chinese diplomats today are likely to inform them about their intent to add more Chinese companies to a blacklist for allegedly buying European-made goods that are not permitted to be sold to Russia, then exporting them to Russian military buyers.

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The aim of the meeting is to enlist Beijings help in closing the loopholes, South China Morning Post report quoted people familiar with the planning.

In Berlin on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg slammed China for exporting microelectronics to Russia and helping Moscow with satellite capabilities and imagery.

Last year, Russia imported 90 per cent of its microelectronics from China, used to produce missiles, tanks, and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with improved satellite capabilities and imagery. All of this helps Moscow to inflict more death and destruction on Ukraine, Stoltenberg said.

According to the report, previous discussions of this nature have led to the exclusion of Chinese companies from a preliminary blacklist before its publication, following Beijings commitment to halt the trade.

These earlier dialogues followed an intense period of lobbying in Brussels by Fu Cong, the former Chinese ambassador to the EU, who has since assumed a new position at the United Nations in New York. Fus successor in Brussels has yet to be appointed.

Nevertheless, in February, three mainland Chinese entities and one based in Hong Kong were added to the blacklist for violating EU sanctions, as part of the blocs 13th set of punitive measures targeting Russias military.

As Brussels prepares its 14th set of measures, the inclusion of Chinese entities, alongside some from Hong Kong, reflects a broader group of companies under scrutiny.

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Bloomberg first reported on the latest list, saying that the firms from China have provided Russia with satellite images and other technologies.

Chinas supplying of dual-use goods  products that have military applications  to Russia has been a cause for concern in Europe, as the West looks to support Ukraine on the battlefield. Beijing says it is neutral in the war, now in its third year, but Brussels broadly considers it to have sided with Moscow.

Even apart from Ukraine, Fridays meeting would come at a testy time for EU-China relations, with a series of explosive events piling pressure on bilateral ties all week.

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On Tuesday, EU officials spearheaded dramatic raids on the local offices of Chinese surveillance kit maker Nuctech in Warsaw and Rotterdam.

Officers sought evidence of state subsidies from Beijing, as part of a preliminary investigation under the new EU foreign subsidies regulation. A pipeline of cases is believed to be coming under this tool in the months ahead.

With inputs from agencies
The decision came just days after Ukraine announced that it would be suspending consular services for such men who are now seeking refuge abroad read more

As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, Poland and Lithuania have pledged to help the Ukrainian authorities by returning men who are subjected to military conscription to the country.

The decision came just days after Ukraine announced that it would be suspending consular services for such men who are now seeking refuge abroad.

We have suggested for a long time that we can help the Ukrainian side ensure that people subject to [compulsory] military service go to Ukraine, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polands defence minister, told the local television channel Polsat.

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However, he did not elaborate on what mechanisms would be incorporated to do so. Meanwhile, his Lithuanian counterpart, Laurynas Kasciunas noted that his country is willing to make similar efforts.

Ukraine is very short of mobilisation reserve  This is not fair to those citizens who are fighting for their country, he said on Thursday.

Ukraine faces a shortage of soldiers

Throughout the course of the war, the conflict-stricken nation is struggling to overcome a huge equipment and personnel deficit in comparison with Russian troops at the frontline. In light of this, the parliament passed a new law on mobilisation, which lowers the age at which men can be called up to join forces from 27 to 25.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian foreign ministry announced that it would be suspending consular services for men subject to the draft who are currently living abroad. Shortly after the announcement, there were waves of outrage at consular offices and agencies in Poland.

The Ukrainian men who had booked appointments to pick up documents were told they could not do so, causing even more resentment.

Meanwhile, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insisted that it is unacceptable for the Ukrainian men outside the country to sit down in restaurants, while others are dying. He emphasised that the move was partially taken to demonstrate fairness to those who are struggling at the forefront.

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They dont understand why the government is not trying to bring more people into the war effort, the Kuleba told The Guardian.

Amid the chaos, the Polish parliament is due to consider new regulations next week, which would require all Ukrainians to show their passports to enjoy Polish benefits. Before this, the Ukrainian refugees had been able to do so by just showing any other documents to prove their identity.

The draft text we have seen would cut around 80% of benefits for people without passports, Koodziej said. With this, there may also be questions about whether people without passports can work legally or not. If it will be impossible to get a passport, many of these people may ask for asylum, Koodziej added.

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It is pertinent to note that the Polish government have remained Ukraines most vocal backers in the European Union. However, there has been growing evidence of Ukraine fatigue in Polish society as the war drags on.

I think many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we have to make to help Ukraine, Kosiniak-Kamysz averred.

With inputs from agencies.
During his testimony, Pecker spent hours explaining how he used his position to help Trump kill McDougals story about a 10-month affair she says they had in 2006 read more

While giving his testimony, the former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker told the court that he specifically bought a story from the Playboy model Karen McDougal to bury it so that it does not hamper Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

During his testimony, Pecker spent hours explaining how he used his position to help Trump kill McDougals story about a 10-month affair she says they had in 2006, The Guardian reported. At that time, Pecker was serving as the chief executive of American Media Inc (AMI) which published the Enquirer.

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Pecker went on to admit that AMIs goal was to try and prevent the story from interfering with Trumps campaign. He also emphasised that his team was nervous about whether the payment would violate campaign contribution laws.

The Stormy Daniels saga

The media mogul admitted that the scepticism about the whole ordeal would lead him to decline to help Trumps decision to pay off Stormy Daniels in October 2016.

We didnt want this story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, Pecker said, referring to himself and Michael Cohens actions throughout Trumps presidential campaign. Trumps former fixer eventually paid Daniels $130,000 to keep the matter behind closed doors.

The former President was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up this payment on business records as legal services.

Take it off the market: Pecker to Trump

When the prosecutors asked Pecker to detail how AMI went about paying McDougal $150,000, the former AMI executive emphasised that it was he who asked Trump that the story should be taken off the market.

He recalled a telephonic conversation between him and the business-mogul-turned politician. Trump, Pecker recalls, said Karen is a nice girl and asked Pecker for advice as to whether they should buy her story.

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I think you should buy the story and take it off the market, Pecker recalled telling Trump. He mentioned that while Cohen was nervous about the amount which was being paid to McDougal, he assured Pecker that Trump will take care of it.

Dont worry, Im your friend. The boss will take care of it," Cohen averred.

How Arnold Schwarzeneggers case became a lesson

Pecker emphasised that he had reason to be nervous about making the payment through AMI directly, mentioning the incident that happened with Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He noted that the company once had a problem with a story which a woman sold to AMI. The story was about Arnold Schwarzenegger and AMI was trying to kill it while he was running for governor of California.

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However, the women ended up going public anyway and the authorities investigated AMI for potential campaign contribution violations.

Hence, Pecker confirmed that this time his team consulted with an election law attorney about the mode they were considering paying McDougal for her story. In an agreement made with McDougal, AMI included the language that said she would be doing work for the company, writing a monthly column on ageing and fitness.

The company wanted to make it seem like she was being paid for writing columns for the group.

During the hearing, Pecker emphasised that Trump was worried about McDougal, even after he became the president in 2016. Pecker recalled the two instances in which Trump inquired about her.

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The former President referred to her at a Trump Tower meeting before he took office as our girl. He also asked about her during a meeting with Pecker at the White House.

With this revelation, the court was adjourned and the cross-examination is scheduled to continue on Friday.

With inputs from agencies.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Iranian counterpart Gharaei Ashtiani at a meeting on Friday that Russia is ready to expand military and technical cooperation with Iran. read more

The recent exchange of unprecedented missile attacks between Israel and Iran has momentarily subsided but the unprecedented confrontation between these historical adversaries has raised questions over Russias involvement in the evolving crisis in the West Asia.

Reports from both US and Israeli sources quoted by Bloomberg suggested that Israel conducted an operation targeting Isfahan (Iran) approximately a week ago, destroying a portion of an air-defence system provided by Moscow. In a subsequent development, an Iranian state news agency initially announced the imminent arrival of new fighter jets from Russia only to retract the statement later without providing clarification.

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Today, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Iranian counterpart Gharaei Ashtiani at a meeting on Friday that Russia is ready to expand military and technical cooperation with Iran, the RIA state news agency reported. Contacts between the countries military departments have increased signficantly recently, Shoigu was cited as saying.

The two ministers were attending a meeting in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security grouping that includes Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The suggestion that Iran is sourcing weapons from Russia has raised concerns in Israel about the implications of expanding Moscow-Tehran defense ties  especially at a time when Israel and Iran appear closer than ever to all out war. Israel has its own backer in the US, and plans to use a recently-passed $26 billion aid package from Washington to strengthen its air-defense capabilities.

Russia has been relying on Iran for drones to support its invasion of Ukraine, giving the Islamic Republic leverage to bolster its armory with Russian help. The supplies of the two countries complement each other: Russia needs more drones and missiles, Iran lacks sophisticated air defense systems and fighter jets.
The United States has approved a long-delayed $61 billion military assistance package to Ukraine which comprises air defense systems, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, and other weapons read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia seized the initiative on the battlefield while Ukraine awaited the weapons supplies.

Even as the US has cleared the first tranche of the $61 billion military aid package to Ukraine, the arms and ammunition will take some time to arrive in Ukraine. During this time, Russia is seeking to batter the Ukrainian transport infrastructure that would make it difficult to take deliveries of these Western supplies, according to reports.

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A Ukrainian source told the AFP news agency that Russia has been deliberately targeting the Ukrainian railway infrastructure in recent days to paralyse deliveries and movement of military cargo ahead of a major Russian assault.

These are standard steps ahead of an offensive, said the source.

Zelenskyy said that Russia wants to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region by May 9. The date marks the Russian celebrations of its victory in the World War II. Last week, Russia had claimed victory at a key village near this town.

Russia hitting stations indiscriminately, we can still move forward

In a video meeting with Ukraines international supporters, Zelenskyy on Friday said that Russia was hitting railway stations indiscriminately and dubbed the attacks very primitive.

Zelenskyy further said that while Russia had seized the initiative when the US weapons supplies were delayed because of deadlock in the House of Representatives, Ukraine can still move forward.

While we were waiting for a decision on the American support, the Russian army managed to seize the initiative on the battlefieldWe can still now not only stabilise the front, but also move forward, achieving our Ukrainian goals in the war, said Zelenskyy, as per the AFP.

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Zelenskyy was further quoted as saying that Ukraine needs sufficient and timely support.

Zelenskyy further said, Predatory regimes like Russias are rapidly increasing their appetite for aggression. When they succeed in one part of the world, it creates problems in many other places. Aggression spreads when not stopped.

Zelenskyy also pressed the partners to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems to counter Russian aerial assaults.

This year, Russian jets (have) already used more than 9,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine and we need the ability to shoot down the air combat aircraft so that they do not approach our positions and borders, said Zelensky, as per Reuters.

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Russia steps up attacks on railway infrastructure

The Ukrainian state-run railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, said that three railway staffers were killed and four were injured in a Russian attack in the eastern regions Donetsk province, according to AFP.

The report said that 10 civilians were also injured in a separate attack at Balakliya in the Kharkiv.

Russia has attacked critical infrastructure of Ukraine, such as railways and power stations, since the beginning of the war.

On its part, Russia on Friday said it strikes targeted Western weapons and military equipment being transported by railways, as per the report.
The Danab squad has been a vital component of US-sponsored operations against the extremist organisation al Shabaab, which is affiliated with al Qaeda read more

Somalias government claimed it had suspended and detained seven members of an elite, US-trained commando team for stealing rations donated by the United States, and that it was taking over responsibility for the forces provisions.

The Danab squad has been a vital component of US-sponsored operations against the extremist organisation al Shabaab, which is affiliated with al Qaeda. In February, the US committed to investing over $100 million towards the construction of up to five military sites for Danab.

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The military ministry of Somalia announced late on Thursday that it had informed foreign allies about the theft and will disseminate the findings of its inquiry.

In a statement to Reuters, a US official stated that Washington considers all charges of corruption seriously.

We look forward to engaging with the Danab on creating the necessary safeguards and accountability measures to prevent future incidents that could affect future assistance, the official said, without directly addressing whether any US support had already been suspended.

The United States agreed in 2017 to help train and equip the 3,000-strong Danab to act as a quick reaction strike force against al Shabaab. The group has been waging an insurgency against the central government since 2006.

Danab has been heavily involved in a military offensive by the Somali military and allied clan militias since 2022 that initially succeeded in wresting swathes of territory from al Shabaab in central Somalia.

However, the campaign has lost momentum, with the government-allied forces struggling to hold rural areas and al Shabaab continuing to stage large-scale attacks, including in the capital Mogadishu.

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Washington suspended some defence assistance to Somalia in 2017 after the military was unable to account for food and fuel.

The United States also conducts frequent drone strikes targeting al Shabaab militants.
There have been at least 300 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers on Ukrainians during the ongoing war, according to Ukrainian authorities read more

Ukrainian nationals who suffered sexual violence at the hands of invading Russian forces will start to receive reparation in the coming weeks. The reparations include financial, medical, and psychological support for the victims.

Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska has called the starting of reparations as an important step towards restoring justice.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, accounts of Russian targeting killings and assaults of civilians have surfaced repeatedly. Ukraine has accused Russia of using rape and sexual violence as an instrument of war.

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The reparations are being paid by Global Survivors Fund, an organisation dedicated to providing reparations to victims of conflict-related sexual violence, in partnership with the Ukrainian government and donations from governments of various countries, according to The Guardian.

The report said that they have identified up to 500 Ukrainian victims of wartime sexual violence who are to be provided reparations. Separately, Ukrainian authorities have identified around 300 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers on Ukrainians during the ongoing war, as per The Kyiv Independent.

Justice for Ukrainian victims mirror for world: Ukraines First Lady

Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, has said that the justice for the Ukrainian victims of wartime sexual violence is a mirror for the world.

Reparations to victims of gross human rights violations, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence, are not just about economic support. It is an important step towards restoring justice. And this justice is needed not only in Ukraine. Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror for the world itself, said Zelenska, as per The Guardian.

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Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been vocal about sexual violence in the ongoing war for a long time. In November 2022, she said that Russia was using sexual violence as an instrument of war. She urged the world to hold Russia accountable for alleged violence at the time.

Sexual violence is the most cruel, most animalistic way to prove mastership over someoneThis is another instrument that they [Russian forces] are using as their weaponry. This is another weapon in their arsenal in this war and conflict. Thats why theyre using this systematically and openly, said Zelenska at the time, as per Sky News.

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Zelenska further said that the Ukrainian victims of sexual violence by Russians ranged from an eight-year-old child to an 85-year-old woman.

Ukraine raises wartime sexual violence at UN Security Council

Ukraine on Tuesday raised the issue of alleged Russian sexual violence during the ongoing war at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Ukraines UN envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya told the UNSC that Russia was using sexual violence as a weapon against civilians and prisoners of war, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The report said that Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office has recorded around 300 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian forces since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

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Citing testimonies from people released from Russian captivity, Kyslytsya said more than 50% of detainees suffered torture, rape, or other forms of sexual violence, according to the report. He also cited data with the Ukrainian prosecutors to say that victims include 188 women, 102 men, and 15 minors.
As African nations grapple with power shortages, growing calls for environmentally friendly energy solutions and the vulnerability of hydropower to drought, some are exploring alternative sources of energy including nuclear power. read more

The United States and Russia compete with China, France and South Korea to construct Ghanas inaugural nuclear power plant. The West African nation has joined several others on the continent in considering nuclear energy as a low-carbon alternative to fulfill its electricity needs.

Ghanas decision to install nuclear power is part of its strategy to diversify its energy sources, which currently include hydro, thermal and renewable energy. The winner of the ongoing bidding process will be announced at the end of 2024 by outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo, Stephen Yamoah, executive director of Nuclear Power Ghana told Semafor Africa.

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A target to build the plant by 2030 would be missed because the country still havent settled on a vendor, Yamoah said told Semafor Africa, adding that construction, which is expected to last five years is due to begin in 2026.

South Africa currently hosts the sole nuclear power plant on the African continent, yet countries like Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya have recently unveiled intentions to venture into nuclear energy development. In 2015, Ghana outlined its nuclear ambitions, aiming to inaugurate its first commercial nuclear power facility by 2030.

According to Ghanas energy ministry, electricity demand has surged by 7%10% annually since 2010 while as of 2020, approximately 85% of the population had access to electricity.

Ghana now faces the decision of selecting among various options, including large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors, as it moves forward with its nuclear energy plans.

In Ghana, the challenge of ensuring consistent electricity supply persists, despite significant improvements in generation and access over the past decade. However, inefficiencies in distribution and high demand continue to result in frequent and prolonged power outages, which have been ongoing since last year.

As African nations grapple with power shortages, growing calls for environmentally friendly energy solutions and the vulnerability of hydropower to drought, some are exploring alternative sources of energy including nuclear power.

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Although South Africa currently hosts the continents sole commercial nuclear power plant, a significant number of African countries are contemplating the adoption of nuclear energy. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), nearly one-third of the nearly 30 nations worldwide considering nuclear power are located in Africa.

Countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan have initiated discussions with the IAEA to evaluate their readiness for nuclear energy programs. Additionally, Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia are also contemplating the possibility of nuclear energy adoption, as reported by the agency.

Notably, several sub-Saharan African nations have entered into agreements to explore the deployment of nuclear power, with support from Russia. These agreements, confirmed through public announcements and documented by the World Nuclear Association (WNA), underscore the continents growing interest in diversifying its energy sources.
The 72-year-old was convicted in 2020 of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape read more

Harvey Weinstein at a Manhattan courthouse in New York. New York's highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. File image/AP

Hollywood was left shocked after the New York Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned the conviction of the disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

The court by a 4-3 vote ordered a new trial for the producer whose downfall became the monumental symbol of the #MeToo Movement. The judgement attracted severe criticisms from many with Weinsteins accusers emphasising that they have been disheartened by the whole incident.

The 72-year-old was convicted in 2020 of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, he has maintained his innocence and denied any nonconsensual sexual activity.

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Following the decision, one of the major questions that is emerging is whether Harvey will be freed from jail based on the New York verdict.

Why did the New York court toss the conviction?

The court found that the original trial judge tainted the jurors partiality by allowing other women to testify to the allegations that were not part of the case.

The courts majority insisted that it was an abuse of judicial discretion for Judge James Burke to allow testimony for these women.

Without question, this is appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct that could only diminish the defendants character before the jury, they said.

Meanwhile, Weinsteins attorney Arthur Aidala argued that Burke also swayed the trial by giving prosecutors permission to confront Weinstein. He argued that Weinstein did not want to take to stand but opted out of it not because he would have to answer the question, but because some of these allegations dated back four decades.

Does the judgement mean Weinstein will be released?

It is important to note that the 72-year-old Hollywood producer will continue to remain imprisoned because he is still serving the sentence awarded by the Los Angeles Court in 2022.

Weinstein was facing rape charges in LA and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was serving his time in New York for a separate case.

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The Hollywood mogul was currently imprisoned at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of Albany.

Hence, he could be taken to California to serve his sentence there. However, Weinstein will have to stay in New York while awaiting a new trial if the prosecutor ends up pursuing one.

In the meantime, the hot-shot producers legal team are also planning to appeal the decision in Los Angeles. If the LA courts decision works out in their favour, Weinstein can walk freely.

Weinsteins accusers express anger

Several women who have accused Weinstein of sex crimes or harassment, expressed rage over the New York courts decision.

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Its a terrible reminder that victims of sexual assault just dont get justice, said Katherine Kendall, an actress who accused Weinstein of luring her to what she believed would be a work discussion in 1993. Im completely let down by the justice system right now, she added.

Meanwhile, Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with the allegations stated that the move is unfair to survivors. We still live in our truth, she said. And we know what happened.

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a Filipino Italian model, had accused Weinstein of grabbing her breasts back in 2015 during a business meeting at his office in Manhattan. However, the Manhattan district attorneys office decided not to charge him over the matter.

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After the recent judgement, Gutierrez recalled what happened to her and emphasised how important the case would have been in todays time. If the D.A. had taken my case seriously in 2015, we wouldnt be here, she averred.

With inputs from agencies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, There are still a number of issues that need to be resolved, and there is still room for further efforts read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. During the meeting Xi told Blinken that the worlds two biggest economies should be partners, not rivals.

The two countries should be partners, not rivals, Xi told Blinken, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

During their meeting in Beijings Great Hall of the People, Xi told Blinken that the two countries had made some positive progress since he met with US President Joe Biden last year, but there are still a number of issues that need to be resolved, and there is still room for further efforts.

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The Chinese leader also proposed three major principles: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation for improving ties with the US.

The earth is big enough to hold the common development and prosperity of China and the United States, he further said.

China would be pleased to see a confident and open, prosperous and developing US, Xi said, adding that he hopes the US can also take a positive view of Chinas development."

When this fundamental problem is solved relations can truly stabilise, get better, and move forward, Xi told Blinken, who is in China for the second time in less than a year.

Xi-Blinken meeting comes at a time when the China and the US are toiling to hold together a fractious relationship despite disputes over the economy, national security and geopolitical frictions in the West Asia and Ukraine.

Blinken on three-day China visit

On the second day of this three-day visit, Blinken met more Chinese politicians in the capital Beijing, where the US diplomat said he would directly raise crucial areas of difference including Russia, Taiwan and trade.

Earlier on Friday, Blinken met Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi.

China warns Blinken

During his meeting, Wang Yi warned Blinken that US pressure could trigger a downward spiral after the visiting diplomat raised concerns on issues including support for Russia.

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Both the leaders met at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse. The meeting lasted for more than five and a half hours, in which Wang also warned that the question of self-ruled Taiwan was the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

Negative factors in US-China relationship

Wang Yi also told Blinken that relations between the US and China were beginning to stabilise, especially after Biden and Xi met in November near San Francisco, but at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building.

Chinas legitimate right to development is being unreasonably repressed and Chinas core interests are constantly challenged, Wang said, reflecting concerns about US export controls on advanced technology and military support for Taiwan.

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Meanwhile, Blinken described his talks with Wang Yi extensive and constructive.

According to the State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken in his meeting with Wang Yi raised concern about Chinas support for Russia, which has rapidly rebuilt its military base two years into its invasion of Ukraine.

In the start of his meeting with Wang, Blinken said China and the US should manage the relationship responsibly. He went on to says that he hopes China and the US make some progress on the issues our presidents agreed on at the California summit.

The two countries should be as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences  at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations, Blinken said.

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That really is a shared responsibility that we have not only for our own people, but for people around the world, given the impact that our relationship has, he added.

With inputs from agencies


BJP National President J. P. Nadda Launching a scathing attack against the Congress and INDIA bloc, BJP National President J. P. Nadda on Friday said the opposition's "hidden agenda" is to "snatch" the rights of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other backward classes and give them to Muslims. Appeasement politics of the opposition is evident in the Congress Manifesto, the BJP president said.



He said, "BJP does not want Muslims to be neglected, but they should not take undue advantage at the expense of other communities."



"The Congress says that Muslims have the first right to the country's resources, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that they belong to the poor," he added.



"In December 2006, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remark on Muslims having the first right to the country's resources was not inadvertent. It was as an intentional statement as during a press conference in April 2009, while replying to a question in Mumbai, Manmohan Singh once again justified and reiterated his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority, and they should have first right to the country's resources," he said.



Claiming misrepresentations in Sachar Committee's report, he said the condition of Muslims has been portrayed as even worse than Dalits in it, which means that Congress had already laid the groundwork for declaring Muslims as Scheduled Castes to give them the benefits of SC reservation," he said.



The BJP National President alleged that the Congress has stated in its manifesto that there is no place for majoritarianism in the country, which means that they have "extreme hatred" towards the SCs, STs, and OBCs because the majority population in the country belongs to these poor classes.



"The Congress has a long-standing habit of robbing their (poor classes) rights," he said, adding that "Jawaharlal Nehru always stood by Muslims".



The BJP National President targeted the Congress, citing several steps taken by the previous Congress governments at the Centre and in the incumbent government led by the grand old party in various states for "appeasement politics".






Two terrorists killed in encounter in J&K's Sopore Two terrorists were killed while a civilian and two soldiers were injured in the ongoing gunfight between the security forces and holed-up militants in Sopore town of J&Ks Baramulla district on Friday. Security forces, including the local police, Army and the CRPF started a cordon and search operation in the Nowpora locality of Sopore town on Thursday after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there.



Officials said as the security forces closed on the hiding terrorists, they fired at the surrounding security forces triggering an encounter.



Two soldiers were initially injured when the terrorists fired at the security forces. One civilian also received a shoulder gunshot injury.



The injured were immediately shifted to hospital where doctors said that their condition was stable.



Two terrorists have been killed in this ongoing gunfight. Their identity is yet to be ascertained. The operation is going on against the terrorists in the area, officials said.




ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State Universitys newest security measure is winning hearts on campus.

Priss is a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever specially trained to find firearms and certain explosives.

It gives me a little bit more peace of mind knowing that we have a gun-sniffing dog on campus, said Arjay Farmer, an SC State sophomore majoring in political science. I think my main concern is that its been so common that someone just pops up with a gun anywhere.

So, the fact that we have a precaution like this makes me think, OK, weve got something that will keep that from happening so often, he said.

Farmer said he had learned about the recent fatal shooting at Delaware State University, which shares SC States position as a historically Black college or university (HBCU).

Since we have the dog, it will help make things like that preventable, Farmer said. I know there will always be cases where craziness happens, but if you can make things where theyre not as common, theres nothing wrong with that.

Priss was trained using vapor wake technology, meaning she has been conditioned to recognize vapors that emit from gun powder and certain types of explosives. Her presence works both to stop incidents before they start by detecting guns and to deter people from bringing guns to campus.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, a dog's sense of smell is a million times more sensitive than a humans. Canines can be trained to detect a wide variety of specific odors, such as explosives, humans, drugs, and even fruits and vegetables. Dogs are trained to alert to the presence of these odors with a learned response such as sitting or lying quietly.

Trained dogs have been added to security and law enforcement agencies around the country, including the University of South Carolina and other colleges and universities. SC State President Alexander Conyers was especially familiar with the dogs capabilities. One of Conyers many positions in the U.S. Army was the chief officer for military working dogs, which included coordinating the procurement, training, certification and deployment of such dogs.

Priss handler is Lt. LaVar Johnson, a three-year veteran of SC States Campus Police Department, who spent a month learning how to work with Priss at a training facility in Alabama before bringing her to Orangeburg for duty.

For me, its mainly about the safety and security of these students, Johnson said. Dealing with individuals who want to carry firearms for no apparent reason, to me Priss is making a safer environment for these students.

As a dog lover, Johnson had long aspired to establish a K-9 policing unit, so Priss afforded him a chance to add to his legacy in service to SC State.

I have nine years left until I retire, he said. I just want to be able to look back in life and say I made it a long way. It means a lot to say that I am a part of a great institution as this, to leave something in my name here means I am part of something greater.

Priss has been embraced wholeheartedly by the SC State force.

Everybody loves her, and shes fun to play with, Capt. Africa Wells said. Shes really, really fast. She loves belly rubs, and she loves her little ball.

Some students are terrified of her simply because shes a dog, but other students who absolutely adore dogs, they love the fact that they can pet her, she said. Shes very friendly. When shes not in work mode, shes their best friend.

Having Priss in service also offers Wells some peace of mind as a leader. When shes away from campus, Priss is there to help protect the officers, as well as students.

It creates a sense of security for me, as well, because when Im not able to be here, shes the added security that we need, Wells said. Its like having an extra pair of eyes on campus.

If our officers happen to encounter a weapon or anything like that, they will have eyes on it before it can even be utilized, she said.

Jordan Price, a sophomore biology major from Augusta, Georgia, was glad to meet Priss.

For me as a student, I think she keeps us safe because shootings are unsafe for everyone, Price said. We should be able to feel safe at our own university. I dont think anyone should be hurt over a gun.

The dog is one of numerous safety and security measures SC State has implemented over the last two years. Other measures have included installing emergency call boxes and about 700 video cameras on campus, employing additional sworn officers, contracting more security personnel, and adding extra patrols on campus.
Israeli police block activists and a delegation of American and Israeli rabbis from Rabbis for Ceasefire who marched toward the Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip with food aid for Gaza civilians, calling for a permanent cease-fire, in southern Israel on Friday. Maya Alleruzzo/Associated Press

Ayelet Waldman, a famed Berkeley author, was arrested and released Friday after protesting the war with a group of American rabbis at the Erez Crossing, the border between Israel and Gaza.

Waldmans husband, novelist Michael Chabon, initially announced her arrest on social media.

Chabon, an award-winning novelist and author, posted a video of Waldman being detained by Israeli police officers as the protesting group, Rabbis for Ceasefire, approached the border.

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Ayelet Waldman, a Berkeley author, was arrested Friday at the the border between Israel and Gaza while protesting the war with a group of American rabbis. Mike Kepka/The Chronicle 2005

Rabbis for Ceasefire confirmed the arrests on Instagram, writing that Waldman, three American rabbis, and three Israeli peace activists were arrested during the demonstration. A delegation of 11 American rabbis, several Israeli rabbis, and other Israeli Jews participated in the event in an attempt to bring food aid to Gaza.

An hour later, Chabon posted a screenshot of the location of Waldmans iPhone that showed she was at an industrial area in Sderot, an Israeli city less than a mile from Gaza. By Friday afternoon, Chabon posted an update stating that Waldman and all of the other protesters had been released.

Chabon did not immediately return a request for comment.

The videos Chabon shared to Instagram depict the precursor to the arrests, where Waldman and a group marched to the border, with Israel police officers trailing them and later blocking them from going forward.

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PalmadexChannel at 26-04-2024 11:43 AM (5 months ago) (m) NIGERIAN ARMY SALUTES MAZI OSITA IHEME FOR CONTRIBUTING TO EFFORTS AIMED AT PROMOTING UNITY, PEACE, STABILITY IN NIGERIA



www.scrollreport.com



Mazi Osita Iheme MFR also known as Pawpaw, a peaceful, accomplished and globally celebrated Nigerian has been an advocate for unity, peace and stability in Nigeria over the years. He has been actively engaging with various platforms to promote unity and understanding among different groups in the country. His efforts have been focused on fostering dialogue and finding common ground for the betterment of all Nigerians.



During the 2023 general election, Mazi Osita Iheme was seen engaging with various media personalities, including those associated with IPOB. His interactions were open, devoid of any misgiving and clearly aimed at understanding different perspectives and promoting peaceful coexistence. His willingness to engage with diverse voices demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity and understanding.



Recently, Mazi Osita Iheme was invited by the Nigerian military to participate in a social media seminar in Aba, Abia State. His participation in the seminar was a reflection of his desire to contribute positively to the media landscape and promote responsible communication. His intention was to share his insights and promote constructive dialogue, in line with his advocacy for peace and stability in Nigeria.



Mazi Osita Iheme's engagement with the seminar was a genuine effort to bridge communication gaps and promote understanding. His actions were not driven by ulterior motives, but rather by a sincere desire to contribute to the discourse in a constructive and meaningful way.



As a patriotic Nigerian, Mazi Osita Iheme remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians. His efforts are focused on promoting unity, understanding, and peaceful coexistence, and he continues to work assiduously towards a better future for the country.



The Nigerian Army salutes Mazi Osita Iheme's contributions to the pursuit of unity, peace and stability in Nigeria.



ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

26 April 2024 Mazi Osita Iheme MFR also known as Pawpaw, a peaceful, accomplished and globally celebrated Nigerian has been an advocate for unity, peace and stability in Nigeria over the years. He has been actively engaging with various platforms to promote unity and understanding among different groups in the country. His efforts have been focused on fostering dialogue and finding common ground for the betterment of all Nigerians.During the 2023 general election, Mazi Osita Iheme was seen engaging with various media personalities, including those associated with IPOB. His interactions were open, devoid of any misgiving and clearly aimed at understanding different perspectives and promoting peaceful coexistence. His willingness to engage with diverse voices demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity and understanding.Recently, Mazi Osita Iheme was invited by the Nigerian military to participate in a social media seminar in Aba, Abia State. His participation in the seminar was a reflection of his desire to contribute positively to the media landscape and promote responsible communication. His intention was to share his insights and promote constructive dialogue, in line with his advocacy for peace and stability in Nigeria.Mazi Osita Iheme's engagement with the seminar was a genuine effort to bridge communication gaps and promote understanding. His actions were not driven by ulterior motives, but rather by a sincere desire to contribute to the discourse in a constructive and meaningful way.As a patriotic Nigerian, Mazi Osita Iheme remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians. His efforts are focused on promoting unity, understanding, and peaceful coexistence, and he continues to work assiduously towards a better future for the country.The Nigerian Army salutes Mazi Osita Iheme's contributions to the pursuit of unity, peace and stability in Nigeria.ONYEMA NWACHUKWUMajor GeneralDirector Army Public Relations26 April 2024

Post Reply Distinguished member of the United Nations' World Trade Organisation, the ICC and has its export destinations to US, UK, Vietnam, Nicaragua, UAE, Isreal etc. Palmadex Group currently has International Operational base in Vietnam and Dubai. Posted: at 26-04-2024 11:43 AM (5 months ago) | Newbie
Smart technologies take center stage at Beijing auto show

Global Times) 10:47, April 26, 2024

A product launch event for Ji Yue Automobile at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 25 Photo: Zhang Yiyi/GT

Smart technologies in the auto industry chain are featuring at the ongoing Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to autonomous driving.

Tencent released a large-scale model of its "global intelligence" solution for the automotive industry on Wednesday, covering core scenarios including automotive R&D, production, marketing, services, and enterprise collaboration.

Tencent also released plans related to the smart car cloud, smart cockpits and other aspects. The company also said it has provided autonomous driving cloud services to companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, and NVIDIA.

We are actively exploring the innovative applications of cutting-edge technologies such as AI large models in various scenarios of the automotive industry, said Tang Daosheng, a senior executive vice president of Tencent.

Intelligent AI technology is one of our core operations, Chen Sisi, a PR representative for Ji Yue Automobile, told the Global Times on Thursday.

A product launch event by Geely at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 25 Photo: Zhang Yiyi/GT

In August last year, Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group unveiled Ji Yue as a new premium intelligent technology brand. It stems partly from Geely's cooperation with Baidu Inc on automotive robotics, Reuters reported.

Ji Yue said at the auto show that starting from 2026, its models will be equipped with NVIDIAs new generation in-vehicle computing platform NVIDIA DRIVE Thor.

Market watchers said that cross-industry collaboration in chips, batteries and AI technology have become driving forces for the auto industry.

Companies such as CATL, Huawei and iFLYTEK showcased their components and high-tech products, ranging from traditional automotive parts to new energy and intelligent connected products.

With the entry of Huawei, Xiaomi, CATL and other tech giants, the automotive industry's drive toward intelligence and technology will accelerate even further, which will intensify competition in China's auto industry, market watchers said.

Just before the exhibition, several car manufacturers announced partnerships with prominent tech companies. For instance, GAC Group said that multiple models from its GAC Motor brand are already equipped with Huawei's intelligent cockpit, and there are plans to introduce Huawei's advanced intelligent driving assistance systems to GAC vehicles in the future.

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD released a new strategy for intelligent development earlier this year and is demonstrating a number of cutting-edge intelligent technologies.

A product launch event by Geely at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 25 Photo: Zhang Yiyi/GT

In the future, vehicle intelligence will be the main development direction but electrification is vital for intelligent driving, the company told the Global Times.

European rivals are becoming scared and are running to move at the same pace as Chinese carmakers, because the domestic products are really stylish and high-tech, with reliable performance, a visitor at the auto show from London told the Global Times.

The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition is Chinas largest auto show. It kicked off in Beijing on Thursday following a four-year hiatus for its offline event.

Automakers from China and abroad are set to unveil 117 new models versus 93 at last year's show, while a total of 278 NEVs will be on display, seven more than last year, according to the organizers.

Chinese electric carmaker Nio is presenting technologies including smart energy, smart manufacturing, chips and vehicle-mounted intelligent hardware, as well as its fully liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging pile.

In November 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with three other ministries, issued a notice on conducting pilot programs for intelligent connected vehicles. These initiatives aim to guide manufacturers to enhance their capabilities, ensure safety, and promote the high-quality development of the intelligent connected vehicle industry.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Student demonstrators sit in front of a barricade Wednesday at Siemens Hall on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus in Arcata. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle Students and instructors listen to speakers at a faculty teach-in on the Cal Poly Humboldt university quad Wednesday. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle Pro-Palestinian demonstrators face off with police Monday at Cal Poly Humboldt. Andrew Goff/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupying a building Monday at Cal Poly Humboldt. Andrew Goff/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold up signs while occupying a building Monday at Cal Poly Humboldt. Andrew Goff/Associated Press

ARCATA, Humboldt County  Cal Poly Humboldt abruptly closed its campus Friday through the remainder of the school year after the occupation of an academic and administrative building by pro-Palestinian activists.

Since Monday, hundreds of students have occupied Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East at the university in Arcata. Students at the university used furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block entrances to the buildings in solidarity with those facing genocide in Gaza, according to a statement from the organizers.

On Friday, some students continued occupying the buildings in defiance of the universitys 5 p.m. deadline to peacefully clear out  or face arrests and discipline by the university. Others had left the buildings and remained on campus to continue their protest.

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Im here to support (Palestinians), and I think its the least someone can do to hope for a cease-fire and stop the violence that Israel is perpetuating against Gaza and Palestinians, said Kieran, a Jewish student who identified themselves only by their first name, standing in the quad outside Siemens Hall on Friday evening.

In an email sent to students, administrators announced that academic instruction and work are now being conducted remotely until the end of the semester on May 10. The closure was attributed to the occupation of the buildings, coupled with the inability to open other campus facilities, prompting an abrupt change in plans.

The front of a barricade at Cal Poly Humboldt serves as a food and resource distribution point for protesters and their supporters. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

Since Monday night, protesters have attempted several times to break into multiple locked buildings with the intention of either locking themselves in, vandalizing, or stealing equipment, the email read. Vandalism and theft have continued across campus.

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Officials also reported the discovery of hateful graffiti targeting the Jewish community in at least two locations over the past few days. The campus administration estimates that the campus has suffered millions of dollars in damages.

Inside Siemens Hall, the walls were covered with graffiti, including Free Gaza, Property damage does not = violence and Brutalizing protestors IS violence.

Students at Cal Poly Humboldt, Stanford, UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California have occupied campus spaces this week, urging university leadership to endorse a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and divest from companies supporting the Israeli military. This action aligns with demonstrations at numerous college campuses nationwide. But the Humboldt campus appeared to be the only one shut down completely in response.

Students set up a tent Wednesday at Cal Poly Humboldt to protest Israels war with Hamas. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

Occupy Cal Poly Humboldt, the group leading the demonstration, alleged in a social media post that the school administration was seeking any pretext, even a false one, to justify the use of state and federal forces against the occupiers. The group said protesters were beaten bloody during a clash with authorities Monday night that resulted in several arrests.

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The school leadership stated that through its environmentally and socially responsible investment policies, the universitys endowment investments do not include direct investments in defense companies, Israeli securities or firms associated with defense. Additionally, Cal Poly Humboldt has no current ties with Israeli universities, the leaders say.

Campus authorities extended temporary amnesty to the occupiers via email Friday, granting them until 4 p.m. to vacate the buildings to avoid arrest.

In addition, voluntarily departing in this way will be considered as a mitigating factor in University conduct processes and may reduce the severity of sanctions imposed, the message read.

On Thursday, the executive board of the Cal Poly Humboldt chapter of the California Faculty Association passed a vote of no-confidence in University President Tom Jackson and his chief of staff, Mark Johnson, citing dissatisfaction with their handling of the protests.

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The protests came more than six months after an attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel, according to Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for the countrys foreign ministry. Israels counteroffensive attacks in Gaza have led to nearly 35,000 deaths, according to the latest count from the Palestinian health ministry.

Students and faculty move around protesters Wednesday on the university quad at Cal Poly Humboldt. Alexandra Hootnick/Special to the Chronicle

On Friday night, Rabbi Bob Rottenberg led a Sabbath ceremony, or festive meal, and expressed hope for peace on the campus. At the start of the ceremony, about 25 people gathered around a folding table near Seimens Hall. Rottenberg spoke to the group and distributed grape juice and matzah, or flatbread. The group later joined in song together.

Im glad to see students exercising their rights to protest, to gather, hopefully, peacefully, Rottenberg said. I am not taking a side in this. We came to bring the peace of the Sabbath to this campus. It clearly needs some peace. The Sabbath is not a partisan issue. We were very well received, I was happy to be here.

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Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Strengthening security is a priority for NATO Allies

Poland - Ministry of National Defence

23.04.2024

On Tuesday, April 23rd, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg visited the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade.

After the meeting between the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk and the British delegation, the deputy Prime Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz met bilaterally with the Defence Secretary.

The chiefs of Defense Ministries were discussing the development of military cooperation and security in the region.

- It was another concrete discussion with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps about the development of military cooperation and security in the region. Great Britain is one of our strategic partners. British anti-air Sky Sabre system is deployed in Poland. Our soldiers ensure the safety of the eastern flank together in Bemowo Piskie. Solidarity and cooperation are the foundation of effective countering of threats

- the head of Polish Ministry of National Defence wrote after the talks.

- Soldiers stationed in Poland are a manner of message that NATO will defend its allies. (...). Security is not a regional matter, but a global one. We have to act together with the partners that share our values in order to deliver transatlantic security

- stressed the Secretary General of NATO J. Stoltenberg.

The deputy Prime Minister K. Kosiniak-Kamysz, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom R. Sunak and Defence Secretary G. Shapps have met with the Polish and British soldiers that cooperate as a multinational eFP battallion battle group.

***

Great Britain is one of Poland's key partners in the field of modernizing the Polish Armed Forces. British defence technologies are used in Polish short-range anti-air systems "Little Narew" armed with CAMM missiles, and in construction of the Polish "Swordfish" frigate, among others. We also cooperate on the DIAMOND programme - aimed at strengthening the potential of anti-air and anti-missile defence.

British anti-air Sky Sabre system, deployed in order to strengthen the allied air defence system, is stationed in Poland as part of our military cooperation. The British component is also an important part of bolstering NATO's eastern flank in the framework of a NATO battallion battle group, stationed in Bemowo Piskie.

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21st Theater Sustainment Command sets theater for first time in Norway

By Maj. Vonnie Wright April 24, 2024

NARVIK, Norway -- The 21st Theater Sustainment Command and 598th Transportation Brigade of the Army's Surface Deployment Distribution Command, alongside their Norwegian Allies makes history today by setting the theater for the first time here during the Defender 2024 exercise April 24, 2024.

The act of setting the theater requires the 21st TSC to rapidly deploy equipment and Soldiers to the point of need during any potential crisis or conflict, enabling units to conduct their mission. Being able to strategically diversify host nation seaports and airports throughout Europe and testing their transportation networks' capabilities gives the United States Army Europe and Africa commander options during any mission set to best employ forces.

Under the combined efforts of the U.S. Army and their Norwegian counterparts, over 500 pieces of equipment were delivered to Narvik, a vital port city in what is considered the "high north" within Europe. The operation aims to enhance strategic readiness and strengthen the alliance between the United States and one of NATO's oldest and founding members, Norway.

This strategic and historic movement took a lot of joint planning between 16th Sustainment Brigade; 21st TSC; 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division; 598th Trans. Bde. and the Norwegian Armed Forces. The final multinational rehearsal and conditions check involving all parties the day prior was crucial to both the execution today and the future onward movement of every piece of equipment to Allies in Finland.

Maj. Gen. Ronald Ragin, commanding general, 21st TSC, emphasized the importance of working together in the high north during Defender 2024. Ragin's key points were the importance of readiness and interoperability when setting the theater, providing logistics to the point of need and being ready for any future crisis within this theater together.

"We need to get drivers on different terrain, in different environments and working with our coalition partners," said Ragin. "That's how we build readiness with our allies and partners. We have to adapt to different conditions together. I want LT's [lieutenants] -- if we had to go to war tomorrow,-- to be able to drive off the port into combat-comfortable with their equipment, comfortable with their vehicles and drivers on different terrain, familiar with their tactical systems and knowing how to work with their coalition partners. That should be the end state of this exercise."

That is exactly what the 10th Mountain Division Soldiers from southern Louisiana, with last week's temperatures ranging in the 70s, prepared for as they work in below freezing conditions in Norway. Not only did the team recon the route, spend time on the terrain and train with their Allies and partners getting to know different tactical systems for interoperability, but they especially prepared for the cold weather.

"Our brigade surgeon is awesome," said Capt. Giulio Zampogna, physician assistant, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. "The terrain is different and we're most concerned with rollovers , head injuries, frostbite, hypothermia and other cold weather injuries that could happen while conducting onward movement in these conditions. We feel comfortable because at the multinational rehearsal, training with our Allies and establishing preventive measures for each scenario, we provided readiness for operations in Narvik."

With safety conditions set, the port of Narvik was a hive of activity as personnel from the Army, Navy and their Norwegian partners worked alongside one another to ensure the download of equipment and prepare for onward movement by both rail and convoy by the appropriate host nation and joint military protocol.

Often during missions such as this, once equipment leaves the ramp of a vessel, it immediately belongs to the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st TSC for onward movement to its final destination.

Capt. Michael Murphy, 627th Transportation Detachment, 39th Movement Control Battalion, trained and rehearsed with his Norwegian Allies and 10th Mtn. Div. Soldiers to ensure the future movement to Finland is seamless and exactly how they would transport equipment in combat.

"It's important that we all have the same paper and digital products," said Murphy. "Our Allies and partners are all on the same system and we all have the same tracking capabilities in our headquarters for manning and equipment. The biggest challenge is always tying in to the right people. Once you have everyone in the same room, we make the right teams with the right people all together. We're all really excited to do maintenance and make this move together, especially with Sweden being a new NATO partner. It's exciting and we're ready to push this equipment to the Soldiers that need it."

The successful completion of this port operation in Narvik will symbolize the commitment between the U.S. Army and their Norwegian Allies to safeguarding freedom and security. It serves as a testament to the enduring partnership and shared values that unite the United States and Norway in promoting peace and stability globally.

Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter, commanding general, 7th Army Training Command, cemented the purpose of this partnership and deterrence mission with our NATO Allies in the high north.

"This is a first, we've never brought a brigade combat team through Narvik," said Carpenter. "So, as you can imagine, with the ascension of Finland, and then now Sweden, right, we now have created a shield in the high north for NATO. From a NATO perspective, it's strengthened Norway because Norway has these ports, you're able to receive formations, you're able to stage them and then move them forward. What we want this to do for us is to demonstrate that we can move U.S. Army combat formations, in this case, a brigade combat team, into the high north to defend our brothers and sisters in in the high north. We always like to say we want to assure our allies and our partners and we want to deter our adversaries. I'd like to say in totality, that this exercise in totality demonstrates that the United States Army can deploy all across Europe and Africa. And I like to say that's a pretty credible deterrence."

DEFENDER is a Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercise that consists of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO's Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD's Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

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Adam Schiff gives his speech at a Burlingame dinner without a suit on Thursday after thieves broke into his car in San Francisco and took his luggage. Courtesy of Lee Houskeeper

Hello to the city, goodbye to your luggage. That was U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schiffs rude introduction to San Franciscos vexing reputation for car burglaries Thursday when thieves swiped the bags from his car while it sat in a downtown parking garage.

The heist meant the Democratic congressman got stuck at a fancy dinner party in his shirt sleeves and a hiking vest while everyone else sat in suits. Not quite the look the man from Burbank was aiming for as he rose to thank powerhouse attorney Joe Cotchett for his support in his bid to replace the late Dianne Feinstein.

I guess its Welcome to San Francisco,  Cotchetts press agent Lee Houskeeper, who was at the dinner, remarked dryly.

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Schiffs car had been parked in the garage while he visited the area for a couple of days of appearances, which included a jaunt south to Burlingame for the dinner at Ristorante Rocca.

Cotchett said Schiff was unruffled by the kerfuffle, and carried on as though everything was fine.

Adam really showed himself tonight, Cotchett said. Hell be a great senator  hes going to change the Senate tremendously.

The congressman told the Chronicle he didnt want to dwell on his nasty turn of luck.

Yes, they took my bags, he said calmly. But Im here to thank Joe.

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Schiff is well familiar with the city: He went to high school in Danville and rolled through the Bay Area many times as an increasingly key member of the California congressional delegation for 23 years. But falling victim to thieves isnt in the usual frame of reference for accomplished politicians.

Car burglaries in the city have gained a national reputation as a scourge in recent years, and though they apparently are declining, the image is tough to shake. Crime statistics this week showed larceny  the type of theft that includes auto burglaries  plunged by 35% in the first quarter of 2024.

The congressman told Houskeeper hed been warned to not leave anything in the car, but apparently he was in a hurry and didnt want to be late, the press agent said.

Maybe he can go out with Willie Brown to choose a new suit from one of the many fine clothing establishments in San Francisco, Houskeeper cracked. Willie knows them all. The former mayor is known for his fine taste in suits.
April 24, 2024

Release

Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on a Department of Defense Delegation to Niger

Per the U.S. State Department, U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command Director of Strategy, Engagement and Programs, will meet with National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP) officials April 25 in Niamey, Niger to initiate discussions on an orderly and safe withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger. Subsequently, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier and Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Staff Director for Joint Force Development, will conduct follow-up meetings in Niamey next week, to coordinate the withdrawal process in a transparent manner and with mutual respect.

The Department of Defense remains committed to countering violent extremist organizations in West Africa. DoD will continue to support whole-of-government approaches to work with African leaders to maintain stability and address terrorist threats in the region, including addressing core issues that drive insecurity.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3755231/

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On the Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Niger

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

April 24, 2024

As part of ongoing U.S. government negotiations with the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP), U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon and Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director of Strategy, Engagement and Programs for U.S. Africa Command, will meet with CNSP officials in Niamey on April 25 to initiate discussions on an orderly and responsible withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger. In the week of April 29, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier and Lieutenant General Dag Anderson, the Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff, will hold follow up meetings in Niamey to coordinate that withdrawal process with transparency and mutual respect.

The United States is proud of the security cooperation and shared sacrifice of U.S. forces and Nigerien forces, a partnership which effectively contributed to stability in Niger and the region. Amid discussion underway since July 2023, we have been unable to reach an understanding with the CNSP to continue that security cooperation in a manner that addresses the needs and concerns of each side. The United States welcomes CNSP interest in maintaining a strong bilateral relationship. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell will travel to Niamey in the coming months to discuss ongoing collaboration in areas of joint interest. The United States reaffirms our support for the Nigerien people as they combat terrorism, develop the country's economy, and transition to democratic rule.



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April 25, 2024

Transcript

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right, good afternoon, everyone. Just a few things at the top.

First of all, we want to welcome all the young people, yourselves included, who are working with their parents today at the Pentagon as part of our annual Take A Child To Work Day. It's estimated that we have somewhere near 10,000 young guests here today, and it's been exciting to have their energy and their voices echoing in the corridors of the Pentagon. I'm pretty sure I've seen a few kids with light-up shoes that make them run faster, so I've reached out to the Defense Innovation Unit to talk about that.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Secretary Austin will convene the 21st Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting here virtually. The meeting will commemorate the two-year anniversary of the first Contact Group following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Over the past two years, the Contact Group has shown its unity and resolve, as evidenced by the continuing support and donations made by our international partners and allies. Additionally, the Contact Group continues its work with Ukraine to help it move towards development of a robust, efficient, and self-reliant defense industry. We'll have additional updates to provide following tomorrow's meeting.

Switching gears to Africa, as you've seen the U.S. State Department announce, U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon and Major General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command Director of Strategy, Engagement and Programs, will meet with the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland officials today in Niamey, Niger to initiate discussions on an orderly and safe withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger.

Subsequently, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson, Joint Staff Director for Joint Force Development, will conduct follow-up meetings in Niamey next week to coordinate the withdrawal process in a transparent manner and with mutual respect. We'll be sure, of course, to keep you updated regarding any significant developments.

In the meantime, the Department of Defense remains committed to countering violent extremist organizations in West Africa. The department will continue to support whole of government approaches to work with African leaders to maintain stability and address terrorist threats in the region, including addressing core issues that drive insecurity.

Separately, as an update for our humanitarian assistance support operations to establish the maritime corridor off the coast of Gaza, I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea. We're aware of the significant interest in this important effort and we'll provide much more information in the very near future as we work alongside the international community to rush aid to the people of Gaza.

And finally, Friday will be the last day in the Pentagon for acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker. We want to thank her for her superb leadership within the Department of Defense and for her service to our nation. On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

And as we previously announced, Ms. Amanda Dory, a civil - a career civil servant who currently serves as the Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at National Defense University, will perform the duties of acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy when Undersecretary Baker departs.

With that, I'll be glad to take your questions. We'll go to Tara at AP.

Q: Thanks, General Ryder. Back to AFRICOM - so it's almost 8:00 now in Niamey. So have you gotten any readouts on how those initial meetings went? And would this mean the complete, total departure of all U.S. forces or are some of those terms still being - being negotiated?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I don't have a readout to provide. Of course, again, we'll keep you updated as - as things progress here. And in terms of the withdrawal of U.S. forces, again, really not able to go beyond what I've provided right now, which is that they will begin discussing the orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces. So what that pertains in terms of timelines, numbers, again, we'll keep you updated.

Q: But is the assumption that it will be that all U.S. forces will go, or is - are there - is there still room ...

GEN. RYDER: I think that's a safe bet as the going in assumption. Yep.

Q: OK. And then on Chad, similarly, have - are U.S. forces withdrawing from Chad? And is this all of the U.S. forces there, approximately 100 or so? And - and why?

GEN. RYDER: So as I understand it, as talks continue with Chadian officials, USAFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some U.S. military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart. This is a temporary step as part of a ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad's May 6 presidential election.

So again, we'll keep you updated. I would refer you to State Department to discuss, you know, the diplomatic sides of this, but that's where we stand right now.

Oren?

Q: A follow-up on Niger and then a different question on - on Gaza and JLOTS.

The withdrawal appears maybe not imminent but at least fairly imminent. Niger was a critical base for AFRICOM ISR in monitoring violent extremist organizations. Does the Pentagon have a location to move those forces? And - and if so, is that location ready or - or are those forces for now coming back to the United States and there is no alternative to Niger?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, well as I highlighted, I mean, first of all, we are committed to countering VEOs in West Africa. And as you know, we do maintain a robust network of partners, and we will continue to consider all options when it comes to accomplishing our CT mission.

You know, the bottom line is that we will continue to monitor threats throughout the Sahel in order to protect our personnel, our assets, and our interests, as well as the welfare of our partners. So we're going to continue to explore options, understanding that - that this is an important national security interest and a vital mission.

Q: How much is the CT mission setback without something like a general understanding, ready to go?

GEN. RYDER: Well, you know, certainly, when you look at the size of Africa and you when you look at the threats, you know, the preference would be able to have the ability to operate out of places like Niger. But, of course, we have other means and methods that we can do that.

So, all that to say, again we understand the importance of the CT mission. And we will explore options to ensure that we can continue to do that, albeit, maybe perhaps through other means and methods. But importantly, working in close partnership with African partners in the region.

Q: And then a very quick last question. A few mortar rounds landed near the pier site. Has that changed the timeline for construction there? And has it compelled the U.S. to consider a different pier site or different defensive measures associated with the construction?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. The incident in no way delays our efforts to establish the maritime corridor.

Q: Any sense when the corridor will be up and running? You talked about the first week of May.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So, all indications right now, Tom, are that we're on track. I think, you know, earlier, I'd said probably looking at end of April, early May. I think indications now we're realistically early May. But everything is on course at this point. So, keep you posted.

Liz, did you have question?

Q: My question was asked already.

GEN. RYDER: OK. All right. Let me go to the phones here. Tony Capaccio of Bloomberg?

Q: Hi, Pat, a quick question. When do you think the first munitions for Ukraine will arrive? And will they be the 155 shells or some of the other equipment that has been prepositioned in Europe?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. Thanks, Tony. As I'm sure you can appreciate, I won't get into the specifics in terms of when specific ammunition or equipment is getting into Ukraine other than to say we're moving out already. We've already started the process to move some of the weapons, ammunition and equipment which will be, you know, as I mentioned earlier there within days, if not sooner.

And so, again, recognizing there's a variety of equipment and capabilities on the list that we put out. Some of those things will obviously take longer than others. But when it comes to essential capabilities like ammunition, you know, we're already moving out to make those deliveries.

Q: OK, thank you.

GEN. RYDER: But again, obviously, I just can't get into specific timelines or routes, as I'm sure you can appreciate.

Let me go to Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose.

Q: Thank you. I just wanted to follow up with a question about the incident with the pier. What exactly happened? Did the Hamas fire rockets or mortars at the pier while it was under construction? And if so, was anything damaged? Was anyone hurt?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So, to clarify, so kind of two different things here, Jeff. So, first of all, when it comes to the temporary pier and the causeway, those are being constructed offshore, out at sea in our, you know, essentially nowhere near mortar range. So, that's not what we're talking about here.

You know, we're aware of reports that a small number of mortars landed in the vicinity of the marshalling yard area for humanitarian assistance that will eventually be the delivery site that this pier will support.

It's important also to highlight that this occurred before any U.S. forces, you know, have started moving anything. There'll be no U.S. forces on the ground.

And as I understand it, there's no U.S. equipment per se in this marshalling yard. So, you know, obviously, I'd refer you to the IDF for more granular details, but that's where things stand right now.

Q: But technically speaking, doesn't the pier will lead to the  to the shore? Isn't it connected to the shore to...?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So, kind of think of this in four different parts. And again, you know, we're going to get you much more information here.

But, so you've got Cyprus and then you've got Gaza, right? So, Cyprus is where aid will be stockpiled and loaded on the ships. Gaza is the shore where, eventually, this temporary causeway will connect.

So, what we're talking about here is the marshalling yard where, eventually, in the vicinity of where this causeway will connect to. But the two essential pieces in the middle are the temporary pier, which is out at sea; and then the causeway, which eventually will join land and be anchored, so to speak, so.

Q: And then under a separate issue, probably, you've seen the reports about the mass graves being discovered in Gaza with the hundreds of bodies being picked out daily. Has the Secretary raised this issue with his Israeli counterpart? And does he think these mass graves warrant an independent investigation?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. Thanks, Fadi. Well, you know, to say, first off, I mean the reports are very disturbing. To my knowledge, the Secretary has not spoken to his counterpart about this. But, you know, I know that, as Mr. Sullivan highlighted yesterday, the U.S. government has raised this with the Israelis at multiple levels.

I don't have anything to provide from a Defense Department standpoint, other than we do believe that these reports must be thoroughly investigated and taken a look at so, there. Sir

Q: Thanks, General. So, my question is on the additional military advisors that the Pentagon has said it plans to deploy to Ukraine.

Some have voiced their concern that this is, at least, in part what preceded the war in Vietnam where we sent military advisors, continually adding to the list that was there, and then someone would be killed in action. What do you think of that escalation risk the fact that U.S. servicemen are on the ground there in Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. I mean I think it's a  I appreciated the question. But I think you'd have to, probably, have a deeper discussion on the history of the Vietnam War. And what we were talking about there, which is a completely different thing, right?

You don't have U.S. forces conducting training inside Ukraine of indigenous forces. So, to compare the two, you know, unfortunately shows kind of a lack of understanding in terms of what we're talking about here  apples and oranges.

What's going on in Ukraine, and as we've done for a while, is we have a small presence working out of the embassy, out of the Office of Defense Cooperation.

And those small number of advisers are providing, information and advising on things like support logistics, weapon oversight program, helping with the  ensuring that there's end use monitoring in place, you know, that we've talked about in the past.

First of all, and to clarify the addition of additional advisors, is something that has been considered. No decision has been made. But if that decision is made, a couple of key points.

First of all, it would be a small number. Second of all, those folks would be working out of the embassy under the Chief Of Mission Authority, like the rest of the embassy and wouldn't be subject to the same travel restrictions as all embassy employees.

Q: Point taken on the differences and there are  there were far more in Vietnam. But I guess you recognized the concern is legitimate at all that there are U.S. servicemen in the  in this country that is an active battlefield. So that, you know, if there was an errant missile that kills one, it could lead to a dangerous escalation.

GEN. RYDER: Well, look, you know, I mean again it's not unusual for the U.S. military to work out of embassies around the world in many different countries, as part of our security cooperation efforts and to help coordinate security assistance.

But it couldn't it, critically, these forces are not in a combat role. They're in a non-combat role. They're an advisory role. And again, we're talking very small numbers. The United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines.

And then the other piece of it is, you know, to your point about danger. You know, of course, we recognize the danger. And any place our forces operate, we take the necessary precautions to ensure that they're  that they're safe, whether it be there or any other hotspots around the world. Thank you.

Sir?

Q: A question on TikTok. There's a lot of going on as far as a U.S. national security tech is concerned because of the  it's part or owned by the Chinese Communist Party in China.

So, why are you taking so long to ban the  when everybody knows that this is a national security threat, because India had banned already over two years ago because of the national security threat in India?

So, over 170 million I were told users are there in the U.S., so that mean China have already this much information from these people by the Chinese Communist Party. So, are anybody using in the department, DOD or Pentagon? And where do we stand now as far as national security threat is concerned?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. I appreciate the question

So, a couple of things. So, first of all, it already is Department of Defense Policy that we will not use TikTok on any U.S. government devices. So, that already is a policy that's in place.

I think what you're asking is the broader question about banning of TikTok writ large as it relates to, you know, throughout the U.S. And again, that's a question that's beyond the scope of my small little place here at the DOD. So, thank you.

Yes, sir?

Q: General, regarding to Rafah, did you receive from your Israeli counterpart any plan about their military operation there? And with your assessment, what do you expect the Palestinian to go out of Rafah?

What we are seeing right now that the IDF like leaving some parts are reentering again to the same parts, and they are still bombing everywhere. So, as DOD, what do you expect these peoples should do?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. So, as it relates to Rafah and operations in Rafah, I'd refer to the IDF to talk about the specifics in terms of what they are and aren't doing.

From a U.S. standpoint, from a DOD standpoint, we've been very clear that while we both agree that the defeat of Hamas is important, that any operations going after Hamas in Rafah take into account civilians safety and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

So, as I understand it, the Israelis have shared some of their thinking in terms of what a Rafah operation could look like. But those conversations are still ongoing as we still have concerns about how they would go about doing that, and taking into account the large number of displaced people and their safety.

So, I know that at the highest levels, Israeli officials and U.S. officials will continue having those conversations. But again, our focus here is on ensuring not only can Hamas be defeated, but that the safety of those impacted by this conflict is taken into account.

Sir?

Q: Thank you. Just turning the Red Sea. There's been a drop in Houthi attacks. I don't think there's any for a couple of weeks. I believe there may have been some incident. What do you attribute that drop in Houthi attacks? Two, and what do you make of the resumption yesterday?

GEN. RYDER: Well, again, in terms of the Houthi mindset, in terms of why they opted to not conduct attacks for a couple of weeks, that's really something best left for them to address. I would say that regardless, our focus hasn't shifted, which is working with our international partners to ensure the freedom of navigation through the Red Sea.

And so, as long as there continues to be a threat to international shipping and to the lives and safety of mariners transiting the Red Sea, we'll continue to work with international partners to degrade and disrupt Houthi capability.

Q: Are there back-channel talks going on (inaudible)?

GEN. RYDER: I don't have any  I don't have anything to talk to on that one.

Q: And on going back to Ukraine, how confident is the Pentagon that the Ukrainian military can make up for what's been widely portrayed as a lost six months? While Congress was dithering, Russia made a lot of advances. Are you confident that Zelensky and the military are going to be able to make up for that time?

GEN. RYDER: Well, look, it's a tough situation right now in Ukraine. It's a tough fight. But I think anybody who tries to count the Ukrainians out obviously has not been watching what's happened over the last couple of years. And so, as Secretary has said, Ukraine matters. What happens in Ukraine from a security standpoint impacts not only Ukraine, but European security and international security.

So, we're going to continue to support them, not only to defend the territory that they've defended from Russian occupation, but also to take back their sovereign territory, and we're going to do that for the long haul. All right.

Q: Going back to the humanitarian pier in Gaza. just to clarify, you said that pier itself, the U.S. is going to build, or is building, is out of the range of the mortar fire. But what about the causeway?

GEN. RYDER: Well, again, what I'm saying right now. So, there was this mortar attack today on shore. Right? So, what I said is that initial construction has begun of the causeway and the temporary pier at sea. So, they're not constructing that anywhere near the shore at this point in time, if that makes sense.

Q: And you said there were no damage to any U.S. assets. Were any Israeli assets damaged?

GEN. RYDER: I'd have to refer you to the Israelis on that. Sir?

Q: Thank you, General. Two questions, and one is, my colleague already asked you two days ago, U.S. and South Korea having the discussion on the sharing the cost of American troops in South Korea. I think they finished the talking, so do you have any readout on that discussion? And also, why are you guys having this discussion at this time?

GEN. RYDER: I appreciate the question. I don't have anything in front of me. Let me take that question, and we'll get back to you. OK?

Q: Also, on China, actually, this is Secretary Blinken is on the trip to China right now and expected to give a warning to the Chinese side, not commercially supposedly building the Russian defense industries. From point of view, do you have any specific concerning areas of the coordination between Russia and China?

GEN. RYDER: I won't get ahead of Secretary Blinken and anything that he may be putting out, as you've heard us say and as you heard the president recently say, we are concerned about some of China's activities as it relates to supporting Russia's defense industry.

And again, essentially, by doing so, enabling them to conduct or to develop capabilities that are being employed against Ukraine, in their occupation of Ukraine. So. Yes, sir? And then I'll come back to you.

Q: Thank you, General. A couple of questions. The United Nations representative to Syria says Syria has become a (focal ?) conflict with (Zernin among ?) superpowers for their interest. So, how do you see the situation in Syria now?

GEN. RYDER: Well, look, I mean, Syria has obviously had some significant challenges going all the way back to 2011, which I know you're very familiar with. Unfortunately, you have a significant area of ungoverned space in Syria which has allowed groups like ISIS in the past to essentially exploit that and use it toward sowing instability, death and destruction throughout the region.

And so, from a U.S. military standpoint, obviously, our focus right now when it comes to Syria, is focused on working as part of the international coalition for the enduring defeat of ISIS. And so, that remains our focus. But I think, of course, more broadly speaking, when you see these types of ungoverned spaces, they, of course, present threats regionally.

And so, that's something that we obviously consult, not only with our partners in Iraq, but also allies like Turkey and others, to address those regional threats.

Q: One more question on Syria. As (DOD ?), do you expect any Turkish ground incursion into Syria, as Turkey claims?

GEN. RYDER: Would have to refer you to Turkey on anything that they're doing. Thanks. (Laura ?)?

Q: So, just on the pier and the attacks on the marshaling area, to clarify, were you confirming the attacks themselves, or just originally you said you were aware of the reports, and then later you spoke as if you were confirming that report.

GEN. RYDER: Yes, I mean, I think it's fair to say that we're tracking some type of mortar attack causing minimal damage in the vicinity of the marshaling yard area. Yes, minimal. Minimal damage. Yes, in terms of what specifically was damaged, I'd have to refer you to the (IDF ?). Thanks.

All right, let me just take one more, Heather, from USNI.

Q: Thanks so much. So, just on the Red Sea, the Houthis attacked the Maersk Yorktown. I was wondering if we can get more information on which coalition ship protected that, shot down the (anti-type ?) ballistic missile. And then, the Houthis said that they were also targeting a U.S. Destroyer. And I was wondering if there's any information on whether or not a Destroyer was attacked today or yesterday.

GEN. RYDER: Yes. Thanks, Heather. On your first question, the only thing I can provide on that was that it was a coalition vessel. So, we'll allow our partners to speak for themselves in terms of what action they took.

And then, I'm sorry, your second question?

Q: The Houthis claimed that they were attacking a U.S. Destroyer, and I was wondering if you've had any reports of a U.S. Destroyer being targeted either yesterday or today.

GEN. RYDER: At the moment, I'm not aware of that. As you know, CENTCOM puts out updates every day, but I'm not currently tracking a U.S. destroyer being attacked. But again, if we have updates, we'll put those out through CENTCOM.

All right, thanks very much, everybody. Appreciate it.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3756690/

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April 25, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Romanian Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar

Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday with his Romanian counterpart, Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar, to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and continuing coordination for additional security assistance for Ukraine.

The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian people and condemned Russia's unlawful war of choice. Secretary Austin recognized Romania's position as an anchor of stability on NATO's Eastern Flank and thanked Romania for continuing to host U.S. and Allied forces.

Both leaders look forward to continued coordination through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and future bilateral engagements.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3755863/

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April 25, 2024

Release

Joint Statement of the 14th Defense Trilateral Talks

Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, and Japan Director General for Defense Policy Kano Koji convened the 14th Defense Trilateral Talks virtually on April 24, 2024. The officials exchanged assessments of the security environment on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond, and they consulted on concrete ways to deepen ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral security cooperation.

The three defense officials affirmed that the United States, Japan, and the ROK, guided by the outcomes of the August 2023 Camp David Summit, have significantly strengthened their security cooperation over the past year, particularly through historic collaboration on a real-time DPRK missile warning data sharing mechanism and a multi-year trilateral exercise plan.

The three sides affirmed their enduring commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation to deter the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear and missile threats and to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region. They condemned the DPRK's recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles, the launch of what the DPRK purports to be a military reconnaissance satellite using ballistic missile technology, illicit ship-to-ship transfers, and arms shipments with Russia as clear violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).

The officials urged the international community to advance its stated goal of ensuring the DPRK fully complies with its obligations under relevant UNSCRs, and affirmed they will redouble their efforts in support of effective UNSCR implementation following Russia's veto blocking the renewal of the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts that monitors implementation of sanctions on the DPRK. They urged the DPRK to cease all destabilizing activities immediately. They reaffirmed that a DPRK nuclear test, if conducted, would be met with a strong and resolute response from the international community. They also reiterated that the path to dialogue remains open toward peaceful and diplomatic resolution with the DPRK, and the three officials pledged to continue coordination toward the complete denuclearization of the DPRK in accordance with relevant UNSCRs.

The three sides acknowledged that their enhanced trilateral security cooperation contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region. They emphasized the importance of the rule of law and expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They shared concerns about actions that are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and stressed the importance of fully respecting freedom of navigation and overflight. Additionally, they recognized that there is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan, and emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community.

The officials reaffirmed their commitment to stand with Ukraine against Russia's illegal, unprovoked, and brutal war of aggression, recognizing that Russia's actions violate the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The three representatives exchanged views on implementing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy, the ROK Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region, and Japan's new plan for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific." They also reiterated the importance of continuing the momentum of the new era of trilateral security cooperation advanced by the Camp David Summit. They agreed to institutionalize trilateral security cooperation policy dialogues, including the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM), the Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT), and the Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD). They also welcomed progress on establishing an annual, named, multi-domain trilateral exercise.

The United States reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan, emphasizing that this commitment is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear capabilities.

The officials pledged to continue working closely together to strengthen security cooperation among their three countries, and they agreed to hold the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks later this year in the ROK.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3755811/

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April 25, 2024

By David Vergun, DOD News

Officials Say Manufacturing Arms at Scale a Deterrent to Adversaries

Keeping the armament production lines moving at speed and scale at the right price sends a strong signal to allies that the U.S. is a reliable partner. It also sends a message of deterrence to adversaries, Defense Department officials said.

William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, and Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, discussed mobilizing industry and unlocking innovation yesterday during the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Global Security Forum 2024.

Since the end of the Cold War, defense industries have not been doing much production work for the department, LaPlante said.

With U.S. support for Ukraine, some are surprised that DOD can't ramp up production overnight. For example, production of munitions has been down over the last 30 years, he said.

Also, in the past, DOD has funded programs that last maybe two years and then the funding dries up. Industry investors don't like taking that risk and getting burned. They want multiyear contracts to keep production predictable, LaPlante said.

"I can't overemphasize the importance of funding, because the industrial base is not going to do anything without funding," he said.

The fact that it took months to get the supplemental funding request from lawmakers shook up a lot of people abroad because of the negative message it sends, he said, adding that its passage this month was a relief to everyone.

Also, the supplemental funding will inject much-needed money into U.S. defense industries, he said.

"I can't emphasize how much we have begun to rebuild the industrial base. With the supplementals, there are now factories breaking ground around the country," he said.

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated to the world that the department can move really fast. "We get contracting done within a couple of weeks. We get stuff moving right away. Literally, right now there are planes flying with equipment to Ukraine," he said.

Regarding the ramping up of defense manufacturing over the last two years, people are now saying "these guys are serious. They're not messing around. They're not just doing a few hypersonics demos and then waiting a little bit. They're actually serious," LaPlante said.

Shyu pointed out that the department is developing, testing, producing and fielding new weapons that are highly effective and reasonably priced.

Examples she cited are lasers, high-powered microwaves, systems to counter hypersonics and tripling the range of 155 mm artillery rounds.

Also, DOD is working collaboratively with partner nations to accelerate the development of vital technologies, she said.

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International cooperation to protect Baltic Sea continues without Russia

Finnish Government

Ministry of the Environment

25.4.2024

Press release

At the Ministerial Meeting of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission in Riga, Latvia on 25 April, the Parties to HELCOM, Russia excluded, sent a strong message on how important it is to continue the cooperation on the Baltic Sea. "The difficult geopolitical situation must not prevent us from working for the benefit of the marine environment. The protection of the Baltic Sea cannot wait for the war to end," Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkanen says. He attended the meeting online.

Ministers of the Baltic Sea coastal states and other high-level representatives gathered at the 50th anniversary event of the Baltic Sea Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission, HELCOM) to discuss the progress made in the protection of the marine environment, key priorities for HELCOM's future work and the geopolitical situation of the region.

HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention). HELCOM monitors and promotes the implementation of the Helsinki Convention and gives recommendations to the governments of the contracting states. All coastal states around the Baltic Sea and the European Commission participate in the work of HELCOM. In practice, however, there has been a 'strategic pause' in the cooperation because of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

At the meeting in Riga Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden gave a statement where they called on Russia to withdraw all military forces from Ukraine's territory. They also confirmed that at the moment they have no cooperation with Russia. However, the changed circumstances do not mean that HELCOM would not continue its work.

According to Minister Mykkanen, the Baltic Sea coastal states must prepare for new threats arising from the geopolitical situation, including the shadow fleet of Russia composed of ageing and uninsured vessels, and the deliberate disturbance of the marine environment.

"At least one stand-by vessel of the European Maritime Safety Agency is needed to operate in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea to support the member states in preventing environmental damages. Eventually, we must also find solutions that will restrict the use of tankers with no appropriate insurance policies or expertise in winter navigation for transporting oil in the Baltic Sea," Minister Mykkanen says.

The Parties also discussed the third holistic assessment summarized in the State of the Baltic Sea 2023 report, according to which the state of the sea is poor in all marine areas. In the Declaration, Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden confirmed that they are still committed to the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which was updated in 2023. The Parties also made the committed to implement, by 2027, the targets concerning the limits for nutrient pollution in the whole marine area and the nutrient pollution reduction target allocated to each state.

"Finland is committed to having nutrient load from agricultural sources in the catchment area of the Archipelago Sea removed from the list of significant pollution sites, the HELCOM Hot Spots, by 2027," Minister Mykkanen says.

The Parties will also continue to carry out holistic assessments of the state of the Baltic Sea, with the next assessment to be completed by 2029.

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Government issues decrees on NATO SOFA and Paris Protocol

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press releases, 25.4.2024

On 25 April 2024, the government plenary session issued decrees on the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces (NATO SOFA) and on the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty (Paris Protocol). The NATO SOFA regulates the legal status of forces of NATO Member States while in the territory of another NATO Member State in connexion with their official duties. The Paris Protocol extends, with certain adaptations, the provisions of NATO SOFA to NATO Allied Headquarters and their military and civilian personnel.

Parliament accepted the SOFA and the Protocol on 19 March 2024, and the President of the Republic approved them on 22 March 2024.

Finland deposited its instruments of accession to the SOFA and the Protocol with the depositary, the Government of the United States, on 28 March 2024. The SOFA and the Protocol will enter into force 30 days after the date of deposit of the instruments of accession, i.e. on 27 April 2024.

The government decrees bring into force the NATO SOFA, the Paris Protocol and the acts bringing into force their provisions of a legislative nature. The issuance of the decrees completes the national approval process. At the same time, the instruments are transposed into Finnish legislation.

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Iran calls on BRICS to help stop Zionist crimes in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

Moscow, IRNA -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri has underscored the need for BRICS member states to make efforts to help put an end to the Zionist brutalities in the Gaza Strip.

Bagheri made the remarks during a meeting of BRICS deputy foreign ministers in Moscow on Thursday where they discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and North Africa.

He hailed South Africa's measure in bringing the Zionist regime to the International Court of Justice for perpetrating genocide in the Gaza Strip and called on other BRICS member states to voice support for Pretoria in this regard and seek legal mechanisms to activate the International Criminal Court to probe into these crimes.

The official stressed that 200 days of war in Gaza have proved that the Palestinian nation cannot be destroyed.

Bagheri added that stopping the Zionist regime's crimes against the defenseless people of Gaza is key to establishment of peace and security across the region, from Lebanon to Iraq and throughout the Red Sea.

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Zionist regime conducts drone attacks in Rafah

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

Moscow, IRNA -- Israeli drones targeted a group of Palestinians in the "Al-Hashashin" area, northwest of Rafah, and martyred some people, according to local sources.

IRNA reported citing the Al-Ahed News website on Thursday that Zionist regime warplanes bombed areas of the Gaza Strip earlier today.

The Israeli warplanes bombed the city of Rafah and the Al Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, it added.

Also, the Palestinian sources reported that the Zionist regime conducted aerial and artillery attacks on the al-Zeitoun area in southern Gaza.

Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces martyred a young Palestinian boy Khalid Arqawi during the incursion into Ramallah, occupied West Bank.

Palestinian youths chanted slogans against the occupiers during the teenager's funeral.

The Zionist regime waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Israel has not only failed to bring the Palestinian resistance to its knees in the battleground, but it is also suffering a strategic defeat amid international outrage over its war of genocide in Gaza.

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Mint Butterfield, 16, may have run away from her Bolinas home to San Francisco, authorities say. Marin County Sheriffs Office

Marin County sheriffs officials said Thursday that Mint Butterfield, the teenage child of Slack co-founder and former CEO Stewart Butterfield, ran away from home last weekend and investigators are treating the case as a voluntary missing juvenile due to the 16-year-olds status as an at-risk teen with a previous threat of suicide.

Mint left a note for mother Caterina Fake indicating they had left the family home in Bolinas, said Adam Schermerhorn, a sergeant with the Marin County Sheriffs Office. Fake reported her child missing around 9 a.m. Monday and told police she had last seen the teen around 10 p.m. the previous night, Schermerhorn said.

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We have no information to believe there is abduction, Schermerhorn told the Chronicle on Thursday.

Mints father, Stewart Butterfield, co-founded Slack, a corporate instant-messaging app, and sold it to Salesforce in 2020. Fake was a co-founder of Flickr and a board member at Etsy.

Detectives with the sheriffs office and the San Francisco Police Department had been unsuccessful in their attempts to find Mint as of Thursday evening. Mint was believed to be in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood they were known to frequent when mother and child also shared a residence in San Francisco, Schermerhorn said.

Mint left the home with a suitcase at an unknown time during the night or early morning, he said, adding that it was unclear how Mint left the area, as they did not have access to a vehicle or phone.

Marin County deputies entered Mint into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System, a national database, and sent out flyers to surrounding law enforcement agencies with a description and photograph, Schermerhorn said.

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Mint has curly, brown-red hair and pierced eyebrows. They are about 5 feet tall and weigh 100 pounds. The teen was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, flannel pajama pants and black boots, sheriffs officials said.

Schermerhorn cautioned that misinformation had been disseminated through social media and other outlets about potential associates or people who might know about Mints whereabouts. Additionally, various phone numbers not approved or vetted by authorities had been posted asking for information, he said.

Anyone with information about Mints whereabouts is asked to contact the Marin County Sheriffs Office at 415-479-2311 or tips@marinsheriff.org.
Hezbollah responds to Zionist attacks on south Lebanon

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

Moscow, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah Resistance Movement has released a video of its recent retaliatory rocket attacks on the positions of the Zionist regime in northern occupied Palestine.

According to IRNA, Hezbollah issued a statement along the release of video in the early hours of Thursday saying it carried out these attacks in response to Zionist attacks on residential areas in southern Lebanon.

The video shows Hezbollah rockets hitting Israeli military positions at Shumira and Mergliut settlements as well as the Ain Zetim base.

This attack followed Israeli attacks on the Lebanese towns of Maron al-Ras, Yaroun" and around the town of Houla in the south of the country.

Hezbollah and the Zionist army exchanging fire along Lebanon's southern border ever since the Tel Aviv regime launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The resistance movement has so far targeted Israeli military and spy installations but the Zionist regime has been bombing residential areas of southern Lebanon that has left many civilians dead in recent weeks.

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The President: The German brigade in Lithuania will enhance security across the region

President of the Republic of Lithuania

April 25, 2024

On Thursday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with the leadership of the German brigade's initial command element and visited the brigade's headquarters in Vilnius. The Head of State and the commander of the German brigade element in Lithuania, Col Andre Hastenrath, discussed the progress and plans for the deployment of capabilities, as well as the cooperation between Lithuania and Germany in the preparatory work.

The President welcomed the arrival of the initial element of the German brigade in Lithuania, which marks the beginning of the brigade's deployment and is the result of successful political and military bilateral cooperation.

"Germany's decision to deploy a brigade in Lithuania is an example of leadership and strong commitment to collective defense. We welcome this step by our allies and, as a host nation, we are ready to create the best possible conditions for German soldiers and their families while they are stationed in our country. I am confident that the German brigade in Lithuania will enhance both our security and the security of the entire region," Gitanas Nauseda emphasized.

The President said that Lithuania will carry out all the necessary host nation preparations in order to receive the German brigade units and equipment on schedule. Gitanas Nauseda noted that building the necessary civilian infrastructure will allow Bundeswehr soldiers to bring their families to Lithuania.

The Head of State emphasized that the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania is a unique precedent within NATO, which can serve as model for future efforts to bolster collective defense among allies.

The President's Communication Group

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UN expert calls for arms, oil embargo against Israel

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 6:48 PM

UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese has called on the international community to immediately impose oil sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel.

"At this point, Israel has reneged on its international obligations to a degree that warrants an imperative implementation of immediate and unconditional sanctions which should entail first and foremost an arms and oil embargo," Francesca Albanese said during a press conference on Thursday.

Albanese accused the United States and certain other Western states of being accomplice to Israel's crimes by sending military aid and weapons.

"Complicity with genocide is a crime on its own under the Genocide Convention, so definitely interested in investigating to what extent, the aid - political and military aid that has been granted to Israel by a number of countries primarily the United States, might amount to complicity. What I can tell you for sure is that this support is in clear violation, is in clear breach with the International Court of Justice interim order that ordered the suspension, among others, of the cessation of acts that might amount to genocide and unhindered access for the Palestinians to humanitarian aid."

In January, the United Nations' top court ordered the Israeli regime to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza.

Albanese further said the European Union should impose sanctions on Israel, not merely on extremist settlers. "Settlers operate as part of Israel's expansionism over what remains of historic Palestine," Albanese said. "So it is Israel, not settlers per se, [that has] to be targeted by sanctions."

Elsewhere in her remarks, the UN expert further said countries must do everything in their power to prevent ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

"Israeli policies expanding the occupied Palestinian territory are unquestionably endangering Palestinian existence on their land, or what remains of their land. The focus of the international community must zero in on the most likely implication of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and states must do everything in their power to prevent it."

Last month, Albanese told the UN rights body in Geneva that she believed that Israel's military campaign in Gaza since October 7 amounts to genocide.

Palestinians on Thursday mourned people killed in Israeli bombardment of Rafah, the crowded city in the southern Gaza Strip, where Israel says it is advancing plans for a ground invasion.

At the city's Najjar Hospital, among the mourners were two men crouching, grief-stricken, in front of a white body bag.

Those killed in an Israeli strike on Rafah included Abdallah Nabhan, 33, who worked for Belgium's Enabel development agency.

Brussels said it would summon Israel's ambassador to explain the death.

Palestinian journalist Mohammad Bassam al-Jamal was killed along with his family members in an attack on their house in the city of Rafah. His death brings to 139 the number of journalists killed in the Gaza war.

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Houthi: US complicit in all Israeli crimes against Palestinians in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 4:31 PM

The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has held the US accountable for aiding and abetting the Zionist regime in the atrocities against Gaza, saying Washington is managing the crimes ranging from siege and starvation to killing and destruction.

Speaking during a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital city of Sana'a on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that the occupying Israeli regime continues to perpetrate all kinds of crimes against the Palestinian population of Gaza, and has no reservation about kidnapping and murder of Palestinians.

"The Zionist enemy is employing new techniques to slay the Palestinian nation, including emitting cries and requests for help through the speakers installed on their drones. Once people rush to the source of the sound for help, Israeli aircraft target and kill them in cold blood.

"Exhumation and theft of body parts of patients, and murder of medical staff are also among other crimes of the Zionist army during the ongoing war against Gaza," Houthi stated.

The Ansarullah chief stated that Israel has turned hospitals in Gaza into mass graves, emphasizing whatever the Zionist enemy does is under the full financial and military support of Americans.

"Americans are putting pressure on Qatar as a mediating country to adopt a view aligned with the United States and Israel against the Hamas movement. The US does not respect international law, human rights or any subjects it brags about, such as democracy and freedom of opinion and expression," he pointed out.

Houthi underscored that the US and its Western allies don't want formation of a sovereign independent Palestinian state.

He also abhorred the US police's violent clampdown on university students and professors attending demonstrations in support of Palestine, asserting that US officials only accept voices that call for extermination of Gazans.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Ansarullah leader referred to rocket and missile attacks by Palestinian resistance forces against the Israeli-occupied territories, stating that the Zionist enemy has suffered huge losses in terms of hardware and military personnel in Gaza.

"Israel's planned attacks against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are actually a war against the entire community living in the region. The enemy targets the Palestinian nation every day through all the means of mass killing, starvation and spread of infectious diseases. We have not heard of such a significant level of heinous crimes anywhere in the world," Houthi highlighted.

He also pointed to the mass evacuation of Israeli settlers from areas along the border with the Gaza Strip, stating that the fact that half of settler are thinking about migration and departure from the occupied territories indicates an existential crisis and that they view themselves as usurpers and occupiers.

"The reverse migration of Zionists is among the strategic outcomes of the steadfastness and resilience of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," the Ansarullah chief said.

Houthi also pointed to extensive operations by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement against Israeli military positions in the northern side of the 1948 occupied territories, stressing that the strikes are precise and effective and have prompted Israeli military figures to acknowledge the difficulty in confronting Hezbollah.

Commenting on maritime operations by Yemeni naval forces against Israeli-affiliated merchant vessels, the Ansarullah leader stated that the forces are looking to expand offensives in the Indian Ocean in such a way that it would catch Americans, Britons and Israelis by surprise.

"Over the 202 days of the Gaza war, we have targeted 102 ships. On average, we have targeted an Israeli-linked ship every two days."

US and British militaries have failed to deal with Yemeni missile and drone strikes despite continuous and strict monitoring as to movement of ships, Houthi said.

Yemeni attacks, he added, have rendered the Israeli Port of Eilat on the Red Sea out of service, and incurred substantial losses on the regime.

"Yemeni attacks have to 40% decrease in Israeli imports, and reduced the Zionist regime's exports by at least 22%. The maritime operations have also lowered the traffic of US ships though the Red Sea by 80%.

"As long as the siege and aggression against Gaza continues, our operations in the Red Sea will continue. We won't downgrade our naval operations, but rather intend to expand our operations in the Indian Ocean," Houthi stated.

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Gaza Strip getting closer to famine as people starving to death, UN warns

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:06 AM

The besieged Gaza Strip is getting closer by the day to famine as some inhabitants of the war-torn Palestinian territory are actually starving to death, the United Nations warns.

In their latest Global Report on Food Crises published on Wednesday, the UN agencies cautioned that dangerous levels of acute hunger had affected some 281.6 million people across the globe last year.

The report - a joint initiative involving FAO, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN children's agency (UNICEF) - also touched upon the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israel's brutal bombardment and ground assault since October 7.

After nearly seven months of Israeli bombardment, "people cannot meet even the most basic, food needs. They have exhausted all coping strategies, like eating animal fodder, begging, selling off their belongings to buy food. They are most of the time destitute and clearly some of them are dying of hunger," said Gian Carlo Cirri, director of the Geneva office of the WFP.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there, while it is also blocking aid deliveries to the impoverished territory.

"We are getting closer by the day to a famine situation. Malnutrition among children is spreading. We estimate 30 percent of children below the age of two is now acutely malnourished or wasted and 70 percent of the population in the north is facing catastrophic hunger," Cirri added.

"There is reasonable evidence that all three famine thresholds - food insecurity, malnutrition, mortality - will be passed in the next six weeks," the WFP chief further said.

Earlier this month, the UN Relief Works and Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that a "man-made" famine was tightening its grip across Gaza.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini on April 17 sounded the alert, condemning the occupying regime for preventing aid deliveries from reaching Gaza and attempting to end the agency's activities in the war-ravaged coastal sliver.

Lazzarini, whose agency is a critical source of support for people in Gaza, also said that in the north of the Palestinian territory, "infants and young children have begun to die of malnutrition and dehydration."

The occupying regime, however, prevents UNRWA from delivering the desperately needed aid to starving inhabitants of Gaza.

According to UNRWA, throughout Gaza, "food insecurity" has increased by 80 percent since December.

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Over 2,000 Israeli forces killed, injured in 1,650 operations by Hezbollah since Gaza war began

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 10:23 AM

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has killed and injured more than 2,000 Israeli forces in its 1,650 operations on the occupied territories since the start of the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah released the figures in an infographic on Wednesday, which marked the 200th day of the Israeli aggression that has so far killed a shocking number of Palestinians and led to a humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza.

The group said that it conducted 352 artillery shelling, and 55 drone strikes, fired 727 surface-to-surface rockets, as well as 546 guided missiles and 77 machine guns towards the occupied lands.

The Lebanese resistance fighters have managed to inflict losses on 344 bunkers and fortifications, 328 technical equipment, 722 settlement units, 92 military vehicles, 67 command centers, 33 artillery positions, five drones, five so-called Iron Dome missile platforms, and two factories belonging to the Israeli military, it added.

Among the sites targeted by Hezbollah were 186 Israeli settlements, 1,112 places along the Lebanese border with the occupied territories, 55 rear sites, and 51 aerial objects.

Hezbollah also noted that its attacks have displaced 230,000 Israeli settlers and led to the evacuation of 43 settlements within 5 kilometers of the border.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October, shortly after the regime launched its Gaza onslaught following a surprise operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group.

Hezbollah has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its brutal Gaza war, which has so far killed at least 34,305 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 77,293 others.

Hezbollah fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, forcing a humiliating retreat upon the occupation's military on both occasions.

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April 24: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 9:30 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians so far, including more than 16,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, April 24, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on April 24: (Gaza Strip)

Ambushed two armored Israeli military units in two separate mine ambushes, using explosive devices and F16 missiles (that were fired at civilians in the Al-Mughraqa area in central Gaza Strip but did not explode), resulting in several casualties.

Sniped an Israeli regime soldier north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted Israeli forces stationed in the "Netzarim" axis with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Bombed a gathering of Israeli forces and their military vehicles east of Juhr Al-Dik in central Gaza Strip with mortar shells.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on April 24: (Gaza Strip and West Bank)

Bombed Abu Mutibaq military site east of the central Gaza Strip in a joint operation with the Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades, using a barrage of heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Seized control of two Israeli military drones while they were carrying out spying missions in the skies of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza.

Engaged in fierce clashes using machine guns and explosive devices with the Israeli forces storming the Askar camp on the outskirts of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on April 24: (Gaza Strip)

Targeted the settlement of "Nahal Oz" and the Gaza envelope with a barrage of rockets, resulting in extensive damage and casualties.

Targeted the settlement of "Kissufim" with a barrage of rockets, resulting in extensive damages and casualties.

Bombed the settlement of "Be'eri" with a barrage of rockets, resulting in extensive damages and casualties.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on April 24: (Gaza Strip)

Fired several heavy-caliber mortar shells at the "Kissufim" military site.

Hezbollah operations on April 24: (Lebanon)

Eastern sector:

At around 16:40 local time, the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in Lebanon's Kafr Shuba was targeted with missiles.

Western sector:

At around 07:54 local time, the Shomera settlement was targeted with dozens of Katyusha rockets.

At around 10:05 local time, the Rahib site was targeted with artillery shells.

At around 10:25 local time, Israeli soldiers in the Avivim settlement were targeted with appropriate weapons, causing casualties.

At around 13:00 local time, Israeli soldiers in the Netua Forest were targeted with appropriate weapons.

Yemeni military's operations on April 24: (Yemen)

Carried out a military operation against the American ship (MAERSK YORKTOWN) in the Gulf of Aden with a number of appropriate naval missiles, achieving precise hits.

Carried out a military operation against the Israeli ship (MSC VERACRUZ) in the Indian Ocean with a barrage of drones, achieving precise hits.

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Tibetans from Europe find China's visa-free policy not so free

Airport officials in Shanghai interrogate them for hours, and deport some.

By Thaklha Gyal for RFA Tibetan 2024.04.25 -- Four ethnic Tibetan travelers with EU passports say they were questioned for hours upon arrival in China - and two were ultimately deported - despite Beijing's visa-free policy for citizens of several European countries for visits of up to 15 days.

Belgian citizen Thubten Gyatso, who was traveling to meet family in Qinghai province via Shanghai in early April, said authorities detained him and his 6-year-old son for about 18 hours at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport, where at least six Chinese officials took turns grilling him in a small room.

"During the 18 hours, we were provided with only one meal, along with water and a few biscuits," said Gyatso, adding that he and his son could not leave the room except to use the restroom, during which they were escorted by two policemen, he said.

When authorities searched Gyatso's belongings and his mobile phone, they found pictures of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan flag - both banned in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Gyatso explained to them that the leader of Tibetan Buddhism - whom Beijing views as a separatist - is a "global leader, universally respected, with numerous images freely available online."

"My reverence for His Holiness transcends boundaries, and if the Chinese authorities prohibit my entry into Tibet due to these images, I accept it without regret," he said.

Authorities also questioned Gyatso about his escape from Tibet to India in 1994, his move to Belgium and his citizenship status there, and details about family members' professions, he said.

After 18 hours, the officials told him that he would not be allowed to return to his hometown because of the photo of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan national flag, Gyatso said.

They then made Gyatso and his son board a plane at 1 a.m. on April 4 to London, where he is currently based.

Attempt to boost tourism

In an apparent effort to increase tourism and foreign investment, China has allowed visa-free entry to travelers from five European countries  Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands  for business, tourism, family visits and transit for up to 15 days until Nov. 30, 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later expanded the policy to citizens of Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary and Luxembourg.

In return, the Chinese government hopes more countries will facilitate visas for Chinese citizens and work with Beijing on networks for faster cross-border travel and the speedy resumption of international passenger flights, according to a March statement by the ministry, citing Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"This will make it more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad, and make foreign friends feel at home in China," it said.

But that doesn't seem to apply to European citizens of Tibetan ethnicity.

In March, A French citizen with family in the Tibetan Autonomous Region was denied entry into Tibet and told to redirect his travel to Chengdu to where his family members would have to travel to meet him.

Some Tibetans from Europe have been able to travel to their hometowns to meet relatives, though their families have reported similar accounts of heightened scrutiny owing to their Tibetan background.

In March, authorities at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport interrogated a Tibetan with German citizenship for six hours before letting him travel onward to visit his family in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai province.

"Despite conducting a thorough search of my phone, other tech gadgets and luggage, authorities did not find any photos of the Dalai Lama, so they allowed me to travel to my hometown in Amdo," he said, referring to one of the three traditional Tibetan regions. The man spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal by Chinese authorities.

But upon his arrival in Qinghai province, police subjected him to further interrogation, he added.

Translated by Tenzin Palmo and Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan, and by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Report: Southeast Asian parliamentarians face threats of reprisals, harassment

Parliamentarians across Southeast Asia, especially those from Myanmar, suffered from rights violations in 2023.

By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2024.04.25 -- Lawmakers in Southeast Asia face threats of reprisals, harassment and other human rights violations, according to a new study that highlights the Burmese junta's crackdown against opposition MPs and the years-long detention of a senator in the Philippines.

Myanmar continues to be the "worst country" when it comes to jailing parliamentarians, with 74 members MPs - almost entirely from the deposed National League of Democracy - behind bars while others were on the run from the country's military rulers, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), an NGO, said in their report released in Manila on Thursday.

This clearly showed "the political nature of the arrests" since the NLD convincingly won elections in 2020, said the report, Parliamentarians at Risk.

"Many of the ousted parliamentarians are continuing their work in hiding, either inside Myanmar or abroad, because if found by the military they are at risk of detention, torture and even death," said the 48-page report, which examined rights violations against parliamentarians across Southeast Asia last year. "Some have seen their family members harassed and their properties seized by the military."

The junta in Myanmar, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, ousted NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in a coup in February of 2021. A few months later, a mass arson attack by junta forces on Thantlang in northwestern Myanmar left about 250 people dead and drove tens of thousands into neighboring India, rights advocates have said.

The APHR report stressed that parliamentarians are under threat because they speak and act on behalf of their constituents.

"Today, our collective voice will send a clear message that an attack against one parliamentarian is an attack against the democratic institution itself," said Mercy Barends, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the current APHR chairperson.

"We stand in solidarity with them, ensuring that the voices of those who are silenced are not forgotten, and calling for an end to the violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms," she said.

Founded in 2013, APHR comprises current and former parliamentarians from the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who work to promote human rights and democracy across the region.

'Under attack'

"Democracy in Southeast Asia continues to be under attack," the report said. "[I]n many countries in Southeast Asia - most notably in Myanmar but also elsewhere parliamentarians and ex-parliamentarians continue to be subject to multiple forms of human rights violations."

One of the more prominent Southeast Asian lawmakers who has been subjected to harassment was Leila de Lima, a former Philippine senator and a staunch critic of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war that killed thousands.

Duterte's government incarcerated her for nearly seven years until November 2023, ironically, on charges that she had profited from drug trafficking when she served as the Philippine justice secretary.

The courts threw out two of the three drug charges against her after witnesses for the prosecution recanted their statements. De Lima was granted bail in the remaining drug-related charge, but is awaiting her court date for that.

During a press conference for the report's release in Manila, de Lima said there were many cases similar to hers, and this reflects "a worrying trend of authoritarianism where opposition figures are silenced, dissenting voices are stilled, and ultimately fundamental freedoms are quashed."

Parliamentarians from other countries such as Cambodia and Thailand are also facing threats, de Lima noted, even as there were some positive cases around the region, including hers.

In Cambodia last year, the report said, the polls last year were a "farce" that allowed long-term leader Hun Sen to stay in power. And in the runup to the polls there, the regime launched "relentless attacks" against human rights defenders and oppositionists.

In neighboring Thailand, the Move Forward Party was prevented from forming a government by senators appointed by the country's military, despite winning the highest number of votes in the May 2023 elections, APHR reported.

"Despite two elections in the region - in Thailand and Cambodia - neither of the countries where they took place saw the ballot box used as a place for the genuine will of the people to be fulfilled," the reports said. "In fact, in both instances anti-democratic actors used the votes to effectively strengthen their hold on power."

In Malaysia, harassment against opposition lawmakers continues, including threats of being charged using draconian laws such as the Sedition Act, according to APHR's findings. That law has been previously used to stifle dissent and those convicted face imprisonment of three to seven years.

"We can no longer ignore the stark reality that the space for dissent is shrinking in many parts of the world," de Lima said. "Authoritarian regimes tighten their grip in an attempt to consolidate power, eroding the foundations of democracy."

"All we want is the ability to continue doing our jobs as lawmakers and representatives of our constituents. We do not fight for ourselves, we fight for human rights for all, for democracy," she said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Vietnam soft drinks boss jailed for 8 years

Tran Qui Thanh was convicted with his daughters in a US$40 million fraud trial.

By RFA Vietnamese 2024.04.25 -- Vietnam's "blazing furnace" crackdown on corruption has netted more offenders with the chairman of its top soft drinks company handed an eight-year sentence for fraud on Thursday, state media reported.

The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City found Tran Qui Thanh, 71, guilty of masterminding a loans scam from 2019 to 2020 in which investors were robbed of assets they had put up for collateral, even after they had paid back the money with interest.

Thanh is chairman of the Tan Hiep Phat drinks company. His daughter Tran Uyen Phuong, 43, the company's deputy CEO, was sentenced to four years in prison. His youngest daughter, Tran Ngoc Bich, 40, was handed a suspended three-year prison sentence.

This month, the same court sentenced Truong My Lan, chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat, to death for masterminding a US$27 billion fraud, Vietnam's biggest.

The Communist Party has launched a crackdown on corruption in which thousands of people, including regional and national government officials and senior business leaders, have faced accusations.

Last month, President Vo Van Thuong was forced to resign to take responsibility for a graft scandal involving regional government officials during his tenure as party secretary of Quang Ngai province between 2011 and 2014.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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The number of parking tickets given out by SFMTA dropped dramatically over the past five years. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency has warned residents that, with its staff back to 2019 levels, it is ramping up its parking enforcement this year. But to get back to pre-pandemic ticketing numbers, the agency has a lot of ground to make up.

Total parking citations declined from 1.21 million in 2019 to 1.05 million in 2023, a 13% drop, according to an analysis by the Chronicle. And certain types of violations plummeted to less than half the level seen in 2019.

Read more: This block is the epicenter of the battle over blocked driveways in S.F.

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The total number of citations issued by SFMTA was already declining before the pandemic, dropping by almost 10% between 2014 and 2019. But the pandemic brought a sharp drop in tickets issued, as enforcement for certain violations was suspended in 2020. Ticketing has not returned to close to where it was five years ago, and declined again from 2022 to 2023.

Erica Kato, the SFMTA spokesperson, attributed some of the post-pandemic changes in citations to changing dynamics on city streets, as well as parking control officers having to shift their focus to a number of post-pandemic events in the city, like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and toward city programs aimed at improving street conditions. She said the agencys goal is not to raise citations to pre-pandemic levels, but simply to get people to comply with city and state parking regulations.

The public wants the chaos on the streets to stop, she wrote in an email to the Chronicle. So were enforcing all of the laws.

Not all types of citations fell at equal rates.

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Tickets for out-of-date registration tabs saw the sharpest decline, falling by 77%  and 2023 showed a notable decrease compared to just the year before, when they had recovered to 2019 levels. Kato explained that the law now requires parking control officers to confirm that a vehicles registration is expired before issuing a citation, not just that the license plate stickers are out of date or missing, leading to the drop-off in citations.

Citations for parking in some areas marked for other purposes  like in bike lanes, bus zones and crosswalks  all fell more than 50% between 2019 and 2023. Parking in bike lanes is one of the violations SFMTA has specifically told parking control officers to ramp up, under the direction of Mayor London Breed. Kato explained that many people parked in bike lanes leave as they see a parking control officer approach, making the violation difficult to enforce, but added that the agency will utilize a new state law that allows officials to take photos of bike lane violations.

Kato added that a reduction in bus service post-pandemic led to the reduction of bus zone violations.

Breed also directed the agency to prioritize citing cars blocking sidewalks, which decreased by 18% from 2019 to 2023. They will also prioritize ticketing parking in daylit zones, which are spaces near crosswalks that are marked by a red curb to increase pedestrian visibility. Citations for parking in red zones, including daylit curbs, stayed relatively unchanged between 2019 and 2023.

Citations for exceeding parking time limits in some instances have also decreased. Tickets for failing to pay or having an expired parking meter, for example, fell the most in absolute terms, from 173,000 in 2019 to 140,000 in 2023  about a 20% decline.

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But not all types of citations fell.

Tickets for failing to move a vehicle for street cleaning, for example, which long have made up the largest share of citations issued by SFMTA, stayed relatively steady between 2019 and 2023. Citations for failing to display license plates and exceeding posted time limits in residential areas also changed little.

And tickets for parking in restricted zones, like those for commercial and passenger loading, actually increased over the same time period. Kato said that businesses and residents were complaining about these types of violations, which lead to double parking, prompting the increased enforcement.

Overall, tickets the first few months of 2024 were already up slightly compared to the same time period in 2023  even before SFMTA announced it would be ramping up enforcement.

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The new, targeted enforcement sweeps will begin in May. Each supervisorial district can expect a weeklong sweep every three months on top of regular citywide enforcement.

Parking control officers oppose the plan, saying that they are already facing increased aggression and threats of violence from upset drivers. SFMTA said that its employees safety is its priority, and that it has seen a decrease in crime within its system since 2018.

San Francisco this year also has ramped up citations for moving violations, which plummeted over the past decade, amid increasing political pressure after a crash in West Portal killed a family of four. San Francisco failed to reach its 10-year goal of eliminating traffic deaths by the end of last year.
As Georgia Bids To Become A Tax Haven, Critics Worry It's All To Protect Oligarch Ivanishvili

By Luka Pertaia and Tony Wesolowsky April 25, 2024

TBILISI -- The Georgian capital has been rocked by weeks of protests, sparked by a controversial "foreign agents" bill that critics say mirrors Russian law and could deal a firm blow to the Caucasus country's chances of joining the European Union and NATO.

But while eyes at home and abroad were riveted to that bill, the Georgian parliament quietly passed tax legislation that opponents warn could be just as dangerous.

They say the changes to the tax code passed by the Georgian Dream majority in parliament on April 19 could not only attract shady foreign funds but also allow Bidzina Ivanishvili, the ruling party's founder and Georgia's wealthiest individual, to evade possible Western sanctions if relations continue to sour.

EU calls for sanctions on Ivanishvili and "his closest associates" could grow louder as Georgian Dream and its allies approve legislation that would label NGOs, campaign groups, and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad "agents of foreign influence."

A nearly identical push by Georgian Dream in March of last year was aborted after protests that turned violent.

But the new tax changes may be just as worrying. Backers -- most of whom are from the ruling Georgian Dream party -- say the amendments will allow Georgia to open its doors to domestic and foreign companies now registered in tax havens but jittery about the security of their funds amid a growing international crackdown on those doing business offshore.

Critics claim transforming Georgia into a tax haven will mean attracting dirty money, funds whose provenance is unclear.

"Georgia is becoming a tax haven for black money, not just an offshore, but more than an offshore -- a hub to bypass offshores," Aleksandra Aroshvili, a social policy researcher, wrote on Facebook on April 18.

It's not the only sign that Tbilisi could be preparing for tougher Western measures, experts and critics say, including by boosting gold reserves. The country's central bank also last year changed its rules for cooperating with international sanctions slapped on Georgian nationals.

Georgia was granted EU candidacy status in December, while Ukraine and Moldova were given the green light to begin negotiations to join the bloc.

However, a report in January said since the Kremlin launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, Tbilisi has exhibited a "penchant for appeasing Russia."

The report by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, a Brussels-based NGO, published on January 24 says Georgia "has flatlined in its overall EU approximation because of serious backsliding in fundamental freedoms, democracy and governance-related indicators, the government's evident disregard for civil society and its penchant for appeasing Russia, which is at odds with the EU consensus."

Moving Quickly

Despite objections from critics, the amendments to the tax code were passed by the Georgian Dream majority under a fast-track procedure.

Backers envision transforming Georgia into a bustling tax haven in hopes of taking a cut of the world's estimated $11 trillion held "offshore," according to a 2020 study by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Regardless of that money's provenance, those missing funds crimp government coffers. Tax havens collectively cost governments between $500 billion and $600 billion a year in lost corporate tax revenues, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But opponents allege it is a poorly veiled attempt to protect Ivanishvili, who became prime minister in 2012, when his newly created Georgian Dream party won a parliamentary majority in an upset victory. He left office after roughly a year, telling a party congress at the time: "I am leaving politics but will remain an active member of society."

According to a 2021 report by Transparency International Georgia, Ivanishvili owned 20 offshore companies. Ivanishvili also figured in the Panama Papers, 11 million leaked secret financial documents that in 2016 exposed how some of the world's richest people hide their wealth.

A June 2021 report by Transparency International Georgia said Ivanishvili's Brightsone Finance Ltd., established in 2015 according to the Pandora Papers, a similar data leak published in 2021, is a controlling shareholder of Georgia-based Eurasian Invest LLC, a company that through several other firms holds sizable stakes in Poti Free Industrial Zone, a tax haven near Georgia's key port of Poti.

Ivanishvili has never been charged with any wrongdoing over his purported offshore holdings.

And although being out of office hasn't stopped him from exerting political influence, he has announced a political comeback ahead of Georgia's parliamentary elections this fall.

Preparing For The Worst?

Tbilisi has already taken steps that could shield it from Western sanctions.

In September, the National Bank of Georgia changed its rule on complying with international sanctions. This move came after the United States on September 14 imposed sanctions on Otar Partskhaladze, a former Georgian prosecutor-general.

Partskhaladze, who also holds Russian citizenship and has businesses in Russia, became the first Georgian to be sanctioned by Washington in connection with Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine. The State Department said Partskhaladze, who has close ties with Georgia's political elite, had helped the Kremlin exert "malign influence" on Georgia. The State Department claimed Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) helped Partskhaladze secure Russian citizenship and used him to "influence Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia."

At first, members of Georgian Dream denied any current ties to Partskhaladze, stressing he had not held public office since 2013, when he stepped down as prosecutor-general after it emerged that he had a criminal record and had serve a prison term in Germany.

Members of the opposition, however, argued the U.S. action was more aimed at Ivanishvili, with whom Partskhaladze is reported to have close ties.

"In effect, one hand of Bidzina Ivanishvili had been sanctioned," said Tsotne Koberdize of Girchi-More Freedom, an opposition group.

After first denying any ties to him, members of Georgian Dream came to the defense of Partskhaladze.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and other officials demanded the United States produce evidence of Partskhaladze's alleged wrongdoing.

People's Power party, an anti-Western spinoff of Georgian Dream, declared the move was part of "hybrid warfare waged by the United States on Georgia."

On September 18, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, warned the National Bank of Georgia against freezing Partskhaladze's assets, claiming such a move would violate Georgia's constitution. One day later, the National Bank of Georgia changed its rules on complying with international sanctions. Under the changes, only an indictment by a Georgian court can trigger the freezing of assets of a Georgian national facing international sanctions.

Despite that move, many banks in Georgia said they intended to comply with the U.S. sanctions regardless of the change of the regulation by the National Bank.

Turning To Gold

It's not the only action taken by the National Bank of Georgia to perhaps safeguard the country from sanctions, experts say.

Just within the past two months, the bank acquired seven tons of gold worth $500 million, which should be transferred from vaults in London to Tbilisi.

A spokesperson at the National Bank of Georgia told RFE/RL's Georgian Service that the move was "in no way related to any domestic factors or sanctions."

However, Roman Gotsiridze, an opposition lawmaker who served as president of the central bank from 2004 to 2007, speculated to RFE/RL that the bank's recent gold purchases were connected to the ruling Georgian Dream's fears of being sanctioned.

"Now it's clear why the NGB purchased 7 tons of gold and are repatriating it to Georgia. They are awaiting sanctions," Gotsiridze told RFE's Georgian Service after the parliament introduced changes to the tax law. "These concerns are exacerbated by the fact that they repatriating gold."

But Georgia is not alone in loading up on gold and storing it at home. An increasing number of countries are repatriating gold reserves as protection against the sort of sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, according to a survey by Invesco -- a U.S.-based investment firm -- of central bank and sovereign wealth funds published in July 2023.

More than $300 billion in Russian assets have been frozen since shortly after Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Most of those assets are in banks in Germany, France, and Belgium. More than $6 billion in frozen Russian assets are sitting in U.S. banks, and both houses of Congress have passed legislation that would authorize President Joe Biden to seize those assets, although it is unclear whether he will act on it.

Back in Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, the country's pro-Western president, has not stated publicly whether she would veto the changes to tax law. Even if she did, Georgian Dream lawmakers would likely have the votes to override it.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-tax-haven-critics- oligarch-ivanishvili/32920667.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Joint Statement on U.S.-Moldova Strategic Dialogue

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

April 25, 2024

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Moldova.

Begin Text

The Governments of the United States of America (United States) and the Republic of Moldova (Moldova) held a meeting of the U.S.-Moldova Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 18, 2024, as well as political consultations between Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, Richard Verma and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi.

For more than 30 years, the United States and Moldova have built a strategic bilateral partnership. Faced with threats posed by the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, this partnership has only grown stronger. During the Strategic Dialogue, both sides highlighted the progress made since the last Strategic Dialogue in Chisinau in March 2023, on advancing bilateral priorities including defense and security cooperation; Moldova's progress toward EU integration and its reform agenda including justice sector reforms and anti-corruption policies; economic and energy security; and strengthened people-to-people ties. The United States stands with Moldova in supporting its long-term democratic and economic reform efforts, as well as its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

Moldova and the United States also discussed programs that help Moldova develop its national resilience and build capacity to defend its territory, protect its constitutional neutrality, and effectively manage and respond to crisis situations. Since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has received nearly $75 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to bolster its defense capabilities. The United States, through U.S. European Command, conducts regular exercises with the Moldovan National Army, building upon the strong partnership between Moldova and the State of North Carolina in the State Partnership Program. Both countries highlighted the importance of this cooperation between Moldova and the State of North Carolina, extended for another five years on March 19, in Chisinau. Looking ahead, we are resolute in our commitment to fostering deeper mutual respect and cooperation, as articulated in our joint strategic statement.

Through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS), Moldova's border enforcement agencies have received tools and enhanced capacity development that have resulted in strengthened border communication and enforcement capabilities. The United States is assisting Moldovan security forces in increasing their physical security and stockpile management of weapons and ammunition, as well as advising on how to defend against cyber threats. Strengthened borders, more effective law enforcement, and improved weapons and ammunition management increases Moldovan and regional security. The United States commended Moldova on the 30-year anniversary of Moldova's participation in the NATO Partnership for Peace program and on the 10-year anniversary of Moldova's participation in the NATO KFOR Mission in Kosovo.

The United States also announced a new initiative to assist Moldova's Ministry of Internal Affairs to align its law enforcement academy more closely to international standards. The $2.7 million INL-supported project will update firearm training methodologies, enhance firearms instructors' knowledge and effectiveness, introduce new learning technology, and fully renovate and modernize the academy's shooting range. A stronger academy will promote more self-sufficient law enforcement entities, transformed and further professionalized into a well-equipped and well-trained force capable of better protecting and building trust with Moldovan citizens.

Moldova has made significant progress in the justice sector. With support from the U.S. government, various projects have been implemented to promote justice sector reform and to build the capacity of the justice sector, including activities to boost the efficiency and performance of national courts, streamline judicial procedures, assist courts in developing and implementing quality management standards, and improve the Integrated Case Management system with courts. Progress has also been made in strengthening the legal and institutional capacities in fighting corruption. National institutions acknowledged the significant support provided by the U.S. government for the tools needed to investigate corruption cases.

The United States welcomed the European Council's December 2023 decision to open accession negotiations with Moldova and recognition of Moldova's progress in advancing the necessary reforms on their EU path. The United States supports Moldova's integration with the EU and the continued implementation of an ambitious reform agenda essential for the advancement towards this objective and for the benefit of the people of Moldova.

The two countries addressed Moldova's management of the economic, energy, security, defense, and humanitarian impacts of Russia's war against Ukraine. The United States remains the largest single-country donor to Moldova with more than $774 million of new economic, security, defense, and humanitarian assistance since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to help Moldova manage the impacts from the war while maintaining progress on its democratic and anti-corruption reform agenda, advancing defense and security modernization, and promoting economic growth. Assistance to help Moldova improve resilience to malign influence is also vital.

The United States thanked Moldova for continuing to welcome and protect refugees fleeing Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and for the adoption of temporary protection status allowing refugees access to social programs and legal protections. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, over 1 million refugees passed through Moldova and 116,000 remain. The United States has provided nearly $118 million in humanitarian aid to international partners working in Moldova to support both refugees and their Moldovan host communities. The United States expressed its appreciation for Moldova's support of Ukrainian transshipments and commended its leadership in the Danube Quint to facilitate the flow of Ukrainian grain to world markets in the aftermath of the July 2023 Russian withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Both sides reconfirmed their unwavering commitment to contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction and discussed further cooperation opportunities.

Discussions also addressed Moldova's upcoming Presidential elections and referendum on European integration later this year, and next year's Parliamentary elections. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in Moldova and to impeding Russia's ongoing efforts to interfere in Moldova's democratic institutions and electoral process. Moldova expressed its appreciation for the U.S. sanctions announced in June 2023 and February 2024 against eight Russian and Moldovan citizens who attempted to subvert Moldova's electoral processes through illegal vote buying and other activities. Both sides expressed their commitment to further cooperation to bolster Moldova's resilience and ability to effectively counter foreign malign influence. Additional joint efforts will be undertaken to mitigate the negative impacts of foreign disinformation and propaganda under a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Chancellery of Moldova on signed by U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for the Global Engagement Center James Rubin countering foreign information manipulation in September 2023.

The United States and Moldova discussed human rights issues, including Moldova's advancement of labor law reforms, which resulted in an upgraded assessment in the 2023 U.S. Department of Labor Report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, as well as ongoing cooperation to promote human rights, address hate-based crimes, and protect vulnerable groups around the world. Participants welcomed the diverse perspectives presented during the second annual U.S.-Moldova Strategic Dialogue Civil Society Platform in Chisinau on April 11, and emphasized the important role of civil society in advancing the bilateral relationship and people-to-people ties.

Moldova and the United States discussed energy security and economic development, highlighting the signing of the Open Skies Agreement in May 2023, and significant progress on securing Moldova's energy security and diversification through the support of USAID. Both sides committed to dedicate time, expertise, and authorities to quickly and effectively implement the proposed energy assistance projects, which include construction of a high-voltage energy transmission line to increase connectivity between Moldova and Romania and improve electricity grid stabilization and reserves capacity.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts on transitioning to renewable sources of energy. The delegations noted that, in April 2024, and for the first time, Moldova purchased U.S. natural gas and underscored that future U.S. natural gas deliveries will enhance both Moldova's energy security and U.S.-Moldova bilateral trade relations. Both sides discussed the "vertical corridor" which will leverage existing gas infrastructure to deliver non-Russian supplies routed from terminals in the Eastern Mediterranean to Ukraine and Moldova, and eventually from Ukraine to Central Europe.

Both sides also emphasized the critical importance of continued cybersecurity cooperation and digitalization in a way that protects individual privacy rights. The United States recognized that the Republic of Moldova has made significant efforts to advance cybersecurity and embrace digitalization. Acknowledging the evolving nature of cyber threats and the transformative power of digital technologies, the United States and Moldova expressed readiness to deepen collaboration in this area to ensure the security and prosperity of both nations. Moldova expressed its interest to join the Counter Ransomware Initiative to build our common resilience to ransomware attacks and enhance partnerships among its members.

Moldova expressed enthusiasm for the 2023 return of Peace Corps volunteers to the country, noting the positive contributions of the more than 1,500 volunteers over the last 30 years to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the U.S. Department of State and included interagency and inter-ministerial representatives from both governments. The U.S. delegation included representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, the Peace Corps, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Trade Representative.

The Moldovan delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Presidential Administration, and the Prime Minister's Cabinet.

The United States and Moldova underscored their shared interest in continuing to build on the discussions during the Dialogue to advance further cooperation, rooted in our shared democratic values and common interests. Both countries committed to hold the next meeting of the Strategic Dialogue in Chisinau, Moldova in 2025.

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Palestinian civilians in Gaza are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

25 April 2024

Thank you very much, Senior Humanitarian Coordinator, for your briefing.

As you said, Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas. More than 200 days on and Hamas continues to hold hostages. Palestinian civilians in Gaza are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis and face the risk of famine.

The UK is joining USG Kaag's important efforts to prevent this situation deteriorating even further. We trebled our aid commitment in the last financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air - and to contribute to the paradigm shift that you mentioned.

I want to highlight three areas.

First, we welcome Israel's commitment to increase aid flows into Gaza. For example, the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint and extending the opening hours of the Kerem Shalom crossing. We now need to see more implementation. There has been some welcome progress in this regard, but much more needs to be done. Our Foreign Secretary reiterated this to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on his visit to Israel last week.

Second, as well as getting more aid in, it needs to be the right aid.

That is why resolution 2720 is so important. The UK fully supports Sigrid Kaag's mandate to establish a database and mechanism to track, verify and coordinate aid. The UK has provided expert technical support to help delivery of this mandate. And the UK will be providing over $3.5 million of additional funding for equipment to support the UN and aid agencies get more aid into Gaza.

Third, once humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza, it is vital that it can be distributed quickly and effectively. We are calling on Israel to improve deconfliction and to allow UN agencies and humanitarian actors unhindered and safe access into and throughout Gaza, and to enable the UN's minimum operating requirements fully. The tragic deaths of 7 World Central Kitchen workers, including three British citizens, demonstrates the need for action.

President, the UK recognises that UNRWA is critical to aid delivery in Gaza. We were appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel and we note the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation into these allegations.

We are grateful for the independent review into UNRWA neutrality led by Catherine Colonna, and we will set out our position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of the final report and UNRWA's response.

President, the UK remains resolved to working with international partners to urgently secure an immediate pause to get aid in and the hostages out, and then to work for a sustainable, permanent ceasefire without a return to fighting and loss of life.

Thank you.

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Gaza: Heatwave brings new misery and disease risk to Rafah

25 April 2024 - Unexpected blistering temperatures across Gaza have added to the daily misery faced by the enclave's people and sparked new fears of disease outbreaks amid a lack of sufficient clean water and waste disposal, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.

The warning from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, came as some 1.2 million people continued to shelter in tents pitched in and around the enclave's southernmost city, Rafah, with nowhere else to go.

"It is like living in a greenhouse, no-one can tolerate living inside," the UN agency said, quoting Mustafa Radwan, formerly from Gaza City, in a social media post on X.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, Rafah's residents are acutely aware that conditions will become even more uncomfortable once summer comes, with temperatures set to reach "50 or 60", said Mr. Radwan, who lives in a tent with eight family members.

Clean water remains scarce in Rafah and long queues are an everyday reality, Mr. Radwan continued. "Everything is a queue, everything is suffering in displacement."

More mission access denials

In a related development, UN aid teams reported that no humanitarian missions were possible to northern Gaza on Wednesday "as the Israeli army closed its checkpoints on two roads due to troop movements".

But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that a joint UNRWA and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) mission did reach Jabalia on Tuesday, providing medical aid and water purification assistance.

Pop-up clinic

The UN agency for Palestinians also reported successfully converting a children's nursery into a functioning health facility in the Mawasi area of the devastated city of Khan Younis.

The pop-up clinic receives around 2,000 individuals daily and offers services ranging from chronic disease care, maternal and child health care, dental services and psychological counselling.

Demand is overwhelming

"With the onset of summer, difficulties increase from water scarcity and overcrowding, leading to the spread of infectious diseases, skin sensitivities, lice, and other illnesses," said Dr. Ahmed Hanouda, the clinic's director.

"We are, of course, trying to address these problems and provide services to the displaced people under these challenging circumstances based on the available resources. We look forward to offering better services and providing better facilities in the coming days," he said.

Atrocious conditions

Asked at the regular UN daily briefing in New York about Israel's plan which remains on the table to invade Rafah in its quest to eliminate Hamas militants, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said a ground operation would be "a humanitarian catastrophe".

"We're operating in a conflict zone...we will not be a party to any forced displacement of people", he added.

Quizzed further about the rising temperatures, he said "conditions are already atrocious. The whole system of treatment of solid waste has basically crumbled with the unimaginable sanitation impact that has on people's health."

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Recovery in Gaza 'is not only physical', UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator says

25 April 2024 - The international community has a duty and responsibility to work towards early recovery in Gaza, but "we cannot ask citizens to wait", the UN official tasked with coordinating aid delivery into the besieged enclave has said.

Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, said the immense suffering caused by months of bombardment must also be addressed.

"I think it's very hard for us, in the safety of the outside world, to even start to comprehend what people have been going through," she told UN News.

Nearly seven months have passed since Israel launched a military assault on Gaza in response to Hamas-led attacks on its territory that left some 1,200 people dead and another 250 taken as hostages.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 77,000 have been injured, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said this week, citing the enclave's health authorities. To date, 180 staff with UN agency UNRWA have also been killed.

Ms. Kaag was in New York to address the UN Security Council, which established her position through resolution 2720, adopted last year, that calls for her to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza.

Briefing the Council on Thursday, she announced that a new mechanism for getting lifesaving aid into Gaza will start in the coming days - another provision of the Council resolution.

Ahead of the meeting, Ms. Kaag spoke to UN News about these developments and her recent mission to Gaza, the fourth since her appointment in December.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length

Sigrid Kaag: The purpose of the mission was to really meet and talk and be as informed as possible as to the challenges and how we can make progress. It is in support also of all the humanitarian colleagues that are working day in, day out, in Gaza.

What I saw in the different parts of Gaza we drove through was extensive destruction, speaking to people and hearing from them how they been impacted, hearing about their loss, their trauma. And of course, also how they even managed to cope under the very, very dire nearly dehumanising conditions the majority of Gazans are living under.

The focus of the mission this time was on the health conditions in Gaza, and I was accompanied by a team from the World Health Organization (WHO). We visited Nasser Medical Complex, which had been totally rampaged on the inside. But, the medical director was already planning how he could get the hospital up and running, at least in very modest forms. I also visited the IMC Medical Field Hospital, where a lot of the seriously injured - including seriously injured and malnourished children - were being treated.

So, speaking to patients, but also speaking to medical doctors, and again, being very moved and very humbled by the collective responsibility we all have to alleviate suffering and to try to work as much as possible not only to get humanitarian assistance in for it to reach people on a consistent and sustainable basis, but of course also to look beyond the horizon of the current crisis.

UN News: Security Council resolution 2720, which requested the establishment of your post, also requested the establishment of a mechanism to increase the volume of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza. Where do we stand on that?

Sigrid Kaag: The resolution actually is most important in terms of two aspects: facilitation, acceleration, expedition of humanitarian assistance going into Gaza, and the second part is the establishment of a mechanism to support all that, and ultimately also in support of the collective efforts by the UN, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), also Palestinian NGOs and the broader international community. In the last months, we have established an integrated database. We have negotiated routes, the so-called Jordan route.

We have been working with others on the maritime corridor, but of course also harnessing the importance of the Egyptian route via Rafah to ensure that we have access points, that we can increase the volume and that we can actually track, notify and have a better sense of what will be going to Gaza in support of the priorities set by the Humanitarian Country Team. And then within Gaza, understand that it's reaching people and it gets distributed in the optimal manner.

A mechanism is not a sacred entity. It is a platform in a way that provides visibility, helps prioritisation and gives data, and ultimately, it should smooth the process. So, we take away all the unnecessary delays, we know what's happening, and it ultimately also provides for transparency that is very much needed.

UN News: You spoke of the possibility of a maritime corridor. What's the latest on this?

Sigrid Kaag: It is still very much a very active work in progress, but you may recall that in February, the United Nations committed myself, alongside a number of foreign ministers of committed countries, with the Government of Cyprus to say we see value in the additionality of the maritime corridor.

We're trying to see how this could be made to work. And on the UN side and the humanitarian actors inside Gaza, we have been exploring under which conditions and parameters the UN could be part of the receipt and distribution across Gaza. This has security considerations. It has obviously serious concerns around the safety and security of distribution, but also the safety and security of the civilian population.

A number of questions are being worked through. From the UN side, under the mechanism and my mission, we are hosting the Secretariat in support of the Member States that want to send cargo via Cyprus. There are monitors deployed in Cyprus, and we are supporting the process, I would say, from the start and hopefully also to the end point.

This is an important route, however - and I've said it many times before - it is not a substitute to the importance of assistance in a future recovery and reconstruction goods reaching the Gaza Strip. It's all about land, land and land, and this is our ultimate focus. But, additionality is welcome, given the complexity of the situation and the totality of needs, not only now, but also in the future.

UN News: There's heightened concern over the safety of humanitarians in Gaza, and humanitarians themselves have expressed their own concerns for their safety. What is being done to strengthen the deconfliction mechanism and ensure that they can do their job?

Sigrid Kaag: It's of course a horrendous situation where so many humanitarian workers, and the majority of them are Palestinians, have lost their lives. As in any situation of war and conflict, it's always a big risk, and people risk their lives in the service of others. It is the most noble sacrifice, but we shouldn't be in that position.

Deconfliction has been a long ask and a long-standing and important topic of discussion and active negotiation. Deconfliction is a very sensitive and complex process, but it needs very clear understandings: communication, respect for the role of the humanitarian workers and agreements on how this is operated.

This affects convoys and places of distribution. It affects very clear and very specific agreements that we have been negotiating with the Israeli authorities and, in particular, of course, where the Israeli Defence Forces has a key role to play.

UN News: Focus is on the immediate humanitarian crisis at hand, but even as the war rages on, we're seeing images that are beyond comprehension. Is it even possible to reconstruct Gaza at this point?

Sigrid Kaag: Well, I think that's perhaps a rhetorical question only we have the luxury to ask. I think we have the duty of care, we have the responsibility and we owe it to the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza to think and to be working closely with the Palestinian Authority.

Of course, we - and the Secretary-General has stated this on numerous occasions - we hope for their speedy return to Gaza so that the institutions can lead on this process. The Palestinian Authority has a reform, has a plan for Gaza and obviously a lot of studies have been done. If it's possible, I think it's a very tall order if you look at the extent of the damage, even just looking at rubble removal and the need to reconstruct housing as soon as possible to get children back into school so we do not inflict a generation that has no access to schooling or proper education.

For Palestinians, this has always been their pride and joy. So, I think it should be a rhetorical question. We have the duty and the responsibility to ensure that we start to work towards early recovery, think about the reconstruction and also the financing. I am acutely aware that it's intrinsically tied to progress on the political front and the two-State solution. But, we cannot ask civilians to wait. Lives go on and people have suffered a lot.

UN News: Speaking of people suffering, you said we have a duty to reconstruct Gaza, but also how can people who lived through these horrors get hope and continue with their lives?

Sigrid Kaag: The healing of the soul is intrinsically personal. I think it's very hard for us, in the safety of the outside world, to even start to comprehend what people have been going through. Children that are suddenly without a known living relative.

Children who have had to suffer amputations without anaesthesia. Families that have lost their children, their homes, have been displaced multiple occasions. This, too, needs immediate attention. Recovery is not only physical. It is also support for the healing of the soul to somehow give trauma a space and a place.

This is a baggage that people are asked to carry for life. But here, to my mind, this is where there should be an immense focus on mental health and psychosocial support. I've been asking a number of the counterparts I speak with to consider this aspect as important as food, shelter, water and all the other elements of the essential parts we need. Otherwise, you cannot be whole as a human being. This aspect needs special nurturing and special attention for many years to come.

Whilst the Palestinians in Gaza have been ultimately very resilient, they need significant support. We need the experts. We need the psychologists, the psychiatrists. We need to train the trainers. But, an entire population is traumatised, so it's very different. And it asks us, all of us also with a lot of expertise from within the region, to think and work very differently. We need to plan for that from now.

But, if you ask today, the first ask of many Palestinians I speak to on my field visits is "give me dignity". This is very complex, but we need to start very practically, but never forgetting about the soul, human beings and human dignity. This is equal for all of us, whomever we are, wherever we are.

UN News: The people that you met on the ground who were telling you this, "give me dignity", is there something that you can tell us that really touched you during this visit?

Sigrid Kaag: To be honest, you feel in a way so humbled and so moved by all the different stories of suffering. It also makes you feel, at a certain stage, also quite helpless. Because we have words, and we work, but you want to do things right now, on the spot.

But, we all have different roles and responsibilities. I met with a number of Palestinian NGOs, some of them who have been working there for decades in political and military situations. They were so committed, and I would say almost positively strident.

My takeaway was that everything we do, Palestinian civil society needs to very much be on the forefront alongside the return of the Palestinian Authority because they know their people, they've been there, they have expertise and they're already thinking. They already had ideas again to restart. Now, I think many people wouldn't have the mental strength or the physical strength, so let's not forget their immense courage and determination. And we need to cultivate that. We need to nurture it.

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World News in Brief: 'Barbaric' sexual violence in Sudan, Haiti's transitional council in place, rights experts condemn Iran rapper's death sentence

25 April 2024 - The international community must take immediate action to end the wave of sexual violence being carried out against women and girls in Sudan, two senior UN officials said on Thursday.

Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten together with Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya, said that more than a year into the battle for control of the country between rival militaries, the "barbaric acts" being committed "echo the horrors witnessed in Darfur two decades ago".

They urged Security Council members who met this week to debate Ms. Patten's latest report on sexual violence to send "an unequivocal message: under international humanitarian law, civilians in Sudan must be protected and must never be subjected to acts of sexual violence, which constitute war crimes."

The disturbing reports show how women and girls are being disproportionately impacted.

Millions at risk

Allegations of rape, forced marriages, sexual slavery, and trafficking of women and girls - especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan - continue to be recorded with millions of civilians at risk as they flee conflict areas in search of shelter, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries.

The two top women officials noted that the true scale of the crisis remains unseen, "a result of severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisals, and a lack of confidence in national institutions."

Without more financial and political support for frontline responders, access to life-saving services will only continue to shrink, they warned.

UN welcomes Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council

Hopes rose on Thursday of political progress amid the multiple crises engulfing gang-ravaged Haiti, with the formal resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the official installation of the Transitional Presidential Council.

Mr. Henry had agreed to step down in March after heavily armed criminal gangs seized the country's airport and blocked his return. He will be replaced by former Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, who takes over as interim Prime Minister.

Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said the UN welcomed the newly-formed Council.

Call for swift international police deployment

"We call on the new authorities and all stakeholders to expedite the full implementation of the transitional governance arrangements," he said.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the swift deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, authorized by the Security Council in October last year, to support the Haitian National Police and return law and order to the streets after months of turmoil which has left millions in need, Mr. Dujarric added.

"The Secretary-General appeals to all Member States to ensure the Multinational Security Support mission receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed."

Iran: Rights experts alarmed by death sentence imposed on rapper Toomaj Salehi

UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts demanded the immediate release of Iranian rapper and songwriter Toomaj Salehi on Thursday and urged authorities to reverse his death sentence.

"Criticism of government policy, including through artistic expression is protected under the rights to freedom of expression and the right to take part in cultural life. It must not be criminalised," the experts said.

"Art must be allowed to criticise, to provoke, to push the boundaries in any society."

They expressed alarm at his sentencing and alleged ill-treatment "which appears to be related solely to the exercise of his right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity".

Freedom of expression

"As harsh as Mr. Salehi's songs are to the government, they are a manifestation of artistic freedom and cultural rights," they said.

The rapper was initially sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests but was released after Iran's Supreme Court ruled that it had identified flaws in the original sentence.

However, he was detained again on 30 November last year for expressing his opinion on the Iranian government and revealing that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022.

Toomaj Saleh's harsh sentencing takes place against a backdrop of severe restriction on artistic freedom and other forms of expression in the country said the experts.

"We have received allegations that it is increasingly common for artists, activists and journalists to be arrested and detained on charges such as 'publishing false news' or 'propaganda against the state'," the experts said.

They called on Iran to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.

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Sudan: Scourge of sexual violence amid ongoing conflict demands urgent response

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Joint Statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya

NEW YORK, 25 April 2024: After one year of hostilities in Sudan, we are appealing for more international engagement to combat sexual violence against women and girls in the country. These barbaric acts, which echo the horrors witnessed in Darfur two decades ago, must spur immediate action.

As members of the Security Council meet this week for the annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence, we urge them to send an unequivocal message: Under international humanitarian law, civilians in Sudan must be protected and must never be subjected to acts of sexual violence, which constitute war crimes.

Reports of sexual violence reveal the war's disproportionate impact on women and girls. Allegations of rape, forced marriages, sexual slavery, and trafficking of women and girls -- especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan -- continue to be recorded. Millions of civilians are especially at risk as they flee conflict areas in search of shelter, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries.

However, the true scale of this crisis remains unseen, a result of severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisals, and a lack of confidence in national institutions.

Without increased political and financial support for the vital work of frontline responders -- especially organisations led by women -- access to life-saving services will only continue to shrink. Fully funding this year's Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan -- currently only 10 per cent funded -- will help to support survivors, while bolstering the United Nations' Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund is essential to strengthen the response.

Building on the solidarity demonstrated at last week's International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours in Paris, we must continue to shore up our support for the people of Sudan -- critically by combating sexual violence in all its forms and ensuring that Sudanese frontline responders stay at the centre of those efforts.

**NOTE TO THE EDITORS: **Please find the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan here and the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund here.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict:

Geraldine Boezio (geraldine.boezio@un.org)

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

Eri Kaneko (kaneko@un.org)

25 April 2024

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UNRWA Preliminary Response - Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, 20 April 2024

UNRWA

25 Apr 2024

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Background

On 5 February 2024, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the UNRWA Commissioner-General, appointed an Independent Review Group to identify and assess the mechanisms and procedures that the Agency currently has in place to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of breaches thereof. The Review Group was also expected to present recommendations for the improvement and strengthening of these procedures, taking into account the particular operational, political and security contexts in which UNRWA works. The report was commissioned following an increase of allegations related to the neutrality of UNRWA personnel, installations, and operations since the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023.

The Independent Review Group wasled by Catherine Colonna, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, who worked with three renowned research organizations: The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Sweden), the Chr. Michelsen Institute (Norway), and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

UNRWA's Preliminary Response

UNRWA welcomes the recommendations of the report and is fully committed to implementing these recommendations.

UNRWA also welcomes the report's finding1 that the Agency "has established and updated a significant number of policies, mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the obligation to uphold the principle of neutrality". UNRWA also welcomes findings that the Agency has mechanisms and procedures "to ensure rapid and adequate responses to allegations or indications of breaches" of the principle of neutrality and to "determine and implement disciplinary sanctions on personnel found to breach the neutrality principles". The report notes that UNRWA "possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO entities"2. It also confirms that between 2022 and 2024, the Agency "has reviewed all external allegations of breaches of neutrality and opened investigations where it has found prima facia evidence of misconduct" 3.

Throughout the report, the shared responsibility of UNRWA and Member States, particularly host countries and Israel (as an occupying power), to preserve the Agency's neutrality is acknowledged. This is particularly true as UNRWA, like any other UN Agency, "does not have policing, military or wider investigative capacities, and competencies" 4 . The report notes that the neutrality challenges that UNRWA faces are "stemming from the operational, political and security environment in which it operates"5 and "differ from those of other international organizations due to the magnitude of its operations, with most personnel being locally recruited and recipient of UNRWA services"6 . UNRWA's financial situation and the security context in which it operates are mentioned several times, including in relation to installation checks and training of staff, as challenges to UNRWA's efforts in the area of neutrality. UNRWA welcomes the report's endorsement of the Agency's irreplaceable and indispensable role for the human and economic development of Palestinians and the present humanitarian response in Gaza, where UNRWA is a humanitarian lifeline7 .

The Review Group identified several areas that can strengthen UNRWA's work on neutrality and made 50 recommendations addressed mainly to UNRWA, but also to the UNGA Advisory Commission on UNRWA, Host countries, Israel and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). The recommendations cover eight areas related to engagement with donors, governance, management and internal oversight, neutrality of staff, neutrality of installations, education, staff unions and enhanced cooperation with UN Agencies. The report notes that "given the uniqueness of this political context [operational, political and security environment in which the Agency operates], these measures will have a significant impact only with the support of Host countries, Israel and the Palestinian Authority"8 .

The below provides an overview of UNRWA's preliminary responses to the recommendations:

Engagement with donors: UNRWA is fully committed to strengthening its communication, transparency, and consultation with its partners on its financial situation and neutrality issues. UNRWA will implement the recommendation to increase engagement in donor capitals as well as with Member States representations in New York and Geneva. In February 2024, UNRWA notified partners that it would start strategic briefings on integrity in Quarter 2 of 2024, following UN best practices.

The recommendation under this heading will be taken forward by the Executive Office and the External Relations and Communications Department (ERCD).

Governance: UNRWA welcomes the recommendations addressed to the Advisory Commission on UNRWA (AdCom). UNRWA concurs with the report's assessment that political support from Member States is critical to effectively address neutrality challenges. The Agency welcomes further engagement with the Advisory Commission on these and other strategic matters at the Geneva and/or New York level.

The two recommendations will be taken forward by the Executive Office in consultation with the AdCom.

Management and Internal Oversight: The report commends UNRWA's management and internal oversight reform efforts undertaken since 2020 and recommends bolstering and modernizing such mechanisms and procedures further, building upon the action plan on strengthening oversight, accountability and internal controls shared with Advisory Commission members in March 2020. With donor support, important steps have already been taken to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Internal Oversight services (DIOS) and the Ethics Office, centralize investigation functions, and significantly strengthen UNRWA's Enterprise Risk Management System. UNRWA will continue to prioritize internal reforms, which will also address the reports' recommendations. UNRWA also takes note of the request from several donors to further strengthen project management and monitoring measures given the challenging operational context and will discuss this with interested donors.

The 15 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by DIOS, Ethics Office, Department of Planning, Department of Human Resources, Digital Impact, Technology and Innovation Department (DITID), and the Executive Office.

Neutrality of staff: The report confirms that the Agency has a comprehensive set of rules, regulations, policies, guidelines and procedures in place to support the neutrality of staff, including training, screening and vetting of UNRWA personnel prior to and during employment. UNRWA welcomes the recommendations to further strengthen existing mechanismsrelated to neutrality of staff, recognizing also the role of host countries and Israel, as well as the need to reinforce training and engagement with personnel and managers. The Agency also welcomes the report's recommendation to further invest in staff care, recognizing the difficult environment in which our personnel works and the direct impact of violence on colleagues and relatives.

The 10 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by the Department of Legal Affairs, the Ethics Office, the Department of Human Resources, Protection Division, ERCD and the Relief and Social Services Programme (RSS).

Neutrality of installations: The report reaffirms the shared responsibility of UNRWA and Member States related to the inviolability of UN premises and confirms that UNRWA has policies and procedures in place to inspect all installations and inform relevant actors, including donors, host countries, and Israel when critical breaches occur. The Agency welcomes the recommendations to implement further preventive measures and enhance monitoring and transparent reporting.

The 5 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by the Protection Division and ERCD.

Education: The report confirms that the Agency has a range of mechanisms in place to ensure that teaching in UNRWA schools is in line with UN values and UNESCO standards, including the review of all hosts' textbooks, the Critical Thinking Approach, and the Digital Learning Platform. The Agency welcomes the opportunity to work with UNESCO and host countries on textbook matters. The Agency reaffirms its existing prohibition on using any education material from hosts' textbooks that would promote hate and violence.

The 8 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by the Education Department, Department of Human Resource and DIOS.

Staff Unions: The Agency welcomes all recommendations that can both strengthen neutrality and staff representation, including the report's recommendation to update the Statute of UNRWA Unions, ensure greater gender representation - issues already raised by the Agency's management with the Inter Staff Union Council and the Advisory Commission - as well as recommendations regarding vetting. The Agency 4 will also continue supporting the Women Advisory Forum, launched in 2022, which is a platform for female staff across the five fields to discuss needs and ideas to empower female staff.

The 6 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by the Executive Office, Field Directors, and the Department of Human Resources.

Enhanced Cooperation with UN Agencies: UNRWA welcomes opportunities to further strengthen partnerships with other UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, while respecting its mandate received from the UN General Assembly. UNRWA will continue to enhance and support engagement with existing humanitarian coordination mechanisms in Gaza and other areas of operation and will seek to build on existing partnerships with sister UN agencies, including WFP, UNICEF and IOM in Gaza to strengthen the humanitarian response.

The 3 recommendations under this heading will be taken forward by the Executive Office and Field Directors.

UNRWA's Next Steps in Implementation of the Recommendations

UNRWA has set up an internal task force, led by the Deputy Commissioner-General (Operational Support), to oversee the implementation of recommendations addressed to the Agency. Departments and Offices charged with the responsibility to take recommendations forward will establish priorities, action plans, timelines, and budgets. These will be consolidated into a high-level Agency-wide Action Plan that UNRWA will roll out in response to the recommendations. This Action Plan will include ongoing initiatives in line with the recommendations as well as actions that can be implemented immediately. The Plan will also indicate which recommendations will require additional financial resources and/or the support of Hosts and Member States for their successful implementation.

UNRWA notes that some recommendations may take time to implement or may be dependent on support and cooperation from other entities and partners. The implementation of some recommendations will require political support from Member States, including host countries and Israel, as noted in the report.

UNRWA highlights that several recommendations will require additional financial and human resources, including fixed term international and area staff, to enable successful implementation and sustained impact. UNRWA's Action Plan must, therefore, include a budget. UNRWA plans to seek donor support through pooled-funding arrangements to allow for more effective and efficient use of resources and efficient and timely reporting on progress achieved.

UNRWA recognizes that the recommendations are closely associated with ongoing or planned modernization efforts the Agency has committed to in its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. These change initiatives, as well as the earlier action plan on oversight, accountability and internal controls, will need to be harmonized with and possibly incorporated into the high-level Agency wide Action Plan to allow for comprehensive oversight of the planned initiatives to further strengthen UNRWA, both in terms of stronger approaches to the principle of neutrality, as well as key areas related to oversight, risk management, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.

UNRWA aims to share the aforementioned Action Plan and indicative budget with partners in the next weeks. We will establish a team in the Executive Office to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and will be looking at support from Member States in the form of secondments.

Footnotes

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2 Page 3-4

3 Page 11

4 Page 25

5 Page 4

6 Page 3

7 Page 3

8 Page 4

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Israel-Gaza war protests spread to more universities across US

By VOA News April 25, 2024

What began last week at Columbia University, where students refused to end their protests against Israel's war in Gaza despite pushback from the New York school and arrests by police, has spread across the country. Students at various college campuses are staging similar demonstrations that are also being met with police response.

In one of the latest incidents, on Thursday police responded as student protesters at Princeton University in New Jersey began setting up an encampment, according to media reports.

In a video posted on X, an officer said, "You all are in violation of university policy. These tents must come down now." Protesters were also shown chanting, "Free, free Palestine."

A couple states away in Massachusetts, police forcibly removed an encampment set up by students at Emerson College in Boston and arrested more than 100 people, according to media and police reports. The tents were removed shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday, police said. Emerson canceled classes Thursday.

Students at Harvard University, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology set up similar encampments.

Meanwhile, Atlanta police and Georgia state troopers removed a camp on Emory University's quadrangle Thursday morning.

And in Washington on Thursday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at George Washington University to call for universities to divest from companies linked to Israel and to drop disciplinary charges against pro-Palestinian student protesters. The protest was organized by students from George Washington, Georgetown University and others in the region.

Last week, tensions escalated on Columbia's Manhattan campus when city police arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters.

University officials decided to switch to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester, which will conclude by the end of next week. The university has again extended the deadline, this time until early Friday morning, for students to dismantle tents.

"I condemn the antisemitic protests," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Monday. "I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians."

Palestine Legal, a U.S. pro-Palestinian group, filed a federal civil rights complaint against Columbia in the wake of last week's mass arrest of anti-war protesters after the school called police to clear demonstrator encampments, the group said Thursday.

Similar scenes have been playing out this week from Connecticut and Illinois to Texas and California.

In New Haven, Connecticut, on Monday, police arrested 48 protesters, four of whom were not students, at Yale University after they refused to leave an encampment on a plaza at the center of campus.

Two days later at the University of Texas at Austin, hundreds of protesters were met with university officers as Texas state troopers responded in riot gear. Dozens of students who did not leave the area were arrested.

"Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses," Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on X. "These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled."

A photojournalist covering the protest for Fox 7 Austin was arrested after being caught in the tumult between students and law enforcement, the station said. Footage on social media shows the journalist being knocked down by officers.

Hours later on Wednesday, in contrast to the police response in Texas, police peacefully arrested student protesters at the University of Southern California. That evening, a few dozen demonstrators standing in a circle with locked arms were detained one by one without incident. More than 90 protesters were arrested on campus.

A day later, USC announced it would cancel its main graduation ceremony, scheduled for May 10. The university had already canceled a commencement speech by the school's pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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UN agency official says northern Gaza still 'heading toward famine'

By VOA News April 25, 2024

A senior World Food Program official warned Thursday that northern Gaza is still at risk of famine, despite some improvement in the volume of aid getting into the besieged territory.

"We are still heading toward famine. We haven't seen the paradigm shift that is needed to avert a famine," Carl Skau, World Food Program deputy executive director, told reporters at the United Nations. "We need more volume, and more predictability, and a sustained effort to get more diverse assistance into the north."

He said nutritional supplements and ready-to-eat meals are also needed to help avert famine.

In the past three weeks, Skau said WFP has seen some progress in getting aid convoys into the north, which has been largely cut off from aid distribution since the war between Israel and Hamas started in October. He said from seven to 12 WFP food trucks are crossing into northern Gaza every two to three days, but it is far from enough.

"This is really a drop in the ocean," he said. "We need to get to at least 30 [trucks per day], and we need to do it every day."

Recently, Israeli authorities opened the Erez Crossing at the northern end of the Gaza Strip and said they would allow aid ships with wheat to dock at Israel's Ashdod Port.

"We want to use Ashdod not only for wheat, but for other commodities," Skau said.

He said one bright spot in the past month is the resumed operations of 16 bakeries, including four in northern Gaza, that are delivering 60,000 bags of bread a day to residents. Before the war, WFP worked with 23 Gaza bakeries to provide 200,000 people a day with fresh bread, but they closed from lack of fuel and war damage.

Skau said despite earlier incidents of desperate Palestinians swarming aid trucks in the north, the situation at bakeries has been peaceful, and people are visibly excited.

"People lined up, and there was just sheer joy in their faces when they walked away with their first bag of bread in over six months," Skau said.

Aid workers memorialized

In Washington, hundreds of relatives, friends, diplomats and officials gathered at the National Cathedral to memorialize the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were killed in Israeli airstrikes on April 1.

Chef Jose Andres, who founded the charity, said they were in Gaza so that hungry people could eat.

"They risked everything to feed people they did not know," he said. "They were the best of humanity. Their examples should inspire us to do better, to be better."

Andres has said they were deliberately targeted and has called for an investigation. Israel says they were mistakenly identified as combatants.

Calls for investigation

Separately, the White House said Thursday it would like to see reports of mass graves in Gaza investigated.

Several hundred bodies and body parts have been unearthed from graves on the grounds of Gaza City's Shifa Hospital and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis  both sites of extensive Israeli raids on Hamas.

Rafah and fighting

Israel's military said Thursday its forces carried out airstrikes on more than 30 targets in Gaza in the past day. The Israel Defense Forces said these included a Hamas warehouse and areas in central Gaza from which militants fired rockets at Israeli forces.

Hospital officials in Gaza said an Israeli strike killed at least five people in the southern city of Rafah. The city is anxiously bracing for a promised IDF invasion the government says is necessary to eliminate the final Hamas battalions in the city.

The United Nations estimates 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering in the city and warns an attack would be catastrophic. Israel has said it plans to evacuate civilians but has not publicized details of how to do it safely.

Conditions in Rafah grow worse by the day. The United Nations says trash is building up, raw sewage and human waste are running in the streets, there is limited access to clean water, and the rates of diarrhea and hepatitis A have become "alarming."

Israel is retaliating against Hamas for its October 7 terror attack that it says killed about 1,200 people. Some 250 others were taken hostage. Israeli officials say the militants are still holding about 100 live captives and the remains of more than 30 others.

The United States, Britain, Israel and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist group.

Israel's military campaign has killed more than 34,300 Palestinians and injured more than 77,200 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but says women and children account for two-thirds of those killed.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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The City College of San Francisco board passed a resolution that would allow noncitizen students to vote in college elections. The measure would need to be passed via a citywide ballot measure to take effect. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

City College of San Francisco students who are not citizens may soon be able to vote in elections for the schools Board of Trustees, spokespersons for the college said Friday.

The schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution allowing noncitizens to vote in board elections, but to take effect the measure would have to be passed by majority vote through a citywide ballot measure, university officials said.

The policy was first proposed by San Francisco City College Board President Alan Wong, after Californias 1st District Court of Appeal determined that the California Constitution does not restrict the authority of state and local governments to expand voting rights.

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The political conversation intensified in August after the appellate court court overruled a San Francisco Superior Court Judge who said a San Francisco ballot measure allowing noncitizen parents to vote in San Francisco Unified school board elections violated the state Constitution.

Those noncitizen parents in San Francisco were the first non-U.S. citizens to vote legally in California.

Wong said that allowing noncitizen students the opportunity to vote for their board would get more students invested in their education and increase participation and involvement on campus.

Many students at City College are newly arrived immigrants seeking skills and opportunity in a new country, and encouraging them to participate in our democracy adds a new dimension to their education, said Wong.

Under the proposed policy, noncitizen City College students would still need to satisfy other voting qualifications, such as being a resident of San Francisco of voting age.

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Officials estimate that a third of all City College students were born in a country other than the United States, and that thousands of students would be eligible under the proposed policy.
Gaza hospital officials say Israeli strike kills 5 in Rafah

By VOA News April 25, 2024

Israel's military said Thursday its forces carried out airstrikes on more than 30 targets in the Gaza Strip in the past day, while Gaza hospital officials said an Israeli strike killed at least five people in the southern city of Rafah.

The Israel Defense Forces said its targets included a Hamas warehouse and areas in central Gaza from which militants fired rockets at Israeli forces.

The continued fighting in Gaza came a day after U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law a $95 billion foreign aid bill that contains $26.4 billion for Israel, including military spending, and about $1 billion for humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.

Separately, the top U.N. aid official for Gaza told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that preparations for building a floating port and pier off Gaza are advancing, with the involvement of the United States and other countries.

Sigrid Kaag said the U.N. has outlined the parameters under which it can play a meaningful role in the distribution of aid from this corridor but was clear that neither sea nor air deliveries could substitute for truck convoys.

"Land routes are the only way to bring in the bulk of supplies needed," she said.

Hope for one hostage's family

Hamas released a video Wednesday, apparently showing Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was among some 250 hostages taken during the October 7 Hamas terror attacks inside Israel.

The video could not be independently verified, but his family said they believe the video is of him.

In the nearly three-minute video, the now 24-year-old Goldberg-Polin criticizes the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not protecting him and other Israelis on October 7. He said Netanyahu should be "ashamed" for leaving the hostages for more than 200 days and rejecting deals for their release.

Goldberg-Polin said he has been living in an "underground hell" and held up his left arm, showing the stump where his hand was blown off by a grenade during the attack on the Nova music festival where he was abducted.

His reference to how long he has been held, and another reference to the Jewish Passover holiday this week, suggest the tape was made recently. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said the FBI is examining the video.

Hamas periodically releases propaganda videos like this one to pressure Israel's government, where citizens have been demonstrating daily for the release of the hostages, and to cause further psychological distress.

The Hostages Families Forum said the Goldberg-Polin family allowed the video to be shared after it was released by Hamas.

"Hersh's cry is the collective cry of all the hostages  their time is rapidly running out," the forum said in a statement. "With each passing day, the fear of losing more innocent lives grows stronger. We cannot afford to waste any more time; the hostages must be the top priority."

According to Israel, about 1,200 people were killed and some 250 others taken hostage during the Hamas attack in October. Israel says the militants are still holding about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 others.

The U.S., Britain, Israel and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist group.

Israel's response, a military campaign it says is aimed at eliminating Hamas and ensuring the group cannot carry out a future attack, has killed more than 34,300 Palestinians and injured more than 77,200 others, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says women and children account for two-thirds of those killed.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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UN threatens to reduce humanitarian assistance to South Sudan

By Sheila Ponnie April 25, 2024

South Sudanese farmers who have relied on United Nations agencies operating in that country now say they are afraid of losing a ready market for their produce should the U.N. follow through on its threat to scale down operations in the world's youngest nation. This comes after the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom expressed concerns about Juba's decision to impose taxes on some commodities purchased by the U.N.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan  UNMISS  has already scaled down its security operations in South Sudan.

U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan Nicholas Haysom says Juba's move to enforce taxes on various services offered by the U.N. in South Sudan will lead to severe consequences, including cuts in aid and other humanitarian support.

"Our concern is that the authorities have blocked our fuel, and we are unable to implement our mandate, including important elements, which affect and support South Sudanese  including the delivery of aid and food to vulnerable communities," he said.

A joint statement by the United States, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom accused Juba of imposing taxes on a range of approvals and fees, contrary to international practice and to South Sudanese laws. These include the E-Petroleum Accreditation Permit, customs charges, the electronic cargo tracking note, the laboratory test on food rations, and the security escort fee.

The U.N. warns this move has forced them to scale down operations in South Sudan, including security patrols, as a direct response to the action.

"We have reached an agreement that the blocking of these vehicles is unlawful, and that they should be released as soon as possible," Haysom said.

He warned that the ripple effect will be felt far and wide. So far, more than 60-thousand people are losing access to health services after the U.N. stopped airdrop exercises.

South Sudan relies heavily on the U.N. for humanitarian aid.

Amos Valerio is the chairperson of the Gitikiri farmer cooperative in Western Equatoria state that supports local farmers by connecting them with a ready market. One of their key markets is the World Food Program, which has been buying farm produce from local farmers and then taking this food to millions of South Sudanese in refugee camps across the country.

"The fear we have right now is that if the U.N. withdraws from South Sudan, we will not have any partner again," Valerio said. "We encourage the government to restore the U.N. to continue helping farmers and to continue with their activities in South Sudan."

Louise Wilson Mbiro, a farmer from Gitikiri Boma in Western Equatoria state, said she fears losing her biggest buyer of maize seeds.

If the WFP leaves, farmers will not be able to sell the products they have already produced and those they were going to produce, she said, adding that the WFP's presence and support encouraged farmers to produce more.

Before the WFP started buying their seeds, Mbiro said life was very difficult, and she could only sell one kilogram of maize at 5,000 South Sudanese pounds, which was not helping at all.

But when WFP came, she said farmers could sell all their products at once, and get money in bulk, which was something that never used to happen. Currently, Mbiro said, she can sell 35 bags, and make 1 million South Sudanese pounds.

Albino Akol Atak, South Sudan's minister of humanitarian assistance and disaster management, said the government is trying to find a way to remove the taxes on the U.N.

"We are considering that as the contribution of [the] government of South Sudan to what they [the U.N.] are doing is exempt. Their operations including importation of some humanitarian asserts and any other equipment that are to be used to deliver services to the people of South Sudan."

Akol Atak said the exemption is part of the government's contribution to humanitarian assistance to its people.

But the U.N. says its fuel trucks are still being held up at various depots and the border.

Unless the vehicles are released, Haysom said in a statement, the U.N. will stop most of its activities in South Sudan, including the support for vulnerable communities like refugees.

The U.N. currently plays a leading role in ensuring stability in South Sudan as the country gears up for its first-ever general election in December.

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Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom Calling for the Release of the Hostages Held in Gaza

April 25, 2024

We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for over 200 days. They include our own citizens. The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected under international law, is of international concern.

We emphasize that the deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities. Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions.

We strongly support the ongoing mediation efforts in order to bring our people home. We reiterate our call on Hamas to release the hostages, and let us end this crisis so that collectively we can focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region.

###

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Israeli military says preparations for ground operation in Rafah completed

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:28, April 26, 2024

JERUSALEM, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi informed Israel's wartime cabinet on Thursday that the army had completed preparations for a ground attack on Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, state-owned Kan radio reported.

Israel's wartime cabinet and security cabinet convened on Thursday to discuss a possible assault on Rafah, a city previously considered a "safe zone" from the relentless Israeli bombardments, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have found refuge.

According to the report, Halevi presented attack plans to members of the wartime cabinet and said that the ground forces were ready to move in once the order was given.

Meanwhile, the ministers also discussed new attempts to push forward a ceasefire that would secure the release of more than 100 hostages held in Gaza, some of whom are presumed to be dead.

Previously, Israel informed the U.S. that it would order civilians to evacuate before launching the attack.

According to Israel's Channel 12 TV news, the Israeli government has formulated a four-phase evacuation plan, which includes securing humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, developing essential infrastructure, such as water and communication, in designated evacuation areas, establishing approximately 10 field hospitals, and reconstructing demolished hospitals in the designated evacuation zones.

Additionally, the plan includes providing 40,000 tents to accommodate civilians expected to be evacuated from Rafah.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 25 April 2024 - Day 792

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]

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, it was reported on 23 April that the Russian Investigation Committee had detained Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov for two months. He is charged with committing a crime under Part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, namely receiving a large bribe. Some offences under Art 290 are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin has been informed of the arrest. Ivanov denies any wrongdoing.

Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu has also been informed. Ivanov was a Deputy Prime Minister in the Moscow Regional Government in 2012, when Shoygu was Governor of Moscow Region. It is therefore likely that he has long-standing ties with Shoygu.

Ivanov was appointed a Deputy Defence Minister in 2016, and is reported to have played an important role in reconstruction projects in Mariupol. In his income declaration for 2018 it is allegedly indicated that Ivanov owned 22 cars. Reports of Ivanov's reported luxurious lifestyle sit awkwardly with Putin's call in February in his state of the nation address for a new national elite comprised of the heroes of the special military operation. The Ivanov affair is the most serious scandal to hit the MOD since then Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was dismissed in November 2012.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 25, there were 93x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 50x air strikes, 45x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive g

roup.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Sumy city. More than 20x settlements, including Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Uralove, Manukhivka, Basivka, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks on in the vicinities of Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16x attacks in the vicinities of Druzhelyubivka (Kharkiv oblast), Makiivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Zarichne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Borova (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Novyi, Spirne, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mykolaivka, Chasiv Yar, Spirne, Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 23x attacks in the vicinities of Ocheretyne, Umans'ke, Nevel's'ke, Keramik, Berdychi, Netailove (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kalynove, Semenivka, Karlivka, Novohrodivka, Yevhenivka, Oleksandropil', Arkhanhel's'ke, Novokalynove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Arkhanhel's'ke, Soloviove, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane (Donetsk oblast), where the invaders made 14x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast).

Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, launched 1x attack on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of April 25, Russian forces executed 3x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kachkarivka and Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of April 25, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 2x command posts, 8x concentrations of Russian troops, 3x anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x concentration of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Zapad Group of Forces' units have captured more advantageous lines and inflicted fire defeat on manpower and hardware of 14th, 63rd mechanised, 3rd tank, 3rd assault, 77th airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Glushkovka (Kharkov region), Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses were up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, three U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, and three U.S.-made Vampire, Grad, and HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system combat vehicles.

The Yug Group of Forces' units have improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of the 56th motorised infantry, 28th, 30th, 93rd mechanised, 79th, 92nd air assault brigades, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Belaya Gora, Iliynka, Konstantinovka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 80th Mechanised Brigade has been repelled near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 500 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, five electronic warfare stations: Nota, Anklav, Bukovel-AD, and two ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units have improved the tactical situation and inflicted fire defeat on manpower and hardware of the 59th motorised infantry, 23rd, 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novgorodskoye, Arkhangelskoye, Sokol, and Karlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks of the AFU 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment, 71st jaeger, 142nd infantry, 24th, and 100th mechanised brigades have been repelled close to Novobakhmutovka, Semyonovka, Ocheretino, Netaylovo, Keramik, and north-east of Novosyolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 350 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicle.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 105-mm U.S.-made M102 howitzer, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer have been eliminated.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units have captured more advantageous lines and inflicted fire defeat on the units of 58th motorised infantry, 72nd mechanised brigades of the AFU, 102nd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Gulyai Pole (Zaporozhye region), Ugledar, Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 90 Ukrainian troops, one armoured personnel carrier, four motor vehicles, and one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer.

The Dnepr Group of Forces' units have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of 28th, 65th mechanised brigades of the AFU, 103rd, 121st territorial defence brigades, and the 23rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade close to Rabotino, Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Nikopol, Kapulovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Mikhailovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses were up to 30 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one D-30 122-mm howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery have engaged AFU manpower and military hardware, as well as formations of mercenaries of the so-called Foreign Legion in 122 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 200 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the day.

In total, 592 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 23,132 unmanned aerial vehicles, 509 air defence missile systems, 15,831 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,274 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,115 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,288 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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China to launch 3 lunar probe missions within next 4 yrs; ILRS to complete basic form before 2035: chief designer of lunar exploration projects

Global Times

By Deng Xiaoci in Wuhan Published: Apr 25, 2024 11:02 AM

China will carry out three Chang'e lunar probe missions within next four years and the basic form of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS,) the international moon base project currently led by the China National Space Administration and Russia's ROSCOSMOS, is expected to be completed before 2035, Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, revealed during a speech at the ongoing China Space Conference in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.

Wu, who is also the chief scientist and director of China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL,) and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, remarked at the annual space conference to mark the Space Day of China on April 24 every year that as an important task during the basic construction phase of the ILRS, Chang'e-6 mission will be launched soon to complete a sampling mission and return from the lunar far side; Chang'e-7 is scheduled for launch around 2026 to conduct environmental and resource surveys at the lunar south pole; Chang'e-8 is planned for launch around 2028 to conduct in-situ resource utilization experiments on the moon.

In recent years, China's space technology capabilities have made significant strides, establishing major infrastructure for deep space exploration and establishing cooperation with multiple countries worldwide, all of which lay a solid foundation for the construction of the ILRS.

Following the principles of "overall planning, step-by-step implementation, and building while using," the construction of the ILRS will be carried out in two phases.

By 2035, the basic version will be completed, centered around the lunar south pole, with comprehensive scientific facilities equipped with basic functions and elements, conducting regular scientific experiments and a certain scale of resource development and utilization.

By 2045, the expanded version will be completed, with the lunar orbit station as the hub, featuring fully equipped and substantially scaled facilities, stable operations, while conducting comprehensive scientific research on the moon and in-depth resource development and utilization, and conducting technical verification and scientific experiments related to a manned mission to Mars.

The ILRS consists of lunar surface, lunar orbit, and ground segments, comprising infrastructure such as energy and power systems, command and information systems, and lunar transportation systems, with functions including energy supply, central control, communication and navigation, lunar-earth transportation, and lunar surface research, enabling long-term and sustained scientific exploration, resource development, and technology verification across multiple disciplines and objectives.

The ILRS, initiated by China and Russia, is being jointly developed and constructed by multiple countries, with long-term autonomous operation on the lunar surface and in lunar orbit, with short-term human participation, as an expandable, maintainable comprehensive scientific experimental facility.

Wu also revealed that China plans to launch the Tianwen-2 mission around 2025, to carry out flyby exploration and return samples from a small asteroid located about 40 million kilometers away from Earth. Around 2030, Tianwen-3 is planned to be launched to execute a sample return mission from Mars, Wu said.

"Currently, looking at the progress of various countries around the world, our country is expected to become the first country to return samples from Mars," Wu remarked.

China has begun planning the construction of the world's first Mars sample laboratory and is also deepening the feasibility study of the Tianwen-4 mission, aiming for the exploration of Jupiter and its moons, followed by the arrival at Uranus, according to Wu.

"The probability of an asteroid impact on Earth is extremely low, but the consequences would be enormous," Wu said, noting that in history, asteroids have struck the Earth multiple times, resulting in major disasters such as the extinction of dinosaurs.

China has initiated an asteroid defense plan and is expected to implement a kinetic impact on an asteroid located tens of millions of kilometers away around 2027, altering its orbit and conducting impact assessment in orbit, aiming for precision, effectiveness, and clear evaluation, he said.

Wu disclosed that in the middle of this century, China plans to launch a new type of propulsion spacecraft, reaching the boundary of the solar system at 80-100 astronomical units (AU), conducting scientific exploration in the distant, dark, and cold unknown regions, aiming to establish new milestones in humanity's understanding of the universe.

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China concerned about Japan's plan to join AUKUS, firmly opposes relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings: defense ministry

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 25, 2024 10:30 PM

China is concerned about Japan's plan to join AUKUS and firmly opposes relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings, building bilateral or multilateral military alliances targeting China, creating division and confrontation and stoking bloc confrontation, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Thursday.

The remarks were made by Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the MND, in response to recent reports that Japan has officially announced it will join AUKUS, while Canada's Prime Minister is considering increasing submarine deployments and starting negotiations on joining AUKUS.

Wu said that China is gravely concerned. "We firmly oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings, building bilateral or multilateral military alliances targeting China, creating division and confrontation and stoking bloc confrontation. The Asia-Pacific is a big stage for peace and development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition," Wu noted.

China is a cooperation partner for all countries, not a challenge to anyone. Disregarding the concerns of regional countries and the international community, the US, UK and Australia have continuously sent signals of AUKUS expansion, which have severely impacted peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. Many regional countries are deeply concerned about it, said Wu.

Wu also responded to the US revamp of its military command in Japan, a move media said will form better coordination and increased deterrence against China.

Wu said that the US-Japan alliance is a product of the Cold War and a bilateral arrangement that should not target third parties or disrupt regional peace and stability. Japan once took the wrong path of militarism, launching aggressive wars and committing serious crimes against humanity, causing profound disasters in the region and the world. Instead of reflecting seriously on its past actions, Japan is once again showing a dangerous trend of military expansion.

In recent times, the US and Japan have intensified military collusion, promoting camp confrontation and using the unfounded "China threat" rhetoric as an excuse to create targeted "small cliques." This goes against the trend of the times and will only make people see more clearly the harmful intentions of the US-Japan alliance toward regional peace and stability, said the spokesperson.

He said China urges relevant countries to stop creating confrontation and hostility, as it will only increase regional tensions and ultimately backfire on themselves.

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Lukashenka Says Dozens Of Russian Nukes Deployed in Belarus

By RFE/RL April 25, 2024

Authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that "several dozen Russian nuclear weapons" were deployed in Belarus, a move that has raised concerns in the West that Moscow's war against Ukraine could spread.

Speaking at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly in Minsk that was broadcast live on YouTube on April 25, Lukashenka, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the gathering had unanimously adopted a new military doctrine that considers the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil as a strategic deterrent.

Belarus has provided logistical support to Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Moscow has moved tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus -- the first relocation of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

NATO has called the move "dangerous and irresponsible."

Lukashenka said it was "a mistake" that all strategic nuclear weapons were removed from Belarus after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and that Russia's tactical nuclear weapons "must" stay in Belarus.

He added, however, that Belarusian independence must be preserved "no matter what."

Lukashenka often talks up the dangers of an attack by NATO or Ukraine as the reason his country needs to keep its military in a constant state of high alert.

In the speech, he claimed opposition groups planned to seize an area in western Belarus and request support from NATO troops.

Belarus's security service said on April 25 it had thwarted an attack on Minsk by drones launched from Lithuania, a claim quickly refuted by officials in Vilnius.

Lukashenka called on the West to "end the standoff with Russia by calling it a draw," which would spur the peace process and end the conflict in Ukraine.

"Otherwise Ukraine stops existing," he said.

The All-Belarusian People's Assembly is a general meeting of the government with industry leaders. It has previously been held six times from 1996 to 2021.

Opposition politicians and activists have criticized the event, calling it a tool of Lukashenka's propaganda intended to demonstrate unanimous support for the authoritarian leader, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lukashenka-russia- nuclear-weapons/32920346.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Hong Kong: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in the EP plenary on the security law

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.04.2024

Strasbourg

EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

Check against delivery!

Thank you very much. Before I begin my speech, let me applaud Members of the Parliament, Reinhard Butikofer [and Fabio Massimo] Castaldo for their constant fight for human rights and being the champions of defending what is the basis of our Union. Thank you very much for that.

President, Honourable Members,

The European Union has repeatedly expressed its grave concerns about the National Security Law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020. Since then, hundreds of opposition politicians, journalists, [and] civil society activists have been arrested. Independent media outlets were forced to close. Many civil society organisations disbanded.

This has seriously undermined the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. The new national security legislation that was adopted on 19 March threatens to further accelerate the erosion of fundamental freedoms and political pluralism in Hong Kong.

The definition of "state secrets" found in the new legislation is exceedingly broad and imports the definitions prevailing in mainland China to Hong Kong. The law features sweeping stipulations on external interference that are likely to affect engagement with international organisations. Other troubling aspects are significantly increased penalties and expanded powers for the police and [the] Chief Executive.

A bill including such far-reaching changes would have required ample time to allow for thorough scrutiny. However, the law was adopted hastily only 20 days after the end of a one-month public consultation process.

The High Representative [Josep Borrell] issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the new legislation on 19 March. All EU Member States supported this statement. This underlines the European Union's serious concerns about this law. The European Union will closely monitor the application of the national security legislation and the impact on the exercise of rights and freedoms by the people of Hong Kong.

The EU Office in Hong Kong is closely following the trial against Jimmy Lai and regularly attending court hearings. Andy Li is a key prosecution witness in this case. The European Union shares concerns highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture [Alice Jill Edwards] that evidence against Jimmy Lai may have been obtained by torture. These allegations should be investigated thoroughly and transparently.

The EU Office in Hong Kong also regularly attended the trial against Joseph John, including the sentencing two weeks ago. Joseph John is a holder of a Portuguese passport and Hong Kong identity documents. He was arrested by the Hong Kong National Security Police on 1 November 2022 and sentenced to five years under the National Security Law for 'incitement to secession' on 11 April. This case is another example of the harsh restrictions on freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Link to the video (starting from 12:20): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-256117

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Chinese National Arrested in United States for Alleged Scheme to Illegally Export Semiconductor Manufacturing Machine

Thursday, April 25, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

An indictment was unsealed today charging two Chinese nationals, Han Li, also known as Anson Li, 44, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S. technology, including a machine manufactured by a California-based company that is used to process silicon wafer microchips, to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday.

"As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "The Justice Department is committed to enforcing export controls and holding accountable those who seek to illicitly procure U.S.-developed technologies that put our national security at risk."

"The export restrictions at issue in this case were put in place to prevent the illicit procurement of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end use in the People's Republic of China," said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. "This office will continue to vigorously enforce the nation's export laws, including those pertaining to advanced technologies, to protect our national security."

"This indictment puts an end to Ms. Chen's alleged involvement in a scheme to illegally export U.S. technology to China," said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch. "The U.S. does not tolerate illegally exporting our advanced technology, and any attempt to circumvent U.S. laws and regulations will have consequences. The FBI and its partners will continue to seek justice in this matter."

Federal regulations restrict the export of certain items to companies, research institutions, and other entities identified on the Department of Commerce's Entity List. In August 2014, the Commerce Department added Changdu GaStone Technology Company (CGTC), a company based in China, to the Entity List.

As alleged in the indictment, between at least May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen conspired to evade the export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on CGTC through the use of intermediaries to conceal CGTC's involvement with the transactions. Specifically, the defendants sought to illegally obtain a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California, company. The machine is used to cut thin semiconductors used in electronics, also known as silicon wafers, and under Department of Commerce regulations, requires a license and authorization to export to CGTC. The defendants sought to acquire the machine for CGTC through an intermediary company called Jiangsu Hantang International (JHI), a proxy they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. To avoid detection, Li and Chen instructed Dynatex International to ensure that the export information associated with the sale did not list CGTC as the ultimate consignee of the shipment.

Li is believed to be in the People's Republic of China.

Li and Chen each are charged with the following offenses, and if convicted, face maximum penalties as indicated: Conspiracy to violate IEEPA, up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; false electronic export information activities, up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; smuggling, up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and IEEPA violations, up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California and National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topics: Export Control

National Security

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - California, Northern

Press Release Number: 24-512

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Stanford students returned to White Memorial Plaza Thursday evening to erect a Peoples University for Palestine encampment after an earlier tent city was dismantled in February. Courtesy of Theo Baker

A group of Stanford students took over White Memorial Plaza Thursday evening to erect a Peoples University for Palestine encampment, similar to other demonstrations seen at U.S. universities over the past week to protest Israels attacks on Gaza.

After over 200 days of the ongoing genocide in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli apartheid government with a minimum of over 34,000 Palestinians dead in the Gaza strip, a coalition of Stanford students and organizations working as Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine have launched The Peoples University for Palestine at Stanford, the group said.

The protest, which involved hundreds of students throughout the day and at least 10 tents overnight, according to a student on campus, came as the university held its admit weekend, when Stanford welcomes hundreds of admitted students who are considering enrolling next fall. The protesters planned a full day of programming, including teach-ins, at White Plaza on Friday, according to social media posts.

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The action is the latest in a string of demonstrations across the country in protest of the Israeli government and its military tactics in Gaza. On Tuesday, students at UC Berkeley placed tents atop the steps of Sproul Hall, promising to remain outside the administrative building until the university pledges to establish a Palestinian studies program and divest from companies doing business with the Israeli government. Cal Poly Humboldts campus was shut down through the end of the school year after pro-Palestinian activists occupied an academic and administrative building.

Its also the latest pro-Palestinian demonstration on Stanfords campus. In February, students who camped out at White Memorial Plaza for 120 days officially disbanded their protest after the university agreed not to pursue legal or disciplinary action against the protesters. Demonstrators at Stanford did not specify how long the current protest would last, only saying it would be a multiday demonstration.

The Peoples University for Palestine at Stanford stands in firm solidarity first and foremost with the Palestinian people, whose resistance lies at the heart of our student-led efforts, said a statement from Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine. Additionally, we stand with the numerous pro-Palestine movements at universities across the country and around the globe. Collectively we are demanding our universities to divest from the Israeli apartheid state and from companies fueling the genocide of the people of Palestine.

In a statement to the Chronicle Thursday evening, Luisa Rapport, a spokesperson for Stanford, said the university is monitoring the protest.

Our focus continues to be on providing for the safety of our community, Rapport said. We support the peaceful expression of free speech, but for those who violate university policies, the university will be enforcing its time, place, and manner rules through Stanfords student disciplinary process.

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The students action Thursday is an apparent violation of the universitys policies.

White Plaza is a designated free-speech area reservable by Stanford-recognized student organizations, C. Matthew Snipp, Stanfords interim provost for student affairs, told the Stanford Daily. Snipp also told the Daily that overnight camping, unapproved structures and other violations of policy would result in referrals to the universitys Office of Community Standards and could also lead to arrests if laws are violated.

According to Stanfords website, tabling is allowed in White Plaza between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. During Stanfords admit weekend, unrelated tabling is not allowed at White Plaza, the universitys website said.

The protests come as the war between Israel and Hamas nears its seventh month. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began and over 77,000 have been injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Shanghai Party chief meets Blinken

Global Times

Managing differences should be mutual, not US ordering and China listening: expert

By Zhang Han Published: Apr 25, 2024 09:13 PM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, before landing in Beijing on Thursday, met with local officials in Shanghai, where he acknowledged the obligation to manage the China-US relationship responsibly.

The obligation lies with both China and the US, therefore it should be on equal footing communication rather than order and obedience, Chinese observers said, as China hopes that Blinken's visit can help the US better understand China.

Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with Blinken on Thursday in Shanghai. Chen said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the current China-US relations have shown a stabilizing trend, which is an important foundation for the two sides to promote the next stage of cooperation and communication.

Chen said Shanghai will implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in a solid manner, and continue to make active contributions from a local perspective to promote the development of China-US relations.

Blinken underscored "the value and necessity of direct engagement, of sustained engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences which are real, seeking to work through them, as also looking for ways to build cooperation where we can," per a press release from US Department of State.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had introduced five major goals that China is focusing on: establishing the right perception, strengthening dialogue, effectively managing differences, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries.

It is hoped that through direct engagement, the US can have a better understanding of China and correct its wrong perception of the country, as that is the foundation for further steps to carry out meaningful communication, manage differences and promote possible cooperation, said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University.

In Shanghai, Blinken reportedly raised "concerns over China's trade policies and non-market economic practices." He described Chinese policies as "unfair" and demanded "a level playing field for US workers and firms operating in China."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China has always conducted economic and trade cooperation in accordance with market principles, firmly supported the multilateral trading system, and fully complied with the rules of the World Trade Organization. We hope that the US will work with China to create favorable conditions for the healthy and stable development of Sino-US economic and trade relations, he said.

Hours before he landed in China on Wednesday, the US Senate passed an aid package including $8 billion in aid to the island of Taiwan and the bill to force ByteDance to sell TikTok. Before his trip, US media also cited anonymous sources claiming that the US is drafting sanctions that could cut some Chinese banks off the global financial system, purportedly to increase "diplomatic leverage" for Blinken's visit.

Li noted, "If Blinken is here to issue an ultimatum to China, we will not give in to him and will not compromise on our core issues."

The most prominent feature of the current China-US relationship is that Washington continuously raises demands with Beijing but lacks sincerity in responding to many of China's reasonable requests, experts said.

Responsibly managing differences should be mutual, not the US ordering and China listening, Li said.

Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the US cannot suppress China, while at the same time expecting China to dance to its tune.

As a result, analysts have rather low expectations for this visit.

The actions of the US have made China feel that it is not a credible partner, seeking only to secure what it wants and presenting unreasonable demands while neglecting the needs of others, Wu said.

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Chinese Embassy condemns UK politician's anti-China remarks

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 25, 2024 12:56 PM

China strongly condemned unwarranted accusations and malicious slander against China, and urged British politicians to stop their belligerent rhetoric, and instead, focus more on domestic economic and social issues, a spokesperson from Chinese Embassy in the UK said on Wednesday, in response to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's latest anti-China remarks.

The British politician is looking for an excuse to ramp up British military spending. We firmly reject his Cold War rhetoric that incites antagonism and confrontation, the spokesperson said.

China is committed to promoting peace and justice, and has always sought peace talks and the peaceful settlement of international conflicts. China has contributed more than one-third of global economic growth consistently. China has always been committed to promoting international cooperation and maintaining world stability. These are undeniable truths, the spokesperson noted.

However, the current UK government seems to be set on stirring up troubles and heightening tension around the world. They are supplying offensive weapons to one side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, exacerbating the situation.

The UK has repeatedly opposed resolutions calling for an immediate cease-fire at the United Nations Security Council on the Gaza issue. It shows no support for Palestine's application for full UN membership and continues to supply weapons to Israel. The UK has forgone any sense of morality and has no concept of responsibility when it comes to matters of international peace and justice, the spokesperson noted.

We urged the UK to act in a way that is truly in the interest of world peace and justice, the spokesperson noted.

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Chinese embassy condemns Sunak's unwarranted accusation, malicious slander

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Apr 25, 2024 09:58 PM

China urges some British politicians to endatheir belligerent rhetoric, cease wantonaaccusations against China, stop stoking bloc confrontation, and instead,afocus more on domestic economic and social issues,aand act in a way that is truly in the interests ofaworld peace and justice, the Chinese Embassy in the UK said on Wednesday night, in response to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's listing of China as an authoritarian state and criticizing the China-Russia relationship.

Chinese experts said Sunak's hype aims to win support for his administration to increase military spending. In order to achieve this, he hypes geopolitical conflicts, presenting so-called external challenges, said experts.

Sunak said the UK's increase in military spending "is a turning point for European security and a landmark moment in the defense of the United Kingdom." Speaking at the base of the Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Poland, he addressed a regiment of the Queen's Dragoon Guards: "I want to talk to you about how we equip you to do your duty in an increasingly dangerous world," with Britain and NATO confronting an "axis of authoritarian states," said Sunak, naming Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.

The UK politician was trying to look for excuses to ramp up the UK's military spending through his unwarranted accusation and malicious slander against China, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the UK on Wednesday, noting that China firmly rejects his Cold War rhetoric that incites antagonismaand confrontation.

"China is a peace-loving country, and has all along stood onathe side of peace and justice," said the spokesperson in response to Sunak's accusation. "We haveaalways promoted peace talks and soughtapeaceful settlement of international conflicts, weahaveacontributed more than one-thirdaofaglobal economic growthafor many years running, andawe are a force forainternational cooperation and stability inathe world. These are indisputable facts."

Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday that Sunak's attack on China in his speech is mainly for "clout-chasing."

"Because of the numerous issues both domestically and internationally that the UK faces, Sunak is worried about the country's status as a major power," Cui said. "As a result, he is eager to make a statement on China-related issues, as only through this can he demonstrate his supposed political stance."

At the same time, the issue of military spending is also a reason for Sunak's hype. In order to enhance the UK's competitiveness, he must hype geopolitical conflicts, presenting so-called external challenges, including China and Russia as his targets, Cui noted.

As pointed out by the Embassy spokesperson, in contrast to China, the current UK government seems to be stirring up troubles and heightening tensions around the world.a

On Ukraine, it has beenaprovidingaoffensive weapons to one side of the conflict, adding fuel to the fire. On the Gaza issue,ait has repeatedly opposed resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefireaat the United Nations Security Council. It shows noasupport for Palestine's applicationaforafull UN membership and continues to supply weapons to Israel. Now, the UK lacks morality andahas no sense of responsibility when it comes toamatters of international peace and justice, the embassy said in the statement.

Regarding Sunak's comments, China has urged British politicians to end their belligerent rhetoric, cease wantonaaccusations against China, stop stoking bloc confrontation, and instead,afocus more on domestic economic and social issues,aand act in a way that is truly in the interests ofaworld peace and justice.

Observers also noted that as relations between China and Europe improve and both sides strengthen high-level exchanges, British politicians who are hyping up anti-China rhetoric are more likely to harm the interests of the UK itself.

"At present, China-Europe relations are on a positive track," Cui noted. "If speculative hyping remarks are allowed to ferment and affect a wider range of China-EU relations, it could in turn serve to help anti-China Western politicians achieve their goals."

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on April 25, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-04-25 19:56

China News Service: Yesterday, China Wildlife Conservation Association released that two giant pandas will depart for Spain for conservation cooperation at the end of this month. Do you have more information on thatiY

Wang Wenbin: Giant panda cooperation is an epitome of the friendship between our two countries. Together, China and Spain have bred six giant panda cubs since we began our giant panda cooperation, which makes Spain the most successful country in Europe in terms of giant panda breeding cooperation with China. The two sides have jointly improved various technologies on conservation, breeding and disease prevention and control of giant panda. What's more, the enthusiasm toward giant pandas has also facilitated people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, bringing hearts closer between our two peoples.

According to the agreement on giant panda conservation cooperation and research signed between China and Spain, two giant pandas named Jin Xi and Zhu Yu will depart on April 29 from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for Madrid Zoo where they will start their 10-year residency, continuing the 40-plus years of "panda friendship" between the two peoples. The two sides are actively preparing for their arrival on quarantine, feed supply, veterinary care, transport and residence renovation to make sure the two giant pandas will arrive in Madrid safe and sound, and become accustomed to the new environment as smoothly as possible. We are confident that continued China-Spain giant panda collaborative research will contribute to our work on protecting endangered species and global biodiversity conservation.

Bloomberg: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns over unfair trade practices. He stressed that American firms need a level playing field. He raised the issue of non-market economic practices. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on Mr. Blinken's remarks in Shanghai?

Wang Wenbin: In our background briefing a few days ago on Secretary Blinken's visit, we elaborated on China's principled position on relevant issues. We will release timely information about the visit.a

On your question, I'd like to say broadly that China carries out trade and economic cooperation in accordance with market principles, firmly supports the multilateral trade regime and fully abides by WTO rules. We hope the US will respect the principle of fair competition, observe WTO rules too, and work with China to create enabling conditions for the sound and steady growth of China-US economic and trade relations.

CCTV: China has reportedly sent a batch of disaster relief supplies to Papua New Guinea (PNG) hit by severe floods recently. Can you share more information on this?

Wang Wenbin: China expresses sincere sympathies to the PNG over the recent floods that caused heavy loss of lives and property in that country. We provided emergency humanitarian assistance at the earliest opportunity in response to the PNG's request. When meeting the press with PNG's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China feels for the PNG over the recent floods and will send a batch of emergency disaster relief supplies and hopes that they will reach those hit by the disaster as soon as possible.

Today, the humanitarian assistance supplies provided by China through the China-Pacific Island Countries Reserve for Emergency Supplies arrived in the PNG. The supplies, over 14 tonnes in weight and about 60 cubic meters in volume, include tents, waterproof pads, small power generators, solar lights for home use and so on. We hope the PNG government and people will find them helpful for their disaster response.

China and the PNG and other Pacific Island countries are good friends, good partners and good brothers that support each other in overcoming difficulties. China will continue to do what we can to help with the relief and reconstruction effort in light of the damage and the need of the PNG. We believe the people of the PNG will overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes soon.

People's Daily: Today marks the 17th World Malaria Day. Malaria is still one of the biggest public health problems facing developing countries in tropical areas, particularly Africa. Could you share with us China's effort to fight malaria in the world, in particular in Africa?

Wang Wenbin: Malaria is a major public health challenge and threat to human lives. China, once plagued by malaria, had about 30 million malaria cases in 1940. With relentless effort, China cut that number to zero and was awarded a malaria-free certification from WHO in 2021. China is the first country to discover and extract artemisinin, the core compound of highly effective antimalarial drugs, which has saved millions of lives around the world, especially in developing countries. China's "1-3-7" strategy was formally included in WHO's technical documents and adopted worldwide. This has sped up malaria elimination in the world.

Over the years, China launched a large-scale international antimalarial program with artemisinin at the core, including providing medicines and technical assistance, establishing antimalarial centers and training personnel. In Africa, China's antimalarial therapies, medicines and experience bring hope to locals suffering from malaria. In recent years, China has worked with WHO to launch a demonstration project of malaria prevention and control in Tanzania and effectively lowered the malaria morbidity and mortality there. China has worked with the Comoros to launch a project of the fast elimination of malaria with the help of artemisinin compound. China helped set up malaria prevention and control centers in the Comoros, including a center on the Moheli Island, which helped turn the Comoros from a high prevalence area into a low prevalence area within a short period of time. China is implementing phase three of antimalarial technical assistance in Sao Tome and Principe. Chinese pharmaceutical companies invested in Kenya, Sudan, and other countries and built drug-making factories to enable local production of artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs. Based on the WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training on Malaria Elimination, China helped train over 2,000 officials and technical staff for the prevention and control of malaria and other infectious diseases from 85 countries and regions in Africa and other places. According to WHO, about 240 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone have benefited from artemisinin-based combination therapies.

China will follow the vision of building a global community of health for all and continue contributing China's knowledge and solutions to realizing a malaria-free world.a

Shenzhen TV: It was reported that the UN released the report of the Independent Review Group on UNRWA a few days ago, which revealed that UNRWA has established a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the principle of neutrality and noted that Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of its claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organizations. What is China's comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: China noted the UN's review report. Most countries welcomed the report. As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict drags on, the severe humanitarian disaster continues. Humanitarian aid is the lifeline for people in Gaza, and UNRWA is an indispensable pillar of this lifeline. The UN report vindicated UNRWA's reputation on neutrality and presented recommendations on improving its work. We support the UN in improving UNRWA's work, oppose the unjustified attacks on UNRWA, and call for quickly restoring funding to UNWRA by those who have yet to do so. China will step up support to UNRWA and contribute to the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Beijing Daily: It is reported that the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water was suspended due to a partial power outage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on April 24. A worker was reportedly injured and sent to hospital by ambulance. On the afternoon of April 24, Japan announced the resumption of the discharge. What is China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the reported power outage and discharge suspension. We also noted that over 180 thousand Japanese submitted signatures to the Japanese government on the same day, asking for an immediate stop of the ocean discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water.

Since Japan began the ocean discharge last August, several safety accidents have occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant over the past eight months. From the splash incident of radioactive wastewater to the nuclear-contaminated water leakage in the purification system, from corrosion on the inside of the tanks used to store nuclear-contaminated water to the failure of the power supply system, what has happened shows again and again that the international community has every reason to be concerned and question the safety and legitimacy of the ocean discharge. TEPCO's management of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is hardly reassuring. To step up long-term effective monitoring of ocean discharge is proved to be a must for the international community.

The ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water impacts the health of all humanity, the global marine environment, and the international public interest. We urge Japan to take seriously the concerns of the international community and take the initiative to cooperate fully in creating an independent, effective, and long-term international monitoring scheme with substantive participation of Japan's neighbors and other stakeholders, so as to earnestly avoid irrevocable consequences stemming from the ocean discharge.

Bloomberg: Legislation requiring TikTok's Chinese owners to divest from the company was signed into law by President Joe Biden, thus beginning a 270-day countdown for either a sale of the platform or a ban of the video-sharing platform. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this, now that the legislation has been signed?

Wang Wenbin: We've made clear China's principled position on the issue.

Bloomberg: I'm just curious about the visit to China by the Argentinean Foreign Minister. Do you have any more details about the agenda? What are the expectations? Can you tell us how would you characterize relations between Argentina and China in the wake of the recent elections under the new administration?

Wang Wenbin: Both China and Argentina are major developing countries and important emerging economies. The two countries are comprehensive strategic partners. China stands ready to work with Argentina to keep deepening bilateral political mutual trust and promote the steady growth of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership.a

As for the visit you mentioned, we will release information in due course. Please check back for updates.

CCTV: It has been over 200 days since the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out. UN Women said recently more than 10,000 women have been killed and the conflict has orphaned 19,000 children. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: The Gaza conflict has passed its 200-day mark. The Palestinian death toll has exceeded 30,000 and civilian casualties exceeded 110,000. This appalling humanitarian disaster challenges the moral conscience that underpins human civilization and has exposed the hypocrisy of certain countries who claim to "uphold and safeguard human rights."

Time is life. The conflict in Gaza must stop. Indifference to the killings of women and children in Gaza cannot be tolerated. Blocking the UN Security Council's effort to create a ceasefire in Gaza will not be forgiven.

We urge relevant country to stop blocking UNSC actions, and call on relevant parties to fully implement Security Council Resolution 2728, realize an unconditional and durable ceasefire, and ensure unimpeded and sustainable humanitarian access to bring an early end to this catastrophe on the Palestinians and stop this disgrace on human civilization.

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Whistleblowing Uyghur surgeon speaks truth to horror

Enver Tohti has helped to expose China's dark secrets about organ harvesting and cancer in Xinjiang.

By RFA Staff 2024.04.25 -- When an armed police officer directed Uyghur surgeon Enver Tohti to remove organs from a not-quite-dead prisoner on an execution ground outside Urumqi, his first reaction was overwhelming relief: "I thought they were going to execute me," he recalled.

It was 1995 and Tohti was working as an oncological surgeon at the Railway Central Hospital in the northwestern city of Urumqi. He had been pressed into service at the last minute by his chief of surgery, who told him to assemble a surgical team and prepare for "something wild" the next morning.

When the driver turned onto a mountain road that led to the local execution ground, Tohti became "really, really scared" that he would be the target, as the only ethnic minority present. Instead, his team was directed to a man at the end of a row of executed prisoners and told to remove both kidneys and his liver.

Thirty years on, China continues to be plagued by allegations of forced organ harvesting and trafficking, despite banning the use of transplants from executed prisoners. The U.S. Congress is considering a bill that would lead to sanctions on individuals and entities that are proven to be involved.

As an activist and whistleblower, Tohti testified before a U.S. government panel in 2022 about his experiences as a doctor in Xinjiang.

His revelations about organ harvesting as well as high cancer rates in Xinjiang linked to China's nuclear testing program forced him to flee in 1998 - first to Turkey, and then to London, where he lives today.

Now in his 60s, Tohti is a serious man, though at times he displays flashes of dark humor. He is a natural talker, offering up stories from his past with a candidness and detail that add credibility to his claims, which have also been independently verified.

Though he has reached a place of self-acceptance over his own traumas, there is a pessimism to his outlook as little seems to have changed and, he believes, the system of abuse he left decades ago continues to operate today.

An unsavory practice

In the past, organ harvesting from prisoners facing execution had been legally permissible in China after a 1984 law allowed the practice in limited circumstances.

Prisoners quietly became the most common sources for transplant over the next decades as organ donation was rare. By 2011, some 65% of transplants in China used organs from deceased donors, more than 90% of whom were executed prisoners, according to a paper in the U.K. medical journal The Lancet by the then-Chinese Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu.

The practice was condemned by international medical and human rights organizations and was banned in 2015 following an outcry as evidence emerged of forced harvests, and corruption. Critics alleged that prisoners of conscience were executed for political reasons.

In recent years, the Chinese government has repeatedly vowed to crack down on organ trafficking, with the latest law due to go into effect on May 1. But these efforts have been seen by some as a tacit admission that the medical transplant system in China - which is overseen by the state - still operates on harvested organs.

Rights activists say there is evidence that the government continues to be complicit. The ongoing mass internment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, along with a project to collect vast DNA samples from the population, offer opportunities to target the group for organ harvesting, human rights advocates fear.

Ethan Gutmann, a research fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, has testified about first-hand accounts of interned Uyghurs in their mid-20s to early 30s being given mysterious medical exams. Certain people are then tagged and subsequently vanish from the camps, he was told by a doctor who worked at one.

These instances, along with the construction of infrastructures like crematoriums and special transport lanes near hospitals and at airports in Xinjiang, point to organ harvesting, he said.

However, individual cases are difficult to verify and concrete evidence is hard to come by.

RFA contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington for their comment on Tohti's story, Gutmann's testimony, as well as to request an update on any law enforcement activity.

Spokesman Liu Pengyu responded by email: "The relevant claims are pure lies and malicious smears against China."

Disturbing findings

Tohti told RFA that he finds Gutmann's conclusions and the suspicion that organ harvesting continues in China today to be credible (he has known Gutmann for years) but that Uyghurs aren't the only victims.

"Anyone is a target for organ harvesting under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party," he said.

Tohti says he first became aware of the issue five years before his trip to the execution ground, when a Uyghur man brought along his teenage son who had recently returned home after going missing. The man feared his son's organs may have been taken during his absence, citing similar cases among returned missing Uyghur children in his rural hometown.

There were no surgical scars on the boy's body, and Tohti was able to reassure him. But the man went home and told his friends that there was a Uyghur doctor at the Railway Central Hospital who would check their kids, and dozens of them showed up during his six-month rotation at the outpatient clinic.

"I found scars on three of them," Tohti said. "The ultrasound confirmed that they had one kidney missing."

He first spoke about his involvement at a public event in London - at a meeting of the Henry Jackson Society, a conservative think-tank, in 2009, where Gutmann was presenting his research on organ harvesting.

"I wasn't prepared to confess, but my hand was raised up," Tohti recalled. "God raised my hand.

"That day I ... feared they [those gathered] wouldn't accept me," he said.

Since that first public confession, he has gone on to retell the story more confidently, as an activist. He has repeated it to newspapers, online video channels, to the U.S. Congress and to human rights groups.

His fears of judgment for disclosing the experience weren't entirely unfounded, though.

He has been unable to carry on practicing medicine in London due to failing stringent language requirements by the British National Health Service, instead finding jobs as a driver. After The Mirror, a U.K. newspaper, ran a story about his experience in 2020, he found himself under review by London's traffic authority as a result of a "notification of an adverse nature," according to a Dec. 30, 2020, letter to Tohti. He was driving for Uber at the time.

A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment on the reasons for the investigation, but disclosed that it concluded he was a whistleblower.

"During the period of the investigation he was able to continue driving and at the conclusion of the process it was decided no further action should be taken," the spokesperson said. By then, Tohti was working as a backup driver for a friend with a truck.

Haunted but numbed

For Tohti, the impact of the horrors of the organ harvesting system was somewhat blunted by a childhood that coincided with the political brutality of China's Cultural Revolution (1966-76).

"I think I basically saw at least a couple of dead bodies a year," he said, recalling running wild with a gang of other kids around the railroad tracks near his home.

"These were people who had been targeted by struggle sessions, and then killed themselves," he said. "Sometimes they would jump off buildings, or they would lie across the rails so that their necks would be sliced off by a train.

"We were pretty inured to stuff like that, to horror stories of the kind that you couldn't broadcast on TV," he said. "For us, it was normal."

Before testifying about organ harvesting, Tohti was already a known whistleblower, having played a major role in a documentary by U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 about the high incidence of cancer in Xinjiang, which is widely believed to be linked to China's nuclear weapons testing near Lop Nor, a now-dried lake in southeastern Xinjiang.

He still remembers a racist dig from his boss in 1995 that needled him into researching cancer rates among Uyghurs that eventually led him to his conclusions.

His boss had taunted him with the claim that Han Chinese must be superior to Uyghurs, because there were fewer Han cancer patients in their ward. Tohti noticed that the proportion of Uyghur patients was higher than expected for predicted cancer rates, given that only around 5,000 out of the 150,000 or community members who used the hospital were Uyghurs.

"[Later] the director saw what I was doing, and told me not to touch it," Tohti said. "He said it will be very bad for you."

But Tohti carried on researching the figures in secret, sneaking off to the medical records library during his free time, and digging up the notes of cancer patients without his boss's knowledge.

What he found was a disproportionately high number of malignant lymphomas, leukemia cases, lung cancers and birth defects among Uyghur railway employees and their families who had lived in Xinjiang throughout the 1964-1996 nuclear test program, compared with their Han Chinese counterparts, who had only spent part of their lives in the region.

"They said it wasn't harmful to humans," Tohti remembers of the open secret that was the nuclear test program in Xinjiang.

"I remember making a silly joke at the time - if the tests aren't harmful to humans, then what's the point of them? Aren't they supposed to kill people?"

But, he added somberly: "If these cancers are all linked to radiation, then where was the radiation coming from?"

By 1998, Tohti was in Istanbul, studying a foreign language in order to qualify for a promotion further up the medical hierarchy. While there, he was contacted by Channel 4, and eventually traveled back to Xinjiang with two journalists disguised as tourists and personal friends.

They dove back into local medical records, concluding that cancer rates were as much as 35% higher in Xinjiang than the national average. Uyghurs were disproportionately affected because those seeking treatment at the Urumqi Railway Central Hospital had mostly grown up in the region, while the Han Chinese were more likely to have been posted there as adults, and not been exposed to so much radiation, according to Tohti's data.

Tohti then fled back to Turkey to avoid the political fallout from the airing of the film, and later applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom, as Turkey was weighing an extradition agreement with China.

He hasn't been back since, and has been cut off from his friends and family there, eventually remarrying and raising more children in the ultra-hip London borough of Shoreditch.

For now, Tohti has decided to dedicate himself full time to organizing on behalf of Xinjiang and the Uyghur people. In 1990, he had quietly converted to Christianity as a young surgical resident after witnessing people praying with Bibles at the bedside of dying cancer patients who refused pain medication at the end of their lives, leaving him with a physical reaction he described as "electrifying" and which he now attributes to God. Both patients left him their Bibles.

Today, his activism increasingly includes Christian missionary work.

Despite offering his testimony, he is skeptical about whether the U.S. Stop Forced Organ Harvesting bill will solve the problem.

"It won't have much effect, because Chinese officials are adept at evading U.S. sanctions," he said, adding wryly that such measures can at least offer a talking point for journalists and politicians.

He is fairly sure that agents of the Chinese government continue to watch him and assumes that his computer has long since been hacked. He wonders to this day whether a freak car accident in the Alps on Christmas Day 2016 was the result of sabotage by unknown actors.

Yet he has reached an uneasy peace with himself about his experiences.

"The society I was in before was a barbaric society," he said. "I was born there."

"So I try to teach myself ... and then try to just bring the truth to light."

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 25, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining. In a constructive and candid exchange, the Secretary raised concerns about PRC trade policies and non-market economic practices and stressed that the United States seeks a healthy economic competition with the PRC and a level playing field for U.S. workers and firms operating in China. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of ties between the people of the United States and the PRC, including the expansion of exchanges between students, scholars, and business.

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China skips red-carpet welcome for Blinken, whose visit prompts cynicism

By Bo Gu April 25, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's arrival in China on Wednesday has been met with skepticism, cynicism and suggestions that the absence of a red carpet for the top U.S. diplomat's arrival was a not-so-subtle message from Beijing.

Blinken kicked off his three-day visit to China in Shanghai with online commenters and analysts noting China had omitted the usual practice of laying out a red carpet for a distinguished visitor.

Posting on X, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of Chinese state media Global Times, said, "Blinken has arrived in Shanghai, China. Many people noticed when he stepped off the plane that there seemed to be no red carpet on the ground. His China visit should be seen as an 'imploring' one, although the U.S. made some tough public opinion preparations in advance."

Gordon Chang, a distinguished senior fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute think tank, responded to Hu Xijin's post, "#China, before #Blinken even stepped off his plane in #Shanghai today, insulted him."

An X user under the name Lord Bebo, who claims to be anti-mainstream media, posted, "Blinken arrives in China and is met WITHOUT RED CARPET. No band or anything ... he's welcomed like a somebody unimportant." His post received more than 10,000 likes.

U.S.-China relations have eased since the two sides resumed high-level contacts, but many differences remain.

Before Blinken's visit, U.S. media reported that the U.S. discussed sanctioning some Chinese banks to counter their support for Russia. Blinken also stated in releasing the State Department's 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that the Uyghurs in Xinjiang are victims of genocide and crimes against humanity.

He arrived in China the same day President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that includes Taiwan military aid and pushes TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations.

"What an awkward moment for Blinken as he lands in China," Canadian geopolitics expert Abishur Prakash said. "The U.S. is full-steam ahead on taking on China, led by the bills around TikTok, Taiwan and support nations in the Indo-Pacific against Beijing."

'Face-to-face diplomacy matters'

On his day of arrival, Blinken posted a video speech against a backdrop of Shanghai's iconic buildings, such as the neon-lit Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

"We just arrived here in Shanghai in the People's Republic of China to work on issues that matter to the American people," he said in the video. "One of those is fentanyl, synthetic opioids, the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.

"President [Joe] Biden, President Xi [Jinping], when they met in San Francisco at the end of last year, agreed to cooperate to help prevent fentanyl and the ingredients that make it from getting to the United States. We will be working on that."

Blinken said he would be talking not only to his counterparts in the Chinese government, but also to students, academics, business leaders and "the people who are building bridges and ties between our countries.

"And of course, we will be dealing with areas where we have real differences with China, dealing with them directly, communicating clearly. Face-to-face diplomacy matters," he said. "It's important to avoid miscommunications, misperceptions, and to advance the interests of the American people."

Reaction takes anti-American tone

On Chinese social media, Blinken's overtures were met with cynicism.

On Weibo, China's largest social platform, Blinken's second visit to China had limited coverage, and the discussion was dominated by an anti-American tone.

A Weibo user under the name of Xiao Fan Hao She argued that the United States has not officially listed all fentanyl-like substances on the control list.

"We ask whether the United States believes that it can solve the domestic problems in the United States by shifting the blame externally, shirking responsibility, and smearing China's image," she wrote.

A Weibo user under the name of An Hao Xin said, "Coming with him is also the bargaining chip of 'bank sanctions.' To be honest, if you want to kick SWIFT out, just do it quickly. Why are you hesitating?"

Another commenter said, "If you dare to overturn the table, then we just aid Russia with weapons and see who suffers."

Kenneth Roth, a former executive director of Human Rights Watch and visiting professor at Princeton University, linked the visit to U.S. Middle East policy, saying on X that Blinken "would have an easier time telling the Chinese government not to provide military supplies to Russia as it commits war crimes in Ukraine if the U.S. government were not arming Israel as it commits war crimes in Gaza."

But Roth also said, "It will be shameful if Blinken is so determined to make nice to Beijing that he doesn't publicly mention its crimes against humanity targeting Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang."

Jonathan Cheng, the China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, said on X, "Unnamed Chinese official to Blinken: 'Perception is always the first button that must be put right. Whether China and the United States are rivals or partners is a fundamental issue, on which there must not be any catastrophic mistake.' "

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.

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Blinken in Beijing for talks with top Chinese officials

By Nike Ching April 25, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on China to provide a level playing field for American workers and businesses Thursday as he prepared for meetings with top Chinese officials.

Blinken flew to Beijing after meeting with local government officials in the financial hub of Shanghai, home to more than 1,000 U.S. companies.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that at a meeting with Shanghai Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining, Blinken advocated for American companies getting fair treatment.

"In a constructive and candid exchange, the secretary raised concerns about PRC trade policies and non-market economic practices and stressed that the United States seeks a healthy economic competition with the PRC and a level playing field for U.S. workers and firms operating in China," Miller said. He was referring to People's Republic of China.

Responding later in the day, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters that Beijing "has always been carrying out economic and trade cooperation in accordance with the principles of the market."

China's multi-billion-dollar trade surplus with the United States, along with accusations of intellectual property theft and other practices seen as discriminating against U.S. businesses in China, have long been a source of friction in relations.

During a discussion with U.S. and Chinese students from New York University Shanghai, Blinken underscored the importance of expanding exchanges between students, scholars, and business.

"We need to make sure that we are talking to each other, hearing each other, understanding each other," he said.

According to the State Department, the NYU Shanghai student body currently consists of nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, half of whom are from China. Students from the United States and some 70 other countries represent the other half. There are approximately 500 U.S. students.

Later Thursday, Blinken met with business leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, advocating for the resolution of a range of trade issues facing the world's two largest economies.

In a brief video, Blinken said late Wednesday he is in China "to make progress on issues that matter most to the American people, including curbing fentanyl trafficking," against the backdrop of Shanghai's skyline. He added that officials from the U.S. and China will also discuss other areas where the two countries have "significant disagreements."

While Washington and Beijing are divided over a range of thorny issues, Blinken began his visit to China this week focusing first on the importance of direct engagement. It is something, he said, which is essential for addressing key issues affecting people from both countries and the world.

Analysts told VOA Blinken's visit would bring up a range of contentious issues but also maintain "the tactical thaw" that gained momentum following U.S. President Joe Biden's face-to-face talks with PRC President Xi Jinping last November.

"The relationship continues to grow more competitive militarily, technologically, and diplomatically, but the increase is occurring in a more predictable, controlled manner than it was a year earlier due to both countries' continued investment in high-level diplomacy," Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser for International Crisis Group, told VOA Mandarin in an email.

Intensive diplomacy between Washington and Beijing has yielded little progress in curtailing China's supply of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit fentanyl that affects the United States. Tensions are escalating due to China's support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, prompting the U.S. to warn of further actions against China.

"I'm very pessimistic about this visit. Xi Jinping is committed to helping his close friend (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and will not be very responsive to America's requests," Dennis Wilder, senior fellow for the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University, told VOA Mandarin.

A day before Blinken departed for Shanghai, he unveiled the State Department's annual report on human rights practices, which said that the PRC government continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Blinken told reporters that he would raise the issue of human rights with the Beijing government.

Blinken is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing Friday afternoon.

The State Department said Blinken will hold a press conference in Beijing before returning to Washington.

VOA Mandarin contributed to this report.

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North Korean official says Pyongyang will stand up to sanctions, bolster military power

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 10:45 AM

A North Korean foreign ministry official says Pyongyang will strengthen its military power despite facing sanctions pressure.

The senior foreign ministry official on Thursday attributed the country's national strength to the impact of harsh US sanctions, according to KCNA news agency.

"US heinous sanctions served as a catalyst and driving force that unleashed a gradual increase in our national strength," the official said.

North Korea has been under sanctions since 2006, put in place by the UN Security Council and led by the US in response to the country's nuclear program.

The official emphasized that the nation is determined to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests amidst growing hostile threats and sanctions pressure by the United States.

Further on, he stated that the country will implement more robust measures to solidify its existing military and technological prowess, ensuring its irreversible strength.

"We are used to US sanctions, and we have the ability and great power to stand up to any harsh sanctions," the foreign ministry official added.

Morevoer, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said on Wednesday that the nation will continue its "overwhelming" military expansion in response to the recurrent military exercises conducted by the United States alongside South Korea.

"We will continue to build overwhelming and the most powerful military power to safeguard our sovereignty, security and regional peace," KCNA quoted her as saying.

She also warned that the US military exercise with South Korea is driving the regional security environment into dangerous turmoil.

North Korea's leader has repeatedly said his government is building up its military arsenal in preparation for war by the West that could "break out at any time" on the peninsula.

On Monday, he guided a combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack involving super-large multiple rocket artillerymen, amid joint military exercises by the US and South Korea.

KCNA reported that the drills showcased North Korea's "nuclear trigger" management system for the first time, adding that the rockets "hit their island target," some 352 kilometers away.

The drills came in response to a US-South Korean joint air drill, which kicked off on April 12 and will run until April 26, according to the news agency.

North Korea, which declared South Korea as its "principal enemy" this year, regularly conducts missile tests to advance its military program for defense purposes.

In early April, North Korea's military conducted a test of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from its eastern coast capable of hitting US military bases in the Western Pacific.

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US calls for China to help monitor sanctions on North Korea

By Christy Lee April 25, 2024

The United States is calling on China to do more to monitor North Korean sanctions violations as a U.N. panel charged with that task is set to expire this month.

"Beijing can do more to combat the DPRK's sanctions evasion efforts in PRC territorial waters, repatriate North Korean laborers earning income in PRC territory, and shut down procurement networks," a State Department spokesperson said in an email Wednesday to VOA's Korean Service.

DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. China's official name is the People's Republic of China.

The U.S. official also reacted to comments this week by Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, who told VOA, "The U.S. needs to ... stop heightening the pressure and sanctions, stop military deterrence, and take effective steps to resume meaningful dialogue."

Washington has been sending messages to Pyongyang seeking a dialogue "in multiple ways - through third parties and directly, orally and in writing," said the U.S. spokesperson, who insisted on anonymity according to department policy. But North Korea has shown "no indication it is interested in engaging," he wrote.

Liu, whose remarks were delivered to VOA by email on Monday, also maintained that "China has faithfully implemented relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions."

DPRK 'grows stronger'

The North Korean Foreign Ministry's vice minister for U.S. affairs, Kim Un Chol, released a statement through its state-run KCNA on Thursday saying Washington's attempt "to enliven the worn-out sanctions and pressure the DPRK" would be met with a military response.

"If the U.S. introduces a new version of sanctions against the DPRK, the latter will take a new opportunity necessary for its upward readjustment of force which the U.S. is most afraid of," said Kim. "The DPRK is a state entity that grows stronger before harsher sanctions and pressure."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, visited South Korea and Japan last week to discuss new ways of enforcing sanctions on North Korea.

Authorization of the U.N. panel of experts that has been monitoring sanctions enforcement expires at the end of this month because Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an annual extension of its mandate. China abstained.

Thomas-Greenfield said at an April 17 news conference in Seoul that it was "critical" for all U.N. member states to continue "receiving independent and accurate reporting of the DPRK's ongoing weapons proliferation and sanction evasion activities."

She also said, "We will eventually find a mechanism to continue to do that reporting. And yes, Russia and China will continue to try to block those efforts."

She added, "I don't expect that they will cooperate or agree with any efforts that we make to find another path, but that is not going to stop us from finding that path moving forward."

Aaron Arnold, former member of the U.N. panel of experts and currently a senior associate fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said he believed it is possible to create an external monitoring body without Russia and China.

"Although the report [of a new body] may not hold the same political legitimacy as a report produced under a [U.N.] mandate, relevant stakeholders such as banks will certainly make use of them," Arnold said.

The U.N. panel produced reports twice a year detailing the violations of sanctions by U.N. member states, including China and Russia.

"Everyone who reads the reports of the U.N. panel of experts knows the truth" that China is violating sanctions, said Joshua Stanton, a Washington-based attorney who helped draft the Sanctions and Policy Enforcement Act in 2016.

"It has been illegally importing North Korean coal, knowingly hosting North Korean hackers, helping North Korea disguise its smuggling fleet, and hosting North Korea's money laundering and computer hacking networks," he said.

"North Korean missiles even parade through the streets of Pyongyang on Chinese trucks."

China is harboring at its port in its eastern Zhejiang province a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Angara, that transported arms from North Korea, Reuters reported Thursday, citing the Royal United Services Institute's findings.

Eunjung Cho contributed to this report.

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California State Parks Santa Cruz District Superintendent Chris Spohrer walks through fire-ravaged Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Boulder Creek in 2022. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle

Since wildfire ripped through Californias oldest state park four years ago, burning not only forests but the historic park headquarters, visitors to Big Basin Redwoods have had to rely on a makeshift kiosk in a parking lot for their orientation to the park.

This will change. Efforts to develop a new, more welcoming gateway to the home of some of the worlds tallest trees took a step forward this week with the completion of a series of property acquisitions that will provide a place for a new park hub.

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The nonprofit Sempervirens Fund announced Friday that it had purchased nearly 200 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains that will be transferred to the park. The six acquired properties are about 3 miles east of the former park headquarters, where a 1930s-era visitor center, museum and other buildings once greeted guests amid lofty redwoods. The plan is to steer future development away from the old park hub to keep from infringing on the 300-foot trees.

Were looking for new opportunities to imagine the park differently than it was before, said Chris Spohrer, state parks superintendent in the Santa Cruz area. To prioritize the health of the old-growth forest, we need to look at areas outside of where the (services) were.

The site planned for the new park headquarters, known as Saddle Mountain near the town of Boulder Creek, is expected to include a welcome center, possible camping, connections to park trails, administrative offices and staff housing. A future shuttle service would transport visitors from the site to the marquee redwood forest.

Details of the plan are scheduled to be hammered out over the next year with the start of construction anticipated in 2026 or 2027, Spohrer said. The state has allocated $186 million for the work, though the park will likely have to pursue additional funding to complete the rebuild.

Big Basin was established in 1902 to protect the areas famous redwood groves. The park has been a cherished destination for generations of families who camp, hike, swim and lounge beneath the big trees.

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In 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned 97% of Big Basins 18,000 acres. While damage to park infrastructure was extensive and large tracts of Douglas fire and tan oak were charred, more than 90% of the parks mature redwoods survived the blaze.

Big Basin has remained mostly closed since the fire, with sections of the park being opened as roads while trails, bridges and signage are rebuilt. Parking is limited, however, and park officials recommend securing advanced reservations for visits.

Rancho del Oso, the coastal side of Big Basin north of Santa Cruz, has mostly reopened. A welcome center and nature center are operational there.

Visitation is not expected to fully rebound at the park until the new headquarters is established.

While state parks owns much of the Saddle Mountain area, where the future headquarters is planned, the surrounding properties purchased by the Sempervirens Fund give state officials more options for developing the site.

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The nonprofit paid $4.1 million for the six properties over the course of three years.

Gail Pellerin, the assembly member who represents the area, has introduced state legislation to expedite the acquisition of these lands to state parks. Specifically, AB2103 would remove a sometimes time-consuming requirement that acquisitions be reviewed by the State Public Works Board.

The bill is specific to parts of Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, intended to help with the fire recovery, and could result in additional streamlined land transfers at Big Basin, Ano Nuevo and Butano state parks. But many have discussed broadening the legislation in the future.

Clearly the park is so far from what it once was, said Sara Barth, executive director of Sempervirens Fund. The hope is that by providing new land to parks quickly and allowing parks to receive the land quickly we can get back to much greater levels of visitation and access to more park land.
'Europe could die': France's Macron calls on EU members to enhance defenses

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 4:04 PM

French President Emmanuel Macron has sounded the alarm for Europe, warning that if it remained dependent on the United States and failed to put advanced defenses in place, European nations could die.

"There is a risk our Europe could die. We are not equipped to face the risks," Macron said in his speech at the left-leaning Sorbonne University in Paris on Thursday.

He called on the fragmented 27-nation European Union to make a reunified effort to build a "credible" military force to allow it to manifest itself to others as a "powerful Europe".

"It depends solely on our choices but these choices must be made now" because "over the next decade (...) the risk is immense of being weakened or even relegated," he insisted.

Macron said the Europeans were under the siege of great powers,that undermined European "liberal democracy" values.

He said European values were being "increasingly criticized" and "contested" by others.

"The risk is that Europe will experience a decline and we are already starting to see this despite all our efforts."

He noted there had been no progress and advancement towards creating an independent military force, saying building one was taking too long.

"We are still too slow, not ambitious enough," he complained, urging EU member state leaders to pursue a "powerful Europe" which "enforces its respect", "ensures its security" and regains "its strategic autonomy".

In a geopolitical context weighed down by the war in Ukraine, he announced that he would invite the Europeans to adopt a "strategic concept" of "credible European defense", mentioning in passing the possibility for it to equip itself with an anti-missile shield.

Macron claimed that being a NATO member did not mean being a "vassal" state of the United States.

He said by building its own "credible" defenses, the EU continent would be less dependent on the United States and better able to face the threat posed by Russia.

In his wide-ranging speech, which lasted nearly two hours (just 10 minutes short), the self-described "man of the left" who also claims to be a "liberal" at the same time, also touched on parental issues, urging EU parents to control their children's access to various internet content.

He insisted that the use of social networks by EU children who were under 15 should be subjected to parental guidance. "Before 15 years of age, there should be parental control on access to this digital space."

"If the content isn't checked, this access produces all kinds of risks and mental distortions, which can justify all kinds of hatred."

In 2023, social media played a major role in the unrest following the French police killing of a 17-year-old boy named Nahel Merzouk during a traffic stop.

The police killing triggered protest marches and nights of disorder, with riots spreading across cities in France.

Alongside the heavy-handed police crackdown on riots, the government held parents responsible for their children.

France imposed tough measures on rioters' parents, punishing them for the misdoings of children.

Back then, Macron blamed what he called "poor parenting" as part of the reason why protesting teens had taken to the streets.

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Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (April 25, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

April 25, 2024

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this Press engagement. I would open the floor.

Ayushi: Sir this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir, there have been some pro-Palestine protests that has now spread to more college campuses in the US. They are denouncing the mounting deaths in Gaza. Your comments on the situation and how much is this a concern for India as a lot of Indian students go to USA for higher education?

Sudhi: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. We have seen some statements coming from the Tibetan administration in exile, talking about negotiations, back channel discussions with China. Is the Government aware of these discussions and also part of these discussions? And also what is the Government's view on it, Sir?

Suhasini: This is Suhasini Haidar from the Hindu. I have a two-parter on India-Russia ties. To begin with, the NSA was in Russia, met with the Secretary of the State Council, General Patrushev. I wanted to ask if they had discussed the issue of Indians who are trying to get out of Russia, who were recruits with the Russian army, but are now not getting the discharge from the Russian authorities. Whether that came up and if there's any further developments in that case, in those cases. And the other question is really about the Sous-Sherpas meeting over the BRICS conference, which is due to be held in mid-June. Would India be attending those? This is the Foreign Minister's BRICS conference.

Santosh: Santosh Thakur Navbharat se. Sir mujhe puchna hai Maldives ke baare me. Maldives me Muizzu ki government aa gai hai. Toh India ko kya lagta hai future ke relations kaise honge? Koi new bilateral trade vagerah kuch aisa plan ho ya tourism vagerah ko le kar ke kis tarike se hum plan kar rahe hain? Thank you.

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Santosh Thakur from Navbharat. Sir, I would like to ask about Maldives. The Muizzu government has come to power in Maldives. So, how does India perceive the future relations to be? Are there any plans for new bilateral trade etc. or how are we planning regarding tourism etc.? Thank you.

Umashankar: Umashankar Singh NDTV India se. Mera sawal jo jahaj par fase 17 Bhartiyon me se hai, jisme se ek mahila to wapas aa gai. Lekin Bharat me jo Iran ke Rajdoot hain, unka kehna hai ki Iran ke taraf se sabhi Bharatiya free hain, wo kabhi bhi ja sakte hain basharte ki jo captain hai jahaj ka wo anumati de. Toh is surat me kya jo bhi milkiyat hai us jahaj ki, jo company hai, us se ya us desh se jaha se ye jahaj aata hai, kya us se Government of India ne contact kiya hai ki captain ko kahe ke unko izazat de aur wo Bharatiya wapas desh aa sake.

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Umashankar Singh from NDTV India. My question is regarding the 17 Indians stranded on the ship, one of whom is a woman who has returned. However, the Ambassador of Iran in India has stated that all Indians are free to return from Iran anytime, provided the captain of the ship grants permission. In this situation, has the Government of India contacted either the company that owns the ship or the country from where the ship originates to tell the captain to permit them so that these Indians can return to their country?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Let me take these questions. First, regarding the protests that are happening in universities, Ayushi. We've seen reports or several reports on it and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order. Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad. And as far as your question regarding Indian students is concerned, we are always in touch with Indian students. And as and when there are issues which have to be resolved, we'll look into it.

Sudhi regarding your question about the Tibetan issue which you pointed out, I am not aware of these issues right now. I don't have an update on it. But, let me check and let me come back to you on that.

Suhasini, regarding your question about NSA's visit, you know our National Security Advisor is in St. Petersburg to attend the 12th international meeting of high-ranking officials responsible for security matters in St. Petersburg. And on the sidelines, he's had several other meetings including with his counterpart, Patrushev, in Russia. They've discussed several issues which form part of our bilateral agenda and he's also had several other meetings including with Mr. Celso Amorim from Brazil. As far as your question regarding Indian nationals is concerned, let me tell you, we are very actively pursuing these matters at various levels including with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence and several other organizations there. And we are committed to bring back all the people who so far have gotten in touch with us and want to be released and repatriated and returned back home. Ten such individuals have come back to India. They have been released and they have returned home. We have been assured by the Russian side that the other Indians who are there, they'll also be released and they'll return home. We are working out those details and you will have more update on that, later. Also, we had a story in your newspaper today. On that particular issue also, the one single gentleman that you raised, that you had highlighted, on that particular issue also, we are working. We are in touch with Russian authorities and we want, we remain committed to bring him back to India as well.

Maldives ko le kar apka sawal Santosh ji, Maldives ke sath humare purane aitihasik sambandh hain. Humara unke saath development cooperation ka program, kai ek program chal rha hai. Haal hi me aapne dekha hoga Maldives me, waha par Parliamentary, Majlis ka election hua hai, successful election. Uspe hum log unko badhai dete hain aur humare aur Maldives ke bich me jo Parliament ke level pe ek dusare ke saath kaafi saare exchanges hote hain aur aasha yehi karte hain ki aane wale dino me jo nai Majlis aayegi uske saath bhi hum aitihasik kadi jo hai humara exchanges ka, usko hum banaye rakhnege.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Regarding Maldives, Santosh ji, we have historical relations with Maldives. We have development cooperation program with them, various such programs are ongoing. Recently, you may have seen that Parliamentary elections were held in Maldives successfully. We congratulate them for that. We have various exchanges between our countries at the Parliamentary level, and we look forward to continuing this historical link of exchanges with the new Majlis in the coming days.

Umashankar ji apka sawal 16 logo ko le ke hai jo jahaj pe hai, MSC Aries pe. Apko gyaat hoga ki ek ladki jo waha thi wo wapas aa gai. Jo 16 log hain, unki hum logo ne consular access manga tha, jo hume mila. Hum log ke officers waha gaye, ja ke mile. Wo log sab apne pariwar ke saath lagatar sampark banaye huwe hain. Unka sehat behetar hai, accha hai. Aur waha jahaj pe wo log koi, kisi prakar ki koi dikkat nahi hai. Jaha tak unke wapas aane ka jo prashn hota hai, wo wapas aane me thodi si technicalities hai, unke kuch contractual obligations hai. Wo ek baar wo pura ho jaye uspe depend karega ki kab wo wapas aayenge.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar ji, your question is regarding the 16 people who are on the ship, MSC Aries. You may be aware that one girl who was there has returned. We had requested consular access for the 16 people, which we got. Our officers went there, met them. They have been in continuous contact with their families. They are in good health, and they are not facing any problems on the ship. As for their return, there are some technicalities involved in it. They have some contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled first, so their return depends on when those are completed.

Madhurendra: Sir, Madhurendra main News Nation se. Mera sawal Iran ke Rastrapati Raisi ke Pakistan visit ko le kar hai. Unki joint statement me jis taraha se Kashmir ka jikr kiya gaya, us par Bharat ka kya kehna hai. Aur isi se juda dusara sawal hai ki kya Raisi ne Bharat aane ki bhi peshkas ki hai?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, Madhurendra from News Nation. My question is regarding Iranian President Raisi's visit to Pakistan. What is India's reaction on the mention of Kashmir in their joint statement? And another question related to this, whether Raisi has also proposed to visit India?

Kunal: Kunal Dutt here from PTI. Sir, this is regarding the visit of a top diplomat, French diplomat, a few days ago, and with the France getting the co-chairship of CDRI. The Prime Minister yesterday also spoke about it. U.S. has been the co-chairship with India for the past two years. Is there any roadmap that has come out amid the time of escalating climate uncertainties, given the fact that India and France have a strategic partnership, and both of them also have the France-India Horizon 2047 roadmap. So under this overarching partnership, is there a definitive roadmap ready? And in the same token, France is also a partner in developing the new National Museum. They also visited the site. If you could just shed a light, Sir, what exactly will be the role of France in this project? Thank you.

Shahid: Sir Shahid from WNN. Sir, in keeping the view of the Iranian President's visit to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, besides that the Qatar's Amir was also visiting Nepal and Bangladesh. So keeping that view, will there be any effect on the alliances, evolving alliances and economic interest in the region?

Takashi: Hello, my name is Takashi Ishihara from the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. I just want to ask you about the G7 Summit. Have you received any invitation from the Italian government? And are you willing to attend the G7 Summit?

Dhairya: Sir Dhairya Maheshwari from Sputnik India. Sir my question is regarding the Sherpa and the Sous-Sherpas meeting. So the priority, one of the priorities of the Russian Presidency is to create a multilateral digital payments platform or the BRICS Bridge. How does India view this prospect? Are you supportive of it? And Sir, if you allow me, there is another question on the U.S. State Department's Human Rights Report 2023, which is critical of India on a dozen counts of human rights, alleged human rights violation. So would it be possible to get a reaction on that as well? Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Madhu apka sawal Kashmir ko le ke tha. Us mudde pe hum logo ne ye baat apne Iranian jo authorities hai, unse hum logo ne uthai hai. Aur unko humne...we have taken up the matter with them. Jaha tak dusra sawal tha apka, unke Rashtrapati ka aane ka, is mudde par apko jaise pata hai ki hum log ye sab chije jab taiyaar ho jati hai, finalize ho jaati hai, tab apko hum sahi samay par batate hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Madhu, your question was regarding Kashmir. On that issue, we have raised this matter with the Iranian authorities. We have taken up the matter with them. Regarding your second question about their President's visit, as you know, we inform you about such visits at appropriate time, when everything is ready and finalized.

Kunal, the question regarding Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, this is a very important platform. On this platform, the lead globally has been taken by India. A large number of countries have joined this platform. We welcome participation by all the members. We want to strengthen this. We all know how important it is to fight climate change, the disruptions caused by climate change. And we want more international players, the global community to come forward and support us. France, of course, is an important strategic partner. And we look forward to working with them within the ambit of CDRI as well. On the other question that you asked about National Museum, I don't have a specific...let me come back to you. France, of course, is an important country when it comes to art and cultural collaboration. And we have a very vibrant cultural collaboration with France and with several other countries. So I'll come back to you with the specifics.

Takashi, regarding your question about G7. Yes, we know that the G7 meeting is to be held in Italy. We have received the invitation, but at this point in time, it is a matter which is under consideration. And we'll come to know of details...as and when we have more details to share with you, we'll bring it up to you.

Dhairya regarding State Department report. This report, as per our understanding, is deeply biased and reflects a very poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you also to do the same. Regarding your question about Sous-Sherpas and Sherpa meetings, I don't have an update regarding the proposal that you said, but let me come back to you on how we're thinking. But in general, let me tell you that, you know, Digital India is making name and fame across the world. UPI, as you know, is a global success story. So when it comes to digital collaboration, globally speaking, India's name is there, and we want to continue to strengthen digital collaboration with countries across the world.

Gerry: Hi, Mr. Jaiswal. I'm Gerry Shih with The Washington Post. Sir, my question is; one, do you have an update on India's investigation into the allegations made by the U.S. on the Pannun case? And furthermore, in recent weeks on the campaign trail, Prime Minister Modi has implied that India would go into the homes of terrorists or India's enemies and kill them. I was wondering if these statements made by Mr. Modi and other BJP leaders like Defence Minister Singh and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, if that contradicts India's stated position on targeted killings in any way, and if you could also just reiterate what exactly is India's policy on whether or not it carries out overseas targeted killings. Thanks very much.

Gautam: Well, I think two days ago there was a protest in London in front of Indian High Commission by some BNP and Jamaat leaders. Whether India has taken note of that and whether you are in touch with both Bangladesh or U.K. government about the security of the Missions and what is exactly happening. Basically, they have raised the anti-Indian slogan there.

Kallol: My question is regarding this report that Bangladesh is going to conduct a joint military exercise with China and Chinese forces are going to be visiting Bangladesh very soon in May for some anti-terror exercise. Has India taken note of it and do you think India's security concerns would be impacted by that? And my second question is about the India-France collaboration regarding the National Museum in New Delhi. My question is, you know, as a country which is now bringing back cultural treasures from the West, why is India collaborating with a western country, especially a former colonial power, for National Museum that's really its pride?

Abhishek: Hi Sir, this is Abhishek Jha from CNN News18. My question is regarding the recent comments by Azerbaijan's President where he had said that India should not send weapons to Armenia because that is creating regional disturbance and that is an issue of national security with that. And he has also said that they have raised the issue with the Indian authorities. So do you have any comment on that?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, let me come to Mr. Shih regarding your question. On the first one, as you know that we have set up a high-level committee. The high-level committee is looking into several information that was shared by the American side with us, because they also equally impact our national security. The high-level committee is looking into those aspects and that is where it is right now. Regarding the other question, you know, our External Affairs Minister and they have spoken on this particular matter, I would refer you to look at those comments.

Gautam, regarding the protest in London, I've seen some reports about it. I don't have further update on that, but let me come back to you with more details.

Kallol, regarding your question about joint military exercise, you know, as you heard me speaking about it several times from this podium, we keep a close watch on all developments that happen in our neighborhood and beyond, which impact our interests, economic and security interests. We take appropriate measures accordingly. On India-France and collaboration in the National Museum, see, you are talking about one particular country right now; but National Museum and other wings of Government of India, we have a very broad-based cultural collaboration with countries across the world. So it's not that, this museum...one particular museum is collaborating with one particular country. So that is how it is, we have a very expansive collaboration on the cultural side, on the museum side with several countries.

Abhishek your question regarding Azerbaijan, we have very good relations with both Azerbaijan and with Armenia. But apart from that, we also have a Make in India policy to promote defence exports.

Srinjoy: Sir, on the 13th of April in Muzaffarabad, there was a meeting with the LeT, the JeM and the ISI, and four points came out of it; one of course, to continue with infiltration, but particularly so during the elections and to target political parties and of course security personnel; also, to move in large quantities of weapons and drugs. Now drugs is a new thing. So, are you aware of this? These come from your reports and have the organizations involved been alerted about it?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you. So, Srinjoy, coming to your question, you see, when it comes to security matters, we take our security very seriously and we take all that is required to make our security strong and robust and take action accordingly.

Thank you very much for this engagement. Look forward to seeing you next week. Thank you.

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Canada imposes further sanctions against Iran

Global Affairs Canada

News release

April 25, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against Iran under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

Iran continues to threaten international peace and security through multiple destabilizing activities across the Middle East region and beyond. Iran poses a threat to the region both through its armed forces and through its support for its proxies, which includes funding, arms provision and training and political and ideological support.

On April 14, 2024, Iran launched a broad and first-ever direct attack on Israel. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took responsibility for launching drones and missiles while Iranian proxies, including the Houthis, Hezbollah and Iran-linked militias in Iraq, also launched strikes in a limited but highly coordinated manner.

This attack against Israel is yet another example in a pattern of Iran's malign influence in the region, including through its proxies, and it risks further escalation, which poses a grave threat to regional and global peace and security.

Canada is imposing these sanctions in coordination with G7 allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, who are taking similar action today. It reiterates its strong condemnation of Iran and its activities and calls for de-escalation.

Canada is listing the following two individuals and two entities under the regulations:

Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Minister of Defence

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

Armed Forces General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Canada remains deeply concerned by Iran's destabilizing activities in the region and the threat it poses to international peace and security. Canada is unwavering in its commitment to promoting peace and security in the Middle East.

Quotes

"Today's measures deliver a clear message: Canada and its allies are prepared and will not hesitate to take action against the Iranian regime as it seeks to destabilize regional peace and security. Whether directly or through its proxies, Iran's behaviour is deeply concerning and risks further escalating regional tensions and violence. This must be avoided. Canada stands by Israel and its people and reaffirms its commitment to their security." - MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

With these new measures, Canada has sanctioned 200 Iranian individuals and 250 Iranian entities.

In 2012, Canada designated Iran as a state supporter of terrorism under the State Immunity Act. Along with the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, this listing allows victims to bring civil action against Iran for losses or damages from an act of terrorism with links to Iran committed anywhere in the world.

In November 2022, Canada designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has engaged in terrorism and systematic and gross human rights violations, pursuant to subparagraph 35(1)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This means that tens of thousands of senior members of the Iranian regime, including many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are inadmissible to Canada.

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Backgrounder: Canada imposes further sanctions against Iran

Global Affairs Canada

Backgrounder

Effective immediately, Canada is imposing sanctions against Iran by listing two individuals and two entities that are part of Islamic Republic of Iran in response to Iran's continued grave breaches of international peace and security, which result in serious international crises.

Canadian measures

The Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations impose a prohibition on dealings related to the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may have in Canada. Persons in Canada and Canadians outside the country are prohibited from dealing in the property of the listed individuals, and the listed individuals are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The specific prohibitions are set out in the regulations.

The names of the individuals and entities added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Minister of Defence

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

Armed Forces General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran

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6 border guards held by Taliban released

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

Birjand, IRNA -- Six border guards who had been arrested by Taliban near the southeastern borders were released by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Following the necessary measures taken by Iran, six Iranian border guards who were arrested by Taliban forces an hour earlier in the southeast of the country were released.

It should be noted that this evening Taliban forces arrested 6 Iranian border guards on the pretext of illegal entry into Afghanistan.

South Khorasan shares a 331-kilometer border with Afghanistan in the four cities of Sarbisheh, Nahbandan, Darmian and Zirkouh.

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US renews Iran rhetoric after IAEA chief's claims

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

New York, IRNA -- The deputy spokesperson of the US State Department says Washington is doing everything it can to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

According to IRNA reporter, Vedant Patel was responding on Wednesday local time to a question about the claims of Raphael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that Iran has a few weeks to obtain the enriched uranium necessary to produce a nuclear weapon.

The President of the United States has clearly said that we are doing everything to ensure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. But I don't have an assessment of Grossi's statement to offer, Patel clarified.

He said, however that the United States appreciate the extensive efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to interact with Iran on some of the issues related to safeguards obligations.

The State Department spokesman said that Washington will continue to support IAEA's efforts and will also continue to consult with the European Troika (UK, France and Germany) and other partners on this matter.

Grossi, in a conversation with the German DW channel, made political and provocative remarks about Iran's nuclear program, claiming that Iran is a few weeks away from obtaining enriched uranium needed to produce a nuclear weapon.

He also referred to Iran's compensatory measures under the JCPOA and repeated the claim of reducing the agency's access to nuclear facilities, a diversion from his recent remarks that Tehran has been fully cooperating with IAEA inspectors.

Grossi has been making unsubstantiated claims against Iran's nuclear program for nearly five years, which are said to be rooted in the fake documents being provided by the Zionist regime to the media and agency officials for propaganda stunt.

Over a week ago, the IAEA chief during his trip to New York told the media that there is no proof Iran has built nuclear weapons, acknowledging that even the recent tensions in the region have not disrupted the agency's monitoring of Iran's nuclear sites.

Despite some political claims about Iran for having high levels of enriched uranium reserves, it does not mean that the country is building nuclear weapons, the IAEA chief then clarified.

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US keeps adopting miscalculated stance toward Iran: Foreign Ministry

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 25, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry says the United States remains keeps adopting a miscalculated stance toward the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people more than four decades after it failed in its aggression against Iranian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The ministry made the comments in a statement it issued on Wednesday on the 44th anniversary of a failed US military operation in Iran's central Tabas Desert.

The US launched the operation to release its embassy staff held following the 1979 takeover of the diplomatic mission by Iranian students who called the embassy the den of espionage. The operation however failed as a severe sandstorm struck Tabas Desert.

The Foreign Ministry statement said that the "historic defeat" of the US happened with the help of God.

Some 44 years have passed since that defeat, yet the US has remained stubborn and continues to adopt a miscalculated stance in interaction with the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people, the ministry added.

It said that cruel sanctions as well as the maximum pressure campaign in various fields are continuing with the aim of dealing a blow to stability and security of Iran and hinder its progress.

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Iran rejects U.S. "baseless" cyber-attack charges against Iranian individuals, firms

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:29, April 25, 2024

TEHRAN, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Wednesday rejected the U.S. government's "baseless" claims accusing several Iranian individuals and firms of having been involved in cyber-attacks on American companies.

He made the remarks after the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Tuesday sanctioned two Iranian companies and four individuals on charges of having been "involved in the malicious cyber activity on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber Electronic Command" against American companies and government entities.

Kanaani said the U.S. could not deflect the global wave of criticism against its "unlimited support for Israel's war crimes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank" by putting "unfounded" labels on Iranian individuals and institutions.

He called on the U.S. government to end its military, financial, and political support for Israel, reconsider its policies, and act responsibly, instead of hurling "baseless" accusations at other countries.

Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement that "Iranian malicious cyber actors continue to target U.S. companies and government entities in a coordinated, multi-pronged campaign intended to destabilize our critical infrastructure and cause harm to our citizens."

"The United States will continue to leverage our whole-of-government approach to expose and disrupt these networks' operations," he added.

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Iranian police drone strike kills 2 terrorists in Sistan and Baluchestan

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 6:23 PM

Iranian security forces have managed to kill two terrorists in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan near the border with Pakistan.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the terrorists were traveling inside a car along a road in the Shuru rural district, located on the outskirt of the provincial capital city of Zahedan, on Thursday evening when they came under attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Sistan and Baluchestan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in the past years.

Iran's security forces have protected the border and managed to repel almost all assaults by foreign-backed terrorists.

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In any war of wills, Iran will give crushing response to aggression: Army chief

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 10:02 AM

Iran's Army Chief Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi says in any "war of wills" the Islamic Republic will respond to any act of aggression in a more crushing style than ever before.

Addressing a meeting with a number of Iranian Army commanders in Tehran on Thursday, Mousavi stressed the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of any possible threat but reiterated at the same time that Iran has no intention to spread war.

He added that a series of Iran's retaliatory strikes against the Israeli-occupied territories earlier this month manifested unity among Iran's Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Defense Ministry.

The successful strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, made the friends of the Islamic Revolution happy and surprised the foes with Iran's deterrent power, the senior commander emphasized.

Mousavi wished increasing dignity for the honorable Iranian nation and a final victory for the resistance axis, particularly the oppressed people of Palestine in Gaza, as well as acceleration of the Israeli regime's collapse.

On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, which killed two IRGC generals, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.

In retaliation, the IRGC targeted the occupied territories on April 13 with a barrage of drones and missiles. The retaliatory strikes have inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Following the reprisal, Iran warned Israel against taking any retaliatory actions and also urged the US to try not to involve itself in the conflict and signaled that it viewed the matter as "concluded."

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A man stands on the roof of his home as a fire burns along the hillside in Chino Hills (San Bernardino County) in 2020. Homeowners who have joined Californias wildfire insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan, can expect a substantial increase in rates, the FAIR Plan president said Thursday at a state commission hearing. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press 2020

Californians on the FAIR Plan  the states insurer of last resort  can expect to see their rates rise sharply in the near future, the plans president testified.

Theres going to be a substantial increase. Thats as much as I can share, FAIR Plan President Victoria Roach told the Little Hoover Commission, a state oversight committee.

California insurance crisis: Which of the 10 largest insurers are offering home policies

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Large numbers of Californians have recently been dropped by mainline insurance companies and forced to turn to the FAIR Plan for wildfire coverage. The switch often prompts sticker shock, as the FAIR Plan  which is packed with people in areas at high risk for wildfires  can cost thousands of dollars more per year than other plans.

That problem is only going to get worse, Roach said Thursday. Our rates are going to go up, no question about it, she told the commission.

In 2023, the plan raised rates for policyholders an average 15.7%. The FAIR Plan has not yet filed for another increase, and Roach did not say how much she expected rates could rise.

In 2021, the FAIR Plan only had about 268,000 total policies  about 3% of all policies in the state  California Department of Insurance data shows. Now, the FAIR Plan is one of the top five insurers in the state with just over 350,000 dwelling and commercial policies as of December 2023, Roach testified.

The FAIR Plan is a state-created but privately run insurer meant to provide coverage to those who cant get it from the normal market. Those who get fire coverage through the FAIR Plan are required to get supplementary coverage elsewhere for areas like liability.

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The plan covers tens of million dollars of wildfire-prone territory in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California, Roach said  areas where homeowners have disproportionately turned to the FAIR Plan because private market insurers have deemed their neighborhoods too risky.

By state statute, the FAIR Plan is required to have rates that would allow it to have enough cash on hand to cover operating expenses and the cost of claims filed by those insured under the plan, according to Roach. But its current rates are insufficient, she said.

As solutions, Roach suggested allowing the FAIR Plan to raise rates based on forward-looking catastrophe risk projections and the cost of reinsurance  insurance for insurers.

Neither is allowed under current state regulation, but Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara plans to change that by the end of the year, when his Sustainable Insurance Strategy is set to be enacted. Lara has said doing so will lure more private insurers back to the state, easing the stress on the FAIR Plan.

At a Department of Insurance hearing held two days earlier, a representative for Allstate confirmed that the company  which stopped writing new homeowners policies in 2022  would begin offering new policies when it could begin incorporating catastrophe models and reinsurance costs in its rate hikes.

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Federal legislators are also paying attention to the insurance crisis. On Thursday, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, who both represent parts of Northern California, held a news conference in Santa Rosa where they discussed the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2024  proposed legislation that would offer grants and tax credits to property owners who perform disaster mitigation efforts on their property. The legislators said they hoped it would influence insurers not to drop homeowners who harden their homes against wildfire risk.
Iran, Russia sign MoU to strengthen security cooperation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 6:24 AM

Iran and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop bilateral relations in the security sector.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Akbar Ahmadian and his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, put their signatures on the document, during a meeting on the sidelines of the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

Under the MoU, Tehran and Moscow will work towards boosting their cooperation in various strategic areas.

Iran and Russia, as two close and strategic allies, have over the past years deepened their ties in different fields, including security and defense, despite being under heavy Western sanctions.

The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues is being held in St. Petersburg on April 23-25, with the participation of delegates from 106 countries.

In a video address to the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his county's readiness to forge close cooperation with all interested partners in ensuring global and regional security.

Undoubtedly, international terrorism remains one of the gravest threats of the 21st century, he said, warning that radical groups and intelligence agencies of certain countries perpetrate terrorist attacks in a bid to destabilize sovereign states and fuel interethnic and interreligious discord.

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U.S. Targets Iranian Drone Industry In New Sanctions Announcement

By RFE/RL April 25, 2024

The U.S. Treasury Department has issued further sanctions targeting companies that manufacture, sell, and ship Iranian drones as part of an effort to curb their use by Russia in its full-scale war in Ukraine.

The sanctions announced on April 25 have been imposed on more than a dozen entities, individuals, and vessels "that have played a central role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)."

The MODAFL is in turn supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Russia's war in Ukraine, the department said in a news release.

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) singled out the company Sahara Thunder, saying it is the main front company that oversees MODAFL's commercial activities in support of the IRGC and Russia's war in Ukraine.

The company plays a key role in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of drones, many of which are ultimately transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.

Among the individuals designated for sanctions are three officials of Sahara Thunder -- Kazem Mirzai Kondori, Hossein Bakshayesh, and Hojat Abdulahi Fard.

OFAC is also designating two companies and a vessel that it says are involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities for Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, a company that plays a leading role in the commercial activities of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS), the Treasury said.

The Treasury Department said its actions were concurrent with sanctions announced on April 25 by Britain and Canada targeting several entities and individuals involved in Iran's UAV procurement and other military-related activities.

"Iran's Ministry of Defense continues to destabilize the region and world with its support to Russia's war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies," Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in the news release.

He said the United States will continue its close coordination with Britain and Canada and continue to use "all means available to combat those who would finance Iran's destabilizing activities."

The new sanctions also hit an Iran-based company involved in the procurement and development of drones, quadcopters, engines, and electronic and digital parts along with its leadership and an Iranian cargo airline.

The United States and Britain last week announced sanctions on Iran targeting its drone production capabilities in response to its April 13 attack on Israel.

The U.S. designated 16 individuals and two entities on April 18 for allegedly enabling Iran's drone production, including engine types that power Iran's Shahed drones.

The sanctions freeze any assets the individuals and entities have in U.S. jurisdiction and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-drone-us-sanctions- russia-ukraine/32920878.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iranian Activists Slam Government For Stepped Up Hijab Enforcement

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 25, 2024

Iranian civil political activists, including several who are currently imprisoned, have condemned the government's "military" aggression toward women through its renewed enforcement of the mandatory hijab, according to a document made available to RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

The statement criticizes the "government's mobilization" against women and highlights what it calls "a persistent campaign of arrests and repression" and emphasizes that, despite "the oppressive measures, the people of Iran remain committed to seeking freedom."

Following the death of in September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, who died while detained by the morality police, and the subsequent nationwide protests it sparked, the presence of morality police vehicles in cities had noticeably decreased.

But since April 14, law enforcement and plainclothes officers have escalated violent tactics against women and girls in Tehran and other cities in enforcing the Hijab and Chastity Law, resulting in numerous detentions following public assaults.

The activists' statement accuses the government of using the law as a tool to control lifestyles and maintain the state's power through fear.

Signatories to the statement include prominent figures such as Narges Mohammadi, Mostafa Tajzadeh, and Faezeh Hashemi, who called the government's actions inhumane and illegal.

They argued that the state's treatment of women resisting the hijab mandate not only violates human rights, but also demonstrates the regime's "misogynistic stance."

The new crackdown on women for not adhering to the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, intensified after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave a directive during the recent Eid al-Fitr prayer sermon to step up enforcement measures against what he called "religious norm-breaking" within Iranian society.

Khamenei also emphasized that the mandatory hijab law was a "definite religious decree," underscoring the obligation of all to adhere to this the same as other legal decrees.

The resurgence of the morality police has sparked increased tensions and confrontations across various cities.

Despite the backlash and public outcry, including from some regime supporters, the national police command says the crackdown will continue.

The hijab became compulsory for women and girls over the age of 9 in 1981, two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The move triggered protests that were swiftly crushed by the new authorities. Many women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-activists-slam-government- for-stepped-up-hijab-enforcement-/32920659.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Treasury Targets Networks Facilitating Illicit Trade and UAV Transfers on Behalf of Iranian Military

U.S. Department of the Treasury

April 25, 2024

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning over one dozen entities, individuals, and vessels that have played a central role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), which itself is involved in supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Russia's war in Ukraine. Sahara Thunder is the main front company that oversees MODAFL's commercial activities in support of these efforts. Sahara Thunder also plays a key role in Iran's design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs, many of them ultimately transferred to Russia for use in its war of aggression against Ukraine. OFAC is also sanctioning two companies and a vessel involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities for Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, which similarly plays a leading role in the commercial activities of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS). Concurrent with this action, the United Kingdom and Canada are imposing sanctions targeting several entities and individuals involved in Iran's UAV procurement and other military-related activities.

"Iran's Ministry of Defense continues to destabilize the region and world with its support to Russia's war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran's destabilizing activities."

Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority in Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, E.O. 13382, a counterproliferation authority, and E.O. 14024, which targets Russia's harmful foreign activities. OFAC designated MODAFL pursuant to E.O. 13224 on March 26, 2019 for assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007 for providing support to multiple terrorist groups. The Department of State designated MODAFL pursuant to E.O. 13382 and E.O. 14024 on October 25, 2007 and February 23, 2024, respectively.

SAHARA THUNDER

The Iranian government allocates billions of dollars' worth of commodities to Iranian military entities including MODAFL and the AFGS as part of the Iranian military's annual budget. SaharaThunder, which is subordinate to MODAFL, oversees MODAFL's commercial activities. In November 2023, OFAC sanctioned the network of Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), which plays a similar role leading the sale of Iranian commodities on behalf of the AFGS.

Sahara Thunder has also played an instrumental role in the Iranian military's sale of UAVs. MODAFL has cooperated with Russia to finance and produce Iranian-designed one-way attack UAVs at the U.S.-sanctioned Joint Stock Company Special Economic Zone of Industrial Production Alabuga (SEZ Alabuga) facility in Russia under a $1.75 billion contract. As of late 2022, Russian officials were negotiating a deal for Sahara Thunder to deliver and produce thousands of UAVs per year at this facility. Such UAVs have been used by the Russian military in Ukraine against critical infrastructure and civilian targets.

U.S.-sanctioned Generation Trading FZE has been used as part of this network to receive millions of dollars' worth of payments from SEZ Alabuga and its subsidiaries as part of Russia's contract with MODAFL.

Generation Trading FZE was designated on February 23, 2024 pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, MODAFL. SEZ Alabuga was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 on February 23, 2024, for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Sahara Thunder is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, MODAFL. Sahara Thunder is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

SAHARA THUNDER'S LEADERSHIP

Kazem Mirzai Kondori (Kondori), Hossein Bakshayesh (Bakshayesh), and Hojat Abdulahi Fard (Abdulahi Fard) are officials of Sahara Thunder. Bakhshayesh has been the managing director of Sahara Thunder, while Abdulahi Fard has served as a board member at Sahara Thunder and a representative of Iranian company Etemad Tejarat Misagh, which is also a subsidiary of MODAFL.

Kondori and Bakshayesh are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sahara Thunder. Abdulahi Fard is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being a leader or official of Sahara Thunder.

Kondori, Bakshayesh and Abdulahi Fard are also being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of Sahara Thunder. Etemad Tejarat Misagh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, MODAFL.

SAHARA THUNDER'S GLOBAL SHIPPING NETWORK

Iranian military entity Sahara Thunder relies on a vast shipping network involved in the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of MODAFL to multiple jurisdictions including the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Venezuela. Sahara Thunder has entered into time-charter contracts with India-based Zen Shipping & Port India Private Limited for the Cook Islands-flagged vessel CHEM (IMO 9240914), which is managed and operated by UAE-based Safe Seas Ship Management FZE.Sahara Thunder has used the CHEM to conduct multiple shipments of commodities since 2022. Iran-based Arsang Safe Trading Co. has provided ship management services in support of several Sahara Thunder-related shipments, including those by the CHEM.

Safe Seas Ship Management FZE also manages and operates the Palau-flagged DANCY DYNAMIC (9158161), Cook Islands-flagged K M A (9234616), and Cook Islands-flagged CONRAD (9546722), all of which have been used to ship Iranian commodities.

Iran-based Asia Marine Crown Agency has served as the port agent in Bandar Abbas, Iran supporting several Sahara Thunder shipments. India-based Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited and UAE-based company Trans Gulf Agency LLC have worked together to provide ship management services in support of Sahara Thunder. UAE and Iran-based Coral Trading EST. has purchased Iranian commodities from Sahara Thunder.

Zen Shipping & Port India Private Limited, Safe Seas Ship Management FZE, Arsang Safe Trading Co., Asia Marine Crown Agency, Coral Trading EST., and Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sahara Thunder. Trans Gulf Agency LLC is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited.

The CHEM, DANCY DYNAMIC, K M A, and CONRAD are being identified as property in which Safe Seas Ship Management FZE has an interest.

SEPEHR ENERGY SHIPMENT

Onden General Trading FZE is a UAE-based broker which sold Iranian commodities on Sepehr Energy's behalf to be delivered off shore near Singapore. Sepehr Energy's shipment, valued at several tens of millions of dollars, was loaded in the Persian Gulf aboard a vessel disguising itself as a different vessel. The vessel LA PEARL (9174660), also known as the ELITE,received the cargo via a ship-to-ship transfer from another vessel in mid-April in international waters near Singapore. Panama-based Saone Shipping Corporation is the operator and owner of the LA PEARL.

Onden General Trading FZE and Saone Shipping Corporation are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company. The LA PEARL is being identified as property in which Saone Shipping Corporation has an interest.

POUYA AIR

Iranian cargo airline Pouya Air was designated on March 27, 2012 pursuant to E.O. 13224 for acting for or on behalf of the IRGC-QF to transport illicit cargo, including weapons, to Iran's proxies in the Middle East. Pouya Air is being re-designated under E.O. 13382 for its transshipment of Iranian military UAVs to Russia. Pouya Air's Ilyushin-76 aircraft EP-PUS has transported UAVs and UAV-related cargo from Iran to Russia on behalf of the IRGC Aerospace Force. Some of the UAVs and UAV-related cargo was intended for the SEZ Alabuga.

Pouya Air is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the IRGC Aerospace Force. EP-PUS is being identified as property in which Pouya Air has an interest. The IRGC Aerospace Force was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on June 16, 2010.

UAV PROCUREMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Bonyan Danesh Shargh Private Company (Bonyan Danesh Shargh) is an Iran-based company that produces UAVs, quadcopters, engines, and electronic and digital parts. The company engages in a wide range of business activities and operates in the public and private sectors in Iran and abroad. Bonyan Danesh Shargh has served as an intermediary for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC ASF SSJO) in its business dealings. Bonyan Danesh Shargh has been involved in the IRGC ASF SSJO discussions regarding the Alabuga UAV facility in Russia.

The IRGC ASF SSJO is involved in Iranian ballistic missile research and development and manages Iran's production of Shahed-series UAVs. The Department of State designated the IRGC ASF SSJO pursuant to E.O. 13382 on July 18, 2017 for engaging, or attempting to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery. Bonyan Danesh Shargh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the IRGC ASF SSJO.

BONYAN DANESH SHARGH LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS NETWORK

Abbas Abdi Asjerd (Asjerd) has served as Chief Executive Officer of Bonyan Danesh Shargh where Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam (Moghadam) and Zahra Abdi Asjerd (Zahra) have served in different official capacities. Hamid Eidi Ashjerdi (Eidi) has provided corporate auditing and inspection services to Bonyan Danesh Shargh.

Asjerd, Moghadam, and U.S.-designated IRGC ASF SSJO Chief Abdollah Mehrabi (Mehrabi) serve in different official capacities at the Iran-based firm Baran Sazan Caspian Anzali Free Zone Company (BSC). Asjerd and Moghadam are also board members of the Iran-based firms Sanaye Motorsazi Alvand Private Company (Alvand) and Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif Private Company (Pishro Sanat). Alvand manufactures, imports, and exports UAVs and engines. Pishro Sanat designs and manufactures sensitive UAV components, including servomotors. Mohammad Ali Moradipour (Moradipour) has provided corporate auditing and inspection services to Alvand.

Mehrabi was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on October 29, 2021 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC ASF SSJO.

Asjerd, Moghadam, and Zahra are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Bonyan Danesh Shargh. BSC, Alvand, and Pishro Sanat are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, Asjerd. Eidi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Bonyan Danesh Shargh. Moradipour is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Alvand.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

###

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UK targets Iran's ability to launch drones through new round of sanctions

The UK, US and Canada have announced coordinated sanctions on Iran following the regime's attack on Israel on 13 April 2024.

25 April 2024

UK joins the US and Canada in announcing latest sanctions against Iran, following the regime's attack on Israel on 13 April

the designations target individuals and companies involved in Iranian drone industry, following last week's military sanctions

UK also announces plans for further trade sanctions against Iran, targeting additional specific components used in drone and missile production

The UK has today announced further sanctions targeting Iran's drone and missile industries.

The package, announced in coordination with the US and Canada, follows the regime's attack on 13 April, in which over 300 drones and missiles were fired at Israel.

It comes after an initial set of sanctions announced last Thursday (18 April) in reaction to Iran's drone attacks on Israel the previous weekend.

The UK is today sanctioning a further 2 individuals and 4 companies which are closely involved in Iran's network of drone production.

In addition, the UK has also announced its plan to expand trade sanctions against the regime by introducing new bans on the export of components used in drone and missile production to Iran. These measures seek to deny Iran access to the components it needs to develop these weapons, limiting its military capabilities.

Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said:

The Iranian regime's dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region. Today the UK and our partners have sent a clear message - we will hold those responsible for Iran's destabilising behaviour to account. Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on Iran's ability to develop and export these deadly weapons.

Today's announcement follows the commitment set out at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting last week to tackle Iran's destabilising activity in the region.

From today, Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam and Abbas Abdi Asjerd are subject to a UK travel ban and asset freeze.

Both Moghadam and Asjerd are directors of a network of Iranian companies involved in producing drones.

They also have connections to Abdollah Mehrabi, head of the IRGC Aerospace Force SSJO, a key figure in Iran's drone industry who was designated by the UK in 2022 for his role in supplying drones to Russia.

The following companies, which make up this network, are also subject to an asset freeze:

Bonyan Danesh Shargh

Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif Company

Alvand Motorbuilding Industries Company

Moj Gostar Aseman Parvaz Company

The UK already has over 400 sanctions imposed on Iran, including designations against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety and many of those responsible for the attack on Israel.

The UK continues to expose those involved in the Iranian drones and missile production industries, having previously introduced trade measures prohibiting the export of specific components and services to Iran.

The UK has previously designated a wide range of companies involved in production of Iranian drones, including the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones - models which Iran has supplied to Russia. These types of drones were also used by Iran in its attack on Israel.

Today's designations have been made under the new Iran sanctions regime, which came into force in December 2023 and enables the UK to target Iran's hostile behaviour.

Background

today's sanction package is the second UK package targeting individuals involved in Iran's attack against Israel on 13 April. The first tranche was announced by the FCDO on 18 April

today's plan for further trade measures will build on the existing export restrictions which were introduced last year as part of our new Iran sanctions regime, which has given the UK extensive powers to tackle Iran's hostile activities

today's sanctions package is being announced under the new Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023, which came into force in December 2023

the UK's Iran Sanctions Regime contains measures designed to target individuals and organisations, including designation powers designed to deter the Government of Iran or armed groups that they back, from conducting hostile activity against the United Kingdom or any other country

the UK also maintains an arms embargo on Iran, as well as measures targeting ballistic missile production

Definitions

asset freeze: An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world

travel ban: A travel ban means that the designated person is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, and must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom (and any leave given to a person who is an excluded person is invalid)

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Junta recaptures key border base, but Karen rebels say fight isn't over

The two sides are fighting for control of Myawaddy, a major trade hub on the Thai border.

By Wai Mar Tun for RFA Burmese 2024.04.24 -- Myanmar's military has reclaimed a key base in Myawaddy, a trading hub on the Thai border, after it fell to rebels earlier this month, an official with an ethnic Karen militant group said Wednesday. But he called its withdrawal "temporary" and said it has no intention of entering into peace talks with the junta.

Myawaddy, in eastern Kayin state across the border from the Thai city of Mae Sot, has been the focal point of fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, and the junta in recent weeks, amid a wider civil war in Myanmar that followed the military's February 2021 coup d'etat.

On April 10, the KNLA - the armed branch of the Karen National Union, or KNU - and its allies captured the junta's Infantry Battalion 275 compound in Myawaddy. It was the last junta base in the town, which effectively fell under rebel control.

In response, the junta launched a state-level offensive named "Operation Aung Zeya" to recapture Myawaddy, through which US$1 billion worth of trade flows annually.

While the KNU claimed last week that the KNLA had destroyed military vehicles and killed more than 100 junta troops marching enroute to Myawaddy, the military and members of the pro-junta Border Guard Force, or BGF, reclaimed the battalion compound on Tuesday, KNU spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee and residents told RFA Burmese.

"The junta re-entered the No. 275 Infantry Battalion base," the KNU spokesperson said in an exclusive interview with RFA on Wednesday. "They took down the Karen national flag and replaced it with the junta flag."

Peaceful withdrawal

A businessman with ties to both the junta and the BGF told RFA that the two forces held negotiations and took up positions in Myawaddy, which they will jointly administer.

"In Myawaddy, the joint forces of the junta and the BGF are patrolling and they have cleared the area near No. 275 Infantry Battalion," said the businessman who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

"We also received information that the junta and the BGF will jointly manage Myawaddy, while the KNU and the [anti-junta People's Defense Force] had to withdraw their troops and take positions outside the town," he said.

A resident of Myawaddy, who is close to the joint forces of the KNLA, told RFA that the rebel withdrawal took place peacefully.

"Fighting was suspended in order to stop the junta reinforcements from overrunning Myawaddy town," he said. "The battle isn't about fighting with guns, it is concerned with the business and rights of each group."

Attempts by RFA to contact Major Naing Maung Zaw, the head of the BGF in Myawaddy, and Colonel Min Kyaw Thu, the junta's minister for security and border affairs in Kayin state, for information on the military and security situation in Myawaddy went unanswered Wednesday.

Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told AFP on Tuesday that junta troops had retaken the battalion base, although they did not have full control of Myawaddy.

'Studying their capabilities'

The KNU's Padoh Saw Taw Nee said that the KNLA had maneuvered to "strategically avoid the trap laid by the military junta" and withdrew its troops from Myawaddy, stressing that there was no agreement made between the KNU and BGF to do so.

"If we took immediate action without consideration strategically, we would have fallen into the junta's trap," he said. "It is true that our troops are no longer in the downtown of Myawaddy ... and we understand that the public is unhappy about this news. That is logical."

Padoh Saw Taw Nee said the joint forces under the KNLA had not withdrawn from the area and maintained control of bases formerly occupied by junta battalions 355, 356, and 357 in the hills near Myawaddy.

"We will take all possible action against them - it's our most important mission," he said. "We are studying their capabilities before we actually fight them."

The KNU spokesperson acknowledged that the KNLA had taken losses in its efforts to take Myawaddy in recent weeks, but said casualties are part of "the nature of war."

"Nothing comes free," he said. "We had to pay a lot, with the sacrifice of lives, but the more we lose, the more valuable our rebellion becomes."

Padoh Saw Taw Nee said the people of Kayin state had suffered far greater losses because of the junta.

"We respect and appreciate the losses of people, and we ask that they don't lose hope," he said.

No talks without conditions

Some 3,000 civilians have fled the fighting in Myawaddy, which also prompted around 200 junta troops to take shelter at a truck depot near Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 2 - one of two bridges which regulate both people and goods between Myawaddy and Thailand's Mae Sot.

Padoh Saw Taw Nee told RFA that the KNU desires peace as much as any group in Myanmar, but it will never enter into ceasefire talks with the military unless three conditions are met.

"First, they [the military] must agree to leave politics completely," he said.

"Second, they must face justice during the transition period - he [junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing] should not get immunity for the offenses they committed. And third, they must accept a new constitution that is suitable for the establishment of a federal democratic union."

On Tuesday, Thailand's Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said his country is ready to act as a mediator in the conflict in Myanmar and help bring about a comprehensive resolution to fighting between junta forces and rebel groups.

Speaking during a visit to the border in Mae Sot, Parnpree revealed that initial discussions had already taken place with various parties in Myanmar, including the military government and ethnic groups, some of which are armed, and that Thailand was also looking to enlist support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Junta troops have killed at least 4,927 civilians since the military seized power three years ago, according to Thailand's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta wields fear as a weapon with killing of civilians in Myanmar's Sagaing

New data shows the military killed nearly 90 people in the region in the first quarter of 2024.

By RFA Burmese 2024.04.24 -- Junta troops arrested and killed nearly 90 civilians in northern Myanmar's Sagaing region during the first quarter of 2024, according to data compiled by RFA Burmese, including several elderly villagers and others who were unable to flee military raids.

A stronghold of the rebellion, the Sagaing region has put up some of the stiffest resistance to junta rule since the military's February 2021 coup d'etat, and has also endured some of the military's most brutal atrocities during the country's three years of ensuing civil war.

Observers told RFA that the military is attempting to create public animosity towards rebel forces in Sagaing, where its troops have suffered heavy losses in recent months.

Now, new data compiled by RFA shows that junta troops arrested and killed at least 86 civilians in nine Sagaing townships on the 101 days between Jan. 1 and April 10, or nearly one a day.

The townships of Kawlin, Shwebo and Taze suffered the highest number of casualties over the period, according to the data, which does not include civilians killed by fighting, airstrikes and heavy artillery.

In one of the latest incidents, a combined force of junta troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militiamen raided Shwebo's Shar Taw village on the evening of April 6, arresting and executing nine civilians, residents told RFA.

'They killed indiscriminately'

A woman from Shar Taw said she was irreparably traumatized by the capture and killing of the villagers as they fled indiscriminate shooting by junta forces.

"I was going crazy that day, darting through gunfire and shells with the children," said the woman who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. "At times, I've contemplated ending my own life. It feels like there's no escape."

The victims from Shar Taw included seven villagers aged between 50 and 90, and two people between the ages of 20 and 30, she said.

Two of the victims - both in their 80s - were burned to death in their homes and four others were shot dead in the village. The junta convoy detained a father and son, and a third man, and executed them after leaving Shar Taw.

The woman told RFA that the junta attacked her village entirely without prompting.

"Without doing anything to them, they make problems with us, killing people," she said. "They killed indiscriminately, even those who have never seen a gun in their lives, those struggling to make ends meet, the mentally ill, and those who rely on their neighbors for support."

Fear as a weapon

According to the list compiled by RFA of civilians arrested and killed in the first quarter of 2024, 22 people died in Kawlin, 19 in Shwebo, 14 in Taze, 10 in Monywa, seven in Khin-U, six in Kanbalu, five in Tabayin, two in Ye-U, and one in Kani. Three of the victims were women and the rest were men.

A member of the anti-junta People's Defense Force, or PDF, in Shwebo told RFA that the junta is intentionally killing civilians in a bid to stir up public animosity towards the rebellion.

"We [rebels] are constantly on the move, mirroring their mobility, which leads to regular confrontations," said the PDF member, who also declined to be named. "When the junta forces face defeat, they unleash their fury on civilian areas like villages, resorting to arson and destruction."

Kyaw Win, executive director of Burma Human Rights Network, said he believes the military is also using fear as a weapon to fight back against an increasing number of rebel attacks on its forces - particularly in Sagaing and Magway regions.

"Sagaing and Magway are at the forefront of the resistance against the junta's army," he said, adding that the military's "manpower is dwindling" after suffering "significant losses" in the two regions. "While setbacks have occurred elsewhere, these regions appear to be under intensified targeting. The brutality serves to instill fear and dissuade people from challenging their authority."

Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun and Nyunt Win Aung, the junta's minister of social affairs and spokesperson for Sagaing region, regarding the arrest and killing of civilians, went unanswered Wednesday.

Legal experts and human rights activists have noted that the arrest and killing of civilians in conflict areas constitutes a grave offense punishable by death, as stipulated in both the Myanmar Armed Forces Act of 1959 and the Geneva Convention.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta recruits another 300 Rohingya in new round of conscription

100,000 men across Myanmar have fled their homes since the draft was announced in February, report finds.

By RFA Burmese 2024.04.25 -- More than 300 Rohingya men from villages near Rakhine state's capital have been forced by junta troops to attend mandatory training for Myanmar's military over the last few days, residents told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

The latest round of compulsory conscription among the stateless Muslim minority comes a month after about 1,000 Rohingya from elsewhere in Rakhine were made to join the military in March.

More broadly, more than 100,000 young men have fled their homes since the military announced in February it would implement a draft to shore up its ranks after a series of battlefield defeats, according to a report released by the Burmese Affairs and Conflict Study.

Myanmar has been wracked by civil war ever since the military overthrew the civilian-led government in a 2021 coup. Amid the battlefield setbacks over the past six months, the military has said it plans to conscript 50,000 young men and women each year - and is forcibly recruiting Rohingya in Rakhine state to meet quotas.

The effort comes in a state where just seven years ago, the military tortured, raped and killed thousands of Rohingya and sent nearly 1 million fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh.

The 300 Rohingya recruits were taken this week from more than 30 villages in Sittwe township and were all between 18- to 30-years-old, a Rohingya village administrator who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals told RFA.

They were taken by police cars to the military's Regional Command Headquarters in Sittwe to prepare for training, he said.

Soldiers are now pressing those who remain in a patchwork of villages and internally displaced camps into service to prop up their struggling military campaign in the state against the ethnic Arakan Army.

In exchange for their service, the junta has promised would-be Rohingya fighters freedom of movement as well as small amounts of food and money.

'Worrying around the clock'

Junta officials have communicated through village elders and administrators during the conscription process, according to a Rohingya woman who lives in Sittwe who requested not to be named for security reasons.

"The officials entice the locals with national identity cards and salary," she said. "They forced village elders to provide young Rohingya to protect the country. But as Rohingya youth are fishermen, they are not suitable for military service."

None of the recruits are willing to undergo military training, but they face arrest and beatings if they refuse, she said.

"People in Rakhine state are worrying around the clock about the recruitment for military training," the village administrator said. "Some people have fled from their homes to other places."

The 1,000 Rohingya who were recruited in March were put through a two-week training. Afterward, some were deployed to the battlefields while others were sent back to their villages or IDP camps as reserves, residents told RFA.

RFA attempted to contact Attorney General Hla Thein, the junta spokesman for Rakhine state, to ask about this week's recruitment, but he didn't answer phone calls.

Pressed into service

Since Myanmar's conscription law was announced by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing on Feb. 10, troops nationwide have attempted to press-gang large numbers into the dwindling military.

It requires men and women aged 18 to 35 to serve in the junta's armed forces for two years - prompting more than 100,000 to flee their homes to avoid the draft, the Burmese Affairs and Conflict Study found.

The junta has carried out operations to enforce the military service law in 224 townships across the country, the report said. Approximately 5,000 young men were sent to 15 military training sites by the end of March, it said.

In addition, more than 2,000 people from 40 townships across Myanmar have been enlisted as militia - a number that includes the Rohingya who were recruited in March, the report found.

A resident of Mandalay said people are anxiously watching for the recruitment process to begin again, now that the recent Thingyan water festival holiday has concluded.

"It is anticipated that they will start it in May," he said. "People are curious about what will happen following Thingyan."

Eventually, the new recruits will be called on for frontline combat operations, according to former military officer Lin Htet Aung, who participated in the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement after the coup.

"When the regular army no longer possesses the capacity to execute these tasks, it becomes evident that this deliberate strategy aims to rely solely on the youth of the populace as their military force," he told RFA.

Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar insurgents capture junta base in south

More than 30 weapons were seized from the junta's base camp, an official said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.04.25 -- Insurgents have captured another base from Myanmar's junta forces, this time in the far south of the country, in the latest in a string of setbacks for the military that overthrew an elected government in 2021, officials from anti-junta forces told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

Ethnic minority Karen fighters have in recent weeks seized several camps from junta forces in eastern Myanmar, mostly notably in a major trade town near the Thai border.

On Wednesday, ethnic minority Karen insurgents, together with pro-democracy allies, captured the junta's Maw Hta camp in the Tanintharyi region's Dawei township.

Thirty weapons were seized in the camp, where about 40 junta soldiers had been stationed, said one official from the Karen National Union (KNU), who declined to be identified for security reasons.

"It took only a moment to capture the camp because junta troops were scared and fled," the official said.

The shadow civilian National Unity Government's Tanintharyi region office confirmed that the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU, and members of allied People's Defense Forces seized the area near the Thai border.

"A border station has been captured by Karen National Liberation Army and People's Defense Force joint forces. At present, there are still things that need to be confirmed," said the Tanintharyi information officer, who also declined to be identified.

RFA contacted Tanintharyi region's junta spokesperson, Thet Naing, for more information, but he did not respond.

Myanmar has faced violent turmoil since the military overthrew a government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021.

The fighting in recent days has prompted warnings from Thailand to Mynamar's rivals to avoid any spillover across the border.

In January, rebel forces captured Kyauk Htu camp in Dawei.

On April 16, they captured Myeik, a major Tanintharyi town, and then announced the launch of military operations in two nearby townships. Of Tanintharyi's 10 townships, only Bokpyin and Kawthoung are free from major conflict.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Bangladesh, Myanmar exchange prisoners amidst Rakhine strife

By Sabir Mustafa April 25, 2024

Bangladesh and Myanmar exchanged hundreds of their citizens from custody over two days this week, following a deal reached between the two countries. Bangladesh repatriated 288 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police and other security agencies on Thursday, after Myanmar on Wednesday released 173 Bangladeshi nationals, mostly fishermen.

Officials of the Bangladesh border security agency Border Guard Bangladesh said a Myanmar navy ship, the Chin Dwin, left Cox's Bazar port early Thursday morning with the Myanmar police and immigration officials on board. The same ship brought the freed 173 Bangladeshi fishermen the previous day.

The Myanmar security personnel fled the fighting last month in the province of Rakhine between Myanmar's military and rebel Arakan Army and took shelter in Bangladesh. This was the second such incident of Myanmar border police and officials escaping to Bangladesh in as many months.

The Myanmar province of Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh, has been the site of heavy fighting between the rebels and Yangon's forces since October. While the Arakan Army is mostly ethnic Rakhine, the Muslim Rohingyas have borne the brunt of the Myanmar military's actions over the past few decades. Over a million Rohingyas who fled atrocities by the military in 2017 are currently living in makeshift shelters in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

In February, 330 Myanmar police and officials were repatriated but nothing was sought in return. This time, officials said the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry took the initiative to take back their nationals who had either served their prison terms or were still in jail.

Despite the apparent success of the negotiations, analysts in Dhaka see this as a lost opportunity rather than a triumph. Long-term Myanmar watcher and defense analyst Mohammad Emdadul Islam called it an "empty gesture" and said the fishermen would have been released at some point anyway.

"If Myanmar had taken back 20,000 Rohingyas in return for the repatriation of their officials, then I would've seen it as a positive outcome," said Islam, who served as the head of mission at the Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe, Rakhine, in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Islam, a retired Army major, negotiated the release of 1,100 Bangladeshi fishermen from Myanmar prisons while serving at the consulate in 2001. He said the fishermen stray into Myanmar waters either because their boats have poor navigation equipment or they take a chance to illegally fish there.

Myanmar naval forces often intercept them and hand them to the courts, which sentence them to up to 12 years in jail a five for illegal fishing and seven for illegal entry.

Bangladesh's decision to promptly repatriate the Myanmar officials has also been the subject of debate among international human rights groups that campaign for the rights of the Rohingya people.

One such group, Fortify Rights, urged Bangladesh in February to investigate the Myanmar security personnel seeking refuge for potential involvement in atrocities against the Rohingyas. The group's CEO, Matthew Smith, told Dhaka's New Age newspaper that while it was important for Bangladesh to provide aid and protection to the fleeing officials, their past actions needed to be questioned.

"These border guards might have information that could help hold perpetrators accountable for the Rohingya genocide and other crimes unfolding in Myanmar, and they should be properly investigated," Smith said.

Bangladeshi officials emphasize their desire to keep the border calm and not confront Myanmar. "[The border police] have been given shelter on humanitarian grounds and we are working to ensure their safe return," Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters in the southern city of Chattogram on Wednesday.

Analysts agree that Bangladesh does not want to get into a direct conflict with Myanmar, but other factors make an investigation of sheltered officials difficult.

"The atrocities against the Rohingyas in 2017 were committed by special brigades of the Myanmar army," Islam told VOA. "These brigades are no longer deployed in the area. Besides, the officials and police who are coming across the border are not part of the regular army. They are mostly border police, intelligence, customs and immigration officials."

Hasan Mahmud told reporters that what was happening in Rakhine was "Myanmar's internal affairs," even though it often spilled across the border in the form of stray artillery shells or fleeing officials. He said the Bangladeshi government, working closely with various countries, especially the United States, China and India, is putting pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas living in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Islam is concerned about the impact recent developments in Rakhine may have among the Rohingyas in Bangladesh. He said the Myanmar military has, in recent months, started recruiting Rohingyas to fight against the Arakan Army.

"How will the Rohingyas living in Bangladesh react when they see their relatives and friends back home joining the Myanmar army, and how will authorities in Bangladesh tackle the reaction? This could be a big challenge," Islam said.

In March 2022, the U.S. recognized the atrocities committed against the Rohingya population as a genocide.

This story originated in VOA's Bangla Service.

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San Francisco police are investigating a burglary at the Board of Education office on Franklin Street after staff arrived to work and found items missing from their desks.

San Francisco police are investigating a burglary at the Board of Education office near Civic Center after school district staff arrived to work Monday and found items missing from their desks.

Someone also swiped items from a conference room in the building at 555 Franklin St., according to Laura Dudnick, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Unified School District. She said the district had shared surveillance footage of the incident with police, who responded to the scene shortly before 10 a.m. Officials are assessing security measures.
Russia: Poland's talks on hosting US nuclear weapons 'dangerous'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 7:15 PM

Russia says upcoming talks in Poland to possibly host US nuclear weapons in the country pose a real threat to the nation.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Thursday he and the prime minister were scheduled to hold talks on May 1.

Duda said he had invited Donald Tusk for talks on deploying nuclear weapons from NATO states in the country.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on the same day that announcing the talks on hosting NATO nukes was a provocative gesture by the Polish government.

By escalating the tensions, the Russian official said, Duda and Tusk were pushing the nation into a "very dangerous game."

"If they follow the path of further escalation - and this is how the discussions can be assessed, these so far verbal games with nuclear weapons - then a further round of tension will occur. And in general, this game is very dangerous, its consequences may be hard to predict," the senior Russian diplomat warned.

The Kremlin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov also responded to Duda's declaration. "This game is very dangerous, and its consequences may be unpredictable."

He said Russia's Defense Ministry will "analyze the situation... and take all the necessary retaliatory steps to guarantee our safety."

On the same lines, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said any US nuclear missiles in Poland could become targets in the event of a Russia-NATO war.

"It is not difficult to assume that if American nuclear weapons appear on Polish territory, the corresponding objects will immediately join the list of legitimate targets for destruction in the case of direct military conflict with NATO."

In the meantime, Duda has reiterated his position that Poland would be ready to host American nukes, prompting Tusk to say he would like a clarification from the president.

Since entering office in December, Tusk, a centrist, has embarked on a series of reforms and a purge of staff associated with the former nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. That has sparked backlash from Duda, a former PiS member who was brought to office with the party's backing and who has offered presidential pardons to jailed PiS lawmakers.

However, on matters pertaining to Poland's military, Duda and Tusk appear to be following the same pro-US policies.

"It's obvious to me that we must speak with one voice and that our aspirations must be the same. We want Poland to be as safe as possible," Duda said.

The Polish prime minister, according to the country's laws, is responsible for government decision-making, while the president is the head of state and supreme representative of Poland internationally.

To allow US nuclear weapons to be deployed in the country, it would require new laws and approval by both officials.

Meanwhile, Poland is not only a NATO and European Union member, but it also has a long history of war and violence with Russia. The war in Ukraine has plunged the already deteriorated relations between Russia and Poland, Ukraine's largest neighbor on its western border, to its lowest levels.

Also on Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced that dozens of the Russia's nukes deployed in the country were in place and ready for combat.

Last year, Russia deployed its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which borders Poland, as a signal of deterrence to the West.

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Russia says weighs downgrading ties with US if assets are seized

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 5:43 PM

Russia has announced that it is contemplating downgrading its diplomatic and trade ties with the United States if its assets are confiscated by the US government.

RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday that Russia is considering downgrading the level of its diplomatic relations with the United States if Western governments go ahead with proposals to confiscate its frozen assets worth about $300 billion.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations are looking to use the money from Russian financial assets frozen in these countries since 2022 to help support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The Russian official asserted that Moscow would retaliate economically and politically if the assets were seized by Ukraine's Western allies.

"Lowering the level of diplomatic relations is one of the options, of course. Many high-ranking representatives in our government have already spoken about the issues of our financial, economic and material response to this step (confiscation), which we are warning our opponents, as before, not to take," RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying.

Moscow is considering both economic and diplomatic responses.

"We are now studying the optimal form of reaction, where countermeasures include actions against the assets of our Western opponents as well as diplomatic response measures," Ryabkov said, refraining from giving further details.

"Among the countermeasures, there may also be actions against the assets of our Western opponents," he said.

Although no formal downgrade of relations has been announced since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has described the current level of diplomatic ties between the United States and Russia as "below zero".

In related news, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that Washington welcomed what she called a "very constructive step" taken by the European Union to segregate the proceeds from assets held by Brussels-based Euroclear and transfer them to Ukraine, noting future interest could also be pulled forward to expand funds available for Ukraine.

"This is an approach that could be broadly supported by countries that are concerned about the seizure of assets, and some of the interest could be brought forward through, for example, a loan," Yellen said in a Reuters Next interview in Washington.

The senior US official claimed this unprecedented method of funneling Russia's money to Kiev was among several options being discussed by the G7 ahead of a leaders' summit scheduled next month.

The US Senate on Tuesday voted to pass a foreign aid package that includes long-stalled aid for Israel and Ukraine. The bill, which US President Joe Biden signed into law on Wednesday, also includes measures to confiscate frozen Russian assets for funding Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the West's plans to provide Kiev with the proceedings derived from seized Russian assets as "thievish ... in the literal sense."

"They are thievish, we realized this a long time ago. They have been treacherous all along in political terms, you know: in the sense of reneging on agreements and trying to deceive someone. Now they have turned out to be thieves in the literal sense," the top Russian diplomat told journalists at a press conference just before Christmas last year.

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MEPs Vote On Resolution Demanding Release Of Kurmasheva, Gershkovich, Others Held In Russia

By RFE/RL April 25, 2024

European lawmakers have approved a resolution that calls for the "immediate and unconditional release" of all political prisoners held in Russia, including journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich.

The resolution was part of a joint motion in the European Parliament on April 25, condemning Russia's "undemocratic" presidential election last month and their "illegitimate extension" to territories inside Ukraine that Moscow has illegally annexed.

The resolution -- which was approved by 493 MEPs in favor while 11 were against and 18 abstained -- calls "for the immediate and unconditional release and compensation of all political prisoners...unjustly imprisoned journalists, including Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich, and their families, for the restoration of freedom of expression and association in Russia and for increased international scrutiny and monitoring of human rights abuses in Russia."

Among others, the resolution names Vladimir Kara-Murza, Oleg Orlov, Ksenia Fadeeva, Ivan Safronov, and Ilya Yashin as political prisoners who should be released.

Kurmasheva, a Prague-based journalist with RFE/RL who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, has been held in Russian custody since October 18 on a charge of violating the so-called "foreign agent" law.

RFE/RL and the U.S. government say the charges are a reprisal for her work as a journalist. She had traveled to Russia to visit and care for her elderly mother and was initially detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at Kazan airport, where her passports were confiscated.

Kurmasheva, 47, was arrested in Kazan and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent under a punitive Russian law that targets journalists, civil society activists, and others. She's also been charged with spreading falsehoods about the Russian military and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Many critics and rights groups say the so-called foreign agent law is used by the Kremlin to crack down on any dissent. Moscow has also been accused of detaining Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States.

Kurmasheva, who lives in the Czech capital with her husband, Pavel Butorin, who also works for RFE/RL, and their two daughters, aged 12 and 15, has described her prison conditions as poor and said her health has deteriorated as she has been unable to access proper treatment.

Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been held in detention since March 2023 on spying charges both he and the newspaper vehemently deny, saying the 32-year-old was merely doing his job as an accredited reporter when he was arrested.

Gershkovich has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Kurmasheva, however, has not, despite pleas from RFE/RL and Kurmasheva's family.

The designation would mean her case would be assigned to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs in the State Department, raising the political profile of her situation and allowing the Biden administration to allocate more resources to securing her release.

President Vladimir Putin easily won the March presidential election, which independent observers said was neither free nor fair. The vote was the first major election to take place in Russia since Putin launched his full-scale invasion.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/european-lawmakers-to-vote-on-resolution- demanding-release-of-kurmasheva-gershkovich-others-held-in-russia/32920547.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia's S-400 and S-500 vs US-Made Patriot and THAAD: Baseline Comparison

Sputnik News

20240425

Recent military reports by the Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) clearly affirm that the country is steadily crumbling Ukrainian defenses along the front lines of the special op. This fact is due in large part to Russian troops receiving advanced and upgraded weaponry.

Russia's already robust air defenses are to be supplied with additional missile systems, the MoD said in a recent statement. The new and improved systems will play a crucial role in demilitarizing the Kiev regime and ensuring the safety of Russian citizens.

"This year, the troops will receive the first units of the new-generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile system in two modifications - long-range anti-aircraft missile systems and missile defense systems," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted.

Russia's S-400 Triumf (lit. Triumph) is a mobile surface-to-air missile with comprehensive upgrades to its combat predecessor.

S-500 Prometey (lit. Prometheus) is a road-mobile air and missile defense system with new impressive capabilities, such as being able to target space satellites.

A Sputnik

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A record 16.7 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

25 April 2024

Thank you, President, and I also would like to thank UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, OCHA Director Ramesh Rajasingham, and Helen Hayford for your briefings today.



In response, I'd like to make three points:



First, with a record 16.7 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance, effective and sustainable access is a priority. Cross-border aid is a lifeline for over 4 million of these people. So we reiterate our call for the Assad regime to extend consent for cross-border aid access at Bab Al Salam, Bab Al Rai and Bab Al Hawa, without conditions and without arbitrary time limits, and for as long as humanitarian needs demand. Cross-line assistance is important, but it cannot match the scale of the cross-border operation.



Second, women and girls have a critical role to play in Syria's future. It is important that we keep this front and centre of this Council's approach to achieving peace and stability in Syria. This includes supporting the efforts of Syrian women's civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and supporting the participation of women in the political process. This is particularly important given the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women, including the challenge of conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK's five-year, $67 million programme, 'Building Local Resilience in Syria', is enabling the delivery of three groundbreaking programmes supporting women in the labour market and tackling gender-based violence.



Third, we remain steadfast in our support of host countries to manage refugee communities and ensure that refugees' rights are protected. These refugees are prevented from returning home by the actions of the Assad regime. As UNHCR state: Syria is not yet an environment for safe, dignified and voluntary refugee returns.

Finally, at a fragile moment in the region, we urge the regime to ensure that Syria does not contribute further to regional instability. And to instead refocus their efforts on meaningful engagement towards a political settlement that can guarantee the long-term stability that Syrians deserve in line with UNSCR 2254.

We urge all members of the Constitutional Committee to agree a location and convene the ninth meeting of the Committee as soon as possible to progress this effort.

I, thank you.

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Biden signs US$95 billion aid bill that includes funding for Taiwan defense

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2024 02:58 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law an aid package that will provide US$95 billion in funding for military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, foreign media reported.

The package allocates US$8.1 billion for Indo-Pacific security, including US$2 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan and other key allies in the region; US$1.9 billion to replenish defense articles and defense services provided to Taiwan and regional partners; and US$542 million to strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region.

It also provides nearly US$61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, US$26 billion to Israel, and other allocations for humanitarian aid to Gaza and elsewhere.

The bill was passed in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday with a 79-18 vote, easily clearing the 60-vote threshold needed to pass most legislation in the chamber, after a months-long delay in the House of Representatives due to disagreements over the issue of foreign aid.

After signing the bill into law Wednesday, Biden said at a news conference that military weapons and equipment would be sent to Ukraine "within hours."

The package also includes US$1 billion in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, he said.

In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday again expressed appreciation to the U.S. Congress for placing great importance on Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation and the maintenance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In the 45th year of the Taiwan Relations Act, the Congress has again honored its rock-solid commitment to Taiwan's security, MOFA said.

Taiwan will continue to enhance its close cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded nations to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and preserve peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the region, MOFA said.

Meanwhile, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan) on Wednesday applauded the aid package, saying that the "decisive" action reinforces the U.S.' commitment to global leadership and its unwavering support for democracies facing "intimidation from authoritarian regimes."

"We are particularly gratified by the significant support for Taiwan and regional neighbors included in this package," AmCham Taiwan Chairperson Dan Silver said in a statement. "This vital assistance will contribute to regional stability and help sustain the right environment for economic and business growth."

(By Sean Lin and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc

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Lai urges China to engage with Taiwan's 'democratically elected' government

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2024 05:50 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) President-elect Lai Ching-te () on Thursday called on the Chinese authorities to engage with Taiwan's "democratically elected and legitimate government" to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait.

"China needs to be confident and willing to deal with the democratically elected and legitimate government entrusted by the people of Taiwan," Lai, who takes office on May 20, told a press conference where he revealed his national security team, including the new defense and foreign ministers, as well as the head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

"Only then can exchanges across both sides of the Taiwan Strait proceed on the right path," he said at the event in Taipei, contending that he has always been open to engaging in dialogue with the Chinese authorities and promoting mutual understanding.

He went on to warn against Beijing "solely [having] exchanges with the opposition under a certain prerequisite," noting that such a move would neither garner "the support and trust of people" in Taiwan nor bring about a positive development of cross-strait relations.

Lai's comments came about two weeks after former President Ma Ying-jeou (), from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), traveled to China from April 1-11 and met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 10, marking their first meeting since they previously met in Singapore in 2015.

Lai, who concurrently serves as the chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), also said at the party's Central Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday that the leaders of both Taipei and Beijing should show mutual respect for the position the other holds.

"It is the responsibility of the two governing parties across the strait to engage in positive dialogue," Lai said at the meeting.

While the KMT defended Ma's China visit as part of efforts to patch up cross-strait relations and foster more bilateral exchanges, the DPP denounced the trip as "sending the wrong message to the international community."

According to the DPP, Ma has repeatedly echoed Beijing's political propaganda in the name of facilitating peace while refraining from speaking out about China's military coercion against Taiwan.

Ma's trip was followed by that of KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia () on April 18, his second visit to China in about a month.

In addition, the KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi () will lead a delegation of the party's lawmakers to China on Friday.

With the new national security and cross-strait officials announced, how Lai's administration will approach the already strained cross-strait ties is coming under close scrutiny.

At the press conference on Thursday, Lai reiterated his commitment to continue outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen's () policy and implement his "four-pillar" plan in an attempt to maintain the security of Taiwan and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The proposed plan underscores the importance of defense capability, economic security, partnerships with other democracies, and stable and consistent cross-strait policy.

Taiwan will continue to be "a responsible member of the region" and work with the international community to uphold regional peace, stability and prosperity, Lai said, arguing that these actions would serve as Taipei's "gesture of goodwill towards the international community, including China."

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/kb

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New MAC head signals Lai's wish for stable cross-strait ties: Analysts

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2024 07:06 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) The appointment of Chiu Chui-cheng () as head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) sends a message to Beijing that Taiwan's new administration wants to adopt a steady and cautious approach to cross-strait relations, analysts said on Thursday.

Tzeng Wei-feng (), an assistant researcher at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, said the appointment of Chiu, as well as that of incumbent Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan () as head of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) suggested that President-elect Lai Ching-te's () objective was to stabilize cross-strait relations.

He added that the incoming president appears to want to extend a gesture of goodwill towards Beijing by appointing national security officials largely from those in President Tsai Ing-wen's () administration.

This suggests there will not be significant changes to cross-strait relations, Tzeng said.

At a press conference in Taipei on Thursday, Lai announced that Chiu, former deputy head of MAC and current SEF vice chairman, will take over as the head of Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait affairs when the new administration takes office on May 20.

He also announced that Cheng would head the SEF, a semi-official organization set up by the Taiwanese government to assist Taiwanese businesspeople and their families in China, as well as Chinese spouses and students in Taiwan.

Tzeng said that Chiu is well-versed in cross-strait relations and has extensive connections in the cross-strait industrial sector and academia due to his tenure at SEF and previous teaching experience at National Quemoy University in Kinmen County.

Speaking about Cheng, Tzeng noted that he had established a cross-strait affairs group within the Taoyuan City government during his tenure as mayor to promote exchanges between Taoyuan and cities in China.

Meanwhile, National Taiwan Normal University Professor Huang Hsin-hao () said that Lai appointing Chiu and Cheng showed a desire for stability and a willingness to follow Tsai's approach to cross-strait relations.

However, the specialist in Chinese Communist Party politics added that the appointments would have little impact on the direction of cross-strait relations.

The key lies in Lai's inaugural speech on May 20, during which Beijing will watch closely how he speaks on cross-strait relations, Huang added.

Meanwhile, Hsu Shu-po (), the head of the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China, said that both Chiu and Cheng garnered a profound understanding of how the industry sector operates during their respective tenures as the deputy head of the MAC and as vice premier.

While the current economic interdependence between Taiwan and China sits around 30 percent -- with many factories owned by Taiwanese businesses located across the strait -- the duo is well-prepared to handle cross-strait affairs, Hsu said.

(By Lee Ya-wen and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/kb

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Newly-appointed Taiwan's top China affairs chief touted as 'pragmatic'

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2024 02:50 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) President-elect Lai Ching-te () on Thursday touted Chiu Chui-cheng (), his newly-appointed top China affairs chief, as a "rational" and "pragmatic" figure who is capable of advancing work related to cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

"I believe Chiu Chui-cheng will definitely be able to steadily promote work related to cross-strait relations," Lai said at a Taipei press conference where he named eight more key members of his new administration, including the head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

Chiu, the 58-year-old Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Chairman and former MAC deputy head, has been described by his colleagues as a "rational, pragmatic, and responsible" figure, Lai noted.

After Lai and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim () assume office on May 20, Chiu will head the MAC, Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait affairs, taking over from incumbent MAC head Chiu Tai-san ().

Chiu Chui-cheng currently serves as the vice chairman and secretary-general of the SEF, a semi-official organization set up by the Taiwanese government to assist Taiwanese businesspeople and their families in China, as well as Chinese spouses and students in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Lai also announced that Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan () has been picked to head the SEF, succeeding the incumbent chairman David Lee ().

Lai said the 56-year-old has been heavily involved in coordinating efforts across different ministries since assuming the role of the Cabinet's vice premier in January 2023.

In the face of "the current unique situation across the Taiwan Strait," Lai went on, it is hoped that Cheng will apply his ability to coordinate and extensive experience working in both the central and local governments to promote a "positive development" in cross-strait relations.

Cheng's previous posts included head of the now-disbanded Government Information Office under the Executive Yuan from January 2006 to April 2007. He was later elected Taoyuan Mayor in December 2014 and remained in that role for eight years until December 2022.

Chiu Chui-cheng joined the SEF in February last year. Before that, he served as the MAC deputy head and spokesperson for more than six years, dating back to May 20, 2016, when President Tsai Ing-wen () began her first term.

During his previous tenure as MAC spokesperson, Chiu often maintained a tough stance on cross-strait issues, especially when speaking about Taiwan's sovereignty and interests.

In March 2022, Chiu said at a MAC press conference that the Taiwan government neither accepts nor recognizes Beijing's one-China principle, which claims Taiwan as part of Chinese territory. He added that to accept the "1992 consensus" is to deny the existence of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name.

Any attempt to isolate Taiwan from the international community or exert political and economic pressure on the country will be rejected by the people of Taiwan, Chiu said at the time.

The statement was in response to remarks by then-Chinese Premier Li Keqiang () that Beijing was committed to pushing for a general strategy to "resolve the Taiwan issue in the new era" and insisting on the "one China" principle and "1992 consensus" during the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

Li stated that China "firmly opposes any separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence and interference from foreign powers" and continues to promote reunification with Taiwan.

The "1992 consensus" was a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of Taiwan and the Chinese government. It has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgement by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means, but Beijing has never publicly recognized the second part of the KMT's interpretation.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has never acknowledged the "1992 consensus," arguing that Beijing does not recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan.

On March 23 this year, Chiu gave a talk at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, stating that under Xi Jinping's () presidency, China has undergone several policy reforms, two of which in particular have had a significant impact.

Chiu said the first reform was the shift from collective to centralized leadership, and the second was the surge in nationalism, which led to policies such as "wolf warrior diplomacy" and a focus on military power.

Chiu is also an associate professor at the Department of International and Mainland China Affairs at National Quemoy University in Kinmen County, where he has been teaching courses related to cross-strait affairs since 2008.

Specializing in cross-strait economic and trade relations, Hong Kong and Macao studies, and international political economy, Chiu obtained his PhD from the Graduate Institute of Political Science at the National Taiwan Normal University in 2007, with his thesis titled "Formulating the Peaceful Integration Patterns across the Taiwan Strait."

(By Sunny Lai, Teng Pei-ju and Lee Ya-wen)

Enditem/kb

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Learning history of Chinese nation is Taiwan compatriots' right: mainland spokesperson

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:55, April 25, 2024

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday stressed that it is the rights of Taiwan compatriots to receive education on Chinese culture and learn about the history of the Chinese nation.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry concerning multiple non-governmental educational institutes criticizing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' educational policies in Taiwan.

In an attempt to pursue "Taiwan independence" and "de-sinicization," the DPP authorities, despite strong opposition on the island, have insisted on their so-called "education reform" and "Taiwan independence" curriculum, deliberately distorting the Chinese history and trying to cut the cultural ties across the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said.

This has not only led to a confused understanding of history and distorted national identity among young people on the island but also further damaged the cross-Strait relations and raised hostility between the two sides, she said.

Zhu stressed that both compatriots from the mainland and Taiwan are part of the Chinese nation and Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeblood of the Chinese nation. It is hoped that all Taiwan compatriots can be guardians, inheritors and promoters of the Chinese culture, Zhu said.

"We also hope that Taiwan compatriots come to the mainland to search for their cultural and family roots, and make up for the lessons they did not take in Taiwan," she said.

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The Thai-style spicy oyster served at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Kao soi Chuckroll curry puff, left, caramelized shrimp with lotus root salad, center, and Thai coconut pancake with Caviart served at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Servers Chiranda Singhlor, right, and Marcus Cole, left, behind the bar at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

A chef with experience at Michelin-starred restaurants in Thailand will soon serve the longest Thai tasting menu in the Bay Area at an ambitious new San Francisco restaurant.

Hed 11 at the Kimpton Hotel Enso, located at 1800 Sutter St. in Japantown, will go beyond the ubiquitous a la carte pad thai and green curry. Instead, it will offer a seasonal 11-course dinner tasting menu ($169) with diverse regional dishes that are hard to find even in Bangkok, according to owner Billie Wannajaro. The restaurant, opening for dinner on May 3, is the second from Wannajaro. Last year, she launched more casual Hed VeryThai in the Financial District, which the Chronicle ranked among San Franciscos best affordable restaurants.

Thai native chef Piriya Saint Boonprasan, an alum of Michelin-starred Bangkok restaurants Bo.Lan and Saawaan, is developing the tasting menus, which will change seasonally. Boonprasan has been testing dishes at Hed VeryThai, developing themes like an all-seafood tasting menu and another that shines a spotlight on southern Thai dishes. Boonprasan has also better acquainted himself with purveyors at local farmers markets over the last year to plan for and test future tasting menus.

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It took months of development to launch the menu, which Wannajaro calls a culinary tour through Thailands diverse and rugged landscape. Boonprasan and Wannajaro tested the concept at a preview dinner at the FiDi restaurant earlier this year. A positive reception to the dishes was confirmation they were on the right track, they said.

Head chef Piriya "Saint" Boonprasan in the dining room at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (right) The Grilled Hokkaido scalllop coconut curry noodle dish served at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Despite enviable access to high-quality meat and produce in the Bay Area, some ingredients will have to be imported. Wannajaro said the restaurant will import a specific type of Chinese shrimp paste and spices for house curries. Most vitally, chiles from Thailand will be imported.

Its important to get the real Thai taste, Wannajaro said. The handcrafted tableware is also imported from the Lampang province in northern Thailand.

The tasting menu on opening day will begin with an oyster dressed with herbs, green Thai chiles and whiskey infused with herbs in-house. This item is inspired by a popular preparation in Southern Thailand, where Wannajaro is originally from. Other items will include rice noodles and Hokkaido scallops in coconut curry, as well as a fried shrimp dish served in golden cups  a recipe inspired by the Thai royal family, Wannajaro said.

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The middle courses, from about the fourth to the ninth dish, will be the restaurants take on khao gaeng  casual Thai meals made up of stews and curries accompanied by a bowl filled with three types of rice. Expect a southern-style curry with young banana and chicken; spicy mango salad with catfish; and a grilled Wagyu steak with a spicy-tart jaew sauce to cut through the beefs richness.

Thai custard cheesecake served at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

The menu will close with sweets: fruits in house syrup and a Thai custard cheesecake with berries and fried onion.

While the eclectic tasting menus will be the main attraction, the restaurant is planning to offer less elaborate lunch starting at 11 a.m. Wannajaro said the midday menu can include a la carte khao gaeng meal sets like the ones at Hed VeryThai. Offerings at the downtown restaurant often change, but can include chicken in massaman curry, sweet butternut squash with Thai basil or caramelized pork belly with pineapple. These come with a light tom yum soup loaded with mushrooms and a bowl filled with three colors of rice, similar to the dinner tasting menu. Because the restaurant is located inside the Kimpton Hotel Enso, management requires the restaurant to offer breakfast, which will lean traditionally American and western with offerings like egg dishes, sandwiches and coffee.

The restaurant was originally scheduled to open in late March, in time for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that takes place each spring in Japantown, but was delayed. It takes over the longtime place of beloved shabu shabu restaurant Mums, which operated for 40 years and earned a Legacy Business designation from the city. The restaurant also joins another high-end Thai restaurant nearby, Michelin-starred Nari from chef Pim Techamuanvivit, which offers an a la carte menu as well as a chefs pick menu.

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Head chef Piriya "Saint" Boonprasan preparing the Grilled Hokkaido scalllop coconut curry noodle dish at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (right)The Smoked dry squish soup with grilled mushroom served at the new Hed 11 Thai restaurant opening at the Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Once it opens, Hed 11 will accommodate 49 seated diners in a space decorated with dark tones and tropical flair. Beer, wine and Thai-inspired cocktails will be available.

Hed 11. Opening Friday, May 3. 1800 Sutter St., San Francisco. Dinner 5-10 p.m., last seating at 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. instagram.com/hed_eleven

Update: A previous version of this story misspelled Piriya Saint Boonprasans last name.
Mainland to expand use of travel permits for Taiwan residents

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:17, April 25, 2024

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland will further facilitate the use of mainland travel permits for Taiwan residents, a State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said at a regular press conference that Fujian Province had provided convenience for Taiwan compatriots holding travel permits regarding travel, finance, telecommunications and other areas.

This is the outcome of a series of entry-exit policies that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, aimed at boosting personnel exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan and facilitating the daily lives of Taiwan compatriots in Fujian.

Since the beginning of this year, about 90,000 five-year travel permits and 11,000 single-entry travel permits have been issued by authorities in Fujian to Taiwan compatriots, an increase of 56.4 percent and 200 percent, respectively, from the same period last year, Zhu said.

During this period, ports of entry and exit in Fujian have witnessed 230,000 inbound trips made by Taiwan compatriots, up 2.6 times year on year, she added.

Fujian has set up special entry-exit service counters for individuals and businesses from Taiwan regarding document application, settlement procedures, and policy inquiries, Zhu said.

The "12367" immigration service hotline also offers service in the Minnan dialect, which is widely spoken in Fujian and Taiwan, to offer convenience to Taiwan compatriots, according to Zhu.

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Chinese fighter jets could reach Taiwan Presidential Office in minutes: expert

Taiwan's defense ministry reported on April 21, Chinese fighter jets were only 76 km from Keelung outside Taipei.

By RFA Staff 2024.04.25 -- A Taiwanese military expert has warned that Chinese military aircraft are now flying closer to Taipei on a regular basis and could reach the Presidential Office within minutes.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Chang Yen-ting said that, according to Ministry of National Defense's data, on Apr. 21, two Chinese fighter jets were spotted 41 nautical miles (76 kilometers) away from Keelung, a port city just 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) north of Taipei.

"That means they would need only around five minutes to reach the Presidential Office," Chang told Radio Free Asia.

Taiwan's military jets would take at least six minutes to take off in order to intercept the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, the retired general turned military expert said.

"The Taiwanese air force won't be able to deal with it effectively," Chang added.

According to Taiwan defense ministry's daily reports, Chinese warplanes and vessels are now crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait - which serves as the de-facto boundary between Taiwan and mainland China - on a daily basis.

Experts say Beijing has established a "new normal" in the Strait to exert pressure on Taipei.

Responding to the general's warning, Taiwan's defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng was quoted by the official Central News Agency as saying that the Taiwanese military has a regular intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system in place precisely for the purpose of preventing such scenarios from happening. He did not elaborate further.

President-elect Lai Ching-te announced Thursday the names of ministers of defense and foreign affairs among new posts in his cabinet. Lai will be sworn in officially on May 20 after winning the election in January.

His party - the Democratic Progressive Party - has been in power since 2016 and before that, between 2000-2008.

The current National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Wellington Koo, a former lawyer, will replace Chiu Kuo-cheng as minister of national defense.

Former Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung will become foreign minister, replacing Joseph Wu, who has been appointed NSC secretary-general.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Apr. 25, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/04/25

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Wednesday to, Thursday Apr. 24-25

2.PLA activitiesis

10 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.

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Britain Open To Deeper Partnership With Kazakhstan, Cameron Tells RFE/RL

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service April 25, 2024

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told RFE/RL that his country is open to building a deeper partnership with Kazakhstan.

In an interview in Astana on April 25, Cameron said that while preserving its ongoing ties and cooperation with Russia and China, Kazakhstan also has "the choice to have a deeper partnership with Britain."

"I think we already have a great partnership on education, on business, on the economy, on trade, political cooperation. I've seen that growth since I first came here 13 years ago. The point is, we are a voluntary partner, a choice you can make if you want to make that choice," Cameron said.

Cameron also said that he and Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev met the previous day and discussed the Kazakh government's current efforts to return illegally obtained assets kept abroad back to Kazakhstan, emphasizing that "it's vital that we work with you to try and find that money and return it. "

Britain is one of the first countries in the world that introduced what's called unexplained wealth orders, he said. This allows an examination of the origins of someone's wealth, and if it was stolen, "we can take it back and return it," he added.

He admitted that it was "not working as well as I'd like" but said Britain is "committed to working with you to make this happen."

Britain introduced unexplained wealth orders (UWO) in 2017 to give U.K. law enforcement a means of compelling targeted individuals to reveal the sources of any riches that could not be accounted for. Under a UWO, Britain's National Crime Agency can apply to seize property when a suspected corrupt foreign official, or member of their family, cannot identify a legitimate source of the funds used for buying it.

Cameron also said that Britain could play an important role in the implementation of Kazakhstan's plans to build nuclear power plants.

"We've been making small nuclear reactors for many years because they've been in our submarines. And I think there is potential for companies like Rolls-Royce to produce these small nuclear reactors for other countries," Cameron added.

Cameron held separate talks on April 24 with Toqaev and Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtileu. The sides discussed regional security, cooperation, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said.

An agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation between the two nations was signed during the Cameron-Nurtileu talks.

Earlier this week, Cameron also held talks with top officials in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. He is also scheduled to visit Mongolia during his ongoing diplomatic tour of Central Asia.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-britain-cameron- interview-rferl-talks-toqaev/32920596.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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PM call with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy: 25 April 2024

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this morning.

25 April 2024

The Prime Minister spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this morning.

The Prime Minister reflected on his visit to Europe this week and the leaders discussed recent visits by the Home Secretary James Cleverly and Foreign Secretary David Cameron to Italy, highlighting the strength of the UK-Italy bilateral relationship.

The leaders discussed the magnitude of the illegal migration challenge and underlined the importance of European collaboration on tackling this issue.

Both leaders said they look forward to discussing the shared global challenge of illegal migration at the upcoming G7 Leaders' Summit in Italy in June and the European Political Community meeting in the UK in July.

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Minister for Defence Procurement speech at Strategic Command Conference

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, delivered a speech on procurement reforms at the UK Strategic Command Annual Conference in London.

25 April 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the first speech I've made since Sunday, which was my anniversary as Minister of State for Defence Procurement. With one year in the job, I don't know if I've actually achieved IOC, certainly not FOC, I imagine.

But with the help of Strategic Command, I've introduced a brand new procurement model which embodies both of them.

On the subject of procurement reform, I'm very conscious that I've caused many of you to have a busy start to the year and following our announcement this week to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and increase support for Ukraine with additional half a billion pounds. It is going to get an awful lot busier. So I wanted to come here today to thank all of you in person, all the various parts of Strategic Command that have helped us to deliver our new pan-defence Integrated Procurement Model and our new Defence Drone Strategy, in particular, our capability directorates and our Integration Design Authority in Strat Com.

Now, whilst I know most of you are familiar with the fine print of these new strategies, and certainly should be, and the fact that we've committed to invest at least 4.6 billion pounds in uncrewed technologies over the next decade, and a further A325 million to deliver over 10,000 drones to Ukraine's Armed Forces, I'm conscious not all of our international friends will be. And because our national security is built on our alliances, I want to give an overview of the changes we've enacted. And to respond to the inevitable commentary that we've heard it all before. That change won't actually happen in practice. In fact, I've seen copious lists on previous procurement reforms listed on social media. The change is coming.

This is really what I want to stress. We are making tangible progress. I'm pleased to say that if we return to the specific promises I made, in my parliamentary statement on February the 28th, announcing our new Integrated Procurement Model, change is already happening. Indeed, it's worth stressing, change was already happening before with rapid procurement into Ukraine from DE&S in Abbey Wood. More investment in our procurement people, that's particularly our SROs. Another acronym, Senior Responsible Owners, for those who don't know, and an overall reduction of one year procurement timelines, so good things were happening. But in my February statement, I acknowledged that the reputation of MOD procurement has been seriously damaged in recent years, by delays to high profile programmes such as Ajax, and actually many before that, and under successive governments. And above all, putting all that to one side, the reality is that our adversaries are progressing their technological development at such a pace that we have no choice but to reform procurement, or we will lose military competitiveness, the edge as you're calling it today.

So in addressing that age old question in my February statement, how to reform defence procurement, I set out five key areas for actual change. First, to be more joined up.

We all know that we have and require an integrated concept of operations, that the modern battle space needs a multidomain approach where all our forces can talk to each other and share data and yet, till now, we have had a bottom up, delegated procurement model.

The challenge here is that when financial pressures arise, it becomes hard to deliver affordability, with the unintended and inadvertent consequence that results in single service competition, seeking to get programmes on contract, knowing that funding is constrained. This is what we call over-programming. It is, dare I say, the bAte noire, of our procurement system, and is typically addressed by the very outcome we want to avoid, delay as programmes are inevitably shifted to the right.

So I set out and intend to deliver a more integrated approach. In my speech, I gave a very specific example of where this was already happening. And I quote, "a key example will be our pending munition strategy, a top priority given our need to replenish weapons stocks to warfighting levels, pan-defence prioritisation of munitions procurement will not only be driven by the hard reality of the greatest threats we face, but the scale of demand seeking required for always on production, the optimal outcome for both military and industry."

So for those who are sceptical about our procurement reforms making an actual difference, fast forward to this week, and the Prime Minister confirm that our move to 2.5% on defence would enable an additional A10 billion over 10 years for munitions strategy, delivering the very always on production that I promised.

This strategy was developed with pan-defence prioritisation at its core, but its results will enhance the capabilities of each of our frontline commands.

Whatever our budget, 2.5% or more, we will always need to prioritise and prioritisation will always be challenging. Working in a joined-up fashion makes it much more deliverable.

The second priority of our new reforms is to introduce new checks and balances, guarding against the problems that have bedevilled past programmes. Strategic Command will have a particularly significant role here, with their Integration Design Authority now overseeing the procurement system. They will have a watchdog role, ensuring programmes are integrated where appropriate, in particular, a positive role to drive opportunities, such as ensuring programmes take advantage of AI. And of course, General Jim Hockenhull will say more on than that shortly.

But when it comes to new checks and balances, and I want to say you know, hand on heart, if you like, from my experience over this past year and someone who has seen the full gamut of procurement submissions from the department, if there is one element of the reform that could yet have the most telling impact, this is what I have termed the second opinion. This is about utilising the expertise we have in our enterprise to set up procurement programmes for success. From the outset, by properly kicking the tyres on requirements and challenging assumptions. Again, this is now underway. The nascent programmes will be standing up a new model where I receive independent advice direct to ministers to set alongside the military's requirements. This will include the views on that programme of our Dstl scientists to ask those technological questions that our current system would not necessarily pose. Bearing in mind how the US have recently cancelled their FARA programme, future attack reconnaissance aircraft, dropping a crewed helicopter to consider an uncrewed version. This is where I would expect such questions of technological viability to be probed.

I also want this advice to include the clearest guidance from DE&S on industrial options, that key political question in many ways, whether to go off the shelf, sovereign, or somewhere in between, and crucially, in a system infamous for procuring the shiny platform without necessarily having a plan for the boring but essential enablers to go with it. This advice would include full transparency on costs, not just the estimated cost of the platform or capability itself, but all the enablers that go with it. If you're buying a ship, you have to tell us if the dock needs to be bigger to accommodate it. We need to know.

The third priority is exportability. I want to strengthen the position of exportability and acquisition not just to boost industrial resilience, given the vulnerability of businesses that rely solely on the UK market, also because I believe consideration of international demand guards against what we call these overly bespoke requirements setting practices. I think actually the word we like in defence is 'exquisite'. But I genuinely think that if you are prioritising exportability from the outset, you reduce the chance to be driven by these overly exquisite requirements. Again, we are now delivering that in practice. Our recent next stage of the new medium helicopter bid has given a strong weighting on exports. I want this to become the norm. And our reformed cross government defence exports committee, which sat again recently, has endorsed the process of internal change that will enable us across departments to ensure exportability is considered in depth from the outset with acquisition.

The fourth priority is to develop and procure the best kit and be more efficient, involving our partners from industry and capability design from day one. And we will build constant feedback loops with them so that they can make the most of our latest information from war-gaming exercises and the frontline, again, we are already delivering that practice with deep engagement with industry at secret, now commonplace, and there's much more of that to come, I'm pleased to say.

And fifth and finally, we are wholeheartedly embracing spiral development. So that we get great kit into the hands of our service personnel as soon as it's ready to have an impact on the battlefield, knowing that we can improve it further as requirements change and technologies advance. Again, change is happening in practice.

We've published our spiral development playbook for MOD personnel. And this stresses how our default approach is not just spiral, but instead of elaborate IOC and FOC, replacing them with minimum deployable capability. As I put it, basically in a nutshell, to the point where the equipment can be used if the balloon goes up. And once again, this is happening in practice. We recently announced the procurement of our ground-breaking DragonFire laser, by driving it to minimum deployable capability instead of IOC, FOC, very elaborate, we are knocking years off the procurement timeline and want it on our naval ships in 2027. Anyone who knows procurement in the MOD, that timeline, dare I say is the speed of light, literally.

But this is crucially about prioritising military risk against all the other considerations we face and maximising pace of delivery. And on the matter of pace in my February statement, I confirmed that our reformed procurement approach will set new timescales of three and five years for digital programmes and platforms respectively, and again, we are delivering in practice.

If Ukraine has shown us anything in the land domain, it is that artillery remains critical. In my February statement, I promised that our enduring mobile fires platform would be accelerated to ensure it fitted within the new five-year target. And I was therefore absolutely delighted that yesterday the Prime Minister and I were in Germany to confirm that we will be procuring the highly capable Boxer-based RCH 155. And aiming for this to be in service before the end of the decade and within the five-year timeframe.

Finally, I said in my February statement that drones would be a pipe cleaner for the Integrated Procurement Model. I set out in our Defence Drone Strategy, also in February, that I believed uncrewed systems with a future of mass in warfare, giving us a unique opportunity to augment and enhance existing capabilities and platforms and add new forms of strike ISR and lift capability in their own right.

So I was delighted that the Prime Minister put a big emphasis on science, innovation and R&D in his defence spending announcement earlier this week. And from next year, we will ring fence 5% of our defence budget for R&D. That will be a huge boost for those of you in this room, working to develop new capabilities. And with our new Defence Innovation Agency, I hope that this gives us the chance to bring greater cohesion to our R&D efforts. Because it's brilliant news that this week we have heard A75 billion of extra funding for defence, but taxpayers will expect us to spend it as effectively as possible. That means procurement reform and it means ensuring more of our R&D spend actually leads to frontline capability being pulled through.

So ladies and gentlemen, the reforms that we've started are taking effect. Together with our new bigger defence budget, they can help the UK and our allies retain our military edge for years to come. With the right balance of capabilities, our advantage coming from technology, our mass coming from our alliances and uncrewed systems and our effectiveness coming from integration. We can maintain a world class fighting machine. This is an incredibly exciting prospect and I commend you for your work to build it.

Thank you very much.

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April 25, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

U.S.-led Ukraine Coalition to Meet Amid Renewed Momentum

The U.S.-led coalition of allies that have joined together in backing Ukraine's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion will mark the two-year anniversary as nearly 50 countries convene this week.

The 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will host virtually from the Pentagon on Friday, comes amid a renewed fervor with Congress' recent passing of the $95 billion national security supplemental measure.

"We're going into the contact group with new energy and momentum," a senior defense official said today in previewing the meeting. "With the supplemental, the United States has reaffirmed its leadership in supporting Ukraine, and at the same time we are recognizing allies and partners who are asserting their leadership roles as well."

The final supplemental funding bill includes $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine in addition to urgent assistance for Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists, along with humanitarian support for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and support for key regional partners in the Indo-Pacific.

President Joe Biden signed the measure into law on Wednesday.

In his remarks at the White House ahead of the signing, Biden underscored the imperative to back Ukraine's defenders who have continued to defy Russia since the country launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

He said Ukraine continues to maintain the "skill and will to win," and underscored the United States' commitment to quickly deploy much needed military assistance to Ukraine's front lines.

"In the next few hours a literally, the few hours a we're going to begin sending in equipment to Ukraine for air defense munitions, for artillery, for rocket systems and armored vehicles," Biden said.

The Pentagon announced its first assistance package under the new funding soon after the bill was signed.

The package, which is valued at up to $1 billion, is specifically aimed at giving Ukraine the ability to regain the initiative on the battlefield. It includes key capabilities to include air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and antitank weapons.

The announcement marks the 56th drawdown of military equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

In previewing the upcoming meeting of the UDCG, the defense official said the latest package adds to the flood of support for Ukraine by the broader coalition.

"Collectively, members of the contact group have committed more than $89 billion in security assistance since February of 2022," the official said.

"In recent weeks, we've seen allies and partners continue to step up," the official said. "For example, we've seen Czech Republic's initiative to procure hundreds of thousands of artillery shells from third nations. We've seen Germany's decision to donate another Patriot system and its initiative to donate urgent air defense donations. And we've also seen the U.K.'s announcement of its largest single package of military equipment."

Beyond providing Ukraine with direct military assistance, the UDCG has undertaken initiatives aimed at bolstering Ukraine's long-term defense through the formation of targeted capability coalitions.

Thirteen members of the contact group are leading eight separate capability coalitions designed to drive Ukraine's long-term force development. Those coalitions focus on critical capabilities ranging from air defense to artillery.

Several allies have also signed long-term bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, indicating the coalition's commitment to Ukraine's success well into the future.

"When Secretary Austin first convened the contact group, he said it reflected a galvanized world," the official said in previewing the upcoming meeting. "Two years later, that's still true."

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April 25, 2024

By Matthew Howard, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment

National Armaments Directors Maintain Urgency in Support for Ukraine

Ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group's second anniversary, National Armaments Directors from UDCG member nations, the European Union and NATO gathered for the 11th time last week in Brussels.

"We're all seeing how urgent the situation in Ukraine has become, and as [Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III] emphasized at the recent session of the NATO-Ukraine Council, we must continue to push for immediate, concerted action on Ukraine's priority requirements," said William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. "The National Armaments Directors are uniquely positioned to operationalize the guidance set forth by the UDCG at the ministerial level, and we are not a and cannot a let our foot off the gas."

Focused on synchronizing international procurement, production and sustainment efforts, LaPlante co-chairs the forum alongside his Ukrainian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Ivan Havryliuk. Nearly 50 nations and multinational organizations participated in the session.

Defense officials said the group continues to identify and deliver solutions for Ukraine's most pressing requirements in key capability areas a including ground-based, long-range fires; air defense systems; and maintenance and sustainment.

"Over the last year, nations have made vital commitments to provide capabilities to Ukraine and the NADs have likewise done a tremendous job getting the appropriate contracts in place," LaPlante said. "But we're at a point now where we need to be measuring the output of those efforts a and that means deliveries. As new and expanded production lines become fully operational, it's imperative we're making those commitments reality, and quickly at that."

During the session, the undersecretary praised increases in co-development and co-production ventures a such as production of Patriot guidance enhanced missiles, known as GEM-Ts, in Germany a and called on attendees to replicate the approach.

"Current global demand far exceeds current capacity, so any effort that is enabling economies of scale, production expansion, and the acceleration of capability delivery is welcome," he said.

Earlier this year, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency awarded a $5.6 billion contract to support the procurement of up to 1,000 GEM-T missiles by multiple European nations.

In the U.S., defense officials have said that production of 155 mm artillery ammunition recently surpassed 30,000 rounds per month. Through the opening of a new production facility in Mesquite, Texas, in May and other expansion efforts, output is expected to reach nearly 70,000 rounds per month by the end of year, the officials said. Funding included in the most recent national security supplemental signed by President Joe Biden on April 24 will enable production expansion beyond 100,000 rounds per month.

The security supplemental, worth roughly $95 billion in total, includes more than $60 billion for support to Ukraine. Following its passage, DOD announced the Biden Administration's 56th tranche of equipment to be provided from DOD inventories to Ukraine since August 2021. This Presidential Drawdown Authority package has an estimated value of $1 billion and includes capabilities to support what a defense official characterized as Ukraine's most urgent requirements, including air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and antitank weapons.

The sustainment of forces and systems already donated to Ukraine remains equally important, officials said. During the meeting, leaders from the Ukraine Logistics Command, Security Assistance Group-Ukraine and International Donor Coordination Center provided an update on the maintenance and logistics requirements to keep capabilities in the fight, as well as efforts to reconstitute forces and build additional units.

"Ukraine is at a critical juncture, and anything we can do to increase mission capable rates will increase combat power and operational readiness," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment Christopher Lowman. "Even small percentage improvements in these areas have a direct and significant impact on the battlefield. We must continue to do more."

Defense officials said the National Armaments Directors remain focused on locating, producing, and provisioning spare parts; enabling equipment such as generators and handling and diagnostics equipment; and subject matter experts to assist with training, telemaintenance and regional maintenance, repair and overhaul, defense officials said. This includes increasing the availability of technical data packages and translated technical manuals to enable repair closer to the point of need.

In support of Ukraine's long-term success, the group is also augmenting the UDCG's capability coalitions established at the ministerial level. For the first time, armaments directors from those nations leading capability coalitions provided updates and initial areas for direct engagement.

"If you want to get things done, you have to involve the [National Armaments Directors]," LaPlante said, "and that's one of the primary reasons Secretary Austin asked me to convene this forum in support of the UDCG. His leadership has been extraordinary in pulling together this unprecedented group, and we will continue to drive action in any and every way we can."

Since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States has committed more than $44.9 billion in security assistance. The Department of Defense has obligated on contract more than $13.6 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and more than $19.1 billion in additional funds to replenish equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks under Presidential Drawdown Authority.

Austin established the UDCG in 2022 to ensure that Ukraine has the capabilities that it needs to defend its people from Russian aggression and take back its sovereign territory. Together, UDCG nations have committed more than $89 billion in total security assistance to Ukraine. The group will convene for the 21st time on April 26.

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Minister Tavio visits Kiev to support reconstruction of Ukraine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press releases, 25.4.2024

Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio visited Kiev on 25 April.

During his visit, Minister Tavio met Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko and Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov. The Ministers discussed Finland's support for Ukraine, Ukraine's reconstruction needs and future cooperation between the countries.

Finnish companies and key actors, such as EastCham Finland, Finnfund and Business Finland, participated in the meetings along with Minister Tavio. The visit showcased Finnish technological know-how that can be used to promote the reconstruction of Ukraine and the participation of Finnish companies in the reconstruction market.

"Finland will support Ukraine as long as necessary. Ukraine will need our extensive, long-term support to repair damage caused by Russia's ongoing aggression. Finnish companies are interested in various areas of reconstruction, including technical planning, the energy sector, the clean transition, the environment and telecommunications," says Minister Tavio.

During his visit, Minister Tavio announced that Finland would provide EUR 2.5 million in funding for the work of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Ukraine in 2024-2027. The support will be used to assess environmental damage caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, to plan repair measures and to develop Ukraine's environmental administration. The support will complement Finland's work as a co-chair of the working group on environmental safety of Ukraine's Peace Formula. Minister Tavio also discussed Finland's development cooperation and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine with Denise Brown, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine.

"Ukraine is Finland's biggest partner in development cooperation. We support reforms in Ukrainian education and environmental sector and developments in the rule of law on the country's path towards the European Union," Minister Tavio says.

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Moscow Mechanism experts present report on Ukraine to OSCE Permanent Council

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

25 April 2024

The OSCE Moscow Mechanism mission of experts undertaken by Professor Veronika BAlkovA, Dr. Cecilie Hellestveit and Dr. ElAna A teinerte presented their findings to the OSCE Permanent Council on 25 April 2024, collected in the report entitled 'Report on Violations and Abuses of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, related to the Arbitrary Deprivation of Liberty of Ukrainian Civilians by the Russian Federation'.

The three experts were selected after 45 OSCE participating States, following consultation with Ukraine, invoked the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism on 29 February 2024 to "build upon previous findings and establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments, violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, associated with or resulting from the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation; and to collect, consolidate, and analyze this information with a view to offer recommendations, as well as provide the information to relevant accountability mechanisms, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction".

The Mechanism, established by all OSCE participating States in 1991, allows for one or more participating States to request ODIHR to "inquire of another participating State whether it would agree to invite a mission of experts to address a particular, clearly defined question on its territory relating to the human dimension".

The Permanent Council is one of the OSCE's main decision-making bodies, and convenes each week in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and make decisions on future activities.

The observations of the mission of experts are available here.

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Letter from China: Breathing new life into old neighborhood

Xinhua) 10:48, April 26, 2024

CHONGQING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- If you only have a few hours to explore Chongqing, a bustling metropolis in southwest China, and you're eager to soak in its diverse atmosphere, I recommend a visit to Minzhucun.

Within just a year, this neighborhood has swiftly become a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. On my recent visit to Minzhucun, I saw how urban renewal efforts have breathed new life into the decades-old community.

As I wandered through its labyrinthine streets, weaving past traditional residential buildings, cozy eateries, and chic cafes, I encountered a fascinating blend of "old" and "new:" groups of elderly residents engaged in passionate conversations on the sidewalks, while, just a few meters away, young visitors posed for photos against backdrops tagged as "must-visit" on social platforms.

This is the unique charm of Minzhucun, boasting both the nostalgia of the old city and trendy spots.

The community has nearly 20,000 residents. Nestled in the urban district of Jiulongpo, it spans about 580 mu (38.67 hectares).

Once known primarily as a thriving enclave for workers and their families from a prominent state-owned factory, Minzhucun faced a deteriorating living environment since the factory's relocation in the early 2000s. In recent years, it was overshadowed by surrounding commercial skyscrapers.

For Chen Dairong, a 75-year-old retiree who has called Minzhucun home for three decades, it was painful to see the neighborhood's decline. "Minzhucun was left behind by the times," Chen said.

But change arrived with the launch of an urban renewal project in late 2021, as part of nationwide endeavors to give outdated neighborhoods new looks.

In April 2023, the first phase of the project was completed, involving nearly 1,000 households residing in over 50 buildings. It had seen the removal of illegal structures, the refurbishment of residential buildings, and the relocation of utility lines underground. Streets were lined with new benches, pathways were improved, and green spaces proliferated.

Yet, the renewal of Minzhucun went beyond modernized amenities. Preserving the area's heritage also mattered.

One thing distinguishes Minzhucun from other neighborhoods: its Soviet-style red brick buildings dating back to the 1950s, a legacy of Chongqing's industrial past.

To honor the history and the shared memories of Minzhucun residents, the project preserved the buildings and repurposed some as an exhibition hall to commemorate the community's history. New commercial buildings were also constructed in the same style, adding to the neighborhood's distinctive character.

Meanwhile, the traditional eateries that had long been a draw for local food enthusiasts were invited to remain, benefiting from improved facilities and management.

"We are glad to live in a better environment, especially to see Minzhucun's cherished elements have been preserved," Chen said.

As night descended, Minzhucun was illuminated by a tapestry of commercial lights and the warm glow of household lamps. Residents and crowds coming from afar, like me, mingled. I was filled with a sense of belonging that transcended mere tourism.

Again, this is the unique charm of Minzhucun.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ukraine welcomes long-delayed aid package from U.S.

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:15, April 25, 2024

KIEV, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday thanked U.S. President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress for approving a long-delayed support package for Ukraine worth about 61 billion U.S. dollars.

"We completed this half-year path. Regardless of what anyone says, we are gaining the support we need to continue protecting lives from Russian attacks," Zelensky wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Over the past few days, Ukraine has been working with the United States on all levels to include the exact types of weapons that Ukraine requires in the first disbursement of the military aid from the support package, which are worth 1 billion dollars, Zelensky said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal described the aid as "an important signal of support" for Kiev and voiced the hope that the supplies of weapons to Ukraine could be resumed this week.

Earlier in the day, Biden signed legislation envisaging the allocation of 61 billion dollars in aid for Ukraine, which was approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Last week, Shmyhal said the package includes 49.9 billion dollars for military assistance.

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US secretly shipped long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in recent weeks for use against Russia: Official

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 25 April 2024 9:17 AM

The United States has shipped long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in recent weeks for use against Russia, an American official says, as President Joe Biden signed into law legislation that authorizes more than $60 billion in war assistance to the ex-Soviet republic.

The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles were included in a $300 million military aid package for Kiev that Biden approved back on March 12, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed US official as saying.

The newly-shipped missiles have nearly double the range of the mid-range ATACMS that the US began sending to Ukraine toward the end of last year.

The long-range ATACMS missiles were used for the first time in the early hours of April 17, against a Russian airfield in Crimea that was about 165 kilometers from the Ukrainian front lines, the official said.

The official, however, did not say how many missiles have been shipped to Ukraine so far.

Kiev has repeatedly urged its Western allies to provide it with long-range ATACMS missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometers, roughly four times the range of the missiles used by the mobile HIMARS systems that the US began sending to Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine says the ATACMS missiles will help its forces strike Russian positions far behind the front lines.

Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters, "We've already sent some, we will send more."

He also stressed that Ukraine has committed to only use the weapons inside Ukraine, not in Russia.

Some of the missiles were part of a $1 billion weapons package for Ukraine that Biden approved on Wednesday, Sullivan added.

Separately, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that the delivery of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine had not been announced "in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request."

Neither Sullivan nor Patel, however, confirmed the number of ATACMS shipped.

Washington has already provided Kiev with HIMARS launchers, capable of firing ATACMS missiles, which can hit Russian targets way behind the frontline between the two warring neighbors.

Russia has warned that the conflict in Ukraine could be prolonged due to the support of Western countries, on top of them the US, for Kiev.

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Zelenskiy Urges Tightening Of Russia Sanctions As Ukraine's Infrastructure Attacked

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 25, 2024

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for expanding international sanctions against Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as Kyiv battles against Moscow's more numerous and better armed forces.

Zelenskiy made the call on April 25 as he met in Kyiv with British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, with whom he discussed the situation in Ukraine and the need for increased restrictive measures against Russia that are more difficult to avoid.

"We paid special attention to the sanctions policy," Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter.

"It is important to extend restrictive measures against Russia and make the circumvention of sanctions impossible," he added.

Zelenskiy also thanked Britain for a fresh military-aid package announced earlier in the week by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The $622 million package -- Britain's largest-ever -- was announced by Sunak during a visit to Poland on April 23 and brought the total amount of military aid that London has pledged to Ukraine this financial year to $3.71 billion.

Britain, one of Ukraine's staunchest allies, also said it would send its largest-ever single package of military equipment to Ukraine.

"I thank the people, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Parliament of the United Kingdom for their support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. We highly value our countries' partnership," Zelenskiy wrote on X.

Hunt also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, with whom he discussed in particular the contents of the upcoming military package, which is to include air defense systems for Ukraine's battered cities, and the delivery of energy equipment.

"I thanked the U.K for its leadership and constant support for Ukraine, especially for financial and military assistance and sanctions against the Russian Federation. We also discussed Ukraine's energy equipment needs," Shmyhal wrote on X.

Hunt's visit came shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden signed a long-delayed $61 billion military-aid package that was passed by the Senate on April 24.

Biden said that the desperately needed aid, including more air defense systems, would begin flowing again to Ukraine in the following hours.

In Ukraine, several civilians were wounded and infrastructure was damaged by Russian shelling on April 25 of several Ukrainian regions.

Six people were injured in the Cherkasy region, said regional administration head Ihor Taburets, who added that critical infrastructure was damaged, without elaborating.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three rounds of shelling damaged critical energy infrastructure and a gas pipeline but caused no casualties, regional head Serhiy Lysak said.

Four people were wounded in the Donetsk and three in th Kherson regions, regional heads Vadym Filashkin and Oleksandr Prokudin said.

Damage was also reported in the Zaporizhzhya region.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-shelling- infrastructure/32920088.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Poland and Lithuania May Help Press Gang Ukrainians Into Kiev Regime's Military

Sputnik News

20240425

Two Eastern European countries appear poised to help Kiev round up military-age Ukrainians who fled abroad and have them press-ganged into the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, if recent statements by their respective defense ministers are any indication.

"We have suggested for a long time that we can help the Ukrainian side ensure that people subject to compulsive military service go to Ukraine," Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday.

He also suggested that the option of facilitating the transportation of Ukrainian draftees from Poland to Ukraine is on the table.

The next day, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas lamented that "Ukraine is very short of mobilization reserve," and that his country may follow Poland's example in handling over the Ukrainian refugees deemed fit for military service.

This development takes place as the Ukrainian military struggles to deal with a catastrophic shortage of soldiers.

With hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians already killed and maimed on the battlefields of the conflict, the number of Ukrainians willing to fight for the regime has dwindled rapidly.

As Kiev has since essentially resorted to press-ganging people into military service, the Foreign Ministry recently announced the suspension of consular services for military-age Ukrainians abroad who try to avoid draft.

A Sputnik

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Russian Troops Building 'Protective Dome' Over Zaporozhye

Sputnik News

20240425

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported that Russian troops deployed in the area are working on additional security measures to protect the Zaporozhye region from Ukrainian attacks against civilians.

These measures to protect Zaporozhye include the use of S-300 and Pantsir surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.

"Russian air defense units ensure that covered up objects are being shielded against air assault weapons, including in the face of intense electronic warfare and enemy fire. For instance, the S-300 SAMs along with other air defense systems are building a 'protective dome' over the entire Zaporozhye region," the MoD noted.

The ministry added that the efforts also also include the Buk system, which is designed to destroy strategic and tactical aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and guided air bombs. Enemy combat drones will be dealt with by the Pantsir missile system.

"No one will make a move in the region on our watch [...] not a single missile or jet," the ministry quoted a soldier from an air defense unit as saying.

On April 12, Air and Missile Defense Forces commander Lt. Gen. Andrey Semyonov shared that Russian forces "have destroyed over 30,000 enemy aerial assets, including tactical aviation, tactical missiles, multiple launch rocket system projectiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and anti-radar missiles."

He added that Russian air defense forces are currently deploying over 50 Pantsir missile systems to counter Ukrainian drone attacks.

A Sputnik

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UK condemns environmental damage caused by Russia's war: UK statement to the OSCE

Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown calls for the OSCE to continue monitoring the environmental impact of Russia's war.

25 April 2024

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Earlier this week we marked Earth Day - a global event which highlights the importance of protecting the natural environment. It promotes a message of hope and responsible stewardship. A message which stands in stark contrast to the devastating environmental impact of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

In recent weeks we have discussed Russia's appalling and relentless assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and the humanitarian toll this has wreaked. These strikes have also resulted in air, water and soil pollution. They expose the country's population and environment to toxic chemicals and contaminated water supplies.

The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in June 2023 has had a devastating environmental impact in Ukraine and far beyond. This was a direct consequence of Russia's illegal war. The dam's breach resulted in the loss of the Kakhovka hydropower plant, the displacement of communities, the destruction of crops and natural habitats, and the contamination of the river through to the Black Sea. The destruction has been incalculable and will cast a long shadow over this delicate and important ecosystem for decades to come.

The reservoir from the Kakhovka plant was also important for the cooling system at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Everything possible must be done to reduce the risk of a nuclear accident. Russia must return full control of all nuclear facilities in Ukraine to their rightful sovereign owner: the Ukrainian authorities. This is the only way to ensure their safe and secure operation.

Mr Chair, there are countless more examples of the environmental cost of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. From the degradation of landscapes to forest fires; from the indiscriminate attacks on industrial facilities to the extensive use of land mines. We do not have time today to cover them in the detail they deserve. But the OSCE must continue to play an important role in monitoring the environmental impacts of this war so that one day Russia will be held to account for this damage too.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

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UK condemns widespread arbitrary detention and torture of thousands of Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces: Statement to the OSCE

The UK condemns Russia's use of arbitrary detention and calls for an immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian civilian detainees. Statement on Moscow Mechanism Report.

25 April 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am making this statement in my national capacity, in addition to the joint statement delivered by the Ambassador of Romania.

Before addressing the report proper, I want to draw attention once again to the three OSCE civilian staff members unlawfully detained for more than two years now. Russia has subjected the SMM members to trial simply for performing their official duties. These were duties that were mandated by all participating States of the OSCE, including Russia itself. Once again, the UK calls for their immediate and unconditional release. We will not forget our colleagues.

Thank you to all three of our experts for this independent report on intolerable treatment of Ukrainian civilian detainees by Russia.

Your report establishes how thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been arbitrarily detained by Russia since 2014, with the practice expanding to all territory under Russian control since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian civilian detainees have rarely been informed about the grounds for their detention. They have no possibility to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and have been denied contact with the outside world. In consequence, Ukrainian civilians are being held incommunicado and subjected to enforced disappearances.

You report that very few Ukrainian civilians have been released by Russia, with many unlawfully charged after being denied a fair trial. Continued detention under such conditions inflicts suffering and terror on detainees and their loved ones.

You conclude that during detention Ukrainian civilians are exposed to inhumane conditions, denied food, water, and medical assistance and that the use of torture is widespread and systematic. This includes electrocutions, sexual assaults and rape. Such severe violence is calculated to humiliate detainees and intimidate them into forced confessions.

Moreover, you find that many Ukrainian civilians have died in detention, some from extrajudicial killings, and others as a direct result of severe mistreatment and torture. Such abhorrent acts constitute serious violations of international law, and you determine that there are reasonable grounds to conclude that war crimes have been committed by individuals involved in the detention of Ukrainian civilians, including members of the Russian armed forces.

Since 1975, the OSCE has operated on the basis of shared principles and commitments in relation to human rights and fundamental freedoms. In that context, Russia's treatment of Ukrainian detainees is unacceptable and is clearly of direct and immediate interest to all OSCE participating States. The UK will continue to use all the tools at this organisation's disposal - including the Moscow and Vienna mechanisms - to hold Russia to account.

Madam Chair, the UK demands immediate, safe and unfettered access of humanitarian organisations to all facilities where Ukrainian civilians are being detained. And Russia must immediately and unconditionally release all those it has arbitrarily detained, including the SMM members, and respect its obligations under international law and its OSCE commitments. The UK will continue to work publicly and privately to condemn the use of arbitrary detention, to support those who have been arbitrarily detained, and to demand accountability.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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45 OSCE participating States condemn arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation: Joint Statement on publication of the Moscow Mechanism Report

Romanian Ambassador delivers joint statement on behalf of 45 countries condemning arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians by Russia and calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

25 April 2024

Madame Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of 45 participating States: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, TArkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union Member States.

Being gravely concerned regarding violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law amidst Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, particularly with regard to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation, our delegations invoked the Moscow Mechanism on 29 February 2024.

We requested that ODIHR inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding:

possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments,

violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law,

as well as possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, associated with or resulting from the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation.

We also requested that the mission of experts would:

collect, consolidate, and analyse this information with a view to offer recommendations, as well as provide the information to relevant accountability mechanisms, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction,

and requested ODIHR to

provide any relevant information or documentation derived from any new expert mission to other appropriate accountability mechanisms, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction.

We are very grateful to the Moscow Mechanism rapporteurs, Prof. BAlkovA, Dr. Hellestveit and Dr. A teinerte, for producing such a thorough and professional report. While we are still reviewing the report in detail, it is clear that the mission's findings confirmed our serious cause for concern.

The report states that: "Arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians started in the unlawfully annexed Crimea in spring 2014, and quickly spread to the areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by the so-called People's Republics. Since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, this practice has become pervasive in all the areas that have got under the temporary occupation of the Russian Federation."

Further, the report states that: "Although the context of ongoing international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation makes establishing the exact number of such civilians impossible, the Mission has concluded that this number is large and can be measured in the thousands."

The Mission established that the Russian Federation "has disrespected and continues to disrespect the special status of three staff members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), arbitrarily detaining for almost two years now and subjecting them to trial for activities carried out while working for the SMM", and that "the continued detention of staff members of the OSCE SMM is incompatible with OSCE commitments arising in respect to Russia."

The Mission has further established that Ukrainian civilians arbitrary detained by the Russian Federation: "have been subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sexual violence and other forms of serious mistreatment"; and that "the information gathered as well as testimonies received by the Mission clearly indicate widespread and systematic use of torture by the Russian authorities against detained Ukrainian civilians."

The Mission's experts also concluded that Ukrainian civilian detainees: "have endured harsh conditions of detention and have been denied contact with the outside world, turning their deprivation of liberty into incommunicado detention and enforced disappearances." Ukrainian civilian detainees "have been denied fundamental fair trial guarantees in criminal prosecutions."

The Mission concluded that Ukrainian civilian detainees: "have died due to the injuries suffered as a result of torture and other cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or punishment. [...] there are also reports of detainees dying due to ignoring health problems in the penitentiary facilities as well as Crimean political prisoners being sent for forced psychiatric examinations".

Moreover, the Mission found that: "The information gathered and testimonies received by the Mission also indicate consistent denial of medical assistance to the Ukrainian civilians detained by the Russian authorities".

Ukrainian civilian detainees "reported harsh punishments for speaking Ukrainian, singing Ukrainian songs as well as being forced to sing the Russian anthem and swear allegiance to the Russian flag."

Finally, "The Mission concludes that extrajudicial killings of Ukrainian civilian detainees by the Russian authorities, as well as the failure to investigate properly allegations of such killings, constitute a serious violation of IHRL and IHL and may amount to a war crime and a crime against humanity."

Madame Chair,

OSCE participating States have collectively committed to the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to uphold freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention as well as the right to a fair trial. They have also repeatedly agreed commitments on treatment of persons in detention or prison, including in Vienna in 1989, Copenhagen in 1990, Moscow in 1991, Brussels in 2006, Helsinki in 2008, Belgrade in 2015 and Tirana in 2020.

It is clear from the report that Ukrainian detainees held by Russia have not received the protection which these commitments, freely entered into by Russia throughout recent decades, should have afforded them.

To the Russian Federation, we highlight, in particular, the following recommendations from the report to:

"Immediately cease the practice of arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians and unconditionally release all those thus detained."

"Immediately apply to Ukrainian civilians detained by the Russian Federation the legal regime of the GCIV and the API, cease the unlawful practice of subjecting civilians to POW-internment, and immediately establish appropriate review-mechanisms to ensure that civilians are not arbitrarily detained under either the GCIV or the GCIII."

"Immediately establish a National Information Bureau (NIB) in full compliance with Article 136 of the GCIV."

"Without delay, compile, provide and promptly update comprehensive lists of the names and whereabouts of all Ukrainian civilians deprived of their liberty by the Russian authorities [...] and to share such lists [...] with utmost urgency."

"Ensure immediate, safe and unfettered access for the ICRC to all facilities where Ukrainian civilians are being detained."

"Ensure the right of victims of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and their relatives, to an effective remedy."

We, the invoking States, take into consideration the Mission's recommendations to other States and international organizations and encourage all other participating States to do the same.

Madam Chair,

This report is clear: "the practice of arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians has occurred on a massive scale and has revealed signs of a systematic, consistent, deliberate pattern of conduct targeting specifically Ukrainian civilians. This makes the Mission conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both the war crime of "unlawful confinement" and the crime against humanity consisting of "imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law" have been committed by individuals involved in the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians, including members of the Russian armed forces or occupying authorities."

We call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease the practice of arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians and unconditionally release all those thus detained, as recommended by the Mission.

Thank you.

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Establishment of a Tribunal and Compensation Mechanism: Iryna Mudra Met with the Ambassador of Japan

President of Ukraine

25 April 2024 - 21:01

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda.

The parties discussed strengthening cooperation to bring Russia to justice for its aggressive war against Ukraine. First of all, they discussed the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression.

"We have two key principles on which the tribunal must be based. It must be strictly international. Secondly, there can be no personal immunity for the highest officials of the aggressor state," emphasized Iryna Mudra.

The Deputy Head of the President's Office and the Ambassador of Japan reviewed concrete steps to confiscate frozen Russian assets and implement an international compensation mechanism.

During the meeting, Iryna Mudra and Kuninori Matsuda also discussed the priority issues of reforming the judicial system and legal education.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President emphasized that the Ukrainian side is committed to maximum cooperation with the Group of Seven countries, including Japan, in implementing key reforms.

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I Am Grateful to All the Countries That Have Recently Adopted New Decisions on Aid for Ukraine - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

25 April 2024 - 20:24

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

The key points for today.

The Staff meeting. Complex issues of protection, not only of the energy sector, but of the entire vital infrastructure. Social facilities, communications, everything that sustains normal life in cities and communities. Air defense, electronic warfare, necessary engineering solutions and construction. I am grateful to all those who are already working promptly at their level - both in the government and in the regions. It is very important that the deadlines for implementing decisions are met. In particular, we are closely monitoring this at the Staff meetings. We are also working on contracts for the production of weapons and equipment in Ukraine. Each manufacturer must have a truly long-term assurance that each contract will be backed by the necessary finance, supply, and logistics. We are also working with our partners to invest in production in Ukraine - in some areas we can already produce much more than our funds can cover. In particular, during our visits, during negotiations, in contacts between government officials and partners, we discuss the possibility of raising funds on a larger scale so that countries that have the funds but do not have their own production facilities can build their arsenal together with us and help our frontline. I thank everyone who has shown their interest and is contributing to this cooperation. And, of course, the situation at the front. We are preparing for tomorrow's Ramstein meeting and will discuss, among other things, how to overcome the difficulties and problems that have accumulated over the past six months while we have been waiting for decisions on American support. Politically, we have already achieved the support. Now we need to work on filling the packages with the necessary weapons and ensuring logistics. I am grateful to all the countries that have recently adopted new decisions on aid for Ukraine, our warriors, our cities and communities. I am grateful to everyone who helps!

And today I continue to work as actively as possible on the American direction. I have already spoken with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. I thanked him for his leadership, which has now guaranteed that democracy in the world will not lose ground. I also spoke with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. I thanked them for their integrity and support in the fight against terror. I will also speak with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The focus of all our conversations is our common strength - shared among all who value human life and strive to preserve our way of life that unites us within the Euro-Atlantic community. We talked about "Patriots," about the strength of our arsenals, about our political cooperation. We can defeat Russian terror. We have to do it. I thank everyone who fights and works for our strength, for our Ukraine! I thank everyone who helps!

Glory to Ukraine!

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One of the final classes that entered Mills College when it was a female-only will graduate on Saturday. In 2022, Mills merged with Northeastern University Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2022

I will deliver the commencement address Saturday at Mills College at Northeastern University. The historic former womens college in Oakland merged with the Boston-based university in 2022, ending its 170 years as a private, liberal arts womens college.

As an alumna, it will be a bittersweet moment for me. Having the opportunity to address some of the final graduates of the school who knew it as I did is truly an honor, but it is also a reminder of the dwindling number of womens colleges in this country and what all of us stand to lose because of it.

When I arrived on the campus of Mills College in the fall of 1998, I was excited to be immersed in a women-focused environment; one I hadnt experienced at the technology magnet high school I had attended or at home growing up the lone daughter among sons.

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Womens colleges have always offered a unique educational experience that empowers women, champions their rights and fosters an inclusive community. These institutions have nurtured and produced leaders, thinkers and changemakers since the first womens college in the U.S., Mount Holyoke, was founded in 1837.

Today, as they did in the past, womens colleges serve as sanctuaries where the rights and dignity of women are not only respected but are a fundamental part of the curriculum. These institutions offer comprehensive health and wellness programs that educate and empower women to make informed decisions about their bodies and health, a stark contrast to the broader societal trend of restricting womens health care choices.

Womens colleges also provide significant mental health benefits to their students. A 1990 study published in the Journal of Higher Education found that students at womens colleges at the time reported lower levels of stress and higher levels of satisfaction with their college experience compared to their contemporaries at coeducational institutions. Nearly two decades later, research in the Journal of College Student Development showed that students at womens colleges reported more engagement, academic challenge and support for success relative to women at coeducational colleges.

There are also long-term effects. A long-range study of women who attended these institutions 30 years after graduation found that graduates of womens colleges are more likely to hold higher positions in their careers and report greater satisfaction with their college experience compared to their coeducational counterparts. These institutions have also long offered a safe haven for queer women and gender-nonconforming people, providing support networks and resources that may be lacking in other educational settings. In 2014, Mills College officially began admitting self-identified women and students who are assigned to female sex at birth and identify as transgender or genderfluid and many other womens colleges followed suit soon after.

Attending a womens college can also lead to increased earning potential. A study by the Womens College Coalition found that graduates of womens colleges are more likely to attain advanced degrees and, consequently, earn more than their peers from coeducational institutions. At a time when women are less likely to be promoted despite having higher performance ratings than their male counterparts, the leadership skills, confidence and strong alumni networks that womens colleges uniquely provide prepare students not just to enter the workforce, but to excel and lead within it.

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Though just 2% of women who graduate from college are womens college alumni, over 20% of women in Congress are womens college graduates, and 33% of women on Fortune 1000 boards are womens college graduates.

Despite all this, the number of womens colleges is in decline. These institutions grapple with the same financial challenges facing all but the nations most prestigious colleges and universities. Mills merger is an example of a broader trend in higher education. Since the 2010s, numerous womens colleges have gone co-ed, from Wells in New York to Regis in Massachusetts to Randolph-Macon in Virginia. When I was applying to college in the late 90s, there were more than 80 womens colleges operating in the U.S. Today, there are fewer than 30.

Critics might argue that the decreasing number of womens colleges signals a diminishing relevance in a progressively coeducational world. However, this perspective overlooks the value of all-womens spaces in that very world. The challenges and barriers women face today underscore the need for such spaces, not as relics of the past but as beacons for the future.

Many of my heroes are graduates of womens colleges including civil rights and childrens rights activist Marian Wright Edelman and former Georgia representative and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. The same goes for authors who have written books that have shaped my life, like Jhumpa Lahiri. Would The Babysitters Club series  which profoundly impacted my adolescence and so many other girls growing up in the 90s  have existed had Ann M. Martin not attended Smith College?

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Womens colleges stand as a testament to the resilience, strength and potential of women when they have access to sanctuaries of empowerment, advocacy and inclusion. Society loses when women have less access to them.

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The President Had Phone Conversations with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate's Republican and Democratic Majority Leaders

President of Ukraine

25 April 2024 - 19:33

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had phone conversations with Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The Head of State thanked each of them for their personal leadership, representatives of both parties and President Joseph Biden for passing the law on assistance to our country and the entire American people for their support.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed them on the situation at the front, the attacks of the Russian occupiers on civilian infrastructure and the need to bolster air defense, in particular with Patriot systems.

The President emphasized the importance of sending the next defense packages to Ukraine as soon as possible. He specifically highlighted the inclusion of long-range ATACMS systems in the law, which are greatly needed by our warriors.

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Iryna Mudra: Confiscated Russian Assets Should Be Used to Restore and Protect Energy Sector

President of Ukraine

25 April 2024 - 16:21

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine hosted a discussion on the possibility of bringing the aggressor state of Russia to justice for the shelling of energy facilities. The event was attended by Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and foreign diplomats.

Iryna Mudra noted that it is important to establish a special tribunal for the crime of aggression, an international compensation mechanism, and confiscate Russian assets to finance the compensation mechanism. According to her, at the end of last year, Ukraine's total reconstruction needs were estimated at almost $486 billion.

"All damage to the energy infrastructure will be recorded, claims will be filed and compensation will be calculated. But it will be paid if you make the right choice and confiscate frozen assets to finance the compensation mechanism. I would like to thank the United States for adopting a progressive law. About $300 billion of Russian state assets are frozen around the world. I urge everyone to join this initiative," she said and added that sanctions against Russia should be strengthened.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed strengthening cooperation with international partners to record and document Russia's war crimes and to step up combating sanctions circumvention.

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The President of Ukraine Met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK

President of Ukraine

25 April 2024 - 10:12

On Wednesday, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Jeremy Hunt.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to the people, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Parliament of Great Britain for supporting Ukraine from the first days of the Russian invasion.

"We highly value the partnership between our countries. Significantly, the first security cooperation agreement we signed was with the United Kingdom," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President of Ukraine also thanked for the largest defense assistance package from the UK worth half a billion pounds, which was announced the day before.

The Head of State praised the decision of Great Britain to increase defence spending of the UK government to 2.5% of GDP.

"Thank you for this step, for the decision that will not only contribute to further assistance to Ukraine, but also reinforce European security. It is highly important. It would be great if other European countries also increased their defense spending. It would significantly strengthen the defense capability of Europe against possible challenges," the President noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also mentioned that in times of war, the UK's financial support is crucial for our country's economy.

Special attention was paid to the sanctions policy. The parties emphasized the importance of expanding restrictive measures against Russia and preventing the aggressor country from circumventing existing sanctions.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vantage Drilling International Ltd. ("Vantage" or the "Company") today announced that it will host a conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on May 9, 2024 to discuss operating results for the first quarter of 2024. Vantage will release earnings before the market opens on May 9, 2024. Vantage's earnings release will be posted to the Vantage website at www.vantagedrilling.com.



To access the conference call, click on the Call Link following the instructions below.

Click on the Call Link and complete the online registration form. Once the registration is complete you will receive an email confirmation with the call details (dial-in and a unique PIN to join the call). You will have two options to join the call. Dial-In Option: A dial in number and unique PIN are displayed to connect directly from your phone. Call Me Option: Enter your phone number and click Call Me for an immediate callback from the system.



Please call five minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. A replay of the conference call will be available following the call and can be accessed via Webcast Link.

About the Company

Vantage Drilling International Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with a fleet of two ultra-deepwater drillships and two premium jackup drilling rigs. Vantage's primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells globally for major, national and independent oil and gas companies. Vantage also markets, operates and provides management services in respect of drilling units owned by others. www.vantagedrilling.com

Contact Info:

Rafael Blattner

Chief Financial Officer

Vantage Drilling International Ltd.

+971 4 449 34 28

PDF Available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2b6aadd1-7716-4378-95e7-1d746421b76b
Dublin, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Global Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services Market to Reach $445.6 Billion by 2030



The global market for Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services estimated at US$98.1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$445.6 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.8% over the analysis period 2022-2030.

Cloud computing has revolutionized the IT landscape, ushering in the rise of cloud infrastructure services. As businesses increasingly embrace the cloud, this market is poised for significant growth, representing the IT journey of the decade. Competition in the public cloud system infrastructure services market is fierce, with 60 players worldwide vying for market share.

Storage, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 22.2% CAGR and reach US$261.9 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Print segment is estimated at 17.1% CAGR for the next 8-year period.







The U.S. Market is Estimated at $53.2 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 26.7% CAGR

Recent market activity reflects the evolving trends, including the migration of enterprise content management to the cloud and the growing adoption of multi-cloud infrastructure solutions. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence into cloud services and the emergence of containers and Kubernetes as vital components signify the evolving nature of cloud infrastructure services.



The Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services market in the U.S. is estimated at US$53.2 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$40.4 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 26.7% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 17.8% and 19.8% respectively over the 2022-2030 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 21.4% CAGR. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$46.5 Billion by the year 2030.



Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 599 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $98.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $445.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 20.8% Regions Covered Global





MARKET OVERVIEW

Cloud Computing Rewrites the IT Rulebook, Setting the Foundation for the Rise of Cloud Infrastructure Services

As Businesses Join the Cloud Revolution, Cloud Infrastructure Services Market is Poised to Make the IT Journey of the Decade

Competition

Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share for 60 Players Worldwide in 2023

Public Cloud Infrastructure Services: Overview & Types

Recent Market Activity

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

As Enterprise Content Management Moves to the Cloud, CDNs Become a Popular Infrastructure Service

Growing Adoption of Cloud Based Content Management Magnifies the Need for Faster Access to Stored Content on the Internet

Multi-Cloud Infrastructure Grows in Popularity for all the Right Reasons. Here's the Story

AI Integration into Cloud Services Including Cloud Infrastructure Services is the Hottest New Trend

Containers & Kubernetes Emerge Into Significant Components of Cloud Infrastructure Services

Infrastructure Reimagined: The Next Wave in Cloud Storage Breakthroughs

Edge Computing Creates New Demand for Deploying Infrastructure Resources Closer to Data Sources, Driving Up the Momentum for IaaS Services

Riding the Edge With IaaS Powering the Next Frontier in Edge Computing: Global Market for Edge Computing

Focus on Business Continuity Makes DRaaS an Important Part of Cloud Infrastructure Services

Serverless Computing Emerges to Become the Future of Next-Generation Cloud Infrastructure

Infrastructure as a Code Storms Into the Spotlight

Low Code/No Code for Cloud Infrastructure is the Newest Craze

Bare Metal Cloud Services Continue to Remain Popular

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS(Total 60 Featured)

Alphabet, Inc.

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

AT&T, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Fujitsu Ltd.

IBM Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Rackspace Hosting, Inc.

VMware, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ib1bqp

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Size and Forecast 2020 - 2030, Global and Regional Share, Trend, and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report Coverage: By Type, End User, and Geography" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global pharmacy automation systems market is expected to reach US$ 11.12 billion in 2022 to US$ 22.63 billion by 2030; the market is estimated to record a CAGR of 9.3% from 2022 to 2030.



The key factors driving the market's growth are the increasing adoption of robotic pharmacies and growing risk of medication errors. However, the pharmacy automation systems market growth is likely to be affected by high capitalization cost requirements and systems' shortcomings.





Growing Risks of Medication Errors



Medication errors are alarming and are considered the third leading cause of death worldwide. Unsafe practices in medicine have been causing unavoidable risks in the healthcare sector. An article published by the European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines in September 2022 states that medication errors result in 160,000 deaths annually. The article also revealed that medication errors account for 50% of preventable risks annually in the healthcare sector, with a yearly cost of ~ US$ 42 billion. As per European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines, countries such as the US, Spain, and Germany collectively report 60,000-131,000 deaths yearly due to medication errors. The World Health Organization stated that a medication error causes 1 death in 1 million of the population globally.



On the other hand, the risks of drug-related injuries due to medication errors are much higher. Distractions are the leading cause of ~75% of medication errors. Distractions are common when healthcare professionals are engaged in multiple tasks, including speaking to consultants, speaking to patient family members, examining the patient, and conversing with insurance professionals simultaneously. Moreover, in these situations, they fail to complete their duties on time and suffer a lapse of judgment, leading to medication errors.

Distortion is another factor responsible for the maximum number of medication errors. Distortion is a result of poor writing, use of abbreviations, misunderstood symbols, or improper translation. Further, pharmacists and nurses find difficulties to understand the handwritten prescription for medicines that leads to wrong delivery of medicines to the patients. Thus, the growing number of medication errors triggers the demand for pharmacy automation systems leading to increase pharmacy automation systems market.



Pharmacy Automation Systems Market: Segmental Overview



The automated medication dispensing systems segment held a larger market share in 2022 and the same segment is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2022-2030.

Further, the automated medication dispensing systems is further divided into product type and operation. The pharmacy automation systems market for automated dispensing systems by product type is subsegmented into robotic automated systems, carousels, and automated dispensing cabinets. Likewise, based on operation, the pharmacy automation equipment market for automated dispensing systems is subsegmented into centralized prescription fulfillment and centralized prescription fulfillment.



Based on end user, the pharmacy automation systems market is segmented into hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and others. The hospital pharmacy segment held a larger market share in 2022. It is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2022-2030. Hospital pharmacies determine the quality and safety of medicines administered to hospital patients. Despite such a crucial role, the number of medication errors in these settings is high. ADM help reduce dispensing errors in pharmacies. Many hospitals (particularly in developed countries) are adopting pharmacy automation systems to ensure accuracy, repeatability, and patient safety.

Digitizing processes helps enhance workflows, manage costs, and improve efficiencies, driving better outcomes and allowing hospital facilities to focus mainly on patient care.



Pharmacy Automation Systems Market: Geographical Overview



Europe holds the second largest share of the pharmacy automation systems market. The pharmacy automation systems market in this region is split into the Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, France, and the Rest of Europe. The presence of numerous domestic market players and the increasing incidences of chronic diseases are the key factors driving the market growth Europe. Germany is one of the major contributors to the global pharmacy automation systems market. The country has the presence of many players that develop and manufacture medical devices, along with their accessories required in the healthcare industry. In addition, several medical dispenser manufacturers operate in Germany.

For instance, 12,000 BD Row systems developed in Germany by BD are installed worldwide. Similarly, various other players in the country are developing innovative automated pharmacy systems. In June 2021, the French government announced its US$ 7.1 billion (7.5) billion budget under its Health Innovation Plan. The government plans to redevelop the French economy with Vision France 2030. Upgrading infrastructure would propel the adoption of pharmacy automation systems and solutions in medical facility centers. The UK has been suffering from a high cost of medication errors. In a year, nearly 273 medication errors are reported in the country, costing US$ 79.4 million (98 million)



Reasons to Buy

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players, and segments in the pharmacy automation systems market.

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global pharmacy automation systems market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global pharmacy automation systems market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 218 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $11.12 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $22.63 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.3% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 REPORT GUIDANCE

1.2 Market Segmentation



2. Executive Summary



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 Global PEST Analysis

4.3 List of Distributors

4.3.1 List of Distributors in the Pharmacy Automation Systems Market



5. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Key Industry Dynamics

5.1 Key Market Drivers:

5.1.1 Growing Adoption of Robotic Pharmacy

5.1.2 Growing Risks of Medication Errors

5.2 Key Market Restraints:

5.2.1 High Capitalization Cost and Problems Associated with Pharmacy Automation Systems

5.3 Key Market Opportunities:

5.3.1 Aging Population

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) In The Pharmacy Sector

5.5 Impact Analysis:



6. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue (US$ Mn), 2022 - 2030



7. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 - by Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue Share, by Type 2022 & 2030 (%)

7.3 Automated Medication Dispensing Systems-Product Type

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Automated Medication Dispensing Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.3.3 Robotics Automated Systems

7.3.3.1 Overview

7.3.3.2 Robotics Automated Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.3.4 Carousels

7.3.4.1 Overview

7.3.4.2 Carousels: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.3.5 Automated Dispensing Cabinets

7.3.5.1 Overview

7.3.5.2 Automated Dispensing Cabinets: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.4 Automated Medication Dispensing Systems-Operation

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Centralized Prescription Fulfilment

7.4.2.1 Overview

7.4.2.2 Centralized Prescription Fulfilment: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.4.3 Decentralized Prescription Fulfilment

7.4.3.1 Overview

7.4.3.2 Decentralized Prescription Fulfilment: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.5 Automated Packaging and Labelling Systems

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Automated Packaging and Labelling Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.6 Automated Table-top Counters

7.6.1 Overview

7.6.2 Automated Table-top Counters: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.7 Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

7.7.1 Overview

7.7.2 Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

7.8 Other Types

7.8.1 Overview

7.8.2 Other Types: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)



8. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 - by End User

8.1 Overview

8.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue Share, by End User 2022 & 2030 (%)

8.3 Hospital Pharmacy

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Hospital Pharmacy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

8.4 Retail Pharmacy

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Retail Pharmacy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

8.5 Others

8.5.1 Overview

8.5.2 Others: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)



9. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Regional Analysis

9.1 North America Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

9.1.1 Overview

9.1.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.1.2.1 North America: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.1.2.1.1 North America: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.1.2.1.2 North America: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.1.2.2 North America: Disposable Gloves Market, by End User

9.1.2.3 North America: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Country

9.1.2.4 US

9.1.2.4.1 US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.1.2.4.2 US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.1.2.4.2.1 US: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.1.2.4.2.2 US: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.1.2.4.3 US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.1.2.5 Canada

9.1.2.5.1 Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.1.2.5.2 Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.1.2.5.2.1 Canada: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.1.2.5.2.2 Canada: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.1.2.5.3 Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.1.2.6 Mexico

9.1.2.6.1 Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.1.2.6.2 Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.1.2.6.2.1 Mexico: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.1.2.6.2.2 Mexico: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.1.2.6.3 Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2 Europe Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

9.2.1 Overview

9.2.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.1 Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.1.1 Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.1.2 Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.2 Europe: Disposable Gloves Market, by End User

9.2.2.3 Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Country

9.2.2.4 UK

9.2.2.4.1 UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.4.2 UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.4.2.1 UK: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.4.2.2 UK: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.4.3 UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2.2.5 Germany

9.2.2.5.1 Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.5.2 Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.5.2.1 Germany: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.5.2.2 Germany: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.5.3 Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2.2.6 France

9.2.2.6.1 France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.6.2 France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.6.2.1 France: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.6.2.2 France: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.6.3 France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2.2.7 Italy

9.2.2.7.1 Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.7.2 Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.7.2.1 Italy: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.7.2.2 Italy: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.7.3 Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2.2.8 Spain

9.2.2.8.1 Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.8.2 Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.8.2.1 Spain: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.8.2.2 Spain: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.8.3 Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.2.2.9 Rest of Europe

9.2.2.9.1 Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.2.2.9.2 Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.2.2.9.2.1 Rest of Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.2.2.9.2.2 Rest of Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.2.2.9.3 Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3 Asia Pacific Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.1 Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.1.1 Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.1.2 Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.2 Asia Pacific: Disposable Gloves Market, by End User

9.3.2.3 Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Country

9.3.2.4 China

9.3.2.4.1 China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.4.2 China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.4.2.1 China: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.4.2.2 China: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.4.3 China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3.2.5 Japan

9.3.2.5.1 Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.5.2 Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.5.2.1 Japan: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.5.2.2 Japan: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.5.3 Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3.2.6 India

9.3.2.6.1 India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.6.2 India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.6.2.1 India: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.6.2.2 India: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.6.3 India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3.2.7 Australia

9.3.2.7.1 Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.7.2 Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.7.2.1 Australia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.7.2.2 Australia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.7.3 Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3.2.8 South Korea

9.3.2.8.1 South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.8.2 South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.8.2.1 South Korea: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.8.2.2 South Korea: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.8.3 South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.3.2.9 Rest of Asia Pacific

9.3.2.9.1 Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.3.2.9.2 Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.3.2.9.2.1 Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.9.2.2 Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.3.2.9.2.3 Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.3.2.9.3 Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.4 Middle East & Africa Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.4.2.1 Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.4.2.1.1 Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.4.2.1.2 Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.4.2.2 Middle East & Africa: Disposable Gloves Market, by End User

9.4.2.3 Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Country

9.4.2.4 Saudi Arabia

9.4.2.4.1 Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.4.2.4.2 Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.4.2.4.2.1 Saudi Arabia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.4.2.4.2.2 Saudi Arabia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.4.2.4.3 Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.4.2.5 UAE

9.4.2.5.1 UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.4.2.5.2 UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.4.2.5.2.1 UAE: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.4.2.5.2.2 UAE: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.4.2.5.3 UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.4.2.6 South Africa

9.4.2.6.1 South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.4.2.6.2 South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.4.2.6.2.1 South Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.4.2.6.2.2 South Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.4.2.6.3 South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.4.2.7 Rest of Middle East & Africa

9.4.2.7.1 Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.4.2.7.2 Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.4.2.7.2.1 Rest of Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.4.2.7.2.2 Rest of Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.4.2.7.3 Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5 LATAM Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, Revenue and Forecast To 2030

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.5.2.1 LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.1.1 LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.1.2 LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.2 LATAM: Disposable Gloves Market, by End User

9.5.2.3 LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Country

9.5.2.4 Brazil

9.5.2.4.1 Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.5.2.4.2 Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.4.2.1 Brazil: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.4.2.2 Brazil: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.4.3 Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5 Caribbean Countries

9.5.2.5.1 Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.5.2.5.2 Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.2.1 Caribbean Countries: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.2.2 Caribbean Countries: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3 Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.1 Haiti

9.5.2.5.3.1.1 Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.1.2 Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.1.2.1 Haiti: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.1.2.2 Haiti: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.1.3 Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.2 Aruba

9.5.2.5.3.2.1 Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.2.2 Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.2.2.1 Aruba: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.2.2.2 Aruba: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.2.3 Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.3 Trinidad and Tobago

9.5.2.5.3.3.1 Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.3.2 Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.3.2.1 Trinidad and Tobago: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.3.2.2 Trinidad and Tobago: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.3.3 Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.4 Bahamas

9.5.2.5.3.4.1 Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.4.2 Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.4.2.1 Bahamas: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.4.2.2 Bahamas: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.4.3 Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.5 Barbados

9.5.2.5.3.5.1 Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.5.2 Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.5.2.1 Barbados: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.5.2.2 Barbados: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.5.3 Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.6 Curacao

9.5.2.5.3.6.1 Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.6.2 Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.6.2.1 Curacao: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.6.2.2 Curacao: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.6.3 Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.7 British Virgin Islands

9.5.2.5.3.7.1 British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.7.2 British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.7.2.1 British Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.7.2.2 British Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.7.3 British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.8 US Virgin Islands

9.5.2.5.3.8.1 US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.8.2 US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.8.2.1 US Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.8.2.2 US Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.8.3 US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.5.3.9 Rest of Caribbean

9.5.2.5.3.9.1 Lower Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

9.5.2.5.3.9.2 Rest of Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.5.3.9.2.1 Rest of Caribbean: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.5.3.9.2.2 Rest of Caribbean: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.5.3.9.3 Rest of Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.6 Argentina

9.5.2.6.1 Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.5.2.6.2 Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.6.2.1 Argentina: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.6.2.2 Argentina: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.6.3 Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User

9.5.2.7 Rest of LATAM

9.5.2.7.1 Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

9.5.2.7.2 Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by Type

9.5.2.7.2.1 Rest of LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Product Type

9.5.2.7.2.2 Rest of LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market, by Operation

9.5.2.7.3 Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, by End User



10. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market-Industry Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Organic Growth Strategies

10.2.1 Overview

10.3 Inorganic Growth Strategies

10.3.1 Overview



11. Company Profiles

11.1 McKesson Corp

11.1.1 Key Facts

11.1.2 Business Description

11.1.3 Products and Services

11.1.4 Financial Overview

11.1.5 SWOT Analysis

11.1.6 Key Developments

11.2 Becton Dickinson and Co

11.2.1 Key Facts

11.2.2 Business Description

11.2.3 Products and Services

11.2.4 Financial Overview

11.2.5 SWOT Analysis

11.2.6 Key Developments

11.3 Capsa Solutions LLC

11.3.1 Key Facts

11.3.2 Business Description

11.3.3 Products and Services

11.3.4 Financial Overview

11.3.5 SWOT Analysis

11.3.6 Key Developments

11.4 Omnicell Inc

11.4.1 Key Facts

11.4.2 Business Description

11.4.3 Products and Services

11.4.4 Financial Overview

11.4.5 SWOT Analysis

11.4.6 Key Developments

11.5 Oracle Corp

11.5.1 Key Facts

11.5.2 Business Description

11.5.3 Products and Services

11.5.4 Financial Overview

11.5.5 SWOT Analysis

11.5.6 Key Developments

11.6 Deenova Srl

11.6.1 Key Facts

11.6.2 Business Description

11.6.3 Products and Services

11.6.4 Financial Overview

11.6.5 SWOT Analysis

11.6.6 Key Developments

11.7 ScriptPro LLC

11.7.1 Key Facts

11.7.2 Business Description

11.7.3 Products and Services

11.7.4 Financial Overview

11.7.5 SWOT Analysis

11.7.6 Key Developments

11.8 Veradigm LLC

11.8.1 Key Facts

11.8.2 Business Description

11.8.3 Products and Services

11.8.4 Financial Overview

11.8.5 SWOT Analysis

11.8.6 Key Developments

11.9 Innovation Associates

11.9.1 Key Facts

11.9.2 Business Description

11.9.3 Products and Services

11.9.4 Financial Overview

11.9.5 SWOT Analysis

11.9.6 Key Developments

11.10 YUYAMA Manufacturing Co Ltd

11.10.1 Key Facts

11.10.2 Business Description

11.10.3 Products and Services

11.10.4 Financial Overview

11.10.5 SWOT Analysis

11.10.6 Key Developments

11.11 Swisslog Healthcare AG

11.11.1 Key Facts

11.11.2 Business Description

11.11.3 Products and Services

11.11.4 Financial Overview

11.11.5 SWOT Analysis

11.11.6 Key Developments



12. Appendix

12.1 About Us

12.2 Glossary of Terms



List of Tables

Table 1. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Segmentation

Table 2. List of Vendors

Table 3. North America: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 4. North America: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 5. North America: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 6. North America: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast To 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 7. US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 8. US: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 9. US: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 10. US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 11. Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 12. Canada: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 13. Canada: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 14. Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 15. Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 16. Mexico: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 17. Mexico: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 18. Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 19. Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 20. Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 21. Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 22. Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast To 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 23. UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 24. UK: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 25. UK: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 26. UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 27. Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 28. Germany: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 29. Germany: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 30. Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 31. France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 32. France: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 33. France: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 34. France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 35. Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 36. Italy: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 37. Italy: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 38. Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 39. Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 40. Spain: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 41. Spain: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 42. Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 43. Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 44. Rest of Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 45. Rest of Europe: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 46. Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 47. Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 48. Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 49. Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 50. Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast To 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 51. China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 52. China: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 53. China: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 54. China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 55. Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 56. Japan: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 57. Japan: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 58. Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 59. India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 60. India: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 61. India: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 62. India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 63. Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 64. Australia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 65. Australia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 66. Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 67. South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 68. South Korea: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 69. South Korea: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 70. South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 71. Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 72. Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 73. Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 74. Rest of Asia Pacific: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 75. Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 76. Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 77. Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 78. Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 79. Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast To 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 80. Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 81. Saudi Arabia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 82. Saudi Arabia: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 83. Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 84. UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 85. UAE: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 86. UAE: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 87. UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 88. South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 89. South Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 90. South Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 91. South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 92. Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 93. Rest of Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 94. Rest of Middle East & Africa: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 95. Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 96. LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 97. LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 98. LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 99. LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast To 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 100. Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 101. Brazil: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 102. Brazil: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 103. Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 104. Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 105. Caribbean Countries: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) -Product Type

Table 106. Caribbean Countries: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 107. Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 108. Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 109. Haiti: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 110. Haiti: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 111. Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 112. Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 113. Aruba: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 114. Aruba: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 115. Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 116. Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 117. Trinidad and Tobago: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 118. Trinidad and Tobago: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 119. Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 120. Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 121. Bahamas: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 122. Bahamas: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 123. Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 124. Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 125. Barbados: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 126. Barbados: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 127. Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 128. Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 129. Curacao: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 130. Curacao: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 131. Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 132. British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 133. British Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 134. British Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 135. British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 136. US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 137. US Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 138. US Virgin Islands: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 139. US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 140. Rest of Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Type

Table 141. Rest of Caribbean: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Product Type

Table 142. Rest of Caribbean: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - Operation

Table 143. Rest of Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th) - End User

Table 144. Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 145. Argentina: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 146. Argentina: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 147. Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 148. Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Type

Table 149. Rest of LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Product Type

Table 150. Rest of LATAM: Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - Operation

Table 151. Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn) - End User

Table 152. Recent Organic Growth Strategies in Pharmacy Automation Systems Market

Table 153. Recent Inorganic Growth Strategies in the Pharmacy Automation Systems Market

Table 154. Glossary of Terms, Pharmacy Automation Systems Market



List of Figures

Figure 1. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Segmentation, By Region

Figure 2. Key Insights

Figure 3. Global - PEST Analysis

Figure 4. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Key Industry Dynamics

Figure 5. Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints

Figure 6. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue (US$ Mn), 2022 - 2030

Figure 7. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue Share, by Type 2022 & 2030 (%)

Figure 8. Automated Medication Dispensing Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 9. Robotics Automated Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 10. Carousels: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 11. Automated Dispensing Cabinets: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 12. Centralized Prescription Fulfilment: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 13. Decentralized Prescription Fulfilment: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 14. Automated Packaging and Labelling Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 15. Automated Table-top Counters: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 16. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 17. Other Types: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 18. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue Share, by End User 2022 & 2030 (%)

Figure 19. Hospital Pharmacy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 20. Retail Pharmacy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 21. Others: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Figure 22. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, 2022 ($Mn)

Figure 23. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 24. North America: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, By Key Countries, 2022 And 2030 (%)

Figure 25. US: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 26. Canada: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 27. Mexico: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 28. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, 2022 ($Mn)

Figure 29. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 30. Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, By Key Countries, 2022 And 2030 (%)

Figure 31. UK: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 32. Germany: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 33. France: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 34. Italy: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 35. Spain: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 36. Rest of Europe: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 37. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, 2022 ($Mn)

Figure 38. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 39. Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, By Key Countries, 2022 And 2030 (%)

Figure 40. China: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 41. Japan: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 42. India: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 43. Australia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 44. South Korea: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 45. Rest of Asia Pacific: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 46. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, 2022 ($Mn)

Figure 47. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 48. Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, By Key Countries, 2022 And 2030 (%)

Figure 49. Saudi Arabia: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 50. UAE: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 51. South Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 52. Rest of Middle East & Africa: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 53. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, 2022 ($Mn)

Figure 54. Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 55. LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market, By Key Countries, 2022 And 2030 (%)

Figure 56. Brazil: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 57. Caribbean Countries: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 58. Haiti: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 59. Aruba: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 60. Trinidad and Tobago: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 61. Bahamas: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 62. Barbados: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 63. Curacao: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 64. British Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 65. US Virgin Islands: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 66. Rest of Caribbean: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Th)

Figure 67. Argentina: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)

Figure 68. Rest of LATAM: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Mn)





A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:





McKesson Corp

Becton Dickinson and Company

Capsa Solutions LLC

Omnicell Inc

Oracle Corp

Deenova Srl

ScriptPro LLC

Veradigm LLC

Innovation Associates

YUYAMA Manufacturing Co Ltd

Swisslog Healthcare AG





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d20mqv

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
This positive CHMP opinion establishes amivantamab as a new option, and the first fully-human EGFR-MET bispecific antibody, in the first-line treatment of EGFR exon 20 insertion-mutated NSCLC

The recommendation is supported by data from the Phase 3 PAPILLON study, which showed amivantamab plus chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival in adult patients, versus chemotherapy alone1

BEERSE, BELGIUM , April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Janssen-Cilag International NV, a Johnson & Johnson company, today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of RYBREVANT (amivantamab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations.

"The PAPILLON study results represent an important advancement in the EGFR exon 20 insertion NSCLC treatment landscape, demonstrating significantly improved progression-free survival with first-line amivantamab plus chemotherapy, versus chemotherapy alone, said trial investigator Professor Nicolas Girard, Head of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, and Professor of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine at the Paris Saclay University, France.* Notably, we observed improvements in functional status and reduction in lung cancer-related symptoms, underscoring the potential of this regimen to redefine standards of care for these patients, offering hope for improved quality of life and patient-relevant treatment outcomes."

An urgent need exists for innovative treatments in NSCLC, particularly for patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion driver mutations, due to the significant disease burden.2 EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are the third most common activating EGFR mutation and are associated with real-world five-year overall survival rates as low as 8%.2 This reinforces the critical demand for targeted therapeutic approaches, tailored to address the unique complexities of EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, aiming to substantially improve patient survival and quality of life outcomes.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Europe. As patients living with EGFR exon 20 insertion-mutated NSCLC face a particularly poor prognosis, the need for innovative combinations in the frontline setting is vital, said Henar Hevia, Senior Director, EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead, Oncology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. At Johnson & Johnson, we are dedicated to the development and delivery of novel, targeted therapies aimed to address specific disease pathways, with the ultimate goal of ensuring each patient receives the right treatment at the right time."

The PAPILLON study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS; as measured by blinded independent central review [BICR]) in patients receiving amivantamab in combination with chemotherapy, versus chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio [HR]=0.395; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.300.53; P<0.0001).1,3 An interim overall survival (OS) analysis showed a favourable trend for patients treated with amivantamab plus chemotherapy, compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone (HR=0.675; 95 percent CI, 0.421.09; P=0.106).1,3 The combination of amivantamab and chemotherapy demonstrated a safety profile consistent with the safety profiles of the individual agents, with low rates of treatment-related discontinuations (7 percent).1,3 The rates of overall adverse events (AEs) and AEs leading to death were comparable between both treatment arms.3 The rate of Grade 3 AEs was higher with amivantamab and chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone (75 percent vs. 54 percent).3 Serious AEs (SAEs) occurred in 37 percent of patients with amivantamab and chemotherapy, compared to 31 percent with chemotherapy alone.3 EGFR and MET-related AEs were increased with amivantamab-chemotherapy (primarily grade 1-2).3 Chemotherapy-associated haematologic and gastro-intestinal toxicities were comparable, except for neutropenia, which was transient.3 Pneumonitis was reported in three percent of patients in the amivantamab-chemotherapy arm.3

Todays positive opinion represents the culmination of years of work and our teams commitment to the lung cancer community. We will continue to focus on redefining treatment paradigms, starting from the very first line of therapy, with a goal of improving survival rates and overall patient outcomes. said Kiran Patel, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development, Solid Tumours, Johnson & Johnson Research & Development, LLC. Through our extensive research and development efforts, we are pioneering novel approaches and targeting key pathways implicated in lung cancer progression, with the ultimate goal of transforming clinical outcomes for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

#ENDS#

About PAPILLON

PAPILLON ( NCT04538664 ), which enrolled 308 patients, is a randomised, open-label Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of amivantamab in combination with chemotherapy, compared with chemotherapy alone, in newly diagnosed patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC characterised by EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.4 The primary endpoint of the study is PFS as assessed by BICR.3 Secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), PFS after first subsequent therapy (PFS2), duration of response (DOR), time to subsequent therapy (TTST) and overall survival (OS).3 Patients who received chemotherapy alone were allowed to receive amivantamab monotherapy in the second-line setting after confirmation of disease progression.3

About Amivantamab

Amivantamab is a fully-human EGFR-MET bispecific antibody that acts by targeting tumours with activating and resistance EGFR mutations and MET mutations and amplifications, and by harnessing the immune system.5,6,7,8

The European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorisation of amivantamab in December 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced NSCLC with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations, after failure of platinum-based therapy.9 Amivantamab is the first approved treatment in the European Union specifically targeting EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations for NSCLC.9 In November 2023, a type II extension of indication application was submitted to the EMA based on the MARIPOSA-2 study seeking approval of amivantamab in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR ex19del or L858R substitution mutations, after failure of prior therapy including a third-generation EGFR TKI.10 This was recently followed, in February 2024, with the submission of a type II extension of indication application to the EMA based on the MARIPOSA study for amivantamab, in combination with lazertinib, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with common epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions (ex19del) or exon 21 L858R (L858R) substitution mutations.11 Pending EC approval based on the PAPILLON study, the conditional marketing authorisation will be converted into a standard marketing authorisation.

For a full list of adverse events and information on dosage and administration, contraindications and other precautions when using amivantamab, please refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics .9

 In line with EMA regulations for new medicines, amivantamab is subject to additional monitoring.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

In Europe, it is estimated that 484,306 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022.12 NSCLC accounts for 85 percent of all lung cancer cases.13 Lung cancer is Europes biggest cancer killer, with more deaths than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.12

The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.13 Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase controlling cell growth and division.13,14 EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent of Western patients with NSCLC with adenocarcinoma histology and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asian patients.15,16,17,18 EGFR ex19del or EGFR L858R mutations are the most common EGFR mutations.19 The five-year survival rate for all people with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is less than 20 percent.20 EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are the third most prevalent activating EGFR mutation.21 Patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations have a real-world five-year OS of 8 percent in the frontline setting, which is lower than patients with EGFR ex19del or L858R mutations.2

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.

Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea . Follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/jnj-innovative-medicine-emea. Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen-Cilag International NV and Janssen Research & Development, LLC are Johnson & Johnson companies.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of amivantamab. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnsons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A. Risk Factors, and in Johnson & Johnsons subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov/ , http://www.jnj.com/ or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

# # #

RECIST (version 1.1) refers to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, which is a standard way to measure how well solid tumours respond to treatment and is based on whether tumours shrink, stay the same or get bigger.

*Professor Nicolas Girard has served as a consultant to Janssen-Cilag International NV; they have not been paid for any media work.



References



1 Zhou C, et al. Amivantamab plus Chemotherapy in NSCLC with EGFR Exon 20 Insertions. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(22):2039-2051.

2 Girard N, et al. Comparative clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations and common EGFR mutations. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore.

3 Girard N, et al. Amivantamab Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy as First line Treatment in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion-mutated Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Primary Results From PAPILLON, a Randomized Phase 3 Global Study. 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. October 21, 2023.

4 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of Combination Amivantamab and Carboplatin-Pemetrexed Therapy, Compared With Carboplatin-Pemetrexed, in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Characterized by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Exon 20 Insertions (PAPILLON). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04538664 . Accessed: April 2024.

5 Grugan KD, et al. Fc-mediated activity of EGFR x c-Met bispecific antibody JNJ-61186372 enhanced killing of lung cancer cells. MAbs 2017;9(1):114-126.

6 Moores SL, et al. A Novel Bispecific Antibody Targeting EGFR and cMet Is Effective against EGFR Inhibitor-Resistant Lung Tumors. Cancer Res 2016;76(13)(suppl 27216193):3942-3953.

7 Yun J, et al. Antitumor Activity of Amivantamab (JNJ-61186372), an EGFRMET Bispecific Antibody, in Diverse Models of EGFR Exon 20 InsertionDriven NSCLC. Cancer Discov 2020;10(8):1194-1209.

8 Vijayaraghavan S, et al. Amivantamab (JNJ-61186372), an Fc Enhanced EGFR/cMet Bispecific Antibody, Induces Receptor Downmodulation and Antitumor Activity by Monocyte/Macrophage Trogocytosis. Mol Cancer Ther 2020;19(10):2044-2056.

9 European Medicines Agency. Amivantamab Summary of Product Characteristics. January 2023. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/rybrevant-epar-product-information_en.pdf . Accessed: April 2024.

10 Janssen.com/EMEA. Janssen Submits Application to the European Medicines Agency for RYBREVANT (amivantamab) in Combination with Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Advanced EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Failure of Prior Therapy. Available at: https://www.janssen.com/emea/sites/www_janssen_com_emea/files/janssen_mariposa-2_filing_press_release_2023.pdf . Accessed: April 2024.

11 Janssen.com/EMEA. Janssen Submits Type II Extension of Indication Application to the European Medicines Agency Seeking Approval of RYBREVANT (amivantamab), in combination with Lazertinib, for the First-Line Treatment of Patients with EGFR Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.janssen.com/emea/sites/www_janssen_com_emea/files/amivantamab_mariposa_ema_filing_release_2024_2.pdf . Accessed: April 2024.

12 Global Cancer Observatory. Cancer Today. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/en . Accessed: April 2024.

13 Zappa C, et al. Non-small cell lung cancer: current treatment and future advances. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2016;5(3):288300.

14 Wee P, Wang Z. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Cell Proliferation Signaling Pathways. Cancers. 2017;9(5):52.

15 Pennell NA, et al. A phase II trial pf adjuvant erlotinib in patients with resected epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(7);97-104.

16 Burnett H, et al. Epidemiological and clinical burden of EGFR exon 20 insertion in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic literature review. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore.

17 Zhang YL, et al. The prevalence of EGFR mutation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016;7(48):78985-78993.

18 Midha A, et al. EGFR mutation incidence in non-small-cell lung cancer of adenocarcinoma histology: a systematic review and global map by ethnicity. Am J Cancer Res. 2015;5(9):2892-2911.

19 American Lung Association. EGFR and Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/egfr . Accessed April 2024.

20 Lin JJ, et al. Five-Year Survival in EGFR-Mutant Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated with EGFR-TKIs. J Thorac Oncol 2016 Apr;11(4):556-65.

21 Arcila M, et al. EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in lung adenocarcinomas: prevalence, molecular heterogeneity, and clinicopathologic characteristics. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2013;12(2):220-9.

CP-449329

April 2024


SINGAPORE, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading AI-powered education group, today welcomed leading education entrepreneurs as new shareholders of the Company.



Genius Groups new investors include:

Brent Richardson, Past CEO and Chairman of Grand Canyon Education. Mr Richardson led the transformation of Grand Canyon University from a near-bankrupt institution in 2004 to an early pioneer in online education and a global institution with over 100,000 students worldwide.

Dr Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Aldhaheri, Founder and Chairman of Abu Dhabi University. Dr Ali has built Abu Dhabi University into one of UAEs leading academic insititutions. He is also the First Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a member of the Economic Cooperation Committee for Government and Private Sectors in Abu Dhabi.

Michael Moe, Founder and CEO of GSV Ventures. Mr Moe is an early investor in Edtech companies including Coursera, Chegg, Course Hero, Masterclass, and private investor in companies such as Meta, Twitter, Spotify, Coursera and Palantir. In addition to being a new shareholder in Genius Group, Mr Moe will also be joining the Genius Group board as Non Executive Chairman.

Mr Richardson, Dr Ali and Mr Moe, together with various other investors, are joining Genius Group as new shareholders following the completion of the previously announced Genius Group and FatBrain AI transaction.

Michael Moe said The combination of Genius Group and FatBrain AI comes at a pivotal time when AI is combining with learning to create new and revolutionary education systems. Im extremely excited to be a part of the future growth plans of Genius Group, both as a shareholder and as a member of its board. I believe that the Company has a fantastic future ahead in the ever-growing need for AI training and entrepreneur education.

Roger Hamilton, CEO of Genius Group said FatBrain AI has benefited from a very special group of early investors who have extensive experience in building cutting-edge education companies as well as a vision for the future of AI in education. We have been looking for shareholders who can add their expertise and experience in addition to their investment to support our future growth, and were grateful for the support and advice weve already received from this incredible group of global leaders in education.

About Genius Group

Genius Group is a leading AI-powered education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed. Through its learning platform, GeniusU, the Genius Group has a member base of 5.4 million users in 200 countries, ranging from early age to 100.

For more information, please visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/

Investor Notice

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2023 and August 3, 2023. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

Contacts

US Investors:

Dave Gentry

RedChip Companies Inc

1-800-RED-CHIP

GNS@redchip.com
CALGARY, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG | OTC: PAANF | FRA: SS60) (Pan American or the Company) is pleased to announce the final assay results on 13 holes from the 2023/2024 diamond drill program on the Big Mack Lithium Project (Property), located approximately 80 kilometers north of the town of Kenora, ON. The drilling campaign was carried out by Full Force Diamond Drilling Ltd. (Full Force) under the geological guidance of Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. (Axiom).

The last phase of 2023/2024 drilling program focused on areas of the Property outside of the known mineralized zones and was designed to test prospective areas extending along strike and down dip of previously identified mineralization. These targets showed indications for mineralization but had not been tested by historic drilling. Drill targets were identified using the 2023 geochemical surface sampling results as well as the UAV detailed magnetic survey data previously collected by the Company. Certain infill holes within the Eleven zone and Big Mack Pegmatite were also included in the last phase of drilling. The results of the final phase of drilling indicate that lithium mineralization extends southeast of the Sprinkler Zone and bolster the confidence in previous lithium mineralization showings at the Eleven zone.

HIGHLIGHTS

1.71% Li 2 O over 19.65 meters (BM24-059) and 1.46% Li 2 O over 4.5 meters through the center of the Eleven Zone pegmatite.

(BM24-059) and 1.46% Li O over 4.5 meters through the center of the Eleven Zone pegmatite. 2.75% Li 2 O over 1.0 meters within a 5.83-meter interval of 1.64 % Li 2 O (BM24-047) intersected approximately 70 m east of the main 6059/Sprinkler zone.

(BM24-047) intersected approximately 70 m east of the main 6059/Sprinkler zone. Sprinkler Zone mineralization remains open at depth and along strike to the southeast.



Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer, commented, We are pleased to report on the latest and final assays received on the Property from our most recent drill program. Our team has further expanded on the newly identified mineralized zones in areas where high grade lithium had not previously been identified. This proves to us that additional discoveries can be made at the Property, and as we refine our understanding of the geology, we will look to follow-up these intercepts as they remain open at depth and along strike.





Figure 1: Drill Holes Map for 2023 and 2024 Drill Programs

Table 1: Drill Hole Assay Highlights Table for Holes BM24-047 to BM24-059

* Interval widths are not true widths

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Li 2 O (wt%) BM24-047 114.17 120 5.83 1.64 Inc. 115.1 116.1 1 2.75 BM24-048 No Significant values BM24-049 93.4 96.65 3.25 0.3 BM24-050 126.05 130.45 4.4 0.19 BM24-051 No Significant values BM24-052 No Significant values BM24-053 140.91 142.15 1.24 0.23 And 187.3 190.32 3.02 0.16 BM24-054 No Significant values BM24-055 No Significant values BM24-056 No Significant values BM24-057 No Significant values BM24-058 No Significant values BM24-059 32 36.5 4.5 1.46 Inc. 33.5 35.5 2 1.95 And 47.3 66.95 19.65 1.71 Inc. 47.3 52.95 5.65 2.19 60.95 66.95 6 2.16

As stated above, the last phase of drilling was designed to test and extend mineralization in instances where noticeable surficial anomalies had been observed in areas that hadnt been historically drill tested, as well as to complete some infill holes within the Eleven zone and Big Mack Pegmatite. BM24-047 was drilled to the southwest of the Sprinkler Zone and successfully tested the extension of mineralization that was identified in holes BM24-045 and BM24-046 to the west (Figure 6) with 5.83m of 1.64% Li 2 O. Infill drill hole BM24-059 was drilled to the south of the Eleven Zone pegmatite. The hole successfully had multiple mineralized intercepts, including an interval of 19.65m at 1.71% Li 2 O.





Figure 2: Core photos of hole BM24-047 (104.43m to 120m) highlighting Li 2 O% values in high grade intercepts from 114.17m to 120m (Blue).





Figure 3: Core photos of hole BM24-059 (17.85m to 34.60m) highlighting Li 2 O% values in high grade intercepts from 32m to 36.5m (Red).





Figure 4: Core photos of hole BM24-059 (34.60m to 51m) highlighting Li 2 O% values in high grade intercepts from 32m to 36.5m (Red) and 47.3m to 66.95m (Blue).





Figure 5: Core photos of hole BM24-059 (51m to 68.50m) highlighting Li 2 O% values in high grade intercepts from 47.3m to 66.95m (Blue).

In summary, during the last phase of the program the Company drilled 3720.24 m, for a total amount of drilling over the entire program of 8319.24 m over 59 drill holes. The hole specifications for the final phase of the drilling program are detailed in Table 2.

Table 2: Attributes for Drill Hole BM23-047 to BM23-059

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Dip () Azimuth () Total Depth (m) Core Size Target NAD 83/UTM Zone 15N NAD 83/UTM Zone 15N BM24-047 387358.292 5569674.659 350 -45.3 189.9 120 NQ 6059/Sprinkler BM24-048 387358.556 5569674.645 338.0488 -60.1 190.1 153 NQ 6059/Sprinkler BM24-049 386517.037 5569956.214 322.01 -45.2 173.01 165 NQ Big Mack BM24-050 386517.037 5569956.214 321.539 -54.9 173.2 204 NQ Big Mack BM24-051 386208.452 5569911.172 315.548 -60 210 210 NQ Exploration BM24-052 386129.469 5569943.257 313.075 -44.7 210.4 129 NQ Exploration BM24-053 386129.469 5569943.257 313.075 -55.1 20 300 NQ Exploration BM24-054 386790.83 5569799.686 333.753 -45 5 207 NQ Exploration BM24-055 386728.842 5569848.291 337.088 -45.4 194.8 103 NQ Exploration BM24-056 386728.842 5569848.291 337.088 -45.4 9.7 159 NQ Exploration BM24-057 386646.013 5569849.549 337.858 -45.4 184.6 69 NQ Exploration BM24-058 386646.013 5569849.549 337.858 -45 10 151.5 NQ Exploration BM24-059 386351.678 5569951.28 331.187 -44.9 334.9 126 NQ Exploration BM24-047 387358.292 5569674.659 350 -45.3 189.9 120 NQ Exploration BM24-048 387358.556 5569674.645 338.0488 -60.1 190.1 153 NQ Exploration BM24-059 386517.037 5569956.214 322.01 -45.2 173.01 165 NQ Eleven









Figure 6: Cross section of BM24-047 and BM24-048.





Figure 7: Cross section of BM24-059

General Statements

Holes BM24-047, BM24-048 and BM24-051 to BM24-058 were exploration holes targeting magnetic anomalies identified from the UAV-borne magnetics survey completed in 2023 by EarthEx Geophysical Solutions Inc. in conjunction with surface samples collected in the 2023 summer prospecting program. Holes BM24-049 and BM24-050 were infill holes targeting the Big Mack Deposit, and BM24-059 was an infill hole on targeting the Eleven zone pegmatite. Visual core logging indicates that the predominant host mineral for the Big Mack pegmatites is petalite. The true width of holes BM24-051 to BM24-058 reported in this release have not yet been determined. Holes BM24-047 to BM24-050 and BM24-059 described in this news release targeting the Big Mack, Sprinkler/6059 and Eleven zone pegmatites were drilled broadly perpendicular and inclined to the pegmatite orientations so that the true thickness of reported intercepts is estimated to range somewhere between 30-80% of the drilled widths.

Sample Quality Assurance / Quality Control

A thorough chain-of-custody and QA/QC program is being carried out on the ongoing drill program. Samples are taken across all pegmatite intervals with shoulder samples into the host rock on either side of the dykes. Sample lengths are ranging from 0.3 m  1.5 m, dependant on internal zoning of the dykes, mineralization, and lithology contacts. Core to be sampled is cut in half onsite, with half being sent for analysis and the other half remaining in the box for future reference and re-sampling, if needed.

A malfunction of downhole location survey equipment could cause inaccurate dip and azimuth tracking due to drillhole deviation, which would affect the planned drillhole spacing and required density for the resource estimation. To ensure accuracy, downhole surveys are performed every 30 meters of drilling, with survey tests repeated in the event of results that are outside planned drillhole drift. Additional downhole survey tools are kept on-site in the event of malfunction during drilling.

The Companys implemented QA/QC procedures include the insertion of certified standard control samples,  cut duplicates, and blanks. This is being used to test for natural variability / sampling bias / testing the lab for homogeneity during sample preparation processes within the lab, as well as testing the precision and any possible contamination from the lab and ensure proper calibration of lab equipment.

Sample analyses are being conducted by ALS Canada LTD (ALS), an independent lab. Samples are shipped to the Winnipeg, Manitoba prep lab, and then shipped by ALS to the geochemistry analysis lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Drill core samples are subject to sodium peroxide fusion analyses using ICP-MS for Trace element values on total digestion and ICP-AES on samples with values greater than 25,000 ppm Li. ALS follows the quality management and operational guidelines set out in the international standards ISO/IEC 17025  General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and ISO 9001  Quality Management Systems.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jared Suchan, Ph.D., P.Geo., who is an independent consultant of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Suchan verified the data disclosed (or underlying the information disclosed) in this news release by reviewing imported and sorted assay data; checking the performance of blank samples and certified reference materials; reviewing the variance in field duplicate results; and reviewing grade calculation formulas.

About the Property

The Property is located 2 km east of the all-weather Snook Lake Road, about 80 km north of Kenora, ON. The Property is proximal (~1.3 km) to Avalons Separation Rapids, Big Whopper deposit which hosts a measured and indicated resource. The Property is within an Ontario registered mining lease, with over 30 years of exploration history. The Property lies within the traditional land use area of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations of Whitedog, Ontario: an Aboriginal community located approximately 35 km southwest of the property.

The Property hosts four known Li-bearing pegmatites including the Big Mack pegmatite, Eleven Zone, Sprinkler Zone, and 6095 pegmatite which are thought to be related to the Separation Rapids Pluton. They are interpreted as zoned Complex Type, Petalite Subtype LCT Pegmatites. The Big Mack pegmatite represents the largest petalite-bearing mass on the Property and is exposed over an 80 by 225 m area.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.

To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jason Latkowcer

CEO & Director

Contact

Phone : (587) 885-5970

Email: info@panam-energy.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Companys exploration plans at the Property, including the nature and type of the Companys planned exploration activities, the timing of such exploration activities and the aim and objectives of the Companys exploration efforts.

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the Companys ability to execute on its exploration plans at the Property, including that it will be successful in carrying out such exploration activities on the anticipated timeline and that such exploration activities will yield the expected information and the desired outcomes.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that exploration at the Property does not proceed in the manner and on the timeline currently contemplated, or at all; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to receiving requisite permits and approvals, changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a project; that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company; and that mineral exploration activities are often unsuccessful. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/def21c69-5ebb-46a4-9f4a-1644dbc62623

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44d02475-92d8-40f6-9ef8-f75714874137

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7ec0042-ccae-4403-a30a-719a88e6898f

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FRANKFURT: 89N) (MAX Power or the Company) is pleased to confirm the discovery of near-surface lithium-rich clays over a broad area of state-leased ground in first-ever diamond drilling at the Willcox Playa in southeast Arizona.



Notably, the high-grade hectorite-saponite mix of lithium in the clays within the sediments at Willcox is amenable to a straightforward separation process as demonstrated by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California (Berkeley Lab) where samples in the clay fraction from the Discovery Zone also averaged 1,243 ppm lithium through initial testing using a particle size that can be reasonably expected to gravitationally separate in a full-scale commercial mining process.

MAX Powers land package (the Property") covers a 6-mile-long northeast trending corridor (3,754 acres) along the eastern side of the broader 50 sq. mile Playa. Much of the rest of the Playa is leased by the U.S. Defense Department from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The entire Playa, which up until MAX Powers program had never been previously diamond drilled, is now believed to be prospective for a potentially very large lithium deposit surrounded by top tier infrastructure including roads, rail, power and services located immediately off Interstate 10 in southeast Arizona, leading to Tucson and Phoenix.

Bulls-Eye Target On Southern Claim Block

The next drill holes at Willcox are planned for the southern portion of the Property where the largest and most intense low resistivity anomaly has been detected, overlain by a very low gravity anomaly. Drill results from the Discovery Zone confirm that this type of geophysical signature is an excellent target for lithium mineralization at Willcox. This fact highlights the strong potential of the southern BLM claims to significantly expand this grassroots discovery. BLM has granted MAX Power drill permits for this area.

Highlights:

Each of the first three triangular-spaced drill holes in the northern section of MAX Powers property, the Discovery Zone covering an area 1,640 feet x 1,640 feet x 2,300 feet , intersected lithium at shallow levels over significant widths, including 15.5 feet grading 774.8 ppm lithium within a broader whole rock interval of 184 feet averaging 570.8 ppm lithium in drill hole WP-23-02;

, intersected lithium at shallow levels over significant widths, including 15.5 feet grading 774.8 ppm lithium within a broader whole rock interval of 184 feet averaging 570.8 ppm lithium in drill hole WP-23-02; When separating the clay fraction from the sand/silt fraction, lithium assays increased markedly, by as much as 47%, assaying up to 1,447 ppm lithium;

This early-stage discovery remains open in all directions with MAX Power also exploring options to expand its land package;

Based on a compilation of MAX Powers work to date, and historical data, geologists believe the Discovery Zone represents just a fraction of the scale potential of Willcox with higher-grade mineralization expected in areas of increased clay content.

Dr. Michael Whittaker, Research Scientist in the Energy Geoscience and Materials Science Divisions at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, stated: Lithium concentrations at Willcox increase when coarse particles are removed. This is consistent with features of clays found in shallow lacustrine sediments in other resources our team has examined. Bespoke processes aimed at precision separation of the clays at Willcox are likely to improve lithium grades further based on the characteristics of silt and sand that are distinct from otherwise similar deposits. Further research and development on clay mineralogy and separations processes are needed in this promising and under-explored deposit.

Mr. Peter Lauder, MAX Power Senior Geologist, commented: We have successfully advanced the geological understanding of the Willcox Playa, demonstrating through first-ever diamond drilling and clay separation at Berkeley that the Playa may host a top-tier lithium deposit extending from MAXs ground through claims leased by the Defense Department. Our BLM claims to the south provide some of the most compelling targets on the property, so we are eager to start Phase 2 drilling there while also expanding the Discovery Zone.

MAX Power CEO Rav Mlait added: I congratulate our team for a commendable job confirming through first-ever diamond drilling and clay analysis that the Willcox Playa is prospective for a large-scale lithium deposit as the U.S. Geological Survey postulated half a century ago when they carried out some limited work. We look forward to the next steps at Willcox and executing on our broader strategy of capturing unique opportunities in North Americas shift to decarbonization.

Willcox Playa Project Map





MAX Power submitted all samples from Phase 1 drilling to ALS Global Labs (ALS) in Tucson for analysis. In addition to ALS, the Company also submitted representative samples for an in-depth analysis to the Earth and Environmental Sciences Divisions at the Berkeley Lab. Berkeley Lab has made significant contributions to the Companys understanding of lithium mineralization at the property and the importance of focusing on the clay fraction. The Berkeley Lab analysis discovered lithium grades increase by an average of 31.8% when only the clay fraction is analyzed as seen in Figure 1. Berkeley Lab used 1 micron (m) as a cut-off particle size to separate the clay fraction. As noted earlier in this news release, this is the particle size that can be reasonably expected to gravitationally separate in a full-scale commercial mining process. Figure 2 is a summary of selected lithium intercepts of the combined clay and sand fractions from the 2023-2024 program at the Willcox Property.



Figure 1: Comparison of Lithium in the Clay Fraction to Lithium in the Entire Sample

Sample

Number Lithium

(Clay Only)

(ppm) Lithium

(Clay + Sand)

(ppm) Increase in Lithium Grade

(Clay Only vs Clay + Sand)

(ppm) Increase in Lithium Grade

(Clay Only vs Clay + Sand)

(percent) K360997 1447.1 986 + 461.1 + 47% G375085 1428.1 1000 + 428.1 + 43% K360986 1021.4 880 + 141.4 + 16% K360989 1075.5 887 + 188.5 + 21% Averages 1243.0 938.3 + 304.8 + 31.8%



Figure 2: Summary of Significant Intercepts of Lithium in Clays & Sand

Drill Hole

Number From

(feet) To

(feet) Thickness

(feet) Lithium

(ppm) WP 23-02 142.0 326.0 184.0 570.8 Including 164.0 179.5 15.5 774.8 WP 23-03 158.0 308.0 150.0 507.0 Including 168.0 198.0 30.0 620.0 Including 273.0 278.0 5.0 850.0 WP 23-01 260.5 302.0 41.5 659.2 Including 292.0 302.0 10.0 755.0 WP 23-01 152.0 172.8 20.8 663.3 Including 157.0 162.0 5.0 750.0



Figure 3: Diamond Drill Hole Collar Coordinates

DDH UTM NAD 83 z12 Azimuth Dip Depth (feet) East North WP 23-01 613420 3556290 0 -90 1657 WP 23-02 612990 3556299 0 -90 998 WP 23-03 612521 3555690 0 -90 1007 WP 23-04 610132 3551399 0 -90 1200 WP 23-05 610131 3550899 0 -90 1200



Potential for Lithium in Brines

Liquids were present and sampled at multiple depths in every drill hole on the Property. Based on this initial study, lithium grades in brines increase from holes drilled at the Playa margin moving towards the centre. The number of current data points are not yet of a significant sample size to determine the size and scope of the potential for liquids under the Willcox Playa to host economic grades of lithium. Further drilling will assist in this analysis.

Geological Strata Observed at Willcox

The claystone strata were capped by a light brown clay at the top of the section, the current land surface of the Playa. Below this top clay, a distinct black clay with a strong sulphur odour was observed in the northern drilling area. This black clay was also noted by the historical drill hole USGS W-1 completed in 1978 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Below the black clay, the claystone became dominated by a grey to grey-green clay. Below the grey clays the sequence was dominated by a thick red-brown claystone. Gypsum was commonly observed most in this red-brown claystone in both the Discovery Zone and in two holes further to the south (WP-23-04 and WP-23-05) where theories around fluid sequences were a key part of the focus.

A series of sandstone layers were also observed within the claystones. The liquids the Company encountered were primarily observed within these internal sandstones. Locally, conglomerates were also observed.

Depths of the claystones range from 900 feet in hole WP-23-01, 938 feet in hole WP-23-02 and 931 feet in hole WP-23-03. The base of the claystone package was not observed in holes WP-23-04 and WP 23-05.

The geology beneath the claystone sequence was somewhat variable, indicating deposition of various intensities and variable sources from the surrounding mountain ranges.

Sample Handling and Analysis Procedures

All the core samples were logged and sampled using a full QAQC protocol. QAQC samples were inserted approximately every 20 core samples. The QAQC samples included a duplicate laboratory standard for lithium as well as a blank. The core was brought directly from the drill rig to the Godbe Drilling office in Willcox, Arizona. The core was then logged, photographed, sampled, and prepared to be shipped at this location. The drill core was shipped from Willcox directly to ALS. The Company followed a full chain of custody protocol for all the sample dispatches to ALS. Samples were sent in batches to ALS. Sample analysis (assays) were sent to the Company by the individual batches.

When at ALS, samples were prepared by crushing to 70% less than 2 mm, riffle split off 1 kg. Following crushing, samples were pulverized split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Once the sample preparation was completed the core samples were roasted as a pre-treatment. Following roasting, the samples were analyzed using a four-acid digestion and an ICP-AES finish. This method has been said to be the best method to analyse lithium in sediments.

Representative samples from the drill core were sent to Berkeley Lab for analysis and further study. The drill core samples comprised both clay and sand fractions. The clay fraction was separated using the five-step method below:

Comminution using a mortar and pestle. Sieving to retain <5 m fraction. Suspension in water and sonication to disaggregate and re-suspend. Sequential centrifugation following Stokes law. Particle size and density confirmation with dynamic light scattering.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Thomas Clarke, P.Geo., Pr.Sci.Nat., and Director for MAX Power Mining Corp. Mr. Clarke is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

About MAX Power

MAX Power is a dynamic exploration stage resource company targeting domestic lithium resources to advance North Americas renewable energy prospects while reviewing other strategic opportunities in the global shift to decarbonization. MAX has also entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to develop state-of-the-art direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies for brine resources.

On behalf of the Board of Directors Rav Mlait- CEO MarketSmart Communications MAX Power Mining Corp. Tel: 877-261-4466 info@maxpowermining.com Tel: 778-655-9266

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions



This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration, drilling, mineralization and historical results on the Willcox Property; the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the results of any future drilling program, mineralization and the discovery mineralization (if any); plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Willcox Playa Property; the potential for lithium within the Willcox Playa region; ability to access Property; ability to extract resources from the Property, commentary as it relates to the opportune timing to carry out lithium exploration, and any anticipated increasing demand for lithium; any results and updates thereto as it relates to any future drill program, and the funding of that program; and upcoming press releases by the Company. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," interpreted, "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," suggests, often, target, future, likely, pending, "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," possibly, preliminary, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of assay results and the drilling program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out its exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee7245fe-262e-46c7-afec-94f7b2e66761
An San Francisco Police Department squad car patrols at the bottom of the crooked portion of Lombard Street. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2021

San Francisco police officers are issuing more traffic citations than in years past, reversing a precipitous decline in the number of tickets issued over the past decade, according to data from the citys Police Department.



The jump comes after two hearings on the issue and amid political pressure to crack down on reckless driving and make the citys roads safer.

During the first three months of this year, the department recorded 2,879 traffic citations, 1,581 of which are for five traffic violations that often result in collisions. Thats more than 2.5 times what was issued during the same period in 2023, when officers gave out 1,099 citations.

The focus on the five violations are driving at unsafe speed, running a red light, failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk, failure to yield while making a left turn or U-turn, and failure to stop at a stop sign limit line.

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During a City Hall hearing Thursday, San Francisco supervisors praised the upward trend but warned that the department still has a long way to go to get back to the 2014 level of traffic violation citations.



The police department has said its hampered by a staffing crisis and more stringent paperwork requirements. The department added that individual officers must spend longer writing reports and collecting data than 10 years ago due to changes in state and local law. A traffic stop that used to take 5 minutes now takes 20 minutes longer, officials told supervisors.

Still, the department said it will deploy waves of officers to enforce traffic at nine intersections that are hot spots for crashes in San Francisco:



 Market and Octavia Streets and Highway 101

 Geneva Avenue and Mission Street

 Gough Street at Haight Street and Market Street

 Divisadero Street at Geary Boulevard

 13th Street at Duboce Avenue at the Highway 101 ramp

 Fulton Street at Park Presidio Boulevard

 13th Street and South Van Ness Avenue

 Eddy Street and Larkin Street

 Eddy Street and Polk Street

In December, San Francisco failed to reach its 10-year goal of eliminating pedestrian deaths, after years of police easing back on ticketing drivers.

Citations have plummeted in the past decade, from 12,444 in March 2014 to just 336 in December 2023, according to city records, about a 97% drop. The decline outraged some elected officials and street safety advocates who are pushing for San Francisco to take its Vision Zero goal more seriously.

Its unclear based on the departments data just how much citations deter risky driving, but the city has seen at least 20 traffic fatalities every year for the past decade, reaching a high of 37 in 2022.

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As it struggles to hire officers, San Francisco officials have focused on increasing the number of red-light cameras across the city. Right now the Municipal Transportation Agency operates red-light cameras at 13 locations throughout the city, and the city wants to add eight by 2025.



A particularly harrowing car collision that killed a family of four in West Portal in March has led to renewed calls for tough enforcement of traffic laws and calls for more investment in pedestrian safety, though the cause of that tragedy is still under investigation.

SFPD Commander Nicole Jones, who oversees the departments traffic division, said part of the blame for the lack of enforcement is SFPD going from over 2,200 officers in 2016 to less than 1,900 in 2024.

Officials such as Supervisor Matt Dorsey  who has frequently focused on bolstering police staffing  have warned that as officers retire, not enough new officers are joining the departments ranks.

Jones said the department has 29 motorcycle officers assigned to the traffic company, about 60 fewer than in 2014. She said staffing is not expected to improve anytime soon, which means its crucial for traffic enforcement efforts to be as strategic as possible. That means a lot of enforcement  such as more police patrols in high-injury corridors  is difficult with the current staffing level.

Jones said the departments strategy is high-visibility enforcement that focuses police presence in high-injury areas of the city, such as the Tenderloin, Mission and Lower Nob Hill neighborhoods. The department combines law enforcement presence with traffic enforcement signage and education to promote voluntary compliance with the law.

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For too long Californias courts have weaponized the fear of debt and incarceration against Black and brown recipients of traffic tickets when far more equitable enforcement options are available. Michael Short/Special to the Chronicle 2016

The department said it is also increasing the number of DUI checkpoints.

Jones added that the department needs to install radar equipment on its motorcycle fleet, increase the number of bikes available to the department, bolster training for new and existing officers to ride motorcycles and potentially use more overtime to do traffic enforcement.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said San Francisco has not made traffic enforcement one of its highest public safety priorities. Still, he was happy to hear the department is making headway, adding SFPD has a strong plan and we have at least arrested the decline in citations and, we hope, turned the corner on enforcement.
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TORONTO and HOUSTON, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (Medicenna or the Company) (TSX: MDNA) (MDNAF: OTCQB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on the development of engineered cytokines, today announced a CA$20 million investment by RA Capital Management, a multi-stage investment manager based in Boston, MA, by way of a non-brokered private placement (the Offering). Medicenna intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for further development of its MDNA11 program, advancement of its preclinical programs and general corporate purposes.

Pursuant to the terms of a subscription agreement entered into as of the date hereof between the Company and RA Capital Healthcare Fund, L.P. (RAHF), a fund affiliated with RA Capital Management, RAHF will subscribe for 5,141,388 common shares in the capital of the Company (the Shares) at a price of CA$1.95 per share and, in lieu of common shares, pre-funded warrants to purchase 5,141,388 common shares (the Pre-Funded Warrants) at a purchase price of $1.94 per pre-funded warrant for total net proceeds to the Company of approximately CA$20 million.

The Offering is expected to close on or about April 30, 2024 and is subject to the approval of the TSX.

We are excited to announce the financial backing by RA Capital Management as a result of promising single-agent clinical activity of MDNA11, our differentiated IL-2 superkine, said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and CEO of Medicenna. With this funding, we have strengthened our balance sheet at a time of strong momentum, demonstrated enthusiasm for our platform by attracting a prestigious investor and extended our cash runway well into 2026 enabling us to exploit the deep clinical potential of MDNA11 and our pipeline of early-stage superkines.

The Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an applicable exemption from such registration is available.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Medicenna

Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on developing novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first-in-class empowered superkines. Medicennas long-acting IL-2 Superkine, MDNA11, is a next-generation IL-2 with superior affinity toward CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta) and no CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha) binding, thereby preferentially stimulating cancer-killing effector T cells and NK cells. Medicennas IL-4 Empowered Superkine, bizaxofusp (formerly MDNA55), has been studied in 5 clinical trials enrolling over 130 patients, including a Phase 2b trial for recurrent GBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. Bizaxofusp has obtained FastTrack and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA, respectively. Medicennas early-stage BiSKITs (Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies) and the T-MASK (Targeted Metalloprotease Activated SuperKine) programs are designed to enhance the ability of Superkines to treat immunologically cold tumors.

For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements, including, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Offering and the terms thereof, the anticipated closing date, the proposed use of proceeds from the Offering, and the receipt of the approval of the TSX. Forward-looking statements also include express or implied statements regarding the future operations of the Company, estimates, plans, strategic ambitions, partnership activities and opportunities, objectives, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, outlook or other statements that are not historical facts, such as statements on the Companys cash runway, preclinical and clinical development activities, clinical trial designs, clinical potential, expectations and beliefs around safety profiles and upcoming milestones and data reporting, including with respect to MDNA11, the ABILITY study and its expansion, bizaxofusp (MDNA55), MDNA113 and MDNA223. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical studies may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical studies and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements or the scientific data presented. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expect, believe, seek, potentially and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable at the date of this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the risks detailed in the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time in Canada.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and except as required by law, we do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements.

This news release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this news release.

Investor and Media Contact:

Christina Cameron

Investor Relations, Medicenna Therapeutics

ir@medicenna.com

(647) 953-0673
VERO BEACH, FL, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Mitesco, Inc. (OTC:MITI, the Company, www.mitescoinc.com ) today announced that it has added two (2) additional professionals to its recently formed Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of individuals with specific subject matter expertise who may assist the Company in finding and evaluating qualified companies and businesses for integration into the public holding company. The Advisory Board is a non-executive board, and its participants shall not be subject to any of the regulations under Section 16 of the Securities Act.

The latest appointments to the Advisory Board who provide infrastructure, GIS, outsourcing and data center operations experience are as follows:

Tom Simon is the owner of Synthos, LLC, [ www.Synthos.co ], a provider of development and support services specializing in geographical information systems (GIS) based in Seattle, Washington. His services include data procurement and analysis, spatial and statistical analysis using industry leading applications such as ESRI's Arc-Info and Trimble Navigation. His clients include telecoms, power providers, environmental engineering, and infrastructure management as well as governmental agencies such as NOAA, EPA and USACE.

Prior to forming his own business, he was employed by key advisory firms including Booz Allen Hamilton where he served as lead GIS consultant and project manager serving federal agencies including US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), United States Coast Guard, US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and several offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Mr. Simons educational background includes a Bachelors degree from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (1986), as well as a Master of Science degree in geography from Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, (1988).

Chris McLoughlin has spent his career in software and systems development and is an owner of Accucom Consulting, Inc. [ www.accucomci.com ] specializing in network infrastructure, and software in the public safety sector [ www.sentryrms.com ]. Their clients include state and municipal law enforcement and fire agencies, with applications in dispatch, report writing, rotation and overtime scheduling through its SENTRYRMS solution suite. They also provide permitting for zoning and community planning and fire marshals. Their custom applications include full design and implementation for e-commerce, accounting, ERP and CRM customization as well as general data system operations. Mr. McLoughlins education includes a Bachelors degree from Hartwick College, as well as a Masters degree from Manhattanville University.

About Mitesco, Inc.

Mitesco ( www.mitescoinc.com )is seeking to build a growth-oriented company, providing products, services and technology to make accessible, higher quality, and more affordable solutions. The Mitesco team has experience in both start-ups and turnarounds intent on building successful growth situations, using both organic and acquisition growth strategies. Mitesco embraces the belief that when consumers' expectations are exceeded, the business performance may do so as well.

Contact:

Mitesco Investor Relations

Jimmy Caplan

jimmycaplan@me.com

512.329.9505

Mitesco Media Relations

Rick Eisenberg

eiscom@msn.com

917-691-8934

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the expected foreclosure of several of our clinics. Words such as expects, anticipates, aims, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, seeks, assumes, may, should, could, would, foresees, forecasts, predicts, targets, commitments, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We caution you that the foregoing may not include all the forward-looking statements made in this press release.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current plans, assumptions, beliefs, and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to the occurrence of many events outside of the Companys control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the ability to obtain additional financing; the risk that commenced and threatened litigation may result in material judgments against the Company; and other risks and uncertainties included in the Companys reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K and in other filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, available at www.sec.gov.
Dublin, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Blind Bolts Market Report by Product (Heavy Duty, Thin Wall), Diameter (M8, M10, M12, M16, and Others), Grade (Grade 8.8, Grade 10.9, Grade 316), Application (Automotive, Aerospace, Machinery and Equipment, Construction, and Others), and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global blind bolts market has exhibited a robust growth trajectory, with a significant market size of USD 4.1 billion in the year 2023. Forecasts indicate that the industry is expected to expand further, reaching an estimated USD 6.2 billion by the end of 2032. A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% is projected for the period spanning 2023 to 2032. This growth is underpinned by a combination of factors including technological innovations, a focus on structural integrity, and the rise of construction and infrastructure projects globally.







Driving the market forward, heavy-duty blind bolts hold the majority share, essential in large-scale construction and infrastructure projects for their durability and ability to sustain heavy loads. In addition to product types, diverse diameters cater to a range of industry needs, with M12 diameter bolts leading the charge. In terms of material grade, Grade 10.9 is the segment frontrunner, highly sought after for its high tensile strength and resilience. Across applications, the automotive sector showcases a significant demand for blind bolts, capitalizing on their reliable and efficient fastening capabilities.



Regional Analysis Underlines Asia Pacific Dominance



The Asia Pacific region commands the largest market share, with its rapid urbanization and infrastructural advancement setting a vigorous pace. North America and Europe also contribute to the market's momentum, with their emphasis on safety and sustainability in construction projects. Meanwhile, emerging markets in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are tapping into the industry's potential, propelled by demands in the mining and energy sectors.



Competitive Landscape Denotes Strategic Company Initiatives



Key industry players are engaging in strategic endeavors, focusing on product innovation and expanding to global markets to solidify their market presence. Conscious efforts toward incorporating sustainable practices are evident among market leaders, addressing the increasing call for environmental stewardship while maintaining growth and innovation.



Anticipating Market Trends and Opportunities



As the market stands at a pivotal juncture, the emphasis on technological advancements, safety, and structural integrity defines future trajectory. The continued rise in construction activities presents opportunities for the industry, with cost-efficiency and lifecycle benefits becoming central to investment decisions. Challenges pertinent to market competition and regulatory standards are present, but the industry is well-poised to navigate these with a strong focus on innovation and differentiation.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 145 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (US$) in 2023 US$4.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (US$) by 2032 US$6.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.7% Regions Covered Global





Companies Featured

Arconic Corporation

BMB Fasteners & Supply Inc.

Cherry Aerospace (Precision Castparts Corp.)

Elite Fasteners Inc.

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Kwikbolt Ltd.

LISI Aerospace

Precision Castparts Corp. (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.)

Stanley Black & Decker Inc.

The Boeing Company

TriMas Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/orlrap

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Commercial Aircraft Aftermarket Parts Market Report by Component Type (Engine, Airframe, Interior, and Others), Parts (Maintenance Repair and Operation Parts (MRO), Rotable Replacement Parts), Aircraft Type (Narrow-body, Wide-body, Regional Jet), and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global commercial aircraft aftermarket parts market, a critical sector in aviation maintenance, repair, and operations, is experiencing robust growth. A recent comprehensive analysis reveals that this market, valued at US$ 42.0 Billion in 2023, is projected to expand to US$ 69.5 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Key growth drivers include increasing air travel demand, the advent of aircraft leasing, and stringent aviation regulations, supporting the market's strong performance.







The report details various segments within the market, such as component type, including engine, airframe, and interior components, with engines holding the most significant market share. In terms of parts, the Maintenance Repair and Operation (MRO) segment dominates the market share. The market study also breaks down the data by aircraft type, with narrow-body aircraft representing the largest portion of the market.



Regional Analysis



On a geographical level, the analysis provides detailed insights into several key markets, including North America, which is leading the charge due to factors such as heightened air travel and strict regulatory frameworks governing aircraft maintenance. The Asia Pacific and European regions also show significant market activity, contributing to the global sector's expansion.



Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape is thoroughly analyzed, highlighting essential players in the market, such as A J Walter Aviation Limited, AAR Corp., and The Boeing Company. The report underscores the companies' efforts to innovate and cater to the evolving technological needs of the aviation industry, which is instrumental in propelling the market forward.



The comprehensive report clarifies the current state of the market and provides projections and analysis that can help stakeholders make informed decisions. Continuous advancements in technology, a focus on cost reductions among airline carriers, and a shift towards e-commerce for the procurement of parts are all factors further stimulating the growth of the commercial aircraft aftermarket parts market globally.



Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 149 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (US$) in 2023 US$42 Billion Forecasted Market Value (US$) by 2032 US$69.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.8% Regions Covered Global





Companies Featured





A J Walter Aviation Limited

AAR Corp.

Aventure International Aviation Services LLC

Bombardier Inc

General Electric Company

GKN Aerospace (Melrose Industries)

Honeywell International Inc.

Moog Inc.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

The Boeing Company





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9ecbn8

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
TORONTO, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will hold an emergency rally on Friday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Doug Fords Constituency Office in Etobicoke, in protest of the ongoing keffiyeh ban at Queens Park and to urge Ford and Conservative MPPs to take action to reverse it.



To target a cultural community like this, in 2024, is simply unconscionable, said OFL President Laura Walton. As labour leaders, we wont stand for it. If Ford wont end this racist ban, well defy it.

The rally will include labour and community leaders from across the GTA, including community members who have been denied access to legislative buildings at Queens Park because of the ban.

WHAT: Emergency rally to oppose Queens Park keffiyeh ban



WHEN: Friday, April 26, 2024

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.



WHERE: Doug Fords Constituency Office

823 Albion Road

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9V 1A3 ( map )





The rally will be hosted by Ahmad Gaied, OFL Secretary-Treasurer.



Its a disgrace that Arab-Canadian community members were denied entry into legislative buildings this weeksimply because they were expressing their identity as Palestinians, said Gaied. An attack on my community is an attack on all communities in Ontario, and we condemn it.

The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. It is the largest provincial labour federation in Canada. Visit OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok .

For more information, please contact:

Jenny Sellathurai

Interim Director of Communications

Ontario Federation of Labour
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Globe Life Inc. (NYSE: GL) investors who suffered substantial losses to act now by submitting your losses here.



Website: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/gl

Contact An Attorney Now: GL@hbsslaw.com Phone: 844-916-0895

Globe Life Inc. (GL) Investigation:

Embattled insurance giant Globe Life faces a double whammy: a federal investigation and explosive accusations of fraud.

On Apr. 23, the company revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is probing Globe Life's business practices, particularly sales tactics used by agents selling policies for its largest subsidiary, American Income Life (AIL). The company received subpoenas in late 2023, raising questions about potential wrongdoing.

While Globe Life claims full cooperation, the uncertainty surrounding the investigation hangs heavy. Co-CEO Frank Svoboda admitted the company cannot dismiss the possibility of legal action to follow.

Adding fuel to the fire, activist short-seller Fuzzy Panda Research dropped a bombshell report on Apr. 11, accusing Globe Life of rampant insurance fraud. The Fuzzy Panda report, which relied on interviews with former executives and agents paints a troubling picture of misconduct within AIL. Among the allegations leveled against AIL are:

Policies for the Deceased and Fictitious Individuals: AIL allegedly wrote insurance policies for deceased and fictitious people, artificially inflating their business metrics.

Forged Signatures: The company is accused of forging signatures on policy documents, undermining the integrity of its operations.

Unauthorized Fund Withdrawals: AIL allegedly withdrew funds from consumers bank accounts without proper authorization, leaving policyholders financially vulnerable.

Fictitious Bank Accounts: Agents purportedly used fictitious bank accounts to create fake policies, ensuring they met performance targets and received bonuses.

Executives Potentially Implicated: The report points fingers at AILs leadership. According to Fuzzy Panda, fraudulent practices became pervasive after Steve Greer became AILs chief executive in 2017 and Dave Zophin became its president the following year.

Staggering Financial Impact: Fuzzy Pandas interviews with former executives and sales agents suggest that over $200 million in fraudulent annual life insurance premiums (ALP) were written by AIL sales teams. The fallout from these revelations has been swift, with Globe Lifes stock price plummeting and investors left grappling with substantial losses.

Bribery and Kickback Scheme: In a further twist, Fuzzy Panda alleges that Globe Life executives orchestrated a $43 million bribery and kickback scheme to make money from the companys own recruits. The scheme allegedly involved executives concealing their ownership of an insurance license testing vendor (Xcel Testing) while directing recruits to Xcel to prepare for their licensing exam.

The combined weight of the DOJ probe and the Fuzzy Panda report sent Globe Life's stock price into a tailspin, plummeting over 50% this month.

We are investigating the propriety of Globe Lifes business practices, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Globe Life and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now 

If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Globe Life investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Globe Life should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email GL@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



Base Shelf Prospectus Accessible and Prospectus Supplement to be Accessible on SEDAR+

BRISBANE, Australia, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSX-V: GMG) (GMG or the Company) is pleased to announce pricing of its previously announced marketed offering (the Offering) of units (the Units) of the Company. In connection with the Offering, the Company intends to enter into an underwriting agreement dated April 26, 2024 (the Underwriting Agreement) with PI Financial Corp. as sole underwriter and bookrunner for the Offering (the Underwriter).

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company will issue 4,762,000 Units at a price of $0.42 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $2,000,040. Each Unit will consist of one ordinary share of the Company (a Common Share) and one ordinary share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share (each a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.55 per Warrant Share for a period of 4 years following the closing of the Offering, subject to adjustment in certain events.

The Units will be offered under the amended and restated base shelf prospectus of the Company receipted on January 10, 2024 (the Base Shelf Prospectus), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement (the Supplement) to be prepared and filed in each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Quebec (collectively, the Jurisdictions) and in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements under applicable United States securities laws, and in such other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States which are agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted the Underwriter an option (the Over-Allotment Option) to cover over-allotments and for market stabilization purposes. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised at any time up to 30 days subsequent to the closing of the Offering to purchase up to an additional 15.0% of the Units sold under the Offering on the same terms and conditions of the Offering. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable to acquire Units, Common Shares and/or Warrants (or any combination thereof) at the discretion of the Underwriter.

The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used primarily to strengthen the Company's financial position and provide liquidity to finance ongoing operations, including, in particular, the Companys expenses incurred, and expected to be incurred, in connection with the Companys research and development objectives, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about May 7, 2024 (the Closing Date) and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV).

Access to the Base Shelf Prospectus, the Supplement, and any amendment to the documents is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a shelf prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment. The Base Shelf Prospectus is, and the Supplement will be, accessible on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

An electronic or paper copy of the Base Shelf Prospectus, the Supplement (when filed), and any amendment to the documents may be obtained, without charge, from PI Financial Corp, 3401  40 King St Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5H 3Y2, by email to syndication@pifinancial.com attention: PI Syndication and by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable. The Base Shelf Prospectus contains and the Supplement will contain, important detailed information about the Company and the proposed Offering. Prospective investors should read the Supplement (when filed) and the Base Shelf Prospectus and the other documents the Company has filed on SEDAR+ before making an investment decision.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.

About GMG

GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process. GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, tuneable and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications.

The Companys present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications. In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC-R) coating (or energy-saving coating), lubricants and fluids.

In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries (G+AI Batteries).

GMGs 4 critical business objectives are:

Produce Graphene and improve/scale cell production processes Build Revenue from Energy Savings Products Develop Next-Generation Battery Develop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution Capability

For further information please contact:

Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223

Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041

www.graphenemg.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, expects or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or will potentially or likely occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as forwardlooking statements, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, the Company's ability to complete the Offering on the terms announced or at all, the expected Closing Date of the Offering, the use of the net proceeds of the Offering, and the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, and the Companys objectives, goals or future plans.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding the ability of the Company to obtain all necessary approvals for the Offering, the ability of the Company to achieve the expected results of its products in research and development, that the Company will be able to research, develop and produce certain products as anticipated, that the Company will be able to engage third parties and develop relationships to assist in the development, that the Company and the University of Queensland will continue to progress research and development of the G+AI Batteries, distribution and sale of its products, and assumptions regarding the completion of the Offering and the timing thereof. Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: the Offering will not be completed on the timetable anticipated or at all, the use of proceeds from the Offering will differ from managements current expectations, the engagement of the Underwriter in connection with the Offering will not continue as expected, the Company will not obtain all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, the Company will not be able to use its products as expected or the performance, safety profile and production and maintenance requirements of the Companys products will not be consistent with managements expectations, the impact of the Companys products will not be consistent with managements expectations, the Company will not be able to research, develop and produce certain products, that the Companys collaboration with the University of Queensland will not continue as currently expected by management, the Company will not be successful in engaging third parties and developing relationships to assist in the development, distribution and sale its products, public health crises may adversely impact the Companys business and the ability of the Company to develop its products, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in the Middle-East and Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the failure of the Company to attract and retain skilled personnel, unexpected development and production challenges, unanticipated costs and the risk factors set out under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys annual information form dated October 12, 2023 available for review on the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.com.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.
MILTON, Del., April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 120th day of the year (Monday, April 29) is upon us, and at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, thats considered a holiday! To celebrate 120 Day, Dogfish Head announces the annual return of its fan-favorite 120 Minute IPA, and unveils its all-new beer packaging artwork, complete with brighter, more eye-catching graphics and a bigger, bolder shark-and-shield logo.

Typically, the 120th day of the year means it's time to crack a 120 Minute IPA and raise a glass to another years release of this beautiful beer, said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Founder & Brewer. This year, I get to do that AND commemorate the official launch of our all-new beer packaging artwork, which is finally rolling out to shelves nationwide. Its been a long, but rewarding journey to get to this new look, so raising a fresh 120 Minute IPA sounds like the perfect celebration to me!

After a more than year-long exploration of artistic goodness, Dogfish Head rolls out new beer packaging artwork for all its brews  from the iconic, continually hopped 60 Minute IPA to the paloma-inspired, beer-cocktail hybrid Citrus Squall, and everything in between. Feedback from fans informed the brands beer packaging redesign, which centered around three specific directives.

Lean into the brands nautical roots.

Drawing inspiration from the brands coastal Delaware birthplace, each Dogfish Head beers new label design is anchored with a singular, nautical-centric hero illustration  a sailboat, a lighthouse, a compass and more.

Lead with flavor.

Honoring Dogfish Heads longtime commitment to brewing beers with unique culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot (the German purity law stating beer must only be brewed with water, hops, barley and yeast), each beers new label also features drawings of its ingredients. These drawings, coupled with two-word flavor descriptors, are intended to provide drinkers with clearer flavor expectations at shelf.

Give the shark room to swim.

Dogfish Heads new beer packaging highlights an enlarged, black-and-white version of the brands original shark-and-shield logo from the 90s. This update allows the brands logo to stand out against its new, brighter-colored packaging, and ensures any thirsty souls traversing the craft beer isle can easily spot Dogfish Heads products.

Just like Dogfish Heads new beer packaging, its fan-favorite 120 Minute IPA is now making its way to shelves from coast-to-coast, where legal. An imperial IPA continuously hopped with a copious amount of high-alpha American hops throughout the boil and whirlpool, 120 Minute IPA is then dry-hopped with another boatload of hops to create what some call, The Holy Grail for Hopheads! Clocking in at 15.5% ABV, 120 Minute IPA is unfiltered, abundantly hoppy and perfect for cellaring. So, grab a 4pk/12oz bottles, crack one to toast the launch of Dogfish Heads new beer packaging and put the rest away to enjoy later.

For more on Dogfish Head, or to track down its beers near you, visit www.dogfish.com.

XXX

DIGITAL ASSETS: Images of New Beer Packaging Artwork & 120 Minute IPA

ABOUT DOGFISH HEAD:

With quality, creativity and non-conformity at its core, Dogfish Head has been committed to brewing unique beers with high-caliber culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened nearly 30 years ago. Dedicated to exploring goodness of all kinds, Dogfish Head later expanded its beverage artistry beyond just craft beer to produce award-winning portfolios of full-proof spirits whiskeys, gins, vodkas, rums and more  and spirits-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails. A Boston Beer Company brand and proud supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, Dogfish Head is a Delaware-based company consisting of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and tasting room; Dogfish Head Distilling Co., a production distillery; Brewings & Eats, a brewpub and live music venue; Chesapeake & Maine, a seafood and cocktail spot; and the Dogfish INN, a beer-themed, canal-front hotel. For more about Dogfish Head, please visit www.dogfish.com or follow the brand on social media.

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Ottawa, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Precedence Research, the global regenerative medicine market size is calculated at USD 35.82 billion in 2024. Regenerative medicines are used in advancing healthcare, such as new treatments for injuries and diseases and gene therapies.



Regenerative Medicine Market Revenue, By Region ($ Million)

Region 2019 2020 2021 2022 North America 4,493.2 5,990.8 9,835.4 11,836.5 Europe 3,091.9 4,101.7 6,700.1 8,022.7 Asia Pacific 1,121.2 1,549.0 2,635.1 3,286.0 LAMEA 361.1 508.8 877.3 1,102.9

Regenerative Medicine Market Revenue, By Product ($ Million)



Product 2019 2020 2021 2022 Cell Therapy 5,288.9 7,051.7 11,577.1 13,932.5 Gene Therapy 739.9 993.4 1,642.5 1,990.5 Tissue Engineering 2,538.2 3,421.6 5,679.6 6,910.7 Small Molecules & Biologics 500.4 683.5 1,148.9 1,414.4

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The regenerative medicine market deals with regenerating, engineering, or replacing animal or human organs, cells, or tissues to restore normal functions. Regenerative medicine can include growing organs or tissues in laboratories and then implanting them into the body when it does not recover itself. Regenerative medicines focus on applying and developing new treatments to restore functions and to heal organs or tissues lost because of defects, damages, aging, or diseases.

Regenerative medicines are also used in tissue engineering, cell therapies, stem cells, and immunomodulation therapy. Regenerative medicine helps to support the body in restoring, repairing, and regenerating itself to a state of well-being and for unsatisfied patient needs among many medical specialties.

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Key Insights

North America dominated the market with the largest market share of 48.57% in 2023.

Asia-Pacific is estimated to expand the fastest CAGR of 23.60% during the forecast period of 2024-2033.

By product type, the stem cell therapies segment has accounted more than 57% of market share in 2023.

By product type, the tissue engineering segment has held the significant market share of 28.67% in 2023.

By application type, the musculoskeletal application segment dominated the market in 2023.

By application type, the oncology application segment is the fastest-growing during the forecast period.

Regional Stance

North America dominated the regenerative medicine market in 2023. The increasing incidence of joint diseases and bone diseases and advanced technologies in stem cell therapy and tissue engineering are the main factors that are causing the growth of the North American region. The emergency requirement for CAR-T cell therapies and rising investments in developing new regenerative drugs in the United States of the North American region help the growth of the market.

The U.S. regenerative medicine market size reached USD 13.44 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 83.26 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 20% from 2024 to 2033.

Rising genetic diseases and trauma incidences contribute to the growth of the market. Stem cell therapy is used in the United States for medical treatments like the treatment of blood disorders and cancer, as well as specific diseases affecting cartilage, skin, and bone. The USFDA regulates the use of stem cell therapy for some stem cell treatments.

In October 2023, the first cell therapy manufacturing facility to proceed with regenerative medicine on a worldwide scale was launched by Bayer AG in Berkeley, California.



Asia-Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period of 2024-2033. The supply chain of regenerative medicine therapies is growing in the Asia-Pacific region. In the CRO/CDMO space of Asia, growth is increasing. They build a hospital network that supports the development of the regenerative medicine market. Countries like Japan, China, India, and South Korea contribute to the growth of the region. Among all the Asian countries, Japan has a very large influence on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical markets, both of which are responsible for the markets growth. China, being the largest economy, provides endless opportunities for the expansion of the market.

In April 2023, South Korean bio-regenerative medical firm CG Bio launched a new US corporation, CG MedTech, to focus on marketing and developing tissue products.



In May 2023, Sysmex launched the Clinical Flow Cytometry System in Japan. Flow Cytometry is a measuring device that uses FCM technology. Universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers utilize it in regenerative medicines, clinical testing, cancer research, and other fields.



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Scope of Regenerative Medicine Market

Report Coverage Details CAGR 18% from 2024 to 2033 Market Size in 2023 USD 29.42 Billion Market Size in 2024 USD 35.82 Billion Market Size by 2033 USD 154.05 Billion Largest Market North America Base Year 2023 Forecast Year 2024 to 2033 Historical Year 2021-2022 Segments Covered By Product, By Material, By Application, By End User, and Region Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

Report Highlights

By Product Type

The tissue engineering segment dominated the regenerative medicine market in 2023. Tissue engineering combined with inductive factors, cells, and scaffolds to replace or regenerate diseased or damaged tissue. Regenerative medicine is used in tissue engineering, along with other procedures, such as immunomodulation, cell-based therapy, and gene therapy, to induce organ or tissue regeneration in vivo. Regenerative medicine is a large field that includes tissue engineering and self-healing research, where the body uses its system, sometimes with the help of biological materials, to rebuild organs and tissues or to regenerate cells.

The stem cell therapies segment is the fastest-growing during the forecast period. Stem cell therapy is also called regenerative medicine. It helps in repairing injured, dysfunctional, and diseased tissue by the use of stem cells and their derivatives. Applications of cell therapies in regenerative medicines include regenerating damaged cartilage in joints, improving weakened immune systems, urinary problems, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, spinal cord injury, and treating cancers, which helps in the growth of the segment.

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By Application Type

The musculoskeletal application segment dominated the regenerative medicine market in 2023. Treatment and diagnosis of problems arising from the musculoskeletal systems are treated with the help of regenerative medicine. This includes diseases and injuries affecting the bones, joints of spines, limbs, and muscles. PRP, MSC therapy, and IRAP-induced ACS are regenerative medicines that are used for musculoskeletal injuries.

The oncology application segment is the fastest-growing during the forecast period. Oncology, also known as cancer immunotherapy, is a form of regenerative medicine. Cancer immunotherapy helps in engineering, replacing, regenerating, or activating the immune system to fight against cancer. Cancer immunotherapy is the most commonly used and promoted form of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is used to help cancer patients understand cancer biology and cancer treatment. MSC regenerative medicine may used for the treatment of tumor sites.

Market Dynamics

Driver

Rising senior population

An increased proportion of the senior population is the main driver of the regenerative medicine market. As the senior population increases, degenerative problems and age-related illnesses increase, and this leads to the need for treatments and contributes to the growth of the market. For the treatments of these patients, regenerative medicine is required as age increases. There is a slight decrease in the regenerative properties of many tissues due to age-dependent changes in tissues. Regenerative medicines and anti-aging are involved in the process of reducing harmful elements that cause death or diseases in cells and also modifying these cells to get back to their healthy, normal functions.

Restraint

Reimbursement and manufacturing

The significant challenge for regenerative medicine nowadays is reimbursement and manufacturing, both of which are barriers to the regenerative medicine market. In the fast-moving field of gene therapy and cell therapy, regulation and policy may fail to keep up with scientific innovation. In the manufacturing case, developers and regulators struggle to standardize processes essential for the transition from the making of small-scale batches of therapies to use in clinical trials to the high-scale batches essential by full-scale marketing. The manufacturing processes of gene therapies and cell therapies are more complex than those of other drugs.

Browse More Insights:

AI in Pharmaceutical Market: The global AI in pharmaceutical market size was valued at USD 908 million in 2022 and is expected to reach over USD 11813.56 million by 2032, poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.30% from 2023 to 2032.

Drug Discovery Services Market: The global drug discovery services market size was valued at USD 21 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 69.72 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.80% from 2023 to 2032.

Small Molecule API Market: The global small molecule API market size was valued at USD 184.8 billion in the year 2023 and is expected to hit around USD 299.2 billion by 2032 with an increasing CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

Drug Discovery Market: The global drug discovery market size was valued at US$ 55.46 billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth around US$ 133.11 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2023 to 2032.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market: The global small molecule drug discovery market size was exhibited at USD 75.96 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit around USD 163.76 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.97% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

Small Molecule Immunomodulators Market: The global small molecule immunomodulators market size reached USD 156.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit around USD 283.70 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.20% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Drug Discovery Market: The global artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery market size was estimated at USD 1.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit around USD 9.7 billion by 2032, registering growth at a CAGR of 21.36% from 2023 to 2032.

Opportunity

Increase in tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering become a transformative field in modern healthcare, providing a creative approach toward replacing, regenerating, and repairing lost or damaged organs or tissues. This helps address the limitations of traditional therapies, revolutionize medical treatments, and improve the quality of life for many individuals. As technological capabilities and scientific understanding increase, tissue engineering development will help and contribute to the growth of the regenerative medicine market. Tissue engineering helps in a combination of biochemical biomaterials and cell factors for creating functional tissues, which are copies of natural tissue functions and properties. At that time, regenerative medicine helps in natural healing mechanisms to replace damaged organs or tissues. These also help to offer personalized therapeutic solutions and overcome the challenges of reducing chronic diseases and organ shortages for transplantation.

Recent Developments

In April 2023, the Institute for Regenerative Medicine was launched by Mount Sinai.

In June 2023, a new program geared toward commercializing modernization in regenerative medicine was launched by Case Western Reserve University.

In September 2023, address regenerative therapies for skin conditions was launched by Lynch Regenerative Medicines Inc. They use their patented technology for underserved skin conditions treatments for both advanced and aesthetic wound care applications.

In December 2023, Sonicated PRP, a cutting-edge Hair Generation Therapy, was launched by Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic, one of the leading hair clinics.

In March 2024, home-based medical services worldwide were launched by Rebirth Clinics, a global leader in regenerative medicine products and services.

In March 2024, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) Engine grant allowed the inauguration of Axiom Space, which collaborated with Wake Forest Institute for regenerative medicine.

Regenerative Medicine Market Key Players

AstraZeneca

Aspect Biosystems

Amgen, Inc.

Baxter

Integra LifeSciences Corporation

Medtronic plc

MiMedx Group

Novartis AG

Smith & Nephew plc

Shenzhen SibionoGeneTech Co., Ltd.

Market Segmentation

By Product

Stem Cell Therapies

Gene Therapies

Cell Therapies

Tissue-Engineering

Small Molecules & Biologics



By Material

Synthetic material Biodegradable synthetic polymers Scaffold Artificial Vascular Graft Materials Hydrogel Material

Biologically derived material Collagen Xenogeneic material

Genetically Engineered Material Deoxyribonucleic Acid Transfection Vectors Genetically Manipulated Cell Three-Dimensional Polymer Technology Transgenics Fibroblast Neural Stem Cell Gene-Activated Matrices

Pharmaceutical Biologics Small Molecules





By Application

Wound Care

Musculoskeletal

Ophthalmology

Oncology

Cardiovascular

Dermatology

Neurology

Others

By End User

Hospitals & Clinics

Commercial Industries

Government & Academic Research Institutes



By Geography

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany France United Kingdom Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC North Africa South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa



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Ipoh, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ipoh, Perak -

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Lawyers are already harnessing the language skills of AI to analyze troves of documents for nuggets of crucial information. Litigation consultant Greg McCullough, at work in Escondido on April 2, specializes in combing through the millions of documents generated in wildfire lawsuits. Sandy Huffaker/Special to the Chronicle

Gordon Calhoun was up to his neck in jargon.

An experienced trial attorney, Calhoun was handling a hotly contested litigation involving reams of arcane data and terminology about pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Neither he nor anyone else on his team at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Francisco was expert in the subject.

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But instead of spending the time and money to hire a consultant, Calhoun began feeding documents into a legal AI tool called Everlaw. Before long, the program returned summaries of the key points in plain English  no pharma wizard needed.

Squeezing easy-to-understand summaries of the important issues out of dense jargon is a huge advantage, Calhoun said. Instead of relying on outside experts, just about any litigation team can go in and handle that case.

While much of the world is still trying to figure out how best to use generative artificial intelligence programs and chatbots, the legal field has rushed to adopt the technology.

Attorneys are taking advantage of AIs voracious ability to scan through millions of documents and extract meaning from mountains of words. Programs such as Everlaw let lawyers speed up discovery and find needles in legal haystacks that would otherwise take many more days and dollars to unearth.

In a few years, it will be almost malpractice for lawyers not to use (AI), said David Wong, the chief product officer at Thomson Reuters, at an event in April. The global data and publishing giant has set aside an $8 billion war chest for AI deals in upcoming years.

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AI can even take a first pass at writing a legal brief  a bit like a first-year intern. But as with an inexperienced lawyer, it can also make mistakes.

AJ Shankar, the chief executive of Oakland-based Everlaw, said his company advises customers to consider the software like a smart intern whose work has to be checked.

Thats because no current AI program is free of what are known as hallucinations, where the bot makes incorrect assumptions and returns faulty information, Shankar said. As a result, AI cant be relied upon yet to spit out flawless work.

Those and other risks are prompting some customers to take a go-slow approach. The San Francisco District Attorneys office, for instance, has been an Everlaw client for five years, using the software to process and review voluminous documents in civil litigation and in a small number of complex criminal cases, it said in written comments.

But the office took pains to note that it isnt using AI features of the software, such as to summarize or synthesize information within documents, search for or obtain documents it doesnt already have, or to make charging decisions against suspects.

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Still, Everlaw has seen significant customer uptake since the AI boom took off in late 2022 with the release of OpenAIs ChatGPT, the same technology that undergirds Everlaws product.

For litigation consultant Greg McCullough, using the companys tools is personal as well as professional.

His parents lost their home during devastating wildfires in his native San Diego in 2007 and were part of a lawsuit against the power company. The help he gave them with their case caught the attention of the attorneys working on it, and now McCullough, who is not an attorney, advises lawyers in wildfire cases.

Hired to sift through what can amount to millions of documents to find relevant nuggets, he has worked on litigation resulting from some of Californias largest fires in recent memory, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people, as well as the 2019 Kincaid Fire and the 2021 Dixie Fire.

In the very early days, I did what most people do, which is open PDF files and grab stacks of documents and look for documents that might be relevant, McCullough said. A lot of firms still do it this way.

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Now he can use Everlaws AI functions to automatically rank documents in order of importance, rapidly return key names from a pile of information, and even search for specifics across thousands of pages like the number of a power pole that may be where a fire started.

I can search through 50 million pages in less than a second and be able to parse down to what Im looking for, McCullough said.

AI also has the potential to make legal advice available to laypeople.

Fresno County doctor Thomas Hull experienced that earlier this year, when he was awakened after an all-night emergency room shift by a knock on the door. A person there served him with two thick envelopes containing stacks of dense legal documents.

Am I being sued? Hull wondered, his sleep-fogged mind racing with anxiety.

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With a lawyer unavailable at the late hour, Hull took pictures of the documents and uploaded them to an app called My Pocket Lawyer that is trained on oceans of legal documentation and uses AI to dispense analysis and advice.

Is Dr. Thomas Hull being sued? he asked the program. No, came the response almost instantly.

Instead, the bot said, the papers were a subpoena to testify in an insurance dispute relating to two patients Hull had treated a few years ago. The app even returned a bullet-pointed list of next steps, including who Hull needed to call and when.

It was reassuring. It gave me some peace of mind, until he could get a real attorney on the phone, Hull said.

The goal is not to replace lawyers, but to bridge the gap between frantic Googling and paying hundreds of dollars an hour for an attorney in situations like Hulls, said Charlie Hernandez, the CEO of My Pocket Lawyer.

Legal AI could also be available at the click of a mouse to office workers. Thomson Reuters last year acquired San Francisco-based startup Casetext for $650 million and has begun adding its bot to software used by professionals for legal research, drafting briefs, and other tasks.

Thomson Reuterss legal assistant, CoCounsel, will also be available through Microsoft Teams, just like talking to a junior lawyer for lower-level tasks. Attorneys will be able to ask the program to draft a merger agreement based on existing contracts  and bring up the relevant case law at the same time.

Such technological alternatives to the laborious and lower-skilled parts of lawyering raise financial questions for an industry that relies on billing hundreds of dollars per hour, oftentimes for time-consuming document review.

But, in theory, adding AI to the mix should allow lawyers to focus their attention on more interesting challenges.

Litigation typically operates on a set budget, said Calhoun, the litigator with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP who is now retired. For example with a $100,000 budget, a client could spend $60,000 going through mountains of documents, leaving less than half left over for the real lawyering.




VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Glenn Gould Foundation, an institution known for nurturing and celebrating the transformative power of the arts, is excited to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of 16-year-old piano prodigy Ryan Wang. Hailing from West Vancouver, Canada, Ryan embodies the spirit of creativity, innovation, and excellence that the Foundation seeks to promote across the globe. And now, he is set to bring a spectacular performance to his hometown.



Date: Monday, June 03, 2024 at 7:30pm

Venue: Vancouver Playhouse

Tickets: https://www.vtixonline.com/the-glenn-gould-foundation/4256/

Program: F. Chopin 24 Preludes, Op. 28 F. Chopin Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 F. Liszt Reminiscences de Don Juan (S. 418)





Ryan Wangs piano journey began at the age of four. By six, he was captivating audiences with his solo recitals. In 2013, he began his music education with esteemed mentors, including Professor Lee Kum Sing and Dr. Sunsung Kong. He is currently studying on a music scholarship with Mr. Gareth Owen at Eton College in the UK, alongside his studies in the Artist Diploma program with Professor Marian Rybicki at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris in France.

Ryans concert career takes him across the globe, most notably in Europe, Asia, and North America. He has performed in prestigious venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall and Fondation Louis Vuitton, and he has appeared on global platforms such as the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Radio Classique in France. Ryans talent has also led him to perform for distinguished audiences, including as a Canadian cultural ambassador at the APEC Summit in Beijing in 2014, in a private recital at the Canadian Prime Ministers residence, and on Glenn Goulds own piano in a special event at Rideau Hall.

Ryans dedication and skill have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2021 Young Euregio Piano Award, the 29th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Youth, and the 2023 Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition, among others. In 2023, at the age of 15, he was the youngest musician to be listed in Classic FMs Rising Stars 30 under 30.

The Foundations commitment to recognizing young talent aligns with its broader goals of extending the social and cultural impact of the arts, drawing from Glenn Goulds philosophy of music as a force for harmony, compassion, and mutual understanding. As Ryan Wang continues to captivate audiences worldwide and furthers his musical journey, the Glenn Gould Foundation looks forward to supporting and celebrating young artists like him who carry the torch of musical excellence into the future.

About The Glenn Gould Foundation

The Glenn Gould Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organization based in Toronto. Inspired by the legacy of legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, the Foundation advances the understanding and appreciation of Goulds artistry and his belief in music as a transformative force in individual lives and across society. The signature project of The Glenn Gould Foundation is the presentation of the $100,000 Glenn Gould Prize, one of the worlds most prestigious awards for artistic achievement, which has sometimes been referred to as Canadas Nobel Prize of the Arts, because of its focus on global excellence, innovation, and the power of the arts to inspire positive impacts throughout society.

RYAN WANG is available for media interviews. Limited press tickets are also available.

For more information or to schedule interview times, please contact:

Media Contact:

Kelvin Yeung

Account Director

kelvin@hamazakiwong.com

778.998.9234

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ed2184f-ef5b-4c7c-af15-40ad9b038815
Washington, D.C., April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief in U.S. v. Pheasant, urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to affirm a decision barring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from wielding legislative power to criminalize activity on public lands. Gregory Pheasant was charged with three violations of BLM rules for allegedly failing to use a taillight on his dirt bike at night on federal land in Nevada. A federal district court dismissed the charges, ruling that Congress unconstitutionally delegated virtually unfettered legislative power to criminalize activities on BLM-managed lands. NCLA asks the Ninth Circuit to uphold this decision and reasoning.

Congress purportedly gave the Bureau complete authority to criminalize activity on BLM-managed public land through a provision in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. That provision violates the Vesting Clause of the Constitution, which reserves all legislative authority for Congress and forbids it from divesting that power to an administrative agency or anyone else. Determining what actions are criminal is an exclusively legislative task. The text and structure of the Constitution support NCLAs view that only Congress has the power to define crimesnot agencies like BLM.

In transferring legislative power to the BLM, Congress weakens its accountability to the public and deprives Americans of their freedom to rule themselves through elected representatives, instead allowing unelected bureaucrats to unilaterally brand them as criminals. Congress cannot be allowed to fend off political consequences for its actions by shifting its criminal lawmaking responsibility elsewhere.

NCLA released the following statements:

Where the fundamental interest in ones liberty is involved, skepticism of agency-claimed power should be at its highest. The Bureau has no independent constitutional power to criminalize activity on its managed lands, nor could Congress provide such power to it.

 Kara Rollins, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

That more than 65% of the land in Nevada will have its criminal law imposed by bureaucrats in Washington with no democratic accountability is insupportable under our Constitution, which vests the power to make criminal law solely in the Congress.

 John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the amicus page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

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Highlights:

13,500-metre maiden drill program completed at the high-grade Polymetallic B26 Deposit; 44 holes drilled with assays from 34 holes pending.

Drillhole 1274-24-339 was designed to test the lateral extension of the high-grade lens identified in holes 1274-24-293 and 294, which were released on February 29, 2024. These holes intercepted 4.0% CuEq over 22.7 metres (293), including 6.3% CuEq over 10.6 metres, and 4.1% CuEq over 34 metres (294), including 11.4% CuEq over 10.6 metres.

Drillhole 1274-24-339 intercepted mineralization 20 metres east of 1274-24-294, with a 106.5-metre interval of strong stringers observed from 83.0 to 189.5 metres, corresponding to a vertical depth starting about 20 metres below the bedrock contact. The potential down-dip extension of this high-grade lens remains open.

LONDON, April 26, 2024 - Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE: AMQ) (OTCQB: AMQFF) (FSE: FW0) ("Abitibi" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the 13,500 metre maiden drill program at the B26 Polymetallic Deposit ("B26", the "Project" or the "Deposit") completed under the first phase of a fully funded 30,000-metre 2024 field season. Abitibi Metals is fully funded with $18.5 million to complete the remaining 16,500 metres planned for the 2024 work program and an additional 20,000 metres in 2025, which will be incorporated into a Preliminary Economic Assessment to complete the option. On November 16th, 2023, the Company entered into an option agreement on the B26 Deposit to earn 80% over 7 years from SOQUEM Inc (see news release dated November 16, 2023).

The Company has identified significant semi-massive and massive sulphides in infill drilling at the Central Lens of the B26 Polymetallic Deposit, where it recently announced some of the highest-grade intercepts in the Project's history, including 11.4% CuEq over 10.6 metres at 135 metres depth in 1274-24-293 and 6.3% CuEq over 10.6 metres at 120 metres depth in 1274-24-294.

Drillhole 1274-24-339, advanced to test the immediate extension 20 metres east of the high-grade lens identified in #293 and #294, intercepted copper mineralization concentrated in separate bands varying in thickness from 0.4 to nearly 4 metres with chalcopyrite volume evaluated between 10% and 60% and forming a 106.5 metres long interval of mineralization observed from 83 to 189.5 metres.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, commented, "The drilling at B26 continues to deliver exceptional observations of continuity of visual copper mineralization, and #339 extends the high-grade lens outlined in #294 laterally, 20 metres to the east. This hole continues to add to the goal of better defining the high-grade lens while also outlining the lower-grade near-surface halo, supporting our bulk-tonnage open pit target. We look forward to releasing our next batch of results early next week. With the copper price breaking out, projects like B26, located in the world-class jurisdiction of Quebec, stand out globally for their potential to deliver critical metals at a time when there is a clear rising need for copper."

Table 1: 1274-24-399 & 340 Drill Coordinates Drill hole

number Target UTM

East UTM North Elevation Azimuth Dip Length (m)

Drilled 1274-24-339 B26 Central

Zone 652945 5513382 276 359.4 -60.8 351 1274-24-340 B26 Central

Zone 652945 5513382 276 346.9 -56.3 325

Note: 1274-24-340 was initially planned to test the westward lateral extension and down dip from 1274-24-294 and expand its influence. Unexpected levels of drill deviation brought the trace back to the proximity of 1274-24-294.

Qualified Person

Information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Martin Demers, P.Geo., OGQ No. 770, who is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, and responsible for the technical information provided in this news release.

Investor Relations Agreement

Additionally, Abitibi announces that it has engaged Fairfax Partners Inc. ("Fairfax") for a one-month term to provide social media marketing services to assist in the Company's marketing efforts and market presence. The services include content development, social media campaign and analytics. Fairfax will be compensated C$32,880 (plus GST) for their services during this period. Abitibi will not issue any securities to Fairfax as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to Abitibi's knowledge, Fairfax (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of Abitibi and maintains an arm's-length relationship with the Company.

Abitibi Metals Corp. is a Quebec-focused mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality base and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Abitibi's portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and includes the option to earn 80% of the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Deposit, which hosts a historical resource estimate1 of 7.0MT @ 2.94% Cu Eq (Ind) & 4.4MT @ 2.97% Cu Eq (Inf), and the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling has identified 4 historical intercepts with a metal factor of over 100 g/t gold highlighted by 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres amongst four modelled zones.

About SOQUEM:

SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jonathon Deluce, Chief Executive Officer

The Company also maintains an active presence on various social media platforms to keep stakeholders and the general public informed and encourages shareholders and interested parties to follow and engage with the Company through the following channels to stay updated with the latest news, industry insights, and corporate announcements:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbitibiMetals

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abitibi-metals-corp-amq-c/

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Note 1: A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Source: Rapport Technique NI 43-101 Estimation des Ressources Projet B26, Quebec, For SOQUEM Inc., By SGS Canada Inc., Yann Camus, ing., Olivier Vadnais-Leblanc, geo., SGS Canada - Geostat., Effective Date: April 18, 2018, Date of Report : May 11, 2018

Note 2: Copper Equivalent values were calculated using metal prices of $4.00/lb Cu, $1.50/lb Zn, $20.00/ounce Ag and $1,800/ounce Au. Metal recoveries of 100% are applied in the copper equivalent calculation. The application of a copper equivalent is a comparison measure used to level variable metal ratios. Results are not related to the recoveries and by virtue of the value of a mining production.

Note 3 - Sources:

Fayard, Q, Mercier-Langevin, P., Wodicka, N., Daigneault, R., & Perreault, S. (2020). The B26 Cu-Zn-Ag-Au Project, Brouillan Volcanic Complex, Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Part 1: Geological Setting and Geochronology.

Fayard, Q. (2020). CONTROLES VOLCANIQUES, HYDROTHERMAUX ET STRUCTURAUX SUR LA NATURE ET LA DISTRIBUTION DES METAUX USUELS ET PRECIEUX DANS LES ZONES MINERALISEES DU PROJET B26, COMPLEXE VOLCANIQUE DE BROUILLAN, ABITIBI, QUEBEC

Forward-looking statement:

This news release contains certain statements, which may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that are not based on historical information but rather relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments on the B26 Project or otherwise. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions, which are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and many of which, regarding future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on the Company's behalf. Although Abitibi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. All factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Abitibi's forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," or variations of such words and phrases (including negative and grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "occur. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative and are characterized by a number of significant inherent risks, which may result in the inability of the Company to successfully develop current or proposed projects for commercial, technical, political, regulatory or financial reasons, or if successfully developed, may not remain economically viable for their mine life owing to any of the foregoing reasons, among others. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving commercial mineral production and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the stage of operations.

SOURCE Abitibi Metals Corp.
Toronto, April 26, 2024 - Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd. ("Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SHL) is pleased to announce that it has closed the acquisition of the Shamrock Nickel Sulphide Property (the "Property"), located near Medford in southwest Oregon, USA (the "Acquisition") (see press release dated March 11, 2024).

Steve Balch, President and CEO, stated, "Spruce is increasing its presence in the U.S. critical minerals market with the acquisition of an interesting nickel sulphide property where the grades of nickel and copper are both over 1.0% and where the mineralization is open along strike and at depth. We do not yet know the extent of the mineralization and there is no record of exploration since the 1950s. We believe there are significant platinum group metals present as well."

The acquisition terms were amended as disclosed below.

Shamrock Property

Information on the Property is taken from a National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") report prepared by D.E. Cameron for Northwest Nickel with an effective date of March 1, 2023.

The Property consists of 40 unpatented lode claims, accessible by paved road, covering approximately 758 acres and located 20 miles northwest of Medford, Oregon.

The area was first prospected in the early 1900s, when a 60 ft-deep inclined shaft was excavated to intersect the main Shamrock showing containing nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and platinum (Pt). Underground development occurred during 1949-50 by the U.S. Bureau of Mines ("USBM"). USBM completed eleven diamond drillholes totaling 3,419 ft and outlined a lens of nickel-copper sulphide 325 ft long, 200 ft deep and 3-25 ft thick. A 200-lb composite sample was submitted for metallurgy and assayed 1.3% Ni, 1.1% Cu, 0.07% Co and 0.03 oz/t Pt. In 1952-53 USBM removed 101.5 tons of manganese- (Mn) and iron-rich (Fe) material from previously discovered pods for metallurgical sampling with assays returning 23.1-32.3% Mn and 2.06-3.70% Fe.

Nickel-copper mineralization can be traced along strike for 1,500 ft north-south, 500 ft east-west and contains two mineralized lenses. Ultramafic rocks were intersected in drilling and consist predominantly of peridotite and related serpentinite, as well as norite and diorite. The best mineralization is present in a coarse-grained norite. Sulphide mineralization includes pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. A bulk flotation program recovered 92.3% of the Ni, 89.4% of the Cu and 51.3% of the Pt.

Acquisition Terms

Under the terms of the Acquisition, Spruce acquired a 100% interest in the Property by:

making a cash payment of $148,949 to Northwest Nickel Corp ("Northwest");

issuing to Northwest an aggregate of 2,500,000 common shares in the capital of Spruce (TSXV:SHL); and

granting to Northwest a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty (NSR") with the option to repurchase 50% of the NSR for consideration of $1,000,000.

The original terms involved transferring to Northwest 100,000 common shares in the capital of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV:CNC) held by Spruce, but was amended to be included in the cash payment of $148,949 included above;

The Acquisition is an arm's length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and no finder's fees are payable in connection with the Acquisition. The Company expects that the Acquisition will meet the criteria of an "Expedited Acquisition" under TSXV Policy 5.3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets and remains subject to the TSXV's final acceptance. All securities issuable in connection with the Acquisition will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day after closing.

Additional technical information on the Property is available on the Company's website.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1 -= Location of the massive sulphide lenses and historic workings at Shamrock.

Qualified Person

Stephen J. Balch, P.Geo. (ON), the Company's President and CEO and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

About Spruce Ridge

Spruce Ridge is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on critical metal resources with nickel projects in Oregon, United States and copper projects in Newfoundland, Canada. The Company also holds a significant portfolio of mining securities including 3.55 million shares of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX-V:CNC), 10.0 million shares of Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:NOB), 15.0 million shares of Benton Resources Inc. (TSX-V:BEX) and 2.5 million shares of Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:MTT). Spruce's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SHL". More detailed information can be found on the Company's website at:

http://www.spruceridgeresources.com

Cautionary Statement

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, that are based on assumptions and courses of action, and in certain cases, can be identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur, or the negative forms of any of these words and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements related to future plans for the Company, and other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions including with respect to the anticipated actions of securities regulators, stock exchanges, and government entities, management plans and timelines, as well as results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what the management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, such assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: an inability to develop and successfully implement exploration strategies; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the lack of available capital; impact of the evolving situation in Ukraine on the business of the Company; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.





Contact



Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd.

Stephen Balch, President & CEO

Phone: 905.407.9586

Email: steve@beci.ca


HALIFAX, April 26, 2024 - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce amendments to certain previously-issued convertible debentures with a current maturity of May 31, 2024 (the "2020 Convertible Debentures"), and further amendments to certain debt agreements with Orca Holdings, LLC ("Orca").

The 2020 Convertible Debentures were originally sold and issued by the Company in May 2020. These unsecured 2020 Convertible Debentures bear interest at a rate of 7.5% payable semi-annually. At any time during the term of the 2020 Convertible Debentures, a holder may elect to convert the outstanding net principal amount, or any portion thereof, into units at a conversion price of $1.20 per unit. Each unit shall consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of a warrant with each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire a Common Share at an exercise price of $1.80 for a period ending on the maturity date.

As previously announced, the Company intends to extend the term of the 2020 Convertible Debentures so that the new maturity date will be January 31, 2026. Further, the Company intends to incorporate the following amended conversion features. At any time during the term of the 2020 Convertible Debentures, a holder may elect to convert the outstanding net principal amount, or any portion thereof, into units at a conversion price of $0.90 per unit. Each unit shall consist of one Common Share and one-half of a warrant with each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire a Common Share at an exercise price of $1.30 for a period ending on the maturity date. In consideration for the extension and amendments, the Company will pay a restructuring fee equal to six months of interest. The other terms of the 2020 Convertible Debentures will remain unchanged. For further information regarding the 2020 Convertible Debentures and the Company's intention to extend the term of these securities, please see the Company's press release dated January 11, 2024.

As of the date of this press release, holders of a total of 1,115 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures, representing an aggregate face value of $1,115,000, have agreed to an extension in accordance with the terms described above. The anticipated amendments to the terms of these 2020 Convertible Debentures are conditional upon the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

Certain of the 2020 Convertible Debentures are owned by related parties of the Company. Specifically, Pat Ryan (Ucore's Chairman and CEO) holds 10 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures (representing a principal amount of $10,000) and Peter Manuel (Ucore's CFO) holds 25 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures (representing a principal amount of $25,000). The above-described transactions with Mr. Ryan and Mr. Manuel are considered to be related party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-01 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The transactions are exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 since neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Further, the Company is pleased to announce amendments to certain debt agreements with Orca Holdings, LLC. Immediately following specified amendments and extensions to debt arrangements between the parties, which are described in Ucore's press release dated December 22, 2023, the Company was party to two short-term secured lines of credit from Orca in the maximum principal amount of USD$2.0 million (the "2022 Line of Credit") and USD$2.2 million (the "2023 Line of Credit"), respectively. In consideration for extending the due date of these lines of credit to January 31, 2026, the Company issued a total of 4,400,000 warrants to Orca, with each warrant entitling Orca to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.89. These warrants have a term ending on January 31, 2026.

Ucore and Orca have since agreed to further amend their debt arrangements regarding the 2022 Line of Credit and the 2023 Line of Credit, and have entered into amending agreements in connection with these amendments (the "Amending Agreements"). Specifically, the parties have agreed to: increase the credit limit under the 2023 Line of Credit from USD$2.2 million to USD$3.2 million; and amend the interest payment terms of both the 2022 Line of Credit and the 2023 Line of Credit in accordance with the following:

(a) whereas interest was previously payable on maturity, interest will now be payable quarterly, unless the Company would have less than CAD$2.0 million in cash after such interest payment; and

(b) in the event that the Company would have less than CAD$2.0 million in cash after a quarterly interest payment:

the interest will not be payable at that time,

interest will compound on unpaid interest at the rate outlined in the applicable debt agreements between the parties (as amended), and

unpaid interest will be added to the next quarterly interest payment.

In consideration for the above-stated amendments to the 2023 Line of Credit the Company has agreed to issue 1,300,000 additional warrants to Orca, with each warrant entitling Orca to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.75 per share until January 31, 2026. The warrants will contain a condition precedent to their exercise such that no warrants shall be exercisable if such exercise would cause Orca's ownership of Ucore, as calculated on a partially diluted basis, to exceed 19.99% of the aggregate of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Ucore. The issuance of the new warrants described in this press release is subject to the prior review and acceptance of the TSXV.

Orca is wholly-owned by Mr. Randy Johnson, a member of Ucore's Board of Directors. The above-described transactions with Orca are considered to be related party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-01 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The transactions are exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 since neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

No new insiders and no control persons will be created in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this press release.

The above-described transactions were reviewed and unanimously approved by the Company's Board of Directors. No special committee was created to negotiate, review and approve the Amending Agreements. Rather, the agreements were negotiated by the Company, with Mr. Johnson declaring his conflict and abstaining from the Board of Directors' deliberations. No cash consideration was paid pursuant to the latest amendments to the 2022 Line of Credit and the 2023 Line of Credit, and no commissions or similar fees were paid to any person with respect to those amendments. The Company will file a material change report less than 21 days before the expected date of the closing of the transactions since the terms of the amendments to the debt agreements were not agreed upon in principle until recently.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term establishment of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the U.S. State of Louisiana, subsequent Strategic Metal Complexes in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA.

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Regarding any disclosure in the press release above about the anticipated extensions and revised terms relating to the 2020 Convertible Debentures, the Company has assumed that the revised agreements and the amendments to the terms of the 2020 Convertible Debentures will be accepted by the TSXV. Regarding any disclosure in the press release above about the debt amendments involving Orca and the issuance of the new warrants to Orca, the Company has assumed that the agreements and the terms of the loan bonus warrants will be accepted by the TSXV. For risks and uncertainties regarding the Company and its business generally, see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q3 2023 (filed on SEDAR+ on November 20, 2023) (www.SEDARPLUS.ca) as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX; RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACTS

Mr. Peter Manuel, Ucore Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.

SOURCE Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
VANCOUVER, April 26, 2024 - Patagonia Gold Corp. ("Patagonia" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGDC) announces its audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2023 ("YE 2023"). The audited consolidated financial statements for YE 2023, together with the related management's discussion and analysis, are available on the Company's website and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.



Highlights

Generated revenue of US$8.2 million in YE 2023.

Produced 4,498 gold equivalent ounces ( 1) and sold 4,290 gold equivalent ounces (1) .

and sold 4,290 gold equivalent ounces . Spent US$3.7 million on exploration of key projects in Argentina including completion of: 5,500 meters of diamond drilling on the Monte Leon prospect, within the El Tranquilo concession block, which encountered multiple zones of anomalous, precious metal mineralization ( 2 ) ; 372 meters of reverse circulation ("RC") drilling at the Sinter prospect in the La Josefina Project; and 165 meters of diamond drilling at the April prospect in late 2023.



A total of 714 meters of core drilling has been completed at Abril. Analytical results from this drilling are pending and drilling will continue through 2024.

Notes:

(1) Consisting of 3,412 gold and 91,098 silver ounces of production and 3,275 gold and 83,988 silver ounces sold, converted to a gold equivalent using a ratio of the average spot market price for the commodities each period. The ratio for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 82.45:1 (2022 - 82.41:1). (2) Please refer to news releases issued on March 1 and July 13, 2023 (which are available on the Company's website and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca) for additional information on drilling at Monte Leon prospect (El Tranquilo project).

Qualified Person's Statement



Donald J. Birak, an independent, consulting geologist, Registered Member of SME and Fellow of AusIMM and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About Patagonia Gold

Patagonia Gold Corp. is a South America focused, publicly traded, mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company seeks to grow shareholder value through exploration and development of gold and silver projects in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The Company is primarily focused on the Calcatreu project in Rio Negro and the development of the Cap-Oeste underground project. Patagonia, indirectly through its subsidiaries or under option agreements, has mineral rights to over 430 properties in several provinces of Argentina and is one of the largest landholders in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Christopher van Tienhoven, Chief Executive Officer

Patagonia Gold Corp.

T: +54 11 5278 6950

E: cvantienhoven@patagoniagold.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, the receipt of analytical results from the drilling, and the continuation of drilling, at Abril, the advancement and development of gold and silver projects in the Patagonia region of Argentina, and the anticipated growth in shareholder value. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
A copy of the Onion is seen in a news rack in San Francisco. The satirical newspaper-turned-website was acquired by tech billionaire Jeff Lawson, who is asking readers to donate $1 to keep it running. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

San Francisco tech billionaire Jeff Lawson confirmed late Thursday that he has acquired the satirical news site the Onion and promptly appealed to its readers for a $1 contribution to keep it running.

Alright, the news is out. Yes, I bought The Onion, Lawson, the co-founder of the communications company Twilio, announced on Twitter. Why? The Onion is an institution, a national treasure, and we need it. But its success is based on something different than most media companies. The Onion has been stifled, along with most of the Internet, by byzantine cookie dialogs, paywalls, bizarro belly fat ads, and clickbait. Thats why were asking everybody to pitch in $1.

Jeff Lawson, co-founder of the communications company Twilio, has acquired the satirical newspaper-turned-website the Onion and is asking readers to donate $1 to help keep it running. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Prior to Lawsons announcement, G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller revealed in a staff email that the Onion had been sold to a Chicago-based company, Global Tetrahedron. The companys name was inspired by the book Our Dumb Century, penned by The Onions staff and published in 1999.

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This company is made up of four digital media veterans with a profound love for The Onion and comedy-based content, Spanfeller wrote. The sites new owners have agreed to keep The Onions entire staff intact and in Chicago, something we insisted be part of the deal.

The companys executive team includes Ben Collins, formerly a senior reporter at NBC News, Leila Brillson, a former executive at TikTok, and Danielle Strle, previously associated with Tumblr.

The Onion, initially a satirical newspaper established in Wisconsin in 1988 before transitioning to the web, is renowned for its satirical take on current events. It is the latest entity divested by G/O Media, which has also sold Jezebel, Lifehacker, Deadspin and the A.V. Club in recent years. G/O Media was established in 2019 by the private equity firm Great Hill Partners through the acquisition of a collection of websites formerly under Gawker Media. It continues to operate Gizmodo, the Root and Quartz.

In his Twitter thread, Lawson implored everyone to donate $1 to sustain The Onion, providing a link to an article titled, Give Us $1 Or The Onion Disappears Forever.

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VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON, April 26, 2024 /CNW/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 14,338,494 units (each a "Unit") issued at a price of CAD$0.784 per Unit for gross proceeds of USD $8.2 million (CAD $11,241,380) (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each a "Unit") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share for a period of two (2) years at an exercise price of CAD $0.98 per common share.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company has agreed to extend the expiry of 6,396,999 previously issued warrants from April 21, 2025, to the date which is 24 months from the date of closing the Private Placement. The Company has granted customary registration rights to the investors in the Private Placement.

The proceeds of the Private Placement will used by the Company to meet current obligations for the deployment of its modular direct lithium extraction plant (the "DLE Plant") in the western United States as previously announced on January 11, 2024, and for general working capital purposes.

The Company expects that the Private Placement will close on May 2, 2024. The Company further intends to complete additional private placement financing of up to USD$15.8 Million, which may be completed on similar terms of the Private Placement. The securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

The Company also announces that Libor Michel ceased to be a CEO of the Company in early April of this year with Garry Flowers resuming his role as sole CEO.

The Company also announces that it will not longer be proceeding with its previously announced (January 29, 2024) marketed private placement offering with Stifel Canada and BMO Capital Markets.

MI 61-101 Disclosure

EV Metals VI LLC, a private company controlled by Jacob Warnock, a director of the Company, or an affiliated company (collectively, "EV Metals"), will participate in the Private Placement to acquire a minimum of 3,846,913 Units for gross proceeds of at least USD $2.2 million. The participation of EV Metals in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying upon exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively - Fair Market Value Not More Than 25 Per Cent of Market Capitalization, on the basis that at the time the Private Placement was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the Units to be distributed pursuant to the Private Placement to EV Metals, nor the consideration to be received for those Units, will exceed 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization. The terms of the Private Placement were negotiated with a special committee of directors of the Company, all of whom are independent for the purposes of MI 61-101. The Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved the Private Placement and no materially contrary view or abstention was expressed or made by any director in relation to the Private Placement. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the participation of EV Metals in the Private Placement at least 21 days before closing of the Offering as the participation of the  EV Metals was not determined at that time.

About the Company

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company' unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"William Webster"

William Webster, Chair of the Board

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forwardlooking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release contains certain forwardlooking statements with respect to, among other things, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement, the ability for the Company to extend the existing warrants, and the Company's expectation that it may complete future private placements with the Private Placement investors, on similar terms, for up to an additional $15.8 million. By their nature, forwardlooking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements.

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SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
Axed French GP group facing embezzlement probe

The 2022 demise of the French GP at Paul Ricard has now become a full-scale disaster, with local prosecutors opening an investigation into "embezzlement of public funds".

French GP 2022

 Alfa Romeo

Le Monde newspaper also said the former legal structure of the organisation in charge of the Formula 1 race - public interest group GPF-le Castellet - is already in compulsory liquidation, with debts tallying EUR 32 million.

The amounts are exorbitant, politician Christelle D'Intorni told the newspaper, referring to a multitude of questionable expenses with unknown recipients.

What is shocking is that the travel costs go up and up, and we find luxury expenses for colossal sums, she added.

(GMM)
Hulkenberg signs with Sauber/Audi

Audi-owned Sauber has officially confirmed that Nico Hulkenberg has agreed a three-year deal starting in 2025.

Nico Hulkenvberg, Australian GP 2024

 Haas

The Swiss Formula 1 team, which is now 100 percent owned by German giant Volkswagen's Audi subsidiary, is said to be willing to wait a little longer for Carlos Sainz to consider a similar offer to race until 2027 at least.

Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and also CEO of the future Audi F1 factory team said, We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula One. With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team  and of Audis F1 project. Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in building something long-term together. Nico is a strong personality, and his input, on a professional and personal level, will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team.

Nico said, Im returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland, The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula One with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me.

(GMM)
Green River is a community full of individuals and businesses that work together for the benefit of everyone. Once a year, specific members of the community are recognized for their impact and contributions. This year Green River Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon was hosted last Wednesday, and a large crowd gathered to recognize the award recipients.

Distinguished Citizen of the Year

The Distinguished Citizen of the Year award was given to Krista Kraft in recognition of her hard work rescuing, supporting, and advocating for animals.

"The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by...
Sweetwater County works together with a number of federal partners throughout the year, particularly when it comes to managing land and resources in the county. Several of these partners provide an annual update to the county in order to give an overview of what they've been working on and project coming up in the future.

The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners heard an update from representatives of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Ashley National Forest (ANF), and the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge during the April 16 commissioner meeting.

Bureau of Land Management

K...
Dustin and Andrea Young are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

They were married on April 20, 1999 at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.

They will be celebrating their silver anniversary with an upcoming trip to Belize.

Both Dustin and Andrea grew up in Green River. Dustin's parents are Dean Young and LaDonna Carpenter. Andrea's parents are Donald and Cathie Irene.

Dustin and Andrea met at a friend's house when they were teenagers, so they've known each other most of their lives.

The couple also decided to stay in Green River to raise their own family. They have two daughters - Natasha, who is 24, and Shelby, who is 12.

Dustin works at Tata Chemicals Soda Ash Partners, where he has been for the past 17 years, and Andrea works as a safety supplies sales rep at Rocky Mountain Industrial Supply.

In their free time, Dustin and Andrea love to travel. They especially enjoy visiting tropical locations and they always collect seashells from the places they've been.

Dustin said they have lots of plans for the future, and he is looking forward to the next 25 years together.
Most Green River residents probably didn't notice the black and yellow van that pulled onto Stephens Street, the young man who climbed out of it with a colorful lawnmower, or the woman wearing an ECAN shirt he spoke to. However, the eyes of thousands of people on the internet turned to Green River as Rodney Smith Jr. made his stop there as part of his journey to mow lawns in all 50 states.

Smith is the founder of Raising Men and Women Lawn Care, an organization that mows lawns for free for the elderly, disabled, single parents and veterans. Smith not only mows lawns and encourages kids to do so, but he travels the country to raise awareness for a number of important causes.

The organization started in 2015, when Smith was still a student.

"I saw an elderly man struggling with his lawn, so I pulled over and helped him out, and that night I just decided I'd start mowing free lawns," Smith explained, adding that "one thing led to another" and the nonprofit organization grew from there.

Smith named the organization "Raising Men Lawn Care," eventually adding "Women" to the title as well, because one of the goals is to encourage kids to get involved by mowing lawns in their own communities. Smith asks kids to take up the "50 Yard Challenge," which involves mowing 50 lawns in their community for free. For every 10 lawns they finish, they will get a different color t-shirt, working their way up. Once they finish all 50 lawns, Smith will personally drive to where they are to give them a new mower and weed eater so they can continue their work. They can also take up more specific challenges to focus on different groups, like the Military Challenge, which involves mowing the lawns of 50 veterans. Kids can also do leaf raking and snow shoveling in addition to mowing.

"It just keeps them active and wanting to help out," Smith said, adding that it teaches them kindness as well.

Two years after founding the organization, Smith decided to expand his reach even more, making a plan to visit all 50 states to make people aware of the organization and encourage others to get involved.

"Eventually I started mowing for different causes," Smith said, explaining that he continued to visit all 50 states, highlighting different needs each time, from breast cancer awareness to supporting veterans to helping various organizations.

Making his way to Nola Cutts' house in Green River was one of Smith's stop in his current cross-country mowing tour, which is the 18th time he's traveled to every state.

"For this 18th 50-state mowing tour, I'm mowing for a whole bunch of different causes at once," Smith explained. "And I have a customized lawn mower that I use during this time, and at the end of it I will auction it off and give the funds to a nonprofit organization."

Star photo by Hannah Romero

When deciding where to stop on his current tour, Smith reached out to his over 150,000 social media followers, asking them to submit the causes that are important to them. He then chose one for each state, going to that person's home to mow their lawn and highlight their cause.

Smith reached Wyoming on just the fifth day of his tour, but it was already the 14th state he'd stopped in. He drove into town and unloaded his lawn mower at the home of Nola Cutts, a Green River resident who has followed him on social media for a while.

"I thought he did really good work," Cutts said of Smith and his past tours to raise awareness. "When it popped up that he was supporting charities, I'm not gonna say no to that."

Cutts took her opportunity to highlight an organization close to her heart - the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN).

"I think ECAN deserves all the attention that they can get because what they do is important to me. Really important to me," she said.

Cutts explained that her husband died from esophageal cancer when he was 53, and by the time they found out what was wrong it was too late to do anything. She feels that if she had known then what she knows now, things might have turned out differently. So now she shares as much information as she can with others. She has heard from friends who have had a loved one checked and been able to catch things early, and she now knows survivors. Cutts wants everyone to know that heartburn can cause cancer, and to be aware and informed of the warning signs so it can be caught early.

While she takes every chance she can to share information, she didn't imagine she would have the opportunity to share through Smith's significant platform, so she was excited and grateful he decided to stop in Green River. Smith not only took a selfie with Cutts and her son Paul, as he does with all those whose lawns he mows, but he took a video giving them the opportunity to share more about ECAN and why it's important. The timing also worked out perfectly, as April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.

While Cutts was grateful to have the chance to share, Smith is also appreciative of being able to bring attention to important topics.

"All the causes are special," he said. "Everyone supports them for a reason."

Smith couldn't stay in Green River for long, and was already headed to Idaho by the end of the day. Since then, he has already made it to the east coast, and is quickly going through states, mowing lawns, and bringing attention to even more causes.

One of Smith's many social media followers is Matthew Rackley, another Green River resident who stopped by while Smith was in town to shake his hand and buy two copies of his new children's book, which tells the story of how he got started mowing lawns.

"I just think what he does is awesome," Rackley said. "We need more of this."

Cutts agreed, thankful not only that Smith chose to stop at her house, but for his work to raise awareness in general.

"He's an amazing person," she said.
by Vijay Prashad





Fifty years ago, on 25 April 1974, the people of Portugal took to the streets of their cities and towns in enormous numbers to overthrow the fascist dictatorship of the Estado Novo (New State), formally established in 1926. Fascist Portugal  led first by Antonio de Oliveira Salazar until 1968 and then by Marcelo Caetano  was welcomed into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949, the United Nations in 1955, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1961 and signed a pact with the European Economic Community in 1972. The United States and Europe worked closely with the Salazar and Caetano governments, turning a blind eye to their atrocities.





John Green (England), Peasants in Beja Demanding Agrarian Reform, 1974.





Over a decade ago, I visited Lisbons Aljube Museum  Resistance and Freedom, which was a torture site for political prisoners from 1928 to 1965. During this time, tens of thousands of trade unionists, student activists, communists, and rebels of all kinds were brought there to be tortured, and many were killed  often with great cruelty. The ordinariness of this brutality permeates the hundreds of stories preserved in the museum. For instance, on 31 July 1958, torturers took the welder Raul Alves from Aljube Prison to the third floor of the secret polices headquarters and threw him to his death. Heloisa Ramos Lins, the wife of Brazils ambassador to Portugal at the time, Alvaro Lins, drove by at that moment, saw Alves fatal fall, and told her husband. When the Brazilian embassy approached the Portuguese Interior Ministry to ask what had happened, the Estado Novo dictatorship responded, There is no reason to be so shocked. It is merely an unimportant communist.





It was unimportant communists like Raul Alves who initiated the revolution of 25 April, which built on a wave of workers actions across 1973, beginning with the airport workers in Lisbon and then spreading to textile workers strikes in Braga and Covilha, engineering workers strikes in Aveiro and Porto, and glass workers strike in Marinha Grande.





Around this time, the dictator Caetano read Portugal and the Future, written by General Antonio de Spinola who was trained by commanders of the fascist General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, led a military campaign in Angola, and was formerly the Estado Novos governor in Guinea-Bissau. Spinolas book argued that Portugal should end its colonial occupation since it was losing its grip on Portuguese-controlled Africa. In his memoirs, Caetano wrote that when he finished the book, he understood that the military coup, which I could sense had been coming, was now inevitable.





What Caetano did not foresee was the unity between workers and soldiers (who themselves were part of the working class) that burst through in April 1974. The soldiers were fed up with the colonial wars, which  despite the great brutality of the Estado Novo  had failed to quell the ambitions of the people of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe. The advances made by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), and Peoples Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) were considerable, with Portugals army losing more soldiers than at any time since the eighteenth century. Several of these formations received assistance from the USSR and East Germany (DDR), but it was through their own strength and initiative that they ultimately won the battles against colonialism (as our colleagues at the International Research Centre on the DDR have documented).





On 9 September 1973, soldiers who had been sent to Guinea-Bissau met in Portugal to form the Armed Forces Movement (MFA). In March 1974, the MFA approved its programme Democracy, Development, and Decolonisation, drafted by the Marxist soldier Ernesto Melo Antunes. When the revolution erupted in April, Antunes explained, A few hours after the start of the coup, on the same day, the mass movement began. This immediately transformed it into a revolution. When I wrote the programme of the MFA, I had not predicted this, but the fact that it happened showed that the military was in tune with the Portuguese people. When Antunes said the military, he meant the soldiers, because those who formed the MFA were not more senior than captains and remained rooted in the working class from which they had come.





In December 1960, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestation. This position was rejected by the Estado Novo regime. On 3 August 1959, Portuguese colonial soldiers fired on sailors and dockworkers at Pidjiguiti at the Port of Bissau, killing over fifty people. On 16 June 1960, in the town of Mueda (Mozambique), the Estado Novo colonialists fired on a small, unarmed demonstration of national liberation advocates who had been invited by the district administrator to present their views. It is still not known how many people were killed. Then, on 4 January 1961, a strike at Baixa do Cassange (Angola) was met with Portuguese repression, killing somewhere between 1,000 and 10,000 Angolans. These three incidents showed that the Portuguese colonialists were unwilling to tolerate any civic movement for independence. It was the Estado Novo that imposed the armed struggle on these parts of Africa, moving the PAIGC, MPLA, and FRELIMO to take up guns.





Agostinho Neto (19221979) was a communist poet, a leader of the MPLA, and the first president of independent Angola. In a poem called Massacre of Sao Tome, Neto captured the feeling of the revolts against Portuguese colonialism:





It was then that in eyes on fire

now with blood, now with life, now with death,

we buried our dead victoriously

and on the graves recognised

the reason for these mens sacrifice

for love,

and for harmony,

and for our freedom

even while facing death, through the force of time

in blood-stained waters

even in the small defeats that accumulate towards victory





Within us

the green land of Sao Tome

will also be the island of love.





That island of love was not just to be built across Africa, from Praia to Luanda, but also across Portugal. On 25 April 1974, Celeste Caeiro, a forty-year-old waitress, was working at a self-service restaurant called Sir in the Franjinhas building on Braancamp Street in Lisbon. Since it was the restaurants one-year anniversary, the owner decided to hand out red carnations to the customers. When Celeste told him about the revolution, he decided to shut down Sir for the day, give employees the carnations, and encourage the employees to take the carnations home. Instead, Celeste headed to the city centre, where events were unfolding. On the way, some soldiers asked her for a cigarette, but instead, she put a few carnations into the barrels of their guns. This caught on, and the florists of Baixa decided to give away their in-season red carnations to be the emblem of the revolution. That is why the 1974 revolution was called the Carnation Revolution, a revolution of flowers against guns.





Portugals social revolution of 19741975 swept large majorities of people into a new sensibility, but the state refused to capitulate. It inaugurated the Third Republic, whose presidents all came from the ranks of the military and the National Salvation Junta: Antonio de Spinola (AprilSeptember 1974), Francisco da Costa Gomes (September 1974July 1976), and Antonio Ramalho Eanes (July 1976March 1986). These were not men from the ranks, but the old generals. Nonetheless, they were eventually forced to surrender the old structures of Estado Novo colonialism and withdraw from their colonies in Africa.





Amilcar Cabral (19241973), who was born one hundred years ago this September and who did more than many to build the African formations against Estado Novo colonialism, did not live to see the independence of Portugals African colonies. At the 1966 Tricontinental conference in Havana, Cuba, Cabral warned that it was not enough to get rid of the old regime, and that even more difficult than overthrowing the regime itself would be to build the new world out of the old, from Portugal to Angola, Cape Verde to Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique to Sao Tome and Principe. The main struggle after decolonisation, Cabral said, is the struggle against our own weaknesses. This battle against ourselves, he continued, is the most difficult of all because it is a battle against the internal contradictions of our societies, the poverty borne of colonialism, and the wretched hierarchies in our complex cultural formations.





Led by people like Cabral, liberation struggles in Africa not only won independence in their own countries; they also defeated Estado Novo colonialism and helped bring democracy to Europe. But that was not the end of the struggle. It opened new contradictions, many of which linger today in different forms. As Cabral often said as the closing words to his speeches, a luta continua. The struggle continues.





Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.
Photo: Eye Ubiquitous/Alamy

For New Yorks anniversary, we are celebrating the history of the citys restaurants with a series of posts throughout the month. Read all of our Who Ate Where stories here.

I arrived in Manhattan by train from Toronto, in September 1983, to start an off-campus studio program. It must have been early evening, and we all packed ourselves and our luggage into a large (old-school) checkered yellow cab, headed downtown from Grand Central. One of the first stops was at St. Marks Place and Avenue A. As the cab turned the corner from Third Avenue, a vibration took over our ride and throngs of people on the sidewalk spilled out along the one-way running into Tompkins Square Park. It was electrifying, even for a nonchalant bumpkin from Thailand, an energy the city was famed for and thrived on, from song lyrics to the advertisement of the day, the I  NY campaign of the 80s. It was all pulsating on St. Marks Place. I didnt understand it, but I felt it.

Not much is left from that version of the East Village. But Cafe Mogador, which opened the very same year I arrived in New York, remains. Even the menu has not wavered in 40 years: The flavors of Moroccan eggs with their spicy tomato sauce and the sides of merguez sausage warm my Sunday belly at brunch. For midday meetings, I like to have the lamb-shank tagine with a sauce of preserved lemon and olives, acidic and tangy, but a meal to end all meals for the rest of the day, accompanied by grains of couscous. Of course, entire days used to be spent there, slow, long days of nursing a demitasse of espresso or an oversize bowl of cafe au lait, one after another on a cold winters afternoon or in the exhausting heat of midsummer. Mogador is an oasis of memories.

St. Marks institutions Cafe Orlin and Yaffa Cafe are now long gone. It was sad when Leshkos  the diner around the corner on Avenue A  closed. Then, later, it was upsetting when Odessa, a couple of doors down, was routed. Superiority Burger has opened in the old Odessa, the banquettes still intact, but with a very different menu and clientele on offer. The Holiday Cocktail Lounge is somehow still on St. Marks, but every drink is no longer a dollar.

I still live in the East Village, in an apartment on 7th Street. As an artist, I dont have a studio space where I can spend my days lingering on work or space at home should an occasion arise that needs the personalization of a studio visit; Mogador is my primary choice to entertain such requests. I cherish it. The crowd may have thickened and changed, but even the rotations of young people staffing the cafe have somehow kept the bohemian touch. The au lait flows and the couscous is oh so warming. I return not for the memories but for the persistence of flavors and the resistance to the ever-crushing tide of change.
Yesterday a rumor did the rounds claiming Google is getting ready to launch a version of the Pixel Tablet that would come without the Charging Speaker Dock in the box. Today a new rumor 'confirms' the previous one (as much as any rumor can 'confirm' anything), and helpfully adds pricing information for the new dock-less tablet.

Thankfully, it will cost less than the tablet + dock bundle that's currently on sale. In the Eurozone, unnamed retailer listings are alleged to charge 446 with 128GB of storage and 553 with 256GB for just the tablet.

For comparison's sake, note that the price for the current bundle including the dock is 679 and 779, respectively for those two storage versions. The leaked pricing does however seem weird and may not include VAT, which varies widely across EU countries.

If we were to add the German VAT amount of 19%, the resulting price would be 529 for the 128GB model and 659 for the 256GB one. That's still a hefty discount for those who have no need for the dock, so the official release can't come soon enough.

The same unnamed retailers have also reportedly listed the rumored Bluetooth keyboard accessory. It's priced in that inventory system at 89, which may or may not end up being the final selling price. If it's devoid of VAT too, then adding that in for Germany once again would yield a final price of 105. The also-rumored stylus isn't listed, but yesterday's leak claimed it would have the same price as the keyboard.

Source
AndroidHeadlines just came out with a report that Samsung may be readying an Ultra variant of the Galaxy Z Fold6 for Unpacked event on July 10. This leak comes out to confirm the Ultra's existence.



Galaxy Z Fold6 Ultra and Z Fold6 model names

The new information includes a model number - SM-F958N, which in turn suggests that this is an Ultra device because historically, all Ultra handsets in Samsung's portfolio end with "8". The internal model name Q6A, but that alone doesn't give us any additional clues.

Judging by Samsung's usual naming scheme, however, the SM-F958N model number may suggest limited availability. That's usually a model name for a device destined for the home market - South Korea. So even if Samsung unveils a Z Fold6 Ultra, it could be a South Korea-exclusive device. And to be frank, it makes a lot of sense. Releasing a top-tier Ultra foldable device with all the best available hardware (likely with a significant upgrade in the camera department), inflates the price quite a bit, so Samsung will be producing limited quantities of the Z Fold6 Ultra, just enough for the South Korean market.

Without citing any sources, AndroidHeadlines confirms that the Z Fold6 Ultra will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, which isn't much of a surprise.

Source
Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes introduced a proposal to help Guam residents, beginning in the upcoming academic semester, attend medical school at a more affordable tuition rate.

Bill 284-37 leverages Guams membership in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education to officially begin the islands participation in its Professional Student Exchange Program, a release from her office states.

Nine students from Guam have already qualified to begin their participation in PSEP, and Bill 284-37 appropriates $966,925 to the Guam Community College as the first round of local investment into the program, the release states.

It is the intent of the Guam Legislature to provide the necessary funds for these residents to enter into this program, and receive the required education and training that will help Guam improve the quality of health care services locally, the bill states.

Much like financial assistance WICHE offers for undergraduate and graduate degrees, those enrolled in PSEP enjoy substantial savings  between $35,700 to $139,800 over the duration of a health degree study, according to the organization  when enrolled in participating colleges and universities.

Many on our island want to be involved in the important and understaffed health care sector  but unaffordable tuition for out-of-state students can render this noble dream impossible, the vice speaker said in a release. But in exchange for a local investment into this amazing higher education benefit, our government can bring these well-paid jobs within reach for generations of Guamanians.

The legislation has received bipartisan support, with Sens. Joe San Agustin, Roy Quinata, Frank Blas Jr., Christopher Duenas, and Jesse Lujan signed on as co-sponsors.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, Guams students saved more than $1.5 million through undergraduate and graduate tuition programs offered through WICHE.

With out-of-state tuition for some health care programs often exceeding resident tuition by over 300 percent, this can be daunting for tomorrows health professionals. It may saddle them in debt, force them to leave their community for more lucrative opportunities, or discourage them from pursuing a passion to heal, the commission has stated about the real-world concerns addressed through PSEP.

The WICHE program, administered on Guam by GCC, is open to local students seeking degrees for ten fields and occupations in the health care industry: dentistry, allopathic medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, and veterinary medicine, the release from Muna Barnes office states.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Greencells GmbH / Key word(s): Bond

Greencells GmbH plans early termination and redemption of the secured Green Bond 2020/2025 at 102% of the nominal amount, probably in the second quarter of 2024



26-Apr-2024 / 14:30 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc.



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Greencells GmbH plans early termination and redemption of the secured Green Bond 2020/2025 at 102% of the nominal amount, probably in the second quarter of 2024



Saarbrucken, 26 April 2024  The Management of Greencells GmbH plans to early redeem its secured 6.5% Green Bond 2020/2025 (ISIN: DE000A289YQ5) with an outstanding volume of EUR 45.1 million, subject to the minimum notice period of 30 days in accordance with the bond terms and conditions, probably in the second quarter of 2024 and repay it at 102% of the nominal amount (optional redemption amount (call)) plus interest accrued up to that date. The redemption of the Green Bond is to be made from bank financing, which Greencells Energy NL B.V., a subsidiary of Greencells Group Holdings Ltd. is to receive from an international bank from Austria and pass on to Greencells GmbH for the purpose of redeeming the bond and in fulfillment of liabilities to Greencells GmbH. As the disbursement of the funds is still subject to various conditions precedent, not all of which are currently fulfilled, the specific date for the early redemption of the outstanding bonds will only be announced in the context of a notice of termination expected to be published in the second quarter of 2024. The notice of termination will be published on the website of Greencells GmbH (www.greencells.com/de/ir/) in accordance with the bond terms and conditions and will also be disclosed in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).



Notifying person:

Andreas Hoffmann (CEO)

Greencells GmbH

Greencells contact:

Alexandra Roger-Machart

Head of Corporate Communications, ESG and IR

ir@greencells.com | Mobil: +49 172 397 0957



Greencells GmbH

Bahnhofstr. 28

66111 Saarbrucken

Germany

www.greencells.com Financial press contact:

Frank Ostermair, Linh Chung

frank.ostermair@better-orange.de

Phone: +49 89 88 96906 25



Better Orange IR & HV AG

Haidelweg 48

81241 Munich

Germany

www.better-orange.de



End of Inside Information

26-Apr-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Theres no place in the world like a Southern beach bar. Whether youre a college kid on spring break or a middle-aged dad rocking a Hawaiian shirt and a sunburn, we can all agree that life feels a little bit better with your toes in the sand.

Southern Living Magazine listed its 18 Best Beach Bars in the South, and these Gulf Coast favorites made the cut. (To no ones surprise, Florida dominates in this particular department  but a few Texas and Alabama spots might surprise you.)

Flora-Bama

Address: 17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, Florida

This world-famous beachfront spot toes the state line between Florida and Alabama. The bar is known for its live music and shorefront parties, like the annual Mullet Toss, held from April 26-28.

Peg Leg Petes

Address: 1010 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, Florida

This kid-friendly, pirate-themed bar is accessible by both land and sea. For grown-ups, Southern Living recommends the oyster shooter, made with one raw oyster, bloody mary mix, and beer or vodka.

Claytons Beach Bar

Address: 6900 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, Texas

This beach bar and grill is the perfect place to sip on an oversized pina colada and fill up on ceviche. Relax under a rented umbrella for $35 a day, or play volleyball at the bars waterfront court.

Jimmy Bs Beach Bar

Address: 6200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, Florida

Attached to the Beachcomber resort on St. Pete Beach, this oceanfront restaurant brings an elevated touch to your typical beach bar.

The Mucky Duck

Address: 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, Florida

This unique beachfront restaurant is part British-inspired pub and part Margaritaville. Enjoy stunning sunset views of Captiva Island while dining on signature English fish and chips.

Shaggys Harbor Bar & Grill

Address: 120 South Hiern Ave., Pass Christian, Mississippi

Crab soup, snapper elote and crawfish mac n cheese are just a few beloved menu items at the seafood-heavy Shaggys Pass Harbor Bar & Grill. Following its instant success, Shaggys owners have opened four more spots along the coast.

Pink Pony Pub

Address: 137 E. Gulf Place, Gulf Shores, Alabama

It doesnt get much cuter than the cotton-candy-colored Pink Pony Pub in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where the frozen drink and daiquiri menu is ideal for a day spent in the sun. Stick around past sunset for nightly karaoke.
They say a good disguise is worth a thousand alibis, but a bad one  not so much.

On Wednesday, Glades County Sheriffs Office deputies were actively searching for a man they suspected of stealing a boat in the old Calusa Lodge area of Lakeport, Florida, when they noticed someone exiting a nearby home.

Despite his donning a long blond wig and a blue dress topped with a white sweater, the deputies immediately recognized it was the person they were looking for  Joshua Kolotka, age 33.

Joshua Kolotka, age 33, was apprehended Wednesday by Glades County Sheriffs Office deputies in Florida.Glades County Sheriff's Office

In a post to Facebook, the Glades County Sheriffs Office explained the sequence of events, writing, When the deputies began canvassing the area in search of the alleged suspect, they observed Joshua Kolotka exiting a residence dressed as a woman in an attempt to disguise himself.

Deputies apprehended Kolotka, who had two outstanding Okeechobee County warrants, and placed him under arrest for the theft of the boat and a John Deere Gator utility vehicle.

Officials said other items found at the scene were possibly stolen from the same vicinity. The Glades County Sheriffs Office is collaborating with the Seminole Police Department to identify some of the stolen items from other theft cases in the locality.
With each minute that passes in the United States, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner  and while physical injuries may heal with time, the emotional trauma is ongoing  and occasions like Mothers Day can often be overlooked.

But one moving company decided to make a difference.

Last year, ahead of Mothers Day, the Gulfport, Mississippi, location of Two Men and a Truck, collected 30,000 items to deliver to womens and family shelters  just in time to make Mothers Day special for all moms  regardless of their circumstances.

And this year they hope to collect even more.

Giving back has been a focus of Two Men and a Truck since the company began in the 1980s, when brothers Brig and Jon Sorber began moving furniture for people in Lansing, Michigan, using a 1966 Ford pickup truck.

Movers for Moms started off as a statewide program in Michigan back in 2007  but by 2014, it became a national program at all Two Men and a Truck locations. Last year, combined, they collected more than 443,000 items.

For Emily Sham, the companys sales and marketing manager, the movement became her mission.

I cant even begin to imagine what these moms go through on a daily basis, Sham said. I have made it a point since we began our collection drive along the coast in 2018 to continue to grow and promote Movers for Moms as much as I could to ensure moms in need are receiving the love and appreciation they deserve this Mothers Day.

Locally across the Mississippi Gulf Coast this year, Two Men and a Truck have partnered with two local organizations, the Gulf Coast Center for Non-Violence and the Womens Resource Center, where donations will be distributed.

Items currently needed for local mothers, include, but are not limited to:

Laundry detergent (sensitive & regular)

Twin sheets and comforters

Pots and pans

Towels

Diapers (Sizes newborn,5 and 6)

Wipes

New Clothing (Sizes newborn through 3T for boys & girls)

Swaddles/blankets

Bottles

The company will be collecting items through May 7. Donations can be dropped off at any of their 31 Mississippi drop off locations.

Bay St Louis

SouthGroup Insurance

Community Bank

Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union

Biloxi

El Pueblo

SouthGroup Insurance IDR Insurance

DIberville

Community Bank

The Landing at DIberville

The Landmark of DIberville

Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union

Gulfport

Community Bank (Downtown & Orange Grove) Boozers Brew (15th Street & Pass Road)

Hancock Whitney (14th Street)

Jack & Dianes Tattoo

Elliott Homes

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport

Coastal Realty Group

Huntington Learning Center

Harrison County Economic Development Commission Harrison County Intervention Court

Clear Families Chiropractic

Gulfport Behavioral Health System

RPM Pizza

Hope Academy

Summerfield Senior Living of Gulfport

Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union (25th Ave & Hwy 49) WXXV



Saucier

Cheer Zone Athletics

But no matter where you live in the country, you can find a drop off location near you by visiting Two Men and a Moving Trucks website.




Haiti - FLASH : Swearing and installation of members of the CPT...





Early Thursday, April 25, 2024, the 9 members of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) (Smith Agustin; Louis Gerald Gilles; Fritz Alphonse Jean; Edgard Leblanc Fils; Laurent Saint-Cyr; Emmanuel Vertilair; Leslie Voltaire; Regine Abraham and Frinel Joseph) took the oath at the National Palace



"I swear before God and before the nation to observe and do and faithfully observe the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic, to respect and ensure respect for the rights of the Haitian people, to work to work to the greatness of the Fatherland, to maintain national independence and territorial integrity."



After their swearing-in, the members of the CPT were officially installed in their positions as part of a ceremony which took place at the Welcome Villa in the presence of, among others, the Diplomatic Corps, political actors and special guests.







In his speech, the Prime Minister a.i., Mr. Michel Patrick Boisvert, invited his compatriots to work towards strengthening and consolidating democratic achievements with a view to contributing to the recovery of our dear Haiti It is a desired Haitian solution by Haitians through political parties and civil society organizations, with support from the international community, with the aim of bringing together the vital forces of the nation and bringing them together around an inclusive agreement for the great national rescue."



Speech by Patick Boivert :





Furthermore, Madame Regine Abraham, observer at the CPT, who spoke on behalf of all the members of the council, believes that the population expects a lot from the CPT while noting the five priority projects of this presidential structure called to resolve the problems urgent issues facing the country: restoration of public security, the organization of the national conference and constitutional reform, the holding of elections, the restoration of the rule of law and institutional and economic recovery.



Official resignation letter from Prime Minister Ariel Henry :

Los Angeles, April 24, 2024



To the members of the Council of Ministers

In their offices,



Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Council of Ministers,



As authorized by article 165 of the 1987 Constitution, following the resignation of my government, I confirm to you that for personal reasons, I have chosen to immediately withdraw from the post of Prime Minister and from all ministerial responsibilities. .



High regards

Haiti will be reborn

Long live Haiti



Dr. Ariel HENRY



PM/AH/3713



Official letter of resignation from the Government :

Los Angeles, April 24, 2024



To the members of the Council of Ministers

In their offices



Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Council of Ministers,



Hereby, taking note of the state of affairs, I present the resignation of my Government.



I congratulate all members of the Government and collaborators. the public administration, the security forces, all those who accompanied me during this patriotic approach.



We have served the Nation in difficult times. I thank everyone who had the courage to face such challenges with me.



I sympathize with the losses and suffering endured by our compatriots during this period.



On behalf of the Government, I thank the Haitian people for the opportunity to serve our country with integrity, wisdom and honor.



Haiti will be reborn. Long live Haiti!



Dr Ariel HENRY



Order appointing citizen Michel Patrick Boisvert, interim Prime Minister :



Le Moniteur Sprcial N18, Wednesday April 24, 2024





 ORDER APPOINTING CITIZEN MICHEL PATRICK BOISVERT INTERIM PRIME MINISTER



[...]



Considering the Constitution of the Republic;



Considering the Political Agreement for Peaceful and Effective Governance of the Interim Period of September 10, 11, 12 and 14, 2024 published in the Official Journal Le Moniteur, Special No. 46 of Friday September 17, 2021;



Considering the National Consensus for an inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections of December 21, 2022 published in the Official Journal Le Moniteur, Special No. 1 of January 3, 2023;



Considering the Decree of May 17, 2005 on the Organization of the Central State Administration;



Considering the Decree of May 17, 2005 revising the General Status of the Civil Service;



Considering the Order of July 5, 2021 appointing the citizen Ariel HENRY, Prime Minister;



Considering the Order of November 24, 2021 reshuffling the Ministerial Cabinet;



Considering the presentation by the Prime Minister of the resignation of his Government;



Considering the withdrawal of the position and all ministerial responsibilities of the Prime Minister, for personal reasons;



Considering that to ensure the continuity of the State, it is necessary to appoint an interim Prime Minister chosen from among the members of the Ministerial Cabinet. pending the formation of a new Government;



And after deliberation:



ORDER



Article 1.-



Citizen Michel Patrick BOISVERT is appointed interim Prime Minister, pending the formation of a new Government.



Article 2.-



An amplification of this Order will be given to the interested party.



Article 3.- This Order will be published and executed for legal purposes.





Given at the National Palace, in Port-au-Prince, on April 24, 2024. Year 221 of Independence.



[...]"



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Travel : JetBlue and American Airlines will resume their flights to Port-au-Prince





JetBlue and American Airlines will resume flights to Port-au-Prince next month (reservations starting May 16, 2024) after a two-month interruption caused by an escalation of gang violence in Port-au-Prince and the metropolitan area.



All commercial flights in Haiti were suspended in early March after armed gangs fired on a plane preparing to depart. Sunrise Airways became the first airline to resume flights to the United States on March 25, but with a hefty price tag of $1,000 for a one-way ticket. Only Sunrise Airways currently operates from Cap-Haitien. Spirit Airlines, which also operates in Cap Haitien has not yet announced when it will resume its flights... The resumption of operations of other airlines in Haiti should result in a reduction in Sunrise Airways ticket prices indicated the President of the Haitian airline.



JetBlue one-way ticket prices from Port-au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale in May range from $140 to $190. After a 2-month interruption, American Airlines would offer one-way flights from Port-au-Prince to Miami for around US$3,400, reports the HaitianTimes newspaper without knowing the reason for this crazy price.



On the other hand, passengers traveling from the United States to Haiti can find more reasonably priced tickets with American Airlines. Prices for a one-way flight from Miami to Port-au-Prince range from $125 to $484. Round-trip tickets for flights from Fort Lauderdale or Miami also have much lower prices.



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Election of the President of the CPT postponed

Thursday April 25, 2024, the members of the CPT after their installation did not organize the election of the President/Coordinator of the Council as planned, without knowing why... According to members of the Council the election will be organized soon...



High tension in Lower Delmas

Thursday April 25, 2024, a situation of high tension was reported in Bas Delmas, where heavily armed individuals set fire to several houses in Delmas 24, Delmas 28 and Delmas 30.



Arcahaie, banduts sow terror

On the morning of Wednesday April 24, 2024, heavily armed bandits invaded the town of Arcahaie, causing a situation of terror and severe panic. These individuals left taking a rowboat, according to testimonies



The Nouvelliste premises vandalized and looted

"The management of the newspaper Le Nouvelliste informs that unidentified individuals have for several days invaded the premises of the daily newspaper located on Street du Center, in Port-au-Prince. They took the opportunity to vandalize the equipment, take away the furniture and the raw materials necessary for printing the newspaper [...] After more than 125 years of existence of a newspaper known for its independence, Le Nouvelliste, still wanting to be a privileged witness to our social changes, will continue to inform from its digital version. Le Nouvelliste would like to thank its journalists, staff and readers for their solidarity during these difficult times."



Textile : Loss of 1,000 jobs

Thursday April 25, 2024, Lushan Jayasekara, Director of the Mas Akansyel S.A. factory, announced in a Note the gradual dismissal of more than 1,000 employees between April and August 2024 due to a reduction in the volume of orders and the crisis in Haiti.



Canadian Embassy closed to the public

The Embassy of Canada to Haiti is closed temporarily to the public. Consular services are being provided remotely.

Register with us: https://ow.ly/FIUE50PUg6o

Request emergency consular assistance: https://ow.ly/G4pb50PUg6p



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Iranian FM condemns U.S. police's crackdown on university students, professors

Xinhua) 10:57, April 26, 2024

TEHRAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday denounced the "violent crackdown" by U.S. police on American university students and professors during their pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, while reacting to the arrest of hundreds of students at a number of universities across the United States following protests on campuses against the Israeli war in Gaza and U.S. military aid to Israel.

"The crackdown is consistent with the continuation of Washington's all-out support and backing for Israel, and is a clear proof of the U.S.'s double standards approach and contradictory behavior towards freedom of expression," he said.

The Iranian foreign minister said the global wave of protests against Israel and its supporters is "undeniable" following Israel's killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian women and children, and especially after the recent discovery of the mass graves at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

"The White House must immediately stop its support for Israel's war crimes and be accountable," he emphasized.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have recently erupted at universities across the United States, including the University of Southern California, Columbia University, University of Texas and Yale University.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, after the group carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Israel has so far killed 34,262 Palestinians and injured 77,229 others, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Existing Netflix customers will soon also have to pay more for their subscriptions: After the prices for new customers were first raised, existing users will also have to pay more to the US streaming service in their next billing period. Netflix is currently informing the first affected users about this by email.

Anzeige

The new Netflix prices were announced in mid-April: The premium subscription with 4K picture quality and 3D audio will now cost 20 euros per month instead of 18 euros. The standard subscription, which previously cost 13 euros, will now cost 14 euros per month. Meanwhile, there will be no change to the ad-supported subscription, which will continue to cost 5 euros per month.

This ad-supported subscription is particularly lucrative for Netflix. The streaming service has therefore taken several measures to convince users to opt for an ad-supported subscription. For example, the basic subscription without advertising has been discontinued, and existing customers of the basic subscription are even threatened with having their accounts terminated.

Request for consent

In the email about the upcoming price increases, Netflix asks for users' consent: subscriptions of people who reject the new prices will be automatically canceled. This is important because Netflix is not allowed to change the subscription unilaterally. This was confirmed by the Berlin Court of Appeal last fall. Price adjustment clauses for "unilateral price increases", which have since been included in Netflix's terms of use, are therefore invalid. However, Netflix claims that it has never relied on these clauses for price increases and has always asked for consent.

In Germany, Netflix last changed its prices in 2021; at that time, the cost of the standard subscription also increased by one euro and the cost of the premium subscription by 2 euros. Since then, Netflix has also implemented measures to make account sharing more difficult. If you want to share your account with people outside your household, you have to book an additional paid option.

Anzeige

(dahe)
(JNS)  U.S. President Joe Biden released the following Passover message on Sunday evening ahead of the holiday:

Tomorrow night, Jews around the world will celebrate Passover, recounting their miraculous Exodus story from hundreds of years of enslavement in Egypt and their journey to freedom. This holiday reminds us of a profound and powerful truth: that even in the face of persecution, if we hold on to faith, we shall endure and overcome.

As Jews mark Passover with storytelling, songs and rituals, they will also read from the Haggadah how, in every generation, they have been targeted by those...
(JNS) - Some 50 animators and producers responsible for the character of Batman in various productions over the years signed a petition this week calling on Qatar and Egypt, two mediators in hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, to push for the release of the Bibas family.

The Bibas family has been held in the Gaza Strip for 193 days. The father, Yarden, 34, his wife Shiri, 32, and their two children, Kfir, who spent his first birthday in captivity, and Ariel, 4, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, the day of the invasion.

Ariel loved the Batman character and li...
(JNS) - "A farmer does not leave his land."

Six months after losing his wife, his 15-year-old son and one of his legs in the Oct. 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel, Avida Bachar is back on his land.

Walking with a cane and a prosthetic leg after nearly half a year in the hospital, the 50-year-old farmer stares out at the avocado plantation in Kibbutz Be'eri, where he was born and which lies less than a mile from the border with Gaza.

On Oct. 7, Bachar's wife and son were killed in front of his eyes after terrorists overwhelmed them in their two-story home, which was...
(JNS)  Christian and Jewish leaders gathered in Washington on Monday evening to call for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and to oppose proposals for the creation of a Palestinian state in the wake of Oct. 7.

David Friedman, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and one of the leaders of the Keep Gods Land movement that organized the event, told JNS that the group proposes to extend Israeli sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria.

Some of the most important parts of biblical Israelwhether its the Old City of Jerusalem, the city of Hebron, the city of Bethel, the city of Shiloh, t...
Natalie Sopinsky lives in Suissa, Israel, in the southeast Negev. She shares her daily life with Heritage readers, her thoughts, her reality in the land she loves.

Welcome to Israel ... where we allow terrorist murderers free reign.

They have education, jobs, families, possessions...they are normal citizens.

So why do they hate us so much?

What pushes a mother to kill? What causes a mother to be a killer, to forfeit her life, to lead a life in jail? Why attempt to kill an Israeli soldier?

As we know, it isn't just ladies doing this. It is all kind of people ... men, too. Young ones, mostly. Th...
(JNS) - Dor Kapah, 30, stood before a group of students at the University of Florida, recounting a harrowing tale that seemed straight out of a war movie. But it wasn't fiction; it was a gripping account of his escape from Hamas terrorists, relentlessly pursuing him no matter where he fled.

His narrative unfolded with descriptions of shooting, bombing and the kidnapping and murder of his friends. The students listened in stunned silence as Kapah detailed the events of Oct. 7, a day etched in his memory and scarred with terrorism.

It's one thing to hear about the targeting of 3,000 partygoers a...
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida honored Jonathan and Nancy Wolf with the Tess Wise White Rose Award at its annual White Rose Tribute Event held at the Orlando Museum of Art on April 11. In addition, Nilam Patel, an English teacher at Dr. Phillips High School, was surprised with the first-ever White Rose Educator Award.

The Tess Wise White Rose Award, created in 1989, honors individuals who magnify the values of inclusiveness and respect and who demonstrate that through participation we can build a better home for all Central Floridians. This remarkable list of p...
(Israel Hayom via JNS)  As the United States and other countries pressure Israel to increase food aid to Gaza, Israeli officials familiar with the situation say Gaza has been overwhelmed by food aid. Israeli officials harshly criticize American representatives, led by Ambassador David Satterfield, accusing them of echoing the lie about starvation in Gaza.

Every evening at 8 p.m., a quadrilateral forum takes place with representatives from Israel, the United States, the United Nations and Egypt, where a daily report on the humanitarian situation in Gaza is provided.

Israel is represented in...
(JNS)  Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday urged the international community to confront Iran, as Jerusalem prepares a response to the Islamic Republics massive drone and missile attack over the weekend.

The whole world must work decisively and defiantly against the threat posed by the Iranian regime, which is seeking to undermine the stability of the entire region, Herzog said after meeting the foreign ministers of Britain and Germany in Jerusalem.

Herzog reiterated the Jewish states unequivocal commitment to defending its people, including by working for the immediate return...
(JNS)  The U.S. House of Representatives passed a dozen pro-Israel and anti-Iran bills and resolutions this week, in the wake of the Islamic Republics missile attack against the Jewish state on Saturday.

Lawmakers passed two bills on Monday that target Irans finances and a third that would deny tax-exempt status to U.S. charities that fund foreign terrorist organizations.

The House passed nine bills and resolutions on Tuesday designed to support the Jewish state and combat Iran.

Most of the bills passed overwhelmingly, facing opposition only from members of the so-called Squad of left-win...
Iranian citizens are praising the Israeli army and calling on the Jewish State to assassinate key ruling figures such as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini, as Iran girds for a potential Israeli retaliation following an unprecedented missile and drone attack.

Residents of Iran are expressing those sentiments via social media posts and subversive street graffiti, with many asking Israel to bring down the government, which rules according to a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Israel, strike back. They dont have the guts to take revenge, read one message spray-painted on a Tehran stree...
(JNS)  The negotiations to forge a deal wherein Hamas would free hostages held in Gaza in return for a ceasefire and the release of terrorists held in Israeli prisons are at a delicate stage, Qatars prime minister said on Wednesday.

We are going through a sensitive stage with some stalling, and we are trying as much as possible to address this, said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The Gulf nation is mediating the talks, along with Egypt and the U.S.

While Israel has shown flexibility in the hopes of arriving at a hostage deal, Hamas has impeded an agreement, Matthew Miller, the U.S. Sta...
Temple Israel is celebrating their 70th Anniversary Simcha at their 50 S. Moss Road location on Sunday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m., and itd be a shanda not to attend!

Guests will enjoy catered appetizers, dinner, and drinks. There will be free babysitting, dinner, and activities provided for children 12 and under while adults enjoy live klezmer music, a photo booth, a keepsake program book, a slideshow full of memories, and many more surprises.

Support the synagogue further with sponsorships and submit your favorite photos from the past 70 years so everyone can kvell together. Visit templeisraeleve...
(JNS)  A Jewish student at Yale University was stabbed in the eye with a Palestinian flag during an anti-Israel demonstration on Saturday night at the schools campus in New Haven, Conn.

Tonight at Yale, I was assaulted by a student today at an anti-Israel protest. He stabbed me in the eye with a Palestinian flag. Now Im in the hospital. This is what happens when visibly Jewish students try to attend and document these rallies, Sahar Tartak, a sophomore, tweeted after the incident.

Tartak, who is studying history and is the editor-in-chief of the independent Yale Free Press college newspap...
(JTA) - Yakira Galler, a first-year student at Barnard College, has had trouble sleeping.

Galler has an apartment that looks out onto Broadway, which divides Columbia University's campus from Barnard, its women's college. Each night this week, she has heard crowds of protesters banging pots and pans, chanting "Intifada, revolution" and calling for the Ivy League university to divest from Israel.

The street protests accompanied a much larger on-campus demonstration that devolved into unrest on April 18, when the university asked police to dismantle an encampment pro-Palestinian students had set...
(JNS) - The mayors of cities in Massachusetts, South Carolina and Oregon returned last week from a four-day visit to Israel, where they met with political officials, business leaders, academics and regional experts.

The three U.S. municipal leaders-Jon Mitchell, the mayor of New Bedford, Mass.; Daniel Rickman, mayor of Columbia, S.C.; and Travis Stovall, mayor of Gresham, Ore.-also spoke with released hostages, their families and those working to see the return of the rest of the captives still being held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

They fu...
(JTA)  A Holocaust research center founded by Steven Spielberg has gotten embroiled in a drama over campus Israel speech that is dividing the University of Southern California, where it is housed.

The USC Shoah Foundation is downplaying its role in the schools academics after the universitys valedictorian, a pro-Palestinian student who earned a minor in resistance to genocide, touted her ties to the center.

After USC announced last week that Asna Tabassum would be the valedictorian, pro-Israel groups mounted a campaign against her, citing content on her Instagram page harshly criticizing...
IAF strike in Lebanon kills senior Hezbollah terrorist

(JNS)  An Israeli Air Force strike in Southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed a senior Hezbollah terrorist responsible for firing rockets and missiles at the Jewish state, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Since the Iranian terrorist proxy joined the war against Israel in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, Ismail Baz, who commanded Hezbollahs coastal sector, organized and planned various terrorist plots, the IDF said.

The military added, Ismail served in several positions as a senior and veteran official in the military wing of Hezbollah. His curre...
(JNS)  After the death of Moses, Joshua was called upon by God to lead our people into the Promised Land. He knew he faced potential resistance ahead. Yet having come from slavery in Egypt, he had the determination and confidence to lead his people and win the battles. Joshua saw the war through to its conclusion when the enemies were defeated, and the land of Canaan was under Israels control.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people have faced real and potential catastrophes, as well as monstrous enemies. Each time, we pushed forward on our journey as a people. Clearly, the Jewish people h...
(JNS)  The words you are looking for are, Thank you, Mr. President.

I have not hesitated to criticize many of U.S. President Joe Bidens policies before and after Oct. 7, but I have also consistently maintained that he has been the most pro-Israel president ever during any of Israels wars. That should have been obvious this past weekend when the United States coordinated a regional air defense that helped Israel avoid suffering any serious harm from a barrage of more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles. It was the first time U.S. forces took an active role in fighting to defend the Jewish...
(JNS)  One of the many ways last weekends drone and missile attacks on Israel could have been worse: If Irans rulers had instructed their U.S.-based operatives to simultaneously carry out a terrorist attack, and our intelligence agencies had failed to learn about it.

Preventing such a catastrophe requires that those intelligence agencies have the ability and authority to surveilthink wiretapterrorists abroad and their communications with operatives in the United States.

Which gets me to a little good news: Last week, the House, on a bipartisan basis, took a step to ensure that we dont lo...
(JNS)  Few Jews still believe that the Jewish establishment has done a good job defending and protecting the community from the rhetorical onslaught against Israel that has morphed into a full-on assault against American Jewry.

From the start, the establishment  the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Federation system, the Jewish Community Relations Councils and many rabbisfailed to understand that the obsessive, intense, continuous criticism of Israeli policies that appeared almost daily in the media was a new form of antisemitism. They failed to defend J...
Visiting Israel for the first time a year ago was not only a spiritual pilgrimage and fulfillment of a dream, but an experience that allowed me to look at my own experiences as a persecuted Christian in Iran  arrested, and sentenced to death because of my faith, through a different prism. I went to Israel to impart a message to the Israeli and Jewish people that Iran is not your enemy, that Iranians support Israel and the Jewish people, and that the Iranian and Israeli (and Jewish) people have a common enemy in the terrorist Islamic regime.

On my first day in Israel I visited the Ella Valley,...
Challenge aims to uplift community-level solutions to address health inequities and environmental justice

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded 12 winners in the first phase of the $1 million Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge. HHS created this national competition to uplift community voices with innovative solutions addressing the adverse health impacts of environmental conditions within local, disproportionately impacted communities.

For years, studies have demonstrated that racial and ethnic minority, disadvantaged, vulnerable, low-income, marginalized, and Indigenous populations are disproportionately burdened by environmental and climate change-related hazards. These populations are more likely to be exposed than other groups to unhealthy land uses, poor air and water quality, dilapidated housing, lead exposure, and other environmental threats that drive health disparities. The combination of environmental risks and social inequities creates a cumulative, disproportionate impact that hinders optimal health for these populations.

Executive Order 14096 Revitalizing Our Nations Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, builds on previous Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice In Minority Populations And Low-Income Populations, signed by President Clinton in 1994, and President Bidens Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, all of which direct HHS to make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by developing programs, policies, and activities to protect human health by addressing the disproportionately high and adverse environmental, climate-related, and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities.

This challenge aims to develop community-driven strategies and application of data-driven tools to advance health equity and address environmental hazards, including those related to climate change, and the cumulative impacts of environmental and other stressors.

This challenge has provided an opportunity for community and Tribal voices to share their own approaches in improving public health through nature programs, engaging youth, and so much more. We are eager to learn from these partners and how these projects will impact their communities. said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel Levine.

In Phase 1 of the challenge, solvers designed innovative concepts and ideas that would enhance their community-driven efforts to mitigate environmental health disparities and advance environmental health equity within a specific population and developed an effective approach to support innovative concepts already being developed.

It is critical to support the development of community-led approaches for addressing environmental and climate change hazards in racial and ethnic minority, tribal and other disadvantaged communities, said Rear Admiral Felicia Collins, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and HHS OMH Director. I applaud the Phase 1 challenge winners for their commitment to addressing adverse health impacts of environmental conditions within their communities.

This Challenge is giving us the ability to hear from those with lived experiences and firsthand knowledge of local factors that drive disproportionate health impacts, said Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, Ph.D., Interim Director of the HHS Office of Environmental Justice.

HHS is committed to supporting community-driven projects designed to address environmental justice and public health issues in areas adversely affected by environmental pollution and climate change hazards. The second and final phase of the challenge is currently open for submissions and will close on June 30, 2024. It focuses on small-scale testing or implementation of well-developed approaches for community-led efforts to mitigate health disparities and advance health equity.

Phase 1 winners include:

Aim High  Keep Pressing  North Carolina

Title: AIMHigh  Keep Pressing Park & Play Program

Program: The 12-week mobile Park & Play program will provide safe and structured play sessions to children aged 2 to 18 to promote physical activity, fitness, and healthy eating, build trust in the communities, and create opportunities for them to share other concerns and ideas for an improved environment for their families. Over a 12-week period, the Park & Play program will serve at least 450 youths across 15 different sites, and AIMHigh will offer a 12-week summer program in partnership with Vance County Housing Authority, the Salvation Army, and Back to Eden.

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods  Illinois

Title: LAND: A Training and Intervention for Community Health Workers

Program: This proposal will design and launch TIERRA (Transforming Internal Experiences for Resilience and Restoration through Acceptance), an innovative, research-informed, nature-based training program for Community Health Workers to address health and environmental injustices in Lake County, Illinois.

Buy In Community Planning  California

Title: Climate Trauma: Coping Practices and Mutual Mental Health Support for Frontline Community Leaders

Program: This proposal engages an existing cohort of frontline climate-change leaders who will lead a project designed to map existing, but previously undocumented, informal mental health practices and resources, evaluate their effectiveness in building emotional health, and identify additional needs towards the design of an implementation project that deeply engages a wider geographic and cultural range of community leaders from historically overburdened areas.

Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)  California

Title: A Nature-Based, Trauma-Informed Peer Support Model for Promoting Community Safety and Improving Mental Health Outcomes with Systems-Impacted Youth

Program: The project will address gaps and barriers in accessing health-promoting nature immersion activities on the part of systems-impacted youth by utilizing experienced peer health educators (Violence Interrupters) from their communities.

Healthy Little Havana Florida

Title: Porque Amo Mi Barrio, Limpio Mi Barrio - A Transformative Street Sweeper Employment Program for a Healthier and Equitable Little Havana

Program: HLH proposes the establishment of a street sweeper program to address environmental justice concerns and enhance the overall well-being of the historically underserved Little Havana community. This program aims to create a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable environment through community engagement, targeted environmental improvements, health equity initiatives, and educational outreach.

Hispanic Federation  North Carolina

Title: Reducing East NC Latine Health Disparities through Community-led Climate Resilience Strategies

Program: This proposal will work with Latine grassroots nonprofits, families, and farmworkers in rural East Carolina to create a research, education, and advocacy campaign including creating a geospatial database to understand the impact of climate disasters, ensuring that Latine nonprofit leaders and community members can articulate the impact of climate change in their everyday lives and improve local and state disaster emergency plans to include community needs, while addressing the social determinants of health related to climate disasters.

Markham Public Library  Illinois

Title: The Markham Healthy Green Spaces Initiative

Program: This project combines the innovative nature-based solution of Miyawaki pocket forests with other green infrastructure installations desired by our community to address long standing inequities in greenspace, clean air, shade, walkability, and biodiversity. The initiative unites the efforts of local residents, the public library, and health and environment-focused non-profit organization Nordson Green Earth Foundation.

The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH)  Texas

Title: Building Community Power through Community Based Participatory Research to Address Environmental Health Inequities in Texas-Mexico Border Communities

Program: This proposal will conduct a Community Based Participatory Research project in partnership with communities living in the Texas-Mexico border region, including a large and growing community of Mesoamerican Indigenous farmworkers who work and reside in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. This project will continue developing community leaders, building their capacity and skills in research methods, increasing leadership capacity for farmworkers, and focusing on an environmental justice research objective and accompanying methods.

New York City H2O, Inc.  New York

Title: STEW Crew: Mobilizing Youth Leadership for Cleaner and Greener Streets

Program: This project aims to build a network of STEW Crew schools across New York City, uniting them in a shared effort to tackle litter and promote their citys natural features. This network will be created through the open exchange of data, best practices, and success stories.

Quiet Communities, Inc.  Massachusetts

Title: Quiet Empowerment: A Toolkit to Empower Noise-Impacted Communities

Program: The Quiet Empowerment Toolkit will support diverse communities in addressing noise pollution. The Quiet Empowerment Toolkit will include: (i) evidence-based data and information on how noise impacts physical and mental health, (ii) methods and means to measure and report noise levels and associated impacts, (iii) tools to self-organize and advocate for solutions, and (iv) information on enforcement, policy, and legal opportunities.

Orange County Environmental Justice and Team  California

Title: Community-Led Bioremediation: Addressing the Soil-Lead Crisis and Environmental Injustice in Santa Ana, California

Program: To address the lead crisis in Santa Ana, this project will propose a long-term strategy for training community members in the science and practice of bioremediation. The vision is to create a self-sustaining, city-wide network of community leaders (called soil practitioners) who will be paid and trained in collecting soil samples, measuring soil-lead contamination, and conducting bioremediation using native plants and fungi.

West Harlem Environmental Action Inc.  New York

Title: Green Bus Shelters: A Community Visioning Project to Increase Climate and Community Resilience in East Harlem

Program: This project proposes the development of a Green Bus Shelter project to reduce health disparities associated with extreme heat, flooding, and toxic air pollution exposure in East Harlem. The project will consist of retrofitting MTA bus shelters with green roofs to reduce ambient temperatures, absorb stormwater runoff, and filter air pollutants.


Friday April 26, 2024

By Jeremy Culley



HMS Diamond on a previous deployment in the Mediterranean Sea







HMS Diamond was defending a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday when her Sea Viper missile system was used to destroy the projectile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.



The warship is currently deployed in the region to deter Houthi attacks.



Defence Secretary Grant Shapps thanked the crew for helping to "save innocent lives" and protect shipping.





He told The Times that it was the first time a Royal Navy warship had intercepted a missile in combat since the Gulf War in 1991.The Houthis - who control large swathes of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa - have been targeting vessels they say are linked to Israel and the West in response to the continuing Israel-Gaza war.Global supply chains are now facing severe disruption and rising costs as a result of some of the biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Red Sea - one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed to have attacked the US ship Maersk Yorktown and an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden.The MoD said HMS Diamond's deployment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden forms part of the UK's wider response to Houthi attacks.This includes intercepting the smuggling of weapons to Yemen, imposing sanctions on members of the Houthis, and conducting proportionate and targeted strikes against its military targets.HMS Diamond previously operated in the region in December and January, and came under fire in three separate attacks by Houthi forces, successfully destroying nine drones with the Sea Viper missile system and guns.Earlier this year, the warship took over from HMS Richmond, which had repelled a Houthi attack in the Red Sea by shooting down two drones using Sea Ceptor missiles.HMS Diamond is equipped with Sea Viper missiles, as well as Phalanx machine guns and 30mm cannons on each side of the ship. The Phalanx can fire more than 3,000 rounds a minute. The crew have also used the 30mm cannon to successfully shoot down a Houthi drone.The US and UK started carrying out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on 11 January. There have been several more strikes since then.In response, the Houthis have more recently targeted ships tied to owners or operators in the UK or US.
The year was 2013. Maharashtra was reeling under one of the worst droughts in its history. Inadequate rainfall, water scarcity and the resultant agrarian crisis had created havoc in Vidarbha and Marathwada, two regions in the state that are vulnerable to constant climate shocks. As farmers demanded action from the government, then deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar (then with the undivided Nationalist Congress Party) made a controversial and insensitive comment. If there is no water in the dam, how can we release it? Should we urinate into it? the leader was quoted as saying.

Over a decade later, the political apathy continues. As several constituencies in the two regions are set to vote for the Lok Sabha elections on Friday (April 26), the growing climate crisis and its impacts on the people in these regions are nearly missing from agendas, speeches and campaigns of major political parties and candidates. On the other hand, political parties and candidates are milking it for electoral gains and to target their opponents.

Drought, water scarcity and farmers suicides

Irregular and uneven rainfall and the resulting water scarcity have led to 23 districts in the state reeling under the shocks of drought-like conditions. Due to their climate vulnerability, the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions are the worst hit by this crisis. As of April 2024, as per news sources, only 33% of the total available water stock remains in the state across dams, reservoirs and other water projects even as the crucial summer months are yet to pass.

Government data suggests that at the moment, 2,706 tankers are providing water across 2,143 villages and 5,239 hamlets in the state. Of these, nearly 52% are in Marathwada. Drought-like conditions are impacting the livelihoods of a large number of people who are dependent on agriculture in these regions. In 2023, a total of 2,851 farmers committed suicide in the state of which 2,527 were from Vidarbha and Marathwada, underlining the severity of the crisis in these regions marred by constant cycles of crop losses and debts.

The politics and electoral arithmetic

The two regions comprise 18 Lok Sabha constituencies. While voting for five concluded last week, the remaining constituencies (five in Vidarbha and eight in Marathwada) will vote for in the next three phases going up to May 13.

Over the last few weeks, the two regions saw a large number of national and state leaders woo voters as part of the electoral campaigns. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to prominent leaders such as Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, many held meetings in the region, which saw a significant footfall of voters and supporters. But for lakhs of farmers who are hit by the crisis, however, this seems like just another season of tall promises sans action.

On the one hand, farmers like me are struggling to such an extent that we are worried about sustenance itself as this time the yield is very poor and we are unable to get minimum prices even for the little that we manage to grow despite bad climatic conditions. In the middle of all this, leaders are busy in internal fights and blame games. They all promise to end our plight but we have seen this repeat every election season, said a marginal farmer, who asked not to be named, from Sultanpur village in Amravati district.

The Amravati district has recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in the state over the last three years (660 in 2021, 725 in 2022 and 318 in 2023 according to data compiled by the state relief and rehabilitation department).

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine managed to gain power in eight of the 10 seats in Vidarbha and seven of the eight seats in Marathwada.

This year, however, in the backdrop of the political crisis in the state  especially with the split in Shiv Sena and NCP and the resultant formation of several new alliances  the two regions are seeing the BJP-led Mahayuti and the opposition-led INDIA bloc fighting tooth and nail for these seats.

Patronage politics

For the voters who are already reeling under several existential pressures, rapid political changes in the state and the split in the local cadre across these parties have made things worse. In this context, patronage politics, a term used to denote the use of state resources to reward individuals for their electoral support, is only on the rise.

A farmers testimony from Asardhav, a village in Beed that falls under the ambit of PoCRA (a flagship government initiative for drought and climate resilient agriculture) is testimony to this.

Right from allocating tankers to approving wells and borewells, everything is controlled by politicians and their network of fixers. With elections round the corner, local leaders only provide support if you stand behind them in the polls. These arrangements are not new but now with the local cadre split into so many groups, we are unable to decide who to stand with. This adversely affects the resources at our disposal, he added.

It is ironic that despite the power that voters yield in a democracy like India, the majority of voters in the two regions are facing helplessness and ignorance as most leaders have resorted to mudslinging or credit-hogging ahead of elections. On Wednesday, BJP leader Amit Shah blamed Sharad Pawar alleging that he did nothing when he was an agriculture minister in the country and blamed him for the high number of farmer suicides in Vidarbha. At an election rally in Wardha on April 19, Modi targeted the Congress for being anti-development and anti-farmer.

A day after, chief minister Shinde used his entire address in a rally held in Nanded to praise the leadership of Modi, invoke the issue of Ram Mandir and claim credit for the states decision to grant reservation to Marathas under his leadership, with issues of agriculture and farmers not mentioned.

A history of neglect and indifference

For many decades now, Vidarbha and Marathwada have been political battlegrounds, driven by the politics of backwardness shaped by long-standing agrarian distress and intricate caste equations. This backdrop has fostered a pattern of neglect, where the promise of development and upliftment remains unfulfilled, despite shifts in political power and numerous schemes launched at both state and central levels.

The prevalent regional imbalance, reflected in stark differences in developmental indicators, underlines the deep-seated challenges facing locals here, with the plight of farmers continuing to worsen amidst entrenched political apathy and a political economy of drought that often benefits influential figures at the expense of vulnerable populations.

Moreover, widespread corruption in the implementation of relief and support schemes has further compounded the suffering of those most affected by the climate crisis and agrarian distress. As the average farmer in Maharashtra struggles to make ends meet, it takes only a few right political moves for leaders to absolve themselves in cases of misappropriation and wrongdoings  opposition leaders point out the clean chit given to Ajit Pawar in the irrigation scam soon after joining hands with the BJP as a case in point.

This underlines that irrespective of political equations, the most prominent constituent in the state- the farmer is a mute spectator, an irony for a state that claims to be scaling new highs on several development indicators!

Dr. Sanjay Patil is a Mumbai-based researcher who works on Maharashtra Politics and Urban Informality. His doctoral work looks at the journey of Shiv Sena between 1985 and 2022.
Bengaluru Election 2024 LIVE: Karnataka records voter turnout of 63.90% by 5.30 pm

Bengaluru Election 2024: Bengaluru, as well as several other parts of Karnataka, are voting for as many as 14 Lok Sabha constituencies today. Schools, offices, and banks observed closures today, while essential services are expected to remain operational. Read more here for information on what is closed and what is open in the city today....Read More

Voting today is set to seal the fate of several notable figures including BJP leader Tejasvi Surya, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and Congress strongman DK Suresh.

Some of the key constituencies voting today in Karnataka are - Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Mandya and Mysore.

Click here for more on Lok Sabha elections Phase 2 and key constituencies going to polls in Karnataka.

Follow our blog for the latest updates on voting in Karnataka today.
Voting commenced for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday morning. A total of 88 constituencies across 12 states and one union territory are polling in this phase. In this phase, 1,202 candidates are contesting, comprising 102 women and two individuals from the third-gender category. Let's take a look at the wealthiest and least wealthy candidates in Phase 2 of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Dig deeper In this phase, 1,202 candidates are contesting, comprising 102 women and two individuals from the third-gender category. (File)

More on Lok Sabha elections: Lok Sabha election 2024: 88 seats, Kerala highest. 5 facts about phase 2 polling

An Indian-origin student named Achinthya Sivalingan has been arrested along with one another and barred from campus for participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations. Achinthya Sivalingan, hailing from Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, is facing disciplinary action and campus ban, disclosed a university spokesperson. Dig deeper

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Feeling post lunch fatigue or a dip in your energy levels in the afternoon could be an indication that you aren't eating a nourishing meal and might be eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar. Eating the wrong foods, over-eating, and a natural dip in body's circadian rhythm are some of the reasons why people may encounter a dip in afternoon energy levels. Here are some lifestyle tweaks you need to regain your energy. Dig deeper

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Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid cast his vote today in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru. He was seen wearing casual clothes and standing in the queue to cast his vote. His simplicity won people over, and several visuals of the cricketer highlighting just that went viral on social media. Dig deeper

Sports Goings

The Judgment Day for those in the fray for a selection into the Indian team for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 draws near. On Sunday (April 28), BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who is on his way from Spain, is reportedly set to meet India captain Rohit Sharma in New Delhi on the sidelines of the ongoing IPL 2024. The discussions around the possible World Cup have grown more intense by the day, with IPL 2024 offering varied possibilities for experts and veterans to debate. Dig deeper
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 Live: Women voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, on Friday.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 Highlights: Voting for the second of seven-phase 2024 India elections began at 7 am on Friday, in 88 constituencies across 12 states and a Union territory (Jammu and Kashmir). Some high-profile names in the fray in this phase include the Congress partys Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, who are looking to retain Keralas Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram, respectively; all 20 seats in the southern state are voting today. ...Read More

From the BJP, Hema Malini will hope for a hattrick from Uttar Pradeshs Mathura. Overall, as many as 1202 candidates are in the fray from these 88 constituencies, with 158.8 million (15.88 crore) people, including 32.8 million (3.28 crore) young voters and 3.4 million (34 lakh) first-timers, eligible to vote.

The 12 states and the Union Territory where polling is taking place in this leg are: Kerala (20/20), Karnataka (14/28), Rajasthan (13/25), Uttar Pradesh (8/80), Maharashtra (8/48), Madhya Pradesh (6/29), Assam (5/14), Bihar (5/40), Chhattisgarh (3/11), West Bengal (3/42), Manipur (1/2), Tripura (1/2), and Jammu (1/5).

In the first leg, voting for which was conducted last Friday, 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories went to polls.

Phase 1: April 19

Phase 2: April 26

Phase 3: May 7

Phase 4: May 13

Phase 5: May 20

Phase 6: May 25

Phase 7: June 1

Counting (for all 543 seats): June 4
Pleas for 100% verification of EVM-VVPAT: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected petitions seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta delivered two concurring verdicts in the matter. The Supreme Court affirms the credibility of EVMs and their integration with VVPATs. (Image for representational purpose)

Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Khanna said the court has rejected all the petitions, including those seeking resorting back to ballot papers in elections.

The court allowed verification of the microcontroller of EVMs by the manufacturer after poll results on request of candidates who stand second and third. The apex court also said a request for verification of the microcontroller of EVMs can be made within seven days of the declaration of election results upon payment of fees.

VVPAT-EVM case: Supreme Court issued directives

The Supreme Court also issued two directions issued  containers carrying the symbol loading unit should be sealed in the presence of polling agents and candidates and be kept secured for 45 days and the control unit, ballot unit and VVPAT shall be verified by engineers of the manufacturing companies post the result of the counting on a written request to be made within seven days of the declaration of results.

What is VVPAT?

India has been using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) since 2000 to record votes. The ballot unit is connected to a VVPAT or 'voter verifiable paper audit trail' unit which produces a paper slip that is visible to the voter via a transparent screen for about seven seconds before it gets stored in a sealed drop box.

Under the present system, the poll body counts and matches the VVPAT paper slips at five randomly selected polling stations in each state legislative assembly constituency, several of which are combined to form one parliamentary seat.

'Can't control the elections': Supreme Court

On Wednesday, the apex court had said it could not "control the elections" or issue directions simply because doubts have been raised about the efficacy of EVMs, as it reserved its judgment on the clutch of petitions, which also claimed the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results.

The court said it could not change the thought process of those doubting the advantages of polling machines and advocating going back to ballot papers.

The bench also took note of the answers to queries it posed to the Election Commission.

It sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the functioning of EVMs, including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable.

After a two-day hearing, the bench had on April 18 reserved its verdict on the pleas. However, the matter was listed again on Wednesday as the court wanted some clarifications from the EC.

NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms', one of the petitioners, has sought reversal of the poll panel's 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque glass through which a voter can see the slip only when the light is on for seven seconds.

The petitioners have also sought the court's direction to revert to the old system of ballot papers.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls began on April 19 and will conclude with the announcement of results on June 4.
For seasoned duck farmer Abraham Ouseph of Edathuva in Kerala's southern Alapuzha district, this year's Easter (March 31)) seemed like a redeeming experience. The well-known Kuttanadan duck was back on the festival menu after a long absence, and business was good.

For the last four years, Easter and Christmas platters in central and southern Kerala regions were devoid of Kuttanadan duck curries, roasts, and "mappases" due to the Covid-19-induced lockdowns in Alapuzha's Kuttanad, a backwater region below sea level, and at the centre of recurrent avian influenza outbreaks in the region.

Ouseph and his fellow farmers interpreted the situation as a sign that their luck had turned.

Gourmets in the southern and central districts of Kerala have always preferred Kuttanadan duck to the hybrid and broiler species sold locally, especially those brought in from places like Vietnam. Persistent waterlogging of rice fields farmed by local farmers is often said to be the reason for the unique taste of the Kuttanadan duck.

Unfortunately, Ouseph's happiness was fleeting: The Alapuzha farmers' financial stability was again shattered in the third week of April when the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus returned. Of the 7500 dusks that he raised on his farm, 3000 are now dead in a week because of the influenza.

Action taken

The vets who had assembled in the coastal district to deal with the current crisis have issued an order to slaughter all remaining birds in an effort to stop the sickness from spreading beyond Alapuzha. This time, the bird flu was initially found in the Edathua and Cheruthana regions of Kuttanad but it quickly spread to neighbouring villages. Ousephs neighbours, C. Raghunathan and T Devarajan, too, had to kill hundreds of ducks because of the outbreak.

Birds infected with HPAI display signs like nervousness, clumsiness, tremors, trouble breathing, and swelling and inflammation around the eyes, neck, and head, according to veterinarians.

Samples collected from the birds were sent to Bhopal's National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease: Test results released on April 17 confirmed the disease.

According to the local authorities, 21537 birds, primarily ducks, have already died as a result of the disease in the Alapuzha areas.

Also read: Bird flu reported in Kerala's Alapuzzha. How to stay safe?

Recent outbreaks

In the last three years, four separate outbreaks of avian flu have hit the area. The panchayats of Kuttanad, Thakazy, and Vazhuthanam, respectively, reported instances in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

This particular disease has been known to impact birds since the 1960s. Animals, including birds and marine life, have fallen victim to the H5N1 virus all around the globe including in the most inaccessible parts of the Arctic and Antarctic. Penguins, sea lions, polar bears, and elephant seals are among the mammals hit by the virus.

It was in 2020 in Europe that the first cases of the H5N1 virus clade 2.3.4.4b were recorded. Millions of animal and bird species perished as a direct consequence of its many outbreaks.

A new case of human transmission of avian influenza has been reported in Texas, causing widespread alarm among scientists.

A global health emergency, perhaps 100 times worse than the Covid-19 pandemic, would ensue if the virus gains the capacity to move from person to person, according to analysis by scientists.

It is worrisome that the current avian flu strain can infect a wider variety of wild birds and mammals. In response to our inquiry, Suresh Kuchipudiwho is also a professor and chair of the infectious diseases and microbiology department at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health's Centre for Vaccine Research explained how the likelihood of genetic alterations increase when a virus crosses paths with numerous hosts. Because of this, the possibility of viral evolution and adaptation to mammals is increased.

According to Sajeev Kumar K.R., the Alappuzha district animal husbandry officer, 164 of a farmer's 2,300 ducks at Muttar had died in the past two days. On April 22 and 23, 90 out of 650 chicks at a poultry farm in Ambalappuzha North died.

The transmission of the avian influenza virus to humans is possible though extremely rare. Minister Veena George said that as a result, health officials in Kerala have increased efforts to stop the disease from spreading.

A number of bird species visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, which is close to Kuttanad and is open all year. Vembanad Lake, the second-largest wetland in India, is a popular stop for migrating birds, and the impacted regions are right on its shores.

Avian influenza, which is now an annual occurrence in Alappuzha and nearby Kottayam, is attributed to the geographical position and the abundance of migrating birds. It is still necessary for the relevant authorities to identify the exact species of bird that spread the sickness to the ducks in the area.

The state government has banned the sale and consumption of eggs, meat, and manure from domesticated birds in certain areas due to the resurgence of influenza. These areas include Muttar, Champakulam, Purakkad, Edathva panchayats, Ambalapuzha South and North, Edathva, and the Harippad Municipality area.

Each of these areas is a stop for migrating birds. Several migratory bird species visit the Kuttanad and Kumarakom regions of Kerala, which are different from the rest of the state. Conversely, local communities consistently face substantial economic setbacks. Because duck farming is a major source of income for the local people, the risk of human papillomavirus (HPAI) is incredibly high in this region. The current circumstances lead us to the conclusion that birds from other nations are carriers of the virus,'' said Shaji Panikkassery, district coordinator of the Disease Control Project for the state husbandry department. However, we still require additional investigation and study, he said.

"At this time, we do not have any other choice but to engage in mass culling to stop the spread of the deadly disease," he said.

The impact

According to farmers, the risk is more economic than health-related.

As if dealing with the aftermath of two consecutive floods and Covid-19 weren't bad enough, the virus's return has caught them unprepared.

We seem to have no choice except to participate in massive culling, which is quite strange. The government aid we receive is virtually non-existent. We are facing the prospect of eradicating the duck population due to the sickness for over ten years,'' said duck farmer T V Joseph of Kallara said.

"The farming community needs additional scientific counsel to survive the current circumstances. We need to establish this fact unequivocally and investigate potential treatments. This is in reference to the annual epidemics and whether or not migratory birds are to blame,'' he said.

According to Kerala's forest minister, A. K. Saseendran, the states social forestry department has been instructed to keep an eye on migratory birds near Alappuzha and Kottayam.

Authorities, he said, are monitoring unusual deaths of migratory birds; the backwater parts of Alappuzha have been subjected to fishing regulations.

The government's indifference is exacerbating the problem, said V. J. Sebastian, a duck farmer in Karuvatta village, the core of the outbreak last year.

New cases are the sole trigger for the system to take action. There is zero preemptive monitoring by the government. We have not been provided with the scientific guidance to deal with situations like these," Sebastian said.

According to B Rajasekharan, head of the Alappuzha district committee of the Kerala Duck Farmers' Association, it takes a minimum of two weeks to send samples to Bhopal in order to confirm the presence of the virus. Facilities to test and confirm the virus locally are needed in Alapuzha because the pandemic has become an annual occurrence. Getting confirmation early on can help keep culling to smaller areas, which means farmers won't lose as much money, he said.

P. K. Santhosh Kumar, the joint director of the animal husbandry department, reported that neither the Kottayam nor Alappuzha regions had discovered any dead migrating birds. According to him, finding the species that could be behind the disease's spread is crucial. Birdwatchers can spot Siberian cranes, various herons, bitterns, teals, larks, flycatchers, Brahminy kites, and marsh harriers at Vembanad Lake.

At this time, there is no way to stop the spread of the avian flu through vaccination. From the point of view of farmers, they are meticulously raising ducks using scientific methods in accordance with the regulations established by the government. We are pouring a lot of money into it. Consequently, there have been substantial losses. Culling and cleaning the farms is the only option the authorities have, Rajasekharan said.

Pasteurella multocida (fowl cholera) and Riemerella anatipestifer (an antibiotic-resistant bacterium) were both detected during last year's inspections of Kuttanad's duck farms.

Riemerella and fowl cholera are so common in the area that we suspect duck immunity levels have been dropping. This makes them easy targets for the avian flu virus. To boost the duck's immunity, it's important to get experts' help,'' Kumar added.

The current compensation sum is 200 for a dead duck that is more than two months old; it is 100 for a duck less than two months old.

Farmers say the compensation sums are paltry. After the first major outbreak in 2014, which then became an annual occurrence, many duck farmers in the area sought out alternative work.

The scientific importance of migrating birds can be better understood with the use of a year-round monitoring system, says P.O. Nameer of Kerala Agriculture University's Department of Wildlife Sciences.

Nameer said: Regular monitoring of wild aquatic birds and the wild bird-poultry-wetland interface is essential to understanding the prevalence of avian influenza viruses.

The avian flu epidemics in 2014 and 2016 prompted the slaughter of about 8 lakh ducks. Following a short respite, the area saw three additional outbreaks from January 2021 to October 2022, leading to the culling of 2.5 lakh ducks.

Many people are concerned that common foods like eggs and milk could be a vector for the latest avian flu outbreak. The good news is that these typical breakfast foods almost certainly do not contain the avian flu virus,'' said N M. Arun, a public health expert. He said the main ways that birds spread the flu are through their saliva, faeces, and respiratory secretions.
For Ruby Lal, the tale begins when she stumbles upon a rare book in a Delhi market, in 1996.

It is a 1902 translation of Ahval-e Humayun Badshah, popularly called the Humayun-nama, an account of the emperor Humayuns life and reign.

Few people know that it was written by a woman, Gulbadan Begum, Humayuns half-sister.

Lal didnt know, when she picked up the memoir, that the long-gone Mughal princess would hover at her shoulder, slowly having her own story told, over the next 28 years.

Lal recently completed Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan (February; Juggernaut), the first-ever biography of an irrepressible woman who advised emperors and kings, yearned to be free, and was the only female historian of the Mughal Empire.

With the memoir as its primary source, the book follows Gulbadan from her childhood home in Kabul through the 16th-century cities that the emperor Babur, her father, would capture and inhabit: Lahore, Agra, Delhi.

Babur would be dead by 47. The itinerant princess, who lived from 1523 to 1603, would act as chronicler and advisor to the next two generations of Mughal emperors too: Baburs son and heir Humayun, and his son and successor Akbar.

The cover features one of the few existing paintings of Gulbadan.

Lal has been fascinated by the Mughal empire since her years as a student of history in New Delhi. She was drawn in by its deeply plural ways of being, and its existence at the intersection of so many religious, cultural and ethnic identities, she says. The idea that Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, could have left his home in present-day Uzbekistan as a young man of about 20, conquered kingdoms halfway across a continent, and settled in, shaped and changed her country, intrigued her.

What was missing in the histories she read, she says, were the women.

While studying at Oxford in the late-1990s, Lal set out to bridge this gap, conducting research that led to her 2005 book, Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World, a feminist history that challenged Orientalist notions of the Mughal harem. Much of that research was inspired by a deep engagement with Gulbadans slim chronicle.

Lal spent weeks at the British Library, reading the text in the original Farsi. The princesss stories of royal domesticity, bloody inter-family conflict and cross-continental adventure thrilled her.

I was struck by her unique stream-of-consciousness writing, almost replicating the way we tell stories [in person], says Lal, 56, a professor of Middle-Eastern and South-Asian Studies at Atlantas Emory University. One thing leads to another naturally; theres a sense of improvisation. And the content is unique. It was all quite staggering to me  be it bartered women, dying children, the sense of a wider female community.

Curiously, the manuscript ends mid-sentence, on Page 83, during a section describing the blinding of Kamran Mirza, Baburs second son, at Humayuns orders.

Lal finished her doctoral research and moved on, but the mystery stayed with her. Where was the rest of the book? What did it contain?

Between the lines

There was another detail that nagged at Lal. In 1576, a 53-year-old Gulbadan, leading a cohort of royal women, left the confines of the royal harem in Fatehpur Sikri on a historic pilgrimage to Mecca, spending four years in Western Arabia.

Could this one-of-a-kind voyage be what was documented in the missing pages? If so, were they removed in a royal flourish of censorship?

My gut felt that the sudden break in the book and the four years in the desert were linked, says Ruby Lal. (Danish Saroee)

My gut felt that the sudden break and the four years in the desert were linked, Lal says. She began to pay attention to the events and processes of royal history and censorship as they may have related to these two aspects: the missing pages and the pilgrimage.

The first half of Vagabond Princess is thus a vividly detailed portrait of the Mughal empire, as reflected in the lives of its first three rulers, drawn from the writings of Gulbadan. The princess emerges as a sort of Mughal Jane Austen, Lal has said, chronicling the everyday minutiae and jaw-dropping drama of her times, and narrating for posterity the lives of the many powerful women she knew.

Strikingly, it is also the story of an empire on the move. Movement and migration were key aspects of the Mughal empire, says Lal. And that movement is not unique to the Mughals. Migration is what formed us as human beings. Through history, humans have moved about. It is only the nation-states that confine us in some senses.

The second half of Vagabond Princess focuses on Gulbadans historic hajj, which Lal characterises as an act of rebellion.

With details of this voyage sanitised and marginalised in the official history, Lal casts further afield, restoring and reanimating Gulbadans life from fragments and clues left behind in visual, textual, architectural and legal sources from Mughal India, Ottoman Turkey and Ottoman Arabia. Crucial among these are five eviction orders against Gulbadan and her entourage, issued by the Ottoman Sultan Murad III, which she found in Turkeys national archives.

From deep readings of such sources, Lal reconstructs and reimagines the four-year period. She details the political ramifications of the pilgrimage, the royal womens arrival in the Hejaz region, and their eventual return to India after their generous almsgiving causes a political scandal. Theres even a shipwreck off the coast of Aden.

How does one draw the line between imagination and historical rigour, in a work like this?

The enterprise of writing history for figures and experiences that have been erased by historians, for a variety of political or intellectual reasons, is a long philosophical engagement with the idea of who decides what history is. Who decides what a source is, says Lal.

She is challenging this idea of the given-ness of sources, she adds. Because without that challenge, we must remain silent on the multitudes of stories  of women, migrants, refugees, slaves, the marginalised, poor, imprisoned and unlettered  that remain untold. And in exchange, we are given not incontrovertible fact, but rather a historical record that indulges the imaginative flourishes of those who wielded the pen.

Lal is among a number of contemporary historians writing critical oppositional histories that seek to alter such narrow views of our shared past, often by re-examining one event or figure at a time.

The reason Im charting these stories is to share with our readers a sense of negotiation that all humans in history are involved in, no matter where we are or what we do, Lal says. Its not like the script is laid out. In fact, the script is being written and rewritten all the time.
Five years after Gulbadan returned from the hajj, around 1587, Akbar made an important announcement. In keeping with his world-conquering ambitions, he commissioned the writing of a comprehensive history of his empire. It would be the official history, a state-sponsored record of Mughal glory unmatched in scope.

For this first-time history, the emperor asked servants of the state and old members of the family to record their memories of the Mughal dynasty. There was one woman among the invited contributors the enormously accomplished Gulbadan, now sixty-three. She had spent her life as a royal witness, partaking in the ventures of her kith and kin along with her own magnificent initiatives. She was one of the best sources whom Akbar could have asked about their dynastya direct witness, family member astute and highly regarded. Gulbadan noticed people, things, and happenings, and had a fantastic memory. While it was normal for aristocratic women to be literate, she was revered as a learned elder

Although the emperor expected his aunt to write about the grand achievements and epic moments in the career of the Mughal dynasty, and Gulbadans writing is indeed expansive, she chose to call her work the Ahval-i Humayun Badshah, or Conditions in the Age of Humayun Badshah. Thus she emphasized the wider itinerant life force of Mughal kingship.

What she delivered was no simple memoir of an elderly ladyshe penned in exceptional detail the ragged and robust lives of the people of her dynasty. Her writing is effortless, written as if it were being spoken, animating people and their actions in vivid characterization. Her genre is unclassifiablenot at all like her fathers poetic memoir, the Baburnama, which she had read and admired, or the hagiographies of kings that others had written.

Her book is unique also as the only prose work written by a woman of the Muslim courts, including Ottoman Turkey, Safavid Iran, and Mughal India, where women mostly wrote poetry Not surprisingly, it yields information otherwise effaced from the official Mughal record



I continue to wonder what happened to the rest of Gulbadans manuscript. What was in the missing pages?...

Within a year of the princesss arrival in Mecca in 1578, Sultan Murad III of Turkey, the sovereign of the Holy Land (the Ottomans had been masters of Egypt and the Hijaz area since 1517), issued an imperial order to evict Gulbadan and her companions. He did so again two years later, in 1580. Five such orders are preserved in the National Archives in Istanbul, Turkey.11 There may have been more.

The Mughal women had become a prominent spectacle in public places, a circumstance, according to Murad, that was throwing the area into chaos. The matriarchs became the talk of the town. Around the Great Mosque, in places such as markets and fountains, and in other cities, ordinary folk stared at and crowded around Gulbadan and her companions. The hubbub spread to areas far beyond the sacrosanct Kaba. According to Badauni, Gulbadan and her party also went overland to the Holy Iranian cities, such as Mashhad, and to other cities in Arabia.

The problem, as Murad saw it, was that Gulbadan and her group had surpassed the permissible boundary and propriety of being in the Holy Places. Their presence was indecorous. They violated the very source of the authority of Sultan Murad. They created fitna (chaos). (I will discuss in greater detail in later pages of this book what Murad dubbed the un-Islamic activities of Mughal ladies.) Among those he warned in his orders about the women, asking them to ensure that the ladies left the sacred area, was the sherif of Mecca, who wielded considerable prestige and political and diplomatic authority.

There was not a word from Akbar in response to Murads charges, even though the Red Sea and the Indian coast were closely knit and in constant contact. Tradesmen and pilgrims went to and fro, and news traveled with them. Although there are no surviving records of any exchange between Akbar and Murad, it is noteworthy that soon after Murads 1580 eviction edict, Akbar appointed Khwaja Yahya, a venerable courtier, as the next head of pilgrimage, commissioning him to escort Gulbadan and the other royal women back to India.

In March 1580 the princess, Yahya, and the women boarded the Tezrav, or Swift One, and headed south from Jeddah. But near the port of Aden, the ship was wrecked. Gulbadan, other Mughal women, and officers stayed in Aden for over seven perilous months. To top it all, the governor of Aden did not behave well toward the royal guests. Yet all of Murads edicts as well as a stray entry in the imperial history of Akbar record the womens reluctance to leave Aden. Despite the rough conditions, they lived as a community amid natural surroundings in open country. By all accounts, they felt free and happy.

That Murad labeled the Mughal womens activities un-Islamic and directed them to leave was nothing short of a disgrace for the Mughals. No wonder Akbar and his historians refused to record the details of what Mughal women did. Instead, the chroniclers wrote sanitized descriptions celebrating the homecoming of the royal aunt, a hajji back from her pilgrimagenot someone who had infuriated a contemporary Islamic monarch ruling in that region.

Thus four extraordinary years vanished from Mughal history. In this fading, many things disappear: the lush worlds that Mughal men and women inhabited, made, and lived; networks, explorations, and wonders that pilgrims and sojourners experienced. The lost years take with them the rich experiences of Mughal womenthe history of half of humanity, as is now often said. Moreover, we lose the traces of inimitable experiences and the sense of the vast terrains, people, animals, and sacred geographies of Mughal India, the Red Sea, and the desert land of Arabia

(Excerpted with permission from Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan, by Ruby Lal, published by Juggernaut; 2024)
The innocuously named Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 is now an act of Parliament in the United Kingdom (UK). Orwellian in content, the Act seeks to ostensibly deter unlawful migration, particularly by unsafe and illegal routes, by allowing some migrants to be sent to the Republic of Rwanda.

One has to only read the entry in the US State Department Human Rights Report 2023 on Rwanda to give a lie to the UK governments claim that Rwanda is a safe option. According to a UK government press release, the new Act prevents UK courts and tribunals from delaying or preventing a persons removal to Rwanda on matters relating only to the general safety of Rwanda. So much for judicial oversight! The UK Supreme Court ruled in November 2023 that the Rishi Sunak governments asylum policy was unlawful. The Court said it, allows for an exceptionally narrow route to individual challenge to ensure that the courts will interpret the relevant provisions in accordance with the will of Parliament. Sounds familiar in so many countries! The Sunak government leaves a human right subject to the caprice of the bureaucracy! It also disapplies relevant sections of the Human Rights Act 1998. To top it all, only a Minister of the Crown can decide whether to comply with an interim measure issued by the European Court of Human Rights.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has already spoken against the UK government on this issue. But the Tories have threatened to withdraw from the Convention altogether if the ECHR, applying the European Convention on Human Rights to which Britain is a state party, rules against the Act. International law may be too high a bar, but the British government should at least apply the rules-based order as defined principally by the Anglo-Saxon world and the western hemisphere!

On April 23, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volcker Turk and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi stated, It is critical to the protection of the human rights and dignity of refugees and migrants seeking protection that all removals from the UK are carried out after assessing their specific individual circumstances in strict compliance with international human rights and refugee law.

Fortress Europe has been in the making for some time. The most recent of which is an April 10 policy makeover that externalises Europes refugee problem to countries that even by European Union (EU) human rights standards are neither safe nor secure. Even the not-too-human-rights-friendly French President, Emmanuel Macron, on April 25 took a side-swipe at the British initiative as a betrayal of our values. The generally Conservative party-friendly Daily Telegraph newspaper termed the move as a voter distraction. The next UK general elections have to be held in January 2025. However, the word on the street is it may be called as early as in the autumn this year.

The estimated number of refugees from Ukraine recorded in Europe as of March 2024 tells its own story. The numbers are as follows: UK 253,160, Germany 1,139,690, Poland 956,635, Czech Republic 381,400, Spain 192,405, Italy 168,840, Netherlands 149,015, Moldova 116,195, Slovakia 115,875, Ireland 104,315, Austria 84,135, and Romania 78,745. Denmark plans to host up to 100,000 Ukrainians and grant work permits. Clearly, being Black or Brown is not beautiful.

Australia has been sending people who come by boat to Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea since 2001. It stopped sending people in 2008 but began doing this again in 2012 and calls it regional processing. Not surprisingly, Israel has been doing this since 2015. Denmark passed legislation in June 2023 that would allow it to move asylum seekers to third countries outside the EU while their cases were processed.

The safe third country concept has been part of EU asylum law since the adoption of the 2005 Asylum Procedures Directive and features prominently in the European Commissions proposals for the reform of the Asylum Acquis. Since 1999, the EU has adopted laws with the ultimate aim of establishing a Common European Asylum System with harmonised rules, procedures, and conditions. These accumulated laws are known as the Asylum Acquis. The safe third country concept undermines access to protection in the EU within an overall strategy of containment of refugees in other regions. The safe third country concept is seen as the panacea to Europes concerns by deterring applicants and allowing for expedited examination and then deflection of asylum claims. Clearly, civil servants and security wonks across the world have their heads in the clouds as far as formulating refugee policy is concerned.

Even if the UK policy stopped all the small boat crossings that PM Sunak says he wants to prevent, it would still barely touch the sides in terms of the UKs net migration figures. In 2022, the number of people arriving by small boats was 45,744, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. Net migration the same year, according to government figures, was 745,000.

Thereby hangs a tale.

Ravi Nair is with the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre. The views expressed are personal
For the last two weeks, I have been on a road trip that began from Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland, heading towards Kashmir. I have had the chance to meet people across the stretch of peninsular India  in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and spots of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

That my journey began in this way  with a series I call the Dhabas of Democracy, because when elections are here, can food be far behind  is just one of the ways in which 2024 feels different from other campaigns I have reported on in the last three decades. Typically, journalists like myself have been guilty of being North-centric. Come poll season and we drop our anchors in the Hindi heartland, parking ourselves for inordinate lengths of time in Varanasi, Amethi, or Lucknow. This could be seen as the bias of geography of a Delhi-centric media. But it was also because all the political earthquakes located their epicentre in the Hindi-speaking North.

Irrespective of how many roots the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manages to grow in the southern states, that is the one thing Modis relentless focus on states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala  greenfield projects for the BJP  has already changed. It is ironic that the biggest resentment and apprehension in these states is what the impending delimitation may mean for their political relevance. Right now, these states are critical to the BJPs long-term ambition as a pan-national party and to the Oppositions strategy for the containment of Narendra Modis rise. The South has never been as important, even if it does not eventually have the last say on numbers.

The other thing that feels different is the issues that are dominating these elections. (Health warning: My impressions are based on my travels through a specific geography, and I may come away with a very different sense once I travel through the North or West or East). But its intriguing that in the South, where there are ornate temples and wood carvings in every village, where, in fact, the sheer scale and architecture of temples are much bigger and more omnipresent than the North (along with churches and mosques), the Ram Mandir, evidently, does not have much electoral recall. And I am talking of Modi voters and admirers.

In fact, the most common refrain among fans of Modi, especially in states like Karnataka and Telangana, has been a thumbs up for Indias influence on the global stage. BJP voters give the Prime Minister (PM) the credit for this. And repeatedly  and unprompted  when I have asked what the biggest achievement of the Modi government is, nearly all have pointed to what they see as an India that is more important in the world than it was earlier.

All references to Ayodhya have been brought up by me and never by the voters themselves. And when quizzed about it, not one BJP voter has identified it as a reason for voting Modi. It is certainly a departure from the past to have a foreign policy dimension (unconnected from Pakistan)  Indias standing in the world order  making its way into election season. In fact, one voter in Bengaluru told me that he was a Modi fan and a Hindutva proponent but was not comfortable with issues that create a religious divide. Hes still voting BJP, but not for the reasons that people might have assumed.

Now you could argue that the responses would have been quite different in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. And you would probably be right. However, given the turnout numbers in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, it is evident that the Mandir has so far not created the kind of euphoric upsurge that was anticipated. Either it was a triumphalist moment that peaked too early, or it has not been the central issue for voters, not even for those who lean towards the BJP.

This is ironic because as phase 2 of voting ends, the BJP has, in fact, pivoted the campaign to Hindu-Muslim fault lines, with the PMs invocation of a disputed Manmohan Singh speech from 2006 and aggressive talk of how the Congress wealth distribution schemes will not even spare women and their mangalsutras. The Congress has denied all such plans. But while the Congress manifesto makes no mention of such a redistribution scheme, Rahul Gandhi, in a speech in Telangana did mention a financial survey that would follow a Desh ka X-ray (his metaphor for a caste census). And long-time family associate Sam Pitrodas throwaway comments on an inheritance tax have further bolstered the BJP narrative on this issue. The waters have been muddied.

Lets be clear: Modi remains in pole position. He is, by miles, the dominant political persona of this election from South to North. But in terms of issues that matter, the BJP may be surprised to hear what its own voters are thinking and feeling.

Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author. The views expressed are personal
Concerns of a coup attempt in Haiti have risen after a brutal gang leader warned the country in a video posted to social media.

Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier has called for a "bloody revolution" in the country.

"Whether or not you're installed, this message is for you: Brace yourselves," Barbecue said in the new message reviewed by the Daily Mail.

Barbeque is believed to have gotten his nickname due to his alleged role in burning down 400 homes in a Haitian slum. He has likened himself to revolutionaries like Che Guevara and Malcolm X.

Cherizier often claims that he is fighting the Haitian government on behalf of the country's impoverished and underserved people - describing his gang as "a sociopolitical structure and force that is fighting on behalf of the vulnerable," in an interview with Vice.

Ariel Henry officially resigned as prime minister on Thursday, paving the way for a new government to be formed in the Caribbean country, according to the Associated Press.

The 74-year-old prime minister had faced pressure to step down due to the escalating violence and lawlessness in the nation.

The country has been plagued by widespread gang violence since February. More than 2,500 people have been killed.

Henry has been outside of Haiti since the violence broke out. He sent his resignation from Los Angeles.

Gangs launched coordinated attacks on Feb. 29 in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas.
The scammer who sent an Ohio Uber driver to the home of an elderly man where he shot her to death spoke with deputies at the crime scene.

Lo-Letha Hall, 61, died from several gunshot wounds near 81-year-old gunman William Brock's South Charleston, Ohio, home on March 25, according to authorities.

Investigators determined a scammer called Brock telling him he had a relative in jail and he needed to immediately send money, WCMH-TV reported. At the same time, a scammer called Hall to pick up a package from Brock's home.

When she arrived, Brock allegedly held Hall at gunpoint and demanded that she reveal the identities of the person he had spoken with on the phone.

He allegedly refused to let her leave his property and seized her cell phone. Hall attempted to flee, but Brock allegedly chased her down and shot her. The pair then got into a tussle, and Brock sustained minor injuries before allegedly shooting Hall twice more. He then called 911 to report he hit a robber.

When Clark County deputies arrived, the scammer called Brock again, and Detective Sheila Crews picked up. The scammer claimed to be a law enforcement officer.

"I need to know what officer, sir," Crews responded, the outlet reported, citing a deputy's body cam footage.

"You're gonna be in trouble," the scammer threatened.

Crew identified herself as a detective and the scammer claimed to know Hall. Crew informed him Hall had been in an accident. The call disconnected, but the scammer soon called back, asking about the condition of the victim.

"She's not doing well," Crews said.

"Oh, no," the scammer responded.

Before Crews agreed to provide more information on Hall's condition, she told the scammer they'd need to meet her at Brock's home.

"Okay, I'm gonna be there, give me 20 minutes?" he said, but never showed.

The investigation continues.

Meantime, Brock has been charged with three counts of murder, and one count each of kidnapping and felonious assault, according to the indictment, the outlet reported. He pleaded not guilty and remains in jail.
David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, testified for hours on Thursday at Donald Trump's New York hush-money case.

Pecker recalled getting a call from Trump during the tabloid's pursuit of former Playboy model Karen McDougal's claims of an affair with Trump.

He testified that Trump wanted to know about a possible Mexican outlet looking to pay $8 million for her story, the Associated Press reported.

Pecker says he didn't believe the number and told Trump, "I think you should buy the story" and keep it quiet."

He said he believed the story was true.

"I thought it would be very embarrassing to himself and to his campaign," Pecker told the court.

Pecker testified that McDougal wanted $150,000 for the rights to her story but it was unclear who was supposed to pay.

He said Cohen asked him to pay but get paid back later.

Cohen allegedly told him, "Don't worry about it. I'm your friend. The boss will take care of it."

Pecker testified that a contract was drawn up giving McDougal $150,000 to pay for content for various media platforms but it was really just a cover story to buy her story and kill it.

He told prosecutors that he believed Trump was aware of the contract.

After a break, Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass started asking Pecker about porn actor Stormy Daniels and her claim of an affair with Trump.

Pecker recalled Trump calling him a day after The Wall Street Journal published an article about the National Enquirer's $150,000 payment to McDougal.

He said Trump was angry that the deal got out and ended the call "very abruptly."

Pecker says he was called to Cohen's office in Trump Tower in late 2016. He testified that Cohen suggested that he'd paid off Stormy Daniels with his own personal funds but Trump later told him, "Don't worry about him. I'll take care of him."

The court took a break for lunch and returned to session around 2:30 with Pecker returning to the stand.
When a grand jury declined to indict a Texas man in the murder of a 9-year-old girl on Valentine's Day 2022, her family vowed to continue to pursue justice.

Nearly two years later, the man initially accused in Arlene Alvarez's slaying has been charged in her death.

Tony Earls, 33, was indicted by a Harris County grand jury on a murder charge Tuesday and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, Houston police said.

Gwen Alvarez, the girl's mother, said the indictment is the "first step of receiving justice for my daughter."

"Hopefully we inspire other families to never give up on their loved ones. It's horrible and it's a big nightmare what we go through. ... We're living day by day," a tearful Gwen Alvarez said during a news conference, the Associated Press reported.

After the grand jury cleared Earls in July 2022, District Attorney Kim Ogg said that without new evidence she would be unlikely to seek charges against him.

But Arlene's family never gave up. They pursued their own experts and worked to find new evidence.

"It took a village," Arlene's aunt, April Aguirre, told Click2Houston. "I want to tell the whole community that not every case is going to take a traditional path."

"He made a conscious choice to shoot into that vehicle that night and he took a life. There's no other outcome when you shoot into a vehicle other than property damage, injury or death. Those are the three things that are going to happen. ... What he did that night was shoot a little girl," she told the outlet.

The family, the report said, compiled the evidence they had found and presented it to special prosecutor Warren Diepraam, who was named to re-examine the case.

Earls was with his wife at an ATM drive-thru on Feb. 14, 2022, when an unidentified man robbed them of $20 at gunpoint.

As the robber fled on foot, Earls fired at him.

He also opened fire on a pickup truck that Earls believed the man had gotten into.

Arlene, riding in the backseat with her family in the truck, was struck in the head and died.

Earls was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and serious bodily injury. The jury could have indicted him for manslaughter and murder as well but did not. He was released.

Diepraam said his investigation, assisted by the Houston police and attorneys for Arlene's family, found that Earls had a clear view of the pickup truck and that there was no reason to believe it had any connection to the robber.

"The conclusion that I reached was that if you're going to discharge a weapon into a car ... you better make sure that you're 100% correct because there are no second chances to bring back an innocent life," Diepraam said, the AP reported.

Ogg praised the family's efforts.

"They could have been bitter. They could have done nothing. Instead, they directed all their energy toward achieving justice for Arlene. And that's our goal. ... They will get their day in court," she said.

The robber remains on the loose.
There are no pro-Palestinian encampments on Stanford's California campus - but the university has preemptively warned students that they could face disciplinary action if they follow their peers at schools across the country in erecting tents and protesting the war in Gaza.

"The university supports and encourages the exercise of your right to peaceful expression in a manner consistent with campus policies," C. Matthew Snipp, the interim vice provost for student affairs, wrote in a letter to the student body on Wednesday evening.

Snipp emphasized, however, that student protests would be restricted to a "designated free speech area" between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

"Stanford's policy on campus disruptions prohibits the disruption of classes, university events and the conduct of university business," the letter continued. "In addition, university policy prohibits overnight camping, limits the use of amplified sound and prescribes permitted uses of the Main Quad."

In the last week, Gaza solidarity encampments have spread from Columbia University to more than 30 colleges and universities across the country. The internal politics of these protests have been subject to intense scrutiny: Jewish students have participated in the protests at many schools - even holding Passover Seders inside the encampments. Some, however, have alleged that the protests have led to a spike in on-campus antisemitism.

There have been at least 400 arrests linked to the protests, according to the New York Times. The New York Police Department has arrested dozens of students at Columbia and New York University. In Texas, law enforcement arrived - some on horseback - clad in riot gear and arrested more than 50 students.

In addition to threatening students with internal conduct referrals, Snipp also wrote that the protests, "could also result in arrest if laws are violated."

Stanford did not immediately respond to HNGN's request for comment.
Boston Mayor Brianna Wu backed the police officers who arrested pro-Palestinian Emerson College students, on Wednesday evening, as they protested from an encampment in an alleyway near their campus.

"We have to be a city where everybody is safe. That is my primary mission," said Wu according to WCVB. "That is my primary mission. I know that events happening around the world are incredibly painful. We have to be a community where everybody can express their views safely."

More than 100 students were arrested after spending three days camped inside an alleyway near their campus. The Boston Police and Fire departments informed the university, which in turn informed students, that they could face "imminent law enforcement action" if they remained in the alley.

"The Commissioners expressed that the tents occupying Boylston Place Alley violate city ordinances prohibiting tents in a public right-of-way," the university wrote earlier on Wednesday.

"They also noted alleged violations involving blocking pedestrian access to the alley, public noise violations, and ongoing reports of fire hazards posed by blocking doors and hydrants."

Wu reportedly spent Thursday morning watching bodycam footage of police officers arresting the student activists, while also working with the university and the protestors to ensure the protests were not causing fire hazards or public health concerns.

While Wu said she supported the police department's actions, some of the students alleged that the police response was disproportionate to the protestors' actions.

"I don't think that they needed to use full riot gear. I don't think that they needed to slam people into statutes and then slam people into the ground," a student named Oliver told WBZ while standing outside Boston Municipal Court. "You can arrest people without assaulting them."

Other students claim that the police did not give them enough time to disperse before they began arresting protestors.

"They kept being like, 'this is your last chance. If you are here you will be arrested.' But they didn't start saying things like that until after they had already started grabbing and dragging people out," another student told the outlet.

"It was not so much a last chance of not being arrested more so, a last chance of not being brutalized. There were people getting thrown down to the ground, arms put behind their back [and] dragged away."
Harvey Weinstein wept 'tears of joy' in prison over the news that his New York rape and sexual assault convictions had been overturned.

The disgraced producer feels that "finally somebody listened to him," spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told the Daily Mail.

"I just spoke to him two minutes ago. Harvey was crying. He was excited," Engelmayer said of her client, who has been accused of sexual abuse by more than 80 women.

Weinstein, 72, is currently serving 23 years in a New York prison for two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haleyi; however, the convictions were overturned after an appeals court ruled that the judge made a "crucial" error in the original trial.

A new trial is in the works, as the New York DA's office adamantly stated that it intends to pursue a new conviction, while his accusers are outraged by the "profoundly unjust" decision.

Weinstein, however, will remain in prison due to a separate conviction for rape in 2022, for which he was handed a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles.

The former film producer's attorney highlighted his health issues, which he was allegedly dealing with before the trial.

"He's an older man now. Prison is not the best place to have medical care," remarked Engelmayer.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has pledged to do "everything in our power' to retry the case, adding that his office "remains steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault."

If his second appeal against Los Angeles is successful, the shamed film boss could potentially walk free.
At least 15 people were arrested, and $16 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in a massive cartel bust in Southern California.

The multi-agency investigation, known as "Hotline Bling," was aimed at a Sinaloa drug trafficking network operating in the Inland Empire.

The investigation started in March 2023 and ran until April 2024 and involved the Riverside Police Department, the Riverside District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and support from the US Postal Inspection Service.

Agents found around 376 pounds of methamphetamine, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, 37.4 pounds of fentanyl, 1.4 kilograms of cocaine, and seven guns during the large-scale operation.

According to Riverside police, the estimated street value for the drugs is around $16 million.

Officials said that the amount of drugs found during the search stopped more than 10 million potentially fatal doses of fentanyl from being distributed within the Inland Empire and throughout the United States.

"As fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to ravage our communities, we will continue to target drug trafficking organizations that put profit over people's lives," US Attorney Martin Estrada said.

Estrada added that the indictment filed by his office alleges that three men shipped kilogram-quantity parcels of narcotics through the US Postal Service, and those who traffic dangerous drugs must be held accountable.

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez claimed they will continue leveraging every available help to disrupt drug distribution in their neighborhood.

He ensured that their collaboration with the DEA was not just about enforcement but also about safeguarding the future of their community and ensuring that Riverside remains a safe and thriving place for people to live, work, and raise families.

The DEA Riverside District Office and the Riverside Police Department conducted the multi-jurisdictional investigation.

Furthermore, the DEA Wilmington District Office, DEA San Diego Field Division Narcotics Task Force, DEA San Jose District Office, and DEA Special Operations Division helped the Postal Inspection Service.
On Thursday, Ilhan Omar's daughter returned to Columbia's campus under the protection of her Congresswoman mother to support her fellow anti-Israel protesters as the clock is ticking down on the university and protesters' deadline to agree to end the encampment.

However, school officials admitted they were no closer to deciding on the encampment's removal from campus.

The far-left "Squad" member (D-MN), with the 21-year-old Isra Hirsi, took pictures and cheered the protesters who had set up dozens of tents near the center of the Morningside Heights campus.

The high-profile visit took place just hours before a Friday morning deadline for Columbia officials and protesters to agree on a deal over dismantling the tent city, which a school official did not mention during a press conference on Thursday night.

"To underscore, we have our demands, they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues," Ben Chang, Columbia's vice president of communications, said.

Chang added that, as President Shafik said, they hope these discussions will be successful. He noted that if they are not, they will have to consider options for restoring calm to campus.

Furthermore, he claimed that a small group of school faculty and officials had contacted student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following university policies going forward.

Hirsi, a junior at Barnard College, the historically women's institution affiliated with Columbia, was among the more than 100 protesters arrested last Thursday during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the Morningside Heights campus.

In an interview, Hirsi expressed her frustration about being expelled from her dorm and prohibited from entering the school to participate in the protest after school officials advised students to leave.

Columbia officials said they have strictly regulated access to campus following the protests, so it is unclear how Hirsi was allowed to return.

Days after the high-profile arrests, Omar expressed that she was "enormously proud" of her daughter on X, formerly Twitter. She also boasted in an interview that her friends referred to her as the 'PC police.'
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that US troops have begun constructing a maritime pier off the coast of Gaza.

The pier, which aims to speed the flow of humanitarian aid into the territory, is expected to become operational by early next month.

However, security concerns and how the aid would be distributed continue to hinder the complex plan to provide Palestinian civilians with more food.

Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Patrick Ryder has confirmed that US military vessels and the USNS Benavidez have started the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea.

About 1,000 US troops would support the military operation, mainly in coordination cells in Israel and Cyprus. The US president, Joe Biden, has ordered troops to avoid entering Gaza. A third party will drive trucks onto the beach down the pier.

On Thursday, reports of a mortar bombardment near the area where the pier will eventually touch the ground heightened concerns about the possibility of US forces being involved in the fighting.

However, a UN team examining the location was forced to seek refuge.

The Israeli military claimed it would provide security and logistical support to the pier. It also said that an Israeli military brigade, consisting of thousands of soldiers, would protect US Marines, setting the pier alongside Israeli Navy ships and the Israeli air force.

According to a senior US military officer, the US will use the new port and pier to transport relief by early May.

The official said that the delivery through the maritime route would start at nearly 90 trucks a day and could quickly increase to about 150 trucks daily.

Furthermore, a UN official said the port would likely have three zones: an Israeli-controlled area where aid is dropped off from the pier, a transfer area, and a third area where UN-hired Palestinian drivers wait to pick up the assistance before delivering it to distribution points.
With the war in Gaza exceeding its 200-day mark, the Israeli war cabinet met late Thursday (Apr. 25) to discuss hostage deal negotiations ahead of a planned Israeli military operation in Rafah, where much of Gaza's population has been displaced.

According to an Israeli official who spoke with the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity, an Egyptian would travel to Israel Friday (Apr. 26) to discuss "security coordination" following deliberations.

It could be recalled that ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have stalled multiple times in the past few months.

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that the war cabinet was willing to reduce the number of hostages Hamas should release in exchange for a ceasefire from 40 to 20, as long as they were women, men over 50, and those who were seriously ill.

Earlier this week, the Associated Press interviewed top Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, who said that the group is considering disarming itself and transitioning into a political party only if an independent Palestinian state would be established along its pre-1967 borders as part of a two-state solution.

It remains to be seen if the Israeli government tackled or dismissed al-Hayya's offer.

The Post also reported that the Biden administration also attempted to initiate the talks, with CIA director William J. Burns flying between Paris, Cairo, Doha, and Tel Aviv.

Last November, a seven-day truce allowed for the exchange of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Australian collaborationware company Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO Scott Farquhar announced Thursday (Apr. 25) that he would step down from his role on Aug. 31, leaving Mike Cannon-Brookes as the company's sole top boss.

Farquhar and Cannon-Brookes have been jointly involved with the company since its inception 23 years ago.

Farquhar said that he wanted to leave the firm to spend more time with his family and to "pursue some other passions," such as "philanthropy, investing, and to help grow and build the global technology industry."

"While it's a difficult decision to step away, I do so knowing Atlassian is exceptionally positioned to take hold of the massive opportunities at its feet," he said as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. "We have a strong leadership team, and great momentum around cloud, enterprise, and now, AI."

Beyond August, he would retain his place as board member and would transition to become a special advisor to the company, which confirmed the announcement in its latest earnings call.

Meanwhile, Cannon-Brookes insisted that he would retain the roles he currently has as sole CEO, but did not elaborate on who would take up Farquhar's executive and managerial roles.

"Atlassian has always been my number one professional priority and focus," Cannon-Brookes said, which was a likely signal that his interests in other ventures like in renewable energy would not be a distraction.

Cannon-Brookes also paid tribute to his friend and co-founder on X, formerly Twitter, in response to Farquhar's announcement on the platform.

"Mate. Thank you. It's been one hell of a ride. Couldn't be prouder," he wrote.

Atlassian is known for its workplace softwares Jira, Confluence, and Trello, and is currently worth $79 billion.
Most Americans believe Donald Trump is not being treated equally as other criminal defendants in the legal system  but are evenly split about whether the former president is being treated "more harshly" or "more leniently," a new poll has found.

The CNN survey released Thursday shows that 34% believe Trump is being treated "more leniently" than others in the legal system and 34% think he is being treated "more harshly" than others.

Only 13% of those surveyed believe Trump is being treated "about the same as most other criminal defendants," while 19% say they "haven't heard enough to say."

Trump is currently on trial in criminal court in New York City regarding hush-money payments made weeks before the 2016 presidential election to former porn star Stormy Daniels allegedly made to buy her silence about an alleged sexual affair they had years earlier.

Asked about the trial, 33% of Americans say the payments were illegal, another 33% said they were "unethical, not illegal," and 12% say they are "not wrong at all."

Slightly more than a fifth of those quizzed, 21%, say they aren't so sure.

The poll, conducted between April 18-23, days after jury selection began on April 15, also showed that a majority (56%) are "not too confident" or "not at all confident" that the jury will be able to reach a fair verdict.

Forty-four percent say they are "very confident" or "somewhat confident" the jury will be able to render a fair verdict.

A majority of those who support Trump over President Joe Biden in the 2024 election say they will remain in his corner regardless of the verdict.

But 24% said a conviction might make them reconsider their support.
A county prosecutor in Texas has refused to charge scores of students arrested at the University of Texas in Austin for trespassing, citing lack of legally required probable cause for the busts following a nonviolent campus demonstration against the war in Gaza.

The students were arrested Wednesday after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott called out state troops to crack down on the prostesters, insisting that participants "belong in jail."

But legitmate "legal concerns were raised by defense counsel" about the law enforcement action, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza's office said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday.

"We individually reviewed each case that was presented and agreed there were deficiencies in the probable cause affidavits," which are supposed to justify arrests, said a statement from Garza's office.

Charges were subsequently dropped against 47 students.

"We will continue to individually review all cases presented to our office to determine whether prosecution is factually and legally appropriate," the office said.

The arrests occurred during a campus demonstration after more than 500 students walked out of class to demand that the university divest from manufacturers supplying Israel weapons being used in its strikes on Gaza that have killed 34,000 Palestinians.

The university issued a statement later saying that people from outside the university community were involved in the protest to "disrupt and create disorder."

Hundreds of students and faculty have been arrested nationwide at universities in pro-Palestinian protests.
The blades of the windmill atop the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris fell to the sidewalk this week, according to a report.

"The Moulin Rouge, in 135 years of history, has experienced many adventures but it is true that for the wings, this is the first time that this has happened," general manager Jean-Victor Clerico told reporters, Reuters reported.

The sails toppled to the ground early Thursday morning.

"A little before 2 a.m., the wings of the windmill gave way, fell on the boulevard and fortunately at this time the boulevard was empty of passers-by. We are relieved this morning especially to know that there were no injuries," Clerico said.

The blades struck the front of the cabaret as they fell, knocking the letters "MOU" off the sign.

Clerico said the collapse of the wings wasn't intentional.

The cabaret, celebrated in paintings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and George Seurat, is known for its famed can-can dancers.

Tourists passing by the cabaret told Reuters they hoped the windmill will be rebuilt soon.

"I hope they will build it up again so it will be as it always has been, the old Moulin Rouge," Danish tourist Lise Thygesen said.
A Louisiana teenager, whose dismembered body was found in a river in January, met her suspected killer online and was involved in a romantic relationship with him, according to reports and police.

Sheryl Turner, 19, of New Iberia, was last seen on Dec. 31, 2023, after telling her twin sister in a text message that she was going to travel to the home of Anthony Pierce Holland Jr. in West Monroe, the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Holland, 29, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder, the sheriff's office said in a release.

The investigation revealed that Turner had been "engaged in a romantic relationship over text message" with Holland, the West Monroe Police Department said, citing interviews with Turner's family.

According to court documents obtained by KLFY, Holland picked up Turner at her mother's home on Jan. 1 in his black 2023 Toyota Corolla and took her to his West Monroe home.

Turner's phone stopped transmitting around 11 a.m. on Jan. 2, and the sheriff's department learned that her phone was connected to WiFi near Holland's home.

On Jan. 24, the sheriff's office received a call about a body floating in the Ouachita River.

Deputies recovered a torso that was later identified as Turner.

An autopsy report showed that Turner had been sexually assaulted and her neck was broken.

Holland admitted to killing Turner while they were having sex at his home, KLFY reported. He said he cut the body up with a large kitchen knife.

Turner's twin sister, Sherry, said on a GoFundMe page that the family will seek justice.

"Who can take a soul so young is so sad and crazy to me...but justice will be served!!!!!! Sheryl was full of life and a sweetheart. She didn't bother nobody, always stayed to herself so who can be so cruel! Apart of me was taken when this monster did that to her," she wrote on the page.

Holland is being held without bail in the Ouachita Correctional Center.
A Florida man who allegedly confessed to a gruesome double murder was found hiding in the woods, according to authorities.

Authorities released bodycam footage of the Thursday capture of a suspect who has allegedly confessed to the murders of a woman and child who were found dead on Wednesday.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to a call Friday evening from a neighbor who found 36-year-old Amalia Coc Choc de Pec dead outside a mobile home on the 3700 block of Sumner Road in Dover.

Officers arrived to find the woman deceased with "severe blunt-force trauma," and inside the mobile home they found 4-year-old Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc also deceased with blunt-force trauma.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of 31-year-old Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, and a manhunt ensued. Less than 24 hours later, K9 units tracked Cuz-Choc to a wooded area between Interstate 4 and Glen Harwell Road, less than two miles from the scene of the crime.

Video from deputies' bodycams showed Cuz-Choc hiding in thick brush, where he was taken into custody.

"From the moment our deputies arrived at the gruesome scene, we poured every resource available into tracking down the suspect responsible for this heinous crime and bringing him to justice," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "Cuz-Choc will face the full weight of the criminal justice system for his vicious, vile, and evil actions."

The sheriff's office says Cuz-Choc confessed to both murders in interviews with detectives. He was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree with a weapon, though "additional charges may be forthcoming," the sheriff's office said.

"Not only did he commit an unimaginable crime which cruelly claimed the lives of two innocent victims, he then made the cowardly and ultimately futile attempt to evade capture. His efforts were no match for our team of dedicated detectives who left no stone unturned in their search," Chronister said. "There wasn't a square inch within this perimeter that our deputies did not have covered."

--with reporting by TMX
Students at the University of Washington (UW) postponed a planned pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus Thursday in solidarity with other schools across the country because of a lack of diversity in their ranks.

"After a long meeting we decided to postpone the encampment. We want to make sure this encampment is a better reflection of the UW community, and have even greater unity with Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students," the UW Progressive Student Union announced in an Instagram post.

"We want to be part of a much larger coalition of groups and make no mistake, WE WILL HAVE A UW ENCAMPMENT! We want to make sure everyone's voice is included and this action is as safe, secure, and strong as possible," the statement said.

The posting concluded with: "Free Palestine."

Even before the encampment was postponed, trouble was brewing about the makeup of the protesters.

A university law student who identified as Yoseph asked if the group had any "conversations with Palestinian orgs or students about this encampment?" 770 KTTH reported. The student union responded, "yup."

Pro-Palestinain encampments have been popping up in schools nationwide to show solidarity with Columbia University after more than 100 protesters were arrested by the New York Police Department last Friday.
A heart-stopping runway bounce by a massive Lufthansa Boeing 747 was captured this week in a dramatic video at the Los Angeles International Airport.

"Whoah, whoah, whoah! Wow! Holy moly!" said the host of the streaming site Airline Videos Live as the Boeing's back wheels slammed down on the runway, then bobbled up with the aircraft's nose still in the air. The jumbo jet immediately took off without fulling touching down and circled back around to try to stick the landing in a second attempt.

The near-accident occurred Tuesday as Flight LH 465 was headed to Los Angeles from Frankfort with 326 passengers and 19 crew members on board, a Lufthansa representative told FOX 11 in L.A.

The aircraft landed minutes time later without incident, and no one was injured, according to Lufthansa, which did not detail what might have cause the jolting runway encounter.

"Following an assessment by the cockpit crew, a consultation with the technical department on site and in Frankfurt and an initial visual inspection, the aircraft flew back to Frankfurt," the Lufthansa Group spokesperson said. "There it will undergo an additional inspection."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has seen evidence of attempts by China to "influence and arguably interfere" with the presidential election in November.

"We have seen ... evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make surethat's cut off as quickly as possible," Blinken told CNN in an interview Friday. He spoke at the end of his three-day trip to China where he met personally with leader Xi Jinping.

"Any interference by China in our election is something that we're looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again," Blinken responded when asked whether China was adhering to Xi's promise to President Joe Biden not to try to steer the election.

America's top diplomat told the cable network that there was concern that China and other countries could try to exploit existing social divisions in the United States to sway the vote.

When Xi and Bush met in San Francisco in November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, the Chinese leader assured Biden that China wouldn't interfere in the presidential election, CNN reported.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated Xi's commitment in a statement to CNN at the time.

"China's position has been consistent and clear: We always adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. US general elections are US internal affairs and who becomes the next president is up to the American people. China does not interfere in U.S. elections," the statement said.
President Joe Biden said Friday that he would be "happy" to debate Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican candidate for president, this fall.

The president was asked on Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show whether he would take part in a debate with his predecessor.

"I am, somewhere. I don't know when," Biden said. "But I'm happy to debate him."

Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser on the Trump campaign, posted "OK let's set it up!" on the social media platform X after Biden's comments.

Biden's campaign has yet to commit to debating Trump, the Associated Press reported. The two debated twice during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Trump, who refused to debate his Republican primary contenders, has said he would debate Biden "anytime, anywhere, anyplace."

Earlier this month, the country's largest news organizations posted an open letter urging the two men to participate in televised debates.

The organizations, including CSpan, the Associated Press, Fox News, and CNN, said the debates have been a "rich tradition in our American democracy" dating back to 1976.

The Commission on Presidential Debates last November announced the dates and places for the three presidential debates. The first will be held Sept. 16 at Texas State University, the second Oct. 1 at Virginia State University, and the third Oct. 9 at the University of Utah.
Following the recent overturning of his rape and sexual assault convictions from 2020, disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has a new court appearance, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

"Harvey Weinstein is expected to be in Manhattan Supreme Court Part 81 (room 1317) on Wednesday, May 1st, at 2:15 p.m., to appear in front of Judge Curtis Farber", the office told HNGN in an email Friday.

"At the Manhattan D.A.'s Office, our Special Victims Division fights each and every day to center survivors, uplift their voices, and seek justice for these horrific crimes. Our mission is to center survivors' experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case", a spokesperson stated.

"We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault", the office declared in another statement Thursday.

Weinstein, 72, wept 'tears of joy' in prison over the news that his New York rape and sexual assault convictions had been overturned.

The former producer felt that "finally somebody listened to him," spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told the Daily Mail.

"I just spoke to him two minutes ago. Harvey was crying. He was excited," Engelmayer said of her client, who has been accused of sexual abuse by more than 80 women.

Weinstein was serving 23 years in a New York prison for two sex attacks against aspiring actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haleyi; however, the convictions were overturned after an appeals court ruled that the judge made a "crucial" error in the original trial.

Weinstein, however, will remain in prison due to a separate conviction for rape in 2022, for which he was handed a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles.
Emery, Autograph Collection is proud to announce the appointment of Charlotte Srensen O'Donahue as Food and Beverage Director of Emeryan elegant mid-century modern gem in the heart of downtown Minneapolisto spearhead its food and beverage team. With more than 20 years of experience overseeing multiple teams within the hospitality and culinary world, Charlotte brings a wealth of expertise and visionary leadership to Emery.

As Food & Beverage Director at Emery, Charlotte will oversee all aspects of the hotel's dining operations from Emery's upscale Northern Italian Restaurant, Giulia, to Spyhouse Coffee Bar and Lounge, to Emery's banquet and catering operations. She will also be working closely with Chef Steven Brown and the culinary team on menu development, culinary direction and guest satisfaction. Through her extensive knowledge and track record of proven successes, Charlotte will assist in taking the hotel's food and beverage team to new and greater heights.

Charlotte brings more than twenty years of experience within the hotel and hospitality industryfrom managing multiple hotels and restaurants within the Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants portfolio including The Everly Hotel, The Hotel Monaco, The Grand Hotelto overseeing several hotel openings and renovations such as Hotel Van Zandt, Hotel Palomar and Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining and Catering. Charlotte received her bachelor's degree in culinary and hospitality management at The Art Institutes International Minnesota, where she honed in her skills and passion for food and hospitality. When Charlotte isn't coming up with new F&B concepts, she enjoys exploring new places and spending time with her husband and Italian greyhound.
Business travel in Canada is poised for a strong, evolving future, according to the takeaways and forecasts unveiled during the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Canada Conference 2024 held in Toronto this week, April 22-24. As the premier trade association and voice of the global business travel industry, GBTA welcomed business travel professionals, companies and guests from across Canada and beyond to the Beanfield Centre for its 20th annual regional event.

Over 600 registered business travel buyers, suppliers and other attendees, including over 50 exhibiting companies, came together for main stage presentations, panel conversations and education sessions. The event also included recognition of GBTAs Canadian volunteers and the conferences legendary Big Night Out networking event.

Strong Forecast and Outlook for Business Travel in Canada

An eagerly anticipated aspect of the Conference, GBTA released the Canada-specific forecast from its Business Travel Index (BTI) Outlook report along with other research highlights, insights and trends ahead for the industry. According to data from the latest GBTA BTI report, business travel spending in Canada is expected to recover to its pre-COVID level this year, which is one year later than the broader North American region but parallel to the global rate of recovery.

For 2024, GBTA forecasts indicate Canadian business travel spending is anticipated to reach $25.9 billion USD, representing annual growth of 13.5%. This outpaces both global (11.8%) and United States (9.2%) growth forecasts. In 2019 before the pandemic, Canadian business travel had reached $25.7 billion USD.

Other key GBTA research takeaways for the Canada business travel sector included:

Canadian travel buyers expect to spend more on business travel in 2024, with nearly three in five (59%) planning for their companies spend to be higher compared to last year.

on business travel in 2024, with nearly three in five (59%) planning for their companies spend to be higher compared to last year. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Canadian travel buyers expect their company will take more business trips this year compared to last year , but two in five (18%) expect the same volume of business trips.

, but two in five (18%) expect the same volume of business trips. When asked about challenges, Canadian buyers and suppliers cited financial concerns at the top of their list, namely the rising cost of travel, overall economic conditions and corporate budgets not keeping pace with needs.

In the 2023 GBTA BTIs worldwide survey of business travelers, 57% of Canadian business travelers who responded say they traveled the same amount or more than they did pre-pandemic.

than they did pre-pandemic. 55% said they blended travel (i.e. combining leisure travel with their business trips) more than they did in 2019.

(i.e. combining leisure travel with their business trips) than they did in 2019. They reported spending an average of $884 USD per business trip in 2023.

in 2023. 82% said business travel is worthwhile in achieving their business objectives.

New National and Regional GBTA Leadership Takes the Stage

Janette Acosta Sanchez, who joined GBTA in February as Country Director for Canada, took the conferences main stage for the first time, leading key sessions and reiterating the organizations commitment to educate, communicate and advocate for a thriving post-pandemic Canadian business travel industry.

Canada is a truly diverse country, marked by a variety of cultures, mindsets and priorities. There are no one size fits all solutions and GBTA is squarely focused on creating a sustainable, successful future for the Canadian business travel industry. A strong business travel industry is essential to the region, from ensuring our future workforce to making Canada one of the top economies for global business travel, said Sanchez.

Along with Acosta Sanchez and an esteemed group of presenters, panelists and guests, Cristina Scott, GBTA Senior Vice President for the Americas, also addressed the conferences attendees for the first time since joining GBTA in August 2023.

One of GBTAs pillars is uniting the business travel community, and we recognize Canada has a unique travel market, filled with diversity in its people and priorities. With so much going on in our industry right now as we continue to discover what a post-pandemic business travel sector looks like, we are committed to making sure Canadas voice is heard while we look ahead and navigate the future of business travel together, said Scott.

Conference Celebrates a Milestone, Recognizes Volunteers and Delivers Actionable Education and Takeaways

GBTA Board of Directors President, Mark Cuschieri, opened the conference by noting 2024 marks 20 years GBTA has held a Canada Conference.

GBTAs head of Government Relations and Community Affairs, Shane Downey, discussed the associations advocacy priorities and actions taken globally and in Canada. He also led a discussion with expert panelists on how the travel industry is responding to government initiatives and seeking solutions. Additionally, a main stage fireside chat on the countrys accessibility standards included Canadian government officials.

GBTA again recognized outstanding volunteers in Canada for their contributions. Award recipients are:

GBTA Volunteer Inspiration Award : Patrick Doyle, Chief Commercial Officer for Flight Claim

: Patrick Doyle, Chief Commercial Officer for Flight Claim Business Travel Service Award winners for Canada: Jennifer Urquhart, Director, Strategic Sales at Enterprise Mobility, and Charles Crowder, Head of Global Airline Relationships at ARC Corporation

Education sessions focused on critical priorities and opportunities in the Canadian business travel sector including travel manager needs of the future; traveler evolution and the passenger journey; embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies; the continuing roll-out of New Distribution Capability (NDC); and sustainability in business travel. The event also included numerous buyer and supplier sessions, networking opportunities, and a special welcome event for new and returning industry professionals. The Canada Conferences concluding main stage was an Ask Me Anything session with supplier and buyer panelists who answered questions about various topics related to the Canadian business travel landscape.

GBTA also announced it will host its 21st Canada Conference again at the Beanfield Centre in Toronto April 28-30, 2025.

To view photos from the GBTA Canada Conference-Toronto, visit the event gallery here. Interviews about the latest developments from industry leaders at the conferences Broadcast Studio will be uploaded to GBTAs YouTube channel in the next few days.

About GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.
Sommet Education, a leading worldwide player in the hospitality education boasting a community of 10,000 students and 60,000 influential alumni worldwide, is proud to announce the launch of its Foundation, a significant milestone aimed at supporting employment challenges within the hospitality sector.

The Foundation will concentrate on tackling the sectors employment challenges by focusing on two levers of action: offering scholarships for hospitality education to talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and advocating for careers and professions in hospitality.

Empowering individuals from underserved communities to pursue rewarding careers in hospitality

The launch of the Foundation comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, with the travel and tourism sector projected to provide employment for 449 million people worldwide by 2034 (source: World Travel and Tourism Council). By then, 12.2% of the global workforce will be powering this vibrant sector. Despite these promising figures, many destinations and hospitality employers continue to face recruitment challenges.

Drawing on Sommet Education's long-standing commitment to developing hospitality talent, the Sommet Education Foundation will leverage its global network of hospitality schools to train and open doors to careers in this promising industry for individuals from diverse and socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Sommet Education Foundation will identify talents supported by a network of social partners, including UN agencies, governmental entities and NGOs. These talents will be selected in alignment with the framework of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 4, focusing on inclusive education. Funding and support will be provided to educate and empower, particularly youth from impoverished backgrounds and women, while also creating lifelong learning opportunities and ensuring that talents are gainfully employed within the sector.

'Joining the Hospitality Industry is more than a job guarantee; it is a promise of a rewarding and fulfilling career nurtured by human encounters, passion, cultural exchanges, and experiences. By offering scholarships leading to employment opportunities, we aim at offering life-changing opportunities to a new generation of talents and empowering them with the necessary skills to join the thriving hospitality industry. Mrs. Anouck Weiss, Executive Vice-President at Sommet Education Foundation.

Sommet Education Foundation Patronage

The Foundation can already count on Accor as a Founding Patron. The hospitality group has already committed to promoting talent development, fostering social equality, and bolstering economic growth through a first dedicated initiative in India.Steven Daines, Chief Talent and Culture Officer, said on the occasion: As a leading hospitality group, investing in peoples talent is a key priority. Hospitality is a sector that transcends territories and borders. This implies open-mindedness and connection to others. I am proud to be in a sector that promotes cross-border work experiences and multicultural environments.

Echoing his views, Mrs. Anne-Sophie BERAUD, SVP Diversity & Inclusion & Social Care Accor, said, The success of our employees must not be determined by diplomas, origins or nationalities. We want to guarantee each of our Talent the opportunity to reach their full potential by preventing inequalities and discrimination.'

Promoting hospitality professions



To inform the Foundation's roadmap and strategic direction, Sommet Education Foundation engaged OpinionWay, a pioneering market research institute, to conduct a comprehensive European survey, with the primary objective of identifying the key factors that attract and retain talents in the hospitality industry. 1,300 young professionals and hospitality human resources managers across Europe were interviewed, along with 20 key industry leaders* (see list below) encompassing the broader spectrum of the sector, including hotels, restaurants, travel, tourism, independent, medium-sized, and large hotel groups and high-end retail.

Survey shows strong sector attractiveness and employer voluntarism to seduce and retain new talents



The service sector holds considerable appeal for 85% of young professionals across Europe. Three-quarters of young European professionals would be ready to join high-end hotels, restaurants and retail shops, praising the career opportunities, especially internationally, and the people-to-people connections. The survey confirms the overall challenge of the sector throughout Europe, with 59% of HR managers facing employment challenges. 78% state that Generation Z (18 to 28 years old) brings specific challenges from identification, recruitment, and loyalty.

Hospitality Unique promise fuels optimism in the sector

Professionals within the sector are resolutely convinced of the depth and appeal of their respective fields, with an overwhelming 86% expressing confidence in the sector's allure. Moreover, they exhibit unwavering faith in their ability to sustain employee commitment, rating it at an impressive 7.5 out of 10.

This sector uniquely offers pathways for individuals to advance socially and professionally, regardless of their educational background. It stands out as one of the few industries where individuals can achieve rapid success and take on greater responsibilities over time, effectively climbing the social ladder. This unique promise of upward mobility makes it particularly appealing to many. Furthermore, employers place a premium on motivation, soft skills, and service-oriented personalities, prioritizing these qualities over formal diplomas and are ready to invest in their talents. The overwhelming majority93% of HR managersemphasize the centrality of training in fostering talent excellence, development, and long-term loyalty.

Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive at Mandarin Oriental shared on the subject: "Architects design the buildings of tomorrow. I would like people coming out of hospitality schools to be able to design the experience of tomorrow.

For more information, visit https://www.sommet-education.com/the-foundation

About the Qualitative Survey

Analysis based on interviews with:

Pierre-Olivier Aguinalin  Chief HR Officer

Marion Amacker, Associate Director  Morgan Philipps Executive Search

Natalia Bayona, Executive Director  UN Tourism

Cyril Baron, General Manager  Caviar House & Prunier

Christian Catiello - Alpitour World General Manager Organization

Steven Daines, Chief People & Culture Officer - Accor

Alain Ducasse  Chef and Founder of Ecole Ducasse

Isabelle de Bardies, CEO Angelina

Eric Frechon, Chef, Meilleur Ouvrier de France

Jade Frommer, Managing Director and Co-Founder - Ephemera

Christelle Grisoni, Managing Director - Bertrand Hospitality

Philippe Hery, Managing Director - Hippopotamus

Christopher Jones, Directeur General - Brioche Doree

Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive Officer - Mandarin Oriental

Sabine Masseglia, Managing Director - St Barth Tourism

Katrin Melle, Regional Vice President DEI & Talent EAME  Hyatt

Carole Pourchet, CEO  Majorian

Maribel Rodriguez, Senior Vice-President  WTTC

Nathalie Seiler Hayez, Managing Director  Swiss Deluxe Hotels

Tigrane Seydoux, cofounder - Big Mamma Group

About Sommet Education

Sommet Education is the worlds leader in hospitality education with a global network of 5 education brands.

It comprises two of the Top 10 globally ranked institutions: the prestigious Swiss originated hospitality business schools Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches. Sommet Education reinforced its leadership with culinary and pastry arts schools Ecole Ducasse; South African Education leader Invictus and Indian School of Hospitality.

These institutions offer 400 undergraduate, graduate and technical training programs to 10,000 students and learners from 100 different nationalities in 10 countries. Teaching is offered on 20 campuses, as well as through state-of-the-art remote learning platforms. Together the schools have a network of 60,000 influential alumni in hospitality and beyond.

For more information, visit https://www.sommet-education.com/

Anouck Weiss

Chief Communication Officer Sommet Education

Sommet Education

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According to Hilton's third annual trends report, this year will be marked by a pronounced emphasis on wellness travel, with "rest and relaxation" identified as the pivotal trend shaping the travel landscape for 2024. Beyond the traditional offerings like spas, yoga classes at sunrise, and fitness centers with the latest equipment, the pursuit of personal wellness has undergone a significant transformation. As a result, today's travelers, whether embarking on a business trip or a leisurely vacation with friends or family, are placing a growing emphasis on prioritizing sound sleep and rest.

Known as sleep tourism, this phenomenon refers to the increasing trend of travelers seeking destinations and accommodations that specifically cater to enhancing the quality of sleep and overall well-being during their travels. From curated sleep packages to innovative amenities dedicated to improving sleep quality, the hospitality industry is witnessing a transformative wave as travelers want to sleep better, especially when away from their homes and stressors that don't always allow them to get a good night's rest.

Yet, a crucial question emerges: how exactly can hoteliers guarantee a stay that places a premium on a guest's sleep and be more mindful of their habits? To cultivate an atmosphere of comfort and cater to those in pursuit of a revitalizing night's (or day's) rest, hoteliers should begin by focusing efforts on enhancing the features found in guest rooms.

But first, we must understand what led to the rise of sleep tourism and prioritizing sleep health.

Travelers today are seeking destinations and accommodations that prioritize quality sleep and well-being.  Photo by Pure Wellness

Why is Sleep Tourism in High Demand?

The rise of sleep tourism can be attributed to a confluence of factors that reflect evolving trends in travel and wellness needs. In response to the increasing importance placed on holistic wellness, there has been a surge in this type of tourism, with travelers seeking destinations that not only offer all of the amenities they love and use during a typical stay but also, unique and rejuvenating sleep experiences to take part in. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the crucial role sleep plays in maintaining good health and productivity, coupled with a desire for unique and thoughtful experiences centered around relaxation and serenity.

With so many people not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, quality of sleep has always been an important conversation topic that has now penetrated the hospitality industry as it has become a paramount factor influencing travel decisions. Travelers understand the vital link between restful sleep and overall wellness.Just as they try and practice getting eight hours of sleep at home, when guests travel they also want a soundful and uninterrupted rest period. This evolution has prompted the hospitality sector to respond with tailored offerings meeting the growing demand for destinations to prioritize the rejuvenation of mind and body through a tranquil and revitalizing sleep environment.

In response to the growing awareness of the crucial connection between restful sleep and overall wellness, the hospitality sector has evolved to address travelers' needs for a tranquil and revitalizing sleep environment. To meet this demand, hotels are now offering specialized sleep amenities that go beyond the conventional. Guests can indulge in the luxury of premium mattresses, pillows, and bedding to enhance comfort and support. Personalized sleep concierge services assist in tailoring the sleep environment to individual preferences, while blackout curtains ensure a dark and quiet space for undisturbed rest. Innovative features like white noise machines, aromatherapy, and sleep-inducing technology contribute to creating the perfect ambiance for a restful night.

Furthermore, hotels may provide customizable room features, such as adjustable lighting and temperature controls, to cater to diverse preferences. With offerings like specialized sleep programs, hypoallergenic options, and natural sleep remedies, the hospitality industry is prioritizing the rejuvenation of both mind and body, making sleep an integral part of the travel experience.

Additionally, advances in sleep technology and a heightened awareness of the significance of quality sleep for overall health have further fueled the development of travel offerings that incorporate innovative sleep solutions. As stress and burnout management become mainstream conversations in society today, destinations offering relaxation and sleep improvement programs are quickly gaining traction and booking far out in advance. The evolving landscape of sleep tourism reflects a broader societal shift towards prioritizing comprehensive well-being while people make their travel plans. Whether in a luxurious hotel or at a wellness resort, offering a package of comfort and relaxation is key.

Healthy air quality in guest rooms not only reduces stress, but also promotes relaxation and enhances sleep.  Photo by Pure Wellness

The Impact of Indoor Air Quality on Sleep

One commonly overlooked aspect that can influence one's sleep quality is air quality. In fact, clean air is a major player in determining guests' comfort levels. Traditionally, concerns about air quality have revolved around outdoor pollutants like smog, allergens, and smoke, which are particularly problematic for those with respiratory issues. However, the significance of indoor air quality cannot be overlooked, and it may even surpass the importance of outdoor concerns, especially for travelers as indoor environments harbor potential threats like mold spores, bacteria, and fragrances intended to enhance ambiance but capable of causing irritation to guests.

Beyond providing a clean breathing environment, improved air quality actively and greatly contributes to guests' health and wellbeing. Having healthy air quality not only reduces stress, but it also promotes relaxation and enhances sleep in a way many may not realize as we typically don't think about indoor air quality. Optimal air quality facilitates easier breathing, aiding the body in transitioning to a restful state and facilitating entry into REM sleep. Unburdened by the need to combat airborne particles, the body can achieve a state of rest more efficiently, ensuring guests wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. A good night's sleep is imperative for travelers facing important meetings and presentations, early morning exams, or adjusting to time zone differences. This positive impact on sleep quality holds paramount significance for the overall wellness of any hotel guest during their stay.

Additionally, a guest room with access to purified air can be transformative for guests dealing with allergies and asthma, impacting even those not typically sensitive to allergens when traveling. For instance, someone usually immune to allergic reactions might experience sensitivity to regional plants, like cactus flowers in Arizona. Moreover, elevated airborne particle levels increase the risk of carrying harmful viruses or bacteria. Enhanced air quality not only bolsters comfort but also reduces the likelihood of airborne illnesses among guests. In the post-pandemic era, where travel hesitancy prevails, prioritizing air quality provides guests with peace of mind and makes them want to come back and stay at a property that keeps their health top of mind.

Air purification systems work to cleanse the air within a space by effectively eliminating invisible toxins.  Photo by Pure Wellness

Allergen Protection for Optimal Sleep Environment

To complement this, hoteliers should also consider incorporating hypoallergenic mattress protectors and pillow encasements to shield against dust mite allergens. This additional layer of protection ensures that guests wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized by minimizing the body's efforts to fend off airborne particles, particularly those to which they may not be accustomed. The dual focus on air quality and allergen protection underscores the commitment to providing guests with a restful sleep environment. Addressing allergens and irritants in the sleep environment becomes pivotal in breaking the cycle, promoting rejuvenating sleep, and contributing to the long-term well-being of guests.?

The dual emphasis on air quality and allergen protection underscores the commitment to creating an optimal sleep environment which is crucial for breaking the cycle, promoting not only restful sleep but also contributing to the long-term health of guests. Aligning with the growing demand for holistic well-being experiences, this commitment reflects a strategic approach to guest satisfaction and recognizing the interconnected nature of sleep and overall health. By recognizing and investing in improved air quality, hoteliers can strongly commit to wellness, fulfilling the increasing demand and setting their properties apart in the thriving wellness tourism market.

Hypoallergenic mattress protectors and pillow encasements reduce exposure to dust and dust mites for a rejuvenating sleep experience.  Photo by Pure Wellness

Looking Ahead

According to Grandview Research, the global wellness tourism market was valued at $814.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.42% from 2023 to 2030. As the wellness tourism market continues its upward trajectory, hoteliers are uniquely positioned to elevate their guests' experience by improving air quality. Educating associates on the topic and continuing the conversation is also important. It is vital hoteliers train associates to understand the importance of air quality, how to maintain it, and how to communicate its benefits to guests.

Well-informed staff can serve as ambassadors for your hotel's commitment to wellness. They also can continue the conversation with guests and get feedback, allowing hotels to keep improving and staying on top of wellness offerings. In addition to overall guest satisfaction, offering wellness benefits also can improve a hotel's bottom line.

In the evolving landscape of contemporary travel, the rise of sleep tourism signifies a transformative shift in preferences, with an increasing number of individuals seeking experiences centered around rejuvenating sleep. In response to the growing recognition of the integral connection between restful sleep and overall wellness, the hospitality sector is adapting to meet these evolving demands.

Today's travelers, actively prioritizing destinations and accommodations that offer optimal sleep experiences, no longer settle for merely comfortable accommodations. Wellness travel extends beyond plush robes and fine dining; it delves into creating rooms so pure that relaxation and sleep come naturally, meeting the wellness needs of every traveler. This strategic approach reflects not only a commitment to guest satisfaction, but also an acknowledgment of the interconnected nature of sleep and well-being in today's fast-paced world where one's health is a top priority.

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/.
Excerpt from Yahoo

Two top artificial intelligence experts - one an optimist and the other more alarmist about the technology's future -engaged in a spirited debate at the TIME100 Summit on Wednesday.

Both Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of Mila Quebec AI Institute, a scientific hub, and Eric Schmidt, chairman of the Special Competitive Studies Project and former Google CEO, agree that A.I. is poised to transform modern society.

But as moderator Stephanie Ruhle, an MSNBC host, put it: "Yoshua believes that the risk of AI potentially putting us into extinction should be considered a global risk, like we look at pandemics and nuclear war. Eric is super, super excited about AI."

Bengio's main concern with AI is the difficulty in ensuring that AI systems are used for their intended purpose and not something harmful. "We absolutely need to clear the fog; right now, scientists really have no idea" how to get AI to behave according to the norms, law and values of society.

Schmidt and Bengio also spoke about potential conflicts of interest that profit-seeking companies may face in being tasked to regulate their use of AI. Schmidt maintained that industry leaders are the ones asking for regulation. But Bengio pushed back: "It's tricky because companies are in this race to win; at the same time, the individuals of these companies are human and don't want catastrophes to happen."

Schmidt says that companies have about three to five years before they really need to "get their act together." That's when bigger ethical issues will emerge, he says.

"That's very fast," Bengio says; and he argues that there aren't yet enough laws in place to force companies to secure their AI system so that data is not stolen by bad actors.

Click here to read complete article at Yahoo.
U.S. Federal Trade Commission Announces Rule Banning Non-Competes for Employees

The U.S. Federal Trade Commissions recent decision to ban non-compete agreements marks a pivotal shift in employment regulations nationwide. This rule not only prohibits new agreements but also retroactively impacts existing ones. From its broad definition of worker to its exceptions and impending legal challenges, understanding the nuances of this rule is crucial for employers preparing for compliance. JMBM Partner Michael H. Strub, Jr. explains the implications of this landmark decision.

FTC Announces Rule Banning Non-Competes - By Michael H. Strub, Jr., JMBMs Litigation Group

Employers throughout the country should be aware that on April 23, 2024, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission adopted a rule that would generally prohibit non-compete provisions, which prohibit workers from accepting work in a competing business or operating a competing business. Specifically, the rule prohibits employers from entering into new non-compete provisions and acts retroactively to prohibit employers from enforcing existing ones.

The rule defines worker broadly, and includes, for example, independent contractors and unpaid workers. The rule includes an exception in connection with the bona fide sale of a business and allows existing lawsuits to enforce non-compete clauses to continue. The rule also permits enforcement of existing non-compete provisions with senior executivespolicy makers whose total compensation is at least $151,164 when annualizedbut prohibits new ones.

The rule also requires employers to give notice of the new rule, so there will be yet another piece of paper that must be tacked to the cork board in the company kitchen.

The ban will take effect 120 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register and employers should be prepared to develop compliance plans.

Read the Final Rule here.

Update

Employers should take note that lawsuits from several business lobbies, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have already been filed against the FTC in response to this rule. Stay tuned for ongoing updates as legal challenges progress. Employers may consider filing a lawsuit of their own, but its worth considering: why spend money if others are already waging the war?

You can read two of the recently filed complaints below seeking to stop effectiveness of the new rule:

Michael H. Strub, Jr. is a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP and a member of JMBMs Litigation Group. He is a highly skilled trial and appellate attorney who has handled high-stakes, complex commercial and business cases for 30 years including disputes arising out of hotel construction, lending, and bankruptcy.

In addition, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants in business and commercial disputes in a variety of areas. Contact Michael H. Strub, Jr. at 949.623.7233 or MStrub@jmbm.com.

This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer, signing off. Please contact us if you would like to discuss any issues or development that affect your hotel interests. We would like to see if our experience might help you create value or avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Whos your hotel lawyer?
HOTREC members and delegates from across Europe gathered in Budapest for the Associations 88th General Assembly.

Hospitality representatives discussed pressing concerns such as acute labour and skills shortages, uncertain digital rules, and a changing (political) climate. With the European elections and the Hungarian EU presidency just around the corner, industry leaders had the chance to reflect and agree on policy priorities.

Over the next five years, European hospitality businesses seek to enhance tourism, support talent, promote fair digital rules, invest in sustainability, and adapt to consumer preferences.

HOTREC extends its heartfelt thanks to the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association for their exceptional hospitality and warmth. We look forward to reuniting again with our members in Autumn 2024 at our next General Assembly in Warsaw, Poland.

Alexandros Vassilikos, HOTREC President, stated:

This years General Assembly is a platform for the European hospitality industry to speak up and defend policies that will help hospitality businesses grow, stay competitive, and embrace sustainable practices.

The Digital Markets Act is a game changer for the European hospitality industry. We need to work with decision-makers to make sure the rules are fair and transparent, and that they support innovation while safeguarding our interests.

With the EU elections just around the corner, it is our role to reach out to MEPs and potential candidates to make sure our voice is heard. Tourism and hospitality must remain high on the political agenda!

Marie Audren, HOTREC Director General, commented:

HOTREC is now a large and representative association, which is expanding! I am delighted to announce that our Turkish friends from the Tourism Development and Education Foundation  TUGEV  will join forces with us. Welcome aboard!

HOTREC remains a committed voice for European hospitality. It gives the industry a platform to speak up and make meaningful changes. Our unity is our strength.
China opens 829 sites providing free pneumoconiosis treatment

Xinhua) 11:09, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China has opened 829 sites providing free treatment for people with pneumoconiosis, cases of which account for approximately 90 percent of all reported cases of occupational diseases in the country, an official of the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday.

Wang Jiandong, who is the NHC official in charge of occupational health, said at a press conference that these sites, which are located in 28 provincial-level regions, provided free treatment to more than 1.2 million pneumoconiosis patients between 2021 and 2023.

He said that many pneumoconiosis patients face difficulties in identifying liability in order to claim compensation, as the majority of these patients in China are migrant workers, who often work for more than one employer in hazardous workplaces and cannot provide employment relationship certificates.

With this in mind, the commission revised its measures for occupational disease diagnosis and recognition in 2021, allowing patients to provide reduced documentation to prove the employment relationship, such as paychecks or meal cards, Wang said.

The commission will introduce more policies to assist pneumoconiosis patients in the future, he added.

Loud noise, dust and toxic chemicals are the top hazards in workplaces in China, Wang said, noting that the country has monitored over 1.8 million jobs with occupational hazards since 2019.

China has launched a campaign to control occupational hazards, focusing on industries with grave health risks, such as the mining, metallurgy and building materials sectors, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Earlier Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr Celebrations Had Positive Impact on Dubai Hotel Performance

This year, the month of Ramadan began fairly early compared to previous years. The Islamic holiday commenced on Monday, 11 March, and concluded on Tuesday, 9 April  lasting over four weeks. Combined with the Easter holiday weekend (29 March  1 April) and a peak tourist season in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai hotels saw positive performance during this time period.

Occupancy boost during Eid-al-Fitr

As expected, Dubai hotel occupancy dipped slightly at the beginning of Ramadan, with occupancy fluctuating between 60 - 74%, with the exception of the Easter weekend when Dubai saw occupancy levels climb as high as 78.9% on 29 March (the night before Easter Sunday).

That, however, shifted during the week of Eid, which fell on Wednesday, 10 April (81.6%), when Dubai hotels saw a jump in occupancy levels, peaking on Friday, 12 April (at 92.9%). This was also helped by the UAE government declaring a public holiday from Monday, 8 April through Friday, 12 April, which constituted nine days off work in total, considering the weekends on both ends.

Compared to the 2023 Ramadan & Eid celebrations, Dubais hotel industry reported improved performance year over year. Last year, Ramadan began on Wednesday, 22 March, with Eid falling on Friday, 21 April. During that period, the market saw its highest occupancy levels on Saturday, 22 April (at 90.4%), with occupancy at 80.4% on the night of Eid-al-Fitr  those levels were lower than what was recorded this year.

It is important to note that Ramadan shifts approximately two weeks earlier each year. It has recently moved into Q1, which is peak tourism season in Dubai. In the past, Ramadan hotel performance was notably subdued. But as it moves towards the winter there is still enough leisure demand to sustain performance at pretty decent levels. The lack of major events and corporate demand is now somewhat offset by seasonality, which is great news for the industry.

Room rates told a similar story

While not as obvious, Dubai's average daily rate (ADR) followed a similar pattern as occupancy, with the market posting a slight decline in the metric at the beginning of Ramadan. That changed when taking place during the same time as the Easter Holidays, when Dubai posted the highest room rate levels (AED901.25 on 30 March) during the entire Ramadan and Eid period.

Easter Sunday was the only day those levels surpassed the AED900 mark. When looking at the Ramadan month last year, the markets ADR also peaked the night before Easter (8 April 2023, at AED887.29).

Looking merely at the week of Eid, the highest ADR levels were posted on Thursday, 11 April (at AED891.48)  the night after the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. The same was seen last year, when Dubais highest ADR levels were recorded on Saturday, 22 April (at AED777.12), also the night after Eid-al-Fitr.

With leisure demand rebounding during Eid, as usual, occupancies above 90% were observed on 11-12 April. The extended Eid holidays announced in most Middle East countries led to tourism demand dispersion across the whole week of Eid and drove consistent performance over a longer time period.

This article originally appeared on STR.
Paul Marino speaks at Wednesday's public hearing on Spectrum services and Northern Berkshire Community Television. Four communities are negotiating the 10-year contract with the cable company.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents



Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public  and not be subject to a charge.

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.

"I'm streaming and do miss my access to community TV," said Nancy Bullett, a former city councilor. "It is a void that is supposed to be filled with public access, but public access is limited unless you can pay for it. So I encourage Spectrum to consider bringing it down to lower channels and also allowing it to be part of our streaming services."

The hearing was not about pricing but the cost of cable couldn't really be separated from discussions about NBCTC and service.

Cable subscribers have to rent a digital box that is now $12.50 a month to access even basic channels and public access channels.

"I think $12.50 a month is really a high tax that people are paying for community television," said Adams Selectmen Chair Christine Hoyt, advocating for it to be added to the app. "And it would be great if that could be rolled back."

William Wilson, who has a pastoral show on NBCTC, said he'd heard from the sick and elderly he's ministered to that they can't watch his show because they can't afford the cable.

Paul Marino, a longtime employee at NBCTC, pointed out the box is needed to unscramble the signal only to Spectrum subscribers.

"But there is no other cable company. They are the only cable companies serving this area," he said. "So why do we need a box that unscrambles the signal? We don't. They do to make some extra money."

(Not raised at the hearing is Spectrum's plans to shift to a streaming box, which may or may not include PEG channels.) https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/leisure/spectrum-cable-box-phaseout.)

North Adams Councilor Peter Breen brought his monthly bill along to demonstrate how high its grown.

"My thing is cost and service. The contract should be three years and we should have a minimum of maybe 4 percent increase of any prices," he said. "If you look at these prices over 10 years, that they've gone up 600 percent. That's all I've got to say."

He said a 10-year contract is "antiquated" and that it should be reviewed every three years, with a number of residents agreeing.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey, speaking as a Spectrum customer, said her bill had also gone up precipitously and after years of complaints about buffering in her office, finally moved her laptop to the living room to get a decent signal.

Mark Pierson, the city's information technology director, ticked off a number of issues the city's had with service.

"We have frequent outages that we don't notice, but I see it on the alerts," he said. "Yeah there's something wrong with their service here."

Several women who live in Village East, a small retirement community, said residents there had been informed their boxes were being replaced and it would cost $49.95 to have new ones installed.

Residents are supposed to return their boxes, said Virginia White, but nine don't even have cars and some are homebound.

"It would be impossible for these people to return the boxes to Spectrum or to UPS and the majority of us cannot afford a $49 fee to install these boxes," she said. "I think that [owner] EastPoint should be responsible for returning the boxes and possibly paying the fee."

Residents also spoke of constant service calls and billing issues, the shifting of the PEG channel numbers that made them difficult to find, and concerns about keeping the office on Hodges Cross Road open.

"We're a small close-knit community. We need that connection. We have a lot of elderly folks that still rely on face-to-face connection," said Council President Bryan Sapienza. "They're not all on cell phones, like a lot of the younger generation."

The city and towns are also calling on the company to fund NBCTC's equipment needs to ensure its capability to serve the community. This need was markedly evident when the pandemic hit in 2020.



The hybrid meeting was carried on NBCTC. "Never has community television been more important, especially public, educational and government access, or its contributions, more recognized and appreciated," said the mayor, who opened the hearing. "Democracy would have died for almost a year during COVID if we did not have the actions and assistance of community television.

"Now more than ever, it is the best interest of cities and towns to do their part to help PEG access providers such as our own Northern Berkshire Community Television."

Her comments were echoed by other local officials, with Adams Town Administrator Jay Green saying NBCTC made sure "that people understood that the local government is still functioning despite the trauma and despite not being able to assemble which is a hallmark of of local government."

Public access is often undervalued, said Executive Director David Fabiano. "However, when the pandemic struck, NBCTC demonstrated that community access centers are a critical community resource."

The station immediately upgraded software to incorporate online platforms into the video switching equipment allowing it to carry remote meetings live, provide options for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the public schools to offer distance learning, offered a way for people to experience worship services, and let public access producers stream from their homes and even take live phone calls.

"As technology continues to evolve, it is evident that we will need continued investment in our equipment and software," Fabiano said. "We also feel it is time for the programming on all three of NBCTC channels be transmitted in high definition on par with quality local broadcast channels. In addition, we would like our programming to be included in Spectrum's local electronic program guide which would allow residents to see both current and upcoming programs on our channels."

The station has continued to offer these teleconferencing options and hopes to obtain the funding to expand and help each community to outfit their meeting rooms with hybrid equipment to allow them to incorporate a virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom into their meetings.

Fabiano was applauded when he finished and a number of people who have appeared on or produced shows on NBCTC testified to its value.

"It's preservation is even more important and impactful with the loss of so many institutions for information, especially our local newspapers or any other resources for public information," said Rachel Branch, whose "Solutions Rising" show has been on NBCTC for a dozen years. "NBCTC is especially essential to provide the knowledge and information citizens require when participating in civic and government policy. This cannot be overestimated."

Amber Besaw, executive director of Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, said the station "enables our residents and neighbors to watch uniquely local programming about and for their community as well as provide information about local events and news that are of interest to them."

Another producer, Richard Dasatti, advocated for the PEG channels be returned to the lower numbers so more people can get them and noted the loss of the area's print newspaper and radio station.

"I think this is a really valuable resource where you should put some money into it," he said.

There was widespread agreement that the main issues outside supporting NBCTC were cost, service, billing, access and the length of the contract.

Attorney William Soloman, who is representing the communities, said hearing from everybody makes a difference  especially if they have the same concerns. The more people who comment, the more Spectrum is likely to listen, he said.

"If you have something to say, this is an amazingly great opportunity to be heard and to make a difference in the cable license negotiation," he said.

The mayor said anyone with comments can call, write or email her office so they can be added to the list.
Dalton Town Hall Lift Solutions in Development

DALTON, Mass.  Solutions are being sought for the lift in Town Hall that has been out of service since December because of safety concerns.

Building Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch told the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee meeting on Tuesday night that Hill Engineering has been contracted to come up with a potential option.

The lift is in the police station and the only other lift for the town hall is in the library, which is not accessible after library hours.

Previous attempts by Garaventa Lift to repair it have been unsuccessful.

Replacing it in the same location is not an option because the new weight limit requirement went from 400 pounds to 650 pounds. Determining whether the current railings can hold 650 pounds is outside the scope of Garaventa's services to the town.

The first option Hill has proposed is to install a vertical lift in a storage closet to the left of the police entrance, which would go up into the town account's office.

A member of the committee expressed concern that the current office location may not be suitable as it could hinder access to the police station during construction.

Additionally, once installed, the office would not be usable by the police as it would not be located on the same floor level.

Due to the scope of work, this design is likely to be expensive. Since the Town Hall is an old building, asbestos abatement would likely be necessary because some walls would have to be reconfigured.

Committee member David Wasielewski asked if Hill Engineering could consider installing an elevator on the outside of the Town Hall, similar to what Pittsfield did to one of its buildings.

"Pittsfield had a building that needed an elevator and they kind of stuck it on the outside. They didn't put it in the building. They stuck on the outside because they could they could dig down and go all the way up," Wasielewski said.

The prospect of adding an elevator was included in one of the Town Hall renovation designs but was removed when the Select Board voted to minimize the project's scope to reduce spending

The wireless doorbell to inform library staff when a wheelchair user needs assistance gaining access to the building has been installed, Burch said.

During its previous meeting, the committee approved the purchase of the doorbell since there isn't an automatic door system on the inside door. The system cost approximately $40.

Two were installed, one outside on the ramp at the building's entrance and another on the inner entrance.

ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino informed the board that the state Office of Disability said the accessible picnic tables would arrive on June 30

However, this is too late because the Municipal ADA Improvement Grant, which covers the cost of the tables, requires that the project be completed by June 30.

The committee was approved for the grant in the amount of $6,414.31, which will cover the cost of seven accessible picnic tables, two at each of the three town parks and one at the library.

Maschino is in the process of working with Massachusetts Correctional Industries to have them expedite the table's deliveries.

She will work with Department of Public Works Superintendent Edward "Bud" Hall to decide the best locations to place the tables.

ADA Committee member Lyn Clements recommended they consider installing the tables in a shaded area because wheelchairs get hotter in the sun.
Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting, Announce Growth

ADAMS, Mass.  The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 10, 2024, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams.

The meeting included reviewing the 2023 financial statements for the Bank, electing directors and corporators, and highlighting upcoming executive personnel changes.

"In 2023, the Bank experienced another year of growth in assets, loans, and deposits, noting the Pittsfield branch reached $26 million in customer deposits from its opening in December of 2022," President and CEO of Adams Community Bank Charles O'Brien said. "Those deposits were loaned out locally during 2023 and helped drive our #1 ranking in both mortgage and commercial real estate lending, according to Banker and Tradesman."

At year-end 2023, total assets were $995 million, and O'Brien noted the Bank crossed the $1 billion threshold during the first quarter of 2024.

Board chair Jeffrey Grandchamp noted with O'Brien's upcoming retirement, this will be the final annual meeting of the CEO's tenure since he joined the Bank in 1997. He thanked him for his 27 years of dedication to the Bank. He acknowledged the evolution of the Bank as it became the premier community bank in the Berkshires, noting that branches grew from 3 to 10, that employees grew from 40 to 135, and that assets grew from $127 million to $1 billion.

An executive search is underway for O'Brien's replacement.
Page Content



The Republic of Koreas (ROK) Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Won Kug Baek, joined ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar in opening the 2024 ICAO Legal Seminar, which was generously hosted by the ROK in Seoul from 16-18 April 2024.





Highlighting milestones

Over 750 delegates representing 78 States were strongly encouraged by the Secretary General to join ICAO in its advocacy for the ratification and effective implementation of international air treaties. He offered a special focus on the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), noting its 80th anniversary this year.





The Seminar furthermore provided a welcome opportunity to highlight the legal milestones in air transport facilitation over the decades, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Annex 9  Facilitation and the Year of Facilitation that was consequently announced by the ICAO Council.





Moving forward with priorities

The delegates addressed ICAOs work in the legal field and aviation safety and security, including the role of Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs) in supporting States. Data protection in international air carriage and the role of the Montreal Protocol 2014 in dealing with unruly and disruptive behaviour was also covered, as was the updating of the rules for the settlement of aviation disputes under the Chicago Convention.





Side meetings

Finally, two side events took place during the seminar: a high-level forum which brought together Ministers and policy makers from several States to discuss and share experiences, insights, and strategies for sustainable development, and an open debate among a group of young aviation professionals to address current legal issues affecting civil aviation.





The Secretary Generals mission to ROK also included a bilateral meeting with Ms. Kang Insun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.





The Secretary General was accompanied throughout his mission to Seoul by ICAO Legal Affairs and External Relations Director, Mr. Michael Gill, and Asia and Pacific Regional Director Mr. Tao Ma.










     ,     -  4%    20...
MBABANE  Government and public sector unions (PSUs) are set to resume negotiations on Friday next week.

This comes after the PSUs visited the Ministry of Public Service on Wednesday to demand the resumption of the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF). The JNF is where the PSUs engage with the employer (government) on issues of mutual interest, such as the pending salary review and appeals, among other issues.

The PSUs include the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP). During their visit to the ministry, the PSUs representatives were blocked by the police from entering the ministrys offices.

A total of four representatives from the PSUs were allowed to engage with the ministry, to set the JNF date.

SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini said they had been writing letters to government, requesting for the JNF, as there were pressing issues that needed to be addressed. Dlamini said the JNF had been deliberately shifted. He explained that the issue of the salary review was more pressing as they had not benefitted since 2021.

We need the table to discuss with government about the salary review. There is still no consultant and under normal circumstances, the consultant takes a whole year to conduct the exercise, Dlamini said.

Engagement

He went on to appreciate their engagement with government, as they all agreed on the next JNF date, which is next Friday (May 03, 2024). NAPSAWU President Bawinile Ndlovu appreciated the PSU members who came out to demand the JNF date. Ndlovu said through power and unity, they would achieve their goals. In the same vein, SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati said while they waited for Friday, to fight for better wages and living conditions, unity remained vital.

Vilakati shared that all workers in the country were expected to be at the Prince of Wales Stadium next Wednesday in commemoration of International Labour Day, under the only credible labour centre in the country - Trade Union Congresas of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). AII SNAT members who will attend the commemoration are requested to bring with them proof of membership (latest payslip) and their national identity cards (IDs) for proper identification, Vilakati said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, said government had not refused to sit at the JNF. Maseko said they were always ready to engage, however, there should be proper communication, where dates would be set.
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Actor and activist Rose McGowan has reacted to the overturned rape conviction of Harvey Weinstein, saying that we know the truth.

In a 4-3 ruling on Thursday (25 April), the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinsteins 2020 conviction, stating that the original trial judge made egregious errors by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand.

Later that day, McGowan  who was among several women who accused Weinstein of sexual assault  took to Instagram to share her response to the news.

Im proud of how far weve come. How much weve awakened. What we know of ourselves to be true. And what we know of others to be true, the Charmed star, 50, said.

No matter what they overturn, they cannot take away who we are, what we know, what weve gone through and what we can achieve in this life, McGowan continued. We are not victims. We are people that were injured by evil. And the evil sticks together, as witnessed and evidenced today, but we are better.

She added: To everyone out there fighting the good fight against this evil, these entities, these dark beings: You are light. You are beautiful. You matter. Im with you.

Some days we get knocked on our butts more days than others. But we can rise. And we can find the tiny joys no matter what, okay? Shed those tears. You are brave, you are beautiful, you are strong. We know the truth. ... We know what we are, and what they are.

open image in gallery Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein ( Getty Images )

McGowan first accused Weinstein of rape in 2017. She later detailed the alleged 1997 encounter in her 2018 autobiography, Brave.

In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping former actor Jessica Mann in 2013. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence at a prison in upstate New York.

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Several women who were not involved in the official charges testified against Weinstein at the 2020 trial. The landmark trial stood as a major step forward in the #MeToo movement. And while Thursdays ruling was a blow to #MeToo advocates, the court noted that it was based on legal technicalities and not an exoneration of Weinsteins behaviour, saying the original trial irrevocably moved the cultural needle on attitudes about sexual assault, according to The Associated Press.

The producer still faces a 16-year sentence in California after he was convicted of rape in 2022.

Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay also denounced Weinsteins overturned conviction. The reversal of Harvey Weinsteins conviction comes as a painful and infuriating affront to survivors and advocates everywhere, she wrote on Instagram.

To every survivor involved in the case and every survivor who has to bear witness to this incorrigible miscarriage of justice, my heart is with you today, tomorrow, and forever.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information, visit their website here.
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The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turners daughter has called out fans for the disheartening level of rage and cruelty aimed at her father and his former partner, Theresa Nist, after they announced their divorce.

Earlier this month, Turner, 72, and Nist, 70, announced that they were getting divorced after just three months of marriage.

Its no surprise the news of my Dad and Theresa choosing to split has sparked a range of emotions and opinions. I love how invested people were in the show, what an experience to have you along for the ride! Turners daughter Angie wrote on Instagram.

What has been disheartening is the level of rage and cruelty that our family has been met with. My Dad and Theresa are kind, good people that made this decision for them, no one else. I kindly urge everyone to remember that behind every story, there are real people with real feelings, she added.

To all those that have chosen to show my dad, Theresa and our family love and compassionThank you from the bottom of my heart.

Just last week, Angie posted a photo of the combined families, writing in the caption: We all came together, had the best time, and showed each other love. I will call you all family forever!

We are bonded for life, Nist responded in the comments.

open image in gallery Gerry Turner, Theresa Nist and Angie (centre) ( The Walt Disney Company )

Turner starred as the first septuagenarian to lead the inaugural season of The Bachelor franchise spin-off, which aired last fall on ABC.

After a weeks-long journey narrowing down an initial pool of 22 women, Turner proposed to Nist. They tied the knot in a televised ceremony on ABC in January  the franchises first live wedding since 2014.

Three months later, Turner and Nist appeared on Good Morning America to announce their split.

Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations, and weve looked closely at our situation, our living situation, so forth and  and weve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that its probably time for us to  dissolve our marriage, Turner said.

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Nist admitted that their search for a new home together was a factor in their break-up. The two were looking in South Carolina and New Jersey but never finalised any plans. She thanked all their fans who have offered love and support throughout their experience on the show and after.

I dont think we can tell you how many people told us that it gave them so much hope, she added. We want none of that to change for anybody.
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Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay has condemned the overturning of disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinsteins rape conviction, calling the New York ruling a miscarriage of justice.

On Thursday (25 April), the New York Court of Appeals made a 4-3 decision to overturn Weinsteins 2020 conviction, stating that the original trial judge made egregious errors by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand.

Hours later, Hargitay, 60, reacted to the incorrigible news on Instagram, writing: The reversal of Harvey Weinsteins conviction comes as a painful and infuriating affront to survivors and advocates everywhere.

To every survivor involved in the case and every survivor who has to bear witness to this incorrigible miscarriage of justice, my heart is with you today, tomorrow, and forever.

Actor Ashley Judd, who was among the first women to make allegations on the record against Weinstein, also spoke out against the overturned conviction.

This is unfair to survivors. We Live In Our Truth. We know what happened, she wrote in an Instagram Story.

This is what its like to be a woman in America, living with male entitlement to our bodies, the Double Jeopardy star, 56, later said at a press conference.

Hargitay opened up about her own experience with sexual assault in an essay for People earlier this year, alleging that a man who she considered to be a friend had raped me in my thirties.

I couldnt process it. I couldnt believe that it happened. That it could happen. So I cut it out, she wrote in January. I removed it from my narrative. I now have so much empathy for the part of me that made that choice because that part got me through it. It never happened. Now I honor that part: I did what I had to do to survive.

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In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping former actor Jessica Mann in 2013. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence at a prison in upstate New York.

Several women who were not involved in the official charges testified against Weinstein at the 2020 trial. The witnesses included actor model Tarale Wulff, who said Weinstein raped her in 2005; actor and producer Dawn Dunning, who said he put his hand up her skirt in 2004; and Lauren Young, who said Weinstein masturbated in front of her and groped her in 2013.

open image in gallery Mariska Hargitay and Harvey Weinstein ( Getty Images )

The landmark trial stood as a major step forward in the #MeToo movement. And while Thursdays ruling was a blow to #MeToo advocates, the court noted that it was based on legal technicalities and not an exoneration of Weinsteins behaviour, saying the original trial irrevocably moved the cultural needle on attitudes about sexual assault, according to The Associated Press.

This ruling does not mean Weinstein will walk free, as the producer still faces a 16-year sentence in California after he was convicted of rape in 2022.

Instead, Weinstein is now entitled to a new trial in New York, which his legal team confirmed it will pursue.
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Annie Potts has criticised the decision to end Young Sheldon when the series still scores strong ratings for network CBS.

Potts plays Connie MeeMaw Tucker in the popular Big Bang Theory spin-off, which focuses on the exploits of a young Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) prior to the events of the long-running sitcom. The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019.

The 71yearold actor claimed the shows cast had been completely blindsided by the networks choice to cancel Young Sheldon, which will air its final episode on 16 May.

Speaking to Variety after production wrapped on the series, Potts said she was baffled by the cancellation because it was such a stupid business move from CBS.

Potts claimed Young Sheldon was the number one show on network TV and had shown no signs of audience figures dropping, leaving her feeling shocked and unprepared for its axing.

If a show is starting to drag or lag or lack stories, then you kind of see it coming, she said. We were totally ambushed by this. I was, anyway.

The Designing Women star added she had found filming the final episodes of the show really, really, emotional.

open image in gallery Zoe Perry, Raegan Revord, Iain Armitage, Lance Barber and Montana Jordan in Young Sheldon ( CBS )

Its a little village that we have, she said of the shows cast. Weve all taken care of each other and raised each other up. There will be a grievous hold in my life. Theres no question about it. Itll get easier. Grief does, loss does.

Back in February, Young Sheldon executive producer Steve Holland claimed theyd decided to wrap-up the series after its seventh season due to upcoming events in Sheldons teenage life.

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We started talking about the future of the show, and what it looked like, he told reporters. This is the right time for this story to come to an end, knowing that at 14, he goes off to Cal Tech. It felt like the right time to end it strong while it was on top.

Iain Armitage also attended the press conference, and said: Cant we just leave it at: Im tall and cool and I look like Jim [Parsons] now?

It comes after Young Sheldon co-creator Chuck Lorre revealed the series almost didnt happen until he saw Armitages audition tape for the titular role.

This guy killed it. And if that had not happened, we wouldnt have gone forward, he said. Its the miracle of casting Young Sheldon. It was one we understood was likely not going to happen but it did. And this family blossomed around him.
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Chinese president Xi Jinping told US secretary of state Antony Blinken that their countries should be partners and not rivals shortly after Beijing warned Washington against crossing its red lines in high-stakes meetings aimed at stabilising relations between the worlds two largest economies.

Mr Xi met Mr Blinken before the American diplomat concluded his three-day visit to Beijing on Friday, an unexpected direct meeting with the Communist Party leader signifying an effort to ease emerging flashpoints.

I have said many times that the earth is big enough for China and the US to develop and prosper respectively, Mr Xi said.

The talks were being closely watched by allies and adversaries of both countries, including Russia and Taiwan.

Russian president Vladimir Putin announced his own potential visit to China next month to strengthen their no limits partnership, which is one of the points of contention between Beijing and Washington.

Mr Blinken had earlier met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi for over five hours behind closed doors to discuss the most contentious issues on the table, including American aid to Taiwan and Chinas support for the Russian defence industry.

open image in gallery Chinas president Xi Jinping speaks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken during their meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing ( Getty )

Mr Wang opened the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse by posing a question with undertones of a warning. "Should China and the United States keep in the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?" he asked.

Mr Wang warned the US against pushing boundaries lest the stability of their relations go into a downward spiral and lead to rivalry, confrontation and even conflict.

Mr Wang told Mr Blinken that the "giant ship" of the China-US relationship had stabilised "but negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building".

"And the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions. Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges," he said.

He warned the US against using Taiwan as a tool to contain China and arming Taipei.

open image in gallery Antony Blinken meets with China's foreign minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse ( Reuters )

Mr Blinken, who is on his second visit to China in a year, replied in a cautious tone and said "active diplomacy" was needed to move forward with the agenda set by US president Joe Biden and Mr Xi when they met in San Francisco last November.

There is no substitute in our judgement for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure were as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations, he said.

Highlighting the increasing tension between the two countries, just hours before Mr Blinkens arrival in China on Wednesday, Mr Biden signed a bipartisan bill allocating $8bn to counter Chinas military capabilities, along with substantial defence assistance for Taiwan and $61bn for Ukraine.

Mr Biden also signed into law a bill that would ban TikTok in the US within a year unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, agreed to sell it.

The US is angry with China for helping Russias defence industry through exports, despite western sanctions against Moscow.

Mr Blinken raised concerns about Chinas support to the Russian defence industrial base, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding the two sides also discussed Taiwan, the South China Sea and other flashpoints.

Mr Xi met with Mr Blinken after a last-minute confirmation. The Chinese president said the two sides have made positive progress in past months, but there is still room for efforts on many issues that need to be resolved.
An eco-friendly dairy farm has become a hot spot for social media enthusiasts, attracting many visitors and influencers and boosting sales through livestreaming promotions.

Our green farm had more than 20,000 visitors during the Spring Festival holiday due to increased followers on social media platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou, said Liu Jianwei, deputy general manager of Shengsheng Dairy.

Through a green cycle model involving the use of manure for fertilisation and grass planting for livestock feed, the company has tackled issues of pollution related to cow dung and straw burning. From its straw utilisation alone the farm generates nearly 6 million yuan (664,500) in revenue a year, he said.

The company, in the town of Pingle, Luoyang, Henan province, boasts daily processing capacity of up to 350 metric tonnes of dairy products.

Our operations, from lighting and sanitation to grass cutting, feeding, milking and refrigeration, as well as the green circular development model, all rely on electricity, which makes ample and stable power supplies so critical, Liu said.

Because heat stress can greatly disrupt or disturb the thermal equilibrium in cows bodies, leading to a significant drop in milk production and increased susceptibility to diseases, prolonged hot weather last summer was particularly problematic for dairy production, he said.

Now, thanks to the fully electrified and automated production processes, Shengsheng Dairy has managed to mitigate such problems. The farm has installed 130 high-power fans in the holding area to keep the livestock comfortable, thus securing stable and safe production.

Our capacity is double that of traditional feeding methods, ensuring both production efficiency and the freshness of milk products, Liu said.

The dairy company relies on four transformers totalling 2,190 kilovolt-amperes, which are strategically distributed across the breeding and milking areas.

Similarly, at a vegetable cultivation base in the village of Heshangyang in Changge, Henan, growers have enjoyed bountiful harvests due to stable power supplies.

Heshangyangs soil is highly conducive to cultivating cash crops. Rotating between onions, carrots and potatoes, the village took the lead at the end of 2020, guiding farmers to develop more than 540 acres of land for growing carrots, with annual exports of more than 30,000 tonnes.

With reliable power supplies and high-quality services from local power suppliers, the collective income of the village has risen by about 300,000 yuan (33,400) a year. The specialty crops have also benefited neighbouring villagers, creating jobs for more than 2,000 people in nearby villages, said Yang Jingtao, an official of the Heshangyang village.

Yang Tongqi, a farmer in the village, said: Thanks to reliable electricity supply, our irrigation needs were never disrupted last year. It was another year of bountiful harvests, with yields exceeding 8,000 kilogrammes (17,640lb) a mu (0.16 acre).

Wang Weizhi, owner of 12 high-end greenhouses in Shanzhaolijia village in Yantai, Shandong province, said cherry growing has led to a significant increase in local farmers incomes. This year Wang said he has harvested large cherries with a diameter of more than 1.2 inches and sold them for a high price of 200 yuan (22) a pound.

Asked about how he has achieved this, Wang said the farmers use advanced technologies to strictly control temperatures, humidity and light intensity in the greenhouses.

We provide the cherry trees with the most favourable growing environment. We keep the temperature difference at a golden 13 C to make the cherries sweeter. The sugar content of our products is generally about 24 to 25 per cent, with a maximum of up to 29 per cent.

The greenhouses can be divided into cold greenhouses and warm greenhouses based on their locations and the natural lighting received. Cherries grown in the warm greenhouses were to be available for sale early this month, and the ripening time of the cold greenhouse cherries can be adjusted in line with market demand.
MANZINI  Government has spent over E31 million on medical drugs and part of the consignment catering for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been delivered.

The medication was delivered on Wednesday to the Central Medical Stores (CMS) and it was still being captured into the system yesterday. The arrival of the consignment was monitored by the Principal Pharmacist, Nomsa Shongwe and the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Khanyakwezwe Mabuza.

Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula informed the nation that the prevailing medicine and medical supplies shortage crisis is progressively being rectified. Matsebula said the ministry was aware of the crisis and sincerely apologised to emaSwati for the impact that this shortage issue has on the health of the nation, particularly the shortage of critical medication for NCDs.

He said the ministry is working round the clock to resolve this issue and further expressed assurance to the nation that stocks of medicines and medical supplies were gradually being received. Matsebula said: Yesterday (Wednesday), a sizeable stock of medicine was delivered to the CMS. This consignment has various medications, particularly critical medication used to treat some NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension. He revealed that among the stock there was the much-anticipated diabetes medication. The minister said there was also a batch of medication for hypertension.

Urgently

This stock, he said, was enough to cover all public healthcare facilities nationwide, which include clinics, health centres and hospitals. He said the ministry was working with the CMS to ensure that these medicines were dispatched urgently to all public healthcare centres in all regions of Eswatini.

It is worth noting that some of the medications needed for the treatment of diabetics are: Metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and dual GLP-1/gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, sulfonylureas and thiasolidinediones (TZDs).



Meanwhile, Matsebula said the ministry was working diligently on strategies to make sure that there was sustainability in terms of medicine and medical supplies provided at all public healthcare facilities. These strategies, he said, would be implemented so that the stocks were kept at acceptable levels. He said it included digitalising the processes to ensure a regular and uninterrupted supply of quality medicines and medical supplies, as well as improving the controls and security.

The minister said while his portfolio worked on improving the status of stock levels, they were also prioritising improving other critical healthcare areas such as the shortage of ambulances, decentralisation and continuous provision of renal dialysis services, human resource shortages and dilapidated structures that require refurbishment, among others.

He said: Therefore, we plead for patience from the Nation while we continuously work to strengthen the public healthcare sector and ensure that we emerge from the existing crisis. With collaborated efforts, the Ministry and emaSwati will ensure that this undesirable status of the countrys public healthcare sector is changed.

It is worth noting that the public health sector had been brought to its knees with the shortage of medical drugs such that following a series of reports by this publication and exposes on the how retail pharmacies were capitalising on the shortage, the ministry instituted a forensic investigation. The forensic investigation established a series of anomalies at the CMS, which included that theft of medical drugs and poor inventory at the CMS.
China is expected to step up efforts to facilitate a seamless payment mechanism for foreigners and the elderly, and create a more friendly, inclusive and multichannel payment environment, experts and business leaders say.

This is not only part of the countrys continued opening-up endeavour, but is also conducive to improving the payment infrastructure so as to accelerate the building of a unified domestic market, as well as boosting consumption and peoples livelihoods, they said.

The State Council, Chinas Cabinet, has issued a guideline to coordinate efforts among authorities to promote the acceptance of foreign bank cards, guarantee the use of cash, improve mobile payment convenience and further protect consumer rights while choosing payment methods and optimising account services.

Foreign visitors now can access a payment guide issued by the Peoples Bank of China, featuring text and graphic instructions on using bank cards, cash, mobile payment and e-CNY in China.

No identification is required for transactions below a certain amount when foreigners use mobile payments such as Alipay, Weixin Pay and UnionPay. Some international e-wallets, such as TrueMoney of Thailand, and Naver Pay used frequently in South Korea, will be directly accepted by many merchants in China. Foreigners can also open bank accounts with passports or other valid identification at major banks such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Recent efforts by the authorities and financial institutions will help remove various inconveniences and confusion encountered by foreigners staying in China. This is increasingly important because more foreigners will work or live in China amid the countrys rapid economic development and deepened internationalisation, said Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor in the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing.

This is also a sign that China is devoted to promoting high-level opening up and is providing the world with more business opportunities, Liu said.

China Construction Bank said it has been customising services for the elderly, bridging the digital divide, and it also supports various valid identification documents for card issuance and use by foreigners in China. Its ATMs accept foreign cards for cash withdrawals, and branches offer cash exchange services.

The bank said it will continue to improve foreign currency exchange capabilities, strengthen the acceptance environment for foreign card payments, and collaborate with UnionPay and international card organisations to set up innovative payment solutions and provide better service to foreigners in China.

The bank said it aims to promote the development and complementary use of various payment methods, including mobile payments, bank cards and cash, to build a compatible and synergistic payment service system.

Dong Ximiao, chief researcher at Merchants Union Consumer Finance, said financial institutions and local governments are expected to further raise awareness on the issue and create a more open, inclusive, and diverse payment system and environment for all groups of people.

The choice of payment methods and the development of payment tools should fully consider the differences between urban and rural areas and among different groups. It should not only be measured by quantity or speed, but also should respect the usage habits and rights of different groups of people, Dong said.

The inconvenience experienced by some foreign visitors can be mainly attributed to the differences in payment habits between China and other countries, he said.

He called for China to further improve the acceptance environment for foreign bank cards, and gradually increase the number of point-of-sale terminals accepting foreign cards in key cities and important business districts.

International card organisations should reduce foreign card transaction fees and leave appropriate room for profitability for merchants, he said.

Ling Hai, president for the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa at MasterCard, emphasised the importance of improving multiple payment channels to improve payment convenience for inbound travellers.

The ecosystem in China has evolved into more digital wallet and QR-based, but thats not how the rest of the world works. For any inbound traveller, behaviours are very difficult to change, and thats a huge area still worth investment and development.
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As voting concludes in India amid a heatwave, people in the southern city of Bengaluru are focused on a singular issue: the paucity of water.

The city, known as Indias Silicon Valley due to its IT industry, has been grappling with a water crisis so severe that some days there isnt enough to take a shower or even flush a toilet.

However, the crisis has received scant attention during the ongoing election campaigns.

The Karnataka state government, run by the opposition Congress party, has downplayed the severity of the problem and instead accused prime minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its chief opponent, of hyping the crisis to create unrest ahead of the elections.

The six-weeks long seven voting phases came to an end on 1 June (Saturday) and the result will be announced on Tuesday.

For years, politicians have made promises to fix Bengalurus water supply problems by expanding the municipal pipelines. But residents complain that all they have received is apathy.

In the initial days of the ongoing crisis, they recall, some local legislators sent water tankers but only after decking them with their posters.

Tankers are the citys lifeline. Men, women, and even children lining up to fill their buckets and pots from a water tanker is a familiar sight in Bengaluru.

For many residents, however, even tankers are a luxury.

I have used half of my weeks earnings to pay for water, Naranamma, 65, who runs a small shop next to her house in Ambedkar Nagar colony on the outskirts of the city, tells The Independent.

Next to her house is an empty patch of land dug up for a borewell which brings up water from the ground aquifers. But theres hardly any water left in the ground to pump out.

Metropolitan Bengalurus 15 million people utilise about two billion litres of water every day, the bulk of which is piped from the nearby Cauvery River and some from borewells.

Below-average rainfall this year has reduced the supply from the river and left the citys borewells dry.

Longtime residents of the city say that while water shortage is not uncommon in Bengaluru, they have never seen a crisis like this.

A municipal pipeline in Ambedkar Nagar that brings water from the Cauvery has not supplied a drop in almost two weeks, the residents say. They are now forced to pay exorbitantly high rates for water from the tankers, if they cant afford it at all.

We have to use whatever we get or buy water from tankers, said Ramaswamy, 63, who works in a nearby ice cream factory.

He and his wife, both in their sixties, said filling up buckets and carrying them back is a difficult task but they dont have an option.

open image in gallery Ramaswamy, his wife and neighbours use a plastic drum to collect water ( Stuti Mishra/The Independent )

Politicians come and promise us that the water supply will be restored, but after elections, they all disappear, said Mamta, 58, a longtime resident, identified only by one name.

Some time ago, municipal workers placed a white tank in one of Ambedkar Nagars lanes to collect piped water when its released once or twice a week. The tank barely stores a few buckets of water but 20-30 families have to depend on it.

Sometimes, they release water at 2am at night. Who is going to fill up buckets at that time? asked Gauri, who is forced to purchase water from the tankers even though her house has a metered municipal water connection.

To curb price gouging, the government announced that it was taking control of all tankers. But residents complain that private vehicles are still running and they refuse to supply them water if they dont pay higher prices.

And even for these tankers, getting water has been a challenge in recent weeks. They are driving further out of the city to find water sources.

In the Whitefield colony of Bengaluru, people living in high-rises allege they paid the price for raising their voices.

After my complaint about irregular supply, my society did not receive any water for a few days, said a resident who did not want to be named.

The deputy chief minister of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is the capital, said the state has not experienced such a drought in the past three to four decades.

Though there was drought earlier, we had never declared such a large number of taluks (sub-districts) as drought-affected, DK Shivakumar said.

Although the crisis has affected almost everyone in the city, it has also divided Bengalurus population. On one side are people in semi-urban and poor neighbourhoods who have to pay exorbitant prices to fill buckets from tankers. On the other are posh localities where community leaders deal with tanker drivers and ask residents to ration their use.

open image in gallery A resident shows a device for reducing the flow of water from a tap. Such devices have been installed in many apartments to regulate water supply amid the shortage ( Stuti Mishra/The Independent )

But all residents say the way they use water has changed forever. In most societies, residents are being penalised for using excess water or washing their cars more than once a week.

We are living under a strict protocol, no one is allowed to waste water, and there is no water to waste, said Piyush Sharma, an engineer living in ITI colony.

We fill buckets and use that to wash ourselves, we have to fill up the tanks to use the toilet flush, added Mr Sharma, 44, who moved to Bengaluru 20 years ago to follow his dream to become an engineer.

But Mr Sharma says his family is thinking about moving out.

We will probably leave for at least a few weeks until this crisis gets over. You cant raise young children in an atmosphere like this, the father of two said.

open image in gallery A private water tanker near Whitefield. Residents say they are now paying as much as 3,000 rupees (300) for a tanker, five to six times the usual rate ( The Independent/Stuti Mishra )

In the past few decades, Bengaluru expanded rapidly and new colonies sprung up even before municipal water and sewage connections could be laid out.

This means that even though groundwater levels have depleted, digging for borewells continues in many areas despite government prohibition. Real estate developers dig through a site, use the water they can get and then move on to another site.

This is the root of the water crisis, according to Sandeep Anirudha, an activist and founder of Citizen Matters, an organisation working to raise awareness about environmental and ecological issues.

There is widespread corruption and mismanagement that has brought the city to this chaos, said Mr Anirudha.

The city once had over 2,000 lakes that served as a natural recharger for groundwater. But most of the lakes disappeared because of unplanned construction. The ones that remain are not in good condition.

Experts say this did not happen overnight. Large parts of the citys ecology have been altered for roads and government projects to meet the demands of the growing population.

Most of the lakes have been encroached by the Bengaluru Development Authority only, says Shashank Palur, senior hydrologist at WELL Labs, who has been working on assessing the citys groundwater levels.

Mr Palur says the lakes and wells served as a source for filling up the citys aquifers, but large-scale construction and concretisation have led to groundwater depletion.

The government insists bringing water from Cauvery to more areas will solve this problem. But thats not the solution, says Mr Anirudha.

The city needs its own water sources, its groundwater and lakes need to be restored, instead of bringing water from a nearby river which is more expensive.

Bengaluru, he added, is facing an ecological crisis and not an engineering crisis.

In the meantime, residents are finding their own solutions. Some have found ways to harvest rainwater in their homes while others hope things will change after the elections.

I built this house in the 1980s, we never had regular water but we managed to get by, said Naramma. All I want from the new government is water and a hospital, we can manage with everything else.
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Nearly a billion Indians will cast their votes over six weeks starting 19 April in the worlds biggest election to select a prime minister and members of parliament. The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections begins today.

Registered Indians will queue in lines to cast their votes in seven phases till 1 June braving the punishing summer heat.

The 44-day-long electoral process, the second longest in independent Indias history, will conclude with the counting of the votes on 4 June.

Incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi is seeking a straight third term in office and faces little to no challenge from an alliance of opposition parties led by the Indian National Congress.

Pre-poll surveys show the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies should comfortably secure victory and hold onto power for the next five years.

Almost 970 million Indians  471 million of them women  will cast their ballots to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha or the more powerful lower house of parliament.

The 2024 general elections are to be largely fought on the issues of unemployment, the countrys economic performance over the past decade, farmers, a controversial citizenship law, and the right-wing governments push for a Hindu-first nation.

The ruling and opposition parties have included climate crisis, development and economic growth among other proposed contentious laws in their election manifestos.

Critics of the Modi administration have raised concerns about his re-election to power amid reports of rising targeted hate incidents against Muslims and other minorities in the country.

The opposition parties have accused Mr Modi of weaponising federal agencies to target his political rivals through raids, graft charges and arrests, just weeks ahead of the elections.

When is Indias election?

Indians across 28 states and eight federal territories will vote in seven phases. The first phase of polling is to take place on 19 April, the second on 26 April; third, fourth, fifth and sixth on 7, 13, 20, 25 May; and the final phase will be held on 1 June.

Every phase of the election will span a single day, during which numerous constituencies  encompassing a variety of states, bustling urban centres, and remote villages  will cast their ballots.

More than 2,400 political parties are expected to put up candidates for the general elections, 10 of which hold 86 per cent of all seats in the lower house of parliament.

open image in gallery Current prime minister Narendra Modi campaigns in Ghaziabad ( AP )

A party or a coalition needs a simple majority of 272 seats in the lower house of parliament. Mr Modis BJP won 303 seats the last time, followed by 52 for the main opposition Indian National Congress.

There are 131 seats reserved for MPs from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for groups officially recognised as disadvantaged.

Organising the general election in India has been a Herculean challenge, mostly due to the vast terrain that stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the desert in the west and the coastal regions in the south.

The Election Commission of India, which oversees the polling, has to make sure there is a voting booth available within 2km of every voter. The poll body has already roped in 15 million government employees, many of them teachers and junior workers, who would have to travel by boat, foot or even horseback, if required.

But India takes immense pride in the arduous task, which Mr Modi described as the biggest festival of democracy in his election blitzkrieg.

It is an expensive process too. In 2019, political parties and candidates spent an estimated $8.7bn in their campaigns, according to Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

How will the election phases work?

While some states will cast their ballots in a day, voting elsewhere may take longer. Uttar Pradesh, the largest Indian state the size of Brazil with 200 million people, will vote on all seven days, along with West Bengal and Bihar in the east.

open image in gallery Congress leader Rahul Gandhi files his nomination papers ( Getty )

Elections in the western state of Maharashtra and the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted over five dates, while Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand will vote in four phases.

Voters in the Indian states of Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will simultaneously cast their ballots to elect members of state legislatures.

Muslim organisations in the southern state of Kerala have urged the poll body to not hold elections on Friday to avoid inconvenience to believers and disruption of prayers.

Why does voting take over six weeks?

The upcoming elections will carry over a six-week period, however, this does not even make it the longest election in 75 years of an independent India.

It took nearly four months to complete the vote in Indias first elections in 1951-1952, after it gained independence from British rule in 1947.

In 2019, voting took 39 days.

open image in gallery Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee speaks during a public meeting in Kolkata ( AFP/Getty )

The staggered polling allows the government to deploy tens of thousands of troops to prevent political violence and transport electoral officials and voting machines.

During the last general elections, a team of polling officers trekked over 480km for four days to a single voter in a hamlet in the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China.

India also has the highest recorded polling station in the world, made possible by a team of officials who hiked to install a booth at around 15,000ft in the Himalayas.

This year as well, polling stations would be installed in remote places, including one inside a wildlife sanctuary in Kerala and another in a shipping container in Gujarat.

Will Modi win a rare third term?

Opinion polls suggest the 73-year-old prime minister and his right-wing party are on the path to winning a third term in power, riding the waves of a slew of socialist projects and a push towards a Hindu majoritarian society.

Mr Modi rose through the ranks over the years and served as Gujarats chief minister for more than three terms before leading the BJP to a decisive victory in the 2014 general election.

He is seeking to be re-elected from Varanasi, a city of religious significance to Hindus in the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Modi and the BJP had been in campaign mode for months before the polling dates were announced in March.

Since then, he has been flying around the country almost every day, holding routine road shows in the opposition-dominated states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In his speeches, Mr Modi has highlighted economic growth during his two terms which resulted in India becoming one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world at present.

A main talking point has also been the inauguration of a grand temple to Lord Ram (Hindu deity) on the site of a 16th-century mosque destroyed by members of right-wing groups.

He has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400-plus for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)  aiming for a four-decade-high number.

Who are the contenders?

Mr Modis main opposition, the Congress party, has formed a 28-party alliance called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) to jointly fight the BJP.

The Congress, the oldest party in India, has governed the nation for most of its post-independence era, before being stubbed out of power by the BJP in 2014. Ten years later, the party faces the mammoth challenge of retaining its existing bastions.

Congress was instrumental in giving India its first and only woman prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and introduced comprehensive economic reforms in 1991 making way for the evolution of an open-market economy.

Rahul Gandhi, a four-time parliamentarian and son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi (who took over when his mother, Indira, was assassinated), is fighting to lead his party to a general election victory after he quit as party chief following Congresss miserable performance at the last parliamentary polls in 2019.

Yet, the 53-year-old remains at the centre of Indias opposition politics and Mr Modis main target. Mr Gandhi had set off on two cross-country walks to invigorate his campaign and tap into disenchantment over lack of jobs, income inequality and rural distress.

He is fighting this election from Wayanad in Kerala, while the matriarch of the party and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, decided not to contest this year.

The other key opposition parties include Delhis governing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and the left parties.

Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is among three AAP leaders recently arrested on suspected corruption. Mr Kejriwal is also the first serving chief minister to be arrested in the history of independent India, sparking fears of a constitutional crisis.
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A 31-year-old man was sentenced to 20 days in jail for neglecting 43 cats in a vacant flat, marking Singapores largest animal cruelty prosecution to date.

Muhammad Danial Sukirman pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals by failing to provide food, water and attention between August and November 2021.

He admitted to infrequently feeding the cats and neglecting their welfare, according to court documents first reported by Today Online. He also admitted that the environment in which the cats were left was filthy, posing health risks to both the cats and nearby residents in an apartment in Ang Mo Kio in Singapore.

Prosecutors noted that it is a case that has set its own precedent and argued that a fine would be far too lenient for Mr Sukirman. They sought a jail term given his deliberate conduct knowing that the cats were breeding uncontrollably and yet he kept the living conditions poor.

According to the court documents, Mr Sukirman regretted his actions but judge Lorraine Ho agreed with prosecutors to send him to jail, stating that his actions posed health hazards to the neighbourhood.

The case first came to light when authorities responded to public feedback about a foul smell emanating from Mr Sukirmans flat.

They found more than 30 cats and skeletal remains inside the apartment.

Mr Sukirman admitted to owning the cats and surrendered them to the authorities. He claimed that the cat population had grown out of control after the death of his mother-in-law, leading to neglectful conditions.

During inspections by the authorities, it was found that the cats lacked access to clean water and were fed infrequently, leading to fights over food.

Several cats showed signs of injury, infestation, and disease, the court documents revealed.

In July 2021, Mr Sukirman secured a new flat in a new neighbourhood and had six months to leave his old one where the cats were. The family moved to the new flat in Yishun in August, but Mr Sukirman reportedly didnt arrange to rehome the cats, leaving them behind in the vacant apartment.

He also did not visit the said flat regularly nor to provide the cats with food and water on a daily basis due to his long working hours and poor management of finances, [being] in heavy debt, the prosecutors said.

In Singapore, each charge of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to a pet carries a maximum penalty of 18 months imprisonment or a fine of up to 8,818, or both.
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Love Island UK season four winner Dani Dyer says she was forced to undergo surgery after her IUD went missing in her body.

On 23 April, the reality star took to her TikTok to share her contraception scare with the Mirena intrauterine device thats meant to last up to eight years. Dyer, 27, said she had only just gotten the IUD inserted seven months ago, just four months after she welcomed her twin daughters  Summer and Star.

Dyer said she initially thought getting a Mirena IUD would be easy and shed heard positive reviews from her friends. There, its done, Ive not gotta worry about, you know, contraception, she said. However, the hormone-releasing birth control, thats inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional, turned out to be more painful than beneficial.

I had the coil  Mirena coil  fitted, Dyer explained.

According to the Mirena website, the contraceptive prevents pregnancy for up to eight years and treats heavy periods for up to five years in women who choose intrauterine contraception.

At first, Dyers experience was seamless apart from a bit of pain after the insertion. She went as far as saying she loved it in the beginning. Then, her body began exhibiting a bad reaction.

I started having, like, terrible cramps ... loads and loads of bleeding, Dyer confessed. Still, the ITV icon ignored the symptoms, thinking this was her body getting used to the IUD. When the pain became unbearable, she started to question if the reaction was normal.

Dyer said she finally went to the doctor for an exam. There, her doctor told her they couldnt find the IUD, as it had gone missing. She didnt disclose the pelvic area where the IUD was located, but she said the placement was bad enough that had to get it removed.

The X-ray made it clear Dyer had to undergo keyhole surgery, otherwise referred to as a laparoscopy, a surgical operation that requires general anesthesia for the doctor to make a small incision and insert a camera to guide the removal.

When Dyer came out of surgery, she said she felt drowsy. For the most part, her fear of the operation stemmed from having to be put under the anesthetic. She also revealed she has a few little scars, including one that goes through her belly button.

The Mirena website lists common symptoms as abdominal pain, pelvic pain, inflammation of the outer vagina, headache, migraine, vaginal discharge, bleeding, and dizziness.

You may have bleeding and spotting between menstrual periods, especially during the first three to six months. Sometimes the bleeding is heavier than usual at first. However, the bleeding usually becomes lighter than usual and may be irregular, they state.

If the bleeding gets heavier after its been lighter or stays heavy, Mirena encourages you to contact a healthcare provider.

Dyer didnt say whether her IUD had threads, but Mirena says the IUD usually has them. The company says you should always check for the threads by reaching up to the top of your vagina with clean fingers to feel the removal threads. Do not pull on the threads.

The position of the IUD may be compromised if you cant feel the threads or you have to feel more than the threads.

The Independent has contacted Mirena for a comment.
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In February, King Charles shared he had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

The Royal Family did not specify the form of cancer but he is still undergoing regular treatment and has postponed public duties.

The monarch was diagnosed with the disease while undergoing separate treatment for an enlarged prostate in January at the London Clinic.

Expressing his gratitude to the medical team for their quick intervention, the King said he was feeling positive about his treatment and hoped to return to his royal duties sooner rather than later.

In a statement, the family said: His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.

Here is a look back at the history of health issues in the Royal Family.

Kate Middleton

In January, the Princess of Wales entered the London Clinic to have abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition.

Following a frenzy of public speculation, the Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer and would be stepping back from frontline royal duties while undergoing treatment.

Kate also said she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a term used to describe the treatment of someone diagnosed with cancer and is used to kill cancerous cells  although Kate specifically used the term preventative chemotherapy.

open image in gallery Kate Middleton has been both praised and criticised for reportedly working from her hospital bed following abdominal surgery ( Getty Images )

Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer in January 2024, just months after she received treatment for breast cancer.

In July 2023, the 64-year-old had an eight-hour mastectomy  but unfortunately last month, during the follow-up surgery, dermatologists, when removing several moles, found one to be malignant melanoma.

The Duchess is now undergoing further tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of her body but is said to be in good spirits.

open image in gallery Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with skin cancer after treatment for breast cancer ( Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP )

Queen Elizabeth II

The much-loved Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 after a record-long reign of over 70 years, aged 96.

The Queen was hospitalised in October 2021 shortly after the death of her husband Prince Philip. The monarch then did not attend several public appearances due to dwindling health, as she reportedly suffered from low energy and weakness.

In February 2022, she tested positive for Covid after suffering from mild cold-like symptoms, the Palace reported at the time.

She was pronounced dead at 3.10pm on 8 September 2022 by Dr Douglas James Allan Glass. Her cause of death was deemed to be old age.

open image in gallery Concerns were raised for Queen Elizabeth II when she was seen with a walking stick in a rare appearance before her death ( PA )

Prince Philip

The Queens beloved husband died at the age of 99 in April 2021, his cause of death was officially recorded as old age.

Leading up to his passing, the King had been discharged from the hospital following treatment for a pre-existing heart condition.

In 2012, he missed the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations due to a bladder infection and in 2011 he was helicoptered from Sandringham to hospital due to chest pains - he was then treated for a blocked coronary artery.

The royal was involved in a car crash two years earlier when a vehicle hit his car, however he was not injured but sought medical advice out of precaution.

Queen Mother

Queen Elizabeth I, the Queen Mother, died aged 101 in 2002 after suffering from ulcers on her left leg and persistent hip problems which led to mobility issues in her old age.

In 1995, she had a right hip replacement and three years later, her left hip was replaced.

open image in gallery Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (the present Queen Elizabeth II), Princess Margaret and King George VI after his coronation, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London ( PA )

King George VI

On February 6 1952, King George VI died in the middle of the night.

He had survived a major operation to remove his left lung in September 1951, but succumbed to a blood clot just a few months later.

It caused a coronary thrombosis, the blockage of the coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a sudden collapse and fatal heart failure.

His death came as a shock to the public and the royal family, as even the King was not informed of the full extent of his illness.

It later came to light he had been suffering from lung cancer after smoking heavily all his life.

open image in gallery The Queen with her father, King George VI, and Prince Philip watching a young King Charles sitting on a statue at Balmoral in 1951 (PA) ( PA Media )

Edward VIII

King George VIs brother was the reigning monarch until he abdicated the throne in January 1936.

Like his brother, he was a frequent smoker and died in 1972 after battling throat cancer.
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King Charles is to return to public royal duties next week after responding well to his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has announced. His Majesty is said to be greatly encouraged by the move.

He has been receiving outpatient care since early February, and news of his progress will be a boost for the monarchy while both he and the Princess of Wales are dealing with the illness.

However, sources stressed the King is not in remission and will continue to be treated for the undisclosed form of cancer.

His Majestys medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the Kings continued recovery, said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.

Rishi Sunak has welcomed the news, posting on X: Brilliant news to end the week!

Charles and Camilla will visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday to meet medical specialists and patients.

The event aims to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight innovative research taking place at the hospital, not believed to be where Charles is being treated. The work there is supported by Cancer Research UK.

News of the Kings cancer diagnosis was announced on 6 February and came after he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate at the beginning of the year.

In January, Charles spent three nights at The London Clinic for a procedure on an enlarged prostate, during which time his cancer  not prostate cancer  was discovered.

open image in gallery Charles and Camilla in the gardens of Buckingham Palace earlier this month ( Buckingham Palace )

The palace spokesperson added: His Majestys treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.

Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majestys continued recovery.

Charless diary will not be a full summer programme, and attendance will be announced nearer the time and subject to doctors advice.

It is understood the warmer weather would allow events to be staged outside and minimise the risk posed to cancer patients by meeting other people.

The pacing of the Kings programme will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team, the spokesperson added.

The Queen is president of cancer support charity Maggies, and its chief executive Dame Laura Lee said: We know at Maggies how important continuing to work during treatment can be for many people as it can help to give them a sense of purpose and identity.

She added: His openness about his diagnosis has encouraged so many important conversations about cancer and I would like to thank him from my heart for using his own difficult experience to help others.

open image in gallery Charles mingled with the public at Easter in Windsor ( PA )

Other future duties will include hosting the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June.

A picture marking the first anniversary of the coronation on 6 May has also been released.

Taken the day after their 19th wedding anniversary, on 10 April, it shows Charles and Camilla smiling broadly and walking arm in arm along a path with shrubs and colourful flowers in the background.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales makes a statement about her cancer diagnosis last month ( Independent TV )

News of Charless progress comes as welcome relief for the royal family. Last month, the Princess of Wales revealed she had also been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January.

And in January, Sarah Ferguson, revealed she has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
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The royal family rallied around the King in February after it was revealed he had been diagnosed with an unknown form of cancer.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time that the monarch was receiving regular treatments for the condition, which was discovered after the 75-year-old underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Officials said that although Charles would be stepping back from public-facing events, although he would continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.

A Palace source told The Telegraph that Charles was a little frustrated by the impact the diagnosis had on royal plans but was otherwise he is in his usual good form.

Charles called both Prince Harry and Prince William, as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh, to personally give them the news before it was publicly announced.

Follow the latest news on King Charles with our live blog by clicking here

Since the diagnosis went public, here are the different ways members of the royal family have shown up to support Charles:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry cleared his diary and rushed back to the UK from his home in America to spend time with his father despite the rift between them.

open image in gallery Prince Harry cleared his diary rushed back to the UK from his home in LA on Tuesday to spend time with his father despite the rift between them ( Getty )

The Duke of Sussex was seen arriving at a private terminal at Los Angeles in the morning before touching down at Londons Heathrow Airport following the annoucement and was pictured again in London the following afternoon.

It was understood that Meghan remained at the couples home with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla has continued with a full programme of public duties while her husband undergoes treatment.

She was seen walking side by side with the King at his last public appearance last month, where the King waved to onlookers as he walked to church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Camilla has been a great support to Charles throughout his recent health battles. She visited the London Clinic several times over his stay in the private hospital when he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

open image in gallery Camilla was seen walking side by side with the King at his last public appearance on Sunday ( PA )

Princess Royal

Princess Anne attended the first royal engagement since the revelation shortly after the diagnosis announcement.

Known for her commitment to royal duties, Princess Anne also went to an investiture ceremony. She was also scheduled to visit the Midlands on that Tuesday on an official visit, but the event was cancelled.

open image in gallery The Princess Royal carried out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle ( PA )

Recipients at the ceremony included conductor Ivor Bolton, tenor Nicky Spence, rugby union referee Sara Cox and wheelchair rugby league player James Simpson.

Prince William and Princess Kate

The Prince of Wales has shouldered some of Charles responsibilities but has been a loving presence alongside the Prince of Wales as she fights her own cancer battle.

Prince Edward

Prince Edward returned to royal duties to support his brother. Edwards last public engagement was an overseas trip that finished on 26 January. The Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie, both 59, are part of Charless slimmed-down working monarchy, introduced after his mother passed away last year.

open image in gallery The Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie, both 59, are part of Charless slimmed-down working monarchy, introduced after his mother passed away last year ( Getty Images )

Princess Beatrice

The Kings niece was also seen visiting him the morning after the diagnosis was made public.

Princess Beatrice was seen driving a Ranger Rover into the back entrance of Clarence House in London on theTuesday morning of the announcement. She and her husband Edoardo Mozzi live next door to the Kings official royal residence at St Jamess Palace.
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Philippine forces killed an Abu Sayyaf militant, who had been implicated in past beheadings, including of 10 Filipino marines and two kidnapped Vietnamese, in a clash in the south, police officials said Friday.

Philippine police, backed by military intelligence agents, killed Nawapi Abdulsaid in a brief gunbattle Wednesday night in the remote coastal town of Hadji Mohammad Ajul on Basilan island after weeks of surveillance, security officials said.

Abu Sayyaf is a small but violent armed Muslim group, which has been blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for ransom kidnappings, beheadings, bombings and other bloody attacks.

It has been considerably weakened by battle setbacks, surrenders and infighting, but remains a security threat particularly in the southern Philippines, home to minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.

Abdulsaid, who used the nom de guerre Khatan, was one of several Abu Sayyaf militants who aligned themselves with the Islamic State group.

A confidential police report said that Abdulsaid had been implicated in at least 15 beheadings in Basilan, including of 10 Philippine marines in Al-Barka town in 2007 and two of six kidnapped Vietnamese sailors near Sumisip town in 2016. The Vietnamese were seized from a passing cargo ship.

He was also involved in attacks against government forces in 2022 and a bombing in November that killed two pro-government militiamen and wounded two others in Basilan, the report said.

Abdulsaid was placed under surveillance in February, but police forces couldn't immediately move to make a arrest because of the hostile nature of the area where he was eventually gunned down, according to the report.

On Monday, Philippine troops killed the leader of another Muslim rebel group and 11 of his men blamed for past bombings and extortion in a separate clash in a marshy hinterland in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in southern Maguindanao del Sur province, the military said.

Seven soldiers were wounded in the clash with the members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are among a few small armed groups still struggling to wage a separatist uprising in the southern Philippines.

The largest armed separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace pact with the government that eased decades of sporadic fighting.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel commanders became parliamentarians and administrators of a five-province Muslim autonomous region in a transition arrangement after signing the peace deal. They are preparing for a regular election scheduled for next year.
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A British man is accused of masterminding an arson plot on a Ukraine-linked business in London after allegedly being recruited as a Russian spy.

Dylan Earl has been charged under the National Security Act 2023 - the first case to involve alleged offences under the new spy legislation.

Four other men, Paul English, Nil Mensah, Jake Reeves and Dmitrijus Paulauska have also been charged in connection with the case, it can now be revealed.

Earl is accused of undertaking fraudulent activity, research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service carrying out UK-related activities, prosecutors say.

Court documents show he is alleged to be connected to the proscribed terrorist group the Wagner Group.

The 20-year-old, from Leicestershire, is accused of organising and paying for an arson attack on two units on an industrial estate Leyton, east London on 20 March.

He is alleged to have targeted businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

The blaze required 60 firefighters to bring it under control and the alleged target of the fire is labelled as Mr X in the charges.

In a statement, the CPS said: Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024.

Two further men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, have also been charged with aggravated arson in connection with this case.

Another man, Jake Reeves, 22, has been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service as well as aggravated arson.

A fifth man, Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, has been charged with having information about terrorist acts.

Reeves and Paulaska appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, where they were not required to enter pleas.

Reeves was remanded in custody and Paulaska was granted conditional. Both will next appear at the Old Bailey on 10 May along with the three other defendants.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Dmitrijus Paulauska (left) and Jake Reeves appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court ( PA )

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command said: This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us.

Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.

We have spoken publicly in recent times about various threats linked to national security that we have been facing, and the increase in operational activity required across counter terrorism policing to meet these.

While these are very serious allegations, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there to be any wider threat to them in connection with this matter.

This investigation remains ongoing, but now that charges have been brought about I would urge everyone to respect the criminal justice process and not to speculate or comment further in relation to this case.

The National Security Act, which became law in December last year, is legislation to toughen laws on hostile acts against the UK, including espionage, interference in our political system, sabotage, and assassination.

Earl is charged with aggravated arson and assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section three of the act. While Reeves is accused of aggravated arson agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service, also contrary to the new act.

English and Mensah are both charged with aggravated arson reckless as to whether life will be endangered, contrary to section one of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

Paulauska is accused of having information about terrorist acts, contrary to section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000.
MBABANE -The people who made the misrepresentations are known and I am being made a scapegoat.

These submissions were made by the officer of Home Affairs, who has been arrested in connection with the fraudulent activities in the ministry. Mboneni Nkosinathi Zwane, who according to police investigation was the alleged litchipin, is facing 25 charges.

Among other charges, it is alleged that in 2023, Zwane, acting jointly with others, stole five Eswatini Government passport books. He is also facing a charge of money laundering, in that, between or about the year 2021 to 2024, he unlawfully used money which had been obtained through illicit means. When Zwane was arrested, he was reportedly found in possession of E30 000 cash. In his bail application, which is being met with resistance from the Crown, Zwane contended that he was not part of the people who were issuing passports and visas.

Misrepresentation

The people alleged to have made the misrepresentation and allegedly produced the documents and exhibited them to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Department, are mentioned and/or disclosed in the charge sheet, he argued. He told the court that he was innocent of the charges against him, in that he never acted with anyone to defraud the Ministry of Home Affairs or utilised money obtained through ill-gotten means. Zwane said the allegation of him having acted in common purpose with others, was incongruous.

I must bring it to the courts attention that despite being employed by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini under the Ministry of Home Affairs, I am not responsible or under the department responsible for issuing visas within the ministry, submitted Zwane. He brought it to the courts attention that he was employed as assistant civil registrar, under civil registration, since January 2014.

According to the accused, his duties entailed among other things, signing and authenticating birth, marriage and death certificates. It was further his argument that the likelihood of proving that he committed the offences he was charged with, was far-fetched, given that same was committed through the production of documents, which include visas.

Denied

I was never at the Ngwenya Border Gate on the alleged dates which are subject of Count 1 to 9 and likewise, I was never at King Mswati III International Airport on the alleged dates which are subject to Count 15 to 21, he argued. Zwane also denied to have produced birth certificates with the intention to have defraud as alleged in the charge sheet in respect of Counts 21 to 24. The accused went on to tell the court that it was devoid of the truth that he was part of the syndicate that was unlawfully issuing visas and passports.

I further dispute the allegation pertaining to money laundering. This charge is unsubstantiated and one can glean that it is just a bare allegation. This equally applied to the allegations of theft, I never stole any passport and none was found in my possession, submitted Zwane. In motivating his plea to be released on bail, he informed the court that he was responsible for the upkeep and wellbeing of four children, who were dependent on him.

He alleged that his continued incarceration would be prejudicial to them. It was further his submission that he was not a flight risk since he was born and bred in Eswatini with no other citizenship and his homestead was situated at Malindza in the Lubombo Region.
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A Welsh school was placed in partial lockdown after a teenage pupil allegedly received threatening messages.

Gwent Police said Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, was placed into lockdown at around 10.20am on Friday.

The force said it had arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of making threats.

A police spokeswoman added: The arrest did not take place on school premises and was not in the Ebbw Vale area. Our inquiries are ongoing.

The spokeswoman said police officers had attended the school, where they remained to provide reassurance.

Parents were alerted to the situation by text messages from the school.

One message shared on social media read: All students are safe in classrooms and all doors and access points are locked.

The police have arrived and there is no risk inside the building.

Parent Maria Tudor told Wales Online: We dont really know what happened. I am going down to the school as soon as I can to pick him up when the lockdown ends. I am extremely worried but am confident the teachers are keeping children safe.

The school has 1,381 pupils on roll, aged from three up to 16.

The incident comes two days after two teachers and a pupil sustained stab wounds at Amman Valley School in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on Wednesday.

A 13-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and appeared before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Friday.
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Two men have been charged with immigration offences following the death of five migrants, including a child, who died trying to cross the English Channel earlier this week.

Yien Both, a 22-year-old from South Sudan, has been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Tajdeen Adbulaziz Juma, a 22-year-old Sudanese national, has been charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Both men have been remanded in custody and were expected to appear before Folkestone Magistrates Court later on Friday.

A third man, an 18-year-old from Sudan, has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The five migrants appeared to have been caught in a panic on board when the small boat they were travelling in, carrying 112 people, ran aground on a sandbank not long after leaving Plage des Allemands beach in Wimereux in northern France on Tuesday.

French navy sailors discovered them unconscious and in a serious condition before taking them ashore where, despite resuscitation attempts, they died, local official Jacques Billant told reporters.

At least 20 people set sail from Dunkirk, northern France on a seperate journey hours after the five people were confirmed dead ( BBC )

Some 49 people were rescued but 58 others refused to leave the boat and continued their journey towards the UK, the coastguard said in a statement, with several other boats later embarking on the crossing.

The five deceased included a woman, three men and a girl. Their deaths came just hours after the government passed its plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, which the government claims will act as a deterrent to those planning to make the treacherous journey across the Channel.

Just hours after the five asylum seekers were confirmed dead, another boat carrying at least 20 people was seen setting sail from Dunkirk, northern France.
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Lord David Cameron has denied suggesting Brexit is to blame for an asylum returns deal with France being off the table.

The Foreign Secretary said the Dublin Regulation no longer exists whether youre in the EU or out of the EU.

The regulation, which allowed member states to send asylum seekers to other EU countries, is being replaced by a different system as countries struggle with the scale of migration and are reluctant to accept transfers.

It comes after Lord Cameron said that a cross-Channel returns agreement was not possible because of the situation were in, because of the attitudes of others and all the rest of it.

The problem is it's not possible to have that returns deal with France, that's why we have looked at innovative solutions Lord Cameron

The remarks were widely seen as an admission that he believes the UKs departure from the bloc is the reason why a deal cannot be struck with France.

Speaking to the PA news agency, the Foreign Secretary said: No, its not that. The situation were in is that the Dublin Convention no longer exists whether youre in the EU or out of the EU.

The problem is its not possible to have that returns deal with France, thats why we have looked at innovative solutions.

Lord Cameron, who called the Brexit referendum before fronting the Remain campaign, told ITVs Peston show on Tuesday that he would love for the UK to still be able to return migrants to France.

The remarks were seen as at apparent odds with the Government line that a deal with a EU country is not possible because the bloc would insist Britain taking a quota of migrants as part of the agreement.

The Foreign Secretary defended the controversial plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda as the right one to the problem of small boat crossings in the Channel.

Rishi Sunaks Bill to save the stalled asylum scheme has passed Parliament after weeks of wrangling between MPs and peers, but ministers are braced for further legal challenge, with the judiciary making 25 courtrooms available to deal with cases.

Defending the Safety of Rwanda legislation earlier this week, Andrew Mitchell MP said statistics suggest Kigali is arguably safer than London and the objections of some peers to the plan border on racism.

I dont think to deliver our policy its necessary to leave the ECHR, but Ive had my quarrels with the ECHR in the past and we should always robustly stand up for the rights of the British government to deliver British policy Lord Cameron

Asked whether he shared the views of the deputy foreign secretary, who appears on behalf of the Foreign Office in the Commons chamber, Lord Cameron said: We always speak with one voice.

Asked whether he believes Kigali is safer than London, the Foreign Secretary said: Im always driven by the data.

Mr Sunak previously hinted he was open to leaving the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) amid pressure from the Tory right over the UKs membership in the treaty.

Some, including former minister Andrea Jenkyns, have called for a manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on whether to leave the convention, which they say is a barrier to implementing the Rwanda plan.

Asked whether he was against a plebiscite given his own experience with the Brexit vote, Lord Cameron said he did not believe leaving the treaty was necessary to start the stalled deportation scheme.

I dont think to deliver our policy its necessary to leave the ECHR, but Ive had my quarrels with the ECHR in the past and we should always robustly stand up for the rights of the British government to deliver British policy.

Lord Cameron called the Brexit referendum as he contended with the rise of the right-wing Ukip party while Tory leader, before heading the failed campaign to remain in the bloc and resigning following the result.

Asked what advice he had for Mr Sunak as he contends with Reform UK alongside a sustained double-digit poll lead held by Sir Keir Starmers Labour, the Foreign Secretary said: I think the most important thing is to set out the choice the country faces  I think that there are some similarities with 2015 when it comes down to it.

Theres the man with the plan and theres the man with absolutely no plan.
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The British Army has denied claims they only exercise their Household Cavalry horses for one hour a day after two horses embarked on a six-mile bloody rampage through central London.

It came after an alleged whistleblower, who said they worked with horses Quaker and Vida for two years, claimed barracks were dark and rat-infested and dirty water was regularly given to the horses.

Giving her name as Kate, she claimed she had worked with horses at the barracks for two years, before leaving earlier this year.

Those horses are so nervous. They are ready to explode. I dont think its a healthy environment. It doesnt provide what a horse needs, and space, she told LBC.

Footage captured by London City Walks shows the moment a Household Cavalry horse threw its rider to the ground in a separate incident ( London City Walks on YouTube )

Kate said the horses lived in cramped stalls where rats were roaming around loose cables, and said that they were often given dirty water, making the mammals sick.

The whistleblower also told the radio station it meant they would sometimes only have exercise for an hour a day, and very little sunlight, often stuck inside.

It is believed that the Army give their horses access to clean drinking water as well as an annual holiday in Norfolk.

As well as their daily exercise session, which the seven horses escaped after hearing falling concrete, they are also regularly taken outside the barracks for ceremonial duties such as the Princess Elizabeth Cup, which dates back to 1949 when the then-Princess Elizabeth proposed the idea for the Richmond Horse Show.

Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )

An Army spokesperson told The Independent: We take the health and wellbeing of our military working horses extremely seriously. They are well looked after, exercised daily and have 24/7 direct access to world-class veterinary care.

It is too early to know whether two military horses seriously injured after running loose through London on Wednesday will be able to return to official duties, the Army has said.

The animals underwent surgery overnight and were said to be in a serious condition by defence minister James Cartlidge on Thursday morning.

Four of the animals who broke loose have now been named: Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson.

Both Vida and Quaker were operated on overnight, with the latter being moved to an equine hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning for further specialist treatment, the Army said in a statement.

Vida was the grey horse seen in videos and images from Wednesday covered in blood galloping through central London, alongside black horse Trojan.

Vida was lead into the van with what appeared to be an injured leg ( Tom Cahill )

A group of seven horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise in Belgravia on Wednesday when they were spooked by builders moving rubble.

Now The Horse Trust has volunteered to rescue the injured pair, with the charity adding that they have many retired military horses residing at their sanctuary already.

Jessica Tallman, director of fundraising and communications, told The Independent: If the decision was made for them not to return to work, we would always welcome them into the care of our charity.

Elisa Allen, of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), wrote in The Mirror: Tradition is no excuse for cruelty. Just as the practice of using horses to pull buggies has long since faded from our streets with the advent of cars, so must our ever-evolving knowledge of animal sentience spell the end of horse exploitation by our police and military.

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment carries out the ceremonial duties from Hyde Park Barracks. It consists of one squadron from The Life Guards, one from The Blues and Royals and one joint Headquarters Squadron.

Members of the regiment take part in many of the great state occasions such as Trooping the Colour and the state opening of parliament. They also stand sentry at Horse Guards, once the official entrance to St Jamess Palace and Whitehall Palace.
 Close King Charles gives update on cancer treatment as he prepares to return to public duties

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King Charles is set to return to public duties next week after his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer had a positive effect.

The 75-year-old monarch has been receiving outpatient care and has only been seen on a handful of occasions since announcing his condition in February, when he stepped back from engagements involving the public.

Despite the news, sources said that the King still has cancer and would continue to undergo treatment while managing his summer schedule.

His first engagement will be to visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday accompanied by Queen Camilla, though it is not a centre directly involved in his medical care. There he will meet medical specialists and patients as patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: His Majestys treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.

Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majestys continued recovery.
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A North London landlord threatened to charge her tenant 25 for sending an email due to an alleged breach of terms and conditions.

Renters union ACORN area organiser Fredi Gentz, from north London, said the tenant contacted him after she received a Section 21 eviction notice from her landlord without explanation following her complaints about poor living conditions in the house.

The tenant got in touch with us while she was trying to fight her eviction notice and buy herself more time with the landlord to find somewhere else to live, Mr Gentz told The Independent.

A whole host of issues came up around mould, dampness, severe leaks, and poor installation, he added.

According to Mr Gentz, the tenants complaints about living conditions resulted in a long back-and-forth with the landlord.

It was quite unproductive  the landlord was behaving in quite an erratic way, sending really long emails at strange times of the day, he said.

The landlord kept emailing really long paragraphs of text, he said, eventually culminating in her asking the tenant to pay 25 for each of her emails, according to exchanges seen by The Independent.

We told her not to pay any of it because its a ridiculous, ridiculous nonsense fee, Mr Gentz said. Theres an imbalance of power there.

The tenant decided to move out, demanding the return of her initial deposit and the fixing of the mould and dampness for the other tenants at the property.

Sometimes, she completely disappears and then comes back and sends three pages of emails with random accusations, the tenant told The Independent, claiming the landlord has been threatening her with lots of charges that are not her responsibility.

Mr Gentz said: The housing process can seem really hopeless sometimes, but if we can stay together and fight back against cases like this, then we can win really big stuff.

Campaigning against the current Section 21 legislation, which allows landlords to evict tenants without reason, Renters Reform Coalition  which ACORN UK is part of  has withdrawn its support for the Renters Reform Bill.

ACORN UK suggests those with complaints about their landlords to send an email to info@acorntheunion.org.uk and consult their website for further information.

The Independent contacted the landlord for comment.
 Close Blood-soaked horses run loose in London after breaking free from Household Cavalry

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Two Household Cavalry horses injured last week after bolting through central London are making progress, the army has said.

In an update on Monday, the army also said the two of the soldiers hurt when the horses escaped were still receiving treatment but were expected to make a full recovery.

Two horses underwent surgery. One, Quaker, a Cavalry black, has shown significant improvement and progresses towards what is expected to be a full recovery, the army said in a statement on X.

The other horse, Vida, a grey, continues to make progress. He remains under close and careful professional veterinary observation as his wounds heal.

The statement added: Of the soldiers injured, two are still undergoing treatment in hospital but will make a full recovery. The remainder have returned to work.

We are so thankful for everyones concern and expressions of support, and for all those involved in their care.
 Close Wales school stabbing: Victims injuries not life threatening, police say

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A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a secondary school in Wales.

The three people injured in the attack at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday morning have now left hospital, where they were treated for knife wounds.

Two air ambulances were sent to the school, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, as emergency services swarmed the scene.

Parents waited for several hours at the gates of the school, which was in lockdown, before tearfully being reunited with their children as the school day ended.

The teachers injured are reported to be Fiona Elias, the deputy head, and Liz Hopkin, a special-needs teacher. In a statement on the school website, headteacher James Durbridge praised staff and pupils for their calm and mature response to the lockdown.

Plaid Cymrus Adam Price  a former pupil at the school  described it as a centre point for the whole community and said pupils and families have been shocked and shaken.
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They say God loves a trier and Chris Philp, the minister for policing, is one Tory who can never be accused of failing to put in a shift, frequently appearing in the media to dutifully defend the latest government line on the issue of the day.

While the MP for Croydon South is not afraid to get his hands dirty, evidenced by his loyal defences of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in the darkest hours of their respective premierships, some critics have suggested he does not share the communication skills and political nous displayed by some of his front bench colleagues.

Alas, the former Home Office minister was left blushing again last night during an appearance on the BBC. There were audible gasps - and a very confused-looking shadow health secretary - when Mr Philp asked whether Rwanda and Congo were different countries, following what sounded like a relatively straight forward question from a Question Time audience member.

The gaffe was not Mr Philps first and unlikely to be his last, given the ambitious ministers propensity to get out on the airwaves and put his shoulder behind the government wheel.

Chris Philp on Question Time ( Question Time, BBC )

Casual observers of the stock exchange will know that it can turn on a sixpence. Jittery investors, rogue behaviour by the CEO of a blue chip firm or a geopolitical crisis can all send the FTSE 100 tumbling.

During Kwasi Kwartengs now infamous mini-Budget, Mr Philip, then chief secretary to the Treasury, undeterred by the precariousness of a fiscal statement unapproved by the Office for Budget Responsibility and keen to display his support for his new bosses, tweeted, Great to see sterling strengthening on the back of the new UK Growth plan while the former chancellor was still on his feet in the House of Commons chamber.

But less than half an hour after Mr Philp decided to hit publish on his smartphone screen, the pound sunk to a 37-year low against the US dollar, sliding perilously close to an all-time low later in the evening. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Mr Philp studied physics at Oxford University but it was his geography that was once again apparently found wanting in 2020 when during an interview with broadcasters he seemed to think he was representing Germany rather than the UK.

The MP, then minister for immigration, said France and Germany were working together in the spirit of cooperation while on a visit to France to discuss the Channel crisis with leaders in Paris.

Quickly realising his error, Mr Philp then pleaded with the crew to redo the clip. Do you want to that last bit again because I got the Germany thing muddled? he said.

In his current brief as policing minister, partly responsible for keeping members of the public safe on the streets, Mr Philp was ridiculed after suggesting that people should make citizens arrests to help tackle a surge in shoplifting.

The wider public do have the power of citizens arrest and, where its safe to do so, I would encourage that to be used because if you do just let people walk in, take stuff and walk out without proper challenge, including potentially a physical challenge, then again it will just escalate, he told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last year. While I want the faster and better police response, the police cant be everywhere all the time.

A union described the suggestion as DIY policing and branded it dangerous.
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The Conservatives are doomed to lose the election because voters will not forgive the behaviour of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, according to Britains top pollster.

Professor Sir John Curtice said Mr Johnsons No 10 lockdown parties and Ms Trusss economic catastrophe have made it impossible for Rishi Sunak to cling on to power.

The prime minister threw away his only hope of mending the electoral damage caused by Mr Johnson and Ms Truss when he failed to condemn their conduct sufficiently strongly, said Prof Curtice.

John Curtice says Boris Johnson and Liz Truss ruined the Tories reputation ( Getty )

Mr Johnson and Ms Truss each helped to ruin the reputation of the Tories, a party that has now been in power for 14 years, in the space of just weeks, he claimed.

The claim came amid reports desperate Right wing Tory MPs are plotting to replace Mr Sunak with Penny Mordaunt in a last ditch bid to avoid defeat at the general election, it is claimed.

They are said to have hatched a 100 Days To Save Britain plan whereby Ms Mordaunt, best known for wielding a ceremonial sword at the Kings coronation, would become PM.

The extraordinary idea is reportedly in response to fears that the party could suffer massive losses in this weeks local elections.

Tory jitters have also been heightened by the shock defection of one of their MPs, ex-health minister and serving GP Dan Poulter to Labour.

The Conservatives ratings fell six points in six weeks after the scandal of Mr Johnsons Downing St lockdown parties was exposed, and another six points in the six weeks following the collapse of Ms Trusss economic policies, said Prof Curtice, who is a professor of politics at Strathclyde University.

Asked if the Tories could reverse their slide in popularity ratings in time for the election this year, Prof Curtice said: The ships have probably sailed so long ago that its difficult for them now to do much about it.

He explained: If you look at the timeline as to why we are where we are now, there are two crucial events in about 12 weeks.

The first calamitous six-week period for the Tories was when the revelations emerged about lockdown parties in No 10; the second followed Ms Trusss chaotic short term in office.

The Conservatives opinion-poll ratings slumped to 25 per cent after Ms Truss was ousted, and have barely moved since, standing at approximately 24 per cent now.

Prof Curtice said: These are two things that the Conservative Party needed badly to distance themselves from.

But it has failed to do so, because Tory MPs, including Mr Sunak, failed to vote en masse against Mr Johnson when parliament held a vote on whether he had lied to the Commons about the parties.

Mr Sunak didnt vote, and such progress as hed made in the polls literally disappeared overnight, the top pollster told The Daily Telegraph. Equally, its only very recently that the government has started to distance itself directly from Liz Truss.

The problem the government has is that, basically, once we start any debate about the economy, all the opposition has to say is Liz Truss, [and it is the] end of [the] argument.

The Conservatives could generally rely on support from voters worried about immigration, said Prof Curtice. However, he went on: But if its compounded with concern about the economy, the ethics of Boris Johnson, the economy, Liz Truss, incompetence  then youre going to go elsewhere.

He said that all the main party leaders suffer from a woeful lack of star quality.

Rishi Sunak  unpopular, uncharismatic, cant do the vision thing. Keir Starmer  boring, uncharismatic, cant do the vision thing. Ed Davey  nice bloke, little impact, cant do the vision thing. Humza Yousaf  nice bloke but has all sorts of political troubles... and cant do the vision thing.

Voters are nothing like as enthusiastic about Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party, said Prof Curtice, as they were when Tony Blairs New Labour won power in 1997. This means that a hung parliament, where Labour wins most Commons seats but not an overall majority, cannot be ruled out, said the professor.

But the Conservatives would be wasting their time if they got rid of Mr Sunak in an attempt to revive their fortunes.

Prof Curtice said: The idea of the Conservative Party dumping Mr Sunak... I mean, look, guys, do you really think that youre going to persuade the electorate to vote for you by saying, Were terribly sorry. Weve dumped three prime ministers who in the end didnt prove to be very good. But could you please vote for us again, because weve now found you yet another fourth one?

Its not going to work. The Conservatives are certainly, for good or ill, for all practical purposes, stuck with Mr Sunak, limited as his options are.
MANZINI  Heroin dominated the drugs valued at E15 868 400, which were destroyed by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).

The drugs were destroyed at the Matsapha Municipality Landfill on Wednesday. Heroin, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a highly addictive analgesic drug derived from morphine, often used illicitly as a narcotic producing euphoria. The police reported that the largest quantity of the drugs was heroin, as it was said to be about 156 kilogrammes, with a street value of E15.6 million.

The heroin was said to have been confiscated in Lavumisa and Nsoko. The police reported that also among the destroyed drugs was mandrax. According to the Oxford Dictionary, mandrax is a sedative drug containing methaqualone and diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Meanwhile, the law enforcers said the mandrax was valued at E170 000 and was equivalent to 1 968 tablets. The mandrax pills were said to have been confiscated at Ngwenya Border Gate, while on transit.

Furthermore, the police reported that they also destroyed crystal meth with a street value of E98 400. Crystal meth, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is crystal methamphetamine (the drug methamphetamine in a powdered crystalline form). Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni said the police destroyed the drugs in the presence of Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati.

Mnguni said these drugs were obtained from cases which had been resolved in court, highlighting the ongoing efforts of REPS in maintaining public safety. Meanwhile, Magistrate Vilakati lauded the law enforcement authorities for their successful efforts to crack down on illegal drug trade. He commented that drugs, particularly heroin, had disastrous effects on peoples lives, especially on the youth, as they could cause severe addiction. Vilakati further emphasised that possession of drugs without the necessary licensing or permits remained strictly illegal in Eswatini.

Cocaine

This publication reported last year that Eswatini had over 14 000 users of cocaine, based on a Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime research, titled The powder storm, the cocaine markets of East and Southern Africa.

This research was conducted in 16 African States and the domestic cocaine market data presented in the report was based on information gathered from a series of methodological approaches. Information on the cocaine market structures, distribution and use characteristics, was generated from focus group discussions with more than 1 000 people who use drugs (PWUD) and personal interviews with more than 1 700 informants, including more than 400 drug couriers and distributors, 70 high level drug importers and 40 law enforcement personnel.

For a subset of six focus countries (Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania), the retail market for cocaine was estimated by following a method used by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

It was revealed that for people who use cocaine, population size estimates for these individual countries were developed through a series of focus group discussions and interviews with PWUD groups. According to a report on the research, apart from cannabis, the drug most commonly used in the Eswatini drug market was cocaine, both in its powder and crack form.

The report further revealed that a gram of powder cocaine ranged in price in the local currency, from a low E250 (14) to a high E600 (32). The price of crack cocaine saw a multitude of price points ranging from E250 for a slop of 0.5g, which is mostly consumed by injection, to a larger full moon that weighs 1.5g, which costs E1 500 (81) and is smoked.
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The UK Home Office has asked civil servants to apply for jobs relocating them to Rwanda to help oversee their controversial deportation plan.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill finally became an act of parliament on Thursday after months of pushback and debate.

Campaigners have already called for the law, and other sweeping asylum reforms introduced by the government, to be repealed  warning they could cause a system meltdown costing the taxpayer billions of pounds.

However, plans are being pushed ahead, with the Home Office reportedly advertising for people in the asylum decision-making team in the UK to move overseas.

The move to Kigali is set to be as early as next month in order to offer assistance to Rwandan officials dealing with asylum claims, the i reported.

The move to Kigali is set to be as early as next month ( PA )

The paper added that civil servants were being recruited prior to the bill being passed on Monday night as one source told them that the application process was rushed with just one week to apply.

Staff are to be posted in Rwanda for weeks at a time on a rota basis.

It is unclear how many members of staff will be transferred but the i reported that up to four team leaders, decision-makers, technical support officers and policy workers will be sent.

Despite major pushback, the prime minister has staked his reputation on his pledge to stop the boats.

He has described the Rwanda plan as an indispensable deterrent, despite it being plagued by a series of setbacks since the deal was signed two years ago.

Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats a key pledge ( PA Wire )

The law declares Rwanda is a safe country and seeks to ensure the scheme  ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court  is legally watertight.

Officials are now working to put the plan into action, with Mr Sunak suggesting the first plane carrying asylum seekers could depart in July.

It has sparked criticism from international leaders including French president Emmanuel Macron, who denounced Mr Sunaks deportation plan as the politics of cynicism and a betrayal of European values.

Mr Macron also warned it would be ineffective, just days after the scheme  designed to give thousands a one-way ticket to the African country  was approved.

Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the PCS union which represents civil servants, said: This chaotic implementation of a chaotic policy is symptomatic of a chaotic government.

We were not consulted about our members being expected to go to Rwanda to work. Well be raising issues with the Home Office about our members welfare if they travel to Rwanda, where theyll be living, how theyre managed, whos managing them, which jurisdiction do they come under  the UK or Rwanda?

A Home Office spokesperson said: We are committed to supporting the government of Rwanda in its implementation of our Treaty, which was ratified and came into force this week.

Staff working on the Rwanda scheme are given all the support and training necessary to carry out their role. As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will get flights off the ground to Rwanda in the next ten-twelve weeks.
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Humza Yousaf, Scotlands first minister and the SNP leader, has spent little over a year in the job but could find himself ousted from office as he faces a no confidence vote following the collapse of his partys power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.

The confidence motion was tabled after Mr Yousaf, who replaced the once dominant Nicola Sturgeon, ended the Bute House agreement, which saw the SNP and Greens cooperate on climate and other policies.

With the Greens saying they will back the no confidence motion, it is unclear if Mr Yousaf can win the vote.

Attention has focused on how Ash Regan, a former SNP minister and leadership candidate who lost to Mr Yousaf and then defected to Alex Salmonds Alba Party after becoming disillusioned with the SNPs wavering commitment to Scottish independence, will vote as the SNP has 63 MSPs, leaving Mr Yousaf one short of the minimum tally he needs to reach to win the vote.

Alison Johnstone, the parliaments Presiding Officer, traditionally does not vote. She would only cast a ballot if there was atie, and by convention the presiding officer uses their vote to support the status quo  so would back the first minister.

What was the Bute House Agreement?

After the May 2021 Scottish parliament election, the SNP - then led by Ms Sturgeon - emerged as the largest party but failed to win an overall majority.

The Scottish Greens saw their best-ever result with eight MSPs, enough to give the two pro-independence parties a working majority at Holyrood.

Negotiations began soon after the election and the deal cleared its final hurdle at the end of August 2021 when Green members voted to approve it  with 1,169 members (83 per cent) backing the deal, 234 voting against and nine abstaining.

The Bute House Agreement takes its name from the first ministers official residence in Edinburgh, where the draft deal was signed.

Ms Sturgeon said the deal was a historic moment, and that Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were tough negotiators.

Humza Yousaf spoke to the media during a visit to a housing site in Dundee (Andrew Milligan/PA) ( PA Wire )

The two parties agreed to Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater both entered government as ministers. Their portfolios included tenants rights, the heat in buildings strategy, the circular economy and biodiversity.

Alongside the text of the Bute House Agreement, which set out the expectations for each party, a shared policy programme for their time in government was published.

This contained a number of environmental policies, a commitment to implement rent controls, and a fair fares review for public transport.

The agreement also set out 10 areas where the two parties could continue to disagree. These included aviation policy, green freeports, the defence sector and economic principles related to concepts of sustainable growth.

Why did the agreement collapse?

Mr Yousaf called Mr Harvie and Ms Slater into his residence at Bute House on Thursday and told them he was ending the deal.

In a hastily-arranged press conference later that morning, he said the agreement had run its course, telling journalists later that the decision meant a new beginning for his party in government.

But there has been discontent within the SNP ranks about the direction of the government under the agreement for some time.

Critics accused Ms Sturgeon, who resigned amid a row over transgender rights, and Mr Yousaf of focusing on the wrong priorities during the cost of living crisis.

What does the vote mean for Yousaf?

The collapse of the powersharing deal with the Greens means the SNP can no longer rely on their support in key votes at Holyrood.

The Bute House Agreement had committed Green MSPs to backing the government in confidence votes, but as the deal has now ended, the Tories are seeking to exploit this.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross announced the Tories would bring forward a vote of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, who he branded as a weak and failed first minister.

If such a vote passed, it would mean parliament no longer has confidence in the leadership of Mr Yousaf, which would then place him under massive pressure to resign.

After considering how to proceed on Thursday afternoon, the Greens said they would vote in favour of the no-confidence motion.

Scottish Labour and the Lib Dems have also said they will back the motion, meaning there are 64 out of Holyroods 128 MSPs who do not support the first minister.

It means Mr Yousafs political future rests on a very tight vote as he would be under massive pressure to resign if the confidence vote goes against him.

Even if he does win the ballot, history suggests that Mr Yousaf - whose party has seen its support drop in opinion polls as Labour gains ground - might not continue in the job for much longer.

Political leaders who come through confidence votes often see their power and authority quickly evaporate.

Theresa May, the former UK prime minister, won a confidence ballot by nearly 100 votes in December 2018 but was forced to resign just a few months later after failing to get her Brexit deal through the Commons.

Theresa May resigned after failing to get her Brexit deal through parliament ( REUTERS )

While the result of the ballot could not compel the first minister to quit, realistically it would prove almost impossible for him to stay in post if he did not have the confidence of the majority of MSPs.

However, the resignation of the first minister would not automatically trigger a Holyrood election.

Under Scottish parliament rules, if a first minister steps down MSPs have 28 days in which to elect a replacement.

This means that if Mr Yousaf was to quit, the SNP may seek to have a replacement leader installed in the post  assuming they could win enough support to be voted into the post at Holyrood.

Mr Yousaf cancelled a planned speech on Friday morning as he battled for his political survival, but insisted at a visit to a housing development in Dundee that he would fight on ahead of the vote of no confidence, declaring I have every intention of winning.

The timing of the no-confidence vote will be decided by Holyroods business bureau but is likely to be next week. The Scottish parliament is currently considering how the end of the Bute House Agreement will impact parliamentary business.

SNP fall from grace

The Bute House agreement was signed when Nicola Sturgeon was SNP leader (Lesley Martin/PA)

Thursdays developments marked another dramatic downturn in the fortunes of the SNP, who have reigned supreme north of the border for more than a decade.

The nationalists have controlled Scotlands devolved parliament since the 2007 election as a minority government, and were a majority government from 2011 until 2016 but have in recent years suffered a number of setbacks.

In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish parliament could not hold a second referendum without consent from Westminster.

Last year the party was hit by the shock resignation of Ms Sturgeon amid a police investigation into the SNP finances. She had been widely regarded as one of the most effective political leaders in Europe.

Peter Murrell, her husband and the partys former chief executive, has since been charged with embezzlement. He denies any wrongdoing.

The partys support has also been steadily declining since last year, with a resurgent Labour Party expected to make big gains at the next general election, which must take place by January 2025 at the latest.
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Humza Yousaf has vowed to fight on ahead of a vote of no confidence in his leadership, declaring: I have every intention of winning.

The defiant Scottish first minister accused opposition parties in Holyrood of acting in bad faith, and said he will seek to meet party leaders in a bid to make minority government work.

Hours after he cancelled a speech on Scottish independence amid the growing crisis for the SNP, Mr Yousaf told Sky News: I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence  Ive got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.

Humza Yousaf dramatically brought the Bute House Agreement to an end ( PA )

The beleaguered SNP leader, who succeeded Nicola Sturgeon last March, could be forced to quit as soon as next week, as his former coalition partners are planning to topple him in a vote of no confidence.

The Scottish Tories, led by Douglas Ross, tabled the motion just hours after the governing partnership collapsed as the SNP leader ended his coalition agreement with the Greens. Labour is also tabling a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government itself, which could force an election. Mr Ross has said he will back Labours motion.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it is now a matter of when, not if, Humza Yousaf resigns. But he told LBC that it would be completely untenable for the SNP to presume they could impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.

Mr Yousaf vowed to fight the no-confidence vote next week, saying he has every intention of winning.

The first minister added: And let me say to the opposition, for minority government to work in the interest of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith.

He said he has heard the anger and upset of the Green Party after he ejected it from the Scottish government on Thursday.

He added: What I will do is Ill be writing to all the political party leaders, all the party groups represented in the Scottish parliament  including, of course, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater [the co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party]  asking them to meet with me, to say How do we make minority government work? Its in the best interests of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work.

Tensions between the SNP and the Greens reached the point of no return after ministers ditched a key climate-change target and moved to pause the use of puberty blockers.

With his party holding only 63 of Holyroods 129 seats, Mr Yousaf will now be forced to rely on the support of former leadership challenger Ash Regan to prop up his premiership.

The Conservatives, Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats are planning to vote against him.

Ms Regan defected to the former Scottish first minister Alex Salmonds Alba Party months after losing the SNP leadership election, with Mr Yousaf saying at the time that it was no great loss for the SNP.

Ash Regan has said she wants to see progress on independence ( PA )

She may now hold Mr Yousafs fate in her hands.

She has written to Mr Yousaf to say Scotland deserves and demands a reset, calling for a greater focus on Scottish independence, the dignity, safety and rights of women and children, and providing competent government.

Alba has repeatedly criticised Mr Yousafs focus on divisive issues such as gender identity.

Ms Regan also said her door is open to discuss a proposed bill on holding a referendum on whether the Scottish parliament should have the power to hold another independence vote.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Regan added: Im not setting out specific demands as such, Im putting the ball into Humzas court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.

Allies of Mr Yousaf have insisted he will come out fighting in the face of the concerted effort by opponents to oust him. The cancellation of his public appearance on Friday suggests that he is scrambling to salvage his political future.

Stephen Flynn said scrapping the Bute House Agreement was the right thing to do ( PA )

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said it was the right thing to do after Mr Yousaf scrapped the so-called Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens. He also said he would not stand as a candidate for the SNP leadership if Mr Yousaf resigned.

Mr Flynn told the BBC: What I would gently urge all politicians in Holyrood to do, now that we are of course a minority government, is to have some cool heads and some calm words this weekend to reflect upon the consequences of any decision that were to be taken or otherwise in relation to whom or who is not the first minister, and come to a conclusion which I believe would be much more reasonable.

Next weeks confidence vote is not binding, meaning it would be up to the first minister to decide how to respond to losing the confidence of the Scottish parliament.

But if Mr Yousaf lost, he would be under immense pressure to quit. The SNP would then have 28 days to put forward a leader who can command the support of Holyrood, or an election would be called.

The Bute House Agreement, which was signed in 2021 and is named after the official residence of the first minister in Edinburgh, brought the Scottish Greens into government for the first time.

The deal gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green Party members, and also made Green co-leaders Mr Harvie and Ms Slater junior ministers in the Scottish government.

At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Yousaf insisted the SNP would continue as a minority government in Scotland. The Greens were set to have a vote on whether to end the agreement, with Mr Yousaf scrapping it before the smaller party could.

Ms Slater accused the SNP of selling out future generations by walking away from the Bute House deal. Confirming the end of the cooperation agreement, she said: This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.

The crisis comes at an increasingly challenging time for the SNP, with its former chief executive Peter Murrell, the husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, having been charged in connection with the embezzlement of SNP funds.

Police Scotland confirmed this month that Mr Murrell, who served as the partys chief executive for 22 years, had been arrested and charged in relation to the investigation. Ms Sturgeon was arrested two months after her husband was first arrested in April last year, while former party treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested last year. Both were released without charge pending further investigation.
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Home Office minister Chris Philp has been ridiculed for asking whether Rwanda and Congo were different countries.

The policing ministers blunder came on Thursday evening as he was being questioned on the governments controversial deportation policy on BBC Question Time.

An audience member asked Mr Philp whether his family members from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would be sent to Rwanda under the scheme had they been subject to the plans.

Policing minister Chris Philp has been ridiculed after he asked whether Rwanda and Congo were different countries ( Question Time, BBC )

The member of the public explained the volatile situation between the DRC and Rwanda as he expressed concerns about the idea of Congolese people being sent to a hostile country.

Referring to the city of Goma in DRC, he asked: Had my family members come from Goma on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country that theyre supposedly warring with?

However, the Tory MP seemed unable to grasp that the two countries were separate.

No, I think theres an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda, Mr Philp told the audience.

Theyre not from Rwanda, theyre from Congo, the audience member replied.

Mr Philip seemed puzzled, and then asked: Well ... Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isnt it?

The Question Time audience reacts to Mr Philps comments ( BBC )

The ministers extraordinary question was met with visible bewilderment from the audience and fellow panelist Labours Wes Streeting.

Some onlookers were seen laughing while others shook their heads in disbelief.

Mr Philp went on to clarify: There is a clause in the legislation that says if somebody would suffer seriously irreversible harm by being sent somewhere they wouldnt be sent.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said there were no words to describe the gaffe. While shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: He was clueless as a Treasury minister when he helped Liz Truss crash the economy.

Now hes clueless as a Home Office minister who doesnt know one country from another.

View more

Aid organizations fear a new humanitarian crisis in the restive eastern Congo region, where the armed rebel group M23 is in the midst of a new advance in the mineral-rich area near the border with Rwanda.

The fighting has displaced 738,000 people in the first three months of this year alone, according to the UN aid agency OCHA.

The Congolese government, UN officials and western powers including the United States and Belgium have accused Rwanda of providing support for M23 - including weapons and soldiers - which Rwanda has repeatedly denied.

Labours Wes Streeting looked bewildered ( BBC )

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill became an Act of Parliament on Thursday after being granted royal assent.

Parliament passed legislation aimed at getting the Governments plan to give asylum seekers a one-way ticket to Kigali off the ground earlier this week, just hours before news of another tragedy in the Channel when five migrants died trying to make the journey to the UK.

The accompanying treaty the UK has signed with the east African nation has also been ratified, the Home Office has confirmed.

Mr Philp is the governments policing minister ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Campaigners have already called for the law, and other sweeping asylum reforms introduced by the Government, to be repealed  warning they could cause a system meltdown costing the taxpayer billions of pounds.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron denounced Mr Sunaks deportation plan as the politics of cynicism and a betrayal of European values.

Mr Macron also warned it would be ineffective, just days after the scheme  designed to give thousands a one-way ticket to the African country.

The Prime Minister, who has staked his reputation on his pledge to stop the boats, has described the Rwanda plan as an indispensable deterrent, despite it being plagued by a series of setbacks since the deal was signed two years ago.

The law declares Rwanda is a safe country and seeks to ensure the scheme  ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court  is legally watertight.

Officials are now working to put the plan into action, with Mr Sunak suggesting the first plane carrying asylum seekers could depart in July.
Humza Yousaf is facing a fight for his political life next week, with the Scottish first minister fending off challenges from the Conservatives, Labour and Greens.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has tabled a vote of no confidence in Yousafs leadership of the country. While Labour leader Anas Sarwar has put forward a motion of no confidence in the government itself.

The picture is bleak for Yousaf, who succeeded Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader last March. At worst, the Scottish first minister could find himself out of a job by the end of the week.

At best, the Glasgow Pollok MSP will cling on, but not without plunging the SNP into yet more chaos in the process.

The Independent looks at how the SNP leader has wound up on the brink, and what happens next.

How did we get here?

On Thursday morning, Yousaf called an extraordinary press conference to announce the end of the so-called Bute House Agreement, under which the SNP and Greens worked together as a coalition government.

Tensions between the SNP and the Greens had reached breaking point after ministers ditched a key climate change target and moved to pause the use of puberty blockers for under-18s at gender clinics.

The Greens were set to vote on whether to ditch the partnership, but Yousaf pushed them before they could jump, sparking fury among opposition parties.

Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater accused the SNP of selling out future generations. Ross tabled a motion of no confidence in Yousaf, while Labour followed up with a no-confidence motion in the government itself.

What do the motions say?

Rosss motion would see Holyrood express no confidence in Yousaf in light of his failures in government.

Sarwars would see MSPs express that they have no confidence in the Scottish government, which is an important distinction.

If MSPs backed Rosss amendment, the first minister would come under major political pressure to step aside, but he would not be legally bound to. Ross has said he will support Labours motion.

However, under the 1998 Scotland Act, if MSPs expressed no confidence in the government Yousaf would have to tender his resignation to the King.

His resignation would spark a 28-day period in which the SNP would be able to replace him, but if a candidate can not command the support of the house, an extraordinary general election would be called.

Holyroods parliamentary bureau decides which motions are debated and voted on in the chamber, with the Scottish Tory motion likely to take precedence if both are not picked as they are the second largest party.

Does Yousaf have the numbers?

A key development in the saga is that Yousaf is now reliant on former SNP leadership rival Ash Regan, who defected to Alex Salmonds Alba Party months after losing the contest.

Awkwardly, when she left the SNP Yousaf said it was no great loss for the party.

With his party holding 63 of Holyroods 129 seats, Yousaf now faces a situation where his fate may rest entirely in Regans hands.

Who are the winners and losers?

Akash Paun, an expert on devolution at the Institute for Government, told The Independent the main beneficiaries are Labour.

Were an election to be called in Scotland, the SNP and Scottish Conservatives  as well as Regan  would likely face significant losses.

Even if the Scottish Conservatives abstain, that gives Labour a stick to beat them with and Yousaf comes out weaker, he added.

Paun said the most positive outcome for the SNP is the not unlikely outcome Yousaf sees off the confidence votes and is able to cling on leading a minority government.

This would have the benefit of getting rid of the Greens from ministerial roles, who had forced the SNP into unpopular positions in recent months.

Britains top polling guru professor John Curtice went further, telling The Independent the Tory no-confidence motion was Gods gift to the Labour Party.

He said unionist parties such as Labour and the Conservatives will not want to work in a minority government with Yousaf, which will drive him toward Regan and the Greens.

He said an escape hatch will likely be revealed for Yousaf as critics, including Regan, consider the political reality of ousting him.

What has Yousaf said?

The first minister has said he intends absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, adding that he has every intention of winning that vote.

He accused opposition parties of acting in bad faith and said he would seek ways to work together with leaders as a minority government.

He also promised not to resign as first minister over the fiasco.

When will Holyrood vote on the motions?

The motions are expected to be debated and voted on in the middle of next week, on either Wednesday or Thursday.

It all comes amid an increasingly bleak backdrop for the SNP, with former chief executive Peter Murrell, ex-first minister Sturgeons husband, having been charged in connection with the embezzlement of SNP funds.

Police Scotland confirmed this month that Murrell, who served as the partys chief executive for 22 years, had been arrested and charged over the investigation. Sturgeon was arrested two months after her husband was first held in April last year, while former party treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested last year. Both were released without charge, pending further investigation.
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Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister criticised the UKs Rwanda deportation policy as a knee-jerk reaction to failing to control migration after Brexit.

Deputy prime minister Micheal Martin added that the Rwanda effect had impacted Ireland following the Irish governments claim that 80 per cent of asylum seekers in the country had crossed the border from Northern Ireland.

I believe the Rwanda effect is impacting on Ireland. And I think that didnt happen today or yesterday. Its been growing since the first iteration and publication of that strategy around Rwanda, Mr Martin said on a visit to Amman, Jordan.

I dont think anyones gone to Rwanda yet, but to me, its reflective of a policy. Its more about the rhetoric and the politics than about having any real impact.

He added: But it is having real impact on Ireland now in terms of people being fearful in the UK  maybe thats the impact it was designed to have.

So, theyre leaving the UK and they are taking opportunities to come to Ireland, crossing the border to get sanctuary here and within the European Union as opposed to the potential of being deported to Rwanda.

Emmanuel Macron also denounced Rishi Sunaks plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda ( AP )

The comments come as French president Emmanuel Macron also denounced Rishi Sunaks plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as the politics of cynicism and a betrayal of European values.

Mr Macron also warned it would be ineffective, just days after the scheme  designed to give thousands a one-way ticket to the African country  cleared its final parliamentary hurdle in the UK.

Downing Street hit back, saying its approach was the right one and that other countries around the world were exploring similar options.

Mr Martin connected the controversial policy to Britains failure to control migration after Brexit.

Ive watched whats happened in Britain over the last number of years, he said. Inward migration arguably caused Brexit, or certainly motivated a lot of people to vote for Brexit to take back control and so on.

But control hasnt happened in respect of migration. Eastern European workers in Britain have been replaced by workers from further afield.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill became an Act of Parliament on Thursday after being granted royal assent.

Parliament passed legislation aimed at getting the Governments plan to give asylum seekers a one-way ticket to Kigali off the ground earlier this week, just hours before news of another tragedy in the Channel when five migrants died trying to make the journey to the UK.

The accompanying treaty the UK has signed with the east African nation has also been ratified, the Home Office has confirmed.

Campaigners have already called for the law, and other sweeping asylum reforms introduced by the Government, to be repealed  warning they could cause a system meltdown costing the taxpayer billions of pounds.

The Prime Minister, who has staked his reputation on his pledge to stop the boats, has described the Rwanda plan as an indispensable deterrent, despite it being plagued by a series of setbacks since the deal was signed two years ago.

The law declares Rwanda is a safe country and seeks to ensure the scheme  ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court  is legally watertight.

Officials are now working to put the plan into action, with Mr Sunak suggesting the first plane carrying asylum seekers could depart in July.
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A Delta Airlines flight was forced to return to New York on Friday after an emergency slide billowed out from above one wing shortly after take-off.

The Boeing plane, bound for Los Angeles, landed safely back at John F Kennedy Airport at around 8.35am.

Flight 520 declared an emergency after cabin crew noticed a "flight deck indication related to the right wing emergency exit slide, as well as a non-routine sound from near the right wing," Delta Airlines told The Independent.

The airline said there were 176 passengers, two pilots and five cabin crew on board the plane. The Boeing 767 had been heading to Los Angeles International Airport.

Cabin crew reported a vibration, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The federal agency is investigating the incident.

Delta also confirmed to The Independent that the Boeing 767-300ER plane has been removed from service.

As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK, the spokesperson said.

We appreciate their professionalism and our customers patience for the delay in their travels.

The incident is the latest in a string of issues involving Boeings aircraft and increased scrutiny on the companys operations. The FAA is currently investigating issues at the company relating to tyres, cabin pressure and various engine or mechanical issues.

A whistleblower told a Congressional hearing last week that Boeings 787 Dreamliner is unsafe for operation, after an emergency door blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this year. On Sunday, a Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing in South Africa after a rear wheel exploded during take-off.

The companys CEO and two other executives announced their resignations at the end of March, while a $355 million loss for the first quarter was announced Thursday as repairs and safety concerns take priority.

The Independent asked Boeing for a statement on this latest incident, but the company said it would defer to Delta Airlines, only stating that the plane was 33 years old.
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Two women lured to their deaths in rural Oklahoma by a group called Gods Misfits did not die from gunshot wounds, according to a new report.

Yet how Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were murdered remains unclear. Their bodies were found buried on a pasture on 14 April, after disappearing two weeks prior on their way to a pre-arranged, supervised custody visit. Ms Kelley was acting as a supervisor for Butlers visit with her children.

Officials in Oklahoma have confirmed that the bodies are Butler and Kelley but were not able to be reached on Friday by The Independent to confirm cause of death. The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, which is leading inquires, declined to comment.

However, a report this week by NewsNation, cited the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office as confirming that the victims were not shot, adding that an official cause of death is still pending.

Five people have now been charged with the womens kidnap and murders, including the paternal grandmother of Butlers children, Tifany Adams, who has custody of the two children, as well as her partner Tad Bert Cullum, and a married couple, Cole Earl Twombly and Cora Twombly.

This week, Paul Grice, 31, was also charged with murder. During interviews with state investigators, Grice admitted that he was part of the planning and killing of the two women, according to a law enforcement affidavit seen by local TV station KFDA.

Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley were killed in rural Oklahoma after going missing at the end of March ( Facebook )

The affidavit goes on to say that Mr Grice was involved in the subsequent burial of the two victims. Butler and Kelley were buried in a hole on a pasture, below a dam, according to court documents obtained by The Independent. Burner phones, purchased by Ms Adams, pinged from the burial site location a few hours after the women disappeared.

The land belongs to Jamie Beasley, the court documents revealed. He has not been named a suspect in the case.

The five murder suspects were part of a group called Gods Misfits, according to court filings, with Ms Twomblys daughter describing them as anti-government and with religious influence to investigators.

The group often met at the Twomblys home and another couples house. Investigators says Ms Butlers children were at the second couples home on the morning of 30 March during their scheduled visit with their mother.

Paul Grice is the fifth member of the self-proclaimed Gods Misfits group to be charged with murdering two women from Kansas ( OSBI/Texas County Sheriffs Department )

Ms Butler was in the midst of a problematic custody battle with Ms Adams who was looking after the two children. The father of the children is Wrangler Rickman, Ms Adams son, who is currently in a rehab facility, the affidavit said.

Butler and Kelley disappeared on 30 March in Texas County, Oklahoma, on their way to pick up Ms Butlers two children from Adams.

Investigators believe the group, armed with stun-guns, intercepted and then kidnapped Butler and Kelley, taking them elsewhere to be killed.

Police say that the Twomblys blocked a road with their vehicle and diverted the women away from the arranged pick-up point on to a quiet side road, at least ten miles from the nearest large town, where Ms Adams and Mr Cullum were lying in wait.

A few hours after they went missing, relatives of the two women sounded the alarm. Their car was found abandoned at the side of the desolate highway with indications that someone had suffered a severe injury. Blood was on the ground alongside Ms Butlers glasses, a broken hammer, and Ms Kelleys purse with a pistol magazine inside but no gun.

Ms Adams, 54, Mr Cullum, 43 Mr Twombly, 50, Ms Twombly, 44, and Mr Grice, 31, have all been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two countd of kidnapping and one of conspiracy to murder.

Top: Tifany Machel Adams, 54, and Tad Bert Cullum, 43. Bottom: Cole Earl Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 40, at the Texas County Courthouse, Oklahoma, 17 April 2024 ( KFDA News Channel 10 )

According to court documents and police affidavits, there had been a long-running plot to kill Ms Butler.

Mr Rickmans grandmother, Debi Knox-Davis, told investigators that he claimed that they didnt have to worry about the custody battle much longer, because Adams had it under control and would take out Ms Butler during a drop-off of the children. He denied having this conversation when questioned later, documents showed.

Ms Twomblys teenage daughter, known as CW in filings, told investigators that the group had earlier tried to kill Butler in February. One plan had been to throw an anvil through the womans windshield in order to make her death look like an accident.

The teen also said her parents told her they were going on a mission on 30 March. When they returned, the mother explained things had not quite gone to plan, but that they would not have to worry about her [Butler] again. They also asked their daughter to clean their car.

When the daughter asked her mother why Ms Kelley also had to die,Ms Twombly said that the preachers wife was not innocent either, as she had supported Ms Butler.

A memorial service is being held for Kelley, a mother of four, at her church in Hugoton, Kansas on Tuesday.

Those who knew Jilian will always remember her alongside her beloved husband, Heath, and their four cherished children, a memorial page reads. Her family was her pride and joy, and her unwavering love for them knew no bounds.

Ms Butler, who was engaged, will be remembered at a service on 3 May at Hugoton Assembly of God Church. An obituary page describes her life as one defined by her passion of caring for others.

It added that her children were her world from the day they were born and she thoroughly enjoyed her time being their momma. That was her greatest and most treasured title.

The first four suspects appeared in court on 17 April and were denied bond. Mr Grice is first due in court on 1 May.
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The women who came forward against Harvey Weinstein reacted with fury after the disgraced media moguls rape and sexual assault convictions were overturned by a New York appeals court on Thursday.

Weinstein, 72, was found guilty in 2020 of raping and assaulting two women, and is serving his 23-year sentence at a prison in upstate New York.

In a 4-3 decision on Thursday, New Yorks highest court ruled the original judge made egregious errors in the trial by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses whose allegations were not related to the charges at hand.

Weinstein was once one of Hollywoods most well-connected and powerful producers who made a series of Oscar-winning films. But behind the glamourous facade, it was a different story. More than 80 women have accused him of abuse ranging from groping to rape. Even with his conviction overturned in New York, he remains convicted of rape in California.

The Weinstein revelations launched the #MeToo movement in 2017, which saw women from all corners of society come forward to talk about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

Ashley Judd, pictured speaking at a Thursday press conference. She accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment ( PBS NewsHour )

On Thursday, Ashley Judd, the first Hollywood actress to come forward with allegations of sexual harrassment against Weinstein, angrily hit back at the courts decision.

This is what its like to be a woman in America, living with male entitlement to our bodies, she said at a press conference.

Mimi Haley, previously Haleyi, was one of two women that Weinstein was convicted of raping in New York. She issued a statement through her attorney, Gloria Allred, who also represented two other women who testified.

Although victims have lost this battle they have not lost the war, Ms Allred told The Independent. We will continue to fight for justice for victims both in criminal and civil cases until there is a fair trial not just for the accused but also for those who allege that they are victims of sexual predators.

Ms Haley would be willing to testify again if prosecutors bring a new case, Ms Allred added.

Even though the process of testifying was grueling and retraumatizing for Mimi, she reaffirmed to me today that she would consider testifying again if District Attorney Alvin Bragg decided to proceed with a new trial of Harvey Weinstein, she said.

I commend Mimi on her courage and willingness to keep standing up for the truth.

Harvey Weinstein, pictured outside of his Manhattan Criminal Court trial in 2020. He is still facing a 16-year prison sentence in California ( AP )

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a model who accused Weinstein of groping her, slammed the courts decision and demanded that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg pursue a new trial.

This is an on-going failure of the justice system  and the courts  to take survivors seriously and protect our interests, she posted on Instagram.

Ms Gutierrez called on New York legislators to move forward with the Adult Survivors Act which would allow sexual assault cases to be tried beyond the statute of limitations.

Katherine Kendall, an actress who said that Weinstein had groped her in his New York home, said she woke up to the news on Thursday.

I feel more than ever how important it is to keep breaking silence about sexual predators, and to keep supporting victims as they speak out, she also posted to her Instagram account.

While the majority of justices on the appeals court found in favour for Weinstein, three of the seven issued a scathing dissent.

Model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, pictured speaking after Harvey Weinsteins 2020 trial, called the decision part of an ongoing failure ( Getty Images )

Fundamental misunderstandings of sexual violence perpetrated by men known to, and with significant power over, the women they victimize are on full display in the majoritys opinion, wrote Judge Madeline Singas.

Many of the womens legal advocates also condemned the decision. Lindsay Goldbrum, who represented six women against Weinstein, called the decision a leap backward for the rule of law and said it could deter future sexual assault victims from coming forward.

Weinsteins attorney Arthur Aidala hailed the court for its decision on Thursday and said his client had been tried on his character, not the evidence.

Todays legal ruling is a great day for America, he said, at a press conference outside Manhattan criminal court.

Tarale Wulff, pictured speaking after Weinsteins 2020 trial, testified that the former producer raped her ( AFP via Getty Images )

The appeals court decision means that Weinstein, who is imprisoned at Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, is now entitled to a new trial.

Yet, it doesnt mean he will walk free. He was also convicted of rape in California and sentenced to 16 years in 2022.

However, he will not be immediately extradited to California. Weinstein will be moved to a different facility, likely in New York City, his spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told The Independent. There, he will await word on whether Mr Bragg intends to re-try the case.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has vowed to retry Weinstein over the charges in New York.

We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, a spokesperson for Mr Braggs office wrote in a statement to The Independent.
MBABANE  An astounding number of pregnant teenagers visited public health facilities in the past three months.

Statistics have revealed that the number of teenagers who visited health facilities for their first antenatal care (ANC) appointments in the last three months was 1 109. These include three 12-year-old pre-teenagers. Four of the teenagers were 13 years old, 29 were aged 14 years and a total of 82 were 15 year olds.

These statistics, according to the Ministry of Health, suggest a worrying trend that must be addressed through concerted efforts. The Top Doctors website defines antenatal care or ANC as the care a woman receives while pregnant, to ensure that both mother and baby are healthy. It involves regular check-ups with a doctor or midwife, with scans, screenings and blood tests to check on the development of the baby and identify any health problems in either mother or child that could cause problems.

The Health Promotional Officer in the Ministry of Health, Calvin Dlamini, said this painted a worrying picture, as they were still in their first quarter. Dlamini said recording such numbers in the first quarter meant that by the end of the year, the numbers would have increased.

Teenagers

He said last year, they recorded an overall total of 4 469 teenagers who made their first ANC visit. According to Dlamini, 1 179 came from the Hhohho Region, 1 073 from the Lubombo Region, 1 156 from the Manzini Region, and 1 061 teenagers were from the Shiselweni Region. Dlamini stated that in the past three months, from January to March, a total of 154 teenagers aged 16 years, 228 aged 17 years old, 297 who were 18 years old, and 312 aged 19 years, made their first ANC visit in various health facilities.

Dlamini said these age groups were not well matured and their organs were still maturing. He said this was a concern because they had over 1 000 teenagers whose pregnancies were at risk. Dlamini explained that 90 per cent of teenagers were not able to undergo natural birth and needed episiotomy.An episiotomy is a cut (incision) through the area between the vaginal opening and the anus.

This procedure is done to make the vaginal opening larger for childbirth. Adding, he said there was also a high chance that teenagers gave birth to babies with low birth weight, because they were still young and had no control over what they ate. This is a concern, because a lot can happen during the pregnancy. These are the ones who had the courage and visited the health facilities. We still dont know about those who decided to have abortions, Dlamini said.

When asked if they reported these cases of underage teenagers to the police, Dlamini said they were aware of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Acts stance on minors, but they were faced with a dilemma.

The SODV Act 2018 provides that the legal consenting age in Eswatini is 18 years. According to Section 37(1) of the Act:A person who maintains a sexual relationship with a child commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

Dlamini explained that they were fully aware that when a minor came for an ANC visit, they should report the matter to the police. However, he stated that taking the legal route meant that they would be chasing all the pregnant teenagers from seeking medical assistance.

This means that all pregnant teenagers will not visit the health facilities the next day. If I say we should call the police, it means that I am sending a message to all the 13-year-olds that when you fall pregnant; dont come to me because I will take you to the police. This will increase street abortions, home delivery, and maternal mortality. Yes, I have tackled the legal issue but I have lost my core mandate, which is health. We have to choose either the health or legal route, he said.

Minors

Dlamini mentioned that they decided to turn a blind eye to the legal part, assuming that the affected minors came from a home set-up, where they also had a responsibility to take legal action. He went on to state that they documented all processes, so that when someone decided to take the matter up, they would be able to answer even in front of the courts.

In the same vein, the health promotional officer revealed that they also faced a dilemma when minors visited health facilities for contraceptives. He said they were aware that they were not of the consenting age but they would not stop them from accessing the services.

We conduct health education on abstinence, but at the back of our minds, we know that the minor wants contraceptives, because she is sexually active. We will then discuss the crime of initiating a child on contraceptives rather than letting her go and come back pregnant, Dlamini said. Furthermore, as a mitigation measure, Dlamini shared that they visited schools to capacitate pupils about teenage pregnancy.

He said this was a headache, not just for the ministry alone, but also for schools as well. He mentioned that schools invited them as they had a school health team, focused on educating pupils about health-related matters. The only thing we need to do is to strengthen our team in terms of moving fast, from school A to school B, educating about preventive measures. We also meet with teachers to build capacity on them as first aiders, he said.

Research

Moreover, Dlamini highlighted that they were yet to research why they were recording a high number of teenage pregnancies. He said they may have assumptions which include poverty, broken family structures, love of material things and money, among others, but they would be able to prove their assumptions through the research. Dlamini shared that the research would target those who were already pregnant, to uncover the reasons behind their pregnancies, to inform their programmes.

On the contrary, Save the Children Director Dumisani Mnisi, said these numbers were too high. Mnisi said this was a nationwide problem that could be attributed to so many things; including unemployment and the lack of capacity by parents in raising their children.

According to Mnisi, children lack knowledge and there is a need to pass knowledge, even to the hard-to-reach areas.

Information is power and as long as there is lack of information, we will still face these challenges, Mnisi said. He called upon all stakeholders to collaborate with communities and traditional leaders to share knowledge on how such challenges could be addressed. Mnisi stated that even children were killing one another, which meant that there was a challenge with their upbringing.

This is unacceptable, but we see it happening in the country. We need to up our game in terms of access to services in the rural areas, he said.
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Harvey Weinstein is expected to appear in a Manhattan court next week, according to officials, the disgraced film moguls first appearance since a New York appeals court overturned his 2020 rape and assault conviction on Thursday.

Weinstein is expected to be in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday, 1 May, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

The appearance could yield new information about whether the former film producer will be retried in the state.

The Manhattan district attorneys office suggested Thursday it would seek another trial, but stopped short of confirming one.

We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, a spokesperson for Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs office told The Independent.

In the coming days, Weinstein is expected to be moved from Mohawk Correctional Facility into a New York City-area facility, as prosecutors mull a retrial.

If hes not retried in New York, the former film producer will likely be moved to prison in California, where has was convicted in 2022 of the rape, forcible oral sex and sexual penetration of an Italian actress in 2013.

Following the appeals court decision Thursday, Weinsteins representatives said they hope to get the 72-year-old medical attention.

Were going to try to bring him for medical care here in Bellevue [Hospital] down here first, spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told NBC News. [Weinstein] is still in a walker, still in a wheelchair ... he has audio issues, he has heart issues. Harvey has a lot of health mountains and hurdles to climb but hopefully this cheers up his mood better and helps him fight them better.

The former film producer is also seeking to overturn his California conviction.

Members of the #MeToo movement, which was fueled in part by the avalanche of accusations against Weinstein, heavily criticised the New York ruling.

Activists like actor Ashley Judd, one of many Hollywood figures to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, called the decision an act of institutional betrayal.
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A New York appeals court on Thursday overturned disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinsteins 2020 conviction for the rape and assault of two women, citing egregious errors in the original proceedings.

These errors included, according to the judges in the majority, allowing several women to testify about alleged incidents outside the charges in the case, and allowing prosecutors the option to ask Weinstein himself about various uncharged allegations.

Weinsteins attorneys celebrated the decision as a great day for America, while #MeToo activists like actor Ashley Judd, one of many Hollywood figures to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, called the decision an act of institutional betrayal.

What happens next for Weinstein and his various prison sentences?

The former film producer, who reportedly learned of Thursdays ruling when a fellow inmate at Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, handed him a copy of an article about the decision, wont be released from detention just yet.

Weinstein faces a separate 16-year sentence in California, set to be served following his 23-year New York penalty, after being convicted in 2022 of rape, forcible oral sex and sexual penetration of an unnamed Italian actress in 2013.

Rather than be immediately extradited to California to face that sentence, Weinstein will likely be moved to a New York City-based facility while prosecutors decide whether to retry his case, his spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told The Independent on Thursday.

Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs office said after the appeals court ruling that it will aim to retry Weinstein.

We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, a spokesperson for Mr Braggs office told The Independent.

Weinsteins attorneys plan to appeal his California conviction next month, arguing the case suffered from similar issues.

As in the New York case, some witnesses who testified had accused Weinstein of sex crimes that werent listed in the charges.

His legal team argue that the New York conviction, now overturned, influenced the California prosecution.

A jury was told in California that he was convicted in another state for rape ... turns out he shouldnt have been convicted and it wasnt a fair conviction. ... It interfered with his presumption of innocence in a significant way in California, attorney Jennifer Bonjean told The Associated Press.

During a Thursday press conference, Arthur Aidala, a lawyer for Weinstein, called the ruling in New York a great day for America, and suggested that the evidence for appeal was even stronger in California.

The Los Angeles district attorneys office said that it was saddened by the New York courts decision, but that it was confident the California conviction would stand.
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A man questioned over his involvement in a carjack-murder in Orlando has admitted to authorities that he was paid $1,500 to kidnap her and deliver her to another individual  yet her body was found hours later in her torched vehicle.

The 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas was driving north from Homestead, Florida, on 11 April at around 4pm when her white Dodge Durango was rammed from behind by a green Acura.

When she came to a red traffic light in Winter Springs, a masked man in a hoodie was caught on camera by a witness jumping out of the vehicle at a traffic stop and pointing a black rifle at Aguasvivas.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia identified himself to investigators as the armed masked man but claims that his weapon, an AR-15, was not loaded and was given to him just half an hour before the carjacking took place, according to an affidavit filed Thursday obtained by The Independent.

However, Mr Garcia appeared to suggest that the carjacking was premeditated, as he said he was paid $1,500 to deliver her to a mystery individual, who was not identified in the court documents.

The person of interest told authorities that he allegedly met someone 30 minutes before the carjacking, who gave him the AR-15, adding that minutes before the incident, he received a call, telling him that Aguasvivas was on the way.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia was taken into custody on 19 April on unrelated charges to the carjacking case. Speaking to authorities, he identified himself as the masked man who carjacked the white Dodge Durango ( Seminole County Sheriffs Office )

When they spotted Aguasvivas, Mr Garcia claimed that he and another person in the green Acura initially bumped her car to try and get her to stop, but she kept on driving until she was forced to stop at a red light in Winter Springs.

After confronting the victim with the weapon, the masked man was seen entering her vehicle on the rear drivers side while still holding the rifle.

The white Dodge Durango and the green Acura made a U-turn away from the scene of the carjacking, the affidavit states.

Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez was arrested after he turned himself in on Monday on drug-related charges. He is believed to be the last person Aguasvivas spoke to before she was killed, police say ( Seminole County Sheriffs Office )

Yet, hours after the carjacking unfolded, a person believed by authorities to be Aguasvivas was found dead at a construction area neighbouring Osceola County with multiple bullet wounds and her body inside her vehicle that had been set on fire, investigators say.

The affidavit did not provide any further insight into how the brazen carjacking escalated to a point at which the 31-year-old was found in her torched vehicle.

Before the woman was found dead, the last person she allegedly spoke to via FaceTime was Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, who the Seminole County Sheriffs Office believe was the person Aguasvivas was on her way to meet at his home to deliver money and other items.

Mr Hernandez turned himself in to the police on Monday and remains incarcerated on charges of fentanyl trafficking and marijuana with intent to sell, but has not been charged in connection with the carjacking/homicide, the sheriffs office clarified.

This case is about drugs and money, Sheriff Lemma said at the conference. We believe the most dangerous people connected with this case are now off our streets.

Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, 31, is believed by authorities to have been found dead in her torched Dodge Durango, appearing to be shot multiple times ( Seminole County Sheriffs Office )

The person driving the green Acura is believed by authorities to be Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, who has also been taken into custody in Puerto Rico on unrelated drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Mr Garcia, the man who claims he was the masked man pointing the gun at the now-deceased victim, was taken into custody on 19 April on unrelated charges when he was questioned by detectives.

Authorities suspected that Mr Garcia was first involved in the crime when they spotted his Facebook profile photo, where he was wearing the same mask and outfit as the suspect in the carjacking video.

The sheriffs office has referred Mr Garcias and Mr Justinianos cases over to the US Attorneys Office, where they expect they will be charged with carjacking resulting in death.

Mr Garcias court-appointed attorney, Roger Weeden, told WSVN that going forward, the initial plea after indictment is always not guilty, which freezes the case, allows for discovery, defense investigation and pre-resolution negotiations.

The Independent has contacted Mr Weeden for comment.
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A woman accused of murdering her five-year-old son, stuffing his body in a suitcase and leaving it by the side of a road in Indiana appeared in court making a string of conspiracy theory claims.

Cairo Jordans body was found on 16 April 2022, packed inside a novelty Welcome to the fabulous Las Vegas suitcase at the side of a highway in Washington County.

For months his name was unknown, but in October of that year, Indiana State Police identified the youngster as being from Atlanta, Georgia, while announcing two suspects, including the boys mother, Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 38.

She had vanished, however, and spent almost two years on the run.

Ms Anderson appeared in court on Thursday and named herself as a Princess representing the entity of Dejaune Anderson. She told the judge she was 63 and claimed she had been followed by the Space Force.

The mothers claims reflected posts she made on social media around the time of her sons death, in which she called him a demon.

Cairo Jordan was five when he was killed and his body placed inside a suitcase ( Indiana State Police )

The fugitive was tracked down to California and was arrested in March 2024.

State prosecutors asked that the court raise Ms Andersons bond to a level she would be unable to pay, as she had already disappeared once already. She objected to this, however.

"Ive been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months and how can that qualify me as a fugitive on the run when Ive also had a detail from Space Force that was following my every move?" Anderson told Washington County Circuit Judge Larry Medlock, who quickly cut her off, stating these claims were not valid objections.

Dejaune Anderson appeared in court accused of murdering her son and dumping his body in a suitcase in 2022 ( WHAS11 )

In the months after Cairos death, Ms Andersons social media posts showed worrying signs about her mental health and her belief in conspiracy theories.

On April 12 2022, four days before his remains were found, she wrote on Facebook that her five-year-old son was actually a 100-year-old demon.

I have survived the death attacks from my 5-year-old throughout the 5 years he has been alive. I have been able to weaken his powers through our blood. I have his real name and he is 100 years old. Need assistance, she wrote, according to court documents obtained by The Independent at the time.

The suitcase in which Cairo Jordans body was found in April 2022 ( Indiana State Police )

In the months leading up to his death, Cairos mother wrote about performing exorcisms and warned others to check to see if their children had souls.

Ms Anderson told the judge on Thursday that she wanted to represent herself, referencing a history degree as a qualification for this, which the judge told her was not enough to qualify her.

The suspect also claimed that only she could represent herself as she knew of other cases which would impact hers, appearing sure of her beliefs despite the judge calmly telling her that he would wait to hear from other courts if that were the situation.

In November 2023, another woman was jailed for her part in the case.

Dawn Elaine Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was handed a 25-year prison sentence for helping to place the little boys body into the suitcase.

Investigators had picked up fingerprints matching both Ms Anderson and Ms Coleman from bags inside the suitcase, while photos online showed the 41-year-old with the distinctive luggage.

She told investigators that she had walked into a bedroom to find Ms Anderson sitting on top of Cairo, who was lying face-down on the mattress.

Ms Coleman admitted helping to stuff the body into the suitcase before driving Ms Anderson to Indiana to dump it.

Ms Anderson was remanded back into custody after hearing her charges Thursday, with a pre-trial conference set for 20 June.
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A man accused of driving his family off a cliff in a Tesla may have been experiencing a psychotic break, according to doctors who testified at his trial this week.

Dharmesh Patel, a radiologist from Pasadena, California, is facing three attempted murder charges after his vehicle went over Devils Slide, near San Francisco, with his wife and two children inside last January.

Mr Patel, 42, has pleaded not guilty and asked to be admitted to a mental health programme. If the judge grants the request, the charges would be dropped and he would be freed after completing the treatment programme.

At his trial on Thursday, two doctors testifying for the defence said that Mr Patel was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the crash, in which he believed that his children might be sex trafficked, according to local outlets.

Dharmesh Patel, pictured last year, faces attempted murder charges after prosecutors say he drove his wife and two children off a cliff in California ( San Mateo County Sheriffs Office )

His delusions related to concerns about Jeffrey Epstein, The Mercury News reports. Epstein, who died by suicide in jail, was accused of running a sex-trafficking ring of underage girls.

Leading up to the crash, Mr Patel also experienced delusions about Russias war in Ukraine and the fentanyl crisis, according to the doctors testimony.

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said that other doctors, called by the prosecution, found that Mr Patel has schizoaffective disorder, meaning the treatment program would not be effective.

Mr Wagstaffe is arguing Mr Patel should not be admitted to the programme.

Unlike if you're put on probation or parole, you have an officer, Mr Wagstaffe told The Independent. In mental health diversion, you don't have that at all. There isn't any oversight on it.

If Judge Susan Jakubowski sides with Mr Wagstaffe, Mr Patel will go to trial. If Mr Patels request is granted, he could spend up to two years in a treatment program before being released. The judge is expected to release a decision in the coming weeks.

The Patel familys Tesla pictured after crashing down a California cliff on 2 January 2023. Mr Patel and his family miraculously survived after the crash ( San Mateo County Sheriff's Office )

On 2 January, 2023, Mr Patel, his wife, son, nine, and four-year-old daughter miraculously survived a fall down the steep cliff on Californias Highway 1, just south of San Francisco. The Tesla flipped several times before landing on its wheels and became wedged against the cliff just metres from the ocean, officials said.

We go there all the time for cars over the cliff and they never live, Brian Pottenger, a battalion chief for Coastside Fire Protection District/Cal Fire, said at the time. This was an absolute miracle.

All four family members were hospitalised in critical condition. The two children were rescued through the cars back window and had musculoskeletal injuries. Mr Patel and his wife suffered more traumatic injuries than their children.

Following the crash, prosecutors charged Mr Patel with attempted murder based on witness statements and video footage from the scene.

Mr Patels wife, Neha Patel, also told paramedics that he tried to kill us as she was being airlifted from the crash. Court records later revealed she had added that Mr Patel was depressed.

He drove off. Hes depressed, Ms Patel said. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off.

Dharmesh Patel, pictured with his wife and two children, has requested a mental health programme at his attempted murder trial ( via KABC )

However, his wife said a month later she did not want him to face charges, according to Mr Patels defense attorney.

Mr Patel worked as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Pasadena before the crash.

According to an online profile, Mr Patel graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan and had been practising medicine for more than ten years.

The Independent has contacted Mr Patels attorney, Joshua Bentley, for comment.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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Defense lawyers in Donald Trumps hush money trial dug Friday into assertions of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.

David Pecker returned to the witness stand for the fourth day as defense attorneys tried to poke holes in his testimony, which has described helping bury embarrassing stories Trump feared could hurt his campaign.

Pecker has painted a tawdry portrait of catch and kill tabloid schemes  catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.

The prosecution later called to the stand Rhona Graff, Trumps former longtime executive assistant who has been described as his gatekeeper, and Gary Farro, a private client adviser who previously worked at First Republic, which was used by former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen.

The three witness testimony will cap a consequential week in the criminal cases the former president is facing as he vies to reclaim the White House in November.

The charges center on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep porn actor Stormy Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the encounter ever happened.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of those payments and falsely recorded them as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

Currently:

 Key moments from the Supreme Court arguments on Donald Trumps immunity claims

 Trading Trump: Truth Socials first month of trading has sent investors on a ride

 These people were charged with interfering in the 2020 election. Some are still in politics today

 Key players: Whos who at Donald Trumps hush money criminal trial

 The hush money case is just one of Trump's legal cases. See the others here

Here's the latest:

BANKER EXPLAINS HOW HE HELPED FORMER TRUMP ATTORNEY CREATE AN LLC

Gary Farro detailed the step-by-step process of helping Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen create an account for his limited liability company while testifying Friday in the Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan.

According to Farro, Cohen said Resolution Consultants, which he opened in September 2016, was related to real estate. In fact, the LLC was formed to facilitate the planned purchase of Karen McDougals story rights from American Media. That deal never went through.

Prosecutors have shown emails in which Cohen describes the opening of the account as an important matter.

Farro said that since the account was never funded, it was never technically opened. Instead, Cohen pivoted to starting another account for another LLC  Essential Consultants  which he used to make the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Similarly, Farro said Cohen led him to believe that firm would be involved in real estate consulting.

PROSECUTION CALLS BANKER AS ITS 3RD WITNESS

The prosecution on Friday called its third witness in former president Donald Trump's hush money trial to testify.

Gary Farro works at Flagstar Bank as a private client adviser and was previously at First Republic Bank, which was used by former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen.

Farro, testifying pursuant to a subpoena, said Cohen had several personal bank accounts at First Republic when Farro took over the client relationship in 2015.

I was told that I was selected because of my knowledge and because of my ability to handle individuals that may be a little challenging, Farro said.

Frankly, I didnt find him that difficult, he added.

FORMER LONGTIME EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OF TRUMP CONCLUDES HER TESTIMONY

After Rhona Graff concluded her testimony Friday in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan, Trump spoke briefly to his former executive assistant as she left the stand.

The former president appeared to reach out to her with his hand as an officer guided her away from the witness stand past the defense table.

Trumps lawyers were at the bench, talking with Judge Merchan, when Trump stood up and engaged with Graff.

Soon after, Trump left court for a break. He was carrying the thick stack of papers he brought in with him in the morning. He gave a thumbs up as he left and ignored a shouted question from a reporter about Stormy Daniels. He returned several minutes later.

SECOND WITNESS, DESCRIBED AS TRUMP'S GATEKEEPER, TESTIFIES

Rhona Graff, Donald Trump's longtime executive assistant, was called to the stand Friday in the former president's hush money trial in Manhattan.

Graff started working for Trump in 1987 and left the Trump Organization in April 2021. She has been described as his gatekeeper and right hand. She was among several people involved in keeping his records.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the first prosecution witness called, testified Thursday that Graff was often the conduit for his communications with Trump, routing his calls and summoning him to a Trump Tower meeting on Jan. 6, 2017. At the meeting, the ex-publisher said, he and Trump discussed some of the hush money arrangements at issue in the case.

Graff testified that porn actor Stormy Daniels was once at Trumps offices in Trump Tower.

I have a vague recollection of seeing her in the reception area one time, Graff said.

The date of the visit wasnt immediately clear.

Graff said she assumed Daniels was there to discuss potentially being a contestant on one of Trumps Apprentice-brand shows.

You had heard President Trump say that he thought that she would be an interesting addition to the cast, Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked.

It was part of the office chatter, Graff said.

PUBLISHER DAVID PECKER CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker concluded his testimony Friday afternoon in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan.

Before he left the witness stand, however, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass elicited testimony pushing back on a defense suggestion that Pecker had changed his story about Trump thanking him at a Jan. 6, 2017 Trump Tower meeting for his help burying negative stories.

During cross-examination, Trump lawyer Emil Bove had shown Pecker notes from the first of two FBI interviews he gave in 2018. According to the notes, Pecker told investigators that Trump hadnt shown gratitude at their meeting.

Pecker maintained that the FBIs notes of the interview may have been wrong. And, as Steinglass noted, he told investigators in an interview a week later that Trump had thanked him for handling Karen McDougals affair claims and a Trump Tower doormans false rumor about him.

Pecker confirmed he later told a federal grand jury that Trump was very grateful and these stories could have been very, very damaging.

Asked by Steinglass if he had any confusion over whether that happened, Pecker replied: No.

TRUMP SAYS HE DOUBTS BIDEN'S WILLINGNESS TO DEBATE

While on a lunch break from his hush money trial in Manhattan, Donald Trump reacted on social media to Bidens comment Friday that hes willing to debate this fall.

Trump said on Truth Social that he thinks Biden doesnt really mean it. He said if Biden is serious, they should debate next week or even Friday at the Manhattan courthouse on national television, saying Ill wait around.

Trump on the way into court on Friday complained he was in court instead of in Florida with his wife for her birthday and said he planned to fly to Florida after the trial wrapped for the day.

PROSECUTORS CLAW BACK AT PORTRAIT OF TABLOID DEAL

Before breaking for lunch Friday, prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan clawed back at the defenses contention that an arrangement with the National Enquirer wasnt unique to Trump, eliciting testimony from former publisher David Pecker that underscored the unusual nature of their deal.

Is it standard operating procedure for AMI to be consulting with a presidential candidates fixer about amendments to a source agreement? Steinglass asked, using initials for the tabloids parent company. No, Pecker responded.

Several similar questions followed suit, with Pecker acknowledging that he had not previously sought out stories and worked the companys sources on behalf of a presidential candidate, nor allowed political fixers close access to internal decision-making.

Its the only one, Pecker said.

BEGINNING OF REDIRECT AND THEN LUNCH

As court broke for lunch, Donald Trump stopped to confer with aide Jason Miller just outside the courtroom doors at his hush money trial Friday in Manhattan. He left without making any remarks to reporters waiting nearby.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass had begun conducting what the legal world calls redirect examination  a follow-up round of questioning in response to what defense lawyers asked former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. The defense's cross-examination of that key witness ended earlier Friday.

And the defense can then conduct a recross. The sides can go back and forth, but they generally cant just re-ask questions or delve into new topics that werent raised in prior questioning.

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF EX-PUBLISHER PECKER ENDS

The defense's cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York ended around midday Friday, his fourth day on the witness stand.

As Trump lawyer Emil Bove wrapped up his cross-examination, Pecker said, Ive been truthful, to the best of my recollection.

Bove earlier argued that Peckers testimony has been inconsistent with statements to federal prosecutors in 2018.

Pecker testified that Trump thanked him for his help handling potential news stories involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump Tower doorman, during a White House visit in 2017.

But Bove said Pecker previously told federal authorities Trump did not express any gratitude at the meeting. Pecker stuck Friday to the story he has given in court.

PUBLISHER CHALLENGED ON PAST STATEMENTS

In the most confrontational moment so far Friday in Donald Trump's hush money trial, defense lawyer Emil Bove said former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's testimony has been inconsistent with statements to federal prosecutors in 2018.

Pecker testified that Trump thanked him for his help handling potential stories involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Dino Sajudin, a Trump Tower doorman, during a White House visit on Jan. 6, 2017.

But according to notes cited by Bove in court, Pecker had previously told federal authorities that Trump did not express any gratitude to him or American Media during the meeting.

Pecker stuck Friday to the story he has given in court.

I know what the truth is, he said.

FORMER PLAYBOY MODEL'S WORK HIGHLIGHTED

A lawyer for Donald Trump in his hush money trial turned Friday to the 2016 deal the National Enquirers parent reached with former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The $150,000 agreement gave American Media exclusive rights to McDougals account of any relationship with any then-married man. McDougal claims she and Trump had an affair. Trump denies it.

The contract also called for McDougal to do work for various American Media titles. Former Enquirer publisher David Pecker earlier testified the provision was really about keeping McDougals story from becoming public and influencing Trumps chances at the presidency.

But under questioning Friday from Trump lawyer Emil Bove, Pecker added that American Media had pitched itself as a venue to help McDougal restart her career.

When American Media signed its agreement with her, you believed it had a legitimate business purpose, correct? Bove asked.

I did, Pecker said.

The company ended up running more than 65 stories in her name, he said.

McDougals story, and American Medias deal with her, ultimately became public anyway, in a Wall Street Journal article four days before the 2016 election, after early and absentee voting had started.

PROSECUTORS OBJECT TO USE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP

The insistence of Donald Trump's defense in his hush money trial to refer to him as President Trump, even when describing events that took place before his election, is rankling prosecutors.

Trumps lawyers said at the outset of the trial that theyd refer to their client as president out of respect for the office he held from 2017 to 2021.

But Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass suggested Friday that using the title is anachronistic and confusing when tacked onto questions and testimony that involve things that happened while he was campaigning in 2015 and 2016.

Objection. He wasnt President Trump in June of 2016, Steinglass noted after one such mention. The judge sustained the objection.

QUESTIONING TURNS TO EARLIER SALACIOUS TESTIMONY

A lawyer for Donald Trump in the former president's hush money trial Friday got to a salacious story at the center of former National Enquirer publisher David Peckers earlier testimony.

Emil Bove brought out that the Enquirers parent company  not Trump or his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen  paid a former Trump Tower doorman $30,000 in 2015 for the rights to an unsubstantiated claim that Trump had fathered a child with an employee there.

Pecker testified earlier that the Enquirer thought the tale would make for a huge tabloid story if it were accurate but eventually concluded the story was 1,000% untrue and never ran it. Trump and the woman involved both have denied the claims.

Bove asked Pecker whether he would run the story if it were true. Pecker replied: Yes.

SPECIFICS OF HELPING TRUMP CAMPAIGN

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker has testified in Donald Trump's hush money trial that he hatched a plan with Trump and former Trump henchman Michael Cohen in August 2015 for the tabloid to help Trumps presidential campaign.

But under questioning by Trumps lawyer, Pecker acknowledged Friday there was no mention at that meeting of the term catch-and-kill, which describes the practice of tabloids purchasing the rights to story so they never see the light of day.

Nor was there discussion at the meeting of any financial dimension, such as the Enquirer paying people on Trumps behalf for the rights to their stories, Pecker said.

Pecker also acknowledged that the National Enquirer had been running negative stories about Trumps 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, long before the August 2015 meeting. Pecker previously testified that stories about the Clintons boosted sales of the supermarket tabloid.

DIGGING INTO NATIONAL ENQUIRER'S EDITORIAL PROCESS

Donald Trump's lawyer Emil Bove is getting under the hood of the National Enquirers editorial process, seeking to show the tabloid had its own incentives unrelated to any deal with Trump, in the fourth day of testimony in the former president's hush money trial.

To underscore his point, Bove pulled up five unflattering headlines that ran in 2015 about Ben Carson, who ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP primary. Bove noted the information was pulled from publicly available information published in other outlets, including The Guardian.

In his testimony, former Enquirer publisher David Pecker, on the stand for a fourth day, acknowledged that it was standard practice at the publication to recycle stories from other outlets with a new slant.

Because its good, quick and cost efficient, and you wouldve done it without President Trump? Bove asked.

Um, yes, Pecker replied.

PECKER OFFERED INSIGHT INTO THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER

Even by National Enquirer standards, testimony by its former publisher David Pecker at Donald Trumps hush money trial this week has revealed an astonishing level of corruption at Americas best-known tabloid and may one day be seen as the moment it effectively died.

It just has zero credibility, said Lachlan Cartwright, executive editor of the Enquirer from 2014 to 2017. Whatever sort of credibility it had was totally damaged by what happened in court this week.

On Thursday, Pecker was back on the witness stand to tell more about the arrangement he made to boost Trumps presidential candidacy in 2016, tear down his rivals and silence any revelations that may have damaged him.

GAG ORDER HEARING RESCHEDULED DUE TO CAMPAIGN EVENTS

A change in the court schedule means Donald Trump wont be forced off the campaign trail next week to attend a hearing in his hush money criminal trial in New York.

Judge Juan M. Merchan moved a hearing on the former presidents alleged gag order violations to next Thursday, avoiding a conflict with his scheduled campaign events next Wednesday.

Merchan had initially set the hearing for next Wednesday, the trials regular off day. Trump is scheduled to hold campaign events that day in Michigan and Wisconsin. His lawyers have urged the judge not to hold any proceedings on Wednesdays so he can campaign.

The hearing  now set for 9:30 a.m. next Thursday, May 2  pertains to a prosecution request that Trump be penalized for violating his gag order this week on four separate occasions.

The order bars Trump from making comments about witnesses and others connected to the case. Merchan is already mulling holding Trump in contempt of court and fining him up to $10,000 for other alleged gag order violations.
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Mexico City prosecutors are trying to downplay the case of a suspected serial killer who kept womens bones and a saw in his room, apparently having targeted women over the course of more than a decade.

In a case of politicising crime, the citys head prosecutor said the remains of six women were found in the suspects rented room, not 20 as some unfounded reports have suggested.

City prosecutor Ulises Lara stressed that only three of the mans alleged crimes occurred during the present administration, which took office in late 2018. He said the others apparently occurred in 2012, 2015 and 2018, meaning the killer went uncaught for at least 12 years.

Lara slammed reports that all the crimes took place in 2023 and 2024, during the term of former Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who is now running for president. He called those reports absolutely false and unfounded.

The prosecutor contended the killer was essentially unstoppable because he showed no signs of violent or aggressive behavior in his daily life.

Without proper funding, training or professionalism, prosecutors in Mexicos capital have routinely failed to stop serial killers until the number of victims reaches a point that cant be ignored. For example, Lara said his office has contacted the families of four missing women because there is reason to believe they may be among the victims of the current suspect. Under Mexican law, the suspect can be identified only by his first name, Miguel.

Investigators also said they found blood stains, bones, a saw, cellphones and missing womens ID cards, as well as other biological material in the rooms ( Getty/iStock )

Local media reported he worked as a chemist.

Lara did not specify the nature of the remains found in a search of the suspects rented rooms last week, but local media reported they were skulls.

Investigators also said they found blood stains, bones, a saw, cellphones and missing womens ID cards, as well as other biological material in the rooms. Lara said five of the IDs belonged to women who have been located alive, but did not say how many belonged to women who are still missing or among the dead.

Last week, Lara said investigators also found a series of notebooks that may well be narrations of the acts that Miguel carried out against his victims.The prosecutor rejected criticisms that Mexico City authorities do little to investigate the cases of missing women until their bodies pile up, saying the number of reported womens killings has declined.

The suspect in this case was caught when he allegedly broke into a neighbors apartment seeking to kill his seventh victim last week, was interrupted and left a surviving witness.

According to prosecutors, the man apparently waited for a woman to leave her apartment last week and then rushed in and sexually abused and strangled her 17-year-old daughter.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Obrador delivers a speech in Mexico City ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The mother returned and saw the man leaving, but he slashed her in the neck and fled, authorities said. The mother survived but her daughter did not.The suspect lived near the scene of the crime, and he was quickly identified and arrested. He has been ordered held over for trial on charges of murder and attempted murder, both related to the most recent victims.

Juan Carlos Gutirrez, a lawyer who represents the family of one of those women, questioned why authorities didnt investigate her disappearance earlier  acting only when evidence linked to her case showed up at the suspects apartment.

Why was there never an investigation, why were people never interviewed, despite missing person reports being filed starting in 2015? Gutirrez said.

In 2021, a serial killer in a Mexico City suburb was only caught after years of alleged crimes  19 bodies were found hacked up and buried at his house  because his final victim was the wife of a police commander.

In 2018, a serial killer in Mexico City responsible for the deaths of at least 10 women was caught only when he was found pushing a dismembered body down the street in a baby carriage. He had dumped most of the bodies of his victims in vacant lots.
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Texas governor Greg Abbott has been accused of going too far with crackdowns on college pro-Palestine protesters.

Up to 100 state troopers, including some on horseback, were called in to stop demonstrations at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday.

Students are demanding that the college divest from manufacturers supplying weapons to Israel, a call thats been echoed on campuses nationwide. Universities from New York to California have staged similar pro-Palestine demonstrations in recent days.

Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail, Republican Governor Abbott, posted on X.

Dozens of people were arrested at the protest that had been organised by the universitys Palestinian Solidarity Committee.

Cally, a former UT student, faces off with a mounted state trooper at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin ( Austin American-Statesman )

One photographer covering the demonstration for TV station, Fox 7 Austin, was in the push-and-pull when an officer yanked him backwards to the ground, video shows.

The station later confirmed that the photographer had been arrested. A journalist was also knocked down in the mayhem and could be seen bleeding before police helped him to medical staff.

The reaction to the protest was met with harsh criticism from Democrats in the state.

Today, Greg Abbotts [Department of Public Safety] has more courage to arrest peaceful student protesters than when an active shooter entered an elementary school in Uvalde, state Democrats said on Wednesday.

Gov. Abbott is taking a very political opportunity to enforce his agenda, a very right-wing agenda focused on control, not on governance, Chelsea Collier, a doctoral student at the school of information and a native Texan who spent her entire academic career at UT, told The Washington Post.

Texas state troopers cracked down on protests at UT at Austin on Wednesday on the order of Governor Greg Abbot ( Austin American-Statesman )

On Thursday the Travis County Attorneys Office announced that those arrested at Wednesdays demonstrations would not be facing charges at this time. All those detained have been ordered released due to deficiencies in probable cause, ABC reported.

Roughly half the demonstrators arrested at the school were not affiliated with the institution, according to administrators.

A statement from UT Austin said that the original protest had sought to follow the playbook of the national campaign to paralyze the operations of universities across the country.

Like at each of those universities, and confirming our serious concern, there was significant participation by outside groups present on our campus yesterday. This outside group presence is what weve seen from the affiliated national organizations efforts to disrupt and create disorder, the statement read.

Roughly half (26) of the 55 people who violated Institutional Rules and were ultimately arrested were unaffiliated with The University of Texas.

UT at Austin later said that around half of those arrested during campus protests on Wednesday were not affiliated with the university ( Reuters )

Thirteen pro-Palestinian free speech events have taken place at the University largely without incident since October. In contrast, this one in particular expressed an intent to disrupt the campus and directed participants to break Institutional Rules and occupy the University, consistent with national patterns."

The scenes in Texas come as unrest and violence sweeps campuses across the US. Shocking scenes played out in states including Georgia, where police used Tasers on restrained students and shot pepper balls at demonstrators at Emory University.

Cheryl Elliott, Emory Universitys vice president for public safety, said the person on whom officers used a stun gun in a video that has subsequently gone viral online, did not appear to be affiliated with Emory.

Based on current information, this individual is not a member of the Emory community, Elliot said in an email shared with the Emory community, via ABC. Due to the direct assault of officers, law enforcement released chemical irritants into the ground to assist with crowd control.

Twenty-eight people were arrested during the incident, 20 of whom were affiliated with the university, according to Ms Elliot.

On Thursday, the University of Southern California announced that the main stage ceremony for its commencement ceremony on 10 May would no longer take place. It followed protests on Wednesday which were ultimately dispersed by riot police with rubber bullets.

The Independent has reached out to UT at Austin for comment.
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The US governments traffic safety agency has launched an investigation into whether last years recall of Teslas Autopilot driving system feature went far enough, with the probe announcement coming days after a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a Tesla potentially using the Autopilot system.

Tesla has reported 20 more crashes involving Autopilot since it recalled more than 2 million vehicles last year over concerns of the feature making sure drivers paid attention, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted on its website Friday.

The recent crashes and tests by the agency have now doubled down concerns on whether the recall remedied the Autopilots driver monitoring system.

The December recall, involving nearly all the vehicles that Tesla had sold at the time, was implemented to ensure the effectiveness of the system that is supposed to ensure drivers have their hands on the wheel while using Autopilot.

Despite the name, Autopilot is not fully autonomous. Tesla says on its website that Autopilot is intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.

The NHTSA called on the company to make the recall after a two-year investigation into the sufficiency of Teslas Autopilots driver monitoring system, which measures torque on the steering wheel from a drivers hands and sends an alert if drivers fails to do so.

Tesla is under investigation once more by US government over whether recall to fix an autopilot feature went far enough ( Getty Images )

Teslas weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilots permissive operating capabilities, the NHTSA wrote after concluding their two-year investigation.

The agency investigated multiple cases as part of their probe, in which they found Teslas on Autopilot had run into parked emergency vehicles, among other incidents.

While a fix was implemented by Tesla via a software update to increase warnings to drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, the agency said in Fridays documents that crashes have still occurred after the fix.

Now, the NHTSA said it would evaluate the adequacy of the recall, including the prominence and scope of Autopilots controls to address misuse, mode confusion and use of the feature in environments its not designed for.

It also said that Tesla has stated that parts of the recall remedy requires the vehicles owner to opt in, as well as allowing drivers to reverse portions of it too.

NHTSA began its Autopilot crash investigation in 2021, and said in its concluding documents that they ultimately found 467 crashes involving Autopilot, resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths.

The investigation comes just one week after a Tesla that may have been operating on Autopilot collided with motorcyclist near Seattle.

The motorcyclist, 28-year-old Jeffrey Nissen, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities reported.

The 56-year-old driver of the 2022 Tesla Model S told a Washington State Patrol trooper that he was using Autopilot and looked at his mobile while the Tesla on the move.

The next thing he knew, there was a bang, and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him, the trooper wrote in a probable-cause document.

The affidavit stated that the driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide based on the admitted inattention to driving, while on Autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward, putting trust in the machine to drive for him, the affidavit said.

Washington State Patrol Captain Deion Glover told The Independent that they are still early in the investigation and is yet to establish whether Autopilot was on at the time. They can also not confirm yet if the driver was distracted during the collision.

The Independent has contacted Tesla for comment.
New Delhi, April 26 (UNI) BJP president JP Nadda on Friday slammed Congress for doing appeasement politics and alleged that they wanted to snatch the rights of SC, ST and OBC people and give them to Muslims.

In a video message, the party's President Nadda said, "This is their hidden agenda. Appeasement is clearly visible in the manifesto of Congress as well."

BJP President made these remarks as voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway in 88 parliamentary constituencies across 12 states and one union territory, Jammu and Kashmir.

JP Nadda said, "Congress says that the first right to the resources of the country is that of Muslims. Whereas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that the first right to resources in the country is that of the poor."

The BJP President said former PM Manmohan Singh deliberately made the statement in 2009 that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority and the first right to resources in the country should be theirs."

"Congress was already creating a base to declare Muslims SC and provide facilities of SC reservations to them... Congress hates SC, ST, and OBC because the majority of the population in the country comprises them, and this is the Congress party's manifesto," he further added.

Earlier, PM Modi said the Congress tried to extend reservations on the basis of religion and give them to Muslims.

Addressing an election rally in Tonk, he alleged that as soon as the Congress formed the government at the Centre in 2004, one of its first tasks was reducing the SC/ST reservation in Andhra Pradesh and giving it to Muslims.

UNI JA ARN
 Close President Joe Biden insists order must prevail as police shut down college Gaza protests

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Police have arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian students as protests against Israels war in Gaza continued across universities over the weekend.

At least 25 protesters were arrested as police cleared an encampment at the University of Virginia, the university said in a statement.

Dozens of people were arrested for criminal trespass outside the Art Institute of Chicago at a demonstration after the institute called in police to remove protesters.

Meanwhile, students carried flags and banners during the University of Michigans commencement ceremony after the NYPD revealed on Friday morning that a police officer with the departments Emergency Service Unit unintentionally fired his gun while trying to access a locked office at Columbia University.

The bullet hit a wall inside the office. No one was injured.

On Thursday morning, hundreds of police officers dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the University of California at Los Angeles and arrested more than 130 demonstrators.

Live TV footage showed protesters under arrest, kneeling on the ground, their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties. Loud explosions were heard during the clash from flash-bang charges, or stun grenades, fired by police.

President Joe Biden also denounced protests that turned violent on college campuses on Thursday.
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An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals for their role in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump by falsely certifying the states 2020 election results.

The states Attorney General Kris Mayes has so far released the names of 16 of those charged, explaining that two of the defendants names have been redacted but will be released after all defendants have been served.

Eleven names were first released on Wednesday, but on Friday, the states Attorney General also revealed the names of five more defendants, all of whom were once Trump allies: John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Jenna Ellis, and Michael Roman.

Disgraced former New York City Mayor Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani appears to be the only the defendants left in the redacted group.

The indictment accuses the defendants of committing the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald J Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted.

The defendants scheme relied on their false claims to be duly elected and qualified electors, the filing says.

The plot ultimately failed when then-Vice President Mike Pence certified the election for Joe Biden after the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The 11 indicted individuals who were initially named were selected to be the states Republican Party Presidential Electors in 2020. Each was charged with the same nine counts of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

Here is what we know about those indicted:

Dr Kelli Ward

An outspoken Trump supporter, Dr Ward was the chair of the Arizona Republican party from 2019 through 2023. Before that, she served as a state Senator from 2013 through 2015, when she resigned to run for a US Senate seat in 2016; she lost in the GOP primary to incumbent Senator John McCain. She was defeated in another bid for the US Senate in 2018.

The indictment states that she arranged the fake electors vote on December 14, 2020, when she voted for Trump-Pence as a fake elector and falsely stating that she was duly elected and qualified.

After casting her vote, she declared the Arizona Republican electors as the true electors.

On December 14, 2020, the Republican Party of Arizona tweeted its plan to convene to cast votes for Mr Trump, she replied, Oh yes we did! We are the electors who represent the legal voters of Arizona #Trump2020 #MAGA

Months later, she later urged Mr Pence to accept false electoral votes for Trump-Pence on January 6, the filing says.

Maggie Haberman of the New York Timesreported that Ms Ward told Mr Pences then-Chief of Staff Marc Short in late 2020 that the Arizona Republican party would not have joined a lawsuit claiming that the vice president could accept and reject electors at will had Trump not been okay with it.

She was born and raised in West Virginia and later earned a medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she met her now-husband Michael Ward, who is also a defendant in the case.

Dr. Kelli Ward, left, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, talks with a supporter of President Donald Trump as they join the crowd at a rally outside the Arizona Capitol, Nov. 7, 2020 ( AP )

This isnt the first time Ms Ward has been embroiled in scandal.

In January, Dr Ward was accused of assaulting a woman who questioned her involvement in an Arizona Republican Party meeting, seeing as Dr Ward was no longer the party chair, the Arizona Mirror reported. She was never charged over the alleged incident.

In her second US Senate bid in 2018, she claimed that an announcement John McCain was ending his cancer treatment was made to paint a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me.

She later apologised, saying, I do understand how many could have misconstrued my comments as insensitive The intention of my comments were in no way directed at Senator McCain or his family.

Two days after Senator McCain died in August 2018, she tweeted: Political correctness is like a cancer!

Tyler Bowyer

Mr Bowyer is a member of the Republican National Committee and serves as the chief operating officer of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point Action.

He voted for Trump while claiming to be a qualified elector and made statements indicating that he intended to have Pence accept the false electoral votes for Mr Trump on January 6, the indictment states.

Two years ago, he told The Arizona Republic that he was an elector for the states Republican party, but said he didnt know all the details and facts around the alleged fake electors scheme.

On 14 December 2020, Mr Bowyer tweeted, Today I was proud to cast my vote as Republican Elector for Arizona for Donald J Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The results have been transmitted to proper parties for consideration by Congress on January 6th and litigation and investigation into the election continues.

He has also touted that he was a primary organizer and speaker at Mr Trumps Phoenix rally in July 2015.

Nancy Cottle

Ms Cottle was the chair of the Arizona Republican Presidential Electors. She has also served on the Maricopa County Republican Committee and the Republican Party of Arizona executive committee.

She is accused of voting for the Trump-Pence as a fake elector and falsely stated that she was duly elected and qualified.

She serves on the Arizona Federation of Republican Women.

A memo from 14 December 2020 shows that Ms Cottle sent the Certificate Of The Votes Of The 2020 Electors From Arizona to the President of the Senate, the Archivist of the United States, Arizonas Secretary of State, and the chief judge of the US District Court District of Arizona.

Ms Cottle was subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

She also led the pledge of allegiance at a 2022 Trump rally in Florence, Arizona.

Jacob Hoffman

Jake Hoffman is currently a Republican Arizona state Senator. But at the time of the allegations, he was a representative-elect in the Arizona Legislature. He is also the founder and chair of the Arizona Freedom Caucus.

Like the others, Mr Hoffman was charged with voting for Mr Trump as a fake elector on 14 December 2020.

Following his vote as an Arizona Republican elector, the indictment states, Mr Hoffman urged Pence, in a letter dated January 5, 2020, to delay accepting Arizonas certified Democrat elector votes on January 6, 2021, during the Joint Session of Congress in Washington DC.

After the indictment was announced, on Thursday, the State Freedom Caucus Network issued a statement saying the group stands with Mr Hoffman and Anthony Kern, another defendant and member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus.

The group wrote, Their crimes? Supporting President Trump after the 2020 election. Alternate electors have been a part of Americas electoral process for decades.

The State Freedom Caucus Network said it looks forward to a swift acquittal of these bogus charges.

Mr Hoffman told the Associated Press that Attorney General Mayes was weaponising her office by bringing the case. Let me be unequivocal, I am innocent of any crime, I will vigorously defend myself, and I look forward to the day when I am vindicated of this naked political persecution by the judicial process, he told the outlet.

Anthony Kern

Mr Kern has served as an Arizona state senator, is a member of the Freedom Caucus, and is now running for a US Congressional seat in his home state. His bio on the Arizona state legislature website details that he firmly believes in the United States Constitution.

The state senator voted for Mr Trump as a fake elector on 14 December 2020, the indictment says.

Republican Rep. Anthony Kern argues in support of a provision in the Arizona budget package that strips cash from Maricopa County Sheriffs Office, May 4, 2017, in Phoenix ( AP )

After that, Mr Kern continued to urge Arizona officials and Pence to accept the Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6.

He was photographed in restricted areas outside the Capitol building during the January 6 riot.

James Lamon

Mr Lamon, the founder of energy company DEPCOM Power, ran for a US Senate seat in Arizona in 2022 but lost in the GOP primary.

He was also accused of falsely claiming to be duly and elected and qualified when he voted as a fake elector for Mr Trump in December 2020.

Robert Montgomery

Mr Montgomery served as the chair of the Cochise County Republican Committee in 2020.

The indictment accused him of voting for the Trump-Pence ticket as a fake elector in December of that year.

Samuel Moorhead

Mr Moorhead is a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County.

He also cast his vote for the former president in December 2020 as a fake elector, the indictment states.

Lorraine Pellegrino

Ms Pellegrino served as the Secretary of the Arizona Republican fake presidential electors, the filing states.

She previously served as the former president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women

Ms Pellegrino is also accused of casting her vote for Mr Trump and Mr Pence on 14 December 2020 as a fake elector.

Gregory Safsten

Mr Safsten was the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party.

He is accused of helping Ms Ward organize the fake electors vote and of voting for Trump as a fake elector.

Michael Ward

Mr Ward is the husband of co-defendant Kelli Ward and is also a doctor. His X bio says, The J6 Committee fascists hate America. #UltraMAGA Married to #SuperUltraMAGA Warrior @kelliwardAz.

The indictment charges him with serving as a fake elector and voting for Mr Trump.

Kelli Ward, with her husband Michael Ward at her side, concedes to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the race for the Republican nomination to U.S. Senate, August 30, 2016 ( AP )

In January 2019, he was accused of spitting in the eye of one of his wifes former volunteers, who apparently then backed her 2019 primary rival Martha McSally, according to The Arizona Republic.

12. Rudy Giuliani?

Although some of the names were redacted, some descriptions, which were not redacted, made their identities clear. Mr Giuliani was one of them.

The description believed to be referring to Mr Giuliani says the individual is frequently referred to as the Mayor and was an attorney for Unindicted Coconspirator 1  who is a former president of the United States who spread false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election.

He spread false claims of election fraud in Arizona and nationally shortly after November 3, 2020, the filing says.

He pressured the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Arizona legislators to change the outcome of Arizonas election, and he was responsible for encouraging Republican electors in Arizona and in six other contested states to vote for Trump-Pence on December 14, 2020, the indictment reads.

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Washington, December15, 2023. ( AP )

A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani told The Independent in a statement: Mayor Rudy Giulianione of the most effective prosecutors in American history who took down the Mafia, cleaned up the streets of New York and locked up corrupt public officialsis proud to stand up for the countless Americans who raised legitimate concerns surrounding the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.

The bankrupt ex-mayor was also indicted in Georgia in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sprawling criminal case related to another fake electors scheme among other charges.

Separately, on Wednesday in Michigan, a state investigator testified that he considered Mr Giuliani to be an unindicted co-conspirator in the slate of alternate electors scheme in the state.

13. John Eastman

Mr Eastman was described as an attorney who encouraged the GOP electors to vote on 14 December 2020 and spread false claims of widespread election fraud. He also pressured the legislature in Arizona and six other states to change the outcome of the election, citing urging the then-Arizona Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers to convene a Special Session to decertify Arizonas presidential electors, telling him to just do it and let the court sort it out.

Additionally, on the same day, the attorney went to the White House to meet with Unindicted Coconspirator 1, Vice President Pence, and others to convince Pence to reject or at least delay the confirmation of the lawfully chosen electors two days later at the Joint Session of Congress.

Mr Bowers testified to the House January 6 Committee in 2022 that Mr Eastman contacted him in early January, encouraging him to schedule a vote to decertify the electors because we had plenary authority to do so.

John Eastman sits in Fulton Superior Court in Atlanta during a hearing on January 19, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia ( Getty Images )

The then-Arizona Republican Speaker of the House added, I took an oath  for me to take that, to do what you do would be counter to my oath.

A lawyer for Mr Eastman told The Arizona Republic after the indictment had been handed down: Dr. Eastman does know, of course, but we havent had a chance to delve into it.

14. Boris Epshteyn

A description lists a lawyer and adviser to the Trump Campaigns in 2016 and 2020.

The indictment says he was involved with the scheme to submit false Republican electors votes for Mr Trump and to obstruct the certification process on January 6 during the Joint Session of Congress.

15. Jenna Ellis

Ms Ellis was described as a former attorney for the Trump Campaign who worked closely with lobbied Arizonas Republican legislators after the 2020 presidential election to disregard the popular vote in Arizona.

She additionally helped organize the false Arizona Republican electors votes on December 14, 2020, the indictment says.

Ms Ellis was also indicted in Georgia, where she pleaded guilty.

16. Christina Bobb

Ms Bobb was a correspondent for OAN. Last month, she was tapped by the Republican National Committee to lead its election integrity program.

An individual was an attorney for the Trump Campaign who made false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states, the filing says.

She encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election. She also encouraged Pence to accept the false Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6, the indictment says.

Steven Cheung, Mr Trumps spokesperson, told Newsweek: Another example of Democrats weaponization of the legal system. Christina Bobb is a former Marine Corps officer, who served our nation and the President with distinction. The Democrat platform for 2024: if you cant beat them, try to throw them in jail.

Ms Bobb was sued in the defamation cases brought by Dominion and Smartmatic voting system companies.

17. Mike Roman

This defendant is referred to as the Director of Election Day Operations for the Trump Campaign  Mr Romans role  that worked with others to organize the false Republican electors votes in Arizona and in six other states.

The indictment also accuses him of refusing to add contingency language to the Republican electors vote certificates.

18. Mark Meadows?

The description thought to belong to Mr Meadows describes the individual as Chief of Staff in 2020.

He worked with members of the Trump Campaign to coordinate and implement the false Republican electors votes in Arizona and six other states.

Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington ( AP )

The individual was involved in the many efforts to keep Unindicted Coconspirator 1 in power despite his defeat at the polls, the indictment states.

Mr Meadows was also indicted in Ms Willis election interference case in Georgia, although on charges unrelated to the fake electors scheme there.
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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is pushing back after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused US college students protesting against the war in Gaza of being antisemitic.

On Wednesday, Netanyahus office released a video of the US-born Israeli leader attacking the student-led protests that have taken over campus spaces at numerous universities. In the video, Netanyahu referred to the protesters as antisemitic mobs and accused them of physically attacking Jewish students and faculty.

The Israeli leader added: This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s. Its unconscionable. It has to be stopped.

Senator Sanders  one of Americas highest-profile Jewish lawmakers  responded in a statement on Thursday in which he directly refuted Netanyahus accusations and addressed him by name.

No, Mr Netanyahu. It is not antisemitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,000  seventy percent of whom are women and children. It is not antisemitic to point out that your bombing has completely destroyed more than 221,000 housing units in Gaza, leaving more than one million people homeless  almost half the population, Mr Sanders said.

The Vermont Senator  an independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats  continued that it was not antisemitic to say that the Israeli government has obliterated Gazas civilian infrastructure  electricity, water, and sewage or to realize that your government has annihilated Gazas health care system, knocking 26 hospitals out of service and killing more than 400 health care workers.

It is not antisemitic to agree with virtually every humanitarian organization in saying that your government, in violation of American law, has unreasonably blocked humanitarian aid coming into Gaza, creating the conditions in which hundreds of thousands of children face malnutrition and famine, he continued.

Sanders closed the statement by again addressing the Israeli leader directly and calling antisemitism a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to many millions of people.

But, please, do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government. Do not use antisemitism to deflect attention from the criminal indictment you are facing in the Israeli courts. It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable for your actions, he said.

Protests have taken place at multiple prominent US universities including Yale, Columbia University, New York University, University of Southern California, and the University of Texas, Austin.

Riot police were called to multiple campuses on Wednesday, and scores of students have been arrested in the last two weeks.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed Netanyahus criticisms during a visit to Columbia on Wednesday, where he was greeted with a chorus of boos from gathered demonstrators.

Republicans have sought to use the campus protests as a cudgel with which to accuse Democrats generally of supporting antisemitism. They have also sought to contrast President Joe Biden  who has called on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza  with their partys leader, former president Donald Trump, who during his term in office did not criticize Israel, even when the country was accused of human rights abuses.

Trump has been accused of failing to criticize Israel out of fealty to his evangelical Christian base of support. He did, however, recently say that he believed the war in Gaza must end, as it was causing Netanyahu to lose support on the world stage.
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Donald Trump on Friday challenged President Joe Biden to a debate in an unlikely venue: The White House.

Speaking from the hallway outside of his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan, the former president sought to strike a confident tone about his chances in a head-to-head against his likely 2024 opponent.

Were ready, just tell me where, Trump said. Well do it at the White House. That would be very comfortable actually. You tell me where.

The comments came after President Biden said Friday that he will participate in televised debates, ending speculation about whether or not he would debate Trump, during an hour-long, wide-ranging interview with Sirius-XM radio host Howard Stern.

I am, somewhere, he said, in response to a question about whether he was going to debate Trump, adding a second later that he did not know when such debates would take place. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three sessions for September 16, October 1 and October 9 this year.

Im happy to debate him, he added.

Stern said that if he were Biden, he would mention Trumps phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the 2020 election. During that phone call, Trump famously said he wanted Raffensperger to find him votes to overturn the democratic result in Georgia.

I would repeat over and over again, Excuse me, please find me 11,000 votes so that I can win the election, Stern said. I would just repeat that over and over again. And then I'd say to the audience, What are we debating?

Bidens announcement of a willingness to debate his twice-impeached predecessor comes after he previously refused to commit to doing so. He did say that he would consider it, based on Trumps behaviour.

During the 2020 election cycle, Trump spent the entirety of his first debate with Biden shouting, interrupting and berating the then-former vice president to the point that Biden replied: Will you shut up, man?

At the time, Trump had already tested positive for Covid-19, but did not inform debate organisers.

Following that first debate, Trump backed out of a second town-hall style session after the debate commission attempted to make it a virtual session with Trump and Biden in separate television studios.

The third debate the two men participated in had new rules in place that would have allowed the moderator to cut off a participants microphone in the event of repeated interruptions.

Since 2020, Trump and his Republican allies have complained that the debate commission, a nonpartisan entity which has run presidential debates for decades, is biased against him. This complaint seems mainly based on the commission selecting legitimate journalists, rather than Republican-aligned pundits, to moderate the quadrennial sessions.

In 2022, the Republican National Committee voted to withdraw from the debate commission, with then-chair Ronna McDaniel saying it was biased and has refused to enact simple and commonsense reforms to help ensure fair debates including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage.

Biden spoke to Stern today about his concerns about Trump, particularly in relation to Trumps calls to pardon rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6.

He calls them patriots and victims, Biden said. I mean, it says he's going to pardon them all if he's re-elected.

Biden also mentioned how this weekend he will speak at the Gridiron Dinner, but he likely meant the White House Correspondents dinner.

The free press is not speaking up as much as it used to, he said.  And I'm not blaming the press. I'm just saying and I think some of them are worried about attacking him, worried about taking him on.

After the Biden-Stern interview aired, Trump responded on Truth Social, writing: Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters.

The former president suggested that he would like to debate Biden in the next few days, ideally at Trumps own rally in Michigan on Wednesday evening. Trump added: In the alternative, [Bidens] in New York City today, although probably doesnt know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT - A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT!

There is no evidence that any of the court cases involving Trump have a connection to the 2024 election.
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The United States has learned of Chinese efforts to influence and arguably interfere with this years upcoming general election and is working to stop them, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

In an interview with CNN on the tail end of his three-day trip to China this week, Mr Blinken said hed reiterated a warning President Joe Biden had delivered to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their November 2023 summit, in which Mr Biden told Mr Xi not to get involved in the 2024 election.

At the time, Mr Xi reportedly told Mr Biden that China would not interfere or attempt to interfere in the upcoming balloting. But Mr Blinken now says it appears that promise is going unfulfilled.

We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that thats cut off as quickly as possible, he said.

He added: Any interference by China in our election is something that were looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again.

China professes that it does not get involved in other nations internal affairs, but over the years Beijing and its allies and affiliates have been the subject of election-meddling accusations from multiple countries.

In 2020, Trump administration officials accused Beijing of attempting to interfere with that years presidential election. Many national security experts and pundits suggested at the time that the allegations were raised to distract from past foreign interference on behalf of then-president Donald Trump.

In 2016, Russias government mounted what the Department of Justice described as a sweeping and systematic effort to interfere in that years election to boost Mr Trump and denigrate his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ms Clinton ultimately went on to lose the 2016 race to Mr Trump, who is currently running to regain his former post after losing to Mr Biden four years ago.

Mr Trump solicited foreign support during his campaign in a speech his supporters claim was meant to be simply an attempt at humor. He later claimed that Russia did not interfere in the election on his behalf, despite evidence that it did.
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Police in riot gear have violently broken up peaceful Gaza solidarity protests at college campuses across the country, arresting over 500 people in the process.

Images of armed police beating students , throwing them to the ground and using tear gas to disperse the protests have flooded social media in the past few days as the protests continued to spread.

One video from Emory University in Atlanta on Thursday showed police using a taser on a Black man who was being restrained by three officers on the ground. Witnesses also reported police firing some kind of non-lethal projectile into the crowd .

Local outlet Mainline reported that 18 people had been arrested at the Atlanta university. A spokesperson for the university said the initial crowd of protesters who gathered on the campus were not recognized as members of our community and were disrupting the university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals.

Some members of the Emory community later joined the initial group, said the spokesperson, Laura Diamond, adding that multiple police warnings for the crowd to disperse were ignored.

The Atlanta Police Department said in a statement that its officers were met with violence when they were securing the campus.

Alan, a senior at the University of Southern California, said that a peaceful protest on the university campus on Wednesday had escalated suddenly when armed police arrived to disperse student protesters with rubber bullets and riot gear.

A student is arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the The University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas ( Brandon Bell/Getty Images) )

The 22-year-old said tensions had risen suddenly after members of the USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) had attempted to arrest an individual and put him in a car.

The students blockaded the car and told them that they can arrest him and theyre not leaving until hes out of the vehicle, Alan told The Independent.

People built a human chain arm around the car and they said were not leaving until you get him out of the car. It just got very tense.

Police arrested 93 people during its USC crackdown.

Dozens of state troopers  many of them armed with automatic weapons  used batons to disperse protesters at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday, where 34 people were arrested, including a photographer for local Fox 7 news.

The American Civil Liberties Union said state officials rapidly escalated a planned day of peaceful demonstrations by deploying law enforcement in riot gear against students and the press.

The First Amendment guarantees people in Texas and across the nation the right to protest, including those who advocate for Palestinians, Caro Achar, engagement coordinator at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement.

Public officials dont get to forcefully suppress the voices of people they disagree with, she added.

Despite the arrests and police violence, the national protests show no sign of dying down.

The student demonstrations, which began at Columbia University in New York last week, have largely focused on calls for universities to cut ties with any companies doing business with Israel in protest over the war in Gaza.

They spread across the country when the NYPD forcibly removed students from a sit-in protest, after the universitys president requested police disperse them.

USC public safety officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator during clashes after officers attempted to take down an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country recently ( Getty Images )

More than 100 students were arrested and subsequently suspended from Columbia last Thursday. One student told The Independent they had been held by the NYPD for eight hours following their arrest, during which time their hands were zip-tied.

Far from quelling the protests, the scenes of police violently rounding up students have spurred similar demonstrations at campuses across the country. The Gaza protests have drawn comparisons to the student-led demonstrations against the Vietnam War in the 1960s that defined a generation, and whose shadow still looms over American politics today.

Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a PhD student at Columbia, said he feared a repeat of the bloody crackdowns that marred that era.

Were terrified that theres going to be a second Kent State at Columbia, he said, referring to the killing of four unarmed college students at Kent State University in Ohio in 1970 during protests over the Vietnam War.

Student protests over the war in Gaza have been common across college campuses since the war in Gaza broke out in October, following a surprise Hamas attack that killed 1,200 in Israel. The resulting war has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and aid blockages have resulted in famine conditions in northern Gaza , creating a humanitarian disaster. Hundreds of schools, and all of Gazas 12 universities, have been damaged or destroyed since the Israeli attacks began.

By Thursday, hundreds more arrests had been made on college campuses from coast to coast, including 108 at Emerson College in Boston, 47 at Yale University, at least 120 at New York University and nine at the University of Minnesota.

The Independent has approached the White House for comment on the arrests.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he does not believe presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution while in office  a harsh blow to his former ally Donald Trump, whose lawyers argued before the Supreme Court that he had sweeping immunity.

The Kentucky Senator told Meet the Press on Thursday that he believed US presidents should be held accountable for any criminal actions, noting he thought that accountability has limits.

The president clearly needs some kind of immunity or wed be in court all the time, so well see how the Supreme Court deals with it, the 82-year-old lawmaker said.

The Republican Senator also said that he stood by his comments from 13 February 2021, shortly after he voted to acquit Mr Trump in his second impeachment trial related to the events of the January 6 Capitol riot.

Despite voting to acquit the former president, Senator McConnell warned: President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run. [He] didnt get away with anything yet.

He stressed: Its not up to me to make that decision.

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday regarding presidential immunity. The former presidents legal team argued that he has absolute immunity from federal charges related to allegations of 2020 election interference brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The justices seemed reluctant to grant Mr Trump total immunity.

Senate Minority Leader and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell (pictured) said on Thursday that he believed US presidents should be held accountable for any criminal actions - but added that accountability has limits ( AP )

Mr Trumps lawyers expressed fears that a lack of presidential immunity would affect presidents ability to do their job, due to the threat of politically-motivated retribution. Trump attorney John Sauer warned that the prospect of charges, trial and imprisonment could distort the presidents decision-making, precisely when bold and fearless action is most needed.

Conservative justices seemed receptive to the potential political persecution argument.

Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday said, You know how easy it is in many cases for a prosecutor to get a grand jury to bring an indictment and reliance on the good faith of the prosecutor may not be enough in some cases.

Attorneys for Mr Smith, on the other hand, argued that the president does not have broad immunity, arguing no one is above the law. Liberal justices seemed to agree that the president doesnt have absolute immunity.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at one point asked, If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldnt there be a significant risk that future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes with abandon while theyre in office?
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The Supreme Court spent over three hours on Thursday hearing oral arguments in the historic case involving former president Donald Trumps claims of presidential immunity from prosecution.

On the final day of arguments for this term, the nine justices questioned lawyers for Mr Trump and the Justice Departments special counsel and toyed with whether or not presidents should be awarded broad, some, or no immunity from criminal prosecution.

The former president is asking the court to award broad-sweeping immunity from criminal charges, claiming that without protections the president would effectively be unable to do their job without fear of politically-motivated retribution.

Meanwhile, attorneys with the special counsel argue that no person, even the president, is above the law.

The case stems from Mr Trumps motion to dismiss special counsel Jack Smiths federal election interference indictment against him, charging him over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and stay in the White House.

Here are the key takeaways from Thursdays arguments:

Justices seem poised to award some immunity

A majority of the justices  notably the conservative men  seemed inclined to award some immunity to Mr Trump and future presidents when it comes to criminal prosecution.

Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh all raised concerns about political opponents using the loophole to go after the president. Michael Dreeben, the attorney arguing on behalf of the special counsel, reiterated to justices it was not the problem in Mr Trumps case.

John Sauer, Mr Trumps attorney, seemed to convince these judges that the prospect of charges, trial and imprisonment could distort the presidents decision-making, precisely when bold and fearless action is most needed.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves State Supreme Court in New York, on 25 April 2024 ( AP )

Liberal justices, however, were extremely sceptical of broad immunity.

"If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldnt there be a significant risk that future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes with abandon while theyre in office?" Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said.

Jan 6 trial faces more possible delays

The justices do not appear to be in a rush to issue a ruling in the case and, the longer the legal wrangling goes on, the longer it takes for Mr Trumps federal election interference trial to make it to trial.

But further delays could be in store if the Supreme Court asks a lower court to remand their ruling. They would need to conduct more proceedings and issue a decision, likely pushing the trial past the November election.

Additionally, a ruling in favour of Mr Trump could undermine the other federal classified documents case and Georgia election interference case  possibly dismissing them or delaying those.

Justices want to define official acts

Much of the debate surrounded what exactly an official act is and if the alleged actions laid out in Mr Smiths indictment constituted those.

Justices ran through several scenarios  appointing an ambassador, creating documents, pardoning individuals and more were offered. Mr Dreeben said that certain powers, exclusive to the presidency, were protected from criminal statutes because Congress cannot regulate them.

The chief justice specifically criticised a lower court ruling, which ruled that Mr Trump was not immune from prosecution.

This artist sketch depicts, from left, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts ( AP )

Conservative justices seemed happy with the idea of asking a lower court to remand their ruling  spelling out directly what official acts are versus private.

Why shouldnt we either send it back to the court of appeals or issue an opinion making clear that thats not the law? he said.

Special Counsel may be able to proceed with parts of the indictment

As part of the debate surrounding what an official act is, justices and the lawyers seemed to agree that some of the actions described in Mr Smiths indictment constituted private acts like asking personal lawyers and private actors to engage in the alleged fake electors scheme or calling on supporters to go to the US Capitol on January 6.

Those private actions would not be protected by theoretical presidential immunity, allowing the court to move forward with some prosecution.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett offered a suggestion that should the court rule narrowly, Mr Smith could still prosecute Mr Trump for those private actions.

Justices recognised implications in the case

Despite the justices weighing the possibility of granting immunity, several emphasised how crucial a ruling would be for future presidencies.

"Were writing a rule for the ages," Justice Gorsuch said to the court.

Justice Kavanaugh later added, This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country.

The last time the United States considered prosecuting a president was Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal. While the court did weigh in on whether a president had to participate in the judicial process, Nixon was never criminally prosecuted.

Ham sandwich and eclipse metaphors

As typical in Supreme Court arguments, justices invoked several unique metaphors to describe certain actions.

Justice Roberts said expunging official acts from Mr Smiths indictment would make the case a one-legged stool.

When exchanging points with Mr Dreeben, Justice Alito described an old saying about indicting a ham sandwich  indicating that indictments are easy to bring forth.

When Mr Dreeben asked if Justice Alito came across a lot of instances of a grand jury refusing to indict a case, Justice Alito responded: Every once in a while, theres an eclipse too.

No clear answer on whether Trump can pardon himself

At one point in the arguments, Justice Gorsuch pondered if a president could pardon themselves, but neither attorney offered a clear answer.

Mr Sauer circumvented the question.
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The Supreme Court justices appear poised to offer Donald Trump and future US presidents some form of immunity from criminal prosecution for their actions while in office  while rejecting broad absolute immunity.

The nations highest court heard oral arguments on Thursday in a historic case which the justices acknowledged has huge implications for not only the former presidents criminal cases but also for Americas future.

This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.

Mr Trumps lawyers claim he has presidential immunity from charges of federal election interference brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith over the former presidents actions around the 2020 election. Mr Smiths office claims that he does not.

During the arguments, the conservative male majority of the court toyed with the idea of awarding some protections to Mr Trump in his case.

Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas raised concerns that, without protections, presidents could face politically-motivated prosecution for actions they take while in office.

Activist Stephen Parlato of Boulder, Colorado, joins other protesters outside the Supreme Court as the justices prepared to hear arguments on Thursday 25 April 2024 ( AP )

A narrow decision that aligns with that line of thinking would outline certain types of official acts that justices believe are protected from criminal prosecution.

Mr Trump has previously contended that all the charges relate to official acts, rather than private acts, and so are protected by presidential immunity.

The justices struggled to differentiate what would be regarded as an official act versus a private act and hinted that this could be handed back to a lower court to decipher.

For Mr Trump, this could hand him something of a win in his federal election interference case by further delaying it from going to trial while the legal wrangling plays out  meaning it may not get to trial before the November election.

Meanwhile, the liberal justices of the court and conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett seemed highly skeptical of awarding sweeping criminal protections to presidents yet also questioned the attorney arguing on behalf of Mr Smith how they could rule narrowly.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson questioned whether, instead of issuing a narrow ruling in the case, the court should instead answer the broader question of whether a president has immunity from all criminal prosecution with a simple yes or no.

US president Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally on January 6 2021 ( REUTERS )

Mr Trump is accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results by making false claims of election fraud, conspiring to install fake electors and pressuring his then-vice president Mike Pence.

Michael Dreeben, the prosecutor arguing on behalf of Mr Smith, suggested that some of the allegations laid out in the indictment, like speaking to private actors in the alleged fake elector scheme, would constitute private actions. John Sauer, the attorney representing Mr Trump, agreed that some of the alleged acts were indeed private actions.

It is unclear when the Supreme Court could rule in the case.

Mr Smith asked the court to expedite the decision to help move the federal election interference trial along  but the justices have already signaled they are in no rush.

Most Supreme Court decisions are handed down between late April and mid-June.
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The first criminal trial of a former US president is underway  and most Americans believe that Donald Trump is not being treated equally to other criminal defendants.

A poll conducted last week shows the country is decisively split over whether Mr Trump is being treated more leniently or more harshly.

Some 34 per cent say they believe the former president is being treated more leniently than other criminal defendants in the historic trial, according to the CNN poll on Thursday. The same percentage believe that he is being treated more harshly.

Only 13 per cent believe he is being treated about the same as other defendants.

Mr Trump is on trial in Manhattan over 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair with Mr Trump.

She claims the affair took place in 2006, one year after Mr Trump married Melania Trump. The former president has pleaded not guilty and has denied that the affair ever occurred.

The new CNN poll underscores just how divided the country is politically as yet another contentious presidential election inches closer.

The survey also underscores political divisions over Mr Trump himself, who has been posting relentlessly on his social media platform, Truth Social, about his unfair treatment in the criminal case. He has branded the Manhattan prosecutors case a witch hunt and claims it is politically motivated. When he walked into the courtroom on the first day of the trial, he told reporters that the case was an assault on America.

However, poll respondents seemed to agree that Mr Trump has so far acted inappropriately at the trial.

Donald Trump arrives for his trial on 26 April ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Some 42 per cent of respondents said they believe that his behavior during the hush money trial has been mostly inappropriate. Only 25 per cent think he has been mostly behaving in an appropropriate manner.

The poll comes after the Manhattan District Attorneys office accused the former president of violating his gag order more than a dozen times since the trial began on 15 April.

The judgeordered that the defendant be barred from making public statements about the judges or DAs office staff, and potential witnesses.

On Tuesday, the judge held a hearing on at least 10 potential gag order violations related to Mr Trumps online posts. The judge has yet to rule on the matter, but the DAs office suggested that Mr Trump be fined $10,000 for the alleged breach.

On Thursday, the prosecutors brought up four more potential breaches of the gag order.

A judge will hold a hearing on the new allegations next Thursday.
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Donald Trump is accused of helping to bury a story that he had a nearly one-year-long affair with a former Playboy model, in order to secure his election to the presidency in 2016.

But he continued to keep tabs on the story and Karen McDougals contractual agreement to keep quiet through at least his first year in office, according to testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who claimed to buy her silence.

Mr Pecker allegedly purchased exclusive lifetime rights to Ms McDougals affair claims for $150,000 in 2016 with no intention of publishing the story. Instead, he was tasked with killing the story to support Mr Trumps election chances, he testified in the former presidents hush money trial on Thursday.

The contract was part of an alleged catch and kill scheme Mr Pecker arranged with Mr Trump and his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen in 2015 to identify politically compromising stories and buy the rignts to them during his 2016 campaign.

Mr Trump is criminally charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records for allegedly falsely covering up payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels as legal expenses after she claimed to have had an affair with him in 2006. He has pleaded not guilty and denies the affair.

According to Mr Peckers testimony in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, after taking office, Mr Trump his position in the White House to manage blowback from the scheme.

Mr Pecker recalled in court a time when then-president-elect asked him hows our girl? during a meeting at Trump Tower in January 2017, making an apparent reference to Ms McDougal.

He also thanked him for handling Ms McDougals situation, and said the story would be very embarrassing  to him, his family and the campaign, according to Mr Pecker.

After he entered the Oval Office, Mr Trump invited Mr Pecker to the White House for a thank you dinner for his help in killing the stories, he testified. That night, the then-president brought up the Ms McDougal claims again.

Mr Trump asked me to join him in a walk from the Oval Office to the dining area, he said. As we walked out, president Trump asked me, How is Karen doing? So I said, Shes doing well, shes quiet, things are going good.

But after CNN aired an interview with Ms McDougal in March 2018, more than one year after Mr Trump entered office, an outraged president Trump allegedly called Mr Pecker to complain.

He said, Did you see the interview last night with Anderson Cooper and Karen McDougal? ... I thought you had, and we had, an agreement with Karen McDougal that she cant give any interviews or be on any television shows, Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trump saying at the time.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters in a Manhattan criminal court hallway on 25 April ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Following The Wall Street Journals November 2016 interview with Ms McDougal about the American Media Inc arrangement, and after the 2016 election, Mr Pecker had amended her contract to allow her to speak to the press. Mr Trump, of course, had already won the election by this point.

Mr Trump got very angry that I amended it and he couldnt understand why, Mr Pecker said on Thursday.

The tabloid mogul testified that Mr Trump and his White House aides  then-White House communications director Hope Hicks, and then White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders  later called him to discuss the contract.

On that call, what I was planning to do, and I mentioned on a previous call with Mr Trump, I was going to extend Karen McDougals contract He thought that was also a bad idea, Mr Pecker testified.

So when I received the second call, when I got the call back, and Hope Hicks and Huckabee, when she was on the call, I explained to them, to the two of them, why I was going to extend her agreement, he added. And both of them said that was a good idea.

Ms McDougal ultimately sued American Media Inc to retain her lifetime rights to the story, and Mr Pecker settled.

Prosecutors questioned the former tabloid mogul, the first witness in the hush money case, for three days in Manhattan criminal court.

Defence attorney Emil Bove began cross examination on Thursday afternoon. Mr Peckers testimony is expected to continue on Friday.
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A former longtime assistant to Donald Trump at his Trump Organization testified that she has a vague recollection of seeing adult film star Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before his 2016 presidential campaign.

Rhona Graff, who worked at the Trump Organization for more than 30 years, testified on Friday in a Manhattan courtroom across from her former boss  who is currently on trial charged with falsifying 34 business records to cover up payments to Ms Daniels as part of a scheme to bury details of their alleged affair.

In her testimony, Ms Graff revealed new details about Ms Daniels apparent ties to the former president, including that he appeared to be considering the adult film star as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Ms Graff told the court that she once saw Ms Daniels in the lobby of the 26th floor of Trump Tower, where Mr Trumps office is located.

She assumed that Ms Daniels may have been at the office to discuss a role with The Celebrity Apprentice, Mr Trumps former hit reality TV competition series on NBC, she said.

The network severed ties with Mr Trump in 2015 after his presidential campaign launch and his deragatory comments about immigrants.

Donald Trump appears in a Manhattan criminal courtroom in 26 April ( EPA )

Ms Graff recalled that Mr Trump believed Ms Daniels would be a good contestant on the show.

I cant remember a specific incident when I heard it. It was part of the office chatter, she said.

Ms Graff testified relatively briefly on Friday, largely about her experience setting up Mr Trumps appointment calendar and his list of contacts.

The court was shown an entry for contact information for Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who was paid $150,000 for the rights to her story of an alleged affair with Mr Trump.

That scheme  arranged by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker allegedly at the direction of Mr Trumps then-attorney Michael Cohen  is central to the so-called catch and kill scheme at the heart of the case against Mr Trump.

The former president allegedly orchestrated the plot to use the tabloid to buy up politically compromising stories to boost his 2016 election chances.

Adult film actor Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, speaks outside US Federal Court with her then-lawyer Michael Avenatti in 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images )

One contact shown to the court during Ms Graffs testimony included an entry for Ms Daniels.

The entry only included a phone number and the name Stormy.

Under brief cross examination from Mr Trumps defence attorney Susan Necheles, Ms Graff agreed that the only reason she was subpoenaed for her testimony was because she worked at the Trump Organization.

You dont want to be here, do you? Ms Necheles asked.

Correct, she replied.

She also confirmed that the Trump Organization was paying legal fees for employees called to testify in the case, that those payments are not conditioned on her testimony, and that no one from the company has intructed her to testify.

Ms Graff, the trials second witness, was on the stand for roughly half an hour.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, whose remarkable testimony tied the former president to a months-long scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election, testified for roughly four days.

Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court on Friday morning ( EPA )

Her testimony was followed by Gary Farro, a banker assigned to Cohen at First Republic Bank, who testified that Cohen always spoke with a sense of urgency  including during a period when he urgently asked for his help setting up an LLC shell company while negotiating a hush money payment to Ms Daniels in 2016.

Mr Farro told the court that he created Resolution Consultants LLC, but the account was never opened because no deposit was ever made, he said.

Two weeks later, Cohen tasked him with opening another account, according to Mr Farro and emails shown to the court.

That account, Essential Consultants LLC, was used to wire Ms Daniels the $130,000 payment at the heart of the presidents criminal case.

The paperwork to create the LLC stated that it would be used to collect fees for investment consulting for real estate transactions.

Mr Farro will resume his testimony on Tuesday.
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Donald Trumps hush money trial heard wide-ranging testimony from former American Media Inc. chief David Pecker during his third day on the stand.

The former tabloid chief divulged background into the infamous catch-and-kill scheme and his time at a thank you dinner hosted by then-President Trump for his efforts to block compromising stories about Mr Trump from being published.

On Thursday, lawyers also told the judge about four more potential breaches of the gag order  against the criminal defendant. Judge Juan Merchan still has to make a decision about previous claims that Mr Trump violated the gag order.

Here are some of the key moments from the Manhattan courtroom:

Four more potential gag order violations

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy divulged several instances in which his team alleges that Mr Trump breached the gag order, barring him from making public statements about potential witnesses or staff members of the DAs office or the judge.

Two alleged violations happened as recently as Monday, Mr Conroy told the judge. The former president spoke about Michael Cohen in a nine-minute rant in which Mr Trump claimed that the former fixer got caught lying, pure lying, when are they going to look at that?

Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen stands behind Trump as he runs for president in 2016 ( REUTERS )

Later that night, Mr Trump said I cant get away from the trial. Hes rushing the trial like crazy  jury was picked so far, 95 per cent Democrat.

In a separate remark the following day, Mr Trump claimed that Cohen is a convicted liar and hes got no credibility whatsoever.

These allegations arrived after the judge held a hearing on Tuesday related to at least 10 allegations that Mr Trump violated the gag order  before the new incidents shared in court today.

The boss will take care of it

The former tabloid chief testified that he had agreed to spend tens of thousands to acquire  and then bury  politically damaging stories about Mr Trump, being assured that the boss would handle it.

Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps attorney at the time, authorised Mr Pecker to pay the former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story of an alleged 10-month affair with Mr Trump, he said on the stand.

Dont worry about it. Im your friend. The boss will take care of it, Cohen allegedly told Mr Pecker, seemingly referring to Mr Trump.

The former AMI chief also told the court about interactions between him and Mr Trump, directly linking the defendant to the scheme.

Former President Donald Trump watches as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass questions David Pecker, former publisher of The National Enquirer ( REUTERS )

On one occasion, Mr Trump asked him: Hows our girl? and thanked him for handling the McDougal story and the doorman situation.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing  to him, his family and the campaign, Mr Pecker testified.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked if he believed Mr Trump was concerned about his family.

In conversations I had with Michael Cohen with respect to both of these stories, his family was never mentioned. Conversations I had directly with Mr Trump, his family was never mentioned, Mr Pecker told the court. The concern was the campaign.

Pecker testifies Trump invited him to White House for thank you dinner for killing stories

After he won the election, Mr Trump invited Mr Pecker to the White House for a thank you dinner for killing compromising stories about the then-2016 presidential candidate.

During that visit, Mr Trump allegedly asked him Hows our girl?, in an apparent reference to Ms McDougal.

Mr Pecker testified that Mr Trump thanked him for handling Ms McDougals contract and the doorman situation  a salacious and false story alleging Mr Trump fathered an illegitimate child with a maid.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing, Mr Pecker said, to him, his family and the campaign.

He invited myself and my wife. She didnt want to go to Washington.

So, he brought the then-editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer Dylan Howard.

Mr Trump asked me to join him in a walk from the Oval Office to the dining area  as we walked out, President Trump asked me how is Karen doing. So I said shes doing well, shes quiet, things are going good.

Mr Howard texted Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougals attorney on 12 July 2017: Surreal last night.

Playboy model said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky

On the stand, Mr Pecker recounted what the National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard told him about his interview with Karen McDougal.

He described to me who Karen McDougal was  She claims that she had a year-long relationship with Mr Trump, a sexual relationship  He said that she was a 12 out of 10, Mr Pecker told the court.

While Mr Howard said there was no corroborating evidence he believed the story to be true. So, he had offered $10,000 to buy the story and it was refused.

Howard later told Mr Pecker that ABC was interested in acquiring the story, and mentioned that a Mexican group made an offer for $1m. Michael [Cohen] and I both said we didnt believe a Mexican group was going to buy the story, Mr Pecker said.

Karen McDougal speaking to CNN about Donald Trump ( CNN )

I knew from my experience that ABC doesnt buy stories, Mr Pecker testified.

Mr Howard also told him that Ms McDougal didnt want the story to be published. She said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky, he added.

Howard felt that she had been more interested in having American Media buy the story than anyone else, Pecker added.

Trump was concerned Melania would hear about alleged affairs

The ex-tabloid chief also testified about a detected difference in Mr Trumps reactions to the bombshell stories before and after the 2016 election.

Prior to the election, if a negative story was coming out with respect to Donald Trump, and he spoke about it, he was concerned about Melania  What the family might hear, Mr Pecker recalled of Mr Trump.

Melania Trump speaks to Fox News ( Screenshot / Fox News )

By contrast, After the campaign when I was in his office and we were discussing this, he was concerned about the doorman story with respect to, if the story came out, which wasnt true, about him having an illegitimate child, I didnt hear or discuss his concern what would Melania say or what Ivanka would say.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is dragged into trial

Mr Pecker testified about how he was initially wary of the idea of purchasing politically linked stories, citing his experience with The Terminator actor.

The former tabloid boss said he had an arrangement back in 2002 when Schwarzenegger asked Mr Pecker to name him an editor-at-large of some fitness publications that were up for sale, which AMI was poised to acquire.

Mr Pecker testified that Schwarzenegger also asked for an agreement regarding the tabloids Globe and National Enquirer because the actor had endured legal battles with those magazines over unflattering stories about him.

I plan on running for governor and I would like you to not publish any negative stories about me now and in the future, and Ill continue being the editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex and be a spokesperson, Mr Pecker recalled Schwarzenegger saying.

Mr Pecker said he agreed to the arrangement.

The actor announced his gubernatorial bid on NBCs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in August 2003. After this, Mr Pecker testified that a number of women called up the National Enquirer claiming they had stories to sell on different relationships, or contacts, or sexual harassment that they felt that Arnold Schwarzenegger did.

Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed in Trump hush money trial ( Getty )

The agreement I had with Arnold is I would call him and advise him of other stories that were out there and I would acquire them, buy them for a period of time, the former publisher told the court.

After Schwarzenegger was elected governor, one of the women whose story had been acquired by American Media took her story to The Los Angeles Times.

It was very embarrassing, Mr Pecker testified. Most of the press approached Arnold when he was governor. And his comment was: Ask my friend David Pecker.

The ordeal made me sensitive about buying any stories in the future. Thats how I became sensitive about this topic, Mr Pecker told the court.

Former president called him very upset when Playboy model affair story broke

Despite extensive efforts to prevent any other publication from getting its hands on the Karen McDougal story, it did become public.

On Thursday, Mr Pecker divulged that he had worked with Cohen to buy the rights to Ms McDougals story so it wouldnt be published by any other organisation.

We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, he told the court.

During his testimony, the former publisher recalled the Wall Street Journal publishing an article just days before Election Day in 2016 revealing the blockbuster story.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trumpcalling him, being, very upset, saying, How could this happen? I thought you had this under control.

The executive said he authorised public statements from his company about the true nature of American Medias contract with Ms McDougal. I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself, and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump, he said.

When Mr Trump requested that AMI transfer the rights to Ms McDougals story in September 2016, Cohen established a shell company that sent an invoice for the agreed upon flat fee for advisory services, Mr Pecker said.

In court, he clarified that the transaction was for the lifetime rights to the Karen McDougal story. Mr Pecker said he then told Cohen that the deal was off after his conversations with counsel about the transaction.

He was very, very angry, very upset, screaming basically at me, Mr Pecker said. Michael Cohen said The boss will be very angry with you. I said, Im sorry, Im not going forward, the deal is off, he added. He said, I cant believe it. Im the lawyer, Im your friend.

The publisher has never been reimbursed for the payment, according to Mr Pecker.

Stormy Daniels payments mentioned for first time

Jurors heard an allusion to Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who claims she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, just one year after he married his now-wife Melania. The $130,000 so-called hush money payments made to Ms Daniels are at the heart of this criminal case.

On Thursday, Mr Pecker said that Cohen asked him for his help to get Trump to pay him his bonus.

I understood he was complaining that he has not been repaid, Mr Pecker says.

He said, Michael Cohen had paid Stormy Daniels out of his own funds, which is the first time that I had heard of that. I wasnt involved in that transaction.

In a conversation with Trump, Pecker told him: I said, Michael Cohen is very concerned about this bonus this year and I want you to know hes very loyal, hes been working very hard from my perspective, I believe hed throw himself in front of a bus for you.

The former publisher said Mr Trump told me, I dont know what youre talking about. He said Michael Cohen has multiple apartments in my buildings.  He owns 15 taxi medallions.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trump saying: Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it.

Pecker describes Trump as his mentor who called him if he needed help

Repeatedly on the stand, Mr Pecker relayed his efforts to protect Mr Trump.

Asked whether he has any bad feelings about Mr Trump all these years later, Mr Pecker said, On the contrary.

He went so far as to say: I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career.

The former publisher added, I have no ill will at all. Even though we havent spoken, I still consider him a friend.
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Donald Trump appears to be getting cold feet about taking the stand to testify in his criminal hush money trial, after he previously insisted that he would absolutely do so.

The former president called in to Newsmax on Thursday night after the conclusion of day seven of his historic trial, where he was asked by anchor Greg Kelly about his intentions to testify in his own defence based on what he had seen of the proceedings so far.

Well I would if its necessary, Mr Trump answered.

He continued: Right now, I dont know if you heard about today. Today was just incredible. People are saying  the experts, Im talking about legal scholars and experts  theyre saying, What kind of a case is this? There is no case.

Uh, you know they had David Pecker, testifying today. And he was, you know, people are saying theres no case. Theres literally no case!

Mr Trump went on to cite conservative lawyers Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Turley and Mark Levin to back up his baseless insistence that the legal establishment is almost entirely in agreement with him about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg having no case against him.

Mr Bragg charged the former president with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to suppress allegations of an affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Trumps comments about testifying were much more reticent than his previous statements on the matter.

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month  just three days before jury selection got under way in the case  he told reporters: Yeah, I would testify, absolutely. Thats not a trial. Thats a scam.

So far in the trial, jurors have heard from testimony from David Pecker, former publisher of tabloid giant The National Enquirer, who has described a months-long scheme to catch and kill embarrassing stories about Mr Trumps alleged affairs.

Former US president Donald Trump exits Trump Tower to attend his hush money criminal trial on 26 April 2024 ( Reuters )

Mr Pecker testified that the agreement drawn up in the weeks after Mr Trumps 2016 campaign launch was designed to boost the latters chances of winning the presidential election.

He testified that he vowed to be the eyes and ears of the Republicans campaign, going beyond what he called chequebook journalism to give Mr Trump a direct line to a media apparatus to influence the outcome of the 2016 vote.

That included the purchase of a false story from a former Trump Tower doorman who alleged the candidate had fathered an illegitimate child with a maid and the acquisition of a story from former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who planned to go public with her allegations of a months-long affair.

On Thursday, Mr Pecker testified that then-president Trump had later thanked him for handling Ms McDougals contract and the doorman situation after he entered the White House.

Elsewhere in Mr Trumps interview with Newsmax, he also retreated from his notorious Lock her up! catchphrase about Hillary Clinton  claiming he didnt really want to see his 2016 presidential rival behind bars but claimed he had opportunities to make it happen.

He also characterised himself as a martyr to the cause of stopping election interference and argued New York City should be tackling violent street crime rather than prosecuting him.
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Senior students in Los Angeles say they are now reconsidering what it means to graduate from USC after being violated by heavy-handed crackdowns against on-campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war this week.

With just two weeks to go before their graduation ceremony on 10 May, some said the celebratory atmosphere had vanished and been replaced with one of almost grief. Others accused the institution of creating an environment of us versus them amongst Jewish and Muslim students.

On Wednesday, like many universities across the country, USC  where tuition can cost up to $95,000 annually  saw demonstrations on campus descend into violence, with armed police arriving to disperse students with rubber bullets and riot gear. Similar shocking scenes played out in states including Georgia, where police used tasers on restrained students and shot pepperballs at demonstrators at Emory University.

The widespread unrest follows arrests of students at Columbia University in New York during weeks-long protests. More than 100 people were arrested at Columbia alone in connection to the protest encampments which are asking the school to divest financial ties to Israel over the war in Gaza. Protests in unversities in other states, including USC and the University of Texas in Austin, have espoused similar sentiments.

However, less than 24 hours after Wednesdays demonstrations there were all-but no signs of protest activity on the Californian campus at all. The only indications that action had taken place were chalk messages reading USC, divest from death, and no more money for USCs crimes.

A protester at the University of Southern California is detained during pro-Gaza demonstrations ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Alan, a USC senior and due to graduate next month, said that in the aftermath of the protests the campus had felt military-like. Student IDs were being checked at all gates onto campus on Thursday.

The only time you ever had to check in with your ID to get into campus was at night or on weekends, he told The Independent. Its kind of saying that USC is not a place of open ideas because obviously, were keeping the outside community out now.

Its only open to students who pay 90k to go here, like myself, and yet, if we even express our ideas, our beliefs, we are going to be reprimanded as we saw yesterday. There will be consequences to me expressing what I believe and that is really hurtful given that its a university.

The 22-year-old, who was present during the demonstrations on Wednesday, said tensions had risen suddenly after members of the USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) had attempted to arrest an individual and put him in a car.

Students and community members clash with USC Public Safety Officers during a Gaza solidarity occupation on campus, with demonstrators blocking a car trying to remove an arrested individual ( EPA )

The students blockaded the car and told them that they can arrest him and theyre not leaving until hes out of the vehicle, Alan told The Independent. People, like they basically built a human chain arm around the car and they said were not leaving until you get him out of the car. It just got very tense.

Video from the protests showed dozens of helmeted officers arriving on the scene and arguing with those gathered about the removal of tents. It was just very hurtful to see the people who are supposed to protect us like DPS  whenever theres an issue on campus we always call DPS because theyre our own staff, Alan said. And yet they were the ones hurting the student body. Returning to campus the day after, he said, feels wrong.

Its not an atmosphere of celebration. Its an atmosphere of grief in a way. I think people were just really reconsidering what it means to graduate from USC, Alan told The Independent.

Im a graduating senior. This is my graduating class. And it feels wrong to even come back to campus or to even celebrate this final week like this.

He added: I will never have this week again and its hurtful that this is how were going to leave. Like, I will always remember my last week of school knowing that USC violated us. USC did not stand for us.

Police in riot gear disperse pro-Palestine protesters on USC campus

On Thursday USC suddenly announced that the main stage commencement ceremony would no longer be taking place on 10 May. The institution said the decision  described as heartbreaking by some of those due to graduate  was due to extra safety measures on campus making processing such a high volume of people difficult.

Prior to Thursdays announcement, the lead up to the USC commencement ceremony in May had already been marred by controversy, after it was announced that the 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, would not be giving a speech at the event due to unspecified safety concerns.

Asna Tabassum, USCs 2024 valedictorian, was barred from speaking at this years commencement ceremony ( CAIR Greater Los Angeles )

Ms Tabassum describes herself as a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim and includes a link to a pro-Palestinian website in her social media bio. Her critics have accused her of sharing anti-Israel views. In response she wrote: I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own universitymy home for four yearshas abandoned me. She said she felt profoundly disappointed by USCs decision, which did not refer to her political views. Advocacy groups CAIR Greater Los Angeles said the decision empowers voices of hate and violated the universitys obligation to protect its students.

However, despite claims by students, including Alan, that the protests on campus that have taken place since the attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October have been peaceful and not antisemitic, there are many Jewish students at USC who say their final weeks have been flooded with concern from their friends and families.

USC public safety officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator during clashes after officers attempted to take down an encampment in support of Gaza ( Getty Images )

Senior student Melina Feradouni said the decision to cancel the main stage ceremony at commencement was truly heartbreaking and was a mess that could have been avoided by USC. Ms Feradouni, 22, told The Independent that she had been sitting in class for a review session ahead of her final assessments and had to leave because she was so distracted by the news.

Unfortunately the lack of proper action by our university has led to a very special day being ruined. Our graduation has always been a day open to the public and I personally had about 15 loved ones expected to attend, but unfortunately that will no longer be possible, she said.

This was a mess that couldve been avoided had the university taken proper action when picking the valedictorian ... The weeks leading up to this day was supposed to be exciting and fun but unfortunately it is now filled with dread. Us Jewish seniors graduating feel unwelcome and unprotected.

Ms Feradouni, who describes herself as a proud Jew, said she stayed home on Wednesday out of fear.

Ive known I wanted to go to USC since I was 14, this is supposed to be a celebration for me and my family and its just become dreadful. Coming to campus has been exhausting, she told The Independent.

A Georgia State Patrol officer detains a protester on the campus of Emory University ( AP )

Graduation has become friends and family calling me saying are you ok? Do you need anything? Are you safe?  its not what I expected the weeks leading up to my graduation to be by any means.

Ms Feradounis parents are Iranian-Jewish refugees who fled to the US decades ago. She said that both the protests and USCs choice of valedictorian were displays of antisemitism.

At the end of the day, the weeks leading up to graduation should be a happy time and its not at all Graduation shouldnt be a space for hate of any kind.
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Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said the country was lucky to have the Pakistani immigrant security guard who died saving shoppers during a mass stabbing attack at a beachside Sydney mall earlier this month.

The family of Faraz Tahir, who would have turned 31 on Wednesday, held his funeral on Friday which was attended by hundreds of mourners.

The refugee from Pakistan was among six people who were killed in the attack by Joel Cauchi at Westfield shopping mall on 13 April. Tahir was on the first day of his job.

"Running toward danger, to protect people he had never even met, without doubt, he helped save lives that day," Mr Albanese said at the funeral outside the citys Baitul Huda mosque.

"Without question, Faraz Tahir died a hero, he said.

Under the banner Love for all, hatred for none, family members, relatives, friends and community members gathered to bid farewell to Tahir with moist eyes.

Today, as our nation remembers his bravery and honours his life, we affirm that Australia will always be grateful to Faraz Tahir, Mr Albanese said.

A casket is carried during the funeral for Faraz Tahir at Masjid Baitul Huda mosque in Sydney, Australia ( Reuters )

Muhammad Taha, who was also on guard duty the day of the attack and suffered serious injuries when he tried to intervene, remembered Tahirs final words.

We were standing side-by-side when all of a sudden we heard people shouting and screaming, he said as he attended the funeral after getting permission from the hospital to leave.

We were trying to save people at the time and his last words were lets find out whats going on.

Even though they had met for the first time Mr Taha said they made a connection that would have lasted forever.

He will be missed, we will remember him.

People offer funeral prayers for Faraz Tahir at Baitul Huda mosque in Sydney ( Getty )

Tahir, a member of the minority Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, arrived in Australia 18 months ago, fleeing religious persecution.

Tahirs brother, Mudasar Bashir, who last spoke to his brother the evening before said he promised to call the next day. They never spoke again.

Even until now, we couldnt believe that he is no more, he said at the funeral. We are very proud of him because - Islam, our religion, says that if you save even one human, you save all of humanity.
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Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate can be tried on human-trafficking charges, a Romanian court has ruled.

A spokesman for the self-described misogynist said he would challenge the decision, which came 10 months since he was charged.

Tate, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects, was charged in June with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women  allegations they have denied.

The Tates were charged last year ( AFP via Getty Images )

Under Romanian law, the case sat with the Bucharest courts preliminary chamber, which needed to inspect the case files and evidence to ensure legality. That process was now completed and the criminal trial can start.

The court notes the legality of evidence management by ... prosecutors, and rules that the case can go to trial, the Bucharest court said, adding that the ruling could be challenged on appeal.

The Tates representatives said no date had been set for the trial, but said the brothers would appeal against the ruling.

In March, a Romanian court approved a request from Britain to extradite the brothers on allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-15, but only after the Romanian trial proceedings had finished.

The Tates, both former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, are the highest profile suspects facing trial for human trafficking in Romania, and their case will be a test for Romanias anti-organised crime unit, DIICOT.

Trafficking of adults and rape both carry prison sentences of up to 10 years.

The brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence.

They were then under house arrest until August.

Romanian prosecutors have said the Tates recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

The victims were then taken to properties outside the capital, Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said.

Andrew Tate has gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.

His accounts have been removed from TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Charities against violence on women have warned that Tates videos could have a harmful effect on young boys and men.
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Egypt sent a high-level delegation to Israel on Friday with the hope of brokering a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, two officials said. At the same time, it warned that a possible Israeli offensive focused on Gaza's city of Rafah on the border with Egypt could have catastrophic consequences to regional stability.

Egypt's top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, is leading the delegation and plans to discuss with Israel a new vision for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the mission freely.

As the war drags on and casualties mount, there has been growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a cease fire.

Friday's talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza with minimum restrictions, the Egyptian official said.

The hope is that negotiations will then continue, with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, he said.

The official said mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties main demands.

Hamas has said it will not back down from its demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which Israel has rejected. Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Ahead of the talks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told The Associated Press there is nothing new from our side, when asked about the negotiations.

Overnight, Lebanons militant Hezbollah group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery shells at an Israeli military convoy in a disputed border area, killing an Israeli civilian.

Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed the convoy shortly before midnight Thursday, destroying two vehicles. The Israeli military said the ambush wounded an Israeli civilian doing infrastructure work, and that he later died of his wounds.

Low-intensity fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border has repeatedly threatened to boil over as Israel has targeted senior Hezbollah militants in recent months.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border. On the Israeli side, the cross-border fighting has killed 10 civilians and 12 soldiers, while in Lebanon, more than 350 people have been killed, including 50 civilians and 271 Hezbollah members.

Meantime, Israel has been conducting near-daily raids on Rafah, a city in which more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people have sought refuge.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in an area of southern Israel that is close to Rafah, in apparent preparations for an invasion of the city.

Rafah also abuts the Gaza-Egypt border. While in Israel, Kamel, who heads Egypts General Intelligence Service, plans to make clear that Egypt will not tolerate Israels deployments of troops along that border, the Egyptian official said.

The official said Egypt shared intelligence with the United States and European countries showing that a Rafah offensive will inflame the entire region.

A Western diplomat in Cairo also said that Egypt has intensified its efforts in recent days to reach a compromise and establish a short cease-fire in Gaza that will help negotiate a longer truce and avert a Rafah offensive.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.

On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi cautioned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in the strip, as well as the regional peace and security.

El-Sissis comments came in a phone call with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of The Netherlands, the Egyptian leaders office said.

Egypt has also said an attack on Rafah would violate the decades-old peace deal between Egypt and Israel.

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the Hamas Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people as hostages. Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to local health officials, around two-thirds of them children and women.

___

Mroue reported from Beirut, Rising reported from Bangkok.
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Four 19th-century books suspected to contain arsenic, a poisonous substance, in their covers have been removed from Frances national library, the Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris.

The books  believed to contain arsenic because of their emerald green covers  were identified by University of Delaware researchers and include works like the 1862-1863 book of the Royal Horticultural Society and two volumes of Edward Hayess The Ballads of Ireland from 1855.

The Poison Book Project, a joint effort by the University of Delaware and the Winterthur Museum of Delaware, flagged these titles among others due to concerns about arsenic used in Victorian-era book bindings.

The National Library of France has now quarantined these books for analysis to determine the level of arsenic in the covers.

We have put these works in quarantine and an external laboratory will analyse them to evaluate how much arsenic is present in each volume, the library said in a statement.

Similar precautions have been taken in Germany while a book containing arsenic was found in a Leeds library in 2022.

Melissa Tedone, a conservator at the Winterthur Museum, told Discover magazine in 2022: At the time, emerald green was the most colourfast, brilliant green colourant available and it was a wildly popular colour among consumers. No alternative dye could even come close to the intensity of the colour.

Given its application during an era characterised by both big and small binderies employing machinery, Ms Tedone said that tens of thousands of books were bound in emerald green between the 1840s and 1860s.

In 2019, Tedone and her colleagues started testing on hundreds of books from Winterthur and the Library Company of Philadelphia and found that half of the books had lead content, while others showed traces of various heavy metals like chromium and mercury.

Slightly over 10 per cent were identified to contain arsenic-laced emerald green, which poses a significantly higher health risk to librarians, collectors, and researchers.

The arsenic offset is invisible to the naked eye, Ms Tedone explained, so a person handling an arsenical book wouldnt necessarily see any green pigment offsetting onto their hands or other surfaces.

The World Health Organization warns against long-term arsenic exposure but doesnt provide specific guidelines for handling arsenic-laced items.

The Poison Book Project states on its website that the ongoing investigation explores the materiality of Victorian-era publishers bindings.

Research focuses on identifying potentially toxic pigments used in bookbinding components and how to handle and store potentially toxic collections more safely.
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Drone patents have soared across the world amid a new arms race as the technology is applied increasingly on the battlefield, experts have warned.

Data from the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) showed that patents filed for technology relating to drones surged by 16 per cent between 2022 and 2023. This represented an increase from 16,800 in 2022 to 19,700 in 2023  with China, Russia and the US among the top five countries developing the technology.

Marcel Plichta, a former analyst at the US Department of Defense, told The Independent that the scramble for patents marks a new global arms race for a new kind of warfare.

He said: This is part of a new global arms race. Its different to a more traditional arms race of tanks and rifles, and is spurred on much more by the tech sector  especially in Ukraine and Russia, where this sort of technology is being developed to get around attrition warfare, where it is difficult to make any real sort of progress.

A demonstration flight of a Russian military drone being tested in Moscow ( Reuters )

Its not necessarily a technological revolution  its just a case of applying drone technology to warfare for advantages on the battlefield.

Russia filed 342 patents between 2022 and 2024. Ukraine only filed 4 patents over the same period, according to the WIPO.

Up to 82 per cent of all global drone patents filed since 2015 originated from Chinese companies. In 2023, 87 per cent of all filings came from China.

Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, whose technology is often used on the battlefield by Ukraine, was the most frequent filer of drone patents.

A Ukrainian serviceman works on a FPV drone in a workshop in Donetsk amid a global arms race for the technology ( Reuters )

One model, the DJI Mavic, can be bought for as little as 100 on the internet. Although the sale of DJI models was suspended in Ukraine and Russia when the conflict began, they can still be bought abroad.

Mr Plichta said smaller quadcopter drones like this are easily equipped with a camera and grenade to deliver a payload, making them ideal for use on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the US is behind China as the second largest filer of the technology  submitting 858 patents in 2023 and 5,631 since 2015.

Andrew White, of intellectual property law firm Mathys & Squire, said military applications now make up a significant proportion of research and development in drone technology. Were seeing more investment in drone research from defence businesses as governments realise that they are in a literal arms race within this field, he said.

A Ukrainian serviceman preparing a DJI Mavic 3 drone, a model that is often used on the battlefield ( AFP via Getty )

Mr Plichta said the US military is now becoming more interested in drone technology  but that it is wary of the market being oversaturated by Chinese companies.

The drones made in the US are more expensive and available in smaller quantities than those in China, so theres no real alternative to them right now. But its certainly possible well see the US, Ukraine and European countries investing massively in them over the next five years.

Kyiv has announced plans to invest $1bn (800m) in the industry, with more than 10,000 drones said to be lost on the battlefield every month.
Dan Falk in Quanta Magazine:

In 2022, researchers at the Bee Sensory and Behavioral Ecology Lab at Queen Mary University of London observed bumblebees doing something remarkable: The diminutive, fuzzy creatures were engaging in activity that could only be described as play. Given small wooden balls, the bees pushed them around and rotated them. The behavior had no obvious connection to mating or survival, nor was it rewarded by the scientists. It was, apparently, just for fun.

The study on playful bees is part of a body of research that a group of prominent scholars of animal minds cited today, buttressing a new declaration that extends scientific support for consciousness to a wider suite of animals than has been formally acknowledged before. For decades, theres been a broad agreement among scientists that animals similar to us  the great apes, for example  have conscious experience, even if their consciousness differs from our own. In recent years, however, researchers have begun to acknowledge that consciousness may also be widespread among animals that are very different from us, including invertebrates with completely different and far simpler nervous systems.

More here.
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Germanys ambassador in Beijing has said she was summoned after Berlin arrested four people for allegedly spying for China.

Patricia Flor described her summoning as quite a telling move by the Chinese government and said that it gave her an opportunity to assert Germanys stance against espionage.

After four Germans were arrested this week for allegedly spying for Chinese secret services, I was summoned to the MFA today, Ms Flor said on X, referring to the Chinese foreign ministry.

We do not tolerate espionage in Germany, regardless of which country it comes from.

Flor was summoned days after the German foreign ministry called in the Chinese envoy. The ministry said the envoy was briefed on Berlins "clear position on the ongoing investigations into suspected Chinese espionage activities".

The four Germans held for allegedly funnelling sensitive technology to China include an aide to a European lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

The German public prosecutor claimed that Jian Guo, who worked for MEP Maximilian Krah, was spying for the Chinese secret services.

Mr Krah has denied any knowledge of his assistants alleged involvement in spying.

I learned of the arrest of my employee Jian Guo this morning from the press, the lawmaker said. I have no further information. Spying for a foreign state is a serious accusation. If the allegations prove to be true, this would result in the immediate termination of his employment.

The arrests came shortly after German chancellor Olaf Scholz visited China and held talks with president Xi Jinping. Mr Scholz expressed concern over the spying allegations against the far right MEP saying they were "very worrying".

The arrests prompted an angry response from China.

A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said the allegations were aimed at "smearing and suppressing China" and "destroying the atmosphere of cooperation between China and Europe. The spokesperson advised the German investigators to give up their cold war mentality.
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Journalists at Italys state broadcaster are planning to go on strike next month in protest at the suffocating control over their work by the countrys right-wing government.

Workers at RAI have a raft of grievances, including what they say are political attempts to turn the broadcaster into a mouthpiece for the government.

Other issues include staff shortages and the cancellation of an agreement over performance bonuses, according to the reporters trade union, Usigrai, which announced the 24-hour strike for 6 May.

Since Giorgia Meloni became prime minister in 2022, several high-profile executives and presenters have left RAI, lamenting government interference, and critics have expressed alarm over legislation proposed by her Brothers of Italy party to increase punishments for defamation.

Political influence over RAI is a long-standing issue, which came to a head last weekend over the last-minute cancellation of a talk-show appearance by Antonio Scurati, an anti-fascist writer and academic.

He had been due to read a monologue marking the national holiday on Thursday that celebrated Italys liberation from fascism, in which he criticised Ms Melonis party for not repudiating its post-fascist past. He also accused the prime minister of trying to rewrite history.

Italian newspapers have since published his piece.

Television officials and the prime minister denied censoring Mr Scuratis monologue, with the company saying only it had been dropped for editorial reasons and including his high fee.

Anti-fascist uthor Antonio Scuratis appearance on a talk show was cancelled ( Getty Images )

Ms Meloni, whose party traces its roots back to wartime dictator Benito Mussolinis fascists, has decried all forms of totalitarianism and spoken of her aversion to fascism. But she avoids defining herself as anti-fascist, despite frequent calls for her to do so.

Successive governments have handed out top jobs at RAI to loyal proteges. Its board members, appointed by parliament and the government, are picked according to their party affiliation.

Proposals to make the broadcaster more independent have been discussed for years but have never achieved results.

Unirai, a smaller union of RAI journalists, said they would not join next months strike, calling it a political protest.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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A prominent Russian businessman known, as the Crab King, as been snetenced in Russia for ordering the murder of a competitor.

Oleg Kan was jailed for 17 years in prison in absentia, Russian media reported on Friday.

Kan was the operator of several large fishing enterprises, including a group of crab companies, on Russias Pacific island of Sakhalin, just north of Japan, the Kommersant newspaper said.

Kans business specialised in catching and exporting Russias Kamchatka crab, or red king crab, a multi-million dollar business.

His whereabouts are unknown. Last year, rumours circulated in the local fishing industry that he had died in Britain.

The island of Sakhalin:

In 2005, an unknown person shot Kan several times. Kan survived, and suspected his business rival, Valeriy Phidenko, was involved and decided to take revenge, investigators found.

In October 2010, Kan invited Phidenko to a business meeting, and a hitman shot the Phidenko in his car when he arrived, according to the indictment cited by Kommersant.

For years, Kan remained free, and his business empire continued to grow. But in 2018, he fled to Japan on a private plane following the release of a film about illegal crab fishing which implicated his enterprises, Kommersant reported.

In 2020, authorities ordered Kans arrest, now 57, in absentia for orchestrating Phidenkos killing.

Kan was also charged in a separate case with smuggling more than 3,000 tons of live crab from Russia to Japan, China and South Korea worth 2.6 billion roubles ($28 million), as well as evading up to 3.69 billion roubles in taxes.

Some in Russia have claimed he faked his death in the UK.

Kommersant reported that lawyers for Kans family submitted a notarised copy of his UK-issued death certificate to a court, which refused to accept it. Russias Prosecutor Generals office considers his death to be a staged event.
 Close Drone footage shows devastation in Ukrainian city after Russian artillery pounding

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Russia has pushed Ukraine onto the back foot on the battlefield as Kyiv grapples with shortages of troops and ammunition.

Outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers are being forced to pull back, one village after another, as intense fighting roils the countryside surrounding Avdiivka nearly three months after the strategic city fell to Russia.

Ukrainian forces are now racing to build more defensive fortifications at places along the around 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.

The sting for Ukraine is sharpened after Russia launched an exhibition on Wednesday which proudly displays over 30 captured military vehicles from Ukraine, including US and UK-made, since the invasion began.

The exhibition was unveiled on Russias International Workers Day and will be open for a month for visitors.

It comes as a Russian ballistic missile struck a postal depot in the Ukrainian port of Odesa late on Wednesday, injuring 14 people and triggering a large fire, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.

Pictures and a video posted online showed flames and billowing clouds of smoke engulfing buildings and firefighters training their hoses on areas still ablaze. Most of the loading area appeared to have been reduced to a shell.
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A baby girl delivered from the womb of her dying mother after a devastating Israeli attack on their home in southern Gaza has died.

Medical workers performed an emergency caesarean section to rescue Sabreen al-Sakani after her mother, who was seven-and-a-half months pregnant, was fatally injured in the strike on Saturday.

After being resuscitated at the hospital in Rafah, it was initially thought the baby was in a stable condition  however, on Thursday, Sabreen lost her fight and was pronounced dead, the BBC has reported.

Sabreen al-Sakani was delivered by emergency caesarean section after her mother was fatally injured in a bombing on her home in Rafah ( AP )

The baby was buried next to her mother, who she was named after. Also killed in the attack were the womans husband Shukri and their three-year-old daughter Malak.

The family were reportedly asleep at the time of the bombing, which happened just before midnight.

The deaths highlight the tragic human toll of the war in Gaza, that has been raging since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October.

Sabreen was among 18 children killed in two air strikes in Rafah at the weekend, with Israels military stepping up its assault ahead of a promised offensive on the region.

The weekends bombardment has been followed by further strikes on the Palestinian enclave.

A Palestinian woman and children check the rubble of a building hit by overnight Israeli bombing in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday ( AFP via Getty )

On Thursday, at least six people, including a local journalist, were killed when five air strikes hit at least three houses in Rafah.

A senior Israeli defence official said on Wednesday that Israel was poised to evacuate civilians before a ground offensive on Rafah, and had bought 40,000 tents that could house 10-12 people each.

Satellite images show Israel has been building a huge camp settlement near Khan Younis.

Israel has been building a huge camp settlement near Khan Younis as it preprares to evacuate civilians from Rafah ( Maxar Technologies )

But Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said: Some [residents] are leaving, they are afraid for their families, but where can they go? They are not being allowed to go to the north and so are confined to a very small area.

At least two-thirds of the more than 34,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since this war began have been children and women, according to Gazas health ministry.
 Close Iranian state television reports explosions

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The UN has called for the preservation of evidence of mass graves in the Gaza Strip after 390 bodies were found at two different burial sites outside the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals.

The Israeli army said any suggestion of its responsibility was baseless and unfounded and the graves were dug by Gazans a few months ago.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said its important that all forensic evidence be well preserved.

Earlier, the US demanded answers from Israel after mass graves were found outside two hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, at least five people have been killed following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian hospital officials have said.

More than half of the territorys population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.

In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.
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The stock price of Alphabet surged about 16 per cent on Thursday after the parent company of Google released its quarterly earnings report and announced a cash dividend for investors.

The company reported nearly 60 per cent more profit in the quarter ended March 31 compared to the same period last year.

It beat Wall Street sales expectations for the quarter and announced its first cash dividend ever of 20 cents per share to its investors.

Our results in the first quarter reflect strong performance from search, YouTube and cloud, the companys chief executive Sundar Pichai said, adding that Googles artificial intelligence offerings came as a boon to its core business.

In after hours trading, the companys shares surged nearly 16 per cent and its stock market value rose by about $300bn to over $2tn.

Tech titans pledge to eradicate AI child exploitative content

Mr Pichai said a substantial part of Googles revenue gains could be attributed to its new AI ambitions.

We are encouraged that we are seeing an increase in search usage among people who are using the AI overviews, he said on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Google released a range of new AI features which it claimed would help people become more productive.

The AI tools were introduced at Googles Cloud Next event and will soon be coming to Googles Workspace suite, which includes Google Docs and Sheets as well as Gmail.

The tools, some of which are part of Gemini in Gmail, would enable users to simply write notes as drafts and have AI sort them into a properly written message.

We are well underway with our Gemini era and theres great momentum across the company, Mr Pichai said. Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation.

AI is already fueling the growth of Googles cloud computing division whose quarterly revenue surged by about 30 per cent from last year to $9.57bn.

The cloud division is also facing challenges, however, as dozens of its staff were fired after they participated in protests against the tech giants $1.2bn contract with the Israeli government and military.

The corporation is attempting to quash dissent, silence its workers and reassert its power over them, a spokesperson for the non-profit organisation No Tech for Apartheid, which organised the protest, said.
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TikToks parent company ByteDance would reportedly favour shutting down the app altogether over offloading its business after the US passed a new law forcing it to sell the platform or be banned in the country.

ByteDance doesnt have any plans to sell TikTok, ByteDance said on the social media platform Toutiao, which it owns.

ByteDance would rather shut down the app than sell it if it exhausts all legal options to fight the ban in the US, Reuters reported citing anonymous sources.

After American president Joe Biden signed the bill passed by the Senate into law, reports emerged suggesting that TikToks parent company could sell its operations to a US-based company, but without the algorithm that recommends videos on the app.

ByteDance deems TikToks algorithm core to its overall operations, including those of its other domestic video-sharing platforms in China.

TikTok has nine months to sell or face ban

The app launched in 2017 and quickly became one of the worlds most popular social media platforms, success that is widely attributed to its unique algorithm, deemed to be better than those of its competitors like Tencent.

Its algorithm has been so successful that rival social media platforms such as Instagram and X  formerly Twitter  have tweaked their designs to incorporate similar features.

The apps sale in the US along with its secret sauce is unlikely since its intellectual property licence, including its algorithm, is registered under ByteDance in China.

China has previously indicated that it would reject a forced divestment of TikTok during a US congressional hearing.

China will firmly oppose it...The sale or divestiture of TikTok involves technology export and must go through administrative licensing procedures in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Commerce at a news conference in Beijing said last year.

Separating the apps algorithms from its US assets would also be extremely complicated and ByteDance is unlikely to consider this option, sources told Reuters.

The act signed by Mr Biden sets a deadline of 19 January for ByteDance to sell up, but the deadline could be extended if the company is found to be making progress towards a sale.

The Senate passed the bill amid concerns among US lawmakers that China could analyse the apps user data to conduct surveillance on American citizens.

The video-sharing app only forms a small share of ByteDances overall revenues, meaning the Chinese-owned parent company would be in a position to simply shut it down in the US in a worst-case scenario rather than sell it, Reuters reported.

Rest assured  we arent going anywhere, TikTok chief Shou Zi Chew said in a video moments after Mr Biden signed the bill.
Whether from school-time lessons about Zeus and Hera, or a more recent dip into Disneys Hercules, the fascinating world of Ancient Greece is sure to sit somewhere in your mind. But seeing the sights in real life is an experience quite unlike any other. Vast temples perch on top of cliffs, seemingly held suspended against all gravitational odds, columns stretch into the clouds, and carvings are so creative its hard to believe there was no 3D printer back in 5 BC. Even better, its never been easier to get out here and explore, with my trip seamlessly organised from flights and hotel to sight-packed tours, by Jet2CityBreaks. The UKs number one tour operator wraps up your flights, hotel and 22kg baggage into an ATOL-protected package, so everythings taken care of. Whats more, if youre booking a solo holiday, youll be automatically eligible for their solo traveller discount, which takes 30 off* your holiday booking.

A diverse destination

Enjoy stunning views across Athens from hotel Skylarks stylish rooftop pool ( Jet2CityBreaks )

While Athens may be known for its rich history, beyond the fascinating sites and artefact-laden museums, there are plenty of modern attractions to enjoy in this dynamic destination. Think bustling bars, a glistening coast and winding streets full of shops to stroll through. In fact, its this blend between these two worlds that makes Athens such a fascinating city, with peeks into the ancient world (think statues, ruins, and archaeological remnants) popping up in unexpected places, from gaps in the pavement to my personal favourite, hidden inside a metro station.

So, after a pleasant morning flight from London Stansted, I check into Skylark, a chic hotel, boasting everything from a stylish restaurant, stunning rooftop pool and bar, gym, spa and even an in-house club on-site. Just a short walk from the old town area of Plaka, its perfect for soaking up Athens fascinating past and buzzy present from the moment I arrive.

Archaeological adventures

Visiting the Acropolis, visible throughout Athens, is a must for every visitor ( Lauren Cunningham )

For those seeking a trip back in time via dramatic ruins and ancient tales, Athens compelling history feels ever-present as you make your way around the city. I wasnt joking about the metro station moment, as Monastiraki Square houses a small River of Hades exhibition, so you can take in a small archaeological site before stepping onto a train. Truly fascinating. Although, if you prefer to see your artefacts in a more structured setting, there are plenty of museums to choose from  the Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum and Benaki Museum are just a few highlights.

No matter where you are in Athens, you can spot the Acropolis standing tall in the centre, and visiting it is a must. Home to the famous Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, to name but a few, this cluster of historical sites on top of the hill will take your breath away. On your way out, be sure to pass through the Acropolis Museum to see more incredible artefacts from the site, before making your way down to Hadrians Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus where you can get up close to dramatic stone arches and Corinthian columns.

Further afield, a one-day tour of Delphi (main image, above) is a must for history buffs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delphi was considered by the Ancient Greeks to be the centre of the world, and its where youll find the famed temple and Oracle of Apollo, where a series of high priestesses, known as Pythia, would share prophecies, advice and counsel with leaders and lawmakers, often forecasting the outcome of projected wars or political actions. Surrounded by the stunning Greek countryside, this well-preserved site makes for a truly memorable trip, taking in the ancient site, ruins and temple, plus an on-site museum housing mosaics and sculptures.

Fabulous food

Wandering around the town centre, youll discover an abundance of charming eateries ( Lauren Cunningham )

Unsurprisingly, given their famed cuisine, theres an abundance of eateries in the Greek capital, and a stroll through Plaka reveals countless tempting options. A favourite of mine was the Bookbar, where, as the name suggests, you can sit down with a good read plucked from the shelves around you while you sip your Greek coffee (a stronger, richer form of Espresso).

For gyros, a staple in Greek culture, consisting of fine strips of meat (and sometimes chips) inside a pita bread, Tylixto is the takeaway that is the most popular pick, with no fewer than 20 people in the queue at any given time.

Louis Bistrot offers a more formal food setting, serving Mediterranean food under New Orleans-esque architecture, while Thespis provides a more authentic Athens vibe, nestled under olive trees and twinkling fairy lights on the way up to the Acropolis. Plus, if youre after a tasty tipple, Fine Wine sits just next door, so you can sample some Greek wines while sitting outside on one of the citys pretty winding streets.

Hidden gems

The elaborate, dance-like changing of the guards attracts crowds every Sunday ( Lauren Cunningham )

Another Athens must-see is the changing of the guards that stand in front of the war memorial, the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Head to Syntagma Square at 11am on a Sunday and join the growing crowd to see the elaborate, dance-like display of soldiers in traditional dress.

Fashion fans may be familiar with Athens famous sandal man, Stavros Melissinos, who has made leather shoes for The Beatles, Sarah-Jessica Parker, Jill Biden and many more famous faces. To join his star-studded clientele, head over to his store on the edge of the old town. For more souvenir shopping, Adrianou Street is bustling with options, with everything from jewellery (including classic Evil Eye bracelets) Greek honey and hand-crafted trinkets in plentiful supply.

Enjoy picturesque harbourside vistas with a short metro ride to the port of Piraeus ( Lauren Cunningham )

Finally, if you fancy taking in some sea air, a metro ride from the city centre to the port of Piraeus will have you watching boats and tucking into fresh fish in a mere half hour. Head straight to Zea Marina and Mikrolimano Harbor for a picturesque place to perch.

To find out more about destinations, hotels, and book your perfect city adventure, visit Jet2CityBreaks

*Simply enter code SOLO30 at checkout. T&Cs apply: jet2holidays.com/promotions#30OFFSOLO
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Theres snoring in my room  an almost melodic, low rumble. Its not the kind of snore that has you launching pillows at the culprit, but enough to keep you hanging on waiting for the next one. Usually thered only be my boyfriend to blame, and Id roll him over (if feeling charitable), or give him a hard kick (if feeling less so). But Im in a hostel dormitory room in Paris, and climbing into the next bunk to roll or kick the snorer doesnt seem socially acceptable.

The French capital has never been a cheap destination, and hotels routinely offering rooms at costs of over 1,000 (850) a night are becoming more and more common. This isnt helped by the Olympics coming to town this summer, although there is evidence that rates are falling. While I struggle to understand spending so much anywhere, doing so in a city like Paris, where surely you spend very little time in your room, seems even more incomprehensible.

So this time I checked into a hostel. It was partially motivated by price, and partially curiosity. I used to be a prolific hostel-hopper, and Id spend months on end going from dorm room to dorm room, sharing my space with strangers whod become friends without a second thought. But this was pre-Covid, and before my 30th birthday.

The pandemic threatened to destroy hostel culture. In 2020, Frances hostels lost 50 per cent of their revenue, and many were forced to close their doors for good. Those that survived raised their prices, and the entry price for a dorm bed is now between 1830, or closer to 50 in Paris. When I first backpacked France in 2013, you could get a dorm bed for as little as 10, so it doesnt surprise me that many opt for Airbnbs instead, particularly when travelling with friends or as a couple, often finding it more economical.

open image in gallery Anna and a view of Paris from the hostel ( supplied )

Read more on France travel:

I checked into The People Hostel, Belleville, in Pariss 11th arrondissement. Its my favourite part of the city; the sticky smell of hot baklava mingles with dumplings and croissants. Theres no gold-gilded domes, except from afar, but the former quarry turned park, Buttes-Chaumont, uses its elevated vantage point to give one of the best panoramas over the Parisian skyline: the Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Sacre Cur, the distant skyscrapers of La Defense.

Arriving was like walking through the looking glass. A painting class was in full swing in the lobby, men and women alike in drag. I crossed the rooftop to reach my dormitory, the row of terracotta chimney pots framing the same Parisian sights Id seen from Buttes-Chaumont, and a chaotic street below, food stalls outside every epicerie, too much trash, and cherry trees in full bloom.

open image in gallery Theres no escaping the occasional snorer in a dorm room ( The People Belleville )

The free drink token I was given at check-in was enough of an incentive to encourage me to face my fears. I remembered this feeling well from my backpacking days: the awful moment when you arrive at a hostel knowing no one and you have to put yourself out there to talk to a stranger, feeling like a predator with a bad chat-up line. Fortunately a smile and a bonjour was all it took to get chatting. Id had a knot in my stomach before leaving the dorm. Everyone in a hostel looks like theyre already friends, but you forget that this camaraderie was often formed mere minutes before.

Scott, an American living in Zurich, used to live in Paris. He bemoaned the fact that hes so much older this time around, and saw the city in such a different way. He was 26 years old.

We took our drinks up to the rooftop, and Id forgotten the ease with which perfect strangers can communicate. We were joined by Tyson, a Japanese man who spoke neither French nor English, and decided to take a job in a Parisian cafe after seeing paintings by Vincent van Gogh (Scott spoke Japanese, and acted as our mediator). Another American joined us next, just 19 years old and on his first European trip, wide-eyed in wonder at the Eiffel Tower crackling to life on the horizon, and the fact that everyone here takes the subway rather than driving. Then there was a Turkish girl, a couple of Brazilians and an Australian.

open image in gallery Hostels are still a place where friendships are formed ( The People Belleville )

Everyone talked at breakfast too, the mix of languages and accents almost like a choir. Two girls commandeered the piano and guitar and sang City of Stars from the film La La Land, and they werent bad. Theres barely a laptop in sight.

We spoke about day plans, and a man from my dormitory asked the rest of us for an off-piste suggestion for the day.

Have you seen the Eiffel Tower yet? asks the Texan, with a deadly serious face.

I left with plenty of new contacts in my phone (not one of them a tech bro) and the feeling that Id seen Paris through fresh eyes. And while Paris might not be as polished, or clean, as theyd expected, not one of the backpackers I met seemed disappointed by it.

How to do it

A dormitory bed at The People Belleville starts from 34.

Read more: The best hotels in Paris
Ethiopia expects more Chinese investments in manufacturing sector

Xinhua) 11:18, April 26, 2024

ADDIS ABABA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese investments have significantly contributed to the advancement of Ethiopia's manufacturing sector, and industry stakeholders are keen to assist Chinese investors looking to enter the East African country, said Aklilu Tadesse, CEO of the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

Chinese investors currently represent the largest group of foreign investors in industrial parks managed by the IPDC, Tadesse said Wednesday during discussions with potential Chinese investors that have expressed their interest to invest in the country's industrial parks.

Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa, has expressed its strong commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in developing industrial parks to fulfill its goal of becoming the manufacturing hub of Africa.

In a statement, the IPDC emphasized Ethiopia's aspiration to remain China's preferred destination in Africa for the development of industrial parks and investments within them.

Chinese engagement has played a vital role in Ethiopia's efforts to construct and operate industrial parks, supporting the country's economic restructuring toward industrialization, the statement said.

According to recent data from the IPDC, more than 130 local and foreign investors are currently involved in various sectors across 12 industrial parks and one free trade zone in Ethiopia, many of which were constructed by Chinese companies. These industrial parks have created permanent and temporary employment opportunities for over 100,000 Ethiopians, particularly the country's youth.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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A nationwide Border Force outage caused chaos at several major UK airports yesterday, with a technical issue affecting electronic passport gates for hours.

The software outage impacted airports including Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Heathrow, with passengers describing it as a shambles and complaining of queuing for up to an hour as a result.

open image in gallery The outage caused queues of up to an hour long ( BeardOnTheBlock/Instagram )

The incident was first reported by Edinburgh Airport yesterday afternoon, and a statement posted on X/Twitter confirmed: This is resulting in longer wait times for arriving passengers. Our teams are in the arrivals hall providing support as partners from UKBF work to fix the issue.

In response to the tweet, one passenger shared a picture of people queuing and described the situation as an absolute shambles. Another person complained of zero communication and said the area was completely jammed up.

It was reported by Edinburgh Live that passengers were queing for at least 45 minutes as a result of the outage. Meanwhile, a passenger affected by the outage at Manchester Airport told Manchester Evening News theyd been waiting for 30 minutes and were only halfway through the passport control queue.

Replying to London Stansteds similar social media update during the software outage, another passenger responded: I am indeed in the huge queue.

At 4pm yesterday, a spokesperson for UK Border Force said: We are aware of a technical issue affecting eGates across the country. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused.

UK Border Force has now resolved the issue and eGates were up and running again at all affected airports last night.

Electronic passport gates (or eGates) are used to scan both a persons face and their passport to confirm a passengers identity using biometric technology.

A spokesperson for UK Border Force told The Independent: Yesterday a technical issue affected eGates across the country. The issue was quickly identified and has now been resolved. We have comprehensively reviewed the causes and will ensure this issue does not occur again.
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Europes biggest budget airline will remain apart from its two main rivals by shunning any kind of loyalty or frequent-flyer scheme, the boss has said.

Ryanairs chief executive, Michael OLeary, told The Independent that travellers seeking a loyalty benefit should instead buy a dog.

open image in gallery Michael OLeary, chief executive of Ryanair, at a media event in London on 27 September 2023. The sign behind him reads UK ATC: Inefficicent shambles ( Simon Calder )

Both easyJet and Wizz Air operate paid loyalty schemes that offer benefits for frequent flyers in return for a subscription. The former offers annual easyJet Plus membership for 170, providing benefits including a free large cabin bag and the ability to choose the best seats on the aircraft at no additional charge.

Wizz Air has a similar option, known as Privilege Pass, for which the annual subscription is 249 (214)  as well as a paid-for Discount Club.

The aim of these schemes is to reward frequent flyers and entice travellers to book repeatedly with the preferred airline rather than rivals.

But Ryanair is known to have a disdain for such schemes  partly because of the added complexity, but also due to a sense that many easyJet and Wizz Air passengers extract much more value from the loyalty programmes than the cost of the subscription.

Regular passengers who fly once a fortnight with easyJet, for example, are paying only 7 for each trip for easyJet Plus membership  yet deriving benefits that may amount to 50 or more per flight.

Mr OLeary insisted his airline has a different approach. When speaking to The Independent, he claimed that Ryanair fares are so low that the more passengers fly, the more they save.

He said: I dont understand why, if youre already getting the lowest fares in Europe and therefore youre already benefiting, saving money every time you fly with us, why do we need loyalty scheme?

If you want something loyal, buy a dog. If you want the lowest air fares in Europe, fly Ryanair.

Ten years ago, the airlines chief executive embarked on a canine charm offensive when he launched Ryanairs Always Getting Better plan. To promote the notion that he was fixing the things our customers dont like, a photograph of Mr OLeary cuddling a puppy was shown at a press conference.

Despite the prominence of the puppy, Ryanair rejected the prospect of carrying pets at the time. Mr OLeary said: We tried it, but we lost a snake in Sicily and a cat at Milan Bergamo.
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Southwest Airlines is cutting service to four airports after citing issues with aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The announcement comes after disappointing profits in the first quarter of 2024, according to Bob Jordan, president and CEO of Southwest Airlines. In a statement to investors, Mr Jordan cited ongoing delivery delays by Boeing.

The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025, Mr Jordan said. Soon after that statement, the CEO appeared on CNBC to clarify, the network actions really have nothing to do with the Boeing delay.

open image in gallery Southwest Airlines is cutting service to four airports after aircraft delivery delays from Boeing ( AFP via Getty Images )

The impacted airports are George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas, Syracuse Hancock International Airport in New York, Bellingham International Airport in Washington and Cozumel International Airport in Mexico.

These delays come as Boeing reduces production to address safety and manufacturing concerns.

These concerns found a national spotlight in January when a door plug fell off a Boeing plane mid-flight. While there were no major injuries, passengers were left shaken up. Three of those on board even sued the airline.

A Boeing whistleblower then testified to Congress about several safety concerns earlier this month.

Sam Salehpour, a current quality engineer for the manufacturer, told a congressional committee that Boeing has a culture of retaliation when employees speak up about their concerns.

When asked if the planes are safe, Mr Salehpour testified: Its like an earthquake. When that hits the building ... [it has] to be prepared to accommodate that type of shake-up... Right now, from what Ive seen, the airplanes are not being billed per spec, and per requirements.

Boeing CFO Brian West addressed the manufacturing delays last month at the Bank of America Industrials Conference.

We are in regular, very transparent communications and they know precisely where we stand and the progress that were making and we, at the same time, have to understand what their needs are as they think about their flight schedules and their passengers, Mr West said.

On top of cutting service, Southwest Airlines also plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs by the end of the year, Mr Jordan told investors.

At the same time, the airlines flight attendants ratified a new contract, securing a one-third pay increase over four years. The agreement marks a win for airline employees as the industry continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Low-cost airline Ryanair has confirmed to The Independent that flights will resume in June from around a dozen points in Europe to Tel Aviv.

The airlines chief executive, Michael OLeary, said the crucial issue is if the authorities at Ben Gurion International Airport reopen the low-cost Terminal 1.

If they reopen Terminal 1, we will be able to restart our operations, he said. We would hope to go back, and would expect to go back, unless the security situation changes.

I dont think Tel Aviv will be a significant tourism destination this year, but theres lots of people who have friends or relatives living and working in Tel Aviv, or living and working in the UK, and they do need to reunite.

Five years ago, competition between airlines flying from the UK to Israel stepped up with Virgin Atlantic entering the fray  offering long-haul standards on the link between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv.

Sir Richard Branson even took to the street markets in Jaffa to promote the new route.

But since the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, links between the UK and Israel have shrunk drastically.

Virgin Atlantic now says: We have taken the difficult decision to extend our pause on flying to and from Tel Aviv up to and including 4 September 2024.

The safety and security of our customers and our people are our number one priority and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review.

Earlier this month British Airways said its much-reduced schedule from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv will continue through the summer. At present only a daily short-haul Airbus A320 flies the route  with an additional en route stop at Larnaca in Cyprus, which extends journey times by 80 minutes.

This was due to go nonstop from the start of June, but the plan has now been deferred until July.

BA says: This extension will mean that some existing bookings from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv between end of May and end of June will no longer meet minimum connection times and will need to re-booked.

In addition, a planned new overnight service by British Airways on the route between 23 June and 1 September has been axed.

Britains biggest budget airline, easyJet, has cancelled all its Israel flights until the start of the aviation winter season at the end of October. An airline spokesperson said: As a result of the continued evolving situation in Israel, easyJet has now taken the decision to suspend its flights to Tel Aviv for the remainder of the summer season until 27 October.

Wizz Air is offering regular low-cost flights between London Gatwick and Tel Aviv.

The Israeli airline El Al has continued to fly between London and Tel Aviv throughout the conflict, except when events such as the attack by Iran have closed Ben Gurion airport.

The Foreign Office advises against travel to Israel.
Comedian Jack Whitehall says he has been outrageously shaded by Prince William following a dad joke the future King made on a school visit to the West Midlands.

William shared Princess Charlottes favourite joke as he paid a visit to St Michaels Church of England High school to surprise pupil Freddie Hadly, following a letter he had written to him.

During the visit, the Prince of Wales was asked to share a dad joke for the schools radio station.

Prince William said: Im kind of trying to channel Jack Whitehall, because most of his jokes are pretty dad-like.

The comedian shared his response to Williams comment in an Instagram video posted on Thursday (25 April).

He captioned the video: An outrageous shading from the future King. #DadJokes #theregoesmyknighthood.
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbour since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago.

A bulk carrier, headed for Canada, passed through the new 35ft channel on Thursday morning (25 April).

Two more commercial ships followed later in the day, including a vehicle carrier headed to Panama.

Five stranded vessels are expected to pass through the temporary channel.

A container ship, named the Dali, struck the bridge last month, causing it to collapse.

The ports main channel is set to reopen next month after the Dali has been moved.
Agents of the National Police, in a joint operation with the Mossos dEsquadra and EUROPOL, have dismantled the largest workshop for the manufacture of counterfeit 2-euro coins in Spain.

The joint operation with Mossos dEsquadra and Europol, launched in 2018, has been described as the most important in Europe in the last decade.

It faced extreme difficulty as the coins were not easily traceable and workshops used to manufacture them were very mobile.

Almost 100,000 counterfeit coins were introduced in the Spanish market and nearly 400,000 in the rest of Europe.

The group allegedly responsible is believed to be from China.

Ten people have been arrested.
CCTV captures a knife-wielding killer on a rampage through the streets of Hartlepool before murdering a stranger in an act inspired by revenge for the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Ahmed Alid, 45, stabbed Terence Carney, 70, six times in Hartlepool town centre eight days after Hamas attacked Israel.

Earlier that day the Moroccan asylum seeker broke into the bedroom of his housemate, Javed Nouri, and hacked at him while he slept in a Home Office-approved asylum seekers accommodation.

Alid told police he launched his attacks because Israel had killed innocent children.

Alid was found guilty of murdering Mr Carney, attempting to murder Mr Nouri and assaulting two detectives.

He will be sentenced on 17 May.
A woman who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment says the decision to overturn his rape conviction is devastating but unsurprising.

Weinstein was found guilty in 2020 of raping and assaulting two women, and is currently serving 23 years at a prison in upstate New York.

The disgraced Hollywood moguls rape conviction was overturned at the Court of Appeals in New York on Thursday (25 April).

Sarah Ann Masse, who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment told Good Morning Britain today (26 April): It's a devastating but unsurprising miscarriage of justice.
Kim Kardashian told US Vice President Kamala Harris she was just here to help as she visited the White House for the first time under Joe Bidens presidency.

The 43-year-old participated in a roundtable in the Roosevelt Room with Harris and four people who were pardoned by President Biden this week.

The US Vice President said: Ill start by saying that I want to thank Kim for your advocacy and for using your platform in a way that has really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances.

Kardashian vowed to learn more every day, every visit, every administration as she thanked Harris for her commitment to second chances.
A doctor has explained more about the worlds first personalised mRNA cancer jab for melanoma, which is currently being tested in British patients.

Doctor Amir Khan described the vaccine as positive news as he discussed how it works when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday (26 April).

Dr Khan said: What is happening is the melanoma is being surgically removed and then its being analysed for something called neoantigens.

The key thing here is the neoantigens are very specific to that cancer and that person. A bit like a cancer fingerprint.

That vaccine is then made up using artificial intelligence and genetic technology given to the person and it primes their immune system to target any cells that are left behind.
Pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Southern California were dispersed by police in riot gear on Wednesday, 24 April.

The peaceful protest on the university campus escalated suddenly when armed police arrived to disperse student protesters. Police could be seen dragging away students tents. Several arrests were made.

The incident happened as pro-Palestine protests continue to erupt across US university campuses.

More than 400 protesters have been arrested nationwide since the arrests at Columbia University on 18 April.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has approved LloydsPharmacys purchase of rival McCabes Pharmacy.

The deal was first announced in October last year and the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed at the time.

LloydsPharmacy, which is ultimately owned by German healthcare group Phoenix, owns 82 pharmacies across the country, while family-owned McCabes operates 31 pharmacies which are mainly based around Dublin.

The CCPC pointed to concerns during the investigation regarding levels of competition in the Lucan area of Dublin.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 26th

As a result, LloydsPharmacy has agreed to sell two McCabes locations in Lucan to a buyer who will be approved by the competition watchdog.

LloydsPharmacy has also agreed not to do anything which could negatively impact on the pharmacies prior to any potential sale. It has also made an agreement not to buy back these locations for at least a decade.

Following these commitments, the CCPC has approved the deal. It will now appoint an independent monitoring trustee to ensure that LloydsPharmacy complies with the agreement.

The LloydsPharmacy chain was sold last year by McKesson Europe to Phoenix as part of a wider sale of European assets. This purchase also included Irish pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor United Drug, as well as TCP Homecare.

The latest set of publicly-available accounts for LloydsPharmacy show that it generated sales of 144.6m in the year to the end of March 2022, up from 135m the prior year.

Like-for-like sales were 7pc higher.

In the 2022 financial year, it also posted an operating profit of 3.1m compared to a 345,000 loss the previous year.

Accounts for the holding company behind McCabes, called Kalamunda, reported that the groups 2022 sales hit 64.1m, rising from 58m in 2021.

The pharmacy chain had an operating profit of 1.5m in 2022 compared to a 1.2m profit the year before.

The purchase of McCabes is the latest deal in the Irish pharmacy sector.

Last year, Uniphar agreed to sell three pharmacies in counties Kildare, Meath and Wexford in order to secure regulatory approval for its takeover of the 37 outlets of the Sam McCauley chain. This deal was worth around 50m, Uniphar reported at the time.

Uniphar also purchased the Hickeys pharmacy chain in 2020. This deal included 36 pharmacies.
The Spanish bank that owns Leitrim-based mortgage lender Avant Money has confirmed it is entering the Irish banking market.

The move comes as the banking market here has suffered from the loss of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank, leaving AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB.

The three domestic banks have reported bumper profits in the last while.

Now Spains Bankinter is set enter market here on the back of the success in its Avant Money mortgage and consumer finance offering.

Avant Money has been gaining market share despite AIB, BoI and PTSB writing almost 90pc of new mortgages in this market.

The move by Bankinter is set to send shockwaves through the Irish banking system as it was thought that up to now that full service banks would not enter this market due to its small size and difficulties repossessing homes when mortgage holders default.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 26th

It is understood Bankinter initially plans to passport in banking services, including a deposits offering, under its Spanish licence but using the Avant Money brand.

But it is expected to eventually apply for a full Irish banking permit. Sources said that the bank will be digital-based, rather than using the traditional branches model.

Passporting through the EUs Single Market allows a firm with a licence in one EU member to operate throughout the bloc.

Niall Corbett, CEO of Avant Money, said: "Todays decision paves the way for the strategic expansion of our business. This is a clear commitment to Ireland from Bankinter and we look forward to bringing even more choice, value and competition to the market.

"It will allow us to better meet the needs of customers by further leveraging Bankinter's innovative products and customer experience. We see potential for future job creation through the expansion of our operations and offerings, contributing to economic development and employment opportunities here in Ireland."

It will likely be seen as a significant boost for competition here following a slew of overseas banking exits since the financial crash.

In 2018 former ECB president Mario Draghi described Ireland as a quasi-monopoly. Since then both Ulster Bank and KBC have left the market.

The lack of banking competition in this market has long been acknowledged by the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and by the Government.

The Governments 2022 Retail Banking Review dedicates a whole chapter to competition.

Bankinter is the fifth-largest Spanish bank with a 113bn on its balance sheet.

It came into this market in 2018 through the acquisition of AvantCard, a credit card and consumer finance business, from US investment group Apollo.

AvantCard was subsequently renamed Avant Money, which moved into Irish mortgages in late 2020 with rates starting at 1.95 per cent for first-term products, undercutting the cheapest home loans in the market at the time.

Bankinter recently reported that its Irish loans amounted to 3.3bn at the end of March, up 43pc on the year.
Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta said Wednesday its first-quarter profit more than doubled, boosted by higher advertising revenue and a 6pc increase on the average price of ads on its platforms. But its shares dropped sharply in after-hours trading following lukewarm revenue guidance.

Meta Platforms Inc. earned $12.37bn, or $4.71 per share, in the January-March period. That's up from $5.71bn, or $2.20 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue rose 27pc to $36.46bn from $28.65bn.

Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of $4.32 per share on revenue of $36.14bn, according to a poll by FactSet.

For the current quarter, the Menlo Park, California-based company said it expects revenue between $36.5bn and $39bn. Analysts are expecting revenue of $38.25bn for the second quarter, which is higher than the midpoint of Meta's guidance range.

Meta also said it expects its 2024 capital expenses to be higher than anticipated due to its investments in artificial intelligence. It is forecasting expenses in the range of $35bn to $40bn, up from its earlier guidance of $30bn to $37bn.

The company has been investing heavily in AI and earlier this month unveiled a new set of artificial intelligence systems that are powering what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.

Meta, along with leading AI developers Google and OpenAI, and startups such as Anthropic, Cohere and Frances Mistral, have been churning out new AI language models and hoping to persuade customers theyve got the smartest, handiest or most efficient chatbots.

Metas earnings should serve as a stark warning for companies reporting this earnings season," said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com Even though the company did beat estimates in all top- and bottom-line metrics, it didnt matter as much as the reported lowering revenue expectations for Q2. This is the exact opposite of what Tesla did yesterday and goes to show that investors are currently looking at the near future with heavy mistrust.

On Tuesday, electric vehicle maker Tesla reported that its first-quarter net income plummeted 55pc. But it said it would accelerate production of new, more affordable vehicles, and on Wednesday its stock rose 12pc.

The number of people using Meta's apps, meanwhile, continued to increase, with 3.24 billion users on average for March in its family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. That's up 7pc year-over-year. Beginning this quarter, the company will no longer disclose user figures for Facebook.

Meta had 69,329 workers as of March 31, a decrease of 10pc year-over-year. Zuckerberg called 2023 the year of efficiency" and the company laid off thousands to reduce expenses.

Meta's shares fell 16pc in after-hours trading. Meta's stock price has more than doubled over the past year thanks to a rebound in online advertising.
The Dublin social media sensation on the pressure to replicate the success of her single, her battle with debilitating endometriosis and staying true to herself at all costs

Sarah Crean will never forget the date: November 11, 2022. That was the day of what she now simply refers to as the TikTok. The day that her life changed.

I was in a really bad place before that happened, says the young Dublin musician. Ive always been a very anxious person, but around that time, it peaked, and I began taking medication. My hormones and body were all over the place, and then I got this notification that Id been tagged in a video And I havent rested since. Really, if my childhood self had seen the weeks that followed that, I dont think shed believe it. It was like a movie.
Ncuti Gatwa says new Doctor Who series explores subcultures in British fashion

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has said the new series of the sci-fi show explores subcultures of British fashion through his characters outfits.

The long-running BBC series will return to screens in May starring Gatwa, 31, as the 15th incarnation of the Doctor.

In the trailer for the upcoming series, the Time Lord and his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson, can be seen in a variety of outfits from different time periods.
The Irish High Court has been asked to formally recognise a 15.4bn (US$16.5bn) judgment against the State of Argentina.

An application to recognise the judgment in this jurisdiction was granted by a New York court last year. It has been made by two groups who were each minority shareholders in the Argentine Energy Company YPF.
Invisible Interviews: Grahams Story documents Graham Kirks life with Niemann-Pick disease

Graham Kirk from Rush, Co Dublin, who lives with the rare disease Niemann-Pick type C. Photo: Steve Humphreys

A documentary showcasing how a Co Dublin man lives with a rare disease has been selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Rush native Graham Kirk was diagnosed with the genetic condition Niemann-Pick disease type C in 2010. He received his diagnosis after his sister, Paula, had the same disease.

I got diagnosed because my sister had it. She was drastically incapacitated with it. At the end she couldnt sleep, she suffered pneumonia and passed, Mr Kirk said.

Im fortunate that Ive been able to see what has happened to her and done the opposite.

Invisible Interviews: Grahams Story was produced by the Niemann-Pick UK (NPUK) charity. It was also nominated for a Smiley Charity Film Award in March.

Its great. What were trying to do is just ring as many bells and shout as loud as we can at the moment to raise awareness of the disease, Mr Kirk said.

Im so lucky to have my support network of family and friends. And the charity itself, to be associated with any charity, Im glad its this one.

The documentary was filmed with just one camera at Mr Kirks home and has gone up against bigger, more expensive productions at every turn on the way to Cannes.

I never thought wed even get this far. There was a bit of traction from the Smiley Awards last month and now its been included in Cannes, he said.

We didnt really expect to be up with the high-rollers of the Cannes Film Festival and the competitors in the category are from Japan, Italy.

Huge names that would be head and shoulders above us in terms of what they can afford to put into making a movie.

What we went for in the end  and what budget drove in the end  was a fly-on-the-wall documentary, a face-to-face of me being able to share my story with the camera and the world, hopefully.

Mr Kirk has taken a number of steps to reduce stress in his life to help manage Niemann-Pick. He no longer works, has taken on a healthier lifestyle since his diagnosis and is still able to go to the gym.

Nothing is the same for each patient, he said.

My diagnosis is bad, yes, and I have Niemann-Pick, but I know theres patients out there that every day they wake up they have to wee into a bag, bring a bag with them, bring an oxygen tank with them, get into a wheelchair.

There are severe cases, whereas I am very fortunate.

Niemann-Pick can lie dormant in the body for years before being brought on by a trigger. For Paula, the stress of sitting the Leaving Cert revealed the condition.

From there everything was downhill. Her mobility, her hand-eye co-ordination, everything was just not there, Mr Kirk said.

Whereas Ive been lucky enough to see all of that and fight the good fight.

Getting treatment and advancing research for rare diseases like Niemann-Pick can be difficult, Mr Kirk said.

Treatment is an issue across the board for rare diseases, not just Niemann-Pick. Ireland isnt really a major player in the development of drugs, we dont look at developing drugs for rare diseases because theyre so expensive.

Its a battle for the charity to get funding, its always being knocked back because it is such a rare disease.

The documentary has done a great deal to raise awareness, reaching more than 165,000 views globally on TikTok alone.

With the condition, youre just looking at exposure and trying to raise awareness as much as possible, were not looking at making money off anything like this. Its started from a very small base and grown exponentially.

Niemann-Pick affects around 70 or 80 people in the UK and there are just four or five diagnosed cases in Ireland. Niemann-Pick type C affects one in 120,000 people, but NPUK has said that may be an underestimation.

Though he now uses hearing aids, Mr Kirk said he feels guilty when he attends the yearly NPUK conference and sees how the disease is impacting other people.

Youre given a badge at the start  pink for patients, green for volunteers and blue for family members. I sat down and another lady said to me, I think you have the wrong badge. Thats sort of complimentary but its also sort of embarrassing.

You do come back from the conference and feel a bit guilty because youre so well and everyone around you is struggling along. I feel sad for the parents with kids in wheelchairs, going into care and respite. They dont have much time left with them and they know that as well.

Mr Kirk is an ambassador for the International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry (INPDR), an initiative aimed at documenting how the condition physically progresses involving both patients and doctors.

The work of the INPDR has been crucial in raising awareness and understanding of Niemann-Pick due to the rarity of the disease, creating an international effort to push research forward and improve clinical care.
The former partner of Jonathan Creswell  who was on trial for the rape and murder of Katie Simpson before dying suddenly this week  has said that she never felt fear like she did when she was with him.

Creswell (36) was found dead at his home yesterday morning. He had been on bail.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed. As a result of his passing the trial has been concluded.

Co Armagh showjumper Katie Simpson (21) died in hospital on August 9, 2020, six days after an incident at the home he shared with her sister  who was Creswells partner at the time  in Lettershandoney, Co Derry. Another woman also lived at the property.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 26th

On August 3, Creswell claimed he rescued Katie from a suicide attempt.

Prosecutors alleged on the first day of Creswells trial on Tuesday that he raped, strangled and killed Katie out of jealousy and tried to cover it up by making it look like a suicide.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Creswells ex-girlfriend Abigail Lyle explained how during her nine-month relationship with Creswell, she was beaten up "every couple of weeks".

"Every couple of weeks for those nine months, I did something that would be unacceptable to him.

She noted that she genuinely thought he was going to kill her during a specific incident in a wooded area in Co Monaghan.

"I never felt fear like that... to just be in a car with somebody and you don't know where you are going... He took me into the woods and threatened me, every time, he threatened to kill me," she said.

"I thought he was going to do it this time, he didn't obviously, but that attack lasted hours.

"He was just beating me, throwing me around, choking me, screaming at me, calling me names and asking me horrible questions.

"That was the worst by far and it would last for such a time and then he would just say: 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, don't go' and then the cycle would start over again."

In 2010, Creswell was jailed for six months for a catalogue of abuse against Abi.

He had pleaded guilty to five charges of assaulting his then 25-year-old girlfriend, occasioning her actual bodily harm, and one of common assault between February and August 2009.

He had also threatened to drop her into a bath tub full of bleach.

She added: "One evening I came home and I could smell it from downstairs, he had filled the bath with bleach.

"I started screaming and someone actually came to the door.

"I don't know who that was but, thank you. Someone came and banged on the door and he [Creswell] said 'if you're quiet I won't put you in the bleach' so I was quiet.

"So I just got a normal beating instead."

Ms Lyle now has a successful career competing in international dressage and is hoping to be chosen to represent Ireland at the Paris Olympics in July.

She expressed her sympathies to Kate Simpsons family, continuing: "Although it is a shame we didn't get to see Jonathan Creswell face his crimes and be brought to justice, I take a lot of solace in the fact that he will never be able to hurt another person ever again.
Fires were lit at a site slated to house 160 asylum seekers in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, last nightGardai came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene Three garda cars were damaged during the incidentSix people arrested Justice Minister McEntee describes it as an attack on our democracy and our state

Scene of fire at site slated to house asylum seekers in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said unacceptable scenes at a site slated to house 160 asylum seekers turned to violence last night and gardai were disgracefully attacked by protestors.

He visited the scene in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow this morning, where three garda cars were damaged and gardai were attacked with stones.

Gardai maintained a presence at the scene overnight and remain on site this morning, with no further significant incidents reported overnight.

"There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence, Commissioner Harris said following his visit to Newtownmountkennedy.

"Weve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse type premises, but also then disgracefully attacks on members of An Garda Siochana who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged, and one vehicle, the vehicle behind me, was damaged with an axe.

Commissioner Harris said both the front window and the rear window of a patrol car had been smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe and tyres of a Public Order vehicle were slashed.

"Beyond that, there was there were attempts to injure members of An Garda Siochana. Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them.

Three men and one woman have since been charged in relation to the incident at the site and will appear before the District Court later today.

One man has been charged with alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997, and released to appear before court at a later date.

One male juvenile has been released without charge and a referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.

Responding to the scenes in Wicklow, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that any attack on a member of the gardai is an attack on our democracy and our state

"Any attack on a member of an Garda Siochana is an attack on our democracy and our state, Ms McEntee said in a post shared to X.

"Gardai have my full support in their work and while peaceful protest is a right we all value, we will not tolerate vandalism and attacks on gardai.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has also condemned what happened in Newtownmountkennedy last night.

Mr Harris told RTE News that gardai are charged with upholding the laws of the land and they should be supported in doing so.

"This is a country of laws. Attacks on gardai should be condemned by all.

Six arrests were made in total by gardai responding to the public order incident yesterday.

The Department of Integration has also condemned the incident and confirmed it intends to use the vacant property to house asylum seekers.

"The Department intends to use the vacant property at Trudder House to help alleviate the serious accommodation shortage currently faced by International Protection applicants, said the Department.

The Department strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum. Acts such as these achieve nothing but endanger people's lives and homes.

A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The CET has engaged with public representatives in Wicklow, it added.

Gardai came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene. Three garda cars were damaged, including several broken windows and tyres being slashed, during the incident.

The garda public order unit was deployed and videos from the scene showed people attempting to breach the grounds, which have been sealed off, as a large fire burned at the entrance of the property. It is not clear if any damage has been caused to the property.

Gardai also used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response, a garda spokesperson said.

Last night, a garda spokesperson said gardai on duty outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy came under attack by persons gathered at the location.

This incident has developed as a result of workers, contracted to carry out lawful employment on the site, entering the site. A number of trespassers were also identified on and removed from the site last night.

Uniform Gardai have been subject of both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks and other missiles being thrown this evening. Fires have been lit and an axe has been recovered by Gardai during this evenings incident, the spokesperson said.

Six people were arrested for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 and are currently detained at Garda stations in Wicklow.

An Garda Siochana is not aware, at this time, of any persons injured during this incident, the spokesperson said.

As the situation has intensified, members of An Garda Siochana used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation. Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Siochana Public Order Unit and approximately 50 members of An Garda Siochana remain at the scene this evening. The use of force included the use of Incapacitant spray and deployment of Public Order Gardai in Public Order helmets and shields.

"Persons gathered at the entrance of the site have been moved away from the entrance but remain gathered in the area.

An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Siochana.

Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort. An Garda Siochana is also aware of misinformation and disinformation being spread in relation to this ongoing incident, the spokesperson said.

Round the clock protests have been staged outside the River Lodge site in recent weeks since news broke locally that it may be used to house asylum seekers. A small-scale fire also broke out at the site last week.

Videos taken at the scene today, and widely shared online, showed a large garda presence and people clashing with officers sporadically.

Masked men could be seen attempting to tear down fencing at the property as gardai were positioned inside.

A fire was also lit at the entrance to the property and flames could be seen burning close to a structure on the property.
Scene of fire at site slated to house asylum seekers in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow

Simon Coveney has called on Justice Minister Helen McEntee to revisit her refusal to introduce mandatory sentencing for those who assault gardai.

Deputy Coveney condemned the violent scenes witnessed in Newtownmountkennedy on Thursday night where gardai came under attack from protesters objecting to the proposed use of a local building as accommodation for international protection applicants.

Speaking in Galway, where Deputy Coveney attended Galway Courthouse with Maria Walsh MEP and Nina Carberry, Fine Gaels European Election candidates for Midlands North-West as they returned their nomination papers, he said those who attack gardai are attacking the State.

They are attacking a key institution of the State, and we have to make sure as a government that we protect An Garda Siochana as best we can and give very clear signals that it is not acceptable to assault a guard.

People of course have to be allowed to protest and have their say in a democracy but there is a line that we cant accept being crossed when protests turn violent, which is what we saw last night.

Asked specifically about Helen McEntees refusal to entertain a request by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors last month for mandatory sentencing on those who attacks frontline workers, Mr Coveney said: My view on that is the government should have a look at that.

I think we should send a very clear signal to somebody who is going to assault or attack anybody in uniform who works in an institution of the State. Be that the ambulance service, an Garda Siochana or the fire service.

If you attack someone in uniform who is trying to protect society, then you are attacking the State. And in my view, we need to have very clear consequences for that. And I think we should be open to looking at mandatory sentencing.

Deputy Coveney said he was honoured to support both Walsh and Carberry in the European Elections and described them as two

Maria Walsh MEP described her and Carberry as two serious people who want to deliver on the ground across the 15 counties in Midlands Northwest constituency.

We are positive, we are progressive, and we are pro-European and sadly we are not seeing that in some of the people who are putting their names up (for election).

It cannot be lost how important the EU is to us now, more than ever.

It is incredibly crucial in the next five years.

We have big items we will have to deliver on- our renewables, our green targets and defence and security.

Simon Coveney said he is confident quality Fine Gael candidates like Walsh and Carberry will do really well.

If you have a long list of people, many of which are standing because they are against something rather than for something, if you look at poll after poll of Irish people, they are amongst the most positive about the EU.

You only have to look to our closest neighbour to see the tensions that are created by Eurosceptics.

The Midlands North-West constituency currently has 26 candidates as former Green Party candidate Saoirse McHugh announced Friday that she will now run as an independent.

Each candidate will need in excess of 200,000 votes to be deemed elected.
Cancer survivors should never be discriminated against, a conference in Dublin was told yesterday. Photo: Getty

Cancer survivors should have legal protection to ensure they are not discriminated against when it comes to financial products such as life insurance, an international conference has heard.

Francoise Meunier, founder of a European initiative on ending discrimination against cancer survivors, and a former director general of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, said Irelands recently introduced code of conduct in this area by the insurance industry did not go far enough.

I dont like it because it is not legally binding, she told the Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer in Farmleigh, Dublin.

Luxembourg and Greece are among a number of other countries that also have a code of conduct, but a law that is harmonised across the EU is needed.

Last December, Insurance Ireland said a new voluntary code of practice would see insurers disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years before an application for products such as life, mortgage protection or income protection policies.

Where an applicant was under 18 at the time their cancer treatment stopped, the right to be forgotten will apply after five years.

Cover of up to 500,000 per applicant is to be allowed under the revised code, a ceiling that Insurance Ireland says covers more than 90pc of mortgage protection policies issued in the State.

However, it is still not underpinned by legislation. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the right to be forgotten aims to ensure equal access to financial services for individuals who have recovered from a previous illness.

In the case of insurance, the initiative seeks to prevent providers taking into account such illnesses, particularly cancer, when calculating the risk involved in providing cover. For example, in the case of mortgage protection insurance, the insurer would not be allowed to refuse cover, charge an additional premium or exclude any risks due to the previous illness.

The spokesperson said: When a consumer is taking out a life assurance policy, companies will have to take the existence or potential of medical conditions into consideration and assess each case individually. Decisions on the cost and availability of these products depend on the individual circumstances of the applicant, such as age and health at application as well as past history.

The Department continues to monitor ongoing policy developments at EU level to address fair access for cancer survivors to financial services.

She said this includes the European Commissions proposal to develop an EU-wide code of conduct this year, under Europes Beating Cancer Plan.

Insurance Ireland has appointed an external reviewer to ensure that the provisions of the code of practice have been implemented and are being adhered to.

The first review will take place next January, in order to review implementation, with the next review due in 2028 and every three years thereafter.

In November 2022, the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022 was introduced into the Seanad, which aims to enshrine the right to be forgotten into law. It is a Private Members Bill rather than a government one, and is currently at second stage in the Seanad.
Homeless figures have reached a new record total of 13,866 people, according to latest figures from the Department of Housing.

It marks an increase of 25 people on February, with 9,719 adults and 4,147 children accessing emergency accommodation last month.

Meanwhile, there were 23 less children and 48 more adults in emergency accommodation in March, compared to February.

The latest figures show a 16pc increase in figures from the twelve months since March 2023, including a 21pc increase of families and 19pc increase of children.

The largest number of people accessing emergency accommodation last month were Dublin, with 6,999 adults seeking support.

It is more than all other regions combined, with the second highest number of adults in emergency accommodation in the South-West with 543.

Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, welcomed the small decline in figures but said it must be recognised that it is almost 10 years since these figures began to be published and homelessness was declared a crisis.

"At the end of 2014, the Department reported 3,738 people in homelessness. Todays figures show an increase of 10,128 men, women and children in homelessness since then. That is a shocking figure, Mr Stanley said.

He acknowledged that there was some innovation and success during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it didnt happen by accident.

It was driven by preventing families and individuals from having to enter homelessness, while capturing increased housing supply, to ensure individuals and families could move out of homelessness.

In a recent interview, the Minister for Housing indicated that he is working to increase allocations to those in homelessness. We have once again called on the Minister to implement the provisions of the Simon Homeless Prevention Bill to help slow the number of individuals and families entering homelessness.

He said such initiatives might help enact a decline in numbers he described as alarming.

We welcome the Taoiseachs recognition that the exiting new housing targets for social, rental, and private housing are inadequate and will be increased, said Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan.

"However, things are moving far too slowly for the over 4,000 children who are homeless in Ireland. This massive increase in homelessness was not inevitable and its root cause is the repeated failure to deliver sufficient social and affordable housing.

He said the charity has recently written to Taoiseach Simon Harris to ask that the Government prioritise moving families and people out of long-term homelessness through making it a political priority.

"While it is positive that more social housing has been provided in the past year - and new targets are to be set - it remains a stark reality that homelessness has increased every month, Mr Dennigan said.

"A key reason for the rising figures is that not enough of the new social housing allocations go to families and individuals trapped in emergency accommodation.

"Focus Ireland also highlighted that this would act to reduce the number of people in emergency accommodation, and this could help the State to deal with the additional crisis of international protection applicants who were left without adequate shelter during severe weather conditions earlier this year.

Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian OCallaghan said the it is now beyond doubt that this Government cannot and will not get to grips with housing as he said the increase in numbers signifies more people suffering the trauma of being homeless.
Leo Varadkar has said he almost chickened out the night before stepping down as Fine Gael party leader and Taoiseach.

Mr Varadkar caused a political earthquake when he made the surprise announcement that he was vacating his roles as party leader and head of government last month, leading to Simon Harris becoming Irelands youngest-ever Taoiseach at the age of 37.

"I nearly chickened out the night before but it was definitely the right decision for me and hopefully the right decision for the country, he told Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show.

It was something I was thinking about for a few months but only definitely made the decision in the days beforehand. I was thinking back to 2017, when I first became Taoiseach, and I was at a meeting of the 27 EU prime ministers and there are only three or four of us left and most of us are now going out of politics.

"Another former prime minister once told me there are only three ways to cease being leader of your country; you either die, lose or resign. And if you dont die or lose, you have to resign, Mr Varadkar said.

"That was a hard decision to make to say to yourself that you're not actually the right person to bring things forward. But I came to that conclusion and that it needed somebody [else] after me spending 13 years in government, there was a need for a reset.

New chapter in Varadkars life as Ireland selects new premier

Mr Varadkar said he had not made a decision as to whether he will run in the next general election in Dublin West and said that he will wait eight to 10 weeks to make a final decision after he sees how his party does in the local and European elections on June 7.

He suggested senator Emer Currie as a possible replacement for him in the constituency, saying: There are four male TDs in the constituency  three of us are gay, there must be something in the water there  but I would also like to see a woman get elected there.

In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Varadkar said the rise of the populist right was a concern for Ireland and said that immigration was always going to become centre-stage in Irish politics.

"Its just the way politics is going. We saw it for Donald Trumps election in 2016 when he was going to build the wall and all of that bizarre stuff. We saw it [in the UK] and they have their rather strange Rwanda plan in which theyve spent 500m but not sent a single person back yet, he said.

Mr Varadkar said friends of his who have biracial children in Ireland are now worrying about their children due to racism in Ireland for the first time. He said he particularly felt this as when he grew up in Blanchardstown as the son of an Indian doctor, he was the only child a little darker and with a funny last name.

He went on to suggest a limit for leadership terms in Ireland was not such a bad idea, looking back on his 13 years in government.

When youre Taoiseach, youre Taoiseach all of the time. It is very long hours, it is most evenings, most weekends. Youre always on and youre always concerned and worrying about the problems that the country faces and people face and the time ahead, he said.

That that shouldnt be forever, and you know, one thing they have in America for the top job, president, governor, is an eight-year term limit, and maybe thats not such a bad idea.

Asked whether he thinks he was a good Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar said that will be for others to judge in the fullness of time.

Its too soon I think to make those kind of conclusions. You have to see what comes next over the next three, four or five, six years to know for sure, he said.

Asked what he regretted, Mr Varadkar said he felt the government had been too cautious in 2011 following the financial crash.

The economy bounced back way quicker than we thought  and we held back on some spending decisions, and we held back on some investment decisions. A lot of the new houses you see being built now, or some of the new transport improvements that are about to come online, could have happened five years ago had we known what we know now, he said.

The progress that were now seeing could have been much further along and then you would see a better situation with housing, a better situation with health. But thats hindsight and hindsight is 20/20.
Saoirse McHugh has announced she is returning to politics, four years after her high profile exit from the Green party.

Ms McHugh will contest the European Parliament elections as an Independent candidate in the Midlands-Northwest constituency.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent this weekend, Ms McHugh said one of her chief concerns is the rise of the far right.

The rise of the far right is biggest change in politics in the last five years. We have people setting fire to buildings to stop people living in them. And there are a lot of people out there who are giving a lot of cover to this and I think its really dangerous.

But one thing I have learned since first entering politics is that social media is not reality. If you get out and knock on doors, the vast majority of people are sound, they want to get on with their neighbours and community.

Climate change and the housing crisis will also feature strongly in her campaigning.

Up until now, the EU has been hands-off on the housing crisis and said this isnt an EU competency, but on the other hand, a lot of the spending rules come from the EU and affect how much governments can spend on things like social housing. The EU needs to pull up its sleeves because it is a crisis across the EU.

Ms McHugh first entered politics at the age of 28. Now 33, she said she has spent recent months mulling over the decision before filing her election application in Co Galway on Friday.

Asked why she was initially hesitant about re-entering politics after quitting the Green party in 2020, calling it toxic she said: I suppose it was me not wanting to be very public again and I suppose maybe I am talking primarily about social media. It will be a hard few weeks. I have had to leave my job. Its a big gamble. Its a big risk. But in the end I had a vision of a Europe and an Ireland that I think will resonate with a lot of people and I figured I may as well give people the chance to vote for that.

With Midlands-Northwest now becoming a five seat-constituency, other high profile candidates on the ticket include Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, Fine Gaels Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh, Independent candidates Luke Ming Flanagan, Ciaran Mullooly and John Waters.

The European elections will take place alongside the local elections on Friday, June 7.
Project Leap has seen the Irish Independent become the leading destination for local news from every county

The Irish Independents regional coverage, along with its podcast and advertising offerings, were recognised at the International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards in London last night.

Project Leap, an innovation that saw the Irish Independent become the leading destination for local news from every county, took second place in the category of Best Innovation in Newsroom Transformation. First place went to an initiative from New Zealands largest media group, Stuff.

Over a period of one year, both attention time and page views of local stories published to the Irish Independent website have tripled in number. This is recognition of an enhanced and wide-reaching news service.

The project has also contributed to giving local newsrooms, under threat from declines in print sales, a more sustainable future.

It ensures communities continue to benefit from trusted, reliable journalism in the ongoing transition from print to digital news.

The Indo Daily campaign of Trade on a Future Promise, Not a Legacy Product  which established the building blocks for the podcast to become the top news-focused audio offering in Ireland  and the advertising offering YourAdNow were awarded honourable mentions in their respective categories.

Mediahuis Ireland was runner-up in the Best Brand Awareness Campaign category for the Irish Independent Masterbrand campaign. Masterbrand established a new brand identity that was rolled out online, in podcasts and in print, including in all 11 regional titles.

The rebrand of local titles such as The Kerryman, Wexford People, and The Sligo Champion is part of a broader plan that sees the Irish Independent establish county homepages for all counties.

New logos, symbols, typeface and colour palette were adopted, including a contemporary redrawing of the iconic Irish Independent harp.

The new typeface, Clairseach, brought Irish lettering traditions and contemporary type design into a readable and distinctive font for the brand.

"We are immensely proud that these pieces of high-quality work have been recognised on the global stage, said Cormac Bourke, editor-in-chief of Mediahuis Ireland.

"It is also important that what underpins these awards is ever greater collaboration within our teams and between our teams. Well done everyone.

The Global Media Awards this year received 771 entries from 245 market-leading news media brands in over 40 countries.
Two Clondalkin teenagers have appeared in court charged with the murder of a Croatian national in west Dublin.

Josip Strok (31) and his friend were set upon by a group at Grange View Way in Clondalkin on March 30 before being subjected to a violent assault.

While the other man, David Druzinec (28), did not suffer life threatening injuries, Mr Strok was left with serious head wounds and died in hospital four days later.

This week local gardai, supported by members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), carried out searches and arrested three suspects.

One man was later released from custody while two males were brought before Blanchardstown district court this morning.

Clondalkin teenagers Anthony Delappe (18), of Melrose Avenue, and Conor Rafferty (19), of Castlegrange Close, appeared in court charged with the murder of Mr Strok.

They are both also accused of assault causing harm to Mr Druzinec on March 30 at the same location.

Garda Patrick Fallon gave evidence of arresting Mr Rafferty for the purpose of charging him last night, adding that the accused made no reply when cautioned.

Garda Fallon informed the court that he was applying for the date on the murder charge to be amended from March 30 to April 3, as per instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The application was acceded to by Judge Maire Conneely.

The accused was remanded in custody as bail on a murder charge can only be brought before the High Court.

A legal aid application was also granted, and the accused's solicitor informed the court that they intend to bring a bail application in relation to the assault charge next week.

Mr Rafferty, wearing a black and grey tracksuit, did not address the court during the briefing hearing.

Garda Barry O'Shea gave evidence of arresting Anthony Delappe and charging him last night, adding that he made no reply to caution.

Wearing a navy tracksuit, he did not speak during the hearing and was also remanded in custody to appear in court again next week.

The assault happened on Grange View Way at around 10.15pm after the men had gotten off a bus nearby.

Josip Strok was from the Krapina region in northern Croatia but had been living and working in Ireland in recent years. His uncle Ivica last week spoke of how his nephew had saved four lives after his organs were donated.
When you live with furry friends, practical considerations will always be key  but that doesnt mean your decor has to be dull

Interior designer Gwen Kenny with one of her dogs

Earlier this month, Ikea launched a collection of furniture and accessories for dogs, cats, and their humans. Youd wonder what took them so long.

The pets of today tend to live indoors and require, at the most basic level, a feeding bowl and a bed.

Many families also love to shop for pet accessories: scratching boards and hidey holes for cats; chewy toys and cushions for the dog. Its a market ripe for the plucking.

The Utsadd collection is relatively small  29 carefully conceived products  and replaces Ikeas previous pet range, the Lurvig collection.

Lurvig (it means hairy) was released in 2017 but was never available in Ireland. It included a miniature version of the iconic Klippan sofa, a piece of whimsy that sadly didnt make it into the current collection.

Other Lurvig classics, like a cat bed (5) that fits into the Kallax cabinet, have migrated into the Utsadd range.

We wanted a retake, says Julia Rosenberg, product design developer at IKEA, Sweden. We wanted to contextualise the collection to make it more focused and to build on the home furnishing aspect.

"We noticed during Covid that so many families were buying pets. Thats when we started exploring ideas and gaining insights from vets and other experts.

The product testing panel included a carefully selected committee of pets. I learned so much about cats and dogs! says Rosenberg. She has no pets of her own but would love to have a dog.

Pet bowls from Ikea's Utsadd collection

Rather than cutesy miniature versions of furniture designed for humans, Rosenberg and team took a close look at what life at home looked like for cats and dogs.

We wanted to focus on the main activities: eat, sleep, play and hide. This approach, she explains, takes on Ikeas existing expertise in home furnishing, and transfers it to things designed for animals.

The products needed to be safe and sturdy. We worked with the design language that makes the products versatile, so that they blend in with what you already have in a home.

Within the Utsadd collection, Rosenbergs favourites are the food bowls (3 for a cat-sized bowl and 7 for a dog).

Theyre made of ceramic in easy-to-live-with colours and a good example of a cheap product with a lot of thought behind it. I love the expression, she says.

Cat bed from Ikea's Utsadd collection

They combine with a non-slip place mat (2) which wont be a hard sell. I also like the little tent. Its such a fun eye-catcher.

The tent-shaped cat house (15) is made of felt and fits the smallest of the cushions (from 4) in the range. Theres also a handwoven rattan cat bed (60) on legs with a handle on the top.

The most expensive items are the dog beds. One is made of rattan (80) which, though aesthetically pleasing, looks extremely chewable.

Theres also a padded version (50 to 70 depending on size) which, crucially, has a removable washable cover. To produce the range, at these price points, leans heavily on Ikeas network of suppliers in ceramic, textiles, and woven rattan.

Im super-proud of the collection, Rosenberg says. Weve had two years of research and product development. Im so excited its finally launched.

It takes a lot of research to make a range this simple and a lot of resources to make it affordable.

Interior designer Gwen Kenny with one of her dogs

In terms of designing a pet-friendly home, first consider floors, walls and fabrics. Dogs and cats are hard on decor.

My home is never going to be a show house, says interior designer Gwen Kenny. Shes talking from her newly upholstered duck-egg velvet sofa, which shes sharing with one of two beloved Newfoundland dogs (a woolly breed the size of a small pony).

Industrial strength velvet is surprisingly resistant to paws and claws.

I do love a sustainable fabric but I had to choose something more chemically based for the sale of durability. Its stain repellent and scrubbable with a wet rubber brush.

Boucle fabric can be incompatible with cats who like to sharpen their claws. Faux leather can also be problematic.

I had a friend with a PVC leather sofa. Her cats had the backing off it within the year. They destroyed it!

FLUM Manufaktur, FLUM Hundekissen Bretz Pamina, 469

In terms of flooring, she recommends LVT (luxury vinyl tile). It looks nice, its easy to clean with a mop and bucket, and dogs can get traction on it. Id run a mile from a laminate floor.

Their claws click on it and they slip all over the place. For a natural flooring product, Id really recommend cork, but youd need a commercial grade finish to cope with claws.

Given that pet hairs make their way into bedrooms, even when the animals themselves are barred, she prefers velvet carpets.

Twist carpets are really hard to get the hairs out of, she says. Velvet is much easier.

Most vacuum-cleaner brands have models designed to remove pet hair, which are better at the job than their standard versions. Dyson even has an attachment you can hoover the dog with! Best of luck with that.

Blanket from Ikea's Utsadd collection

When designing extensions for families with dogs, Kenny often recommends a low-level shower in the utility room.

This works a little like a cattle-crush. The dog walks in, the owner cleans it over a low wall with a hand-held shower, and the dog emerges ready for a blow-dry.

Bespoke joinery can also be designed to accommodate pets. Animals water bowls can be housed in alcoves built into kitchen kick-boards and some people have converted their under-stairs area to house the dogs crate.

It looks attractive but the dog is still crate-trained, she says. They need to have somewhere to go.

Fido Nook from Omlet

Off-the-peg solutions include The Fido Nook from Omlet. This is a cabinet that contains a dog bed or crate, with a side cupboard for storing accessories like lead and toys.

There are various permutations with prices ranging from 129 for the smallest and most basic Fido Nook to 645 for the largest available with all accessories (storage options and a mirror on the inside of the cupboard so your dog can admire themselves before excursions).

Visually, it presents as a plain white cupboard that happens to contain a dog. The Omlet website includes a video that clearly illustrates just how uncomfortable an animal can be when their bed is in a thoroughfare or a draught. Everyone needs a place to hide.

See ikea.com/ie, @divinedesign, omlet.ie, fableengland.com
Most years, discussions over Irelands representation in the Eurovision centre on whether we make it out of our semi-final. Still the joint most successful country in the competitions 68-year history, we have qualified for the final just once in the last decade. But the question this year is whether we should even show up.
There are those who believe every coincidence is a message, a clue about something that requires our attention.

For Tanaiste Micheal Martin to be on the Rafah border on the day Israel announced a sweep of displaced Palestinian civilians who have been sheltering there was certainly portentous.

At the end of his two-day visit to the region, Mr Martin said he was pessimistic about the prospects of a ceasefire in Gaza, and was worried about an Israeli assault on Rafah.

Humanitarian agencies in Rafah will not be able to sustain an invasion, and theres an urgent need for the international community to make it very, very clear to Israel that an invasion cannot be countenanced, he said.

He added the conflict in Gaza wasnt just a war on Hamas and that the people of Gaza are being collectively punished.

Alarm has been building over a ground offensive as Rafahs population has swollen to 2.3 million by Palestinians who fled there for sanctuary. The UN and the US have consistently warned any such operation risks driving an already spiralling death toll even higher.

With the humanitarian situation dangerously deteriorating, Tel Aviv has been under intense pressure to hold back. But the appearance of a large military encampment suggests Benjamin Netanyahus government is turning a deaf ear to international calls for restraint.

Israel insists Hamass leadership, and Israeli hostages, are also in Rafah.

Its bombardment has continued across Gaza, including in Rafah, where about 20 people, mostly children, were killed in airstrikes on Saturday.

Aerial strikes and ground operations in Gaza have killed 34,183 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Reports from Tel Aviv said the Israeli government had decided to carry out an operation in Rafah very soon. It is understood Israeli troops would enter Rafah in stages. Given the density of people in Rafah, the possibility of further mass civilian deaths would not be avoided.

An offensive could also lead to the brink of a wider war, which was narrowly avoided after the recent showdown between Israel and Iran.

Referring to the already appalling death toll in Gaza, Mr Martin said he believed there would be much worse found buried under the rubble when the conflict eventually concludes.

He also said the world cannot go on with the type of warfare being seen. He decried the levelling of residential houses and flattening of cities.

This has become the new norm in the waging of war. We see it in Syria, we see it in Ukraine, we see it in Gaza and the world has to call a halt,he said.

Far from slowing down, the lethal intensity of the war seems to be growing.

Surely after so much needless death and destruction not only is any argument for stepping up the violence void, but indefensible.
Sinn Fein candidate for Ireland South Senator Paul Gavan has submitted his nomination papers ahead of the upcoming European elections on Friday, June 7.

The counties in the Ireland South constituency include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow.

Senator Gavan said he is aware people across Ireland South need change. I know that people across Ireland South need change. Change starts here with the European and local elections taking place. These elections are taking place at a time when Ireland is facing many challenges, he said.

The Limerick based politician listed the current challenges people are facing nationwide. A worsening housing crisis, a health service under enormous pressure and families pushed to the brink by the cost of living crisis. Voting for Sinn Fein in this election is the first step to getting this disastrous government out of office.

This is an opportunity to create meaningful change in Ireland and Europe to make real improvements in the everyday lives of workers, families and communities. This government has shown itself to be out of touch with the challenges ordinary people face day in, day out, he added.

There is a lack of energy, ideas and vision from the coalition, said Senator Gavan. We're getting more of the same from Simon Harris. We have a government that is out of touch, that doesnt understand the challenges we are facing and is too deferential to the European Union. We need MEPs who will stand up for Ireland and champion the interests of workers and families.

18 candidates are set to battle it out for the five seats in the Ireland South constituency in this years European elections.

In recent days Independent TD Michael McNamara became the latest politician to announce that he will be contesting the European Parliament elections in the Ireland South constituency.

Senator Gavan who will be running alongside Kathleen Funchion a sitting TD for Carlow-Kilkenny said they will make a strong team if they are elected. I am proud to be running alongside Kathleen. We will work together to stand up for you and your family on the issues that matter.

This election is an opportunity to deliver the change that is needed. By voting for Sinn Fein, you are voting for hard working MEPs committed to delivering change, he added.

The current MEPS for the Ireland South constituency are Sean Kelly (FG), Billy Kelleher (FF), Mick Wallace (Independents 4 Change), Grace OSullivan (Green Party) and Deirdre Clune (FG).

Ms Clune who was first elected as an MEP in 2014 has announced that she will not be contesting this years European elections,
It may be funny for a drunk person, but its extremely significant to us

The colourful ceramic fish (seen on the left) was stolen from the restaurant

A Dublin restaurant is calling for the return of a precious ceramic fish which was stolen from the premises this week.

Izakaya, a Japanese tapas and sushi restaurant on South Great Georges Street, said the theft may be funny for a drunk person, but its extremely significant to us.

Their restaurant is decorated with items sourced directly from Japan and the ceramic fish, which was recently taken by customers, had a sentimental value.

The colourful ceramic fish (seen on the left) was stolen from the restaurant

Unfortunately a couple stole a precious ceramic fish that was brought from Japan a few years ago, a spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

Izakaya is a family run business and everything we have in here, to make it a more beautiful place to eat and to work at, has been handpicked by our owners or managers.

We trust our customers with our valuable decorations, so to have someone who enjoys our food and drink steal something from us is really disheartening.

We have clear CCTV footage of these people and would appreciate it if they would return the fish, no questions asked. Until then, they can consider themselves banned, they added.
The Yershovy family live in Kerry and have performed in over 50 concerts since 2022

The Yershovy sisters have performed in multiple concerts since moving to Ireland in 2022.

A Ukrainian family forced to flee war twice in ten years because of Russian invasions is continuing to spread its love of music throughout Kerry and Ireland.

The musically talented Yershovy family from Crimea has lived in Kerry since 2022. Kseniia, Yevlaliia, Olena, Nataliia, and Sofiia are professional musicians who play a combination of string instruments such as violin, viola, and cello.

The musical journey for the Yershovy sisters started 13-years ago when the eldest sister, Kseniia, began playing the violin at the age of five. The following year, a second sister, Yevlaliia, who was only four years old, started playing violin. The two sisters played duets and participated in concerts when winning many competitions.

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But in 2014 their world was turned upside down when Russia occupied Crimea. The family moved west to Odesa to start a new life where all five sisters immediately entered one of the best music schools in Ukraine, the legendary Stolyarsky School, where such famous musicians as David Oistrakh and Nathan Milstein studied.

For the next eight years, the sisters productively studied at the school while taking part in musical projects, concerts, competitions, and master classes with famous musicians who considered the Stolyarsky School a temple of music. It was around this time that the sisters ensemble began to form.

However, life would change again in February 2022 when Russia launched its second invasion of Ukrainian territory. Like millions of Ukrainians, life for the Yershovy family was severely interrupted and changed forever.

Forced to uproot the life they worked hard to create since leaving Crimea, the family left Ukraine to start over again. They said goodbye to family and friends before arriving to Ireland in March 2022 where they first lived in Tarbert before moving to nearby Kilmorna.

Were very grateful to the Irish community who warmly accepted and hosted us. Because we arrived without our own instruments, the generous Irish people donated us violins and cello so that girls could continue their studies, said Kseniia.

The Yershovy sisters have performed in multiple concerts since moving to Ireland in 2022.

The girls were keen to continue their music studies in Kerry and having the instruments, they performed their first concert in May 2022 in Ballybunion when creating their own band: The Yershovy Sisters.

Since then, they have performed in more than 50 concerts over the past two years in different cities around Ireland including solo concerts. Kseniia and Yevlaliia are members of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.

The Yershovy sisters, with gratitude in their hearts will perform a solo concert at 6pm this evening (April 26) at the MTU Cork School of Music, Curtis Auditorium. Entry is free.
Jockey Gary Noonan explains what life being a jockey is like to school children.

Children from St Oliver's Primary School and Presentation Monastery National School took part in a special Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) education day at Killarney Racecourse.

Killarney Racecourse hosted the perfect preamble to its first fixture of the season on May 12 by hosting 150 pupils from St Oliver's Primary School and Presentation Monastery National School.

The children enjoyed taking part in a special Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Racing Juniors education day.

They were given behind the scenes access to Killarney Racecourse and met with Tralee-based trainer Tom Cooper who explained what his job entails as a racehorse trainer and the day-to-day routine for his racehorses.

The objective of the HRI Racing Juniors education days is to encourage an affinity with racehorses among the younger generation and demonstrate the variety of careers available in the racing and breeding industry in Ireland, which amounts to over 30,000 nationally.

Jockey Gary Noonan brought the children into the weigh-room to show them the jockeys changing areas and the kit they wear and use on race days including boots, back-protector, helmet and saddle.

Track Supervisor Mike OConnor took the children on a course walk to see first-hand how the team prepare the track for a race meeting. In addition, farrier Timmy MacGillycuddy, with his horse Nancy, was on hand to give children a demonstration.

We were delighted to host our HRI Juniors education day and to welcome pupils to Killarney Racecourse ahead of our 2024 season, which gets underway with our May Festival We look forward to welcoming more schools to Killarney Racecourse in the future, said Killarney Racecourse Chairman, Billy OSullivan.

To register your schools interest for a HRI Racing Juniors education day at your local racecourse in 2024, please email: hriracingjuniors@hri.ie.
Sarah McNally will be remembered at a month's mind mass in New York tomorrow (Saturday).

Friends and former colleagues of the late Sarah McNally will honour the memory of the much loved Longford woman at a mass in New York on Saturday evening.

A special mass will take place in New York tomorrow to remember the life of murdered Longford woman Sarah McNally.

The much-loved 41-year-old was stabbed to death inside the doors of the Ceili House Bar in Maspeth, Queens on March 30 where she had been working as a bartender.

Friends and former colleagues of the fun-loving Longford woman will come together to mark her months mind mass on Saturday, exactly four weeks to the day since her passing.

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Details surrounding the month's mind Mass were announced on social media by representatives from The Ceili House Bar.

St. Adalbert's Roman Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City (5pm US time) will provide the venue for an occasion that is once again expected to draw plenty of emotion among a community where the car loving enthusiast was so well respected.

Ms McNallys funeral took place almost three weeks ago at St Mels Cathedral in Longford town.

There, the popular and outgoing former Irish Prison Services employee was fondly remembered as someone who had an insatiable zest for life and helping others.

She had a heart of gold, said her best friend Aine Wade. She loved everyone and she made a lasting impression on people and one that we will all remember forever.

Sarah McNally will be remembered at a month's mind mass in New York tomorrow (Saturday).

Those tributes and others of a similar ilk which are expected in New York tomorrow come as her former boyfriend remains on remand in custody accused of her murder.

Marcin Pieciak (36), of 76th Street in Glendale, was arraigned last Friday at a sitting of Queens Supreme Court charged with second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

The accused had formally been indicted by a Grand Jury earlier this month in his absence as a result of self-inflicted stab wounds following the incident at the Ceili House Bar in Maspeth, Queens on March 30.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said the violent nature of the incident was one which had still to fully sink in for communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

The defendant is accused of cruelly and brazenly taking the life of someone he purported to care for and doing so in front of her colleagues and bar patrons.

You were beautiful, unique. We loved you funeral of Sarah McNally told loved ones left shell-shocked by murder

We are grateful to the grand jury for returning these serious charges and we will work to seek justice for Sarah McNally.

According to the charges, Pieciak entered the bar where Ms McNally had been working and stabbed her 19 times in the neck, back and chest.

Pieciak, moments later, allegedly cut his own throat several times before a customer bravely attempted to detain the accused from fleeing the scene.

The charges go on to allege that when police detectives arrived soon afterwards, they managed to disarm Pieciak just as the accused emerges from behind the bar brandishing two knives.

Both Pieciak and Ms McNally were rushed to the nearby Elmhurst Hospital where the deeply admired Longford native passed away from her injuries.
Funding of 3.6m has been awarded to Ireland West Airport in County Mayo.

The funding is part of an overall package of 5.6 million announced today by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers to support eligible regional airports in Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West (Knock).

His announcement came as he visited Donegal Airport as part of his ministerial responsibility for aviation.

He allocated the largest sum of 3.666m to Ireland West Airport, Knock.

Some of this funding will be used for the commencement of an Aerodrome Fire Training Centre at Ireland West Airport.

The allocation will contribute towards capital investment in safety and security at the airport, while also supporting projects with a sustainability focus.

This will assist airports in meeting their carbon reduction targets as well as building resilience against climate change.

Speaking at Donegal Airport, Minister Chambers said, I am pleased to be here today to announce the 2024 capital funding allocations under the Regional Airports Programme.

"This funding represents significant investment in our regional airports.

While many of the projects being supported have environmental aspects to them, ten of the projects approved for funding, amounting to 1.2 million, have a fundamental sustainability focus.

"These include Carbon Reduction Plans here at Donegal and at Ireland West Airport.

"Other projects include the upgrade to electric vehicles at Kerry Airport and Ireland West Airport, said Minister Chambers.

The funding comes at a time when traffic through regional airports has increased when compared to 2019.

Minister Chambers said this level of targeted support is an indication of the importance Government attaches to our regional airports being well positioned for growth.

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"Ireland has established good connectivity with the UK, Europe and America via our five regional airports.

Exchequer funding provided to regional airports and supporting PSO air services to date has enabled this connectivity and strong recovery, with passenger traffic across these regional airports last year up 9% when compared with 2019 passenger levels, the last comparable period prior to COVID-19.

"I was pleased to witness further growth across our regional airports this year with passenger traffic in Q1 16% higher when compared with the same period last year, said Minister Chambers.
Following a tense competition in which she faced nine fellow students, Grace, triumphed in the Sligo final correctly spelling the word pandemonium. Grace will now represent the county in the Provincial Spelling Bee in May.

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Celebrating its 11th year, the Eason Spelling Bee is part of an overall literacy and reading drive to encourage and inspire children to develop their spelling and pronunciation skills. Over the years the competition has helped school children gain a greater appreciation of words and fosters vocabulary growth and self-confidence for children.

Group Head of Marketing at Eason, Brendan Corbett, said; We are thrilled to be kicking off the 2024 Eason Spelling Bee with such accomplished children taking part in Sligo  they are a great testament to the talent of the children of Ireland. I am certain that this year we will be successful in building on 2023s triumph and inspire everyone to support their local schools, and especially, their bees!

The All-Ireland winning bee will get a selection of books for their school library valued at 7,500, in addition to the coveted title of Eason Spelling Bee 2024 Champion. The winner themselves will also receive a goodie bag packed of books worth 500.

This year, over 525 schools nationwide will compete against each other in a bid to win the prestigious prize. The Eason Spelling Bee team will be travelling around the country to host County Final Bees, and then progressing to a Provincial Bee contest. The champions from these will then go head-to-head in the All-Ireland Final Bee, taking place in June 2024, with the lucky winner being crowned King or Queen Bee.
Council is urged to assist St John's Famine Graveyard Committee in restoring the cemetery in Tipperary town where over 1,600 people are buried

Up to 20,000 or 30,000 may be needed to restore St John's Famine Graveyard in Tipperary town

St Johns Famine Graveyard in Tipperary town needs urgent restoration as its footpaths are disintegrating, but there is a question mark over who owns the important local historic site.

Sinn Fein Cllr Annemarie Ryan Shiner called on the Council to assist the St Johns Famine Graveyard Committee with refurbishing the graveyard footpaths, some of which have fallen into disrepair, at the April meeting of Tipperary Cashel Cahir Municipal District.

The committee, Tipperary Town Heritage Group, and Dr Denis G Murnane, are all involved, and have been working trying to keep the cemetery in good condition. There is a Community Employment (CE) scheme to assist with maintenance, but it is unclear who owns the graveyard and who is responsible for its upkeep.

Councillor Ryan said one long footpath in particular, which runs from the hills down through the graveyard, needs work. It could be between 20,000 and 30,000 to do a proper footpath there, she said. The bigger question is the ownership of it, but the footpath needs upgrading. Its difficult for a small committee to raise that kind of money.

Up to 1,300 adults and over 300 children are buried in mass graves there from Famine times, and there are families from Tipperary town who currently also have graves there. Burials continue to this present day.

Council is urged to assist St John's Famine Graveyard Committee in restoring the cemetery in Tipperary town where over 1,600 people are buried

Denis Holland of Tipperary County Council's Environment Section said he would meet with all stakeholders to resolve the matter.

Graveyards fall into various categories, explained Mr Holland. Back in the 1880s, when the Church of Ireland was disestablished, there was a group called the Church Temporalities Commission of Ireland set up to try and decide what would be done with all the medieval graveyards.

They were handed over to the Board of Guardians in the Poor Law Districts, said Mr Holland.

There are over 130 of those in Tipperary but St Johns is not one of those as it dates to about 1850. The second category of graveyards are those controlled by the Roman Catholic Church. These are generally contained with the grounds of church properties.

Its not belonging to the Church of Ireland because they never had any church on the site, so the only other entity it could belong to is the Workhouse, said Mr Holland.

It was his understanding that the site had been developed as a Workhouse Burial Ground. There were nine workhouses in Tipperary and all had a burial grounds attached, some within the confines of the old workhouse buildings, but others were located some distance away from the workhouse.

St Johns Famine Graveyard either belongs to the local authority by default or it belongs to the successor of the workhouse.

Who is the successor of the workhouse? That is a very significant legal question, said Mr Holland. Up to the time of the establishment of the Health Boards in 1970, the County Council had responsibility for the health services.

So we had responsibility for what became of the workhouses. In some cases, the workhouses were changed into medical use, like Thurles and Clonmel. In other cases they were demolished like Carrick-on-Suir, and local authority houses built on them.

In some cases, they became an educational use, like Borrisokane. So what became of the Graveyard? If I were to go and knock on the door of the HSE and say you are responsible for the graveyard in St Johns, they would probably run a mile, said Mr Holland.

By default, it may be the local authoritys responsibility, but the land registry map will now show it as being registered in the Councils name. This will create difficulties for any committee in applying for grant assistance.

Mr Holland said he would like to meet the committee members, and progress the issue, however the amounts available to the Environment Section for capital works in burial grounds are minute and very restricted.
Dr Siobhan Doyle and Mary Ann Bolger appear on Sunday's episode of Ireland's Hidden History on RTE One.

A renowned historian with a passion for GAA from Co Wexford is turning detective on RTE this Sunday to delve into a discovery at the crypt at the National Museum of Ireland.

Following on from the popularity of its opening episode Irelands Hidden Treasures returns with a sparkling selection of new secret artefacts, stories and the people behind them.

This weeks episode sees Wexford native Dr. Siobhan Doyle putting aside her obsession with all things GAA to become a museum super-sleuth as she investigates a selection of broken ceramic fragments that are discovered in the dark, mysterious depths of the Crypt in the National Museum of Ireland.

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I am very excited to see these ceramic fragments that were recently discovered after lying in storage for almost a century, says Siobhan Doyle, Curator of Glass, Ceramics and Asian collections at the The National Museum of Ireland  Decorative Arts and History (This is a branch of the National Museum of Ireland located at the former Collins Barracks in the Arbour Hill area of Dublin).

This is definitely one of my favourite parts of the job. Unwrapping these fragments is like a curators Christmas, said Siobhan.

The fragments in question may just be the missing link to a large incomplete Della Robbia disc ceramic that Siobhan has in her care. In episode 2 of Irelands Hidden Treasures, Siobhan takes viewers behind the scenes of the National Museum of Ireland, on a journey of discovery, unearthing a rich and gripping story that links Italy to Liverpool and Dublin.

Dr Siobhan Doyle and Mary Ann Bolger appear on Sunday's episode of Ireland's Hidden History on RTE One.

An avid GAA fan, Dr. Siobhan Doyle, originally from Wellingtonbridge in Wexford, released the book, A History of the GAA in 100 Objects in 2022 and is the Curator of the GAA: People, Objects and Stories exhibition currently open in the National Museum  Decorative Arts and History building in Collins Barracks.

In her remit as Curator of Glass, Ceramics and Asian collections Siobhan is responsible for a huge and varied collection. She shares some of her favourites and highlights on this weeks episode of Irelands Hidden Treasures, from Irish porcelain made by an Irish artist who trained in China to the incredible Vodrey collection in the visible storage section of the museum - this is an experience not to be missed!

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to go behind the scenes at Irelands Museums with Ireland's Hidden Treasures.

RTE 1, Sunday April 28 at 6.30pm.
A Wexford woman died in hospital while recovering from complications which arose after her oesophagus was perforated during surgery at the Blackrock Clinic, an inquest has heard.

Ann McCabe (81) a mother of three from Summerville, Clonard, Wexford, passed away at St Jamess Hospital on May 28, 2021 where she was transferred from the Blackrock Clinic after experiencing severe chest discomfort as a result of the accidental tear to her throat during a procedure ten days earlier.

A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard evidence Ms McCabe, formerly of Clonroe, Gorey, was expected to make a full recovery from the perforation to her oesophagus but had suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest which caused her fatal injuries.

A postmortem showed Ms McCabe died as a result of brain damage caused by the cardiac arrest, while it also noted she had moderate heart disease.

However, the pathologist who carried out the postmortem, Eamon Leen, said he was unable to determine why the patient had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

The inquest heard medical records showed Ms McCabe had suffered a number of injuries including bone fractures as a result of a series of falls over a number of years.

Professor Andrew Maree, a consultant cardiologist at the Blackrock Clinic and St Jamess Hospital, said the patient was assessed as requiring the insertion of a device to prevent blood clots from entering her circulation.

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Prof Maree explained that the procedure known as left atrial appendage closure was appropriate for someone who was at risk of stroke but also prone to internal bleeding.

The consultant said Ms McCabe and her family had been informed that there was a 2-4 per cent risk of a major complication in performing the surgery.

Prof Maree, who oversaw the operation, said the surgery had been carried out on the patient at the Blackrock Clinic on May 18, 2021.

He said he was happy with the procedure which he described as successful and uncomplicated.

I thought we had achieved a good result and I didnt anticipate a complication, he added.

However, Prof Maree said it had been established when Ms McCabe complained of severe chest discomfort after waking up from the surgery that her oesophagus had been perforated by a scope during the procedure.

He said the location of the tear was inaccessible to attempt a primary repair, so doctors drained some blood from the area.

Prof Maree, who said he performed an average of 15 similar operations per annum, said he had never previously experienced an oesophageal tear in almost ten years performing the procedure, although he stressed that it is a known complication.

The consultant said the decision was taken immediately to transfer the patient to St Jamess Hospital as it was the best and safest place to manage her care.

Eimhin Dunne, an anaesthetist at the Blackrock Clinic and St Jamess Hospital, gave evidence that there had been some initial difficulties in inserting the scope down the patients oesophagus but that another anaesthetist had subsequently operated it without any problem.

Dr Dunne said an ECG to check on Ms McCabes heart following the procedure had given no cause for concern.

However, she said an endoscopy taken after the patient had complained of some pain in her chest revealed the tear in her oesophagus.

The late Ann McCabe.

In reply to questions from the coroner, Dr Dunne said the medical team had been reassured by the fact that Ms McCabe had previously had scopes used to examine her throat without any problem.

The anaesthetist said older and female patients were known to be more likely to experience an oesophageal tear during such a procedure.

A consultant surgeon at St Jamess Hospital, Claire Donohoe, said a perforation to the throat during any type of surgery was relatively uncommon with the hospital dealing with an average of around 20 per year.

Despite the complication, Dr Donohoe said the patients prognosis was good and it was planned that she would not be allowed to eat or drink through her mouth for up to 14 days to allow the tear to heal.

Counsel for St Jamess Hospital and the individual doctors, Rory White BL, said the only technical verdict available to the coroner was an open verdict given the uncertainty over what triggered Ms McCabes cardiac arrest.

Solicitor for the family of the deceased, Cathal Byrne, thanked the witnesses for the frankness of their answers and medical reports.

Returning an open verdict, Dr Keane said it was unusual that it was unclear what had caused the cardiac arrest that ultimately led to the patients death.

The coroner acknowledged Ms McCabe had experienced a very uncommon but known complication of surgery which had been identified very quickly.

Offering her sympathy to the deceaseds relatives, the coroner said she hoped the inquest had clarified some of their questions about her death.
Are Wexford's roads really as bad as it gets? Photo: Getty

The state of Co Wexfords roads have attracted a lot of media attention in recent weeks, especially in coverage of council meetings. Various roads and junctions around the county have come in for criticism of late, including the New Line Road from Wexford to Duncannon, which was labelled a death trap at a recent meeting of Rosslare Municipal District.

The New Line Road has been dubbed Irelands most notorious road in recent years and has been the subject of countless debates in County Hall. It featured in a recent RTE Prime Time special on road safety.

Elsewhere in Wexford town, following a horror crash which nearly saw his young family wiped out, Wexford man Jamie Lambert called on Wexford County Council to take action on the notorious junction where it happened.

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There have been numerous complaints over the Stravehall junction, which sees Sinnottstown Lane and Whiterock Hill join the Coolballow Road.

However, at the April meeting of Wexford County Council, Borough Engineer Eilis Furlong confirmed that there was no budget for works there within the next year.

Meanwhile, at the April meeting of Wexford County Council, director of services Eamonn Hore admitted that the local authority is struggling to improve the quality of roads with current funding levels. Wexford has some of the poorest roads in the country, and well be making the case that you cant give the counties with the better roads the same amount of money every year and hope that Wexford will just magically get better, he said.

Weather has also played its part. Storm Kathleen, which battered our coasts earlier this month, also played havoc with some roads, hampering access to beaches. In the aftermath of Storm Kathleen, Cllr Michael Whelan said: The state of some of the roadways to the beaches isnt good as its pretty much been raining no stop since June.

All this begs the question
Holiness and sacredness are sublime words, yet they can be used in such fake and insincere ways.

Paddy Cullen, no, not the former Dublin goalkeeper but a retired chemistry lecturer in Dublins Bolton Street, now part of TU Dublin, died last week. He was born in Screen in Wexford in 1939, the year World War II began.

I first briefly met him in the late 1960s in Tallaght. He was heading off on his Honda 50 to Dunsink Observatory, where he was studying astronomy. Even in that extremely cursory exchange of words I was greatly impressed with him. There was something gracious about him. He made me feel at ease.
Fine Gael candidate for Arklow, Laurie Kearon, recently launched her campaign to a packed audience at Bates Nua Restaurant in Rathdrum.

Among the highlights of the evening was the address by the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Aoife Flynn Kennedy, who praised Ms Kearons trustworthiness, capability, integrity, and proactive approach to solving issues.

Also speaking on the night were former Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Andrew Doyle and former TD Billy Timmins, who underscored Ms Kearons commitment to the community.

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Ms Kearon took the opportunity to share her vision for south Wicklow, focusing on the welfare of its older residents, enhancing safety and security for all, and the urgent need for comprehensive recreational facilities.

We are all blessed to live in a part of Ireland that is so beautiful, has so many wonders, and it is such a lovely environment that people have chosen this area in which to live, Ms Kearon said.

However, there are many things that need improvement, and residents here deserve the strong representation I will bring to south Wicklow.
New fire stations for Baltinglass and Dunlavin have moved a step closer to reality after the completion of site investigation works and confirmation from Wicklow County Council that it has met with NDFEM on the issue of increased costs.

Initially announced as part of a 61 million Fire Service Capital Programme (2021-2025), the two new stations are now advancing to the next stage of their development, with consultants having produced detailed drawings for both stations.

Having raised issues around the delay of the stations at the February Wicklow County Council meeting, and worked to ensure the projects' swift completion since, Cathaoirleach of the Baltinglass Municipal District, Councillor Edward Timmins, welcomed the news about the site investigation works and that WCC had met with NDFEM (National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management).

Back in February, the issue of the fire stations was not on the council agenda, but I brought up this item directly at the meeting as I believe the stations must be fast-tracked, he said.

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I pointed out how funding had been previously allocated and questioned if the projects had been forgotten. Since then, I have been following this issue closely, so I am delighted to report that consultants have now produced detailed drawings of the fire stations and all site investigation work for both the Baltinglass and Dunlavin stations has now been completed.

This is another step in the right direction for the provision of the stations, and I will be continuing to ensure these projects keep moving.

In a Practical Guide for Monitoring Rural Development Policies in Ireland: Opportunities and Challenges published by the ESRI in January 2024, access to proper public services like fire stations is named as key performance indicator in monitoring the effectiveness of our rural policies, he continued.

The council have also met with NDFEM (National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management  funders) around the increased costs of the projects, and a letter of approval will be issued over the coming days in this regard.

As this issue further progresses, consultants will prepare contract documents so tenders can be issued immediately thereafter.

I would like to thank the staff in Wicklow County Council for continuing to work to ensure this issue moves swiftly. I will work with all stakeholders to ensure the delivery of the new stations for Baltinglass and Dunlavin.
Abbie Mai Delaney, a student of Colaiste Chill Mhantain, has reason to celebrate after securing a much sought after place in the Gaeltacht residency scholarship for transition year, Sceim na bhFoghlaimeoiri Gaeilge.

Abbie Mai, who is the daughter of Linda and Stephen Delaney, is currently a third year pupil and is one of only 30 students nationwide who will get the opportunity through this programme for the school year. Students who achieve this result gain the opportunity to conduct the school year programme an any of the five offshore second-level schools.

Students attend the schools and stay with a host family for the year and get to engage with island life while learning a lot of Irish and develop independent living skills. They also benefit from smaller class sizes and develop a passion for the island, its heritage and the Irish language.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has spoken about her support for Palestine and how she was warned that it could affect her career.

I think its important to me because firstly, Im a very privileged person, she said in an interview with Teen Vogue.

Im so lucky Ive gotten to this point in my career, and Im privileged as a white woman, first off. Then the fact that I get to do the job I love and travel the world and meet amazing people, I feel a moral responsibility to give back.

The Galway actress recalled how her late father, who served in the Irish army, went into a lot of war-torn regions after the conflict and try and help rebuild, and the impact that his work left on her.

My family lived in Jerusalem back in the late 1970s, early 1980s, before I was born, so I heard first hand stories about them living there, she said.

Speaking about the response of Hollywood executives to activism by several actors in support for Palestinian people, the Derry Girls star claimed she was told she could lose work if she continued. She has continued to wear her Artists4Ceasefire pin  in support of a ceasefire in Gaza  anyway.

You do get told, You wont get work, you wont do this, she said.

But I also think, deep down, if you know that youre coming from a place of I dont want any innocent people to suffer, then Im not worried about peoples reactions.

Coughlan said her advocacy for social justice has always been a part of her life, long before she was an actor, campaigning door-to-door for marriage equality in her home country Ireland and marching for abortion rights.

To me it always becomes about supporting all innocent people, which sounds oversimplified, but I think youve got to look at situations and just think, Are we supporting innocent people no matter where theyre from, who they are? Thats my drive, she said.

In spite of being on a press tour for Season 3 of the Netflix period romcom Bridgerton, Coughlan has continued to post about Israels war on Gaza, and raised thousands of pounds through fundraisers she has organised. She even inspired Bridgerton fans to organise their own fundraising efforts online.

Some of the Hollywood actors who, like Coughlan, have advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza have already faced repercussions.

Mexican actor Melissa Barrera was dropped from the seventh instalment of the Scream franchise after she shared posts expressing her support for Palestine. In spite of fierce criticism from fans, the films production company Spyglass said it had done so because it had zero tolerance for antisemitism.

The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer too drew fierce backlash from Hollywood actors and executives, including more than 1,000 industry figures who signed an open letter against him, after he used his acceptance speech at the Oscars to criticise the war in Gaza.

Coughlan said that social media doesnt allow for nuance and makes things seem only black or white.

More of us should be trying to understand how upsetting and traumatising this is for Jewish people, and how horrific it is that all these innocent people in Palestine are being murdered, she added.

Season three of Bridgerton will be released on Netflix in two parts, on May 16 and June 13.
Julia Fox has once again opened up about her short-lived relationship with Kanye West.

In an interview with InStyle published on Thursday 25 April, the Uncut Gems actress revealed that her two-month-long relationship with the rapper is why she doesnt plan on dating anyone in the public eye anymore.

When the outlet asked her to describe a way she is perceived that doesnt go away she quickly mentioned West.

Dating that man for a month - one month, she said. And thats why I have such a sour taste in my mouth about dating anyone in this sphere. Because I dont ever want to just be known as someones girlfriend. I know Im so much more than that.

Fox continued: And I feel like that happens so much to women in this industry. Theyre only as good as their partner or they can make a whole career off being some guys partner.

She added that she wanted to be well-known on her own without needing a man to back her.

I want to just stand on my own two feet and not need a man to back me, Fox told the outlet. I did that for years. Im good. I have established myself, and I want to keep establishing myself. And maybe one day Ill even be taken seriously.

This isnt the first time the actress has mentioned her relationship with West. In her memoir, Down the Drain, which came out in October 2023, she relayed how they met on New Years Day 2021 and he asked her to be his girlfriend the next day while they were having dinner.

Would you want to be my girlfriend? He added: How would you feel about taking the relationship public? her book read.

Despite telling the rapper no at first, she ended up changing her mind. If youre worried about me embarrassing you, I wouldnt do that. You have a son, and my mom was a single mom, he told her in an attempt to convince her.

The memoir also detailed West sending her various clothes right after meeting that were all skintight, black jumpsuits. Then, during their second date, he wanted to give her an entire stylist team with the goal of upgrading her wardrobe.

By date number three, she had to meet the stylist West hired for her in a restaurants bathroom because he didnt like the outfit she showed up in. The stylist had offered her something different to wear, with Fox claiming that she felt like a show monkey when the outfit was handed to her.

Prior to the books release, Fox spoke with the Los Angeles Times, where she recalled thinking her relationship with West could be something real when they first began dating.

I really understood him on a visceral level, Fox said, adding that she thought ultimately Id be helping a precarious situation when it came to his dynamic with his ex, Kim Kardashian.

But I learned very quickly that I was being weaponised, she added. I just felt like his little puppet.
Terrie McEvoy with her husband David Fitzpatrick pictured at The Platinum VIP Style Awards 2024 at The Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Laura Nolan and Matthew MacNabb pictured at The Platinum VIP Style Awards 2024 at The Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Stylish Irish celebs brought the glitz and glamour to the red carpet to Friday nights annual Platinum VIP Style Awards.

The awards, now in their 21st year, are a celebration of Irish style and took place at the InterContinental Hotel in Ballsbridge.

Laura Fox, fresh from the Dancing with the Stars dance floor, is hosting tonights gala and said she hasnt taken a breather yet, adding that participating in the show was "the time of my life.

"I felt like I had the time of my life. I knew exactly how long I was going to be there for, it was always going to end on March 17 regardless. And because I made it right to the end, when it finished, I was like: Oh my God, that was amazing, she said.

The Galway native revealed she has no time for a respite due to getting ready for the upcoming season of Irelands Fittest Family very soon.

"Im in a great place at the moment, Im doing everything Ive ever wanted. So to get the opportunity to stay working is amazing, and Im loving it. I have a great support, she said.

Laura Fox pictured at The Platinum VIP Style Awards 2024 at The Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Some of Irelands best-known celebrities took to the red carpet, including Rosanna Davison, Brian and Arthur Dowling-Gourounlian, Blathnaid Treacy, Kathryn Thomas, Katja Mia, Doireann Garrihy, Roz Purcell, Muireann OConnell, Erica Cody, and Erin McGregor.

Doireann Garrihy pictured at The Platinum VIP Style Awards 2024 at The Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Kathryn Thomas was seen wearing a red Bridgerton style dress.

"I decided theres only one night of the year that you can go big, Kathryn said.

"Any other dresses, when I was looking back, theyve always been sleek or whatever, so I just said I wanted to go big. I wanted it red, I wanted glam, kind of Bridgerton vibes, I was channelling Nicola Coughlan.

Rosanna Davison was wearing a pink dress custom-made by designer Golden Stitch.

"It feels amazing, I just think of all nights I might as well do something different and unusual, she told the Irish Independent.

More that 500,000 votes were cast by readers of the magazine to decide who takes the fashion spoils this year.

Irish celebs were nominated in many categories, such as the Style Icon of the Year, Irelands Most Stylish Woman and Man, The Look of the Year award, Favourite Irish Designer Award, Most Sustainable Style, and Best Dressed on the Night.
Our fashion editor rounds up the latest style news and fashion trends

The red sweater with peaked collars knitted by Delia Barry, which Colin Farrell wore in The Banshees of Inisherin

Costumes from 'Normal People' which feature in a new exhibition of iconic costumes of the Irish silver screen which opens next Wednesday, May 1 in the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge. Silverware, held in conjunction with the Irish Costume Archive

'Gra mo chroi ' Aran cashmere cardigan in 100pc cashmere, made to order, 1,450 over the 'Bailith'dress in black, 795, from the new CUPLA range, available from madigancashmere.com

Elaine Madigans cashmeres have the power to seduce. Her Gra Mo Chroi 100pc cashmere Aran sweaters are incredibly luxurious and sell for 1,450 each.

New in, Madigan has introduced a summer collection of knits in a 75pc cashmere/25pc organic blend, in gorgeous summer colours like soft aqua, pink sorbet, violet and natural. Shapes include the fluted Lottie cardi (450) and vest top (325) and, together, they create a thoroughly modern take on the classic twin set.

Lottie cardi, 450, and vest top, 325, in soft aqua, madigancashmere.com

Madigan closed her shop in Dublins Westbury Mall and she has been busy developing a new collab called Cupla.

It could also be called The Tale of Two Elaines because Madigan has teamed up with modiste Elaine Honey, with whom she has been working with on clothing pieces. Madigan explains how they first met in 2020 and, as they worked together, they could not help but notice their shared passion for beautifully crafted clothing.

Cupla is the Irish word for a couple or twins, and the special collection was conceived and created by two women who like to consider the smallest of details, things like French seams, bindings and deep, generous hems.

Bailith dress from the new Cupla collection, 795, madigancashmere. com

Working with a silk from France, they have introduced a number of shapes in colours like pink, cream, black and a striking gold, seen in the Bailith dress (795).

Midi length with elbow-length exaggerated puff sleeves, the bodice sits at the natural waistline with a slight dip at the back and voluminous skirt.

The Cupla collection also features two tops, two styles of trousers and two skirts. Prices start at 395. madigancashmere.com

Cotton and silk

When I fell for the Spanish label Psophia, I fell hard. Hand on heart, some of my favourite and hardest-working pieces in my wardrobe have been from this brand.

Im smitten by its interesting lightweight fabrics, its prints and its denims, and I write about it today based on the personal success Ive had and that desire to buy less, buy better and get loads of wear out of my purchases.

This label was founded by Paloma Vazquez de Castro, who had worked at Hoss Intropia, a favourite label of mine, during the Noughties. This season, Psophia has done a pretty aquatic pictorial flower dress in a soothing mix of 70pc cotton/30pc silk.

I spotted the dress in the Dress Circle boutique in Terenure, which is where I first discovered this Spanish label two years ago, and Ive also been going there to buy dresses and separates from the well-priced Greek Archaic Kori label, another favourite of mine since 2020.

Psophia dress in cotton and silk mix, 359, from Dress Circle, Terenure

Like so many stores in the vibrant boutique landscape in Ireland, this shop was started by a visionary woman, Margaret OConnor, who passed away in February, aged 97.

A former nurse who had a great eye for fashion, she opened OConnor Fashions in Dun Laoghaire, had a shop in Ranelagh and opened in Terenure in 1977.

When OConnor retired, the baton was passed on and the Dress Circle boutique is run by her daughters, Niamh and Deirdre. They stock labels like Annette Gortz, Transit and also own the adjoining shoe shop, Scarlet Slippers, so they can literally dress clients head to toe. dresscircle.ie

Museum worthy

It caused a sensation when it was first viewed in The Banshees of Inisherin, and now you can get to see Colin Farrells peak-collared red sweater up close.

Crafted by 83-year-old knitting sensation Delia Barry from Greystones, the red sweater is part of a new exhibition of iconic costumes of the Irish silver screen, which opens next Wednesday, May 1, in the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware, Co Kildare, held in conjunction with the Irish Costume Archive Project.

The red sweater with peaked collars knitted by Delia Barry, which Colin Farrell wore in The Banshees of Inisherin

Costume designer on Martin McDonaghs film shot on Achill Island Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh commissioned Barry to knit the red sweater for Farrells character, and he also wore her navy roll-neck.

Using a magnifying glass, Barry studied photographs of sweaters worn by traditional fishermen from the 1920s that Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh had sourced and then set about creating a thick blue knit that was worn by Brendan Gleeson and a wine-coloured ribbed fishermans sweater worn by Barry Keoghan.

Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin wearing a sweater by Delia Barry

The exhibition in Newbridge also features original costumes from some of cinemas most celebrated award-winning classics, such as Michael Collins, Braveheart and Breakfast on Pluto, starring Cillian Murphy, and also TV hit Normal People. icap.ie; newbridgesilverware.com
Europe

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Two UN peacekeepers wounded in another Israeli strike on Lebanon base, as plans in place for troops to pull out if threat increases
This family photo shows Ryan Corbett holding rabbits with his daughter Miriam and son Caleb in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2020 (Anna Corbett/AP)

Lawyers for an American man believed to be held by the Taliban for nearly two years are asking a United Nations human rights investigator to intervene, citing what they say is cruel and inhumane treatment.
Mounted police work to contain demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas. Photo: Getty

Police in riot gear have violently broken up peaceful Gaza solidarity protests at college campuses across the country, arresting over 500 students in the process.

Images of armed police beating students, throwing them to the ground and using tear gas to disperse the protests have flooded social media in the past few days as the protests continued to spread.
Weapons part of $300m arms deal signed by Joe Biden this week

The United States has secretly provided Ukrainian armed forces with long-range ballistic missiles which have already been used to strike targets deep within Russian territory, according to US officials.

The delivery of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) was authorised by president Joe Biden last month as part of a $300m (279m) arms package, and Kyiv has begun putting them to use in recent days  by hitting a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week as well as Russian forces in another occupied area overnight yesterday.
Livermore, CA (94550)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections is currently underway as people queue up to cast their ballots since morning on Friday to elect their representatives across 88 seats.

With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the key opposition Congress and its alliance partners exchanging barbs and heightening the political heat, the seats in this phase are located across 13 states and union territories in the country.

In the second phase, a total of 88 seats including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls.

A total of 1202 candidates are in the fray in the high-octane battle.

Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024

With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their votes comfortably, the Election Commission said in a statement.

"For convenience for voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions," the polls body said.

The Election Commission has called upon voters to turn in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride as the casting of ballots begins at 7 AM Friday.

Interesting battles are lined up in this phase with some prominent personalities in the fray including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram.

Battles in Rajasthan in the second phase of polls include two union ministers, a former Assembly Speaker, and sons of two former chief ministers.

Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is again in the fray from Mathura while former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from Rajnandgaon, DK Suresh from Bangalore Rural, and Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South.

Over 16 lakh polling officials have been deployed to register the votes of over 15.88 crore people across 1.67 lakh polling stations

Voters include 8.08 crore males, 7.8 crore females, and 5929 third-gender electors of which

34.8 lakhs are first-time voters. Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years.

There are over 14.78 lakh registered voters, who are 85 years old, 42,226 above 100 years and 14.7 lakh PwDs for phase 2 who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes.

As a part of the arrangement, three helicopters, four special trains, and nearly 80,000 vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 percent of the polling stations along with the deployment of micro-observers in all polling stations. Webcasting is being done in over 1 lakh polling stations.

251 Observers (89 General Observers, 53 Police Observers, 109 Expenditure Observers) have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls. They serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.

A total of 4553 Flying Squads, 5731 Static Surveillance Teams, 1462 Video Surveillance Teams and 844 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.

About 1237 inter-state and 263 international border checkposts have been asked to maintain a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

Voter awareness and facilitation measures have been further geared up for higher turnout of voters.

Assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, can cast their vote with ease. Special attention has been given to measures to deal with hot weather conditions, the EC statement said.

Around 4195 model polling stations are being set up across the 88 PCs with local themes. More than 4100 Polling stations will be completely managed by women including security staff and at over 640 Polling stations by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Polling stations across all states and UTs, in this phase except, Bihar and Kerala have less than 1000 average electors per polling station. Bihar has 1008 while Kerala has 1102 electors per polling station.

The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs.

According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout was over 62 percent. The third phase of the general elections will be held on May 7. The results for all seven phases will be declared on June 4.
Polling officials carrying EVMs | Photo courtesy: PIB

New Delhi/IBNS: Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections , the Supreme Court on Friday rejected all pleas seeking 100 percent verification of votes on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with the slips generated through the VVPAT method, media reports said.

The order was passed by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta.

Justice Datta said as quoted by NDTV, "While balanced perspective is important, but blindly doubting a system can breed scepticism and thus, meaningful criticism is needed, be it judiciary, legislature etc, Democracy is all about maintaining harmony and trust among all the pillars. By nurturing a culture of trust and collaboration, we can strengthen the voice of our democracy."

The Supreme Court last week told the Election Commission of India that there has to be sanctity in the electoral process, asking it to explain in detail the steps of cross-verifying VVPAT slips with EVMs.

VVPAT is a separate system for verifying votes that allows voters to confirm if their votes were recorded accurately.

In such a system, an EVM has a control unit and a balloting unit connected by a cable. These are also connected with a VVPAT -- Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail -- machine. This machine enables a voter to see if the vote was cast properly and went to the candidate he/she supports.

Currently, VVPAT verification is conducted on just five randomly chosen EVMs in each assembly segment.

Amid the Opposition's apprehensions regarding the EVM voting system, the petitions seek a direction to cross-verify every vote cast on EVMs with the paper slips generated by the VVPAT system.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash

New Delhi/IBNS: Popular online messaging application WhatsApp has warned to shut down its services in India if it is asked to break encryption, citing privacy of the users, media reports said.

WhatsApp told this to the Delhi High Court challenging the amended IT rules.

"As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes," advocate Tejas Karia, who appeared for the platform, told the Delhi High Court bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora as quoted by Bar and Bench.

Karia told the court the action will be against the privacy of individuals who avail the service for encryption of messages.

Moreover, the advocate says it would require the platform to store millions of messages and its chain for any decryption.

The new rule says a social media messaging app should identify the originator of the information if required by a court order or any directive passed by a competent authority.

When Karia emphasised that the parent IT Act doesn't ask for decryption, the court asked him whether such a matter was taken elsewhere in the world.

Karia says nowhere the platform has been asked to break encryption of messages. "No, not even in Brazil," the advocate told the court.

Kirtiman Singh, the counsel who appeared for the Centre, told the court the idea behind the new rule is to trace the originator of the message and the need to have a mechanism to track it down.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT told the court that if the rules are not amended, it would be difficult for probe agencies to identify the origin of fake messages, which would disturb the peace and harmony in the society with circulation of such information in other platforms.
Photo courtesy: PIB

New Delhi/IBNS: 25.1% of total voters have cast their votes till 11 am as 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories went to polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday.

The elections are underway in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 5 each in Bihar and Assam, 3 each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh and 1 each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.

Though 89 constituencies were scheduled to vote on Friday, elections in Betul, Madhya Pradesh was rescheduled to May 7 after the death of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their votes comfortably, the Election Commission said in a statement.

"For convenience for voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions," the polls body said.

The Election Commission has called upon voters to turn in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride as the casting of ballots begins at 7 AM Friday.

Interesting battles are lined up in this phase with some prominent personalities in the fray including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram.

Battles in Rajasthan in the second phase of polls include two union ministers, a former Assembly Speaker, and sons of two former chief ministers.

Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is again in the fray from Mathura while former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from Rajnandgaon, DK Suresh from Bangalore Rural, and Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South.

Over 16 lakh polling officials have been deployed to register the votes of over 15.88 crore people across 1.67 lakh polling stations

Voters include 8.08 crore males, 7.8 crore females, and 5929 third-gender electors of which 34.8 lakhs are first-time voters. Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years.

There are over 14.78 lakh registered voters, who are 85 years old, 42,226 above 100 years and 14.7 lakh PwDs for phase 2 who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes.

As a part of the arrangement, three helicopters, four special trains, and nearly 80,000 vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 percent of the polling stations along with the deployment of micro-observers in all polling stations. Webcasting is being done in over 1 lakh polling stations.

251 Observers (89 General Observers, 53 Police Observers, 109 Expenditure Observers) have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls. They serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.

A total of 4553 Flying Squads, 5731 Static Surveillance Teams, 1462 Video Surveillance Teams and 844 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.

About 1237 inter-state and 263 international border checkposts have been asked to maintain a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

Voter awareness and facilitation measures have been further geared up for higher turnout of voters.

Assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, can cast their vote with ease. Special attention has been given to measures to deal with hot weather conditions, the EC statement said.

Around 4195 model polling stations are being set up across the 88 PCs with local themes. More than 4100 Polling stations will be completely managed by women including security staff and at over 640 Polling stations by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Polling stations across all states and UTs, in this phase except Bihar and Kerala have less than 1000 average electors per polling station. Bihar has 1008 while Kerala has 1102 electors per polling station.

The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs.

According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout was over 62 percent. The third phase of the general elections will be held on May 7. The results for all seven phases will be declared on June 4.
Photo Courtesy: Princeton University website

An Indian-origin student was arrested allegedly and barred from Princeton University for participating in anti-Israel protests which are taking place in several educational institutions across the USA.

The arrested student was identified as Achinthya Sivalingan.

Achinthya Sivalingan, hailing from Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, is facing disciplinary action and campus ban, a university spokesperson told Hindustan Times.

About 100 undergraduate and graduate students began a sit-in demonstration in McCosh Courtyard on Thursday (April 25, 2024) when they joined the pro-Palestinian supporters in the country.

After student organizers first began to erect tents, Princeton Public Safety (PSAFE) issued its first warning to protesters. At least two student arrests have been made. After the initial arrests, students folded them away, reported The Daily Princetonian.

Students face arrest and being barred from campus if they refuse to stop after a warning, according to a campus-wide message on Wednesday (April 25, 2024) morning from Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun, reported the newspaper.

We are part of a historic moment in student movements drawing on anti-war student movements in American history, Emanuelle Sippy 25, the president of the Alliance of Jewish Progressives (AJP), told The Daily Princetonian.

 Its very easy to valorize this when its about South African apartheid or the Vietnam War or Kent State. We need to show up in this present moment. Sippy noted she was not speaking for AJP.



Apart from Achinthya Sivalingam, another student named Hassan Sayed GS was also arrested by the cops within minutes after the first tent was setup in the campus.

The two graduate students have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill told The Daily Princetonian.

No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance, Morrill added.

Meanwhile, protesting the move, the student organizers have circulated a document on Instagram where they asked alumni and other members of the university to call and email the University to halt disciplinary measures and said that Sivalingam and Sayed had been evicted from their campus housing and had been given five minutes to collect their belongings.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in universities across the country as pro-Palestinian campus protests are heating up in the USA.

At New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the demonstrations, protesting students said they wont disperse until the school agrees to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions and disinvest its funds from entities connected to Israel, among other demands, reported CNN.

Protesters in other universities are making similar demands.

Who is Achinthya Sivalingan?

According to the official website of the university, Achinthya Sivalingan was born in India's Coimbatore region and she studied world politics and economics at the Ohio State University.

"She has worked on a range of policy issues in the United States and in India through civil society organizations and the legal system, politics and movement building, and private philanthropy," read the Princeton University website.

Most recently, Achinthya supported policy and advocacy work for the climate adaptation, agricultural development, and nutrition portfolios at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the website further said.
A group of voters in UP's Ghaziabad posing for photo after voting. (Image credit: PIB)

New Delhi: Voting in 88 electoral constituencies spread across 13 states and Union Territories took place on Friday amid a furious controversy between the Congress and the BJP over their manifestos and the issue of inheritance tax. In Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tripura, the polling has concluded.

By 5 pm, an average turnout of 60.7 percent was recorded.

The second phase of polling included 20 seats in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven seats in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one seat each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Tripura.

A polling official marks a voter with indelible ink (Image credit: PIB)

The heavyweights in this phase included Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal from the Congress, Bhupesh Baghel, and Vaibhav Gehlot (son of Ashok Gehlot), as well as Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from the BJP.

People waiting for their turn to cast their votes in Jammu (Image credit: PIB)

Contests that would be watched closely included Rajeev Chandrasekhar versus Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram, and actors Hema Malini and Arun Govil from the iconic 1980s serial Ramayan, along with senior BJP leader Tejasvi Surya and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

A woman casting vote in Bengaluru, Karnataka (Image credit: PIB)

Further south, the BJP is striving to disrupt the established bipolar politics of Kerala. The party aims to make an entry into the state by fielding Union ministers Rajiv Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan.

    .



Did my Duty!



Every vote counts and can make a difference.



Your vote is your voice!



As Kerala votes for #LokSabhaElection2024 today, I call upon all voters to exercise this right to shape the future of our nation. pic.twitter.com/VFfTISbsaq  V Muraleedharan /   ( Modi Ka Parivar) (@VMBJP) April 26, 2024

In Wayanad, a stronghold of the Congress for over two decades, the BJP has pitted its state unit president K Surendran against Rahul Gandhi.

#WATCH | Kozhikode: BJP Kerala state president and Wayanad candidate K Surendran cast his vote in the Lok Sabha polls.



He is up against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi here.



Voting is underway in all 20 seats in Kerala.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/s0gPmIS7Mg  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

For the Opposition, Kerala represents a beacon of hope. Despite the Left and the Congress engaging in fierce competition in the southern state, a victory by either party will bolster the overall tally of the Opposition in India.

Kerala stands out as one of the few states that have never elected a BJP member to parliament.

With the northern, western, and northeastern regions of India largely under its belt, the BJP is now eyeing expansion in the south and east as part of its ambition to secure 370 seats.

In the 2019 elections, the party clinched 303 seats, with the majority coming from the Hindi heartland and both new and old strongholds, including Gujarat and the northeast.

Meanwhile, the Congress claims that it will make improvements to its performance compared to 2019.

Following the first phase of the election, the partys confidence has grown, particularly in Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav has boldly claimed that his party will win all five seats in Bihar.

The ongoing election is marked by a slugfest between the Congress and the BJP.

Tensions escalated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented that if the Congress were to come into power, it would redistribute the personal wealth of people among "infiltrators" and wouldnt even spare women's mangalsutras.

The Congress has countered by questioning whether people had to fear for their wealth and mangalsutras during the party's 55-year rule, accusing the BJP of evading critical issues.

The next phase of the election is scheduled for May 7, with vote counting slated for June 4  three days following the conclusion of the seventh and final phase of the election on June 1.
Image posted by Tejasvi Surya

Bengaluru/IBNS: A case has been filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Bengaluru South candidate Tejasvi Surya for seeking votes on religious grounds.

In a statement on the microblogging website X, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer posted "soliciting votes on the ground of religion".

The case has been filed with Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru.

After voting, Surya told reporters the Congress party may not win more than 30 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Congress party has become absolutely frustrated. Survey after survey shows that it may not win more than 30 seats... The more personal attacks and baseless allegations they make against the PM (Narendra Modi), history has shown that the Prime Minister has only got stronger and the BJP has only got more popular," Surya told news agency ANI.

The Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy in the Bengaluru South constituency.

Surya said more senior citizens are voting this year and urged young people to come out and vote in large numbers.

Joined the nation in casting my vote for #NewIndia!



Today, we are reaffirming our work on #ViksitBharat by giving Sri @narendramodi Ji an overwhelming majority.



Urge all of you to come out & vote in large numbers.



Vote for Development!#DakshinakkeSurya pic.twitter.com/3FnLbM7Bsu  Tejasvi Surya ( ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 26, 2024

"Today is a celebration day in Karnataka. It is a festival of democracy. Millions of people will go out and vote... This is not just a right, but also a duty, because if we don't vote, we are not registering our voice, and contributing meaningfully to a democracy," he told ANI.

Karnataka voted on 14 seats in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections Friday.

This phase had 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories.

According to the Election Commission, over 15.88 crore people cast their votes in the second phase.
Image posted by BJP4India on X

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday attacked the opposition bloc INDIA after the Supreme Court rejected petitions seeking 100 percent verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) using the VVPAT, or Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.

PM Modi said every opposition leader has "sinned" by creating doubts in the minds of people about EVMs.

"Their (Opposition) dreams have been shattered," PM Modi said during a rally in Bihar as voting on 88 seats across India took place in the second of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.

"They did not let people exercise their right to vote for decades. Booth capturing was very common... They did not even let the people step out to vote... Now when the poor and honest voters have the strength of EVM, they are trying all they can to get rid of the EVM... Today, the Supreme Court has given a strong verdict saying that the old system of ballot paper voting will not come back," PM Modi said.

EVM     -             



 ! pic.twitter.com/tARRqHEevb  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024

The clutch of petitions was filed by the non-profit Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and others.

In strong remarks, the Supreme Court questioned the credentials of the ADR. Justice Dipankar Datta said, "A trend has been fast developing of certain vested interest groups endeavouring to undermine the achievements and accomplishments of the nation."

"There seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish, and weaken the progress of this great nation on every possible frontier. Any such effort, or rather attempt, has to be nipped in the bud," Justice Datta said.

Continuing his attack on the INDIA bloc, PM Modi said the Supreme Court verdict has "given such a shock to those who had the intention to loot ballot boxes that all their dreams have been shattered."

"See the power of democracy and constitution of Dr Ambedkar... Today, there are two main streams in politics. One stream is the BJP-led NDA which wants to strengthen the people of India... on the other side is INDIA alliance which wants to fill their own pockets by seizing the property of people," PM Modi said.

This was a reference to the row over Congress leader Sam Pitroda's comments that the policy of tax on inheritance passed down from parents to their children seemed "interesting".
Photo Courtesy:  IOM/Alexander Bee

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is offering medical care, food, shelter and psychosocial support to 33 migrants who survived a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti on Monday, as local authorities continue search and rescue operations.

The migrants were on a boat carrying at least 77 people from Ras al-Ara off Yemens coast which capsized off the coast of Djibouti, near Obock, leaving 24 dead and 20 others missing.

Just two weeks ago, a similar accident, resulting in the death of at least 38 migrants, occurred.

The occurrence of two such tragedies within a span of two weeks highlights the dangers faced by children, women, and men migrating through irregular routes, underscoring the importance of establishing safe and legal pathways for migration, said Tanja Pacifico, IOM Chief of Mission in Djibouti.

Searching for a better life

In both cases, it is believed that migrants were trying to return to Djibouti from Yemen after being unable to travel to Saudi Arabia for better work and other opportunities.

Each year, tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa, in particular Ethiopia and Somalia, attempt to travel through Djibouti for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations, but are often unsuccessful and end up stranded in Yemen.

We must work to prevent as much as possible those circumstances where migrants' safety and well-being are threatened and ensure that migrants are able to maintain contact with their families, Ms. Pacifico said.

Numbers on the rise

IOMs Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has reported that 3,682 migrants have left Yemen for Djibouti since the beginning of 2024  this is more than double the figure from last year.

Despite the dangerous and life-threatening journey, IOM's DTM recorded about 380,000 journeys along the Eastern Corridor from Africa to countries in the Arab Peninsula which claimed the lives of 1,350  many more deaths have gone unreported.

IOM Djibouti is continually supporting local authorities to prevent similar deaths on sea and land. The organization has also partnered with 48 other humanitarian and development groups and governments to coordinate the Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP) which will respond to migrants humanitarian needs along the Eastern Route.

Ms. Pacifico noted, IOM, as Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration, is actively working on actionable recommendations for providing humanitarian assistance to migrants in distress and addressing the plight of missing migrants and their families.
Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

A new mechanism for getting lifesaving aid into Gaza will start in the coming days, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator Sigrid Kaag announced in a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday.

The operationalisation of the mechanism will allow for pipeline prioritisation, predictability, visibility and tracking of supplies to Gaza, she told ambassadors.

The new plan stemmed from Security Council resolution 2720, adopted in December, which established Ms. Kaags position and requested her to forge a UN mechanism to accelerate aid deliveries into the war-torn enclave, which now faces looming famine.

Since Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel in October that left 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage, Israeli military operations have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as UN and other humanitarian agencies continue to report long delays by Israeli authorities to allow lifesaving aid in at a scale that meets ever growing needs.

As the resolution intended, the mechanism is designed to facilitate and support the work of all humanitarian partners on the ground, Ms. Kaag said.

Monitoring in Gaza starts as soon as possible

The mechanism will initially be applied to the Cyprus and Jordan aid routes, and technical consultations will soon be finalised with Egypt on its route, she said, adding that she has informed Israel about the operationalisation of the mechanism.

Verification and monitoring inside Gaza will commence as soon as possible, she explained. In the coming weeks, my office in Gaza will also be operational.

In addition, a database and notification system will go online for all cargo destined for Gaza along supply routes, with the approval for placing international monitors at crossings, inspection and supply points having been requested from relevant authorities, she said.
Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/Mark Garten

On 25 April 1974, military officers overthrew the nearly 50-year dictatorship in Portugal in a largely peaceful coup known as the Carnation Revolution.

Named after the flowers civilians stuffed in the muzzles of the soldiers guns, the revolution put Portugal on the path to democracy and led to the independence of its six remaining colonies, stretching from Africa to the Pacific, with ripple effects in Brazil  independent since 1822, but under military rule at the time.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a former Portuguese Prime Minister, argues that from a historical perspective, the uprising should have occurred decades earlier.

Reflection and analysis

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the revolution, which is also known as 25 April, Guterres and UN Ambassadors from Portuguese-speaking countries sat down to reflect on its significance and implications today.

Participating in the debate were the Permanent Representatives of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Portugal and Timor-Leste. Their countries are all members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), established roughly a decade after the revolution. Other members include Guinea-Bissau and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe.

UN Newss Portuguese team organized the high-level discussion, moderated by journalists Marta Moreira from Portugal and Felippe Coaglio from Brazil.

The debate will be broadcast by media outlets throughout the Lusophone world. Globally, roughly 250 million people speak Portuguese.

'On the right side of history'

Having experienced the events of the Carnation Revolution firsthand, Mr. Guterres declared that being on the side of freedom against oppression means being on the right side of history.

It is clear that we are on the right side of history, freeing a country from dictatorship, and we are on the right side of history re-establishing justice in international relations after a colonial past that is unacceptable, he said.

The UN chief declared that 25 April would not have occurred without the struggle of the African liberation movements. For him, the two things are interconnected and that is why there is no cause-and-effect relationship.

In this regard, Mr. Guterres noted that if there were any criticism of 25 April, it would be that from a historical point of view, it should have happened decades earlier.

Catalyst for independence

The Permanent Representative of Angola, Francisco Jose da Cruz, stated that the Carnation Revolution was of great importance to Angolans as it created the dynamics that led to the country's independence.

Portugal's desire to move forward in this process became clearer when the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim, visited Portugal in August, and Portugal made it clear that this would be the path to follow and that the liberation movements would be the legitimate interlocutors in this process that would lead to independence, he said.

Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Danese said 25 April had two main impacts on South Americas largest country. The first was to show that there was hope for a path towards democratic rule once again and the second was in diplomacy.

We had a very strong contradiction in our foreign policy. We recognized the independence of all former French, British and Dutch colonies, but we remained tied to Portuguese colonialism, and the 25th of April and its immediate consequences promptly freed us from that yoke," he recalled.

We were the first country to recognize Angola. And then we were among the first to recognize each of the former Portuguese colonies, he added.

A deep friendship

When asked what helped shape new relations between the Portuguese-speaking nations, the Ambassador of Cabo Verde, Tania Romualdo, highlighted the relationship between their populations as the basis for the bond between the emerging States.

This revolution made it possible not to begin, but to continue this deep friendship that united peoples, she said. There was a union there, a very strong friendship, that preceded the revolution itself which contributed to the revolution and which helped the decolonization process after 25 April to accelerate bilateral cooperation.

Among the issues raised during the debate was how Portuguese-speaking countries have much in common, despite their different paths to democracy and nationhood.

Unity and fraternity

Ambassador Pedro Commissar of Mozambique highlighted how the Lusophone bloc is defined by ties of proximity and solidarity with the United Nations. Mozambique is currently the only Lusophone country on the 15-member UN Security Council, occupying one of the 10 seats allotted to non-permanent members.

The CPLP is a totally different model from the Commonwealth or Francophonie model. It is a model of sovereign States but linked by a bond of deep fraternity. 25 April gave us that basis, that impulse so that today we have this affection that unites our countries, he said.

On this issue, the Ambassador of Portugal, Ana Paula Zacarias, pointed to ongoing efforts on the diplomatic front to amplify their common voice, in Portuguese, at the UN. She emphasized that some of their common positions are already being heard in the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Being heard means working together - and working together in areas that have already been identified, she said. Above all, we have a lot to do in political coordination, in coordinating security and defense issues which are currently fundamental. And everything that has to do with the fight against climate change.

The Representative of Timor-Leste, Dionisio Babo Soares, spoke of reinforcement at an internal and external level to boost future action as a bloc in a world marked by complexities in politics and development.

For Timor-Leste, the CPLP is an entry point to the world. Member countries are located in different parts of the world, he said. Furthermore, efforts to reintroduce the Portuguese language in Timor-Leste are intensifiying.

We work together with Portugal in this sense, and we are committed to moving forward with this programme of having Portuguese as the official language of the United Nations.

Symbol of peace

Looking to the future, Guterres characterized the cooperative relations that exist today between Portuguese-speaking countries as a symbol of peace that should inspire the world.

The Secretary-General expressed hope that the bloc can play a decisive role in re-establishing the trust that has unfortunately been lost in our world, and in re-establishing the conditions that can allow us not only more peace but at the same time fairer development, respect for human rights and overcoming the dramatic divisions that today weigh on us all as a threat to the future of humanity.
Photo courtesy: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

A top Human Rights Council-appointed expert has welcomed the decision by all health authorities in the United Kingdom to halt the routine use of puberty-blockers offered to children as part of gender transition services, amid a sharp increase more widely in the number of teenage girls seeking such treatment and concerns that it might disrupt brain development.

The development is in line with several western European countries that have reportedly reduced access to similar gender identity treatments whose benefits were found to be remarkably weak, according to a National Health Service (NHS) England-commissioned review, published on 10 April by consultant paediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass.

UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem also welcomed the commitment by the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to implement the implications of the Cass Review.

It hasvery clearly shown the devastating consequences that policies on gender treatments have had on human rights of children, including girlsits implications go beyond the UK, said the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Ms. Alsalem.

Referrals spike

The independent rights expert cited the Reviews findings that between 2009 and 2016, the number of adolescent girls referred to NHS-Englands service for gender distress  or dysphoria - increased from just 15 to 1,071.

These referrals breached fundamental principles, such as the need to uphold the best interest of the child in all decisions that affect their lives, the Special Rapporteur insisted, while transgender rights groups have maintained that there are long waiting lists for treatment.

Mental anguish

Noting the extraordinarily high number of teenage girls impacted by anxiety and depression in recent years, Ms. Alsalem said it was crucially important that health authorities stopped rapidly initiating permanent gender transition pathways that usually begin with puberty blockers, which could cause temporary or permanent disruption to brain maturation.

Instead, girls potentially seeking gender affirming interventions should be offered more holistic psychological support, protected by legislation that should ensure transition does not become the only option that is acceptable to discuss with them.

Detransition support

The same opportunity for wider therapeutic support should also be available to detransitioners - individuals who have discontinued gender transitioning - most of whom are girls, Ms. Alsalem maintained, in support of the Reviews findings.

Far too long, the suffering of this group of children and adults has been ignored or discounted. The reports findings and recommendation signals that they have been heard, seen, and that their specific needs have been recognised.

Toxic debate

According to Dr Casss report, many more young girls are being referred for gender transition treatment today, marking a distinct change from the past, when most requests for medical help came from adolescent boys.

Reiterating an earlier call for tolerance regarding discussions surrounding gender treatments amid a toxicity of the debate identified by the Cass Review, Special Rapporteur Alsalem stressed that researchers and academics who expressed their views should not be silenced, threatened or intimidated.

Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.
Photo Courtesy: UNRWA

Unexpected blistering temperatures across Gaza have added to the daily misery faced by the enclaves people and sparked new fears of disease outbreaks amid a lack of sufficient clean water and waste disposal, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.

The warning from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, came as some 1.2 million people continued to shelter in tents pitched in and around the enclaves southernmost city, Rafah, with nowhere else to go.

It is like living in a greenhouse, no-one can tolerate living inside, the UN agency said, quoting Mustafa Radwan, formerly from Gaza City, in a social media post on X.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, Rafahs residents are acutely aware that conditions will become even more uncomfortable once summer comes, with temperatures set to reach 50 or 60, said Mr. Radwan, who lives in a tent with eight family members.

Clean water remains scarce in Rafah and long queues are an everyday reality, Mr. Radwan continued. Everything is a queue, everything is suffering in displacement.

More mission access denials

In a related development, UN aid teams reported that no humanitarian missions were possible to northern Gaza on Wednesday as the Israeli army closed its checkpoints on two roads due to troop movements.

But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that a joint UNRWA and UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) mission did reach Jabalia on Tuesday, providing medical aid and water purification assistance.

Pop-up clinic

The UN agency for Palestinians also reported successfully converting a childrens nursery into a functioning health facility in the Mawasi area of the devastated city of Khan Younis.

The pop-up clinic receives around 2,000 individuals daily and offers services ranging from chronic disease care, maternal and child health care, dental services and psychological counselling.

Demand is overwhelming

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With the onset of summer, difficulties increase from water scarcity and overcrowding, leading to the spread of infectious diseases, skin sensitivities, lice, and other illnesses, said Dr. Ahmed Hanouda, the clinic's director.

We are, of course, trying to address these problems and provide services to the displaced people under these challenging circumstances based on the available resources. We look forward to offering better services and providing better facilities in the coming days, he said.

Atrocious conditions

Asked at the regular UN daily briefing in New York about Israels plan which remains on the table to invade Rafah in its quest to eliminate Hamas militants, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said a ground operation would be a humanitarian catastrophe.

Were operating in a conflict zonewe will not be a party to any forced displacement of people, he added.

Quizzed further about the rising temperatures, he said conditions are already atrocious. The whole system of treatment of solid waste has basically crumbled with the unimaginable sanitation impact that has on peoples health.
Photo Courtesy: Tsai Ing-wen X page

A team of United States House of Representatives members, who were recently visiting Taiwan, assured to promote closer bilateral ties across different domains amid increasing pressure from China.

"We have come to understand more and more the importance of a strong relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan," Lisa McClain, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told President Tsai Ing-wen during a meeting in Taipei as quoted by Focus Taiwan.

On a daily basis, Taiwan faces "threats from the Chinese Communist Party, whether it's military actions over your skies, aggressive maneuvers in your waters, or economic pressures," she said.

McClain commended the people of Taiwan for "constantly fighting for freedoms," noting that the "bond" between Taiwan and the U.S. built on similar values is "strong and enduring."

"Let no one doubt today our support for you, Taiwan, for your people, and our bright future together," Mark Alford, who also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, was quoted as saying by Focus News.

"We stand together," he went on, "we must be ready to stand united against the forces of aggression and together promote the ideals of freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region."

Following the meeting with US leaders, Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen posted on X: "A warm welcome to the bipartisan delegation incl. Congressional Taiwan Caucus members @RepLisaMcClain , Rep @dankildee, & Rep@markalfordkc . Thank you for consistently backing #Taiwan & our ever-deepening partnership with the #US."
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The European Union on Friday said it carried out raids at the offices of Chinese security equipment maker Nuctech as part of a probe into subsidies, an episode which may further escalate tension.

In a statement, the European Commission said: "The European Commission is carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company active in the production and sale of security equipment in the European Union."

The Commission said it has indications that the inspected company may have received foreign subsidies that could distort the internal market pursuant to the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

"The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the national competition authorities of the Member States where the inspections were carried out," the body said.

"Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigative step into suspected distortive foreign subsidies. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the company in question has indeed received distortive foreign subsidies, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation. If the Commission were to find sufficient indications of the existence of distortive foreign subsidies, it will open an in-depth investigation," the body further said in the statement.

Meanwhile, China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) said it was informed that the offices of a Chinese company in Poland and the Netherlands were subject to investigation regarding foreign subsidies.

"Without prior notice, enforcement agencies authorized by the European Commission conducted raids at the company's offices in both countries in the morning. They seized the company's IT equipment and employees' mobile phones, scrutinized office documents, and demanded access to pertinent data. The CCCEU expresses serious concern over the EU conducting unjustifiable unannounced raids on the Chinese company's subsidiaries in the EU," CCCEU said in a statement.

The CCCEU said it expressed its strong dissatisfaction with the European side's raids on companies set up by Chinese enterprise in the EU without prior notice and without solid evidence.

" The CCCEU and its members are extremely shocked at and dissatisfied with the announced inspection on April 23. We urge the European side to stop the abuse of FSR tools and to effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign enterprises in the EU. Furthermore, we call for the provision of a genuinely fair and non-discriminatory business environment for all the non-EU enterprises," the statement said.

Nuctech said it is cooperating with the European Commission and is committed to defending its reputation.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least six Frontier Corps personnel were hurt in an improvised explosive device attack on a military convoy in Upper Bara region of Pakistan on Wednesday.

Security officials in the region told Dawn News that suspected militants targeted an FC convoy in Enzara area of Upper Bara during general patrolling of the area by the security forces.

The area was cordoned off and a search operation was conducted in the region after the attack.

The injured FC men included lance naik Javed Akbar Swati and Raza Khan, sepoys Arsalan, Mohsin Janzeb, Raza Khan Turi and Gulfam, reported Dawn News.
Photo Courteys: Unsplash

Police in San Antonio city of the US shot dead an Indian-origin man after he struck two officers with his vehicle when they were attempting to apprehend him in connection with an assault case.

He was identified as 42-year-old Sachin Sahoo.

Police told KENS 5 that Sahoo hit a woman with his car and tried to back into officers with the same car hours later.

His family told the news channel about his declining mental health.

Sahoo's ex-wife Leah Goldstein said he was a family person.

He was a great dad, I was a stay at home mom for many years," she told KENS5. "He provided for us.

Goldstein says Sahoo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

He suffered the past ten years with bipolar disorder," Goldstein said. "He also had symptoms of schizophrenia.

He couldnt understand what was wrong with him," she said. "He would hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his own mind.

What happened on Sunday?

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office says Sachin Kumar Sahoo suffered from multiple gunshot wounds while police tried to apprehend him.

Police said the incident connected to Sahoo was first reported on Saturday at a home off Cheviot Heights near Tezel Road on the Northwest Side.

When officers arrived, they found a 51-year-old woman who witnesses said was intentionally hit by a BMW SUV while she was walking on the sidewalk. The driver then took off, News4San Antonio reported.

The woman was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Neighbours told the police that Sahoo returned home at around 12.30 am.

Once officers arrived, they said Sahoo turned violent and rammed both officers with his vehicle. One officer pulled his weapon and fired, hitting Sahoo, who was pronounced dead on the scene, News4San Antonio reported.
Jaya Bachchan's love-hate relationship with paparazzi is known to all. From Shahid Kapoor to Salman Khan, several Bollywood celebrities have often lost their cool with the paps accusing them of invading their privacy. South Indian superstar and RRR fame Jr NTR recently lost his temper too after spotting several cameramen clicking him at the Mumbai airport.

Jr NTR gets angry at the paparazzi in Mumbai

In the video doing the rounds, the Devara: Part 1 actor shouts, "Oye, take it back." Without further ado, watch the video below.

As the video went viral, some fans were surprised to see the actor getting angry. "This is the attitude of Telugu stars," one of them wrote while the other one added, "Par yeh toh humble hote hai na?". On the other hand, several other defended him saying that he has "the right of privacy, there are 100 times when you can click their pictures, where they are dressed just to cater to your needs, but then there are times where people need to give them space." Many others pointed out that South Indian stars are not used to paparazzi culture as it is not prevalent in South India.

Jr NTR is in Mumbai to shoot for War 2

The South Indian superstar will be seen alongside Hrithik Roshan in Yash Raj Films' (YRF) War 2, which is being directed by Ayan Mukerji. Also starring Kiara Advani, the film will pit them both against each other. Talking about the much-anticipated sequel, actor Ashutosh Rana, who also appeared in War and Shah Rukh Khans Pathaan as Colonel Luthra, told ANI, "We are going to start soon, I hope the way everyone loved War and Pathaan they will also like War 2.

War 2 leaked photos

Look At #HrithikRoshan Royalness And Inbuilt Body Iskoo War2 ka Main Hero Khethe Hyy 



I Can Bet My Entire Property HrithikRoshan Can Eat 100s of SideCharacter Ntr ..#War2 pic.twitter.com/tSe6339uJW   (@Rowdyboy60) April 16, 2024

This is a spy universe and in it the missions themselves are thrilling, so the audience will enjoy it." The movie is slated to be released on Independence Day 2025.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.






Vidya Balan never minces her words. The actress recently seen in Do Aur Do Pyaar alongside Prateek Gandhi, has always been bruatally honest and unabashed during interviews. Be it her comebacks or her words of wisdom, Vidya has always been candid. With her brightest smile that can light up anyone's day and her heart in right place, she a delight to watch onscreen as well as offscreen.

Unfiltered & Unabashed, 5 Times Vidya Balan Was Brutally Honest

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1. Got addicted to smoking after Dirty Picture

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The 2011 hit film The Dirty Picture was a game-changer for Vidya Balan's career. When most actresses including Kangana Ranaut rejected to play Silk Smitha, an actress and dancer who became popular as sex symbol in 1980s and early 1990s, she took up the role and nailed it to perfection. In conversation with YouTuber Samdish, the actress recently revealed she got addicted to smoking after the film. Since Smith was a heavy smoker, Vidya had to smoke in the film and to make it look authentic, she smoked real cigarettes.

"I had smoked before shooting for the film. I knew how to smoke but I didnt really smoke...you know what it is. But as a character, you cant just fake it. I couldnt have that hesitation because there is a certain perception about women who smoke. Much less now, far more before," she shared.

Balan said she loves the smell of the smoke

When asked if she still smokes, the actress responded, "No. I dont think I should say this on camera, but I enjoy smoking. If you tell me a cigarette would do no harm to you, then I would do it. I love the smell of smoke. Even at bus stops in my college days, I would stand next to people who would smoke."



2. Felt bullied at an award show

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In the same podcast Unfiltered with Samdish, Vidya Balan also talked about dealing with nepotism early on in her career and being bullied at an award show. She referred to getting Na-Real award at Filmfare Awards 2008 for her costumes in Akshay Kumar starrer Heyy Babyy. "When they told me they're going to give me the Na-Real award, I said, 'Why me? My clothes are not just my choice, right?' I was too new to have an opinion on anything. So they said, 'No, were just doing this fun segment so we're going to give you this award.' So I said, 'Fine, but I'm going to share it with the costume designer and the director, and they said, 'No, you must not do that.' And that, I think, is not nice."



Being a sport, Vidya was ready to do it. However, when she got to know that another actress who was getting Na-Real award backed out, she realized she was the only one being targeted. She went on to name the costume designer when she was presented with the award. This didn't go down well with many and she had to face the heat from her friends and colleagues in the industry thereafter.



3. Admitted dating rumours with Shahid Kapoor

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During an episode of Koffee With Karan, the Do Aur Do Pyaar actress was quizzed about dating rumors with Shahid Kapoor. When Karan Johar asked her what went wrong between them, she answered, "There was no issue there. I was completely misquoted (earlier)." When Karan asked if shebelieved in saying that there was no smoke without fire, Vidya said, "I do." KJO then asked her, "So in this case there was no smoke or no fire?" To which, Vidya being brutally honest said, "No, no. I am not saying that there was no smoke and there wasn't fire. I am saying I am not telling you who was stoking that fire."

4. Khans will never play a gay man like Mammootty in Kaathal

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Vidya Balan unabashedly admitted that Khan, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan will never play a gay man like Malayalam supertsar Mammootty did in Jeo Baby's Kaathal: The Core last year. "We have to accept that it's a more literate audience in Kerala. That's a big difference. The texture of the lowest common denominator is very different in Kerala. I'm not taking away from him (Mammootty) that he did. But maybe it's a bit easier there. It is a reflection of his society. I think they'd be more open to something like this. And they revere their actors like anything in the South. They worship them, especially the male superstars. So it's that much more creditable that he went ahead and did it. He didn't think it'd be a reflection on my machismo. He's a much more secure actor."



Furthermore, naming Ayushmann Khurrana and his role in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, she hoped that the next generation actors bring about this change in Bollywood as well.

5. Why she doesn't talk about politics and religion?

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The Kahaani actress she doesn't talk about politics at all as she fears getting banned for her opinions. "Politics se bahut darr lagta hai, phir humko ban-van kar denge toh It hasnt happened with me, thankfully, but now actors are wary about talking about politics because you dont know who will get offended. Especially around the release of a film, it is the work of 200 people at stake, so I just say keep me away from politics." On being asked if she is open to sharing her opinion on religion and if she feels this topic has polarised India, she said, "I feel we are definitely more polarised. As a nation, we did not have a religious identity before but now I dont know why... Its not just politics, it is also social media, because we are all lost in this world and looking for an identity, which we dont have organically, we are looking for things to attach ourselves to."

6. She shut down a reporter for asking her about her weight

Despite giving multiple excellent performances, Vidya Balan has often been subject to incentive and nonsensical questions. Once a reporter asked her if she was planning to lose weight to bag a commercial movie. Showing off her bright smile, Vidya gave it back to him answering that she was very happy with her body and it would be great if he could change his perspective.



Meanwhile, Vidya Balan is basking in the success of Do Aur Do Pyaar.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
A group of scientists at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics  Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA-TIFR) in Pune have captured detailed images of the Sun at radio wavelengths. The images were captured using the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa, which is an exceptionally sensitive radio telescope, built to observe faint astronomical sources.

MeerKAT

Study of sun is challenging

The images were captured by Dr. Devojyoti Kansabanik and Dr Surajit Mondal from NCRA-TIFR. The findings of the study were published in the Astrophysical Journal earlier this month.

Sun is a surprisingly challenging source to study, especially at radio wavelengths. The radio emissions arise from the tenuous atmosphere of Sun, a region known as the corona and visible to the naked eye only during total eclipse. It is the birthplace of the phenomena that impact Earths environment, Kansabanik said.

First use of MeerKAT

According to the researchers, it was for the first time, MeerKAT was used to make spectroscopic images of the Sun.

Astrophysical Journal

"We believe once solar observation with MeerKAT is fully commissioned, it will enable a host of novel studies, open the door to a large unexplored phase space with significant discovery potential," authors of the study said.

The images they captured were made using only 15 minutes of MeerKAT observations on Sept 26 and 27, 2020.

Astrophysical Journal

"The entire solar disk is visible once images over the full band are stacked together," the study said.

Will open new avenues to study sun

"The first solar spectroscopic images using MeerKAT presented here are of the highest quality at these frequencies available to date. The quality of these images is demonstrated both qualitatively and quantitatively by comparison with realistic simulations. While this is adequate for demonstrating the feasibility of MeerKAT for solar observations and evaluating the quality of the images it can deliver, the preferable approach for solar observing will be to keep the Sun in the main lobe of the primary beam and attenuate the signal using electronics to the required levels," it noted.

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The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections kicked off on Friday morning with voting in 88 seats spread across 13 states. Voting for the second phase began at 7 am and will continue till 6 in the evening. The fate of 1192 candidates will be decided by some 16 crore voters on Friday.

BCCL

34.8 lakh first-time voters

This includes 8.08 crore males, 7.8 crore females and 5,929 third-gender electors. As many as 34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group of 20-29 years.

States going to polls in second phase

Among the states that are going to the polling booth on Friday, Kerala will vote in all its 20 seats, while polling will be held in 14 out of the 28 seats in Karnataka.

13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir will also vote on Friday.

PTI

Biggest fight in Kerala

In Kerala, the high-profile contests include Thiruvananthapuram, which sees the toughest three-way fight between incumbent Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI's Pannyan Raveendran.

In Wayanad, Congress leader and incumbent MP Rahul Gandhi is up against CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's K Surendran.

Major candidate in second phase

In neighboring Karnataka, the candidates whose fate will be decided on Friday include Shobha Karandlaje, Tejasvi Surya, PC Mohan, DK Suresh, Rajeev Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy and Prajwal Revanna.

In UP, the biggest names in the fray include Hema Malini, Mahesh Sharma, Arun Govil and Danish Ali.

Election Commission appeal to voters

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers.

PTI

"Voters should come to vote without any worry. The festival of democracy is the pride of the country and voters have to participate in it," Kumar said.

IMD heatwave warning

Meanwhile the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh during the next five days.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A video of a man strolling the streets of Bengaluru with an unusual banner was circulated on social media. The man is seen holding a board with the words "I'll vote for change, not hate" printed on it.

An X user published the video with the caption, "An elderly gentleman on the streets of Bengaluru has a message for you." The X user's post finished with a heart emoticon.

Who is the man holding a placard for voting in Bengaluru?

The individual in the video is identified as Mohammad Arif Sait | Image: X

The individual in the video is identified as Mohammad Arif Sait, according to Deccan Herald. The octogenarian is affectionately known as "patrol uncle". He has been donating gasoline to motorists who have ran out of fuel for years. He also gives them with water and, on sometimes, food.



The video begins with Sait standing in front of Vidhana Soudha. As the movie unfolds, he moves to several locations of Bengaluru with his sign, including MG Road, Commercial Street, and Brigade Road. While some passerby talked with him, others captured his video or took his photograph.

Why did the man decide to do this publicly?

Mohammad Arif Sait during his placard walk: "People want change now. There is too much hostility today, but we want it to change. I decided to walk for that," Mohammad Arif Sait told the Deccan Herald.

The retired guy, who previously operated a footwear firm, raised awareness about concerns via his WhatsApp broadcast list, according to the outlet. This year, he chose to walk with a sign.

How did people on the internet react?

The video has gone viral after being uploaded just a day ago. It is currently widely circulated around X. People on the microblogging platform responded to the video with several comments.

"Good man, respect," said one X user. "Yes, this is the right message," wrote another. "When someone loves his country selflessly," said a third. "This is a nice sight," said a fourth.

Check the video here.

An elderly gentleman on the streets of Bengaluru has a message to you.  pic.twitter.com/or0yJ9i7oe  Shayar Guruji Haryana (@ShayarGuruji) April 25, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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In a viral social media video, a former sales associate from Pune decided to quit his unpleasant job in an absolutely unforgettable way: by hosting an impromptu dance party right outside his workplace.

Who is the man who quit his job?

Aniket quit his toxic job in the viral video | Image; Instagram

Aniket, who had been with the company for three years with little wage development or respect from his supervisor, chose to mark his last day with a troupe of dhol players. Aniket danced gleefully alongside the drummers in front of his old colleagues, as his boss looked on in disbelief.



What did the man do outside his workplace on the last day?

Anish Bhagat captured video footage of the raucous celebration | Image: Instagram

Anish Bhagat captured video footage of the raucous celebration on the office premises and published it on Instagram. Aniket is seen grooving to the rhythmic dhol sounds while his supervisor violently attempts to break down the festivities by shouting and forcing people away.



"Satisfaction level. I think a lot of you are going to relate to this. Toxic work culture is so prominent these days. Lack of respect and entitlement is quite common. Aniket is ready to begin with his next step. I hope this story inspires people. If youre looking for a trainer, you can reach out to @aniketrandhir_1718 Also thank you @aditiscakery for preparing this super creative cake last minute. It was truly delicious," the video creator wrote in the caption.

How did people on the internet react?

Since its release a few days ago, the video has garnered over a million views and triggered a flood of supportive comments from viewers fed up with poisonous employment settings.

Many congratulated Aniket for quitting his job in such a bold, expressive manner and wished him success in his future pursuits. Check the viral video here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Finding weird things in your home can be really unnerving. A woman was terrified when she spotted a dark, unidentified object in her kitchen. She was concerned about the slimy-looking thing, which she first mistook for a bit of string.

When she peered closer, she noticed that it resembled a worm. She took to social media to ask others what they believed it was, and she was shocked by the responses.

Where did the woman share the bizarre find?

Woman found a black creepy object in her kitchen | Image: Facebook

The Australian woman wrote on the Facebook group Mums Who Clean: "Anyone got any ideas what on earth this could be?" I initially assumed it was a string, then a black baby banana string." She said, "Now I'm concerned it's a worm. I have not attempted touching it yet."



Others in the comments attempted to assist the woman and determine what it could be, according to MailOnline. Someone speculated that it may be a "slug" if she had a pet that "brought it in with its fur".

How did people on the internet react?

Another person said that it could be a "leech". Another person said: "It looks like a wet thread, it won't hurt if you poke it or touch it with anything" .

Another social media user remarked, "If you live in Queensland, it could be a slowworm, they're harmless but still scare you". Most people assumed it was a flatworm and assured her there was nothing to worry about.

What could the bizarre black creature be?

According to Bug Life, the UK has a few native flatworm species, however the most frequent are little (less than 3cm) and plain black or grey. Microplana keenfi, a local species, is yellow or pink and, unlike the Australian flatworm, has a cylindrical body. The Royal Horticultural Society advises that non-native plants might be harmful since they "eat earthworms, snails, and other soil organisms."

According to the researchers, "they can severely reduce populations of some earthworm species and thus affect the soil ecosystem." They also stated that "all non-native flatworms fall under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offense to introduce or release them into the wild."

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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The story of Mitsuko Tottori is a perfect example of this. She was appointed as the CEO of Japan Airlines in January this year and it is being hailed as a milestone for women empowerment.

This achievement is more special because of the mere fact that Tottori started her career as a flight attendant in 1985.

Tottori's Unprecedented Journey: From Flight Attendant to Japan Airlines' First Female President and CEO

shanghai daily

Tottori's remarkable ascent from a flight attendant to the president and CEO has been described as an extraordinary achievement. Starting her career as a flight attendant in 1985, Tottori steadily progressed through the ranks over three decades. In 2015, she was appointed senior director of cabin attendants, and by 2024, she made history as the first woman to assume the role of president and CEO at Japan Airlines, showcasing an exceptional career trajectory.



JAL

With this appointment, Japan Airlines has joined the ranks of less than 1% of Japan's top companies with a woman at the helm.



In an interview with CNN, Mitsuko Tottori acknowledged that there is still a long way to go for women in the workplace. She stated, "Japan is still in the process of setting initial goals to increase the number of female managers. I hope that Japan will soon reach a point where it's no longer surprising for a woman to become a president."

CNN

We do want to seriously increase the number of (women) managers, and more than that, I think its important that women themselves want to be active, so I really hope to see more and more of (them) in the future, she added.



Japan Airlines' New President Tottori Wants To Work On Gender Gap, Vows Diversity and Inclusion Drive

She acknowledged Japan's ongoing gender gap and sees her appointment as a way to make a difference. Japan ranks poorly in gender equality, so Tottori becoming president is a big step toward making companies more diverse and inclusive.

In her new role, Tottori is committed to promoting diversity and helping women succeed at work. She wants to inspire other women to become leaders and change how companies operate in Japan.
Eva Kaili, the disgraced Greek MEP, at the heart of a European Parliament corruption scandal has announced plans to relocate to Italy at the end of her term.

Speaking to Corriere Dela Serra, Ms. Kaili said she was

disillusioned by the European Union and her political party for not coming to her defence during the scandal that rocked the European Parliament in 2022, sparking deep soul-searching, confusion, and indignation in the corridors of Brussels

A flamboyant former news anchor and rising star within Greeces socialist party, Ms. Kaili was arrested at the start of more than 20 raids waged by Belgian police, discovering 150,000 euros in the Greek MEPs Brussels apartment alone.

Her partner Francesco Giorgi, a political aide, along with former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri were implicated. Her father, too, was jailed after being caught lugging a suitcase filled with 750,000 euros, from a luxury hotel near the European parliament.

As one of the assemblys 14 vice presidents, Kaili served as the European Parliaments representative to the Middle East. But it was her strong and open interest in Qatar that had colleagues quickly nicknaming her Qatar lobby spokesperson and the scandal that ensued Qatargate.

In the interview, Ms. Kaili openly accused European Parliament President Roberta Metsola of failing to safeguard the freedoms and privileges of its members.

She has seen her parliamentary immunity lifted for allegedly accepting bribes from countries like Qatar and Morocco in exchange for political favours. She faces a final trial and if found guilty, may be sentenced to prison under Greek law.

Ms. Kaili said her choice of Italy largely stemmed from the countrys opposition to politically-motivated trials and respect, as she put it, for the presumption of innocence.

The scandal that kept Ms. Kaili jailed for two months has prompted a broader discussion on the integrity of European institutions and the role of judicial power in politics.

   iefimerida.gr
\The Hellenic Investment and Trade Company (Enterprise Greece) participated in 45 business meetings at the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) on April 15 to 17 in Berlin.

Withing the framework of IHIF, Enterprise Greece operated a designated exhibition

space for the meetings, which focused on communication regarding already mature contacts interested in investments in Greece. Greek business representatives also took part in a panel at the event

Additionally, it organized events attended by executives from the international and Greek business communities to discuss new developments and investment opportunities offered by Greece.

Enterprise Greece also hosted a roundtable discussion dedicated to Greece titled "Greek Hospitality: Investment and Development Opportunities in a Thriving Market," attended by 70 industry representatives from around the world. In the roundtable discussion, Enterprise Greece presented and discussed investment opportunities in the tourism sector in the country.

CEO of Enterprise Greece Marinos Giannopoulos stressed: "Greece's recent success is based on a comprehensive and dynamic approach to economic revitalization, characterized by an outstanding transformation through significant reforms. These changes have made the country an open, competitive, and business-friendly destination, strengthened by the government's commitment to diversify its economy."

As stated in a press release: "The majority of participants in the events observed a strong interest in the development of high-level services in Greece, as evidenced by the entry of more industry brands into our country and the further expansion of already established hotel chains. Equally strong is the interest in projects with an environmental footprint and the promotion of the advantages of the local element."

The IHIF has been the tourism industrys leading event and the largest and most influential meeting place for the hotel investment community for 26 years, bringing together a very senior gathering of more than 2,500 lead executives from 41 countries, among them nearly every major hotel chain CEO, influential global tourism ministers, developers, real estate professionals, and the largest group of investors and hotel owners.

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An arrested independent lawmaker has been released on bail but slapped with a restraining order after punching and beating a rival colleague in Parliament.

Konstantinos Floros was released but ordered to keep a distance of at least 50 metres from Vassilis Grammenos after a violent altercation that has sent shockwaves across the country.

The assault, which occurred during a heated parliamentary

debate over a defamation lawsuit, saw Mr. Floros accosting and assaulting Mr. Grammenos, a member of the nationalist Greek Solution party , breaking his nose and twisting his hand

The scuffle ensued outside the plenary hall as lawmakers moved to lift the immunity of Greek Solution leader Kyriakos Velopoulos, who faces a defamation case initiated by Mr. Floros father.

The confrontation left Mr. Grammenos with several injuries, including nasal fractures and a dislocated jaw.

Mr. Floros has since then expressed remorse, saying he acted in the fury of the moment.

Now, he said, I realise it was completely wrong. Such conduct is unbecoming of a Greek parliamentarian and sets a poor example.

Mr. Floros faces a spray of assault charges and if convicted he faces up to 10 years in prison.

On Thursday, Mr. Grammenos accused his assailant of trying to strangle him.

Not only was I punched, but he [Floros] tried to strangle me.

   iefimerida.gr
In terms of bilateral cooperation, Al-Yahya emphasized significant potential in investment and food security sectors.
Some angry protesters under the aegis of Concerned North Central All Progressives Congress stakeholders, on Thursday stormed the national secretariat of the party, calling for the resignation of the Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The development is coming barely few days after the Kano State High Court reversed itself on Gandujes suspension

The protesters, led by Mohammed Saba, called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to ensure that the position of the National Chairman of the APC be returned to North-central.

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The protesters, spotted with placards and inscriptions like Ganduje must resign and Return the APC chairmanship to North Central, dismissed the vote of confidence passed on the embattled chairman by the Forum of State Chairmen and described it as a ruse.

READ MORE: APC, PDP Internal Crises Worse Than LPs  Peter Obi Insists

Leader of the demonstrators, Mohammed Mahmud Saba, disclosed that, unlike the 37 APC state chairmen, his people in the North Central have passed a vote of no confidence on the former Kanos state governor and equally demanded his immediate resignation.

Saba reiterated that the people of North Central felt betrayed when the position of APC national chairman was hijacked from them following the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu despite giving Tinubu the third highest votes after North West and South West at the 2023 presidential election.

He said: We the North Central APC Concerned Stakeholders have resolved to unanimously agitate for our right and reclaim our mandate which was handed unto us by the National Convention of our great Party in 2022. Various sections of our constitution have established the procedure of replacing an executive member at all levels of the party in the event of death, resignation, incapacitation or expulsion from the party by any executive member.

It is a fact that the emergence of Dr. Umar Ganduje as national chairman was done against the spirit and soul of the APC which is the constitution of our great party. This singular act has impacted negatively on us as a people in the North Central.

We feel betrayed and spited because we gave His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the third highest votes after North West and South West in the country which put us in a better position to enjoy the fruit of our labour.

We, therefore, demand that Dr Umar Ganduje resign immediately and stop parading himself as the National Chairman of our great party; the zoning arrangements made by the National Convention in 2022, which zoned the office of the national chairman to the North Central be respected by the NEC and all other organs of the party and that all governors elected on the platform of the APC in the North Central should wake up from their slumber and mobilize their members against this impunity until Ganduje resigns as the national chairman.
Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, says its saddening that Nigeria cannot boast of electricity to power even one of her major cities.

He expressed this as he noted that Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.

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According to him, while a World Bank report showed that about 70 per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to electricity, regrettably, Nigerias situation remained the opposite.

The statement comes amid a report that Tanzania, an East African nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.

According to the report, their decision to shut down power stations came after production became enough to power their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.

Reacting via X on Friday, Obi said the government must sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.

Yesterday, I read a report in the Media on how Tanzania, our East African fellow nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.

Their decision to shut down these power stations stemmed from the fact that their electricity production was already enough to power their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.

READ ALSO: Audit Report Showed Dana Air Unfit For Operations  Keyamo

In pain, I wondered how our nation, the giant of Africa, could not be able to power even one of the major cities, for example, the capital Abuja, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.

A World Bank report showed how strong political will and commitment have been responsible for rapid electricity access in Tanzania which has seen electricity access move from 7% in 2011 to almost 40% (37.7%) in 2020, during which about 75% (73.2%) of urban dwellers gained access to electricity and about 25% (24.5%) of rural areas gained access to electricity.

A similar report in June 2023 showed that about 70 per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to electricity, signifying a monumental growth in the sector, while regrettably Nigerias situation remains the opposite.

In Nigeria, 60% of our over 200 million people live without access to electricity, according to a 2022 Energy Progress Report.

Considering the economic loss resulting from the lack of access to electricity in our nation, which remains immeasurable and with the recent electricity tariff increase, one would expect that we would be able, at least, to power one major city in each geo-political zone soon, and increase our overall access both in the urban and rural areas.

The government must, therefore, sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.

If Tanzania could achieve such a milestone in power generation, then Nigeria can do it even better, with competent and committed leadership.

A stable power sector is very critical for the journey to a New Nigeria, to which we remain committed, he posted.
The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has disclosed that tertiary institutions promote ethnic and religious biases.

Kukah made this known on The Morning Show on Arise TV on Thursday.

The controversial cleric expressed dismay over the closure of doors to churches in universities in Northern Nigeria.

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He said: A mosque was constructed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I delivered a convocation lecture in Calabar three weeks ago. After my lecture, the Chief Imam of the University came to congratulate me. But as I speak to you, Usman Dan Fodio, who is over 40 years old, Bayero University, and other universities in Northern Nigeria have decided to close their doors to the possibility of churches being built in the universities across this country.

All this fanaticism we are seeing is expressed in public life. If students in the university or at the point of their growing up are not allowed to integrate and interrelate, and if churches or mosques cannot be built across this country, then there is a problem.

READ MORE: Feel Free To Japa  Bishop Kukah To Nigerian Youths

There was a time when Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of the world. Now, look at what has happened to our universities across Nigeria. Our universities have become just mere incubators of ethnic jingoism.

So, I do not know which funded Federal University that you will name that has a Vice Chancellor that is not a local boy.

So the universities themselves have become playgrounds for the ambitions of the local elite. The question is why should a place of worship be a problem for a university? Whether it is for the Muslim students in Calabar or the Christian students in Sokoto.

I approached the Minister of Education about this. I have a letter from the Nigerian University Commission. The universities in northern Nigeria have refused to implement this recommendation, he revealed.
Nkechi Blessing, a Nigerian actress, has expressed her thoughts on Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, a controversial Onitsha-based pastor also known as Odumeje.

Odumeje has constantly been in the headlines for contentious reasons. Many identified the clerics unorthodox practices as what propelled him to fame.

Some detractors recently called into question his identity as a man of God, prompting him to respond strongly last month, dismissing claims that he employs fake powers.

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In a recent Inside Scoop podcast, Blessing defended the clergyman, stating she is 101% convinced that Odumeje is a true man of God.

The actress also asked people not to dismiss Odumeje just because he does not speak English correctly.

I see a lot of people making caricatures of Odumeje saying he is a fake pastor. I see a lot of comment our favourite fake pastor, she said.

READ MORE: Im Now Celebrity, I Need New Accommodation And Security  Dunamis Famous Testifier, Vera Anyim

The first time I had an encounter with Odumeje, I was shocked to my bone marrow. The man will tell you everything about your life. He is not just telling you everything, he is giving you the solution.

He is not telling you the normal things that are on the internet. Odumeje sabi. He is a true man of God. I am saying it here categorically. He can actually heal people.

Because of the fact that he does not know how to communicate well in good English does not make him a fake pastor. He is an Igbo man. Speak with him in Igbo and he will flow with you. By the time you start coming to him with all those big grammar, it becomes a problem.

So nobody should call my pastor a fake pastor again so that he will not release all his powers.
The operatives of Oyo State Police Command, have arrested some officers, led by one inspector, Rasheed Saheed, for allegedly killing a corper, identified as Damilola Iyanda, in the Ogbomoso area of the state.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that late Damilola was said to be serving in Ibadan, the state capital

Oluwafemi Iyanda, who graduated from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and the deceaseds brother, said that his late brother attended his convocation, after which they headed for an after-party the same day where he was shot dead by the trigger-happy cop.

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In a statement made available by the commands Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, on Thursday, disclosed that the officers involved in the shooting have been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku.

Adewale added that commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola, had ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the SCID, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations.

He said: The command wishes to clear the air about the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred, on Monday, April 22, 2024, at about 0130 hours around a popular nightclub along, Under G area, Owode-Ogbomoso, resulting in the demise of Damilola, m.

READ MORE: Police Allegedly Kill Corps Member, Injures LAUTECH Graduate In Oyo

The investigation report reveals that during the early hours of the same date and time, a distress call was received by Operatives of the Commands Monitoring Unit stationed within Ogbomoso through the director of a popular nightclub within the axis, requesting immediate intervention and protection from rampaging suspected student cultists who were at the time harassing guests and destroying club property.

The incident recorded the death of one Damilola, m, and the injury of his brother, one Iyanda Femi Israel, who has since been discharged from the hospital after treatment.

Worthy of note is that the CP has ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the SCID with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations.


The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday, restated that the collapsed walls of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, were old, hence, actions will be taken to prevent such in the future.

Recall that 118 inmates escaped from the Suleja prison when the walls of the facility collapsed during a heavy rainfall.

Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), had said 10 of the fleeing inmates have been apprehended.

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Speaking with journalists during a visit to the facility, Tunji-Ojo said there is a need to prevent such an incident in any of the countrys prisons.

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always been talking about how urbanisation is taking away the physical space meant for correctional facilities.

His words: We will do everything humanly possible to make sure that everyone is brought back.

READ ALSO: 118 Inmates Flee As Rainstorm Wreaks Havoc At Suleja Prison, 10 Captured

We must also look at the cost of the matter because we must make sure that this does not happen again.

Obviously, we can see the walls are actually old. Unfortunately, there are certain responsibilities that we must deal with.

The most important thing is to do everything possible to restore sanity, to ensure that this does not happen in any other facility.

Also, the president has always been talking about urbanisation eating into our correctional centres.

You can look at the environment. It shows that we will need to relocate a lot of our correctional centres.

We need to be looking away from city centres to create better space and better infrastructure.

But as we have said, we are not here to make excuses. We are here to take responsibility.

We were elected as a government to do a job and that job we are prepared to do regardless of how difficult or how tough it is.
"Deep Cover: The Nameless Man" tells the story of a 1989 hate crime and the investigation to find not the killer, but the person who was killed. Read more

At first, the whole story sounded like little more than an urban legend: in the spring of 1989, two white teenagers had driven from Wilmington, Del., to Philadelphia, to search for a Black person to murder. One of the young men would later brag at his senior prom that the trip had been a success. He showed classmates a newly inked spiderweb tattoo on his elbow  a badge of honor among racist skinheads that he had earned for committing the crime.

The murky tale resurfaced 15 years later, in 2004, when Scott Duffey, an FBI agent in Wilmington, and Terrance Mortimer, an investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, were assigned an unrelated case involving a reputed skinhead, Thomas Gibison.

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People familiar with Gibison suggested that the agents should look into something else: a rumor that Gibison had once been involved in a Philadelphia murder.

The tip was disturbing, but the agents initially had little luck in finding more pieces to the puzzle.

We literally didnt know where it was leading, said Mortimer, now 62.

Then the agents traveled to a mountaintop in Vermont, where they found Craig Peterson, a onetime friend of Gibisons. In exchange for immunity, Peterson later confessed that the prom story about a racially motivated killing was true, and that he had been in the car with Gibison when the killing occurred.

The agents now had an alleged murderer, Gibison, in their sights  but, bizarrely, they hadnt yet identified a victim.

There were 473 slayings in Philadelphia in 1989. The quest to find the man who was killed, and the subsequent trial of the accused murderer, is the subject of a new six-part podcast, Deep Cover: The Nameless Man, by reporter Jake Halpern.

How they cracked the case

City homicide detectives reviewed 37 unsolved killings from 1989 and discovered just one that seemed to fit. On April 16, 1989, Aaron Wood, 33, a Black handyman, had been shot in the head under a streetlight near Girard College in the early morning hours.

Peterson told investigators that he had driven his mothers Chevrolet Beretta to North Philadelphia that night, while he and Gibison searched for a Black person to kill. They spotted Wood crossing Stillman Street near Thompson Street; Peterson alleged that Gibison leaned out of the passenger window and opened fire.

Gibison and Peterson had matching spiderweb tattoos on their elbows.

For the federal investigators, the nameless man involved in the crime was the victim, said Halpern. But for Woods family, the nameless man was the perpetrator. Woods family had never been able to figure out why he was slain, and his killing had never been solved.

You have these two sides: the victims family and law enforcement. And theyre each grasping in the dark to put together the pieces, said Halpern, who spent nine months revisiting the case. Eventually their storylines collide some 17 years after the fact when [investigators] knock on the door and they say, We think we know who killed Aaron.

The first episode of Deep Cover: The Nameless Man aired on April 22, and new episodes will be released each week.

Duffey and Mortimer, now retired from law enforcement, will discuss the case Sunday at the Punch Line Comedy Club in Fishtown, with Jerri Williams, a former FBI spokesperson. Williams interviewed Duffey about the investigation in 2019, on her podcast, FBI Retired Case File Review. (Other former FBI agents will also discuss some of their cases at the event, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Williams said she found the Wood case particularly moving.

You dont want to believe that people are so filled with hate that they would just decide to randomly kill somebody because of the color of their skin, she said. This just shows that it happens.

In November 2006, Gibison was arrested in Newark, Del., and charged with murder, conspiracy, and ethnic intimidation. Two years later, his trial ended in a split verdict that left both sides unhappy; jurors acquitted Gibison of murder, but found him guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses.

Woods brother, Tyrone Wood, described the verdict as a travesty at the time.

Gibison insisted in court that he was not a white supremacist. He was sentenced to 12 1/2 to 25 years in prison, but his sentence was later reduced by five years due to a judicial oversight that was discovered on appeal.

He was not involved in any trip to Philadelphia to kill anybody, Michael Farrell, Gibisons attorney, said in 2011. There was no trip to Philadelphia. And the web tattoo was completely unrelated to any homicide.

I did not feel like our work was all for naught, said Duffey, now 56. We brought [the crime] to light.

Mortimer recalled a quiet moment that unfolded during Gibisons trial, in a hallway outside of the courtroom. He was approached by a handful of Woods relatives, who explained that they had never known what had happened to Wood on the night he died. Then they thanked Mortimer for his work on the case.

That broke me, right there, he said. That made it the best investigation, in a lot of ways, that I ever did.
Roger Hanks has been charged with murder and related crimes for shooting his wife and daughter Thursday evening. Read more

A Kennett Square man shot his wife and daughter during an argument in his home Thursday night, telling a neighbor that he went crazy and killed them, prosecutors said Friday.

Roger Hanks, 76, has been charged with murder and related crimes in the deaths of his wife, Judith, 75, and daughter, Emily, 37, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

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Hanks remained in custody. It was unclear whether he had hired an attorney to represent him.

Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said Hanks senselessly shot and killed his family because of a basic dispute.

It is unfathomable that anyone would react this way, he said.

In an interview with police, Hanks said he was cleaning his 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun at his home on Wiltshire Drive about 3 p.m.

He and his wife had just returned home after picking up their daughter from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, and the couple started arguing, according to Hanks. During that argument, Hanks said, his wife told him he doesnt do anything and just sits in his chair and refuses to eat the food she prepares for him, according to the affidavit.

Hanks, in response, said he would plug her if she didnt shut up and leave him alone, referencing the gun he was cleaning, the affidavit said. However, Hanks denied intentionally shooting her, saying he thought the gun was unloaded when it went off as he pointed it at her.

That gunshot struck Judith Hanks once in her chest, investigators said.

Emily Hanks, seeing her mother shot, ran at her father with vengeance, according to his statement to detectives. He shot her once in the chest, as well, watching as she fell to the ground.

Hanks neighbor said he called her at 6:12 p.m. to admit what he had done, and that she in turn called 911. He cooperated with police when they arrived at the scene, the affidavit said.

Medics tried to revive both women, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police recovered the 9mm handgun used in the shooting, as well as two fired shell casings. An additional three rounds were still in the guns magazine.

In his later interview with detectives, Hanks said that he is an avid gunsmith and often competes in shooting competitions, boasting that he is the best of the best, according to the affidavit. In a LinkedIn profile, Hanks wrote that he works as a hunter at Bear Lodge Resort in Wyoming, a property that offers access to hiking and snowmobile trails.

Hanks is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in the case on May 8.
Jason Kelce takes selfies and pours fireballs while bartending at O'Donnell's Pour House last June in Sea Isle City, N.J. Read more

For the fourth consecutive year, Jason Kelce is taking his bartending talents to Sea Isle City to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.

Kylie Kelce posted a video on her Instagram story of an empty bar, tagging the Yacht Club at Sea Isle with the caption 6/26 and IYKYK. Ocean Drive confirmed to CBS Philadelphia that the retired All-Pro center would be returning to the bar on June 26 but did not respond to an additional request for comment from The Inquirer.

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Last years event raised more than $375,000 for the foundation, and past guests have included Jasons brother, Travis, Eagles offensive linemen Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson, and more. The event charged a $10 cover in 2023 with all proceeds going to the foundation, with VIP meet-and-greets also available. Fans participated in beer chugging competitions, flip cup, and beer pong against the Kelce brothers and the Eagles guests.

In 2023, the Kelces recorded a live episode of their podcast, New Heights, from Ocean Drive, capturing the Beer Bowl and featuring Dickerson, Jeff Stoutland, and Ryan Hammond, the executive director of the Eagles Autism Foundation, who spoke about the impact of the event.

The Kelce family owns a summer home in Sea Isle, and Jason has been coming to the Jersey Shore town since 2013, after he suffered a knee injury, Matt Breen wrote for The Inquirer. Jason also participated in a Sea Isle run/walk for autism organized by Mikes Seafood in February.

No information is known besides the date of the event, but make sure to mark your calendars for June 26 if you want to attend.
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China helps Uganda fight malaria as global funding shrinks

Xinhua) 11:21, April 26, 2024

KAMPALA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- For Milly Nakazzi, an assistant nursing officer at Uganda's Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, the fact that at least six of every 10 patients she treats have malaria is business as usual.

"The malaria rate is actually very high, not only here at Kiruddu but also at other health facilities across the country. Most affected are children and some pregnant mothers," Nakazzi told Xinhua in a recent interview.

For the medical officer, although malaria is an easily preventable disease, its prevalence remains high in the country due to limited economic and health conditions in most areas.

As the world commemorates World Malaria Day on April 25, Uganda continues to struggle with the disease, accounting for 5.4 percent of global cases and ranking third among high-burden countries, according to the country's Ministry of Health.

Uganda also ranks as the seventh-highest contributor to malaria deaths globally (2.9 percent). World Health Organization figures indicate that the country records between 70,000 and 100,000 malaria deaths per year.

Despite this precarious situation, Uganda recently announced that international donors have warned that they will stop funding the country's malaria response due to other global challenges such as conflict and climate change. According to the Ministry of Health, 85 percent of the country's health budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year is externally funded.

Despite these global complexities, Henry Kyobe, head of the Ministry of Health's Incident Management Team, said China has not given up on helping Uganda combat malaria, adding that China has provided technical and medical assistance in the fight against the scourge.

"Recently, the government of China supported us with anti-malarial drugs that we are going to use at the community level in four high-burden districts," Kyobe told Xinhua in a recent interview. "This support from the Chinese government is to stop or tackle malaria at the point of transmission and ensure that we reduce the burden on the household even before we go to the facilities,"

Receiving a shipment of 1.1 million U.S. dollars worth of anti-malarial drugs donated by the Chinese government earlier this month, Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng said Uganda last year experienced an upsurge in cases of malaria, which spread to more than half of its districts.

"As a country, we are at high risk of malaria due to our climatic conditions. Therefore, this generous donation of anti-malarial drugs will be helpful in the fight against malaria and in controlling the malaria epidemic, especially in high-risk areas," Aceng said.

Kyobe explained that Uganda had long benefitted from the Chinese government in terms of medicine, research, and technical training. "You remember the 'wonder drug' we use to treat malaria, artemisinin. It is a drug discovered by the Chinese. It's been 18 years since we stopped using chloroquine and started using the new drug."

China has also helped Uganda in terms of research through the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital donated by the Asian country.

"We have also had many people go to China. Last year alone, almost 60 experts from the Ministry of Health trained at different institutes in China in malaria elimination, malaria case management, and different elements of malaria," Kyobe said.

According to the Chinese embassy, China has sent 23 batches of medical teams with 218 doctors to Uganda since 1983. Since 2005, Chinese medical teams have treated more than 150,000 local patients, performed more than 4,000 surgeries, and rescued more than 600 critically ill patients.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Philadelphia School District's headquarters was officially renamed for Constance Clayton, the longtime Philadelphia superintendent, who died in September. Read more

Its official: The Philadelphia School Districts headquarters has been renamed in honor of its longest-tenured superintendent.

The school board moved Thursday night to change the name of the building at 440 N. Broad St. to the Constance E. Clayton Education Center, after the Philadelphia native and district graduate who led the system from 1982 until 1993.

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Clayton died in September. She was the first woman and the first African American to lead the school system.

 READ MORE: Constance Clayton, Philadelphias first Black and female schools superintendent, has died at 89

Renaming the School District of Philadelphia headquarters in perpetuity to the Constance E. Clayton Education Center would forever highlight the impact Dr. Clayton had on the city of Philadelphia, said Deirdre Farmbry, who worked as a special assistant to Clayton and later as interim superintendent of the district.

Jerry Jordan, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president, said Claytons superintendency was firm but fair, and that changing the name of the building currently informally known as 440, for its North Broad Street address, is something I know my friend and colleague Dr. Clayton would have loved.

Watched in horror

Thursday felt in some ways like the last day of school: It was the final meeting for the current iteration of the school board, all of whom were named by former Mayor Jim Kenney.

Four sitting members  board president Reginald Streater and members Sarah-Ashley Andrews, ChauWing Lam and Joyce Wilkerson were renominated by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to serve on her school board.

City Council on Thursday confirmed the appointments of Streater, Andrews and Lam, as well as new members Crystal Cubbage, Cheryl Harper, Whitney Jones, Wanda Novales, and Joan Stern. But it did not consider or advance the nomination of Wilkerson, who has earned the ire of some Council members. Some charter school supporters have also lobbied against Wilkerson.

The eight confirmed board members are expected to be sworn in May 1.

Outgoing board member Julia Danzy, who did not apply for a term on Parkers board, said she sat and watched in horror at Councils hearing on school board members last week.

If the litmus test is Would you let the charter schools have what they want? there is something wrong with that, said Danzy.

Danzy, clearly moved and angry, praised Wilkerson, who, Danzy said, educated a new board that entered dumb as heck.

You set the example of what we want all of us to be: Stand tall and be, for children, what is right, Danzy said

Wilkerson herself said she could not be prouder of where we are in Philadelphia when we made the transition from state control to local control, but she has not addressed the Council holdup.

Goodbye, so long

Most of the eight board members  former vice president Mallory Fix-Lopez resigned a few weeks early to deal with a medical matter  highlighted issues important to them in farewell remarks.

Lisa Salley asked the incoming board to hold the district accountable, and charged it with helping Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. getting the train back on the track.

And, Salley said, include all types of schools in your work  the legacy public schools, charter schools, and cyber charter schools. Salley, who was seen as a charter supporter, often clashed with Streater. She sought reappointment but was not chosen by Parker to serve again.

Cecelia Thompson and Leticia Egea-Hinton also raised their hands to serve on the Parker board but were passed over.

Danzy spoke plainly about the charter-versus-traditional-public-school debate that often plagues the city.

Stop fighting each other and come together, said Danzy. She added a parting exhortation to those who criticize the district.

Weve started a movement, Danzy said. You can come with us, or you can sit back and complain.
South Philadelphia High School, shown in this file photo, was locked down Thursday after a student brought live ammunition to school in their backpack. Read more

Live ammunition was discovered in a South Philadelphia High students possession Thursday morning, and the school was locked down for a time.

The student, 17, carried a 9mm magazine with one live round in a backpack into the South Broad Street school, officials said; security officers discovered the ammunition when the student passed through the schools metal detector.

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The student was detained by security officers, the schools perimeter was searched, and a lockdown was called.

While we are fortunate that this item was not accompanied with a firearm, it is still an item that is prohibited on any School District of Philadelphia property, and, per district policy, the school was secured while a thorough search for other potential prohibited items on school grounds was conducted, district spokesperson Christina Clark said in a statement.

The search yielded no such prohibited items, officials said. The lockdown has since been lifted.

According to the districts code of conduct, the student will be referred to a diversion program and suspended pending disciplinary transfer.
Liz Grothe, the chef behind the pop-up Couch Cafe, outside Neighborhood Ramen. She'll take over the space for her new restaurant, Scampi, to open August 2024 Read more

Liz Grothe, the chef behind popular supper club Couch Cafe, is used to serving guests in her Northern Liberties apartment. But later this year, shes planning to welcome them into her restaurant, Scampi, which will take over the current Neighborhood Ramen space in Queen Village.

Grothe was looking for a brick-and-mortar space when Neighborhood Ramen announced that it will close in June. I immediately said, I want that space, Grothe said. Turns out that Neighborhood Ramen owners Jesse Pryor and Lindsay Steigerwald had been thinking that a place like Couch Cafe might be a great fit, too. There was this connection of mutual respect, Grothe said. Neighborhood Ramen is a Philly food pop culture icon. It meant a lot to me as an admirer of the restaurant and their vibe and the way they made their mark on Philly. Grothe signed the lease for the space, at 617 S. Third St, on April 8.

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Neighborhood Ramens origins as a pop-up also appealed to Grothe, who believes strongly in the DIY approach. Grothe started hosting Couch Cafe in 2022 as an outlet from her regular cooking job, first at Oloroso and later as a sous chef at Fiorella. She posted menus on her Instagram, and accepted reservation requests via Venmo. The supper club became a hit among Phillys food obsessives, consistently selling out moments after Grothe posted seating availability online. At Couch Cafe, Grothe wanted to experiment; she made menus dedicated to whatever cuisine she was fixated on at the time, like Oklahoma night, an homage to the cuisine of her home state, where she served up chicken-fried steak and smashburgers, and Spaghetti Western, a mash-up of Italian and Italian-American classics.

Most recently, Grothes menus have reflected a tour of Italy she took in 2023, bringing guests along as she explores the food history of Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Sardinia, and Calabria. Her dinners are interlaced with a spiel that combines a history lesson with jokes, and musings on the challenges of making the food in her kitchen.

The new restaurant, called Scampi  an homage to the kind of Italian-American mash-ups Grothe loves  wont be exactly like Couch Cafe. First of all, there wont be a couch. But there will be a rose gold shrimp disco ball and a karaoke machine, if all goes to plan. Grothe plans to keep certain features of her supper club alive, too: There will be 24 seats. Itll be a prix fixe menu, with two seatings per night Thursdays through Sundays. (Theres also a back patio she plans to use for private events and parties.) And the menu will change every month according to what Grothes particular obsessions are. She plans to preserve some of the existing Neighborhood Ramen mural that decorates it as a tribute to the history of the space. The target opening date is August.

Scampi isnt going to be a place where you can go order the same cutlet and the same pasta every time, Grothe said. I want to be free to use any ingredient. I want to keep things fresh for both me and the diners. The menus I hope will make sense, but wont be predictable.

Grothe wants to keep the spirit of Couch Cafe alive at Scampi, just with more room to work, and more professional equipment. This is my new house, she said. Except Ill have six industrial burners instead of four house burners, and I dont have to worry about getting evicted.
This month marks 50 years of service for bartender John Doyle at McGillin's Olde Ale House, and the bar is throwing a year-long celebration in his honor. Read more

John Doyle didnt intend to work at McGillins Olde Ale House. It just kind of happened one day, as these things do around Philly.

He started going to the storied Center City bar regularly on Friday nights in the early 70s, when his wife would go to her mothers house to do laundry.

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I would stand by the door, look around, and just have a couple of drinks, he said.

Doyle was so stoic and observant that the staff thought he was a cop. So one night when the doorman had to use the bathroom, he asked Doyle to watch the door and he did. Kind of.

I didnt check anybodys ID, he said.

That was the extent of Doyles application and interview process. A few weeks later, in April 1974, he was asked to work Friday nights as a doorman and agreed.

No matter that he already had a full-time job at a West Philly machine shop, this one was interesting too and he had nothing else to do.

Inspired by his new gig, Doyle attended a six-week course at Ronnies Bartending School (he still keeps a tiny laminated copy of his 1975 diploma in his wallet) and began tending the bar upstairs at McGillins.

But his big break came when the downstairs bartender broke a bottle over an unruly customers head (the patron had reached behind the bar to serve himself). Doyle had to cover the bar when his coworker was hauled out by police in handcuffs.

And thats how Doyle, 79, a married father of two and grandfather of four, came to be the longest-serving bartender at Phillys oldest-operating bar. This month marks 50 years for Doyle at McGillins, which opened on Drury Street near 13th in 1860, and in true Philly fashion, the bar is throwing a yearlong party in his honor.

The celebration begins this Saturday at McGillins and culminates next St. Patricks Day, which will be Doyles 50th at the bar, said Christopher Mullins Jr., co-owner of McGillins.

John is a beloved institution. Hes met a lot of people and he hasnt pissed off more than hes pleased, Mullins said. He is the party, but hes also a professional. Youll never hear anybody say, In the 80s I remember him falling down drunk behind the bar.

But dont be fooled by the mild-mannered demeanor of this thin, blue-eyed barkeep. Doyle can get bawdy with the best of them.

You never know whats going to come out of his mouth when his Irish eyes start smiling, said Stacey Henjes, a friend of Doyles and a regular at McGillins. Hes hilarious and every time youre with him its like brace yourself for whats coming next.

From huckster to husband

Doyle, who lives in Andorra, was born in South Philly and raised in the Tasker Homes, where he was the middle child of seven in an Irish-Catholic family. Today, hes the last remaining of his siblings.

His first job was huckstering, or selling tomatoes, bananas, and other produce door-to-door as a kid. From there, he worked at a Dairy Queen, a soda shop, and sold newspapers at Municipal Stadium.

After graduating from Bishop Neumann in 1963, Doyle went to work at Carr Tool and Machine in West Philly, until he was called up for the draft the following year. He spent 10 months serving as a medic in South Korea, near the demilitarized zone.

He didnt see active combat, but the experience  his first outside of Philadelphia  changed his life. Hes still able to easily recite Korean words and phrases, and recalls with fondness the people he met there.

When he returned to Philly in 1966, Doyle went back to work at the machine shop and became supervisor of the shipping department, a position he held for 38 years.

As he told the story of how he met his wife, Laura, in the late 60s at the Jersey Shore, Doyle looked left, then right, and leaned in.

She had the best ass in Margate. I swear! he said, rolling back in his chair. We came out of a bar and were walking to Maloneys and my wife was in front of me. She had these white jeans on, and I said, Man, thats one great ass! and she goes Thank you.

Doyle, who nearly died of embarrassment right there, didnt score a date that night, but over the next year or so, he kept seeing the woman whose white jeans he couldnt forget at bars in Philly and the shore and finally got up the gumption to ask her out.

They married in 1970 and had twin daughters six years later. When Doyles wife stopped working to take care of the kids, his part-time job at McGillins helped supplement their income.

Yo, Joe!

Things were a lot different at McGillins back in Doyles early days. The bar only took cash, allowed smoking, and charged 45 cents for a mug of Genny Cream Ale.

Doyle has seen the bar go through good times and bad, like in the early in the 1980s, when business was so slow there was sometimes only one server and one cook working with him at a time and the place would close by 8 p.m.

But that all changed in 1993, when Mary Ellen and Chris Mullins Sr. took over McGillins and did a total flip in one year, overhauling the menu and keeping the bar open until 2 a.m., Doyle said.

Its the best thing that ever happened. Its amazing what theyve done, he said.

Along with working for three generations of owners, Doyles run at McGillins has spanned eight Philly mayors, two of whom he met (William J. Green III and Ed Rendell).

Hes also met Chase Utley, watched Jason Kelce play cards in McGillins, and worked the bar during the Phillies 2008 World Series parade, the busiest day hes ever seen.

When the Democratic National Convention was in town in 2016 and MSNBC filmed live from McGillins, Doyle made sure he got to meet then-Vice President Joe Biden when he stopped in.

Hes leaving and says, Thanks guys for everything, and I go Yo, Joe! Doyle recalled. He goes, What? and I said What the hell?

Doyle told the future president hed been waiting to meet him, and Biden came over to take a photo.

It was a thrill, Doyle said.

Part of the fabric

But its interacting with everyday people that Doyle loves best. These days, he only works noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and on St. Patricks Day and New Years Day. On those occasions, the bar is often packed with his regulars whove become friends and his friends whove become regulars.

Bill Lenihan and his wife, Maureen Donovan, of Center City, have been going to McGillins for 20 years and have become so close with Doyle theyve exchanged numbers.

Hes part of the fabric of the place, if someone doesnt know him theyll know him by the time they leave, Lenihan said. Hes so personable, he walks up to everybody and says hello.

Stacey Henjes and her husband, Tod, of Doylestown, met Doyle down the shore at Twisties in Strathmere. They quickly became friends and then regulars at McGillins.

Hes just as comfortable on either side of the bar. He likes to be the bar customer and he likes to make everybody feel like theyre at home working the bar, Henjes said. He remembers what everybody drinks and just watching someone work the crowd at 79 like that is amazing.

(Doyles personal drink of choice is Irish Mist  a honey whiskey  on the rocks.)

Henjes said Doyle is so proud of his job he hands out his business card to everyone he meets (he gave me one after I interviewed him at McGillins this week, in case I forgot where he worked or why I was there).

Hes the first one to come to a party and the last one to leave. I hope Im like him when Im 79, Henjes said.

Recently, when two of his regulars who work for the Phillies heard Doyle was marking his 50th anniversary at McGillins, they gifted him a Phillies jersey with his name and the number 50 on the back.

Doyles service even impresses first-time customers. He once served two men a couple of martinis and some stout beers and was shocked when they left him a $500 tip  his biggest ever  which he split with the other bartender working that day.

Doyle for President

When the staff at McGillins realized this month marked 50 years for Doyle at the bar, they knew it was cause for an epic party.

Im pretty sure Ive never met anyone thats spent 50 years in any job, so I do think it warrants a whole year of celebrations, Mullins said.

The cheeky theme of the festivities, John Doyle for President, was inspired by a customer who once made stickers with that phrase on them and handed them out at the bar.

Festivities begin Saturday, with an open-to-all party featuring surprise guests at the bar from noon to 5 p.m. Celebrations will continue throughout the year, with specials like Doyle dollar dog days, and will culminate on St. Patricks Day.

Mullins said the fanfare is fitting for Doyle, whos become an enduring part of McGillins.

Hes such a true Philadelphian, he talks the talk and he walks the walk, Mullins said. People come from all over the country to meet him and that respect and interest energizes him at the end of the day, too.
Attorney Brian Kent recently left the law firm he co-founded and resigned from an anti-child abuse nonprofit. Read more

Brian Kent had established himself in Philadelphias legal community as a go-to personal injury lawyer for survivors of sexual abuse, with clients that included people abused by Jerry Sandusky, the Church of Scientology, Pornhub, Massage Envy, and the Southern Baptist Church.

Kent, a former Montgomery County prosecutor, received the National Center on Sexual Exploitations civilian leadership award. He served on the board of Child USA, a think tank that combats child abuse.

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In the last two weeks, however, Kent left Laffey, Bucci & Kent, the Center City law firm that he cofounded, and separated from the board of Child USA, which on Friday called for a criminal investigation into the lawyer.

The sudden departures are the result of a leak of a confidential complaint filed with the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that accuses the prominent lawyer of engaging in a sexual relationship with a client, in violation of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers in the state.

The complaint, which appears to have first been publicized this month by a YouTuber known as The Rabbit, was filed in November 2022 by two Philadelphia lawyers on behalf of the client whom Kent had represented. She is identified in the complaint only as Jane Doe and is a survivor of sexual abuse.

The leak of the complaint is highly unusual. Disciplinary board investigations are kept secret unless they result in public sanctions. The Inquirer has independently confirmed the authenticity of the complaint.

On Friday, Marci Hamilton, the founder and CEO of Child USA, said in a statement that other people have since come forward with similar complaints, indicating that there appears to be a pattern of manipulative and abusive behavior by Kent toward vulnerable clients nationwide seeking to find validation and justice in the legal system. The organization did not immediately provide details on those allegations.

There are others out there who have the same story, Hamilton, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said in an interview. We just didnt want to let anybody think this should be ignored now. This is when the FBI ought to get involved.

Child USAs board, in a statement last weekend, said that it had recently learned of the disciplinary board complaint. It said Kent resigned from the board on April 15.

The Legal Intelligencer first reported last week that Kent had left his law firm. He had described the departure as a mutual and amicable. Firm cofounder Jeffrey Laffey, however, later disputed Kents account, saying in a statement to the Philadelphia-based legal journal that his removal was not mutual or amicable.

Laffey said that the firm stands by its statements, but referred requests for comment to Kent. The firm has been removing any mention of Kent from its website.

Kents lawyer, Ellen Brotman, said late Friday afternoon: These allegations are outrageous and completely false. We will vigorously defend against them. She declined to comment on the status of the disciplinary board investigation.

Thomas Counselors at Law, a New York-based law firm that has worked alongside Laffey, Bucci & Kent on sexual assault cases, released its own statement last week, calling for Kents former firm to determine the truth about Mr. Kents conduct with those under his care or supervision.

We abhor the misuse of power to prey upon any individual, lawyer Kat Thomas wrote. Whether it be between a doctor and patient, employer and employee, priest and parishioner, or an attorney and client; it is never OK to exploit a position of power for personal gratification.

Kent, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse himself, was a founding partner of the crime-victim department at Laffey, Bucci & Kent. He previously worked as a sex crimes prosecutor, and has served on the board of the National Crime Victim Bar association, and as a volunteer attorney for the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project, according to his now-deleted law firm bio.

A spokesperson for the state disciplinary board declined to comment on the case. Kent has no history of previous disciplinary action, according to the boards database.
Former labor leader John Dougherty leaves the federal courthouse in Reading after a judge declared a mistrial and hung jury Thursday in his federal extortion trial. Read more

READING  Federal prosecutors on Friday said they had not yet made a decision on whether to retry former labor leader John Dougherty and his nephew on extortion charges, a day after their case ended in a hung jury and mistrial after a single, marathon day of deliberations.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl declared the jury hopelessly deadlocked following roughly 11 hours of jury discussion Thursday, two notes from the panel indicating that debate had reached a stalemate, and individual polling of jurors who all said that, despite their disagreements over the case, they could at least concur on one thing: Further deliberations would prove fruitless.

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The court believes that based on these responses that [the jury] cannot agree, Schmehl said, just before 10 p.m. This court will have to declare a mistrial by manifest necessity.

With that note, the third felony trial in as many years for Dougherty, a leader once viewed as a one-man force of nature in Philadelphia politics and organized labor, ended in ambiguity.

 READ MORE: A judge has declared a mistrial in John Doughertys extortion trial. What happens now?

Dougherty  who spent his 64th birthday waiting for the jurys decision  showed little emotion as it became clear that no verdict would be coming. He allowed only a small smile to flash across his face as members of the panel trudged silently out of the courtroom.

Im going home to spend the last two hours of my birthday with my wife, he said, as he left later with his family and his lawyer.

 READ MORE: As it happened: Mistrial for ex-Local 98 leader John Dougherty, nephew as jury deadlocks on extortion charges

It was not immediately clear what issue left jurors mired in deadlock or how the deliberations split. Court security escorted the six women and six men out of the building Thursday night, and they could not be reached for comment later.

Still, defense lawyers were ready to declare victory  or at least a measure of vindication  in the outcome of his latest case.

We appreciate the jurys hard work, appreciate the judges fair-handed manner, Doughertys attorney Greg Pagano said. I believe that John acted lawfully  and he did not have any criminal intentions whatsoever.

Rocco Cipparone, the attorney for Doughertys nephew and codefendant, Greg Fiocca, said hed hoped for an outright acquittal but added: Well take the hung jury at this stage  For now, were happy with the result.

The inconclusive send-off capped an eight-day trial that had threatened to further erode, after two previous losses in court, Doughertys legacy of nearly three decades at the helm of the states most powerful labor union  Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers  and his tenure as a political kingmaker in the city.

The jurys indecision also delivered a setback to the U.S. Attorneys Office, which had secured those earlier guilty verdicts during Doughertys 2021 bribery trial alongside then-Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon and an embezzlement case last year, in which the union leader and five others were convicted of siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from the union coffers. A spokesperson for the office declined to comment on the mistrial Friday.

 READ MORE: John Dougherty extortion trial: Day-by-day updates

Still, Doughertys days in a federal courtroom arent over just yet. Schmehl on Friday set aside time in late June should prosecutors opt to retry the extortion case, and no matter what they decide, he still faces the likelihood of a significant prison term when hes scheduled for sentencing in the two previous cases on July 11.

Unlike those earlier trials  which featured dozens of witnesses, involved multiple yearslong criminal schemes, and played out over weeks of testimony  this one proved to be a much more contained affair.

It centered on the events of a single day  Aug. 19, 2020  and a conflict between Fiocca and a contractor whod hired him along with roughly six dozen other Local 98 members at the then-under-construction Live! Casino and Hotel in South Philadelphia.

Fioccas bosses told jurors he often failed to complete assigned tasks and frequently disappeared during working hours. But Doughertys nephew maintained that, as Local 98s appointed steward on site, he was constantly busy attending to the needs of his unions members. That role, Fioccas lawyer said, became all the more demanding as the casino construction project played out during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

So, when contractor Ray Palmieri and project manager Rich Gibson docked Fioccas pay under the belief he wasnt working, their decision sent him into a rage.

Jurors heard secretly recorded audio of an explosive confrontation, in which Fiocca slapped Gibson, choked him, threw him onto a table and spit on him twice after learning his pay had been cut.

Next time this happens again, its not going to be no little f push, Fiocca shouted at his supervisor in a tirade caught on tape. Theres no cameras in here. Its your word against mine.

When Dougherty found out about the job site skirmish, he took his nephews side.

Palmieri and Gibson demanded Fioccas removal from the project. Dougherty, a union foreman testified last week, considered pulling all Local 98 electricians from the construction and said he wouldnt support efforts by Palmieri to land future work in the city unless his nephew remained on the job.

Though Dougherty never followed through on those threats, prosecutors maintained that the union leaders words still had an effect.

Ray Palmieri paid Gregory Fiocca because he was afraid what would happen to his company and his employees if he did not, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Costello said during closing arguments Wednesday.

But throughout the trial, defense lawyers insisted Dougherty never intended to threaten anyone. They accused prosecutors of attempting to turn what amounted to a fistfight into a federal crime.

Cipparone urged jurors this week not to allow his clients profanity-laced outburst during the 2020 assault to influence their view of the case.

Just listening to those snippets doesnt represent the real Greg Fiocca, he said Thursday night, and Im glad that at least some of the jurors were able to look past that.

Dougherty, meanwhile, maintained that in fighting to protect his nephews job, he was doing what he would have done for any other member of his union involved in a pay dispute. What the government described as extortionate threats, his attorney, Pagano, dismissed as angry words.

Though it remained unclear Thursday how much sway that argument had during the jurors deliberations, a potentially telling question they asked toward the end of the evening might have offered a clue.

Just after 7:30 p.m., jurors pressed the judge to further explain a legal defense, recognized by a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, that allows union officials to deploy threats of economic harm or force as a negotiating tool to achieve legitimate union objectives.

While Pagano maintained thats exactly what Dougherty was doing in his efforts to secure Fioccas wages from Palmieri  fighting to ensure a member of his union was fairly paid  prosecutors contend he was looking out only for his nephew to the detriment of other members of Local 98 who would have been pulled off the job.

But no matter what Dougherty said in the heat of the moment in his discussions with Palmieri that day, the labor leader insisted he would never have done anything to impede the casino projects progress. Dougherty, his attorney told jurors, had worked tirelessly to reopen the construction site in the spring of 2020 and get his members back to work after government-ordered pandemic shutdowns had crippled the construction industry.

Theres no way John Dougherty  not in a million years  would have shut down this job, Pagano said. And Ray Palmieri knew that.
Julia and Leon Obermayer, pictured here in 1962, hosted their first seder in Philadelphia in 1924. Read more

Julia and Leon Obermayer hosted their first seder in Philadelphia in 1924, soon after they were married. Prohibition was in effect, Calvin Coolidge was president, and Paris was preparing to host the World Olympics.

This year the Obermayers grandchildren and other relatives are once again gathering in Philadelphia for a seder, which the family has been hosting continuously for the past 100 years. Sixty five family members will converge for a catered meal in Philadelphia on the sixth night of Passover, coming from as far as France and Panama for the ritual gathering.

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This reunion year is also a particularly fraught one in Jewish communities around the world: famine is imminent in Gaza due to Israels blockade; pro-Palestine protests are sweeping college campuses, including in the Philadelphia area; and many Americans are actively mourning the 1,200 Israelis and nearly 34,000 Palestinians who, local officials health say, have been killed since Oct. 7. In many Jewish families, there are generational rifts over who is at fault in the wrenching conflict. (The family asked that the location of the seder not be included, out of concern for safety.)

The Obermayers decided not to include any formal conversation about Israel and Gaza at their seder, though family members said it may come up anyway.

It was just too unwieldy a conversation to have in that larger group, said Laurie Davis, 70, who married into the family. But, she added, Theres no ban on talking about anything.

Some attendees are ardent Joe Biden supporters, while others are diehards for Donald Trump, Davis said.

There undoubtedly are differences among us, said Joe Sellers, 70, Daviss husband and the grandson of Leon and Julia Obermayer. Weve decided that this is an occasion for us to celebrate our common values of being together, and not so much to engage in a debate about whats right or wrong on college campuses, or our countrys policies, or whats going on in the Middle East.

Leon Obermayer founded the Philadelphia law firm that still bears his name in 1904, and went on to be president of the Philadelphia Board of Education in the late 1950s. Together Leon and Julia collected one of the largest private collections of Judaica in the United States, a trove that included an 18th century Italian scroll of the Book of Esther, an 18th century silver cup from Nuremberg, Germany, and a 19th century porcelain coffee service inscribed with Hebrew, according to previous Inquirer reporting. Julia donated the collection to Congregation Rodeph Shalom after her husbands death in 1984.

The oldest attendee at the 100th seder will be Judy Obermayer, 87, who is making her way from Boston. The youngest attendee will be a one-year-old boy. His family is flying in from Paris.

Passover is a celebration of liberation and freedom from enslavement; each year, families tell the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. It is also a night of questions, when children are encouraged to ask why this night is different from all others. Some in the Obermayer family have questions of their own.

As the generations keep going, will they see the importance of doing it? Will they want to travel? asked Roni Atnipp, 63, a grandchild of Leon and Julias who is cohosting the seder this year. Will they take over when were in our eighties?
Former labor leader John Dougherty, and his nephew, Greg Fiocca, left, leave the federal courthouse in Reading with family on Thursday, after a judge declared a mistrial in their extortion case. Read more

Former labor leader John Doughertys federal extortion trial ended in a mistrial late Thursday after jurors declared they were hopelessly deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

So, what happened, and what comes next?

Why was the mistrial declared?

Jurors sent at least two notes to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl saying their deliberations were at a stalemate  the first coming just hours into the first day of their discussions.

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Though both times he urged them to keep trying to break the impasse, after 11 hours spanning well into the evening, the judge ultimately took the panel of six men and six women at their word and accepted their conclusion that any further debate would prove fruitless.

Based on the eight-day length of the trial and on the hours jurors spent talking on Thursday, Schmehl said he felt it was appropriate to declare the jury hung and the case a mistrial after a single day of deliberations.

 READ MORE: Mistrial for ex-Local 98 leader John Dougherty, nephew as jury deadlocks on extortion charges

The court believes that based on these responses, that [the jury] cannot agree, the judge said.

Will prosecutors retry the case?

We dont know yet. Prosecutors did not immediately say whether they planned to retry Dougherty and his nephew, Greg Fiocca, on the 19 conspiracy and extortion counts. They declined to comment as they left court Thursday, and a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office said Friday that it had no updates to provide.

Several considerations play into a prosecutors retrial decision including the cost of trial, the severity of the crimes, the chances of success, the availability of witnesses, and the willingness of victims to undergo the often arduous process of drawn-out proceedings again.

Regarding Dougherty, hes already been convicted in two other cases  a 2021 bribery trial alongside former City Councilmember Bobby Henon and an embezzlement case last year, in which he and others were accused of siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from the coffers of his union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers  and awaits sentencing July 11. Prosecutors could view those convictions as providing a sufficient level of justice.

That said, Schmehl on Friday set a June 24 date should the government opt to retry the extortion case.

Still, attorneys for Dougherty and Fiocca said they hoped the government would decide against it.

For now, were happy with the result, said Fioccas attorney, Rocco Cipparone. We were hopeful for a not guilty, but well take the hung jury at this stage.

What was the split among the jurors?

That remained unclear. The judge did not poll the jury on the reason for its deadlock or to determine how they were split. Members of the panel were escorted out of the courthouse Thursday night by security staff.

What was the disagreement?

As deliberations wore on, jurors asked the judge several questions, including one focused on a legal defense  recognized by a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision  that allows labor officials to use economic threats or force as negotiation tools to achieve legitimate union objectives.

In this case, Dougherty maintained thats exactly what he was doing when he threatened in August 2020 to potentially pull workers from a construction site after his nephew, a union electrician, clashed with a contractor over unpaid wages. The union chief, defense lawyer Greg Pagano said, was doing what he would have done for any other member of his union embroiled in a dispute over pay.

But throughout the trial, prosecutors sought to show that Dougherty had no legitimate union objective in mind when he threatened that contractor with economic harm. Instead, they said, he was only looking out for his nephew  to the detriment of other members of Local 98 who would have lost work had they been pulled off the job.

What does this mean for Dougherty?

While the uncertainty of a retrial and  at least for the moment  extortion charges still hang over his head, the former labor leader will face sentencing next for his earlier bribery and embezzlement convictions  and the likelihood of a significant prison term.

The most serious counts of which Dougherty was convicted carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. However, its likely he could end up serving far less time. For example, Henon faced the same 20-year maximum penalty, but was sentenced to 3  years in prison last year.

Those of Doughertys codefendants who have been sentenced in his embezzlement case were sentenced to anywhere from probation to just over a year in prison. Former Local 98 political director Marita Crawford was released from prison this week after serving a 15-day term.

But as Dougherty left the federal courthouse in Reading late Thursday evening, the embattled labor leader, who turned 64 that day, said his mind was focused on other things.

Im going home [to Philadelphia to] spend the last two hours of my birthday with my wife, he said.
A portion of a solar array when it was still under construction in 2023 in Adams County by Energix Renewables. The array has begun producing up to 25% of energy used by Philadelphia-owned buildings, including City Hall and Philadelphia International Airport. Read more

Philadelphia has begun pulling large amounts of power for city-owned buildings from a solar array on farmland near Gettysburg.

The project, begun nearly six years ago under former Mayor Jim Kenney, started producing electricity specifically for the city a few weeks ago in Adams County after testing was complete. It is expected to provide up to 25% of power consumed by municipal buildings, including City Hall, Philadelphia International Airport, and the Water Department.

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Philly is under contract to purchase 70-megawatts of power annually from the array.

Were feeling great about this project, said Dominic McGraw, Philadelphias deputy director of energy services. Its been a long time coming. Were very excited to move forward.

How does Philly get the electricity?

Under the arrangement, city-owned buildings get power from the panels, although not directly. Rather, the array  the collection of solar panels  feeds to a substation that sends power to the regional grid operated by PJM, which coordinates electricity regionally across multiple states including Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The power is then delivered to Peco territory for use by Philadelphia.

The city owns about 600 buildings. It has a contract to buy solar-generated electricity for those buildings at $44.50 per megawatt hour for 20 years from Energix Renewables, the projects developer. The rate was established when the project was proposed in 2018. The energy produced by the solar array is not meant to power any homes or businesses in the city.

McGraw said the rate is comparable to what the city has paid on average the past three years.

The array sprawls across 700 acres in Straban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. It was built by Arlington, Va.-based Energix Renewables on farmland about three miles from Gettysburg.

Kenney originally announced the effort in 2018, with a goal of supplying energy by 2020 or 2021 as part of a strategy to combat climate change. The plan was part of the citys goal to power 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Various events delayed the plan, including supply chain issues that resulted from the pandemic.

McGraw said the city plans for more energy projects to fulfill that goal.

Originally, the city expected to pull about 22% of its power from the array. But McGraw said various energy conservation programs started since 2018 have reduced the amount of power the city uses.

Weve been able to reduce it enough that solar will now count for about 25% of our total load, McGraw said, nothing that officials wont know the true amount until the year is over.

How big is the solar project?

Installation of the array, which includes about 230,000 solar panels across 1,200 acres, was completed in November, according to Itamar Sarussi, Energixs Country Manager.

The substation, which takes the power, regulates the voltage, then transmits it through connecting lines, became operable in December, and the project was able to connect to the grid.

Workers had to finalize settings for the substations controls and inverters, which convert the direct current produced by the panels into alternating current, which is what is used to power homes and offices. The array also has meteorological stations that provide weather information.

Overall, the project has capacity to generate more than 150,000 megawatt hours annually of clean energy.

Energix is excited to be powering the City of Philadelphia, Sarussi said in an email. This project helps reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change, and ultimately ensures a brighter future for generations to come.

City officials, including Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, are hosting a celebration of the projects completion on Tuesday. Shell be joined by representatives of the citys Energy Authority and Office of Sustainability, as well as Energix Renewables.

Penns solar project

It is not the biggest use of solar in Philadelphia, however. The University of Pennsylvania announced in March that it had begun purchasing power from an array set on 1,600 acres in Fulton and Franklin Counties. That project, Great Cove I and II, has 485,000 panels. Penn officials say it has the capacity to produce 220 megawatts annually, making it the largest solar project in the commonwealth.

Penn says electricity from the Great Cove project will meet 70% of the demand of its campus and University of Pennsylvania Health System facilities in the Philadelphia area. It has an agreement to buy the power from Community Energy, which has been acquired by Virginia-based AES Corp. Construction for the project began in April 2022.
People join hands in a circle as tents are erected on Penns campus as part of a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday. Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Friday, welcome. You might feel some lingering frost this morning, but later on, the day will be sunny with high temps around 63.

As pro-Palestinian protests cause clashes at colleges across the nation, the University of Pennsylvania and other local schools have become host to their own encampments and rallies.

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And a new podcast investigates a hate-crime murder committed in Philadelphia in 1989  and the search to find the person who was killed.

Heres what you need to know today.

 Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Tensions are escalating on college campuses around the country as students continue protesting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The national view: Earlier this week at schools such as Columbia, Yale, and NYU, administrators brought law enforcement to campus to break up pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments. USC just canceled its main graduation event amid ongoing protests, too.

Closer to home: At Swarthmore College, student protesters erected about 20 tents in a peaceful protest Tuesday night into Wednesday.

And at Princeton University yesterday morning, a half-dozen encampment tents were taken down voluntarily after warnings from the schools public safety department. Two graduate students were also arrested for trespassing. Later that day, former New York Times Middle East bureau chief Chris Hodges appeared to be escorted out of a charged campus rally while reading a poem for Palestinian children.

In Philadelphia: More than 100 protesters marched from City Hall to University City on Thursday afternoon. At Penn, both faculty and students called for the university to divest from companies benefiting from the war, to protect its Palestinian students, and to reverse the suspension on the Pro-Palestinian student group Penn Against the Occupation.

By Thursday evening, students had set up about 10 tents on the campus College Green. The Inquirers Alfred Lubrano and Susan Snyder explain how we got to this moment, and here are accounts of yesterdays protests from our reporters who were there.

P.S. Watch Inquirer.com for the latest throughout the weekend.

In 1989, a white man from Wilmington claimed that he had murdered a Black man in Philadelphia to earn a badge of honor from racist skinheads.

Fifteen years later, law enforcement got set on his trail and determined the story was true. Yet in a bizarre subversion of typical true-crime tales, they had a confession, but didnt know who the victim was. Meanwhile, the family of the man who had been randomly shot down had been searching for answers.

You have these two sides: the victims family and law enforcement. And theyre each grasping in the dark to put together the pieces, said Jake Halpern, the journalist behind a new podcast on the case. Eventually their storylines collide some 17 years after the fact.

Ahead of a live event featuring the former FBI agents involved, The Inquirers Zoe Greenberg and David Gambacorta break down the wild, haunting case.

What you should know today

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. Well feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the citys quirks.

This week, were resurfacing a once-again timely explainer from 2023: Now that the primary election is over, who cleans up all those campaign signs?

Private-property owners are responsible for disposing any signs on their lawns or buildings. And in public places, its on the campaigns to clean up after themselves. But that doesnt always happen. Heres the full explanation.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

 Trivia time

For the fourth summer in a row, Jason Kelce will celebrity bartend for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Where is the bar based?

A) Sea Isle

B) Center City

C) Havertown

D) Ocean City

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we're...

 Bopping to: Philly-born, multi-hyphenate Eric Slicks New Age Rage.

 Applauding: Penn Medicines goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.

 Mourning: Our biz-casual go-to, as these five Philly-area Express stores close.

 Unscramble the anagram

This Philly-based cultural institution just named Anthony Roth Costanzo as its new president. Hes been called the the Mariah Carey of opera (which should give you a big hint).

ALEPPO HAIR HELIPAD

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Tracey Slobotkin, who solved Thursdays anagram: Center City SIPS. Phillys summer-long happy hour kicks off its 20th anniversary in June.

Photo of the day

Enjoy your weekend! Ill be back in your inbox on Monday.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
BRUSSELS  On April 19, I watched an audience of European and American political officials and strategic experts pay rapt attention as U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy told them Congress would enact a Ukraine aid package that weekend. Minutes later, the attendees at the German Marshall Funds Brussels Forum broke into cheers at the news that the House legislation had cleared an initial hurdle on its way to approval the next day.

Their emotional response was testimony to the criticality of tight cooperation between the United States and its European allies if Vladimir Putins Russia is to be pushed back from Ukraine.

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Yet, several days spent in Brussels, including at NATO headquarters, underscored two basic facts: First, Europe (and Ukraine) cannot withstand Russian aggression alone without U.S. leadership and continued aid to Kyiv. And  this cant be repeated enough  Putins aggression against Ukraine is not just a security threat to Europe. It is also a threat to the United States.

Most NATO members, especially former satellite states of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, have watched with growing alarm as Putin repeats his intent to reconstitute the Russian (read: former Soviet) empire and crushes the Ukrainian language, culture, and religion in occupied areas of Ukraine.

That alarm has intensified as Russia has used disinformation campaigns to interfere in European elections and promote far-right leaders more sympathetic to Moscow. Russian missiles have already violated the air space of NATO members Poland and Romania as they target defenseless Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

Europeans have stepped up dramatically since the Russian invasion to increase their defense budgets and help Ukraine. Donald Trumps claim last week on Truth Social that the United States is over $100 Billion Dollars into the Ukraine War more than Europe is utterly false. So is his isolationist stance that we have an ocean between us as separation.

European nations had committed more than double the amount of aid the U.S. sent to Kyiv prior to the new $60 billion U.S. package, and they are still in the lead. NATO members are creating coalitions to produce or buy weapons that are urgently needed.

For example, former Latvian Defense Minister Imants Liegis told the forum his nation was part of a 10-country drone coalition, led by the United Kingdom, to urgently provide first-person view drones that are now key to the battlefield. But we are also looking at the long term, where we see lessons learned from the Ukraine war, he said. One key lesson is that the new mode of war is technological, with drones and electronic warfare, so the coalition is encouraging young innovators and trying to ease procurement rules.

Other European groupings are working on finding ammo and air defenses for Ukraine. But individual European nations  even as they push to increase their defense spending and production and integrate their efforts  cannot match the economic heft of the United States, or many of the advanced weapon systems we produce.

This is a joint endeavor, I was told by the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith. The Europeans can provide a lot, but the United States needs to lead.

Moreover, the Europeans recognize what U.S. isolationists dont: This era of technological warfare, in which a vengeful Putin is helped by China, Iran, and North Korea, makes an oceans protection moot. Think nukes in space, and satellite and information warfare.

The U.S. population has to understand history, argued Howard Buffett, farmer, businessman, and son of businessman-philanthropist Warren Buffett. His Howard G. Buffett Foundation has partnered with the German Marshall Fund to conduct a series of whistle-stops across Americas agricultural heartland to drum up support for Ukraine.

You have to understand what Putin has done in his lifetime, Buffett said. Invade Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014, Syria [in partnership with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad] in 2015. He has already told the world what he is going to do. Added German Marshall Fund president Heather Conley: If you dont challenge Putin, you will embolden him, because he thinks we are weak.

Which brings us to the frisson of unease that continued to rattle forum attendees and dominate many discussions: Although the passage of the Ukraine aid package undermined Putins belief that America had abandoned Kyiv, can the United States be trusted to continue aiding Ukraine after 2024?

The good news is that President Joe Biden says the U.S. will rush critical items such as artillery ammo to the front, where Russian artillery now has a 10-1 advantage in firepower.

The even better news is that Biden has finally greenlit the shipment of long-range missiles, known as ATACMS, with single powerful warheads  which Kyiv has been begging for for more than a year. These missiles can take out supply depots and headquarters behind Russian lines, overcoming the stalemate between ground forces. Ukrainian military strategists believe ATACMS can be used to cut off supply lines to Crimea and make the Russian presence there untenable. Hopefully, the overdue U.S. decision will encourage Germany to finally send even longer-range Taurus missiles.

The bad news is that the time frame for desperately needed air defenses for Ukraine is still unclear. F-16 fighter jets still havent arrived, and vital U.S.-made Patriot systems to protect against Russian missiles arent yet on offer. Ukraine has only three such systems  two sent from Germany and one from the U.S.  but needs at least seven more to protect its cities.

Western nations reportedly have 100 such systems, yet only Germany has volunteered to send one more.

Other European countries are dithering (Spain and Greece may yet come through), but the U.S. is silent. Yet, U.S. defense firms are in the process of exporting a Patriot system to neutral Switzerland. Given the urgent need to save Ukraines civilian infrastructure from Russias barbaric attacks, surely Switzerland can wait, and that system could be delivered to Kyiv.

The worse news is that the administration still talks about Ukraines holding the line and rebuilding for 2025. Rather than hold the line, this is the moment to send all aid possible, especially long-range missiles and air defenses to Ukraine, so Kyiv can make as much progress as possible and shield against a possible electoral victory by Trump and the isolationists in November.

Both at NATO and at the Brussels Forum, there was anxious talk about the need for a plan B.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has proposed the establishment of a $100 billion NATO fund contributed to by members that would guarantee five years of funding for Ukraine no matter who is elected U.S. president. The goal, said U.S. Ambassador Smith, would be to signal to Putin that he cant wait us out. Its not clear whether the proposal will get the necessary backing from members.

At the Brussels Forum, ideas for a U.S. plan B were already being floated. Ukraines survival, said former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, depends on our assistance and political will on our side.

To demonstrate that Western will to Putin, he argues that NATO should no longer permit Russia to treat international Black Sea waters like a Russian lake, despite the littoral presence of three NATO members plus Ukraine on that sea. He also argues for NATO to activate air defense assets in northeast Poland and Romania, both NATO members whose air space has been affected by the Ukraine war. Those air defenses would effectively protect the Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Odesa.

I came back from Brussels convinced that the Europeans understand the urgency of the Putin threat far better than Americans do. It is critical for Biden to explain that urgency to the American people more directly and act on it this year, perhaps with new initiatives at the upcoming 75th anniversary NATO summit in Washington in July.

It is far too risky for the White House to postpone concrete planning to ensure Ukraines future until 2025.
The 128th Penn Relays, day one Share Icon Link copied to clipboard

This year's Penn Relays is the 128th edition of the event, which first was held in 1895. The three-day meet will take place at Franklin Field in Philadelphia from April 25-27 and include more than 15,000 from high school, college, pro and masters categories.
People arrive ahead of a visit from President Joe Biden on April 18, 2024, at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Read more

Although the outcome of Tuesdays Democratic presidential primary was never in doubt, that didnt stop almost 130,000 Pennsylvania Democrats from thumbing their nose at President Joe Biden by either casting a write-in vote or picking another candidate.

Former President Donald Trump faced his own revolt from Republicans with more than 150,000 GOP voters statewide backing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, despite the fact that she dropped out of the race last month.

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Both candidates will have to find ways to curb that dissent within their parties before November to win a state decided by narrow margins. After all, Biden won Pennsylvania by only 80,000 votes in 2020. Four years earlier, Donald Trump won by just 44,000.

Bidens campaign has posted on social media multiple times since Tuesday about Pennsylvania Republicans voting for Haley. But the president faces a comparable number of defections within his own party.

As of Thursdays count, 69,000 registered Pennsylvania Democrats  more than 6% of those who participated in the closed primary  voted for U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, the centrist Minnesota Democrat who suspended his campaign on March 6.

And another 60,000  nearly an additional 6%  wrote in something else. Although statewide write-in data from the 2020 primary werent immediately available, county-level data suggest that this years count is likely far greater.

Since Biden had long since sewn up the nomination in that year too  Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard were still on the ballot, but had withdrawn  its likely the spike in write-in votes this year stems from an organized campaign urging voters to write uncommitted in protest of the administrations stance on the Gaza war.

The energy behind that campaign comes from the partys left flank, as precinct-level results from Philadelphia show.

The Associated Press does not normally track write-in vote totals, but it added those votes to its tabulations Wednesday evening after the uptick in write-in votes in the Democratic primary this year. It has not done a similar tabulation of write-in votes in the GOP primary.

But on a proportional basis, it wasnt the states progressive areas where Biden was the weakest.

Where was the anti-Biden vote strongest?

In relative terms, opposition to Biden came most strenuously not from left-leaning urban areas, but from the rural, conservative counties in the states center and west. In many of those counties, a combination of votes for Phillips and write-ins dragged Bidens vote share below 80%.

In tiny Elk County, Bidens support stood below 75%.

But rural Democrats comprise an increasingly marginal and estranged part of the partys coalition. Loss of rural support might be symbolically important to a president who identifies strongly with Pennsylvania, but votes lost and gained in populous places matter much more.

The Philly suburbs remained loyal to Biden

In nearly all parts of the state, Biden lost meaningful support to both the write-in campaign and to Phillips. Rural areas, exurbs, and cities both big and small all saw varying degrees of protest voting.

But the Philly collar counties were uniquely steadfast, putting up margins for Biden above 90%.

This is perhaps a bright spot for the Biden campaign. Winning Democratic coalitions in Pennsylvania are increasingly reliant on votes from the Philadelphia suburbs. The relatively few protest votes cast there in comparison to the city suggests that suburban Democrats remain supportive of the administration.

Biden, in my opinion, is our best chance to have more cohesion and less division, said Andrew Mongeluzzi, a 33-year-old Biden supporter who lives in Bryn Mawr. I have never seen this level of hatred and discrimination toward minorities in my entire life. I feel Biden is a push away from that.

Charlotte Valyo, the chair of the Chester County Democratic Party, said the uncommitted campaign was less active in the suburbs than it was within Philadelphia.

Additionally, she said, voters in the county tend to be more moderate and feel a greater sense of trust in Biden, who was commonly called Pennsylvanias third senator for much of his career.

Hes a Pennsylvanian to us. We dont think of him as someone from outside the state or outside the county, we think of him as one of us, Valyo said. I think that really resonates with everyone here it makes us analyze the situation and say, Well, we believe hes doing the best he can.

How do we know who voted uncommitted?

While the protest vote for Phillips came from moderate to conservative parts of the state, the write-in vote was harder to characterize. In most counties, write-in responses havent yet been tabulated.

Some of the write-ins came in from rural parts of the state where the pro-Gaza uncommitted cause may not be as visible. Its possible that disgruntled Democrats in those parts of the state simply vented their frustrations by writing in other names.

In an email to the Inquirer, Thad Hall, the elections director in rural Mercer County, said he had skimmed his countys write-in ballots and found that only around 10 voters picked uncommitted. Far more of the 282 write-in ballots, he said, listed names like Trump, Haley, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

But in the big cities, it seems clear from the pattern of precinct-level results that uncommitted was a major part of the write-in vote.

Just how big a part may not be known for some time  if ever. Pennsylvania election code requires counties only to report write-in votes cast for a person.

If write-in votes are cast for something other than a person, the counties have the option to report those write-in votes in a category labeled scattered, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State said in an email.

Some counties, like Philadelphia, have said they are unlikely to identify votes that are not cast for a person. Others in the region are still determining how they will report write-in votes and dont expect to finish counting them until late this week or early next week.

That uncertainty didnt stop Uncommitted PA from claiming victory on Wednesday. The organization claimed solidarity with all the states 130,000 Democrats who withheld their votes from Joe Biden.

Uncommitted PA believes that the outcome of the primary election serves as a strong indicator of voter sentiment in the November election, the statement read. Voters in Pennsylvania feel conflicted about voting for Biden, as demonstrated by the write-in and undervote.

What does this mean for Biden in November?

If Biden is to repeat his narrow 2020 victory in Pennsylvania, he will need to manage a fractious statewide coalition ranging from working-class moderates to left-wing urbanites.

This springs primary results may hint that both the left and the right flanks of this coalition are fraying. The open question is whether dissenting primary voters will return to the fold to defeat Republican Donald Trump in the fall.

But Bidens biggest problem may not so much be the voters who opposed him this spring, but those who didnt vote at all. Far fewer voters turned out for this years primary compared to 2020.

Tellingly, turnout declined most sharply in the part of the state most supportive of Biden in this primary: the Philadelphia suburbs.

Staff writer Rita Giordano contributed to this article.
People protest on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia on Thursday, April 25, 2024 Read more

The political divide over the war in Gaza was starkly evident this week in Philadelphia as local officials spoke out about student demonstrations at University of Pennsylvania and other local campuses.

State Rep. Rick Krajewski, whose district includes Penn, as well as Philadelphia State Sen. Nikil Saval and State Rep. Tarik Khan, visited the Penn encampment on Thursday, according to a Daily Pennsylvanian report.

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Khan said he wants to make sure students are able to peacefully protest and Saval condemned universities that have called police on their students simply for expressing their voice in protest and right in assembling peacefully, according to the report.

Krajewski posted a video of himself speaking on Penns campus on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: Students have always risen up against apartheid and genocide. Today that legacy continues at Penn, Temple and Drexel. Free Palestine!

Krajewski and Saval visited the encampment again on Friday.

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, whose district includes the university, did not attend the protest but a spokesperson for her office told the Daily Pennsylvanian that she believes students have a right to peacefully organize and protest.

Shapiro: leaders should step in and enforce the law

Gov. Josh Shapiro took a decidedly different stance from lawmakers who championed the protests this week when he said that local leadership should step in and enforce the law if universities cant guarantee students safety, according to a Politico report.

On Friday, Manuel Bonder, a spokesperson for Shapiro, said in a statement to The Inquirer that the governor supports the right to peacefully protest as long as they follow university policy and the law.

The governor has also made clear that universities must keep their students safe and take a stand to combat hate and antisemitism, Bonder added.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D., Phila.), whose district includes Penn, said in an interview that the Penn protests are too new for him to comment on, but if they follow the patterns of similar protests across the country, organizers should be wary of distractions that detract from the purpose of their protest, such as people praising Hamas.

People who are disrespectful and intimidating of those who dont agree with them have taken advantage of the platform created by students across the country who want to protest the war, he said.

He said protesters have to take on the same responsibility that those of us in the Civil Rights Movement took on to control and influence the movement, and organizers need a strategy to guarantee the protests are about dissent, not intimidation. Just making a statement saying they dont stand with disrupters isnt enough, he said.

 READ MORE: Heres what Philly leaders have to say about Liz Magills resignation and Penns future

Pennsylvanias representatives in the U.S. Senate similarly kept their messages focused on safety with an emphasis on the safety of Jewish students.

Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), responded to protests by urging Republicans in Congress to pass an antisemitism bill he introduced two weeks ago with South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott.

The bill, backed by seven Democrats and seven Republicans, would require the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism for investigations to determine whether there is a hostile environment on campus, which could result in a withholding of federal funding. Casey said Congress also needs to increase funding for those investigations.

The IHRA considers drawing comparisons of Israeli policy to Nazis and claiming that the existence of Israel is racist as two examples of antisemitism, which could conflict with some protesters sentiments.

Casey said schools should have clear codes of conduct but declined to assess how universities have been handling the protests in Pennsylvania or whether the encampments should come down. Asked if he thought the students might influence U.S. policy, Casey said he supports the case for more food and aid and medicine sent to Gaza but has been concerned by conversations with protesters who do not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.

If I say that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and needs to be disabled, needs to be wiped out  and they disagree with me, I cant really have a conversation with someone whos not willing to condemn terrorism or condemn Hamas, Casey said on Friday.

Casey also introduced the Protecting Students on Campus Act in January with Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R.,La.) which is designed to help students report alleged civil rights violations at federally funded institutions. Fetterman spokesperson Carrie Adams said the senator believes in students right to protest but also wants to make sure all students feel safe on campus.

Fetterman shared a screenshot of an article from The Guardian on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, about students protesting the war along with a comment focused on Hamas and the violence Israel experienced on Oct.7.

Were in trouble spiritually

At a Thursday night rally, Pennsylvania Republican Senate nominee Dave McCormick disavowed the campus protests occurring in Pennsylvania and across the country.

Were in trouble spiritually, he said to a room of supporters in Media, in Delaware County.  It was just happening at Penn today. Can you believe those kids marching on our college campuses all over the country? Can you  I mean honestly  can you believe it?

McCormick said students at what he called the best colleges in the county dont know the difference between right and wrong, and good and evil. He blamed college presidents, saying they have a lack of leadership and moral clarity, both insults he also uses to describe Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, whom he will face in the general election.

He called the demonstrations anti-American and said universities that sanction such behavior shouldnt get federal funding for research or be eligible for tax-exempt status for their endowments. He called the behavior antisemitic and bordering on violence, and said that law enforcement should clear out the encampments.

Dave Sunday, the Republican nominee for attorney general, said in an interview at the same GOP rally that he doesnt know all the details and nuances of the protests. He said the first amendment is critical, but demonstrations must be safe.

I think there needs to be a balance where people can exercise their right to free speech, but we have to protect students, he said. Students should not be afraid of physical harm on their campus.

But what about non-physical harm, such as students who say they dont feel safe because of antisemitic speech? It depends on the situation, Sunday said, who was a career prosecutor and is the York County District Attorney.

Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article
Eileen Teng (left) commissioned a painting by New York artist Antoinette Wysocki (right). Wysocki used charcoal, gouache, and graphite to create the piece inspired by Morris Arboretum. Read more

You cant design a beautiful space with blank walls, said interior designer Brittany Hakimfar.

But she takes it a step further  deciding what goes on a blank wall or even helping design it.

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In one case, she rummaged through a clients storage area and found a piece of needlework from her late mother: We thought it would be perfect over the bar, she said.

And in her own Bryn Mawr home and the homes of several clients, she has had paintings commissioned to fit the overall aesthetic of the house.

Once she sold a client a piece with the Hebrew inscription Tikkun Olam (repairing of the world) that was on a wall of Far, her Bryn Mawr studio, then commissioned the artist to do a similar one to replace it.

This is often the last step in interior design.

In many cases Hakimfar hasnt found the perfect painting, the client wants something they have helped design themselves, or the work has to be a certain size.

She did this in her home, working through Jay Gutnick, an entrepreneur who has made a business of matching artist and client.

Im not an art consultant, Hakimfar said, adding, it takes something off my plate.

Hakimfar and her husband, Ben, a lawyer who manages the business end of Far, wanted an abstract that would be placed on a stairwell to tie together the upper and lower floors of the home.

They picked the Canadian artist Laurie Skantzos based on her earlier work.

The hot pink on the edge draws you in, she said as she stood with Gutnick on the stairwell of her home looking at the abstract. It looks like its glowing.

Its almost like a wall sculpture, Gutnick said.

He had spent over 15 years in the health-care industry, building a large company that provided nursing-care staffing.

Then, right before COVID, I decided enough was enough and I no longer felt passionate about that.

When he and his wife, Rachel, were setting up a home in Ventnor, N.J., they decided to commission a painting for it, and something about that experience I found kind of magical. It was very energizing, It unlocked something in me.

He looked for a company that works with clients in concierge fashion and found that there was nothing quite like it: assisting the buyer in finding the right artist, introducing the artist to the buyer, discussing every aspect of the piece, and then providing ongoing progress shots and videos so the piece ends up exactly right.

Rachel Gutnick, after graduate school at the University of Michigan, came east and she and Jay spent the next four months designing the company Teal Canvas, inspired by the Gutnicks love of the color.

Jay Gutnick, who grew up in Virginia Beach, says it reminds him of water.

They launched three years ago with 20 artists  friends of friends and others  and had a website in four months. The timing was fortuitous because galleries were closed due to the pandemic.

Jay Gutnick has commissioned more than 100 pieces nationally, starting with the homeowner and choosing the artist only after he has a strong sense of the buyer, including their taste and budget.

When they walk into a room, what lifts them up? he asks.

When Eileen Teng and her husband, Daniel, decided to buy a pied-a-terre in Philadelphia, they definitely wanted something Philadelphia-centric as a decorative centerpiece.

The condo they bought in 2023 nudges against the Schuylkill and looks out on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

Teng and Jay Gutnick selected the artist Antoinette Wysocki of New York, whom Teng had worked with before.

The process was a first for Wysocki. She, Gutnick, and Teng toured Morris Arboretum, which would serve as inspiration for the commissioned piece.

Having the experience together was very different, she said after the arboretum visit. Walking the land, trees, and organic materials spoke to her.

Teng said, We just started taking pictures of the trees and branches.

While Wysocki usually works in color, this painting was charcoal, gouache, and graphite. As Teng has become gradually more interested in art, she thought a black and white painting would be spectacular. Its placed in a room of its own near the condos entrance.

Wysocki named the painting Ill Be Seeing You, after a song often associated with Billie Holiday, who was born in Philadelphia and frequently performed here.

I feel like I could walk into the painting, she said.

Have you solved a decorating, remodeling, or renovation challenge in your home? Tell us your story by email (and send a few digital photographs) to properties@inquirer.com.
The Biden administration set a first-ever minimum staffing rule for nursing homes Monday, making good on the presidents promise more than two years ago to seek improvements in care for the nations 1.2 million nursing home residents.

The final rule, proposed in September, requires a registered nurse to be on-site in every skilled nursing facility for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It mandates enough staff to provide every resident with at least 3.48 hours of care each day. And it beefs up rules for assessing the care needs of every resident, which will boost staff numbers above the minimum to care for sicker residents.

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For a facility with 100 residents, it translates to a minimum of two or three registered nurses and at least 10 or 11 nurse aides per shift, as well as two additional staffers who could be nurses or aides per shift, according to the administration's interpretation of its new formula. Set to phase in over the next few years, the mandate will replace the current vague standard that gives operators wide latitude on how to staff their facilities.

The nations 15,000 nursing homes are regulated by the federal government, which pays for the majority of stays through the Medicaid and Medicare federal insurance programs. Neglect and abuse have been concerns for decades, but the crisis of care reached a peak during the pandemic, when more than 160,000 nursing home residents died of COVID-19.

While the administration has said the rule will improve care, industry lobbyists have said its unworkable, with staffing goals that will be impossible to achieve because of a shortage of workers.

The administration received 47,000 public comments on the rule since it was proposed last September. They included observations of people lying in their own filth for hours, not being fed appropriately, and being left on the floor too long after falling, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said in an interview.

These are the kinds of things that drive nightmares in the minds of family members, he said. If youre claiming that you cant find nurses, then explain to me how youre running a nursing home.

An industry study last year, in response to the proposal, said nearly all nursing homes would not meet the new standards and would be required to hire more people. Nursing homes would need to hire more than 100,000 additional workers: 80,077 nurse aides and 22,077 registered nurses, the study said.

The pandemic exacerbated staffing shortages in nursing homes. Poor wages and grueling working conditions put large amounts of stress on a low-wage workforce, which is made up mostly of women, minorities, and immigrants.

An independent study released last year by KFF, a nonprofit group specializing in health care, said around 80% of facilities would need to hire more staff to meet the new requirements.

While the government said the cost of the plan would be $4.4 billion per year by the third year of adoption, industry groups said the number was closer to $7 billion.

It is unconscionable that the Administration is finalizing this rule given our nations changing demographics and growing caregiver shortage, Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, the top lobbying group for the nursing home industry, said in response to the administrations release of the final proposal. Issuing a final rule that demands hundreds of thousands of additional caregivers when theres a nationwide shortfall of nurses just creates an impossible task for providers.

The industry has warned that rural facilities may be forced to close if they cant meet the requirements.

In a 71-bed facility in Pipestone, Minn., the operator, a large nonprofit system called Good Samaritan Society, would have to hire five more registered nurses and five certified nurse assistants to its total roster of staff, said Nate Schema, Good Samaritan's president and CEO. That's in a community of just 4,100 people.

"It's unrealistic," he said. "This unfunded mandate just doesn't make sense, and it's going to create additional access challenges for residents and families that we service."

On Capitol Hill, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) sponsored a bill that would prevent the administration from imposing the rule, but it did not advance after receiving insufficient support in the Democratic-controlled chamber.

The Democratic co-sponsor, Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.), warned that some rural nursing homes may close in his state. I have serious concerns that this burdensome staffing requirement will be unworkable for rural nursing homes, he said in a statement.

Nursing-home owners in urban areas will have two years to comply with the rules, while rural operators will have three years. Operators in rural areas without enough workers can qualify for hardship exemptions, the administration said.

The new requirement will replace a rule that merely required an operator to maintain a staff level "sufficient" to assure the safety and well-being of residents. Facilities will be required to have enough registered nurses to provide 0.55 hours of care per resident per day and enough nurse aides to provide 2.45 hours of care. The additional 0.48 hours of care can be provided by a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse or a care aide, under the rule.

The rule also increases guidelines for annual assessments of residents care needs, which will dictate to what degree operators must exceed the new hourly requirements.

Theyre acknowledging this is a minimum. This is the floor, not the ceiling, said Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which has fought for stronger quality and staffing requirements.

Advocates for the health and safety of nursing home residents say operators could attract workers if they pay more. Front-line workers in nursing homes are paid around $17 an hour, according to PHI, a nonprofit that tracks wage data for elder-care workers.
When you look at the need to upskill the industry, weve got a problem and weve had one for a while, he told The Guardian. Its not necessarily obvious on any car what the damage is underneath. Now when youve got a 400-volt battery and youre looking under a panel  you need to depower the battery, remove it, then re-energise it  to safely work an EV.
With the increasing frequency of severe weather, its critical we continue to invest in mitigation and resilience initiatives to make properties and communities in high-risk areas safer and better protected, he said. Reducing the level of risk at a property level has the flow-on benefit of putting downward pressure on insurance premiums.
The study is based on an analysis of email addresses associated with online services, often leaked alongside other sensitive data such as passwords and financial information. The research team collected this data from 29,000 publicly available databases, which was then anonymised and analysed to assess the scope and impact of global data breaches. Updates on these trends are regularly added to the Data Breach World Map, reflecting the most recent findings.
The report indicated that while a majority of companies profess a commitment to employee wellbeing, only a few take substantial measures to actualise it. Specifically, 87% of Australians reported that corporations are often vocal about wellbeing but lack substantial action.
Its a pleasure to welcome Alex to the team, Reina said. Howden Re delivers a full suite of exceptional reinsurance services, and we clearly reflect that across the International business. Our ability to attract leading talent further enhances our clients experience as we build on our outstanding regional offering and connect our local specialists with expertise from across the Howden group.
ICEYEs ground-breaking technology is a game changer for persistent monitoring and actionable insights. The ability to identify specific risks and ground-truth damage at scale, no matter the condition, in near real-time is revolutionary. Damage can be understood in hours as opposed to days, allowing our clients to quickly understand the impact of an event and promptly undertake loss mitigation steps, Miron said.
Wenning reported a net result of $4.6 billion for the past financial year and projected a result of $5.0 billion for 2024. He expressed optimism about the continuing favorable conditions for property-casualty reinsurers and the outcomes of recent contract renewals, which he described as positive in terms of profitability and portfolio quality.
Wilton Re Bermuda, our staff and I truly appreciate the considerable charitable work supporting Bermudas community and especially recognize the challenges facing the smaller charitable organizations to be able to secure funding during a time when there are less resources available to them, he said.
When we launched mid last year, our first policies were sold by brokers, he said. We've got a unique broker portal that our brokers have access to where they can either provide a lead, that we can then have someone contact from our team, or the broker can go in and do all the quote process, together with the client in their office.
The MMA approach is to keep things status quo and give them the support that they need, Krause said. I always say keep things simple  we focus on the colleagues and the clients, weve got to keep a close eye on the client but really what we're doing is you keep the train on the track and providing them with a stronger engine.
The sanctions imposed by the US and its allies have significantly restricted Russia's access to the global services network, including insurers and brokers. As a result, Russian companies Sogaz Insurance, Alfastrakhovanie, and VSK Insurance have now joined Ingosstrakh in being authorized by India to offer marine insurance, as indicated by an announcement on the Indian shipping regulator's website.
China is poised to become an increasingly crucial market for Swiss Re, which already considers it a key strategic location. The insurance penetration rate in China is relatively low, and the gap between economic and insured losses in natural disasters remains substantial. These factors highlight the potential for growth in sectors like catastrophe, corporate, and agricultural insurance.
A three-alarm fire in Newton, Massachusetts this week was most likely caused by the combustion of oily rags used during renovations on the unoccupied home, according to Newton Fire Chief Gregory J. Gentile.

The Newton Fire Department responded to 8 Central Ave. at about 11:30 Wednesday morning for reports of smoke showing from a two-and-one-half story wood framed home. They found heavy fire on the upper floors on arrival and it quickly went to three alarms. Firefighters battled the flames well into the afternoon before the fire was knocked down.

The oils in many paints, stains, and varnishes release heat as they dry, said Chief Gentile. If these rags are left in a pile or in the trash, that heat can become strong enough to ignite them and other nearby items. These fires are especially dangerous because they can smolder undetected for hours before bursting into flames that spread to other combustible items.

An investigation determined that the fire began near the top of a staircase on the second floor, where staining rags had been left in a trash bag the day before.

State Police fire investigators said they identified oily rags as the cause or a potential factor in nearly a dozen residential fires last year.
A Boston man has been charged with a fraud scheme in which prosecutors say he collected about $45,000 in unearned sales commissions on insurance policies he created using personally identifiable information stolen from individuals.

The state attorney generals office announced charges against Richard N. Martell for identity theft and larceny for the scheme he allegedly perpetrated while working as an insurance agent for American Family Life Assurance Co. of Columbus (Aflac).

Martell was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 8, pleading not guilty to all charges.

Between April 2018 and November 2019, Martell is alleged to have created numerous fake insurance policies to induce Aflac to pay him a sales commission on each policy sold. Martell allegedly established more than 270 insurance policies using the personally identifiable information of 64 individuals, many of whom are Massachusetts residents. These individuals did not consent to the use of their information, did not authorize Martell to issue insurance in their name, and in many instances were not aware that Martell had access to their information, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also allege that Martell established Aflac payroll accounts for small businesses across the state without the company owners knowledge by impersonating more than 30 business owners during account authorization phone calls.

Aflac notified the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau, which upon further investigation, confirmed multiple victims lack of knowledge of the use of their personally identifiable information.

As a result of the scheme, Martell collected approximately $45,000.00 in unearned sales commissions, according to officials.

Martell is next due in court on May 20 for a pre-trial conference.

Source: Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Topics Agencies Massachusetts
Merritt Healthcare Advisors, a Connecticut mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm for healthcare practices, has agreed to a $1.525 million settlement of a class action stemming from a 2022 data breach.

The money will go into a fund to compensate the estimated 88,740 people whose personally identifiable information, private health information, and/or financial information were exposed in the breach.

Merritt discovered the security breach on November 30, 2022, and made it public onn March 14, 2023.

The settlement addresses three class actions filed in 2023 in federal district court for Connecticut that the plaintiffs agreed to consolidate and resolve through mediation.

The negotiations leading to the settlement were contentious and hard-fought, says the settlement proposal submitted to the court. The resulting settlement reflects an agreement reached at arms length, in good faith, and free of any collusion.

The agreement, which must still be reviewed by the court, includes a separate amount of $508,283 for the plaintiffs lawyers, Kevin Laukaitis of Laukaitis Law and Laura Grace Van Note of Cole & Van Note.

Topics Lawsuits Mergers & Acquisitions Cyber Connecticut
A jury on Wednesday rejected a womans lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars from Virginias largest school system over allegations that she was raped multiple times as a middle schooler.

The woman, who was identified in court papers only by her initials, sued Fairfax County Public Schools under Title IX, a law that guarantees girls and women equal educational access. The lawsuit alleged school officials at Rachel Carson Middle School in Reston ignored her complaints that she endured sexual harassment and sexual assaults inside and outside of the school back in 2011 and 2012, when she was a seventh-grader.

Lawyers for the school system, though, argued that her claims were fabricated.

She has tried to deceive you about what really happened, Sona Rewari, a lawyer for the school board, told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday.

The school systems lawyers introduced evidence at the monthlong trial of social media posts and text messages back from 2011 that seem to suggest B.R. and her alleged rapist  a 13-year-old eighth grader  were actually a boyfriend and girlfriend who willingly engaged in sex acts. In some of the messages, the plaintiff used eye-wateringly graphic language to express her interest in sexual encounters, Rewari told the jury during closings.

In dozens of the the texts, B.R. flatly tells the boy I love you at a time when she now says she was being repeatedly raped by the boy after school at a bus stop.

On the witness stand, the plaintiff denied sending most of the messages. She also said that her attacker forced her to send some messages so that no one would believe her if she ever claimed to have been raped.

B.R., according to the school system, only claimed the sex was against her will after the boy broke up with her and after her mother discovered a salacious voicemail message on the girls phone and alerted school officials.

After the verdict was read, teachers and counselors at the school who had also been named as defendants in the case exchanged hugs amid tears.

The now-24-year-old plaintiff, meanwhile, left court visibly angry, followed by a small group of family and supporters.

The plaintiffs allegations of exactly what happened to her evolved in the years since she first filed her lawsuit in 2019. At one point she amended the complaint to include allegations that she had been gang-raped multiple times in a utility closet at the school, possibly as some part of a sexual trafficking ring.

At trial, she never presented those allegations to the jury when her lawyer acknowledged that there was no good evidence that she had ever alerted school officials to the alleged rapes.

Lawyers for the school system said there was no evidence at all to support the notion that rapes had ever occurred.

After the verdict, the school system issued a statement saying, The jurys verdict today affirms that the FCPS Board and nine current and former educators acted in a caring, respectful, and professional manner to support the plaintiff when she was a student 12 years ago. We are grateful to the jury for their careful evaluation of the evidence and their service on this important case.

Andrew Brenner, one of the plaintiffs lawyers, declined comment after the verdict on whether an appeal was planned. In a written statement, another of her lawyers, Alison Anderson, said, While we are disappointed in the resulting verdict, B.R. showed tremendous courage and fortitude in fighting for justice for more than a decade.

The rules governing Title IXs implementation and the rights of students to bring Title IX lawsuits have been a long subject of national debate. Last week the Biden administration made revisions undoing some changes that been implemented by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. The new rules put forward by Biden have drawn praise from victims advocates, while Republicans said it erodes the rights of accused students.

While the trial dragged on for more than a month, the eight-person civil jury at U.S. District Court in Alexandria needed only a few hours of deliberation Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning before reaching a unanimous verdict rejecting all of her claims against all defendants.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Claims Virginia K-12
A US insurance firm with at least $2 billion in exposure to Thames Water Utilities Finance Plc is working with bondholders and advisers to protect their interests ahead of potential debt talks, according to people familiar with the matter.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. and a group of noteholders have tapped lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and bankers at PJT Partners Inc., the people said, talking on the condition of anonymity. The insurer works with issuers of debt and provides insurance on notes that can mitigate losses for bondholders.

The US firm had an overall exposure of $2.1 billion-equivalent to Thames Water as of the end of 2023, according to its annual report. It was the second-largest exposure for the company outside of the US.

The group is forming to protect the interests of so-called Class A noteholders in advance of possible discussions with Thames Water. Some bondholders wrote to Thames Water through their lawyers seeking more information, but Thames representatives have so far declined to engage with creditors about the debt. Instead they maintained that the financial challenges lie with their parent company, the people said.

Creditors to Thames Water could face losses if it ends up being nationalized by the UK government, according to contingency plans drawn up by officials. Junior creditors to Thames known as Class B bondholders would take a haircut of 35% to 40% on the value of their loans and the majority of bondholders would face smaller losses of 5% to 10% under the plans.

Spokespeople for Kirkland & Ellis and Assured Guaranty didnt respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for PJT and Thames Water declined to comment.

Thames Water is fighting to avoid restructuring or being taken into special administration. Its Chief Executive Chris Weston has maintained that Thames can still raise the billions of pounds in equity that it needs to deliver on its turnaround plan to fix chronic leaks and sewage spills, despite not having the backing of its shareholders.

Creditor Groups

The new group is the latest and potentially largest collection of creditors forming as the Thames crisis deepens. Another group of bondholders earlier this month picked Jefferies Financial Group Inc. as a financial adviser and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP for legal representation in preparation for talks.

Assured Guaranty has also provided guarantees for debt issued by other UK water companies. Its largest single-name exposure outside of the US is Southern Water Services Ltd, with an amount equal to $2.4 billion. Other positions are in Anglian Water Services Financing Plc and Yorkshire Water Services Finance Plc, according to its last report.

The bonds of Thames Water have been falling in recent weeks due to rising concerns over the groups roughly 16 billion ($20 billion) debt pile. Parent company Kemble Water Holdings Ltd. defaulted on its 1.35 billion liabilities after shareholders said they wouldnt inject 500 million of capital as previously planned, and investors worry that a restructuring might spread to the operating companies as well.

Top photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers
The worlds forum for banking regulators on Thursday tightened up its rulebook to focus better on spotting risks from climate change, the rise of non-banks, and digitalisation of finance.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, made up of banking regulators and central bankers from the G2O economies and other countries, last year set out proposals to revise its core principles for the first time since 2012.

Global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund check on a countrys compliance with these principles when assessing national financial sectors.

Citis CEO Fraser Wary of Insurance Giants Role in Private Credit

The revised standard reflects changes to promote operational resilience, reinforce corporate governance and risk management practices, and address new and emerging risks, including the digitalisation of finance and climate-related financial risks, the committee said in a statement.

The new standard emphasizes that a banks board is responsible for ensuring that the business is sustainable, following bank failures in the United States and Switzerland last year.

It also introduces a new definition of climate-related financial risks to heighten focus on them.

The committee said it would be issuing a public consultation next week on new guidelines for banks on managing their risks from clients and other counterparties to reflect the lessons learned from recent episodes of non-bank financial intermediation distress.

Regulators are taking a closer look at the rapidly growing non-bank sector, which includes private equity, insurers and investment funds, in funneling financing to companies, calling for much better data on risks and on links to lenders.

Earlier this week the Bank of England told lenders they need to better aggregate data on their exposures to private equity.

Basel said its new core standard reinstates references to aggregating related exposures.

The supervisor determines that a banks information systems identify and aggregate on a timely basis exposures creating risk concentrations and large exposure to single counterparties or groups of connected counterparties and facilitate active management of such exposures, the standard says.

The committee will also publish in May a report on the digitalisation of finance, and what this could mean for regulation.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Russias state-owned reinsurer has given financial backing to three Russian insurance firms, allowing them to get Indian approval to provide marine insurance cover to tankers, two sources said, as Moscow seeks to facilitate trade with India amid Western sanctions.

A raft of sanctions by the US and allies against Moscow over its Ukraine invasion, along with tighter scrutiny of Russian oil trade, has almost cut Russia off from the global network of service providers such as insurers and brokers.

Russian companies Sogaz Insurance, Alfastrakhovanie, and VSK Insurance, have joined Ingosstrakh as insurers approved by India for providing marine insurance cover, an order posted on Indian shipping regulators website showed.

India has approved the three new insurers after Russian National Reinsurance Co. (RNRC) provided a financial guarantee, the two sources with direct knowledge of matter said.

This is the first time RNRCs role in providing financial backing to the three Russian insurers to get accredited in India has been reported.

With the backing of the Russian National Reinsurance Co., a wholly owned entity of the Russian government, these insurers boast robust financial support and stability, one of the sources said.

Insurance is essential for maritime transport, particularly oil cargoes that require the highest safety standards due to the risk of spills.

Sogaz Insurance, Alfastrakhovanie and VSK Insurance representatives did not respond to requests for comment. An RNRC representative declined to comment.

RNRC, controlled by the Russian central bank, was sanctioned by the UK and European Union in 2023.

Indias Directorate General of Shipping did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comments.

Ingosstrakh is not expanding its maritime insurance activities to India. Our relationship with India in the marine insurance industry has spanned over 57 years, dating back to 1967 when we opened our office in Mumbai, an Ingosstrakh spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The three Russian insurers, which specialize in protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance coverage, are not part of the Europe-based International Group, which is made up of 12 so-called P&I clubs.

The IG says it provides marine liability cover for approximately 90% of the worlds ocean-going shipping tonnage.

A due procedure has been followed (by the Indian shipping regulator) for including these new entities in the list of non-IG companies that can provide insurance, one of the two sources said.

Major Supplier

The Group of Seven (G7), the European Union and Australia have imposed a $60 per barrel price cap for Russian oil if Western services such as shipping and insurance are used.

The aim is to squeeze Russias oil revenues while keeping the supply to the market stable.

Russia has emerged as a major oil supplier to India, the worlds third biggest oil importer and consumer, as its oil is sold at a discount after Western nations halted purchases from Moscow.

The Indian government has said that the country abides by United Nations sanctions and does not follow those imposed by any other country.

A source from one of Indias refiners said banks are very strict in clearing payments for Russian oil to ensure that Russian crude is priced below the $60 per barrel cap.

The price cap mechanism bans Western companies from providing maritime services, including financing, insurance, and shipping for oil sold above the cap.

Why would Russia like to forgo its revenue from insurance premiums and give it to the western insurers. It is not a small amount, this source said.

Even if Russia is legally allowed to use Western services, they dont want to use them, he said.

This also means they have to share details of their dealing with the (Western) service providers.

Indian refiners buy Russian oil on delivered basis mostly from traders to avoid any liability arising due to sanctions before discharge of oil cargoes.

The accreditation of the three Russian entities is valid until Feb. 20 next year, but authorisation for Russias Ingosstrakh has been extended by five years to Feb. 20, 2029, an order posted on the website of Indias Directorate General of Shipping website showed.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; additional reporting by Reuters reporters in Moscow; editing by Florence Tan, Tony Munroe and Jane Merriman)

Photograph: Suezmax crude oil tanker SCF Primorye. Photo credit: Sovcomflot (SCF)

Topics Carriers Reinsurance Russia
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Thursday for a revision of how Europe applies minimum capital rules to banks and insurers so that they are not too risk-averse and Europe is put at an economic disadvantage.

The Basel Committee of banking regulators from around the world is facing pushback from banks in the United States in particular on the final leg of Basel III post-financial crisis bank capital reforms to prevent bailouts of struggling lenders by taxpayers.

Meanwhile, EU rules known as Solvency II for insurers have long required them to hold billions of euros in extra capital in excess of minimum reserves, although an agreement was reached in December to ease them.

Global Basel Committee Bolsters Rules for Supervising Banks, Non-Bank Sector

We need to revise how Basel and Solvency are applied. We cannot be the only economic zone in the world that applies them, Macron said in a speech on the European Union at Paris Sorbonne University.

I am not in favor of removing everything, I dont want to return to a culture of financial recklessness. I just want us to put some risk culture back in the way we manage savings, Macron added.

French officials have long complained that US banks are not applying the Basel III rules, putting their European rivals at a competitive disadvantage.

They have also said that Solvency II was requiring European insurers to be too conservative with capital and discouraging equity investments sorely needed to boost firms balance sheets.

Macron said easing capital rules should be one of the pillars of creating a new model for growth in Europe along with better integration of EU capital markets and the creation of a pan-European savings product.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; editing by Sharon Singleton)

Topics Carriers Europe
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  The manufacturer of a popular weedkiller won support Wednesday from the Missouri House for a proposal that could shield it from costly lawsuits alleging it failed to warn customers its product could cause cancer.

The House vote marked an important but incremental victory for chemical giant Bayer, which acquired an avalanche of legal claims involving the weedkiller Roundup when it bought the products original St. Louis-area-based producer, Monsanto.

The legislation now heads to the Missouri Senate with several weeks remaining in the annual legislative session. Bayer pursued similar legislation this year in Idaho and Iowa, where it has mining and manufacturing facilities, but it fell short in both states.

Bayer disputes claims that Roundups key ingredient, glyphosate, causes a cancer called non-Hodgkins lymphoma. But it has set aside $16 billion and already paid about $10 billion of that amount to resolve some of the tens of thousands of legal claims against it.

Though some studies associate glyphosate with cancer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed.

The Missouri legislation says that federally approved pesticide labeling shall be sufficient to satisfy any requirement for a warning label regarding cancer  effectively thwarting failure-to-warn allegations in future lawsuits.

We are grateful that members of the Missouri House have supported farmers and science over the litigation industry, Bayer said in a statement Wednesday.

A coalition that includes Bayer has run ads on radio stations, newspapers and billboards supporting the legislation.

Farmers overwhelmingly rely on Roundup, which was introduced 50 years ago as a more efficient way to control weeds and reduce tilling and soil erosion. For crops including corn, soybeans and cotton, its designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist Roundups deadly effect.

More than a dozen majority party Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the legislation as it passed the House on a 91-57 vote. Some Democrats made personal pleas to vote no.

If you vote for this bill, you are voting for cancer  and it will hurt my feelings, and I will not smile at you on the elevator, said state Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Supporters said it was important to protect Bayer, whose North American crop science division is based in the St. Louis area, from lawsuits that could jeopardized the availability of Roundup. They cited concerns that Bayer eventually could pull Roundup from the U.S. market, leaving farmers dependent on alternative chemicals from China.

This bill isnt about cancer, its really about the process of whats taken place within the courts, said Republican state Rep. Mike Haffner, chair of the House Agriculture Policy Committee.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Missouri
Previous workers compensation claims can present an opportunity for agents serving small-business clients.

The Hanovers 2024 Small Business Risk Report: A Focus on Workers Compensation, which surveyed 300 small business owners, found that a workers compensation claim experience can influence a small business owners confidence in their insurance program, including the services they value and the workplace safety measures they have in place.

Once a small business owner experiences a claim, their insurance priorities shift away from price and toward safety. Almost 60% of small business owners who have not experienced a claim rank price as one of the two most important factors in their workers compensation purchase, while only 40% of business owners who have had more than one claim rank price as one of the top two factors in their purchase decision.

The more claims a small business owner has experienced, the greater value they place on risk management and claims. About 45% of small business owners who experienced more than one claim rated risk management services as one of the top two considerations.

More than two-thirds of small business owners consider an insurance agents recommendation to be a very important factor when purchasing workers compensation. Agents can leverage their experience and insights to educate customers about the importance of services and claims handling as essential components of their workers compensation program.

Workers Comp Opportunities

With most business costs rising, small business owners continue to look for ways to reduce risk exposures, said Charles F. Hamann, president of small commercial at The Hanover.

Only 63% of small business owners without past workers compensation claims are very confident in current preventative measures to prevent workplace injuries, presenting educational opportunities to agents. And only 45% completely agree that they spend sufficient time exploring their insurance options.

The report data indicates small businesses value support from their independent agents. Additionally, the risk management services carriers offer today are critical to their success, Hamann said. While such services are ranked highly, there is an opportunity for agents and business owners to take a more proactive and holistic approach to worker safety.

About 67% of small business owners have had at least one workers compensation claim in the past five years. Once a claim occurs, confidence in a business safety culture significantly drops. While 70% rate safety culture as excellent when they have never experienced a workers compensation claim, only 48% rate it as excellent once they have faced a claim.

For example, only 21% of small business owners take advantage of a nurse triage service before they experience a claim. This presents an opportunity for agents to educate customers on the value of proactive safety services. The number of small business owners using such a service jumps to 51% once they have experienced more than one claim.

While most small businesses offer safety training, there are real opportunities to enhance safety with additional services. Businesses are not consistently taking advantage of: workplace hazard assessments (63%), business continuity planning resources (38%) and telematics, or driver safety monitoring (33%).

Small business owners without claims also conduct fewer regular inspections and safety audits (51%) than owners with claims (68%). Fewer owners without claims (53%) have health and wellness programs than those who do have claims (65%).

The majority (87%) of small business owners reported at least one change in the last 12 months, with 68% reporting they hired new employees. In addition to hiring and training new employees, 34% of small business owners said they had payroll changes in the past 12 months. Owners often provide these updates to their insurance agents, presenting an opportunity to deliver more value through convenient pay-as-you-go services for workers compensation.

And while, 88% of respondents are confident they are adequately insured, small business owners anticipate many factors that could impact their workers compensation insurance program, including cost of insurance (56%), an economic downturn (39%), technological advances (37%) and mental health and stress-related claims (36%).

By proactively consulting, the report concludes, agents can offer guidance and valuable insights, identify potential risks and ensure that small businesses are taking full advantage of risk management services to stay ahead of risk.

Topics Commercial Lines Workers' Compensation Business Insurance
The U.S. Federal Trade Commissions ban on noncompete agreements commonly signed by workers is likely vulnerable to legal challenges, experts said, as some courts have grown increasingly skeptical of federal agencies power to adopt broad rules.

The commission in unveiling the rule on Tuesday said agreements not to join employers competitors or launch rival businesses suppress workers wages and stunt their mobility and job opportunities. About 30 million people, or 20% of U.S. workers, have signed noncompetes, the agency said.

Business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, tax services firm Ryan LLC, and a Pennsylvania tree trimming company have already filed three lawsuits claiming that the FTC, which enforces antitrust laws, lacks the power to determine which business practices amount to unfair competition and should be banned.

The Chamber late Wednesday moved to block the rule from taking effect pending the outcome of its lawsuit.

Related: Chamber of Commerce Sues to Block FTCs Non-Compete Ban

Those challenges are likely to delay implementation of the rule, which is set to take effect in August. In the end they may doom the measure, as the FTC has staked out a novel and unprecedented position regarding its rulemaking powers, several lawyers and other experts said.

The FTC rule may also be invalid because it addresses a major question with broad implications for the U.S. economy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has said agencies can only undertake with explicit authorization from Congress, lawyers said.

The FTC lacks that authority, and Congress itself has declined to pass proposed bans on noncompetes, said Jeremy Merkelson, a partner at law firm Davis Wright Tremaine in Washington, D.C. who represents employers.

I think the Supreme Court has all it needs to rule that the FTCs big swing was not greenlit by the legislative branch, Merkelson said.

The commission will also have to contend with a battery of conservative judges who have shown a willingness to block major government policies and rein in the power of federal agencies, including the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority.

The Tyler, Texas court where the Chamber filed its lawsuit has been a pretty effective firewall against questionable Biden administration rulemaking, said Gregory Hoff, director of labor and employment policy at the business-backed HR Policy Association.

The courts lone judge, J. Campbell Barker, is an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump. Ryans lawsuit has been assigned to another Trump appointee, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas. And any appeals in those cases will be heard by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where 12 of the 17 judges were appointed by Republican presidents.

The FTC in a statement responding to the lawsuits on Wednesday said federal law is crystal clear that the agency has broad rulemaking powers to address anticompetitive conduct.

The commission also defended that authority in the 570-page rule itself, relying heavily on U.S. appeals courts decisions from 1973 and 1985 that upheld agency rules requiring fuel distributors to determine the octane rating of gasoline and mail order companies to ship products within advertised time frames.

But those rules were not as sweeping as the noncompete ban that touches every sector of the economy, and the 5th Circuit is not bound to follow prior rulings from other appeals courts, said Damian Cavaleri, a New York-based lawyer who has represented employers and workers.

Its likely the 5th Circuit will create a split and it will go up to the Supreme Court, and I wouldnt expect (the courts conservative majority) to shy away from addressing the issue, he said.
An employer cannot deny a workers compensation claim on the grounds that a shooting injury was not work-related then turn around and argue it has immunity from a tort lawsuit because the incident happened at work, a Florida appeals court decided this week.

The opinion by the 3rd District Court of Appeals upheld a Miami-Dade Circuit Court decision and followed previous appeal court decisions on the same issue. And as workplace shootings appear to be on the rise around the country, the ruling could further put employers and their insurers in a tough position  having to choose between higher workers comp costs or potentially costly tort litigation from victims.

The Bottling Group vs. Bastien case stemmed from a 2020 incident at a Pepsi bottling company in Medley, Florida, near the Miami International Airport. Giovanni Bastien was seriously injured when an aggressive co-worker, apparently disgruntled over Bastiens union membership, shot him three times while Bastien was on break, in his vehicle on a nearby roadway. A Miami TV news report quoted police as saying the two men had left the work site to find a place to fight out their differences over the union issues.

While recovering, Bastien filed a workers comp claim, but Bottling Group instructed Sedgwick, the claims management firm, to deny the claim. Injury did not occur in the course or scope of employment. Accident/Injury occurred off premises, the employer noted, the court explained.

Bastien then filed a tort lawsuit against PepsiCo, arguing that the bottling company and the parent company failed to discipline or terminate the aggressive employee, despite numerous complaints from co-workers. In response, Pepsi asked the trial court to dismiss the lawsuit, contending that the company was protected from tort actions by the exclusive remedy and the grand bargain of the workers comp system.

Bastiens attorneys moved for estoppel, to stop the employer from claiming workers comp immunity. The trial court sided with the shooting victim, denying the bottling companys defense.

Related: Insurers Face Bigger Role in Curbing Workplace Violence with New California Law

On appeal, the 3rd DCA agreed. The opinion is here. The three-judge panel cited Florida appeals court rulings from 1999, 2010 and 2012, all of which underscored the inconsistency of employers/insurers who ask for immunity after already denying a claim.

In the 2012 opinion by the 3rd DCA, Ocean Reef Club vs. Wilczewski, the 2012 court wrote: Where, as here, the carriers denial is absolutely clear on its face that the reason for denial is no accident in the course and scope of employment, it is clearly irreconcilable with the defense of tort immunity asserted by Ocean Reef.

Ocean Reef could not then contend that the injuries were related to work and therefore covered by workers compensation when it has clearly denied coverage on inconsistent grounds earlier.

The same court, 12 years later, did not deviate.

We impute no error to the decision to preclude the presentation of a workers compensation immunity defense, appeals court Judge Bronwyn Miller wrote for the panel this week. The case now goes back to the Miami Dade Circuit Court for continued trial proceedings.

The attorneys in the case could not be reached Thursday. Michael Winer, of Tampa, a claimants lawyer involved in another workplace shooting case now on appeal, said the decision upholds a pretty solid feature of Florida law, laid down by most district courts of appeals for the past two decades.

The Bastien case or others like it could ultimately be impacted by Winers case. In Normandy Insurance vs. Mohammed Bouayad, Winers client was shot seven times while working at a car rental place. The assailant was never apprehended, and questions remain about his motive and relationship to Bouayad.

The 1st DCA held last August that while the shooting happened at the workplace, the employee did not prove that it was work-related. But the appellate judges agreed that the case raised some thorny issues and they asked the Florida Supreme Court answer the question: When an act of a third-party tortfeasor is the sole cause of an injury to an employee who is in the course and scope of employment, can the tortfeasors act satisfy the occupational causation element necessary for compensability?

The Supreme Court has yet to decide if it will answer the question. The defense attorney in the Bouayad case has said workplace injuries resulting from non-work actions, such as anger from a disgruntled lover, have consistently been deemed to be non-compensable.

But Winer has argued that if the high court declines to answer or agrees with the 1st DCA in Bouayad it could create two standards for injury compensability  one for accidents and one for shootings. Without a remedy under workers compensation, it could also lead other workplace shooting victims to file tort suits against employers.

Workers comp insurers may benefit, but employers could face expensive negligence lawsuits.

Topics Florida Commercial Lines Business Insurance
A federal jury on Thursday found a North Carolina insurance agent and two Missouri lawyers guilty on all counts in a $4 million tax evasion scheme that also defrauded an insurance carrier.

The jury in Charlotte, said licensed agent and broker David Shane Simmons, of Jefferson, North Carolina, ran an elaborate scheme for several years, beginning in 2011. Simmons worked with St. Louis attorneys Michael E. Kohn and Catherine Elizabeth Chollet, providing false information on insurance policy applications.

The carrier, not named in court documents, provided more than $200 million in life insurance coverage, and Simmons split the commission with Kohn and Chollet, prosecutors said.

Simmons, who argued in court that he had only followed the advice of the lawyers, also filed false tax returns, underreporting his business income and inflating his expenses, the U.S. Department of Justice has said. The trio also promoted and sold what was known as the Gain Elimination Plan, a tax shelter designed to conceal income by overstating business expenses and fees.

Those fictitious fees were paid, on paper, to a limited partnership largely owned by a charity, prosecutors said in a statement Thursday. In reality, Kohn and Chollet fabricated the fees.

The defendants use of tax schemes was clearly intended to conceal income from the IRS, said Donald Eakins, the special agent in charge for the Internal Revenue Service.

Kohn and Chollet told their clients that the plan was required to obtain life insurance on the clients to cover the income that was allocated to the charitable organization. The death benefit was directly tied to the anticipated profitability of the clients businesses and how much of the clients taxable income was intended to be sheltered.

Simmons earned more than $2.3 million in commissions from selling the policies, which he split with Kohn and Chollet.

A sentencing date has not been set. The conspirators could face as much as five years in prison for the conspiracy charge conviction and three years on aiding false tax returns. Altogether, the jury found the three guilty of 22 counts.

Investigators had obtained evidence when federal agents posed as affluent clients and met with Simmons and the attorneys.

In order to give it economic substance, we have to be willing to replace the charitys capital account no later than the year after the partnership is liquidated, Kohn told an undercover agent, the indictment shows. So, we have to buy life insurance so that if he dies there will be sufficient cash to retire the charitys capital account.

Simmons Jefferson Insurance Group website shows that he spent almost a decade in the banking industry before he became an insurance agent in 2006. The agency, near Asheville, offers health, life and benefits products.

Topics Agencies North Carolina Missouri
The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California submitted its Sept. 1, 2024, pure premium rate filing to the California Department of Insurance, proposing advisory rates on average 0.9% above the average approved Sept. 1, 2023 rates.

The proposed advisory pure premium rates reflect loss and loss adjustment experience as of Dec. 31, 2023.

The WCIRB governing committee voted in April to authorize the bureau to submit the rates.

The CDI will schedule a public hearing to consider the filing, and once the notice of proposed action and notice of public hearing is issued, the WCIRB will post a copy in the filings and plans section of the WCIRB website.

The WCIRB scheduled a webinar to discuss the highlights of the filing.

Related:

Topics California Workers' Compensation
April 26, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A junior resource company's place in the mining food chain is to acquire projects, make discoveries and hopefully advance them to the point when a larger mining company takes it over. Discoveries won't be made if juniors aren't out in the bush looking at rocks.

Few exploration companies have the money or technical expertise to "go mining". For many, the goal is to hit upon a deposit that's good enough to attract a major that will acquire the asset. Another pathway is for the junior to partner with a larger company. An option or joint venture (JV) agreement is a way for juniors to gain access to the financial and technical resources needed to build the mine.

Juniors are extremely important to major mining companies because they are the firms finding the deposits that will become the next mines. In this way, juniors help the majors to replace the ore that they are constantly depleting in their operating mines.

Where to look? BC and the Yukon

The mining industry is on the hunt for large copper deposits that have favorable grades and are in locations amenable to mine developments.

Over 80% of the world's copper production comes from large-scale open-pit porphyry copper mines.

In Canada, British Columbia enjoys the lion's share of porphyry copper/ gold mineralization. These deposits contain the largest resources of copper, significant molybdenum and 50% of the gold in the province.

Lured by copper, major miners drawn to Quesnel Trough and Golden Triangle  Richard Mills

In the table below by GlobalData, via Mining Technology, we note that of 10 major operating copper mines in Canada, six are in BC.

The province accounted for just over half (53%) of Canada's copper production in 2022.

Eight mines currently produce copper in BC: Newmont and Imperial Metals' Red Chris, Imperial's Mount Polley, Taseko Mines' Gibraltar, New Gold's New Afton, Teck Resources' Highland Valley, Hudbay Minerals' Copper Mountain, Centerra Gold's Mount Milligan, and Myra Falls on Vancouver Island.



Source: Natural Resources Canada

BC focused companies in 2022 nearly doubled the amount of money spent on copper exploration. According to a study by accounting firm EY, the BC government and the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AMEBC), spending that year jumped to $235 million, an 85% increase over 2021.

Upswing in exploration in British Columbia

With so much geological potential throughout BC and the Yukon, it's not surprising to see so many exploration companies setting up camps, hoping to make the next big discovery.

We see a coming huge upswing in new copper (and gold and silver), focused exploration in British Columbia, encompassing the Quesnel Trough/ Golden Triangle, a considerable increase in interest in the carbonate replacement deposits (CRDs) near the BC-Yukon border, and extending into the Yukon, home to the legendary Keno Hill silver district.

When new discoveries are made in a mining camp, the odds significantly improve on neighboring properties where similar mineral deposition has occurred. Companies that are holding ground on trend of the discovery, or even just located in the same mining camp, suddenly have access to funding for their exploration programs.

We think interest in exploration and/or development focused juniors operating within BC and the Yukon will get a lot hotter due to the region's prevalence of red metal. The way the copper market is going, with structural deficits appearing that we've been warning about for years, and prices at +$4.40/lb, we believe we're in for a resurgence of British Columbia and Yukon exploration, development, M&A's and mining. That is why in our last article we looked at the majors buying copper mines and developing projects in BC, and why in this article, we are focusing on the juniors.

Lured by copper, major miners drawn to Quesnel Trough and Golden Triangle  Richard Mills

Below is a list of 13 juniors, while obviously not exhaustive, it does present many styles of mineralization spanning much of BC and the Yukon.

NorthWest Copper Corp (TSXV:NWST, OTC Pink:NWCCF)

Northwest Copper has three projects in BC, bookended by the Mount Milligan mine and the Kemess project, both owned by Centerra Gold.

The combined Kwanika-Stardust deposits potentially combine multiple mining centers from each deposit to feed a central processing facility. NorthWest plans to drill-test the "high-conviction" Kwanika Transfer and Kwanika Andesite Breccia targets.

Lorraine is a high-grade alkalic porphyry mineralized system. The Lorraine/Top Cat area is dominated by the Hogem intrusive complex, which hosts numerous alkaline and calc-alkaline porphyry Cu-Au occurrences. Other successful alkalic systems include Galore Creek, New Afton, and Mount Milligan. NorthWest plans to drill-test the Boundary target and a suite of other targets with historical data.

In 2021, NorthWest drilled the East Niv property for the first time, resulting in discovery of a new copper-gold porphyry system. The plan is to complete geological mapping, induced polarization geophysical surveys, and geochemical sampling programs over the 4 x 5-km Southwest target to define initial copper-gold porphyry drill targets.

Ascot Resources (TSX:AOT, OTCQX:AOTVF)

Ascot Resources has two projects in the Golden Triangle, Premier Gold and Red Mountain. The company plans to restart the past-producing Premier mine, which has three main deposits: Premier, Silver Coin and Big Missouri. A 2019 resource update shows 4.669 million ounces of silver and 1.099Moz of gold in the indicated category. A 2020 feasibility study outlines a restart plan to feed the Premier mill at 2,500 tonnes per day to produce approximately 1.1Moz of gold and 3Moz of silver over eight years. Ascot poured first gold at Premier in April 2024.

The nearby Red Mountain project was advanced by IDM Mining between 2014 and 2019. A substantial deposit of high-grade gold has been delineated, primarily in the measured and indicated categories, and is accessed by 2,000 meters of underground workings. With an average thickness of 15 meters and up to 40 meters in areas, the deposit is amenable to low-cost longhole stoping.

Scottie Resources Corp (TSXV:SCOT, OTCQB:SCTSF)

Scottie Resources has exploration rights to over 59,000 hectares in the southern part of the Golden Triangle. The Scottie Gold Mine project is located 20 km north of the Premier gold mine, 27 km south of the Brucejack mine, and 15 km east of the past-producing Granduc mine. It includes the Scottie gold mine that operated from 1981 to 1985, producing 95,426 oz gold at an average grade of 16.2 g/t, as well as other key targets, including Blueberry, Domino and the Bend Vein.

The Cambria project situated just outside of Stewart is bordered to the north by Newmont's Brucejack mine, to the west by Ascot's Premier gold project, and to the east by Ascot's Red Mountain project.

The Georgia high-grade gold project is anchored by the Georgia River mine, which last operated in 1939 with a head grade of 22.6 g/t gold. According to Scottie, only a small part of this hydrothermal system was explored by the past-producing underground mine or drill tested.

Tudor Gold (TSX:TUD, USOTC:TDRRF)

Tudor Gold is focused on the Treaty Creek copper-gold project, which

borders the KSM property to the southwest and the Brucejack mine to the south. The past-producing Eskay Creek mine is 12 km to the west. The project hosts the Goldstorm deposit, which according to Tudor, is one of the largest gold discoveries of the past three decades.

A recent (April 2024) resource estimate for the Goldstorm deposit shows an indicated mineral resource containing 21.66Moz of gold at 0.92 g/t, 128.73Moz of silver at 5.45 g/t, and 2.87 billion pounds of copper at 0.18%.

Tudor says the deposit's initial resource represents a large, structurally controlled gold-silver-copper porphyry mineralizing system that is open to further expansion with drilling. The Treaty Creek property also includes additional zones and showings of hydrothermal alteration and gold with or without base metals that have formed in porphyry and epithermal settings. The Eureka, Calm Before the Storm (CBS) and Perfectstorm zones are considered to be early- to advanced-stage exploration targets.

Enduro Metals (TSXV:ENDR, OTC:ENDMF)

Enduro Metals holds one of the largest land positions in the Golden Triangle, including the 688 square-km Newmont Lake property, which contains at least four mineralized systems with district-scale potential all starting from surface: Burgundy, McLymont, North Toe and Chachi.

A 2021 discovery hole at Burgundy Ridge intersected 331 meters of 0.71% copper-equivalent from surface. 2022 exploration focused on expanding the mineralized footprint at Burgundy, aiming to demonstrate an alkalic porphyry system with size and grade rivaling Galore Creek to the northwest. Field crews last summer were dispatched to conduct geophysical, geochemical, and geological mapping surveys at the flagship, Newmont Lake.

North Toe is a copper-gold porphyry target previously covered by a retreating glacier. North Toe is around 8 km northeast of Burgundy Ridge, and is believed to be part of a 20-km structural corridor controlling copper-gold mineralization known as the Copperline.

Kodiak Copper Corp (TSXV:KDK, OTCQB:KDKCF)

Kodiak Copper's MPD copper-gold porphyry project consolidated four properties: Man, Prime, Dillard and Axe. MPD is located near Merritt, southcentral BC, in the Quesnel Trough. It is also midway between the operating Copper Mountain and Highland Valley mines.

Claudia Tornquist, President & CEO of Kodiak said, "Kodiak's 2023 exploration program was a resounding success. We set out to demonstrate the potential of MPD beyond our initial discovery at the Gate Zone, and our drilling has now proven multiple kilometre-scale mineralized porphyry centres across the property. Importantly, 2023 results include high-grade intercepts and mineralization right from surface. The discovery of an entirely new porphyry centre at 1516 is a particularly positive development which we will certainly follow up on."

Dolly Varden Silver (TSXV:DV, OTCQX:DOLLF)

Dolly Varden's Kitsault Valley project is located at the southern end of the Golden Triangle. It represents the amalgamation of its original namesake silver property and its Homestake Ridge gold-silver property.

This 163-square-kilometer land package hosts one of the largest undeveloped high-grade precious metals projects in Western Canada.

Results from Dolly's 2023 51,500m drill program contained some spectacular, "jewelry-box" silver grades. The highlight of a grouping of holes from the Wolf Vein was hole DV23-368, which intersected 1,898 g/t over 1.00m within 381 g/t Ag over 29.34m core length.

In February, Dolly announced that 2023 step-out drilling encountered a new gold-rich zone to the northwest of the Homestake Silver deposit.

A conversation with Dolly Varden's head geologist Rob van Egmond

In December, Dolly said it was acquiring the southern portion of the Big Bulk project from Libero Copper & Gold.

When combined with Dolly's northern portion, it doubles the size of the Big Bulk project to approximately 6,000 hectares. The option gives Dolly a consolidated copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle.

Goliath Resources (TSXV:GOT, OTCQB:GOTRF)

Goliath's Golddigger property covers 61,685 hectares of the Eskay Rift within the Golden Triangle; it is within 3 km of the Red Line. Over 65,000 meters of drilling at the newly discovered Surebet Zone has confirmed 1.8-square kilometers of multiple highly mineralized stacked zones containing bonanza gold grades that remain open.

Golden Triangle's Red Line

In January, Goliath reported discovery of the new high-grade gold- copper Treasure Island target. The target contains channel samples that assayed up to 28.08 grams per tonne gold-equivalent, and grab samples up to 11.08 g/t AuEq. Treasure Island is located 36 km north of the Surebet discovery, 6 km to the east of, and on trend with, the Porter Idaho mine, and 9 km east of Stewart. The target has recently been exposed because of glacial retreat and will be drill-tested for the first time during the 2024 field season.

Goliath's updated model at Surebet confirms six new gold veins for a total of 10, increasing the tonnage potential to 78-97 million tonnes.

Silver North Resources (TSXV:SNAG, OTCQB:TARSF)

Silver North's underexplored Haldane project demonstrates high-grade, high-width potential akin to the veins being mined at the Yukon Territory's Keno Hill, one of the most prolific silver districts in Canada.

In 2021, Silver North announced a new discovery at the West Fault Zone, where drilling intersected 311 g/t silver over 8.7 meters (true width), This was followed by 3.14m of 1,315 g/t silver.

Silver North focused on Keno Hill silver-mining district

According to Silver North, this new zone has been traced over a 100- by 90-meter area with room to expand along strike and at depth.

South of Haldane, Silver North is working with partner Coeur Mining to develop the Tim carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) property, located on the Yukon side of the Yukon-British Columbia border.

Silver North has an option agreement with Coeur Mining, which can earn 80% ownership in the project by spending $3.5 million on exploration over five years, making $575,000 cash payments and completing a feasibility study within eight years.

Coeur is funding a minimum $700,000 drill program of about 2,000 meters, expected to start in June.

Core Assets (CSE:CC, OTCQB:CCOOF)

Core Asset's Blue property is in the last unexplored area of British Columbia's Stikine Terrane. It consists of three projects with a combined 11 exploration targets. These targets span several mineral deposit types including Mo-Cu-bearing porphyries with associated with copper or copper-zinc-silver rich skarn deposits, silver-lead-zinc-copper rich massive sulfide carbonate replacement deposits (CRDs), and distal base metal-gold-silver vein assemblages.

At the center of the Blue property, the Silver Lime project contains one of the largest and highest-grade surface expressions of any early-stage CRD project. Silver Lime contains copper, molybdenum, silver, zinc, lead, and gold-bearing ore styles that span the full porphyry-skarn-carbonate replacement spectrum.

Core Assets' Blue project: A potentially massive CRD deposit in northwestern BC

In 2023, Core Assets completed 4,245m of shallow, exploratory diamond drilling over 21 drill holes; 14.4 line-kilometers of a high-resolution 3D-DCIP geophysical survey over the high-grade Pete's-Sulphide City-Gally Trend; and collected 89 surficial rock samples across the Silver Lime CRD-porphyry project footprint.

Skeena Resources (TSX:SKE)

Skeena is revitalizing the Eskay Creek and Snip projects, two past-producing mines located in the Golden Triangle.

Discovered in 1988, the former Eskay Creek mine produced about 3.3 million ounces of gold and 160 million ounces of silver at average grades of 45 g/t Au and 2,224 g/t Ag. It was once the world's highest-grade gold mine and fifth-largest silver mine by volume.

The company completed a definitive feasibility study for Eskay Creek in November 2023 which highlighted high-grade, pit-constrained reserves of 4.6Moz AuEq at an average grade of 3.6 g/t AuEq. Skeena is aggressively advancing Eskay Creek toward production, with construction activities continuing in 2024.

Skeena acquired the past-producing Snip mine from Barrick Gold in July 2017. The property consists of one mining lease and eight mineral claims totaling approximately 4,546 hectares in the Liard Mining Division. The Snip mine produced approximately 1 million ounces of gold from 1991-99 at an average grade of 27.5 g/t.

Eskay Mining (TSXV:ESK, OTCQX:ESKYF)

Eskay Mining's ESKAY-Corey property hosts several volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) targets and has the potential to host nickel-copper massive sulfide and several occurrences of vein-style mineralization. Main VMS target areas on the property include the SIB-Lulu, TV-Jeff, C10, GFJ and Spearhead zones.

A new model of the Eskay Mining District suggests the flanks of each of three anticlines are prospective for Eskay Creek-style VMS mineralization where favorable strata (rock layers) are exposed.

Precious metal-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits are the focus of Eskay's exploration.

Eskay says it received encouraging assay results from its 2023 diamond drill and exploration campaign. Drill intercepts of 6.28 g/t AuEq over 15m, 2.96 g/t AuEq over 22.52m, 2 g/t AuEq over 61.23m and 1.39 g/t AuEq over 45.67m were encountered at the Cumberland showing.

Rock chip samples of 37.23, 23.34, 20.34 and 20.23 g/t AuEq were taken from Scarlet Knob.

Decade Resources (TSXV:DEC)

Decade Resources has a 65% interest in the Red Cliff property, a former copper-gold producer from the early 1900s in the Golden Triangle.

Decade has identified four gold-bearing zones called Red Cliff, Upper Montrose, Lower Montrose and Waterpump within eight Crown-granted claims along Lydden Creek.

Six mineralization types have been identified: extremely fine grained pyrite in host rocks that have been pervasively altered to a mixture of sericite and quartz; a stockwork of quartz veinlets carrying coarse-grained pyrite and chalcopyrite plus or minus visible gold; a stockwork of fine pale yellow-brown sphalerite-galena with plus or minus chalcopyrite and plus or minus visible gold; massive pyrite veins with variable amounts of chalcopyrite and quartz with generally low to significant gold values; massive hematite veinlets with coarse cube pyrite along wide stockwork zones; and intensely silicified rocks, possibly intrusive with strong epidote and chlorite associated with quartz veins up to 5 meters wide, containing up to 25% coarse pyrite and local minor chalcopyrite.

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

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Google-owner Alphabet and Microsoft ended the week on a high, after their latest earnings satisfied stock market investors that the promise of new artificial intelligence (AI) products will deliver.

For others, including Facebook-owner Meta and chipmaker Intel, investors have yet to be convinced.

Apple, which reports next week, still faces scrutiny about its AI plans.

Shares in the Google parent jumped 10% over the past week, adding billions to the stock market valuation of more than $2.1tn, after delivering on Thursday night better-than-expected revenues of $80.5bn in the first three months to the end of March.

The financial performance was boosted by the AI products sold to its cloud computing customers, and the shares performance was supercharged by the announcement it would pay out a debut dividend to shareholders.

Google Alphabet closes above $2tn

For the time being, the Google owner is the pick of the crop. While the shares breached the $2tn level briefly in 2021, and again earlier this month, Alphabet shares have closed above it for the first time.

Doing so puts it into rarefied territory  only Apple, Microsoft, oil giant Saudi Aramco, and chipmaker Nvidia have surpassed the threshold.

Nvidia, driven by massive demand for its AI chips, surpassed $2tn earlier this year, while Amazon is not far from $2tn itself.

Alphabet is tremendously well managed, its free cash flow is absolutely astonishing, and it has a massive R&D budget, said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at Phoenix Financial Services.

So, while no one knows what company will have the best AI products, this is a tough one to bet against.

The path to $2tn has been somewhat rocky.

The shares have been volatile amid some high-profile criticism about the companys AI offerings and, prior to the latest report, some investors had questioned its ability to compete with firms like OpenAI in this critical area  despite spending heavily in the field for years.

Irish connection to Google and Microsoft

Microsoft, which has this year done more than most to satisfy shareholders with investments in the AI future, posted on the same night revenue of almost $62bn for its quarter  far exceeding many estimates, and helping the shares end the week almost 2% higher.

Microsoft has a market valuation of $3tn.

Between them, Google and Microsoft employ more than 5,000 people in Ireland.

They pay significant, though unspecified, amounts to the Irish exchequer by way of corporation tax receipts.

The significance of the two tech giants surviving the first of the AI tests this week will not be lost on the Government here.

Other tech stocks faring less well

There was less positive earnings news from other US tech giants, which also employ many thousands of people in Ireland, relating to their securing hefty returns from the AI future.

Shares in Meta ended the week 10% lower, for a market valuation of $1.1tn, after the owner of Facebook and Instagram delivered a message that underwhelmed investors  concerning its long path to secure returns on the huge investments entailed in AI products.

The tumble for Meta shares that wiped out around $170bn from its stock market valuation this week suggests that investors are getting much more selective about the AI hype.

The shares are nonetheless still significantly higher than at the start of the year.

Intel most affected by AI woes

The woes of AI hit Intel the most. The chipmaker  which employs around 5,000 people at its sprawling site in Leixlip, Kildare, and at Shannon, Clare  forecast revenue for its second quarter of up to $13.5bn, slightly below analysts estimates.

Intel shares ended the week 7% lower, extending its losses this year to 31%.

In contrast, shares in Nvidia  which appears to be best placed to deliver the chipsets that will be required to drive the huge additional demand that AI products will put on data centres  continue to prosper.

Nvidia shares surged 10% in the past week, and have now soared 220% from a year ago, to value the company at $2.15tn.

Unlike Intel, the chipmaker has no major presence in Ireland.

However, it competes with Intel in selling into data centre customers around the world.

Separately, Apple  whose shares have fallen since the start of year  ended the week higher with a stock market valuation of $2.63tn.

The focus of Apple investors has so far been glued to its struggles against local rivals in the iPhone market in the key Chinese market, but chief executive Tim Cook will also face scrutiny about its plans for investments for AI products next Thursday, when the $2.63tn giant delivers its latest quarterly results card.
News from our Celtic neighbours is that Brittany is getting a new vineyard near the town of Lorient founded by winemaker (and native Breton) Romain Le Guillou who spent many years in Champagne working for Krug and others.

He is planting right now  expect Chenin, Chardonnay and fizz. This will be the closest French vineyard to Ireland and easy to visit via Brittany Ferries Cork-Roscoff route.

Lorient is known to many Irish people with an interest in traditional music as it is the home of the massive Festival Interceltique de Lorient every August.

The festival was founded in 1971 by Polig Monjarret who I met many times as he was a close friend of my wifes family. Polig once admonished me for suggesting that there were no Breton wines  he very quickly

reminded me that the Pays Nantais (e.g. Muscadet) was still utterly Breton, even if the collaborationist Vichy government in 1941 had stolen it and moved it into France along with the great city of Nantes. Post-war the French were not about to give Nantes back and the campaign for Breton unification continues. Bevet Breizh! (Long Live Brittany).

If you are heading to France with the car this year then a visit to Nantes and Muscadet is warmly recommended.

Muscadet is very much back en vogue and still perhaps the best match for oysters. I feature an excellent biodynamic one here from Wines Direct who have been working with Joseph Landron for a number of years now. Landrons Atmospheres methode traditionelle sparkling wine is also delicious with creamy tangy pear fruit flavours.

Other Muscadet to watch out for include Irish wine geese Marquis de Goulaine (JJ ODriscolls), Domaine de la Foliette (MacCurtain Wine Cellar), and Domaine de la Chauviniere (reduced in the OBriens French wine sale to 12).

Domaine de la Louvetrie, Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine, Loire, 21.75

Domaine de la Louvetrie, Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine, Loire, 21.75

Wines Direct Athlone and Mullingar, winesdirect.ie

Jo Landrons was one of the first in the Loire to go organic and later biodynamic back in the 1990s. Now the region is a hotbed of natural and organic wines. Natural yeasts and minimal intervention with flinty fresh aromas plus lemon, citrus and apple  taut and zingy. Also consider his Atmospheres fizz.

Domaine de LOstal Grand Vin, Minervois, France, 16.95

Domaine de LOstal Grand Vin, Minervois, France, 16.95

OBriens

Owned by the Cazes family of Ch. Lynch Bages this is a delicious supple Minervois made primarily from Syrah plus some Grenache and Carignan. This is lush and intense with spice and blackberries and ripe fleshy dark fruits on the palate - capable of ageing. The baby brother Estibals Minervois is also great value at 14.

Chateau lArgenteyre Medoc 2018, France, 23-24

Chateau lArgenteyre Medoc 2018, France, 23-24

ODonovans; 1601; Jus de Vine; Vintry.ie; WineOnline.ie

Affordable tasty Bordeaux from the Medoc is difficult to find these days, so its about time I mentioned this old reliable. Pencil lead and cedar aromas mixed with blackberry and dark fruits  supple, fruity and creamy on the palate with chocolate notes and a touch of leaf and dried berries. A bargain.

Spirit of the Week

Drumshanbo 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Marsala Edition, 43% ABV, 70cl, 89

Drumshanbo 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Marsala Edition, 43% ABV, 70cl, 89

Wine Centre; Celtic Whiskey Shop; Molloys; Independents; TheShedDistillery.com

From PJ Rigneys Shed Distillery in County Leitrim, creator of Gunpowder Gin.

This is a limited edition and has spent a full seven years in Marsala casks from Sicily. Made from a mash bill of Irish Barley and Barra Oats and overseen by head distiller Brian Taft.

Honey, caramel and red fruit aromas, sweet on first sip with nuts and dried cherries and a prickle of spice with hazelnuts and dark fruits on the finish.
When it came to inspiration for her debut novel, Leeanne ODonnell didnt have to look far.

The Dublin native has been settled with her wife and daughters in the west Cork village of Ballydehob for many years and the landscape of the surrounding area has been a defining influence on her first book, Sparks of Bright Matter, an intriguing and atmospheric weaving of fact and fiction.

The protagonist, Peter Woulfe, is an alchemist, and is based on the real-life figure of the same name, a chemist and mineralogist, who was born in Ennis in 1727 and made many significant discoveries in the field.

Sparks of Bright Matter follows Woulfe as he searches for a missing mysterious illustrated book, falling under the spell of the enigmatic Sukie along the way.

The action begins in Georgian London before time-hopping back to Woulfes childhood growing up in the shadow of Mount Gabriel; the Mizen peninsula landmark is where ODonnells story also began.

The original impulse for the book came from this feeling of magic in the landscape. There is a certain energy here that is very compelling.

"The sun was shining and I remember looking up at Mount Gabriel and thinking of the word alchemy, and knowing that there were copper mines on the mountain."

It is a very old human impulse to go in and break stone to get out shiny stuff.

"I didn't know anything about any Irish alchemists so I did a search and came across Peter Woulfe.

"That became the pivot where I started to be curious about the psychology of an individual who was seeking so desperately these sparks of bright matter in the world.

"Somehow it all tied together in in my head  the old mines on the mountain and the magic of the landscape in West Cork.

"And this idea that some individuals throughout history have locked themselves away in laboratories, trying desperately to make gold, to reach enlightenment.

The analogy between writing a book and the alchemical process seems like an obvious one, but ODonnell laughs when I bring it up.

I only figured that out when I was deep into copy edits  I was like, poor Peter Woulfe, he is locked away in a room trying to find the sparks of bright matter and enlightenment and he wants to heal the soul of the world'.

"And then I realised, oh, God, that's what I want to do; Im here trying to make something beautiful with words'."

But it literally only occurred to me at the very end of the process that I was like him.

Sparks of Bright Matter may be ODonnells first book but she is no stranger to telling a story, carving out a long and successful career in radio production, picking up several awards for her documentaries along the way. However, writing a book was always in her sights.

In some ways, I was diverting some of my ambition in different directions, when really what I wanted to do was to be writing.

"It was probably my childhood dream to be a writer. I loved reading and I came from a house full of books.

"I remember one time, we went on holidays and my sister and I had a suitcase each. We put clothes in one suitcase and books in the other.

"In a way its strange that its taken me this long to get here. But I loved my radio work  and that was storytelling. I think it really helped me be a better writer.

"Because there's a kind of a collage involved in radio editing, where you have these pieces of information and you have to get them into position in such a way that a listener can be brought into a story.

"Thats what you end up having to do with a book as well.

You have all these pages and all these words, and you have to somehow get it together in a way that can bring people through a story.

ODonnell has excelled in the audio medium of radio, and it is interesting that the art of listening is also engrained in one of her other areas of expertise, as a trained psychotherapist.

I do see a few clients. It's very special work and you have to be in the right place for it.

"I don't know how well it really goes with it with the fiction writing. Theyre different parts of the sympathetic system because youre making up stories when youre writing fiction.

"And when youre trying to be with somebody through psychotherapy, you have to be with what is and with where people are at. So sometimes I feel like theyre not the easiest bedfellows, she says.

She also has a podcast, Into The Mythic: Ancient Irish Stories for Modern Times, which looks at the resonance that ancient legends have in the 21st Century. What draws her to such stories?

I think it's the sense of needing to go back into the past, to find a wisdom that weve lost. There is a wisdom embedded in our culture and in our stories that is a source of huge richness for us."

While we cant be living in the past, we need to bring some of that forward with us.

"If we dont bring that with us, we get quite lost. And you see that around a lot at the moment, that there isnt a sense of the direction in which we're supposed to be orienting ourselves.

"But the more I get into the myth stuff, the thing that really interests me is the magic, its that something more than the human, the mortal, the rational.

This clash of the magical and the rational is a theme she explores in Sparks of Bright Matter, which also has resonances for the present.

Peter Woulfe is a character that happens at a time in history where rational thought is taking over from superstition and beliefs. And he was an opportunity for me to examine what happens when youre torn between the two.

"He believes in magic and angels while also being really rational. And as a society for the last 200 or 300 years, thats where weve been at.

"Weve lost one set of guidelines, and they werent all great, there was loads of superstition and all sorts of awful things that were done in the name of belief.

"But by stepping so firmly, and exclusively into the rational, we sort of lost a bit of magic.

"And I think people know that and feel that because our hearts have a hunger for it  a bit of the something that is more than just us and our thoughts.

"I love magic and I love spirituality but we need to have rational thought, we need to have frameworks, and superstition and ignorance for want of a better word is so dangerous. It's a delicate line we have to dance.

Eriu, the publishers of Sparks of Bright Matter have said it will appeal to fans of the hugely successful Essex Serpent, by Sarah Perry and the acclaimed Hamnet, by Maggie OFarrell. How does ODonnell feel about such illustrious comparators?

I would be very flattered by those comparisons. I think that with the best books, it feels like youve made a friend  its like youve had an encounter, and youve been a little bit altered.

"So I would love it if people read Sparks of Bright Matter and felt that  that they had met somebody who had impacted on them and made them feel something.
A magical negro in popular culture is a black character who secretly aids white folk as they navigate a perilous and baffling world.

Co-opted into The American Society of Magical Negroes (12A), aspiring artist Aren (Justice Smith) is commissioned to assist Jason (Drew Tarver) as he struggles to cope when his social media company, Meetbox, is accused of racism.

Happy to do his bit to make the world a safer place  because angry white people frequently results in dead black people  Aren leaps into the fray, only to fall head-over-heels for Jasons co-worker and current crush, Lizzie (An-Li Bogan).

Should Aren save the world or listen to his heart?

Writer-director Kobi Libiis debut is a charming comedy with a scabrous subtext that sugars unpalatable truths with irreverent humour.

The satire is a little blunt at times, and the dialogue is on occasion exposition-heavy, but Justice Smith and An-Li Bogan generate good chemistry as they rise to the unusual challenge of carrying off a politically charged rom-com, while Rupert Friend is good value as Mick, Lizzies boss and a quietly deranged billionaire tech bro.
The Electric Picnic music festival has announced the first round of its 2024 lineup, marking its twentieth-anniversary edition.

The annual weekender, long regarded as the centrepiece of the Irish festival calendar, returns to Stradbally Hall, County Laois from Friday, August 16 to Sunday, August 18  a move from its usual September slot.

The festival announced their lineup publicly on social media on Friday morning, following the sell-out of a small number of weekend camping tickets that were returned or forfeited from pre-sales.

Kodaline, in concert at Musgrave Park in 2023. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Friday's main-stage headliners include pop superstars Noah Kahan and Gerry Cinnamon; while Saturday sees electro-pop mogul Calvin Harris and pop-rock dependables Kodaline taking top billing.

Sunday, meanwhile, sees pop royalty descend upon on the Main Stage, as Kylie Minogue, in the middle of yet another career renaissance, and breakout star Raye complete the headlining announcements.

Sophie Ellis Bextor: set for EP 2024. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Other international names set for the weekend include DJ Peggy Gou, hip-hop legend NAS, electronic icons Faithless, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan, Big Music trailblazers The Waterboys, and noughties indie favourites Kasabian.

Filipino indie musician and producer Eyedress, whose 2020 single Jealous made for an unlikely TikTok smash, going Gold in America the following year, is also set for the lineup.

A pop comeback story par excellence continues on the weekend, as singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor's victory lap continues amid a second life for 2002 single Murder on the Dancefloor, including an appearance on the soundtrack to film smash Saltburn.

Galway's NewDad: among the first wave of Electric Picnic announcements

Homegrown heroes on the 2024 lineup include breakout dance vocalist Jazzy, Belfast hip-hop stars Kneecap, veteran singer and songwriter Damien Dempsey, and Dublin rapper Kojaque.

Galway shoegazers NewDad, fresh off the release of debut album Madra via Warners, are coming to the festival with 'ones-to-watch' tag firmly affixed, while metal/trad crossover outfit The Scratch, by now a long-established festival favourite, are also set to appear.

Brian Warfield, Noel Nagle and Tommy Byrne of The Wolfe Tones perform at Electric Picnic Festival 2023 Pic: Debbie Hickey/Getty Images

Among the advertised appearances is one last hurrah for rebel-balladeer outfit The Wolfe Tones  on the main stage after their 'curtain sellout' at last year's Electric Arena, and doing so in what's been billed as their final year of touring.

The site of last year's Electric Picnic, Stradbally, County Laois

The festival's 2024 instalment is already sold out, including Friday morning's limited sale of weekend passes, but gig-goers are urged to keep an eye on TicketMaster for resale options.

Tickets for the upgraded Electric Picnic Lounge area, including exclusive food, drink and seating options, are still available  from 80 per day, and 180 for the weekend.

Early-access passes, allowing weekend camping ticket-holders to load in and put their tents up from Thursday afternoon, are also still available at 35 apiece.

Thousands crowded around the Electric Arena tent in the hopes of hearing The Wolfe Tones play on the final day of Electric Picnic 2023. Picture: Aerial.ie

The lineup announcement also comes amid the festival's ongoing efforts to 'go green', as announced in February, including connecting the Main Stage to the grid via mains power and running on renewable electricity, with the stated aim of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.

Planning permission was submitted earlier this year for the construction of an on-site substation 'in a secluded area at Stradbally Hall', according to a previous statement.

An aerial view of the Electric Picnic festival site at Stradbally in County Laois during their preview day. Picture date: Tuesday August 29, 2023.

The festival's site is currently serving as a short-stay accommodation facility for newly-arrived Ukrainian refugees following the inking in March of a new contract with the Department of Integration, set to expire in June, before the festival's production schedule is set to begin.
The world must face the stark reality of a looming global nuclear threat following fresh drone strikes near the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine, Chernobyl campaigner Adi Roche has warned.

It is a nightmare scenario, Ms Roche said on the eve of UN Chernobyl remembrance day on Friday which recalls the horror of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

But that tragedy could pale into insignificance if Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, Europes largest nuclear power plant, is damaged by or as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine, she said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Zaporizhzhia region, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in Ukraine, in February.

We have never had a situation in any war where something like this has happened. This war has changed the face of warfare, she said.

Putin is weaponising nuclear power facilities.

The world was shocked by the scale of Chernobyls impact but I dont think we even have a model for what might happen if theres an incident at Zaporizhzhia.

We are looking down the barrel of loaded gun and one of these days, our luck is going to run out.

Drone strikes

Drone strikes were reported near the plant again on April 7 in what was the first direct military action against the plant since November 2022, when Russia assumed control of the facility.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors deployed to monitor the site reported three drone impacts, none of which damaged critical nuclear safety or security systems.

But Russia has recently announced plans to restart the plant, greatly increasing the danger of a nuclear accident.

Chernobyl campaigner Adi Roche.

The IAEA board of governors held an emergency meeting on April 17, passing a motion to call for the immediate return of control of the plant to Ukraine and the urgent withdrawal of unauthorised military and other Russian personnel.

Since the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine and its takeover of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site in February 2022, Ms Roches Chernobyl Childrens International has been advocating for all nuclear facilities to be deemed a "no war zone" and for world leaders to invoke the Hague Convention which defines any attack on a nuclear facility to be a war crime.

Ms Roche said as the world remembers Chernobyl on Friday, the UN should consider, once the security situation allows, the deployment of UN peacekeepers around such sites.

The accident at Chernobyl happened as a result of faults in the technology and human error, she said.

However, if a nuclear accident happens at Zaporizhzhia, it could very well be intentional. We cannot overstate the current critical situation and nuclear threat in Ukraine.

We must do everything in our power to prevent Zaporizhzhia from becoming the next Chernobyl. We neglect Ukraine at our peril.

The Zaporizhzhia plant was built during the Soviet era and houses six pressurised water reactors, at least two of which are currently operational, and help provide power to up to four million homes in Kyiv.

However, its strategic location has made it a contested site between Russian and Ukrainian forces since the early days of the war.

Military experts believe Russia has used the plant as a sheltered artillery park, firing on Ukrainian positions in the belief that Ukraine would not fire back to avoid a nuclear accident.
A farmer had his right hand amputated in a fertilizer spreader which was brought to his farm by an agricultural contractor and on Thursday this firm was convicted and fined 65,000 for Health and Safety offences arising from the devastating accident.

Judge John Martin said the injured party suffered a devastating injury to his dominant right hand which affected him physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially.

Solicitor Jim Brooks said the injured party, Thomas Maw, prepared a victim statement on February 20 in respect of what happened on June 26, 2021, in which he stated that he was very distressed by the companys attitude and he had not received any sort of apology.

But on receipt of the victim's evidence by the company, an apology was given a week before the court case. Judge Martin said one could be cynical about the timing of the apology but he noted that it was very meaningful for the injured party who bears no ill will to the company in light of the apology and does not want to see them put in a position of financial difficulty.

The judge noted from the evidence of Inspector David Barry of the Health and Safety Authority that the incident occurred on June 26, 2021, when the defendant company was contracted to spread fertilizer on the land, and one of their employees was operating it. However, the farmer, Thomas Maw, assisted when fertilizer clogged the machine and the accident occurred, instantly severing all of his fingers and his thumb of his right hand.

Stuart and Lyndon Smith Ltd. the defendant company, is an agricultural contractor and brought machinery to the injured partys farm that day which consisted of a fertilizer spreader attached to a trailer containing 20 tons of fertilizer. The spreading machine could hold three tons of fertilizer at a time and scatter it by means of a spinning corkscrew-type mechanism. It spun at about 100 revolutions per minute, Mr Barry said.

The judge noted that exactly how the accident happened was a matter of some disagreement but said the court did not have to have regard for that, adding: It simply could not have happened if the guard had not been removed.

The judge said the bolts on the guard were unscrewed or sheered by the defendant company in October 2020 to remove the guard that would have prevented the accident.

He noted that in mitigation the company had immediately put back the guard and they no longer use this particular machine.

Patrick ORiordan, defence barrister, said: There is no gainsaying a serious injury occurred. But the company has dealt with the matter in a very responsible manner. The company has no previous convictions. A signed plea of guilty was entered. The business conducted by my client is of longstanding (over 70 years). There was full cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority investigation.

The judge agreed that the company had a good history in terms of health and safety and had taken this matter seriously.

The company has had no previous or subsequent difficulties.

Stuart and Lyndon Smith Ltd, of Ballynametagh, Carrigaline, pleaded guilty to counts stating that on June 26, 2021, they did fail to manage work so that individuals were not exposed to risks, namely that it failed to ensure an auger guard remained in place on a Can Argo auger conveyor system, and a similar count outlining the same details but additionally specifying this breach resulted in Thomas Maw suffering personal injury, the charges being contrary to Section 77(2) and Section 77(9) under Section 12 of the Health and Welfare at Work Act.
Hospitals will face budget deficits  including almost 28m in one case  even after a supplementary fund of over 1.1bn is paid out, the HSE chief financial officer has warned.

Stephen Mulvany has written to hospitals and other groups in the HSE saying once-off supplementary funding for 2023 is being made available.

In a memo on April 19, seen by the Irish Examiner, he said the fund was divided among hospitals and bodies funded under the Section 38 agreement based on factors including management of funded recruitment and agency/overtime costs.

Section 38 arrangements involve organisations being funded to provide services on behalf of the HSE.

The document shows Cork University Hospital had a budget of 428,626,000 for last year but spent 535,654,000.

Once it receives the extra funding, it will still face a residual deficit of 27.6m.

University Hospital Limerick had a budget of 383,102,000 but spent 443,323,000, and will still face a deficit of 20.5m for last year.

University Hospital Waterford spent 341,051,000 last year against a budget of 272,150,000, and will face a shortfall of 22.6m.

A number of voluntary hospitals also face significant debts, the document shows.

These are hospitals such as the Mercy University Hospital, which receives a significant proportion of HSE funding, but are run by boards or private bodies.

The Mercy had a budget of 127,924,000 last year but spent 146,248,000 and after the supplementary money is allocated, will still face a deficit of 3.5m.

Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) faces deficits of varying sizes at each of its sites.

CHI at Crumlin faces the largest shortfall even after supplementary funding is allocated at 6.1m, with CHI Headquarters also facing a shortfall of 599,000.

St Jamess Hospital spent 576,197,000 against its budget of 510,085, and after its supplement is received will still face a deficit of 20.4m for last year alone.

Mr Mulvany also said the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth provided separate disability services supplementary funding. This was sufficient to address all bar 2% of the reported 2023 deficit, he said.

A HSE spokeswoman said: As discussed in the memo, the in-year net deficit per the draft revenue income and expenditure position exceed the additional once-off supplementary funding provided.

The overall HSE position for last year, she said, includes the financial position of voluntary partners within the hospital and community sectors.

It comes as a group of 19 voluntary hospitals and hospices warned of challenges in their relationship with the HSE which could negatively affect patients.

These include a failure to fund capital developments, poor engagement levels and unnecessary administrative burdens, the newly-formed Irish Voluntary Healthcare Association (IVHA) said.

The group includes the Mercy, CHI, the National Rehabilitation University Hospital, and the National Maternity Hospital as well as the Central Remedial Clinic.

The IVHA said 65% of their chief executives are more pessimistic about the health system than this time last year.

Some 44% think healthcare is not heading in the right direction, with just 22% confident that Slaintecare can have a positive impact.

At the launch, chair Liam Dowdall said 40% of the HSE hospital budget is spent on voluntary hospitals, and called for their input to be recognised.

There is room for improvement in the relationships between the HSE and hospitals with only 44% of hospitals citing a positive working relationship, he said.
Five people have been charged and are due to appear before the courts after gardai say they came under attack while attending the scene of a fire at a disused property in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

The site has been mooted as a possible accommodation site for international protection applicants.

Protests have been ongoing at the site at River Lodge, also known as Trudder House, in Newtownmountkennedy in recent weeks following confirmation that the Department of Integration was assessing its grounds for the housing of up to 160 people.

Six people were arrested on Thursday night and three men and one woman have since been charged for public order offences, and are due to appear before the District Court later today.

Another man was charged and released to appear before the court at a later date.

A teenage boy has been released without charge and a referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project.

A number of people gathered at the location yesterday and the situation intensified during the evening.

Members of the Public Order Unit in helmets and shields provided assistance and the use of incapacitant spray was used. There were approximately 50 Gardai on the scene late last night.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that the events of last night and the targeting of Gardai was unacceptable.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has defended the actions of gardai at the protest saying the deployment of shields and pepper spray was justified. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie

Speaking during a visit to the site this morning, Mr Harris said: "There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence."

Attacks on members of An Garda Siochana were subjected to verbal abuse and attacked with stones and rubble which was thrown from fields. Three patrol cars were damaged including broken windows and slashed tyres.

"As we can see with a normal patrol vehicle, both front window and the rear window have been smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe," said Mr Harris.

"And also then we've had another vehicle lights broken and the Public Order vehicle with its tyres slashed.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has defended the actions of gardai at the protest saying the deployment of shields and pepper spray was justified.

Ms McEntee said that Gardai have cleared people from the Newtownmountkennedy site a number of times and they have been managing the situation.

"But it did escalate last night to a situation where you had gardai coming under fire, where you had gardai being attacked, and six people were arrested," she said.

"I don't think anybody looking at the pictures from last night would disagree with the approach that gardai have taken."

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has said one Garda was injured during the incident.

In a statement, AGSI condemned the attack on its members describing the scenes as evidence of escalating stand-offs with Gardai which are worryingly becoming ever more frequent. Those gathered at the entrance to the site were moved but remained gathered in the area.

Gardai maintained a presence overnight and remain on site this morning.

A statement released on Thursday night criticised protesters who attacked gardai.

"An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Siochana," it said.

"Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort."
Gardai believe that the violence seen outside a planned asylum-seeker accommodation centre in Co Wicklow on Thursday was driven by far-right agitators who had travelled down from Dublin that day.

A number of sources said this group of individuals poured fuel over the fire and agitated those present into a confrontation with gardai.

Garda sources said locals in Newtownmountkennedy had been protesting peacefully for weeks at the Trudder House site over concerns they had about plans to house asylum seekers in the building.

Officers said there had been good engagement with them but that they became annoyed after contractors were brought into Trudder House overnight on Wednesday.

Sources said calls for more bodies for the protest went out and that unsavoury far-right elements came down from Dublin. Some of them had visited the protest before.

All the agitation was done by outsiders from Dublin, increasing the aggression, a Garda source said. They [the agitators] were looking for a confrontation.

The uniformed gardai present called in the public order unit, which was on standby, as is standard when a previous threat assessment has recommended their presence in case they were needed.

Protesters started firing rocks at members, smashed up a patrol car with an axe, and slashed the tyres of a van, the source said.

Gardai had no choice [but to deploy the public order unit] when they started lighting fires.

Gardai suspect there was some degree of orchestration to the violence. Voices captured on video footage taken by protesters guided people who were in nearby fields throwing rocks and other missiles at gardai, telling them where to direct them.

Other sources said that experienced far-right agitators knew when to rile protesters but that when gardai moved in, they pulled back and let local protestors take the hit.

A number of high-profile figures on the far-right, including those who are candidates in the upcoming local and European elections, praised the protesters online and condemned the actions of the gardai.

Some protesters accused the gardai of being heavy handed, but this was rejected by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who visited the scene this morning.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the Garda response was only escalated when missiles were thrown at them and added that the violence was 'unacceptable'. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

He said the Garda response was only escalated when missiles were thrown at them and added that the violence was unacceptable.

Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said: "Assaults on gardai and arson are serious crimes, and the right to peaceful protest never permits or protects serious violence of this type.

It is likely that those who organised and carried out the violence and arson at this event are a small number, and it is significant that the Garda Commissioner has previously referred to similar small extremist groups as presenting a threat to national security.

He said they were concerned that the intention behind the serious violence was also to intimidate migrants and members of minority communities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has indicated there is no need to introduce specific laws to outlaw the wearing of balaclavas and masks by people at protests.

This follows statements in the Dail on Wednesday from Taoiseach Simon Harris when he said he had asked Justice Minister Helen McEntee to examine the issue.

He said: Is that [wearing balaclavas and masks] legal now? If it is, let us fix it and change the law. If it is not legal, why is it not being stopped? I have asked the minister of justice to come back to me on that.

The Taoiseachs comments followed a protest outside the home of Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman by up to 12 mainly masked individuals, mostly male, where large banners displaying far-right slogans and personal slurs were draped on the gate and walls of the house.

Following questions sent by the Irish Examiner, asking what examination was taking place on foot of the Taoiseachs comments, the Department of Justice said all criminal legislation was kept under review in consultation with An Garda Siochana.

It said the right to protest peacefully was enshrined in the Constitution and gardai had to balance this right with everyones human rights, as well as public order.

The statement said there are existing provisions under the Public Order Act which cover failure to comply with a Garda direction, and trespassing.

While enforcement of the law is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, he has advised Minister McEntee that he recently issued guidance to Garda management to the effect that where incidents cross the line from protest to harassment or intimidation, they are fully investigated and prosecutions are pursued, where appropriate.

Commissioner Harris told the Policing Authority on Thursday that gardai were currently well armed in terms of legislation, but said he has asked for a review of powers in other countries.

Garda sources have told the Irish Examiner that while there are laws covering intimidation, harassment, trespass, and complying with Garda directions, there is no specific power regarding wearing balaclavas and masks at protests  laws that are being introduced in the UK.
A Bill that would make it easier for people from the Republic of Ireland to become British citizens has moved closer to becoming law.

The British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Bill, introduced by interim leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson, cleared the House of Commons on Friday after receiving support from government and opposition benches at third reading.

The legislation would allow Irish people to acquire British citizenship by registration after five years residence without having to sit a citizenship test.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement people resident in Northern Ireland are entitled to both British and Irish citizenship.

Mr Robinson said removing the barrier for Irish citizens living in the UK to acquire British citizenship was the missing piece of the puzzle in the Good Friday Agreement.

He told MPs: Whilst we often talk about the clash between identity and citizenship on these islands, the one piece of the puzzle that has been absent following the Good Friday Agreement when individuals of an Irish identity living in Northern Ireland were freely able and available to attain Irish citizenship, the same has not been true for those born in the Irish Republic but who live in and enjoy and work through the United Kingdom.

Interim leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson (PA)

Mr Robinson referred to the DUPs Lord Hay of Ballyore, who was born in County Donegal in 1950, 15 months after the establishment of the Irish Republic.

Lord Hay previously served as speaker in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and despite living the majority of his life in County Londonderry, has declined to pay the UK naturalisation fee and take the Life in the UK test, that would enable him to have British citizenship.

Mr Robinson said: The idea that somebody like that who has lived almost the entirety of their lives within our country, contributing entirely through public service to our country, working in our country, paying taxes to our country and positively changing lives in our country, the idea that they  ignoring the history of our intertwined relationships between our two islands  the idea that somebody like (Lord Hay) would have to apply for naturalisation, would have to satisfy a Life in the UK test, would have to prove that he can speak English, when he is sitting in our Parliament, legislating for our country, really does highlight the nonsense.

By Mr Robinsons estimation some 30,000 Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland would be eligible for British citizenship, with a further 200,000 in mainland UK.

The current naturalisation charge is 1,580, including the 80 cost of a citizenship ceremony.

The MP for East Belfast said the passage of the Bill had seen continual discussion around fees.

The establishment of a dedicated route could potentially also allow for a lower fee to be charged

He said: There is, to my mind, absolutely no reason that somebody who is born on these islands, who benefits already from all of the entitlements that you and I benefit from, should have to pay 1,580 to benefit from citizenship of a country that theyve contributed to all their lives.

And the Government are well aware of my position on this, there should be no need for anything over and above, or additionally added to, the cost of a passport.

Expressing Labours support for the Bill, shadow Home Office minister Alex Norris said: Indeed following the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the process put in place to ensure that those from Northern Ireland who wish to gain Irish citizenship would be able to do so, I think many would be surprised to learn that the reciprocal arrangements were not in place to ensure that Irish citizens had a route to British citizenship if they so wished.

Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat said the Bill was doing the right thing and will make a real difference.

He said: Many of the immigration requirements in naturalisation are designed for those who do require formal grants of leave, and it is not right to fully apply this to Irish nationals seeking to obtain British citizenship.

On citizenship fees, Mr Tugendhat said: This is not intended to be a profit scheme for Government, this is merely intended to be a way of recognising that there is a cost.

He added: From early in the life cycle of this Bill it was, and continues to be, the Governments belief that a dedicated route for Irish citizens would reduce the burden for such applicants and create a more straightforward route to becoming a British citizen for our closest neighbours, now the establishment of a dedicated route could potentially also allow for a lower fee to be charged.

The Bill will undergo scrutiny in the House of Lords at a later date.
A drugs gang keeping a container under surveillance for days in Cork were themselves under garda surveillance and as soon as they made their move to access over 4m worth of drugs they were nabbed. On Friday they were jailed for eight years.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the trio were clearly at a level of trust in the distribution of this large quantity of drugs.

Donatel Dodaj, 22, was sentenced to nine years with the last year suspended. The judge took into consideration his signed plea of guilty, the absence of any previous convictions, the fact that he had a 60,000 debt from a loan shark in Albania, and co-operated with the investigation, and showed genuine remorse and shame for his actions.

Daniel Afedoaei, 30, got a nine-and-a-half year sentence with the last 18 months suspended. However, his eight-year prison term will only commence at the end of the four years he is serving since November 2023 for a separate crime of money-laundering in Athlone in respect of 160,000 cash. The same mitigating factors were taken into consideration in his case. The judge noted that none of the accused had a drug addiction.

Finally Gentjan Dodaj, 39, was given a nine-year sentence with the last year suspended. The judge took into consideration similar mitigating factors in his case, including the fact that he had no previous convictions.

Case background

Detective Garda Gavin Curran of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that detectives had the trio under surveillance from the time they came to Cork in early August 2023 to collect the drugs.

Det. Garda Curran outlined the background to the case after the Dodaj brothers, Albanians from Paradise Row, Athlone, Co Westmeath, and Romanian Afedoaei of Sli an Aifreann, Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to possessing 4.2 million of cocaine for sale or supply on August 5, 2023.

On foot of confidential information officers from the GNDOCB travelled to the Port of Corks container terminal at the deepwater berth in Ringaskiddy where they identified a refrigerated shipping container as one that they suspected contained drugs.

Gardai examined the container and found it contained 60 kilos of cocaine in 1kg packs hidden behind refrigerated panelling and they found that two Apple Airtag tracking devices had been embedded in two of the 1kg packs of cocaine before they put the drugs back as they had found them.

Officers were keeping the container under surveillance when the three accused, who had driven down from Athlone in a car and a van, arrived in Ringaskiddy on August 3 and began putting the container with the drugs under surveillance, meaning gardai now had both the gang and the drugs under surveillance.

Gardai watched the gang as they in turn watched the container being collected by a haulier who brought the container legitimately to a premises on the Kinsale Road in Cork where its declared cargo was unpacked before the haulier brought the unloaded container back to his yard, with the concealed drugs cargo still uncollected by the gang.

Gentjan Dodaj was given a nine-year sentence with the last year suspended. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Wearing ski masks and carrying tools in the back of their own van, they entered the hauliers yard around 2am on August 5 and gained access to the container where they used the tools to remove the panelling and get the drugs which they were planning to bring back to Athlone.

The entire operation was captured on CCTV and gardai, who had been keeping the gang under surveillance as they went to collect the drugs, moved in and arrested the three accused at Dunkettle just as they were heading back up to Athlone with the drugs.

Det. Garda Curran said that Gentjan Dodaj had co-operated with gardai at interview but had not identified who it was that he was collecting the drugs for. And both Donatel Dodaj and Afedoaei had similarly admitted their involvement but again refused to say who was behind the operation.

He said neither of the Dodajs had any previous convictions but Afedoaei had a previous conviction for money-laundering after he was caught with 160,00 in Auburn Village in Athlone on April 2, 2021, and he was subsequently sentenced on November 4, 2023, to four years for the offence.

Pleas for leniency

Defence counsel, Tom Creed SC, pleaded for leniency for Gentjan Dodaj saying that he had come to Ireland in 2006 and had a young family in Athlone and only got involved in collecting the drugs after he ran up debts to family and friends when setting up a car valeting business.

Mr Creed said that Gentjan Dodaj was deeply remorseful and ashamed of his involvement in the crime and he believed that there was little chance of him ever re-offending. Det. Garda Curran said he didnt believe he would appear before the courts again.

Defence counsels, Ray Boland SC for Donatel Dodaj (22) and Jane Hyland SC for Afedoaei, also pleaded for leniency for their clients pointing out that they, like Gentjan Dodaj, had both indicated that they would be pleading guilty at an early stage thus sparing the State the expense of a trial.

Det. Garda Curran agreed and told the court that Donatel Dodaj said he had become involved to pay off a 60,000 debt to a criminal back in Albania and Afadoaei was trying to pay off 50,000 to a criminal after he lost 160,000 of another criminals money which he was caught laundering.
A decent, honest and affable man  when sober  picked up a knife after drinking and stabbed another man several times in the stomach causing life-threatening injuries, and now he has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Judge John Martin imposed a sentence of three years with the last six months suspended in the case against Martin Lindeman at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Peter Nolan gave evidence of the assault causing serious harm to one man and threats to kill two women on May 11, 2023, at Regal Estate, Skibbereen, County Cork, where the German national has been living for some years.

Judge Martin said after reading the victim impact statements: It is fair to say each victim was stunned and upset but none of them bears ill-will towards you.

Det. Garda Nolan said when gardai arrived at the reported stabbing, the victim was unconscious and unresponsive. A number of blood transfusions were later required during 11 days in hospital. He sustained very significant stab wounds to his stomach.

Addressing the accused directly about the life-threatening injuries during the sentencing hearing, Judge Martin said: It is by the grace of God, sir, that you are not facing trial in a more serious court. In all the circumstances I regard this offending as being at the upper end.

The 52-year-old German national has been in Ireland since the 1990s and had a history of working but lost his job and suffered a breakdown in his relationship with his partner.

The judge said that aggravating factors included the use of a knife, inflicting of serious injuries and making threats to kill. The judge also said that four previous assault convictions demonstrated a volatile and aggressive nature.

To allow yourself become so intoxicated that you use it to stab one and threaten others is one I cannot overlook. Everyone living there was entitled to peace of their home and not to be threatened or indeed stabbed by a person wielding a knife, Judge Martin said.

The judge noted that the accused had spared everyone a trial by pleading guilty and he noted from the various parties that multiple languages and translators would have come into play had this gone to trial. The judge also acknowledged that he co-operated with gardai and dropped he knife when told.

Referring to comments made by Det. Garda Nolan, Judge Martin said: Your conduct was out of character. When sober, you are decent, honest and affable. And (probation report indicates) you demonstrate victim empathy.
A Cork construction and civil engineering firm has been ordered to pay over 16,000 in compensation to a former senior executive and director of the business whom it admitted it had unfairly dismissed.

The Workplace Relation Commission made the award of 16,196 against MMD Construction (Cork) in a case taken by its former contracts manager and company director, Cormac Smith.

The company which is based in Cork Airport Business Park originally denied that its dismissal of Mr Smith was unfair, but following negotiations between the parties conceded the claim.

Mr Smith, who worked as contracts manager with MMD Construction for over 21 years, told the WRC that he had responsibility for new business acquisition and company profile development through his business connections.

Mr Smith, who was paid an annual salary of 105,277, said he was part of an extended family which is involved in running MMD Construction.

The WRC heard that there had been a steady demise in his employment relationship which culminated in his dismissal for gross misconduct on November 18, 2022. Counsel for Mr Smith, William Maher BL, claimed the manner of his clients dismissal was wholly unfair and procedurally unsound.

It was informed that Mr Smith secured a new job in January 2023 after being out of work for 58 days at an estimated loss of 16,196. The WRC heard that the parties are also engaged in parallel legal proceedings before the courts.

WRC adjudication officer, Patsy Doyle, said the companys concession that the complainant had been unfairly dismissed was an important declaration to place closure on what must have been an extremely challenging situation and where family lines must be extremely strained.

Ms Doyle said it was just and equitable that Mr Smith should be awarded the full estimated loss arising from the unique circumstances of the case and to bring closure to the matter.
Something went terribly wrong with the No. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on this day thirty-eight years ago. Nearly 8.4 million people have been exposed to radiation since.

Today, April 26, is International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.

Chernobyl is the worst nuclear disaster in human history, never to be glossed over, but this week Id like to highlight something extraordinary that occurred in its aftermath. Specifically, the seemingly bizarre response to the disaster by a small group of rebellious women.

Holly Morris is the director of The Babushkas of Chernobyl  a beautiful, haunting, and provocative documentary about this remarkable reaction to the disaster that, on the surface at least, defies logic.

Babushka is the Russian name for grandmother. The babushkas of Chernobyl are the dozens of women, an ever-dwindling group, who refused to evacuate the radioactive dead zone around the nuclear site.

Initially, they were evacuated along with everyone else, along with those people who believed they were leaving home for a matter of days, destined never to return. Well, the babushkas were the women who did return, and who persisted in returning, until the authorities eventually turned a blind eye. Beyond child-bearing age, they were not considered a priority.

They are now elderly, of grandmother age, all women in their seventies and eighties. Babushkas.

The zone these old women call home is a setting like no other. Without humans, the area has been reclaimed by nature and is host to a flourishing community of wild deer, boar, and wolves.

These defiant women, who crawled back under barricades to go home, exist by growing food in the most toxic earth on the planet. They also manage the presence of soldiers, scientists, and, as the synopsis of the documentary words it, "'stalkers  young thrill-seekers who sneak in to pursue post-apocalyptic video game-inspired fantasies.

The film is described as a a remarkable tale about the pull of home, the healing power of shaping ones destiny, and the subjective nature of risk. But it is not only about the subjective nature of risk, it is also about the role visibility plays in how we humans react to risk.

Invisible enemy

Put simply, when a threat is invisible, we humans struggle to respond appropriately.

Hanna Zavorotyna, one of the babushkas interviewed, highlights this in the documentary. She talks into the camera, explaining her intransigence, her refusal to leave, whilst slicing thick chunks of salo, raw pig fat. This activity alone is highly dangerous. One is warned against consuming anything grown or grazing in the infected area of the Exclusion Zone. None of that seems to bother her. She is comfortable with her choices.

Starvation is what scares me, not radiation, she says.

Hanna, as we discover, is well-versed in assessing visible enemies, and that visibility is key. As a child in Stalins Russia, and throughout Nazi occupation, she knew and understood war  the violence of it, the physical hunger felt and seen on the faces of loved ones, and neighbours.

In the Exclusion Zone in April, 1986, there was no invasion, no rumble of tanks, no bullets or bombs. There was no obvious imposition of hunger. There were facts about radiation of course, and plenty of warnings, and in recent years there is the eerie silence, the rush of wind through nature reborn, but these do not invite the same response in Hanna.

And so, the women stayed; they stayed, and they managed a real-life post-apocalyptic world ever since.

Hanna fascinates me.

She reveals a great deal about how humans generally respond to threat. We can admire her bravery, but her behaviour highlights a basic and potentially difficult fact: the visibility of a threat determines our response to it.

Look at how we are all standing up against war right now. We march and we rage into the abyss. We understand it as an evil, and we react in commensurate ways. Yet we are comparably immobile when it comes to what is less visible.

The thousands of people suffering in Ukraine, in Gaza, in Libya, Yemen, and elsewhere, are certainly deserving of our attention, our horror, our solidarity. But we struggle to summon the same swell of support for the thousands dying in floods and earthquakes across the globe. We fail to prepare against, fight against, the direst predictions for our worlds future.

More than five million extra deaths a year can be attributed to abnormal hot and cold temperatures, according to the worlds largest international study on the impact of climate change, led by Monash University in 2021. But we cant see the enemy in front of us. We cant touch it. The images are not the same. The messages are not clear enough. An old person dying of heat in their sitting room looks just like an old person dying. Unremarkable. And so, our response, even our emotional response, differs.

There is a science to it of course. Vision is the primary sense we use to evaluate and respond to threats. If we have sight, we simply must see. And there seems to be a cruel irony in the fact that just as we are becoming more visual as a species, less inclined to believe in what is not visible, our biggest threats are becoming less discernible to the human eye.

This paralysis in the face of a less visible enemy is local as well as global.

We blame the vulnerable immigrants sheltering on our streets because we see them clearly. If they didnt come here, we tell ourselves, we would have houses for all, for our own. We simultaneously ignore decades of poor policy, the ravaging of housing stock by vulture funds, and the machinations of a powerful elite who put together planning objections online. We see no irony in opportunistic politicians blaming our countrys ills on immigration, when their personal histories are filled with poor political decisions, their inboxes littered with objections against developments, against much-needed housing and change.

They get away with it because it is all so hard to see.

Similarly, we do little to prevent social media from infecting the minds of our young, encouraging unhealthy sexual habits and causing anxiety in children. If children are sitting quietly on the couch, up in their room, the danger is imperceptible, and so, we wrongly assume, not of any great concern.

As a society, we do little to defend children against this insidious harm. We fail to protect their mental health. If these illnesses were physical  if they arrived with a rash, some striking disability, we would do more, care more.

I dont write any of this as a kind of damnation or judgement. I write it to suggest that our evolution as a species has tricked us into believing that threats come as threatening figures on the horizon.

But the deadliest threats to our survival today, excessive power and wealth, viruses, climate disaster, and technology, come silently, with stealth.

It is deeply challenging, and to a degree the story of the babushkas makes me feel a certain compassion for us all, for our failure to see, a failure of design really.

But one thing is clear, ignoring these threats and staying put, just as we are, is not an option for us. We must help one another to see these threats more clearly. What has worked for the babushkas of Chernobyl, whatever their bravery, their beautiful doggedness, simply cannot work for us. The babushkas will die out, old and alone; their destiny is fixed. Our destiny, I hope, is not.
We may have huge supplies of wind energy but its not sufficient to know that a source of energy is huge until you have also considered our huge use of it.

I wonder how many of us believe renewable energy will ever allow us to be energy secure, let alone achieve the legally-binding 70% renewable electricity (upped by Minister Eamon Ryan to 80%) by 2030.

The last decade has seen the development of wind and solar generation into affordable technologies that can help significantly reduce emissions from the electricity sector; also flexible advanced small nuclear reactors which can complement and enable higher penetration of variable renewables in future energy systems.

It is likely that a national energy emergency team would include these small reactors in their discussions.

Anne Baily, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary

Back up solidarity with sanctions In response to the predictable US veto last week of a UN Security Council resolution calling for full recognition of the state of Palestine, Tanaiste Micheal Martin expressed his disappointment and remarked on social media platform X: It is past time for Palestine to take its rightful place amongst the nations of the world. He is correct, but this is what pro-Palestine campaigners asked of Mr Martin for many years and he repeatedly rejected such a gesture until months after the beginning of the current Gaza catastrophe. Ireland is projecting itself as a leader on this issue, but in truth it is among the last countries in the world to contemplate formal recognition of Palestinian statehood. It is the global south that took the lead and Ireland is a laggard because of dogged resistance to such a move within the EU. Health workers unearth bodies found at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Picture: AFP/Getty If the Irish Government wishes to be seen to be on the right side of history, then it is meaningful sanctions against Israel that it should focus on. Enacting the Occupied Territories Bill would be a good start. As the EU appears to be ignoring the call by Ireland and Spain for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, it would be entirely understandable for the Irish Government to take unilateral action on trade and other sanctions. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Palestinian civilians in Gaza need purposeful action and not more talk. After Irans retaliatory missile strike on Israel, the EU immediately agreed to bring in additional sanctions against the Iranian regime, but it has yet to sanction Israel in any manner whatsoever for its ongoing

massacre and war crimes in Gaza. The hypocrisy is breath-taking. In fact, EU states, such as Germany, continue to supply arms to the Israeli military. The Government needs to break from this shameful behaviour with practical action  sanctions  if it is serious about helping to stop the slaughter in Gaza. Gestures of support for Palestine may be important acts of solidarity, but it is action against Israel that is really needed. Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Power of prayer

I saw a comic book sketch of a boy kneeling by his bedside saying his evening prayers as his dad walked by the open door of the bedroom. The boy looked up and said Hi Dad, just saying my prayers; do you need anything while Im here?. His dad looked like hed had a long day.

At first it made me laugh; but as I pondered it I realised something. Our design is for complete dependency on God and intimacy with him. We are not meant to figure out life on our own. Prayer is in fact the only way to make life work.

In our day, as the pace of life quickens, the pressure mounts, and demands are placed upon people that our ancestors would never comprehend; perhaps everyone in the modern world could embrace the US Navy Seals saying: The only easy day was yesterday.

We are even harassed by our own telephones!

Prayer is the oxygen for the soul; without it we will shrivel up and die, says Stephen Clark. Picture: Denis Minihane

Often at best people try to shoehorn God in on Sunday morning and a quick prayer as they run out of the house. But we need a lot more than that to survive, let alone thrive. Jesus spent whole nights in prayer. Even Jesus needed to. To commune with the Father, the only one who truly knew him (and the only one who knows and understands us).

Prayer is the oxygen for the soul; without it we will shrivel up and die. The human heart is the meeting place for God and man, He is already there; (like in a Zoom breakout room) waiting for us to enter, and share our troubles with Him so He can immediately get to work on them (He loves to be needed).

Once we realise the importance of prayer, we will see the difference it makes. Mother Teresa once said that if she had a lot to accomplish she would pray for an hour first and if she knew she had a great deal to do that day then she would pray for two hours first.

Thats how it works, the economics of the Kingdom of God. And in doing so we also receive peace in our hearts; instead of agitation. Try it and see.

Stephen Clark, Manila, Philippines

Hostages are not equal By Jim Roches own figures, the mortality rate of Arab prisoners in Israel is three per thousand  All hostages must be treated equally Irish Examiner Letters, April 22. Can he reassure us that the mortality rate of nine in Guantanamo Bay points to a maximum of 3,000 prisoners there, further to be divided by the 20 years involved? Any fewer and the mortality rate would be proportionately higher. Further to his red herring that "all hostages are equal": That is only so ceteris paribus  everything else being equal. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Those taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 raid were innocent of any hostile behaviour, let alone misbehaviour. They are hostages in the historic Arab dark traditions of the Barbary pirates and the harvest of the steppes. Those in jail in Israel have either been arrested for hostile actions and been jailed after their day in court or are in detention pending enquiries about their hostile behaviour. They are not random captives abused for political blackmail. Incidentally, before carping over "administrative detention", take a look at the Irish Offences Against the State Act. Frank Adam, Prestwich, UK

Stop calling them starter homes

I think it is long past time we stopped using the term starter home.

This term feeds into the idea that we should all be participating in the great competition for shelter, that most essential of resources necessary for human survival.

The culture of viewing housing as a ladder, a game, a competition, has serious and, all too often, deadly consequences, the likes of which the majority of us are experiencing the sharp end of.

Im not sure who coined the term starter home but it certainly was not somebody who was in any way concerned about the lived experience of people trying to secure an actual home for themselves.

The Irish Examiner would do well to side with its readers on this matter, not with the interests of the wealthy elite.

Billy Lingwood, Douglas, Cork

Jews support the people of Palestine Passover is traditionally a time for telling ancestral stories, celebrating liberation, and feasting. This year, this Passover, we focus on the genocidal violence Israel continues to inflict on Gaza; more than 34,000 killed in nearly 200 days. A devastation beyond comprehension  entire families wiped out, neighbourhoods, hospitals, universities, mosques, and cultural institutions completely destroyed. This year we focus on how Israel, by stopping life-saving humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, which is a war crime. A war crime aided and abetted by the US, UK, and Western governments who cut off UNRWA funding, the primary agency providing Palestinian relief aid. The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the Gaza Strip. This Passover, we are wrestling back our Jewish traditions and our Jewish values from a 76-year-old apartheid state and reclaiming our holiday of liberation as part of our collective struggle for freedom and justice for Palestine. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here This Passover we take back the false narrative that suggests that Jews need Israel to be safe, that we need Zionism to be Jewish, and that we support the oppression, dispossession, and genocide that the Israeli apartheid state has unleashed on the indigenous Palestinian people. This Passover, we teach our children to cry out in the loudest terms possible, that this night is different from all other nights because we cannot celebrate, we cannot feast until this genocide stops, until we have a permanent ceasefire, and food, water, and electricity freely available. Passover is traditionally a time for our children to ask questions of their elders. Today, and in the future, they may ask: Where were you and what did you do to stop Israel killing and starving Palestinian children, children like me? The only answer we can give is to redouble our efforts to dismantle the impunity that allows US, UK, and the West to continue arming Israel, to redouble our efforts to stop this genocide and to dismantle the apartheid apparatus that is a crime against humanity. As Palestinian poet Mohammed el Kurd has written: This consequential moment calls on us to raise the ceiling of what is permissible, and demands that we renew our commitment to the truth, to spitting the truth, unflinchingly, unabashedly [and cleverly], no matter in what conference room, no matter in whose face. Because Gaza cannot fight the empire on its own. We understand that the oppression and genocide we are now witnessing is not just a threat to Palestinians but to us all. The exodus we seek this year as Jewish people, in this terrible moment, is an exodus from Zionism. Sue Pentel, Jews for Palestine  Ireland, Belfast
The seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed by Israeli airstrikes represented the best of humanity, Jose Andres, the celebrity chef who founded the organisation, told mourners who gathered on Thursday to honour the dead.

They risked everything to feed people they did not know and will never meet, he said.

Speaking at the memorial service at Washington National Cathedral, Mr Andres said there was no excuse for the killings and he called for an investigation.

He appeared to struggle at times to maintain his composure, his words focused on the lives and contributions of the aid workers as he pleaded for greater compassion.

The aid workers killed by an Israel airstrike (World Central Kitchen/PA)

The seven souls we mourn today were there so that hungry people could eat, said Mr Andres, reading aloud their names. Their examples should inspire us to do better, to be better.

The workers were killed on April 1 when munitions fired from Israeli armed drones ripped through vehicles in their convoy as they left one of World Central Kitchens warehouses.

They were Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha; Britons John Chapman, James Kirby and James Henderson; dual US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger; Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom and Polish citizen Damiam Sobol.

Hanging on the altar behind Mr Andres were flags of the humanitarian workers home countries, alongside the red, green, black and white Palestinian flag.

More than 500 mourners sat in pews below the cathedrals soaring stained glass windows.

Mr Andres spoke in depth about each one and their contributions to the work of feeding people suffering through disaster and deprivation, human-made and natural, around the world.

Yo-Yo Ma plays the cello during the memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

He said Mr Chapman was brave, selfless and strong and had the ability to make people around him feel loved and protected.

He said Mr Flickinger was a problem-solver, exactly what you need in the chaos of a disaster zone, and Ms Frankcom gave joy to others even more than she gave food.

He said Mr Henderson had taught first aid in Ukraine and was an avid rugby player. He said Mr Kirby, known to friends as Kirbs, was driven to help people in need. And he said a town in Turkey had named a street after Mr Sobol, in honour of his work there after an earthquake.

He noted that Mr Abutahas family was unable to attend the memorial, and he read from a message sent by his brother that called the aid workers heroes and urged World Central Kitchen to continue its work in Gaza and across the globe, carrying on the spirit of the fallen, and the resilience of the Palestinian people.

Mr Andres spoke emotionally about the organisations mission and why aid workers do what they do.

We stand next to communities as they feed themselves, nourish themselves, heal themselves. People dont want our pity. They want our respect. Our only way to show respect is facing the mayhem alongside them, he said. We remind them by showing up that they are not alone in the darkness.

After an unusually swift Israeli investigation, Israel said the military officials involved in the attack had violated policy by acting based on a single grainy photo that one officer had contended, incorrectly, showed one of the seven workers was armed. The Israeli military dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others.

I know we all have many unanswered questions about what happened and why. There is no excuse for these killings, Mr Andres told mourners, demanding an investigation. The official explanation is not good enough.

The aid workers, whose trip had been co-ordinated with Israeli officials, are among more than 220 humanitarian workers killed in the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, according to the United Nations. That includes at least 30 killed in the line of duty.

The international prominence and popularity of Mr Andres and his non-profit work galvanised widespread outrage over the killings of the groups workers.

The deaths intensified demands from the administration and others that Israels military change how it operates in Hamas-controlled Gaza to spare aid workers and Palestinian civilians in the territory who are facing a humanitarian crisis and desperately need aid from relief organizations as the UN warns of looming famine.

World Central Kitchen, along with several other humanitarian aid agencies, temporarily suspended work in the territory after the attack.

We havent given up, World Central Kitchen spokeswoman Linda Roth said last week. We are in funeral mode right now.

Douglas Emhoff, husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Kurt Campbell, the deputy secretary of state, were among those at the event, joined by diplomats from more than 30 countries, along with representatives from the state department and the US Agency for International Development.

US President Joe Biden sent a letter that was read privately to the families before the service, the White House said.
The students at an encampment at Columbia University who inspired a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country dug in for their 10th day on Friday.

It comes as administrators and police at college campuses from California to Connecticut wrestle with how to address protests that have seen scuffles with police and hundreds of arrests.

Officials at Columbia and some other schools have been negotiating with student protestors who have rebuffed police and doubled down.

Other schools have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they can take hold.

After a tent encampment popped up on Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 33. Hours later at the University of Connecticut, police tore down tents and arrested one person.

George Washington University students rally on campus during a pro-Palestinian protest over the Israel-Hamas war (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

The clock is ticking as May commencement ceremonies near, putting added pressure on schools to clear demonstrations.

At Columbia, protesters defiantly erected a tent encampment where many are set to graduate in front of families in just a few weeks.

Columbia officials said that negotiations were showing progress as they neared the schools deadline of early on Friday to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment.

Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.

We have our demands; they have theirs, said Ben Chang, a spokesperson for Columbia University, adding that if the talks fail the university will have to consider other options.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, has been negotiating with students who have been barricaded inside a campus building since Monday, rebuffing an attempt by the police to clear them out.

Faculty members met with protestors on Thursday to try to negotiate a solution as the campus remains shut down at least through the weekend.

The protesters setting up encampments at universities across the country are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.

Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus, which has partly prompted the calls for police intervention.

A dean at Cal Poly Humboldt, Jeff Crane, suggested during the meeting with protesters that the university form a committee that would include students to do a deep dive into the schools investments.

The US Education Department has launched civil rights investigations into dozens of universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Mr Crane also suggested faculty and students continue meeting every 24 hours to keep an open line of communication. The sides have yet to announce an agreement.

On the other end of the state, the University of Southern California announced the cancellation of the schools May 10 graduation ceremony. The announcement was made a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus.

The university said it will still host dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school commencement ceremonies.

Tensions were already high after USC cancelled a planned commencement speech by the schools pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

At the City College of New York on Thursday, hundreds of students who were gathered on the lawn beneath the Harlem campus famed gothic buildings erupted in cheers after a small contingent of police officers retreated from the scene. In one corner of the quad, a security training was held among students.

The Los Angeles Police Department said 93 people were arrested on Wednesday night during a campus protest for allegedly trespassing. One person was arrested on allegations of assault with a deadly weapon.

At Emerson College in Boston, 108 people were arrested at an alleyway encampment by early on Thursday.

Video shows police first warning students in an alleyway to leave. Students link arms to resist officers, who move forcefully through the crowd and throw some protesters to the ground.

Some students were charged on Thursday with trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Emerson College leaders had warned students that the alley was a public right-of-way and city authorities had threatened to take action if the protesters did not leave.

Emerson cancelled classes on Thursday, and Boston police said four officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening during the confrontation.

The University of Texas at Austin campus was much calmer on Thursday after 57 people were jailed and charged with criminal trespass a day earlier. University officials pulled back barricades and allowed demonstrators onto the main square beneath the schools iconic clock tower.

A boy waves a Palestinian flag at an encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles campus (Jae C Hong/AP)

Thursdays gathering of students and some faculty protested both the war and Wednesdays arrests, when state troopers in riot gear and on horseback bulldozed into protesters, forcing hundreds of students off the schools main lawn.

At Emory University in Atlanta, local and state police swept in to dismantle a camp. Some officers carried semiautomatic weapons, and video shows officers using a stun gun on one protester they had pinned to the ground.

The university said late on Thursday in a statement that objects were thrown at officers and they deployed chemical irritants as a crowd control measure.

Jail records showed 22 people arrested by Emory police were charged with disorderly conduct. Emory said it had been notified that 28 people were arrested, including 20 members of the university community, and some had been released as of night-time.

US secretary of education Miguel Cardona said the ability to embrace student voices and different perspectives was a hallmark of the nations growth but warned authorities would not tolerate hate, discrimination or threats of violence.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the US Education Department has launched civil rights investigations into dozens of universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia.

Among those under investigation are many colleges facing protests, including Harvard and Columbia.
The United States and China butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues as US secretary of state Antony Blinken met on Friday with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and both men warned of the dangers of misunderstandings and miscalculations.

The meeting, on the final day of Mr Blinkens second visit to China in the past year, came as talks between the countries have expanded in recent months even as differences have grown and become more serious, raising concerns about the potential for conflict between the worlds two largest economies.

Mr Blinken and Mr Wang each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but they also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security.

Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when US President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday (Mark Schiefelbein, Pool/AP)

Overall, the China-US relationship is beginning to stabilise, Mr Wang told Mr Blinken. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.

Mr Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about US policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said, demanding the US refrain from interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

Mr Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on US-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China, Mr Blinken told Mr Wang.

There is no substitute in our judgment for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure were as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations.

Mr Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Mr Biden signed the 95 billion dollar (76 billion) foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including 8 billion dollars to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness towards Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years towards Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbours with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against US assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale.

The bill also allots 61 billion dollars for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russias military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

US officials have said Chinas ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinkens visit, and just before Fridays meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.
China's Huaxi Hospital donates mobile ECG devices to Mozambican hospital

Xinhua) 11:25, April 26, 2024

MAPUTO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Maputo Central Hospital (HCM), Mozambique's largest hospital, on Thursday received a donation of portable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University, also known as Huaxi Hospital.

The mobile ECG devices, patented in China, utilize auxiliary means such as mobile phone apps and sensors to read heart rates, enabling doctors to remotely monitor a patient's health situation.

Mouzinho Saide, the director-general of HCM, expressed gratitude during the handover ceremony in Maputo, highlighting the device's quick, simple and painless use. The electrical impulses of the heart are amplified and recorded, and the data can be shared remotely with a doctor using a smartphone.

"It's a very big step forward for us, for HCM. We want to start the introduction with the help of Chinese medical experts, and our doctors and patients will benefit from this device," Saide told Xinhua.

HCM's chief cardiologist Irina Mbanze said that the hospital received 16 digital ECG devices along with copies of the Chinese-Portuguese bilingual edition of the Common ECG Handbook, enabling quick and timely remote diagnoses.

Zhang Hao, head of the current Chinese medical team in Mozambique, highlighted the potential for "Smart healthcare" to deepen cooperation between China and Mozambique in the health sector. The team is exploring an "Internet plus healthcare" model to provide better services to the Mozambican people by leveraging China's technological and healthcare advantages.

To date, 24 Chinese medical teams have worked with Mozambican colleagues, providing assistance to local patients, offering medical training, and providing technical, research, and technological support in the country.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Colleen Murrell, Dublin City University | 

(The Conversation)  Accusations about Israeli censorship of the media went mainstream in the US recently when the New York Times published an opinion piece headlined: The Israeli Censorship Regime is Growing. That Needs to Stop..

In the piece Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), wrote: The high rate of journalists deaths and arrests, including a slew in the West Bank; laws allowing its government to shut down foreign news outlets deemed a security risk, which the prime minister has explicitly threatened to use against Al Jazeera; and its refusal to permit foreign journalists independent access to Gaza all speak to a leadership that is deliberately restricting press freedom. That is the hallmark of a dictatorship, not a democracy.

As well as restrictions on media access to Gaza, particular broadcasters face other restrictions. At the start of April Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proclaimed he would act immediately to stop Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeeras operations inside Israel.

Israels parliament passed a bill allowing it to close Al Jazeeras office in Israel, block its website and ban local channels from using its coverage. However ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, brokered through Qatar, were perhaps a bulwark against haste. The company is still broadcasting from Israel, but its future status is uncertain.

At the annual International Journalism Festival in Perugia on April 17-21, one of Al Jazeeras former Gaza-based correspondents Youmna ElSayed, spoke of the dangers of covering the war as a Palestinian journalist, including the belief that she, along with others, had been targeted by the Israeli military. Journalists were under fire from day one, she said. Despite having little equipment and the destruction of media offices, We did what we could to show the world what was really going on, she said.

The CPJ said on April 20 that at least 97 journalists and media workers were among the more than 34,000 people killed since the war began.

ElSayed regretted leaving Gaza but said it was her only choice to save the lives of her children. She said: This entire world would have known nothing, seen nothing of what has been happening in Gaza  if it wasnt for those Palestinian journalists.

She claimed that international journalists had given up on forcing the Israeli army to let them into Gaza. This is something that is unprecedented and has not happened anywhere else in the world. But yet, international journalists have given up on that right.

Access to Gaza

However, journalists organisations and the correspondents themselves have been lobbying for access to Gaza for months now. But the Israeli government appears to be not giving way.



Eyeless in Gaza, by Juan Cole, Digital, Dream, Dreamworld v. 3, PS Express, 2024

The BBCs international editor Jeremy Bowen, also speaking in Perugia, confirmed that it had been a really difficult story to cover, principally, because the main meat of it  which is whats happening in Gaza, we cant get close to.

From a production point of view, he said sometimes it feels like, climbing through mud trying to generate the material thats necessary to put together a report for television news. He added it was very hard to be a TV reporter on a story that you cant see yourself.

The Israeli government says the number of international journalists given press accreditation to work in Israel since October 2023 is 3,400. This has given journalists access to the West Bank and enabled coverage of settler violence against the local Palestinian population, but not to Gaza.

But as I wrote in November, the only permitted trips into Gaza have been via Israel Defense Forces-controlled embeds (where the journalist travels with the military and therefore their ability to see or cover stories is restricted).

CNNs Clarissa Ward was the first foreign journalist who made it into Gaza without the army, and she did this by accompanying an aid convoy supported by the United Arab Emirates in December 2023. During this two-hour trip to Rafah, where 2.3 million residents are now based, the area was bombed and she filmed operations in a field hospital, and talked to doctors and injured children.

With 20 years of war reporting under her belt, she concluded: Like Grozny, Aleppo and Mariupol, Gaza will go down as one of the great horrors of modern warfare.

From outside the country, media outlets keep trying to check and verify information on the bombings from the IDF by using geo-location and AI software to scan satellite imagery for bomb craters and destruction. In December this enabled the New York Times to conclude that during the first six weeks of the war in Gaza, Israel routinely used one of its biggest and most destructive bombs in areas it designated safe for civilians.

Israeli media coverage

Within Israel, the media are mostly publishing the IDF version of events unchallenged. According to Israeli journalist and activist Anat Saragusti: Hebrew-speaking Israelis watching television news are not exposed at all to whats going on in Gaza. We dont see atrocities, the rubble, the destruction and the humanitarian crisis. The world sees something completely different.

Meanwhile, the left-wing newspaper Haaretz (published in Hebrew and in English) has been threatened with financial penalties for sabotaging Israel in wartime through its more nuanced journalism. According to reporter Ido David Cohen, writing in December, it is the television news channels that present the most extreme example of censorship, as they have devoted themselves to national morale, exclusively relying on official military statements and completely ignoring Palestinian casualties.

In the same article, cultural commentator and academic David Gurevitz claimed the numbers of Palestinians killed remains an abstract concept for many Israelis: The Israeli audience isnt capable of accommodating two kinds of pain together, seeing and identifying with the human victim of the other side as such, and the media follow suit.

This argument was backed up this month by Israeli journalist Yossi Klein who wrote: The most taboo number in Israel is 34,000. You cant talk about it, you cant mention it, and if someone speaking on a panel accidentally blurts it out, they should add, disdainfully: according to Palestinian sources.

Colleen Murrell, Full Professor in Journalism, Dublin City University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Previously Ive argued that Zionism has run its course as a political movement, and accomplished its goal: The creation of a viable Jewish nation-state. Ive also argued that Zionism under Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) has become a driving force in nurturing global anti-Semitism. He has perverted and mutated Zionism to where it has become a affront to the ideals of Torah and Judaism. Its also become a threat to democracy in the US as well as Israel. With Israels embrace of American Evangelical communities over progressive Jews, and Bibis alliance with former President Donald Trump, he has meddled into American politics to promote Trump, who has proven to be the greatest threat to Western-style Democracy since World War II.

The Anne Frank House Center says that, Zionism is about the pursuit of an independent Jewish state. That was accomplished in 1948, and affirmed in bloody wars in 1956, 1967, 1973 and in various attacks and battles since then. On October 7 the Zionist military apparatus, for all its impressiveness, failed because of hubris. Modern Jewish history didnt start then. The post-World War I San Remo Conference of 1920 was the genesis for current dynamics, when the artificial boundaries of the Levant were created by the victorious Western empires.

Zionism is abused as a social and religious cudgel by the Evangelical movement, and has become another tool of divisiveness for the American far-right. Evangelicals, not Jews, comprise a greater plurality of Israeli tourism now, as more American and European Jews reject this narrative of a false idol, in the words of author and activist Naomi Klein. She wrote in a recent Street Seder Address published in The Guardian, that Zionism is a false idol that takes our most profound biblical stories of justice and emancipation from slavery  the story of Passover itself  and turns them into brutalist weapons of colonial land theft, roadmaps for ethnic cleansing and genocide . . . . . a metaphor for human liberation that has traveled across multiple faiths to every corner of this globe  and dared to turn it into a deed of sale for a militaristic ethnostate.

Netanyahus virulent Likud form of Zionism, which he has now allied with the openly racist and even genocidal Religious Zionism and Jewish Power blocs, has created an image of the movement that is anathema to many progressive and leftist activists, and it fuels anti-Semitism as less informed people on the right and left conflate this ruthless ultra-nationalism with Judaism. Just as marriages can run their course, leading to a necessary divorce, the time has come for Jews to divorce Zionism. Bibi has become a literal Pharaoh to Palestinians. Klein adds, From the start it has produced an ugly kind of freedom that saw Palestinian children not as human beings but as demographic threats  much as the pharaoh in the Book of Exodus feared the growing population of Israelites, and thus ordered the death of their sons. It is a false idol that has led far too many of our own people down a deeply immoral path that now has them justifying the shredding of core commandments: thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet.

Democracy Now! Video: Naomi Klein: Jews Must Raise Voices for Palestine, Oppose False Idol of Zionism

Its important to remember that Judaism and Zionism are two distinct terms often intertwined, in reality, they represent rather distinct concepts with different historical, cultural, and most importantly, political implications, as noted in The Business Standard. They add, Following the establishment of Israel, Zionism became an ideology that continues to support the development and protection of the State of Israel. Zionism, at its core, can be understood as a manifestation of Jewish nationalism. Judaism is a religion, while Zionism is a political ideology.

The original anti-Zionists were, from fringe Orthodox sects and maintain that Israel can only be regained miraculously. They view the present state as a blasphemous human attempt to usurp Gods role, and many seek to dismantle the secular State of Israel. However, unlike many gentile anti-Zionists, Jewish anti-Zionists usually firmly believe in the Jewish right to the Land of Israel, but only at the future time of redemption. Though the Neturei Karta were the most visible of observant anti-Zionists, most Haredim in Israel continue that tradition with their refusal to participate in the military or support the embattled state.

Klein asserts that the Zionist ideology, . . . is a false idol that equates Jewish freedom with cluster bombs that kill and maim Palestinian children. Zionism is a false idol that has betrayed every Jewish value, including the value we place on questioning  a practice embedded in the Seder with its four questions asked by the youngest child. . . . Including the love we have as a people for text and for education. . . .Today, this false idol justifies the bombing of every university in Gaza; the destruction of countless schools, of archives, of printing presses; the killing of hundreds of academics, of journalists, of poets. She calls this scholasticide, which is parallel to the burning of libraries and synagogues by Nazis.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is one of many Western Jewish organizations that continues to promote the false idol narrative. They argue that anti-Zionism means that Jews do not have a right to self-determination  or that the Jewish peoples religious and historical connection to Israel is invalid. The AJC also says that, Calling for a Palestinian nation-state, while simultaneously advocating for an end to the Jewish nation-state is hypocritical at best, and potentially anti-Semitic. The polemical problem is that the Jewish nation is a powerful fact on the ground, though threatened by hostile outside forces. Israel is a political reality. But Judaism and Zionism are also threatened internally by Bibis leadership record of self-destruction, as his primary aim is political self-preservation. Israels economy and security are also undermined by the refusal of the Haredim to support the state and serve in the military.

Not only can Israel remain secure without Zionism; it may become more secure, as the provocations towards Palestinians would cease. The Temple Sunday School narrative minimizes, euphemizes and marginalizes what Palestinians suffered in the Nabka, concurrent with Israeli independence. Its time to correct that false narrative, and recognize that Zionism has run its course.

The outpouring of objection to American funding of the Israeli war machine is unprecedented in size and scope. In turn the size and scope of government efforts to quash these protests is also unprecedented, now becoming evocative of Kent State in 1970. Thats the first thing that comes to mind when anyone proposes placing National Guard troops on a US college campus. Doing so would be a provocation and incitement for escalation, and that game plan appears to be unfolding.

Judaism and its offshoots, Christianity and Islam, have all been plagued by departures from their spiritual ethics into orgies of violence. We see this phenomenon in Bibis brand of imperial Zionism, Hamas and other extremist groups violent perversion of Islam, preferring an ideology of hate and misogyny, and the White Christian Nationalist movement in the US, fueled by Trump. The religions of Christianity and Islam have struggled to come to terms with secular modernity, and have seen powerful and violent movements during that struggle. Judaism has the spiritual Reform movement, but no corresponding social-political movement. Judaism came first and has an obligation to take the lead in creating a new paradigm, of a monotheistic, biblically-rooted tradition that nevertheless stands for tolerance and human rights for all. Jews must recognize that the shelf-life of Zionism has expired. Also important is that Judaism is a religion, not a form of ethno-nationalism, despite former President Trumps attempts to dragoon all Jews into the effort to censor free speech over Palestinian human rights.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its "bought deal" public offering of 56,419,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"), including 7,359,000 Common Shares issued pursuant to the full exercise of the Underwriters' (as defined below) over-allotment option, at a price of US$5.30 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of US$299,020,700 (the "Offering"). The Offering, announced on April 23, 2024, was conducted by a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets, National Bank Financial Inc. and Scotiabank as joint bookrunners (the "Lead Underwriters") and including ING Bank N.V., CIBC World Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Cormark Securities Inc. and Haywood Securities Inc. (together with the Lead Underwriters, the "Underwriters").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund a portion of the cash consideration to acquire the remaining 40% of the Greenstone Mine, as announced on April 23, 2024, and for general working capital and corporate purposes, including repayment of certain indebtedness.

Equinox Gold Contacts

Greg Smith, President & CEO

Rhylin Bailie, Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 604-558-0560

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Equinox Gold

Equinox Gold is a growth-focused Canadian mining company with seven operating gold mines, commissioning underway at a new mine, and a plan to achieve more than one million ounces of annual gold production by advancing a pipeline of expansion projects. Equinox Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol EQX.

Cautionary Notes

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements and forward-looking information in this news release relate to, among other things: the intended use of net proceeds from the Offering; the Company's ability to successfully consolidate ownership of the Greenstone Mine ("Transaction"); the strategic vision for the Company and expectations regarding exploration potential, production capabilities and future financial or operating performance; and the Company's ability to successfully advance its growth and development projects. Forward-Looking statements or information generally identified by the use of the words "will", "advancing", "plan", "expect", "achieve", "strategy", "intends" and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "could", "would" or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has based these forward-looking statements and information on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and these assumptions include, but are not limited to: the proposed benefits of the Transaction to the Company's business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations and to its shareholders being attained, including with respect to life of mine, production, cash flow, EBITDA and cash costs estimates, and with respect to exploration and growth opportunities; the receipt of TSX and NYSE American approval relating to the Transaction; the completion and closing of a term loan in connection with the Transaction ("Term Loan"); the use of funds available pursuant to the Term Loan; the anticipated costs of the Transaction; commissioning at Greenstone being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations, including estimated capital costs remaining as expected; availability of funds for the Company's projects and future cash requirements; Equinox Gold's ability to achieve the production, cost and development expectations for its respective operations and projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; no labour-related disruptions and no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled commissioning, construction, development and production, including by blockade; the expansion projects at Los Filos, Castle Mountain and Aurizona being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; ore grades and recoveries remaining consistent with mine plans; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; successful relationships between the Company and its joint venture partner and between the Company and its indigenous partners at Greenstone; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release.

The Company cautions that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; fluctuations in currency markets; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental risks, geotechnical failures, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities and Indigenous partners; the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mining; increased competition in the mining industry; and those factors identified in the section titled "Risks and Uncertainties" in Equinox Gold's Management's Discussion & Analysis dated February 21, 2024 for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in the section titled "Risks Related to the Business" in Equinox Gold's most recently filed Annual Information Form, both of which are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system at www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's views with respect to future events and speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, Equinox Gold assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement or information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements and information. If Equinox Gold updates any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that Equinox Gold will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to announce the execution of merger agreements between Minera's Mexican subsidiary, Cobre 4H de Sonora de Mexico ("Cobre"), and Minera Gold Copper de Sonora, S. DE R.L. de C.C ("Minera Gold Copper") an arms-length Mexican company. Pursuant to the agreements, share ownership in the Cobre subsidiary will be divided between Minera Alamos (50%) and the existing shareholders of Minera Gold Copper (50%). The combined subsidiary will now own Minera's Los Verdes and Potreritos copper projects as well as Minera Gold Copper's Suaqui Verde copper project as well as certain rights to additional surrounding claims associated with the Suaqui Verde copper district.

The acquisition of the Suaqui Verde project complements the Company's Los Verdes and Potreritos copper projects and is a key project in a pipeline of low capital intensity copper development assets that have the potential to form a regional copper production "hub." Ultimately this merger will form the basis of a new copper company initially incubated and funded at the subsidiary level, with the potential to become a public, independently run copper development and production entity.

Highlights of Acquisition (update)

Suaqui Verde is a classic porphyry copper deposit that is widely exposed at the topographic surface and has a deeply oxidized zone of copper mineralization (drilled to in excess of 300m) resulting from surface waters moving to depth along prominent local shear zones. The underlying copper sulphide portion of the deposit is largely untested.

The project is located in southern Sonora within the Arizona-Sonora porphyry belt of Laramide aged copper systems which includes numerous operating and historic large scale copper mining operations.

Located approximately 50km west of Minera's existing Santana gold mine and Los Verdes copper project, the site has excellent road access, available grid power and proximity to existing Minera personnel and infrastructure.

The Suaqui Verde project has been the subject of numerous drill campaigns since the early 1990s, totalling approximately 100 drill holes. The focus of the historic exploration activities has primarily been the higher grade central core of the known copper oxide mineralized area (approximately 1km wide by 2-3km in length) and in the upper zones of oxide and transition mineralization.

A number of historical resource calculations exist for the Suaqui project, including internal review reports done in 2000 by two different companies that indicated copper oxide resources of approximately 50-60 Mt grading approximately 0.28-0.3% copper with a large halo of surrounding geological potential nearing 200 Mt at a slightly lower grade of approximately 0.25% (as described in Suaqui Project notes below). Minera intends to consolidate the historical exploration work into a new current Mineral Resource Statement.

Historical metallurgical work and engineering studies support the idea of developing Suaqui Verde as a traditional low capital intensity, open-pit/SX-EW (solvent extraction-electrowinning) copper project that would produce salable copper metal cathode at site.

The Company is not treating any historical estimates described in this release as current and the Company's QP has not completed sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources. None of the historic resources described in this release are NI43-101 compliant and should not be treated as such. While the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current resources, it does believe the reference work is reliable and the information may be of assistance to readers. The Company intends to commence work on a new resource estimate for the Suaqui Verde project including a data review to determine what is required to fully update the historical mineral resources to a current standard.

Photo 1 - View of mineralized alteration surrounding Suaqui Verde Project with dumps from old workings in foreground

"Suaqui Verde has been on the Minera team's radar for many years and its acquisition adds significantly to the Company's copper assets in the area where we already operate. The area surrounding Los Verdes hosts numerous copper deposits. The combination of these assets into a single entity greatly expands the potential options for developing a regional copper "hub," the production from which can grow organically over time. The Company already has significant infrastructure and personnel active in the area through the development of our Santana gold project and these existing assets will greatly assist with the development of a new copper producer," stated Minera President Doug Ramshaw. "Following the recent conclusion of some proceedings confirming title to the Suaqui project concessions, we are extremely pleased to have been able to conclude this transaction. What is particularly gratifying on a personal level is Suaqui Verde was one of two assets that were part of a joint venture Company with Phelps Dodge in the 1990s that brought me to Canada in 1997. Suaqui Verde was the less advanced of the two projects; and we believe offers tremendous potential for our shareholders as a result of this past focus on the larger "sister" project, Piedras Verdes, that ultimately became a mine."

Suaqui Verde Copper Deposit

The geology of the Suaqui Verde copper deposit consists of a Cretaceous series of massive andesitic volcanics (Tarahmara formation) that were intruded by multiple granodioritic porphyry phases. Each phase may have an overlapping halo band/shell of copper mineralization. The later more felsic intrusive phases have high molybdenum contents and lower copper contents. At surface the known area of Suaqui Verde copper oxide mineralization has been traced over an area that extends to 2-3 km in length with widths of +1 km and is present in fractures, veinlets and in disseminated form.

The deposit is located in southern Sonora along the NW-SE trending porphyry copper belt which extends into Arizona, US. The project is approximately 120 km southeast of Hermosillo (paved highway access) and 50 km west of Minera's Santana gold mine and Los Verdes/Potreritos copper projects. The port of Guaymas is located 110km southwest of the project and is actively used for the shipment of copper concentrates and other industrial materials. Three phase electrical service is available and accessible approximately 5 km from the mine site. Paved highway provides access to the nearby town of Suaqui Grande, with approximately 1,000 residents, that has 3 phase electrical service. Thereafter, a number of unpaved roads provide access to the property 5-10km away.

One of the unique aspects of the Suaqui Verde deposit is that is has a deeply oxidized zone of copper mineralization interpreted to result from surface waters moving to depth along the broad northeast trending shear zones. The depth of the oxidation zone appears to extend beyond the limits of historic drill campaigns which were typically limited to depths of 300m or less. Historical metallurgical testwork on samples from the project confirmed the potential for processing this copper oxide mineralized material via heap leach and solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) technology to directly produce copper metal cathode (as opposed to copper mineral concentrates that require further processing).

The project has been the subject of numerous historical exploration as well as limited mining activities dating back to at least the 1940s and 19050s. A small area of mixed chalcocite/copper oxide material was mined in the 1950s via a shallow underground access and contained reported metal contents up to 14% copper. Companies involved in historical exploration at the project include ASARCO, Penoles, AZCO, Cambior, Phelps Dodge and Summo. In the 1970s, Cominco was involved in the area and completed exploration activities at Suaqui Verde as well as at Minera's Los Verdes project.

The focus of the majority of the historical exploration efforts on the property was the central core of higher-grade oxide/transition copper mineralization. During the more recent exploration and evaluation period for the project (beginning with AZCO in the 1990s), a number of resource estimates were completed. Available data from this period showed historical estimates for the upper oxide/transition open-pittable mineralization that were generally in the range of 50-60 Mt grading approximately 0.28-0.30% Cu. In addition, historic estimates of additional mineralized potential in the less drilled mineralized "halo" area surrounding the core area ranged up to 200 Mt at grades approaching 0.25% Cu.

Notes:

Grupo Mexico (internal report) reviewed the project in 2000 which resulted in a resource estimation using the Minesite program. They showed, with a 75m search radius at 0.2% cutoff, a resource of 59,35,248 tons with a grade of 0.28% copper, or with a 0.3% cutoff a resource of 15,624,375 tons of 0.4% copper. The same data with a 150m search radius and using a 0.2% cutoff indicated a resource of 172,532,256 tons 0f 0.26% copper. At a 0.3% cutoff and 150m search radius it showed 36,711,000 tons at 0.38% copper. Summo (now Constellation Copper - internal report) also reviewed and made a resource calculation in 2000 with a pit plan cone at 0.2% cutoff that resulted in 52,489,210 tons of 0.292% copper having a further 10,032,320 tons of 0.152% copper for stockpile and 7,780,200 tons of waste.

The Company is not treating any historical estimates described in this release as current and the Company's QP has not completed sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources. While the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current resources, it does believe the reference work conducted by Grupo Mexico, Summo and others, is reliable and the information may be of assistance to readers. The Company intends to commence work on a new resource estimate for the Suaqui Verde project including a data review to determine what is required to fully update the historical mineral resources to a current standard.

Photo 2 - Access to some of the historic copper mining areas present within the Suaqui Verde Project area

Map 1 - Location of Suaqui Verde relative to Minera's Los Verdes and Santana projects

Los Verdes

The Company's Los Verdes and Poteritos copper projects (past producers within close proximity of each other) located in Sonora are just northeast of the Santana gold mine.

Highlights for the projects are detailed below:

Los Verdes Measured+Indicated Resource Estimate of 8 million tonnes containing 0.67% Cu, 0.12% Mo, 4.7 g/t Auof (+1% CuEq).

Potreritos area which surrounds additional historical underground mine workings and presents similar exposed copper-molybdenum mineralization to that of Los Verdes. The area has been subjected to limited modern exploration relative to the larger Los Verdes deposit.

Extensive metallurgical testwork and basic engineering design completed for the construction of a two product (copper and molybdenum) central flotation facility to process material from the surrounding deposits.

Adjacent to a major state highway leading to mineral concentrate ocean port facilities at Guaymas, Sonora.

Minera is currently reviewing the designs contained withing the current PEA with a target of scaling down the initial capital requirements through implementation of commercial ore-sorting equipment that has demonstrated the potential for the project to reduce processing plant throughput requirements by increasing plant feed grades to the 2-3% CuEq range with high recoveries from crushed mine material.

Additional exploration targets have already been identified including a significant geophysical target from an induced polarization survey corresponding to a zone of intense pyritization and anomalous surface samples (copper/molybdenum) located between the two known copper deposits.

The PEA report for Los Verdes titled "Los Verdes Cu/Mo Project - Preliminary Economic Assessment was prepared by Golder Associates Ltd. for Virgin Metals Ltd" and dated May 2012, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDARplus (filed May 25, 2012). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational startup of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and has entered the permitting process. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and the main Federal permits in place. Minera Alamos is built around its successful operating team that together brought three mines into production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low CAPEX assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans with respect to the projects, objectives or goals, to the effect that Minera Alamos or management expects a stated condition or result to occur and the expected timing for release of a resource and reserve estimate on the projects. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 4,807,692 charity flow-through common shares ("Charity FT Shares") at C$1.04 per Charity FT Share, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$5,000,000 (the "Offering").

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for exploration work at the Company's NAK project located in the Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry district in central British Columbia. The final drill hole of the 2023 exploration season yielded 302 metres of 1.09% within 606 m of 0.74% Copper Equivalent starting from 98 metres downhole. The Company plans to step out from this drill hole to begin the 2024 drill season, set to begin in May.

The Charity FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the Charity FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Charity FT Shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the Charity FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024.

The Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Charity FT Shares are being offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The common shares of the Company issuable from the sale of these LIFE securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. There is an offering document relating to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.americaneaglegold.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

It is not anticipated that any new insiders will be created, nor that any change of control will occur, as a result of the Offering.

Details of NAK's 2024 Drill Program:

The 2024 drill program will integrate the Company's growing understanding of the relationship between the emplacement of multi-phase Eocene dikes and sills with reactive and permeable host rocks to form the extensive Nak mineralized system. The company is developing models for geology, mineralization, alteration, and structure for the system, which will form the basis for its ongoing planning. The expanded 2024 drill program, currently planned for 15,000 metres, will aim to link, better define, and expand upon the historical North and South zones, which the Company showed in its 2022 and 2023 drill programs to extend to considerable depths (close to 950 m below surface) along a strike length of 750 m and across a width of 400 m. Intercepts from 2023 include 900 m of 0.50% Copper Equivalent from surface in the North zone (Link to NAK23-12 News Release) and 302 metres of 1.09% within 606 m of 0.74% Copper Equivalent starting from 98 metres downhole in the South Zone (Link to NAK23-17 News Release).

Click Here to View the 2024 Drill Plan at NAK

Click Here to View 2024 Drill Plan Webinar Hosted by Geologists Charlie Greig and Neil Prowse

About American Eagle's NAK Project

The NAK Project lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed in 2022 and 2023 by American Eagle has returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that lie beyond the extent of historical drilling, indicating that several zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system.

For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Chanel: youtube.com/@theoregroup.

About American Eagle Gold Corp.

American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada.

Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer

416.644.1567

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.americaneaglegold.ca

Q.P. Statement

Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding whether the Company will be able to complete the Offering as anticipated, the receipt of regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to complete the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. American Eagle Gold Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to American Eagle Gold Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by American Eagle Gold Corp. with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: ALEX) ("Alpha" or the "Company") announces final results from the first phase of its 2024 drilling program on its Aburna Gold Prospect ("Aburna") on the Company's 100% owned, 771 km Kerkasha Project located in Eritrea. Drilling consists of both reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling and diamond core ("DC") drilling.

Final assays have now been received for the remaining 16 drillholes drilled at Aburna in Q1 2024 and including 5 holes from Hill 52, 5 drillholes from Central Area with a further 6 drillholes at Northeast Area. All drillholes except for DD holes ABD014, ABD015 and ABD016 were drilled as diamond tail extensions to existing RC drillholes completed earlier in March this year, and were designed to test mineralization down plunge of the current mineralized lenses at all three prospects. Additional drilling results reported in this first phase program area available here: Click Here, and Click Here.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Drillhole ABRD113: 5m @ 11.03 g/t Au (Northeast Area)

Drillhole ABRD118: 4m @ 5.94 g/t Au (Central Area)

Drillhole ABRD105: 22m @ 1.71 g/t Au (Central Area)

Drillhole ABRD104: 18m @ 1.17 g/t Au (Central Area)

First phase 6,247m drilling program now complete

Alpha has now completed the first phase of a planned 20,000m, 2024 drilling program at Aburna. Drillhole ABRD113 was designed to test the main Northeast Area mineralized shoot at depth and successfully intercepted the high-grade lens including 5m @ 11.03 g/t Au. The width and grade of the intercept are consistent with the rest of the Northeast Area footwall shoot that includes prior drillholes ABR037 16m @ 14.07 g/t Au and ABR078 (9m @ 5.99 g/t Au). Drillhole ABRD118 was designed to test down dip potential at Central Area and successfully intercepted 4m @ 5.96 g/t Au, extending known mineralization down dip.

Aburna is a major, district scale orogenic gold prospect covering an area of at least 7km long and 2km wide and is one of the three significant discoveries made by Alpha on the Kerkasha licence in the last three years. Exploration to date by Alpha on the project has defined six primary areas of interest at Aburna, and has established significant high-grade gold mineralized systems at Central Area, Hill 52 and Northeast Area (see Figure 1, below).

Michael Hopley, Alpha President & CEO said, "We are pleased to report further positive results from the first phase of our 2024 drilling program at Aburna. In particular, drillhole ABD113 in Northeast Area has further confirmed the plunging high grade mineralized orientation at Aburna, extending the principal shoot down plunge.

Following receipt and interpretation of all assays now from this first phase program, and the successful conclusion of C$7m financing, where Alpha in aggregate raised C$6.85m (https://alpha-exploration.com/alpha-news-release-re-closing-of-unit-pp-april-2024/), the Company is now well funded to accelerate exploration on the Aburna Gold Prospect as well at the other principal projects on our licence. We look forward to updating shareholders on our next work programs on Aburna in due course."

Completion of First Phase 2024 Drill Program

The Company commenced the first phase drill program in December 2023. To date, 33 drillholes for 6,247 metres have been drilled at Central Area (13 drillholes), Hill 52 (11 drillholes) and Northeast Area (9 drillholes). Further assay results have been received from 16 of these 33 drillholes. A full table of significant intercepts from assay results received to date is available in Table 1, below.

Table 1: Significant drilling intercepts from assays received

Hole ID Sub Prospect Intersection Depth Interval from (m) to (m) ABD014 Hill 52 49 52 3m @ 4.33 g/t Au ABD015 Hill 52 83 89 6m @ 0.37 g/t Au and 118 125 7m @ 0.62 g/t Au and 137 141 4m @ 2.31 g/t Au including 140 141 1m @ 7.99 g/t Au and 167 171 4m @ 0.79 g/t Au ABD016 Hill 52 89 92 3m @ 0.38 g/t Au and 145 146 1m @1.05 g/t Au and 149 152 3m @ 1.09 g/t Au and 196 199 3m @ 0.48 g/t Au and 235 236 1m @ 2.6 g/t Au ABRD104 Central 133 136 3m @ 1.14 g/t Au and 139 143 4m @ 0.58 g/t Au and 146 164 18m @ 1.17 g/t Au ABRD105 Central 139 161 22m @ 1.71 g/t Au ABRD107 Central 175 176 1m @ 1.59 g/t Au ABRD110 Northeast 166 167 1m @ 1.96 g/t Au and 176 183 7m @ 2.06 g/t Au ABRD111 Northeast 151 156 5m @ 0.57 g/t Au and 159 162 3m @ 0.67 g/t Au and 182 185 3m @ 0.91 g/t Au and 189 190 1m @ 1.31 g/t Au and 239 241 2m @ 2.69 g/t Au and 258 262 4m @ 0.54 g/t Au ABRD112 Northeast 156 157 1m @ 1.36 g/t Au and 169 170 1m @ 1.19 g/t Au and 231 236 5m @ 1.34 g/t Au and 243 244 1m @ 1.78 g/t Au ABRD113 Northeast 150 151 1m @ 1.05 g/t Au and 157 158 !m @ 2.57 g/t Au and 174 179 5m @11.03 g/t Au ABRD116 Northeast 138 151 13m @ 0.67 g/t Au including 138 139 1m @ 4.55 g/t Au and 180 181 1m @ 1.19 g/t Au and 253 259 6m @ 0.46 g/t Au and 264 268 4m @ 0.97 g/t Au ABRD118 Northeast 157 161 4m @ 5.94 g/t Au including 159 160 1m @ 22.6 g/t Au and 166 167 1m @ 1.10 g/t Au ABRD120 Central No significant return ABRD121 Central No significant return ABRD122 Hill 52 174 190 16m @ 0.70 g/t Au including 174 177 3m @ 2.69 g/t Au and 231 237 6m @ 0.27 g/t Au and 245 246 1m @ 1.2 g/t Au ABRD123 Hill 52 175 176 1m @ 5.99 g/t Au and 217 219 2m @ 6.65 g/t Au and 224 225 1m @ 1.53 g/t Au

A significant interval is defined by consecutive one-meter intervals starting and ending at 0.20 g/t Au or better. A significant interval must be at least 3m long. Internal dilution is limited to 2 consecutive intervals of <0.20 g/t Au. Multiple internal dilutions are allowed. Single one-meter intervals of 1.00 g/t Au or greater are also considered significant. At this early stage of exploration, the true widths of intersections is not known but is estimated to be at least 80% of the reported intervals.

Figure 1: Location of drilling at Aburna and principal targets defined to date

(drillholes from the 2024 first phase program are shown in yellow)

Sampling, Sub-sampling and Analysis

Alpha engaged an independent Consultancy, RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration (RSC) to develop a Standard Operating Procedure ("SOP") for both RC and DD drill samples in June 2021 and all samples in this release use this RSC SOP. The RSC SOP utilizes blank standards and industry standards that are inserted at the beginning and end of every batch (and every 20 samples within the batch) for all batches submitted to ALS Geochemistry, Loughrea, Ireland, ("ALS"), for assay. Additionally, field replicates are taken at a frequency of about 1 in 5 (20%) through mineralized areas.

One-meter samples from both RC and DD drilling were crushed (to >90% passing 2.0 mm) and pulverised (to >85% passing 75 m). Two scoop samples were taken from the pulveriser bowl: approximately 130g for laboratory analysis and approximately 150g for portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis. The coarse and pulp rejects were stored at Alpha's warehouse in Asmara. The Company inserted certified reference material from OREAS (www.ore.com.au) into the sample stream, while NABRO Laboratories Limited in Asmara inserted barren granodiorite material into the sample stream as a blank. Samples were shipped to ALS for analysis. ALS analysed all drill samples for gold by method Au-AA26 (50 g charge fire assay, AAS finish). ALS is independent of the Company and its quality management systems framework is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 or certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards.

About Alpha

Alpha (TSXV: ALEX) is an exploration company that is rapidly advancing a number of important gold and base metal discoveries across its 100% owned, large (771 km2) Kerkasha Project in Eritrea.

The Aburna Gold Prospect is an exciting new gold discovery where recent drilling has established a high-grade discovery with grades including 18m @ 15.33 g/t Au, 16 m @ 14.07 g/t Au, 9 m @ 10 g/t Au and 23 m @ 6.74 g/t Au. The Anagulu Gold-Copper Prospect includes recent drilling intersections of 108 m @ 1.24 g/t Au and 0.60% Cu and 49 m @ 2.42 g/t Au and 1.10% Cu within a porphyry unit mapped over at a >2 km strike length. The Company is also advancing exploration of the Tolegimja volcanogenic massive sulphide copper-zinc-gold prospect and over 17 other gold and base metal prospects since listing in 2021.

The Company is managed by a group of highly experienced and successful professionals with long track records of establishing, building and successfully exiting a number of world class gold and base metals discoveries in Eritrea and across the wider Arabian Nubian Shield.

For further information go to the Alpha webpage at www.alpha-exploration.com or contact:

Michael Hopley

President and Chief Executive Officer

Alpha Exploration Ltd.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: +44 207129 1148

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this press release, including the results of the Aburna drill program and how these results relate to the ongoing exploration at the Kerkasha Project has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Michael Hopley, President, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha and a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Notes

This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to future dataset interpretations, sampling, plans for its projects (including the Anagulu prospect), surveys related to Alpha's assets, and the Company's drilling program. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, Alpha has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions and the price of gold and other minerals. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of Alpha believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to Alpha's financing efforts; risks associated with the business of Alpha given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to exploration activities; those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. Alpha does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I) ("E-Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Drysdale as interim Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company.

Mr. Drysdale is an experienced professional with international experience in the mineral and exploration industry. Currently serving as the CEO of Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) and a Director at E-Tech, he has previously served as the Kenyan Country Manager for Stockport Exploration, overseeing the operations for all aspects of its gold exploration and production activities throughout East Africa. Mr. Drysdale has a progressive and diverse background which extends across various mineral projects and the international capital markets.

"We are pleased that Chris has agreed to support the Company as its interim CEO. Through his current Board position of both the listed entity and its Namibian subsidiary, he has always played a fundamental role in the E-Tech operations," said Jim Megann, Board Chair. "His exceptional background in the Southern African resource sector and his residency in Namibia will bode well for the Company."

The Company thanks Todd Burlingame for his stewardship during his tenure with the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About E-Tech Resources Inc.

E-Tech is a rare earth exploration and development company focused on developing its Eureka Rare Earths Project in Namibia. The Eureka project is located approximately 250 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and 140 km east of Namibia's main industrial port Walvis Bay. The project is situated next to the national B1 highway in the Erongo Region of Namibia.

The Eureka deposit lies in the Southern Central Zone of the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt within Exclusive Prospecting License ("EPL") number EPL 6762, which covers farms Eureka 99 and Sukses 90.

Namibia is recognized as one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with an extremely well-established national infrastructure and a clear and transparent mining law.

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. E-Tech does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by securities laws applicable to E-Tech. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by E-Tech with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact Chris Drysdale, interim CEO of E-Tech Resources Inc., at +264 891 220 2439.
Lotte Chilsung officially introduced Kim Ji Won as the new ambassador for the soju beverage Chum-Churum.

Amid the huge success of the tvN K-drama "Queen of Tears," fans get to see the actress in a new commercial.

Kim Ji Won Stuns in Chum-Churum's Latest CF

On April 26, the brand released the first CF featuring the "Queen of Tears" star, Kim Ji Won.

In the latest Chum-Churum commercial, the actress dazzles as she shows off her beauty and charm.

Fans and netizens flocked to social media as they gushed over Kim Ji Won's latest project.

baek hyunwoo your wife is drunk and acting cute #KimJiWon



pic.twitter.com/OB6tNgIaYo         (@kimchigeewonii) April 26, 2024

To recall, the previous ambassador for Lotte Chilsung's Soju Beverage was Han So Hee. However, amid the controversy involving Ryu Jun Yeol and Lee Hyeri, the "My Name" star was dropped from being the brand's endorser.

The reason behind this was that her contract with Chum-Churum had expired, but instead of renewing her, they replaced Han So Hee with Kim Ji Won.

At the time, a report mentioned a statement from a Lotte Chilsung official noting that they were looking for a celebrity that would match the brand.

"It is true that we are reviewing various options regarding model selection with open possibilities as in the beginning, but there is nothing to confirm at this time."

Before Han So Hee, Chum Churum's endorser was BLACKPINK's Jennie.

As for the brand, they considered the "Nevertheless" star as their endorser because of her connection and active communication with fans.

Kim Ji Won Steals Hearts As Hong Hae In in 'Queen of Tears'

Her K-drama "Queen of Tears" is a huge success, as Kim Ji Won plays as the heiress, Hong Hae In, a third-generation chaebol and the granddaughter of the Queens Group family.

Since the show's broadcast, the actress has been getting a lot of positive feedback, noting her amazing chemistry with Kim Soo Hyun, who plays as her on-screen husband, Baek Hyun Woo.

Currently, the tvN rom-com series is the most watched K-drama, garnering a whopping average nationwide rating of 21.625 percent, the highest viewership since release.

In addition to this, Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun's drama became the first tvN drama to surpass 1 billion views.

Now in its final week, viewers will surely be tuning in to the "Queen of Tears" finale episodes as they follow the chaotic yet fun marriage of Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In.

Watch the "Queen of Tears" finale trailer here!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

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Written by Geca Flores
From its cast to the interesting twist in the storyline, "Lovely Runner" is the K-drama fans' latest drama obsession. Some even claimed that the adaptation is better than the webtoon!

Do you agree?

'Lovely Runner' Attracts More International Viewers Despite Low Ratings in Korea

With the strong buzz and expanding popularity of tvN's "Lovely Runner," attention is also turning to its original web novel "The Best of Tomorrow," penned by Kim Ppang.

Despite the moderate viewership ratings of 3.4 percent, Nielsen Korea reported that the drama competes in buzz with high-rated series like "Queen of Tears," which recently boasted ratings of 21.6 percent.

Combining genres like time-slip, youth, fantasy, and rom-com, "Lovely Runner" immediately caught the public, primarily the younger audience. Given that it is released on OTT platforms, to which a huge number of viewers are subscribed.

Even though it received a modest viewership score in the traditional TV ratings, it still managed to generate a buzz comparable to mainstream hits.

'Lovely Runner' Drama More Appealing Than the Web Novel?

"Lovely Runner" drama adaptation has taken different creative liberties from the webtoon.

While the novel focuses on Im Sol's despair following the sudden passing of her favorite idol, leading her to time travel to change his fate, the series introduces various key changes and added elements to enhance the narrative.

Thanks to these changes and additional details, the drama became more interesting to watch, making the viewers glued to their screens every time new episodes were released.

In particular, Im Sol's character in the novel does not suffer from paralysis. Consequently, according to a source, there is no plot involving a tragic accident or Ryu Sun Jae saving her from such an event.

Furthermore, Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok) and Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) are not neighbors in the webtoon, which means scenes where the male protagonist delivers packages to the female protagonist's home or falls for her at first sight, are uniquely made by the drama's creatives to make it more appealing to the audience.

Writer Adds New Elements in 'Lovely Runner' Drama Version

Lee Si Eun, following her adaptation of "True Beauty," she once again added a first-love narrative to the main characters, intensifying the romance allure of the series. Moreover, Kim Tae Seong's (Song Geon Hee) character does not really exist in the webtoon.

In the series, Ryu Sun Jae is portrayed not just as a swimmer and Eclipse's vocalist, but also as a successful actor, diverging from the novel who joined a group and struggled with malicious comments.

Also, Sun Jae's cause of death in 2023 is different; in the webtoon, he accidentally overdosed, while the drama has yet to reveal the real reasons.

As the adaptation continues to win the viewers' hearts, it was also revealed that the drama has changed the timeline; whereas Im Sol time travels when she was 18, in the series her current age is 34, with both characters being 23 in the webtoon's present time.

These brilliant changes and added elements, although disappointed some fans of the original webtoon, have been lauded in the "Lovely Runner" drama adaptation as it introduced a distinct charm that has positively influenced its critical reception.

The drama version not only captivated viewers but also ignited discussion about the transformation involved in the webtoon to the screen adaptation.

What can you say about the "Lovely Runner" drama adaptation? 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 San Miguel wrote this.
On April 25th, fans of the popular drama "Queen of Tears" were given a glimpse into the upcoming 15th episode through a preview released on the "tvN drama" YouTube channel.

However, instead of excitement, the preview left many viewers expressing frustration over the show's pacing.

A Glimpse into Turbulent Relationships

The preview showcased a significant moment between protagonists Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won) and Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun).

Hae-in's visit to Hyun-woo in prison revealed her conflicted emotions about his past actions, setting the stage for further turbulence in their relationship.



With the recent storyline revolving around Hae-in's memory loss and Hyun-woo's entanglement in a murder investigation, viewers have been eagerly awaiting significant developments.

However, as the series progresses towards its conclusion, some have criticized the slow pace of plot progression.

Audience Discontent: Calls for Swift Resolution

Discontent among viewers has been palpable on online forums, with many expressing disbelief over the apparent lack of progress in key plotlines.

Calls for a swift resolution to certain story arcs have become increasingly vocal, as fans yearn for more substantial developments in the narrative.

Here are some reactions from netizens:

Only two more episodes left and there's zero growth in the main characters' relationship!. Are we really going to get just 2 minutes of happy ending, while the rest is all about Yoon Eunseong and his psychotic brain? Plus, there's still so many questions unanswered! This kdrama got me hooked. Can't wait for the last 2 episodes...but sad that it's ending soon. My weekend is BOOKED! Staying home to watch the finale. The veterans in the drama did interview also saying Jiwon and Soohyun are why the drama did so good

Despite criticisms regarding its pacing, "Queen of Tears" continues to draw in record-breaking viewership ratings for tvN dramas, currently standing at an impressive 21.6%.

As a special program of tvN's 'Queen of Tears', the 15th episode on the 27th and the final episode (episode 16) on the 28th will be broadcast at 9:10 pm.#QueenOfTearsEp15 #QueenofTears #KimJiwon #KimSoohyun https://t.co/m1bF8AlF33  Quintessential L  (@__ekleona) April 23, 2024

As the show approaches its climax, there is heightened anticipation among fans regarding whether it can strike the delicate balance between resolving its plotlines and delivering a satisfying conclusion.

Awaiting Resolution: Fans Brace Themselves for Final Episodes

As viewers brace themselves for the final episodes, the fate of their beloved characters hangs in the balance.

"Queen of Tears" Special Broadcast Schedule Details



Summary:

The popular drama series "Queen of Tears," starring Kim Soohyun and Kim Ji-won, is set to air its final episodes with a special broadcast schedule.

According to a report by Star News on the 23rd, the show will air its pic.twitter.com/aQJ2bRXFah  KimSooHyunShi  Philippines  FC (@KimSoohyunshiph) April 23, 2024

With the show's resolution looming, fans eagerly await the culmination of the intricate storyline and the fulfillment of their hopes for a satisfying conclusion to "Queen of Tears."

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Written by: Joan Cabigas
Lee Dong Hwi gets honest as he talks about his working relationship with "Chief Detective 1958" co-star Lee Je Hoon.

The duo takes on the roles of senior detectives Park Young Han and Kim Sang Soon, who work at the Jongnam Police Station Investigation Unit 2.

The 10-part episode series showcases their chemistry as a group, along with Choi Woo Sung and Yoon Hyun Soo, who play rookie detectives Cho Kyung Hwan and Seo Ho Jeong.

During Lee Dong Hwi's interview with the media, he mentioned what it's like to be working alongside Lee Je Hoon and, at the same time, join his agency.

Lee Dong Hwi on Being Lee Je Hoon's Co-Star and COMPANY ON Talent

In news obtained by a media outlet, LeeDong Hwi revealed that he signed an exclusive contract with Lee Je Hoon's agency, COMPANY ON, in the middle of the "Chief Detective 1958" production.

Being his co-star and, at the same time, the CEO of the talent label, the actor confessed that he had some apprehensions, especially being around Lee Je Hoon.

"I feel unsure about how to behave around him since he's the CEO of my agency. I'm simply not used to acting and making mistakes in front of my agency CEO," he said, adding that it might be "embarrassing" to make mistakes.

Lee Dong Hwi then shared the kind of CEO, friend, and colleague Lee Je Hoon is and described him as a warm and very supportive person.

"He willingly steps out of his comfort zone to promote my work and offer support. He even integrates my independent film promotions into his own YouTube content, providing assistance."

Through COMPANY ON, the actor says that he has "finally found my home" because of his "Chief Detective 1958" co-star.

"He always warmly discusses my concerns and direction, walking alongside me on my journey," he added.

When asked about his decision to transfer to Lee Je Hoon's agency, the "Reply 1988" star mentioned that it all started when they had a "heartfelt conversation."

Lee Dong Hwi was happy after Lee Je Hoon agreed to support him in focusing more on doing independent films, even if it would not bring profit to the company.

"He readily agreed and assured me that the proceeds from independent films wouldn't go to the company. He promised full support. I was so grateful that if I had a handkerchief, I would have wiped away tears with it."

Where to Watch 'Chief Detective 1958'

As mentioned, the duo headlined "Chief Detective 1958," which is a prequel to the iconic "Chief Inspector" that aired from 1971 to 1989.

The series focuses on their journey to combat crimes and increase the success rate of Jongnam Police Station.

Airing every Friday and Saturday, viewers get to watch Lee Je Hoon and Lee Dong Hwi's drama on MBC, Disney+, and Viki.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
In a delightful display of synchronicity, both actors posted matching portraits, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Berlin Cathedral in Germany.

Captured in a moment of harmony, Soo Hyun and Ji Won donned strikingly similar attire, clad in white tops paired effortlessly with denim jeans, further adding to the enchanting allure of their shared imagery.

"Queen of Tears" Continues to Reign

Netizens, ever curious and enamored, speculated in the comments section about the possibility of the duo taking turns photographing each other against the same backdrop.

However, both stars remained coy, leaving fans to indulge in speculation and admiration.

Queen of Tears' latest episode delivers a heart-wrenching kiss between Kim Soohyun and Kim Ji-won, captivating viewers with its emotional depth. Achieving a remarkable 14.5% rating, the drama continues to enthrall audiences worldwide. 



Queen of Tears continues its reign pic.twitter.com/rOMwt79hjP  KimSooHyunShi  Philippines  FC (@KimSoohyunshiph) March 24, 2024

As "Queen of Tears" approaches its much-anticipated finale, with only two episodes remaining to air on Saturday and Sunday, the drama continues to grip audiences worldwide.

Netflix reports that "Queen of Tears" has consistently secured its position in the Philippine Top 10 TV charts for five consecutive weeks, while also making waves in the TV charts of 40 other countries.

Queen of Tears' Maintains 3rd Place Globally on Netflix's TOP 10



According to the latest data from Netflix TOP 10 as of April 24 KST, tvN's weekend drama 'Queen of Tears' continues to hold its position in the global TOP 10 TV series, ranking third in the non-English category. pic.twitter.com/kWF6slt4Hw  KimSooHyunShi  Philippines  FC (@KimSoohyunshiph) April 24, 2024

READ MORE: Kim Soo Hyun's Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Investment Soars in Market Price

Surpassing Records

The drama's success extends beyond international borders, as it surpasses records on South Korean TV network tvN.

With an average nationwide rating of 20.7%, "Queen of Tears" claims the title of the second highest-rated romance drama series, trailing behind only the beloved "Crash Landing on You."

HERE ARE SOME OF THE NETIZENS' REACTIONS:

This handsome guy definitely belongs to Kim Ji Won look both so greet and cute. when are we getting a dating announcement cus look soomen did you took a picture of each other? its so amazing.. i love you both.. I cant wait for saturday episode hope you both will visit california the soonest. cute couple attire





Kwak Dong Yeon even selected him as someone he has the best chemistry with instead of his wife.

A Tale of Love and Turmoil

"Queen of Tears" unravels the poignant narrative of Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won), a third-generation chaebol heiress of Queens Group, and her husband Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun), a distinguished lawyer and the legal director of the company.

'Queen of Tears' Episode 14 unravels major twist: Kim Ji-won faces memory loss after surgery, while Kim Soo-hyun framed for murder https://t.co/3CpjROvEXv  Eunice Gan (@Eunice_1988) April 22, 2024

The tumultuous journey of the couple's marriage teeters on the brink of dissolution, captivating viewers with its emotional depth and compelling storytelling.

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Written by: Joan Cabigas




Friday, April 26, 2024 - A resident of Rongai has reached out to Cyprian Nyakundi and raised an alarm over the high rate of crime in the area.

The areas around Tumaini, Hellena Road, and Koira Road are the worst hit with insecurity.

At least 1 person is reported dead every week despite the Rongai police station being one of the biggest police stations in the country with over 100 police officers.

The OCS seems unbothered even as armed gangs continue killing innocent Kenyans.

Check out Nyakundis post highlighting insecurity in Rongai.

















The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, April 26, 2024 - ODM leader, Raila Odinga, reportedly had a secret meeting with embattled Governor Johnson Sakaja that lasted for nearly four hours on Wednesday evening.

Sakaja sought Railas help after facing a backlash from UDA Mps, who threatened to impeach him over corruption and poor performance.

According to blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, Sakaja requested Raila Odinga to rally all Azimio Mps from Nairobi to protect him from impeachment.

However, MPs from the Raila Odinga-led coalition gave Sakaja a month deadline to shape up or be impeached.

They also asked Raila not to protect him.

Sakaja told his handlers that he gave Raila Odinga Ksh 200 Million to protect him from impeachment.

Sakaja has been telling his handlers that he gave Baba Ksh 200 Million, Nyakundi tweeted.

Raila is set to hold a meeting with Azimio MPs from Nairobi at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, where he is expected to rally their support against Sakajas impeachment after pocketing millions of shillings.





Earlier this week, a section of UDA MPs from Nairobi expressed their concerns over the status of development in the city under the leadership of Johnson Sakaja.

They accused Sakaja of failing to meet the expectations of residents who overwhelmingly voted for the Presidents party in 2022.

The MPs led by Dagoretti South MP John KJ Kiarie in a lengthy address, invited investigative authorities to the City Hall to probe alleged wanton graft.

It is our observation that is now the view of the majority of city county residents that Nairobi could be facing its worst leadership crisis at City Hall, Kiarie said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Azimio Leader Raila Odingas bid for the Africa Union chairmanship received a huge boost after two more European countries threw weight behind him.

Raila held separate meetings with Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya Gunnar Andreas Holm and Australian High Commissioner to Kenya Jenny Da Rin and were impressed by Babas knowledge and understanding of African dynamics.

Raila used the engagements to brief the diplomats on his bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission and his plans for the continent should he take up the post.

The diplomats encouraged the ODM leader in his quest and expressed hope that he would be able to focus the continent on critical issues holding it back.

Both parties agreed on the need for a strong AU to drive potential game changer issues like continental free trade, infrastructure development, open skies, and investment in energy and internet connectivity, the former Premier stated.

At the same time, Raila regretted that 60 years after independence, Africans still have to fly to Europe to connect to certain parts of Africa and need multiple currencies and visas to access other African countries.

He singled out continental integration, removal of non-trade barriers, global cooperation, stability, and free movement of goods and people as priority areas he would focus on as AUC chair.

The meetings also focussed on bilateral, regional, and global issues.

During the meetings, Raila and the two diplomats reviewed existing political, security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Kenya and other African countries, including the situation in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the need for lasting peace in the regions.

Raila shared his vision for expanded cooperation on other foreign policy priorities, including a continent-wide free trade regime.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, is reportedly admitted at the Aga Khan Hospital.

According to blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, Chebukati was initially taken to the Nairobi Hospital by his family but when his health deteriorated, he was rushed to the Aga Khan Hospital.

Although the exact cause of his illness is not known, word has it that he has brain issues.

Former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has been moved from Nairobi Hospital to Aga Khan University Hospital. The ex-IEBC chair is said to be suffering from an unknown illness. Quick recovery!, tweeted Nyakundi.





Chebukati has been lying low after his tenure at the IEBC ended.

He oversaw a contentious election that was marred with bribery allegations.

It was alleged that he was bribed with billions of shillings by Ruto to declare him as the President.

Sources reveal that Chebukati has also been battling alcoholism.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, April 26, 2024  A young man allegedly shot his friend dead for taking a bite out of his girlfriend's burger in Pakistan, an investigation has concluded.

Suspect Daniyal Nazeer, named as the son of retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nazir Ahmed Mirbahar, is believed to have attacked his friend as an argument broke out at the accused's house in Karachi.

An inquiry into the events of February 8 concluded on Wednesday that Ali Keerio, the son of a sessions judge, was likely shot with a guard's rifle after brazenly daring to take a large chunk out of Nazeer's girlfriend's burger.

The accused was reported to have ordered two 'zinger burgers' for himself and his partner, Shazia, before Nazeer was sent into a rage over his friend's indiscretion.

Keerio sustained 'severe injuries' after being shot, per local media, and succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital.

Following a probe lasting more than two months, investigators concluded that the police officer's son had likely lashed out over the burger incident.

'Daniyal got into a serious fight with Ali over why he ate half of the burger without permission which was ordered for his girlfriend Shazia,' the investigating officer confirmed, as reported by The Week.

'We have arrested the accused and he is in jail pending trial,' the officer added.

Ali Keerio was locally named as the son of Karachi District South sessions judge Javed Keerio.




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mithika Linturi, is on his last days in Cabinet if the impeachment motion tabled against him goes through.

The motion to impeach Linturi was moved by Bumula Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka, who said he had collected signatures from over 100 MPs to send the Agriculture CS home over the fake fertilizer scandal.

Wamboka said all MPs across the political divide are in support of his motion, which is only waiting for the National Assembly Speaker's approval.

"Members who have signed are from across both political divides. Kenya Kwanza and Azimio MPs have signed the petition.

"Even some members from Meru. This is a moral question to the citizens of Kenya, and we are asking the Speaker to approve this motion," Linturi stated.

According to Wamboka, the evidence presented showed Linturi was unfit to hold the office.

He further claimed there was massive mismanagement and incompetence in the ministry.

"The evidence presented in the National Assembly paints a distressing picture of negligence, mismanagement, and potentially criminal activities within the Ministry of Agriculture under the leadership of Linturi," he said.

In solidarity with Wamboka, Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere, who is a member of the National Assembly Agriculture Committee, said Linturi should resign as investigations continued.

"As investigations, we want to ask CS Linturi to resign, because investigations cannot be done while he is still in office," she stated.

The move to file a motion to impeach Linturi is in accordance with Article 152 of the constitution.






Friday, April 26, 2024  Rapper Gucci Mane has taken some shots at embattled music executive, Diddy, in his new track TakeDat.

Gucci Mane began the track by saying the popular social media slogan, Im just f***ing around, but No Diddy, before using that as the hook and also making a sly reference to Diddy's ex. He said "I got a young Miami bitch from the city / Im spending money like a trick (No Diddy).

He also made slick references to underage girls and Kid Cudi's car blowing up, with 50 Cent, Gillie and Wallo catching some stray shots.

Gucci also skewered Jay-Z's shuttered Roc Nation Brunch "Why you ain't ever seen Wop at The Brunch? / 'Cause they might spike the punch, man, that shit too risky."

Gucci's wife Keyshia Ka'Oir also makes a cameo in the video, recreating Diddy and Misa Hylton's scene in the bathtub from the 1994 Notorious B.I.G. "Big Poppa" video.




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has shared small insights on social media on why he wants to become African Union Chairperson.

Raila, who is in the sunset years of his long odyssey in politics, has thrown himself into the ring to contest for Africas apex seat.

Despite his age, the German-educated revolutionary believes he has the energy to open Africa, which according to him, is being colonized despite being independent for close to 60 years.

In a post on X on Friday, Jakom as he is referred to by his kinsmen, stated that once he wins Africa's most coveted seat, he will connect Africa and make it look like a single village.

Raila said his first job would be to abolish some 'stone age' habits like Africans flying to some European countries to connect to certain parts of Africa.

The 79-year-old metal processing engineer further said once he wins the seat, he will connect Lake Victoria with the Atlantic Ocean and make River Nile navigable.

This is what Jakom wrote on his X page on Friday.

It is regrettable that 60 years into independence, Africans have to fly to Europe to connect to certain parts of Africa and require multiple currencies and visas to access other African countries.

"Further to this, it is my hope that as chairman of the AUC, I will help the continent embark on long-deferred dreams including making River Nile navigable and connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Victoria  Lake Tanganyika water bodies to facilitate efficient logistics in the interiors

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, April 26, 2024 - The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Commissioner John Waiganjo has refuted claims by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on extra-judicial killings in Kenya.

This follows Mudavadis claim that there were no extra-judicial killings in Kenya.

Speaking during an interview, Waiganjo noted that various Cabinet Secretaries in the past had been heard claiming there were no more killings related to police brutality in the country.

Terming it shameful, the commissioner urged stakeholders to avoid dragging politics into such critical matters.

Waiganjo further condemned acts from politicians firing at officers and commanding stations in public rallies, noting that it was wrong.

I want us to remove politics from what we are talking about here because we have heard statements made by Cabinet Secretaries transferring officers commanding stations in a public rally. We dont take that seriously ourselves, Waiganjo noted.

We are ashamed that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated that there are no extrajudicial killings in Kenya.

The commissioner further highlighted IPOAs professionalism, distancing it from practices displayed by politicians and other leaders in public.

We cannot take what politicians say to be the truth, and of course we condemn it, he added.

During the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mudavadi noted that police brutality was no longer a significant concern in Kenya.

In response to a statement by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, the Foreign Affairs CS referenced IPOA, affirming that the Kenyan police force is effectively guided and regulated by the authority.

This body investigates such impunity if any and holds individual police officers accountable, including through prosecution, Mudavadi stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has lambasted the Interior Ministry for failing to respond to floods that have affected most parts of Nairobi County.

In a statement via X, Sifuna said Mathare, Ruaraka, Kamukunji, and Embakasi West constituencies are yet to receive any assistance from the national government despite a directive from President William Ruto.

As of this hour, reports from the most flood-affected areas in Nairobi i.e. Mathare, Ruaraka, Kamukunji, and Embakasi West Constituencies are that the promised help from National Government agencies has not arrived. The Ministry of Interior what is not happening? Sifuna wondered.

On Wednesday, Ruto directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and her Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development counterpart Peninah Malonza to respond to the floods and intensify the multi-agency response.

I directed the ministries of Interior and EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, and the National Youth Service to immediately respond to the situation caused by the floods.

"They will immediately step up multi-agency response efforts, the President wrote on his X platform.

But since then, nothing has happened in terms of response, prompting Sifuna to wonder whether the CSs have refused to obey the Presidents direct order.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Azimio One Kenya Alliance spokesperson, Prof. Makau Mutua, has had a nasty exchange of words with Kileleshwa Ward MCA, Robert Alai, regarding Governor Johnson Sakaja's leadership style.

The two took their war on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, where Makau Mutua accused Robert Alai of being part of the mess in the City Hall.

Alai, a renowned blogger, dismissed the claims insisting that his main objective was to defend Nairobi residents.

However, Mutua dared the Kileleshwa MCA to initiate an impeachment motion against Sakaja to prove that he was not part of the problems facing Nairobians.

"Impeach your benefactor, Sakaja Johnson, to prove you aren't part of the city's filth. Prove us wrong. Otherwise, keep your beak permanently sealed! And I mean forever," Mutua said.

In response, Alai faulted Mutua for bringing up the issue of impeachment without understanding how an ouster works.

"If you were a genuine law professor, you'd know how impeachment works, and you'd lead it.

"But since you understand almost nothing about the law, you're here thinking that impeachment is like smoking cigars," Alai said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, April 26, 2024 - Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has received support from unlikely quarters after Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka vowed to defend her through thick and thin from President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachaguas threats.

Speaking on Wednesday, Kalonzo vowed to lead a nationwide protest should Ruto and Gachagua persecute Wamuchomba politically over her stand.

The Azimio principal recalled how Gachagua had sent police officers to chase him out of Kiambu County, but he would never let that happen again.

Kalonzo was speaking in Githunguri Constituency during Wamuchombas Food for Education programme held at Ikinu Primary School.

Describing himself as the countrys top mobiliser, Kalonzo remarked that even the national government appreciated his popularity among the masses.

Kalonzo being in Githunguri is protests already. I heard the County Commissioner asking how come Kalonzo is in Githunguri and I was not told, he stated.

He warned United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders from Mt Kenya who were accusing Wamuchomba of being a rebel.

The former vice president advised Wamuchomba to stay put in UDA and lead the opposition internally within the ruling party.

According to Kalonzo, his support for Wamuchomba meant UDA would fear subjecting the legislator to a disciplinary process.

She is now untouchable. Even if they wanted to come after her, if they knew I was here they cannot touch her, he claimed.

I am the king of protests; I can protest from here Githunguri to the rest of Kenya and force them out of power before their term ends.

Issuing a warning to Gachagua, the Wiper leader remarked that even police officers would not dare disperse the protests since they were also suffering due to high taxation.

When I came here in Kiambu last time, Gachagua sent police to chase us away. Is Kalonzo someone to be chased away using teargas? he posed

The Kenyan DAILY POST
I maybe have a tiny shred of compassion.

A doctor I know wrote this in reference to a person theyd never met, a person who had been verbally abusive to many health care professionals. A person who was a prospective patient.

A tiny shred of compassion. Maybe.

I had met the patient in question, was the physician caring for them in the hospital. I was trying to find a PCP who would take care of them after discharge. They were a person of color and they were poor. They were living out of their car but too proud to admit it. They had a low paying job doing hard, honest work that took a toll on the body. They were not physically well. They often needed doctors and nurses to take care of them, but whenever they were in a hospital or clinic, they saw health care villains, not health care heroes. I didnt know my patients whole life story but imagined they had reason to distrust people, institutions, and systems. Distrust as visceral as theirs must be rooted in a lifetime of lies and betrayals. No matter how well justified, their mistrust was not serving them well. When my patient was sickest, when they were most vulnerable and scared, their fear was compounded by suspicion of all those trying to help them. It was a threat to their life if it caused them to delay or reject lifesaving care. My colleague was considering whether to accept this patient into their practice after discharge. I thought about how much empathy they used to have, that is before the daily grind ground it out of them. I figured they were burned out.

Moral distress and burnout are frequent topics of discussion in health care circles these days. Administrators send out surveys, hand out candy on hospital units, and offer well-intentioned words of affirmation  all while asking medical staff to keep doing more than is safe for them to do. I am burned out and I am distressed, morally and otherwise. A Kit-Kat and a kudos are not going to change that. What I want is to drive home at the end of a shift and feel good about the care I provided that day. I want to provide my patients with the health care they deserve, the high-quality care I know I can provide if I have the time and resources to provide it. However, I cant control the electronic medical record or the number of patients I have to see; I cant control documentation requirements or the frequency of interruptions.

Learned helplessness has taken root. The American health care system is a reflection of our culturethat is to say, individualistic, profit-driven, and short-sighted. Rather than reflect the superficialities and pitfalls of our culture, doctors are expected to embody the best of it. We embrace this challenge and in turn expect the stature and respect bestowed on those of unimpeachable integrity. But too many of us too often fail to hold up our end of the bargain. We go through the motions, cash our paychecks, treat patients as commodities while resenting the commodification of our profession. The culture within medicine is changing and its long past time it did. More and more, doctors are encouraged to embrace their humanity, acknowledge their limitations, and talk about their emotions. Were not Supermen and Superwomen. Were human. Atul Gawande tells us so. I support all of that and believe me, I am plenty in tune with my faults and limitations. At the same time, I dont want to be seen as an ordinary person. I dont want patients in their hour of greatest need to look up and see just another dude. I didnt spend all those hours in the library or all those sleepless nights in the hospital so I could do ordinary things. I wanted to be part of something powerful, something beautiful. As cliche as that sounds, it was true before, and its still true now.

My brother asked me years ago, Isnt being a doctor just a job? I told him no, it is a passion and part of my identity. In recent years, it has been just a job, and thats why Ive been so miserable. I need to put those years behind me. My patients deserve better than someone who treats improving their health or saving their life as just another job. They deserve my attention and focus, deserve to be heard and not judged, deserve to feel safe and cared for, deserve to feel confident in their doctor. They deserve to trust. It is magic, trust is, and the moments of connection it allowswhen a wall comes down, a secret is shared, a fear expressed, a tear shed. Individual doctors cannot control the system, but we can connect with patients, earn their trust, and challenge colleagues to do the same. Its about time we stop playing the victim.

We can hide behind the system and many overworked, overscheduled days wed be justified in doing so. There is so much we cannot control about our day and our job but the system will only take our humanity if we relinquish it. If we expect to be held in high esteem we must act in a way deserving of it. We cannot wait to be treated as selfless professionals to start acting as such. Our professionalism cannot be conditional on being treated as a professional. I am not satisfied by the number of patients I have to see every day. Metrics dont fill my passion bucket. I am through with throughput. The triple aim can kiss my ass three times over. I will not mimic my employer by measuring my work and my worth as a bean counter would. I am going to ignore the buzzing phone in my pocket, ignore the utilization reviews, and ignore the RVUs, JOAs, and P4Ps. All those things can wait. In fact, theyll have to wait because I am staging a sit-in, one where I sit down and focus wholly on the person in front of me.

So I was driving home a few nights ago. It was very late. Exhausted and spent, I was listening to Ben Folds The Luckiest, and I was crying. That day I had connected with the abusive patient who was supposedly incapable of reasonable human interaction. With a nudge from me, my colleagues heart had softened and they agreed to take on the patient no one else would see. They even reached out to the patient with a simple act of kindness. The patient was overjoyed, and more than that, they were relieved. Their shell of anger cracked, along with their voice, when speaking to a case manager that day. They said they had finally been heard and could let go of their feartheir fear of not getting care.

I dont pretend to have the riddle of career satisfaction solved, but I do know fulfillment does not lie in the approval of my employer. I am going to serve my patients because it is through service to them that I serve myself. The ultimate performance incentive is human connection. The sooner I recognize that, the sooner I recover a tiny shred of hope. Maybe.

The author is an anonymous physician.
Irish premier Simon Harris has condemned significant disorder at a site earmarked for asylum seekers in Co Wicklow as utterly unacceptable and reprehensible behaviour.

Gardai came under attack in Newtownmountkennedy as protests on Thursday descended into violence later in the evening.

The Taoiseach said protest is legitimate, but should not be done with an axe.

Mr Harris thanked gardai on the front line and added that thuggery will not change Government plans.

The trouble flared after workers contracted to carry out construction work on the former HSE facility attempted to enter the site, identified by the Department of Integration as a potential accommodation option for international protection applicants.

Six arrests were made during what the Garda described as serious public disorder.

Four people appeared in court on Friday charged with public order offences.

Another man charged in relation to the disorder has been released to appear before court at a later date, and a male juvenile was freed without charge and will be referred to the Youth Diversion Project.

The Garda Public Order Unit was deployed during the trouble. A Garda statement said gardai used force to defend themselves, including the use of pepper spray, as part of an escalated response to the violence.

Three Garda patrol cars were damaged.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris visited the location on Friday morning, and rejected the suggestion that gardai may have been heavy-handed.

There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence, he said.

Weve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse-type premises, but also then, disgracefully, attacks on members of An Garda Siochana who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged.

Mr Harris said one patrol vehicle was damaged with a full-sized axe, with the rear and front windows smashed.

He said there were also attempts to injure Garda members.

Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them, he added.

Speaking to media in Co Wicklow, Mr Harris condemned the scenes.

You dont engage in protest that involves fire, that involves burning things, that involves thuggery and that involves assaulting members of An Garda Siochana or their vehicles, he said.

That is utterly unacceptable and reprehensible behaviour in this country.

Gardai will enforce the laws of the land in this country without fear or favour. There are laws in this land. The laws apply to all, and the laws will be enforced and I want to thank the gardai on the front line last night in relation to that.

Protest is legitimate in a democracy, I get that, but you dont protest with an axe. What happened last night in this county of Wicklow will not be tolerated and will not be tolerated anywhere in this country, as the laws of the land are clear and the laws of the land will be enforced by An Garda Siochana.

Asked about claims that gardai had been heavy-handed, Mr Harris said: There are mechanisms available to anybody in relation to Garda oversight and I fully support the gardai.

Gardai do an extremely difficult job. The Garda put themselves in harms way to keep us safe and to uphold the laws of this land.

In terms of plans for the site, Mr Harris added: Weve a very difficult humanitarian situation in this country and were working on a very regular basis to provide shelter and indeed to ensure that we dont have a situation where we see tented almost villages like weve seen around Mount Street. Thats not a good place to be in.

The Department of Integration will continue to work with local authorities, with state-owned land to find solutions, and certainly thuggery will not play any role whatsoever in deviating from any such plans.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee also defended the approach taken by gardai.

I dont think anybody looking at pictures from last night would disagree with the approach that the gardai have taken, she told Newstalk.
Twenty-nine Kilkenny soldiers who fought with the ANZAC in World War I are to be remembered at a special ceremony in the city this Sunday, April 21.

The ANZAC was the combination of the Australian Imperial Forces and the forces of New Zealand, which became the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

It is estimated that some 300,000 Irish fought in World War I (1914-1918) and approximately 6,600 of them with the ANZAC.

At the turn of the last century, Australia was very much as popular a destination for Irish emigrants as it is in this, the 21st Century. On the outbreak of war, there was no conscription in that country, but many citizens were keen to sign up and lend their support to Britain and protect Australian interests in the Pacific from German and Axis interference.

The ANZAC forces have become particularly synonymous with the assault and battle at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915. Sadly, their wounded amounted to approximately 26,000, while some 8,141 soldiers were killed. Counted among this number were at least 29 Kilkenny men, and a further 138 from the wider South East area.

This Sunday, at 4.30pm, members of the public from across the region  and particularly any Australian or New Zealand natives  are being invited to attend a commemorative ceremony at the Peace Park in Kilkenny City.

The ceremony will consist of poetry, music, wreath-laying, speeches from representatives of the Australian, New Zealand and Turkish Embassies, flag raising, playing of the Last Post and Reveille and the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and Ireland. Members of the public are also invited to lay down a wreath.

Cathaoirligh and mayors from the South-East counties, as well as local dignitaries and officials will be present on the day.

Refreshments will be served directly after the ceremony at the Home Rule Club, John's Quay, Kilkenny.
Newshub reports:

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has stood by increasing the public service workforce during his time in government, saying its been proportionate to the growth in population. The Coalition Government has directed the public services to cut costs by between 6.5 and 7.5 percent to help reduce annual public service spending by $1.5 billion. Its resulted in thousands of jobs proposed to be axed across the sector. The National Party has said it is trying to restore financial discipline with its cuts to the public service because the number of staff has ballooned under the previous Labour Government. Since Labour came to power in 2017, the number of public servants has increased by roughly one-third, up just under 18,500 to a total of 65,699 full-time equivalent staff at the end of 2023. However, Hipkins said the increase in public sector jobs was in response to New Zealands rising population. According to Stats NZ, New Zealands population has increased from just over 4.76 million at the end of 2016 to 5.3 million at the end of 2023.

That is a 33% increase in public service numbers compared to an 11% increase in population. So when Hipkins says the growth has been proportionate he is wrong, or you can use a term that rhymes with flying.

Hipkins said the increase in government spending over the last six years under Labour has been proportionate to the increase in population and increase in pressure the public services have been under.

Government spending was $78 billion in 2017 and $140 billion in 2023. That is a massive 79% increase.

The size of the public sector workforce relative to the overall size of the workforce is actually slightly less than it was when we first became the government, he said.

Again not true. The HLFS show the proportion of the workforce in public administration and safety went from 5.6% to 6.9% from 2017 to 2023. If he is talking about the entire public sector then he is not talking just public servants but also doctors, nurses, teachers etc. That is a red herring. Few if any say we dont have enough of those.

The country is not broke. We have actually got some of the lowest government debt levels in the OECD, he told AM co-host Lloyd Burr.

Actually 15 OECD countries have lower gross debt. And for net debt, Michael Riddell shows us:

So we are not near the bottom at all.

He said New Zealand was in a difficult part in the economic cycle and now is not the time for tax cuts.

A chocolate fish for a reader who can find anytime Chris Hipkins has said the time is right for tax cuts.

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WADA invites independent prosecutor to review contamination case concerning Chinese swimmers

Xinhua) 11:27, April 26, 2024

OTTAWA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday that it has invited an independent prosecutor to conduct a thorough review of its handling of the contamination case concerning Chinese swimmers.

In a statement, the agency said the decision was taken in light of the "damaging and baseless allegations" that are being leveled at the WADA.

According to the statement, the independent prosecutor, Eric Cottier with 39 years' experience was the Attorney General of the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland, from September 2005 until his retirement in December 2022.

He also had been a public prosecutor from 1984 to 1991, President of the 2nd District Court in Vevey and Lavaux from 1991 to 1998, and a cantonal court judge from 1999 until 2005.

He is currently a member of the Board of the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Prosecutor Extraordinary at the federal level in Switzerland, and a member of a working group at the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), an independent, inter-governmental organization based in Rome.

"WADA's integrity and reputation is under attack. In the past few days, WADA has been unfairly accused of bias in favor of China by not appealing the CHINADA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," said WADA president Witold Banka. "We continue to reject the false accusations and we are pleased to be able to put these questions into the hands of an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor. I thank the members of WADA's Executive Committee for meeting at such short notice and for their support in this matter."

To facilitate his review, Cottier will be granted full and unfettered access to all of WADA's files and documents related to this matter and will be free to consult with any independent experts as he sees fit, so as to reach his conclusions, the statement said.

Cottier will start his work in the coming days and is expected to deliver his findings within two months. Upon completion of his report, the WADA Executive Committee will assess it and consider next steps, as appropriate, the statement said.

In addition to the independent prosecutor and entirely separate to his work, WADA will shortly send a compliance audit team to China in order to assess the current state of its anti-doping program as part of the agency's regular compliance monitoring program, the statement said.

For added reassurance, WADA will invite a number of independent auditors from the broader anti-doping community to join the audit team on that mission, the statement added.

A group of Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in early 2021 after inadvertently being exposed to the substance through contamination. After WADA Science Department and external legal counsel reviewed this case thoroughly, it concluded "the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Kim Hyun-bin

Anne Hoglund, acting Swedish ambassador to Korea, emphasized the importance of working together for net zero and the global shift toward sustainability, during the Sweden Plus Korea Green Transition Alliance event in Seoul, April 25.

The initiative, a collaboration between nine leading Swedish companies and their Korean counterparts, marks a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation.

"The Green Transition Alliance is a unique initiative with nine global Swedish companies and the Swedish Embassy and Business Sweden in Korea cooperating with Korean partners to enhance green transition," Hoglund said during the event.

Highlighting the shared commitment of Sweden and Korea to combatting climate change, the ambassador emphasized the significance of reaching net zero carbon emissions.

"The Swedish example shows that greener means richer," she said. "Achieving the climate goals in the Paris Agreement and reach net zero carbon emissions is of the highest priority to both our countries."

The event also featured video remarks from two distinguished guests: Ebba Busch, Swedish minister for energy, business and industry and deputy prime minister; and Kim Sang-hyup, co-chairperson of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth in Korea.

Kim emphasized the urgency of collective action in addressing the climate crisis.

"I hope that we today can share experiences on how industry can drive the green transition through new technologies and expertise to help speed up this transformation together," he said.

As representatives from the nine Swedish companies, including well-known Swedish brand names such as Volvo and IKEA, shared their achievements in promoting sustainability and innovation, the event underscored the critical role of private sector engagement in driving the green transition.

Suet Wan, the country customer fulfillment manager of IKEA Korea, announced the company's commitment to achieving zero emissions in its product deliveries, with plans to implement this initiative in Korea starting next year.

"We aim to achieve 100 percent zero-emission delivery by 2025, contributing to a greener future. At IKEA, our pledge is that by 2025, all home deliveries will be conducted using electric vehicles (EVs) across all countries," Wan said.

"Our primary focus is on ensuring that Seoul is entirely served by EV trucks, considering its high population density. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, currently in Korea, 50 percent of our furniture deliveries are already being carried out using zero-emission methods."

Meanwhile, Volvo Truck Korea outlined its vision for achieving zero carbon emissions from all its vehicles by 2050.

"Our sustainability goals entail reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030, reaching 100 percent reduction by 2040, and ultimately achieving net zero emissions by 2050," Park Gang-serk, managing director of Volvo Trucks Korea said.

"As part of our current strategies, we will introduce practical large electric trucks for domestic sales next year, marking a significant step forward in our preparations for a sustainable future."
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with his Lithuanian counterpart to discuss bilateral cooperation as the Lithuanian Embassy opened here Friday, his office said.

During their talks, Cho congratulated Gabrielius Landsbergis on the opening of the embassy in Seoul earlier this day, saying it will serve as an "important milestone" in the development of bilateral ties.

Landsbergis is visiting Seoul to attend the opening ceremony of the inauguration.

He stressed that the embassy opened in Seoul given the importance of Vilnius' relations with South Korea and the Indo-Pacific region, according to the ministry.

The envoy also offered to provide the necessary support for opening the South Korean Embassy in Lithuania.

The two sides agreed to work closely in high-tech industries, such as energy and bio, and discussed the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. (Yonhap)
Min Hee Jin revealed that she was frustrated when HYBE cast Sakura and Kim Chaewon and signed them under Source Music. Find out why here.

A messy feud has started between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, with HYBE claiming that Min Hee Jin planned a scheme to seize full control of ADOR, the agency housing NewJeans. Min Hee Jin, however, has denied these allegations, sparking internal conflict and public controversy.

Keep on reading for all the details.

Min Hee Jin Confessed Frustration After Sakura & Kim Chaewon Joined Source Music

Min Hee Jin, the CEO of ADOR, expressed dissatisfaction with HYBE.

On April 25, 2024, an emergency press conference was held by Min Hee Jin, CEO of ADOR, at the Korea Conference Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

HYBE, which held an audit on ADOR after they claimed to have garnered evidence of Min Hee Jin attmepting to seize control of the company, announced the results of its investigation earlier that day. HYBE confirmed evidence of a plan to usurp management rights led by the CEO of ADOR and stated that they plan to submit a criminal complaint to the authorities.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: GFriend's Reaction to Sudden Disbandment Resurfaces Amid HYBE-ADOR Conflict

Min Hee Jin denied these and explained the reason for her feud with HYBE, saying, "HYBE needs to reflect. They need to think about what they've done to me."

She then revealed how frustrated she was when Sakura and Kim Chaewon joined HYBE after being scouted. She claims that she was not informed that the two former IZ*ONE members would be joining the company.

Their addition to the Source Music roster angered Min Hee Jin to the point that she wanted to resign, and she informed HYBE she couldn't continue working.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: HYBE To Accuse Min Hee Jin For Breach Of Trust + Shares Report Regarding Audit On ADOR

This is because NewJeans was originally meant to be HYBE's first girl group. Member Hyein even turned down casting offers from different countries, but she chose to sign with ADOR so that she could debut with the "first HYBE girl group" title.

However, because Sakura and Kim Chaewon joined Source Music, LE SSERAFIM ended up debuting before NewJeans, which caused the latter to lose out on the aforementioned title.

Min Hee Jin Claims She Was Asked Not to Debut NewJeans Before LE SSERAFIM

Min Hee Jin then adds that HYBE CEO Park Ji Won told her not to debut NewJeans before LE SSERAFIM.

When asked why, Park Ji Won stated that he wanted people to think Min Hee Jin was the mind behind LE SSERAFIM and that the public should be confused between the two. This angered Min Hee Jin, who had already selected the debut line-up of NewJeans and could not give up on their debut.

CHECK THIS OUT: ILLIT Thanks BELIFT Lab & HYBE Amid Drama With ADOR

In the end, Min Hee Jin requested to set up ADOR so that NewJeans could debut as quickly as possible. She then reveals that the reason why NewJeans debuted with zero promotions and teasers is because Park Ji Won banned her from promoting NewJeans' debut so that more attention would be on LE SSERAFIM.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
WAKEONE has responded to reports that claimed Kep1er would disband in July.

As fans know, Kep1er is a project group with a temporary contract. Since they came from a survival show, fans are sadly counting the days until the group has to inevitably disband. When reports came out that the group was dissolving in July, Kep1ians (Kep1er's fandom) were understandably upset.

Now, the agency has responded. Keep on reading for all the details.

WAKEONE Responds to Rumors That Kep1er's Contract Expires in July

The agency for the group Kep1er has stated that they are "in discussions for extending their activities," following reports that the group is facing disbandment.

On April 25, 2024, a representative from their agency, WAKEONE, spoke exclusively with South Korean media outlet Ilgan Sports.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kep1er Confirms Disbandment in THIS Month - Here's What Happened

In their statement, they claimed that they are currently in discussions for a possible contract extension with the members and their agencies, meaning their disbandment in July is not yet certain. They stated,

"We are currently discussion with each member and their respective agencies regarding the extension of Kep1er's project activities."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WAKEONE Slammed For Excluding Yujin From Kep1er 'Straight Line' Teaser: 'Where Is She?!'

They also informed the media that Kep1er is currently preparing for a new album.

Earlier, a media outlet reported that Kep1er would disband following failed contract negotiations by the end of July. However, with the agency's statement of being "in discussions," attention is now focused on their future activities and whether the girl group will disband or not.

CHECK THIS OUT: Top 15 K-pop Female Dancers Of 2024 So Far According to Dabeme - Who's Your Favorite?

Kep1er is a project group formed through the Mnet audition program "Girls Planet 999: The Girls Saga," aiming for a debut as a joint girl group in South Korea, China, and Japan.

The group consists of a total of nine members: Choi Yujin, Shen Xiaoting, Mashiro Sakamoto, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Dayeon, Hikaru Ezaki, Huening Bahiyyih, Seo Youngeun, and Kang Yeseo.

FOR YOU: Kep1er Mashiro & Shen Xiaoting Name The Prettiest K-Pop Idols They've Seen on Music Shows

In other news, Kep1er is set to release their first full-length album in Japan, titled "Kep1going," on May 8, 2024.

Kep1er Recent Activities

As of January 2024, discussions regarding the renewal of Kep1er's contracts were reported to be ongoing, with their current contracts set to expire on July 3, 2024.

MORE INFORMATION HERE: Kepler's Contract Extension Buzz Hits Fever Pitch - Will They Stay or Go?

Kep1er embarked on their second Japanese concert tour titled "Kep1er Japan Concert Tour 2024, 'Fly-High,'" performing at the Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba on February 2324, 2024, and at the Kobe World Memorial Hall in Kobe on March 23.

Their first Japanese studio album, "Kep1going," is scheduled for release on May 8. The music video for the title track, "Straight Line," was unveiled on April 23, 2024.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
Min Hee Jin is currently trending across the K-pop community for her bombshell expose at a press conference regarding HYBE and ADOR's feud. However, her lawyers also seemed to have taken the attention online for appearing "stressed" during the meeting.

Here's what people are saying.

Min Hee Jin's Lawyers Go Viral For Appearing 'Stressed' At Press Conference

On April 25, Min Hee Jin, CEO of ADOR, held a press conference at the Korea Conference Center, in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to elaborate her side of the story amid the feud between HYBE Labels and ADOR.

Min Hee Jin's conference broke the internet, as the CEO relayed numerous topics discussing what happened internally behind Source Music, GFRIEND's disbandment, and her conversations with Bang Si Hyuk, which drew backlash after aespa was mentioned.

The conference led fandoms to have all eyes on Min Hee Jin, who took the spotlight on online communities for her shocking reveals, statements, demeanor, and composure. Fans also expressed worry for NewJeans' future as a group.

Min Hee Jin may have taken most of the attention both online and at the conference. However, two certain individuals accompanying the CEO also stole the show.

On social media platform X (Twitter), numerous photos of Min Hee Jin's lawyers were uploaded, and according to the posts, netizens have pointed out that her lawyers appeared to be having a hard time during the conference.

With the lawyers' reactions making waves across social media, it's clear that fans have found an outlet for letting loose despite Min Hee Jin's serious expose.

Here's how they reacted:

Min Hee Jin Reveals Text Messages With HYBE Founder Bang Si Hyuk, Brings aespa Into The Mix

In other news, Min Hee Jin's surprising reveal of her text messages with Bang Si Hyuk became one of the conference's main highlights.

The CEO showcased two screenshots of her KakaoTalk conversation with Bang Si Hyuk, which transpired on December 2, 2021. Messages showed that after Bang Si Hyuk had invited Min Hee Jin to join HYBE with the purpose of re-branding, the founder suddenly mentioned aespa.

Bang Si Hyuk then asked Min Hee Jin if she would be able to "crush" aespa, to which Min Hee Jin laughed. Bang Si Hyuk then replied by saying that he would leave that endeavor to the ADOR CEO.

Read the conversation below:

Bang Si Hyuk: "You'll be able to crush aespa, right?" Min Hee Jin: "Hahaha" Bang Si Hyuk: "Hahah (emoticon), I'll leave it up to you."

What are your thoughts on the meme-worthy posts? What's your take on Min Hee Jin's press conference? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Min Hee Jin Reveals She Was Asked to 'Crush aespa' By HYBE Founder Bang Si Hyuk

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
Following Min Hee Jin's press conference, HYBE is believed to be deleting posts online that show support for the ADOR CEO.

A feud between HYBE Labels and Min Hee Jin, the CEO of subsidiary ADOR, has gone viral. HYBE claims that Min Hee Jin planned a scheme to seize full control of ADOR, the agency housing NewJeans.

They have requested an audit and a shareholder meeting with ADOR's board of directors. Min Hee Jin, however, has denied these claims, sparking internal conflict and public controversy.

Min Hee Jin Presscon: Netizens React To ADOR CEO's Public Statement

Following HYBE's claims that Min Hee Jin and other executives attempted to usurp the total management rights of ADOR behind HYBE Labels's back, the ADOR CEO held an emergency press conference at the Korea Conference Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

The press conference was held on April 25, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

During the press conference, Min Hee Jin shed light on several things, including Bang Si Hyuk's treatment of her, how NewJeans was promised to debut as the first HYBE girl group only to have their debut pushed back, and how the NewJeans members are on her side.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: K-Netz 'Praise' Min Hee Jin's 'Star Quality,' Press Conference T-Shirt & Cap Sold Out

Following the press conference, netizens were split. Some believed Min Hee Jin made valid points and agreed that it was unfair that LE SSERAFIM debuted first, despite the promise that NewJeans would debut as HYBE's first girl group.

They also noted how Bang Si Hyuk mocked her in texts and thought it was inappropriate how he asked her to "crush" aespa.

Others, however, agreed with HYBE Labels. They claimed that Min Hee Jin's relationship with NewJeans was inappropriate, as she is in her 40s and, as of writing, none of the NewJeans members are 20 years old.

Some claimed that while it was understandable why she was upset that NewJeans's debut was pushed back, the group ultimately did get to debut and is considered one of the biggest girl groups at the moment.

People claimed her actions were hurting NewJeans rather than helping them.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Min Hee Jin's Claims Of NewJeans' Formula Being Copied Has K-Netz Agreeing: 'What She's Saying Is Right'

With the buzz over what was said, many people are taking to online community forums to voice their thoughts. However, it appears the narrative on these forums is being silenced and suppressed.

HYBE is actively monitoring and deleting posts that support Min Hee-jin pic.twitter.com/co6bZ43j0Y  Cake (@CakeDegg) April 25, 2024

Is HYBE Deleting Posts Expressing Support for ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin?

On that same day, Korean netizens noticed that posts that voiced out support for Min Hee Jin were automatically flagged and regulated by an administrator. However, posts that showed support for HYBE were not given this same treatment.

This led people to speculate that the company was silencing individuals who were on Min Hee Jin's side.

Not me trying to translate the articles on Cafe Daum and them getting deleted by the second-  NEWJEANS NEWS (@newjeansnews_) April 25, 2024

CHECK THIS OUT: Min Hee Jin's Lawyers Trend For Appearing 'Stressed' At Press Conference: 'They Look So Done'

This has sparked immense backlash against HYBE, with people stating they should put this energy into protecting their artists when they are getting bashed on rather than protecting the company's image. It was noted that several posts about NewJeans and other artists that had malicious intent were either not flagged or would be flagged hours later.

And they cant do it for the malicious NJ posts? Hybe  kuri (@Krooppik) April 25, 2024

People are taking this as proof that HYBE has substantial influence on the media, meaning they can pay their way to get the results they want. Overall, it is a bad look for the company.

And ppl wanna say hybe dont control media like tht   MILKOO (@milkoo111) April 25, 2024

FOR YOU: Min Hee Jin Unmasks Bang Si Hyuk's Texts, Denies GFriend's Disbandment Links

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
UNIS member Gehlee Dangca is being called the "Jang Wonyoung" of the Philippines!

On March 27, 2024, UNIS made their much-anticipated debut with their first mini-album, "We UNIS," and the lead single "Superwoman." Since then, the members have diligently promoted the song and earned themselves a stable fan base.

One stand-out member is Gehlee Dangca, who is loved for her aura and beauty.

UNIS Gehlee Dangca Nicknamed the 'Jang Wonyoung of the Philippines'

A South Korean netizen took to the South Korean online community forum to claim that Gehlee Dangca, a member of UNIS, looks like Jang Wonyoung.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Is Elisia The Center of UNIS? K-Netz Discuss Who Deserves The Position

They claimed that the rookie idol is like the "Jang Wonyoung of the Philippines" thanks to her pretty visuals and her princess-like aura. On top of that, she also earned praise for being a talented vocalist.

During her time on "Universe Ticket," Gehlee Dangca considered her beauty and her vocals to be her biggest strengths.

Those who saw the post couldn't help but agree. Though people claimed they looked nothing alike, it was undeniable that both idols flaunted a princess-like aura to them. Even just standing and posing, both girls radiate star power.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: UNIS Seowon Draws Mixed Reactions for THIS Reason: 'She's Too...'

This is something that even Gehlee Dangca knows about herself, as she gave herself the nickname "Disney Princess of Universe Ticket" during her time on the survival show!

Others agreed that the young idol was pretty and expressed their desire to learn more about the young Filipina as she continues to promote with UNIS.

CHECK THIS OUT: 5th-Gen Idol Dubbed 'Little Jang Wonyoung' Due to Visual Similarities to IVE Member - Who Is She?

UNIS's contract is reported to last two and a half years, meaning their contract will expire in 2026.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

Introducing UNIS's Gehlee Dangca

For those who don't know who Gehlee Dangca is, here is a quick rundown!

Born on August 19, 2007, Gehlee Dangca is one of two full Filipina members in the group, with the other being Elisia. During the finale of "Universe Ticket," Gehlee Dangca ranked fourth, amassing 2,465,526 votes. In UNIS, she is their confirmed visual and sub-vocalist.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Introducing UNIS' Filipino Line: Elisia, Gehlee Dangca, Jin Hyeonju!

Prior to her K-pop idol debut, Gehlee Dangca was a student and model in the Philippines. She started modeling at just 12 years old.

During her modeling and pageant career, Gehlee Dangca was named Aspire Magazine Global's Youth Development Ambassadress, Ortiz Group of Skin Clinics Ambassadress, and TBC International Kid Ambassadress.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
A chilling entry from Michael McKnight's journal dated the day after the McKnights were murdered said: "I have committed mortal sin out of wrath."
EU steps up humanitarian assistance for Palestinians

In light of the continued deterioration of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the steady rise of needs on the ground, the Commission is stepping up its funding to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war.

The EU has now allocated an additional 68 million in the form of humanitarian aid to be channelled through partner organisations already assisting Palestinians in Gaza and across the region. This support aims to scale up the desperately needed food assistance, nutritional, health, water and sanitation and shelter support, amongst others. This support brings total EU humanitarian assistance to 193 million for Palestinians in need inside Gaza and across the region in 2024.

Furthermore, the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operation in aid of people in Gaza continues to transport vital supplies provided by humanitarian partners and EU Member States. The latest flight will deliver emergency supplies today and two additional flights are scheduled for the first week of May.

The EU has funded 2 convoys transporting over 130 tonnes of shelter, health, water and sanitation supplies donated by Ireland and humanitarian partners. These items, deployed from Dubai, are being transported to Gaza in coordination with the Global Logistics Cluster via Jordan. The Commission is constantly monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide further assistance as required.

Background

The protracted humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate rapidly due to the continued intensification of hostilities after the terrorist attack on Israel and the consequent full-scale Israeli military operation, along with the blockade of Gaza.

The already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic level for the 2.2 million population, resulting in a high death toll among civilians and a concrete risk of famine.

To respond to the crisis, since October 2023, the EU has conducted 48 humanitarian air bridge flights transporting over 2 000 tonnes of relief items supplied by humanitarian partners and several EU Member States.

The EU also opened two EU warehouses inside Gaza, in Rafah and the Middle Area, for a total of 1 500 square meters at disposal of humanitarian partners.

The EU is also exploring all available means of aid delivery, while the land delivery remains the most effective and efficient way to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza at scale needed.

Through the EHRC, an epidemiologist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also been deployed to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Jordan.

For More Information

Palestine country page

European Humanitarian Response Capacity (EHRC)

Quote

We are witnessing a True humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. The critical condition of Palestinians in extreme peril is getting disastrous beyond words. The dramatic death toll and injuries among civilians, of which mostly women and children, the destruction of vital infrastructures and the impending famine in Gaza must be a wakeup call for the entire international community. Civilians should not pay the price of any conflict. Palestinians cannot wait any longer for meaningful aid to arrive, Israel must do more to avert a further human disaster. Respect of international law is paramount.

Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management 2024-04-25
Bhubaneswar, Apr 26 (PTI) A five-member team of the Election Commission of India on Friday searched a helicopter used by bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian in Odisha's Nabarangapur district, an official said.

"No objectionable material was found in the helicopter," he said.

Also Read | Tripura Lok Sabha Election 2024: Bru Refugees Vote for General Elections in North Eastern State, Marking a Milestone.

The search was conducted when the helicopter carrying the senior BJD leader, who is also a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, landed at Umerkote.

The team included election officials, the local BDO, a police officer and a magistrate.

Also Read | Delhi High Court Directs Defence Ministry To Decide Plea Challenging Excluding of Females in Armed Forces Via CDS Examination.

The checking was done in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, the official said.

Pandian went to Umerkote to address a public meeting. He will also visit to Jharigam and Dabugam assembly segments under Nabarangapur Lok Sabha seat, which will go to polls on May 13 along with Berhampur, Koraput and Kalahandi.

Neither Pandian nor the ruling BJD issued any reaction to the search so far.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ramnagar (Karnataka) [India], April 26 (ANI): As Bengaluru prepares for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26, a pink booth model has been set up in the Ramnagar district of Bangalore Rural constituency for women voters, decorated with balloons, banners and chairs with pink colour etc.

Polling in Karnataka for the 28 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha will be held on April 26 and May 7 in the second and third phases, respectively.

Also Read | West Bengal School Jobs Case: After CM Mamata Banerjee, TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Lashes Out at Calcutta HC Ruling, Says Section of Judiciary Being Biased.

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JDS party Leader HD Kumaraswamy, Anitha Kumaraswamy, and Nikhil Kumaraswamy will cast their vote here.

Karnataka, which contributes 28 seats in 543-member Parliament, will witness polling in two phases in which voting will be held on 14 seats on Friday - Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikballapur, Kolar.

Also Read | Hyderabad Road Accident: Man Burnt Alive After Car Hits Truck on Outer Ring Road.

Karnataka, saw the BJP securing 25 seats out of 28 seats in the 2019 elections. This time, the BJP is contesting in 25 seats, with its state ally JDS vying for the remaining 3 seats. The three constituencies contested by JDS are part of the second phase - Hassan, Mandya, and Kolar.

Bangalore South and Mysuru stand as other pivotal constituencies going to the polls on April 26.

From Bengaluru Rural, sitting MP Congress' DK Suresh is pitted against BJP's Cholenahalli Nanjappa Manjunath, son-in-law of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

Voting will begin at 7 am on Friday and will conclude at 6 pm. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4.

The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ukhrul (Manipur) [India], April 26 (ANI): Senior citizens, including a 94-year-old woman, cast votes at a polling station in the Ukhrul district of Outer Manipur for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday.

Volunteers were seen assisting the elderly at the polling station in Manipur as polling commenced for the remaining part of the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on Friday.

Also Read | India General Elections 2024 Phase 2: Festival of Democracy Ends in Kerala With 67% Voter Turnout.

Another senior citizen also cast her vote at the polling station after she was assisted to the polling station by her family members.

The voting is taking place at 857 polling stations across 13 assembly segments in eight districts in the second phase today.

Also Read | Maharashtra Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress Leader Arif Naseem Khan Quits As Star Campaigner After MVA Coalition Fails To Field Muslim Candidate in LS Polls.

Meanwhile, another elderly woman who cast her vote for the Darjeeling Parliamentary Constituency in West Bengal expressed happiness and said that the polling had been taking place in a good and peaceful manner.

"This has been a very good and peaceful election. For that, we are very grateful to the people and everybody else. The Government should carry on the way they are doing things," said the elderly voter in Darjeeling.

The voter was assisted in a wheelchair by other volunteers as she was on her way to the polling station.

Police used drones for surveillance in the Ukhrul district prior to the second phase of the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Ukhrul comes under the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency.

Naga People's Front's (NPF) Kachui Timothy Zimik is contesting against Congress's Alfred K. Arthur here.

Earlier, re-polling was held in 11 polling stations of the Inner Manipur constituency on April 22, after multiple incidents of violence were reported during the first phase of polling on April 19.

Unidentified miscreants opened fire and even destroyed EVMs, according to sources.

The re-polling was done under tight security to avoid any mishaps.

The constituency of Outer Manipur is currently held by Lorho Phoze of the Naga People Front.

This time, however, the NPF is going into the polls as a partner in the BJP-led NDA. The BJP, earlier, announced its support for the NPF candidate for Outer Manipur, Kachui Timothy Zimik.

Zimik is up against Congress MLA Alfred K Arthur, who is the joint Opposition candidate of the INDIA bloc.

Voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 began at 7:00 am on Friday across 88 Parliamentary Constituencies spread over 12 States and Union Territories. (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, Apr 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the phase two of the Lok Sabha polls has been "too good" for the BJP-led NDA, describing the support to the ruling alliance as unparalleled.

He said on X as polling ended, "Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more."

Also Read | KTET April 2024 Date: Registration for Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test Examination Extended Till May 2, Apply Online at ktet.kerala.gov.in.

"Voters want NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support," Modi said.

The prime minister had made a similar assertion after phase one of voting on April 19, saying the ruling alliance has seen a great response.

Also Read | Tripura Lok Sabha Election 2024: Bru Refugees Vote for General Elections in North Eastern State, Marking a Milestone.

It is clear that people across India are voting for the NDA in record numbers, he had said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Raipur, Apr 26 (PTI) Voting for three Lok Sabha constituencies, having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections began on Friday, with 15.42 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise in the first two hours.

Polling in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies started at 7 am. Till 9 am, 15.42 per cent polling has been registered, a poll official said.

Also Read | Delhi Murder Case: Two, Including Minor Girl, Arrested for Killing Ice-Cream Vendor Near India Gate.

Polling is underway smoothly and peacefully, he added.

Long queues of voters are being witnessed in several polling booths of three seats.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2: Voting for 14 Seats Underway in Karnataka; Rahul Dravid, Nirmala Sitharaman Among Early Voters (Watch Videos).

Among the early voters, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and former MP Abhishek Singh cast their votes in Kawardha town (Rajnandgaon seat), BJP candidate Rupkumari Chaudhary in Harratar village in Mahasamund seat and BJP nominee Bhojraj Nag and his wife in Antagarh in Kanker.

The polling comes days after 29 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district on April 16.

Of the eight assembly segments in the Kanker constituency, polling began in Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Keshkal and Kanker assembly segments at 7 am and will end at 3 pm, the official said.

In four other assembly segments, Sihawa, Sanjari-Balod, Daundilohara and Gunderdehi, polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.

In the Rajnandgaon constituency, except the Manpur-Mohla assembly segment, where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm, voting in all other seven assembly segments began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

The polling time in the Mahasamund constituency is 7 am to 6 pm, except in nine sensitive booths under the Bindranawagarh assembly segment, where it is being held from 7 am to 3 pm.

A security blanket comprising 222 state and paramilitary personnel was thrown across the three seats to ensure peaceful polling.

In the Kanker seat, extra vigil is being maintained by security forces given the threat from Naxalites, the official said.

Altogether 41 candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, are in the fray in a direct fight between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress.

Of the 41 candidates, 15 are in Rajnandgaon, 17 in Mahasamund and 9 in Kanker Lok Sabha seat. There are 52,84,938 eligible voters, including 26,05,350 men, 26,79,528 women and 60 members of the third gender in the three seats.

Altogether 6,567 polling booths have been set up in the constituencies and of them, 23 polling booths have been categorised as vulnerable, 458 have been marked as critical, the official said.

The high-profile Rajnandgaon seat is seeing a contest between BJP MP Santosh Pandey and Congress' Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister and incumbent MLA.

The ruling BJP has dropped its sitting MPs in Mahasamund and Kanker seats and fielded former MLAs Rupkumari Chaudhary and Bhojraj Nag there respectively.

Opposition Congress has fielded former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu in Mahasamund and senior leader Biresh Thakur in Kanker seat. Thakur lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Kanker.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 9 seats while Congress bagged two seats in Chhattisgarh.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Palghar, Apr 26 (PTI) Two persons were killed and six injured, some of them seriously, after a drunk man driving a tempo knocked down pedestrians and two-wheeler riders in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Friday.

The incident took place in the Wada area on Wednesday night, he said. The police have arrested the tempo driver but are yet to share his details.

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The tempo first hit pedestrians Ashok Kalingada (36) and Ajinkya Berde (35), killing them on the spot. The drunk driver then rammed the vehicle into a few two-wheelers, injuring six persons, a police official said.

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The injured individuals have been admitted to a local hospital where some of them are said to be in critical condition, he said.

The station house officer of Wada police station said the tempo driver has been booked under the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and the Motor Vehicles Act.

(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, Apr 26 (PTI) Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC on Friday reported a 54 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 208.4 crore for three months ended March 2024.

In comparison, the company had posted a net profit of Rs 135.57 crore in the same quarter of the preceding fiscal, the asset management firm said in a filing to the stock exchanges.

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Total income surged 34 per cent to Rs 440 crore in the January-March period of FY24 from Rs 329 crore in the year-ago period.

The company's board of directors in its meeting recommended a dividend of Rs 13.50 per equity share for FY24.

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For the entire FY24, the company's total income stood at Rs 1,640 crore, marking a jump of 21 per cent year-on-year and net profit was at Rs 780.36 crore in 2023-24, an increase of 31 per cent from the preceding fiscal.

ABSL AMC is a leading asset management company in the country with quarterly average assets under management of Rs 3.32 lakh crore as of March this year.

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, a joint venture between the Aditya Birla Capital and Sun Life (India) AMC Investments Inc, is primarily the investment manager of Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund.

(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, Apr 26 (PTI) ATC Telecom Infrastructure on Friday sold its entire 2.87 per cent stake in telecom operator Vodafone Idea for Rs 1,840 crore through an open market transaction.

American Tower Corporation (ATC) Telecom Infrastructure is one of the largest infrastructure service providers for Vodafone Idea.

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According to the bulk deal data available on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), ATC Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd sold a total of 144 crore shares, representing a 2.87 per cent stake in Vodafone Idea (VIL).

The shares were disposed of at an average price of Rs 12.78 apiece, taking the deal size to Rs 1,840.32 crore.

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ATC Telecom Infrastructure held a 2.87 per cent stake in VI as it has recently converted debentures into equities.

Meanwhile, Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius acquired more than 49.12 crore shares, amounting to a 0.98 per cent stake in VIL. The shares were bought at an average price of Rs 12.70, taking the deal value to Rs 623.88 crore.

However, Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius offloaded 98.74 lakh shares of VIL at an average price of Rs 13.47 per piece.

This took the deal size to Rs 13.30 crore.

Other buyers of the shares could not be ascertained.

Shares of Vodafone Idea fell 0.36 per cent to close at Rs 13.85 apiece on the NSE.

On Monday, debt-laden telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd raised Rs 18,000 crore, pulling off India's largest-ever follow-on public offering (FPO) as the issue got subscribed nearly seven times after institutional investors poured in money.

Vodafone Idea sold shares worth Rs 5,400 crore to institutional investors in the first phase last week. Investment firms GQG and Fidelity picked up most of the shares during the anchor book allocation.

The fundraising will arm VIL with ammo to improve its competitive positioning in the Indian telecom market, where it trails Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, by a wide margin.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Noida, Apr 26 (PTI) Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency as polling began here Friday morning in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election.

The queues were short and many booths reported brisk voting in the first hour, according to some of the electors.

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District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, who is also the District Election Officer, joined the early voters to exercise his democratic right.

"I am also excited like other voters. I appeal to residents to exercise their right and cast votes in large numbers. I hope this time we will have better voter turnout than the last time," Verma said after casting his vote at Cambridge school in Sector 27.

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Ashok Verma (66), who was among the early voters in Noida, said, "It was a good experience. It hardly took 10 minutes to complete the process," the local resident said.

A total of 15 candidates are in the fray for the Gautam Buddha Nagar seat, with over 26.75 lakh people eligible to decide their fate.

City couple Manoj and Sujata were accompanied by their 8-year-old son Sharav to the polling booth.

"We have brought him along to show him the polling process so that he, too, participates in voting in future," Manoj said.

Senior citizen B K Jain said there was cleanliness at the Cambridge school booth and the queue was short, making the process easy for him.

The posh Sector of 15A was also abuzz with voters, especially senior citizens, since the early hours.

"It's my democratic right and I must exercise it. That's the most essential part. Come out for your issues and make your government," said Manju Oberoi.

Her husband Upjive Oberoi said the polling process was quick and smooth, as he walked out of the booth within 10 minutes.

Among the most posh sectors of the city, the residents' welfare association (RWA) in Sector 15A made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booth.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar Lok Sabha constituency is spread across assembly segments of Noida, Dadri, Jewar, Khurja and Sikandrabad. Of these, Sikandrabad and Khujra geographically fall in the adjoining Bulandshahr district but are part of Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency.

The constituency has over 26.75 lakh voters this year.

It had recorded a voter turnout of 60.47 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, 60.38 per cent in 2014 and an abysmal 48 per cent in 2009, according to Election Commission statistics.

The constituency has consistently recorded voter turnout lower than the national average of 67.40 per cent in 2019, 66 per cent in 2014 and 58 per cent in 2009, the data showed.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New York, Apr 26 (AP) As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.

But when it came to the seamy claims by porn performer Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, the tabloid's longtime publisher, said he put his foot down.

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"I am not paying for this story," he told jurors on Thursday at Trump's hush money trial, recounting his version of a conversation with Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen about the catch-and-kill scheme that prosecutors alleged amounted to interference in the race. Pecker was already USD 180,000 in the hole on other Trump-related stories by the time Daniels came along, at which point, he said, "I did not want to be involved in this."

Pecker's testimony was a critical building block for the prosecution's theory that their partnership was a way to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. The Manhattan district attorney is seeking to elevate the gravity of the history-making first trial of a former American president and the first of four criminal cases against Trump to reach a jury.

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Trump's lawyers also began their cross-examination of Pecker, using the time to question his memory of years-old events and to suggest his account had evolved over time.

But the hush money trial was just one of the consequential legal matters facing the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday.

The US Supreme Court also heard arguments over whether Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution while he was the president, stemming from federal charges over his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. The high court justices appeared likely to reject his claims of absolute immunity, though it seemed very possible that trial could be delayed beyond November's election.

Trump's many legal problems collided this week. The hush money case includes a looming decision on whether he violated a gag order and should be held in contempt. His former lawyers and associates were indicted in a 2020 election-related scheme in Arizona. And a New York judge rejected a request for a new trial in a defamation case that found Trump liable for USD 83.3 million in damages.

But the former president has a long history of emerging unscathed from sticky situations -- if not becoming even more popular.

The Supreme Court's decision will have lasting implications for future presidents, because the justices were seeking to answer the never-before-asked question of whether and to what extent does a former president enjoy immunity from prosecution for conduct during his time in office. But it may not impact the New York City case, which hinges mostly on Trump's conduct as a presidential candidate in 2016 -- not as a president.

Trump had asked to skip his New York criminal proceedings for the day so he could sit in on the Supreme Court's special session, but that request was denied by Judge Juan M Merchan, who is overseeing Trump's trial on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments, which involved buying the rights to someone's story but never publishing it.

"I think the Supreme Court has a very important argument before it today," Trump said outside the courtroom. "I should be there."

Instead, he sat at the defence table in a Manhattan courtroom with his lawyers, listening intently to Pecker testify how he and his publication parlayed rumour-mongering into splashy stories that smeared Trump's opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress unflattering coverage.

Trump has maintained he is not guilty of any of the charges, and says the stories that were bought and squelched were false.

"There is no case here. This is just a political witch hunt," he said before court in brief comments to reporters.

As Pecker testified in a calm, cooperative tone about risque tales and secret dealings, the atmosphere in the utilitarian 1940s courtroom was one of quiet attentiveness. Two Secret Service agents were stationed in the first row of the courtroom gallery directly behind Trump. Ten court officers stood around the room. Jurors intently listened, and some took notes.

Pecker recalled that the publication bought a sordid tale from a New York City doorman and purchased accusations of an extramarital affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal to prevent the claims from getting out. There was some talk of reimbursement from Trump's orbit, but Pecker was ultimately never paid.

The breaking point came with Daniels, who was eventually paid by Cohen to keep quiet over her claim of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. The former president denies it happened.

Pecker recalled to the jury that he was dining with his wife the night after the public learned of the infamous 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape in which Trump discussed grabbing women sexually without permission, when then-editor Dylan Howard called with an urgent matter.

Howard said he heard from Daniels' representatives that she was trying to sell her story and that the tabloid could acquire it for USD 120,000, Pecker told jurors. Pecker was tapped out; he told Cohen as much.

At the same time, Pecker advised that someone -- just not him -- should do something to prevent the story from going public. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New York, Apr 26 (PTI) A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was shot and killed by police in San Antonio after he struck two officers with his vehicle as they were trying to apprehend him in connection with an aggravated assault case.

Sachin Sahoo was pronounced deceased at the scene after police officer Tyler Turner shot at him on April 21.

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Sahoo originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh. Sources said he could have been a naturalised US citizen.

According to a preliminary investigation, just before 6:30 pm on April 21, officers were dispatched to a home in Cheviot Heights in San Antonio for a report about Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement to PTI.

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Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old female who had been intentionally struck by a vehicle.

The suspect, Sahoo, had fled the location. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. San Antonio Police Detectives issued a felony arrest warrant for Sahoo in that incident.

Several hours later, neighbours called the police to inform them that Sahoo had returned to the original location. Officers arrived and attempted to contact him when he struck two officers with his vehicle. One officer fired his weapon, striking Sahoo, who was pronounced deceased on scene.

One officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and the other officer was treated for his injuries on scene. Nobody else was injured during the incident. This investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Police Chief Bill McManus said that Sahoo had run over the woman, who was his roommate, with his vehicle. The woman was undergoing several surgeries and was in critical condition.

The police had issued an arrest warrant for Sahoo and a couple of officers had gone to his known location on April 21 to see if they could find him and arrest him.

They did find him and he jumped in his car. He pulled out of his driveway where the police officers blocked him with their vehicles but he was able to squeeze through them. Sahoo hit the officers with his vehicle. The other officer that was with him fired to stop him and struck him, McManus said.

He said the police is yet to look at the bodycam footage to determine further facts.

A report in Kens5.com quoted Sahoo's ex-wife Leah Goldstein as saying that Sahoo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He suffered the past ten years with bipolar disorder," Goldstein said. "He also had symptoms of schizophrenia.

He couldn't understand what was wrong with him," she said in the news report. "He would hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his own mind.

Goldstein described Sahoo as a great dad.

 I was a stay-at-home mom for many years," she said. "He provided for us.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Colorado, Apr 26 (The Conversation) Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink.

But over the last four years, even as the hole has shrunk it has persisted for an unusually long time. Our new research found that instead of closing up during November it has stayed open well into December. This is early summer  the crucial period of new plant growth in coastal Antarctica and the peak breeding season for penguins and seals.

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That's a worry. When the ozone hole forms, more ultraviolet rays get through the atmosphere. And while penguins and seals have protective covering, their young may be more vulnerable.

Why does ozone matter?

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Over the past half century, we damaged the earth's protective ozone layer by using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related chemicals. Thanks to coordinated global action these chemicals are now banned.

Because CFCs have long lifetimes, it will be decades before they are completely removed from the atmosphere. As a result, we still see the ozone hole forming each year.

The lion's share of ozone damage happens over Antarctica. When the hole forms, the UV index doubles, reaching extreme levels. We might expect to see UV days over 14 in summers in Australia or California, but not in polar regions.

Luckily, on land most species are dormant and protected under snow when the ozone hole opens in early spring (September to November). Marine life is protected by sea ice cover and Antarctica's moss forests are under snow. These protective icy covers have helped to protect most life in Antarctica from ozone depletion  until now.

Unusually long-lived ozone holes

A series of unusual events between 2020 and 2023 saw the ozone hole persist into December. The record-breaking 20192020 Australian bushfires, the huge underwater volcanic eruption off Tonga, and three consecutive years of La Nina. Volcanoes and bushfires can inject ash and smoke into the stratosphere. Chemical reactions occurring on the surface of these tiny particulates can destroy ozone.

These longer-lasting ozone holes coincided with significant loss of sea ice, which meant many animals and plants would have had fewer places to hide.

What does stronger UV radiation do to ecosystems?

If ozone holes last longer, summer-breeding animals around Antarctica's vast coastline will be exposed to high levels of reflected UV radiation. More UV can get through, and ice and snow is highly reflective, bouncing these rays around.

In humans, high UV exposure increases our risk of skin cancer and cataracts. But we don't have fur or feathers. While penguins and seals have skin protection, their eyes aren't protected.

Is it doing damage? We don't know for sure. Very few studies report on what UV radiation does to animals in Antarctica. Most are done in zoos, where researchers study what happens when animals are kept under artificial light.

Even so, it is a concern. More UV radiation in early summer could be particularly damaging to young animals, such as penguin chicks and seal pups who hatch or are born in late spring.

As plants such as Antarctic hairgrass, Deschampsia antarctica, the cushion plant, Colobanthus quitensis and lots of mosses emerge from under snow in late spring, they will be exposed to maximum UV levels.

Antarctic mosses actually produce their own sunscreen to protect themselves from UV radiation, but this comes at the cost of reduced growth.

Trillions of tiny phytoplankton live under the sea ice. These microscopic floating algae also make sunscreen compounds, called microsporine amino acids.

What about marine creatures? Krill will dive deeper into the water column if the UV radiation is too high, while fish eggs usually have melanin, the same protective compound as humans, though not all fish life stages are as well protected.

Four of the past five years have seen sea ice extent reduce, a direct consequence of climate change.

Less sea ice means more UV light can penetrate the ocean, where it makes it harder for Antarctic phytoplankton and krill to survive. Much relies on these tiny creatures, who form the base of the food web. If they find it harder to survive, hunger will ripple up the food chain. Antarctica's waters are also getting warmer and more acidic due to climate change.

An uncertain outlook for Antarctica

We should, by rights, be celebrating the success of banning CFCS  a rare example of fixing an environmental problem. But that might be premature. Climate change may be delaying the recovery of our ozone layer by, for example, making bushfires more common and more severe.

Ozone could also suffer from geoengineering proposals such as spraying sulphates into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight, as well as more frequent rocket launches.

If the recent trend continues, and the ozone hole lingers into the summer, we can expect to see more damage done to plants and animals  compounded by other threats.

We don't know if the longer-lasting ozone hole will continue. But we do know climate change is causing the atmosphere to behave in unprecedented ways. To keep ozone recovery on track, we need to take immediate action to reduce the carbon we emit into the atmosphere. (The Conversation)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, DC [US], April 26 (ANI): The United States has imposed sanctions on over a dozen entities, eight individuals and vessels that have facilitated illicit trade and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transfer on behalf of the Iranian military.

"The United States is today imposing sanctions on 16 entities and eight individuals, as well as identifying as blocked property five vessels and one aircraft, that have facilitated illicit trade and the sale of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in support of Iran's Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and the regime's UAV development and procurement," the US State Department said in a release.

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Moreover, the UK and Canada are imposing sanctions targeting several entities and individuals involved in Iran's UAV procurement and other military-related activities, respectively.

Sahara Thunder has been identified as the key front company for MODAFL's illicit financing and a central player in Iran's design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs.

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Many of these designs and UAVs have ultimately been transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

"The United States will continue to hold Iran accountable for its transfer of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to Russia and to regional proxies," the statement added.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson, said, "Iran's Ministry of Defence continues to destabilise the region and world with its support to Russia's war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies."

"The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran's destabilising activities," Nelson added.

Sahara Thunder has also played an instrumental role in the Iranian military's sale of UAVs.

"MODAFL has cooperated with Russia to finance and produce Iranian-designed one-way attack UAVs at the US-sanctioned Joint Stock Company Special Economic Zone of Industrial Production Alabuga (SEZ Alabuga) facility in Russia under a USD 1.75 billion contract," the US Department of Treasury said.

As of late 2022, Russian officials were negotiating a deal for Sahara Thunder to deliver and produce thousands of UAVs per year at this facility.

The Russian military have been using these UAVs in Ukraine against critical infrastructure and civilian targets, the statement added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, April 26: The Delhi High Court recently ruled that falsely accusing a spouse of having an extramarital affair and denying parentage of children amounts to severe mental cruelty. The decision was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who upheld a family court's verdict that denied a husband's plea for divorce on the grounds of alleged cruelty by his wife.

The court said that making baseless accusations against a spouse, especially involving character and fidelity, and further rejecting the children's legitimacy inflicts profound mental anguish and damages the matrimonial bond irreparably. The Bench noted that such actions represent the gravest form of insult and cruelty, disqualifying the accuser from obtaining a divorce on these grounds. HC on Divorce: Delhi High Court Grants Divorce to Husband, Says 'Wife Openly Humiliating Husband, Calling Him Impotent Amounts to Mental Cruelty'.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that although the husband had repeatedly accused his wife of unfaithfulness and inappropriate relationships with multiple men, he admitted during cross-examination that he had never witnessed any compromising situation. ... it is pertinent to observe that the appellant has consistently and persistently, adamantly raised doubts about the character of the respondent and has made unsubstantiated and reprehensible allegations against the character of the respondent and has asserted that she was having illicit relationship not only with one but with many other persons, the court noted.

The judges criticised the husband for the relentless and degrading nature of his accusations, which also targeted the innocent children by questioning their paternity. These false and completely unsubstantiated accusations of the appellant did not stop him in even blatantly denying the parentage of his own son and daughter when he deposed in his cross-examination that I have no faith that the children belong to me, the Bench noted. Bombay High Court Says Adultery Can't Be Ground To Deny Child's Custody Although It Is Grounds for Divorce.

It said that such deplorable allegations and repudiation of the matrimonial bond and refusal to accept the children, who are innocent victims in the vile allegations made by the appellant, is nothing but the act of mental cruelty of the gravest kind. The court further observed that the family court had correctly identified the husbands allegations as a grave assault on his wife's character, honour, and mental health.

Such scandalous, unsubstantiated aspersions of perfidiousness attributed to the spouse and not even sparing the children, would amount to the worst form of insult and cruelty, sufficient by disentitle the appellant from seeking divorce, the court noted.

The Bench concluded that it was, in fact, the wife who endured cruelty and upheld the decision to refuse the divorce, citing the husband's failure to substantiate his claims and his contribution to the marital discord. It noted, He has made vague and general allegations regarding threats to commit suicide and implication in criminal cases. As discussed above, it is the respondent (wife) who has been subjected to cruelty and not the appellant.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2024 04:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The Donald Trump hush money trial in New York continued as David Pecker continued his testimony and was even cross-examined by the Trump defense team. Around the same time, however, the Supreme Court held a hearing about Trump's immunity claims.

Pecker, the former publisher of the tabloid known as the National Enquirer, testified that he texted his then-editor-in-chief Dylan Howard. He testified that Howard told then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen that Donald Trump should be paying Stormy Daniels.

"I spoke to [Cohen], all sorted. Now we move. No fingerprints. I'll recap to you face to face," the former Trump friend testified. "I'm not going to pay for this story. I'm not going to be involved with a pornstar ... After paying out the doorman, after paying out McDougal, we're not paying out any more money."

According to The Guardian, Pecker added that Cohen was "upset, he said the boss would be furious with me" after emphasizing that he did not want to pay off any more people so that the then-President of the United States could hide any more of his scandals.

In his testimony, Pecker also admitted that he agreed to buy a story from former Playboy model Karen McDougal to specifically bury it so that it did not "embarrass or hurt the [Trump] campaign."

He also testified that then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, who is now the governor of Arkansas, was also present during one of the times he spoke to Trump about catching and killing negative stories about him, particularly during their talk about McDougal. The now-governor agreed to the catch-and-kill scheme to continue paying the former Playboy playmate off so she would not "hurt" Trump's image.

The publisher also told the court that Trump specifically told him that "Karen is a nice girl" and that he was worried news of the affair would hurt his campaign, adding that "I think you should buy the story and take it off the market." This testimony further strengthens the prosecution's argument that Michael Cohen paid Daniels hush money under the direction of Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Asked Supporters To Protest Hush Money Trial, But Few Showed Up, Now He Is Making Excuses

Supreme Court Justices Hear Oral Arguments Over Donald Trump Immunity

Meanwhile, as David Pecker testified, Trump's other big case for the day happened in Washington, DC, as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over Donald Trump's claims that as president, he has absolute immunity.

According to the Associated Press, the Supreme Court justices seemed to be highly skeptical of Trump's claims of absolute immunity, with at least five justices appearing to reject that claim. It is likely that the case might go back to the lower courts, but if this does happen, the hearing might happen after the November elections.

Donald Trump Attacks His Former Attorney General in Late-Night Rant

Meanwhile, on the eve when he was about to face two of the biggest cases in his life, Donald Trump went on a Truth Social rant and attacked the man who used to run his Justice Department, Bill Barr, right after the former US AG endorsed him for president.

"I called him 'Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy,'" Trump wrote. Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word 'Lethargic' from my statement."

READ MORE: Donald Trump Spending Campaign Donors' Money on Legal Fees

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Reporter details moment that got a laugh from Trump in court - CNN
In a bid to navigate through the storm of rampant Haiti gang violence and restore stability, the country embarked on a new political journey as a transitional council was inaugurated on Thursday.

Ariel Henry, the prime minister who had been stranded outside the country due to the escalating violence, paved the way for this transition by resigning from Los Angeles.

The council's primary mandate is to select a Haiti new leaders and cabinet while preparing for forthcoming presidential elections, AP News reports.

Against a backdrop of sporadic gunfire near the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, the transitional council was officially sworn in.

This scene underscored the gravity of the security challenges facing Haiti, prompting calls for a safer venue for such crucial proceedings.

Addressing the pressing issues confronting the nation, interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert emphasized the urgency of the situation, declaring Haiti to be at a pivotal crossroads.

READ NEXT: Haiti PM Ariel Henry to Resign Amid Gang Violence

Haiti New Leaders Composition and Mandate

Comprised of nine members, including seven with voting powers, the transitional council represents a spectrum of political affiliations and societal interests.

These members, drawn from diverse backgrounds, are entrusted with the critical task of steering Haiti towards stability and socio-economic recovery.

The council's mandate, set to expire in 2026, encompasses pivotal responsibilities such as appointing a provisional electoral commission and establishing a national security council, according to CNN.

As the council assumes its responsibilities, the country grapples with multifaceted challenges exacerbated by Haiti gang violence.

The country's infrastructure has been severely impacted, with essential services disrupted and millions facing acute food insecurity.

The situation has prompted calls from international bodies like the United Nations for swift action and the deployment of a multinational security mission.

However, past interventions have left a legacy of distrust among some Haitians, highlighting the delicate balance between restoring security and respecting national sovereignty.

Path Forward: Hopes and Hurdles

Despite the daunting road ahead, there is cautious optimism regarding Haiti's prospects for stability and progress.

The installation of Haiti's new leaders marks a pivotal step towards addressing the country's deep-rooted issues.

However, internal tensions within the council and concerns over the effectiveness of international interventions loom large.

Transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance will be paramount as Haiti navigates through this period of transition and strives to build a brighter future.

Amid these challenges, Haiti finds itself bolstered by expressions of solidarity and support from the international community, Reuters noted.

The commitment of nations like Kenya to aid underscores the collective determination to assist Haiti in its time of need.

With concerted efforts and collaborative action, there is hope that Haiti will emerge from this tumultuous period stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Haiti's journey toward stability and renewal is fraught with obstacles, but the inauguration of the transitional council signals a pivotal moment in the nation's history.

As Haiti charts a course toward a brighter future, it does so with the support of the global community and a shared determination to overcome the challenges ahead.

READ MORE: Protests Mount Over Argentina President's Education Cuts

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Haiti transition council: Interim administration to be sworn in - From Al Jazeera English
New details on the case of Mexico City serial killer Miguel Cortes have surfaced as he may be responsible for the deaths of around 20 women. However, Mexico City prosecutors are downplaying the case. Cortes reportedly targeted female victims over the course of more than a decade.

The city's head prosecutor, Ulises Lara, slammed local media reports and stated that police only found the remains of six women inside the suspected Mexico City serial killer's rented room, "not 20 as some unfounded reports have suggested."

Local media previously reported that all of Cortes's crimes happened around 2023 and 2024, but Lara pushed back on these and stated that only three happened during the present administration, saying that the reports that the serial killings only happened while presidential frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum was still mayor were "absolutely false and unfounded."

The Mexico City prosecutor noted that the other cases may have happened around 2012, 2015, and 2018, with the suspected serial killer roaming free for around 12 years. Lara added that they were not able to catch him because "he showed no signs of violent or aggressive behavior in his daily life."

The Associated Press noted that Lara was not able to specify the nature of the remains found inside the room that suspected serial killer Miguel Cortes was renting. Local media reported that authorities found skulls there.

When Mexican authorities refer to the suspected killer, they can only call him "Miguel" because, under Mexican law, it states that suspected criminals can only be identified by their first name. While details on the suspect have not been officially revealed, local media reported that he worked as a chemist.

What Police Previously Found in Suspected Mexico City Serial Killer Miguel Cortes' Room

As Latin Post previously reported, when investigators searched the room that the suspected Mexico City serial killer was renting, they found blood stains, bones, a saw, cellphones, and missing women's ID cards. They also found other "biological material" in the rooms, and this was what local media reckoned to be skulls and bones from his victims.

READ MORE: Mexico Investigates Possible Serial Killer Over Deaths of 20 Women

Lara noted that they also found "a series of notebooks that may well be narrations of the acts that Miguel carried out against his victims."

Lara also blasted criticisms that city officials did little to investigate the cases of missing women until their bodies began piling up. He then claimed that the number of reported women's killings has declined.

What Local Media Know About Suspected Mexico City Serial Killer Miguel Cortes

While the police have not officially revealed the true identity of the suspected serial killer because of Mexican law, local media have identified "Miguel" as Miguel Cortes, a 37-year-old pharma biological chemist.

Cortes was reportedly arrested after he raped and killed a 17-year-old student. Her mother saw this, and he stabbed her in the face and back as she tried to stop him from leaving. The suspected Mexico City serial killer was soon caught by neighbors while trying to escape. The victim's mother survived and was hospitalized, according to The Daily Mail.

READ NEXT: Rex Heuermann's Properties Raided; Nearly 300 Guns Found in 'Gilgo Beach Serial Killer's' Home

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexico's Serial Killer Worst Than Jeffrey Dahmer - Crime Forensics
The historic conviction of Harvey Weinstein in New York, one of the many criminal cases the disgraced Hollywood executive faced, has been overturned by a New York appellate court. The conviction was one of the first cases in the #MeToo movement that served as a reckoning for powerful men who used their power to exploit women.

The case has not been completely thrown out, though, as while the ruling was overturned, the appeals court ruled that a new trial must now happen against the infamous former Hollywood executive and convicted sexual predator. As of writing, his conviction in the state of California still stands.

According to CNN, in a 4-3 vote, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the testimony of "prior bad acts" should not have been allowed because it "was unnecessary to establish defendant's intent and served only to establish defendant's propensity to commit the crimes charged."

The 72-year-old disgraced Hollywood mogul previously served as the head of the Weinstein Company and was one of the most powerful men in all of Hollywood. He was convicted in 2020 of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape, resulting in him being sentenced to 23 years in prison.

As for the retrial, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is planning to retry the case, saying, "We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.

READ NEXT: Alleged Mexico City Serial Killer Miguel Cortes Kept Women's Bones in His Room, Prosecutors Downplay Case

Harvey Weinstein Will Remain Imprisoned Despite New York Case Being Overturned

As for the fate of the former Hollywood executive, he will remain in prison. He is currently being held at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, with the state's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision saying that it is currently reviewing the appeals court's decision.

PEOPLE Magazine reported that because of his 2022 convictions for sex crimes charges in California, Harvey Weinstein would not be walking away from prison as a free man anytime soon. In that California case, he was found guilty of one count of forcible rape, one count of forced oral copulation, and one count of sexual penetration by a foreign object. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in that case.

What Happens to Harvey Weinstein Next After New York Conviction Was Overturned?

With the Manhattan DA vowing to retry the case, Weinstein is expected to return to court with a new judge and a new jury overseeing the case. This also means that Weinstein's accusers will have to be forced to retell their stories of the disgraced Hollywood mogul sexually assaulting them.

Weinstein has maintained that he did nothing wrong and that he is innocent of the charges of criminal sex acts involving forced oral sex on the women who worked for him, including a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and an aspiring actress. He continues to claim that these acts were all consensual, per the Associated Press.

READ MORE: Andrew Tate, Infamous Internet Personality, Arrested Again After Adin Ross Revealed Escape Plans During Stream

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Harvey Weinstein's 2020 Conviction Overturned by Appeals Court - COURT TV
An armed US Secret Service agent assigned to protect Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a physical altercation with other detail agents at Andrews Air Force Base in the Washington, DC, area on Monday morning.

The altercation occurred prior to Harris's arrival and followed what the Secret Service described as a medical incident involving the agent.

The Washington Examiner reports that the agents' identities and specific responsibilities have not been disclosed for privacy reasons.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the agent displayed aggressive behavior towards colleagues.

Efforts by the special agent in charge and a detail shift supervisor to de-escalate the situation led to a physical altercation.

Subsequently, the agent was restrained and withdrawn from duty for medical evaluation. Harris was not impacted by the incident, as she was scheduled to arrive at the base after the altercation.

In response to inquiries, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi stated that the incident occurred around 9 AM on April 22 and emphasized the agency's commitment to the safety and well-being of its personnel.

Due to the nature of the incident being medical, further details were not disclosed.

READ NEXT: Harris Claps to Puerto Rico Protest Song, Unaware Until Aide Translates

Agent's Background and Previous Lawsuit

The US VP Kamala Harris Secret Service agent involved in the altercation, identified as Michelle Herczeg, had previously filed a $1 million gender discrimination lawsuit against the city of Dallas while serving as a police officer.

In her lawsuit, Herczeg alleged that she faced discriminatory treatment and retaliation for reporting instances of sexual harassment and misconduct within the Dallas Police Department, according to the New York Post.

According to reports, Herczeg's behavior at Andrews Air Force Base on Monday escalated from deleting apps off a colleague's phone to displaying erratic conduct, including hurling objects and making concerning statements.

Sources described Herczeg as becoming increasingly agitated before physically assaulting a superior officer when relieved of her duties.

Herczeg's lawsuit against the Dallas Police Department was ultimately dismissed by a Texas court, with subsequent appeals also being denied.

Concerns and Implications

The altercation involving the US VP Kamala Harris Secret Service agent raises concerns about the psychological well-being of personnel tasked with protecting high-ranking government officials.

The demanding nature of protective details, combined with the strain of extended work hours and frequent travel, emphasizes the necessity of addressing mental well-being within the organization, National Review noted.

Additionally, events like this underscore the difficulties law enforcement agencies encounter in maintaining the proficiency and conduct of their staff.

As the Biden administration navigates various security challenges, including those related to protective details, scrutiny of the US Secret Service's protocols and practices becomes imperative.

As investigations into the altercation continue, the Secret Service faces questions regarding its handling of personnel issues and the measures in place to support agents' mental and emotional well-being.

The incident serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play within law enforcement agencies and the importance of fostering a supportive and accountable work environment.

READ MORE: Investigator Names Trump as Unindicted Conspirator in 2020 Michigan Fake Elector Scheme

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: 'The Five': Kamala's Secret Service agents get into a tussle - From Fox News




A body believed to be that of missing Iowa truck driver David Schultz has been discovered in a northwest Iowa field, not far from where his abandoned truck was found last November.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety revealed that someone in the area stumbled upon the body on Wednesday, near the spot where Schultz's semi was found parked on a remote highway.

While the Iowa DPS did not confirm the identity of the body, Schultz's wife, Sarah, indicated that the person found matched her husband's description, CBS News reports.

She mentioned that the individual was wearing boots like Schultz's, and his keys were found in the pants pocket.

Sarah expressed a mix of relief and sorrow at the discovery, emphasizing the lingering questions surrounding Schultz's death.

READ NEXT: Illinois: Body of Missing Father Recovered from Des Plaines River

Missing Iowa Truck Driver's Disappearance and Investigation

David Schultz, aged 53, vanished without a trace on November 21 in Sac City, Iowa, leaving his truck abandoned on a highway loaded with hogs he was meant to deliver.

Despite extensive searches and pleas for information from Sarah Schultz, his whereabouts remained unknown for months, according to the Daily Beast.

The discovery of his body brings some closure to his family, though questions regarding the circumstances of his death persist.

Initially, authorities didn't suspect foul play in Schultz's disappearance, though Sarah Schultz voiced skepticism about this evaluation.

She questioned why her husband would venture into a field and lay down, particularly amid the Thanksgiving holiday week.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has yet to disclose the cause of death, pending further examination.

The Iowa DCI officially identified the body as David Schultz, utilizing dental records for confirmation.

Despite preliminary autopsy reports showing no signs of trauma or injury, the circumstances leading to Schultz's presence in the rural field remain unclear.

The field where his body was discovered is located near the intersection where his truck was found abandoned.

Family's Reaction and Community Support

Sarah Schultz expressed gratitude for the support received from family and the community throughout the ordeal.

She emphasized the importance of knowing her husband's whereabouts, even as unanswered questions linger about the events leading to his death.

The family is awaiting further information from the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office, hoping for clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding Schultz's demise.

Jake Rowley of the United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit search-and-rescue organization, pledged support to the family for funeral arrangements.

The community's continued attention to David Schultz's case has been a source of comfort for Sarah, who hopes for answers to the puzzling circumstances surrounding her husband's death, KTIV.com noted.

As investigations into missing Iowa truck driver's death continue, the community remains vigilant for updates from authorities.

The discovery of his body marks a somber conclusion to months of uncertainty, yet questions persist about the events leading to his demise.

Family, friends, and community members rally around the Schultz family, offering support and solidarity during this challenging time.

READ MORE: Alaska Plane Crash Claims Lives of Two Pilots

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Body of missing Iowa trucker David Schultz found in Sac County - From KCCI
A new ShopRite in South Plainfield, New Jersey, is opening next month and hiring for 200 full and part-time jobs.

The supermarket, which is currently under construction in Hadley Commons Plaza on 6781 Hadley Road, is looking to hire employees ahead of the stores opening in late spring.

This is the second big ShopRite hiring in 2024, as the company hired roughly 300 employees ahead of the March opening of the Old Bridge ShopRite store.

The South Plainfield ShopRite is accepting applications for a bookkeeper, cake decorator, cashiers, clerks, store manager and other team members that would typically be hired at a grocery store.

ShopRites South Plainfield hiring center, which is located at 6303 Hadley Road, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is also in the same shopping center as the future supermarket.

Interested applicants can also apply online here as well as at the hiring center. ShopRite is also hosting a job fair on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The job fair will take place at a number of ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market stores, which are all owned by Wakefern Food Corp (you can see the list of stores not participating on the job fair page.

The new ShopRite will replace an existing ShopRite in Piscataway, however, a closing date for that store has not been announced.

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Editors Note: This story first appeared on Armchair Lehigh Valley and is being published on lehighvalleylive.com as part of a partnership with the website, which aims to give voters factual information in a nonpartisan way to help them make informed decisions at the polls. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein, two longtime journalists who formerly worked at The Morning Call in Allentown. Learn more about Armchair Lehigh Valley and subscribe here.

The Pennsylvania primary election is now over and our partners at Armchair Lehigh Valley have taken a look at some of the key takeaways from Tuesdays results. Heres their report:
Six people are facing multiple felony charges for their roles in an alleged burglary ring, which authorities say operated for nearly two decades and targeted several homes throughout Northampton and Lehigh counties and beyond.

The Lehigh County District Attorneys Office held a news conference Friday afternoon announcing the charges filed by Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem on Wednesday. Authorities say the suspects were responsible for 30 burglaries, over 5,000 items totaling more than $160,000 in value have since been recovered, and law enforcement expects even more incidents to be added as the investigation continues.

This is just a gigantic operation, Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney Eric Dowdle stated during the news conference.

Charged in connection with the ring are 51-year-old Jose Torres of Carnegie, Allegheny County, and five Allentown residents  51-year-old Roger Juan Tirado, 65-year-old William Tirado-Liciaga, 48-year-old Agapito Pagan-Liciaga, 47-year-old Jonathan Mendez and 59-year-old Nydia Tirado.

Roger Tirado is charged with more than 100 offenses, including 20 felonies, police said. Felonies include burglary, theft, conspiracy to commit burglary, knowledge of property in the proceeds as an illegal act, firearms offenses, and other related offenses. The District Attorneys Office said additional charges are pending against him.

Torres is charged with felony burglary, felony conspiracy to commit burglary, felony theft, two felony counts of receiving stolen property, two felony counts of firearms offenses, and related offenses. Tirado-Liciaga is charged with two counts of felony burglary, two felony counts of conspiracy burglary, felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity with an intent to promote, and related offenses.

Pagan-Liciaga is charged with felony burglary, felony conspiracy to commit burglary, felony receiving stolen property, and related offenses. Mendez is charged with felony receiving stolen property, felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity with an intent to promote, felony knowledge of property in the proceeds as an illegal act, felony conspiracy receiving stolen property; and related offenses.

Nydia Tirado is charged with two felony counts of corrupt organization offenses, felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity with an intent to promote, felony knowledge of property in the proceeds as an illegal act, felony receiving stolen property, felony conspiracy receiving stolen property, and related offenses.

Both Roger Tirado and Torres were arraigned Thursday before District Judge Michael DAmore, who set bail at $300,000 and $200,000, respectively. In lieu of bail, both were sent to the Lehigh County jail. Pagan-Liciaga was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Linda Vega Sirop, who set bail at $25,000. Pagan-Liciaga posted bail, according to the DAs Office.

Tirado-Liciaga was arraigned Wednesday before Distirict Judge Amy Zanelli, who set bail at $275,000. In lieu of bail, Tirado-Liciaga also was sent to the Lehigh County jail.

Nydia Tirado initially was arraigned and posted $25,000 bail in an initial set of charges. New charges have since been filed in the case against her, said Pamela Lehman, spokeswoman for the Lehigh County DAs Office.

Arrest warrants have since been filed for Nydia Tirado and Mendez, who are not currently in custody, the DAs Office said.

Neither Roger Tirado, Torres nor Pagan-Liciaga have been assigned a public defender yet, according to the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office. Robert Eyer, the public defender assigned to Tirado-Liciaga, didnt immediately return a request for comment Friday morning.

At least 35 firearms were recovered in the burglaries, spanning as far back as 2007 in multiple jurisdictions across the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Pennsylvania State Police on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 filed charges against six people connected to the alleged massive burglary ring.Courtesy photo

Gigantic operation

The investigation spanned a joint operation assembled by Pennsylvania State Police, as well as officers from South Whitehall, Whitehall, and Upper Saucon townships. The investigation also was aided by the state polices Special Emergency Response Team; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service, Pennsylvania State Parole Agents; and Northampton and Berks District Attorney Offices.

Authorities say the six were responsible for burglaries in several jurisdictions. Locations spanned incidents in Allentown, Bethlehem, East Allen, Emmaus, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford Township, North Whitehall Township, Salisbury Township, South Whitehall, Upper Saucon, Upper Milford Township, Weisenberg Township and Whitehall Township. Others happened in Hamburg, Berks County, and in Mount Olive, Morris County in New Jersey.

The alleged thieves made off with at least 37 firearms and ammunition, purses and handbags, fine jewelry and coins, electronics, and cash totaling thousands in some cases. The investigation by state police began in June 2019, however, court records indicate the actual incidents began as far back as 2007.

There were no reported injuries in the burglaries. Dowdle described two specific incidents where homeowners were still home and terrified when they found the alleged burglars. One was a disabled woman nursing an infant who screamed and the other were two small children left home alone by their parents, he said.

The District Attorneys Office said its believed the suspects staked out homes before hitting them. No home with a dog was targeted, Dowdle said.

Investigators began to note distinct patterns in the burglaries. Entry was made by prying open doors with a flat-blade object, breaking windows or through an unsecured entryway. Most of the burglaries occurred during daylight and although most of the homes targeted were unoccupied, in several cases, folks were home at the time of the burglaries and the defendants fled after being discovered.

In a June 2019 incident in Lower Macungie, thieves used the homeowners pillowcases to make off with 90 pieces of jewelry and $8,000 in cash, according to court records. In a November 2019 incident in Upper Milford Township, they grabbed three brilliant cut diamonds, totaling over $52,000 in value, court records state.

Several home surveillance cameras captured images during many of the burglaries, but the defendants avoided identification by always wearing masks and gloves and would park any vehicles they used several blocks away, police said.

Whitehall detectives in October 2022 initially obtained video surveillance footage of a suspect wearing a ski mask and walking through yards a day before one of the reported burglaries. They received more information about a year later from a neighbor of another burglary victim reporting an unknown silver car in the neighborhood at the time of a May 27, 2023 incident. A second neighbor provided more video surveillance footage of another suspect wearing a ski mask in the area of the burglarized home, according to court records.

Whitehall investigators in January 2024 reported a female victim found a man in her living room and screamed before he fled the house. Video surveillance footage provided by that homeowner depicted another suspect in a ski mask approaching the home from the east and forcing entry through the garage, according to court records.

Additional video surveillance footage of the area showed a silver Chevrolet with distinct characteristics traveling past the burglarized residence in Whitehall. That vehicle was connected to other burglaries in Bethlehem, North Whitehall and Warren Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, according to court records.

In another January 2024 incident, Bethlehem police connected the burglary with a second vehicle, a blue Honda Odyssey with similar distinct characteristics, according to court records. A review of the Honda connected the registration to Tirado-Liciaga. Police say Tirado-Liciaga and Roger Tirado are brothers.

Investigators in February obtained a court order for the installation of a mobile tracking device on the Chevrolet and found it in the area of a Lower Macungie burglary. The Lehigh County Drug Task Force then set up surveillance in Allentown. A similar surveillance followed of the Honda, set up in a joint investigation by Whitehall police, state police and South Whitehall police.

On Feb. 5, investigators arrested Roger Tirado and Torres in the Chevrolet during a stop at Fuller and Third streets in Whitehall. The pair, court records state, were in possession of tools, a ski mask, gloves, flashlight and a cellphone. Torres also was found with a gun that was stolen from a home in Weisenberg Township, police said.

Investigators seized both cellphones belonging to the pair and the Chevrolet into evidence, court records state. Cellphone data alleges both Roger Tirado and Torres were at the scene of multiple burglaries; and Torres also coordinated a gun sale through text message, police said.

In a phone call placed from prison, Roger Tirado instructed his sister, Nydia Tirado, to remove items stolen from the burglaries from his apartment, court records state. Shortly before 6 p.m. on Feb. 7, investigators set up surveillance by the apartment to prevent the disruption of evidence, police said.

Investigators found Nydia Tirado carrying a bag with stolen items inside from the apartment, court records state. Another man, identified as Agapito Pagan-Liciaga, a roommate of Mendez, was with her at the time, police said. A witness reported to investigators Pagan-Liciaga requested a key to gain access into the apartment, court records state.

Both Nydia Tirado and Pagan-Liciaga were arrested without incident, police said.

Thousands in recovered items

Law enforcement was onto Mendez, court records state, when he was evicted and the property manager found stolen firearms hidden in the bedroom.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Feb. 7, investigators obtained a search warrant to raid Roger Tirados apartment in the 600 block of East Mosser Street. Police recovered multiple stolen items from the burglaries in the search, court records state.

Investigators seized a total of five vehicles into evidence during the course of the investigation, court records state.

They include the Dodge, which had multiple bags filled with unknown items in plain view, police said. Nydia Tirados son also allegedly allowed investigators to seize his vehicle, an Oldsmobile Bravada. Additionally, investigators obtained a search warrant and seized a Mazda and a Lincoln MKZ registered Roger Tirado; and GMC Acadia, registered to Torres, according to court records.

Court records indicate several of the stolen items during the burglaries were recovered from the various seized vehicles.

The massive burglary case continues to be investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Anthony Oliveri and Galen Clemons; Whitehall Township Police Det. Mark Schwendeman; and South Whitehall Township Det. Tyler Doherty. The case will be prosecuted by Dowdle and Assistant District Attorney Michael Stitt.

No stone was left unturned and its still going on, Dowdle said Friday afternoon.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
NEW YORK  The former publisher of the National Enquirer testified Thursday at Donald Trumps hush money trial about going to great lengths to help shield his old friend from potentially damaging stories using a catch-and-kill scheme prosecutors allege amounted to interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.

At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a different criminal matter involving Trump, who has claimed that he should be immune from prosecution over his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Trump asked to skip his New York criminal proceedings for the day so he could sit in on the high courts special session, where the justices appeared likely to reject his claim. But it seemed possible Trump could still benefit from a lengthy trial delay, possibly beyond Novembers election.

His request to go to Washington was denied by Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is overseeing Trumps trial on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments.

I think the Supreme Court has a very important argument before it today, Trump said outside the courtroom. I should be there.

Adding to the former presidents legal woes, his former lawyers and associates were indicted Wednesday in a 2020 election-related scheme in Arizona. And a New York judge rejected a request for a new trial in a defamation case that found Trump liable for $83.3 million in damages. The hush money case also includes a looming decision on whether he violated a gag order.

Trump has maintained he is not guilty of any of the charges. In New York, he says the stories that were bought and squelched were false.

There is no case here. This is just a political witch hunt, he said before court in brief comments to reporters.

Jurors heard from David Pecker, the longtime head of the tabloid, who described shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy up rights to potentially damaging stories for Trump, some in secret moves meant to avoid scrutiny from colleagues.

Trump watched intently as his friend spoke from the witness stand.

Pecker explained how he and his publication parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy stories that smeared Trumps opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump, including a porn actors claim of an extramarital sexual encounter years earlier.

His testimony was a critical building block for the prosecutions theory that the partnership was a way to illegally influence the election. Prosecutors are seeking to elevate the gravity of the history-making first trial of a former American president and the first of four criminal cases against Trump to reach a jury.

As Pecker testified in a calm, cooperative tone about risque tales and secret dealings, the atmosphere in the utilitarian 1940s courtroom was one of quiet attentiveness. Court officers warned audience members not to talk or make any noise.

He also testified that he put his foot down on additional payments after the magazine was $180,000 in the hole for Trump-related transactions. The publication bought up a sordid tale from a New York City doorman and purchased accusations of an extramarital affair with a former Playboy model in order to prevent the claims from getting out elsewhere.

The breaking point for Pecker came with Stormy Daniels, the porn actor who was eventually paid by Cohen to keep quiet over her claim of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. The ex-president denies it happened.

Pecker recalled to the jury that he was dining with his wife, the night after the public learned of the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape in which Trump discussed grabbing women sexually without asking permission, when then-editor Dylan Howard called with an urgent matter.

Howard said he heard from Daniels representatives that she was trying to sell her story and that the tabloid could acquire it for $120,000 if it decided right away, Pecker told jurors.

Pecker was tapped out and later told Cohen so.

I am not paying for this story. I didnt want to be involved in this from the beginning, he said he told Cohen.

At the same time, Pecker advised that someone  just not him  should do something to prevent the story from going public. I said to Michael, My suggestion to you is that you should buy the story and you should take it off the market because if you dont and it gets out, I believe the boss will be very angry with you.

The 12-person panel watched attentively, with some appearing to take notes. Pecker also recalled receiving a telephone call from Trump during the tabloids pursuit of former Playboy model Karen McDougals claims of an extramarital affair with Trump.

In other developments, prosecutors also argued Thursday that Trump had again violated a gag order. Merchan was already considering whether to hold Trump in contempt and fine him for what prosecutors say were 10 different violations of the order that barred the GOP leader from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. Then the prosecution ticked off fresh instances of suspected breaches.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy pointed to additional remarks that Trump made about Cohen, a key prosecution witness when talking to reporters outside the courtroom and in other interviews. He also noted a comment Trump made about the jury being composed of 95 percent Democrats, among other things.

Trump was dismissive about the looming decision. When asked by reporters if he would pay the $1,000 fine for each of 10 posts if he so ordered, he replied, Oh, I have no idea. He then said, Theyve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order.

A conviction by the jury in the hush money probe would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. The charge is punishable by up to four years in prison  though its not clear if the judge would seek to put him behind bars.

In Washington, the Supreme Court is moving faster than usual in taking up the Trump case, though not as quickly as special counsel Jack Smith wanted. The courts pace has raised questions about whether there will be time to hold a trial before the November election, if the justices agree with lower courts that Trump can be prosecuted.

Though entirely separate cases, the proceedings were jumbled together in one big legal and political puzzle that had implications not just for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee but for the American presidency writ large.

In both instances, Trump is trying to get himself out of legal jeopardy as he makes another bid for the White House. But the outcome of the Supreme Court case will have lasting implications for future presidents, because the justices will be answering the never-before-asked question of whether and to what extent does a former president enjoy immunity from prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his time in office.
A Laois Offaly TD says she is 'deeply alarmed' at garda policing of protests at centres to accommodate people seeking Ireland's protection after violence erupted in Wicklow which saw a garda attacked and an axe used to damage a patrol car.

Dep Carol Nolan issued a statement calling on the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to address concerns about the model of policing by consent, as laid down for An Garda Siochana in its policy documents.

She claimed this is being "eroded" and undermined by "ongoing confrontations" between members of the force and members of the public who wish to "peacefully protest" about the presence of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres in their locality.

Her call came before a statement by Garda HQ in which Commissioner Harris commented on events in Newtownmountkennedy.

Gardai said six arrests were made by Gardai during what they described as incidents of "serious public disorder". They said three men and one woman have been charged for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.



The statement said that one man has been charged with alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997, and released to appear before court at a later date.



It said one male juvenile was released without charge but a referral would be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.



The statement said Commissioner Harris visited the location in Wicklow in the aftermath. Speaking after that visit Commissioner Harris stated:



"There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence. Weve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse type premises, but also then disgracefully, attacks on members of An Garda Siochana who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged, and one vehicle, the vehicle behind me, was damaged with an axe.



"As we can see with a normal patrol vehicle, both front window and the rear window have been smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe. And also then we've had another vehicle lights broken and the Public Order vehicle with its tyres slashed.



"Beyond that, there was there were attempts to injure members of An Garda Siochana. Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them, he said.

For her part Deputy Nolan said scenes Newtownmountkenndy in particular are allowing a perception to take root that the majority of rank and file gardai are indifferent to community concerns.

The Independent TD's statement said this could completely destabilise the enormous benefits that have been nurtured through consistent and positive community engagement.:

I am deeply alarmed at the direction in which the entire situation around policing at IPAS related protests is heading.

I am also extremely worried by footage in which an accredited female journalist who identified herself as such was apparently been pepper sprayed by Gardai.

We know from the Garda Decision Making Model policy document and indeed from our everyday experience, that policing by consent is a core part of the Gardais guiding philosophy.

Indeed, within that document it is explicitly stated that decisions about how Gardai operate must take account of community needs and expectations and the impact of any decision on the community.

It goes on to say that working collaboratively to build positive working relationships focussed on addressing issues of concern for communities should be a primary concern for all Garda personnel.

I could not agree more with those statements. However, we are now at a point where a perception is taking hold that the primacy of that concern is being subordinated to a policy of intimidation.

I know from my own engagement with rank-and-file gardai that the very last thing they want to be doing is confronting the women and children and men who want to voice their peaceful concerns. They abhor the level of division and animosity this is creating.

Indeed, many gardai are privately wondering how it will even be possible for a normalised version of community engagement to return given the fact that we are looking at a decade and more of ten thousand plus IPAS applicants arriving annually.

I am urgently appealing for calm and a sense of proportionality as the situation is ripe for deterioration, and that is something which must be addressed urgently by both the Commissioner and the Minister, concluded Deputy Nolan.
Electric Picnic has finally announced its first wave of acts coming to Laois this August for the 20th year and it was worth the wait.

Calvin Harris, Noah Kahan, Kylie Minogue and Gerry Cinnamon are among the banging headliners.

Kylie has already posted her excitement at coming to Ireland.

"See you in Summer Ire-la-la-land "

"Electric Picnic fans, This Is What You Came For! It might not be Stick Season but it is festival season so we are delighted to reveal over 50 acts that will perform for you this summer at Irelands largest music and arts festival. We have High Hopes youll be Spinning Around to embrace the Escapism on offer across what is sure to be a Belter of a weekend!

"A small number of tickets have just been released due to failed credit card payments. Act fast to snap up your ticket of the summer!," say Electric Picnic.

"As Calvin Harris, Noah Kahan and Kylie make their Electric Picnic debuts, your festival lineup includes top acts from around the globe like RAYE, Gerry Cinnamon, Peggy Gou, NAS, Faithless and Kasabian plus our own groundbreaking, internationally-acclaimed homegrown talent like Kodaline, Jazzy, Kneecap, The Scratch, Damien Dempsey  and the Wolfe Tones, who return to Electric Picnic to perform on the Main Stage following the record crowds at Electric Arena last year!

"With the revival of her smash hit Murder on the Dancefloor, Sophie Ellis-Bextor adds a sprinkle of disco pop magic to the weekend, while those looking to dance the night away can head to Terminus to catch Hannah Laing, Skin On Skin and more!

"Now in its 20th year, Electric Picnic captured the imagination of the country in 2004 as a one-day event and grew into Irelands largest and most loved music and arts festival with 75,000 festival-goers expected for the weekend in Stradbally, Co. Laois from 16 18th August 2024. This year, the main stage at Electric Picnic will be connected to the grid and powered by renewable energy. This marks the first time a festival of its kind in the UK and Ireland will install mains power to reduce its carbon footprint."

Melvin Benn Festival Director gave his reaction.

"Electric Picnic is the slightly earlier jewel in the crown of the festival calendar this year of course and what a crown it is. A crown that 75,000 people get to wear and be part of and what a lineup they have to be part of. The Wolfe Tones returning was a must. The Scratch and The Waterboys are unmissable for me. Noah taking the world by storm and Calvin blowing our minds and then. Kylie! What more can I say. The Picnic really is my joyous weekend," he said.

The full first line up is: Calvin Harris  Noah Kahan  Kylie Minogue - Gerry Cinnamon  Kodaline  RAYE.

Peggy Gou  NAS  Faithless  Tom Grennan  Sophie Ellis-Bextor - The Wolfe Tones (main stage)  J Hus  Kasabian  Damien Dempsey - Teddy Swims  Ethel Cain  The Waterboys  Dean Lewis  Moncrieff  Amble - Ryan McMullan  Dasha  The Teskey Brothers  Kojaque  Jessie Murph - Artemas  Good Neighbours  The Scratch  David Kushner  Jazzy  Kneecap - NewDad  Eyedress  Jalen Ngonda  Darren Kiely  Big Sleep  Thee Sacred Souls - Nieve  Ella Bricknasty  Spiritual Cramp  SPIDER

Terminus Lineup: Hannah Laing  Skin On Skin  horsegiirL  X CLUB.  Prozak  Lucid  LA LA - Black Traffic  DATSKO  SHEE - 666cmg

Electric Picnic takes place earlier than usual this year, from August 16 to 18, at its permanent home in the Cosby estate in Stradbally, Laois. Tickets for the 70,000 capacity weekend are sold out.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) announced the surge in prisoner numbers to a record high is unsafe and unacceptable.

In a statement at the Prison Officers Association annual delegate conference in Sligo this week, it was revealed that over 1,000 additional prisoners in the system since 2019, meaning there are now over 4,900 prisoners nationally. The POA has said that space for prisoners has not risen accordingly however, with an alarmingly low capacity increase of 43 spaces.

Minister McEntee announced today that by the end of 2026, there will be a total of 670 new prison spaces to address the lack of capacity, with 180 new spaces to be installed in the Midlands Prison.

According to the Inspector of Prisons, Midlands prison in Portlaoise has a capacity 870, but holds roughly 1,004 prisoners in custody, well over 100 above capacity.

Power voiced his concerns for the prison at the conference, saying "Ive little doubt that our members will be landed with the responsibility for over 1000 prisoners at the Midlands in the coming weeks, and somehow everyone in management, including the Minister and Director General seem to think we can just put them somewhere and get on with it

Power continued, saying that today the number of prisoners in custody is about to reach a staggering 5000. That is an incredible 25% increase on the figure of 5 years ago. And needless to say, there has not been a commensurate increase in prison spaces to deal with this explosion in numbers.

Power lashed out at the State, saying it was very clear that "our attempts to highlight this issue continually fall on deaf ears, and despite the promises on real extra spaces made here year on year by successive Ministers  nothing happens  nothing. And this is a disgrace, lets just call it what it is.

In February 2022, the bed capacity of the Irish prison service was 4471, with 4182 in custody. In March of this year, the 2022 capacity had increased a small amount to 4514, while the number in custody had increased by 763 inmates.

Tony Power described the situation at the conference, saying it was as unsafe as it is unacceptable  and the Minister of the day must take full responsibility.

"In an overcrowded system, without adequate access to services, management are hindering our good work and impacting directly on the potential rehabilitation of prisoners. And they are directly contributing to an unsafe and unworkable environment.

Speaking at the conference, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee addressed the concerns of the Prison Officers Association by outlining a 49.5 million additional capital funding secured for the next two years.

The funding included to progress 4 new projects in Midlands, Castlerea, Cloverhill and Mountjoy prisons, which will create up the 670 new spaces promised by Minister McEntee to Irish prisons.

Addressing the concerns of overcrowding, Minister McEntee said she wants our prisons "to provide a safe, secure and progressive environment for the officers who serve in them, and for those who live in them."

We are in a situation where population growth, increased Gardai, and longer sentences for serious crime will continue increasing the pressures on prisons.

"I intend to provide for the immediate and long-term needs of the Prison Service and so I am establishing a new review group to make recommendations on other future prison developments, including looking at Thornton Hall.

"This is about not only providing the extra places that will be needed, it is about ensuring there is both the space and the facilities to work with offenders so that when they leave custody, they are less likely to reoffend.
A young Laois girl who suffered severe hearing loss two years ago, is breaking disability barriers and raising awareness in her community and school.

Jessie Condon Egan, aged 8 from Portlaoise, has launched a special book written by Irish children who are deaf and hard of hearing, in which she plays a big role.

Not only that but some staff in her school, Scoil Bhride NS, are learning sign language and her classmates are learning about deafness.

The book called The Magic Within Our Ears, is a compilation of stories, illustrations and poems. Jessie wrote a story in it, and came up with the title.

It was launched by her in Portlaoise Library recently, with her family and Chime, the National Charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who published the book.

Jessie was accompanied by her proud parents Tanya and John at the launch.

Tanya spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about her inspirational daughter, the youngest of three siblings.

We are very proud of her. She thinks she's famous now, she'd delighted. It is the first book for Irish children, we had to get ones from the US and elsewhere, she said.

Jessie wasn't deaf when she was born. She became sick in 2021 at the age of six. After a brief illness and an operation she lost her hearing. It was diagnosed as moderate to severe, but now it is severe to profound, she said.

Jessie calls her two bluetooth hearing aids her magic ears hence the inspiration for the book title.

She is very positive. she is not letting it hold her back.

It can be very tiring for her in school, it was a huge change. She has gone through a lot. She had fear at night when her aids were turned off and she could hear nothing, her mother said.

Jessie also felt her difference while at school.

She came and asked me 'am I very different?' because the school had days for autism and other things but not deafness, said Tanya.

Tanya approached the school to ask for support, and thanks to Jessie's teacher Ms Butler, her class celebrated World Hearing Day, to raise awareness in her classmates.

Jessie relies on assisted technology in school and at home.

She is also learning Irish Sign Language at home with a tutor who is also deaf.

The tutor started giving lessons in her school last week to teach people to communicate with Jessie in case her aids stop working.

She can't go swimming with her class, she needs one to one lessons.

She has started private lessons learning the violin, also one to one, with Laois Music Generation.

She made her communion last week and the priest wore a bluetooth system around his neck so she could hear him, she was delighted with her self," Tanya said.

The Chime charity has been a big help to Jessie and her family.

Chime helped a lot when she was diagnosed. We went to a Newly Diagnosed Weekend in the Midlands Park hotel with other families.

They hold events for all children and Jessie loves that everyone is like her, she is not different there, Tanya said.

Rose Looman is the Children and Family Support Worker for Chime, which is based in Tullamore.

"We had the pleasure of holding a book launch in the local library in Portlaoise for Jessie Condon Egan. Jessie participated In our book.

The turnout of family and school friends was absolutely fantastic, and we could not be more grateful for the warm reception," she said.

The Magic Within Our Ears is available to buy on the Chime website. It costs 8.99 and every purchase funds Chimes essential services. Chime gives help to people of all ages who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or living with tinnitus. They offer support, guidance, advice, a welcoming community, and also campaign for better Government support. See www.chime.ie
National Broadband Ireland, the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan on behalf of the Government, has said that almost 3,100 Kildare properties in its Donadea deployment area can now order a high-speed fibre broadband connection. The area covers the rural surrounds of Kilcock, Straffan and Blackwood.

15,000 premises in County Kildare are included in the States Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, County Kildare will receive 53M of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.

There are 3,065 Kildare premises in the Donadea deployment area that can join the National Broadband Ireland network. National Broadband Ireland is calling on people living near Donadea to visit nbi.ie/map/ and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect.

Works have already been completed in other parts of Kildare and there is a total of 8,311 premises that are available to pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across the county with 1,728 connections made so far. National Broadband Ireland is calling on people to visit nbi.ie/map/ and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect.

Having successfully completed the survey and design phase of the project, over 4,806 Kildare premises are now under construction to have high-speed fibre. This includes over 750 premises near Dunboyne, almost 3,600 premises near the Curragh Camp and almost 1,900 premises near Baltinglass. National Broadband Irelands website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. Signing up to the NBI email notifications at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up-to-date status of premises during the rollout and when premises will be ready for order.

Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, Peter Hendrick said, We are delighted to announce that Kildare premises near Donadea can now order high-speed broadband services through the National Broadband Ireland network. This will enable users to experience the life-changing benefits that high-speed broadband provides.

Presently, over 8,300 homes, businesses and farms in County Kildare can order high-speed fibre broadband to connect to the National Broadband Network. This includes over 2,400 premises in Blessington, over 1,500 near Athy and over 300 near Castledermot.

We are encouraging Kildare residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode and sign up for updates. High-speed fibre broadband will be available for almost 3,600 premises in Curragh Camp this summer, while almost 1,200 Kildare homes and businesses near Baltinglass are due to be connected to the NBI Network by the end of the year.

As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area.

Some 71 RSPs have already signed up to sell services on the National Broadband Ireland network and 67 are certified as ready to start providing connections as of today. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the National Broadband Ireland network, visit NBI.ie/buy.

National Broadband Ireland contractors have been on the ground across the country and over 254,443 premises nationwide can order or pre-order broadband on the NBI network so far.

The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. Signing up to the NBI email notifications at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up to date status of premises during the rollout and when premises will be ready for order.

Keep up to Speed!

NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at www.nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area.

Broadband Connection Points

In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. 955 of these sites, including Public BCPs, are now live. Public BCPs  which include sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites  will provide free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area. Other BCP categories include schools and marts.

BCPs will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism. You can view BCPs at www.nbi.ie/bcp-map/. An example of some of the locations of Broadband Connection Points in Kildare include the Cookstown Further Education, Trainging and Community Centre, Lullymore Heritage Park and Bigstone Community Hall. Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access as part of the NBP.
TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin is enhancing bus services from Dunlavin and Kilcullen to Newbridge from Tuesday, May 7 2024.

This enhancement is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Route 892, formerly route 129, will now extend to Dunlavin and will operate eight daily return services, with four daily return services extending to Dunlavin, Monday to Saturday. Additionally, the enhanced route will operate seven daily return services, with three daily return services extending to Dunlavin, on Sunday.

The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Dunlavin, Brannockstown, Kilcullen, Athgarvan, Newbridge Town Centre, Newbridge Train Station, Rosconnell, College Farm, & Newbridge College.

The route will also provide peak-time and evening services as well as offering improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services in Kilcullen and Newbridge.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin General Manager, Alan Kerry, said, In partnership with the NTA we are growing our network and we are confident that Route 892 will provide real and tangible alternatives to private car dependency for people living along this route.

The timetable is planned to offer connectivity to local train services, along with peak time arrivals into Newbridge to accommodate employment and education needs.

Our weekend schedules will give people the option to leave their car at home and use the bus instead for meeting friends and social activities. Along with recent reductions in public transport fares and the introduction of the Young Adult Cards, we are hopeful this route will provide an additional catalyst to allow people to adopt public transport usage as part of their daily lives in rural Kildare.
Tony Murray from Celbridge, was a lucky winner in Gala Retails Home or Away store promotion, winning a holiday voucher worth 2,500.

Gala Retail launched the promotion in celebration of 25 years of serving communities, and has been delighting its loyal customers, across the country, with the chance to win one of 25 holiday vouchers.

Running throughout February and March, the promotion offered shoppers the opportunity to enter by spending over 10 in any of the participating Gala Retail stores. Entrants had the chance to win one of 10 family holidays abroad, valued at 4,000 each, or one of 15 holiday vouchers for unforgettable Irish staycations, each worth 2,500.

CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond said, "We are delighted to kick start our 25th year in business with a huge thank-you to our loyal Gala shoppers. This giveaway is our way of expressing our gratitude and giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. From staycations in Ireland to fun filled, family adventures abroad, there are so many exciting opportunities and were thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends."

The Home or Away promotion, which ran from February 5 to March 17, received overwhelming participation and support from customers across the country. Gala Retail collaborated with Ireland Hotels and the 'Go Anywhere' gift card to offer the home vouchers, aimed at promoting local hospitality and creating memorable experiences in Ireland for winners. For more information, visit: www.gala.ie/news
A group of local residents are complaining about the impact that a homeless shelter near Naas is having on their community.

Kerdiffstown House opened around the end of 2018 to provide short term emergency accommodation for homeless people at Johnstown.

The project is supported by Kildare County Council.

A local resident said there are a lot of issues associated with the project.

We do not have a problem with homeless people but we are getting incidents in Johnstown that we never had before. People are coming over to the village drunk or perhaps on drugs.

The resident said that some people wont let their children shop in the village as a result.

Read more Kildare news

It was also stated that residents of Kerdiffstown House use the footbridge spanning the motorway to access the village - and this a popular walking route which some are afraid to use.

The resident said many people feel that the shelter should not be as close to Johnstown.

We cannot cope with the people who are coming in; there are just 400 houses in Johnstown.

The resident said many people living there would prefer that the shelter is moved elsewhere.

Local councillor Fintan Brett there are complaints about the shelter. That is not the ideal location but it is there and we have to deal with it," said Cllr Brett.

He added: We are working as best we can to try to ensure that there is no disruption to community life.

He said there are public order incidents and he has asked KCC to remove shrubbery near the bridge because this area is used by people for drinking alcohol.

He said he is in contact with KCC and the Peter McVerry Trust, which operates the shelter.
A chef who groomed a teenager he met online before sending her brutal and extreme pornography and sexually defiling her has been jailed for four years.

Adam Winters, now 32, met the teenager on an online dating site in 2012 when she was just 14 years' old and he was 21 and working as a chef, the Central Criminal Court heard.

He became aware of her age but started a sexualised conversation with her anyway and soon started sending her video links to pornography that was described in court as brutal, extreme and revolting.

Winters would instruct the girl to watch the pornography and then ask her if she would be willing to carry out the acts, which included bondage, pain, urination and blood-letting, Detective Garda Noelle McSweeney told John O'Kelly SC, prosecuting.

During the online relationship, which lasted until 2018, Winters met the girl on two occasions, during which he had her give him oral sex.

Winters, with an address at Blackhall, Glynn, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually defiling the girl at locations in Cork and Waterford on dates between April 2013 and April 2014.

One count related to the defilement of a child under the age of 15, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The second count related to the defilement of a child under the age of 17, which carries a maximum seven-year sentence.

Imposing sentence this Thursday, Mr Justice David Keane said he would first like to acknowledge the injured party and her determination in reporting this matter and wish her well for the future.

Judge Keane said he must have regard to the following aggravating factors: the age disparity of seven years between the defendant and the complainant, the element of grooming that was clearly present in this case and the psychological damage caused to the injured party.

The judge said he had carefully considered the contents of the probation report and the defendant's guilty plea, and as a result of this plea, the injured party was spared the ordeal of giving evidence at trial. He commented that the defendant is entitled to significant credit for his lack of previous convictions and his cooperation with the gardai.

Judge Keane said that the defendant is now in his thirties and is answering to offences committed in his twenties. Referencing a letter which was handed into the court, he Winters has shown remorse.

Concurrent prison sentences, totalling six years' imprisonment, were imposed by the judge who said he must consider if any of this sentence should have a suspended element.

In doing so, he said the defendant has been assessed by probation services and has been deemed suitable for post-release supervision. He suspended the final two years of the sentence and placed Winters under the supervision of probation services for two years.

He outlined to the defendant that he must follow all directions as indicated by the probation services.

In her victim impact statement, which she read out at an earlier hearing, the complainant  now in her early twenties - said there were no words to describe how much the man affected her. She said he tore her away from her family, and she became obsessed with keeping him happy.

Ten years of abuse and mental health (difficulties) truly nearly killed me, she said.

She said she struggled with anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation while blaming herself for what was done to her. I was so young, and when I was finally old and mature enough to understand, it was all too much, she said.

The woman said that despite what the man put her through, she was a believer in forgiveness. It's something you need to be able to do to move on, she said.

He may have taken my childhood, my womanhood, but I forgive him, she said. All I want today is justice for the years I suffered and the trauma I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.

The woman said she had read a letter of apology Winters had written to her and she said she could accept it, except for the part where he wrote he didn't mean to hurt (her).

He did mean to hurt me, she said, ...but I can forgive and move on.

Prosecuting counsel said that Winters met the girl in a carpark in April 2013 and again in a hotel on a date between April 2013 and April 2014. On each occasion, he had the girl give him oral sex, slapping her breasts on one occasion.

When arrested by gardai in 2021, Winters admitted that the messages between him and the girl were seedy, but he maintained they were flirtatious rather than laden with sexual innuendo. He has no previous convictions and is still working as a chef, the court heard.

Colman Cody SC, defending, handed in the letter of apology from his client along with a number of testimonials. He submitted his client had engaged in grooming and exploitative behaviour towards the girl and that he took advantage of her understandable teenage wish to have a boyfriend.

Mr Winters was cognisant of her age and her vulnerabilities, and he exploited them, Mr Cody said.

He said Winters has undergone cognitive behavioural therapy to start to address his issues, that he has matured in the ten years since this offending took place, and now has a child. He has acquired insight and understanding as to the seriousness of his offending, the court heard.
A Cork family has appealed for help for a mum of two after breast cancer diagnosis.

Aisling Murphy Collins, aged 35, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which is a type of breast cancer that spreads from the primary tumour in the breast to another part of the body.

To help her and her family cover the medical costs, her sister-in-law, Valerie Collins has created a fundraiser

"Please help us to support Aisling in her ongoing battle with her advanced breast cancer. Her husband Darren & children Adaline (8) & Teddy (5) give her all the love she needs, however, we hope to provide them with some financial support to cover ongoing medical and living costs, as they fight this deadly disease together," said Valerie on a GoFundMe page.

"Over the past 3 years she has bravely faced chemotherapy, a mastectomy, numerous rounds of radiotherapy, immunotherapy and continues her fight for life, all while being a loving mother and wife. At 35 years old, she is truly an amazingly resilient person with an unwavering positive attitude to every obstacle," she added.

"Life with metastatic breast cancer, and the associated medical costs, has become a huge struggle financially. Much of the financial pressures they have not had the time and space to contemplate. This family needs your help for what lies ahead."
Six people have been arrested following disturbances at the site in Co Wicklow earmarked for asylum seekers.

There had been protests outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy.

A Garda spokesperson said officers came under attack in an incident which they said developed as a result of workers, contracted to carry out lawful employment on the site, entering the site.

They said a number of trespassers were also identified on and removed from the site last night.

Uniform gardai have been subject of both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks and other missiles being thrown this evening, they said in a statement on Thursday night.

Fires have been lit and an axe has been recovered by Gardai during this evenings incident.

As the situation has intensified, members of An Garda Siochana used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation.

Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Siochana Public Order Unit and approximately 50 members of An Garda Siochana remain at the scene this evening.

The use of force included the use of Incapacitant spray and deployment of Public Order Gardai in Public Order helmets and shields.

Gardai said three patrol cars were damaged, and six people were arrested for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

The spokesperson added: An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Siochana.

Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort.

An Garda Siochana is also aware of misinformation and disinformation being spread in relation to this ongoing incident.
Feature: Students in UK wowed by time-honored cultural treasures of China

Xinhua) 13:09, April 26, 2024

LONDON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Gazing down on spectators, with impressive noses and daunting staring eyes, bronze masks and figures displayed during a digital tour of Chinese artifacts have wowed British school students.

The virtual tour of China's Sanxingdui Museum was held on Thursday in central London during an event in celebration of Chinese Language Day of this year, which was attended by about 100 students from four schools.

Despite being dubbed as one of the world's greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins, whose remnants date back 4,500 to 3,000 years, were unfamiliar to many students, including Devina Mistry from Queen Mary's High School.

Mistry told Xinhua that this was the first time she was introduced to Sanxingdui, and the bronze figure of a tiger left a strong impression on her. She has been learning Chinese for a year and events like this have always been entertaining and educational.

"Learning Mandarin has been much more than acquiring a new way to communicate," she said, adding that the experiences of learning the language gave her "an opportunity to connect with people" and enriched her "understanding and appreciation of a culture that is both ancient and vibrantly alive today."

Joan Deslandes, head teacher of Kingsford Community School, said that the next generation "will need to understand China's culture and be able to work in the Mandarin language" in today's global context.

"The fact that more and more schools are incorporating Mandarin into their curriculum reflects the recognition that has been made in how important this is," she added. Her school has been teaching Chinese since 2000.

During the event, six on-site workshops offered the students an opportunity to experience Chinese culture, such as typography of the Chinese characters, Kung Fu, and Chinese fan dance.

"All people-to-people exchanges are really important in education," Katharine Carruthers, director of IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society's Confucius Institute for Schools, told Xinhua during the event.

She said that Chinese children learning English and British children learning Chinese will be the "bedrock" of the relationship between the two countries, and it's important for them to "find out they have a lot more in common than there are differences."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A man has been arrested and charged in relation to a significant drugs seizure at Dublin Airport earlier this week.

According to Revenue, more than 14kgs of herbal cannabis were found concealed in vacuum-packed packages within the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked from a flight from Spain.

"On Wednesday, as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of detector dog Sam (pictured below), Revenue officers seized over 14.2 kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of approximately 285,000," said a spokesperson.

Following the seizure, a man, aged in his 40s, was arrested by members of An Garda Siochana. He was detained and questioned at a garda station in Dublin and has since been charged.

In an update this morning, gardai confirmed the man is due to be brought before the courts at the Criminal Courts of Justice this Friday.

Both Revenue and gardai say investigations arising from the seizure are ongoing.

"This seizure is part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295," said a Revenue spokesperson.
Ireland's brief brush with summer appears to have come to an end as Met Eireann predicts more unsettled weather and night-time temperatures as low as -1 degrees in the coming days.

The country has been basking in largely dry and rather warm conditions since last weekend but we may have to wait for another week or too for sunnier climes to return.

In their latest forecast, Met Eireann said we will see "showers merging to give longer spells of rain at times" on Thursday with rain and even some frost coming over the weekend.

They predicted some "localised heavy falls" on Thursday but said "a clearance to drier and sunnier conditions in Ulster, will continue to edge slowly southwards this evening. Light to moderate northerly or variable breezes."

They added that on Thursday night "showery outbreaks of rain will linger in southern parts. It'll be cold with clear spells elsewhere, with just a few showers near northern coasts. Some mist and fog patches too. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +5 degrees in light northeasterly winds, coldest across the north midlands, with a touch of grass frost."

Their forecast continued: "Some bright or sunny spells tomorrow [Friday] with well scattered showers, some heavy. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in a light to moderate northeasterly breeze.

"On Friday night, showers will soon die away with long clear spells following. Some frost will set in. Cold with lowest temperatures of -1 to 3 degrees in light northerly breezes.

"Saturday will be a cool day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered April showers feeding in over the country, in a light to moderate northeasterly breeze. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees, mildest in the west.

"Mainly dry and chilly on Saturday night with clear spells in a light northwesterly breeze. Lowest temperatures of -1 to plus 2 degrees with some grass frost forming.

"Sunday will see the likelihood of more general falls of rain moving in off the Atlantic during the day. Much of the south and southeast may stay fully dry however. Fairly cool with highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. Northerly winds will likely veer westerly."

Beyond that, their outlook reads: "Unsettled for the early days of next week with rain or showers feeding up from the south. Turning a little milder."
Leitrim woman Helena Golden travelled to Krakow, Poland, last week to participate in a networking conference on the 'Women Led Innovations in Rural and Agricultural Areas' theme.

Helena, based in Leitrim Village, set up her heritage craft business "Helena Golden Willow Woman" in 2020.

Coming from a farming background in Manorhamilton and a career in Community and Rural Development, Helena spotted the potential for her interest in Willow Basket Making to be developed into a sustainable, rural enterprise.

Helena was selected as one of 86 participants from 24 EU Member States to participate in the networking conference in Poland, which was focused on Female Entrepreneurship in rural settings throughout Europe and how government policy can best support and develop such initiatives.

Attendees included Researchers, Policy Makers and Advisors, Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders.

Helena was honoured to be chosen as one of 7 Inspiring Women to address the delegates and showcase her Leitrim business at an International forum. She has always been a keen advocate for what Leitrim has to offer.

"I have always taken pride in the fact that I have put my education to use for the development and betterment of Leitrim, having worked to support small businesses, community and rural development initiatives throughout Leitrim for many years. I am just delighted to represent Leitrim on an European stage and for the purposes of showcasing my own business," she said.

Helena has also been selected as one of 30 Women Led Businesses in Ireland to participate in research as part of the FLIARA Project  Female Led Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Areas.

FLIARA aims to improve understanding and recognition of women's roles in a more sustainable rural future. A publication based on the 30 Irish Female Led businesses will be launched in Galway in July 2024.

Helena currently delivers Basket Making classes throughout Ireland, with a focus on making this tactile heritage craft accessible and available to all ages and abilities. The rhythmic nature of weaving with willow offers a connection with our ancestors and is regularly described as active mindfulness.

She teaches the craft in schools and colleges, with community and private groups, and she has recently launched an Online School of Natural Craft, ensuring that this Leitrim business now has a worldwide customer base.
Tidewater Announces Earnings Release and Conference Call





Tidewater Inc. (NYSE: TDW) ("Tidewater" or the "Company") announced today that it will release financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2024, on Thursday, May 2, 2024 after market close. An earnings conference call has been scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, during which President and Chief Executive Officer Quintin Kneen will discuss results for the three months ending March 31, 2024.

Investors and interested parties may listen to the earnings conference call via telephone by calling +1.800.715.9871 if calling from the U.S. or Canada (+1.647.932.3411 if calling from outside the U.S.) and provide Conference ID: 6663124 prior to the scheduled start time. A live webcast of the call will also be available in the Investor Relations section of Tidewater's website at investor.tdw.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m. Central Time on May 3, 2024. To access the reply, access the Investor Relations section of Tidewater's website at investor.tdw.com.

The conference call will contain forward-looking statements in addition to statements of historical fact. The actual achievement of any forecasted results or the unfolding of future economic or business developments in a way anticipated or projected by the Company involves numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual performance to be materially different from that stated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks associated with the general nature of the oilfield service industry and other factors discussed within the "Risk Factors" section of Tidewater's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K.

Tidewater owns and operates the largest fleet of offshore support vessels in the industry, with more than 65 years of experience supporting offshore energy exploration, production and offshore wind activities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.tdw.com.

25 april 2024 at 17:25

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NorthWest Copper Announces Board Chair





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthWest Copper Corp. ("NorthWest" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NWST) is pleased to announce that Maryantonett Flumian has been appointed Chair of the Board effective immediately.



Maryantonett Flumian, NorthWest Copper Chair, stated, "I am looking forward to working closely with the Board and management as we guide NorthWest forward and strategically advance the Company's impressive pipeline of copper-gold exploration projects in British Columbia."

Ms. Flumian has a career spent in the Canadian federal and provincial public service. A former Deputy Minister in the Canadian federal government as well as the President of the Institute on Governance for 10 years, she established an Indigenous Advisory Circle at the latter to do research to enable a dialogue on reframing the issues of Reconciliation. She resides in Ottawa and now spends her time primarily working with Indigenous communities across Canada. Currently she is spending her time assisting First Nations in British Columbia where she is a governance advisor to numerous First Nations working under the auspices of the New Relationship Trust.

About NorthWest Copper:

NorthWest Copper is a copper-gold explorer with an exciting pipeline of projects in British Columbia. With a robust portfolio in a tier one jurisdiction, NorthWest Copper is well positioned to participate fully in a strengthening global copper market. We are committed to responsible mineral exploration which involves working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure future development incorporates stewardship best practices and traditional land use. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at www.northwestcopper.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of NorthWest Copper Corp.

"Maryantonett Flumian"

Chair, NorthWest Copper

For further information, please contact:

David Jan

Investor Relations

604-683-7790

[email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Although NorthWest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information since NorthWest can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in NorthWest's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking information are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NorthWest's expectations include risks associated with the business of NorthWest; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by NorthWest; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company's mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in NorthWest's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com).

Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the information are made. NorthWest does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

25 april 2024 at 19:05

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Ankur Daga, CEO of Angara, Wins Gold Stevie(R) Award for Best Entrepreneur - Retail in 2024 American Business Awards(R)





Angara Bags One More Gold and Two Silver Stevie Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / Ankur Daga, CEO of Angara, a leading online DTC fine jewelry retail brand, has been named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Best Entrepreneur - Retail category in the 22nd Annual American Business Awards.





Ankur Daga Wins Gold Stevie for Best Entrepreneur





The American Business Awards are the USA's premier business awards program, recognizing outstanding achievements across various industries. Over 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and industries were submitted this year, with winners selected through a rigorous judging process by 300+ professionals worldwide.

Ankur Daga's entrepreneurial vision and leadership have played a pivotal role in driving Angara's success, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award. The judges were particularly impressed by Daga's unwavering commitment to personalized experiences and innovation in the fine jewelry industry. It showcased to them a rare blend of passion, vision, and strategic acumen. Daga's leadership, with its focus on customization and market penetration, also stood out, placing him at the forefront of a colored gemstone revolution in this exciting segment.

Under Ankur's visionary leadership, Angara has achieved remarkable growth and recognition, including global expansion to over 64 countries, and numerous prestigious awards. His strategic initiatives, such as the introduction of the "Create with Angara" feature and the "Celebrate with Color" campaign, have redefined the customer experience and positioned Angara as a leader in colored gemstones.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Gold Stevie Award for Best Entrepreneur - Retail," said Daga. "It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, whose commitment to innovation and excellence has been instrumental in our success. I am proud of what we've achieved together and I'm excited for the future as we continue to lead the colored gemstone revolution."

Along with Daga's Gold Stevie win, Angara secured three more Stevies: a Gold in the Marketing Campaign of the Year - Retail category, and Silver for Fastest Growing Company of the Year - Up to 2,500 Employees as well as Achievement in Customer Satisfaction. These awards solidify Angara's strength in leadership, marketing, growth, and customer service.

"While growth in much of the world economy has recovered slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, the American economy continues to show remarkable resilience and growth," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. "Our 2024 Stevie winners have contributed to that successful recovery through their innovation, persistence, and hard work."

For more information about Angara and exciting announcements, please visit Angara.com, and follow @AngaraJewelry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About Angara:

Angara is an online DTC fine jewelry retail brand, offering handcrafted jewelry dressed in natural colored gemstones, high-quality diamonds, and pearls, with every piece made to order. Founded in 2005 by husband-wife duo, Ankur and Aditi Daga, Angara has grown to become the leading source for fine gemstone jewelry.

Press Contact:

[email protected]

Contact Information

Angara Inc.

[email protected]

(844) 527-4367



SOURCE: Angara Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

25 april 2024 at 23:59

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American Council of Learned Societies Announces 2024 Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies Fellows and Grantees





Fellowships and Grants Totaling $475,000 Support Research, Writing, and Travel for Early-Career Scholars and Graduate Students in the Field of China Studies

NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce the 2024 Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellows and Travel Grantees in China Studies.

ACLS is proud to support these outstanding 2024 Early Career Fellows and Travel Grantees, whose research will help provide a critical, nuanced understanding of China's past and present.

The awards are part of the redesigned Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies, which the Henry Luce Foundation has awarded ACLS $1.25 million to continue through 2025. This generous grant will support the next round of Early Career Fellowships, Travel Grants, and a Collaborative Grant, as well as a mapping project to identify archives and collections related to China studies around the world. Additional long-term fellowships are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

In 2024, the program will support 25 fellows and grantees representing a diverse range of institutions and disciplines, including anthropology, film and media studies, gender and sexuality studies, history, literature, and sociology.

Fourteen Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies support emerging scholars whose research focuses on China's societies, histories, cultures, geopolitics, art, and global impact. This year's awards include eight long-term fellowships of up to $45,000 , which allow recent PhDs to take leave from university responsibilities for research and writing toward a scholarly text, and six flexible fellowships of $15,000 , which enable scholars with heavy teaching and service responsibilities to advance their projects.

"ACLS and the Henry Luce Foundation have partnered to advance the understanding of China for 40 years," said Deena Ragavan, ACLS Director of International Programs. "We are excited to continue our re-envisioned Program in China Studies, which prioritizes supporting a wide diversity of scholars, institutions, and research topics and improving public understanding of Chinese cultures, histories, and societies. ACLS is proud to support these outstanding 2024 Early Career Fellows and Travel Grantees, whose research will help provide a critical, nuanced understanding of China's past and present."

Applications are currently open for the 2024 Luce/ACLS Collaborative Grant in China Studies, which will award up to $150,000 for innovative pilot activities that initiate long-term transformative change in the field of China studies. Final proposals are due June 13, 2024, and the winner will be announced later this year.

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 80 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS utilizes its million endowment and $37 million annual operating budget to expand the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. In all aspects of our work, ACLS is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice.

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. It does so by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this announcement, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment of for the Humanities.

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SOURCE American Council of Learned Societies

26 april 2024 at 05:15

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NEW AFFORDABLE AND SENIORS HOMES COMING TO DARTMOUTH





DARTMOUTH, NS, April 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Government of Canada, Province of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality and Affirmative Ventures Association announced a combined investment of over $16 million to create 45 new homes in Dartmouth.

Main Street Centre is a seven-story, 45-unit mixed-use housing project located at 139 Main Street in Dartmouth. The units will be a mixture of affordable and much-needed seniors housing. The new building is envisioned as part of a continuum of housing and mental health supports, addressing affordable housing needs on the independent living side of the spectrum.

The development will include 25 affordable units plus 20 units that will be offered for market rent. One dozen units will be fully accessible, and the community will have grade level access to social enterprises on Main Street. At the back of the building, ten units of transitional housing already managed by Affirmative Ventures will have seamless interface with the Main Street Centre. Building amenities will include supports for persons with a mental health diagnosis, services to support seniors aging in place, walking distance to local businesses, Halifax Transit stops and dedicated bike storage.

This project is made possible by the Government of Canada's Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) a key pillar of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), with funding from the Province of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality and Affirmative Ventures.

A breakdown of funding for this project includes:

$11.8 million from the NHS Affordable Housing Fund (AHF)

from the NHS Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) $73,000 in SEED funding

in SEED funding $4.7 million from Province of Nova Scotia

from Province of $162,636 from Halifax Regional Municipality

from Halifax Regional Municipality $350,000 in Land Equity from Affirmative Ventures Association

Quotes:

"These new affordable housing units are going to make a real difference in the Dartmouth area. They will both help support seniors and persons with a mental health diagnosis, and help create a stronger, more inclusive community." ? The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

"Today's announcement is more than dollars and units ? we're building more homes right here in Dartmouth?Cole Harbour! We're delivering this funding to strengthen our community and ensure that seniors and persons with a mental health diagnosis can live and thrive in a home that's adapted to meet their needs. A home that's near transit, near amenities, and part of our community."? Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour

"Having a safe, supportive home is more than four walls and a roof. We're pleased to play a role in creating inclusive, welcoming communities where the residents are able to grow, feel secure and thrive." ? Tim Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Nova Scotia on behalf of John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Nova Scotia

"The Halifax Regional Municipality is committed to demonstrating leadership and fostering partnerships that provide access to a range of quality, affordable housing options in safe and vibrant communities. This project will meet a crucial need in our community, and I thank everyone who has come together to invest in safer, more engaged communities by making affordable options available to those in need." ? Tony Mancini, Regional Councillor District 6 - Harbourview - Burnside - Dartmouth East, Halifax Regional Municipality

"Affirmative Ventures Association looks forward to the opening of the Main Street Centre in Spring 2025 and we would like to thank our funding partners, rcs Construction, Harvey Architecture, the construction trades and members of our project team. With their support, we are now implementing our vision for mental health housing while moving forward at the same time with a mix of housing, a centre for employment training and community-based mental health supports." ? Ken Greer Board Chair, Affirmative Ventures

Quick facts:

Today's announcement was made by Darren Fisher , Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing Infrastructure and Communities, Tim Halman , Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Nova Scotia on behalf of John Lohr , Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Nova Scotia , and Tony Mancini , Regional Councillor District 6 - Harbourview - Burnside - Dartmouth East, Halifax Regional Municipality.

, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing Infrastructure and Communities, , Minister of Environment and Climate Change for on behalf of , Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for , and , Regional Councillor District 6 - Harbourview - - Dartmouth East, Halifax Regional Municipality. The Affordable Housing Fund ? previously known as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) ? is part of the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) , an $82+ billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home.

previously known as is part of the , an $82+ billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home. As of December 31, 2023 , the Government of Canada has committed over $8.17 billion to support the creation of over 32,000 units and the repair of over 155,000 units through the Affordable Housing Fund.

, the Government of has committed over to support the creation of over 32,000 units and the repair of over 155,000 units through the As of December 31, 2023 , the Government of Canada has committed over $42.99 billion to support the creation of almost 135,000 units and the repair of over 270,000 units. These measures prioritize those in greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children fleeing violence.

Related links:

For more information of Government of Canada housing initiatives: Housing Canada .

housing initiatives: Housing . As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that everyone in has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. Progress on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.?

SOURCE Government of Canada

26 april 2024 at 09:15

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Media Advisory - Minister Lebouthillier and Parliamentary Secretary Kelloway to make joint announcement on Budget 2024 funding related to small craft harbours in Canada





OTTAWA, ON, April 26, 2024 /CNW/ - The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, will be joined by Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, for a virtual announcement regarding funding in Budget 2024 to repair and maintain small craft harbours.

Date: April 29, 2024



Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT

Please note that the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary will deliver similar remarks in both official languages.

Registration: Media wishing to attend this virtual press conference must register. Contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada Media Relations at [email protected] to confirm your attendance or to receive call details.

Stay Connected

Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

26 april 2024 at 10:00

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FeatureFaced with an unprecedented influx of international students, mainly from France, one of Europe's top engineering schools, moved to tighten its admission requirements for 2025.

Lausanne's Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) is buckling under the strain of its student population. Located on the northern shore of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps, the massive campus of over 500,000 square meters, with its 80 buildings, is now looking for more space. The school's management decided on Tuesday, April 16, to cap the number of first-year bachelor students for the start of the 2025 academic year at 3,000, around 200 less than in previous years.

The decision is meant to guarantee the "quality of studies" at a school "saturated" with students. As a result, the elite school will give preferential access to holders of a maturite, a Swiss high school diploma, at the expense of international students, the vast majority of whom are French. "We are always strangers to someone," wrote the poet Tahar Ben Jelloun in Racism Explained to My Daughter (Seuil, 1998)...

One of Switzerland's top engineering schools is following in the footsteps of Belgium, where faced with an influx of young international students, some universities introduced maximum quotas for a few of the most popular degrees in 2006. French students' exile to foreign institutions after their high school diploma, the baccalaureate, was highlighted in a 2023 report by Campus France, the national agency responsible for promoting French higher education abroad. It revealed an increase of 25% in five years, with 108,654 young French students present worldwide, mainly in Canada, Belgium, the UK, Switzerland, Spain and Germany.

Surging popularity

EPFL's student population has been rising steadily. The school had over 7,000 students in 2010, almost 11,000 in 2019 and 13,445 by the start of the 2023 academic year. In 2010, 851 first-year students had Swiss maturite diplomas, and 360 came from abroad, including 316 from France. In 2023, there will be 1,088 Swiss maturite holders and 1,198 international students, including 1,050 French baccalaureate holders. In 13 years, the number of students with a Swiss maturite thus rose by 28%, while the number of those admitted with a foreign diploma jumped by 233%, according to figures communicated by the school, "90% of them [come] from France," said the school's management.

Lausanne's engineering school isn't the only one attracting French high school students to Swiss higher education. Every institution in French-speaking Switzerland counts a large number of French students in their ranks: 474 joined the University of Geneva at the start of the 2023 academic year, while the University of Lausanne has 1,392 French students for the 2023-2024 academic year. When questioned, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office revealed that the country had exactly 5,808 French students in 2013 and 7,498 in 2018. In 2021, Campus France estimated that over 12,000 French people were studying in the Swiss Confederation.

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French Customs Coast Guards take part in a training exercise aiming at testing the security plans for the Olympic torch relay, at sea, off the coast of the southern French city of Toulon on April 24, 2024. CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

Some 6,000 police will be deployed next month to secure the arrival of the Olympic torch, which will travel from Greece to the southern French city of Marseille, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday, April 26. The extra officers will be mobilized on top of local firefighters and police, meaning security will be even tighter than when Pope Francis visited the city in September 2023.

The Olympic torch is set to be handed over to French organizers in Athens on Friday, before they bring it to Marseille on a French 19th-century sailing ship. The three-mast Belem is to set sail on Saturday from Greece and breeze into the Old Port of France's second-largest city on the evening of May 8, with crowds of around 150,000 people expected to be watching.

Read more Subscribers only Paris 2024: Olympic flame begins its journey from Greece to France

Darmanin said an elite tactical unit, bomb disposal teams, coast guard officers and an anti-drone team would be in place to secure the Old Port. He added that more than 1,000 boats that have signed up to sail with the Belem along the coastline before it arrives in port would all have been inspected and "demined" during the day.

The minister said there was "no specified threat" to the event, but that law enforcement was preparing for several hypothetical scenarios. These included one linked to "radical Islamism," though "the far right and far left" could also pose a risk, he said. "We will set up everything required by anti-terrorist laws to monitor and prevent" any incident, Darmanin said.

Read more Subscribers only France faces a growing, multi-faceted terrorist threat

French authorities had even prepared a plan B in case the wind was too strong  higher than 25 knots  and the Belem could not dock in the harbor. "But as it's always great weather in Marseille, I don't imagine this will happen," Darmanin said.
A view of the offices of NGO Save the Children during a raid in Guatemala City on April 25, 2024. JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP

Guatemalan authorities on Thursday, April 25, raided the offices of the international organization Save the Children in what the prosecutor's office said was part of an investigation into alleged abuses against minors. A spokesperson for Save the Children confirmed that officials had entered its offices in Guatemala City, but declined to give more details.

The operation was the result of "a transnational investigation of great significance since it concerns actions that could be related to violations and abuses against Guatemalan children," state prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche said in a video published on social media. Guatemalan authorities had sought assistance from prosecutors in the US state of Texas, he said, adding that the operation involved an "inspection, search and seizure of evidence."

Curruchiche heads the special prosecutor's office against impunity and is considered an ally of Guatemala's controversial attorney general, Consuelo Porras. Porras is listed as corrupt and undemocratic by the US Justice Department and has been accused of plotting to oust President Bernardo Arevalo, who wants to fire him.

The raid follows reports in local media that Guatemalan prosecutors asked the Texas attorney general's office for help investigating the alleged trafficking of Guatemalan children on the southern US border.

Prosecutors were seen entering the building of Save the Children, which has been working in Guatemala since a devastating earthquake in 1976 that left more than 25,000 people dead. It opened a permanent office there in 1983 and says it provides education, health, child protection and humanitarian aid, including to migrant children and their families who cross Guatemalas southern border.

In a statement released last week, Save the Children denied facilitating "the movement of children" out of Guatemala. "We are aware of the claims regarding the wellbeing of migrant children," it said.

"We take all child safeguarding and misconduct allegations extremely seriously and have independent investigative mechanisms in place to investigate them thoroughly," the statement added. "We have no evidence to support these claims and remain dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to migrant children and their families under strict standards of protection and safeguarding," it said.

According to the Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre, the prosecutor's office sent a letter to the Texas attorney general on April 12 naming Save the Children and several other NGOs that were under suspicion. It said the organizations were suspected of "participating in a child trafficking operation."
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder speaks during a press briefing on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the Pentagon in Washington. KEVIN WOLF / AP

The United States will withdraw some troops from Chad, the Pentagon said on Thursday, April 26, days after Washington agreed to move forces out of neighboring Niger.

Chad's air force chief had ordered the US military this month to halt activities at an air base near the capital N'Djamena, according to a letter sent to the transitional government and seen by Agence France-Presse. He said he had asked the US military to provide documents "justifying its presence at the Adji Kossei Air Base" but had not received any.

The US has approximately 100 troops stationed in Chad as part of its strategy to combat extremism in West Africa. US troops at the Adji Kossei military base train anti-terrorism special forces and an elite unit of the Chadian army to combat the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.

"USAFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some US military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart," Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told a news conference on Thursday, referring to the US Africa Command unit. "This is a temporary step as part of a ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad's May 6 presidential election."

Editorial Catastrophic repercussion of West retreat from the Sahel

Neighboring Niger is also a lynchpin in the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in the region. But Niger's ruling military junta said in March that it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming it had been imposed and the US troop presence was illegal.

Washington this week began discussions with Niger on withdrawing the more than 1,000 US personnel in the country, which is also home to a $100-million American drone base. The United States will "continue to explore options on how we can ensure that we're able to continue to address potential terrorist threats" in the wake of the withdrawal, Ryder said this week following the announcement of the US pull-out from Niger.

Read more Subscribers only American troops withdraw from Niger while facing pressure from Chad

General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno seized the presidency of Chad in a 2021 coup after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the Sahel country with an iron fist for more than three decades. He announced in March his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election that has seen opposition candidates banned from running, and his main rival Yaya Dillo Djerou shot dead in an army assault on his party headquarters.
A government of "rupture." That's how Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko presented his new, streamlined cabinet on the evening of Friday, April 5. It consists of 25 ministers and five secretaries of state, almost half of them from the ranks of his political party, the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF). "This is a government that embodies the project [of Bassirou Diomaye Faye], a systemic transformation the Senegalese people voted for on March 24, 2024, through a first-round election with 54.28% of the vote," Sonko said of the president-elect.

The main surprise comes from the appointment of two military officers to regalian posts: General Birame Diop, former chief of the defense staff, has been placed at the head of the armed forces, while General Jean-Baptiste Tine, former top commander of the national gendarmerie, has been named interior minister. "Members of the military are not political, they are above the fray," said analyst Abdou Khadre Lo, for whom these appointments reflect the new government's desire to entrust key ministries to figures embodying a form of political neutrality. This was previously seen in 2000 when a general was appointed to the Interior Ministry to organize the presidential election, which led to Senegal's first peaceful transition of power.

The new Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne, formerly a public prosecutor at the Dakar Court of Appeal and known for being serious, is anticipated to be less biased than his predecessor during Macky Sall's final term.

'No real sharing of the cake'

In addition to these appointments, a significant place is given to officials from PASTEF, a party created in 2014 that has never exercised power before. In all, 13 members of the government are from the movement, including several heavyweights. Among them, Birame Souleye Diop, who has chaired the parliamentary group of the main opposition coalition, Yewwi Askan Wi, since September 2022, has been appointed to the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines. This appointment is particularly significant as Senegal prepares to become a hydrocarbon-producing country in 2024.

Yacine Fall, PASTEF vice president in charge of international relations, who has worked at the United Nations, has inherited the Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs. She is one of four women in this overwhelmingly male executive branch. There were between seven and eight women in previous governments.

Read more Subscribers only France wants to avoid rift with Senegal's newly elected president Faye

"There's no real sharing of the cake. Many of PASTEF's historic players are not in the government. Nor are certain allies, such as former Prime Minister Aminata Toure or senior figure Habib Sy, who campaigned in favor of Bassirou Diomaye Faye," pointed out Lo, who sees this as a "real rupture."

Some survivors from the previous term have nevertheless found their place in the government, such as Serigne Gueye Diop, minister of industry and trade, who was a close adviser to Sall. On the evening he was sworn in, Faye chose Mary Teuw Niane, a former education minister who went over to the opposition in 2019, as his cabinet director.

Limited risk-taking

Oumar Samba Ba, secretary general of the presidency during the previous term of office, has been reappointed. "We made this choice to ensure the continuity of the State. Since the first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor, senior civil servants who are not members of political parties have always had this mission, which has ensured the stability of our country. They are above partisan interests," explained an adviser to Faye.

"There's this desire not to take too many risks so as not to frustrate allies or leap into the unknown, by offering positions to people from the former regime. It's a cautious government," said political scientist Jean-Charles Biagui, who nonetheless noted "the effort to put forward new faces," particularly through the appointment of experts such as Fatou Diouf, a lecturer and researcher specializing in maritime activities who will head the Ministry of Fisheries.

Read more Subscribers only Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the anti-system underdog at the helm of Senegal

Abdourahmane Sarr, a specialist in monetary issues who has worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been appointed as economic minister. This position will be all the more scrutinized as Faye has pledged to speed up the exit from the CFA franc, the common currency of most French-speaking West African countries, inherited from colonial times.

It remains to be seen how the president-elect and his mentor  now prime minister  will share power. The pairing is unprecedented: Sonko, the main opposition leader but excluded from the presidential election, designated Faye as his substitute candidate. Will this influence be reflected in the future workings of the executive branch? "The post of prime minister is a conflict-ridden and precarious position," warned Ogo Seck, professor of political science at the Universite Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis, stressing that "there can't be two roosters in the same henhouse."
IN January 1826, a magnificent fancy-dress ball and supper took place at a private residence on OConnell Street. An extensive report of the event was carried in several local and national newspapers including the Limerick Chronicle and the Dublin Evening Post.

The hosts of the extravagant and exotic party were Major General Sir Charles Doyle KCB and Mary, Lady Doyle. In 1803 Doyle married first Sophia Coghill; they had three sons including Lt-Gen Sir Charles Hastings Doyle.

In 1838 he married Mary, the widow of William Stair; they had no children. According to the Dictionary of Irish Biography, Sir Charles Doyle was promoted to the rank of major-general (1819) and he subsequently served as commander of the south-western district of Ireland (182530) which of course included Limerick.

Doyles official duties included facilitating visits to Limerick by senior military leaders.

For instance, on Wednesday, November 8, 1826, the Limerick Chronicle reported that the Commander-in-Chief, Lieut-General Sir George Murray and Captain Lord Edward Hay, of the 72d Regiment, arrived in this city.

Murray was satisfied with the excellent appearance of the troops, and the superior manner in which the various manoeuvres were executed.

He also communicated to the commanding officers of his approbation of the correct and military deportment of the men. In the course of the day, the General minutely inspected the New Barracks, Castle Barracks, and Artillery Barracks.

Sir Charles and Lady Doyle appeared to have enjoyed nothing better than throwing lavish parties at their house on OConnell Street or attending balls held in their honour at military barracks across the city.

As previously mentioned one of the most lavish parties that they organised took place at their home on OConnell Street on the evening of January 31, 1826.

The reports in the local press noted that a numerous assemblage, comprising the wealth, rank, and fashionable of our city and adjoining counties attended a splendid ball at the home of Sir Charles and Lady Doyle, and it was a late one.

The festivities did not commence until 11pm and the guests were received at the door by a retinue of servants dressed in rich liveries, who announced them as they proceeded to the rooms where the company was assembling.

The pomp and ceremony did not end there as a guard of honour was stationed in the hall, and a party of Dragoons were positioned outside the house to prevent the company from being inconvenienced by the pressure of the crowd of onlookers eager to witness the grand event.

The party was in fact, a fancy-dress ball of the most extraordinary scale and the guests went all out in their choice of attire.

The extensive report in the Limerick Chronicle noted that the most finished description in our paper can convey but a faint and indistinct idea of the tout ensemble.

Lady Doyle donned a very rich Turkish dress, while Sir Charles was in full dress en militaire, decorated with his various orders.

The Hon Mrs John Massy arrived dressed as the Fairy Queen while the Hon Mrs OGrady wore the costume of a Grecian Princess.

Lady De Burgho appeared in the costume of Istria, Lady Gough was dressed as a matronly and demure Lady Abbess.

Miss Lyndon, as Lady Grandison, was correctly dressed in the full and formal costume of the 16th century. She wore a flowered damask headdress, a plume of white ostrich feathers, and a profusion of diamonds.

Other guests included Mrs Cuff Kelly as a priestess of the sun, Mrs and Miss Jackson, the former as a wife of Peter Paul Rubens, the latter as a bourgeoise of Strasburg, Miss Long as one of the Sisterhood, and Mrs Joyce as one of the weird sisters in Macbeth was distinguished in her high conical red hat, black and scarlet dress, and broomstick.

Some of the mens costumes included the Mayor as a Royal Arch Mason, Lord Clarina as a Polish nobleman, and Mr Le Mesurier as Napoleon Bonaparte. Other guests appeared as kings, queens, sailors, fruit girls, nuns, and comic actors.

In all over, 300 people attended the soiree which featured several sets of Quadrilles; dancing did not cease until a late hour when the company began to retire, all agreeing that a spectacle as brilliant as the one they just attended was rarely witnessed in Limerick, even in the country mansions of the nobility.

The Doyles fancy-dress ball appears to have been a much-anticipated annual event when they lived in Limerick. While the exact house in which the Doyles resided is unknown, it has to have been a very large townhouse to cater for such an enormous number of guests.

READ MORE: Time to salute the lonely sentinel over Limerick port

In 1828, the Doyles attended another lavish ball at the Artillery Barracks. At 10pm the guests began to arrive. The scene must have been extraordinary as 169 carriages were driven into the outer portal of the complex, and the guests ascended the staircase which was laid in a rich crimson carpet while overhead was a canopy of laurel.

Dancing and merrymaking continued until the small hours.

Following the completion of his tenure in Limerick, Sir Charles and Lady Doyle set off for pastures anew. Sir Charles William Doyle died on October 26, 1842 and is buried in the famous Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise in Paris.

Dr Paul OBrien lectures at Mary Immaculate College.
A LIMERICK school team has reached the final of one of Irelands largest debating contests.

Four students at Hazelwood College in Dromcollogher were one of 177 groups who took part in the Concern Debates contest this year.

They all shared the same aim - to become the countrys top debaters.

Now the four girls, Aisling OConnor, Amy OGorman, Regina Burke and Lucy OGorman will travel to Dublins Helix Theatre early next month for the final.

In order to get there, they successfully opposed the motion that the current aid system is ineffective - its time to shift the power.

Mentored by their teacher Catherine Shanahan, they debated against CBS Mullingar, Westmeath at an event held in the Camden Court Hotel at Dublin.

Now the students will return to the capital, on May 2, where they will take on another team from the province, Ursuline Secondary School of Thurles.

Concern Debates is marking its 40th anniversary this year.

It began in 1984 to encourage further debating about global issues among young people.

Well-known past participants of the competition include Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and well-known television broadcasters Claire Byrne and Karen Koster.

Concerns head of active citizenship Lauren Wright, praised the debating finalists and the hundreds of other students who took part this year.

The future is in excellent hands with these young debaters, she said.

We are very proud of all them and applaud their efforts. It is our hope that they become active global citizens and lifelong advocates for creating a better world for everyone, she added.

The students from Hazelwood College will, in the final, debate on a motion entitled Achieving world peace is the defining task of the 21st century.

Anyone interested in attending the final or who would like their school to take part in next years competition is asked to ring 01 417 7733.

Alternatively, you can email debates@concern.net.
A NEW festival in Limerick is to explore the climate crisis through the arts.

Future Limerick: Climate Arts Festival, a week-long, multi-disciplinary festival will take place from May 1825, in various central locations including Belltable and Peoples Park.

The programme comprises of top-quality climate-themed theatre, cinema, music and poetry. It hopes to engage, entertain, spark debate and help people think outside the box around the issue of the climate crisis.

The aim of the festival is to bring local audience and artists together to creatively engage on how we can build a more sustainable future together.

The festival will engage with the wider community through a Family Fun Day in People's Park, poetry workshops in schools, screening of Emerging Limerick Filmmakers short films by young filmmakers, a scratch night of new writing showcasing Limericks theatre talent.

The festival will feature multi-award winning play Chicken by Sundays Child, outdoor perambulating childrens play Snails Tale in the Peoples Park, multi-cultural musical experience collective Music and Myth Busting, a panel discussion on fast fashion with PJ Kirby from the Im Grand Mam podcast, a screening of BIFA nominated film The End We Start From starring Jodie Comer, playwriting workshop with Gavin Kostick from Fishamble, and a work-in-progress performance of new play The Good People by Limerick playwright Niall Carmody.

The Climate Arts Festival was one of just five arts projects across Ireland selected to receive funding from the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund in 2022.

Delivered in partnership with Business to Arts, the fund was established to support artists and arts organisations working on creative projects engaging their local communities around sustainability, climate change and the transition to a net-zero future.

Hildegard Ryan from Sundays Child said the project grew from their belief that the arts can play a crucial role in helping people envisage a more sustainable future in Limerick.

As the climate crisis escalates its easy to get bogged down in feelings of hopelessness. Future Limerick is an antidote to this, focusing on hope and creativity. Our festival is an engaging and entertaining way to imagine a brighter future and engage with climate issues that matter most to the Limerick community, said Ms Ryan.

Louise Donlon, director at Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable added that the festival will help inspire positive action.

Addressing the challenges we face through the medium of the arts will help to frame them in a way that makes them seem less daunting, and we hope this festival will inspire new and creative ideas for a local-led response to climate change.

Paddy Hayes, chief executive of ESB, said: ESB is proud to support artists and arts organisations that are committed to creatively engaging with local communities around environmental sustainability and climate change, which is very much the goal of the organisers of Future Limerick, to start a community-led conversation around how best to create a brighter, zero-carbon future for Limerick.
Mutual funds emerge as the ultimate companion for financing your child's education, offering an array of benefits tailored to meet this crucial financial goal. Delve into the realm of why mutual funds stand as the perfect fit for nurturing your child's educational journey. Embarking on your child's educational voyage resembles navigating a financial roller coaster, where finding the optimal investment vehicle can seem akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

Mutual funds come to the rescue as financial superheroes, offering myriad advantages that position them as the quintessential partner for nurturing funds for your child's education. So, buckle up and explore why mutual funds serve as the perfect ally for funding your child's educational odyssey.

Potential for Higher Returns One of the standout advantages of mutual funds lies in their potential to yield higher returns compared to traditional savings avenues like savings accounts or fixed deposits. By investing in a diversified portfolio of assets encompassing stocks, bonds, and money market instruments, mutual funds spread risk and maximize returns over the long haul. Leveraging the power of compounding, investments in mutual funds can burgeon significantly, facilitating the accumulation of requisite funds for your child's education. Let's explore some strategies to kick-start this endeavor.

Professional Fund Management Mutual funds entrust the helm to professional financial advisors adept at market analysis, identifying investment opportunities, and managing risk. These experts conduct exhaustive research, making informed investment decisions on behalf of investors. Investing in mutual funds empowers you to leverage the expertise of these professionals, enabling you to focus on other facets of planning for your child's education.

Flexibility and Liquidity Mutual funds offer flexibility and liquidity, ensuring access to funds when needed for your child's education. Unlike investments with lock-in periods, mutual funds typically facilitate ease of redemption, allowing partial or full withdrawal of investments based on requirements. This flexibility enables alignment of investment proceeds with your child's educational milestones.

Diversification and Risk Management Mutual funds mitigate risk through diversification, investing in a basket of securities spanning various sectors and asset classes. This diversified approach helps hedge against risks associated with single securities or sectors, aiming to strike a balance between risk and returns. Particularly pertinent in education planning, this feature shields investments from market volatility.

Customizable Investment Options With a spectrum of investment options catering to diverse risk profiles and goals, mutual funds offer tailor-made solutions. Whether opting for equity funds for long-term growth or debt funds for stability, there are schemes to suit specific requirements. This affords the flexibility to customize investment strategies aligned with risk appetite, investment horizon, and financial objectives.

Tax Benefits Certain mutual fund categories, like Equity-Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS), offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act in India (Old regime). Investing in ELSS not only aids in saving for your child's education but also facilitates tax reduction. Additionally, long-term capital gains on equity mutual funds enjoy tax exemption up to a specified limit, enhancing the attractiveness of mutual funds for education funding.

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) provided by mutual funds serve as an excellent avenue for systematic savings towards your child's education. SIPs enable fixed investments at regular intervals, instilling a savings habit and mitigating market volatility through rupee cost averaging. With SIPs, regular investments accumulate to build a substantial corpus over time.

Mutual funds offer an enticing investment avenue for financing your child's education. With potential for higher returns, professional management, flexibility, and liquidity, they provide a conducive environment for accumulating funds over time. Their diversification benefits, transparency, customizable options, and potential tax advantages render them an ideal choice for long-term wealth creation. By commencing early and investing regularly in mutual funds, you pave the way for securing your child's educational future.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.
Google's parent company, Alphabet, generated sales, excluding partner payouts, of $67.6 billion for the three months that ended on March 31, beating analyst expectations of $66.1 billion, sending its shares up 13 per cent in after-hours trading.

The tech behemoth reported its net income for the quarter at $1.89 per share, easily topping the Wall Street forecast of $1.53 per share, Bloomberg reported.

In a major move, Alphabet also declared its first-ever dividend at 20 cents per share and confirmed plans to repurchase another $70 billion in stock.



Much of the success that the company has at the moment is associated with heavy investments it made in artificial intelligence (AI), which has enhanced its service in cloud computing. Google Cloud has reported a 28 per cent increase in revenue for the quarter.

The main thing is, we are really excited about the benefit from AI for our cloud customers, Ruth Porat, CFO of Alpphabet, had said. "We saw an increasing contribution from our AI solutions," Porat as quoted as saying by Bloomberg. "The Google Cloud results really reflect broad strength across the industry.".

It was quick to integrate AI into some of its products, including the enterprise software suite, as the popularity of generative AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT grew.

However, Google needs to reflect on how it can compete in generative AI without undermining its main money earner-search advertising. Though plagued by various issues from regulatory scrutiny to complaints against its AI model Gemini, Google is still striving to claw back its lead in a competitive market, which includes the likes of Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. In the current quarter, the company has continued its focus on technical infrastructure by earmarking $12 billion worth of investments.

Sundar Pichai comfortable Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai expressed confidence in managing costs and transitioning monetisation strategies related to AI effectively, saying, "I am very, very confident we can manage the cost of how to serve these queries" and comfortable and confident that we will be able to manage the monetization transition here well, Bloomberg quoted Pichai as saying.



Google's Cloud business had $9.6 billion in sales and $900 million in profitboth ahead of what analysts had modelled.

Google's search advertising and YouTube platforms powered the gains. Revenue from search advertising soared 14 per cent to $46.2 billion. But with competition growing from Meta and Snap Inc, Google's powerful advertising business shows enervating signs, that may not sound encouraging for it.



Forrester Principal Analyst Lee Sustar said Google Cloud was typically a sore spot on the Alphabet earnings calls for years. "These latest results show that Google Cloud's AI offerings got enterprise customers not just to take another look but to spend some serious money," Bloomberg quoted Sustar as saying.



Google Cloud has shown that this is indeed a sturdy unit without depending on the tech giant's ad businesses to cover its operating lossesjust as it has always been, he said.

YouTube also recorded a stellar financial performance, with revenues of $8.1 billion, aided by improved efforts in the monetization of ads and tougher policies towards ad blockers.

Alphabet's Other Bets revenues, including Waymo and Verily, amounted to $495 million, yet it reported losses, indicating the problems it faces and sectors of growth that the company will be working on.
Tata Electronics, a significant player in assembling enclosures for Apple iPhones in India, has partnered with companies in Pune and Bengaluru to enhance the development of high-precision machines used in producing iPhone casings.

The collaboration, according to an Economic Times report, will be focused on the intricate technology previously sourced from China.

These sophisticated machines are integral to producing the casings for iPhones  a venture that marks a notable transition from reliance on imports to self-reliance, as per ET report.

Livemint could not independently verify this news development.

Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder of HCL, remarked on the potential impact of Tata's move, saying, Everybody wants casings. If Tata Group is able to do import substitution and they're able to make these machines in India, it will create an industry because so many people want casings, as quoted by ET.

The initiative is not merely about enhancing local production but also sets the stage for future exports. It can also contribute to India's ambitious goal of reaching a $300 billion electronics export target by 2025.

A person familiar with the developments told ET that the Tata Group is testing these machines in a staged manner at their Hosur facility. The aim is to expand local capabilities beyond merely assembling enclosures to fostering a comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem within the country, he said.

Tata Group in full motion to produce iPhones in India Tata Group was reportedly nearing a deal to acquire a majority stake in Pegatron Corp's iPhone manufacturing facilities in India. According to a report in Bloomberg, "Tata Group may strike a deal to take control of Pegatron Corp.s iPhone manufacturing operations in India as soon as May, cementing Apple Inc.s relationship with one of the countrys most influential conglomerates."

Earlier in February this year, Mint reported that Tata Group was in advanced talks to form a joint venture with Taiwan firm Pegatron to set up its second iPhone manufacturing unit in Hosur City, Tamil Nadu.
Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella will visit Southeast Asia next week to meet officials in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, with artificial intelligence on the agenda at a time when the U.S. technology titan is betting on generative AI as a long-term engine of growth.

Nadella will visit Indonesia on Tuesday, then meet with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, according to a company spokesperson.

Nadella will meet with other government officials as well and attend company developer events in each country, the spokesperson said, adding that the trip will touch on Microsofts AI-related plans in the region.

Microsoft has long had ties to Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 685 million people where demand for data centers and advanced technologies to power online commerce, digital transactions and disruptive tech startups is growing.

The companys Azure cloud unit, which competes with units of Amazon, Google and Alibaba in the region, opened its first Southeast Asia data center in Singapore in 2010, and it has planned for several years to open centers in Indonesia and Malaysia.

In Thailand, the company last year pledged to pursue collaborations in AI and cloud infrastructure development with government agencies.

Analysts also point to expected heavy regional demand for AI-powered technology, which has already added to Microsofts bottom line on the back of its partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

Its a potential gold mine for Microsoft in Southeast Asia as the AI revolution hits the next stage of growth," said Daniel Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities.

Microsoft recorded its highest profit growth in more than two years the October-December quarter as excitement about AI helped power the growing demand for its cloud services. Net income in the quarter rose 33% from a year earlier to $21.9 billion, with the companys cloud business growing 30% on continuing interest in cloud AI services that Microsoft has been leaning into as part of its ties with OpenAI.

Microsoft has invested around $13 billion in OpenAI to gain a 49% stake in the profits of the startups for-profit arm.

The engines behind Microsofts AI strategy include Azure and a series of AI software assistants called Copilot, powered by the same technology behind ChatGPT.

Nadellas trip to Southeast Asia will come on the heels of a visit by Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, who floated the possibility of investing in manufacturing in Indonesia after meeting with outgoing President Joko Widodo. Apple also said it would boost spending to support its supply chain in Vietnam and announced a $250 million expansion of the companys regional base in Singapore.

Write to Kimberley Kao at kimberley.kao@wsj.com
New Delhi: Delays in getting cabinet approvals impeded India's trajectory of road development in the just-concluded fiscal, according to a report from the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH).

Awards of highway-development contracts ended up with a big shortfall in FY24. Awards stood at 8,581 km against a target of 13,290 km. Major shortfall was because of Bharatmala where the revised approval of the Cabinet could not be obtained," the ministry said in its latest monthly summary report prepared for the cabinet.

Lower awards come on the back of the ministry also missing out on its highway construction target for the third successive year, with total construction standing at 12,349 km against a target of 13,814 km.

A shortfall in award of highway projects impacts pace of construction in subsequent years due to a decline in the pipeline of projects where work could be initiated.

The awards have remained muted last year as the government has been cautious in awarding projects where the land acquisition and associated permits are not in place," said Ashish Suman, Partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors. Also, delay in cabinet approval for revised cost estimate for Bharatmala Phase I, lack of clarity on model of project development (with government keen to revive the BOT-Toll model) and the general elections have delayed construction and awards of highways."

According to an earlier estimate by ratings agency ICRA, the project cost under the Bharatmala Pariyojana programme, which entails construction of 34,800 km of highways, has more than doubled to 10.64 trillion relative to the initially expected amount, at an average cost of 31.6 crore per km, owing to the steep rise in input and land acquisition costs.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) had approved the first phase of Bharatmala Pariyojana in 2017. It was to cost 5.35 trillion and was to be completed by 2022.

As of December 2023, 76% of the target or 26,418 km have been awarded for construction, and road length of about 15,549 km has been completed. But the remaining projects could not be awarded as revised cost estimate of the programme could not be approved by the cabinet.

The projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana are mainly funded by the central government and resource mobilization is done by the roads ministry.

Officials say that balance projects under Bharatmala I would be integrated with Vision 2047 plan of the ministry that would entail adding more than 75,000 km of highways over a decade and more. A cabinet approval for the Vision 2047 plan is expected after a new government is formed at the Centre, a senior official aware of the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Queries sent to MoRTH remained unanswered till press time.

Though awards have remained muted in FY24, MoRTH plans to use the model code of conduct (MCC) period in the run-up to general elections to complete the detailed project reports (DPRs) of about 10,000 km of highways. This is aimed at speeding up contract awards and construction as soon as the new government takes charge.

These DPRs are expected to be completed over the next three months using the PM Gati Shakti platform so that the awards of over 2 trillion worth of sanctioned projects are fast-tracked.

Apart from awards, the ministry's monthly summary report said that its performance has remained good on various other targeted projects.

The ministry has made a capital expenditure of 3.01 trillion in FY25, the highest ever (25% more than 2.41 trillion in FY 23, the previous highest). Also, private investment of 34,805 crore is FY24 is the highest ever (59% more than 21,897 crore in FY23 and 17% more than 29,770 crore in FY16, the previous highest).

While construction slipped from the target, at 12,349 km [34 km/day], it was still the second highest ever so far. The previous highest was 13,327 km in FY21 (which included strengthening of 4,900 km)].

The ministry also awarded 162 way-side amenity projects in FY24, which is more than the cumulative awards of 160 projects till last year.

In terms of asset monetization, the ministry monetized the most assets in FY24, worth 40,314 crore (72% more than 23,336 crore in FY 23, the previous highest).

Monetization in roads and highways means that publicly funded and revenue generating (through tolls) projects are offered to private entities under toll operate transfer (ToT) through the bidding route.

Similarly, MoRTH also offers completed road project to NHIT, the InvIT floated by NHAI, for a price determined by it. Also, monetisation in a minuscule way, raises funds through securitisation of future toll revenues.
NBSE 10th, and 12th Result Date and Time: Nagaland Board of School Education announced the NBSE 10th and 12th result 2024 on Friday. The students can now check their scores at the official website of the board, ie nbenl.edu.in.

As per the official notification of the Nagaland board, the Nagaland Board of School Education will announce the result on April 26, 2024. According to the official notification, registered institutions will release the provisional result gazette along with the pass certificates and mark sheets.

How to check the NBSE 10th, and 12th results in 2024? Class 10th and 12th students who appeared in the Nagaland Board HSLC and HSSLC results in 2024 can check their results after the announcement by following the below-mentioned steps:

-Go to Nagaland Board's official website, ie nbenl.edu.in.

-After the Nagaland Board result announcement click on. NBSE HSLC/ HSSLC result link.

-Enter your NBSE roll number.

-Once you have entered the details, search for your result and download the online mark sheet.

-Take out a printout for future reference.

At what time Nagaland Board Class 10th and 12th results will be out? According to the official notification, the NBSE HSLC result will be announced today. The expected time for the result announcement is 2:00 pm. The link to check the Nagaland Board result will be open after the result declaration. Students can check their results on nbsenl.edu.in
From Florida to Indiana and Montana, an expanding array of local proposals, bills, laws and regulations aim to block Chinese individuals and companies from acquiring land, winning contracts, working on research, setting up factories and otherwise participating in the U.S. economy.

State officials, overriding traditional local interests such as drawing investment and creating jobs, say they are acting where Congress hasnt to address grassroots American distrust of the Chinese Communist Party.

The states have generally been moving faster on China legislation than Congress. By the time a bill that could force a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner ByteDance reached President Bidens desk Wednesday, over 30 state governments had passed regulations targeting the short-video app.

In their efforts to challenge perceived China threats, states are often claiming authority to define national-security risks.

There is a real responsibility on behalf of governors and state legislatures to look out for the safety and protection of our citizens," said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who last year blocked Ford Motor from setting up a battery venture in his state with China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL. He has also signed bills to curb Chinese land purchases and use of TikTok on state devices.

Youngkin says he opposed the plant for electric-vehicle batteries because he didnt want to allocate Virginia taxpayer money to support Chinese technology. Ford is now building a scaled-down version of the project in Michigan, where it has also faced localized resistance.

When Iowas state Senate passed a bill this month to shield some of the worlds biggest chemical makers from certain pesticide lawsuits, its legislation specified that one type of company would be ineligible for the protection: Chinese.

State assemblies are sometimes known as Americas laboratories of democracy for pathbreaking laws. Nebraska in 1980 became the first state to legislate divestiture from apartheid South Africasix years before Congress acted.

Since early 2023, states and the District of Columbia have introduced 624 pieces of legislation related to China, rivaling Congresss 663, according to information service BillTrack50.com.

Security before investment

The anti-China action has stirred most aggressively in Republican-controlled states, where Beijing faces blame for problems from fentanyl deaths and factory closures to last years balloon overflight and the Covid-19 pandemic. State legislators say that whether similar policies will gain traction at the federal level is likely to depend on the extent of Republican success in Novembers elections.

China has a very clearly stated objective: and that is to dominate the world, and do that at the U.S.s expense," Youngkin said.

Municipality and state lawmakers have repeatedly promoted anti-China measures that threaten jobs and investment in the communities they serve.

Grand Forks, N.D., last year stopped a Chinese food ingredient maker, Fufeng Group, from building a corn-processing plant that promised to create 1,000 jobs. State and local authorities had initially welcomed Fufengs expected $700 million investment, pitched as the citys largest private investment ever, but support collapsed when claims were madewith little substantiationthat the facility could be a conduit to spy on nearby Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Grand Forks had a duty to act because the federal government was slow and contradictory" in addressing the possible national-security implications of Fufengs plant, Mayor Brandon Bochenski argued in a policy statement shortly before the City Council suspended the projects permitting process. The City Council faced heat from residents who were angry that a Chinese company might be welcomed into their community, with one resident at a public hearing calling the plant a goofy thing with the Chinese communist government."

The Fufeng effect has since dominoed through state capitals, including South Dakotas, where Gov. Kristi Noem in 2023 cited North Dakotas experience in signing an executive order that forbade many activities in her state by companies linked to governments the U.S. has designated as foreign adversaries"namely China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea.

Fufeng later identified a site for its plant in Indiana, only to get tripped up by a new state law that forbids Chinese and other designated adversaries from entering deals for agricultural land.

One of the bills proponents, Indiana State Sen. Jean Leising, acknowledged the proposed plant was popular among corn farmers and that she was warned that between Fufeng and 10 other Chinese investors, the legislation would cost Indiana $14 billion in lost income. She reasoned that sacrifices are necessary. Safety or revenue, you sometimes have to make a decision," she said.

Fufeng said that it is well into the process of exploring alternative sites for our plant which will produce great animal nutrition products and meet the needs of the community that welcomes it." The company told legislators in Indiana it is also looking at locations in Minnesota and Illinois.

States are continuing to blur the lines between state power and federal power," said Christopher Daley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, who criticizes his states land-use restrictions as far too broad."

Virginia Gov. Youngkin said issues such as land use are state-level decisions, in Virginias case sometimes affecting national-security assets such as the Pentagon.

Patchwork legislation

When the Iowa state Senate this month passed a bill designed to make it difficult to sue pesticide makers if their product labels follow federal requirements to warn of health risks, people involved in the process said a clause was included specifically to build support for the legislation: The bill does not apply to a product made by a Chinese state-owned enterprise," the text said.

Before legislation died on Saturday, when the Iowa House recessed before voting on it, that caveat seemed aimed at a product from Syngenta, a Switzerland-based maker of seeds and pesticides that since 2017 has been owned by China National Chemical, one of Chinas largest government-controlled companies.

Syngenta is also under fire in Arkansas, where authorities fined the company $280,000 and ordered it to sell 160 acres it has owned for 36 years for violating a new law barring land holdings by a prohibited foreign-party-controlled business." A spokeswoman for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, Gov. Sanders has promised Arkansans shell step up where the federal government has failed."

Syngenta spokesman Saswato Das said the companys Arkansas employees are Americans serving local farmers, and the land decision was a shortsighted action that fails to account for the effects of such an action, intended or not, on the U.S. agricultural market."

In a sign of inconsistencies between states pursuing similar goals, the same Indiana land-use bill that stopped Fufeng from building a plant there grandfathered Syngenta, which has around 100 employees and 115 acres in the state.

Leising and a state representative, Kendell Culp, said Indiana lawmakers decided to make the legislation forward-looking. Culp said no company was singled out.

The land issue is particularly knotty. The federal government says Chinese entities are the registered owners of under 1% of the foreign-held agricultural land in the U.S., with 87% of that owned by five companies, including one of Americas biggest meatpackers, Smithfield Foods, which was bought by Chinas WH Group in 2013.

New land-use restrictions have required us to do a lot more explaining about our ownership structure," said Smithfield spokesman Jim Monroe, who noted that Americans run Smithfield and American institutional investors are among WH Groups biggest shareholders.

Challenges to anti-China measures

Florida has legislated some of the most far-reaching China decoupling. While campaigning for president last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law to stop land purchases, block state contracting and university partnerships involving Chinese nationals. His office termed the package a blueprint for other states."

To detractors, the anti-China measures can be unnecessary, poorly conceived and ineffective political grandstanding, sometimes even racist or unconstitutional.

Several efforts have faced legal challenges.

After Montana imposed an outright ban on TikTok in the state, a judge blocked the measure, citing the First Amendmentan avenue the company is expected to explore in challenging the federal legislation. Asian-Americans in Texas took credit last year for killing a state legislative effort to ban Chinese land ownership.

And in Florida, three Chinese nationals from large public universities argued in a suit against state agencies such as the state Education Department that new hurdles to their participation in academic research are unconstitutionally race-based.

Florida has succumbed to the temptation to target disfavored foreignersthis time at the state levelincluding most prominently, once again, individuals from China," last months suit said. Floridas Education Department declined to comment.

Write to James T. Areddy at James.Areddy@wsj.com
Stock Market Today: Vedanta share price gained more than 5% in morning trades on Friday post Q4 results on Thursday .

The Vedanta earnings performance for the March quarter came better than expectations as per analysts that propelled the Vedanta share prices, said analysts.

Vedanta reported consolidated net profit at 4QFY24 at  2273 crore declined 21% sequentially and 27% year on year over 3132 Crore reported in the year ago quarter.

The same however was impacted by exceptional items. As the financials exclude custom smelting at copper business, Vedanta also has taken impairment on its books during the January-March quarter for Sterlite Copper plant that remains closed for few year. Higher taxes also impacted net profit for Vedanta

Operating performance better than expectations Vedanta said that 4QFY24 Ebitda increased by 3% sequentially to 8,969 crore mainly driven by higher volume and structural cost saving initiatives across businesses. However the benefits were also partially offset by lower prices of base metals on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and exchange rate fluctuations.

Ebitda stands for Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and amortisation .

Even though lower LME prices and exchange rate fluctuations proved to be a spoil sport 4QFY24 Revenue at 34,937 crore remained flat sequentially, though were down 6% year-on-year.

As per analysts calculations Ebitda came at 8768 crore while adjsuted net profit at 1549 crore. Analysts at Antique Stock Broking said that it was 3.4% above their estimate and 6.3% higher than the consensus.

Improving LME prices aids outlook Some improvement in LME prices has been observed for Aluminum, Copper and Zinc. Aluminium Prices that were below $2200 a tonne in February have risen past $2500 a tonne level now. The Zinc prices that were close to $2300 a tonne in February have crossed $2800 a tonne now. This is positive for Vedanta share price.

Antique analysts factor in 6% higher aluminum, 9% higher zinc prices, which leads them to raises the FY25 and Fy26 Ebitda estimates by 11%/ 15%. They said that Strengthening of commodity prices (supported by tightening of supply and steady demand) would support topline growth while accrual of benefits of most cost optimization initiatives coming in FY25 onwards would support profitability They also like the Vedanta's low-cost producer advantage and maintain BUY rating.

Analysts At Nuvama Institutional Equities have increased Vedanta's FY25 and FY26 estimates Ebitda by 18% and 23% factoring in higher commodity prices and lower Cos of Production in aluminium.

Capex plans and cost savings to help earnings Analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services who also have raised Ebitda estimates by 4% in FY26 to incorporate the improving outlook, said that the Capex plans are progressing well which would lead to further cost savings.

Debt outlook Investors and analysts remain watchful on debt of parent Vedanta Resources and Vedanta Ltd.

The net debt at 56,338 crore for Vedanta Ltd as on 31st Mar24, reduced by 6,155 crore sequentially while Gross debt at 71,759 crore as on 31st Mar24, reduced by 3,468 crore sequentially, as per the company.

Analysts at Nuvama Institutional Equities said that they believe the companys debt peaked out in FY24. Also rising commodity improves cash flows as well as open potential of increasing the valuation multiple too as debt overhang shall subside significantly.

Further Analysts at Motilal Oswal said that extending the maturity of bonds at HoldCo. by three years offers the company adequate liquidity comfort in the near term
(Bloomberg) -- A cause celebre is ringing out across Harvard Yard, Columbias South Lawn, Yales Beinecke Plaza and UC Berkeleys Sproul Plaza: Disclose and divest.

And university students say they wont stop protesting against Israel until that demand is met.

Were willing to risk suspension, expulsion and arrest, and I think that that will put pressure, said Malak Afaneh, a law student at University of California, Berkeley, and a protest organizer.

She and her fellow pro-Palestinian demonstrators want universities to cut their investments in everything tied to Israel and weapons that fuel the war in Gaza. That means funds run by BlackRock, Google as well as Amazons cloud service, Lockheed Martin and even Airbnb.

Its a long-shot demand  university administrators and lawmakers have for decades rejected the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel, viewing it as antisemitic because it calls into question the legitimacy of the Jewish state and singles out the policies of one country.

Its fiercely opposed by many donors and alumni, and whats more, acting on the BDS concept is discouraged by laws in more than half of US states, including New York and California. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon.

I have consistently opposed all forms of antisemitism, including discrimination against and demonization of the people of Israel through the BDS movement, said California Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur. I would strongly oppose any attempts to change laws protecting against such discrimination.

Yet its gaining proponents, especially among students at elite universities since Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel and sparked the conflict in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Theyre chanting on college grounds, waving Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyehs and beating drums. Encampments have sprouted on campuses, including at Harvard where about 30 tents currently stand in front of the John Harvard statue, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Some protesters, including at Columbia and Berkeley, have threatened Jewish students and expressed support for Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US.

Read more: USC Cancels Main Commencement Ceremony Amid Protests, Arrests

All that has left universities struggling to balance the right to free speech with the need for maintaining order and ensuring the safety of students. But on the question of divestment, they are unmoved.

Harvard, which has the largest US endowment at almost $51 billion, made clear this month it opposes calls for a policy of boycotting Israel and its academic institutions. Brown refused to acknowledge BDS demands while students led an eight-day hunger strike. Yale this week wouldnt even consider a proposal to divest from weapons makers and instead police rounded up protesters outside of the Schwarzman Center, arresting more than 40 students.

BDS supporters take inspiration from the drive to isolate South Africa during the apartheid era  including actions taken at the time by Columbia, Michigan State and California universities  and recent pushes for colleges to address fossil fuel holdings.

This time at Michigan State, where groups of students are camped in tents in Peoples Park, theres no appetite for severing ties with Israel.

Read more: Why Israel-Hamas War Tests Campus Tolerance of Speech: QuickTake

Divestment would conflict with stewarding the institutions financial health, would increase investment risks, and limit returns and jeopardize the assurance resources will continue to be available now and for future generations, said Sandy Pierce, chair of Michigan State Universitys board, speaking earlier this month at a Board of Trustees meeting.

Columbia in February declined a proposal to withdraw financial support from Israel, months before students set up tents on the Morningside Heights campus and created a standoff with the university that resulted in more than 100 arrests.

Ray Guerrero, 27, whos studying for a masters in public health, helped pen the divestment proposal for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition. The group has a litany of demands, including cutting ties to Israeli academic institutions, defunding public safety and reparations for the indigenous people of New York. Guerrero understands the goals are lofty for the immediate term, but stresses the main focus for now is disclosure and divestment around Columbias $13.6 billion endowment.

Layla Saliba, a 24-year-old studying for a masters in social work, is part of CUADs research team, which she said has been studying the schools financial disclosures, including its tax forms and 13Fs disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We were only able to get about 0.6% of their investments as public information, she said.

The latest 13F discloses just $47 million of its holdings, with the vast majority stock in Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway. That leaves billions of dollars undisclosed.

Thats really concerning because our endowment, yes, its funded by benefactors, its funded by donors, but a portion of that is also funded with our tuition dollars, Saliba said. And we feel that as students, we need to have more transparency on that.

Universities say the protesters claims arent accurate.

College endowments are almost always funded with donations and investment gains, not necessarily tuition revenue. Whats more, they fund financial aid for students and other operating expenses such as teacher salaries.

And the challenge isnt just ideological. Endowments typically dont hold large concentrations of single stocks as they used to decades ago, when activists targeted companies operating in South Africa.

Endowments have long relied on external managers, including private equity firms and hedge funds. Almost 700 institutions hold about $840 billion in endowment assets. They also use ETFs, index funds or mutual funds that pool hundreds of stocks and bonds.

With private equity, a schools money may be locked up for several years, without an option to withdraw, while hedge fund managers can rapidly move in and out of securities without disclosing their trades to investors.

These active strategies are not buying stocks to hold on for the long term, said Philip Zecher, chief investment officer of Michigan State Universitys $4 billion fund. Theyre looking to make money off trading. Its not like your grandmother buying AT&T stock and sitting on it for 50 years.

The fight against fossil fuel investment, a cause championed by students for decades, also shows how hard it can be to implement divestment. Universities largely havent switched strategies to sell holdings, which are frequently tied up in long-term private equity funds, even as theyve committed to policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campuses.

Despite the setbacks and opposition, some pro-Palestine protesters are undeterred.

It seems like a no for now, but students will keep pushing, said Lumisa Bista, a junior studying astrophysics at Yale, who was among protesters at the university who slept overnight at Beinecke Plaza this week. Ill keep pushing.

--With assistance from Shelby Knowles and Brendan Case.

(Updates with Chavez Zbur comments on BDS legislation in the seventh paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, heard WhatsApp's plea challenging a provision of the 2021 Information Technology Rules for social media intermediaries that requires them to identify the first originator of information to a court or other competent authority.

WhatsApp and its parent firm, Facebook Inc, now Meta, had refused to comply with the Indian government orders. Counsel Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, told the Division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes. The Delhi High Court said, Privacy rights were not absolute....balance needs to be done.

The court will now hear the case on August 14.

WhatsApp vs Centre case Messaging platforms WhatsApp and Meta filed a plea challenging India's IT rules 2021 for social media intermediaries, requiring them to identify the first originator of information.

WhatsApp and its parent firm have challenged Information Technology Rule 4(2) of the 2021 IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code), which compels significant social media intermediaries to enable the identification of the first originator of the information which may be required by a court order or other competent authority.

What is WhatsApp saying? WhatsApp has unequivocally said it would not break its end-to-end encryption as it argues it would violate users' privacy.

In its 2021 petition, the Meta-backed firm said the Indian government's order to identify the first originator of the information was a threat to its end-to-end encryption and users' privacies. It said the traceability provision was against the fundamental right to privacy.

WhatsApp has urged the Delhi High Court to pronounce Rule 4(2) of the intermediary rule unconstitutional. It has also sought that no criminal liability be imposed on it for any alleged non-compliance with Rule 4(2).

What Indian govt saying? The Centre argues that traceability, in knowing the originator of information, is significant in tackling harmful content like fake news and hate speech.

The government said that the law empowers it to expect such entities to create safe cyberspace and counter illegal content.
Several Bengalureans were spotted enjoying free Benne Dosa, Ghee Laddu at a hotel after casting their vote on second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. To encourage more number of people to cast their votes, Bengaluru's Nisarga Grand Hotel on Nrupathunga Road offered free meals to people who cast their vote on Friday.

The interesting offers to increase voter turnout in the metro city has garnered significant attention on social media, with several users applauding the initiative. Video of voters gathering outside hotel in long queues to enjoy their free meal has been doing rounds on the internet.

To avail the offer on Lok Sabha polling day, it is mandatory for people to show their inked fingers and their voter ID card at the hotel. Interestingly, this is not the only offer available for voters on polling day in the city. Senior citizens and differently abled voters can avail free ride offer provided by Rapido on Friday.

Apart from the two offers, voters can also enjoy a mug of beer at a resto-pub in Dellandur, Deck of Brews for free. There are other discounts as well for voters at the restaurant.

The main aim of providing offers on polling day is to reward those who have participated and contributed to the nation's development, pub owner Prafulla Raya told Times of India in an interview. A few more pubs are also providing special offers to voters on Friday.

Bengaluru is known for its low voter turnout. Voter turnout in the metro city till 1:30 pm was 36.09% in Bengaluru rural, 32.25% in Bengaluru central, and 31.51% in Bengaluru south.

Earlier in the day, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy with wife Sudha Murty participated in polling and casted his vote. He showed up for voting despite his ill health. Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also urged more and more number of people to cast their vote in the city.
A 42-year-old Indian-origin man, Sachin Sahoo, was shot dead by San Antonio police after he struck two officers with his vehicle as they were trying to apprehend him in connection with an aggravated assault case, PTI reported.

Police officer Tyler Turner shot Sahoo on April 21. Originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh, sources stated that the deceased could have been a naturalised US citizen.

The preliminary investigation revealed that just before 6:30 pm on April 21, officers were dispatched to a home in Cheviot Heights in San Antonion for a report about Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement.

Upon arrival, police officers found a 51-year-old female intentionally struck by a vehicle and the suspect, Sahoo had fled the location. Following this, the victim was shifted to a local hospital in critical condition.

San Antonio Police Detectives then issued a felony warrant for Sachin Sahoo in the incident. However, Sahoo returned to the original location hours later, neighbors informed the police.

The cops again arrived at the location and attempted to contact him when he struck two officers with his vehicle. One officer fired his weapon, striking Sahoo, who was pronounced deceased on scene".

While the other police received on-the-spot medical attention, the injured cop was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Currently, the investigation is underway.

Police Chief Bill McManus said that Sahoo had run over the woman, who was his roommate, with his vehicle. The woman was undergoing several surgeries and was in critical condition.

The police had issued an arrest warrant for Sahoo and a couple of officers had gone to his known location on April 21 to see if they could find him and arrest him, as per PTI reports.

A report in Kens5.com quoted Sahoo's ex-wife Leah Goldstein as saying that Sahoo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He suffered the past ten years with bipolar disorder. He also had symptoms of schizophrenia," his ex-wife said.

He couldnt understand what was wrong with him. He would hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his own mind. I was a stay-at-home mom for many years. He provided for us," she added in the news report.
A major landslide and land subsidence took place in Pernote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district on Thursday night. Up to 60 houses were damaged in the natural calamity, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday.

"Out of these, 30 houses are completely damaged, while 10 more are likely to get affected," Singh said in a post on X. No death was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, former sarpanch Kalasha Devi told ANI, "Yesterday, at around 7 pm, first small cracks were seen on the roads. Right in front of us, the road sank almost a foot till 10-11 pm."

"Our crops have also been damaged. The grid station has collapsed, and due to this, we do not have electricity, water pipelines are also damaged...," she added while requesting the MLA to arrange a temporary stay for the people.

The deputy commissioner of the Ramban district advised people not to panic and take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives.

Here are the top developments: 1. Around 60 houses were damaged and road connectivity between Gool and Ramban was snapped on Thursday evening following the "sinking of land" in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district. Four electricity towers and a receiving station were also damaged, news agency PTI reported.

2. Union minister Jitendra Singh said he is "in constant touch with DC [Ramban Deputy Commissioner] Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary regarding the relief work following the unfortunate landslide at Pernote".

3. In a series of tweets, Singh said all the necessary arrangements are being made to facilitate food, health care, tentage and bedding.

"Around 350 affected persons being rehabilitated and all requisite arrangements being made," he said. "Immediate relief provided. Long-term relief is being worked out at the highest level. A local camp office has been immediately set up for on-the-spot assistance," he added.

4. Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary said the authorities have summoned geology experts to know the cause behind the sinking of the land, news agency PTI reported.

A team of district officials has been deployed round-the-clock to supervise the rehabilitation of the affected population and the restoration of essential services.

"The land is still sinking and our effort is to restore essential services like the road and electricity as our first priority. We will provide tents and other items and also organise medical camps for the victims," the deputy commissioner said.

5. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said he is "saddened by the sinking of land in Parnote, Ramban and other areas". He urged the government to swiftly assess and compensate for the damage to affected houses and shops.

Meanwhile, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) leader and district president of Ramban Sajjad Shaheen expressed "deep sorrow over the massive devastation caused to dozens of residential houses in Parnote village of Ramban due to subsidence of a major portion of land along the Gool-Sangaldan road".

"He underscored the imperative need for resources and assistance to facilitate the rebuilding of lives of all those affected by the disaster," the JKNC said in a post on X.

Shaheen urged the local and district administration to step up their efforts in rescue and rehabilitation work, ensuring the safety and well-being of all affected individuals and families.
As the second phase of Lok Sabha elections voting began on Friday morning, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy along with wife Sudha Murthy casted his vote in Bengaluru. Narayana Murthy showed up despite his ill health, said his wife Sudha Murty.

The Rajya Sabha MP also added that he was discharged from the hospital Friday morning, and will go back to home after casting his vote.

Narayana Murthy was unwell and he was in the hospital. We got him discharged, and after voting, we are taking him home, Sudha Murty told reporters on Friday.

She also urged people, especially youngsters, to cast vote and participate in the biggest exercise of democracy to choose their leaders.

I want to tell everyone--don't sit at home, come out and vote, choose your leader. I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I request youngsters to come out and vote, Sudha Murty added.

Once in every five years, we get an opportunity to execute the right given by our constitution, to chose whatever candidate from whichever party he/she is, to govern us. Today is a very happy day. Today is the day when we should all be enthusiastic to exercise our power, said Narayana Murthy after casting vote.

In afternoon, Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw casted her vote from Bengaluru and urged more and more people to come and participate in voting.

Lok Sabha elections 2024 phase 2 voting Voters in a total of 88 Lok Sabha constituencies will cast thier vote during the second phase of general elections. The 88 seats where polling is being held on Friday include all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.

From Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram to Hema Malini in Mathura and Arun Govil in Meerut, the fates of several prominent personalities will be locked by the voters on Friday.
New Delhi: On Monday the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted Indiabulls Housing Finance's personal-insolvency plea against Subhash Chandra, chairman emeritus of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, over guarantees given to a company called Vivek Infracon.

This is one of the most high-profile insolvency cases since the Supreme Court judgement on personal guarantors under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in November 2023. It has implications for Reliance ADA Group chairman Anil Ambani, Videocon chairman Venugopal Dhoot, and Bhushan Power and Steel promoter Sanjay Singal, who also face personal-insolvency proceedings.

Mint delves into the case and explains how the Supreme Court judgement allows creditors to take high-profile personal guarantors into insolvency, leading to a rise in such litigations.

Whats the background of the case?

In 2016, Indiabulls Housing Finance (IHF) entered into four loan agreements totaling 726 crore with Vivek Infracon and other entities. Chandra assumed the role of personal guarantor on 5 December 2018, committing to repay the lender 726 crore in case the borrowers defaulted.

On 4 February 2019, IHF exercised its right to recall the entire loan amount, prompting the invocation of Chandra's personal guarantee. A formal demand notice was sent to him on 18 January 2022 seeking repayment ofVivek Infracon's 178.78-crore loan.

IHF initiated insolvency proceedings against Chandra under the IBC on 8 February 2022. In response, Chandra argued that the NCLT could not rule on an individual's insolvency. However, on 30 May 2022, the NCLT ruled it had the power to adjudicate Chandra's insolvency and appointed a resolution professional to consider Indiabulls's application and investigate Chandra's debt.

Also read: NCLT admits Subhash Chandra into personal insolvency on Indiabulls plea

Chandra challenged the NCLT's decision in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), but the case was closed following Indiabulls's announcement of a settlement. During this time, several petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the IBC, including those concerning personal guarantors, were filed in the Supreme Court, which halted all personal-guarantee insolvency proceedings. In November 2023, the court upheld the law allowing creditors to take personal guarantors into insolvency.

In February 2024 Indiabulls revived the case after unsuccessful attempts to settle the dispute, ultimately leading to Chandra's admission into personal insolvency.

What is the law on personal guarantors?

A personal guarantor assumes liability for debt and pledges to repay it in case a borrower defaults.

Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Act, 2018, and a subsequent notification dated 15 November 2019, personal guarantors are directly subjected to insolvency proceedings, with no requirement for the creditor to initiate proceedings against the corporate debtor.

What was the landmark Supreme Court ruling?

In a ruling on 9 November 2023 the Supreme Court upheld key provisions of the IBC, including the appointment of the resolution professional, denying relief to a group of personal guarantors who had challenged parts of the law.

The court ruled against around 350 petitions filed by personal guarantors, including Anil Ambani, challenging the constitutional validity of several provisions of the IBC concerning personal guarantors, including sections 95 to 100.

Also read: A Supreme Court ruling has given personal insolvency a fresh start in India

The petitions claimed there was a lack of due process in these IBC provisions. The court ruled that the IBC was not retroactive but held that sections 95 to 100 could not be deemed unconstitutional simply because they did not give personal guarantors a chance to be heard before creditors insolvency petitions were admitted against them, because a moratorium was automatically imposed on them at the time of filing the insolvency petition.

The judgement was welcomed by many as it allowed lenders to recover portions of debt that had not been recovered through corporate-insolvency proceedings against the principal debtor. However, some feared it would open the floodgates for creditors to take personal guarantors into insolvency.

What do experts say?

Dhiraj Mhetre, partner at Khaitan Legal Associates, noted, The insolvency proceedings against Subhash Chandra serve as a precedent for cases pending over similar objections on Constitutional validity. Tribunals are moving with great speed on personal-guarantor petitions since the Supreme Court judgement."

Shruti Maniar, partner at Solomon & Co, emphasised the responsibility of personal guarantors and advised caution when providing such guarantees. She said, "The initiation of personal-insolvency proceedings against personal guarantors pierces the corporate veil. Personal guarantors must be cautious before providing any guarantees."

Durgesh Khanapurkar, partner at Desai & Diwanji, said a significant number of applications have been filed against personal guarantors of late, indicating a growing trend in such proceedings. In the 296 cases admitted as of December 2023, lenders have recovered 91.67 crore, a figure thats expected to rise in the coming months.

Also read: The SCs ruling on personal debt guarantees will help unlock dead capital
The Supreme Court sought a response from the Elections Commission of India (ECI) on a petition seeking re-polling in areas where the maximum number of people in a constituency choose the 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) option.

The petitioner has sought directions to the Election Commission to frame appropriate rules in case NOTA gets the maximum votes in a constituency.

What prompted the case? During the hearing, advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned that in the Surat Lok Sabha constituency, there was only one candidate, BJP's Mukesh Dala, who was elected unopposed.

Dala was elected after the nomination of the Congress candidate was rejected and other candidates withdrew their nominations.

Even if there is only one candidate, there should be an election as the voter should have the option to vote for NOTA. "In Surat where nobody else has appeared, they are forced to go with whoever the candidate is," Sankaranarayanan submitted.

What does the plea suggest? The plea sought a direction that an election must be declared as "null and void" if maximum votes from the constituency are polled for "None of The Above" (NOTA) and a fresh election should be held for the constituency, Live Law reported.

According to the report, the plea further sought a direction that the same candidates, who lost to NOTA, should be barred from contesting the bye-election which would be held after the cancellation of the first election where NOTA got the majority votes.

It added that there should be proper publicity for NOTA as a "fictional candidate."

What SC said? A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra issued a notice to the Election Commission seeking its response on the matter.

"We will issue notice. This is about the electoral process also. Let us see what the Election Commission has to say on this," the CJI was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying.

What is NOTA? What happens if NOTA gets maximum votes? NOTA, short for None of The Above, was introduced in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following a direction issued by the Supreme Court in 2013 in a plea filed by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

NOTA provides an option to the voters to reject all candidates as unsatisfactory. However, as per the existing law, there is no legal consequence if NOTA gets the majority of the votes.
US President Joe Biden inked a legislation to ban or force a sale of Chinese app TikTok. While passing the bill, the US Congress members said the app presents a national security threat as long as it is controlled by or connected to ByteDance.

However, TikTok has strongly denied the allegations saying it has never share US user data with Beijing and it will never do so. We will take the fight against the new law to the courts, said CEO Shou Zi Chew.

The Chinese video app was banned in India around four years ago. Take a look at why India banned TikTok and how is it different from US ban?

Why did India ban TikTok? Indian users bid goodbye to TikTok app in June 2020. The Government of India raised privacy concerns, saying the Chinese apps pose a threat to the country's sovereignty and security. Besides TikTok, India banned dozens other Chinese apps following a military clash along the India-China border.

The move was largely supported in India, where demonstrators have been advocating for a boycott of Chinese products ever since the tragic conflict in the isolated border region of the Karakoram mountains. Months before the ban, India had also restricted investment from Chinese companies.

TikTok wasnt a one-off case. Today, India has banned over 500 Chinese apps to date," said Nikhil Pahwa, a digital policy expert and founder of tech website MediaNama as quoted by newswire AP.

How is it different from the US ban? The ban was swift in India and the Chinese companies were given time to respond to privacy concerns, hence, the ban was imposed permanently in January 2021. However, the situation is different in the US as it is not going to be easy due to its bigger revenue market.

In India, TikTok decided not to go to court, but the US is a bigger revenue market for them. Also, the First Amendment in America is fairly strong, so its not going to be as easy for the US to do this as it was for India, said Nikhil Pahwa, a digital policy expert and founder of tech website MediaNama.

Pahwa stated that countries need to assess their dependency on China and find a way to reduce it as the apps can pose a national security risk. TikTok app is also banned in Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan and restricted in many countries in Europe.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday alleged that previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government planned to arrest top state BJP leaders including Devendra Fadnavis, Pravin Darekar, Girish Mahajan, and Prasad Lal.

Shinde, in an interview with News18 Lokmat, talked about the time when Shiv Sena was unified till early 2022. However, in June 2022, Eknath Shinde along with several legislators broke away from Uddhav Thackeray and formed the government in Maharashtra with the support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Uddhav Thackeray wanted only Yess Boss culture in his party. He didn't want a mass leader. He (Uddhav) fought for his personal interest but Balasaheb Thackeray used to fight for the party. I was also sidelined by his son Aditya Thackeray. I was not against him, the chief minister told News18 Lokmat.

However, Shinde appreciated Uddhav's estranged cousing Raj Thackeray who is also the president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MVS) and recently joined the BJP-led Mahayuti.

Also Read | Live updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024 phase 2 polling

He(Raj Thackeray) is a man of open mind. His hear is big, said Eknath Shinde on Thursday, a day before phase 2 polling for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra As many as 88 seats across 13 states, including eight constituencies in Maharashtra, are going to polls in the second round of seven-phase Lok Sabha elections today, April 26.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis fielded two-time MP and former orthopaedic physician turned politician Shrikant Shinde, Eknath Shinde's son, from the Kalyan seat in the Thane district.

This time, Maharashtra will have unique general elections since the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have split, with a faction from each joining the Mahayuti led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
An Indian-origin student, identified as Achinthya Sivalingam, was arrested on Thursday, April 25, for participating in a pro-Palestine protest at Princeton University in the US, India Today reported.

Achinthya Sivalingam, who hails from Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore and was brought up in Columbus, Ohio, has been banned from the University, for participating in the agitation within the campus premises, pending a disciplinary process. She was arrested along with fellow student, Hassan Sayed.

Also read: Study abroad: How much money do you need to study at a US university? The development comes amid a wave of protests across major US universities against the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Also read: US universities rocked by pro-Palestinian protests amid Israel-Hamas war: Anti-Semitic hate on college campuses is... Despite warnings from authorities, the student agitators had set up tents in the University's McCosh Courtyard, the Princeton Alumni Weekly reported. Both the students were arrested within minutes after the protest started. Following the arrest, the protestors packed up their tents but continued to put up a sit-in protest, which swelled to around 300 agitators by afternoon.

Also read: After Columbia, now University of Texas warns students amid pro-Palestine protests The two students were arrested "after repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety to cease activity and leave the area, India Today quoted Princeton University spokesperson, Jennifer Morrill said.

The spokeswoman further added, have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process. She noted that the remaining tents in the campus area were voluntarily taken down by protesters".

The Princeton Alumni Weekly quoted the spokesperson as saying, No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance.

In an email sent to students this week regarding the pro-Palestine protests on campus,

Princeton University sent an email to students this week issuing a warning against staging of pro-Palestine protests on campus. Vice President for Campus Life at Princeton University, Rochelle Calhoun said demonstrations that involve occupying or blocking access to buildings [or] establishing outdoor encampments and sleeping in any campus outdoor space were prohibited.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) President Mehbooba Mufti questioned on Friday the calls seeking deferment of polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, originally scheduled for May 7 in Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Mehbooba, who is contesting the polls from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, said that she has addressed a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the proposed rescheduling of the polling day for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKPDP leader noted that ECI has never before in the history of Jammu and Kashmir postponed any elections due to inclement weather conditions. She claimed that postponing the elections to a later date will result in denying a level playing field to all the parties.

Pertinently, the Election Commission has received requests to reschedule the poll date for the General Election to Lok Sabha 2024 in the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Commission communicated to Jammu and Kashmirs Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer, sharing representations from various political parties, candidates, and individuals, including Imran Reza Ansari from the J&K Peoples Conference, BJP's Ravinder Raina, Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari, J&K Nationalist Peoples Front, Adv Mohammad SaleemParay, Ali Mohammad Wani (a candidate), and Arsheed Ali Lone (a candidate).

Also read: REC to lend  1, 869 cr for 624 MW Kiru hydro project in Jammu & Kashmir In a social media post on social networking platform X (formerly Twitter), the JKPDP chief said, Wrote to the ECI regarding the proposed delay for the Anantnag - Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. Any attempt to delay it will result in denying a level playing field to all the parties.

Also read: PM Modi makes big announcement on Kashmir: 'J&K will get the status...' Meanwhile, the letter further notes that PDP strongly opposes rescheduling proposal which is targeted at derailing our campaign. The main alliance partner of the petitioners, BJP, is headquartered in Jammu and does not therefore face any difficulty in accessing Pir Panjal and have a widespread cadre in the area.
Hamas would lay down its weapons, convert into a political party, and even agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel only if an independent Palestine state is established along pre-1967 borders, said a top Hamas political official in an interview with The Associated Press.

Calling for the formation of "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions, Khalil al-Hayya expressed that Hamash wants to join the Palestine Liberation Organization.

All the experiences of people who fought against occupiers, when they became independent and obtained their rights and their state, what have these forces done? They have turned into political parties and their defending fighting forces have turned into the national army, he told AFP in an interview.

Speaking to the AP in Istanbul, Al-Hayya said Hamas wants to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, headed by the rival Fatah faction, to form a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank. He said Hamas would accept a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions, along Israels pre-1967 borders.

His comments in the matter have come at a time when Israel is continuing its attack on Gaza in operation against Hamas with full force. Moreover, the cease-fire talks in Gaza fail to yield any result. The commitment is an indication of Hamas' change in stance as the militant group officially was committed to Israel's destruction.
Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, urged Indian leaders to refrain from using Pakistan for political gain during elections, and rejected their claims made over Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian politicians to cease their reckless practice of dragging Pakistan into Indias populist public discourse for electoral motives, she said.

We are witnessing an alarming surge in provocative statements from Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan rejects these claims. Fuelled by hyper-nationalism, this inflammatory rhetoric poses a grave threat to regional peace and susceptibility, she said.

Zahra claimed that Indian claims were contrary to historical and legal facts.

Historical and legal facts as well as ground realities refute Indias baseless claims over Jammu and Kashmir, she said.

India has previously rejected such statements by Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly asserted that "The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh are and always will be integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has locus standi to comment on the same"..

Pakistan's trade talks with India Pakistan and India's trade talks nosedived when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution. Indias decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. Pakistan has also cut off direct trade ties with India.'

At the conference, the country's newspaper Dawn reported, there was a sense of concern among business leaders over the political situation in the country, especially after PTI chief Imran Khan was arrested.

They asked the prime minister to initiate the trade talks with India, the report added.
The British Royal family may be estranged from Prince Harry and his immediate family. However, the younger sibling of the William-Harry sibling duo still keeps his young nephews and niece in mind, especially now that their mother, Kate Middleton, has been diagnosed with cancer.

In a report by Mirror, Prince Harry, who now resides in the US with his wife Meghan Markle and his two children, was quoted saying that he still reflects on Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis's role in the future in the royal household and larger establishment.

"I know full well, within my family, if it's not us, it's going to be someone else," Mirror quoted Prince Harry saying.

"And though William and I have talked about it once or twice, and he has made it very clear to me that his kids are not my responsibility, I still feel a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare. And that hurts, that worries me." Prince Harry added.

Prince Harry, earlier in the book Spare, hinted at probable discrimination between the siblings.

Harry wrote in detail about growing up as the 'spare' as opposed to his elder brother Prince William. Harry recalled that when he and William were children, they shared a room at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the family often spent their summers.

William's side of the room was bigger and had a "beautiful window looking down on the courtyard, the fountain, the bronze statue of a roe deer buck," Harry writes. "My half of the room was far smaller. Less luxurious. I never asked why. I didn't care. But I also didn't need to ask.

"Two years older than me, Willy was the Heir, whereas I was the Spare. This wasn't merely how the press referred to us - though it was definitely that. This was shorthand often used by Pa and Mummy and Grandpa. And even Granny," he continues.

The Heir and the Spare - there was no judgment about it, but also no ambiguity. I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B."
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the world's biggest economies should be "partners, not rivals" as the two sides pressed for headway on a range of concerns.

Blinken, in China for the second time in less than a year, pointed to improvements in the relationship but urged greater action from Beijing on areas including curbing support for Russia.

Meeting Blinken in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi said the two countries had "made some positive progress" since he met with US President Joe Biden in November.

"The two countries should be partners, not rivals," Xi said.

But he issued a warning over what China considers US pressure to curb its economy, which have included a sweeping ban on semiconductor exports and efforts to wrest blockbuster app TikTok from its Chinese owners.

"We hope the US can also take a positive view of China's development," Xi said.

"When this fundamental problem is solved," he said, "relations can truly stabilise, get better and move forward".

Earlier China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Blinken that US pressure could trigger a "downward spiral".

Wang also warned that the question of self-ruled Taiwan was the "first red line" that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

- Pressure on Russia -

Blinken described his talks with Wang at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse -- which lasted more than five and a half hours -- "extensive and constructive".

He announced that the two countries will in the coming weeks hold their first formal talks on managing artificial intelligence, a rising area of concern as the technology progresses rapidly.

But Blinken sounded a warning on China's support for Russia's "brutal war of aggression" in Ukraine, saying that Beijing -- while stopping short of direct arms exports -- has helped Russia ramp up production of rockets, drones and tanks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week he will visit China in May.

"Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support," Blinken said, warning that the United States was ready to take action against Beijing if it does not take action itself.

But he said China has been helpful in the past, including in discouraging nuclear weapons use by Russia, and said that Wang promised to stay in touch on the Middle East, a key priority for Washington.

Pointing to China's ties with Iran, whose shadow war with Israel has come into the open, Blinken said: "I think the relationships that China has can be positive in trying to calm tensions, to prevent escalation, avoid the spread of the conflict."

- Addressing gaps 'responsibly' -

US officials and experts believe that Xi's foremost priority is to manage headwinds in the Chinese economy and that, at least in the short term, he is looking to avoid flare-ups with the West.

As he opened the meeting with Wang, Blinken said China and the US should manage the relationship "responsibly" and added: "I hope we make some progress on the issues our presidents agreed" on at the California summit.

The two countries should be as "clear as possible about the areas where we have differences -- at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations", Blinken said.

"That really is a shared responsibility that we have not only for our own people, but for people around the world, given the impact that our relationship has," he said.

Biden, who recently spoke by telephone with Xi, faces a tough re-election fight in November against his predecessor Donald Trump, who has cast China as an enemy and vowed a hard line.

The Biden administration has pointed to wins with China, with Blinken highlighting efforts by China to curb precursor chemicals to fentanyl, the painkiller behind an epidemic in the United States.

He said he urged China to carry out further prosecutions.

But while open to cooperation, Biden has increased pressure on China beyond Trump in some areas.

In the latest move, the US Congress, with Biden's support, voted to force the divestment of TikTok from Chinese company ByteDance or risk a ban in the United States.

Blinken said, however, that TikTok did not come up in his talks.

US officials allege security and privacy concerns over the app, which has taken off among US teenagers.
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on over a dozen companies, including three from India, for facilitating illicit trade and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transfer on behalf of the Iranian military, the US Department of Treasury said in an official statement.

These companies, individuals and vessels have played a key role in financing and facilitating the clandestine sale of Iranian UAVs to Russias war in Ukraine, it said.

According to the US Department of Treasury, Sahara Thunder is the main front company that oversees Iran's commercial activities to support these efforts. The three Indian companies supporting Sahara Thunder are  Zen Shipping, Port India Private Limited, and Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited.

The Treasury said Sahara Thunder relies on a vast shipping network involved in the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of Irans Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) to multiple jurisdictions, including the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Venezuela.

Sahara Thunder also plays a key role in Irans design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs, many of them ultimately transferred to Russia for use in its war of aggression against Ukraine, the statement read.

Sahara Thunder has used the CHEM to conduct multiple shipments of commodities since 2022. Iran-based Arsang Safe Trading Co has provided ship management services in support of several Sahara Thunder-related shipments, including those by the CHEM, it added.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E Nelson, said, The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Irans destabilizing activities.

Irans Ministry of Defense continues to destabilize the region and world with its support to Russias war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies, he said.
The US Supreme Court suggested it might drag out Donald Trumps claim of immunity from prosecution, an outcome that could doom any chance of a pre-election trial on charges of trying to stay in power illegally.

Hearing arguments Thursday in Washington, the justices expressed skepticism toward the ex-presidents sweeping arguments for immunity for his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens election victory. But a pivotal member, Chief Justice John Roberts, said he disagreed with part of an appeals court opinion letting the trial go forward, and he discussed returning the case to the lower courts for a closer look at the allegations against Trump.

The Court of Appeals did not get into a focused consideration of what acts were talking about or what documents were talking about, Roberts said.

Another key justice, Brett Kavanaugh, said he was worried about the long-term effect of leaving presidents vulnerable to prosecution for their official acts. He said he was concerned that its going to cycle back and be used against the current president or the next president  and the next president and the next president after that.

Read more: Justices Broach Presidents Self-Pardon Power at Trump Argument

Special Counsel Jack Smith has only a narrow window to put Trump in front of a Washington jury before voters go to the polls on Nov. 5. The judge overseeing the case has said she will allow three months to prepare for a trial that could last two to three months. Polls indicate a conviction of Trump could undercut the presumptive Republican nominees election chances.

The schedule matters all the more because of the broad expectation that, should Trump reclaim the White House in January, he would take the extraordinary step of ordering the Justice Department to drop the prosecution.

The 2024 election went unmentioned over the course of the two-hour 40-minute argument, though Justice Amy Coney Barrett at one point acknowledged that Smith has expressed some concern for speed and wanting to move forward.

Not a Monarch

The case is one of four prosecutions hanging over Trump, including one already proceeding in New York state court over hush-money payments to a porn star. Trump has also claimed presidential immunity in those cases, even though many of the allegations involve alleged conduct when he was a private citizen.

The Supreme Court has never said whether former presidents have immunity from prosecution. The court ruled in 1982 that, with regard to civil suits by private parties, presidents have complete immunity for actions taken within the outer perimeter of their official duties.

Trump contends that former presidents have so-called absolute immunity for official acts they took. His lawyers say everything he did in the run-up to the Jan. 6 riot  including allegedly promoting false claims of election fraud, pressuring the Justice Department to conduct sham investigations, pushing then-Vice President Mike Pence to undercut certification of Bidens victory and inciting a crowd to storm the Capitol  was part of his job as president.

The courts liberal justices were skeptical. If theres no threat of criminal prosecution, what prevents the president from just doing whatever he wants? Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked.

Justice Elena Kagan said the countrys founders knew how to provide immunity in the Constitution, and they didnt do so for the president.

Not so surprising, they were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law, she said. Wasnt the whole point that the president was not a monarch, and the president was not supposed to be above the law?

Barrett Questions

The liberals got some support from Barrett, who questioned the assertion by Trumps lawyers that former presidents cant be prosecuted unless they are first impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate.

There are many other people who are subject to impeachment, including the nine sitting on this bench, she told Trumps lawyer, John Sauer. And I dont think anyone has ever suggested that impeachment would have to be the gateway to criminal prosecution for any of the many other officers subject to impeachment.

Echoing arguments Trump has made outside the courtroom, Sauer told the justices that without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it.

Smith contends that all presidents until Trump have understood that after they left office they were subject to prosecution for official acts.

His novel theory would immunize former presidents from criminal liability for bribery, treason, sedition, murder, and, here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power, said Michael Dreeben, the lawyer in Smiths office who argued the case.

Trump later called the exchange a very good session.

Ideally, youre going to do all the right things, that includes going to war and ending wars and sometimes starting wars, and you know you have to make very tough decisions as president, he said in an interview on Newsmax. But you cant be criminally tried if you make a mistake.

The case is Trump v. United States, 22-939.

--With assistance from Emily Birnbaum and Chris Strohm.

(Updates with Trump comments in last two paragraphs.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Perhaps for the first time in independent India, taxation has become a Lok Sabha elections campaign issue. The inheritance tax has grabbed headlines, piping unemployment, inequality, corruption and price rise from campaign speeches.

No tax goes down well with taxpayers. But the inheritance tax is an especially detested one across the world. It is also a highly misunderstood tax.

In popular discourse the inheritance tax is seen as left/communist/socialist, but it is in fact rooted in liberal economics; it is probably the most fair and progressive tax there can be.

Critics of inheritance tax say it amounts to double taxation. But every tax does that: The goods and services tax, or GST, for instance, is paid out of taxed income. Inheritance tax stands out because it is among the least distorting.

Unlike income tax, inheritance tax does not erode the incentive to work. Unlike capital-gains tax, it does not discourage savings and investments. And unlike the GST, it is progressive: the poorest and those better off pay GST at the same rate, but inheritance tax is by design only for the ultra rich.

The inheritance tax targets inequality at birth and responds to the rhetorical question: what have heirs done to deserve the money that comes their way at birth?

Death taxes

There are many variations of what are called death taxes.

Estate tax is paid by a deceased individuals estate before the money is transferred to their heirs. Inheritance tax, on the other hand, is paid by the person who inherits the deceased persons money and assets. This tax is normally levied above a high threshold level of inheritance, which keeps out most of the population other than the uber rich.

The inheritance tax is, thus, a guard against a permanent elite based on little more than the accident of birth and genealogy rather than meritthe very essence of market-led economiesas it aims to lower entry barriers and open up opportunities to the non-elite.

Remember, besides material wealth, the wealthy pass on a variety of visible and invisible advantages to their children, which gives the next generation an edge over the children of the non-rich: from elite education to access to influential networks.

Rise of billionaire-inheritors

The number of billionaires who are not self-made but are heirs is on the rise across the world. The Economist magazine reports that annual flows of inheritance in France have tripled as a proportion of that countrys GDP since the 1950s, while half of Europes billionaires have inherited their wealth.

One of the reasons Indias 1991 financial reforms are celebrated is that they levelled the playing field to such an extent that companies floated by meritorious entrepreneurs from the middle class are now able to build businesses more valuable than those managed by inheritors in old-economy, promoter-run business houses. Infosys Ltd is frequently cited as the poster boy of this change.

But the trouble with inheritance tax is that it is notoriously expensive to collect for tax administrators. The wealthy tend to be good at exploiting loopholes as they are able to afford savvy tax lawyers. Revenue from such taxes in OECD nations as a share of total government revenue has fallen sharply since the 1960s. Thats why countries have been abolishing it.

Not a communist agenda

There are not many examples of communist countries having an inheritance tax. China does not have it. The mecca of capitalism, the US, on the other hand, imposed a federal death tax thrice to provide revenue on a short-term basis to finance military action (during 1797-1802, 1862-1870, and 1898-1902), only to repeal it soon after and reintroduce it in 1916 during the World War I.

The US has had the tax since then. Now, according to a tax-reform plan passed by the US House of Representatives, the death taxes in the US would be abolished by 2025.

The egalitarian Swedes also decided in 2004 to abolish their inheritance tax.

In India, the Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi abolished the estate duty in 1985 during the first spurt of economic reforms that had preceded the 1991 P.V. Narasimha Rao-Manmohan Singh reforms. The reason given in the budget speech by then finance minister V.P. Singh was that collections from the tax were too meagre to justify the cost of collecting it.

In the debate in the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign over inheritance tax, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has charged that the estate duty was abolished to help Gandhi escape paying the tax on the inheritance from Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated on 31 October 1984. The estate duty was, however, abolished for deaths occurring on or after 16 March 1985.

Politics in play

The BJP has also cautioned voters about the possibility that the Congress, if elected to office, will introduce the inheritance tax.

The Congress has sought to assure voters that it has no such plans. The head of the partys manifesto drafting committee, former finance minister P. Chidambaram, said on Thursday that the manifesto does not have a word on the re-distribution of wealth or inheritance tax.

A perusal of the Congress manifesto by Mint SnapView confirms this. On the contrary, the manifesto promises priority for policies that would allow for the creation of wealth".

That said, the concept of death taxes should be more amenable to the BJPs political narrative as its criticism of the Congress centres on the partys culture and legacy of dynasty and family-inheritance.

Which is why perhaps prominent supporters of the BJP from the business community have been advocating over the years that it should introduce an inheritance tax.
Recognizing a dish by its smell is a talent many of us pride ourselves in, the wafts of its aroma rich with spices India has been famous for globally ever since trade began across the high seas. In olden days, spices enabled seafaring by preserving food. In todays times, the masala blends that conspire to tickle our taste buds still evoke India around the world. The association is strong. Its just that home-made spice mixes take drudgery, the sort middle-class kitchens got liberated from many decades ago. Among other staples within handy reach of the cooktop, one can find shelves full of packaged masala powder, typically.

The most popular brands are household names. Two of the best known, MDH and Everest, made news this week for action taken against some of their products by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore for unsafe content. Specifically, tests allegedly found the presence of ethylene oxide, a pesticide, at levels above the safety limit. This should make us sit upnot just because these mixes are used heavily in Indian cooking, but also for the risk to Indias global image as an assurer of quality. Not long ago, we had a big scandal over cough syrup that claimed the lives of 141 children in Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon, after which our drug regulator banned some infant formulations. Earlier, Nestles Maggi noodles had to be pulled off shelves over safety concerns. Such instances suggest laxity on the part of companies and regulators alike.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken samples from all spice-mix makers, including Everest and MDH, to run its own checks. The ethylene oxide reportedly found in the exported spice blends has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. To grasp how it gets into our food chain, we must trace it back to its roots, almost literally. Farmers of spice crops use various chemicals to fend off insects and other pests, while the packaging process often involves fumigants and preservatives. Although whats sold is supposed to be safe, residues can linger and cause harm if used in bio-sensitive quantities.

As residual substances act as a pretext in some Western markets for non-tariff barriers, bans placed on Indian exports are sometimes viewed as cynical ploys to keep our stuff out. In 2014, the EU briefly banned import of Alphonso mangoes and four vegetables from India. The same year, Saudi Arabia barred Indian chilli on charges of high pesticide residue. However, before fingers can be pointed, it is our job to ensure the quality of our produce. Unfortunately, thats easier said than done. Hong Kongs Centre for Food Safety had issued a ban on three MDH mixes and one Everest mix on 5 April. Three days later, the FSSAI actually raised the maximum residue limits of pesticides in spices and culinary herbs by an order that some scientists have protested as scandalous. It was only this Monday, though, that word got around of foreign bans, memes began to swirl on social media and our regulator took note.

That it took an overseas whiff of scandal for safety checks to be ordered by our regulator should serve as food for thought. As India strives to become the worlds next big factory as part of a China plus one outreach to global investors, we must not let local manufacturers expose us to reputational risks. Globally, we have long battled a lousy reputation for quality control in many fields. We cant afford laxity anymore. Spice mixes are so quintessentially desi, they serve as flagships of what we make.
PARISFrench President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europes decadeslong project of peaceful cooperation might perish if the continent doesnt shore up critical gaps in its architecture, from its economic underpinnings to its approach to defense and immigration.

Macron delivered the comments in what was billed as a sequel to the landmark address he gave at the Sorbonne University in Paris at the start of his first term. Seven years laterfollowing a pandemic and the outbreak of wars in Ukraine and GazaMacron returned to the Sorbonne on Thursday with a foreboding message that cast Europe as a continent at a tipping point, buffeted by great-power rivalries between the U.S., China and Russia.

We have to be lucid about the fact that our Europe today is mortalit can dieand it depends only on the choices we make," Macron said. But these choices must be made now because it is today that the question of peace and war is being played out on our continent."

Anxieties are running high in Europe over the fraying of trans-Atlantic ties that have underpinned global security and trade since the end of World War II. This week Congress passed a $95.3 billion foreign-aid package, sending much-needed weapons to Ukraines beleaguered forces and fortifying Israels missile-defense systems. But that came after a wrenching debate over Ukraine that sharply split the Republican Party, with many members drifting toward Donald Trumps America First" isolationism.

Macron views Russias invasion of Ukraine as an existential threat to the continent, warning that if Kyiv falls, other capitals could be next.

On Thursday, he called on the EU to issue common debt to fund military investmenta concept opposed by Germany and several other Northern European countriesjust as the continent tapped debt markets to fund its response to the Covid pandemic.

We are not armed to cope with the risks we face," Macron said.

The French leaders push for European autonomy has landed him in hot water with allies before. In February he clashed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the Frenchmans refusal to rule out sending troops from NATO countries to Ukrainepart of what Macron regards as a stance of strategic ambiguity" that leaves all military options on the table and keeps Moscow guessing.

On Thursday, Macron said Europe should strengthen its role in NATO. Many countries in the alliance still dont meet its threshold of spending 2% of GDP on their militaries. Europe, he said, also needed to take more initiative in defining a strategy for its collective defense.

We must build a Europe capable of showing that it is never the vassal of the United States of America, and that it also knows how to speak to all regions of the world."

Scholz responded to Macrons address with a post on X, saying: France and Germany both want for Europe to remain strong. Your speech contains good ideas to achieve this."

Write to Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com and Stacy Meichtry at Stacy.Meichtry@wsj.com
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya was booked on Friday for posting a video on his X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka said.

The case was filed against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate under Section 123(3) (corrupt practices). The case was registered at the Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru.

The Chief Electoral Officer posted on X, Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and Candidate of Bengaluru South PC on 25.04.24 at Jayanagar PS u/s 123(3) for posting a video in X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion.

Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) prohibits candidates or their agents from appealing to voters based on religion, race, caste, community, or language, or using religious or national symbols to influence election outcomes.

Earlier in the day, Tejasvi Surya offered prayers at his residence before casting his vote in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday.

Meanwhile, Vasanth Kumar, advocate and BJP legal cell convenor said five complaints were lodged with the Election Commission on Friday.

"Today, five complaints were lodged with the Election Commission. One is canvassing and speaking to workers by CM Siddaramaiah inside a polling booth in Mysuru...another complaint is in a polling booth in Kolar constituency, one ex-councillor Venkatesh is distributing cash to voters, another complaint is AICC Youth President Srinivas is protesting...today is polling day so he is violating Model Code of Conduct," Vasanth Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying.

The voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 took place on Friday. As many as 88 constituencies in 13 states and union territories went to the polls in the second phase.

The voting in Karnataka was held on 14 seats in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. After casting his vote, Tejasvi Surya predicted that the Congress party might not win more than 30 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Congress leader KC Venugopal on Friday alleged that INDIA bloc partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), had a clear-cut deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 Voting Live

KC Venugopal commented on the reported discussions between Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener EP Jayarajan and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, stating, The two met and held discussion for a long time. It is shocking news. Jayarajan also admitted that Javadekar came and met him. Prakash Javadekar, who is the BJP Kerala in-charge, is saying that it was a personal meeting. How can it be? There is a clear-cut deal between the BJP and CPM.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran and the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate from the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency also made serious allegations against Jayarajan, asserting that he was on the verge of joining the BJP after a meeting.

Sudhakaran, in a media briefing, claimed that BJP leaders Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Sobha Surendran also attended the meeting, which reportedly took place in the Gulf.

The discussion was in the Gulf. It is not possible to say now when the discussion took place. All I know is that there was talk of a governorship. Rajeev Chandrasekhar and others have participated in the discussion. EP is upset with MV Govindan becoming secretary. He was disappointed when he did not get the post of state secretary, the Congress leader said.

Sudhakaran further claimed that after meeting with NDA leaders, CPI(M) leader EP Jayarajan was threatened by his party, which forced him to stay with the CPI(M) and not switch sides.

PM is panicking After casting his vote, KC Venugopal expressed confidence in his chances. He is contesting against AM Ariff of the CPI(M) and BJP's Shobha Surendran.

After casting his vote, Venugopal said, I am confident that the people of Alleppey will stand with me. After phase one of the Lok Sabha elections, the PM is panicking. I thank the PM for bringing the Congress manifesto into the public domain in a big way. In Kerala, UDF will sweep all 20 seats. People of Wayanad, Kerala will show that they are with Rahul Gandhi.

Voting is in progress for all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala during the second phase of elections.

In the 2019 elections, the Congress party secured victory in 19 out of the 20 seats, with the CPI-M winning just one. The BJP did not win any seats in Kerala.
Lok Sabha elections 2024: A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notice to BJP president JP Nadda following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on Muslims, Nadda repeated the PM's remark and accused the Congress and INDI alliance of having a hidden agenda.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voting Live

Nadda alleged that the main opposition party, the Congress, plans to take away the rights of lower-caste groups (SC, ST, and OBC) and give them to Muslims.

In a post on X in Hindi, Nadda said, The hidden agenda of the Congress and INDI alliance is to snatch the rights of SC, ST and OBC and give it to Muslims. Congress says that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources, whereas Prime Minister Modi says that the poor have the first right on the resources. Congress hates SC, ST and OBC and appeasement is clearly visible in their manifesto too.

Nadda referred to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's purported statement in 2006 that minorities, particularly Muslims, have the primary claim on the country's resources. He alleged that Singh made similar remarks in April 2009 too.

In response, the Congress accused the BJP of selectively citing Singh's words. It charged the ruling party of spreading misinformation and promoting communal divisions to polarise voters during the ongoing elections, due to insufficient public support.

He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should have first right when it comes to resources, the BJP handle had posted on X, referring to the purported comments by Manmohan Singh.

Nadda's statements came just one day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) sent a notice to the BJP following remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had asserted that the opposition aimed to redistribute the public's wealth to Muslims.

PTI reported that in its letter addressed to BJP President J P Nadda, the EC asked him to respond by Monday to complaints filed by the Congress, the CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the alleged divisive and derogatory remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara.

It also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of all the star campaigners of the party to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit.

Apart from 20 constituencies in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir are also voting today.

The Lok Sabha elections, the world's largest electoral process, are taking place in seven phases, and will conclude on June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.

The first phase of polls was held on April 19, covering 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout exceeded 62 per cent. The third phase of voting is to be held on May 7.
Lok Sabha elections phase 2 voting: An independent candidate for the Purnia Lok Sabha seat, Pappu Yadav claimed that his life is at risk, alleging that opposition parties in the area are harassing him and plotting against him.

In Bihar, voting is underway in five of the 40 seats, including Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and Banka.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 Voting Live

Yadav further raised his concerns about political conspiracies targeting him, saying, ek vyakti ko khatam karne ki rajneeti hai (politics of eliminating a person).

Speaking to the media, Yadav said, Punea will write history, it will also give an answer to hatred...leaders from all political parties come together to finish Pappu Yadav but voters have come together for Pappu. Delhi and Patna have united. There were attempts to finish me.

Yadav, a well-known figure in the region, disclosed the difficulties he has encountered, including recent efforts to seize his car, harassment by law enforcement, and alleged threats to his life.

I am a son who has received blessings. No matter how much people tried to put me down, tried to harass and murder me politically, including conspiracies to even harm and kill me, my car being seized, and harassment by the police prosecution. Some people even called the criminal and mafias against me, there has been so much mental torture in the past few days.

I considered Purnea as my mother and decided to contest alone. Why do you think Purnea is a hot seat today? It is the blessing of the people from here. No Narendra Modi, no Nitish Kumar, No Lalu Yadav from here, Just Pappu, he said.

Congress leader Pappu Yadav decided to run independently after being denied a ticket from the Purnia Lok Sabha constituency. Pappu had represented Purnia three times between 1991 and 2004. Under an arrangement among the opposition parties in the INDIA bloc in Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nominated Bima Bharti, a former member of Janata Dal (United), to represent Purnia, effectively preventing Congress from contesting in that seat.

JDU has fielded two-time incumbent sitting MP Santosh Kumar from the seat as part of the NDA.

In the 2019 general elections for the Purnia seat, Santosh Kumar received 6,32,924 votes on the JD(U) ticket, while the Congress candidate, Uday Singh, also known as Pappu Singh, got 3,69,463 votes. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), an opposition coalition in Bihar that includes RJD, Congress, and Left parties, announced that the RJD, its largest member, would contest 26 of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia.

Bihar's elections will occur in seven phases. The first phase of polling concluded on April 19.

The second phase of voting started on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1.
The voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 began at 7 am on Friday, April 26. Till 4 pm on April 28, the maximum voter turnout was recorded in Manipur at 81.9 percent, while the minimum was recorded in Uttar Pradesh at 55.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Tripura (80.3 percent), and West Bengal (76.5 percent), Chhattisgarh (76.2 percent) and Assam (81.1 percent) also registered healthy turnouts, according to the data posted by the Election Commission of India till 4 pm on Sunday.

The states with relatively low turnout in the second phase were Maharashtra at 62.71 percent turnout, Bihar at 59.4 percent, Madhya Pradesh at 58.5 percent and Rajasthan 65 at percent.

The voter turnout of other states were  Kerala (71.27 percent), Karnataka (69.5 percent) and Jammu and Kashmir (72.22 percent).

The overall turnout in the second phase was 60.96 percent till 7 pm on the day of polling (April 26), the Election Commission said. The final official voter turnout is yet to be released.

As many as 88 Lok Sabha seats across 13 states and union territories went to polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Friday, April 26.

Here's all that happened in the Phase 2 voting: 1. After the polling for the second phase ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Phase Two has been too good!" He expressed gratitude to the people across India who have voted on April 26.

"The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support," he said in a post X on Friday evening.

2. Union ministers such as Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V Muraleedharan and Virendra Kumar; and heavyweights such as former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, actor Hema Malini, Arun Govil, Tejasvi Surya, Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi were among the key candidates in fray in the second phase. Check key candidates in fray in Phase 2 polls here

3. The Election Commission of India (ECI) booked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya for violation of the election code of conduct and seeking votes in the name of the religion.

"Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and Candidate of Bengaluru South PC on 25.04.24 at Jayanagar PS u/s 123(3) for posting a video in X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion," Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka posted on X.

4. In a landmark shift from past practices, Bru refugees settled in Tripura cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections, marking the second time they participated in the electoral process without having to return to Mizoram. This development underscores a progression in the lives of these refugees, who previously had to travel to the Tripura-Mizoram boundary to vote, ANI reported.

5. More than 72 percent of voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in three Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh. All three Lok Sabha seats  Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund  have a Naxalite presence.

While polling took place amid tight security, a policeman deployed on election duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a service weapon in Gariaband district during the day, news agency PTI reported.

The voting for 102 seats across 21 states and UTs in phase one was held on April 19. As many as 34.8 lakh first-time voters have registered to cast their votes. The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases with the results due on June 4.
The second phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is set to be held on Friday, April 26. The voting will be held in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states and union territories. The voting will begin at 7 am on Friday.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Here's your guide to Phase 2 voting on April 26:

1. Which Lok Sabha constituencies are voting in Phase 2? The voting will take place in 88 constituencies across 13 states/UTs. These states include Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Tap here to check if voting will take place in your constituency on April 26.

The EC mentioned that the polling for the 29-Betul parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh was rescheduled in the third phase due to the death of a candidate from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The first phase of voting was held on April 19. The elections in the first phase took place for 102 seats across 21 states and UTs. The remaining f phases of polls will continue till June 1 with the counting of votes scheduled on June 4.

2. How is the weather for Friday, April 26? The Election Commission said the weather conditions are predicted to be "within normal ranges". It added that electors can cast their votes comfortably. "...meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions," the EC said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a hailstorm has been predicted for Jammu and Kashmir on April 26 and for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on April 27. Earlier, a red alert over a severe heatwave was issued in West Bengal until April 26.

3. Key facts about Phase 2 voting A. Date and Time of voting: Voting will begin at 7 and end at 6 pm. The closure of poll timings may differ parliamentary constituencies wise.

The polling time was extended till 6 pm in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate voters in hot weather conditions.

The voting for Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held on April 26, 2024, for 88 Lok Sabha constituencies (General- 73; ST- 6; SC-9) in 13 States/ UTs.

B. Number of voters in Phase 2: Over 16 lakh polling officials will welcome over 15.88 crore voters across 1.67 lakh polling stations, the EC said.

As many as 8.08 crore of the total voters are men, 7.8 crore are women and 5,929 identified themselves as third gender. There are 34.8 lakh first-time voters. Moreover, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years.

C. Total candidates in the fray: As many as 1202 candidates -- 1,098 men, 102 men and two belonging to the third gender category -- are in the fray.

4. Who are the key candidates in the fray in Phase 2? The key candidates in Phase 2 polls include Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, BJP's youth icon Tejasvi Surya and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. There are four candidates from the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency.

Tap here to check key candidates and battles to look out for in Phase 2 voting.

5. How to know if your candidate has any criminal record? The EC has informed about the "Know your candidate" application where citizens can get information about the candidate contesting in their constituency.

Whether the candidate has a criminal background, whether there are criminal cases against him, or what are their assets and liabilities  voters have the right to have all this information through the KYC app," the Chief Election Commissioner said.

Voters can also find details about candidates on the Voter Helpline app. Check step-by-step guide to use these apps here

6. How to check poll dates and polling station details? The EC has shared a website link for voters to check their polling station details and poll date. One needs to visit this website https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/ and enter EPIC Number and State name to check details.

7. What documents should one bring to polling station? The Election Commission has also provided 12 alternative documents other than a Voter id card (EPIC) for identity verification at polling stations. If a voter is registered in the electoral roll, voting can be done by showing any of these documents.
Back when X was still Twitter, Ron DeSantis, Floridas governor, was no fan of the social-media company. In May 2021 he heralded his signing of Senate Bill 7072 as a strike against censorship. Residents of Cuba and Venezuela may be victimised by tyrannical behaviour", he said, but Floridians will now be guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites". By taking back the virtual public square", the states lieutenant-governor, Jeanette Nunez, added, the law will rescue discourse from a radical leftist narrative".

In May 2023, with Twitter rebranded and in Elon Musks hands, Mr DeSantis opted to launch his ill-fated presidential campaign on the site, and Xs content moderation has been overhauled. But Senate Bill 7072 remains on the books, along with a similar law, House Bill 20, enacted in Texas in September 2021. Challenges to both lawsbased on the free-speech guarantee of the First Amendmentcome to the Supreme Court on February 26th.

The plaintiffs in NetChoice v Paxton and Moody v NetChoice contend that Texas and Florida are unconstitutionally intruding on private companies decision-making about speech they host on their sites. NetChoice represents giants like X, Facebook, Google (owner of YouTube) and TikTok, as well as smaller platforms like Etsy and Pinterest. It argues that governmental efforts to interfere with the editorial discretion of private parties is forbidden censorship."

The laws prohibit removing and shadow-banning" users on large social-media platforms. (Floridas applies to those with more than 100m active users; Texas sets the floor at 50m.) Texas bars sites from censoring posts based on viewpoint"; Florida protects users from inconsistent and unfair actions". The Sunshine State takes particular aim at sites that ban candidates for state office, a move that can draw fines of up to $250,000 a day. Other violations could expose sites to lawsuits with damages up to $100,000 apiece. Both laws also impose detailed reporting on content moderationrequirements the sites say are enormously burdensome" but the states insist are quite modest".

Two district courts sided with NetChoices First Amendment claim, but their respective appellate courts did not see eye to eye. Floridas law remained blocked by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Texas, meanwhile, prevailed at the Fifth Circuit but the Supreme Court granted NetChoices request to temporarily freeze HB 20. Now the justices will give the matter a full review.

The tricky question at the heart of these cases is how to conceptualise social-media companies. Are they akin to newspapers, which have total control over which stories appear in their pages? Or are they closer to phone companies or delivery services, which must (with few exceptions) transmit whatever messages or packages their customers wish to dispatch?

The Supreme Court decided in 1974 that Florida could not require newspapers to publish responses from political candidates who had been criticised in their editorial pages. Two decades later it ruled that organisers of a St Patricks Day parade did not have to let a gay-pride group march along the route. And last year it allowed a web designer to turn down clients seeking websites for same-sex weddings.

These and other rulings suggest that the First Amendment protects both individuals and businesses from being compelled to communicate ideas with which they disagree. But Florida and Texas say that the likes of Facebook and YouTube are neither publishers nor private citizens but common carriers" and can be made subject to neutral rules of content moderation. By doing business with all comers, the platforms can be required to open [their] doors on equal terms to all"a duty that may be heightened by what the states characterise as monopoly power in their respective markets".

As platform[s] for all ideas", Texas argues, large social-media sites are easily distinguished from choosy publishers or even bookstores, which can decline to stock any title for any reason. Unlike a cable-television provider or cinema, which carefully selects and compiles the materials it presents", Facebook and TikTok (by and large) let their users post what they like. Given the vastness and diversity" of that content, Florida argues, there is no chance anyone would mistake the views of those who post for those of the companies that host.

Sorting out whether YouTube is more like the Miami Herald, a cinema or AT&T is at the heart of the tangle before the Supreme Court. But differing claims to free speech are also in play, which helps explain why the politics of the NetChoice cases are interestingly scrambled. Although the Florida and Texas laws arrived in a swirl of anti-woke rhetoric, Scott Keller, a conservative former Texas solicitor-general, argued against the Lone Star States social-media crackdown at the Fifth Circuit. And odd bedfellows will be arguing alongside one another for NetChoice at the Supreme Court: Paul Clement, the foremost litigator of Americas conservative legal movement, and Elizabeth Prelogar, President Joe Bidens solicitor-general.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Ever since a door plug flew off an Alaska Airlines flight midair in January, the world has awaited an answer to the Big Question:

How did that iPhone survive?!

Yes, when the Boeing 737 MAX 9s fuselage ripped open, a smartphone flew out and tumbled down 16,000 feet. The iPhone 14 Pro Max was found completely unharmed. Yet your phones screen turned into a spiderweb when you accidentally nudged it off your bathroom counter.

Was it because a protective case cocooned the airborne phone? Was it because it was a newer, more durable unit? Was it rescued and repaired by a family of bears?

Every year, Apple, Samsung and other smartphone makers tell us about their improved durabilityCeramic Shield! Gorilla Armor! And still the first thing we do with a shiny new phone is shove it in a case. Do we still need to? Perhaps we should all gonaked?

There was only one way to find out: Make it rain phones.

My producer and I created the Phone-Droppin Drone (trademark pending) and set out to drop iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S23 devices from 3, 30 and 300 feet onto grass and asphalt.

It was thrilling. And the results taught us as much about physics as they did about phone durability. Lets break it down.

The tests

Id watched enough MythBusters" to know I needed some key components to run these tests:

 Phones: I bought iPhone 14 and Galaxy S23 models from refurbished-device company Back in the Box, which confirmed the original hardware was intact. No screens or batteries had been replaced. While not the latest models, these phones use top-of-the-line Corning glass and represent the latest durability claims made by Apple and Samsung.

 Space: A 300-foot drop required landing zones of grass and asphaltand no innocent passersby! Thankfully, New Jerseys beautiful Sussex County Fairgrounds fit the bill.

 Drone: My smartphone-testing desire has no limits, so, yes, I considered dropping the phones while skydiving. But a drone gave us more control for hitting specific heights and targets. My producer-turned-MacGyver, David Hall, rigged a contraption to release phones with the press of a button on the drone controller.

 Carnage: You arent tuning in to this to see phones survive and look pretty. You want shattered glass, youll get shattered glass. These phones didnt give in so easily, though.

The naked iPhone and Galaxy handled the grass well, surviving both the 3-foot and 30-foot drops. I wasnt surprised.

It was the 300-foot drop that took my breath away. From so high up, the phones looked like tiny birds swooping down from the sky. Yet despite loud thumps when hitting the ground, they sustained no real damageonly grass stains and dirt lodged in the charging ports.

The physics

Now, I can hear you saying, in the words of Creed, Can you take me higher?!" Except there was no need to do that.

It doesnt matter if you drop the phone from 300 feet up or from space," said Mark Rober, a former NASA mechanical engineer turned YouTuber. Its going to be the same result because of something called terminal velocity."

Rober would know. He famously dropped an egg from 100,000 feet above the earth. (It survived.)

So, terminal velocity? Its the speed an object hits when the gravitational force equals the air resistance force.

OK, OK, I wasnt paying attention in high-school physics either. I called Rhett Allain, an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. He explained that, because of the mass, size and shape of a smartphone, it will increase in speed until it hits about 60 miles an hour. At that point, air resistance keeps it from getting any faster.

He assured me that 300 feet in the air was enough height for all of these devices, with and without cases, to reach their terminal velocities.

Theres another physics concept to take into account: deceleration, commonly called smashing into something." Rober and Allain explained that grass cushions the falling object, allowing for slower deceleration. Harder surfaces like asphaltor your bathroom tilescause a much more abrupt deceleration.

So I repeated all those tests on asphaltand set all the phones to record video of their falls, of course:

 The 3-foot drop: The naked iPhone and Galaxy S23 survived two drops each on the asphalt, sustaining only small nicks and dents.

 The 30-foot drop: The naked iPhone slammed the asphalt hard, shattering the glass on the back. Everything else was fine. In fact, it was still recording video.

On the Samsung, the top left and bottom right of the OLED screen shattered and the screen now flickers.

When I reattempted the 30-foot drop with durable OtterBox Defender cases on fresh iPhone 14 and Galaxy S23 models, both survived. The cases caught some damage but were still usable.

 The 300-foot drop: Given the 30-foot results, I only attempted the high-up asphalt test with OtterBox Defender cases. And, oh, the sounds of them hitting the pavement! The iPhones entire back glass cracked, including all the glass around the camera. But the iPhone itself still works! And should be repairable.

The Galaxy S23 landed so hard on the bottom right corner that the rubber case tore. The screen didnt crack, but the entire phone bent and no longer powered on.

Sean Bates, who discovered the fallen Alaska Airlines case-covered iPhone while on a walk in Portland, Ore., told me he found it under a bush on the grass-covered shoulder of the road. A few feet over and it could have been roadkill. The owner of that fallen phone, Cuong Tran, said hes still using it.

The takeaway

My physics experts told me not only does a good case provide cushion during the rapid deceleration of a phone drop, it also protects the more vulnerable contact areas.

If you hit your phone on the corner of the phone, its going to have a very small contact area and more likely to break," Allain said. If you hit it on the flat surface, the contact area would be larger."

Doug Kempel, vice president of engineering at OtterBox, told me the team designed Defender cases with various plastic and rubber pieces to absorb shock before it reaches the phone.

OtterBox tests its Defender Series cases by dropping them 26 times from 4 feet. Each of those 26 drops are engineered to hit on different parts of the phonecorners, edges, etc. That sequence is repeated five times with each case.

So yes, cases can be useful when youre worried about that glass screen and back. Corning, the company that makes the durable glass in the iPhone and Galaxy, declined to talk to me.

Just remembercase or no caseif you happen to drop your phone out of an airplane, make sure it lands on grass. Its probably not a bad idea to install a grass floor in your bathroom, too.

Write to Joanna Stern at joanna.stern@wsj.com
In just four years, Huawei has emerged as a major player in the smart car industry, overcoming the devastating effects of trade sanctions on its smartphone business and creating the most talked-about driver assistance system at the Beijing auto show.

This weeks expo features two enormous booths from Huawei Technologies, and at least seven Chinese manufacturers are promoting its Qiankun advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) as the most advanced system available.

In Huaweis first agreement with a foreign automaker, even Germanys Volkswagen will install Qiankun on its Audi Q6L e-tron, which is being manufactured in China and is destined for China, when the car is launched in 2025, two individuals with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.



Makoto Uchida, the CEO of Nissan, was also intrigued when he went to a Huawei stand and heard officials discuss the technologies designed for the Seres vehicle that was on show. According to a Nissan representative, Uchida was checking out exhibits and had no comments regarding any potential Huawei collaboration.



According to Audi, it doesnt discuss its suppliers. Huawei did not answer a request for comment right away.

It has stated that it wants to compete with companies like Bosch, Denso, and Continental as a leading automotive supplier for the intelligent EV era.

We have developed alongside Huawei for the past three years, and everyone can see our accomplishments. Chairman Zhang Xinghai of Dongfeng-backed Seres, whose Aito ranked sixth among new energy brands in China in the January-March quarter, stated, We will continue to work side by side for the next three years and more.

The industrys rapid expansion has made Huaweis market entry easier. Legacy automakers are finding it difficult to keep up with EV producers like BYD, which are offering cars for as little as $20,000 with one-time premium amenities.

While state-owned giants have found it difficult to innovate and now rely on companies like Huawei to increase their competitiveness, private EV manufacturers like BYD have demonstrated their capacity to build high-tech capabilities internally, according to analysts.

With the help of Huaweis ADAS, state-owned companies Changan, Dongfeng, and BAIC are retaliating with new electric vehicle names like Avatr, VOYAH, and Arcfox.

The fact that it can produce its own chips adds to its allure, as the managers noted that further trade restrictions brought about by decoupling would affect China tactics.

Automakers may choose to collaborate with Chinese companies to offer driving automation for automobiles aimed at the Chinese market. According to investor and corporate counsel Evangelos Simoudis, Huawei can take advantage of these opportunities while other ADAS providers, like Bosch, might not have them in China the same way they have in Europe or the US.

According to three managers and one other, Huaweis significant involvement in the creation and marketing of Seres Aito and other vehicles has sparked worries among industry participants that Huawei is not just a supplier but also a competitor.

This year, the company also had a shortage of computing components, which caused the delivery of premium models including the Chery Luxeed S7, Changan Avatr 12, and Seres Aito M9 to be delayed.

Outside of China, Huawei may once more be subject to trade restrictions as the United States started looking into Chinese cars this year for potential national security risks, mainly because of worries about connected automotive technology.

Not a single one of Huaweis partner automakers has said that they will be exporting cars featuring Huawei technology.

Huawei also displayed LIDAR, optical sensors, telematics sensors using GPS and BeiDou, vehicle control units that calibrate ride and suspension, and an audio system integrated into head rests so passengers can listen to different music without disturbing one another at the auto show.

Shayne Heffernan
Analysis

Built in 1954, Cottonwoods school gymnasium has an aging entryway and single-stall restrooms.

An $855,000 upgrade is part of the districts five- to 10-year plan. Cottonwood could use a federal program to help get the job done. Superintendent Jon Rehder says its the best way, and basically the only way, to use the federal funding.

I consider it soft money, because you never know what the federal government is going to do, Rehder said Wednesday.

Cottonwood and other rural school districts got some good news earlier this week. They could share close to $7 million from Secure Rural Schools, a federal program designed to support timber communities.

But the help is limited.

For one thing, Idahos share of the money is decreasing this year by about 7%. That is evidently a result of the feds formula. When per-capita income increases, as was the case across much of the state, the fed payments decrease.

For another thing, Secure Rural Schools remains on tenuous footing, nearly a quarter century after its creation. And as a result, educators say the federal program doesnt eliminate the need for local, voter-approved school taxes.

Launched in 2000  and co-authored by then Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho  Secure Rural Schools was designed to offset the declining revenues from federal timber sales. The name is a bit of a misnomer, since 70% of the money goes to counties for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects.

The school\ money goes to districts that have been carved out amidst the conifers that cover much of central and North Idaho.

The payments are based on federal forest acreage within a school district, and the 2022-23 figures vary widely. Twenty-seven districts didnt get a dime. Canyon Countys rural Melba district received 84 cents.

But the Mountain View School District  perennially the states biggest Secure Rural Schools recipient  again collected more than $1 million. Cottonwood, Kellogg and McCall-Donnelly received more than $400,000 apiece. The Salmon School District received close to $350,000.

Two of these districts have long struggled to raise money at the local level.

In Idaho County, Mountain View voters have rejected four successive supplemental levy proposals, most recently in November. Sprawling and brawling, Mountain View is a district divided, with many locals pushing for deconsolidation and voting to block levies.

A two-year, $5.9 million request is on the May 21 ballot. If this levy fails, district leaders say they might be forced to close a pair of schools.

Salmon has an even longer history of frustrations at the polls. Since 2006, Lemhi County voters have rejected a dozen school bond proposals.

That earned Salmon the dubious distinction of getting a mention in Gov. Brad Littles State of the State address in January, although the governor stopped short of naming Salmon directly. In one school I visited, raw sewage is seeping into a space under the cafeteria. Salmon will again run a bond issue in May, seeking $20 million.
Nez Perce County was granted summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by Riverview Marina because the county awarded a bid to another company.

Second District Judge Adam Green dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice Wednesday and granted the countys motion for summary judgment, meaning the case was dismissed before it went to trial.

The suit was filed by Riverview Marina in December 2022. It stated that Nez Perce County put out a bid for new jet boats for the sheriffs office in October 2022.

Custom Weld, which is part of Riverview Marina, was the lowest bid at $230,000 and Bentz Boats was the highest at $284,265. Custom Weld was notified Nov. 9, 2022, that Bentz was awarded the contract, according to court documents.

Custom Weld wasnt aware it was the lowest bidder until it found out through a public records request, according to documents. Idaho code states that contracts must be given to the lowest bid unless there is a declared reason.

The lawsuit alleged there wasnt a declared reason, which violated Idaho statute. The suit also asked the county to enter into a contract with Custom Weld and prohibit the contract with Bentz through an injunction, which is an order from the court.

In a response to the suit, the county denied most of the allegations. The response also said Custom Weld should have issued a tort claim but didnt.

There was no constitutionally protected property in the award of the bid and the lawsuit didnt allege irreparable injury, according to court documents.

Jonathan Hally, of the Blewett Mushlitz Hally law firm, represented Riverview Marina. Bentley Stromberg, of Clements, Brown and McNichols, represented Nez Perce County. Both the county and the marina filed for summary judgment in February and a hearing was held April 5.

In his order, Green wrote that Bentz Boats contacted the county and pointed out potential flaws in the countys bid for the boats, and the county changed its specifications.
Protect gray wolves

Imagine chasing a wolf with a snowmobile, and running it over. The wolf is disabled, so you take it home to show your family and take pictures. With its mouth muzzled, you then take the still-alive wolf to a bar, for all your friends to see. You then drink beers with your buddies, and shoot videos of the wolf lying disabled, muzzled and suffering on the floor. Finally, you take the wolf outside, and shoot it dead. This is behind the charges facing Cody Roberts, of Wyoming.

Cody is the new poster child for everything thats wrong with the state management of wolves.
The bill states that if a staff member misuses the gun or if it gets into the wrong hands, the teacher will be held responsible and not the school system.
One witness said he was on the ground in front of the shooter as he fired.
Federal Student Aid head will step down. His office has been roiled by FAFSA problems
Shannon Timothy from Longford Town, is a lucky winner in Gala Retails Home or Away store promotion, winning a holiday voucher worth 4,000.

Gala Retail launched the promotion in celebration of 25 years of serving communities, and has been delighting its loyal customers, across the country, with the chance to win one of 25 holiday vouchers.

Running throughout February and March, the promotion offered shoppers the opportunity to enter by spending over 10 in any of the participating Gala Retail stores. Entrants had the chance to win one of 10 family holidays abroad, valued at 4,000 each, or one of 15 holiday vouchers for unforgettable Irish staycations, each worth 2,500.

Also read: Longford woman Peggy Lennon celebrates her 100th birthday

Shannon entered the competition in her local Gala store and was one of the lucky shoppers who won one of 10 family holidays abroad.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, reflected on the significance of 25 years of loyal custom in Gala stores, stating, "We are delighted to kick start our 25th year in business with a huge thank-you to our loyal Gala shoppers. This giveaway is our way of expressing our gratitude and giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. From staycations in Ireland to fun filled, family adventures abroad, there are so many exciting opportunities and were thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends."

Also read: Longford student Roisin Grant wins dream trip to Strasbourg

The Home or Away promotion, which ran from February 5 to March 17, received overwhelming participation and support from customers across the country. For more information, visit: www.gala.ie/news
Longford County Council has launched Perfectly Located Longford, a new investment brochure aimed at attracting businesses to County Longford.



The brochure was launched by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Colm Murray, who was joined by the elected members.



Available to read at LocalEnterprise.ie/Longford, Perfectly Located Longford offers a roadmap to help businesses see how to successfully set up or expand into County Longford. Included within the brochure are inspiring local business success stories and information on business supports.



It also profiles County Longford and some of the advantages businesses benefit from, including its central location, excellent road and rail network, lower cost of doing business and access to an educated and skilled workforce.

Local launches also took place across the county with the Municipal District (MD) Cathaoirligh joined by local businesses: C&D Food with Ballymahon MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Paul Ross, Avery Dennison with Longford MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Martin Monaghan, Kiernan Milling with Granard MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern. All the above businesses are also profiled in Perfectly Located Longford.

Also read: Longford's Shannon Timothy strikes it lucky and wins 4,000 holiday in Gala giveaway



Perfectly Located Longford is part of a wider strategy to promote County Longford to investors both nationally and internationally.



This work is already well underway, with County Longford representatives promoting the county at St Patricks Day celebrations in New York.



Speaking following the launch, Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Colm Murray said, Perfectly Located Longford profiles the many advantages there are for entrepreneurs and companies which come to Longford to do business. It also profiles the many inspiring business success stories we have as a small county punching well above its weight in terms of our thriving local business community. I hope this new brochure can inspire and show the way forward for future investment into County Longford.

Also read: Longford woman Peggy Lennon celebrates her 100th birthday



Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said, The Council is very much pro-business and always responsive to the needs of our business community and new investors. I encourage businesses to consider Longford by taking a look at Perfectly Located Longford and arranging to speak to or meet with our team in Longford Local Enterprise Office, who are ready to help investors looking to set up or expand into County Longford.



For further information, check out www.localenterprise.ie/longford
Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today celebrated the 190th anniversary of the founding of MTA Long Island Rail Road on April 24, 1834. The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying more than 200,000 customers each weekday and last year in conjunction with the opening of Grand Central Madison and Main Line Third Track, it operated more than 77,000 more trains than it did the prior year, a service increase of 41 percent.

The founding of the Long Island Rail Road on April 24, 1834 marked a new beginning of travel and regional connectivity. Governor Hochul said. It has delivered significant benefits to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on it every day and shows the importance of continuing to expand transit throughout our state.

Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said, The past 190 years have shown that the history of growth and development of Long Island is intertwined with the improvement and expansion of the Long Island Rail Road. The relationship continues all the way to today, where Long Island thrives in part because of its access to a 24-hour safe and reliable transportation system unlike any other in the country.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, In the Long Island Rail Roads 190-year history, the past five have been some of the most significant, with the implementation of Positive Train Control, reconstruction of the LIRRs spaces at Penn Station, completion of the Third Track Project and the first new full-service in 50 years at Elmont-UBS Arena. And with the opening of Grand Central Madison, there are robust reverse commuting options that connect City residents to jobs on the island and allow Long Island businesses to recruit talent from the entire region. We are grateful for the unwavering support of Governor Hochul, who recognizes the importance of continuing to improve and modernize the LIRR.

To celebrate the occasion, the railroad invited the current longest-tenured Mail & Ride Monthly ticketholder, Phyllis Klecka of East Islip, who has been commuting on the railroad for 60 years.

Mail & Ride Monthly Ticketholder Phyllis Klecka said, Its the best place for me to relax and read. There has always been a great benefit to commuting on the LIRR, namely the time available to spend reading. The cars are usually quiet during the weekday morning and evening commutes, so my tote bag becomes a pop-up library filled with newspapers, books and articles.

Out of the past 190 years, the last five have been some of the most monumental in the railroads history. Since 2018 the Long Island Rail Road has activated Positive Train Control, a system that provides an extra layer of safety to train operations, added a 13-mile long second track to the Ronkonkoma Branch, a 10-mile long Main Line Third Track between from Floral Park and Hicksville, built the first new full-service in 50 years at Elmont-UBS Arena and opened a new terminal at Grand Central Madison that brought LIRR service directly to Manhattans east side for the first time. Some features of these projects were new signal systems, electrical substation modifications and modern amenities. The Main Line Third Track was not only a major advance in service but a huge leap in safety with the elimination of eight street-level grade crossings and, modifications to seven rail bridges.

Penn Station, the LIRRs terminal on the West Side received a massive upgrade starting in 2020 with the opening of an iconic new entrance to the LIRR Concourse at Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street. Construction crews then moved on to the rest of the concourse between 7th and 8th avenues, first removing the low hanging headknocker beams that had kept ceilings low since the reconstructed terminal opened more than 50 years ago. Removal of these headknockers allowed the LIRR to raise the ceilings to 18 feet high and the full project nearly doubled the width of the corridor, provided key accessibility upgrades, improved lighting and air flow, added intuitive wayfinding, enhanced retail and dining options and added an LED powered luminous ceiling.

The combination the Main Line Third Track and the opening of Grand Central Madison allowed the Long Island Rail Road to completely overhaul its schedules, adding 41 percent more service with more trains running during peak hours and better reverse commuting options to Long Island. Long Islanders now have the ability to travel from Montauk to Mount Kisco, Patchogue to Peekskill and Stony Brook to Stratford with only one ticket.

LIRR on-time performance was 94 percent in 2023, 95 percent in January, and 96 percent in February, even with ridership up 22 percent compared to February 2023. This number has continued to improve throughout 2024.

Moving Forward

Within the current Capital Program, MTA Construction & Development is moving forward with ADA upgrades at nine Long Island Rail Road stations. New elevators and upgrades are planned for Amityville, Copiague, Laurelton, Lindenhurst, Locust Manor, Massapequa Park and St. Albans. Earlier this month, the MTA announced it will move forward with upgrades to make Hollis Station accessible as well as improve accessibility at Babylon and Forest Hills. All LIRR stations are advancing in either construction or design for ADA accessibility.

The existing accessibility components at Auburndale and Valley Stream stations will also be upgraded, including new elevators between street and platform level, modification of canopies, new sidewalks and curb ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

As workers continue to return to the office following the Covid pandemic the LIRR is focused on providing reliable service, improved safety onboard trains and in its facilities and reducing crowding on trains as ridership continues to grow. The LIRR is improving the customer experience so more people will take the Long Island Railroad. The LIRR is the cheapest, most convenient and comfortable way to get into and out of the city.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: April 26 2024

Guy Kennedy Nicolas and His Business, G&A Auto Care Inc., Allegedly Failed to Report Over $2 Million in Sales and Pay Over $160,000 in Sales Tax Owed to New York State.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller today announced the arrest of Guy Kennedy Nicolas of Colonie, New York on six felony charges for allegedly failing to report over $2 million in taxable sales and pay over $160,000 in sales tax. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Nicolas failed to file annual sales tax returns for his car dealership business, G&A Auto Care Inc., for all but two years from 2013 to 2023. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.

New Yorkers should be able to trust that the local businesses in their communities follow the rules and pay their fair share of taxes, said Attorney General James. Failing to pay taxes is not only illegal, it cheats New Yorkers across the state out of quality public services they rely on. My office will continue to hold those who attempt to defraud the tax system accountable. I thank all of our partners who supported this investigation.

I commend Attorney General James and her team for their diligence and professionalism in handling this case, said Acting Tax Commissioner Amanda Hiller. Prosecutions such as these are essential to ensure that honest retailers arent undercut by those who evade tax laws.

This joint investigation revealed that Mr. Nicolas consciously shielded millions in taxes that he was held accountable for as a business owner, said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. The New York State Police stands ready to assist in investigating and apprehending individuals engaged in fraudulent and dishonest business practices. I thank the Attorney Generals Office and our law enforcement partners for intercepting this individual so he can no longer financially take advantage of others.

I applaud the Office of the Attorney General for the diligent work on this investigation, said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. We were happy to assist because it is so important to make sure that regulated auto dealers are following the law and paying their required taxes like everyone else.

A joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and New York State Police (NYSP), with assistance from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles revealed that Nicolas, the owner of G&A Auto Care Inc., was the sole person responsible for sales tax at his business. Nicolas was required to report all taxable sales, including sales of cars, from his dealership and file sales tax returns on at least a yearly basis.

However, from at least 2013 through 2023, G&A Auto Care, Inc. and Nicolas allegedly failed to file all but two annual sales tax returns. According to an audit conducted by OAG, between June 2013 and March 2023, Nicolas underreported total sales by over $2 million and failed to remit over $160,000 in sales tax due.

Today, G&A Auto Care, Inc. was arraigned in Albany County Court before the Honorable William T. Little. Nicolas was previously arraigned on April 11, 2024. The indictment charges both Nicolas and G&A Auto Care, Inc. with six felonies:

One count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony.

One count of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.

Four counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.

Nicolas was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear back in court on May 10, 2024. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 5 to 15 years in prison.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Attorney General James thanks the New York State Department of Taxation Finance, New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Unit, and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their invaluable assistance on this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General John R. Healy and Philip V. Apruzzese of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau (CEFC). Forensic accounting was performed by Senior Auditor Investigator Brenna Magruder, under the supervision of Principal Supervising Auditor Investigator Jason Blair, Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro, and Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri. Analytical work was provided by Legal Support Analysts Kai Tsurumaki and Brooke Starkey, under the supervision of Deputy Supervising Analyst Jayleen Garcia and Chief Analyst Paul Strocko. CEFC is led by Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton and Deputy Bureau Chief Joseph G. DArrigo.

The OAG investigation was conducted by Detective Jason Johnston, under the supervision of Assistant Chief Samuel Scotellaro and Deputy Chief Juanita Bright of the Major Investigations Unit. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes. Both the Investigations Bureau and CEFC are part of the Division of Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado. The Division of Criminal Justice is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
IDF soldiers carry out operations in central Gaza. (IDF)

The Israel Defense Forces redeployed the Nahal brigade, which has been key to controlling a corridor in central Gaza. The movement of the unit comes after a number of new IDF raids in central and northern Gaza tailored to stopping continued rocket fire and tamping down on new Hamas threats. At the same time, Israel is preparing for an offensive operation in Rafah, the southern city in Gaza where Hamas continues to have numerous battalions of fighters.

The Nahal brigade is an IDF infantry unit that has been key to controlling the Netzarim corridor across the Gaza Strip. The corridor, five miles long, essentially links Israeli border areas near the Israeli kibbutz of Beeri and other communities with the Mediterranean Sea, cutting off Gaza City from central Gaza. This is important because central Gaza is where there are several urban areas, often called the central camps where Hamas continues to have control. These include Al Bureij, Nuseirat and Maghazi. The Nahal served under the 162nd division, which controls northern Gaza, since major ground operations began in Gaza on October 27. The Nahal infantry are being replaced by two reserve units, the 2nd infantry brigade and the 679th armored brigade.

The two units had been training in northern Israel. At the moment, they are part of the IDFs 99th division. The soldiers practiced combat techniques and learned the main insights and lessons from the fighting and ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip so far. The 2nd Brigade held a training exercise in the north, during which the brigades combat team practiced various scenarios led by the National Center for Ground Training, the IDF this week.

They will be filling big shoes left by the Nahal brigade which carried out five major operations in Gaza since its deployment. It fought in Shati camp, a dense urban area in northern Gaza, as well as clearing Zaytun of terrorists. It also participated in operations around Shifa hospital as well as in Nuseirat. The soldiers, in cooperation with Yahalom Unit and combat engineers located and destroyed over 20 km of terror tunnels in the Corridor area, part of which connected the Gaza Strip from north to south underground, the IDF said. As such, the unit played a key role in reducing terror threats. However Hamas continues to return to areas the IDF has cleared. Mortars were fired on April 25 near a temporary pier that IDF has built that is supposed to be part of a wider effort to open a maritime aid corridor and aid a US-led effort to build a temporary floating dock off the coast.

The IDFs continued operations in northern Gaza illustrate how many threats remain in an area that has now been cleared twice of terrorists since the October 7 attack. For example, the IDF said that the Netzah Yehuda Battalion operated in the Beit Hanoun area to dismantle terrorist infrastructure. The unit moved into the northern Gaza town over the Passover holiday on April 22 and 23. During the operation, the battalions soldiers dismantled several terrorist infrastructure and shafts in the area, the IDF said.

In another operation, the IDF warned Gazan civilians to leave two areas in the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on April 23. The warnings came in response to rocket fire from Beit Lahia that targeted the Israeli border community of Zikim, an area Hamas also attacked on October 7. Israel also targeted Shati with airstrikes, some of the fifty strikes carried out across Gaza on April 23 and 24, and 30 strikes carried out on April 24 and 25. Israel also carried out airstrikes in central Gazas Bureij and Nuseirat areas. Over the past day, IAF fighter jets and additional aircraft struck approximately 25 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including military infrastructure, observation posts, terrorists, launch posts, the IDF said on April 23.

These various small operations and continued air strikes come as Hamas released a new video of 23-year-old Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. He was kidnapped at the Nova music festival on October 7 and was injured during the attack. Until Hamas releases our hostages, the IDF will continue to pursue Hamas everywhere in Gaza. This is an urgent call for action. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find our hostages, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on April 24. His statement comes amid Israeli preparations for operations in Rafah, and as Hamas continues to try to return to northern Gaza.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
The United States has begun rushing artillery shells and other aid to Ukraine following the passage of the long-delayed national security supplemental bill. For Kyivs embattled troops, this assistance cannot come soon enough. Russian forces are advancing west from the recently captured city of Avdiivka while also bearing down on the city of Chasiv Yar.

Avdiivka Area

In the weeks after Avdiivkas fall in mid-February, Russia took a handful of low-lying villages west of the city. Russian progress then appeared to slow. But within the last few weeks, Moscows troops have made gains that, while still relatively small in scale, have put Ukrainian forces in a precarious position. The Russians ultimately aim to reach the city of Pokrovsk, an important logistical hub around 40 kilometers northwest of Avdiivka.

During the monthslong battle for Avdiivka, Ukraine failed to build a solid second line of defense behind the city. Russia has exploited this mistake along with Ukraines shell hunger and shortage of manpower  problems that in turn undermine Ukrainian morale. Russia has compounded its artillery advantage by using Lancet loitering munitions and Krasnopol laser-guided artillery shells to attack Ukrainian howitzers and tanks. The Russian Air Force has also continued to employ glide bombs in considerable numbers to grind down Ukrainian positions.

In early April, elements of Russias 9th Motor Rifle Brigade took Vodyane and Pervomaiske, two villages southwest of Avdiivka that had been partially occupied for well over a year. Meanwhile, Russian forces from the 90th Tank Division and 1st Slavyanskaya Motor Rifle Brigade advanced a few kilometers west of Tonenke, toward Umanske and Yasnobrodivka. This progress came at the cost of significant losses, including an estimated 77 vehicles knocked out near Tonenke as of April 6.

More important, in mid-April, Russian forces broke through to the outskirts of Ocheretyne, a town around 9 kilometers northwest of Avdiivka. The village and its environs sit on high ground, offering an advantage to artillery and first-person view (FPV) drone crews. Elements of Russias 30th Motor Rifle Brigade reportedly led the push to Ocheretyne. Troops from the newly formed 433rd Motor Rifle Regiment also participated. That unit, recently created on the basis of Russias 21st Motor Rifle Brigade, has been operating in the area since at least mid-March.

Maps of the Avdiivka area as of March 31 and April 25 according to DeepState, a well-respected Ukrainian Telegram channel. Where possible, the author confirmed the lines of control using open-source analysis.

By pushing to Ocheretyne, Russia bypassed Ukraines defenses from Karlivka to Berdychi, where water obstacles complicate the attack. As an officer from Ukraines 47th Mechanized Brigade noted, Russias advances to Ocheretyne threaten Ukrainian forces to the south, particularly near Semenivka and Berdychi. Troops from Russias 74th Motor Rifle Brigade and 114th Motor Rifle Brigade are reportedly attacking in that area.

The officer accused Ocheretynes defenders  reportedly from the 115th Mechanized Brigade, among other units  of abandoning their positions. Elements of the 47th Brigade had to rush in to plug the gap when they were supposed to be rotating out after almost a year of tough fighting, he lamented. Ukraine also transferred in its 100th Mechanized Brigade (or elements thereof). This unit was recently upgraded from a territorial defense brigade and is likely still lightly equipped.

Russia soon pushed into Ocheretyne itself and has since taken most of the settlement. In addition, Russian troops, reportedly from the 35th and 132nd motor rifle brigades, advanced into Novokalynove, a village east of Ocheretyne. However, Ukraines 100th Brigade reportedly thwarted a subsequent Russian attempt to continue advancing westward from Ocheretyne toward the village of Prohres.

In the past few days, the Russians have widened their area of control near Ocheretyne. This can help them protect their flanks and safely push forward more troops and materiel. Russia took Novobakhmutivka, a village just south of Ocheretyne, on or around April 23. Troops from Russias 15th Motor Rifle Brigade and ArBat spetsnaz battalion (a volunteer unit formed in 2022, composed of ethnic Armenians) raised flags in the village the next day. Russian forces, reportedly from the 433rd Regiment, have since also taken the nearby village of Soloviove.

On April 24, a Ukrainian military spokesman said Russia had introduced reserves from its 55th Motor Rifle Brigade to try to achieve a breakthrough in the Ocheretyne area. How many reserves Russia still has left is unclear.

Chasiv Yar Area

Chasiv Yar is a small city in Donetsk Oblast with a prewar population of some 12,000. It lies just a few miles down the road from the bigger city of Bakhmut, which Russia took in May 2023 following a bloody, monthslong battle.

While small, Chasiv Yar is militarily significant. The city sits on high ground and offers a door to other, larger cities, as one Ukrainian soldier recently put it. These include nearby Kostyantynivka, an important logistical hub. And in theory, taking Chasiv Yar could help Russian forces eventually reach Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, the largest Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk Oblast.

Chasiv Yars terrain is favorable to the defender. In addition to its advantageous high ground, the city is split by the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal. While relatively shallow, the canal does impede vehicle movement. There are three bridges, which Ukraine could blow if need be.

Like in the Avdiivka area, however, Ukrainian forces defending Chasiv Yar are short on men and materiel. Russia enjoys a seven to one or even 10 to one advantage in artillery shells, according to Ukrainian troops. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers are forced to defend frontline positions for 10 to 15 days straight, as there are few troops available to take their place.

Russian glide bombs have pounded Chasiv Yar and nearby towns, destroying buildings that serve as defensive positions. These bombs and other threats have forced Ukraine to relocate its medical stabilization point away from Chasiv Yar, making it harder for wounded troops to get emergency care. Russian Su-25 attack aircraft have also been active close to the city, highlighting Ukraines shortage of short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems. Using Krasnopol and Lancet strikes, Russia has taken out some of the SHORAD systems Ukraine does have, along with Ukrainian artillery pieces and tanks.

These factors have helped Russia make incremental gains in recent months, chiefly through small-unit assaults. The Russians typically attack at dawn or dusk, when Ukrainian reconnaissance drones cannot see as well but the Russian troops do not require scarce night-vision devices.

In February and March, forces from Russias 102nd Motor Rifle Regiment and 11th Air Assault Brigade took part of Ivanivske, a low-lying village southeast of Chasiv Yar. Beginning in early April, Russian troops  mainly from those units and the 98th Airborne Division  have advanced to the outskirts of Chasiv Yars Kanal microdistrict (the part of the city east of the canal). Meanwhile, elements of Russias 200th Motor Rifle Brigade, Sever-V Reconnaissance-Assault Brigade, 7th Saint George Reconnaissance-Assault Brigade, and Espanyola volunteer unit took Bohdanivka, a small settlement northeast of Chasiv Yar.

In part due to Russias gains, Ukraine earlier this month began reorganizing its 67th Mechanized Brigade, one of its most motivated units defending Chasiv Yar. The brigade is being stripped of its core personnel associated with the far-right Right Sector.

Looking forward, Russia will probably look to cross the canal at one or both of two gaps where there is no water barrier (circled on the second map below). The Russians may first need to capture the rest of Ivanivske and/or the eastern part of Kalinivka (formerly known as Kalinina), north of Chasiv Yar. Russia has made no observable progress in either area over the past two weeks, while Ukraines 92nd Mechanized Brigade has regained a little ground near Ivanivske.

In addition, Russia may also first need to retake Klishchiivka and Andriivka, villages southeast of Chasiv Yar that Ukraine liberated last year. So far, Russian forces  chiefly from the 83rd Air Assault Brigade and units from the 2nd and 3rd army corps  have made little discernible progress in that area.

Maps of the Chasiv Yar area as of February 1 and April 25 according to DeepState. Where possible, the author confirmed the lines of control using open-source analysis.

Western Aid Can Solve Some Problems for Ukraine, But Not All

The arrival of U.S. aid should help alleviate Ukraines shell hunger, although Kyivs forces will likely remain out-gunned until at least 2025. In addition, Washingtons provision of additional Stinger man-portable air defense systems could help push back Russian Su-25s a bit.

Also working in Ukraines favor: The Russian military continues to struggle to mass forces and scale offensive operations above the company level. In late March, for example, elements of the 90th Divisions 6th Tank Regiment attacked west of Tonenke with forces that reportedly included 36 tanks and 12 infantry fighting vehicles. Russia had not conducted an attack at this scale since its failed attempt to encircle Avdiivka in October 2023. The 6th Regiments attack resulted in heavy losses at the hands of Ukraines 25th Airborne Brigade and 68th Jaeger Brigade. Likewise, in the Chasiv Yar area, Russia suffered significant losses during an April 4 attack that reportedly comprised up to 32 vehicles.

However, while U.S. aid can help reduce Ukrainian casualties, it cannot fix Kyivs underlying shortage of manpower. A new law on mobilization, which was passed earlier this month and will come into force in a few weeks, can help Ukraine address this gap. But mobilizing and training the fresh troops will take time.

In the meantime, Ukrainian defenders will need to make Russian advances as costly as possible, while personnel in the rear must construct a fortified defense in depth.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) just held its 2024 North America Technology Symposium, where it filled in attendees and investors on its technology roadmap for the future.

You may rightly ask: okay but what does this have to do with me, a user of Apple products? Well, TSMC is a chip fabrication company, and likely the most advanced one in the world. Theyve been Apples partner for nearly all of its chips major chipsthe A series for iPhones and iPads, the M series for Macs, and more. And Apple is often first in line for new manufacturing processes from TSMC, paying a premium to be the first customer to get to use 5nm or 3nm technologies, for example.

Heres a summary of the TSMC roadmap and what it might mean for future Apple silicon, and therefore future iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more.

Whats a nanometer?

Before we talk about TSMCs future technologies, lets have a quick reminder on what a nanometer is in this context. Technically, its one billionth of a meter. A human hair is between 50,000 and 100,000nm thick. Most bacteria are between 1,000 and 10,000 nanometers.

In silicon process technology, the nanometer measurement is how big some of the features of the chip are. Different companies measure different featuresit used to be the length between the source and drain parts of a field-effect transistor (FET), but these days different parts are measured by different companies.

The A17 Pro chip was Apples first 3nm processor, followed by the M3. The A17 Pro chip was Apples first 3nm processor, followed by the M3. Apple The A17 Pro chip was Apples first 3nm processor, followed by the M3. Apple Apple

In other words, 5nm means some specific parts of the chip are only 5 nanometers big, but TSMCs 5nm is not the same as Intels 5nm, is not the same as Samsungs 5nm, and so on. A smaller nanometer number means you can fit more chip logic or cache or whatever in the same amount of space, which can lead to more powerful chips, lower power consumption, smaller chips that fit into smaller devices, and so on.

Think of it a bit like looking at a city in Apple Mapszooming out makes everything smaller, putting more buildings, streets, and land on the same amount of screen. Thats what moving to a smaller nanometer process is like more city in the same space.

There are many other important aspects of a microprocessor, including the way transistors are insulated, materials used, and so much more, but the nanometer measurement has stuck as a way of differentiating one major manufacturing generation from another.

3nm progress

Apple was first with TSMCs initial 3nm process, which was called N3. The company has now refined that with the N3E process, which is what we think Apple will use in its most advanced products this fall (A18 and M4). While it might seem significant, the main focus of N3E is to make the chips more affordable. There are some slight differences in density and performance but its not a major generational change.

TSMC TSMC TSMC

2nm coming next year

The next major change is the shift to 2nm, which is expected to happen in 2025. Apple is once again expected to be the first major (and possibly only) customer, so its possible that the A19 or other chips (maybe an M5?) that ship in late 2025 will use this process. It all comes down to TSMCs ability to work out the kinks in manufacturing and yields and such in time to produce tens of millions of chips with it.

Compared to the N3E process, the N2 process is expected to reduce power consumption by 25-30 percent (for a chip of the same complexity and frequency) or to improve performance by 10-15 percent at the same power consumption. Chip density (how much stuff fits into a single area) is expected to increase by 15 percent.

An interesting change to this generation of chips, besides simply being smaller/denser/faster, is something TSMC calls NanoFlex. It will allow chip designers to use cells from different chip libraries all on the same wafer. Usually, a chip designer has to use all blocks from a low power, high density, or high performance library, depending on the most important needs of the chip. By letting designs use different parts from different libraries, chips can fine-tune different areas to their needs.

For example, Apple could decide it is most important to make the video and audio encoders and decoders part of the chip as small as possible and lay out that part of the chip using the high-density design libraries while using the energy-efficient libraries for the low-power CPU cores and the high-performance libraries for the performance CPU cores.

For the chips Apple produces, the limiting factor tends to be power and thermal dissipation. So you can probably expect chips made with the N2 process to have more stuff in them (cores, cache, bigger and more complex video encoders, etc) to the tune of 15-20 percent, with slightly higher clock speeds and therefore performance, compared to chips from the year before. However, the ability to optimize specific parts of the chip with tools from different chip libraries has the potential to pay off big in terms of higher peak performance or lower idle power.

The year after N2 is released, TSMC will have two enhanced versions of the process: N2P which is focused on top performance, and N2X focused on lower voltages and power consumption. Its unclear whether Apple will adopt one of those for the chips that come in 2026.

A16were doing angstroms now?

The major shift after 2nm (N2) is a process TSMC calls A16 (no relation to the A16 Bionic). Its a 1.6-nanometer process but now that things are getting so small, theyre sort of getting off nanometers and switching to angstroms. An angstrom is a ten-billionth of a meter, or 10 times smaller than a nanometer.

This one is not coming until late 2026, almost certainly too late for Apple to use that year. Well see chips made with the A16 process from Apple in 2027, most likely.

TSMC gave some early estimates compared to the coming N2P process, where A16 is expected to improve performance by 8-10 percent at the same voltage and complexity or reduce power by 15-20 percent at the same frequency and transistor count.

The big innovation in the A16 generation will be backside power delivery, something TSMC calls Super Power Rail. This runs a network for power distribution on the back side of the silicon wafer, connected to the transistors through little tunnels through it. This improves density and potentially reliability, as power doesnt have to be routed around with all the signal and clock distribution lines on the top side of the chip. Other chip manufacturers are pursuing similar technologies (Intels PowerVia comes to mind)basically different approaches to the same idea.

TSMC TSMC TSMC

TSMC may be a little later than competitors like Intel with this kind of technology, as it has been pushed back a little. It was originally expected to debut in the N2P process, and now will be first introduced in A16 instead.

Chips in Apple products that use the A16 process will be able to have even more stuff (more cores, bigger caches) than the N2 process while maintaining the same power profile.

Having chips with more density or a better power profile earlier than others is one of Apples big advantages, but the real magic comes from excellent chip design and software development that optimizes Apples software specifically for the chips they produce.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Rain likely. High around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Horgos sees thriving cross-border tourism

People's Daily Online) 13:34, April 26, 2024

Tourists select clothes on the Chinese side of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

The China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, covering an area of 5.6 square kilometers, spans the border areas of China and Kazakhstan. It allows citizens from both countries, as well as those from third countries, to enter and exit the center visa-free for up to 30 days. When entering China from the center, each person can carry tax-free goods worth up to 8,000 yuan ($1,104) per day.

The center also hosts various festivals, international events, forums, and exhibitions, and serves as an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among Central Asian countries. This contributes to the thriving of border tourism, cross-border tourism, and shopping tourism.

As of April 14 this year, the port city of Horgos in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had received a total of over 1.38 million tourist visits, a 10.07 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Tourism revenue reached 1.03 billion yuan, an increase of 6.59 percent year on year.

Danagul Albai, a tourist from Kazakhstan, entered China through the Horgos Port.

"I want to explore China during the warm spring season. I plan to visit Xi'an and indulge in some shopping in Horgos before heading back," the woman said.

Danagul Albai opted to stay at a hotel in downtown Horgos, where she could enjoy the night view and savor the local cuisine on a Central Asian-style street.

According to data from the Horgos entry-exit border checkpoint, Horgos Port recorded a total of 220,000 entries and exits in the first quarter of this year, a 211 percent increase compared to the previous year. On a daily basis, more than 1,600 people passed through the port, with 3,000 the highest recorded number in a single day.

Horgos city has been vigorously promoting all-for-one tourism and cross-border tourism this year.

In partnership with well-known travel agencies from within and outside Xinjiang, the city has launched self-driving and group tour packages that showcase the beauty of Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Furthermore, the city has introduced 13 cross-border tourism routes, including Horgos-Kazakhstan, Horgos-Uzbekistan, and Horgos-Kyrgyzstan, with durations ranging from three to 13 days, to enrich the overall tourist experience.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
As Emerson College reeled from the late-night arrests of dozens of protesters at its Boston campus earlier this week, similar demonstrations of pro-Palestinian advocacy expanded at other colleges in Massachusetts and nationwide.

Boston Police arrested more than 100 demonstrators early Thursday morning who had set up a tent camp occupying a public alley on Emersons campus.

The protest was part of a growing nationwide trend as some students urged colleges to sever any ties to companies connected to Israels war in Gaza, and in some cases demanded the colleges cut off any collaborations with the Jewish state itself. Some Jewish students say the protests, some tinged with antisemitism, have made them afraid for their safety.

At independent protests at Harvard University, Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other institutions, demonstrators occupied campus space with tent camps.

On Friday, a few dozen tents populated Harvard Yard in Cambridge. Aiming to stay ahead of the protests, the college had closed the campus to anyone who did not hold a school identification card. Harvard also said it had banned tents and other structures from the yard without prior permission.

At Northeastern, students erected a similar encampment on Thursday. The student group organizing the protest, Huskies for a Free Palestine, demanded Northeastern withdraw any investments with Israeli companies and call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Videos the group posted on social media Thursday showed dozens of students surrounding a small tent encampment on Northeasterns Centennial Common as police entered the area.

The Huntington News, the school student paper, reported that Boston police officers joined Northeastern police on the common Thursday afternoon but departed after about 30 minutes.

Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine, a student organization, said it had planned a demonstration at noon on Friday on the schools Medford campus.

Pro-Palestinian student groups at the University of Massachusetts Amherst had also planned demonstrations for Friday to coincide with the schools inauguration of Chancellor Javier Reyes.

Protests on college campuses have been ongoing since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and touching off a massive Israeli military campaign that has killed thousands more in Gaza.

But the most recent string of protests kicked off last week after more than 100 demonstrators were arrested at Columbia University in New York City.

Other high-profile demonstrations occurred at the University of Southern California, where 90 people were arrested and the school canceled its main graduation ceremony; at the University of Texas at Austin, where police in riot gear and on horseback clashed with protesters and arrested dozens; and at schools across the country.

The encampment at Emerson College ended chaotically early Thursday morning when police entered Boylston Place, a public alley where students had set up a tent camp.

Emerson officials said earlier this week that students were violating several city ordinances and fire hazard guidelines by camping there and that they could face imminent law enforcement action.

Videos posted to social media showed dozens of Boston police officers, many in riot gear, arriving at the encampment in the early hours of Thursday morning, where a line of students attempted to block their entry.

Officers arrested more than 100 protesters on charges including disturbing the peace and unlawful assembly, a Boston Police Department spokesperson said.

Some attendees criticized the arrests as heavy-handed. Video posted to social media showed police warning students to leave the alleyway. The students linked arms to resist officers, who moved forcefully through the crowd as they made arrests.

In a statement Thursday, ACLU of Massachusetts Executive Director Carol Rose said the police response risked the safety and well-being of all in the area.

While authorities may enforce reasonable restrictions to ensure access to public ways and to avoid disruption to school activities and services, we are concerned that campuses and law enforcement nationwide are increasingly cracking down on political expression, rushing in police to arrest protestors and authorizing aggressive treatment, Rose said.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu defended the police response in a statement to the Boston Globe, saying public safety officials were concerned about fire hazards and the risks of protesters tents blocking doors to buildings.

The goal was always to uphold and respect, safe, peaceful protests in the city, Wu told the paper. But there were safety concerns and the safety risks were growing as more and more obstruction of the public way took place.

Owen Buxton, a 22-year-old senior at Emerson, told MassLive earlier this week that the protest would continue until student demands are addressed  that the school call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and drop financial connections to Israel.

We will not back down until we get our demands met, he said Wednesday. Or until I am dragged out of here.

At MIT, students camped out this week to urge their university to cut off research funded by the Israeli military.

Francesca Riccio-Ackerman, a 28-year-old graduate student at MIT, said the encampment served as a way for students to mirror the experiences of the more than 1 million residents of Gaza who had been displaced during the war.

The tents on MITs Kresge Lawn serve as a very visible representation of the experience of many Gazans, she said.

I have family members that were killed in Gaza, Riccio-Ackerman said. Its a cause thats very dear to my heart.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Fan Expo Boston is rolling out the red carpet for award-winning actors, legendary directors and daredevils when the 3-day pop culture extravaganza returns to the city this summer.

Fan Expo Boston will take place at the Hynes Convention Center at 900 Boylston St. from June 14-16.

Fans of popular comics, manga, anime, television shows and movies can come together and celebrate alongside friends, family, and of course, the people who have brought those stories to life.

This years all-star lineup of celebrity guests, voice actors, comic creators, cosplayers and more is as follows:

Rosario Dawson (Ashoka)

Marisa Tomei (Oscar-winning actress)

Sam Raimi (Director)

Charlie Cox (Daredevil)

Chevy Chase (National Lampoon series)

Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Star Wars, Resident Alien)

Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Randy Quaid (National Lampoon series)

Beverly DAngelo (National Lampoon series)

Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager, Orange Is The New Black)

Mark Paul Gosselaar (Saved by the Bell)

Vivienne Medrano (Creator of Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss)

Butch Hartman (Creator and writer of Fairly Odd Parents and Danny Phantom)

Vincent DOnofrio (Daredevil)

Dana Barron (National Lampoon series)

Sean Gunn (Guardians Of The Galaxy)

Eman Esfandi (Ahsoka)

Diana Lee Inosanto (Ahsoka)

Holly Marie Combs (Charmed, Pretty Little Liars)

Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch, American Dad!)

Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid)

Grey Delisle (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Scooby-Doo)

Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain)

Maurice Lamarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama)

Fan Expo attendees can take photos with and get autographs from celebrities and sit in on Q&A panels, seminars and workshops and more. They can also scope through more than 115,000 square feet of shopping for comics, original artwork, graphic novels, memorabilia, DVDs, videos, games, toys, clothes and more. Gamers can take advantage of live interactive gaming throughout the weekend as well.

Of course, dont forget to don your best outfits as cosplayers are invited to enter the Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix Bay State Qualifier competition. The winner of Best in Show will get a free trip to Fan Expo Canada, which is scheduled for Aug. 22-25, to compete against Cosplay winners of other Fan Expo shows. Those interested in competing must register online by Saturday, May 11. Those who dont want to compete can still strut their stuff on the red carpet and enjoy photos taken by the official Cosplay Red Carpet photographer.

More information, including this years schedule and ticket packages, can be found online.
Boston area residents will have a new spot to spend Cinco de Mayo this year.

Toca Chida is expected to open Friday, May 3 in the former Papagayo space at 331 Great River Road at Assembly Row in Somerville.

The concept is the brainchild of Boston chef and restaurant executive Chris Damian, who has launched several successful brands  including Civility Social House, which opened at Assembly Row in February 2023.

Damian also oversaw Papagayo, which closed its last remaining location in February. This was part of Damians effort to constantly adapt to Bostons ever-changing dining scene.

Our first Papagayo, over a decade ago, was one of the first locations in the city to source a truly authentic and extensive tequila, mezcal and anejo spirit selection. And we built the menu on an amalgam of Mexican, Tex-Mex and Mexican-American style dishes that were familiar to Bostonians at that time. It was successful and we grew our restaurants to five locations, Damian said in a statement.

With the purposeful closing of the last location, its the continuation of a new beginning for me as a chef and restaurateur. Much like the opening of Civility Social House, and with our newest concept Toca Chida, I guess its both a natural culinary and visual progression, and its another example of the kind of restaurant Ive always wanted to open untethered by anything, he continued.

While the Toca Chidas menu will mostly have traditional Mexican items, the restaurant will focus on cuisines from all over Latin America. Dishes will include Beef Birria Empanadas, Lobster Tacos, Tuna Nachos, and house-made Guacamole prepared table-side.

Meanwhile the drink menu will focus on agave-based spirits and draw influence from Latin and South America.

Featured cocktails include Poblano Escobar (Ghost tequila, cucumber, poblano pepper, cilantro, lime, and chili dust), Tormenta Tropical (Pussers rum, Montegnegro, lime, passion fruit and Angostura bitters) and Ay, Papi (Milagro reposado, Montelobos mezca and mole bitters).

Wrapped in a flora and fauna forward-[design], Toca Chida will have 200 seats  including 28-bar seats  several communal tables, four-season al fresco dining.

Toca Chida will open for limited hours to start, which will be Tuesdays through Sundays from 4 p.m. until close. More information about Toca Chida can be found online or by following the restaurant on Instagram.
The students at Columbia University who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country dug in at their encampment for the 10th day Friday as administrators and police at campuses from California to Massachusetts wrestled with how to address protests that have seen scuffles with police and hundreds of arrests.

Officials at Columbia and some other schools have been negotiating with student protesters who have rebuffed police and doubled down. Other schools have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they can take hold.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities across the country are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus, partly prompting the calls for police intervention.

After a tent encampment popped up Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 33. Hours later at the University of Connecticut, police tore down tents and arrested one person.

And at Ohio State University, police clashed with protesters just hours after they gathered Thursday evening. Those who refused to leave after warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass, said university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson, citing rules barring overnight events.

The clock is ticking as May commencement ceremonies near, putting added pressure on schools to clear demonstrations. At Columbia, protesters defiantly erected a tent encampment where many are set to graduate in front of families in just a few weeks.

State troopers try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)AP

Columbia officials said that negotiations were showing progress as the schools self-imposed early Friday deadline to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment came and went. Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.

We have our demands; they have theirs, said Ben Chang, a spokesperson for Columbia University, adding that if the talks fail the university will have to consider other options.

Just past midnight, a group of some three dozen pro-Palestinian protesters handed out signs and started chanting outside of the locked Columbia University gates. They then marched away as at least 40 police officers assembled nearby.

On Friday morning, hundreds of counterprotesters gathered on the streets outside Columbia, many holding Israeli flags and chanting for the hostages being held by Hamas and other militants to be released.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, has been negotiating with students who have been barricaded inside a campus building since Monday, rebuffing an attempt by the police to clear them out. Faculty members met with protesters Thursday to try to negotiate a solution as the campus remains shut down at least through the weekend.

The schools senate of faculty and staff demanded the universitys president resign in a nonbinding vote of no confidence Thursday, citing the decision to call police in to remove the barricaded students Monday.

On the other end of the state, the University of Southern California canceled the schools May 10 graduation ceremony. The announcement was made a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus. The university said it will still host dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school commencement ceremonies.

Tensions were already high after USC canceled a planned commencement speech by the schools pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

At the City College of New York on Thursday, hundreds of students who were gathered on the lawn beneath the Harlem campus famed gothic buildings erupted in cheers after a small contingent of police officers retreated from the scene. In one corner of the quad, a security training was held among students.

Elsewhere in the city, about a dozen protesters spent the night in tents and sleeping bags inside a building at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The institutes museum, which is in the building where the demonstrators set up camp, was closed Friday.

Protesters also stayed overnight at the encampment at George Washington University, according to local news stations. In a statement after the Thursday evening deadline to disperse, the university in Washington said the encampment violated university policies and the administration and police were figuring out how to address the situation.

At Emerson College in Boston, 108 people were arrested at an encampment by early Thursday. Video shows police first warning students in an alleyway to leave. Students linked arms to resist officers, who moved forcefully through the crowd and threw some protesters to the ground.

As the night progressed, it got tenser and tenser. There were just more cops on all sides. It felt like we were being slowly pushed in and crushed, said Ocean Muir, a sophomore.

Muir said police lifted her by her arms and legs and carried her away. Along with other students, Muir was charged Thursday with trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Boston police said four officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening during the confrontation.

The University of Texas at Austin campus was much calmer Thursday after 57 people were jailed and charged with criminal trespass a day earlier, when state troopers in riot gear and on horseback bulldozed into protesters. University officials pulled back barricades and allowed demonstrators onto the main square beneath the schools iconic clock tower.

At Emory University in Atlanta, local and state police swept in to dismantle a camp. Some officers carried semiautomatic weapons, and video shows officers using a stun gun on one protester they had pinned to the ground. The university said late Thursday that objects were thrown at officers and they deployed chemical irritants as a crowd control measure.

Jail records showed 22 people arrested by Emory police were charged with disorderly conduct. Emory said it had been notified that 28 people were arrested, including 20 members of the university community, and some were released.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the U.S. Education Department has launched civil rights investigations into dozens of universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia. Among those under investigation are many colleges facing protests, including Harvard University and Columbia.
A 40-year-old man on Thursday pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the March 2022 stabbing death of a marine veteran outside the Sons of Boston bar where he worked as a bouncer, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office announced.

Alvaro Larrama, of East Boston, entered the guilty plea in Suffolk Superior Court, where Judge Josh Wall sentenced him to 17-20 years in prison, Haydens office said in a statement. Larrama had previously been charged with murder in the stabbing death of Daniel Martinez, 23, a recently discharged Marine veteran who was visiting Boston with friends for St. Patricks Day weekend.

Laramma worked as a bouncer at the Sons of Boston bar, which has since been renamed to Loyal Nine, according to The Boston Herald. The stabbing occurred just before 7 p.m. Saturday on March 19, 2022.
A now 22-year-old man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday in the drowning death of his father in a Duxbury pond as he attempted to exercise ... demonic spirits from the older man, prosecutors said in a statement.

Jack Callahan was found guilty by a jury after 25 hours of deliberation and an eight-day trial, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. Callahan had been charged with murder but was not convicted on that charge, with the jury instead finding the man guilty of the lesser charge.

At around 2 a.m. on June 28, 2021, a caller reported Jack Callahan, then 19, was acting erratically and his father, Scott Callahan, 57, was missing in the area of Island Creek Pond at Crocker Park, Cruzs office said. Police went to the Callahans Sampson Street residence and found Jack Callahan distraught and hyperventilating.

Hes missing. I dont know what happened. I blacked out, Jack Callahan told first responders, MassLive reported.

Around the same time, first responders found Scott Callahan submerged in the pond. They attempted to save Scott Callahans life, and he was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead, according to Cruzs office.

Investigators found Jack Callahan had gone to Boston that night to meet up with his father and return to Duxbury, according to the statement. The pair took a ride-share vehicle to Duxbury and were dropped off in the area of the pond, where they got into a physical altercation.

Jack Callahan told investigators that he was trying to exorcise his fathers demonic spirits, one of which he referred to as Dirty Dan.

He went on to state  in this incident at the pond  that he believed he was baptizing his father. He described that he was holding his father in the pond, on his back, like a baby, prosecutor Shanan Buckingham said. He continually dunked the fathers head in the water, about four to eight times  When the father started to fight and strike him, he pushed the head back down into the water. He did so until his father was no longer struggling.

Scott Callahans cause of death was drowning, and he had water-logged lungs and an abrasion on his head, prosecutors said.

Jack Callahan will be sentenced on the involuntary manslaughter charge on May 3, according to Cruzs office.
After the arrest of more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters in a public alleyway on Emerson Colleges downtown Boston campus early Thursday, the school barred demonstrations in the area through the weekend.

In a statement posted to the colleges news website, Emerson Today, officials said the decision was made to ensure campus safety following the events of April 25, the day the arrests took place. While protests are barred in the alley, the college will have an increased security presence in the area, according to the statement.

Emersons Policy on Demonstrations gives the college the power to determine that the time, place and manner of demonstrations ... may interfere with college operations.

Earlier on Thursday, school officials acknowledged that Boston police clearing the encampment in the Boylston Place alleyway significantly and adversely impacted our community. School staff and administrators were at the scene focused on supporting our students through this highly stressful situation and seeking to de-escalate the conflict.

Thursday marked the second time in as many months that Emerson students have been arrested protesting Israels actions during the war in Gaza and agitating for a free Palestine. On March 22, 12 students were arrested while protesting outside President Jay Bernhardts inauguration.

Videos posted to social media show dozens of Boston police officers, many of them dressed in riot gear, arriving at the encampment in the alley around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, where a line of students holding umbrellas sought to block their entry. Police began ripping the umbrellas out of students hands and trying to physically disperse the crowd, videos show.
Emerson Colleges Student Government Association is set to vote on a resolution of no confidence calling for the resignation of the schools president, Jay Bernhardt, on Friday, a move that comes just a day after the arrests of more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters on the schools downtown Boston campus.

We invite the community tomorrow to show admin that this is what we want, the association wrote in an Instagram post. As representatives of the student body, we can assure you have been heard, and seen by us, and we want our students to affirm that by being there with us tomorrow.

The association will convene in the Bright Family Screening Room on Emersons campus at 1 p.m. Friday.

Together we go in strength, the Instagram post reads.

The incoming president of the colleges student government, Nandan Nair, told reporters that the no-confidence vote is the only course of action after the arrests, according to Emersons student newspaper, The Berkeley Beacon.

Charlize Silvestrino, the associations current leader, denounced Bernhardts inefficiency and unwillingness to collaborate and communicate with protesters, according to The Beacon.

School officials on Thursday acknowledged that Boston police clearing the encampment in the Boylston Place alleyway significantly and adversely impacted our community. School staff and administrators were at the scene focused on supporting our students through this highly stressful situation and seeking to de-escalate the conflict.

Thursday marked the second time in as many months that Emerson students have been arrested protesting Israels actions during the war in Gaza and agitating for a free Palestine. On March 22, 12 students were arrested while protesting outside Bernhardts inauguration.

Videos posted to social media show dozens of Boston police officers, many of them dressed in riot gear, arriving at the encampment around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, where a line of students holding umbrellas sought to block their entry. Police began ripping the umbrellas out of students hands and trying to physically disperse the crowd, videos show.
A day after police dispersed a pro-Palestinian tent camp at Emerson College, arresting more than 100 demonstrators, the schools student government said it had no confidence in the college president and unanimously called on him to step down.

The early-morning arrests Thursday swept the Boston college into a national conversation on free speech and campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Protesters at Emerson and their supporters have decried what they described as heavy-handed actions by police, amounting to a clampdown on free speech, according to the ACLU. But Boston Police and Mayor Michelle Wu said the demonstration posed a public safety hazard and violated several city ordinances.

Emerson President Jay Bernhardt on Thursday acknowledged the arrests significant impact on the school community and said Emerson administrators were working to support students and welcome those arrested back to campus.

But by a vote of 17-0 Friday afternoon, Emersons student government representatives passed a resolution calling for his resignation.

Students spread across several campus buildings to watch the student governments Friday afternoon meeting.

Sofia Nanji, an 18-year-old first-year student, called Thursdays arrests so, so disheartening.

She was not at the encampment Thursday but was awoken in her nearby dorm room as protesters fled police. She said the campus now faces a deep, deep divide between students and administrators.

Students see it as administration against us, Nanji said.

Students are using their 1st Amendment rights, she added. Administrators arent listening.

Protesters at Emerson had established a tent camp earlier this week in a public alley on campus, part of a growing nationwide trend as students urge their colleges to sever any ties to companies connected to Israels war in Gaza, and in some cases demand the colleges cut off any collaborations with the Jewish state itself.

Similar protests are ongoing at other schools in Massachusetts and across the country.

Emerson officials warned the protesters they could face imminent law enforcement action if they did not abandon the occupied alleyway. They said the encampment violated city ordinances including a ban on tents in a public right-of-way and posed a fire hazard by blocking doors and hydrants.

Just before 2 a.m. Thursday, police entered the alley.

Body camera footage released by the Boston Police Department showed officers gave numerous warnings to student protesters before they broke up the encampment and made arrests.

Wu defended the police response in a statement to the Boston Globe, saying public safety officials were concerned about fire hazards and the risks of protesters tents blocking doors to buildings.

The goal was always to uphold and respect, safe, peaceful protests in the city, Wu told the paper. But there were safety concerns and the safety risks were growing as more and more obstruction of the public way took place.

Some city councilors, including Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, criticized the police response.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that students who choose to exercise their right to protest are met with dignity and respect, Louijeune wrote in a statement Thursday.

The Emerson encampment has since been cleared. School administrators also barred student protests in the alley where it had been set up.

Percy Davis Shaw, an Emerson senior, was among those arrested Thursday.

"I saw my peers thrown to the ground, she said. Ahead of the arrests, she said the protest had been nothing but peaceful.
Friends and family of Daniel Martinez, a marine killed outside a Boston bar while he was visiting the city on St. Patricks Day, delivered emotional victim impact statements in Suffolk Superior Court Thursday morning as Martinezs killer, Alvaro Larrama, prepared to enter a guilty plea.

In all, nine victim impact statements were submitted to the court  by Martinezs parents, siblings, and friends. Each of the statements were released by the Suffolk County district attorneys office alongside a news release announcing Larrama pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter.

Laramma worked as a bouncer at the Sons of Boston bar, which has since been renamed to Loyal Nine, according to The Boston Herald. The stabbing occurred just before 7 p.m. Saturday on March 19, 2022.

Investigators said Larrama denied Martinez and a friend entry into the bar, but then followed them down the block. Video surveillance from the area showed Martinez raising his left hand as if to defend himself and then hitting Larrama in the head with an aluminum beer bottle, according to prosecutors. The footage then shows Larrama striking Martinez in the chest.

Police found Martinez with a single stab wound to the chest. He was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital and pronounced dead at roughly 7:30 p.m.

Among those who submitted statements to the court was Jakob Bernier, a fellow marine who was with Martinez the night he was killed.

That night I saw and witnessed things no single person should ever have to say they have, Bernier wrote, recalling Martinez as his best friend and the only friend he felt he could open up to in the Marines. After witnessing and experiencing the trauma from that night , I no longer enjoy going out and doing things without being nervous something bad is going to happen to someone I love or to me.

Matthew Martinez, Daniels twin brother, said he had developed severe anxiety after his brothers death, saying, my primary objective in life has been to just make it home safe one more day.

Without his presence, every great experience will have a happiness cap, he wrote. His murder has affected me so deeply my mind has led me to forget memories of him because it pains me to think about his presence.

Luke Martinez, one of Daniel Martinezs brothers, addressed Larrama directly in his statement, telling the man theres nothing you could ever do or say that would make me able to empathize with you and the grave mistake youve made.

Your actions have played a part in the death of a thousand dreams and hopes of not just my brother, but all of us who loved him, Luke Martinez wrote.

Daniel Martinezs sister, Micaela Martinez Newton, said her brother had already begun planning a life for himself beyond the marines, including purchasing a house and going to college  opportunities wiped away by his murder. Newton said it was heartbreaking that her brothers future was taken away from him in a violent and senseless way.

Knowing that I will see him again in Heaven is the only thing that gives me a sense of peace, she wrote.

Newton, too, addressed her brothers killer directly, telling Larrama the sentence he received  17-20 years in prison  was the bare minimum to repay the harm her family has suffered.

David Martinez said he felt so much pride talking about his brother in school with his friends, writing that he saw Daniel Martinez as a hero.

But, unlike his siblings, David Martinez said he forgave Larrama.

Although you have killed part of my family, friends, and me along with my brother Dan, I have no ill will toward you and yours, he wrote. You have put yourself and your family in a terrible position, but you still have a chance at redemption.

Maxwell Stevens, who described Daniel Martinez as his most beloved friend, said Daniels murder left him so emotionally wrecked that he delayed his graduation from nursing school by a year.

I missed Daniel. I needed Daniel, he said. My heart had been truly broken.

Stevens pleaded for Larrama to receive a life sentence rather than 20 years, writing he must be removed from society for the rest of his wicked and futile life.

Jacob Chuma, who served with Daniel Martinez in the Marine Corps, said his mental health has been in a downward spiral since his friends killing. Chuma recalled needing to use the emergency Veterans Affairs hotline just to calm himself down.

I think I speak for a lot of my brothers in the Marine Corps, especially those of us who were there that night, that we felt safe going out and doing anything, but now whenever were together you can just feel that were all prepared for something to go wrong, Chuma wrote. We watch each others backs to the point where its almost ridiculous, but in reality its because were all scared to lose another brother or anyone close to us for that matter.

Life isnt supposed to be like that, he continued.

Martinezs parents, Appolonia and Manuel, both also submitted impact statements to the court.

Manuel Martinez said there was not a day that went by where he didnt think of his son, calling him a hero for his military service.

And both echoed calls made by other relatives to see Larrama punished for his crime.

That day you ruined the lives of many people. My family can no longer enjoy Daniels birthdays with him. We will never see Dan get married and have children, Manuel Martinez wrote. You, Alvaro Omar Larrama, ruined your own life and that of your family who depended on you.

Appolonia Martinez said her son represented everything Larrama could never be.

He was only 23 years old and you had no right to take his life, she wrote. He had great plans for his future and knew exactly how to achieve them. As opposed to you, so pathetic and disgraceful, living your day-to-day life without a plan or purpose. You are a nothing and nobody on your way to nowhere. You squandered your life and have nothing to show for it. You are a complete failure, who will be forgotten.
Four men were arrested in Rhode Island Friday morning in connection with 43 break-ins that police say targeted Indian and other South Asian households across 25 towns in Massachusetts since 2018.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said police believe the four men targeted these households in the sophisticated operation because they thought they would contain large amounts of gems, gold jewelry and cash.

If any of you have ever had the experience of having your home or apartment broken into, you know how invasive that crime is. Somebodys been in your space, theyre touching your things and sometimes they take your possessions, Ryan said at a press conference Friday. If you add to that having the knowledge, or at least a suspicion, that your home was targeted not just to gain property, but it was targeted because of who you are, because of your ethnic heritage, I think that gives you some idea of the sense of trauma inflicted.

The four men arrested are: Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island; Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Rhode Island; Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence; and Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, according to the DAs office. Miller is the father of Jovan and Paul Lemon.

Ryan said the break-ins started in 2018 near the Rhode Island border, then moved further north through the state. Last summer, police in Middlesex County began to see incidents and began connecting with other law enforcement departments to collaborate on the investigation. All told, 39 local police departments  as well as state police in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut  contributed to the investigation.

The incidents occurred in Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham and Westwood between July 21, 2018 and March 30, 2024.

The suspects were sophisticated in avoiding cameras and surveillance, Ryan said, potentially using Wi-Fi jammers to do so based on reports of internet outages from neighbors at the same time as the break-ins. Police found GPS trackers during the arrests which they believe were used to track families as the suspects knew when the homes would be empty, she said.

The suspects typically entered homes through second-floor windows using ladders and did not use cell phones during the break-ins so police would not be able to track them that way. While some of the victims had secured valuables in safes as heavy as 400 pounds, the suspects typically removed the safes, sometimes by dropping them through upper windows.

On Friday morning, police searched four locations and recovered a large amount of jewelry consistent with items that were reported stolen, as well as Indian currency, Ryan said. Some of the stolen items had an individual value up to $75,000, and the estimated total value of the stolen goods is over $4 million.

A number of these items not only had monetary value because of the materials with which they were made, but these were items that had been passed down in families from generation to generation. They had enormous emotional and family significance, Ryan said.

Police are in the process of notifying victims and sorting through the recovered items to return them, she said.

Police also recovered items they believe were used in the break-ins, including gloves and hats matching ones seen in surveillance images and firearms, as well as lists of families that belonged to temples in the areas where break-ins occurred.

Ryan said the investigation is ongoing and police do not yet know if there are other suspects involved, but that they believe the four men are connected with a gang in Providence, Rhode Island.

The four men are being brought to Middlesex County, where they have been indicted on 95 charges each, including unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.

If we define a hate crime as you do something to someone because of who they are, then this fits that definition, Ryan said.
The purchase of Worcesters oldest brewery will soon come to a close.

Jacks Abby Craft Lagers announced Friday it has agreed to buy Wormtown Brewery, with the sale expected to officially close early this summer, according to the Framingham-based brewery in a post on Facebook.

The announcement of the acquisition comes as Jacks Abby also announced it will rename itself as Hendler Family Brewing Co., one of the largest 100% family-owned brewing companies in the country, the Facebook post read.

With the purchase, the Wormtown taprooms will stay in Worcester and Foxborough, now with additional resources and support from Jacks Abby, according to the statement.

We are committed to upholding the quality and consistency of Wormtowns products and maintaining its core lineup of fan favorites, including Be Hoppy IPA, Be Smooth NEIPA Double IPA and Dont Worry NEIPA, the statement read.

Along with only serving all Wormtown products at Wormtown locations, Jacks Abby said it will retain most of the non-ownership staff and [is] eagerly expanding our team.

Were going to be investing a whole lot of money into the taproom and the people and providing resources that werent available to Wormtown on its own, Jacks Abby CEO and co-founder Sam Hendler told the Telegram & Gazette on Thursday.

Among those who will not stay at Wormtown are President and General Manager Kimberly Golinski and CEO David Fields, who will leave their roles when the sale closes, the Telegram reported. Those in charge of the brewerys brewing, packaging and marketing will keep their jobs, Hendler told the Telegram.

The key is having the right people at the helm, Hendler told the newspaper. Were taking the vast majority of the sales and marketing team and keeping them in place to oversee the Wormtown brand separately from the Jacks brand.

Special attention will be directed toward Wormtowns Shrewsbury Street taproom, which will undergo a significant expansion, Hendler told the Telegram.

Our No. 1 priority is making the Worcester taproom experience the best taproom experience in Central Massachusetts, he told the Telegram. The lifeblood of the brand is in those walls. And were looking at opportunities to make those walls a little bigger. We want to really make that the crown jewel of the brand.

Wormtown debuted its new taproom in February 2024, three years after announcing a new location and new leadership.
Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty 10 years after he choked a woman working for the Department of Youth Services (DYS) yelling, Im gonna kill them all, as he was restrained.

Philip Chism, 25, of Danvers, pleaded guilty Friday in Suffolk Juvenile Court to attempted murder, assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon  a cinder block and kidnapping.

He was 15 when he attacked the DYS worker, and was charged as a youthful offender on June 2, 2014.

Chism was in custody because of a pending trail for raping and killing 24-year-old teacher Colleen Ritzer, his Danvers high school math teacher, when he was 14.

In 2016, he was sentenced to life for the murder.

Chism will also serve two, concurrent 40-year sentences for rape and armed robbery, Judge David Lowy ruled in Salem Superior Court in 2016.

No amount of prison time will even be enough to be commensurate with this crime, Lowy said, noting the court must consider that there is always the possibility of redemption.

Attacking his math teacher

Ritzer, a graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, was found dead and half-clothed in the woods behind the school a day after she did not return home from work. During the trial, prosecutors laid out how Chism had murdered the teacher in the bathroom, then dragged her body outside and brutalized the body.

Lowy said the trial shows how loved Ritzer was, and how many lives she touched, saying the family paid dearly to find out how much she meant to people who knew her.

When something terrible happens, people will say it could always be worse. It is difficult to imagine something that could be worse for the family of Colleen Ritzer, Lowy said.

Lowy said Chism showed significant capacity to understand his behavior, and that the crime was carefully and meticulously planned.

On the day of her murder, Ritzer was staying after school, as she frequently did, to help students, Lowy said. The armed robbery charge stems from the fact Chism was later found with Ritzers underwear.

Attacking the DYS worker

On June 2, Chism was in the facilitys main room, which is bordered by a low wall, and refused to attend classes, according to Assistant District Attorney David Bradley.

Chism was told to sit and study at a table in the open room. While in the room, he removed his sandals, which officials said allowed him to crouch down and move without making noise.

He walked to the locker room where a 29-year-old clinician was inside. When she came out, Chism placed both of his hands around her neck and began to choke her. He then pushing her back against the cinder block wall in the bathroom.

Officials said the woman was unable to scream because Chisms hands tightly gripped her throat.

She eventually managed to get his right hand away from her neck but Chism repeatedly punched her in the face, head and jaw. She screamed as other staffers rushed to help her and restrain him, officials said.

The 29-year-old was able to escape as she gasped for air. She had injuries to her neck, face, jaw and back. Chism began to repeatedly yell, Im gonna kill them all.

Judge Helen Brown-Bryant sentenced Chism to 17 to 20 years in state prison to run concurrent with his Essex County sentence.

Even ten years later its easy to understand the terror and lasting impacts of this vicious attack, as made clear by this victim in her profoundly moving statement. But despite the physical and emotional injuries inflicted upon her that day, and their lingering consequences, this brave woman made clear that Philip Chisms actions will not define her life or, in her own words, be my story. In that she has our lasting respect and eternal support, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.
A Boston man who attempted to pay $4,000 to hire a man to kill his ex-wife and her boyfriend was sentenced to prison Thursday.

Mohammed Chowdhury, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 7 years and 8 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2024, Chowdhury pleaded guilty to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

In November 2022, authorities received a tip that Chowdhury was searching for assistance to have his ex-wife murdered, acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office said. This person said Chowdhury paid someone to conduct the murder-for-hire but they took the money and did not follow through with Chodhurys request.

Chowdhury then told this person that he wanted the hit done as soon as possible and then the individual would get his money if he conducted the hit, even if Chowdhury had to rob a bank if necessary to get the money, Levys office said.

A Boston man who attempted to pay $4,000 to hire a man to kill his ex-wife and her boyfriend was sentenced to prison Thursday.Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office

The man then gave Chowdhurys phone number to law enforcement, who then had an undercover agent pose as a hitman and communicate with Chowdhury about his plot, Levys office said.

On several occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, Chowdhury met with undercover agents posing as hitmen to have them help with killing his ex-wife and her new boyfriend, who she left Chowdhury for, Levys office said. Chowdhury told them to rob and beat his wife and her boyfriend so that he would not be a suspect.

So how we gonna disappear his, uh, body? Chowdhury asked them according to Levy. No evidence. No evidence. No evidence from like, you know, that, uh, I did something, you know?

He then gave the officers photos of his wife and the boyfriend, their addresses, their workplace addresses and work schedules, Levys office said. Chowdhury agreed to pay $4,000 for each of their deaths, with a deposit of $500.

Once Chowdhury met with an undercover officer on Jan. 17, 2023, and he made a $500 deposit confirming that he wanted the hit to be made, he was taken into federal custody. One month later, he was indicted by a federal grand jury and has been in federal custody since.

Mr. Chowdhury literally thought he could get away with murder, said Levy. Mr. Chowdhurys disturbing conduct  in combination with the misogyny and dehumanization he expressed in trying to carry out this plot  speak volumes about how dangerous he is. This case represents the most extreme form of domestic violence and we will use all tools at our disposal to protect women in abusive relationships.
It might be perfectly legal for adult Bay State residents to purchase recreational cannabis from their favorite local purveyor, but weed is still on the federal governments priority list of controlled substances, creating legal and jurisdictional headaches.

Thats led a coalition of Democratic lawmakers from nearly two-dozen states, led by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, to call on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to drop cannabis from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act, which includes the most dangerous drugs, such as heroin, and drop it to Schedule III, which includes such substances as ketamine and anabolic steroids.

The longer marijuana remains scheduled in the [Controlled Substances Act], the longer our communities face senselessly severe penalties and the longer the marijuana laws of the majority of U.S. states remain in conflict with federal law, the lawmakers wrote in a Thursday letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Democratic U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer, of Oregon, and Barbara Lee, of California, also led the letter. As Pennsylvanias lieutenant governor, Fetterman was a leading voice for cannabis legalization in the Keystone State.

The lawmakers call comes eight months after the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services recommended changing marijuanas designation under federal law, and 18 months after President Joe Biden gave the green-light to HHS and the Justice Department to begin reviewing how the government treats the drug.

It is time for the Drug Enforcement Agency to act, the lawmakers wrote.

Warren and her colleagues agued that even though cannabis is is associated with fewer adverse outcomes than alcohol, it still remains on the governments most restricted list of controlled substances.

That, in turn, leads to severe penalties for marijuana users and businesses, including for criminal records, immigration statuses, employment, taxation, health care, public housing, social services, and more, they argued.

The call comes as more states and jurisdictions, along with the federal government, have moved to decriminalize possession of marijuana, in states where the drug remains illegal. In all, 24 states, two territories and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for adult recreational use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures

At the federal level, the number of people sentenced for simple possession of marijuana plummeted from 2,172 in 2014 to just 145 in 2021, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data.

Right now, the [a]dministration has the opportunity to resolve more than 50 years of failed, racially discriminatory marijuana policy, the lawmakers wrote.

Warren and her colleagues were joined on the letter by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats, as well as Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla, of California; John Hickenlooper, of Colorado; Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland; Cory Booker, of New Jersey; Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, of Oregon; Peter Welch, of Vermont, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, of California and Robert Garcia, of California; Jan Schakowsky, of Illinois; James. P. McGovern, of Massachusetts; Dina Titus, of Nevada; Val Hoyle, of Oregon; Becca Balint, of Vermont, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, of the District of Columbia, also signed the letter.
A New Hamsphire man was sentenced to probation following his guilty plea in connection with planting a fake bomb on Harvard Universitys campus in 2023.

William A. Giordani, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a federal felony and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to three years of probation, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of Massachusetts.

Giordani had left a large tool bag in the center of Harvards Science Center Plaza, where students were gathered on April 13, 2023. Inside the bag, there was a locked safe containing fireworks and electrical wires, authorities said.

Read more: New Hampshire man pleads guilty in Harvard University bomb extortion case

Federal officials accused William A. Giordani of attempting to extort money from Harvard with bomb threats. Authorities detonated a bag full of wires, fireworks and a lockbox in the middle of Harvard's Science Center Plaza. Federal investigators accused Giordani of placing the bag in the school's plaza. (4/13/23, FBI)Federal Bureau of Investigation

A caller than used a voice changing app to conceal their identity and tell the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) that there had been three bombs placed on Harvards campus.

The caller demanded an unspecified amount in Bitcoin to prevent the remote detonation of the bombs. In several ensuing calls, the caller told HUPD that he was serious about his demands and that they could find the first bomb in the Science Center Plaza, officials said.

Harvard police put out an emergency evacuation order for the area and nearby buildings. The Cambridge Police Departments bomb squad arrived and disabled the device. No other devices were found on campus that day, authorities said.

In the following days, an investigation revealed that Giordani was recruited for the extortion plot through a Craigslist post. Prosecutors said in court that Giordani was offered $300 by someone claiming to be a Harvard students father who needed him to deliver materials needed for a science project, according to Reuters.

Once Giordani knew he had been recruited to assist in an extortion bomb scheme, he had an obligation under federal law to report that scheme to law enforcement authorities, a statement from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. Instead, he deleted incriminating text messages, told his girlfriend not to speak to anyone about it and went on the run from police.

As part of a plea agreement, authorities dropped two counts against Giordani, Reuters reported. No one else has been charged in connection with the bomb hoax.

Luis Fieldman contributed to this reporting.
Rather than participating in National Day of Prayer, the Satanic Temple of Illinois is encouraging local and national members to take action.

The action  donate blood.

Please encourage your friends, family, and anyone else who would like to participate, the website states. Even if it is after May 2nd feel free to continue to use the hashtag.

Once people have given blood, the Satanic Temple encourages people to post about it on social media with the hashtag #NationalDayofAction.

Read more: Satanic Temple thanks Salem community for support after bombing incident

The first Thursday of May is known as National Day of Prayer, inviting people to pray. A joint resolution of the United States Congress created the national day in 1952, and it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation as it enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call for us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning, the website reads.

President Joe Biden and other top U.S. leaders gave remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in February.

The Satanic Temple, which opened its first official headquarters in Salem in 2016, advocates for the separation of church and state and is known for attempting to get its one-ton goat-headed idol statue put next to the 10 Commandments monument on public grounds. Its members dont view Satan as an evil figure, but as one who dared question authority.

Read more: Oklahoma man arrested by FBI for allegedly throwing pipe bomb at Satanic Temple

The Illinois chapter suggested people donate blood at five locations that form an Inverted Pentagram over the state of Illinois. But said that if you cant donate at one of those centers, donate wherever you can.

Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer, the website stated, quoting Madalyn Murray OHair, founder of American Atheists.
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a former Marine whos emerged a formidable foreign policy voice on Capitol Hill, will seek a sixth term representing the North Shore-based 6th Congressional District.

In a statement, Moultons campaign said it had submitted 3,400 signatures to the Secretary of States Office to run again for the seat, which spans most of Essex County and part of Middlesex County.

In an interview with his hometown Gloucester Times, Moulton, 45, said that if hes re-elected to another two-year term, hell focus on protecting reproductive rights; improving public transportation; and tackling the national security threats posed by Russia and China.

We need a national China strategy, Moulton, who serves on a special House subcommittee on China, told the newspaper. We need to better manage competition, but most of all to succeed in deterrence. Its critical that we succeed on deterrence.

He also stressed the challenge the state and nation face on immigration reform. On Thursday, state lawmakers on Beacon Hill passed a $461 million compromise funding plan for Massachusetts emergency shelter system, which has taken in thousands of migrant new arrivals.

We need bipartisan immigration reform. Everyone knows the border is a mess, Moulton told the newspaper. We need to do a lot more to discourage illegal immigration while encouraging people to come in through the proper pathways.

Moulton also pointed to his work with U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., on legislation known as the G.I. Bill Restoration Act, which aims to provide long-denied benefits to Black World War II veterans.

The legislation has the backing of state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell, who recently led a coalition of state attorneys general in support of it.

Moulton comes into the 2024 cycle with $944,000 on-hand, as of the end of March, according to Federal Election Commission data.

In its statement, Moultons campaign said it had raised more than $1.5 million the first quarter of the year, including $1 million for other candidates, as Democrats seek to hold the White House, retake the U.S. House, and pad their majority in the U.S. Senate.

Included in that effort is a push to get more veterans and candidates with service backgrounds elected to Congress.

Thats coordinated through Moultons organization, Serve America, which raised more than $670,000 for its victory fund during a launch event in Boston in February, the campaign said.
On Thursday at 11:08 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a freeze warning valid from 11 p.m. until Friday 5 a.m. for Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

The weather service comments, "Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 degrees expected."

"Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation," says the weather service. "Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold."

Freeze watch or warning - this is what it means

Freeze warnings are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary), when low temperatures are expected to be 29-32 degrees. If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.

According to the weather service, if a freeze warning or watch is issued for your area, there is little you can do to protect plants. If you can move your sensitive plants inside, do so because the freeze will likely kill them, depending on the severity of conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
AMHERST  Amid much pomp, circumstance and the occasional jeer of unrelated protests, Javier Reyes was formally inaugurated as the 31st chancellor of the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts in a lavish ceremony at the schools Mullins Center.

During the two-and-a-half-hour ceremony, liberally dusted with elected officials such as U.S. Rep. James McGovern and state Sens. Jacob Oliveira, Adam Gomez and Jo Comerford, proceedings were frequently punctuated by demonstrators associated with various causes.
GREENFIELD  The victim of a grisly homicide, found in a city apartment Monday, has been identified.

Christopher Hairston, 35, was found dead in the Chapman Street apartment of Taaniel Herberger-Brown on Monday, the Northwestern District Attorneys Office announced Friday. Hairstons last known address was in Pittsfield, the DAs office said.

Early Tuesday morning, the suspect, Herberger-Brown, 42, was arrested at Albany International Airport in New York, where he said he was catching a flight to visit his mother and to various foreign destinations. The Albany County Sheriffs Office detained him.
SPRINGFIELD  When Megan Moynihans mobile phone began ringing one evening earlier this month, it was an emergency call for backpacks filled with personal care items. They were for a refugee mother and her three children in limbo at Union Station. The backpack drop-off was the next morning.

The family left New York City with a one-way ticket to Springfield, but had nowhere to stay when they arrived. Moynihan, United Way of Pioneer Valleys new CEO, could have delegated the task to someone else, but she filled and delivered the backpacks herself. Volunteers from another agency found housing for the family.
SPRINGFIELD  Zee Raiz currently owns a now-closed strip club and a building heavily damaged by a tornado that he would like to turn into apartments and help to ease the statewide housing crunch, but nothing is happening quickly.

He has tried to modify some of his existing buildings that have three and four-bedroom units to smaller and more-affordable apartments, which are in high demand. In one case though, it has taken him four years to get approvals to make the changes.

There are zoning barriers, parking regulations and (permitting) fees are very high, Raiz said.
SPRINGFIELD  Frustrated a discussion about the superintendent search was not included on the agenda, four School Committee members walked out of the meeting, leaving the group without a quorum before they could take a crucial vote.

This is the second time the four members, Vice Chairman Joesiah Gonzalez, Barbara Gresham, LaTonia Monroe Naylor and Denise Hurst have left the School Committee without a quorum over the increasingly contentious search for a new head of the about 23,700-student district.

But when the four walked out and the remaining three, Chairman Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Christopher Collins and Peter Murphy, were ready to adjourn, Central High School Principal Thaddeus Tokarz stepped forward and urged them to do something so his students could leave on Friday to attend a competition in New Jersey.
SPRINGFIELD  The tide has turned for two tenants of a condemned home in the citys Pine Point neighborhood after the new owners and city officials last month encountered the house smeared with pet excrement, housing dozens of malnourished dogs and clouds of flies throughout.

A Western Housing Court judge reversed a previous decision that required new co-owners Rebecca Hayward and Michael Brown to put the two tenants up in a motel for the last two weeks after the city condemned the entire property for unsanitary living conditions. The overall label, while effective, was not as illuminating as the scene inside.
SOUTHWICK  Public Works Director Randy Brown got the go-ahead from the Select Board Monday night to move two of the departments employees that work at Town Hall into the departments headquarters at 661 College Highway.

[Theres] going to be a learning curve, but in the long run, its a benefit for everybody, Brown said after the board gave him the green light on his request.
Le Parlement mauricien sera le siege des travaux de bureau executif et la session pleniere de llAssociation des Parlements des Etats membres de la Commission de lOcean Indien du 2 au 3 mai 2024.

Cabinet has taken note that the National Assembly would host the bureau executif and the plenary meeting of lAssociation des Parlements des Etats membres de la Commission de lOcean Indien on 02 and 03 May 2024 in Mauritius. The objectives of the meetings would be to validate the activities planned for the year 2024 and provide a platform to reflect on ways and means to enhance and sustain the association. Around 27 participants comprising Speakers, Members of Parliament, officials, the Secretary General and officers of the Indian Ocean Commission would attend the reunion du bureau executif and the plenary meeting.
In a significant step forward for malaria prevention in Africa, three countriesBenin, Liberia and Sierra Leonetoday launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. The vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.

Todays launch brings to eight the number of countries on the continent to offer the malaria vaccine as part of the childhood immunization programmes, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention. Several of the more than 30 countries in the African region that have expressed interest in the vaccine are scheduled to roll it out in the next year through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as efforts continue to widen its deployment in the region in coordination with other prevention measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.

Benin, which received 215 900 doses, has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunization. The malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of 4 doses in children from around 5 months of age.

The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge. I would like to reassure that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of our children against this serious and fatal diseases, said Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin.

In Liberia, the vaccine was launched in the southern Rivercess County and will be rolled out afterwards in five other counties which have high malaria burden. At least 45 000 children are expected to benefit from the 112 000 doses of the available vaccine.

 For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers and our partners, including GAVI, UNICEF and WHO, we break the chain. We have a powerful tool that will protect them from this devastating illness and related deaths, ensuring their right to health and a brighter future. Lets end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society,  said Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberias Minister of Health.

Two safe and effective vaccines  RTS,S and R21  recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control. A pilot malaria vaccine programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi reached over 2 million children from 2019 to 2023, showing a significant reduction in malaria illness and a 13% drop in overall child mortality and substantial reductions in hospitalizations.

In Sierra Leone, the first doses were administered to children at a health centre in Western Area Rural where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550 000 vaccine doses. The vaccine will then be delivered in health facilities nationwide.

With the new, safe and efficacious malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to fight this disease. In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection, said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone.

Malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria. The region accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022, according to the World Malaria Report 2023.

The African region is advancing in the rollout of the malaria vaccine  a game-changer in our fight against this deadly disease, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Working with our member states and partners, were supporting the ongoing efforts to save the lives of young children and lower the malaria burden in the region.

Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted: Today we celebrate more children gaining access to a new lifesaving tool to fight one of Africas deadliest diseases. This introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programmes in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems.

Progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors including climate change, humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.

To put malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends robust commitment to malaria responses at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries; greater domestic and international funding; science and data-driven malaria responses; urgent action on the health impacts of climate change; harnessing research and innovation; as well as strong partnerships for coordinated responses. WHO is also calling attention to addressing delays in malaria programme implementation.
Ross appears on Brownes Map, 1584, as part of Mayo, but this was disputed by Co Galway and it was dealt with as part of the latter county in the Composition Book of Connacht, 1585. About a third of the barony was transferred back to Mayo under the Local Government Act of 1898. It is in Duiche Sheoigheach, Joyce Country, from a family settled there since the late 13th century. The Joyces, said to be descended from the grandson of a Welsh king, were one of the original tribes of Galway.  Nollaig O Muraile, 1985



It is fortunate that this part of Ross (An Ros, Wooded Headland) lies in Mayo because it is one of the many scenic parts of the county that merits slow exploration. I visited there late last month and very much enjoyed looking into the placenames of this beautiful area.

Ross is also the name of the civil parish and is synonymous with the Catholic parish of Kilbride, straddling the Mayo-Galway border. An area of worldwide significance to geologists, the Joyce Country is currently under consideration for UNESCO Global Geopark status.

Approaching from the north, along the western shore of Lough Mask (Loch Measca, (?) Meascas Lake), on the R300 from Toormakeady (Tuar Mhic Eadaigh, Mac Eadaighs Pasture), one of the first townlands encountered is Maamtrasna (Maumtrasna, Mam Trasna, Mountain-Pass Crossing).

The name Maumtrasna originally referred to a significant pass, on a pilgrimage path to Croagh Patrick. This was when routes over mountains were more important than the mountains themselves.

Today, the mountain plateau is called Maumtrasna and the highest point is 682m. Pilgrims from Joyce Country traversed the Owenbrin river valley to Barrnahowna, to the narrowest point at Beal Og na Chroise (Little Gap of the Crossing). They then descended to Lough Glenawough and proceeded cross-country to the Reek.

Cummer

The neighbouring townland is Cummer (An Cumar, The Confluence or Ravine Containing a Stream). Either translation is appropriate as lots of tiny streams flow into the Finny River here.

Cummer is on the border of Co Galway, and on the eastern bank of Loch na Fuaiche (Fuatha) (Lough Nafooey, Lake of the Spectres or Phantoms). It is located on the western side of a hill which is approximately 180 meters high, and which slopes downwards towards the Finny River, running along the south-west border. Many streams fall from north-east with the slope of the hill in the direction of this river, and it is possible that the cumar may actually refer to the boundary of the townland delineated by the river, connecting Loch Na Fuaiche to Loch Measca.

There are many examples of confluences and the name is common enough throughout Ireland, for example, Comber, Co Down, at the northwestern tip of Strangford Lough. There are two other townlands in Mayo with the same name in Costello and Carra and there is also a civil parish called Cummer, to the south of Tuam, stretching on both sides of the M17 motorway.

Knockaunnabausty (Cnocan na bPaisti, Little Hill of the Children), is shown as situated close to the northern boundary of Cummer, and in the south of Maumtrasna, on the first edition of the six-inch map. It is shown as a cillin on current maps.

This example, one of many so-called childrens burial grounds all over Mayo, was restored and consecrated on Easter Sunday 1996 by Fr Liam Durkin (RIP) and Fr Kieran Burke. Two local shareholders of the commonage on which the burial ground is located, Jack Joyce, Maamtrasna, and William Duffy, Finny, made a wicker gate at the entrance and placed an inscribed stone outside. A short pathway was constructed from the road to the graveyard and a Celtic cross was erected inside.

The name Finny (sometimes Finney), derives from Fionnaithe, meaning White Lands. In this instance, white has a similar meaning to the white land of Thallabawn, ie a place of poor vegetation with white as opposed to green grass.

Kilbride

Finally, the townland of Kilbride is in the eastern end of a peninsula that juts out into Loch Measca from Finny. On the 19th century maps, the walls of Kilbride Church are shown situated in the centre, and Tobermurry and St Brigets Well (Cro Bride) are located east of it, in a wooded area.

A hill, 173m, in the north-west of the townland is called Knocknamuck, Cnoc na Muc, Pig Hill, while close by, another hill, 133m high, is called Cnoc an tSionnaigh (Fox Hill).

The view from the old graveyard, looking out over Lough Mask, even in late March evening sunlight, was serenity itself.

Dr John OCallaghan is a mountain walk leader who has organised and led expeditions both at home and abroad. He has served on the board of Mountaineering Ireland and is currently on the Irish Uplands Forum board.
European Election candidate, Senator Lisa Chambers, called for Enhanced Support for Mayo Businesses at a recent business breakfast at Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar.

The Fianna Fail candidate for the Midlands-Northwest facilitated the important event, which was attended by Minister for Finance Michael McGrath.

The aim of the event was to provide a platform for Mayo businesses to discuss the economic headwinds they are currently navigating.

Amid conversations, local businesses highlighted the increasing cost of doing business, citing concerns over rising insurance premiums, the VAT rate for food establishments in particular, and the impact of the higher minimum wage.

"Businesses are wholeheartedly behind the principle of better wages, but we cannot ignore the cumulative impact of these increased costs," said Senator Chambers.

The auto-enrolment pension scheme was also highlighted by business representatives.

The scheme aims to address the low coverage of private pensions by automatically enrolling employees, aged between 23 and 60 and earning over 20,000, into a pension plan, which will be matched by employer contributions with additional top-ups from the state.

This scheme is particularly noteworthy as it presents yet another financial consideration for businesses at this juncture.

During the discussion, representatives expressed gratitude for government support during the pandemic but emphasised the need for further investment in the region to foster recovery and growth.

Senator Chambers supported this call, pledging to prioritise regional development. Businesses also discussed Budget 2025 with Minister McGrath and what they saw as key elements that should be included. The Minister did indicate the views of businesses and the cost of doing business will be considered in the upcoming Budget.

Minister McGrath said the Government is aware that there are also future costs coming down the line for businesses, on top of what they are already dealing with, and a suite of measures will be included in Budget 2025 to help with the increased cost of doing business.

Senator Chambers commented: "Recognising that SMEs account for a significant portion of employment, it is crucial that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.

"I am determined to ensure that Mayo's economic landscape is bolstered by policies directed by need and necessary investments, she concluded.
Achill-based former Green Party election candidate Saoirse McHugh has announced that she will run in the European election as an Independent candidate.

The native of Dooagh on Achill Island will contest the European Parliament elections in the Midlands-Northwest constituency.

The former Green Party member told the Sunday Independent that she will be making a return to politics with the rise of the far right one of the main reasons for deciding to run.

The rise of the far right is the biggest change in politics in the last five years. We have people setting fire to buildings to stop people living in them. And there are a lot of people out there who are giving a lot of cover to this and I think its really dangerous.

But one thing I have learned since first entering politics is that social media is not reality. If you get out and knock on doors, the vast majority of people are sound, they want to get on with their neighbours and community, she said.

McHugh was once a shining light in the Green Party and came to prominence during the 2019 European Elections when she narrowly lost out on a seat for the European Parliament. She ran in the 2020 General Election in Mayo where she won 6 percent of the total vote and was eliminated on the fifth count.

However,later that summer she left the Green Party due to a disagreement over the decision by the party to go into a coalition government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and at the time described the party as toxic.

She will enter a crowded field in a bid to win one of the five seats on offer in the Midlands-Northwest constituency which comprises of the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

The current sitting MEPs are Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, Maria Walsh and Colm Markey of Fine Gael and Sinn Fein's Chris McManus.

Fianna Fail are running three candidates with Mayo-based Senator Lisa Chambers joining Brian Cowen TD and Senator Niall Blaney on the ticket while former jockey Nina Carberry will join Maria Walsh on the Fine Gael ticket after Markey opted not to seek reelection. Current Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP, Michelle Gildernew from Co Tyrone will join Chris McManus on the Sinn Fein ticket while former RTE midlands correspondent Ciaran Mullooly will run the Independent Ireland party and Galway Senator Pauline O'Reilly will run for the Green Party.
Some of us, like veteran journalist and author Peter Murtagh, hanker for the road. His new book, From Tip to Top, published last week by Gill Books, tells the story of his journey of a lifetime: riding a motorbike from Tierra del Fuego in Chile, at the very southern tip of South America, to the most northerly point in Alaska, alone and without the pressure of any deadline. It was just him, a tent, a sleeping bag and a BMW R1200 GS Adventure motorbike embarking a 45,000 kilometre route that would take 214 days in total.

In 2019, having retired from his 40 year career as a journalist, Murtagh was determined that retirement was not an end but a beginning, a chance to live life to its fullest. And boy did he do that! He did have a false start however. He shipped his bike to Chile in February 2020 and arrived to start his journey just as the country was locking down for Covid 19. Fortunately, he got the last flight out, returning home and leaving his bike in the care of some kind people.

This kind of kindness was something that buoyed him throughout his journey. Isnt this one of the reasons we often hanker after that road less travelled? The rawness and beauty of someone who is willing to help us with nothing given in return, to help someone they will most likely never see again, is a wake-up call to all that is amazing in this world.

Inspiring tale

Murtagh set out finally on November 10, 2022, leaving Dublin for Punta Arenas in Chile to pick up where he had left off. I cant imagine how he felt when he finally got on the bike and set out on such a journey; on his own, no deadline, just a vast continent ahead of him. Neil and myself did some travelling way back, and it reminds me of the feeling we had on our first day in Kathmandu, waking up to the beautiful sound of prayer bells  the rest of our lives on pause and just the day ahead to worry about.

Murtagh travelled slightly south to start his journey at Puerto Williams and travelled through Chile, traversing into Argentina, then on to Bolivia, across to Peru and up through Equador  with a trip to the Galpagos Islands  and back to Columbia and on through Central America.

One of the most memorable of his experiences is meeting migrants in the Darian Gap who were travelling from South America to Central America to get to the US. They were waiting to cross the jungle in their thousands between Columbia and Panama, with no roads and paying trekkers to take them through. Some of these migrants had travelled from China and were using this route to get to the US.

He then travelled along the east coast of Mexico after navigating many forms of officialdom at borders, he rode, via Santiago Matatlan, the Chiapas and Monterray, into Texas and Arizona, then up through California, Oregon and Washington. He even came across a Westport in California, a much smaller version. He also visited a gun fair  an eye opener in relation to the Gun Culture in the US.

Murtagh then crossed into British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and finally into Alaska, ending up at Deadhorse.

As readers, we travel with him, seeing the landscapes and the people through his eyes. We see the detail that caught his attention and the exchanges in which he was involved. We see beauty and reality as he experienced them. We also feel some of the solitude and get to know a little of the man that makes Peter Murtagh. His book is an certainly inspiration to anyone who has a little bit of a hanker for the open road.

Reading and signing

We are delighted to be hosting an evening at Tertulia bookshop with Peter Murtagh and Gill Books this Saturday, April 27, at 7pm. The evening will include a reading, signing and refreshments, and all are welcome.



Brid Conroy and her husband, Neil Paul, run Tertulia  A Bookshop Like No Other, located at The Quay, Westport.
An extraordinary series of events unfolded for a family spread across Cork and Mayo, in 2023, culminating in three kidney transplants in the space of six months.

Claremorris resident Michael Cott donated his kidney to his brother Joe Cott in 2023 after being declared 'a perfect match'.

A hereditary condition called polycystic kidney disease (PKD) was present in their family.

The brothers grandmother passed away at just 46 years old from the disease, which was inherited by their father, Joseph Cott, who, unfortunately, passed away in 2023 following a short illness.

Having received a kidney transplant over three decades earlier, their father was able to live a full and healthy life, something his family found solace in.

Before his passing, Mr Cott had received the good news that his son Joe would soon receive a donor kidney from his other son, Michael.

Joe Cott, a farmer living in Cork, had only been on dialysis for a few weeks before his younger brother Michael Cott, an engineer living in Claremorris, was happy to step up to donate a kidney.

In April 2023 the two brothers underwent their living donor kidney transplant operations at Beaumont Hospital, a poignant outcome that brought comfort to all their families amidst their bereavement.

Mr Cott acknowledged his very luck for not having to go on the transplant waiting list, and that his younger brother stepped up, and it turned out he was the perfect match.

As the brothers underwent the life changing procedure, their aunt Margaret Fitzgerald and her son Michael navigated the complexities of their own kidney failure.

However, soon after, fate intervened in unexpected ways.

In late September, Mr Fitzgerald, received an unexpected call to travel to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for a kidney transplant.

Ms Fitzgerald described how overjoyed she was to witness her son's transformation and new lease of life made possible by the family of a deceased donor.

Mr Fitzgerald, said he couldnt put into words the extent of his gratitude to the family of his deceased donor for transforming his life and freeing [him] up from sickness, and restrictions, and being tied to dialysis, which he had twice a week for 21 months at Cork University Hospital.

But there were more surprises in store for the family, as just under seven weeks later, Ms Fitzgerald herself received the call for a transplant, a twist of fate that left her reeling with disbelief and gratitude.

Joe Cott with his aunt Margaret Fitzgerald, and cousin Michael Fitzgerald (Pic:John Allen)

My kidney function had reduced to below ten percent, and I was just about to commence dialysis treatment when I got called for my transplant. Although I had not been well and felt exhausted for a very long time, I had no idea just how much difference a transplant would make, said Ms Fitzgerald.

Calling the transplant life-changing, Ms Fitzgerald said her energy immediately soared.

She added: It still amazes me how simple things in life are so much easier now, like having boundless energy to spend a day shopping or spending time with my grandchildren. I could not believe it when I got called and when I woke up after my transplant operation it almost felt magical like poof a total transformation.

With each successful transplant, the family's spirits soared, uplifted by the generosity of their donors and the promise of a brighter, healthier future.

Speaking about the family's three-in-a-row transplants, Ms Fitzgerald commented on the longevity of her brothers transplant, which lasted over three decades, as well as the incredible quick succession of transplants their family received.

Having two successful transplants for my nephew and son close together was so unexpected, but I was in total disbelief when I also got called for a transplant just seven weeks after my sons. I had resigned myself to having to wait for a few years and was just happy that my son and nephews transplants were a success, she concluded,

The Fitzgeralds and Cott expressed their gratitude for the support they received from the Irish Kidney Association throughout their health journeys.

They are staunch advocates for organ donor awareness and are sharing their uplifting story to support Organ Donor Awareness Week 2024.

Organised by the Irish Kidney Association in association with Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, Organ Donor Awareness Week takes place from April 20-27.

The key campaign message continues to be built around sharing your wishes and have conversations with your loved ones about organ donation.

By requesting an organ donor card you are letting the over 600 people, and their families, who are currently waiting for the call that there are people out there who are thinking of them.

With approximately only 1 percent of deaths occurring in the circumstances of potential organ donation, the Irish Kidney Association said opportunities cannot be missed because a persons wishes are unknown.

You can request Organ Donor Cards via the Irish Kidney Association website, or you can download a Digital Organ Donor Card from the App Store and the Google Play Store.
by Colin Kirkland , April 25, 2024

Meta has announced updates to its line of Ray-Ban smart glasses, which take videos, photos, livestream and more.

Now, the tech giant is rolling out multimodal AI, a feature Meta has been officially testing since December.

In short, Multimodal AI allows users glasses to see what youre seeing, providing users with the ability to ask questions about what theyre seeing, while receiving an automated response in real time. With five microphones and a camera built into the glasses, users can ask to identify a plant or bird song, a specific landmark, or a recipe based on an assortment of ingredients the user is staring at.

This AI feature will also be able to tackle real-time translations:

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Say youre traveling and trying to read a menu in French, Meta explains. Your smart glasses can use their built-in camera and Meta AI to translate the text for you, giving you the info you need without having to pull out your phone or stare at a screen.

As the feature rolls out gradually, users in the US and Canada will be able to conduct video calls via WhatsApp and Messenger directly on their Ray-Bans, hands-free.

In addition to multimodal AI, Meta has also announced new frame designs for the line, including cat-eye and low-bridge options, as well as a limited edition collectible pair with a Scuderia Ferrari colorway connected to Miami 2024.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 25, 2024

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted along party lines to reinstate net neutrality rules that prohibit carriers from blocking or throttling traffic and from charging higher fees for prioritized delivery.

The FCC's order, titled Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet, also reclassifies broadband as a utility service -- a move that paves the way for the FCC to issue sweeping new privacy rules.

The agency hasn't yet set out specific proposed privacy rules, but FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has already indicated she wants to see the agency ban carriers from selling data that would reveal customers' locations. She also previously voted to approve regulations that would have required internet service providers to obtain subscribers' permission before harnessing data about their web activity and app usage for ad targeting. (Those rules were later repealed by Congress.)

The FCC previously passed net neutrality rules during the Obama administration, but repealed them during the Trump era.

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Supporters of net neutrality, including longtime proponent Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), hailed Thursday's vote.

Net neutrality ensures that anyone can use the internet without being blocked or obstructed by gatekeepers, Markey said in a joint statement with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon).

Net neutrality protects dreamers in garages, small businesses, and budding entrepreneurs from being shoved into online slow lanes, they added.

Craig Aaron, co-CEO of advocacy group Free Press, likewise cheered the FCC's move.

Big cable and phone companies wont be able to pick and choose what any of us can say or see online, he stated. Net neutrality is a guarantee that these companies will carry our data across the internet without undue interference or unreasonable discrimination.

Not surprisingly, cable and telecom lobbies criticized the vote.

This is a nonissue for broadband consumers, who have enjoyed an open internet for decades. Rather than pushing this harmful regulatory land grab, policymakers should keep their eyes on the real-world prize of building opportunity for everyone in a hyperconnected world, Jonathan Spalter, USTelecom president and CEO stated Thursday.

Michael Powell, president and CEO of the cable group NCTA--The Internet & Television Association, stated that the FCC's new rules will risk a net fatality.

He also made clear that the group will mount a legal challenge to the rules.

"The good news is that the FCCs action will be overturned in court, he stated. Congress has always been the appropriate forum to resolve these issues.

The NCTA and other groups previously sued to invalidate the Obama-era net neutrality rules. In 2016, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided against the broadband carrier groups and upheld the former regulations.

The libertarian think tank Tech Freedom, which also opposes the FCC's move, argues that only Congress has the authority to declare broadband service a utility.

TechFreedom president Berin Szoka pointed to the FCC's history of passing net neutrality rules only to repeal them later. Without action by Congress, the regulatory ping-pong will go on forever, he stated.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 25, 2024

Alphabet and Microsoft reported earnings on Thursday. Both had a better-than-expected Q1 2024.

Alphabet reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the "results in the first quarter reflect strong performance from Search, YouTube and Cloud."

Revenue from Google Search & Other areas reached $46.2 billion -- above consensus expectations of $45 billion, accelerating to more than 14.4% year-over-year versus more than 12.7% in Q4, wrote Baird Equity Research Analyst Colin Sebastian in a research note published today.

The push into generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has forced Google to follow consumer online behavior more closely, to avoid falling behind Microsoft.

Prabhakar Raghavan, senior vice president of Google Search, told employees last month there is a need to rapidly invest in AI. And that need has changed the market, meaning the company must move faster.

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Google added several GAI features to search in the quarter -- highlighted by the launch of Circle to Search, which uses highlighted words or images from a screenshot and transcribes them into a Google search.

Alphabets Google, which has developed a fair amount of the underlying technology being used in AI today, announced its first-ever dividend of 20 cents per share, despite spending billions of dollars on data centers to catch up with rivals like Microsoft.

Both companies have integrated GAI into products ranging from web search to the suite of enterprise software.

Microsoft said its revenue for the quarter ending in March reached $61.9 billion from $52.9 billion -- a much better result than analysts expected.

Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new era of AI transformation, driving better business outcomes across every role and industry," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement.

During the quarter, the company introduced Surface PCs with a key for quickly accessing the Copilot chatbot. The company began selling access to the Copilot for small businesses with Microsoft 365 productivity software subscriptions.

The company also hired Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of artificial intelligence lab DeepMind, to run a new Microsoft AI group.



Alphabet and Microsoft share a common goal to promote the view that generative AI is both economically viable and safe, Gartner Vice President and Distinguished Analyst Andrew Frank told Media Daily News in an email.

As we move past the technologys peak of inflated expectations, I believe its essential that they prioritize addressing market-wide risks, both social and environmental, rather than taking a traditional competitive posture.

Frank hopes the companies will move toward more concrete assurances that they are addressing the necessities of self-regulation alongside commercial goals.

Microsoft has been signing a series of high-profile AI deals. Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that Coca-Cola had signed a five-year, $1.1 billion contract with Azure for AI and cloud computing services.

Coca-Cola also will test and roll out Copilot under Microsoft 365 to improve workplace productivity. The brand has been innovating with Microsoft GAI for nearly a year.

During the past week, Microsoft introduced of a small AI model for mobile devices, which suggests the company has a better chance of competing with Google for advertising dollars in the mobile market.
by Maarten Albarda , Featured Contributor, April 26, 2024

From my late teens through my late twenties, I was a part-time radio DJ. It was a hobby and I never wanted it to be my profession. But I enjoyed it very much.

When I started DJ-ing, it was at a pirate radio station -- an illegal radio station that broadcast from a secret location and did not pay any dues or taxes or salary. It was purely a hobby effort from a group of like-minded friends and enthusiasts. It became very successful, and eventually the law caught up with it. Some of my friends from back then developed professional careers as radio presenters, with a few even in TV. Some continued to be a part-time DJ, as a hobby on the side of their actual career. And many more, like me, just didnt.

Why am I telling you this? Because when you talk to older or former DJs today, they will lament that in the olden days, everything was better. Better music. Better DJs. Better radio stations. More fun. Less rules. But when I think back objectively, was it really better? I feel you cant really compare an era that has gone by with todays world.

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Technology has changed everything. Public morale has evolved. The world order is different today than it was 20 or 40 years ago. And that matters. Was there great music 20, 40 or 60 years ago? Of course. Was it fun to make radio back then? Absolutely! But was it objectively better? I dont know.

If I think about our industry, I have the same ambivalence. In the past, the media, creative, client and cultural environment were obviously dramatically different from today. Some things were terrible, like the role of women and minorities in campaigns and in the marketing industry as a whole. Other things were perhaps better, like a less complex and more transparent media environment, and the desire for creative excellence.

Sure, there are still many creatives striving for, and often reaching, creative excellence. But we should also acknowledge that with the advent of always on campaigns in a digital AI world, a lot of content is just merely there in the pursuit of clicks, likes and transactions.

I am sharing this, because Brian Jacobs (former executive vice president at Millward Brown and various agencies before that) and Nick Manning (founder of Manning Gottlieb/OMD and former CSO of Ebiquity), both of whom I admire very much, have launched an initiative to address some of the issues they see with the industry today. As Brian put it on his website: The craft of advertising faces a crisis. And without the craft the business per se is in trouble, adrift in a sea of creative and media sameness without verifiable, solid data to cling on to.

They have invited anyone active in the industry to join them in a yet-to-be-formalized event that hopes to create an open platform to address some of the issues they see, such as low levels of viewability and attention, ad fraud, MFA sites, unverified (and often unbelievable) audience data, agencies who make more money from their suppliers than from their clients (thus threatening the very objectivity theyre hired for in the first place), bland creative generated by AI, and an audience that increasingly resents our work.

That is one hell of an agenda. But I think it is a worthwhile one, because all these issues should be addressed, and they are not. But what do I know? I am just comparing the way things are now to the past.
by Teresa Buyikian , April 26, 2024

KFC is embracing positive vibes and iconic imagery in its latest limited-edition capsule collection collab with Life Is Good, which launched this week.

The positive lifestyle brand known for its stick figure graphics on apparel and housewares teamed up with the chicken chain on a series of premium hats and T-shirts. The wearables feature Jake, Life is Goods mascot, as well as the iconic KFC red-and-white-striped bucket, with slogans like Life is Finger Lickin Good and "Bucket List."

The Life is Good x KFC apparel collection is only available on KFCShop.com and lifeisgood.com.

Food is such an integral part of connecting with others and making memories, which is why we teamed up with Life is Good, a brand thats all about enjoying life, for an exclusive Life is Finger Lickin Good line, said Anna Faktorovich, vice president of brand management for KFC U.S.

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Each item in the collection will showcase five unique art styles on a range of colorways that capture the brands shared mission to celebrate the good, per the release.

Life is Good said KFC effortlessly aligns with [our[ brand ethos to spark connections through lifes simple pleasureslike bonding over shared interests, spending time in nature, or savoring a delicious meal with loved ones, per the release.

The new Life is Good collection is just the latest collaboration for KFC. The chain released a streetwear collection with fashion designer NIGO in 2018 and later KFC China celebrated its 80anniversary with a collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. KFC Indonesia also engaged with SANDALBOYZ on a sandal and beachwear collection, and KFC USA has its own branded line of Croc shoes.
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Lysosomal genes contribute to Parkinsons disease near agriculture with high intensity pesticide use



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Men are around 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women. #parkinsonsdisease #gene #pesticide

Men are around 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women. #parkinsonsdisease #gene #pesticide

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Pesticide Exposure in Parkinson's Disease

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Lysosomal genes contribute to Parkinsons disease near agriculture with high intensity pesticide use - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-024-00703-4)

Potential connections between genetic variants and pesticide exposure raise questions about additional gene-pesticide interactions as revealed by a new UCLA Health study (). It was shown that the risk of Parkinsons disease could be increased by genetic variants as a result of long-term pesticide exposure.While decades of research have linked pesticide exposure and Parkinsons disease risk, researchers have sought to explain why some individuals with high exposure develop the disease while others do not.One longstanding hypothesis has been that susceptibility to the disease is a combination of both environmental and genetic factors.The new study, published in the journal NPJ Parkinsons Disease, used genetic data from nearly 800 Central Valley (California) residents with Parkinsons disease, many of whom had long-term exposure to 10 pesticides used on cotton crops for at least a decade before developing the disease, with some patients having been exposed as far back as 1974.They examined their genetic makeup for rare variants in genes associated with the function of lysosomes, cellular compartments that break down waste and debris, thought to be associated with the development of Parkinsons disease, and looked for enrichment of variants in patients with high exposure to pesticide use compared to a representative sample of the general population.Researchers found that variants in these genes were enriched in patients with more severe Parkinsons disease who also had higher exposure to pesticides.These genetic variants also appeared to becombined with pesticide exposure.Dr. Brent Fogel, the studys corresponding author, and professor of Neurology and Human Genetics, said while the specific interactions between pesticides and the expression of these genetic variants require further study, the results suggest that in someone with such variants, long-term exposure to cotton pesticides could lead to the buildup of toxic compounds, due to alterations of the cells ability to break down damaged proteins and organelles -- a process known as autophagy  and thus lead to Parkinsons disease.Previous studies have shown that altered autophagy can result in a buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein, which is abundant in the brain and neurons As the protein builds up, it forms clumps known as Lewy bodies that are a pathological hallmark of Parkinsons disease.The study supports the hypothesis that the genetic predisposition comes from minor changes in genes that are associated with lysosomal function, Fogel said.On a day-to-day basis, these variants are not having much of an impact. But under the right stress, such as exposure to certain pesticides, they can fail and that could, over time, lead to the development of Parkinson's disease. This is called a gene-environment interaction.The findings build on decades of research by UCLA Health investigators Drs. Jeff Bronstein and Beate Ritz into the associations between pesticide exposure and Parkinsons disease risk in the Central Valley.The studys co-lead author and assistant professor of Neurology at UCLA, Dr. Kimberly Paul, said Parkinsons disease is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease in the world.While an increase in the number of new patients is expected given the large aging population in the U.S., the rate of new Parkinsons disease patients is outpacing the rate that is expected from aging alone, Paul said.Paul said the findings of the new study raise the question of whether there areincluding other biological pathways affected by different types of pesticides.These patients were susceptible somehow and if we can figure out why they were susceptible, maybe we can act on those pathways, Paul said.There are data for a lot of common disorders suggesting that environmental influences impact the development of these diseases, but we dont yet have a good way of measuring that impact or determining who is specifically at risk, Fogel said.This is a step forward in that direction.Source-Eurekalert
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Medical ethics



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In medical ethics, patient autonomy meets professional obligation. #PatientAutonomy #EthicalResponsibility #medindia

In medical ethics, patient autonomy meets professional obligation. #PatientAutonomy #EthicalResponsibility #medindia

How was the Gujarat Patient Denied Care?

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Medical ethics - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074007/)

The patient-doctor relationship is revered as sacrosanct, governed by principles of trust, empathy, and mutual respect. However, recent events have reignited a longstanding debate: do doctors possess the right to refuse care?The case of a Vadodara-based gynecologist declining treatment to a pregnant patient has thrust this question into the spotlight, sparking discourse across medical circles and the general public alike ().Dr. Rajesh Parikh's decision to deny treatment to a pregnant woman in her thirties has catalyzed diverse reactions, with opinions ranging from staunch support to vehement opposition. At the crux of this controversy lies the fundamental principle of patient autonomy juxtaposed against the ethical responsibilities of medical practitioners.The scenario unfolded when Dr. Parikh, in a candid post on social media, revealed his rationale behind declining care. The patient, swayed by non-medical counsel, adamantly refused essential tests deemed imperative for assessing the well-being of her unborn child . Despite earnest efforts to elucidate the significance of these diagnostic procedures, the patient remained resolute in her rejection, prompting Dr. Parikh to advocate seeking alternative medical council.Central to this discourse is the concept of informed consent, a cornerstone of medical ethics dictating that patients possess the right to make autonomous decisions regarding their healthcare, including the acceptance or refusal of recommended treatments. However, this autonomy is not absolute; it is tempered by the ethical obligation of physicians to prioritize patient welfare and act in accordance with best medical practices.In the case at hand, Dr. Parikh's decision to decline care stemmed from a perceived impasse wherein the patient's refusal of essential tests compromised the diagnostic process, thereby jeopardizing the health and well-being of both the mother and the unborn child. His assertion of the doctor's prerogative to refuse treatment, particularly in non-emergency situations, underscores a broader ethical dilemma confronting healthcare professionals: balancing respect for patient autonomy with the imperative to uphold standards of care and safeguard patient welfare.Critics of Dr. Parikh's stance argue that denying care on the basis of a patient's refusal to comply with medical recommendations sets a precarious precedent, potentially eroding patient trust and exacerbating healthcare disparities. They contend that while physicians must endeavor to educate and engage patients in shared decision-making, coercive measures such as refusal of care should be employed judiciously and as a last resort.Conversely, proponents assert that doctors possess a professional obligation to exercise clinical judgment and uphold standards of care, particularly when faced with situations wherein patient choices may contravene medical expertise and compromise clinical outcomes. They argue that honoring patient autonomy does not absolve physicians of their ethical responsibility to prioritize patient welfare and intervene when necessary to avert harm.Ultimately, the debate surrounding doctors' right to refuse care underscores the intricate interplay between patient autonomy, medical expertise, and ethical imperatives. While patients are entitled to self-determination in matters of healthcare, doctors must navigate a complex ethical landscape, balancing respect for autonomy with the overarching goal of promoting patient well-being. In an era characterized by evolving healthcare paradigms and shifting patient expectations, fostering open dialogue and collaborative decision-making between patients and physicians remains paramount in navigating the nuances of medical ethics and ensuring optimal patient care.Source-Medindia
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Ambassador Burak Akcapar, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Fragkogiannis, met in Istanbul on 26 April 2024, for the 6th round of discussions on the Joint Action Plan within the scope of the Positive Agenda between the two countries.



During the meeting, a detailed review was made of the numerous items on the Positive Agenda List in the fields of trade, economy, transport, education, technology, environment and health as well as societal relations. It was noted that many items have been successfully concluded. Satisfactory progress has been achieved on several other items on the list.



In view of the significant advances made to date in this active and ongoing process, the two sides have agreed to explore additional items of cooperation in the context of the Positive Agenda.



The two sides reaffirmed their common goal to provide, within the framework of the Joint Action Plan, concrete deliverables for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Mitsotakis to Turkiye in May.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou visited the Republic of Korea where she held political consultations with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Byung-won in order to foster bilateral relations and people-to-people contacts. In this regard, the two Ministers exchanged views on a wide range of global issues, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific. The two sides also explored ways to further promote international cooperation, especially in view of Greece's United Nations Security Council candidacy.



During her three-day stay Deputy Foreign Minister Papadopoulou visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone, participated in a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Wall of Greek Fallen Soldiers at War Memorial of Korea and met with representatives from Academia, think tanks as well as with His Eminence Metropolitan of Korea.



This visit is part of the increasingly positive dynamics of bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea, following the visit of Korean Prime Minister Duck-soo HAN. It marks the first time political consultations have been held at the deputy foreign minister level.
With my visit to Kuwait today, I conclude a series of visits to the Gulf countries. Greece maintains traditional ties with these countries. In particular, today, in Kuwait, I had the opportunity to converse with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and with the state agencies involved in imports and exports, as well as in investments to and from Kuwait.



We jointly recognized the significant potential to increase our bilateral trade. We agreed to undertake actions that will lead to agreements regarding substantial large-scale Kuwaiti investments in Greece and, of course, exchange of business delegations.



During these two days, we primarily had the opportunity to discuss the urgent issue of the Middle East. Unfortunately, the situation is deteriorating. There are huge problems regarding the peace process and, of course, every day there is a serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the region. What we agreed in Qatar and in Kuwait was that Europe, along with the Gulf and Arab countries, should join efforts to develop a concrete proposal that will resolve the Middle East issue, allow unhindered and full humanitarian aid to be delivered to the affected areas, and, finally, resolve the issue of hostages, which is an open wound for humanitarian values.



As I had the opportunity to emphasize at the European Council in Luxembourg, the European Union should undertake a central initiative to bring together all parallel efforts aimed at peace in the region under the High Representative and a number of member states Foreign Ministers. This would finally allow us to sit down and constructively resolve the Middle East issue, bring the ongoing humanitarian crisis to a halt, and prevent its spread, whether to Rafah, Lebanon, Jordan, or the Red Sea, with potentially dramatic consequences for humanity.
As U.S. soldiers and sailors begin construction of the pier that the Biden administration hopes will provide a critical lifeline of aid to war-torn Gaza, military leaders are trying to assure critics that American troops will be well-defended from attack and aid groups that that same protection won't endanger them and their work.

In a briefing Thursday, a senior military official said that "at-sea assembly" of parts of the pier began earlier that day, with military planners anticipating the structure will be ready to start bringing in humanitarian aid in early May.

Also on Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed to reporters that a mortar attack hit the shoreline earlier this week at the location that will eventually become the site of the pier, but caused only "minimal damage."

Read Next: Corps Identifies Camp Pendleton Marine Killed During 'Routine' Operations

That attack has given critics of the mission -- which uses a system called Joint Logistics Over the Shore, or JLOTS -- ammunition to argue that it will place around 1,000 U.S. service members' lives in jeopardy. That total represents a combination of U.S. security and logistics personnel needed to move supplies while providing protection for those in uniform.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the attack "was unfortunate but predictable" and argued that "the risk to Americans will only intensify" in a statement released earlier this week.

"President Biden should never have put our men and women in this position, and he should abandon this project immediately before any U.S. troops are injured," argued Wicker, who has been a critic of the plan since it was first announced.

The senior military official who briefed reporters Thursday, however, said that U.S. Central Command doesn't believe "that the attack had anything to do with the JLOTS mission or delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea."

No U.S. government official has publicly said whether Hamas is responsible for the attack.

The official also said that the Israeli Defense Forces has "a brigade -- thousands of soldiers -- plus Israeli navy ships and Israeli air force that are dedicated to force protection of this operation" and "forces from U.S. European Command and U.S. Naval Forces Europe are also assigned to support."

The official noted that the closest any U.S. troops will come to shore will be "several hundred meters" -- the length of the pier that will be sticking out from the Gaza coast. The trucks that will drive the aid off the U.S. watercraft and onto land will be manned by a non-American "third party" that the official did not identify.

On Friday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown told reporters that the Israelis will create "a buffer zone or a bubble out around the distribution area and the pier to keep the threat away from our forces ... but also from the distribution of the aid."

"If that's not protected, then it interrupts the distribution of aid that's so important to the citizens of Gaza," Brown added.

While the Israeli military presence is likely meant to assure critics like Wicker and other Senate Republicans that the U.S. forces will be well protected, their presence also brings concerns for aid workers who will likely play a key role in getting the aid to Gazans once it is ashore.

At the beginning of the month, Israeli forces conducted repeated airstrikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy of aid workers, killing seven.

"Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees," said a subsequent Israeli investigation, which was released just days later, before adding the incident stemmed "from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and [it was] contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures."

The U.N. Security Council also noted in the days following the deadly attack that at least 224 humanitarian workers had been killed in the Israel-Hamas war since it began last October, and this total is "more than three times as many humanitarian aid workers killed in any single conflict recorded in a single year."

Brown said that the WCK strike has been a point of conversation for him with his Israeli peers and acknowledged that it has had a chilling effect on outside aid workers coming forward to help with the effort.

Once the mission gets going, military officials say that it will offer a substantial increase in the amount of aid that will be able to flow into Gaza.

The senior military official who spoke with reporters Thursday said that they expect the initial throughput to begin at "about 90 trucks a day  and then quickly scale up to 150 trucks a day."

The official noted that, over the past two weeks, the daily average aid coming into Gaza over the land crossings -- which were largely shut until after the deadly WCK strike -- have been "about 220 trucks a day."

"This additional throughput from the sea represents a significant increase of lifesaving aid," the official said.

Related: Navy Ship Slated to Help Build Gaza Aid Pier Forced to Return to Port as Experts Warn of Other Delays
The Marine Corps has identified the service member killed during a "aviation ground mishap" earlier this week at Camp Pendleton, California.

Cpl. Miguel A. Maya, an aircraft avionics technician and Texas native, died Tuesday in the early evening during what the Marine Corps described in a previous statement as "routine military operations" at the Southern California base.

Maya was a member of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron, or HMLAT, 303. The incident is still under investigation, according to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, or 3rd MAW, the squadron's parent unit.

Read Next: US Ready to Train More Ukrainian Troops If Called Upon, Top White House Official Says

"My heartfelt condolences go out to Cpl. Maya's loved ones during this difficult time," Lt. Col. Jason Caster, commanding officer of HMLAT-303, said in a statement Friday. "Our priority right now is taking care of the family of our fallen Marine, and ensuring the well-being of our Marines and their loved ones."

HMLAT 303 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 39 out of Camp Pendleton. The squadron trains pilots on the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z/W Viper. The squadron, activated in 1982, includes more than 400 Marines and sailors who fly and maintain over 30 aircraft, according to the unit's website.

Maya died at approximately 5 p.m. local time Tuesday, the service had previously announced. The Marine Corps did not specify how the Marine died, and it is also unclear what operation he was participating in at the time of his death.

Maya is the second known Marine to have died during routine military operations in less than a week. Sgt. Colin Arslanbas, a reconnaissance Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Camp Lejeune, was killed in a parachute incident in North Carolina last week.

Military.com attempted to contact Maya's family, but was unsuccessful.

Maya is one of six Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton to have died during military operations in recent months.

Lance Cpl. Joseph Whaley died due to the negligent firing of a weapon in August of last year during a night-time live-fire exercise.

In February, five Marines out of 3rd MAW -- Maya's parent unit -- died when their CH-53E Super Stallion crashed in Southern California.

Related: Marine Killed During Operation at Camp Pendleton, Marking Second Training Death for Service in a Week
Lawyers for military families who were exposed to tainted water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii in 2021 after a massive jet fuel spill will begin making their case before a judge on Monday.

Three separate lawsuits, representing more than 7,500 service members, military dependents and civilian residents, have been filed over the exposure caused by spills at the Defense Department's now-shuttered Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility near Honolulu.

The trial, to take place in the U.S. District Court of Hawaii, will be representative of all three suits. The plaintiffs seek damages for injuries and illnesses they say were caused by drinking, bathing and laundering clothes in fuel following a spill in November that displaced or forced more than 93,000 residents to use alternate sources of water for months.

Read Next: Navy Investigating More Than 100 'Secretly Shot' Sexual Videos of US Troops Uploaded to Adult Website

In the case, Judge Leslie Kobayashi will hear from more than a dozen "bellwether plaintiffs" who represent individuals across the suits. The trial is considered to be the first mass environmental case against the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a 1940s law that creates narrow exceptions to the general legal immunity enjoyed by the federal government.

The plaintiffs say the November spill sent many seeking medical treatment for rashes, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, light-headedness, nosebleeds and more. Many also say they experienced mysterious symptoms much earlier, which they attributed to a spill the previous May that released 20,000 gallons of fuel into tunnels at the facility, but the judge will not be examining those prior symptoms.

The Department of Justice has argued that it is difficult to tie the families' symptoms to the fuel exposure and there is little scientific evidence to support what the government said was short exposure to long-term illnesses.

In November 2021, residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation and elsewhere were exposed to the fuel after a pipe ruptured at the Red Hill tank farm, sending up to 5,000 gallons of fuel into a nearby drinking water well owned by the Navy that supplied water to the joint base and nearby communities.

It was later revealed that the fuel in the pipe originated from the massive May spill.

Following the November release, the Navy issued a statement saying there were "no signs or indication" that fuel had entered the groundwater or soil and the drinking water remained safe.

But dozens of residents complained of the smell and taste, as well as health issues, and many were forced to leave their homes during the winter holiday season.

The Navy later admitted that the contamination had occurred and launched a massive cleanup effort while the Defense Department, under pressure from the state of Hawaii, environmental activists and members of Congress, moved to close Red Hill.

The final shipment of more than 104 million gallons of fuel left Hawaii in December, and Joint Task Force Red Hill removed all available residual fuel in March. The Navy Closure Task Force took over responsibility for the facility and will complete the effort, extracting sludge from the tanks, cleaning them and removing 10 miles of pipeline that runs from Red Hill to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Last week, it removed 1,012 gallons, or roughly 99%, of firefighting foam concentrate from the facility with plans to remove all of the foam, which contains chemicals linked to several types of cancer, as well as other health disorders.

According to Kristina Baehr, an attorney for the plaintiffs, the judge will review thousands of pages of documents and depositions and will hear from some witnesses, mainly those whom the Justice Department plans to cross-examine.

"The government has admitted liability (negligence), but continues to fight Red Hill victims -- presenting a conciliatory public face on the billion-dollar environmental cleanup, but continuing to avoid accountability and trying to discredit victims of the contamination behind the scenes and in court," Baehr said in a press release Wednesday.

The trial is expected to take 10 days.

Army Maj. Amanda Feindt, who is among the service members suing the government and whose husband, Patrick Feindt, is the lead plaintiff on one of the suits, said during an interview Wednesday that her family, including her now 6-year-old daughter and 4-year old son, continues to have health issues related to the spill.

She is suing out of concern for the long-term health consequences of family members and other children affected by the spill, but also wants to hold the government accountable for the harm caused to military personnel, dependents and civilian employees.

"I look at everything as a senior leader -- people first," Feindt said. "The military has made it clear they are just taking care of themselves. It's disheartening."

Related: Red Hill Registry Being Planned to Study Long-Term Health Effects of Tainted Water on Hawaii Military Community
With tens of billions of dollars to support Ukraine's war effort finally approved by Congress, a top U.S. official said this week that the United States is ready to train more Ukrainian troops if called upon, though the Eastern European country continues to face recruiting challenges as its war to repel Russian invasion stretches into its third year.

Speaking to a small group of reporters at the White House on Thursday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States and its allies are ready to expand training. Currently, while there are U.S. military advisers in Ukraine, they are not training local forces. All U.S.-supported training has taken place outside of the country.

"You've got to generate the people, and then having generated the people, you determine, does it make sense for them to do their basic training in Ukraine? Does it make sense for them to go into a unit training in one of these outside-Ukraine facilities where we are doing training, where our partners are doing training?" Sullivan said in response to a question from Military.com.

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"We're at the stage right now where that's a consultation among partner militaries, the U.S. and Ukraine, and it's ultimately up to Ukraine to say, 'Here's our need, can you can you meet it?'" he added.

Sullivan's comments come after a hard-fought political victory for the Biden administration with Congress' approval earlier this week of roughly $61 billion in military, humanitarian and economic assistance for Ukraine.

Amid dire warnings from U.S. military officials about the consequences of failing to approve more funding for Ukraine, lawmakers dithered for months on passing the aid bill. It finally cleared Congress with large bipartisan majorities in both chambers after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., bucked hard-right members of his party to give the bill a vote.

The largest chunk of military funding in the bill and the part getting the most attention is the more than $30 billion to replenish U.S. military stockpiles that have been sent to Ukraine and buy that country new weapons. U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine stopped and Ukrainian forces had to start rationing ammunition during the political fight over the bill after money to replenish American stockpiles ran out. Administration officials are now working to rush weapons to Ukraine with the funding approved.

But the bill also includes about $11.3 billion for U.S. military operations in Europe, including ongoing American military training for Ukrainian forces.

After a brief pause in training at the beginning of the war in 2022 because U.S. trainers left Ukraine ahead of Russia's invasion, American forces have been training Ukrainians in Germany, with the training evolving for different phases of the war and to incorporate new weapons systems.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian leaders are working to replenish their forces after two years of war and recent battlefield losses have left the ranks exhausted and depleted. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that lowers Ukraine's draft age to 25 and another that requires all men between 18 and 60 to carry military registration documents and present them to officials when asked.

At his roundtable with reporters, Sullivan said "step one" for any expanded military training is to see how Ukraine's efforts to bolster its forces go.

"Then step two is to look at whether that means having to expand or adjust the training that's taking place in Europe outside of Ukraine by the United States and other militaries," he said, adding that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been discussing the topic with allies through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. "So from our perspective, being able to expand and enhance training is something that we're set up and ready to do. The real question is one of throughput and at what point does it become necessary to, say, take additional personnel from Ukraine and put them through that training."

In addition to the training the United States is doing in Europe, a dozen Ukrainian pilots are being trained on F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets at a National Guard base in Arizona. U.S. and European officials have previously estimated that F-16s could start flying in Ukraine by mid-summer.

Asked whether the timeline for finishing the first round of F-16 training and getting the jets to Ukraine is still on track for the summer, Sullivan said that the process is "moving" but that he "can't give you a date on when we'll see the first deployments to Ukraine."

Related: 'Days Where We Wouldn't Even Shoot': US Vet Fighting in Ukraine Pleads with Congress to Pass Stalled Aid
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is finally underway to its new homeport in Japan, following six arduous years in a Virginia shipyard that included reports of difficult living conditions and a cluster of suicides among the crew.

On Thursday, the vessel departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and will make stops in Florida, South America and San Diego to switch some crew with the USS Ronald Reagan before heading to Japan by the fall. The ship will be replacing the Reagan as the carrier keeping an eye off Japan's coast.

"Team Warfighter is ready to go," Capt. Tim Waits from Anniston, Alabama, commanding officer of George Washington, said in a press release. "Not only for the adventure that awaits in South America, but ready to serve as the nation's forward-deployed naval forces carrier in Yokosuka."

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The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier began an immense refueling and overhauling upgrade at Newport News in 2017, a process that typically takes only four years. By 2020, completion was pushed to 2022 due to COVID-19 impacts and other delays. The carrier finally left the shipyard in May 2023 for sea trials.

The departure marks a notable moment for the ship. During those years at Newport News, a Military.com investigation revealed that the crew's quality of life had deteriorated and that a series of suicides had happened under those difficult conditions.

In 2022, Military.com first reported that the Washington had suffered more than a half-dozen suicides since November 2019. Subsequent Navy investigations identified quality-of-life issues, subpar leadership and a failure to take care of sailors as contributing factors.

In the Navy's 2023 report into quality of life aboard the carrier, investigators found that the ship had the highest number of suicide-related behaviors, including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, from 2017 to 2019 when compared to all aircraft carriers on the East Coast.

In a 2019 command climate survey, George Washington's results were below aircraft carrier and Navy-wide averages in all assessment categories. A 2020 survey showed the same results.

Those same surveys showed that sailors' "awareness of suicidal ideations" on the ship ballooned from 31% to 56% in a single year. The report notes that the ship "did not address this finding."

"It is safe to say that generations of Navy leaders had become accustomed to the reduced quality of life in the shipyard, and accepted the status quo as par for the course for shipyard life," Rear Adm. John Meier, the now retired commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, said in one of the investigations into the ship. "As senior sailors, it is easy to forget our Navy life in the beginning."

The Navy's data found that 57% of all suicides on aircraft carriers from 2017 to the present happened while the ship was in the shipyard.

"The shipyard environment is always a challenge," Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic, told Military.com in an interview Friday. "When you're in a shipyard, you don't necessarily get to do what you signed up to do in the military."

But Navy officials are confident that the crew will be better supported after getting out of the shipyard.

In an effort to improve the quality of life aboard the George Washington, in February a new rest and recreation den created by the USO was opened to offer sailors aboard the ship a library, TVs and video games, as well as computers and phones, for them to stay entertained and contact their families, a February press release from the ship detailed.

Following the refueling and upgrades in Norfolk last year, the crew passed numerous pre-deployment certifications, including the Board of Inspection and Survey, or INSURV, Stankus said, referring to a massive, shipwide and congressionally mandated inspection.

"From all of the indications that I've received from higher headquarters, for lack of a better term, they completely crushed their INSURV," Stankus said.

Meanwhile, the ship the George Washington is replacing in Japan, the Ronald Reagan, is set to head to the Bremerton shipyard in Washington for maintenance.

-- Veterans and service members experiencing a mental health emergency can call the Veteran Crisis Line at 988 and press 1. Help also is available by text, 838255, and via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

Related: 'A 9/11-like Event': Navy Report on Carrier Suicides Cites Missed Warning Signs, Leadership Failures
EAST LANSING, MI  Ingham County prosecutors expect to refile charges in a Michigan State University hazing death after dismissing charges against six of nine defendants.

The dismissals came Friday, April 26, in East Lansing District Court where the defendants were scheduled for a preliminary examination to determine if their cases should be bound over for trial in Ingham Circuit Court.
DETROIT  A driver allegedly sped away from police attempting a traffic stop, and then abandoned the vehicle with an infant inside, police said.

The Michigan State Police Trooper Three helicopter provided support for the Detroit Police Department during the pursuit and captured video of the incident Wednesday evening.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Although she was only at the microphone for one minute, First Lady Jill Biden was the keynote speaker at the First Lady Luncheon hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

The first lady greeted the crowd with a raspy voice and told them she was not going to be able to deliver her full 7-minute speech.
DETROIT  A stray dog is on its way to a new life after a Michigan State Police trooper rescued it from a freeway, police said.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Regional Communication Center received a call about a dog running along I-96, according to a news release from MSP Second District. Trooper Justin Boczkaja responded to the scene to search for the dog.

Sure enough, the dog was located and asked for a ride, police said.

In a photo posted with the news release, the dog can be seen in the front seat of the patrol car resting its head on Boczkajas arm.

The dog asked to not be identified and was taken to a local humane society where it will eventually become available for adoption.

If you see any animals on the freeway, please dont get out and try to catch them, police said. Give us a call!
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Officials say the man who was charged Thursday in connection with a fatal explosion that happened last month was attempting to flee the U.S. prior to his arrest Saturday. According to the Associated Press, Noor Kestou, 33, of Commerce Township, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport by U.S. Customs and New York Port Authority personnel.

At the time of his arrest, Kestou was allegedly preparing to depart on a one-way flight to China. Officials say they received information on April 20 that Kestou was planning to go to China.

We dont know what his ultimate goal was, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido told reporters Friday. Was it to stay out of the country with a wife and child here? Nobody has a crystal ball to determine who is a flight risk.

Kestou was transported back to Michigan Wednesday and arraigned Thursday on one count of involuntary manslaughter. The charges stems from an explosion on March 4 at a building owned by Kestou. Inside the building an estimated 100,000 vape pens were being stored along with butane canisters. When the explosion happened thousands of pens and canisters became projectiles, with some being found nearly two miles away from the explosion site.

A 19-year-old man was killed in the explosion after he was hit in the head by a projectile nearly a quarter of a mile from the explosion site.

He was a suspect from the beginning, being the owner of this business, Lucido said about Kestou. Anyone that owns a business and something like this happens has to be considered a suspect.

Kestou posted a $500,000 bond and has been released from jail. Lucidos office says authorities have Kestous passport and he will be required to wear a GPS tether as part of his bond. Kestou is due back in court on May 7 for a probable cause hearing.
LENAWEE COUNTY, MI - A two-vehicle crash Thursday on US-12 in Lenawee County resulted in one driver in critical condition, police said.

Deputies responded to the crash around 11:25 a.m., April 25 to the intersection at US-12 and M-52 in Franklin Township north of Adrian, according to the Lenawee County Sheriffs Office.

Investigators determined an 85-year-old Manchester woman was driving a Jeep Wrangler north on M-52, and an 89-year-old Onsted woman was driving a Dodge Avenger west on US-12, police said.

The Onsted woman failed to stop at a red light, as the Dodge entered the intersection and collided with the Jeep, police said.

Survival Flight airlifted the Onsted woman to a local hospital, where she is in critical condition, police said. The Manchester woman is in stable condition at a local hospital, police said.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the crash, police said. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, police added.

The crash is under further investigation.

Deputies were assisted by the Clinton Township Police Department, fire departments from Clinton Township and Sand Lake and Lenawee Community Ambulance.
ADRIAN, MI - In July, it will be two years since dozens of Adrian seniors were pushed from one crumbling building to another. Many residents had to cohabitate with spiders, fleas and bed bugs in an once-abandoned Travelodge.

Close to the two-year mark since the displacement, it is very likely those wishing to return to their old lodgings may do so thanks to more than $7 million in government aid.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  Lincoln high school students will prepare for careers that do not require four-year degrees through a new technical program focused on manufacturing.

The main goal of the program is to get students skills they need for advanced manufacturing, which can lead to jobs in the auto, energy and medical industries, among others, and fuel the local workforce.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  A jury has acquitted a man charged with shooting another man outside an Ann Arbor gym.

Orlando Rendell Austin, 34, argued he was defending himself when he shot a 36-year-old man in August near Planet Fitness, 2350 West Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor.

The pair had gotten into a fight before Austin shot twice, striking the man once, Ann Arbor police said at the time. The man was identified in court as John Scott, of Gregory.

We are extremely thankful for the very attentive jury in this case, Erika Julien, Austins Ypsilanti-based attorney, wrote in an email. They clearly and carefully examined everything presented during the entire trial and came to the right decision.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Patrick Conlin heard the jury trial Monday and Tuesday, April 22 and 23. The court filed the order of acquittal Wednesday.

Jurors deemed Austin not guilty of assault with intent to great bodily harm less than murder and using a firearm during a felony. He had also been originally charged with assault with intent to murder, but that charge was dismissed in district court.

We appreciate the work of the Ann Arbor Police Department with their investigation of this shooting, Victoria Burton-Harris, Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office spokesperson, wrote in an email. We respect the role of the jury and the attention they paid to the evidence presented at trial.

Read more: Man accused in Ann Arbor Planet Fitness shooting heads to trial on lesser charge

Video footage from outside Planet Fitness showed the two men getting into an argument outside a car Scott identified to the court as his. They then got into a fight.

Scott told the court he was shot in the leg above his knee. The gunshot fractured his femur and required same-day surgery, he said.

The two men did not know each other, according to Ann Arbor police.

Once I was shot, I turned and ran and took cover behind a vehicle, Scott said. He then ran inside the gym, he said.

Austin, who followed him, can be seen confronting Scott in the lobby of the Planet Fitness in video shared in court.

Austin has a concealed pistol license, according to assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Jonathan Emmons, and has said since his arraignment that he carries a weapon for self-defense purposes.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
FLINT, MI  Mott Community College President Beverly Walker-Griffea, who recently announced her retirement after 10 years of service, will give the keynote address at the colleges 2024 graduation ceremony.

Walker-Griffea, who first became the seventh president of MCC in 2014, will speak before approximately 400 graduating students on Saturday, May 4.
SWARTZ CREEK, MI  Three of the five Swartz Creek High School students injured in a car crash earlier this week have been released from Hurley Medical Center, Superintendent Rodney Hetherton said in a statement.

The other two students are in good spirits and have a long road of recovery ahead, Hetherton said.

They want everyone to know that they are all at some stage of recovery and are so grateful for your support, the superintendent said. It is such a blessing that these five boys were able to survive such a horrific accident.

The high school is collecting gift card donations to support the five students who were involved in the car accident in front of Morrish Elementary earlier this week.

The five students were returning to the high school from the Genesee Career Institute when the rollover crash took place around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23.

Gift cards to local gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants can be dropped off to Mrs. Manning or Mrs. Derscha at Swartz Creek High School from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays until May 8.

Therapy dogs from Mid-Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. were brought in to spend time with staff and students on April 24.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - I am fairly certain I am not alone in wishing on occasion I had an abundance of resources to be able to give financial support to things that that can make a difference in the lives of many.

As I sit here with a heavy heart talking with relatives about flying home to attend the funeral of my paternal uncle, I would love to be able to give millions to fund research for cancer and heart disease, but my list is long and also includes family-oriented venues that bring joy.

Reporter Lindsay Moores story about Frank Kraai, a retired teacher who donated his life savings - $1 million - to help fund a Holland ice rink, made me smile. A groundbreaking was held Tuesday for the $11 million ice rink at Window on the Waterfront.

Kraai, 88, a former West Ottawa Public Schools educator, wanted to recreate memories of his own childhood, he said.

How cool is that.

On Tuesday, we learned from reporter Michael Kransz that Grand Rapids City Commissioners approved a number of zoning changes to help address the housing shortage, but some residents fear they will change the character of their neighborhoods.

Reporter Brian McVicar told us about how the top seven floors of the Fifth Third building in downtown Grand Rapids could be turned into 140 apartments. The owner, CWD Real Estate Investment, one of the largest property owners in the city, is requesting a $15.2 million public subsidy for the $31.7 million project.

Thats what caught our eye in the Grand Rapids area this week. Take a look at those headlines, and others, below.

A retired teacher discovered he was a millionaire. All he wanted was an ice rink.

Grand Rapids approves zoning changes to help address housing crisis

Anti-abortion resolution approved by Ottawa County commissioners in split vote

Top seven floors of downtown building could be turned into 140 apartments

Upgrades to major interchange near Grand Rapids airport to cause monthslong closures

Kent County task force to examine deer population issues, come up with solutions

Luxury meets cozy at this colonial bed and breakfast in Michigans top beach town

Some fear housing changes will attract Wall Street landlords, but city says thats unlikely

As Grand Rapids pushes for more housing, its considering these zoning changes

Jalen Rose to talk about barriers faced by Black boys and men at Grand Rapids event

See which Michigan communities have the most work zone crashes

About Hello, Grand Rapids: Each week, we deliver the big headlines straight to your inbox. Sign up for the newsletter here. Monica Scott is the editor for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press, who previously was a reporter who covered the city, county and schools in the community.
HOLLAND, MI  Holland Township voters will decide May 7 on increasing and renewing the tax that funds construction and maintenance of bike paths in the township.

Holland Township is asking voters during the May 7 special election to increase the bike path tax by 0.1 mills and renew it through 2028.
KENT COUNTY, MI  The owner of a busy Grand Rapids-area massage parlor is facing prostitution charges, sheriffs deputies said.

The 44-year-old owner is charged with keeping a house of prostitution, prostitution and pandering, prostitution/accepting earnings and using a computer to commit a crime.

Her name is withheld pending arraignment in Kent Countys 63rd District Court.

An undercover investigation showed that the massage parlor was one of the busiest in Kent County with mostly male customers who visited from across the state, police said.

The sheriffs Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a months-long investigation acting on a tip that illicit sex acts were happening there.

Investigators used a search warrant on Thursday, April 25, for evidence of pay-for-sex taking place inside the business.

The business is licensed by the state of Michigan but employed no licensed massage therapists, police said.

The Task Force is continuing to look through evidence in the case and is aware of the prevalence of illicit massage businesses in our community, the Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

The Task Force goal of investigating sex and labor trafficking goes hand in hand with providing resources and support for survivors of trafficking. The KCSO partners with community victim services providers like Safe Haven Ministries and Crisis Aid International to walk alongside those who are impacted.

The owner is held in the Kent County Correctional Facility pending her initial court hearing.
KALAMAZOO, MI  A new documentary that celebrates the history of the iconic trout label adorning Bells Two Hearted Ale  and the eccentric artist who created it  will premiere next week in Kalamazoo.

Directed by Rory K. McHarg and Bret Miller, A Two Hearted Tale, premieres Thursday, May 2, as KP Cinemas rolls out the red carpet at 1800 Portage St. in downtown Kalamazoo.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- Despite protests from neighbors, the Texas Township Planning Commission voted to allow a new restaurant to keep hosting special events  under several conditions  on Tuesday, April 23.

While there are critics, dozens of people also came to the meeting in support of The Backyard of Kalamazoo, which opened its restaurant and event space in July 2023. Its located at 10441 Stadium Drive in Texas Township, 6 miles west of Kalamazoo.

In addition to a 7-acre backyard with picnic tables, games and toys for kids, The Backyard of Kalamazoo serves locally-sourced, high-end pub fare as well as specialty cocktails and craft beers.

RELATED: The The Backyard of Kalamazoo ready to open with drinks, upscale pub fare, acres of fun

As business slowed down during the winter months, The Backyard of Kalamazoo began hosting special events and set up igloo tents to accommodate outdoor dining.

While it certainly wasnt the main part of our original plan, we have found that the community has embraced us as a gathering spot for special occasions, owner Kelly Sandmeyer said during Tuesdays planning commission meeting. We have found ourselves in a position where we are dependent on the revenue that comes from these events.

The Backyard of Kalamazoo hosted a Halloween and New Years Eve event before the township let them know they didnt have the proper approval to do so. Sandmeyer didnt realize she needed approval for events, said Planning Director Kelly McIntyre.

Im a rule follower. We have done everything with good intentions, and with guidance from the township, Sandmeyer said. I dont think that there was any ill intent from the township planners, but the zoning ordinance for an event center is incredibly vague.

The Backyard of Kalamazoo will be allowed to host events as soon as the mandated changes are made, McIntyre said.

In response to residents concerns about loud music, lights, litter and traffic, the township imposed a 60-decible limit on noise and will only allow the The Backyard of Kalamazoo to hold one event per week. It will also require the business to install a 6-foot privacy fence along its southern property line and add 53 new parking spaces.

Updated site plans for the yard included an extended patio with room for a large tent, 11 new gazebos and a new, paved parking lot.

Site plan showing approved and proposed additions to the Backyard of Kalamazoo property.Texas Township

The couple bought the property because it was zoned C-4, commercial highway, one of the most broad and aggressive zones in the township, Sandmeyer said. According to the townships master plan, appropriate land uses include retail, sit-down and drive-thru restaurants, office spaces, hotels, medical buildings, recreation facilities and strip malls.

Its a new business ... there isnt anything else like it in the township, McIntyre said. Weve tried to make sure that were following the ordinance rules. We want to make sure that we protect business and their rights as well as protecting the residents and their rights.

Though she has tried to meet neighbors demands and city ordinances regarding noise, lights, trees and fences, neighbors have continued to critique the business, Sandmeyer said.

As a former owner of several small businesses, I empathize with the applicants effort to expand their business, resident Jacob Coon said in an email to the Planning Commission. I cannot empathize with several of the applicants unruly behaviors and failings.

During an event, patrons parked, littered and urinated on his property, Coon said. Other neighbors said music was blared outside of regular business hours and exceeded allowable decibel levels, according to iPhone readings.

The township has never observed readings on a calibrated decibel reading device that violate the rules, McIntyre said.

Meeting the townships demands is not only frustrating, but expensive, Sandmeyer said. In order to afford the new parking lot, the Sandmeyers are selling about 10 acres of their property.

We, more than anyone else, would absolutely love to do those things, but we simply cant afford it, Sandmeyer said. When the trees that we have spent thousands of dollars planting are questioned for being a half centimeter too narrow -- after already being approved -- or we have surprise inspections (with) new findings that were approved when we opened, but arent now ... it puts into question whether or not the township wants us to succeed.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
Asia-Pacific representatives call for renewed efforts on SDGs

Xinhua) 13:37, April 26, 2024

Representatives attend a dialogue entitled "Renewed Efforts to Deliver on the SDGs: working towards the Summit of the Future" in Bangkok, Thailand, April 24, 2024. Representatives from Asia-Pacific countries gathered here on Wednesday to share their views and actions on how to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a dialogue on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).(Xinhua/Wang Teng)

BANGKOK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Asia-Pacific countries gathered here on Wednesday to share their views and actions on how to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a dialogue on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Co-hosted by China International Development Cooperation Agency, the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the ESCAP and the UN in China, the dialogue entitled "Renewed Efforts to Deliver on the SDGs: working towards the Summit of the Future" focused on issues including food systems, energy access and affordability, digital connectivity and education, among others.

Zhao Fengtao, deputy head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that the Global Development Initiative is the catalyst and accelerator for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With response and support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, it has moved from laying the groundwork to bearing fruit.

Han Zhiqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, shared stories of China and Thailand working together to promote sustainable development, including Chinese and Thai companies jointly operating waste-to-energy projects in Bangkok, Chinese car manufacturers helping Thailand's new energy industry development and green economic transformation, and deepening China-Thailand digital cooperation forwarding the "digital dividend" to benefit more and more people.

In her speech via a video message, Arunee Hiam, deputy director-general of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) stressed that SDG 17 has been given top priority in Thailand.

"Regarding the policy of international development cooperation, Thailand focuses on the four areas of human security that directly affect the well-being of the people, namely employment, food, health, and energy and environment," Arunee noted.

"Malaysia is deeply confident that the Global Development Initiative is a more open and innovative solution," said Bong Yik Jui, deputy chief of Mission and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to UNESCAP, adding that it is instrumental in enhancing the synergy among a group of friends, and it provides better impetus towards accelerating the SDGs.

Li Yutong, head of the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization of the ESCAP, noted that achieving food security for all is at the forefront of the global development agenda, and food systems are deeply intertwined with all the SDGs.

"Perhaps the only North Star that we have in front of us is the Sustainable Development Goals," concluded Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN resident coordinator in China. "That is why UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is pushing for the Summit of the Future. It is frankly a moment to try and see if they can resurrect multilateralism in its true sense."

Zhao Fengtao (C), deputy head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, delivers a speech during a dialogue entitled "Renewed Efforts to Deliver on the SDGs: working towards the Summit of the Future" in Bangkok, Thailand, April 24, 2024. Representatives from Asia-Pacific countries gathered here on Wednesday to share their views and actions on how to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a dialogue on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).(Xinhua/Wang Teng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BARRY COUNTY, MI -- Dar Leaf, a Southwest Michigan sheriff known for his investigation of voting machines in the 2020 election, is running for reelection in 2024, while facing challengers.

Three Republicans have filed to challenge Leaf, who is also a Republican, according to the Barry County Clerks Office election page. Leaf has been the sheriff in Barry County for more than a decade.
ISABELLA COUNTY, MI - The former corrections officer accused of breaking an inmates knee in Isabella County Jail pleaded guilty Friday.

Christopher Cluley, a 48-year-old Mount Pleasant man, pleaded to one count each of aggravated assault and willful neglect of duty, according to an April 26 release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
SAGINAW, MI  Jacob S. Wilkinson, an ex-corrections officer who also served as a combat medic in the National Guard, has been sentenced to two years probation for torturing and killing a dog, leaving the duct-taped and bullet-riddled carcass in a Saginaw County ditch.

While the crime is a seven-year felony, Wilkinson, who worked as a corrections officer both for Michigans prisons and the Genesee County Jail, can serve his sentence without having a criminal conviction stain his record.
SAGINAW, MI  Three years on, a Saginaw County woman has been sent to prison for stabbing her live-in girlfriend more than a dozen times.

Saginaw County Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson on April 4 sentenced Nikki J. Cortez, 25, to four to 20 years in prison. Jackson gave Cortez credit for 92 days served in the county jail.
A Michigan dairy cow got sick at the end of March.

Within weeks, cows at four more dairy farms also had symptoms: fever, reduced appetite and drop in milk production.
Michigans state-run youth psychiatric services have made headlines in recent years over a pair of lawsuits, more than a dozen patient escapes, and concerns over the treatment of kids and adolescents in its care.

Now the Office of Recipient Rights (ORR), which is tasked with protecting the rights of public mental health service recipients like the hospitalized youth, is under review by the states Office of the Auditor General (OAG).
Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith, center, tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Amed Rosario, right, attempting to steal second base during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Making the call is umpire Ryan Blakney. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)AP
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UAE investment promotion event held in Nanjing

Global Times) 13:43, April 26, 2024

Photo: Courtesy of the Consulate General of the UAE in Shanghai

The Consulate General of the UAE in Shanghai held an investment promotion event in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, on Thursday, along with Jiangsu Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company (JOCIC).

Muhannad Sulaiman Alnaqbi, consul general of the UAE in Shanghai, shared details of the UAE's economic and social development and business environment at the event.

The UAE has become a popular investment destination in the Middle East for Chinese enterprises, thanks to its good business environment and strong growth momentum in recent years, Alnaqbi said.

JOCIC CEO Zou Yonggang introduced the latest progress made in the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone (ICCDZ) at the event. As China's first production capacity cooperation zone under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ICCDZ actively serves the joint BRI construction between the two countries, he said.

The zone has completed the construction of supporting infrastructure, such as a management service center building and customized factories, Zou noted.

Alnaqbi spoke highly of the ICCDZ project, saying it is a high-quality platform for industrial cooperation between the UAE and China, with great significance and broad prospects for development.

More than 20 Nanjing-based high-tech enterprises participated in the Thursday event.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Kayezad E Adajania heads the personal finance bureau at Moneycontrol. He has been covering mutual funds and personal finance for the past two decades, having worked in Mint and Outlook Money magazine. Kayezad was the founding member of Mints personal finance team when it was set up in 2009.
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Tripp the dog that fell out of a moving truck bed in the Chinese Camp area View Photo

Jamestown, CA  Tuolumne County Animal Control (TCAC) gives an update on a dog that was injured after falling out of a moving pickup truck and had to have one of his legs amputated, but now is hoping to find a forever home.

Meet Tripp, pictured in the image box, and currently at the Jamestown shelter at 10040 Victoria Way, behind the C&C Mini Mart, off Highway 49/108. We have followed his recovery since a Good Samaritan behind the truck on Highway 49 in the Chinese Camp area rescued the injured canine at the beginning of March, as reported here. Then it was learned that Tripps femur bone in his left leg was more severe than first thought and it had to be amputated, as detailed here.

Well, after recovery from his leg amputation and lots of rest, hes ready for adoption, said shelter officials, adding, Come by the shelter and meet this sweet boy; you can even bring your family!

It will not cost you anything to take Tripp home, as there is no adoption fee. The shelter is open Tuesday-Friday (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) For questions, call the shelter at 209-694-2730

Of note, on Saturday, April 27th, Tuolumne County Animal Control is conducting trailer inspections and driving tests in its front parking lot for those interested in becoming a Team Elite member. It is a local non-profit group that will help rescue livestock whenever future wildfires ignite in the county. Immediately after becoming a new member, an orientation will also be held. Team Elite organizers invite those with a truck and livestock trailer to come by and join the team, but you must RSVP at 209-782-0616 or email teameliteinformation@gmail.com. If you miss this weekends event, there will be another event on Saturday, June 1, at the same time in the TCAC parking lot.
Yves here. Given how the Western officials and the press make a fetish of overt and coded China bashing and baiting, a counterpoint seemed in order. The Institute for New Economic Thinking interviewed one of Chinas best-known intellectuals, Wang Hui, the author of The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought. I suspect some readers know Wang Hui and his work and can comment on how good INETs Cliff Notes version is, and perhaps also discuss whether Wang Hui is seen as authoritative in China, and whether there are other respected intellectuals who differ with his interpretations.

By Lynn Parramore, Senior Research Analyst at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

The need to understand China is obvious, but how to go about it? The lack of Chinese philosophy education in the U.S. presents a serious challenge, compounded by daunting barriers of language, stark cultural contrasts, and disparities in worldview. Concepts may not align neatly with Western philosophical frameworks, requiring a subtle understanding to grasp fully or even perceive the differences.

Anyone who sets out to comprehend Chinas complexity confronts an intricate tapestry woven with threads of continuity, bursts of disruption, and variegated patterns. Chinas history is filled with paradoxes, merging timeless traditions with the dynamism of transformation. From ancient cultural legacies to the ebb and flow of centralized governance over two millennia, China embodies a profound reverence for its heritage. Yet invasions, dynastic shifts, and revolutions have continually reshaped Chinas socio-political and intellectual landscape, showcasing its adaptability. This invites exploration of the interplay between tradition and innovation, enriching our understanding of Western and Chinese thought.

If youre ready to set forth, the contributions of Wang Hui, one of Chinas most prominent intellectuals, are indispensable. After twenty years, English speakers can finally access his magisterial The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought, which provides a comprehensive exploration of Chinas intellectual traditions, emphasizing their diversity and interconnectedness. Avoiding teleological narratives, he traces developments in Chinese thinking from antiquity to the present, highlighting key philosophical movements and their impact on Chinese society and governance. Wang argues for a contextual understanding of Chinese thought, viewing it as a dynamic dialogue between tradition and innovation, shaping Chinas cultural identity and its interactions with the world.

In exploring Chinas intellectual development, its essential to pause and delve deeply into the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 C.E.), a transformative period that continues to shape modern ideology and governance. Wang illustrates how this era witnessed the shift from barter to a currency-based economy, the consolidation of centralized state power, the decline of the aristocracy, and the rise of the gentry-bureaucratic class. Additionally, it saw the emergence of egalitarianism, urbanization, and a Renaissance-like dissemination of knowledge, alongside a philosophical shift towards Neo-Confucianism from Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. This significant social and economic development profoundly influenced Chinas intellectual and political landscape, extending its impact well into the twentieth century.

Neo-Confucian scholars of this period saw public service as paramount, drawing inspiration from Chinas revered Sage Kings, who provided guiding principles for conduct, governance, and social harmony, the foundation of what is known as the rites and music tradition. This tradition, extending beyond rituals, encompassed broader social and political dimensions. Wang explains how the School of Principle, a dominant Neo-Confucian movement in the Song Dynasty, influenced governance, education, and social beliefs. Emphasizing moral cultivation and self-reflection, this school advocated for a Heavenly Principle worldview, aligning morality and governance with universal harmony. Wang emphasizes the role of Song Confucians in shaping the domain of intellectual discourse, advocating for a return to tradition while simultaneously critiquing contemporary practices.

In the following conversation, Wang unpacks why he emphasizes specific conceptual frameworks in his historical analyses. He argues that Chinese concepts like principle (li), things (wu), and the propensity of times (shi) are vital for understanding the development of Chinese thought. Wang explores how these concepts reveal a tension between established theoretical paradigms and the complex nature of historical phenomena. He illustrates how Song Confucianisms focus on concepts like li signifies a critical engagement with contemporary social, political, and moral systems, rather than a blind adherence to tradition. This critical perspective allows for a reevaluation of historical narratives and the development of alternative frameworks for understanding Chinese intellectual history.

Wangs approach challenges contemporary and historical interpretations and promotes a more nuanced understanding of historical change.

Lynn Parramore: Your book traces the development of three concepts: principle (li), things (wu), and the propensity of the times (shi). What makes these crucial to understanding the progress of Chinese thought?

Wang Hui: Why these very specific concepts? I employed these concepts as clues to describe historical change, rather than employing social history, cultural history, economic history, or military history. I wanted to use these concepts to link different things together. Basically, I think that in all of Chinese studies  and not only Chinese studies, but historical studies, generally, especially in non-Western cultures  two prevalent misgivings have often left scholars feeling frustrated.

First, they struggle with whether or not they can effectively use existing theoretical categories or social scientific paradigms to describe and interpret historical phenomena. For example, if we talk about the traditional Chinese wellfield system [an agrarian plot division for equitable land distribution], people will often describe it as an economic system. But the wellfield system is not only an economic system, but also a social, political, and military system, and, after all, a racial system. So in that sense, once you reduce that phenomenon into the category of the economy, youve lost a lot of things. Thats one issue.

The second, of course, is that we are all studying Western social science  its a universal phenomenon  so the concepts and paradigms we deploy usually come from studies of Western history. Can they be usefully applied to non-Western historical phenomena? I have found that you always need to construct a dialogue between the different concepts.

In my book, I discuss principle (li), things (wu), and the propensity of times (shi) as philosophical ideas. These are three key categories, but at the same time, I use another set of three antithetical concepts in the more historical analysis. The first is the ancient rites and music culture and institutions. The second concerns political systems, enfeoffment [the feudal land grant system], and centralized administration. The last one was more of a response to what contemporary Western scholars are working on, and also something were working on in Chinese studies: the empire and the nation-state. I question these binaries and their application to Chinese studies.

LP: In Song Confucianism, li is seen as vital for both social harmony and moral growth, encompassing both adherence to traditional norms governing behavior as well as broader philosophical and ethical principles. Why did scholars prioritize this concept?

WH: Li was a very early, very traditional idea, and it was only in the Song dynasty, especially the Southern Song and afterward, that it occupied the highest position in Neo-Confucian thought. Some describe Song Confucianism as an archaism, a nostalgia for tradition, because before the Song dynasty, there was a Buddhist dominance, and the Neo-Confucians drew inspiration from a time before that shift.

Various early Confucians viewed rites and music and the [current] institutions as overlapping  seeing little difference between them. For them, the rites and music system, the family system, the wellfield system, and the political system are all the same, together forming the fundamental framework of behavior and encompassing moral doctrine. However, Song Confucians actually sharply divided these systems from each other. They thought that when you talk about rites and music, youve lost the essence. We can imagine something similar when people talk about democracy. Democracy is a framework, but a lot of people will criticize that idea and say, no, its not democracy  its lost its spirit or essence. So though the framework was still there, the Song Confucians division between rites and music and institutions actually came from a critical stance. Its a paradigm shift. This is the first point.

Secondly, Song Confucians strove to reincorporate substantive elements from the time of the early Sage Kings, the Three Dynasties, back into daily life. They talk about the patriarchal clan system, which was part of the rites and music system. They tried to argue that we needed to return to the early Sage Kings time in considering the education system, the wellfield system (later described as an economic system), and the system of enfeoffment. However, this perspective cant be viewed as mere archaism. It can only be comprehended in light of the Song scholars critical understanding of the current system, the civil service examination system, which was very different from the traditional education system. They also criticized the centralized bureaucracy in contrast to enfeoffment (the feudal system). The Song Confucians were also very critical of commercialization and social mobility because, in the rites and music culture, morality was based on a certain kind of community. Theyre talking about returning to the early days, but theyre also actually trying to have a critical stance on the contemporary world.

Why do they put li at the top of the whole system? Why were they so dedicated to developing a category of li, the Heavenly Principle, and to talking about the Way of Heaven and so on? Confucius himself never paid so much attention to the abstract idea of li what he talked about is everyday ritual practice. When the Song Confucians talk about li, they are talking about something like immanence. You still have the rites and music  the performance, the ceremony, and so on and so forth  but you cant take these things for granted as representing the essence of the rites and the music. Now the rites and music exist in a way as the immanence. The Song Confucians went back to the rites and music, but not simply to reconstruct the rites and music. They are developing the idea of li.

LP: How does this fit into the overarching narrative of Chinese intellectual history?

WH: Is this an ontological or epistemological breakthrough? Traditional philosophers, those in the early days in America like Feng Youlan, who wrote a very famous textbook [in English], The History of Chinese Philosophy, treated this Song idea as a philosophical breakthrough. China finally had philosophy!

But really, the idea of philosophy only emerged in China in the early 20th century. The first translation of Youlans book was in the 1870s, mainly in Minju, Japan. They translated the Western ideas into Chinese characters. They translated the term zhexue [the study of wisdom] as philosophy. Later, overseas students who studied here had to reconsider Chinese thought. They had to use the frameworks and categories of philosophy, ontology, epistemology, realism, and so on, as well as the social sciences categories, to describe Chinese intellectual history. We need to think about this kind of relationship.

The fact that Song Confucians prioritized relatively abstract philosophical and ethical categories indicates the political thinking embedded in Neo-Confucianism because they are very critical of the current political, economic, educational, and even moral systems. They thought these systems were lost.

They are critical on the one hand, but they also recognize historical transformation. We can imagine a contemporary like John Rawls, who talked about justice, but obviously thought that the reality was unjust, and a lot of problems emerged from that. He tried to construct an abstract system to talk about the problems of redistribution and justice while still recognizing the legitimacy of democracy as a basic framework. In that sense, the Song Confucians, too, recognized historical change. They took the form of archaism, but they recognized the inevitability of historical change. We cannot simply go back to earlier years. We need to study phenomena to grasp the essence  thats the li. The li can help us to imagine our ideas, systems, and behavior.

The inherent historical dynamics for the establishment and the deployment of the Heavenly Principle worldview were clearly set forth in the exploration of the differentiation of [ancient] rites and music culture from [current] institutions. Basically, Song Confucians saw that while moral values are not immanent in systems, they could find moral values by studying the systems. They set forth to explore the differentiation of the rites and music culture, which was the system of the Sage King, from the institutions, or current systems. They found that even the current systems exist on behalf of or within the Sage Kings rites and music culture.

Ill just give an example. If you have a critical mindset, and you hear people defend the current system as a democracy, then the critical mindset will say, no, this is not a democracy. But to criticize in this way also legitimizes the value of democracy. The mindset of critical thinking that came from the Song Confucians was sort of conservative but actually very critical. They argue for this differentiation and also the comparison among the Three Dynasties (the Sage Kings time), and the eras that followed. The Sage Kings time became the ideal used to criticize contemporary reality. Its similar to how people resort to Plato, Aristotle, the 18th-century Enlightenment, and so on to criticize current practices and reality. So you have a discussion of the dialectic binaries of centralized administration and enfeoffment; the wellfield system and the equal field system [a system to distribute land fairly among households based on their needs]; and the schooling system and the civil service examination system. In the Song Dynasty, these systems were attached to the centralized administration system and more like a proto-nation-state than what the Kyoto School [a Japanese philosophical movement blending Western and Eastern thought] argued for.

Using ideas or propositions like principle (li) to investigate things and extend knowledge was popular among Song Confucians and later Confucianism. If we simply deploy categories like li for economic, social, political, or historical narratives, we will not only reduce these complex conceptual problems to the components of these later narratives, but once we have encapsulated them as such, we will also have neglected their significance in the intellectual world of antiquity. Therefore, we need to examine these concepts within the framework of the particular worldview of that period, and then explain the phenomena that modern scholars have categorized as economic, political, military, or social in the context of their relationships with Confucian categories such as li (Heavenly Principle), and so on. We can then provide an internal perspective through this narration.

LP: How might an understanding of li aid us today?

WH: This internal perspective is a way to observe our own system. For example, when we talk about human rights, the classical idea of rights is not only a legal concept. It means doing things that are just. But this meaning was lost in modern times because you can weaponize or abuse the idea of human rights. Some people were trying to understand the classical idea of human rights, how to define them, and enrich the category of human rights. In that sense, the classical idea is not simply observing objects, but having an internal perspective for self-reflection. Historical study works in this way: we master observation, but also we are objects for reflection.

That reflection needs certain kinds of categories that construct the internal perspective to understand us. If we think about current crises, political crises, a lot of this links together. We need some perspective to understand it. We cant understand it if we are simply stuck within it. If we are stuck within a perspective, we may find a solution that is actually the origin of the current crisis. It often happens like that. Thats why the idea of li becomes so important.

When we talk about the concept of things (wu), traditionally in Confucius time, wu was part of the rites and music culture. It overlaps. When you think about anything, its always within the system of rites and music. In that sense, wualways contains moral implications. It comprises the dynamic structure of our behavior. But if you live in a society that, from a Confucian perspective, is already in differentiation, then rites and music, even the form, have lost their substance. So wu becomes the object. You still do the rites, the ritual practice, but that ritual practice only concerns things or objects, not real moral implications. Thats why traditionally speaking, morality existed in people doing things. Thats the ritual order. But the Song Confucians emphasize that you need to start investigating things to achieve knowledge. Li is invisible within things (wu), so you need to investigate things. The idea of things themselves, when we talk about objectivity or the object, actually came out of what was not only a scientific discovery but also a historical transformation, the result of that differentiation from that perspective.

LP: And what about the propensity of times, this concept of the prevailing trends associated with a particular era, and that shapes its norms and behavior? What makes it important to Chinese thought?

WH: The concept of the propensity of times was also a very traditional idea. Mencius once asked, why is Confucius a sage? The answer: Because he knows the propensity of times. This concept is very different from the idea or the concept of time in the modern world  the linear, teleological, homogeneous, and empty concept of time. This is our time.

The propensity of the times is something else, and I try to use it as the conceptualization of history in Neo-Confucianism. I can understand why the Neo-Confucians re-employed this term to describe history. They said that there was a time before the Sage Kings time, the early Three Dynasties, and after. This is a periodization [a division of history into distinct periods based on significant events, developments, etc]. This is not based on the linear, teleological time. Its based on their understanding of the propensity of times. The propensity of times in Song Confucianism became an inner matter or matter of interiority. So the li is linked together in the interior.

In that sense, the propensity of times is closely linked to what they talk about in terms of the differentiation of rites and music from institutions  in terms of historical changes. The most important thing is that when we talk about time, we actually construct the objective framework. But the propensity of times means that we are all within that propensity. We are the forces that change the propensity of times, and we are the products of the propensity of times, but we are also the active players that force the change of the propensity of times. So its a very dynamic term and helps to get rid of an overly teleological narrative of history. Thats why I try to compare this very specific concept of time with the modern concept of time  basically to get rid of the so-called teleological narration of history.

An example is the inquiry into Chinese modernity. The Japanese Kyoto School (1920s to 1940s) argued for the importance of Song Confucianism. One of the leading figures in the Kyoto School raised the issue of the transition from the Song Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, and later, another figure, Miyazaki Ichisada (and some others), argued that the Song Dynasty already had a certain kind of capitalism. To define the early modern in Chinese history, they used a standard narration, such as the decline of the aristocracy leading to the maturity of a central administration that was labeled as a proto-nation-state, and the growth of long-distance trade, which means a more sophisticated division of labor. And the productivity, urbanization, and the standardization of the civil service examination system, which meant that, because of the collapse of the aristocratic system, now everybody could pass the examination system to be employed.

And that was true  before the Song dynasty, all the high-ranking officials came from the aristocratic system. However, after the Song dynasty, all the prime ministers came from the national service examination system rather than an aristocratic background. A kind of civilian society emerged from then on. So for the Kyoto School, Song Confucianism is a kind of ideology of nationalism, a proof of nationalism. They would argue for these as the starting point of the early modern era.

However, at that time and later, some Marxists argued that the later Ming Dynasty was the starting point of Chinese modernity. They raised the question, what is modern? And also, what is China? The Song, Ming, the Yuan Dynasty, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty were very different in terms of territory and ethnic composition. The systems were very different. So how to define China? And of course, how to define Chinese thought or philosophy? And then how to define the rise of Chinese thought? My book is about the rise of modern Chinese thought  and you can actually question each term itself.

If you talk about the rise in the teleological way, then when was the rise? Was it in the Song or Ming dynasty? Or was it the modern 1911 revolution? Or, like Francis Fukuyama said, did the early modern political system, and its structure, really start 2000 years ago in China in the Qin dynasty? He said that the Qin dynasty was almost like a proto-nation state. Whether or not it can be defined as early modern, thats very strange to some extent if you really think about it in a teleological way.

So, my question: does the concept of li (Heavenly Principle) embody an antagonism, a tension between its ideas and the Song transition? First of all, I disagree with the Kyoto School when they say that Song Confucianism is proto-nationalist, expressing the ideology of nationalism. Rather, they took the form of archaism, but you cannot reduce it to an ideology. You can only legitimize the transition. They recognize it, they criticize it. Theres a contradictory or paradoxical decision there.

So why did the Kyoto School say that the Song dynasty, or even more, Song Confucianism, was nationalistic? Because they thought the Song dynasty, compared to the early dynasties, was an even more Chinese China. Confucianism was thought of as China, whereas Buddhism was a foreign idea that came from India. How, then, can we represent the Song transition from a Confucian perspective? And how should one portray the social structure in the Mongolian Yuan dynasty after the Song? Or even more to the point, the social system of the Qin dynasty, the last dynasty, the Manchu dynasty? If you argue that the Song dynasty is the more Chinese China, how to define the Mongolian China or the Manchu China?

If you start from the teleological or linear way of thinking about the modern, does that go back to ancient times or something else? Its contradictory, because if you do that, then youve lost the whole narrative thread. Thats why I think that the idea of the propensity of times gives us another way of imagining history, another way to think about these kinds of things. In that sense, we can also rethink contemporary China, and go beyond the binary of empire and nation.

For example, we can talk about modern China, the Republic of China after the 1911 Revolution, as emerging based on the last dynasty, the Qing dynasty. It overlaps with the territory, the populations, and a lot of the systems. Then we need to ask the question, how did Confucianism, as well as other sources, legitimize the Qing as a Chinese dynasty though it was very different from the Ming dynasty? It had the Manchu as the ruling class, but its still broadly recognized as a Chinese dynasty. How is that legitimized?

Understanding historical change is very important for Confucianism as a political philosophy. Its not only the history of ideas. Its full of the political dynamics within the ideas. People say, well, now we are modern. Then why are you talking about Plato, Aristotle, all the ancient ideas? Because you are still trying to retrieve those ideas for the contemporary world.
Chuck L alerted me to an important tweetstorm by Lara Friedman of the Foundation for Middle East Peace about legislation designed to drop a hammer on not-for-profits deemed to be supporting pro-Palestine protests by revoking their not-for-profit status. As Friedman explains, this bill, H.R. 6408, also removes pretty much all due process rights, so its targets have effectively no recourse. The pretext is that pro-Palestine protests are supporting terrorist organizations, as in Hamas.

This measures is so far under the radar that so far, only Friedman and Matthew Petti at Reason seem to have noticed it. And Petti has pointed out that the Secretary of the Treasury can designate any organization to be terrorist-supporting organization, so the does not think, as Friedman seems to, that any other measures are needed to allow an Administration to try to financially cripple not-for-profits engaging in wrong speech.

Note that the messaging depicting Hamas as somehow behind the campus protests has increased:

Speaker Mike Johnson, claiming that Hamas supports the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and other U.S. colleges, has threatened congressional intervention, including pulling federal funding from the institutions. https://t.co/qy7eYO3Nik  ABC News (@ABC) April 25, 2024

And Aljazeera has already produced evidence of Zionist groups trying to stoke confrontations at the demonstrations (hat tip Erasmus):

 PROOF Pro-Israel groups pay "protestors" 50k to smear students and activists Footage from an undercover Al Jazeera investigation leaked after getting blocked from being released in the US shows pro-Israel demonstrations of American college students astroturfed from the pic.twitter.com/Old9KgsuGj  HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) April 23, 2024

Mind you, not-for-profits are already subject to mission and censorship pressures by large donors, witness the billionaires who loudly said they would halt donations to Ivy League schools if they tolerated anti-Semitism, as in did not quash criticism of Israel. But as you will see, this is a whole different level of censorship.

First, we are hoisting Friedmans entire tweetstorm. She stresses that not only does this bill create a star chamber when existing laws allow for crackwdowns on terrorist supports, but that it could be easily extended to other types of establishment-threatening speech.

I'm talking here about a bipartisan legislation the House passed last week (382-11) & that was intro'd last week in the Senate  HR 6408 & S. 1436. 2/https://t.co/js90lIr4Ughttps://t.co/SPDg5npE2M  Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC) April 24, 2024

The explicit target of this legislation is orgs involved in/supporting protest against Israels war on Gaza, most notably SJP. But of course, if passed into law, it could be used against any tax-exempt org working for an objective disfavored by the Admin in power. 4/  Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC) April 24, 2024

Reminder: US charitable organizations  like ALL US entities  are already barred, by law, from providing material support for terror & already face intense scrutiny. 6/  Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC) April 24, 2024

Those whose prioritize shutting down pro-Palestine protest above all else may view this legislation as excellent news. Those concerned with Palestinian rights/lives, and those who view with concern the rapid erosion of free speech/protest rights in the US, may disagree. 8/  Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC) April 24, 2024

Either way, it is remarkable that this legislationwhich has profound implications for protest/free speech in the US is so far going pretty much unnoticed. 9/  Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC) April 24, 2024

Petti at Reason is more pointed. From This Bill Would Give the Treasury Nearly Unlimited Power To Destroy Nonprofits:

A bipartisan bill would give the secretary of the treasury unilateral power to classify any charity as a terrorist-supporting organization, automatically stripping away its nonprofit status. In theory, the bill is a measure to fight terrorism financing Financing terrorism is already very illegal. Anyone who gives money, goods, or services to a U.S.-designated terrorist organization can be charged with a felony under the Antiterrorism Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. And those terrorist organizations are already banned from claiming tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. Nine charities have been shut down since 2001 under the law. The new bill would allow the feds to shut down a charity without an official terrorism designation. It creates a new label called terrorist-supporting organization that the secretary of the treasury could slap onto nonprofits, removing their tax exempt status within 90 days. Only the secretary of the treasury could cancel that designation. In other words, the bills authors believe that some charities are too dangerous to give tax exemptions to, but not dangerous enough to take to court. Although the label is supposed to apply to supporters of designated terrorist groups, nothing in the law prevents the Department of the Treasury from shutting down any 501(c)(3) nonprofit, from the Red Cross to the Reason Foundation.

Petti explains that an initial target appears to be Students for Justice in Palestine, which he says have not had enough of an attack surface to be targeted under current law; in fact, Florida governor DeSantis had to shelve a plan to shut down Students for Justice in Palestine when confronted with a lawsuit.

Petti explains that his concerns are not unwarranted:

Under the proposed bill, murky innuendo could be enough to target pro-Palestinian groups. But it likely wouldnt stop there. After all, during the Obama administration, the IRS put aggressive extra scrutiny on nonprofit groups with Tea Party or patriot in their names. And under the Biden administration, the FBI issued a memo on the potential terrorist threat that right-wing Catholics pose. The Charity and Security Network, a coalition of charities that operate in conflict zones, warned that its own members could be hindered from helping the neediest people in the world. Charitable organizations, especially those who work in settings where designated terrorist groups operate, already undergo strict internal due diligence and risk mitigation measures andface extra scrutiny by the U.S. government, the financial sector, and all actors necessary to operate and conduct financial transactions in such complex settings, the network declared in November. This legislation presents dangerous potential as a weapon to be used against civil society in the context of Gaza and beyond.

Recall how the US has fired on Medecins Sans Frontieres staff who were according to the US, assisting bad guys in their relief efforts? Financial sanctions are so much tidier.

I urge readers, and particularly donors, to alert the fundraising and executive staff at not-for-profits, particularly the journalistic sort, so they can object to this legislation. It would likely not survive a Supreme Court challenge in its current form, but thats an awfully heavy load to have to carry, plus the legislation might not be subject to an injunction in the meantime.
Patient readers, I need a bit more time to sort my campus protest material properly; please refresh your browsers at 7:30am or so. lambert Finished!

Ban on non-compete agreements sends shockwave across Wall Street FT

Off with Their Petticoats Literary Review

Climate

Pandemics

China?

India

The Koreas

The Caribbean

Haiti PM Ariel Henry resigns as transitional council is sworn in BBC

Syraqistan

European Disunion

Germany is becoming a police state when it comes to Palestine activism Mondoweiss

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

US health advocacy groups support Mexico in GMO trade dispute The New Lede

Biden Administration

Key Bridge Collapse

Trapped ships finally able to leave Baltimore Splash247

Groves of Academe

Digital Watch

Police State Watch

Imperial Collapse Watch

Everybody Hates a Tourist

Class Warfare

Little boy mistakes multimillionaire for homeless man and they end becoming good friends Upworthy. The deck: The boy got to keep his dollar and gain a friend.

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
What the US is really interested in is security shoring, not nearshoring, as it begins to place national security concerns above all other considerations in its relationship with China.

This week, Mexicos government announced hundreds of temporary tariffs on imports from countries with whom it does not have a trade agreement. The tariffs have been imposed on 544 imported products, including footwear, wood, plastic, electrical material, musical instruments, furniture, and steel, and range from 5% to 50% in size. They have one clear target in mind: imports from China, Mexicos second largest trade partner, though the word China is not mentioned once in the decree.

The latest round of tariffs  which took effect on Tuesday  will apply for two years. They come on the heels of a package of tariffs imposed by the Economy Ministry last month on steel nails and steel balls from China. Mexicos Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro, speaking at a Council of the Americas event in Mexico City, said the tariffs were necessary to prevent unfair competition:

We have seen a lot of products coming [into the country]  at a very low price and displacing our national producers The prices for the public dont go down, but [cheap imports] are displacing textile makers, footwear makers [and other manufacturers].

The move has received plaudits from some Mexican industry bigwigs. The president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States, Alejandro Malagon Barragan, said the move was necessary to provide fair market conditions to domestic industrial sectors that face situations of vulnerability, especially in the face of the serious non-oil trade deficit with China, which in 2023 reached $104 billion. The tariffs, he said are not a protectionist measure, but are necessary to create a level playing field, since they combat unfair practices such as dumping and subsidies that have seriously harmed Mexican companies.

But while protecting domestic industries may be one of the many reasons behind this fresh raft of tariffs, the main reason is to assuage Washingtons concerns about Chinese companies taking advantage of its nearshoring strategy by setting up shop in Mexico. As the decree itself notes due to the growing implementation of new trade models at the global level, such as the case of relocation (nearshoring),  it is necessary to implement concrete actions that allow a balanced interaction in the market, to avoid economic distortions that could affect the relocation of productive sectors that are considered strategic for the country.

Mexicos imports from China in the first two months of this year alone totaled $19.6 billion, accounting for roughly one-fifth of all of Mexicos imports, according to El Financiero. Thats up from around 15% in 2015. During the same period, the US share of Mexican imports has fallen from 50% to 44%, even as the US and Mexico last year became each others largest trade partner, for the first time in 20 years.

Chinas share of Mexican imports could reach as high as 29% by 2035, according to some forecasts. The major products imported include telephones, LCD devices, computers, integrated electronic circuits, computer parts, auto parts, TV parts, and printed circuits. Real world data suggest that one possible effect of US tariffs on Chinese goods is that many of the countries that saw faster export growth to the US in strategic sectors also had more intense intra-industry trade with China in those same sectors. In other words, as weve seen in Mexico, US dependence on Chinese goods is simply being displaced further down the supply chain.

A High-Risk Strategic Foothold

As I noted in a piece a year ago, the recent surge in trade and investment with China gives Mexico an obvious strategic foothold between the worlds two economic superpowers, but it is not without risk, especially as Washington begins to place national security concerns above all other considerations in its relationship with China:

On the one hand, [Mexicos] economy is benefiting handsomely from North Americas nearshoring trend, which is seeing a wave of global companies relocate some or all of their operations from China and other parts of Asia to Mexico in order to serve the US market. Last year, it attracted $35.3 billion in FDI, its highest level since 2015. The sectors attracting most interest among companies relocating to Mexico include automotive assembly plants and suppliers, telecommunications, electronics, pharmacochemical and textile industries. On the other hand, many of the companies relocating to Mexico are apparently Chinese. Alarmed by the recent shipping chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing geopolitical fractures, they are hoping to skirt North American trade restrictions, including USMCAs rules of origin, by setting up factories in Mexico, as the New York Times reported in February: [D]ozens of major Chinese companies are aggressively investing in Mexico, taking advantage of an expansive trade deal with North America . Following a path forged by Japanese and South Korean companies, Chinese firms are setting up factories that allow them to label their products Made in Mexico, then truck them duty-free to the United States. The interest of Chinese manufacturers in Mexico is part of a broader trend known as nearshoring or close relocation. International companies are moving production closer to customers to limit their vulnerability to transportation problems and geopolitical tensions. The participation of Chinese companies in this change shows the deepening assumption that the divide between the United States and China will be a lasting feature of the next phase of globalization. However, it also reveals something fundamental: Beyond the political tensions, the trade forces that bind the United States and China are even more powerful.

As I noted in that article, Chinas overtures toward Mexico have not gone unnoticed by DC-based lawmakers and lobbyists.

China increasingly sees opportunity in Mexico, and the investments are increasing, Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas, a business lobby group whose members include 200 blue chip companies representing the lions share of US private investment in Latin America, told Fox News [2]. Its convenient to try to circumvent sanctions  by going to Mexico and then producing in Mexico and then trying to get into the U.S. market. Chinas ramping up of its commercial and investment activity with Mexico has raised concerns in the Washington beltway that Beijing may be seeking a financial and political upside as tensions between the US and Mexico rise over a whole raft of issues, from energy to GMO foods, to the fentanyl trade (which also involves China) and the Mexican governments ongoing refusal to endorse sanctions against Russia. According to Farnsworth, the spike in Chinese investment boils down to two main contributing factors: Beijings attempts to bypass Washingtons sanctions and deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Mexico.

Steel, EVs and Fentanyl

Since then, the US government has escalated its war of words against both China and Mexico over the illicit fentanyl trade that is killing tens of thousands of US citizens a year. It has also been pressuring Mexico to prevent China from selling its steel to the U.S. through its southern neighbor, and has even threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican steel if it doesnt take tough enough action.

The latest cause of friction has been the growing presence of Chinese carmakers in Mexico. Over the past three years brands such as Changan, JMC, Chirey, Jaecoo and Jetour have set up operations in Mexico. BYD, Chinas  and now the worlds  largest EV manufacturer, currently has six dealerships in Mexico, but it plans to have 50 (with a presence in all of Mexicos 32 states) by the end of this year. BYD Americas CEO Stella Li recently told Reuters the company was looking to build a plant in Mexico with a production capacity of 150,000 units annually.

Suffice to say, that did not go down well in the US. A White House spokesperson said the Biden administration will not allow Chinese automakers to flood the market with vehicles that pose a threat to national security. According to a recent article in the Mexican newspaper Reforma, citing three unnamed Mexican officials, the Mexican government, under sustained pressure from the US, is keeping Chinese automakers at bay by refusing to offer them incentives, such as low-cost public land or lower taxes, for investments in electric vehicle production. The officials also said they would suspend any future meetings with Chinese automakers.

The growing deployment of protectionist measures in Mexico, largely at the behest of the US, has elicited rare criticism in the Mexican business press. The online financial newspaper Expansion.mx featured a fiery op-ed from Jonathan Torres, a former editorial director for Forbes Media LatAm, titled US to Mexico: Youre Against China or Against Me:

Since 2022, US officials Janet Yellen (Treasury Secretary), Jake Sullivan (National Security Advisor) and Katherine Tai (Trade Representative) have repeatedly reiterated that the China threat is one of the most delicate risks in their national security strategy, so much so that they have deployed a range of measures to prevent Chinese investments from entering their territory, including through their trading partners. Reading between the lines, the message is blunt: you are with me in my strategy against China or, otherwise, you will suffer consequences in terms of trade, investment, etc. The United States, given these circumstances, is not necessarily looking at the nearshoring phenomenon in the same way as the rest of the world For the Biden administration, global supply chains are strategic but only under certain conditions; that is, as long as they do not threaten US national security. In other words, what the US is really interested is security shoring, not nearshoring. The irony is stark: the superpower famed for its promotion of the (NC: so called) free market is attempting to impose its own legislation on trading with China on third countries. In Mexico, for example, the Chinese automotive industry is rapidly accumulating market share and therefore finds itself in the crosshairs of the US government.

There is no dispute, says Torres: We are facing an illegal act.

Twos Company

In an opinion piece titled For China, With Dislike: 544 tariffs, El Economistas editorial director Luis Miguel Gonzalez likened Mexicos strategic partnership with the US to a marriage, in which there is no room for a Chinese lover. He also warned that Mexicos main trading partner is becoming increasingly possessive:

She asks us to prove out love over and over again. She offers us nearshoring as a reward. The metaphor of marriage and the lover may be crude, but it is true. The same can be said about tests of love. The United States has become very demanding. In December of last year, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asked Mexico to create a body to review foreign investments arriving in Mexico. What they are concerned about is a possible under-reporting of Chinas investments in our country. In February, White House Trade Representative Katherine Tai raised her voice over the possible introduction of Chinese steel to the United States disguised as Mexican steel. Last month, Donald Trump threatened to prevent the entry of Chinese cars if they are produced in Mexico.

Regardless of who occupies the White House next year, Mexicos commercial ties with China will come under increasing focus  and strain  north of the border. The primary focus of the upcoming review of the Mexico, United States, Canada Agreement (USMCA), will be making the necessary adjustments to position the North American region vis-a-vis China, says Ildefonso Guajardo, a former Economy Minister who headed Mexicos negotiating team for the USMCA and is currently a coordinator of international issues for presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez.

The real underlying problem for the upcoming review of USMCA in 2026 is neither rules of origin nor transgenics. The problem for 2026 is called China, Guajardo said this Tuesday, also at an event organized by the Council of the Americas. Guajardo describes China as both a trading partner and a competitor to Mexico. As such, the Mexican government should prioritize its integration with the United States.

But not everyone in Mexico is quite so blase about the prospect of Mexicos government throwing all its weight behind the US, to all intents and purposes a declining superpower, in its wider geopolitical struggle with China.

Caught in the Middle

The old rich guy in town, the US, is having problems with the new rich guy in town, China, says Enrique Dussel of the Centre for China-Mexico Studies at the National Autonomous University in Mexico. And Mexico  under previous administrations, and this one  doesnt have a strategy vis-a-vis this new triangular relationship.

And that makes no sense given the risk Mexico runs of being caught in the middle of this titanic duel between two superpowers. But according to Mexicos outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO), Mexico has little choice in the matter:

We cannot shut ourselves off, we cannot break up, we cannot isolate ourselves. It is a fact that we have 3,800 kilometers of border, for reasons of geopolitics (presumably in reference to the US invasion, occupation and appropriation of more than half of Mexicos territory in the mid-19th century). With all due respect, we are not a European country, nor are we Brazil. We have this neighborhood and, furthermore, if we agree on things, as we have done, we can help each other out Our economic integration is already well advanced.

In fact, in the same speech AMLO actually called for an intensification of North American integration, along the lines of the European Union, while somehow preserving Mexicos status as a free, independent, sovereignty country:

The important thing here is how to strengthen that integration and commitment that is in the interest of both nations, the United States and Mexico, to strengthen North America and subsequently strengthen the entire American continent, just as in the beginning the European Community was created that would go on to become the European Union.

It is baffling to hear a Latin American head of state  especially someone of AMLOs stature  calling to replicate the success of the European Union. Over the past two years the supranational bloc has not only dynamited Europes economic future through its disastrous sanctions against its largest energy provider, Russia, it has been actively complicit in Israels genocidal war against Gaza. It also has zero regard for national sovereignty and basic democratic principles, and is doing everything it possibly can to undermine the two.

Ironically, AMLO said the above words in a speech titled The United States Must Learn to Respect Mexican Sovereignty, in which he blasted the US State Department for singling out Mexico for significant human rights issues in its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. As Mexicos outgoing president asked, what gives the US government the right to judge other countries on their human rights record, given the hostile way in which it has acted toward so many other nations over the past 200 years:

How can they talk about human rights if they allocate billions of dollars to war for the death of innocents in all the countries in the world where there is confrontation? [W]hy dont they release Assange? Where is the freedom and free manifestation of ideas?

But deep down AMLO appears to believe not only that Joe Biden has a policy of respect toward Mexico but that the US can actually be reformed, which brings to mind (or at least my mind) the Scorpion and the Frog fable.

We have insisted a great deal  and will continue doing so  on wanting to change US foreign policy, said AMLO. In return, he asks that the US-Mexican bilateral partnership be based on cooperation, integration and respect for sovereignty. We need each other, he said, we complement each other, you just have to learn to respect us. Will that leave any space for Mexico to continue forging ties with the US largest geopolitical rival, China, as well as other strategic partners? AMLO seems to think so; I am not so sure.
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Scene and the Nashville Banner. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.

Russell Maze will remain in prison, where he has spent the past 25 years after a jury convicted him of abusing and ultimately killing his infant son, Alex. On Thursday, Judge Steven Dozier issued an order denying the request to reopen his petition for post-conviction relief.

The decision came a month after a two-day hearing in which the Tennessee Innocence Project and Davidson Countys Conviction Review Unit  which had conducted an exhaustive study of the case  argued that Maze was not guilty of murder. Mazes conviction rested on a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, and numerous medical experts testified that they believed this diagnosis was incorrect, and that new scientific evidence both ruled out abuse and offered any number of possible alternative medical explanations for Baby Alexs death. A detective testified that a Vanderbilt doctors early prognosis of shaken baby syndrome shaped their investigation to the point of excluding other possibilities.

On the first day of that hearing, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk gave a short statement, saying that based on clear and convincing evidence, it was his duty to ask the court to vacate and dismiss the case.

Judge Dozier disagreed with that characterization.

The Court is unconvinced the 'new scientific evidence' presents substantially more than different opinions on extant proof, Judge Dozier wrote in his decision. The Court cannot conclude that Petitioner has established by clear and convincing evidence that 'no jury would have convicted him in light of the new evidence' presented at this post-conviction hearing."

Russells wife and Alexs mother, Kaye Maze, was also seeking to have her conviction vacated. Her petition was also dismissed.

Shortly after the decision was handed down, Funk told the Nashville Banner, "I stand by the investigation and conclusions of the Conviction Review Unit."

After six exonerations, this marks the first time the CRU has been unsuccessful in getting a conviction vacated. The unit receives hundreds of applications but has taken only a select few to court.

Background

On May 3, 1998, Alex Maze was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after his father, Russell, found him unresponsive and not breathing. Alex had been born premature, already had a host of health problems, and was less than 2 months old at the time. Not long after Alex arrived at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, child abuse specialist Dr. Suzanne Starling examined him. His injuries included bruising on his face and abdomen, bleeding around the brain and behind both eyes, severe cerebral swelling, and evidence of restricted blood flow in the brain consistent with stroke.

This constellation of injuries is seen in abusive head trauma, Dr. Starling noted. She then told detectives that the only possible cause of Alexs injuries was violent shaking, and they questioned Russell and Kaye Maze accordingly. Alex was placed in foster care, and his parents were both arrested. Kaye pleaded guilty to reckless aggravated assault in the hopes that being out of prison would enable her to regain custody of Alex.

At trial, Starling testified that theres really nothing else that causes all three layers in the entire back of the retina to be obscured by all this blood. Russells attorneys did not call a qualified medical expert to refute the Shaken Baby Syndrome diagnosis, and he was convicted of murder.

A new trial was ordered because the jury had not been properly instructed to consider lesser charges. Then Alex died, and the charge was upgraded to murder. A second jury found Russell guilty in 2001. He lost an appeal in 2006, then filed for post-conviction relief in 2007 on the basis of ineffective counsel but was denied.

In their analysis of the case, the Conviction Review Unit noted that Starling had not reviewed Alexs pediatric records, nor had she looked at his mothers medical history, which included a difficult pregnancy that ended with an induced premature delivery. The five medical experts the CRU consulted with for their lengthy report all agreed that Baby Alex did not die of abuse. Some of those experts, including Knox County chief medical examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, and pathologist and blood disease expert Dr. Michael Laposata, subsequently testified at the March hearing.

Doziers conclusions

Judge Doziers decision gave substantial weight to the two preceding trials, both of which found Russell Maze guilty. "Subjectively, he wrote, opinions have been offered for more than two decades on the same facts."

Baby Alexs injuries have been chronicled at length, Dozier wrote, and while the present witnesses have added their opinions to the lengthy evidentiary history, this additional information is not considered as standalone proof.

The judge also characterized the witness testimony at the hearing as new ammunition in a 'battle of the experts.' And he noted that this battle was not waged in the normal way.

All parties acknowledged the unconventional nature of the proceedings, Judge Dozier wrote, calling attention to the fact that the hearing did not conform to a traditional adversarial format. With the Tennessee Innocence Project and the Conviction Review Unit both on the side of vacating the conviction, there was no opposing counsel to cross-examine the medical experts. Instead, Dozier found himself playing the part of fact-finder, rather than strictly a dispassionate arbiter of two opposing sides.

To that end, throughout the hearing, Dozier frequently interjected and questioned the witnesses, who he said, disagreed with each other, definitively asserted different etiologies and disagreed with unspecified medical opponents. While Dozier allowed that all of the experts agreed they did not believe the injuries were trauma-inflicted, he diminishes the value of the newly presented evidence where fresh opinions were offered but not probed by cross-examination.

As a matter of housekeeping, Judge Dozier dismissed the testimony of a former MNPD detective who worked on the case. The Court observes that [she] does not qualify as an expert explaining new scientific evidence, Dozier wrote, and the Court declines to put any weight or value on her testimony.

The decision did not make reference to a request for leave to file an amicus brief submitted by former assistant district attorneys Brian Holmgren and Katrin Miller, who prosecuted the Maze case.

The Mazes have 30 days to appeal Doziers decision. Attorneys for Kaye Maze have already filed a notice of appeal with the court.
Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana visited West Lafayette, Indiana on Thursday (25 April 2024), where he toured Purdue University and visited the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy (KITD).

As part of its constant adaptation to new challenges, innovation is a key focus for NATO. Disruptive technologies such as AI and biotech are being increasingly exploited by our adversaries. Technology is changing our societies, but it is also changing security and warfare, Mr Geoana said in a discussion with President Chiang, faculty and international students. To maintain our technological edge we need to innovate and adapt faster than our adversaries across all EDTs. And we need to make better use of our academia powerhouse. This is why I am at Purdue University today. Yesterday, I visited MIT and Harvard.

At the KIDT, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships with academia and the private sector in order to advance the technological end economic competitiveness of the Alliance. We will continue to explore opportunities to collaborate in order to accelerate the secure and trusted adoption of dual use technologies, he concluded.

Deputy Secretary General Geoana visited Boston on Wednesday (24 April), where he toured the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and visited a site for NATOs Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

At The Engine - an innovation accelerator established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - the Deputy Secretary General met with biotech founders to discuss the role technology plays in responding to security challenges. DIANA supports companies to develop technologies that can solve urgent defence and security challenges. At a DIANA site, Mr Geoana participated in a discussion on dual use innovations. He also met with leaders of MassChallenge, a Boston-based network of experts, investors and corporate partners who support the growth of new technologies.

Speaking later to students and faculty members at the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs - part of the Harvard Kennedy School - the Deputy Secretary General urged young leaders to think differently compared to those who went before them and use innovation to help tackle global security challenges.
(As delivered)

Chancellor Scholz, dear Olaf,

Its great to be back in Berlin and to once again meet with you.

And thank you for your warm welcome.

And thank you also for your leadership and personal commitment to our transatlantic alliance.

Germany makes major contributions to our shared security.

You are strengthening your presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, deploying a brigade to Lithuania.

Your jets are patrolling the Baltic skies.

And Germany has committed 12,000 troops to Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War.

Your historic and very important Zeitenwende has led to major increases in defence spending.

The fact that Germany now invests 2 percent of GDP in defence matters for all Allies.

Moreover Germany shows its leadership in the support for Ukraine.

Germany is the biggest European contributor of military aid to Ukraine.

You just decided to send a third Patriot system to Ukraine.

And I strongly believe that other Allies should follow the example of Germany.

Therefore, I also welcome that other Allies are doing more. The U.S. has approved a new package of aid.

The UK, the Netherlands, and others have announced additional major contributions.

It is our responsibility to turn these contributions into deliveries, quickly.

We must also remain vigilant regarding covert Russian activities across the Alliance.

Last week, Germany arrested individuals accused of espionage and sabotage.

And today, in the United Kingdom 5 individuals have been charged in connection with hostile state activity to benefit Russia.

NATO Allies stand in full solidarity with Germany and the United Kingdom.

Such acts are dangerous and unacceptable.

They will not deter us from providing support to Ukraine.

And we are coordinating closely in our response to any hostile act against NATO Allies.

So Chancellor Scholz, dear Olaf,

Thanks so much for welcoming me once again.

I look forward to our conversation.

Thank you.
Alvin Bragg has his Trump trial, all he needs now is a crime

Below is an expanded version of my column in the New York Post on the start of the Trump trial and much awaited explanation of District Attorney Alvin Bragg on the underlying alleged criminal conduct. The curious aspect of the case is that the prosecutors are stressing that they will prove largely uncontested facts. Indeed, if all of these facts of payments, non-disclosure agreements, and affairs are proven many of us (including liberal legal experts) are doubtful that there is any cognizable crime.

(Article republished from JonathanTurley.org)

Here is the column:

For many of us in the legal community, the case of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against former president Donald Trump borders on the legally obscene: an openly political prosecution based on a theory that even some liberal pundits have dismissed. Yet, this week the prosecution seemed like they were actually making a case for obscenity.

No, it was not the gratuitous introduction of an uncharged alleged tryst with a former Playboy bunny or planned details on the relationship with a former porn star. It was the criminal theory itself that seemed crafted around the standard for obscenity famously described by Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in the case of Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964): I shall not today attempt further to define [it]  But I know it when I see it.

After months of confusion of what crime they were alleging in the indictment, the prosecution offered a new theory that is so ambiguous and undefined that it would have made Justice Stewart blush.

New York prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury that one of the crimes that Trump allegedly committed in listing the payments to Stormy Daniels as a legal expense was New York Law 17-152. This law states Any two or more persons who conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means and which conspiracy is acted upon by one or more of the parties thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

So they are arguing that Trump committed a crime by conspiring to unlawfully promote his own candidacy. He did this by paying to quash a potentially embarrassing story and then reimbursing his lawyer with other legal expenses.

Confused? You are not alone.

It is not a crime to pay money for the nondisclosure of an alleged affair. Moreover, it is also not a federal election offense (which is the other crime alleged by Bragg) to pay such money as a personal or legal expense. It is not treated under federal law as a political contribution to yourself.

Yet, somehow the characterization of this payment as a legal expense is being treated as an illegal conspiracy to promote ones own candidacy in New York.

The Trump cases have highlighted a couple of New Yorks absurdly ambiguous laws. Under another law, New York Attorney General Letitia James secured an almost half of billion dollar judgment against Trump for loans where the alleged victims not only did not lose a dime but were eager for more business from his company. The law does not actually require any loss to a victim to impose a roughly $500 million penalty against a defendant that James pledged to bag in her campaign for office. While the over and under valuing of assets is common in the real estate area, James singled out Trump.

James declined to explain how this law could be used against other businesses since actual losses or injuries are not viewed as necessary. Businesses would just have to trust her and her judgment. In other words, the law could have sweeping applications, but we will know a violation under the civil law when we see it.

As with James, Bragg saw it in Trump. His predecessor did not see it. He declined charging on this basis. Bragg did to. He stopped the investigation. However, after a pressure campaign, Bragg might not be able to see the crime but he certainly saw the political consequences of not charging Trump.

In New York, prosecutors are expected to have extreme legal myopia: they can see no farther than Trump to the exclusion of any implication for the legal system or legal ethics.

Of course, neither he nor his office has never seen this type of criminal case in any other defendant. Ever.

We have never seen a case like this one where a dead misdemeanor from 2016 could be revived as a felony just before any election in 2024.

The misdemeanors in this case, including falsifying these payments, expired with the passage of the statute of limitations. But Bragg (with the help of Matthew Colangelo, a former top official in the Biden Justice Department) zapped it back into life by alleging a federal election crime that the Justice Department itself rejected as a basis for any criminal charge.

So now there is a second crime that is hard for most of us to see, at least outside of New York. Trump is accused of conspiring to promote his own candidacy by mislabeling this payment, even though it was part of a larger legal payment to his former counsel, Michael Cohen.

They do not see a crime in analogous mislabeling of payments by Democratic candidates. Take Hillary Clinton who served as senator from New York and ran for president against Trump. For months before the 2016 election, Hillary Clintons campaign denied that it had funded the infamous Steele dossier behind the debunked Russian collusion claims. That was untrue. When reporters tried to report on the funding story, one journalist said Elias pushed back vigorously, saying You (or your sources) are wrong.

When I tried to report this story, Clinton campaign lawyer @marceelias pushed back vigorously, saying "You (or your sources) are wrong." https://t.co/B5BZwoaNhI  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) October 24, 2017

It was later discovered that the funding was hidden as legal expenses by then-Clinton campaign general counsel Marc Elias. (The FEC later sanctioned the campaign over its hiding of the funding.). Times reporter Maggie Haberman declared, Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year.

Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year https://t.co/vXKRV1wRJc  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 24, 2017

Elias even went with John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, in speaking with congressional investigators and Podesta denied categorically any contractual agreement with Fusion GPS.

While the funds were part of the campaign budget, they were listed as legal expenses and the Clinton people continued to insist that such payments to a former intelligence figure to put together the dossier was a legal expenditure.

It is not clear if Trump even knew how this money was characterized on ledgers or records. He paid the money to his lawyer, who had put together this settlement over the nondisclosure agreement. Cohen will soon go on the stand and tell the jury that they should send his former client to jail for following his legal advice.

In addition to running for president, Trump was a married host of a hit television show. There were ample reasons to secure a NDA to bury the story. Even if money was paid to bury these stories with the election in mind, it is not unusual or illegal. There was generally no need to list such payments as a campaign contribution because they were not a campaign contribution in the view of the federal government.

It is not even clear how this matter was supposed to be noted in records. What if the Trump employee put legal settlement in personal matter or nuisance payment? Would those words be the difference

Again, it is not clear. But that does not appear to matter in New York. The crime may not be clear or even comprehensible. However, the identity of the defendant could not be more clear and the prosecutors are hoping that the jury, like themselves, will look no further.

Read more at: JonathanTurley.org
Biden fumbles again, mistakes northern Israeli city of Haifa for Gazan city of Rafah

During a discussion about Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza, President Joe Biden exhibited his ongoing cognitive decline as he referenced the Israeli city of Haifa when he was actually referring to the Gazan city of Rafah.

Haifa, located in northern Israel, is the country's third-largest city and home to a major Israeli port, whereas Rafah is situated in the very southern tip of Gaza, right next to the border with Egypt.

In an interview addressing his efforts to engage with voters sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, Biden mentioned meeting with Israeli officials and emphasized the need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. (Related: Biden regime providing nearly all the weapons used by Israel to commit genocide.)

"I've been meeting with them [pro-Palestinian voters], number one," said Biden. "Number two, I made it clear that we have to vastly increase the amount of food, water, healthcare going into Gaza."

"And I made it clear to Israelis: Don't move on Haifa," he added, supposedly referring to Rafah rather than the major Israeli city. "It's just not  I mean, anyway"

Rafah has emerged as the primary target for Israeli military operations due to its strategic significance, and due to Israeli claims that it houses most of Hamas' remaining strength as well as the dozens of Israeli hostages still in Gaza.

Additionally, the city accommodates a large population of displaced Palestinians, raising concerns about civilian casualties in the event of a major offensive.

Biden's memory and cognitive function are getting worse

This is not the first time Biden has made this kind of mistake. Previously, he mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abd el-Fattah el-Sisi as the president of Mexico.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Additionally, despite being debunked by reputable sources, Biden has persistently claimed to have traveled extensively with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, further raising questions about the accuracy of his statements.

However, neurologists are cautioning against jumping to conclusions about Biden's cognitive abilities following a report by special counsel Robert Hur describing him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."

While the report highlighted instances of forgetfulness regarding specific details, experts stressed that such lapses may be a normal part of aging.

The report mentioned Biden's difficulty recalling certain time frames, including his tenure as vice president and the passing of his son, Beau Biden, due to brain cancer. Despite this, Biden refuted any concerns about his memory during a press conference, asserting that his memory remains intact.

Dr. Paul Newhouse, from the Vanderbilt Alzheimers Disease Research Center, noted that difficulty recalling names is a widespread complaint among older adults and doesn't reliably predict memory disorders.

Similarly, Dr. Dennis Selkoe, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, pointed out that stress and sleep deprivation can impact memory function regardless of age.

Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, from NYU Langone Health's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, noted that accumulated life experiences may enhance wisdom despite declines in memory. However, experts emphasized that concerns arise when memory lapses extend to recent or significant events, indicating potential progressive disorders.

Watch this clip of Joe Biden mistaking Haifa for Rafah.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel strikes Rafah where all remaining Gaza refugees fled: 22 DEAD, most of them CHILDREN.

Biden reiterates "ironclad" support for Israel despite the nation's ongoing genocide campaign that relies on U.S. weapons to slaughter women and children in Gaza.

"Genocide" Joe Biden shows devotion to Israel, sends reinforcements to fight Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu sets date for invasion of Rafah amid pressure over mounting civilian casualties.

Israel gears up for massive ground operation in Rafah despite growing global opposition.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com
Japanese professor: Fraudulent use of gene therapy in healthy people is an extreme violation of human rights

Masayasu Inoue, professor emeritus at Osaka City University Medical School , has warned of " a dangerous, new governmental development " in a message delivered from Japan during the recent World Council for Health conference.

"There is a high risk that Japan-made vaccines will be exported under the guise for false trust. If Japan were to become a vaccine perpetrator, it would leave irreparable harm to future generations. Therefore, the actions of the Japanese government must be stopped by international collaborations," said Inoue, who specializes in molecular pathology and medicine.

Inoue discussed how the plan was set up to shorten the time to develop the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. He said that it usually takes "more than 10 years to less than 20 years to develop a vaccine." But Operation Warp Speed was used to cover up the misconception of the genetic vaccines under the pretext of saving time.

"An extremely dangerous method was selected," he said. "That was (an) intramuscular injection of viral genes to produce toxic spike proteins directly in human tissues to stimulate the immune system." (Related: Disease X and fear-mongering.)

Because it was a completely new and misconceived method that had never been applied before in human history, it was impossible for most doctors to give proper informed consent. Inoue added that, due to the irresponsible government and media campaigns to promote vaccines, 80 percent of the Japanese population had been vaccinated.

"Seven shots have been done so far, this is the most and worst in the world. And the result was the induction of the terrible drug-induced injury that has never been seen in human history," he said. "I believe that the fraudulent use of experimental gene therapy to healthy people, particularly to healthy children, is an extreme violation of human rights."

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Meanwhile, Japanese Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Keizo Takemi has insisted that there is no "serious concern about the injury caused by the genetic vaccines." Takemi added that they plan to construct a new vaccine production system in preparation for the next pandemic.

Japan first country to approve replicon vaccine

"This is an unbelievable, crazy situation, that the Japanese government is the first in the world to approve a new type of vaccine called self-replication replicon vaccine and plan to start to supply it in this fall and winter," Inoue remarked.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is providing a huge amount of subsidies for this project and the factories to produce the new vaccines are being built one after another in Japan. Furthermore, the Japanese government is currently soliciting large-scale clinical trials worth $900 million through pharmaceutical companies that are taking on the challenge of developing vaccines to prepare for the next pandemic by disease X proposed during the Davos Conference this year.

It is speculative that the movement by the Japanese government is part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation's (CEPI) 100-day mission, which aims to shorten the time to one-third of Operation Warp Speed. Specifically, they are trying to shorten the vaccine business cycle by developing a vaccine in 100 days, Inoue said.

This is possible only by ignoring the human rights perspective. Amendments to the so-called Pandemic Treaty, which is about to be adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly this year, are attempting to give rationality and a legal binding force to such unscientific and dangerous crazy plan.

"Therefore, the actions of the Japanese government must be stopped by international collaborations. Although it has already been three years since I started to give lectures to educate Japanese people about the dangers of vaccines. We are facing censorship and speech suppression almost every day," Inoue noted. "When Disease X occurs in the future, you should never trust the Japan-made vaccine that was developed in a short period of time  in order to protect human rights in cases of control and that transcend national boundaries."

Read more stories like this at DangerousMedicine.com.

Watch as Japanese professor Masayasu Inoue discuss how the World Health Organization used the pandemic to push global vaccinations.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

WHO's Tedros demands COMPLIANCE from the world, citing hypothetical Disease X.

Globalist World Economic Forum now parroting "Disease X" narrative to instill FEAR in the public.

World Health Organization threatens another "Disease X" like COVID unless all nations obey its authoritarian Pandemic Treaty.

Top Archbishop: WEF plotting 'global coup' to enforce 'Great Reset.'

Disease X seems like an engineered plan as corporate media blasts headlines about "next pandemic" causing "20 times" more deaths than COVID.

Sources:

GlobalResearch.ca

Brighteon.com
Former free speech proponent Sen. Hawley is now calling for the national guard to suppress anti-Israel protests

Senator Josh Hawley, like many conservative lawmakers who once claimed to support free speech, has abandoned his principles to go all in for Zionism and call on the National Guard to step in at the nations colleges where disruptive anti-Israel protests are taking place.

The Republican Missouri senator tweeted on Monday: "Eisenhower sent the 101st to Little Rock. It's time for Biden to call out the National Guard at our universities to protect Jewish Americans."

He has also sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to deploy the National Guard to protect Jewish students at Columbia University.

After the October 7 attacks on Israeli soil carried out by Hamas terrorists, Hawley called on the Department of Homeland Security to cancel the visas of people who criticize Israel and deport those who espouse anti-Israel political views; he also called on the DHS to fire employees who were critical of the Jewish state.

When he was accused of anti-Semitism after attending a conference held by an advisor to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019, Yoram Hazony, he said that he would die for the country, writing on X: "You'll have to carry me out on a slab before I compromise my defense of the Jewish people, their greatness, their history, their safety and the state of Israel."

Its an interesting stance to take for someone who has made a name for himself in his party via his open criticism of wokeness, cancel culture and the rampant censorship of conservatives online.

However, Hawley is not the only lawmaker calling for the National Guard to take action against the disruptive protests. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has made a similar call, asking the Biden administration to do something about the pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University in New York City if the states governor, Kathy Hochul, fails to get things under control.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

In a posting on X, he wrote: The nascent pogroms at Columbia have to stop TODAY, before our Jewish brethren sit for Passover Seder tonight. If Eric Adams wont send the NYPD and Kathy Hochul wont send the National Guard, Joe Biden has a duty to take charge and break up these mobs.

Four years ago, Sen. Cotton wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for the use of military force against people protesting the death of George Floyd, spurring a fiasco at the paper that resulted in the resignation of its editorial page editor.

Protests continue as the death toll in Gaza rises

Protests against the war in Gaza at the Ivy League college have gotten so out of hand that the university has announced classes will be held remotely in hopes of defusing tensions. Numerous students have set up camp on the schools central lawn and are demanding that they divest from businesses that are profiting from the violence.

Last week, the president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, called the New York City Police Department to come and break up a tent encampment there, which led to 100 arrests; some of the students involved have been suspended.

These senators are going out of their way to protect Israel from criticism, but there is no getting around the fact that their actions in Gaza are inexcusable. The death toll in Gaza recently passed 34,000, with most of the victims said to be women and children. Around 77,000 people have reportedly been wounded, and there is an unknown number of dead bodies buried in the rubble of bombed-out homes and buildings. These numbers will likely continue to climb as tensions escalate amid missile and drone strikes between Iran and Israel.

Sources for this article include:

Fox5SanDiego.com

InformationLiberation.com

Politico.com

TheGuardian.com
Future of the world will be decided in Ukraine, says Russian ally

The Ukraine conflict is among the major events that will determine the future of the world, and the West is emerging weaker from it, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed on Wednesday.

(Article republished from RT.com)

He contrasted Kievs policies with those of Minsk, arguing that unlike its southern neighbor, his nation has preserved its independence under Western pressure.

Everyone understands that todays Ukraine is a military range, where the future of the world order is partially decided. The largest nuclear powers indirectly, and now even directly, are waging a war on its territory, Lukashenko stated.

Meanwhile its authorities have sunk to the level of striking a bargain with the West to exchange weapons for the lives of Ukrainians. Watching this is painful, he added.

Kiev has miscalculated, Lukashenko argued, because whoever is willing to serve a master for scraps will sooner or later lose. Ukraine is risking its statehood after betraying its past and traditions, he also warned.

The Belarusian leader described the entire conflict as the latest clash between the West and the East, and suggested that neither side has become stronger.

The outcome of the confrontation will not save the existing order, Lukashenko further predicted. He urged the US and its allies to accept that their future role will be restricted as one of several centers of power that determine world affairs.

Read more at: RT.com
Just days after Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said moon is made of gases, NASA director Bill Nelson says far side of moon is always dark  is everybody in government an idiot?

America's useless, corrupt-to-the-core Congress is back at it again making collective fools of themselves about science and space.

The latest deranged, well-past-his-prime dinosaur to say something utterly stupid on the public stage is NASA Director Bill Nelson, who in speaking with Congress the other day discussed plans by the United States government to build a base on the south pole of the moon because there is supposedly water there.

China has prioritized setting up a base on the back side of the moon, but Nelson has no idea why because he believes that the far side of the moon is "always dark," never seeing any sunlight  watch the cringe-fest below:

The U.S plans to build its first(?) base on the south pole of the moon, because water. China has prioritized the backside of the moon, NASA Director Bill Nelson has no idea why. pic.twitter.com/y2pqSIVDmI  James (@JamesIsSteezy) April 19, 2024

Nelson, by the way, is the top dog at NASA, meaning he is supposed to represent the best that America has to offer in terms of expertise about the known universe. How did this guy come to occupy his post, we wonder?

"Unbelievable," tweeted Phil Parker (@PhillipTParker) about this embarrassing display of stupidity by Nelson. "The moon orbits the Earth. And the 'back side' is certainly not dark. It receives sunlight with every revolution around our world."

Don't wanna be an American idiot

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) did something similar around the time of the second Great American Eclipse when she incorrectly told a room full of students during a ceremony that the moon is "made up mostly of gases."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Lee, by the way, is a former member of the Science Committee, as well as a former Ranking Member of the Space and Aeronautics Committee, meaning she, too, should know at least the basics about space.

Lee received heavy backlash on social media  and rightfully so  for spreading fake science that is so easily debunked, not to mention so widely known and understood even by youngsters with a rudimentary understanding of the universe.

"Obviously I misspoke and meant to say the sun, but as usual, Republicans are focused on stupid things instead of stuff that really matters," Lee fumed on X in response to all the backlash, turning the criticism into partisan banter (as usual).

Truth be told, Rep. Lee, many Republicans are just as dumb as you are. Pretty much the entire U.S. Congress is a pack of utter morons who are beholden to special interests, mainly Israel, rather than the people they supposedly represent.

"I believe this sort of thing is put out to disable a person's critical faculties," one of our regular readers wrote about these public displays of stupidity.

"When only falsehoods are shown in media and education then the mind caves in and experiences a break down. It just doesn't know what to believe. It then accepts what it is told, and uncritically."

Another wrote jokingly that Lee is "mostly full of hot air and gasses" herself, which would explain why she said what she said.

Someone else, referencing Nelson's fake science, joked that perhaps China wants to build a base on the back side of the moon because the Chinese "are massive Pink Floyd fans."

"All these guys do is lie," wrote another about the U.S. government as a whole, which no longer in any way represents the will of We the People.

The entire U.S. Congress needs to be drained, dredged and replaced with people who have integrity and who knows basic, common-sense facts about the universe, would you not agree? Learn more at Stupid.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
Russia warns: Fresh aid package for Ukraine will lead to more Ukrainian casualties

The Kremlin has issued a grim warning regarding the recently approved aid package for Ukraine, saying it would lead to more Ukrainian casualties

This cautionary statement follows the approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of over $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, a significant development after months of political wrangling in Congress.

Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, expressed grave concerns about the consequences of this aid package. (Related: Ukraine's starting to get dangerous.)

Peskov remarked that the decision would enrich the U.S. while further destabilizing Ukraine and resulting in more Ukrainian casualties, which he attributed to the Kyiv regime's actions.

Zakharova echoed these sentiments, warning that the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan by the U.S. would only exacerbate global conflicts, including the one between Moscow and Kyiv.

Former President and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev labeled the approval of new aid to Ukraine as "Russophobic" and predicted it would lead to more victims in the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian officials and Western experts had previously cautioned that without military aid from the U.S., Kyiv would continue to lose more territory to Moscow, with the country facing the prospect of a new Russian offensive next month.

Ukrainian forces have been grappling with dwindling supplies, including ammunition and interceptor missiles for air defense systems.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Ukrainian officials express gratitude to U.S. for new military aid package

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the approved aid package, emphasizing its significance in supporting Ukraine's independence and resilience against Russian aggression.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, also conveyed Ukraine's sincere appreciation to the US Congress for its positive vote on the military aid package, emphasizing its vital importance for the country's security.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also expressed profound appreciation for the support from the U.S. Congress. Kuleba hailed the approval as a setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing America's steadfast commitment to defending its principles.

In a statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the significance of the aid bill, asserting that it would prevent the escalation of the conflict, save countless lives and bolster the strength of both nations.

The approval comes in the wake of airstrikes targeting major cities like Chernihiv and Dnipro, resulting in numerous casualties. Ukraine's depleted air defense capabilities have exacerbated the impact of these strikes, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced supplies.

Meanwhile, on the eastern front, Russian forces continue to advance towards the strategic town of Chasiv Yar, underscoring the critical importance of bolstering Ukraine's military capabilities. Ukrainian troops, facing severe ammunition shortages, have struggled to repel the Russian offensive.

The aid package, which also includes provisions to support the Ukrainian government in Kyiv, was recently passed by the U.S. Senate and was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Despite initial resistance in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) decision to proceed with the vote marks a significant turning point in securing aid for Ukraine.

The urgent need for military assistance is underscored by Ukraine's plea for additional Patriot air defense systems to safeguard its sovereignty. Despite possessing only three systems, Ukraine remains determined to secure additional support from European allies.

The delay in approving aid to Ukraine has raised concerns and frustrations, particularly in light of recent interventions in other conflicts. European leaders echoed Ukraine's gratitude for the House's decision, emphasizing the importance of transatlantic solidarity in confronting Russian aggression.

Watch this report discussing the passage of aid for Ukraine and wondering whether it will have any significant impact to the ongoing conflict.

This video is from the channel Tim Kirby Russia on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ukraine warns its frontlines could COLLAPSE at any time as generals fear severe losses from upcoming Russian offensive.

Ukraine running out of air defense missiles, giving Russia a FREE PASS to Kyiv.

Ukraine now buying CHINESE DRONES because the American-made versions are unreliable.

Sources include:

Express.co.uk

MSN.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Target sued for illegally collecting customers biometric data through facial scans and fingerprinting

A class action lawsuit filed in Illinois claims that retail giant Target collects and stores customers biometric data, such as facial scans and fingerprints, without obtaining proper consent , which is in violation of the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

Target illegally collected and stored customers biometric data, including face and fingerprint scans, according to an Illinois woman who filed a class action lawsuit against the Minnesota-based company on behalf of herself and other customers.

Arnetta Dean alleges Target violated Illinois BIPA by collecting customers data without obtaining written consent or sharing data retention and destruction policies. (Related: Biometric data and surveillance: DNA being eyed as the "ultimate global ID.")

The lawsuit, filed on March 11 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, also claims the company did not provide the necessary disclosures or allow customers to opt out of the data collection practices.

Plaintiffs seek statutory damages of $5,000 for each intentional or reckless violation of the law and $1,000 for each violation found to be negligent. They also seek to recoup attorneys fees and other litigation expenses.

The lawsuit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent Target from further violating the biometric privacy rights of Illinois residents. A hearing in the case is scheduled for July 10.

Dean, an Illinois resident, filed the lawsuit after allegedly having her biometric data collected without consent during visits to the retailers stores.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to NBC Chicago, Target allegedly employs advanced facial recognition technology in its stores to prevent theft. The suit cites a Target investigations center leader who said, "[We] are using state-of-the-art equipment to gather as much intelligence as possible, reduce business risks, and take down criminals."

The lawsuit alleges Target "operates one of the largest and most advanced networks of cameras" and has developed an advanced system of electronic surveillance that includes 14 investigation centers and two forensic labs "to enhance video footage and analyze fingerprints."

Illinois going after corporations for violating BIPA

Passed in 2008, Illinois BIPA safeguards residents biometric data, such as facial scans and fingerprints. The act recognizes the unique nature of biometric information, emphasizing that, unlike other personal data like social security numbers, biometric identifiers cannot be easily changed if compromised. This makes people particularly vulnerable to identity theft and other risks if their biometric data is mishandled.

Under BIPA, companies collecting biometric data in Illinois must follow strict guidelines.

First, they must inform individuals in writing that their biometric information is being collected and specify the purpose and duration of its use. Second, they must obtain a written release from the individual before collecting the data. Third, companies must develop and make publicly available a retention schedule and guidelines for permanently destroying the collected biometric data.

Violating BIPA can result in significant penalties for companies, including damages ranging from $1,000 for each negligent violation to $5,000 for each intentional or reckless violation, liability for attorneys fees and other litigation expenses  precisely the relief the plaintiffs in the current lawsuit are seeking.

BIPA, unique to Illinois, provides protections rarely granted by other states laws. This has led to hundreds of David-and-Goliath legal battles against some of the worlds most powerful companies, some resulting in huge settlements.

In recent years, several tech giants have found themselves in the crosshairs of Illinois' biometric privacy law. The most notable case involves Facebook, which settled a class action lawsuit for $650 million in 2022. The social media behemoth was accused of collecting and storing digital scans of users faces without permission. As a result, over 1 million Illinois Facebook users received checks for nearly $400 each.

Google was accused of violating BIPA through its Google Photos service, which between 2015 and 2022 allegedly collected and stored biometric data of Illinois residents who appeared in photos uploaded to the platform.

Watch a discussion on how real-time data can be collected during a biometric data security scan.

This video is from the Ace of Coins channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

JPMorgan to launch biometric payment system as next step in Orwellian financial surveillance.

Starbucks teams up with Amazon to launch BIOMETRIC payment system in certain locations.

Everyone's a TARGET: Internal email reveals Target execs are asking employees to engage in LGBT pride activities.

World's biggest biometric ID system experiences massive breach, impacting 10% of global population.

Biometric digital ID numbers and personal identifiable information of approximately 815 million Indians HACKED.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

NBCChicago.com

Brighteon.com
Trump arrest would cause nationwide civil unrest  CNN analyst

The possible arrest of former US President Donald Trump for violating his court-imposed gag order would trigger rioting and deal a potentially fatal blow to President Joe Bidens re-election chances, CNN analyst Mark Preston warned on Friday.

(Article republished from RT.com)

Trump is currently on trial in Manhattan for allegedly misreporting hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Since last month, he has been forbidden from making public statements about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg or the jurors working on the case, and from uttering anything that could interfere with the work of the court.

Nevertheless, the former president has spoken to reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse every day this week, and Braggs team claims that he has already violated this gag order at least seven times. In one instance, Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to share a quote from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who claimed that undercover liberal activists were lying to the judge in order to get on the Trump jury.

However, if the trial judge were to place Trump in a holding cell for a few hours, the end result would be civil unrest across the country, certainly in some cities, Preston said in a panel discussion with CNN host Jim Acosta.

And two, politically, if Im the Biden campaign, I dont want to necessarily see him in jail, because thats just going to get people more inflamed and more fired up, he added.

The judge, Jaun Merchan, will hear arguments from the prosecution on Trumps alleged violations of the gag order on Tuesday.

People are allowed to speak about me, and I have a gag order, just to show you how much more unfair it is, Trump said outside the courthouse on Friday. The former president blasted the order as unconstitutional, telling reporters that it "has to come off.

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee to challenge Biden in Novembers presidential election. Despite the ongoing trial in Manhattan and three other criminal cases in the works, he is currently leading the incumbent in most polls by between one and ten points.

Read more at: RT.com
Ukraine suspends visa renewals for military-aged Ukrainians living overseas as punishment for NOT DYING in battle with Russia

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced that the countrys consulates abroad will be temporarily suspending all services to men aged 18 to 60 in what appears to be nothing more than a bid to force them to return home so they can fight in the war.

The country is currently grappling with a shortage of troops as they continue to battle Russia and hold the front line. The Russian army is currently much larger and better equipped than its Ukrainian counterpart, and Ukraine appears to be fighting a losing battle.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba explained the motivation for the measures in a statement on X, writing: "How it looks like now: a man of conscription age went abroad, showed his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state. It does not work this way. Our country is at war. Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the Homeland."

The foreign ministry will be clarifying what military-aged men need to do to obtain consular services soon, but it is almost certain they will be forced to return home. A published letter indicated Ukrainian consulates will only issue documents to men in this age range abroad that enable them to return home to Ukraine, and the consulates in Prague and Barcelona have already stopped offering services to men of military age.

The state passport service issued a statement of its own indicating it cannot help Ukrainians abroad, saying: "Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, the issuance of ready-made documents in foreign branches of SE (State Enterprise) Document has been suspended."

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to the Eurostat database, around 4.3 million Ukrainians are currently registered in EU countries. Around 20% of them, or 860,000, are adult men.

Right now, Ukrainian men who are younger than 60 are forbidden from traveling abroad under martial law, but many are trying to avoid the draft by either attempting to bribe officials or by hiding somewhere within the country.

The move comes as a controversial new law is set to go into effect next month requiring men of military age to report to draft offices in the country to update their papers within a period of 60 days; those who are abroad would need these papers if they want to obtain consular services.

They also recently lowered the age of mobilization by two years from to age 27 to 25 in an effort to boost the military's depleted ranks. It is believed the new law, which also eliminated certain draft exemptions and toughened the penalties for draft dodgers, could add around 50,000 troops to the countrys military, as some of those in this age range may be unfit for service, have deferment rights, or already be part of the reserve.

This is only a fraction of the 500,000 troops that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wanted to mobilize in December, although he later said that the figure was incorrect. Their troops reportedly numbered 800,000 in October, including around 300,000 serving on the front lines.

Ukraine will do whatever it takes to bolster its troop numbers

Military analysts report that the average age of soldiers on both sides is above 40.

There are some concerns that reducing the minimum conscription age means that more young adults will be forced out of the workforce, which could add to the countrys economic problems. However, with Russian forces expected to launch a major push in the coming weeks or months, Kiev is reportedly looking to bolster its troop numbers using whatever means possible.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

APNews.com
U.S. considering sending more military personnel to Ukraine

The United States is considering sending more military advisers to its embassy in Ukraine , according to a statement from the Department of Defense (DOD).

Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in an interview with Politico that the advisers would serve in non-combat roles, mainly assisting logistics and checking deliveries of American weapons, which Washington admits it often cannot track once they arrive in Ukraine, and supporting with their maintenance.

"Throughout this conflict, the DOD has reviewed and adjusted our presence in-country, as security conditions have evolved. Currently, we are considering sending several additional advisers to augment the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the Embassy," Ryder said in a statement, mentioning that "personnel are subject to the same travel restrictions as all embassy employees."

Ryder added that the ODC "performs a variety of advisory and support missions  and while it is staffed exclusively by DOD personnel, it is embedded within the U.S. Embassy, under Chief of Mission authority like the rest of the Embassy."

The news arrives as the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $61 billion aid bill for Ukraine, with the Pentagon stating the package will include "things like air defense and artillery capabilities."

Supplementary troops to support logistics and oversight efforts

Even though Ryder did not specify how many advisers would be delivered to Kyiv, saying "operational security and force protection reasons," sources acquainted with the details told Politico that the number could be up to 60.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

The supplementary troops will support logistics and oversight efforts for the weapons America is sending Ukraine, as stated by four U.S. officials and a person acquainted with the plans, who were given anonymity to talk about a sensitive subject.

The latest contingent will also support the Ukrainian military with weapons maintenance, as reported by one of the U.S. officials and a person familiar with the plan.

A small number of U.S. troops have already been sent for short rotations attached to the embassy in Kyiv, two of the U.S. officials said, with the second official describing the numbers as "onesies and twosies." Those personnel are assisting with oversight and embassy security.

Ukraine is struggling to recover the drive on the battlefield in the wake of a failed counteroffensive last summer, along with more recent losses aggravated by a decreasing supply of foreign ammunition.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently acknowledged that "things on the battlefield begin to shift a bit in Russia's favor," with Kyiv's forces struggling "in terms of holding the line."

As reported by Politico, the advisers would be assigned to help the Ukrainians with recently delivered equipment as the conflict is anticipated to increase during the summer.

Despite the fact President Joe Biden promised that American troops will not be deployed to fight Russia in Ukraine, Moscow has warned that it regards the U.S. and other NATO members de facto participants in the war.

Ukraine has cried for more artillery, air defenses, long-range missiles and fighter jets, which frontline troops and major politicians assert would help the Ukrainians push through Russian lines and hold their positions.

The news that the U.S. is deploying additional forces to Ukraine arrives as senior officials warned last week that Russia has been gathering momentum. (Related: House Speaker Johnson pushes foreign aid spending bills allocating a combined $87 BILLION on Ukraine and Israel.)

Follow UkraineWitness.com for more news about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Watch this clip of House Speaker Mike Johnson speaking to the press following the passage of the aid package for Ukraine.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces another $200 million in military aid for Ukraine.

U.S. expedites delivery of $300M in military aid to Ukraine.

Senior Russian military officer warns that Ukraine conflict could become FULL-BLOWN WAR in Europe.

Sources include:

RT.com

Politico.com

Brighteon.com
At least a dozen water suppliers in Iowa are still providing residents with drinking water contaminated with forever chemicals

At least 12 community drinking water supplies in Iowa are unacceptably contaminated with "forever chemicals" linked to various health ailments.

This warning comes as the Environmental Protection Agency implements new drinking water standards that limit certain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or forever chemicals, to almost none. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers.

"It's the first time in more than a decade that the EPA has issued a new regulation that will require Iowa water suppliers to reduce or eliminate a contaminant for public safety," said Corey McCoid, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supervisor who oversees water supply compliance. "It's a big deal." (Related: Biden admin approves more stringent rules covering forever chemicals in drinking water).

"Everyone can agree we need to get these things out of our water," said David Cwiertny, a University of Iowa engineering professor and director of the university's Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. "We're still understanding health effects, but what we know is not good."

PFAS have been used for decades in products including non-stick pans, firefighting foam and waterproof clothing. Although some of the most common types are phased out in the United States, others remain. Water providers will now be forced to remove contamination put in the environment by other industries.

The new rules limit the amount of two common types of PFAS  PFOA and PFOS  that can be detected in drinking water to four parts per trillion. Three other types of PFAS including GenEx chemicals are limited to 10 parts per trillion.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Within five years, water providers will have to test for these PFAS chemicals and tell the public when levels are too high. Combinations of some PFAS types will be limited, too.

"We've got a lot of communities that are going to need to figure out how to address this," Cwiertny said.

Thousands of Iowans possibly exposed to unsafe levels of PFAS in their water

The Iowa DNR started testing community water supplies for PFAS in 2021. Results available online show 14 water systems, including cities and mobile home parks, whose water tested over four parts per trillion. In other places, PFAS were detected, but below the threshold. In many other places, including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, PFAS were not found in the public water supply.

PFAS persists in the environment indefinitely and can accumulate in peoples bodies, potentially causing a variety of illnesses and cancers.

They are used in numerous products for their ability to repel oil and water, and the vast majority of Americans are believed to have detectable amounts of them in their blood. Common sources of significant contamination include manufacturers such as 3M Company, landfills and airports and other sites where firefighting foam has been used.

The new federal regulation will generally require water supplies that regularly serve at least 25 people to test for PFAS within the next three years and to mitigate its contamination within five years. That can be accomplished by finding alternate water sources or installing equipment to remove the chemicals.

DNR testing in recent years of water supplies that are most likely to be contaminated has revealed 12 that will be affected by the new rules, McCoid said.

They include utilities that provide drinking water for residents of Buffalo, Burlington, Camanche, Davenport, Dubuque, Muscatine, Osage, Sioux City and Tama.

Also affected are the Kammerer Mobile Home Park and Bayer Crop Science near Muscatine, and a seasonal campground near Bellevue called Peteschs that has some year-round residents.

Several cities with contaminated water have already worked toward fixing the problem, even if their PFAS concentrations are below the new federal threshold, McCoid said. They include Ames, Burlington, Central City, Rock Valley and Tama.

Burlington, which draws water from the Mississippi River, might spend about $20 million on a well field and water treatment improvements, McCoid said.

Its possible that further testing will reveal PFAS contamination in other water supplies, McCoid added. There are about 1,100 community supplies in Iowa that are subject to the new federal regulation, and the DNR has yet to test about 800 of them. McCoid expects that a handful more might be contaminated.

Watch this clip from "The Kim Iversen Show" as host Kim Iversen and guest Michael Connett discuss how the government is lacing drinking water with medications.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EPA monitoring a new class of toxic PFAS in municipal water supplies  GenX chemicals.

USGS: At least 45% of TAP WATER across the U.S. is contaminated with FOREVER CHEMICALS.

Breakthrough: Canadian scientists develop novel filtration method that permanently removes "forever" chemicals from drinking water.

3M agrees to $10.3 billion settlement over allegations of contaminating public drinking water with "forever chemicals."

The Dr. Ardis Show: Americans unaware that the water they use contains a LOT of CHEMICALS  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

IowaCapitalDispatch.com

TheGazette.com

Brighteon.com
Democrat Arizona governor vetoes bill that would have made it easier for homeowners to remove squatters

One of the less divisive issues making headlines recently is the growing problem of squatters and the overly permissive squatting laws in many states that enable them to live in homes that dont belong to them for years while homeowners are helpless to kick them out. Most people are arguing in favor of making it easier to have squatters removed from properties, but Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently made a decisive move to help these criminals continue to live rent-free

The Democrat governor recently vetoed state legislation that would empower homeowners to have squatters on their property removed by law enforcement officers almost immediately. Squatters would be treated as trespassers if they continued living in the home. Homeowners must currently go through long court battles and endless amounts of red tape before they can reclaim their property, and it appears that will remain the status quo in Arizona moving forward thanks to Gov. Hobbs' actions.

In her veto letter, she insisted that Senate Bill 1129 did not respect the due process rights of lawful tenants and claimed it may have unintended consequences, such as for victims of domestic violence.

Her assessment was so far off the mark that State Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), who drafted the legislation, asked if Hobbs had even read the bill, pointing out that it does not refer to lawful tenants and only addresses illegal occupants. Moreover, it specifically addresses family members and people with agreements to cohabitate.

She said: Criminals are scheming to take over homes that arent theirs, posing a threat to the safety of homeowners and infringing on their private property rights.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Rogers also pointed out that numerous homeowners testified during committee hearings about the high costs of repairs they were responsible for after squatters severely damaged their property and the violation they felt that criminals took over their homes and could not be removed.

Another official, State Sen. Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson), described her personal experience finding a squatter occupying a home when she showed it to a client while she was working as a realtor.

"It was a terrifying threat to my safety, the safety of my clients, as well as to the homeowners," she said. "When I called the police, I was told there was not much they could do. It's a shame Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed yet another piece of commonsense bipartisan legislation."

The veto-happy governor has vetoed 52 bills so far during this legislative session following a record-breaking 143 vetoes last year.

Criminals are taking advantage of permissive squatting laws around the country

Criminals around the country have been abusing squatting laws, and many of them arent even trying to hide their illegal activity. For example, The National Pulse reports that Venezuelan illegal immigrant Leonel Moreno has attracted a significant following on TikTok for his videos instructing migrants on how they can take advantage of squatters rights to steal peoples homes.

In one video, he bragged about how his friends have taken over seven homes and explained: I found out that there is a law that says that if a house is not inhabited, we can seize it.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken a much harsher stance against squatters than Gov. Hobbs, signing a bill into law that gives homeowners the right to ask police to expel squatters and applies harsh penalties to those who engage in the practice. Those who cause more than $1,000 in damages will be subject to second-degree penalties, and people attempting to rent or sell properties they do not own will face first-degree felony charges.

Learn more about concerns regarding squatters and homelessness at HomelessAgenda.com.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com

FloridaPolitics.com
Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan into law

The four-bill package, which received bipartisan support in the House with 311 votes in favor and 112 against, includes $60.8 billion in military aid for Ukraine. Approximately 80 percent of the allocated funds for Ukraine will be directed toward replenishing supplies of American weapons and ammunition and an additional $9.5 billion will go to providing support to the Ukrainian government in the form of a forgivable loan.

"We rose to the moment, we came together, and we got it done," Biden said during the announcement of the aid package's signing. "Now we need to move fast, and we are." (Related: EU agrees to provide $55 billion aid package for Ukraine as U.S. aid stalls.)

The aid package immediately allocates $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, with shipments heading to Europe just hours after the signing. This first shipment includes crucial military equipment such as air defense missiles, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other weapons to bolster Ukrainian forces.

In addition to the aid for Ukraine, the bill also includes $26 billion in aid for Israel, $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region  with most of this package going to Taiwan  and approximately $1 billion in humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza. Biden stressed the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza promptly, calling on Israel to facilitate its delivery without delay.

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The package also includes a bill with potential ramifications for TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by Chinese parent company ByteDance, from app stores within the United States if the company fails to sell the app within nine months.

Greene files for a House-wide vote to oust Johnson after unsuccessfully derailing the bill package

The four-bill aid package went through months of negotiations and debates in the House of Representatives before it was finally voted on and signed by Biden.

A few days before the legislation of the bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) clashed with fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and other GOP hardliners, including New York Reps. Nick Langworthy, Nicole Malliotakis, Elise Stefanik and Claudia Tenney, over government spending for Ukraine.

Johnson explained that the United States badly needed to pass this foreign aid package, which also assists Israel, Taiwan and other allies, because it was "a dangerous time" for Americans.

"Three of our primary adversaries, Russia, Iran and China are working together  and theyre a global threat to our prosperity and our security," he said. "Their advance threatens the free world, and it demands American leadership. If we turn our backs right now the consequences could be devastating. Its an old military adage, but we would rather send bullets to the conflict overseas than our own boys, our troops."

In response to Johnson and his work with Democrats on government spending and support for foreign aid, Greene files a resolution for a House-wide vote to oust Johnson.

"This is the third betrayal of Mike Johnson," Greene said. "And then he did this b------- in here on the House floor, a foreign war package that does nothing for America. It's unbelievable. I'm thankful that America gets to see who this man is."

Visit UkraineWitness.com for similar stories about Ukraine's demands for more aid money.

Watch this video about the Ukrainian army going on the defensive.

This video is from the White Knight channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

BETRAYAL: Senate approves $95.3 billion aid package for Israel and Ukraine with nothing for U.S. border security.

Yellen WARNS: U.S. could be HELD RESPONSIBLE for Ukraines defeat unless Congress approves new aid package.

Congress abandons Ukraine aid in temporary funding bill to avert government shutdown.

Sources include:

APNews.com

NYPost.com

Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
Biden regime tells Zelensky regime to stop bombing Russias oil refineries because it might cause global energy prices to soar

Vice President Kamala Harris held a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week to urge him to refrain from bombing any more of Russia's oil refineries.

Since Russia produces much of the world's oil, bombing Russian oil refineries is not in the best interests of anyone, Harris said, adding that global energy prices could soar even further if Ukraine damages any more Russian energy facilities.

The Washington Post reported that Ukraine's head of state "brushed off the recommendation," balking at the notion. Even so, the United States just sent billions more U.S. taxpayer dollars to Ukraine to keep the bombings going, so expect $10 gas per gallon in the coming months.

(Related: The United States had better listen to Russia unless it wants to collapse into oblivion.)

Ukraine and the West are asking for it

The meeting between the Biden regime and the Zelensky regime took place after Ukrainian drones targeted energy infrastructure in Russia's Smolensk Region, according to local Governor Vasily Anokhin.

"Our region is again under attack by Ukrainian UAVs," Anokhin wrote on Telegram, adding that Russian air defenses were already responding to the situation.

The attack by Ukrainian drones targeted "civilian fuel and energy facilities," resulting in numerous fires throughout the Smolensky and Yartsevsky districts of Russia. Firefighters were on the scene putting out the fires and reassuring locals to remain calm and not worry.

Located about 300 kilometers southeast of Moscow, Russia's Smolensk region borders Belarus. The city of Smolensk is located about 400km away from the border of Ukraine.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Ukraine proceeded to try to bomb another undisclosed oil facility in Smolensk around the same time, but those drones were downed by Russian defense forces. Debris from the interception reportedly fell onto a storage unit of oil and lubricants, which also started a fire.

In other western areas of Russia, Russian air defenses intercepted numerous Ukrainian drone raids, destroying more than 50 of them over the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk, as well as some territories like Smolensk, Ryazan, Kaluga and Moscow are more easterly from the Ukrainian border.

Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia's energy facilities started back in January when the Zelensky regime launched a series of long-range attacks on oil depots and refineries using kamikaze drones.

The purpose of these attacks is not necessary to accomplish anything on the war front, but rather to try to impress Kiev's Western backers as the Zelensky regime attempts to compensate for a lack of progress on the frontline, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.

Even though the U.S., the primary financial and weapons backer of Ukraine, is urging restraint, Ukraine is pressing on in attacking Russian energy facilities, to its eventual demise.

"In reality, it is not Ukraine per se that has this capacity," one commenter at RT wrote about the drone attacks. "Most of the missiles and drones are operated by Israeli and European Zionist neocon NATO terrorists."

"Then again, Russia should also start giving a taste of the thing not just to Ukrainian Nazis but also to European and U.S. oil and gas companies across the world."

"Rather rash and sad that Herr Zelensky carried out further attacks against the Russian oil infrastructure which drives up gas and fuel prices for Americans who were just forced to give Zelensky more mansions, yachts and property in foreign nations," wrote another about the war crimes of former actor and stripper Volodymyr Zelensky, a Zionist Jew.

"Such gratitude. Reminds me of a mini-Netanyahu."

More related news about the clown show known as the Biden presidency can be found at Treason.news.

Sources include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
This is why everyone needs to prepare for the day when devastating cyberattacks take U.S. power grids down

What would you do if the power grid where you live went down and there was no electricity for an extended period of time? You might want to think about that, because experts are warning that it is just a matter of time before cyberattacks successfully cripple our power grids. In fact, foreign hackers are working hard to infiltrate critical infrastructure as you read this article. As you will see below, we are extremely vulnerable, and the Russians and the Chinese have both developed highly advanced cyberwarfare capabilities. When the U.S. ends up fighting a war with Russia or China (or both simultaneously), devastating cyberattacks on our power grids will be conducted. When your community is suddenly plunged into darkness, what is your plan?

(Article republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

The United States and Canada are not covered by a single power grid.

Rather, there are multiple grids that collectively provide the electricity that all of us need. The following explanation comes from Wikipedia

Bloomberg is reporting that US power grids are facing heightened risks of cyber and physical attacks as the election nears, and one expert is warning that there is a 100 percent chance that critical infrastructure will eventually be breached at some point

I think theres a 100 percent chance that organizations in the critical infrastructure space at some point will experience some short of breach, said Stephanie Benoit Kurtz, lead cybersecurity faculty at the College of Business and Information Technology at the University of Phoenix. No longer are the days when organizations can say, Well never be breached. Its not if, its when.

Sadly, I believe that she is quite correct.

We should have never exposed our power grids to the Internet, and now we are incredibly vulnerable.

During a recent congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray publicly admitted that Chinese hackers have been targeting our power grids

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that Chinas hackers are targeting American critical infrastructure, including water treatment plants, pipelines and the power grid, to be able to wreak havoc in the U.S. if Beijing ever decides to do so. Testifying before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Wray also warned that there has been too little public attention on the threat that he says Chinas efforts pose to national security. Chinas hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if and when China decides the time has come to strike, Wray told lawmakers.

This is a very real threat.

The moment that China invades Taiwan, the U.S. and China will be at war.

And the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has warned that if Beijing feared that a major conflict with the United States were imminent, it almost certainly would consider undertaking aggressive cyber operations against U.S. homeland critical infrastructure and military assets worldwide.

Most Americans dont realize that the groundwork for such cyber operations is already being laid. For example, last August Chinese hackers specifically targeted the Texas power grid

The report says that, in August, hackers attempted to access the computer systems used by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or the PUC, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operate the states power grid. Most of Texas is on its own power grid, separate from the grids used by most of the country.

If you think that our systems are secure, you are just being delusional.

The truth is that we are extremely vulnerable, and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation admits that the number of weak spots is growing with each passing day

U.S. power grids are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, with the number of susceptible points in electrical networks increasing by about 60 per day, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) said in a webcast on Thursday. The grids virtual and physical weak spots, or points in software or hardware that are susceptible to cyber criminals, grew to a range of 23,000 to 24,000 last year from 21,000 to 22,000 by the end of 2022, executives with the energy regulator said. Its very hard to keep pace with addressing all those vulnerabilities, said Manny Cancel, senior vice president of NERC.

But foreign entities wouldnt even need to gain access through a weak spot if there are already back doors in place.

According to one analysis, about 90 percent of software used to manage the U.S. power grid is linked to Russian and Chinese developers

Orlando based Fortress Information Security explained that any kid with internet can contribute their block that then can be developed into software used in Americas critical infrastructure. A block, one of these code components, can risk the whole structure our energy grid. A Chinese agent or a Russian agent can install backdoors into one of these components. And then unbeknownst to a software manufacturer, you grab this component, which has been tampered with and poisoned by Russian or Chinese actor and now they put that component into their software, and it ends up in our electrical grid or, or an oil rig, said Alex Santos, CEO of Fortress Information Security. The company analyzed nearly 8,000 of these open-source components. 13 percent had contributions from Russia and China. Fortress found about 90 percent of software used to manage the U.S. power grid is linked to Russian and Chinese developerssomething that can make it three times as likely to contain critical vulnerabilities.

How in the world did we allow that to happen?

Are we really that incompetent?

I was floored when I first read that.

I had no idea that we were so vulnerable.

Of course it isnt just our power infrastructure that is being targeted. According to Politico, Europe has been inundated with cyberattacks since Russia invaded Ukraine

Thousands of cyberattacks have inundated Europes energy grid since Russias invasion of Ukraine, and a top industry leader is calling for help as officials and researchers fret that not nearly enough is being done. The crooks are becoming better by the day, so we need to become better by the day, Leonhard Birnbaum, the chief executive of E.ON, one of Europes largest utilities, said in an interview. Im worried now and I will be even more worried in the future.

We have never seen this sort of warfare before.

So most people greatly underestimate the threat.

But someday the power in your area could suddenly go out without any warning whatsoever.

Temporary interruptions are not a problem, but if the power is out for an extended period of time our entire way of life will start rapidly shutting down

When power stops, life grinds to a halt. Lights go out. Sewage treatment stops. Clean water stops. Electric cars, buses and trolleys stop. Elevators stop, trapping older and disabled people. For many, home heating, refrigeration, cooking and clothes washing stops, along with medical devices such as oxygen generators.

For many years, I have been warning my readers that conflict with Russia and conflict with China would be coming.

Now both of them are actively hacking into power infrastructure in the United States and Europe.

I hope you have a plan, because it is just a matter of time before cyberattacks start causing widespread chaos all over the globe.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
How both Israel and the GOP completely lost my support in just 6 1/2 months

Before October 7th, I was pro-Israel and pro-GOP. Right after Oct. 7th, I was even MORE pro-Israel, feeling great sadness for the Israeli deaths that took place during the Hamas attack. Before long, however, Israel began bombing Gaza in retaliation. Soon it became apparent that the IDF wasn't bombing Hamas at all. They were bombing hospitals, universities, refugee centers and civilian residential buildings.

As the deaths from the indiscriminate bombings mounted, the actions of Israel became irreconcilable with the claim of "self-defense." At 5,000 Gazan deaths, I became very alarmed. At 10,000 I was horrified. At 20,000 deaths I was outraged. Today the death count stands at 35,000+ and Israel insists it is still bombing Gazans to death as an act of "self-defense." During all this, almost no member of the GOP spoke out against Israel's mass bombing of civilian infrastructure and residential buildings, using U.S.-supplied 2,000 lb. bombs which are indiscriminate killers of any innocent civilians who are unlucky enough to be caught in the extensive blast radius. Far from "precision strikes," Israel's attacks on Gaza were more accurately described as "genocidal carpet bombing" to destroy every living person in an entire city.

As Israel's true intentions became impossible to ignore -- the complete extermination of the Palestinian people -- it was also impossible not to conclude that Israel was engaged in acts of genocide. Modern-day war crimes, intended to exterminate an entire ethnic group of people, so that Zionists could steal their land, water and resources. It was at this point that Israel completely lost my support. In retrospect, I no doubt afforded Israel far too much hesitation, tending to give them the benefit of the doubt, solely because my understanding of what Israel was actually doing had been obscured by a lifetime of pro-Israel western propaganda.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Now, the true nature of Israel and Zionism is abundantly clear, and I feel a sense of personal shame that I did not recognize this sooner. Israel is a nation of extreme hatred and violence, run by murderous war criminals who act daily on a deeply evil intent to achieve the genocidal extermination of the Palestinian people. These acts from Israel's leadership are deliberate and even celebrated in their own words as they openly call for the mass extermination of all Palestinians. It is now abundantly obvious that Israel's genocidal nature is incompatible with sustainable human civilization (or even regional peace), and that the escalatory actions of Israel (such as bombing Iran's consulate building in Damascus) are so extremely dangerous that far from being "America's greatest ally," Israel has actually become America's most dangerous enemy.

How the GOP lost my support even more quickly

The GOP, for their part, now appears to be wholly controlled by Netanyahu and his far-right Likud party extremists. The shocking obedience of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in dispatching hundreds of state troopers to brutally assault peaceful pro-Palestine protesters at the UT campus in Austin belies the gross abandonment of fundamental civil rights principles which now defines the Republican party in America. The very same Republicans who screeched about the abuse of federal power levied against the peaceful J6 protesters is now calling for military force to be unleashed against unarmed, peaceful university students merely because Israel does not like the content of the protesters' speech.

The official position of Texas Gov. Abbott, now admitted in his own tweets, is that your First Amendment rights are now defined and limited by Israel, and if Israel says they don't like your speech, then Texas will deploy overwhelming military force to arrest you and jail you even when you have committed no definable crime other than "offending Israel."

That Senator Ted Cruz is going along with this -- and that governors Noem and DeSantis are also apparently beholden to Israel's demands -- is a shocking indictment of the Republican party in general... and it is a gross admission that the GOP will readily abandon any principle at all -- including the most sacred principle enshrined in the First Amendment -- in order to appease the Zionist lobby that now appears to exert total control over the GOP in America.

That's how the GOP lost my support. And the fact that Trump continues to side with Israel's brutality and genocidal violence rather than denouncing these assaults on free speech in America reveals that Trump himself is also a Zionist puppet who cannot be trusted to make policy decisions based on universal principles.

Crudely stated, Dr. Shiva was absolutely correct when he said, "Everybody but me sucks Zionist c#ck." He was referring to RFK, Jr., Donald J. Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and other candidates running for president. Although his metaphor is profane, it is not wrong.

Informed people are no longer buying into the war racket and Zionism's victimization scheme

In summary, it only took 6 1/2 months for both Israel and the GOP to lose my support. Now, I speak out against Israel's crimes against humanity, and I am calling out every member of the GOP who is complicit in Israel's genocidal crimes. I am known as an "influencer of influencers," and although I've lost a few followers over my speaking out against Israel (mostly Christian Zionists), I have gained tremendous reach among those who are sickened by war, incensed by the Military Industry Complex and fed up with Zionists playing the "anti-Semitism" card to try to play victim every time they are scheming to justify their mass murder.

More importantly, I now realize that the GOP establishment has no remaining guiding principles whatsoever... not even the principle of freedom of speech. And if the GOP won't defend your First Amendment, they also won't defend your Second Amendment... or as we've seen recently with Speaker Johnson, not your Fourth Amendment, either.

It's time for a new political party that isn't populated by Zionist puppets, Big Pharma pill pushers, Military Industrial Complex warmonger and corrupt, incompetent lunatics who want to drive us all into World War III. Col. Douglas Macgregor, who now serves as the CEO of OurCountryOurChoice.com, is absolutely correct when he says that the current uniparty system cannot be salvaged or reformed. It is too far gone. Elections no longer matter, because regardless of who you vote for, you always get (the policies of) John McCain.

Continuing to support the very same candidates that have now wholly sold out to Ukraine, Israel or other foreign interests -- all while utterly abandoning the urgent domestic issues that threaten the very existence of our country (such as the open borders crisis) -- is an act of insanity. The Democrats are almost universally proving to be authoritarian tyrants, but the Republicans always seem to arrive at the same authoritarianism through different excuses. In terms of the policies they support, there is literally no difference whatsoever: Both Democrats and Republicans wholly support Big Pharma and the vaccine industry, Big War and the DEATH industry, Big Banking and the DEBT industry, and above all BIG GOVERNMENT to control everything you're allowed to speak or think.

The Democrats have actively destroyed this once-great nation, but the Republicans were either wholly complicit or stood by and did nothing while the arsonists set fire to the pillars of our constitutional republic. As is now obvious to anyone paying attention, we no longer have a functioning civil society in the United States of America. We have a failed government, failed election integrity, a failed justice system, a failed counterfeit currency, fake corporate media, fake war propaganda, a failed educational system, and a weaponized system of science and medicine that literally develops and deploys biological weapons against the American people while actively depriving the public of knowledge of solutions that could have saved millions of people from injury and death during COVID (such as ivermectin, zinc and quercetin).

Today, the United States federal government functions as a deliberate weapon against not just the American people, but against the entire world, and each day as they awaken, federal government officials no doubt ask themselves, "How can we hurt more people today?" Or, "How do we destroy more nations so that America might hold on to its waning dominance a few years longer?"

We are living under the unrelenting tyranny of a geopolitical suicide cult, and its appetite for destruction and human suffering knows no bounds. As this collapsing empire desperately tries to hold on to power, it will destroy the lives, the assets, and the dreams of an entire nation. And both Israel and the GOP are tossing accelerant grenades onto the bonfire of destruction, burning this civilization to the ground and taking as many people as possible with them.

I can no longer participate in any way in supporting such a destructive, demonic system of national suicide. I hereby withdraw my consent and my vote.

Read more news about Israel's genocide at IsraelCollapse.com.

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U.S. military and contractors are exploiting Ukraine conflict to test AI-powered military technology

The military-industrial complex of the United States is allegedly using Russia's special military operation in Ukraine to test new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered military technology that assists in detecting targets on the battlefield utilizing drone footage.

The technology, referred to as Project Maven, had its research acquired from the government by Google under a contract six years ago before being acquired recently by other contractors following opposition from engineers and other employees who did not want to be associated with creating an AI tool for military use.

Today, the technology is being tested on the front line in Ukraine, the New York Times reported, as Western and Ukrainian officers, together with some top military contractors from Silicon Valley, are "exploring new ways of finding and exploiting Russian vulnerabilities."

Thus far, the findings from the testing have reportedly been "mixed." While Project Maven permits commanders to identify the movements of Russian forces and utilize AI algorithms to predict their next steps, it has seemingly been "difficult" to bring "21st-century data into 19th-century trenches."

One of the biggest obstacles, the New York Times said, is that due to restrictions enforced by President Joe Biden, the U.S. military can only supply Ukrainians a "picture of the battlefield" without providing exact targeting details.

It is also unclear if the latest technology would even be able to alter the course of the war due to Russia's ability to adapt to emerging technologies being employed by Ukraine.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

"When new technology meets the brutality of old-fashioned trench warfare, the results are rarely what Pentagon planners expected," the New York Times said.

U.S. military using Ukraine conflict as testing ground for rapidly evolving technologies

Despite the mixed results from testing Project Maven, the conflict in Ukraine is still considered "a bonanza for the U.S. military" and a testing ground for rapidly evolving military technologies.

"At the end of the day this became our laboratory," said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has been using a version of Project Maven that does not need the input of sensitive American intelligence or advanced systems.

Ukrainian attack drones armed with AI-powered targeting capabilities have been utilized to target the Russian energy industry and destroy an important part of Russia's refining capability. (Related: Ukraine claims to be developing "unstoppable" AI-controlled drones that can attack targets on the battlefield.)

The use of AI has allowed the drones to have accurate targeting and resist jamming, improving the precision of strikes on enemy targets.

This primary form of AI, called machine vision, allows drones to map terrain and carry out strikes with high precision without requiring steady satellite contact, giving strategic advantages to Ukrainian troops.

Washington has benefited from Ukraine's use of this technology by showing the Pentagon the weaknesses and areas for improvement with military-focused AI technology.

The use of AI in combat situations has emphasized the need for a redesigned military satellite system that can work more successfully, comparable with the Starlink constellations of small satellites.

This change in understanding highlights the importance of adjusting and developing military technology to address the requirements of modern warfare.

The application of AI in military operations represents a major advancement in the field of warfare, giving new possibilities for improving precision strikes and critical decision-making.

Follow WeaponsTechnology.news for more stories about AI technology used by military forces.

Watch the video below that shows Ukrainian "terminator drones" targeting and striking a group of Russian infantry.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Push to expedite AI use in lethal autonomous weapons raises questions about reliability of new military tech.

Israel deploying next-generation weapons in Gaza, including AI-powered weapons systems.

AI quickly resorts to launching NUCLEAR WEAPONS as a method of resolving conflicts in war simulation,

Israel using AI to commit mass genocide in Gaza with little, if any, human oversight.

U.S. Air Force launches first ever AI-piloted fighter flight as American military pivots to human-less warfare.

Sources include:

RT.com

NYTimes.com

WestObserver.com

Brighteon.com
Russia claims to have seized the initiative in Ukraine with significant territorial gains

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Monday, April 22, that Russian forces are making significant gains on the battlefield , steadily pushing back Ukrainian forces.

At a meeting with top Russian commanders, Shoigu reported the liberation of key villages and settlements, including Pervomaisk and Novomikhailovka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, respectively, as well as Bogdanovka near Bakhmut, a strategic city captured by Russia last year after intense fighting.

Shoigu emphasized the expansion of control zones in Berdychi and Georgievka, further consolidating Russian positions in the region. He highlighted Russia's combat strength, enabling continuous strikes against Ukrainian forces and disrupting their defensive lines.

Shoigu estimated Kyiv's losses at half a million troops since the conflict began, attributing this to Russia's military prowess. (Related: Russia, China discussing plans to "double counteract" U.S.-led alliance of Western nations.)

Regarding last year's Ukrainian counteroffensive, Shoigu noted its failure despite heavy assistance from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He asserted that Russian forces have debunked the myth of Western weapon superiority. He commended Russia's defense industry for boosting output, and enhancing the armed forces' combat capabilities, as evidenced by developments in the ongoing military operation.

In light of tensions with the U.S. and its allies, Shoigu pledged to increase military production and intensify attacks on logistics centers and facilities storing Western weapons. He reiterated Russia's stance of not targeting civilian areas and emphasized precision strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Shoigu's remarks come amid ongoing conflict dynamics, including Russia's recent capture of Avdeevka and neighboring settlements in February.

Ukrainian officials attribute these losses to ammunition shortages and delays in receiving Western aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Kyiv's unpreparedness to repel a major Russian offensive.

Ukraine expects to lose even more territory in upcoming Russian offensive

Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, has warned of an upcoming challenging period for Kyiv in mid-May and early June, highlighting the continued volatility in the region.

Last year's much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive failed, with Russia reclaiming Avdiivka, marking its most significant territorial gain in nine months.

Zelensky, facing the new military reality, has been compelled to acknowledge it quietly. The administration of President Joe Biden's current strategy is to sustain Ukrainian defenses until after the upcoming presidential elections in November, aiming to use the influx of American resources to help buff up Ukraine enough to exhaust Russian forces and supplies in a prolonged war of attrition.

While this strategy appears reasonable, it carries a crucial implication and a potential flaw that is not receiving adequate attention in public discourse.

The implication of Ukraine remaining indefinitely on the defensive, even if successful, is that the territories currently occupied by Russia are effectively lost. Russia is unlikely to negotiate the surrender of land it controls militarily, setting the stage for prolonged territorial disputes.

This does not suggest formal surrender by Ukraine, but rather a shelving of the territorial issue for future negotiations, similar to Crimea and eastern Donbas.

Without substantial U.S. military aid, Ukrainian resistance may collapse this year, as the Biden Administration rightly warns. Even with continued aid, total Ukrainian victory in the foreseeable future seems improbable. The U.S. must gauge President Putin's sincerity regarding peace talks, as a negotiated settlement would involve painful concessions but prevent further emotional and practical costs of prolonged conflict.

Ultimately, lost Ukrainian territories are likely irrecoverable, and NATO membership offers little solace if the alliance hesitates to intervene militarily. A peace agreement, however painful, would be preferable to continued conflict and Ukrainian defeat.

Watch this video discussing the Russian takeover of Novomikhailovka.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia primarily wants Ukraine out of NATO  but the West prefers to spend BILLIONS on PROXY WAR.

Ukraine will JOIN NATO, Blinken announces, signaling imminent WWIII with Russia.

Ukraine running out of air defense missiles, giving Russia a FREE PASS to Kyiv.

Sources include:

RT.com

CA.News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
Texas State Troopers violently assault Fox news cameraman as part of effort to suppress student protests, protect Israels genocide in Gaza

Fascism is alive and well in Texas as State Troopers persecute students and assault the media in allegiance to their Zionist masters.

At the order of Gov. Greg Abbott, the modern-day Lone Star State equivalent of the Stasi stormed the campus of The University of Texas at Austin in an attempt to silence students and faculty members who are making their voices heard in opposition to Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Many members of the media are getting caught up in the crossfire, including a Fox News reporter and cameraman who you can see in the below video being dragged and tackled by Texas State Troopers in a violent assault.

Part of the Pro-Palestine protests at UT, Why did the DPS use violence on a Reporter in Austin Texas? pic.twitter.com/ooYHfxtThE  Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) April 25, 2024

(Related: Zionists are persecuting their enemies both in red and blue states, by the way.)

Zionists hate free speech

For all their talk about supporting the Constitution, right-wing Zionists like Abbott sure do hate the First Amendment, at least whenever someone exercises it in defiance of his personal beliefs.

This is common among Zionists both left and right, by the way. They hate when people are allowed to say things that upset them, so they come up with all kinds of excuses as to why their opposition's free speech rights no longer apply.

Speaking up against genocide is covered by the Constitution, but America's Zionist infiltrators disagree. And because they have law enforcement and the military at their disposal, Americans who refuse to tow the Zionist line are going to increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs of fascism.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

It is happening in New York by left-wing Zionists as well as in Texas by right-wing Zionists. One of the secrets of Zionism is that they play both sides, which Americans are now getting a taste of thanks to Israel's maniacal actions in Gaza post-October 7.

"This is police brutality," wrote someone on X about the contents of the above video footage. "They do this for Israel."

Zionism is taking over America so dangerous pic.twitter.com/GYWoRFE6pF  Furkan Gozukara (@GozukaraFurkan) April 25, 2024

"They arrested that guy for simply holding a camera," wrote another about the sheer insanity of the needless violence being carried out by just-obeying-their-orders-like-Nazis Texas State Troopers.

In case you forgot why people are protesting in the first place, check out the below video showing a mother holding her injured children after Israel bombed near the family's home in Rafah.

To the right-wing, Israel-supporting Christians who are still reading this, pay close attention to the innocent lives made in God's image and ask yourselves: is Jewish supremacy and the violence that stems from it really aligned with the teachings of Jesus Christ whom you claim to serve?

A mother was injured along with her children after the bombing of a home in Rafah last night. pic.twitter.com/7ubyOf0zx8  Muhammad Minhaj Abbasi (@MinhajAbbasi3) April 25, 2024

"Are they being sent to the border? No. Is the First Amendment being violated? Yes," wrote another on Twitter about the fascist tyranny being unleashed in Texas by Abbott.

Another exposed the sheer hypocrisy of Abbott who not that long ago boasted on X about how he "signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses." The truth, of course, is that Abbott signed a "free speech" bill exclusively for the type of speech he likes.

Another wrote that the two-party system that dominates the U.S. "is just a two-way mirror."

"None of these 'public servants' serve Americans anymore," this person added. "AIPAC needs to go."

Israel has something fierce coming its way. Find out more at Prophecy.news.

Sources include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
For centuries, milk has been a cornerstone of human health, providing essential nutrients and fueling countless childhood memories.

Now, a groundbreaking scientific discovery suggests this ubiquitous beverage might hold the key to a future free from the annual scramble of flu season.

Recent research, published in Physical Review and corroborated by a follow-up study in Time magazine, sheds light on a surprising phenomenon: cows exposed to bird flu may be producing antibodies with the potential to create a universal flu vaccine.

This discovery, while still in its early stages, has the potential to revolutionize influenza prevention.

Bovine Antibody Advantage and the Challenges It Presents

The current approach to flu vaccines is a constant race against time. Scientists meticulously analyze circulating flu strains and predict the dominant ones for the upcoming season.

This information guides the development of seasonal flu vaccines, a strategy that leaves us vulnerable to unforeseen flu variants, as evidenced by the devastating 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

The new research, however, offers a glimpse into a future where this vulnerability could be a thing of the past.

A team of researchers at the University of California, Davis, embarked on a groundbreaking study. They meticulously monitored a group of dairy cows purposefully exposed to a harmless form of bird flu.

While the cows displayed no signs of illness, what transpired within their bodies was nothing short of astonishing.

Analysis of their milk revealed the presence of antibodies that effectively neutralized a wide range of influenza viruses, including strains the cows had never encountered before.

"The breadth of the antibody response we observed was truly remarkable," researchers explained in the Physical Review study. "These antibodies seem to target a conserved region of the influenza virus - a part that remains relatively unchanged even as the surface proteins, the usual vaccine targets, mutate constantly."

This conserved region essentially acts as a universal keyhole on the influenza virus, and the bovine antibodies seem to be the perfect fit.

However, as reported in Time magazine, experts caution that translating this scientific breakthrough into a practical solution is no easy feat.

Significant hurdles remain before this "bovine bonanza" becomes a reality. Researchers need to delve deeper into the complex mechanisms at play within the cows' immune systems.

They must isolate and characterize the specific antibodies responsible for this broad-spectrum neutralization. Additionally, ensuring the safe and effective translation of these cow-derived antibodies into a human vaccine requires rigorous testing and regulatory approval.

Also Read: Bird Flu Outbreak in Seals Causes Urgent Mitigation Efforts to Slow Down the Virus Spread

From Farmyard to Pharmaceuticals

Despite the challenges, the implications of these findings are undeniably monumental. If scientists can successfully harness the power of these broad-spectrum bovine antibodies, they could potentially develop a universal flu vaccine.

This would be a single shot capable of protecting against a vast array of influenza strains, eliminating the annual need to predict dominant strains and offering much-needed security against unforeseen outbreaks.

The potential benefits extend far beyond individual health. A universal flu vaccine could significantly reduce the global burden of influenza, a disease responsible for millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.

It could also have a profound economic impact, reducing healthcare costs associated with seasonal flu outbreaks and lost productivity.

The road ahead may be long, but the science behind milk is getting a whole lot more udderly interesting. With continued research, this moo-vellous possibility might just become a reality, ushering in a future free from the anxieties of flu season.

Imagine a world where a single shot protects you from a vast array of influenza strains, a world where flu season becomes a distant memory.

This bovine bonanza, while still in its early stages, offers a glimpse into such a future, a future where science and the unexpected heroes - cows - might just revolutionize the way we prevent this potentially debilitating illness.

Related article: Bird Flu Outbreak: WHO Warns Risk of Avian Influenza Infections Spreading from Animals to Humans an 'Enormous Concern'
Asia remains one of the most popular continents for visitors who are nature enthusiasts. Apart from rich cultural diversity, Asia has some of the most beautiful land formations that would allow visitors to enjoy their holidays out in the open. If you are planning a nature-based holiday alone or with your family, you would want to choose destinations in Asia that would allow you to make the most of the time, resources, and budget you have. With more than 40 countries to choose from, Asia can provide you with an unforgettable nature trip experience.

Let's take a quick look at 17 countries in Asia that offer a great holiday experience to nature lovers.

India

If you are looking for diversity, no country does it better than India. This country offers more than 100 national parks and 50 tiger reserves, making it a top choice for nature lovers. With tailored plans from Far & Wild, you can enjoy nature and wildlife holidays in India at your convenience. If you love bird watching, you will not be disappointed either.

Sri Lanka

Located south of India, Sri Lanka is a tear-shaped island that packs a punch when it comes to nature and wildlife attractions. With excellent national parks, this tiny island nation can provide solo travellers and families with memorable nature-based holidays. While you are here, you can also enjoy the birds and the beaches that make Sri Lanka a gem in the Asian subcontinent.

Nepal

On the northern side, Nepal is sandwiched between India and China but it opens a door to nature lovers who want to experience nature in the Himalayas. Over the years, Nepal has been a hot favourite of mountaineers and wildlife lovers who explore various national parks and reserves to explore the local mammals, birds, reptiles and plant life. If you are an outdoor adventure enthusiast you can do plenty of hiking in Nepal.

China

With its incredible biodiversity, China is among the top destinations for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. The country is home to more than 500 mammal species and 1400 birds making it a great stop for nature lovers in Asia. While you are in China you can enjoy watching the red pandas, golden hair monkey, South China tiger and giant panda which are unique to this country.

Thailand

Blessed with natural landscapes, Thailand is a great destination for nature lovers in Asia. Here, you can explore various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that offer you insight into the world of animals and birds that live here. From herds of Asian elephants to gibbons, you can find plenty of wildlife diversity in Thailand if you plan your itinerary right or let Experience Travel Group help you curate it for you.

Indonesia

With lush jungles, mountainous terrain, tropical rainforests and pristine beaches, Indonesia offers a wholesome nature trip experience in Asia. One of the most unique creatures that you will find in Indonesia is the Komodo Dragons, the largest lizard on the planet. Apart from this, you can also find Sumatran Orangutans, Pygmy Tarsier, Javan Rhinoceros, Sumatran Tigers and much more.

Malaysia

Known for its diverse ecosystems, unique wildlife, and abundance of mangrove forests, Malaysia offers a variety of wildlife and nature attractions, making it one of the destinations for nature trips to Asia. Here you can find gibbons, forest cattle, leopards, honey bears, elephants, tigers, rhinoceros, and many other animals and birds that would enhance your nature trips to Malaysia.

Vietnam

One of the most underrated places in Asia for nature tourism is Vietnam. With its amazing biological diversity, nature lovers can spend days here surrounded by lush jungles and stunning natural landscapes. With more than 300 mammal species and a variety of bird life, Vietnam is a paradise for nature lovers seeking solitude in the lap of Mother Nature.

Singapore

Considered one of the best destinations in Asia for nature lovers, Singapore offers a complete experience like no other. With a variety of zoos, parks and wildlife reserves Singapore can offer you the best bang for the buck experience. Here you can see animals like squirrels, monkeys, pangolins and civets that are hard to find elsewhere.

Borneo

If you are looking for wildlife and nature tours in Asia, Borneo is Asia's biggest island packed with vibrant wildlife. This is where you can find various endemic species like Borneo pygmy elephants and the eastern Sumatran rhinoceros. If you are into marine life, you can find many scuba diving spots in Borneo that offer a surreal holiday experience.

Laos

One of the most underrated destinations in Asia, Laos has a lot to offer to those who want a quiet relaxing holiday experience where they can be one with nature. Here visitors can sight Asian elephants, sun bears, leopard cats, tigers, giant flying squirrels and pot-bellied pigs. Laos also has plenty of national parks and wildlife reserves where visitors can hike and explore the untouched natural landscapes.

Cambodia

With more than 700 different species of wildlife, Cambodia offers a comprehensive biodiversity that attracts nature lovers from around the world. The geography of Cambodia includes floodplains, mountains, lush jungles, mangroves, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes, and that offers home to a variety of animal, bird, and plant life.

South Korea

While South Korea is known for its culture and food, it also offers great value to nature lovers. If you are looking for migrating birds, South Korea is a good place in Asia where you can find plenty of them, including Red-Crowned Crane and Hooded Crane. You can also look for various animals like lynxes, tigers, bears, and leopards as you explore the stunning national parks in South Korea.

Japan

If you are interested in a premium luxury holiday experience surrounded by nature and wildlife Japan is the place to be. This is where you can explore the wetlands, forests, mountains and coral reefs that Japan has to offer. Apart from rich biological diversity, Japan is also home to endemic creatures like red-crowned cranes, Japanese weasels, Japanese squirrels and Japanese macaques.

Myanmar

Nestled in the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar is one of the best places in Asia for nature lovers. This country is home to animals like elephants, wild buffalos, wild boars, and even rhinoceros. While you are here, you can hike and explore the untouched natural landscapes that offer you peaceful and serene holiday experiences.

The Philippines

With more than 200 species of mammals, The Philippines can provide you with a comprehensive nature tour of Asia. Here, you can find animals like goats, horses, dogs, water buffalos, monkeys, squirrels, pangolins, mongooses, and many Southeast Asian endemic creatures.

Brunei

Looking for holidays in tropical rainforests? Brunei can provide you with a great nature-based holiday experience as you explore the diverse range of wildlife. Brunei has plenty of mangroves and freshwater marshes, which are also home to birds like hornbills, barbets, sunbirds, pheasants, wren-babblers, and trogons. While you are here, you can explore various wildlife reserves and national parks that also offer outdoor activities.
Global warming driven by fossil fuel emissions "most likely" intensified the heavy rains that hit the UAE and Oman last week, resulting in deaths and severe flooding.

Destructive Storms

The World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international group of scientists that investigates extreme weather events, discovered that greenhouse gas emissions caused storms to be far more destructive than they would have been in the pre-industrial age.

According to a study conducted by 21 international academics, heavy rainfall during El Nino years has increased by 10-40% in the impacted region.

A series of storms devastated the Gulf nations, killing twenty people in Oman and four in the Emirates. Four waves of rainstorms hit Dubai and Sharjah, flooding huge areas of the cities.

Global warming has brought excessive heat to oil-producing states. However, last week's floods highlighted the increased probability of extreme weather events as the world warms.

"If it had not been an El Nino year, it would have not have rained in this way. But at the same time, if it had not been for climate change, it would not have rained as heavily as it did," said Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London and a WWA researcher.

The storm made landfall in Oman on April 14, killing at least 21 people in flash floods and other accidents.

It hit the UAE on April 16, pouring roughly two years' worth of rain that flooded houses, highways, malls, and offices, killing four people.

Dubai had considerable disruption for many days, with key routes obstructed by floods, electricity outages, and some inhabitants stuck in their houses. Dubai Airport, the world's busiest for international travelers, cancelled 2,155 flights and diverted 115.

Read Also: Dubai Resorts to Creating 'Fake Rain' to Combat Sweltering 122F Heat

Wetter Future For Gulf Nation

The WWA study examined historical weather data and climate models to evaluate changes in rainfall patterns in the region, including years affected by El Nino, a climate pattern that explains the anomalous warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

It discovered that heavy rains were much less intense in the years preceding 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 Fahrenheit) of warming over pre-industrial levels.

In January, a separate team of scientists discovered that by the middle of the century, yearly rainfall in the UAE might increase by up to 30%. Last week, Dubai received more than 250 millimetres (10 inches) of rain over two days.

Despite modern infrastructure and an early warning system, the WWA reported that 80 percent of inhabitants in Oman and 85 percent of those in the UAE live on low-lying, flood-prone land.

Dr Hylke Beck, assistant professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, warned that the Gulf nations must prepare for a wetter future.

Climate models based on a "moderate" greenhouse gas emission scenario predict that by the end of the century, the most extreme rainfall event in the UAE in any given year will be 10 to 15% more intense than it is today.

Other cities in the region, like Riyadh and Jeddah, have been hit by fatal flash floods in recent decades.

Related Article: Dubai Flooding: Airport, Roads and Establishments Submerged as UAE Experiences 'Heaviest Rainfall in 75 Years'
As reported by Yonhap News Agency on April 26, 2024, South Korea plans to enhance its missile defense capabilities by purchasing Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors from the United States. The defense procurement agency of South Korea has indicated that this missile system will be procured through intergovernmental military sales and is expected to be operational by 2030, at an estimated cost of $583.4 million.

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A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptor missile was launched from the USS Lake Erie (CG 70), a guided-missile cruiser, during a joint test by the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy in the mid-Pacific (Picture source: US DoD)

The SM-3, developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, is an integral part of the U.S. Navy's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Designed primarily for engaging short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the SM-3 operates during the midcourse phase of a missile's trajectory, outside the Earth's atmosphere. Typically effective at altitudes over 100 kilometers, its exo-atmospheric intercept capability highlights its critical role in missile defense strategies.



Employing a kinetic hit-to-kill mechanism, the SM-3 destroys targets by colliding with them, relying on the impact's kinetic energy rather than an explosive warhead. It features a multi-stage rocket booster and an advanced kinetic warhead equipped with precision guidance systems. Deployed aboard Aegis-equipped destroyers and cruisers, the SM-3 has demonstrated its effectiveness in various tests, intercepting and neutralizing missile threats successfully.



The system will be installed on South Korea's Aegis destroyers, significantly enhancing their defensive capabilities. In addition, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has approved a 3.25 trillion won initiative for constructing Ulsan-class Batch-IV frigates by 2032 to update the aging fleet.



Furthermore, DAPA has greenlit a 1.57 trillion won project for developing long-range air-to-air missiles for the domestically produced KF-21 fighter jets, spanning from 2025 to 2038. Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd has already developed six prototypes of the KF-21, with the first production model expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the latter half of 2026.



These measures are part of South Korea's ongoing efforts to modernize its defense capabilities in response to regional security challenges. South Korea faces multiple security threats, chiefly from the unpredictable regime in North Korea. The persistent risk posed by North Korea's ballistic and nuclear missile programs necessitates continual vigilance and defense investments. Additionally, South Korea navigates complex regional relations with China and Japan and manages the implications of American military presence on its soil. Maritime issues in surrounding waters, including territorial disputes and security concerns over crucial navigation routes, further complicate the security landscape.
Survey finds surge in reading habit among Chinese people

People's Daily Online) 13:49, April 26, 2024

A recently released national survey on reading among Chinese citizens showed a steady rise in reading as a habit in China.

The overall reading habit level among Chinese adults stood at 81.9 percent in 2023, a slight increase from 2022 and a 12.2-percentage-point growth from 2008, according to the latest national reading survey published by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication at the third National Conference on Reading that began on April 23, World Book Day.

The survey indicated that the habit of reading books among Chinese adults was at 59.8 percent in 2023, up 10.5 percentage points from 2008. Chinese adults read an average of 4.75 printed books and 3.4 digital books per capita last year.

A train staff member shares books with students during a reading activity on train 5634, which travels from Xichang city to Mianning county in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo/Zhou Zeping)

An average adult spent an average of 23.38 minutes reading printed books last year, the survey showed.

Moreover, 80.3 percent of Chinese adults had experience with digital reading, such as reading on computers, mobile phones, or other handheld devices, in 2023, reflecting a 0.2-percentage-point increase from the previous year. 36.3 percent of Chinese adults also listened to audiobooks last year.

Taking the national conference on reading as an opportunity, places across China have explored innovative methods of promoting reading and have launched novel and distinctive reading campaigns in a down-to-earth way.

Thanks to vigorous promotions by various regions and departments in China, a public reading service network has been built in the country, with the number of reading infrastructure, including physical bookstores, public libraries, community bookstores, workers' reading rooms, and township cultural stations, growing steadily and book resources and related equipment being constantly upgraded. Public services for promoting nationwide reading have likewise improved in the country.

For instance, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province established the province's first digital rural library in 2022, providing a vast array of high-quality online books, audio, and video services for free.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Julia Garner to star alongside Josh Brolin in Zach Cregger's horror thriller 'Weapons'

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Ozark' fame Julia Garner is set to captivate audiences once again in the upcoming New Line horror thriller, 'Weapons'.

The news was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, directed by Zach Cregger, marks a reunion of the creative team behind the acclaimed horror movie 'Barbarian'.

Garner's star power continues to rise as she secures the lead role opposite seasoned actor Josh Brolin. Production for 'Weapons' is scheduled to commence in mid-May in Atlanta, promising an atmospheric and chilling experience for horror enthusiasts.

Described as an interrelated, multistory horror epic, 'Weapons' is expected to deliver a gripping narrative reminiscent of Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. Cregger, who penned the top-secret script, aims to evoke a sense of dread and suspense that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, the project also reunites the producing team behind 'Barbarian', with Roy Lee of Vertigo, and JD Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of BoulderLight Pictures joining forces once again. Miri Yoon of Vertigo will also serve as a producer, ensuring the film maintains the same level of quality and intensity as its predecessor.

In addition to 'Weapons', Garner is currently involved in other high-profile projects, including Paramount's psychological thriller 'Apartment 7A' and Blumhouse/Universal's 'Wolf Man', directed by Leigh Whannell in New Zealand.

Furthermore, Garner recently made headlines with her casting as the Silver Surfer in Marvel's 'Fantastic Four', alongside Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The highly anticipated feature is set to film in London later this summer.

 Julia Garner to star alongside Josh Brolin in Zach Cregger's horror thriller 'Weapons'

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Priyanka Chopra's 'Women of My Billion' gets release date, check out inspiring trailer

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ctor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas's upcoming documentary 'Women of My Billion' (WOMB) has got release date. Makers on Thursday unveiled the trailer.

Taking to Instagram, streaming platform Prime Video treated fans with an inspiring trailer video and captioned the post, which read, "journey along one woman's 3800 km walk across India for women's safety, witness stories that need to be told and question beliefs that must be challenged. #WomenOfMyBillionOnPrime, May 3. Trailer Out Now."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6LK3-FABk2/

'Women of My Billion' (WOMB), is a stark and touching chronicle of the fight against all forms of violence faced by women of India.

Directed by Ajitesh Sharma, produced by Apoorva Bakshi and Monisha Thyagarajan's Awedacious Originals in association with Priyanka Chopra Jonas' Purple Pebble Pictures Women of My Billion follows the journey of Srishti Bakshi, as she embarked on a walking pilgrimage from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, spanning 3,800 kms over 240 days, with a mission to find and share stories about women, their struggles, dreams, rights, and their wins, against all odds.

Talking about the documentary, producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas said, "Women have borne the brunt of gender bias for far too long, enduring a silent struggle against entrenched social injustices that seek to suppress their voices. With WOMB, the aim is to transcend these struggles - to be a beacon of hope. WOMB is not merely a depiction of pain and suffering, but a rallying cry and call for solidarity and action. We hope this film takes us a step closer to a world where every woman is appreciated, honored, and empowered to soar."

"At Prime Video, we are unwavering in our mission to elevate narratives that are inspiring and can be catalysts of change," said Manish Menghani, director and head of content licensing, at Prime Video India. "Srishti Bakshi's endeavor to shed light on these critical aspects and taking vital steps towards preventing violence against women and empowering them is a courageous initiative that needs to be taken to a wider audience. It is an honor for us to collaborate with Purple Pebble Pictures and Awedacious Originals to bring this incredibly important documentary to our customers in India and across the world."

'Women of My Billion' sheds light on the on-ground realities of the many trials encountered by women in India, with each one of the million steps that brought Srishti closer to her destination, dedicated to empowering women and giving them the courage to triumph against all odds.

"Women of My Billion sheds light on the many heart-breaking atrocities faced by women in India, but at the same time, it showcases the many opportunities for change brought about by digitization. Srishti's audacious initiative is a significant step in the right direction, and we need more such champions to herald change. It's through empowering women that we can collectively shape a future where every woman is appreciated, honoured, and able to chase her dreams without constraints. I believe that the documentary ignites the fervor for advocating women's safety and rights throughout the country. We couldn't have found better partners than Prime Video, and through them, we will be able to reach out to, inspire, and empower audiences across the globe," added producer Apoorva Bakshi from Awedacious Originals.

UN SDG Changemaker Srishti Bakshi stated, "Women of My Billion reveals the unified voice of Indian women, speaking out against the violence they endure and compels us to question our inherent perceptions and addresses the fatigue surrounding discussions on violence against women in India. What kept me going through my journey was the knowledge that women across India are unified by their courage to fight the violence they face. It was this message of courage, self-reliance, and self-assurance that I sought to spread through my journey. It is evident that it is the violence perpetrated by a minority and the silence of the majority that perpetuates violence in our society. For me, the documentary serves as a call to action, urging the majority to break their silence and actively participate in addressing this critical issue. Change is the need of the hour and with Prime Video we hope to take this message across to audiences in not just India, but across the world."

'Women of My Billion' is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video on May 3.

 Priyanka Chopra's 'Women of My Billion' gets release date, check out inspiring trailer

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AR Rahman congratulates Taylor Swift for 'The Tortured Poets Department' release

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usic Maestro AR Rahman recently gave a shout-out to Taylor Swift's latest album, 'The Tortured Poets Department.'

Taking to X, the composer wrote, "All the best @taylorswift13 for your latest album #THETORTUEDPOETSDEPARTMENT."

https://x.com/arrahman/status/1783074213600858254

Rahman stirred up social media by sharing the album art and a Spotify streaming link, sparking a frenzy among fans who started the #ARRahmanXTaylorSwift trend.

The post quickly garnered several requests for a collaboration between the two artists.

Released on April 19, 'The Tortured Poets Department' has already shattered several records.

Spotify on Wednesday announced that TTPD has become the first album to cross the one billion streams mark within a week. And it's only been five days! The previous record of most streams also belonged to Taylor, for her 2022 album Midnights, at over 700,000.

Upon its release, the album amassed an impressive 300 million streams on its first day, setting a remarkable standard.

Furthermore, the album sold 1.8 million vinyl copies in the US within just five days of its release, positioning it as the fourth highest-selling album in recent times.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Rahman recently composed the music for Ajay Devgn's 'Maidaan' and Diljit Dosanjh's 'Amar Singh Chamkila.'

 AR Rahman congratulates Taylor Swift for 'The Tortured Poets Department' release

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'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan hits back at critics for bold fashion choices

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n the ever-glamorous world of 'Bridgerton,' where opulent fashion reigns supreme, one of its stars, Nicola Coughlan, has confidently responded to critics questioning her recent outfit choice.

The Irish actor, known for her portrayal of Penelope Featherington, didn't let naysayers dampen her spirits as she elegantly brushed off the criticism.

As per E! News, during a promotional stint in Australia alongside her 'Bridgerton' co-star Luke Newton, Coughlan sported a striking black Ganni ensemble, featuring a silk bra paired with a matching skirt and blazer set. However, some observers took to social media to question her attire, prompting a response from the 37-year-old actor herself.

In a now-deleted Instagram story, Coughlan posted a photo of her outfit with a simple yet assertive caption, "Cos it looked good."

While promoting the upcoming third season of 'Bridgerton,' slated for release on May 16, Coughlan and Newton teased fans with insights into their characters' evolving relationship.

Amidst discussions about a potential romance between Penelope and Colin, portrayed by Newton, the duo also shared amusing anecdotes from behind the scenes.

Reflecting on their on-screen chemistry, Coughlan and Newton revealed a mishap involving a broken piece of furniture during a particularly steamy scene.

As per the interview obtained by E! News, despite the awkwardness, the stars' off-screen friendship helped create a supportive and comfortable environment on set, allowing them to navigate such moments with ease.

 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan hits back at critics for bold fashion choices

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A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that persistently favorable sleep patterns may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), even in individuals with higher genetic susceptibility.

Study: Changes in Sleep Patterns, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in China. Image Credit: aslysun / Shutterstock.com

How does sleep affect CVD?

CVD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with about 33% of all deaths in 2019 attributed to CVD throughout the world. Similarly, the estimated mortality rate due to CVD in China currently exceeds 40%. Thus, the global burden of CVD emphasizes the importance of identifying modifiable risk factors that can be implemented to prevent CVD.

Growing evidence indicates that an unhealthy lifestyle, including impaired sleep patterns, can potentially increase the risk of CVD. Despite these studies, a single sleep measurement was often used to define sleep patterns, which may not adequately reflect sleep with CVD, as sleep habits can evolve. Furthermore, there remains a lack of data on how different sleep patterns in retired and older populations affect their risk of CVD.

Study design

The current study was conducted between 2008 and 2018 in China and included 15,306 middle-aged and older individuals without diagnosed cardiovascular complications. Self-reported sleep information was collected at baseline between 2008 and 2010 and at the first follow-up visit in 2013.

Sleep patterns of the study participants were defined as "favorable" and "unfavorable" based on bedtime, sleep duration, sleep quality, and midday napping. Study participants were categorized into four groups: persistent unfavorable, favorable-unfavorable (transitioning from favorable to unfavorable), unfavorable-favorable (transitioning from unfavorable to favorable), and persistent favorable.

Polygenic risk scores for coronary heart disease and stroke were calculated to determine the genetic susceptibility of the study participants to these diseases. Additionally, an expert panel of physicians was appointed to assess incident CVD, defined as a composite outcome of incident coronary heart disease and incident stroke, until the end of 2018.

Important observations

A total of 3,669 incident CVD cases, including 2,986 coronary heart disease cases and 683 stroke cases, were documented during the five-year study period from 2013 to 2018.

The assessment of five-year changes in sleep patterns found that 35.8% of participants practiced persistent unfavorable sleep patterns, whereas 25.8% had persistent favorable sleep patterns. Young age, female gender, and higher educational background were associated with persistent favorable sleep patterns.

Study participants with persistent unfavorable sleep patterns were at a greater risk of CVD than those with persistent favorable, favorable-unfavorable, or unfavorable-favorable sleep patterns. More specifically, a 16% and 34% reduced risk of coronary heart disease and stroke were observed among participants with persistent favorable sleep patterns. A subgroup analysis conducted after adjusting for participant's age and sex revealed similar associations between changes in sleep patterns and CVD risk.

Genetic risk factors were not found to significantly influence the association between sleep pattern changes and cardiovascular disease risk. However, a combination of sleep pattern changes and polygenic risk scores was associated with cardiovascular risk in a dose-dependent manner.

To this end, individuals with persistent favorable sleep patterns and an intermediate genetic risk had a 36% reduced risk of stroke. In contrast, those with persistent favorable sleep patterns and a high genetic risk had a 45% reduced risk of stroke. Further analysis revealed that participants with persistent favorable sleep patterns and low genetic risk had a 35% reduced risk of coronary heart disease and a 52% lower risk of stroke compared to those with persistently unfavorable sleep patterns and high genetic risk.

Conclusions

The current study found that individuals with persistent favorable sleep patterns were at the lowest risk of incident CVD, coronary heart disease, and stroke during the subsequent five years. The benefits of persistent favorable sleep patterns remain unchanged for those with high genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular complications, thus demonstrating that individuals with higher genetic risk may benefit from persistent favorable sleep patterns.

Importantly, the study population included middle-aged and older Chinese retirees, which may restrict the generalizability of these findings. Furthermore, the current study does not include any information about participants' sleep disorders and depression levels, which may have confounded the observed associations.
During epidemics of Ebola, COVID-19, Zika and other public health emergencies, effective communication of public health messages is crucial to control the spread of disease, maintain public trust, and encourage compliance with health measures. In a new evidence review to be given at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April), Dr Benjamin Djoudalbaye from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (AFRICA CDC) in Ethiopia, will discuss the challenges and lessons learnt from public health communication strategies during multiple epidemics across the African continent.

Public health communication is critical for the African continent faced with a slew of infectious-disease epidemics and public health emergencies. Between 2001 and 2022, the region reported 1,800 public health emergencies, most of them emerging infectious diseases such as cholera, meningitis, Ebola, measles, yellow fever, Mpox (monkeypox), Zika, Rift valley fever, and COVID-19.



Information about the epidemic, prevention measures, and health guidelines must be clear, concise, easily understandable, and reach a wide audience. As Dr Djoudalbaye explains, "One of the main communication challenges is disseminating accurate and timely information to the public who have limited access to reliable information and communication channels. Compounding the problem is that only around 40% of Africa's population has access to the internet. This can lead to misinformation and rumours spreading rapidly, undermining public health efforts to control the epidemic."

Failure to communicate in the over 2,000 local languages spoken across the continent, or to consider cultural norms and beliefs, can lead to confusion, mistrust, and resistance to public health measures.

Recurrent epidemics negatively impact already weak healthcare systems, devastate struggling economies, and can lead to a colossal toll on human life. Developing and applying well-thought-out public health communication strategies requires not only taking into account Africa's diverse linguistic and cultural landscape, but also addressing these underlying social and economic factors, and engaging with more vulnerable populations who may be at greatest risk of exposure to disease outbreaks." Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (AFRICA CDC)

Despite these challenges, there have been successful efforts to communicate public health policy during epidemics in Africa. Take the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic. "Rapid response teams were deployed to remote areas to provide information and engage with local communities", says Dr Djoudalbaye. "This approach helped to build trust, dispel myths, and encourage compliance with public health measures, ultimately contributing to the containment of the epidemic."

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for innovation and flexibility in African countries. As Dr Djoudalbaye explains, "Countries like Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal have used technology to support their response to the pandemic. Rwanda and Ghana deployed drones to deliver medical supplies and test results to remote areas, while Senegal has used rapid diagnostic kits to test for COVID-19. These countries have also demonstrated flexibility in their response, with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and implement new policies and protocols as needed."

Given that around 80% of the population in 33/54 African countries have access to, or own, a mobile phone, text messaging is playing an increasingly crucial role in bridging gaps in communication, reaching underserved populations, and promoting positive health behaviours across the continent. "This means that more people can now be reached with messaging about interrupting infection chains and refuting rumours and misunderstandings about emerging infectious diseases", says Dr Djoudalbaye. "But there is a lot of inequity in mobile phone ownership when it comes to age and gender, with men twice as likely to own a phone as women and phone ownership declining after the age of 40."

What more can be done to improve communication during epidemics? According to Dr Djoudalbaye, "It is imperative that governments and health authorities invest in robust communication strategies that are tailored to the needs of the local population and reach a wide audience. This includes making use of a variety of communication channels, from radio and TV to social media (e.g. Instagram or YouTube) and community outreach. Central to this is working more closely with local community leaders, healthcare workers, and civil society organisations to ensure that information is accurate, culturally sensitive, and easily accessible to all."

Community engagement has been critical in the fight against COVID-19 in African countries, especially vaccine hesitancy. Countries like Uganda and Ghana have used community engagement to spread awareness about the virus, promote preventative measures, and debunk misinformation. In Nigeria, community engagement has helped to combat social stigma and discrimination against COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers.

Ultimately, Dr Djoudalbaye will highlight the importance of providing clear, honest, and credible sources of information to the public. "It is vital that public health authorities make as much use of technology as possible including mobile apps, text messaging, and social media platforms to provide real-time updates on the epidemic and health guidelines. As expressed by The Lancet, 'There may be no way to prevent a COVID-19 pandemic in this globalised time, but verified information is the most effective prevention against the disease of panic'".
A healthy liver filters all the blood in your body, breaks down toxins and digests fats. It produces collagen to repair damaged cells when the liver is injured. However, a liver can produce too much collagen when an excess accumulation of fat causes chronic inflammation, a condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). In an advanced state, MASH can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver-related death.

The cells that produce collagen in livers are called hepatic stellate cells (HSC). In a new paper published in Cell Metabolism, scientists from the University of California San Diego investigated how these cells are activated. They found a three-component signaling pathway in the nucleus that functions according to a sort of police-controlling-the-police model.

In healthy livers, the first molecule in the pathway inhibits a second molecule, which inhibits the molecule that stimulates collagen-producing genes. MASH scales down the first molecule, so that inhibition is lifted on the second and third molecules, leading to stimulation of collagen production.

After discovering the signaling pathway, the scientists designed a short piece of RNA to prove the pathway behaved the way they thought it did. This RNA, called an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), was so effective that it not only proved the viability of the pathway but also prevented liver fibrosis -; too much collagen in the liver -; without causing any side effects. The scientists are currently discussing licensing the ASO as a therapeutic with various pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

All the molecules in the pathway were known, but no one knew if or how they interacted. We put the pathway together, showing each step in this intracellular signaling module. That was the science of the research. The clinical message is this ASO, which can actually block liver fibrosis." Jerrold Olefsky, professor of medicine and assistant vice chancellor for integrative research at UC San Diego Health Sciences, and senior author on the paper

The scientists carried out their investigations in organoids -; tiny little livers in a dish made from three types of liver cells fed a MASH cocktail of fatty acids, fructose and sugars. They found that in normal livers, the first component of the pathway, a nuclear seven-transmembrane protein called TM7SF3, inhibits a splicing factor called hnRNPU. hnRNPU refrains from splicing out an inhibitory exon in the messenger RNA (mRNA) of TEAD1, a transcription factor that controls the genes that produce collagen. The inhibitory exon, exon 5, keeps TEAD1 from turning on the collagen-producing genes.

In the MASH-fed organoids, TM7SF3 is reduced and does not inhibit the splicing factor. The active splicing factor splices out the inhibitory exon in the transcription factor, which turns on the genes that produce collagen. This is called alternative splicing.

Furthering their investigations, they designed an ASO to keep hnRNPU from splicing out exon 5. "It had the sequence that would put it just upstream of exon 5 where hnRPU binds. The ASO prevented the splicing factor from binding to the TEAD mRNA, so it couldn't ultimately splice it out. We got pretty much only inactive TEAD when we treated MASH mice with the ASO," said Olefsky. With TEAD inactivated, collagen wasn't produced. Neither was fibrosis.

"These findings show the key role of alternative splicing in shaping progression of fibrotic liver disease," said Roi Isaac, Ph.D., assistant project scientist, Medicine, and first author on the paper.

When ASOs are administered intravenously, they enter every cell in the body, not just the target cells. Serendipitously, the scientists found that within the liver, this hnRNPU mechanism only operated in stellate cells. That made their ASO both highly effective and highly specific -; the epitome of good drug design.

According to Olefsky, a quarter of the U.S. population has MASH. While the scientists' ASO may well be an effective treatment, getting FDA approval for it would necessitate enormous clinical studies and could cost up to a billion dollars.

Olefsky and his team identified a much less common disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC. It's relatively rare, often fatal, and until now there were no good treatments. When the scientists tested their ASO on a mouse model of PSC, they found that their ASO almost completely blocked the development of the disease. "Getting FDA approval for PSC would be easier than getting it for MASH," said Olefsky, "so we're currently talking to biotech and pharma partners about licensing the ASO for PSC."

Additional authors are: Gautam Bandyopadhyay, Theresa V. Rohm, Sion Kang, Jinyue Wang, Narayan Pokhre, Sadatsugu Sakane, Rizaldy Zapata, Avraham M. Libster, Asres Berhan,Tatiana Kisseleva, Zea Borok, Francesca Telese, Nicholas JG Webster of the University of California San Diego, and Varon Vinik and Yehiel Zick of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
The volume of hematopoietic cell transplants rose among all racial/ethnic groups, but grew faster among African Americans and Hispanics compared with Non-Hispanic white individuals, mirroring changes in population growth rates. Survival after both autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (autoHCT) and allogeneic hematopoietic transplant (alloHCT) improved over time across racial/ethnic groups, though non-Hispanic African Americans still have worse outcomes, according to results published in Blood Advances.

AutoHCT uses a patient's own stem cells to help restore the body's ability to make normal blood cells after high doses of chemotherapy and is a common treatment modality for patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma. AlloHCT is a potentially curative treatment for people with life-threatening blood cancers such as acute leukemias and myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes and involves the use of stem cells from a suitable donor.

Although previous studies have shown improvements in outcomes post-transplant, researchers said they have been relatively small or have not included robust data to examine trends by racial/ethnic background. For this study, researchers used data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, which collects patient data for 90% of autoHCT and nearly all alloHCT recipients in the United States. The analysis included 79,904 autologous transplants and 65,662 allogeneic transplants for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic African Americans, and Hispanics across five two-year cohorts from 2009 to 2018.

This is certainly the largest study to look at the state of the science in terms of use of transplants by racial/ethnic minorities, involving over 145,000 transplants over a 10-year period. We wanted to see if improvements translated proportionally for all patients. Overall, we saw that the volume of transplants and survival increased for everyone, but not at the same rate." Nandita Khera, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ and study's lead author

While survival improved after both autoHCT and alloHCT over time for all racial/ethnic groups, Non-Hispanic African American adults and children undergoing alloHCT had a 13% and 62% higher risk of death, respectively, compared to non-Hispanic whites, even after adjusting for known risk factors for mortality such as age, treatments received, disease status, and donor type.

"This suggests the need to better understand the reasons for these disparities through qualitative studies exploring the impact of social determinants of health on outcomes," Dr. Khera said.

A positive trend, she added, is that based on adjusted analyses, survival outcomes for Hispanic patients are now on par with those of non-Hispanic whites, which is an "indicator of progress in the field."

While outside the scope of the study, she says improvements in transplant volume could be due to greater awareness of transplantation, better access to donors for alloHCT, and policy changes stemming from Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act.

The study is limited in that it didn't include enough patients of Asian descent or mixed race/ethnicity, and only captures people who are coming to transplant, not those who never gained access. The study's senior author, Theresa Hahn, PhD of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, has a separate ongoing study that is examining true use. "We are using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the U.S. Census to estimate the pool of people who need a transplant and using the registry data to calculate those who actually get a transplant."

"This study helps justify efforts for continued investments in research, training, practice, and community engagement to address the disparities in access and outcomes of these highly expensive and complex medical technologies so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of scientific progress equally," Dr. Khera said. Fortunately, she explained there is increasing awareness of these issues and societal efforts such as ACCESS initiative: a collaboration between American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and NMDP to help expand access to HCT and improve outcomes for all.
Frailty is a well-established predictor of complications and death after surgery. However, patients over 65 who undergo a high-risk operation in the emergency room are at significantly increased risk of postoperative complications and death in comparison to the same patients who are assessed solely on their level of frailty, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

In the United States, the elderly population is expected to double within the next 35 years. Emergency surgery for this population is challenging surgeons to consider more factors in decision making and plan for the most appropriate postoperative recovery.

We are seeing a lot more elderly patients in the emergency department with acute surgical problems that require a major operation. And the outcomes for these individuals, compared to younger patients, are much worse. We need to counsel patients and their families about all the risks they are incurring when patients undergo a major emergency operation and be transparent about what to expect afterwards. Sometimes, the family believes the patient will return home. But in fact, a significant number of patients who have major surgery end up in nursing homes or rehab facilities and never go home." Raul Coimbra, MD, PhD, FACS, study co-author, surgeon-in-chief of the Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley, and a professor of surgery at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, both in California

The researchers hypothesized that for the elderly population, the level of procedure risk (high or low) has a stronger impact on adverse outcomes when measured alongside frailty, compared with frailty status alone. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), researchers examined the records of elderly patients (over age 65) who had undergone an emergency surgical procedure between 2018 and 2020. ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in hospitals.

For the analysis, patients were classified as not frail, frail, and severely frail and then grouped according to procedure risk level -; low-risk operations and high-risk operations. High-risk procedures included open cholecystectomy, open colectomy, laparoscopic colectomy, small bowel resection, and perforated ulcer repair. Low-risk procedures included appendectomies and cholecystectomies.

They then evaluated five outcomes -; 30-day mortality, 30-day postoperative complications, failure to rescue, hospital readmission, and 30-day reoperation. The purpose was to identify the impact of surgical procedure type on outcomes among elderly patients.

Key findings

Of the study's 59,633 elderly patient sample, 29.3% were classified as non-frail, 66.4% as frail, and 4.3% as severely frail.

Of those patients, 25,157 were in the low-risk procedure group and 34,476 in the high-risk procedure group.

Frailty and procedure risk were both associated with increased risk of mortality, postoperative complications, failure to rescue, and readmissions. However, when patients were grouped according to procedure risk versus frailty alone, procedure risk proved to be a stronger link to adverse outcomes.

For example, non-frail patients undergoing high-risk emergency surgical procedures had a 7.1% mortality rate, while the mortality rate of low-risk procedures was 0.2%. In contrast, frail and severely frail patients undergoing high-risk procedures had mortality rates of 11.5% and 25.8%, whereas mortality rates after low-risk procedures were 1.0% and 4.1%, respectively.

Among non-frail patients, high-risk procedures accounted for a 4-fold increase in surgical complications compared to low-risk procedures. Similarly, high-risk procedures also accounted for a 4-fold increase in surgical complications among frail and severely frail patients.

The difference between high-risk and low-risk procedures was at least four times greater in every outcome measure compared to frailty status alone. For instance, undergoing a high-risk procedure led to an 8-fold increase in 30-day mortality. In contrast, being severely frail resulted in a 3-fold increase in death within 30 days.

"What we also learned in this study is that a very significant number of elderly patients are coming to the emergency room for a major operation, urgently. And the reason is because elderly patients may not seek surgical care early on, and surgeons often shy away from solving the problems electively," Dr. Coimbra said. "The problem is that diseases don't disappear. They stay and progress and advance until these patients end up in the emergency department requiring an emergency operation."

For elderly patients, putting off minor surgery may be detrimental to their long-term health and quality of life. The study authors hope these results will help shape new thinking about treating elderly patients earlier and about having more informed discussions with patients and their families about what to expect following emergency general surgery.

"The message from our study is that elderly patients should undergo surgical treatment when they first present with their disease. It should not be put off until complications develop to the point where an emergency operation is needed. Because that emergency operation is the most significant risk for mortality and complications," he adds.

A major limitation of the study is that it is a retrospective study. Another limitation is that frailty is classified retrospectively. A more standardized description of frailty might have impacted the study's findings.

Coauthors are Bishoy L. Zakhary, BA, MPH; Bruno C. Coimbra, BS; Junsik Kwon, MD; Timothy S. Allison-Aipa, PhD; and Matthew A. Firek, BS.
insights from industry Dr. Fu Wei Director of Quality Management BGI Genomics

In the biotechnology industry, advancements in digital technologies such as AI and big data are revolutionizing the industrial landscape. This data, often of a sensitive nature, brings forth significant privacy concerns. Meeting certifications like GDPR and ISO/IEC 27001, safeguarding against cyber threats, and seamlessly integrating legacy systems are vital challenges faced by the sector.

To navigate this complex landscape, a proactive approach to data privacy is essential. This involves continual training for employees, integrating privacy considerations into system architectures, thorough risk evaluations, and establishing transparent data protocols. By prioritizing data privacy, companies in the biotechnology industry can uphold legal compliance, safeguard their reputation, and cultivate trust in an age of rapid technological evolution.

In this interview, Dr. Fu Wei, Director of Quality Management Department at BGI Genomics talks to AZoMedical about achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications.

Image Credit: TenPixels/Shutterstock.com

What types of certifications do the BSI and GDPR provide for personal data security and compliance?

Regarding personal data security and compliance, BSI provides certification of BS 10012 (Personal Information Management System), which fully meets the regulations and requirements of GDPR.

Image Credit: A9 STUDIO/Shutterstock.com

Can you elaborate on BGI Genomics's specific process for achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications?

BGI Genomics establishes and operates the management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 standards. BGI Genomics then submits an application for certification to the certification organizations. The auditor team will conduct an on-site inspection, including document review, site visit, management person interview, etc., to ensure that BGI Genomics's management system meets the requirements and standards of ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 accordingly. In the end, BGI Genomics is granted accreditation certifications.

Additionally, how frequently does the relevant regulatory certification organization review these certificates?

Certificate organizations review the certificates once a year.

How many companies have obtained these certifications? What standards and criteria do most companies struggle to meet?

Fourteen companies have obtained ISO/IEC 27001 certifications under BGI Group, BGI Genomics' parent company, and four companies have obtained BS 10012 certifications. Risk assessment is the most difficult part of information security and privacy management systems. It requires a good understanding of the standards and the ability to practice them.

Image Credit: Wright Studio/Shutterstock.com

How does BGI Genomics ensure compliance with international quality management standards? How do the relevant certification organizations help BGI Genomics navigate the complexities of obtaining and maintaining accreditation?

BGI Genomics strictly follows the standards to set up and maintain management systems of information security and privacy. The certification organizations review BGI Genomics's management systems on-site annually to ensure they work and continue to meet the standards and criteria.

Could you provide insight on any recent updates to ISO/IEC 27001, BS 10012, or GDPR regulations? How has BGI Genomics adjusted its practices to align with these changes?

The recent updates are ISOIE 27001:2022, BS10012:2017, and General Data Protection Regulations. BGI Genomics reviews and updates its practices to align with the changes by annual internal audit and management review.

Could you provide examples of how BGI Genomics integrates quality management and privacy security into its daily operations to build trust with customers and partners?

BGI Genomics aligns the quality management system privacy security standards to its regular practices, for example, patient consent agreement forms, setting up the storage time of test process records and electronic data, setting up the data breaching process, etc.

Image Credit: Wright Studio/Shutterstock.com

How did BGI Genomics perform in the recent inspection, and what could it do to enhance the operation?

The most recent inspection of BS 10012 was in October 2023, and the last inspection of ISO/IEC 27001was in May 2023.

The improvement plan for 2024 is as follows:

Update the information security management system according to ISO /IEC 27001:2022

Update Privacy policy and cookie policy

Update backup requirements for offline electronic records

Optimized permission management for shared disks

Where can readers find more information?

About Dr. Fu Wei

Dr. Fu Wei serves as the Director of the Quality Management Department at BGI Genomics. In 2018, Dr. Fu was recognized as a person of outstanding quality in Shenzhen by Shenzhen Association for Quality . He helped BGI Genomics HK laboratory to became the first genetic laboratory in China to achieve CAP accreditation. He helped the BGI Europe laboratory in Denmark achieve ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 27001 certification.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of scientific technology services and precision medicine, to research institutions, enterprises, medical facilities, and public health organizations.

Relying on cutting-edge sequencing and bioinformatics technology, our mission is to drive technological advancement, mitigate birth defects, combat tumors, and safeguard against serious illnesses through our commitment to advancing precision medicine.
With the Indian metro expanding its network in many cities, it is expected that they are poised to surpass the USA and become the second biggest metro network in the world in the coming years.

Recently, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs visited Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir to attend the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Meetup.

During the event, the Union Minister shed light on the transformative journey of the Indian metro network in the past decade. He also talked about the countrys extensive metro network and the evolution of technology, which has connected various areas and made it possible for people to commute.

During an event in Srinagar, the Union Minister revealed that India is on a progressive track and that in the next five years, the country will be among the top three economies globally.

In terms of metro railway network operations, India is currently ranked third after China and the United States of America (USA). China has always been at the forefront of metro connections, with a network of 9,827.5 kilometres, including 47 metro systems and 281 metro lines.

The second spot belongs to the United States of America (USA), with a network of 1386.2 kilometres and 16 metro systems. The metro network of the USA is spread over 87 lines as well.

Talking about Indias metro network, even though it is still behind China and the USA, it is extensively expanding. Currently, the metro network in the country spans approximately 911.48 kilometres.

It is distributed over 17 metro systems and 38 lines. In the coming 2-3 years, the metro network in India is expected to expand approximately 950 kilometres, which will help it surpass the USA and become the second biggest metro network in the world.

According to ANI, the Union Minister, during the event in Srinagar, emphasised on the fact that the countrys development cannot happen without the progress of Kashmir.

He also talked about Indias GDP and revealed that in 170, until the Battle of Plassey, Indias share in the global GDP was 25 per cent or more. He also said that India was considered a fragile economy in 2014. Since then, our country has been considered one of the top five economies in the world.
Raising concerns on the banks IT infrastructure, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank from onboarding any new customers online and through mobile banking channels, and issuing new credit cards. The action has raised concerns and uncertainties among the banks existing customers. Here, we answer all your frequently asked questions.

Why has RBI taken this action?

RBIs decision stems from significant concerns identified during IT examinations of Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2022 and 2023. The banks failure to address these concerns adequately and promptly led to the imposition of restrictions.

Will It Affect Kotak Mahindra Banks Existing Customers?

No. Existing services such as ATM cards, deposits, withdrawals, and locker services remain unaffected for current Kotak Mahindra Bank customers. The bank has assured uninterrupted services including credit card, mobile, and net banking facilities.

What If Your Credit Card Application Is Already Under Process?

Fresh credit card applications are affected by RBIs restrictions. However, those whose applications were processed and approved before the restriction can receive their credit cards as usual.

However, the bank cannot entertain new credit card applications. The RBI has banned it.

Will You Be Able To Open Kotaks 811 Account Now?

No. Kotaks 811 bank account is an online available facility. However, after the RBIs embargo, the bank has ceased and desisted, with immediate effect, from onboarding new customers through the banks online and mobile banking channels.

Can A Customer Open a New Bank Account By Visiting Kotak Branch?

Yes. Kotak Mahindra Bank branches are still open for new account openings, except for issuing new credit cards. However, new customers cannot open accounts online or through mobile channels due to the ban.

In the statement, the lender said, The banks branches will continue to onboard new customers, providing them with all the banks services, except issuance of new credit cards.

How Long Will RBI Restrictions On Kotak Mahindra Bank Continue?

RBIs restrictions will be reviewed after a comprehensive external audit and remediation of deficiencies. While no specific timeline is provided, its estimated to take between 6 to 12 months. Kotak Mahindra Bank said it is actively working to strengthen its IT systems to resolve the issues promptly.

By adhering to these clarifications, Kotak Mahindra Bank aims to address the concerns raised by the RBI and ensure a swift resolution for its customers.

These directions shall be reviewed by RBI upon satisfactory remediation of the observations. The bank has taken concrete steps to adopt new technologies to strengthen its IT systems and will continue to work with RBI to swiftly resolve balance issues at the earliest, Kotak Mahindra Bank has said without sharing any timeline.
ICICI Bank has taken swift action after the credit card data of at least 17,000 new customers was exposed and accessed by unauthorised individuals. In response to this breach, the bank has announced the immediate blocking of these compromised cards and is issuing new ones to affected customers.

The alarming revelation came to light after concerned ICICI Bank customers took to social media to express their apprehensions regarding the security of the banks iMobile Pay app. Users reported that sensitive credit card information, including full card numbers and card verification values (CVV), had been inexplicably visible within the app.

Reports surfaced on the finance-related forum, Technofino, where users detailed instances of encountering complete card details belonging to unknown individuals while using the iMobile Pay app. This breach raised significant concerns about the security protocols implemented by ICICI Bank to safeguard customer data.

An ICICI Bank spokesperson acknowledged the incident, stating that approximately 17,000 new credit cards issued in recent days had been mistakenly linked to incorrect users within the banks digital channels. Despite this lapse, the spokesperson assured customers that no instances of misuse had been reported thus far. Additionally, the bank pledged to provide appropriate compensation for any financial losses incurred by affected customers.

What is iMobile Pay app?

iMobile Pay is ICICI Banks official mobile banking app which offers 400+ banking services. It is accessible to both ICICI Bank customers and non-ICICI Bank customers.

Using the app, customers can manage multiple cards, transfer funds, apply for loans, open fixed and recurring deposits and more.

What Customers Should Do

Still, for safety purposes, if you are an ICICI Bank credit card holder, it is important to take immediate action to safeguard your financial details:

1. Closely monitor your credit card statements and transactions for any suspicious activity or unauthorized charges.

2. Contact ICICI Banks customer service and request a replacement credit card with a new number and security code.

3. If you notice any unauthorised transactions, quickly report them to the bank and provide any supporting evidence.

4. Make sure that you enable transaction alerts on your credit card to receive real-time notifications for any activity.

ICICI Bank has assured its customers that it will appropriately compensate for any financial losses resulting from this breach. However, taking proactive measures to protect your financial information is essential to prevent potential fraud.

Incident occurs under regulatory scrutiny

This data breach comes at a time when the RBI is taking a stricter stance against banks with lapses in data security. Just a day earlier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed severe business restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank due to similar concerns.

ICICI Bank has downplayed the impact, stating the affected cards represent only 0.1 per cent of their total credit card portfolio. Nevertheless, the incident highlights the importance of robust data security measures in the banking industry.
The official date for the announcement of the results of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations was recently declared by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). According to the statement, students who sat for the HSLC (Class 10) and HSSLC (Class 12) Nagaland Board exams can check their results on the official NBSE website, nbsenl.edu.in today, April 26. It will be announced in the afternoon. To access the NBSE classes 10 and 12 results 2024, candidates will have to enter their date of birth and roll number.

ALSO READ | Nagaland Board Result 2024 LIVE: NBSE Class 10, 12 Results Releasing Soon at nbsenl.edu.in

Students have to score a minimum of 33% to pass the NBSE 10th and 12th exams 2024. Those unsatisfied with their marks can also apply re-evaluation, the dates of which NBSE will announce soon after the results are declared.

The Nagaland class 10 board exam was held from February 13 to 23. The examination started at 9 am and lasted until noon. This year, candidates for the class 12 test were divided into three streams: 14,167 students in Arts, 949 in Commerce, and 2,521 in Science. A total of over 60,000 students appeared for the Nagaland board exams 2024 for classes 10 and 12 across 68 centres.

Nagaland Board Class 10, 12 Results 2024: Websites to Check

 nbse.nic.in,

 indiaresults.com,

 nbsenl.edu.in.

Nagaland Board Class 10, 12 Results 2024: How To Check?

Step 1: Visit NBSEs official website, nbsenl.edu.in.

Step 2: Locate and click the Results link on the homepage.

Step 3: Next, click the NBSE Class 10 or 12 results link.

Step 4: Enter your login information and submit.

Step 5: The Nagaland Board class 10, 12 results will be presented on the screen. Download and save a printout for later use.

Nagaland Board Class 10, 12 Results 2024: Hardcopy of Marksheets

Additionally, from this year, all registered institutions will receive provisional result gazettes along with mark sheets or pass certificates, marking a significant change. Furthermore, students can obtain a soft copy of their test scores on the boards portal. If students are dissatisfied with their results, they may request re-totaling and, if necessary, a photocopy of their answer papers. In accordance with a notice, the Nagaland Board will only provide the Centre Supervisors with the result documents between May 3 and May 6. The Centre Superintendent will collect and distribute to the schools under his or her jurisdiction.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
This year marks the 104th death anniversary of Indian mathematical genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan. A pioneer in this field, Ramanujan developed several unique mathematical equations such as the Infinite series, mathematical analysis, number theory, game theory, and continued fractions, without having received any formal training in mathematics. A devout Hindu, the self-taught prodigy attributed his mathematical theories to divine inspiration. Ramanujans work continues to inspire mathematicians the world over. Below, we look at some interesting quotes and facts associated with him.

Srinivasa Ramanujans 104th Death Anniversary: Quotes

An equation for me has no meaning, unless it expresses a thought of God.  Srinivasa Ramanujan I have not trodden through the conventional regular course which is followed in a University course, but I am striking out a new path for myself. An excerpt from Ramanujans first letter to GH Hardy (1913). To preserve my brains I want food and this is now my first consideration.  Srinivasa Ramanujan [1729] is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as a sum of two cubes in two different ways, the two ways being 13 + 123 and 93 + 103. Ramanujan, replying to G.H. Hardys dull comment about the number 1729. While asleep, I had an unusual experience. There was a red screen formed by flowing blood, as it were. I was observing it. Suddenly a hand began to write on the screen. I became all attention. That hand wrote a number of elliptic integrals. They stuck to my mind. As soon as I woke up, I committed them to writing.  Srinivasa Ramanujan Every positive integer is one of Ramanujans personal friends.  John Littlewood recalled by G H Hardy They must be true because, if they were not true, no one would have had the imagination to invent them.  G.H. Hardy on some of Ramanujans formulas. A pure mathematician must leave to happier colleagues the great task of alleviating the sufferings of humanity. Robert Kanigel, The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan Success and fame left his natural simplicity untouched.  E. H. Neville on Ramanujan. My association with him is the one romantic incident in my life.  Excerpt from Ramanujan: Twelve Lectures on Subjects Suggested by His Life and Work by G.H. Hardy

Srinivasa Ramanujans 104th Death Anniversary: Interesting Facts

Ramanujan was the first Indian elected as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Ramanujan credited goddess Namagiri for his theories. G. H. Hardy gave Ramanujan a 100/100 in mathematical ability. A theory conceived by Ramanujan on his deathbed can explain the behaviour of black holes.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has started the online application process for the Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandant) examination 2024. Candidates can apply for the UPSC CAPF 2024 exam by visiting the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The last date to submit the application form for the UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant recruitment exam is May 14, 2024 (6:00 pm).

The application correction window will be open for seven days from May 15 to May 21, 2024. Candidates must confirm that they meet all of the qualifying conditions for the examination. Their admittance at all stages of the examination will be conditional on meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria.

As per the recruitment notification, the CAPF written exam will be held on August 4, 2024. The exam is conducted for the recruitment of 506 Assistant Commandants (Group A) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Both men and women are eligible for appointment as Assistant Commandants.

UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Recruitment 2024: Vacancy Details

 Border Security Force (BSF): 186 vacancies

 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): 120 openings

 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): 100 positions

 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): 58 posts

 Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): 42 vacancies.

UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Recruitment 2024: Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold Indian citizenship. Furthermore, non-citizens will be appointed or employed only if the central government provides written authorisation.

It is required that candidates be at least 20 years old on August 1, 2024, and not older than 25. To put it another way, they had to have been born between August 2, 1999, and August 1, 2004. Government regulations will apply to the relaxation of the upper age limit.

UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Recruitment 2024: How to Apply?

Before completing the online application form at upsconline.nic.in, new applicants must first complete the one-time registration (OTR) process via the link provided on the same website. After the OTR is done, they can begin the application procedure.

Meanwhile, existing candidates  those who have completed the OTR for a previous edition of the UPSC CAPF or any other examination administered by the commission  are not required to re-register because the OTR on the UPSC website is valid for life. Such applicants can complete the application form by entering their registration information.

Step 1  Go to the official website at upsc.gov.in

Step 2  Click on the UPSC CAPF link

Step 3  Click on the registration link

Step 4  Fill out the form, pay the fees

Step 5: Submit and download a copy of the confirmation page for further use.

UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Recruitment 2024: Application Fee

The UPSC CAPF 2024 exam fee is Rs 200. Female, SC, and ST applicants are exempted from paying the exam fee.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
This election, although his third from Kalyan constituency, is different for incumbent MP Shrikant Shinde. For, this time, Shinde will fight as the son of the president of the Shiv Sena and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde.

Earlier, Shinde faced the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance as an opponent, but this time, he will face Vaishali Darekar of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the other faction of the party post the split. Kalyan will vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

ALSO READ | Dynasty Politics: Party Needed Well-Educated, Young Face, Says Shinde on Sons LS Ticket

The constituency has always been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena. Shinde is confident of his win in this election too, as he believes that the people of his constituency are happy with the development work over the past 10 years. June 4 will reveal the exact scenario and where the people of Kalyan-Dombivali stand. People of Maharashtra are not pleased with the language used against us. We are focusing on work, while others are resorting to abusive language, bringing down the standard of politics. I believe the Opposition can sense their defeat, hence they are making loose comments about us. Those who are criticising us have already lost this election battle. I see it as their last-minute desperation. I will be among the top five candidates with the highest win margin in the Lok Sabha elections.

Shinde spoke to News18 exclusively on a range of issues, including his vision for the constituency and the political issues the Opposition is raising against the current state government.

SUPPORT FOR EKNATH SHINDE

Shinde feels people across the state are in favour of CM Shinde and his agenda of development. Seeing the CM complete infrastructure projects across Maharashtra, people of Kalyan-Dombivali have high hopes and expectations from me. The MIDC, where we are standing today, was infamous for its roads, but now, after investing Rs 100 crore, people can see the difference. There is pressure as my father is the CM and I am an MP. Hence, they expect to get maximum funds for development. We strive to meet their expectations, said Shinde.

MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

During Covid waves, the medical infrastructure of Kalyan-Dombivli gave in, forcing people to rush to either Thane, Navi Mumbai or Mumbai. When asked about the current status of medical infrastructure in Kalyan-Dombivli, Shinde replied, We have learnt a lot from COVID. The medical infrastructure that one saw during Covid has totally changed now. We have set up a 200-bed hospital in Ulhasnagar, which is operated without a cash counter. Its a corporation-run superspecialty hospital where all minor to major surgeries happen. We have also started a cardiology and urology centre in Kalwa. People with yellow and orange ration cards can receive free treatment there. We are planning to establish a cashless hospital in each town in my constituency, so that people dont have to rush to Thane or Mumbai for treatment. In Dombivli, we are constructing a cancer hospital, eliminating the need for people to go to Mumbais Tata hospital. Within the next two years, it will be ready. In slums, we have started Aapla Dawakhana where people can get free treatment.

We are focusing on work, while others are resorting to abusive language, bringing down the standard of politics. I believe the Opposition can sense their defeat, hence they are making loose comments about us.

KALYAN-DOMBIVLI DEVELOPMENT

Kalyan-Dombivli is the hub of the middle class, with people migrating due to the proximity to Mumbai and low property rates. This has made this constituency one of the most densely populated, which creates issues such as traffic, infrastructure and sanitation. Shinde said he has started work on these issues five-six years ago. Kalyan-Dombivli is one of the most densely populated constituencies in Maharashtra. Many people reside in a small area here. Every day, they commute to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai for work. Traffic and pollution are increasing every day. Hence, we first aimed to solve the commuting problem and focused on the local railways. For many years, the state government used to mention plans for the fifth and sixth railway lines, but we actually delivered, resulting in increased train services. We developed new railway stations, undertook road widening projects, and found and developed alternative roads, which people are now using for smooth vehicular movement, he said.

Katai (Dombivli) Airoli is our game-changer project. Currently, the travel time on this road journey is one hour, but after the completion of this project, the travel time will reduce to 40 minutes, allowing people to travel between Katai (Dombivali) and Airoli easily. We have extended the Metro line to Dombivli and Kalyan. We are also focusing on water transport, with ongoing work on jetties in Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Vasai. Through waterways, we will connect all these towns to Mumbai. This project will be undertaken under the PPP scheme, said Shinde.

THE PRIORITIES

When asked about his priorities for the constituency, Shinde said, Our priority is to elevate the Kalyan Shil Phata road along with the Metro line. Additionally, we will have an access control road in this constituency, further connecting to Bhiwandi and then the Nashik Highway. We are also working on a road project that will connect the Nashik highway to the Navi Mumbai airport. In the future, people of Kalyan-Dombivli wont face any traffic issues. A third Mumbai, which people are talking about, will be established between Navi Mumbai and Kalyan. The population is increasing in my constituency, with people from across the country coming here to stay. In such a scenario, there is a chance of a water crisis in this constituency. To avoid such a situation, the Maharashtra CM has come up with a plan to have a separate dam for this constituency, and has asked the MMRDA to work on this project.

FOR YOUTHS

Shinde, being a youth leader, has set an agenda for youngsters. Considering the presence of three MIDCs in his constituency, Shinde plans to set up a growth centre. This centre will not only serve as a training center for youth, but also nurture them to start their own startups and help industries acquire skilled manpower, he said.

ALSO READ | Mahayuti Will Win 45 Seats in Lok Sabha Elections in Maharashtra: Shinde

We have Dombivali, Ambernath and Pali MIDCs in my constituency, which are generating jobs for the youth. When I first became an MP, we brought the Rail Neer water plant to Ambernath, which generated jobs for the youth. We are initiating projects in 27 villages called growth centres. Under these growth centres, we will bring IT companies, and also intend to create a Maharashtra Hub, where everything will be available under one roof. We have seen that there is no shortage of talent in Maharashtra, but we lack the infrastructure to nurture it. The growth centres under Maha Hub will help startups get initial support to take off, for which we have already sanctioned Rs 500 crore. We have identified 25 acres for this project. With the help of Tata, we will be setting up a skill development centre in my constituency where youth will be trained as per the requirements of industries in Kalyan-Dombivali MIDC, ensuring employment opportunities for the youth here.
An oversized sunglass, handloom cotton saree unique to Bengal, and a red bindi  in four months of being expelled over the alleged cash for query case, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, an ex-MP from Krishnanagar, is again up and running as she seeks re-election from her old seat. Her campaigns are one of its kind to her rural electorate as they run to see their MP, a flashy politician and an ex-banker.

On the other hand, the voters in this historic town, that saw the fall of Bengals last independent nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in the battle of Plassey (Palashi), now see their Rani Ma, Amrita Roy, whose family allied with the British and engineered the Nawabs defeat, as the candidate for the BJP. The history and the controversy over the history about Raja Krishna Chandra Roys decision to ally with the British and help Mir Jafar to take down the Nawab, have got a fresh lease of life after the candidate was announced.

Roy is not a familiar face among the villagers and seen as an inexperienced accidental politician. She belongs to the erstwhile royal family and is the wife of the descendent of Raja Krishna Chandra Roy, on whom the town was named.

The electoral battle here is interesting for several reasons not just because it is an elite vs royal fight. It is not even a fight between two candidates or two parties. The fight is unique because it is a fight between a candidate and a party. The battle lines are drawn between Mahua Moitra and the BJP.

Infighting, Resentment Over Choice of Candidates

The party workers feel disappointed in their respective parties  Trinamool and BJP  over the choice of candidates. Moitra is seen and talked about as an inaccessible arrogant leader, who is too elitist to be an MP from a constituency, that is a combination of urban and rural segments, said a senior party leader of Nadia.

She has brought her own team, they are campaigning on social media, making reels. She is also campaigning across segments, but we do not feel attached to her. Whatever we are doing, we are doing for our Didi. If she wins, which we will try to ensure, it will be for Didi, and her development, said the leader pleading anonymity.

She was never cordial with local leaders and workers. We know that an MPs main duty is to speak in Parliament. But she hardly spoke for the people or for the party. She always served her own interests and brought trouble for the party. We are looking forward to the two workers meeting that Didi would hold here, added the leader.

Ujjwal Biswas, a cabinet minister and senior leader from the district, told News18, The workers resentment is nothing new. Choosing a candidate is entirely a party decision. I think it is unfair to expect an MP to reach out to or attend to every party worker.

The political scene is not different in the BJP camp as well. Amrita Roy is not a familiar face among the people living in the seven segments here. Trinamool won six of seven assembly constituencies in 2021. In 2019, the party had led in some of the assembly segments including Krishnagar with over 54,000 votes. That was the highest lead for BJP across the seven segments and it also brought down the winning margin of Mahua Moitra. Moitra won Krishnanagar by a margin of around 70,000 votes. However, the party fielded a new but an active candidate, said a local BJP leader.

Rani Ma does not know the local leaders and workers. She has direct access to the senior central leadership. Her family runs several temples and schools in and around Krishnanagr, and that is how she is popular among a section of villagers. But we are worried about segments like Nakashipara, Palashi and Chapra. Muslims dominate all these areas, he said.

Muslims and Matuas

The factors that dominate the electoral pattern in Krishnanagar continue to include Muslima and Matuas. Both the parties, BJP and Trinamool, tried to play out the controversial history of this area and the royal family for their political interests, but the controversy found little resonance on the ground.

It is clearly about who did what for the voters. The Muslims in assembly segments like Nakashipara, Chapra and Tehatta have traditionally voted for CPM and Congress, however, the equation changed post the 2019 elections. Muslims consolidated in favour of Mamata Banerjee in 2021. However, violence played an important role post 2021 elections as the Muslims, who are seen as natural voters of Trinamool, now say that they are disillusioned.

Tajer Seikh, a farmer in Palashi, said, We do not know the candidate. We work and vote for Didi. But, her party leaders are becoming so notorious and that leads to so much of resentment among our own voters as well. During the assembly and panchayat elections, the local goondas do not even allow our voters, our families to vote. Why? Why this atrocity?

Sentu Mondal, another local Muslim leader, who fought the Panchayat elections, said, We joined Trinamool from Congress, but this time we will not vote for Trinamool. The party workers are also restrained from voting. The local strongmen come and tell us that we do not need to venture out and vote. This is the situation here.

Raja Mondal, a 25-year-old voter in Tehatta, who has applied for Agniveer and West Bengal police service, said, The employment issues have been so irrelevant to the politicians, they do not want to talk about it. Who did what to whom 200 years ago is not relevant to us. Who betrayed whom and how British came is not something that we want to hear now, that is past.

The constituency has a good share of Matuas in Krishnagar and Tehattta. The Gaudiya Samaj (Vaishnavites) and Matuas are firmly backing BJP. The CAA is a crucial factor among the Matuas as well.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
BJP leader Dinesh Sharma on Friday targeted Congress over the inheritance tax row, claiming that Rahul Gandhis Uncle Sam had come up with a plan to take away peoples wealth.

The former Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister, who is the BJPs in-charge of the election campaign in Maharashtra, also said his party had no plans to change the Constitution as claimed by Congress.

Now its intentions are clear. Rahul Gandhis Uncle Sam has come up with a new plan to gobble up peoples wealth. The Congress is conspiring to steal the wealth of the common person and distribute it to a certain class. This is the reason why the party wants to carry out an economic survey. A former prime minister of Congress has said that Muslims have the first right over the countrys resources, Sharma said at a gathering of BJP workers in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday seized upon a remark by Sam Pitroda, the US-based president of the Congress overseas wing, on inheritance tax to step up the ruling BJPs attack on the issue of wealth redistribution.

The Congress distanced itself from Pitrodas comments and asserted it had no plan to introduce such a tax.

Sharma, meanwhile, also said it was the Congress which had no respect for the Constitution. The party had suspended it in the past and imposed an Emergency, he said.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday challenged the Congress to stop making attempts to scare him, referring to another video by former PM Manmohan Singh from 2009, in which he is seen reiterating that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nations resources.

ALSO READ | Well Ascertain Who Is Earning How Much: After Rahul, Priyanka Speaks Of Financial Survey as Poll Heat Rises

Modi said, When I talk about the Congress prioritising Muslims or highlight the behaviour of INDI Alliance in front of the nation, they get angry and start attacking me. Their ecosystem has been lashing out at me for a week. I challenge all of them todayThey should understand that they tried to scare me for 25 years, but failed. Now they should stop these attempts.

They even went on to say that former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji had never said that Muslims have the first right over the countrys resources. But today, another video of Singh has surfaced where he is seen saying the same thingEven some sections of the media attacked me without fact-check, but now the video has come outNow they have gone completely silent

THE 2009 VIDEO

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) posted on X a video from April 2009, in which Singh reiterated his stance on minorities. In the run-up to Lok Sabha elections, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nations resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should have first right when it comes to resources, the BJP wrote.

This unequivocal assertion by Dr Manmohan Singh demolishes the Congresss canards and clarifications on his previous statement. It supports our assertion that preferential treatment to Muslims is a clear policy of the Congress Party. This is further proof of the Congress mindset to give preference to Muslims in everything, from reservation to resources, the BJP added.

ALSO READ | PM Modi Says Congress Wants To Take Away Womens Gold, Mangalsutra

Commenting on Singhs 2009 video, BJP National President JP Nadda said, Manmohan Singh did not make that statement mistakenly. He did it deliberately because while answering a question in April 2009  during a press conference in Mumbai  he stood by his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority and the first right to resources of the country should be theirs.

Through Sachar Committee Report, false statements were made and it was said that Muslims are in worse shape than Dalits. It means that the Congress was already creating a base to declare Muslims SC and provide facilities of SC reservations to themCongress hates SC, ST and OBC because majority of the population in the country comprises them and this is Congress partys manifesto, Nadda added.

April 2009: In the run up to Lok Sabha election, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nations resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should pic.twitter.com/sNTYa5WSfM BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2024

THE TRIGGER

The Congress-BJP war of words over the issue began on April 6 when Rahul Gandhi mentioned wealth re-distribution and said, We will do a caste census so that the backwards, SCs, STs, poor of general castes and minorities get to know how much they account for in the country. After that, we will do a financial and institutional survey to find who holds the countrys wealth, and what section holds it, and then we will undertake revolutionary work. Whatever is your right, we will work on giving you the same. Be it media, bureaucracy, or all institutions  we will create space for you there and give you your right.

ALSO READ | My Mothers Mangalsutra Was Sacrificed for This Country: Priyanka Gandhis Blistering Attack on PM

The BJP wasted no time and attacked Gandhi and the Congress, alleging their plan was to give priority to Muslims. PM Modi questioned if the Congress would re-distribute wealth amongst the Muslim community, linking it to a statement of former prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2006, where he spelt out who should be the first to have claim over the countrys resources.

The fight over the issue intensified further when the Congress government in Karnataka included Muslims under the OBC category to grant them reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state. Modi said, Once again, the Congress has given reservation based on religion in Karnataka through the backdoor by putting all Muslim castes along with the OBCs. By doing so, it has snatched a big chunk of reservation from the OBC community. The Congress indulged in this dangerous game which will destroy your (future) generations. It is the biggest enemy of the OBCs.
Nominated Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty cast her vote for the Lok Sabha elections in Karnatakas Bengaluru on Friday, urging citizens, especially youngsters to come out and vote.

Follow Karnataka Election 2024 LIVE Here

If at this age I can come and vote at 7 am, I am sure youngsters have more energy. They are more smarter than me, I am sure they know how to elect, the 73-year-old former Infosys chairperson said.

#WATCH | Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty casts her votes in Lok Sabha elections in BengaluruI want to tell everyone- dont sit at home, come out and vote, choose your leader. I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I request pic.twitter.com/bl7NGqx0Gu  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

She urged everyone to come out for voting and said, I want to tell everyone- dont sit at home, come out and vote, choose your leader, adding that I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I request youngsters to come out and vote.

The author and her husband  co-founder of Infosys  Narayan Murty, cast their votes at BES polling station in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Lok Sabha Election 2024

Of the 28 parliamentary seats in the state, 14 seats went to polls at 7 am on Friday. The southern state is witnessing a straight electoral battle between the Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance.

Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Hassan, Mandya, Kolar and Chikkballapur are voting for the general elections today.

The key candidates in these constituencies include Tejasvi Surya, DK Suresh, Shobha Karandlaje, Sowmya Reddy, Shreyas Patel and Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.

LS Polls: 1.82 Crore First-Time Voters This Season

According to the Election Commission officials, there are at least 1.82 crore first-time voters are listed in the electoral rolls for this season of the Lok Sabha elections. And of these, over 85 lakh are first-time women voters.

There are 19.74 crore young voters in the age group of 20 to 29.

Who Is Sudha Murty?

Last month, President Droupadi Murmu nominated Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha. To this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi added, Sudha Jis contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring.

The author, philanthropist and former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation was described as a powerful testament to Nari Shakti.

Born in August 1950, in Karnatakas Shiggaon, Sudha Murty began her career as a computer scientist and engineer, going on to become the first female engineer hired at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (Telco).

She is also the chairperson of the Murty Trust and has authored several books. She also received the Padma Shri award in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

(With agency inputs)

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
Polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections is currently underway in three constituencies of North Bengal. The overall voter turnout, as of 1 pm, stands at 47.29%.

The voting process commenced at 7 am and is expected to continue till 6 pm.

The three constituencies voting today are Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj.

As of 1 pm, the poll percentage in Raigang is 47.56%, in Darjeeling is 49.09% and in Balurghat is 44.93%.

While polling is underway, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and TMC workers in Balurghat were spotted getting into an altercation. The BJP leader was also faced by several Go back slogans.

In the first phase of the polls, another three key constituencies from Bengal had gone for polling, which included Alipurduar, Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri.

While incidents of violence marred the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Bengal, a voter turnout of 77% was noted till 5 pm. Several injuries were also reported as TMC and BJP workers clashed mostly in the violence-prone Cooch Behar seat.

West Bengal Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2: Polling Updates

BJP candidate from Darjeeling Raju Bista raised a complaint stating that in some booths of Chopra, Darjeeling, the partys polling agents were not allowed.

An altercation took place between West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and TMC workers in Balurghat. Majumdar alleged that a large number of TMC workers were present at a polling booth. On the other hand, Go back slogans were also heard against Majumdar.

#WATCH | Altercation between West Bengal BJP chief and Lok Sabha candidate from Balurghat, Sukanta Majumdar and TMC workers in Balurghat. Majumdar alleges that a large number of TMC workers are present at a polling booth. Slogans of Go back pointed at Majumdar also heard. pic.twitter.com/ucUUtQYpb9 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

The ruling TMC took to their X account and alleged that the central forces, deployed to secure free elections, are sabotaging democracy in Bengal. They further claimed that in Balurghats Municipality Ward No. 9, voting had to be stopped after the forces unleashed a brutal assault on the voters.

As per claims made by the TMC, over 60 complaints have been raised in the 2nd phase of polling, till 8 am. Among these complaints, a majority are from Raiganj and Balurghat and over 90% of complaints comprised of EVM issues and malfunction.

Apart from EVM-VVPAT issues, complaints were also raised over the conduct of central forces, who were seen obstructing voters at several places, the Trinamool Congress claimed.

The state BJP has claimed that one of their workers has been hanged by TMC in Mednipurs Moyna. The party worker, identified as Dinabandhu Dhananjoy Midda was allegedly hanged to death by TMC goons, the saffron party claimed.

Voters queued up outside a polling station in Balurghat, to vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

#WATCH | West Bengal | People queue outside a polling station in Balurghat, to vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls which begins at 7amOut of 42 constituencies, voting is on three parliamentary constituencies in the state today. pic.twitter.com/YmsavxSoev  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

BJP State President Sukanto Majumdar claimed that in some places like Itahar in Raiganj, voters were stopped from going to booth .

The Trinamool Congress claimed that the CAPF is disturbing and trying to influence voters in Raiganj and Balurghat .

272 companies of CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) have been instructed to take quick action in case of any disturbance on polling day, an election official said.

The poll body will deploy 73 companies of central forces at Balurghat, 60 in Raiganj, 51 each in Darjeeling and Islampur, 21 in Siliguri, and 16 in Kalimpong. Each company comprises around 100 personnel.

Along with the central forces, around 12,983 state police personnel will be deployed.

The Election Commission of India stated that 98% of the polling stations in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal are critical. Central forces will be deployed at all polling stations in these seats.

The key issues in the Darjeeling seat are separate statehood for Gorkhaland, water shortage, landslides and soil erosion and tea workers issues.

The second phase of the elections will witness a total of 51,17,955 voters from the three constituencies of Bengal. Around 26,07,389 men, 25,10,356 women and 210 third-gender are eligible to exercise their franchise in 5,298 polling stations.

ALSO READ: Voter Turnout: Lok Sabha Election 2024  Phase 2

DARJEELING CONSTITUENCY

The Darjeeling hills are gearing up for another election amidst the rising focus on the long-pending demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. Popularly known as the queen of the hills, Darjeeling is known for its tea, timber and tourism industries.

The constituency is currently up for a four-cornered contest with sitting BJP MP Raju Bista contesting against party MLA from Kurseong, Bishnu Prasad Sharma, who is now running as an independent after his demand to field a Bhumiputra was not accepted by the BJP leadership. Bista, who is has the support of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the Bimal Gurung faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), aims for a second term.

Meanwhile, the TMC has nominated Gopal Lama, supported by Anit Thapas Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), which controls the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

RAIGANJ CONSTITUENCY

In Raiganj, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Kartick Paul against Trinamool Congress Krishna Kalyani, who was earlier a BJP MLA and had switched over to the TMC.

The constituency was once known as a Congress stronghold and backyard of the late former union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

In 2021 Assembly polls, the Trinamool scored five out of seven seats, including Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi and Hemtabad (SC). The BJP won two  Kaliaganj (SC) and Raiganj.

BALURGHAT CONSTITUENCY

The Balurgat Lok Sabha seat, located in Bengals Dakshin Dinajpur district will witness a electoral contest between BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who seeks re-election and TMC candidate Biplab Mitra, who is currently a member of the TMC ministry.

Majumdar made his electoral debut in 2019 and had secured 5,39,317 votes, establishing a lead of 33,293 votes and wresting the seat from TMCs Arpita Ghosh. Once a stronghold of Left Front constituent RSP, which won the seat consecutively from 1984 to 2009, Balurghat is also pitted for a three-cornered contest with Left-Congress alliance candidate Joydep Siddhanta in the fray.

In 2021 assembly polls, out of the seven assembly segments in the Balurghat constituency, four were won by the TMC and three by the BJP.

(with agency inputs)

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
Amidst the wealth distribution controversy in the country, in an unrelated case, the Supreme Court has begun hearing the process of interpretation of Article 39(b) of the Constitution, which allows the government to acquire and redistribute privately owned properties if they are deemed as material resources of the community.

Under the Directive Principles of State Policy, Article 39(b) places an obligation on the state to create policy towards securing the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good.

Directive principles are guiding principles for the enactment of laws, which are directly not enforceable by court.

The bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Hrishikesh Roy, BV Nagarathna, S Dhulia, JB Pardiwala, Manoj Misra, R Bindal, SC Sharma and AG Masih weighed on the interpretation of Article 39(b) in State of Karnataka vs Shri Ranganatha Reddy case in 1977. The seven-judge bench held that privately owned resources did not fall within the ambit of material resources of the community.

It was Justice Krishnas Iyer dissenting views that provide the basis of what community resources are. Justice Iyer held that privately owned resources must be considered material resources of the community. Every thing of value or use in the material world is material resource and the individual being a member of the community his resources are part of those of the community. To exclude ownership of private resources from the coils of Article 39(b) is to cipherise its very purpose of redistribution the socialist way, Iyer contended.

When SC Relied on Justice Iyers Opinion

Justice Iyers opinion was upheld by a five-judge Supreme Court bench in Sanjeev Coke Manufacturing Company vs Bharat Coking Coal, 1983. The court upheld central legislation that nationalised coal mines and their respective coke oven plants relying on what Justice Iyer had ruled. It stated that the provision takes within its stride the transformation of wealth from private-ownership into public ownership and is not confined to that which is already public-owned.

In Mafatlal Industries Ltd v Union of India (1996), Justice K S Paripoornan in the nine-judge Bench further endorsed Justice Iyers interpretation of Article 39(b). Justice Paripoornan stated that the term material resources encompasses not only natural or physical resources but also movable or immovable property, encompassing both private and public assets.

In 1986, invoking Article 39(b), Section 1A was appended to Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board (MHADA), enabling plans for acquiring lands and buildings to transfer them to needy persons and the occupiers of such lands or buildings. The amendment also introduced Chapter VIII-A, granting the state government powers to acquire cessed buildings and their land if 70% of occupants made such a request.

The Property Owners Association in Mumbai contested Chapter VIII-A of MHADA in the Bombay High Court, alleging violations of property owners Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. The court, however, upheld the laws enacted in line with DPSP, citing Article 31C of the Constitution (Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles).

The Association appealed this decision to the Supreme Court in December 1992. The central issue before the SC was whether material resources of the community under Article 39(b) encompass privately owned resources, including cessed buildings. In March 2001, a five-judge Bench referred the case to a larger Bench, citing the need to reconsider the views expressed in Sanjeev Coke Manufacturing.

In February 2002, a seven-judge Bench took note of Justice Iyers interpretation but expressed reservations. We have some difficulty in sharing the broad view that material resources of the community under Article 39(b) covers what is privately owned. Consequently, the challenge to Chapter VIII-A of MHADA was referred to a nine-judge Bench, which is presently deliberating on the matter.

What Did CJI Chandrachud Say?

CJI Chandrachud explained why there is a need for the interpretation of Article 39(b) by the nine-judge bench. The reason for the exercise before the nine-judge bench is that though majority in the Ranganathan Reddy case in 1977 clarified that material resources of the community do not include private property, a five-judge bench in Sanjeev Coke in 1983 relied on Justice Iyer ignoring that it was a minority view, he said as quoted by The Times of India.

In the meantime, SC in Mafatlal Industries case in 1997 opined that Article 39(b) needed interpretation by a nine-judge bench, the CJI said.
WhatsApp has told the Delhi High Court that it may shut down its operations in India in a plea challenging a provision of the 2021 Information Technology Rules that requires social media platforms to identify the first originator of messages to a competent authority upon legal request.

WhatsApp has told the court that the new law would force it to break end-to-end encryption, which is one of the key privacy features of the messaging platform.

Counsel Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, told the Division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes. The Delhi High Court said, Privacy rights were not absolute balance needs to be done.

What is the Case?

WhatsApp and Meta filed a plea challenging Indias IT rules 2021 for social media intermediaries, requiring them to identify the first originator of information.

The legal challenge is around Information Technology Rule 4(2) of the 2021 IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code), which mandates significant social media intermediaries to enable the identification of the first originator of the information which may be required by a court order or other competent authority.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were announced by the government on February 25, 2021 and required large social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to comply with the latest norms.

The bench ordered that the matter be listed for hearing on August 14 to await the transfer of all other petitions challenging several aspects of the 2021 IT Rules to it pursuant to a Supreme Court order.

On March 22, the Supreme Court transferred to the Delhi High Court a batch of pleas pending before different high courts across the country challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Several petitions were pending on the issue before different high courts including Karnataka, Madras, Calcutta, Kerala and Bombay high courts.

What is WhatsApp Saying?

WhatsApp has categorically said it will not break its end-to-end encryption as it feels that would violate its privacy.

In 2021, WhatsApp in its petition said the requirement of intermediaries enabling the identification of the first originator of information in India upon government or court order puts end-to-end encryption and its benefits at risk. It said the traceability provision was against the fundamental right to privacy.

WhatsApp has urged the high court to declare Rule 4(2) of the intermediary rules as unconstitutional, ultra vires the IT Act and illegal and sought that no criminal liability be imposed on it for any alleged non-compliance with Rule 4(2) which requires enabling the identification of the first originator of information.

What is Government Saying?

The Centre argues that traceability, in knowing the first originator of the message, is significant in tackling harmful content such as fake news or hate speech.

The government said that Section 87 of the Information Technology Act gave it power to formulate Rule 4(2) to curb fake news or instigating content that threatens national security or communal harmony.

Section 4(2) mandates significant social media intermediary to enable identification of the first originator of an information in legitimate state interest to curb fake news.

What are new IT Rules 2021?

The amendments to the Information and Technology ((Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) cover social media intermediaries (SMIs). The new rules define an online gaming intermediary as any intermediary that enables the users of its computer resource to access one or more online games. The additional portions provide the regulatory framework for online gaming and misinformation.

The earlier rules that cover social media intermediaries shall now cover online gaming intermediaries, with a few more clauses thrown in such as no wagering on the outcome on any game will be allowed, though users can still play real money online game, which, for the purposes of the notification, is defined as an online game where a user makes a deposit in cash or kind with the expectation of earning winnings on that deposit.

The IT rules also put the onus on the social media intermediary to ensure content posted on its platform is not obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, violating someone elses privacy, hate speech, promoting illegal activities or threatening the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India.

The 2023 amendments focus on ensuring no wagering  or betting on the outcome of any online game  is allowed, and prohibit online gaming intermediaries from hosting, or allowing users to use their resource to host  (i) an online game that is not verified as a permissible online game, (ii) advertisement or surrogate advertisement or promotion of non-permissible online game or any intermediary offering such an online game.

The draft also specifies certain conditions for organisations to apply for the status of self-regulatory bodies  the entity is a company registered under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013; its membership is representative of the gaming industry.

What is End-to-End Encryption?

Social media messaging and video calling apps provide end-to-end encryption, which keeps data or information secure and away from hackers during transit. The system encrypts a message in an alien, which can only be deciphered by the device that is intended to receive it.

It means that the encryption takes place on the senders device through service providers such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Zoom to the receiver where the device matches the encryption code. Once the code matches, the message gets decrypted in a readable format. This is applied to video calling formats too.

End-to-end encryption ensures only you and the person youre communicating can read or listen to what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp, read WhatsApps FAQ page.
A court in New York City has overturned rape conviction of Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein, reopening the painful memories of sexual misconduct by powerful personalities in America that sparked off the most talked about #MeToo movement.

According to the New York Court of Appeals, the trial judge in the rape case was prejudiced as the accusations by other women witnesses were not part of the charges against him.

In its 4-3 decision, the courts majority said it was an abuse of judicial discretion for Judge James Burke to allow testimony from other women about loathsome alleged bad acts and despicable behaviour, news agency Associated Press reported.

Weinsteins attorney Arthur Aidala had argued that Burke also swayed the trial by giving prosecutors permission to confront Weinstein about his past history that include alleged acts of misbehaviour.

In an interview with The New York Times, Aidala said the decision was a victory for every criminal defendant in the state of New York. In this courthouse behind us, at that trial, the law was not applied fairly to Harvey Weinstein.

Why Were Other Women Allowed to Testify?

The Molineux rule is not absolute. It holds that prosecutors cannot use such testimony to prove that the defendant has a propensity to commit crime, but they may use it as evidence of motive or intent.

In Weinsteins case, prosecutors persuaded the trial judge that the producers alleged prior sexual assaults showed that he knew his accusers did not consent to his advances, but that he intended to force them into sex anyway, as per a Reuters report. Prosecutors believed the evidence would help disprove Weinsteins assertion that the encounters were consensual.

The Court of Appeals, however, found that the testimony was simply evidence that he had a propensity to commit rape and sexual assault, not of his motive or intent.

When Will Weinstein Be Released?

Weinstein, 72, will remain in prison because was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 for another rape and sentenced to 16 years.

Weinstein, who has been serving time in New York, most recently at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, could be taken to California to serve his sentence there.

His lawyers are appealing against charges of rape and sexual assault against an Italian actor and model. The Italian actor described in tearful testimony how Weinstein attacked her in a hotel room during a film festival in 2013. Jurors rejected the allegations of another woman and couldnt reach verdicts on two others, including those of a documentary filmmaker married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to Associated Press.

What Happens Next?

The Manhattan district attorneys office would restart the trial, which means Weinsteins accusers could be forced to retell their stories on the witness stand. We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, the prosecutors statement said.

Accusations against Weinstein began in 2017 and started off the #MeToo movement, which exposed sexual abuse in the top tier of Hollywood film industry. He maintains that he is innocent of the charges of criminal sex acts involving on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He said any sex was consensual.

How the Scandal Unfolded

In October 2017, The New York Times published a story detailing decades of allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein. Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were among the women who came forward. Weinstein issues an apology acknowledging he has caused a lot of pain. He was later sacked by the board of his company, with immediate effect. That year, Hollywood A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie said they were also harassed by Weinstein. Paltrow says she was propositioned as a 22-year-old, while Jolie refers to a bad experience in her youth. The organisation, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, behind the Oscars votes to expel Weinstein.

In February 2018, after a four-month investigation, New York state prosecutors announce they have filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Company on the basis the studio failed to protect employees from his alleged harassment and abuse. Weinstein turned himself in to New York police on sexual misconduct charges in May. He wase charged with rape and other counts of sexual abuse against two women. He was later released on $1 million bail. A grand jury in New York indicted Weinstein on charges of rape and a criminal sexual act, moving the case towards a trial. In June, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in the New York Supreme Court.

In December 2019, Weinstein gave an interview to the New York Post saying he has overseen more movies directed by women and about women than any film-maker.

In January 2020, the trial process against Weinstein began in New York, with accusers including Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette protesting outside the court. In February, the jury found Weinstein guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape. He was convicted of sexually assaulting a former production assistant in 2006 and raping a former actress in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault, charges that could have seen him jailed for life. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault in March.

In April 2021, Weinsteins lawyers launched an appeal against his conviction, arguing the judge made errors that denied his right to a fair trial. In June, a New York judge ruled Weinstein can be extradited to California to face additional sexual assault charges. In July, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in a Los Angeles court.

In June 2022, A New York appellate court upheld Weinsteins rape conviction, rejecting his claims that the judge had prejudiced him by allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the criminal case. In October, trial against Weinstein began in LA. In December, he was found guilty of raping a woman by a Los Angeles court. The Oscar winner faces up to 24 years in prison when he is sentenced.

In February 2023, Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the 2013 rape of an actress in Los Angeles. He begged for leniency in a Los Angeles court moments before he was sentenced.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seized on Friday a big stash of arms and ammunition, including a foreign-made pistol and revolvers, from the house of an associate of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is behind the bars, the probe agency said. It said officials, acting on a tip-off, found the arms during searches at two locations in West Bengals Sandeshkhali in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob allegedly instigated by Shahjahan in February.

The discovery came on the day parts of West Bengal voted in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections  and it triggered a political slugfest between the ruling TMC and its challenger, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which launched a fresh salvo at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over law and order.

information was received that the items lost by the ED Team and other incriminating articles may be hidden at the residence of an associate of Sk. Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. Accordingly, the team of CBI along with CRPF personnel searched 02 premises at Village Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, the agency said in a statement. It said three foreign-made revolvers, one Indian revolver, one Colt official police revolver, one foreign-made pistol and one country-made pistol were recovered, along with bullets and cartridges.

Bengali media reported that one of the houses where the arms were found belonged to a relative of an aide to Shahjahan. It was about 200 metres from the main road and was accessible through a narrow pavement made of bricks, according to Anandabazar Patrika. Central forces blocked that pathway, it reported. The arms and ammunition were dug up from beneath the floor, it added, citing sources. Subsequently, National Security Guard (NSG) commandos marched into Sandeshkhali and carried out further search.

The CBI, during raid, in connection with the attack on ED officials, recovers huge amount of arms and ammunition from Sariberia, in Sandeshkhali. Mamata Banerjee, as Home Minister of West Bengal, must explain why is the state seeing huge stockpile of illegal weapons? It is dangerous, BJP leader Amit Malviya said in an X post, mounting pressure on Bengals ruling TMC.

NSG has been deployed but WB Govt has approached the Supreme Court to preclude the CBI from investigating the matter. The arms haul is nothing but an act of terror, waging war against the nation. But the question is  why is Mamata Banerjee trying to protect terrorists who have stocked firearms in such large quantity? he added, referring to the Bengal governments move to approach the Supreme Court against CBI probe into Sandeshkhali violence.

The CBI, during raid, in connection with the attack on ED officials, recovers huge amount of arms and ammunition from Sariberia, in Sandeshkhali.Mamata Banerjee, as Home Minister of West Bengal, must explain why is the state seeing huge stockpile of illegal weapons? It is pic.twitter.com/6CkWUObovZ  Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) April 26, 2024

The place in Bengals North 24-Paraganas district has remained politically charged since the February attack on the ED team and in the wake of complaints of land grab and harassment of local women by Shahjahans men.

Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said Banerjee had lost the moral authority to continue as the CM of WB after fostering Terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh.

EDCBINIANSGWhat Next in Sandeshkhali? Army? Huge cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives is being recovered in Sandeshkhali. Mamata Banerjee have lost the moral authority to continue as the CM of WB after fostering Terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh. pic.twitter.com/yJvLxgr6yy  Suvendu Adhikari (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SuvenduWB) April 26, 2024

But TMC leader Kunal Ghosh cast aspersions on the CBI finding. Till now, we have not seen any armsCBI has not briefed anything officiallyIt is possible that our rivals or some political parties have planted arms.., he said, hours before the official CBI statement. In an X post, he took a dig at the Centres ruling BJP without naming it. There are attempts from Delhi to influence voting and keep the Sandeshkhali pot boiling. Dramas are being staged. The police should be alert, he shared.

                        ,           Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) April 26, 2024

On the orders of the Calcutta High Court, CBI has registered three FIRs related to the incidents of January 5, when the ED team was attacked on its way to raid the premises of Shahjahan in connection with an alleged ration scam. Then, on February 8, local women carrying brooms and sticks blocked a major road in Sandeshkhali, demanding the arrest of Shahjahan and his two aides. The West Bengal Police arrested the TMC strongman on February 29.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
The Indian officials have formally requested French authorities to approve the extradition of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya without preconditions, a new report revealed.

This request was made during a meeting earlier this month, where the topic of Mallyas extradition was raised in the 16th session of the India-France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, held on April 15.

The Indian delegation is reported to have sought an update on the status of Indias extradition proposal to France during the discussion.

The French offered a (extradition) proposal with some preconditions (but) India asked them to approve the proposal without any preconditions, a source told The Indian Express.

As per the sources, India has been actively pursuing Mallyas extradition, especially with countries where he holds property and where extradition treaties are in place. This approach aims to facilitate extradition proceedings in case Mallya travels to any of these countries, including France.

The 16th Meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism took place in New Delhi last week. The Indian delegation was led by KD Dewal, Joint Secretary (CT) at the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India. Meanwhile, the French delegation was headed by HE Ambassador Olivier Caron, Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime.

Mallya, often dubbed the King of Good Times, is accused in a bank loan default case exceeding Rs 9,000 crore, involving his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He has been residing in the United Kingdom since March 2016. The Indian government has declared him a fugitive, and many of his assets in India have been auctioned off.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a follower of Buddhism, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week for his alleged indifference towards the religion. In an interview with News 24, he questioned the PMs faith in Buddhism.

Buddha is considered as the 9th avatar of Vishnu. He (PM Modi) does not let Buddha come close. In Uttarakhand, there is a law that if someone wants to convert to Buddhism, he needs to go to the district magistrate. Buddhism was established in India, but you (PM Modi) do not believe in it, Kharge said.

But government sources suggest this is far from the truth. They cite a long list of measures taken by the Prime Minister that show his respect for Buddhism.

The first Global Buddhist Summit was organised by the Modi government in April 2023. Platforms like IBC (International Buddhist Confederation) are giving the opportunity to like-minded and like-hearted countries to spread Buddha Dhamma and peace, he said at the event last year.

Government sources also cited the development of Buddhist circuits as another measure. The Modi government has worked to take the Buddhas teachings to the people. The Buddhist circuit is one such step. It connects various places connected with the life of Lord Buddha. This also promotes Buddhist tourism, said an official.

Better connectivity for pilgrims from India and abroad with the development of the Kushinagar International Airport is another instance. PM Modi in 2021 inaugurated the airport in an area where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. Kushinagar International Airport is a tribute to the devotion of Buddhist society around the world.

Be it PM Modi laying the foundation stone of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture & Heritage at Lumbini or his efforts to add Vadnagar to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, the intent has been very clear, said government sources.

In a special gesture, the holy relics of Lord Buddha were taken from India to Mongolia for an exposition. Similarly, the holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples were sent to Thailand for a 26-day exposition. The relics were received with reverence and a grand ceremony in Bangkok.

Financial assistance was given to various Buddhist institutions for the promotion and preservation of Buddhist heritage in India as well as abroad.

Narendra Modi ensured special events like Vesak Purnima, Ashadha Purnima, and Abhidhamma Day were organised to further promote Buddhism, officials said.

Answering Kharges political allegations, government sources pointed out how the PM gifted a sapling from the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya to Nepal. In a special gesture, he also gifted a sapling of the Bal Bodhi tree to Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.

The Buddha Purnima Express special train has also been started by the Modi government to facilitate travel within the Buddhist circuit. The Modi government has rejuvenated pilgrimage centres such as Sarnath and Kushinagar too. The foundation stone of an India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage at Lumbini was also laid in May 2022.

Talking about taking Buddhism to the world, Modi mentioned Buddha in a UN General Assembly speech in September 2019. We belong to a country that has given the world not Yuddh but Buddh, he said. In another instance, he and Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia, jointly unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha and his two disciples, installed at the historic Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar in 2019.

Regardless of Kharges charge against the Prime Minister, Modis actions speak louder than words, said government sources. No wonder, Buddhist community leaders too have come out and condemned the Congress presidents attempt to use Buddhism for political purposes.

Bhante Sanghpriya Rahul, who is the president of Bhartiya Baudh Sangh, said, Mallikarjun Kharges remark is condemnable. For the first time in 2014, PM Modi celebrated the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha at Talkatora Stadium, which was the first time after Independence that a Prime Minister did this. When he was Gujarats chief minister, he had a statue of Buddha inside the assembly and also at the CMs residence. I want to ask Mallikarjun Kharge, when Manmohan Singhs government was in power, why did you not pay attention to Buddha, why did you not celebrate Buddha?

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
In todays digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on Prime Minister Narendra Modis challenge to Congress with another Manmohan clip, EVM vandalised in Manipur during Lok Sabha polling and other top stories.

Stop Attempts to Scare Me: PM Modi Challenges Congress With Another Manmohan Clip on Resources For Muslims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday challenged the Congress to stop making attempts to scare him, referring to another video by former PM Manmohan Singh from 2009, in which he is seen reiterating that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nations resources. READ MORE

Election 2024: 13 States, UTs See 50.25% Voter Turnout Till 3 PM, EVMs Vandalised At Manipur Polling Station

Voting was disrupted and panic ensued at a polling station in Manipur after miscreants vandalised Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and surveillance cameras. The incident took place at the KK Leishi Phanit School in Ukhrul. READ MORE

READ MORE WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted which keeps its users secure but the messaging app warns that it will stop its services in India if it is forced to break chat encryption in the near future. WhatsApp informed this to the Delhi High Court this week, where it is facing a big battle to keep its users secure behind its vaunted end-to-end encryption for chats, calls, videos and more.

READ MORE The craze to shoot an Instagram reel in a unique manner to gain more followers has landed an influencer couple in trouble after they were spotted performing stunts on a motorcycle dressed as superheroes  Spiderman and Spider-Woman  on the streets of South West Delhis Dwarka.

England pacer Ollie Robinsons words surmising Jasprit Bumrahs crazy Yorker that flattened Ollie Pope during Indias 4-1 Test series win earlier this year werent an exception reserved only for that particular delivery. It was a brief and accurate summation of generational talent, at the peak of his powers, who repeatedly threw the pitch out of the equation. READ MORE Krushna Abhishek Gets Emotional As Govinda Attends Sister Artis Wedding, Says Wo Dil Ki Baat Hai Krushna Abhishek was so happy to see his uncle, actor Govinda, at his sister Arti Singhs wedding reception, which took place in Mumbai on Thursday. Govinda and his wife Sunita Ahuja have been in a feud with Krushna and his wife Kashmera Shah for the past eight years. So it came as a big surprise when Govinda arrived at his nieces wedding bash with Dipak Chauhan. READ MORE

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
There were days he broke down, days he wanted to just give up and run away from home, recalls actor Adhyayan Suman about the dark phase of his career that he hopes will end with Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi. As he contemplated the highs and lows of his life, Adhyayan said he took inspiration from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan.

You look at Mr Bachchan, starting from the beginning and going absolutely down under and then again becoming a superstar, so if you dont learn from that, then what do you learn from? So I learned from that and this is where I stand today, the 36-year-old told PTI.

The son of seasoned actor Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan debuted as a lead actor in 2008 with Haal-e-dil and followed up with performances in Raaz  The Mystery Continues and Jashnn which released in 2009. After that followed a prolonged slump where he appeared only sporadically in films. In fact, he made headlines for his personal life, especially his tumultuous relationship with actor Kangana Ranaut.

The 15 years from 2009 to 2024 were tough, Adhyayan said. There were days when I broke down, there were days I wanted to give up and change the profession. There were days when I didnt want to probably live or be here, I dont know, just run away from home. There were answers I was looking for but werent getting any, like why me and why is it happening? I dont think anyone can answer that, he said.

What kept him going was his parents love and faith in his capabilities. I look at myself every day in the mirror and I am very real about who I am and the skills that I own in my life. So I just said you know what, its tough but you just want to do what you got to do. And then you look at all the other people.

Adhyayan hopes to put an end to the rough patch with the lavishly mounted Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar in which his father also makes an appearance. The actor said he is optimistic things will change for him post May 1, when the period drama series starts streaming on Netflix.

But I want to be balanced. I dont want to over expect or think too much I dont want to work like this anymore. I dont think I come from that space anymore. I think I just want to be neutral. I just want to be grateful for the fact that a man like Bhansali gave me a sense of validation and gave me a new life, and reinstalled the fact that I do know a little bit about my craft. And the rest Im hoping because Ive been getting sincere with my work, he said.

Heeramandi feels like he is still in a beautiful dream and will wake up any time now, the actor added. Im grateful to god that this is not a dream. This is my reality for now. When god gives you something, it gives you Heeramandi. I really hope that people give me the chance and opportunity this time, the actor said.

Heeramandi stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Sanjeeda Shaikh in the lead roles. Billed as an epic saga of love, power, revenge and freedom, the series explores the cultural reality of Heeramandi through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.

Adhyayan plays the role of young Nawab Zorawar as well as the younger version of his fathers character Nawab Zulfiqar. Recalling the story of how his son was cast in the show, Shekhar Suman said Adhyayan received a call from Bhansali while coming back from Shimla and were crossing a tunnel.

The father-son duo, travelling in different cars, stopped on the side of the road and Adhyayan went ahead with the audition for the role of Zorawar. Shekhar, who didnt know at the time that he would also be later cast in the show, said he told Adhyayan to reach the hotel to audition properly but his son insisted on auditioning on the spot.

He stands by the roadside, gives an audition in whatever condition he was in dishevelled hair and no makeup, nothing. And on the basis of that he gets chosen. I tell him that metaphorically speaking the dark tunnel where he gets the call was actually the dark phase that he was going through in life, and the light at the end of the tunnel was Mr. Bhansali and Heeramandi was waiting, said Shekhar Suman.

Working on Heeramandi and with Bhansali was nothing short of being in a film school, Adhyayan said. Ive learned a lot on this set and I think he is the toughest taskmaster that any actor can ever come across. He is the best film school that an actor can ever go to. It is his craft and his need for perfection, the way his nuances that he has for actors.

Its not easy for an actor to be able to perform with 500 people watching you at a massive set with massive cameras and Mr. Bhansali watching you. If you go through that and are able to deliver, then I feel like you can handle and be in any film set, the actor said.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is created and directed by Bhansali. He also serves as a producer on the show.
Orry Awatramani is quite popular among all the celebrities. His photos with them often go viral. His friendship with Kajol and Ajay Devgns daughter Nysa is also very famous. And this time he was joined by Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khannas son Aarav. Their picture from the London party has gone viral on social media.

In the photo, shared by Instant Bollywood, we can see all three Aarav, Nysa, and Orry posing together. Nysa opted for a grey top paired with denim shorts, while Aarav looked handsome in a black t-shirt paired with denim pants. He was seen holding a glass in his hand while he wrapped his arm around Orry. Fans also reacted to the photo.

Take a look here:

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In a recent interview, actor Akshay Kumar discussed his family life and specifically, how his children respond to his movies. He mentioned that while his daughter Nitara is too young to grasp his films, its his son Aarav Bhatia who is exceptionally frank about them. Additionally, Akshay revealed that unlike himself, Aarav has no interest in pursuing a career in the film industry.

Beti toh bohot choti hai. Beta hai, woh jab film dekhta haiGood dad Im proud of you, bus itna isse zayada nahi. Teenagers have very few words to talk. Beta kaisi lagi?Sorry but its bullsh*t Dad. If they dont like it, thats where it goes (my daughter is very young. Whenever my son watches my films, he just speaks a little. When I ask him, he says he doesnt like it in case).

Akshay had previously spoken about his son during a chat with Hindustan Times. He had said, I was just thinking about how different it is in my home. I want to show my son films, I want to tell him about films, he doesnt want to see films. I want to put him into all that but he just doesnt want to see anything, he just wants to do his work. He wants to study or do his fashion designing.

While Nysa has recently turned 21-years-old. In December last year, Ajay Devgn said that his daughter Nysa has no plans of venturing into the film industry as of now. Right now she doesnt want to be (come into the acting world). I dont think she wants to be but tomorrow if something changes they will run a 20-year-old interview that Ajay Devgn said this but right now, there is zero per cent chance, he said.
Arti Singh tied the knot to Dipak Chauhan last night, April 26. The wedding ceremony took place at ISKCON temple and was attended by Artis brother and actor-comedian, Krushna Abhishek and wife Kashmera Shah, and her uncle, actor Govinda. Now, Arti has dropped photos of herself in her bridal attire. Arti looks radiant in the photos which have now gone viral.

Arti Singh took to her Instagram handle and dropped a bunch of photos of herself from her bridal shoot. She captioned the post, Dulhan #DipakKiArti. Arti had opted for a red and gold theme for her lehenga and even her bridal jewellery had hints of red with gold detailing. Check out Artis post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arti singh sharma (@artisingh5)

Fans flocked to the comments section to shower their love and praises for Arti. One person wrote, Sach mein Arti lag rahi hai bridal. Itni sundar bride bahut time baad dekhi industry mein. Another person wrote, Beautiful dulhan all your wedding outfits were beautiful. Happy married life. One fan of the actress wrote, Congratulations Arti From BB13 we know how long you waited for your special day So happy for you, you deserve all the love and happiness. Another added, Bollywood ki ab tak ki sabse best dulhan  Finally a bride in red.

Arti had earlier shared with Times Now/ Telly Talk India that she met Dipak Chauhan through his aunt, who acted as a matchmaker. Despite meeting many potential partners, Arti didnt connect with anyone until Dipak came along and made a genuine effort. Dipak even moved closer to her by relocating from Navi Mumbai to Andheri. Dipak is a successful entrepreneur and founder of an event management company. Hes also the brand ambassador for the Road Safety World Series.

Arti and Dipaks wedding was a grand affair, attended by several celebrities. Krushna Abhisheks The Great Indian Kapil Show co-stars Kapil Sharma, Archana Puran Singh, Sunil Grover and Rajiv Thakur graced the wedding. Arti Singhs Bigg Boss 13 co-contestants including Shefali Jariwala, Vishal Aditya Singh and Hindustani Bhau also attended to bless her.

However, the highlight of the evening was surely Arti Singhs uncle and actor Govinda, who also made a grand entry to her wedding reception. Netizens were unsure about Govinda attending Artis wedding especially after he skipped the TV stars Haldi, Sangeet and Mehendi ceremonies. Govinda has not been on talking terms with his nephew Krushna Abhishek, who is Artis elder brother. The duo had a huge fallout in 2016. However, his entry surprised all.
Actor Govinda has finally spoken out about attending his niece Arti Singhs wedding reception in Mumbai on Thursday evening. Fans were surprised when Govinda joined Artis wedding celebrations as hes been in a feud with her elder brother, actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek, for the past eight years. Govinda looked dapper in black-coloured bandhgala as he greeted the paps with folded hands at Artis wedding.

Talking to the media about the wedding, Govinda told Instant Bollywood, Ishvar se praarthana hai, jo kripa Arti par hui hai kisi prakaar ka vastu dosh na lage (I pray for her wellbeing and may god protect her from evil eyes). Arti tied the knot with Navi Mumbai-based businessman Dipak Chauhan in the presence of their family members and close friends. She looked stunning in a red bridal lehenga, while her husband complemented the actress in white-coloured sherwani.

Arti and Dipak also made the first public appearance as newlyweds as they stepped out to pose for the paparazzi stationed outside the reception venue. Arti held her husband close as the couple posed for the shutterbugs. Arti greeted the paps with folded hands and thanked them for being part of her wedding celebrations. Several celebs including Kapil Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover, Sunil Grover, Devoleena, Yuvika Chaudhary and Archana Puran Singh, among others attended Artis wedding reception.

Arti and Dipak hosted a grand Sangeet ceremony on Wednesday and several TV celebrities including Ankita Lokhande and husband Vicky Jain, Mahira Sharma, Yuvika Chaudhary and Bharti Singh among others, attended the function. Multiple videos from the ceremony surfaced on social media, and fans couldnt stop drooling over Artis pre-wedding festivities.

Ahead of the wedding, Artis sister-in-law, Kashmera Shah, took to social media to pen a sweet note for her. Kashmera wrote, We will always be your family @artisingh5 and we welcome @dipakchauhan09. Remember to tell him I am very possessive about everyone I love and you are a huge part of my life. All the best for your new life and journey. Your brother @krushna30 and I are always here with you, now and forever.
Ending his eight-year-long fight with Krushna Abhishek, Govinda attended his niece, Arti Singhs wedding in Mumbai on Thursday, April 25. He was spotted arriving at the venue with his brother, Kirti Kumar. After the wedding, Kriti spoke to a media portal when he opened up about the family feud and revealed why Govinda decided to attend Artis D-day.

Govindas brother explained that fights are common in families but it does not mean that one should not be a part of someones happiness. Which family does not have differences or fights? This does not mean that I will not be a part of you happy moments. It does not happen this way. Even if differences occur, it does not mean were werent family, he told Telly Masala.

Asked about how he felt when he entered the wedding venue with Govinda, Kriti added, Everyone was very happy. I am proud that my brother is widely loved. He hasnt done any film for several years now but even then people love him a lot. He has not only earned money but love too. He then shared that even Arti was very happy to see her mama.

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Govinda has not been on talking terms with his nephew Krushna Abhishek, who is Artis elder brother. The duo had a huge fallout in 2016 and have often made statements against each other. Therefore, netizens were unsure about Govinda attending Artis wedding especially after he skipped the TV stars Haldi, Sangeet and Mehendi ceremonies.

However, Govinda graced the wedding reception and surprised all. In a video shared by Viral Bhayani on Instagram, he was seen all smiles as he made a grand entry to Artis wedding. He also greeted the paparazzi stationed outside the wedding venue with folded hands. Govinda later blessed Arti and Dipak and told Instant Bollywood, Ishvar se praarthana hai, jo kripa Arti par hui hai kisi prakaar ka vastu dosh na lage (I pray for her wellbeing and may god protect her from evil eyes).

Later, Krushna Abhishek also got emotional as he talked about Govinda attending Artis wedding. Maama aaye bahut khushi hui. I was so happy to see him. Wo dil ki baat hai. Humara emotional connect hai, he said.

Meanwhile, Arti and Dipaks wedding was also attended by Krushna Abhisheks The Great Indian Kapil Show co-stars Kapil Sharma, Archana Puran Singh, Sunil Grover and Rajiv Thakur. Artis Bigg Boss 13 co-contestants including Shefali Jariwala, Vishal Aditya Singh and Hindustani Bhau also attended to bless her. Tina Dutta, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and Ankit Gupta also attended the reception.
The third season of the British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama Heartstopper is expected to premiere on Netflix sometime in October. The teen drama based on a webcomic and graphic novel by Alice Oseman features Kit Connor and Joe Locke in lead roles. The first two installments were a hit among viewers, with the plot and performances garnering much praise. Now, with Heartstopper aiming for the third segment, three new cast members have been roped in. In a recent Instagram post, Netflix welcomed Jonathan Bailey, Hayley Atwell, and Eddie Marsan to the upcoming segment.

While Kit Connor plays the role of Nick Nelson, Joe Locke essays the character of Charlie Spring. Heartstopper follows the story of Nick and Charlie as they navigate through school and same-sex love. Although they become friends at first, with time the boys realise that they have feelings for one another. Hayley Atwell will slip into the shoes of Nicks aunt Diane, reports Variety. She will be imparting tough love lessons to her nephew regarding his admiration for Charlie during a summer holiday to Menorca.

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Eddie Marsan will essay the role of Charlies therapist  a wise and honest individual, whose reference can be found in the novel. Meanwhile, Jonathan Bailey is ready to make a cameo appearance in the role of Jack Maddox  an Instagram-popular classicist, who happens to be Charlies celebrity crush.

As per Heartstopper 3s official synopsis, Charlie will finally confess his feelings for Nick, while the latter also shares something important to him. After the wrap-up of their summer holiday, Nick and Charlie soak in the reality of their school reopening, paving the way for a new set of challenges and joys. As they learn more about each other and their relationships, plan social events and parties, and start thinking about university choices, everyone must learn to lean on those they love when life doesnt go to plan.

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Directed by Andy Newbery, Heartstopper 3 will comprise eight episodes. The series is produced collaboratively by Euros Lyn, Patrick Walter, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, and Alice Oseman. Yasmin Finney, Kizzy Edgell, Corinna Brown, William Gao, Rhea Norwood, and Tobie Donovan also form the cast ensemble.
Krushna Abhishek was so happy to see his uncle, actor Govinda, at his sister Arti Singhs wedding reception, which took place in Mumbai on Thursday. Govinda and his wife Sunita Ahuja have been in a feud with Krushna and his wife Kashmera Shah for the past eight years. So it came as a big surprise when Govinda arrived at his nieces wedding bash with Dipak Chauhan.

Read More: Krushna Abhishek Gets Emotional As Govinda Attends Sister Artis Wedding, Says Wo Dil Ki Baat Hai

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha are one of the most beloved celebrity couples in Bollywood. Earlier, Parineeti had revealed that they fell in love over breakfast in London after they met for an awards ceremony. Now, Parineeti revealed that five minutes into meeting Raghav, she knew she wanted to marry him.

Read More: Parineeti Chopra Says She Knew Raghav Chadha Was The One In 5 Mins, Discussed Marriage Within Days | Watch

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fans were left shocked earlier today when it was reported that Gurucharan Singh had gone missing. He used to play the role of Sodhi in Asit Kumarr Modis show but quit the sitcom in 2020. News18 Showsha has now exclusively learnt that Gurucharans missing complaint has been filed in the Palam area of New Delhi. Police officials are now investigating the case and trying to trace the actors call records.

Read More: TMKOCs Sodhi Missing: Police Trying To Track Call Records, No FIR Filed Yet | Exclusive

Six years after Padmaavat, Aditi Rao Hydari returned as Sanjay Leela Bhansalis heroine with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazar. The Netflix original show sees her playing Bibbojaan, a courtesan whos also a passive revolutionary. While both she and the character shes essaying in the historical drama are characterised with a fire in the belly, Aditi in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha shares that their way of seeking love is starkly different.

Read More: Heeramandis Aditi Rao Hydari Talks About Believing in Love Ahead of Wedding with Siddharth | Exclusive

Actor Govinda has finally spoken out about attending his niece Arti Singhs wedding reception in Mumbai on Thursday evening. Fans were surprised when Govinda joined Artis wedding celebrations as hes been in a feud with her elder brother, actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek, for the past eight years. Govinda looked dapper in black-coloured bandhgala as he greeted the paps with folded hands at Artis wedding.

Read More: Govinda BREAKS Silence on Attending Krushnas Sister Artis Wedding: I Pray to God for Her Wellbeing
Maniesh Paul, a well-known Indian actor and television presenter, hosts a popular podcast that draws a large audience by delving into the essence of his guests. In a recent episode of The Maniesh Paul Podcast, the esteemed guest was none other than Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

During their engaging conversation, CM Eknath Shinde expressed his admiration for Anil Kapoors character in Nayak. When asked about his childhood dreams and whether he aspired to be a Chief Minister or took inspiration from the movie, the CM responded with a reflective statement, Film film hai, reality reality hai aur kuch bhi nahi (while films may inspire, the reality is reality and nothing else). His journey stemmed from grassroots involvement, both socially and politically. He highlighted his dedication to hard work and focused determination, emphasizing that success comes through diligent effort and commitment to ones goals, highlighting the distinction between movies and real-life.

CM Shinde also drew parallels between his hands-on governance style and Anil Kapoors character in Nayak, commending the proactive approach depicted in the film. Maniesh Paul applauded the Chief Ministers direct involvement in addressing issues like Mumbais waterlogging, which resulted in notable improvements.

Anil Kapoors 2001 film Nayak became a huge hit when it was first released. Over the years, the film has amassed a cult following among Anil Kapoors fans. Now, the latest report claims that Siddharth Anand is all set to make a sequel of the film with Milan Luthria as the director.

Nayak 2 will be produced by Siddharth and Mamta Anand under their banner, Marflix Pictures. Much like the original film, this one too is a big-scale commercial entertainer set against the backdrop of politics and will be directed by Milan Luthria. The makers have cracked a plot that organically leads itself towards Nayak sequel and has a strong undercurrent of being a vigilante flick, a source close to the development told Pinkvilla.

Siddarth Anand has got back the writer-director Jodi of Milan and Rajat together for Nayak 2 and he is excited to embark on the journey of making a one-of-a-kind vigilante-based action entertainer. All the action sequences aside, Nayak 2 is a dialogue and drama-heavy film and the casting is underway. A top A-Lister is expected to come on board the film, the source added.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has recently organised a grand premiere of his upcoming web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazar. Many celebrities including Alia Bhatt, Neetu Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Rekha and others were seen attending it. Richa Chadha, who is also the cast of the series, is expecting her first child. She was seen attending the event. Today, a video from the screening has gone viral on social media. Rekha is seen giving a kiss to her baby bump and fans have been praising this gesture as sweet.

In the video, shared by Viral Bhayani, we can see Richa and Rekha having a conversation and then the veteran actress bends down and gives her special blessing to the bump. She was seen kissing and Richa was smiling. As soon as the video went viral, fans praised it. Many called it sweet gesture and some even called Rekha a pure soul.

Watch the video here:

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Heeramandi, a historical drama series, transports audiences to a time when courtesans reigned as monarchs. Through the stories of courtesans and their clients, set against the turbulent backdrop of the Indian Independence struggle in the 1940s, the series investigates the cultural reality of the namesake area of Heera Mandi.

In February last year, the makers shared a teaser that showcased Manisha Koirala looking stunning in a royal getup, followed by similar smiling glimpses of the rest of the cast.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis ambitious web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar will premiere on streaming service Netflix on May 1. The release date of the much-anticipated show was announced at a drone light show event held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in South Mumbai.

The Heeramandi actress recently opened up about her pregnancy and said that Ali will make an incredible father. She said that she is doing well and is excited for this new phase in her life. Talking to the Hindustan Times about Ali Fazal, Richa said, I am blessed to have a partner like him. Whenever anyone says anything good about Ali, no one is ever surprised because he is that person. He is a man of character, as involved in the house as I am. Now that he will have a family of his own, he is very excited. I think he will make an incredible father.

I go with the flow. Whatever Ali and I do, we do with a lot of fluid movement, its all organic. We are both excited for this new phase. I am not very American about this. I have seen my mom have a second child, my younger brother, and go back to working in 40 days. I have seen all women in my family just give birth and go back to living their lives as they would. I dont want to stress about it too, she added.
Ruslaan Movie Review: Bollywoods obsession with alpha males will never run dry. They run like cheetahs, rise from the ashes like a phoenix, have washboard abs and have bulletproof skin. In Ruslaan, however, Aayush Sharma also has a screwdriver-proof body. He soars from the abysses of the Arabian Sea. Even corkscrew when drilled into his palm cannot deter him and beat his spirit. In a nutshell, he is immortal. Nothing can pierce, crumble and shatter him. And despite all this heroism (or idiosyncrasies), Ruslaan entertains because it is unapologetic in its appeal.

The film revolves around Ruslaan, who sees his father being killed in an encounter after hes accused of planting bombs in a school in Mumbai. In the same encounter, his mother also dies. An orphan Ruslaan gets bullied at school for being the son of a terrorist and eventually gets adopted by anti-terrorism squad chief, Sameer Singh, and his wife. As he grows up, his foster father cautions him about not picking up arms or join the forces but pursue his passion for music.

Obstinate as he is, Ruslaan begins working under RAW chief, Mantra, keeping his family in the dark about the same. However, he keeps getting reprimanded for engaging with terrorists and notorious criminals rather than just extracting information about them. One day, he catches the attention of the dreaded terrorist Kashim, who joins hands with a Chinese perpetrator, to wreak havoc in India. Ruslaan then joins forces with Vaani, another agent, to stop Kashim. But there are far too many skeletons in the closet that come in Ruslaans way.

In one of the scenes in the film, Ruslaans best friend  a prototypical trope of a ditzy and funny best friend of the hero  refers to him and says, Woh aata nahi hai, entry maarta hai. And nothing in the film rings truer than this. Aayush has far too many slow-motion entry scenes in the film, the first one being the longest, so much so that it tests your patience. Even at 2 hour 19 minutes, Ruslaan feels like a slow-driven horse carriage with the hero bearing the power, stamina and resilience of a stallion.

The film starts off well and then its pace nosedives with director Karan Lalit Butani never trying to crank up its horsepower. Ruslaan is also unintentionally funny in parts. But thats enough to keep you hooked throughout the length of the narrative. The second half, particularly, is packed to the brim with long-drawn and elaborate action sequences that you keep questioning where the film is headed.

To add to it, the screenplay is all over the place and veers away from its crux far too often. The romantic angle between Ruslaan and Vaani feels too contrived. Even the protagonists obsession and desire to protect his country against perpetrators and associating this ambition with his identity isnt properly established. The twists and turns are predictable too. The anti-climax will fail to surprise you. Ruslaan feels like an uncomfortable paradox that doesnt fit well. While some of the action sequences are new-age and slick (watch out for the one between Rahyl and Ruslaan), the rest of the film has a very jaded treatment smeared all over it.

Having said that, the makers deserve some credit for attempting to make an earnest film and reinvent the actor in Aayush. Hes truly an action star in the making. While Antim: The Final Truth also saw him in a well-toned physique, packing some solid punches, he takes it a notch higher with Ruslaan. Despite not having the cushioned support of his brother-in-law Salman Khan this time around, Aayush manages to carry the film comfortably on his shoulders and impresses. Theres a lot of untapped potential lying in him and hopefully, we will get to witness all of that in the years ahead.

Aayush gives the film his all and yet hes effortless. Theres a certain kind of charm and restraint underneath all that rugged rawness and he deserves brownie points for the same. However, his performance in bits and parts also remind you of Salman. Theres a heavy hangover there that may sometimes rob him off his individuality.

Jagapathi Babu is in his element in Ruslaan and as Sameer Singh, he plays to the gallery which definitely changes the pitch of the film every now and then. Vidya Malavade plays Mantra and does a good job. Its refreshing to see her essay an unyielding and resolute woman after dabbling in a streak of vulnerable and emotional characters. Beauty pageant winner Sushrii Mishraa marks her acting debut with Ruslaan and she gets to play around with a meaty character, who also gets to flaunt her physical prowess with some action sequences.

In short, its the performance by the primary cast that elevates this otherwise messy narrative. Ruslaan bears a testament to Aayushs growth as an actor as he ably manages to put up a one-man show, rather effortlessly. It might not be a flawless film that keeps you glued but it definitely makes for an entertaining watch (for the most part). If you dont rely too much on logic and rationality, you might actually appreciate its absurdity.
A Lookout Circular (LoC) was issued on Friday against Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in connection with the firing outside actor Salman Khans house in Mumbais Bandra on April 14, police said.

Police sources said he was last seen in Portugal and the IP address of his Facebook post where he claimed responsibility for the firing incident was traced to Kenya.

The official also said police are likely to take custody of Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat and was also contemplating invoking the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case.

This comes a day after the Mumbai Polices Crime Branch wrote a letter to the Home Ministry asking for a look-out circular (LOC) to be issued against Anmol Bishnoi, brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Anmol Bishnoi came under the radar of Mumbai Police after he posted a message on Facebook claiming responsibility for the firing at Salman Khans house in Mumbai.

Mumbai Police on Thursday arrested two men who allegedly provided guns to the shooters who opened fire at Bollywood superstar Salman Khans house on April 14.

The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Sonu Subhash Chander (37) and Anuj Thapan (32) from Punjab. The duo were allegedly in contact with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had supplied pistols to the accused.

On Monday, police recovered a gun and some live cartridges, used in the firing outside Bollywood star Salman Khans residence, from the Tapi River in Gujarats Surat city. The search for another gun was underway, officials had said.

During interrogation, the two arrested men  identified as Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21)  told the police that they threw the weapon into the Tapi River from a railway bridge, when they were fleeing to Bhuj in a train.

According to reports, the gun used for firing at Salman Khans Mumbai house was supplied to shooters just a few hours before the incident took place on Sunday morning.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
Will Salman Khan move out of Galaxy Apartments in Bandra after the gun-firing incident? This question has been on everyones minds for a while now. However, Arbaaz Khan has finally broken his silence on this matter and said that the threat will not cease to exist if Salman merely changes his location. Arbaaz added that the best thing to do in this regard was to take necessary precautions and continue with ones regular life.

Speaking to Zoom, Arbaaz Khan said, Do you think itll get dissipated? Like tomorrow, if you move the location, you think that if there is an impending threat, itll go away. If that was the case, yes, one would do that. But the reality is that its not going to go away. So do you keep moving and doing that or do you just take precautions?

Nobody is saying like, vacate this place and well let you go. Thats not the case, he said. Arbaaz added, The only thing that one can do is take precautions of the highest level, personally or what the government can provide for you. Arbaaz said that the apartment has been a home for Salman and their father Salim Khan for years and that the only thing they can do is to live your life as normally as possible.

For the unversed, Salmans house, Galaxy Apartments, was fired at on Sunday, April 14. Hours after the gunshots were fired, Lawrence Bishnois brother Anmol Bishnoi took responsibility for the firing. Top Mumbai Police sources told News18 that Lawrences gang was behind the attack and it was carried out by Rohit Godara, who operates the Bishnoi gang in Rajasthan.

The Mumbai Police commissioner told CNN-News18, We are substantiating it with evidence. He further said that their teams had found where the weapon was and noted that some progress would take place soon, hopefully.

Earlier, Arbaaz had given his statement on the matter and said, The recent incident of firing by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle at Galaxy apartment the residence of the Salim Khan family is very disturbing and unnerving. Our family has been taken aback by this shocking incident that took place.

Meanwhile, the security has been increased outside Galaxy Apartments. Salman Khan earlier had two PSOs. Now, two commandos, two escort vehicles and 11 cops under the Y+ category security are accorded to him. However, three cops and one PSO were added to this convoy.
Mahesh Manjrekar-starrer Juna Furniture was released in theatres worldwide on April 10. It was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar himself and starred Sachin Khedkar, Upendra Limaye, Medha Manjrekar and Anusha Dandekar in prominent roles. The film revolves around the sorry state of parents who are often ignored by their daughters and sons after they become old. Mahesh Manjrekar has played the role of a father, who decided to sue his son in court after the death of his wife. His character is shown as bold and courageous in the film. Now coming back from reel to real, actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar deviates not an inch from his bold characters in film. Recently, he gave a befitting reply to trollers who abuse the families of celebrities.

Recently, actor Chinmay Mandlekar took to social media to complain about the abusive trolling his family has been facing for the past months due to the name of their son. Similarly, Mahesh Manjekar has also been trolled numerous times and has faced abusive comments on his family on social media.

During the promotion of his latest movie Juna Furniture, he expressed his views regarding these trollers and said that he gets extremely angry over trolling. People say ignore it. But who gave you the right? Do I ever talk to you about my personal life? I make a movie. You see it. You pay for it, said Mahesh Manjrekar while interacting with the media. He says that he is open to creative criticisms but abusing ones family is not something he can tolerate. He said that the trollers have no right to speak ill about the mother, wife, son or daughter of the actor. He recalled the time when he reported a man for trolling his daughter on social media.

I once read a horrible comment on my daughter. I found him and reported him. All this will end only when a law is passed against making offensive comments on social media, said Mahesh Manjrekar. His daughter, Saiee Manjrekar made her debut in Bollywood with the movie Dabangg 3.
Rajinikanth is one of the stalwarts of Tamil cinema and has shown his acting mettle in many hit films in a career spanning many decades. His next much-anticipated film is titled Coolie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film is currently in the production stage and is expected to hit the cinema halls in 2025.

Amidst this, the opinions of a journalist have gone viral on social media. A journalist named ValaiPechu Anthanan has mentioned that in the past, films with the title Coolie have suffered with some of the problematic consequences. He recounted that Coolie starring actor R Sarathkumar was a commercial failure while the one with Amitabh Bachchan had suffered on account of Big Bs near-to-fatal accident. Amitabh Bachchan had to be treated due to multiple surgeries for 2 months due to this accident on Coolies sets while shooting for the fight sequence. Hence, keeping these two incidents in mind, Lokesh and his team should be more careful while shooting for their film Coolie.

Coming back to Rajinikanth starrer Coolie, there are reports that he has charged a massive Rs 260-280 crore for this film. These reports have been published by KoiMoi and DNA India and have not been verified by News 18. The makers of this film have also not verified the claim.

On April 22, Lokesh dropped the Coolie title teaser on Youtube. The teaser video commenced with several gold smugglers checking on their inventory of bars, watches, jewellery and other items. Soon, the Enthiran actor breaks into their lair and thrashes them using a chain made of gold watches. The video concludes with the veteran actor whistling Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jaana Sanam from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in a combination of gold and black.

Coolie is all set to go on floors soon with renowned composer Anirudh Ravichander has been enlisted to compose the music. Coolie also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Ranveer Singh, and Parvathy Thiruvothu in key roles. Vijay Sethupathi is also reportedly in talks with the director Lokesh to play a pivotal role in this film. Also, there are rumours that Shah Rukh Khan may play a cameo role in this film.
The benevolence complex is known to afflict totalitarian demagogues. And so, it was for Indira Gandhi. After having snatched away the civil liberties of a little over 500 million Indians, Mrs G, as she was known, embarked upon the worthy pursuit of cleansing them of their poverty. Convinced of the fairness of the trade-off  liberty for poverty  Indira Gandhi amended the Constitution.

The 76th Amendment was undertaken to inject the word socialist into the document. It didnt matter to Indira Gandhi, that Dr BR Ambedkar, the framer of the Constitution and the beacon of social justice, had expressly warned against injecting adjectives like socialist into the Preamble  the philosophical core of the Constitution.

Debating in the Constituent Assembly, Dr BR Ambedkar snubbed fellow member KT Shah who had proposed to inject the word socialist into the Constitution. Dr Ambedkar said, What should be the policy of the State, how the society should be organised in its social and economic side are matters which must be decided by the people themselves according to time and circumstances. It cannot be laid down in the Constitution itself because that is destroying democracy altogether.

But since the Congress party under Indira had demonstrated little regard for democratic values, Dr Ambedkars words, even if they were repeated to Indira Gandhi, would in all probability have had no impact. The Congress party managers in 1977 were convinced that inserting the word socialist into the Preamble would add moral ballast to the opportunistic electoral slogan garibi hatao. This slogan was designed specifically to whip up popular support for Mrs G ahead of the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. The party was hoping that the impoverished would be so grateful to their dear leader for the promise of bequeathments that they would elect her irrespective of the oppression they had faced.

Besides, Indiras advisors needed the Amendment to give the Congress administration legal cover to ring in policies that would affect the greatest-ever wealth transfer in Indias history.

Socialist Indira, nationalised MNCs, private banks, and imposed land ceilings and crippling taxes upon the rich. The prevailing inheritance or estate tax was also enhanced. The idea was to take from the rich and give to the poor. But just like wealth redistribution policies had beggared Communist Russia and China, they bled India dry killing entrepreneurialism. It took her political successors, son Rajiv Gandhi and Andhra satrap and PV Narasimha Rao, to liberate India from the smothering embrace of Indira Gandhis stifling fiscal fiats.

But even so, the Congress continued to fervently resist any calls to remove through the amendment route the word socialist from the Constitutions guiding paragraph. So it isnt surprising that now all those years later, the Congress partys proclaimed mentor Sam Pitroda has sought to re-engage with the failed super socialism of that enervating Indira era.

Pitroda thinks that India should relook at the inheritance tax to reduce income inequality. Pitrodas suggestions neatly align with the goals of the Congress manifesto for the 2024 election that more than hint at wealth redistribution.

The concentration of capital in a few hands is an almost universal problem. That some form of welfarism is needed to reduce the gulf between rich and poor is a given. But making manifesto pledges that when read with Rahul Gandhis call for carrying out a financial survey to work out who is entitled to what according to their share of the population and then ensure a revolution sounds like a plan to launch a direct assault on private wealth.

Ever since liberalisation created the conditions for wealth creation, more and more Indians are buying into the idea. Data on government schemes promoting entrepreneurship substantiate this. The interest is because unlike free benefits showered by the state, wealth creation is an incredibly empowering and emancipating pursuit. It confers dignity.

A liberal democracys first principle should be to empower people and not to run their lives.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The tragedy of the Congress is that the more Bharat changes with time, the more it remains stuck in a time warp. Worse, it fails to learn from the past, more so of its own. Its attitude, especially at a time when the party invariably commits one hara-kiri after another, is more on a hua-to-hua line, to use a(n) (in)famous one-liner from one of its own leaders, Sam Pitroda, chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress.

So, as the Congress currently finds itself on the back foot on the issue of wealth redistribution, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it an election issue, the party could have done well to recall the stand of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the issue.

As the story goes, narrated succinctly by Nani A Palkhivala in his book We the People, once an ardent socialist approached Sardar Patel with an appeal to abolish inequality of wealth and cited as an instance that one Mr X was the master of several millions. Sardar listened to him carefully, and as he finished his socialistic rant, Patel said: I know the extent of Mr Xs wealth. If all of it were to be distributed equally among the people of India, your share would be four annas and three pies. I am willing to give you that from my own pocket if you undertake to talk no more about it.

Patel continued, Some people want us to nationalise all industries. How are we to run nationalised industries if we cannot run our ordinary administration? It is easy to take over any industry, but we dont have the resources to run them, not enough experienced men of expertise and integrity.

Patel was aware of the ugly face of capitalism that had the innate tendency to promote inequality, but he also understood very well that wealth had to be created first before it could be distributed. India saw no nationalisation drive till Sardar Patel was alive. But after his death in December 1950, the Congressand resultantly the nationwas hijacked by those who saw socialism as a panacea for all the countrys ills, who obsessively looked Westward for ideas and inspirations, and who were apologetic about their own civilisational roots.

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Nehrus India, in the 1950s, took a train to nowhere, as Gurcharan Das writes in his book India Unbound, pushing the country towards more than three growthless and jobless decades. When I was young, we passionately believed in Jawaharlal Nehrus dream of a modern and just India. But as the years went by, we discovered that Nehrus economic path was taking us to a dead end, and the dream soured. Having set out to create socialism, we found that we had instead created statism, Das writes.

Das, in another book The Elephant Paradigm, explains the ill impact of socialism on society. He writes, Socialism tended to destroy social capital because it made us depend on the government for everything (a dependence that also suited our politicians). People forgot that they could rely on themselves.

The Nehruvian ecosystem gave this stunted economic growth a Hindu name, calling itquite mischievouslythe Hindu rate of growth. Even though the economic policy pursued by the Nehru-Gandhis had nothing Hindu about it. If anything, it was an antithesis of the age-old Sanatana traditions which, historically and civilisationally, promoted and pushed entrepreneurship, both at the individual and societal level.

If one reads the Arthashastra, one realises that there was a separation of an individuals property from the Kings property. The text speaks of four land arrangements: the kings land, lands of private individuals, common land and unoccupied forest land. The Naradasmriti is also quite categorical when it says, A householders house and his field are considered as the two fundamentals of his existence. Therefore, let not the king upset either of them.

This notion is quite different from other societies where the king owned all properties. Also, what kept Bharatiya society strong was the near-autonomous nature of the Indic village system. This was possible because of the traditional temple system which ensured people were capable enough to handle their lives the way they wanted. Here it needs to be emphasised that temples in ancient times werent just places for worship; they also imparted education, patronised art and craft (some of the ancient dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, could survive today precisely because temples kept them alive), and made local roads, water tanks and river embankments. Temples also provided loans for trade, especially sea-based, for it alone had the resources to take the high risks of foreign trade.

Thus, in ancient Bharat, a strong State never came in the way of a strong society. The two lived and thrived simultaneously. Bharatiya king might have been strong and powerful, but he was not an absolute ruler. He was expected to act under the guidance of dharma. It is this dharma that ensured that both the State and the society remain strong. Today, we have a strong State but a feeble society. Just like a dharmic state of yore, we need a State which is strong enough to uphold law and order, build highways and roads, and provide overall security, but also let individuals/societies explore their own destinies, their personal and personalised entrepreneurial potential.

Isnt it something we, in the era of economic reforms and liberalisation, have been trying to put in place when we say minimum government, maximum governance? Isnt the notion of a dharmic state closer to the idea of the liberalised state we are so keen to put in place today? It was a manifestation of Nehruvian doublespeak to, first, put in place an alien, statist economic order and then, when it fails, give it a Hindu name!

Wealth redistribution, thus, is an alien phenomenon, absolutely non-Indic in nature. The closest one gets to this economic thought process is the Marxist/Maoist attempt at wealth redistribution through collectivised farming. As Mao Zedong would often say, Without the socialisation of agriculture, there can be no complete, consolidated socialism.

All it ensured in places where it was rigorously enforced, whether in Stalins Russia, Maos China or Pol Pots Cambodia, was it impoverished the masses at large. People were discouraged from being well off and the very incentive to work hard and be rich was missing. Poverty became the norm and it was glorious to be poor.

Such was the success of the collectivisation of farming that Mao had to ask the State to prevent peasants from eating too much. As Jung Chang and Jon Halliday write in the book Mao: The Unknown Story, Maos answer to peasants plight was pitiless. They should eat sweet potato leaves, which were traditionally used only to feed pigs. Educate peasants to eat less, and have more thin gruel, he instructed. The State should try its hardest to prevent peasants from eating too much.

With its wealth redistribution plan, Rahul Gandhis Congress seems to be treading the disastrous Stalinist/Maoist path. It also seems to be acting like a broken recorder stuck in the 1950s, 60s and 70s when money was a dirty word. Todays world, being a witness to the Marxist/socialist disastrous experiments of yore, has moved way beyond wealth redistribution to wealth creation. The Congress leadership also needs to realise that the partys wealth redistribution plan is antithesis to the Indic worldview where the respect for private property and wealth creation is deeply rooted. After all, in the Sanatana ecosystem, dharma and moksha are incomplete without artha and kama.

But then theres an electoral compulsion for Rahuls Congress and many other political parties currently operating in India: Their subsidy-based economic policies have held pragmatic politico-economic thinking to ransom. Their lofty populism cannot be sustained without getting hold of the riches of those who have worked hard to earn them. The tyrannical regimes of Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot did the same in their respective States to unleash a man-made catastrophe of biblical proportions. The Congress must know it would be treading the same, disastrous path if it continues to harp on wealth redistribution without doing enough for wealth creation first. If no one else, the party leadership should at least listen to Sardar Patels sagacious advice.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Why is it that global media operating in Bharat is acerbic? Being bitter or sour on substantive work issues is understandable given that Bharat may look complex for many of them. For those who are first-timers in Bharat, understanding this country may not be easy at all. Sensitivities, socio-economic matrix, clutch of movements, and political ideologies across 28 states and eight union territories, might virtually stump even the hardnosed journalists with experience.

Many news organisations, internationally, have made it a point to have bases in Bharat given its growing clout on global forums, strong and consistent growth showing and soft power clout that it enjoys. From G20, and BRICS to WTO, banks and financial institutions, theres no significant global project in which Bharat goes unrepresented or its indulgence is sought.

Given the potential for Bharat to emerge as the third-largest economic powerhouse in a couple of years during the possible third five-year term of Prime Minister Modi and a huge appetite to know more about developments in this country has made it mandatory for top media companies to have offices and representatives here.

From the early 90s, especially when Dr Manmohan Singh as finance minister kicked off economic reforms, Bharat began its arduous journey to reconnect with the world in its own unique way. Its only now that Bharat is asserting and carving out a niche space for itself. In these last 30-odd years, several global media houses either sent their correspondents here or opened full news bureaus. Some have had multiple teams like the British Broadcasting Corporation that even began offering news packages in Indian languages. Television, digital media and radio networks apart from print newspapers from all continents have had their presence before and after economic reforms were rolled out. Capturing trends in a nation on the move has become an inevitability for media outlets.

From CNN, and Fox to ABC, you name the news outlet and it has been represented in this country. Similar is the case with the top four news agencies and beyond. Both European and the US media houses have, over the years, evolved content-sharing arrangements with Bharatiya counterparts. Most foreign media companies editorial policies may have been driven or influenced by their Indian partners. Also, top Bharat-bred journalists have anchored news operations for top-notch media brands internationally. Given the globe-trotting nature of Bharatiya professionals, several of our big names helm news outlets internationally.

In this backdrop, a couple of foreign media professionals leaving Bharat due to circumstances beyond normal have kicked up a debate in the community. Avani Dias, South Asia Bureau Chief of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) exit for personal reasons has been twisted to say that it was due to undue pressure from the Indian government. French journalist Vanessa Dougnacs departure a few months back also hit the front pages in Bharat and France. In both these cases, facts are diametrically opposite to what appeared on the news networks.

A new assignment at Four Corners clinched in June 2023 and a wedding in December 2023 were reported by Australia Today as prime reasons for Avani Diass to return to Australia. Reported violation of journalists work visa conditions led to the exit of French journalist Vanessa Dougnac. Interestingly enough, both claimed that there was no press freedom in India or it was very difficult to function as a newsperson in Bharat.

Well, if that were true, how is it that hundreds of news stories are routinely despatched by foreign media outlets each day from Bharat? How is it that dozens of foreign journalists have made Bharat their second home though they came here due to professional assignments?

Is it even possible to control well diversified and organised media industry in this country? In one of the public speeches, an 88-year-old BBC veteran Mark Tully lamented that developments in India were not properly reported. After all, Tully has a point.

Can any government or political formation worth its salt even entertain the idea of manipulating over 146,000 newspapers and periodicals with a combined 270 million copies published in dozens of languages? Would anyone even imagine seeking control on hundreds of TV channels broadcast in dozens of languages?

If Indian newspapers, magazines, TV networks and digital platforms cannot be controlled or suppressed per se, can one even think of driving out foreign journalist professionals after having exerted undue pressure as claimed by a few?

Thumb rule is to not violate the laws of the land including foreign journalists visa conditions. Is asking foreign media companies to make corporate disclosures the same as curbing press freedom? Has the Indian government committed a grievous crime of sorts in expecting European and US media companies to comply with taxation rules and pay taxes commensurate with profits sans evasion?

Beginning with the BBC tax surveys, foreign journalists exit to charges on press freedom, has something seriously gone wrong with international media? Have they lost it all together? Or is it the colonial mindset that drives a few foreign journalists cheap theatrics? Should Bharat revisit its whole policy on foreign media engagement as companies, joint ventures, representative offices and sending news professionals?

Whats ailing the foreign media in Bharat? It is a billion-dollar question!

The author is Director & Chief Executive of New Delhi-based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Google Meet will now allow its users to seamlessly transfer their calls between different devices without interfering with the flow. The feature is exceptionally smooth and will allow users to swap between devices without the other users in Google Meet knowing about it. This new feature of the platform was officially announced by the tech giants on Google's Workspace blog.

The addition of this new feature enables a transition from one device to another during calls. Whether the user is initiating a call on a smartphone or a laptop, they will be able to switch to a different device in between their calls with just a tap.

Google revealed that with this new feature, they will be able to provide flexibility to users while using Meet. With the addition of Google Meet's seamless transfer between calls, the video conferencing and calling platform is now on par with its competitor, Zoom, which has had this feature for a year.

How Does the Google Meet Swapping Feature Work

The new feature will enable users to start a Meet call on their mobile phones and then transfer it to their laptop, or vice versa. While on a Meet call, users can open the Google Meet application on their secondary device.

They will be able to see a 'Switch Here' option. Once they select that option, it will transfer the Google Meet call to their second deviceand then drop the call on the first device once the transfer completes.

The whole transfer would be completely seamless and would not interrupt the flow of the car. This new feature will be working across all Google Meet platforms, allowing users to move conversations across different operating systems, including PC, iOS, and Android.

Apart from that, Google Meet also gives the option to remain on the call on both devices simultaneously by selecting the Other joining options and choosing Join here too.
JEE Advanced. This entrance exam, required for admission in all major state-funded engineering institutes, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). To deter cheating, JEE exams employ multiple-question papers with identical questions but varying formats. Since 2019, the exams have transitioned to a computer-based format, adding another layer of complexity for potential cheaters.

Despite all these anti-cheating measures, a Reddit user claimed that a candidate who was sitting beside him during the exam managed to copy from him, as a result both of them now have a score of 300 in JEE Mains. In a now-deleted Reddit post, the candidate wrote that after the exam, the person who cheated admitted that he copied all the answers.

It seems a boy scored 300/300 in JEE Mains just by copying a topper sitting beside him. Lol, What were invigilators doing? pic.twitter.com/44MNnzILPz  Umed Pratap Singh (@umedpratapsingh) April 25, 2024

The Reddit user added, Fast forward to the day when the final answer key was released (I think it was 2 days ago), I found out that he had also got 300 in his exam. I had told my parents, teachers and friends about this. They consoled me saying it wasnt my mistake. He asked people to write an email to the exam authorities, demanding action against the student who allegedly copied his paper. Interestingly, he has not named the person who copied from him.

Now this Reddit post is going viral across social media platforms, with many people questioning the authenticity of the claims made in the post. An X user wrote, It appears to be fake! The questions are jumbled up to make 4 sets of paper. And NTA has taken exams so many times that having the same set of adjacent students is impossible (due to algo)! Besides, the guy will have to memorise at least 50-55 questions out of 75 again impossible!

It appears to be fake ! The questions are jumbled up to make 4 sets of paper. And NTA has taken exams so many times that having same set to adjacent students is impossible (due to algo) ! Besides the guy will have to memorise atleast 50-55 questions out of 75 again impossible! Continental (@CONTI194) April 25, 2024

Another person wrote, When I was giving my JEE mains it was on computers, within cabinets. It was pretty much hard work to peek into someone elses cabinet and get answers to questions which you might not have seen yet.

When I was giving my JEE mains it was on computers, within cabinets. It was pretty much hard work to peek into someone elses cabinet and get answer to questions which you might not have seen yet. Guess they went back to paper again :/ Sai Sreyas Ray (@Psilyzer_007) April 25, 2024

Someone else wrote, This guy is posting such stories for engagement farming these days. Dont trust.

This guy is posting such stories for engagement farming these days. Dont trust Shawn (@2024apelection) April 26, 2024

In recent years, the NTA has increased invigilation during exams. On Wednesday, NTA announced the results of JEE Main 2024 second session. Only 56 candidates achieved a 100 percentile.
Pani puri is unquestionably one of the most popular street snacks in India. All foodies enjoy standing by the roadside and chomping on crispy puris loaded with spicy pani in a single bite. The famous Indian street snack has now gone global. It has made its way into the popular reality show MasterChef Australia Season 16. Sumeet Saigal, an Indian-origin participant on the cooking reality show, has wowed the judges with her unique take on this delectable dish.

In the latest promo for the reality show, Sumeet Saigal shows the judges how to eat pani puris. She first suggests they break the puris, fill them with spiced potato, garnish with mint coriander chutney and date-tamarind chutney, and then pour in the refreshing tangy water. When the judges eat a pani puri, they take a second to feel the burst of flavours in their mouth. The video concludes with the judges cheering for Sumeet. Along with the video on Instagram, the official handle of the show wrote, Pani puri lesson from the master! Reportedly, Sumeet Saigal had resigned from her sales management job to pursue her goal of becoming a chef.

Sumeet Saigal also shared a few pictures from the show, giving a closer look at the recipe and wrote, If Indian Street Food and Chaat was a kingdom, Pani Puri would be the ever-reigning Monarch! It is the flag-bearer of Indian Street food! It is where you start (and most likely finish!!) She further added watching the judges enjoy the explosion of flavours is pure joy and she was honoured and overjoyed that they tried it and loved it. She added that her memory of loving pani puri goes back to her school days, when she missed the bus, called home to ask my mother to pick me up, and went to this run-down chaat store in Bangalore to eat Pani Puris by the dozen.

Online users were amazed to see the popular Indian snack being served to acclaimed chefs. A user joked, Shouldnt Golgappa be illegal in cooking shows? Like how are you supposed to compete with it?

While another user pointed out, Anybody anywhere in the world reacts to pani puri in the exact same manner every single time they pop one into their mouth! And the best thing is you cant stop with one. An individual simply stated, Wow finally pani puri to a world class level.
Since its debut in 1990, the public has been amazed by the stunning array of pictures captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. But Hubble is about much more than just stunning photographs. Over the course of several decades, the project has collected dozens of gigabytes of data, offering crucial insights into the cosmos, ranging from elements as close as the moon to the most distant galaxies, with studies of supernovas and nebulas in between. The space agency has once again captured the curiosity of people with its post on the Wolf Rayet Nebula.

NASA shared a breathtaking photo of the Wolf-Rayet Nebula, describing it as a blue bubble enclosing a star some 30,000 light-years away. They claimed that these nebulae, which are usually ring-shaped or spherical, are produced when speedy stellar winds contact with the outer layers of hydrogen that are released by Wolf-Rayet stars.

This Hubble classic view of the nebula shows that it is expanding at an estimated speed of 136,700 miles (220,000 km) per hour, according to scientists. The star will eventually explode in a supernova, but the stellar material that is expelled will continue to support stars and planets that will form in the future.

They continued by describing the image, stating that a dark blue ring of gas and dust surrounds a brilliant star with four diffraction spikes shining in the centre of the picture. Other stars fill the image, all against black space.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble)

The post had 78,353 likes at the time of reporting. NASAs official blog stated that this WolfRayet star, known as WR 31a, is situated in the Carina constellation (The Keel). The vivid blue bubble that seems to surround WR 31a is a Wolf-Rayet nebula, which is a cosmic cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium, and other gases.

Wolf-Rayet stars normally lose half of their mass in less than 100,000 years, even though they started out with a mass no less than 20 times that of the Sun.

The Hubble Space Telescopes Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Wide Field Camera captured this image of WR 31a. A near-infrared (F814W) and broad V-band (F606W) filter were used to create the image.

Judy Schmidt, an amateur astronomer, submitted a version of the photograph to NASA for the Hubbles Hidden Treasures competition.
Over millennia, the size of the human brain fluctuates, but recent research found a significant increase in brain size between individuals born in the 1930s and those born in the 1970s. This increased brain sizeobservable in volume, surface areas and structures like the hippocampuscould be attributable to improved health outcomes and educational possibilities. This new study was conducted by UC Davis Health researchers, and the results were recently published in JAMA Neurology.

Throughout human biology, which is measured in millions of years, some scientists have proposed that the human brain is shrinking, motivated in part by the understanding that human bodies are shrinking in size. However, recent studies indicate that the volume of the brain increased over short timelines, or biological changes across generations. Even while it might not seem like much, that might serve as a useful biological resistance against dementia.

There has been a decrease in the incidence, or quantity, of new instances of dementia in recent decades, according to many major population surveys conducted in the United States and Great Britain. One of them is the Framingham Heart Study, which was established in 1948 and has been gathering data from residents of Framingham, Massachusetts.

A 2016 study by UT Health San Antonio neurologist Sudha Seshadri and colleagues showed that although the incidence of dementia had decreased since the late 1970s, the prevalenceor the overall number of caseshad grown. Seshadri remarks, That was a piece of hopeful news.

It suggested that over 30 years, the average age at which somebody became symptomatic had gone up.

The team was left puzzled by these results: What was the reason for this lower risk of dementia? Even if throughout the years, the cardiovascular well-being of the Framingham residents and their offspringwhich affects the likelihood of acquiring dementiahad also improved, this could not account for the whole reduction. Furthermore, the impact only showed up in those with a high school education, which suggestedaccording to Seshadrithat early life alterations might be the cause of increased resistance against dementia.

The scientists chose to look at whether the Framingham citizens brains showed signs of these changes because they reasoned that larger brains would result from improved health throughout development. The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain scans by the researchers had only started in 1999. Thus, the group looked at a subgroup of 3,226 people who were born between the 1930s and the 1970s and who had had an MRI between the ages of 45 and 74.

The teams examination of the MRI data showed that various metrics of brain size had grown in younger generations. The intracranial volume, or brain volume, calculated by measuring the amount of space within the skull increased by 6.6% from 1236 millilitres in 1930s births to 1317 millilitres in 1970s births.

Additionally, the hippocampus, a region essential for memory processing, as well as the white matter had enlarged in volume. The outer layer of the brain, known as the cortex, had grown in surface area as well, but its thickness had decreased by almost 20%.

Larger brain structures like those observed in our study may reflect improved brain development and improved brain health, as per UC Daviss Charles DeCarli, first author of the study.

A larger brain structure represents a larger brain reserve and may buffer the late-life effects of age-related brain diseases like Alzheimers and related dementias.

The issue remains as to how brain development across generations appears in different populations. Since most of the Framingham research participants were non-Hispanic White, healthy and well-educated, it is unclear how living in less affluent conditions affects brain size.
As the second phase of voting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 began across the nation, a soon-to-be-married groom from Maharashtras Amravati made headlines for a unique reason. On his wedding day, the groom and his family were spotted at the polling station, where they gave votes to their favourite party. The groom accompanied by his uncle and mother, was spotted wearing a traditional sherwani and turban. The trio arrived early in the morning to fulfil their duty as a citizen before proceeding to the wedding venue. The video captured the attention of social media users after ANI shared the video on X, which quickly went viral and garnered over 45,000 views.

In the video, the groom can be heard saying, Marriage can wait, but voting is urgent. When asked about the wedding muhurat, the groom replied, that it is scheduled for 2 PM in the afternoon. As the video progresses, the groom mentions that the bride is from a different district. Sharing the video, the news portal wrote, A groom arrives at his designated polling station in the Vadarpura area of Amravati to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. 8 parliamentary constituencies are voting in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state.

#WATCH | The wedding ceremony is important but so is voting. The wedding is at 2pm today, says Akash, the groom in Vadarpura area of Amravati.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/SSsMkrZmQ8 ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

A user suggests that the groom is promoting communal harmony and progress.

Yes. He voted for communal harmony and progress Dev (@Devalt2305) April 26, 2024

Another joked that the groom appeared to be from election commission official who arrived early in the morning to create a positive atmosphere.

Ye election commission ka aadmi lagta hai, subah subah mahol banane keliye aaya hai  Lal Salam (@LalaLodubhai) April 26, 2024

The second phase of voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections saw 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories participating in the process. Among these, Kerala had all 20 seats, Karnataka contributed 14 out of 28 seats, Rajasthan included 13 seats, while Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each contributed eight seats. Madhya Pradesh had seven seats, while Assam and Bihar each had five. Additionally, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal had three seats each, while Manipur, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir each had one seat.

The voting started at 7 AM and is scheduled to continue till 5 PM. However, in specific areas like Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger in Bihar, polling hours have been extended until 6 PM due to hot weather conditions. Meanwhile, the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election is scheduled for June 4 and the results are expected to be declared on the same day.
A former tabloid publisher who squashed potentially embarrassing stories about Donald Trump was back on the witness stand on Friday being grilled by lawyers of the former US president.

David Pecker, 72, has testified for four days in the trial of Trump, accused of falsifying business records to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter that could have derailed his 2016 White House campaign.

Pecker, the first witness in the blockbuster trial, has outlined under questioning from prosecutors a scheme known as catch and kill, which involved purchasing and then burying salacious stories which could have been damaging to the real estate tycoon.

Trump, 77, the first former US president to face criminal charges, is accused of engaging in election fraud by having his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen make a $130,000 payment to Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.

The high-stakes trial requires Trump to report to the drafty Manhattan courtroom multiple times a week, restricting his time on the campaign trail less than seven months before his likely election rematch with President Joe Biden.

Speaking to reporters in a hallway before entering court on Friday, Trump wished his wife, Melania, a happy birthday. Itd be nice to be with her but Im at a courthouse for a rigged trial, he said.

Pecker, whose outlets included the National Enquirer tabloid, testified this week about a hush money payment to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who claimed to have had a year-long affair with Trump that was a precursor to the Daniels saga.

Pecker explained how transfers to the tune of $150,000 were made to catch and kill McDougals story and suppress its publication, calling it a large purchase relative to the sums his company would normally pay for content.

He said payments to McDougal were disguised as services to American Media, the tabloids parent company, to avoid violating campaign finance laws.

We purchased the story so it would not be published by any other organization, Pecker told the jury. We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or hurt his campaign.

 Im not a bank 

McDougals story ultimately did come out, four days before the election in a scoop from The Wall Street Journal. Pecker said Trump called him and was very upset. When it came to squashing Daniels tale of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, Pecker said he hesitated to pay for yet another story. Im not a bank, he said.

The executive suggested to Cohen that he pay for it instead, which prosecutors say the then-Trump fixer did. The specific charge facing Trump of falsifying business records stems from his reimbursements to Cohen for the payment to Daniels.

During defense cross-examination which began on Thursday, Emil Bove, a Trump attorney sought to ruffle Pecker by noting timeline inconsistencies, while also casting the catch and kill tactics described by prosecutors as business as usual.

Trump has appeared increasingly disgruntled, angry even, as the trial proceeds. He complained Friday that the courtroom was freezing and that it was on purpose I believe. In addition to the New York case, Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

He also faces charges in Florida of allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.
Indian-origin student Achinthya Sivalingan was one of two students arrested at Princeton University in the US for participating in a pro-Palestine protest inside the campus on Thursday.

Coimbatore-born Sivalingan and Hassan Sayed were detained when the student protesters were setting up tents in the university courtyard early Thursday morning, according to the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

A document shared by protesters identified the arrested students as Achinthya Sivalingam and Hassan Sayed. Urvi, a first-year Ph.D. student who asked to be identified only by her first name, called the arrest violent and said zip ties were put around their wrists, the college alumni magazine wrote.

Arrested due to trespassing

In a statement, Jennifer Morrill, a spokesperson for the University, stated that pitching tents violated University policy, leading to the arrest of the two students for trespassing [a]fter repeated warnings from the Department of Public Safety to cease the activity and leave the area.

Additionally, Morrill mentioned that Sivalingan and Sayed have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process. She also noted that the remaining tents were voluntarily taken down by protestors.

Sivalingam is pursuing a Masters in Public Affairs (MPA) on International Development at Princeton, while Sayed is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the economics department at the prestigious institution.

Sivalingam and Sayed not evicted

According to The Daily Princetonian, student organisers have circulated a document on Instagram urging alumni and other university members to call and email the University to halt disciplinary actions, claiming that Sivalingam and Sayed had been removed from their campus housing and given only five minutes to gather their belongings.

However, university spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss stated in a statement that the institution has not evicted anyone.

The University has not evicted anyone today. Under University protocol, Public Safety may initially accompany students barred from campus (regardless of reason) to their University housing to collect whatever belongings they require in the short term, until the specific terms of their bar from campus are determined by the designated administrator, Hotchkiss said.

He further notified, The students barred from the main campus today are permitted to remain in their University-owned housing, as the designated administrator determined that their bar does not extend to their non-dormitory residences.

Pro-Palestine protests across top US universities

Pro-Palestine protests have swept through top universities in the US as thousands of students take to their campuses to demonstrate against the Gaza deaths resulting from the Israeli military operation.

These demonstrations mark one of the most recent instances of clashes between law enforcement and students protesting the increasing death toll in Israels conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The protests initially began at Columbia University in New York, where dozens of arrests were made last week after university authorities called in police to suppress an occupation.

Student protesters have been urging their universities to divest their investments in Israel and advocate for an immediate ceasefire.

Explore Live updates on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 In regions, including Kerala , Karnataka , Noida , and West Bengal . Stay informed about key constituencies, voting trends, and candidate insights. Get Lok Sabha Election 2024 Related Real-Time Updates At News18 Website.
In the wake of radical anti-Israel protests sweeping through college campuses in the US, billionaire investor George Soros and affiliated groups have come under the scanner for their alleged role in funding and organising these pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The protests, which started at Columbia University last week, have spread to prominent institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley, with hundreds arrested nationwide. Some top US schools, including Columbia, are negotiating with student protesters, who have rebuffed police and doubled down. Other schools have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they can take hold.

A red Antifa flag with the three arrows (Iron Front logo) has been spotted at the ongoing extremist occupation at @Columbia University. pic.twitter.com/L3SyFY7Jub Andy Ngo  (@MrAndyNgo) April 26, 2024

US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

According to the New York Post, these protests have been coordinated by branches of the Soros-funded Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Central to these protests are individuals identified as fellows of the Soros-funded US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), according to the US newspaper. These paid activists are reportedly incentivised to organise campaigns led by Palestinian groups, receiving financial support ranging from $2,880 to $7,800 per fellow.

The report said the funding for these protests has allegedly been channeled through a network of nonprofits, including Soros Open Society Foundations and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. These contributions have been vital in sustaining protest activities, such as the tent city erected at Columbia University, where students received amenities like delivery pizza and rotisserie chickens. An analysis conducted by The Post revealed the intricate financial connections between Soros-affiliated groups and protest organisers.

Soros contributions to organisations like the Westchester Peoples Action Coalition Foundation (WESPAC) have fueled anti-Israel sentiments, according to the report. WESPAC, which was initially established to advocate for civil rights, now allocates funds to groups like Within Our Lifetime, founded by outspoken anti-Israel activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Despite numerous inquiries, none of the involved groups have responded to requests for comment by The Post.

READ MORE: Were Judged By What We Do At Home, Not By What We Say Abroad: India On Massive Protests At US Universities

India Reacts

As protests continue to rock campuses across the US, India underlined on Thursday the need to balance freedom of expression and public safety. Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad.

This comes as over 100 people were arrested Wednesday at two universities in California and Texas after protests erupted across US campuses this week.We have seen reports on the matter and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order, Jaiswal said in response to a question posed during the press briefing.

Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad, he added. Demonstrations flared at the University of Southern Californias (USC) Los Angeles campus, where 93 people were arrested for trespassing, and at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin, where 34 were arrested, according to authorities.
Clashes between police and students opposed to Israels war in Gaza continued in the US this week, with some condemning methods being used to shut down protests that have intensified. US media reports said that over 500 arrests have been made in connection with protests over the past week.

While some top US schools, including Columbia, are negotiating with student protesters, others have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they can take hold. During a pro-Palestine protest at Emory University in Atlanta on Thursday, an economics professor, Caroline Fohlin, found herself at the center of a violent confrontation with law enforcement officers as police attempted to disperse the crowd.

Arrest of Emory professor

A CNN crew captured the forceful arrest of Emory University professor Caroline Fohlin at a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus on Thursday.Fohlin was seen questioning a police officer who was arresting a protester before she was thrown to the ground and handcuffed. pic.twitter.com/a0IkPyAerv  Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) April 26, 2024

Viral video

In a viral video, Fohlin is seen approaching police officers who are attempting to apprehend a protester lying on the ground. In the midst of her inquiry, an officer aggressively grabs her hands, attempting to push her away. Despite her protests, she was forcefully knocked to the ground, with her hands restrained behind her back using zip-ties.

Another officer, as seen in the video, adds pressure to her back, preventing her from rising. Throughout the ordeal, Fohlin repeatedly identifies herself as a professor, but her pleas go unheeded. After these incidents, protest organisers condemned what they termed as police brutality and labeled the actions of law enforcement as an act of terrorism.

Final solution  Nazi reference

In another alarming incident at a US campus, a protester was photographed holding a sign advocating for the final solution at George Washington University (GW) in Washington, DC. This sign was a chilling reference to the Nazi genocide of Jews during the Holocaust, the New York Post reported.

The unidentified individual, seen carrying a large Palestinian flag, sparked outrage for employing a term associated with Adolf Hitlers plan for the annihilation of the Jews. The image has sparked strong reactions. We are aware that individuals who are not GW students have joined the protest, and we have taken steps to restrict access to University Yard, the university was quoted as saying by The Post. We continue to work with the [Metropolitan Police Department] to ensure the safety and security of our campus.

Sent from @GWtweets: a man at the encampment carrying a sign that says Final Solution pic.twitter.com/XTyaamsN4D Zach Kessel (@zach_kessel) April 25, 2024

We are aware that individuals who are not GW students have joined the protest, and we have taken steps to restrict access to University Yard. We will pursue disciplinary actions against the GW students involved in these unauthorized demonstrations that continue to disrupt university operations., which is working with police said.
A documentary about sexual crimes perpetrated by Hamas on and after October 7 has been published on YouTube, featuring testimonies from survivors, released hostages and first responders.

Excerpts from a long video, led by ex-Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg, who is one of the most high-profile women in the tech industry, have been shown recently. These clips include talks with women who were hostages and set free during a truce in November, The Times of Israel reported.

The aim of the film, titled Screams Before Silence is to highlight sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during and after the attack on Israel, when members of the Palestinian outfit killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped 253. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 34,000 people in Gaza, according to the territorys health ministry.

Screams Before Silence

Warning  the documentary includes graphic content

UN Report and EU Sanctions

In March, the UN published a report indicating that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 onslaught, and said that there is clear and convincing" evidence showing that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse. Hamas continues to deny these allegations.

Earlier this month, the European Union imposed sanctions on the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad for widespread" sexual violence during the October 7 attacks on Israel. The bloc said fighters from the two Palestinian groups  already on the EUs terrorism blacklist  committed widespread sexual and gender-based violence in a systematic manner, using it as a weapon of war".

The decision to impose the sanctions was part of an agreement among EU states that will now see the bloc blacklist violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The EU said that the abuses by Hamas fighters included the rape and subsequent murder of female minors, mutilation of corpses as well as genital mutilation". It also accused the assailants of the targeted abduction of women and girls".

(With agency inputs)
Tyler Mathieson was born and raised in the Black Hills. Tyler loves to perform. Between standup comedy, improv and acting, he finds himself in front of a crowd often. He even met his wife while performing A Christmas Carol.
ALL logistical arrangements are in place for todays by-elections in Harare East and Mount Pleasant contituencies in Harare, with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission calling on registered voters to exercise their right to choose a representative of their choice.

By-elections are being held to fill vacancies created following the resignations from the National Assembly of former CCC legislators Ms Fadzai Mahere in Mt Pleasant and Mr Allan Markham in Harare East.

In Harare East, Zanu PFs Cde Kiven Mutimbanyoka will battle it out with independent candidate Ms Ropafadzo Cynthia Cheza, while in Mount Pleasant Zanu PFs Cde George Mashavave will contest against Mr Brian Tiki, an independent.

ZEC Chief Elections Officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana told a media briefing yesterday that ZEC was ready to facilitate the voting of those registered in the two constituencies.

So far, seven multi-party liaison committee meetings have been held. As you are aware, these are mehanisms for the candidates and the parties that are contesting to use as a platform to resolve their disputes, if any, but I can quickly say there are no major issues that were reported in those meetings and we hope there will be no major issues as we go ahead, he said.

As far as we are concerned, up to now, the political environment is very peaceful and encouraging for voters to go and participate in these elections and we urge them to do so.

Our preparations are also in terms of election material as well as human resources and I can confirm that the material and human resources are now in place and ready for the elections tomorrow.

ZEC had also displayed the voters roll as they usually do, to enable voters to check their names and the polling station they are registered to avoid being turned away. As I speak officials are on the ground and are doing rehearsals in preparation for tomorrow (today), said Mr Silaigwana.

For Harare East, which has 36 558 registered voters, ZEC has printed 38 850 ballots while for Mt Pleasant, with 39 582 registered voters, 42 300 ballots have been printed.

The ballots were printed by the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe. As of Thursday, two local journalists and 98 local observers had been accredited while ward elections officers and their deputies and presiding and polling officers had already been deployed. The budget for the elections is US$300 000, and the funds have already been disbursed, a development that prompted Mr Silaigwana to thank the Government for its support. Herald
The 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, ended with a woman dead after one of the attendees drove into a group of counter-protesters. But in Donald Trump's opinion, it was nothing compared to the pro-Palestinian protests currently sweeping US college campuses. In a Truth Social post Wednesday followed by comments to reporters Thursday, the former president called the Charlottesville rally a "peanut" in comparison. Trump noted that President Biden has cited the 2017 rally as a big reason he decided to run for president, Axios reports. "Well, if that's the case, he's done a really terrible job because Charlottesville is like a 'peanut' compared to the riots and anti-Israel protests that are happening all over our Country, RIGHT NOW," Trump wrote Wednesday night.
Low sea ice is wreaking havoc on emperor penguins year after year, likely resulting in the total wipeout of chicks in some colonies. Nearly a third of emperor penguin colonies experienced early sea-ice loss in 2022, resulting in catastrophic breeding failures. Though marked by an even lower sea ice extent than in 2022, last year saw fewer sea ice break-up events and the penguins fared better, but only slightly, per Reuters . A fifth of colonies (14 of 66) experienced early sea-ice loss, resulting in "high if not total levels of mortality," British Antarctic Survey scientist Peter Fretwell, author of a study published Thursday in Antarctic Science , tells AFP . Tens of thousands of chicks are likely to have died.

Fretwell warns that with "multiple bad years, it is going to start to drive the population down over time." Emperor penguins breed on platforms of sea ice. In a single colony, hundreds or thousands of chicks spend roughly six months on the ice, typically from late July to the height of Antarctica's summer in December, developing their waterproof feathers. If the ice melts before those feathers develop, the chicks are likely to drown or freeze. Several colonies affected by early ice melt in 2022 went in search of new breeding areas in 2023, landing on more stable icebergs and ice shelves, which shows they're adapting, according to the study.

Indeed, British cinematographer Bertie Gregory captured video of chicks leaping off a 50-foot ice cliff for their first swimming lesson in January in what USA Today reports is a "never-before-filmed" behavior. "I've only ever seen emperors jumping off the sea ice. And that's a couple of feet maximum," Gregory says in the footage. But such ice shelves offer only a "temporary solution," says Fretwell. Sea ice in the Antarctic fell below 770,000 square miles to about 70% of the 1981-2010 average in both 2022 and 2023. The ice will continue disappearing if greenhouse gas emissions remain stable, he warns, and emperor penguins will vanish, too. (More emperor penguins stories.)
A man accused of fatally shooting a 9-year-old girl when he was robbed at a Houston ATM in 2022 has been indicted on a murder charge in her death. Tuesday's indictment against Tony Earls comes nearly two years after another grand jury declined to indict him in the death of Arlene Alvarez. Authorities say an arrest warrant has been issued for Earls, who has been a fugitive for about a year now on an unrelated assault charge, the AP reports. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Earls' previous attorneys had said their client was not a "monster" but a family man who was devastated by Arlene's death. They said Earls was not reckless in his actions and was only protecting his family.

Earls and his wife were at an ATM to withdraw money on Feb. 14, 2022, when an unidentified robber pulled a gun on them and fled after taking $20, along with a check and their car keys, according to prosecutors. Earls' attorneys said after their client got out of his car, the robber fired and Earls fired back in self-defense. Investigators say Earls fired at a truck thinking the robbery suspect had possibly climbed into it. But the vehicle was actually carrying Arlene and her family as they went to the ATM to make a deposit before heading to a late dinner at a pizzeria. The girl was shot in the head and later died at a hospital.

Earls was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and serious bodily injury. But a grand jury in July 2022 declined to indict him on that charge or several others, including manslaughter and murder. The man who robbed Earls has never been caught. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said that earlier this year she assigned a special prosecutor, Warren Diepraam, to re-examine the case. Diepraam said an FBI firearms expert was brought in to review evidence. "The conclusion that I reached was that if you're going to discharge a weapon into a car ... you better make sure that you're 100% correct because there are no second chances to bring back an innocent life," Diepraam said. (More Texas stories.)
Reactions are pouring in after the New York Court of Appeals overturned former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's 2020 convictions for first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape on Thursday, finding the inclusion of testimony from accusers about uncharged conduct violated his right to a fair trial. Among those speaking out: Weinstein lawyers who see new hope for his appeal in California, and New York prosecutors who hope to retry him.



'Victory' for the 'unpopular': Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala called it a "victory for every criminal defendant in the state of New York" and one that shows the law must be fairly applied even to "people who are very unpopular in our society," per the BBC. Lawyers add it could improve Weinstein's chances of success in appealing his 16-year sentence for rape in California, per the Guardian. More on that below.
Donald Trump's lawyers sought to undermine the credibility of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in court on Friday, but he pushed back "defiantly," according to the New York Times. "I've been truthful to the best of my recollection," he said after a suggestion to the contrary. Friday marked Pecker's fourth day on the stand in Trump's hush-money trial.

Pecker has previously spelled out how his tabloid bought negative stories about Trump to suppress them, as part of a deal he worked out with Trump and Michael Cohen. Trump's lawyers suggested in court on Friday that Pecker didn't do anything out of the ordinary for Trump, reports the AP, but prosecutors refuted that.

"Did you suppress the stories to help a presidential candidate?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked him, per the Hill. "Yes I did," Pecker responded. "Is it standard operating procedure for (parent company) AMI to be consulting with a presidential candidate's fixer about amendments to a source agreement?" Steinglass asked. "No," Pecker responded.
E China's Jiangsu leads the way in issuing the first carbon credit certificate for the agriculture sector

People's Daily Online) 15:22, April 26, 2024

In Nanjing, the capital of east Chinas Jiangsu Province, the Gaochun districts office of the leading group on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality made a pioneering move by awarding the first carbon credit certificate in the provinces agriculture sector to a rice cooperative.

In particular, the rice cooperative, which is situated in Hemujian village, Dongba subdistrict, successfully auctioned off a total of 130.67 tonnes of verified carbon dioxide emissions.

The auctions starting price opened at 60 yuan (about $8.29) per tonne, with Hongbaoli Group, a local chemical and new material enterprise, winning the bid and securing the purchase at 9,800.25 yuan.

1. Photo shows rice fields in Hemujian village, Dongba subdistrict, Gaochun district, Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Liu Lie)

2. Photo shows a scene at a bamboo forest in Wutai village, Yaxi subdistrict, Gaochun district, Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily/Gao Xiaoping)

3. Photo shows the stunning view of Gaochun district, Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Liu Lie)

The rice cooperative has been growing organic rice since 2009, with its current rice planting area spanning about 2,600 mu (about 173.33 hectares).

In May 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission, issued a comprehensive implementation plan to bolster carbon emissions reduction and carbon fixation in agriculture and rural areas, calling for actions to cut methane emissions in rice fields.

Following this directive, two months later, Gaochun district partnered with the Ministry of Ecology and Environments (MEE) Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Nanjing Guohuan Organic Product Certification Center Co., Ltd. to launch a carbon emissions reduction and carbon fixation pilot program on 500 mu of the rice cooperatives organic rice fields to be selected as test fields.

To enhance this initiative, biochar, a kind of fertilizer produced during the pyrolysis process of straw, was applied precisely to the 500 mu of these organic rice fields, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil conditions.

From Nov. 30, 2022 to Nov. 30, 2023, the project saw an average 15 percent reduction in pests and diseases incidences, a 16 percent decrease in direct greenhouse gas emissions, and a 51 percent reduction in net carbon emissions in the test fields, while average soil carbon fixation rates soared by 89 percent, according to Zhang Jibing, director of the Organic Food Development Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (OFDC-MEE).

Zhang highlighted that these efforts resulted in the test fields generating a total carbon sink production of 130.67 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during this period, significantly enhancing and showing obvious results in both carbon fixation and carbon emissions reduction.

"The rice yield grew 10 percent, the rice tastes better, and sales have increased significantly," said Wei Tongtian, Party chief of Hemujian village, who is also head of the rice cooperative.

Wei noted that last year the cooperative's sales revenue increased by 1 million yuan, with the income of each of its members rising by 1,700 yuan.

China's carbon market is comprised of the national carbon emissions trading market and the national voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading market.

In November 2023, a pilot plan was issued in the Yangtze River Deltas demonstration area for integrated ecologically-friendly development.

The plan called for exploring agricultural carbon sink trading mechanisms, advancing the building of a system for evaluating the value of carbon sink products in the agriculture sector, and promoting the use of technologies for agricultural carbon emissions reduction and carbon fixation.

As a provincial-level pilot area for trialing mechanisms to realize the market value of green products, Gaochun district, in particular, has taken the lead in exploring carbon sink trading in the agriculture sector.

The voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading through competitive bidding in Gaochun marks the "first auction" of additional carbon sinks generated from the application of biochar in organic rice fields in China, said Liu Guocai, head of the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of the MEE.

Liu added that it was an important implementation milestone in successfully achieving the country's carbon peak and neutrality goals in the agriculture sector, serving as a useful reference for Jiangsu's voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading in the future.

This agricultural carbon sink trading also marks a breakthrough for Gaochun in realizing the market value of green products. In 2020, the district took the lead in launching a pilot program for measuring the gross ecosystem product (GEP) and subsequently became the only district-level local government participating in the formulation of national standards for calculating the GEP.

Hu Xueyi, deputy head of the district, said Gaochun will take this agricultural carbon sink trading as an opportunity to actively promote the use of technologies for reducing agricultural carbon emissions and carbon fixation.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
In Porirua, health officials are considering replacing the overnight doctor at Kenepuru Community Hospital's accident and medical centre with a telehealth service.

It is a 25 kilometre trip to Wellington Hospital - and about the same distance to Hutt Hospital - if you have a car.

Ngati Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik said in Porirua the iwi-run health service Ora Toa and other clinics already covered Thursday nights and the weekends.

He was confident they could provide the doctors - if Te Whatu Ora paid them.

"It's just signalling to them and everybody else in our community that we just cannot accept that there will be a stepping back from making those services available."

The senior doctors union said staff were seeing more than 20 patients in a single night - including a small number of "high acuity" cases several times a week.

Executive director Sarah Dalton said it was a critical service for more than 100,000 people, and the same thing was happening in other regions.

"What is a reasonable level of public health provision, given that we know that people don't always get acutely unwell of deteriorate quickly between the hours of 8am and 5pm?"

In the 13 months to August, urgent care clinics in Auckland were forced to close early nearly 200 times due to staff shortages.

Nationwide there were more than 100 providers of after-hours care, each with a different mix of funding from Te Whatu Ora, primary health organisations, ACC, private providers and patient co-payments.

Te Whatu Ora has boosted annual funding by $17 million to "stabilise" urgent care services.

But GPs across the country said current funding was not enough to cover the day-to-day work, let alone afterhours care.

The only on-call night time GP service between Whangarei and Auckland's North Shore closed in March.

General Practice New Zealand chair Porirua GP Bryan Betty said it was patients who ended up paying the price.

"It does lead to problems in terms of late presentations and presentations to emergency departments which puts pressures on already overstretched services."

The not-for-profit organisation SouthLink Trust runs 23 practices nationwide.

Its chief executive, Karl Andrews, said the current regional variability of after-hours contracts has to be addressed with urgency.

The growing complexity of patients, increased administration and a shrinking workforce was making it harder to even provide day-to-day services, he said.

Te Whatu Ora said it was planning to look at urgent care as part of its wider primary care programme - but meanwhile, a range of telehealth services were available, and any patient in need of urgent treatment could always visit a hospital emergency department.
A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris' detail was removed from their assignment after displaying behavior that colleagues found "distressing," the agency said.

The incident occurred about 9 a.m. ET Monday at Joint Base Andrews, the agency said, ahead of a planned visit by the vice president to Wisconsin.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the agent began "displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing." The statement did not clarify what that behavior entailed.
Jessica Tinsley from Australia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry said personal leave is intended for those "genuinely unfit for work".

"While some Aussies may think that chucking the odd sickie is a bit of fun, the truth is that it hurts small business and is against the law," she said, according to news.com.au.

In Australia, an employer can ask staff to provide evidence if they can't work due to illness or injury - such as a medical certificate. But they could also lose sick leave entitlements if they can't give evidence.

Tinsley suggested taking annual leave instead.

Luke Achterstraat, boss of Australia's Small Business Council, agreed with Tinsley, saying Australia has a "casual culture" of pulling sickies.

"But it's important to remember for small businesses that comes with a real financial cost," he added, as reported by news.com.au.
Doors Open Ontario provides rare access to a wide range of fascinating sites, including: historical buildings adapted to meet the needs of today, diverse places of worship, stunning natural heritage landscapes and innovative modern marvels of infrastructure. Many sites also host walking tours, exhibitions or other special activities. Whether you are looking for family-friendly activities, seeking the perfect photo moment in a beautiful space, or curious about what is behind some normally closed doors, there is an experience for you.

"Doors Open Ontario continues to showcase Ontario's strong and vibrant heritage sector," said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. "I encourage all Ontarians to use this time to get out and learn more about the incredible heritage sites that have helped shape our province and its history."

"Through Doors Open Ontario, visitors can experience so many places and spaces in their communities that make Ontario so special, free of cost," said John Ecker, Chair, Board of Directors, Ontario Heritage Trust.

Participating communities and their Doors Open Ontario event dates are as follows.

April:

Guelph  April 27

May:

Oshawa  May 4

 Hamilton Region  May 4-5

Richmond Hill  May 11

 Toronto  May 25-26

June:

Ottawa  June 1-2

 Whitchurch-Stouffville  June 1

Markham  June 8

 Loyalist Township  June 15

July:

Kingston and Area  July 20

August:

Burlington  August 10

 Cornwall and SDG Counties  August 17-18

and SDG Counties  Owen Sound  August 24

September:

Belleville  September 7

 Carleton Place  September 14

 Peterborough  September 14

 Kawartha Lakes  September 15

Waterloo Region  September 21

London  September 21-22

 Mississippi Mills  September 22

Brockton  September 28

 Lambton County  September 28-29

Halton Hills  September 29

October:

Timmins  October 5

 Niagara-on-the-Lake  October 19

 NEW  Niagara Falls  October 26-27

Dates to be confirmed:

Brampton

Simcoe County

Vaughan

Doors Open Ontario is a partnership between community organizations and the Ontario Heritage Trust. TD Bank Group is the presenting sponsor for the program. Doors Open Ontario is supported by thousands of volunteers whose service to sharing local heritage makes these experiences possible.

Learn more

Find events and plan your Doors Open Ontario experience by visiting the Doors Open Ontario website.

Stay connected

Follow the Ontario Heritage Trust on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Subscribe to the Heritage Matters ... more! e-newsletter. #ONheritage

About the Ontario Heritage Trust

The Ontario Heritage Trust (the Trust) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Trust conserves, interprets and shares Ontario's heritage. We conserve provincially significant cultural and natural heritage, interpret Ontario's history, celebrate its diversity and educate Ontarians of its importance in our society. The Trust envisions an Ontario where we conserve, value and share the places and landscapes, histories, traditions and stories that embody our heritage, now and for future generations.

SOURCE Ontario Heritage Trust

For more information about the Ontario Heritage Trust, contact David Leonard at 437-246-9065 or [email protected]; For more information about Doors Open Ontario, or if you are interested in volunteering for one of our community events, contact [email protected].
San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 25th, 2024, CyberNewsWire

The telecom company AeroNet Wireless announced the launch of its new 10Gbps speed Internet plan, marking an important landmark for the telecommunications sector in Puerto Rico. We have invested millions to expand and strengthen our network, demonstrating our commitment to launching Puerto Rico to the next level of connectivity and Internet services. Our new 10Gbps plan is the first of its kind on the island, and we are confident that it will position AeroNet and Puerto Ricos telecommunications industry as a force to be reckoned with nationwide, said AeroNets President and Founder, Gino Villarini, at an event held at Parallel 18 facilities, in San Juan.

The new 10Gbps speed service exemplifies a statement of ambition by AeroNet to lead the way with innovation through the latest technology in the telecommunications business on the island. The launch of AeroFiber 10Gbps Nex-Gen represents a leap in business connection speed, as 10 Gbps equals 10,000 Mbps (megabits per second). This means an exceptional data transfer capacity that allows the realization of complex tasks and the execution of advanced applications at an unprecedented speed. To grasp the magnitude of this speed, AeroFiber 10Gbps is 100 times faster than conventional internet connections, explained Villarini during the launch of the new service.

According to the telecommunications businessman, the innovative service is designed to meet the growing demands of the commercial sector, offering a connection that drives efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. This aims to ensure that businesses in Puerto Rico have access to a robust network capable of meeting the challenges of the digital age. AeroNet is the only hybrid provider in Puerto Rico that offers the service through fiber optic and microwave. The service is available throughout the island, including Vieques and Culebra, he added.

AeroNet has designed a highly competitive pricing scale to make its new 10Gbps service affordable for the entire commercial sector, seeking to transform how businesses operate and compete. We not only ensure an ultra-fast connection; we support every interaction with a highly trained and professional technical support team, enhancing productivity and peace of mind for our customers for a seamless service experience.

Contact

Marketing Manager

Meredith Lugo

AeroNet Wireless

[email protected]


Police have made two additional arrests following a stabbing in a public area of the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City on Wednesday night.

Julius Reed, 19, has been charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses, Atlantic City police said.

Reed, of Atlantic City, stabbed a 25-year-old Bronx, New York man at 9 p.m. when he and others got into an altercation with the victim, police said.

Tyreke Allen-Whittaker, 18, of Bridgeton punched the man and was charged with aggravated assault, according to police. Both were arrested in the area of Delaware and Atlantic avenues.

On Thursday, police announced that Marquise Cottman, 20, of Millville, had been charged with aggravated assault.

The New York man attacked was hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A new Biden administration ruling is requiring airlines to issue refunds in cash or their original payment type instead of vouchers or travel credit for customers if their flights are significantly delayed or canceled.

The ruling, which was issued Wednesday, requires airlines to issue full refunds automatically without customers having to request them or meet additional requirements or stipulations. Also, airlines must share baggage, cancellation and change fees upfront when customers are booking their flights and notify them promptly of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra fees.
Mira Sorvino went public with her Harvey Weinstein story in 2017.

The Oscar-winning actor from New Jersey became one in a long series of people to make allegations against the Hollywood producer.

So when the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction Thursday, Sorvino had something to say.

Gutsick, she said on Instagram. To all of my sister/brother/fellow survivors out there, it just means we have to love harder, and fight harder. Evil rears its ugly head but we are the army of light and will prevail.

As The Associated Press reported, the court overturned Weinsteins sentence of 23 years in prison.

The appeals court said the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts.

Weinstein remains in prison because he was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022, when he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Mira Sorvino in 1995, the year she says Harvey Weinstein made sexual advances in her hotel room.Suzanne Kreiter | The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Earlier Thursday, Sorvino, who grew up in Tenafly, panned the New York courts decision to overturn Weinsteins conviction.

Horrified! she said on X, formerly Twitter.

Day after #DenimDay honoring sexual violence survivors, Harvey Weinsteins conviction overturned, due partly to (Molineux) witnesses testifying to prior bad acts, like lioness Annabella Sciorra, said Sorvino, 56. Since when dont courts allow evidence of pattern of prior bad acts to be admitted? Hes a prolific serial predator who raped/harmed 200+women! Disgusted w/justice system skew twds predators not victims.

Denim Day, marked annually on the last Wednesday of April  Sexual Assault Awareness Month  was founded by the nonprofit Peace Over Violence.

Its name comes from the 1992 case of a teen rape victim in Italy. The perpetrators conviction was overturned in 1998 because the victim was wearing tight jeans. The decision, from the Italian Supreme Court, said that because the pants were tight, the victim must have helped the man take them off. Women in the Italian parliament wore jeans in solidarity with the victim.

For this reason, Sorvino wore jeans the day before Weinsteins conviction was overturned.

I wear it for sister survivors of sexual violence, she said in an Instagram post.

Sorvino went public with her allegations against Weinstein in Ronan Farrows 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning New Yorker story about the Hollywood mogul, which along with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Weinstein story from Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey in The New York Times, helped to energize the #MeToo movement.

Sorvino said Weinstein made sexual advances toward her in 1995, massaging her shoulders in a hotel room in Toronto, sort of chasing me around, she said.

In the same story, actor Annabella Sciorra said Weinstein raped her after forcing himself into her apartment in 1993. (Sciorra was nominated for an Emmy for playing Gloria Trillo in The Sopranos.)

Sorvino, who won an Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite in 1996, said fighting back against Weinstein came with consequences to her career.

Director Peter Jackson supported this when he said that Weinsteins Miramax blocked Sorvino and fellow Weinstein accuser Ashley Judd from the casting process for The Lord of the Rings movies. Director Terry Zwigoff said much the same for the movie Bad Santa (2003).

We live in a culture in which sexual harassment and rape are rife, part of the power dynamic between men and women in the workplace, Sorvino said in Time magazine in 2017. That my silence could be complicit in its continued thriving, possibly putting other young girls and women (and boys and men) in danger in Hollywood and beyond, was not something I could live with.

Later, in 2019, Sorvino shared that she had also been a victim of date rape.

It is hard to have lived through sexual harassment, assault, career damage in retaliation for refusing a predator, and rape, she said in her Denim Day post the day before Weinsteins conviction was overturned.

Some days it feels crushing. But one thing I know is that we are stronger together, when we help each other, love each other, raise our voices together and make change, facing a culture that accepted these abuses as de rigeur and now must understand that we cannot go on as a human race with so many people, women and men, boys, girls and non gender conforming people, children and the elderly, being at the receiving end of this sickening violence. We see you, we hear you, we love you. We have your back.

Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan has been tapped to write the script for the film adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel Blood Meridian.

In an Instagram post Thursday, Logan said he is honored adapt the story for the big screen.

Variety reports the film will be directed by John Hillcoat, who directed the 2009 movie The Road, the film adaptation of McCarthys Pulitzer Prize-winning 2006 novel.

Logan, 62, who hails from Millburn, is an accomplished writer of screen and stage, having been nominated for three Oscars for his work on Gladiator and Martin Scorseses The Aviator and Hugo.

He wrote the script for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael from director Antoine Fuqua, due in theaters in 2025. Logan made his feature directorial debut with the 2022 slasher movie They/Them on Peacock.

The screenwriter, an alum of Millburn High School, co-wrote Ridley Scotts Gladiator, and Any Given Sunday with director Oliver Stone as well as the 2012 and 2015 James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre.

In 2010, Logan won a Tony for best play for Red (Logan was also nominated in 2020 for Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

He also co-wrote the Golden Globe-winning 2007 movie musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, directed by Tim Burton, and created the Showtime series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

Blood Meridian, Or, The Evening Redness in the West, which was published in 1985, is an anti-western set in Texas and Mexico of 1849.

McCarthy was 89 when he died last year.

The author will be credited as an executive producer on the film, and his son John Francis McCarthy will also be an executive producer, according to the Variety report.

His other novels No Country For Old Men (2005) and All the Pretty Horses (1992) have also been adapted for film.

No Country For Old Men (2007), directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, won the Oscar for best picture, director, adapted screenplay and supporting actor.

Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
For the second week in a row, a Cash4Life ticket worth $1,000 a week for life was sold to a lucky lottery player in New Jersey.

The second-prize ticket matched five numbers but not the Cash Ball for Thursdays drawing. It was bought at a QuickChek on South Jefferson Road in Whippany, New Jersey Lottery officials said Friday.

Thursdays Cash4Life winning numbers were 3, 7, 39, 49 and 58, and the Cash Ball was 1.

The winner can also choose the cash option of $1 million.

Last week, a Cash4Life ticket worth $1,000 a week was sold in New Jersey to someone using the Jackpocket app.

The odds of a $2 ticket matching five numbers and the Cash Ball to win $1,000 a day for life or $7 million are 21,846,048 to 1. The ticket holder on Thursday beat 7,282,016 to 1 odds to match five numbers.

Cash4Life tickets cost $2 each and are sold in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. Drawings are held each day at 9 p.m.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The only Starbucks in Trenton will close this weekend, the capital citys mayor and company executives said Friday.

The Starbucks, located at 102 S. Warren St., will close Saturday, a company spokeswoman told NJ Advance Media. The site opened in 2017.

The news comes after a month of intense lobbying from New Jersey officials to keep the citys only location open. The Starbucks was originally supposed to close March 30, but the company delayed its closure after public outcry.

In a statement on Friday, Mayor Reed Gusciora said while saddened by the closure, he was grateful to Starbucks executives for their collaboration with the city throughout this process.

I am pleased to report that Starbucks has been proactive in offering these employees positions at other locations within their network, demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of our community, Gusciora said.

A Starbucks spokeswoman confirmed that April 27 is the Warren Street locations last day.

We continually reevaluate our store portfolio just to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers and partners. Sometimes that involves the challenging decision of closing a store, the spokeswoman said Friday. We will continue to work with local leaders to look for ways to invest in the city and the rest of New Jersey as well.

The news comes after intense lobbying from Gov. Phil Murphy and other top New Jersey elected officials to keep the Trenton store open. Murphy held a Zoom call last month with top Starbucks executives.

Two other elected officials  U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist.  also reached out to the company to urge executives to keep the Trenton location open.

The coffee shop opened in 2017 as a Community Store, a company initiative that aims to help distressed cities and provide job opportunities to disadvantaged youths in Black and brown communities, the mayor said previously.

In a phone call Friday afternoon, Gusciora said he was optimistic about the future.

Starbucks Corporate may have decided to close the Warren Street location, but that doesnt mean an individual cant reopen the location as a privately-owned franchise store, Gusciora said.

A couple people have already expressed interest, the mayor noted.

Additionally, Gusciora said Starbucks hasnt necessarily ruled out opening elsewhere in the city or doing something else with us in the future.

There was a point this Starbucks was popular pre-pandemic and given the right business climate, they would reconsider, Gusciora said.

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Brianna Kudisch contributed to this report.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
Tommy Pham has a major-league job to call his own  even if it took nearly a month and some sound negotiating to get it done.

Pham is being called up to the Chicago White Soxs roster Friday night, according to reports, 10 days after he signed a minor-league deal with an opt out if he was not promoted by this weekend. The 34-year-old outfielders contract includes $3 million in performance bonuses.

BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

In four games at Triple-A, Pham recorded five hits in 18 at-bats with three strikeouts and a walk. That Pham lasted until mid-April to find a team was surprising and not indicative of his value. But its the reality for a corner outfielder in his mid-30s.

Pham reached the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season after being traded from the New York Mets around the trade deadline, recording a .256/.328/.446 line with 16 home runs and 68 RBI, which amounted to a 111 OPS+. He has a career 114 OPS+ and a history of tinkering with his game to maximize his potential.

Now, he becomes one of the best hitters in a White Sox lineup that has scored 56 runs in 25 games. Chicago is a league-worst 3-22 this season.

Phams best outcome is to perform so that he gest traded again to a contender around the deadline.

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The long awaited date for the start of New Yorks congestion pricing plan to charge drivers $15 to enter lower Manhattan will start after midnight on June 30.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday announced the start date and details about who is and isnt exempt from the fee.
Thirty-two sites in 15 New Jersey counties were recommended by the public as places that highlight the states Black history and heritage.

The New Jersey Historical Commission voted unanimously earlier this month to approve all 32 sites to receive the first official markers to launch New Jerseys new Black Heritage Trail, state officials announced Friday. (See full list of sites below.)
The Office of the State Comptroller, an independent government agency tasked with tracking government corruption, fraud, waste and abuse in New Jersey, is facing organized pushback from county officials who are demanding state lawmakers rein in its authority and bullying tactics.

The New Jersey Association of Counties sent a letter Tuesday asking state Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, to curb comptroller power and establish procedures that could challenge the agencys findings.

The association is respectfully requesting the State Legislature to independently review the manner in which the Office of the State Comptroller conducts its investigations of local governments and levies accusations of wrongdoing through social media, the press, or other means without due process of the law, the letter read.

Here's the letter that was sent by counties lobbying to curb the comptroller's power. pic.twitter.com/DOhRklWbOe  Jelani Gibson (@JelaniGibson1) April 26, 2024

Kevin Walsh, the acting comptroller, said in a statement he welcomed a public hearing to discuss his offices work.

We are proud of the work we are doing to protect taxpayers. Our role is to go where the facts lead us, then draw conclusions based on those facts and the law, Walsh said in a statement to NJ Advance Media late Thursday. We know that doing that work effectively means sometimes we will upset powerful people. Thats why the office is independent and should remain so.

Walsh argued that the criticism had more to do with entities of power not wanting a watchdog.

So far none of the counties has pointed out any factual errors in our reports. It seems their complaints have more to do with their discomfort with the transparency and accountability that our reports bring.

The resistance comes in the wake of a multitude of blistering releases from the office detailing allegations of fraud from multiple counties, including Essex, Hudson and Union.

Last week, the comptroller issued a report questioning how Essex County spent COVID-19 funding. One county employee was paid $130,000 over 11 months, yet the county health officer didnt know who she was or what she did, according to the report. And at least eight workers paid to work in the vaccination program were also full-time employees of other government agencies at the same time.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo called the comptrollers findings unbalanced and unfair.

His findings amount to nothing more than a do as I say, not as I do gotcha report pointing out issues with just a very small fraction of the funds spent by the county fighting COVID, DiVincenzo said.

John Donnadio, the nonpartisan county associations executive director, said his members unanimously endorsed sending the letter to object to the Comptrollers bullying tactics. He said Walshs reports and sensational press releases do not reflect the counties good faith disagreements with the facts and the law.

The association is not seeking to abolish the Comptrollers office, but believes state legislators ought to consider imposing guardrails on its authority  perhaps by introducing a third-party review of the findings, Donnadio said.

We are alarmed by the manner he has come after local government without regard to facts or circumstances and without regard to due process, he said.

Donnadio also questioned Walshs decision to release a YouTube video last year criticizing municipal finance officials.

Did you know the Office of the State Comptroller audits and investigates local governments? And when we do, we often find staggering waste. A big reason why? The Chief Financial Officer is not doing their job, Walsh said in the video.

The comptroller and the association have been at loggerheads before. The Legislature has been working on a controversial bill that would restrict the amount of public information the government has to hand over through an Open Public Records Act or OPRA request.

I fear that if documents are harder to get, we will get less transparency and that will lead to more corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse, Walsh said during testimony at a March hearing.

The county association supports the bill, while Walsh said it would invite more corruption.

Donnadio called out Walsh for criticizing the bill while seeking a change to the comptroller offices regulations that would exempt them from providing documents to the public about its work.

Walsh responded that the exemptions were focused on protecting the identities of whistleblowers.

We are not exempting ourselves from OPRA, he said. We have a duty to protect the confidentiality of our investigations, including tips that we receive.

During the legislative hearing on changing the Open Records Act, he credited Jersey residents with being a part of some of the agencys most impactful investigations.

The bill that I read does have a provision in it that permits the government to sue residents, Walsh said during his testimony. Ive been with the Office of the State Comptroller for about four years now  and some of the best tips we get come from New Jersey residents who file OPRA requests, get those documents, especially from local government entities, and share those with us with a tip where they think that something has gone wrong.

A spokesman for Scutari, who is also chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee, said the senate president was reviewing the letter and declined further comment. Gov. Phil Murphys press office did not respond to a request seeking comment.

The move also came as the state was criticized by good-government advocates for changing the law governing the campaign finance watchdog agency, the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Walsh is an acting state comptroller and hasnt been confirmed by the state Senate for years due to a tradition known as senatorial courtesy, where legislators from a nominees home county and legislative district must sign off. It has been cited as a way for legislators to block officials they have a distaste for.

In response to the criticism of Walshs office, Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman, offered praise for the Comptrollers work as head of the Medicaid Fraud Division investigating nursing homes.

The Comptrollers office has urged the state to deny Medicaid funding to the nursing homes with the longest record of poor performance based on the federal 5-star grading system and has suspended the worst operators from the Medicaid program.

News of the letter was first reported by Politico.

Kevin Walsh and the Comptroller office are taking a bold new approach to this issue. This type of innovative thinking is critically needed in the face of corporate and private equity ownership of New Jersey nursing homes, she said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report.

Jelani Gibson is a cannabis and politics reporter for NJ.com. He can be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at X at @SusanKLivio.
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Sunset over Hillsborough does not usually provoke thoughts of voodoo, crime and the occult but for an Ilfracombe author it gave him the idea for his latest novel  Vengeance for a Fallen Angel.

Christophe Medler was enjoying the evening sunset from his balcony overlooking Ilfracombe Harbour when inspiration struck for his new gritty and powerful crime novel, published by The Conrad Press.

He said: The sun was going down to the west casting its last vestige of light over the magnificent sight of Hillsborough Head to the east.

Since moving down to Ilfracombe I had always wanted to write a crime novel based in North Devon. I wasnt interested in writing the stereotypical who done it crime novel.

I knew from local history and folklore that the Head was a mysterious place, with an ancient Iron Age fort atop, the site of pagan and witchcraft rituals over the ages. So that was it, Vengeance for a Fallen Angel was born.

The novel opens with the murder of a young girl by a local voodoo sect and a string of murders follow  are all the crimes linked and is a serial killer on the loose?

The novel takes a deep dive into rampant immorality in 1960s society and puts an unusual spin on the classic murder investigation plot, with an insight into the worlds of voodoo and the occult.

Christophe added: I have always loved the rugged north coastline of Devon and Cornwall. I had an inbuilt yearning to return someday to write a novel, when I retired from my hectic life as a corporate trouble-shooter in the printing and publishing industry and now I have achieved my dream.

He is already hard at work on a sequel to the novel, called The Devil Incarnate, which he hopes to finish by the end of this year and publish in early 2025.

Christophe has already published one novel - Madrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret, a story of love, betrayal and retribution featuring the fictional Douse family and set against the backdrop of real events during and after the English Civil War.

Other projects in the pipeline include a second historical fiction novel set in Tudor times entitled Orphan and a supernatural thriller set on Salisbury plain.

Vengeance for a Fallen Angel can be ordered from Amazon and all good bookshops.
The seal of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seen before an FCC meeting to vote on net neutrality in Washington Dec. 14, 2017. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on Thursday to reinstate net neutrality rules that required internet service providers (ISPs) to enable access to all content and applications at the same speed, regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

The net neutrality rules were first implemented by the FCC under President Barack Obama, but the commission reversed course during President Donald Trumps administration.

In September, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed reversing the Trump-era decision and reinstating the Obama-era rule. On Thursday, the commission took up the proposal and approved it. The vote came down to a 3-2 party-line decision, with the commissions three Democrats favoring reinstating the rule and the two Republicans opposing the effort.

Democrats, who preferred the rule, were stymied for nearly three years because they did not have majority control of the five-member FCC until its newest member, Biden-nominee Anna Gomez, joined the commission in October, replacing Republican Ajit Pai.

Ms. Rosenworcel said the commission believes every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open, and fair.

The last FCC threw this authority away and decided broadband needed no supervision, she said.

The Net Neutrality Debate

The debate over net neutrality comes down to how to fairly handle web traffic. Proponents argue that net neutrality is the correct approach because it prohibits ISPs from blocking certain web traffic or prioritizing traffic from preferred sources.

Announcing her plans to reinstate net neutrality in September, Ms. Rosenworcel argued the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for ensuring fair access to the internet because many Americans were forced to either work from home or attend classes online during the pandemic-era.

Arguing in favor of reinstating the net neutrality rule on Wednesday, Ms. Rosenworcel called net neutrality a popular rule that treats broadband like an essential service. She said reinstating the rule would prevent broadband service providers from blocking traffic, slowing down content, or creating pay-to-play internet fast lanes.

Opponents of the net neutrality rule have argued that not all web traffic should be treated the same and that it makes sense to allow ISPs to prioritize some essential services occurring over the internet, such as emergency alerts and telemedicine. Opponents of the rule also argue that ISPs should be allowed to charge a premium for providing stable internet speeds for streaming and video conferencing services compared to services that dont have the same demands to function.

Netflix, Amazon, and the rest dont want ISPs to charge either them or their consumers for their high-bandwidth content, economic researcher and political commentator Jeffrey A. Tucker wrote in a 2017 article for the Foundation for Economic Freedom. They would rather the ISPs themselves absorb the higher costs of such provision. Its very clear how getting the government to make price discrimination illegal is in their interest. It means no threats to their business model.

In that article, Mr. Tucker likened net neutrality rules to barring shipping companies from being able to set shipping rates based on the volume of items they move.

Lets imagine that a retailer furniture company were in a position to offload all their shipping costs to the trucking industry, Mr. Tuckers 2017 opinion reads. By government decree, the truckers were not permitted to charge any more or less whether they were shipping one chair or a whole houseful of furniture. Would the furniture sellers favor such a deal? Absolutely. They could call this furniture neutrality and fob it off on the public as preventing control of furniture by the shipping industry.

Reactions

FreePress, a media advocacy organization that has favored net neutrality, praised the FCCs decision on Thursday.

Everyone should celebrate todays FCC vote. Public support for Net Neutrality is overwhelming, and people understand why we need a federal watchdog to protect everyones access to the most essential communications platform of our time, said Free Press co-CEO Craig Aaron. The FCC heard the outcry and did its job: delivering on promises to stand with internet users and against big telecom companies and their trade groups, which have spent untold millions of dollars to spread lies about Net Neutrality and thwart any oversight or regulation.

A group of Republican lawmakers, including House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senator Ted Cruz, called the plan an illegal power grab that would expose the broadband industry to an oppressive regulatory regime, giving the agency and states the power to impose rate regulation,

Reuters contributed to this article.
HAMMOND  Oliver Coverson, 41, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced to 96 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Coverson's prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release. He is ordered to pay $1,013,543.86 in restitution to the victims of the offenses, officials said.

According to case documents, Coverson supervised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $3.3 million from the proceeds of 17 stolen business checks between May 2019 and December 2020, the DOJ said.

"Coverson and his co-conspirators registered fictitious corporations with the Indiana and Illinois Secretaries of State, opened fraudulent corporate bank accounts and deposited the stolen checks into the fraudulent accounts," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Coverson's actions contributed to the loss of over one million dollars to multiple banks and businesses.

This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General and the Lake County Sheriffs Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abizer Zanzi and Zachary D. Heater.
VALPARAISO  The 20-year-old Valparaiso man who died Thursday as a result of an officer-involved shooting near the city's downtown area has a lengthy criminal record, including pleading guilty last fall to a charge of resisting law enforcement, records show.

Caden Mura, who was identified by the Porter County Coroner's Office as the deceased, also pleaded guilty to theft during the same October hearing before Porter Superior Court Judge Christopher Buckley, according to online records.

Thursday's incident is still under investigation, the coroner's office said, "and cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology."

Portage man nabbed Thursday on child porn charges following tip, police say The accused was taken to the Porter County Jail and faces two felony counts of child exploitation/possessing child pornography, police said.

Officials with the coroner's office said they were called out at 3:04 p.m. Thursday to the emergency room at Northwest Health-Porter hospital regarding the death.

Indiana State Police, who are investigating because of the nature of the shooting, said officers were called out to the area near Valparaiso's Fairgrounds Park in response to a suspicious person displaying a handgun.

Police located the man in question near the Butterfield Pavilion, ISP said.

As officers approached the suspect, he fled and ran toward Calumet Avenue, police said. During the foot pursuit, an exchange of gunfire reportedly took place between the suspect and police.

Officers from the Valparaiso Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff's Department were involved in the chase.

The man, later identified as Mura, was wounded in the shootout and taken to Northwest Health-Porter hospital where he was later declared dead, state police said.

The shooting was witnessed by Center Township Trustee and attorney Jesse Harper, who later told The Times he was preparing to go for a run around 2:15 p.m. Thursday at Fairgrounds Park when commotion erupted.

As he was walking from the parking lot on the north side of the park to the running trail, he said, he noticed a police officer driving his vehicle inside the park, which he found strange. The officer drove his squad car directly up to the fence located on the west side of the park, Harper said.

"On the other side of the fence on Calumet there were several other officers so I thought it was maybe an accident or a traffic stop," Harper said. "I would say maybe a minute later the shots began."

Harper and several others immediately crouched down because the noise sounded very close, he said. For a brief moment, Harper said, the gunfire paused and the couple next to him stood up to leave the park before squatting back down as gunfire erupted again.

"It happened very fast," he said. "I'm sure in the moment it seemed more than what it was. Everyone who was there said the same thing. It was a lot of gunfire."

For the few minutes Harper was crouched down he believes he heard more than 30 shots fired.

Valparaiso resident Jeff Garnes said he was working at his house a few doors down when he heard noises that he initially wasn't certain were gunshots.

"I wanted to come out here to advise neighbors whether or not there was any traffic or problems," Garnes said. "This barricade went up and they told me there was no one here for traffic control. I'm just standing here being a good neighbor."

Both Garnes and Harper credited the Valparaiso Police Department for its timely response regarding the incident.

"The police response was amazing," Harper said. "As soon as shots began it did not take long for backup to arrive and almost immediately the Valparaiso Fire Department and EMTs were there."

Identification of the officers involved in this incident will be made at a later date.
Google is the latest major tech company to announce a multibillion dollar investment in Indiana.

The Mountain View, California-based search giant plans to build a $2 billion data center in Fort Wayne. The announcement comes on the heels of Amazon Web Services' announcement of an $11 billion data center near New Carlisle, which will surpass the BP Whiting Refinery modernization project as the largest private-sector investment in state history, and two months after Meta announced it would build an $800 million data center in southeast Indiana, where it will employ around 100.

Indiana has made it a strategic priority to cultivate the economy of the future, and were already seeing the impact of our work thanks to the partnership of companies like Google, said Gov. Eric Holcomb. Not only is Google choosing Indiana to power its global AI and cloud infrastructure, but were thrilled to see the company already investing heavily in the northeast Indiana community. These initiatives will help skill-up our Hoosier workforce, preparing residents for the jobs of the future. And, at the same time bringing clean energy resources to the region propelling continued growth in industrial sustainability.

Google is building a data center and operational support complex on Fort Wayne's southwest side. It will be part of a global network that serves as the backbone of the internet and digital services like Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Maps, Cloud and Workspace.

The facility will create an estimated 200 jobs, including data center technicians, security staff, groundskeepers and caterers.

We are thrilled to announce our investment in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as the site for our newest data center, said Joe Kava, vice president of global data centers at Google. Our decision to make a commitment of this magnitude is a true testament to the strategic and collaborative nature of many leaders across Indiana, Allen County and, particularly, Fort Wayne. Together, Fort Wayne and Google will help power the digital future, including AI innovation across our enterprise and consumer services.

The tech giant is partnering with Indiana Michigan Power to power the facility with clean energy. It aims to run its data centers and campuses on carbon-free energy by 2030 and already matches all its electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases.

Theres never been a better time to be in Fort Wayne, said Mayor Sharon Tucker. This investment from Google isn't just about infrastructure or economic development; it's about building a stronger tomorrow, together.

Indiana is offering Google a 35-year sales tax exemption on a minimum of $800 million in capital, as well as additional tax incentives.
Chinese procuratorates approve 168,000 arrests in Q1

Xinhua) 15:34, April 26, 2024

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Procuratorates across China approved the arrest of 168,000 people suspected of committing various crimes in the first quarter of this year, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) announced Friday.

Prosecutorial organs initiated prosecutions against 347,000 individuals involved in criminal activities in the first quarter, the SPP said.

During the first three months, prosecutorial authorities nationwide accepted over 31,000 public interest litigation cases and initiated actions in more than 1,600 of them.

They granted approval for the arrest of more than 7,100 juvenile crime suspects and prosecuted 12,000 juveniles involved in criminal activities in the first quarter. During the same period, prosecutorial authorities also approved the arrest of 7,800 individuals involved in crimes against minors.

Between January and March, prosecutorial organs indicted a total of 53,000 individuals for telecom and internet-related frauds in order to safeguard public interests, according to the SPP.

To crack down on crimes involving unfair competition, procuratorial organs prosecuted more than 8,900 people for disrupting market order in the first quarter, up 47.4 percent year on year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Personnel from Dyer's Police and Fire Departments joined first responders from other nearby communities, along with the Lake County Emergency Management Agency the Canadian National Railroad (CN) and other community stakeholders gathered on Friday for a public safety classroom drill.

Attendees considered a fictional scenario in which five tank cars of a westbound CN train derailed near the overpass at Calumet Avenue. CN dangerous goods officer Dshawn Herrera laid out the information available to first responders within the first 20 minutes after the incident, with the cars' contents unknown and the possibility of a chemical leak looming.

Participants thought through their response to the incident, including when to notify state and federal authorities, where to set up a temporary command center, and whether to instruct nearby residents to evacuate or shelter in place.

Friday's exercise was the first in a new series of semiannual drills aimed at improving disaster preparedness in Dyer and promoting cooperation with neighboring communities, said Fire Chief Joseph Martin.

Railway safety has front of mind for many Americans living near train lines since February 2023, when 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Twenty of the cars contained hazardous chemicals, including the highly flammable gas vinyl chloride, which authorities set on fire to prevent a larger explosion.

The incident required the evacuation of roughly half of the town's 5,000 residents and subsequent environmental cleanup efforts have cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.

While Dyer's classroom exercise was not conceived of in response to the East Palestine disaster, Martin said, train derailments are among the "high hazard, low frequency events" that Dyer, with its high volume of railway traffic, needs to prepare for. Fire Department personnel have extensive training and experience with more common types of emergencies including injuries, heart attacks and house fires but have fewer opportunities to learn about disaster response.

"We always plan for the worst, hope for the best but if we don't have plans in place and we don't have those stakeholders, whether it be governmental, community or corporate, if we're not all operating on the same page when the event does occur, it can create a hindrance," he said. "So this is us getting ahead of that."

Another emergency preparedness drill, this one involving a simulated mass casualty incident, is planned for this fall, Martin said.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Porter County officials are aware of widespread employee discontent at Northwest Health's Porter County Emergency Medical Services Department, which is contracted to provide ambulance services to the county, over what one employee termed a "culture of bullying" fostered by the department's director.

Commissioners Jim Biggs, R-3rd, and Barb Regnitz, R-2nd, who said they have spoken with both management and employees about the issue, said they expect the dispute to be resolved without county government involvement.

On March 26, 32 EMS employees at Northwest Health-Porter  a majority of the department's staff  signed a notice of no confidence in Director Aric Homberg. The document was sent to Northwest Health's leadership as well as Porter County Council members and commissioners.

"This unprecedented notice is after we have accepted Homberg's leadership with an open mind and given him the chance to lead," the employees wrote. "Homberg has proven to be incompetent and inexperienced in EMS. We believe Homberg is unable to provide the people of Porter County with the emergency services they deserve. We request the Northwest Health Administration provide us with a competent and experienced director."

Homberg was hired as the department's deputy director in 2022 before assuming his current role later that year.

Six current employees, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of professional retaliation, described Homberg as quick to anger and unresponsive to employee concerns. A paramedic who works part-time for Northwest Health likened the environment Homberg created to a "dictatorship."

The employees recalled several occasions during which Homberg yelled or cursed at employees over what they deemed relatively small issues.

In one incident, recalled by multiple staff members, Homberg reportedly grew angry over leaves that had not been cleaned up from the inside a garage. In another, employees said that Homberg yelled at an employee in front of co-workers and community members during a public relations event.

Multiple employees said they complained about Homberg's conduct to Northwest Health's leadership, but that those conversations did not produce meaningful changes in his conduct.

"They'll listen, but then nothing comes of it," another paramedic told The Times.

John Walsh, an emergency medical technician, said that he left Northwest Health roughly five months after Homberg took over as EMS director and cited Homberg's leadership as the reason why.

"He was horrible for morale," said Walsh, who also said he enjoyed working under Homberg's predecessor. "He doesn't like people questioning what he's going to do."

Multiple employees pointed to Homberg's 2023 censure by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Medical Services Division, which certifies EMS workers in the state, as an example of what they view as the director's unprofessional approach to his role.

Homberg, who was employed in Illinois prior to joining Northwest Health Porter, initially received a six-month temporary license to work in Indiana, said state EMS Director Kraig Kinney. When that license expired, Homberg had not yet secured a permanent Indiana EMS certification but, according to Kinney, continued to respond to EMS calls.

"We heard a complaint he had done numerous responses," Kinney said. "He acknowledged two runs that he did and with his own admission that was sufficient for us to take our action."

Kinney issued what he described as a "cease and desist" order and levied a $500 fine to be collected if Homberg did not resolve the certification issue within 60 days. He said that Homberg did receive his Indiana certification, avoiding the fine, and that the EMS Division, which does not handle employee complaints against administrators, has not dealt with any other disciplinary matters concerning Homberg.

The censure was a source of frustration for Homberg's subordinates.

"If any one of us had done that I can guarantee we probably would not have a job anymore," one paramedic said.

All of the employees who spoke with The Times were adamant that Homberg's departure is the only way for Northwest Health's leadership to resolve their concerns. So far, there have been no signs that they will get their wish.

The employees said that after receiving the notice of no confidence, Northwest Health-Porter Chief Operations Officer Sarah Hunter reached out to the signatories in an attempt to set up one-on-one meetings to discuss their grievances.

"My response was that these issues have already been well expressed and communicated to the administration," a paramedic said. "What more can we tell you?"

Other staff members also said they declined Hunter's meeting invitations, and that they were unaware of any such meetings taking place.

Homberg and Hunter declined to be interviewed through a Northwest Health spokesperson who wrote in a statement to The Times that "establishing and maintaining strong working relationships among our employees is a priority."

"We encourage individuals who may have concerns to communicate with their supervisor or other managers so they can be reviewed and addressed," the spokesperson added, declining to comment on Homberg's censure.

Biggs and Regnitz said they spoke with Hunter and with two Northwest Health employees shortly after receiving the statement of no confidence.

"Obviously we're going to be concerned, this is going to get our attention," Biggs said. "When I spoke to (Hunter) I said 'look, these are your employees. I don't feel comfortable telling you how to manage your employees. But if it gets to the point to where it starts affecting our contract, we will have no alternative but to weigh in on the issues.'"

Regnitz echoed the sentiment.

"Just be assured that should we perceive an issue with the service level and the number of ambulances that are supposed to be available to us per our contract, we absolutely will step in and get involved at that point in time," she said.

Biggs said he anticipates that employee concerns about Homberg will come up during a planned April 27 meeting with Hunter regarding the county's service agreement.
CROWN POINT  University of Chicago Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Mark Anderson was still practicing medicine at the prestigious John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore when his sister in Merrillville got sick.

He flew into town to help coordinate her care with her doctor who attended medical school, did a residency and completed a fellowship at Indiana University Health. She needed specialty care and the doctor said the best options were likely Indiana University or the University of Chicago.

Anderson asked the doctor to which he would send his sister.

"Without missing a beat, he said the University of Chicago," Anderson said.

The University of Chicago Medicine, one of the top-ranked health care systems in the country, will bring its world-renowned advanced academic medicine to Northwest Indiana when it opens its much-anticipated micro-hospital and multispecialty care center in Crown Point next week.

"We're bringing complicated and difficult care to a community that's growing and part of our sphere and ecosystem" he said. "The most advanced care providers are no longer confined to Hyde Park."

The medical provider, based in South Side Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, will open a 131,565-square-foot medical facility at 10855 Virginia St. at the 109th Street interchange off Interstate 65 in Crown Point. It aims to open at 7 a.m. Monday morning if it gets its permits from the state.

It will be one of just two comprehensive care centers in Indiana and one of just 71 in the country, said University of Chicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Physician-in-Chief Blase Polite, a Region native who was born at Methodist Hospital in Gary and grew up in Hessville.

"We'll have the most robust pediatric subspecialties in the state outside of Riley Hospital in Indianapolis," said Polite, who helped plan the new facility "from the rivets up. We're not here to compete or put people out of business. We're offering clinical trials and advanced care that's not available here now. Our being here will only help this area and continue to grow it into an attractive destination."

University of Chicago Medicine executives and a large crowd of medical professionals, dignitaries and many local elected officials welcomed the heath system's largest offsite location and first freestanding facility in Indiana. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Thursday evening, followed by tours of the gleaming new facility.

"We are so proud to bring academic medicine to this community," University of Chicago Medicine Health System Chief Operating Officer and UChicago Medicine Crown Point Northwest Indiana President Krista Curell said.

UChicago Medicine Crown Point is expected to handle 110,000 patients per year. The $121 million building designed by the architecture firm Perkins & Will will have a small emergency room and inpatient unit with 24/7 clinical coverage, transferring patients to the University of Chicago Medical Center and other hospitals if they require more complex care.

The facility will offer infusion therapy, radiation, medical and surgical oncology, MRI, CT, PET, X-rays, ultrasounds, an ambulatory surgery center, advanced laboratory services, a breast imaging center and access to advanced treatment through clinical trials.

"We're bringing world-class care here to Northwest Indiana," University of Chicago Medical Director of Spiritual Care Marsha Sumner said. "This facility symbolizes excellence in medical care and groundbreaking research."

The University of Chicago Medicine already has had a presence in Northwest Indiana with offices in Schererville, Merrillville, and Crown Point. It acquired the Michiana Hematology Oncology in September and will keep the UChicago Medicine Center Cancer Centers in Chesterton and Valparaiso open at their current locations.

The new facility is expected to increase access to care in Northwest Indiana, where at least 15% of patients travel outside the Calumet Region for medical care. Roughly one in five of those patients visit University of Chicago Medicine facilities.

University of Chicago Medicine also has 1,000 employees who live in Northwest Indiana, up from about 500 a decade ago, Anderson said.

UChicago Medicine Crown Point will offer advance specialty care, including from UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital. It will treat cancer, digestive diseases, heart conditions, vascular issues and neuroscience diseases for patients of all ages.

Adults can receive transplant, pain management, obstetrics and gynecology care. Children can get a number of treatments, including for allergies, immune conditions, endocrinology, infectious diseases, pulmonary issues, rheumatology and ear, nose and throat conditions.

Physicians at UChicago Medicine Crown Point also will perform general, orthopedic and plastic surgery on child patients.

"There's been a lot of excitement in the Crown Point community," Mayor Pete Land said.

The goal is to partner with and not complete with local health care providers since the facility will specialize in more advanced care, University of Chicago Medicine Health System President Tom Jaciewicz said.

"The process took a few years to complete," Jaciewicz said. "When we first had this vision it wasn't big enough so we added another 14,000 square feet. The building grew bigger and bigger. This is our first investment in Northwest Indiana but it's certainly not going to be our last."

PHOTOS: Crown Point plays Fishers in the Class 4A Northern Semistate
MERRILLVILLE  The presumptive Democratic nominee for Indiana governor is inviting every candidate running for the state's top office at the May 7 primary election to a discussion of reproductive rights in Northwest Indiana.

Though Jennifer McCormick, the former state superintendent of public instruction, isn't necessarily expecting any of her gubernatorial rivals to attend her reproductive rights town hall meeting set for 7 p.m. Region time Monday at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave., Merrillville.

The general public also is welcome to attend the free event, however, and McCormick said she looks forward to a robust conversation about the future of reproductive rights and freedoms in the Hoosier State.

"Nearly two years ago, women's freedoms were stripped from them when extreme politicians at the Indiana Statehouse convened a special session and passed one of the earliest abortion bans in the nation following the Dobbs decision," McCormick said.

"Hoosier voters deserve to know if their candidates for governor will protect or further attack access to reproductive health care in Indiana."

McCormick is competing against the winner of the six-candidate Republican primary and Libertarian Donald Rainwater at the Nov. 5 general election for a four-year term as Indiana's chief executive.

The incumbent, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, is constitutionally prohibited from serving a third consecutive term.

Northwest Indiana 2024 primary election early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus, 651 W. Morgan Ave, Chesterton Hebron Community Center, 611 N. Main St., Hebron NIRPC Building, 6100 Southport Rd., Portage North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso Union Township Fire Station #2, 267 N. 600 W., Valparaiso Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso 302 W. 8th Street, Michigan City, IN 46360 LaPorte County Fairgrounds Small Project Building, 2851 W. State Road 2, LaPorte Wills Township Community Center, 6981 E. 350 N., Rolling Prairie Wanatah Town Hall, 104 N. Main St., Wanatah
Queso fundido is a staple at many Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, but it has deeper roots as an essential appetizer during carne asadas.

Credit... Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
In the first scene of Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions, Paula Vogels antic, mournful new drama, Martha, a character modeled on the playwright, offers a version of Ecclesiastes.

There is a season for packing, Martha (Celia Keenan-Bolger) says as she slits open a cardboard box. And a season for unpacking.

Vogel, 72, has spent the majority of her career unpacking. Her work is not strictly autobiographical, but as in the plays of Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee or Adrienne Kennedy, she has a canny way of rearranging the emotional furniture of her lived experience into tragicomedy.

Here, at Broadways Helen Hayes Theater, that furniture includes a mother, Phyllis (Jessica Lange), and a brother, Carl (Jim Parsons), named for Vogels own family. The story begins in 1964 with the family moving into a basement apartment in a Washington, D.C., suburb; Carl is 14, Martha 12. Phyllis is in her mid 30s, barely treading water after a foundered marriage. At times, when she can pry her hands from a gin bottle, she clings to her children as if they are life rafts. Otherwise, she regards them as jetsam. Phyllis, we learn, never wanted to be a mother.
Jay Gatsby  self-made enigma, party host extraordinaire and talk of the summer season in West Egg, Long Island  doesnt carry his insecurities lightly. The facade of his wealth-drenched life is a grand and precarious creation, and propping it up requires constant vigilance.

His is new money, so he has to prove his worth to the snobberati. Thus his pathetic habit of showing that photo of himself in his Oxford days to people he has barely met. Or, more endearingly, his over-the-top insistence on glamming up the humble cottage of his neighbor, Nick Carraway, when the lost love of Gatsbys life, the fabled Daisy Fay Buchanan, is coming over for tea.

In the new musical The Great Gatsby, which opened on Thursday night at the Broadway Theater, the grass outside the cottage is groomed, flowers are everywhere, and a fleet of servants is ferrying food. And Jeremy Jordans Gatsby is an adorably panicked basket case, second-guessing in charming comic song his plan to ambush Eva Noblezadas Daisy with a reunion.

She is late, so Im off to go scream in a jar, he sings, but Daisy arrives before he can flee. Unsuavely, he topples into some greenery.
State Representative Matt Gress, a Republican in a moderate slice of Phoenix, was in line at his neighborhood coffee shop on Thursday when a customer stopped and thanked him for voting to repeal an 1864 law that bans abortion in Arizona.

I know youre taking some heat, he told Mr. Gress.

More than some.

Shortly after the repeal bill squeaked through the Arizona House on Wednesday with support from every Democrat, as well as Mr. Gress and two other Republicans, anti-abortion activists denounced Mr. Gress on social media as a baby killer, coward and traitor. The Republican House speaker booted Mr. Gress off a spending committee. And some Democrats dismissed his stance as a bid to appease swing voters furious over the ban during an election year.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Gress said that he was trying to chart a middle path through a wrenching debate over abortion that has consumed Arizona politics in the two weeks since the State Supreme Court revived the Civil War-era ban.

There are extremes on both ends here, he said. To go from abortion being legal and constitutionally protected to nearly a complete ban overnight is not something that the electorate is going to be OK with.
Columbias university senate, fearing the repercussions of a censure vote against the schools president, Nemat Shafik, plans instead to vote on a watered-down resolution expressing displeasure with a series of her decisions, including summoning the police last week to arrest protesting students on campus.

Senators worried that a censure vote could result in Dr. Shafiks removal at a time of crisis. And some feared that such a vote would be perceived as yielding to Republican lawmakers who had called for her resignation, according to interviews with several members of the university senate who attended a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, some of whom requested anonymity to talk about a private meeting.

The university senate is scheduled to meet again on Friday to vote on a resolution.

Carol Garber, a senate member, was among those who questioned the perception of a censure vote with so much political pressure to remove Dr. Shafik.

It really isnt a precedent any university wants to set, said Dr. Garber, a professor of behavioral sciences. We shouldnt be bullied by someone in Congress."
In 2021, police officers arrested a woman after she offered undercover agents counterfeit Botox injections in a makeshift medical office she had set up in a Los Angeles hotel room. A year later, a California-based doctor pleaded guilty to hiding from patients that the drugs she had injected them with were not name-brand Botox, but unapproved versions she bought online.

Now, federal and state health officials are investigating a spate of illnesses linked to counterfeit or improperly administered Botox that has sickened 22 people across 11 states.

Its like Groundhog Day, said Timothy Mackey, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies counterfeit medications. Since 2012, federal agencies have sent more than 2,000 warning letters to doctors or medical centers that purchased counterfeit or unapproved Botox for use in injections. Experts said there were two key factors fueling the problem: Consumers often dont know to check that what they are getting is real, and fake products are readily available.

Our supply chain has been infiltrated with counterfeit Botox  historically, presently, and will be in the future, said George Karavetsos, a former director of the Food and Drug Administrations Office of Criminal Investigations.
The U.N.s top coordinator for humanitarian aid for Gaza has said that Israel has taken steps to improve the delivery of relief supplies to the enclave but warned that much more must be done to meet the vast need there.

Israel has announced efforts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, including by opening an additional border crossing and by accepting shipments at a nearby port. But the United Nations has warned with increasing urgency that a famine is looming and that deliveries still fall short of the level needed to stop the spread of starvation.

The aid coordinator, Sigrid Kaag, said in a briefing at the Security Council on Wednesday that, while Israel had made efforts to increase the entry and distribution of aid, further definitive and urgent steps are needed to set the course for a sustained flow of humanitarian and commercial goods into Gaza in terms of volume, need and reach.

Given the scale and scope of destruction and the extent of human suffering, every day counts, she added.

According to U.N. data, the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has risen, but only slightly. In the two weeks ending Monday, the most recent day for which figures were available, an average of 195 trucks had entered Gaza each day through the two main crossings in the south of the territory.

That was slightly higher than the average of 185 trucks daily in the two weeks before that  but still far short of the 300 trucks of food that the World Food Program estimates are needed per day to begin to meet peoples basic needs.

Ms. Kaag, a Dutch former finance minister and deputy prime minister, was appointed by the United Nations in December to improve efforts to get aid into Gaza. The role was laid out in a Security Council resolution that aimed to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under intense Israeli bombardment since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks.

Countries including the United States have tried to find air and sea routes into Gaza, but aid groups say delivery by truck would be far more efficient. They have described deep the challenges in navigating Israeli security checkpoints and in traveling through a war zone, including impassable roads, unexploded ordnance and fuel shortages. Israel has denied restricting aid, blaming U.N. agencies for bureaucratic delays.

Ms. Kaag said that the United Nations was in contact with the Israeli government on urgent measures needed to improve the flow of aid, including easing procedures at Israeli checkpoints, repairing roads and allowing humanitarian convoys to move as scheduled.

Ms. Kaags comments echoed those of President Bidens special envoy for humanitarian issues in Gaza, David Satterfield, who said on Tuesday that the volume of aid into Gaza had increased but that much more aid is needed.
Eduardo Vilaros latest dance for Ballet Hispanico is about a 17th-century artist who, in recent years, has come into his own. Juan de Pareja was enslaved by the Spanish painter Diego Velazquez for more than two decades. During a trip to Italy, Velazquez painted a portrait of Pareja, who was also his studio assistant, showing an Afro-Hispanic man shrouded by darkness, but with an open, unwavering gaze.

Those eyes, looking out to an unjust world, are sharp and alive. The portrait was a sensation; it now hangs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Months after it was completed, Velazquez signed a document granting Pareja his freedom.) Last year, Pareja was the subject of an exhibition at the Met; this year, Vilaro, the artistic director of Ballet Hispanico, honors him with a somber work of dance theater, Buscando a Juan, or Looking for Juan, which had its premiere on Thursday at New York City Center.

The dance explores, in part, the power play between Velazquez and Pareja. What would it have been like, Vilaro seems to ask, to have been both enslaved and a master painters assistant?

The title is apt. There are many ideas swirling around Buscando, but at its core it seems to be about a search for artistic identity and the struggle and faith it takes to find it. Beyond that, Buscando, which tends toward the opaque, has less of an anchor. Its flooded with unison choreography that, however robust, becomes repetitive as dancers crouch on the floor and fly across the stage in sweeping jumps, adding a quick kick or an imploring reach. These group moments hint at religious fervor, but also sometimes wash across the stage like generic dance phrases, articulately performed yet disconnected to Osvaldo Golijovs music.
More than two years after a judge ended the conservatorship that had given James P. Spears control of his pop star daughters life, Britney Spears and her father have settled their outstanding legal dispute over the payment of his legal fees and his management of her finances.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed in court filings made by both parties in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. But the two sides had been at odds over the size of Mr. Spearss legal fees and questions about his oversight of her money as conservator.

Ms. Spearss 13-year-long conservatorship, which began in 2008 after a series of public breakdowns, was terminated in 2021. Her father, who served as one of her conservators for its duration, had been seeking court approval for more than $2 million in fees to multiple law firms he had hired in that capacity. He had also sought payment of his current lawyers ongoing legal bill.

Ms. Spearss lawyer, Mathew S. Rosengart, had objected to the fees.

Mr. Rosengart argued that, in particular, his client should not have to pay her fathers current legal bills, asserting in court papers that Mr. Spears had paid himself $6 million, improperly surveilled his daughter and engaged in financial misconduct during his tenure.
For over 400 years, Richard III has been seen as Britains most infamous king  a power-hungry usurper who killed his young nephews to clear the way to the throne.

In Shakespeares Richard III, the king tells an assassin, I wish the bastards dead, referring to the princes Edward V and Richard. And I would have it suddenly performed.

But the kings murderous image, drawn from history books and cemented in literature and lore, is just not true  or, at least, it has not been proven true, argues Philippa Langley, an author and independent historian.

Maybe there is evidence, she said over a cup of tea in Edinburgh earlier this year. But there seems to be no evidence.
More than 7,000 workers who make trucks and buses at Daimler Truck plants in North Carolina are poised to go on strike at midnight, barring a last-minute breakthrough. The United Automobile Workers, the union that represents the workers, said it was demanding a historic deal from the truck maker, including pay raises and more job security.

The planned walkout would open another front in the U.A.W.s campaign to expand its power in Southern states, where organized labor has long been weak. The union is hoping it can build on the success of its work stoppages last fall at the three largest U.S. automakers not just by securing higher wages elsewhere, but also by forming more unions in the South.

Its our generation-defining moment, Shawn Fain, U.A.W.s president, said.

A strike in North Carolina  a battleground state that has a Democratic governor, but that President Biden narrowly lost in 2020  could also have repercussions on the 2024 campaign. Biden, who has proclaimed himself the most pro-union president in history, has indicated that he could step in aggressively to support the Daimler workers. That could find him clashing with the states more pro-business Democrats, just months before Election Day.
Supreme Court appeared to favor presidential immunity

The Supreme Courts conservative majority appeared ready yesterday to rule that former presidents have some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution, which could further delay the criminal case against Donald Trump on charges that he plotted to subvert the 2020 election.

Such a ruling would most likely send the case back to the trial court, ordering it to draw distinctions between official and private conduct. Though there was seeming consensus among the justices that the criminal case could eventually go forward based on Trumps private actions, the additional proceedings could make it hard to conduct the trial before the 2024 election in November.

If Trump wins the White House, he can order the Justice Department to drop the charges against him. Here are takeaways from the argument.

In Trumps New York trial, on charges of falsifying business records, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, told jurors in vivid detail how Trump depended on him to buy and bury damaging stories that could have derailed Trumps 2016 campaign.
Exxon Mobil and Chevron, the largest American energy companies, said on Friday that their earnings in the first quarter fell from a year earlier, pulled down by lower margins on oil refining and plunging natural gas prices.

But the oil and gas business remains highly profitable for the two giants even at a time of moderate oil prices.

The price for Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, has been rising in recent weeks and is currently just under $90 a barrel. If this upward trend continues, company earnings could rise. Brent crude is still selling for well below its 2022 peak, when it jumped above $100 a barrel after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Exxon Mobil said earnings were $8.2 billion in the quarter, compared with $11.4 billion a year earlier. Chevron reported a decline to $5.5 billion from $6.6 billion.
Well, House Speaker Mike Johnson crashed Hamass spring break at Columbia today.

That quip came from the Fox News host Jesse Watters, who was interviewing Mr. Johnson on his prime-time show Wednesday.

In response to a standoff between student protesters and the universitys president, Mr. Johnson had visited Columbia Universitys campus, where students had set up encampments in solidarity with Palestinians. He was booed during a brief news conference on the steps of a school library.

So many of them, Jesse, dont know what the heck theyre talking about, Mr. Johnson said.

Mr. Johnsons appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime embodied the chiding and often adversarial tone of conservative media toward the latest wave of protests on college campuses over Israels campaign in Gaza. In the conservative media sphere, the protests are fresh evidence of the disorder and unrest that have long gripped liberal institutions  particularly at Ivy League schools  as social movements like Black Lives Matter, and now pro-Palestinian activism, spread their influence.

Theres a difference between educated people and smart people, Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and Fox News host, said on the network Tuesday. A lot of these college kids are educated, but theyre not real smart.
Paramount is preparing to announce the departure of its chief executive, Bob Bakish, as soon as next week, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, a sudden development even as the company is exploring a merger.

The impending move is a result of Mr. Bakishs worsening relationship with Shari Redstone, the companys controlling shareholder, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a delicate matter. Ms. Redstone grew frustrated with what she saw as his inability to get important deals across the finish line, including a sale of the Showtime and BET cable channels, the people said.

Two people familiar with the matter said several of Paramounts senior executives had expressed reservations about the direction of the company to a representative of the board of directors in recent weeks, further eroding Mr. Bakishs standing with Ms. Redstone.

The company is in talks to merge with Skydance, a media company controlled by David Ellison, the tech scion and Hollywood producer. It is also negotiating a lucrative deal to keep channels like Nickelodeon and MTV on the Charter cable system.
The Biden administrations move on Thursday to strictly limit pollution from coal-burning power plants is a major policy shift. But in many ways its one more hairpin turn in a zigzag approach to environmental regulation in the United States, a pattern that has grown more extreme as the political landscape has become more polarized.

Nearly a decade ago, President Barack Obama was the Democrat who tried to force power plants to stop burning coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels. His Republican successor, Donald J. Trump, effectively reversed that plan. Now President Biden is trying once more to put an end to carbon emissions from coal plants. But Mr. Trump, who is running to replace Mr. Biden, has promised that he will again delete those plans if he wins in November.

The countrys participation in the Paris climate accord has followed the same swerving path: Under Mr. Obama, the United States joined the global commitment to fight climate change, only for Mr. Trump to pull the U.S. out of it, and for Mr. Biden to rejoin. If Mr. Trump wins the presidency, he is likely to exit the accord. Again.

Government policies have always shifted between Democratic and Republican administrations, but they have generally stayed in place and have been tightened or loosened along a spectrum, depending on the occupant of the White House.
The Biden administration said on Friday that it was delaying a decision on whether to ban menthol cigarettes, effectively quashing a proposal that has divided Black American voters and fueled million-dollar lobbying campaigns from the tobacco industry in this presidential election year.

The White House has faced considerable resistance from the cigarette companies that would lose billions of dollars if they could no longer sell menthol cigarettes. Opponents took to the airwaves to warn of a spike in cartel traffic along the border from counterfeit cigarette smuggling and of police violence targeting Black residents if a ban were in force.

Those efforts posed risks for President Biden, whose support among Black voters has at times slipped in recent months.

Some of Mr. Bidens top health officials have said that a ban would save lives and protect against lung cancer, which is a higher risk for Black smokers, who have historically favored menthol cigarettes and are heavily targeted by tobacco companies.
Disappear Completely

Stream it on Netflix.

When we first meet Santiago Mendoza (Harold Torres), hes a modern Weegee, a Mexico City crime photographer out to capture the one gruesome shot that might make the front page of a tabloid. By the time Luis Javier Henaines formally audacious and boldly nihilistic supernatural thriller is over, Santiago is a void, fulfilling the titles sinister promise.

Santiagos descent begins one night when a dead body scares the bejesus out of him by opening its eyes and screaming Kill me, please. As Santiago leaves the scene, an unseen force knocks him out, then over the next few days he starts to lose his senses to the point where he cant smell a corpse, taste his morning coffee or feel a glass shard in his foot. A visit to a witch doctor only makes things worse for him and, most tragically, his dog. After Santiago encounters a demon in the woods  a scene with one of the scariest single sounds Ive ever heard in a horror movie  the film takes an experimental turn thats bracing in its brutality. It ends on a savage note, and to explain how would spoil its savage power. Trust me, its something to see, or rather, hear.

Late Night With the Devil

Stream it on Shudder.
A Bronx woman has been charged with murder in the death of her 6-year-old daughter, who was found bruised and unconscious at her familys Bronx apartment last year, law enforcement authorities said.

The woman, Lynija Eason Kumar, 27, was also charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of the girl, Jalayah Eason, who had bruises on her wrists and torso when police officers arrived at her home on May 26, 2023, officials said.

The cause of death was unclear at the time, but the New York City medical examiners office classified it as a homicide in February. Jalayah died as a result of blunt-force injuries, malnourishment and positional asphyxia, a spokeswoman for the office said on Friday.

Ms. Eason Kumar pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment on Friday in Bronx Criminal Court and was ordered held without bail. A lawyer for Ms. Eason Kumar did not respond to a request for comment.
Lawyers for Donald J. Trump on Friday grilled the former publisher of The National Enquirer, casting doubt on his explanation for why he suppressed salacious stories about the Republican presidential candidate before the 2016 election.

The witness, David Pecker, who has known Mr. Trump for decades, faced a stern cross-examination from one of the former presidents defense lawyers, Emil Bove, who pressed Mr. Pecker about two deals he had reached in 2015 and 2016 with people who were seeking to sell stories about Mr. Trump.

Mr. Bove sought to convince the jury of two fundamental points about the stories, which Mr. Pecker bought and then buried: Such arrangements, characterized by prosecutors as catch and kill, were standard for the publisher, and that Mr. Pecker had previously misled jurors about the details of the transactions.
The second week of Donald Trumps Manhattan criminal trial was dominated by four days of testimony by David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, who detailed his efforts to safeguard Mr. Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr. Pecker, a longtime associate of the former president, talked at length about a catch and kill scheme that he said he had entered into with Mr. Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, during a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. The publisher said he would purchase the rights to unsavory stories he had no intention of running.

His testimony also teed up the story of Stormy Daniels, a porn star who claims to have had sex with Mr. Trump in 2006 and received a hush-money payment in the days before the 2016 election, a deal at the center of the case.

Mr. Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to conceal the payment. If convicted, he could face four years in prison. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied that he had sex with Ms. Daniels.
Pinned

In the hallway outside court, Donald J. Trump blasted the case against him in remarks that could prompt allegations of contempt.

The second week of Donald Trumps Manhattan criminal trial was dominated by four days of testimony by David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, who detailed his efforts to safeguard Mr. Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr. Pecker, a longtime associate of the former president, talked at length about a catch and kill scheme that he said he had entered into with Mr. Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, during a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. The publisher said he would purchase the rights to unsavory stories he had no intention of running.

His testimony also teed up the story of Stormy Daniels, a porn star who claims to have had sex with Mr. Trump in 2006 and received a hush-money payment in the days before the 2016 election, a deal at the center of the case.

Mr. Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to conceal the payment. If convicted, he could face four years in prison. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied that he had sex with Ms. Daniels.

The week also brought more accusations that Mr. Trump had violated a gag order prohibiting him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and jurors. Justice Juan M. Merchan has not ruled on the prosecutions request to hold Mr. Trump in contempt, and said he would hold another hearing next Thursday to address allegations of new violations.

Heres what happened during the second week, and eighth day, of Mr. Trumps trial:

Opening statements displayed dueling strategies.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers presented dueling portraits of Mr. Trumps actions.

Prosecutors sketched a secret scheme to influence the 2016 election. They said Mr. Trump directed men in his inner circle to suppress negative stories about him and then agreed to cover up the payment to Ms. Daniels after taking the White House.

Image Todd Blanche, Mr. Trumps lawyer, attacked several potential witnesses. Credit... Jefferson Siegel for The New York Times

But Mr. Trumps lawyer Todd Blanche said his clients actions were run-of-the-mill business. Nondisclosure agreements are common among the wealthy and famous, he said, and influencing an election is no crime. Its called democracy, Mr. Blanche said.

Mr. Blanche also attacked potential prosecution witnesses. He called Mr. Cohen, who spent time in prison on charges stemming from the matter, a criminal who cant be trusted. He said Stormy Daniels was biased and had profited from her story.

A former tabloid titan opened the case.

Mr. Pecker testified that he was the eyes and ears of the Trump campaign, keeping a lookout for unflattering stories.

He detailed a deal with a former doorman of a Manhattan building managed by the Trump Organization who said that Mr. Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock. Despite the story being false, Mr. Pecker said the tabloid paid him $30,000 to prevent embarrassment.

Image David Pecker spoke about meetings that took place at Mr. Trumps Fifth Avenue building. Credit... Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Mr. Pecker also spoke about a deal with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump, an allegation that he denies. Ms. McDougal was paid $150,000, but Mr. Pecker said he had no intention of publishing anything about the affair.

After two payouts, Mr. Pecker said he had been unwilling to buy a third story: Ms. Danielss account of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump.

How the tabloid sausage was made.

During their cross-examination of Mr. Pecker, Mr. Trumps lawyers set out to show that such deals were standard operating procedure in the tabloid business, and that only about half of all stories purchased made it to print.

One of the defendants lawyers, Emil Bove, pushed Mr. Pecker about the real purpose of the deal with Ms. McDougal, whether her top priority was money and whether the agreement had other benefits for her. Mr. Pecker conceded that dozens of articles were published under her name.

But Mr. Pecker later testified that the agreements real purpose had been to bury the story of the affair.

Trump continued to speak out.

Mr. Trump has been subdued compared with his appearances at civil trials in Manhattan, where he was known to mutter loudly and twice stormed out.

But occasionally his frustration was apparent. He once shook his head vigorously as Mr. Pecker testified.

When he left the courtroom, Mr. Trump lashed out at the case against him, veering into territory potentially prohibited by Justice Merchans gag order.

Next week may offer more drama, if fewer days.

Friday ended with few fireworks. Mr. Trumps former executive assistant, Rhona Graff, testified briefly, identifying entries from the Trump Organizations computer system that contained contact information for Ms. McDougal and Ms. Daniels.

Prosecutors also called Gary Farro, a banker who helped Mr. Cohen open an account that he used for the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Mr. Farros testimony is expected to continue next week.

It is not clear who will testify after Mr. Farro, but the weeks ahead could include Mr. Cohen, Ms. Daniels and Hope Hicks, Mr. Trumps former White House communications director.

Monday is an off day for the court, as is Wednesday. Mr. Trump will use the midweek break to campaign in Wisconsin and Michigan, two battleground states in this years election. He is the presumptive Republican nominee.
On Wednesday morning, on a corner across the street from Columbia University, a man dressed in black, a huge gold cross around his neck, brandished a sign that featured a bloodstained Israeli flag and the word genocide in capital letters. He was also shouting at the top of his lungs.

The Jews control the world! Jews are murderers!

I watched as a pro-Palestinian protester approached the man. That is horribly antisemitic, she said. You are hurting the movement, and you are not a part of us. Go away.

The man shouted vile, unprintable epithets back at her, but the woman, who told me she had come to New York from her home in Baltimore to support the protesting students, walked away.

Hours later, a well-known congressional reporter covering House Speaker Mike Johnsons visit to Columbias campus posted a photograph of the same man. One sign here at the Columbia protest, the reporter, Jake Sherman, wrote. This man is ranting about Jews controlling the universe.
U.S. diplomacy to end the Gaza war and forge a new relationship with Saudi Arabia has been converging in recent weeks into a single giant choice for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: What do you want more  Rafah or Riyadh?

Do you want to mount a full-scale invasion of Rafah to try to finish off Hamas  if that is even possible  without offering any Israeli exit strategy from Gaza or any political horizon for a two-state solution with non-Hamas-led Palestinians? If you go this route, it will only compound Israels global isolation and force a real breach with the Biden administration.

Or do you want normalization with Saudi Arabia, an Arab peacekeeping force for Gaza and a U.S.-led security alliance against Iran? This would come with a different price: a commitment from your government to work toward a Palestinian state with a reformed Palestinian Authority  but with the benefit of embedding Israel in the widest U.S.-Arab-Israeli defense coalition the Jewish state has ever enjoyed and the biggest bridge to the rest of the Muslim world Israel has ever been offered while creating at least some hope that the conflict with the Palestinians will not be a forever war.

This is one of the most fateful choices Israel has ever had to make. And what I find both disturbing and depressing is that there is no major Israeli leader today in the ruling coalition, the opposition or the military who is consistently helping Israelis understand that choice  a global pariah or a Middle East partner  or explaining why it should choose the second.
Donald Trumps claim that he has absolute immunity for criminal acts taken in office as president is an insult to reason, an assault on common sense and a perversion of the fundamental maxim of American democracy: that no man is above the law.

More astonishing than the former presidents claim to immunity, however, is the fact that the Supreme Court took the case in the first place. Its not just that theres an obvious response  no, the president is not immune to criminal prosecution for illegal actions committed with the imprimatur of executive power, whether private or official (a distinction that does not exist in the Constitution)  but that the court has delayed, perhaps indefinitely, the former presidents reckoning with the criminal legal system of the United States.

In delaying the trial, the Supreme Court may well have denied the public its right to know whether a former president, now vying to be the next president, is guilty of trying to subvert the sacred process of presidential succession: the peaceful transfer of power from one faction to another that is the essence of representative democracy. It is a process so vital, and so precious, that its first occurrence  with the defeat of John Adams and the Federalists at the hands of Thomas Jeffersons Republicans in the 1800 presidential election  was a second sort of American Revolution.

Whether motivated by sincere belief or partisanship or a myopic desire to weigh in on a case involving the former president, the Supreme Court has directly intervened in the 2024 presidential election in a way that deprives the electorate of critical information or gives it less time to grapple with what might happen in a federal courtroom. And if the trial occurs after an election in which Trump wins a second term and he is convicted, then the court will have teed the nation up for an acute constitutional crisis. A president, for the first time in the nations history, might try to pardon himself for his own criminal behavior.
OPINION

Pamela Pauls column on April 5 described incorrectly Romona Hardens time in college. After the pandemic shut down in-person classes, she went home and completed her degree remotely. She did not drop out of college.

Bret Stephenss column on Wednesday referred imprecisely to an injury Sahar Tartak said she received. A video of the incident shows that a flag hit her face; it does not clearly show that a demonstrator jammed a flag in her eye.

BUSINESS

An article on Thursday about the resumption of contract negotiation talks between Starbucks and an employee union misquoted Eric Blanc, a professor at Rutgers University. He said, The scale of the union-busting campaign and its ferocity is unmatched in modern labor history. He did not say, The scale of the union-busting campaign and its verbosity is unmatched in modern labor history.

OBITUARIES

An obituary on Wednesday about the actor and documentarian Terry Carter erroneously credited him with a distinction. He was the only regular Black cast member on the 1950s sitcom The Phil Silvers Show; he was not the only Black actor to play a character on that show.
For decades, the idea of standing properly upright carried considerable political and social baggage. Slouching was considered a sign of decay.

In the early 20th century, posture exams became mainstays in the military, the workplace and schools, thanks in part to the American Posture League, a group of physicians, educators and health officials that formed in 1914. In 1917, a study found that roughly 80 percent of Harvards freshman class had poor posture. Industrialists piled on with posture-enhancing chairs, products and gadgets.

But the actual science doesnt support the conventional wisdom about proper posture, Beth Linker argues in her new book, Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America. Dr. Linker, a historian and sociologist of science at the University of Pennsylvania, recently sat for an interview with The New York Times; the conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Nice to meet you.

Your posture looks pretty good. And it doesnt matter  thats the whole point of my book. Its fake news.
Asiah Janai James was feeling spontaneous in August 2014 when she invited her co-worker, Gerald Leon Cannon II, to meet up with her at the Afropunk Festival in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Ms. James had been in a series of serious relationships, but when Mr. Cannon called, she was learning to go with the flow, she said. She wanted to prioritize building a connection with someone she thought was cool over trying to define the relationship early on.

She thought Mr. Cannon was cool. The two had first been introduced that May by a mutual friend and colleague at Top Shop in Manhattans SoHo neighborhood. Ms. James worked in personal shopping; Mr. Cannon was a stock associate.

Ms. James was attending the music festival with her roommates, and Mr. Cannon happened to be in the area with his best friend for the social scene. Weaving through the massive crowd outside Commodore Barry Park, where the festival took place, they eventually found each other in the fray.
You cannot use my dog to attract other girls, my ex emailed from Taiwan. She could see on social media that I had been on a ski tour with a woman, and there were photos of the dog, Bhoga, bounding downhill in the broken snow of our ski tracks.

Not that I believed she had a say in how Bhoga and I spent our time. A year earlier, she had moved from Portland, Ore., to Taiwan to teach English, a mercy killing for our on-again-off-again relationship. There had never been enough trust between us. She had disturbing dreams of me tattooing strange things onto her body. What I really did to her was withhold love.

When we first got together, a snowstorm shut down the city. She skipped work and we skied through the streets. I later fell for her when she played cello in a bathrobe. But a year later, she would sometimes disappear for a whole weekend and call me for a ride home Sunday night.

My ex had brought Bhoga into our relationship as a little puppy. Eighteen months later, when she planned to leave the country, we agreed the dog would stay with me because Taiwan required a six-week quarantine for arriving dogs. It was unbearable for me to think of this sensitive pup, who trembled with fear when city buses trundled by, being confined in a concrete kennel for that long.
Ts monthly travel series, Flocking To, highlights places you might already have on your wish list, sharing tips from frequent visitors and locals alike. Sign up here to find us in your inbox once a month, and to receive our weekly T List newsletter. Have a question? You can always reach us at tlist@nytimes.com.

In the 16th century, Antwerp, Belgium, with its busy docks along the river Scheldt, was a booming center of trade and one of Europes most influential cities, attracting artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs. In 1576, Christophe Plantin ran a prestigious printing business (one of the continents largest) in the center of the city, a half-mile from where, a few decades later, the painter Peter Paul Rubens would build his own studio and semicircular sculpture hall, modeled after the Pantheon. Over the years, while other long-established port cities like Venice and Barcelona evolved into throbbing tourist centers, Belgiums second city largely kept far away from the spotlight, yet its always quietly maintained a reputation as a place for innovation and creative expression. In the 1980s, it became an important fashion hub with the emergence of the Antwerp Six: a group of young designers, including Ann Demeulemeester, who had been educated at the citys Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Even now, despite its relatively small size (the population is about 545,000), Antwerp is still home to a cluster of people at the top of their creative fields, including the visual artist Luc Tuymans and Pieter Mulier, the creative director of the fashion brand Alaia. I can see the port from one side of my apartment and Antwerps historic center from the other side, says Mulier. Those views allow me to understand the richness of this city, not just financially but culturally. Lately, there has been a renewed sense of dynamism in Antwerp, with a slate of recently opened restaurants, bars and hotels, including Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, a luxury resort housed in a converted monastery, as well as ambitious new architectural projects underway in the southern part of the city led by Tokyos Shigeru Ban and others. The art scene is also getting a boost now that KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, has reopened after its decade-long renovation. Here, Mulier and four other notable locals share some of their favorite spots in the city, from beloved relics to new diversions.
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Property is generally worth less if its owned by a Black American. That sobering fact, cemented by 150 years of assessment data, underpins inequality today.

Black Americans properties have been undervalued by home appraisers and overvalued by tax assessors. That double punch has left Black homeowners more prone to falling behind on their taxes and, ultimately, to dispossession. One such case involved a Black landowner in North Carolina who lost his land in 1920. That loss affected the family line across generations, and his great-great grandson, George Floyd, was murdered by a police officer after a phone call to the authorities in Minneapolis about a counterfeit $20 bill one century later.

A book published this week, The Black Tax, explains how the case of Floyds great-great grandfather was not unusual under a system that crystallized soon after Black Americans began acquiring property. Black Americans remain the only racial group with a homeownership rate below 50 percent.

I asked the author, Andrew Kahrl, a history professor at the University of Virginia, about his research. This interview was edited for clarity and length.
Columbia Universitys senate voted on Friday to approve a resolution that called for an investigation into the schools leadership, accusing the administration of violating established protocols, undermining academic freedom, jeopardizing free inquiry and breaching the due process rights of both students and professors.

The universitys president, Nemat Shafik, has been under attack for her decision last week to summon the New York Police Department to campus, resulting in the arrest of more than 100 student protesters, and for her earlier congressional testimony, in which professors accused her of capitulating to the demands of congressional Republicans over free speech and the disciplining of students and professors.

The resolution, adopted by a vote of 62-14, with three abstentions, fell short of a proposal earlier in the week to censure Dr. Shafik, which many senators worried could be perceived as yielding to Republican lawmakers who had called for her resignation over her handling of antisemitism claims.

The senate resolution was based partly on a damaging report by the senate executive committee, which accused Dr. Shafiks administration of engaging in many actions and decisions that have harmed the institution  including the hiring of an aggressive private investigation firm.
Nemat Shafik was not even halfway through her first semester as president of Columbia University when protests related to the Israel-Hamas war began reverberating through college campuses across the United States.

Dr. Shafik, who is a native of Alexandria, Egypt, and goes by Minouche, is an economist who began her career at the World Bank. Her resume includes time as the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund and as the deputy governor of the Bank of England, and she has also served in the British House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament.

Like leaders at other American universities, she contended in recent months with dueling protests, reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus and questions of whether pro-Palestinian supporters have been unfairly silenced.

On Wednesday, she announced her resignation. Here is a timeline of Dr. Shafiks tenure at the university:

Jan. 18, 2023

The universitys board of trustees announces that Dr. Shafik, then the president of the London School of Economics and Political Science, will be the 20th president of Columbia.
A Colorado paramedic convicted in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a young, unarmed Black man, was sentenced to four years of probation with 14 months of work release on Friday, the final chapter of an explosive case that thrust the Denver suburb of Aurora into the national spotlight and helped usher in sweeping public safety reforms.

Jeremy Cooper, 49, a former paramedic with Aurora Fire Rescue, was found guilty in December of criminally negligent homicide. A second paramedic, Peter Cichuniec, 51, a former lieutenant with the department, was sentenced last month to five years in prison.

Judge Mark Douglas Warner of the District Court in the 17th Judicial District said neither the jury nor the court saw evidence that Mr. Cooper purposely gave Mr. McClain an overdose though his actions deviated from the standard of care. Its almost unthinkable the way things rolled out, he said, later adding, It didnt have to happen.
Like other Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus, Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, the groups former leader, carries a pungently far-right portfolio.

He has been an unswerving loyalist of former President Donald J. Trump. He has bickered with his partys elected leaders. He has voted against aid to Ukraine and against keeping the government open. He still maintains that the 2020 election was stolen. Such stances are not especially controversial to Republican primary voters.

But among archconservative House members, only Mr. Perry must sell those same views to voters in a politically competitive district this November.

The challenge confronting Mr. Perry came into sharper focus late Tuesday night, when Democratic voters in Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District elected as their candidate Janelle Stelson, a popular TV anchor in the area who until about a year ago was a registered Republican.
Barring a last-minute breakthrough, more than 7,000 workers are set to walk off their truck and bus assembly lines on Friday night in the swing state of North Carolina, injecting the United Automobile Workers new activism in the South directly into the 2024 election.

North Carolina has never been hospitable to organized labor, and the midnight strike at the North American subsidiary of the German industrial giant Daimler Truck has been greeted with trepidation by the states Democratic establishment, which has long tried to project a moderate, pro-business bent.

But Shawn Fain, the U.A.W.s brash new president, doesnt much care.

We dont expect politicians to save the day, but at the end of the day, politicians have an obligation to the people that elect them, he said in an interview on Thursday, adding: Its our generation-defining moment. This is a time where politicians need to pick a side.

In September, President Biden joined the picket line of the U.A.W.s successful strike of the Big Three U.S. automakers, and Thursday, a White House spokeswoman, Robyn Patterson, indicated that the president could be equally aggressive if there was a Daimler walkout.
Guatemalan authorities searched the offices of Save the Children, the international charity said on Thursday, in an inquiry into claims of child abuse that was widely viewed as a political attack in a country with a history of targeting nonprofit groups and human rights organizations.

Guatemalas Public Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it had searched the headquarters of an organization as part of an ongoing transnational investigation into potential abuses against Guatemalan children. The ministry did not name the organization.

Save the Children, which has operated in Guatemala since 1976, said its office had been searched. It denied the claims and said it had not been previously notified of an investigation.

Rafael Curruchiche, who leads the special prosecutors office against impunity, said in a video published on social media that the search had involved the registration and seizure of evidence in coordination with the national police.
The areas where the United States and China can work together seem to be shrinking fast, and the risks of confrontation are growing. But it was clear on Friday that both countries are trying to salvage what they can.

Preserving some semblance of cooperation  and the difficulty of doing so  was at the heart of a meeting between Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Friday. It was the latest effort by the rivals to keep communications open even as disputes escalate over trade, national security and geopolitical frictions.

Officials in both countries said they had made progress on a few smaller, pragmatic fronts, including setting up the first U.S.-China talks on artificial intelligence in the coming weeks. They also said they would continue improving communications between their militaries and increase cultural exchanges.

But on fundamental strategic issues, each side held little hope of moving the other, and they appeared wary of the possibility of sliding into further conflict.
Vietnams recent political turmoil intensified on Friday as the head of its Parliament resigned, the latest high-level government departure amid a widening anticorruption campaign that has raised questions about the stability of the country.

Vuong Dinh Hue, the chairman of Vietnams National Assembly, submitted his resignation on Friday after the Central Inspection Committee found that he had violated regulations governing Communist Party members. It did not specify what these regulations were, but it came four days after his assistant was detained on charges of abuse of power.

Mr. Vuong Dinh Hues violations and shortcomings, according to the Central Executive Committee, have caused bad public opinion and affected the reputation of the Party, the state and him personally, the Vietnamese government wrote in a post on Facebook.

Mr. Hue was one of the four pillars of leadership in Vietnam  the others being the leader of the Communist Party, the prime minister and the president  which had made him a possible candidate for the future leadership of the party. His resignation is likely to add to anxiety among officials in Vietnam of an intensifying power struggle ahead of a coming leadership transition, in 2026, and to unnerve foreign investors who have flocked to the country in recent years.
The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. This weeks issue is written by Julia Bergin, a reporter based in the Northern Territory.

Ron Noll was known for riding his Harley-Davidson motorbike in flip-flops, or thongs as they are known here, preferring the ventilation and comfort of the hassle-free footwear in the Central Australian desert heat.

But on Sunday morning, he rolled into a gas station in Alice Springs dressed in heavy-duty boots. Mr. Noll reluctantly acknowledged to an amused circle of riders that hed made a necessary change in the interest of safety.

The four riders  Mr. Noll, Richard Blom, Daniel Bowman and Marcia Fels  are part of the local Harley Owners Group, whose total membership runs to about 25. They were all wearing denim, leather and, yes, boots. This loose uniform was completed with an outer leather vest emblazoned with a Harley eagle-and-wheel insignia.

Their outfits may have suggested the stereotype of a menacing bike gang. But their preference of tea and apple strudel was a sign that this club had no appetite for flouting the law.
She became a writer because her country vanished overnight.

Jenny Erpenbeck, now 57, was 22 in 1989, when the Berlin Wall cracked by accident, then collapsed. She was having a girls evening out, she said, so she had no idea what had happened until the next morning. When a professor discussed it in class, she said, it became real to her.

The country she knew, the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, remains a crucial setting for most of her striking, precise fiction. Her work, which has grown in acuity and emotional power, combines the complications of German and Soviet history with the lives of her characters, including those of her own family members, whose experiences echo with the past like contrapuntal music.

Her latest novel to be translated into English, Kairos, has been a breakthrough. It is now on the shortlist for the International Booker Prize and considered a favorite to win the award late next month. Her previous novel, Go, Went, Gone, is a moving tale of a lonely East German professor, adrift in united Germany, finding parallels with the African migrants who have survived a sea journey only to find themselves adrift in Germany, as well.

In 2017, James Wood, The New Yorkers book critic, called Go, Went, Gone underappreciated and predicted that Ms. Erpenbeck would win the Nobel Prize in a few years.
King Charles III will return to public duties next week, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, an encouraging sign of his recovery, nearly three months after he disclosed that he had cancer, and a palpable relief to a country anxious about another wrenching change in the British monarchy.

Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will mark his return with a visit to a cancer center on Tuesday, where they will meet with patients and staff, the palace said. He will appear at other engagements later, not least welcoming Emperor Naruhito of Japan, and his wife, Empress Masako, for a state visit in June.

The palace did not offer specific updates on Charless medical treatment, condition or prognosis, in keeping with its policy of sharing some  but not all  details about his illness. Yet in the opaque world of the royal family, the busyness of a monarchs calendar is often the best clue to his well-being.

The news offers a ray of hope for a royal family that has been shadowed by health concerns since the beginning of the year. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, confirmed last month that she, too, has cancer. She has been out of the public eye since she was hospitalized in January, igniting a storm of often spurious rumors about her condition.
Russia attacked railway facilities in three different regions across Ukraine on Thursday night and Friday morning, as the Russian defense minister vowed to step up strikes aimed at slowing the flow of critically needed American weapons and equipment to the front.

At least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded in the attacks, according to the Ukrainian military and local officials. Three of the dead were railway workers killed by a strike in the Donetsk region. In Balakliya, a rail hub in the Kharkiv region, 13 passengers on a regional train were injured when a missile hit the station. Russia also attacked a railway facility in the Cherkasy region, but no casualties were reported.

Ukrainian railways, with an estimated 12,000 miles of tracks and 230,000 employees, have played a crucial role in the war, evacuating civilians from frontline areas, transporting everything from grain to humanitarian assistance around the country, and moving heavy weapons supplied by Western allies along carefully guarded and hidden supply lines.

The latest attacks on the rail network came after Russias defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, promised to target Western weapons as they arrived in Ukraine. We will increase the intensity of strikes on logistics centers and storage bases of Western weapons, he said in a speech Tuesday at the ministry.
Seven rabbis and peace activists were arrested on Friday near the border with Gaza after they tried to take food supplies into the territory, according to two participants and the campaign group that organized the effort.

The detainees were among a group of roughly 30 rabbis and activists from Israel and the United States who were stopped by police officers as they tried to reach the Erez crossing, a major transit point between Israel and northern Gaza.

Organized by Rabbis for Ceasefire, a peace movement based in the United States, the effort was intended to build support for a truce and to highlight rising reports of starvation in Gaza. A global authority on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, has predicted an imminent famine in northern Gaza, the area of the territory closest to Erez.

The protest was timed to coincide with the week of Passover, a Jewish festival that celebrates the biblical story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt.

We were making the point that Jewish liberation is bound up with Palestinian liberation, that we want freedom for all, said Toba Spitzer, a rabbi from Boston who attended the protest but was not arrested.

The group had tried to drive into Gaza with a pickup truck carrying half a ton of rice and flour but was stopped roughly a third of a mile from the border, Rabbi Spitzer said. The effort was largely symbolic and the organizers expected it to fail given the restrictions along the border; the supplies will now be donated to needy Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Rabbi Spitzer said.

The Israeli police did not respond to requests for comment.

The author Ayelet Waldman of Berkeley, Calif., was among those arrested, her husband, the author Michael Chabon, said on Instagram.

There are widespread food shortages in Gaza. Israeli restrictions on where convoys can enter the strip, Israeli bombardment and widespread damage to roads, the collapse of Gazan agriculture, and a breakdown in law and order have all made it harder to distribute aid safely.

Aid groups and United Nations officials have accused Israel of systematically limiting aid delivery. Israel denies the assertion, blaming the shortages on logistical failures by aid groups, and has recently increased the number of trucks entering the strip.

Israeli officials say that the Erez crossing, which was primarily used for pedestrian traffic before the war, is difficult to use for aid delivery because it lacks the right infrastructure and was also badly damaged during the Hamas-led raid on Israel in October.

A majority of Jewish Israelis oppose the delivery of more aid to Gaza, according to a poll conducted in February by the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based research group.

Israeli protesters regularly gather at another crossing point farther south, trying to block aid convoys entering Gaza.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Israel next week, an Israeli official said on Friday, as talks on a cease-fire deal have stalled and tensions have risen between Israel and the United States over the treatment of civilians in the war.

The Israeli official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said talks with Mr. Blinken would center on the remaining hostages held in Gaza and an impending Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr. Blinken last visited Israel in March, when he warned that its plans to invade Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, would pose severe risks to the population. Since then, the Biden administration has continued to raise concerns about the planned incursion, saying it should not be carried out without a credible plan to protect civilians.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed to press ahead with the invasion, saying it is necessary to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city.

Mr. Blinkens visit would come as international mediators have failed to broker a temporary cease-fire that would give Palestinians some respite from Israels bombardment and allow for the release of hostages abducted in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The United States has proposed a deal through Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries in which Hamas would release 40 of the most vulnerable hostages in exchange for a six-week truce and the release of hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The Joan Didion many people know is constructed from a few artifacts the real writer left behind when she died in 2021. Theres her much-imitated (and sometimes parodied) 1967 essay Goodbye to All That, about leaving New York. Theres the packing list enumerated in her essay The White Album, written between 1968 and 1978, which is sometimes cited as aspirational, even instructional. There are the iconic photographs of Didion taken by Julian Wasser in 1968, commissioned for a profile in Time  particularly one in which shes smoking while leaning against her Stingray, cooler than anyone has ever been, a vibe echoed in the 2003 ad Didion shot for the fashion brand Celine. And, of course, theres her most famous line  We tell ourselves stories in order to live  which opens The White Album and is frequently invoked, wrongly, for inspiration.

Didion was not really out to inspire us. She was looking at us and telling us what she saw, including our compulsion to weave myths for survival. Her distinctive prose and sharp eye were always tuned to an outsiders frequency, even when she was actually an insider (as with most of her writing on Hollywood). Her essays are almost reflexively skeptical; she wrote with authority borne not so much from experience as from a refusal to give in to dogma.

And her work, which spanned well over a half-century, reads like an account of a country careering toward a cliff. Didion may be best known as the California writer who chronicled midcentury cultural decay, but her body of work is much wider and deeper. She wrote on Hollywood and Washington, New York and Sacramento, Terri Schiavo and Martha Stewart, grief and hypocrisy and Latin American politics, and somehow it all drove toward the same point: Narratives are coping mechanisms. If we want to truly understand ourselves, we have to understand not just the stories we make up together, but the tales behind them.
Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, and other officials in Beijing have watched the U.S. moves with alarm. They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival.

The Australian government hosts U.S. Marines in the north of the country, and one of three sites in the east will soon be the new home for advanced American-made attack submarines. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea.

The Pentagon has gained access to multiple airfields and naval bases in the Philippines, lessening the need for aircraft carriers that could be targeted by Chinas long-range missiles and submarines in a time of war.

The United States is sending the most advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles to Japan and has established a new kind of Marine Corps regiment on Okinawa that is designed to fight from small islands and destroy ships at sea.

But the Biden administration says that is no longer good enough to foil what it sees as the greatest threat to the democratic island of Taiwan  a Chinese invasion that could succeed within days.

U.S. officials have long seen their country as a Pacific power, with troops and arsenals at a handful of bases in the region since just after World War II.

With missiles, submarines and alliances, the Biden administration has built a presence in the region to rein in Beijings expansionist goals.

U.S. officials have long seen their country as a Pacific power, with troops and arsenals at a handful of bases in the region since just after World War II.

But the Biden administration says that is no longer good enough to foil what it sees as the greatest threat to the democratic island of Taiwan  a Chinese invasion that could succeed within days.

Since the start of his administration, President Biden has undertaken a strategy to expand American military access to bases in allied nations across the Asia-Pacific region and to deploy a range of new weapons systems there. He has also said the U.S. military would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion.

On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95 billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. And Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Shanghai and Beijing this week for meetings with Mr. Xi and other officials in which he raised Chinas military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, calling it destabilizing.

Mr. Xi told Mr. Blinken on Friday that the United States should not play a zero-sum game or create small blocs. He said that while each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other, according to an official Chinese summary of the meeting.

Earlier in April, the leaders of the Philippines and Japan met with Mr. Biden at the White House for the first such summit among the three countries. They announced enhanced defense cooperation, including naval training and exercises, planned jointly and with other partners. Last year, the Biden administration forged a new three-way defense pact with Japan and South Korea.

President Biden held a trilateral meeting earlier this month with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines at the White House. Yuri Gripas for The New York Times

In 2023, we drove the most transformative year for U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region in a generation, Ely S. Ratner, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said in a statement following an interview.

The main change, he said, is having American forces distributed in smaller, more mobile units across a wide arc of the region rather than being concentrated at large bases in northeast Asia. That is largely intended to counter Chinas efforts to build up forces that can target aircraft carriers or U.S. military outposts on Okinawa or Guam.

These land forces, including a retrained and refitted U.S. Marine littoral regiment in Okinawa, will now have the ability to attack warships at sea.

For the first time, Japans military will receive up to 400 of their own Tomahawk cruise missiles  the newest versions of which can attack ships at sea as well as targets on land from over 1,150 miles away.

The Pentagon has also gained access rights for its troops at four additional bases in the Philippines that could eventually host U.S. warplanes and advanced mobile missile launchers, if Washington and Manila agree that offensive weaponry can be placed there.

The United States has bilateral mutual defense agreements with several allied nations in the region so that an attack on the assets of one nation could trigger a response from the other. Bolstering the U.S. troop presence on the soil of allied countries strengthens that notion of mutual defense.

In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. Mr. Xi has said his nation must eventually take control of Taiwan, by force if necessary.

Weve deepened our alliances and partnerships abroad in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, Kurt Campbell, the new deputy secretary of state, told reporters last year, when he was the top Asia policy official in the White House.

What Deters China?

Taiwans foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said in an interview in Taipei that the strengthened alliances and evolving military force postures were critical to deterring China.

We are very happy to see that many countries in this region are coming to the realization that they also have to be prepared for further expansions of the P.R.C., he said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

To some Chinese military strategists, the U.S. efforts are aimed at keeping Chinas naval forces behind the first island chain  islands close to mainland Asia that run from Okinawa in Japan to Taiwan to the Philippines.

U.S. military assets along these islands could prevent Chinese warships from getting into the open Pacific waters farther east if conflict were to break out.

Leaders in Chinas Peoples Liberation Army also talk of establishing military dominance of the second island chain  which is farther out in the Pacific and includes Guam, Palau and West Papua.

Seoul SOUTH KOREA Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong First Island Chain Pacific Ocean Second Island Chain Manila South China Sea GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN First Island Chain Pacific Ocean South China Sea philippines GUAM Second Island Chain INDONESIA Seoul SOUTH KOREA Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong First Island Chain Pacific Ocean Manila South China Sea GUAM philippines Second Island Chain INDONESIA Seoul SOUTH KOREA Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong First Island Chain Pacific Ocean Paracel Islands Manila South China Sea GUAM philippines Second Island Chain Spratly Islands MALAYSIA INDONESIA

But several conservative critics of the administrations policies argue that the United States should be keeping major arms for its own use and that it is not producing new ships and weapons systems quickly enough to deter China, which is rapidly growing its military.

Some American commanders acknowledge the United States needs to speed up ship production but say the Pentagons warfighting abilities in the region still outmatch Chinas  and can improve quickly with the right political and budget commitments in Washington.

We have actually grown our combat capability here in the Pacific over the last years, Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. said in an interview before becoming the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on May 3. But our trajectory is still not a trajectory that matches our adversary. Our adversaries are building more capability and theyre building more warships  per year  than we are.

Mr. Paparo said new American warships were still more capable than the ones China is building, and the U.S. militarys total weight of fires continued to outmatch that of the Peoples Liberation Army, for now.

Warplanes on the flight deck of U.S.S. Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, during a joint U.S. and Japanese military exercise in the Philippine Sea in January. Richard A. Brooks/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a Cold War-era arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow, prohibited land-based cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges between 311 miles and 3,420 miles. But after the Trump administration withdrew from the pact, the United States was able to develop and field a large number of small, mobile launchers for previously banned missiles around Asia.

Even with the deployment of new systems, the United States would still rely on its legacy assets in the region in the event of war: its bases in Guam, Japan and South Korea, and the troops and arms there.

All of the senior U.S. officials interviewed for this story say war with China is neither desirable nor inevitable  a view expressed publicly by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. But they also insist that a military buildup and bolstering alliances, along with diplomatic talks with China, are important elements of deterring potential future aggression by Beijing.

Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, told Mr. Blinken on Friday in Beijing that the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building, and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions. He warned the United States not to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, not to hold Chinas development back, and not to step on Chinas red lines and on Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests.

Japan

U.S. military or partner bases Tokyo Okinawa

The new deterrent effort is twofold for American forces: increasing patrolling activities at sea and the capabilities of its troop levels ashore.

To the former, the Pentagon has announced that U.S. Navy warships will participate in more drills with their Japanese counterparts in the western Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan and with Filipino ships in the South China Sea, where the Chinese coast guard has harassed ships and installations controlled by the Philippines.

A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year. Jes Aznar for The New York Times

To the latter, Marine Corps and Army units already in the Pacific have recently fielded medium- and long-range missiles mated to small, mobile trucks that would have been prohibited under the former treaty.

These trucks can be quickly lifted by Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft or larger cargo planes to new locations, or they can simply drive away to evade a Chinese counterattack. A new flotilla of U.S. Army watercraft being sent to the region could also be used to reposition troops and launchers from island to island.

In an interview last year with The New York Times, Gen. David H. Berger, then the Marine Corps top general, said the service had begun analyzing strategic choke points between islands where Chinese forces were likely to transit throughout the Pacific. He said the service had identified sites where Marine assault forces like the new Okinawa-based littoral regiment could launch attacks on Beijings warships using these new weapons.

Philippines

Luzon Partner bases Manila

The Pentagon announced in February last year a new military base-sharing agreement with Manila, giving U.S. forces access to four sites in the Philippines for use in humanitarian missions, adding to the five sites previously opened to the Pentagon in 2014. Most of them are air bases with runways long enough to host heavy cargo planes.

Plotting their locations on a map shows the sites strategic value should the United States be called upon to defend their oldest treaty ally in the region, if the Philippines eventually agrees to allow the U.S. military to put combat troops and mobile missile systems there.

One, on the northern tip of Luzon Island, would give missile-launching trucks the ability to attack Chinese ships across the strait separating Philippines from Taiwan, while another site about 700 miles to the southwest would allow the U.S. to strike bases that China has built in the Spratly Islands nearby.

In 2023, the United States committed $100 million for infrastructure investments at the nine bases, with more funds expected this year.

Australia

Darwin Potential submarine bases Canberra

The Pentagon has forged closer military ties with Australia and Papua New Guinea, extending Americas bulwark against potential attempts by the Chinese military at establishing dominance along the second island chain.

The Obama administration moved a number of littoral combat ships to Singapore and deployed a rotating force of Marines to Darwin, on Australias north coast, giving the Pentagon more assets that could respond as needed in the region.

Last year, the Biden administration greatly elevated its commitment to Australia, which is one of Americas most important non-NATO allies.

The U.S.S. North Carolina, a Virginia-class submarine, docking in Perth, Australia, last year. Tony Mcdonough/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

A new multibillion dollar agreement called AUKUS  for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States  will permanently transfer some of the U.S. Navys newest Virginia-class attack subs to Canberra. The location of the new bases for those subs has not been announced, but the first group of Australian sailors who will crew them graduated from nuclear power training in America in January.

These stealthy submarines, which can fire torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles, will potentially add to the number of threats Beijing faces in case of a regional war.

Just north of Australia, an agreement in August gave U.S. forces more access to Papua New Guinea for humanitarian missions and committed American tax dollars to update military facilities there.

To Admiral Paparo, this growing network of partnerships and security agreements across thousands of miles of the Pacific is a direct result of what he calls Chinas revanchist, revisionist and expansionist agenda in the region that has directly threatened its neighbors.

I do believe that the U.S. and our allies and partners are playing a stronger hand and that we would prevail in any fight that arose in the Western Pacific, the admiral said.

Its a hand that I would not trade with our would-be adversaries, and yet were also never satisfied with the strength of that hand and always looking to improve it.
National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Thirty years ago, the South African miracle came true. Millions voted in the countrys first democratic elections, seemingly delivering a death blow to apartheid. The African National Congress rose to power under the leadership of Nelson Mandela and used the Freedom Charter, a decades-old manifesto, as a guide to forming a new nation. The charters 10 declarations offered a vision for overcoming apartheid through a free, multiracial society, with quality housing, education and economic opportunities for all. As South Africans celebrate 30 years of freedom and prepare to vote in a pivotal national election, we looked at how far the country has come in meeting the Freedom Charters goals.

Has South Africa Truly Defeated Apartheid?

When the apartheid government was toppled in South Africa, ending white minority rule, people around the world shared in the excitement and optimism that a more just society would emerge. A generation later, the countrys journey provides a broader lesson: It is far easier to rally for an end to racism than it is to undo entrenched inequities and to govern a complicated country.

The African National Congress won the 1994 election on the promise of a better life for all. But for many that promise has fallen short. Polls now suggest that in the election scheduled for May 29, the party risks losing its absolute majority in the national government for the first time.

No one doubts that South Africa has made strides since the days of legalized racial oppression. Democracy has brought a growing Black middle class, access to better education across racial lines and a basic human dignity once stolen from the Black majority.

But there also has been a widening gap between rich and poor, a breakdown in basic services like electricity and water, and the continued isolation of Black families stuck in ramshackle homes in distant communities.

Black South Africans, who make up 81 percent of the population, often argue that theyve gained political freedom, but not economic freedom  and remain trapped in the structure of apartheid.

We went through the Freedom Charters declarations  each ending in an exclamation point  to measure South Africas progress and shortcomings over the past 30 years.

The ideal THE PEOPLE SHALL GOVERN! The reality Democracy is stable, but South Africans are disillusioned, and most no longer vote.

100% turnout among voting-age population 86% Voter turnout has dropped. U.S.A., 2020 - 63% U.K., 2019 - 62% 60% 49% 40% 20% 1994 2004 2014 2019 100% turnout among voting-age population 86% Voter turnout has dropped. U.S.A., 2020  63% U.K., 2019  62% 60% 49% 40% 20% 1994 2004 2014 2019 Sources: Collette Schulz-Herzenberg, "The South African non-voter: An analysis"; Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, 2020 (South Africa); Pew Research (United States and U.K.)

On a continent where coups, autocrats and flawed elections have become common, South Africa is a widely admired exception.

Since 1994, the country has held national elections every five years, with local elections in between. Presidents have changed, but the party in power  the A.N.C.  never has. Despite this, there have never been any serious doubts about the integrity of those electoral contests. A record 52 parties will compete in the national election this year.

Despite the electoral stability, politics have been dangerous. Fierce conflict within the A.N.C. has resulted in many assassinations over the years. The A.N.C.s access to state resources as the governing party has fueled many of the disputes and led to widespread corruption  from top national officials down to local councilors.

The enrichment of A.N.C. leaders while many people barely earn enough to feed themselves has shaken the faith of many South Africans in their democratic system.

Last year, 22 percent of South Africans approved of the functioning of the countrys democracy, down from 63 percent in 2004, according to surveys from the Human Sciences Research Council.

The ideal All National Groups Shall Have Equal Rights! The reality Society is free and equal on paper, but economic barriers endure.

Under apartheid, race restricted every aspect of life for South Africans who were Black, Indian and colored  a multiracial classification created by the government. There were strict limits on where they could live, attend school, work and travel. Laws enforced this segregation, and partaking in politics was criminalized.

But the democratic government drafted a constitution that enshrined equal rights for all.

South Africa has become a place where people of all races often dine, worship and party together. Gay rights are largely accepted. There is a free and vigorous press, and protests and open political debate are a part of life.

But many of the economic barriers created under apartheid still endure.

By one measure, the World Bank has ranked South Africa as the most unequal country in the world. Ten percent of the population holds about 71 percent of the countrys wealth, while the bottom 60 percent holds just 7 percent of assets, according to the World Bank.

To a large extent, the wealth disparities have kept millions of Black South Africans relegated to some of the most deplorable conditions.

Just look at the place in the Soweto community of Kliptown where hundreds of anti-apartheid activists gathered to draft the Freedom Charter in 1955. It is now known as Walter Sisulu Square, named for a prominent anti-apartheid activist.

Nearly two decades ago, the government built a large concrete complex around the square, with restaurants, offices and a hotel. But because of a lack of maintenance and huge riots in 2021 that stemmed from political grievances, most of the businesses are now gutted, littered and stinking of sewage. Informal traders eke out a living nearby selling sandwiches, clothes and fruit.

Across adjacent railroad tracks sits an all-Black neighborhood where most residents live in tin shacks, use outdoor latrines, rely on jury-rigged wires for electricity and navigate craggy dirt roads.

Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto, where South Africas Freedom Charter was signed in 1955, is now dilapidated. Joao Silva/The New York Times

Jack Martins, 54, who lives in the neighborhood, had a cellphone repair shop in the complex, but it did not survive the riots. He now plies his trade from a table on the sidewalk. He secured public housing, but had to pay a bribe to get it, he said. Two of his sons could not get into university because there was not enough space, and his daughter, despite having a mechanical engineering degree, has been unable to find stable work. He is fed up with the near-daily, hourslong electricity outages caused by the failing state power utility.

What is this government doing for us? he said. Absolutely nothing.

The ideal The People Shall Share in the Countrys Wealth! The reality A wide economic gulf persists between Black and white South Africans.

The Black middle and upper classes have grown significantly. In 1995, just 350,000 Black South Africans lived in households that were among the top 15 percent in income, according to researchers at the University of Cape Towns Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing. By 2022, that number had grown to about 5.6 million.

Still, Black families are underrepresented among rich households.

Many expected something better this far into democracy. Much of the nations wealth remains in white hands.

Black South Africans had a stake in only 29 percent of the companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, according to a 2022 report by South Africas Black Economic Empowerment Commission. Not a single entity on the exchange was fully Black-owned, the report said.

Economists say the countrys economy never took off enough to allow for a greater redistribution of wealth. Even when South Africa experienced its strongest stretch of economic growth in the first decade and a half of democracy, it still lagged behind its peers in Africa and other upper-middle-income countries. Since then, growth has been tepid, and contraction since the Covid-19 pandemic has been sharper than that in similarly sized economies.

8% annual GDP growth Upper-middle-income country average 6% 4% Sub-Saharan Africa average 2% South Africa 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2022 2% South Africas economic growth has consistently lagged behind its peers. 4% 6% Upper-middle-income country average 8% annual GDP growth Sub-Saharan Africa average 6% 4% 2% South Africa 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2022 2% South Africas economic growth has consistently lagged behind its peers. 4% 6% Sources: Harvard Growth Lab analysis of World Economic Outlook (South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa) and World Development Indicators (upper-middle-income countries).

Government rules have allowed Black South Africans to gain a greater stake in industries like mining, where Black ownership has grown from 2 percent to 39 percent over the past two decades. But the gains have gone to relatively few people at the top.

However, the Bafokeng kingdom, an ethnic group within South Africa, has shown what is possible when a community gets its fair share of its resource wealth. The kingdom sits on rich platinum deposits. After a court victory in 1999 that affirmed its land rights, the kingdom used its platinum dividends to build a school with a large campus and a modern clinic, and to invest in other industries. Most families live in large brick homes that are the envy of other rural villages.

The ideal The Land Shall Be Shared Among Those Who Work It! The reality White South Africans continue to own most of the land.

At the end of apartheid, when almost all of South Africas agricultural land was white-owned, Mr. Mandelas government pledged in 1994 to transfer 30 percent of it into Black hands within a few years, by encouraging white landowners to sell.

The government failed to meet its goal, and it stretched the deadline to 2030. So far, about 25 percent of white-owned farmland has been transferred to Black ownership, mostly through the purchase of land by the government or Black individuals, according to Wandile Sihlobo and Johann Kirsten, agricultural economists at Stellenbosch University.

White South Africans make up roughly 7 percent of the population, but white-owned farms still cover about half of the countrys entire surface area, according to Mr. Sihlobo and Mr. Kirsten.

A worker on a Black-owned farm letting out cattle to graze near Carletonville, South Africa. Joao Silva/The New York Times

In the first decade of democracy, the government gave Black people full ownership of the white-owned farms it had bought. Owning the land meant that Black families had the chance not only to feed and support themselves but also advance.

But the government is no longer giving land to Black South Africans outright, offering long-term leases instead, Mr. Sihlobo and Mr. Kirsten said. Without ownership, Black farmers cannot generate wealth by using the land as collateral to get a bank loan. That has prevented Black farmers from expanding their operations to be commercially competitive.

Only about 7 percent of commercial-scale farms  those that sell to major grocers or export their products  are Black-owned. Only about 10 percent of the food produced by commercial farms in South Africa comes from Black-owned farms, about the same share as in the 1980s, Mr. Sihlobo said.

In the first decade of democracy, more than 930,000 mostly Black and colored farm workers were evicted from farms despite new laws intended to allow them to spend their lives on the farms where they worked.

We havent been able to live up to those ideals of Black land ownership, Mr. Sihlobo said.

The ideal There Shall Be Work and Security! The reality Unemployment has risen since the end of apartheid.

Black South Africans are unemployed at far higher rates than their white peers, and that disparity has not improved over time.

50% unemployment rate 40% Black unemployment rate 30% The unemployment gap between Black and white South Africans remains wide. 30-pt. gap 35-pt. gap 20% 10% White unemployment rate 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2023 50% unemployment rate Black unemployment rate 40% 30% The unemployment gap between Black and white South Africans remains wide. 20% 35-pt. gap 30-pt. gap White unemployment rate 10% 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2023 Source: Statistics South Africa Note: Graphic shows the expanded definition of unemployment, which includes those discouraged from seeking work.

The high unemployment rate has given rise to a hustle culture that sends many South Africans to the streets early each morning in search of work.

Zinhle Nene, 49, has been waking up by 5:30 a.m. most days and waiting on a corner in downtown Johannesburg with hundreds of others seeking day jobs. She left her low-paying job as a home health aide because the transportation to work was too expensive.

Its heartbreaking because we come here and we dont even have food, she said, wiping away tears as the hours passed. Sometimes, you even get home, theres nothing. You just drink water and then you sleep.

Poverty has decreased since the start of democracy. Still, it remains very high. Nearly two out of every three Black South Africans lived below the upper-bound poverty line in 2015  the most recent data available  meaning they had access to less than about $80 a month. Only 1 percent of white South Africans lived below that line.

The ideal There Shall Be Houses, Security and Comfort! The reality Millions of new homes were constructed, but hardly enough.

Peter Mokoena broke down in tears last November inside the modest two-bedroom house the government had just given him. It sat alongside dozens of other homes just like it, on the freshly paved roads of a new subdivision about half an hour southeast of Johannesburg.

Im so happy, happy, happy, happy for this house, said Mr. Mokoena, 74, who had been living in a tin shack so leaky that his furniture was soaked when it rained. Now, it feels like I'm in heaven.

The government has built 3.4 million houses since 1994, and given ownership of most of them for free to poor South Africans. Some units, known as social housing, are rented out at below-market rates. The government also has embarked on several mega city projects, in partnership with the private sector, to cluster together various types of housing and services like day care centers.

Many South Africans have moved into formal homes from makeshift structures, and access to basic services like electricity and piped water has increased. But frequent power and water outages have made those services unreliable, leading to anger and frustration nationwide.

Mr. Mokoena waited 27 years for his house. Many are still waiting. In the meantime, some squat in downtown buildings. Others build shacks in any open space they can find. Or they rent small backyard units built behind houses  an effort the government is supporting.

New government housing has often ended up in areas far from jobs and economic activity, perpetuating the apartheid system of marginalizing Black people to outlying townships.

JOHANNESBURG Jobs in the city are concentrated in this area. The area includes Sandton, a suburb that was exclusively for white residents during apartheid. Sandton The densest populations are often far away. Many of the densest places are townships, like Soweto, where Black South Africans were forced to live during apartheid and where many new government housing units have been built. Downtown Soweto Population density Less dense More dense Population density Less dense More dense Jobs in the city are concentrated in this area. The area includes Sandton, a suburb that was exclusively for white residents during apartheid. JOHANNESBURG Sandton Downtown Soweto The densest populations are often far away. Many of the densest places are in townships, like Soweto, where Black South Africans were forced to live during apartheid and where many new government housing units have been built. Sources: Spatial Tax Panel (employment data); WorldPop (population density) Note: The area outlined in yellow represents parts of Johannesburg with at least 10,000 full-time equivalent employees in formal employment.

The ideal The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall Be Opened! The reality Education is open to all, but quality and seats are falling short.

Nokuthula Mabe anxiously sat on her suitcase in the February heat outside North-West University in the city of Mahikeng, waiting with about a dozen other high-school graduates hoping for a spot. The university had received more than 181,000 applications for 11,717 slots.

In many ways, Ms. Mabe epitomized post-apartheid progress simply by graduating from her overcrowded village school near the Botswana border.

Nokuthula Mabe, right. Joao Silva/The New York Times

In the 1950s, only 10 percent of Black children finished high school. By 2021, that number had risen to 58 percent, according to government statistics.

Despite these gains, significant racial disparities persist.

100% completion rate White high school completion rate 80% 38-pt. gap Despite gains, there remains a large education gap between Black and white South Africans. 46-pt. gap 60% 40% Black high school completion rate 20% 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 100% completion rate White high school completion rate 80% 38-pt. gap Despite gains, there remains a large education gap between Black and white South Africans. 60% 46-pt. gap 40% Black high school completion rate 20% 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Sources: Equal Education Law Centre analysis of data from Statistics South Africa General Household Survey; Department of Basic Education Note: Shows share of 22- to 25-year-olds who have completed at least grade 12 or equivalent.

In 1982, the apartheid government spent roughly $1,100 a year on education for each white child but just $140 for each Black child, according to Section 27, a human rights organization.

By 2018, that had increased to about $1,400 for each child, according to researchers at Stellenbosch University, much of it intended to level the playing field for Black students.

But schools are still failing many of their students. A report published in 2022 found that 81 percent of Grade 4 students could not understand what they were reading.

And while more children are finishing high school, there are not enough seats in colleges to meet the demand.

In 2022, about 6 percent of South Africans aged 18 to 29 were enrolled in higher education, according to Statistics South Africa. These enrollment rates lag behind countries with similarly sized economies, like Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines, according to figures from the World Bank.

After waiting nervously for hours, Ms. Mabe, 18, dragged her suitcase to the nearest bus stop to begin the three-and-a-half-hour trip back to her village. The university was too full to admit her.

The ideal All Shall Be Equal Before the Law! The reality Courts are widely seen as credible, but money makes a difference.

During apartheid, the judicial system was used to criminalize Black people, mete out harsh punishment and cover up the atrocities committed against them.

Today, the judiciary is seen as among the most credible institutions in the country. Judges have upheld human rights and taken tough stances against even powerful political figures like the former president Jacob Zuma, who was sentenced to prison for contempt.

Still, as in many other countries, the South African justice system works best for those with money. A government commission found two years ago that most South Africans could not afford legal fees. The agency providing legal assistance for the poor is underfunded and overburdened.

Those with very deep pockets are able to take the criminal justice process, stretch it for a very long period of time, said Chrispin Phiri, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services. Thats a privilege not afforded to a poorer person.

Whats more, the justice system does not seem to be taming the countrys high crime rate.

70 murders per 100,000 residents 60 50 45 Murder rates are on the rise. 40 30 20 10 Botswana U.S.A. Germany 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2023 70 per 100,000 residents 60 50 Murder rates are on the rise. 45 40 30 20 10 Botswana U.S.A. Germany 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 2023 Sources: The Institute for Security Studies (South Africa); the World Bank (other countries, 2021 figures)

Although the murder rate is lower than it was in 1994, it has climbed steadily since 2012.

On paper, South Africas legal system prioritizes rehabilitating prisoners. The government offers an array of restorative justice, jobs and counseling programs for inmates and those being released.

In reality, though, prison-reform activists and studies suggest that treatment behind bars can be harsh and access to education difficult.

The ideal There Shall Be Peace and Friendship! The reality South Africa has grown bold in trying to shake up the Western-led world order.

Internationally, South Africa has tried to position itself as a broker of peace and a leader in challenging a Western-led world order.

South Africa is the S in the BRICS group of nations that also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, formed as a counterpoint to American and European alliances.

South Africa has played a critical role over the years in peace missions in African countries like Ethiopia, Burundi and Zimbabwe. And President Cyril Ramaphosa led a peace delegation last year to Ukraine and Russia, while refusing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021. Joao Silva/The New York Times

South Africa argues that as a midsize nation, it cannot afford to choose sides and must make friends with everyone.

But it has been accused of being hypocritical and selectively concerned about peace and human rights.

The government brought a genocide case this year in the International Court of Justice against Israel for its war in Gaza after the attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7. South African officials have argued that Palestinians face a situation similar to apartheid.

The ideal All Shall Enjoy Equal Human Rights! The reality But they will have to fight for it.

For all of the frustrations that South Africans may have about the past 30 years, democracy has brought something that money and data cannot measure: freedom.

As in, freedom to go where you want, to date whom you want, to complain and advocate change as loudly as you want.

That has driven Sibusiso Zikode, 48, for much of his adult life.

He arrived in Durban, a port city on South Africas east coast, and started law school, but dropped out in the first term when his family savings ran out.

Sibusiso Zikode, left, helped establish a protest movement in Durban to advocate on behalf of poor people. Joao Silva/The New York Times

He moved to Kennedy Road, a slum built on muddy slopes and surrounded by a landfill, joining thousands who had flocked to the city for opportunity, only to find themselves in zinc shacks. This didnt feel like freedom.

So, he helped to establish Abahlali baseMjondolo, a protest movement that is one of many that represent the revolt of poor people. Between July and September in 2022, the South African police responded to 2,455 protests.

But going up against the post-apartheid political establishment has come at great cost: Leaders of Abahlali have been assassinated, and Mr. Zikode had to flee from his home at the squatter camp after deadly attacks.

Abahlalis members are growing more disillusioned with democracy.

Whoever is homeless now, Mr. Zikode said, will be homeless after the election.
Josh Hawley

Grandstanders Republican tough-guy senators Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton want president Biden to send the National Guard to Columbia University to put an end to student protests.

The shameless Hawley is the guy who gave a big salute to the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill rioters, and then was seen running for his life when being pursued by the mob.

Josh and Tom may have slept through their American history class that dealt with the 1970 Kent State massacre in which four students were killed and nine wounded by the trigger-happy National Guardsmen.

About 300 students turned out at the Ohio college to demonstrate against president Nixons expansion of the Vietnam war into Cambodia.

They were on the right side of history.

The May 4 Kent State shooting followed a national strike on May 1, in which 4M college and high school students walked out of their classes to demonstrate against the war.

They helped turn the tide of public opinion against Vietnam War.

History will show whether todays college protests will have an impact on US policy regarding the Israel/Hamas conflict.

Bernie Blasts Bibi. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is fed up with Israeli prime minister Netanyahus claim that any criticism of his government is antisemitic.

In an April 25 statement, Sanders said:

"Mr. Netanyahu. Antisemitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to many millions of people.

But, please, do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government.

Do not use antisemitism to deflect attention from the criminal indictment you are facing in the Israeli courts. It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable for your actions.

A poll conducted in March by the Israel Democracy Institute found the nearly six-in-ten (57 percent) of Israelis rate Netanyahus response to the Oct. 7 invasion by Hamas to be poor or very poor.

Nearly three-in-ten (28 percent) of respondents give Bibi good or excellent marks, while 14 percent rate his performance as so-so.

Netanyahu has never taken responsibility for the security breach that killed about 1,200 Israelis, led to the deaths of 34K Palestinians and the destruction of Gazas infrastructure, and upended his countrys relationship with the US.

A majority of Americans (55 percent) oppose Netanyahus actions in Gaza, according to a March Gallup poll, and only 36 percent support his policies.

His disapproval numbers are up 10 points since November.

Iin the event that the IDF launches an offensive into southern Gaza to wipe out the remaining Hamas fighters who are entrenched there with more than 1M Palestinians, Bibi's disapproval numbers will soar.

Financial shenanigans A 48-year-old former PR advisor has been sentenced by a German court to three years and three months for insider trading on information that he received from Perella Weinberg Partners. He also must repay more than $25M of his ill-gotten gains.

The PR executive admitted to buying shares and options based on tips about what stocks should be looked at, could become interesting, or may turn into a takeover target, according to the Financial Times.

He contended that he was unaware that it was legal to trade on tips.

The guys identity could not be disclosed due to German law. Thats too bad. The repentant crook could have provided guidance to financial PR people.
A lucky woman has woman a fabulous family holiday voucher in her local store in Offaly.

Linda Murphy from Portarlington, a customer at Dempsey's Gala, is a lucky winner in Gala Retails Home or Away store promotion, winning a holiday voucher worth 4,000.

Gala Retail launched the promotion in celebration of 25 years of serving communities with customers having the the chance to win one of 25 holiday vouchers.

Running throughout February and March, the promotion offered shoppers the opportunity to enter by spending over 10 in any of the participating Gala Retail stores. Entrants had the chance to win one of 10 family holidays abroad, valued at 4,000 each, or one of 15 holiday vouchers for unforgettable Irish staycations, each worth 2,500.

Linda entered the competition in her local Gala store and was one of the lucky shoppers who won one of 10 family holidays abroad.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, reflected on the significance of 25 years of loyal custom in Gala stores, stating, " We are delighted to kick start our 25th year in business with a huge thank-you to our loyal Gala shoppers. This giveaway is our way of expressing our gratitude and giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. From staycations in Ireland to fun filled, family adventures abroad, there are so many exciting opportunities and were thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends."

The Home or Away promotion, which ran from February 5 to March 17, received overwhelming participation and support from customers across the country. For more information, visit: www.gala.ie/news
The final of the richest juvenile race in the world took place in Limerick on Saturday. A packed house to witness the final of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial where over 150k in prize money was up for grabs and racegoers werent left disappointed after a cracking final.

The final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne and the semifinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes in Waterford featured strongly during a super week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Nothing much to report with no Offaly winners during the first four days of the week.

Friday Racing



First Faithful County winner came in Clonmel as Kevin Pardy made the trip from South Offaly with Birr Bomber to win an S6 300 yard sprint race in 16.50 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton brought Kelpie to Galway and won an A5 525 in 29.36 (10 slow) by six lengths at 6/4.





The best race in Kilkenny was the final The Georgie Leahy Memorial A3 stake. The 2k first prize went to Deadly Crusader (Droopys Sydney-Mysterious Ways) who was winning his fifteenth race for Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom in 29.06 (20 slow) by four lengths at 3/1. Newbridge staged the final of the Hawkfield Ozark @ Stud ON2 Unraced. A shock here as 10/1 Winner Doonanes Franco (Ballymac Anton-Old Treasure) broke smartly and was never threatened when winning by three lengths for Dennis Smyth with 1.6k going his way.





In Shelbourne, in the final of the Talking Dogs A5 stake, the 1.75k first prize went to Norristown Daisy-Droopys Sydney-Barntick Smokey) for Seamus Begley and Rickie Doyle in 28.93 by one length at 4/1.

In the semifinals of the RCETS Open Unraced Stake, the first heat went to Torpedo Turtle for Jack Kennelly in 29.27 by one length. The second semi was much faster as Syd Zafiro stopped the clock in 28.37 by eight lengths at 4/5 fav with Owen McKenna at the helm. One Offaly winner on the supporting card as Highview Annie won an A5 race for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.14 by a head at 5/4 fav.





Festival night in Tralee with all races sponsored by the Dowling family culminating with the final of the John And Mary Killeacle Dowling A1 570. Millridge Bryce (Bickerton Boom-Sign On Katie) took the honours and the first prize cheque of 2,275 for Donal OMahony in 39.93 by two lengths at 2/1.









Saturday Racing

A huge evening of racing nationwide saw the best dogs in the country all vying to win some serious money and more importantly add to their growing reputations.

Con And Annie Kirby Memorial Final

A capacity crowd in the Dock Road track in Limerick for the final of the most valuable Juvenile race in the world. Sponsors Noreen and J.P. McManus once again backed up this stake in honour or Noreens late parents who were big supporters and lovers of the Greyhound industry.

It was a super night of racing with the final not alone being worth 130k to the participants but eight races worth 2k to the winners and one worth 5k. Clonbrien Treaty won this last year for champion trainer Graham Holland however this year's final was probably the most wide open since its inauguration in 2013. There was support and claims for all six in the final but this stake was over at the traps as Knockeen Dazzler (Laughil Blake-Love Island) rocketed out of trap six and was never in danger on his way to lifting the 80k first prize when winning in 28.10 by four lengths at 5/2 for Castleisland owner Daniel ORahilly.

The second most valuable stake in Ireland was kept in the south and a worthy winner as Knockeen won four of his five rounds with his blistering early pace and improved on his winning time weekly. Expect to see this fellow heading to headquarters later in the year for the Derby and there wont be many out the to stop him doing this unprecedented double. Merits Inclusion was second for Brendan Mathews and received a cheque for 20k with Scooby Pacemaker third with 10k heading to Killenaule and his trainer Jennifer ODonnell. The three remaining dogs each got 4.25k for their efforts. Also in the Treaty City track was the final of The Sean OConnor Memorial A1 Stake with the 5k pot going to Tinahue Pappone (Toker Forest-Tinahue Lady) for John Fox in 28.27 by three lengths at 2/1.

Curraheen Park in Cork staged the first round of the 2024 A2 Spring Derby won last year by Montana Fantasy for John Linehan. Eight heats with Seek The Kingdom setting the bar highest for Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy in 28.49 by two lengths at 4/6 fav.

First two Offaly winners on Saturday were in Mullingar. The first race on the card, an ON2 unraced went to Croghan owner Mick Lynch as Sallagh Swing won in 30.52 (60 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. In an A9 525 Horseleap Mandy was first over the whitewash for Sean McGuinness in 30.86 (60 slow) by one length at 2/1.

A great nights racing in Shelbourne Park with ten open grade races on view and again plenty of prize money was on offer. In the final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks the 10k first prize went to the hot favourite as Ballymac Danica (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Arminta) won for Liam Dowling in 28.46 by three lengths at 4/5 fav. Crafty Bondi was second for Peter Divilly winninga purse of 3k. The first round of the Shelbourne Open 600 won last year by the great Ballinabola Ed for Pat Buckley got underway. Four heats with Ballymac Gizmo going fastest for Dowling again in 32.33 by three lengths at 2/1.

Two great Offaly winners on the under card. In the final of the This Runs Deep AO Dual Distance Stake over the 550 yard trip Carrick Keano (Dromana Bucko-Droopys Zero) came home like a train to just get up on the line and win the 2k prize and trophy for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 29.83 by a head at 2/1 with Robert Gleeson training. In an A2 525, another Edenderry owner was on the winners podium as Trinity Bella won for Timmy Slevin in 28.94 by three lengths at 1/1 fav from the Peter Cronin kennels.

Two finals in Thurles, in the Maurice Ryan ON2 Unraced decider, there was a dead heat finish as Borna Bono (Broadstrand Bono-Borna Blossom) for the Borna Syndicate at 3/1 and Bogger Una (Black Parachute-Bogger Megan) for Liam Peacock at 2/1 couldnt be separated in 29.18 (20 slow) with both receiving 1.54k for first place. In the final of the Simons Bar Clonoulty A2 stake, the 2.15k winners cheque went to Splendid Fellow (Confident Rankin-Vivara Sansa) in 29.28 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1 for Paraic Campion.

The best two races in Kilcohan Park in Waterford so far this year were the semifinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes. Jacktavern Bolt won the first for Holland in 28.28 by one length at 5/4 fav with Timmy Slevins Trinity Junior in second running a big race. Droopys Fidget won the second semi for Gleeson in 28.23 by six lengths at 7/4 fav. Dont rule out the Edenderry dog in Saturdays final as he has drawn the red jacket on the rails and the rest will certainly have to be on their toes to beat him. Hopefully another big win for the Faithful County.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at Mullingar's matinee meeting. In an A4 contest White Toe Butler won for Mount Lucas owners Anthony and Elaine OGrady in 29.74 (50 slow) by three lengths at 5/2. Our final winner of the week was in an A2 grade as Lahinch Blaze had her tenth career win for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.02 (50 slow) by one length at 6/4 fav.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the RCETS Open Unraced Skake in Shelbourne.

Saturday, second round of the Spring Derby in Cork, semifinals of the Open 600 yard stake in Shelbourne and final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes in Waterford.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week.



Easy decision this week as Carrick Keano gets the nod for the second week in a row when winning the final of The This Runs Deep AO Dual Distance stake in Shelbourne on Saturday night in a super 29.83 over the 550 yard trip for Thomas Glynn. Quality performance.

Offaly Winners



Nine Offaly winners this week. Well done to all connections.
BIRR Fly-In took place recently at Birr Airfield and raised a staggering 12,600 for St Vincent de Paul.

Se Pardy, who organised the event, said, We are really pleased to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who made the recent Breakfast Fly-In at Birr Airfield a resounding success. Thanks to your incredible generosity and support, we are thrilled to announce that 12,600 has been raised, adding to the ongoing efforts in aid of St. Vincent de Paul.

This remarkable achievement brings the total amount raised, through various fundraising efforts over the last few years, to an astonishing 454,000! Your contributions will make a profound difference in the lives of those in need, particularly in Offaly, where the St Vincent de Paul organisation tirelessly works to support individuals and families facing hardship.

Pardy continued, A special round of applause is due to the dedicated Marion Carter and the St Vincent de Paul volunteers whose unwavering commitment and tireless efforts made this event possible. Their dedication is truly inspiring and deserving of recognition.

We also extend our deepest appreciation to all those who worked diligently to prepare the delicious breakfast and ensure that everything ran smoothly. Your hard work behind the scenes did not go unnoticed and contributed significantly to the event's success.

Despite the challenges posed by a waterlogged runway, the spirit of community prevailed, and we were grateful to welcome helicopters to the event. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Simtech Aviation, Exec Helicopters, the Aer Corps, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy the Defence Forces Chief of Staff and Brig Gen Rory OConnor of the Irish Air Corps and invaluable support and participation on the day.

Once again, thank you all for your incredible generosity, support, and commitment to making a positive impact in our community. Together, we have demonstrated the power of unity and compassion, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to support St. Vincent de Paul and those they serve.
A family has organised a fundraiser after their dad, who worked as a surgeon, lost his battle with cancer.

Fadhil Laabei dedicated his life to science and research, while saving lives as an exceptional consultant surgeon.

To honour his memory, his wife and children will embark on a journey, from Kildare to Mayo, hoping to also raise cancer awareness.

With our Dads recent passing, as a family we are finding strength in the memory of an incredible man, Fadhil Laabei, a devoted Husband, Dad, Grandad, Brother, Son, Uncle, Friend and Doctor, who fought bravely against small cell lung cancer. The loss of such an amazing and generous man has left a void in our lives but his legacy of love and resilience continues to guide us, said the family on GoFundMe.

His wife Bernadette and his children, Senad, Miriam, Eamon, Maisem and Janeen will travel from Naas to Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo.

Amidst the lush greenery of County Kildare, the three lads will pedal 250 km from the family home in Naas, across the Irish countryside, bound for Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. When we reach Croagh Patrick, Mom, Miriam, and Janeen will join us for the climb.

Mayo is not just a destination for us, its a place deeply rooted in our family's history and our mother's hometown. Together, we will ascend the mountain, with the memories of Dad's unwavering resolve etched in our hearts and minds. It will be a bittersweet moment, but we hope to find solace in knowing that our efforts may bring comfort to those facing similar battles, they explained.

The fundraiser is a tribute to their dad, Fadhil, who was dedicated to science and research while saving lives as an consultant surgeon.

The funds raised will go to the Trinity St James Cancer Institute.

Specifically, we aim to fund a Cancer Research Stimulus (CREST) Award which would enable a short-term (up to 12 months) innovative research project ring-fenced to small cell lung cancer and would be named in honour of our Dad. The value of each award is 10,000-12,000 and therefore our target. Your donations and support will make this happen, they said.

The family said they know of the tool of small cell lung cancer.

With each kilometre, we carry his spirit forward, our hearts heavy yet buoyed by the hope of helping others. With every pedal and every step, we shine a light on the importance of cancer research, carrying forward our Dad's legacy, love and resilience.

The family has shared an update to thank the public.

"We are blown away by everybodys incredible support. In just days, we've surpassed our 12,000 goal, thanks to your amazing generosity. But we're not stopping there. We're raising the bar to 24,000 to fund a two-year research project on small cell lung cancer at the Trinity-St. James' Cancer Institute. We believe that the more time we can support the research, the more chance to get answers and results.



"Each 12,000 raised funds one CREST research project, and with your continued generosity, we hope to fund a second consecutive year. Together, let's make an even greater impact by supporting groundbreaking research that has the potential to change lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations, shares, and messages of support. Your kindness and compassion inspire us every day. Let's keep making a difference, one donation at a time," they said.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Jail is now being considered for one-time Westmeath Bachelor festival contestant who called to a lady's home and told her mother 'You know who I am'. Last year John Coady paid 5,000 in compensation to the victim but this year resumed what Judge Andrew Cody said was a "campaign of harassment".

A KILKENNY man breached an order banning him from making any contact with an Offaly woman he had previously harassed, Tullamore District Court heard.

John Coady (32), from north Kilkenny and whose address according to court records was Ryan's Pub, Clogh, had paid 5,000 to the woman at a court appearance in October last year.

The payment followed a plea of guilty to a charge of harassing a lady on a date unknown between May 11 and December 16, 2022.

Coady, a contestant in the Westmeath Bachelor festival last year, was released on bail on condition he attend psychotherapy and not contact the injured party.

Judge Andrew Cody adjourned finalisation of the matter to October this year and indicated that if there was no further offending and a positive follow-up psychotherapy report then the court would consider striking out the charges. By order of the court, the woman cannot be identified.

However, Coady was back before Tullamore District Court on April 17 after breaching the conditions of his bail.

Judge Cody revoked his bail and remanded him to appear in court again yesterday, April 24.

At that sitting, the judge detailed how he had broken the terms of his bail within two months of the October 2023 order.

On January 1 this year the woman received a friend request on social media which the gardai believed was from Coady. On another social media app, a comment was left by a man calling himself Peter OToole using language which had been used by the injured party in her victim impact statement.

Gardai believed that this statement was from the accused. Coady, seated in the custody area of the courtroom, reacted by shaking his head when he heard the judge saying that.

Continuing, Judge Cody said that on January 2 last the accused put a link to an article about his prior court appearance and a photograph of the injured party on a relation of the injured partys Facebook page. In interview he alleged his own Facebook page had been hacked.

The judge then outlined a number of breaches which occurred this month. On April 2 a number of the injured partys friends advised her that Coady had requested them to follow his Instagram page and he followed their Instagram pages. These remain allegations and have not been proved in court, said Judge Cody.

He added that last week the court heard evidence that Coady rang the woman on April 4 and in the victims words he was going around in circles before she eventually had to hang up.

He then rang her back, but she didnt answer and he then texted her, asking her to talk to him. On April 8 he sent an email to the injured partys boss apologising for his previous spurious complaint.

The judge said what happened on the night of April 16 was most shocking. Coady arrived unannounced at the injured partys front door at 10.45pm and spent 20 minutes speaking with her parents at the door, requesting to speak to the injured party.

The womans mother gave evidence that when she answered the door and asked Coady who he was he replied in a most sinister manner you know who I am.

He was told that he should not be there and that he was breaching his bail. The injured partys mother said he shouldnt be there and pleaded with him to leave and asked him to look for help.

He told her he had attended four sessions of counselling that cost 90 a pop and he couldnt afford any more. The woman's parents pleaded with him to move on and to leave their daughter alone before eventually telling him that he had to leave.

The injured party and all her family were quite understandably disturbed and shaken by these events, said Judge Cody.

The judge said he took into account the accused had the support of his family, had no previous convictions and that his actions were at the lower end in terms of threats, as they didnt involve for the most part aggression.

The accused was also entitled to some credit for his early plea and an early, albeit insincere, expression of remorse, and his attendance for some counselling.

However, such mitigating factors pale into relative insignificance following the actions of Mr Coady earlier this month, said the judge.

He said Coady had continued his campaign of harassment of the woman and turned up at her door late at night even though he was fully aware of the effect his actions had on her and her family.

His victim had said that a previous attendance at her home by him was the most chilling aspect and described that she was shaken to the core and was taken aback by his lack of awareness.

Everyone has the right to healthy and safe experiences and relationships and consent is the foundation stone of such experiences and relationships, said the judge.

It is a matter of grave concern that Mr Coady fails to appreciate or understand the meaning of consent and the simple request by a woman that she be left alone and that he is incapable of understanding the effect of his actions on his innocent victim, despite them being clearly articulated in her victim impact report.

The victim said in the impact report that she met the accused on a dating app and then went on three dates in 2021.

She said she was finding it difficult to express the full extent of the physical and mental impact that two years of the accuseds relentless and persistent actions had on her. She had sleepless nights and nightmares, was constantly looking over her shoulder and from being a strong independent woman, she no longer felt safe to be on her own.

The nightmare started when the accused found out her home address and sent her letters and money which startled her.

The accused continued to socialise in Offaly despite living over two hours away. He spoke to people she went to school with and was asking about her family.

He continued to add her friends on social media and tried to add members of her family and messaged her several times on various social media platforms.

Once when she went to a local late-night bar the accused was thrown out because the bouncer could see how uncomfortable the injured party felt.

The accused would not take no for an answer and when the injured party didnt talk to him he waited outside for hours and followed her to a taxi rank and wouldnt leave her alone and even when arrested he continued to say that he needed to talk to her.

Another incident that stood out was when she was away on a weekend in a different county at a hen party and the accused showed up in a bar that night.

When the woman changed jobs Coady overstepped clear boundaries, the judge said, by contacting her place of work in order to gain personal information about her role. He made false allegations about her.

The injured party said that every time she sees a black Audi, her heart sinks thinking that it might be him.

She said on nights out when he showed up, she would be uptight and nervous and have heart palpitations.

The conduct of Coady impacted herself, her entire family and circle of friends, and had an extremely detrimental effect on the woman both physically and mentally.

Last year the court heard Coady was a single man with a degree in agricultural science who lived at home on the farm and also worked as a part-time gravedigger.

He had become infatuated with the injured party and was devastated by his actions which he very much regretted but had a new partner so there was no question that he would ever go near the injured party again.

Coady told the court last year: I am very sorry about my behaviour. I thought she was beautiful. I am not a dangerous person.

Yesterday Judge Cody said he would release the man on bail on his own bond of 200, plus an independent surety of 3,000 or 3,000 in cash.

Defence counsel David Nugent (instructed by Tony McLynn solicitor, to whom the accused's legal aid was transferred) told the court the cash for the bail was in court.

Strict conditions of bail were imposed, including an order that the accused undergo treatment for drug, alcohol or other substance addiction, any course of education, training or therapy, and in particular psychological counselling or other treatment, as may be recommended by his GP.

He must be available to gardai at all times by mobile phone and within a week of April 24 is to unfollow, unfriend and in whatever manner is necessary, disengage from all social media accounts of the injured party, her family, and friends.

He is barred from entering Offaly and if he has to travel through the county he must only alight from a vehicle if he has a medical reason to do so.

His bail conditions bar him from going to the woman's workplace or contacting her or any fellow employees there.

He must not communicate with the injured party in any manner whatsoever and must not approach or be within 100 metres of her and if he happens to do so inadvertently he must travel at least one kilometre away no matter what the circumstances.

He must not follow, watch, pester, monitor, track or spy upon the injured party and must not disclose any private information to any person in respect of her.

A restraining order keeping those conditions in place for five years was also made and if Coady breaches any part of the order, he is liable to a fine of up to 5,000 or 10 years in prison or both.

Judge Cody said the man must be under no illusion that the court is also now considering a custodial sentence, part of which may be suspended.

Coady must appear in court again on October 23 next.
Prince William doesnt often share information about life at home with Princess Kate and their three children, but he has during his latest visit.

As many know, Prince William has been on fewer Royal outings as his wife, Princess Kate deals with health issues. Like many doting husbands, the Prince chose to step back to support Princess Kate and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 7 and Prince Louis, 6.

Discover our latest podcast

Despite stepping back, the Prince of Wales still goes on some Royal outings and his most recent engagement would have been one close to Princess Kates heart. In fact, during said visit, Prince William talked about his wife.

Moreover, on a different visit, Prince William gave a rare insight into life at home with his three children. The Prince of Wales revealed they had acquired new pets.

Prince William briefly talks about Princess Kate

Prince William recently visited St Michael's Church of England High School after one of their pupils, Freddie Hadley, 12, wrote a letter to the Prince of Wales on X - formerly Twitter - inviting him to see the work he has done for mental health in his school.

As per Daily Mail, Prince William praised Freddie for his letter, telling staff:

Lots of people write letters but Freddie's was a really well written letter. I promised I would come.

The Prince of Wales then added that his wife, Princess Kate, who recently made history, would have loved to have been there as she is a strong advocate for mental health, especially in young people.

I am sorry Catherine can't be here as well. She would have loved to.

Freddie had written the letter to Prince William on World Mental Health Day back in October 2023 to highlight the work he and his friends had been doing for mental health at his school in Rowley Regis, Sandwell. To Freddies surprise, the Prince of Wales had personally written back:

Good afternoon Freddie, I'm so sorry Catherine and I can't be with you and the rest of the students at St Michael's today. Tackling mental health challenges and stigmas head on is so important, please keep up this important work. W

However, it seemed as though Prince William was very interested in the work young Freddie had been doing as he showed up unannounced to visit Freddie and his classmates, as per Daily Mail.

Prince William reveals they have new pets

As reported by Hello!, Prince William visited Woodgate Valley Urban Farm in Birmingham on April 25 and helped take care of some guinea pigs with children. As he was grooming one guinea pig with a child, Prince Williamrevealed that he has some at home.

These guys are pretty cool. We've got guinea pigs at home and they're not like this.

As many parents who have children and pets, the father of three admitted that he is usually the one to clean out the guinea pigss cages as his children forget to do it.

I spend my life cleaning out the guinea pig cage because the children forget to do it. The ones we've got at home, they're off. You have to keep them constantly stroked and looked after.

As per Hello!, Woodgate Valley Urban Farm is a city-based farm dedicated to supporting young people and children who struggle with access to education as well as those who are experiencing mental health issues.

Read more:

 Prince William and Prince George attend Aston Villa football game in laid-back outing

 Princess Charlotte: How Queen Elizabeth changed the course of her life long before her birth

 Prince Louis birthday photograph: Has Buckingham Palace really learnt their lesson with Photoshop?

Sources used:

Daily Mail: Revealed: What Prince William said about Kate Middleton to a staff member during school visit - as he reveals his wife 'would have love to' join him

Hello!: Prince William and Princess Kate have welcomed new pets at Windsor home - details

Express: Prince William reveals one thing George, Charlotte and Louis 'forget to do' with pets

Mirror: How one family pet links Princess Charlotte to her grandmother Princess Diana in a generation of animal-lovers
Welcome to the world of online gambling finance! Explore why the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network is a preferred choice for online casino transactions. Discover how ACH ensures secure, swift, and smooth transfers, making it ideal for depositing and withdrawing funds.

In the domain of online gambling, convenience and security are paramount for players. One method that offers both is Automated Clearing House (ACH) direct deposit. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of ACH direct deposit in the context of online casinos, covering its use cases, deposit process, rules, warnings, tips, and frequently asked questions.

What is ACH Direct Deposit?

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network facilitating financial transactions in the United States. ACH direct deposit allows individuals to transfer funds directly from their bank account to another party, such as an online casino, without needing paper checks or wire transfers.

Did You Know? In 2021, the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network processed an astounding 29 billion electronic financial transactions, moving more than $72.6 trillion across the network. This highlights ACH's pivotal role in driving substantial economic activity throughout the United States.

Why is ACH Still a Favorable Option for Online Casino Payments?

Despite the proliferation of various modern payment methods, Automated Clearing House (ACH) remains a highly favored option for online casino transactions. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to several key advantages that align well with the needs of online gamblers. Here are the main reasons why ACH continues to hold its ground as a preferred payment method:

Enhanced Security

ACH transactions are known for their high level of security. The network uses advanced encryption protocols to protect data during the transaction process, and banks often implement additional layers of security, such as multifactor authentication and fraud monitoring. This robust security framework helps minimize the risk of unauthorized access and fraud, making it a reliable option for users concerned about the safety of their financial information.

Lower Transaction Fees

One of the standout features of ACH is its cost-effectiveness. ACH fees are typically lower than those associated with credit card transactions or international wire transfers. This is particularly beneficial for players who frequently move large sums of money into and out of their online casino accounts, as it allows them to save on costs that can accumulate over time.

Convenience

ACH offers a straightforward and convenient way to deposit and withdraw funds directly from and to a bank account. Unlike credit cards and e-wallets, which often require users to load funds onto the platform before depositing them into their casino accounts, ACH provides a direct link between the bank and the casino. This direct approach simplifies the transaction process and reduces the time and effort of managing funds across multiple accounts.

Acceptance and Accessibility

Most regulated online casinos in the U.S. accept ACH as a payment method, making it widely accessible to players. This broad acceptance is crucial for users needing access to international payment methods or prefer not to use credit cards online due to security concerns.

Higher Transaction Limits

ACH often has higher transaction limits than other payment methods like credit cards and e-wallets. This is particularly advantageous for high rollers who need to move large amounts of money into their online gambling accounts. The higher limits associated with ACH ensure that these players can deposit and withdraw the significant sums required for their gaming needs without multiple transactions.

Consumer Protections

ACH transactions benefit from strong consumer protection laws in the United States. For instance, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and regulations by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) provide guidelines and safeguards for users, including the right to dispute transactions. These protections offer users an added layer of security, ensuring their interests are safeguarded against potential errors or unauthorized transfers.

Familiarity and Trust

Many users are already familiar with ACH transfers as they are commonly used for other types of payments, such as payroll deposits, utility bills, and tax refunds. This familiarity breeds trust and comfort, encouraging users to utilize ACH for online casino transactions without the need to learn new systems or set up additional accounts.

ACH's combination of security, cost-effectiveness, convenience, broad acceptance, high transaction limits, strong consumer protections, and general trustworthiness makes it a favorable option for online casino payments. As the digital payments landscape evolves, ACH's foundational strengths ensure it remains a reliable and preferred choice for many online gamblers.

Use Cases of ACH Direct Deposit at Online Casinos

Secure and Convenient Deposits: ACH direct deposit offers a safe and convenient method for players to fund their online casino accounts directly from their bank accounts. Faster Withdrawals: Many online casinos allow withdrawals via ACH, providing players a swift and hassle-free way to access their winnings. Cost-Effective Transactions: ACH transactions typically incur lower fees than other payment methods , making them economical for players.

How to Deposit with ACH at Online Casinos

Account Verification: Players must verify their bank account details with the online casino to initiate ACH deposits. Select ACH Deposit: Choose the ACH deposit option within the casino's banking or cashier section. Enter Bank Details: Provide the necessary information, including bank account number, routing number, and account holder's name. Confirm Transaction: Review and confirm the deposit amount before finalizing the transaction. Await Confirmation: The casino will process the ACH deposit, and funds will typically be available in the player's account within a few business days.

Rules and Warnings for ACH Deposits

Verify Legality: Ensure that online gambling is legal in your : Ensure that online gambling is legal in your jurisdiction before using ACH deposits for online casinos. Account Verification: Always verify the online casino's legitimacy and provide accurate bank account information to avoid potential issues. Transaction Limits: To prevent delays or rejections, be aware of any transaction limits imposed by your bank or the online casino. Security Measures: Implement strong password protection and utilize reputable online casinos to safeguard personal and financial information.

Detailed Security Protocols

Automated Clearing House (ACH) employs robust security measures to ensure the safety of transactions. These include advanced encryption technologies to protect data during transmission and sophisticated fraud detection systems that monitor for unusual activity. To further safeguard their data, users are advised to:

Use strong, unique passwords for their online casino accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication where available.

Regularly monitor their bank statements for any unauthorized transactions.

Choose online casinos that are licensed and have a strong reputation for security.

Players must recognize secure platforms by looking for indicators such as HTTPS in the web address and certification from reputable IT security services.

Comparison with Other Payment Methods

ACH vs. Credit Cards: ACH typically offers lower transaction fees than credit cards, reducing identity theft risk since card details are not shared. However, credit card payments often process faster and provide reward points, unlike ACH transactions.

ACH vs. E-wallets: E-wallets offer faster deposits and withdrawals compared to ACH. They also provide an additional layer of privacy by masking bank account details from casinos. However, they may come with higher fees and are not accepted by all casinos.

ACH vs. Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies provide anonymity and swift transactions. Unlike ACH, they are not tied to a traditional bank, which can be a boon for privacy but also a risk due to price volatility and less regulatory oversight.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common issues with ACH transactions might include delays, transaction failures, or blocks. Solutions can include:

Ensuring all entered information is accurate.

Check with the bank to ensure they do not block transactions to online casinos.

Contacting customer support at the casino for transaction status updates.

FAQs

Can I use ACH for direct deposit?

Yes, ACH direct deposit is a common method for funding online casino accounts.

How does ACH deposits work?

ACH deposits involve electronically transferring funds from a bank account to an online casino.

What information is required for ACH payments?

Typically, you must provide your bank account number, routing number, and account holder's name.

Can you use ACH internationally?

ACH is primarily used within the United States and may not be available for international transactions.

Does ACH need a swift code?

No, ACH transactions do not require a SWIFT code.

Which is faster, ACH or SWIFT?

ACH transactions are generally faster than SWIFT transfers, with funds typically available within a few business days.

How long does an ACH take to process?

ACH deposits typically take a few business days to process, depending on the bank's and online casino's policies.

What is the maximum ACH transfer limit?

The maximum ACH transfer limit varies depending on the bank's and online casino's policies.

What is the difference between ACH and international ACH?

ACH is primarily used for domestic transactions within the United States, while international ACH (IACH) allows for cross-border payments.

Can ACH payments be delayed?

ACH payments may experience delays due to various factors, including bank processing times and verification procedures.

How long can a bank hold an ACH deposit?

Banks may hold ACH deposits for a certain period to verify the transaction and prevent fraud, typically from one to five business days.

Does ACH work on weekends?

ACH transactions are not processed on weekends or bank holidays and may take longer to complete during these times.

What is the ACH routing number?

The ACH routing number is a nine-digit code identifying the financial institution for processing ACH transactions.

What happens when you transfer over $10,000?

Transfers exceeding $10,000 may trigger reporting requirements under anti-money laundering regulations.

What is the 60-day rule for ACH?

The 60-day rule refers to the timeframe consumers can dispute unauthorized ACH transactions and request refunds.

Who controls ACH payments?

ACH payments are regulated by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) in the United States.

What is the $3,000 rule?

The $3,000 rule refers to the threshold amount banks must report cash transactions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

How much money can you transfer before it gets flagged?

Banks may flag transactions exceeding certain thresholds for further review to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent fraud.

What happens if I withdraw more than $10,000?

Withdrawals exceeding $10,000 may trigger reporting requirements under anti-money laundering regulations.

Conclusion

ACH direct deposit offers a secure, convenient, and cost-effective method for funding online casino accounts. By understanding the process, rules, and potential risks associated with ACH transactions, players can make informed decisions and enjoy a seamless gambling experience online. Always prioritize security and adhere to regulatory requirements to safeguard your funds and personal information.
After months of diagnostic delay, a migrant worker could access TB services only when a community health worker met him

SHOBHA SHUKLA, BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS



Eliminate diagnostic delays if we are to end TB

(Image by CNS) Details DMCA



A migrant worker who was sick for over three months, actively sought medical help and advice, but his health kept deteriorating. Despite having constant cough, fever, and increasing weakness since months, neither he nor his treating doctor(s) thought of TB. And this did not happen in an area with low TB rates but in India's national capital Delhi - a state with highest TB rates nationwide - and a country that is home to the largest TB burden in the world.

It was only when a frontline community health worker met him, that she thought of TB and he could access TB services, increase his health and treatment literacy, and successfully complete his treatment. One of his daughters too who was found positive for TB (of the lungs and abdomen) in the contact tracing done by the community health worker, is as of now currently on treatment. Both could access a range of social support to help them adhere to the therapy, thanks to the community health worker.

Manjit, who is a native of Bihar state of India, had migrated to Delhi many years back with his parents. He works in a pipe market and lives in New Seemapuri urban slum, East Delhi, in a rented accommodation with his wife and three daughters. The area he lives in, is home to many homeless people and rag pickers and is also a site for garbage processing. This area is about 2-3 kilometers away from Delhi's famous Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital - the only tertiary care government hospital in East Delhi.

Eliminate diagnostic delays

If we are to stop the spread of TB infection it is imperative to diagnose early and accurately, and put each person diagnosed on treatment with medicines that are effective on that person. It is equally vital to ensure that the person is fully supported - in every possible way - to complete the therapy successfully. As per a study done by Dr Susmita Chatterjee et al, average diagnostic delays in those at heightened risk of TB is 12 weeks. We must eliminate these diagnostic delays if we are to end TB.

In July 2023 Manjit started suffering from bouts of cough and fever. He went from one doctor to another, seeking medical help and advice, but neither could his illness get diagnosed nor did he get any relief. On the contrary, his condition kept worsening.

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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Pascal Sleiman, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces' Jbeil district office, was kidnapped and killed by a gang of Syrian car thieves on April 7. He died after being hit on the head and chest by the criminals, who then stuffed him into the car's truck, and later dumped him in a border area in Syria.

According to the Lebanese army, the politician and head of management information systems at Byblos Bank was the victim of a carjacking by a criminal gang, who have been arrested.

"Following up on the case of Pascal Sleiman, who was kidnapped, the army intelligence directorate was able to arrest most Syrian gang members involved in the kidnapping," the Lebanese army announced in a statement on X.

The army added, "During their investigation, it became clear that the kidnapped person was killed by them while they were trying to steal his car in the Jbeil area, and that they transported his body to Syria. The Army Command coordinates with the Syrian authorities to hand over the body, and investigations are completed under the supervision of the Cassation Public Prosecution."

A Lebanese judicial official said security forces had arrested seven Syrians on suspicion of involvement in Sleiman's killing. The kidnappers admitted that their goal was stealing the victim's car. A military official said Damascus had handed over three suspects.

However, in Lebanon's fractured political landscape, there are several interpretations to the story, depending on what political party you are affiliated with, and even depending on what religious sect you have been born into.

Because Sleiman was an official within a political party in Lebanon, many first jumped to the conclusion it was a political kidnapping and murder, of which Lebanon is famous. This baseless rumor has raised tensions in Lebanon and on Monday evening, hundreds of people blocked roads in Byblos, while videos circulated on social media of violence against Syrians.

The Lebanese Forces (LF) is a right-wing Christian political party headed by Samir Geagea, who was a militia commander during the Lebanese civil war 1975-1990. Geagea was the only war-lord to be imprisoned following the war, and was released in 2005.

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Singapore - April 26, 2024 - Unstuck VC, a leading Venture Capital Studio dedicated to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs, proudly announces the launch of its inaugural fund totaling $250 million. With a mission to change the status quo and empower startups to thrive, Unstuck VC aims to revolutionize the tech industry through strategic investments and unparalleled support. Founded by renowned entrepreneur Francesco Cardullo, Unstuck VC is on a mission to 
Arabian XP, a premier tour company based in Dubai, is thrilled to unveil its ground-breaking Dubai Sights Ticket Booking Service, offering visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore the city's iconic attractions in a seamless and hassle-free manner. Dubai, renowned for its stunning architecture, luxurious lifestyle, and rich cultural heritage, is a must-visit destination for travellers from around the globe. Arabian XP's new service caters to tourists seeking to experience Dubai's top 
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 58-year-old female in reasonably good health. When I was young, I donated blood several times and would have continued to do so, had I not become ineligible due to living in England during the mad cow disease outbreak. I happened upon something recently stating that this particular disqualifier has been lifted -- so much to my delight that I made a blood donation.

The American Red Cross was delighted, too! My blood type is AB negative, and I learned that it is the universal donor type for platelets. The Red Cross reached out to me by phone, text and email to encourage me to make a platelet donation, which I did.

After my donation, I was able to track where my platelets and plasma went. (Very cool!) I also received a card in the mail telling me that I was a super platelet donor because I had a high platelet count (no specifics mentioned). At first, I thought that must be a good thing, but researching a high platelet count made me think: Oh, no!

My last two complete blood count tests had my platelet count at 265,000 and 278,000 (the oldest was done in 2023), which was middle-of-the-road, according to the normal range given. I have two concerns: Should I see my doctor right away about this? Are there any health risks to donating platelets? The Red Cross wants me to do it quite frequently. I love that my donations help others, but I dont want to harm myself by donating too often. -- Anon.

ANSWER: People with any blood type are encouraged to come donate blood or blood products, such as platelets and plasma. But you are right that you, like only 3% of the population, are the ideal platelet and plasma donor.

Most people know that O negative is the universal blood donor. They dont have the A, B or D (formerly called Rh) antigens in their red blood cells, so their cells can be given to anyone. In the case of platelets and plasma, what the blood bank is trying to avoid are antibodies. People with an AB blood type (both AB positive and AB negative) have no A or B antibodies, so their plasma and platelets are the safest. AB positive is the best of the best, but as you saw, they are very happy to have an AB-negative donor like you.

I think there was a miscommunication about what a super platelet donor means. It means you are doing a great job donating platelets, not that there is anything abnormal about your platelet count. Theres no rush to see your doctor. I confirmed with the Red Cross today that if your platelet count were abnormally high, they would let you know. The normal platelet count in adults is 150,000 to 350,000. (Thats thousands of platelets in a microliter of blood.) A single platelet donation is then about 3.5 billion platelets!

Many repeated platelet donations can cause a small and temporary decrease in blood platelet counts. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration limits platelet donations to no more than 24 times in any 12 months. In a study of 471 repeat donors followed over two-and-a-half years, nobody developed an abnormally low platelet count while following the FDAs regulations.

You are quite right that the restrictions against donating by those who lived in the U.K., Ireland and France were lifted in 2023. Thank you for donating, and you can safely donate as often as you are comfortable.

* * *

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2022 North America Syndicate Inc.

All Rights Reserved
Milwaukie got its very own bookstore just six months ago.

Spoke & Word is a queer-owned bookstore and community space where you can find the classics, books about cryptids, queer love, dragons and pretty much any other topic. What is unique to Spoke & Word is the sense of community you can find behind its teal door (with the bell that musically announces your arrival).
Multiple law-enforcement agencies teamed up this week to continue the crackdown on car thieves in the Portland metro area, Portland police said.

An operation on Monday recovered 10 stolen cars and arrested seven people. Five drivers fled when they spotted officers, prompting three chases that led to successful captures, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Police said analytics prove these missions targeting car thieves are working. In March 2023, 747 vehicles were reported stolen in the metro area. In March 2024, 442 vehicles were reported stolen, a 40% decrease.

The crowdsourced Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars, launched by frustrated area residents in 2021, helped authorities this week locate and recover three unoccupied stolen vehicles, police said.

In total, the Facebook group has helped authorities recover 42 stolen cars in recent years, police said.

This latest mission, led by the Portland Police Bureau, included members from the Gresham Police Department, Port of Portland police, Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, Clackamas County Sheriffs Office and the Multnomah County District Attorneys Auto Theft Task Force.

-- Tom Hallman Jr. is a member of the public safety team. Reach him at 503 221-8224; thallman@oregonian.com
More than four months after police began investigating whether a former Medford nurse grievously injured or killed hospitalized patients after allegedly stealing their prescribed fentanyl and replacing it with non-sterile tap water, the Jackson County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday that it has received the results of the investigation and now is considering whether to bring criminal charges.

The DAs Office said police interviewed dozens of witnesses and reviewed tens of thousands of documents, including medical records from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
The Portland man accused of stealing a federal agents car Wednesday and leading police on a high-speed chase to Washington did so after learning officers had found a cellphone during a raid of his home -- an alleged violation of his probation for prior sex crimes.

Travis Jay Grygla, 43, a registered sex offender, was on federal probation for sexually abusing children and distributing child pornography.

Agents with federal Homeland Security Investigations had obtained a warrant to search Gryglas home in the 2900 block of Southeast 119th Avenue on Wednesday after receiving a tip that he was storing and sharing images of child pornography in his home, according to an affidavit filed in federal court Thursday.

They found hidden memory cards in a bedroom he shared with a roommate, as well as a black Samsung phone, the affidavit said.

About an hour into the raid, Grygla, who was left in the front passenger seat of an agents car with no handcuffs, told an officer standing nearby, This is not going to go good for me, according to the affidavit.

He then closed the car door, locked all the doors, raised an open window, slipped into the drivers seat and took off.

Another federal agent attempted to block him as he merged from Portlands Southeast Division Street onto Interstate 205 northbound, but Grygla rammed the side of the agents car and kept going, the affidavit said.

He reached speeds of 115 to 120 mph as he headed north on I-205 to northbound Interstate 5 and into Washington state, according to the affidavit.

Two guns and other police gear were locked in a vault in the back of the car that Grygla stole, according to court records. Evidence seized from Gryglas home also was inside the car, according to a Homeland Security Investigations agent.

Multiple agencies got involved in the chase, including Portland police, Vancouver police, Washington State Patrol and Cowlitz County deputy sheriffs.

Grygla avoided multiple spike strips set on the freeway before one deflated the front drivers tire of the stolen car. Grygla continued to ride on the exposed metal rim of the front tire, exiting the freeway in Castle Rock, Washington.

There, an officer tried to stop the stolen car by ramming into the side of his back bumper, and the stolen car flipped upside down and came to a halt, according to the affidavit.

Grygla was arrested, taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and then driven back to Portland by a Homeland Security Investigations agent.

Grygla appeared Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Portland on an alleged probation violation and new charges of possessing or accessing with intent to view child pornography.

Agents found an memory card containing numerous images of child pornography hidden in a shoe left in the agents wrecked car, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chirnick said in court.

Peyton Lee, an assistant federal public defender, entered not guilty pleas on Gryglas behalf to the new charges and said Grygla denies the alleged probation violation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo ordered Grygla to remain in custody pending trial.

Grygla has prior federal convictions in 2003 for possessing child pornography and in 2008 for distributing child pornography.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

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Students, teachers and staff returned to classes at a West Richland, Washington, elementary school two days after a gunman shot and killed his ex-wife on the campus where she worked.

More than 500 students were met Wednesday by therapy dogs, police officers and counselors as they resumed classes at William Wiley Elementary School.

Richland Superintendent Shelley Redinger promised support and counseling for the likely dozens of students and staff members who watched Elias Huizar, 39, gun down paraeducator Amber Rodriguez, 31, as classes were being let out Monday afternoon. Their 9-year-old son was with her at the time, said police.
The effort to ban people from bringing guns into Oregon public schools, including those who have licenses that allow them to carry concealed handguns, is approaching a tipping point.

A decision this week by the Reynolds school board to ban licensed handgun owners from bringing their weapons onto school property means that nearly 50% of public school students in the state now attend districts that have such policies in place.
The proportion of Oregons community college enrollment made up of high schoolers has grown in recent years, and many arent taking classes on a campus.

Overall, community college enrollment has plummeted in the past decade, but in 2021-2022 enrollment rose 3% and then grew another 4% in 2022-2023. High school students enrolled in community college classes made up nearly one-third of that growth.

At five of the states 17 community colleges, high schoolers enrolled in college credit classes made up 20% or more of the colleges headcount during the 2022-23 school year, the most recent year of Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission data.

Many of the high schoolers enrolled in community college classes are taking a college-level class in their high school, taught by a high school teacher. Nevertheless, the colleges still collect tens of thousands of dollars from the state by counting these students in their enrollment. High school teachers instructing the classes often do not receive extra pay, or are paid a stipend by the school districts, according to interviews with community colleges, districts and a representative of the states largest teachers union, the Oregon Education Association.

State data shows that more than 26,000 high schoolers accounted for 14% of the more than 193,000 students enrolled in classes at the states community colleges in 2022-23. That proportion is double what it was in 2010. Though both high school and adult enrollment have fluctuated over the years, high school enrollment in community college has remained far more stable than adult enrollment and, in recent years, was slightly higher than it was a decade ago. The number of adults enrolled in recent years was about half of what it was a decade ago.

And its not just in community colleges. Between 2011 and 2021, high schoolers taking dual-credit classes through a state four-year public university increased from more than 3,500 to more than 8,900. The number grew during the pandemic while most Oregon universities saw their overall enrollment drop.

Pathway to college

Jim Pinkard, the higher education commissions director of postsecondary finance and capital, said dual enrollment for college credit on campus or in high school is positive for students, high schools and community colleges. Once graduated from high school, students are on track to finish college sooner and are spared from paying full price for general education courses at post-secondary institutions.

Were trying to encourage students who know from a young age that they want to go to college to get a four year degree, Pinkard said. If you know from a young age you want to be a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer  if we tell you how you can start as a junior or senior in high school and get the basics out of the way  thats one or two or three classes you dont have to pay for later, and hopefully it lowers the cost of your degree.

Pinkard acknowledged that disparities exist in who is dual enrolled in college coursework. A 2023 report from the commission found those enrolled are disproportionately white and female. Latino students are especially underrepresented among those dual enrolled.

And the share of high schoolers taking college-credit courses through five of Oregons community colleges was much higher than at others. At Blue Mountain Community College, Klamath Community College, Clackamas Community College, Columbia Gorge Community College and Lane Community College, high schoolers made up about 20% or more of the total enrollment. Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton had one of the largest shares, with dual-enrolled high schoolers accounting for nearly 30% of its enrollment.

Financial arrangements

Oregon is unusual in how it calculates per-pupil funding to community colleges, according to Pinkard of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Other states provide funding based on the cost to deliver a program. In some states, cost weights are used to reimburse colleges for students taking a welding course at a higher rate since that program costs more to deliver. In Oregon, community college funding per-pupil is based on the number of whats considered a full-time equivalent student.

When it comes to high schoolers dual enrolled, the state takes the number of hours each student spends in college-credit bearing classes, adds it up, then divides by 510  the length of instructional hours over three terms for a student considered enrolled full-time.

Ultimately, the state sends about $6,300 per full-time equivalent student to the colleges.

The school districts and colleges also have financial agreements over how much a student should pay in fees per credit, how and when college instructors should mentor and collaborate with the high school teachers and how credits should transfer. Some high schoolers arent charged additional fees, while some pay $30 to $50 per credit.

But each college-credit class that an Oregon high schooler enrolls in contributes to the colleges funding. Put it this way: If 20 students are taking a college-level, dual-credit biology course for one hour every day for one term at their high school, a class thats instructed by a high school teacher, the state calculus equates it to a bit more than 1,100 hours of instruction. The state divides that by 510 to reach the determination that it should fund the community college to the tune of about two full-time equivalent students. So that one dual-credit high school class brings about $13,600 to the college.

Because students are attending the class at the high school, the district also gets to count the student toward its enrollment, so districts dont lose any of the per-pupil funding they receive annually from the state school funding formula: about $13,800 per student, on average. Some community colleges work out revenue sharing agreements with the schools to give the public school teachers some of the higher education funding from the state, but some dont.

Their cost in instructing that student is de minimis if theyre not paying that high school instructor, Pinkard said.

The bulk of students from Pendleton High School in east Oregon who receive dual credit through Blue Mountain Community College take their classes at the high school, with a high school teacher. The high school does not get any extra money for that, and teachers do not get any additional compensation, according to Matt Yoshioka, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at Pendleton High School.

Blue Mountain does pay for the high school to employ Mandy Oyama, a college and career counselor, and it pays for faculty to mentor high school instructors and help administer courses and grading. The rest of the extra money Blue Mountain gets from the high school enrollment goes into its general fund, according to the colleges president, Mark Browning.

Browning said the college is spending money to make to dual enrollment work, not raking it in. Between paying for college faculty to mentor high school teachers and develop courses, providing transcripts and accreditation, the costs add up, he said.

Whatever the HECC sends us does not cover the cost of instruction for our students. Take the total number of credits we teach, divided by $17.4 million  what our total budget is  thats what the cost of instruction is, he said. This year, according to Browning, HECC appropriated $4 million in per-pupil funding to Blue Mountain.

Browning said Oregon is far behind other states like Washington and Idaho, where the state government pays for dedicated post-secondary education options in high schools. In both Washington and Idaho, the state pays for the instructors who teach these college-credit courses in the high schools, and it pays for the staff who train teachers, develop courses and coordinate everything on the colleges side.

In Oregon, were just doing it all out of hide, Browning said. There are ways to do it better.

Pinkard agreed that overall the deals between colleges and high schools for dual credit arent wildly lucrative for the colleges, but he said, they help subsidize the colleges other programs, such as adult basic education classes in math and reading that cost as little as $25 per credit at most community colleges.

Most of them are not making a helluva lot of money on it, Pinkard said. But, there must be some that are making enough, because otherwise they wouldnt be doing it.

-- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle; abaumhardt@oregoncapitalchronicle.com

The Oregon Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
After being on opposite sides during the bitter teachers strike that closed Portland Public Schools for most of November, the districts administrators, its school board members and the union representing its teachers have found a common denominator.

All parties desperately want Portland voters in May to renew a long-standing property tax levy, which they say would pay to retain 660 teachers.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission declined to dismiss Portland General Electrics newest rate increase proposal, rejecting a motion filed by a state nonprofit group that advocates for utility customers.

The decision Thursday means PGEs proposed 7.5% increase will go through the regular lengthy rate-setting process.
Of the more than 2,000 works of art at Timberline Lodge, just three have been identified so far as requiring the work of conservationists to repair damage sustained in last weeks 3-alarm fire at the historic facility, a curator said Wednesday.

Firefighters contained the April 18 fire, which burned a portion of the roof and attic of the 55,000-square-foot lodge, within about two hours, and smoke and flames didnt extend into the main portion of the 1937 facility. However, water soaked the lodge through holes in the roof, setting off concerns among preservationists about the historic furniture, textiles, paintings and lithographs inside.

Lisa Riversong, Timberlines art curator, said water damage to the art appears to have been minimal thanks to firefighters and Timberline staff who were able to quickly move pieces to unaffected parts of the building. They covered other pieces that were too large to move with tarps, and they were able to move fast in part because Timberline staff, members of the nonprofit group Friends of Timberline and officials with the U.S. Forest Service had updated their plan for protecting items in the lodge in the event of a natural disaster just last year.

Items in the lodge trace their origins to the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, and workers drew on their flood emergency plan rather than the one for wildfires to keep the objects safe, Riversong said.

Im really proud of our teams and also our local community of firefighters who know exactly how special this place is, Riversong said. Theres just minor damage and were so luckywere so stoked that everything is still here with us.

While the fire never entered the main space of the lodge, the art inside was endangered when water used to fight the flames entered holes in the roof. Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

The damage could have been far worse. More than three items of art were soaked during the firefighting, but most of them were dried out properly, Riversong said, so they wont need to be sent to conservationists.

The three pieces of damaged art that will need professional repair were an oil painting and two botanical lithographs, said Riversong.

Sarah Munro, a volunteer at the nonprofit group Friends of Timberline, said the pieces include a 1937 mural in oil paint by WPA artist Howard Sewall called Symbolizing Lodge Builders: Wood Work.

The Art Deco painting depicts workers hewing blocks of wood to build Timberline Lodge, and its one of two by Sewall in the lodges collection, according to the Portland Art Museum.

Munro said that the Sewall painting appears to have damage only to its frame and backing, although it still needs to be evaluated by a professional.

The two damaged lithographs experienced mild warping. They are by Northwest artist Karl Feurer and illustrate bear grass and lupine, Munro said.

The building itself requires repairs to its roof and rooms that suffered water damage, John Burton, a spokesperson for the lodge, wrote in an email. Despite the ongoing work, Timberline reopened for guests on Sunday.

Friends of Timberline is trying to raise $100,000 to go toward the repairs, said Randi Black, the organizations manager. As of Tuesday, the group had raised $13,000, with donations from across the United States and one from England.

Its really nice to see the support, Black said. Its just amazing.

 Tanner Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.

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The regulating body for lawyers in Oregon on Friday said it had dismissed an ethics complaint filed by a prominent Lewis & Clark Law School professor against Multnomah County district attorney candidate Nathan Vasquez who referred to a man as a murderer though he has not been charged.

Linn Davis, assistant general counsel for the Oregon State Bar, told law professor Aliza Kaplan that he found no sufficient basis to advance the complaint through the organizations disciplinary process.
Nurses working at Multnomah County jails called for multiple health officials to be fired in a letter to county leaders this week. They cited a litany of complaints, including years of inadequate staffing at the countys jails, as well as mismanagement and forced overtime.

We no longer have any confidence in select members of (Multnomah County Health Department) leadership, the Oregon Nurses Association union wrote in its April 25 letter to the departments director, the county sheriff and the five county commissioners. We are concerned that our vulnerable community is at risk as well as our safety.

Primary among the unions complaints was the chronic low staffing level  an issue the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and others have previously said contribute to problems in the countys jails. The staffing crisis has resulted in poor morale, unreasonable forced overtime, unsafe work conditions and poor leadership from several health officials, the union wrote.

Perhaps the most evident sign of the troubles in Multnomah Countys jails has been the spike in in-custody deaths in recent years, with 10 fatalities over the past two years, compared to zero in 2021 and 2020 and one in 2019. All of the deaths have been attributed to suicide, overdose or natural causes, except for one that remains under investigation.

The union said Zachary Myque Obiero, director of Corrections Health, should immediately be fired because of jail-condition issues identified in an outside review and because he allegedly created a hostile work environment and was negligent. The union also called for Nursing Supervisor Nicole Propert to be fired, citing frequent absences, DUI and reckless-driving arrests and union allegations that she has acted outside of her scope as a nurse.

Propert objected to the unions characterizations, pointing to her record with the Oregon Nursing Board, which shows no sanctions or findings of wrongdoing, according to the nursing boards license database. She said any absences were approved. She is pleading not guilty to the DUI charge, she said. The reckless driving charge is currently under review, the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said.

Through a county spokesperson, Obiero declined to comment.

In a statement, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said she is very concerned about these allegations and has asked to meet with nurses union representatives since they contacted her chief of staff April 9 to ask to speak at the commissioners next board meeting.

In an April 18 response, the union made clear it wasnt interested in meeting with Vega Pederson, emails provided by the county show, demanding instead to be allotted time at one of the upcoming board meetings.

So far they have declined to meet with me, Vega Pederson said in her statement. We very much need ONA to follow up and come to the table to meet with us so we can understand and address their concerns.

This story has been updated with comment from Nicole Propert.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter with a focus on crime. Reach him at 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.

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The Food and Drug Administration revealed on Thursday that roughly 20% of tested examples of pasteurized milk contained traces of the bird flu virus, allowing a definite understanding of the range of its presence in the milk supply.

1 out of 5 Samples of Pasteurized Milk Has Traces of Bird Flu Virus

The tested milk was sourced from a nationally representative sample, with a higher frequency of positive results observed in regions where dairy cow herds were infected, according to the FDA. However, they did not disclose the exact number of samples tested.

As of Thursday, bird flu cases had been confirmed in 33 herds across eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, and Texas.

Following the FDA's initial announcement on Tuesday regarding the detection of viral fragments in commercially available milk, the Department of Agriculture issued a federal order mandating the testing of all dairy cows for bird flu before interstate transport.

Despite the presence of a small virus portion in milk examples, health officials highlight that pasteurized milk remains safe for intake as the discovered virus pieces are not live or infectious.

Dr. Andrew Bowman, a veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, asserts the efficiency of pasteurization in rendering milk safe.

The FDA, ongoing its studies on the effect of pasteurization on the bird flu virus in milk, expects to release findings shortly.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu cautioned a concern among public health authorities due to its high death rate, with over half of infected persons surrendering to the disease, according to the CDC.

However, its limited human-to-human transmission and predominantly mild cases in the U.S. offer some reassurance, though there is a lingering worry about potential mutations that could facilitate easier spread among people.

Read Also : USDA Requires Testing Dairy Cows for Bird Flu When Transported Across State

FDA and USDA: Commercial Milk Supply Remains Safe Due to Pasteurization

Both the FDA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reassure the public that the commercial milk supply remains secure due to pasteurization, which removes harmful bacteria and viruses, and the elimination of milk from sick cows.

The National Milk Producers Federation emphasized that the detected "viral fragments" in milk samples pose no threat to human health as they indicate the virus is inactive.

Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, underscores the effectiveness of pasteurization in destroying any viable virus and advises against consuming raw milk and eggs.

Although concerns about potential pandemics like COVID-19 have heightened awareness, the response to H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows has faced criticism.

Scientists, including Dr. Michael Worobey from the University of Arizona, have voiced concerns about the USDA's slow and incomplete data sharing, emphasizing the importance of global expert collaboration in data analysis.

The H5N1 virus, first detected in 1959, has recently been found in dairy cow herds across multiple states, with the first human case reported in Texas. However, human-to-human transmission is rare, and symptoms are typically mild.

The FDA is conducting further tests on milk samples and pledges to release results in the coming days or weeks to ensure consumer safety and provide transparent information.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced his intention to sign a bill approved by state legislators earlier in the week allowing guns in school to be carried by teachers and staff. This legislation permits school staff to carry concealed handguns within school premises.

During a press briefing on Thursday, April 25, Governor Lee emphasized the significance of providing school districts with tools, including the option for staff to carry concealed firearms, to enhance student safety within educational environments.

Tennessee House Republicans endorsed the legislation, disregarding appeals from Democrats, students, and advocates of gun reform, who urged against its passage.

Tennessee's New Education Law

The legislation is poised for potential enactment in the coming weeks, pending Tennessee Governor Bill Lee's decision to either sign it directly or let it pass into law without his formal endorsement, a practice he has consistently followed without vetoing bills.

Under the proposed law, trained teachers will undergo mandatory training, although critics argue that this training might not be comprehensive enough.

These educators will then have permission to carry concealed handguns within their classroom environments and various campus settings without disclosing their armed status to parents or most colleagues.

Approval for a staff member to carry a concealed firearm requires sign-off from the school district's director of schools, the principal, and the chief of the designated law enforcement agency. This stipulation grants school administrators the potential authority to deny any teacher's request to carry a firearm on campus. Additionally, the legislation mandates thorough criminal and mental health background checks.

During recent deliberations, Republican lawmakers rebuffed multiple attempts by Democrats to modify the bill. These proposed changes included mandates for teachers to secure their handguns except during security breaches, holding teachers accountable for firearm use on campus, and informing parents about the presence of firearms in school settings.

Proponents of the bill argue that arming trained staff can bolster school security, especially in rural areas where law enforcement resources may be limited, leading to extended response times for emergencies in distant communities.

The 2023 General Assembly allocated funds to station armed school resource officers (SROs) at all Tennessee schools. However, challenges in staffing have hindered the fulfillment of these positions, with nearly 600 schools still lacking an SRO.

Advocating Against Carrying Guns and School Safety

The introduction of HB 1202/SB 1321 stirred significant opposition in the Senate this month, drawing vocal protests from various groups, including parents of school shooting survivors, gun-reform advocates, and students, who actively lobbied against its passage.

A mother from Covenant School presented a letter to the House, signed by over 5,300 individuals, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.

Critics of the legislation, including the aforementioned groups, expressed shared apprehension regarding its secrecy clause. This provision prevents school administrators from disclosing the identities of armed individuals within the school except to relevant law enforcement and security personnel.

Representative Williams defended this measure, citing the need to safeguard gun carriers' anonymity to shield them from potential repercussions in employment decisions.

Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson strongly condemned the bill, labeling it "absolutely insane."

Pearson emphasized the importance of parental awareness regarding potential risks associated with having armed individuals in classrooms, highlighting concerns about accidental discharge and harm to students. Tennessee's move to permit teachers to carry firearms aligns with trends in other states.

According to data from the Giffords Law Center, at least 26 states have enacted similar laws allowing teachers or school employees to possess guns on school premises, albeit with certain exceptions and variations in regulations.
Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (w your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!

***

[relevant sections from my book, The Quotable Augustine: Distinctively Catholic Elements in His Theology (Sep. 2012, 245 pages). To verify sources (standard Schaff edition of the Fathers), see the St. Augustine section on the New Advent web page, The Fathers of the Church]

***

INDIVIDUAL WORKS (BY ABBREVIATION)

Bapt. On Baptism, Against the Donatists (De baptismo) 400 / 401

Believ. On the Usefulness of Believing (De utilitate credendi) 391

C.Ep.Pel. Against Two Letters of the Pelagians (Contra duas epistulas Pelagianorum) 420

C.Faust. Against Faustus the Manichee (Contra Faustum Manichaeum) 397-398

C.Fortun. Disputation Against Fortunatus 392

C.Fund.M Against the Fundamental Epistle of Manichaeus (Contra epistulam quam vocant fundamenti) 397

C.Pet. Against the Letters of Petilian the Donatist (Contra litteras Petiliani) 401 / 405

Cat.Creed Sermon to Catechumens on the Creed 393

Cat.U. On Catechizing the Uninstructed (De catechizandis rudibus) 400

City City of God (De civitate Dei) 413-427

Conf. The Confessions (Confessiones) 397-401

Confl. On the Christian Conflict (De agone christiano) 396

Dead On the Care of the Dead (De cura pro mortuis gerenda) 420-422

Doctr. On Christian Doctrine (De doctrina christiana) 396-426

E.Ps. Explanations of the Psalms (Enarrationes in Psalmos) 396-420

Ench. Enchiridion: Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Love (Enchiridion ad Laurentium) 421-422

Ep.[#] Letters (Epistulae) 386-429

F.Creed Of Faith and the Creed (De fide et symbolo) 393

F.Works On Faith and Works (De fide et operibus) 412 / 413

Good On the Nature of Good (De natura boni) 399

Grace.Free On Grace and Free Will (De gratia et libero arbitrio) 426 / 427

Grace.Orig. On the Grace of Christ and on Original Sin (De gratia Christi et de peccato originali) 418

H.1Jn Homilies on the First Epistle of John (Tractatus in epistolam Ioannis ad Parthos) 407 / 409

Harm.G. Harmony of the Gospels (De consensu evangelistarum) 400

L.John Lectures on the Gospel of John (In euangelium Ioannis tractatus) 406-430

M.Concup. On Marriage and Concupiscence (De nuptiis et concupiscentia) 419 / 420

Marr. On the Good of Marriage (De bono coniugale) 401

Monks On the Work of Monks (De opere monachorum) 400

Mor.C On the Morals of the Catholic Church (De moribus ecclesiae catholicae) 387 / 389

Mor.M On the Morals of the Manichaeans (De moribus Manichaeorum) 387 / 389

Nat. On Nature and Grace (De natura et gratia) 414 / 415

P.Pel. On the Proceedings of Pelagius (De gestis Pelagii) 417

Perf. On Mans Perfection in Righteousness (De perfectione iustitiae) 415 / 416

Persev. On the Gift of Perseverance (De dono perseverantiae) 428 / 429

Pred. On the Predestination of the Saints (De praedestinatione sanctorum) 428 / 429

Reb.Gr. On Rebuke and Grace (De correptione et gratia) 426 / 427

S.Mount On the Sermon on the Mount (De sermone Domini in monte) 393 / 394

Serm. Sermons on the New Testament 393-430

Sin.I.Bapt. On Merit and the Forgiveness of Sins and on Infant Baptism (De peccatorum meritis et remissione et de baptismo parvulorum) 412

Sol. The Soliloquies (Soliloquiorum) 386-387

Soul.c.M Of Two Souls, Against the Manichees (De duabus animabus contra Manichaeos) 392 / 393

Sp.L On the Spirit and the Letter (De spiritu et littera) 412

Trin. On the Trinity (De trinitate) 399-419

Virg. On Holy Virginity (De sancta virginate) 401

Baptism and Being Born Again

. . . born again by baptism; the generation by which we shall rise again from the dead, and shall live with the Angels for ever. (E.Ps., 135:13 [135, 11] )

As regards the question of baptism, that our being born again, cleansed, justified by the grace of God, should not be ascribed to the man who administered the sacrament, . . . (C.Pet., iii, 50, 62)

Born again, however, a man must be, after he has been born; because, Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God [John 3:3] Even an infant, therefore, must be imbued with the sacrament of regeneration, lest without it his would be an unhappy exit out of this life; and this baptism is not administered except for the remission of sins. (Sin.I.Bapt. ii, 43 [XXVII] )

. . . that life of the Spirit, in the newness of which they who are baptized are through Gods grace born again . . . (Sin.I.Bapt. ii, 45 [XXVIII])

For all persons run to church with their infants for no other reason in the world than that the original sin which is contracted in them by their first and natural birth may be cleansed by the regeneration of their second birth. (M.Concup. ii, 4)

Baptism and Justification

. . . the question of baptism, . . . justified by the grace of God, . . . (C.Pet., iii, 50, 62)

Baptism and Salvation

By all these considerations it is proved that the sacrament of baptism is one thing, the conversion of the heart another; but that mans salvation is made complete through the two together. (Bapt., iv, 25, 33)

The form of the sacrament is given through baptism, the form of righteousness through the gospel. Neither one without the other leads to the kingdom of heaven. (C.Pet., iii, 56, 68)

. . . that sacrament, namely, of baptism, which brings salvation . . . (Ep. 98 [1]: to Boniface [408] )

The Christians of Carthage have an excellent name for the sacraments, when they say that baptism is nothing else than salvation, and the sacrament of the body of Christ nothing else than life. . . . For wherein does their opinion, who designate baptism by the term salvation, differ from what is written: He saved us by the washing of regeneration? [Titus 3:5] or from Peters statement: The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us? [1 Peter 3:21] (Sin.I.Bapt. i, 34 [XXIV] )

. . . being washed by the sacrament and charity of the faithful, and thereby incorporated into the body of Christ, which is the Church, they may be reconciled to God, and so live in Him, and be saved, and delivered, and redeemed, and enlightened. (Sin.I.Bapt. i, 39 [XXVI] )

. . . the baptism of infants . . . is given to them not only for entrance into the kingdom of God, but also for attaining salvation and eternal life, which none can have without the kingdom of God, or without that union with the Saviour Christ, wherein He has redeemed us by His blood. (Sin.I.Bapt. ii, 1 [I] )

For if any one should ask of me whether we have been saved by baptism, I shall not be able to deny it, since the apostle says, He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. [Titus 3:5] But if he should ask whether by the same washing He has already absolutely in every way saved us, I shall answer: It is not so. Because the same apostle also says, For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, we with patience wait for it. [Romans 8:24-25] Therefore the salvation of man is effected in baptism, because whatever sin he has derived from his parents is remitted, or whatever, moreover, he himself has sinned on his own account before baptism; but his salvation will hereafter be such that he cannot sin at all. (C.Ep.Pel. iii, 5)

Baptismal Regeneration

Forgiveness of sins. You have [this article of] the Creed perfectly in you when you receive Baptism. (Cat.Creed, 15)

. . . my initiation and washing by Your life-giving sacraments, confessing You, O Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins. So my cleansing was deferred, . . . (Conf. i, 11, 17)

But hast not Thou, O most merciful Lord, pardoned and remitted this sin also, with my others, so horrible and deadly, in the holy water? (Conf. ix, 2, 4)

. . . our conversion and regeneration by Your baptism, . . . (Conf. ix, 3, 6)

And what is regeneration in baptism, except the being renovated from the corruption of the old man? . . . since we say that he has been baptized in Christ, we confess that he has put on Christ; and if we confess this, we confess that he is regenerate. (Bapt., i, 11, 16)

But the possibility of regeneration through the office rendered by the will of another, when the child is presented to receive the sacred rite, is the work exclusively of the Spirit by whom the child thus presented is regenerated. . . . By the water, therefore, which holds forth the sacrament of grace in its outward form, and by the Spirit who bestows the benefit of grace in its inward power, cancelling the bond of guilt, and restoring natural goodness [reconcilians bonum natur;], the man deriving his first birth originally from Adam alone, is regenerated in Christ alone. (Ep. 98 [2]: to Boniface [408] )

. . . in infants original sin is remitted through baptism, . . . (Sin.I.Bapt. i, 9 [IX] )

Now, inasmuch as infants are not held bound by any sins of their own actual life, it is the guilt of original sin which is healed in them by the grace of Him who saves them by the laver of regeneration. (Sin.I.Bapt. i, 24 [XIX] )

. . . the sacrament of baptism is undoubtedly the sacrament of regeneration . . . (Sin.I.Bapt. ii, 43 [XXVII] )

. . . that which has secured the adhesion of the universal Church from the earliest times that believing infants have obtained through the baptism of Christ the remission of original sin. (Sin.I.Bapt. iii, 9)

Who forgives all your iniquities: this is done in the sacrament of baptism. (Sp.L, 59)

. . . those who have been baptized when they could no longer escape death, and have departed this life with all their sins blotted out . . . (City xiii, 7)

. . . there are two regenerations, . . . the one according to faith, and which takes place in the present life by means of baptism; the other according to the flesh, and which shall be accomplished in its incorruption and immortality by means of the great and final judgment (City xx, 6)

. . . that bath of regeneration, which they might have received and through which they might have been saved . . . (Nat., 4 [IV] )

. . . no man is justified unless he believes in Christ and is cleansed by His baptism. (Nat., 48 [XLI] )

And this is the meaning of the great sacrament of baptism which is solemnized among us, that all who attain to this grace should die to sin, as He is said to have died to sin, because He died in the flesh, which is the likeness of sin; and rising from the font regenerate, as He arose alive from the grave, should begin a new life in the Spirit, . . . (Ench., 42)

. . . the grace of baptism, which is given as an antidote to original sin, so that what our birth imposes upon us, our new birth relieves us from (this grace, however, takes away all the actual sins also that have been committed in thought, word, and deed): . . . in which all our guilt, both original and actual, is washed away, (Ench., 64)

Live consistently, especially ye candidates of Christ, recently baptized, just regenerated, . . . (Serm., 96, 2 [CXLVI] )

Eucharist and Salvation

But what is to receive the cup of salvation, but to imitate the Passion of our Lord? I will receive the cup of Christ, I will drink of our Lords Passion. (E.Ps., 103:2 [103, 3] )

For such now also profess: Jesus has come near to them, has made salvation in them; for He said, Except a man eat my flesh, and drink my blood, he shall not have life in him. [John 6:54] (L.John, 11, 4)

The Christians of Carthage have an excellent name for the sacraments, when they say that . . . the sacrament of the body of Christ nothing else than life. . . . And what else do they say who call the sacrament of the Lords Supper life, than that which is written: I am the living bread which came down from heaven; [John 6:51] and The bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world; [John 6:51] and Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you shall have no life in you? [John 6:53] (Sin.I.Bapt. i, 34 [XXIV] )

Is there anything, again, ambiguous in this: Except men eat the flesh of the Son of man, that is, become partakers of His body, they shall not have life? (Sin.I.Bapt. iii, 8)

If, however, Christ did not die in vain, then human nature cannot by any means be justified and redeemed from Gods most righteous wrath in a word, from punishment except by faith and the sacrament of the blood of Christ. (Nat., 2 [II] )

Faith Alone (Falsity of)

. . . we should not . . . be deceived by the name of Christ, by means of those who have the name and have not the deeds . . . (S.Mount ii, 25, 84)

And wherefore did our Lord Himself judge it necessary not only to say, Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father [Matthew 13:43] which shall come to pass after the end of the world, but also to exclaim, Woe unto the world because of offenses! [Matthew 18:7] if not to prevent us from flattering ourselves with the idea that we can reach the mansions of eternal felicity, unless we have overcome the temptation to yield when exercised by the afflictions of time? Why was it necessary for Him to say, Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, if not in order that those of whom He spoke in the next sentence, but he that shall endure to the end shall be saved, [Matthew 24:12-13] . . . (Ep. 78 [1]: to the Church at Hippo [404] )

Who is he that believes not that Jesus is the Christ? He that does not so live as Christ commanded. For many say, I believe: but faith without works saves not. Now the work of faith is Love, . . . (H.1Jn, 10, 1)

But, they say, of that unbelief alone, whereby they believed not in Christ, he willed them to repent. Wonderful presumption! (I would not give it a heavier name,) when, upon that being heard which was said, Repent ye, it is said to have been of unbelief alone, whereas the evangelic teaching delivered a change of life from the old unto the new, wherein certainly that also is contained which the Apostle lays down in that sentence, Let him that stole, steal no more; and the rest, wherein he follows out what it is to lay aside the old man, and to put on the new. . . . Now therefore, if they will, let them endeavour to maintain, that he saves himself from this perverse generation, who only believes in Christ, although he continue in what scandalous sins soever he will, even unto the making profession of adultery. Which if it be impious to assert, let them who are to be baptized hear, not only what they ought to believe, but also how they may save themselves from this perverse generation. For in that case it is necessary that they hear how, believing, they ought to walk, . . . (F.Works, 13)

What the Lord Himself, to pass over other things, when that rich man sought of Him, what good thing he should do, that he might attain life eternal, let them call to mind what He answered; If thou wilt come, said He, unto life, keep the Commandments. [Matthew 19:17] But he said, What? Then the Lord made mention of the Commandments of the Law, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not commit adultery, and the rest. Whereupon when he had made answer that he had performed these from his youth, He added also a Commandment of perfection, that he should sell all that he had, and give in alms unto the poor, and have treasure in heaven, and follow the same Lord. Let them then see that it was not said unto him that he should believe and be baptized, by the aid of which alone those men think that a man comes unto life; but commandments of morals were given unto the man, which certainly without faith cannot be guarded and observed. Neither, however, because in this place the Lord appears to have been silent as to the suggestion of faith, do we lay down and contend, that we are to state commandments of morals alone to men who desire to attain unto life. For both are connected the one with the other, as I said before; because neither can the love of God exist in a man who loveth not his neighbour, nor the love of his neighbour in him who loveth not God. And so at times we find that Scripture makes mention of the one without the other, either this or that, in place of the full doctrine, so that even in this way we may understand that the one cannot exist without the other: because both he who believes in God ought to do what God commands; and he who therefore does it because God commands it, must of necessity believe in God. (F.Works, 20)

But, say they, the Catholic Christians have Christ for a foundation, and they have not fallen away from union with Him, no matter how depraved a life they have built on this foundation, as wood, hay, stubble; and accordingly the well-directed faith by which Christ is their foundation will suffice to deliver them some time from the continuance of that fire, though it be with loss, since those things they have built on it shall be burned. Let the Apostle James summarily reply to them: If any man say he has faith, and have not works, can faith save him? [James 2:14] (City xxi, 26)

The Lord then did not utter the words, If you forgive men their trespasses, your Father will also forgive you your trespasses, [Matthew 6:14] in order that we might contract from this petition such confidence as should enable us to sin securely from day to day, either putting ourselves above the fear of human laws, or craftily deceiving men concerning our conduct, but in order that we might thus learn not to suppose that we are without sins, . . . While, then, those who seek occasion from this petition to indulge in habitual sin maintain that the Lord meant to include great sins, because He did not say, He will forgive you your small sins, but your sins, we, on the other hand, taking into account the character of the persons He was addressing, cannot see our way to interpret the expression your sins of anything but small sins, because such persons are no longer guilty of great sins. (City xxi, 27)

It is believed, moreover, by some, that men who do not abandon the name of Christ, and who have been baptized in the Church by His baptism, and who have never been cut off from the Church by any schism or heresy, though they should live in the grossest sin and never either wash it away in penitence nor redeem it by almsgiving, but persevere in it persistently to the last day of their lives, shall be saved by fire; that is, that although they shall suffer a punishment by fire, lasting for a time proportionate to the magnitude of their crimes and misdeeds, they shall not be punished with everlasting fire. But those who believe this, and yet are Catholics, seem to me to be led astray by a kind of benevolent feeling natural to humanity. For Holy Scripture, when consulted, gives a very different answer. (Ench., 67)

. . . nor so defend and maintain grace as if, by reason of it, you may love evil works in security and safety,which may Gods grace itself avert from you! Now it was the words of such as these which the apostle had in view when he said, What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? And to this cavil of erring men, who know nothing about the grace of God, he returned such an answer as he ought in these words: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Nothing could have been said more succinctly, and yet to the point. For what more useful gift does the grace of God confer upon us, in this present evil world, than our dying unto sin? (Ep. 215 [8]: to Valentinus [426] )

Unintelligent persons, however, with regard to the apostles statement: We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law, [Romans 3:28] have thought him to mean that faith suffices to a man, even if he lead a bad life, and has no good works. Impossible is it that such a character should be deemed a vessel of election by the apostle, who, after declaring that in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, [Galatians 5:6] adds at once, but faith which works by love. (Grace.Free, 18)

And the apostle himself, after saying, By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast; [Ephesians 2:8-9] saw, of course, the possibility that men would think from this statement that good works are not necessary to those who believe, but that faith alone suffices for them; and again, the possibility of mens boasting of their good works, as if they were of themselves capable of performing them. To meet, therefore, these opinions on both sides, he immediately added, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10] . . . Now, hear and understand. Not of works is spoken of the works which you suppose have their origin in yourself alone; but you have to think of works for which God has moulded (that is, has formed and created) you. For of these he says, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. (Grace.Free, 20)

If then we desire to see God, whereby shall our eye be purified? For who would not care for, and diligently seek the means of purifying that eye whereby he may see Him whom he longs after with an entire affection? The Divine record has expressly mentioned this when it says, purifying their hearts by faith. The faith of God then purifies the heart, the pure heart sees God. But because this faith is sometimes so defined by men who deceive themselves, as though it were enough only to believe (for some promise themselves even the sight of God and the kingdom of heaven, who believe and live evilly); against these, the Apostle James, incensed and indignant as it were with a holy charity, says in his Epistle, You believe there is one God. Thou applaudest yourself for your faith, for you mark how that many ungodly men think there are gods many, and you rejoice in yourself because you believe that there is but one God; You do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Shall they also see God? They shall see Him who are pure in heart. But who can say that unclean spirits are pure in heart? And yet they also believe and tremble. (Serm., 3, 10 [LIII] )

For if he depart not from iniquity, he belongs not to the kingdom of Christ, even though he name the Name of Christ. (Serm., 21, 4 [LXXI] )

Faith and Works

When you have been baptized, hold fast a good life in the commandments of God, that you may guard your Baptism even unto the end. (Cat.Creed, 15)

The apostle had in view a spiritual structure, as he says elsewhere, You are Gods building; [1 Corinthians 3:9] and in this structure he found both a reason for joy and a reason for exertion. He rejoiced to see part already finished; and the necessity of bringing the edifice to perfection called for exertion. (C.Faust. i, 3)

Let us therefore not flatter the Catholic who is hemmed in with all these vices, nor venture, merely because he is a Catholic Christian, to promise him the impunity which holy Scripture does not promise him; nor, if he has any one of the faults above mentioned, ought we to promise him a partnership in that heavenly land. (Bapt., iv, 19, 27)

. . . He wills not to distinguish faith from work, but declared faith itself to be work. For it is that same faith that works by love. [Galatians 5:6] (L.John, 25, 12)

. . . by means of the free-will naturally implanted within him, he enters on the way which is pointed out to him, and by persevering in a just and pious course of life, deserves to attain to the blessedness of eternal life. (Sp.L, 4)

Is it not because those very tables of the law were written by the finger of God, that the Spirit of God by whom we are sanctified is also the finger of God, in order that, living by faith, we may do good works through love? (Sp.L, 28 [XVI] )

Whence, therefore, arises this lovethat is to say, this charity, by which faith works, if not from the source whence faith itself obtained it? For it would not be within us, to what extent soever it is in us, if it were not diffused in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us. [Romans 5:5] (Sp.L, 56)

But in these very words of Peter they have whence they might be admonished, if they would attend diligently. For after that he had said, Repent ye, and he baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For unto us is this promise and unto our children, and unto all who are afar off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call; the writer of the book straightway added and said, And with many other words testified he, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. But they most eagerly caught and received his words, (and believed,) and were baptized; and there were added on that day three thousand souls. Who would not here understand, that in those many other words, on which, by reason of their length, the writer is silent, this was the object of Peter, that they should save themselves from this perverse generation; since the sentence itself is given briefly, in order to persuade to which Peter urged them with many words. The sum and substance, that is to say, was set down, when it was said, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. But, in order that this might be done, Peter with many words testified. Among these words was the condemnation of dead works, which they who love this world work evilly, and the setting forth of a good life, for them to hold and follow, who save themselves from this perverse generation. (F.Works, 13)

When therefore the Apostle says, that he judges that a man is justified through faith without the works of the law; this is not his object, that, after the delivery and profession of faith, works of righteousness be despised, but that each man may know that he can be justified through faith, although the works of the law have not gone before. For they follow after one who is justified, not go before one who shall be justified. . . . Whereas therefore this opinion had at that time arisen, other Apostolic Epistles of Peter, John, James, and Jude, direct their aim chiefly against it, so as with vehemence to maintain that faith without works profiteth not: in like manner as Paul himself hath laid down, that not any faith whatsoever whereby God is believed in, but that whose works proceed of love, is saving, and truly according to the Gospel; And faith, he says, which worketh through love. Whence that faith which seems to some to be sufficient unto salvation, he so asserts to be of no avail, as that he says, If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. But where faithful love worketh, there without doubt is a good life, for love is the fulness of the law. (F.Works, 21)

And lest it should be thought that good works will be wanting in those who believe, he adds further: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. [Eph 2:10] (Ench., 31)

I have written a book on this subject, entitled Of Faith and Works, in which, to the best of my ability, God assisting me, I have shown from Scripture, that the faith which saves us is that which the Apostle Paul clearly enough describes when he says: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love. [Galatians 5:6] But if it works evil, and not good, then without doubt, as the Apostle James says, it is dead, being alone. [James 2:17] The same apostle says again, What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? [James 2:14] And further, if a wicked man shall be saved by fire on account of his faith alone, and if this is what the blessed Apostle Paul means when he says, But he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire; [1 Corinthians 3:15] then faith without works can save a man, and what his fellow-apostle James says must be false. And that must be false which Paul himself says in another place: Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners; shall inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-10] For if those who persevere in these wicked courses shall nevertheless be saved on account of their faith in Christ, how can it be true that they shall not inherit the kingdom of God? (Ench., 67)

Therefore, the apostle having said, You are saved through faith, [Ephesians 2:8] added, And that not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God. And again, lest they should say they deserved so great a gift by their works, he immediately added, Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Ephesians 2:9] Not that he denied good works, or emptied them of their value, when he says that God renders to every man according to his works [Romans 2:6]; but because works proceed from faith, and not faith from works. Therefore it is from Him that we have works of righteousness, from whom comes also faith itself . . . (Grace.Free, 17)

But perhaps it may be said: The apostle distinguishes faith from works; he says, indeed, that grace is not of works, but he does not say that it is not of faith. This, indeed, is true. But Jesus says that faith itself also is the work of God, and commands us to work it. For the Jews said to Him, What shall we do that we may work the work of God? Jesus answered, and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. [John 6:28] (Pred., 12 [VII] )

Judgment and Works

Next, in what manner is that true which He will say unto them whom He will set on his left hand, Go ye into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels? Whom He rebukes, not because they have not believed in Him, but because they have not done good works. For assuredly, in order that no man may promise unto himself life everlasting, of faith, which without works is dead, therefore said He that He will separate all nations, which were mixed together, and were wont to use the same pastures: that it may be evident, that they will say unto Him, Lord, when saw we Thee suffering this and that, and ministered not unto Thee, who had believed in Him, but had not been careful to do good works, as if of their very dead faith they should attain unto eternal life. What? and will they haply, who have omitted to do works of mercy, go into everlasting fire . . . (F.Works, 25)

He judges, too, not only in the mass, condemning the race of devils and the race of men to be miserable on account of the original sin of these races, but He also judges the voluntary and personal acts of individuals. . . . men are punished by God for their sins often visibly, always secretly, either in this life or after death . . . (City xx, 1)

In another place, again, He tells us that He will come with His angels in His majesty; and before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another; some He will set on His right hand, and after enumerating their good works, will award to them eternal life; and others on His left hand, whose barrenness in all good works He will expose, will He condemn to everlasting fire. [Matthew 25:33] In two other passages He deals with that wicked and slothful servant, who neglected to trade with His money, [Luke 19:20-24] and with the man who was found at the feast without the wedding garmentand He orders them to be bound hand and foot, and to be cast into outer darkness. [Matthew 22:11-13] And in yet another scripture, after admitting the five virgins who were wise, He shuts the door against the other five foolish ones. [Matthew 25:1-10] Now these descriptionsand there are others which at the instant do not occur to meare all intended to represent to us the future judgment . . . by the many descriptions which are scattered throughout the Holy Scriptures there is signified to us but one mode of final judgment, which is inscrutable to uswith only the variety of deservings preserved in the rewards and punishments. (P.Pel., 11)

Justification, Imputed (Initial)

. . . through the merciful deliverance of Him who justifies the ungodly, imputing to him a reward according to grace, not according to debt. For among this number is the apostle, who says, I obtained mercy to be faithful. [1 Corinthians 7:25] (City xxi, 27)

Justification, Infused (Sanctification)

For the soul is raised up again by repentance, and the renewing of life is begun in the body still mortal by faith, by which men believe in Him who justifies the ungodly; and it is increased and strengthened by good habits from day to day, as the inner man is renewed more and more. (Trin. iv, 3, 5)

Therein is our true peace and firm bond of union with our Creator, that we should be purified and reconciled through the Mediator of life, as we had been polluted and alienated, and so had departed from Him, through the mediator of death. (Trin. iv, 10, 13)

. . . the mind must be purged by faith, by more and more abstaining from sins, and by doing good works, and by praying with the groaning of holy desires; that by profiting through the divine help, it may both understand and love. (Trin. iv, 21, 31)

Certainly this renewal does not take place in the single moment of conversion itself, as that renewal in baptism takes place in a single moment by the remission of all sins; for not one, be it ever so small, remains unremitted. But as it is one thing to be free from fever, and another to grow strong again from the infirmity which the fever produced; and one thing again to pluck out of the body a weapon thrust into it, and another to heal the wound thereby made by a prosperous cure; so the first cure is to remove the cause of infirmity, and this is wrought by the forgiving of all sins; but the second cure is to heal the infirmity itself, and this takes place gradually by making progress in the renewal of that image: which two things are plainly shown in the Psalm, where we read, Who forgives all your iniquities, which takes place in baptism; and then follows, and heals all your infirmities; and this takes place by daily additions, while this image is being renewed. And the apostle has spoken of this most expressly, saying, And though our outward man perish, yet the inner man is renewed day by day. And it is renewed in the knowledge of God, i.e. in righteousness and true holiness, according to the testimonies of the apostle cited a little before. (Trin. xiv, 17, 23)

But it may be inquired how they were no more of the world, if they were not yet sanctified in the truth; or, if they already were, why He requests that they should be so. Is it not because even those who are sanctified still continue to make progress in the same sanctification, and grow in holiness; and do not so without the aid of Gods grace, but by His sanctifying of their progress, even as He sanctified their outset? And hence the apostle likewise says: He who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. [Philippians 1:6] (L.John, 108, 2)

For the man here has had sins: but from the time that he was born of God, he has begun not to have sins. If it were so, there would be no question to embarrass us. For we should say, We have been sinners, but now we are justified: we have had sin, but now we have none. (H.1Jn, 5, 1)

But whosoever shall put his trust in Him, and yield himself up to Him, for the forgiveness of all his sins, for the cure of all his corruption, and for the kindling and illumination of his soul by His warmth and light, shall have good works by his grace; and by them he shall be even in his body redeemed from the corruption of death, crowned, satisfied with blessings, not temporal, but eternalabove what we can ask or understand. (Sp.L, 58)

These are the diseases of a mans old nature which, however, if we only advance with persevering purpose, are healed by the growth of the new nature day by day, by the faith which operates through love. (Sp.L, 59)

. . . whatever be the quality or extent of the righteousness which we may definitely ascribe to the present life, there is not a man living in it who is absolutely free from all sin; and that it is necessary for every one to give, that it may be given to him; and to forgive, that it may be forgiven him; [Luke 11:4] and whatever righteousness he has, not to presume that he has it of himself, but from the grace of God, who justifies him, and still to go on hungering and thirsting for righteousness [Matthew 5:6] from Him who is the living bread, [John 6:51] and with whom is the fountain of life; who works in His saints, while labouring amidst temptation in this life, their justification in such manner that He may still have somewhat to impart to them liberally when they ask, and something mercifully to forgive them when they confess. (Sp.L, 65)

Let us therefore take diligent heed, by the help of our Lord God, that we cause not in men an evil security, by telling them, that, if they shall have been baptized in Christ, of what nature soever their lives in that faith shall have been, they shall come unto eternal salvation; that we make not Christians in the manner in which the Jews made proselytes, unto whom the Lord says, Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, who compass sea and land to make one proselyte; but after ye have made him, ye make him a child of hell twofold more than yourselves. But let us rather hold the sound doctrine of God our Master in both things; that there be a Christian life in harmony with holy Baptism, and that eternal life be promised to no man, if either be wanting. For He who said, Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven; Himself also said, Except your righteousness shall abound above that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Of them it is that He saith, The Scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses seat; what things they say, do ye; but what they do, do ye not; for they say and do not. Therefore their righteousness is to say and not do; and thus He willed that ours should be abundant above theirs, to say and do; which if it shall not be, there shall be no entrance into the kingdom of heaven. (F.Works, 48)

. . . it is that we may cleave to Him, that we are cleansed from all stain of sins and evil passions, and are consecrated in His name. (City x, 3)

. . . the man Christ Jesus, by whom we are reconciled to God, the cleansing from sin being accomplished. For men are separated from God only by sins, from which we are in this life cleansed not by our own virtue, but by the divine compassion; through His indulgence, not through our own power. For, whatever virtue we call our own is itself bestowed upon us by His goodness. . . . there has been vouchsafed to us, through the Mediator, this grace, that we who are polluted by sinful flesh should be cleansed by the likeness of sinful flesh. (City x, 22)

For in proportion as a man loves what Christ disapproves does he himself abandon Christ. For what does it profit a man that he is baptized, if he is not justified? Did not He who said, Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of God, [John 3:5] say also, Unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven? [Matthew 5:20] (City xxi, 27)

As therefore, for examples sake, a man who is lamed by a wound is cured in order that his step for the future may be direct and strong, its past infirmity being healed, so does the Heavenly Physician cure our maladies, not only that they may cease any longer to exist, but in order that we may ever afterwards be able to walk arightto which we should be unequal, even after our healing, except by His continued help. . . . For, just as the eye of the body, even when completely sound, is unable to see unless aided by the brightness of light, so also man, even when most fully justified, is unable to lead a holy life, if he be not divinely assisted by the eternal light of righteousness. God, therefore, heals us not only that He may blot out the sin which we have committed, but, furthermore, that He may enable us even to avoid sinning. (Nat., 29 [XXVI] )

. . . it is our duty at once to be thankful for what is already healed within us, and to pray for such further healing as shall enable us to enjoy full liberty, in that most absolute state of health which is incapable of addition, the perfect pleasure of God. For we do not deny that human nature can be without sin; nor ought we by any means to refuse to it the ability to become perfect, since we admit its capacity for progressby Gods grace, however, through our Lord Jesus Christ. By His assistance we aver that it becomes holy and happy, by whom it was created in order to be so. (Nat., 68 [LVIII] )

If God wished not that man should be without sin, He would not have sent His Son without sin, to heal men of their sins. This takes place in believers who are being renewed day by day, [2 Corinthians 4:16] until their righteousness becomes perfect, like fully restored health. (Perf., 3, 7)

. . . he has kept Gods ways who does not so turn aside as to forsake them, but makes progress by running his course therein; although, weak as he is, he sometimes stumbles or falls, onward, however, he still goes, sinning less and less until he reaches the perfect state in which he will sin no more. For in no other way could he make progress, except by keeping His ways. (Perf., 11, 27)

And every man that has this hope towards Him purifies himself, even as He is pure, [1 John 3:3]  purifies himself, not indeed by himself alone, but by believing in Him, and calling on Him who sanctifies His saints; which sanctification, when perfected at last (for it is at present only advancing and growing day by day), shall take away from us for ever all the remains of our infirmity. (Perf., 18, 39)

. . . the unrighteous man is justified, that is, becomes just instead of impious, and begins to possess that good desert which God will crown when the world shall be judged. (Ep. 214 [4]: to Valentinus [426] )

This is the advice of the Apostle Paul, who, after saying that he was not yet perfect, [Philippians 3:12] a little later adds, Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded, [Philippians 3:15]  meaning perfect to a certain extent, but not having attained to a perfection sufficient for us . . . (Grace.Free, 1 [I] )

Merit

God, through whom we disapprove the error of those, who think that there are no merits of souls before You. (Sol. i, 3)

A crown of victory is not promised, save to them who strive. (Confl., 1)

And according to the cleanness of My deeds He will recompense Me, who has given Me to do well by bringing Me forth into the broad place of faith. (E.Ps., 18:20 [18:21] )

. . . not only for the breadth of faith, which works by love; but also for the length of perseverance, will the Lord reward Me according to My righteousness. (E.Ps., 18:24 [18:25] )

. . . let me say to every man that is to be born, nothing you are by yourself, on God call thou, your own are sins, merits are Gods: punishment to you is owing, and when reward shall have come, His own gifts He will crown, not your merits. (E.Ps., 71:19 [71, 22] )

. . . cures more frequent by the merits of Martyrs. (E.Ps., 119:157 [119, 155] )

Since those also which are called our deserts, are His gifts. For, that faith may work by love, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Trin. xiii, 10, 14)

. . . it was not the sacrament, but the personal merit that was different in the two cases. (C.Pet., ii, 47, 110)

For I would ask whether you use the Lords prayer in your devotions? For if you do not use that prayer, which our Lord taught His disciples for their use, where have you learned another, proportioned to your merits, as exceeding the merits of the apostles? (C.Pet., ii, 104, 237)

For if the sanctity of baptism be according to the diversity of merits in them that administer it, then as merits are diverse there will be diverse baptisms; and the recipient will imagine that what he receives is so much the better, the better he appears to be from whom he received it. . . . Therefore if one receive baptism from him, for example, who is a righteous saint, another from another who is of inferior merit with God, of inferior degree, of inferior continence, of inferior life, how notwithstanding is that which they receive one, equal and like . . .? (L.John, 6, 8)

Merit is accumulating now to the believer, and then the reward is paid into the hand of the beholder. . . . As far as each one has been a partaker of You, some less, some more, such will be the diversity of rewards in proportion to the diversity of merits . . . (L.John, 68, 3)

He crowns, therefore, with loving-kindness and tender mercy; but even so according to works. (Sp.L, 59)

. . . the merit which is bestowed upon each man by divine grace. (City xx, 21)

God by nature cannot sin, but the partaker of God receives this inability from God. And in this divine gift there was to be observed this gradation, that man should first receive a free will by which he was able not to sin, and at last a free will by which he was not able to sinthe former being adapted to the acquiring of merit, the latter to the enjoying of the reward. (City xxii, 30)

It is after this life, indeed, that the reward of perfection is bestowed, but only upon those by whom in their present life has been acquired the merit of such a recompense. (Perf., 8, 17)

Their own crown is recompensed to their merits; but your merits are the gifts of God! (P.Pel., 35)

For there are whom these things aid nothing at all, namely, when they are done either for persons whose merits are so evil, that neither by such things are they worthy to be aided; or for persons whose merits are so good, that of such things they have no need as aids. (Dead, 2)

Therefore, it is in this life that all the merit or demerit is acquired, which can either relieve or aggravate a mans sufferings after this life. No one, then, need hope that after he is dead he shall obtain merit with God which he has neglected to secure here. (Ench., 110)

The good, indeed, shall receive their reward according to the merits of their own good-will, but then they received this very good-will through the grace of God . . . (Ep. 215 [1]: to Valentinus [426] )

But it is plain that when it has been given, also our good merits begin to beyet only by means of it; for, were that only to withdraw itself, man falls, not raised up, but precipitated by free will. Wherefore no man ought, even when he begins to possess good merits, to attribute them to himself, but to God, . . . even after he has become justified by faith, grace should accompany him on his way, and he should lean upon it, lest he fall. (Grace.Free, 13 [VI] )

Let us see what he says when his final sufferings were approaching, writing to Timothy: I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. [2 Timothy 4:6-7] He enumerates these as, of course, now his good merits; so that, as after his evil merits he obtained grace, so now, after his good merits, he might receive the crown. Observe, therefore, what follows: There is henceforth laid up for me, he says, a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day. [2 Timothy 4:8] (Grace.Free, 14)

If, then, your good merits are Gods gifts, God does not crown your merits as your merits, but as His own gifts. (Grace.Free, 15)

. . . since even that life eternal itself, which, it is certain, is given as due to good works, is called by so great an apostle the grace of God, although grace is not rendered to works, but is given freely, it must be confessed without any doubt, that eternal life is called grace for the reason that it is rendered to those merits which grace has conferred upon man. (Reb.Gr., 41)

. . . the grace of God is not given according to our merits; because even every one of the merits of the righteous is Gods gift, and is conferred by Gods grace. . . . merits of the saints, then, which are no merits unless they are the gifts of God, . . . (Persev., 4)

. . . you He crowns with pity and mercy; and if your own merits have gone before, God says to you, Examine well your merits, and you shall see that they are My gifts. (Serm., 81, 8 [CXXXI])

Sacraments and Grace

. . . grace, which is the virtue of the Sacraments, . . . (E.Ps., 78:1 [78, 2] )

Wherefore God gives the sacrament of grace even through the hands of wicked men, but the grace itself only by Himself or through His saints. (Bapt., v, 21, 29)

. . . even when spiritual grace is dispensed to those that believe by the hands of a holy and faithful minister, it is still not the minister himself who justifies, but that One of whom it is said, that He justifies the ungodly? [Romans 4:5] (C.Pet., i, 5, 6)

Sacraments and Salvation

The Sacraments of the New Testament give Salvation . . . (E.Ps., [74, 1] )

For salvation is peculiar to the good; but the sacraments are common to the good and bad alike. (Bapt., vii, 33, 65)

. . . the sacraments of the Church, without which there is no entrance to the life which is the true life. (L.John, 120, 2)

Good is it for us that we love not the world, lest the sacraments remain in us unto damnation, not as means of strengthening unto salvation. (H.1Jn, 2, 9)

Suffering, Redemptive (Participation in Christs Suffering)

The sufferings therefore of Christ are not in Christ alone; nay, there are not any save in Christ. For if Christ you understand to be Head and Body, the sufferings of Christ are not, save in Christ: but if Christ thou understand of Head alone, the sufferings of Christ are not in Christ alone. For if the sufferings of Christ are in Christ alone, to wit in the Head alone; whence says a certain member of Him, Paul the Apostle, In order that I may supply what are wanting of the oppressions of Christ in my flesh? [Colossians 1:24] If therefore in the members of Christ you are, whatsoever man you are that art hearing these words, whosoever you are that dost hear these words (but however, you hear, if in the members of Christ you are): whatsoever thing you suffer from those that are not in the members of Christ, was wanting to the sufferings of Christ. Therefore it is added because it was wanting; you fill up the measure, you cause it not to run over: you suffer so much as was to be contributed out of your sufferings to the whole suffering of Christ, that has suffered in our Head, and does suffer in His members, that is, in our own selves. Unto this our common republic, as it were each of us according to our measure pays that which we owe, and according to the powers which we have, as it were a quota of sufferings we contribute. The storehouse of all mens sufferings will not be completely made up, save when the world shall have been ended . . . (E.Ps., [62, 2])

For this purpose he briefly sketches in what follows the troubles of Christs body. For it is not in the Head alone that they took place, since it is said to Saul too, Why do you persecute Me? [Acts 9:4] and Paul himself, as if placed as an elect member in the same body, says, That I may fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh. [Colossians 1:24] (E.Ps., 88:14 [88, 13] )

Synergy: Cooperation with Gods Grace as Co-Laborers

We believe also, that On the Third Day He Rose Again from The Dead, the first-begotten for brethren destined to come after Him, whom He has called into the adoption of the sons of God, whom [also] He has deemed it meet to make His own joint-partners and joint-heirs. (F.Creed, 5, 12)

. . . the grace of God, which does work not only remission of sins, but also does make the spirit of man to work together therewith in the work of good deeds, . . . To believe in God therefore is this, in believing to cleave unto God who works good works, in order to work with Him well. (E.Ps., 78:8 [78, 7] )

. . . these same saints shall rest also in Him after all the good works in which they have served Himwhich He Himself, indeed, works in them, who calls them, and instructs them, and puts away the offenses that are past, and justifies the man who previously was ungodly. For as, when by His gift they work that which is good, He is Himself rightly said to work (that in them) . . . (Cat.U., 17, 28)

But God crowns in us the gifts of His own mercy; but on condition that we walk with perseverance in that grace which in the first instance we received. (L.John, 3, 10)

But there are also in the heavens, thrones, governments, principalities, powers, archangels, and angels, which are all of them the work of Christ; and is it, then, greater works also than these that he does, who, with Christ working in him, is a co-worker in his own eternal salvation and justification? I dare not call for any hurried decision on such a point: let him who can, understand, and let him who can, judge whether it is a greater work to create righteous beings than to make righteous the ungodly. . . . And it is assuredly something less to preach the words of righteousness, which He did apart from us, than to justify the ungodly, which He does in such a way in us that we also are doing it ourselves. (L.John, 72, 3)

Continue, for He continues: and persevere in walking, that you may reach the goal: for that to which you tend will not remove. See: And every one that has this hope in Him, purifies himself even as He is pure. See how he has not taken away free-will, in that he says, purifies himself. Who purifies us but God? Yea, but God does not purify you if you be unwilling. Therefore, in that you join your will to God, in that you purify yourself. Thou purifiest yourself, not by yourself, but by Him who comes to inhabit you. Still, because you do somewhat therein by the will, therefore is somewhat attributed to you. (H.1Jn, 4, 7)

God is said to be our Helper; but nobody can be helped who does not make some effort of his own accord. For God does not work our salvation in us as if he were working in insensate stones, or in creatures in whom nature has placed neither reason nor will. (Sin.I.Bapt. ii, 6)

. . . to lead a holy life is the gift of Godnot only because God has given a free-will to man, without which there is no living ill or well; nor only because He has given him a commandment to teach him how he ought to live; but because through the Holy Ghost He sheds love abroad in the hearts [Romans 7:7] of those whom he foreknew . . . even mans righteousness must be attributed to the operation of God, although not taking place without mans will; and we therefore cannot deny that his perfection is possible even in this life, because all things are possible with God, [Mark 10:27]  both those which He accomplishes of His own sole will, and those which He appoints to be done with the cooperation with Himself of His creatures will. (Sp.L, 7 [V] )

. . . they are justified freely by His gracenot that it is wrought without our will . . . (Sp.L, 15 [IX] )

We must therefore avoid saying, that the way in which God assists us to work righteousness, and works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, [Philippians 2:13] is by externally addressing to our faculties precepts of holiness; for He gives His increase internally, [1 Corinthians 3:7] by shedding love abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us. [Romans 5:5] (Sp.L, 42 [XXV] )

Now this that the apostle says, It is God that works in you both to will and to do of His own good pleasure, [Philippians 2:13] belongs already to that grace which faith secures, in order that good works may be within the reach of maneven the good works which faith achieves through the love which is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. (Sp.L, 57 [XXXIII] )

We run, therefore, whenever we make advance; . . . in order that we may be in every respect perfect, without any infirmity of sin whatevera result which God not only wishes, but even causes and helps us to accomplish. And this Gods grace does, in co-operation with ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord, as well by commandments, sacraments, and examples, as by His Holy Spirit also . . . (Perf., 20, 43)

For who indeed could condemn or deny the freedom of the will, when Gods help is associated with it? . . . And our free will can do nothing better for us than to submit itself to be led by Him who can do nothing amiss; and after doing this, not to doubt that it was helped to do it by Him . . . (P.Pel., 4 [II] )

The apostle, however, holds the contrary, when he says, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [Philippians 2:12] And that they might be sure that it was not simply in their being able to work (for this they had already received in nature and in teaching), but in their actual working, that they were divinely assisted, the apostle does not say to them, For it is God that works in you to be able, as if they already possessed volition and operation among their own resources, without requiring His assistance in respect of these two; but he says, For it is God which works in you both to will and to perform of His own good pleasure; [Philippians 2:13] or, as the reading runs in other copies, especially the Greek, both to will and to operate. Consider, now, whether the apostle did not thus long before foresee by the Holy Ghost that there would arise adversaries of the grace of God; and did not therefore declare that God works within us those two very things, even willing and operating, which this man so determined to be our own, as if they were in no wise assisted by the help of divine grace. (Grace.Orig. i, 6 [V] )

. . . we have now proved by our former testimonies from Holy Scripture that there is in man a free determination of will for living rightly and acting rightly; so now let us see what are the divine testimonies concerning the grace of God, without which we are not able to do any good thing. (Grace.Free, 7)

If he should say in respect of these commandments, I wish to keep them, but am mastered by my concupiscence, then the Scripture responds to his free will, as I have already said: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:21] In order, however, that this victory may be gained, grace renders its help . . . the victory in which sin is vanquished is nothing else than the gift of God, who in this contest helps free will. (Grace.Free, 8)

. . . a man is assisted by grace, in order that his will may not be uselessly commanded. (Grace.Free, 9)

And it was while he had this evil merit that a good one was rendered to him instead of the evil; and, therefore, he went on at once to say, But by the grace of God I am what I am. [1 Corinthians 15:10] Then, in order to exhibit also his free will, he added in the next clause, And His grace within me was not in vain, but I have laboured more abundantly than they all. This free will of man he appeals to in the case of others also, as when he says to them, We beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. [2 Corinthians 6:1] Now, how could he so enjoin them, if they received Gods grace in such a manner as to lose their own will? Nevertheless, lest the will itself should be deemed capable of doing any good thing without the grace of God, after saying, His grace within me was not in vain, but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, he immediately added the qualifying clause, Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. [1 Corinthians 15:10] In other words, Not I alone, but the grace of God with me. And thus, neither was it the grace of God alone, nor was it he himself alone, but it was the grace of God with him. (Grace.Free, 12)

It is not, however, to be for a moment supposed, because he said, It is God that works in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure, [Philippians 2:13] that free will is taken away. If this, indeed, had been his meaning, he would not have said just before, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [Philippians 2:12] For when the command is given to work, their free will is addressed; and when it is added, with fear and trembling, they are warned against boasting of their good deeds as if they were their own, by attributing to themselves the performance of anything good. (Grace.Free, 21 [IX] )

It is certain that it is we that act when we act; but it is He who makes us act, by applying efficacious powers to our will, who has said, I will make you to walk in my statutes, and to observe my judgments, and to do them. [Ezekiel 36:27] (Grace.Free, 32 [XVI] )

He operates, therefore, without us, in order that we may will; but when we will, and so will that we may act, He co-operates with us. We can, however, ourselves do nothing to effect good works of piety without Him either working that we may will, or co-working when we will. Now, concerning His working that we may will, it is said: It is God which works in you, even to will. [Philippians 2:13] While of His co-working with us, when we will and act by willing, the apostle says, We know that in all things there is co-working for good to them that love God. [Romans 8:28] (Grace.Free, 33 [XVII] )

. . . work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. [Philippians 2:12-13] We therefore will, but God works in us to will also. We therefore work, but God works in us to work also for His good pleasure. (Pred., 33)

Total Depravity (Falsity of); Human Nature

. . . let them cease to say and to teach that there are two kinds of souls, one of which has nothing of evil, the other nothing of good . . . (Soul.c.M, 14)

. . . every nature, as far as it is nature, is good; since in one and the same thing in which I found something to praise, and he found something to blame, if the good things are taken away, no nature will remain; but if the disagreeable things are taken away, the nature will remain unimpaired. (C.Fund.M, 33, 36)

. . . enough has been said to show that corruption does harm only as displacing the natural condition; and so, that corruption is not nature, but against nature. And if corruption is the only evil to be found anywhere, and if corruption is not nature, no nature is evil. (C.Fund.M, 35, 39)

. . . Gods image has not been so completely erased in the soul of man by the stain of earthly affections, as to have left remaining there not even the merest lineaments of it . . . what was impressed on their hearts when they were created in the image of God has not been wholly blotted out . . . this writing in the heart is effected by renovation, although it had not been completely blotted out by the old nature. . . . the law of God, which had not been wholly blotted out there by unrighteousness . . . (Sp.L, 48)

. . . no one is evil by nature, but whoever is evil is evil by vice . . . (City xiv, 6)

. . . evil cannot exist without good, because the natures in which evil exists, in so far as they are natures, are good. (City xiv, 11)

. . . there is, owing to the defects that have entered our nature, not to the constitution of our nature, a certain necessary tendency to sin . . . (Nat., 79 [LXVI] )

And in the same way, just as an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit, so an evil will cannot produce good works. But from the nature of man, which is good, may spring either a good or an evil will. And certainly there was at first no source from which an evil will could spring, except the nature of angel or of man, which was good. (Ench., 15)

Works, Good (in Grace)

But as regards this point, that those who have been pleased with your good deeds should imitate you, we are to act before the eyes not only of believers, but also of unbelievers, so that by our good works, which are to be praised, they may honour God, and may come to salvation. (S.Mount ii, 2, 6)

. . . in order that good works may follow, faith does precede; and there are not any good works, save those which follow faith preceding . . . (E.Ps., 68:32 [68, 37] )

If the love of the Father abide not in you, you are not born of God. How do you boast to be a Christian? You have the name, and hast not the deeds. But if the work shall follow the name, let any call you pagan, show by deeds that you are a Christian. For if by deeds you do not show yourself a Christian, all men may call you a Christian yet; what does the name profit you where the thing is not forthcoming? (H.1Jn, 5, 12)

When any Christian has begun to live well, to be fervent in good works, and to despise the world; in this newness of his life he is exposed to the animadversions and contradictions of cold Christians. But if he persevere, and get the better of them by his endurance, and faint not in good works; those very same persons who before hindered will now respect him. For they rebuke, and hinder, and withstand him so long as they have any hope that he will yield to them. But if they shall be overcome by their perseverance who make progress, they turn round and begin to say, He is a great man, a holy man, happy he to whom God has given such grace. (Serm., 38, 18 [LXXXVIII] )

*

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Summary: I compile extensive writings from St. Augustine (354-430): all of which express his opposition to the novel 16th century innovation of faith alone.
Dr. Peter Partey Anti, the Executive Secretary of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST-Ghana), has urged the Ministry of Education to suspend the idea of changing public school uniforms and rather focus on tackling infrastructural challenges being faced by many public schools across the country.



Dr. Anti opined that, many public schools across the country are facing with a plethora of infrastructure challenges, ranging from school buildings, to desks, and offices for staffs.



The minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adu-Twum in a recent 'The Free SHS story' forum held in Accra on Thursday, April 25, disclosed the ministrys intention on changing the yellow and brown uniforms worn by public schools.



Dr. Yaw Osei Adu-Twum said, "we are changing the uniforms of public basic schools in the country. The yellow and brown that you see now, you will see no more. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will see it."



He hinted, We are switching to blue and white. We are painting all the schools to give it an attractive outlook. This is the transformation Ghana deserves and it is coming.



According to the Education Minister, the facelift of the public schools will boost the confidence of the students which in will return, make them develop great innovative minds.



However, Dr. Anti shared a different view stating that the idea of changing of uniforms, should not be an issue for the government at the moment due to the many pressing needs being faced by Ghanas education sector.



Speaking on TV3s Ghana Tonight, monitored by Peacefmonline.com said, "Its not an issue we should even be thinking about right now, we have pressing needs in our basic school system. Policies in the education sector arent for a selected few but for the whole nation. The government needs to sit up."



According to Dr. Anti, Ghanas basic schools system have deteriorated adding that most of the schools have infrastructural deficiencies with no access to internet connectivity, electricity and other vital amenities needed to have quality education.



The last time government changed school uniforms in the country was in 2019/2020 academic year.



In an effort to achieve universal primary education, the government, as part of its educational policy, initiated free school uniform distribution throughout the country in 2010, for Junior High Schools.



According to a recent government data, a total of 170,221 pupils were supplied with free school uniforms in 2013 and it planned to supply 10,000 uniforms in 2014.

Source: Kobina Darlington/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.

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Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, Dennis Miracles Aboagye has rebuked the Fourth Estate over what has now become a false publication by the website regarding the GRA/SML contract.



The Fourth Estate accused the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) of many infractions in their dealings which prompted the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to direct KMPG, an audit firm, to look into the issue and ascertain the truth.



SML was accused of receiving $100 million from the government among other malfeasances but the KPMG report has exonerated the company.



According to the report, there was no payment of $100 million and it also goes to tell the allegations cited in the publication against SML were untrue.



Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show on Thursday, April 25, 2024, Dennis Miracles commended the President for establishing the truth using KPMG, a reliable audit firm.



"What he has done is a testament to the kind of person that he is...it's a lot of boldness that will make a President take such a decision. You need a lot of boldness, confidence, courage before you say I should give a matter of this sort to KPMG," he lauded the President.



However, Dennis was alarmed by the Fourth Estate's publication wondering why they would fabricate stories to tarnish the image of SML, a Ghanaian-owned company.



He expressed worry about the amount of damage that has been done to SML due to the Fourth Estate's reportage that, to him, was to smear the company and its owner, stressing many Ghanaians bought into the lies and although the company has been cleared of any wrongdoings, it may be difficult for them to erase the misconception and wrong perceptions of Ghanaians about the company.



"A lot of media guys have become mercenaries...They are for the highest bidder," he established, asking "why do we do this to ourselves?"



Dennis Miracles offered advice to Ghanaians not to believe everything they are told and also cautioned the media against debasing people.



"My advice to myself and all Ghanaians is that, in this country, always go and read the story behind the headlines. Always read the story behind the headlines; if you don't do that, you would constantly look stupid all the time.



"You can imagine the number of people who followed these things when they came up...When someone does commits a wrongdoing, let's say it but we should stop the deliberate orchestration of evil. Orchestration of evil against some fellow citizens is problematic," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kasapreko Plc, the heartbeat of Ghana's beverage industry and producers of Awake Purified Drinking Water, has made a significant commitment to the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, doubling its funding to GH150,000.



This 100% increase from previous donations of GH75,000 quarterly demonstrates the brand's dedication to supporting Ghanaians with heart conditions.



The GH150,000 donation, made through the "One4Life" charity-driven project, marks the first-quarter payment of 2024.



Since its inception, the "One4Life" campaign has saved hundreds of children with severe heart conditions by setting aside 10 pesewas from the purchase of every 500ml of Awake Purified Drinking Water for donation.



Madam Linda Aidoo, Brands Manager at Kasapreko Company, emphasized the brand's intention to make a greater impact saying "we're grateful for Ghanaians' support of Awake Purified Drinking Water and our 'One4Life' initiative. By increasing our funding, we aim to make a difference in the lives of more Ghanaians, particularly children with heart conditions. We remain committed to this partnership and encourage Ghanaians to continue patronizing our products, knowing that a portion of their purchase supports this vital cause".



Prof. Mark Mawutor Tettey, Acting Executive Director of the Cardiothoracic Centre, expressed his gratitude for the support.



He said; "The cost of providing quality healthcare has risen significantly over time, and corporate Ghana's support is crucial. This generous donation from Awake will go a long way in supporting patients who cannot afford our services, as well as helping us mitigate the financial burden of maintaining and upgrading our facilities."



Renowned Ghanaian gospel musician and Awake Purified Drinking Water brand ambassador, Diana Hamilton, also shared her excitement stating "it's a joy to see the impact of the 'One4Life' project, and we hope to do even more in the future. Thank you to Ghanaians for their continued support of Awake Purified Drinking Water, knowing that their purchases are making a difference in the lives of children with heart conditions".



The "One4Life" initiative has made a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of children and this increased funding will further support the Cardiothoracic Centre's mission to providing quality care to those in need.



Awake Purified Drinking Water's commitment to giving back to the community is a shining example of Corporate Social Responsibility and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of their generosity.

About Kasapreko Company Limited

Kasapreko Company Limited is a leading manufacturer of beverages in Ghana, dedicated to producing high quality products and giving back to the community through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.



Awake Purified Drinking Water was recently recognized as "Product of the Year" and "Quality Purified Drinking Water of the Year" by the Chartered Institute Of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Award.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has impressed on the energy providers, particularly the Electricity Company of Ghana and GRIDCo, to resolve the power crisis in the country.



The Governance lecturer at the Central University registered his displeasure with the electricity situation where the lights go off for many hours and days destroying food, home appliances and businesses of some Ghanaians.



The citizens have been bitterly complaining about the refusal of the Electricity Company of Ghana to release a power schedule to guide them in planning their daily activities.



According to the energy distributor, the power cuts are as a result of localized faults and they are working around the clock to rectify the problem.



Speaking during Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Dr. Otchere-Ankrah asked the ECG and GRIDCo to treat the issue with urgency stressing "every single thing now is dependent on energy. All sectors from classroom to everywhere depends on energy, let's solve it".



He also slammed the government over how they are treating Ghanaians in the wake of the electricity challenges, particularly mentioning the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and his role in this energy crisis.



"Let's learn from our past," he advised.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The government has issued a directive to Future Global Resources Limited (FGR) to promptly revamp its mining operations.



This follows a picketing protest organized by the Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) of the TUC-Ghana at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Thursday, April 25.



In a statement released on Sunday, April 14, 2024, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, the General Secretary of the union, clarified that the protest aimed to urge the government to revoke the mining lease of Future Global Resources Limited, the operators of the Bogoso-Prestea Mines.



The union argues that since assuming control of the mine in 2020, Future Global Resources has not demonstrated sufficient financial capability to effectively manage it. Despite a recommendation from the Minerals Commission to the Minister of Lands & Natural Resources to revoke the license, it has not yet been done.



During the picketing at the Lands Ministry, the government, represented by Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, acknowledged the concerns of the union and ordered FGR to address them immediately.



Mr Jinapor assured the aggrieved workers of the governments commitment to improving their welfare.

The directive to FGR came as a result of the pressure exerted by the GMWU, highlighting the power of collective action in addressing labour issues.



The union's persistence in advocating for its members' rights led to swift government action, demonstrating the significance of organized labor in the country's governance.



In response to the government's directive, Future Global Resources Limited is expected to take immediate steps to address the concerns raised by the GMWU.



"The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, on Thursday, 25th April, 2024, engaged members of the Mine Workers Union who were picketing at the Ministry and assured them of Governments commitment to working with all stakeholders to revamp the Prestea and Bogoso mines, and secure the welfare of its workers," an excerpt of the statement said.

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The owner of the 10 duplexes that were recently demolished at Adjiriganor in Accra, George Oti Bonsu, has called on state agencies to investigate the circumstances that led to the demolition exercise to ensure justice.



He also entreated the government to call to order all those who played a role in the demolition of the building worth GH 60 million. Mr Bonsu, who described himself as a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), made the call at a press conference held at the demolition site last Monday.



The unauthorised demolition underscores an abuse of power. The time and day of the enforcement of the possession order itself smacks of illegality, he said. The demolition, he said, was executed with excessive force, including police and military presence forcibly entering the property, confiscating phones, assaulting individuals and preventing residents from calling the police at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024.



He said The involvement of individuals in police and military uniforms raised concerns about the rogue elements operating outside official channels. We possess evidence demonstrating that the court did not authorise the demolition, as Hajia Aisha Ahmeds team was duly informed of pending motions in court, he said.



He said official documentation from the Lands Commission rebutted the search result presented to the court by Hajia and her team, indicating that fraudulent documents were presented in court.



Background

Mr Bonsu said he acquired the land in question in 1992 from the Anorkwei and Tuaka families of Teshie. Subsequently, the Akwraboye Doku family obtained a Supreme Court judgment, to which Mr Bonsu duly atoned tenancy.



However, litigation ensued when Winchester Empire contested ownership in the High Court at Tema. Concurrently, the land was also under litigation at the Accra High Court.



Injunction

Amidst the legal proceedings, one Hajia Aisha Ahmed filed a case at the Adentan Circuit Court, seeking an injunction to prevent Mr Bonsu from proceeding with his construction.



The High Court in Tema, however, ruled that having permitted Mr Bonsu to proceed with construction, a lower court could not vary that decision.



Account

Mr Bonsu said Hajia Aisha Ahmed, who is also claiming ownership of the land, allegedly brought in military men on the morning of Monday, April 7, 2024.



Recounting the incident, he explained how caretakers were ordered to lie on the ground and their phones confiscated before the team proceeded to demolish the structures using bulldozers.



Mr Bonsu, however, speculated as to whether the drastic action was in retaliation for his support of Mr Ken Agyapong, a prominent figure within the NPP. He said he even sought the intervention of former President John Agyekum Kufuor prior to the demolition.



Ownership

The representatives of the Anorkwei and Tuaka families of Teshie, led by the Power of Attorney for the Anorkwei family, Ben Kusi, who were present at yesterdays press conference, confirmed selling the land to Mr Bonsu.



They affirmed that a court injunction prevented land sale due to family head issues at the time of Hajia's purported purchase. They, however, denied selling the land to Hajia Ahmed or signing any document presented by her.

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Some market women in Accra have lauded the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy as a groundbreaking initiative, saying it will help in levelling the education playing field in the country.



During a symposium titled 'The Free SHS Story, organised by the Ministry of Education at the UPSA Auditorium, the women took turns to share their experiences and perspectives on the transformative impact of the FSHS policy.



The forum which discussed the policy in totality drew participants from the education sector, selected students from across the country, faith-based organisations, politicians, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and a cross section of the public.



The market women recounted the challenges they faced in the past to pay school fees for their children who were in senior high school (SHS). They said with the FSHS policy both rich and poor students could now attend the same schools without financial hindrances.



A fish seller from the Madina Market, Esinam Akpedo, highlighted how the FSHS policy had empowered her to support three of her children through university education. She emphasised that the elimination of financial constraints had enabled students to focus on their studies without distractions, ultimately opening doors for them to pursue their desired courses at the tertiary level.



Afia Serwaa, known as the Queen of tomato sellers at Agbogbloshie Market, shared her struggles as a single mother supporting her daughters through SHS.



However, she said when it came to her son who was now in the third-year in SHS in the Eastern Region, there was no challenge with fees and that had allowed him to study without difficulty, since the FSHS policy started.



Economic transformation

During the symposium, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, emphasised the pivotal role of the FSHS policy in shaping the nation's economy by nurturing 21st Century manpower.



He commended the recent academic achievements of the five regions of the north, attributing their success to the FSHS policy's impact on education quality and access.



Dr Adutwum showcased various educational developments in the country, expressing optimism that sustained progress would position Ghana as a leader in education within the African continent.



He said the policy since its inception in September 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration had enrolled a cumulative 3,046,172 students. Dr Adutwum, giving the regional enrolment breakdown, revealed that the five regions in the north were the five top beneficiaries of the initiative, with the Northern Region leading with 95 per cent followed by North East (94 per cent), Savannah (94 per cent), Upper East (92 per cent) and Upper West (89 per cent) as of December 2023.



At a ceremony in Accra to celebrate the success story of the Free SHS initiative and restrategise for the future, Dr Adutwum said the policy had touched many lives considering the various benefits it had brought to the Ghanaian student, parents and the nation at large.



We cant continue to talk about the knowledge economy and not focus on what will take us there in terms of creating that knowledge economy. So, today is all celebration. Today, we are paying tribute to the President of the Republic and the Vice-President for their vision, persistence and dedication which have made the Free SHS policy a resounding success, he stated.



Social impact

The National Coordinator of the FSHS Policy, William Darkwa, highlighted the positive societal changes catalysed by the policy. He emphasised improvements in equity, access and quality across all SHS/TVET institutions, underscoring the policy's overarching objectives.



Background

Initiated by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government in 2017, the FSHS policy continues to shape the skills and knowledge of Ghanaians through various initiatives.



These include STEM education, the revitalisation of TVET education and the introduction of Pre-Engineering and robotics programmes, among others.





The FSHS Secretariat, in support of the policy, has launched projects such as STEMNNOVATION to nurture students' diverse talents and abilities, further enhancing the educational landscape of the nation.

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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has reposed confidence in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to solve the dumsor problem under his administration.



The electricity challenges have almost made the Akufo-Addo government unpopular in the eyes of Ghanaians.



With the nation bedeviled with this power crisis, some people including the Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation, Nana Akomea, have warned it will gravely affect the New Patriotic Partys dream to break the eight-year governance cycle.



As Ghanaians cry out for a load-shedding timetable which the Electricity Company of Ghana has refused to provide, Allotey Jacobs is of a strong belief that the President will walk his talk in resolving the issue.



Contributing to the panel discussion on Peace FMs Kokrokoo show, Allotey stated categorically; I believe in Addo D. When Nana Akufo-Addo promises a thing, he fulfills it. He does it and once hes told us that he agrees with Ghanaians but pleads for us to be patient and that very soon the issues will be resolved, lets have faith in our leader.



He urged Ghanaians to have faith in him (Akufo-Addo) because he has done it once.













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The newly inducted Presidential running mate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged her allegiance to the flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama stating that she will repay the confidence reposed in her with loyalty, understanding and devotion to duty.



During her acceptance speech on April 24, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang expressed gratitude to former President John Mahama for renominating her as his running mnate ahgead of the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.



She said, "My output, going forward, by the Grace of God, will continue to demonstrate what the world knows already, that women are also capable of high achievements; that we do so with that reservoir of strength, determination, and mental acuity that only those who are noble and far-sighted can comprehend and contend with."



The first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast added that, the choice of a female as a running mate and incoming Vice President is a clear indication of the confidence the former President and flagbearer of the NDC has in women and their capabilities.



"As I stated in my brief acceptance note on March 7, 2024, by renominating me you have demonstrated your remarkable consistency and unwavering commitment to inclusivity and innovation. I have heard you share with the public your rationale for choosing me, again. I have found that very touching. Thank you very much; as the Gonjas express it with meaning: ansan kushun."



As a build up towards the December 7 elections, the NDC have strategically nominated the learned Professor to the admiration and appreciation to many women groups.



Professor Janes composure while delivering her acceptance speech at the UPSA, in the presence of some stalwarts of the NDC have left many attendees in awe of her confidence and courage.



According to Professor Jane, she will work closely with the President in bringing Ghana back to the right path.



"It is to work towards a Ghana where citizens have confidence and hope and are determined to regain their independence of thought and of agenda. We must work towards a Ghana that at the very least, can feed itself; where the law truly works; where there is shared prosperity; where democracy has not become a fluke; where people are not abused and where the basic necessities of life are not denied the majority or eventually, anyone," she said.

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The Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has cautioned members of the party against complacency ahead of the 2024 polls.



While many polls project a victory for the NDC, Asiedu Nketiah highlighted that the governing New Patriotic Party still poses a threat due to vote-buying tactics.



Speaking at the unveiling of the party's running mate in Accra today, he highlighted a major risk of attempting to match the NPP in vote-buying, stating, "No matter what we do, we cannot mobilize enough resources to compete with them in money politics."



He urged the party to uphold principles of integrity, truthfulness, and honesty, rather than engaging in a bidding war for votes.



Mr. Asiedu Nketiah also cautioned against internal struggles for positions in the next government, warning that this could demoralize party supporters.



"Some people are not only vying for positions; they are also positioning themselves as kingmakers who will make all appointments. This approach can dampen the enthusiasm of our followers," he added. "We are not there yet. Let's focus on winning first and then discuss how to share the rewards."



Commenting on Mr. Asiedu Nketiah's comments, the flagbearer of the Party, John Dramani Mahama said the persons who were jostling for positions before the elections, would be disappointed.



"Let me say that, I don't have any list and so for those of them who were referred to by the General Secretary as having chosen their positions, you may be very, very deeply disappointed".

Source: Graphiconline









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Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), underscored the significance of the upcoming 2024 general election as a crucial opportunity to heal and rescue Ghana from imminent peril and deep despair.



She stressed that beyond the mere pursuit of political power, the 2024 election holds immense potential for national rejuvenation and transformation.



Speaking at her official unveiling at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the former Education Minister highlighted the pivotal role of the election in revitalizing Ghana's future.



She emphasized that it goes beyond partisan interests, aiming at healing the nation and steering it away from the brink of destruction, corruption, and widespread disillusionment.



According to Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, the election symbolizes a chance to instill confidence, hope, and a renewed sense of independence among Ghanaians. She articulated the vision of a Ghana that can sustain itself, uphold the rule of law, foster shared prosperity, safeguard democracy, protect citizens from abuse, and ensure access to essential life necessities for all.



In her address, she called for a collective effort to rebuild Ghana, restore hope, and address the challenges facing the nation. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed the importance of inclusivity, respect for diverse opinions, and a commitment to national progress, highlighting the NDC's historical achievements as a foundation for this transformative endeavor.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the electorate as its running mate for the December 7 presidential election at a well attended forum in Accra last night.



Accepting the challenge to partner former President John Dramani Mahama for the upcoming December 7 elections, she pledged to repay the abiding confidence reposed in her with loyalty, understanding and a devotion to duty.



Speaking before a packed auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who was the running mate of former President Mahama in the 2016 elections, said: I see your choice as an affirmation of your belief in the capabilities of the Ghanaian woman.



The atmosphere was filled with excitement when Prof. Opoku-Agyemang arrived in the auditorium in a golden green traditional kente outfit. She was almost immediately followed by former President Mahama, accompanied by his wife, Lordina Mahama, who acknowledged cheers from party members and supporters at the auditorium.



The event took on an all-female theme as Shamima Moslem hosted the proceedings and a female pastor delivered the opening prayer.



High achievements

The former Minister of Education said her output, going forward, would continue to demonstrate what the world knew already that women were also capable of high achievements; that we do so with that reservoir of strength, determination and mental acuity that only those who are noble and far-sighted can comprehend and contend with.



Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the election ahead was not about making history, returning a former president back to power, or producing the first woman vice-president, though they were historical and exciting.



The purpose is the opportunity to hold our country together, again; to heal Ghana; it is about the chance to pull Ghana from the precipice of destruction, of normalising corruption, of incomprehensible greed, from deep despair, she said, stressing the election ahead is about hard work and abiding sacrifice. It is to embrace everyone in building a Ghana that functions, again.



(VIDEO)The Japanese man who spent a fortune to become a dog has done his first interview in costume

She said winning the 2024 elections was to work towards a Ghana where citizens had confidence and hope and were determined to regain their independence of thought and of agenda.



We must work towards a Ghana that at the very least, can feed itself; where the law truly works; where there is shared prosperity; where democracy has not become a fluke; where people are not abused and where the basic necessities of life are not denied the majority or eventually, anyone, she stated.



Issues of state

The professor of English Language referenced complaints and stories across the political divide, social and professional groupings and among the youth concerning state capture, where the government had chosen to use its power not in the broader interest of all Ghanaians, but to favour a small clique.



Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said she had agreed with the flag bearer of the NDC that whoever had participated in the plunder of the state must be held accountable, a position she described as a promise, and not a threat, and that it was premised on the wishes of the citizens across the various political and social divides, and hinged on the principle of accountability.



John and I have agreed, that whoever has participated in the plunder of the state must be held accountable, she said. She said the promotion of ethnocentric elitism masquerading as intellectualism; nepotism cloaked as know-how; weakness strutting as courage, and crony capitalism masked as development in freedom, as well as shameless hypocrisy acting as objectivity never served a country determined to make progress at any level.

Rather, she said, the most significant achievement of those















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Dennis Miracles Aboagye has demanded an apology from the Member of Parliament for North-Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over some comments he made about the immediate past Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner-General, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah, in the controversial GRA/SML revenue assurance contract.



Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah was accused by Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa of eloping from Ghana to escape the repercussions of his actions regarding the contract.



He is said to have signed the controversial agreement between the GRA and the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).



President Akufo-Addo must immediately offer a sincere explanation to Ghanaians on the circumstances under which the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah who signed the dubious SML contract was allowed to travel out of the country with his entire nuclear family less than 24 hours after Akufo-Addos 2nd January, 2024 press statement announcing that KPMG has been tasked to carry out an urgent audit into the sleazy affair, he said.



My unimpeachable and irrefutable tracking of Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah reveals that on January 3, 2024, he led his family to swiftly and clandestinely leave the jurisdiction. Exactly a week ago, the entire Owusu-Amoah family departed at 17:10 on TAP Air Portugal, flight TP 1527 from KIA-Terminal 3. Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah used an ordinary Ghanaian passport issued on June 14, 2019, with its last four digits being 5283.



Interestingly, the runaway GRA boss did not travel with his Service Passport with 2702 as its last four digits. A Service Passport which was issued to him as GRA Commissioner-General on October 3, 2019. This development adds another layer of confirmation that Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah has not embarked on an official trip, the opposition lawmaker wrote on his X platform.



He added; Now here we are, the GRA boss who is to be audited has been surreptitiously assisted to leave the country. It is also worth noting that KPMG has only about 6 days left to report to the President.



But the KPMG, an audit firm, directed by President Nana Addo to investigate the contract and ascertain the truth has exonerated both the GRA boss and the SML in their findings presented to the President.



According to the report, the allegations leveled against the GRA boss and the management of SML were false as it revealed that there was no payment of $100 million from the government to SML, no shady contract and also cleared the company of other malpractices.



Speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Dennis Miracles bemoaned the damage that Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa has done to the GRA boss' reputation and the image of his family.



"What we have done to this man, if you don't go and delete it, for the rest of his life and his children's life; whenever the man's name is googled, this will come up as one of the stories about the man. What is even more painful is that as for the man, he is on retirement but what about his children?



"His children will be seeking job in the future and will be told that there was a time that your father eloped from the country because he had stolen money or committed a crime. Because this is not coming from an ordinary person but the ranking member for Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for the people of North-Tongu, why do we do this to ourselves as a people?"





He wondered if the Parliamentarian will apologize, withdraw and delete his demeaning statements about the GRA boss.



"The other painful thing is that when the contract was signed, he hadn't even spent two or three days in office. Why do we do this ourselves? Now that KPMG has concluded their investigations and found out that your unimpeachable and unrefutable investigation is false, are you coming back to come and apologize and I know in everything I believe in this country that they are not coming to apologize...They will never come back to this issue and for the rest of the life of this man's children...this thing will continue to hang on him online," he exclaimed.



"What wrong did this man do?", he expressed disappointment in Okudzeto Ablakwa and reminded him of the impact of his post stating the things he said "to the extent that you were putting the man's flight itinerary online and giving times of travel with his passport details" will continue to haunt the GRA Commissioner-General and his family.



"How can we be so wicked?", he fumed.



He admonished Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa to do the "honorable thing...Apologize to the man".





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Suspended member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho has warned Ghanaians about his party's agenda to win the 2024 general election.



According to him, the party aims to share postings to themselves and amass wealth.



Koku Anyidoho popularly known as the Bulldozer was reacting to recent comments by the party's National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.



Asiedu Nketiah is on record as tasking the party members to be focused on winning power in the 2024 elections rather than fighting over appointments which he described as meat that will be shared only after elections have been won.



His comment according to Koku Anyidoho is an indication that Mahama's second coming will not benefit Ghanaians as expected.



"Oyiwa! He is now crying because they have shared the post and left him and his people out? Naniama Wu be ti borborliborbor. So the whole dead goat terminal 4yrs agenda is about sharing post and NOT caring about Ghana huh? God will surely save Ghana."



This was said at the outdooring of our Running Mate? Whaaat!!! So, after we were once told that the 'meat' had been squandered, & the 'bones' rudely thrown at us, they are boldly talking about 'sharing meat'? Obviously, they believe we have 'short memories'. God save Ghana, Kuku said in a series of posts on X formerly Twitter.







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The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has dismissed allegations leveled against the commission by former President John Dramani Mahama that the commission has recruited members of the New Patriotic Party as Returning Officers.



In a press statement the EC debunked allegations made by the former president during an interview stating that the commission, instead of recruiting eligible people are rather recruiting members of the NPP.



The former president and the 2024 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had stated, "you as much as possible want to appoint people who are credible, who are respected, who everybody knows will be neutral. But this is a government that has a record of appointing NPP people on to the Electoral commission."



"We had an Electoral Commission that has been a model for the whole of Africa because of the innovations that we have introduced at every stage of the way . . . and because of that it has created the best electoral processes that Africa has."



He added, "recently there was an announcement of recruitment of returning officers, and the information we have is that ministers and DCEs and others were asked to write the names of party apparatchiki and present them so that they would be appointed as the Returning Officers. Are these people going to be neutral?, he quizzed?



In a rebuttal to the allegations, the EC stated that the Commission operates based on the dictates of the constitution, thus, they do not operate outside of the 1992 constitution.



"Article 43(2) of the constitution provides that, "the members of the commission shall be appointed by the President under article 70 of this constitution. Former President Mahama during his presidency, exercised his authority under this same provision of the constitution to make appointment to the commission. There were Ghanaians who questioned the neutrality of the person appointed. There were also Ghanaians equally accused President Mahama at the time of appointing persons with NDC sympathisers to the commission. What was different then is that other Ghanaian political leaders did not use every opportunity it got to demonise and denigrate the electoral commission as result of their reservations about President Mahamas appointment to the Commission. He, on the other hand, has never missed an opportunity to denigrate this commission."



The commission added that, the former President seems to have forgotten that the history of Ghanas electoral process is one that shows improvements in every election cycle.



"Indeed, for most voters who have had voting experiences under the 4th republic, the 2020 elections provided the best voting experience, with shorter queues, and even shorter time spent going through the voting process. Additionally, the commission reduced the cost of election from Thirteen US dollars ($13) to seven US dollars ($7) and seventy cents ($7.70) per person and saved a whooping ninety million US dollars $90 million."



The commission, thus, claims that the allegations leveled against them is false and should be regarded.



"The process of recruiting returning officers and their deputies was conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner. Following the publication of the vacancy announcements in the Daily Graphic on the 5th of February 2024, the commission received a total of 20, 561 applications. An in-house committee was established to shortlist suitable applicants to be interviewed. For the information of the general public, all successful applicants at the interview have no less than 8 years of working experience with the commission as Temporary electoral officials."



The commission, therefore, urged Ghanaians to ignore the allegations and assured Ghanaians of a free, fair and transparent December 2024 elections.

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The organizers of the Tap Tap Send Ghana Music Awards Europe have officially opened nominations for their highly anticipated 3rd edition of the awards, scheduled for 7th September, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.



Led by the visionary CEO Mavis Oppong, affectionately known as Osaah Special, the awards aim to recognize and honor the remarkable talents and contributions of artists within the Ghanaian music industry, both domestically and internationally.



With a message of warm regards, the Management of GMA-Europe, the esteemed Board, headline sponsors, and partners, declared the commencement of the nomination period. Artists and industry professionals are invited to submit their works through the official website, https://gmaeu.com/nominations/, as the Ghana Music Awards-Europe gears up for another unforgettable celebration in Amsterdam.



"The Ghana Music Awards Europe is a platform that acknowledges the vibrant diversity and creativity within our music industry," stated Osaah Special, emphasizing the significance of recognizing talent on a global scale.



The deadline for submissions is set for May 20th, offering artists ample time to showcase their best works. The main event, eagerly awaited by music enthusiasts worldwide, is scheduled to take place on September 7, 2024 in the picturesque city of Amsterdam.



As anticipation builds and excitement mounts, the Ghana Music Awards-Europe promises to once again showcase the best of Ghanaian musical talent, fostering connections and celebrating the rich cultural heritage that resonates across borders.



Last year, the Ghana Music Awards-Europe took place in Paris, France. This year, the organizers of the awards have announced that they will be launching the awards scheme in Dusseldorf, Germany on 18th May, 2024 just after nominations close. The main event will be held in Amsterdam on September 7th.



Artists are encouraged to seize this opportunity to shine on an international stage, as the world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the next wave of musical brilliance.

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Ghanaian playwright, Latif Abubakar has partnered with the Embassy of Italy in Accra to stage an adaptation of "The License" by Italian Novelist, Luigi Pirandello.



Having previously partnered the Embassy of Spain in Ghana to adapt and stage two Spanish plays into Afrocentric versions, myself, the celebrated Playwright and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Globe Productions Limited is also partnering the Embassy of Italy to adapt "The License" into an Afrocentric version.



The play explores themes of bureaucracy, absurdity, and an individual's struggle against oppressive systems.



Speaking at the launch of the play at her residence in Accra, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Daniela d'Orlandi, said the partnership stemmed from the quality of plays from the camp of Mr Abubakar.



She said, having witnessed the adaptation of other European plays by Mr Abubakar, she was impressed by the quality of the performance as well as the response of the audience.



That, she said, encouraged her to also take the initiative to promote Italian theater, and consequently the Italian culture in Ghana.



Ms d'Orlandi who expressed excitement that for the first time in Ghana, the embassy was having an initiative in the theatre industry, said the collaboration between Ghana and Italy in the theatre industry was a move in the right direction as it would help ensure exchange of culture between both countries.



I do hope that this will not be a one-time thing, but lead to more plays," she said.



"I also hope that this will set an example for other foreign countries to follow," Mrs d'Orlandi added.



Commitment



In his address, the Playwright and CEO, of Globe Productions Limited, who reiterated his commitment to projecting Ghanas theatre industry to the world, is of the belief that the partnership will deepen the Italy-Ghana relationship beyond traditional trade to arts and culture.



"This partnership, like the others we have, would once again set our country on another world stage and I am pleased to be a part of this collaboration," he said.



As pacesetters of virtual live play on COVID-19 with a record 3.5 million live views, and credited with hosting one of Africa's biggest theatrical ventures; The Second Coming of Nkrumah, with over 500 cast and crew which created about a 1000 direct and indirect jobs, the celebrated playwright said, his dreams and passion of projecting Ghanas theatre industry beyond continent remains a reality with the launch of this play.



The playwright stated that his journey with the Embassy of Italy has been a sturdy work in progress, and as such, he was deliberate about putting in stronger efforts for the mutual benefits of both parties and countries.



The License



Written by Italian dramatist, novelist and poet, Luigi Pirandello The License was first published in a newspaper in 1911, and later adapted into a theatrical work, appearing on stage in 1917 in a Sicilian adaptation.



Touching on a series of familiar Pirandellian tropes, the play speaks to the author's realist interest in representing the actual ways in which law and social custom combine to limit or define the horizons of life for individuals, who are subject to the law.



The play which is being adapted into an Afrocentric version for the first time by myself and the team at Globe Productions Limited will show at the Accra International Conference Center on the 4th, 5th, and 6th May, 2024.







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In a stirring demonstration of support for burgeoning talent, internationally acclaimed music luminary Fuse ODG has graciously stepped forward to underwrite the production of an official music video for emerging artiste Fred Kobby.



This noteworthy collaboration not only underscores Fuse ODG's steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of musical talent but also underscores the transformative potential of mentorship and cooperation within the industry.



Fred Kobby, an artiste of immense promise renowned for his distinctive sound and unwavering dedication to his craft, captured Fuse ODG's attention with his raw talent and authentic artistic expression.



Impressed by Fred Kobby's creative prowess and unwavering commitment, Fuse ODG seized the opportunity to catalyze his ascent to prominence.



In an exclusive announcement via social media, Fuse ODG expressed his eagerness to support Fred Kobby's musical journey by sponsoring the production of an official music video for his latest single, "PRAY."



For Fred Kobby, this sponsorship signifies a pivotal milestone in his career and a resounding affirmation of his artistic vision.



"I am profoundly grateful to Fuse ODG for his belief in me and for this extraordinary opportunity," he expressed.



"With his unwavering support, I am confident that together, we can craft something truly remarkable that will resonate with audiences worldwide."



Enjoy the new music here: https://www.mediafire.com/file/e8artpdyqdi1u6p/Fred_Kobby_-Pray%2528download%2529_.mp3/file



As the landscape of the music industry continues to evolve, collaborations such as this serve as beacons of inspiration, illuminating the vast potential for creativity and partnership.



With Fuse ODG's patronage, Fred Kobby stands poised to leave an indelible mark on the global stage, and the music community eagerly anticipates the unveiling of his official music video.



In a realm where talent knows no boundaries, the alliance between Fuse ODG and Fred Kobby serves as a poignant reminder of music's ability to unify, inspire and uplift us all.

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Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Pennsylvania man was on methamphetamine and fentanyl when he caused a 2023 crash that killed his pregnant fiancee and injured another pregnant driver in Lebanon County, court documents said.

Christian M. Hennessey, 45, of Pine Grove, was charged with vehicular homicide while DUI and 14 related offenses on Thursday, the first anniversary of the crash that killed his fiancee Jamie V. Stump, 42, in Union Township.

An affidavit of probable cause filed by Cleona police gave the following account:
A scientist has discovered a new chapter of the Bible.

This chapter was reportedly hidden under some other text in a very old manuscript kept at the Vatican, a discovery which remained overlooked for roughly 1,500 years.

Popular Mechanics reports how medievalist Grigory Kessel of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) managed to unearth this ancient Syrian chapter  an unseen interpretation of Chapter 12 of the book of Matthew  thanks to UV technology.

According to a paper published in the journal New Testament Studies, the chapter was beneath three layers of text on something which is known as a palimpsest, which, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is writing material (such as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased.

Business Insider explains that palimpsests were used way back when due to how scarce parchment used to be, hence the reason why different texts are stacked on top of one another.

This ancient iteration of this chapter, explains Fox News, is suspected to be one of the earliest translations of the Gospels, first created in the 3rd century and copied in the 6th century.

The tradition of Syriac Christianity knows several translations of the Old and New Testaments, says Kessel via press release. Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of gospels.

This new (so to speak) text thus, says Kessel, offers a unique gateway to further historians understanding of the Bibles changes over time.

This text will be studied further.
State lawmakers continued their exploration of how best to go about legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania by gathering information from experts on possible guardrails that could minimize its negative public health and safety effects.

House Health and Liquor Control committees on Thursday held a joint hearing to solicit input from researchers who have studied the impacts of legalized weed in other states and Canada as well as heard from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which some see as providing potentially viable outlets where recreational weed could be sold.
By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer

BEIJING (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of responsibly managing the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues.

Talks between the two sides have increased in recent months, even as differences have grown. Blinken said he raised concerns with Xi about Chinas support for Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, as well as other issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea, human rights and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

Blinken sounded a positive note on recent progress made in bilateral cooperation, including in military communications, counternarcotics and artificial intelligence.

We are committed to maintaining and strengthening lines of communication to advance that agenda, and again deal responsibly with our differences so we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations, he said.

But he said he made clear to Xi ongoing concerns about Beijings supply of materials, including machine tools and micro electronics, to Moscow that President Vladimir Putin is using to boost Russias defenses and its war on Ukraine.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, Blinken told reporters after his meeting with Xi.

Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security, he added. As weve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that China does not address this problem.

Blinken also said he urged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East " and convince North Korea to end its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue.

Blinken also discussed with Xi Chinas maritime maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea, and reiterated ironclad American support for the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

Xi stressed that China and the U.S. must seek common ground rather than engage in vicious competition.

China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, the Chinese leader said. We hope the U.S. can also look at Chinas development in a positive light. This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed.

Earlier, Blinken held lengthy talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.

He and Wang underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open as they lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security. Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize, Wang told Blinken at the start of about 5 1/2 hours of talks. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? he asked. This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.

Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about U.S. policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said. Chinas concerns are consistent. We have always called for respect of each others core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, not to hold Chinas development back, and not to step on Chinas red lines on Chinas sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on U.S.-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

The State Department said later that Blinken and Wang had in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions about areas of difference as well as areas of cooperation and made clear that Blinken had stood his ground on U.S. concerns.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. will continue to stand up for our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, including on human rights and economic issues, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale.

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russias military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

U.S. officials have said Chinas ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinkens visit, and just before Fridays meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May.
By RYAN J. FOLEY, CARLA K. JOHNSON and SHELBY LUM, Associated Press

Demetrio Jackson was desperate for medical help when the paramedics arrived.

The 43-year-old was surrounded by police who arrested him after responding to a trespassing call in a Wisconsin parking lot. Officers had shocked him with a Taser and pinned him as he pleaded that he couldnt breathe. Now he sat on the ground with hands cuffed behind his back and took in oxygen through a mask.

Then, officers moved Jackson to his side so a medic could inject him with a potent knockout drug.

Its just going to calm you down, an officer assured Jackson. Within minutes, Jacksons heart stopped. He never regained consciousness and died two weeks later.

Jacksons 2021 death illustrates an often-hidden way fatal U.S. police encounters end: not with the firing of an officers gun but with the silent use of a medical syringe.

The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the nation over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found. Based on thousands of pages of law enforcement and medical records and videos of dozens of incidents, the investigation shows how a strategy intended to reduce violence and save lives has resulted in some avoidable deaths.

At least 94 people died after they were given sedatives and restrained by police from 2012 through 2021, according to findings by the AP in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. Thats nearly 10% of the more than 1,000 deaths identified during the investigation of people subdued by police in ways that are not supposed to be fatal. About half of the 94 who died were Black, including Jackson.

Behind the racial disparity is a disputed medical condition called excited delirium, which fueled the rise of sedation outside hospitals. Critics say its purported symptoms, including superhuman strength and high pain tolerance, play into racist stereotypes about Black people and lead to biased decisions about who needs sedation.

The use of sedatives in half these incidents has never been reported, as scrutiny typically focuses on the actions of police, not medics. Elijah McClains 2019 death in Aurora, Colorado, was a rare exception: Two paramedics were convicted of giving McClain an overdose of ketamine, the same drug given to Jackson. One was sentenced last month to five years in prison and the second faces sentencing Friday.

It was impossible to determine the role sedatives may have played in each of the 94 deaths, which often involved the use of other potentially dangerous force on people who had taken drugs or consumed alcohol. Medical experts told the AP their impact could be negligible in people who were already dying; the final straw that triggered heart or breathing failure in the medically distressed; or the main cause of death when given in the wrong circumstances or mishandled.

While sedatives were mentioned as a cause or contributing factor in a dozen official death rulings, authorities often didnt even investigate whether injections were appropriate. Medical officials have traditionally viewed them as mostly benign treatments. Now some say they may be playing a bigger role than previously understood and deserve more scrutiny.

Time and time again, the AP found, agitated people who were held by police facedown, often handcuffed and with officers pushing on their backs, struggled to breathe and tried to get free. Citing combativeness, paramedics administered sedatives, further slowing their breathing. Cardiac and respiratory arrest often occurred within minutes.

Paramedics drugged some people who were not a threat to themselves or others, violating treatment guidelines. Medics often didnt know whether other drugs or alcohol were in peoples systems, although some combinations cause serious side effects.

Police officers sometimes improperly encouraged paramedics to give shots to suspects they were detaining.

Responders occasionally joked about the medications power to knock their subjects out. Night, night is heard on videos before deaths in California, Tennessee and Florida.

Emergency medical workers, if they arent careful, can simply become an extension of the polices handcuffs, of their weapons, of their nightsticks, said Claire Zagorski, a paramedic and an addiction researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.

Supporters say sedatives enable rapid treatment for drug-related behavioral emergencies and psychotic episodes, protect front-line responders from violence and are safely administered thousands of times annually to get people with life-threatening conditions to hospitals. Critics say forced sedation should be strictly limited or banned, arguing the medications, given without consent, are too risky to be administered during police encounters.

Ohio State University professor Dr. Mark DeBard was an important early proponent of sedation, believing it could be used in rare cases when officers encountered extremely agitated people who needed rapid medical treatment. Today, he said hes frustrated officers still sometimes use excessive force instead of treating those incidents as medical emergencies. Hes also surprised paramedics have given unnecessary injections by overdiagnosing excited delirium.

Others say the premise was flawed, with sedatives and police restraint creating a dangerous mix. The deaths have left a trail of grieving relatives from coast to coast.

Theyre running around on the streets administering these heavy-duty medications that could be lethal, said Honey Gutzalenko, a nurse whose husband died after he was injected with midazolam in 2021 while restrained by police near San Francisco. Its just not right.

Rita Gowens speaks about her late son, Demetrio Jackson, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in Anderson, Ind. There are few days when she doesnt ask, Why did they give him an animal tranquilizer? (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)AP

IM BEGGING YOU TO STOP

Jackson was standing on a truck outside a radio station on the border of the small Wisconsin cities of Eau Claire and Altoona. An employee called 911 before dawn on Oct. 8, 2021, hoping officers could shoo away a stranger who doesnt seem to be a threat, but not normal either.

Police video and hundreds of pages of law enforcement and medical records show how the incident escalated.

An Altoona police officer met Jackson in the parking lot. Jackson appeared uneasy and paranoid, looking around and talking softly. He had taken methamphetamine, which a psychiatrist said he used to self-medicate for schizophrenia. Hed been in and out of jail and living on the streets, with frequent visits to the emergency room seeking a place to rest.

The officer, joined by a second Altoona officer and a sheriffs deputy, told him he could leave if he gave his name. Jackson refused.

Police identified him through his tattoos, learning he was on probation for meth possession. They noticed the truck had minor damage and decided to arrest him.

Jackson took off running. The officers chased Jackson, who stopped seconds later and staggered toward the first officer. Body-camera video shows she fired her Taser, its darts striking Jackson in the stomach and thigh. He screamed after the electrical shock and collapsed.

When officers couldnt handcuff Jackson, she fired additional darts, striking Jackson in the back as he lay on the ground. Officers from the Eau Claire Police Department forced Jackson onto his stomach to be handcuffed and restrained him in whats known as the prone position.

Im begging you to stop, Jackson said. I cant breathe.

After a couple of minutes, officers moved him to his side and then sat him up, trying to improve his breathing.

An officer wondered aloud whether Jackson had excited delirium and asked a colleague if paramedics were going to stand around and do nothing. He voiced approval when one arrived with ketamine, adding Jackson would not like it when he gets poked.

The Eau Claire Fire Departments excited delirium protocol advises, Rapid sedation is the key to de-escalation!!!!! The medic measured 400 milligrams after estimating the 6-foot-tall Jackson weighed 175 pounds, enough to immobilize someone within minutes. He injected the medicine into Jacksons buttocks.

Five medical experts who reviewed the case for AP said Jacksons behavior did not appear to be dangerous enough to justify the intervention.

I dont believe he was a candidate for ketamine, said Connecticut paramedic Peter Canning, who said he supports sedating truly violent patients because they stop fighting and are sleeping by the time they get to the hospital.

Minutes later, Jackson stopped breathing on the way to Sacred Heart Hospital. Hed suffered cardiac arrest and, after he was resuscitated, had no brain function.

Jacksons mother, Rita Gowens, collapsed while shopping at an Indiana Walmart when she learned her oldest son was hospitalized and not expected to survive.

Gowens rushed to the hospital 500 miles away, where she was told hed been injected with ketamine. She searched online and was stunned to read its used to tranquilize horses.

Gowens spoke to Jackson, held his hand and hoped for a miracle. She eventually agreed to remove him from a ventilator after his condition didnt improve, singing into his ear as he took his final breaths: Youve never lost a battle, and I know, I know, you never will.

She still has nightmares about how police and medics treated her son, whom she recalls as a happy boy with chunky cheeks that inspired the nickname Meatball. There are few days when she doesnt ask, Why did they give him an animal tranquilizer?

FILE - A vial of ketamine is displayed for a photograph in Chicago on July 25, 2018. An investigation led by The Associated Press published in 2024, has found the practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police spread quietly over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford, File)AP

KETAMINE MOVES TO THE STREETS

The practice of using ketamine to subdue people outside hospitals began in 2004 when a disturbed man scaled a fence, cut himself with a broken bottle and paced along a narrow strip of concrete on a Minneapolis highway bridge.

The man was in danger of falling into traffic below when officers reached through the fence and grabbed him.

Dr. John Hick, who worked with first responders, heard the emergency radio chatter while driving and rushed to the scene with an idea. Hick gave the man two shots of ketamine, started an IV and kept him breathing with an air mask.

The man stopped struggling, and responders lowered him to safety.

Paramedics had occasionally used other sedatives to calm combative people since the 1980s. Hick and his Hennepin County Medical Center colleague Dr. Jeffrey Ho believed ketamine worked faster and had fewer side effects, showing promise to avert fatal police encounters.

Ho was a leading researcher on Taser safety and an expert witness for the company in wrongful death lawsuits. In a 2007 deposition in one such case, he argued for a potentially life-saving tactic of having sedative injections quickly follow Taser shocks, saying the combination could shorten struggles that, if prolonged, might end in death.

Some doctors at his public hospital in Minneapolis were using something called ketamine, which is an analog to LSD, he said. Its sort of an animal tranquilizer.

The drug became more common outside the hospital in 2008 when Hennepin County paramedics were given permission to use it.

An American College of Emergency Physicians panel that included Ho said in 2009 that ketamine had shown excellent results and safety while acknowledging no research proved it would save lives.

In time, its use became standard from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, to Palm Beach County, Florida. The earliest death involving ketamine documented in APs investigation came in 2015, when 34-year-old Juan Carrizales was injected after struggling with police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas.

Shortly after ketamine became authorized for such use in Arizona in 2017, deputies who were restraining David Cutler facedown in handcuffs in the scorching desert asked a paramedic to sedate him.

The medic testified he was surprised when Cutler stopped breathing, although the dose was larger than recommended for someone weighing 132 pounds. He said he had been trained that ketamine didnt impact respiration. Cutlers death was ruled an accident due to heat exposure and LSD  though that was disputed by experts hired by Cutlers family, who said heat stroke along with ketamine caused his death.

In Minneapolis, an oversight agency found the use of ketamine during police calls rose dramatically from 2012 through 2017 and body-camera video showed instances of officers appearing to pressure paramedics to use ketamine and joking about its power. The department told officers they could never suggest or demand the use of sedation.

Facing criticism, Hennepin Healthcare halted a study examining the effectiveness of ketamine on agitated patients. The Food and Drug Administration later found the research failed to protect vulnerable, intoxicated people who had not given consent.

By 2021, the American College of Emergency Physicians warned ketamine impacted breathing and the heart more than previously believed.

Ketamine is not as benign as we might have hoped it to be, a co-author of the new position, Dr. Jeffrey Goodloe, said on the groups podcast in 2022.

He said the practice of giving large doses of ketamine, sometimes too much for smaller patients, had spread nationwide as agencies copied each others protocols with little independent review.

But the APs findings show risks of sedation go beyond ketamine, which was used in at least 19 cases.

Roughly half of the 94 deaths documented by the AP came after the use of midazolam, which has long been known to heighten the risk of respiratory depression. Many came during police encounters in California, where ketamine is not widely used. Midazolam, a common pre-surgery drug known by the brand name Versed, is also part of a three-drug cocktail used in some states to execute prisoners.

Other cases involved a range of other drugs, including the antipsychotic medications haloperidol and ziprasidone, which can cause irregular heartbeats.

The need for monitoring side effects is often laid out for paramedics in written guidelines, many of which are based on the disputed belief that excited delirium can cause sudden death.

This photo provided by Honey Gutzalenko shows her husband, Ivan Gutzalenko. "I know from being a registered nurse since 2004, you don't administer a sedative to someone who is clearly already in respiratory distress," she said, adding that his death has been devastating to their two teenage children. (Honey Gutzalenko via AP)AP

THE HISTORY OF EXCITED DELIRIUM

The theory of excited delirium was troubling from the start.

In the 1980s, with cocaine use soaring, Dr. Charles Wetli, a Miami forensic pathologist, coined the term to explain a handful of deaths of violent cocaine users, many of whom had been restrained by police. Wetli, who died in 2020, also blamed excited delirium for the mysterious deaths of more than a dozen Black women. He said cocaine and sexual activity triggered the fatal condition.

The womens deaths eventually were attributed to a serial killer. Wetlis theory survived. And over time, symptoms described by Wetli and others  superhuman strength, animal-like noises and high pain tolerance  became disproportionately assigned to Black people. The terms spread to police and emergency medical services to describe certain agitated people  and explain sudden deaths.

By the mid-2000s, police were encountering more drug users and mentally ill people as stimulant use increased and psychiatric hospitals closed. Departments adopted Tasers as a less-lethal alternative to firearms, but there was a problem  hundreds died after being jolted.

Supporters of Wetlis research, including the medical examiner in Miami-Dade County, ruled again and again that excited delirium was the cause of these deaths, not the effects of the weapons and other physical force. Executives at Tasers manufacturer agreed, promoting excited delirium to medical examiners around the country and retaining experts who explained the concept to juries in wrongful death lawsuits.

In 2006, a grand jury that investigated Taser-related deaths in Miami-Dade recommended an untested treatment that it said could save people before they died from excited delirium: squirting midazolam up their noses to cause almost immediate sedation. Its report acknowledged they may experience difficulty in breathing. Miami-Dade paramedics adopted this treatment.

But key medical groups didnt recognize excited delirium, and activists were calling for limits on Taser use. What happened next would help promote sedation alongside Tasers as tools to gain control.

In 2008, the biggest names in excited delirium research gathered at a Las Vegas hotel for a three-day meeting organized by a group with ties to Tasers manufacturer.

A lot of talk took place on chemical sedation because the cops didnt know what to do with these people, recalled John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, which sponsored the meeting. Jeff Ho had done some work up in Minnesota. He said, Look. Ive been using ketamine. It knocks them out quicker.

The timing was fortuitous: The American College of Emergency Physicians would soon form a task force to study excited delirium and how police and medics should respond.

The 19-member panel included Ho, who became Tasers medical director under an arrangement in which the company paid part of his hospital salary; Dr. Donald Dawes, a Taser research consultant; and University of Miami researcher Deborah Mash, who testified for Taser about several deaths she blamed on excited delirium. At least two other panelists were routinely retained by officers and their departments as expert witnesses.

The panels 2009 paper disclosed none of these relationships. It found excited delirium was real, could result in death regardless of whether someone was shocked with a Taser and called for aggressive chemical sedation to treat the symptoms.

DeBard, the Ohio doctor who chaired the panel, told AP he recruited relevant experts to join and that disclosure of conflicts wasnt required by the ER doctors group then. He said Taser didnt influence the outcome, which reflected the panels consensus. Mash said she had no conflict because Taser didnt fund her research. Dawes declined an interview request. Ho didnt return messages.

Taser rebranded itself in 2017 as Axon. A spokesperson for the company declined interview requests and did not respond to written questions.

Dr. Brooks Walsh, an emergency physician in Connecticut who was not on the panel, said the 2009 paper reinforced racial bias as it formalized loaded terms used to describe excited delirium, influencing how the diagnosis would be applied.

Ho and other Taser- and police-aligned experts joined a federally sponsored panel in 2011 that built on the work, recommending four actions on a checklist for officers and paramedics: Identify excited delirium symptoms; control (with a Taser if necessary); sedate; and transport to a hospital.

No test measures for excited delirium, so paramedics faced a judgment call: Which patients were so agitated, strong, impervious to pain and dangerous that they needed to be sedated?

DeBard said the symptoms were based on medical observations, not race. If youve got somebody thats delirious, irrational, aggressive, hyperactive, running around naked, I mean, its really pretty easy to recognize, he said.

Yet, over time, prominent medical groups and some experts pointed to overuse of sedation during police encounters and a disproportionate impact on Black people. Even supporters of the practice have acknowledged that the wrong patients at times have been injected.

The deaths of Black men in police custody, including the 2020 killing of George Floyd, put pressure on the medical community to re-examine excited delirium. The ER doctors group in 2023 withdrew approval of the 2009 paper and said excited delirium shouldnt be used in court testimony. Some doctors called that decision political and note the group still recognizes a similar condition  hyperactive delirium with severe agitation  that can be treated with sedation. But today no major medical association legitimizes excited delirium.

CONVENIENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

In more than a dozen cases reviewed by AP, police asked for or suggested the use of sedatives, calling into question whether medics were working for law enforcement or in patients interests. Officers often suggested their detainees had excited delirium.

University of California, Berkeley, law and bioethics professor Osagie Obasogie, who has studied excited delirium and sedation, said officers should be banned from influencing medical care.

We need to be sure that folks are treated in a way that meets their medical needs and not simply given a chemical restraint because its convenient for law enforcement, he said.

Officers are told not to dictate medical treatment but some knuckleheads have done otherwise, said Peters, whose group hosted the 2008 Las Vegas meeting that focused on excited delirium.

Paramedics say they make medical decisions independently from police, following guidelines that call for sedating people who may be dangerous. But in several cases AP found, people were injected though they had calmed down or even passed out after struggles with police.

Ivan Gutzalenko, a 47-year-old father, was struggling to breathe as two officers restrained him in Richmond, California. Gutzalenko told the officers they were hurting him, and bucked to try to get one off his back.

A paramedic viewed Gutzalenkos action as aggression, and went to his ambulance to get a 5-milligram dose of midazolam. When he returned three minutes later, Gutzalenko lay motionless. Hes faking like hes unconscious, an officer said.

The medic plunged the needle into his bicep. Gutzalenkos heart stopped. He was declared dead at a hospital. A pathologist testified that midazolam was given to quiet him down during an episode of excited delirium but did not contribute to the death, which he blamed on prone restraint and meth use.

His wife said Gutzalenko, a former critical care nurse, would never have consented to receive midazolam that day.

I know from being a registered nurse since 2004, you dont administer a sedative to someone who is clearly already in respiratory distress, she said, adding that his death has been devastating to their two teenage children.

Dr. Gail Van Norman, a University of Washington professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine, said its dangerous for officers to put pressure on the backs and necks of detainees before and after theyre injected with sedatives.

Its a recipe for disaster, because you may have created a situation in which you are impeding a persons ability to get oxygen, she said.

The AP investigation found half who died following sedation had been shocked with a Taser and the majority had been restrained facedown.

Their blood acid levels may already have been spiking from drugs, adrenaline and pain while oxygen levels may have been plummeting  life-threatening conditions called acidosis and hypoxia.

Sedatives can dull the instinct to compensate by breathing quickly and heavily to blow off carbon dioxide, essential for the heart to beat, said Dr. Christopher Stephens, a UTHealth Houston anesthesiologist and former paramedic.

Under sedation, he said, the body doesnt respond as efficiently to the buildup of carbon dioxide. Your brain doesnt care as much about it, Stephens said. And they can go into respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Paramedics usually have no idea whether their patients have alcohol, opioids or other depressants in their bodies that increase sedatives effects on breathing.

More than a dozen who died had been drinking, including Jerica LaCour, 29, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, mother of five young children.

She was stressed about family finances, husband Anthony LaCour recalled, when deputies found her trespassing at a trucking company.

Guess who gets ketamine? paramedic Jason Poulson of AMR, the nations largest ambulance company, said as LaCour was restrained on a gurney, according to body-camera footage.

An EMT said in a report that she told Poulson that LaCour had calmed and didnt need ketamine, and later warned that LaCour was no longer breathing. In a disciplinary agreement with state regulators, Poulson admitted he was unsuccessful in protecting LaCours airway despite multiple attempts, mishandled the syringe and failed to document the ketamine use properly. His state certification was put on probation.

AMR and Poulson deny responsibility for LaCours death in her familys pending lawsuit, arguing LaCour was experiencing excited delirium and ketamine was appropriate.

Lawyers console paramedic Peter Cichuniec after his sentence is read on Friday, March 1, 2024 in Brighton, Colo. Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison for the death of Elijah McClain in a rare prosecution of medical responders that has left officials rethinking how they treat people in police custody. (Colorado State Court via AP, Pool)AP

AFTER DEATH, SEDATION GOES UNQUESTIONED

When people died, the use of sedation often went unacknowledged publicly and unquestioned by investigators.

After Jacksons death in Wisconsin, police press releases said nothing about ketamine. State police redacted mention of the drug from investigation records and blurred video of the prone restraint and injection, saying his familys privacy outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The fire department, which declined comment, blacked out the information in its incident report. But when AP uploaded the document, redactions disappeared, revealing Jackson was given 400 milligrams of ketamine.

An autopsy concluded Jackson died from complications caused by meth. The report said Jacksons ketamine dose was 100 milligrams, a quarter of what the fire department report said.

Two longtime forensic pathologists who reviewed the case for AP said meth use wasnt the only factor. Dr. Joye Carter said she believed the police altercation and ketamine caused the death, saying the sedative can cause heart problems when given to a meth user.

Dr. Victor Weedn said the level of meth in Jacksons blood was high but generally not lethal. He said Jackson likely died from high blood acid levels, with police restraint and possibly ketamine contributing.

The autopsy was performed in Ramsey County, Minnesota. A county spokesperson defended the findings from a now-retired medical examiner, saying the discrepancy on the ketamine dose wasnt significant.

Citing the autopsys finding that meth was the cause, Eau Claire County District Attorney Peter Rindal ruled Jacksons case was not an officer-involved death under Wisconsin law and closed the investigation.

In nearly 90% of the deaths examined by AP, coroners and medical examiners did not list sedation as a cause or contributing factor. Some autopsy reports failed to document that the deceased had been sedated.

The most common ruling was an accidental death in which other drugs, often meth or cocaine, were causes or contributing factors. More than a quarter were at least partially attributed to excited delirium.

Medical examiners view sedatives as safe treatments to control patients and wouldnt question their use unless there was a grievous error, said Dr. James Gill, the chief medical examiner of Connecticut and past president of the National Association of Medical Examiners.

Generally were going to default then back to whats the underlying disease or injury that started this chain of events, Gill said.

He said sedatives rarely cause deaths by themselves but additional studies could look at whether they play a role in fatal police struggles where many factors are involved.

Even when autopsies implicated sedatives, investigations didnt always follow.

In LaCours case, the coroner found she died from respiratory arrest associated with acute alcohol and ketamine intoxication. The district attorneys office said it had no record of reviewing her death.

Nine miles from LaCours injection, a paramedic injected 26-year-old Hunter Barr with ketamine as officers held him facedown in the dirt outside his Colorado Springs home in September 2020.

Retired postal worker Mark Barr had called 911 for help controlling his son, who he said wasnt violent but was having a bad reaction to LSD. He watched as a medic gave two injections just minutes apart. He said he couldnt figure out why the second injection was necessary, saying his son was subdued. Hunter Barr became unconscious on the way to a hospital and died within hours.

The coroner ruled Barr died from the effects of ketamine. The Colorado Springs Police Department closed the case as non-criminal and the DAs office again had no review.

When deaths were investigated, inquiries usually focused on whether police used excessive force. In audio and video reviewed by AP, investigators seemed uninterested in how sedation may have contributed.

Im not trying to get in the weeds with a whole bunch of that, an investigator told a paramedic explaining the ketamine injection he gave 18-year-old Giovani Berne before Bernes heart stopped in Palm Bay, Florida, in 2016.

Bernes sister, Christina, said the family didnt know he had been given ketamine until contacted by AP years later, but we knew something bad happened in the ambulance. A medical examiner ruled that Berne died of excited delirium.

The death of McClain, 23, in Colorado is the only one that resulted in charges against paramedics. Prosecutors argued Aurora paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec didnt assess McClain, gave him too much ketamine for someone his size and didnt monitor him afterward.

Their convictions shook the EMS field, whose leaders say treatment mistakes shouldnt be criminalized. Defense attorneys argued the paramedics followed their training on excited delirium and ketamine. A judge gave Cichuniec five years in prison while Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

Civil liability is also rare, in part because deaths have multiple causes and some courts have ruled that unwilling injections arent excessive force even when they cause harm. That hasnt stopped families from trying: A number of wrongful death lawsuits involving sedation are pending.

Lawmakers in Colorado banned excited delirium as a justification for using ketamine and put other restrictions on the drug, but changes in the law elsewhere have been few.

Paramedic reformers are working to address the failures that increase the risk of sedatives contributing to deaths.

Paramedic Eric Jaeger helped rewrite New Hampshires protocols and, at a fire station in Hooksett, recently used Jacksons death as a training scenario after evaluating the case for AP. He questioned whether sedation was necessary. He said medics failed to thoroughly evaluate Jackson and should have had monitoring equipment ready before any injection.

He said he had been aware of a handful of deaths but the number found by AP dramatically increases the scope.

If we dont change the training, change the protocols, change the leadership to make the system safer, Jaeger said, then we all bear responsibility for future deaths.

Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed from New York.
An electrical fire at Cumberland-Perry Area Vocational Technical School forced officials to evacuate students and staff members Friday morning, according to dispatch.

Silver Spring Township firefighters responded to the school at 110 Old Willow Mill Road after the fire was reported at 7:33 a.m.

Dispatch said an electrical panel inside the school caught fire. The fire did not spread beyond the electrical panel and has since been brought under control.

Fire crews are on the scene clearing smoke from the building. Dispatch said the school was evacuated when the fire department arrived at the scene.
A district judge in western Pennsylvania has been banned from holding arraignments after two high-profile defendants the judge let go on no-cash bonds skipped hearings and disappeared.

Pittsburgh District Judge Xander Orenstein, who campaigned in 2021 on abolishing cash bail, was removed from overseeing arraignments earlier this week by the Allegheny County Court president judge, according to WPXI-TV.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.
Its sad but true, many Pennsylvanians seem to have given up on democracy.

Thats a reasonable conclusion from what was described as the super low turnout in Tuesdays primary where voters in both parties were asked to decide their nominees for some super important races.

First, there was the race for the presidency where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump were expected to dominate their respective fields. They did, albeit with some symbolic protest votes designed to send warning signals to both parties.

There also were races for congress, the state legislature and key government offices like auditor general, attorney general and treasurer  all powerful positions that impact the daily lives of people in our commonwealth.

No matter. Most Pennsylvania voters just didnt seem to care. They didnt care enough to trek to the polls on a bright, sunny day and walk right into a booth to cast their vote. Many didnt care enough to even put a stamp on a ballot and mail it in.

This combination of photos show President Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate on Sept. 29, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. Twelve news organizations issued a joint statement calling on the presumptive presidential nominees President Biden and former President Trump to agree to debates during the 2024 campaign. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, PBS, NBC, NPR and The Associated Press all signed on to the letter. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)AP

Maybe the candidates werent exciting enough, but the issues sure were. Whoever wins these offices could determine everything from abortion rights to the cost of eggs.

It would be sad enough if a quarter or half the eligible voters sat out the election. But estimates are that more than 70 percent of Pennsylvania voters didnt exercise their right in a democracy to be heard at the ballot box.

It almost seems the easier voting has become in the United States, the fewer people want to do it.

One example: for a good part of our nations history, Black people werent allowed to vote. Many faced beatings and death if they tried to do so. Today, thousands of young Black voters take to the streets to scream about injustice, but they wont walk into a booth on a bright spring day to vote. Figure that one out.

But theyre not alone. Voter apathy is rampant throughout the United States among all races, classes, and cultures. Voter apathy is bipartisan.

With such apparent dismal interested in elections, theres only one thing to conclude. America is no longer a democracy. It may be one on paper, but in practice, the political system in our nation more closely resembles an oligarchy.

Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, right, is seen with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the State Awards Ceremony at the Kremln in Moscow, November 27, 2018. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)Getty Images

Dictionary.com defines oligarchy as a political system where a small group of people control a country, organization, or institution. That about sums up whats happening here. And its of our own making.

Significant political power in the United States is being exercised by an elite minority of people who care. They take time to learn about the issues. They attend political forums to meet the candidates, and they take the time to vote, whether in person or by mail.

Some even dare to run for office. Kudos to them. But even not enough people are willing to step up to serve in public office. Getting good people into positions of power is the only way America will not go the way of countries like China and Russia, defined as the epitome of a modern-day oligarchy.

Vladmir Putin and his cronies hold the levers of power in his country and guard it through lies, intimidation, and murder. Still, more than 77 percent of Russians went to the polls last month to reelect Putin as president. Pennsylvania had almost the opposite turnout last Tuesday.

Voters queue at a polling station in Moscow, Russia, at noon local time on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The Russian opposition has called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest as voting takes place on the last day of a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule after he clamped down on dissent. AP can't confirm that all the voters seen at the polling station at noon were taking part in the opposition protest. (Validated UGC via AP)AP

The numbers suggest Russians care more about voting in phony elections than Americans do in elections that are the most free and fair in the world. Figure that one out.

Pundits offer many reasons why so many Pennsylvanians and Americans are content to let an elite group of engaged voters decide their fate. But we shouldnt fool ourselves into believing this is how democracy works. This is how it dies. This is how despots come to power.

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Members of the Council of Canadians at a 2023 march against fossil fuels in Nanaimo. The advocacy group is on the verge of forming a new South Okanagan chapter.
The Rungood Poker Series has made its second trip to The Atlantis Casino in Reno, Nevada. A total of nine events are to be played this week, with the biggest event being the $600 Main Event, boasting a guarantee of $150,000.

Last year saw local realtor Stacey Berger win the title for her very first RGPS title and a career best score of $39,655. The final table included such California/Nevada regulars like Paul Sampson and Pat world famous Lyons.

2023 RGPS Reno Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize (USD) 1 Stacey Berger Sparks, NV $39,655 2 John One San Matteo,CA $27,610 3 Darrel Dier Mexico City, Mexico $17,860 4 Dwight Englekirk Zephyr Cove, NV $11,575 5 Tony Barrera San Ramon, CA $8,915 6 Harley Brooks Sparks, NV $7,375 7 Charles Himes CA $6,190 8 Pat Lyons San Mateo, CA $5,070 9 Paul Sampson Reno, NV $3,965

This week has seen quite the interesting cavalcade of poker players come in and out. RGPS champions like Daniel Hughes and all-time money leader Tyler Patterson have made some final tables this week in the hopes of etching their names deeper into RGPS lore. Game of Gold star Kyna England also has been playing this week along with Levi Klump, Paul Sampson, and Tyson Apostol. Players like Bob Mather, Lexi Mather, Michael Loncar, and Lindsey Kludt are all expected to make appearances this weekend.

Players will begin with 30,000 in chips with blinds beginning at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. The levels will last 30 minutes, with a 15-minute break at the conclusion of every four levels. Registration will close at the beginning of level 9, with play continuing until the field has reached 12.5% rounded down. This flight has unlimited re-entry and those who do not find a bag this flight will have ample opportunity into todays second flight and tomorrows two flights.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The RunGood Poker Series. Be sure to check out the sister event in Council Bluffs, Iowa running concurrently to this one.
President Biden put the pressure on Trump, as he told Howard Stern that he is willing to debate the ex-president.

Biden told Howard Stern when asked about his willingness to debate Trump, I am, somewhere. I dont know when. I am happy to debate him.

Trumps response on Truth Social was absurd:

Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters. I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. Mandate. In the alternative, hes in New York City today, although probably doesnt know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT  A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! Its the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight  on National Television, Ill wait around!

Even though the corporate media tries to both sides of the willingness of the candidates to debate, it is Donald Trump who has been avoiding debates. Trump refused to debate during the Republican presidential primary. Trump forced the Republican Party to pull out of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

Trump has been making noises about not debating Biden in the general election for years.

Whatever comments that Trump makes about a willingness to debate now should be taken with a serious grain of salt because Trump got away not debating in the primary, which makes him more likely to think that he can get away with the same behavior in the fall.

Biden is calling Trump out. Trump has been hiding at his club and showing up to roughly one campaign event a week. If Trump wants to return to the White House, he is going to have to step on the debate stage and win it

If presidential debates dont happen, it will be because Trump didnt want them, or insisted that they be done on his terms and rigged in his favor.
Low energy Trump has returned to court as he is taking a deep sleep nap as his lawyer cross examines David Pecker.

Harry Litman is the courtroom and posted:

Trump heavy-lidded, seems to be dozing off for brief periods.  Harry Litman (@harrylitman) April 26, 2024

Now more like bonafide nap by Trump  asleep for several minutes  Harry Litman (@harrylitman) April 26, 2024

The jury is paying close attention to everything that Trump does so for him to be asleep during critical cross examination is disrespectful to Trumps lawyer, the jury, and the court itself. Trump isnt doing himself any favors by constantly sleeping in court, but this does not seem to be an intentional strategy.

Trump has seemed like an old man during the trial. He is complaining about having to sit at the defense table. He is complaining about the temperature in the courtroom.

The ex-president is choosing not campaign when court is out of session , and the answer as to why is increasingly obvious. Trump lacks the physical stamina to both campaign and go to court.

If Donald Trump cant stay awake during a criminal trial where he is facing 34 felony counts and potential incarceration, how can America expect him to stay away and make vital decisions for the nation in the Oval Office?

Donald Trump is too tired to be president.

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We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.

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COLUMBIA  The University of South Carolinas chapter of the American Association of University Professors has its eyes on the April 23 arrest of two USC students following a pro-Palestinian protest on campus, according to its president.

The students, both 19 years old, were arrested and charged with breaching the peace by USC police after a demonstration inside the Russell House student union building. Both have since been released from Richland Countys Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds.

We, that is the AAUP chapter, are concerned about these arrests, said Mark Minett, an associate professor of English and president of the associations USC chapter.

Were going to be asking questions, were going to be looking for more information in relation to  how and whether this action confirms to university policy, as well as the principles articulated in the AAUP statement on the rights and freedoms of students.

The arrests followed a half-hour demonstration inside the Russell House student union, where about a dozen masked protestors carrying signs and flags chanted pro-Palestinian slogans outside of the buildings second-floor dining area. The protest happened before the scheduled start of the universitys midnight breakfast event marking the start of final exams.

Demonstrators left the building together around 10 p.m., when the breakfast event was scheduled to start. They were followed by police, who eventually arrested the two students after the group fled in different directions upon realizing that arrests were imminent, according to the polices incident report.

That incident report asserts the protestors were intending to create a deliberate disturbance and impeding pedestrian (including student and staff) traffic.
SPARTANBURG  The clients had just driven nearly halfway across the country with a truck full of their possessions, and needed someplace to go. Hurricane or not, Marshall Jordan was determined to get their new house closed. Read moreNo power, no problem: How an Upstate agent closed 2 sales in the aftermath of Helene
CLEMSON  Kyle Rittenhouse took his national college speaking tour to Clemson University, invoking a vocal response from some student activists as he advocated for campus carry and irreverently recounted his story from the night he killed two people and wounded one.

On Aug. 25, 2020, Rittenhouse, then 17, traveled from Kenosha, Wisc., to nearby Antioch, Ill., with an AR-style semiautomatic rifle during a police brutality protest. After firing at three people in what he argued was self-defense, he faced six charges including homicide charges. He was acquitted on all charges after a well-publicized trial.

Rittenhouse, now 21, was invited to speak by Clemson's chapter of Turning Point USA, a national conservative grassroots organization at high schools and colleges across the country.

As the opening speaker took the stage, a small group of ten protestors stood up and began chanting, "Stop bullets, save lives." Police escorted the protestors out to cheers from the audience.

Rittenhouse, taking the stage with a chuckle himself, opened with praise for South Carolina's new open carry law, but questioned why campuses were excluded from the changes.

"You guys have a right to be able to protect yourself and not have to live in fear in your dormitories," Rittenhouse said, comparing the slower response time of an emergency blue call box to that of a gun.

Rittenhouse detailed into a timeline of events from the night of Aug. 25, starting with the phone call from a friend that spurred him to drive to Kenosha, to the moment he fired his gun.

"My head was spinning. I felt sick," Rittenhouse said. "I was this young kid who was put in a situation where I was viciously and violently attacked."
Todos estos datos fueron expuestos en el Miercoles del Exportador: Promo Union Europea 2024, que conto con la participacion del jefe de la Seccion Economica y Comercial de la Delegacion de la UE, Olivier Coupleux, y de la presidenta ejecutiva de #PROMPERU, Angelica Matsuda. pic.twitter.com/qLJrt4hyEs
The sixth annual Pink Promenade celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month saw 10 survivors showcase the latest in pink fashion on Oct. 12 at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Prior to the catwalk, attendees were clued in by Dr. Philip A. Albaneze on Roper St. Francis Foundation's efforts to he Read morePink of Health: Survivors strut the runway at Pink Promenade
Two boats full of birders floated slowly down the North Edisto River as the sun set and the moon popped up from a hat-shaped cloud. Ahead was Deveaux Bank, a rapidly vanishing island thats among the most important bird sanctuaries on the East Coast.

The birders were there on this recent April evening to glimpse a migratory wonder, one that South Carolina scientists had only recently discovered: the return of the whimbrels.

Whimbrels are large shorebirds with speckled brown-and-white feathers. They have long curved bills, perfect for feeding on insects and Lowcountry fiddler crabs. They're long-distance fliers, sometimes migrating nonstop from the southern tip of South America to Deveaux Bank.

Here on this horseshoe-shaped patch of sand, whimbrels roost for a few weeks in mid-spring, resting for their next long flight to the Arctic. In 2009, scientists in Virginia captured a female whimbrel and attached a transmitter. They named the bird Hope and tracked her for three years. Hope flew more than 50,000 miles.

Like many shorebirds, whimbrels are in trouble. Various studies have found their numbers roughly cut in half since the 1990s. Which is why Deveaux Bank has become so precious.

Its also why Chris Crolley, who runs Coastal Expeditions, wanted to take the birders to this beautiful and disappearing way station.

Whimbrel discovery

The boats left a landing on Wadmalaw Island as the early evening sun cast the marsh in amber. About 75 people were on board, many lugging binoculars and cameras with long lenses. The boats puttered past Rockville, a tiny town on Wadmalaw Island with residents who have long used Deveaux Bank as a place to picnic or fish. See that, Crolley suddenly said as the boat moved into the North Edisto River. Flying across the sun  whimbrels!

They flew in ragged formation, possibly from nearby marshlands where they had fed.

They might fly nonstop from Argentina. And when they land here, theyre two things  tired and hungry, Crolley told the group. Theyll rest and feed here and become even more beautiful than they were when they arrived.

To the left, windows on Seabrook Islands beachside homes reflected the setting sun. To the right, the silhouetted and preserved forests of Botany Bay grew darker. Ahead, at the North Edisto's mouth, was Deveaux Bank, the site of a surprising revelation.

For years, scientists werent sure where whimbrels stopped during their epic journeys north. Then, one morning in 2014, Felicia Sanders, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, noticed whimbrels leaving Deveaux Bank. Did some whimbrels use Deveaux as their secret way station?

Over time, she and her colleagues gathered more data, and on a full moon night in 2019, they did a comprehensive tally: More than 20,000 whimbrels were on Deveaux, about half the known Atlantic population. They'd been hiding in plain sight. After the count, John Fitzpatrick of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, told The New York Times it was one of the most mind-blowing discoveries in the history of 20th- and 21st-century ornithology.

At that time, Deveaux Bank was more than 200 acres.

But as the boats closed in on this late April evening, it soon became clear that much of the whimbrels rest stop was under water. "What's left? Maybe 10 or 15 acres." Crolley guessed.

The reasons for Deveaux's disappearing act are many: the natural flux of sandbars at a river inlet; brutal storms, including Hurricane Idalia and last Decembers noreaster; rising tides from a rapidly warming planet.

Add these natural and climate change factors to increasing coastal development, and you have what Crolley called the "coastal squeeze.

Which is why he and other conservationists are frustrated and angry that the state Department of Natural Resources has declined to close whats left of Deveaux Bank.

Other coastal shorebird sanctuaries, including Charlestons Crab Bank, are off limits during nesting season.

Why isnt Deveaux? Crolley asked the group.

Other SC bird sanctuaries are closed

Part of the answer was back on shore in Rockville.

The towns mayor, Riley Bradham, said Deveaux has long been a favored fishing and beachcombing spot. Access to Deveaux is part of Wadmalaws cultural heritage, he said, adding that he and residents also are acutely aware that people can harm birds merely by their presence. Getting too close can create flares, disturbances that cause birds to flee their nests. This opens them to predatory gulls or the suns heat, which can cook eggs or newly hatched chicks in minutes. Its a balancing act, he said of DNRs management.

Part of the answer is even farther inland, in DNRs offices, where staff try to do whats best for the birds, while trying to balance that with public use and enjoyment of the area, said Emily Cope, deputy director of wildlife and freshwater fisheries.

Still, when asked for specific metrics used to balance these interests, the agency had trouble coming up with them. How much high ground is left on Deveaux? The agency's latest calculation was made eight months ago after Hurricane Idalia spun past the coast and left behind just 22 acres of high ground.

At the same time, officials are clearer about the sanctuarys importance, noting how last year Deveaux Bank hosted more than 3,000 pelican nests, roughly three-quarters of the states nesting pelican population and the largest colony on the Atlantic coast. They noted how in recent weeks they'd seen terns and black skimmers flying low over the island, scouting for stretches of sand to nest.

And, they said that so much of Deveaux is under water from mid tide to high tide that the agency can't post off-limits signs in some areas. Instead, the agency is depending on people to abide by what's in a new map.

The map shows what's open  the banks southern corner  and what's closed. Dogs arent allowed no matter where you go, and violators can be fined $465.

To some conservationists, the agencys actions seem like futile contortions.

Dana Beach, a longtime conservationist, said he remembered the island once had trees. Not anymore. When Deveaux was larger, opening it had an impact on the shorebirds, but it wasnt an existential impact. So DNRs attitude now is bizarre and mostly inexplicable.

Riley Egger of the Coastal Conservation League said that last week she saw more than 3,000 red knots in the area, and that later she saw four boats anchored in the same spot. "Shorebirds are declining faster than any other group of birds partly because humans increasingly use their habitats," she said. "Deveaux Bank is a site of international importance."

Back on the boat, Crolley rattled off the names of the states shorebird sanctuaries: Tomkins Island toward Savannah, Deveaux Bank, Bird Key Stono and Charleston Harbors Crab Bank.

Theyre all protected, except Deveaux. He pointed toward Rockville. Because someone over there thinks it's a good fishing spot.

Seeing the whimbrels

Conservationists say Deveaux Bank is so important the state should even consider renourishing it, as it did with Crab Bank  an idea that DNR also has resisted.

Local groups are seeking a grant to study sand transport around Deveaux. They asked for DNR's comments. In response, the agency said it doesnt support renourishing. Deveaux is naturally dynamic and erodes and rebuilds," the agency said in a document obtained by The Post and Courier.  Artificially placed sand would not stay put for long thus renourishing is not worth the effort and funds.

State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, said hes long known about the importance of protecting Deveaux, and that a renourishment project shouldnt be ruled out. Hed fought for more enforcement of existing closure rules in the past, especially during the pandemic, when more people seemed to treat the island as just another beach spot. We had folks who werent respectful of the boundaries, he said. Given its diminished size, should it be totally closed now? I think we should take a hard look at that.

On that recent evening trip to Deveaux, the sun set as Crolley slowed near the southwestern tip, the spot where people can legally land their boats and walk around.

The moon was higher now. In the twilight, the western sky glowed pinkish orange.

The birders hoisted their cameras and pointed them toward the sand and ridge of waist-high dunes. A breeze carried a symphony of squawks and whistles and chirps. The smell of bird dung grew stronger. Birds were everywhere, pelicans crammed into the dunes, black skimmers and whimbrels lifting off like confetti swept by gusts. They look like bees! Crolley said. Thousands and thousands of birds. All on this shrinking patch of sand.
SPARTANBURG  Complying with new federal rules limiting forever chemicals in drinking water is expected to cost $1.5 billion annually nationwide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

However, drinking water is only responsible for around 20 percent of most peoples exposure to these compounds, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Guy Boyle, CEO of Spartanburg Water, made sure to point this out during a presentation April 22 to Spartanburg City Council.

What the water industry is arguing is the EPA is going after the wrong people, Boyle said. Were passive treaters of water.

The other 80 percent of exposure comes mostly from consumer products like cosmetics, food packaging, cookware and clothing.

Exposure to manufactured perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or forever chemicals, has been linked to numerous health concerns such as including deadly cancers, heart and liver problems and developmental damage to children.

Rules limiting PFAS in drinking water go into effect in 2029. The EPA estimates the new rules will save $1.5 billion annually from fewer heart issues, reduced birth problems and lower cancer rates, essentially offsetting the cost.

Only one water provider in Spartanburg County, the Woodruff-Roebuck Water District, would not meet the new rules, according to a 2020 DHEC report. Meanwhile, Spartanburg Water has periodically tested its sources for PFAS since 2020, finding no PFAS in 97 percent of tests well below the new limits in the other 3 percent.
These resources will enable awardees to develop and enhance their innovative products or services.

Most winners come from Arequipa, Junin, Puno, Cusco, Lambayeque, and Cajamarca regions. About half are initiatives led by women.

"From the Government, we are committed to increasing formality and ensuring that each new venture or company has innovative products and services that make a difference at the national and international level," Mrs. Boluarte underscored.

"From the (Peruvian) State, we are betting safely on you, through non-refundable co-financing, with which you will be able to make your businesses grow, generate new jobs, and contribute with your taxes so that more companies can have the opportunity to enter the market," she indicated.

On the other hand, Mrs. Boluarte stressed that Peru's economy is in clear recovery.

? Apoyamos a los emprendedores del pais! Mas de 460 emprendimientos innovadores y Mipymes, ganadores de los concursos StartUp Peru 10 G y Mipymes de Calidad, recibiran entre 45 mil y 140 mil soles. En total estamos transfiriendo mas de 25 millones de soles", resalto la pic.twitter.com/h9RPnK3rgQ
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FORT WORTH, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Just Right Products Inc., the wholly owned subsidiary of ADM Endeavors ("ADM" or the "Company") (OTCQB:ADMQ), a diversified, direct marketing and value-added manufacturing company, announces that CEO Marc Johnson and CFO Alex Archer will host an investor presentation at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2024 on May 1, 2024, at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Archer will then host 1x1 investor meetings throughout the following day (May 2, 2024)."Fiscal 2023 was a transformational year for ADM Endeavors," said CEO Marc Johnson. "We remained profitable (US$5,188,930 Revenue, US$137,468 Net Income) and generated cash as we were able to replace a significant customer loss with stable, re-occurring government contracts. This strength is expected to increase into 2024, with more contract wins and the return of influencer sales. Furthermore, ADM has successfully closed, integrated, and scaled acquisitions and will continue to do so as new opportunities present themselves. We're on track to open our new production facility by year-end, which will increase our capacity by up to five times. We look forward to introducing ADM Endeavors to Planet MicroCap investors and expanding upon our business and operational strategies during the event." To access ADM Endeavors Planet MicroCap Presentation:Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024Time: 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ETWebcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3026/50123 If you cannot make the live presentation, all company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the conference event platform on this link under the tab "Agenda": https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/agenda To Book a Meeting with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Archer:If you would like to book 1x1 investor meetings with ADM Endeavors management and to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2024, please make sure you are registered here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup 1x1 meetings will be scheduled and conducted in person at the conference venue: Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NVAbout Planet MicroCapPlanet MicroCap is a global multimedia financial news, publishing and events company focused on news dissemination, providing information, data and analytics for the MicroCap investing community. We have cultivated an active and engaged audience of folks that are interested in learning about and to stay ahead of the curve in the MicroCap space.If you would like to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase, please register here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup About ADM EndeavorsADM Endeavors is a diversified, direct marketing and value-added manufacturing company providing customers with customized promotional products and wearables. Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing our recession resistant customer base, with sales topping $5.2 million for the last reported 12 months. The Company sells "Anything With A Logo" on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com , developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/admqshareholders/Forward Looking StatementThis press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe -harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.For further information about ADM Endeavors, please contact:Marc Johnson, CEOPhone: 817.231.8048Email: info@ admendeavors.com For investor information for ADM Endeavors, please contact:Sean Peasgood, Investor RelationsPhone: (647) 255-7570E-mail: sean@ sophiccapital.com News Compliments of AccesswireSOURCE: ADM Endeavors via Planet MicroCap
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DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Agronomics (LSE:ANIC), a leading listed company focused on the field of cellular agriculture, is pleased to announce that portfolio company Solar Foods Oy ("Solar Foods") has raised an additional EUR8 million in funding via Finnish investment organiser Springvest Oyj.This additional funding is a subsequent close to Solar Food's Series B round which took place in November 2023, bringing the total raise to EUR16 million. Solar Foods' first commercial-scale factory, named Factory 01, has been fully operational since April this year and is expected to produce 160 tons of Solein annually. Solar Foods has already achieved regulatory approval for Solein in Singapore and is currently in partnership with the Finnish food company, Oy Karl Fazer AB, which is incorporating Solein into a chocolate snack. Solar Foods has also submitted a dossier to the European Food Safety Authority and is in conversations with multiple potential customers for the integration of Solein into existing product lines.To date, Agronomics has invested EUR6 million in Solar Foods. As disclosed in Agronomics' Unaudited Interim Results, this position is currently carried at a book value of 11.4 million, including an uplift of 6.3 million. This subsequent raise remained on the same terms as those set in November and there is no change to the value of Agronomics position.Agronomics' Executive Chair, Jim Mellon commented:"Solar Foods has shown impressive execution with the funds they have raised to date. It is one of the few companies in this field with a wholly owned and fully operational factory and regulatory approval which puts Solar Foods as one of the most advanced cell ag companies globally. We are very much looking forward to seeing product sales begin in Singapore and for regulatory approval in Europe." About Solar FoodsSolar Foods produces protein using carbon dioxide and electricity. Solein production, irrespective of weather and climate conditions, liberates global protein production from the constraints of traditional agriculture. Solar Foods, founded in 2017 in Espoo, Finland by Dr Pasi Vainikka, Dr Juha-Pekka Pitkanen, Sami Holmstrom, Jari Tuovinen, Professor Jero Ahola, and Janne Makela as a spinoff from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and LUT University. www.solarfoods.com About SoleinSolein is a microbial protein-rich powder that contains all the essential amino acids. It is produced using a bioprocess where microbes are fed with gases, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen, together with small amounts of nutrients. The bioprocess resembles winemaking, with carbon dioxide and hydrogen replacing sugar as the source of carbon and energy.This type of production method has the potential to transform the sustainability, availability, and transparency of what we eat and where food can be produced. It is not reliant on agriculture, weather, or climate: it can be produced in harsh conditions such as deserts, Arctic areas, even space. Learn more about Solein at www.solein.com About AgronomicsAgronomics is a leading listed alternative proteins company with a focus on cellular agriculture including precision fermentation and cultivated meat. The Company has established a portfolio of over 20 companies in this rapidly advancing sector. It seeks to secure minority stakes in companies owning technologies with defensible intellectual property that offer new ways of producing food and materials with a focus on products historically derived from animals. These technologies are driving a major disruption in agriculture, offering solutions to improve sustainability, as well as addressing human health, animal welfare and environmental damage. This disruption will decouple supply chains from the environment and animals, as well as being fundamental to feeding the world's expanding population. A full list of Agronomics' portfolio companies is available at https://agronomics.im/ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU No. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SUCH PERSONS SHALL THEREFORE CEASE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF INSIDE INFORMATION.For further information please contact:AgronomicsLimitedBeaumontCornish LimitedCanaccord Genuity LimitedCavendish Capital Markets LimitedPeterhouse CapitalLimitedSEC NewgateThe CompanyNomadJoint BrokerJoint BrokerJoint BrokerPublic RelationsJim MellonDenham EkeRoland CornishJames BiddleAndrew PottsHarry PardoeAlex AylenGiles BallenyMichael JohnsonCharlie CombeLucy WilliamsCharles GoodfellowBob HuxfordAnthony Hughes+44 (0) 1624 639396info@ agronomics.im +44 (0) 207 628 3396+44 (0) 207 523 8000+44 (0) 207 397 8900+44 (0) 207 469 0936agronomics@ secnewgate.co.uk This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: Agronomics Limited
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The innovative AI-powered mobile calling app further boasts real-time speech translation capabilities, empowering users to call globally like a local in their native languages.SAN JOSE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / AI Phone, the leading generative AI-powered mobile application for enhanced phone calls, today announced a major update that expands its real-time phone translation capabilities to 91 languages and dialects, far surpassing other solutions on the market. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24's Live Translate for phone calls supports only 13 languages upon release.Additionally, AI Phone's speech-to-text feature now supports 133 languages. It also excels in recognizing dialects for phone voice recognition, supporting up to 14 dialects of Arabic, 22 dialects of Spanish, and 15 English dialects and accents.This significant advancement empowers users to overcome language barriers and connect seamlessly worldwide, fostering a more inclusive and globalized communication experience. By fine-tuning LLM for phone call scenarios and contexts, the translation accuracy has reached 98%, far surpassing that of ordinary text translation techniques.AI Phone app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Learn more about AI Phone's suite of features and unlock a world of effortless communication at aiphone.ai Bridging the Gap: Effortless Communication Across LanguagesAs the first app to truly apply AI large models to the field of real-time phone translation, AI Phone leverages the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize phone calls. The app provides a comprehensive suite of features, including real-time call translation in both texts and speech, live call captioning, AI-powered call summaries, and comprehensive transcriptions. This recent update focuses on real-time translation, removing the frustration of language barriers for a wider range of users."We are thrilled to expand our real-time call translation capabilities to more languages," said Rachel Davis, Senior Public Relations and Communication Manager at AI Phone. "This update reflects our commitment to making communication accessible and fostering connections across borders. Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter, a business professional navigating international partnerships, or someone simply wanting to connect with loved ones who speak another language, AI Phone empowers you to have clear and effortless conversations." Addressing Communication Challenges in Diverse ScenariosAI Phone's real-time translation addresses communication challenges in a variety of scenarios:Global Travel: Effortlessly navigate conversations with locals, ask for directions, or order food with confidence, regardless of the language spoken.Cross-Border Business Trips: Facilitate smooth communication during conference calls, or casual conversations with international colleagues.Multinational Company Collaboration: Bridge communication gaps within diverse teams, fostering a more inclusive and productive work environment.Non-Native Speakers: Stay connected with family and friends who speak a different language, or confidently conduct business calls in your non-native tongue. International students can also benefit by overcoming language hurdles while adapting to a new environment.Why Choose AI Phone?AI Phone prioritizes user experience. The app boasts a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for users of all technical backgrounds to access its powerful features. With a few taps, you can activate real-time translation and enjoy seamless communication across language barriers.AI Phone also stands out with its unique combination of features and benefits:Cost-Effective: Affordable subscription plans make AI Phone's powerful features accessible to everyone. Compared to traditional human interpretation solutions, it saves over 99% of the cost.Multi-System Compatibility: The app seamlessly integrates with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring everyone has access to this innovative technology.All-in-One Functionality: Eliminate the need to juggle multiple apps or devices. AI Phone provides a comprehensive suite of features within one user-friendly platform.The Future of Telephone CommunicationAI Phone represents the future of phone calls. By harnessing the power of AI, the app transforms traditional phone calls into a more inclusive and efficient communication tool. "We are dedicated to continuous development, adding even more languages in the future, and exploring new ways to leverage AI to enhance the phone call experience for everyone," Rachel Davis added.Experience the future of communication by downloading AI Phone for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Visit aiphone.ai for more information.About AI PhoneAI Phone is a generative AI-powered mobile application that empowers users to have clear and effortless phone calls through a suite of AI-powered features, including real-time call translation, call transcriptions with highlighted notes, and AI call summaries. AI Phone is committed to making communication smarter and fostering connections across borders. For more information, please visit aiphone.ai Media ContactCompany: AI PhoneContact name: Rachel DavisEmail: press@ aiphone.ai Website: aiphone.ai City and Country: San Jose, USA+1(408)905-8123SOURCE: AI Phone
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Awards recognize purpose-driven brands for their extraordinary approaches to social impact, corporate philanthropy and employee engagementBenevity's 2024 Corporate Goodness Awards Celebrate Groundbreakers in Social ImpactAwards recognize purpose-driven brands for their extraordinary approaches to social impact, corporate philanthropy and employee engagementPALM SPRINGS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 /Benevity Inc., the leading global provider of social impact software, today announced the winners of its 2024 Corporate Goodness Awards, also known as "The Goodies," acknowledging leading-edge brands for their innovative and inspirational approaches to social impact, employee engagement and corporate philanthropy. The 2024 Goodie Awards were presented to the winners on April 25 in Palm Springs, CA at Benevity Live!, the company's flagship conference, which brings together more than 700 purpose-driven professionals to share insights and strategies about the future of corporate impact.This year saw a record-breaking 197 nominations from 99 of the world's most iconic and purpose-driven brands. The winners were recognized across various categories based on the innovative, inclusive and creative ways they are making a difference in the world through their giving, volunteering and community investment programs."The Goodie Awards winners and finalists are doing incredible things to challenge the status quo, catalyze positive action in meaningful ways and creatively solve critical issues facing society. We are so inspired by these innovative companies and people for creating deeply impactful programs that truly reflect their core values." - Kelly Schmitt, Benevity's Chief Executive Officer"The Goodie Awards winners and finalists are doing incredible things to challenge the status quo, catalyze positive action in meaningful ways and creatively solve critical issues facing society," said Kelly Schmitt, Benevity's Chief Executive Officer. "We are so inspired by these innovative companies and people for creating deeply impactful programs that truly reflect their core values." Companies who were selected as Goodies finalists contributed more than $153 million in donations and $7.9 million in grants and tracked more than 1.7 million volunteer hours through the Benevity platform in 2023.Benevity's 2024 Goodies Finalists and WinnersThe Bestie Awards: For best-in-class approach and overall impact The Bestie Award is selected from all finalists and recognizes the company with the best-in-class approach to corporate purpose, driving impact for their nonprofits, communities and employees.USAA (WINNER for Enterprise) Vancouver Airport Authority (WINNER for Mid-size)The BeCause Award: For dedication to causes The BeCause Award recognizes companies making a big impact on societal or community issues by removing barriers for nonprofits so they can operate with more autonomy, flexibility and speed.eBay (WINNER)HPE Hootsuite IBM Robert Bosa Foundation The Buzz Award: For catalyzing purpose through communications and storytelling The Buzz Award recognizes companies that bring their corporate purpose programs to life, by embracing true storytelling over "numbertelling" and by sharing impact stories from employees, customers and/or nonprofits.Elevance Health Foundation (WINNER)Activision Blizzard Ciena Okta Relativity The Community Hero Award: For best in class approach to community investment The Community Hero Award recognizes companies taking a strategic yet creative approach to community investment to create greater impact with its nonprofit partners.DaVita (WINNER)CSAA Insurance Group Principal Financial Group Sequoia Healthcare District Vancouver Airport Authority The Moonshot Award: For boldness and creativity The Moonshot Award recognizes companies that have developed a creative, bold and impactful corporate purpose program and engages their communities, employees or customers in interesting ways to maximize their social and business impact.Coast Capital Savings (WINNER)First Tech Federal Credit Union FTI Consulting Gibson Energy USAA The NewB Award: For most transformative approach The NewB Award recognizes new Benevity clients that have created significant impact through a best-in-class corporate purpose program launch and have implemented best practices to engage stakeholders.Alberta Investment Management Corp. (WINNER)ENMAX KLA Foundation Tractor Supply Veritiv The People Power Award: For promoting purpose through people's passionsThe People Power Award recognizes companies that build a culture powered by its people and creates significant impact by putting the power of goodness in the hands of employees to address critical issues.Ciena (WINNER)Appfire F5 Gilead Foundation Symetra Life Insurance Company The Buffy Award: For individual leadership, innovation and impact The Buffy Award celebrates outstanding individuals who exemplify passion, innovation, imagination and leadership in the corporate purpose space.Kelly Petrich, Director, Community Impact, CiscoEstelle Roth, Global Head Giving & Volunteering, NovartisThe Change Champion Award: For an executive who champions a purpose-driven culture This new category celebrates an executive who is a shining example of what it looks like to lead with purpose. They foster diversity, equity and inclusion; they champion social action; and they inspire others with their commitment to purpose, people and profit.Kristina Karnovsky, FactSetEmployee Catalyst Award: For an employee whose passion creates movements The Employee Catalyst Award recognizes passionate employees who go beyond their day-to-day job to engage employees and community members in opportunities to do good, helping to fuel a culture of purpose.Tom Mahatdejkul, ARM Learn more about this year's Goodie Awards winners and their exciting programs here.About BenevityBenevity, a certified B Corporation, is the leading global provider of social impact software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. Recognized as one of Fortune's Impact 20, Benevity offers cloud solutions that power purpose for many iconic brands in ways that better attract, retain and engage today's diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 22 languages, Benevity has processed more than $15 billion in donations and 79 million hours of volunteering time to support 470,000 nonprofits worldwide. The company's solutions have also facilitated 1.3 million micro-actions and managed 845,000 grants worth $16 billion. For more information, visit benevity.com Media Contact Zamira TasneemMedia & Com
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VANCOUVER, B.C. and KIBBUTZ YIFAT, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Beyond Oil Ltd. (CSE:BOIL)(OTCQB:BEOLF) ("Beyond Oil" or the "Company"), a food-tech innovation company extending the life of frying oil, reducing costs and waste, is pleased to announce the voting results from the Company's annual and special meeting of shareholders held on April 25, 2024 (the "Meeting"). In total 54.83% of the Company's outstanding shares were represented at the Meeting. Each of the items of business was approved and passed by the Company's shareholders at the Meeting with the requisite approval thresholds, namely:Setting the number of and electing directors of the Company; Appointing an auditor for the ensuing year; Approving the amendment to the Company's omnibus equity incentive plan; Amending the deferred purchase price agreement; Approving the extension of the expiry date of 2,683,333 warrants; and Approving the extension of the expiry date of 2,241,324 warrants.All of the items of business were overwhelmingly approved by shareholders, and in the case of items 4 and 6 above, were approved with the requisite "minority approval" (as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions).About Beyond Oil Ltd.Beyond Oil is an innovative food-tech company dedicated to transforming the way we consume and produce food. We provide sustainable solutions for the food industry, prioritizing environmental protection and the well-being of its workers and customers. Our innovative solutions help reduce costs for our partners and clients while ensuring responsible and eco-friendly practices. We are committed to environmental responsibility, minimizing the carbon footprint of the food industry on our planet. By implementing cutting-edge techniques, we deliver a healthier final product by reducing the formation of carcinogenic substances in fried food. Our vision is to create a more sustainable future where food safety, cost efficiency, and environmental consciousness come together seamlessly. For more information, visit our website at: www.beyondoil.co Contacts:Jonathan Or CEO and Co-founder 1-647-691-9801 info@ beyondoil.co Caroline Sawamoto Investor Relations 1-647-691-9801 ir@ beyondoil.co Forward Looking Statement and InformationThe Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon management's current expectations, beliefs and projections, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain. Such expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In addition, we cannot assure that any patent will be issued as a result of a pending patent application or, if issued, whether it will be issued in a form that will be advantageous to us. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company's reports filed from time to time atsedarplus.ca . Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. The Company is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.SOURCE: Beyond Oil Ltd.
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) is pleased to announce that its Cladribine program is advancing to human comparative bioavailability studies in Europe. The Company is reviewing proposals from several contract research organizations to carry out the studies in accordance with EU medical regulatory guidelines. The recent success of both the Company's ODF Cladribine toxicity and comparative pharmacokinetic ("PK") studies and industry interest have set high expectations for the upcoming comparative bioavailability study. Further details on the study will be released in due course.BioNxt is developing a 100% owned and proprietary ODF Cladribine dosage form, directed at the multiple sclerosis ("MS") market. Cladribine tablets are currently approved for use in over 75 countries, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the European Medicines Agency ("EMA"), with annual sales in excess of one billion USD. Cladribine tablets are approved for several indications, namely highly active forms of relapsing-remitting MS and certain forms of leukemia. MS represents the largest market segment for the sale of Cladribine with approximately 2.3 million people living with MS worldwide, with the highest prevalence in North America and Europe, noted by Atlas of MS. The global Multiple Sclerosis drug market is expected to top USD 41 billion by 2033 according to Market.us The Company has filed Cladribine ODF-related provisional patent applications with three to four patent applications expected to be on file in major international jurisdictions by late 2024 to early 2025 with potential patent protection extending to 2044.The Company is also pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 6,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.27 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,620,000 (the "Offering"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for research, development, and commercialization programs and general working capital purposes. The Offering may close on one or more dates as the Company may determine.The Company may pay a finder's fee in connection with the Offering to eligible arm's length finders in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience accelerator focused on nextgeneration drug formulations and delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and new active pharmaceutical production and evaluation, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, lowcost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization and clinical evaluation of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets.BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh Rogers, CEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.com Phone: +1 780-818-6422This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-27 00:51:09

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RESTON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Brillient Corporation CEO Sukumar Iyer was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Mid-Atlantic Award finalist. The Mid-Atlantic program celebrates entrepreneurs from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Now in its 38th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is the preeminent competitive business award for audacious leaders who disrupt markets, revolutionize sectors and have a transformational impact on lives. Over the past four decades, the program has recognized daring entrepreneurs with big ideas and bold actions that reshape our world.Sukumar Iyer A photograph of Sukumar Iyer, CEO of Brillient Corporation.Sukumar was one of 30 regional entrepreneurs selected as finalists by an independent panel of judges. The candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. Sukumar was a prior finalist for this award in 2021, and this is his second nomination."I am honored to be a finalist for this prestigious award a second time. This group of finalists are successful entrepreneurs with impressive track records, and I am thrilled to be included with them. As always, the credit goes to our amazing employees who make us look brilliant every day," said Sukumar Iyer.Entrepreneur Of The Year honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to fortify it for the future.Regional award winners will be announced on June 20 during a special celebration and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world.About BrillientBrillient is an award-winning Full Spectrum Digital Transformation company, enabling clients to transform through the continuum of analog, to digital, to analytics, leading to insight-driven decision making and mission execution. We help clients achieve better efficiencies and lower costs in their digital government and IT modernization initiatives, enabling friction-free interaction with citizens and businesses.About Entrepreneur Of The YearFounded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum  in November where National finalists and award winners are announced.Contact InformationHeather SeelbachBrillient Corporationheather.seelbach@brillient.net 703-994-4232SOURCE: Brillient CorporationView the original press release on newswire.com
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. In the lead-up to the 109th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, seven Federal Liberal candidates endorsed to run in the next Federal election submitted a joint statement to the Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, calling on him and a future Liberal Government to accurately characterise the events between 1915-1923 as a genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

The letter, which was sent to the Opposition Leader on 23 April 2024, was endorsed by the following candidates: Gisele Kapterian, Dr Katie Allen, Tim Wilson, Manny Cicchiello, Katie Mullens, Scott Young and Theo Zagrapho.

ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian expressed his gratitude to the candidates for standing with the Armenian-Australian community in pressing our nations leaders for accurate recognition of the genocide.

We are a grassroots family, and we support candidates who are willing to champion our issues, said Kolokossian.

In 2023, the Liberal Party of Australia also endorsed a party policy on the 1915-1923 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

Thousands across the country wait in anticipation to hear whether the Australian Prime Minister and Opposition Leader will finally have the courage to utilise the word "Genocide".
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 22:41:57

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / CO2 GRO Inc.. ("CO2" or the "Company") (TSXV:GROW) announces a delay in the filing of its audited annual financial statements (the "Financial Statements"), management's discussion and analysis and related chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO) certifications (collectively, the "Annual Filings") for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, such filings due by April 29, 2024.As a result, the Company will be noted in default by applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada, and expects that the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC"), as principal regulator, will issue a 'failure-to-file' cease trade order ("CTO") in accordance with the principles and guidance set out in National Policy 12-307 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NP 12-307"). The CTO will prohibit any direct or indirect trading in securities of CO2 for so long as it remains in effect, in all Canadian jurisdictions in which the Company is a reporting issuer as well as certain other Canadian jurisdictions based on the provisions of local securities legislation, and will remain in effect until after the Annual Filings have been filed. The CTO will result in a suspension of the Company's common shares from trading on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), and continue until the CTO is revoked and all TSXV requirements are satisfied. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to remedy its filing default and have the CTO and TSXV trading suspension revoked in a timely manner, or at all.The Company has struck a committee comprised of three independent members of its Board of Directors to oversee all discussions arising with interested parties on future strategic initiatives of the Company, including possible partnerships or sales of assets.The Company intends to provide updates if and when necessary in accordance with applicable securities laws.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.About CO2 GRO Inc.CO2 GRO Inc. is a precision ag-tech, clean-tech company with a focus on people, the planet and prosperity. Our vision is to become one of the leading companies enhancing global food production from protected agriculture. By helping our customers sustainably increase yield and profitability, we could help feed up to half a billion people worldwide while reducing our customers' ecological footprint.About 300 million MT of fruit and vegetables are grown annually from about 5 million hectares of protected vegetable facilities globally (6 kg/m2/year of average production). A 30% yield increase using our technology could add up to 100 million MT of fruits and vegetables per year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual fruit and vegetable consumption of up to 200 kg per year per adult.Our Target Market: The estimated 800 billion square foot global protected grower market is comprised of 700 billion square feet of fruits & vegetables (Cuesta Roble 2019 estimate), and an estimated 100 billion square feet of protected floriculture and other medicinal plants and non-food varieties.Our Technology: CO2 Delivery Solutions enriches plants with CO2 by misting an aqueous CO2 solution directly onto plants grown in greenhouses and other protected grow facilities globally.Value Proposition: Approximately 98% of protected grow facilities globally cannot add CO2 by atmospheric gassing, missing out on up to 30% increased yield potential and 100% more gross profit. CO2 GRO's technology enables all protected growers regardless of facility or location to enrich their plants with CO2 to realize up to 30% yield increases. In addition, our technology suppresses the growth of micro-pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew, leading to healthier crops. Growers currently employing CO2 gassing can save up to 90% of CO2 gas used, reducing their ecological footprint and production costs.Patent Protection: CO2 GRO's CO2 Delivery Solutions technology is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending.Business Model: Our technology is sold to growers based on the cultivation area installed at prices that provide a high return on their investment and high margins for our shareholders.Global Expansion: CO2 GRO's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into Mexico, Spain, the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America as well as in its US and Canadian base.Environmental, Social and Governance: CO2 GRO is committed to good Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity.Sustainability: CO2 GRO is committed to sustainable corporate practices and to offering sustainable solutions to its customers. CO2 GRO focuses on good Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and impact. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity.Forward-Looking Statements and DisclaimerThis press release contains statements which constitute "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forward looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company, future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; successful completion of the Offering; the availability of financin
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 07:45:18

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Do you, or did you, own shares of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP)?Did you purchase your shares between November 29, 2023 and March 22, 2024, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Compass Minerals International, Inc.?Do you want to discuss your rights?NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Compass Minerals International, Inc. ("Compass Minerals" or the "Company") (NYSE:CMP) between November 29, 2023 and March 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired Compass Minerals securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Compass Minerals International, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later thanJune 24, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that:(1) Compass Minerals overstated the likelihood that it would be awarded a renewed U.S. Forest Service contract for the use of its proprietary magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardants for the 2024 fire season, as a result of safety issues presented by its fire retardant; and (2) Compass Minerals materially overstated the extent to which testing had confirmed that its fire retardants were safe.On March 25, 2024, before the market opened, the Company announced that the U.S. Forest Service had informed the company that it will not be entering into a contract for the use of magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardants for the 2024 fire season. On this news, Compass Minerals' stock price fell $3.00 per share, or 17.09%, to close at $14.55 on March 25, 2024.If you purchased or acquired Compass Minerals securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Compass Minerals International, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2024 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter Allocco Investor Relations ManagerBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com (212) 951-2030 pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 15:21:42

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COLOGNE, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / CrowdSwap, a popular Cross-Chain exchange, is finalizing ETF bridge testing and is ready to enter the new chapter of its business. The way they do it is unique in and of itself as well, being able to buy an ETF and exchange it for a variety of coins like BNB, USDC, or USDT (the number of possible tokens to convert to is an ongoing work in progress currently). However, a completely new and improved version of the exchange is coming to their platform. The latest version is scheduled for release on the 25th of April 2024.The fresh version will offer lower fees due to CrowdSwap's goal to reduce cross-chain fees in general and will be much more user-friendly. This unparalleled characteristic signifies a key moment for the platform. Through steadfast dedication to streamlining DeFi, CrowdSwap's newest advancement promises to reshape the sector and foster increased accessibility and acceptance."At CrowdSwap, we're committed to keeping up with the latest trends and actively shaping them. Our focus on being the first to offer ETFs on our platform is a promise to our users. This strategic initiative is designed to enhance how our users manage their digital assets, providing unmatched flexibility and access. We're here to set new standards, not just meet them." - Christian Mulder, Co-founder of CrowdSwap.Moreover, the exchange is launching a two-week fee termination (excluding protocol fees, which will be charged as network gas and smart contract executions) right after the planned launch of the newly improved exchange. Like all its services, CrowdSwap's new bridge will not require you to hand over personal details. For the first time, this functionality introduces the easiest investment method available today. Users can seamlessly purchase every token included in the Bullrun ETF using any token they hold in just a handful of clicks. This approach saves users 90% of the time it typically takes and drastically cuts down on transaction costs. Constructing a portfolio with the same tokens found in the BullRun ETF would involve moving money across various blockchains and buying each token separately. This breakthrough is changing the DeFi investment scene, making it easier and more streamlined.An exciting update arriving on the 25th of April! CrowdSwap's forthcoming updates will introduce a series of enhancements designed to elevate user interaction with the platform and enrich the overall user experience. I look forward to improvements that will streamline activities and make time on the platform more delightful.Here's what to expect:Enhanced visibility of CROWD in the transaction pathway, highlighting its crucial role in enabling cross-chain transactions;New security protocols to fortify our distinctive feature of cryptocurrency transfers;A refined process for selecting custom tokens directly via a URL for a smoother experience;A simplified method to explore and acquire trending tokens;Display VIP Club scores directly on the portfolio page, giving users insight into their exclusive benefits;Development of an intuitive tool designed to collect feedback from users, helping the team tailor the platform to meet your needs better.About CrowdSwapCrowdSwap, founded in 2020 in Germany, is a decentralized platform dedicated to cryptocurrency trading and generating passive income within the finance sector. It aims to simplify the DeFi trading sphere for traders and companies alike worldwide. The platform is also broadening its business-to-business offerings through a proprietary Cross-Chain Swap Widget designed for white-label use, which broadens market opportunities for cryptocurrency initiatives.CrowdSwap has made steady advances by prioritizing technological advancements and strategic planning for future expansions. Notable milestones for 2024 include the introduction of a no-seed smart wallet, a Telegram-based DeFi bot, an increase in decentralized ETF offerings, and evolving into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). Moreover, CrowdSwap has successfully obtained the necessary approvals and funding to establish a bridge to the DeFi-Chain, representing a significant stride forward.For media inquiries or partnerships, please get in touch with Peer Schroder, Partnership and BD Manager,sales@ crowdswap.org SOURCE: CrowdSwap
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 14:01:31

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HUNTSVILLE, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Curiteva, a privately held manufacturing and technology company, announces the appointment of David Schmidt as Chief Commercial Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company's mission to advance innovative technology in patient care. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Schmidt brings unparalleled expertise in commercial strategy and a proven track record of success in the medical device marketplace.Curiteva CCO Schmidt began his career with a pioneering startup, introducing one of the first-ever interbody fusion implants, a milestone in spinal treatment. Following years as a successful spine implant distributor, Schmidt embarked on a notable 20-year tenure with Medtronic, where he assumed leadership roles where he managed the eastern half of the U.S. for enabling technology sales. Following his tenure at Medtronic, Schmidt played a pivotal role at Wright Medical, leading a team to drive sales in the foot and ankle market. Most recently, he spearheaded sales and marketing initiatives for a small spine company.Chair of the Board Chad Falciani expressed enthusiasm about Schmidt's upcoming contributions to Curiteva, stating, "David is a talented, and experienced leader and we are honored to have him join our executive leadership team. His history of selling disruptive technologies, coupled with professional sales methods, aligns perfectly with our vision." David Schmidt also shared his excitement about joining Curiteva, commenting, "Curiteva embodies the value of innovation, leadership, and commitment to transforming patient care and I am excited to embark on this journey with Curiteva. After learning about the Inspire Technology and seeing some of the early clinical data to support it, I am eager to leverage my experience in commercial strategy to further Curiteva's impact in the healthcare landscape." About Curiteva:Curiteva is a privately held technology and manufacturing company based in Huntsville, Alabama. Our business is founded on a commitment to building world-class manufacturing, accelerating research and development, maintaining lean operational discipline, and delivering novel technology to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the patients they serve. Curiteva is pioneering 3D printing of Trabecular PEEK implants with a bioactive nano-surface to revolutionize how engineered structures and implant biomaterials accelerate immunomodulation, enhance healing, and improve patient outcomes. For more information, please visit www.curiteva.com Contact InformationKristen KyzerDirector of Business Developmentkkyzer@ curiteva.com 256.213.1057SOURCE: CuritevaView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-27 00:50:45

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Eagle Bay Resources Corp. (CSE:EBR) ("Eagle Bay" or the "Company") wishes to announce that Jason Birmingham, a founding director of the Company, has resigned from the board to pursue other interests. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Birmingham for his guidance and stewardship during his tenure and wishes him well in his future endeavours.The Company also wishes to announce that it has granted (the "Grant") an aggregate of 1,300,000 incentive stock options (each, an "Option") to purchase up to 1,300,000 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") to certain directors, officers and consultants under its Equity Incentive Plan. The Options are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of Grant, expiring on April 26, 2029, at a price of $0.20 per Share. The Options will vest as to 33% on the date that is three (3) months from the Grant, 33% on the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the Grant and the final 34% on the date that is twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Grant.All Options and the Shares underlying such Options are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.About Eagle Bay Resources Corp.Eagle Bay Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company specializing in the acquisition and development of high potential rare earth elements (REE's) and niobium properties. Eagle Bay Resources is publicly listed on the CSE and its common shares currently trade under the symbol "EBR".On Behalf of the Board of Directors EAGLE BAY RESOURCES CORP.Sean CharlandChief Executive OfficerTel: 604.681.1568Email: info@ eaglebayresources.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the future vesting dates respecting the Options. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the receipt of regulatory approval for the change of name and trading symbol. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.SOURCE: Eagle Bay Resources
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / HARMAN Originally published on HARMAN NewsroomAt HARMAN, we're committed to developing innovative solutions in a responsible way that benefits society, our customers, partners and communities. During Earth Month, we are reaffirming our commitment to advancing sustainable business practices - after all, sustainability is one of our strategic pillars, embedded within HARMAN's DNA and guiding every decision we make. Our commitment to sustainability extends year-round and is a crucial element of our purpose-led mission to make life more connected, entertaining, personalized and productive for everyone. Guided by our Sound Purpose global ESG platform, we have set ambitious sustainability goals and set forth on an actionable plan to reach them.Take a closer look at some of our recent sustainability achievements as we continue our journey toward a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come:Renewable Energy in OperationsTo accommodate growth while supporting our sustainability goals, we manufacture our reliable products in technologically advanced facilities with reduced impact to our environment. We recently celebrated the grand opening our new HARMAN Professional Solutions manufacturing plant in Pecs, Hungary, which furthered our momentum toward achieving our environmental goals over the next decade with its use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling and solar powered electricity.We also purchase renewable energy for our manufacturing plants as we progress towards our goal of 100% renewable electricity.Our HARMAN Mexico manufacturing plant in Queretaro and HARMAN India manufacturing plant in Pune have also taken steps to help reduce emissions across manufacturing operations by installing solar panels in both facilities. In Queretaro, this initiative propelled renewable energy to cover 9% of the site's overall electricity consumption, leading to an annual reduction of 960 tonnes CO2e in greenhouse gas emissions. The efforts of our Pune facility also gained recognition as an exemplary sustainable manufacturing site when our team was honored as an "Energy Efficient Unit" by a panel of judges at the 23rd National Award for Excellence in Energy Management.Highlighting Our Carbon Reduction InitiativesIn an exciting development, through our partnership with DSV, we have achieved a significant environmental milestone by reducing 10 tonnes of CO2e emissions for our air freight transport using biofuels derived from sustainable sources.Planet v Plastics: Sustainable Packaging & ProductsWe are also proud of the significant progress we've made over the past few years to further our sustainable packaging initiative. Our product development and packaging practices now use soy ink printing and avoid the use of virgin plastic whenever possible. We have also implemented measures that reduce power consumption, weight and heat generation during the packaging process.Our teams are constantly innovating to make our products more sustainable while optimizing the high standard for performance and quality that our customers expect from HARMAN. The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 is one recent example of our commitment to quality products that merge premium sound with sustainable design to help protect our planet.During the development process, our design team looked to nature for inspiration and their appreciation of its innate power inspired them to create the Aura Studio 4. The Aura Studio 4 is elegantly crafted in part with recycled materials, blending a unique modern design with superior sound quality and a multi-sensorial experience.The first in the range to be made in part with recycled materials, the speaker grille fabric is woven from 100% recycled polyester yarn, all aluminum is 100% recycled and the speaker housing is crafted from 85% post-consumer recycled plastic. It is also packaged in FSC-certified paper that has been printed with soy ink.Additionally, HARMAN upgraded our popular JBL line of portable speakers so that the JBL Xtreme 4, JBL Clip 5 and JBL Go 4 now made with recycled fabric and plastic and equipped with upgraded Bluetooth capabilities. Built with the environment in mind and equipped with upgraded Bluetooth capabilities, these latest portables feature even better sound and new color options for an enhanced listening experience.Sustainability remains a year-round focus at HARMAN. During Earth Month, Earth Day, and beyond, we are committed to embedding sustainable and responsible practices within our operations and having a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We have made great progress, but the journey isn't over. Stay tuned later this year for more updates on our sustainability efforts, progress and new initiatives as we continue on our sustainability journey.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from HARMAN on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: HARMANWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/harman Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: HARMAN
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 18:01:54

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Two exciting new products are now available from Gaggia North America: the Espresso Evolution is a compact and stylish semi-automatic espresso machine with a PID-controlled boiler and automatic pre-infusion; the MDF55 is a 55mm flat burr grinder with silent-grind and anti-clumping technologies plus intuitive touchscreen controls.ROCHESTER, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Fresh off the manufacturing floor in the beautiful city of Gaggio Montano, Gaggia North America has two new offerings to support the brewing of authentic Italian espresso at home.Gaggia Evolution Gaggia Evolution in Red and BlackThe Espresso Evolution is a budget-friendly semi-automatic espresso machine that makes brewing excellent espresso at home easy, and the MDF55 is a whisper-quiet, all-purpose grinder designed specifically to be paired with the Classic Evo Pro.GAGGIA ESPRESSO EVOLUTIONStylish and compact, this impressive semi-automatic espresso machine allows even novice baristas to consistently brew quality espresso at home.The PID-regulated boiler ensures consistent temperatures at the group head, and the automatic pre-infusion gently wets the coffee puck to reduce channeling. With the memo function, you can program extraction times for easily repeatable shots.The Gaggia Espresso Evolution is also incredibly versatile. It comes with a set of stainless steel, double-wall filter baskets that allow you to brew high quality espresso using freshly ground coffee beans, pre-ground coffee, or E.S.E. coffee pods.For cafe-quality cappuccinos and lattes, the pannarello steam wand makes it easy to froth milk, even if you have no barista experience whatsoever.The Espresso Evolution accommodates taller cups of coffee as well. Simply remove the drip tray for additional clearance under the portafilter spout.Available in Lava Red and Stone Black, the Espresso Evolution is the perfect option for any aspiring home barista.GAGGIA MDF55Designed to be used with the Classic Evo Pro, the Gaggia MDF55 grinder features 55mm flat, hardened-steel burrs with stepless micrometric adjustments.Operated through an incredibly-intuitive touch-screen display, the MDF55 has two easily-programmable doses, which are adjusted in 0.1-second increments.Designed and constructed entirely in Italy, the MDF55 features high-quality components and thoughtful design features: the Anti-Clumping System reduces static and produces pillowy grounds while the Silent Grind Technology makes this one of the quietest grinders available.The oversized grind adjustment knob is aesthetically striking and allows for minute adjustments to the grind size across a wide range of sizes, suitable for preparing everything from espresso to French press coffee.Both the Espresso Evolution and the MDF55 are available from Gaggia North America. Visit Gaggia North America to learn more and get one of your own.Contact InformationTracy SchaferAccount Director North Americatracy@ gaggia-na.com SOURCE: Gaggia North AmericaView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 17:30:51

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / The Global Climate Innovation Center (GCIC), in collaboration with Kleinsche Florasche, is proud to announce the launch of a new global initiative, the "GREEN UP" hiking campaign. This dynamic campaign is set to run from the end of April to October, with major global cities like Beijing, New York, and Silicon Valley serving as focal points."GREEN UP" aims to engage communities worldwide through both offline hiking events and online coordination to celebrate The International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on May 22. This day promotes biodiversity issues and is a critical part of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals. The campaign encourages participants to take concrete actions towards sustainable living and environmental stewardship.The campaign will culminate in October with a series of lectures and summits, designed to provide a comprehensive and multi-layered guide to sustainable living practices. These events will also contribute to the United Nations' broader goal of Sustainable Development by fostering a deeper understanding and commitment among participants.Zuqi Su, Global Climate Innovation Center's team leader, expressed his hopes for the campaign's innovative approach and potential impact. "Through 'GREEN UP,' we aim to connect individuals globally who are eager to advance sustainable development goals through their initiatives, working collectively towards the world we envision," said Zuqi Su.Zhouzhou Yi, the campaign's spokesperson, added, "We believe this campaign will unite people who are passionate about the planet, concerned with climate change, and committed to protecting biodiversity. It's a call to action for all who cherish our world." About The Global Climate Innovation Center:The Global Climate Innovation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions. By collaborating with a diverse group of leaders from industry, government, non-profits, and academia, GCIC is at the forefront of catalyzing climate actions and fostering innovative solutions.Website: http://www.gcic-sdg.org/Email: president@ gcic-sdg.org SOURCE: Global Climate Innovation Center
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 08:30:13

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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Today, Green Energy Park announces a major milestone on its journey to build one of the largest hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production plants in the world. The company has signed a definitive agreement for 30 million US Dollars Series-A funding and has obtained the long-term rights to the hydrogen port terminal facilities in Luis Correia, Brazil. This initial funding round underscores the strong interest among a broad range of strategic partners, global offtakers, and financial institutions to commit the resources for building the world-scale hydrogen production and integrated port terminal facilities in Piaui, Brazil.Victor Hugo Almeida (CEO of Investe Piaui, left), Rafael Tajra Fonteles (Governor of the State of Piaui, middle), Bart Biebuyck (CEO of Green Energy Park, right) signing the Series-A funding agreement in Sao Paulo, BrazilGreen Energy Park (GEP) is implementing one of the largest climate impact undertakings in the world. The company was founded in 2023 with the purpose of producing renewable hydrogen in the most cost competitive locations with an initial focus on the world-class conditions in the North-East of Brazil. GEP will distribute its green fuels to offtakers in industry and transport with a mission to help decarbonize the hard-to-abate sectors of the economy.Green Energy Park Piaui is the company's first hydrogen production plant, targeting 10.8 GW of electrolyzer capacity when fully built. The integrated hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production facilities feature some of the most advance process engineering designs from the liquified natural gas and ammonia business. Green Energy Park has deep engineering and EPC expertise in the field of cryogenic gas handling and storage, which is combined with dedicated construction implementation capabilities.To achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen, Green Energy Park sources world-class renewable electricity input, feeding state-of-the-art electrolyzer technologies, implemented on a purpose-build and standardized production infrastructure.Working closely with offtakers around the world enables a novel approach to design, build, and operate a vertically integrated hydrogen supply chain. Green Energy Park is partnering with a wide range of energy users offering a cost-competitive solution to their decarbonization needs.Representatives from Green Energy Park, Investe Piaui and the State of Piaui on stage after signing of the agreementBart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park said:"The world is at risk of falling behind its climate goals.The urgency to act is now. Despite the many efforts and programs to arrest climate change, emissions from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, have reached a new record in 2023.To achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, we need to install 6,000 gigawatts of electrolyzer capacity around the world. This is a monumental task.The good news is that it can be done. It is not too late to act. But we must act now!Therefore, at Green Energy Park, we are on a singular mission: To produce the lowest-cost renewable hydrogen at the gigawatts scale.To achieve our ambitious goal, we combine cutting-edge hydrogen production technologies, with innovative process engineering solutions, at one of the most advantageous sites for renewable hydrogen production in the world, in the State of Piaui, Brazil.In short, Piaui is set to become our ground zero of the hydrogen revolution. Therefore, we are incredibly proud of our strong partnership with the State of Piaui on this critical mission." Victor Hugo Almeida, CEO of Investe Piaui said:"The State of Piaui offers some of best conditions in the world for producing green hydrogen. The State Government, and the Governor, Rafael Fonteles, are fully committed to unlocking the great potential of our unique natural resource endowment to the benefit of our citizens, the climate, and indeed the world.Green Energy Park provides our State with a tremendous opportunity for a bright future. The world-scale hydrogen project will create thousands of high-quality jobs in our state and will accelerate a green industrialization of our economy. We want to attract international businesses to build a world-scale hydrogen cluster by creating a favorable investment environment with strong support by the State of Piaui. Therefore, we are implementing an innovative approach for a green industrialization of our country, for others to follow in Brazil and beyond.We are incredibly proud that Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui to implement the most advanced hydrogen production facility in the world. The government will fully support the undertaking and is well prepared to help this global flagship project to succeed." About Green Energy ParkGreen Energy Park Global is a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise, that shares know-how, technologies, experience, and best practices between its global partners. The focus is on leading hydrogen technology applications with ammonia as the renewable energy carrier of choice.The company's objective is to develop, finance, build, and operate renewable energy facilities under a common brand. GEP seeks to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities around shared values and a common mission.GEP's mission is to engineer and build a "Global Standard" for large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production, powered by renewable energy sources. To achieve cost leadership in renewable hydrogen the company combines cutting-edge electrolyzer technologies with a purpose-build and standardized production infrastructure.Green Energy Park's purpose is to positively impact society by accelerating the energy transition and make the hydrogen economy a reality.General Enquiries:Loreta Pacipaviciute, Mariia Popovych media@ gep-global.com Investor Relations:Mario Reinisch, Director Finance and Corporate Development mario@ gep-global.com SOURCE: Green Energy Park
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 16:45:31

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Settlements now total more than $943.25 million.WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Home sellers have reached a $250 million settlement with HomeServices of America and certain of its subsidiaries, including Long & Foster Companies, Inc., BHH Affiliates, LLC, and HSF Affiliates, LLC, resolving class action claims against one of the nation's largest residential real estate services companies. Home sellers alleged that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) conspired with HomeServices America and several of the nation's largest residential real estate brokerage companies to illegally require home sellers to pay buyer broker fees - at an inflated rate - in addition to their own brokers' commissions.On October 31, 2023, a jury in Missouri found HomeServices of America, NAR, and Keller Williams liable for conspiring to inflate such commissions and for nearly $1.8 billion in damages. This settlement resolves those claims against HomeServices of America. However, it does not release Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (BHE) or BHE's or HomeServices of America's direct or indirect parents or their officers, directors, and employees from such claims or liabilities.This settlement is in addition to the $418 million settlement reached with NAR on March 15, 2024, and more than 275.25 million in other settlements reached with Anywhere Real Estate, RE/MAX, and Keller Williams in 2023 and Compass and Real Brokerage Inc. in 2024, bring total settlements, pending court approval, to more than $943.25 million."This is another significant settlement for American home sellers who have been saddled with paying billions in unnecessary commission costs. This brings us a step closer to resolving this long-running case involving the industry-wide brokers' commission scheme," said Benjamin D. Brown, managing partner of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll and co-chair of its Antitrust practice.In its $418 million settlement against NAR this past March, plaintiffs also achieved extensive industry reforms that will increase transparency and fairness regarding buyer broker commissions, while eliminating requirements that sellers must offer on multiple listing services to pay the commissions of brokers representing the buyers they are negotiating against."These settlements will return hundreds of millions of dollars to home sellers and empower both sellers and buyers in the real estate negotiation process," said Robert A. Braun, a partner in Cohen Milstein's Antitrust practice. "This is one of the most important transactions in a person's lifetime. Confidence in the process is critical." Moehrl, et al. v. National Association of Realtor (N.D. Ill.) was the first-filed case in 2019, and centers on NAR's adoption of a mandatory rule, which required a blanket, largely non-negotiable offer of compensation to the buyer broker when listing a property on a multiple listing service (MLS), which are online platforms that real estate brokers and agents use to share listings. The vast majority of MLSs are affiliated with NAR and required to follow NAR rules.The case, which was subsequently followed by the filing of Burnett, et al. v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.), alleged that those rules incentivize buyer brokers to avoid showing their clients homes where the seller offers a lower commission. This results in sellers offering high and mostly uniform commissions in order to avoid broker steering.Despite the shrinking role of buyer brokers over the years - caused by advances in technology, including the internet and public access to listings - buyer brokers' commissions have remained artificially inflated. On average, home sellers overpay such commissions by thousands of dollars on any given transaction.Burnett was the first of the two cases to go to trial, resulting in the $1.8 billion jury trial verdict in October 2023. Umpa v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.) and Gibson, et al. v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.) were filed later in 2023. The ongoing settlement process addresses and resolves claims in all four of the class actions.Plaintiffs are represented by Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Susman Godfrey, and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro inMoehrl, et al. v. National Association of Realtor, et al.(N.D . Ill.) and Umpa v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.); and Boulware Law LLC, Ketchmark & McCreight PC, and Williams Dirks Dameron LLC in Burnett, et al. v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.) and Gibson, et al. v. National Association of Realtors, et al. (W.D. Mo.)###About Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLCCohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a premier U.S. plaintiffs' law firm, with over 100 attorneys across eight offices, champions the causes of real people - workers, consumers, small business owners, investors, and whistleblowers - working to deliver corporate reforms and fair markets for the common good. For more information visit https://www.cohenmilstein.com Press Contact:cohenmilstein@ berlinrosen.com SOURCE: Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC
It comes as local authorities scramble to manage the estimated 15 million travellers that tour through the city every year.

Aussies hoping to travel to one of the world's top tourist destinations will now be stung with a tourist tax in a new effort to deter hoards of travellers arriving at once, which authorities say is putting immense pressure on the popular hotspot.

Venice in Italy's northeast is not only one of the most popular spots for travellers across Europe but arguably in the world, and is known for its rich history and picturesque canals which run throughout the more than 100 islands that make up the city.

Local authorities have long grappled with ways to preserve the city, which sees some 15 million people travel through it annually. Officials have argued that figure is not sustainable and has resulted in considerable damage to infrastructure, waterways and waste management.

Tourists wishing to visit the Italian city of Venice will have to pay a fee for the first time as part of a trial to deter daytrippers at peak times. Source: Getty

Day visitors to fork out $8 for trips to Venice

Day visitors will now be forced to pay an $A8 access fee from 8.30am to 4pm local time from Thursday, April 25, unless they have an exemption. Residents of the Veneto region, people who work, study or were born in Venice, children younger than 14 and anyone who has booked accommodation in the city will be exempt from the ticket requirement.

The trial will run for 29 days  daily until May 5, then most weekends until mid-July. A decision on whether the arrangement will become permanent will be made by the end of the year.

Day visitors will pay an $A8 access fee from 8.30am to 4pm local time from today unless they have an exemption. Source: Getty

The flow of visitors to the tourist hotspot is lucrative but has also been causing problems for some time. The historic centre with the famous Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge and the many canals now has fewer than 50,000 permanent residents.

In the high season, there are more than twice as many tourists on some days. An estimated 15 million visitors travelled to the city in 2023. Failure to pay the admission ticket could result in a fine of $A80 to almost $A500. The city council said the revenue would be used to renovate canals, roads and buildings.

Residents of the Veneto region, people who work, study or were born in Venice, children younger than 14 and anyone who has booked accommodation in the city will be exempt from the ticket requirement. Source: Getty

Venice not the first travel hotspot to introduce 'tourist tax'

The move trails other popular travel destinations with Aussies, including Bali, which implemented a similar tax earlier this year.

Indonesian authorities last year announced a one-off tourist tax of $50 for travellers headed to Bali, which was scrapped in December, but then since reintroduced and now revised down to just $15 (150,000 IDR) in February. The payment is a one-time levy for anyone entering Indonesia and travellers will still have to pay the $50 'visa fee' to be granted 30 days of travel on arrival.

- With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 21:50:52

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A deadline is coming up on May 20th in the lawsuit that was filed for certain investors in share of the Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) and NYSE: CC investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation.SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announces that a deadline is coming up on May 20th in the lawsuit that was filed for certain investors in share of the Chemours Company (NYSE:CC).Investors, who purchased shares of The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC), have certain options and there are short and strict deadlines running. NYSE: CC investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@ shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.On March 21, 2024, investor in NYSE: CC filed a lawsuit against The Chemours Company over alleged Securities Laws Violations. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that certain of the Company's senior executive officers manipulated Free Cash Flow targets as a means to maximize additional cash and stock incentive compensation applicable to executive officers pursuant to the Company's AIPs and LTIPs, that the Company's accounting practices and procedures, including its internal control over financial reporting, were deficient, and that as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.Those who purchased The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) shares should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc.CONTACT:Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels +1 (858) 779-1554mail@ shareholdersfoundation.com 3111 Camino Del Rio North Suite 423 San Diego, CA 92108The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon.SOURCE: Shareholders Foundation, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 05:25:10

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KINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a surge in bullish momentum and positive sentiment. After the prolonged crypto winter of 2022-23, investor confidence is on the rise, and market liquidity is improving.NFTFN: A Promising AltcoinAs we enter the second quarter of 2024, investors are eager to identify valuable altcoins for their portfolios. NFT Finance (NFTFN) has emerged as a top contender, generating significant interest in the crypto community with its ongoing presale.Tackling Challenges in the NFT MarketNFTFN is a pioneer in the web3 fintech space, addressing challenges in the non-fungible token (NFT) market such as liquidity issues and high entry barriers. Its flagship product, SuperNova (SNV), is a decentralized exchange (DEX) offering a variety of assets including NFT perps, cryptocurrencies, and ordinals.Access to Blue-Chip NFTsThe presale has attracted small-scale traders who were previously unable to access blue-chip NFTs due to capital constraints. With SNV's NFT floor price index, users can trade top collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) with as little as $10.Strong Support and PartnershipsNFTFN has garnered strong support and partnerships, including backing from Polygon founder Sandeep Nailwal and partnerships with industry leaders like OpenSea and Binance Smart Chain.Poised for GrowthFollowing a successful initial presale round, NFTFN's second presale round is currently underway, with investors eager to purchase the 25 million tokens available. Early investors from stage 1 have already seen a 20% profit on paper.Potential for 50x ReturnsWith a well-planned tokenomics model and catalysts like the Bitcoin Halving event, NFTFN is poised for potential 50x returns for presale investors.Join the PresaleInvestors participating in the presale are positioning themselves in a growing NFT market projected to reach $230 billion by the end of the decade.Discover the Most Exclusive Presale Opportunity of 2024 Now:Visit NFTFN Token Presale NFTFN Official WebsiteJoin Official Telegram Group Follow Official X AccountMedia Contact:Name - Abhishek Email -abhishek@ nftfn.xyzCompany - NFTFN City - Kingstown Country - St. Vincent and the GrenadinesSOURCE: NFTFN
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 13:16:27

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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / PMD Device Solutions (FRA:8T0)(STO:PMDS) The shareholders of PMD Device Solutions AB (publ), reg. no. 556639-6809 (the "Company") are hereby invited to the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29 May 2024 at 10:00 CEST at the premises of Eversheds Sutherland located at Sveavagen 20, Stockholm. Registration begins at 09:45.RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND NOTIFICATIONShareholders who wish to participate at the general meeting muston the record date, which is 21 May 2024, be registered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB; and give notice to participate no later than 23 May 2024 by email to investor.relations@pmd-solutions.com or by mail to the Company, c/o Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyra, Box 140 55, 104 40 Stockholm. When registering, the shareholder must provide their name, shareholding, personal or organisational identification number, address, and telephone number, as well as, if applicable, information on proxies (up to two). The notification should, if applicable, be accompanied by powers of attorney, registration certificates, and other authorisation documents.Shareholders whose shares are nominee-registered in the name of a bank or other nominee must, in addition to giving notice of attendance to the Company, register such shares in their own names so that the shareholder is recorded in the share register as of 21 May 2024. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting right registration) and request for such registration shall be made to the nominee in accordance with the nominee's routines in such time in advance as decided by the nominee. Voting rights registrations effected no later than 23 May 2024 will be considered by Euroclear Sweden AB in the preparation of the share register.Shareholders represented by proxy must issue a written proxy, signed and dated by the shareholder, to the proxy holder. The validity period of the proxy may be up to five years if specified. If no validity period is specified, the proxy is valid for up to one year. If the proxy is issued by a legal entity, a copy of the registration certificate or equivalent for the legal entity must be attached. The original proxy and any registration certificates should be sent to the Company at the address provided above well in advance of the meeting. The proxy form is available on the Company's website www.pmd-solutions.com before the meeting.PROPOSED AGENDAOpening of the meeting Election of chairman of the meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Approval of the agenda Election of one or two persons to approve the minutes Examination of whether the meeting has been duly convened Presentation of the annual report and the auditors' report and the group annual report and the group auditor's report Resolution regarding: adoption of income statement and balance sheet and the group income statement and the group balance sheet, regarding the profit or loss of the Company in accordance with the adopted balance sheet, and discharge from liability of the Board of Directors and the managing director Determination of fees to the Board of Directors and to the auditors Election of the Board of Directors and auditors Resolution to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on issues of shares, warrants and convertibles Resolution to authorise the Board of Directors to make minor adjustments to the resolutions Closing of the meeting PROPOSAL FOR RESOLUTIONSItem 8b - Resolution on the appropriation of the profit or loss of the Company in accordance with the adopted balance sheetThe Board of Directors proposes that all funds available for the Annual General Meeting shall be carried forward.Item 9 - Determination of fees to the Board of Directors and to the auditorsThe Board proposes that remuneration to the Board of Directors, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, shall be SEK 264,000 to the Board members Christer Ahlberg and Magnus Christensen, and SEK 316,800 to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The total remuneration to the Board of Directors shall amount to a maximum of SEK 844,800 .Furthermore, it is proposed that the remuneration of the Company's auditor shall be paid in accordance with the current account approved by the Board of Directors.Item 10 - Election of the Board of Directors, auditors, and deputy auditorsFor the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, it is proposed that the number of Board members be five (5), without deputies.It is proposed that Myles Murray, Christer Ahlberg, Magnus Christensen and Anne Dorney be re-elected as ordinary directors of the Board. Peter Donnelly is proposed to be re-elected as Chairman of the Board.The Board of Directors proposes, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, the re-election of the authorized public accountant Martin Gustafsson, HLB Auditoriet AB, as the Company's auditor with authorized public accountant Mats-Ake Andersson as deputy auditor.Item 11 - Resolution to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on issues of shares, warrants and convertiblesThe Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorise the Board of Directors - on one or more occasions and at the latest until the next Annual General Meeting - to decide to increase the Company's share capital by issuing new shares and to issue warrants and convertibles.New issues of shares, as well as issues of warrants and convertibles, may be made with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights and with or without provision for contribution in kind, set-off or other conditions. Pursuant to Chapter 16 of the Swedish Companies Act, the Board of Directors may not, by virtue of this authorisation, decide on issues to members of the Board of Directors of the group, employees and others.Issues with or without derogation from the shareholders' preferential rights may be made to the extent permitted by the current Articles of Association, or by any other Articles of Association that the shareholders may adopt by the required majority during the period up to the next Annual General Meeting.The issue decided by virtue of the authorisation shall be made at the market subscription price, subject to the market issue discount, if any. The issue decided by virtue of the authorisation shall be made in order to provide the Company with working capital, to increase the Company's financial flexibility and to enable acquisitions by payment in shares.The validity of the resolution referred to in this paragraph requires the support of shareholders representing at least two thirds (2/3) of both the votes cast at the meeting and the shares represented at the meeting.Item 12 -
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QUEBEC, QC / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 /NuRAN Wireless Inc. ("NuRAN" or the "Company") (CSE:NUR) (OTCQB:NRRWF) (FSE:1RN), a leading supplier of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, is pleased to announce the execution of a two-year term loan facility agreement (the "Loan Facility") in the principal amount of US $5M with the Facility for Energy Inclusion ("FEI"), a fund managed by Cygnum Capital following final Investment Committee approval announced on February 29th, 2024.The Loan Facility was entered into by NuRAN Wireless (Africa) Holding ("NuRAN Africa"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of financing the construction of renewable energy assets for mobile network infrastructure in respect of existing and new Network as a Service ("NaaS") agreements with the intention of accelerating the build of NaaS sites primarily in Cameroon and DRC.This senior secured Loan Facility is intended to allow NuRAN to deploy more than 500 new sites. Combined with cash generated from operating sites, the Company intends to use the proceeds to cover all material and construction costs of new sites. The loan drawdowns are subject to customary drawdown conditions for a loan of this nature including evidence of new sites being funded and operational from the proceeds of drawdowns and the amounts are secured against the assets of the Company's subsidiaries. "This marks a significant milestone in NuRAN's financing strategy for its NaaS operations and is the result of extensive efforts by both FEI's and NuRAN's teams in completing the final due diligence and debt structuring. We are grateful to Cygnum Capital and FEI for their support in our commitment to connect and empower the unconnected in Africa," said Francis Letourneau, CEO of NuRAN Wireless Inc. "This facility will enable us to execute our construction plan for 2024 and achieve major milestones by the end of the calendar year," stated Francis Letourneau, CEO of NuRAN Wireless Inc. "Providing this facility to NuRAN Africa marks another noteworthy achievement for the Fund's leading role to support the energy transition in the telecommunication industry in Africa where renewable energy is critical to bring fundamental services to underserved populations. The combination of innovative financing and world-class technical expertise will fast-track the expansion of mobile networks to rural areas in Africa," stated Carmen de Castro, Managing Director and Fund Lead at Cygnum Capital. FEI was advised by Trinity International (legal) and IBIS Environmental Social Consulting Europe (E&S).About Cygnum CapitalCygnum Capital Group is an investment bank and asset manager, operating across frontier and emerging markets. Cygnum Capital Asset Management manages five pioneering funds: four debt funds including: (i) the African Local Currency Bond Fund ("ALCBF"), a ground-breaking investment vehicle established to support local currency capital markets, (ii) Off-Grid Energy Access Fund ("OGEF") which supports companies in off-grid energy such as SHS and small- medium mini-grids, (iii) FEI which support companies that provide a range of renewable energy solutions such as medium-large mini- grids, C&I and IPP with a maximum capacity of 25 MW, and (iv) AfricaGoGreen Fund ("AGG") which supports companies combating climate change by reducing the use of fossil fuels through new technologies and that increase energy efficiency and promote economic development in high impact target sectors; and a VC private equity fund (v) E3 Low Carbon Economy Fund for Africa ("E3 LCEF") which invests in climate-smart services, digital connectivity & applications, low-carbon productivity enablers. Cygnum Capital Asset Management has over $835 million in assets under management with investments in 27 African countries.About the Facility for Energy InclusionFEI is designed to support small-scale independent power producers delivering power to the grid, mini-grids, commercial and industrial and captive power projects. FEI was set up by the African Development Bank ("AfDB") as part of its New Deal for Africa initiative. In addition to the investment by the AfDB, FEI received equity funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW and Norfund and loan commitments from the Austrian Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The AfDB also invested on behalf of the Clean Technology Fund and the European Commission.The transaction was supported by FEI's Project Preparation Facility ("PPF"), funded by the Global Environment Facility, through the AfDB. The PPF provides returnable grant funding for last-mile processes crucial to closing transactions and to fund due diligence and preparatory costs incurred in establishing innovative structures or transactions that FEI seeks to lend to.About NuRAN WirelessNuRAN Wireless is a leading rural telecommunications company that meets the growing demand for wireless network coverage in remote and rural regions around the globe. With its affordable and innovative scalable solutions of 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies, NuRAN Wireless offers a new possibility for more than one billion people to communicate effectively over long distances efficiently and affordably. "Bridging the Digital Divide, One Connection at a Time." Additional Information:For further information about NuRAN Wireless: www.nuranwireless.com Francis LetourneauDirector and CEO Francis.letourneau@nuranwireless.com Tel: (418) 264-1337Frank CandidoInvestor relations Frank.candido@nuranwireless.com Tel: (514) 969-5530Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the signing of and drawdowns under the Loan Facility, statements with respect to setting up our construction plan for 2024 and accelerating the achievement of major milestones by the end of the calendar year from proceeds of the Loan Facility, statements with respect to any potential restructuring of debt and that the execution of the loan agreement with the DFIs will propel NuRAN to build towers at an aggressive pace and fulfil our 2024 and 2025 expectation. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Our approach to tax aims to align with the needs and long-term interests of our various stakeholders including governments, shareholders, employees, and the communities where we operate. When considering tax affairs, we consider the Company's corporate and social responsibilities and reputation and the benefit of transparency on tax matters. We recognize the importance of tax systems in helping governments fund programs to meet the needs of their communities.TAX GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT: The policies and procedures we have in place are designed to ensure we comply fully with all applicable tax requirements in every jurisdiction where we operate. We have established robust internal controls in financial and tax reporting, and we rely on technology and appropriately qualified and capable employees across our operations to timely and accurately calculate, report, and pay our tax liabilities. Employees and external stakeholders can report tax concerns through our hotline. Responsibility for setting and implementing our tax policy and management of our tax risks ultimately sits with our Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Day-to-day responsibility for the application of the tax policy and the management of our tax affairs is delegated by the CFO to the Tax Director, who is supported by a team of in-house tax and finance professionals. Oversight is provided by the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, consistent with our Enterprise Risk Management Framework.ALIGNMENT WITH OUR BUSINESS: Our tax team partners with our business operations to provide tax planning that enhances value and sustainable development and manages tax risks. Our internal policies and procedures are designed to ensure we comply with applicable tax laws, including monitoring and minimizing tax risks. We have a low tolerance for tax risk and do not engage in planning opportunities that are not in line with our values or are inconsistent with our reputation. Where uncertainty exists, and when appropriate, we seek clarification from external professional advisors.STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: We are committed to maintaining professional, open, and transparent relationships with tax authorities in all jurisdictions in which we operate, including the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. state and local tax and revenue departments. In the event a tax authority disagrees with our views on the appropriate tax treatment of a given item, we will work constructively to resolve the issue in a timely manner through appropriate methods of dispute resolution. We seek to be a valued partner to governments and advocate for tax legislation that encourages innovation and growth.Forward Looking StatementThis release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "aims," "campaign," "can," "committed", "designed," "ensure," "initiatives," "long-term," "opportunities," "planning," "seek," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's views of future events based on assumptions and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, and are not guarantees of future conduct, results, or policies. Please view the Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information on page 134 of PotlatchDeltic's 2022 ESG Report.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from PotlatchDeltic on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: PotlatchDelticWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/potlatchdeltic Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: PotlatchDeltic
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 18:15:28

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Presentation on Monday, April 29th at 11:15 AM (London Time)BOSTON MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 /Radiance Biopharma ("Radiance" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and Bispecific ADCs (BsADCs) treatments for cancers, today announced that Robert Brooks, JD, Chief Executive Officer of Radiance will present at the LSX World Congress 2024 on Monday, April 29, 2024 at 11:15AM (GMT+1) in London, England.In addition to the presentation, Mr. Brooks will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with qualified members of the investor community who are registered to attend the conference. For more information about the event, visit https://informaconnect.com/lsx-world-congress/ A replay of the presentation will be made available on the Company's website, www.Radiancebiopharma.com , following the conclusion of the conference.About LSX World Congress 2024The 10th LSX World Congress is the leading partnering, strategy and investment event in Europe, with qualified 1:1 partnering at its core. The event brings together the CEOs and senior decision makers from the world's most innovative biopharma, medtech and healthtech companies with investors, senior BD&L teams, R&D leaders and industry KOLs. Together, they share best practice, forge partnerships and investments - all geared at putting capital and ideas to work to help create the world's future medicines and improve patient outcomes.About Radiance Biopharma, Inc.Radiance Biopharma Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of Antibody Drug Conjugates and next generation Bispecfic Antibody Drug Conjugates. Radiance's lead asset RB-201 is a 'First in Class' anti-HER2/TROP2 Bispecfic Antibody Drug Conjugate, that has demonstrated significant efficacy in animal studies in various solid tumors. Radiance is planning to conduct a Phase 1 Clinical Trial in early 2025.For more information, please visit www.Radiancebiopharma.com Investor Relations Contact:Radiance Biopharma Info@ radiancebiopharma.com Tel: (617) 621-7143SOURCE: Radiance Biopharma
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 17:47:12

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Shareholders approved all proposals by a large majorityGENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX:RLF) (OTCQB:RLFTF, RLFTY) (Relief Therapeutics, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options for select specialty, unmet and rare diseases, announces the results of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders, which took place in Geneva today, Friday, April 26, 2024. The proposed resolutions were approved by more than 85 percent of the represented votes.EGM results1. Election of new members of the Board of DirectorsThe EGM elected Mr. Peter de Svastich, Mr. Gregory Van Beek, and Mr. Thomas Elzinga as new members of the Company's Board of Directors, for a term of office extending until completion of the next Annual General Meeting expected in June 2024. As anticipated, Ms. Patrice Jean and Mr. Thomas Plitz have concluded their service on the Board of Directors, effective today.Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju, Chairman of the Board of Relief Therapeutics, commented: "We are welcoming three new board members, each with valuable expertise and fresh perspective, critical for guiding our strategic direction and enhancing shareholder value. At the same time, we express our deepest gratitude to our two departing members for their invaluable contributions and dedication in shaping our path forward." 2. Capital Reduction by Reduction of Nominal ValueThe EGM approved a reduction of the nominal value of the Company's share capital from CHF 56'163'348.00 to CHF 1'404'083.70. The number of outstanding shares, as well as shareholders' financial and patrimonial rights, are not affected by this technical adjustment.3. Increase of the Conditional Share CapitalThe EGM approved an increase of the existing conditional share capital to 7'000'000 shares.4. Reinstatement and Extension of the Capital BandThe EGM approved an increase of the Company's capital band to 7'000'000 shares and extended its duration until April 25, 2029.5. Votes on the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive CommitteeThe EGM approved a maximum amount of CHF 500'000 for compensation of the members of the Board of Directors for the period from the Annual General Meeting 2023 until the Annual General Meeting 2024, and a maximum amount of CHF 4'000'000 for the members of the Executive Committee for the financial year 2024, inclusive of fixed and variable compensation, stock options, and other benefits.6. Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Executive CommitteeThe EGM granted discharge to each and all members of the Board and of the Executive Committee, including former members, for the financial years 2022 and 2023.7. Amendments to the Articles of Association related to the New Corporate LawThe EGM approved textual amendments to article 23 para. 1 and article 25 para. 3 of the Articles of Association for alignment with the new corporate law.The resolutions submitted for the shareholders' vote are detailed in the EGM invitation. The detailed voting results will be made available on the Company's website later today.ABOUT RELIEF THERAPEUTICSRelief Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety, and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief Therapeutics' portfolio offers a balanced mix of marketed, revenue-generating products, our proprietary, globally patented Physiomimic and TEHCLO platform technologies and a targeted clinical development pipeline consisting of risk-mitigated assets focused in three core therapeutic areas: rare skin diseases, rare metabolic disorders, and rare respiratory diseases. In addition, Relief Therapeutics is commercializing several legacy products via licensing and distribution partners. Relief Therapeutics' mission is to provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from rare diseases and is being advanced by an international team of well-established, experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development and rare disease expertise. Relief Therapeutics is headquartered in Geneva, with additional offices in Balerna, Switzerland, Offenbach am Main, Germany and Monza, Italy. Relief Therapeutics is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFTF and RLFTY. For more information, please visit our website www.relieftherapeutics.com or follow Relief Therapeutics on LinkedIn.CONTACT:RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA Jeremy MeinenChief Financial Officer contact@ relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMER This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, including its ability to achieve its corporate, development and commercial goals, and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Relief Therapeutics to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. A number of factors, including those described in Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SIX Swiss Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Relief Therapeutics. Copies of Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SEC are available on the SEC EDGAR database at www.sec.gov . Relief Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.Additional features:File: Press Release_Relief_EGM ResultsSOURCE: Relief Therapeutics Holdings AG
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 21:19:21

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / In the vibrant tapestry of California's history, the voices of urban communities often remain unheard, overshadowed by more prominent narratives. However, amidst the bustling streets of South Central Los Angeles, a native son is shedding light on the untold stories of resilience, adversity, and triumph. Ron L. Dowell's upcoming book, "Crooked Out of Compton," emerges as a beacon of cultural preservation, capturing the essence of a community often overlooked in mainstream discourse."Crooked Out of Compton" is more than just a collection of stories; it's a testament to the enduring spirit of South Central LA. Through meticulously crafted narratives, Dowell unveils the experiences of individuals whose voices have long been marginalized. From the dusty streets of the 1950s to the turbulent decades that followed, Dowell's storytelling transcends time, offering readers a window into the rich tapestry of urban life.At the heart of Dowell's narrative lies the recognition of storytelling as a powerful tool for preserving history and amplifying marginalized voices. By chronicling the challenges faced by South Central LA residents, Dowell elevates their experiences from the margins to the forefront of cultural consciousness. Through his empathetic portrayal of characters like Sheriff's deputy Daniel Brown and Trina Thomas, Dowell humanizes the struggles of everyday life, fostering empathy and understanding among readers.In a society where the narratives of marginalized communities are often erased or misrepresented, "Crooked Out of Compton" serves as a vital corrective, reclaiming the history and heritage of South Central LA. Dowell's commitment to authenticity and accuracy ensures that the voices within his book resonate with truth and sincerity, providing a counter-narrative to prevailing stereotypes and misconceptions.Moreover, "Crooked Out of Compton" not only preserves history but also inspires change. By shining a light on the resilience and determination of South Central LA residents, Dowell empowers readers to confront social injustices and advocate for positive transformation. Through the power of storytelling, Dowell ignites a spark of hope and possibility, reminding readers that change is not only desirable but also achievable.The cultural and historical significance of "Crooked Out of Compton" extends beyond the boundaries of South Central LA, resonating with urban communities worldwide. Dowell's narrative serves as a testament to the universal themes of perseverance, community, and the enduring human spirit, transcending geographical constraints to touch the hearts and minds of readers everywhere.As "Crooked Out of Compton" prepares for its release, Ron L. Dowell reflects on the journey that brought him here. From the streets of Watts to the hills above the Port of Los Angeles, his story is a testament to the power of storytelling in preserving and celebrating the heritage of urban communities. Through his book, Dowell invites readers on a journey of discovery, urging them to embrace the voices of the past as they chart a course for the future.In an era marked by division and discord, "Crooked Out of Compton" stands as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of storytelling. As readers embark on this journey through the streets of South Central LA, they'll find themselves captivated by the richness of Dowell's narrative and the enduring spirit of the community he calls home.To learn more about Ron Dowell and his upcoming book Crooked Out of Compton, visit him onFacebook .Country: USAMedia Contact: Ron L. DowellCompany: Deniggerlator PublishingEmail:ronldowell@ crookedoutofcompton.comPhone number: 310-632-3092Website: https://crookedoutofcompton.com SOURCE: Deniggerlator Publishing
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 14:02:31

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Sagaliam Acquisition Corp. ("SAGAU", "SAGA", SAGAR") (the "Company") announced that Sagaliam entered into a Novation Agreement with Enzolytics, Inc. (OTC PINK:ENZC), Biogenysis, Inc. (BGEN), and Virogentics, Inc. (VIRO) (together the "Parties"). Under this restructured agreement SAGA retains 100% ownership of VIRO, ITV-1, the nutraceutical products and license along with VIRO's other assets. This agreement transferred ownership of Biogenysis, Inc. ("BGEN") and it's IP, patents and associated asset being developed back to ENZC in exchange for a reduction of the price from $450,000,000 to $290,000,000 with the dividend of the purchase shares to come directly to the ENZC shareholders from SAGA. The Parties believe this will significantly shorten the time needed to obtain regulatory approval to initiate the dividend of the 29 million SAGA shares issued for the purchase of VIRO. All other terms and conditions of the purchase agreement, including the make-whole provision relating to the 29 million SAGA shares, remain in place.Barry Kostiner, the CEO of Sagaliam, commented, "After the Sagaliam - Enzolytics transaction was closed in September, we have worked together with the Enzolytics management team to tweak the details for mutual benefit. We are excited about moving forward with the Virogentics team. The ITV-1 therapy has potential to significantly improve effectiveness and reduce costs of the standard of care for HIV. Additionally, ITV-1 is believed to have therapeutic application to other chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer and other conditions known to be impacted by peptide therapies targeting inflammation. Our IPF nutraceutical has received strong consumer approval, and we will be ramping up our marketing efforts, in parallel with our other nutraceutical products. Through the Novation Agreement, return of Biogenysis to Enzolytics, and reduction of shares issued, we believe that we have a strong foundation for building a valuable pharmaceutical company with global impact, in partnership with our colleagues at Enzolytics. We are also working with Enzolytics on building the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure for our nutraceutical products." Steve Sharabura, the CEO of Enzolytics, commented, "The Novation Agreement is an exciting development for Enzolytics. It serves as a solid foundation for building both Enzolytics and Sagaliam as significant biotech companies that are independent entities, but that work closely together. Enzolytics is proud to be a major shareholder in Sagaliam. The two companies have several initiatives in the works, specifically in the areas of medical testing, medical devices and an expanded nutraceutical product line. Negotiations are ongoing between Sagaliam and Enzolytics on these matters." Harry Zhabilov, the Chief Science Officer of Virogentics, commented, "With the completion of the Novation Agreement, we have visibility to funding and the success of both companies. We now have a platform that allows us to implement our vision of bringing our technology to commercial implementation. We are also in advanced discussions with multiple synergistic biotech companies that are interested in joining our platform. After much anticipation, we are excited about moving forward on bringing our therapies to improve the lives of many patients with multiple chronic conditions, as well as increasing the near-term revenue of our nutraceutical products." About Sagaliam Acquisition Corp.We are a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on March 31, 2021 for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Sagaliam intends to continue to pursue the consummation of a business combination with an appropriate target.Virogentics, a subsidiary of Sagaliam, is advancing multiple therapeutics targeting numerous infectious diseases. One patented and clinically tested compound, ITV-1 (Immune Therapeutic Vaccine-1), is a suspension of Inactivated Pepsin Fraction (IPF), covered by U.S. Patent Nos. 8,066,982 and 7,479,538. Studies have shown it to be effective in treating HIV/AIDS. ITV-1 has also been shown to modulate the immune system.Forward Looking StatementsThe disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and expectations, Company's ability to enter into a definitive business combination agreement and Company's ability to obtain the financing necessary to consummate the potential business combination transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of Company's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: Company's ability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the proposed business combination or consummate a transaction; the risk that the approval of the stockholders of Company for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the potential transaction, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction or difficulty in integrating the businesses of Company; the amount of redemption requests made by Company's stockholders and the amount of funds remaining in Company's trust account after satisfaction of such reque
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 18:01:49

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. ("PowerSchool" or the "Company") (NYSE:PWSC). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.The investigation concerns whether PowerSchool and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.[Click here for information about joining the class action]On April 17, 2024, Spruce Point Capital Management ("Spruce Point") released a report on PowerSchool. Citing a "forensic review of [PowerSchool], one of the largest K-12 software providers in North America," the Spruce Point report expressed "concerns over the Company's aggressive accounting practices, unsustainable growth expectations, and sales of a product that may potentially be violating several states' child privacy laws." The Spruce Point report further alleged that "[PowerSchool's] Board may be conflicted and as a result, may not be serving all shareholders equally." On this news, PowerSchool's stock price fell $1.94 per share, or 9.83%, to close at $17.79 per share on April 17, 2024.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Locals have been left angry and confused by the dangerous act.

Metal spikes have been discovered embedded in a popular path at an Australian national park, prompting a warning to walkers, runners and cyclists. Over a dozen spikes, each measuring almost 18 cm long, were embedded in the ground pointing skywards and partially buried in leaves.

Rangers have increased patrols around Tewantin National Park which lies just 12 km from Queenslands Noosa Heads. A local mountain bike club reported the spikes caused multiple punctures in an area colloquially called Blood Gully. It's difficult to know what the motivation for this clear attempt to cause harm was, it said.

The use of mountain bikes in public places often sparks debate in Australian communities. But locals responded with confusion online that someone would take such a dangerous step and spike the track.

One person called those responsible cowards, while another said it must have been a sick person. Others questioned what was going wrong with the world, with one saying Crikey, society gone nuts and another adding, Thats so horrible why would someone go to that much trouble to harm people enjoying the great outdoors.

Rangers use metal detectors to track down more spikes

The first eight spikes were discovered last week, and rangers then used metal detectors on Wednesday and removed five more.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife called the situation deeply concerning.

This is the first time we have received a report of this type of malicious activity in the area, Ranger John McQueeney added. Everyone deserves to have a safe, enjoyable experience in our national parks and any attempt to damage property or hurt visitors or wildlife is unacceptable.

Anyone visiting the area is urged to keep to designated paths and wear safety gear.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 20:01:59

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LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Show Technology, a pioneer in innovative event equipment rentals, is making waves in the event industry with their high-quality LED video wall panels that are setting new standards for event design and production. With a strong presence in key US cities and a commitment to excellence, Show Technology is on a trajectory to revolutionize event experiences.Show Technology, with its headquarters in Las Vegas, has quickly become a preferred vendor for event producers, planners, technical directors, venues, and private party organizers looking for top-notch LED video walls to elevate their events. The company, founded by three seasoned partners-Stan Kurgansky, Emin Kemal, and Vasily Vedernikov-brings over 15 years of combined experience in event production and business to the table.Stan Kurgansky, a prominent figure in the US event production market, identified a gap in the market for premium AV equipment and led the initiative to invest in high-quality, branded LED video panels. This strategic decision has propelled Show Technology into rapid expansion, now serving major US cities such as Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Chicago, and Seattle."When it comes to success and entrepreneurship, I believe that personal growth is paramount," shares Stan Kurgansky. "Being open to new experiences, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, and having the determination to take risks have been key factors in our journey." Vasily Vedernikov emphasizes the importance of balance and preparedness for entrepreneurs, stating, "Success, for me, is a harmonious blend of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Preparedness and resilience in the face of failures are essential traits for any entrepreneur." Emin Kemal, another founder of Show Technology, stresses the significance of team dynamics and a forward-thinking approach to business. "A dynamic business ready for scaling, coupled with a team that believes in the vision, is the recipe for long-term success," remarks Emin Kemal.The vision for Show Technology in the next five years includes establishing warehouses in major cities and aiming to supply LED walls for prestigious events like the SuperBowl and celebrity arena concerts. The company's commitment to refreshing equipment and maintaining the highest industry standards underscores their dedication to delivering top-notch event solutions."We're not just about providing event equipment; we're about creating unforgettable experiences," says Vasily Vedernikov. "Our goal is to push boundaries and redefine event production with cutting-edge technology and creative design solutions." Show Technology's expertise in providing LED video wall rentals for events of all sizes, from major concerts to intimate gatherings, has garnered attention and acclaim from the event industry. With a portfolio of successful events already under their belt, Show Technology continues to be a trusted partner for event professionals seeking innovative solutions.For more information about Show Technology and their services, visit their website at https://showstechnology.com/ or reach out to them at info@ showstechnology.com . For inquiries or bookings, contact Stan Kurgansky or Vasily Vedernikov at 702-702-9792.About Show Technology:Show Technology is a leading provider of premium LED video wall rentals for events, transforming event experiences with cutting-edge technology and creative design solutions. With a strong presence in major US cities and a commitment to excellence, Show Technology is revolutionizing event production across the nation.Contact Information:Name: Stan Kurgansky, Vasily VedernikovPhone: 702-702-9792Email: info@ showstechnology.com Website: https://showstechnology.com/ SOURCE: Show Technology
PR-Inside.com: 2024-04-26 16:00:56

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TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / pixivFANBOX, the creator-support platform operated by pixiv Inc. (hereafter referred to as "pixiv", Office: Shibuya, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhiro Niwa), celebrates its sixth anniversary on Friday, April 26, 2024. To commemorate this achievement, the service is publishing infographic data quantifying its growth, categorized by the different genres in which its creators are active.pixivFANBOX Sixth Anniversary Infographic: https://official-en.fanbox.cc/posts/7792501 In Six Years, the Service Has Grown to 12 Million Users and 220,000 Registered CreatorspixivFANBOX is a monthly subscription platform supporting creators in their activities by bringing fan communities together. Through pixivFANBOX, fans can offer monthly financial support to their favorite creators, who share exclusive behind-the-scenes content about their creative processes and communicate with their supporters.Since the beginning, FANBOX has gathered over 12 million users and 220,000 creators, facilitating more than 50 billion JPY (approx. 330 million USD) in pledges.On FANBOX, creators are posting content daily, with the total number of posts exceeding 4.5 million.Illustrators Represent Nearly Half of the Total, With Streamers Increasing, TooFANBOX creators are active in many different genres, the most prominent ones have been highlighted in this chart.Creators active in the Illustration genre represent nearly half the total, with all genres showing stable growth.While most genres saw only about a 1% increase, streaming saw a 3% increase from 2019 to 2020, suggesting that the VTuber boom boosted the number of creators active in this genre.Genres like 3DCG, as well as novels and text-based genres, have also continued to grow steadily and may begin to have a more noticeable impact on the overall ratio.FANBOX is also home to creators in many other fields, from handmade crafts to board game creation.About 35% of Creators Have Three or More Monthly Subscription PlansFANBOX allows creators to receive support from fans by setting up monthly subscription plans (price tiers).Creators can have multiple plans and set prices to use FANBOX most effectively.Data on plan usage shows that while over 40% of creators have only one plan, about 35% have created three or more price tiers.Most creators who gather over 10,000 JPY (approx. 700 USD) in monthly pledges have at least three plans, with the lowest priced at around 500 JPY (approx. 3.3 USD). For this reason, FANBOX recommends creating three or more plans.pixivFANBOX Welcomes Its Seventh YearAs pixivFANBOX enters its seventh year, the team plans to add new features, improve existing ones, and launch new projects to provide a comfortable, fun experience for everyone.Supporting one's favorite creators can be an enriching experience for both parties; pixivFANBOX aims to develop the platform's services further to support creative activities and each creator's mission. About pixivFANBOX https://www.fanbox.cc pixivFANBOX is a fan community that aims to support the ongoing activities of content creators. Creators use the pixivFANBOX platform to share their work with monthly supporters and communicate with them. pixiv Inc. https://www.pixiv.co.jp Striving to be an exciting space for users to enjoy creative activities, we provide various services to support creators, including pixiv, one of the world's largest art communities; FANBOX, which allows fans to support the activities of their favorite creators; and the 3D project VRoid.Location: JPR Sendagaya Building 6F, 4-23-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, TokyoRepresentative Director: Yasuhiro NiwaBusiness: Internet ServicesEstablished: July 25, 2005Contact: info@ pixiv.co.jp (Takahashi and Nishidoi)Contact Information:Mika Nishidoieditorinfo@ pixiv.co.jp Related ImagesSOURCE: pixiv Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2024 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into definitive subscription agreements with certain investors in connection with a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 377,594,750 common shares of the Company ("Common Share") at a price of $0.02 per Common Share ("Purchase Price") for gross proceeds of up to US$5.575 million (approximate $7.5 million), subject to stock exchange and other approvals as applicable.The Company reserved the price for the Private Placement by filing a price reservation form with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on April 19, 2024. The number of Common Shares to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement represents approximately 36% of the Common Shares currently issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis.Closing of the Private Placement is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, approval of the TSXV and receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals. The Company may complete the Private Placement via the closing of multiple tranches. On receipt of approvals, it is anticipated that the Private Placement will close on or about May 23, 2024 or such earlier or later date as may be determined by the Company, subject to satisfaction or waiver by the relevant party of the conditions of closing. There can be no assurance, however, that the Private Placement will close as contemplated or at all.All securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period which will expire four months and one day from the date of the applicable closing of the Private Placement.Insiders of the Company have subscribed for 88,049,000 Common Shares for gross proceeds of US$1.3 million under the Private Placement. The issuance of Common Shares to insiders pursuant to the Private Placement will constitute a related party transaction' within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on certain exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61101 contained in sections 5.5(a), 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61101 in respect of related party participation in the Private Placement, as the Company is not listed on specified markets and neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves the related parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101).The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's ongoing strategic plans, including (i) the possibility of pursuing an annulment of the ICSID arbitration decision rendered on March 8, 2024; (ii) the maintenance of the Gabriel Group's rights and interest in Romania relating to the Rosia Montana exploitation concession and the Bucium (Rodu-Frasin and Tanita) projects; and (iii) for general working capital purposes.The Company expects to file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction less than 21 days prior to the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the Private Placement in an expeditious manner.The Company will not pay any finder's fee in respect of the procurement of arm's length subscribers in connection with the Private Placement.The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.For information on this press release, please contact:Dragos TanasePresident & CEOPhone: +40 730 399 019 dt@ gabrielresources.comRichard BrownChief Financial OfficerMobile: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Further InformationAbout Gabriel Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal business had been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years.The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.Following issuance of the exploitation license in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of its management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Gabriel invested over US$760 million to develop the Rosia Montana Project and to define two promising gold, silver and porphyry copper-gold mineral deposits in the Bucium concession area located in the vicinity of Rosia Montana ("Bucium Projects" and together with the Rosia Montana Project, the "Projects").The Rosia Montana Project had the potential to be a flagship development project in Romania presenting opportunities to:boost the Romanian economy through direct and indirect contributions to GDP; create several thousand of much-needed direct and indirect jobs in an area that has record unemployment, thus ensuring Rosia Montana's sustainable economic development; make Romania the leading p
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / Victory Battery Metals Corp. (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its sale of its Tahlo Lake, British Columbia property to a private company, Trimera Metals Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia.Highlights of the Tahlo Lake Sale:Sale price includes cash consideration of $90,000 CAD for 100% interest in the property Victory will retain a 2% Gross Metal Royalty ("GMR") The GMR may be reduced at any time from 2.0% to 1.0% by the Royalty Payor, or its permitted assign, paying to Victory $1,000,000. The Royalty Payor will retain a first right of refusal to purchase any remaining GMR owned by Victory or its successors or assignees.Mark Ireton, Victory CEO and Director noted: "The recent announcement of our option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Kachiwiss Uranium Project in Quebec is indicative of renewed strategic focus for the Company. The Kachiwiss Uranium deposit has significant historical reports, defining a zone of interest1 that represents the best application of our resources, with the aim to return benefits to Victory shareholders in the shorter term. Selling Tahlo Lake at this time serves our renewed strategic focus." 1 Kachiwiss Uranium Project Historical Findings:The claims cover the Kachiwiss Uranium deposit with a reported historical, 1978 non-Ni 43-101, compliant, non-classified resource of 16,598,000 tonnes grading 0.016% U3O8 within a pegmatic dyke oriented NW45o. The zone, as currently defined, measures 975 metres long by 610 metres to 760 metres wide and is open. Historical metallurgical test work suggested recoveries of up to 92.9% can be achieved2. The same report mentions the presence of thorium in the region, In addition to the Kachiwiss deposit, the option includes a large package of claims covering lake bottom sediment sample uranium anomalies farther to the north. In total, 156 mining claims make up the package with Globex retaining a 10-kilometre area of mutual interest surrounding the current claim blocks.2Quebec Government Sigeom - Lac Kachiwiss File CGM 22J/01.001 - Oct 21/2011.Scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Rejean Girard, Quebec Geologist, P.Geo (OGQ 521) and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.Correcting statement:On April 18, 2024, VBM announced entering into an option agreement dated April 11, 2024 to acquire 100% interest in four claim groupings in the Sept Iles region of Quebec from GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (GMX - Toronto Stock Exchange, G1MN - Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, Tradegate, Lang & Schwarz, LS Exchange, TTMzero, Dusseldorf and Quotrix Dusseldorf Stock Exchanges and GLBXF - OTCQX International in the US). The press release stated terms of payment to include the issuance of 1.5 million shares to Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. over 3 years. The actual amount of shares to be issued is 1,250,000.For further information, please contact:Mark Ireton, PresidentTelephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653)E-mail: info@ victorybatterymetals.com About Victory Battery Metals Corp. VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE:VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.SOURCE: Victory Battery Metals Corp.
Remember Anyim Vera? The congregant whose academic achievement, Paul Enenche, head Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, questioned.

This time around, she is seeking financial assistance from Nigerians to rent or buy a befitting accommodation.

Ms Vera made the financial appeal in a Facebook live session on Thursday upon her return to Abuja from a fully sponsored holiday at the Portland Resorts Hotel in Port Harcourt, River State, offered by hotelier, Azubuike Ihemeje.

Ms Vera revealed that she needed financial assistance for a new accommodation given the potential security risks associated with her high-profile position.

She said: Im back in Abuja, and I want to thank God for the successful journey granted to me and my team. This unexpected event brought me joy. I never dreamt of becoming a celebrity, but it happened suddenly, catching me unprepared.

So, I want to use this opportunity to urge Nigerians to assist me with accommodation. Im not financially buoyant enough to rent an apartment, and where I live is risky due to insecurity and its open nature.

Public target

Ms Vera, who on Monday revealed she was signing land documents at CHIFOUR properties in Port Harcourt, said public attention has shifted towards her due to the money and valuable gifts she had received.

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My brother and sister, who live with me, told me that people gathered and said they were waiting for me to return. I know the commoner on the street may not understand this, and many who do not know what happened before I left for Port Harcourt now think I was given millions of Naira.

I was given a cellphone worth N1.8 million, land, and others, and thats why Im asking for assistance to get accommodation where I can stay safely. Im currently hiding from potential attacks and insecurity, and if theres anyone I offended, please forgive me and assist me.

Safety Concerns

The alumna of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) said she could no longer move freely or sleep anywhere she pleased.

As Im speaking, Im simply concealing myself so that people wont come and misbehave around me. Please, if theres any way you can help me secure accommodation where I can feel safe as a human being, intelligent people understand what Im saying.

Regarding matters like this, I dont want to relocate or stay anywhere randomly. If youre willing, you could assist me; nothing is too insignificant.

On 15 April, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Dunamis Church and Mr Enenche were criticised for querying Ms Veras Sunday testimony.

During her heartfelt testimony, Ms Vera detailed the obstacles and setbacks she faced on her journey to graduation, overcoming financial difficulties and health challenges to become the first university graduate in her family.

However, the testimony took an unforeseen twist when Pastor Enenche discerned inconsistencies in her language and comprehension regarding her purported law degree.

The situation quickly escalated, leading to Mr Enenche asking Ms Vera to leave the pulpit.

Background

After online criticism, the church, in a statement by Sylvester Edoh, the Pastors Personal Assistant and Secretary, said what happened was spontaneous.

Moreover, the church expressed regret for any inconvenience, hurt, or embarrassment caused to Ms Vera due to the situation.

Their statement read in part: As a commission, we regret every inconvenience, hurt, and embarrassment this unfortunate scenario has caused Ms Anyim Veronica Nnenna. We remain committed to her physical welfare as well as her spiritual growth.

While we remain resolute in our passion for excellence, intolerance of mediocrity and falsehood, we wish to reiterate that no harm or hurt was ever intended by the Senior Pastor against Ms Anyim Veronica. The Senior Pastor feels deeply concerned and has already contacted her.

However, Ms Vera on her Facebook page revealed that she had put the situation behind her.

She further stated that she had moved forward and urged the public to do the same.

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Following PREMIUM TIMES report detailing the controversial award of a N3.8 billion contract by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is currently holding the agencys Director of Finance and Accounts, Gloria Olotu.

Senior officials at the anti-graft agency told this newspaper that Mrs Olotu, the Director of Human Resources and General Administration at TETFUND, Kolapo Okunola, and the agencys Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Joseph Odo, were at the ICPC office on Thursday to answer questions on some of the allegations contained in the report.

But while both Messrs Okunlola and Odo were released and asked to return today (Friday), Mrs Olotu was not released.

She was said to have failed to meet her bail conditions and is being treated as a suspect in the case, according to our sources at the ICPC.

ICPC spokesperson Ademola Bakare confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday morning.

Backstory

TETFUND, an agency under Nigerias Federal Ministry of Education (FME), has the responsibility of providing funding support to tertiary institutions in the country.

PREMIUM TIMES on Monday reported a controversial award of a N3.8 billion (N3,812,500,000) contract by TETFund to an educational service provider, Fides Et Ratio Academy.

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In violation of laws, TETFund paid a total sum of N2.9 billion in four instalments to the contractor.

PREMIUM TIMES found no evidence of bidding for the contract as demanded by Nigerias procurement law. TETFund bypassed mandatory requirements to award the contract tagged: Capacity Building Certificate Course (Communication, Entrepreneurship, and Productive Skill Development) inclusive of the Train-the-Trainer programme for 502 (five hundred and two) participants.

The letter of contract award, dated 24 May 2023, was signed by the Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Kolapo Okunlola.

But, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the body statutorily empowered to regulate contract awards for ministries, departments, and government agencies, said the contract is not found in its database.

The contract award is, therefore, a violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which by its section 15(a), applies to all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entities. The law under section 15(c) only exempts the procurement of particular goods, works, and services involving national defence or national security.

However, on 30 June 2023, the companys account with Fidelity Bank Plc was credited with over N550 million (N550,380,780.23) by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of TETFund. The transfer is with mandate number CBN/PROJ/224/JUN2023. Over N820 million (N820,223,850) was additionally paid into the account on 12 July 2023.

On 26 July 2023 and 17 November 2023, the sums of N1.5 billion (N1,503,743,850) and N62.68 million (N62,684,036.05) were credited into the account by the CBN on behalf of TETFund, respectively.

There is, however, no substantial evidence that the entire project done so far is commensurate with the vast funds already expended by the agency. Aside from this, some of the tertiary institutions, whose funds were used for the contract allegedly against their consent, have expressed worry over what they described as recklessness and abuse of office by the management of TETFund.

Contractor defends project

Meanwhile, the management of Fides Et Ratio Academy insisted that it has executed the service it was contracted to provide, saying it did not win a contract but was engaged by TETFund to provide an important service.

At a meeting between PREMIUM TIMES reporters and the companys management led by its Founder, Paul Chukwuma, the company said it went around the six geopolitical zones of the country to train ICT directors of the various beneficiary institutions for about six days.

Mr Chukwuma, who accused the newspaper of portraying his company as nonexistent and having no functional website, said he decided to meet with the reporters in his office so the world would know that the company is not a ghost. He opened the companys website for the reporters, showing the learning management system built to accommodate the enrollees for the online training for students.

He said: As you can see, we currently have 1,115,794 students across 204 tertiary institutions in Nigeria already enrolled for the programme, and we have sent notification to 580,679 enrolled.

ICPC invites TETFund officials

On Thursday, the trio of Mrs Olotu, Messrs Okunlola and Odo arrived at the ICPC office in Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and were interrogated until around 6 p.m. when both Messrs Okunlola and Odo were asked to leave but to return the following day, a senior official of the antigraft agency told this newspaper.

The Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs Olotu, was the first to give a statement. When the agencys investigators reviewed her statement, she was reportedly told that she was under arrest and would only need to fulfil some bail conditions before she could be released to go.

I am aware some of the bail conditions set for her included two sureties with properties in choice locations in Abuja, the source, who asked not to be named as he has no permission to talk to journalists, told this newspaper.

Okunlola, Odo to return today

Multiple sources at the ICPC and TETFund confided in our reporter that Messrs Okunlola and Odo were asked to return to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Friday (today).

It is, however, unclear if they will be released today.

At the time of filing this report, PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if the two officials had arrived at the agencys office.

ICPC confirms, TETFund keeps mum

In a terse message to our reporter, the ICPCs Director of Public Enlightenment, Ademola Bakare, said Mrs Olotu is with the agency.

He wrote: She was invited for questioning. The interview is still ongoing. Yes, she is in our custody.

But the spokesperson for TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, neither picked up PREMIUM TIMES reporters calls to his telephone line nor responded to messages sent to it as of the time of filing this report.

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President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is well-positioned to power the clean energy future of Europe and the world with its high-grade lithium deposits.

Speaking during a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands at his official residence, known as The Catshuis in The Hague, on Thursday, the president said Nigeria offers immense opportunities across a pool of sectors and that his administration is deepening reforms to enhance the investment climate.

He said Nigeria seeks robust, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnerships to add value in areas like solid minerals.

Taking a holistic view of the world order, there is a tremendous opportunity between us across trade spheres but especially in solid minerals, where we have high-grade lithium deposits that we know can power the worlds clean energy future. There is an excellent value-additive opportunity in Nigeria. The world knows us for oil. They will soon know us for more extraordinary innovative exploits in other areas.

We have an extremely dynamic youth population in Nigeria. It is a young country. 70% of our people are under the age of 30. When referring to 200 million plus citizens, it represents both a massive workforce and a massive market for Dutch and other international investors.

If our young people know they can achieve a promising future in Nigeria, they will stay home and build our nation to greatness. Lawful migration of trained Nigerian minds and hands will benefit Europe, and irregular migration will no longer be a source of fear in Europe if we partner effectively.

This is what we want, and it is why we are adamant about providing student loans and new credit opportunities to not only enhance the skills of our people but also to ensure that they can access a higher quality of life within their legitimate incomes. We will transform our economy, and our young people will be the reason why, the President stated.

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President Tinubu asserted that Nigerians have tremendous confidence in themselves and that his confidence in the Nigerian people gave him the courage to make difficult decisions on their behalf, given his full awareness of the need to provide Nigerians with the long-term tools they need to succeed.

I am a determined leader of my people. I will continue making difficult decisions that benefit our people, even if there is short-term pain. We have gone through the worst of the storms. I am unafraid of the consequences once I know that my actions are in the best long-term interests of all Nigerians.

The Nigerian Naira is one of the worlds best-performing currencies today. We took the necessary risk, and all resilient Nigerians kept faith. They will be rewarded, and the reward will only be greater as we partner effectively with you on new opportunities for development. As leaders, we must make decisions for the benefit of our nations, and we cannot shy away from that, the President said.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands noted that President Tinubus economic reforms have engendered greater confidence in the Nigerian economy by international investors and that Dutch investors have activated another set of $250 million worth of new investments over the next few months, including a $100 million investment in a waste-to-wealth industrial facility in Lagos State.

You are promoting democratic governance and the solutions it can bring in dealing with problems of development. I saw how you went through democratic channels to remove an incumbent president in 2015 in partnership with President Buhari and how that has led to development in your country.

I saw you take the courageous decision to deal with fuel subsidies and other reforms, and we are interested in what allowed you to take the decisions that many before you could not take. And you took those decisions early in your term. It shows rare determination. And your stand in ECOWAS, all of these point to your commitment to leadership, the prime minister stated.

President Tinubu further expressed his firm commitment to develop the developmental partnership between the European Union (EU) and Nigeria, noting that symbiotic economic ties remain the best long-term path to sustainable and mutual prosperity rather than one-sided relationships in which bilateral trade is skewed too much in one direction.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 25, 2024

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged students to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any website or service claiming to represent the organisation.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday issued by NELFUNDs Head of Media and Public Relations, Nasir Ayitogo.

NELFUND management has become aware of a fraudulent advertisement in the Punch newspaper about a Federal Study Loan.

The fraudsters operating the website www.fedstudyloan-gov.ng have advertised an application for the highly anticipated student loan programme of the Federal Government.

NELFUND wishes to clarify that it has no association with this website and strongly condemns any attempts to deceive students seeking financial aid.

NELFUND takes the security and well-being of our students very seriously and is committed to providing accurate information and resources for financing their education, he said.

Mr Ayitogo urged anyone affected by the scam to report it immediately to the relevant authorities.

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He added that the official channel for student loan applications, which would be opened to the public in due course, is www.nelf.gov.ng.

NAN reports that the NELFUND said no fewer than 1.2 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and government-recognised skill acquisition centres will be among the first batch of beneficiaries.

The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, on 18 April said the money to fund the loan scheme is one per cent of the revenue generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service annually.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State has arrested eight illegal security guards in the state.

The NSCDC Commandant in Anambra State, Olatunde Maku, announced this on Thursday while parading the suspects, according to a statement by the agencys spokesperson in the state, Edwin Okadigbo, on Friday.

Mr Maku said the suspects were arrested during a recent crackdown on unlicensed private security guards in Awka, the state capital.

The commandant warned operators of illegal private security outfits in Anambra State to desist from the act or facing the consequences.

He maintained that NSCDC, as the regulatory body of the private security guards, will continue to monitor their activities especially considering the rising insecurity in the state.

The arrests were made in response to a tip-off about their activities in addition to the need to sanitise the security industry by clamping down on unlicenced private security companies in the state, he said.

These suspects were apprehended following a raid carried out earlier on Thursday 25th April, 2024 by operatives of the NSCDC in Awka, Anambra State, he said.

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Mr Maku stressed that the arrest of the suspects was part of the mandate of the NSCDC and vowed to continue delivering on the mandate of the agency in Nigeria under the leadership of Ahmed Abubakar Audi, a professor.

We are here in continuation of the execution of the NSCDC mandate, and we have not left any stone unturned in discharging our responsibilities, he said.

The suspects

Mr Maku gave the names of the suspects as Uche Eze, 34, Patrick Nwoye, 27, and Okafor Chibuike, 21  all males and working for RSS security outfit.

They also include Kingsley Asuauo, 20, Blessed Mfonu, 22, Ikechukwu Emeka, 21, and Amu Emmanuel, 23,  also males who were providing security services in some unnamed hotels in the state.

The eighth suspect, Tochukwu Chukwuemeka, 27, is an unlicensed member of G7 of the Anambra Vigilante Group security outfit, according to the statement.

Four pump action guns with 16 live cartridges were also recovered from the suspects, the NSCDC said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that some of the arrested suspects were impersonating the Anambra Vigilante Group while others were hired by hotels to provide security services, despite knowing that the outfits were not licensed or registered, Mr Maku said.

He stressed that the raid which was still ongoing will help to prevent the proliferation of illegal security outfits and reduce the risk of security breaches and criminal activities in the state.

With this tough stance, the (NSCDC) command aims to restore sanity in the operations of the private security sector and ensure the safety and security of all Anambra residents.

This arrest and recovery of weapons is a significant achievement in the effort to reduce crime in the state, he said.

The NSCDC chief urged residents of the state to report any suspicious activities or illegal private guards outfits to the agency for prompt action.

He asked licensed private security companies to operate within the ambits of law and avoid engaging in illegal activities because any violation will attract severe sanctions.

The (arrested) suspects are currently undergoing investigations, after which they would be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction for prosecution, he stated.

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The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Sikirulai Ogundele, has blamed the partys defeat at the last general election on the high-handedness and authoritarian behaviour of the governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Addressing members and leaders of the party on Friday at a meeting held at its secretariat in Abeokuta, ahead of its Congress, Mr Ogundele alleged that Mr Adebutus utter disregard for party leadership contributed immensely to its loss.

Mr Ogundele insisted that, in the future, the PDP must give equal opportunity to all aspirants and members of the party.

Ogun PDP is not a one-person show; it is a political party that must be seen and run like a political party. We must give opportunity and level playing ground to all aspirants. This political party is not somebodys private business, he said.

The party chairman recalled that, for instance, despite appeals by the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo that former governor Gbenga Daniel be allowed to contest the Senatorial seat on the partys ticket, Mr Adebutu remained adamant and turned down their appeals.

If Adebutu had conceded, PDP would be in that seat by now. For these reasons, I concluded that Adebutu does not love the party, and he doesnt want us to win the election. It is like a perceived curse is preventing him from being a governor, he added.

Also, the partys deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Adekunle Akinlade, stressed the importance of repositioning the party to defeat the ruling party in 2027.

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We must put the past behind us; we must put 2023 behind us and forge a strong front that can allow us to face whatever the future holds. The party must be more disciplined, and our leaders must have the right temperament and good character, Mr Akinlade said.

In a reaction to the party chairmans allegation, Mr Adebutu noted that Mr Ogundele was selfish and described his attack as a foul cry from a man after his gains.

The former governorship candidate, who spoke through his spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, said Mr Ogundeles allegations did not perturb him and would not join issues with him.

The chairman is just on his own; out of 57 state executive council members, if only the chairman is alone saying that, then you know there is more to it. We are not joining issues with him.

Was it Adebutu that went to disrupt or cause violence at Sagamu, where elections were disrupted? Was it Adebutu who gave the judgments at the courts? He is crying foul because of his gain and enterprise; we are not perturbed, and we are not surprised, Mr Adebutu said.

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Days earlier a crocodile reportedly lunged at a fisherman, resulting in it being declared 'dangerous'.

Queensland authorities have shared a picture of a man's legs, after he allegedly interfered with a crocodile trap. Source: DESI

A man has been caught on camera interfering with a baited crocodile trap, close to where a four-metre salty lunged at a fisherman.

Taken on Wednesday, the image shows a barefoot man standing on top of the trap at Cattle Creek near Ingham, Queensland. While it only shows his legs, authorities hope someone might recognise who they belong to and dob him in.

The Department of Environment (DES) warned such behaviour can be life-threatening calling the man responsible reckless. Traps are designed to bait so-called problem crocodiles which it believes pose a danger to humans and there were several warning signs in the area.

Interfering with a crocodile trap is potentially life-threatening behaviour and we cannot understand why the man has taken this risk, senior wildlife officer Tony Frisby said.

The baited, floating trap was set to capture a four-metre crocodile that lunged twice at a person fishing from the bank on 18 April 2024.

Who should I call if I recognise the man's legs?

Risky behaviour around crocodiles is a common occurrence in Queensland and the Northern Territory, but there's a particular reason authorities are angry about this case.

DESI the man also risked the lives of other people visiting the area, as interfering with a trap can leave it out of commission, setting back efforts to catch the crocodile.

In Queensland, the maximum penalty for interfering with a crocodile trap is $18,576, and DESI has urged anyone with information to contact it on 1300 130 372.

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Olumide A. Ajayi, Executive Director/CEO of the Africa Leadership Foundation has been selected by the African Union to serve on its Reference Group.

The group which comprises leading Legal and Gender Experts from African Union (AU) member states, has been tasked to draft and negotiate a Convention for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (C-EVAWG) among member states.

This position was advanced at the 37th Summit of the African Union held earlier in the year in line with Goal 17 of Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063. The group is expected to provide advisory and technical guidance and support in drafting the convention.

They will also provide expertise on the text of the draft convention, including addressing contestations, finding consensus and ensuring compliance/alignment with the AU agreement language on issues under discussion.

The objective is to address the high preponderance of Gender Based Violence perpetrated majorly against women on the continent. The group is expected to function until the adoption of the Convention by the Assembly of Heads of States.

According to AU, the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict situations and harmful practices will help to bridge the inequality gap between men and women.

It is the first of its kind in the global setting and the United Nations (UN) is very keen on supporting its emergence.

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ALSO READ: African Union appoints Tinubu health champion

Mr Ajayi is a Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) advocate and expert with pedigree. As Advisor and Consultant to a number of African countries, UN Agencies and inter-governmental Organisations, he has devoted a great amount of professional expertise in the design of performance and accountability framework for some of Africas women rights instrument including the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) and the Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa generally known as the Maputo Protocol.

He will bring to the Reference Group his wealth of experience in gender, development, and inclusive governance.

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The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), through its social accountability project, UDEME, has wrapped up a two-day virtual project tracking and reporting workshop for the 2024 U-Monitors cohort.

This year, 30 student journalists and fresh graduates will be tracking and reporting capital projects across 25 states.

The focus is on exposing procurement infringements, empowering citizens at the grassroots and using the power of the media to impact changes at the grassroots, while holding government officials accountable.

The programme will run for six months.

The virtual training exposed participants to government budgetary processes, data journalism, investigative reporting, feature and multimedia storytelling and impact tracking.

The selected journalists will be paired with mentors who are reputable editors in Nigerian newsrooms to provide editorial guidance and support.

Dapo Olorunyomi, Chief Executive Officer CJID taught the U-monitors on accountability journalism, emphasizing the role of the media in holding government accountable.

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The notion of accountability journalism, the notion of governance, the notion of public offices, the notion of delivering your duties to citizens as a public officer are democratic context that gives journalism a meaning.

The media is fundamentally the project of democracy, it is a mechanism of accountability that we are holding as journalists.

According to him, it is the duty of the students who are journalists to ensure accountability in the whole process of governance and democracy building.

On her part, the Project Manager, Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba said there has been lack of transparency on procurement processes in the country which called for budget tracking and reporting.

Im hoping that with this new cohort we can do more impactful work and tell stories that will drive changes in our society.

ALSO READ: UDEME commences maiden accountability fellowship with 21 journalists

Mrs Okereke-Adagba said there is a need for U-monitors to track and report on projects that will add impact to those communities which will help in holding leaders accountable and will also reduce corruption in the country.

The Deputy Director of Accountability for the CJID, Mboho Eno during his closing remarks appreciated the U-Monitors for their contributions over the years.

I want to thank you all for still believing in our dear country. Our budgetary and procurement processes can be transparent. For this reason, you applied to be in the 2024 cohort of the U-Monitor programme.

We promise you all that this process will be worth your time. However, it would be best to make it worth your time. The CJID/UDEME is committed to mentoring a younger generation of accountability reporters who will continue to champion the cause of transparent budgetary/procurement processes nationally and globally.

Precious Akintulubo, a first time U-monitor at the UDEME programme said she aspires to become a journalist that will hold leaders to account.

My aspirations following the UDEME Monitor Programme involve becoming a skilled Social Accountability Journalist.

Given the alarming rate of abandoned projects across the country, it would be incredibly rewarding to play a role in bringing justice to this situation. I eagerly await what the future holds, she added.

Baba Machina, who will be tracking from Yobe State said the UDEME programme has exposed him on how procurement processes are being carried out.

Upon being selected for the fellowship, I am eagerly anticipating that it will equip me with a comprehensive set of journalism knowledge, skills, and resources essential for proficiently investigating procurement matters within my state.

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A former Nigerian senator, Ayogu Eze, is dead.

He died on Thursday aged 66.

Mr Eze represented the Enugu North District between 2007 and 2015. He won his elections and served as a senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But he died a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) having defected to the party in 2018.

The former senator died Thursday morning in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness.

His former media aide, who asked not to be named, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday evening.

He (Ayogu Eze) has been sick for a long time. His current driver and another of his aide confirmed to me that he died this morning, he stated.

Another source from Mr Ezes community said some distant family members of the former senator had been informed of the death.

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He said the family will soon make an official announcement about the death.

Ayogu Eze at a glance

Mr Eze hailed from Umuida, a community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias south-east.

A journalist by training and practice, he made his foray into Nigerian politics in 1998 when he contested and emerged the pioneer Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

By 1999, the then newly elected governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani, appointed the politician as the state commissioner for information and culture.

He would later serve as special adviser to the then Governor Nnamani, a position he held until his election into the Nigerian Senate in 2007 under the PDP platform.

At the senate, he headed several committees.

In 2015, the politician sought to become governor of Enugu State, but was defeated in the PDP primary by Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who eventually won in the general election.

In 2018, Mr Eze defected to the APC on which platform he sought to contest the 2019 governorship election in the state.

The former senator only withdrew from the race after the Independent National Electoral Commission omitted his name in the final list of candidates taking part in the election.

He wanted to challenge his alleged exclusion from the election at a court of law, but was prevailed upon by some leaders in the state not to do so.

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The police have said they recalled their officers posted to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) because they were conducting a staff audit.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usaini Gumel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday that the recall was a political witch-hunt.

Mr Gumel said the recall allowed the police to ascertain the number of personnel seconded to the commission.

He said the move was also meant to understand the reporting line and nature of duties assigned to each police officer since their deployment to the commission in 2015.

The exercise was simply a response to a series of reports received through the Commands Complaint Response Unit (CRU).

They portrayed policemen attached to the commission as being high-handed and deviating from the expected role of providing static guard and other duties at the commission.

For clarity, members of the public are to note that the object of the ongoing staff audit is basically to address the litany of complaints as reported by sections of the media, he said.

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He explained that the action became imperative to correct the anomalies in the commissions operations as police officers were being used to effect arrest and investigation of cases.

This, he said, was a deviation from the officers assigned initial mandate and which must be corrected.

In summary, the step is towards ensuring a better and more effective service delivery by the policemen devoid of abuse of process in the peoples interest.

It will be recalled that similar exercises were conducted in the past from the inception of the commission in 2015, and the men were returned to their duty posts at the conclusion of the exercises, he said.

He said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had approved the immediate return of a number of police officers providing guard at the commission who had gone through the audit process.

Should the commission require more policemen for other duties than what has been expressly approved by the IGP, it should apply to the IGP for approval and deployment, he said. (NAN)

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The Kogi State High Court in Lokoja, on Friday, ordered the chairperson of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, to appear before it on 13 May to show why he should not be jailed for allegedly disobeying its order.

The judge, I.A. Jamil, gave the order in a ruling in a suit marked, HCL/68M/2024, brought before him by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Mr Bellos application initiating a contempt charge against the EFCC chair is part of the ex-governors efforts to stop his arraignment and trial on N80 billion money laundering charges instituted against him after he left office as governor in January.

In his application, Mr Bello accused Mr Olukoyede of committing contempt by allegedly violating the courts order barring the EFCC from arresting him.

The EFCC recently charged Mr Bello at the Federal High Court in Abuja with money laundering involving over N80 billion .

But the anti-graft agency has not been able to arraign him due to his absence from court.

Mr Bello resisted arrest on 17 February when operatives of the commission attempted to execute a controversial arrest warrant against him at his residence in Abuja.

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The said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.

That same act of the respondent amounts to contempt, the judge said in his ruling in the contempt proceedings on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for allegedly carrying out some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained by the court on 9 February pending the determination of the substantive originating motion.

The court order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Mr Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf.

Mr Bello prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC

chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of Committal should not be made on Mr Olukoyede.

After listening to the arguments of the applicants counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the written address, granted Bellos prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

The applicants application before me is to the effect that the respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this court on Feb. 9, pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice before this court.

That the said act was carried out by the respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same act of the respondent amounts to act of contempt.

Its against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of Audi Ultra Patem (listen to the other side).

This matter is adjourned to 13 May for the respondents chairman to appear before this court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him, reads an enrolled order of the court seen by NAN.

Stalled arraignment

Mr Bello was absent in court for his arraignment on the pending N80 billion money laundering charges on two occasions  18 and 23 April.

At the 23 April proceedings, the court issued an order of substituted service, permitting the EFCC to serve the defendant through his lawyer.

The anti-graft agency has denied violating any court order with its moves to arrest and arraign Mr Bello.

It argues that its move to arrest and arraign Mr Bello was based on the warrant of arrest the Federal High Court in Abuja issued on 17 April.

The agency also argues that the order issued in favour of Mr Bello by the Kogi State High Court in a fundamental enforcement suit does not preclude him from being prosecuted for crimes he allegedly committed.

Not the first time

This is not the first contempt case Mr Bellos camp would be filing to fight off EFCCs criminal case.

In February 2023, a judge of the Kogi State High Court, Rukayat Ayoola, jailed Mr Olukoyedes predecessor, Abdulrasheed Bawa for 14 days, at the instance of Yahaya Bellos nephew, Ali Bello, who accused Mr Bawa of disobeying a court order.

The younger Ali alleged that Mr Bawa violated a court ruling and committed contempt by arraigning him on 15 December 2022 against an earlier court order made on 12 December 2022.

Mr Ali Bello is currently facing N10 billion fraud charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr Bawa never served the jailed time imposed by the court.

He and the EFCC subsequently appealed against the jailing.

(NAN)

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The organisers said the general idea of this and the follow-up programmes, including with people having a strong interest in the language, the Spanish-speaking community in Abuja, a Gastronomic Exhibition and a Salsa Night, is to celebrate our language and we want to do it with all Nigerians who are as passionate as we are for Spanish and wish to learn it further.

Unless they spoke English or their speeches were translated, to me they spoke Greek. It was an achievement for my old friend, Juan Ignacio Sell, the Spanish ambassador, who introduces me as his nephew. The setting on Thursday, 25 April, was the Day of Spanish Language. It was the first time the delegations of Spanish-speaking countries in Nigeria gathered to celebrate the Day. Seated on the high table were Ambassador Sell; Special Guest and Education Minister, Professor Tahir Mamman; and the Spanish-Speaking Ambassadors in Nigeria, including those of Cuba, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina.

Language divides, it also unites. But the latter is true in this case. The organisers said their aim was to celebrate the richness, diversity and international presence of one of the most spoken languages in the world, as well as acknowledge the role the Spanish language plays in fostering dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among communities.

As such, the assembled countries saw Spanish as a unifier. The gathering aimed to highlight the importance of the language spoken by some 500 million people and studied by almost 22 million persons. Alongside English and Chinese, Spanish is one of the three most spoken languages in the world.

In my conversations with the Mexican Ambassador, Alfredo Miranda  in English language of course  he spoke on the impacts of Spain and Spanish on his country. He said: Mexico was colonised by Spain for 300 years, during which we received not just the Spanish language, but also its religion and culture. Today, Mexico, which has a population of 130 million, is the largest Spanish-speaking country. Spain has (a) smaller population: 47. 78 million; so, in a sense, the sons have become the parents. Spanish is a very important language and within it, we have developed a new culture. Mexico itself has 68 local languages, which we continue to keep and develop.

In his speech at the occasion, Miranda joked that the venue, Casa Mexicana, a Mexican restaurant, which collaborated in hosting the Day, is Mexican territory, to which he welcomed everyone. The Spanish language, he said, not only provides a good opportunity for business in Latin America, but also in the United States of America, which has 50 million Spanish speakers.

The spread of the Spanish language owes a lot to the four voyages of Christopher Columbus, which began in 1492 and ended in 1504. He travelled mainly in the Caribbean through places like Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas and the coasts of east Central America, and north South America. In the process, he spread Spanish.

His Excellency Francisco Ngua Mangue, the ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea said, on a number of occasions, he had been asked why, as a blackman, he speaks Spanish, and his response often is to refer such people to Google. He said his country, which has boundaries with Cameroon to the north, Gabon to the east and south, and embraces the Atlantic, was originally colonised by the Portuguese. He explained that Portugal exchanged his country in 1778 with Spain, in return for the later ceding large areas of South America to it. He said this was how his country acquired Spanish as its official language, and an official language in the African union (AU).

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Argentinas four main languages are Spanish, which is the dominant; Italian, the second most spoken; Quechua; and Guarani. Nicolas Perazzo Naon, counsellor of Argentina, discussed the impact of the Spanish language thus: Generally, Spanish is the language I live on as an Argentine and diplomat. The thing I love about this language is that it enables me to communicate with millions. The wonderful thing about the language is that although it is coming from Europe, it is very rich and impacts on us all. I am from Argentina, but when I go to Latin America, I have to learn different new words. It is a sign of how the language has developed; this level of development I have not seen in any other language. Naon then added on a jovial note: There is Queens English, but there is no Kings Spanish. We just speak Spanish.

The spread of the Spanish language owes a lot to the four voyages of Christopher Columbus, which began in 1492 and ended in 1504. He travelled mainly in the Caribbean through places like Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas and the coasts of east Central America, and north South America. In the process, he spread Spanish.

Cuba Ambassador Miriam Morales Palmero spoke on behalf of the participating countries, on what has become of the language after these voyages: Spanish is a language very rich in expressions, synonyms, adjectives, words that have entered the language from different contributions. Specialists agree that it has more than 100,000 words, with estimates varying from 195,000 to 300,000, depending on the consideration made of the meanings, Americanisms and other variations established in the different regions and countries where it is spoken.

In analysing the future of Spanish, she said: Recent estimates affirm that the Spanish-speaking population will increase to 7.7 per cent in the year 2050. The date shows that the future of the Spanish language is promising in the short term and, will continue to expand throughout the planet, despite the dominance of English and the rise of Chinese.

Education Minister Mamman, who greeted the audience in Spanish, said language is a major vehicle for promoting culture and that it distinguishes human beings from other beings. He commended the organisers for marking the Day, despite the diversity of the countries involved. He pointed out that Nigeria is also a country known for its diversity. The Minister said the participating countries have a lot of work to do, promoting the Spanish language in Nigeria.

The Spanish Embassys Third Secretary and Head of Consular Section, Patricia Gomez Lanzaco, said the Spanish-speaking populace in Nigeria should popularise the language and make it accessible. She informed that as part of this measure, a Spanish lecturer was brought into the country in September 2023. Lanzaco said the embassy hopes to collaborate with the Nigeria Ministry of Education, other agencies and organisations to expand the use of Spanish in the country.

The Colombia Honourary Consulate, Maricel Cantillo Romero said her country wants to expand relations with Nigeria. She informed that Nigerians who want to study in Colombia will be given an opportunity to apply. She added that successful applicants will be offered scholarships to study in Colombia, including undergoing a Spanish language training programme.

Education Minister Mamman, who greeted the audience in Spanish, said language is a major vehicle for promoting culture and that it distinguishes human beings from other beings. He commended the organisers for marking the Day, despite the diversity of the countries involved. He pointed out that Nigeria is also a country known for its diversity. The Minister said the participating countries have a lot of work to do, promoting the Spanish language in Nigeria.

After the Minister declared the Day open, and went through the exhibition of the collaborating countries, a programme of students learning Spanish from various schools in Abuja took off. The organisers said the general idea of this and the follow-up programmes, including with people having a strong interest in the language, the Spanish-speaking community in Abuja, a Gastronomic Exhibition and a Salsa Night, is to celebrate our language and we want to do it with all Nigerians who are as passionate as we are for Spanish and wish to learn it further.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday said government would relocate a lot of correctional centres to create better space, security and better infrastructure.

Mr Tunji-Ojo made the pledge when he visited Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, where 119 inmates escaped following a rainstorm that damaged the facility on Wednesday.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Ozoya Imohimi.

The minister said it was imperative to relocate a lot of the correctional centres to conducive environment.

This facility was built in 1914 to house 250 inmates, before this incident, we had 499.

This is a testimony of what we keep talking about overcrowding of our correctional centres.

You can look at the environment; it shows that we need to relocate them away from the city centre before creating better space, security and infrastructure, he added.

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According to him, the ministry is already working behind the scene to fashion out a correctional system that would work for all.

Mr Tunji-Ojo assured that such incident would not happen again in any other facility across the country.

This could have been avoided if the right information was disseminated at the appropriate time on the structure.

I was not appointed to make excuses; I was appointed to take responsibility, and we are not shying away from taking responsibility.

We will get them back and we will ensure this doesnt happen again anywhere in the country.(NAN)

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The third in a series of public meetings on the Skaneateles Lake Nine Element Watershed Management Plan will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at The Lodge, 4355 State St., Skaneateles Falls.

The plan was developed by the town of Skaneateles with support from the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board and in cooperation with a watershed advisory committee. It focuses on the lake's long-term future and measures to protect water quality in the watershed, the town said in a news release. Planning began in 2022, and implementing the plan in 2024 will be discussed at the meeting.
GUANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant move to facilitate seamless payment experiences for international attendees, the 135th China Import and Export Fair ("Canton Fair" or "the Fair") has partnered with multiple financial institutions to upgrade its payment systems. This initiative ensures a more inclusive and comprehensive payment environment, accommodating mobile payments, bank cards, and digital yuan among other methods.

The Canton Fair has enhanced its payment facilities to better serve the global merchant community, introducing Self-Service Exchange Machines ("the Exchange Machines") and POS terminals that support international bank cards to simplify the buying experience. Moreover, attendees can now access digital yuan wallets through straightforward procedures at the Exchange Machines, facilitating seamless transactions.

Prominent locations, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the fairgrounds, now feature "Foreign Visitors Payment International Desk" to simplify transactions for international visitors. These desks assist guests in downloading, registering, and using major Chinese mobile payment platforms like UnionPay QuickPass, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. Additionally, they help with linking international bank cards, such as Visa and Discover Global Network, to enable QR code payments.

In the course of the offline exhibition, the Canton Fair's upgrade in payment convenience was fully experienced by the attendees. Musta, a long-time Jordanian buyer at the Fair, chose to exchange currency at the Exchange Machine. He shared, "inserting my ID and then euros, the machine dispensed cash quickly. It was really straightforward and easy."

From the USA, Steve Neumeyer, General Manager for International Products 90, stated, "the easy-to-use payment methods have greatly improved our experience of participation. The Canton Fair is a window into China's swift progress and a gateway to limitless business prospects."

Triggered by this edition, significant strides have been made to facilitate easier payment methods for international visitors in Guangzhou, not just at the exhibition sites but also in shopping and tourist areas. Before the commencement of the Fair, the city boasted a coverage of more than 90% for international bank card acceptance in key areas, and ATM support for international bank card withdrawals was at a high of 98%. Additionally, a vast network of over 457,000 local merchants had been set up to accept direct electronic wallet payments or to allow the binding of international bank cards with domestic e-wallets, making transactions more convenient.

For more information about the Fair, please register at https://invitation.cantonfair.org.cn/BuyerUser/RegisterUser?MediaType=16.

SOURCE Canton Fair
FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 38 North Studio of Falls Church, Virginia, has won the coveted Best Music Studio award at the 36th Annual Wammie Music Awards. The award was presented to co-founders Sarah Marks and Buddy Speir at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on April 20, 2024 based upon the votes of over 32,000 music fans in the Washington, D.C. area.

38 North Studio artists who also won 2024 Wammies are:

Left to Right: (back row) Ryan Shakeri (Cherub Tree), Check Ferrell (The Gayle Harrod Band), Sarah Marks, Buddy Speir, Reese Clutter (38 North Studio); (front row) Gayle Harrod (The Gayle Harrod Band), Brenna Dascoulias (Cherub Tree); Mike Shade, Dan Henderson (Pictrola).

 Gayle Harrod Band, WINNER Best Blues Artist; Best Blues Album, Temptation; Best Blues Song, In the Dark of the Night

www.instagram.com/the.gayle.harrod.band

 The Loving Paupers, WINNER Best World/Global Album, Ladders

www.instagram.com/thelovingpaupers

 Cherub Tree, WINNER Best Punk Song, Artist, not yours, never was

www.instagram.com/cherubtreeband

 Pictrola, WINNER Best Folk Song, More Than We Can Fix!

www.instagram.com/pictrola_band

Managing partner Buddy Speir, a lifetime musician who is a past Wammie winner himself for his guitar work and producer of Gayle Harrod's Temptation, said of the win: "We've worked really hard over the last couple of years to create a place where artists feel at home. With our selection of vintage gear and innovative modern products, and our fantastic sounding rooms, we're able to support a wide range of musical projects and artistic visions. We all love doing this every day, and are always looking forward to bringing the next project that lands with us to life."

The 2024 Wammie Music Awards were hosted by the MuisicanShip with support from iHeartMedia and WUSA9.

About 38 North Studio. Launched in January 2019, 38 North Studio was founded with the mission to support music artists seeking to germinate long term projects in concert with an established in-house set of producers, engineers, session players, and video specialists. In its five years since, the studio has continued to hone its practice of supporting recording artists with a combination of top-quality gear, along with a strong sense of project management, to create an environment that feels custom built for each client. Interested artists have access to expert music composition, recording practices, and video/marketing pros to amplify their artistry.

The studio's physical space was designed by musicians for musicians, to be the ultimate in masterful sound built into a modern yet welcoming design. Picturesque for videographers and photographers, the space enables artists to go beyond just recording, also hosting social media and release events and special concerts for those particular to excellence in music.

www.38northstudio.com

www.instagram.com/38northstudio

www.facebook.com/38northstudio

To book, contact:

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Buddy Speir

703-606-0156

[email protected]

SOURCE Sarah Marks and Buddy Speir
HEIRS Act of 2024 Helps Americans Impacted by Heirs' Property

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry applauds the introduction of the Heirs' Estate Inheritance Resolution and Succession (HEIRS) Act of 2024. Led by Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA), alongside Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), the HEIRS Act will preserve family legacies and the transfer of generational wealth by establishing a grant program to provide legal assistance for heirs' property owners to clear titles and incentivize states to adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act.

Property passed down from generation to generation without formal wills or estate planning documents leaves families open to legal and financial risks. A financial and knowledge gap prevents many families from taking steps to appropriately secure their legacies. Unfortunately, challenges presented by heirs' property disproportionately affect communities of color across the country, jeopardizing their wealth-building potential.

"The HEIRS Act will equip families with the resources necessary to ensure the family home stays in the family, helping to create generational wealth and close the racial wealth gap," Williams said.

"On behalf of title companies in every county nationwide, who work tirelessly every day to protect the American dream of homeownership, we commend the leadership of Rep. Williams and her partners in Congress on the introduction of Heirs' Estate Inheritance Resolution and Succession (HEIRS) Act," said ALTA CEO Diane Tomb. "Too many families across the country are harmed by the issue of heirs' property, threatened with the possibility of losing their home and the wealth that it represents. Title insurance professionals work with families every day that are negatively impacted by these circumstances and understand the positive impact this legislation will have on protecting homeownership and wealth creation for millions of Americans. We look forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation and continuing the fight to protect homeownership for all communities and households nationwide."

According to Fannie Mae, the total assessed value of properties impacted by heirship issues is conservatively estimated to be more than $32 billion across 44 states and the District of Columbia.

The legislation also is endorsed by the National Fair Housing Alliance, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Consumer Law Center, National Housing Resource Center, National Association of Realtors and Urban League of Greater Atlanta.

About ALTA

The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing more than 6,000 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers, and real estate attorneys. ALTA members conduct title searches, examinations, closings and issue title insurance that protects real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles.

Contact: Megan Hernandez

Direct Office Line: 202-261-0315

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Land Title Association
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global animal intestinal health market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.58 billion from 2023 to 2027, according to Technavio. This growth is expected to occur at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.08% during the forecast period.

To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Animal Intestinal Health Market 2023-2027

Key Trends Fueling Growth

Rise in the adoption of natural growth promoters: Investing in making animals grow better and healthier opens up lots of opportunities for businesses. There are two main kinds of stuff that help animals grow: antibiotics and other things like probiotics and prebiotics. Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria and help animals grow better when given in small amounts. But using antibiotics too much can make bacteria resistant to them, which is bad for both animals and people who eat their food. The EU wants to ban antibiotics in animal feed because people are getting more aware of the problems they cause. Instead, they want to use natural things like probiotics and prebiotics to help animals grow better and stay healthy. This change is expected to make the market for these natural growth helpers grow a lot in the future.



For more detailed insights on the market trends with forecast market size and historic data (2017 - 2021)- Buy This Report Now

Major Challenges:

Stringent regulations regarding different feed additives Different organizations like the FDA, CVM, WHO, EC, EFSA, APVMA, NHPD, and ANVISA make strict rules about what goes into animal feed. These rules make it hard for companies to develop new products because they have to follow long and complicated approval processes. In some places, like the EU and the US, they've banned using antibiotics to help animals grow faster. This means companies have to find new ways to make animal feed. Regulatory bodies like EFSA and FDA are looking for better, more eco-friendly additives for animal feed. But this makes it tough for the feed industry to grow because they have to keep up with all the new rules and find new ways to make their products.



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Analyst Review

The Animal Intestinal Health Market encompasses a range of products and solutions aimed at optimizing gut health and nutrient digestion in livestock, including cattle, poultry, and swine. These animals' digestive tracts play a crucial role in nutrient absorption and host metabolism, which in turn contributes to energy production and the overall health of the animal.

The market includes various offerings such as probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenics, and immunostimulants. These products support the microbiome, defense mechanisms, and feed palatability, enhancing the livestock production of meat and dairy. In the context of the veterinary healthcare industry, antibiotics continue to be a significant tool for managing pathogenic bacteria. However, there is a growing emphasis on alternative, plant-derived solutions to promote animal health and wellbeing.

Market Overview

The Animal Intestinal Health Market encompasses a range of products and services designed to promote optimal gut health in various animal species. These include probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and nutraceuticals. The market caters to cats, dogs, horses, poultry, and other livestock. Digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, and constipation are common concerns addressed by these products. Nutrients like fiber, minerals, and vitamins play crucial roles in maintaining intestinal health.

The market also focuses on research and development to create effective and innovative solutions. The demand for these products is driven by increasing pet ownership, rising awareness of animal health, and the need for natural alternatives to veterinary treatments.

To understand more about this market report- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

Type Probiotics Phytogenics Prebiotics Immunostimulants

Geography Asia North America Europe Rest Of World (ROW)



8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Venodr Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zinzino (publ) announces that the company's annual report for 2023 in Swedish is now published on the company's website, zinzino.com. The English version will be published within approximately 45 days.

The 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held at the company's premises at Hulda Mellgrens gata 5 in Vastra Frolunda on May 27 at 1:30 p.m. The nomination committee's proposals for board members, the board's remuneration and auditors are presented in the notice to the annual general meeting. For further information about the annual general meeting, refer to the company's website www.zinzino.com.

Link to the report:

https://www.zinzino.com/site/SE/sv-SE/om-oss/investerare/

For more information please contact:

Dag Bergheim Pettersen CEO Zinzino +47 (0) 932 25 700, email: [email protected]

Fredrik Nielsen CFO Zinzino +46 707 900 174, email: [email protected]

Images for free publication:

[email protected]

Certified Adviser: Erik Penser Bank Aktiebolag

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/zinzino/r/annual-report-2023-zinzino-ab--publ-,c3968373

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/10976/3968373/99f22d1279aa00b7.pdf Press Release Zinzio Annual Report 2023
PUNE, India, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report titled "Anti-Adhesion Products Market by Product Type (Natural Adhesion Barriers, Synthetic Adhesion Barriers), Product Form (Film Formulation, Gel Formulation, Liquid Formulation), Application, End-User - Global Forecast 2024-2030" is now available on 360iResearch.com's offering, presents an analysis indicating that the market projected to grow from a size of $1.09 billion in 2023 to reach $1.69 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.45% over the forecast period.

" Global Surge in Surgical Procedures Boosts Demand for Advanced Anti-Adhesion Solutions "

Anti-adhesion products play a crucial role in modern surgeries by preventing abnormal scar tissue formation between tissues and organs, thus minimizing complications and enhancing recovery. As surgical numbers rise globally, especially in gynecology, abdominal, and cardiovascular areas, the usage of these products is becoming increasingly essential. Challenges include unclear standardization due to varying surgical techniques and the limited efficacy in some cases. Ongoing research and collaborative efforts among manufacturers, healthcare providers, and academia are driving innovations that make these products safer and more effective. Americas remains at the forefront due to its sophisticated healthcare systems and high procedure volumes, while the EU continues to adopt these solutions vigorously owing to the stringent regulatory oversight. Regions such as the Middle East and Asia-Pacific are seeing rapid growth in demand, propelled by healthcare developments and a growing recognition of the benefits of sophisticated surgical aids in preventing postoperative complications.

Download Sample Report @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/anti-adhesion-products

" Global Governments Foster Advances in Anti-Adhesion Technologies to Enhance Surgical Outcomes "

Governments worldwide have been instrumental in advancing the use and development of anti-adhesion products for surgery, focusing on reducing post-surgical complications. Integrating financial incentives, stringent regulations, dedicated research funding, and public health initiatives, a supportive environment has flourished. Key programs include India's National Health Mission, China's Healthy China 2030, the U.S.'s Affordable Care Act, and the UK's National Health Service, which all contribute to strengthening healthcare infrastructures and expanding access to innovative healthcare solutions. These initiatives bolster the adoption of cutting-edge anti-adhesion technologies that are crucial for improving surgical outcomes and speeding patient recovery. Additionally, governmental health departments actively promote awareness about the potential complications from surgical adhesions, thereby educating both medical professionals and the public on the significant benefits of using anti-adhesion products during surgical procedures.

" A Comparative Overview of Natural and Synthetic Adhesion Barriers "

Natural adhesion barriers are derived from biological substances and use proteins such as collagen and fibrin, which are integral to human healing and prevent surgical adhesions, mimicking the body's natural processes. These barriers are bioabsorbable, reducing the need for post-surgical intervention and minimizing long-term complications. On the other hand, synthetic adhesion barriers, made from engineered materials such as polyethylene glycol and hyaluronic acid, provide an effective solution by creating a physical separation between tissues to prevent unwanted adhesion without integrating into the body's healing mechanisms. Regenerated cellulose, another synthetic option, biodegrades into a naturally absorbed gel, offering ease of use. Both barriers are designed to adapt to various surgical applications, presenting substantial benefits in enhancing post-operative recovery and safety.

Request Analyst Support @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/anti-adhesion-products

" Baxter International Inc. at the Forefront of Anti-Adhesion Products Market with a Strong 14.05% Market Share "

The key players in the Anti-Adhesion Products Market include Medtronic PLC, B Braun SE, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, Baxter International Inc., and others. These prominent players focus on strategies such as expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and developing new products to strengthen their market positions.

" Introducing ThinkMi: Revolutionizing Market Intelligence with AI-Powered Insights for the Anti-Adhesion Products Market "

We proudly unveil ThinkMi, a cutting-edge AI product designed to transform how businesses interact with the Anti-Adhesion Products Market. ThinkMi stands out as your premier market intelligence partner, delivering unparalleled insights with the power of artificial intelligence. Whether deciphering market trends or offering actionable intelligence, ThinkMi is engineered to provide precise, relevant answers to your most critical business questions. This revolutionary tool is more than just an information source; it's a strategic asset that empowers your decision-making with up-to-the-minute data, ensuring you stay ahead in the fiercely competitive Anti-Adhesion Products Market. Embrace the future of market analysis with ThinkMi, where informed decisions lead to remarkable growth.

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" Dive into the Anti-Adhesion Products Market Landscape: Explore 191 Pages of Insights, 558 Tables, and 24 Figures "

Preface Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Overview Market Insights Anti-Adhesion Products Market, by Product Type Anti-Adhesion Products Market, by Product Form Anti-Adhesion Products Market, by Application Anti-Adhesion Products Market, by End-User Americas Anti-Adhesion Products Market Asia-Pacific Anti-Adhesion Products Market Europe , Middle East & Africa Anti-Adhesion Products Market Competitive Landscape Competitive Portfolio

Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/anti-adhesion-products

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Our clientele encompasses about 80% of the Fortune Global 500, and leading consulting and research companies and academic institutions that rely on our expertise in compiling data in niche markets. Our meta-insights are intelligent, impactful and infinite, and translate into actionable data that support your quest for enhanced profitability, tapping into niche markets, and exploring new revenue opportunities.

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SOURCE 360iResearch
DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys Scott Robelen and Clint Lee, of Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law, achieved a $3 million award for their client, John Farley, in a case against Allied Universal Security Services. Farley, a 39-year-old conductor, was brutally attacked at the Trinity Railway Express T&P station in Fort Worth on June 18, 2021, leaving him with severe physical and emotional injuries.

The attack occurred as Farley was preparing the train for its final departure of the day. An individual entered the train and attacked Farley with a knife. Farley filed suit in Tarrant County against Allied Universal Security Services, the company under contract with the Fort Worth Transit Authority to provide security for the Trinity Railway Express. Farley alleged that Allied failed to fulfill its contractual obligation to protect him.

During the week-long trial, Farley's Bailey & Galyen counsel demonstrated that Allied's inadequate security measures significantly contributed to the violent attack. In court, Allied attempted to shift blame onto Farley and his employer, Herzog Railway Services, but the jury found Allied responsible for failing to safeguard Farley and awarded him $3 million in damages. Robelen noted, "The outcome of this case emphasizes the necessity for security measures to protect individuals in public spaces, particularly those entrusted with the safety of others."

About Bailey & Galyen:

One of the Lone Star State's largest premier consumer law firms, Bailey & Galyen has been effectively Solving Your Legal Puzzle for more than 40 years. With 24 locations across the state of Texas, and in New Mexico and Arkansas, Bailey & Galyen provides affordable and aggressive advocacy in matters involving Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, Family Law, Divorce, Business Litigation, Criminal Defense, as well as other legal matters. Known for its commitment to 100% client satisfaction, the firm has received more than 1,700 five-star reviews on Google. For more information, call (855) 810-7010 or visit www.thetexasattorney.com.

Contacts

Carl Galyen

VP Of Marketing

[email protected]

817-592-6083

SOURCE Bailey & Galyen
SOUTHERN SEMINARY'S WALKER URGES "CIVIC THEISM."

MOUNDS VIEW, Minn., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "Christians should be willing to confront secularism head-on," said Dr. Andrew T. Walker of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in remarks delivered at The North Church, Mounds View, as the last event in Bethlehem College and Seminary's 2024 Spring Lecture Series. Walker currently serves as Southern Seminary's Associate Dean in the School of Theology, and Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology. He is also the Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement.

Dr. Andrew T. Walker, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"It is a privilege for us to host someone whom I personally regard one of the leading Baptist theologians of our day," said Bethlehem College and Seminary President Dr. Brian J. Tabb. "The church and academy are both blessed by his scholarship on religious liberty, statecraft, and political theology," he added.

In an address entitled "The Naked Public Square is Very Cold in Winter," Walker borrowed on a phrase coined by Richard John Neuhaus in 1984. Surveying the current situation, Walker said, "If America was on the verge of a naked public square in the 1980s, we've learned that without God, the public square has grown quite cold and inhospitable to human civilization."

He told an audience of students, faculty, church members, and guests from the general public, "Modern secular morality is bankrupt, barbaric, and brittle. It is deeply irrational. Where it isn't, it is borrowing from Christianity." Walker further stated that "Secular morality has no satisfying answers to humanity's deepest questions. It is a cesspool of relativism, therapeutism, and hyper-individualism."

Walker called for a new season of "Civic Theism," a doctrine arguing that human beings have an innate, non-salvific awareness of God's moral laws that makes them eligible for participation within political communities. "It is good for regimes to establish their own way in determining how to acknowledge God within the apparatus of government and the broader public order, but acknowledge him they must," said Walker.

Widely recognized for his scholarship on religious liberty, Walker hastened to add, "We should call for a theocentric moral vision for America but do so with humility, which is why the First Amendment's commitment to religious liberty matters as much for Christians as it does for America more broadly."

"I have no pretenses for 'taking America back for Christ' in some God-and-country sense; no, we need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ amid the ruins of secularism," Walker said. "Christians need to be there when reality snaps back and people find themselves burned out and dejected from bottoming out on secularism," he added.

Bethlehem College and Seminary is a churches-based, degree-granting institution with its main campus located on the site of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, and evening classes conducted at The North Church, Mounds View, Minnesota. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college is in the model of classical and Christian education, while the seminary focuses on equipping of biblical elders for the tasks of pastoral, missionary, and academic ministry. The seminary maintains a separate location in Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon, in cooperation with Eglise Baptiste Bethleem, a church planted by one of its graduates. Bethlehem College and Seminary is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation.

SOURCE Bethlehem College and Seminary
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynamics Communities and Community Summit North America, in collaboration with Microsoft, are introducing the Biz Apps Partner Summit to run July 24-25, 2024, in Bellevue, Washington delivering a 24-hour immersion into FY 25 priorities, opportunities and, of course, the role of AI with Copilot for consultants, systems integrators and ISVs.

Biz Apps Partner Summit for Microsoft Ecosystem to Deliver FY 25 Insights

Built to accelerate the success of Microsoft Dynamics partners, the Biz Apps Partner Summit packs in a ton of actionable intelligence in the form of keynotes, general sessions, panel discussions and fireside chats along with a low-key reception and dinner on Wednesday evening.

"With some incredible collaboration with the team at Microsoft, Dynamics Partners, and industry veteran advisors, the Biz Apps Partner Summit was born, and we are thrilled to bring it to Dynamics Partners looking to scale their business by having access to the people and information that can make that happen," said Dynamic Communities CEO, John Siefert.

Day 1 starts with a luncheon and keynote by Donald Kossmann, Microsoft VP Business Copilot and Distinguished Engineer, followed by sessions on go-to-market strategy, SMC with Alex Pombo and Alistair Butler, an enterprise session with GPS/GSI leadership, a panel discussion featuring field sales leaders Brion Reusche, Erik Opsahl, Steve Cohen, and Howard Swerdloff, a panel discussion with leading partners and we will close the day with a reception and dinner for networking.

"Partners that serve our SMC customers play a pivotal role leading cloud migration and digital transformation with AI and Copilot," said Sharon Schoenborn, Corporate Vice President, Americas SMC at Microsoft. "We look forward to sharing updates and programs that will help guide customer success at the 2024 Biz Apps Partner Summit in July from Dynamics Communities and Summit NA."

Day 2 begins with breakfast and a keynote from partner ecosystem leaders Cecilia Flombaum and Peter Jensen, followed by go to market sessions featuring Becky Lymberis and Justin Ross, a fireside chat on Microsoft AI Partner Programs, a panel discussion featuring Uriel Rootshtain and other leaders moderated by industry leading partners and finally a closing keynote over lunch with a Microsoft Biz Apps executive.

Commenting on his participation on the event, Peter Jensen, Director Business Applications Partner Strategy, said, "Partners are at the center of our AI & Digital Transformation strategy. At the Dynamics Communities 2024 Biz Apps Partner Summit in July, we look forward to discussing all the ways partners can leverage Microsoft programs to build profitable practices in Business Applications."

Created as a follow up to the sold-out Partner Preconference co-created with Microsoft at Community Summit North America 2023, the event is not built to duplicate or replicate any other partner events in the market, but instead create a different experience that is fast-paced, energetic and networked with the right people.

All details can be found on the Biz Apps Partner Summit website, where you can reserve your spot to join us as a registered attendee for $799 until June 1, 2024, which includes all meals whilst at the event, then the price becomes $999. Special appreciation to BDO for underwriting this event, and to Dynamicweb and Experlogix for their sponsorship of the Biz Apps Partner Summit.

About Dynamic Communities

Dynamic Communities is proud to be the producers of the largest independent gathering of the Microsoft Business Applications Ecosystem, Community Summit North America. Summit NA has unmatched value with 500+ educational sessions to deliver end-to-end learning around all versions of Dynamics 365 FO/AX, CE/CRM & BC/NAV, Dynamics GP, Power Platform and the rise of AI through Copilot. 4000+ Microsoft Users and 200+ Consultants, Systems Integrators and ISVs come together for a week of peer education, training and learning to decrease complexity that will deliver results that companies demand.

We also bring the foundation of For User, By User to a year-round digital format with our learning platform, www.dynamicscommunities.com. Dynamics Communities represents collaboration, knowledge sharing, expertise, networking, and the decentralization of years of intelligence which can only be found in a passionate community of people.

Press Contact:

Stephanie Ulmer

330-603-2511

https://bizapps.summitna.com/

SOURCE Dynamic Communities
PANAMA CITY, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. ("Bladex" or "the Bank") announced today that the Bank filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Annual Report") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The 2023 Annual Report and audited financial statements can be accessed by visiting either the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or Bladex's website at www.bladex.com. The Bank can also provide a copy of the Bank's audited financial statements or annual report on Form 20-F, upon a written request and without charge.

Bladex, a multinational bank originally established by the central banks of Latin-American and Caribbean countries, began operations in 1979 to promote foreign trade and economic integration in the Region. The Bank, headquartered in Panama, also has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the United States of America, and a Representative License in Peru, supporting the regional expansion and servicing of its customer base, which includes financial institutions and corporations.

Bladex is listed on the NYSE in the United States of America (NYSE: BLX), since 1992, and its shareholders include: central banks and state-owned banks and entities representing 23 Latin American countries, commercial banks and financial institutions, and institutional and retail investors through its public listing.

For further information on Bladex, please access its website at www.bladex.com or contact:

Carlos Daniel Raad  Chief Investor Relations Officer E-mail address: [email protected] / [email protected]. Tel.: (+507) 366-4925 ext. 7925 Head Office Address: Torre V, Business Park, Ave. La Rotonda, Urb. Costa del Este, Panama, Republic of Panama

SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex)
WILMINGTON, Del., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is pleased to announce that it has added former Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Deputy Chief Judge James T. Moore to its expanding Delaware office. He joins the firm's Intellectual Property (IP) section and Patent Office Litigation practice group.

Moore is a patent attorney with extensive prosecution and litigation experience in both private practice and corporate settings. He has judicial experience in all areas of PTAB jurisdiction, including appeals, interferences, America Invents Act (AIA) trials, and management as a member of the Senior Executive Service as Vice Chief Judge, Deputy Chief Judge, and Acting Chief Judge of the PTAB. He served the PTAB from 2001  2022.

"We are pleased to welcome Judge Moore to our IP group and our growing Delaware office," said Joseph Dougherty, the firm's Chairman and CEO. "Our Delaware IP and litigation practices are key components within Buchanan's overall strategic plan and the addition of Judge Moore is an exciting step forward in the implementation of our plan."

Buchanan's Patent Office Litigation practice is at the heart of its IP section. Buchanan has significant experience representing clients in hundreds of inter partes matters before the PTAB including in cases involving three separate Nobel Prize winning technologies. The practice's bench of lawyers is composed of attorneys with highly technical and scientific backgrounds who have practiced many years before the PTAB and the Federal Circuit.

According to Todd Walters, the leader of this practice group and co-chair of Buchanan's IP section, "I have known Judge Moore for about 20 years and watched him rise within the PTAB to the highest levels. It is a privilege and honor to have him as my colleague. We look forward to offering our clients his insights from the other side of the bench."

While Buchanan already has expertise in numerous industries and subject matters along with a team of seasoned litigators, it intends to materially grow these practices. Jeff Bove, a veteran litigator who has handled numerous high stakes patent and commercial litigations, joined Buchanan's Delaware office in January.

Bove added, "I have known Judge Moore from the time we worked together when he was an associate. We kept in touch throughout his career. After I came to Buchanan, knowing Judge Moore had retired from the PTO, I explained to him my highly favorable view of Buchanan, its commitment to its IP practice and Delaware office, its high-quality professionals, cutting edge resources and, most importantly, its unique culture. I am certain that Buchanan and Judge Moore are a great fit. I am excited to be back working with Jay and look forward to the future."

Moore will act as strategic IP counsel and provide arbitration services related to IP. He will continue to specialize in all practices before PTAB. He said, "It is an exciting time for Buchanan's IP section, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to continue expanding the section and the Delaware office."

Moore is a founding director of the American Association of Patent Judges and a member of the Delaware State Bar Association. He holds a bachelor's degree from The Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from the William & Mary Law School.

About Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is a national law firm with a proven reputation for providing progressive, industry-leading legal, business, regulatory and government relations advice to regional, national and international clients. We service a wide range of businesses, but have especially deep experience in the finance, energy, healthcare and life sciences industries. Our more than 450 attorneys and government relations professionals across 16 offices proudly represent some of the highest profile and innovative companies in the nation, including 40 of the Fortune 100. We bring to client's intimate knowledge of the players, market forces and political and regulatory landscape, and use our full-service capabilities to protect, defend and advance our clients' businesses.

SOURCE Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
$170,000 Awarded to 12 Charter Schools That Shine In Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, And Model Charters; $10,000 Awarded To Two School Volunteer Leaders

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Building Hope , the non-profit leader in charter school facilities, financing, and services, celebrated the remarkable achievements of leaders from 12 inspirational charter schools and two charter volunteer leaders nationwide. Last night, at the conclusion of its third annual Building Hope IMPACT Summit, Building Hope awarded a total of $170,000 in grant awards. The grants were presented in recognition of the outstanding contributions of these schools in community engagement, educational innovation, student empowerment, and charter school leadership.

"Each year the IMPACT Summit provides an opportunity to honor and celebrate trailblazing charter schools, education leaders and volunteers," said President and CEO of Building Hope William D. Hansen. "Congratulations to our 2024 winners for their outstanding contributions to the charter school community. Thank you for your dedication to shaping the future of education, uplifting our youth, and strengthening our nation."

The Building Hope IMPACT Summit provides an annual opportunity for charter school leaders, authorizers, industry partners, and associations to connect and collaborate on solutions to address the most pressing challenges in public Kindergarten through 12th grade education. The 2024 IMPACT Summit featured more than 30 thought-provoking presentations, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities with the goal to inspire and empower attendees to create positive change through quality, accessible education.

"It's so inspiring to know that the future of education is already here, at these innovative, engaging, and empowering schools," said Building Hope's Chief Impact Officer and Chair of the IMPACT Selection Committee Sherilyn Moore. "We hope that by shining a light on the impact they make on students, families, and communities, we inspire more of these amazing schools to grow."

These IMPACT Award winners represent 12 different states and U.S. territories from across the nation:

S. Joseph Bruno Charter Leadership Award

The $20,000 grant award winner is:

HIVE Preparatory School , which serves 845 students in Kindergarten through 8th grade in Miami, Fla. HIVE Preparatory School values high expectations, inquiry, versatility, and excellence. The student-centered, adaptable learning environment emphasizes rigorous academic and social preparation and promotes dignity, courtesy, discipline, responsibility, and high expectations so that students achieve academically and become productive citizens. The school adapts to its stakeholders instead of requiring stakeholders to adapt to it, changing standards, curricula, student demographics, teacher quality and availability, and educational landscape to improve enrollment, academic, and extracurricular outcomes.

"Our model ensures that students are well suited for the ever-evolving landscape they will face in today's world," said HIVE Preparatory School Director of Schools Carlos V. Gonzalez. "Rigorous academic and social preparation become a blueprint for students to create and attain their goals in life."

The $10,000 grant award winners are:

Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc ., which serves 875 students in Kindergarten through 12th+ grade in Phoenix, Ariz. Arizona Autism Charter Schools has highly trained teachers and staff who make high-quality, specialized education accessible to students with autism and other neuro-diversities. The school's innovative educational model embeds behavioral, speech and other therapy supports into the classroom to facilitate access to academics and data-driven instruction. Students engage in developmentally appropriate academics and hands-on STEAM programming through a curriculum designed to get them workforce ready in high tech fields.

River City Science Academy , which serves 4,500 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade in Jacksonville, Fla. River City Science Academy applies a STEAM-based educational model and character education that ensure all students reach their maximum potential in a diverse, structured, and nurturing environment and are prepared for a future in science, technology, engineering, and math. River City Science Academy continually adapts to educational trends, becoming increasingly data-driven, standards-based and financially secure, without losing sight of its innovative vision and character education. A driving force in the community, River City Science Academy has mastered its approach to integrated learning while maintaining a caring and collaborative culture.

Student Empowerment

The $20,000 grant award winner is:

Monument Academy , which serves 127 students in 5th through 8th grade in Washington, DC. With rigorous academic programming and family-style apartment living, social-emotional learning, mental health services, and opportunities for enrichment and career exploration, Monument Academy is both school and home for its students, 70% of whom are designated at-risk. Staff model expectations through words, actions, and behaviors, and students physically depart school with the necessary tools to access resources they require as adults.

"As we plan for our expansion to high school, student input will be taken into consideration every step of the way," said Monument Academy CEO Dr. Jeffrey Grant. "Our scholars are our greatest stakeholders, and our relationships have created bonds that have proven to be simultaneously life-saving and self-affirming."

The $10,000 grant award winners are:

Siembra Leadership High School , which serves 385 students in 9th through 12th grade in Albuquerque, N.M. Siembra Leadership's entrepreneurial focus prepares academically underserved students for careers that reflect the values and needs of the community. Students learn all core content through real-world community projects, and all students participate in college dual enrollment classes, internships, or a capstone project to launch their own business. Students leave prepared for success in college and their career, having grown socially, emotionally, and intellectually.

Tapestry Public Charter School , which serves 300 students in 6th through 12th grade in Doraville, Ga. Tapestry's dynamic curriculum weaves together academic excellence, creative exploration, and community engagement for a neurodivergent student population. The school pairs general and special education teachers in each classroom to offer students an inclusive, individualized learning environment that engages both neurotypical students and those on the autism spectrum. The academic and emotional attention received prepares students to become creative builders of their own futures.

Community Engagement

The $20,000 grant award winner is:

Vimenti, which serves 274 students in Kindergarten through 6th grade in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Located in a public housing community with five generations of systemic poverty, Vimenti is a demonstration project with a theory of change to break cycles of poverty and catalyze community transformation. Vimenti's high-quality, dual-language education provided through a rigorous, differentiated learning model puts student and family needs and interests at the center of the educational strategy. External mentoring and volunteer opportunities support students and develop them as whole citizens.

"When a child enrolls in Vimenti, the family unit is enrolled and works with a dedicated case manager to set goals and action plans around the barriers to economic mobility for a family," said Vimenti Operations and HR Director Barbara Rivera. "We are so proud of our students for raising awareness of issues and contributing to resolutions. Vimenti students not only respect themselves and others, but also act as role models for their families, communities and throughout the island of Puerto Rico."

The $10,000 grant award winners are:

Academy for Global Citizenship, which serves 479 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in Chicago, Ill. Academy for Global Citizenship offers a dual language and international baccalaureate curriculum that cultivates mindful leaders of action who positively impact their communities and the world beyond. Through concept-driven units of study and integration with the surrounding community, students become environmentally and internationally minded. This meaningful understanding of the local community and cultural context fundamentally build their foundation for becoming civically engaged, global citizens.

Amy Biehl High School, which serves 212 students in 9th through 12th grade in Albuquerque, N.M. Founded in the spirit of a young scholar dedicated to social justice and service, Amy Biehl High School focuses its curriculum on service, college and career preparation, and restorative justice, ensuring students excel academically and engage in meaningful community service. Students' service-learning prepares them to graduate civic-minded, college-bound, and career-ready with the intellectual, social, and ethical habits to improve their communities.

Education Innovation

The $20,000 grant award winner is:

The School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability (SEEQS) which serves 176 students in 6th through 8th grade in Honolulu, Hawai'i. SEEQS fosters a joy of learning through collaborative and interdisciplinary investigation of questions essential to Hawai'i's future. Education transcends the classroom, blending academic rigor with environmental stewardship to shape empowered leaders who think globally and act locally. SEEQS' supportive community and sustainability-focused curriculum emphasize critical thinking, leadership, and community advocacy.

"SEEQS is more than a school, it's a place where education is a transformative journey, preparing students to become stewards of planet Earth and healthy, effective citizens of the world," said Executive Director Buffy Cushman-Patz. "Our model is designed around intentional community-building and rigorous core content learning, combined with project and place-based experiences. Every student participates in interdisciplinary projects and place-based courses designed to help them examine complex essential questions of sustainability that face our community and environment."

The $10,000 grant award winners are:

MicroSociety Academy , which serves 309 students in Kindergarten through 8th grade in Nashua, N.H. MicroSociety empowers students to acquire the heart, knowledge, and skills for thriving in today's society by collaboratively creating and operating their own school-based microcosm of the real world. Students follow a rigorous, competency-based core curriculum, receive standards-based instruction with "real world" concepts, and apply concepts in their own small society with guidance of teacher facilitators. Ultimately, students learn how to create a community that is safe and useful for everyone.

Northwest Passage High School , which serves 155 students 9th through 12th+ grade in Coon Rapids, Minn. Northwest Passage High School has created a curriculum that combines advisory, student-centered, project-based learning, interdisciplinary seminars, and academic overnight learning expeditions for all students. Students build caring, inclusive, adult relationships through long-term advisories and individualized academic and social-emotional support. Northwest Passage fosters creativity, innovation and life-long learning, while also supporting post-secondary career and college readiness. Students rekindle hope, explore the world, and seek their path while building a community.

In March, Building Hope also honored Sujei DaSilva and Danielle Sell with the Shellie-Ann Braswell Shine Brighter Awards for their volunteer leadership and meaningful impact. This prestigious award acknowledges charter school volunteers and their unwavering dedication to creating a brighter future for students and communities. Both recipients were awarded a $5,000 grant at the Summit in recognition of their extraordinary service at their respective schools: SouthSide Elementary Charter School in Providence, R.I., and Adeline Montessori School in Oconomowoc, Wis.

The fourth annual IMPACT Awards application window will open in the Fall of 2024, and winners will be announced in early 2025. Visit buildinghope.org to learn about next year's Summit.

Building Hope is grateful for the sponsors of the 2024 IMPACT Summit:

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

About Building Hope

Building Hope is a national non-profit that empowers advancements in education through our work with charter schools providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 20-year history, Building Hope has supported over $1 billion in the development of school facilities. For more information, visit www.buildinghope.org.

Media Contact

ShinePR for Building Hope

[email protected]

SOURCE Building Hope
SLIEMA, Malta, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At Kindred Group plc's ("Kindred") annual general meeting held on 26 April 2024 (the "AGM") 35.01 per cent in nominal value of the total shares/Swedish depository receipts ("SDRs") in issue were represented.

At the AGM, Evert Carlsson, James H. Gemmel, Heidi Skogster, Cedric Boireau, Jonas Jansson, Andy McCue, Martin Randel and Kenneth Shea were re-elected as Directors of the Company. In addition, Evert Carlsson was re-appointed as the Chairman of the Board.

In addition, at the AGM, the resolution to pay a total fee of GBP 806,500 to Directors elected at the AGM, who are not employed by the Company, was approved in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal.

The AGM also resolved that, until the general meeting of the shareholders decides otherwise, the Nomination Committee shall consist of not less than four and not more than five members.

Board of Directors

Kindred Group plc

For more information:

Patrick Kortman, Interim CFO, +46 723 877 438

Linda Lyth, Investor Relations Manager, +46 767 681 337

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/r/bulletin-from-kindred-group-plc-s-annual-general-meeting,c3969058

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3969058/2763948.pdf Bulletin from Kindred Group plc's Annual General Meeting 2024

SOURCE Kindred Group
RICHMOND HILL, ON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - telMAX broke ground today in Richmond Hill with the commencement of a state-of-the-art fibre Internet infrastructure project that will deliver all-fibre Internet connectivity to residents and businesses throughout the community.

This new infrastructure, privately funded by telMAX, will bring cutting-edge fibre optic technology to the community, offering ultra-fast and reliable Internet access. telMAX was ranked Canada's Fastest Internet Service Provider by PC Mag in 2022 and 2023.

telMAX and The City of Richmond Hill celebrate the ground breaking of 100% fibre internet infrastructure project. (L-R) Tal Trainer - telMAX Marketing Communications, Councillor Simon Cui, Brad Fisher- telMAX CRO , John Armstrong - telMAX VP Local Government Relations, Mayor David West, Michael Strople - telMAX CEO, Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan, Stuart Roberts - telMAX President & COO, Councillor Michael Shiu, Councillor Scott Thompson. (CNW Group/telMAX)

Richmond Hill marks the next step in telMAX's expansion in the Greater Toronto Area. Today telMAX offers internet, TV and phone services in Brooklin, Stouffville, Newmarket, and Aurora.

"I am thrilled that we have broken ground on this project which will vastly improve the digital quality of life in our community," said Richmond Hill Mayor David West. "Fibre optic infrastructure will allow our residents to work from home, enjoy family time, and stay connected reliably and seamlessly. It will also allow our businesses to better compete on the global stage, and to efficiently continue serving our community. I am excited about our partnership with telMAX, and the opportunity to continue exploring and improving connectivity initiatives across the city."

This initiative is a demonstration of telMAX's commitment to providing communities with lightning-fast connections, superior local support, and a focus on delivering the top-tier customer experience that only pure fibre optic networks can offer.

"We are extremely excited to bring Canada's fastest Internet to the City of Richmond Hill via our 100% Fibre Internet network,", said telMAX CEO, Michael Strople. "This project is the next step of our commitment to bring world-class products and services to our customers  backed by our intense focus on outstanding customer service. Our fibre infrastructure enables the communities we partner with to greatly enhance connectivity for its residents, attracting company relocations, adding jobs within the local economy, and allowing remote workers to integrate seamlessly with their teams.

As our project gets underway, we look forward to expanding our award-winning services to the City of Richmond Hill."

As telMAX and the City of Richmond Hill celebrate this groundbreaking milestone, the company reaffirms its dedication and commitment to progress, innovation, and excellence in the telecommunications sector. The future of fibre internet connectivity in the Greater Toronto Area looks brighter than ever, and telMAX is proud to lead the way.

About telMAX

telMAX, a locally based company headquartered in York Region, offers Fibre Optic Internet, TV and Home Phone services. telMAX has built its own 100% fibre optic network to serve the residents and businesses of Brooklin, Stouffville, Newmarket, Aurora, and now the City of Richmond Hill. telMAX proudly employs staff from the communities where it operates and is committed to supporting a wide range of community development activities.

SOURCE telMAX
SHANGHAI, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China Eastern Airlines announced it will officially launch a new direct flight between Shanghai and Marseille, France on July 2 this year.

The new Shanghai-Marseille service will be operated by Shanghai Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, with three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

China Eastern to inaugurate direct Shanghai-Marseille flight on July 2 (PRNewsfoto/China Eastern Airlines)

The flight numbers are FM871 from Shanghai to Marseille and FM872 for the return leg. The estimated flight time is around 12 hours. The new route will offer gate-to-gate internet service for passengers aboard.

Shanghai, located in east China and the estuary of the Yangtze River, and opening to the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai is one of the most economically vibrant, open, and innovative cities in China. It is dubbed "the grand halls" and the "first stop for inbound travelers to China". Marseille is France's second largest city, the biggest port in southern Europe, and an important hub for Mediterranean shipping and trade. It sits along the world-renowned azure coast of Provence. In 1987, Shanghai and Marseille became sister cities.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. On April 9, Shanghai officially released a comprehensive guide for its 2024 events, showcasing a wide ranging selection of 70 top-tier cultural, sports, tourism, business, and exhibition events. From July 28 to Aug. 8, Marseille will host sailing events of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The launch of the Shanghai-Marseille flight will establish the first direct air corridor between this pair of sister cities. China Eastern Airlines will also become the first airline to operate on this route.

Now, tickets for this route are already available. Travelers interested in visiting Shanghai or Marseille can visit China Eastern Airlines' official website and mobile app to get more details and book tickets.

SOURCE China Eastern Airlines
GUIYANG, China, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from eguizhou.gov.cn:

The wonders of Southwest China's Guizhou province are being shared with the people of Paris, France until April 26 at the Mountain Park Province Colorful Guizhou Wind event.

Young women dressed in the traditional attire of Guizhou ethnic minorities welcome guests attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 Colorful Guizhou Culture and Tourism Paris Promotion Week in Paris on Friday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The promotion, which started with an opening ceremony on April 19, was hailed by Lu Yongzheng, the head of the publicity department of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee.

Lu said in his opening speech that the historical relationship between China and France, the close exchanges and cooperation between Guizhou and France, and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries were all cause for celebration.

Lu introduced Guizhou as a mountain park province, abundant in natural treasures, diverse cultures, and containing world-renowned architectural wonders including Huangguoshu Waterfall, Fanjing Mountain, and the world's largest radio telescope known as China's "eye of heaven".

Despite their geographical separation, Lu said Guizhou and France share many similarities. Both have numerous mountains and caves, and are famous for their rich heritage of alcohol production.

Jean Bottazzi, an internationally renowned cave explorer and vice-president of the French Speleological Federation, shared his experience of more than 30 years in the scientific research of caves, and the development of cave exploration tourism in Guizhou.

Bottazzi said that Guizhou's natural resources are protected and valued, particularly through United Nations-recognized reserves and geoparks. He highlighted the enchanting allure of the mountains, the beauty of the local voices, and the joy of the dances.

"In 2007, I left my job in France to settle in Guizhou," he said. "I traveled throughout China, but Guizhou has remained my favorite land, with explorations in over 30 districts within this province alone."

Frank Desplanques, editor-in-chief of the program Rendezvous in an Unknown Land on national TV channel France 2, talked about his experience filming in Guizhou for the first time in 2016 for a documentary about a Miao ethnic village.

"At every village we visited, we were greeted with extraordinary hospitality," he said. "It was sometimes very difficult to leave because everyone wanted us to stay for a few more days."

Photographer Gregoire de Gaulle, the great nephew of former French president Charles de Gaulle, has visited Guizhou multiple times and praised it as "a paradise for photographers with its beautiful landscapes and rich culture".

Robbie Bridgman, director of the National Geographic documentary Best of the World's Destinations: Guizhou, traveled from Australia to Paris to share his filming experience in Guizhou.

"Our expedition was nothing short of awe-inspiring," he said. "From mountains, caves, waterfalls, and ancient cities, we uncovered the hidden treasures that make Guizhou a true gem of China. We had the privilege of immersing ourselves in the rich history and vibrant culture of Guizhou."

At the opening ceremony, the audience also enjoyed ethnic song and dance performances from Guizhou, and a bilingual rendition of the French song Swallow.

Running alongside the main event, an exhibition titled Guizhou: Best of the World's Destinations is showcasing photographs of the region.

SOURCE eguizhou.gov.cn
New platform and surgery center investment adds advanced facility capabilities to specialty care network, strengthening in-person treatment and attracting leading orthopedic surgeons and physicians

With Theater launch, value-based MSK care visionary continues spine & joint care transformation, challenging high cost/low impact hospital-based treatment with groundbreaking care model

Combining proprietary software, cutting-edge facilities, and innovative procedures, Theater ushers in the next generation of complex specialty care

LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Commons Clinic , a leading value-based physician group reinventing musculoskeletal (MSK) care, today announced its $9.75 million investment in Marina Orthopedic & Spine Institute (MOSI), a trailblazing Los Angeles-metro independent surgery center that has set a national standard for minimally invasive spine and joint procedures. Commons' investment expands its network of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) while growing its capabilities through its proprietary surgical care platform, Theater, also formally launched today. Theater is a full-stack technology solution that allows specialty surgery centers to scale and automate treatment pathways between facilities, enabling and accelerating the migration of orthopedics to ambulatory-first care.

Analysts project that 85% of all healthcare procedures will be performed in outpatient settings by 2028, with growth driven by innovation, unique partnerships, and novel product launches . Increasingly complex and novel MSK procedures are migrating to ASCs, delivered safely and effectively by leading experts at rates 35-50% lower than hospital settings while also improving patient experiences and outcomes. Comparatively, hospital-based orthopedic care is delivered at an astronomically high price (ranging from $95,600 - $221,000). In partnership with actuarial firm Accorded, Commons' proprietary analysis of commercial claims data suggests that despite this ambulatory evolution, 90% of all expenditures for spinal surgery in Los Angeles are still concentrated in hospitals, leading to an uncontrollable cost trend and financial toxicity for patients.

Led by physician-owners and Commons providers Sanjay Khurana, M.D. , and Michael Port, M.D., MOSI has treated thousands of complex spine maladies. Dr. Khurana is a board-certified spine care specialist who has conducted thousands of surgeries spanning the entire spinal axis. He operates at the forefront of orthopedic treatment, performing procedures including Total Disc Replacements that represent a vast improvement over spinal fusions regarding cost and patient mobility. Dr. Khurana also co-leads the recently launched Center for Spine Economics, Outcomes & Research .

Dr. Port is a national leader in anesthesia and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for complex, ambulatory spine procedures. As a double-board certified pain management specialist, he has extensive trauma experience, taking a personalized, highly detailed approach that targets specific nerve roots to establish a more concise diagnosis and avoid unnecessary medication.

"We developed Theater to harness and rapidly scale breakthroughs by physician innovators like Drs. Khurana and Port across Commons' national facility network," said Nick Aubin , CEO and co-founder, Commons Clinic. "We believe that advancing ambulatory care is foundational to rebuilding community healthcare infrastructure, reducing reliance on high-cost hospital systems and using technology to achieve healthcare's quadruple aim. With Theater, we'll usher in a new, disruptive era for specialty care."

Theater  a nod to the operating theater's historical impact on innovation and global health  is an integrated, ambulatory surgical platform that combines:

Modern, Full-Stack Technology Platform: Theater offers an end-to-end application suite for specialty surgery centers. It powers Commons' network of surgery centers by expediting processes across evidenced-based care pathways, mission-critical workflows, and staff productivity. Theater's software suite is built to meet the rapidly evolving needs of orthopedic clinicians, nurses, and administrators, delivering new innovations to the last mile of care and adding a trusted, augmented software coworker to high-value teams.



Vertical-Specialized Operating Suites: Theater's advanced ambulatory operating rooms (ORs) are tailored to the needs of sub-specialty care programs across spine treatment, joint replacements, cardiology, and more. The platform connects advanced surgical products, including cutting-edge robotics, imaging, and endoscopy, to create scalable, tailored OR solutions that drive increased case complexity and efficiency.



Precision Surgical Pathways: Theater's proprietary care algorithms leverage real-world evidence to optimize procedure selection and planning, implant and hardware utilization, and high-impact ERAS protocols.

Commons is committed to delivering better outcomes, capabilities, and experiences to patients in ASCs. Its Theater platform removes incredibly complex cases from hospital settings lagging in the newest care techniques and moves it into community surgery centers, where Commons' physicians can advance the possibilities of MSK care. The orthopedic innovator plans to continue expanding Theater, with a goal of implementing it into dozens of hyper-specialized surgery centers across the country by 2026.

To learn more about Commons Clinic, visit: commonsclinic.com .

About Commons Clinic

Commons Clinic is a specialty health system offering all-inclusive, expert care. The platform converges value-based care, elite physicians, and a portfolio of state-of-the-art ambulatory facilities and surgical centers to offer an end-to-end service that delivers a phenomenal experience to patients. The company has raised more than $33M in venture capital from RA Capital Management, Floating Point, Time BioVentures, and Courtside Ventures, among others. Founded in 2021 by Nick Aubin and Paulo da Costa, Commons Clinic is based in Los Angeles.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Commons Clinic
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global cryo box market size is estimated to grow by USD 134.27 million from 2023 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.12% during the forecast period. North America is estimated to contribute 37% to the growth of the global market.

Get region specific data - Download a FREE Sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cryo Box Market 2023-2027

The Cryo Box Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027.

Region Outlook

North America The U.S.

Canada Europe U.K.

Germany

France

Rest of Europe Asia China

India Rest of World Australia

Argentina

Rest of the world

1. North America - In the forecast period, North America is expected to make up 37% of the global market growth. Experts at Technavio have detailed the trends and reasons behind this in the region. The US is leading the way in North America's cryo box market.

Cryo boxes are in high demand here for preserving things like nucleic acids, proteins, and stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells, in particular, are seeing more use because they're important for developing precise and regenerative medicines. This growing need for preserving samples will boost the cryo box market in the upcoming period.

For detailed insights on the market share of rest of the regions and countries- Buy This Report Now

Research Analysis

The Cryo Box Market plays a crucial role in the healthcare industries, particularly in diagnostic facilities and biobanking. These boxes are essential for the storage and preservation of biological samples, including common illnesses, lifestyle disorders, and chronic diseases' specimens. Scientific research and medical diagnostics heavily rely on the use of cryogenic storage solutions for DNA, RNA, tissues, cells, proteins, and other valuable specimens.

Cryo Boxes come in various sizes and are equipped with cryogenic freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks for cryopreservation. Barcode labeling ensures accurate tracking and identification of samples. The market for Cryo Boxes continues to grow due to the increasing demand for advanced biobanking and research applications. Cryogenic storage solutions are a vital investment for healthcare providers and scientific institutions, ensuring the integrity and longevity of precious biological samples.

Market Overview

In the Cryo Box Market, advanced technology meets essential preservation needs. Biological samples, such as cells and tissues, are securely stored in cryoboxes. These devices are crucial for scientific research and medical industries. Samples are kept at extremely low temperatures, ensuring their longevity and integrity. The process is called cryopreservation. Cryoboxes are made with materials like copper and aluminum, providing durability and resistance to extreme temperatures.

They are designed with security features, including digital locks and temperature monitoring systems. Cryoboxes are also compact and portable, making them convenient for various applications. Cryopreservation services offer different types of cryoboxes, including vapor-phase and liquid-nitrogen-based systems. Cryo Box Market caters to a wide range of clients, from research institutions to individual scientists and clinics.

To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Vendor Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
ATLANTA, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines' (NYSE: DAL) board of directors today announced Maria Black and Willie CW Chiang as its newest members.

Ms. Black is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., a leading global technology company providing human capital management (HCM) solutions. Mr. Chiang is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and its general partner holding company Plains GP Holdings, L.P. PAA is a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services for crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas.

"We are very excited to welcome both Maria and Willie to the Delta board of directors," said David Taylor, Delta's non-executive Chair of the Board. "Maria brings substantial global leadership in the technology and human capital management industry. Willie has extensive experience in the energy industry. Both of them will contribute valuable expertise to our work, enhancing the depth and range of Delta's already strong, independent and diverse board of directors."

Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of ADP in January 2023, Ms. Black served as President of the company from January 2022 to January 2023. She has held various positions of increasing responsibility across the entirety of ADP's global portfolio since joining the company in 1996, including as President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing from 2020 to 2022, President, Small Business Solutions and Human Resources Outsourcing from 2017 to 2020 and President, ADP TotalSource from 2014 to 2016. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of ADP. Ms. Black holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

In addition to serving as Chief Executive Officer of PAA and PAGP since October 2018, Mr. Chiang has served as Chairman since January 2020 and as a director of PAA and PAGP since February 2017. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of PAA and PAGP from January 2018 until October 2018 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the company's U.S. operating and commercial activities from August 2015 through December 2017. He joined PAA and PAGP in 2015 from Occidental Petroleum Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President, Operations from 2012 until 2015. From 1996 until 2012, he served in various positions at ConocoPhillips and predecessors. Mr. Chiang started his career in refining with Chevron in 1981. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines
Factory Shows Investment in Elkhart County

ELKHART, Ind., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dometic announces the return of awning manufacturing and distribution back to Elkhart, Indiana. Starting in May, awning production will begin out of the Dometic plant on Industrial Parkway in Elkhart. The product facility will increase overall awning production capacity to meet local RV manufacturer demand. Global manufacturer of RV appliances and long-time leader of quality and innovation, Dometic will start to produce the 9100 series of power awnings in Elkhart, with subsequent models added in the coming weeks. Our Mexico facility will continue to service the aftermarket segment, with a continued focus on logistics optimized through our Texas distribution center.

Dometic announces the return of awning manufacturing and distribution back to Elkhart, Indiana.

President Segment Land Vehicle Americas at Dometic, Todd Seyfert stated, "Elkhart, Indiana has always been the heart of our RV appliance business. Dometic has always been committed to being a part of the industry, this move is just one of many ways we're showing an increased dedication to our customers, our employees, and the Elkhart community."

Other measures the company is taking to ensure on-time delivery and quality include:

Optimizing the total number of awning SKUs to reduce margin of error while increasing manufacturing efficiencies.

Implementing dedicated fleet of trucks for OEM awning deliveries to reduce wait times.

Local inventory to support Elkhart County OEM customers, thus ensuring the fastest delivery times.

"As we continue to focus on 'mobile living made easy', the return of awning production and these added measures allow Dometic to ensure delivery performance to our trusted OEM, RV Dealer, and distributor partners. We're happy to add one more manufacturing location closer to our customers in Indiana", said Seyfert.

About Dometic

Dometic is a global market leader in the mobile living industry. Millions of people around the world use Dometic products in outdoor, RV, and professional applications. Our motivation is to create smart, sustainable, and reliable products with outstanding design for an outdoor and mobile lifestyle.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Sara Dover, Brand Manager Activation

Phone: 574-336-4594

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Dometic
Brian Impact attends Asian Venture Philanthropy Network Global Conference 2024 to discuss foundation's AI-powered assistance system, 'BEES ( Benevolence Enhancing Expert System )'

Incorporating large language models, BEES enables effective data-driven decision-making

Panel discussion on "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Philanthropic Impact" alongside global representatives from Wadhwani AI, Impact Intelligence, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and Micron Foundation

SEOUL, South Korea, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Brian Impact Foundation recently attended Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Global Conference 2024 held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and deliberated on the potential of Artificial Intelligence tackling societal challenges in transformative ways.

Soomin Syd Kim, Project Director at Brian Impact, presents at AVPN Global Conference 2024 in Abu Dhabi

During a panel session on April 23 titled "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Philanthropic Impact", Brian Impact introduced its AI-powered assistance expert system, 'BEES (Benevolence Enhancing Expert System)'. The foundation elucidated the development journey of BEES and showcased its implementation cases.

Effectively incorporating large language models (LLMs), BEES is a groundbreaking philanthropic platform by Brian Impact that helps human experts identify more diverse innovators and changemakers. Utilizing BEES for data collection and analysis, the foundation ensures data-driven decisions that resonate with its mission and values across a varied spectrum of programs.

The session featured a distinguished panel comprising global representatives from Wadhwani AI, Impact Intelligence, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and Micron Foundation. They shared their own case studies and insights, focusing on maximizing social impact through AI, encompassing topics such as data-driven decision-making and impact measurement.

Soomin Syd Kim, Project Director at Brian Impact Foundation, spearheaded the foundation's presentation and commented, "BEES exemplifies the power of combining AI's technological prowess with social expertise to drive impactful philanthropic initiatives." She expressed gratitude for the valuable insights gathered from global impact leaders at the conference, noting their guidance in developing innovative AI-powered solutions for driving social change more effectively.

AVPN, Asia's leading network for impact organizations, investors, and stakeholders with a social innovation mandate, has been hosting the annual AVPN Global Conference since 2013. The conference explores solutions to global socioeconomic issues and fosters collaboration across diverse social sectors, bringing together nonprofits, impact investors and corporations. This year's AVPN Global Conference 2024 took place April 23-25 in Abu Dhabi, themed "One Asia, One Future."

About Brian Impact Foundation

The Brian Impact Foundation, founded on June 1, 2021, operates under the conviction that technology can be a catalyst for positive change in our world. Our mission is to support innovators who leverage technology to make a meaningful impact and individuals who lead with integrity across various fields. Through a range of projects, research initiatives, and collaborative endeavors, we are committed to offering solutions to pressing societal issues and empowering people to effectively navigate the evolving technological landscape. In our pursuit of these objectives, we embrace the principle of "Big Bet Philanthropy." This approach drives us to seek out and provide substantial support to pioneering organizations with a vision to address the root causes of societal issues, with the ultimate goal of fostering lasting and sustainable social change.

Brian Impact Foundation official website: https://brianimpact.org/en

For Media Inquiries

Please Contact: Edelman Korea

Kim, Jordan / Supervisor / [email protected]

Kim, Jeewan / Account Executive / [email protected]

SOURCE Brian Impact Foundation
PLYMOUTH, Minn., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DSG (Dakota Supply Group) recently announced the opening of its new location in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The official Grand Opening was celebrated on April 24, 2024, with special guests including David Minor, President and CEO, and Kaylynn Winegar of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, along with nearly 20 Chamber Ambassadors; Bill Johnson, Developer from Choice Commercial; Wisconsin State Senator Jeff Smith; and representatives of DSG's executive and regional leadership team.

DSG (Dakota Supply Group) Celebrates its Grand Opening in Eau Claire, WI Post this DSG Celebrates its Grand Opening in Eau Claire, WI on April 24, 2024

"As we step into Eau Claire, our newest location, we celebrate a significant milestone in our growth journey. Eau Claire is our 56th location across the Midwest, anchoring our presence in the heart of the Chippewa Valley. Our focus remains on delivering our expertise in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC solutions to this vibrant community," stated Paul Kennedy, President & CEO. "DSG's strength lies in our employee owners  with their commitment, we look forward to a bright future in Eau Claire and beyond."

As one of the most diverse independent wholesale distributors in the region, DSG supplies a broad range of products and solutions from leading manufacturers to professionals in the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, communications, utility, automation, waterworks, and onsite sewer and well industries. Since our founding in 1898, our growing employee owned business has been headquartered in the Midwest and proudly serves across America's heartland.

SOURCE DSG - Dakota Supply Group
Outpatient appointments are now available with therapists, psychiatrists and more

TAMPA, Fla., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Care Center, one of the nation's premier mental health providers, is expanding with a new outpatient clinic in Tampa, making integrated mental health care more accessible to individuals, couples, families and Veterans in Hillsborough County.

A new Family Care Center clinic is now open in Tampa, providing comprehensive, outpatient mental health care. Post this Family Care Center clinicians hosted a grand opening event on April 25. Its new outpatient clinic provides talk therapy, psychiatric services and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a highly effective FDA-approved treatment for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and more. Appointments are available now with therapists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

According to a Tampa Bay Thrives' survey, 45% of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk County residents responded yes when asked if they needed support for emotional or mental health challenges. This issue is compounded by the broader context of mental health care accessibility, as highlighted by Mental Health America, which ranks Florida 46th in access to mental health care.

"Accessible mental health care is crucial for the well-being of our community," said Chief Executive Officer Wayne Cavanaugh. "At Family Care Center, we're proud to be in-network with major insurance providers, including TRICARE, making quality treatment affordable and attainable for all."

The new clinic in Tampa provides comprehensive behavioral health care, offering multi-disciplinary outpatient services such as talk therapy, psychiatric care and groundbreaking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technology. TMS is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment that provides hope for those struggling with conditions like depression and OCD who may not have found relief through traditional therapy and medication.

"Offering integrated behavioral health services under one roof is a significant advantage for our patients," stated Clinic Director Dr. Aaron Avallone, a board-certified psychiatrist. "Whether you're a child, individual, couple, or a family, everyone can now access the mental health support they need at a single location without being put on a waitlist."

The new clinic, located conveniently off I-275, offers both in-person and virtual appointments. To learn more about Family Care Center's comprehensive mental health services or to start care at the new Tampa clinic, please visit https://fccwellbeing.com or call (888) 374-5066.

About Family Care Center

Family Care Center is one of the nation's leading providers of mental health services and is dedicated to making a positive impact on the well-being of local communities. Their top rated, multi-specialty clinicians provide comprehensive, evidence-based care that yields lasting positive results for patients of all ages. In addition to individual, couples and family therapy, as well as psychiatric services, Family Care Center leads in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an innovative treatment for depression and more. Family Care Center is one of the fastest growing providers of mental health in the United States. With nearly 30 locations across Colorado, Florida, Tennessee and Texas, they continue to expand nationally in collaboration with Revelstoke Capital Partners.

SOURCE Family Care Center
LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ford E.C., a leader in inventive construction solutions, is proud to have been a crucial partner in addressing Los Angeles' housing crisis through its recent contribution to the Northeast New Beginnings Community project in Cypress Park. In collaboration with Kadre Architects, Lehrer Architects LA, and the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, Architectural Division, Ford E.C. played an integral role in the construction of this unique 35,000 sq. ft. housing campus. The land upon which the project was built had previously been unused for decades, but has now been converted into a shelter for people in need.

Northeast New Beginnings Community Project

This project highlights Ford E.C.'s expertise in tackling complex construction challenges. Nestled within a challenging urban environment, surrounded by major freeways, and constrained by an irregularly shaped site with poor soil conditions, the project required exceptional engineering and construction skills. Ford E.C.'s inventive approach facilitated the integration of 34 standalone homes, each a 320 sq. ft. unit featuring essential living amenities.

One of Ford E.C.'s significant achievements was managing the logistics of arranging larger-than-usual units in a limited area. While Pallet Shelters have previously provided independent housing, these "mini" homes provide whole families with a standard of living. Ford E.C. demonstrated unwavering commitment to precision and functionality, including the installation of ramps for each unit.

In addition to providing practical construction solutions, Ford E.C. also contributed to the project's aesthetic and communal aspects. The vibrant color palette, inspired by local Chicano artists Patssi Valdez and Frank Romero, was incorporated to resonate with the cultural essence of Cypress Park. Ford E.C.'s attention to detail ensured the seamless integration of these artistic influences into the community.

Ford E.C.'s involvement in the Northeast New Beginnings Community reflects its dedication to pioneering and sustainable urban development. This project, alongside others such as Tiny Home Villages and Project Homekey motel conversions, showcases Ford E.C.'s ability to transform challenging urban spaces into viable, community-focused housing solutions.

About Ford E.C.

With a reputation for excellence in the construction industry, Ford E.C. provides inventive solutions for urban housing challenges. Their expertise in navigating complex construction environments makes them a valuable partner in transforming Los Angeles' urban landscape.

SOURCE Ford E.C.
Tim and Michelle Schultz to lead Saratoga team

SARATOGA, N.Y., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotcha Covered, a leader in custom window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada, has announced the opening of a new location in New York. Gotcha Covered of Saratoga is owned and operated by Tim and Michelle Schultz.

With an emphasis on end-to-end consultations, the new center provides the best in soft and hard window treatments to homeowners in Saratoga and the Capital Region by offering a variety of blinds, draperies, smart solutions and much more.

Gotcha Covered of Saratoga is owned and operated by Tim and Michelle Schultz.

"The Capital Region is seeing consistent growth, and there's no shortage of homeowners and business owners that need high-quality products and services," said Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. "Tim and Michelle are passionate about this community and helping others, so I know this new location is going to thrive."

Tim Schultz has over 25 years of technology sales experience, providing consultative service to healthcare, government and commercial accounts who need secure technology solutions. Michelle Schultz has more than 20 years of design experience, having owned a design center that helped thousands of clients achieve their vision within their homes.

"There's a freedom that comes with owning your own business and creating your own success," Tim Schultz said. "There are challenges and uncertainty associated with corporate America, but partnering with Gotcha Covered has given us the ability to take control of our future and follow our dreams."

The couple has lived in the area for more than 30 years and enjoys spending time at the lake, trying new restaurants and enjoying the vibrant arts community.

"We enjoy helping people transform a space to meet their specific design vision," said Michelle Schultz. "Helping them achieve their design goals within their most important space is always very rewarding."

Adding 30 new franchise locations in 2023, Gotcha Covered currently has over 170 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The franchise has been operating under the Gotcha Covered name since 2009.

To schedule an appointment with Gotcha Covered of Saratoga, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com/saratoga/.

About Gotcha Covered

Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer's specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 170 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Gotcha Covered
WILMINGTON, N.C., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alera Health, a leader in population health management integrating behavioral healthcare, is proud to announce its recognition as one of the Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina by Best Companies Group.

The 2024 Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina list, curated by Best Companies Group, showcases companies that excel in cultivating positive corporate cultures, offering extensive training and development opportunities, providing competitive salary and benefits packages, and ensuring overall employee satisfaction.

Alera Health

Jaime Raul Zepeda, Executive Vice President of Best Companies Group, praised Alera Health and fellow honorees for their dedication to creating outstanding work environments. He emphasized, "Each winner on this list has created an extraordinary work environment that attracts, retains, and motivates top talent. The quality of the companies in the 2024 Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina list is truly commendable, as they have shown a clear commitment to their employees' satisfaction and development."

Alera Health extends its heartfelt gratitude to its dedicated employees. Executive Director of Corporate Operations & Development, Kye Gardner shared, "We could not do what we do without our people. It has been an honor to build this team over the last few years and maintain Alera's core values such as promoting professional development, fostering open communication, encouraging a passion for work, and enabling employees to make a meaningful impact. Our people believe in the work they do, and THAT is the true recognition of a Great Employer."

To celebrate this achievement, Best Companies Group hosted a virtual event on April 25, 2024, to honor and recognize the outstanding workplaces featured on the list. For more information about the 2024 Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina program and the complete list of winners, visit: https://bestcompaniesgroup.com/great-employers-to-work-for-in-north-carolina/winners/ .

About Alera Health:

Alera Health assembles and manages integrated systems of care (AKA ONEcare networks) for patients with primary and secondary behavioral health issues. Leveraging the Care Optimization Suite (COS), ONEcare providers receive "care alerts" that improve disease detection, anticipate crises, and enhance patient engagement. ONEcare networks have improved timely access by 10X and reduced unnecessary inpatient utilization by up to 50%. With over 150 organizations representing 15,000 clinicians nationwide, ONEcare networks saved over $200M in 2023, maximizing health outcomes for patients and value-based earnings for participants. For more information, please visit https://alerahealth.com.

About Best Companies Group:

Best Companies Group is an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing the best places to work worldwide. Through comprehensive employee surveys and rigorous evaluation criteria, Best Companies Group identifies companies that prioritize employee satisfaction and well-being. For more information, please visit https://bestcompaniesgroup.com .

Press Contact:

Name: Kye Gardner

Title: Executive Director of Corporate Operations & Development

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-833-265-7549

SOURCE Alera Health
With Involvement from Members of the Congressional Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation Caucus, Series Commemorates Financial Literacy Month and Small Business Week

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hedera , a Web3 network, in collaboration with Blockchain Foundation , a 501c3 nonprofit focused on education, today announced the launch of an Education Learning Briefing Series to explore the critical aspects of responsible innovation in Web3 with regional forums in Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Columbus, OH; and Anaheim, CA.

Focusing on the mission of the bipartisan Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation Caucus and efforts by public institutions, the initiative aims to illustrate how the Web3 ecosystem is not being built in isolation. The briefings will spotlight traditional entities developing financial security and risk mitigation tools and standards to educate and empower Web3 market participants.

"Alongside Blockchain Foundation, we're paving the way towards a more informed and resilient ecosystem." - Nilmini Rubin Post this

Members of the Congressional Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation Caucus, U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Young Kim (CA-40), and Wiley Nickel (NC-13), as well as leaders from the Aspen Institute , Consumer Reports , and the Alliance for Innovative Regulation , will headline the kickoff event.

"Education is paramount," said Nilmini Rubin , Chief Policy Officer at Hedera , "especially in the evolving Web3 landscape. Alongside Blockchain Foundation, we're paving the way towards a more informed and resilient ecosystem by bringing together key stakeholders at the institutional and community levels. We look forward to continuing the conversation and fostering responsible innovation."

The luncheon briefing will take place in Washington, D.C. in the U.S. Capitol, on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM EST to commemorate Financial Literacy Month and Small Business Week. Speakers include:

"Blockchain Foundation is proud to collaborate with Hedera on this timely, regional, educational journey," said Cleve Mesidor , Executive Director of Blockchain Foundation . "We are thrilled to take this conversation to local communities and showcase the important work the bipartisan Congressional Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, as well as traditional institutions, are leading to promote responsible innovation in Web3."

For more information and to register for the event, please visit www.hederaeducationbriefing.rsvpify.com .

About Hedera

Hedera is an open-source, leaderless proof-of-stake network. Hedera's robust ecosystem is built by a global community, on a network governed by a diverse council of industry-leading organizations, including abrdn, Australian Payments Plus, Avery Dennison, BitGo, Boeing, Chainlink Labs, COFRA Holdings, DBS Bank, Dell, Dentons, Deutsche Telekom, DLA Piper, EDF (Electricite de France), Google, Hitachi America, IBM, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), LG Electronics, The London School of Economics (LSE), Magalu, Mondelez International, Nomura Holdings, ServiceNow, Shinhan Bank, Standard Bank Group, Swirlds, Tata Communications, Ubisoft, University College London (UCL), Wipro, WorldPay, and Zain Group.

About Blockchain Foundation (TheBlockFound.com):

Blockchain Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that seeks to empower the public with trusted content from reputable sources to make informed choices. It publishes research reports and convenes forums to foster understanding and increase accessibility. The foundation is a bridge to public institutions and their stakeholders.

Contact:

Liang Zhao

Vansary for Blockchain Foundation

[email protected]

505-720-6933

SOURCE Blockchain Foundation
HANGZHOU, China, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hikvision made a significant appearance at Intertraffic Amsterdam, the leading global trade fair for mobility and traffic technology. At the trade event, Hikvision unveiled a suite of traffic, transport, and parking management solutions and products powered by Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) technology, which promised to improve urban mobility, road safety, and operational efficacy.

Elevating urban traffic intelligence with AIoT

Hikvision redefines urban mobility with AIoT-powered solutions at Intertraffic 2024 Hikvision redefines urban mobility with AIoT-powered solutions at Intertraffic 2024

One highlight of the Hikvision stand was its intelligent urban traffic solution, which leveraged the power of AIoT to deliver comprehensive real-time monitoring, incident detection, and traffic control. This solution intelligently reshapes traffic dynamics, offering a more responsive and data-driven approach to enhance situational awareness and traffic management. Key innovations in the solution included:

Hikvision's radar-video fusion cameras

These combine the range perception of radar with the visual perception of video. The 4 MP Radar and Video Vehicle Detector, for example, helps to enhance road safety by providing early warning of potential hazards in challenging situations such as blind spots at intersections and obstacles outside the visual range.

These combine the range perception of radar with the visual perception of video. The 4 MP Radar and Video Vehicle Detector, for example, helps to enhance road safety by providing early warning of potential hazards in challenging situations such as blind spots at intersections and obstacles outside the visual range. Hikvision's All-In-One Traffic Spotter

This stands out with its multifaceted design incorporating video, radar, and lighting technologies for heightened traffic violation detection. Its streamlined column design facilitates effortless installation.

This stands out with its multifaceted design incorporating video, radar, and lighting technologies for heightened traffic violation detection. Its streamlined column design facilitates effortless installation. Hikvision's Radar-Linked PTZ Camera

This ensures consistent performance in adverse weather and lightening conditions, and minimizes false alarms with advanced deep-learning algorithms.

Innovating parking management

Hikvision also introduced its parking management solutions. These combine extremely precise license plate recognition and intelligent barrier controls incorporating highly accurate radar sensors. This comprehensive approach enhances security, reduces the need for manual intervention, and streamlines traffic flow across parking areas. The Global Shutter CMOS* (GMOS) ANPR camera was a new addition to the lineup. Designed to seamlessly blend in the environment, it is tailored for the task of discreetly capturing license plates at parking facilities that prioritize subtlety.

Advancing public transportation safety and efficiency

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore Hikvision's latest public transport solutions, integrating AI-driven analytics with advanced video security, on-site voice broadcasting, and centralized management for enhanced onboard security, improved passenger experience, and operational efficiency for buses and taxis. This included the Four-way monitoring system and the Panoramic Auxiliary System, both designed to reduce blind spots and provide high-definition imaging to improve driving safety.

"As ever, we are continually expanding our suite of technologies to enhance traffic safety and efficiency," said Nick Wu, Project Product Director at Hikvision Europe. "Our commitment lies in minimizing the need for extensive roadside installations by incorporating comprehensive perception and robust AI within unified device frameworks. These innovations automate and streamline every aspect of traffic management, from violation detection to traffic flow monitoring, driving safety, and parking management."

To find out more about Hikvision's urban mobility products and solutions, please explore its official website.

Note: CMOS stands for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor.

SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology
Up to $187M CAD to be invested to progress expansion of chip packaging capacity and capabilities and to strengthen R&D at IBM Canada's Bromont plant

BROMONT, QC, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM), the Government of Canada, and the Government of Quebec today announced agreements that will strengthen Canada's semiconductor industry, and further develop the assembly, testing and packaging (ATP) capabilities for semiconductor modules to be used across a wide range of applications including telecommunications, high performance computing, automotive, aerospace & defence, computer networks, and generative AI, at IBM Canada's plant in Bromont, Quebec. The agreements reflect a combined investment valued at approximately $187M CAD.

The IBM Canada plant in Bromont, Quebec is one of North Americas largest chip assembly and testing facilities. IBM Canada, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Quebec have announced agreements reflecting a combined investment valued at approximately $187M that will strengthen Canadas semiconductor industry and advance R&D at the IBM facility.

"Today's announcement is a massive win for Canada and our dynamic tech sector. It will create high-paying jobs, invest in innovation, strengthen supply chains, and help make sure the most advanced technologies are Canadian-made. Semiconductors power the world, and we're putting Canada at the forefront of that opportunity," said the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.

In addition to the advancement of packaging capabilities, IBM will be conducting R&D to develop methods for scalable manufacturing and other advanced assembly processes to support the packaging of different chip technologies, to further Canada's role in the North American semiconductor supply chain and expand and anchor Canada's capabilities in advanced packaging.

The agreements also allow for collaborations with small and medium-sized Canadian-based enterprises with the intent of fostering the development of a semiconductor ecosystem, now and into the future.

"IBM has long been a leader in semiconductor research and development, pioneering breakthroughs to meet tomorrow's challenges. With the demand for compute surging in the age of AI, advanced packaging and chiplet technology is becoming critical for the acceleration of AI workloads," said Dario Gil, IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research. "As one of the largest chip assembly and testing facilities in North America, IBM's Bromont facility will play a central role in this future. We are proud to be working with the governments of Canada and Quebec toward those goals and to build a stronger and more balanced semiconductor ecosystem in North America and beyond."

IBM Canada's Bromont plant is one of North America's largest chip assembly and testing facilities, having operated in the region for 52 years. Today, the facility transforms advanced semiconductor components into state-of-the-art microelectronic solutions, playing a key role in IBM's semiconductor R&D leadership alongside IBM's facilities at the Albany NanoTech Complex and throughout New York's Hudson Valley. These agreements will help to further establish a corridor of semiconductor innovation from New York to Bromont.

"Advanced packaging is a crucial component of the semiconductor industry, and IBM Canada's Bromont plant has led the world in this process for decades," said Deb Pimentel, president of IBM Canada. "Building upon IBM's 107-year legacy of technology innovation and R&D in Canada, the Canadian semiconductor industry will now become even stronger, allowing for robust supply chains and giving Canadians steady access to even more innovative technologies and products. This announcement represents just one more example of IBM's leadership and commitment to the country's technology and business landscape."

Chip packaging , the process of connecting integrated circuits on a chip or circuit board, has become more complex as electronic devices have shrunk and the components of chips themselves get smaller and smaller. IBM announced the world's first 2 nanometer chip technology in 2021 and, as the semiconductor industry moves towards new methods of chip construction, advances in packaging will grow in importance.

"Semiconductors are part of our everyday life. They are in our phones, our cars, and our appliances. Through this investment, we are supporting Canadian innovators, creating good jobs, and solidifying Canada's semiconductor industry to build a stronger economy. Canada is set to play a larger role in the global semiconductor industry thanks to projects like the one we are announcing today. Because, when we invest in semiconductor and quantum technologies, we invest in economic security."  The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"This investment by IBM in Bromont will ensure that Quebec continues to stand out in the field of microelectronics. An increase in production capacity will solidify Quebec's position in the strategic microelectronics sector in North America."  The Honourable Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact

Lorraine Baldwin

IBM Canada

[email protected]

Willa Hahn

IBM Research

[email protected]

SOURCE IBM
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 25, Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. ("NCIC") and Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("Baidu") jointly inked an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), under which the two parties are set to to conduct feasibility study on strategic collaboration in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automobiles.

Under the MOU, both sides will leverage Nissan's intelligent platform and Baidu's strengths in generative AI to collaboratively develop future technological advancements and assess the feasibility of commercial cooperation in related sectors.

Photo credit: NCIC

Nissan will equip its vehicles in China with Baidu's AI solutions to tap into the potential of AI solutions. Both the automaker and the technology giant will actively promote research and cooperation, jointly exploring the application and development of innovative technologies in the future automotive industry.

"Nissan's business plan 'The Arc' launched in March has clearly states our intention to 'expand strategic partnerships into the areas of technology, product portfolio, and software services.' Through our collaboration, Baidu's generative AI capabilities will be integrated into Nissan vehicles in China, further accelerating Nissan's intelligence and electrification initiatives," said Masashi Matsuyama, President of NCIC and VP of Nissan's OSO (Operational Strategic Office).

According to the plan of Nissan, the Japanese automaker will introduce 8 new energy vehicle models to the Chinese market by the fiscal year 2026, providing more potential chances for the collaboration between Nissan and Baidu.

Wang Yunpeng, Vice President of Baidu Group and President of Baidus Intelligent Driving Group (IDG), stated, "By joining hands with Nissan this time, we will fully leverage Baidu's strengths in the field of artificial intelligence to help Nissan achieve new breakthroughs in its level of intelligence. At the same time, we will actively expand cooperation in overseas markets to jointly explore broader development opportunities."
The Fund Supports Non-Profit Organizations Empowering Women in Yonkers, NY in Honor of the Music Icon's "Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit"

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As a returning co-presenting partner of Mary J. Blige's "Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit," Pepsi is launching the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, with $100,000 available as grants to local organizations whose work elevates and educates underserved women in Yonkers.

Pepsi and Mary J. Blige announce the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, with $100,000 available as grants to local organizations whose work elevates and educates underserved women in her hometown of Yonkers, NY. Mary J. Blige surprises women at Westchester Community College to announce the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, a $100,000 fund to support and give back to women in Yonkers, NY.

The fund created in partnership with United Way of Westchester and Putnam, which helps residents become self-sufficient and thrive in a stronger community, is open to Yonkers-based non-profit organizations addressing the needs of women who are underserved, marginalized, or living paycheck-to-paycheck. The funds will be distributed via grants between $5,000 to $20,000 to qualifying organizations supporting programs in education, financial stability, and food security. Applications can be submitted online by June 1, 2024 at www.uwwp.org/pepsi-soaw.

As the Festival and Summit comes to the Big Apple for the first time, Pepsi is honoring the global icon by giving back to women in her hometown of Yonkers, NY and bringing the event's purpose of empowerment, elevation, and education to life for the community.

"Pepsi has been an incredible partner for the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit since the start. Now, with their support, being able to come home to Yonkers to give back to and invest in the community I grew up in is all I've ever wanted. We hope to provide resources for local organizations striving to support and uplift women for even greater impact this year," said Mary J. Blige.

Blige announced the fund with a surprise appearance at Westchester Community College on Thursday, April 25, as part of the Pepsi x Strength of a Woman Community Day, made possible by PepsiCo Foundation, Pepsi and YWCA of Yonkers. During the day of service, attendees heard from Dr. Kimberly Crawford and Shona Pinnock on wellness, confidence building, and economic empowerment, followed by a shopping trip to provide the women with business essentials for workplace preparedness.

PepsiCo Foundation also donated $50,000 to YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester, United Way of Westchester and Putnam and Westchester Community College Foundation to support and uplift the local community.

"We're excited to deepen our partnership with Mary J. Blige by investing in the very community that has shaped her remarkable journey. The launch of the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Fund exemplifies our shared vision with Mary to empower women, by enabling organizations to continue their valuable work," said Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo Industry Relations and Multicultural Development.

The donations are a part of Pepsi's ongoing support of Blige and her impact on and off the stage. As the festival's inaugural partner since 2022, the brand continues to share in Blige's refreshingly unapologetic vision to elevate, educate and empower the next generation of women. Pepsi will once again bring its powerful platform to the production and event experience across the festival, from May 10 to 12 across various venues in New York City. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit soawfestival.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com , and follow on X (Twitter) , Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

About The PepsiCo Foundation

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and workcollaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com .

SOURCE PepsiCo Beverages North America
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 14,338,494 units (each a "Unit") issued at a price of CAD$0.784 per Unit for gross proceeds of USD $8.2 million (CAD $11,241,380) (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each a "Unit") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share for a period of two (2) years at an exercise price of CAD $0.98 per common share.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company has agreed to extend the expiry of 6,396,999 previously issued warrants from April 21, 2025, to the date which is 24 months from the date of closing the Private Placement. The Company has granted customary registration rights to the investors in the Private Placement.

The proceeds of the Private Placement will used by the Company to meet current obligations for the deployment of its modular direct lithium extraction plant (the "DLE Plant") in the western United States as previously announced on January 11, 2024, and for general working capital purposes.

The Company expects that the Private Placement will close on May 2, 2024. The Company further intends to complete additional private placement financing of up to USD$15.8 Million, which may be completed on similar terms of the Private Placement. The securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

The Company also announces that Libor Michel ceased to be a CEO of the Company in early April of this year with Garry Flowers resuming his role as sole CEO.

The Company also announces that it will not longer be proceeding with its previously announced (January 29, 2024) marketed private placement offering with Stifel Canada and BMO Capital Markets.

MI 61-101 Disclosure

EV Metals VI LLC, a private company controlled by Jacob Warnock, a director of the Company, or an affiliated company (collectively, "EV Metals"), will participate in the Private Placement to acquire a minimum of 3,846,913 Units for gross proceeds of at least USD $2.2 million. The participation of EV Metals in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying upon exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively - Fair Market Value Not More Than 25 Per Cent of Market Capitalization, on the basis that at the time the Private Placement was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the Units to be distributed pursuant to the Private Placement to EV Metals, nor the consideration to be received for those Units, will exceed 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization. The terms of the Private Placement were negotiated with a special committee of directors of the Company, all of whom are independent for the purposes of MI 61-101. The Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved the Private Placement and no materially contrary view or abstention was expressed or made by any director in relation to the Private Placement. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the participation of EV Metals in the Private Placement at least 21 days before closing of the Offering as the participation of the  EV Metals was not determined at that time.

About the Company

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company' unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"William Webster"

William Webster, Chair of the Board

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward  looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release contains certain forwardlooking statements with respect to, among other things, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Private Placement, the ability for the Company to extend the existing warrants, and the Company's expectation that it may complete future private placements with the Private Placement investors, on similar terms, for up to an additional $15.8 million. By their nature, forwardlooking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements.

SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
CHICAGO, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellanova (NYSE: K) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.56 per share on the common stock of Kellanova, payable on June 14, 2024, to shareowners of record at the close of business on June 3, 2024. The ex-dividend date is June 3, 2024. This is the 398th dividend that Kellanova has paid to owners of common stock since 1925.

In addition, the Kellanova Board of Directors announced plans to increase the quarterly dividend to $0.57 per share beginning with the third quarter of 2024.

About Kellanova

Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Coco Pops, and more, Kellanova's vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our net sales for 2023 were $13 billion.

At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion. Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at https://www.kellanova.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains a "forward-looking statement" about dividends. This statement is made on the basis of the Company's views and assumptions as of this time and the Company undertakes no obligation to update this statement unless required by law. This statement is not a guarantee of future performance; and actual events or results may differ materially from this statement. Investors should consult the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2024 for information about certain factors that could cause such differences. Copies of these filings may be obtained upon request from the Company's Investor Relations department or on the Company's web site at http://www.kellanova.com.

# # # [K-DIV] [K-FIN]

SOURCE Kellanova IR
BOSTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Investment Management, the world's largest manager of natural capital with over $16 billion in assets under management in timberland and agriculture combined, today announced the second close of the Manulife Forest Climate Fund LP1,2 (the fund). Along with its affiliated offshore vehicles, the fund has now secured up to $334.5 million in commitments towards its $500 million targeted offering. Subsequent and final closings are expected later this year. The fund is a closed-end investment vehicle providing qualified U.S. investors and certain global institutional investors with the opportunity to promote climate change mitigation through investment in sustainably managed forests where carbon sequestration is prioritized over timber production.

The Manulife Forest Climate Fund seeks to provide investors with an opportunity to own a diversified portfolio of sustainably-managed forestland assets where carbon is the primary value driver. The fund will seek to deliver durable, high-quality carbon credits to investors and annual optionality for in-kind carbon credit distributions or offset sales.3 An additional part of this strategy includes establishing new forests through afforestation or reforestation to generate high-quality carbon credits and long-term sustainable timber value. The fund intends to use carbon credits, conservation easements, value-added strategies including non-timber income generation, and limited timber harvests to capture potential climate benefits, and promote biodiversity, ecosystem resiliency, and watershed protection and to generate competitive financial returns for investors.4

"We have seen strong interest in the forest climate fund strategy from a broad base of investors - including the first corporate investors - in this close. We believe we offer an innovative strategy for investors seeking a differentiated solution for net zero goals and climate change mitigation," said Tom Sarno, global head of timberland investments, Manulife Investment Management. "We have already started to deploy the fund's capital into timberland assets aligned with the fund's objectives and have built a strong pipeline of opportunities. We look forward to creating a diversified portfolio of sustainably  managed assets where carbon value is the primary driver of potential return through high integrity carbon insets or offsets."

"We believe that Manulife Forest Climate Fund allows for a degree of optionality that clients may be looking for in a natural capital solution," added Eric Cooperstrom, managing director, impact investing and natural climate solutions, Manulife Investment Management. "This brings additional opportunity to investors as they can rely on our experience to access a scaled solution that can help support their climate goals through carbon insets or offset sales while creating additional value from sustainable traditional timber economics and practices."

Manulife Investment Management oversees approximately 5.4 million acres of timberland across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and Chile and 100% of those forests are certified under either the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It also manages approximately 400,000 acres of prime farmland in major agricultural regions of the United States and in Canada, Chile, and Australia as part of its comprehensive private markets strategies. Its entire U.S. agriculture platform is certified to the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices, robust management, and continuous improvement.

1. IPE research as of 1/29/2024. Ranking is based on total Natural Capital AUM, which includes forestry/timberland and agriculture/farmland AUM. Firms were asked to provide AUM and the as of dates vary from 12/31/2022 to 12/31/2023. 2. Manulife Forest Climate Fund is structured as a private offering only for qualified purchasers to be conducted pursuant to Rule 506(c) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. 3. Manulife Investment Management, through its development and implementation of its Carbon Principles, has made a commitment to sourcing high-quality carbon credits. Generally high-quality carbon credits must be (a) additional, (b) not overestimated, (c) permanent, (d) exclusively claimed (no double counting) and (e) not associated with significant social or environmental harm. For more information on the Carbon Principles please visit our website. In addition, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM) Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and Assessment Framework are intended to establish global standards for high-quality voluntary market carbon credits, provide guidance on how to apply the Core Carbon Principles and define which carbon crediting programs and project methodologies are eligible. The MIMTA Carbon Principles are aligned with the ICVCM CCPs. 4. There is no guarantee that this fund will achieve its investment objectives or goals, or generate carbon credits or financial returns.

This press release is targeted to U.S. qualified purchasers. It does not constitute an advertisement or an offer to sell any security or the solicitation of any offer to buy an interest in the fund or any existing or future fund or investment vehicle managed or advised by Manulife Investment Management and/or its affiliates or any other security. Nor shall there be any sales of the fund interests in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sales would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The fund interests will be offered only to "qualified purchasers" as defined by Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act and in reliance on the exemption from registration set forth in Rule 506(c) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Under Rule 506(c), general solicitation of offerings is permitted, however, prospective investors in the fund may be asked to provide supporting documentation satisfactory to the general partner of a prospective investor's status as a qualified purchaser. The fund has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and foreign securities laws.

The fund will be distributed in the United States by John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC, member FINRA, a Manulife IM affiliate.

Private market investments are speculative and considered risky, including potential loss of your investment, and may not be appropriate for every investor. Private investments are generally an illiquid asset class; shareholders cannot sell their funds when they want to without potentially facing high losses.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering investors for a better tomorrow. Serving more than 17 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members, we believe our global reach, complementary businesses, and the strength of our parent company position us to help investors capitalize on today's emerging global trends. We provide our clients access to public and private investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternative, and sustainability-linked strategies, such as natural capital, to help them make more informed financial decisions and achieve their investment objectives. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management
PLOVER, Wis., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- McCain Foods is proud to announce it has planted 18,000 trees throughout Wisconsin and in the local Plover community where the company has a newly renovated appetizer processing plant. The tree planting initiative comes after McCain pledged to replace and increase the number of trees cut down for the company's Plover plant expansion project two years ago.

McCain Foods and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources planted 18,000 new trees in Plover and surrounding communities last week.

McCain marked the contribution with a ceremonial ribbon cutting in Plover last Friday. "With this initiative, McCain has added three times the number of trees we had to clear in Plover, beautifying the community while increasing its sustainability," said Howard Snape, president of McCain Foods North America. "We're proud to continue our work to foster thriving communities around the world and here in Plover."

The new trees are planted in Douglas County Forest and throughout the Plover community, including at a local elementary school and homes of growers and employees. With 3,500 farmer partners around the world and nearly all its facilities located in rural areas, McCain is often the largest employer and an integral part of many communities. McCain is proud of the role it plays in helping to create sustainable livelihoods and communities through donations, volunteering, and development.

Sustainability is core to McCain's mission to celebrate real connections through delicious, planet-friendly foods. The company has pledged to cut its emissions in half by 2030 which has been verified to align with efforts to limit global warming to 1.5C.

About McCain Foods USA

McCain Foods USA is a leading supplier of frozen potato and snack food products for the foodservice markets, retail grocery chains and private label brands in restaurants and supermarket freezers across the country. McCain Foods USA Inc., headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, employs 4,000 people and operates production facilities in Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Washington and Wisconsin. https://www.mccainusafoodservice.com/

Media contact- Amy Griffith

[email protected]

SOURCE McCain Foods USA
BRAMPTON, ON, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - MDA Space (TSX:MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, congratulates Luigi Pozzebon, Vice President of Satellite Systems, on being named to the prestigious 2024 "Best Executives" list by the Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine.

Luigi Pozzebon (CNW Group/MDA Space)

The Best Executive Awards program was established in 2020 to celebrate exceptional non-CEO leaders at Canadian corporations. Winners are chosen by the Report on Business editorial team who assess nominees based on their career background, leadership style, achievements and impact.

Mr. Pozzebon, who built a career at MDA Space over three decades, now heads the company's rapidly growing global satellite business, developing some of the world's most innovative satellite technologies from industry-leading satellite manufacturing facilities in Montreal.

Recognized as a global leader in his field, Mr. Pozzebon's vision drove MDA Space to anticipate, innovate and accelerate in a rapidly transforming space market. In the process, he led the team to win its biggest-ever award, the $2.1 billion contract to act as the satellite prime for the Telesat Lightspeed satellite constellation, and put Canadian satellite technology at the forefront of the global industry.

"All of us at MDA Space congratulate Luigi, who saw the opportunity and potential for digital satellite technology to transform not just MDA Space, but the entire satellite industry," said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. "He is an outstanding and inspiring leader who positioned our company, our technology and our team to lead that transformation, setting us on course for growth and success for decades to come."

ABOUT MDA SPACE

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space (TSX:MDA) is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The MDA Space team of more than 3,000 space experts in Canada, the US and the UK has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission  bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that's been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we'll take you there. For more information, visit www.mda.space.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: twitter.com/MDA_space

Facebook: facebook.com/MDAspace

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mdaspace

YouTube: youtube.com/c/mdaspace

Instagram: instagram.com/MDA_space

SOURCE MDA Space
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MobiDev , a software development company providing engineering and consulting services since 2009, has just opened a new sales office location in Sacramento , CA, USA. This expansion marks a significant step forward in the company's growth strategy and its goal to cultivate a closer and more effective long-term relationship with their US clients. This is the second representation of the company in the USA, following the establishment of its headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

MobiDev Team MobiDev Team

Combining years of tech and business expertise, MobiDev gained recognition as a reliable software engineering provider for SMB and medium-sized enterprises in the USA, UK, and EU. With an average employee tenure of over 5 years and 89% middle & senior engineers on board, the company provides a range of services to cover various clients needs, including tech consulting, team augmentation and dedicated development teams.

"Our customers value our approach to product development, which combines both technology and business expertise, and they typically work with MobiDev for an average of more than 5 years. This results in more efficient solutions with the relevant features and workflows, leading to sustainable success." - Xenia Potiakova, Head of Business Development, says.

With a diverse portfolio of projects including notable ones that have stood the test of time for more than a decade, MobiDev demonstrates its competencies to implement large-scale solutions, including those related to expertise in AI and AR. Understanding the challenges businesses face when adopting innovations, the company has launched AI product consulting services . This goes beyond the traditional engineering practices, as they help clients in discovering the perfect market fit and aligning business objectives, market needs, and technological capabilities to create an optimal solution that fosters long-term value.

The company's upcoming plans involve further expanding its geographical reach, while continuously adjusting its services to meet the evolving demands of the market.

"We will continue to adhere to MobiDev's philosophy and take care of technology and project management down to the smallest detail, allowing our customers to focus on business strategy and product vision." - Oleg Lola, CEO of MobiDev, says - "While we take care of the implementation details, constantly contributing our consulting and engineering expertise for mutual success."

To arrange a meeting in the new office located in California: 2108 N ST #5523, Sacramento, CA 95816, please call: +1 916 243 0946 (USA/Canada).

SOURCE MobiDev
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The global mutual funds market size is estimated to grow by USD 71.62 trillion from 2023 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.76% during the forecast period. North America is estimated to contribute 52%. to the growth of the global market.

Get region specific data - Download a FREE Sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Mutual Funds Market

The Mutual Funds Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027.

Region Outlook

North America The U.S.

Canada Europe U.K.

Germany

France

Rest of Europe Asia China

India Rest of World Australia

Argentina

Rest of the world

1. North America - North America is predicted to play a big part in the global market's growth, making up 52% during the forecast time. Experts at Technavio have talked a lot about what's happening in different areas of North America that shape the market during this time. In 2022, the North American market had a big share. This happened because of lots of trading going on in the region, especially in the US stock market.

People like investing in the stock market because it's tax-friendly, clear, and it's easy to trade in one place. Since many investors want to save money, they choose cheaper brokerage options. This leads more people to invest in mutual funds, which don't have high brokerage costs.

With mutual funds, people can manage and sell stocks themselves. This makes trading clearer and helps traders talk to each other better. Also, since some fixed-income markets have less money to trade with, more investors are looking at mutual funds. All of this should help the mutual funds market in North America grow in the coming years.

For detailed insights on the market share of rest of the regions and countries- Buy This Report Now

Research Analysis

The Mutual Fund market in India has witnessed a significant surge in investment due to digital penetration and the growing popularity of Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). The Investment Fund Industry, comprising of Equity Funds, Money Market Funds, Index Funds, and Bond Funds, has become an essential avenue for both institutional investors, such as Banks, FIIs, and Insurance Companies, and small investors. The Equity strategy plays a crucial role in the fund portfolio management of Mutual Funds, offering income generation and long-term capital appreciation opportunities.

The liquidity of Mutual Funds, coupled with the convenience of investing in shares, bonds, and securities through various investment plans, makes them an attractive choice for investors. Moreover, the Small Fund Savers can benefit from Portfolio Management Services, which provide expert guidance in managing their investment portfolios. The various types of Mutual Funds cater to different investment objectives and risk profiles, including Short term debt, Income, and Equity strategies. Overall, the Mutual Fund market is a vital component of the financial services sector, offering investors a diverse range of investment opportunities.

Market Overview

The Mutual Funds market is a significant sector in the financial industry, characterized by the pooling of funds from numerous investors for investing in various securities. Fund managers in this market employ different strategies, including Digital, Commodity, and Index funds, to cater to diverse investor needs. The sector comprises Funds, such as Investment Trusts, Mutual Funds, and Exchange-Traded Funds, which offer investors a chance to invest in Securities, like stocks, bonds, and other assets.

The industry is regulated by bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The Mutual Funds market provides investors with various benefits, including professional management, diversification, and liquidity. It is an essential tool for both individual and institutional investors seeking to achieve their financial goals. The market's growth is driven by factors like increasing investor awareness, favorable economic conditions, and technological advancements.

To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Vendor Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
1,200 Hard-Working Team Members Create Legacy as They Honor Navajo Peoples' Mandate

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This month The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (Navajo Gaming) honored 186 of its total 1,200 team members for reaching significant employment milestones including 15, 10 and 5 years of service for the enterprise. The event at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff, Ariz. showcased the impact and journey of each hard-working team member, with a special highlight for 29 employees that have served for 15 years.

Lucia Redhorse, Assistant General Manager of Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is one of 29 team members honored for honored for 15 years of service with Navajo Gaming Navajo Gaming employs 1,200 people, 85 percent of whom are Navajo. The Employee Recognition event showcased the impact and journey of each hard-working team member, with a special highlight for 29 employees that have served for 15 years. Many have worked their way up to a variety of positions within the enterprise from General Manager and Executive Director of Slots, to Director of Security, Food and Beverage Supervisor and Executive Director of Government Affairs.

Less than 10 years after Navajo Gaming was created by the Navajo Nation and charged with the mission of creating jobs, increasing revenues, and stimulating incremental economic development within the Navajo Nation, the gaming enterprise created over 7,425 direct, indirect and induced jobs with an overall economic output of over a billion dollars.

"Navajo Gaming employs 1,200 people, 85 percent of whom are Navajo citizens," shared Matthew Shunkamolah, Navajo Gaming's Interim Chief Executive Officer. "The award-winning AAA's coveted Four Diamond Twin Arrows Casino Resort shares Navajo Culture through architectural nuances and local artists. Each of the property dining eateries feature "Navajo Beef," and traditional cuisine of the Navajo people, and our invitation to stay, play and relax at one of our four properties or Travel Center is an open welcome to the Navajo Nation's beautiful scenic transformation."

Additional Navajo Gaming Economic Impacts include:

74% of management jobs are held by Navajos, including 60% of senior-level positions.

Navajo Gaming has generated an additional 5,296 jobs in other tribal enterprises, such as construction, utilities, ranching, agriculture and retail development

Navajo contractors built the largely rural casinos and connected utilities and water lines

contractors built the largely rural and connected utilities and water lines Navajo artisans supply the gift shops

artisans supply the gift shops Navajo Gaming participates in a government-wide initiative to promote education as a means of creating economic development and opportunity on the reservation including tuition reimbursement programs

Team members recognized for 15 years of services have worked their way up to a wide variety of position within the enterprise from General Manager and Executive Director of Slots, to Director of Security, Food and Beverage Supervisor and Executive Director of Government Affairs. Some team members wish to keep a low profile, but below are most of the 15-year team members honored at the event:

Acque, Colleen F Bitsoie, Earlinda J Bradley, Phefelia Cleaver, Margaret K Cleveland, Rose M David, Pamela Eddy, Chasity Francisco, Gina Henderson, Valencia Jarvison, Michelle J Joe, Aletta A Johnson, Kenneth B Livingston, Emiley Martin, Alan J Martin, Shylah C Montoya, Sara L Perry, Virginia E Redhorse, Lucia Lee Thomas, Michele Tom, Gloriann Willie, Karen Yazzie, Celia J Yazzie, Derrick Yazzie, Elvira M

To learn more visit www.NavajoGaming.com

ABOUT THE NAVAJO NATION GAMING ENTERPRISE:

NNGE is a Navajo Nation wholly owned business entity created by the Navajo Nation in September 2006 to develop and operate Navajo casinos in accordance with federal and Navajo Nation laws, as well as the negotiated Navajo Nation-applicable state compacts (New Mexico and Arizona).

Employing 1,200 employees, NNGE operates four casinos and a travel plaza in New Mexico and Arizona, opening its first property, the Fire Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico, in November 2008. Within five years, three additional properties were added, as well as a travel plaza  Flowing Water Navajo Casino (October 2010); Northern Edge Navajo Casino (January 2012); Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort (May 2013); Navajo Blue Travel Plaza (September 2020).

Navajo Gaming is one of many Navajo Nation-owned and operated enterprises that is charged with the mission of creating jobs, increasing revenues, and stimulating incremental economic development within the Navajo Nation.

Media Contact: Heather Austin

PR for Navajo Gaming

602-738-9252 cell

[email protected]

SOURCE Navajo Gaming
Declining youth mental health persists, and many young people receive fragmented care

Managing a child's mental health needs significantly impacts working parents, both personally and professionally

Opportunity for employers to strengthen approach to family mental health, drive improved health outcomes

The Cigna Group announced new, multiyear philanthropic and community engagement program to improve youth mental health

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Many American children struggling with mental health challenges do not receive optimal care, and it's exacerbating the damaging ripple effect on working parents and their employers, according to global health company The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI). A new report by the Evernorth Research Institute details the increasing significance of the youth mental health crisis, the challenges parents face, and provides a roadmap of specific steps employers can take to better support today's workforce.

"The youth mental health crisis continues to grow, and it is taking a significant toll on kids, parents, families and their communities," said David M. Cordani, chairman and CEO, The Cigna Group. "To foster a vital, thriving society, we must change the trajectory of the mental health crisis and address the human and economic toll at its very core. In collaboration with employers, we have the unique ability to curb the crisis by more effectively engaging parents and children quickly and seamlessly and fostering workplaces that are supportive of family mental health."

Many young people are not receiving the full spectrum of behavioral health care

The number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period. More than one in four parents report having a child with mental health challenges, diagnosed or undiagnosed.

More young people than ever are receiving treatment for mental health issues. However, treatment patterns show many young people are receiving partial treatment, fragmented treatment, and some are not obtaining treatment at all. One in five youths did not receive any type of treatment within three months of an initial behavioral health diagnosis, which can result in additional challenges, such as increased severity of mental health conditions, impacts to physical health, and behavioral issues at home and school.

Just under a third (29%) were receiving both medication and therapy, and a significant number of young people were treated with medication only. Yet the research shows young people who receive therapy and medication have better medication adherence compared to those who receive medication only.

Working parents struggling to tend to their child's mental health needs and their own

More than half of working parents (55%) experienced challenges obtaining behavioral health care for their child, and 36% reported that access barriers were the reason their child was not receiving counseling or therapy services. According to the research, working parents reported difficulties finding a provider, getting an appointment within a reasonable timeframe, and affording care. Not receiving the right care when needed often results in poorer health outcomes, escalated costs, and an inability for children and parents to engage at home, school or work, and the community.

"Behind every young person, every prescription, and every appointment is often a parent trying to help their child feel better," said Eva Borden, president of behavioral health, Evernorth Health Services. "The significant emotional burden parents and caregivers carry manifests into stress and anxiety that impacts life at home, at work, and in the community. This research is a call to action for employers to strengthen their approach to parental support and behavioral health care to drive measurable, improved health outcomes  with the goal of changing the trajectory of the crisis."

Employers can do more to make it easier for parents to care for family mental health needs and help optimize their workforces

Parents of children with mental health challenges said the top ways employers can help are by providing access to enhanced behavioral provider networks, time off for appointments, and options for virtual behavioral care. On average, working parents of a child with mental health challenges spend 7.7 hours per week managing their child's needs. They also report up to four workdays per month are disrupted by starting late, leaving early, or missing days to tend to activities related to their child's mental health.

According to the Evernorth analysis, four areas of opportunity for employers to drive better behavioral health outcomes for young people and parents are care delivery, customization, culture, and community engagement.

The report "For a Healthy Workforce, Curbing The Youth Mental Health Crisis Is Imperative" is based on an analysis from the Evernorth Research Institute, which examined trends in youth mental health conditions based on claims data for more than 20 million commercially insured people under age 26. Evernorth also surveyed more than 1,500 U.S. parents and more than 1,000 U.S. parents of children who have mental health challenges in February 2024.

This research builds on previous research commissioned by The Cigna Group tracking the scope and scale of the youth mental health crisis. The Cigna Group has increased the number of behavioral health specialists within its Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services businesses who specialize in treating younger people by 54% since 2021.

The Cigna Group Foundation Announces Commitment to Post-Pandemic Acute Stress

The company also recently announced a new, multiyear philanthropic and community engagement program to improve youth mental health with a key focus on post-pandemic acute stress and distress. The program will support a range of community organizations through foundation grants, corporate giving, employee matching, and volunteerism.

The Cigna Group Foundation will prioritize grants in regions where The Cigna Group serves a significant number of customers with high and very high social determinant of health risks, including Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas, and targeted international communities. The grant application window is open through May 22, 2024, and nonprofits that specialize in supporting youth mental health and well-being are encouraged to apply.

About The Cigna Group

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 183 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.

Media Contact

Kelly Mathews

(423) 260-9267

[email protected]

SOURCE The Cigna Group
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Beijing Hyundai teams up with CATL to build Chinese-spec BEV models

On April 25, the opening day of the Auto China 2024, Beijing Hyundai signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL. The partnership will focus on Beijing Hyundai's EV projects, jointly developing all-electric vehicle models tailored for the Chinese market. Future electric models from Beijing Hyundai will be equipped with batteries from CATL.

Photo credit: Beijing Hyundai

MHERO exhibits three new NEV products at Auto China 2024

On April 26, 2024, MHERO, Dongfeng Motor's luxury electric off-roader brand, showcased three new significant products at the Auto China 2024. These included a new energy all-terrain extreme off-road concept vehiclethe MHERO M-HUNTER, an all-terrain luxurious electric off-road vehiclethe MHERO 917 Jiaolong Zhanjia (translating to Flood Dragon Armor), and a vehicle tailor-made for extreme off-road enthusiaststhe MHERO 917 Gaodi Xiongshi (translating to Highland Lion).

GAC Honda puts e:NP2 model onto market at Auto China 2024

On April 25, Honda showcased the second generation of its e:N Series electric vehicles, the e:NP2 and e:NS2, at the Auto China 2024. The all-new e:NP2 from GAC Honda went on sale at the auto show, while the all-new e:NS2 will go on sale from Dongfeng Honda in June 2024.

Dongfeng Motor's VOYAH launches global expansion strategy Lets VOYAH

On April 26, VOYAH, the premium new energy vehicle maker under Dongfeng Motor, made a major announcement of its "Let's VOYAH" global expansion strategy at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing.

NETA Auto, SenseAuto cement cooperation to boost next-gen intelligent driving, smart cockpit tech innovation, applications

On April 25, at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing, Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto announced it would deepen its strategic cooperation with SenseAuto, the intelligent automotive application platform under SenseTime, ushering in a new chapter of collaboration.

Star Charge, CATL form strategic cooperation on EV charging tech R&D, facility construction

On April 25, the opening day of the Auto China 2024, Chinese leading electric vehicle (EV) charging service provider Star Charge and power battery giant CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

CATL launches Shenxing PLUS 4C battery capable of 1,000-km range

On April 25, 2024, the opening day of the Auto China 2024, CATL unveiled the world's first lithium iron phosphate battery that enables a 1,000 km range with 4C supercharging capabilities, named Shenxing PLUS.

Neusoft launches OneCoreGo global smart mobility solution 5.0 at Auto China 2024

On April 26, Neusoft officially launched its OneCoreGo global smart mobility solution 5.0 at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing, showcasing its innovative achievements in the AI technology and automotive field.

Pony.ai receives CSRC's approval for overseas listing

On April 23, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) issued the "Notice on the Overseas Issuance and Listing of Pony AI Inc.", which signifies the CSRC's approval for the autonomous driving tech firm Pony.ai to go public overseas.

Momenta launches advanced intelligent driving solution based on NVIDIA DRIVE Orin

On April 25, 2024, autonomous driving solution developer Momenta announced the official launch of its advanced intelligent driving solution based on the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin chip.

Toyota joins hands with Tencent to boost transition towards mobility service provider

On April 25, Tencent Holdings Ltd. ("Tencent") and Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota") announced the commencement of their strategic cooperation at the Auto China 2024.

In the future, Toyota will combine Tencent's strengths in fields of AI large model, cloud technologies, and digital ecosystems to with Toyota's abundant mobility offerings like SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles). The Japanese automaker is set to place its focus on transitioning towards a mobility service provider, with continuous efforts directed towards business transformation centered around electrification, intelligence, and diversification.

DJI Automotive showcases innovative solutions at Auto China 2024

On April 25th, the inaugural day of the Auto China 2024, DJI Automotive, a DJI subsidiary that provides integrated solutions for autonomous driving, showcased an impressive lineup of products and achievements.

Nissan Motor, Baidu ink MoU for cooperation in AI, intelligent car fields

On April 25, Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. ("NCIC") and Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("Baidu") jointly inked an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), under which the two parties are set to to conduct feasibility study on strategic collaboration in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automobiles.
HICKSVILLE, N.Y., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) (the "Company") today announced that Wednesday, June 5th, has been established as the new date of its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The meeting will be held in a virtual format only, via live webcast, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The date of record for voting at the Annual Meeting will be April 12, 2024. Shareholders of the Company as of the record date will be entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the Annual Meeting.

Further details regarding the Annual Meeting, including how to participate in the Annual Meeting, will be included in the Company's Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be sent and made available to shareholders and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Details on the Annual Meeting will also be made available online at ir.myNYCB.com.

About New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $113.9 billion of assets, $85.8 billion of loans, deposits of $81.4 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8.4 billion.

Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates 420 branches, including strong footholds in the Northeast and Midwest and exposure to high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. Flagstar Mortgage operates nationally through a wholesale network of approximately 3,000 third-party mortgage originators. In addition, the Bank has 134 private banking teams located in over ten cities in the metropolitan New York City region and on the West Coast, which serve the needs of high-net worth individuals and their businesses.

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. has market-leading positions in several national businesses, including multi-family lending, mortgage origination and servicing, and warehouse lending. Flagstar Mortgage is the seventh largest bank originator of residential mortgages for the 12-months ending December 31, 2023, while we are the industry's fifth largest sub-servicer of mortgage loans nationwide, servicing 1.4 million accounts with $382 billion in unpaid principal balances. Additionally, the Company is the second largest mortgage warehouse lender nationally based on total commitments.

Investor Contact:

Salvatore J. DiMartino

(516) 683-4286

Media Contact:

Steven Bodakowski

(248) 312-5872

SOURCE New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
The Wyatt Foundation and The Conceive Fertility Foundation Partner to Help People Access Fertility Care

HOUSTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wyatt Foundation and The Conceive Fertility Foundation announce today a joint partnership that will award $15,000 grants to five individuals/couples who need in vitro fertility (IVF) to build their families. Launching during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 21-27, 2024), this partnership aims to raise awareness, offset treatment costs, and support research for more affordable fertility care options.

Conceive Fertility Foundation

The nonprofit arm of Inception Fertility, the largest provider of fertility services in North America, the Wyatt Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and couples achieve their dream of building a family through assisted reproductive technology (ART). The organization was started by TJ Farnsworth, the founder and CEO of Inception Fertility, and his wife Margaret Farnsworth, who successfully conceived their first child, Wyatt, through IVF.

"I understand the emotional impact of infertility firsthand and how financial accessibility can compound an already stressful and overwhelming journey," shares Margaret Farnsworth, Executive Director of The Wyatt Foundation. "It is our hope that every aspiring parent who needs fertility services to have a baby can access the treatment they deserve."

The Conceive Fertility Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Caden Lane, a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand of baby products focused around the birth of a child. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Conceive Fertility Foundation aims to support patients who have been impacted by the struggle of infertility through education and grants. Katy Mimari, CEO of Caden Lane, launched The Conceive Fertility Foundation after her own experience with infertility and understanding the financial barriers that prevent some aspiring parents from building their families. A percentage of Caden Lane's profits go to The Conceive Fertility Foundation.

"We are so proud to partner with the Wyatt Foundation to spread awareness about the financial impact on fertility care and help more people break through some of those barriers that would otherwise delay or stop them from getting the quality fertility care they need," says Katy Mimari, CEO of Caden Lane and The Conceive Fertility Foundation. "We walk alongside every person who has experienced the heartbreak of infertility  and haven't given up hope of having a baby."

Each $15,000 grant covers approximately the cost of one IVF cycle, excluding fees for medications or other services such as pregenetic implantation testing (PGT). Grant recipients can go to a clinic of their choosing, but those seeking care at a clinic within The Prelude Network (Prelude) will receive a 10% discount on their fertility services, which can be used towards medication or other costs. Prelude is the clinical network of Inception and has more than 90 locations throughout California, Florida, Indiana, New York, Philadelphia, Tennessee, Texas, and parts of Western Canada.

Beginning today through Monday, June 3, those interested are encouraged to apply for a grant by visiting yourivfgrant.com, where they can learn more about the application process and requirements. To be considered for a grant, applicants must meet specific criteria, including showing financial need and providing a formal infertility diagnosis. Grant recipients will be announced on Monday, June 17, 2024.

About The Wyatt Foundation

The Wyatt Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and couples achieve their dream of building a family through assisted reproductive technology (ART) by reducing the financial barriers to IVF through scholarships awarded based on financial need and clinical factors determining potential success. The foundation has two main goals: to provide financial assistance to individuals and couples who cannot afford fertility treatments and to fund research in the field of infertility.

The organization was started by TJ Farnsworth the founder and CEO of Inception Fertility and his wife Margaret who successfully conceived their first child through IVF. Upon the birth of their son Wyatt, TJ reflected back on his family's experience as patients. He realized that many aspiring parents were carrying the same emotional burden that he and his wife hadand that few fertility clinics took a holistic approach to consider the physical, psychological, financial and mental aspects of infertility. To learn more please visit: https://inceptionfertility.com/wyatt-foundation/.

About The Conceive Fertility Foundation

Founded by Katy Mimari, CEO of Caden Lane, The Conceive Fertility Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to supporting individuals affected by infertility through education and grants. Despite insurance covering diagnostics, treatment costs are a significant financial burden and Conceive Fertility is a non-profit organization that exists to help couples who are struggling to conceive. A portion of sales from Caden Lane go to support the mission of The Conceive Fertility Foundation. To learn more please visit: https://conceivefertilityfoundation.com/.

About The Prelude Network

The Prelude Network (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility  a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, including diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility.

Each clinic, as part of Prelude, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has more than 90 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing, LGBTQ+ fertility options, and egg/embryo storage, among others.

Those clinics within Prelude include Aspire Fertility Austin (Texas); Aspire Fertility Dallas (Texas); Aspire Fertility McAllen (Texas); Aspire Fertility San Antonio (Texas); Aspire Houston Fertility Institute (Texas); Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (Illinois); Center for Reproductive Medicine (Florida); Indiana Fertility Institute (Indiana); IVFMD (Florida); Main Line Fertility (Pennsylvania); NYU Langone Fertility Center (New York); NYU Langone RSNY (New York); Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (Canada); Pacific Fertility Center (California); Regional Fertility Program (Canada); Reproductive Biology Associates (Georgia); Tennessee Fertility Institute (Tennessee), and The Reproductive Medicine Group (Florida).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mia Humphreys

239-297-6592

[email protected]

SOURCE The Wyatt Foundation
CULVER CITY, Calif., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic Hearts, the company behind viral social media app Noteit, announced a new update today that allows you to connect with up to five friends, bringing the closest people in your life straight to your phone's home screen. With this update, Noteit is helping its community strengthen more than just their romantic relationships, now offering the ability to pick five best friends to also add to their favorite home screen widget.

Noteit, the Breakout Gen Alpha App, Expands to Best Friends

Since 2021, Noteit has been making a big bet in the opposite direction of large public communities, delivering a social media experience solely for the one person who matters most to you. The app allows its users to exchange real-time photos, videos, and drawings with one partner, bringing the phone's home screen to life with cute updates from loved ones throughout the day.

Due to tens of thousands of requests from the Noteit community to also include best friends, the app's latest update enables its users to pick five more people to add to their Noteit Widget.

"With the attention shift of the social media giants to public communities, a gap has opened up in the market for a product that fosters intimate interactions with close friends," said Hunter Rice, CEO and Founder of Iconic Hearts. "Noteit first filled this void by building for couples, and we're using this as a wedge to now expand to close friends."

Noteit continues to prove its durability in the social networking space as it reached a huge milestone of 50 million users earlier this year. It has become the easiest way to keep in touch via its popular home screen widget which acts as a mini portal on your phone's home screen displaying real time photos and videos. Once connected, you can draw a note, snap a photo, record a video, and they can do the same, enabling instant sharing with just a tap.

By limiting the size of each user's network, Noteit effectively blocks out the noise of distant acquaintances and influence-driven accounts. The result is a clutter-free social experience that encourages users to be present, expressive, and connected in the real world.

About Noteit:

Noteit is a product developed by Iconic Hearts, Inc., the leading Gen Alpha app developer behind prominent social apps including Sendit, Starmatch, and Locksmith. With 655,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.8 across the App Store and Google Play , Noteit has emerged as one of the top social media apps for the younger generations. The company is based in Culver City, California, and was founded by Hunter Rice in 2019. The company's mission is to become the primary destination where every social interaction for Gen Alpha can happen. For more information visit: https://iconichearts.com/ .

Media Contact:

Anna Thornton

424-361-9567

[email protected]

SOURCE Iconic Hearts
DAVIS, Calif., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is taking applications for the 2024 Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (SWFL) initiative through the NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership, a collaborative approach to conserve habitat on working lands.

"We are proud to invest more than $1M this year to assist farmers and ranchers protect these important species on working lands," said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "Agriculture knows that a healthy habitat for species benefits their operations and NRCS is committed to helping producers achieve their conservation goals."

WLFW is funded through NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the agency's flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. NRCS partners with federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and landowners that aims to conserve wildlife habitats and species across the country.

SGI focuses on enhancing sagebrush habitat on private lands by addressing threats to sustainable grazing operations and maximize benefits to sage grouse populations. In California, primary threats addressed are invading conifers, and invasive annual grasses. Rangeland management practices facilitate improved grazing management resulting in healthier, more sustainable, and productive rangelands. Implementation conservation practices have shown positive population effects to sage grouse and other sagebrush species.

SWFL offers technical and financial assistance to help landowners voluntarily restore riparian areas on private lands. This assistance helps producers plan and implement a variety of conservation activities, or practices, that benefit the riparian birds and agricultural operations. NRCS' Upland Wildlife Habitat Management practice and Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities practice are used, along with supporting conservation practices, to address habitat resource concerns for southwest riparian bird species.

For questions regarding eligible practices and to apply, please contact your local NRCS Service Center.

How to Apply

SGI is available to eligible producers located within the priority areas of the following counties: Alpine, Fresno, Inyo, Lassen, Madera, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Tuolumne counties.

SWFL is available to eligible producers located within the priority areas of the following counties: Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.

The deadline for SGI and SWFL applications is May 24, 2024.

Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state, and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs. Please visit www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov for more information about NRCS.

Contact: Jenna Ganoung

[email protected]

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service
FREMONT, Calif., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nullmax, an advanced autonomous driving company, is showcasing its innovative full-set of autonomous driving solutions at the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024), held at the China International Exhibition Center. The company is featuring its platform-based ADAS/AD products, MaxDrive series, which includes a variety of integrated driving and parking solutions designed to accelerate the mass production of autonomous driving globally.

The MaxDrive series aims to offer leading intelligent driving experiences and cost efficiency for all classes vehicles, adapting to a wide range of computing capacity and sensor configurations. With Nullmax's full-stack software, algorithms and the advanced BEV-AI technology architecture, MaxDrive has been able to deliver any type of self-driving application to worldwide automakers in a short time.

Comprehensive ADAS/AD Solutions for Various Needs

At the exhibition, Nullmax introduced four types of ADAS/AD solutions to cater to the diverse needs of OEMs for different vehicle classes. The solutions are designed to be more efficient, requiring significantly less computing power while still delivering superior performance.

It is seen that the automotive industry approaches a critical phase in the implementation of intelligent driving technologies. Towards this enormous demand, Nullmax is highlighting four key smart driving solutions at the exhibition, ranging from entry-level to advanced solution:

Smart Front Camera Solution : Utilizes a TI's 2 TOPS processor in a 1V configuration, scalable to 1V5R (1 camera and 5 MMW Radars); provides essential intelligent driving functions, including Intelligent Cruise Control and basic ADAS features, ensuring safety and comfort. This solution earned a five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP and C-NCAP assessments.

: Utilizes a TI's 2 TOPS processor in a 1V configuration, scalable to 1V5R (1 camera and 5 MMW Radars); provides essential intelligent driving functions, including Intelligent Cruise Control and basic ADAS features, ensuring safety and comfort. This solution earned a five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP and C-NCAP assessments. Basic Solution of Driving and Parking Integration : Features a TI's 4 TOPS processor in a 5V5R12U setup (5 cameras, 5 MMW Radars, 12 Ultrasonics), offering SAE L2 driving and parking functions, expandable to Navigate on Pilot (highway).

: Features a TI's 4 TOPS processor in a 5V5R12U setup (5 cameras, 5 MMW Radars, 12 Ultrasonics), offering SAE L2 driving and parking functions, expandable to Navigate on Pilot (highway). Standard Solution of Driving and Parking Integration : Employs a TI's 8 TOPS processor to provide ADAS functions such as Navigate on Pilot (highway), Home-Zone Park Assist.

: Employs a TI's 8 TOPS processor to provide ADAS functions such as Navigate on Pilot (highway), Home-Zone Park Assist. High-End Solution of Driving and Parking Integration: Utilizing a NVIDIA Orin chip in an 11V12U configuration, it operates without Lidar or HD-Maps, instead generating a local map on board in real time. This high-performance solution offers comprehensive driving and parking capabilities, including Navigate on Pilot for both urban and highway scenarios.

These solutions all use a single processor and do not require additional SoC or MCU, offering a notable cost advantage. Additionally, the integrated solutions of driving and parking can provide navigation function without the need for a high-precision positioning system.

Empowering Global Mass Production with Platform-Based Solutions

The MaxDrive series is tailored to meet the stringent vehicle development requirements around the world. Capable of achieving top-tier results in global assessments such as Euro NCAP, C-NCAP, etc.

Over the past two years, MaxDrive has secured a series of mass-production contracts, and delivered some ADAS/AD solutions. These deployments demonstrate the maturity and reliability of Nullmax's autonomous driving solutions.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, Nullmax remains at the forefront of innovation, committed to bringing the benefits of autonomous driving to global consumers. Welcome to visit Nullmax's exhibit at E2-W03 booth in China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi). and experience the future of autonomous driving firsthand.

About Nullmax

Founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley, Nullmax specializes in vision-based autonomous driving and has established itself as a leader in the industry with its advanced ADAS/AD technology. The company offers a comprehensive range of intelligent driving solutions for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

For more information, please visit www.nullmax.ai.

Contact:

Nullmax Media Center: [email protected]

SOURCE Nullmax
ATLANTA, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and financial literacy, proudly announces the extension of a landmark Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) signing with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), underscoring a shared commitment to empower small businesses nationwide. Together, the organizations have set a goal to create, scale and grow minority-owned businesses.

Operation HOPE's alliance with SBA underscores a shared commitment to address the critical needs of small businesses. Post this Operation HOPE and SBA Forge Strategic Alliance to Empower Small Businesses Across America.

Today's historic agreement, formalized during a visit to Operation HOPE's headquarters by Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman and key SBA officials, signifies a significant milestone in advancing entrepreneurship in America. Against the backdrop of Atlanta's thriving small business ecosystem, Administrator Guzman and Operation HOPE's leadership convened to reaffirm their dedication to supporting entrepreneurs, particularly in underserved communities. Under terms of the agreement, both organizations will increase access to SBA's resource partners, including but not limited to, SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Veterans Business Opportunity Centers (VBOCs) and the Women's Business Centers (WBCs). The SBA will also co-sponsor community-based outreach and education events with Operation HOPE and its initiatives including the 1MBB initiative.

Administrator Guzman emphasized the importance of a sustained partnership, stating, "We're experiencing a small business boom under the Biden-Harris Administration, with more than 17 million new small business applications filed since the President took office  and this boom is being fueled by women and people of color. Through this strategic alliance with Operation HOPE, the SBA will continue building on this surge of entrepreneurship by working to level the playing field and ensure every entrepreneur has access to the resources and support they need to thrive, create jobs, and grow our economy."

This sentiment echoes Operation HOPE's mission to empower individuals, families, and communities through financial literacy and entrepreneurship. By leveraging Operation HOPE's expertise and nationwide network of clients, the sustained partnership aims to bolster small businesses, particularly among diverse communities, such as African American and Hispanic, seeking to build generational wealth.

"This strategic alliance with the SBA represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to empower small businesses across America," said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE. "By working hand in hand with the SBA, we can provide vital resources and support to entrepreneurs, fostering economic opportunity and driving community prosperity for all."

One of Operation HOPE's flagship programs, the 1 Million Black Business Initiative (1MBB), has been at the forefront of growing Black entrepreneurship in America. With a focus on providing mentorship, training, and access to capital, 1MBB has demonstrated a proven impact in catalyzing the growth of Black-owned businesses across the nation. Since launching in 2020, nearly 400,000 new Black businesses have been started and engaged through the program.

A recent highlight of the partnership's impact is "Black Coffee," a thriving upstart that has benefited from the support of the SBA and Operation HOPE. "As a Black entrepreneur, navigating the business landscape can be daunting," said Marcus Johnson, CEO of Black Coffee. "The support and resources provided by the SBA and Operation HOPE have been instrumental in our growth journey. They not only helped us access capital but also provided invaluable mentorship and guidance, enabling Black Coffee to expand and create meaningful connections in our community."

Operation HOPE's alliance with SBA underscores a shared commitment to address the critical needs of small businesses. Through Operation HOPE's extensive network and the SBA's expertise in small business development, the partnership aims to provide entrepreneurs with access to quality training, counseling, and financial resources, empowering them to thrive in today's competitive marketplace.

For more information visit, https://operationhope.org.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "Silver Rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserveddisrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its award-winning community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communitiesturning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Operation HOPE recently received Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Award for driving entrepreneurship as well as its tenth consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability from the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. Operation HOPE also recently launched The 1865 Project, an initiative designed to help level the economic playing field for underserved Americans. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Operation HOPE Contacts:

Kevin Boucher

[email protected]

Lalohni Campbell

[email protected]

SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc.
USA News Group Commentary

VANCOUVER, BC, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group  Already in 2023 there have been two multibillion-dollar takeover bids rejected that would've involved critical battery metals assets. The first to go down was Liontown Resources turning down a US$3.6 billion offer from Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB), followed by Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK) (TSX:TECK-A) (TSX:TECK-B) rejecting a US$23.2 billion merger proposal from Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY). Meanwhile, mining giant Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is rumored to be on the prowl for more lithium assets after already buying a lithium mine for $825 million in Argentina, in the same province (Salta) as Lithium South Development Corporation's (TSXV:LIS) (OTC:LISMF) Hombre Muerto North Lithium project (HMN Li Project).

At this latter project, Lithium South Development Corporation (TSXV:LIS) (OTC:LISMF) recently completed the final drill hole of a resource expansion program, designed to expand upon the HMN Li Project's maiden resource of 0.57 MT Li 2 CO 3 equivalent (M+I) from 2019.

"We are pleased to have completed the 2022-2023 resource expansion program at the HMN Li Project," said Lithium South's President and CEO, Adrian F. C. Hobkirk. "We look forward to full results and the delineation of a new lithium resource."

Throughout this 2023 resource program to date, Lithium South has received excellent lithium values from all holes completed to date. These included an average of samples of 663 mg/L Li, with a range of 320-752 mg/L Li, and ranging from 569 mg/L Li to 708 mg/L Li in another drill hole. The latest results also include nine packer samples collected between 24 and 189 meters, with a density range of 1.215 to 1.218 g/mL and a conductivity range of 196.3 to 209.5 mS/cm.

So far there's been significant progress made on the HMN Li, as Lithium South completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in April 2019, expanded drilling efforts, and joined up with multiple experts in Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, to potentially increase the profitability of the project.

However, the original 2019 PEA assessment was based only the project's original 383-hectares of claims (Tramo), whereas now the project covers 5,687 hectares spread across 9 mining concessions. Now the goal of Lithium South's current expansion program is to not only increase the resource size, but also move closer towards a full Feasibility Study. The Project is already surrounded by two leading lithium producers, Livent and POSCO, which acquired the property from Galaxy Resources (now Allkem) for US$280 million.

With regards to testing the potential of DLE, Lithium South has provided three 2,000-liter bulk samples of high-quality HMN Li brine for testing by its three strategic partners: China's Chemphys Chengdu, Argentina's Eon Minerals, and California-based Lilac Solutions.

Located in the same Salta Province of Argentina, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) completed its acquisition of the Rincon lithium project for $825 million back in May 2022.

"Rincon strengthens our battery materials business and positions Rio Tinto to meet the double-digit growth in demand for lithium over the next decade, at a time when supply is constrained," said Jakob Stausholm, CEO of Rio Tinto. "We will be working with local communities, the Province of Salta and the Government of Argentina as we develop this project to the highest ESG standards."

To optimise the process and recoveries, Rio Tinto continued to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from raw brine from the existing pilot plant operating at site. Early construction activities have progressed on phase one camp facilities with rooms for 250 persons completed, while airstrip permits were received and contractors mobilised.

Detailed studies for the full scale operation have advanced, and Rio Tinto's exploration campaign progressed to further understand Rincon's basin and brine reservoir. The plan is to have the starter plant serve as a pilot for a much larger, 50,000-tonne/year plant there. As well, Rio Tinto has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ford Motor Company for delivery of lithium carbonate from the Rincon salar.

Lithium giant Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) currently sources its lithium production from several locations worldwide. However, Albemarle's largest source of lithium production is from its operations in Chile, where it extracts lithium from the Salar de Atacama, one of the world's largest and richest lithium brine deposits. While also having lithium production facilities in the USA, Australia, and China, it was recently rebuffed in an attempt to secure more lithium through the now-rejected US$3.7 billion takeover bid of Liontown Resources and its Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, located in Western Australia.

The Kathleen Valley project is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. Much like Rio Tinto, Liontown has also signed a supply agreement with Ford Motor Company.

The rejection by Liontown didn't end Albemarle's takeover attempts. In fact, Albemarle began canvassing Liontown's shareholders, all while refusing to budge from its rejected $2.50 per share bid, which came at a 63% premium to the previously undisturbed price.

Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK) (TSX:TECK-A) (TSX:TECK-B) rejected a lot more than Liontown did, when it turned down a US$23.2-billion merger proposal from Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) (OTC:GLCNF). It's believed that Teck is unlikely to accept an improved proposal from Glencore due to the "significant value leakage" from merging with the large public coal company and the "elevated" regulatory risks involved. There's also a patriotic aspect in play, as Teck is Canadian focused, while Glencore is Swiss-based.

"There's more to all of this than what the share price would be in the offer because I think that Teck is a national champion for Canada," said Patricia Mohr, an economist and former vice-president at the Bank of Nova Scotia. "There are benefits for the Canadian mining industry associated with this. I think it would, personally, be a pity if we lost another of our major international players in the mining industry."

Late in 2022, Glencore had expressed its intent to add lithium to the suite of metals that it trades, citing the raw material's hot demand. Glencore doesn't own lithium mines but produces copper, nickel and cobalt, other raw materials that it terms "commodities of the future," as they are needed to manufacture batteries, electric cars and renewable infrastructure that will help the world transition to a greener economy.

Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/04/11/quite-possibly-the-best-lithium-resource-in-argentina-perhaps-the-world/

CONTACT:

USA News Group

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While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

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MINNEAPOLIS, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PatientRightsAdvocate.org filed an amicus brief in the case of Secretary Julie A. Su, Acting Secretary of Labor v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Minnesota, arguing that their motion to dismiss the case should be denied on the basis that BCBS was an ERISA fiduciary and that ERISA's fiduciary protections are needed to police third-party administrator contracts that hide healthcare prices from beneficiaries and obstruct beneficiaries from finding high-quality, cost-efficient care.

According to the lawsuit, the Department of Labor alleges that Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Minnesota has wrongfully collected $66.8 Million in a "provider tax" to 370 self-funded employer health plans, which is usually paid by hospitals and clinics.

"PatientRightsAdvocate.org commends the Department of Labor for acting to protect patients and employers. We are pleased to support DOL in helping explain to the court why Blue Cross acted unlawfully and in breach of its duties by secretly charging employer health plans for provider taxes. We look forward to the court's resolution of this important case, and we will continue to fight on behalf of patients to make healthcare more affordable, transparent, and accountable." said Cynthia Fisher, Founder and Chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org.

The amicus brief was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Click here to read the brief in its entirety.

SOURCE Patient Rights Advocate
To overcome aging infrastructure and maintenance needs in industries such as construction, infrastructure maintenance, and repair, plastic adhesives offer cost-effective solutions for repairing and reinforcing aging structures, providing a viable alternative to more invasive and expensive methods such as welding or mechanical fastening.

WILMINGTON, Del., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Plastic Adhesives Market by Resin Type (Polyurethane, Epoxy, Acrylic, Silicone, and Others), Technology (Solvent based, and Water based), and End-Use (Automotive, Building and Construction, Electrical and Electronics, Packaging, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2032". According to the report, the plastic adhesives market was valued at $8.3 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $13.4 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2024 to 2033.

Prime determinants of growth

The global plastic adhesives market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as an increase in demand for the automotive and aerospace industries. However, health and safety concerns are expected to hinder market growth to some extent. Moreover, the surge in medical device assembly is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the global plastic adhesives market.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A11890

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2022 $8.3 billion Market Size in 2032 $13.4 billion CAGR 4.9 % No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments Covered Resin Type, Technology, End-Use, and Region Drivers Rise in construction activities Surge in demand for automotive and aerospace industries Opportunity Increase in smart wearables Restraint Limited temperature resistance

The epoxy is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

By resin type, the polyurethane segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than one-fourth of the plastic adhesive market revenue. This can be attributed to polyurethane adhesives being used for bonding various automotive components such as panels, trim, and interior parts. They provide excellent adhesion to different substrates, including metals, plastics, and composites, and offer resistance to temperature variations and vibrations. However, the epoxy segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.7%. Plastic adhesives are utilized in automotive manufacturing and repair for bonding plastic components, metal-to-plastic bonding, panel bonding, structural bonding, and sealing applications. They provide strong and durable bonds that withstand vibrations and environmental stress.

The solvent based segment is expected to lead throughout the forecast period.

By technology, the solvent based segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than half of the global plastic adhesives market revenue and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period, whereas solvent-based plastic adhesives are utilized in the construction of plastic structures, including bonding plastic sheets, pipes, and fittings in plumbing, as well as for bonding plastic laminates in countertops and furniture. The water based segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.0%. Water-based adhesives are extensively used in the packaging industry for bonding plastic films, laminates, and labels. They provide strong bonds for packaging materials while being safe for food packaging applications.

Procure Complete Report (300 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/plastic-adhesives-market

The packaging segment dominated the plastic adhesives market.

By end-use, the packaging segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than one-third of the market share and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Plastic adhesives are used in packaging for sealing bags, pouches, and containers for food and beverage products. They provide secure seals to maintain product freshness and prevent leakage or contamination. The electrical and electronics segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Plastic adhesives are used for bonding various components in electronic devices, such as circuit boards, semiconductors, connectors, and displays. They provide strong and durable bonds while ensuring electrical insulation between components.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032.

By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the plastic adhesive market revenue and is expected to dominate in terms of revenue throughout the forecast timeframe, whereas Asia-Pacific is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. Many Asia-Pacific countries have robust manufacturing sectors, including electronics, automotive, and consumer goods. Plastic adhesives are commonly used in these industries for bonding various components together. China accounts for a significant portion of plastic adhesive consumption in the Asia-Pacific. The country's vast manufacturing sector, encompassing industries such as electronics, automotive, construction, and packaging, drives substantial demand for plastic adhesives.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/plastic-adhesives-market/purchase-options

Players: -

Henkel Corporation

3M

H.B. Fuller Company

SIKA CORPORATION

Arkema

Huntsman International LLC.

Dow

MAPEI Corporation

Jowat Corporation

Avery Dennison Corporation

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global plastic adhesive market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others, to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

 

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Abby Phillip, Lauren Wesley Wilson, Joy Reid, Cecilia Vega, Jim Acosta, Alicia Menendez, Laura Jarrett, Weijia Jiang, Rachel Scott and more to serve on the Host Committee.

NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Politics & Inclusion will host its annual dinner on Friday, April 26 in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the bi-partisan diverse voices in politics and media, both rising stars and established industry leaders. Abby Phillip, Anchor of NewsNight with Abby Phillip on CNN and Lauren Wesley Wilson, CEO of ColorComm Corporation are co-hosts of the Politics & Inclusion Dinner.

In its third year, the dinner held during White House Correspondents' Weekend will bring together 50 journalists of color representing major news networks and traditional print and online media.

"In an increasingly diverse country, journalists of color are covering American government and politics at a time when their voices have never been more needed. Especially in this election year when voters are looking to understand their choices, we need the media to cover politics with empathy, honesty and clarity. I'm proud that Politics and Inclusion is once again creating a space to celebrate the contributions of journalists of color to American Democracy," said Abby Phillip, Anchor of NewsNight with Abby Phillip.

"This year's Politics and Inclusion Dinner is an opportunity to honor inclusivity of journalists of color and their contributions to the media industry. We have established this event as a celebration of those who strengthen the voices of our community and the rising stars in the industry," said Lauren Wesley Wilson, CEO of ColorComm Corporation.

Walmart, Fenton, Pinterest, and Moet Hennessy USA will sponsor the event.

SOURCE ColorComm Media Group
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 25, 2024, the opening day of the Auto China 2024, CATL unveiled the world's first lithium iron phosphate battery that enables a 1,000 km range with 4C supercharging capabilities, named Shenxing PLUS.

The latest launch came only 8 months after CATL's introduction of the Shenxing supercharging battery in August 2023.

The Shenxing PLUS battery provides users with an ultra-long range of up to 1,000 kilometers, equivalent to traveling from Beijing to Nanjing cities without needing to recharge. With its exceptional range, the Shenxing PLUS is well-suited for daily commutes, inter-city travel, and long-distance trips, significantly broadening the practical range of new energy vehicles.

Shenxing PLUS battery; photo credit: CATL

Behind this "thousand-kilometer" range is a series of continuous technological innovations. The cathode utilizes a particle gradation technique that optimally places each nanoparticle, achieving an ultra-high compaction density. The anode features a proprietary three-dimensional honeycomb material that increases energy density and controls volume expansion during charge and discharge cycles effectively. Additionally, CATL has developed an integrated shell structure for the battery, significantly enhancing the internal space utilization and pushing the energy density of the Shenxing PLUS to new heights.

Systematically, the Shenxing PLUS battery enhances its design with the third-generation Cell-to-Pack (CTP 3.0) technology, optimizing the topological structure to maximize energy storage space and improving volume grouping efficiency by 7%. These material and structural breakthroughs have enabled the Shenxing battery system's energy density to exceed 200 Wh/kg for the first time, reaching 205 Wh/kg, and making over 1,000 km of vehicle range feasible.

The Shenxing PLUS battery not only provides long range but also charges rapidly, delivering up to 600 km of range in just 10 minutes of charging.

To realize these quick charging speeds, the Shenxing PLUS battery incorporates fast ion conductor coating, transition metal doping, and innovative nano-coatings to facilitate more efficient energy transfer between the anode and cathode. It also expands the pole pillar's cross-sectional area and current-carrying capacity to ensure rapid cooling under high-current charging conditions. The latest AI intelligent polarization model developed for the BMS core algorithms can estimate and control the charging current in real time, making recharging faster and smarter.

Photo credit: CATL

Beyond its innovative battery technologies, CATL has officially launched the construction of the Shenxing Supercharging Network, aiming to establish the largest supercharging service platform in China. In collaboration with leading industry partners such as Huawei, Star Charge, YKC, and Sichuan Shudao New Energy Technology Development, CATL is set to provide the most convenient and cost-effective driving experience for owners of vehicles equipped with Shenxing supercharging batteries.

Additionally, CATL will introduce the industry's first Shenxing Car Owners' Club. Leveraging its after-sales service system, with over 600 brick-and-mortar service stores covering 31 provinces and 271 prefecture-level cities in China, CATL will offer relevant car owners comprehensive services including roadside assistance, battery testing, and maintenance.
The California-based home service company's Hero Helps division works year-round to raise donations and provide volunteers to a variety of charitable organizations

LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its highly-active Hero Helps initiative, Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air, a plumbing and HVAC company serving residential and commercial locations in California, Arizona and Nevada, recently coordinated a clothing drive and donated several bags and boxes of clothing to Hope the Mission to be sold at the rescue mission's thrift stores.

Rooter Hero Social Media Coordinator Katherine Conchas, left, and Hero Helps Coordinator Magda Elizondo pose with the boxes and bags of clothing donated by Rooter Hero employees to Hope the Mission to be sold in the mission's thrift stores.

"At Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air, we take the word 'hero' to heart," said Rooter Hero co-founder and CEO John Akhoian. "Our employees want our community to thrive, and giving back to our community is one way to ensure that. Through our Hero Helps initiatives, we provide our team with several opportunities to help their neighbors through donations and volunteering. We are proud that the clothing we collected for Hope the Mission will be used to raise more funds for their admirable work."

Hero Helps is a division of Rooter Hero that partners with charities to give back to the community. In the past, Rooter Hero has installed home service equipment at the Good Shepherd Center for Women and Children, provided meals to Ronald McDonald House, and planted trees and cleaned beaches in honor of Earth Day.

The plumbing and HVAC company held a clothing drive throughout the month of March and the first part of April to provide several bags of clothing to Hope the Mission.

The mission, formerly known as Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, works to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger and homelessness in the Los Angeles Valley region. Hope the Mission operates several residential facilities, help centers and emergency shelters, and the group runs six thrift stores that raise money for the group's causes.

"Rooter Hero employees really came through for those people in Los Angeles who are struggling with homelessness and the complex issues that they face as a result," said Hero Helps Coordinator Magda Elizondo. "We are thankful for our personal successes, and our employees want to share those successes with others. This clothing drive is just one more example of the Rooter Hero family working together to help other families in need."

For more information about Rooter Hero, please visit https://rooterhero.com/.

About Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air

Since 2011, Rooter Hero has been committed to providing the best in plumbing and drain services. With more than 100 years of plumbing heritage, the Rooter Hero team prides themselves on creating a memorable experience for each customer.

The company provides solutions for both residential and commercial needs and offers 24/7 emergency service. Operating in service area locations throughout California, Arizona and Nevada, Rooter Hero offers options such as HVAC service and installation in select areas. For more information, please visit https://rooterhero.com or call 844-219-2215.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Rooter Hero
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE: NX), relating to its proposed merger with Tyman plc. Under the terms of the agreement, Tyman shareholders will own between approximately 30% and 32% of Quanex, depending on shareholder elections.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/quanex-building-products-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much?

About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholdersand we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC
GOTEBORG, Sweden, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO:

"Our first quarter performance marked another step towards a more resilient and competitive SKF. In soft market conditions, we delivered a strong adjusted operating margin of 13.4%, somewhat ahead of Q1 2023. The margin improvement clearly demonstrates our improved resilience in a situation where organic growth shifted from +10% in Q1 last year to -7% this year.

The improved performance is explained by our active and ongoing focus on business cycle management, in combination with a continued execution of our ongoing strategic initiatives, such as supply chain and footprint optimization, portfolio management, and enhanced sustainability leadership. All in all, we are well-positioned to capture profitable growth opportunities once demand bounces back again.

Strong margin despite sales decline in Q1

Net sales in the first quarter were SEK 24,699 million in a more challenging economic environment. As expected, we saw a soft customer demand in the quarter with large variations across our different industries. We continued to perform well within our targeted high-growth segments. For example, aerospace, railway, and electric vehicles maintained strong growth rates, fueled by innovative solutions developed in close collaboration with our customers.

Organic growth in India and Southeast Asia (ISEA) was 1% driven by a strong performance in heavy industries and light vehicles. In Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) the organic sales decline was -5%, with negative growth in most industries, while aerospace and railway contributed positively.

Organic growth in China and Northeast Asia (CNEA) was -11% in the quarter, which is mainly explained by the slowdown in wind sales. We don't expect a short-term recovery in wind and, consequently, we are increasing our focus on other industries, such as heavy industries. Excluding wind, growth in CNEA was relatively flat and we saw a positive development in railway and marine with double-digit growth rates. In the Americas, the sales decline was -10%, driven by the continued negative trend with OEM customers destocking, but also due to our efforts in phasing out lower profit businesses. We are now striving to broaden our customer base in certain industrial verticals and thereby increasing our resilience towards shifting economic cycles. This is a top priority for our new leadership in the region that was announced early in the quarter.

In total, the adjusted operating profit was SEK 3,303 million (3,478 million), corresponding to an adjusted operating margin of 13.4% (13.1%). A strong performance given the decline in net sales. A key contributor has been our ongoing strategic transformation initiatives, including investments in regionalization and in building competitive value chains to ensure that we quickly can ramp up production once demand bounces back. In parallel, we have continued to execute tactical activities to manage the business cycle, where decentralized accountability for pricing, portfolio pruning, and cost management have been vital.

Due to all these activities, our Industrial business continued to perform well in the first quarter and maintained an adjusted operating margin above 16%, while the margin for our Automotive business improved to above 6%.

Cash flow from operations was fairly normal for a first quarter and was SEK 1.8 billion. We continue our active work across all business areas to further improve the net working capital performance with a special focus on inventory reduction.

Continued execution of ongoing strategic initiatives

We continue to diligently work on implementing and executing our strategy, increasing our efficiency, and reducing fixed costs. Key focus areas in 2024 are further optimization of our supply chain and footprint, managing and restructuring our portfolio, and gearing up for intelligent and clean growth. A common theme across these priorities is innovation, where we, together with our customers, develop products and solutions that create significant value. This enables us to defend or increase our market share in many important industrial segments, and thereby re-enforce our position as a leader in the industry.

As a global leader within railway, representing 5% of our total sales and outgrowing the market in recent years, we constantly drive innovation in close cooperation and partnership with our customers, both OEMs and operators, to develop solutions for enhanced fleet efficiency and reliability. As an example, we recently developed new high speed ceramic deep groove ball bearings for railway drives.

To gear up for intelligent and clean growth, investments in decarbonization, high speed rotation and low-friction products and services are key. We have developed a bearing tailored for the robotics industry, with a reduced manufacturing CO2 footprint of 70%, enabling an additional 20% CO2 reduction in the end customer application. This is a great example of how SKF, together with our customers, are laying a foundation for a more sustainable future. I am also encouraged that we have received the Platinum Medal for the fourth year running in the sustainability rating from EcoVadis and the top Climate Change rating available from CDP.

Our strong financial performance due to our ability to mitigate the impact from the economic slowdown, and in parallel effectively execute our strategic transformation, would not have been possible without our dedicated employees. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all colleagues and partners across the SKF footprint.

Outlook

We expect to see continued market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty and the business is prepared to tackle different scenarios. Looking into the second quarter of 2024, we expect a mid single-digit organic sales decline. For the full year, we expect a low single-digit organic sales decline, compared to 2023."

Key figures, SEKm unless otherwise stated Q1 2024 Q1 2023 Net sales 24,699 26,549 Adjusted operating profit 3,303 3,478 Adjusted operating margin, % 13.4 13.1 Operating profit 2,993 3,379 Operating margin, % 12.1 12.7 Adjusted profit before taxes 3,032 3,041 Profit before taxes 2,722 2,942 Net cash flow from operating activities 1,781 2,747 Basic earnings per share 4.15 4.55 Adjusted earnings per share 4.83 4.77

Net sales, change y-o-y, %, Q1 Organic1) Structure Currency Total SKF Group 7.0 0.1 0.0 6.9 Industrial 7.3 0.1 0.2 7.4 Automotive 6.2 0.0 0.4 5.8

1)Price, mix and volume

Organic sales in local currencies, change y-o-y, %, Q1 Europe, Middle East & Africa The Americas China & Northeast Asia India & Southeast Asia SKF Group 4.9 9.9 11.2 1.2 Industrial -- --- --- +/- Automotive -- --- +/- ++

Outlook and Guidance

Demand for Q2 2024 compared to the Q2 2023

Looking into the second quarter of 2024, we expect a mid single-digit organic sales decline.

Guidance for Q2 2024

Currency impact on the operating profit is expected to be around SEK 200 million negative compared with the second quarter 2023, based on exchange rates per 31 March 2024.

Guidance 2024

For the full year, we expect a low single-digit organic sales decline, compared to 2023.

Tax level excluding effects related to divested businesses: around 26%.

Additions to property, plant and equipment: around SEK 5.5 billion .

A webcast will be held on 26 April 2024 at 08:00 (CEST):

Sweden +46 (0)8 5051 0031

UK / International +44 (0)207 107 0613

Passcode: 43658997

https://investors.skf.com/en

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

The financial information in this press release contains inside information that AB SKF is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out below on 26 April 2024 at 07.00 CEST.

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Carl Bjernstam, Head of Media Relations

tel: 46 31-337 2517; mobile: 46 722-201 893; e-mail: [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Sophie Arnius, Head of Investor Relations

tel: 46 31-337 8072; mobile: 46 705-908 072; [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-first-quarter-report-2024--a-more-resilient-and-competitive-skf,c3968503

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/637/3968503/2761946.pdf Q1_2024_Eng https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-gothenburg-factory-d-240110-06-03-copy,c3294148 SKF Gothenburg Factory D 240110-06 03 copy https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-rickard-gustafson,c3294149 SKF Rickard Gustafson

SOURCE SKF
CHICAGO, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) and United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE: USM) will be webcasting their first quarter operating results conference call on May 3, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

The companies will release their financial results on May 3, 2024, before the market opens.

To listen to the webcast, please visit the events & presentations pages of investors.tdsinc.com or investors.uscellular.com . The presentations will be webcast both live and on-demand. It is recommended that you register at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the presentation to register, download and install any necessary multimedia streaming software.

About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 8,800 associates as of December 31, 2023.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:

TDS: www.tdsinc.com

UScellular: www.uscellular.com

TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com

OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and United States Cellular Corporation
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When you go on a trip, you might reach for a map to help navigate your journey or pull up GPS on your phone. But what if the destination is on another planet, and there is no map? A new project sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory could provide an assist. Called the Multi-Resolution Scanner (MRS), the investigation will leverage NASA's free-flying robotic Astrobee system on the space station to test a novel 3D mapping technology that can produce detailed maps of remote environments.

The project, a collaboration between Boeing and CSIRO (an Australian government agency responsible for scientific research), highlights the importance of international partnerships while building on the duo's rich histories in the global space industry. As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO has significantly contributed to the space sector. For instance, during the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, Murriyang, CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope, received television signals from the historic event watched by nearly 600 million viewers worldwide. Now, the organization is working on a project that will benefit not only future exploration missions but also key industries on Earth.

MRS creates 3D maps of various environments in unprecedented detail, like the space station or a lava tube on Mars. Post this

MRS is designed to rapidly create 3D maps of various environments in unprecedented detail, like the space station or even a lava tube on the Moon or Mars. "We will use NASA's free-flying Astrobee robots to test MRS, which will allow us to create 3D maps of the space station's Kibo module," said Marc Elmouttie, a research group leader at CSIRO. "The technology we're using combines multiple sensors, which compensates for weaknesses in any one of them and provides very high-resolution 3D data and more accurate trajectory data to understand how the robot moves around in space."

Whether on the space station or the surface of Mars, robotic explorers must use onboard sensors and perception algorithms to simultaneously build detailed maps of the environment while localizing themselves within it. This capability is called simultaneous localization and mapping, or SLAM. MRS relies on cutting-edge photogrammetry software called Stereo-Depth Fusion and 3D SLAM technology, which CSIRO calls Wildcat. The software enables MRS to map, analyze, and navigate its surrounding environment autonomously.

To validate that the software works in space, Elmouttie and his team are mapping a known location on the space stationthe Kibo module. The investigation launched to the space station in March on SpaceX's 30th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission , contracted by NASA. After its arrival on station, MRS was installed into one of the three Astrobee robots.

Starting with Kibo allows the team to check the resulting maps against controls to see how well the technology functions in microgravity. Previous ground-based experiments have shown that the software's highly accurate mapping and positioning capabilities could enable robots like Astrobee to successfully navigate unsafe, complex, and unstructured environments without GPS or other external positioning information.

If successful, MRS could expand to other modules on the space station, increasing its mapping capabilities. Results from this investigation will help advance the technology to the point where it could be used for future spaceflight missions and exploration endeavors. The ISS has been continuously inhabited for more than 20 years, but future space stations may not all be crewed by humans. NASA's planned lunar Gateway, and even other outposts in space, could be predominately crewed by robots. This technology would enable robotic helpers to keep systems going autonomously when humans aren't present.

"Boeing is committed to providing improved capabilities and enhancing safety for trips to the Moon and beyond," said Scott Copeland, director for ISS research integration at Boeing. "That requires the intersection of crew and robotic tasks, and the Multi-Resolution Scanning technology being demonstrated onboard our testbed in low Earth orbit will be a powerful tool to help us meet those goals."

We may one day see a version of MRS on other planets, installed on rovers or helicopters that use the technology to map out the terrain and scout for valuable resources. MRS could even identify potential damage to spacecraft by micrometeorites or other impacts, which is particularly useful in locations not continuously crewed, bolstering the value of robotic caretakers. The MRS technology may also benefit several industries on Earth, such as mining and disaster relief.

Learn more about the Astrobees and how other ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations are using the robotic helpers in the latest issue of Upward , official magazine of the ISS National Lab. Read "Free-Flying Robots in Space: How Real-Life Droids Test New Tech."

To download a high-resolution photo for this release, click here .

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:

The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website .

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page .



International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory

Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) 6905 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 500, Melbourne, FL 32940  321.253.5101  www.ISSNationalLab.org

SOURCE International Space Station National Lab
CEO Calls for Industry-wide Sustainability Commitment

DENVER, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tractor Beverage Company, one of North America's fastest-growing beverage brands and the first and only Certified Organic, non-GMO beverage company devoted to the food service industry, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Products in the Area of Sustainability & Climate Protection Status in The 22nd Annual American Business Awards today.

Developed in partnership with sustainability research company HowGood, the Organic Impact Tracker quantifies the benefit of sourcing organic ingredients versus their conventional counterparts. Tractor is the first beverage brand to track and disclose impact data about its ingredients, supporting the company's commitment to transparency and sustainable sourcing and responding to consumer demand for clean ingredients and environmental responsibility. The Organic Impact Tracker uses five key metrics to show how a single beverage can change the world: synthetic pesticides avoided, organic land supported, carbon emissions avoided, water saved, and improved soil health.

"Winning the Gold Stevie Award in Sustainability & Climate Protection feels like a high-five from the planet," said Tractor Beverage CEO Kevin Sherman. "This achievement reaffirms our belief in the importance of sustainable practices and motivates us to continue leading the way towards a greener future. Huge shoutout to our amazing team for their hard work and dedication. To our colleagues in the foodservice beverage industry, let's take this moment as a challenge to prioritize sustainability in everything we do. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for our planet and future generations."

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations  public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning "crowned," the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Tuesday, June 11. Tickets are now on sale.

More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Thought Leader of the Year, and App of the Year, among others.

More than 300 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners. The ABA judges lauded Tractor Beverage Company for leading the industry in sustainability with its Organic Impact Tracker and partnership with HowGood. "The impact from the ground up is clear," commented one judge. "They've significantly reduced synthetic pesticides, cut carbon emissions, and supported organic farming. Their commitment to regenerative agriculture and transparency sets a commendable example, driving progress towards a cleaner, healthier planet."

"While growth in much of the world economy has recovered slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, the American economy continues to show remarkable resilience and growth," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. "Our 2024 Stevie winners have contributed to that successful recovery through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all our winners in the 2024 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 11 awards banquet in New York."

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2024 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About Tractor Beverage Company

Tractor Beverage Company is revolutionizing the beverage station as the first and only USDA Organic Certified, Non-GMO full-line beverage solution for food service. Farmer-founded and employee-owned, the team is on a mission to create a cleaner, healthier planet, one drink at a time. 136 million+ Tractor drinks are served annually in more than 6,000 locations across 50 states, with a portfolio of 25 uniquely flavored Certified Organic and Non-GMO craft refreshers, lemonades, and premium craft sodas, as well as organic frozen and organic mixology. Tractor's thoughtfully crafted drinks feature clean ingredients that deliver taste, functionality, and experience without any bad stuff. Tractor is the first beverage brand to track and disclose impact data about its ingredients through the Organic Impact Tracker, quantifying the benefit of sourcing organic versus conventional ingredients. The company was included on the 2023 and 2022 Inc. 5000 lists of America's fastest-growing private companies and Fast Company's 2021 list of the world's Most Innovative Companies. For more information, visit drinktractor.com or follow along on Instagram: @drinktractor

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Supporting sponsors of The 2024 American Business Awards include Melissa Sones Consulting and SoftPro.

Media Relations:

Chrystie Heimert

[email protected]

802-338-2556

SOURCE Tractor Beverage Company
1% Growth in Total Revenues to $1.3 Billion

4% Growth in Professional Service Revenues to $214 million

Net Income per Diluted Share of $1.78 and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share $2.16

DUBLIN, Calif., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive human resources solutions for small and medium-size businesses, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The first quarter highlights below include non-GAAP financial measures which are reconciled later in this release.

First quarter highlights include:

Total revenues increased 1% to $1.3 billion as compared to the same period last year.

as compared to the same period last year. Professional service revenues increased 4% to $214 million as compared to the same period last year.

as compared to the same period last year. Net income was $91 million , or $1.78 per diluted share, compared to net income of $131 million , or $2.17 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

, or per diluted share, compared to net income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income was $111 million , or $2.16 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $150 million , or $2.49 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

, or per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $180 million , compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $223 million , in the same period last year.

, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of , in the same period last year. Average WSEs increased 6% as compared to the same period last year, to approximately 348,000 and includes 17,600 PEO Platform Users.

Average HRIS Users for the period was approximately 195,000.

At March 31 , 2024, TriNet had cash and cash equivalents of $298 million and total debt of $1.1 billion .

"I'm excited to have begun my tenure as CEO of TriNet," said Mike Simonds, TriNet's President and CEO. "We are building strong momentum in the market with our unique set of services and proprietary technology. While the broader economic environment remains challenged, we are keeping our focus on our customers and the substantial growth opportunity ahead of us."

Mr. Simonds continued, "Given the environment, I am pleased with TriNet's execution and our first quarter financial results. In the areas within our control, particularly new sales, retention, and expense management, we executed well. We continue to generate strong cash flows while positioning our business to take disproportionate share of growth as macroeconomic conditions improve."

Second Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Guidance

In addition to announcing our first quarter 2024 results, we provide our second quarter and full-year 2024 guidance. Non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled later in this release. Percentages reflect the increase or (decrease) from the prior year quarter and prior year end.





Q2 2024

Full Year 2024



Low

High

Low

High Total Revenues

(1) %

1 %

(1) %

4 % Professional Service Revenues

(2) %

4 %

1 %

5 % Insurance Cost Ratio

90.0 %

87.0 %

89.5 %

87.5 % Diluted net income per share of common stock

$ 0.68

$ 1.17

$ 3.94

$ 5.46 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted

$ 1.00

$ 1.50

$ 5.25

$ 6.80

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

We anticipate filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the three months ended March 31, 2024 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and making it available at http://www.trinet.com today, April 26, 2024. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-Q and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Form 10-Q.

Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast

TriNet will host a conference call at 5:30 a.m. PT (8:30 a.m. ET) today to discuss its first quarter results for 2024 and provide second quarter and full-year financial guidance for 2024. TriNet encourages participants to pre-register for the conference call. Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. To pre-register, go to: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10187933/fc1cc28dfc . For those who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, they can do so by dialing +1 (412) 317-5426 and requesting the "TriNet Conference Call." The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of TriNet's website at http://investor.trinet.com . Participants can pre-register for the webcast by going to: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/233316970 . A replay of the webcast will be available on this website for approximately one year. A telephonic replay will be available for two weeks following the conference call at +1 (412) 317-0088 conference ID: 1522960.

About TriNet

TriNet provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization (PEO) and human resources information system (HRIS) services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most - growing their business and enabling their people For more information, please visit TriNet.com or follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram .

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to TriNet's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, please see the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and statements made during the above referenced conference call will contain, statements that are not historical in nature, are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or otherwise contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among other things, TriNet's expectations and assumptions regarding: TriNet's financial guidance for the second quarter and full-year 2024 and the underlying assumptions, the value to customers and shareholders of TriNet's product offerings, , TriNet's financial performance and long-term growth, and the extent, length and growth impact of current economic uncertainty. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, "ability," "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "impact," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "value," "will," "would" and similar expressions or variations. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, TriNet's expectations regarding the impact of its product offerings, continued sales growth and client retention, and long-term growth in light of current economic uncertainty. These statements are not guarantees of future performance but are based on management's expectations as of the date hereof and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from our current expectations and any past or future results, performance or achievements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include: our ability to manage unexpected changes in workers' compensation and health insurance claims and costs by WSEs; our ability to mitigate the unique business risks we face as a co-employer; the effects of volatility in the financial and economic environment on the businesses that make up our client base; loss of clients for reasons beyond our control and the short-term contracts we typically use with our clients; the impact of regional or industry-specific economic and health factors on our operations; the impact of failures or limitations in the business systems and centers we rely upon; the impact of discontinuing our discretionary credits on our business and client loyalty and retention; changes in our insurance coverage or our relationships with key insurance carriers; our ability to improve our services and technology to satisfy client and regulatory expectations; our ability to effectively integrate businesses we have acquired or may acquire in the future; our ability to effectively manage and improve our operational effectiveness and resiliency; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the effects of increased competition and our ability to compete effectively; the impact on our business of cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents; our ability to protect against and remediate cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents, whether intentional or inadvertent and whether attributable to us or our service providers; our ability to comply with evolving data privacy and security laws; our ability to manage changes in, uncertainty regarding, or adverse application of the complex laws and regulations that govern our business; changing laws and regulations governing health insurance and employee benefits; our ability to be recognized as an employer of worksite employees and for our benefits plans to satisfy all requirements under federal and state regulations; changes in the laws and regulations that govern what it means to be an employer, employee or independent contractor; the impact of new and changing laws regarding remote work; our ability to comply with the licensing requirements that govern our solutions; the outcome of existing and future legal and tax proceedings; fluctuation in our results of operations and stock price due to factors outside of our control; our ability to comply with the restrictions of our credit facility and meet our debt obligations; and the impact of concentrated ownership in our stock by Atairos and other large stockholders. Any of these factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results.

Further information on risks that could affect TriNet's results is included in our filings with the SEC, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our investor relations website at http://investor.trinet.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . Copies of these filings are also available by contacting TriNet Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (510) 875-7201. Except as required by law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements in this press release, and any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, we do not assume any obligation, and do not intend, to update any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Key Financial and Operating Metrics

We regularly review certain key financial and operating metrics to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance and make strategic decisions. These key financial and operating metrics may change over time. Our key financial and operating metrics for the periods presented were as follows:



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share and Operating Metrics data) 2024

2023

% Change Income Statement Data:











Total revenues $ 1,264

$ 1,246

1 % Operating income 122

169

(28)

Net income 91

131

(31)

Diluted net income per share of common stock 1.78

2.17

(18)

Non-GAAP measures (1):











Adjusted EBITDA 180

223

(19)

Adjusted Net income 111

150

(26)

Operating Metrics:











Insurance Cost Ratio 86 %

82 %

4

Average WSEs (2) 348,164

327,107

6 % Total WSEs at period end (2) 351,919

328,299

7

Average HRIS Users (3) 195,157

231,347

(16)



(1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". (2) Total WSEs and Average WSEs include approximately 19,600 and 17,600, respectively, for incremental WSEs that were charged a platform user access fee for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024,. Additionally, Total WSEs and Average WSEs include approximately 5,300 and 5,400, respectively, incremental additional service recipients. These were identified as a result of our ongoing effort to ensure that our billing practices best match the expectations of our customers. Please refer to Management Discussion & Analysis in our 2024 10-Q.

(in millions) March 31,

2024

December 31,

2023

% Change

Balance Sheet Data:











Working capital 171

115

49 % Total assets 3,968

3,693

7

Debt 1,093

1,093



Total stockholders' equity 143

78

83







Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2024

2023

% Change Cash Flow Data:











Net cash used in operating activities $ (122)

$ (77)

58 % Net cash used in investing activities (47)

(23)

104

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (30)

200

(115)

Non-GAAP measure (1):











Corporate Operating Cash Flows $ 201

$ 169

19



(1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

TRINET GROUP, INC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions except per share data) 2024 2023 Professional service revenues $ 214 $ 205 Insurance service revenues 1,050 1,041 Total revenues 1,264 1,246 Insurance costs 907 852 Cost of providing services 79 78 Sales and marketing 72 69 General and administrative 48 43 Systems development and programming 18 17 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 18 Total costs and operating expenses 1,142 1,077 Operating income 122 169 Other income (expense):



Interest expense, bank fees and other (16) (7) Interest income 18 18 Income before provision for income taxes 124 180 Income taxes 33 49 Net income $ 91 $ 131 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes (3) 3 Comprehensive income $ 88 $ 134 Net income per share:



Basic $ 1.80 $ 2.18 Diluted $ 1.78 $ 2.17 Weighted average shares:



Basic 51 60 Diluted 51 60

TRINET GROUP, INC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)



March 31,

December 31, (in millions, except share and per share data)

2024

2023 ASSETS







Current assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 298

$ 287 Investments

85

65 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments

1,059

1,269 Accounts receivable, net

11

18 Unbilled revenue, net

467

447 Prepaid expenses, net

79

67 Other payroll assets

791

381 Other current assets

50

44 Total current assets

2,840

2,578 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments, noncurrent

152

158 Investments, noncurrent

161

143 Property and equipment, net

15

17 Operating lease right-of-use asset

22

24 Goodwill

462

462 Software and other intangible assets, net

174

172 Other assets

142

139 Total assets

$ 3,968

$ 3,693 Liabilities and stockholders' equity







Current liabilities:







Accounts payable and other current liabilities

$ 122

$ 87 Revolving credit agreement borrowings

109

109 Client deposits and other client liabilities

51

65 Accrued wages

537

515 Accrued health insurance costs, net

167

175 Accrued workers' compensation costs, net

51

50 Payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings

1,611

1,438 Operating lease liabilities

14

14 Insurance premiums and other payables

7

10 Total current liabilities

2,669

2,463 Long-term debt, noncurrent

984

984 Accrued workers' compensation costs, noncurrent, net

120

120 Deferred taxes

13

13 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent

27

30 Other non current liabilities

12

5 Total liabilities

3,825

3,615 Stockholders' equity:







Preferred stock



 Common stock and additional paid-in capital

996

976 Accumulated deficit

(848)

(896) Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(5)

(2) Total stockholders' equity

143

78 Total liabilities & stockholders' equity

$ 3,968

$ 3,693

TRINET GROUP, INC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2024 2023 Operating activities



Net income $ 91 $ 131 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:



Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 18 Amortization of deferred costs 11 12 Amortization of ROU asset, lease modification, impairment, and abandonment 2 2 Stock based compensation 20 11 Provision for doubtful accounts 1 1 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



Accounts receivable, net 6 3 Unbilled revenue, net (20) 5 Prepaid expenses, net (12) (14) Other assets (21) (10) Other payroll assets (410) (180) Accounts payable and other liabilities 20 30 Client deposits and other client liabilities (14) 25 Accrued wages 23 (21) Accrued health insurance costs, net (7) (5) Accrued workers' compensation costs, net 1 (1) Payroll taxes payable and other payroll withholdings 173 (80) Operating lease liabilities (4) (4) Net cash used in operating activities (122) (77) Investing activities



Purchases of marketable securities (95) (82) Proceeds from sale and maturity of marketable securities 66 76 Acquisitions of property and equipment and projects in process (18) (17) Net cash used in investing activities (47) (23) Financing activities



Repurchase of common stock (23) (91) Awards effectively repurchased for required employee withholding taxes (7) (4) Proceeds from revolving credit agreement borrowings  495 Repayment of revolving credit agreement borrowings  (200) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (30) 200 Net change in cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted (199) 100 Cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted:



Beginning of period 1,466 1,537 End of period $ 1,267 $ 1,637





Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information



Interest paid $ 26 $ 11 Income taxes paid, net $ 7 $ 4 Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities



Cash dividend declared, but not yet paid $ 13 $  Payable for purchase of property and equipment $ 3 $ 5

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the selected financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), we monitor other non-GAAP financial measures that we use to manage our business, to make planning decisions, to allocate resources and to use as performance measures in our executive compensation plan. These key financial measures provide an additional view of our operational performance over the long term and provide information that we use to maintain and grow our business.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is used to enhance the understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance. It is not meant to be considered in isolation from, superior to, or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP Measure Definition How We Use The Measure Adjusted EBITDA Net income, excluding the effects of: income tax provision, interest expense, bank fees and other, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, stock based compensation expense, amortization of cloud computing arrangements, and transaction and integration costs.

Provides period-to-period comparisons on a consistent basis and an understanding as to how our management evaluates the effectiveness of our business strategies by excluding certain non-recurring costs, which include transaction and integration costs, as well as certain non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation and certain impairment charges recognized based on the estimated fair values. We believe these charges are either not directly resulting from our core operations or not indicative of our ongoing operations.

Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, facilitates the development of future projections and earnings growth prospects.

Provides a measure, among others, used in the determination of incentive compensation for management.

We also sometimes refer to Adjusted EBITDA margin, which is the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to total revenues. Adjusted Net Income Net income, excluding the effects of: effective income tax rate (1), stock based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, net, non-cash interest expense (2), transaction and integration costs, and the income tax effect (at our effective tax rate (1) of these pre-tax adjustments.

Provides information to our stockholders and board of directors to understand how our management evaluates our business, to monitor and evaluate our operating results, and analyze profitability of our ongoing operations and trends on a consistent basis by excluding certain non-cash charges. Corporate Operating Cash

Flows Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, excluding the effects of: Assets associated with WSEs (accounts receivable, unbilled revenue, prepaid expenses, other payroll assets and other current assets) and Liabilities associated with WSEs (client deposits and other client liabilities, accrued wages, payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings, accrued health insurance costs, accrued workers' compensation costs, insurance premiums and other payables, and other current liabilities).

Provides information that our stockholders and management can use to evaluate our cash flows from operations independent of the current assets and liabilities associated with our WSEs.

Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, used as a liquidity measure to manage liquidity between corporate and WSE related activities, and to help determine and plan our cash flow and capital strategies.

(1) Non-GAAP effective tax rate is 25.6% for the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, which excludes the income tax impact from stock-based compensation, changes in uncertain tax positions, and nonrecurring benefits or expenses from federal legislative changes. (2) Non-cash interest expense represents amortization and write-off of our debt issuance costs and loss on a terminated derivative.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA:



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2024 2023 Net income $ 91 $ 131 Provision for income taxes 33 49 Stock based compensation 20 11 Interest expense, bank fees and other 16 7 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 18 Amortization of cloud computing arrangements 2 2 Transaction and integration costs  5 Adjusted EBITDA $ 180 $ 223 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 14.2 % 17.9 %

The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted:



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share data) 2024 2023 Net income $ 91 $ 131 Effective income tax rate adjustment 1 3 Stock based compensation 20 11 Amortization of intangible assets 5 6 Transaction and integration costs  5 Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (6) (6) Adjusted Net Income $ 111 $ 150 GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 51 60 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 2.16 $ 2.49

The table below presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Corporate Operating Cash flows:



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2024 2023 Net cash used in operating activities $ (122) $ (77) Less: Change in WSE related other current assets (420) (178) Less: Change in WSE related liabilities 97 (68) Net cash used in operating activities - WSE $ (323) $ (246) Net cash provided by operating activities - Corporate $ 201 $ 169

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures for the second quarter and full-year 2024 guidance.

Low and high percentages represent increases (decreases) from the same periods in the previous year.

The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted:



Q2 2023

Q2 2024 Guidance

FY 2023

Year 2024 Guidance (in millions, except per share data) Actual

Low High

Actual

Low High Net income $ 83

(58) % (28) %

$ 375

(46) % (26) % Effective income tax rate adjustment 

158 (70)

(2)

46 2 Stock based compensation 17

8 8

59

26 26 Amortization of intangible assets 5

(9) (9)

20

(5) (5) Non-cash interest expense 1

(100) (100)

2

(73) (73) Transaction and integration costs 7

(100) (100)

17

(100) (100) Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (8)

(22) (22)

(25)

(4) (4) Adjusted Net Income $ 105

(52) % (27) %

$ 446

(40) % (22) % GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 60







57





Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.74

$ 1.00 $ 1.50

$ 7.81

$ 5.25 $ 6.80

SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc.
NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global truck rental market size is estimated to grow by USD 28.67 billion from 2023 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. North America is estimated to contribute 39% to the growth of the global market.

Get region specific data - Download a FREE Sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Truck Rental Market 2023-2027

The Truck Rental Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027.

Region Outlook

North America Europe APAC Middle East & Africa South America

1. North America - In North America, pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles are driving the market. Full-sized pickup trucks weigh between five to seven tons, while small-sized ones are under five tons. Manufacturers are making these trucks stronger to last longer. They're known for their big trunks, powerful engines, and ability to go off-road and tow heavy loads.

People in the US, Canada , and Mexico often look online to compare prices and models before renting a truck. Websites that bring together truck dealers and buyers are important for making connections.

, and often look online to compare prices and models before renting a truck. Websites that bring together truck dealers and buyers are important for making connections. Because of stricter rules on emissions and more options from carmakers, truck owners are trading in their old ones for newer models. This means there are more used trucks available, especially in the US. So, the North American market is growing because of these trends.

For detailed insights on the market share of rest of the regions and countries- Buy This Report Now

Research Analysis

The truck rental market caters to the needs of various industries, including fleet operators in the construction sector. Emission control rules and trade policies influence the market dynamics, affecting fuel prices. Last-mile delivery and urban logistics are key areas of growth, with startups disrupting the traditional vehicle rental market.

Eco-friendly trucks, such as electric and hybrid vehicles, are gaining popularity due to increasing environmental concerns. Finance lease, full-service lease, personal leasing, enterprise leasing, OEM captive, commercial banks, and NBFCs offer financing solutions to both commercial and non-commercial customers. The logistics industry and transportation on-demand continue to drive demand in the truck rental market.

Market Overview

In the truck rental market, operators provide various types of trucks for rent, including construction trucks, flatbed trucks, and moving trucks. These vehicles are essential for businesses and individuals who require large-capacity transportation for projects or relocations. Trucks come in different sizes and capabilities, such as pickup trucks, box trucks, and tractor-trailers.

Renting a truck can be an affordable solution for short-term needs, as opposed to purchasing one outright. Additionally, truck rental companies offer additional services like vehicle maintenance and insurance coverage. The truck rental industry is competitive, with companies offering various pricing structures and rental policies. Some companies may offer discounts for long-term rentals or frequent renters. Overall, the truck rental market plays a crucial role in facilitating transportation needs for businesses and individuals.

To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes!

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Venodr Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
Groundbreaking program to improve financial, physical and mental wellness for 23,000 agents nationwide

DALLAS, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- United Real Estate (United) announced the official rollout of its Financial Wellness Program. The curated bundle of services bridges longstanding gaps for independent contractors.

In addition to an ever-growing suite of marketing tools, lead generation tools, and unique commission structures that maximize an affiliate's income, United's agents and owners will now have access to a comprehensive Financial Wellness Program.

The Financial Wellness Program bridges longstanding gaps for self-employed real estate practitioners. Post this United Real Estate has unveiled a groundbreaking Financial Wellness Program that holistically addresses the long-term financial, health and well-being of its affiliates.

The package of benefits includes healthcare and family wellness plans specifically designed for independent contractors, company-sponsored financial literacy tools to guide affiliates through debt elimination, budget planning, and programmed savings with targeted goals aimed at understanding and managing money. The final pillar of the program is estate & trust planning, tax preparation, investment vehicles and retirement planning. All are resulting from new efforts by United to holistically address the long-term financial, health and well-being of its affiliates.

While much of the real estate industry is pulling back on resources for its affiliates, United is directing more investment to strategic initiatives. The Financial Wellness Program is projected to build tens of millions of dollars in true wealth for United's agents and families, based on the measured results from a pilot study. The initial pilot, involving 600+ enrollees across three brokerages, led to a combined Financial Turnaround of over $600,000 for the participants within just months of the rollout  a remarkable financial result.

"We are solving longstanding problems for self-employed practitioners. Unlike W2 employees, real estate agents do not traditionally have access to 401K retirement plans, healthcare plans or other wealth management services, for example," explained Phillip Cantrell, EVP-Strategy. "Our direct investment in services that have the power to improve the financial trajectories of our agents' lives is not only revolutionary but also perfectly aligns with our mission."

Key components of the Financial Wellness Program include curated partners United has secured on behalf of its agents and integrated within its proprietary Bullseye Agent Productivity Platform.

Better Income: United Agents retain 96% GCI  the most of any national brokerage, as documented by real estate strategist and author Mike DelPrete .





. Health & Wellness services: access to affordable, high-quality PPO health, dental and vision plans designed for independent contractors and their families.





Financial Literacy Tools: Ramsey Solutions Smart Dollar  a company-sponsored financial wellness benefit based on principles that have helped millions of people ditch debt and save wisely over the last 30 years, including budget setting and creating achievable financial goals, all tracked from any digital device.





 a company-sponsored financial wellness benefit based on principles that have helped millions of people ditch debt and save wisely over the last 30 years, including budget setting and creating achievable financial goals, all tracked from any digital device. Wealth Management Services: access to private banking, wealth planning services and comprehensive financial planning, including estates, trusts and wills.

"Embracing change, quickly pivoting when appropriate and making strategic investments is one of our core competitive strengths. It is core to our culture. Now is the perfect time for United to come in with our systems and tools while others are pulling back to navigate the remainder of the current challenged market conditions. Our ability to deploy our resources into the company is helping us grow in a smart and sustainable manner, and we are perfectly positioned and thriving in a downturn," commented Dan Duffy, Chief Executive Officer. "What we are setting into motion now will build multi-generational wealth for our agents, brokers and auctioneers by filling a void in much needed services."

United Real Estate is now America's No. 3 fastest-growing real estate company, as revealed by HousingWire's Five-Year Top Mover ranking. The firm's five-year growth rate was more than 725% in transaction sides and volume, driven by organic growth, franchise expansion and merger activity. Franchise Times ranked United as a top 20 "smartest-growth" U.S. company for the third time; it is the sole real estate company in the ranking.

About United Real Estate

United Real Estate (United)  a division of United Real Estate Group  was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to real estate brokers and agents in the rapidly changing real estate brokerage industry. United provides the latest training, marketing and technology tools to agents and brokers under a flat-fee, transaction-based agent commission model. By leveraging the company's proprietary cloud-based Bullseye Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, United delivers a more profitable outcome for agents and brokers. United Real Estate operates in 32 states with 156 offices and more than 20,400 agents. The company produced over 70,000 transactions and $27.8 billion in sales volume in 2023.

About United Real Estate Group

United Real Estate Group (UREG) operates United Real Estate and United Country Real Estate, addressing the unique market needs of suburban, major metropolitan urban and rural markets. Utilizing the cloud-based Bullseye Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, UREG offers the latest training, marketing and technology tools producing a significant competitive advantage. The platform realizes a decade-long investment in virtual agent and brokerage technology services and is powered by a 2.6 million listings data warehouse generating over 3 million monthly visitors and 30,000+ leads per year. Together, the United Real Estate Group supports more than 590 offices and over 23,100 real estate and auction professionals across four continents. United Real Estate Group produced more than 89,000 transactions and $35.2 billion in sales volume in 2023. Through its in-house advertising agency, UREG offers differentiating marketing support and collateral for specialized lifestyle property websites as well as access to a 800,000+ opt-in buyer database. For more information about United Real Estate or United Country Real Estate, please visit UnitedRealEstate.com or UnitedCountry.com.

To learn more about United Real Estate, brokerage succession planning, brokerage valuation and sale or franchising opportunities, visit GrowWithUnited.com. Agents interested in learning about career opportunities with United Real Estate can visit JoinUnitedRealEstate.com.

Media Contact:

April Gonzalez

Media & Investor Relations

[email protected]

504-237-3500

SOURCE United Real Estate
Study Decodes Twenty Years of Patent Litigation: Median Damages, Venue Shifts, and Injunctions Under the Microscope

NEW YORK, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly released study from Marcum LLP reveals surprising trends in two decades of patent litigation, shedding light on unexpected patterns that counter the steady increase in patents granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The 2024 Marcum Patent Litigation Study examines the decline in patent infringement lawsuits, median damage awards, the impact of court decisions on permanent injunctions, and shifting legal venue preferences, providing strategic insight for business and legal professionals.

Key Findings:

This study offers insight into the trends and shifts that may influence how businesses approach patent litigation Post this

Overall Drop in Litigation: Although the number of patents granted annually continues to rise, the number of patent infringement lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts has decreased significantly. In 2013, 6,497 cases were filed, but by 2022, this number had dropped to 3,639.

Although the number of patents granted annually continues to rise, the number of patent infringement lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts has decreased significantly. In 2013, 6,497 cases were filed, but by 2022, this number had dropped to 3,639. Median Damages : Over the last 20 years, median damages in patent cases are approximately $3.7 million . Excluding default judgments, this rises to $5.6 million , peaking at $9 million in 2005 and more recently trending downward to $2.4 million .

: Over the last 20 years, median damages in patent cases are approximately . Excluding default judgments, this rises to , peaking at in 2005 and more recently trending downward to . Permanent Injunctions : Post eBay Inc. v. MercExchange , permanent injunctions granted fell sharply, with a noticeable annual decline from 80 to 36 over the last fifteen years.

: Post , permanent injunctions granted fell sharply, with a noticeable annual decline from 80 to 36 over the last fifteen years. Venue Shifts : The TC Heartland decision reshaped venue preferences, diminishing the Eastern District of Texas's dominance in favor of the Western District of Texas . However, recent changes are also affecting the Western District's status.

: The decision reshaped venue preferences, diminishing the Eastern District of dominance in favor of the Western District of . However, recent changes are also affecting the Western District's status. Enhanced Damages: After Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc., from 2003 to 2022, 22% of cases saw enhanced damages due to willful infringement, averaging a 2.3x award multiplier.

"The research effort behind the patent litigation study was substantial, aimed at going beyond academic analysis to provide a strategic perspective on intellectual property trends," said William Scally, the lead author of the study and the National Leader of Litigation Advisory Services at Marcum LLP. "The findings of this study offer insight into the trends and shifts that may influence how businesses approach patent litigation and consider intellectual property management strategy moving forward."

Marcum's litigation support team utilized Westlaw databases, Law360, and CaseText to provide this comprehensive overview of patent litigation trends.

To download the complete study, please visit https://info.marcumllp.com/2024-marcum-patent-litigation-study

About Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP is a top-ranked national accounting and advisory firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurial, middle-market companies and high net worth individuals achieve their goals. Marcum's industry-focused practices offer deep insight and specialized services to privately held and publicly registered companies, and nonprofit and social sector organizations. The Firm also provides a full complement of technology, wealth management, and executive search and staffing services. Headquartered in New York City, Marcum has offices in major business markets across the U.S. and select international locations. #AskMarcum.

SOURCE Marcum LLP
MONTREALAVN Hall of Fame director Mike Quasar assembles a cast of top male talent for Tempting Desires, the latest release from Mile High Media's gay banner Icon Male, available now on all platforms.

Along with cover models Cazden Hunter and Zak Bishop, the movie stars Pierce Paris, Nick Fitt, Brian Bonds, Clark Davis, Benvi and Greg Dixxon.

"Cazden Hunter and Zak Bishop show their true connection in their scene, Mile High vice president Jon Blitt said. The action only gets hotter as Mike Quasar captures these men playing out these erotic fantasies in true Icon Male fashionwith real chemistry and intense action.

For more, visit www.IconMale.com and follow the brand on X @IconMale
New research from the global research and advisory firm explains the challenges federal departments and agencies face in serving vulnerable communities. In its recently published blueprint, Info-Tech highlights the potential for AI initiatives to bring positive change to marginalized populations. The effectiveness of these initiatives hinges on robust community engagement and ensuring that AI technologies are tailored to meet the unique needs and concerns of vulnerable communities while avoiding cultural misunderstandings.

Info-Tech Research Group's "AI for Good: A Framework to Support Vulnerable People in Society" blueprint outlines AI's crucial role in supporting and empowering vulnerable communities. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

TORONTO, April 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Info-Tech Research Group has published a comprehensive blueprint that offers to IT leaders within the public sector an in-depth analysis of AI's potential to impact vulnerable populations. Titled AI for Good: A Framework to Support Vulnerable People in Society, the firm's research-backed resource advises that it is the responsibility of federal governments to ensure that AI acts as an inclusive force to enhance individual capabilities and transform systemic structures across sectors such as healthcare, social services, and employment.

With the complex challenges that vulnerable communities face daily, the firm advises in the new blueprint that it is crucial for policymakers and social leaders to adopt innovative approaches that foster equity and access. These communities often encounter barriers to accessing and benefiting from AI technologies, which can limit their potential for improvement. Covering a range of applications, from enhancing personal functions to addressing potential job displacement, the resource will equip leaders with the knowledge to use AI not just effectively but ethically, ensuring the technology's benefits extend to all layers of the population.

"While AI offers promising solutions for many areas, such as personalized healthcare and streamlined social services, it also poses challenges that require federal oversight, such as job losses, data privacy issues, and systemic biases," says Paul Chernousov, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "By adopting a balanced approach that acknowledges both the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, federal governments can lead the way in creating a national AI ecosystem that is equitable, ethical, and truly beneficial for everyone, including the most vulnerable among us."

The firm's research highlights the challenges faced by governmental departments and agencies serving vulnerable communities, particularly where limited resources restrict investment in AI research, development, and maintenance. Info-Tech also points to the potential benefits that AI initiatives can offer, bringing substantial positive change to a community. The effectiveness of these initiatives in such communities relies on robust engagement, ensuring that the technology meets their unique needs and concerns while steering clear of cultural misunderstandings. Additionally, when choosing vendors offering Gen AI functionality, the firm advises IT leaders that it is crucial to evaluate whether the solutions generate new outputs rather than just predictive outputs.

While AI introduces complex challenges, its transformative potential and capacity to empower individuals and communities make it an indispensable technology within the federal government. The technology can revolutionize service delivery by enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and personalization across various federal departments and agencies, reshaping how services are provided to the community.

The new blueprint emphasizes AI's crucial role in supporting and empowering vulnerable communities and suggests the following key areas where AI can make a significant impact:

Personal empowerment: Technological advancements can enhance individual capabilities and provide tools to improve vulnerable people's daily lives, especially those with disabilities. Tailored AI solutions enable personalized support that bridges gaps in accessibility and functionality. Inclusive development: AI's potential to cater to marginalized populations paves the way for additional technologies that meet vulnerable people's diverse needs. With intentionally empowering design and proper investment behind it, AI can be a force for inclusion and equality. Community engagement: AI-driven platforms can foster communication and participation with and within vulnerable communities, ensuring responsiveness to their needs. By facilitating dialogue and feedback, AI can empower communities to have a voice in a government's decision-making processes. Systemic transformation: AI's ability to automate complex tasks revolutionizes entire industries and creates efficiency and innovation in domains most used by underserved communities. From healthcare diagnostics to business operations, AI's broad applications may redefine how services are delivered.

Info-Tech advises in the blueprint that the effectiveness of AI initiatives in supporting communities relies on strategic planning and execution. Therefore, IT leaders must establish clear policies and trust-building measures, such as transparency and contestability. These measures are crucial to integrating AI successfully and ethically into social support systems, ensuring that it aligns with and enhances the values of the community it serves.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Paul Chernousov, an expert in industry practices, and access to the complete AI for Good: A Framework to Support Vulnerable People in Society blueprint, please contact [email protected].

Info-Tech LIVE 2024

Registration is now open for Info-Tech Research Group's annual IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2024, taking place September 17 to 19, 2024, at the iconic Bellagio in Las Vegas. This premier event offers journalists, podcasters, and media influencers access to exclusive content, the latest IT research and trends, and the opportunity to interview industry experts, analysts, and speakers. To apply for media passes to attend the event or gain access to research and expert insights on trending topics, please contact [email protected].

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wacker Chemical Corporation's pioneering site in the United States announces its 60th anniversary celebration for Saturday, April 27. Originating from Munich, Germany, WACKER began silicone manufacturing in Adrian, Michigan, in 1969. The facility was initially built and owned by Stauffer Chemicals in 1964. WACKER assumed full ownership in 1987.

Wacker Chemical Corporation's 240-acre site in Adrian, Michigan, celebrates its 60th anniversary and is WACKER's first site in the United States. Approximately 300 team members supply diverse industries with silicone raw materials, fluids, and emulsions and develop new business areas, such as specialty silicones for wound dressings.

"We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude and congratulations to the Wacker Chemical Corporation in Adrian upon its 60th anniversary," said State of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Over the last six decades, the Wacker Chemical Corporation in Adrian has sought to build innovative and environmentally conscious products that power important industries in our state and around the globe."

Guided by WACKER's global leadership, the Adrian facility has been at the forefront of silicone manufacturing in the U.S., driving innovation and contributing significantly to various emerging industries. Leveraging WACKER's expertise in silicone raw materials, fluids, and emulsions, the site has played a pivotal role in advancing automotive technologies and introducing specialized silicone applications, such as silicone-coated dressings and bandages for wound care. These products boast skin-friendly properties, superior adhesive qualities, and enhanced patient comfort, meeting the evolving needs of consumers in the healthcare sector and beyond.

"For more than 100 years, WACKER has proven its leadership and innovative spirit by taking a multifaceted approach to a sustainable world," said David Wilhoit, president and CEO of Wacker Chemical Corporation. "We are proud of the many accomplishments of our team members in Adrian who daily demonstrate the wisdom of WACKER's investment in the United States."

Having once served as WACKER's regional headquarters, the Adrian site's significance was further amplified with the establishment of WACKER's regional innovation center in May 2022. This state-of-the-art facility, housing Wacker Chemical Corporation's headquarters, has been instrumental in driving WACKER Group's business activities across North and Central America, encompassing finance, marketing, sales, and technical departments, alongside hosting the WACKER ACADEMY and technical center.

The commemorative anniversary event not only honors the dedication of current and former employees but also recognizes the profound social and economic impact the Adrian site has had on the city of Adrian and Lenawee County. Attendees include WACKER employees, retirees, community leaders, elected officials, and business partners, all gathered at the 240-acre site, which currently employs approximately 300 team members. The celebration features tours, speeches, and festivities, symbolizing six decades of resilience, innovation, and community partnership.

"Adrian is proud to have been WACKER's pioneering investment in the United States," stated Tom Urbanowski, senior director of operations for Wacker Chemical Corporation in Adrian. "Over the past 60 years, our team members have safely showcased the United States as a strategic and fruitful investment destination for WACKER."

As WACKER's inaugural presence in the United States, the Adrian site has laid the foundation for the company's expansive regional footprint. Wacker Chemical Corporation now comprises more than eight production sites nationwide. Its ongoing success underscores its pivotal role in WACKER's North American operations.

Situated within a foreign trade zone (FTZ), the Adrian site enjoys various customs benefits while steadfastly upholding environmental stewardship. Adrian team members have actively collaborated with local partners in Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for over two decades, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to environmental preservation. Such efforts have earned the site recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wildlife Habitat Council, further solidifying WACKER's dedication to sustainability and conservation.

For more information about WACKER's operations in Adrian, Mich., click here to visit the company's webpage.

For further information, please contact:

Wacker Chemical Corporation

Media Relations & Information

James Barnes

Phone +01 734-546-4951

[email protected]

www.wacker.com

The Company in Brief:

WACKER is a global company with state-of-the-art specialty chemical products found in countless everyday items, with applications ranging from tile adhesives to computer chips. It has a worldwide network of 27 production sites, 22 technical competence centers and 48 sales offices with some 16,400 employees and annual sales of around 6.4 billion (2023).

WACKER operates through four business divisions. The chemical divisions WACKER SILICONES and WACKER POLYMERS supply products (silicones, polymeric binders) for the automotive, construction, chemical, consumer goods and medical technology industries. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, the life sciences division, specializes in bioengineered products such as biopharmaceuticals and food additives. WACKER POLYSILICON produces hyperpure polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries.

SOURCE Wacker Chemical Corporation
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholders of Zinzino AB (publ) are hereby invited to the annual general meeting on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 1:30 PM at the company's premises at Hulda Mellgrens gata 5 in Gothenburg. Registration begins at 1:15 PM.

The company aims to webcast the meeting to enable remote participation.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPANY MEETING

Shareholders wishing to attend the annual general meeting must:

i. be entered in the shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB by Friday, May 17, 2024, and

ii. have notified their intention to attend the meeting by Friday, May 24, 2024, as per the instructions below.

Shareholders who have their shares nominee-registered must temporarily register the shares in their own name in Euroclear Sweden AB's shareholder register. Such registration, which usually takes a few days, must be completed by Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Therefore, the nominee should be notified well before this date.

HOW TO REGISTER

Registration for the meeting can be done in the following ways:

By mail to Zinzino AB, Hulda Mellgrens gata 5, 421 32 Vastra Frolunda, or

By email to [email protected]

Upon registration, shareholders should provide:

Name

Personal/organization number

Address and daytime phone number

If applicable, the name and number (maximum of two) of assistants accompanying the shareholder at the meeting.

Shareholders who wish to be represented by proxy should issue a written and dated power of attorney for the proxy. Proxy forms can be obtained through the company and will also be available on the company's website, www.zinzino.com. If participation is by proxy or representative, power of attorney, registration certificates, or other authorization documents should be sent to the company well in advance of the company meeting.

AGENDA PROPOSALS

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Election of a chairman for the meeting.

3. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

4. Decision to broadcast a video recording of the meeting over the Internet.

5. Election of one or two adjusters to, together with the chairman, approve the minutes.

6. Approval of the agenda.

7. Examination of whether the meeting has been duly convened.

8. Address by the CEO.

9. Presentation of the annual report and auditor's report, and if applicable, the consolidated financial statements and auditor's report for the group.

10. Resolutions regarding:

a. the adoption of the income statement and balance sheet, and the consolidated income statement and balance sheet for 2023,

b. the allocation of the company's profit or loss according to the adopted balance sheet,

c. the discharge of the board members and the CEO from liability.

11. Determination of the number of board members, deputy board members, and auditors to be elected by the meeting.

12. Resolution on remuneration for the board members and the auditor.

13. Election of board members and the chairman of the board, and auditors.

14. Decision on the establishment of principles for the nomination committee.

15. Decision on a directed new share issue with payment through the offsetting of claims to Enhanzz AG.

16. Decision on authorizing the board for rights issues.

17. Decision on authorizing the board for directed share issues.

18. Presentation of the board's remuneration report for approval.

19. Decision on the authorization to adjust.

20. Closing of the meeting.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

In accordance with the decision of the annual general meeting in 2023, a nomination committee has been established. The nomination committee consists of Magnus Gotenfelt (representing Saele Invest AS and the Saele family), Cecilia Halldner (representing Cashflow Holding ApS, Peter Sorensen), and Hans Jacobsson (chairman of the board of Zinzino AB). The chairman of the nomination committee is Magnus Gotenfelt.

PROPOSALS BY THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Item 2. Election of a chairman for the meeting.

The nomination committee proposes that Hans Jacobsson or, in his absence, the person the nomination committee appoints instead, is elected as chairman of the meeting.

Item 11. Determination of the number of board members, deputy board members, and auditors to be elected by the meeting.

The nomination committee proposes that the board should consist of five board members and no deputy board member and that there should be one auditor.

Item 12. Resolution on remuneration for the board members and the auditor.

The nomination committee proposes that the board remuneration be increased by 7% for the chairman and 6% for the other members compared to the previous year and be distributed with a total of 1,180,000 SEK, of which 320,000 SEK to the chairman, 180,000 SEK to each of the other board members, 60,000 SEK to the chairman of the audit committee, and 35,000 SEK to the member of the audit committee, as well as 25,000 SEK to the chairman of the remuneration committee and 20,000 SEK to the member of the remuneration committee.

The nomination committee proposes that the auditor's fee be paid according to the invoice approved by the company.

Item 13. Election of board members and the chairman of the board as well as auditors

The nomination committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the re-election of the members Hans Jacobsson, Staffan Hillberg, Pierre Martensson, Ingela Nordenhav, and Anna Frick.

The nomination committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the appointment of the registered auditing firm BDO Goteborg AB (BDO) as the company's auditor. BDO has announced that, assuming the nomination committee's proposal is adopted by the annual general meeting, authorized auditor Katarina Eklund will be appointed as the principal responsible auditor.

Item 14. Decision on the establishment of principles for the nomination committee

The nomination committee proposes that the meeting should continue to have a nomination committee appointed and operating according to the following principles, which correspond to the previous year's principles for the nomination committee.

The chairman of the board shall, no later than the end of October 2024, contact the two largest shareholders or groups of shareholders in terms of votes, based on the ownership statistics from Euroclear Sweden AB on the last banking day of September before the annual general meeting, and ask them to appoint one member each to the nomination committee. If any of the two largest shareholders or groups of shareholders in terms of votes decline to appoint a member to the nomination committee, the next following shareholder in terms of ownership share will be asked to appoint a member to the nomination committee. The mandate period shall run until a new nomination committee has been appointed. The composition of the nomination committee shall be announced no later than six months before the company's annual general meeting. If a member leaves the nomination committee before its work is completed, the shareholder who appointed the member shall be entitled to appoint a new member. The nomination committee's task includes submitting proposals to the annual general meeting in 2024 regarding (i) chairman of the annual general meeting, (ii) the number of board members, (iii) remuneration to the board members and any remuneration for committee work, (iv) election of and decision on remuneration to the auditor, (v) election of board members and the chairman of the board, and (vi) principles for the nomination committee.

THE BOARD'S PROPOSAL FOR DECISION

Item 10 (b) - Resolution on the allocation of the company's profit according to the adopted balance sheet.

The board of directors and the CEO of Zinzino AB (publ)

propose that the available profit of 228 470 538

Be allocated as follows:

A dividend of 3 SEK per share to be distributed to the shareholders

amounting to 101 824 788

The remaining amount to be carried forward. 126 645 750

Total 228 470 538

The board proposes Wednesday, May 29, 2024, as the record date for the dividend, which means that the last day for trading shares including the dividend is Monday, May 27, 2024. If the meeting decides according to the proposal, the dividend payment is expected to be made on Monday, June 3, 2024, through Euroclear Sweden AB.

At the time of the board's proposal, the total number of shares in the company is 33,941,596, of which 5,113,392 are series A shares and 28,828,204 are series B shares. The proposed dividend amount of 101,824,788 SEK may change if the company issues new shares before the dividend record date.

Rationale

The Board has proposed that the Annual General Meeting 2024 decides on a profit distribution that results in a dividend of 3 SEK per share to be distributed to the shareholders as an ordinary dividend. The total dividend distribution thus amounts to 101,824,788 SEK.

The company's dividend policy states that Zinzino shall distribute at least 50% of the group's net profit as long as the solidity and liquidity permit. Due to the good profitability in 2023, there is room for an increased dividend distribution in 2024. The proposal is within the framework of the dividend policy adopted by the company.

The Board believes that the proposed dividend does not prevent the company from fulfilling its short-term and long-term obligations, nor from making the necessary investments. Therefore, the proposed dividend is justified considering the precautionary principle stated in Chapter 17, Section 3, paragraphs 2-3 of the Swedish Companies Act (ABL).

Regarding the company's reported results for the accounts, the financial position at the balance sheet date, and financing and capital use during the year, reference is made to the company's annual report 2023, which is published on www.zinzino.com.

Item 15. Decision on directed new share issue with payment through the set-off of claims to Enhanzz AG

Zinzino acquired the company Enhanzz IP AG on April 5, 2022, including intellectual property rights to its brands HANZZ+HEIDII and YU. In addition, Enhanzz Global AG was acquired with its associated distribution organization and inventory. Zinzino paid a fixed purchase price of 1 million EUR, divided into 75% in cash and 25% in newly issued Zinzino B shares. In addition, conditional additional purchase prices based on the sales development generated by the acquired distribution organization during the period 20222026 were agreed upon. The total additional purchase prices are estimated to amount to 3.8 million EUR but may, in the case of maximum outcomes, reach up to 6 million EUR and are to be regulated 100% with newly issued Zinzino shares. The cash part of the purchase price was financed with cash at hand.

Now the Board proposes that the meeting decides to issue Zinzino B shares for the part of the additional purchase price that was determined during 2023 according to the existing conditions.

Therefore, the Board proposes that the meeting decides to increase the share capital by 11,027 SEK by issuing 110,270 new B shares. The new B share entitles the holder to dividends for the first time on the dividend record date that falls immediately after the new issue has been registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the share has been entered in the share register at Euroclear Sweden AB. The right to subscribe for the 110,270 B shares shall belong exclusively to Enhanzz AG. Subscription for new shares shall take place on a separate subscription list no later than June 15, 2024, although the Board shall have the right to extend the subscription period. Payment for the shares shall be made by setting off Enhanzz AG's claim on Zinzino AB, amounting to 9,108,328 SEK. The subscription price per newly subscribed share amounts to 82.60 SEK. The part of the subscription price that exceeds the quotient value shall be added to the free premium fund.

The reasons for deviating from the shareholders' pre-emption rights are to enable the acquisition that the current set-off claim originates from. The possibility of implementing strategically important acquisitions for the company through directed new share issues is of significant operational importance to the company. This, in the opinion of the Board, with sufficient strength, indicates that it is in the interest of the company and its shareholders to carry out an issue with deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights. The current subscription price follows the principles outlined in the current share transfer agreement, which was determined after extensive negotiations with the subscriber. Therefore, the Board considers the subscription price to be market-rate.

For the resolutions above to be valid, the support of shareholders representing at least 9/10 of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

Item 16. Decision on authorization for rights issues

The Board proposes that the meeting authorizes the Board, on one or more occasions during the period until the next annual general meeting, to decide on the new issue of B shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles against cash payment and/or with provisions for contribution in kind or set-off or otherwise with conditions and thereby being able to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emption rights. Any options or convertibles issued under this authorization shall entitle to subscription of B shares.

The issues shall be made at a market-rate subscription price determined by the Board. The number of B shares that may be issued, respectively the number of B shares that may be subscribed for with the support of option rights for new subscription of shares, respectively the number of B shares that convertibles shall entitle to conversion to shall collectively amount to such a number as fits within the company's articles of association concerning the number of shares and share capital.

The purpose of the authorization and the reasons for any deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights are that issues should be able to take place to finance the company's operations, commercialization and development of the company's products and markets, and/or acquisition of operations, companies or parts of companies, and/or to enable a broadening of the company's shareholder base.

For decisions according to the above, the support of shareholders representing at least 2/3 of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

Item 20. Decision on authorization for directed share issues

The Board proposes that the general meeting authorizes the Board, on one or more occasions until the next annual general meeting, to decide on new issues of B shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles against cash payment and/or with provisions for contribution in kind or set-off, or otherwise with terms and conditions, and in connection therewith, to be able to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights. Any warrants or convertibles issued under this authorization shall entitle to the subscription of B shares.

The issues should be made at a subscription price determined by the Board, which should correspond to the market value. The total number of B shares that can be issued, or the number of B shares that can be subscribed for with new subscription rights, or the number of B shares to which convertibles can be converted, shall together not exceed 3,000,000 B shares.

The purpose of the authorization and the reason for any deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights is to enable the company to raise funds for the financing of the company's operations, commercialization and development of the company's products and markets, and/or the acquisition of operations, companies or parts of companies, and/or to enable a broadening of the shareholder base of the company.

For the decision as above, the approval of shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting is required.

NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES

The total number of shares in the company amounts to 33,941,596, of which 5,113,392 are series A shares and 28,828,204 are series B shares. The total number of votes in the company amounts to 7,996,212.40. The company does not hold any own shares.



These figures may change if the company issues new shares before the annual general meeting.

SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHT TO REQUEST INFORMATION

The Board and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the Board believes that it can be done without significant harm to the company, provide information about circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, and about circumstances that may affect the assessment of the company's financial situation. The obligation to provide information also applies to the company's relationship with another group company and the group's accounts, as well as such circumstances regarding subsidiaries which are mentioned above.

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS

Accounting documents, the auditor's report, and other documents to be dealt with at the meeting will be available at the company's office at Hulda Mellgrens Gata 5, 421 32 Vastra Frolunda, and on its website, www.zinzino.com, no later than three weeks before the meeting. The documents will also be sent free of charge to shareholders who request them and provide their postal address.

PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

For information on how your personal data is processed, see Euroclear's Privacy Policy for Corporate Events.

Gothenburg, April 2024

Zinzino AB

The Board

Link to the Notice:

https://www.zinzino.com/site/GB/en-GB/about/investor-relations/

For more information please contact:

Dag Bergheim Pettersen CEO Zinzino +47 (0) 932 25 700, email: [email protected]

Fredrik Nielsen CFO Zinzino +46 707 900 174, email: [email protected]

Images for free publication:

[email protected]

Certified Adviser: Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ.)

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/zinzino/r/zinzino-ab--publ--notice-of-annual-general-meeting-in-zinzino-ab-on-may-27--2024,c3968305

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/10976/3968305/881a2cc96373e1f4.pdf Pressrelease Notice of General Meeting of Zinzino AB
PHOENIXMonths after a hung jury found Backpage.com co-founder Michael Lacey guilty of international concealment money laundering for transferring funds to an overseas bank in Hungary, a federal district judge acquitted him of 53 of the remaining 84 criminal counts. U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa of the District of Arizona issued the order on April 23.

"After viewing the record in the light most favorable to the Government, the Court finds there is insufficient evidence to support convictions," the judge wrote, referring to Lacey and two other Backpage executives who were found guilty in a November 2023 retrial.

The other two executives are Jed Brunst and Scott Spear, reports journalist Stephen Lemons in a Thursday piece for the Lacey-connected Frontpage Confidential news blog.

Lemons explains how these acquittals came to fruition. Rule 29 motions, Lemons wrote, are made when the government fails to present evidence that would result in convictions and could be sustained if challenged.

Judge Humetewa granted a Rule 29 motion on 53 of the counts made against Lacey in hopes of a retrial that federal prosecutors intend to carry out in August 2024.

Brunst and Spear were also acquitted on several charges. Brunst had 16 charges removed, and Spear had 10.

"Essentially, the feds want Lacey, a longtime free speech advocate, to die in prison," reports Lemons. "Theyve already caused the death of Jim Larkin, Laceys longtime business partner, fellow newspaperman, and co-defendant in the Backpage case." Larkin committed suicide in July at the age of 74.

Larkin and Lacey transformed the Phoenix New Times into a formidable paper of record covering Maricopa County and the greater Phoenix, Arizona area.

They took on major political figures, including former Maricopa County sheriff and convicted criminal Joe Arpaio and the late U.S. Senator John McCain.

The two quickly developed a market for alt-weekly news outlets and generated a journalism empire that featured the iconic Village Voice, based in New York. Seeing a market for sex personals and classifieds, the pair developed Backpage.com as an early leader in online marketing and a friendly environment for legal and consensual sex work.

In 2018, both were indicted by conservative-leaning federal prosecutors for allegedly violating criminal provisions implemented by the Trump-era FOSTA-SESTA law. This has developed into one of the most noteworthy fights over freedom of speech online and the First Amendment ever seen.
LA CROSSE, Wis.Dr. Joe Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, went viral earlier this year after being outed as adult content creators and healthy lifestyle social media influencers.

Gow served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse until December 27, 2023, when the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents unanimously removed him from the position. Using the online handle "Sexy Happy Couple," Gow and Wilson share vegan cooking tips and recipes. They also star in NSFW scenes they post to OnlyFans and LoyalFans with some of the most popular performers in the adult industry. Names like Lauren Phillips, Sofie Marie, Nina Harley, India Summer, Danny Mountain, Ryan Driller, Tylar Nixon, Will Pounder and Damon Dice have appeared in scenes along with Gow and Wilson. Both also produced videos of themselves.

The Associated Press reported recently that Gow is now facing three professional misconduct charges in a bid to remove him entirely from the university. Gow is a tenured professor and teaches in the Communications Department at UW-La Crosse. However, interim chancellor Betsy Morgan, the woman who replaced him during the system's search for a new university chancellor, sent a letter to Gow accusing him of unethical conduct, failing to cooperate with an investigation, and using university computer systems to produce pornography. March 29 is when Morgan informed Gow of the charges. If he is found in violation, his position as a tenured professor would be at risk, and he could be removed from teaching at UW campuses.

"The interim chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has filed charges to have me fired from my tenured faculty position at the university," Gow told AVN in an email. "I am exercising my right to have the charges heard by the [...] Faculty Senate's Hearing Committee. I have requested an open (public) hearing, which should take place in the coming weeks.

"I look forward to defending myself at the hearing," he continued. "I am waiting to see what the outcome of my hearing is."

Gow also explained that he feels as if the university wants to destabilize his ability to live and completely discredit himself as a respected academic.

"Because I do not have the unlimited financial resources the University appears to possess ... I will be defending myself at the hearing," he explained. "At present, the university has put me on paid leave. I am eager to return to teaching, and my wife is not continuing her academic career."

Despite this tumult, Gow remarked, "We are very grateful for the extraordinary support we've received from fans and people who work in the adult industry.

"I truly would not be doing any of this without [Wilson], and our shared experiences have greatly enhanced our intimacy, both on and off-screen. As one fan kindly commented, 'Your videos are hot, in a wholesome way.' That describes what we're trying to do perfectly. And we only wish the people trying to fire me from my teaching position felt the same way."
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
Pratik Mathur, a counsellor at Indias mission to the United Nations, responds at the General Assembly on Thursday, February 23, 2023, to Pakistan" Permanent Representative Munir Akram's comments about India. (Photo Source: UN). Image Source: IANS News

United Nations, April 26 : Making the General Assembly more effective cannot be divorced from the wider context of the reform of the UN, including the Security Council, according to India.

"Revitalisation of the General Assembly must also be seen in the wider context of the overall reform of the United Nations," Pratik Mathur, a minister at India's UN mission said on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting of the ad hoc working group on revitalising the Assembly, he said, "It is our firm belief that the urgent and comprehensive UN reform, including of the Security Council, is imperative to make it reflective of current geopolitical realities and enhance its capability to meet increasingly complex challenges of our time."

"Let us strive to make this reform of global governance architecture that is fit for purpose for the 21st century a reality in the Pact of the Future that we are currently negotiating," he said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has convened a 'Summit of the Future' in September where the world leaders are to adopt the 'Pact of the Future' to make the world organisation more effective in meeting global challenges.

The primacy of the Assembly, which is the closest to a "global parliament", must be recognised in any efforts to revitalise it, Mathur said.

"India has always been of the view that the General Assembly can be revitalised only when its position as the primary deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations is respected in letter and in spirit," he said.

"The essence of the General Assembly is in its intergovernmental nature," he said. "It is the closest thing to a global parliament."

He said that any changes to its working methods should be to enhance its role "as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations".

"The UN's success rests on the effectiveness of the Assembly as the chief deliberative and policy-making body as envisaged in the UN Charter," Mathur said.

He drew attention to the annual general debate at which the heads of state and government of most of the 193 members participate in September, but increasingly finds itself competing with other high-level events scheduled at the same time.

India "is of the view that for the revitalisation of the General Assembly, the sanctity of the annual general debate and its associated elements must be restored", he said.

The meeting "has a special place in the annual agenda of the UN and we should not let it be equated with various high-level events which do not enjoy the participation of all member states", he added.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Jerusalem, April 26 : Israel is expected to "soon" begin evacuating civilians from Rafah ahead of a planned ground attack on Gaza's southernmost city, a state-owned media outlet has reported.

The planned evacuation will start "soon", pending final approval by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Israeli Kan TV report.

Earlier on Thursday, the country's wartime cabinet and security cabinet convened to discuss a possible assault on Rafah, a city previously considered a "safe zone" from the relentless Israeli bombardments, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have found refuge.

The ministers also discussed new attempts to push forward a ceasefire that would secure the release of more than 100 hostages held in Gaza.

In late March, Netanyahu announced his approval of attack plans; however, a final execution order remains pending.

The United Nations has warned that any ground operation in Rafah would have catastrophic consequences for civilians.
Washington, April 26 : The US is preparing to negotiate with the military leadership in Niger about the "organized and responsible withdrawal" of its troops from the country.

More than 1,000 US soldiers are stationed there, according to data from last year.

The US State Department has announced that talks on a possible withdrawal would begin this week and next week in the capital Niamey.

Discussions with the military junta, ongoing since July 2023, have failed to settle on a form of security cooperation that can meet the needs and concerns of both sides, the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

Niger was a hub for the US military's counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region, but Washington's withdrawal comes in response to a demand by the military leadership which seized power in July 2023.

The junta cancelled a military cooperation agreement with the US in March, and spokesman Amadou Abdramane justified the termination with reference to "condescending behaviour" and an alleged threat of reprisals by a US delegation.

US media have already reported on the withdrawal plans and on Thursday, the New York Times said the Pentagon will also withdraw dozens of US special forces from neighbouring Chad in the days ahead.

Before the military took power, Niger was seen as a close ally in the fight against terrorism and illegal migration to Europe and a last democratic partner to the EU and US in the region.

The transition triggered a serious diplomatic crisis in the region, and neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have also pivoted away from the West towards Russia. Moscow sent Niger an air defence system and 100 military trainers at the start of the month.

--IANS/DPA

sha/
Islamabad, April 26 : Pakistan has "categorically" rejected a report by the US State Department over the human rights violations in the country last year, saying that only a "politically motivated report can ignore the alarming situation in Gaza".

"It is deeply concerning that a report purported to highlight human rights situations around the world ignores or downplays the most urgent hotspots of gross human rights violations such as in Gaza," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday.

Titled "2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Pakistan," the contents of the report are unfair, based on inaccurate information and are completely divorced from the ground reality, the ministry said.

This year's report is once again conspicuous by its lack of objectivity and politicization of the international human rights agenda, it added.

"It clearly demonstrates double standards thus undermining the international human rights discourse," according to the ministry.

Issued on April 22, the US State Department's report stated that there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Pakistan over the past year.

It said that the Pakistani government intimidates or seeks reprisal against individuals beyond its borders, including civil society activists, human rights defenders, and journalists.

The report also claimed that successive Pakistani governments tacitly approved enforced disappearances.
Jaipur, April 26 : Voting was underway for 13 seats in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan on Friday.

Voting was being held in Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali, Jalore, Rajsamand, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Banswara, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Jhalawar-Baran. A total of 152 candidates are in the fray for these seats.

Long queues were seen in the early morning in different polling booths.

Over 2.80 crore voters will decide the fate of the candidates contesting for 13 seats.

Of these, 8.66 lakh voters under the age group of 18 to 19 years old are first-time voters out of which over five lakh are boys and over three lakh voters are girls, and nine voters are third gender.

In Chittorgarh, the first 25 voters were given certificates by the district administration. In booth 147, the first voter Jamak Lal Sukhwal, 61, and the female voter Simple Vaishnav, 59, got the first certificate.

Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar was the first to vote at the polling booth in Veer Savarkar Nagar of Kota. His wife also voted along with him.

Ot of the seats going for polls on Friday, there is a triangular contest in Barmer and Banswara.

At the same time, there is a tough fight in Kota where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is in the fray against Congress' Prahlad Gunjal, who left BJP after being denied a ticket and joined Congress.

On Thursday evening, a postal ballot with the number 112369 went viral on social media. When information about this reached the Banswara district administration, the investigation started.

Banswara Collector Inderjit Yadav said that this postal ballot comes from the Dungarpur area. This information has been given to the Dungarpur Collector, he said.

On the other hand, Dungarpur Collector Ankit Kumar Singh said that the person in whose name this postal ballot has been issued is working in MBC in Banswara district. This information has been given to Banswara SP, he said, adding that action will be taken at their level.
New Delhi, April 26 : A 24-year-old man impersonating a 'pilot' of Singapore Airlines was nabbed while wandering in the Metro Skywalk area near Delhi airport, police said on Friday.

The accused was identified as Sangeet Singh, a resident of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, on Thursday a person clad in a Singapore Airlines pilot uniform was spotted wandering in the Metro Skywalk area.

"Presenting himself as a Singapore Airlines pilot to CISF personnel, he displayed an ID card hanging from his neck. Upon interception, he was identified as Sangeet Singh in possession of a Singapore Airlines ID card for in-flight operations, which were subsequently confirmed to be counterfeit upon verification," said a senior police official.

Investigations revealed that he had forged the IDs using an online app, Business Card Maker, and purchased the uniform accessories from Sector 9 in Dwarka.

"Further inquiry revealed that he had completed a one-year Aviation Hospitality course in Mumbai in 2020, and had misled his family and acquaintances by professing to work as a pilot for Singapore Airlines," said the official.

A case under sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the accused, who was apprehended," the official added.
New Delhi, April 26 : Launching a scathing attack against the Congress and INDIA bloc, BJP National President J. P. Nadda on Friday said the opposition's "hidden agenda" is to "snatch" the rights of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other backward classes and give them to Muslims.

Appeasement politics of the opposition is evident in the Congress Manifesto, the BJP president said.

He said, "BJP does not want Muslims to be neglected, but they should not take undue advantage at the expense of other communities."

"The Congress says that Muslims have the first right to the country's resources, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that they belong to the poor," he added.

"In December 2006, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remark on Muslims having the first right to the country's resources was not inadvertent. It was as an intentional statement as during a press conference in April 2009, while replying to a question in Mumbai, Manmohan Singh once again justified and reiterated his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority, and they should have first right to the country's resources," he said.

Claiming misrepresentations in Sachar Committee's report, he said the condition of Muslims has been portrayed as even worse than Dalits in it, which means that Congress had already laid the groundwork for declaring Muslims as Scheduled Castes to give them the benefits of SC reservation," he said.

The BJP National President alleged that the Congress has stated in its manifesto that there is no place for majoritarianism in the country, which means that they have "extreme hatred" towards the SCs, STs, and OBCs because the majority population in the country belongs to these poor classes.

"The Congress has a long-standing habit of robbing their (poor classes) rights," he said, adding that "Jawaharlal Nehru always stood by Muslims".

The BJP National President targeted the Congress, citing several steps taken by the previous Congress governments at the Centre and in the incumbent government led by the grand old party in various states for "appeasement politics".
New Delhi, April 26 : The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

However, a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked the Election Commission of India to examine the suggestion if the VVPAT slips may, in addition to the party symbol, have unique barcodes on them, which in turn could be counted by an electronic machine.

In his verdict, Justice Khanna passed two directions in the matter. First, all Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) will be sealed on or after May 1 on completion of the symbol loading process and will be kept in the strong room at least for 45 days post declaration of results.

"The candidates or representatives shall sign the seal. The containers containing SLUs shall be kept in strong rooms, along with EVMs, at least for a period of 45 days post declaration of results," the apex court said.

Second, the burnt memory semicontroller may be examined and verified by a team of engineers from EVM manufacturers post announcement of results on a written request made by candidates securing second and third highest votes.

"All candidates or their representatives shall have the option to remain present at the time of verification. Such a request should be made within a period of 7 days from the date of the declaration of results. After the verification process is conducted, the actual cost or expenses for the said verification will be notified by the ECI and the candidates making the said request will make payment of said expenses. Expenses will be refunded in case EVM is found to be tampered," ordered the Supreme Court.

It said that the district election officer in consultation with the team of engineers will certify the authenticity and intactness of the burnt memory of the microcontroller.

Justice Dipankar Datta, authored a separate opinion, concurring with the directions issued by Justice Khanna.

On Wednesday, the 2-judge Bench called for the presence of an Election Commission of India (ECI) official to clarify certain technical aspects pertaining to the functioning of the EVMs.

Last week, the top court reserved its verdict in the matter, observing that official acts are normally presumed to be done validly under the Indian Evidence Act and everything done by the Election Commission cannot be suspected.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second highest law officer of the Centre, had slammed the petitioners for periodically filing PILs on the eve of elections saying that the democratic choice of a voter is being turned into a joke.

He added that the issue has already been settled by the apex court with the dismissal of the pleas seeking similar relief in the past.

In April 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the ECI to increase the VVPAT slips from one Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) per Assembly constituency to five. It had issued guidelines for mandatory verification of VVPAT slips, out of five randomly selected polling stations, after completing the final round of counting votes recorded in EVMs.

A VVPAT is considered an independent verification system for voting machines, allowing voters to verify whether they have correctly cast their votes.
NEW YORKThe third official day of testimony in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump featured key witness David Pecker going into greater detail about the Republican front-runner's fears of former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult star Stormy Daniels sharing their stories of affairs with him in 2018.

Pecker is the former publisher of the tabloid National Enquirer. He arranged a "catch-and-kill" scheme with Trump and his campaign during the 2016 presidential race. He explained that he knew that the effort to buy and stifle negative stories about then-candidate Trump was a potential violation of federal election and campaign finance laws.

Federal law requires that private companies must report payments in coordination with a political campaign. Pecker testified to agreeing to be the so-called "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign by instigating the catch-and-kill scheme. Trump's personal lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, served in the role of the go-between to ensure that McDougal and Daniels were paid for their silence. McDougal alleged an affair between her and Trump from 2006 to 2007, and Daniels had sex with the former president in 2006.

Pecker paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story and killed it. When prosecutors asked Pecker whether buying McDougal's story was to influence the election results, he said, "Yes, it was." This gave a clear indication that Pecker admitted to electioneering through National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc., and failed to disclose the payments.

The 34 charges brought by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump specifically deal with payments made to Stormy Daniels; the prosecutors want to rely on Pecker's testimony to establish a pattern of behavior where the former president engaged in unethical and potentially illegal election interference.

Counsel representing Trump has argued throughout the process of the trial that the payments to McDougal and Daniels were made to protect his personal reputation and to spare his wife, Melania, and the brand of his family perpetuated through his sons and daughters, Donald Jr., Eric, Tiffany, Ivanka and Barron. However, Pecker recollected in his testimony that Trump had no concern for the personal damage the stories of his affairs could have. The New York Times observes that Trump's concerns were primarily electoral.

I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump, Pecker explained. What was also noteworthy was that Pecker disclosed to prosecutors that Trump was concerned about McDougal's story being shared in 2018, two years after he secured his election win in 2016. McDougal recounted her story to journalists, like Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker in 2018. Farrow reported about Pecker's involvement in the catch-and-kill scheme and how American Media and National Enquirer shut down stories.

Defense for Trump, led by attorney Emil Bove, began cross-examining Mr. Pecker's testimony and painting these actions as standard practices in the celebrity tabloid space. Observers in the courtroom explained that Bove started using the phrase "standard operating procedure," referring to catch-and-kill schemes. Cross-examination is expected to continue into Friday as Pecker takes the stand for a fourth day of testimony. AVN reported on the first two days of the official proceedings beginning earlier this week after an extensive jury selection.
New Delhi, April 26 : A 24-year-old sharpshooter of gangster, Naresh Sethi, wanted in a firing incident on a property dealer's office for extortion, was arrested by the Crime Branch from Delhi's Rohini area, police said on Friday.

The accused was identified as Mohit a.k.a Moji, a resident of Rohtak district in Haryana.

The officials said that Mohit is a close associate of Naresh Sethi and Akshay Gang and he used to manage the shoot-outs and harbour the shooters before and after the commission of crime till further directions from the gang leaders.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Satish Kumar said that on February 27, an incident of firing took place in the Budh Vihar police station area where two miscreants came on a bike and fired rounds on the office of Lucky Properties at Sector-24, Rohini.

The complainant Yogesh Sharma also received a message from Gangster Naresh Sethi demanding Rs two crore.

"Recently, there was a specific input regarding Mohit that he would come in sector-11, Rohini area. A trap was laid and he was nabbed," said the DCP.

On interrogation, Mohit disclosed that he is involved in several cases of robbery, murder, and the Arms Act in Haryana.

"In the initial stage of his crime, he was lodged in Hisar jail where he met the gang members of Naresh Sethi and Raju Basodi. He joined the gang as a member after coming out on bail. On the directions of gangsters Raju Basodi and Naresh Sethi, he along with other accused killed one liquor contractor namely Narender a.k.a Nanda Thekedar. In the incident, the victim was fired upon approx. 100 bullets," said the DCP.

The DCP said that Mohit came out of jail recently six months back. "He was contacted by gangster Akshay, who is the nephew of Naresh Sethi through social media. Akshay informed him to arrange for shooters to fire gunshots for the purpose of extortion," the DCP added.
Who does Lakshmi Manchu want to share screen space with? Vikrant, Diljit, Pratik Gandhi. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, April 26 : Actress Lakshmi Manchu has showered praise on Vikrant Massey, Diljit Dosanjh, and Pratik Gandhi.

The actress also expressed her desire to work with all three of them if given the opportunity.

Lakshmi told IANS: "I'm always raving about the new movies that I see and that have touched me and moved me. And yes, Vikrant Massey was just unbelievable in '12th Fail'. I'm a big fan of Prateek Gandhi right now, and I just finished seeing 'Chamkila', and wow."

She continued: "I was a fan of Diljit Dosanjh as a musician. But my God, as an actor, he's just something else. So I want to work with all of them, not just one."

The actress will next be seen in the Telugu film 'Agni Nakshatram' alongside her father, Mohan Babu.

" 'Agni Nakshatram' looks amazing. I'm super excited for people to see my dad and me together for the first time. And I think I held my own in this movie because I think my dad was not prepared to see what was coming his way with me," she shared.

After 'Agni Nakshatram', she has more projects lined up for release.

"My upcoming projects include three films in Telugu. I have a Hotstar series that is coming up, and I have a Tamil film that's ready for release," she said.
New Delhi, April 26 : The Delhi High Court has recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought the issuance of guidelines for the release of undertrial prisoners on bail under judicial oversight.

The PIL, filed by one Gautam Kumar Laha, aimed to address the issue of overcrowded jails by proposing the creation of a district-level committee comprising various officials and public members.

This committee was intended to meet monthly to recommend eligible undertrial prisoners for bail, thereby reducing jail populations and enhancing the living conditions for detainees.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, however, noted that similar matters are currently under the supervision of the Supreme Court, which has already taken significant steps towards reforming prison conditions, including the formation of Under Trial Review Committees as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) laid out by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Assistant Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Union Government, affirmed the actions already taken, referencing a 2019 directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs that instructed states and Union Territories to implement these SOPs.

"In this regard, the Supreme Court has issued directions to each state government to set up a designated committee, which has its focus on taking steps for setting up new jails, expanding the existing facilities in the jails and providing facilities to the inmates through the use of technology," the court noted.

The Bench noted that the Supreme Court has already identified specific categories of inmates eligible for early release and has directed state governments to set up committees for prison reform, including the construction of new jails and the expansion of existing facilities.

With these considerations, the High Court found no grounds to entertain the PIL, saying that the issues raised are already being addressed at the national level by the Supreme Court.

"...that since the issues raised by the Petitioner in the present petition are directly in issue . pending before the Supreme Court and are being supervised therein, we find no reason for entertaining the present petition," the court's order read.
Agartala, April 26 : Around 15 voters, including women, were injured when a swarm of bees attacked the electorate, who were in the queue to cast their votes on Friday at Barabill area of Tripura's Khowai district.

Election officials said that Fire and Emergency Service personnel rushed to the spot and shifted the affected voters to the Khowai district hospital, and after medical treatment, they were sent back to their homes.

The bee attack caused nervousness and anxiety among the voters, and they ran away from the queue.

The Fire and Emergency Service personnel also destroyed the beehive near the polling station, set up in a government building.

The voting later resumed after a brief halt at the polling station in Khowai assembly constituency under the Tripura East parliamentary constituency, where balloting has been underway since 7 a.m.
Los Angeles, April 26 : Actress Zendaya and Tom Holland have reportedly been discussing marriage, according to a source.

"There has been talk of marriage, and that is a reality," a source told people.com.

The two met while filming their trilogy of Spider-Man movies together. Since then, they've kept their off-camera romance private.

"They are not the kind of stars who put their lives out there on social media for the most part," explained the source.

"Both are private," said the source, who added that the attention on them while in the public eye "has never been easy or comfortable for either of them."

Zendaya's film 'Challengers' is set to release, and Holland, who stars in 'Romeo and Juliet' on London's West End in May.

"Work is important to both, and that keeps them busy now," added the source.
Trivandrum: Voters queue-up to cast their votes at a polling booth, during the Kerala Assembly Election, in Trivandrum district, Kerala on May 16, 2016. (Photo: IANS/PIB). Image Source: IANS News

Thiruvananthapuram, April 26 : Kerala, on Friday, where polling to all the 20 Lok Sabha seats is being held, after five and a half hours of voting, recorded 33.45 per cent voter turnout, according to the Election Commission.

For 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there was a 77.67 per cent turnout; and given the present rate of polling on Friday, expectations are that it could cross 80 per cent.

The highlight on Friday has been that voters across the state queued up even before polling began at 7 a.m.

Among those who cast their vote were all the leading lights starting from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Defense Minister A. K. Antony, Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan, besides Lok Sabha candidates from all the three political fronts including Shashi Tharoor, Suresh Gopi, P. K. Kunhalikutty, Shafi Parambil, E. P. Jayarajan and numerous others.

In all, there are 25,177 polling booths and 181 auxiliary booths. Of these, 2,776 are model polling booths and 555 polling booths are manned by all-women teams.

Youths are managing 100 booths while 10 are being managed by physically-challenged poll officials.

In the fray are 194 candidates belonging to the three political fronts which include the ruling CPI(M)-led Left, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA besides a string of Independent candidates and a few other parties.

There are 2,77,49,159 voters in the state, including 1,43,33,499 women, 1,34,15,293 men and 367 transgenders.

Though the BJP-led NDA is fighting it out at all the 20 seats, the real triangular poll battle is at Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

At the 2019 polls, the Congress-led UDF won 19 seats while the Left won one.
Seoul, April 26 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised a test-firing of new shells for a multiple rocket launcher, saying the weapon system will bring about a strategic change in shoring up the country's artillery force, state media reported Friday.

Kim watched the firing of 240 mm-calibre multiple rocket launcher shells on Thursday that were produced at a newly established national defence industrial enterprise, Yonhap news agency reported.

He underscored the need for the state-owned enterprise to "surely carry out the munitions production plan for this year in a qualitative way," and affirmed the rocket launcher system would help bolster the country's artillery force, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The national defence industrial enterprise was established under the wing of the Second Economy Commission, an organisation in charge of North Korea's munitions industry. The KCNA did not disclose other details, but it is rare for the North to publicly reveal a munitions factory under such a name.

In February, North Korea said it had newly developed "controllable" 240 mm rocket launcher shells, a move that could boost its weapons capabilities with improvements in range and precision.

The 240 mm multiple rocket launchers are believed to target South Korea's broader capital area.

Observers said North Korea appears to be ramping up the development of rocket launcher shells in a bid to supply them to Russia for use in Moscow's war with Ukraine and double down on weapons tests targeting South Korea.

North Korea and Russia have been deepening their military cooperation following the summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.
Beijing, April 26 : On the last day of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China, Beijing has warned of a deterioration in relations between the two powers.

Although the two sides are talking to each other again, the "negative factors" in the relationship between the US and China have increased, said China's chief diplomat Wang Yi on Friday in Beijing.

Wang cited China's right to develop being "unreasonably suppressed" as one of the reasons. According to him, the two countries are faced with the question of whether their relationship will either stabilise or slide into a downward spiral.

According to US media reports, Blinken said that progress had been made in some areas to close the gap between the two countries. However, he wanted to express clearly and directly the issues on which there were differences of opinion with China.

In talks on Thursday with the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Chen Jining, Blinken addressed points of difference with China regarding unfair trading practices, US press reports said. During his three-day visit to China Blinken also met students and US business representatives in Shanghai.

After a year of complete radio silence, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in person last November near San Francisco in order to stabilise strained relations.

However, since then, new disputes on political and economic issues have continued to boil over.

China is angry about US sanctions in the tech sector or against Chinese companies supplying componentry, which could be used in Russia's war machine against Ukraine.

Washington is concerned about Chinese influence and recently passed a law to force the Chinese company ByteDance to divest itself of its video-sharing platform TikTok in the US.

--IANS/DPA

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London, April 26 : Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to agree to send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, as he continues to resist this step despite repeated pleas from Kyiv.

"I think the reason is you can't incrementally help Ukraine, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that. Do we want Ukraine to win? Or do we want them to lose?" Wallace said.

While he understands Scholz's reasons for concern regarding a possible escalation of the conflict, these are unfounded, Wallace said. "We've seen throughout this whole process, that Russia's red lines are like chalk, they just brush off the chalkboard," he said.

"Ukraine will abide by any restrictions you put on them. So you could give them Taurus. And you could add all sorts of restrictions about where you want it used or not used," said Wallace of the missiles Kyiv has been requesting for months.

He also dismissed comments made by Scholz that suggested British and French troops are in Ukraine, programming cruise missiles.

"He was wrong," said Wallace. "I can't tell you how Storm Shadows and Scalps are programmed. But it doesn't involve people standing around in an airport in Ukraine, it doesn't need to do that."

While applauding Germany for ramping up its support for Ukraine, the former minister reiterated his harsh criticism of Scholz's leadership.

"I think he's not a leader for conflict at the moment. And there is conflict on our shores. And I think he, you know, the point he doesn't understand deterrence, he doesn't understand ambiguity, he doesn't seem to understand that in the process we face in dealing with Russia, looking either indecisive, or flip-flopping on certain decisions, or seeming to be out of step with your allies, only aids Putin."

Furthermore, poor communication is undermining Germany's support for Kyiv, Wallace said: "There are countries who have done less than Germany. But their communication has been better. And their use of deterrence and ambiguity has meant that people think they've done more than Germany."

--IANS/DPA

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Kyiv, April 26 : Ukraine's highest anti-corruption court has ordered the pre-trial detention of Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi on suspicion of misappropriation of state land worth millions.

The preventive measure is initially set to run until June 24, media in Kyiv reported on Friday, citing the court. There is a possibility that Solskyi will be released on bail, the reports said. The minister had previously submitted his resignation but continued to deny any guilt.

Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk published the handwritten letter of resignation on Facebook on Thursday. Parliament will decide on the dismissal soon, Stefanchuk wrote.

Investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau had handed Solskyi a notice of suspicion on Tuesday. The minister is alleged to have brought a total of 1,250 plots of land totalling almost 2,500 hectares into the possession of his agricultural holding between 2017 and 2021.

According to the investigators, this involved a value of 291 million hryvnia ($7.34 million). The law enforcement authorities said they also thwarted the attempt, which is said to have involved further plots of land worth 190 million hryvnia.

The minister denied the allegations. "There was no corruption. Nobody took any money," Solskyi wrote in a statement broadcast by public television.

"Furthermore, none of the suspects had signed over land to themselves or relatives," he added.

Solskyi, a lawyer by profession, had previously admitted that in 2017, he had represented several private individuals in a dispute over land against state-owned companies in the Sumy region in question.

In 2019, Solskyi was elected to the unicameral parliament, the Supreme Council or Rada, via the presidential party list in the early elections initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He chaired the agriculture committee from 2019 until he was appointed minister of agriculture in March 2022.

--IANS/DPA

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Seoul, April 26 : South Korea's health authorities on Friday warned of whooping cough, or pertussis, rapidly spreading among children, urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the number of whooping cough cases in 2024 had reached 365 as of Thursday, compared to 11 tallied over the same period last year, Yonhap news agency reported.

This year's infections hit the highest level in the past decade, surpassing the previous peak of 152 cases in 2018.

The KDCA data showed that of the total infections, 216 patients, or 59.2 per cent, were children younger than 12 years old, while 92 were aged between 13 and 19.

The KDCA asked parents to complete vaccination for their children, the report said.

The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine series consists of three initial shots at two, four, and six months old, and three more shots at 15-18 months old, 4-6 years old, and 11-12 years old.

Whooping cough, also known as the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria.

Symptoms typically begin like a common cold, with a runny nose, sneezing, low fever, and mild cough.
Mumbai, April 26 : Actress Aishwarya Khare, who portrays Lakshmi in the show 'Bhagya Lakshmi', has taken a break from the hectic shoot schedule and went on a solo trip to celebrate her birthday in the Seychelles.

Aishwarya said: "Taking a solo trip around my birthday was something I was looking forward to for a very long time. I believe going on a solo trip is really important as it helps you discover yourself, gain confidence, become more self-dependent, and step out of your comfort zone."

"I love going to places that make me feel closer to nature and connect me with the local people there who live a simple and tranquil life. Going to the Seychelles was on my bucket list, and I am so happy that I made it here this year."

The actress mentioned that she even went scuba diving.

"It is one of my favourite adventure activities; it feels like meditation every time I do it. Discovering the aqualife underwater gives you a very heavenly feeling. I would love to live in the water if I could. I can without a doubt say that this was one of the best birthdays," she said.

'Bhagya Lakshmi' airs on Zee TV.
Imphal, April 26 : Over 54 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling in the remaining part of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, where polling is underway amid heavy security cover, officials said on Friday.

According to the police and election officials, no untoward incident was reported from the constituency spread across eight hilly districts - Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Jiribam, Pherzawl, and Tengnoupal.

Fridayas polling is being held in the remaining 13 Assembly segments under the Outer Manipur seat, where voting for the 15 other Assembly segments was held in the first phase on April 19 along with the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

According to election officials, around 4.85 lakh voters, including 2.46 lakh females, are eligible to cast votes in 848 polling stations on Friday to decide the fate of four candidates.

The voters who are sheltered at relief camps due to the nearly yearlong ethnic violence in the state would exercise their franchise at nine special polling stations set up in the relief camps in three districts, an election official said.

While the stateas ruling BJP is contesting the Inner Manipur seat, it has extended its support to the Naga Peopleas Front (NPF) nominee Kachui Timothy Zimik, who replaced sitting MP Lorho S. Pfoze, in the Outer Manipur seat.

The Congress-led INDIA bloc has fielded Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur from Outer Manipur. Though two Independents -- S. Kho John and Alyson Abonmai -- are also contesting the polls, the main contest is between Zimik and Arthur, both Nagas.

The Naga community has professed to remain neutral during the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis of the valley and the Kumi-Zomis of the hills.

In view of the ethnic violence, campaigning for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state was significantly subdued this time.
New Delhi, April 26 : India and South Korea held Disarmament and Non-Proliferation consultations in Seoul on Friday, affirming their commitment to further strengthen cooperation as key partners in the Indo-Pacific and Special Strategic Partners with shared values.

"The two sides discussed developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation rating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, as well as regional non-proliferation issues, outer space security-related matters, conventional weapons including AI in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes," said a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Indian delegation was led by MEA Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) Muanpuii Saiawi while Youn Jong Kwon, Director General for Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the team from the South Korean side.

Earlier this week, India held a similar exchange of views with Japan during the 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control in Tokyo.

Considering India as a key partner of the Global South with shared values, South Korea has vowed to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with New Delhi in the field of defence industry, supply chains, critical technologies, and infrastructure.

In March, during his visit to Seoul, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul as both ministers affirmed their commitment to further strengthen strategic communication and cooperation as key partners in the Indo-Pacific and Special Strategic Partners with shared values.
Hubballi : , April 26 (IANS) BJP is going to get total support in the elections to 14 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi stated in Hubballi on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, Joshi said that during voting in south Karnataka, people are backing the BJP-JD-S alliance. "Popular support is needed in the interest of the country towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The people should come out in large numbers and participate in voting," he appealed.

"The increase in percentage of voting does not mean that Prime Minister Modi has won. The party workers of the alliance should not sit at home and see to it that the voting is done to the highest level," Joshi added.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda attacked Congress over distribution of guarantee handbills to people in the state.

"Great person Rahul Gandhi who does not deserve to contest from Uttar Pradesh has shifted his base to Kerala and is contesting election from there. This development will misguide the people and cheat them. The handbills are used to fool people in the state," he charged.
Jaipur, April 26 : As voting continued in 13 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan on Friday, around 40.39 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 p.m.

Two seats, namely Barmer-Jaisalmer and Banswara-Dungarpur LS seats, which are witnessing triangular contests, have seen the highest voter turnout till 1 p.m.

Barmer-Jaisalmer seat recorded the highest 47.48 per cent and Banswara-Dungarpur had 46.53 per cent.

In the Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha seat, the highest voting was registered in Jaisalmer with a 52.15 per cent voter turnout.

Bagidora in the Banswara-Dungarpur LS seat registered the second-highest voter turnout at 51.25 per cent. This is the same seat which fell vacant after its MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya resigned from Congress and joined BJP. He has been fielded on a BJP ticket from the LS seat.

Barmeras Sheo Assembly seat registered the third-highest voting count at 50.55 per cent. Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati is contesting from Barmer and is in a fight against BJP candidate Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary and Congress candidate Umedaram Beniwal.

Beniwal resigned from the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in March and joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The RLP is not supporting the Congress on the Barmer seat as their alliance with the grand old party is limited to the Nagaur seat only. The RLP disclosed this on Thursday much to the Congress' shock.

The Jhalawar Baran Lok Sabha constituency recorded a 44.20 per cent voter turnout.

Kota, another high-profile seat, with Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla in the fray recorded a 42.51 per cent voter turnout. Chittorgarh in Mewar, witnessing a fight between state president C.P. Joshi and former state minister Udailal Anjana, recorded a 40.50 per cent voter turnout.

Udaipur registered a 41.31 per cent turnout; Tonk Sawai Madhopur 34.64 per cent; Ajmer 35.77 per cent; Pali 36.59 per cent; Jodhpur 39.90 per cent; Jalore 41.47 per cent; Rajsamand 36.88 per cent; and Bhilwara 37.01 per cent.

In Pratapgarh voters came in boats to cast their votes. People had to take boats to reach the Anuppura polling booth of Gram Panchayat Giyaspur. The voters crossed the Jakham Dam and walked at least three km to cast their votes. This village comes under the Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary area.
Lucknow, April 26 : Lashing out at the Congress on Friday, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Congress manifesto is harmful to India, the world's largest democracy.

Talking to reporters at his official residence, the chief minister said that the BJP had entered the elections with the issues of development, security, and governance.

The first phase of voting was held on these issues, but just before the first phase, the manifesto of Congress, the most important component of the INDIA bloc, drew the attention of the entire country.

"The Congress, in its manifesto, wants to lay the foundation for the country's division on religious grounds by supporting issues ranging from implementing Taliban rule to personal law. The BJP will strongly oppose it in any case," he added.

He said that everyone had read the statements of Congress advisor Sam Pitroda.

During the tenure of the UPA government, reports from the Ranganath Mishra Committee and the Sachar Committee were brought in by the Congress, he said.

"Additionally, in Karnataka, the government led by the Congress is forcibly including Muslims in the reservation for backward classes, thus unfairly dividing the rights of the OBCs" he said.

He further said that by discussing the Inheritance Tax, conducting an X-ray of property and seizing property, they aim to lay the foundation for the country's division on religious grounds.

"Along with this, they are also discussing taking half of the inheritance property and reintroducing laws such as personal laws. The partition of this country took place due to these reasons. If any political party tries to do this, it will be opposed at all costs," he said.

"Naxalism is on the decline in India. If there is any attempt to revive this, we will never accept it. The BJP government has been taking action against corruption from the beginning. However, if anyone tries to impose dacoity on the property of the common man, we will not allow it to happen," said the chief minister.

Attacking the Congress and its allies for "endorsing a Taliban-like mentality" in the country's politics, the chief minister said, "They are trying to resurrect the Maoist insurgency and are attempting to demean women by reintroducing practices like triple talaq through personal laws. Hence, in the present scenario, the BJP is opposing these issues."

He mentioned that "we are bringing up these issues and capturing the public's attention. The public's attention is constantly being drawn to what is the mentality of Congress and INDIA bloc. To prevent their intentions from materialising, it is imperative for the public to act decisively and thwart them through every vote they cast, he said.

The Chief Minister stated that there is enthusiasm and a positive atmosphere in the country regarding the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country wants to see progress, and PM Modi has provided a new direction to the country in 10 years.
New Delhi, April 26 : The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Union Ministry of Defence to decide within eight weeks on including women in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force through the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exams.

The order came from a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, who disposed of the plea filed by Advocate Kush Kalra. The petition challenged the exclusion of women from applying for recruitment in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), and Air Force Academy (AFA) through the CDS exams.

Kalra's representation before the Central government on December 22, 2023, prompted the court's action.

While Kalra's lawyer asked for keeping the petition pending until the government responded to the representation, the court said that the government should act promptly without the petition looming over it.

Central government Standing Counsel Kirtiman Singh informed the court that steps are being taken gradually to include women in the Armed Forces. He mentioned progress in the National Defence Academy (NDA) and assured that similar steps would likely be taken for the CDS as well.

In its directive, the court ordered the Central government to address Kalra's representation within the specified timeframe.

Kalra argued that the notification unjustly barred females from applying for certain positions based solely on their gender, contrary to constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.

While women are now permitted to join the NDA following Supreme Court orders, Kalra argued that the discriminatory practice persists in the CDS, hindering female officers' career advancement opportunities.

The plea said that the exclusion of eligible female candidates from training at premier Indian Armed Forces institutions was a violation of constitutional values, stressing the need for gender equality in recruitment processes.
Bhopal, April 26 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday called Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia a 'committed leader for development' as he urged the voters to elect him to the Lok Sabha from Guna in Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a public rally in Guna, Shah said he will decide the future of incumbent BJP MP KP Yadav' after the elections are over and sought public support for Scindia.

"What KP Yadav's role will be in the party, leave all that to me. Your leaders  Jyotiraditya Scindia and KP Yadav -- will continue to work for you. Elect Scindia as a Lok Sabha MP, he is a committed leader for development," Shah said.

Scindia, who had contested the last Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket in 2019, had lost to the BJP's KP Yadav. The first-ever defeat of a member of the erstwhile royal Scindia family of the Gwalior dynasty in its bastion Guna was a major setback for Scindia.

He joined the BJP in 2020 and was made a Rajya Sabha MP and elevated to Civil Aviation Minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

While addressing the rally, Amit Shah said that people want their leader to be big. "Your leader is already big, support him and send him to the Lok Sabha. Your support to him (Scindia) means support to PM Modi," Shah said.

Jyotiraditya Scindia has represented the Guna seat four times between 2002 and 2014, including a by-poll in 2001.

The Union minister's grandmother, Vijayaraje, contested her first poll from the seat in 1957 on a Congress ticket and won.

Vijayaraje, also called 'Rajmata', contested as the Swatantra Party nominee in 1967 and then from the BJP in 1989.

Jyotiraditya's father Madhavrao contested his first poll from Guna on a Bharatiya Jan Sangh ticket in 1971 and fought his last poll in 1999 as the Congress nominee.

The Congress has fielded Rao Yadvendra Singh Yadav, a former BJP leader, against Scindia in Guna.
Paris, April 26 : The French and German defence ministers signed an agreement in Paris on Friday for a joint Franco-German-led armaments project worth billions of euros, which includes the development of a next-generation main battle tank.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu signed the memorandum of understanding in an effort to jointly develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), which aims at replacing the countries' current main battle tanks.

Both ministers confirmed signing the agreement after the meeting.

The MGCS project is conceived around not just a new main battle tank design, but also a series of systems and vehicles built off that platform that will connect battle tanks in a data network with support weapons such as drones and other unmanned systems.

Interconnecting the weapons systems will enable a technological leap in military technology, according to supporters of the project.

The MGCS project is expected to replace Germany's Leopard 2 and France's Leclerc main battle tanks.

Germany is to play a lead role in developing the MGCS, which is a counterpart to the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project being led by France, which includes the development of a next-generation fighter jet, as well as drones and other systems.

According to reports, the ministers also reached an agreement on the contested distribution of tasks and contracts for the project along eight pillars, of which Germany and France each have the lead in two. The other four pillars are to be coordinated jointly.

Like other joint European defence projects, the effort has been delayed by tensions between participating countries over how to distribute industrial contracts and other spending among firms.

In May 2021, Germany, France and Spain reached an agreement in principle on the FCAS, which is worth billions, following a lengthy struggle over industrial policy.

Lecornu had said in Berlin in March that the main battle tank system would be a "generational leap."

Pistorius described the agreement in principle as "historic" and added: "We have agreed on the distribution of all tasks for this major project."

However, the details have not yet been publicly released.

There is intense interest among observers about the particulars of the deal, including how individual development tasks will be divided and whether the weapons system will be standardized to allow for shared jointly produced ammunition and other parts.

In the past, there have also been repeated difficulties with joint armaments projects because individual nations have insisted on special technical requirements, resulting in delays and cost increases.

--IANS/DPA

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Gaza, April 26 : At least three people were killed during an Israeli attack targeting a facility belonging to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said on Friday.

The medical sources told Xinhua news agency that "at least three bodies of people were transferred to a local hospital as an Israeli warplane attacked them while they were in a refuge facility belonging to the ICRC."

So far, the ICRC has not commented on the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
London, April 26 : Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned against suggestions that the conflict in Ukraine should be frozen, during an interview that addressed the outlook in the war with Russia.

The idea of "freezing" the war in Ukraine was put forward recently by a senior member of Germany's governing Social Democrats.

"In 2014 they froze the conflict, and Ukraine had 18,000 soldiers murdered on the front line between 2014 and the invasion," Wallace said in an interview with dpa on Thursday.

"Russia would re-arm, re-equip and do what it did after 2014. And it would come back later," he added.

"So the problem with the freeze is, you'd have to guarantee it," Wallace said. But he noted that Ukraine would not be persuaded either, as Britain, the US, Germany and France had all tried to give their guarantees to keep helping Kyiv in the past.

"So, if you're Ukrainian, would you really trust our guarantee at the moment? And what would you give Ukraine to persuade them to freeze?" he questioned, adding: "They might say, Give us membership of NATO. Right, draw a new line, wherever the line is, but what's left: NATO."

Asked to speculate as to whether Ukraine might be willing to accept NATO membership in exchange for stopping fighting for territory occupied by Russia, Wallace refused to be drawn.

"France and Germany will never go for that," he said. "I don't like to get to the speculation of what the deal should be. It's for Ukraine to decide, they are the ones who've lost thousands of people. And they're the ones fighting for us right now. We're not fighting."

"I don't think Russia would go for it either," Wallace added. "I mean, Russia would say no, but ultimately, we'd have to get Russia in a position where it knows it's got something to lose."

--IANS/DPA

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New Delhi, April 26 : The Delhi High Court recently upheld a decision by the Central government to blacklist Al Islam Tour Corporation for 10 years, starting from Haj 2021, due to fraudulent activities.

A single-judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed a plea filed by the tour operator, who was accused of swindling Rs 13 lakh from a pilgrim in 2013.

The court stressed the sanctity of the Haj pilgrimage, noting that for many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime event, often funded by life savings. It also remarked on the necessity of having trustworthy organisers, stating that Hajis should only be handled by individuals free of allegations like swindling or deceit.

After perusing a Supreme Court judgement and the Haj Policy, the court noted that the objective of the policy is to ensure that any person who is found to be deceiving the Hajis is not permitted to operate as a Haj Group Organiser (HGO).

"A perusal of the Haj Policy indicates that the government has the right to debar those HGOs against whom complaints have been received and who are involved with the pilgrims. The policy does not state that the complaints ought to be restricted only to those years for which the quota has been allotted to the HGOs," the court noted.

The judge also noted that the Hajis being very pious pilgrims should be handled only by such persons who do not have allegations of swindling or deceiving people against them.

"The fact that a criminal complaint has been closed against the petitioner also does not mean that the Union of India should also close the complaint," the court noted.

Justice Prasad pointed out that Al Islam Tour Corporation was not registered as an HGO for Haj 2018, and thus should not have been involved in Haj-related activities without proper registration.

The judge added: "Looking at the objective of the Haj pilgrimage and the purpose behind the Haj Policy, the complaint against the petitioner and the conduct of the petitioner, this court is of the opinion that the punishment imposed on the petitioner by the respondent does not require modification."

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 26 : Two men were stabbed to death by a group of people on the outskirts of Delhi over cigarettes, police said on Friday, adding that they have nabbed three accused in connection with the incident.

The deceased were identified as Sameer, a resident of Bhalswa Dairy and Fardeen, a resident of Sunday Bazaar in outer-north Delhi.

According to the police, a police control room (PCR) call regarding a stabbing was received on Thursday at 1:22 a.m. at Bhalswa Dairy police station, following which a police team rushed to the spot. Sameer and Fardeen were shifted to a hospital by the time the police team reached the spot.

"Sameer was found admitted to BJRM Hospital with a history of physical assault by a sharp object, resulting in incised wounds and injuries to the abdomen and shoulder. Later, Sameer was referred to a higher centre, LNJP Hospital, for treatment; however, doctors declared him unfit to give a statement," said a senior police official.

Another victim, Fardeen, who was an e-rickshaw driver, had a stab wound to the abdomen and died on the spot.

"A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered based on the statement of a witness, Mubin. He stated that there was a Walima (reception) party for his cousin Rizwan in Gali No-2, Rajeev Nagar, and apart from their relatives, Fardeen, who was a neighbour, was also invited," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) R. K. Singh.

At around midnight, the witness' relatives, Sameer and Fardeen, went outside together, and after some time, Sameer ran back towards Rizwan's house in a pool of blood, with three persons chasing him with knives in their hands, threatening him to run away.

"One of the assailants was identified as Sammi, also known as Kallu, who was living somewhere in Rajeev Nagar, Bhalswa Dairy," said the DCP.

As per investigators, Rizwan also came to know that there was a quarrel between the alleged persons and victims Sameer and Fardeen over cigarettes.

It has also come to light from local inquiries that the victims may have relieved themselves near the houses of the alleged perpetrators, which triggered the quarrel, leading to the alleged perpetrators stabbing the victims.

"We have arrested three accused identified as Abdul Sammi (19), Vikas (20), and Arshlan alias Monti (20) and three knives along with blood-stained clothes were also recovered. During the investigation, an illegal country-made pistol was also recovered from the possession of the accused Arshlan," the DCP added.
New Delhi, April 26 : Sparking a debate in India, Meta-owned popular messaging platform WhatsApp has said it will exit the domestic market if asked to break message encryption.

The government had said earlier that if there is no way to find the originator of messages without breaking encryption, then the company should come up with some other mechanism.

In 2019, the Centre asked the messaging platform to implement an identifier. It will allow the government and WhatsApp to pinpoint who sent which message, without having to read its contents.

Now, during a hearing of WhatsApp and Meta's petition challenging a rule of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in the Delhi High Court, the company has threatened to quit the Indian market, if asked to do so.

The bench will now hear the cases on August 14.

What is the case?

Rule 4(2) in IT Rules, 2021 states that social media companies engaged in providing messaging services should reveal who sent a message if there is an order to do so by a court or a competent authority.

"A significant social media intermediary providing services primarily in the nature of messaging shall enable the identification of the first originator of the information on its computer resource as may be required by a judicial order passed by a court of competent jurisdiction or an order passed under section 69 by the Competent Authority as per the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for interception, monitoring and decryption of information) Rules, 2009," the rule states.

The rule, though comes with a caveat that the information will only be sought for offences related to national security, public order, or those related to rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material, which provide for a minimum jail term of five years.

It also stated that an order of this nature will not be passed if less intrusive means can identify the originator of the information.

What did WhatsApp say?

In its petition, WhatsApp has sought that the rule be declared "unconstitutional and that no criminal liability should accrue to it for non-compliance".

The traceability requirement, the petition said, would force the company to break end-to-end encryption and violate the fundamental rights to privacy and free speech of the hundreds of millions of users who use WhatsApp's platform to communicate.

Advocate Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, told the Delhi High Court that people use the messaging platform because it guarantees privacy with its end-to-end encryption.

"As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes," he told the bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, according to a Bar and Bench report.

"We will have to keep a complete chain and we don't know which messages will be asked to be decrypted. It means millions and millions of messages will have to be stored for a number of years," he was quoted as saying in the report.

The bench then asked if the rule was in place anywhere else in the world.

"No, not even in Brazil," the advocate replied.

The bench then responded that privacy rights are not absolute and "somewhere balance has to be done" after the Central government counsel said the rule was needed to trace the originator of messages on such platforms in cases like those related to communal violence.

The Centre also told the court that WhatsApp and Facebook monetise users' information and are not legally entitled to claim that it protects privacy. Efforts to make Facebook more accountable are underway in various countries, it pointed out.
Chandigarh, April 26 : Gangster Charanjit Singh, alias Raju Shooter, who escaped from Tarn Taran, and his 10 aides have been arrested from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday.

"In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with central agencies and Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested gangster Charanjit Singh, alias Raju Shooter, who escaped from Tarn Taran, and his 10 aides during a 48-hour-long operation," the Director General of Police (DGP) posted on X.

Police teams have also recovered four weapons, including one double barrel rifle, which got stolen from Tarn Taran-based Meet Gun House on February 28 and three pistols along with 26 cartridges from their possession.

Ten persons arrested have been identified as Husanpreet Singh, Gulab Singh, Amritpal Singh, Baljinder Singh, Bobby, Lovpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Sajan, Sukhchain Singh and Harmesh Singh.

As per the information, gangster Raju is a kingpin of an organised criminal gang active in the Majha region mainly Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Amritsar districts. All arrested accused were involved in criminal activities.

In September 2023, the gang was involved in an attempt to loot a bank at Dhotian village Tarn Taran in which one police officer was critically wounded in firing by the accused. On April 16, 2024, associates of Raju had orchestrated his escape from Civil Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.

DGP Yadav said following inputs, AGTF Punjab headed by ADGP Promod Ban mobilised 12 police teams under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel to track gangster Raju and his gang members.

"Over 48-hours long operation, which involved meticulous intelligence gathering, technical analysis, and swift action led to the apprehension of gangster Raju Shooter and his 10 aides from different parts of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir," said the DGP, expressing gratitude to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and central agencies for support to accomplish this operation.
New Delhi, April 26 : A Delhi court on Friday dismissed an application by BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, seeking further examination of evidence concerning his whereabouts on the date -- September 7, 2022 -- of an alleged incident. Singh is accused in a sexual harassment case in which several women wrestlers accused him of indulging in inappropriate behaviour.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot of Rouse Avenue Court dismissed Singh's application. The judge also listed the matter concerning the framing of charges against Singh for May 7.

On April 18, the court deferred the hearing on framing of charges after Singh's application seeking further investigation in the case.

He had told the court that he was not in Delhi when one of the complainant wrestlers was allegedly sexually harassed.

The application had argued for a detailed investigation into Singh's claims of being abroad when the incident purportedly took place.

The application had also demanded that the Delhi Police produce the Call Detail Record (CDR).

Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, representing the Delhi Police, had opposed the application, arguing that the timing of the request was strategic and intended to prolong the case.

He had stressed the potential legal ramifications of reopening the investigation at this stage.

Meanwhile, the legal counsel for the complainants had criticised the application as a tactic to delay the proceedings.

They argued that the necessary documents should have been procured earlier under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which deals with the communication of evidence to the accused.

In February, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had sought to be discharged in the case, citing delay in reporting the alleged offence and contradictions in the complainants' statements.

Earlier, during the proceedings, the complainants and police said that there was ample evidence to proceed with the trial against the accused individuals.

The Delhi Police had refuted the arguments of the accused that certain incidents occurred overseas and thus fell outside the jurisdiction of Delhi courts, contending that the alleged acts of sexual harassment, attributed to Singh, both abroad and in India, including Delhi, constituted part of the same offence.

His counsel had told the court that the incidents were said to have occurred in 2012 but were only reported to the police in 2023.

In addition, he had contended discrepancies in the timing and locations of the alleged incidents, asserting no clear link between them.

The defence counsel had pointed out contradictions between the complainants' affidavits and statements.

The Delhi Police contended that incidents of alleged sexual harassment, whether occurring overseas or within the country, were interconnected and part of the same transaction.

Hence, the police said that the court had jurisdiction to hear the case.

The BJP MP had earlier questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi court claiming that there was no action or consequence which happened in India.

Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava, representing the Delhi Police, had argued that under Section 354 of the IPC, the case is not time-barred, as it carries a maximum punishment of five years.

Addressing the issue of delay in filing complaints, Srivastava had brought up the issue of fear among the women wrestlers, saying that wrestling held immense significance in their lives, and they were hesitant to come forward due to concerns about jeopardising their careers.

The prosecution had argued that Singh's defence, claiming his actions were fatherly, demonstrated awareness of his acts. The BJP MP's justification that he was checking breathing patterns had contradicted the victims' statements about inappropriate touching.

The police claimed that there were sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed with the trial against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The prosecution had earlier said that the act of sexual harassment of the victims was a continuing offence, as it did not stop at any particular time.

Delhi Police had also told the court that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh never missed an opportunity to "sexually harass" women wrestlers, adding that there is sufficient evidence to frame charges against him and proceed with the trial.
Kolkata, April 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday continued to fire salvos at a section of the judiciary in the Calcutta High Court over its recent ruling in the school jobs case even after the court on Thursday admitted a petition seeking action against the Trinamool chief for her 'anti-judiciary' remarks made in the past few days.

In a crucial ruling on Monday, the Calcutta High Court cancelled 25,753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016. The case is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Addressing an election rally in West Midnapore district on Friday, the Chief Minister said, "The common people expect justice from the honourable court. There are many cases which have been pending for years. But whenever the BJP moves any PIL, they are bailed out. But the opposite happens when Trinamool files any petition."

She also attacked a portion of the Calcutta High Court ruling that ordered the return of salaries along with interest drawn by those who were recruited illegally in 2016.

"After ordering the cancellation of jobs of so many individuals, there was an order to return the salaries drawn along with an annualised interest of 12 per cent. I do not want to name anybody. But I want to ask that if they are also asked to return their salaries similarly, will they be able to do it? Is there anarchy in the state that so many jobs can be cancelled at one go," the Chief Minister asked.

To recall, addressing an election rally in Bolpur on Wednesday, Banerjee had said, "The BJP controls the affairs of the high courts due to its financial strength. I am not saying anything against the Supreme Court. We are still seeking justice there. But in the high courts, the BJP always has its way. Others do not get justice."

At another poll rally on Tuesday, she said, "I do not want to name anybody. The judges will earn their livelihood from the public exchequer. The state exchequer will bear the cost of their security. Yet they will terminate services."

Following her attacks against the judiciary, CPI-M Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya moved a plea in the Calcutta High Court seeking action against Banerjee for her 'anti-judiciary' remarks, which was admitted by the court on Thursday.
Chandigarh, April 26 : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday challenged the BJP to nominate its state unit chief Sunil Jakhar to contest from any constituency and he would contest against him.

"I am confident the people will not give the BJP a single seat in Punjab. I extend an invitation to the BJP to nominate its leader, Sunil Jakhar, to contest from any constituency in Punjab. Should he choose to do so, I will contest against him and secure a resounding victory," he told the media here.

Commenting on the INDIA bloc, Warring said, "Punjab's distinct identity necessitated the avoidance of an alliance with AAP and this has been duly acknowledged. The unique challenges faced by Punjab preclude the possibility of any collaboration with AAP under any circumstance. Punjab Congress leaders and candidates will not share platforms with AAP counterparts. Despite AAP's claims of a 13-0 victory, reality will unveil a starkly different narrative."

He said the BJP and AAP in Punjab have made claims, but the time has come for a reality check. "Only the Congress party can effectively address the concerns of the people, a fact recognised by the electorates. Rahul Gandhi's nationwide tours have enabled us to comprehend the grievances, which have been meticulously addressed in our manifesto," he said.

Responding to a question concerning the provision of Y-plus security for BJP leaders, Warring said, "It appears to be an established norm that upon affiliating with the BJP, leaders are granted Y-plus security. While our nation's borders may not be secure under the BJP regime, its leaders from Punjab evidently enjoy substantial security."
Panaji, April 26 : Goa police on Friday arrested a civil engineer for his alleged involvement in drug trade and seized 1 kilo Ganja and 15 gms of MDMA valued at Rs 8.50 lakh, police said.

"Anti Narcotic Cell busted a hydroponic cannabis plantation at Borim, Ponda where we have arrested a 31 year old youth Yuvraj Borkar for cultivating high quality hydroponic weed. The accused was also found in possession of 150 gms of hydroponic weed, 1 kg ganja and 15 gms of MDMA valued at Rs 8.50 lakh," police said.

The police said that the accused, who is a civil engineer, used to import seeds from an international website and cultivated hydroponic cannabis in the basement of his residence in Borim, Ponda.

"The accused further after cultivating the contraband used to sell them at a cheaper rate in the North Goa coastal belt," police said.

The ANC have also seized from his possession a two-wheeler scooter, one mobile phone, 3 LED grow lights and voltage converters.

The police are further investigating the case.
New Delhi, April 26 : Calling it a "historic day", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

The SC decision came just as PM Modi was addressing a series of election rallies in Bihar and West Bengal.

Urging the opposition INDIA bloc leaders to offer an apology for doubting the integrity of the country's electoral process, PM Modi said they committed the sin of "creating distrust" against EVMs.

"Today, the Supreme Court has delivered a massive blow to those who plan to loot the ballot boxes... Their dreams have been shattered. The Supreme Court has made it clear today that the era of ballot paper will not return now," said PM Modi.

"Today, when the entire world praises India's democracy, its electoral process, and the use of technology in the poll process, these people, for their personal interests, raise questions about the EVMs with malice. They have constantly tried to undermine democracy. But, the Supreme Court has delivered a tight slap to them today. Every leader of the INDI alliance should apologise to the people of the country," he added.

This is not the first time that PM Modi has slammed the opposition parties for questioning the EVMs.

Soon after winning the public mandate for the second consecutive time in 2019, PM Modi highlighted the role of EVMs, saying that everyone now talks about the percentage increase in voting instead of discussing incidents of booth capturing and looting that were normal in the past.

"I want to tell the nation that for the first time in 1977, the discussion on EVMs had started. At that time, we were nowhere in politics. It was first used in 1982. We were not there even in 1988. The dignitaries at that time from this very House had approved it lawfully.

"They had framed the law. Moreover, under the leadership of the Congress in 1992, all the rules related to the EVMs were made. Like they keep saying - 'we did this, we did that'; this too was done by you. Now you have lost. That's why you are crying," Prime Minister Modi said in his reply to the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha on June 26, 2019.

PM Modi also mentioned that the opposition parties have time and again tried to derail the election process and create disbelief in the minds of the voters.

"In 2017, there was a huge uproar regarding EVMs. Then, the Election Commission stepped forward and challenged the protesters to come forward and prove the EVMs wrong. But not a single party crying over the EVMs went to the Election Commission. The NCP and the CPI went to the Election Commission but they didn't question the EVMs. They just tried to know how the EVMs were operated. At least the NCP and the CPI went to the Election Commission. Others who doubted didn't go to the Election Commission even after its invitation," he said.

While the opposition continues to make a hue and cry about the EVMs, especially after not tasting success in elections time and again, PM Modi has gone ahead and proudly told everyone about the significant role the EVMs play during elections in the world's largest democracy.

"With time, Bharat has also integrated the election process with modern technology. Bharat has been using Electronic Voting Machines for about 25 years. With the use of EVM, both transparency in elections and efficiency in the electoral process have increased," PM Modi said while addressing the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit last October.
Hyderabad, April 26 : A Hyderabad court on Friday dismissed bail petitions of three suspended police officers in the phone-tapping case.

The Nampally City Court rejected the bail petitions filed by D. Praneeth Rao, Bhujanga Rao and Thirupathanna, agreeing with the argument by the prosecution that bail to the accused at this stage may impact the investigations.

The police voiced apprehension that if granted bail, the accused may influence the witnesses and tamper with evidence.

Meanwhile, Radha Kishan Rao, the fourth accused in the case, has also filed a bail petition. The court directed the police to file a counter to the petition and adjourned the hearing to April 29.

Radha Kishan Rao had served as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Task Force.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner K. Sreenivas Reddy on Friday said that the probe into the phone tapping case was still underway.

He, however, denied issuing a red corner notice to former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief and retired IPS officer T. Prabhakar Rao, the prime suspect in the case, criticising unconfirmed reports in a section of the media about this.

The police chief said such speculation will hinder the case and make the investigative process difficult.

"We know what to do and be rest assured we are doing our job," he told media persons.

Replying to a query, the Police Commissioner said a red corner will be issued but some media wrote that it was already issued.

"I donat know what pleasure you get. You are only putting spokes in the investigation. Maybe you are alerting them. Sorry for that," he said.

Sreenivasa Reddy said the police were investigating the case to the best of their ability. Contending that the phone tapping was done to disturb personal lives, he said: "It is a crime not only against an individual but also the society on the whole. Intruding into private lives is a heinous crime."

He said that four police officers whose role was found in the case were arrested and sent to judicial custody, while some police officers were taken as witnesses and their statements recorded.

He stated that the investigation is going on transparently and those involved will not be spared.

The phone tapping issue came to light last month when a case was registered with the Panjagutta police after a petition was filed by Additional SP, SIB D. Ramesh. When the BRS was in power, former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao had allegedly constituted a team within SIB with his trusted aides including DSP D. Praneeth Rao for surveillance of rival political leaders and their families and dissidents within the ruling party.

Praneeth Rao was arrested after he allegedly destroyed hard disks and other data after the Congress came to power.

Bhujanga Rao, Additional Superintendent of Police in Bhupalpally district and Tirupathanna, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, City Security Wing, Hyderabad City Police were arrested on March 23.

They had earlier served in the SIB. Former Deputy Commissioner of Police Radha Kishan Rao was arrested earlier this month. He had allegedly utilised official vehicles to transport cash during the 2019 elections.
Hyderabad, April 26 : A huge fire broke out in a pharma company at Nandigama in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district, near Hyderabad, on Friday, and some workers are feared trapped inside, officials said.

Two fire tenders from the nearest fire stations first rushed to the spot to douse the flames.

A few workers reportedly jumped from windows to save themselves. Firefighters deployed their equipment to rescue trapped workers even as thick smoke and flames made the operation difficult.

Police said more fire tenders were called from surrounding areas to tackle the situation.

Senior officials from the fire services, police and other departments also rushed to the spot to supervise the fight-fighting operation. About 30 workers were reported to be in the factory when the fire broke out.

The cause of the fire was not known.
New Delhi, April 26 : Observing that the participation of women in the workforce is not a matter of privilege, but a constitutional entitlement, the Supreme Court has ordered the Himachal Pradesh Government to form a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to reconsider the entire aspect of the grant of Child Care Leave to working mothers.

A Bench presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI), DY Chandrachud, was hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by a woman assistant professor aggrieved with the non-adoption of Child Care Leave in Himachal Pradesh.

The appellant submitted that due to the treatment of her son, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder and has undergone several surgeries since birth, she has exhausted all her sanctioned leave.

Saying that the petition raises a "serious matter of concern", the Bench, also comprising Justice JB Pardiwala said, "The State as a model employer cannot be oblivious to the special concerns which arise in the case of women who are part of the workforce. The provision of Child Care Leave to women sub-serves the significant constitutional object of ensuring that women are not deprived of their due participation as members of the workforce. Otherwise, in the absence of a provision for the grant of Child Care Leave, a mother may well be constrained to leave the workforce."

The top court said that the policies of the State have to be consistent and must be synchronised with constitutional protections and safeguards, observing that the participation of women in the workforce is not a matter of privilege, but a constitutional entitlement protected by Articles 14, 15, Article 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution.

Asking the state government to reconsider the entire aspect of the grant of Child Care Leave to mothers, including making special provisions consistent with the objects and purpose of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 to mothers who are bringing up children with special needs, it ordered for formation of a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary and comprising of the State Commissioner appointed under the RPWD Act and Secretaries of the Women and Child Development Department and the Social Welfare Department to look into all aspects of the matter.

"The report of the Committee shall be placed before the competent authority so that a considered policy decision is taken expeditiously. The report of the Committee shall be prepared by July 31, 2024 and submitted to this Court as well," the Supreme Court said.

In the meantime, pending further orders, the application by the appellant for the grant of special leave will be favorably considered by the competent authorities, added the SC order.

Earlier in 2021, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant on the ground that Rule 43-C of the Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules, 1971 has been deleted by the Himachal Pradesh Government.

By an Office Memorandum, the Union Government in March 2010 resolved to permit Child Care Leave for women employees with differently-abled children up to the age of 22 years subject to the conditions stipulated by the government in this regard from time to time.
Bhubaneswar, April 26 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda is scheduled to visit Odisha on April 28 (Sunday) for election campaigning, a party leader said on Friday.

Speaking to mediapersons, senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty said that JP Nadda will address a public meeting at Berhampur in Ganjam district on April 28.

He will later hold a meeting with party workers at Nabarangpur.

Simultaneous polling will be held in 28 Assembly segments and four Lok Sabha constituencies including Berhampur and Nabarangpur on May 13.

The BJP workers and leaders in the state are buoyed following Home Minister Amit Shah's address in Sonepur Assembly constituency of Bolangir district on Thursday.

HM Shah on Thursday launched scathing attacks on the ruling Biju Janata Dal government over a number of issues.

Several other senior leaders of the party including Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to visit Odisha for campaigning in the coming days.

Notably, Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1.

Results for the Assembly and the Lok Sabha polls will be declared on June 4.
Mumbai, April 26 : A voter turnout of 53.51 per cent was recorded till 5 p.m. for the 8 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where voting was held on Friday.

Wardha registered the highest polling percentage till 5 p.m. at 56.66 per cent, followed by Amravati (54.50), Yavatmal-Washim (54.04), Parbhani (53.79), Akola (52.49), Nanded (52.47), Buldhana (52.24), and Hingoli (52.03).

The voters at the Hivari polling station in the Yavatmal-Washim constituency were made to wait for around 25 minutes as the polling staff took a 'break' for lunch. For a while, the voters, including senior citizens, got confused as they were made to wait as if they had gone to some government office. The polling was stopped from 2.10 p.m. to 2.35 p.m. due to this reason.

In Akola, a salon operator named Anant Kanulkar gave a novel offer of free haircuts to the customers who cast their votes.

aaShow your inked finger and get a haircut for free,aa read a board outside his salon.

Stating that the offer was part of his efforts to encourage people to vote, Kanulkar appealed, "Wake up voters, become a part of democracy."

In Washim, District Collector Bhuvaneshwari S. cast her vote at the Lions Vidya Niketan and thereafter planted a sapling on the school campus.

She also said the district administration had made efforts to increase the polling percentage to 75 per cent.

As part of the voter awareness drive, the Washim district administration also resorted to a novel idea of applying free 'mehendi' to the female voters who cast their votes on Friday.
Imphal, April 26 : Over 76 per cent of the around 4.85 lakh voters on Friday exercised their franchise in the remaining part of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, whose major part went to polls in the first phase on April 19, officials said on Friday.

Election and police officials separately said that no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the tribal reserved constituency, spread across eight hilly districts - Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Jiribam, Pherzawl, and Tengnoupal.

The officials said that despite scorching temperatures, voters, including women and the elderly, queued up at their respective polling stations before the voting started at 7 a.m. The balloting continued till 4 p.m.

Fridayas polling was held in the remaining 13 Assembly segments under the Outer Manipur parliamentary seat, where voting for the 15 other Assembly segments was held in the first phase on April 19 along with the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

According to election officials, around 4.85 lakh voters, including 2.46 lakh females, were eligible to exercise their franchise at 848 polling stations on Friday to decide the fate of four candidates. The voters, who are sheltered at relief camps due to the nearly yearlong ethnic violence in the state, exercised their franchise at nine special polling stations set up in the relief camps in three districts, an election official said.

While the stateas ruling BJP is contesting in the Inner Manipur seat, the party has extended its support to the Naga Peopleas Front (NPF) nominee Kachui Timothy Zimik, who replaced sitting MP Lorho S. Pfoze, in Outer Manipur.

The Congress-led INDIA bloc has fielded Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur.

Though two Independents -- S. Kho John and Alyson Abonmai -- are also contesting, the main contest is between Zimik and Arthur, both Nagas.

The Naga community has professed to remain neutral during the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis of the valley and the Kumi-Zomis of the hills. In view of the nearly yearlong ethnic violence, campaigning for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state was significantly subdued this time.

Incidents of firing, intimidation, and destruction of EVMs at some polling stations were reported and allegations of booth capturing were also made in the first phase of polling on April 19, when a turnout of 72 per cent was recorded in the Inner Manipur seat and 15 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur constituency.
Mumbai, April 26 : In a major jolt for the Congress, a senior Muslim leader of the party and one of the 'star campaigners' on Friday opted out of the campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha election, and also quit the poll campaign committee.

Congress' Maharashtra unit Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan has shot off a letter to the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge, expressing deep disappointment over Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies for not fielding any Muslim candidate in Maharashtra for the 2024 LS elections.

"From the total of 48 seats in the state, the MVA has not nominated a single Muslim candidate. Many Muslim organisations, party leaders, and staunch workers were hopeful that at least one prominent Muslim leader would be in the fray, but that has not happened," said Khan.

He pointed out that now the minority community is making embarrassing statements such as "the Congress wants Muslim votes, but doesn't want any Muslim candidates in elections", and rued that "now I can't face them as I have no answers as the Muslims have always supported the party".

Khan, a former state minister and close to the Gandhi family, had been clamouring for at least one of the two Lok Sabha seats that have come to the Congress quota in Mumbai.

However, late on Thursday (April 25), the party fielded Mumbai city unit Congress president Varsha E. Gaikwad from the Mumbai North Central seat, leading to much heartburn among the top Muslim leaders in the party.

"I am very upset with this unfair decision of the Congressa in the past, whenever the party assigned me election responsibilities in states like Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal and others, including Maharashtra, I faithfully executed them. Now, I shall not campaign for the third, fourth and fifth phases of the LS 2024 elections," Khan said.

The state or central Congress leaders have not yet reacted to Khan's shocking move so far as it could have potentially severe implications on the MVA's minority support base in the remaining 35 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where elections are scheduled in May.

Incidentally, last month, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar slammed the MVA for not nominating any Muslim candidate in the state for LS polls.
Kolkata, April 26 : The commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) on Friday joined the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team in searching the residence of a relative of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans district.

With the CBI officials having already recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives from the house, sources said there are two reasons for involving the NSG in the search operation.

First, the firearms already recovered from the spot include high-end 9 MM pistols of foreign make due to which the central agency is not ruling out the involvement of cross-border terrorists with the racket in Sandeshkhali.

Secondly, the CBI suspects that powerful explosives may be hidden in the house, which can be detected only by those with special expertise in the matter such as the NSG commandos.

The NSF commandos have reached the spot with a specialised explosive-detection robot.

The CAPF has blocked all the exit and entrance points to the house which is located inside a pisciculture farm.
Moscow, April 26 : Russia and Europe will no longer be able to resume their past relations under the current circumstances, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

There is a lack of willingness to build such relations, especially on Russia's part, said Peskov, adding that Moscow will take into account past experiences when forging new ties with European countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said Russia and Europe, being geographic neighbors, "will still have to agree on how we will live".

Russia does not pose a threat to Europe and expects that no one in Europe will pose a threat to it, said Peskov.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 26 : Voters in Kerala braved the heat to head out to polling stations in the single-day "festival of democracy" in the southern state on Friday, with a 67 per cent turnout recorded for the state's 20 Lok Sabha seats till the closing of polls at 6 p.m. but long queues of voters still present.

The state's electorate totals 2,77,49,159 - 1,43,33,499 women, 1,34,15,293 men and 367 transgenders. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there was a 77.67 per cent turnout.

At the end of the official close of polling time of 6 p.m., a 67 per cent voter turnout was registered, but according to reports, there were a good number of voters waiting in the queue at several polling booths. All voters who arrived in the booths by 6 p.m. were given a separate slip and will be allowed to cast their votes, irrespective of when they would be able to press the button on the EVMs.

The day-long poll process started on a high with voters queuing up even before polls opened at 7 a.m. and despite the scorching heat during the daytime, voters, including several elderly people, stood for long hours to cast their votes.

In the afternoon session, the turnout slightly dipped, but in the late evening, it picked up again and reports from election officials indicate that voting may extend till late evening, and it will only be after that the final tally will be known.

While polling was more or less uneventful, there were some incidents which included the deaths of seven people after voting. On the other hand, there were a few newlyweds who exercised their franchise soon after they tied the nuptial knot, while at Kozhikode, a bride-to-be came to cast her vote.

"I feel happy that I was allowed to cast my vote and now I am going straight to the wedding hall as the auspicious time is fast approaching," she said.

Some "fake voters" were also detected with police registering cases against 12 people across the state for indulging in voting for others.

The three political fronts that are fighting it out are the ruling CPI(M)-led Left, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA. In 2019, the UDF won 19 seats, while the Left won the remaining one and the BJP-led NDA finished second at Thiruvananthapuram and a distant third in the remaining seats.

This time, Thiruvananthapuram, where Congress' Shashi Tharoor faced Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and of the CPI's Pannyan Raveendran, and Thrissur, where Congress's K. Muraleedharan, CPI's V.S. Sunil Kumar and BJP's Suresh Gopi were in the fray, witnessed keen triangular fights.

Other key contests in the state included Wayanad, where sitting MP Rahul Gandhi of the Congress faced CPI's Annie Raja, and state BJP chief K. Sudhakaran, Pathanamthitta, where sitting Congress MP Anto Antony contested against former Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac of the CPI-M and the BJP's Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony, and Alappuzha, where Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, faced CPI's A.M. Ariff and BJP's Sobha Surendran

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that this time they will register a historic win, while Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan said the Congress-led UDF are all set for a clean sweep of winning all the 20 seats. However, both of them said in unison that the BJP-led NDA would only finish third in all the 20 seats, let alone winning.
Agartala, April 26 : Despite the scorching heat, over 80 per cent of the 14 lakh voters cast their votes in the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held under a heavy security cover on Friday.

The police said that no untoward incident was reported during polling from the tribal reserve parliamentary constituency.

Election officials said that heavy security arrangements were made for the Tripura East seat spread across six districts to thwart any incidents of violence.

Around 1,050 voters in the tribal-dominated Raima Valley refused to cast their votes in protest against the bad road conditions and poor water supply in their area. However, after being persuaded by senior officials, the angry voters agreed to vote.

A large number of the voters residing outside the border-fenced area (inside Indian territory near the zero line) on the India-Bangladesh border in Kailashahar exercised their franchise after the BSF personnel opened the gates on the border.

Meanwhile, the authorities on Friday suspended polling official Mousumi Ghosh, posted in the Surma Assembly segment, for making comments involving a top political leader of the country. However, the suspension order was withdrawn late Friday evening.

At least 15 voters, including women, were injured when a swarm of bees attacked them. They were in the queue to cast their votes in Barabill area of Tripura's Khowai district.

Election officials said that Fire and Emergency Service personnel rushed to the spot and shifted the affected voters to the Khowai district hospital. After treatment, they were sent to their homes.

Around 14 lakh voters, including 6.94 lakh females, were eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of nine candidates in the politically crucial parliamentary seat, reserved for the tribals.

Returning Officer Saju Vaheed A. said that the majority of over 16,000 Reang tribal voters, who were recently rehabilitated in different districts of Tripura after being displaced from the neighbouring Mizoram state following ethnic trouble there, cast their votes in different polling stations for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat.

Though there are nine candidates in the fray, the main contest is between the BJP's Kriti Devi Debbarman, the elder sister of Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, and the CPI-M's Rajendra Reang, a former MLA representing the opposition INDIA bloc.

The other Lok Sabha seat in the state -- Tripura West -- went to the polls in the first phase on April 19, recording a turnout of around 82 per cent. The by-election to the Ramnagar Assembly constituency was also held on April 19.
New Delhi, April 26 : Thanking voters, who came out in large numbers to exercise franchise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that "unparalleled support" for the NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more.

"Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want the NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support," PM Modi posted on X.

After polling for 102 seats in the first phase was completed in a smooth and peaceful manner on April 19, people in 88 constituencies across 13 states and UTs voted on Friday during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The remaining five phases will continue till June 1 with counting of votes scheduled for June 4.

PM Modi has been calling upon voters to turn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride.

"Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice," PM Modi posted on social media, earlier in the day.
New Delhi, April 26 : With the campaign gaining momentum for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, where voting will be held in the sixth phase on May 25, auto-rickshaws prominently displaying the slogan 'Har Dil Mein Modi' are being sighted in various parts of the national capital.

The slogan, which translates to 'Modi in Every Heart', reflects a sentiment of strong support for Prime Minister Modi. The frequent spotting of such autos indicates a visible display of political allegiance and endorsement of the current government.

The presence of autos with the slogan 'Har Dil Mein Modi' across various neighborhoods in Delhi is being seen in various circles as a reaffirmation of the growing popularity of the Prime Minister amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

These autos are commonly seen traversing through busy streets, residential areas, and commercial hubs, attracting the attention of the passersby. The autos feature eye-catching visuals and decorations, prominently displaying the slogan along with images of Prime Minister Modi.

Meanwhile, a few drivers of these autos donning T-shirts in support of the Prime Minister in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar area explained why they put up such slogans on their autos.

An auto driver named Raju said, "PM Modi has done a lot of work for the country and the poor and deprived people of the nation. Free ration is also being given."

Another auto driver named Manjeet said he benefited from the Central government's housing scheme, due to which he and his family are very happy.

When the auto drivers were asked about the probable third term of the Modi government, they said this time the people of the country, especially the middle class and the auto drivers, have full faith in the Modi government, and the Prime Minister will surely get a third term.

The slogans are aimed at garnering attention and promoting the message of unwavering support for the Prime Minister and his policies. Needless to say, the display of such slogans on public transports signifies a form of grassroots political endorsement.

Many say that it indicates a groundswell of support for the ruling government among certain sections of the populace, particularly in the urban areas like Delhi.

For many, these adorned autos serve as a symbol of their political loyalty and allegiance to Prime Minister Modi and his administration. The slogan encapsulates the sentiment of admiration and confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister.

According to analysts, the presence of these autos is likely to contribute to the ongoing political discourse in Delhi and beyond. It may spark conversations among citizens regarding their views on the government's performance, policies, and leadership, further shaping the public opinion.
Jaipur, April 26 : Allegations and counter-allegations flew thick and fast in the Barmer Lok Sabha constituency that went to the polls on Friday.

The constituency recorded the highest voter turnout among the 13 seats that went to the polls in the state on Friday at 69.79 per cent (provisional figure).

Barmer is witnessing a triangular contest between Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary of the BJP, Congress' Umedaram Beniwal, and Independent candidate Ravindra Bhati, who is also the MLA from Sheo Assembly constituency.

Bhati made serious allegations against the administration. He said his polling agent was thrown out of the booth in Baytu Assembly. A label was put ahead of my name on the EVM so that I don't get voted. The vehicles of migrants who came to vote for me were stopped. No matter how many such tactics are used to defeat me, I have made a place in the hearts of my voters. How will you get me out of those hearts?

In his tweet, he said, "Inside Baytu Assembly, my agents are being thrown out of the booths and a label has been put in front of my name on the voting machine. What kind of democracy is this? After all, under whose pressure is the administration working," said Bhati on his X account.

However, the Rajasthan police denied his allegations and said that they have received no such complaint.

Bhati questioned the silence of the administration, election commission and the police and said, "The government is trying its best to reduce polling. Many vehicles are being stopped. Many people are being stopped. Whatever we can do, we are doing it. I would like to tell them that the people of Barmer, Jaisalmer and Balotra are strong. You can't do anything by stopping like this."

Meanwhile, the Jaisalmer police banned Bhati's brother from roaming in Jaisalmer constituency.

The police wrote in a post that "the brother of independent candidate Ravindra Singh Bhati, who is not a voter of Jaisalmer, is influencing the voters by roaming in Jaisalmer district. Jaisalmer District Police appeals to the brother of the independent candidate to immediately leave the district."

Congress candidate Ummedaram Beniwal said that some outsiders tried to disturb the peace and harmony of That.

"Sheo Vidhan Sabha constituency is known for peace and brotherhood. However the news coming in of manhandling and goondaism each minute is worrying. Outsiders who are miscreants are trying to demolish peace and spirit of brotherhood here," he added.

Baytu MLA Harish Chaudhary alleged that a Congress agent was manhandled. He charged that a Rajasthan government official has been flouting all norms of democracy. Dalit women have been mistreated in the presence of the IG and were injured. Villagers kept demanding that fake voting should be stopped but no one intervened. He asked the Election Commission to investigate the matter and take action.
Kolkata, April 26 : A Colt official police revolver was among a large cache of firearms seized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from a house at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans, the CBI claimed in a statement issued on Friday evening.

The recovery was made from the residence of a relative and close aide of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. The owner of the house is also a Trinamool Congress panchayat member.

Besides the Colt revolver, the other firearms and ammunition seized from the house include three foreign-make revolvers, one Indian revolver, one foreign-make pistol, one country-made pistol, 120 9 MM bullets, 50 .45 calibre cartridges, 120 9 MM calibre cartridges, 50 .380 cartridges, and eight .32 cartridges.

"Besides, many incriminating documents related to Shahjahan have also been recovered from the house. Some items suspected to be crude bombs have also been recovered, which are being disposed of by teams from the NSG," the CBI statement said.

The search operation is continuing.

Meanwhile, a war of words has broken out between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress over the search operations at Sandeshkhali on Friday.

Trinamool state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh claimed that the National Security Guard (NSG) was deliberately called in on Friday to influence the voters on the polling day as well as to keep the Sandeshkhali issue alive.

"This entire episode was pre-planned," Ghosh alleged.

On the other hand, BJP's IT cell chief and central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of making attempts to protect 'terrorists'.

"The CBI, during the raid in connection with the attack on ED officials, recovered a huge amount of arms and ammunition from Sariberia in Sandeshkhali. Mamata Banerjee, as Home Minister of West Bengal, must explain why is the state seeing a huge stockpile of illegal weapons. It is dangerous," Malviya tweeted.

He has also pointed out that while the NSG has been called in the case, the state government has approached the Supreme Court to preclude the CBI from investigating the matter.

"The arms haul is nothing but an act of terror, waging a war against the nation. But the question is why is Mamata Banerjee trying to protect terrorists who have stocked firearms in such large quantities," Malviya asked.
Over 69 per cent turnout in Jammu-Reasi LS seat as young, old, women, border residents turn out in force (2nd Lead). Image Source: IANS News

Jammu, April 26 : A 105-year-old man, a 97-year-old woman, supported by her young grandson, women carrying their young children, and wheelchair-bound people were among those who came out to exercise their right to franchise the Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, where polling ended peacefully with over 69 per cent turnout.

Polling started at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.

J&K's Chief Electoral Officer P.K.Pole told reporters that the poll process ended peacefully in the constituency with an overall voter turnout of 69.01 per cent.

There were 22 contestants in the constituency, spread over the Jammu and Reasi districts, Ramgarh, Vijaypur, and Samba in the Samba district, and Sunderbani-Kalakote in the Rajouri district, but the main battle was between Jugal Kishore Sharma of the BJP and Raman Bhalla of the Congress.

Sharma is seeking re-election for the third time from the constituency while Bhalla, a former J&K minister, is supported by his party's INDIA bloc partner, the National Conference.

The EC also released voting percentages for all the segments of this constituency, with Vijaypur recording the highest turnout at 75.67 per cent, followed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi at 74.65 per cent and the Akhnoor (SC) segment at 74.03 per cent.

Bahu recorded 62.34 per cent, Bishnah (SC) 71.33 per cent, Chhamb 71.06 per cent, Gulabgarh (ST) 71.47 per cent, Jammu East 66.11 per cent, Jammu North 67.29 per cent, Jammu West 62.82 per cent, Kalakote- Sunderbani 66.40 per cent, Marh (SC) 73 per cent, Nagrota 71.39 per cent, RS-Pura Jammu South 68.11 per cent, Ramgarh (SC) 69.76 per cent, Reasi 71.65 per cent, Samba 69.23 per cent, and Suchetgarh (SC) 63.49 per cent.

As the day progressed, queues outside the polling stations also became longer as every voter, particularly first-time voters, as well as those living in border areas, turned out to exercise their franchise.

Women voters also came out in large numbers.

Janki Devi, 97, who was holding the hand of her grandson for assistance, cast her vote at a polling station in Khabbal, and Sardar Avtar Singh Raina, 105, voted in Jammu, as per election officials. A newly-married couple, still clad in their wedding finery, reached a polling station at Mahore in Reasi to vote.

Better roads, development, education, connectivity, healthcare etc are the main issues of the urban voters.

The large numbers of border voters pouring out to use their democratic rights proved that peace on the border and the countryas capacity to protect their lives, agricultural fields, homes, and livestock are their main considerations.

ECI officials said contingency plans were in place in case of any disruption in border polling stations.

There are 17,80,738 voters in the constituency - 9,21,053 males, 8,59,657 females, and 28 third-gender voters.

The EC has set up 2,416 polling stations including 666 urban and 1,750 rural.

CCTV camera monitoring, webcasting and deployment of poll mobile senior supervisory staff are some of the measures to ensure free and fair polling in the constituency. Thirteen polling stations in the communication shadow zone were being monitored through satellite phones, wireless, and human runners to ensure fairness of the voting process.

Adequate security has been provided throughout the constituency while the polling stations were sanitised security-wise a day ahead of the polling. Hundreds of state police and those of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel have been deployed to provide a safe and secure voting environment.
Shillong, April 26 : Unidentified assailants threw a petrol bomb at Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar's house in East Khasi Hills district on Friday, police said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

Dhar's house is located in the Nongmynsong area of the district.

He has lodged an FIR and the security has been beefed up at his house.

Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Rituraj Ravi said that police have launched an investigation and those responsible will be arrested soon. He has appealed to the general public not to take the law into their hands.
New Delhi, April 26 : Former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and senior Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo, in an exclusive interview with IANS, expressed his views on a range of issues in a candid manner.

He also responded to the BJP's criticism of the Congress for not attending the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. The senior Congress leader described the Ram Lalla 'pran pratishtha' programme as an event "sponsored" by the BJP. He also said that the entire focus of the programme was on Prime Minister Narendra Modi only.

On the question of Congress rejecting the invitation for the ceremony, Singh Deo said that whenever there is a discussion on religion and Lord Ram, people are going to the extent of terming PM Modi the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

"What is this happening? This is too much," said the former Deputy CM.

In this context, he also attacked Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, saying the BJP has given a ticket to the film actress (Kangana) from Mandi, and whenever she starts her speech, she calls PM Modi an incarnation of Vishnu and sometimes an incarnation of Lord Ram and Shiva.

Her election campaign starts with these refrains, he said, smiling sarcastically.

"What is happening in the country these days?"

In reply to another query, Singh Deo claimed that the Ram Temple was not inaugurated at an auspicious time. Similarly, the consecration ceremony was organised in an incomplete temple, he added.

This cannot happen even according to Sanatan Dharma and its scriptures, he remarked.

"Well, you organised a big event and whom did you invite? The new Parliament building was not inaugurated by the country's President, Droupadi Murmu. In the same way, they did not invite her for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya which was an insult to Ram Lalla as well," Singh Deo said.

This was the only event in which everyone saw that 90 per cent of the camera focus was on PM Modi, he added.

"If we were doing this work inspired by the spirit of Lord Ram, the camera should have been on the idol of Ram Lalla. The camera focus on those attending the programme, be it PM Modi or CM Yogi Adityanath or some Mahant, could have been for a shorter period," he said.

The Congress leader also alleged that the BJP made the consecration of Ram Lalla a political event and insulted Ram ji by not inviting other people to the programme.

Singh Deo said, "I saw the photo of Ram Lalla before the inauguration of the temple. I was very sad to see images of PM Modi walking holding the hand of Lord Ram being circulated among the people."

"But there is no reaction from them, everyone maintained silence. How pathetic that he is carrying Lord Ram. Perhaps I am saying all this for the first time regarding the inauguration of Ram Mandir but I felt very pained to see these," said Sigh Deo.

"At the time of my father's birth, Maharaj Ramanuj Sharan Singh Dev of Surguja had built a temple of Lord Ram and my parents had dedicated it to Baba Ji," he said.

"Even today, the tradition is that Baba Ji and his two followers take care of that temple. Not only this, on the day of Ram Navami, only a family member is called and then the door is opened," he said.

But, what happened in Ayodhya was a sponsored programme, in which everything was done to promote one individual and one party, Singh Deo alleged.
Hyderabad, April 26 : A huge fire broke out in a pharma company at Nandigama in Telagana's Ranga Reddy district, near Hyderabad, on Friday but there was no loss of life, officials said.

About 30-40 workers trapped inside Alvin Pharma came out safely or were rescued by firefighters, a police official said.

A worker was injured when he jumped out of a window to save himself. He was admitted to a hospital.

Police praised the heroic act of local boy Sai Charan who lent a rope, thus helping workers trapped in the building to come out. Some others were rescued by firefighters.

Workers said that the fire broke out due to sparks during the welding work. As the AC units exploded, it further spread the fire.

Fire tenders from surrounding areas rushed to the spot and doused the fire. Police registered a case and took up their investigation.
What started as a fire safety measure has spiraled into a debate about privacy and social interaction inside Chinas crowded college dorms.





To some, theyre a fire hazard and an invisible wall that is destroying social interaction on Chinas college campuses. To others, theyre a final refuge in an intolerably crowded environment.

This week, students across China have been locked in a heated debate about an unexpected issue: The makeshift curtains that many young people hang around their dorm room bunks.

In China, students generally live in dormitories where four to eight people share a room. So as to give themselves a bit of privacy  and shut out unwanted light  in these often densely packed spaces, many students choose to erect makeshift curtains.

But universities are increasingly banning the practice on safety grounds. Some also argue that the curtains are destroying social life on campus, as students are literally walling themselves off from each other.

Curtain bans have been coming thick and fast in recent weeks. On March 27, Xinjiang Medical University announced that students were now prohibited from hanging curtains, as did a department at Gansu Minzu Normal University. The same month, Hebei Zhangjiakou University launched a special campaign to remove curtains from its dormitories.
Vadodara, April 26 : One person was killed while 25 others were injured in Gujarat's Vadodara after the truck in which they were travelling collided with another vehicle, an official said on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as Kesar Raj, 48,

According to police, those travelling in the truck were on their way to a programme.

The truck, which was transporting the people -- said to be the members of the same family -- from Anand district to Natwarnagar village, met with an accident after it collided with a vehicle that was moving on the wrong side of the road.

The impact was so severe that several passengers in the truck were ejected, causing serious injuries.

The injured are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The police said they are looking into the probable causes behind the accident, and the injured individuals are being provided with all necessary assistance.
New Delhi, April 26 : In a sharp rebuke to jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi government, along with the Aam Aadmi Party-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi High Court on Friday criticised them for their failure to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students studying in the MCD schools in the national capital.

The court was hearing a PIL alleging a dire state of education in the MCD schools. The court earlier said that nearly two lakh students lacked basic amenities due to administrative hurdles.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora criticised the Delhi government for prioritising 'power over public welfare'.

The bench also expressed dismay at the government's handling of the situation, saying, "Your client is just interested in power."

It pointed out CM Kejriwal's failure to resign despite facing arrest on money laundering charges, accusing him of placing personal interests above national interests.

CM Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. He is currently in judicial custody.

Delhi government's counsel Shadan Farasat's submission, citing the absence of the MCD Standing Committee, received sharp criticism from the bench.

The bench also criticised Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj's 'indifference' to the students' plight. It warned the Delhi government against underestimating its authority, saying children's welfare should not be politicised.

The court also said that it will now include Bhardwaj's name in the order.

Farasat also argued that the Delhi government's power is limited.

The bench said that children are not commodities for trading as it criticised the government's admission of failure in multiple aspects under the MCD's jurisdiction.

After hearing the arguments, the high court reserved its judgment on the matter for April 29.
Kaushambi : , April 26 (IANS) A case has been registered against unidentified persons on the basis of a viral video in which some people can be seen counting and distributing money, purportedly for the rally of a prominent political leader, in UP's Kaushambi district, police said on Friday.

Circle Officer Chail, Manoj Raghuvanshi said the police have been instructed to take strict legal action as soon as possible.

The case has been registered under Sections 171B/171H of the IPC and 123(1) of the Representation of People Act. 1951 under crime number 124/24.

The video clip reportedly is of Muratganj where a political party held a rally on Friday.
Kiev, April 26 : Ukraine has received the bodies of 140 soldiers killed while trying to defend the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson from Russian attacks, the authority responsible for prisoner of war matters said on Friday.

Five bodies were from the Sumy section in northern Ukraine. Russia has no Ukrainian territories under its control in this area.

However, at the beginning of March, units of Russian volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine allegedly made advances from the Sumy region into Russian territory.

Once the identities of the deceased are established, they will be handed over to their relatives, the authority said.

The authority, known as the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for arranging the return.

Despite the ongoing fighting, both sides regularly exchanged the bodies of fallen soldiers and prisoners of war.

It is, however, not yet known whether and how many dead soldiers Russia has received in return.

--IANS/DPA

int/pgh
Bengaluru, April 27 : Barring an incident of attack on a polling booth, voting in Karnataka's 14 Lok Sabha seats on Friday was largely peaceful, election officials said.

A mob attacked a polling station at Idiginatha village in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar and set an Electronic Voting Machine on fire.

According to the Election Commission, a few villagers outside the polling booth were dissuading anyone who wanted to vote. Taluka officials reached the spot at around 1.30 p.m. and tried to persuade voters to cast their vote.

Meanwhile, the District Tribal Welfare Officer, Circle Inspector and four policemen reached Mandhare, a nearby tribal settlement where voters were willing to vote, but were intimidated by some people in the village. About 20 voters from Mandhare were brought to the polling booth, and nine of them besides the polling personnel had cast votes by 1:50 p.m. when a mob aggravated and started pelting stones at officials and the polling booth.

The mob entered the polling booth, destroyed and burnt some equipment and an EVM machine halting the polling process, officials said.

The incident happened at the polling booth situated in an isolated habitat which can be reached through the forest of Male Mahadeshwara Hills Forest division.
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Best known for her romantasy novels, author Tracy Wolff returns to the world of her bestselling YA fantasy series Crave in the spinoff Sweet Nightmare, the first in the Calder Academy series which centers new characters and features fan favorites from Crave. Seventeen-year-old Clementine Calder has lived her entire life on the small Gulf Coast island that houses paranormal Calder Academy. When her manticore powers begin manifesting and she starts receiving mysterious flickers of the past and future, as well as an unprecedented ability to see ghosts, she turns to dark and brooding dream daimon Jude Abernathy-Lee, and together, they uncover dark secrets about their world. Wolff spoke with PW about what inspired this new series, the differences and similarities between Calder Academy and Crave, and how her experiences during the Covid pandemic informed her writing.

Why did you decide to write a spinoff series to your Crave novels?

There are a lot of different reasons, actually. While the journey of the main characters in the Crave series is complete, there was a lot about the world that I still had questions about that I wanted to answer that I also think my fans were really curious about. So, doing a spinoff gave me the chance to play in a whole different area of this world that I had fallen in love withand Im so grateful that my fans have as well.

How did writing Sweet Nightmare compare to writing Crave? What did you do differently?

After writing so many books, my process is pretty much my process, but at the same time, Sweet Nightmare really kind of stretched me. I mean, Crave [Crave #1] stretched me when I wrote it five years ago, but Sweet Nightmare pulled me in a whole new direction because its a little scarierI would call it horror lite. It was definitely a new area for me to write in, but I had a lot of fun diving in and exploring.

While I think that the process was similar, the tone and mood of the book are very different. Most of the Crave series was written during the pandemic, and I think its so interesting how the books kind of reflected where we were. In Crush [Crave #2], Hudson was trapped inside Graces head and just wanted out. At the time that I was writing Crush, we were all trapped in our own houses, and we wanted out. And now, were still dealing with the repercussions of all the things that were happening during the pandemic, and people are just trying to move on.

I think Sweet Nightmare is a book that is very indicative of the things were dealing with today, what with the mystical storm that triggers Clementines power manifestation and how that relates to our current environment. The world in which we live in 2024 is where Im drawing inspiration from, because were always wondering whats going on with the country that we live in, and so much of Sweet Nightmare is about not knowing and the introspection that comes with it. You start thinking, What are your nightmares? What is it that youre most afraid of? How does that play out in the world? And what happens when your power is taken away from you? How do you reclaim that power?

Another thing is that Crave was set in Alaska while Calder Academy is set off the coast of Texas. Im from Austin and at the end of August, were always saying, We Texans arent afraid of hell, because we have August. So, I went from extreme cold to extreme heat, and I think the mood and tone reflects that.

What can you tell us about the next book in the Calder Academy series?

Were switching out heroes and heroines. The plan is that each book in the series will involve the same core set of characters but will be told from a different point of view.

Im an only child and I moved around a lot, so family is incredibly important to me, and found family is a huge theme in all my books. And as the mother of teenagers, its become more apparent to me just how much peoples experiences of the world is within their own head. If you look at your own family, your own communities, everybody else is the hero of their own story. So, its very exciting to be able to mimic that, and to see how the story unfolds from the point of view of a manticore and a siren and a dragon and a witch and a vampire. Eventually, all their special powers and their experiences come together.

Its important to me to convey this idea that you dont have to do everything on your own. You have people who will be there with you.

So, the next book will be from a whole new couples point of view. Weve already met them in Sweet Nightmare. The series just gets darker and wilder from here.

Do people need to read the Crave series before starting Sweet Nightmare?

Absolutely not. I think if you read Crave, youll get more insight into some of the things that are mentioned in Sweet Nightmare, but my publisher and I deliberately made sure that the series could stand on its own.

Sweet Nightmare (The Calder Academy #1) by Tracy Wolff. Entangled, $21.99 May 7 ISBN 978-1-64937-706-7
Good Books Young Troublemakers, a book club for middle graders that highlights potentially controversial content, began as a local venture at Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. Now that the organization has been granted nonprofit, 501(c)3 status, founder Tanvi Rastogi plans to establish chapters across the U.S., directing kids and caregivers to book selections that might be downplayed, or even censored, in their school libraries or communities.

Dog-Eared Books opened in March 2021, and Rastogiwho works as the stores inventory manager and youth book clubs managerstarted Good Books Young Troublemakers that April. A former youth services librarian in New Jersey and at the Ames Public Library, Rastogi already loved working with kids, so I asked if I could do a social-justice-themed middle school book club. Middle school is my favorite age to work with. The clubs name is inspired by the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, who urged activists to get into good trouble.

Rastogi began assigning a fairly recent book every month, with an emphasis on diverse perspectives and identities. Kelly Yangs Front Desk, about a Chinese American immigrant girl who helps her parents manage a motel, was her first club selection. Other early choices included Kyle Lukoffs Too Bright to See, a ghost story with a young transgender protagonist, and Johnnie Christmass graphic novel Swim Team, about a Black Brooklynite who moves to Florida and conquers her dread of swimming.

Novels and graphic narratives alike have made the list. Some of the more recent ones have been Aya de Leons Undercover Latina, Amy Sarig Kings Attack of the Black Rectangles, Lisa Yees Maisie Chens Last Chance, and Esme Symes-Smiths Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, Rastogi said. For each book, she created a discussion guide, and once pandemic restrictions eased and groups could gather in person, she put a cap on the number of kids who can register, partly because of space limitations. I think it would be bigger if I didnt cap it, but weve got a loft that can only hold so many people, and for quality of discussion I try to keep it a little smaller. As of last fall, 15 middle schoolers were participating.

Demand for the club was strong, and Rastogi felt gratified that the book club books are all sponsored by community members, giving children access to chosen books at no cost. Rastogi believed the model for her club could expand far beyond Dog-Eared Books, and in May 2023, she filed the paperwork for tax-exempt status. While awaiting approval from the Internal Revenue Service, she gave a presentation on the club at Childrens Institute 2023 in Milwaukee, where she met booksellers willing to establish test sites and help refine the GBYT model so were ready to launch nationally. An online store in Chicago, plus stores in Maryland and Colorado, volunteered, as did a small-town library in rural Meservey, Iowa.

Second Star to the Right Books, a children's and young adult book and toy shop in Denver, was among GBYTs beta testers. Stu Luddecke, a bookseller and school events coordinator, worked with about five kids per week, a couple of them being the same stalwart members. Luddecke found the young readers very participatory and especially excited about the graphic novels. Im a former educator, and I still like engaging with kids in deeper ways than I can as a bookseller," he said. "Having meaningful conversations about issues that might matter to them in their everyday lives has impacted me in a positive way and filled a gap in the community.

Working with feedback from stores like Second Star to the Right, Rastogi foresees that the nonprofit will have chapters, very similar to Drag Queen Story Hour, and once the chapters register with the organization, theyll have access to all of the materials that they need to start their own book clubs. So far, she is hearing from booksellers, librarians, and educators whose schools can support a book club as an extracurricular offering. At her own GBYT club, high school students who age out of middle school often want to stay involved as volunteer leaders or for community service credit. Every chapter reads the same book each month, which comes with a detailed discussion guide created by Rastogi in consultation with her board of directors.

Discussion guides are essential for people who arent trained educators, Rastogi noted. She gives the example of a shocking scene of bullying from Saadia Faruqis Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero, in which students corner a Muslim American character. What we do in the book club is ask, what if you were in the hallway and you saw this happen? What would you do? And we talk through what all the different options are, whether theyre beneficial to the person youre trying to help, and what risks youre taking when you engage in a particular action. Selections like Yusuf Azeem prompt conversations that feel very organic, she said, but a tremendous amount of work goes into each study guide, because Im figuring out how to introduce complex and sometimes sensitive issues to kids in a way that is appropriate for them. I dont expect that every adult necessarily knows how to do that.

Presently, chapters pay monthly dues to participate, and individual readers or their community sponsors need to purchase the books. Yet Rastogi expressed a long-term goal that eventually well have enough grants, sponsors, and donations that the book club would be accessible to chapters for free. She hopes that nonprofit status will make it easier for us to work with educators, publishers, authors, and illustrators, because Im hoping to be able to have authors do virtual sessions, simulcast to all the chapters and deepening the experience of the literary content.

Interested participants can sign up to start Good Books Young Troublemakers chapters now for programming that begins in July; Rastogi has selected books through December. The book club is relating the books to current events and to larger issues, she said. Good Books Young Troublemakers will be a success, she believes, if it gets readers thinking about their own allyship skills, how they can use them, and preparing them for when something happens in real life.
Library advocates, take note. ALA officially launched its 2025 #FundLibraries campaign for federal library funding last Monday with the release of it usual "dear appropriator letters." This week, however, ALA officials learned that the deadline to submit signatures for the House letters has been set for May 1, and ALA officials are now urging library advocates to contact their representatives without delay to urge them to sign the letters.

Federal library funding is facing an especially tough fight in the current budget process. With partisan gridlock, election year politics, and a surprise 4% cut to LSTA funding proposed by the White House. To get involved, visit the ALA's advocacy page here.

In a major victory some seven years in the making, the FCC this week at last voted to restore net neutrality rules repealed by the Trump Administration in 2017. The New York Times reports: "Jessica Rosenworcel, the chairwoman of the F.C.C. and a Democrat, said the rules reflected the importance of high-speed internet as the main mode of communications for many Americans. 'Every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open and fair,' Ms. Rosenworcel said. 'This is common sense.' Broadband providers are expected to sue to try to overturn the reinstated rules."

The ALA has been a staunch advocate for net neutrality for more than a decade. "The open internet is a vital platform for free speech and intellectual expression," reads an ALA fact sheet. "Without strong net neutrality protections in place, there is nothing to stop internet service providers from blocking or throttling legal internet traffic or setting up commercial arrangements where certain traffic is prioritized over other traffic. In practice, this will make it harder for people to have equitable access to the internet and for libraries to serve their patrons. A non-neutral net gives entities who can afford to pay more control over what information every American can access, potentially relegating libraries and other non-commercial enterprises to the internets 'slow lanes.'"

Maryland Matters reports that Maryland this week became the latest state to pass a law that seeks to discourage book bans in libraries, with Governor Wes Moore signing the Freedom to Read Act into law on April 25. The bill, passed as "emergency" legislation, takes effect immediately. "The act requires local school officials to manage library programs and not exclude or remove materials 'because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval.' Local school officials must develop policies and procedures to review objectionsmade by a student, parent or guardianabout books or materials. School districts also must establish a reasonable timeline to conduct and conclude a review. Books and materials being reviewed must 'remain available' for use by students and school personnel until the review process has concluded," the article reports. "It also prohibits retaliating against employees for doing their jobs."

In contrast, the Montgomery Advertiser reports that the Alabama house has approved a bill, HB385, this week that would allow for the prosecution of librarians who fail to ban allegedly inappropriate sexual content. "The bill adds to the legal definition of 'sexual conduct' by clarifying it as 'sexual or gender oriented material that knowingly exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations' that occurs in K-12 public schools, public libraries and other public places where minors may be present and without the consent of a parent," the article reports. "In addition, it would allow anyone to claim library materials are obscene and then write to the school district's superintendent or head librarian to request the materials' removal." The bill now heads to the state senate.

In an editorial in the Alabama Political Reporter, a former Alabama librarian sums up how librarians in the state are feeling. "Librarians in Alabama are struggling. They have been for a while, and theres no light at the end of the tunnel yet," the article states. "Librarians are simply exhausted. And many of them are miserable in jobs that have always brought them joy and fulfillment. Theyre facing constant demonization, plus a real chance that their work might put them at risk for being arrested. Every library worker you know is thinking of an exit strategy. Yes, even the one you love the most. Even the ones who have always been so dedicated to serving their community."

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that nearly two years after the state passed its "sweeping sensitive materials law," the state is trying to figure out how to apply the law retroactively in light of new state guidance. "Determining whether or not past book ban decisions jive with the new statewide guidance is no easy task," the report states, adding that "a list of all retroactively banned books" could be released as early as August.

 Every library worker you know is thinking of an exit strategy. Yes, even the one you love the most. 

In Wyoming, the Gillette News Record reports that, despite the state very publicly cutting ties with ALA, two County librarians will be able to take a class offered by the American Library Association after all. "At a library board meeting Monday, library director John Jackson told the board that there are two relatively new employees in the reference department that need to be trained," the article states. "The only training opportunity out there is through the ALA. Its a six-week course that focuses on the functions of a reference services librarian, such as evaluating sources, using the internet as a reference tool and outreach and marketing."

In her weekly censorship roundup for Book Riot, Kelly Jensens offers a "boiled-down primer" for how to fight book bans in 2024. "If you read this very basic list of what to do and feel frustrated, thats worth sitting with," Jensen writes. "This is not a short-term project. Again, the first 'how to' guide here was published in fall 2021. Its now spring 2024. Change only happens when you take action to make change and change is extremely slow."

Fast Company has a rather rosy take on what's happening in children's publishing. "Publishers, writers, and progressive organizations across the childrens book industry arent letting the book bans hold them back," the article states. "Instead, theyre turning the bans into a rallying cry to publish even more diverse characters and points of view. Indeed, over the last five years, there has been a steady increase in books by and about people of color. And people are finding creative ways to make sure these books get out into the world."

And finally this week, the cost of library e-books remains a thorny issue, and KUOW in Washington state this week reported on the issue. "The increasing demand for digital books is causing problems for local libraries," the report states. "Last month, [Seattle Puyblic Library] announced it was reducing the number of digital holds patrons can place from 25 down to 10. The reason: Digital books are extremely expensive for libraries, even though theyre generally cheaper than print books for an individual consumer." The article also notes that the Washington Library Association has "drafted a bill in partnership with the eBook Study Group and is hoping to introduce it during next years legislative session."
With little hope that the leadership of Small Press Distribution will emerge to help sort through the chaos caused by their abrupt closing at the end of March, other organizations have begun stepping in to try and mitigate the damage. One potential lifeline came through last week, when the Poetry Foundation announced the establishment of a new $150,000 bridge fund to help nonprofit poetry presses affected by SPDs collapse.

According to an April 25 announcement, the fund will operate through an open request process, providing grants that range up to $7,500 per press, with the foundation accepting requests on a rolling basis until September 1, or until the fund has been exhausted. To answer questions about the new fund, the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) will hold an information session with Poetry Foundation staff on Tuesday, April 30, at 3 pm CT.

In addition, the Poetry Foundation announced that it has also expedited $250,000 in grants to nonprofit small presses (which are open to poetry and prose publishers) who had applied as part of its regular spring grants cycle. The foundation will begin accepting applications for its regular fall cycle on June 1.

Furthermore, former SPD clients based in New York State can also apply for financial help through the NYSCA-CLMP Forward Fund. The fund offers one-time grants of $500 and $1,000 to help defray expenses related to the SPD closure. The application process is now open via the CLMP website and will run through May 17. Grants will be announced on May 30.

While the grant programs are welcome news, a growing number of publishers are also turning to GoFundMe campaigns to raise money. One such press is Fonograf Editions, whose owners hope to recoup $12,000 in royalty checks that were never paid by SPD, as well as to raise $3,000 to handle shipping and handling costs of moving to a new distributor.

The nonprofit record label/book publisher has released 16 books and records over the past two years and hopes to release more than 19 works from established and debut authors over the next two years. As of press time, Fonografs campaign had raised nearly $9,000, three-quarters of its goal.

Meanwhile, some former SPD clients are making progress finding new distributors, even as they grapple with financial and logistical challenges. As of this writing, Asterism Books had signed more than 60 publishers, Itasca Books had onboarded eight presses, and the Independent Publishers Group had signed agreements with two publishers and has deals pending with eight others.

Of course, with new distributors lined up, the challenge for many publishers remains how to help fund the transfer of their books, which are now being stored in warehouses owned by the Ingram Content Group and Publishers Shipping and Storage, to their new homes. Asterisms Phil Bevis said he is in contact with Ingram and PSSC in an effort to arrange bulk shipping of inventories as a way to save publishers money and minimize damage to inventories. No agreement has been signed to date, Bevis said, but conversations continue.

Sources also told PW that the extent of the confusion caused by SPD abruptly closing so soon after shipping its entire inventory to Ingram and PSSC is becoming more apparent. For example, Ingram had been expecting to get books for about 50 of SPDs largest clients, but instead received inventory for some 130 publishers.

For its part, PSSC is offering publishers with inventory in its warehouse the option to become a PSSC client. PSSC director of sales and marketing Pam Nuffer said the company has reached out to more than 300 publishers with books in its warehouse and has heard back from a little over half.

For publishers that have requested their books to be shipped, Nuffer said PSSC is preparing estimates for the shipping and handling costs, which it will begin to email to publishers this week. Once payment is received, PSSC will begin shipping the inventory, she said. PSSC has also extended the grace period through June 30, after which it will institute storage charges, and Nuffer said the company continues to reach out to publishers it has not yet heard from about how they would like their books to be handled. For publishers that want their inventory destroyed, PSSC will do so at no charge.

Meanwhile, the only communication publishers say they have received from SPD has come from the distributors lawyer. In a letter dated April 10, SPD attorney Mary Dowling informed publishers that if they wish to assert a claim against SPD, they must file a form with her San Diego firm by August 8, along with copies of any relevant documents.

At press time, Dowling had not responded to PWs request for more information about the dissolution process.
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The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) has unveiled its U.S. lineup for 2024, with the festival returning to Houston, New York City, and Boulder, Colo., while expanding to two new locations, Seattle, Wash., and Chapel Hill, N.C.

The festivals offer a diverse array of literary events, panel discussions, and workshops featuring authors affiliated with the JLF, many from India or the Indian diaspora.

Sanjoy K. Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, the producer of JLF, said he was excited about the festival's expansion: "We are thrilled to bring the magic of JLF to more cities across the United States. Our goal is to create a platform for meaningful dialogues and to inspire a love for literature in every corner of the country."

This year's locations and dates are:

Houston, Tex.: September 6 - 8

New York City: September 10 - 11

Boulder, Co.: September 13- 15

Seattle, Wash.: September 20 - 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.: September 27 - 28

In addition to North America, JLF has planned events in Europe:

London: June 7-9

Valladolid, Spain: June 13-16

More information about the various festivals, including the lineup of speakers and registration details, will be available on the JLF website in the coming months.
Elizabeth Stone is a photographer, so film is usually a means to an end for her. Its part of the process, one step towards completing the image.

Except thats not quite true. Any great artist will tell you that the completed product is only part of the artwork. The finished photo is only as important as the film, which is only as important as the developing chemicals, which is only as important as the camera, which is only as important as the image youre capturing. You can extrapolate down as much as youd like.

Now Stone is literalizing that idea. The artist, who lives in northwest Montana near Seeley Lake, has shot photos her whole life. But in 2019, she started to work with film in an entirely different way.

I wanted to do something different with my work, she remembered. So she took some film negatives that shed shot and stitched them together into a sort of sculpture.

That got me thinking about the negative and the positive in a really different way, Stone said.

These sculptures are moldable and adaptable. They can be displayed flat, like a giant film blanket, or wrapped around each other and woven into helixes.

Im still working with analog materials, Stone described. So Im staying in the family. Im just working more dimensionally with photographic materials.

What Stones work does is recontextualize what a film negative is. Removed of context and abstracted, you can see them as tangible pieces of memory, capturing and preserving moments in amber and sepia tones.

Thats the idea behind Stones I Remember project, which is an ongoing community-based collaborative artwork shes working on with the Yellowstone Art Museum, as part of the museums ongoing celebrations for its 60th anniversary.

Its a fitting tribute, because I Remember isnt just meant to feature work from Stone. Instead, shes asking for donations of photo negatives and film slides, which will then be used as raw material for the finished piece, which will be installed at the YAM in October. There are nine drop-off locations throughout Billings.

Everything will be accepted, and well make something, Stone said.

Anybody old enough to not have a TikTok account probably still has boxes of old negatives sitting around their house. Without costly, cumbersome and rare projectors, the pieces lose their purpose and meaning. Heres a chance to let them be something else, to put them back to work years (maybe decades) after you picked up your first digital camera.

And theres an added perk. When you donate, Stone and the YAM are asking for a little information about the photos, to attempt to put them in context. In return, the museum will scan your film and give you the digital files, turning them from something outdated to an image you can pull up on your phone.

You want to get rid of the stuff, and well give you some digital markers, Stone said.

Shes done this sort of project before. The YAM installation is her seventh site-specific piece. Stone similarly asked for donations at a gallery in North Carolina and got 9,000 pieces from about 250 people. Someone even donated a collection of glass plate negatives. Shes expecting a similar response in Billings.

And even if youre not old enough to have shot pictures on a traditional film camera, you can still participate in I Remember. Stone will be returning to town throughout the summer to host public sewing sessions where anyone can drop in and help her knit the negatives together. The first one will be on Friday, May 3, from 4-6 p.m. at the museum.

Anybody who wants to participate can sit around the table like an old fashioned sewing bee, Stone described.

The whole spirit of I Remember is collaboration, so its fitting that this project is happening at the YAM, especially during this big year, due to happenstance. Stone met YAM Executive Director Jessica Ruhle five years ago when the artist was at a residency in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the director was working at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

That was in 2019, when Stone was first experimenting with working dimensionally with film, and exploring the idea of doing artwork that could get communities involved. People are almost always more excited about art when they had a hand in making it.

Stone still isnt sure what the finished I Remember installation will look like. And she wont be until shes ready to build it this fall. This work is entirely dependent on both the materials she uses and the space in which shell use them.

Jessica and her team have given me free reign, she said. Lets see what we get for donations and then then make what we want to make.

One thing is for certain. Once its done, I Remember will enter the YAMs permanent collection. So Stone wants to make sure its a good representation of Billings.

Ive been doing a bunch of research here, she said. How Billings started, how its grown. That will definitely influence what the piece winds up looking like.
With new institutes emerging at colleges and universities in Florida, Ohio, Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, and elsewhere, civics education may be seeing a rebirth. We need these civics centers at every institution of higher education in America, says political theory professor Richard Avramenko.

Avramenko, a Jack Miller Center faculty fellow, will be taking over as director of an already established civics institution in July: the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. He will be moving from the frigid winters of Wisconsin to the dry desert heat of central Arizona, where he will direct SCETL, ensconced at ASUs Tempe campus.

He aims to carry on the mission of SCETLs founding director Paul Carrese, who Avramenko says did a wonderful job in his seven years heading the school. He adds that Carrese faced a great challenge in getting SCETL up and running, which he achieved through a determined and dogged persistence.

As he prepares to take the reins himself, Avramenko plans to normalize procedures, expand an already well-functioning department, and find ways for SCETL 2.0 to integrate our mission more fully with the mission of Arizona State University.

Founding civics institutes is a difficult task, he says, as these efforts are often met with fierce resistance on college and university campuses. He is leaving the University of Wisconsin-Madison after trying unsuccessfully for nearly a decade to establish a civics school there.

At SCETL, Avramenko aims to inculcate in students a civics education that, according to his pithy definition, studies how we live together without killing each other.

The fundamental question of civics, he says, is this: Why should we care about people beyond our own family? Avramenko maintains that living together in a civitas  in a political community  requires a particular mode of thinking that is unnatural to human beings.

The teaching of civics, he continues, means allowing students and citizens to understand their own American framework and to critically assess it. Importantly, it also means understanding that there are other broad frameworks for understanding the world.

Americans came to develop a particular framework that has enabled us to navigate through difficult challenges, most obviously in the Civil War. The problem in American higher education now, as Avramenko sees it, is a weakening in the ability for people to understand different dispositions that people bring to their political and personal lives.

He believes that serious civics study is needed to counter the materialism, perfectionism, and egalitarianism that students tend to bring with them to the classroom today. It is our job in civic institutes to provide the opportunity to probe deeply into different views of the world, a necessary habit, he says, for a community of thoughtful citizens.

This is why he often presents his students with three radically distinct modes for understanding the world: Achilles (Homeric), Socrates (Platonic), and Jesus (Augustinian). Unfortunately, most universities today dont take such a broad-minded approach. If youre only getting a Marxist view of the world, youre going to receive a completely impoverished education, Avramenko says.

Civics centers should provide a basis for students to understand these multiple frameworks at a deep level. Going forward at SCETL, Avramenko wants to work on building out a program that yields free and responsible citizens who have engaged with the world outside of themselves.

He would like to establish a pre-law program to teach students the spirit of the jurist as a mode of thinking, a technique that allows them to form their minds and bring the wisdom of the past to bear on our day. Avramenko also wants them to incorporate economics, philosophy, and politics into their thinking to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of a topic in question.

To inculcate this pluralist approach, he is also looking to create a course that teaches classic literary texts, including Shakespeare and the great American novels.

For those interested in creating similar civics centers, Avramenko points to Arizonas legislation that begat SCETL, which serves as a great model for other states to emulate. And these institutes should not simply be limited to red states. Blue states need them, too.

A bipartisan civics renaissance is a worthy and timely goal.
In a recent interview with CNBC, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager insisted that Europe has a sparkling, vibrant innovation ecosystem. I dont want to knock Europe, and its certainly true that the continent is a hub for new and interesting ideas. The EU ranked as an Innovation Champion in the Consumer Technology Associations 2023 Global Innovation Scorecard, and thousands of European startups and global brands flock to CES in Las Vegas each year.

At the same time, its telling that despite a culture of innovation, European technology companies have made a relatively limited mark on the world stage. Of the fifty largest tech companies in the world, thirty-six are based in the United States and ten hail from east Asia. Only three are European. Europe hasn't produced a single $100 billion tech company in the past 30 years, and all of Europe's tech companies combined are worth 30% of just one of the U.S. largest four tech companies.

Why? Its because, as Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies Klon Kitchen told a group of tech industry leaders recently, Europeanlegislators regulate first and ask questions later. That strategy is abundantly clear in the EUs approach to AI regulation, a sweeping set of new rules to regulate the development and use of AI that creates significant new compliance challenges for startups and other smaller innovators. But its not limited to AI. While many European companies have declared their desire to be world leaders in cutting edge tech sectors, theyre handicapped by a system of rules and regulations that make it hard for businesses to thrive and grow. Despite more than $150 billion in investments into a Digital Decade strategy, Europe remains behind its targets and even Europe's own legislators have begun to express concerns about the impact of regulation and bureaucratic red tape.

While its sad to see Americas allies make bad choices, those choices have consequences beyond Europes borders. European leaders seem to have decided that, rather than building an innovation ecosystem that regularly produces technology leaders, they can simply strip the value out of American competitors. The Digital Markets Act (DMA), which went into force in March, is a prime example. Under the DMA, Europe has designated six companies  five of them American, one Chinese and, perhaps unsurprisingly, none European  as gatekeepers to core platform services. If the European Commission determines that any of these companies is out of compliance, it can fine up to 10% of global revenue. Several investigations are already underway  including proceedings against Alphabet, Apple and Meta that could amount to tens of billions of dollars  and could deprive the companies of funds that might otherwise be used for R&D and job creation.

In attempting to kneecap American tech companies, the EUs antitrust enforcement hasnt just hurt Big Tech  or the many Americans whose 401Ks and IRAs are fueled by their success. Earlier this year, Amazon abandoned a deal to acquire iRobot, maker of the popular Roomba robot vacuum. The deal would have provided iRobot, which essentially created the at-home robotic cleaning market, with the resources to scale and compete against Chinese competitors who benefit from directed state-level support. Instead, the company was forced to lay off nearly a third of its staff.

Will the EU ultimately conclude that their road to tech leadership relies on kneecapping some American companies and stripping value out of others? So far, I fear the answer may be yes. Even worse, it may be exporting that model. Countries across the globe, from Brazil and India to Korea and Japan, are considering similarly damaging legislation.

In this campaign, Europes leaders have also been aided and abetted by the Biden administrations fixation on reining in some of Americas world-leading technology companies. The problem is especially pronounced at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has flown staff to Europe to collaborate with the EU on strategies to attack American companies  including assistance to tank Amazons attempted deal with iRobot.

That should scare all of us. If we want to protect American innovators, American leaders must call out the EUs measures for what they are: discriminatory and predatory barriers to trade. Our leaders must stop pretending that American businesses are a greater threat to enduring American success and prosperity than European regulation, and return to calls for the free and open markets that have served us well for centuries.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/26/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

: Happily Ever After? star Loren Goldstone has revealed whether she's happy she followed through with her decision to have drastic "mommy makeover" surgery after having three kids.Loren, 35, revealed in an interview with Us Weekly on Thursday, April 25 that her surgery lasted "seven hours" but it only felt like a "good nap" for her.Loren said her recovery was supposed to be six weeks but her healing took longer than anticipated because of an infection.Loren admitted that she didn't take her recovery "seriously" at first and continued on with her daily life and tasks for sons Shai, 4, and Asher, 2, as well as daughter Ariel, 20 months."I can't just sit there and look at a pile of laundry or dishes," Loren explained. "I just can't, so I kind of backtracked a bit, but you'll see all about it [on the show's currently airing eighth season]."When Loren wasn't feeling well, her husband Alexei Brovarnik apparently stepped up to the plate and took care of things around the house for his family.But Loren insisted she has "no regrets" about her intensive mommy makeover."I would be lying if I said that the body dysmorphia is gone. It's not something that goes away overnight," Loren confessed of her years-long mental health battle."And now that I've done the surgery, I want to be the best version of myself, so I'm harder on myself. I want to work out and feel good and look good, but I don't have any regrets. I'm just day by day."Loren said she's known for a while that she wanted a mommy makeover."When I got pregnant with Shai, I said to Alex, 'When we're done having kids ,'" Loren recalled."I knew [I wanted it] because a woman's body goes through things, right? And we were very lucky to get pregnant back-to-back-to-back, but then my muscles just didn't go back."Loren had abdominal diastasis in which the ab muscles separate due to her multiple pregnancies in several years.Loren said she felt like she was "foreshadowing" going under the knife, and she thought the best time to do it was while her children were still young."Get it done and over with because they're going to want us or need us more as they get older," Loren explained. "So it's done and it's over with. It's behind us."Loren's mommy makeover included a tummy tuck because she said her muscles were "separated.""They count them in units, mine were four units apart," Loren said of her ab muscles. "So I had a tummy tuck and [the doctor] put my muscles back together."The star also got liposuction 360 in which fat was drawn from her abdomen and used to plump up her breasts. Loren said, however, some of the fat was lost in transfer during the procedure, which was "expected.""I personally didn't want implants, so it wasn't the best health choice for me, but I'm happy," Loren shared. "The silver lining is I feel great and I am tightened."Loren from Hollywood Beach, FL, and Alexei from Nazareth Illit, Israel, initially appeared on Season 3 of followed by the first two seasons of : Happily Ever After?.Loren and Alexei also starred on Loren & Alexei: After the 90 Days in early 2022.After meeting on Loren's birthright trip to Israel, she visited Alexei five times in one year before he popped the question.Alexei said he applied for a Tourist Visa twice but got denied and so the couple decided to apply for a K-1 visa instead.Once Alexei got approved for the K-1 visa and traveled to America, the couple had to overcome some challenges, such as Loren having strippers at her bachelorette party, but they still got married during his 90-day visit in September 2015.Loren, who took Alexei's last name of Brovarnik, and Alexei also subsequently had a second ceremony in Israel in July 2016 so both of their families could celebrate and witness their union.It didn't take long for Loren to get baby fever, and the couple welcomed their first child , Shai, in April 2020 -- just five months before their five-year wedding anniversary.Loren and Alexei announced they were expecting Baby No. 2 in March 2021, and Loren gave birth to Asher in August 2021. Loren then gave birth to Ariel in September 2022.Want more spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage!
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/26/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum John Henry Spurlock has spilled the "long story" about his broken engagement to Kat Izzo and how he "spiraled" in the days leading up to their split.John Henry and Kat got engaged on 's Season 9 finale, which aired December 7 on ABC, and the underwater welder from Virginia admitted no one on the beach in Mexico anticipated the pair would date and end up together."We couldn't be any more different. I knew that, she knew that, and everybody [knew that]... But it just worked," John Henry explained during the April 23 episode of the "The Ben and Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast" co-hosted by Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti "She's very vocal, she's loud, she's always all over the place, and I'm grounded. It just worked... It fit."But Kat and John Henry announced their split on December 11 with a joint Instagram statement, only four days after 's finale aired."We don't have a crazy breakup story... but this is a long story," John Henry began.John Henry explained that when he began his career as a commercial diver about eight years ago, he planned to commit a decade to the travel-heavy and time-consuming position before looking for love and finding a more stable career.But then John Henry met Kat on Paradise, an opportunity which had just fallen into his lap."I told her, 'As of right now, my career is not relationship friendly.' She knew that. But I was like, 'My plan is to get out of it anyways and do something that's easier,'" John Henry explained, noting that he "bounced around a ton" for different jobs.After they got engaged, Kat, a travel nurse, moved to North Carolina to be closer to John Henry, even though she had been hoping to live in San Diego, CA, and he couldn't take a lot of time off from work."Things were going really well. Now, I have this job and then I get in this relationship. Then now it's like, 'Okay, I have to start figuring out what I'm going to do, how I'm going to make this transition to a career that is going to be a lot easier for me and her to work with,'" John Henry recalled."[Our romance] kind of caught me by surprise because I was going to wait two years before making that happen... So now, I'm starting to stress out about how I'm going to make this move."John Henry said he looked for jobs in San Diego and wondered if he wanted to keep diving."I really started to get stressed out about how I'm going to make this work on my end," John Henry said. "I think once I really started to get stressed out, I don't know, how do I say this? I started to have my doubts," he admitted."I started to think, 'Am I fully ready to drop diving?' It started to worry me because my end goal was to fall in love and find a wife. I thought this whole process would be a lot easier, but it wasn't."John Henry began wondering why he felt so much stress and why the idea of moving to San Diego was "so hard" for him when he was happy and in love with somebody."I started thinking to myself, 'Is this really it? Is this really what I want?' Once I started thinking that, it just kind of started spiraling for me, and then everything else just started getting more stressful," John Henry explained."And then, I started to see our differences a lot more. So, things just really got hard for me."At this time, was airing on ABC and Kat was receiving "so much hate" and backlash from viewers."It was really hard for her, too, just dealing with that," John Henry noted. "She's really stressed out and everyone's coming at her on a day-to-day basis, and I'm stressed out trying to make my move... and figuring out careers."John Henry continued, "It got to a point where it was just extremely hard for the both of us. And then basically, I called it quits. I said, 'This doesn't feel right. I think this should be a lot easier than what it is,' and it just, it wasn't the case."When John Henry looked inward and asked himself what was wrong, he realized the relationship just wasn't for him."Once I got that in my head, it just kind of spiraled from there," John Henry said.John Henry also confessed that he struggled with depression during and after the couple's breakup."I got a low from [depression], and she really needed support from me, but now I've got all this anxiety and I'm dealing with depression, and I shut down," John Henry admitted."I definitely wasn't there for her like I should've been."John Henry revealed that Kat was "shocked" by his decision to break up with her and the situation "wasn't really fair" to her."Because at the time, I was her fiance and I was supposed to be her rock... I think the hardest thing for her was the fact I'm supposed to be her guy and I'm supposed to be there for her, and I was struggling with that because of all the issues I was dealing with myself," John Henry shared.John Henry said he and Kat broke up right before the finale aired. (The finale episode showed an onscreen graphic revealing that Kat and John Henry were still together and planning a move to San Diego together).To this day, however, John Henry said he and Kat remain friends and have an amicable relationship."Kat is amazing. She really is something special. She's not my longest relationship, but Kat's a catch. I'll tell you, she definitely did her part," John Henry gushed of his ex-fiancee."Distance is hard for everybody, but when she loves, she gives it her all, and she did everything that she needed to do -- and then some -- in order to try to make our relationship work. After our breakup, it was hard for sure, but we definitely kept in touch."John Henry insisted that he gave the relationship his "all" and it just "didn't work out," which is "okay."The alum concluded, "I'm happy with my experience, and I wouldn't change it for anything... Someone is going to be very lucky to have [Kat]."This isn't the first time John Henry has defended Kat . Many trolls blamed Kat -- who was called "a homie hopper" during the show -- for the breakup last year, saying John Henry had dodged a bullet.But in December, John Henry assured fans that he didn't make a mistake by choosing Kat."[Kat] always put my feelings first and did everything she could to make this work, but unfortunately, that Kat, Bachelor Nation doesn't know," John Henry insisted late last year.In response to John Henry's kind post, Kat wrote via Instagram Stories on December 13, "It's hard for me to form full sentences right now, but I can say this... I believe that people and experiences come into our lives for different reasons."Kat shared, "There is a purpose and meaning behind our relationships. We might not know those reasons right now, but I do know that the memories we created will live on forever.""Continuing to work towards a place of gratitude amidst the chaos," Kat added, "is how you weather any storm."When Kat and John Henry announced their decision to call off their engagement, they said it was a choice made with "mutual love and respect."The pair wrote on December 11, "Our relationship has been filled with wonderful memories and growth, something we looked forward to sharing with you. While our paths are taking different directions due to our career goals not aligning, we are grateful for the love and support we've received from our family, friends, and Bachelor Nation."Kat and John Henry acknowledged how "this decision wasn't easy" for either of them, but they added it was "the right step" for the both of them as individuals.The couple concluded, "As we navigate this transition, we ask for your continued support and respect for our privacy."ended with Aaron Bryant and Eliza Isichei also engaged. And Kylee Russell and Aven Jones had left Mexico together and still dating.However, all three relationships are already over.Kylee announced her relationship with Aven had ended due to "multiple infidelities" in December, and Aven confirmed in a subsequent statement of his own that he had made "major mistakes" in his relationship.For Aaron's part, he confirmed his split from Eliza on December 11.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Another CANCON is in the books! Our second time at the Ben Avery Shooting Center outside of Phoenix, Arizona was a smash hit for all involved.

Here is just a small slice of what you missed!

Lever actions are cool, but integrally suppressed lever actions are way better

Can't shoot .50 Cal at this range, but The HUB brought out a lot of other full-auto toys for people to play with!

VIP bag was PACKED this year! Big thanks to all the sponsors that helped make it happen. Anechoic was the VIP suppressor this year and every VIP bag got to choose their own can from Anechoic's lineup!

The Proving Grounds was out with one of their mini-stages for people to shoot. A mock-kidnapping starts with the shooter blind and restrained before starting their course of fire.

Some members of The Wild Gats, the University of Arizona's shooting team, came out for the Pros Vs. Joes competitions!

Nils Jonasson was out there too representing CANiK

Big congrats to the Joes who shot and won cool prizes like the new CANiK TTI Combat!

Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 531 for braving the Arizona heat! They sold cold water to keep people hydrated.

Troop 531 also took some time to check out what was on the line.

This is what CANCON makes you feel like. Don't miss next year!

CANCON COMING SOON

We'll be back in Arizona next year! Sign up for the newsletter to be notified when VIP and general tickets are for sale.

Can't wait that long? CANCON Carolinas will be back November 8-9 at the Clinton House in Clinton, South Carolina!
Editors note: This is one of 12 profiles featuring a candidate in Montanas Second Congressional House District primary race. The profiles are being published daily over 12 days and in alphabetical order. Each of the candidates were asked the same questions.

For 30 years, Ming Cabrera traveled across Montana as a pharmaceutical rep. What he learned along the way shaped his politics, making him the Eastern U.S. House district candidate that he is.

The Huntley Project natives focus is equal parts health care, infrastructure, and agriculture. On the campaign trail, Cabrera said he listens. What voters are telling him is that theres work to be done in all three areas.

The biggest thing right now in the rural areas, especially in the farming communities, is the Farm Bill. We need to know where we are going with the farm bill so we can plan our communities. Farmers say where are we going to go with disaster insurance, or any farm insurance? If we plant this thing, are we going to be there, or are we going to rely on subsidies for the next two years, or the government to get us through tough times? A lot of people are waiting on that.

The other thing people are worried about is the closure of nursing homes and provider health care. Its really low right now.

Cabrera lives in Billings where has served in local government and run unsuccessfully as a Democrat in a reliably Republican state House district in Billings Heights.

Montana is the nations sixth oldest state. As the Billings Gazette has reported, 11 rural nursing homes closed in 2022. The lost services werent just in rural areas. Last year, St. Johns United closed 60 nursing home units. Staffing shortages were a problem but so was Medicaid compensation for nursing home patients, an issue that requires action from Congress. About 70% of St. Johns United nursing home residents in Yellowstone County depend on Medicaid.

Cabrera also has infrastructure experience on the Billings Heights Water Board. He said there are water projects across Eastern Montana that need congressional attention.

There are some issues that Im very well versed in because Ive been on the water board. I know whats going on in terms of what infrastructure is needed and where were having troubles in regard to paying for certain things out there, Cabrera said.

And the rural water is so important and so is, let's say up in Saco, Montana, where they're having problems with their natural gas lines right now. They're so antiquated, they're going to have to do something. And so, these are the questions that need to come before the people in Montana. These other issues (national issues) are important, but these are the ones that really affect the people, the people that I know that they're hurting daily. And that's what they want to know. They said, were they're telling you nobody really cares about us. And I want to tell people, I do care, because these are the issues that they need to come to me and let me know, in my office once I'm in Congress, that I can work with, and I can help them try to get grants.

Political party: Democrat

Age and place of birth: 65, Butte

Home: Billings

Occupation: Small business owner, retired restaurant owner, retired hospital sales representative

Family: Married to wife Digna for nearly 40 years, two grown children

Education: Bachelor's of science in biology, Creighton University, then medical school for 2.5 years before returning to Montana following a family emergency.

Past employment: Restaurant owner, small business owner, hospital and pharmaceutical sales

Military: None

Political experience: Past Chair Yellowstone County Democrats; Past Board Member of Montana Democratic Party; Past Chair of Billings Heights Water Board; Vice- Chair and Member of Billings Heights Water Board; Past Chair of Billings Heights Task Force; 2016 Legislative Candidate State Legislature House District 44

Endorsements: Many healthcare providers, educators, and community members across the district. Many of them have written letters to the editor endorsing my candidacy in a variety of publications.

Ways voters can contact you:

b.) Address: Ming For Congress, PO Box 22722, Billings, Montana 59104

c.) Phone number: 406-561-7578

Q. Identify two national priorities that are part of your platform, explain your position on each and tell voters how you intend to address both. If theres an existing bill you support to advance your position, please identify it.

1. Affordable healthcare: I strongly support policies that prioritize affordability and excellence in Montanas healthcare system. The closures of nursing homes, rural hospitals, and the lack of mental healthcare access across the state highlight the need for immediate action to ensure access to essential services. Coupled with expansion of Medicare prescription drug coverage, these actions will alleviate financial burdens on our elderly and at-risk populations  and on the taxpayers footing the bill for expensive and preventable emergency care.

We must also empower healthcare providers to make decisions in the best interest of their patients, and stop asking them to spend their time negotiating with bureaucrats who hold the purse strings.

2. Farm bill 2025: The Farm Bill has faced many recent legislative hurdles, from insufficient votes to pass the House floor to delays in short-term extensions with no markups or legislative action. Agriculture is vital to Montana's economy, and it is imperative that our communities be able to plan their futures. Features like crop and disaster insurance, appropriations for SNAP, and farm commodity and dairy programs make inconsistent government policies an unacceptable problem. We need a solid, consistent Farm Bill, and we need it now.

Q. Name two issues unique to the Eastern District that you will have to advance because no one else in the House will be familiar enough to do so. Explain how youll get the job done.

The Worden-Ballantine Water and Sewer District will begin construction on four new groundwater wells to meet water standards with federal, state and county directed funding. However, new distribution lines connecting the new water wells are needed. The funding for six miles of updated pipe needs to be granted through DNRC funding or another source to complete this project. Any grants or funding must be approved by the board that submits the proposal. I can make sure federal funds provide the safe water necessary for Ballantine and Worden area. My goal will be to follow through on this project for the district.

The Medicare Modernization Act has barred the U.S. government from directly negotiating with drug companies to lower prices. This has caused the federal government to pay more for Medicare drugs than for drugs purchased through other federal program such as the VA, Department of Defense, Medicaid, and private health insurers. This must be changed, and we must establish a formulary for Medicare plans. My experience working with these systems in my decades-long career in hospital sales makes me the best candidate to negotiate a better deal for Montanans on the prescription drugs we need to live, and live well.

Q. A rare earth minerals miner in Montana recently suggested that to sustain a domestic supply of metals essential to all things tech semiconductors, batteries, advanced military equipment  Congress would have to act. Otherwise, China, which supplies about 80% of the rare earth minerals imported by the U.S., will continue the dominate supply. Consider the traditional basket of trade options  tariffs, subsidies, government purchases, federal leasing, and environmental laws  and suggest a policy approach to this challenge.

It is a fact that China has most of the rare earth minerals needed to continue a domestic supply of essential metals and must be imported until our natural resources can start the process to mine what we know is available in Utah and Wyoming. Congress needs to act by loosening import tariffs for these metals. A fair deal would allow our Montana farm products such as pulse products, livestock and wheat exports to China be part of a trade agreement in the Farm Bill so we can trade our agricultural products for these essential metals lowering restrictions on a tariff trade-off.

Another possibility is for areas known to contain these valuable minerals on federal land to provide these resources, but only when they can be accessed without destruction to the environment. These new mines on federal land must abide by DEQ and DNRC regulations and strict standards; our wild spaces are too important to our culture and economy to trade for quick access to resources that can be obtained through trade relationships that will greatly benefit Montana's farmers and ranchers.

Q. Explain how an import tariff consequential to sales of U.S. Corn and Soybeans to China affects the price of Montanas top export ag commodity.

Montana's agricultural communities know what happens when unreasonable tariffs restrict imported products like steel and factory goods, causing other countries to retaliate on agricultural exports. The government, and American taxpayers by extension, were forced to subsidize farm products because the restrictions resulted in both oversupply and loss of trade with foreign counterparts. Montana tried mitigate this problem by exporting our products through Canada because they had favorable pricing due to lower tariff barriers. However, the standards for Montana wheat and pulse products were graded differently under Canadian Standards resulting in costs that were not favorable to the Montana farmers. Clearly, the "tariff wars" have harmed our agriculture communities, and will continue to do so for as long as they stand. The Farm Bill due to be passed in 2025 has to potential to solve this problem, and will be vital to the sustainability of small farms and communities to survive and plan their crop productions.

That's why the Farm Bill is one of the most important parts of my platform; we must ensure that our farming community is well represented. As your Congressman, I will make sure the voices of our agricultural communities are heard, loud and clear.

Q. President Joe Biden has suggested codifying Roe, in other words creating a national right to abortion. Explain your position on this issue.

As a degree holder in biology with years of experience in the medical field, my stance on reproductive rights is shaped by academic and professional knowledge as well as compassionate humanity and humility. As a medical student in the Philippines, I witnessed the devastating consequences of restrictions on reproductive freedom, where women faced life threatening situations and the loss of both maternal and fetal lives. It is not the governments' role to pry into our private medical records or to make moral decisions about womans healthcare. I firmly believe that women are perfectly capable of making these deeply personal decisions for themselves, and as a candidate for public office, I am committed not only to opposing any legislation that would limit a womans right to choose, but also to actively supporting measures that codify this fundamental right to medical privacy and reproductive freedom once and for all. Everyone deserves the autonomy to make decisions about our own bodies no matter what kind of anatomy they were born with, and it is my pledge to stand firm in ensuring that this right is protected and upheld.

Q. What role would you assign yourself as a member of a slim House majority? Would you get behind policies or leaders that 90% of your party supports to advance the preferences of your caucus? Or would you use your dissent as leverage to advance positions most of your caucus didnt support?

I'm sure your readers can agree that the past several years have been frustrating, and that this has been the most unproductive Congress since the Civil War. We saw seven dissent voters prevent the passing of the vital Farm Bill while calling for continued resolutions that pushed our country to the point of not paying our bills. Frankly, Montana's voters deserve better. Congress needs to work through compromise and use the ability to talk to people across the aisle. It is rare that any member of Congress receives all they ask for without some type of give and take, but many of our current representatives simply lack the emotional maturity to understand this basic fact of life.

While I am sure that I will dissent during moments of significant importance and will not follow the House caucus on bills that would harm Montana, I strongly believe that these moments of dissent ought to stand out as exceptions to the rule used to draw special attention to important issues. On all other days, I will respect the honor of the office I've been elected to and work cooperatively with my colleagues  as long as doing so benefits the people of Montana.

Q. Would you have certified the electors from all 50 states as a member of Congress in 2021? Explain your decision

As a firm believer in questioning authority and demanding clear evidence whenever possible, I understand that it is essential to uphold skepticism and critical thinking in all aspects of life. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that despite any suspicions or doubts, no credible evidence has surfaced to suggest that anyone other than the current sitting president legitimately won the 2020 election. As a responsible citizen, I would have dutifully certified the electors from all 50 states. To refuse to do so, especially when faced with irrefutable evidence of credibility, amounts to nothing short of sacrificing our country's integrity as a democracy solely for political gain and cheap headlines. Upholding the principles of democracy, fairness, and the rule of law should always take precedence over partisan interests or personal agendas, safeguarding the foundation upon which our nation thrives.
The Athens Area Humane Society will host a free rabies vaccination clinic on May 4 from 9 a.m. until noon. No appointments or reservations can be made, as the event will be first-come, first-serve for the first 200 dogs and cats.
India's third largest IT company HCL Technologies on Friday reported a flat year-on-year growth in net profit in the March quarter at Rs 3,986 crore.

Photograph: PTI Photo from the Rediff Archives

However, the company posted an 8.4 per cent decline in net profit on a sequential basis, amid rising employee cost and tightening IT spends around the world.

The company described the performance as "decent" in view of the global macroeconomic conditions.

The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,986 crore in the fourth quarter of FY24 as against Rs 3,983 crore in the same period last year.

Sequentially, the company's profit declined 8.4 per cent from Rs 4,350 crore in the October-December period, the company said in a filing.

HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar said he believes the company has delivered decent results.

"From a business performance perspective, when we started the year, there was cautious optimism around growth in line with the market momentum at that time.

"There were obviously signals of reduced discretionary spend and slowdown in some key verticals.

"We as a company reacted to that uncertain environment with agility and flexibility that was required... we have delivered decent growth with good control over profitability," he said.

He attributed the growth to good momentum in the company's services and software businesses, and said HCLTech grew the fastest in the industry in terms of organic growth.

Top performing verticals were financial services, which grew at 12.1 per cent, followed by manufacturing that grew 9.8 per cent.

Pre-tax profit (EBIT) at Rs 5,018 crore was down 10.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter, but up 3.8 per cent when compared to the previous year.

The company gave a guidance of 3-5 per cent growth in revenue in constant currency terms for FY25 and an EBIT margin of 18-19 per cent.

EBIT margin (per-tax profit as percentage of revenue) fell sequentially to 17.6 per cent in the fourth quarter from 19.8 per cent and from 18.1 per cent a year ago.

The Noida-based company's geography growth was led by the Americas at 6.8 per cent year-on-year in constant currency, followed by Europe at 5.5 per cent, while rest of the world declined 7.1 per cent.

The company's employee cost rose 11.5 per cent in the quarter while the attrition rate at 12.4 per cent was lower than 19.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year.

For Q4FY24, HCLTech's revenue from operations stood at Rs 28,499 crore, a 7.11 per cent rise from Rs 26,606 crore last year.

For the full fiscal year (FY24), HCL Tech reported a 5.73 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 15,702 crore.

The company posted Rs 109,913 crore revenue in FY24, up 8.33 per cent from the previous fiscal.

"...we have translated this growth into even higher value creation for our shareholders with our OCF coming at USD 2,711 million, up 21.6 per cent YoY and FCF at $2,584 million, up 27.7 per cent YoY.

"As we look ahead, global enterprise technology spend will only grow with adoption of AI," Vijayakumar said.

He further said HCLTech is positioned to capitalise with its AI-led propositions, global delivery model and "ideal mix of technology services and products".

"While there was notable growth across various digital business practices, the one that stood out during the year was cloud and cybersecurity... we had phenomenal growth both in cloud migration, to hyperscalers as well as setting up hybrid cloud environments for our clients," he added.

The company's total headcount stood at 227,481 in Q4FY24, up 1,537 on a sequential basis.

HCLTech chief people officer Ramachandran Sundararajan said the company anticipates hiring for FY25 to be on similar lines as the last fiscal, and expects an addition of about 10,000 freshers in FY25.

The top boss said the company had an excellent quarter from the booking perspective.

"During the year, we had a total of 73 large deals, including 21 during this quarter, across products and services," he said.

HCLTech on Thursday announced the appointment of Lee Fang Chew as an Independent Director of the company, effective from April 25, 2024.

The board declared an interim dividend of Rs 18 per equity share of Rs 2 each of the company for the FY25, according to a BSE filing.

The payment date of the said interim dividend shall be May 15, 2024.

India's largest IT company TCS had reported a 9.1 per cent rise in its March quarter net profit at Rs 12,434 crore.

Infosys profit also saw a 30 per cent upward trajectory to Rs 7,969 crore.

Wipro and Tech Mahindra, however, saw a decline in net profits by 7.8 per cent and 40.9 per cent, respectively.

HCLTech scrip closed at 2.08 per cent lower at Rs 1,472.30 apiece on the BSE on Friday.
Kotak Mahindra Banks loan and deposit growth are likely to be affected after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked the private-sector lender not to take on board new customers through the banks online and mobile banking channels and not to issue any new credit cards, according to analysts.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The banks share price fell 10.85 per cent on Thursday to close the day at Rs 1,643 on the BSE.

The RBIs action came after market hours on Wednesday.

We believe such restrictions should impact business growth, including KMBs (Kotak Mahindra Banks) dwindling CASA (current and savings account deposit) ratio and its new card acquisition; this will lead to earnings being hit in the medium term, broking firm Emkay Global said in a note.

Emkay said the lenders credit card spend grew 34 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) while cards in force increased 21 per cent Y-o-Y.

The regulator put restrictions on the bank, citing gaps in the information-technology systems the lender supposedly failed to address.

There were frequent outages in the banks core banking system and online channels in the past two years, which inconvenienced customers, the regulator said.

According to a Macquarie report, a good portion of the assets and liabilities are sourced digitally by the bank.

"A lot of savings accounts opened are through KMBs 811 digital channel.

"On the asset side, a majority of sourcing of unsecured products is done digitally.

"These segments have grown at 40 per cent Y-o-Y (in the first nine months of FY24) vs overall growth of 18 per cent Y-o-Y, Macquarie said in its report, indicating the lenders dependence on digital channels.

On the liability front, the bulk of FDs (fixed deposits) and RDs (recurring deposits) are sourced digitally.

Thus, ceasing on-boarding of new customers could affect business growth, Macquarie added.

Analysts have said the lender had opened fewer branches, the pace of which may have to increase now.

Pace of branch expansion also needs to accelerate, analysts at Citi said in a report.

The bank opened 89 branches in the first nine months of FY24 and 80 in FY23, according to Citi.

The RBI said the bank could continue to provide service to its existing customers, including its credit card customers.

The bank will also be able to add customers through its branches.

The bank has a market share of 5.8 per cent in terms of cards in force and 4 per cent in terms of spend, according to broking firm Motilal Oswal Securities.

About 99 per cent of new credit cards sold and 95 per cent of new PLs (personal loans) sold by volume were done digitally.

"As a result, the share of unsecured loans increased to 11.6 per cent in Q3'FY24.

"Management had previously guided increasing the mix of unsecured loans to mid-teens over the current fiscal  The RBI ban will thus disturb the growth trajectory of retail products and adversely impact overall margins and profitability, Motilal Oswal Securities said.

According to CLSA, the profit impact is likely to be modest unless the ban stays for long.

One of the key aspects that will be monitored by the analyst community is the duration of the ban.

(Disclaimer: Entities controlled by the Kotak family have a significant holding in Business Standard Pvt Ltd)
Micron Technology, a global leader in memory and storage, is considering supplying Made-in-India chips from its Gujarat plant to one of its key global clients, Apple, whose vendors assemble iPhones in the country.

Photograph: Stephen Nellis/Reuters

Micron is setting up an assembly test marking and packaging (ATMP) plant in Sanand, Gujarat.

Currently, Apple vendors import chips for manufacturing iPhones. Sources in the know say the aim is to use part of the production to supply to Microns clients in India directly.

The Sanand plant is expected to roll out the first India-made chips by December.

Sources aware of the development say that while the wafers will be imported from Microns plants in other parts of the world, they will be processed into chips at the India plant.

However, a final deal will depend on Apple Inc agreeing to it.

Although the chips will be exported initially in the first phase, Micron is planning to supply them directly to its global clients in the next phase to manufacturing or assembly facilities in India and Apple is one of them; Apples three vendors assemble iPhones in the country and, in fact,

12 per cent of total iPhone production is assembled in India.

Micron has facilities for ATMP and wafers in various locations, including the US, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, China, and Taiwan.

Apple declined to comment. Micron Technology did not respond to questions either in India or at its headquarters.

The use of Made in India chips will go a long way in Apples drive for value addition here, which is currently pegged at only 10-12 per cent.

Under its production-linked incentive scheme for mobile devices, the government had targeted that mobile phones eligible under the scheme should hit 40 per cent value addition by the end of five years in FY26.

Micron was the first big global company to be cleared under the governments semiconductor scheme. It is investing $2.75 billion to build its ATMP plant at Sanand.

The central and the state government will provide a 70 per cent subsidy on the construction of the project (the centre offers a subsidy of 50 per cent).

The plant will have one of the largest clean rooms in the world of over one million square feet.

It is expected to generate 5000 direct jobs and 15,000-20,000 indirect jobs in Gujarat.

A senior Micron executive has said earlier that the value addition in processing the wafers to different kinds of chips could be between 10-40 per cent.

According to Statista, Micron dropped out of the top 10 top semiconductor majors in 2023 after being in it for years.

In 2023, the company declared that a ban by China against Micron selling its products to domestic companies in China would have an adverse impact on its revenues.

According to Reuters, China accounted for a quarter of Microns revenues through direct and indirect sales through distributors.

Apart from Apple, Microns global clients include Dell, HP, Lenovo, IBM, and Samsung, many of whom have a manufacturing base or vendors in India.
The second round of hearings for the North Dakota route of Summit Carbon Solutions' controversial multistate carbon dioxide pipeline kicked off Monday with testimony from multiple company executives, the public, and a union which now supports the project after previously expressing concerns.

Summit's CO2 pipeline has been in regulatory limbo for over a year after facing denials in a number of states. North Dakota regulators at the state Public Service Commission rejected the project last August, citing a number of concerns related to the environment and well-being of North Dakotans.

If approved, the line would carry heat-trapping CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants across the Midwest with a final destination in western North Dakota for permanent storage -- at least initially. The case was reopened last September after Summit's petition for reconsideration was granted.

The company initially sought a one-day hearing, but what followed has been considerably longer. Much of the PSC's time on the case since September has been spent on a dispute over whether the state can automatically override local regulations on pipelines, as a result of ordinances passed by Burleigh and Emmons counties in response to Summit's project. Summit won that fight, though the decision is being challenged in state court by Emmons County.

Monday's hearing in Mandan could have lasted all week, but it wrapped up Monday evening. There will be hearings in Wahpeton in May and Linton in June to hear comments from nearby landowners, as well as yet-to-be scheduled hearings involving attorneys for both Burleigh County and some landowners along the route who could not be present.

Company officials and a state representative on Monday testified about the project's economic benefits and Summit's efforts to address past concerns, but the project was met mostly with skepticism in comments from the public.

Route changes

One source of opposition to the project has been its proximity to Bismarck. Some developers, local officials and residents had expressed concerns that the pipeline could present safety issues and stifle the city's growth to the north and the east.

The proposed route has since been moved farther north of the city, putting it around 5 miles away from the extraterritorial area, though the eastern part of the route still is 3 miles away from the extraterritorial area at its closest point.

Two prominent Bismarck-area developers and a former mayor opposed the pipeline route and intervened in the project. Summit Executive Vice President Wade Boeshans, who led the effort to reroute the path around Bismarck, testified that he reached out to the group to address their concerns. The group has since dropped their intervention in the case and their lawyer, Randy Bakke, is now representing Burleigh County.

Chad Moldenhauer, one of the developers who had intervened, testified later in the day. He said he had not planned to speak, but felt he needed to respond.

Moldenhauer said he had no involvement in the pipeline's reroute, calling Boeshan's testimony on their interactions "a lie and a complete fabrication." He said the reason that he and the other intervenors withdrew from the case was not because they support the project, but instead because they believed the city and the county could better represent the community's interest.

Summit did not directly comment on Moldenhauer's testimony.

For the time being, Summit has permission to complete 25 out of 28 surveys for parcels of land crossed by the new route north of Bismarck. Boeshans testified that two landowners said they want to wait and see if the PSC grants Summit a permit before allowing access to their property and one has not been responsive to attempts to meet.

The proposed route has changes elsewhere in the state as well.

In total, Summit routed its project away from 42 properties on the original route. Reroutes added dozens of miles to the pipeline in North Dakota.

Summit COO Jimmy Powell said he is confident the company will be able to secure voluntary easements with every landowner across the route.

Agreements with the remaining landowners remain a work in progress. Of 550 landowners who own property where the line would pass, Powell said there are still around 110 who have not yet signed easements. Summit has not directly said the action it would take if it cannot get every landowner to sign on, but eminent domain is the likely procedure a pipeline company would undertake to get property access not granted through an easement. The process allows companies or the government to take private land for public use, with just compensation through the judicial system.

Powell said there is progress on landowner negotiations, but the percentage of landowners who have signed up has not budged much in the past half a year.

There are also a number of landowners who have not even allowed the company access to their property for land surveys.

Summit has sued these people for access. The matter is before the state Supreme Court.

Size and safety

The project originally was slated to carry CO2 from 31 ethanol plants. That number is now at 57. Many were added after the Navigator -- another multistate CO2 pipeline -- was canceled.

The proposed size of the pipeline has not changed as more plants have been added. Powell said the pipeline was designed to eventually increase capacity. Now the main modification will be a need to add more pump stations in the state -- four instead of one.

More pump stations also means more power used. This will require around 20 megawatts total; for perspective many recently sited wind farms in the state produce around 150 megawatts.

Though Summit representatives testified that more CO2 going through the line would not be a safety concern, other questions still were raised from the PSC, intervenors and the public.

Many have expressed concerns about the potential for a leak.

CO2 is heavier than air and can travel close to the ground for extended periods of time. There is no standard potential impact radius for a CO2 pipeline leak, according to Kenneth Clarkson, spokesman for the watchdog group Pipeline Safety Trust. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is in the process of updating its regulations regarding CO2 lines in response to a 2020 rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, on a pipeline operated by oil firm Denbury. The incident sent 45 people to the hospital. There was also a recent rupture at a CO2 pipeline in Louisiana.

Summit has continuously defended the safety of its proposed line highlighting steps to ensure a leak does not happen including shorter valves, geotechnical analysis and regular monitoring, as well as outreach to local safety officials across the route for them to be prepared to handle a rupture.

Public response

Few from the public who testified support the project despite the changes.

CarolLee Carruth, who farms in Dickey County, said she was approached about having the pipeline cross her property and was pressured by a Summit land agent to sign with threats of eminent domain.

Carruth said she has a power line crossing her property and is not opposed to her land being used for public good, but she does not believe that is what Summit's project is. She mostly expressed concerns about safety. She feels the project has divided her community between those who signed leases and those who have not.

"It's not that we want more money," Carruth said. "There's no amount of money you could give me to kill my children."

State Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley was the only member of the public to offer support of the pipeline. He said state Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, gave him permission to speak on Wanzek's behalf as well.

Brandenburg spoke to the benefits the project would bring to corn growers competing in a market that prefers lower-carbon fuels. Corn is used to make ethanol.

He added that there are over 100 miles of the pipeline that stretch through his legislative district and he would not have been defending Summit two years ago when there were widespread complaints about the behavior of land men the company used, similar to what Carruth described.

"If you've got 80% of the landowners signed up, that means they're doing something right," Brandenburg said.

Summit said it has since fired the agents that received complaints from landowners such as Carruth, which Brandenburg noted. Lawrence Bender, an attorney for the company, said what had happened to Carruth was "concerning" and asked if she would be willing to speak with a company representative.

Beyond benefits to ethanol, representatives from Summit also made comments about the state being seen as a worthwhile place to invest for future CO2 storage and use, including in the Bakken oil fields to pump out hard-to-recover oil.

The project also now has the support of a local union, LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota. The union is an intervenor in the case.

Union Marketing Manager Kevin Pranis said this was due to a change in companies constructing the line in North Dakota; Precision Pipeline. The company has previously worked on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Line 3 pipeline in Wisconsin. The union would be contracted by Precision, Pranis told the Tribune. He said this means those working on the project will have more of a stake in it being done right.

"Summits decision to rely on a responsible pipeline contractor like Precision will mean a safer project, hundreds of additional jobs for North Dakota workers, and $100 million more in local economic benefit," he said.

But the likelihood of more projects for CO2 storage, use or the economic benefits appeared to do little to quell what were mostly safety concerns that dominated the comments from the public.

Some who spoke live near the proposed reroute but do not own the land where the pipeline would be sited. They felt that even though they are not in highly populated areas their safety was being ignored, along with more rural developments. Some still expressed concerns about the possible impacts to Bismarck.

"We in Bismarck are not willing to give up our safety for the price of corn," Ken Huber said.
'Can we force somebody to contest and fight an election when they don't want to contest an election?'

IMAGE: The Bharatiya Janata Party's Narendra D Modi with the BJP's Sagar candidate Lata Wankhede at an election meeting in Sagar, April 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Mukesh Dalal, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate who won the Surat Lok Sabha election unopposed, stridently defends his victory even as he squarely blames the Congress for surrendering meekly in Surat.

"It is because of the Congress's cowardice that the voters of Surat won't get a chance this time to exercise their voting rights. Congress should accept the blame for being cowards," Dalal tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.

How are you feeling now that you have become the first victorious MP of the 2024 Lok Sabha election that was won without Surat's 18 lakh voters casting their votes?

I am very much happy for the fact that the first BJP lotus bloomed in Gujarat and that too in Surat. I dedicate my victory at the lotus feet of honourable Narendra Modi saheb. Surat has done its duty of fulfilling Prime Minister Modi's 400 plus seats target.

No election campaign, no voting, no way of finding out how popular you and Narendra Modi and the BJP are in Surat in 2024. Isn't this an incomplete victory?

The BJP won all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat in the 2019 election; this time too BJP leaders are confident that history will repeat itself. Shouldn't the next winner of Surat have been decided by the ballot?

What can the BJP do about it? What can the BJP do if our opponents ran away from the Surat battlefield? If they have surrendered their weapons and cowed away from contesting against Narendra Modi's BJP, then what can we do?

It is not our fault. We were very well prepared for the contest. We had almost completed 40 days of campaigning and had connected with 70 per cent of Surat's voters. I had met my voters three times.

The Congress was confident that if people got a chance to elect their candidate in Surat through voting, then they would have had to forfeit their deposit. That's why they very smartly found a safe, backdoor, exit.

The Congress is alleging that BJP has a role to play in the way the returning officer cancelled Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination and the subsequent withdrawal of seven Independent candidates against you from Surat.

They are saying that the BJP used threats and lure to make this happen.

The Congress is well known for indulging in such negative, dirty tactics since India's Independence. Without paying attention to such baseless charges, the BJP is marching ahead towards 400 plus seats in 2024.

With Prime Minister Modiji's performance in the last 10 years, the BJP's victory in Surat was already sealed. None of the BJP's local leaders had much work to do. We would have won by a margin of tens of lakhs of votes.

The Independents decided that they should help Narendra Modi and help him realise his vision of a Viksit Bharat.

That's what makes it so surprising that all seven Independents withdrew their candidature. The Congress is saying that crime branch officers from Surat went to Vadodara and brought the BSP candidate to Surat the same night so that he could withdraw his nomination.

They have nothing else to save their faces and standing before the voters of Surat and people of Gujarat. They are trying to do that by levelling baseless allegations against us.

Given the popularity that you are claiming the BJP to have in Surat, wouldn't you think that the voters of Surat were denied an opportunity to publicly show how much they disliked programmes listed in the Congres manifesto?

If anybody is responsible for this situation, then it is the Congress.

When the Congress can't find even four sincere proposers to stand firm on their affidavits do you think the people of India will trust Rahul Gandhi's claims that his party (and the INDIA alliance) will form the next government?

Fearing the growing popularity of Narendrabhai Modi in Surat they realised that they stand no chance against the BJP in Surat and Gujarat.

The Congress was in complete disarray and in their bewilderment they decided that the safest way to save their face would be to work towards a situation that would avoid going to the people of Surat.

It is because of the Congress's cowardice that the voters of Surat won't get a chance this time to exercise their voting rights. The Congress should accept the blame for being cowards.

IMAGE: Mukesh Dalal, left, the BJP candidate from Surat, with the BJP's Gujarat president C R Paatil. Photograph: Kinde courtesy @janak_bagdana/X

Would you think that the people of Surat would have got a chance to cast their votes if the seven Independents had not withdrawn and the BJP would have got a chance to show how popular Narendra Modi was in Surat?

When these Independents understood how visionary Narendrabhai's 2047 Mission of Viksit Bharat is, they thought it was better to be a part of this vision and support him in fulfilling his dream.

They are also supporting Narendrabhai's avowed goal of making India the third largest economy in the world. If they withdrew citing this reason, then what can anybody do about there being no election held in Surat?

You have stated that the Modi community in Gujarat and Surat are very angry with Rahul Gandhi's statement that allegedly insulted the Modi community.

Don't you think if Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination was not cancelled, then the people of Surat, the people belonging to the Modi community in Surat would have got a chance to teach Rahul Gandhi a lesson through the ballot box?

That the people of not just Surat or Gujarat, but entire India will teach Rahul Gandhi a lesson on June 4 is as obvious as sunrise or sunset. That is the reason their strategy was to find a backdoor exit and avoid facing the electorate in Surat.

The entire OBC community in India and the Modi community in Gujarat will definitely make Rahul Gandhi pay for his insulting remarks against the community through the ballot. The Congress clearly knew this was coming in Surat so it surrendered without any fight.

The Congress calls your Surat victory a murder of democracy. They are charging that the BJP has manipulated the entire election machinery to check how people of India would react to an experiment of 'one nation, no election.'

I can't believe this! Did they call it murder of democracy when since Independence more than 20 of their candidates were elected unopposed? Isn't the Congress being selective with such charges and negativity?

But aren't the circumstances in which Surat went the BJP's way casting doubt about your victory?

Like Nilesh Kumbhani's vanishing act since the day his nomination was cancelled.

Like Kumbhani's proposers filing affidavits saying that they did not sign Kumbhani's election affidavit.

Like the withdrawal of the seven Independent candidates in your favour.

Like the entire country, the people of Surat and Gujarat too don't take Rahul Gandhi's baseless allegations seriously. Only Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi parivar is responsible for the misfortune that has befallen on the Congress and their dwindling electoral fortunes today.

Are the voters of Surat happy knowing that they will not be allowed to exercise their Constitutional right of electing their representative this time?

Only the Congress is responsible for this.

Wouldn't the BJP have gained the moral ground if they had convinced the Independents to not withdraw from the race and allowed the election to happen?

Can we force somebody to contest and fight an election when they don't want to contest an election? It is absolutely wrong to say that the BJP threatened or enticed these Independents and Nilesh Kumbhani to work for their nomination cancellation or withdrawal.

India has no alternative to Narendrabhai and the BJP will fulfill his dream of winning 400 plus seats in a grand manner. No force can stop Narendrabhai and the BJP from taking India to greater heights of glory.

The Congress has appealed to the Election Commission to suspend your victory. It is also saying that it will approach the Gujarat high court or Supreme Court if they don't get a fair response from the Election Commission. Is the BJP ready for such a challenge?

Let the Congress appeal to whoever they want. It is their right and they are free to knock at anybody's door that they want. We are not stopping them.

The BJP has never shied away from facing any challenge. We are always ready.
Supreme Court judge Dipankar Datta on Friday said there seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish and weaken India's progress on every possible frontier and any such attempt has to be "nipped in the bud".

IMAGE: Election officials check the VVPAT machines during the second phase of the general election in Vrindavan, in Uttar Pradesh, April 26, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Justice Datta, who was part of the apex court bench, which rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a voter verifiable paper audit trail, said in recent years, a trend has been fast developing of certain vested interest groups endeavouring to undermine the achievements and accomplishments of the nation.

Writing his views in a separate verdict while concurring with the opinion of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was heading the bench, Justice Datta said the question of reverting to "paper ballot system", on facts and in the circumstances, does not and cannot arise.

"It is of immediate relevance to note that in recent years, a trend has been fast developing of certain vested interest groups endeavouring to undermine the achievements and accomplishments of the nation, earned through the hard work and dedication of its sincere workforce," he said.

"There seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish, and weaken the progress of this great nation on every possible frontier. Any such effort, or rather attempt, has to be nipped in the bud," Justice Datta said.

He said no constitutional court would allow such attempt to succeed as long as the court has a say in the matter.

The bench was dealing with petitions, including the one filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, which also sought a direction to return to the paper ballot system in elections.

"I have no hesitation to accept the submission of senior counsel for the ECI (Election Commission of India) that reverting to the 'paper ballot system' of the bygone era, as suggested, reveals the real intention of the petitioning association to discredit the system of voting through the EVMs and thereby derail the electoral process that is underway, by creating unnecessary doubts in the minds of the electorate," Justice Datta said.

He observed it is only improvements in the electronic voting machines or even a better system that people would look forward to in the ensuing years.

"I have serious doubt as regards the bona fides of the petitioning association when it seeks a reversion to the old order. Irrespective of the fact that in the past efforts of the petitioning association in bringing about electoral reforms have borne fruit, the suggestion put forth appeared inexplicable," he said.

Justice Datta said one cannot be oblivious that in a society pledged to uphold the rule of law, none -- howsoever high or low -- is above the law.

"Concepts of unfettered discretion or unaccountable action has no place in the matter of governance; hence, neither can the ECI nor can any other authority claim to possess arbitrary power over the interests of an individual voter and seek cover from the sunlight of judicial scrutiny if, indeed, a valid cause is set up for interference," he said.

He said the sanctity of the electoral process has to be secured at any cost and it has never been in doubt.

Observing that conducting elections in India is a "humongous task", Justice Datta said it presents a novel challenge, not seen elsewhere in the world.

He said there are 97 crore eligible voters for the 2024 general elections in the country, which is more than 10 percent of the world population.

"The Representation of the People Act, 1951 which, to my mind, amidst the vast legislative landscape of the nation is the most important enactment after the Constitution of India, is also the most effective instrument to uphold democratic and republican ideals, which are the hallmarks of our preambular promise," he said.

He said the larger the electorate, the greater the challenges associated with the elections and the EC has an onerous responsibility to shoulder and there is absolutely no margin for error.

Justice Datta said periodical challenges to electoral processes, which gain momentum particularly when general elections are imminent, require the EC as of necessity to raise robust, valid and effective defence to spurn such challenges failing which any adverse judgment by a court is bound to undermine the authority and prestige of the poll panel and bring disrepute to it.

He said electronic voting is not something which is prevalent only in India and multiple countries use electronic voting in varying degrees in their national elections.

"However, use of EVMs in elections in India is not without its checks and balances," he said.

The petitions before the apex court had claimed the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results.

The NGO had sought reversal of the poll panel's 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque glass through which a voter can see the slip only when the light is on for seven seconds.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls began on April 19 and will conclude with the announcement of results on June 4.
In a pivotal turn of events, the New York Court of Appeals has overturned renowned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, marking a significant development in the legal saga that unfolded in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

IMAGE: Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California, on October 4, 2022. Photograph: Etienne Laurent/Pool via Reuters

The decision, delivered in a narrow 4-3 ruling, cited prejudicial conduct by the trial judge, thereby necessitating a new trial for the disgraced producer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Weinstein, renowned for his contributions to acclaimed films like Shakespeare in Love and Good Will Hunting, is currently serving a 23-year sentence at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Oneida County, New York.

Despite this reprieve, he remains incarcerated due to a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles in 2022, which added 16 years to his sentence.

Notably, Weinstein was acquitted in the Los Angeles trial concerning charges linked to a witness in the New York case.

Juda Engelmayer, spokesperson for Weinstein, expressed cautious optimism in response to the decision, acknowledging the ongoing legal challenges ahead.

He stated, "We are cautiously excited. He still has a long road ahead of him because of the Los Angeles case. We are studying the ramifications of the appeal right now."

The court's majority opinion, penned by Judge Jenny Rivera, emphasized the imperative of fair judicial proceedings, condemning the admission of uncharged allegations as a form of prejudicial misconduct, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

This sentiment was echoed by Weinstein's defence team, who argued that such testimony unfairly tarnished his character without directly addressing the charges at hand.

Douglas Wigdor, an attorney representing pre-trial witnesses, lamented the court's decision, emphasizing its detrimental impact on survivors of sexual violence.

Conversely, dissenting Judge Madeline Singas criticized the ruling for undermining progress in addressing the complexities of sexual assault cases and reiterated the commitment to supporting survivors.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office affirmed its dedication to pursuing justice for sexual assault survivors, pledging to retry the case in light of the appellate decision.

Weinstein's defence, led by Arthur Aidala, plans to address the media on Friday to discuss the implications of the ruling and outline their strategy moving forward.

The controversy surrounding Weinstein's trial underscores broader legal debates concerning the admissibility of prior bad acts testimony, echoing similar challenges in high-profile cases like that of Bill Cosby.
A 42-year-old Indian-origin man in the United States was shot and killed by police in San Antonio after he struck two officers with his vehicle as they were trying to arrest him in connection with an aggravated assault case against a woman.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Sachin Kumar Sahoo was pronounced deceased at the scene after police officer Tyler Turner shot at him on April 21 in San Antonio, a city in Texas.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said Sachin Kumar Sahoo died from multiple gunshot wounds during last weekend's altercation with police, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Sahoo originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh. Sources said he could have been a naturalised US citizen.

According to a preliminary investigation, just before 6.30 pm on April 21, officers were dispatched to a home in Cheviot Heights in San Antonio for a report about Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement to PTI.

Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old female who had been intentionally struck by a vehicle. The suspect, Sahoo, had fled the location.

The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. San Antonio Police Detectives issued a felony arrest warrant for Sahoo in that incident.

Several hours later, neighbours called the police to inform them that Sahoo had returned to the original location.

Officers arrived and attempted to contact him when he struck two officers with his BMW SUV. One officer fired his weapon, striking Sahoo, who was 'pronounced deceased on scene'.

One officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and the other officer was treated for his injuries on scene.

Nobody else was injured during the incident. This investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Police Chief Bill McManus said that Sahoo had run over the woman, who was his roommate, with his vehicle. The woman was undergoing several surgeries and was in critical condition.

The police had issued an arrest warrant for Sahoo and a couple of officers had gone to his known location on April 21 to see if they could find him and arrest him.

'They did find him and he jumped in his car. He pulled out of his driveway' where the police officers blocked him with their vehicles but he was able to squeeze through them. Sahoo hit the officers with his vehicle. "The other officer that was with him fired to stop him and struck him," McManus said.

He said the police are yet to look at the bodycam footage to determine further facts.

A report in Kens5.com quoted Sahoo's ex-wife Leah Goldstein as saying that Sahoo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"He suffered the past ten years with bipolar disorder," Goldstein said. "He also had symptoms of schizophrenia."

"He couldn't understand what was wrong with him," she said in the news report.

"He would hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his own mind."

Goldstein described Sahoo as a great dad.

"I was a stay-at-home mom for many years," she said. "He provided for us."
Last updated on: April 27, 2024 00:31 IST

Glimpses of India's biggest Bowstring/Bow Arch String Girder installed by the Hindustan Construction Company on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link at 3.25 am, Friday, April 26, 2024.

This 136 meter long, 21 meter wide and 25,000 metric ton arch bridge will now join the Coastal Road till Marine Drive in south Mumbai.

The 10.58 km long Coastal Road will open in the next few days for vehicular movement.

The Bowstring/Bow Arch String Girder traveled 65 km to Worli, south central Mumbai, early on Thursday morning. It was transported via the Arabian Sea from the Nhava Sheva jetty in Raigad.

IMAGE: A view of the bowstring arch bridge. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

IMAGE: A drone view of the bowstring arch bridge. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: A boat carrying workers passes by the bridge. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: A side view of the bridge that connects the north bound Coastal Road. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

IMAGE: The Bandra-Worli Sea Link flyover that connects to Worli's Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan road can be seen from under the arch bridge. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

IMAGE: A view from Worli. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

IMAGE: The road construction is underway. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

IMAGE: Another drone view that shows a bowstring arch bridge that will connect the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Coastal Road. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: A barge carries workers next to the Coastal Road construction site. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: A drone view shows the Coastal Road construction work. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com and Anant Salvi/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Maharashtra Congress working president Naseem Khan on Friday expressed disappointment over the party for the Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi not fielding any Muslim candidate for the Lok Sabha polls in the state and told Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge he was pulling out of campaigning.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Congress working president Naseem Khan. Photograph: Courtesy X

In a letter to Kharge, Khan said he will not campaign for party candidates for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls and is also resigning from the state Congress campaign committee.

The former state minister said the Maha Vikas Aghadi, of which the Congress is a key constituent, has not nominated a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80).

Many Muslim organisations, leaders and also party workers from all over Maharashtra were expecting the Congress to nominate at least one candidate from the minority community, but unfortunately this has not happened, he noted.

Now, they are asking "Congress ko Muslim vote chahiye, candidate kyun nahi (why Congress wants Muslim votes, but does not want to field any Muslim candidate)?" said the 60-year-old politician.

"I am also upset with this unfair decision of the Congress party. Before this, whenever the party gave me election responsibility in Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Maharashtra and other states I executed it gracefully and with my full efforts," said Khan in the letter.

"I have no answers to Muslims and their organisations in Maharashtra raising such issues (not fielding candidate from the community). Therefore, I have decided not to campaign for the party during the Lok Sabha elections 2024," he said.

Khan said he is also resigning from the Maharashtra Congress Campaign Committee.

The Congress is contesting 17 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in alliance with the Shiv Sena-UBT and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

They are constituents of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Speaking separately to PTI, Khan said the Congress it seems has deviated from its long-held ideology of inclusivity.

The former cabinet minister said he was inundated with calls from organisations representing minorities and party workers from these social groups, asking why the Congress has ignored them while allotting tickets for elections in Maharashtra.

"I am unable to face questions of why injustice has been done (to minority groups). The party has deviated from its inclusive ideology and giving representation to all communities," said a miffed Khan.

The Maharashtra Congress working president was in a race for a ticket from Mumbai North Central, but the party chose city unit president Varsha Gaikwad for the constituency.

Khan had lost the 2019 assembly elections from Chandivali in Mumbai by 409 votes.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on the grand old party, saying he is scared and may even shed tears on the stage.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses an election rally. Photograph: ANI Photo

You have heard the Prime Minister's speeches. He is scared. It's possible that he may shed tears on stage, Gandhi said addressing a public gathering in Vijayapura in the party-governed Karnataka.

Modi has targeted the Congress on a variety of issues in recent campaign rallies, including "mangalsutra", "redistribution of wealth" and "inheritance tax" charges.

The former Congress chief accused Modi of 'diverting public attention' through various means.

Modi tries to divert your attention. Sometimes he talks about China and Pakistan, and sometimes he will make you beat plates and ask you to switch on the torch light of your mobile phones, Gandhi said.

He pointed out that there are three to four core issues in India including poverty, unemployment and price rise.

Gandhi claimed that only Congress can eradicate unemployment, contain price rise and give people their due share.

Modi has only snatched money from poor people. He has made some billionaires. There are 22 people who have wealth equivalent to the 70 crore people of the country. Just one per cent people are controlling 40 per cent of the wealth of the nation, he alleged.

Gandhi said in the present scheme of things, there is "no scope" for Dalits, OBCs, tribals, minorities and poor general category people.

I will just tell you a clear thing in a simple one line. The wealth Modi has given to those billionaires, the same money we are going to give to the poor people of the country, he added.

The Congress leader also promised the youth that his party will scrap the Agniveer' scheme if it is voted to power.

He dubbed the Agniveer' scheme in the armed forces offering three years services to the youth from 18 years to 21 years as an insult to the Army and soldiers.

Narendra Modi snatched the Army jobs from the youth of India. He brought the Agniveer scheme, which is an insult to the Indian Army and soldiers. We will scrap it, Gandhi said.

Gandhi charged Modi with imposing a faulty GST where he introduced five different types of tax, which are hefty.

Alleging that the PM was doing injustice to Karnataka, he said the Congress will change the GST and rectify the injustice meted out to the people of the state.

According to Gandhi, the ongoing Lok Sabha election was not general in nature. It is not an election that used to happen earlier because for the first time in the history of India, a party and a person want to destroy the Constitution and democracy."
The National Investigation Agency on Friday chargesheeted Thaha Naseer, another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case, an official statement said.

IMAGE: Police at the car explosion site in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, October 23, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

Naseer and his associates had conspired to wage war against the government of India and also to kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony, it said.

Naseer is the 14th accused to be chargesheeted in the case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"NIA on Friday filed its third supplementary chargesheet in the case relating to an explosion in front of the heritage Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil Temple at Eswaran Kovil Street in Ukkadam, Coimbatore," said the statement issued by the probe agency.

The blast was triggered on October 23, 2022 by a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device, driven by accused Jamesha Mubeen, who was killed in the blast.

The explosion was aimed at avenging the alleged incarceration of Mohammed Azaruddin in prison, the NIA said.

Azaruddin was arrested in 2019 for propagating the ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) ideology and had abetted his associates and hatched the conspiracy to target Kafirs (non-believers of Islam) while inside the prison, it added.

The NIA investigations have revealed that Naseer was a close associate of Jamesha Mubeen and Umar Faaruq, the Amir or leader of the terror attack.

Umar Faaruq had recruited like-minded individuals, including the deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, along with Mohammed Thoufeek and Naseer, the statement said.

He had gathered the recruits in a secluded region, Jalakumadavu alias Jothimadavu, in the core forest zone of Sathyamangalam Reserve Forest, Erode district, and planted an ISIS flag in the region and declared it as their ilaka/province, it added.

The recruits were provided jungle training by Umar, who had also assigned roles to the accused persons for carrying out the blast, the NIA said.

As per the NIA investigations, Mohammed Thoufeek and Naseer had visited the house of Jamesha Mubeen a week before the blast and had planned to use the explosives to carry out a series of terror attacks.

"The larger aim of the conspiracy was to wage war against the government of India by targeting its various branches, i.e., general administration, police, judiciary, etc. and also to target and kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony," it said.
The ideology of separatism is "dead" in Jammu and Kashmir as people realised it is futile, separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Lone said.

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president and the party candidate for the Baramulla, Sajad Gani Lone (left) addresses a press conference, in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, April 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a freewheeling interview with PTI, the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference chief called for an end to violence, saying, "India is our land and there is no ambiguity about that."

Asked if the separatist ideology is dead and buried in Jammu and Kashmir, Lone said, "I think yes, it is. I think it is dead. People see that it was futile and I would also add that the ball is in Delhi's court (now)," said Lone.

"Kashmiris are ready to be a part of India but they are looking at a dignified coexistence, they are not looking at the status of indignity or (being) unequal Indians.

"They are looking at being Indians with pride and at par with an Indian from Gujarat or Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu," he added.

Lone, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla constituency, said one of the reasons he wants to go to Parliament is to strive and advocate for the same set of laws for the children of Kashmir and the rest of the country.

He cited the example of police verifications in Jammu and Kashmir.

While police verification in other parts of the country entails checking if an individual has any criminal antecedents or if an FIR is registered against them, in Kashmir, the entire family tree is investigated, he said.

"So, if in a family of 500 people, cousins and second cousins, one person is involved in violence, 499 will not get police clearance. This means they will not get a job, they will not get a passport, they can't participate in government contracts and probably they (government) might even pass a law that they can't get a bank loan," he said.

Lone also underlined the importance of reintegration in conflict resolution.

"Those who rebelled against the system, how much time will you give them to reintegrate into the system? So, if they are clean for 10 years, it is time to take the stigma off and let them live like normal civilians. This is done in all civilised countries," he said.

In response to a question, the JKPC president said he would not want Kashmir to be an issue between India and Pakistan, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should focus on their lives and development.

"If there is an issue, the two countries have their foreign ministries to deal with it. We are a Union Territory, hopefully (will become) a state, and let's focus on development. It (their issues) is something that the two countries will take care of," he said.

He said his opinion might not be politically very correct or palatable but it was the truth which would save lives.

"Anybody saying anything to the contrary is talking about sacrifice. Sacrifice means blood, dead bodies and jail. Whosever says so should first qualify whose children will die and whose children will go to jail.

"I don't want, the army of orphans to supply more (bodies) to the graves," he said.

Lone, whose father and separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone was assassinated on May 21, 2022, added that he detests violence as he has been at the receiving end.

On his past association with separatist Hurriyat Conference, the JKPC chief said the amalgam never accepted him while the mainstream political parties labelled him as an agent of agencies.

Lone, who is pitted against National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, said the mainstream political parties paint him as a separatist as well as a BJP man in the same breath.

"They say his father created militant outfits and in the same breath, they say he is with the BJP. You have to give a prize for fiction and theatre to the National Conference," he said.

Lone, who has been a vocal critic of the NC, said the tenure of the oldest political party of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the "worst human rights violations, dozens of killings in a single day, blinding (of) people. The menace of pellets was brought here by (former chief minister) Omar Abdullah."

Baramulla goes to polls on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls. The counting of votes for all seven phases will be taken up on June 4.
The Delhi high court on Friday pulled up the city government over the issue of non-supply of books to the children studying in MCD schools, saying the continuation of Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister even after his arrest puts political interest over national interest.

IMAGE: AAP candidate from East Delhi Lok Sabha Seat Kuldeep Kumar, party workers and its doctors' wing stage a protest over the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the row over administering of insulin to him in jail, in New Delhi, April 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The court said the Delhi government was "interested in appropriation of power".

The court's observations came after the Delhi government counsel said the matter requires certain approvals from Kejriwal who is in custody in the alleged money laundering case in connection with the 2021 excise policy.

The court stated that till now it has "politely" emphasised that national interest is "supreme" but the present case has highlighted what was "wrong" and it would pass an order on the matter on Monday.

"I am sorry to say you have placed your interest above the interest of the students, the children that are studying. That is very clear and we are going to give that finding that you have placed your political interest at a higher pedestal.

"It is very unfortunate that you have done this. It is wrong and that is what has got highlighted in this matter," said the bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora.

The court told the Delhi government lawyer that his client is "just interested in appropriation of power".

"I don't know how much power you want. The problem is because you are trying to appropriate power, which is why you are not getting power," it said.

It is the personal call of the chief minister if he wants the administration to be "paralysed", the court remarked.

The bench further said the persons who lead have to "carry everyone along" as it cannot be a case of "one man upmanship".

The Delhi government counsel said he was not appearing for the chief minister and assured the court that the issue of non-supply of educational material would be resolved if the Municipal Corporation of Delhi commissioner makes a formal request for financial approvals even in the absence of the civic body's standing committee.

The court noted that the Delhi government counsel was appearing on instructions from the Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and stated,

"We will record your statement that it is because the chief minister is in custody that I cannot do anything. If that's his personal call, good luck to him."

"Choice is yours that the chief minster will continue despite being in jail. We will have to say this. This is your administration's will. You are asking us to go down that track and we will come with full vigour," said Justice Manmohan.

The court was dealing with a PIL by NGO Social Jurist, represented by advocate Ashok Agarwal, highlighting the non-supply of educational material and other statutory benefits to students in the MCD schools even after the commencement of the new academic session.

The MCD commissioner had earlier stated that the non-distribution of the facilities was due to the non-formation of a standing committee which has the power to reward contracts worth more than Rs 5 crore.

The court had then prima facie said there could not be a vacuum in the absence of a standing committee and in such a situation, the financial power has to be delegated forthwith by the Delhi government to another appropriate authority.

On Friday, the Delhi government counsel said the MCD commissioner was free to seek the necessary financial approvals even in such situations and an appropriate resolution would be passed.

"You people can't even elect your committee and you are telling us you will pass the resolution?... Do you want us to take judicial notice of what is happening in the house? How the people are pushing each other?" the court said.

The court remarked that several projects concerning distribution of books and medicines were admittedly stalled, and questioned, "Don't you have a heart? Don't you feel for them?"

"I don't think you are seeing any of this. I think you are just shedding crocodile tears," the court further said.

It said the Delhi government does not feel for the common man.

"Desks and chairs are broken.. Would any of the corporators like their children to study in that manner? Will the mayor like her children to study in a place where tables are broken?" asked the court.
Lincoln Police Chief Robyn Krile has resigned, citing a decision by city council members to eliminate all current and future training opportunities.

Kriles resignation letter was submitted April 21, nearly two months after the council decision in the bedroom community of about 4,250 people just southeast of Bismarck.

Councilwoman Carrie Praska, who holds the police portfolio, brought the Feb. 22 motion to stop all police training immediately in part after reviewing information in the police departments 2023 annual report that she said showed members of the police department had undergone more than 1,500 hours of training.

Praska calculated that came to more than 190 hours of training for each officer.

Thats nine years worth of training in one calendar year, she said, calling the amount egregious and citing a desire to speak with Krile about the matter.

It concerns me a little bit that we might be wasting some money, Praska said.

Her motion called for a halt to training "until there is a chance to look further into it, according to the meeting minutes. It passed 3-1, with Praska, Councilwoman Amanda Davis and Councilman Jaimie Leingang in favor and Councilman Ryan Glass opposed.

Attempts by the Tribune to reach council members for additional comment were unsuccessful.

Kriles letter stated the councils decision placed her in an untenable situation.

This decision undermines our ability to address vital deficiencies within the department, she wrote. She made specific mention of the departments field supervisor position and said the cancellation of training opportunities poses unacceptable risks to both officer and public safety as well as potential liabilities to the city.

Krile in an email to the Tribune said Most of those hours are from the Police One training academy we had a subscription for.

Police One, a subsidiary of Lexipol, offers online training to law enforcement agencies by paid subscription in a number of areas ranging from active shooter training to report writing to wellness and emotional support. Subscriptions are available to individuals as well as departments.

Our department was graded on metrics that included percentage of recommended policies adopted, the number of policies updated, the amount of daily training we issued to officers and other benchmarks, Krile said of the evaluation process conducted by Lexipol. Their team of legal experts monitors the latest changes in both state and federal laws that affect our daily operations and issues recommended policies based on best practices. Best practices refers to methods officers use in accordance with department policies.

Krile declined to answer additional questions from the Tribune.

Administrative rules of the North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) board require sworn officers to undergo 60 hours of training every three years to keep their licenses current. Under POST rules, a maximum of 20 hours of online training is allowed; the remainder must be in-person training at POST-approved courses held in a number of locations both in and out of state.

Information provided by Lexipol states that a variety of Police One online offerings are accredited by North Dakota POST, and Police One reports course completions directly to POST on the behalf of officers.

Glass, who held the police portfolio prior to Praska, said to his knowledge, money spent on police training has never exceeded budgeted amounts.

Glass also said the department had recently received "Gold Standard" status from Lexipol for the third year in a row.

During an April 18 Lincoln City Council meeting, Praska said she had an update of her inquiry into the departments training, but did not provide any details. The council's next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9.

Krile was sworn in as chief in November 2019 after a brief period during which she served as interim chief, replacing Greg Leveling, who was fired for alleged policy violations and performance issues. Her resignation letter in Lincoln pointed to what she said was a number of positive changes occurring under her tenure as chief, including adding a school resource officer/detective position, increasing staff from five to eight sworn officers, implementing body-worn cameras and strengthening "relationships with community stakeholders.

Before joining the Lincoln department, Krile was a Bismarck police officer from 2004-17, attaining the rank of sergeant. She was fired in March 2017 after then-Assistant Burleigh County States Attorney Julie Lawyer deemed her not to be a credible witness in court. Krile sued Lawyer for defamation but lost. She filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against the city and settled out of court.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Kristin Clouser is the secretary of the Agency of Administration and resides in Jericho. Monica Hutt is the states chief prevention officer and liaison to the Agency of Human Services. She resides in Williston. Rebecca Kelley is the governors communications director and liaison to the Agency of Commerce & Community Development. She resides in East Montpelier. Julie Moore is the secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources and resides in Middlesex. Kendal Smith is the Governors policy and legislative affairs director and liaison to the Agency of Education. She resides in Barre.

The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
President Joe Biden has offered "ironclad" U.S. military support for the Philippines in the face of Chinese naval harassment in the South China Sea waters that fall within Manila's exclusive economic zone but are also claimed by Beijing as its historic territory. Biden's remarks came ahead of an unprecedented trilateral summit at the White House with counterparts Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose nations are longstanding U.S. treaty allies.
The removal of Vuong Dinh Hue takes out a second of the four pillars of Vietnams collective leadership.

The ouster this week of Vietnams National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the latest in a series of high-level officials to be removed in a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign, sets the stage for more infighting at the top of the communist nation.

The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) voted to remove Hue in an emergency session on April 25; and the Central Committee voted to accept his resignation the following day.

Hue is the fifth Politburo member to be ousted this term, falling to the Blazing Furnace anti-corruption campaign that has already claimed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, economic commission chief Tran Tuan Anh, and President Vo Van Thuong.

The Politburo is currently down to 13 members in what has become a nasty battle of attrition, 19 months out from the 14th Party Congress in January 2026.

Hues removal clearly shakes things up in the race to be the next CPV General Secretary. Hue was one of four eligible candidates under existing party rules to succeed the three-term Nguyen Phu Trong.

The simple answer to the question what brought Hue down is power politics and ambition.

Vietnam Minister of Public Security To Lam is seen ahead of a meeting in Hanoi, Oct. 30, 2020. (Hoang Thong Nhat/VNA via AP)

Hue was a leading candidate to be general secretary. He had been groomed for the position, having held leadership positions in the State Audit Office and the National Assembly, Hanoi party, and the Ministry of Finance.

But To Lam, the minister of public security, wants the job and has the immense investigative powers at his disposal to build a far reaching case into his rivals extended business dealings and personal lives.

Over the past few weeks, Lam presented evidence about Hues transgressions. This is what he did with Vo Van Thuong, where he laid out details regarding a VND16 billion (US$630,000) bribe. Lam expected Hue to behave like Thuong, who acknowledged his misdeeds and bowed out quietly; the soft landing was his reward.

By several accounts, Hue not only didnt accept the soft landing, but denied all allegations, before threatening to spill the tea on his Politburo colleagues own business dealings.

Lam then moved with alacrity, and as always, the action began with the aide.

Airport arrest

Upon his return from a five-day official trip to China, police arrested Pham Thai Ha, 48, the deputy head of the National Assembly Office.

Ha, who has a PhD in finance, had been Hues assistant for 20 years. At every stage of Hues career, beginning in the State Audit Office, and the at the Ministry of Finance, the Central Economic Commission, and lastly the National Assembly, Ha had served as Hues deputy.

Ha was arrested at the airport, apparently in front of his boss just for added psychological effect.

His arrest was part of an investigation into Thuan An Joint Stock Company, a relatively small developer that had a fortuitous run, securing 38 of 47 government tenders for major infrastructure projects.

The firms leadership was detained on April 15. Its general director has been charged with bribery, while its deputy director general is being held and investigated for bribery and bid-rigging. In all, six people have been arrested, including three officials in Bac Giang province.

On April 19, the Central Inspection Commission, the party body charged with investigating corruption amongst senior level officials, opened its formal investigation into Hue. Its chairman, Politburo member Tram Cam Tu, established a nine-member panel to lead the investigation.

On April 21, the Ministry of Public Security announced that Ha would be prosecuted for abusing his position and powers to influence others for profit, a violation of Clause 4, Article 358 of the Criminal Code. The following day, the Supreme Peoples Procuracy authorized the search of Has home and office.

Hues personal life  including multiple allegations of mistresses, which have long been a staple on social media  destroyed any hope of him surviving.

Politburo member Truong Thi Mai, in red, stands on the podium at the closing ceremony of the Vietnamese Communist Party national congress in Hanoi, Jan. 28, 2016. (Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool Photo via AP)

On April 26, the Central Committee accepted the resignation of Hue, once seen as the man most likely to lead the party from 2026-2031.

Hues removal forced a major reshuffle of senior-level positions during an April 26 meeting of the Central Committee.

Vietnam has already been without a president since February. The removal of Hue, leaves a second of the four pillars of Vietnams collective leadership empty. But the National Assembly chief matters much more.

Vietnams National Assembly is an outlier amongst legislatures in communist regimes, in that it is not a rubber stamp. It is one of the most trusted political institutions in the country, relatively transparent, and one that tries to hold leaders to account.

More importantly, there are a host of laws and pieces of implementing legislation that need to be passed.

Shaky party pillars

The Central Committee has reportedly appointed Truong Thi Mai, who is currently the head of the CPV Secretariat, to be the new National Assembly chair. That decision, along with the formal resignation of Hue, will be taken up when the National Assembly convenes in May.

Mai has considerable experience in the legislature. From 2016-2021, she served on the National Assemblys Standing Committee, which both leads the legislature and acts in its name when it is not in session.

But there are a number of other senior-level vacancies that the Central Committee must take up.

Mai will have to be replaced at the CPV Secretariat, which is responsible for the partys day-to-day affairs.

The name being floated about is General Luong Cuong, who is currently the head of the general political department of the Peoples Army of Vietnam, making him the militarys top political commissar.

As in China, the Peoples Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party and legally bound to defend the party and socialist system ahead of the state. Party control of the military is paramount.

It is not clear at this time whether Cuong would retire from the military, or stay in uniform. Vietnam has different norms of civil-military relations.

The chairmanship of the Central Committees Organization Commission (the CPVs HR department) has been empty since March 2023, which is inexplicable given that planning for the 14th Congress in January 2026 is underway.

The presidency has been vacant since February. There are two candidates to succeed Vo Van Thuong: Tran Thanh Man and Nguyen Van Nen. This will be finalized at the May National Assembly session.

It appears that Hue will get a soft landing, as have all the other senior officials who have been ousted in the past 17 months. He was photographed at the tomb of Ho Chi Minh with other senior leaders ahead of the Central Committee meeting.

Vietnam president candidate Nguyen Van Nen, left, leaves a meeting at the Government Office in Hanoi, April 6, 2015. (Kham/Reuters)

While Lam may want a final nail in the coffin of a political rival, it seems that Nguyen Phu Trong has protected his former protege from any further attacks.

Hues removal makes Lams promotion to the post of CPV general secretary, more likely. There are now only two other eligible candidates, Mai and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

But to be sure, Vietnamese politics have never been this nasty nor institutionally destructive.

What has been done under the Blazing Furnace banner  ostensibly to legitimize the graft-tainted ruling party  has led to greater delegitimization in the eyes of the Vietnamese people, who see just how endemic corruption is amongst the senior leadership.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia.
A misleading claim emerged in Chinese-language social media posts about the U.S. policy to act in support of Taiwan, citing a Newsweek article, saying that the policy does not cover Taiwans Kinmen islands.

The United States Taiwan Relations Act, designed to regulate unofficial relations between Washington and Taipei, contains no clause commenting on what Taiwanese territories the U.S. will or will not defend.

The claim was shared on the popular Chinese social media platform Weibo on arch 4, 2024.

A Newsweek correspondent in Taiwan reported, citing the views of U.S. experts, that the so-called Taiwan Relations Act only covers Taiwans main island and Penghu. It doesnt cover other outer islands, the claim reads in part.

Recent disputes around Kinmen between China and Taiwan have increased tensions in the region, with several Chinese influencers claiming that the U.S. has officially stated it will not help defend Taiwan from China. (Screenshot/ Weibo, X)





The Taiwan Relations Act, or TRA, is a congressional act passed in 1979 that broadly defines U.S. policy towards Taiwan.

Similar claims were also shared on Reddit and X, with some users claiming that the TRA precludes the United States from intervening to defend Kinmen or Matsu from attack.

But the claim is misleading.

Newsweek article

A keyword search found the Newsweek article cited by Chinese-language social media users published on Feb. 29.

Newsweek quoted the director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Bonny Lin who did say the TRA does not cover Kinmen.

The 1979 law makes it U.S. policy to consider a quarantine of Taiwan a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States, but it does not cover Kinmen, said Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, reads the article in part.

But AFCL found Chinese users partly cited Lins comments in their claim.

Lin also told Newsweek: The TRA does not state specifically what the United States would do in this context, but provides a basis for U.S. leaders to act in support of Taiwan in such scenarios.

TRA on Taiwan

The TRA defines Taiwan as the islands of Taiwan and the Pescadores, and it does not explicitly exclude either Kinmen or Matsu.

Hsiao-ting Lin, curator of the Modern China and Taiwan collection at Stanford University, said the legislation was meant to regulate unofficial relations between Washington and Taipei and does not explicitly require the United States to defend any part of Taiwan and the neighboring Pescadores islands.

Instead it only commits to supply Taiwan with arms of a defensive character, Lin added.

Strategic ambiguity

Lin, who is also author of the book on the formation of modern Taiwanese state Accidental State, also said that the U.S. had adopted its policy of strategic ambiguity towards Kinmen and Matsu even when it still maintained official relations with Taiwan prior to 1979.

The legislation that outlined U.S. policy towards Taiwan at that time was a mutual defense treaty signed in December 1954 following a Chinese bombardment of Kinmen in September 1954, Lin wrote in the book.

While this event convinced many in Washington that the Taiwan Straits was likely to become the next major Cold War battleground and increased their resolve to speedily sign a defense treaty with the country for deterrence, it also made the U.S. wary of unwittingly getting embroiled in a larger war due to small conflicts breaking out in the area, according to Lins book.

This led to the treaty adopting a deliberately ambiguous policy towards the defense of these islands, postponing any decision on the U.S. part until a potential conflict actually loomed near.

As both sides had previously agreed, the treaty deliberately avoided the question of whether the U.S. would defend the outer islands [Kinmen and Matsu] in the hope that such strategic ambiguity would have the simultaneous effect of deterring the CCP and preventing [then executive head of Taiwan] Chiang Kai-shek from using the islands as a springboard to attack the mainland, Lin wrote.

Current U.S. policy towards Taiwan

The American Institute in Taiwan, or the AIT  the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan  was established under the TRA and continues to operate.

It provides services to Kinmen, which a spokesperson for the organization previously described as being the backdrop of many years of fascinating U.S.-Taiwan cooperation in 2020.

Brent Christensen, former director of the AIT Taipei Office, also emphasized the importance of U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation while attending a commemorative event held in Kinmen in August 2020.

In response to AFCLs inquiries about the TRA-related claims, a spokesperson for the State Departments Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs said: We continue to urge restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo, which has preserved peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region for decades.

The United States shares with other countries an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader Indo-Pacific region, which impacts global security and prosperity. We urge the PRC to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan to reduce the risk of miscalculation.

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Shen Ke, Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Wrapping up his trip to China, the top US diplomat accused Beijing of interfering in upcoming elections.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 26, 2024.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a three-day visit to China on Friday with talks with President Xi Jinping and a vow that the recent dialogue between the rival powers was reducing the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation that could cause conflict.

But the final stretch of the trip was not without drama.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier warned ominously of a downward spiral in bilateral ties amid a series of disagreements, and Xi told Blinken during talks in the cavernous Great Hall of the People that the countries should be partners rather than rivals.

The 45 years of official diplomatic relations between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China showed the two countries should honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another, Xi said in remarks to the press before his meeting with Blinken.

China is happy to see the confident, open, prosperous, and thriving United States, Xi said. We hope the United States can also look at Chinas development in a positive light.

This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed  just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right  in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilize, improve, and move forward, he said.

With friends like these

Blinkens trip was marked by a number of key policy differences, most prominently including American complaints about Chinese support for Russias defense industrial base, and Beijings subsidization of export industries that U.S. officials say are harming American competitors.

Hours after the top American diplomat arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden also signed into law a bill that could force Chinas ByteDance to sell TikTok within the next year, a move that Xi brought up with Biden in a phone call this month.

Speaking after meeting Xi, Blinken said TikTok did not come up.

But he said he did again raise with the Chinese president the U.S. worries about Chinas industrial overcapacity, and also reiterated our serious concern about the support for Russias war in Ukraine.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, he said, calling China the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics and nitrocellulose to Russias defense industry.

If China does not address this problem, we will, Blinken said. Weve already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities, export controls, etc. As before, we are prepared to act to take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with Yuxuan Zhou during a visit to Li-Pi record store in Beijing, China, April 26, 2024. (Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters)

Speaking to CNN in Beijing, Blinken also said he had raised evidence of attempts by China to influence and arguably interfere in the U.S. elections scheduled in November, which will pit Biden against former President Donald Trump and could change control of Congress.

Any interference by China in our election is something that were looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, he said, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again.

Downward spiral

In the lead-up to and during Blinkens trip, Chinese officials had repeatedly defended the exports to Russia, arguing that Beijing had every right to trade with its ally and noting that China was not providing any weapons to Moscow like the United States is to Kyiv.

The disagreements appear to be rocking the uneasy detente that has been in place between Washington and Beijing since late last year.

Prior to Blinkens meeting with Xi, Wang warned that the growing list of disagreements with the United States could lead to a conflict.

The Chinese foreign minister said he was pleased our two sides have increased dialogue [and] cooperation since last years talks between Biden and Xi, but that Chinas core interests were being challenged and its development was being unreasonably suppressed.

The negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building, and the relationship faces all kinds of disruptions, Wang said. Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?

The alternative to cooperating on global issues, he said, was to engage in rivalry and confrontation, or even slide into conflict.

Long-term process

If Wangs words seemed like an ominous end to a trip, Blinken did not seem too spooked, hailing the exchange of candid dialogue as key to avoiding misunderstanding and miscalculation in the relationship.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to return to US following a visit to China, at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on April 26, 2024. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP)

But then again, Blinkens trip was never meant to lead to instant successes, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Instead, it was a plank in a longer-term process.

Both sides see Blinkens visit as an opportunity to communicate their own positions and their own concerns, Glaser told Radio Free Asia.

The success of the visit is really going to be determined over time  and of course, it's not just this particular visit, it is all of the interactions taking place between China and the United States, she said. We will see over time whether some of the problems can be resolved.

Edited by Malcolm Foster. Kitty Wang contributed reporting for RFA Mandarin.
Guo Jian 'knew the details' of everyone who attended meetings of 2 different organizations, activists say.

A European parliamentary aide arrested in Germany for spying for China was a familiar presence in the overseas pro-democracy movement, had visited the Dalai Lama, and was well-placed to convey sensitive information back to Beijing, activists told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews.

German citizen Guo Jian, who has since been suspended from his job as an aide for far-right Member of the European Parliament Maximilian Krah, was arrested Monday by police in Dresden.

Federal prosecutors said he was working for a Chinese intelligence agency, and that he repeatedly passed the agency information on European Parliament negotiations and decisions in January.

Guo, remanded in custody pending a possible indictment, is also accused of spying on Chinese dissidents and overseas activists in Germany.

The case has once more highlighted concerns over Beijing's "long-arm" enforcement of its laws and directives around the world, and its ongoing suppression of overseas dissidents and democracy activists via secret police stations, overseas activities by its intelligence agents and a network of "consular volunteers."

Easy access

One prominent overseas democracy activist told RFA Cantonese she knew Guo personally, and had seen him at a number of their events in recent years.

Canada-based writer and activist Sheng Xue said she has met Guo several times at pro-democracy events, where she noticed he didn't say much, but spent most of the time observing.

"It was easy for Guo Jian to gain access to these circles where he was hoping to obtain information," Sheng said. "He was a director of the Federation for a Democratic China and the secretary-general of the China Republican Party, so he knew all of the details of the people who attended their meetings."

Guo Jian (third from right), a former director of the German branch of the Federation for a Democratic China and secretary-general of the Chinese Republican Party. In 2018, he visited Dharamsala, India, and met with the Dalai Lama. (Official website of the Central Tibetan Administration)





"It's entirely likely that he gave all of that to the Chinese Communist Party ... to harm these groups of anti-communists and their effectiveness," she said.

Germany-based rights activist and journalist Su Yutong also said via her X account that Guo had held those posts in the two organizations.

"Guo Jian has been active in the Chinese democratic circle in Germany," Su wrote in a tweet on April 23. "He has served as a director of the German branch of the Federation for a Democratic China, and as secretary general of an organization called the China Republican Party."

"In short, people in the democracy movement trusted him a great deal," she said. "Many well-known democrats have participated in the meetings he helped to prepare."

Su said Guo had also been "close to Tibetan organizations" and had led a group of people to visit Dharamsala and meet the Dalai Lama, sharing a photo from the trip.

Meeting the Dalai Lama

An account of the 2018 visit penned by Guo was still visible on the official Chinese-language website of the Tibetan government-in-exile on Thursday, confirming Su's claim, along with the same photo she shared of Guo with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

In the article, endorsed by the Central Tibetan Administration's European Liaison Office, Guo describes his visit as "a democratic learning journey," and says "democracy activists must communicate more with Tibetans and learn about their democratic achievements."

Sheng said Guo's arrest highlights just how global a reach Beijing has achieved, when it comes to targeting dissidents and activists overseas.

"The Chinese Communist Party has put huge effort into bribing and infiltrating the politics, economy, media and academic life of various countries," she said.

On the website of members of the European Parliament, Guo Jian's name is still the first assistant. (European Parliament official website)





Germany-based political commentator Cheng Shih-kuang, who is of Taiwanese descent, said Germany is only just realizing just how many moles there are in the country, working for intelligence agencies in China.

"We have seen how Guo Jian was able to lurk within the pro-democracy movement," Cheng said. "He is a mole for Red China, spying for the Chinese Communist Party."

German citizen

Guo became a German citizen in 2011, and had offered his services as an informant 10 years ago to German intelligence, which rejected him due to concerns about his trustworthiness.

His arrest came as British police charged two men with spying for China, including one reported to have worked as a researcher in Britain's parliament for a prominent lawmaker in the governing Conservative Party.

The two men, aged 32 and 29, were charged with providing prejudicial information to China in breach of the Official Secrets Act. They will appear in court on Friday.

Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament of Germany's far-right party, the Alternative for Germany, was exposed in a scandal that his assistant Guo Jian was suspected of spying for the Chinese Communist Party. (Carat Facebook picture)





China on Tuesday dismissed the European accusations of spying as "hype aimed at smearing China,"

"Not just in Germany, we also noted reports in the UK in the past few days," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

"We urge the relevant parties to stop spreading disinformation about the so-called China spy threat and to stop their political manipulation and malicious smears against China," Wang said.

But German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that if the allegations are proven, then people need to be careful whom they hire in future.

"If it is confirmed that someone is spying for Chinese intelligence agencies from within the European Parliament, then this is an attack from within the European democratic system," Faeser said via her X account.

German prosecutors on Monday also accused three people of providing information to Chinese intelligence that could have a military purpose.

The allegations came as U.K.-based Hong Kong activist Simon Cheng said he was followed on April 9 by unidentified people who spoke Mandarin, then pretended they didn't and swiftly left when confronted by him and his companions at London's prestigious Inner Temple legal quarter.

Simon Cheng, investment director for the Scottish International Development Agency at the British Consulate General in Hong Kong, in undated photo. (Simon Cheng)





Cheng told RFA Cantonese in a recent interview that he and his friends moved seats three times in a cafe to prevent being overheard, and each time, the two people moved closer again.

He said he later informed the police of the incident, which he linked to the recent passage of the Article 23 national security law in Hong Kong, which the authorities have vowed to use to target overseas activists and dissidents deemed to be "fugitives" from Hong Kong.

"After Article 23 passed, the Secretary for Security told the media that their primary enforcement targets were 'overseas absconders'," Cheng said. "I get a very clear sense that the monitoring of my activities in the U.K. has been upgraded and tightened up since the passage of Article 23."

"They are now testing how far the Chinese Communist Party can go in its overseas suppression [of dissent]," he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
China says it firmly opposes foreign military alliances targeting it and stoking bloc confrontation.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Australia- United Kingdom- U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California U.S. on March 13, 2023.

China has expressed grave concern about the possibility of Japan joining the AUKUS security pact, saying it would undermine peace and stability in the region and the world.

A spokesperson at Chinas defense ministry said on Thursday that China was open to normal military cooperation between countries but we firmly oppose relevant countries cobbling together exclusive groupings.

North Korea, meanwhile, said the United States has made reckless moves to involve Japan to frantically expand its alliance sphere without limits.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. formed the AUKUS defense and security partnership in 2021 in an effort to stand up to Chinas growing power in the region.

China has repeatedly criticized AUKUS as stoking bloc-to-bloc confrontation.

The United States has also sought to step up partnerships with allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines, in the face of Chinas military build-up and its growing territorial assertiveness.

Japan has yet to explicitly announce its participation in AUKUS but a joint statement released after U.S. President Joe Biden met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this month said that the AUKUS partners are considering cooperation with Japan in certain projects.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a state visit at the White House in Washington, U.S. on April 10, 2024. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)





Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a press briefing in Beijing that the Asia-Pacific was not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition.

Japan needs to draw lessons from history, both speak and act prudently on military and security issues, Wu said, warning some other countries to avoid fueling confrontation, too.

North Korea also criticized the plan, saying that the danger of Japans participation in AUKUS is making the whole international community tense.

It is the sinister intention of the US to make Japan ... obsessed by nationalism, a crewmember of a confrontation ship called AUKUS and put it at the outpost line of the anti-China pressure and push the nuclear minefield in the Asia-Pacific region closer to China, analyst Kang Jin Song said in an editorial published by North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thrusday.

Japans involvement

Recognizing Japans strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects, AUKUS defense ministers said in a joint statement.

The first main program, or Pillar I, of the trilateral partnership, is the sharing of nuclear powered submarines between the U.S., U.K, and Australia, said Stephen Nagy, a professor of politics and international studies at the International Christian University in Tokyo.

Japan will not join Pillar I but it could join Pillar II, which is the cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber, hypersonics and more, said the political scientist.

Japans participation would enhance its technology and coordination with AUKUS members as well as its security but ensure that emerging technology domination will be by like-minded countries that respect the rule of law, Nagy added.

Tokyo is one of Washingtons most trusted partners in the Indo-Pacific. There are 54,000 American troops in Japan and the U.S.s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group is based in Yokosuka.

Japan is increasing military spending to deal with challenges and taking a regional leadership role, moving away from its post-war pacifist defense strategy.

Edited by Taejun Kang.
While last years harvest was better, people still lack enough food.

A North Korean boy works in a field of a collective farm in the area damaged by summer floods and typhoons in South Hwanghae province September 30, 2011.

Its April, hunger crunch time in North Korea.

The potato fields are filled with adults and children desperately hacking at the earth with hoes and wearing makeshift backpacks.

But these are not farm workers  the potato harvest ended in March. They are scavengers looking for potatoes missed by the harvesters or discarded due to spoilage.

The scene at the fields in the northern province of Ryanggang is indicative of the starvation the country experiences this time of the year, as food from the year-end government rations run out, and the next scheduled rations have not yet come in, said a resident connected to the agricultural sector in the provinces Unhung county, who like all the sources in this report insisted on anonymity for safety reasons.

After last years fall harvest, Ryanggang province gave 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of potatoes per farmer and 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of potatoes per dependent, he said. Rice and corn were promised as part of the second distribution, but they have not yet been supplied.

North Korean children suffering from malnutrition rest in a hospital in Haeju, capital of the area damaged by summer floods and typhoons in South Hwanghae province October 1, 2011. (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj)

In North Korea, citizens are periodically given rations by the government, but it's not enough to live on and they must also purchase additional food from markets, or find it elsewhere.

Last year, the country had a better harvest than in previous years, but people are still short of food.

The countrys farms produced about 4.82 million tons according to the Rural Development Administration of South Korea. Thats higher than most years, it is still well short of the 5.76 million tons of North Koreas annual food needs estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

So the annual starvation period occurred right on schedule, and just like in previous years, potato scavengers flocked to the fields to try to find discarded or unharvested edibles, another Ryanggang resident said.

Frozen potatoes can be dried and powdered to make noodles or potato cakes, he said. These days, farmers in the rural areas of Ryanggang Province are unable to go to work because they have nothing to eat.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is seen during the inspection of a potato flour factory in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang December 6, 2017. (KCNA/via Reuters)

The situation is dire. The government tries to cover up starvation deaths by saying that people are dying of disease, he said.

Clinics and neighborhood-watch units say that they died from disease, but in fact, everyone who died from disease these days actually starved to death because they had nothing to eat.

Starvation deaths in North Korea are typically higher around March, Jiro Ishimaru, the CEO of Japan-based outlet Asia Press, which focuses on news from North Korea, told RFA.

The fear is rapidly spreading among North Korean residents, especially among the vulnerable class, that if things continue like this, people will die like last year, he said.

Ishimaru said that although production increased last year on farms in the northern provinces, there was no significant difference in distribution to farmers. Grains were allocated first for military rice and supplies, so the amount of grain remaining for the residents was small.

In other areas of the country, the government is providing advance food supplies to the people because they cannot plant rice if they are too weak from starvation. The balance will be taken out of their rations usually given at the end of the year, a resident of South Pyongan province, north of the capital Pyongyang, told RFA.

The corn distributed to each starving household was the amount for two months, he said. There is no interest, so farmers welcome this policy.

To generate enough food supplies for the farm workers, the authorities instructed neighborhood watch units, district offices and factories to collect rice and corn so they can take care of those in need.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
It came after a British arms watchdog found Japanese parts used in a missile launched by Russia against Ukraine.

A representative from the prosecutors office shows parts of an unidentified missile, which Ukrainian authorities believe to be made in North Korea and was used in a strike in Kharkiv earlier this week, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Jan. 6, 2024.

A suspected Japanese-made component found in a North Korean missile fired by Russia forces towards Ukraine is likely fake, Japans Asahi Shimbun daily reported on Thursday.

A journalist from the paper checked the wreckage of the North Korean missile in the custody of the Ukrainian government last month and found a fist-sized bearing on the missile engraved with the word JAPAN, the name of a Japanese conglomerate and identification numbers, the newspaper reported.

The missile was recovered in January in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine.

A company representative checked the photos of the missile against the genuine item and confirmed it was counterfeit, the newspaper said, adding that the style of engraving was different from the genuine product. The official did not elaborate.

The Asahi Shumbuns report comes two months after the British arms watchdog Conflict Arms Research (CAR) said it had analyzed 290 parts used in the North Korean missile used by Russia against Ukraine and identified parts from companies based in the United States, China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan.

The missile was believed to be a North Korean short-range ballistic missile, either the KN-23 or KN-24.

A CAR official told the Asahi Shimbun that several parts used in the missile were found to be counterfeit, and that several European-based companies were believed to have made the fake components.

But the official did not disclose the parts or identify the companies.

The Asahi Shimbun cited Katsuhisa Furukawa, who served on an expert panel for the U.N. Security Councils North Korea sanctions committee, as saying it was quite possible that North Korea was tricked by middlemen and bought fake components.

North Korea has no choice but to rely on foreign-made parts to improve the accuracy of its short-range missiles, Furukawa said, noting that fake or low-quality parts, including bearings, could reduce the accuracy of North Koreas missiles.

Furukawa said if the international community could not stop North Korea from dodging sanctions, it would be good to intentionally provide fake parts to them.

Last month, Russias newly appointed ambassador to Japan warned it of serious consequences and retaliatory steps if Patriot missile systems manufactured under U.S. license in Japan ended up in Ukraine.

At that time, Russias state-run RIA news agency cited the new envoy, Nikolai Nozdrev, as saying that Russia would be watching closely to see where Japanese arms exports ended up after Japan eased its export rules at the end of last year.

He said, in particular, Russia would be watching to see if and when any Patriot missile systems and missiles made in Japan under U.S. license were exported to the U.S. and then to Ukraine.

Edited by RFA Staff.
Victims were patients and employees under 30, an anti-junta group said.

Junta airstrikes destroyed Vawmmtu Hospital in Chin states Mindat township on the evening of April 25, 2024.

A Myanmar junta airstrike on a hospital in the west of the country has killed four people, including patients and staff, and wounded 15, a rebel group told Radio Free Asia on Friday.

The Thursday strike hit a hospital in Chin states Mindat township, the anti-junta Peoples Administration in the region said.

The state, bordering India, has seen a surge of violence since the Myanmar military staged a coup in early 2021, with junta forces accused of frequently razing villages of the largely Christian minority and persecution, including the planting of landmines.

They dropped six 150-pound bombs. The hospital was totally destroyed, Yaw Man, a spokesperson for the anti-junta Peoples Administration Team in the region, told RFA. There are 15 wounded, four dead.

The four dead in the attack on the Vawmmtu Hospital in Vawmm village, about 48 km (30 miles) from Mindat township, were men between the ages of 20 and 30, he said. Other communities in the region were also attacked by junta aircraft but the extent of casualties and damage was not immediately known, he added.

A call by RFA to Chin states junta spokesperson, Aung Cho, went unanswered.

On April 2, five people were killed and many wounded in Auk Chaing village, in the same township, in a junta air attack.

According to data compiled by RFA, junta airstrikes have killed 397 people and wounded 889 nationwide from January to March this year, including attacks on civilians and during battles with anti-junta forces.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.
Myanmar shut a main border crossing with Thailand early on Friday as junta forces carried out airstrikes in nearby areas, Thai officials and residents of the area told Radio Free Asia.

Insurgent forces captured most of the eastern border town Myawaddy this month but they were forced to withdraw days later under the threat of junta airstrikes. Junta troops re-gained control of a main battalion headquarters in the town on Wednesday.

Residents of the Thai town of Mae Sot, over a border river from Myawaddy, said they heard explosions early on Friday, apparently coming from junta airstrikes to the south of Myawaddy.

A turboprop aircraft was heard flying over Palu, to the south of Myawaddy, and nearly 10 explosions were heard, according to residents on the Thai side.

Separately, a Thai immigration official said crossings from Myanmar over the main border bridge had stopped and it was not clear who was in control on the Myawaddy side.

People from Myanmar can not come yet but they can cross back from here, said the official, who declined to be identified.

Trucks that normally deliver goods to Myanmar via a second bridge, which is used mainly for cargo, have been unloading their shipments at small river crossings instead.

A Karen militia force commander with extensive business interests and a history of close ties with the junta helped free about 200 junta troops who had been cut off by insurgent Karen National Liberation Army troops in the fighting this month, Thai media reported.

The commander, Col. Saw Chit Thu, who broke away from the main Karen guerrilla organization in the 1990s, has close ties with Chinese investors who have funded casinos and online scamming rackets on the Myanmar side of the border. The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on him in 2023 linked to suspicions of involvement in human trafficking and other rights violations.

Saw Chit Thu, who denies wrongdoing, had this month raised doubts about his alliance with the junta, saying he was no longer supporting junta forces, but according to media reports, he had acted to protect his business interests in helping junta forces re-take control of Myawaddy.

Democracy and rights activists have long denounced Saw Chit Thu and his militia, the Karen National Army.

Saw Chit Thu is a rights-abusing militia commander who has gotten rich via a horrid mix of abuses of deported migrants, human trafficking of persons to scam centers, gambling, sexual exploitation and prostitution, and worse, said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Human Rights Watch in Asia.

I think no one should be surprised that he suddenly betrayed the [Karen National Liberation Army] by rushing back into the arms of his [State Authority Council] junta overlords who have been complicit in Chit Thus massive profits at the expense of the Karen people.

Edited by Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.
100,000 men across Myanmar have fled their homes since the draft was announced in February, report finds.

Recruits for military service at the Military Advanced Training Depot are shown on April 8, 2024, at Okdin City, Myanmar.

More than 300 Rohingya men from villages near Rakhine states capital have been forced by junta troops to attend mandatory training for Myanmars military over the last few days, residents told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

The latest round of compulsory conscription among the stateless Muslim minority comes a month after about 1,000 Rohingya from elsewhere in Rakhine were made to join the military in March.

More broadly, more than 100,000 young men have fled their homes since the military announced in February it would implement a draft to shore up its ranks after a series of battlefield defeats, according to a report released by the Burmese Affairs and Conflict Study.

Myanmar has been wracked by civil war ever since the military overthrew the civilian-led government in a 2021 coup. Amid the battlefield setbacks over the past six months, the military has said it plans to conscript 50,000 young men and women each year  and is forcibly recruiting Rohingya in Rakhine state to meet quotas.

State Administration Council members hand out leaflets explaining the law of militia service on Feb. 29, 2024, in Kyun Hla City, Myanmar. (State Administration Council)





The effort comes in a state where just seven years ago, the military tortured, raped and killed thousands of Rohingya and sent nearly 1 million fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh.

The 300 Rohingya recruits were taken this week from more than 30 villages in Sittwe township and were all between 18- to 30-years-old, a Rohingya village administrator who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals told RFA.

They were taken by police cars to the militarys Regional Command Headquarters in Sittwe to prepare for training, he said.

Soldiers are now pressing those who remain in a patchwork of villages and internally displaced camps into service to prop up their struggling military campaign in the state against the ethnic Arakan Army.

In exchange for their service, the junta has promised would-be Rohingya fighters freedom of movement as well as small amounts of food and money.

Worrying around the clock

Junta officials have communicated through village elders and administrators during the conscription process, according to a Rohingya woman who lives in Sittwe who requested not to be named for security reasons.

The officials entice the locals with national identity cards and salary, she said. They forced village elders to provide young Rohingya to protect the country. But as Rohingya youth are fishermen, they are not suitable for military service.

State Administration Council members hand out leaflets explaining the law of militia service on Feb. 29, 2024 in Kyun Hla City, Myanmar. (State Administration Council)

None of the recruits are willing to undergo military training, but they face arrest and beatings if they refuse, she said.

People in Rakhine state are worrying around the clock about the recruitment for military training, the village administrator said. Some people have fled from their homes to other places.

The 1,000 Rohingya who were recruited in March were put through a two-week training. Afterward, some were deployed to the battlefields while others were sent back to their villages or IDP camps as reserves, residents told RFA.

RFA attempted to contact Attorney General Hla Thein, the junta spokesman for Rakhine state, to ask about this weeks recruitment, but he didnt answer phone calls.

Pressed into service

Since Myanmars conscription law was announced by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing on Feb. 10, troops nationwide have attempted to press-gang large numbers into the dwindling military.

It requires men and women aged 18 to 35 to serve in the juntas armed forces for two years  prompting more than 100,000 to flee their homes to avoid the draft, the Burmese Affairs and Conflict Study found.

The junta has carried out operations to enforce the military service law in 224 townships across the country, the report said. Approximately 5,000 young men were sent to 15 military training sites by the end of March, it said.

Rohingya Muslims are seen in military uniform during a training session in Rakhine state on March 10, 2024. (Citizen journalist)





In addition, more than 2,000 people from 40 townships across Myanmar have been enlisted as militia  a number that includes the Rohingya who were recruited in March, the report found.

A resident of Mandalay said people are anxiously watching for the recruitment process to begin again, now that the recent Thingyan water festival holiday has concluded.

It is anticipated that they will start it in May, he said. People are curious about what will happen following Thingyan.

Eventually, the new recruits will be called on for frontline combat operations, according to former military officer Lin Htet Aung, who participated in the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement after the coup.

When the regular army no longer possesses the capacity to execute these tasks, it becomes evident that this deliberate strategy aims to rely solely on the youth of the populace as their military force, he told RFA.

Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Footage of public spectacle provides a rare look at how the ethnic army metes out justice to its own.

The video opens with an overhead shot of 10 individuals wearing blue jumpsuits on a stage adorned with banners in Chinese and large loudspeakers before slowly pulling back to reveal hundreds of spectators  several of them clutching brightly colored umbrellas to keep the sun off their faces.

But this is not a performance. The images captured in northeastern Myanmars Kokang region, in Shan state near China, show a public trial in the capital Laukkai by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, of members of their own ethnic army accused of abuse of power.

Among them is a 36-year-old district commander and two other guerrillas who the ethnic army said in a statement on Thursday it had executed following the trial on April 24. The remaining seven fighters received prison sentences, the MNDAA said.

The highly produced three-minute video provides a rare look at how the rebel army metes out justice to its own in the Kokang region after it captured Laukkai on Jan. 4.

The group is one of three ethnic militias making up the Three Brotherhood Alliance  along with the Taang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army  that has dealt the juntas military forces a series of defeats since late last October. Their offensive has turned the tide in the civil war that broke out after the military overthrew a democratically elected government in a February 2021 coup detat.

In the video, which features a rousing, militaristic soundtrack, onlookers snap photos with their cellphones while officials in fatigues read out the alleged crimes of the 10 soldiers and their punishments. Within the crowd are families with young children, as well as groups of students with their instructors.

EU condemns executions

At the conclusion of the trial, the soldiers are led away in arm and leg shackles with signs hung around their necks identifying them as criminals in bold Chinese characters.

Three of the signs sport red Xs on them, marking those condemned to death. These men are made to stand in vehicles as they are driven through Laukkai to a field on the outskirts of the capital.

Screen capture from video of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army sentencing former Kokang rebels, April 2024. (Kokang Information Network via Facebook)

The next segment shows the three being led into the field before the picture fades to black. An order is heard and shots ring out, although no execution is shown.

In a statement on Thursday, the European Union condemned the executions in the strongest terms, calling them an inhuman and degrading punishment that represents an ultimate denial of human dignity.

The EU added that upholding the rule of law in accordance with international standards is an effort integral to the aspirations for federal democracy.

Screen capture from video of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army sentencing former Kokang rebels, April 2024. (Kokang Information Network via Facebook)

Attempts by RFA to contact MNDAA spokesperson Lee Kyar Win for additional information went unanswered.

Kokang has long been in Chinas orbit, and many of its residents are ethnically Chinese. In the mid-20th century, Kokang served as a base for Myanmar communists, before the Communist Party of Burma collapsed in 1989.

In recent months, China had expressed increasing frustration with organized crime rings that had been allowed to operate in Kokang by junta-aligned forces. An estimated 120,000 people are being held in Myanmar against their will. Chinese nationals have both been trafficked by these groups and fleeced by them.

Screen capture from video of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army sentencing former Kokang rebels, April 2024. (Kokang Information Network via Facebook)

In its statement, the MNDAA said that the district commander who was sentenced to death had been involved in the kidnapping of two Burmese drivers, more than 10 Chinese nationals and six Vietnamese nationals between July and September of 2023. He also took part in the murder of two Chinese nationals, it said.

The other two fighters sentenced to death had served in the Logistics Department of Brigade 311 and were convicted of the theft and sale of weapons, as well as their involvement in deadly kidnappings.

Screen capture from video of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army sentencing former Kokang rebels, April 2024. (Kokang Information Network via Facebook)

Of the remaining seven soldiers, a deputy battalion commander of an MNDAA-aligned militia force and the deputy commander of Battalion 191 were sentenced to 15 and 20 years in prison, respectively. The other five were sentenced to terms ranging from two to five years in prison.

The MNDAA publicly executed four people on May 2, 2023, after convicting them of kidnapping and murdering Chinese nationals in Shan states largest town, Lashio.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
For the Philippines, the triangular chain of reefs offers a warning about Chinas intentions.

A Filipino fisherman dries squid on his boat while a Chinese coast guard ship lurks in the background near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, Feb. 15, 2024.

One day in early April 2012, a Philippine naval surveillance plane spotted eight Chinese fishing boats inside Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs around 125 nautical miles (232 kilometers) from Luzon, the Philippines' main island.

For decades, the country's fishermen had trawled the areas waters and used its protective lagoon as a refuge from typhoons.

But this day would mark a turning point. Less than 48 hours after the Chinese boats were spotted, they were met by the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine navys largest patrol vessel. Armed sailors boarded the Chinese vessels, where they said they found endangered species of coral, giant clams and sharks.

Chinese news reports accused the Philippines of harassing and humiliating the Chinese crew. Beijing sent two marine surveillance ships to investigate.

Today, Filipino fishermen say they find themselves routinely run off in those South China Sea waters, which have also become a flashpoint in a potential conflict between superpowers.

When our boat arrived, almost immediately we saw a Chinese coast guard ship. Then it became three, Anthony Manreal Collado, a local fisherman, told Radio Free Asia, recalling an outing at the end of 2023. They sent speed boats to chase us away. They shouted: Go away! Go away! and did not let us get inside the shoal.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship uses a water cannon to douse a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel near Scarborough Shoal, Dec. 9, 2023. (Image from Philippine Coast Guard video via AFP)

This story is part of a series of articles examining the South China Sea conflict. Previously, RFA examined where the dispute is now at its most tense, around the Second Thomas Shoal. There, Philippine vessels regularly clash with Chinese ships.

Scarborough Shoal is less active, if only because China now effectively controls it, even though the international standoff in 2012 led to a landmark international arbitration case brought by Manila that successfully challenged Beijings historical claims to most of the South China Sea.

Both shoals lie within the boundaries of a bulging territorial map that China says gives it authority over most of the South China Sea. For some Philippine officials, the story of Scarborough Shoal offers a cautionary tale about Chinas ambitions.

This week, the Philippines and the United States began their annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercise. This years drills will feature coastal defense exercises off Palawan and Luzon islands, and will take place for the first time in South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

With some 16,700 troops, the exercise this year is the most expansive Balikatan to date, according to the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Diplomatic solution

The spotting of the Chinese fishing vessels 12 years ago led to a 10-week standoff between the two countries.

After initial efforts to negotiate a bilateral solution, the Philippines asked the United States and other Southeast Asian nations to intervene.

Kurt Campbell  who was then the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs  met several times with his Chinese counterpart, Fu Ying, vice foreign minister in charge of Asian affairs, to broker an end to the standoff.

Fu Ying also met a dozen times with then-Philippine President Benigno Aquino IIIs envoy, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

In this image released Sept. 25, 2023, a member of the Philippine coast guard cuts a rope attached to a floating barrier installed by China that blocked the entrance to Scarborough Shoal. (Philippine Coast Guard via AFP)

According to Philippine government sources, Campbell managed to mediate an agreement with China for an immediate withdrawal of vessels from both sides in early June 2012. Manila observed the agreement but Beijing reneged on it, the sources said.

In her 2012 book, Seeing the World 2, Fu Ying offered a different explanation.

Government boats from both sides had withdrawn from the Huangyan Dao lagoon by June 5, 2012, she wrote, referring to the shoal by its Chinese name.

Yet the Philippines ambitions for the rocks did not diminish after the standoff, Fu wrote.

Chinese government vessels only returned to keep an eye on Huangyan Dao and to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and property.

The international media reports were filled with the Philippines one-sided story, and China was depicted as a big nation, bullying one of its smaller neighbors, the Chinese ex-vice minister wrote.

In his book The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia, Campbell wrote that the standoff ultimately resulted in its loss of the Scarborough Shoal to China.

Ely Ratner, the current assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, wrote in 2013 that there was no question that Beijing had scored a tactical victory at Manilas expense.

Beijing exploited its asymmetry of stakes with the United States, Ratner wrote. In response, U.S. officials were cautious, not wanting to provoke China into conflict.

Together with Chinas successful isolation of the Philippines through the ASEAN regional bloc, Beijings scheme amounted to a Chinese victory.

The last straw

After it was unable to persuade China to leave, the Philippines government brought a case to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which adjudicates maritime disputes.

Scarborough Shoal was the watershed and the final straw that prompted Manila to file its case against China at the arbitral tribunal in the same year, said Aries Arugay, a visiting senior scholar at the Yusof Ishak Institute  a research organization in Singapore.

By then, Manila had already suffered an embarrassing loss of territory it claimed as its own when China took over the Mischief Reef, an area that is also located well within the Philippines EEZ as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which China is a signatory.

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Seized by China during the 1990s, the reef is now an artificial island with a large naval base that hosts an airport with a 2,700-meter runway and radar and missile systems.

The powerful fortress is just 129 nautical miles (239 kilometers) from the island of Palawan.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against all Chinas claims, including to Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal. The panel recognized them as parts of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.

Leonardo Cuaresma, one of the local leaders of the fishermens group Pamalakaya, sits near the waterside in Masinloc, Feb. 26, 2024. (Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews)

But Beijing dismissed the ruling. It says its territorial claims are based on historic boundaries.

Although it has not built anything on the Scarborough Shoal since 2016, China does impose its will from time to time, including through fishing bans.

Chinas restrictions have led to a noticeable reduction  up to two thirds  of what fishermen said they normally catch.

Efren Porones, a boat captain, told RFA that he had been fired at with a water cannon and driven away by the Chinese before. The 62-year-old lives with his two teenage daughters in a small, old house next to the fish market in Masinloc, a municipality in Luzons Zambales province.

His wife is forced to work in Saudi Arabia to make up for the drop in income from fishing.

Rodrigo Dutertes term as president, from 2016 to 2022, brought some relief, Porones said. Dutertes pro-China policies led to an easing of restrictions on Filipino fishermen, who at times were allowed back near the shoal.

But with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promising a tougher stance, egged on by a frustrated citizenry, the barriers have gone back up.

The worst thing is that we cannot get inside the lagoon anymore, Porones said. Thats where we fishermen come to shelter from typhoons, but now its off limits.

A fisherman weighs his catch at the market in Masinloc, Feb. 27, 2024. (Luna Pham/BenarNews)

Without that safety net, the fishermen are more reluctant to spend days out at sea for fear of being caught in a storm. As many as a third of the area fishermen once relied on the fishing grounds around Scarborough that their families had fished for decades, according to Leonardo Cuaresma, who was one of them.

Swarming the sea

The Masinloc fish market shows the result. Though the market still opens before dawn everyday, the catch on offer is only about half of what it was. Instead of big grouper and tuna, the stalls now sell mostly anchovies, mackerel and small tuna, caught nearby by smaller boats.

After 30 years, Tolomeo Forones, 69, said he had to give up fishing for the steady paycheck as a janitor at a local school. All because of China, Forones said, That makes me angry.

In his opinion, the Philippine government is too permissive. They only send out notes to protest. We need to fight.

Chinese vessels drive the Filipino boats out by swarming the waters around Scarborough Shoal, said Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University in California.

The project is aimed at exposing Chinas gray-zone tactics in the South China Sea. Gray-zone activities are coercive and harmful to other countries but not acts of war and have been used actively by the Chinese government in maritime disputes.

A fisherman positions his boat after unloading his catch at dawn in Masinloc, Feb 27, 2024. (Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews)

Using automatic identification signals transmitted by ships, Powells team has detected dozens of Chinese vessels at Scarborough almost every day.

Swarming is a commonly used tactic involving to overwhelm, intimidate and assert dominance, a SeaLight report in 2023 said.

More than a decade after the Scarborough standoff, Filipino officials still fear a further escalation, and perhaps another Chinese naval base in its backyard.

The ball is in Chinas court, said political scientist Aries Arugay.

Manila only wants the shoal as a shelter for its fishermen, maybe some structure to help with fishing but nothing beyond that, no militarization, not even a coast guard post because the Philippines under Marcos doesnt want to be seen as altering the status quo.

But if China put some military installation here, then it will be a major act of aggression that intensifies the tension, he added.

Edited by Jim Snyder, Imran Vittachi and Boer Deng
The Panchen Lama turned 35 this week. Taken by China 29 years ago, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

Members of the Tibetan Women's Association hold portraits of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, as they participate in a protest demanding his release, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May, 17, 2023.

The young boy who was abducted as a 6-year-old turned 35 this week.

What he does, where he lives or even if hes still alive isnt known, thanks to the reticence of the Chinese government, which kidnapped him along with his family and his teacher 29 years ago.

Beijing leaders, ever wary of potential rivals for the Communist Partys authority, viewed the boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as a possible threat.

Days earlier the Dalai Lama had named him the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual leader in the largest sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan leaders marked his birthday this week with a celebration held in absentia, and reiterated long-standing requests to Beijing to reveal Gedhun Choekyi Nyimas fate.

A Tibetan monk holds a sign board next to a poster of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama, at a monastery after a sit-in protest against the visit of Chinese President Li Keqiang at Majnu Ka Tila, a Tibetan refugee camp, in New Delhi May 20, 2013. (Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters)

Who is the Panchen Lama?

The word Panchen is based on a Sanskrit word for Great Scholar. Traditionally the Panchen Lama has played a leading role in Tibetan Buddhist scholarship as the leader of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, which has been controlled by China since 1951.

Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is a physical representation of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion, and the Panchen Lama of Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light.

The two lamas share a special spiritual relationship, with each recognizing the others successive reincarnations and serving as the others teacher.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama are revealed through a series of tests as judged by prominent religious leaders.

The Panchen Lamas most important responsibility includes finding and recognizing the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in the event of his passing, one reason why China wants a Panchen Lama under its control.

What happened to the Panchen Lama?

On May 14, 1995, the exiled Dalai Lama recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the Panchen Lama, the 11th reincarnation of his predecessor.

This angered Chinese authorities, who rejected the choice.

Three days later the boy, his family and his teacher were abducted. They have remained missing ever since.

For over 29 years, Tibetans, global leaders, and rights groups have called on the Chinese government to reveal their whereabouts, to no avail.

Tibetan exiles hold candles and wear masks of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, during a protest ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India, in New Delhi May 17, 2013. (Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters)

Who is the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama?

Shortly after the abduction of the Dalai Lama-appointed Panchen Lama, Beijing installed another boy, Gyaltsen (in Chinese, Gyaincain) Norbu, as their own candidate in his place.

However, the Chinese government-appointed Panchen Lama remains unpopular with Tibetans both in exile and at home and is perceived as a political tool for Beijing.

Ordinary Tibetans and monks in monasteries traditionally loyal to the Dalai Lama have been reluctant to acknowledge or receive him, and during his visits to Tibet, Beijing has in the past handed out small monetary incentives for people who receive his blessing.

Significance of the Panchen Lamas role

Chinas appointment of Gyaincain Norbu as Panchen Lama underscores Beijings attempts to interfere in the selection of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama when he passes, and gain control and legitimacy among Tibetans, both inside Tibet and in exile, say experts.

The move is also seen as Chinas attempts to acquire more influence over Buddhism not only inside occasionally restive Tibet but throughout the Himalayan region. Beijing has increasingly looked to leverage religion as a soft power diplomacy tool across various Buddhist nations.

In 2007, the Chinese government decreed that China would begin overseeing the recognition of all reincarnate Tibetan lamas, or Living Buddhas, including the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama, for which China plans to use its own Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama to sign off on.

Edited by Kalden Lodoe and Jim Snyder.
The US and EU urge China to disclose more about the revered religious figure's fate on his 35th birthday.

An exile Tibetan Buddhist monk puts a scarf in front of a portrait of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, at an event marking his birthday in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Ashwini Bhatia/AP)

Global leaders joined Tibetans across the world this week to mark the 35th birthday of a revered Tibetan religious leader taken into custody 29 years ago and missing ever since.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, then just six years old, was recognized by Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as the 11th Panchen Lama, Tibets second most-senior Buddhist monk, in May 1995.

Shortly after the Dalai Lamas announcement, Chinese authorities abducted the new Panchen Lama, his family and his teacher. His whereabouts remain unknown. If alive, he would have turned 35 on Thursday.

At a commemoration event in Dharamsala, India, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, reissued a long-standing plea for information about his fate.

Our most pressing concern is whether the Panchen Rinpoche is still alive or not, Tsering said, using a name Tibetan Buddhists reserve for reincarnated lamas.





Chinas choice

The Panchen Lamas abduction illustrates the sensitivity of Chinese authorities to other prominent figures and their effort to control Tibetans by suppressing expressions of their Buddhist faith.

After the 1950-51 Chinese invasion and annexation of Tibet, Beijing made efforts to influence Tibetan affairs, including through the selection of a spiritual successor to the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are reincarnated as children when they die, and that they have the right to select the religious leaders based on their religious belief in the principle of rebirth.

After abducting Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the ruling Chinese Communist Party installed another boy, GyaltsenNorbu, called Gyaincain Norbu in Chinese, as the 11th Panchen Lama.

However, the Chinese government-appointed religious figure remains unpopular with Tibetans both in exile and at home and is perceived as a political tool for Beijing.

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The fight over the 11th Panchen Lama is likely a precursor to the battle over who will follow the 14th Dalai Lama, who is now 88 years old. China, always wary of opposition to its authority, particularly in the sometimes restive Tibetan region, says it can appoint the successor under Chinese law.

Sikyong Tsering also called on the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama to not become a political tool of the Chinese governments sinister motives.

Instead, he must recognize the unprecedented danger threatening the survival of the Tibetan people and Tibetan Buddhism, and fearlessly undertake his responsibility, and not commit any act that would hurt the Tibetans and Tibets spiritual and political cause, he said.

Exile Tibetan children hold a kit containing coloring material and a notebook with the portrait of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, at an event marking his birthday in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, April 25, 2024.(Ashwini Bhatia/AP)

Traditionally the Panchen Lama has played a leading role in Tibetan Buddhist scholarship as the leader of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet, which has been controlled by China since 1951. The previous incarnation of the Panchen Lama passed away in 1989 at the monastery.

International criticism

Uzra Zeya, special coordinator for Tibetan issues in the U.S. State Department, marked the Panchen Lamas birthday by calling on China to provide proof of his whereabouts and well-being.

The U.S. government reaffirms our support for Tibetans to select, educate and venerate their religious leaders free of government interference, she wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told RFA that Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a visit to China, is expected to raise clearly and candidly our concerns on human rights, including the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, and abuses throughout the country, including in Hong Kong and Tibet.

Watched by Swiss police officers, Tibetan activists carry a birthday cake to the Chinese embassy in Bern, Switzerland, on April 25, 2006, to symbolically celebrate the birthday of Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)

We are saddened that the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] continues to separate the Panchen Lama from his community and deny him his rightful place as a Tibetan Buddhist leader, the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. has called on Beijing to publicize verifiable proof of his whereabouts and to allow him to speak for himself.

In Europe, Els Van Hoof, chair of the External Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, and Samuel Cogolati, deputy chair, issued a statement condemning the 29-year-long enforced disappearance of the Panchen Lama and calling for his immediate release along with those of his family, teacher and other political prisoners.

Additional reporting by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Tenzin Pema, Roseanne Gerin and Jim Snyder.
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has set four extra dates to hear arguments over whether it should approve the North Dakota route for Summit Carbon Solutions' planned multistate carbon dioxide pipeline.

Summit's line would carry climate-warming CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants in five Midwest states with a final destination in western North Dakota for permanent underground storage. The PSC initially denied the proposed route last August, but the case was reopened a month later after Summit made route changes to address various concerns.

The extra hearings are needed since attorneys representing Burleigh County as well as some landowners across the route could not be in attendance at hearings in Mandan which wrapped up earlier this week. Hearings will take place May 28 in the Brynhild Haugland Room at the Capitol in Bismarck, followed by May 29, May 30 and June 3 hearings in the Pioneer Room at the Capitol. All will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The PSC will not take comments from the public at these meetings, though the public can attend. Public comment was taken at the Mandan hearings, and the PSC will take more comments at upcoming hearings in Wahpeton on May 24 and Linton on June 4; the PSC indicated the purpose of those meetings is to hear from people residing in the area.

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources in June is set to hear permit applications for the underground CO2 storage facilities that would serve as the final destination for Summit's Midwest Carbon Express pipeline. The two-day hearing June 11-12 in Bismarck will in part consider if the state Industrial Commission -- which oversees Mineral Resources -- can enforce a process called amalgamation where if the owners of 60% of the land making up a storage facility sign easement agreements, all landowners in the facility are required to join and are given "equitable" compensation in return.

Summit's pipeline awaits regulatory approval in every state it would travel through -- North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

For more information on the PSC hearings, go to bit.ly/3Ug8uUW. For more information on the Mineral Resources hearings go to: https://bit.ly/49GLSCK.
She died after being interrogated and breaking down in tears over the body of her husband who died in prison.

A man is carried away by airport security for an unknown reason at the airport in Urumqi, the capital of China's far northwestern, mainly Muslim Xinjiang region on August 4, 2008.

A 29-year-old Uyghur woman died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing in tears over the corpse of her jailed husband  and then being interrogated by police in Chinas northwestern Xinjiang region, a source with knowledge of the situation told Radio Free Asia.

A police officer who confirmed the death of Nurimangul Hashim suggested she may have died after being dealt a fatal blow by another policeman, not a heart attack.

The accounts provide a glimpse of the suffering endured by the mostly Muslim Uyghurs, some 1.8 million of whom have been herded into concentration camps set up by China across Xinjiang, purportedly to counter religious extremism and terrorism.

Hashims husband, Memettursun Imin, 32, died in prison while serving a sentence for getting around Chinas Great Firewall of internet censorship and visiting foreign websites. The circumstance of his death were unclear.

When four officials brought Hashim his body, she broke down in tears and accused them of being murderers, said the source who hails from the same village of Xaneriq in Kashgar Yengisheher county of Kashgar prefecture. The person insisted on not being identified for security reasons.

After Imin was buried, police took Hashim to the county police station for interrogation, and soon after that she died of a heart attack, the person said.

Police confirm deaths

A local police officer contacted by Radio Free Asia  a major accomplishment in itself  was able to confirm both Hashim's and Imins deaths, but said that Hashim lost consciousness during interrogation and died before reaching the hospital.

I heard she might have been struck with a police baton or punched, he told RFA, raising speculation that police sought to cover up her real cause of death by saying she had a heart attack.

Others told me that she threw herself on top of her husband's body and cried, he added, saying he was not there when the incident occurred.

Armed police keep watch in a street in Kashgar in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, March 24, 2017. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)





Imin, the husband, was one of six Uyghur prisoners from Xaneriq village whose body was released to family members after he died in prison, area police told RFA Uyghur.

Authorities detained about 120 people from the villages Tawaqchi community when mass arrests of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim groups began in Xinjiang in 2017.

RFA earlier reported on the release of another inmate, Mahmudjan Muqeddem, 46, the only villager to be freed alive from prison. Authorities said he had served a seven-year sentence for advising friends not to drink alcohol, which is prohibited under Islam.

A second police officer with knowledge of the situation told RFA Uyghur the names of the four of the other residents who died while in jail: Yusuf Musa, Memet Imin, Memet Abdulla and Hashim Qurban  Nurimangul Hashims father.

A third police officer who works in Xaneriq confirmed the names of the men, adding Tursun Abdukerim to the list.

The officer said he and others have been conducting ideological work with the families of the deceased to help calm them down by visiting them daily.

However, Uyghurs understand that the main purpose behind this monitoring by local law enforcement officers is to prevent rumors about the deaths from spreading within their communities.

Whenever a body is released from prison, authorities remind residents of notices advising them not to accept calls from outside the area and to avoid spreading gossip, said the Uyghur from Xaneriq who declined to be identified.

Hashims family

One of the police officers also confirmed that Nurimangul Hashims parents had been arrested on suspicion of religious extremism.

Authorities often detained elderly residents of Tawaqchi village for listening to religious readings at events like gatherings, weddings and funerals, the policeman said.

They arrested and sentenced young Uyghurs because of problems related to their mobile phones, he added.

Hashims mother, Gulqiz Helihem, refused to accept money from the government given to low-income families, stating it was haram, an Arabic term meaning forbidden by Islamic law, the officer said.

She also declined salt distributed to farmers, for the same reason, he said. Their family had those beliefs, and [Nurimangul Hashim] was the daughter of such a family.

Hashim's father died in prison three years ago, while her mother remains in prison, he said.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the national assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.

Vietnams ruling party relieved one of the countrys top lawmakers of his post as chairman of the National Assembly on Friday, media reported, citing his violations of regulations affecting the party and the state.

The Communist Party's Central Committee let Vuong Dinh Hue resign at his personal request after an extraordinary meeting, Vietnamese news sites reported. The Central Committee is the partys highest authority. Hue was also relieved of his position in the Politburo.

His removal comes amid a party crackdown on corruption in which thousands of people, including regional and national government officials and senior business leaders, have been caught up.

Hue had violated Party regulations, and his violations have affected the reputation of the Party, the State and himself, media reported, citing the partys Central Inspection Committee.

Hue has been a member of the partys powerful Politburo and the Central Party Committee for several terms.

Hue is the fifth Politburo member to be ousted this term, following the forced resignations of Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, economic commission chief Tran Tuan Anh, and President Vo Van Thuong.

Like other senior Vietnamese politicians, Hue has business interests overseen by his family members. This month, his personal assistant, Phan Thai Ha, was arrested at the airport upon returning from a five-day official trip to China with Hue, where they met with President Xi Jinping.

Ha, who has been Hues right-hand man for over two decades, was charged with abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain, for his ties to the Thuan An construction group, a small firm that won 38 of 47 public tenders for major infrastructure projects. Thuan Ans two top leaders have been arrested.

Hue is the second of four top leaders, known as the four pillars of the party, to resign in just over four weeks amid the anti-corruption campaign, dubbed blazing furnace, spearheaded by partys general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong.

Former President Thuong was relieved of his post on March 21 after just one year in office.

The Vietnamese Communist Party puts great store in political stability and analysts say the series of resignations could worry investors and damage public trust.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

The Taliban has abolished the pension system in Afghanistan, which is gripped by a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis.



The move has triggered protests by retirees who say they cannot survive without state assistance.

Scores of retired civil servants and retired members of the armed forces staged a rally in Kabul on April 20. The protest was dispersed by the Taliban.

"We are just trying to claim our rights," Aafandi Sangar, the head of the Afghan Pensioners Association, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "We are miserable because we have not received any payments for nearly three years."

An estimated 150,000 pensioners received a monthly payment of around $100 from the state before the Taliban seized power in 2021. Retirees say they have not been paid their pensions since then. Many of the pensioners served governments that had fought against the Taliban.

In early April, the Taliban's spiritual leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, ordered his government to stop deducting retirement contributions from the salaries of civil servants, effectively dismantling the pension system. Akhundzada suggested that the system was "un-Islamic."

Why It's Important: The Taliban's decision to scrap pensions threatens the future of tens of thousands of current government employees.

The group's refusal to pay pensions since 2021 has also pushed many retirees and their families deeper into poverty. The decision this month dashed their hopes.

"How will we live now?" asked one retiree, speaking to Radio Azadi. "We used our pensions to provide for our families."

The Taliban has repeatedly promised to build a welfare state in Afghanistan. But the group's decision to scrap pensions suggests that it is unlikely to fulfil its pledges.

What's Next: The Taliban leadership has vowed to create a "pure" Islamic system in Afghanistan.

The group has used religious justification to scrap the pension system. Pensions involve interest, which the Taliban has said is forbidden under Islam.

The group's extremist interpretation of Islamic law is likely to continue shaping the decisions of its government.

What To Keep An Eye On

A senior cleric who was believed to be a close aide of the Taliban's spiritual leader has been killed in neighboring Pakistan.



Mullah Mohammad Omar Jan Akhundzada was shot dead in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province, on April 18.



The chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said his death was an "irreparable loss."



Local police said the cleric possessed Pakistani citizenship and had lived in Quetta for many years.



Many Taliban leaders were believed to have lived in Quetta, near the Afghan border, during the group's nearly 20-year insurgency against Afghan government forces and international troops.

Why It's Important: Akhundzada's mysterious killing has raised questions.



Some have speculated that the Pakistani authorities could have been behind it.



Islamabad and the Taliban were close allies for decades. But the sides have fallen out in recent years, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of sheltering the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, an extremist group that has waged a deadly insurgency against Islamabad for years.



Islamabad has tried to use pressure tactics, including the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, to change Taliban policy, according to observers.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said during a visit to Berlin on October 11 that it was important that Ukraine's allies do not decrease their assistance next year as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskiy has been on a whirlwind tour of major European capitals meant to win backing for his "victory plan" aimed at ending the war with Russia.

His main goal in his visits to London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin, his final stop, was to press for additional military and financial aid as Kyiv faces difficult months ahead in its fight to stop a slow but continuous Russian advance in the east.

In Berlin, Zelenskiy thanked Germany for its backing and said that "it is very important for us that this assistance does not decrease next year."

He said he would present Scholz with his plan for winning the war, repeating his hope that the conflict would end no later than next year.

"Ukraine more than anyone else in the world wants a fair and speedy end to this war," Zelenskiy said.

After his stops in London, Paris, and Rome on October 10, Zelenskiy said on X that he had "outlined the details" of his proposed "victory plan" to defeat Russian forces during his meetings with the leaders of Britain, France, and Italy.

He added that he and the other leaders agreed to work on the plan together but gave no details on what it says.

Scholz said he and the Ukrainian leader agreed on the need for a peace conference that includes Russia, but that peace "can only be brought about on the basis of international law."

"We will not accept a peace dictated by Russia," Scholz said.

Scholz also announced a 1.4 billion-euro ($1.53 billion) military aid package for Ukraine from Germany with partner countries Belgium, Denmark, and Norway, saying it includes more air defense, tanks, combat drones, and artillery and sends a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "playing for time will not work" and vowing "not let up in our support for Ukraine."

During a 35-minute meeting with Pope Francis on October 11, Zelenskiy sought the Vatican's help in securing the return of adults and children taken prisoner by Russia, he said on X, formerly Twitter.

"The issue of bringing our people home from captivity was the main focus of my meeting with Pope Francis," he said.



Zelenskiy gave Francis an oil painting called the Bucha Massacre, depicting the mass killings of civilians by Russian troops in the Ukrainian city in 2022.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Zelenskiy's arrival in Berlin comes after an October 12 summit of the Ramstein group of Ukraine's main backers was canceled at short notice when U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, abandoned their travel plans as the southern U.S. states braced for Hurricane Milton.



The White House said in a statement that Biden spoke to Scholz on October 10 and noted "his intention to continue our strong collaboration on geopolitical priorities, including supporting Ukraines defense against Russian aggression."

The United States has been Ukraine's main backer and by far the main contributor in terms of financial and military aid, but a victory by Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump in the election could cast doubt about Washington's continued support for Kyiv.



Zelenskiy's diplomatic efforts are taking place as Russia continues to keep up the pressure on Ukraine's cities.

As Zelenskiy arrived in Berlin, the number of civilians killed in a Russian missile strike on Odesa on October 11 rose to nine, including a teenage girl, and Russian troops struck the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.

"A two-story building where civilians lived and worked was destroyed," Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

Odesa, Ukraine's main hub for grain exports, has been repeatedly struck by Russian forces since the start of the war.

Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said there were no injuries in one strike but an inspection following another missile strike on the Derhachiv community of Kharkiv was ongoing.

Outside Kharkiv, a 38-year-old man was killed by a Russian drone strike on the village of Kozacha Lopan, the region's military administration reported.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capital was targeted by Russian drones early on October 11. The military administration of the Ukrainian capital later reported on Telegram that all the attacking drones had been shot down, without specifying a number.

On the battlefield, outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian forces were fighting Russian troops inside the strategic city of Toretsk in the eastern region of Donetsk after abandoning Vuhledar, another strategic hub in the region, last week.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces carried out fresh attacks near Vremivka, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, and Siversk, the General Staff of Ukraine's military reported on October 11.

Separately, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said at least 208 civilians were killed and 1,220 injured in Ukraine in September. That made it the month with the highest number of civilian casualties in 2024, the mission said.

The organization said that 46 percent of the dead were over the age of 60. In addition, nine children were killed and 76 were injured in September.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The pictures didn't necessarily say a thousand words, but they might have gotten at least that many laughs.

One showed British Foreign Secretary David Cameron bursting birdlike through the entrance of a traditional Turkmen yurt at a museum in Ashgabat.

Another, shared by the British Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, featured Cameron gazing thoughtfully down a concrete irrigation channel in Kyrgyzstan.

And from Uzbekistan, there was a snap of Cameron marveling over a giant pot of "plov," the nation's favorite dish.

"David Cameron is having an absolute blast in a tour of Central Asia this week," observed AFP reporter Jake Cordell on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.

But with Cameron now back from a five-day tour taking in six countries -- the five former Soviet Central Asian countries and Mongolia -- was it anything more serious than that?

The answer might depend on which country you ask.

A Geopolitical Imperative'

Cameron's visit to the region came several months after the publication of a report by the U.K. parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee titled Countries At Crossroads: U.K. Engagement In Central Asia.

The report decried the low level of outreach by London with the region and called deepening ties "a geopolitical imperative," recommending visits to the region at the level of the foreign secretary and prime minister -- an office that Cameron occupied from 2010-16.

A key focus of the document was the echoes of Russia's war in Ukraine and the region's status as an avenue for Moscow to evade sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom.

But to use the stick -- the assumed threat of secondary sanctions -- there have to be carrots as well.

And in several of the countries in the region British carrots must look a little on the small side.

On April 24, Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns registered satisfaction with Cameron's visit and noted a 50 million pound ($62 million) commitment in assistance from Britain that "may help the U.K. increase its soft power and influence in the region."

"Situated along the fault line between Russia and China, protecting the independence and sovereignty of Central Asian countries is paramount," she wrote in a commentary on the parliament's website.

In Cameron's video from the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, the U.K. foreign secretary used the term "sandwiched" to refer to Central Asia's position between Russia and China, also noting that Iran was "just 40 kilometers over those mountains."

"I'm the first [U.K.] foreign secretary -- indeed the first cabinet minister -- ever to come to this country. I was the first foreign secretary to go to Tajikistan, to Kyrgyzstan, and the first to go to Uzbekistan since 1997," he said in the April 24 video, acknowledging that "maybe we should have done more in the past" in "these countries."

Yet Turkmenistan is perhaps the illustration of why "these countries" are hardly equal in terms of interest to the United Kingdom.

It is one of the most authoritarian in the world and almost exclusively reliant for survival on purchases of its natural gas by China and Russia.

As of the last quarter of 2023, bilateral trade between Turkmenistan and Britain stood at a mere 66 million pounds ($82.5 million) according to the U.K.'s Department For Business and Trade, less than any of the other six countries Cameron visited this week except Tajikistan.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, Luca Anceschi, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, noted that one carrot the U.K. has for a region where unemployment is a huge problem is the expansion of quotas for seasonal migrants looking to work in British agriculture.

"But in the case of Turkmenistan this is not relevant because the country's authorities strictly limit the ability of citizens to leave the country," said Anceschi, who argued that the Turkmen visit was more likely to be viewed as a "photo opportunity" for the ruling Berdymukhammedov family.

In the end, there was only evidence of Cameron meeting with President Serdar Berdymukhammedov, not Turkmenistan's official "national leader" and de facto top decision maker, Serdar's father, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. Cameron was also unable to meet in person with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who was on a holiday.

'The Kazakhs Still Don't Understand What The West Is'

Cameron was on more familiar territory in Kazakhstan, where annual bilateral trade standing at more than $3 billion dwarfs the combined figure for the other five countries on his tour.

Cameron was the first British prime minister to visit Kazakhstan, Central Asia's most affluent, in 2013.

And his message will have been especially welcome for Astana, which has strained to balance ties with Western countries and an increasingly jealous Moscow amid the geopolitical fallout over Ukraine.

Speaking at an event with Kazakh Foreign Minister Marat Nurtleu (he also met with President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev), Cameron stressed that London wasn't asking Central Asian countries to disavow either China or Russia.

"We're here because we believe you should be able to make a choice to partner with us in a way that is good for both [countries' security and prosperity]," Cameron said.

Moscow is unlikely to view things that way.

As with the visit by French leader Emmanuel Macron to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan last year, Cameron's arrival in the region was met with a wave of skepticism from Russian media outlets and Telegram channels.

In one opinion piece, published by the pro-Kremlin EurAsia Daily website, author Alan Pukhaev complained that "the Kazakhs still don't understand what the West is."

"As we have already written, the interest of the Anglo-Saxons in Central Asia, in recent times, is not accidental," he wrote, using a term Russian diplomats use with increasing frequency, mostly to describe Britain and the United States. "The world is on the verge of a big war in which the West needs a lot of natural resources."

To be sure, Brussels, Washington, and London haven't hidden their interest in this facet of cooperation.

Press releases from recent diplomatic engagements with the region invariably refer to Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) -- minerals that are vital for electric vehicles and the transition to green energy in general, but overwhelmingly dominated by China in terms of both extraction and related production.

But while ties in this sphere are growing, especially in Kazakhstan, the success of Western governments in persuading leading private companies to invest in the region will still depend on perceptions of Central Asia's investment attractiveness.

And even Central Asia's premier destination for foreign direct investment can look like a tall task in that regard.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Astana's international arbitration claims against major foreign oil companies developing the country's super-giant but oft-troubled Kashagan oil field now exceeded $150 billion.

The consortium developing Kashagan includes Shell, a British multinational that Nurtleu namechecked for its contributions to the national economy in his press appearance with Cameron.

Central Asia's Diplomatic Run Continues

While the Ukraine war has thrown up plenty of challenges for Central Asia, it has also led to a diversity of diplomatic interest in the region unseen since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

In September 2023, the region's heads of state met with U.S. President Joe Biden in an unprecedented six-way meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Weeks later, there was a visit for the region's leaders to Berlin for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and, while Macron's November visit prioritized the region's two largest economies, the countries with the smallest ones have also been active.

On April 22, just days after meeting with Cameron, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon flew to Italy, whose WeBuild construction company is the main contractor for the Roghun mega-dam, which is projected to be the tallest in the world.

Human Rights organizations have wondered aloud whether conversations about rights and democracy take a back seat during these periods of intensified interaction with the West.

On April 23, just before authoritarian ruler Rahmon's visit to Rome, at least eight European-based Tajik opposition activists were detained and held overnight.

"In my opinion, these arrests can be seen as a victory of autocracy and a failure of democracy," Mahmudjon Faizrahmonov, a member of the opposition National Alliance of Tajikistan, told RFE/RL.

The Group 24 opposition group announced on April 25 that its activists were freed and had left Italy, dropping plans to hold anti-government protests.

Cameron, meanwhile, suggested his talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov had touched on the dramatic downturn in political freedom in what has historically been the freest of the former Soviet Central Asian countries.

The pair spoke about "the importance of voluntary bodies, charities, nongovernmental organizations, [and] civil society organizations," Cameron said in an interview with RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service on April 22, obliquely referring to the country's recent passing of a Russian-style law increasing restrictions on NGOs.

Cameron also noted in interviews with the British press in Bishkek that the United Kingdom was working with Kyrgyz authorities to ensure that items "building Russia's war machine" were not being reexported to Russia, while stressing that London was not opposed t0 a "natural" trading relationship between Bishkek and Moscow.

As for carrots, Cameron talked up "economic opportunities that benefit us both, from Bridgend to Bishkek" in an April 23 post on X that provided the context for the images of Britain's top diplomat ogling water infrastructure.

According to the British Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, a company called Concrete Canvas, based near the Welsh town of Bridgend, is helping to repair those aging channels, which are viewed as a major source of wasted water throughout a water-strapped region.
(ECNS)  As an extensive network of rail services connecting China and Europe, the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) shows its unique significance as uncertainties like the Red Sea crisis are wreaking havoc on global trade. On related topics, China News Network talked with experts and scholars from different countries, who mentioned that the CRE is not only a logistic channel, but a new artery to facilitate international cooperation and economic development. It demonstrates China's determination to open up to the outside world, and its vision of common prosperity with the rest of the world. CRE demonstrates its strategic significance During an interview, Fabio Massimo Parenti, professor of international studies at the International Institute Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence notes that the CRE is "a key project constantly innovated over the past decade, and is representing a partially complementary alternative to the maritime routes". As the Red Sea problem drastically reduced regional stability and the possibility of managing normal trade flows, the CRE is "an example again of the importance of the Chinese ideas where China is investing along with other countries", which is useful for the international community. Hannes Fellner, professor from the University of Vienna, says he absolutely agrees that the CER plays the role of "stabilizer," ensuring the security of international supply chains amid the Red Sea crisis. He also hopes that China and Europe shake hands to bring more peace and more rationality to the world while the train connections are one important part of this handshake. According to Benjamin Norton, founder and editor-in-chief of Geopolitical Economy Report, the CRE is an important model that other countries can follow and encourages international trade and interconnectivity. Berthold Kuhn, adjunct professor at Freie Universitat Berlin and consultant to the European Commission, also believes that the CRE "can contribute to mitigating the current Red Sea crisis and the global shipping crisis, and keep exports at a high level and keep the pace of the export level relatively fast." CRE facilitates regional development By the end of February, 2024, the CRE services had expanded to cover 219 cities across 25 European countries, according to data from China Railway. "More than 200 cities in Europe are directly involved by the CRE," says Parenti, because the CRE can create resilient international logistics, giving new impetus to the development of the countries involved, which is the most important contribution. Hassan Daud, associate professor at Bahria University and former director of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, thinks that the CRE fits into the spirit of the ancient Chinese Silk Road that needs to be revived now. CRE fulfills the Belt and Road Initiative Patrick Sourek, former assistant researcher at German Bundestag, takes the example of Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony of Germany, which is a critical station of a CRE line starting from Anhui, Hefei. "Both places are not tier-1 places, so people realize that also in these places, something incredible is going on, which is really rooted in the BRI," Sourek mentions. Daryl Guppy, former board member of the Australia China Business Council and Australian ACBC delegate at the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, notes that "the BRI is providing alternative logistics change, and the railway system going through Central Asia, connecting China to Western Europe is a good example of that". The CRE, as part of the BRI, "has improved trade relationships and trade logistics lines tremendously, which needs to be recognized and usualized by the rest of the world," Guppy adds.
The seizing of fuel distributor Petrol by the now-collapsed Corporate Commercial Bank (CCB) at the end of 2013 happened through a real criminal scheme in violation of several laws and even of a Court order. This is revealed in documents which Bivol obtained. All institutions  the Prosecution, the central bank (Bulgarian National Bank, BNB), the Central Depository and the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) have been alerted, but are complicit through inactivity.

In addition to CCB as lender, an especially established dummy investment firm, the former CEO of Petrol, a private law enforcement officer and even the Central Depository were also included in the scheme.

At the end of 2013, the long-lasting legal battle between Mitko Sabev and Denis Ershov for control of Petrol was nearing conclusion. On November 13, 2013, a new Board of Directors of Petrol Holding was registered. Denis Ershov remained CEO, Mitko Sabev and former Executive Director Orlin Todorov were thrown out of the Board. They were exposed in the preparation of false documents and even forgery of signatures. Before being removed, the former executives have set mines that exploded only a month and a half later.

In the evening of December 2, 2013, the real owners found out with dismay that the shares of Petrol Holding JSC in Petrol JSC have been removed and sold on the stock exchange by the infamous private law enforcement officer Marian Petkov. Petkov has launched a speedy enforcement case against Petrol Holding due to debt to CCB of which the company was not aware.

On the planned day, the price of the shares was specially lowered on the stock exchange about 4-5 times. The dramatic drop in the course of several hours was used for their targeted purchase by a company closely connected again with CCB. During the day, two small transactions with packages of shares were concluded that lowered their price and shortly before the closing of the stock exchange, the company Alfa Capital, connected with CCB, acquired the basic package of 51.5 million shares against two levs per share. With what money? With a loan from CCB granted and sealed on the same day for 101,349,481.01 levs. In fact, this vicious transaction was carried out by CCB, through CCB and with CCB from all sides.

So, all 51,900,352 shares of Petrol Holding in Petrol JSC (47% of the capital) become practically a controlled property of CCBs majority shareholder Tsvetan Vasilev for the amount of 103,813,928.52 levs. The creditor, the intermediary and the buyer are actually one and the same entity.

Setting the trap

How did things get there? The preparation of the terrain was done in secret a few months earlier. On April 11, 2013, the company OIL ENERGY TRADING LTD, with owner Tsvetan Hristov Genov, was created in Varna. The man is absolutely unknown, but is close to parties and companies directly connected with the previous management of Petrol. The founding capital of the tiny company of 5,000 levs was deposited in Investbank on the same day.

Only a week later, on April 19, 2013, CCB granted to OIL ENERGY the enormous sum of 16,239,551.69 euro. It should be noted that OIL ENERGY TRADING LTD is a company without any financial history, no registered property, securities or any assets. Given its only five-daily legal existence prior to the date of signing the huge bank loan with CCB, this is more than telling. There is no way for such credit to be repaid or serviced, and it was not. BNBs Supervision has not reacted even once to such actions of the collapsed bank. Granting huge loans to dummy companies with no collateral has been a specialty of CCB, as became clear after the collapse of this bad apple. The specific goal in this case was not a direct drain, as the next steps will show.

On July 22, 2013, the then-Executive Director of Petrol Holding JSC, Orlin Todorov, signed a contract to enter into debt to CCB, as a guarantor for the loan of OIL ENERGY. Under the Charter of Petrol Holding, this is a crime. The guarantee for the amount under the Loan Agreement and the assumption of debt in a very large amount in favor of OIL ENERGY TRADING LTD without a financial risk assessment and without the knowledge and judgment of shareholders and without the knowledge and a decision of the Board of Directors is an indicator for an unprecedented act, leading to deliberate draining of the assets of Petrol Holding JSC. At the same time, the companys accounts were frozen by a private law enforcement officer. This way, the company became entirely and without reason and against its own interests a guarantor for the debt of 16 million euro of OIL ENERGY to CCB. This happened over the heads of the shareholders, who were not at all familiar with Todorovs actions. No documents, dates for outstanding maturities of the obligations, credit reports, contracts and annexes to the credit file have been submitted for this transaction. The managing body was in total information blackout about this move. Even at present time, the contract in question has not been presented in the company.

The sleeper cell was formed. Sabev, Orlin Todorov and Co were removed with legal proceedings on November 13, 2013. The very next day  November 14, 2013, the bomb, set by them and Tsvetan Vasilev, was activated. Pledge N  5847-X-14.11.2013 was registered in the Central Depository, with which the shares of Petrol Holding in Petrol became collateral for the debt granted by CCB to the dummy company OIL ENERGY. It should be noted that the company was subsequently bought and became wholly owned by companies connected to Tsvetan Vasilev  Sagara Trade. How brilliant  you lend to yourself and your lemon in a large company such as Petrol guarantees the loan. Then you dont repay the loan granted to you, but you trigger an early request to the guarantor and a swift enforcement case. All this happens under the nose and even with the complicity of the responsible supervisory and regulatory authorities in the State. Here is how things developed in this story, which reveals that indeed CCB and Tsvetan Vasilev were actually part of the State. The corruption is astounding.

The trap closes

From that moment on, the further development resembled acute leukemia  CCB suddenly and unilaterally asked for early repayment of the loan and played its trump card. On November, 2013, the Executive Directors of CCB, Georgi Hristov and Alexander Panteleev, sent a formal notice for voluntary compliance to Petrol Holding JSC to repay the amount of 16,239,551.69 euro. This was actually the loan granted to the bogus OIL ENERGY. CCB executives informed the unsuspecting Petrol Holding that within just one week it must repay this amount to the bank. The formal notice was filed by CCB with number 7137 / November 28, 2013, and was received on the next day  Friday. Regardless of the established week-long deadline, CCB had no intention of waiting. On the very same day, Friday, November 29, 2013, private law enforcement officer Marian Petkov issued, sent and got back all the way from Stara Zagora, a notice of the start of proceedings on the request of CCB against Petrol Holding. He listed the notice as returned because the addressee was not found. His actions are classified as intentional and unlawful by the management of the company in their Report to the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Justice and the Chamber of Private Law Enforcement Officers. Nobody had looked for representatives of Petrol Holding in Stara Zagora to serve them with a notice, the company is firm.

On that same Friday, November 11, 2013, (the last day of the work week was purposely selected), five more formal notices, asking for early repayment of amounts totaling more than 100 million levs from subsidiaries, one of them Petrol, were swiftly prepared and sent to Petrol Holding. All sums had to be transferred in the accounts of Corporate Commercial Bank. Documents and credit records for the requested amounts are missing. All notices were blanket ones and were certified by the same notary Mila Eneva and at the same time, which clearly speaks of an organized action. The enforcement cases were united in one. On the next work day, December 2, 2013, Petkov sent an order to the Central Depository for the lifting of the freeze of the companys shares that were of interest of CCB. The private law enforcement officer proceeded with execution of the order. Please note that the notices arrived on the last day of the week (Friday) and as early as Monday, December 2, 2013, the private law enforcement officer notified the Depositary that the shares have been sold -remarkable speed and synchronization of actions.

The shares were emitted for sale, but at much lower prices. A transaction for the sale of 51.5 million shares was registered. The total number of shares in Petrol was 51,900,352. The price determined by the intermediary was the symbolic 2 levs per share. Following the stock values of Petrols shares clearly shows that the prices before and after the day of the sale were much higher. They were lowered on purpose at this precise moment in order to buy out the share of Petrol Holding in Petrol, which actually held the material assets themselves. Was this a market manipulation on the regulated market? According to the FSC, it wasnt. So, by the evening of Monday, December 2, the shares already belonged to the subsidiary, owned by Tsvetan Vassilev. Assets worth over 600 million levs were acquired for just over 100 million levs. Such profit in just a few hours is worthy of the annals of Wall Street!

Pirate complicity

Literally minutes after the pirate transaction, the Director of the Holding, Denis Ershov, alerted the Chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), Stoyan Mavrodiev, with a copy to the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, Ivan Takev.

Dear Sirs,

We just learned that the shares in the capital of Petrol owned by Petrol Holding JSC have been traded (sold) on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange.

We inform you that this transaction is based on false and falsified documents, most likely anti-dated contracts or forged signatures, and carried out in violation of the Charter of the company Because we believe that document fraud has been committed by the previous management of Petrol Holding JSC, we ask for your immediate intervention to prevent any disposition of the shares of Petrol Holding JSC until the case is clarified.

Please also provide to us the originals of the documents on the basis of which the transaction was executed so that we can familiarize ourselves with them.

We will immediately inform the competent authorities about this document fraud, is written in the signal.

The desperate requests and signals from the victims, burned in the CCB fire, did not move Mr. Mavrodiev. He deigned to respond formally four months later. Like calling the police to alert for an ongoing murder and the officer on duty calling you back three months later to notify you that there was no available cruiser! At the end of March next year, Stoyan Mavrodiev returned a timely response on behalf of the FSC, signed by the notorious Vladimir Savov. He explained at length that the FSC has not found any violations in the pirate and swift sale of shares, despite FSC being also alerted by an order of the Court! FSC has done its job perfectly.

As the FSC was not reacting, the last obstacle to the transfer of ownership in the hands of Vasilev was the Central Depository, which shall register the transaction. The actions of the private law enforcement officer were immediately referred to the Court. On December 4, 2013, the District Court of Stara Zagora definitely ruled with an order  1365 / 12-4-13. The Court found that the shareholders rights could be violated and issued a protective order to immediately stop the disposition of the shares. A copy of the Court documents was provided to the Central Depository on the same day, given the need of urgent measures and actions.

Executive Director Vasil Golemanski, however, was not moved by the act of the Bulgarian Court and stated that the deal will not be stopped. Petrol then officially alerted BNB and the Prosecution, but in vain. The claim, logged in the Sofia City Prosecutors Office against Golemanski, for de facto complicity remained unanswered. At the end of 2013, a formal signal to Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov followed. It emphasized that the Holding that became the victim of fraud employs over 4,000 people and its scope of activity was of strategic importance for the entire Bulgarian economy. It was explained that the company is one of the largest taxpayers in the country and the absence of actions by the Prosecution regarding the offense will lead to even greater illegal actions, pushing the company in deliberate bankruptcy. The Chief Prosecutor was urged to intervene and assist in the launch of a timely and quick prosecutors investigation and to react to the misuse of securities for over 100 million levs, carried out on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange etc. Has someone heard a fish talking? This was the extend of Tsatsarovs response to the claimants.

Vicious techniques and connected parties, the loans to dummy companies and document fraud failed to move any institution. At the time, CCB was still a sacred cow and Tsvetan Vasilev was the four-time holder of the title Banker of the Year in Bulgaria. It is interesting to investigate the synchronized inaction of all alerted institutions in charge in the country in this frank, demonstrably fraudulent, pirate CCB scam. But who was there to investigate  BNB Governor Ivan Iskrov to investigate himself, or Tsatsarov? At that moment these sorry people did not suspect what will happen a few months later with the bank and the banker. To whom do these corpulent officials and institutions, weighing on taxpayers with costly allowances, owe an explanation?!

In March 2014, Prosecutor Damyanova from the Sofia District Prosecutors Office terminated the pre-trial proceedings against the former manager of the Holding, Orlin Todorov, with decree  110/2014, without having completed the investigation and without having taken into account the seriousness of the documents in the case file. The prosecution failed to undertake any action to search the company documents of Petrol Holding JSC. A cover-up for evidence that emerged in the process of questioning witnesses was created. The file of OIL ENERGY TRADING LTD and of Petrol Holding JSC in CCB was not checked, despite the explicit signals of the victims for lack of documents and great likelihood of anti-dated and forged documents. Bank employees have not been questioned. The cash flow  in which accounts is has been deposited and where it was diverted  was not traced. The harmed person was not even aware of the prosecutors refusal. The decree of the prosecution was revoked by a rule of the Sofia City Court. It, to put it mildly, ridicules the inactivity of the prosecution. But it was already October.

The institutions were not aware of CCB? Yes, but no!

While the case was dragging in Courts, some reversals occurred in the banking system. CCB was closed and long lines formed in front of its branches. Iskrov and the group around him desperately tried to justify themselves before the rolling cameras and made the rounds of television studios in an attempt to convince the public that everything that happened came as a surprise to the government.

The findings of Bivol are the first ones to shed light for the public about the hitherto mysterious case with the shares of Petrol and categorically refute this talking point. On the contrary, these same individuals have been informed in detail and quite formally about the methods of CCB  about the dummy mailboxes with huge loans to connected companies, as well as the use of insider information in stock exchange transactions in order to appropriate and for personal gains.

Instead of conclusion

The shares of Petrol were purchased through racket at a ridiculously low price by companies connected to Tsvetan Vasilev and CCB. The prosecution, BNB, the Central Depository and the FSC were aware of the draining scheme and the practices in CCB as early as December 2013. No one and in any way, in their capacity of State representatives, reacted to what was happening. The evidence presented to them included valid information on corrupt practices in CCB through which the bank was drained. They have been informed that the same techniques were used in the acquisition of foreign assets through fraudulent methods with connected parties, dummy companies and empty documents.

Undoubtedly, the State knew what was happening as early as the beginning of December 2013. The Prosecution was notified. FSC and BNB were notified as well. There was plenty of time to react. But there was no will to stop the theft, not only the theft of Petrol, but the subsequent colossal drain of the capital of the bank, of those billions that our rulers slammed on us to pay to the detriment of our quality of life for many years to come. Why?

The protagonists

Tsvetan Hristov, the creator of Oil Trading, was manager of Naftex Petrol LTD, one of the subsidiaries of Petrol JSC from September 2011 until the end of January 2013, a check in the system Daxy shows.

The longtime CEO of Petrol Holding, Orlin Todorov, currently has no ownership and participation in the management of companies.

CCB collapsed miserably days after BNB announced that the bank is well capitalized and stable.

On January 6 this year, Alfa Capital has asked to be declared insolvent due to its inability to repay the loan to CCB for the purchase of Petrol that became due early, on November 13, 2014. Later, the company sold the acquired by it shares in Petrol Holding to other companies connected to Tsvetan Vasilev and CCB.

Denis Ershov was expelled from Bulgaria together with Michael Cherney, but managed to successfully challenge the measure in Court and returned. According to a US diplomatic cable on Bulgarian organized crime, Ershov and Cherney were suspected of common criminal activity.

Bivol will continue to follow the subject of the largest corporate thefts in the history of Bulgaria.

***

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Former surgeon at Roscommon Hospital, Dr Oliver Clinton was laid to rest today, Friday, in St. Comans Cemetery, Roscommon Town following Funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart Church.

Mr Clinton, Antogher Road, Roscommon Town and formerly of Moynalty, Co Meath, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 22nd at his home.

In a moving eulogy at his Funeral Mass today (Friday), Fr Kevin Fallon said that Mr Clinton, as a surgeon, brought so much joy in helping so many people, and that the parish and the community was a lesser place since his passing on Monday.

Fr Fallon told the congregation that the highly acclaimed surgeon also tutored many others to become fine surgeons. The priest said that Mr Clinton was a man of great faith and in so many ways, had touched the lives of people in Roscommon.

Many sympathisers have expressed their condolences online through the rip.ie website.

Staff at the Outpatient Department at Roscommon Hospital extended their deepest condolences to his wife Alexandra and all the Clinton family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time. We have very fond memories of working with him here in Roscommon Hospital. May Oliver Rest In Peace, said the message.

Former administrator at Roscommon Hospital, Seamus Gallagher said he had worked with Mr Clinton for a time at the hospital. We were thrilled at the time to have Oliver join us, as it resulted in the hospital having a second surgeon to join Michael Relihan. You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this sad and lonely time, he said.

One former student colleague at UCD described him as a lovely, thoughtful gentleman, saying he was full of intellectual rigour and challenge, and with a depth of humanity and kindness that evident even a as a young man.

A former student of Mr Clinton's said he treated everybody the same, whether peers, junior doctors, allied health professionals and patients alike.

Another former medical student said she was lucky to have many tutorials and lectures in the University of Galway from Mr Clinton. He was excellent as a teacher and doctor, she said.

In an article in the Irish Times in 2008 which was mentioned by Fr Fallon at todays Funeral Mass, Mr. Clinton spoke about how he had a brain tumour removed by a neurosurgeon in New York University Medical Centre, and returned home to Ireland to recover.

In the article, he said he returned to work but was not allowed to go back to performing surgery. At that time, he worked three days a week in Roscommon Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, along with research work for two days at Sligo General Hospital.

Mr Clinton is survived by his wife Dr. Alexandra (Robinson), sons Peter, William, Patrick and Edward, daughters-in-law Mia, Sarah, Juliette and Phoebe, brothers Tom, Ambrose and Anthony, sisters Stella and Frieda, aunt Olive (McCormack), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposal took place at his home in Antogher Road on Thursday evening with removal on Friday morning, today. Burial took place in St Comans Cemetery today, Friday, following Funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart Church.
A County Roscommon man has been named a winner in Gala Retails Home or Away store promotion, winning a holiday voucher worth 4,000.

Robert Byrne from Boyle was one of the lucky shoppers who won one of 10 family holidays abroad.

Gala Retail launched the promotion in celebration of 25 years of serving communities, and has been delighting its loyal customers, across the country, with the chance to win one of 25 holiday vouchers.

Running throughout February and March, the promotion offered shoppers the opportunity to enter by spending over 10 in any of the participating Gala Retail stores. Entrants had the chance to win one of 10 family holidays abroad, valued at 4,000 each, or one of 15 holiday vouchers for unforgettable Irish staycations, each worth 2,500.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, reflected on the significance of 25 years of loyal custom in Gala stores, stating: "We are delighted to kick start our 25th year in business with a huge thank-you to our loyal Gala shoppers. This giveaway is our way of expressing our gratitude and giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years. From staycations in Ireland to fun filled, family adventures abroad, there are so many exciting opportunities and were thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends."
High Court Reporters

The Supreme Court is to hear an appeal against a High Court ruling that could see motorists charged with drug-driving avoid prosecution.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) secured a direct appeal to the top court after arguing the decision may significantly affect the enforcement and prosecution of drug-driving offences and potentially drink-driving prosecutions.

She submitted the judgment could potentially undermine the effective operation of mandatory intoxicant checkpoints and may have implications for other Garda powers.

Several pending and future prosecutions for drug-driving, and potentially also drink-driving, could be affected by the Supreme Courts answer on the legal issues.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled last November that the Road Traffic Act of 2010 does not empower gardai to detain a driver at a checkpoint for up to an hour while their saliva sample is being analysed.

He said section 10(4) of the 2010 Act does not appear to envisage that there would be any time lag between specimen provision and the indication that drugs are or are not present. Instead, he said, the law seems to contemplate an instantaneous indication of the presence of drugs.

He stressed his ruling only relates to oral fluid for drug testing and does not concern breath samples for drink-driving. The effects of his ruling have been paused pending determination of the appeal.

He had been asked to determine the issue by the District Court which had been hearing legal arguments in the prosecution of a man for drug driving.

The man had been stopped at a roadside checkpoint for a drug test and was told he had to remain there for up to an hour. The analysis of his saliva took just 18 minutes.

The garda who stopped him then formed the opinion that he was under the influence of an intoxicant. The man was brought to a Garda station and required to provide a blood sample.

Seeking an appeal, the DPP submitted that the High Courts decisions has very significant implications for prosecutions of intoxicant-related road traffic offences and general road safety.

The decision has caused confusion and uncertainty and led to many adjournments of District Court cases, she added.

The request for an appeal was not opposed by the man, who agreed the matter raises issues of general public importance but disputed the High Court judgment was unclear.

A panel of three Supreme Court judges said the DPPs application meets the constitutional test for an appeal that bypasses the intermediary Court of Appeal.

The judges said it should be possible to have an early hearing of the appeal.
By Jonathan McCambridge and David Young, PA

Families of four loyalist murder victims have accused the UK government of a disgraceful attempt to stop justice being done for threatening a legal challenge to a ruling at their inquests.

It came after a coroner said that he had been prevented from delivering a summary of intelligence information around the deaths of four people killed in two loyalist attacks in Co Tyrone in 1992 after Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris objected to it being delivered in open court.

Kevin McKearney, 32, was shot dead by a UVF gunman inside his family-run butcher shop in the village of Moy, Co Tyrone, in January 1992. His uncle Jack McKearney, 69, was wounded in the same attack and died in hospital three months later.

Later that year, Kevin McKearneys mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and Tess Fox  who were 63 and 54 respectively  were shot dead by the UVF inside their home in Moy.

The ruling was delivered at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast city centre. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

On Friday Judge Richard Greene KC said he had reached a provisional view that an inquest into the four deaths cannot proceed because of the withholding of sensitive files from the proceedings on national security grounds.

The coroner said there had been rumours and suspicion of state collusion in the case for some time.

The inquests into the four deaths opened last year, but were then paused while a lengthy public interest immunity (PII) process took place over the disclosure of sensitive security force material.

Mr Greene said he had planned to provide a short narrative or gist as part of his PII ruling at Laganside Courthouse on Friday.

But he added: A significant intervening event has occurred which prevents me from delivering my ruling this afternoon.

The proposed gist is not accepted by the Security Service and the Northern Ireland Office, who object to its release in open (court).

He added: I wanted to deliver the open PII ruling today but as there has been objection from some of the state parties to me providing the narrative or gist to you, I am not going to hand it down to allow for a challenge to be taken to my proposed approach.

The coroner said he had reached a provisional view that his inquiry into the deaths is seriously compromised because relevant information on issues central to the scope of the inquest cannot be disclosed.

He added: As a result, my provisional view is that I cannot continue with these inquests.

The coroner said he believed a public inquiry was now the appropriate way to consider the full circumstances of these deaths.

Gavin Booth, solicitor for the Fox and McKearney families, accused Mr Heaton-Harris of intercepting the coroners ruling on the UK governments bid to withhold sensitive material from the inquest.

We say that material involves state agents working for, employed by, and assisted by the state in these murders and the murders of many other people in the mid-Ulster area in the 1990s, he said outside court.

Solicitor Gavin Booth represents the McKearney and Fox families. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

This is a disgraceful attempt by the Secretary of State to stop justice being done and being seen to be done.

Today the coroner endorsed the fact that these inquests need to be a public inquiry. He said that he cannot continue with the inquest due to what has been disclosed by the state parties in this inquest.

But rather than accepting that and endorsing the families calls for a public inquiry, the Secretary of State has now told the families that he will take them to court like every other family. This is a disgraceful attempt to divert justice for families. Its absolutely disgusting.

We plan now to lodge urgent court proceedings in the High Court in Belfast to get the ruling in full for the families so that they can finally get the information that proves that there was collusion in these murders.

Mr Booth said the UK government should hang its head in shame.

The Secretary of State has been called in several inquests now to initiate public inquiries for families bereaved through collusion, he said.

This is another attempt by the Secretary of State to show the utmost disrespect to families by not only denying them public inquiries, but by trying to take legal action against bereaved families in this country to stop them getting access to the truth, the truth that the British state is hiding, the truth that their agents were involved in these murders, the truth that they didnt prosecute them, the truth they supplied them with weapons, they supplied them with intelligence, and they allowed them to carry out killings with impunity.

This is an absolute disgrace and the Secretary of State and his government should hang their head in shame.

Kevin McKearneys brother, Tommy, said the families were outraged and disgusted.

Once again the British state has refused to open itself to scrutiny, he said outside court in Belfast.

Theres been multiple incidents of state agents being involved in collusion. And Im at the stage now refusing to even use the word collusion, because I am suggesting very strongly that what were looking at here is participation by the British state in this outrageous round of murders.

I think weve got to call for a public inquiry and I endorse the statement by the judge for a public inquiry.

Commenting on the UK governments threatened legal action, he added: I can only conclude its because of the involvement of state agents in not only this case, but several other cases  numerous cases, countless cases where the British state has been involved, British state agents have been involved.
The verdict of an inquest into the death of a young girl at University Hospital Limerick is covered across many of the national papers on Friday.

The Irish Times reports 'audit raised issues about scheme for millionaire immigrants', as well as covering the overturning of Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction in New York.

The paper also joins the Irish Examiner, Irish Independent, Irish Daily Mail and Irish Daily Mirror in covering the verdict of the inquest into the death of Aoife Johnston.

A verdict of medical misadventure was returned in the case of the 16-year-old, who died in UHL having attended the Emergency Department there with meningitis after she contracted sepsis.

The Irish Independent on Friday pic.twitter.com/RHiL44g1aT  Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) April 26, 2024

Friday's front page pic.twitter.com/MLSveQfSCA  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) April 25, 2024

The Echo's headline reads: 'Anger at GP practices' reporting staff are facing abuse due to lack of capacity for news patients.

And finally, the Irish Daily Star reports on investigations into the death of a 'biker criminal' in a collision in Co Carlow.

In the UK, a breakthrough cancer jab leads the headlines this Friday, with good news for sufferers worldwide.

The Daily Express and the i report on the world-first cancer inoculation touted to treat melanoma but may also combat lung, bladder and kidney cancers.

Friday's i: World's first jab to stop skin cancer brings hope for patients#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/WAovEIWGcj  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

The Guardian splashes on the First Minister of Scotland, with the Greens ready to back a no-confidence motion against Humza Yousaf.

Friday's GUARDIAN: Yousaf in peril as Greens say they will back no-confidence motion#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/igTtjqqswr  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

The Daily Telegraph leads with on reports of increased migration to Ireland amid the threat of refugees being deported to Rwanda from the UK.

Friday's DAILY TELEGRAPH: Rwanda threat is pouring migrants into Ireland#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ShXL72jRDo  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

The Daily Mirror calls on its readers to join its new campaign to ensure FA Cup replays continue.

The Daily Mail leads with the uptick in assaults on store workers as shoplifting numbers achieve mighty heights once again.

Friday's DAILY MAIL: Thieves hit shops 1,000 times a day#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/hiXrPeCdfk  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

The Metro reports on Harvey Weinsteins rape conviction being overturned.

The Financial Times looks to mergers and acquisitions for its lead, with a piece on mining giant BHP and the headaches involved with its attempted purchase of rival firm Anglo American.

Friday's FINANCIAL TIMES UK EDITION: BHP's 31bn offer for Anglo prompts backlash from S Africa and investors#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/kjj6q292O8  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

The Times shifts focus to the education sector, with academics set to undergo stringent security checks to prevent intel on cutting-edge technology leaks to China.

Friday's TIMES: MI5 checks for academics to curb threat from China#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/HaOynEaFE8  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) April 25, 2024

And the Daily Star leads with good news for Blackadder fans: Baldricks favourite vegetable, the humble turnip, may save us from climate change.
Whatsapp in India

The remarks were made during the High Court's hearing on Thursday

WhatsApp to "exit India" if forced to break encryption IT Rule Act 2021: These days, the whole world is using WhatsApp, including India where there are over 400 million users who are using WhatsApp. Just imagine, what would happen if WhatsApp would shut down its services in India.

Well, the threat looms large as a lawyer appearing for WhatsApp has informed the Delhi High Court that the Meta-owned messaging platform will have to "exit India" if it was made to break the encryption of messages.

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The lawyer further informed the court that people use the platform because of the privacy that it assures and also because messages are end-to-end encrypted.

The remarks were made during the High Court's hearing on Thursday over petitions by WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook Inc, now Meta, challenging the 2021 Information Technology (IT) rules for social media intermediaries that require the messaging app to trace chats and make provisions to identify the first originator of information.

IT Rules, 2021, which were announced by the Centre on February 25, 2021, require large social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to comply with the latest norms.

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(For more news apart from WhatsApp to "exit India" if forced to break encryption IT Rule Act 2021, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
End of European Parliament legislature

In the last session, the European Parliament adopted several directives in areas such as road traffic or combating violence against women.

European Parliament (Photo: Frederic Koberl unsplash.com)

Mihai Pelin, 26.04.2024, 14:00

In Strasbourg, the last plenary session of the current European Parliament (EP) has come to an end. The EP adopted several important directives. One of them establishes new rules that ensure that workers on online platforms have a fair professional status. They guarantee that a person working on online platforms cannot be fired based on a decision made by an algorithm or automated decision-making system. Instead, digital work platforms must ensure human oversight of important decisions that directly affect the people working on platforms.

Also, new rules were adopted regarding the violation of traffic rules abroad. They expand the list of traffic violations committed by non-resident drivers. The list thus includes new elements, such as dangerous parking and overtaking, crossing the continuous white line, and leaving the scene of an accident. With around 40% of cross-border traffic offences currently going unpunished, MEPs are trying to get EU countries to cooperate more in finding foreign drivers who break the rules. The new rules oblige national authorities to answer the requests from another EU country without delay and within two months at most from collecting the necessary information.

At the same time, the EP has given the green light to new rules forcing companies to reduce their negative impact on human rights and the environment. Slavery, child labor, labor exploitation, loss of biodiversity, pollution or destruction of natural heritage are among the negative effects targeted by the directive. The norms will apply to EU and non-EU companies and parent companies with more than 1,000 employees and a worldwide turnover of more than 450 million Euros. On the other hand, the first European norms on combating violence against women and domestic violence were also approved. The directive calls for stricter laws against cyber-violence, better support for victims and measures to prevent rape.

The EP also adopted a revised law to improve air quality, which imposes stricter limits for 2030 for several air pollutants. Thus, the air quality indices will be comparable in all member states and access to justice and the right to compensation for citizens will be ensured if the rules are violated. Other adopted directives establish that the maximum limit of cash payments is 10,000 Euros, establish that agricultural farms with less than 10 hectares will not be penalized if they do not comply with the common agricultural policy and that certain types of single-use plastic packaging will be prohibited starting from January 1, 2030. We remind you that, between June 6-9, European Parliament elections will take place in the EU states. In Romania, they will be on June 9, together with the local ones. (LS)
The miners riot case, reopened

The case of the miners riot of June 1990 is back on the agenda of Romanian prosecutors.

Photo: pixabay.com

Bogdan Matei, 26.04.2024, 13:50

More than thirty years have passed and Romania is yet to clarify the darkest episode in its post-communist history. On Thursday, prosecutors started fresh hearings in the case of the miners riot, known as Mineriada, when protests against the leftist government, installed after the anti-communist revolution, were crushed by security forces with the support of the coal miners from Jiu Valley (south-east), who were asked to go to the capital Bucharest. Investigators have already informed members of the countrys 1990 leadership, such as the then PM Petre Roman, deputy PM Gelu Voican Voiculescu, head of the Intelligence Service Virgil Magureanu, ministerial adviser Adrian Sarbu and others, that they are suspects in the case. They have all been accused of crimes against humanity.

According to military prosecutors, in June 1990 the four launched a repressive policy against the civilian population of Bucharest, following which four people were killed, two were raped, over 1,300 suffered physical injuries or or mental damages and over 1,200 were detained illegally. The Prosecutors Office specifies that the events and the classification of the criminal offense are based exclusively on the evidence administered after June 4, 2021, the date when the case was returned to the Prosecutors Office and all previously evidence was annulled.

On May 20, 1990, five months after the fall of Nicolae Ceausescus communist dictatorship, his former minister in the 1970s, Ion Iliescu, perceived as the leader of the Revolution, won the first free presidential elections with about 85% of votes. His party, a heterogeneous combination of genuine revolutionaries and second-rate communists, had won two-thirds of the seats in Parliament. The University Square, occupied by students since April and proclaimed a neo-communism-free zone, had already emptied, because the protesters had accepted the verdict of the ballot boxes. Only a few dozen protesters on hunger strike remained there, as if unable to continue their lives outside the Square.

Their evacuation by the Police, on the night of June 13, was conducted with disproportionate force, which evoked the repression from the days of the Revolution. It is still unclear today if those who, the next day, reacted by fighting in the streets with the police and occupying the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and the Public Television, had really had any connection with the Square. Iliescu and his entourage tagged them as legionaries (the extreme right in the interwar period) and, although the army had already restored order, they called on the population to save democracy in danger.

The miners from the Jiu Valley, answered their call. In two days alone, June 14 and 15, they took control of the Capital, where they replaced any legal authority. It was enough to leave behind thousands of traumatized people. The vandalized university and headquarters of the opposition parties and of independent newspapers completed the picture of the miners invasion, which would tarnish the image of a country that had barely restored its international prestige after the Revolution. (EE)
Living Bookshelf  migrants open up to share their experience

Discover the lives of migrants living in Romania

Living Bookshelf - photocredits Vlad Palcu RRI

Vlad Palcu, 26.04.2024, 10:47

Todays Sunday programme looks at the Living Bookshelf, an event inspired from the Human Library concept, which promotes the idea that humans are books, each with their own unique and complex chapters.

Organized by AIDRom, JRS Romania and Terre des hommes Romania in partnership with the US Embassy in Bucharest and American Councils, the event seeks to bring the community of migrants and refugees closer to Romanian society.

The full interviews are available in the links below

Interview with Muhammad Ali Jalal (Pakistan  lead organizer)

Interview with Darya Yusupova (Ukraine  participant)

Interview with Luis Miguel Covarrubias Pous (Mexico  participant)
SKF (SKFRY.PK), a Swedish manufacturer of bearings, seals, lubrication systems, and services, reported Friday that its first-quarter profit before taxes dropped to 2.72 billion Swedish kronor from last year's 2.94 billion kronor.

Basic earnings per share were 4.15 kronor, down from prior year's 4.55 kronor.

Adjusted profit before taxes were 3.03 billion kronor, compared to 3.04 billion kronor a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 4.83 kronor, compared to last year's 4.77 kronor.

In total, the adjusted operating profit was 3.30 billion kronor, down from prior year's 3.48 billion kronor. However, adjusted operating margin improved to 13.4 percent from 13.1 percent last year.

Net sales also declined to 24.70 billion kronor from prior year's 26.55 billion kronor in a more challenging economic environment.

As expected, there was a soft customer demand in the quarter with large variations across the company's different industries.

Organic growth in India and Southeast Asia was 1 percent driven by a strong performance in heavy industries and light vehicles. In Europe, Middle East and Africa, the organic sales declined 5 percent, with negative growth in most industries, while aerospace and railway contributed positively.

Looking into the second quarter, SKF expects a mid single-digit organic sales decline from last year.

For fiscal 2024, the company continues to expect a low single-digit organic sales decline, compared to 2023.

Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO, said, "We expect to see continued market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty and the is prepared to tackle different scenarios."

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The United States has imposed sanctions on a dozen Iranian entities, individuals, and vessels that have played a key role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of domestically manufactured drones for Iranian military.

Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) is involved in supporting the Iranian regime's UAV development and procurement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Russia's war in Ukraine.

Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Sahara Thunder, the main front company that oversees MODAFL's commercial activities in support of these efforts.

Sahara Thunder also plays a key role in Iran's design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs, many of them ultimately transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

Those targeted include leading officials of Sahara Thunder - Kazem Mirzai Kondori, Hossein Bakshayesh, and Hojat Abdulahi Fard.

Sahara Thunder relies on a vast shipping network involved in the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of MODAFL to multiple jurisdictions including China, Russia, and Venezuela.

Concurrent with the punitive action by the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada also are imposing sanctions targeting several entities and individuals involved in Iran's UAV procurement and other military-related activities, the State Department said.

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A student uses a sensor machine in the new INI building. Pic credit: Vusumzi Tshekema

By Zindzi Nkunzi

In a spectacle that underscored its technological ambitions, Rhodes University recently deployed a helicopter to transport delicate scientific instruments to its new, state-of-the-art nanotechnology facility. This operation not only highlighted the sophisticated nature of the Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation (INI) but also marked a significant expansion from its original space in the ChemPharm building due to its substantial growth.

Established in 2007 as the DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, the INI at Rhodes University has become a critical node in a health-technology-research triad that benefits communities. The INI specialises in sensor technology, complementing its partner institutionsthe University of Western Cape and the University of Johannesburg, which focus on bio-labelling and water solutions, respectively.

Under the leadership of SARChI Chair of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong, the INI is renowned for housing a unique assembly of scientific instruments all under one roof. Rhodes University Associate Professor of Inorganic-Analytical Chemistry, Professor Philani Mashazi, describes it as a "one-stop-shop," the only facility of its kind in the world.

Rhodes University Infrastructure Consultant Dr Iain L'Ange explained that the new building was necessitated by INI's evolution into an internationally recognised institution known for high-quality education and research. The new facility aims to nurture a cadre of African researchers through scholarships and international exchanges, maintain cutting-edge scientific equipment, and provide a conducive educational environment.

The logistical challenges of moving to the new building were not trivial. Dr L'Ange shared that transporting the INI's sophisticated and sensitive instrumentssome of the most advanced in the Southern Hemisphererequired extreme caution to maintain their functionality. This led to the dramatic helicopter operation in March, a testament to the importance and sensitivity of the task.

Reflecting on the journey, Dr. L'Ange remarked that the construction of the new INI building and the refurbishment of the ChemPharm building are among the most complex projects undertaken by Rhodes University. He praised the nanotechnology team for their exemplary work in ensuring the project's success, a sentiment echoed by Professor Mashazi, who highlighted the collaborative effort and external support that facilitated the smooth transition.

As Rhodes University looks to the future, the new INI building is not just a physical expansion but a symbol of its commitment to leading-edge research and innovation in nanotechnology, poised to make significant contributions locally and globally. The University's initiative showcases a forward-thinking approach that merges high-tech solutions with educational excellence, promising a brighter future for nanotechnology research and application.

As we expand our state-of-the-art facility and enhance our research capabilities, we invite you to collaborate with us in pioneering advancements that address pressing global challenges. By partnering with the INI, you'll gain access to a world-class research environment and contribute to pioneering discoveries in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and more.

To explore partnership opportunities and learn how you can support our mission, contact Ellen Du Plessis at e.duplessis@ru.ac.za or call +27 (0) 46 603 8509. Visit our website to discover the potential for collaboration and investment: www.ru.ac.za/donate.
When launched in India, 2025 VW Tiguan L Pro will replace Tiguan Allspace and will rival other monocoque SUVs like Jeep Meridian and Skoda Kodiaq

The premium three-row SUV battle in India is expected to take new heights in the future with the launch of 2025 VW Tiguan L Pro. This India-bound SUV was unveiled at Beijing Motor Show. L in the name suggests this is a long wheelbase version with an option for three rows of seating. Something that has more probability to connect with Indian audiences than standard Tiguan.

2025 VW Tiguan L Pro Unveiled

Late last year, Volkswagen took the wraps off 2024 Tiguan which is a standard wheelbase variant intended for markets like Europe. In China, Volkswagen offer Tayron which is similar to Tiguan (SWB) in ethos. But the vehicle displayed on stage at Beijing Motor Show is Tiguan L Pro and is likely to be India-bound.

Standard wheelbase Tiguan revealed last year measured 4,540mm in length, 1,840 mm in width, 1,670 mm in height and has a 2,680 mm long wheelbase. In contrast, 2025 VW Tiguan L Pro measures 4,735 mm in length, 1,859 mm in width and 1,682 mm in height. Quick math reveals Tiguan L Pro is 197 mm longer, 17 mm wider, 43 mm taller and has a 111 mm longer wheelbase.

Design-wise, Volkswagen has maintained an identical DNA between both Tiguan and Tiguan L Pro. The transition from edgy and sharp design aesthetics to rounder and curvy has worked wonders and positions it in line with VWs new ID range as well. We can see a handsome grill up top with headlights in their conventional position.

Lower grill varies with variants and the sportier R trim gets a massive and gaping grill finished in stunning gloss black. In profile, we can see how Volkswagen has organically elongated Tiguans silhouette to incorporate the added length and wheelbase. Tiguan L Pro has massive rear doors that should help during ingress and egress into the third row.

At the rear, we have a similar tailgate as Tiguan with a large smoked black transparent plaque housing cars connected tail lights. TIGUAN lettering on standard Tigun is now replaced with TIGUAN L PRO on the new model. Wheel design is unique and so are the colour options. Especially with aggressive R trim.

When will it launch in India?

On the inside, everything is identical to 5-seater VW Taigun that we saw last year. Three displays grab all the attention  main infotainment screen, an instrument screen and a passenger screen. Because why not? Most of the crucial in-car controls have been stashed into the main infotainment screen running MIB4 UI.

Electrically adjustable front seats, memory function, multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, panoramic dual-pane sunroof, ambient lighting, leather upholstery, ADAS suite, massaging seats, full LED headlights, 360 camera and a large boot are some of the notable attributes Tiguan L Pro will bring with it.

As opposed to a multitude of engine options for Tiguan in Europe, China-spec Tiguan L Pro get a sole 2.0L engine that is offered in either 184 bhp and 320 Nm or 217 bhp and 350 Nm states of tunes. AWD is optional and FWD is standard. We could get the same 2.0L engine as other VW and Skoda cars as well. India launch is highly likely and will replace Tiguan Allspace currently on sale in India.
Hyundai Verna shot up to a No. 1 spot on the export list in March 2024 from a No. 7 spot held in February 2024

Overall export across the car segment remained under stress with a 12.10% YoY decline and most models ending up in the red. Total exports stood at 61,950 units in March 2023, a 12.10 percent YoY decline over 70,480 units sold in March 2023. It was however a MoM growth from 60,767 units exported in February 2024.

Car Exports March 2024

Hyundai Verna emerged as the highest exported car in March 2024 with 4,730 units shipped. This was a 43.73% YoY growth from 3,291 units shipped in March 2023. This is a marked improvement in its positioning as the Verna had stood at No. 7 in February 2024 with 3,574 units sold in the same month. The next three spots were commanded by Maruti Suzuki with the Baleno and DZire each shipping 4,331 units and 4,282 units respectively in March 2024 leading to a YoY de-growth. There was also the Swift of which 4,020 units were exported in March 2024 relating to a marginal 0.85% growth on a YoY basis.

Nissan Sunny scaled up the export list to No. 5 from a No. 11 position held in February 2024. However exports dipped by 28.12% YoY to 3,918 units while MoM exports improved significantly over 2,204 units shipped in February 2024. The new Elevate garnered a great deal of attention in export markets with 3,464 units shipped in the past month.

It is the Maruti Suzuki Jimny that deserves special mention. Exports have been registering good growth over the past few months. Jimny exports improved by 57183.33% YoY to 3,437 units in March 2024 from just 6 units shipped in March 2023. Maruti Jimny 5-door has been well received in countries of Latin America, Middle East and Africa.

Honda City (3,396 units), VW Virtus (3,121 units) and Hyundai Aura (2,701 units) each posted double digit YoY growth in exports. However, the Maruti Grand Vitara saw its exports dip by 41.62% YoY to 2,700 units in the past month. Exports also improved YoY for the Grand i10 (2,675 units) and Nissan Magnite (2,440 units) though HyRyder exports dipped 34.21% to 2,048 units.

Another high flying model that has seen overwhelming growth in export markets is the Maruti Fronx. Exports surged 46375% YoY to 1,859 units in March 2024 from just 4 units shipped in the same month last year. S-Presso (1,598 units) saw a YoY decline in exports while exports of the VW Taigun grew marginally by 1.58% to 1,481 units. There was also the Ciaz that has seen 169.71% growth in exports to 1,033 units in March 2024.

Sub-1000 unit Car Exports March 2024

While the above mentioned car models have seen exports well over the 1,000 unit mark, there were others that failed to reach this pitch. There was the Kia Carens (967 units), Ertiga (953 units), Alcazar (936 units) and Venue (929 units) of which the Ertiga and Alcazar posted YoY decline but Carens and Venue have seen a significant improvement in global demand.

Exports also dipped for the Kiger and Seltos, both reporting exports of 656 units last month. The list also included the i20 (577 units), Alto (487 units), Eeco van (453 units) while the new C3 Aircross found a total of 418 units shipped last month. There was also the Celerio (291 units), XUV700 (236 units), Scorpio (199 units), Kwid (181 units) and C3 (172 units) with all but the XUV700 reporting a YoY improvement in exports.

Exports also fell for the Kushaq (149 units), Sonet (79 units), KUV100 (76 units) and Meridian (47 units). WagonR had 43 units shipped last month along with the Brezza (41 units), Exter (40 units), Compass (39 units), Ignis (24 units) and Bolero (13 units). The Creta (12 units), XL6 (10 units) and Maxximo (10 units) each posted YoY decline in exports. Hycross (8 units), Fortuner (5 units) and XUV300 (4 units) also found mention lower down on this list along with the Slavia (3 units) and XUV400 (2 units).
Both Honda Ye S7 and Ye P7 are similar where hardware is concerned and are largely the same vehicles, but differ in styling

First real-world images of Hondas newest Ye eSUV lineup for China have been revealed from the stage. These cars were recently unveiled and are expected to go on sale in China by the end of 2024. These vehicles feature an almost identical profile along and interiors while differing in fascia and rear section for unique stylistic propositions.

Honda Ye S7 And Ye P7 Real-World Images Out

Remember Honda e:NS2 and e:NP2 concept vehicles that Honda showcased at 2023 Shanghai Auto Show? They were supposed to evolve into production-spec models by mid 2024 and launch by the end of 2024. Right on time, Honda has translated e:NS2 and e:NP2 concepts into Ye S7 and Ye P7 electric SUVs respectively.

Design themes from showcased concepts have successfully made it to production-spec vehicles. In this sense, Honda Ye S7 gets a much more sporty design and appeal with arrow-like Y-shaped DRL elements at the front and back. Just like e:NS2 concept. Horizontal slats in lower grill and connecting LED DRL from e:NS2 have made it to Ye S7 as well.

Wheels from concept vehicle have made it to production too, which is a 5-spoke design with punched-in-like cut-outs. Instead of ORVMs, we get cameras. Door handles are flush to the body. to increase aerodynamic efficiency. Overall silhouette is quite strong and adheres to tough SUV aesthetics with a slight sloping roofline.

Where Ye S7 positions itself as the sporty offering, Ye P7 appears to be far more sophisticated, mature and premium. While side profile and wheel designs are identical, fascia and rear section differ vastly. Ye P7 sticks to classic Honda design elements with a thick bar connecting the headlights. Just like in e:NP2 concept.

Headlights and tail lights get C-shaped LED elements that look nice and premium. Lower grill is a lot more conservative and finished in gloss black. Rear tailgate is different from what we saw in Ye S7 and is less angular and a lot more soothing. Same goes for roof spoiler rear bumper and other attributes. New Honda logo and illuminated HONDA lettering on front fenders were common between the two.

Fresh new interior

Honda Ye S7 and Ye P7 have the same interiors but different finishes and colour schemes. While Ye S7 gets white on a light grey colour scheme, Ye P7 gets a darker colour scheme that exudes sportiness. The three-spoke steering wheel gets HONDA lettering in the middle. Overall layout is smart.

There are two displays for rear view camera feed  one on each door. The instrument screen is sleek and wide, lending a sportscar vibe, whereas the centre infotainment screen is massive. We like the new design direction that Hondas interiors are taking. Except for the larger display and fewer buttons, this is a well-thought-out cabin.

Built on W platform, Honda is offering both single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD layouts with batteries from CATL. It has to be noted that Ye S7 is sold by Dongfeng Honda and Ye P7 is sold by GAC Honda. Both are China-only as of now with possibilities to break out of the dragon land in the future.

Also read  Honda Amaze scored 2 Stars in GNCAP

Ye S7 Image source

Ye S7 Image source
US State Department spokeswoman tenders her resignation in protest against Washington's policy towards Gaza

resource : Saba

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[Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:26:59 +0300]WASHINGTON April 26. 2024 (Saba) - Hala Gharit, the Arabic-speaking spokeswoman for the US State Department, submitted her resignation yesterday evening in protest against Washingtons policy towards the war on Gaza, in at least the third resignation from the ministry due to this issue.According to Reuters, Hala wrote on the social networking site (LinkedIn): I resigned in April 2024 after 18 years of distinguished service in protest against US policy in Gaza.For his part, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the resignation in a press conference on Thursday evening, said that the ministry has channels for its employees to exchange views when they do not agree with government policies.About a month earlier, Anil Shielen of the State Department's Human Rights Office announced her resignation, and State Department official Josh Ball also resigned in October.Tareq Habash, a senior official at the US Department of Education, who is American of Palestinian descent, resigned from his position in January.Z.E
Now that WIVB-TV (Channel 4) anchor Jacquie Walker announced last week that she is stepping down from the anchor desk on May 22, General Manager Joe Abouzeid has the daunting task of replacing the television icon.

WIVB's Jacquie Walker dropping anchor duties in late May Walker, the longest serving news anchor at one television station in Western New York history, is leaving the anchor desk at WIVB-TV on May 22 but will continue to work on special projects for the station.

How daunting it will be was evidenced by all the current and former Channel 4 staffers  on camera and off  who immediately went to social media to discuss how Walker mentored them and served as a role model.

Abouzeid would be expected to do a nationwide search for such an important job.

His two most likely in-house candidates to replace Walker, Kelsey Anderson and Jordan Norkus, come with question marks.

An Orchard Park native, Anderson would appear to be the most likely to be in line for the job since she has been the anchor of the 11 p.m. weekday newscast since Walker dropped that role in January of 2023.

After last weeks announcement, Anderson reprised her oft-repeated story that she grew up wanting to be Jacquie Walker.

However, Andersons chance of getting the role might depend on how long Walkers co-anchor, Don Postles, stays around.

Anderson has declined to work with Postles for several months after he became irate at her after she properly asked him to correct a mistake he made on the air.

According to sources, Postles reportedly got in Andersons face and threw his glasses in mid-September when she asked him to correct his mistake of calling President Bidens son Hunter a drug dealer, instead of a drug user.

Sources: Don Postles is off the 11 p.m. newscast on WIVB after reportedly upsetting co-anchor According to multiple sources, Postles 11 p.m. disappearance is a result of his becoming irate at co-anchor Kelsey Anderson after she asked him to correct a mistake he made on the air.

Andersons request was reasonable and in keeping with journalism standards. Postles made an on-air correction and apologized for the error the next day.

Sources said it wasnt the first time Postles behavior has made a younger female co-anchor uncomfortable. Sources say his off-the-air behavior has gone on for years without anyone in management holding him accountable to an acceptable degree.

He was held accountable this time  to a degree: He no longer co-anchors the 11 p.m. newscast.

But some Channel 4 staffers believe the initial story about Postles behavior was unfair to Anderson, who deserved more support from management.

Needless to say, her refusal to work with Postles would be an issue depending on how long he works at Channel 4.

Walkers decision to drop the early newscasts she co-anchors with Postles creates an ideal time for the station to consider cutting ties with him and look for an entirely new main anchor team. On the other hand, the station may believe it needs the stability of keeping Postles after Walker leaves the seat next to him.

Norkus arrived at Channel 4 in October 2021 to anchor at 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays after two years at WETM in Elmira, which like WIVB is a Nexstar station.

The relatively brief amount of time she has been in the business and at Channel 4 would make her ascension to Walkers position seem a little quick.

Her situation also may be complicated by her personal life. She is engaged to be married to Mark Boyle, who is identified on the LinkedIn website as the financial management officer for the United States Air Force in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area. According to their wedding website, the wedding is taking place Sept. 28 in Connecticut.

The website explains they met during sophomore year at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and after eight years, the two have done their fair share of long distance.

Their story on the website concludes: It is safe to say Jordan and Mark are ready to leave the eight-hour drives and FaceTime dates behind for a happy home together as Mr. & Mrs. Boyle.

It is unclear if the happy home will be in Buffalo or if she will have to relocate where her future husband lives.

Norkus hasnt responded to an email, a private message on X, formerly known as Twitter, or a message left at the station seeking comment.

Some notes from my interview with Walker that had to hit the cutting-room floor because of the storys length:

Believe it or not, she always felt insecure in a position she held for 40 years.

Doesnt that tell you something about the business? said Walker. My point is, I did never feel secure because there was always a new manager coming in with different ideas. There was always a new younger female reporter coming in who wanted my job.

There was always drama behind the scenes as to who was going to take the lead on a particular story. So thats part of the business. You never get too comfortable. You cannot get comfortable in those positions.

Walker does have concerns about the future of the TV news business, which has seen many younger staffers leave for public relations jobs that have more reasonable hours and better pay.

Asked how she would feel if she were a young Jacquie Walker going into the business now, she paused to think.

I think its very difficult to look at the changes in our business, said Walker. It worries me. I am concerned about the future of journalism.
Two giant pandas, in what is seen as the epitome of the friendship between China and Spain, are scheduled to depart for Madrid Zoo in Spain on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

According to the agreement on international conservation cooperation and research of giant pandas signed by China and Spain in 2007, the panda couple, Jin Xi and Zhu Yu, from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will begin a 10-year stay in Spain to further the friendship of the two peoples built upon pandas over the course of more than 40 years, Wang said at a news briefing on Thursday.

Jin Xi, a male, was born on Sept 1, 2020, with "Xi" meaning happiness. Zhu Yu, a female, was born on Oct 25, 2020, which was the Double Ninth Festival that year. Her name reflects seasonal and natural elements, embodying the profound cultural heritage of China.

Preparations are underway by China and Spain in an active and orderly manner to ensure the safe and healthy arrival of the pandas and their smooth adaptation to the new environment, Wang said.

According to the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the two pandas are undergoing quarantine and are in good health. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has provided customized crates to ensure the pandas' comfort and safety during transportation. In addition, a team of Chinese experts has given suggestions to Madrid Zoo for upgrading and renovating the panda pavilion.

Among European countries, Spain has achieved the most fruitful results in the international cooperative breeding of giant pandas, Wang said, adding that six panda cubs have been successfully bred and raised by China and Spain together over the past 17 years.

Wang said that "panda fever" has driven cultural exchanges between the two countries, further solidifying the friendship between their people.

It is believed that with the continuation of the China-Spain giant panda cooperation research project, the two countries will further enhance protection for endangered species, positively contributing to biodiversity conservation, he said.
Shares in Southwest Airlines plummeted on Thursday after the carrier announced plans to pull out of four airports to improve its financial performance, as it reported a wider-than-expected loss for the first quarter and trimmed its annual guidance.

The company reported an adjusted net loss of 218m for the quarter, compared with a loss of $163m the year before, with the adjusted loss per share widening to 36 cents from 27 cents, slightly worse than the 34 cents estimate.

Southwest said it has made the "difficult decision" to close operations at Bellingham International Airport, Cozumel International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

"To improve our financial performance, we have intensified our network optimisation efforts to address underperforming markets," said president and chief executive Bob Jordan.

Jordan said that achieving financial goals was the company's "immediate imperative", and the recent news about further aircraft delivery delays at Boeing presents "significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025".

"We are reacting and replanning quickly to mitigate the operational and financial impacts while maintaining dependable and reliable flight schedules for our customers," he said.

First-quarter revenues increased 10.9% year-on-year to a record $6.3bn, though shy of the company's own forecasts, while revenues per available seat miles or RASM were flat  at the low end of company guidance. This was due to lower-than-expected close-in leisure passenger volume, including lower-than-expected maturation of development markets, Southwest said.

Looking ahead, the company is guiding to ASM growth of around 4% in 2024, down from a previous target of 6%, while economic fuel costs per gallon are now expected to be $2.70-2.80 compared with previous guidance of $2.55-2.65.

What's more, Southwest slashed its capital spending target for the year to $2.5bn, having previously expected to spend $3.5-4.0bn.

Shares finished the session down 7% at $27.26.
photo: Thorne Anderson Ben Fountain's novel, Ben Fountain's novel, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk , received the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award; it was made into a movie directed by Ang Lee. Fountain's first book, the story collection Brief Encounters with Che Guevara, received the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Barnes & Noble Discover Award for Fiction, as well as a Whiting Writers Award. His new nonfiction book, Beautiful Country Burn Again (Ecco), takes as its starting point a series of essays and reportage that Fountain wrote for the Guardian on U.S. politics generally, and the U.S. presidential election in particular, during 2016.

On your nightstand now:

I've been on a short story streak lately, and the books at the top of the stacks reflect that. I'm bouncing among collections by Leonora Carrington, Jim Shepard, Julio Cortazar, Jorge Luis Borges, Clarice Lispector, Don Waters, Mark Richard, and Andrea Barrett. Digging down past the short story layer, I'm finding In the Shadows of the American Century by Alfred McCoy, We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes, the Bible, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay, Homelands by Alfredo Corchado, a couple of essay collections by Norman Mailer, The Cross of Redemption--Uncollected Writings by James Baldwin, a monograph on the pirate Blackbeard and a graphic novel, Kiki de Montparnasse.

Favorite book when you were a child:

Two books come to mind. We Were There at Pearl Harbor by Felix Sutton, which my friends and I read over and over in fourth and fifth grades (we took turns checking it out of the school library). I found it on the Internet some years ago and started ordering old copies for the kids in my life, and it's still as good and gripping to me as it was in grade school. Another book, also repeatedly checked out from the school library (Northwest Elementary in Kinston, N.C.) was a substantial kid's biography of Winston Churchill. Impressively thick, with wonderful line drawings throughout, and full of ripping yarns. It was probably published in the mid 1950s, and if I could ever remember the title and find a copy, my happiness would be complete.

Your top five authors:

Oh, geez. It depends on who I'm walking around thinking about that day. But folks who tend to stay at the forefront of my mind are Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, Garry Wills, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Berger, Alma Guillermoprieto, Walker Percy, Ezra Pound. It's basically a village in my head, hard to narrow it down to a few names.

Book you've faked reading:

The Bible.

Book you're an evangelist for:

Lots of these. The past couple of years I've been especially enthusiastic about the work of Anna Badkhen, and if there's a better writer in English today than Ms. Badkhen, I'd love to know about this person. Her most recent three books, Fisherman's Blues, Walking with Abel and The World Is a Carpet, are flat-out masterpieces of immersive nonfiction in the same vein as Katherine Boo's wonderful Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Two novels of recent years that I love urging on people are Angela Flournoy's The Turner House (family is the hardest thing to write about, and Flournoy's novel nails it) and Dominic Smith's The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, which as far as I can tell is without flaw. Lea Carpenter's new novel Red, White, Blue is as fine as anything I've read in the past 10 years.

Book you've bought for the cover:

Woolgathering by Patti Smith. The inside was pretty excellent, too.

Book you hid from your parents:

Playboy magazine. Does that count?

Book that changed your life:

ABC of Reading by Ezra Pound, which I came upon early in my sophomore year of college, thanks to my teacher Doris Betts. I had some vague but I suppose powerful feelings about literature, and what it might take to devote one's life to it, but that little book by Pound crystallized things for me in a profound way. I still have that copy, heavily marked up from various readings over the years.

Favorite line from a book:

The one about Gregor Samsa waking up with the world's worst hangover is pretty good.

Five books you'll never part with:

Ezra Pound's Cantos, mainly because of the blizzard of marginal notes from the seminar I took on that mighty book with Professor Forrest Read. Thanks to that seminar, and those notes, I flatter myself thinking that I have some notion of what's going on in there. I have a copy of A Moveable Feast inscribed to me by Patrick Hemingway that's very dear, and an inscribed copy of Seamus Heany's Collected Poems. I have an old monograph published by the UNC Press on North Carolina politics of the first half of the 20th century, important to me for the chapter that tells about some stubborn-ass Fountains challenging the establishment (corporate) wing of the state's Democratic Party in the 1930s. My oldest sister gave me Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s two-volume biography of Robert Kennedy when it came out, and those books have stayed close at hand ever since.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Havana Bay by Martin Cruz Smith. A great thriller, and a great book, period. Cruz goes deeper into the real stuff of life in his so-called "genre" novels than most ostensibly literary writers.
photo: Jenn Florence

Shannon Hale is the author of more than 30 books, including the fantasy novels The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days; the SF novel Dangerous; Newbery Honor winner Princess Academy; the graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends with LeUyen Pham; and the romantic comedy Austenland, now a movie. She lives in Utah with her husband and frequent collaborator Dean Hale, their four children and two cats, Misty Knight and Mike Hat. We recently caught up with Hale to discuss the power of mean girls, peaking in high school and her new YA novel, Kind of a Big Deal (Roaring Brook Press, reviewed below).

The chapters that Josie spends in book worlds play with various genres. Would you call your approach lampoon or homage? How did you decide which genres to represent, and how did you get to be so dang funny?

The brief, honest answer is: so, so many revisions. In my experience, comedy writing is harder and takes way more time. Like in Austenland, when I write comedies, I'm always trying to find the balance of laughing at the thing while loving the thing. It's the only kind of humor I enjoy. I despise insult, putdown comedy. I wouldn't dare to either lampoon or pay homage to any genre that I didn't also adore. I had particular fun coming up with the book titles for the literary fiction classics that the nannies' book club reads, strongly inspired by the most depressing college course I ever took: The 20th Century French Novel.

If you had to be trapped in a story forever, which would you choose? Personally, I want to pick Lord of the Rings, but I'm put off by the lack of flush toilets.

I love the U.K. and magic, but also I love modern plumbing, so it's hard to beat Harry Potter. I would just want to make sure any Harry Potter story I entered is also freely inhabited by all women, including transgender women. As much as I love Austen, I'm afraid the truth of that era would feel repressive for a woman, and again, no plumbing. Is there a book about our world but with an alternate timeline where everything isn't so horrible? I could use a little less drama and a whole lot more justice, peace and equality.

In your acknowledgements, you mention that this story is a labor of multiple drafts and years. Could you tell us more about its development?

It's that age-old story of a naive, younger writer thinking, "Here's a light, funny idea for a romp of a tale that shouldn't be too hard to write!" and seven years later, cursing herself and her offspring for generations to come. The most common question I get from readers is, "Where do your ideas come from?" but ideas are the least strenuous part of storytelling. It's all in the execution. It took writing this idea first as a screenplay, then as a novel about a young mother and finally, dozens and dozens of revisions later, finding Josie and her specific 18-year-old-high-school-dropout story, for it to finally work. It ended up as a New Adult Musical Comedy Contemporary Romance Fantasy Novel with a Graphic Novel Section, which makes it so easy to shelve, right, booksellers and librarians? Practically shelves itself? You're welcome.

What can you tell us about the illustrated section?

In an earlier draft, Josie only enters three stories. Once I sold the manuscript to Connie Hsu at Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press, she said, "How about she goes into even more genres?" which is the best note to give me ever. Connie also suggested, "How about a graphic novel?"

I said, "Could we do that?!"

She totally editor-power-flexed and said, "Yes, we freakin' can." For an artist, I immediately thought of Samantha Richardson, my good friend of 30-plus years. She had been a beta reader for me in an earlier draft to help me keep a transgender character authentic, and she's a skilled comics artist. I'm so excited that this book is her first publication, one of hopefully many more to come.

Your heroine's stage name, Josie Pie, is a hat-tip to Josie Pye from Anne of Green Gables. Does this character have a special significance for you?

Anne Shirley is a precious character to me. Hi, redhead here with an inferiority complex or two. At one point, Anne of Green Gables was going to be the book my Josie Pie went into as her final live-your-fantasy.

As a young reader, I freely hated "mean girl" characters like Anne's Josie Pye, but as an adult, I feel for them. Mean girls have a healthy dose of social power but aren't mature enough to know how to use it in a healthy way. I don't mean to defend bullies. I'm tired of the "deep down, bullies are more miserable than--" blah blah. However, I am intrigued by girls with power, and I want to root for them.

You've written in multiple genres and for different age groups. What pushes you to constantly stretch your creativity in new ways?

Instability, maybe? I've done picture books, early chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, adult novels, screenplays and graphic novels. And genres: fairy tales, fantasy, murder mystery, science fiction, comedy, tragedy, romance, realism, superhero and memoir... I think it reflects what kinds of books I like to read--all! It also reflects my fear of boredom and a need to constantly challenge myself for fear I'll stop growing.

Did you draw on your own acting career to help inform Josie's experiences?

Yes, and so joyfully! Besides books, theater was my safe, happy space and friendship-generator in junior high through college. Unlike Josie, I'm not a singer and was never, ever a big deal, but I did dozens of school and community theater plays and improv comedy. My final part was as Poppy in Noises Off! at the Missoula Children's Theater. It's been 20 years since I stepped onto a stage as anyone but myself, but my decades-old best friends are still the people I met in theater. Theater people are loving and so accepting.

Josie's biggest fear--aside from her mom finding out about her debt, of course--is that she peaked in high school. How did you, a successful artist, channel her feelings? What would you say to a young adult who felt their best years were already behind them?

At any given moment, it's probably been less than a month since I've declared, in profound sincerity, "I'm washed up! I've lost it! I'll never write anything good again!" Like clockwork, the creative arts force us into humility, so drawing on those feelings isn't hard for me. I also get that fear that we must be constantly "better" than the year before or we've failed, but I think it's a fallacy. I like Nina's advice to Josie in the book: "We are who we used to be, who we are now, and who we will become. Even if we can't see it, we are never-ending, eternal, with limitless potential." --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth services manager at Main Branch, Dayton Metro Library
(photo: Khanh Dinh)

Zoe Hana Mikuta is a Korean American YA author, currently attending the University of Washington in Seattle. She is the author of the YA sapphic mecha sci-fi novels Gearbreakers and Godslayers. When she is not writing, Mikuta can be found embroidering runes on her jeans pockets or curled up with a cup of caramel coffee and a bloody but heartwarming book. She recently spoke with Shelf Awareness about Off with Their Heads (out now from Disney Hyperion)--a YA fantasy horror reimagining of Alice in Wonderland--genius versus madness, and building an eclectic body of work.

What differences and common elements should fans of your mecha duology expect to find in this new story?

Besides the general genre shift, I would say Off with Their Heads lacks the overall softness of the Gearbreakers duology but, at the same time, is told with a more whimsical tone by a classic fairytale narrator who's a bit of a sadist. Though I've written a sapphic romantic subplot again, it's far from being lovey-dovey like my mecha duology. Honestly, you'll find no heroes in Off with Their Heads. Everyone is being generally terrible all the time. Common elements include angry girls.

This book is a whirlwind of timeline shifts, magic, elements of classic fiction, and horror. The word "ambitious" barely touches it as a descriptor.

I was definitely trying out a new writing style in Off with Their Heads, and I had a lot of fun working with such a lighthearted tone even as horrible, horrible things were going on. My editor has called it my Wonderland prose.

This book was also my quarantine project--for months and months it was just me and Caro and Icca and Hattie. I think having that solitude helped to get it all out. The majority of the challenge was, frankly, getting over myself. I wanted to do the story I had in my head justice, but because Off with Their Heads isn't my debut, I felt a lot of self-pressure to show my growth as a writer. It totally terrified me that, as the manuscript got longer and longer, it was all going to fall apart, and because I want to do stories as multilayered as this one in the future, it'd mean The End.

But it's done!

I'm gravitating toward having a career of eclectic books; I want them all to be distinctly different, because I want to try out myriad writing styles and genres. With Off with Their Heads, the first book I've done in the fantasy genre, I discovered this "vision" I have of my career will definitely involve going outside my comfort zone.

How did you get from Alice in Wonderland to Off with Their Heads?

I've been enamored with Alice in Wonderland for a while now, and have a soft spot for its horror retellings especially. The story is so versatile for that genre, just from its sheer strangeness and how sanity isn't necessarily a given.

To start, I had a copy of Alice in Wonderland that I annotated with my Off with Their Heads darlings in mind. This was pretty much the only part of the drafting that was in any way organizational. I'm really not someone who writes from a synopsis. I don't know the ending until I get there! I had some structuring scenes in mind--the entering of Wonderland, the mad tea party, the trial--and the relationships between the characters, and then I had to see what I'd end up writing in between. Bless my editor.

Your Red Queen Hattie November Kkul walks the line between artistry and madness.

The line between artistry and madness gets blurred with the onset of obsession. Those elements come together under the umbrella of the "obsessed artist" character trope. I loved playing with this trope. There's such a satisfying contrast between its connotations of creation and deterioration. Over the course of Off with Their Heads, Hattie certainly begins to lose herself in her art of stitching together monsters, even with her initial motivation being to use the medium for self-reflection and self-discovery. I'm hoping her character arc will unsettle readers and strike a chord with the artistic ones, especially as Hattie doesn't mind that she's losing herself if it's all for the glory of her art.

What drew you to write an inside-out love story with a lovers-to-enemies twist?

I haven't seen a ton of sapphic lovers-to-enemies character arcs, and I feel like most of what's on the market for sapphic romance right now is generally on the softer side, my debut included. I asked myself, cackling and having a grand time writing Caro and Icca's disaster of a relationship, "Where's the representation for the sapphics that might be absolutely horrible people?" I wanted to write two girls who were off their respective rockers but also quite enamored with the horrible world around them. Carousel is definitely the bubblier of the two, while Icca is the classic, bleak, "chip on her shoulder" character, but I wanted to make them complement each other through their shared obsession with strangeness. I wanted to make them so weird that the reader couldn't help but dote on them a little.

How do you feed your creativity?

I read a lot, and I have a lot of tea, and pretend they're magic potions that will solve all my plot holes. I have to accept that my creativity comes in waves. The best thing I can do to feed it is be patient. It is definitely blocked when I try to force it. "Write without fear; edit without mercy," is the eternal, internal chant to keep from scaring the creativity off.

In a world where writers are often advised to write to the reader's expectations or genre standards, how do you find the self-assurance to take big swings?

My editor, Rebecca [Kuss], and literary agent, Laura [Rennert], are constantly encouraging me to write as weird as I want and to take risks. Having that creative freedom has been everything. As for self-assurance, the thought that I'm writing something strange and entertaining pushes me forward. I think for a while, when people heard "YA" they thought of a certain specific writing style, cleaner-cut and easily digestible. I see so many writers now who stand out because of their unique voices, even if their work might not have been "sellable" 10 years ago. It absolutely lights me up when I see YA prose that goes off the beaten path. Some authors that come to mind are Andrew Joseph White and Joan He.

What strange beauty should we expect from you next?

My next book is another YA fantasy horror, and it's going to be bleaker than Off with Their Heads. A quick teaser: in a world where witchcraft has the nasty side effect of psychological erosion, a coven comes together to find a cure for magic. They're certain it's waiting for them just on the other side. Or maybe they're just addicted to the cozy slew of death and resurrections. Or maybe to each other. --Jaclyn Fulwood
Following the adoption of the new Hong Kong Security Law on March 19, the European & International Booksellers Federation and the International Publishers Association expressed concerns about the limits this law will create on the freedom to publish and on bookselling in Hong Kong. At issue are the bill's sweeping provisions and broad definitions. The Guardian recently reported that the impact of the new law on publishers and booksellers has been immediate.

"The steady deterioration of the freedom of expression in Hong Kong is alarming and disheartening," said EIBF co-president Jean-Luc Treutenaere. "The book publishing and bookselling communities are under threat by repressive security laws, which are resulting in vibrant and beloved bookshops shutting down. Any closure, and particularly in current times, is a massive loss to the book world."

Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the IPA's Freedom to Publish committee, commented: "The last 10 years have seen publishing and bookselling in Hong Kong decimated. From intimidation to restrictive security laws we must recognize the tools of censorship and resist them."

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Sweden is encouraging readers to read aloud during this year's World Book Week (April 20-28) to stimulate and develop children's reading skills, EIBF's Newsflash reported.

The Swedish Booksellers Association (Svenska Bokhandlareforeningen) provided booksellers around the country with resources, including a booklet containing tips on how to integrate "read-aloud' sessions into children's routines, along with recommendations for excellent books that can be read to kids. The booklet was developed through a collaboration with 11 children's book publishers.

Maria Hamrefors, chair of the Swedish Booksellers Association, said that reading aloud is especially beneficial for the development of children's reading skills given that they are exposed to books that could typically be too difficult for them to read on their own.

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Fiona Stager

Fiona Stager, co-owner of Avid Reader and Where the Wild Things Are bookshops in Brisbane, is this year's recipient of the Lloyd O'Neil Award, recognizing outstanding service to the Australian book industry. The lifetime achievement honor was recently announced, along with shortlists for the Australian Booksellers Industry Awards, which will be presented May 9 at a ceremony in Melbourne.

"Fiona Stager's dedication to fostering a vibrant literary community in Brisbane is truly remarkable," the ABIA noted. "Through bookstores Avid Reader and Where the Wild Things Are, she has not only provided a platform for local and emerging writers--she has cultivated a space where readers can explore a diverse range of literature, from classics to contemporary works. Fiona has made immense contributions to the Australian literary scene, and her efforts continue to shape and enrich the cultural landscape of the country."

Stager commented: "I was so surprised and overwhelmed when I was told I was this year's recipient of the Lloyd O'Neil Award I cried! The previous recipients are people who have inspired me with their writing, or their publishing careers or bookselling acumen. I love this industry, and to be awarded the Lloyd O'Neil Award means the world to me." --Robert Gray
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Walmart recently announced its collaboration with The Jessica Simpson brand, introducing a new collection of womens apparel, swim and jewelry to its racks just in time for summer. And according to Simpson, many of the items were designed exclusively for the mega retailer.

I am so excited to partner with Walmart to bring our collection to a whole new group of dynamic and beautiful customers, Simpson said in a statement. Walmart is an incredible one-stop shop and allows us to further expand our mission to help every woman feel her absolute best and most confident in fashion and accessories that are on-trend, while still being classic and affordable.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The New York City Police Department has released encouraging crime data for Staten Island.

In what can be considered a positive development, the rate of crime in the borough through April 21 was down 7% when compared to the same period in 2023, according to the NYPDs latest CompStat figures.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  If a fried chicken joint opened an outlet on Staten Island, would anyone care?

Yes we do, as with any new restaurant. But we seem to really pay attention when it comes to Bonchon with its brand of crispy bird and quick-service Korean fare.

With 130-plus Bonchons in the U.S. at the moment, plus the one at Hylan Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, its poultry in motion.

The Dallas-based corporation comes to Grant City as a fast casual franchise, located at 2211 Hylan Blvd. That address has served as former home to Cocos Dominican and Guatemalan restaurant and, prior to that, a longtime Planet Wings.

This will be the second Bonchon for the borough, with a former outpost a distant memory in Port Richmond Center.

The new take-out spot has a modest sit-down area. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Since its opening April 22, tasters have queued up around the corner on Day One and Day Two with wait times hitting 40 minutes during peak meal hours, say staff. In fact, demand was so strong on the chicken breast sandwich both days that Wednesdays crowd clucked out on the item.

And for anyone curious about the Yangnyeom dipping sauce on the menu  sorry, folks  it was a limited time offer nationally. Better luck next time with ephemeral tastes.

Tteokbokki are rice cakes with spicy sauce and fish cakes, scallions and onions topped with mozzarella cheese and kimari. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

In the meantime, we gave Bonchon a test-drive on Wednesdays Facebook Live, The Dish. A general observation is that texture matters.

Pork buns include pork belly, cukes, coleslaw, spicy mayo and katsu sauce. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

When the promise is crunch, that can come from coated wings painted (literally) with sauce and accompanying daikon radish cubes or veggies in an otherwise soft, glass noodle-based Japchae dish.

Korean Tacos include a choice of fried chicken, marinated chicken or bulgogi, a Korean signature beef dish. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Contrasting flavors and mouthfeels, much like the K-Pop culture itself, are perky and curious. Consider coleslaw with buttermilk ranch drizzled over Korean tacos, then separately, Tteokbokkis mozzarella melted over dumplings and saucy rice cakes.

There are four tables and a counter for those supping in the restaurant. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

In the meantime, as independent Asian restaurants blossom on the East Shore, theres now a traditional fast food version in the mix. Bonchon gives us Pork Buns on the fly and Chicken Katsu in a crunch. Perhaps one day an entrepreneur will give unto the food world a drive-thru with great curry in a hurry.

Kimchee can be ordered as a side, along with cole slaw, steamed rice, pickled radishes and kimchi coleslaw. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Bonchon is located at 2211 Hylan Blvd., Grant City; 718-303-7110. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, Friday and Saturday until 11:30 p.m.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Six months after its inception, the Girls Who Grieve (GWG) group, founded by Alana Herman, Brittany Conigatti-Lucchesi, and Jessica Pisano, continues to make strides in providing a supportive community for women navigating significant personal loss.

The programs holistic approach, now preparing for its third session, blending movement, meditation, journaling, and therapist-led discussions, has garnered profound feedback and results for them.

For me, Brittany, and Jess, witnessing their transformation and the connections they make is truly remarkable, said the groups founder, Alana Herman. We didnt know what to expect initially, but whats unfolding exceeds our expectations.

At the end of each session, we like to do a reflection and we have just had the best feedback we could imagine, said Herman. The combination of activities and community elements has even led some participants to describe their experience as life-changing.

The 'Girls Who Grieve' group leaders Alana Herman, Brittany Conigatti-Lucchesi, and Jessica Pisano pictured with participants during their second installment. (Courtesy of Alana Herman)Courtesy of Alana Herman

Many people carry their burdens silently, hesitant to burden their family, friends, or partners, but that hour and a half in the group session allows them to release their thoughts without fear of judgment, said Herman.

In a recent expansion of their outreach, the GWG group began offering free community walks at different parks on Staten Island. The initiative fosters a sense of connection among participants and extends support to those who may not have experienced personal loss directly.

This free offering enhances the community aspect of not just those who actually experience grief personally, but its also for the people who support them, said Conigatti-Lucchesi.

Their first walk was on Saturday, April 20, at Silver Lake Park. My husband joined with our baby, and Alanas fiance was there too, Conigatti-Lucchesi said, It was a way to extend the inclusivity beyond just the girls.

The 'Girls Who Grieve' group leaders Alana Herman and Brittany Conigatti-Lucchesi gathered at their first community walk at Silver Lake Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Courtesy of the Girls Who Grieve)Courtesy of Alana Herman

They plan to host a second walk on Sunday, April 28, at 10 a.m. at Wolfes Pond Park in Princes Bay. The walk is also open to all who wish to participate, with the meeting point set at the main parking lot.

Recognizing the pervasive sense of isolation that often accompanies grief, Herman expressed, A lot of people are still going through life feeling very isolated, she explained, but when theyre given this outlet, they are able to feel relieved. Anyone who was hesitant at first to join our group eventually realized that it was the best thing they could have done for themselves at that time, said Herman.

The first three sessions act like an introductory period, said Conigatti-Lucchesi, emphasizing the transformation observed throughout the eight-week series and noting how participants gradually form deeper connections as their walls come down. By the fourth and sixth sessions, you can see the relationships really starting to form.

The 'Girls Who Grieve' group leaders Alana Herman and Brittany Conigatti-Lucchesi gathered with participants at their first community walk at Silver Lake Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Courtesy of the Girls Who Grieve)Courtesy of Alana Herman

However, the groups impact extends beyond structured sessions, with participants incorporating the tools and practices learned into their daily lives. The GWG group has maintained its goal of empowering individuals to prioritize self-care and well-being.

None of us really know each other outside of the group, so everyones coming in with a fresh slate. said Conigatti-Lucchesi, one of our group members mentioned feeling lighter after our sessions, describing them as a great start to the week on Monday nights.

Reflecting on their journey, Herman and Conigatti-Lucchesi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to witness the profound changes within the group. Often, when you feel the most nervous and uncomfortable about doing something, thats exactly the thing youre meant to be doing, said Conigatti-Lucchesi.

Regarding their community walks, the GWG group encourages participants to bring their closest companions, whether friends, dogs, partners, or children. The inclusive approach facilitates connections between individuals who have completed the series and those interested in joining.

Im sure any girl who was part of the series would be happy to share their experiences themselves, Herman said. The one thing I would say to someone who is hesitant to start is to just do it. Because if nothing else, it gives you the opportunity to connect with people who are going through something similar.

The GWG group has ambitious plans for the future, including expanding its workshops and outreach efforts beyond Staten Island.

Despite their role as leaders, Herman and Conigatti-Lucchesi emphasized their continued participation in the groups healing process, learning alongside the participants.

The 'Girls Who Grieve' group leader Brittany Conigatti-Lucchesi at their first community walk at Silver Lake Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Courtesy of Alana Herman)Courtesy of Alana Herman

As much as its a learning curve for the girls, its also a huge learning experience for the three of us, said Conigatti-Lucchesi, We tell our own stories and relate in that aspect with them to not seem as just the outer figures but that were fully in the group with them.

With Herman and Conigatti-Lucchesi being yoga teachers and Jess serving as a therapist, Herman mentioned that, despite their roles as facilitators, they acknowledge the continuous knowledge from the experiences shared by the participants in their group. We want to clarify that we havent transcended our grief or completely healed from it, Herman said, Rather, we emphasize that we are on the same journey as our participants, navigating our personal grief experiences alongside them.

As they navigate the complexities of grief, the GWG group commits to providing a safe space for women to share their experiences, find support, and embark on a journey of healing and growth.

HOW TO SIGN UP

With Series Three starting on Monday, April 29, 2024, the GWG group welcomes women aged 21-40 to join. The sessions will take place at Be Yoga in Rosebank, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays, running from April until June.

This series offers a unique opportunity for healing and support, with limited spots available. You can apply here.
Residents of northern Niagara County are beginning to let out cautiously optimistic sighs of relief.

Long-awaited cleanup work is set to begin in May on a former TNT plant and radioactive waste storage site in the Town of Lewiston.

The 191-acre Niagara Falls Storage Site, formerly part of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works property, was used to manufacture TNT, or trinitrotoluene, in 1941 for about nine months and then decommissioned in 1943. The site was then used from the 1950s to the 1980s for various activities including manufacturing of fuel and storage of radioactive materials from the development of the atomic bomb.

The Balmer Road School saw 900 third-graders walk through its doors on the Ordnance Works property from 1967 to 1970. Many of those schoolchildren have said they now have health impacts  ranging from deadly cancers to debilitating muscle diseases  perhaps from the radioactive waste stored just yards away from their schoolhouse.

The full cleanup of the site is necessary to protect human health, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided in October 2018, because some of the waste there emits radiation at dangerous levels to human health. In the late 1970s, very high levels of radiation were found emitting from the soil, surface water and in drainage ditches in various areas around the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works property.

I didnt think this (cleanup) would happen in my lifetime, said Tim Henderson, a longtime resident of Lewiston who has been involved in advocating for the sites cleanup for at least 30 years. The only sensible solution is to remove it (the radioactive waste). We wont feel total relief until its all out of here.

Henderson is one of many in the sites surrounding community who have served on the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Restoration Advisory Board. Members of the board pushed for the government to remove the radiation-contaminated materials from the site since the boards formation in 1999, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a decision in 2018 to fully remove all radioactive and otherwise contaminated materials at the site.

This is a real hallelujah for us, said Amy Witryol, who has long served on the Restoration Advisory Board.

Im thrilled theyre finally doing something, echoed Vincent Agnello, who served on the Restoration Advisory Board and is the president of Residents for Responsible Government, a nonprofit that is fighting the expansion of the CWM toxic waste landfill located just north of the Niagara Falls Storage Site. This is going to be a long, long process, but at least theyre addressing it and made the good decision to get rid of all the radiological material.

Cleanup in three phases

Corps of Engineers discloses remediation plan for Niagara Falls Storage Site In 2019, the federal government authorized removal of all the waste from the World War II atomic bomb project and postwar nuclear work by area industries.

The cleanup will be done in three phases. The work set to begin next month is the first phase and will include complete removal of lower activity waste not contained in the central Interim Waste Containment Structure, according to Army Corps of Engineers project manager Brent Laspada.

The lower activity waste includes buildings, foundations, contaminated soil and polluted groundwater in various spots on the 191-acre site. Work by Enviro-Fix Solutions to clean up the waste will cost $12 million and last through January, Laspada said.

An estimated 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and 4,000 gallons of polluted groundwater are expected to be removed during the cleanup, according to Laspada. The contaminated waste will be transported on trucks to a licensed disposal facility outside of Detroit, he added.

Once the material is removed, holes left in the ground will be refilled with clean dirt and seeded with native plants, Laspada said.

This site has a really long history, and so its truly exciting to see it all come together and for work to begin soon, he said.

The plan for the next cleanup phases are expected to be completed in 2027, Laspada said. Those phases consist of cleanup of the roughly 10-acre, 34-foot-tall Interim Waste Containment Structure.

$40 million contract launches cleanup of Manhattan Project site in Niagara County The five-year contract with Enviro-Fix Solutions focuses on the government-owned Niagara Falls Storage Site. It will be the first phase in the full cleanup of the site that will take many more years and an estimated $500 million or more to complete.

The Interim Waste Containment Structure is an engineered landfill built to hold highly radioactive materials gathered during the 1980s and 1990s from other areas of the Niagara Falls Storage Site as part of a cleanup effort. The landfill was designed to keep radiation from escaping into the nearby community.
Welcome to the Anzac long weekend (sort of). This column is brought to you by your friendly economists, who want to get one thing straight: whatever their causes, wars are usually won by the side with the most economic resources.

This is just one of the many fascinating things you learn from a new book, The Shortest History of Economics, written by Dr Andrew Leigh, former economics professor turned minister in the Albanese government. (The books name is misleading. Its really the shortest account of the part the economy has played in the worlds history. Well worth a read.)

Credit: Matt Davidson

Leigh says the first industrial-scale war following the Industrial Revolution was Americas Civil War during the first half of the 1860s.

With the use of mass-produced weapons, railroads, steamships and telegraphs, the Civil War was industrial in its scale, and in its carnage, he says. More than 600,000 combatants  one in five soldiers  lost their lives.
This weekend, Nicole Kidman will join the ranks of Hollywood heavyweights Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Alfred Hitchcock and others in receiving one of the highest honours possible for a career in film: the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

The award acknowledges an artist who has fundamentally advanced film and whose work stands the test of time. Kidman is the first Australian to ever receive it and noted this week that its a long way from her debut in Bush Christmas in 1983.

Nicole Kidman is receiving a life achievement award from the American Film Institute. Credit: Artwork by Bethany Rae

I remember where I was when I started taking notice. It was the very tail end of 1990, I was on summer holidays with my family in country Victoria, flicking through the newspaper (it was pre-internet) and there it was. Nicole Kidman had married Tom Cruise.

It was a moment. Who does that? Who snags the biggest movie star in the world? It was clear: she had something.
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Eating outComing soon Top chef Josh Niland reveals details about two-hatted Saint Peters grand new home World-renowned seafood chef to lift the bar on luxury and interactive dining even higher at his new flagship restaurant opening in July. Bianca Hrovat April 26, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Julie and Josh Niland at their Grand National hotel development. Supplied The Good Food Guide chef of the year Josh Niland has today announced he and wife Julie Niland will open the next world-class evolution of their two-hatted seafood restaurant Saint Peter within The Grand National Hotel in Paddington this July. Niland, already recognised as a world leader in fish cookery, plans to really push the boat out when Saint Peter reopens with double the seating and kitchen capacity. He will take diners on a three-part dining journey moving from eating oysters (planned to be grown especially for the restaurant) at a bar, to having rotisserie-cooked seafood in the kitchen, to the dining table where the last of nine innovative courses will be served. I want to [figure out] what modern luxury looks like in Australia, Niland says. We all want this to feel very special and unique, and not become lost among all of the other restaurant openings.

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The Grand National, an old corner pub in Underwood Street, is being turned into a stately 14-room boutique featuring fish byproducts recycled into luxury soaps, candles and ceramics, showcasing the Nilands whole fish sustainability ethos beyond the kitchen. Josh Nilands salt and vinegar blue mackerel in olive brine with bread and cultured butter at the new Saint Peter at the Grand National hotel. Christopher Pearce Hotel guests will be offered a Saint Peter breakfast in bed, while the restaurant will open for a la carte service for lunch from Thursday to Sunday. Dinner service will open Tuesday to Saturday, exclusively serving the tasting menu. The public bar will take walk-ins, with a separate, limited menu. Nilands original Saint Peter on Oxford Street is anticipated to close for less than a fortnight during the move, and bookings have opened for the tasting menu (at a higher, to-be-confirmed price) commencing in August. The Nilands will retain the lease, hinting at new ventures to come. I want to [figure out] what modern luxury looks like in Australia. Josh Niland

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The opening of The Grand National will follow a period of change for the seafood empire. The Nilands dove into the international market with Singapore restaurant Fyshand opened hatted St Leonards restaurant Petermen in 2023.Then, on Good Friday, they announced the imminent closure of Rose Bay fish and chip shop Charcoal Fish and Paddingtonfishmonger Fish Butchery. While Niland admits it was a tough decision, Saint Peter has always been the focus: both businesses were created to allow the fine diner to shine, either by moving their fish and chip service to another location, or by repurposing their offcuts within a larger factory space. And now, its time to consolidate. Josh Nilands selection of Fish Butchery charcuterie at the new Saint Peter. Christopher Pearce The new Saint Peter kitchen, with its wood grills, rotisseries, equipment for fish charcuterie, and a refrigeration system capable of housing oysters from 13 separate estuaries, is the realisation of long-held plans. Ill be able to apply methods for service I havent been able to before, like butterflying fish, trussing them and swinging them over a fire, then serving the whole piece at the table, he says.

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Ill add more aspects of theatre to the experience, so people can see the beauty of what Im looking at [in the kitchen], rather than just a square or triangle cut finishing the plate. Diners will begin their journey with a study of oysters at the bar, as Niland showcases his latest target for culinary innovation. The chef is exploring the possibility of working with estuaries to create bespoke oysters, with flavours exclusive to the restaurant. Were right at the beginning of where we could go with oysters, Niland says. Theyve only recently gone from a commodity to a luxury item, and I believe we could advance it a lot further. Josh Nilands lemon meringue tart finished with charcoal at the table. Christopher Pearce

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Diners will proceed to the open kitchen for a taste from the rotisserie, maintaining the sense of engagement so critical to the Saint Peter experience on Oxford Street. And at the table, there will be dishes like dry-aged Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna with all manner of pickled, smoked and spiced Australian produce as well as a lemon tart with burnt meringue. Asked about the couples plans to open a world-class restaurant, Niland is sheepish. Its a bucket list thing for us, he says. Ive been spoiled over the past couple of years, travelling around the world and seeing and eating the food in wonderful restaurants. They still give me goosebumps and tingles, and that feeling is aspirational. Its inspired me to see whats possible, and create a world-class venue that is identifiably Australian.

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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 secret corruption inquiry has probed claims the Australian Border Forces most sensitive division was infiltrated by a criminal syndicate and raised concerns about large-scale traffickers exploiting law enforcement weak points. Among the inquirys damning discoveries is evidence that a burner mobile phone was passed to a senior official in Border Forces Human Source Unit by associates of Noureddean Jamal, a convicted drug supplier whose brother is in jail for terrorism offences. Noureddean Jamal (right) posed with Jean-Claude Van Damme at a charity night headlined by the famous actor. Credit: Twitter The unit was launched in 2018 to cultivate underworld informers to combat the flow of drugs into Australia and rorting of the visa system. The inquiry also found that three unit members attempted to launch a private security and intelligence firm at the same time as safeguarding the nations borders, sourcing seed money from an associate of Jamal. Despite the allegations already prompting the quiet scrapping of the 40-person Border Force division after only a few years, the corruption probe remains incomplete after four years. The new National Anti-Corruption Commission inherited the probe from its predecessor, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. The case now looms as an early test of how the nations anti-corruption chief, Paul Brereton, will handle corruption inquiries.

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Seven law enforcement sources, who spoke to this masthead anonymously because they were not authorised to speak publicly, raised concerns that the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integritys handling of the allegations had led to no public accountability about what went wrong inside Border Force. Four years after this was uncovered, it seems like it has all been swept under the rug, said one federal law enforcement official. A senior state police officer said: If this had happened in the NSW or Victorian police force, there would have been public anti-corruption hearings and reports to parliament. There is one rule for state cops, and one rule for federal officials. If the NACC doesnt change that, it will have failed. Jamal likely facilitates drug importations for multiple TSOC [transnational serious organised crime groups]. Police intelligence report A third source said that other officials who served in the unit were also angry, believing the unresolved probe unfairly cast a cloud over the integrity of all involved rather than the small number accused of wrongdoing. The National Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed an inquiry had probed allegations that staff members of the Australian Border Force had engaged in corrupt conduct by assisting criminal entities in the importation of prohibited substances. That investigation began in May 2020, the statement said, and was extensive, including examination of a number of witnesses, the last of them in late 2022.

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That investigation was completed by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity but the responsibility for determining the inquirys conclusions and whether they would be shared to the public had devolved to the new commission. The inquiry was sparked in May 2020 by a separate investigation into transnational drug trafficking involving NSW Police, federal police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Law enforcement sources with knowledge of the Border Force allegations say that investigation targeted Noureddean Jamal, a fast-talking, ostentatious property developer who lived in a multimillion-dollar apartment overlooking Sydney Harbour. Mohammed Omar Jamal. Jamal, according to police intelligence, is a close associate of another man currently on trial for drug trafficking. One of Jamals brothers, Mohammed Omar Jamal, is a terrorist jailed for planning to blow up a Sydney landmark in 2005, while another brother infamously shot up the Lakemba police station. Police intelligence suggests that after release from a three-year prison term for drug trafficking he was handed in 2012, Jamal was suspected of seeking to re-establish himself as a key part of an Australian crime syndicate offering a unique service: the brokering of access to doors in Sydney and Melbourne.

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Doors are weaknesses in the law enforcement net such as a corrupt insider or a security gap that criminals could exploit to get traffic drugs and tobacco into Australia. The syndicate was offering doors to Middle Eastern drug importers/distributors, as well as members of the Rebels, Comanchero and Lone Wolf OMCGs [outlaw motorcycle gangs]  the East Coast Crew [in Sydney] and SOC [serious organised crime] entities in Melbourne, says one policing file seen by this masthead. Loading Jamal likely facilitates drug importations for multiple TSOC [transnational serious organised crime groups]. From early 2020, state and federal authorities subjected Jamal to intensive surveillance, fuelling suspicions he was involved in large drug importations. That ultimately led to a large seizure of drugs in Asia, with Australian police still awaiting evidence from Malaysian authorities they hope will enable them to charge Jamal. The operation uncovered something else: Jamal was suspected of grooming an unknown law enforcement official he hoped would provide tip-offs if authorities were monitoring containers containing the syndicates contraband. They were claiming they were cultivating someone on the inside of Border Force, said a source with direct knowledge of the Jamal probe. The source said the syndicate members were claiming the insider could assist tobacco importers bypass border controls.

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NSW Police notified the body that then oversaw Commonwealth agencies, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. But the commission would not do the inquiry alone and called on the expertise and resources of the Australian Federal Police. The AFP, in turn, assigned the joint probe, codenamed Operation Young, to an inspector in Melbourne who specialises in complex investigations. Sources with direct knowledge of Operation Youngs work said one of its key investigative avenues involved tracking a burner phone, which detectives suspected Jamal controlled. Burner phones are mobiles subscribed in a false name to avoid phone interception. The burner phone, the sources said, was passed by a member of Jamals network to a man in Sydney and tracked to an apartment which checks revealed was occupied by a senior Border Force official, known as Officer X for legal reasons. Office X was part of Border Forces Human Source Unit. The relatively new division was devoted to the recruitment of human sources  often known as informers  to help penetrate crime groups. Proposed in 2017, Border Force executives thought it would be involved in the most sensitive investigations and use carefully recruited officers able to access classified intelligence, including from Australias Five Eyes partners. They would also guard the identity of the informers risking their lives to help investigators.

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Say cheese

Nobody expected Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to put quite so much cheese in his State of the County address on Wednesday. But once he did, it really blue up.

Poloncarz had been touting the $6 million in upgrades made to the Buffalo Convention Center and the new conventions it was attracting. Then he put up a slide highlighting the national conference in July for the American Cheese Society. Against the backdrop of a refreshed convention center exterior, two beloved animated characters popped up from the bottom of the slide.

Poloncarz went off script to introduce Wallace and Gromit, well-known, stop-action animated characters, whom the county executive described as two of the biggest cheese connoisseurs on the planet. (Actually, Wallace is the huge cheese fan. Gromit, the dog, just humors him.)

He then attempted to pivot to his next talking point about the countys Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. But two staffers from the Comptrollers Office, who were sitting near the front, couldnt stop laughing at the Wallace and Gromit reference. Poloncarz noticed them and began interrupting his own speech by chuckling.

He pointed at Comptrollers Office Chief of Staff Jessica Schuster and Special Assistant Jake Wagner.

Stop laughing, he said, still laughing.

Poloncarz brought himself under control for only a few seconds before bursting into laughter again.

I have to stop, he finally said, using a few moments of silence to get himself back on track.

The rest of his speech wasnt nearly as goud-a.

Sandra Tan

Chip dip stripped

Bison French Onion Dip is a liquid? Apparently, the Transportation Security Administration thinks so.

Thats according to a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, by WKBW reporter Michael Schwartz.

Just witnessed the most Buffalo thing at @BUFAirport, Schwartz wrote last Sunday. TSA removed Bison Onion Dip from someones carry-on.

The TSA liquid limit for carry-on luggage is 3.4 ounces, while the standard size for Bison chip dip is 12 ounces.

We can only imagine the travelers disappointment at returning home without this Buffalo staple. Company officials felt the travelers pain.

If we can find this person, we will reimburse them, Jack Hoops, chief growth officer for Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Bison Foods parent, told us.

Hoops said he suspects TSA employees didnt let the dip go to waste.

You know theyre eating it in the back room, he said with a laugh. Theyre not throwing that away.

This travelers experience now has Hoops wondering if the cooperative should develop a TSA-compliant package of chip dip. The company does sell yogurt in 4-ounce containers to airlines, cruise ships and other bulk customers.

Maybe, he mused, the company could fill those containers up to, but not past, the 3.4-ounce limit.

I will run with this, Hoops vowed.

 Stephen T. Watson

If he loses by one vote...

At least one local Republican in New Yorks 26th Congressional District wont be voting in Tuesdays special election to replace former Rep. Brian Higgins: the GOP candidate for that seat.

I live just across the district line in West Seneca, said Gary Dickson, the West Seneca town supervisor and Republican candidate against State Sen. Tim Kennedy, the Buffalo Democrat whos heavily favored in the deep blue district.

Rest assured, though: If Dickson pulls an upset on Tuesday, hell be running for re-election from his home turf.

The State Legislature recently redrew the states district lines and, thanks to changes in the map, Dicksons home will be in the 26th District in the fall election.

 Jerry Zremski

Hot time in Buffalo

Bill Drexler, better known as Camera Guy Bill, has been trying to convince his Hot Ones crew to come to Buffalo for seven years.

Because we do a talk show about chicken wings, so why not come to Buffalo? Drexler said. And they finally listened to me.

Thats how the Emmy-nominated YouTube talk show that grills high-profile guests while they suffer through eating increasingly spicy chicken wings  I might throw up, Gwyneth Paltrow said in a recent Hot Ones episode  ended up filming in Colter Bay on Thursday evening.

Drexler, now on camera, asked patrons questions like Blue cheese or ranch? and What makes a chicken wing a perfect Buffalo chicken wing?

I havent had a wrong answer, Drexler said.

A Pendleton native, Drexler is taking his New York City-based crew on a 36-hour-long wing tour of Buffalo, where theyre eating hot ones with his parents, hometown friends and special guests he wouldnt name.

The episode will explore Buffalos wing history and what it means to the city.

The itinerary includes Bar Bill, Colter Bay, Doc Sullivans, Duffs, Favorites Pizza & Wings and Wingnutz.

Im eating mild until we get to Doc Sullivans, Drexler said. Then were going to get a little crazy.

 Francesca Bond
In the week since Justice Michael Lees ruling in the Lehrmann defamation case, I have felt lighter than I have in 30 years. I can only imagine that many other rape survivors  most, like me, who have never reported their rape  feel the same.

Before the verdict, I carried an anchor of shame, fear and rage fuelled by the knowledge that, in the case of he said v she said, she would rarely prevail. Justice Lee appeared to be an avatar for the patriarchal and frequently misogynist men who have led almost every institution Ive ever encountered. In my 20s, in the 1990s, those men seemed to peer down at me and my peers with a mix of contempt and confusion  especially if we projected an expectation that we be taken seriously. Women were objectified. In the case of unwanted advances or assault, we must have been in some way to blame.

So, to see this man explain how the definition of rape had changed in 30 years; to see him work so hard and with such empathy to understand the mindsets of two people in their 20s; to find that, on the balance of probabilities, Bruce Lehrmann had indeed raped Brittany Higgins at Parliament House, was a revelation for me. Thirty years after my own rape I finally believe there is a chance I might have seen justice.

I dont know Justice Lee, but I can only imagine he has also changed his view of these things in the past 30 years. He may have been influenced by the misogyny endured by prime minister Julia Gillard, by the #MeToo movement, by brave Gen Zs such as Grace Tame and Chanel Contos who have helped so many people see how pervasive and damaging the patriarchal culture has been to women and Australian society.
Bruce Lehrmann has agreed to pay Peter FitzSimons $4616 to cover the author and columnists costs of producing documents during the former federal Liberal staffers failed defamation case against Network Ten and FitzSimons wife, Lisa Wilkinson.

Federal Court orders were made by consent of the parties and released publicly on Friday, amid a broader fight between Ten, Wilkinson and Lehrmann over who will foot the multimillion-dollar bill for the media parties lawyers. FitzSimons also recovered his costs of applying to the court for an order.

Lisa Wilkinson, Bruce Lehrmann and Peter FitzSimons. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer, Kate Geraghty, Wolter Peeters

Before the defamation trial, Lehrmann issued subpoenas to FitzSimons and Penguin Random House to produce documents relating to Brittany Higgins $325,000 book deal with the publisher. FitzSimons helped negotiate the deal. He produced documents to the court on July 7 last year.

Penguin Random House produced a publishing agreement with Higgins dated March 25, 2021, which contemplated a delivery date of January 1, 2022.
A teenage boy and a man in his 20s have died and a third man has been injured in unrelated stabbing incidents as a wave of knife crime continues across NSW.

About 9pm on Friday, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the neck at a home on Nymagee Street in Narromine, west of Dubbo in the NSW Western Plains region.

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the neck at a home on Nymagee Street in Narromine. Credit: TNV

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Dubbo Regional Airport where he died.

A 26-year-old man was arrested at a home nearby and on Saturday night was charged with murder. He will appear in Dubbo Local Court on Sunday. Narromine has a population of just 6360, the last census shows.
Twenty-seven-year-old Brisbane artist Sam Harrison is arranging paintings inside his studio at The Paint Factory in Yeronga.

Im putting those four little guys in, he says, pointing to a stack of paintings. I like the idea of people just taking artwork off the wall and slinging it under their arm and walking off.

Sam Harrison is one of six emerging artists selected for the Affordable Art Fairs Discover: Young Talent program. Credit: Courtney Kruk

Harrison has been preparing his collection for Brisbanes first Affordable Art Fair, as one of six emerging Queensland artists chosen for the fairs Discover: Young Talent program.

Behind him, a koala painted in hot pink acrylic gives a rude gesture. In another work, a koala with folded arms and a steely glare is set against the familiar scene of Post Office Square.
This was October last year, when family violence was having one of its cyclical  and crushingly brief  periods of prominence in the headlines. Media, community leaders and politicians around the country lamented the murders of five women in just nine days. Will I be the sixth? wondered my client.

My client was pointing to where her ex-partner had hidden in her front yard, commando-crawling through her garden, under her house, to find a way inside. Hed been to jail many times for breaching intervention orders, but every time he got out, the violence continued. Even losing his high-flying career hadnt put him off.

Just before Molly Ticehurst was allegedly murdered in NSW, for example, her ex-partner Daniel Billings was charged with stalking, rape and animal cruelty. If a terrorist had displayed as many red flags as Billings had waving around him, a special tactics squad would have been kicking down his door. Instead, despite the recommendations of police, Billings was granted bail.

Joel Svensson recovering a Bluetooth tracker from a DV victims car.

The UK is trialling a program that tracks men flagged as dangerous the way police might monitor someone whod sent threatening letters to an MP. Its been proposed here too in recent months. And while it might seem radical, my time on the front line tells me its necessary.

I work in security support for victim-survivors of family violence  we sweep homes and cars for trackers and bugs, add CCTV systems and proper locks to homes, scour online accounts for infiltration, sometimes help women and children flee. The fact that my job even exists shows the lengths some men will go to stalk, harass and attack women.

We find microphones and tracking devices secreted in pot plants, sewn into childrens toys, dropped into strollers. My colleagues have found ex-partners hiding in ceiling crawlspaces, under beds. Theyve been chased out of homes with machetes. Last year, I was confronted by a man whod been staking out his ex-partners apartment, waiting until shed left so he could plant more tracking devices in her things (he found me and my bug-sweeping equipment instead).
The undercover agents  who have dispensation to drink on duty because of their roles  are banned from drinking spirits because of the health risks. This is quite scary and the public needs to be warned, Sheppard says. He says many alleged drink-spiking incidents may be a result of consuming bootlegged spirits bought in good faith over the bar at supposedly legitimate clubs. In 2021, there was a spate of suspected drink spiking in Prahran, but toxicology tests did not show traces of illicit drugs.

All were originally investigated by police as incidents of drink spiking, but this theory was ruled out after testing found no illicit substances. Loading Drink spiking is not wholly attributable to drugs and can involve illicit liquor, says Sheppard. He also says some violent and drunk males may have consumed as little as two to three drinks of the toxic spirits and then behave totally out of character. He estimates that one syndicate under investigation produces legitimate (and taxable) alcohol through the front door while making five times the amount of counterfeit product that leaves through the backdoor.

Police have spent nearly two years gathering intelligence on the syndicates and have formed a partnership with the ATO Illicit Alcohol Team. Loading They have identified shelf companies, potential mafia and outlaw bikie identities connected with the illicit spirits, as well as third-party unlicensed distillers that take the bootleg alcohol and blend it with water and liquor flavouring to mimic known brands. An ATO spokesperson said the bootleggers included apparently legitimate companies that were well-established in the alcohol supply chain. However, intelligence also indicates that organised crime is increasing its presence in illicit alcohol activities. The ATO is obviously concerned about the tax leakage and the unfair impact on businesses that do the right thing, as well as the broader community threats, including the health and safety risks inherent in the consumption of illegally manufactured alcohol.

Denatured alcohol has a foul-tasting product added as an alert that it is unfit for human consumption, but some of the syndicates try to filter out the toxins and smell with varying success. One law enforcement estimate is that about 2.4 million bottles of fake booze enter the market each year. The State Liquor Units raid this week. Credit: Victoria Police The Tax Office spokesperson said the rorts include unlicensed manufacture, including using base spirit containing harmful denaturants; deliberate underreporting by alcohol manufacturers and distributors; intentional product misclassification to facilitate smuggling; and product diversion away from approved destruction, concessional usage or export into the Australian consumer market. This week, police and ATO officers conducted their first Victorian bootleg raid, seizing alcohol that will be tested at the National Measurement Institute, with the results sent to forensic experts to report on the likely health impacts.

Victoria Polices State Liquor Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Robinvale on Wednesday, a police spokesperson confirmed. Laptops, mobile phones and documents were seized along with a large number of tanks, drums and bottles. These items will now be analysed. A 44-year-old male is expected to be interviewed at a later date. The warrant was executed as part of a State Liquor Unit ongoing investigation into illicit alcohol at licensed venues across Victoria. The State Liquor Unit gathers material during a raid at an illegal distillery on Wednesday. Credit: Victoria Police The distillery had been operating for a time without a liquor licence. A litre of near-pure distilled alcohol attracts about $100 in excise, while industrial alcohol is nearly tax-free.

In the retail market, a litre of denatured alcohol sells for as little as $10, while 95 per cent pure alcohol sells for about $250. Just as organised crime moved into the illicit tobacco industry because the legal product is heavily taxed, it is moving onto bootlegged booze to avoid the high excise. Sheppard says some of the smaller clubs may not be aware theyre selling the substitute booze, but the larger venues should be aware when theyre offered heavily discounted spirits and the price doesnt cover the excise. I cant see how they dont know, he says.

Sheppard says the manufacturers and distributors could be liable for crimes against the person as well as tax and licensing offences if a drinker suffers health complications. He says the bootleg booze is also being sold in the retail market with dodgy labels from fake companies. We know illicit alcohol can cause liver damage, blindness and ultimately death. The Liquor Unit The State Liquor Unit is responsible for monitoring Victorias licensed premises. It uses its own officers, acting as patrons, to see how the clubs are run.

They are on the lookout for intoxicated patrons being served, drunks and underage drinkers. The $2000 fine and one demerit point for such an offence may seem trivial, but it is big business that leads to court battles with high-powered (and highly paid) barristers. Loading If a venue is proven to have broken these rules, its licensing fee is tripled for three years. A club that pays $40,000 per year will end up being charged $120,000 a year, which is why we end up in court to fight them. Thankfully the police department backs us in these cases, says Sheppard. In one case a venue spent more than $100,000 to contest a $2000 fine.

It is also a matter of public record that police are involved in a protracted and expensive battle with the owners of the Prahran nightclub Love Machine. Loading In 2022, police lodged a report with the Liquor Commission recommending the venue be closed, listing hundreds of incidents including gunfire, a stabbing, fights, alleged sexual assaults, and a 2019 double murder after a drive-by shooting outside the club. The State Liquor Unit looks for patrons with red eyes who are slurring their words and are unsteady on their feet. But they need more than that. They need to prove that staff in the pub or club saw, or should have been able to see, the intoxicated patron. If there is someone asleep with vomit on them, we have to know that they are not in a dark corner but somewhere where staff can see or should see them, says Sheppard.

The undercover police, like many other patrons, sit and communicate via text. But they arent setting up Tinder dates  theyre reporting to their team on the outside, likely regarding breaches of the law. Usually, it is just a case of sitting and watching, but sometimes the problem comes to them. Two were sitting in a bar when a drug dealer offered them some gear. He was arrested in possession of 25 ecstasy tablets and five grams of powders  a little like going fishing when a tuna jumps into the boat. Sheppard says COVID impacted pubs and clubs, with experienced licensees, crowd controllers and bar staff leaving the industry. We are issuing more penalty notices than ever before. One area notoriously difficult to control is karaoke bars. Sheppard says the big clubs have more than 50 booths, with some rented for between $2000 and $10,000 a night.

Loading Some include their own bathroom and showers (who would have thought singing My Way with gusto would require a refreshing shower at its completion?). More concerning is the use of hostesses who can be hired to join a group in a booth. Sheppard says some are trafficked sex workers whose passports are seized until they pay off alleged debts. He says on one raid, police were assured the hostesses were in Australia on working visas.
On whether these independents would be teals, he said: Candidates are free to use any colour they wish. Holmes a Court noted his support for the Voices of Kooyong push on X, where he posted about the upcoming forums. Live in Boroondara/Kooyong? he posted. Council elections are coming, and its way past time our council reflected its constituents. Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court has voiced his support for the Voices of Kooyong push into councils. Credit: James Alcock Holmes a Court did not respond to requests for comment, and Baillieu said there was no formal connection between Climate 200 and the Voices of Kooyong, just that Holmes a Court was generally supportive.

Council campaigns really dont require much funding, he said. Loading He pointed to existing Boroondara councillors Victor Franco and Susan Biggar as highly effective independents, and said Voices of Kooyong would look to support new candidates in wards where the current councillors were not representing community values. Franco said he was a genuine independent who was progressive, and committed to good governance and financial management, and to making Boroondara an environmental leader. I consider myself very much aligned with the teals because of the focus on good governance and the environment, Franco said. I do think well see a lot more teals and independents [at the upcoming council elections], particularly in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in areas where theyve had most success.

Franco said the direction the Liberal Party had taken in recent years had made it drift away from the values and aspirations of many people in inner-city or urban areas that have been traditional Liberal strongholds. Boroondara council has been one of the bastions of social conservatism and Liberal Party domination for many years, he said. I think its out of step. Victor Franco, Boroondara independent councillor. Credit: Justin McManus Biggar, who is still weighing up whether to contest the next council elections, said she had been prompted to stand for council primarily because she felt the battle to limit climate change needed to be fought at every level of government. My politics, in terms of the things that I think are important, would be similar to the things that teals think are important, she said. But I wouldnt define myself in that way in terms of how I represent the community.

Biggar said she thought there would be more independents running at the upcoming council elections for whom issues such as climate and transparency in government were important, but they would not necessarily be aligned as teals. Loading The teals were a response at the federal level to frustration with some of the limitations of the two-party system, but I dont think that those factors are necessarily the same at local government, she said. Ryan said it was great to see candidates standing for public office to protect Boroondaras beautiful local environment, including its tree canopy. At a local government level, we need to address planning laws and council administration to ensure that our community retains its green spaces and heritage values, while also providing access to sustainable and affordable housing and recreational spaces and facilities, she said. Id be happy to see candidates supporting those aims.

Professor Mark Kenny, of the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University, said the push of teals into council elections was an interesting development and showed they were becoming increasingly sophisticated and strategic. If they perform well in these forays they are making into local government, the mechanisms, the campaign machinery, will be useful in a years time in the federal election, he said. What is unknown is the extent to which some of the loftier ideals of the teals will cut the same amount of ice with voters in municipal elections because they do tend to be about roads, rates and rubbish. Dr Zareh Ghazarian, head of politics and international relations at Monash University, said councils such as Glen Eira and Port Phillip were likely to be targeted by the teals. He said teals had not succeeded at the state elections because of campaign funding requirements and differing dynamics. The great unknown in Australian politics at the moment is whether the teals were specifically a 2022 phenomenon, or whether they will have a lengthier time in Australian politics beyond that, he said.
The fight over Lewers detention and looming expulsion is complicated, involving claims and counter-claims of serious criminal behaviour.

If I read that document, I would deport me, too, he says. But it is a fantasy.

Gary Lewer has used a wheelchair for years after slipping in detention.

The fourth anniversary of his detention has come and gone, after his visa was personally cancelled by then-immigration minister Peter Dutton in March 2020.

Gary Lewer is a vastly different man to the one who graced the pages of womens magazines and won record bodybuilding titles in the 1980s.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

The case raises important questions around the relationship between police and politicians, and the extraordinary powers of the Home Affairs minister to deport people on untested allegations in the pursuit of the national interest when applying the character test.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission  the nations top-secret organised crime investigator  cross-examined Lewer over the same allegations in 2017 but he was told there was no case to answer. Unfortunately for me, the department requires no evidentiary material to detain you for years and deport you.

These include criminal conspiracies and connections with organised crime figures that police suspected Lewer had, but never even put to him. How serious could their suspicions be? he says. When I explain to people Ive only ever been to prison once, for six months, in the 90s, they cant believe it.

However, fresh documents obtained by this masthead show Dutton decided to deport Lewer two years later after receiving the letter that detailed allegations that go way beyond his criminal record, including crimes over which he was never charged, let alone convicted.

The Department of Home Affairs rejected the first attempt by police to cancel Lewers visa in 2017, finding his record contained only minor convictions.

Lewer, who moved to Australia as a four-year-old, does not have a clean record, with fines and good behaviour bonds for personal drug use, a conviction for gun possession in 1995 and withdrawn charges of child sex offences and drug trafficking.

Loughnan says the creeping powers of the Home Affairs minister are hard to wind back, and Lewers case reveals a broader systemic problem which can impact the wider population.

Any allegation should be subject to the same process, regardless of whether theyre serious or not. Otherwise, it starts to function as two parallel injustice systems, Loughnan says. And in doing this, police are politicising the criminal justice system.

University of Melbourne senior lecturer in criminology Dr Claire Loughnan says Lewers case is very disturbing and argues criminal allegations should only be dealt with through the criminal courts, where the presumption of innocence, fair process and the right to defence apply.

Lewers case is reaching its conclusion as the federal government pushes for greater deportation powers and mandatory jail sentences for those who refuse to co-operate. Experts say the laws impact everyone from vulnerable refugee groups to well-resourced permanent residents.

The minister can set the national interest to suit the minister, says barrister Chris Oldham, who represented Lewer in his first court challenge to remain in Australia. They have an incredible amount of power.

Lewer arrived in Australia from the United Kingdom in 1960 and grew up in Morwell, in Victorias Latrobe Valley, south-east of Melbourne. He never applied for citizenship, but thought he had equal rights  having voted in elections (due to a quirk allowing British subjects to vote), used Medicare and joined a political party.

Its beyond words, his wife, Kathryn Lewer, says. Weve been left gobsmacked, devastated, floored by it all. I had no idea he could be thrown into detention and not get out, there not be an end date.

Lewer launched a last-ditch ministerial intervention request with Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil in December 2022, which includes new information about his health condition and claims to Indigenous heritage. Lewer, and his family, have been in limbo since.

There are currently no rules around how long someone can be detained, and investigations by this masthead have revealed centres are plagued by violence , open drug taking and broken healthcare services .

There appears to be a practice of identifying deportable people internally. If you start supporting these policies and laws and practices, then you never know who it might affect. Anyone who doesnt comply with the idea of a good citizen could be targeted.

The child sex offences are more complicated. He says the charges were laid when photos were found of him attending a party hosted by his friend who, on his telling, unknowingly dated a teenager. Nine other men who attended the party were also charged, but all charges were dropped when the girls withdrew their evidence on the first day of hearings.

He says the weapon was found at his house when police were searching for steroids, and that it was only ever for clay shooting with his son. Lewer pleaded guilty and was given two six-month sentences, served concurrently.

He insists the other charges on his record  child sex offences and gun possession  are not as serious as they appear.

Its no secret that steroid-taking is a key part of the bodybuilding industry, and Lewer acknowledges he has a string of convictions related to steroid possession and use that resulted in fines and community service orders.

Over the decades, he built a life here  got married, had children, opened gyms and pursued a high-profile bodybuilding career. He won the Mr Australia bodybuilding title every year of the 1980s.

Regardless, the charges would come back to haunt Lewer, when he came onto the radar of a Frankston detective in 2013. This masthead has chosen not to identify the detective.

Now retired, the detective worked in the drug squad when he discovered chemicals stored in a Seaford warehouse, in Melbournes south-east, after a tip-off.

Described to the media as a drug lab, it later emerged the owner of the chemicals, Andrew Hutton, a friend of Lewer, ran a legal chemicals company.

Court documents show Huttons estranged wife alleged the two men had conspired to import chemicals to traffic drugs of dependence.

Hutton was arrested and released on bail conditions that made it difficult to see his family. During this period, his daughter was critically ill with cancer. The detective told the hospital Hutton was a violent criminal and security was needed for visitations.

Huttons daughter died in hospital alone in December 2013. Two months later, his wife tried to kill herself and ended up in intensive care. Huttons lawyer made a direct request to the detective to allow him to visit his wife on her deathbed.

What is to be gained from denying him access to see his wife? You are already aware of his recent loss.

The detective responded the request was laughable and accused Hutton of using his family to advance his legal case.

Hutton was devastated by this claim and his barrister, Colin Mandy, said his client had suffered at the informants hands, at least emotionally  after the detective told Huttons family and child-protection agencies he was a dangerous criminal.

Before his arrest, he was spending a lot of time as a father would at his daughters bedside, Mandy told the court. The end result was ... Charlotte died in hospital, neither her mother nor her father were with her.

Ultimately, Hutton was given a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to illegal chemical storage and possession of precursor chemicals for the period his business registration had lapsed.

Lewer was never charged.

Hutton and Lewer claim the detective became fixated on them, and went to new lengths to hold them accountable for the crimes he believed they had committed.

Appalled, Lewer began lodging complaints with regulatory agencies and politicians  all of which were either not investigated or cleared the detective of misconduct.

The detective was involved in a lengthy and sustained total and absolute abuse of his authority in the malicious fabrications and prosecution of Mr Andrew Hutton, Lewer wrote in one complaint.

Victoria Police said a professional standards investigation found the officer involved had acted appropriately.

After carefully considering the issues raised in your correspondence, I have been unable to establish any misconduct or improper behaviour by Victoria Police, one letter stated.

The detective did not respond to requests for comment.

Over the next five years, Lewer claims the detective mounted several attempts to have him punished. The Australian Tax Office audited his business in 2016, after the detective reported he had hidden millions of dollars in income and assets. The tax investigation concluded with an $800 fine for overdue returns.

Next, came the investigation by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission  the top-secret organisation that probes serious and organised crime. Both Lewer and Hutton were subpoenaed to participate in separate, hours-long interviews and were grilled about Lewers alleged criminal connections. Both were denied legal representation and threatened with imprisonment, they claim. Yet, after the hearings, the case was closed with no further action.

In 2017, the detective wrote to the Department of Home Affairs asking for Lewers visa to be cancelled but was told by a department officer this was not possible because Lewers record had only minor convictions.

The reason they [police] are recommending deportation is due to current investigations which are ongoing and have not yet resulted in any new conviction at this stage, according to one email.

But in 2020, he was leaving his Frankston home when four police cars surrounded him. I was put in the back of a divisional van, taken to the police station, then handcuffed for the 90-minute drive to MITA.

In 2014, new laws made visa cancellations mandatory for prison sentences of 12 months  and the move could be retrospective. Lewer was told his visa was cancelled because of his prison stint in 1995 for gun possession. He later received the police intelligence document sent to Dutton.

The document, titled Request for Favourable Consideration of Visa Cancellation  Gary Lewer, details his criminal record and the abandoned drug-trafficking conspiracy case with Hutton, but also a range of other alleged crimes  bribery of Chinese government officials, associations with convicted drug kingpin Tony Mokbel and others.

At times, the document is upfront about the lack of evidence to support its claims: There is no direct evidence other than suspicious coincidence to support this belief.

It concluded that Lewer should be deported because he has a powerful reputation in criminal circles as being a violent individual who has the proven behavioural and financial means to inflict harm on any person.

The document states Lewer is extremely disciplined in his criminal conduct to avoid detection and is therefore an extremely difficult suspect to investigate.

In Duttons reasons for cancelling Lewers visa, he cites Lewers criminal record and quotes the police intelligence in determining the risk of Lewer re-offending was too high. The Australian community should not tolerate the risk of harm that could result from such conduct, Dutton found.

University of Canberra criminology professor Leanne Weber says when criminal allegations are considered serious, it raise the stakes for the politician involved  further strengthening the need for the separation of powers.

Just because the charge sounds serious, or perhaps is serious, or is presented as serious, that sends things down a certain pathway - theres a presumption they become an ongoing threat to the community, Weber says. Its just another example of how the system is infused with politics to the detriment of law.

Loughnan agreed and pointed to the political language  including Duttons taking out the trash comment in 2021 regarding New Zealanders  to justify expelling people the government does not want in the country.

Its a really dangerous narrative because it keeps fuelling this hysteria about anyone who might not fit the model of what is seen to be a worthy member of the public, she says. You end up with eroding the basic principles of due process under law.

From detention, Lewer challenged the legitimacy of the police intelligence. He lodged freedom of information requests to obtain the basis for the police claims but was told no information existed.

He hired lawyers, and mounted two Federal Court challenges. In the first, Lewer argued that without primary documents such as witness statements, CCTV footage, or other evidence to support the various allegations, there was no evidence before the minister. This was rejected.

I do not accept that contention, Justice Bernard Murphy found. The minister was entitled to treat the reports as having been prepared carefully and in good faith  He was not obliged to seek out the primary material gathered by Victoria Police.

In a later appeal rejected by three judges, one judge found there was no doubt the police reports were largely based on hearsay and would not have been admissible in criminal proceedings but ruled this did not prevent the minister from lawfully relying on the information in his decision-making.

That case profoundly changed the way I practise law, says barrister Chris Oldham, who represented Lewer. Its extremely difficult to continually represent people who have no hope under the way the law is structured.

Oldham says the public would be shocked to understand the powers of the police and the minister.

If people knew there was an ability for police to communicate to the minister about a guy they dont like, they think hes done these things ... There would be a lot more interest in whats really going on behind the scenes.

A Victoria Police spokesperson says information-sharing with the federal government about deportations is done in line with strict Victoria Police policy.

When asked for a copy of the policy, Victoria Police declined and said the only way to access it was through Freedom of Information.

Duttons office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil did not respond to requests for comment. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles office declined to comment.

Lewer speaks with his wife twice a day. She doesnt understand how this has happened, particularly to someone who has spent his entire life in Australia and has children here.

Its gone before the courts and I dont even understand the workings of the courts as to how it can be the way it is, Kathryn says. Its crazy. But obviously, they have the powers to do this.

Lewers grandmother, Kathleen Grant. He is now exploring his family history as a last-ditch effort to stay in Australia. Credit: Gary Lewer

Before he was detained, Lewer spent time in The Alfred hospital after contracting sepsis. His treating doctor made an appeal for Lewers release.

I have serious problems with Gary being detained. Gary is not facing any current criminal charges and poses no threat to the community at all. For these reasons, he should be released ASAP, the doctor wrote in bolded lettering.

This request fell on deaf ears. Now, Lewer is wheelchair-bound after he slipped and badly hurt his back shortly after entering detention. Medical records show hes been waiting to see a neurosurgeon for more than two years, to no avail.

Lewer is now pursuing a last-ditch effort to remain in Australia by retracing his family history, believing his grandmother may be Indigenous.

Being deported is a death sentence, Lewer says. They could come in at 4am and stick me on a plane. You live with that fear every day.

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Second, X has removed footage of other violent terrorist acts at the request of other regulators. For example, X has taken down hundreds of posts of Hamas terrorist acts at the request of the European Unions regulator. Again, how can Musk reconcile different treatment of similar material if its truly a principled stand on free speech? Doesnt add up. Third is the stated policy of Xs chief executive, Linda Yaccarino: There is no place on X for terrorist organisations or violent extremist groups, and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts, she wrote in a letter to EU regulators in October. We strictly adhere to our policies concerning illegal content, and we continue to remove illegal content including terrorist content from our platform. Thats the X policy, set out by the X CEO. Yet Musk flouts it. Doesnt add up. Musk has tried to make it look like it adds up, nonetheless. He says X has geo-blocked access to the footage from users in Australia; hes only rejecting the idea of Australia as global censor.

The eSafety commission is unimpressed; its inadequate because there are ways to skirt geo-blocking. One in four Australians use a Virtual Private Network or VPN, for instance. And X previously has blocked access to such material worldwide, and continues to do so in many other cases. Loading Musk has added another kink to his claims  that the Australian eSafety commission sought removal of comments on the attack, and is therefore assaulting free speech. Not so. The Australian regulator is concerned only with the video footage. As the eSafety office says: The removal notice does not relate to commentary, public debate or other posts about this event. It only concerns the video of the violent stabbing attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. The unavoidable conclusion is that Musk has gone rogue, not only picking a fight with Australia but defying his own companys policies and practices to do so.

A ready reckoner of Musks delinquency? Note that we are not talking about any other of the so-called social media firms, only Musks. All the others, every one, acted on the eSafety offices order. What hes doing is rogue even in an industry of rogues. But why has he gone rogue now, and why Australia? There are a few factors at play. One, hes cranky with Australia because he seems to think the eSafety commissioner has a grudge against him. Inman Grant  who once worked for X when it was still Twitter, incidentally, in a classic case of the poacher-turned-gamekeeper  is pursuing X over several matters. Among other things, she issued an infringement notice to X last year over its policy on child sexual abuse materials and levied a fine of $610,500. X refused to pay; its spent more money on lawyers quibbling over it than the sum of the fine itself. Besides, Australia is a handy sized punching bag. It lacks the sheer market power of the EU and the regulatory relevance of the US, but its big enough to get some attention.

Loading Note that Musk doesnt criticise the Chinese government, an actual communist state and the worlds most successful censor of the internet. He puts a higher value on selling Tesla EVs to China than on defending his high principle. Two, he seems to enjoy picking fights through litigation. For example, he sued a US non-profit group, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, for a report that it published alleging that X was profiting from hate speech. How? Because Musk had reinstated scores of user accounts of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, misogynists and spreaders of dangerous conspiracy theories. The judge in a US federal court last month dismissed the case brought by X, concluding: This case is about punishing the defendants for their speech. So much, once more, for Musks principled attachment to free speech.

Three, Xs business isnt going so well. He bought the company, then Twitter, for $US44 billion a year and a half ago. Today its market value is $US41 billion. Hes lost advertisers and lost relevance for the company. Even though the value of other big US tech companies has surged. Facebooks owner, Meta, for example, currently is valued at $US440 billion, more than 10 times Xs worth. Ouch. An American billionaire investor in the company and critic of Musks strategy, Ross Gerber, says that the reality is, Twitter is dying, and it needs to be saved. With the business doing badly, his pretence of high principle must be about all Musk can hold on to to justify the acquisition. Even if hes confected his fight with Australia.

And next? The eSafety commissioner and X are scheduled to go to court again on May 10 over the take-down order. Depending on the outcome, Inman Grant has further punitive powers at her disposal, should she choose to use them. Loading Under Australias Online Safety Act, she can order a link removed. And, in extremis, she can delete an app  that is, direct the app stores like Google to scrub the X app from their offerings. As for the PM, Albanese seemed to relish giving his psychological diagnosis of Musk. It worked for him politically, to pose as the defender of Aussie family values and simple decency against an erratic foreign miscreant and bully. But hell let the matter ride for a while now, lest he give the electorate the impression that hes not paying due attention to the peoples priorities. As for Peter Duttons idea of imposing an age limit of 16 for people to use social media to limit its output of social misery, the government considers it unenforceable and wont pursue it.
As you may have seen, the Herald this morning published a rare front page featuring a long editorial calling for state and federal royal commissions into the appalling rate of violence against women.

This was a rare editorial decision, but I strongly believe the Herald and other major media outlets have a responsibility to push our political leaders for desperately needed change. And on this issue, it is very obvious not enough is being done.

As I wrote in todays editorial, how many more women have to be beaten to a pulp, strangled, stabbed, shot, drowned or set on fire before Australia gets serious about confronting the many causes behind our rapidly worsening epidemic of gendered violence?

This weeks alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst at the hands of her former partner Daniel Billings has shocked our city, state and nation. Her killing is so horrific, so senseless and so outrageous that it may finally force a cultural reckoning on our bizarre unwillingness to come to grips with the very well-known realities of male violence.
Onward Qantas soldiers Ive been a rusted-on Virgin flyer until recently since I fly less, have deliberately run down points and am less keen on its new Ryanair plus model. I had to go to Kuala Lumpur at short notice recently and Qantas offered far and away the cheapest and most convenient transit through Changi, an enjoyable experience, then onward with Malaysia Airlines. It worked the same in reverse. Qantas has a wet lease arrangement with Finnair to Singapore (and Bangkok, I believe) which involves Finnair crew, safety cards and plane but Qantas food. I have no entitlements with Qantas but was pleasantly surprised at the service, convenience and cost. Life after Joyce.

Andrew Brown, Sydney, NSW Waiting game Did I read this incorrectly or has Qantas really lifted its game? In November, I cancelled my flight to South Africa due to illness. This was two days before the departure date. Since the booking was made through a travel agent, I submitted the required medical reports substituting my claim for a refund. Five months later I am still waiting for the refund. A call to Qantas customer service advised me that the travel agent has to contact the Qantas department, especially for agents. This was done. We are still waiting.

Thaversie Pillay, Hunters Hill, NSW

Letter of the week: Passage ways How lovely to be reminded by your writer, Steve McKenna, of the passages couverts of Paris (Traveller, April 19). On a trip in 2019, our B&B host, Laurent, had designed a pamphlet illustrating these walkways, showing features along the way. From the 9th arrondissement at the gorgeous little Square Cite de Trevise, you can trace almost all the way to Le Louvre via these interesting arcades. Through Passages Verdeau, Jouffroy, des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, you follow a loosely connected route for hours of browsing galleries, studios and bijou shops. Finally you emerge at Palais Royale, for lunch at Le Nemours. Paris at its best.

Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW On the buses My wife and I were visiting a small town (only about a million people) in Gujarat, India, and hardly saw any other tourists while we were there. We were standing in a crowded bus when we saw a seated woman talking at us angrily in another language. As most young people in India speak English, I asked the young man next to me, What is she saying? He said, She is saying, why do you foreigners come here and make it so crowded? 

David Ginsbourg, East Bentleigh, Vic EDITORS NOTE Have you had a remark directed at you in your travels that was amusingly interpreted, or which you understood? (A Traveller editor once learnt, with the help of an accompanying fluent Japanese speaker, that a woman at a mountain lodge had referred to him as a white asparagus). Write to us and well publish the best letters.

Top advice The Library of Celsus , Ephesus, Turkey. Credit: iStock Thank you, Brian Johnston for reminding me about the seven wonders within Ephesus, Turkey (Traveller, April 9). I have two hings to add. First, I suggest that you start exploring Ephesus from the top gate. It is far easier to go downhill and there are plenty of guides well worth haggling a price with to secure someone with good knowledge of what you are going to see. Second, Harbour Street, also known as Arcadia, needs a mention. Emperor Arcadia dictated that he wanted a pedestrian-only street winding down to the harbour that contained a row of shops on both sides. It is from here that we have the common terminology of a shopping arcade. Ephesus is outstanding and should not be missed on your travels in Turkey.

Hans van Roosendaal, Prahran, Vic Point of view The photo marked number four in Brian Johnstons otherwise excellent Seven wonders within piece on Ephesus, Turkey (Traveller, April 9), is not of the Temple of Hadrian but is Hadrians Gate in the old Roman wall in Antalya. In this view, one is looking east out from the old section, Kaleici, to the newer areas of Antalya. Hadrians Temple is about two-thirds of the way down Curetes Way (the main road down the ruins of the Roman town area) on the right-hand side, almost opposite the roofed-enclosure of the Terraced Houses.

Roger Cameron, Marrickville, NSW

EDITORS NOTE Thanks to our reader pointing out this error. The online version of the story has been amended. Tip of the week: French lesson In Ask the Tripologist (Traveller on Sunday, April 14) a family of four with children 11 and seven sought tips on visiting France and Italy for three weeks. My own advice is that three weeks is too short to see two countries properly, so spend all three weeks in France. With kids, concentrate on activities and sights they will enjoy and remember. Go in May to June or September to October when there is beautiful weather and no crowds. Autumn or spring are the times to visit France to avoid crowds. Credit: iStock You will need a car and for accommodation, consider either camping, which is popular in France, or youth hostels for accommodation as the kids will make heaps of new friends and wont bother you. Expect most French people you encounter to be hospitable, speak English and want you to have a great holiday.

Keith Brown, Armidale, NSW

Spread the word Ive just landed in Bangkok with my two sisters, sans kids, to celebrate a big birthday. Weve arrived early, are hungry and cant check in to our rooms yet. Solution? Buffet breakfast. Its been 10 years since my last trip to Thailand but the breakfasts are etched in my memory and theyve only got better. At the Carlton Hotel in Sukhumvit, theres a European cheese station, Japanese teriyaki and sashimi station, traditional Thai food station and then the usual egg, pastry and tropical fruit stations. Ive had three servings of the bread and butter pudding already.

Georgie Foster, Thornbury, Vic EDITORS NOTE: What are your own tips for best breakfast buffets around the world? Write to us (travellerletters@traveller.com.au) and well publish the best and most appetising responses. Spun out I have to agree with Jan Naughton (Traveller Letters, April 13) , regarding the entertaining nature of cruise ship onboard laundries. My husband and I remember a few cases of laundry rage, when a young man tried to use three washing machines at the end of a cruise and got roundly told off by the ladies in the laundry. He removed his clothes from two and used a single machine. We have seen a few disputes over driers and the removal of clothes, if dry, by irate passengers.

Eira Battaglia, Seaforth, NSW

Crabby over cabbies Due to a missed-flight delay, Qantas paid for overnight accommodation in the Ibis Hotel at Darling Harbour, Sydney and a $60 cab voucher to get there. However, the driver took us from Sydney Airport via the longest possible route at 10.30pm. On arrival I thanked the cab driver for his city tour, asking him why it took 40 minutes and not 15 minutes. He then presented us with a charge of $95. I refused to pay and explained we lived in Sydney all our lives and he was taking advantage of us, thinking we were dumb tourists. All I presented was the $60 voucher and proceeded into the hotel where I was told it had no control over the cab company though they listen to complaints about them all the time. Sydney runs a shonky cab service that nobody is prepared to do anything about and, as a footnote, getting a taxi back to the airport in the morning, peak hour was $48.

Phil Binfield, Cotton Tree, Qld Crowd control

St Peters Basilica, Rome. Credit: iStock Every 25 Years Vatican City hosts a Jubilee in which pilgrims from all over the world come to Rome to walk through the Holy Door. We were advised that, as well as the normal and ever increasing number of visitors to Rome, a further 35 million pilgrims are expected to visit the city next year. Worth considering if planning a visit in 2025.

Ray Czajko, Kensington, Vic EDITORS NOTE: Further to our readers tip, Jubilee 2025, a tradition dating to the 14th century, begins on Christmas Eve this year and runs until January 6, 2026. The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is gearing up to ensure the safety and smooth flow of traffic during the upcoming festival events in Philipsburg. With the main activities of the carnival festivities fast approaching, it is imperative to establish measures that prioritize the well-being and convenience of all attendees.

Road Closure Details:

A section of W.J.A. Nisbeth Road will be temporarily closed, stretching from the Salt Pickers roundabout to the intersection with Tamarinde Steeg. Additionally, all alleyways leading to and from Cannegieter Street towards Nisbeth Road will be closed within this designated area. These closures are enacted in anticipation of heightened pedestrian and vehicular activity associated with the festival events.

Duration of Road Closure:

The road closure will commence at 6:00 PM on April 27th, 2024, and remain in effect until 4:00 AM on April 28th, 2024.

Alternative Routes:

Alternative routes have been designated to facilitate patrons' movement. Individuals traveling to or from Suoaliga Road (Festival Village) are advised to utilize D.A. Peterson Street, situated adjacent to the police station Road. Please note that access to Nisbeth Road from the Salt Pickers roundabout will be restricted during this period.

Additionally, on the evening of the event, drivers can access the Festival Village via Cannegieter Road via D.A. Peterson Street, the Salt Pickers roundabout, and Suoaliga Road.

Cannegieter Street and Back Street will remain open as alternative thoroughfares for accessing and exiting Philipsburg throughout the festival.

Boot Holder Notice:

KPSM extends a courteous reminder to all boot holders adjacent to Nisbeth Road to ensure that all their merchandise needed to and from their booths is brought or carried out before 6:00 PM on the event day. Following the closure of the road, vehicular access to the closed-off area will be prohibited.

Cooperation Requested:

The Police Force of Sint Maarten requests the cooperation of all residents and visitors to adhere to traffic directives and respect designated road closures.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On the evening of April 23rd, 2024, at approximately 11:00 pm, the Police Central Dispatch of Sint Maarten received a concerning call from the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) regarding a young man who arrived at the facility with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Promptly responding to the call, police personnel and detectives were dispatched to the SMMC, where they were able to interview the victim before he underwent urgent surgery briefly.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the incident leading to the victim's injury occurred in Dutch Quarter. In response to this serious matter, the Police Force of Sint Maarten has deployed patrols, forensic specialists, and detectives to the location of the shooting.

At this time, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the police are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist in the investigation. We understand the importance of community cooperation in resolving such incidents and ensuring the safety of all residents.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten encourages anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has information that could aid in the investigation to contact us immediately.

Detectives assigned to the Major Crimes Team urge anyone with knowledge or information concerning this incident to contact KPSMs Major Crimes team at +1 721 542 2222, ext. 208, 223, or 214. Alternatively, individuals can provide anonymous tips by calling the anonymous tip line at 9300.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On April 16th and 17th, a delegation from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management visited Saba. The delegation was headed by the Director General for Environment and International Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W), Afke van Rijn, with her team, Sebe Buitenkamp and Milton Horn.

Their visit began with a tour of the solar park, accompanied by Governor Jonathan Johnson and Island Secretary Bram Streppel. They were hosted by Managing Director of Saba Electric, Mark Zagers, who expressed his thanks to various Ministries and funding agencies for assisting with the building of the solar park. He also described the challenges faced such as the rising cost of fuel and equipment.

A visit to the Hells Gate Guts followed as Governor Johnson explained various issues surrounding this area such as illegal dumping of garbage and erosion.

On the 17th of April, at Saba Splash, the delegation was welcomed by Oscar Vander Kaap who gave a tour of the facility. He explained the process of how the water is filtered, the addition of the minerals in accordance with Dutch law, and the bottling process. He stated that testing on St. Maarten continues for each batch and indicated that while 60% of the population uses Saba Splash, there is still capacity to grow, with hopes for further reducing the cost.

Following this, a meeting was held between the delegation and Department Heads of Waste Management, Policy and Project Bureau, and Infrastructural and Spatial Development. One of the main discussion points was clarity on the upcoming implementation of the IAB BES and how the Ministry of IenW, along with the Inspectorate for Human Environment and Transport (ILT), would work with PES in actualizing this goal. The delegation team also acknowledged the unique situation on Saba which must be considered.

In the afternoon, the delegation joined Zelda Meeuwsen, Head of Infrastructural & Spatial Development, Courtney Hassell, Policy Advisor, and Mark Zagers at Fort Bay. Meeuwsen showed the location for the new Black Rocks Harbor and shared the plans and timeline for construction, while Zagers presented the potential location of the new solar park. Zagers shared his concerns about drainage and runoff into the ocean as there is growing environmental concern. Hassell reiterated this, citing the decline in coral from around thirty percent coverage in the 1990s to just eight percent now, which encourages Saba to work more towards protecting the environment when making strides to becoming more self-sufficient.

The delegation then visited the waste management facility. Waste Management Department Head Roxanne Simmons explained the process of exporting waste and the changes that have been made since the beginning of the year. She also expressed the challenge related to community involvement, as efforts are still being made to encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly via the correct bins.

During their last stop at the Saba Research Center, Alwin Hylkema shared information on various projects such as the Diadema-Sea urchin research which focuses on restoring the coral reefs around Saba.

The delegation left on April 17th with the Makana ferry, going onward to Sint Eustatius.
A wastewater pipeline needed by the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Plant project in Genesee County could soon be derailed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after two drilling accidents caused spills in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

The 1,250-acre STAMP site, about 35 miles east of Buffalo in the Town of Alabama, has been heavily backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, with $100 million in state funding to make the site shovel-ready for a semiconductor chips manufacturer, hydrogen power producer and other potential projects.

On Wednesday, the Fish and Wildlife Service sent the Genesee County Economic Development Center a notice of termination for its permit to build the wastewater pipeline necessary to transport wastewater away from the STAMP site. The drilling method for the pipeline was deemed infeasible due to the environmental harms it had created and was likely to continue creating, according to an analysis by a consultant for the center.

Tonawanda Seneca Nation sues US Fish and Wildlife Service over pipeline for Genesee County industrial park The Tonawanda Seneca Nation accused the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a lawsuit this week of violating federal laws by allowing a controversial industrial wastewater pipeline to be built through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Genesee and Orleans counties.

Pipeline causes spills in protected wildlife refuge

The Genesee County Economic Development Center had received permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to build a 9.5-mile-long pipeline northward through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge to dump potentially millions of gallons of treated wastewater into the Oak Orchard Creek in the Town of Shelby in Orleans County. The DEC determined that the pipeline wouldnt cause significant environmental impacts to the wildlife refuge or creek.

The Fish and Wildlife Service also granted the county economic development center a right-of-way permit to build the pipeline through the wildlife refuge.

The service approved that right-of-way permit reportedly without consulting the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, according to a lawsuit the federally recognized tribe filed in November. The Native American nation claimed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the National Historic Preservation Act by not consulting with it and violated the National Environmental Protection Act by not conducting a sufficient environmental review of the pipeline.

Construction of the pipeline began in July. The pipeline was to be constructed using horizontal directional drilling beneath ground level.

On August 15 and Sept. 7, two mistakes called frac-outs resulted in potentially hundreds of gallons of drilling fluid being released into the wildlife refuge, according to the Tonawanda Seneca Nations lawsuit. On Sept. 25 and Nov. 7, the DEC issued violation notices to the Genesee County Economic Development Center, requiring the agency to take actions such as remediating the land, determining what went wrong, addressing how further mistakes could be avoided and creating a monitoring plan for environmental impacts.

STAMP pipeline construction halted after multiple drilling fluid spills Federal and state authorities won't allow construction to move forward until the GCEDC complies with pollution regulations.

Pipeline construction stopped

On Sept. 29, the Fish and Wildlife Service ordered the county economic development center to cease all drilling operations  effectively halting construction of the wastewater pipeline.

That order required the center to present proof to the Fish and Wildlife Service that it had remediated the land from the spills and developed a plan to clean up future spills, and to present information from the DEC on whether construction of the pipeline could continue.

In response, the county agency sent the Fish and Wildlife Service a report by CPL, an engineering firm, indicating that the horizontal directional drilling method wasnt feasible given the likelihood of future spills in the refuge. The center proposed using an open cut method instead  which involves excavating land, setting a pipeline down and then refilling the area with soil.

Because of the environmental impacts caused by the horizontal directional drilling and the prohibition against using open cut methods under the right-of-way permit, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued its permit termination notice to the county agency Wednesday. The permit would be terminated on June 24, according to the notice.

In the notice, the Fish and Wildlife Service said it would be willing to discuss alternative construction methods for the pipeline.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center issued a statement on Thursday, saying it is working on submitting a new permit application for the construction of the pipeline using the open cut method.

The center also announced it is working on possibly a second wastewater pipeline that involves working with the Village of Oakfield, located just east of the STAMP site.

As the Oakfield line cannot fully replace (the) Orleans County line we will continue to pursue the force main to Oak Orchard Creek in the town of Shelby through a different construction method and we look forward to working with United States Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation as this process moves forward, the center wrote in its Thursday statement. The Oakfield plan alleviates the timing pressures for the build-out of the force main to Oak Orchard Creek.

Tonawanda Seneca Nation, environmentalists decry plans for STAMP wastewater pipeline Thursday's public comment period was the latest battle between county officials promoting economic growth and activists fighting for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections.

Tonawanda Senecas cite looming threat

Members of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation saw the Fish and Wildlife Services notice of permit termination as a win in its ongoing lawsuit against the federal agency.

This industrial wastewater pipeline through our ancestral lands threatened harm to the Refuge, our people and our way of life, Chief Roger Hill of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation said in a prepared statement. We asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to terminate this permit nearly two years ago, and only went to court when our repeated requests were denied. The Service made the right decision to pull this permit and protect the land and waters.

Hill referenced the Tonawanda Seneca Nations September 2022 request to the Fish and Wildlife Service to suspend the right-of-way permit until the agency consulted with the tribe, as required by federal environmental laws.

The Fish and Wildlife Service apologized to the tribe in May 2023 and promised to suspend the permit  but sent another letter less than two weeks later saying it determined that our authority to suspend a ROW (right-of-way) permit is limited to circumstance not present.

Given the Fish and Wildlife Services previous inability to suspend the right-of-way permit, Jill Heaps, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, the national nonprofit organization representing the Tonawanda Seneca Nation in its lawsuit, said she is skeptical that the agency will follow through with its current promise to terminate the permit.

This is the outcome the lawsuit was seeking, Heaps said, but were concerned and not going to trust this until after its officially terminated.

The Fish and Wildlife Services decision to terminate the pipeline permit is an important step in protecting the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, said Hill said in a prepared statement.

But our Nation still faces a looming threat from the proposed STAMP industrial site and we hope to move forward collaboratively with the Fish and Wildlife Service and New York State to ensure potential impacts from heavy industry are fully analyzed and avoided before permits are issued, he continues. It shouldnt take an environmental disaster for agencies to follow the law.
Airbus net profit soars 28% in first quarter



Paris, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2024



European aviation giant Airbus posted a 28 percent increase in first-quarter profit Thursday through rising deliveries and production, a day after arch-rival Boeing reported a loss.

Airbus' net income in the first three months rose to 595 million euros ($637 million) while revenue grew nine percent to 12.8 billion euros, as the group delivered 142 commercial planes compared with 127 over the same period last year.

The results were delivered "against the backdrop of an operating environment that shows no sign of improvement," chief executive Guillaume Faury said in a statement. "Geopolitical and supply chain tensions continue."

Suppliers say they also face component and staff shortages.

Faury said the plane giant was "actively managing bottlenecks".

Airbus was closely watching the future of Spirit Aerosystems, a US firm that makes some wings and plane body elements for Airbus, which could be bought by Boeing, Faury added.

Airbus expects to deliver 800 passenger planes this year, up from 735 last year, but still below the 863 it delivered in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company has an order backlog of 8,626 planes, of which 7,177 are for the narrow-body A320 family.

Airbus' rising profit contrasts with its American rival Boeing, which Wednesday reported a first-quarter loss of $343 million, reflecting recent safety troubles that have slowed production and deliveries.

Boeing tempered production of its best-selling 737 program following a January near-catastrophic incident on an Alaska Airlines jet that has sparked heavy scrutiny from US regulators and among aviation customers.

Boeing's 737 competes directly with Airbus' A320 family, and Airbus said it aims to produce 75 A320s a year by 2026 and is "making progress" towards that goal after delivering 48 a month on average last year.

"Our ramp up plans are continuing, supported by the investments in our production system while relying on our core pillars of safety, quality, integrity, compliance and security," CEO Faury said.

The ramp-up in production led to free cash flow falling 1.8 billion euros during the quarter, though the company is targeting free cash flow of 4 billion euros for the year.

Airbus also said it is increasing the production rate for its A350 widebody to 12 planes a month by 2028, up from a previous target of 10 by 2026.

The A350 accounted for 71 of the 137 plane orders received by the company in the first quarter. Low-cost Indian airline IndiGo, whose order last year for 500 A320s is already the largest-ever order in the history of commercial aviation, said Thursday it would buy 30 A350s and placed options on 70 more.

mra/imm/gv/js
Ahead of feared Rafah invasion, Palestinians mourn bombardment dead



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2024



Palestinians on Thursday mourned people killed in Israeli bombardment of Rafah, the crowded southern Gaza city where Israel says it is advancing plans for a ground invasion.

Global concern has mounted over the looming operation against Hamas militants in Rafah, where much of Gaza's population has sought refuge from more than six months of war in the narrow coastal strip.

Aid groups warn any invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

Israeli officials have for more than two months vowed to enter Rafah, near the Egyptian border, but even before any ground operation the area has been regularly bombed, including overnight Wednesday-Thursday.

Rafah resident Abu Abdallah said "a very powerful strike" hit a house where displaced Gazans were sheltering.

"This is not a life," he told AFP. "We can no longer live in our home, our neighbourhood, or walk anywhere. The war has been going on for too long."

At the city's Al-Najjar Hospital on Thursday, among the mourners were two men crouching, grief-stricken, in front of a white body bag.

Belgium said an Israeli strike on Rafah killed Abdallah Nabhan, 33, who worked for its Enabel development agency.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Israel's war cabinet was meeting Thursday "to discuss how to destroy the last battalions of Hamas".

Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said the cabinet discussed a new plan for a truce and hostage release, ahead of a visit planned for Friday by an Egyptian delegation.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have mediated truce and hostage-release talks, so far without success since a one-week halt to the fighting in November.

The war began with an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,170 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, with a retaliatory offensive that has killed at least 34,305 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.



- Regional fallout -



As protests in solidarity with Palestinians spread on US campuses, President Joe Biden signed a law authorising $13 billion in additional military assistance for close ally Israel and $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza.

The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military had begun construction of a "temporary pier" off the besieged Gaza Strip's coast to boost shipments of desperately needed aid.

Plans were first announced by Biden in early March as Israel had been accused of holding up deliveries of assistance by ground.

UN and humanitarian officials have repeatedly stressed that sea or air deliveries are far less efficient than increasing the volume of aid allowed into Gaza on land routes from Israel and Egypt.

The Gaza war has led to violence between Israel and Iran's proxies and allies, driving up regional tensions.

Israel has struck increasingly deeper into Lebanon, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement has stepped up attacks on Israeli military bases across the border.

Hezbollah on Thursday denied a comment by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant that "half of Hezbollah's commanders in southern Lebanon have been eliminated" in the months of violence.

In other regional fallout, US-led coalition forces shot down an anti-ship missile launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels, American authorities said on Thursday.

Britain's defence ministry said the Royal Navy shot down a missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.



- 'Deal on the table' -



In Gaza, witnesses reported clashes between militants and Israeli troops near the central Nuseirat refugee camp, as the world's attention is increasingly focused further south, on Rafah.

Citing Egyptian officials briefed on Israeli plans, the Wall Street Journal has said Israel was planning to move civilians to nearby Khan Yunis over a period of two to three weeks, before gradually sending in troops.

Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told AFP that Israel "will not achieve what it wants" in Rafah, warning that an invasion "will undoubtedly threaten the negotiations" and show "that Israel is interested in continuing the war".

Since the war started, between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinians from Gaza have crossed into Egypt, the Palestinian ambassador to Cairo, Diab Allouh, told AFP.

On Thursday the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and more than a dozen other countries expressed support for "the deal on the table" and called for Hamas to release the remaining captives.

During their attack, militants seized hostages, 129 of whom Israel estimates remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the military says are dead.

Hamas on Wednesday released a video of an Israeli-American man who identified himself as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, and was among those captured on October 7.

Hostage supporters and anti-government demonstrators have intensified protests -- including again on Thursday in Tel Aviv -- for the government to reach a deal that would free the captives, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war.

Iris Weinstein-Haggai, whose parents both died in captivity in Gaza, said: "We have to do everything to help the deceased come home to a respectful burial, and the ones who are alive to... reunite with their families."



- Hundreds buried at hospital -



Israel has repeatedly targeted hospitals during the war, accusing Hamas of using them as command centres and to hold hostages. Hamas denies the accusations.

On Thursday, Yamen Abu Suleiman, head of Gaza's Civil Defence agency in Khan Yunis, raised to 392 the number of bodies he said had been recovered from three mass graves at the city's Nasser Medical Complex.

Families had identified 165 of them, he said, reiterating accusations that some are suspected of being killed and buried by Israeli forces.

The Israeli army has acknowledged that "corpses buried by Palestinians" had been examined by soldiers searching for hostages, but did not directly address allegations that Israeli troops were behind the killings.

Some Gazan parents told AFP the bodies recovered had been buried by relatives.

The White House, European Union and the UN rights office have called for transparent and independent probes into the reported body discoveries.

burs-it/jsa
N. Korea's Kim oversees test of multiple rocket launcher



Seoul, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of a multiple rocket launcher, state media said Friday, its latest weapons test after accusations Pyongyang has supplied arms to Russia.

The largely isolated country has recently bolstered military ties with Russia, and Pyongyang thanked Moscow this month for its UN Security Council veto blocking the renewal of a panel of UN experts that monitored international weapons sanctions on Kim's government.

South Korea and the United States accuse North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia, despite UN sanctions banning any such moves.

And analysts have said the nuclear-armed North could be testing and ramping up production of artillery and cruise missiles before sending them to Russia for use in Ukraine.

The "flight features, (and) hit and concentration indices" of the "240 mm shell of a multiple rocket launcher", made at Pyongyang's new defence industry unit, were "evaluated very satisfactorily" during the test, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim stressed "the need... to surely carry out the munitions production plan for this year in a qualitative way," KCNA said.

The rocket launcher "with new technology would bring about a strategic change in bolstering up the artillery force" of the North's army, Kim said, according to KCNA.

Earlier this week, Pyongyang said Kim had overseen the country's first ever "nuclear trigger" drills, which involved simulating a nuclear counterattack as a warning to enemies.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said based on the Friday announcement, the North seems to have achieved "some progress" in integrating guidance technology for precision strikes targeting South Korea's capital region.

"The entire country resembles a missile defense industry expo," he told AFP.

Last year, North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests in defiance of UN sanctions in place since 2006 and despite warnings from Washington and Seoul.

Pyongyang declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state in 2022.

This year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.
European rapid-response force could see light next year: French minister



Paris, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



A European rapid-response force, including to help evacuate nationals from hostile environments, could be up and running by next year, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Friday.

He spoke after a keynote speech on Europe on Thursday by President Emmanuel Macron, in which he mentioned the need for such a force "to be able to deploy rapidly up to 5,000 military personnel to hostile environments".

"It's a key issue and one on which I hope we can succeed by next year," Lecornu told the France 2 television channel.

There are "lots of missions not in NATO's scope for which France often leads operations on its own", he said.

He mentioned the example of France's evacuation of hundreds of people -- French nationals as well as foreigners -- from Sudan last year after war broke out between rival generals.

"We are saying today: 'Let's do it in Europe', and for us, that is pragmatism," Lecornu added.

"We should be able to rapidly set up (this force) to ensure the safety of European nationals."
Zelensky blasts Russian nuclear risks on Chernobyl anniversary



Kyiv, Ukraine, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that Russia's capture of a major nuclear power plant threatened a radiation catastrophe, as the country marked the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine in the first days of its 2022 invasion.

Both sides regularly accuse each other of endangering safety at the site, Europe's largest nuclear facility.

"For 785 days now, Russian terrorists have held the Zaporizhzhia NPP hostage," Zelensky said on social media.

"It is the entire world's responsibility to put pressure on Russia to ensure that ZNPP is liberated and returned to full Ukrainian control, as well as that all Ukrainian nuclear facilities are protected from Russian strikes," he added.

"This is the only way to prevent new radiation disasters, which the Russian occupiers' presence at ZNPP constantly threatens."

The call came 38 years after the meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.

The incident, which is considered the world's worst nuclear disaster, contaminated vast areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Swathes of western Europe were also exposed to radiation.

"The Chernobyl disaster demonstrated how rapidly deadly threats can emerge," Zelensky said on Friday.

Russian forces captured the decommissioned Chernobyl facility on February 24, 2022 -- the first day of its invasion, when it sent troops into Ukraine from Belarus -- but abandoned it weeks later.

Russian troops have controlled the Zaporizhzhia plant since early March 2022.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has dispatched inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, has expressed concern over safety at the plant.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of firing drones at the power station, while Kyiv says Moscow has militarised the facility and is holding it "hostage".
Swedish parliament group urges $4.9-bn hike in defence spending



Stockholm, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



A Swedish parliamentary commission on Friday recommended moves to strengthen the country's armed forces that would add 52.8 billion kronor ($4.9 billion) to the national defence budget by 2030.

That would bring spending to 2.6 percent of GDP, thereby exceeding the NATO target of two percent.

The Swedish Defence Commission said the Scandinavian country needed to respond to new conditions, citing heightened tensions in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Sweden's recent integration into the NATO military alliance.

The commission recommended additional army brigades and navy personnel, a rise in the number of conscripts trained up every year and the creation of Sweden's first ever rocket artillery unit.

"Together, the (recommended) additions for military defence amount to 52.8 billion kronor in 2030," the commission said in a report presented to the government on Friday.

The commission is composed of MPs from all parties in parliament, as well as experts and representatives of various authorities, including the armed forces.

Its report will form the basis for a decision on defence spending in parliament this autumn, which the commission said would be "historic".

"The deteriorating security situation, combined with Sweden's obligations as an Ally, requires an increased ambition for the military defence," the government said on its website on Friday.

Sweden's defence budget for 2024 is around 119 billion kronor.

With the proposed increase, it would reach 185 billion kronor, defence commission chair Hans Wallmark told a press conference.



- More troops -



Wallmark said the commission wanted to bring forward the deployment of two new army brigades so the force had a total of four by 2030.

MPs wanted there to be three mechanised brigades and one infantry brigade, he told reporters.

The commission also proposed the creation of Sweden's first rocket artillery unit, saying it believed the creation of a full battalion was "pressing" but needed to be evaluated further.

It recommended a 50-percent expansion in the number of conscripts trained every year.

"We want to train 12,000 conscripts a year by 2032", said Wallmark, up from the 8,000 a year currently trained.

More personnel should also be provided for the navy, he said.

Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin made waves in January when he told a defence conference "there could be war in Sweden".

Shortly after, armed forces commander Micael Byden also said Swedes needed to "mentally prepare for war".

Sweden drastically slashed its defence spending after the end of the Cold War but reversed course following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

In March 2022, after Russia's fully fledged invasion of Ukraine, Stockholm announced it would increase spending again, aiming to dedicate two percent of GDP to defence "as soon as possible".

Late last year, the government said military spending would exceed the two-percent goal in 2024.
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal



Washington, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



The United States will withdraw some troops from Chad, the Pentagon has said, days after Washington agreed to move forces out of neighboring Niger.

The US has approximately 100 troops stationed in Chad as part of its strategy to combat extremism in West Africa.

"USAFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some US military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart," Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told a news conference on Thursday, referring to the US Africa Command unit.

"This is a temporary step as part of an ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad's May 6 presidential election."

Chad's air force chief had ordered the US military this month to halt activities at an air base near the capital N'Djamena, according to a letter sent to the transitional government and seen by AFP.

He said he had asked the US military to provide documents "justifying its presence at the Adji Kossei Air Base" but had not received any.

US troops at the Adji Kossei military base train anti-terrorism special forces and an elite unit of the Chadian army to combat the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.

"The presence of American forces in Chad was initially motivated by a common commitment to the fight against terrorism, an objective shared between the two nations," a Chadian government spokesperson told AFP Friday.

"However, concerns have been expressed by the Chadian general staff about this presence" and "in recognition of the concerns expressed, the US government has decided to temporarily withdraw its forces from Chad," said Abderaman Koulamallah.

"It is important to stress that this withdrawal in no way signifies a break in cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.

"Further discussions will take place to explore the possibility of the return of US forces in the case of a specific bilateral agreement between the two nations."

Neighboring Niger is also a lynchpin in the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in the region.

But Niger's ruling military junta said in March that it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming it had been imposed and the US troop presence was illegal.

Washington this week began discussions with Niger on withdrawing the more than 1,000 US personnel in the country, which is also home to a $100-million American drone base.

The United States will "continue to explore options on how we can ensure that we're able to continue to address potential terrorist threats" in the wake of the withdrawal, Ryder said this week following the announcement of the US pull-out from Niger.

General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno seized the presidency of Chad in a 2021 coup after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the Sahel country with an iron fist for more than three decades.

He announced in March his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election that has seen opposition candidates banned from running, and his main rival Yaya Dillo Djerou shot dead in an army assault on his party headquarters.
Russia targets Ukraine railways as Western aid due to arrive



Kyiv, Ukraine, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Ukraine warned Friday that Moscow was ramping up attacks on railways in a bid to disrupt military supplies ahead of a fresh Russian offensive while Kyiv waits for new US weapon deliveries.

Kyiv fears Russia is seeking to press its advantage on the battlefield ahead of symbolic May 9 Victory Day celebrations, as both sides continued to launch deadly cross-border strikes.

A Ukrainian security source told AFP that Russia wanted to damage Ukrainian railway infrastructure to "paralyse deliveries and movement of military cargo" as Moscow prepares to advance.

"These are standard steps ahead of an offensive," the source added.

Russian forces have a firepower and manpower advantage at the front lines, and Kyiv has warned that fighting will become increasingly difficult in the coming weeks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed the Kremlin wants its army to capture the strategic heights of Chasiv Yar, a village in the eastern Donetsk region, before May 9, when Russia celebrates the Soviet Union's victory in World War II.

On Friday, he said the months of delays to a $61 billion package of US aid -- approved by Washington this week -- had cost his forces.

"While we were waiting for a decision on the American support, the Russian army managed to seize the initiative on the battlefield," he told a video meeting of dozens of Ukraine's international supporters.



- 'Primitive' -



Oleksandr Pertsovsky, head of passenger transport at state rail group Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed that Russia had escalated its attacks on railway sites.

"They're hitting the stations indiscriminately. It's a very primitive way of doing it," he said.

Three railway employees were killed and four wounded in a Russian missile attack on the eastern Donetsk region Thursday, the company said.

Ten civilians were also injured Thursday when Russian forces attacked railway facilities in Balakliya in the Kharkiv region.

The Russian defence ministry said Friday that a strike on Udachne in the Donetsk region had targeted what it said were "Western weapons and military equipment" being transported by railway.

It also said it had struck railway loading facilities at Balakliya.

Those strikes represent just a small number of the attacks that have damaged trains or stations across Ukraine, including in more central regions like Cherkasy and Dnipro.

One of the deadliest single strikes of the war was on a railway station in Kramatorsk in April 2022, which killed more than 60 people fleeing Russia's advancing troops.



- Hospitals evacuated -



On Friday afternoon, Kyiv officials said they were urgently evacuating two hospitals in the capital after reports of a possible imminent Russian attack.

"A video is being widely circulated in the online media, actually announcing an enemy attack on these medical facilities," the Kyiv city council said on social media.

It said the video falsely claimed there were military personnel in the facilities, one of which is a children's hospital.

"To protect the sick children, their parents and medical staff, the Kyiv authorities are now doing everything possible to move patients and doctors to other medical facilities in the capital," it said.

Russia's forces have previously struck medical facilities close to the front lines during the war, now in its third year.

In March 2022, Russia bombed a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol, in what Kyiv and Western officials have called a war crime.



- Cross-border attacks -



Officials on both sides of the front lines said at least five people died on Friday from the latest wave of cross-border strikes.

Ukraine's interior ministry said two women, aged 77 and 69, were killed by Russian shelling on the town of Bilopillya in the northeastern Sumy region.

The Russian governor of the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, said one person died in a Ukrainian shelling attack on Friday.

In the Bryansk region, another Russian border area, a person injured a day earlier in a Ukrainian drone attack succumbed to her wounds, the governor said.

Moscow-installed authorities also said one person was killed in an attack on the Lugansk region, one of the four Ukrainian regions that Russia claims to have annexed.

burs/js
Erdogan expects new NATO chief to address Turkey's terror concerns



Istanbul, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he expected NATO's next secretary general to prioritise Turkey's terror-related concerns, as he met Friday with the leading candidate for the position.

Erdogan said fight against terror was one of the leading topics during his discussions with outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was in Istanbul to rally Turkey's support for his candidacy.

"We told him that in accordance with the alliance spirit, no terror organisation, especially the PKK and its affiliates should be tolerated," Erdogan told reporters, alongside Rutte.

The PKK, listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies, has waged a decades-long insurgency for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in the southeast of the country.

In addition, Erdogan said it is "imperative for the new secretary general to make intense efforts to remove sanctions, restrictions and obstacles in defence industry area among the allies".

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis is also a candidate for the NATO post, and Erdogan said he conveyed Turkey's requests to him during a phone call last week.

Erdogan did not reveal Turkey's choice between the two men, but said the decision would be based on "reason", even as he smilingly wished Rutte success on his "new journey".

Rutte is the frontrunner to replace Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of the alliance after the United States, Britain and Germany expressed their support for his candidacy.

Hungary, however, said the country would not support Rutte, who has previously voiced concern about receding democratic standards under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Rutte is also facing scepticism over the Netherland's failure to hit NATO's defence spending targets over the past decade.
Lithuania backs Poland leader's bid to host NATO nuclear arms



Dirmiskes, Lithuania, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Lithuania's president on Friday echoed his Polish counterpart's desire to have NATO deploy nuclear weapons in the region in the face of a growing threat from Russia.

The two heads of state discussed security as they observed a military exercise in the Suwalki Gap, a corridor that runs the length of the Polish-Lithuanian border, between Russia's heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus.

"The idea of deploying nuclear weapons is not warmongering or threatening Russia. It's an element of the deterrence system, which should act as a really significant deterrent factor," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has in recent days proposed stationing nuclear weapons in Poland, though the idea has been dismissed by others in Poland, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

On Friday, Duda again brought up the idea.

"The whole NATO territory, in our understanding, must be defended appropriately, adequately, so it is very logical that a nuclear system should be relocated to NATO's eastern flank," he said.

"We, as one of these countries, have declared our readiness to host this weapon," he added.

The presidents spoke during the Brave Griffin 24/II military exercise in the Alytus district of Lithuania.

During the exercise, 1,500 troops tested defence scenarios in the Suwalki Gap, considered the Achilles' heel of NATO's eastern flank.
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine



Washington, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced $6 billion in new military aid for Ukraine on Friday as Washington rushes to fill gaps left by months of limited American assistance.

The package is the second this week, following another valued at $1 billion that was announced just after US President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as it struggles to hold back Russian advances.

"I'm... pleased to announce today an additional commitment of $6 billion through our Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative," Austin told journalists, saying it will allow the procurement of new capabilities for Kyiv from US industry.

"This is the largest security assistance package we've committed to date," Austin said, adding that it will include air defense munitions, counter-drone systems, artillery ammunition and maintenance and sustainment support.

The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $44 billion in security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

But prior to this week, Washington had announced new aid for Ukraine on just one other occasion this year, a $300 million package in March that was only made possible by using money that the Pentagon had saved on other purchases.

A squabbling Congress had not approved large-scale funding for Kyiv for nearly a year and a half, but eventually took action starting last week after months of acrimonious debate among lawmakers over how or even whether to help Ukraine defend itself.

The US House of Representatives on April 20 approved legislation authorizing $95 billion in aid funding, including $61 billion for Ukraine, while the Senate passed the measure on Tuesday and Biden signed it into law the following day.
Four wounded in drone strike on Iraq gas complex



Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



A drone strike on Friday targeted a gas complex in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region wounding four people, local officials said, in the latest attack against the Emirati-owned facility.

"At approximately 18:45 (1545 GMT), a drone struck the site, according to preliminary information," said Ramak Ramadan, district chief of Chamchamal where the Khor Mor complex is located.

The attack "targeted a fuel storage tank", he added.

Four workers were wounded, said another local official who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media.

A security source confirmed the attack against the site which is owned by the United Arab Emirates firm Dana Gas.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The gas field lies between the cities of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, in a region administered by Kurdish authorities.

Unclaimed Katyusha rocket attacks targeted the same complex several times in recent years without causing significant damage.

In January, two Katyusha rockets targeted the gas field, causing a blaze, but no casualties were reported.
Drone strike on Iraq gas complex kills three: official



Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Three workers reported to be foreigners were killed in a drone attack on an Emirati-owned gas complex in Iraq's northern autonomous region of Kurdistan on Friday, a local official said.

"Three workers were killed and another three wounded," said Ramak Ramadan, district chief of Chamchamal where the Khor Mor complex is located.

He said that according to preliminary information, "the dead workers are foreigners".

Another source, who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media, said two workers from Asia were killed and six wounded.

A drone hit the site at approximately 6.45 pm local time (1545 GMT) according to preliminary information, Ramadan said.

It "targeted a fuel storage tank", he added.

A security source confirmed the attack against the site which is owned by the United Arab Emirates firm Dana Gas.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The gas field that came under attack lies between the cities of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, in a region administered by Kurdish authorities.

Unclaimed Katyusha rocket attacks have targeted the same complex several times in recent years without causing significant damage.

In January, two Katyushas targeted the gas field, causing a blaze but no casualties.

str/tgg/rh/srm
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal



Washington, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



The United States will withdraw some troops from Chad, the Pentagon has said, days after Washington agreed to move forces out of neighboring Niger.

The US has approximately 100 troops stationed in Chad as part of its strategy to combat extremism in West Africa.

"USAFRICOM is currently planning to reposition some US military forces from Chad, a portion of which were already scheduled to depart," Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told a news conference on Thursday, referring to the US Africa Command.

"This is a temporary step as part of an ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad's May 6 presidential election."

The withdrawal of about 75 US Army Special Forces personnel is scheduled to begin this weekend and be completed within days unless there are last-minute diplomatic developments, the New York Times reported, citing US officials.

Chad's air force chief had ordered the US military this month to halt activities at an air base near the capital N'Djamena, according to a letter sent to the transitional government and seen by AFP.

He said he had asked the US military to provide documents "justifying its presence at the Adji Kossei Air Base" but had not received any.

US troops at the Adji Kossei military base train anti-terrorism special forces and an elite unit of the Chadian army to combat the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram.



- 'Concerns' about US presence -



"The presence of American forces in Chad was initially motivated by a common commitment to the fight against terrorism, an objective shared between the two nations," a Chadian government spokesperson told AFP Friday.

"However, concerns have been expressed by the Chadian general staff about this presence" and "in recognition of the concerns expressed, the US government has decided to temporarily withdraw its forces from Chad," said Abderaman Koulamallah.

"It is important to stress that this withdrawal in no way signifies a break in cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.

"Further discussions will take place to explore the possibility of the return of US forces in the case of a specific bilateral agreement between the two nations."

Neighboring Niger is also a linchpin in the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in the region.

But Niger's ruling military junta said in March that it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming it had been imposed and the US troop presence was illegal.

Washington this week began discussions with Niger on withdrawing the more than 1,000 US personnel in the country, which is also home to a $100-million American drone base.

The United States will "continue to explore options on how we can ensure that we're able to continue to address potential terrorist threats" in the wake of the withdrawal, Ryder said this week following the announcement of the US pull-out from Niger.

General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno seized the presidency of Chad in a 2021 coup after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the Sahel country with an iron fist for more than three decades.

He announced in March his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election that has seen opposition candidates banned from running, and his main rival Yaya Dillo Djerou shot dead in an army assault on his party headquarters.
Iraqi female TikTok star shot dead: officials



Baghdad, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



A gunman on a motorbike shot dead a well-known Iraqi social media influencer known as Om Fahad outside her Baghad home on Friday, Iraqi security officials told AFP.

An unidentified attacker shot Om Fahad in her car in the Zayouna district, a security official said, requesting anonymity because he was not cleared to speak to the media.

Another security source said the attacker appeared to have pretended to be making a food delivery.

Om Fahad had become known for light-hearted TikTok videos of herself dancing to Iraqi music wearing tight-fitting clothes.

In February 2023, a court sentenced her to six months in jail for sharing "videos containing indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality".

The Iraqi government launched a campaign last year to clean up social media content that it said breached Iraqi "morals and traditions".

An interior ministry committee was established to scour TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms for clips it deemed offensive.

Several influencers have since been arrested, according to authorities.

Despite years of war and sectarian conflict after the 2003 US invasion to overthrew Saddam Hussein, Iraq has returned to a semblance of normality.

But civil liberties -- for women, sexual minorities and other groups -- remain constrained in the conservative society.

In 2018, model and influencer Tara Fares was shot dead by gunmen in Baghdad.
Strike on Iraq gas complex kills four Yemenis



Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Four Yemeni workers were killed in a drone attack on an Emirati-owned gas complex in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdistan region on Friday, local authorities said.

The Khor Mor complex owned by the United Arab Emirates firm Dana Gas has been hit several times in recent years, but Friday's drone strike was the first deadly attack.

"Four Yemeni workers were killed and the field was severely damaged," Kurdistan regional government spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani said.

He said the attack will cause "power shortages".

"These repeated attacks must stop," Hawramani added.

He called on the federal government in Baghdad to "find the perpetrators of this terrorist act".

Iraqi security forces said they formed an investigative committee to probe the attack, vowing that the "aggressors" will be punished.

A drone hit the site at approximately 6:45 pm local time (1545 GMT), said Ramak Ramadan, district chief of Chamchamal where the Khor Mor complex is located.

He said it targeted a fuel storage tank.

The attack disrupted gas supply to the region's power plants, resulting in the loss of 2500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, the local electricity authorities said.

Efforts are underway to repair the damage and restore the gas supply, it added in a statement.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.



- 'Threat to stability'-



Kurdish authorities denounced the attack and called on the federal government in Baghdad to find ways to prevent further ones.

"These attacks threaten the peace and stability of the country," regional president Nechirvan Barzani said, urging the federal authorities in Baghdad to "do their duty to stop these attacks, find the perpetrators whatever their affiliation, and punish them."

The gas field that came under attack lies between the cities of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, in a region administered by Kurdish authorities.

Unclaimed Katyusha rocket attacks have targeted the same complex several times in recent years without causing significant damage.

Kurdish officials have previously blamed the attacks on pro-Iran groups.

In January, two Katyushas targeted the gas field, causing a blaze but no casualties. This occurred during a time when pro-Iran Iraqi groups were attacking military bases hosting American forces in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

Kurdistan deputy prime minister Qubad Talabani condemned the latest attack on the Khor Mor complex.

He called on the Iraqi government and local Kurdish authorities to "swiftly launch an investigation and take serious measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks".
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records continues in New York

By Andrew Goudsward, Andrew Chung and John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump got another break when the U.S. Supreme Court signaled some support for his immunity claim, even as more of his allies faced prosecution for the former president's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Trump, seeking to regain the presidency this year, has managed to delay three of the four criminal cases against him. At the same time, the legal peril has ramped up for Trump associates and supporters who stand accused of aiding his attempt to hold onto power after his defeat.

State authorities in Arizona on Wednesday charged 18 people accused of plotting to illegally claim the state's 2020 electoral votes for Trump despite Joe Biden's narrow victory there. Trump was named as an uncharged co-conspirator.

The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared open to the idea of narrowing the federal criminal case against Trump, which is focused on many of the same events as the Arizona case, based on the view that presidents should have some legal protection for conduct that is part of their official responsibilities.

Trump, the Republican candidate challenging Democrat Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election in a rematch from four years ago, has not fully shielded himself from legal consequences. He is currently on trial in New York on charges that he falsified records to pay hush money to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, a case that does not involve his official actions as president.

But Trump's status as a former president has enabled him to challenge legal cases in ways unavailable to others accused of attempting to subvert the election on his behalf. Indeed, Trump appointed three of the justices on the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority.

"The U.S. Supreme Court had a monumental hearing on immunity," Trump said on Thursday as he left court in Manhattan. "I hear the meeting was quite amazing, quite amazing - and the justices were on their game."

Questions posed by the justices on Thursday about how their ruling would affect future presidents underscored just how different Trump's case is compared to the prosecution of his low-level allies.

"This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country," said conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee.

TRIAL DELAYS

A Supreme Court ruling that former presidents are entitled to some limited immunity would still be a victory for Trump. It may require further analysis by lower courts on which of his allegedly unlawful actions would be considered official - as opposed to strictly private and open to prosecution  further reducing the chances of a trial before the election.

In the past several months, Republican officials and Trump allies have been charged in four states, accused of falsely holding themselves as legitimate presidential electors to be tallied by Congress in its certification of the 2020 election results.

Those charged in Arizona include 11 people who falsely claimed to be the legitimate Trump electors from the state as well as his former personal lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Giuliani, Eastman and Meadows also have been charged alongside Trump in a racketeering case brought by local prosecutor Fani Willis in Georgia, another election battleground state where Trump sought to reverse a narrow loss. Three people accused of serving as fake Trump electors in Georgia have been charged in that case. All have pleaded not guilty.

State attorneys general in Michigan and Nevada brought criminal cases last year against other so-called fake electors that did not include Trump or his top advisers.

'WHAT CROSSES THE LINE'

Defense lawyers in some cases have claimed that the pro-Trump electors viewed their role as contingent upon the success of lawsuits and other means Trump used to challenge the election results.

"The problem is we don't have any clear guidelines or clear law as to what crosses the line," said Manny Arora, an attorney for Kenneth Chesebro, a lawyer who advised the Trump campaign.

Chesebro has pleaded guilty in the Georgia case and has spoken to investigators in other states.

Some defendants have attempted to use their former offices to benefit their defense, with limited success. Meadows unsuccessfully sought to move the Georgia case to federal court, arguing that he had acted as a federal officeholder.

Trump's supporters also have faced criminal consequences for breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed attempt to block Congress from certifying Biden's victory. Nearly 1,400 people have been charged and more than 500 have been sentenced to prison terms, according to U.S. Justice Department figures.

While much of Thursday's questioning by conservative justices seemed to signal a preference for further analysis on official-versus-private conduct, questions by two justices seemed to leave a door open to a Trump trial going ahead even if some immunity is recognized by the Supreme Court.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, another Trump appointee, wondered if any of the allegations concerning solely private conduct could go to trial with the "speed" favored by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the federal election-related charges.

"Is another option for the special counsel to just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct?" Barrett asked Michael Dreeben, who was arguing on behalf on the special counsel.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson emphasized that possibility, asking if there are "sufficient allegations in the indictment in the government's view that fall into the 'private acts' bucket that the case should be allowed to proceed?"

"Correct," Dreeben responded.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung, Andrew Goudsward and John Kruzel; Editing by Scott Malone and Will Dunham)
Radio 1Xtra host Richie Brave has said the Booker Prize, awarded since 1969 for the best work of fiction in English, should consider a name change because of links to slavery.

Brave revealed that his legal surname was Booker and that his ancestors were enslaved by George and Josias Booker, the founders of the company that later went on to sponsor the prize.

I hope that Booker will start asking themselves some questions around the name, he told The Guardian.

That name was inflicted upon us. As an organisation, you have a choice to change your name to something different, he added.

I personally wouldnt want to retain a name thats associated with that.

The organisers of the prestigious literary prize had earlier modified an article about the Booker brothers and their ties to slavery.

The article detailed the history of wholesale food distributor Booker McConnell, which sponsored the Booker Prize from 1968 to 2002.

Josias Booker left Liverpool for Demerara in what was then British Guiana in 1815 to run a cotton plantation, called Broom Hall, where he enslaved around 200 people. Josias was later joined by his brother George. The article went on to mention that the brothers received 2,884 from the British government when slavery was abolished in 1833, as compensation for 52 emancipated slaves.

The Bank of England estimates the compensation received by the brothers to be equivalent to 285,836 in 2024.

The article originally referred to the Bookers as having managed nearly 200 enslaved people, a characterisation that Brave called out in a post on X.

Josias & George did not manage my family, he wrote. They enslaved them. Thats why we STILL have their last name. They were enslavers, not managers.

Hi @TheBookerPrizes, I really appreciate the transparency. The enslaved African people referenced are my family.



Josias & George did not "manage" my family. They enslaved them. Thats why we STILL have their last name. They were enslavers, not "managers".https://t.co/exxOhSgQd8  Richie Brave  (@RichieBrave) April 24, 2024

The article has since been edited to remove the reference to them having managed the slaves.

Dont attempt to sanitise the horrors of slavery, said Brave.

When were not having the correct conversations, or were not using the correct language, not only are we dishonouring peoples ancestors but we are retraumatising people who already feel the trauma as a result of what happened in their families historically.

In a separate post on X, Brave thanked the Booker organisers for considering his comments and editing the piece.

I think this is the beginning of a very long conversation that attempts to start righting the wrongs that have happened historically, he said.

Thank you @TheBookerPrizes for editing the site and clearly and accurately stating that the Booker brothers were enslavers. https://t.co/LbkG2AXmcB  Richie Brave  (@RichieBrave) April 24, 2024

A statement by the Booker organisers said: A descendant of people enslaved by the Booker brothers in the 19th century contacted us on social media yesterday about an inaccuracy in a description of Bookers history on our website. We appreciated his getting in touch and fully agree with his point about the importance of language.

We have updated the article accordingly and apologise for the distress caused. As the article also explains, further research into this important history is in progress, which we will share once its complete. This research will contribute to any future thinking.

The Booker Prizes are committed to excellence in literature and mindful of the conditions for justice. We will continue to reflect on the ways in which we represent this to readers everywhere.

The original piece also says that a more substantial account, written from the point of view of a Guyanese historian, will follow.

A few thoughts on this from a historian of slavery in Guyana, FWIW.



Part of the problem w/ this language is how a 21st cent. reader understands "manager" or "management"--terms too easily stripped of their brutality and context.



(BTW, same problem w/ plantation "attorney") https://t.co/ORy8YdT256  Randy Browne (@randymbrowne) April 24, 2024

This is not the first time the Booker Prizes connections to slavery have been highlighted.

In 1972, Booker winner John Berger used his acceptance speech to blast the Booker McConnell sugar firms exploitation of Guyana and its role in the Industrial Revolution.

Booker McConnell have had extensive trading interests in the Caribbean for over 130 years. The modern poverty of the Caribbean is the direct result of this and similar exploitation. One of the consequences of this Caribbean poverty is that hundreds of thousands of West Indians have been forced to come to Britain as migrant workers, Berger said.

This is why I have to turn this prize against itself.

He pledged to donate half of his 5,000 prize money to the Black Panther Party and used the other half for a project on migrant workers.

The Booker Prize is currently funded by Crankstart, a charitable foundation.

This article was amended on the day of publication. It previously said that the original sponsors of the Booker Prize were Josias and George Booker, but this was inaccurate. The prize was sponsored by the company Booker McConnell. Josias and George Booker founded the company that ultimately went on to sponsor the prize.
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As a family we have many questions and concerns about what various state agencies knew or ought to have known about this terrorist before he carried out his attack, and whether they could have done something to prevent it.
Not only are the charges that have been authorised by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged, anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act.
On April 24th, the Anhui Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese organized a group of media representatives and members of the Anhui Association for International Culture Exchanges with Overseas Chinese to visit Maying Village in Changfeng County, Hefei City, and carry out the media activity of "Overseas Chinese Contribute to Jianghuai Region Revitalization, Setting off Again in the Spring." The relevant leader of the Anhui Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese stated that Maying Village has officially been designated as the "Anhui Province Overseas Chinese International Cultural Exchange Base." The relevant departments should continue to strengthen guidance for the exchange base, promote standardized construction, highlight its unique intangible cultural heritage projects and rural tourism culture, utilize the platform of the overseas Chinese community as a link, and carry out cultural exchange activities with overseas Chinese characteristics. The aim is to attract more overseas Chinese to visit Hefei, Changfeng, and Maying, making it a true platform for promoting Chinese culture, especially local culture, facilitating cultural exchanges at home and abroad, and serving as an important hub for overseas Chinese. This will propel the work of the bases construction to a new stage and contribute to the acceleration of building a modern and beautiful Anhui. During the event, a media symposium on offering suggestions for building better rural areas was held. The visiting group also conducted on-site visits to the Hefei Yangmiao Revolution Memorial Hall, Maying Village, as well as New Energy Enterprise SOJO (Hefei) Co., Ltd., and CALB (Hefei) Co., Ltd. Source: ahqiaolian
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The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) signed, on Friday, a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the third session of the Joint Committee of the Government of Romania and the Government of the Emirates, the institution announced in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The MoU provides for the consolidation of business relations and the development of the economic component between the two states and establishes the guidelines the business environments in Romania and the United Arab Emirates can follow to facilitate bilateral trade.

"The Memorandum of Understanding, signed today (Friday, ed. n.) with the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce, represents the continuation of the collaboration between the two organizations that began in Abu Dhabi, in February of this year. At the same time, we also benefit from a favourable political context , there are a number of very important economic projects on the agenda of the Romanian Government, carried out in partnership with the UAE, but it is very important to involve the Romanian business environment as much as possible. The figures from the end of last year indicate a value of trade with the UAE of only 487 million euros, obviously far below the economic potential of the two states. There is, therefore, the need to expand the operations of Romanian entrepreneurs in the Emirati space, simultaneously with the attraction of major investments in our country, the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations being a first step in this direction," the deputy general secretary of CCIR, Bogdan Visan, said.

For his part, the general secretary of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the United Arab Emirates, Humaid M. Ben Salem, mentioned that the United Arab Emirates considers Romania a very important commercial partner.

As far as the relationship with CCIR is concerned, it goes beyond the borders of the two states, together succeeding, over time, to promote, at the world level, a set of initiatives with the aim of strengthening the relations of the business communities which, in the end, offer a higher degree of political stability. I am convinced that the Memorandum of Understanding that we signed today will open up new business opportunities for business circles in Romania and the UAE, Humaid M. Ben Salem said.
President Klaus Iohannis on Friday evening received the Vice-President of the Republic of Turkey, Cevdet Yilmaz, who was on an official visit to Romania, in which context the two discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Presidential Administration informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

On the occasion of the meeting, the president of Romania expressed his appreciation for the substance and dynamics of the bilateral political-diplomatic dialogue, focused on the continuous development of the Romania-Turkey Strategic Partnership, on all its levels, including through the initiative of launching the Strategic Cooperation Council at the High Level between the two countries, which will develop the format of the joint government meetings and within which the key priorities in the strategic areas of common interest will be established.

Klaus Iohannis and the Turkish VP Yilmaz welcomed the "excellent level of economic cooperation", Turkey being the main commercial partner of our country outside the European Union and the first non-EU destination of Romanian exports.

The Romanian head of state further encouraged Turkish investments and showed that the opportunities offered by the Romanian market can contribute to reaching the full potential at this level.

In terms of cooperation in the field of security, Klaus Iohannis expressed his appreciation for Turkey's contribution to strengthening the allied defense and deterrence position on NATO's Eastern Flank and the Black Sea, including by participating in Reinforced Air Police missions on Romanian territory.

Also, the president of Romania welcomed the good functioning of the Romania-Turkey-Bulgaria Naval Demining Group in the Black Sea, an initiative that represents a model of effective cooperation in the Black Sea region and among the coastal allied states.

Iohannis and Yilmaz had an exchange of views on the main developments of interest on the NATO agenda and at the international level, as well as on the preparation of the results of the NATO Anniversary Summit in Washington.

Regarding the worrisome situation in the Middle East, Klaus Iohannis emphasized that "the escalation of violence must be avoided, and the efficient coordination of international efforts is necessary in order to advance towards a lasting peace in the region, when the conditions will allow it".

The Romanian president reaffirmed our country's support for the consolidation of EU-Turkey cooperation and welcomed the efforts undertaken by Turkey to host a large number of refugees, expressing support for the continuation of cooperation in the matter between the EU and Turkey, the Presidential Administration also says.
The third session of the Joint Co-operation Committee between the Government of Romania and the Government of the United Arab Emirates will take place today in Bucharest.

The meeting will be attended by Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu.

Part of the meeting will be the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the United Arab Emirates.

The session of the Joint Co-operation Committee between the Government of Romania and the Government of the United Arab Emirates is taking place at the Parliament House.

The first session of the committee took place in April 2018, when the UAE minister of state for economic and trade affairs came to Bucharest.

The second such meeting was held in June 2022 in the UAE.

AGERPRES
The legacy of the late Michael Neidorff continues to have a historic impact on the region, according to Michael McMillan, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis president and CEO.

On Thursday, McMillan announced that the Centene Corporation, the company that Neidorff moved from Milwaukee to St. Louis and led from a $40-million single healthcare plan to a global healthcare company with revenues of $125 billion, is donating its Ferguson call center to the Urban League.

McMillan said the Urban Leagues newest facility will be called the Centene Connected Community Center. It will house Head Start, workforce development, education, housing, and re-entry programs. It will also have a regional food distribution center and Midwest conference center, which can be used for community events.

This is the single largest item donated to any particular Urban League [affiliate] in its 114-year history, McMillan said during a press conference prior to his organizations 106th annual Dinner Meeting at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.

We have been blessed with a multiple decade relationship with Centene.

The late Neidorff died at 79 on April 7, 2022. He was an Urban League champion and served as board chair and a board member of the St. Louis affiliate.

He was National Urban League board chair in 2014 and was instrumental in the selection of St. Louis as site of the 2017 National Urban League convention.

This historic donation will bolster efforts to empower individuals and families, transforming lives and fostering greater equity within the St. Louis community, McMillan said.

The exceptionally productive partnership over the years between Centene and the Urban League has yielded significant local and national collaborations aimed at supporting those in need within our neighborhoods.

Ken Fasola, Centene Corporation president, said the company remains committed to the Urban League and its mission to create a more inclusive and empowered society.

By donating this building, we aim to strengthen the Urban Leagues capacity to serve the needs of individuals and families in the north St. Louis County area and beyond, he said.

McMillan said the 45,000-square-foot facility, which is located at 2900 Pershall Road, is scheduled to open this summer.

The facility was constructed in 2016 at a cost of $25 million. Many of its employees began working from home during and after the pandemic, which led to much of the building being unused.

McMillan said Centene, our longtime friend and ally, accepted my request to consider a donation of the building.

He added that the Urban League hopes to add up to 100 employees that will support programs in the new center.
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ST. LOUIS  Hollywood would have loved St. Louis police Sgt. Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow.

In 2017, she worked in the plain-clothes intelligence division, investigating high-profile crimes, from gun violence to public corruption and sex trafficking. She worked on an FBI Task Force. At one point, she oversaw the gang unit.

Then a new boss came in. The boss, Capt. Michael Deeba, wanted a man in Muldrows job, according to court records. He transferred Muldrow to a desk job in the Fifth District. He took away her FBI credentials and take-home car.

It was like every cop movie youve ever seen, where the police chief dresses down the detective and threatens to bust them down to traffic patrol.

Muldrows pay remained the same, but her career prospects vanished. She applied for multiple job openings to get back into detective work and was denied over and over again. So in 2018, she filed a discrimination lawsuit against Deeba and the city of St. Louis, alleging they violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

A federal judge and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals tossed her lawsuit. They ruled that job transfers werent a significant enough change to employment to prove damages in a discrimination case.

Last week, in a unanimous opinion written by Justice Elena Kagan, the U.S. Supreme Court revived Muldrows lawsuit and opened the door for similar discrimination claims to move forward.

The courts below rejected the claim on the ground that the transfer did not cause Muldrow a significant employment disadvantage, Kagan wrote. Today, we disapprove that approach. Although an employee must show some harm from a forced transfer to prevail in a Title VII suit, she need not show that the injury satisfies a significance test. Title VIIs text nowhere establishes that high bar.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

The American Civil Liberties Union called the Supreme Court ruling a huge victory for workers that will change the landscape for workplace discrimination cases.

What happens next in Muldrows case, though, isnt entirely clear, says Brian Wolfman, one of her lawyers and the director of the Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic at Georgetown University Law School. The case will be sent back to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which could make further rulings or pass it down to the U.S. District Court in St. Louis. The case could then head to a trial or be settled.

But its clear the ruling will send reverberations nationwide, Wolfman says.

Going forward, this has a very large effect on access to the courts, said Wolfman, who handled the appeal with Boston University law professor Madeline Meth.

He added that the ruling corrects a decades-old error in understanding federal employment discrimination laws.

In police departments in particular, transfers are a common tactic to punish officers. The practice has been highlighted in multiple discrimination lawsuits filed by St. Louis area officers. One of the most notable cases was that of former St. Louis County Sgt. Keith Wildhaber, who was transferred after he filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the county. Wildhaber won a nearly $20 million jury verdict, which was later lowered in a settlement.

At least one other St. Louis police discrimination case will be revived because of the Muldrow ruling. Wolfman and Meth also represent Louis Naes, an officer who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city in 2019. Naes lawsuit was tossed in district court for similar reasons to Muldrows case, and the appeals court put Naes case on hold pending the Muldrow ruling.

Now both discrimination cases will likely be revived. The city of St. Louis, and employers across the nation, have been put on notice. Muldrow was left worse off several times over after her transfer, Kagan wrote.

Under the new, more accurate interpretation of the Civil Rights Act, both police officers will likely have an opportunity to prove their discrimination claims. And plenty of other cases will now have a chance to move forward in the courts if companies or governments used transfers to discriminate on the basis of sex, race or religion.

Critics of the case have said the ruling could open the floodgates to discrimination lawsuits. But thats not going to happen, Wolfman said.

The sky is not going to fall, he said. What is going to happen is that what Congress wanted (when it passed Title VII) is going to be enforced.
JEFFERSON CITY  A doomsday budget could be rolled out in the Missouri Senate next week if a hard-line faction of GOP members attempts to hold up the renewal of a key tax.

With the Freedom Caucus threatening to filibuster approval of the tax on health care providers if an ever-growing and changing list of their demands is not met, the shadow budget would attempt to show what would have to be cut if the funding stream is not approved.

Were going to have to make adjustments to the budget if we dont have $4.5 billion, said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, Thursday.

At issue is the Federal Reimbursement Allowance tax, which is paid by hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers. The tax, which expires Sept. 30, generates more than $4 billion to help pay for the states Medicaid program.

The budget, which must be completed by May 10, cant be finished until the tax is in place, Hough said.

The Freedom Caucus says it will hold up passage of the FRA until a bill banning Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program is signed by Gov. Mike Parson.

The group also plans to keep their blockade in place until the Senate passes a measure that would change how voter-initiated constitutional amendments are approved. The House sent its version to the Senate Thursday, leaving it up to the Senate to push it across the finish line.

One member of the splinter group, Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, warned that he also plans to slow the passage of the budget when those bills are being debated.

I look forward to offering several conservative amendments when the budget bills come to the Senate floor, Hoskins said on social media.

The Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday finalized its work on the package of spending bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, putting it on track to hit the full Senate next week.

It includes additional spending, pushing it closer to the $53 billion level sought by Parson than the $51 billion plan approved earlier in the House.

Among the changes made by the Senate is a plan to boost the minimum rate of pay for contracted workers who care for the states developmentally disabled population to $17 per hour.

That could help recruit and retain more workers in an industry facing challenging workforce issues.

The Senate proposal also includes additional money for child care programs in a bid to get more people into jobs.

The Senate version also rejected a House plan to pay $10 million for studies into the use of psilocybin mushrooms to treat mental health conditions.

And the Senate plan also includes $7.5 million to pay for testing water in schools for fentanyl.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, said he is reserving judgment on the Senate changes as he reviews the document.

The current schedule has the full Senate signing off on Houghs budget plan next week, followed by time spent trying to hammer out a final spending blueprint with the House version.

The House plan reduces Parsons proposal by about $2 billion. Among items cut by the House is a nearly $53 million plan to redevelop the mostly abandoned Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City as a tourist site.

The House version also reduces by more than $574 million the amount Parson had sought for the states Medicaid program, which provides health insurance to low-income Missourians.

The House also reduced Parsons call for a 3% boost to colleges and universities to a 2% increase. The Senate Appropriations Committee restored that amount to 3%.

The House also would add $25 million to build a facility to teach engineering at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

After committing major state funds to rebuild and widen Interstate 70 last year, the House plan allocates $727 million to improve Interstate 44. In addition, $100 million will go to repair rural roads across the state.

The state also could see a new state park in southwestern McDonald County, which is represented by House Budget Committee Vice Chairman Dirk Deaton.

Missouri taxpayers also will be on the hook for $8 million for Parsons decision to send National Guard troops to Texas as part of a Republican-led effort to highlight immigration as an election-year issue.

The plan leaves Parsons budget proposal on teacher pay intact. Base salary for teachers would rise to $40,000, up from the current national low of $25,000. The cost is about $4 million.

Facing a tight deadline, Smith said Thursday he has developed a creeping doubt about being able to finish the budget by the deadline.

But, he told reporters Thursday, As of right now we do have time.

Hough did not offer any examples of what programs or projects might be left by the wayside if the health provider tax isnt approved.

We will have to make decisions associated with budget bills if we dont have $4.5 billion. You will see cuts if we dont do the FRA, Hough said.

Originally posted at 10 a.m. Friday, April 26. Updated 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28 to correct Rep. Dirk Deaton's position on the House Budget Committee to vice chair.
Republican attorneys general from 17 states including Missouri filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging new federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions, calling the rules an illegal interpretation of a 2022 federal law.

The lawsuit led by Tennessee and Arkansas comes since finalized federal regulations were published April 15 to provide guidance for employers and workers on how to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The language means workers can ask for time off to obtain an abortion and recover from the procedure.

The rules, which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adopted on a 3-2 vote along party lines, will go into effect June 18. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Arkansas argues the regulations go beyond the scope of the 2022 law that passed with bipartisan support.

This is yet another attempt by the Biden administration to force through administrative fiat what it cannot get passed through Congress, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement. Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law.

An EEOC spokesperson referred questions to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Better Balance, one of the most vocal advocates for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, called the lawsuit a baseless attack on the laws protections.

This lawsuit represents a bad faith effort to politicize what is a vital protection for the health and economic security of millions of families, and a continuation of the alarming attacks on womens health and reproductive choice, Dina Bakst, the groups co-president, said in a statement. We are committed to fighting to defend workers rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The EEOC has said the new law does not obligate employers or employer-sponsored health plans to cover abortion-related costs, and that the type of accommodation that most likely will be sought under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act regarding an abortion is time off to attend a medical appointment or for recovery, which does not have to be paid.

In addition to Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.
JEFFERSON CITY  One proposal that soared out of the House this week would ask Missouri voters to consider loosening the term limits law they enacted more than 30 years ago.

That constitutional amendment, which three-fourths of voters statewide approved in 1992, limits state legislators to eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate, or 16 years of total service.

The resolution the House sent to the Senate on Wednesday would still limit lawmakers to 16 years of total service.

But beginning Dec. 5, 2030, the amendment would remove the eight-year limits for serving in one chamber. Time in office due to an election before that date would be counted against a legislator.

The measure passed on a 134-14 vote, with five lawmakers voting present.

The resolution sponsor Rep. Mike Stephens, a term-limited Republican from Bolivar, said Wednesday that for all of us who have gone through this experience, seeing what really turns out to be a brief time that we have here, is not the best governance.

He added that while he believed the change is an improvement, convincing the voters is another thing.

This will have to kind of ride on its own merits on the ballot, Stephens said.

Rep. Eric Woods, D-Kansas City, said individuals close to the process have seen how term limits can be harmful to the institution and can give some undue and unbalanced influence to special interests.

Woods said that because term limits are popular, legislators would have the job of convincing our constituents of why its important if the question made it to the ballot.

People believe in term limits because they have concerns about corruption and entrenchment and bad actors in the Legislature, Woods said, adding the amendment honors the peoples desire for term limits while providing more flexibility.

Public polling has shown overwhelming support for term limits. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in July found nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults supported term limits for members of Congress.

But recent Missouri history has shown reluctance toward enacting new term limits. Among statewide officials, only the governor and treasurer are limited to two four-year terms.

Amendment 1, which appeared on the 2020 general election ballot, would have also applied the limits to the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, secretary of state and auditor.

But the question was defeated, with only 47% of voters supporting it.

With only three weeks left in session, and with the Senate facing a long to-do list, the question may not ultimately make the ballot this year.

Stephens said Wednesday hopes of getting the question on the ballot are riding on a lot of improbabilities.

Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, referred Stephens measure to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on Thursday.

That committee has not voted on a similar resolution by Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, that would also allow 16 years of service in one chamber if enacted.

If approved by voters, Fitzwaters resolution would also shrink the size of the Missouri House from 163 members to 102 members, a plan that a nonpartisan estimate predicted would save the state millions of dollars annually.

The House legislation is House Joint Resolution 69.
WASHINGTON  The seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed by Israeli airstrikes represented the "best of humanity" and risked everything "to feed people they did not know and will never meet," Jose Andres, the celebrity chef who founded the organization, told mourners who gathered Thursday to honor the dead.

Speaking at Washington National Cathedral, Andres said there was no excuse for the killings and he called for an investigation into the deaths. He appeared to struggle at times to maintain his composure, his words focused on the lives and contributions of the aid workers as he pleaded for greater compassion.

"The seven souls we mourn today were there so that hungry people could eat," Andres said, reading aloud their names: Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha; Britons John Chapman, James Kirby and James Henderson; dual U.S.-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger; Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom; and Polish citizen Damiam Sobol. "Their examples should inspire us to do better, to be better."

The workers were killed April 1, when munitions fired from Israeli armed drones ripped through vehicles in their convoy as they left one of World Central Kitchen's warehouses.

Hanging on the altar behind Andres were flags of the slain humanitarian workers' home countries, alongside the red, green, black and white Palestinian flag. More than 500 mourners sat in pews below the cathedral's soaring stained glass windows.

Andres spoke in depth about each one and their contributions to the work of feeding people suffering through disaster and deprivation  human-made and natural  around the world.

He said Chapman was "brave, selfless and strong" and had the ability to make people around him feel "loved and protected."

Andres said Flickinger was a problem-solver, "exactly what you need" in the chaos of a disaster zone and Frankcom gave "joy to others even more than she gave food."

He talked of how Henderson taught first aid in Ukraine and was an avid rugby player. He said Kirby, known to friends as "Kirbs," was driven to help people in need. He said a town in Turkey had named a street after Sobol, in honor of his work there after an earthquake.

Andres noted that Abutaha's family was unable to attend the memorial, and he read from a message sent by the 25-year-old's brother that called the aid workers "heroes" and urged World Central Kitchen to continue its work in Gaza and across the globe, "carrying on the spirit of the fallen, and the resilience of the Palestinian people."

At times, Andres spoke emotionally about the organization's mission and why aid workers do what they do.

"We stand next to communities as they feed themselves, nourish themselves, heal themselves. People don't want our pity. They want our respect. Our only way to show respect is facing the mayhem alongside them," he said. "We remind them by showing up that they are not alone in the darkness."

After a swift investigation, Israel said the military officials involved in the attack violated policy by acting based on a single grainy photo that one officer had contended  incorrectly  showed one of the seven workers was armed. The Israeli military dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others.

"I know we all have many unanswered questions about what happened and why. There is no excuse for these killings," Andres told mourners, demanding an investigation. "The official explanation is not good enough."

The aid workers, whose trip had been coordinated with Israeli officials, are among more than 220 humanitarian workers killed in the Israel-Hamas war that began Oct. 7, according to the United Nations. That includes at least 30 killed in the line of duty.

The international prominence and popularity of Andres and his nonprofit work galvanized widespread outrage over the killings of the group's workers. The deaths intensified demands from the administration and others that Israel's military change how it operates in Hamas-controlled Gaza to spare aid workers and Palestinian civilians.

After the attack, World Central Kitchen and several other humanitarian aid agencies temporarily suspended work in the territory, where residents face a humanitarian crisis and desperately need aid from relief organizations as the U.N. warns of looming famine.

Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and Kurt Campbell, the deputy secretary of state, were among those at the event, joined by diplomats from more than 30 countries, along with representatives from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Gaza war protests ignite on US college campuses
April 25, 2024: Russia has mobilized more troops for duty and now has 470,000 soldiers in Ukraine, compared to the original 360,000. This increase was achieved despite Russian forces suffering over a half a million soldiers killed, disabled, or missing since the invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022.

Russia believed 2023 would be the year they expanded their armed forces. Heavy losses in Ukraine, mostly due to President Putins constant insistence on suicidal attacks and the impact of that information on the Russian people, especially military-age men, derailed the expansion plans. A year ago, Russia increased the legal maximum number of its active-duty military personnel from 1,013,628 to 1,150,628. It was believed unlikely that this number would ever be reached. At the end of 2021, months before the invasion of Ukraine, Russian ground forces had about 400,000 men while the navy and air force each had about 150,000. About a third of air force personnel were paratroopers or air-mobile infantry. The navy had about 12,000 marines, who guarded naval bases in peacetime. That means the heavy Russian losses since the invasion began, and failure to mobilize many replacements, reduced the Russian army to about 250,000 personnel, which was less than a third of the Ukrainian Army. The airborne forces and marines also suffered heavy losses but more of them are still in service.

Heavy combat losses reduced the personnel strength so sharply because the Russian army has major recruiting and training problems, plus far fewer soldiers providing logistic and transportation services. The latter are provided by government or private contractors to assemble and move supplies close to the combat zone, where military trucks and drivers move the supplies to army maintained collection points or the combat units. This works inside Russia where the state-controlled railroads are equipped for operation by civilians who are trained to provide such support to the military. For a major war against Russia, civilian trucks and drivers are mobilized to serve military needs. Such a mobilization disrupts the economy but that is seen as necessary t0 defend Russia.

This is why the Ukrainian invasion was not called a war but an internal operation in what Russia declared was Russian territory controlled by rebels. Russia did not expect the Ukrainians massive resistance or their destruction of so many Russian trucks and supply collection points. This dramatically weakened Russian supply capabilities inside Ukraine, especially after Ukraine received American guided GMLRS rockets that hit Russian supply depots because of information supplied by Ukrainians on the ground or NATO supplied aerial and satellite surveillance. Russian forces inside Ukraine are chronically short of ammunition, food, fuel and much else because of these Ukrainian attacks. Resort to looting civilian supplies in occupied areas only partially replaces the supplies destroyed in transit or stored inside Ukraine.

Russian armed forces were supposed to have over a million men, but that goal has never been met and at the end of 2021 the total was about 750,000. By the end of 2022 it was about 400,000, including the air force and navy. Mobilizations of new conscripts and men who had served as conscripts for one year failed to replace all the losses, in part because the mobilized men knew that the war in Ukraine was not going well, and most men sent there had little training, equipment or leadership. Most of the junior officers were killed or disabled during the first months of the war and officer replacements take months to train adequately, so new recruits get only a few weeks of training at best. Peacetime officer training takes years and now there is a shortage of trainers for troops and officers because most of the existing ones were sent to Ukraine as replacements for the catastrophic losses the Ukrainians were inflicting.

Ukraine had 250,000 active-duty troops in early 2022 and within months had half a million more in the form of volunteers and conscripts. Normally Ukrainian troops receive a lot more training than their Russian counterparts but in the first months of the war plenty of untrained Ukrainians were used to halt the invasion. Since then, Ukrainian troops received more training and are now led by effective officers and NCOs in combat. Ukrainian troops dont suffer from supply shortages and suffer absolutely and relatively fewer casualties than the Russians. Russian dead, missing and wounded too severely for further service are at least six times those of Ukraines, while the Russian population only outnumbers Ukraines by 3.5 to one. If this is a war of demographic attrition, Russia is losing.

Since the invasion began in February 2022 Russia has suffered enormous losses in terms of combat personnel, military equipment and the reputation for quality, reliability and effectiveness of Russian weapons and military personnel.

Even the Ukrainians were surprised at how unprepared the invaders were for combat and dealing with Ukrainian superiority in weapons, which were often Western and superior in performance to Russian models. Ukrainian troops were commanded by Ukrainian officers and NCOs using tactics that emphasized minimizing Ukrainian losses and maximizing Russian casualties.

Russias leadership, especially supreme leader Vladimir Putin, was delusional about the continuing lack of military progress in Ukraine. Even Russians who thought restoring independent, since 1991, Ukraine to Russian control was a good thing and worth fighting for, began losing confidence in Putins ability to make that happen. Each time failure in Ukraine became obvious, Putin would come up with a new reason why Russia was winning, and each of these was soon shown to be false.

Putin now believes he can eventually prevail because of disagreements among NATO members about whether or how Ukraine can win against the Russian invaders. NATO members agree that Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine, but many politicians in some of the larger, and more distant from the fighting NATO nations like the United States, Germany, France, and Italy, openly doubt Ukraines ability to regain control of lost territory. Putin supports this attitude by continuing to threaten use of nuclear weapons if Russia is faced with losing all its seized territory in Ukraine. Such a move is also unpopular in Russia and one of the growing number of reasons Russians are losing faith in Putin's promises that Russia will win in Ukraine.

Many Russians now openly oppose the war even though Putin quickly created laws to make such public dissent illegal. The failure of such laws soon became obvious in many ways. First, there are a growing number of anti-war demonstrations and physical attacks on military facilities, especially recruiting stations. Refusing to report when conscripted became more common. Another form of defiance is veterans of the Ukraine fighting providing details, based on personal experience, of why Russian forces are failing.

Many of these veterans are no longer in the military because they refused to renew their contracts. Many more soldiers remained in the army but refused to return to Ukraine and got away with it. Putin ordered that these soldiers be officially described, in their military records and military ID, as unreliable and unwilling to fight. In any other country a soldier who refuses to fight during wartime is subject to severe punishment, often execution. That still happens to reluctant Russian soldiers inside Ukraine where officers have the authority to shoot reluctant troops. Initially, as Russian casualties grew and progress was nonexistent, some officers did shoot troops refusing to fight. That soon changed as the troops threatened to and sometimes did shoot back or, in at least one known case, ran over an officer with a tank. Not to mention them sometimes shooting undesirable officers first. Ukrainian forces have provided additional confirmation of this violence and collapsing morale within Russian units. Many Russian troops will surrender to the Ukrainians at the first opportunity and admit it to Ukrainian, Russian, and foreign journalists. This prompted Ukraine to equip some of its quadcopters to notify and lead surrendering Russian troops safely to Ukrainian front-line forces.

The number of Russian military personnel is declining because of combat losses and veterans refusing to stay in, even though being a volunteer contract soldier is one of the few jobs Russians can get because of high unemployment rates caused by Western economic sanctions. Russian ground forces have been taking more casualties than could be replaced for the entire duration of the war and are now far outnumbered by Ukrainian ground forces, plus Ukrainian recruits now get two to four months of training which is adequate according to the World War Two American and British standards, while Russian recruits get only one to three weeks, which was what many Russian troops received during World War II.

Russia responded by lowering recruiting standards and accepting recruits or conscripts with physical, mental, legal, or psychological problems that would normally make them ineligible for military service. Russia has also dropped age limits for volunteers and is willing to accept non-Russians as long as they can speak some Russian and are willing to fight. These efforts are not producing enough new troops to be immediately useful because most of them have no military training and at least two months are required to produce useful troops for combat. Conscripts require less training and are generally used only for support operations outside Ukraine during their one year in uniform because of well-justified fears that the newly conscripted will refuse to show up for duty at all if they are forced to fight and die in Ukraine like the contract soldiers. Attempts to involuntarily extend the period of service of contract soldiers resulted in them deserting in such large numbers that the government ceased trying. This is because the post-communist Russian government does not have the coercive enforcement power over the population of the old Soviet Union.

After a year of fighting, Ukrainians ran short of artillery ammunition, so they used their mobile artillery only for counterbattery, which is firing on Russian artillery. The Russians initially used artillery ammo at an unsustainable level and, as the Ukrainians received more artillery ammo from NATO, Russias artillery superiority faded. Vladimir Putin knew his artillery munition reserves could not sustain a long war and for a while the Ukrainians had more munitions because of massive shipments from NATO nations. Those shipments declined after two years of fighting and political disputes in the U.S. Congress delayed military aid for Ukraine.

Russian plans included increasing the number of volunteer contract troops who are paid more than conscripts and serve longer. The government claimed it had 521,000 contracti by the end of 2023 and would have 695,000 a year or two after that. That was optimistic considering the number of existing contract troops who are not renewing their contracts. There is no information from Russia about how so many new conscripts or contract troops will be obtained to increase the size of the armed forces to 1.15 million. Russia may extend conscription service from one to two years and keep existing troops in uniform longer because of the war. That is not popular with most Russians, which is how that attitude forced the government to reduce conscript service to one year in the first place.

By late 2023, Russian offensive operations in Ukraine were feeble and ineffective. Low morale, little training and poor leadership were the reasons for this, so the Russian government is allegedly seeking to build up a well-trained force of infantry back in Russia to resume the offensive in 2024. This quite sensible idea by Russian military leaders was defeated in 2023 by Putins insistence on politically motivated suicidal attacks so it is unlikely to happen. Russia needs some effective troops inside Ukraine if Putin really wants to prolong the fighting for as long as it takes the West to lose interest in supporting Ukraine.
April 26, 2024: Since early 2022, when Russia unexpectedly invaded Ukraine, Russian soldiers have been seeking ways to avoid going to Ukraine. Russians quickly realized that Ukraine was a dangerous place for armed Russians. For Russian deserters, Russia was also a dangerous place to be. The penalty for desertion, if caught and convicted, is ten years in prison. After that you are considered an unreliable traitor in Russia. If deserters leave Russia for another country, they are often seen as possibly dangerous visitors and some are accused of being spies or saboteurs.

The growing number of Russian soldiers deserting the army are an obvious sign of the unpopularity of the war in Ukraine. Its illegal in Russia to openly oppose the war. Laws that made opposition to the war are a recent development. This means the Russian media cannot mention that nearly half a million Russian soldiers have been killed, crippled by wounds, or deserted while in Ukraine because of the war. The growing number of deserters is something the government is keen to keep secret. Military age Russian men are willing to do just about anything to avoid fighting in Ukraine. So far, several hundred thousand of these men have expressed a willingness to leave the country to avoid the war in Ukraine. Getting out of Russia legally is a problem but not impossible to solve. These men believe the war will continue until Russia gets a new leader.

The current Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, is a former Soviet KGB (Secret Police) officer who never lost his KGB paranoia about foreigners or his need to punish Russians suspected of misbehavior or disloyalty. With these traits, Putin began his efforts to restore the Soviet-era police state. Putins paranoia led to the invasion of Ukraine and an obsession with delusions that NATO was seeking to surround and cripple Russia economically and militarily. Leaving aside the fact that NATO is and always has been a defensive organization dedicated to protecting its members from Russian aggression. NATO nations provide Ukraine with military aid, not soldiers, to defeat the Russians invading Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion as part of a plan to rebuild the Soviet Union. Putin considers the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 a major tragedy that must be rectified. Putin ignores the fact that none of fourteen new nations emerging from the Soviet Union collapse wanted to have anything to do with Russia. Meanwhile the Russian Federation, the most powerful of the fifteen successor states to the Soviet Union, has other plans. The war in Ukraine is part of that plan and it is not working out as Putin expected. One asset Putin has is several hundred thousand military age Russian men who can be mobilized to fight in Ukraine. Russia has four times the population of Ukraine and Putin believes that quantity has a quality of its own. By mobilizing enough men to fight in Ukraine, the Ukrainians will be defeated. This will happen despite the weapons NATO countries are supplying or trying to supply. A faction of American politicians are blocking shipments of American weapons to Ukraine in the belief that a Russian victory in Ukraine would make Russia less dangerous for the United States. Many Americans disagree with this assessment but Putin agrees with it and needs those weapons for Ukraine to remain blocked so Russia can win.

Soldiers in the Russian army or men eligible to be mobilized into the army want the Ukraine War to stop. Putin has made it clear that he is willing to lose as many Russian soldiers as it takes to defeat Ukraine. Putin ignores the fact that a growing number of those Russian men are fleeing the country or deserting the army in Ukraine and seeking asylum in the West or Central Asia. Russia is prosecuting deserters it can capture and recently Central Asian states agreed to cooperate by allowing Russian deserters to be arrested and returned to Russia. Thats bad for the few thousand Russians arrested. Other Russian soldiers and military age men now must depend on obtaining asylum in the West. That is possible in Western Europe, while Eastern Europe is less welcoming to Russian asylum seekers. The east European countries were under Russian domination for nearly half a century and still dont trust Russians. Europe and the United States are more accommodating, as is Israel if the Russians are Jewish.

Russia cant win in Ukraine using soldiers who dont want to fight. Ukraine has already adapted and makes it easy for Russian soldiers to surrender and then move to Western Europe. That region is experiencing a growing labor shortage caused by population decline. If the incoming Russians are willing to learn a new language and adapt to the European democratic culture, they are welcome. Yet there are many Europeans who believe that Russia will take advantage of the situation by planting spies and pro-Russia agents among the Russian refugees. That has not halted the movement of these refugees into Europe but has made many Europeans wary of these new arrivals. Russian efforts to discourage the defections by sending agents to murder a few prominent refugees has not had the expected impact and angered the European governments.
Among the many losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine, one of the more obscure ones was the loss of Russian destabilization skills. A century ago, the new communist government in Russia came to power because of the communists ability to subvert their opponents and eliminate opposition without a lot of bloodshed. A more recent destabilization effort involved an effort to destabilize countries in Africa to distract attention mass media paid to the Russian campaign in Ukraine. Russian mercenaries and spies are busy trying to cause as much distracting chaos as possible in the rest of the world. This includes covert operations in Europe, mercenaries operating throughout Africa, and establishing links with Moslem organizations in Central Asia and Europe.

Russia believes that conventional warfare waged in Ukraine and the unconventional warfare carried out worldwide complement each other. Russian efforts to destabilize Africa are supposed to divert attention and resources headed to Ukraine. To make this happen Russian spies, assassins, and propagandists continue their efforts.

Revolution and subversion efforts worldwide have long been used by the Soviet Union and later Russia to use whatever opportunities were available to disrupt and diminish support for groups hostile to Russia while encouraging local leaders that support Russian objectives. For example, in 2016, Russian operatives recruited criminal gangs to cause trouble in the tiny Balkan state of Montenegro and disrupt efforts by that country to join NATO. That attempt failed when several foreign agents and pro-coup Montenegrin politicians were detected, arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned.

In February 2022, Russian agents tried to organize widespread protests that would justify Russian military intervention, aided by pro-Russian factions in the Ukrainian government. These factions were supposed to make it possible for pro-Russian groups belonging to the Ukrainian parliament and government to seize power. That effort failed because the Russians overestimated the number of pro-Russian officials in the Ukrainian government and the Russian invasion did not immediately succeed, as the Russians expected. There were too many Ukrainians willing and able to fight and defeat the Russian invaders.

A similar situation took place in neighboring Moldova, a poor, landlocked country that borders Ukraine in the west, near the port of Odessa. During 2022 and 2023, Russian FSB operatives tried to encourage anti-Ukraine protests that would offer an excuse for pro-Russian Moldovan politicians to call for military intervention by Russia. That failed because the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 failed and continues to fail as Russia suffers enormous losses in manpower and military equipment.

The Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) is the post-Soviet version of the KGB but has demonstrated a shortage of skills and ability to match the performance of the KGB in its prime. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was made possible, in part, because the KGB had also lost its ability to get things done.

The Soviet and Russian competition for the KBG and FSB, the smaller GRU military intelligence organization, often outperformed them. That was not the case in Ukraine, where the GRU also failed. This was not as bad as it seemed because the GRU specializes in operations outside Russia. The FSB has a component that does that and it is called the SVR. Foreign operations are often carried out by the GRU and SVR operating together.

When GRU officers are working abroad, they are monitored by Directorate K (counterintelligence) of the SVR. Those who serve inside Russia are watched by the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence. This is the Third Directorate of the FSB. Interestingly, in the Soviet period, it was also called the Third Directorate. It is not a coincidence but a continuation of the Soviet tradition. The Third Directorate of the FSB is still assigned to monitor the Defense Ministry, of which the GRU is a part. The head of GRU does not even report directly to the Russian president. GRU reports have to go through the Head of the General Staff and the defense minister before reaching the top man. GRU is very much number two in the Russian foreign intelligence business. As such they tend to try harder and consider themselves more elite than those pampered wimps over at SVR.

On the other hand, there also is one function monopolized by the GRU; battlefield intelligence. NATO countries are, and always have been, considered potential battlefields. Battlefield intelligence is run in peacetime as well. For example, in preparation for future wars, the GRU sets up illegal weapons and ammunition dumps in the territory of many foreign countries. This is a risky operation. It usually involves groups of junior Russian diplomats secretly going into rural areas to bury rifles, machine-guns, and other weapons. They have to do this discreetly and, in a hurry, to avoid detection by the local counterintelligence service. It is considered a hard job.

Western analysts regard the GRU as the most closed Russian intelligence service partly because it does not even manage its own press relations. That's because GRU is one of many components of the Defense Ministry and is not eligible to have its own press relations staff. The FSB and SVR are higher up in the government pecking order and entitled to their own press relations operations. Formally, GRU is nothing but one of the numerous Chief Directorates of the General Staff of the Defense Ministry. It does not even report directly to the Minister of Defense. That is why those foreign journalists who have questions about GRU must address them to the Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry. The questions are often handled by some press aide who knows little about intelligence work, while FSB and SVR press people are very well informed. Foreign journalists tend to seek out the SVR press department when seeking information on Russian intel operations.

During the Second World War GRU worked in close contact with the NKVD, the predecessor of the KGB. For example, in March 1941, both intelligence services jointly carried out a successful operation aimed at overthrowing the pro-German government of Yugoslavia. During the entire war, GRU and NKVD managed a joint network of foreign agents in Europe. The current system of two separate intelligence services competing with each other only came about in the 1950s, after Stalins death. It was done by the Central Committee of the Communist Party in order to protect itself from a coup inspired by either intelligence service. As a result, the GRU not only competes with the SVR, but it is also supposed to keep an eye on the SVR for signs of disloyalty.

In Soviet times, although the GRU was monitored by the KGB, both organizations reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. In case of emergency, the Central Committee could control the KGB using the GRU. The communists believed it best that someone guards the guards. Nowadays, GRU does not monitor the SVR anymore. GRU, the military, and the rest of Russia are all subordinate to the FSB/SVR.

SVR has more money and resources. It's long been like that, and the GRU has developed a tradition of getting by on very little. GRU methods are considered more aggressive and cruder than those of the SVR. GRU operatives tend to think they are at war even during peacetime. The SVR assigns its officers to do some jobs in the form of tasks, not detailed orders. The task is not supposed to be necessarily accomplished, while the order is to be carried out by all means. The GRU prefers ordering and expects results no matter what.

Russia is having problems with its secret agents and spies because of its invasion of Ukraine. NATO nations heeded the advice of Ukrainian intelligence that Russia was expanding its espionage operations in Ukraine and elsewhere. These warnings included some information on the expansion of Russian espionage and assassination efforts in Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of Europe. For example, in late 2022 Germany arrested a former soldier who held a senior position in the BND (Federal Intelligence Service). The interrogation of the prisoner has confirmed he was spying for Russia, and this led to the arrest of the Russian courier who took classified information to Russia while bringing the BND mole, as in a spy working for a foreign intelligence agency, his cash compensation. The Germans feared there were more such moles. There were a lot of them during the Cold War but most of those were arrested after 1991 or surrendered voluntarily. Not all the cold war era moles were identified, and Russia revived its espionage program in the 1990s, even before former KGB officer Vladimir Putin took power in Russia. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Putin was a KGB officer in communist East Germany. He spoke German and apparently knew about the West German mole network and sleeper agents operating in the West.

Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were problems with Russian sleeper agents, also known as illegals. During the last decade Russia has activated more of these sleeper agents and used them for a variety of tasks besides espionage. Since the Russians invaded Ukraine, more sleepers have been activated to gather information on NATO efforts to supply the Ukrainian war effort. These sleepers are trained to do this discreetly, but some used commercial quadcopters too frequently and attracted unwanted attention. European counter-intelligence agencies have prepared profiles of likely sleepers and that has made it easier to detect and arrest sleepers even if they have not been activated.

As a result of all this activity NATO governments, often the post-,Cold War ones in East Europe. have increasingly gone public with details of Russian espionage operations, especially the use of assassination of those Russia considers traitors or simply enemies of the state. There has been more of that since the Ukraine invasion and more Russians have fled their homeland.

In 2019 French journalists uncovered evidence of a Russian GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) Unit 29155 that operated from a secret logistics base in France near the Swiss border. From there at least fifteen GRU undercover agents engaged in espionage, sabotage, and assassination operations. Also described was a joint British, Swiss, French, and American intelligence operation to track down details of Unit 29155 and what it was doing between 2014 and 2018. The Unit 29155 base was apparently moved around Western Europe frequently to avoid detection and concentrate efforts on specific tasks.

One of these was assassination, including attempts on the life of Sergei Skripal in Britain early in 2018. This incident did make the news, mainly because the GRU agents used a form of nerve gas called novichok. That incident caused an international uproar, particularly as a British civilian was killed. In mid-August 2018 the U.S. imposed its first round of new sanctions on Russia for its March 2018 use of nerve gas in Britain. The details of this use of Russian nerve gas had been confirmed. British investigators identified the Russians who were involved with the use of nerve gas to try and attempt to murder Sergei Skripal, a former Soviet intelligence officer who worked for Britain as a double agent.

In response to the March 2018 incident, Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence agents and Russia responded by expelling 23 British diplomats. More nations said they would expel Russian diplomats and after the June confirmation that it was Russian novichok, the U.S. ordered into effect a series of additional sanctions on Russia. These would have been limited if Russia admitted it used novichok and provided assurances it would never do so again with any banned weapons. Russia said it will do neither and denied any involvement.

This assassination effort was nothing new for Russia. Skripal was still working for British intelligence when he was arrested in Russia at the end of 2004 and prosecuted for espionage. He was sent to prison in 2006 but got out in 2010 when Russia agreed to use him as one of the three imprisoned spies exchanged to get back several Russian illegals who were caught in the United States. Russia was reluctant to part with Skripal, who had apparently done enormous damage to Russian overseas spying efforts. But they wanted their imprisoned agents in the U.S. back. This was not the first time Russia had gone after people like Skripal in Britain. This sort of thing happened elsewhere in Europe before and after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Russia insists that it does not do this and has been saying that since the Soviets started hunting down and killing traitors overseas back in the 1930s.

What was not revealed at that time was the joint investigation of Unit 29155 and how many of the growing number of Russian espionage efforts in Europe could be traced to it and similar GRU or KGB operations in East Europe. The Russians have been quite active in Serbia and Bulgaria where local intel agencies have more experience with Russian methods. Thats because until the 1990s Bulgaria was ruled by a Russia-backed communist government that had close ties to the KGB and GRU. It was these former communist states in East Europe that were the first to detect and warn their NATO allies of the resumption of major Russian espionage efforts. Even journalists in East Europe were able to identify some Russian agents on their own.

Decades of Russian-imposed communist rule in East Europe left bitter memories of how ruthless the Russian espionage services could be, and many victims are still alive to provide personal testimony. Western Europeans, except those in East Germany, did not experience this and were slow to accept the fact that the Russians were back, since the late 1990s, at their Cold War espionage efforts. That attitude is changing as more details of recent Russian efforts are made public.

For example, in late 2012 Germany revealed it was prosecuting a Russian married couple who were arrested in 2011 on suspicion of espionage. Russia insisted that the two Russians were not active Russian agents but retired Cold War era spies. Germany accused the couple of recruiting and using a local spy three times between 2008 and 2011. When the police came to arrest the couple, the woman was found listening to coded messages. There was apparently much more evidence as well that the couple was spying.

The two 51-year-old Russians were sent to Germany via Austria using false Austrian IDs in 1988, to serve as sleepers, agents that spend most of their time doing nothing until activated from time-to-time for some simple, but essential, mission. While Germany let a lot of its own Soviet era spies off easy, there is still a lot of animosity towards Russian spies. That's because Russia is still very much involved with espionage. In Germany that means stealing economic secrets, which hurts the German economy. The Germans are not in a forgiving mood because of this Russian aggression.

Germany believes that this couple are but two of many other Cold War sleeper agents that Russia, or someone, is reactivating. Prosecuting these two included attempts to get them to reveal details of how the sleeper program operates. This would help the Germans track down other sleepers and get an idea of how many of them are out there. These two sleepers were apparently not very cooperative.

Some details of the sleeper operation were gathered from the investigation of so many sleepers. Many, if not all, sleepers were cut loose in the 1990s, as the KGB back home was reorganized and had its budget cut sharply. But after 2000 the FSB, the rebranded and reorganized domestic operations branch of the KGB, and SVR, foreign operations of the KGB, revived a lot of Cold War era operations. In large part that's because KGB men hold many senior jobs in the Russian government. The SVR and GRU got more money to operate in foreign lands.

In the GRU nobody cares how their officers obtain secret information, like parts of missiles and other weapons. They may buy it legally or semi-legally or even steal it. One enterprising GRU agent in the 1970s shipped a stolen Sidewinder air-to-air missile from West Germany to Moscow via United Airlines air freight. SVR officers are not allowed to do so. They are supposed to use foreign collaborators for it. In the GRU you just go get it. Thats why tracking Unit 29155 was such a big deal. These are all reasons why Unit 29155 is still active.


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April 25, 2024: In another first, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) launched one of its reusable Falcon 9 SLVs (Satellite Launch Vehicles) for a 20th time on April 12th. This launch delivered 23 more Starlink Internet satellites to orbit. This Falcon 9, in 19 previous launches, put eight people and 530 satellites, most of them Starlinks, into orbit.

This rocket is a Falcon 9 Block 5, which were designed to be used ten times. But now SpaceX believes these Block 5 Falcon 9s can be used for up to 40 launches. This Block 5 Falcon 9 has proved capable of carrying out a launch, then landing and carrying out another launch without refurbishment.

As of now SpaceX has about 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. It was in 2019 that the first sixty Starlink satellites were put into orbit. The goal is for SpaceX to eventually have 30,000 Starlink satellites up there. This would provide the entire planet with low-cost, high-speed Internet access via a multiple-satellite ISP (Internet Service Provider) system. Users will need a small ground station consisting of a small satellite dish and a special modem, costing $600 with a $90 a month service charge. In large quantities these stations cost about $100 each. Some nations will not allow their citizens to access Starlink while others seek to regulate what portions of the Internet users can access. This has been the experience of major competitors like ViaSat and HughesNet. When all the Starlink satellites are in orbit, Starlink will be the planets major provider of satellite Internet service. Starlink needs about ten million monthly fee paying customers to be profitable.

The original gen1 Starlink system was designed to expand to over 40,000 satellites if demand by paying customers was large enough to justify and pay for it. Starlink gen2 is designed to provide so much more customer bandwidth (data transmission) that far fewer Starlink satellites will be needed. That could be up to 90 percent less than gen1. Gen2 is designed to operate more efficiently over countries that outlaw Starlink as an ISP. Nearly half the Internet users on the planet live in countries that heavily censor Internet use. Starlink makes it much more difficult to censor Internet users. Originally designed to provide affordable high-speed Internet use to those in remote areas, Starlink discovered it had gained a lot of new customer interest because of its experience in Ukraine.

The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the original gen1 Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 birds are designed to last about seven years. At that point the satellite gradually loses altitude until it burns up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them.

The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful and globally available access to the Internet or any other communications network that can pay for the use of the Starlink network. That includes military users that are friendly to Starlink and not considered a threat. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink is able to increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now.

Starlink is not the only multiple-satellite ISP system. There are similar efforts underway in several countries, including Russia and China. These efforts have fallen far behind Starlink in terms of numbers and capabilities. Starlink is unique in that it was the first to enter service and quickly proved it could do what it was designed to do. That included quickly adapting to the needs of military users. This was demonstrated in Ukraine where Starlink was activated over Ukraine days after Russia invaded in February 2022. The first of thousands of free user kits were delivered in less than a week. Currently there are over 42,000 user kits in Ukraine, most of them serving as small, local ISPs by adding an inexpensive router. As long as the Ukraine War continues, SpaceX and the U.S. government will pay for the service in Ukraine.

In 2022 SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield with enhanced versions of Starlink technology on larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities a national security customer wants. This includes photos, real-time video, and all manner of data which U.S. military-grade satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA, CIA, and equivalent agencies of American allies.

While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet datalinks and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data government agencies presently collect. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules designed for compatibility with the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Currently Russia is actively seeking ways to disrupt Starlink service. These attacks are nothing new, because government and military users of space-based communications systems have long worked on improving security.

Starshield was organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides superior satellite data on Russian forces than what the Russians can provide to their own troops.

Ukrainians were impressed by the potential for Starlink and rapidly came up with new uses, some of them military. This gave Starlink a realistic test under very adverse conditions. So far this has been a success even though Russia, apparently with some help from China, is seeking ways to shut down or disrupt Starlink. Failing at that, Russia captured some Starlink terminals and purchased some on the black market. When the Ukrainians discovered this, they asked SpaceX to disconnect the illegal Russian Starlink terminals.

Another advantage of Starlink was the rapidity of upgrades or modifications to deal with problems, including Russian efforts to jam or disrupt performance in Ukraine. Not only were the Russians unable to disable Starlink, but they found its encrypted signals far superior to communications Russian troops had to use in Ukraine. Worse for the Russians was the Ukrainian ability to rapidly integrate Starlink with Ukrainian communications and fire control systems.

Before Gen2 satellites were ready, SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and more cheaply than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated, but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming. Complaints that Starlink satellites would become so numerous that they would be a hazard for other satellites are unproven and even less likely once the gen2 satellites are operating. Starlink operates in LEO (low earth orbit) between 300 and 600 kilometers from earth, where there is already a lot of space junk too small to quickly fall back into the atmosphere and burn up. Any plans to destroy a lot of Starlink satellites would make the situation worse without shutting down Starlink services. If left alone, the gen1 and gen2 Starlink satellites, when no longer operational, are designed to eventually de-orbit and move low enough to allow gravity to pull them towards earth and burn up in the atmosphere.

China sees Starlink as a serious threat to its current government Internet censorship and control over the population, as well as the political reliability of its military. Thats no speculation because its already happening, often live on TV, in Ukraine. China has not yet come up with a workable plan to disrupt or destroy Starlink and considers Starlink a major obstacle to China eventually becoming the most powerful military force on the planet. That was supposed to happen before 2050. With Starlink it may take longer.

Starshield also aims to provide users with a dominant position in space-based sensing. Starshield is meant to be cheaper and more responsive than any existing competitor in providing a wider array of earth sensing capabilities. SpaceX has not revealed the schedule for lifting Starshield satellites into orbit, and some may already be there testing the services Starshield will provide. Starshield activities will be less public than Starlink, which is how intelligence agencies like it.
NAB 2024: PTZOptics Talks Hive Studio and Remote Camera Control

Shawn Lam: I'm here with Matthew Davis, he's the director of technology for PTZOptics, and today you've got a big announcement. It's coming in June and it's the Hive, right? Tell us a little bit about that.

Matthew Davis: We are super excited about the launch of this brand new product. We've been thinking about this for countless years at this point, and finally have something we think you are all going to absolutely love. What we've created is basically a remote control solution for cameras. Now, this isn't just focused on our own cameras; we focus on as many cameras as possible, currently supporting over 400 unique models. So what we've got here is a nice solution for a variety of producers out in the wild.

The Hive Studio is going to be launching very soon, and when it does, it's going to have three different tiers available to the end users. These tiers start with a free basic model. They'll have one camera that they can control and experience the platform a little bit. You can jump up to a three-camera solution or an unlimited camera solution depending on your needs.

Shawn Lam: And so these tiers are available on a subscription model?

Matthew Davis: They're subscription, they'll come in a monthly or yearly flavor depending on people's needs, budgets, all sorts of things like that.

Shawn Lam: So you're controlling remote cameras with software. Give us a bit of an overview.

Matthew Davis: So you will have a couple of ways to approach the system. There'll be a nice little agent you can run on your PCs; it'll connect everything on your network and make everything really easy. The same agent will allow you to operate the system even without the cloud. So you get the same interface to control everything regardless of whether you're cloud-based or not at the moment. Now, the neat thing, once you go cloud-based, is that those cameras, if they're PTZOptics, don't even need an agent. They don't need a PC in the middle. You can literally send one of our cameras to the other side of the world, they plug it into the internet, and it will show up right in your studio, in the web interface.

Shawn Lam: And if they're one of the other 400 cameras that you have already programmed in there. It's just a bit of simple programming, right?

Matthew Davis: Yes. It's as simple as if you have a Windows or Mac PC, you run a little agent on there, and it will accomplish the identical thing for you.

So beyond just that, there's some nice low level of switching that people will get in here. I mean, you've got a bunch of cameras, you kind of need some way to do something with those. And why we might have switching? The software allows you to have an NDI output so you can bring that into your existing vMix systems, your OBS, your TriCasters, and leverage your existing equipment already. The platform will also handle recording auto tracking, so if your cameras don't actually already have auto tracking, the platform will add that for you.

Shawn Lam: And that's kind one of the neat things I saw when I was watching the demo was that it's supporting cameras that don't natively have auto tracking built in, and it's not only just really quick movements, right? I mean, you guys call it "cinema movement."

Matthew Davis: We've done this before. I appreciate you identifying that because, we could deploy a nice auto tracking that does all these robotic movements and all the movements that we do. We're trying to bring to the table something that makes it very easy for each end user to produce something of a high quality. We all know what TV production and movie production look like, and while we all want to attain that, it can be a little bit unrealistic sometimes either with experience or the equipment that you have on hand. But with something like the Hive Studio in the middle, you're allowing people to bridge that gap very easily.

Shawn Lam: When you're looking at auto tracking, what are some of the human elements that you've incorporated into this technology to make it feel like there is a human operator on it and we're able to control it a little bit better or make decisions to say I want left or right or center bias?

Matthew Davis: So I was very fortunate actually, thanks to NAB, I got introduced to a producer near the very beginning of us launching all of this. He imparted to me what they would use in their television studios and the styles of production that when they had a hand operator, he is like, "No, no, no, I see the movement you've got going on. It works, but here's how you ease it. Here's how you smooth it. Here's what I would expect my camera operator to do."

And literally as soon as I had somebody kind enough to share how they did it, well guess what? There's no reason we can't bake it into a platform for end users where they don't even need to be aware that they're doing these cinematic movements. It's really making it happen for them.

Shawn Lam: That's excellent. So let's talk a little bit about the recording capabilities. Once we get this footage up into the cloud, now we have the ability to stream it, but can we ISO record each individual input?

Matthew Davis: Exactly. And then the beauty with the system is, if you have existing on-premise equipment, you can be doing it in the cloud, you can be doing it with your existing equipment. You can even be doing it on the remote production end of it--not true ISO recording per channel--but at least a single recording coming out at that point.

Shawn Lam: Alright, let's go have a look.

Matthew Davis: So what we're looking at here is actually the Hive Studio operating in a local mode. So what's going on here? We have cameras that are local to this network. In theory, we're not using any cloud resources. Nobody'd have to pay for anything in this type of mode. One of the neat things I was talking about before, the ability to support multiple studios. So from this one interface I can actually jump around to. We're going to have some fun here. Let's see if Paul's home office is actually live. Some of the neat features we've got here, we've got a click to center, so you can make it different sizes, you can zoom in on different areas. If we come back out, you'll see that we also have things like a nice cineframe or the C center. So we saw what that movement did

Shawn Lam: And that was the really fast one. Whereas the cine movement is the smooth one--the human operator imitation.

Matthew Davis: Yes. One of the things that we have heard from clients--as much as I strove to get all these cinematic movements, whether it's in the cameras or this platform, ultimately we had a lot of clients that were like, "No, no, no, no. I do a lot more scene switching. I just want it to move quickly to where it needs to go."

Shawn Lam: Are there timing controls or is it a preset duration of that movement?

Matthew Davis: It is a preset duration, but you can alter the time spans on it by adjusting the movement speeds. You also have more basic control capabilities. So here we get a nice little arrow. The further out you go in theory, maximum velocities that'll be reached. This has a pretty slow speed set for it, it looks like. What other thing? So if we come over here to our controls section, this in theory would be everything that you would natively find in the onscreen display. Every adjustment, whether it's image, motion control, you get it all exposed through this web interface. You do not need to go messing with jumping between a camera's web interface or control platforms or management platforms. Just one spot to do everything from. One of the other nice aspects you've got here is the ability to easily color balance between multiple cameras using one interface to be able to compare between multiple ones.

We can quickly set these into the available modes that are available and then go into nice manual. I'm going to make this look real funky, but as you can see, you're able to make these live adjustments on the fly. You get some random light that comes into your scene, you can actually adjust for that without a problem. As we know, it's not always predictable when you go into live production. So unfortunately, one of the other nice aspects of the system is this ability to not just compare between two PTZOptics cameras, two Sony cameras, but one of the larger things that we hear is, balancing between their existing Sony, their existing Panasonic, and our PTZOptics can get to be a very difficult thing. Once you've got this unified interface with all the same controls, actually getting them in line becomes an easy feat for almost any beginner even.

Shawn Lam: And that's big because so many camera manufacturers have very poor camera color controls. They just don't play well with others.

Matthew Davis: Yes, and one of the nice things that we've found is that as we gain control over these cameras, we found ways where we could implement better control over their color aspects than they were offering to their own end users.

Shawn Lam: Let's go through an end-to-end workflow. So you start off with your PTZ camera, you connect with your Hive Cloud, and then what?

Matthew Davis: That's where the magic really happens. You've got all this stuff floating around in the cloud, but where do you get it? How do you direct it? What do you do with it? So within the Hive platform itself, you've got a couple of options. The high platform itself will have an NDI output, so you can bring it into existing workflows with TriCasters, OBS, vMix, no problem, or the large amount of NDI supporting products out there. Now you also have the option, if you wanted it do to have on-premise equipment for mixing. So just because your camera may be remote and your producer may be remote, well, there's no reason that the local equipment that somebody's already invested in can't be used for all the recording everything. It always was. You're just handling control. Then at that point through Hive. Going beyond that, if you start getting into the recording capabilities, you're starting to look a little bit more at the post-production end of this.

Shawn Lam: And then the streaming. Is that done locally or is that done in the cloud, from the cloud?

Matthew Davis: That can actually be done either way. It has a cloud mode and a local mode. So you don't need to eat up your cloud resources, so to speak, if you don't need them. And you can pump right out from the agent that will work live on your PC, regardless of having a cloud connection or not. But hey, if you've got the cloud connection, you can do all these extra bells and whistles is the nice thing.

Shawn Lam: What's a typical use case for the Hive Cloud?

Matthew Davis: We envisioned a handful it seems like, between education, the church markets. I actually haven't heard anyone yet that hasn't said, "Oh wait, I have a place for that." From a very large-scale, end-user sales type of scenario where they saw amazing benefits to allowing producers to make their talent look very good as they were presenting different products. But we're finding a lot of interest, oddly, in the educational market, way more than I originally thought. Beyond that, we've always had remote producers. People that are generating the studio in boxes have also been very intrigued by this, with the idea that they can have one of our cameras, they can have a box ship it off, and there's nothing else for them to do.

Shawn Lam: Let's talk a little bit about latency. So how much time does it take to get up into the Hive Cloud and then back down?

Matthew Davis: So, I like to do this as an example for most people. I can get into the numbers, but it has allowed me traveling over 3,000 miles to actually properly track an individual by hand. There were no missteps, no problems. It was a very natural feel to it. As far as latency goes, depending on the scenarios, like right now what we're seeing is probably less than 300 milliseconds, and that's for that 3,000 mile journey to occur.

Shawn Lam: That's fast.

Matthew Davis: Yeah, it's really fast. And we've seen lower, but I'm not going to go claiming any numbers there for anyone yet.

Shawn Lam: Thank you very much, Matt.

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Despite numerous resident objections, the Madison County School Board has approved changing winter break to Christmas break in the 2024-25 school calendar.

In March, Madison County resident Mike Sharman made a comment suggesting the change of winter break to Christmas break. The board then suggested making that change in the 2024-25 draft school calendar.

Christmas is a cultural thing in our community, board member Christopher Wingate said. I support the idea.

Sharman also suggested changing spring break to Easter break. However, Easter in 2025 is late, not until April 20, nearly three weeks after spring break. Instead, board members suggested adding Good Friday, April 18, as a holiday. However, superintendent Anna Graham said adding another holiday could cause an issue with the calendar as school divisions are required to be in school a certain number of days or hours. The draft calendar without Good Friday as a holiday includes 178 days of instruction. Several snow days are also built in.

Wingate and board members Nita Collier, Greg Martz and Charlie Sheads supported the idea of changing winter break to Christmas break and asked that it be included in the draft calendar.

As in previous years, the draft calendar was then posted to the school divisions website for public comment. Though the comments were only briefly mentioned during last weeks school board meeting and not available to the public prior to the meeting or attached to the agenda, 157 people responded. Of those, 58 opposed the change of winter break to Christmas break. Thirty-seven supported it. One said they could go for either option and several asked for a break during March. The addition of the Good Friday holiday was also noted by some as favorable.

During the meeting, Sharman again reiterated his support for the changes. He noted that the country is one nation under God and said Christmas actually is celebrated much longer than one day, with stores putting out holiday items in the fall and Hallmark being the number one channel in November and December due to its slate of Christmas movies.

Pastor Russell Biber agreed, stating Christian holidays represent a majority of the people and while he doesnt disagree with someones right to celebrate as they wish, he doesnt want to create a Godless society.

Parent Devlyn DAlfonzo disagreed. She said shes not anti-religion, but is anti-state enforced religion and winter break includes all residents, while Christmas break leaves out the many other religious holidays that occur in winter.

I suspect it would be offensive to you to celebrate Kwanzaa break as you dont celebrate that holiday, she said.

DAlfonzo said public, federally funded school divisions cannot endorse one religion over another and both legal precedent and basic human decency dont support the change.

Put your person theology aside and focus on the diverse range of students who rely on you, she said.

Christina Barden agreed. She said the board is there for the educational needs of the students and that not all students celebrate Christmas.

All deserve to feel included by their public school board, she said.

Carol Shirley said while Christmas is the major holiday over the break, renaming it leaves the ones who dont celebrate it out even more. She said changing the name isnt going to help children with their schoolwork or to want to come to school. Instead, she said, it would make them feel even more isolated.

Wingate said the change isnt one based on personal beliefs, but rather state law. He said the state recognizes 12 legal holidays and if people dont like it, they should delete Christmas and Thanksgiving from that list. He said by not calling it Christmas break, it would be discriminating against those who celebrate it and said it sends a message by not calling it Christmas break.

Martz said Prince William County, one of the most diverse school divisions in the state if not in the country, has numerous religious holidays on its calendar including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Its not uncommon practice, he said. The works of the calendar reflect the makeup of the community.

Board member Sue Wood, as the only new member of the board, asked why the calendar was approved last year as winter break, but now is being changed. She said she wants children to belong and to want to be at school, feeling included. She said two-thirds of the survey respondents said they wanted to keep it as winter break, which is the majority.

Last year, it was ok, she said. What changed?

Wingate said board members learn what they would like to change over time and reiterated the message that is sent by not calling it Christmas break, stating its discriminating against Christians.

Wood said state employees get off work for the one day of Christmas while winter break is two weeks which includes Kwanzaa, sometimes Hanukkah and occasionally Ramadan. She said winter break has had the same name for approximately 20 years. Wingate argued that it was called Christmas break for hundreds of years prior.

Student representative Jenna Cropp, who said she was speaking on behalf of students, said while she celebrates Christmas, many of her peers and friends dont believe what she does.

Ive been in the minority, she said. I dont want others to feel that way.

Cropp said holiday items being in stores in the fall has little to do with Christianity and everything to do with consumerism and stores making money. She said so many cultures dont get recognition and they should. She said theres so many other holidays over winter break and its not fair to recognize one. She said faith in God is a personal thing and public school is for the public, not one person. She took issue with Wingates claim the proposed change was not by personal preference and said it was. She said the change is not fair to those who dont believe in God and its an unnecessary change.

Wingate introduced a policy change that he said would eliminate issues in the future related to the calendar. The policy would include all 12 holidays as defined by the Code of Virginia. While not all 12 would be off days for students and staff, they would all be stated on the calendar. That policy will likely be voted on next month.

Meanwhile, Sheads said the country was based on Christianity. He said people have to get beyond being offended.

Were considering a cultural traditional holiday thats been around for 100s of years, he said. I dont see whats so offensive about that.

The calendar was approved 5-0.

Wood said later that while she was opposed to the changing of the break name, voting against the calendar would have been voting against the hard work of the calendar committee. She said the calendar was otherwise a good one.

Other than the name change, the approved 2024-25 calendar has the first day of school for students as Aug. 13 with the last day being a half-day May 23. That day is the only half-day in the calendar. Thanksgiving break is scheduled for Nov. 27-29 and Christmas break is Dec. 23Jan. 3 for students. Spring break is April 7-11 with Good Friday, April 18, as a holiday.
China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile were ordered by the Federal Communications Commission to halt their fixed or mobile broadband internet operations in the United States, further escalating tensions between the two countries.

Reuters reported, the order will also apply to another Chinese telecoms firm Pacific Networks and its subsidiary ComNet.

The Chinese companies must discontinue their services within 60 days from the net neutrality order approved on April 25.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the commission had evidence that the telecom operators were provisioning broadband services in the US, and it had cited national security concerns to revoke or deny Chinese firms to provide telecom services.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks pointed out China Telecom advertised on its website that it operates 26 points of presence in the US and offers colocation, broadband, IP transit, and data centre services.

The commission had stated national security concerns surrounding Chinese access to POPs located in data centres.

"They are interconnecting with other networks and have access to important Points of Presence and data centres," Starks said, urging "a closer look at the threats that adversarial providers pose to our data and data centres," said the FCC.

Previously the commission had denied requests by US companies to sell equipment to Huawei and ZTE stating it posed an unacceptable risk to national security.

TikTok on the clock

On another front of the trade war between the US and China, ByteDance, owner of popular social media app TikTok, prefers to shut down its app if all legal options are taken to prevent its ban on app stores in the US.

US officials touted the Chinese company selling its app and its algorithms to a US buyer, but ByteDance refuses to give up its core algorithm that recommends videos to users, as it is essential to its business, said a source speaking to Reuters.

Around 170 million users are recorded in the US. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said he expects the company to win a legal challenge to block legislation signed by president Joe Biden to ban the social media app. The legislation was launched on the grounds that it can access American citizen data or be used for surveillance.






Airman Tyler Shipley, a cyber systems operations specialist with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, works on a computer at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, on April 7, 2024. (Ivy Thomas/U.S. Air National Guard)

The Air Force is reinstating its long-dormant warrant officer corps and looking for airmen to specialize in information technology and cyberspace as the U.S. confronts Chinas rising military might.

The service announced Thursday that it is accepting applications through May 31 for airmen interested in becoming warrant officers in the IT and cyber career fields.

Up to 60 candidates will be selected this summer, the Air Force said in a news release Thursday.

These warrant officers will be responsible for orchestrating, managing, and integrating cyberspace technical capabilities, delivering critical technical recommendations across various military and inter-agency platforms, the release states.

They will integrate cyberspace capabilities into the Air Forces combat functions, according to the release.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announced plans to reintroduce warrant officers to the service in February during the Air and Space Forces Associations 2024 Warfare Symposium in Colorado.

The symposiums theme, Preparing for Great Power Conflict, reflected the Pentagons shift in strategy toward a possible military confrontation with China as the size and ambitions of its military continue to grow.

We need operational units with all the capabilities they need to deter and compete with our pacing challenges and ready to enter a conflict on short or no notice, Kendall said at the symposium.

In those units we need the right mix of skills necessary for high end combat and to ensure technological superiority, particularly in information technology and cyber, he said.

The Air Force dissolved its warrant officer corps in 1958 after it created the ranks of senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant, the news release states. They took on the specific technical duties of warrant officers but were never fully relieved of other duty requirements.

The reintroduction of warrant officers represents a strategic shift towards bolstering technical proficiency and operational effectiveness, according to the release.

Applications are open to active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve service members holding the rank of at least staff sergeant and having one year of active federal service.

Applicants must meet specific experience and proficiency requirements for each specialty.

Two specialty codes were created for the IT and cyber roles.

The first, 17W  Warfighter Communications & IT Systems Operations, designates expertise in planning, deployment, employment, and securing of enterprise and warfighter communication systems, the news release states.

The second is 17Y  Cyber Effects & Warfare Operations and denotes airmen who are subject matter experts on offensive and defensive cyber operations assets and personnel, the news release states.

A selection board will identify top candidates in late June, and selected airmen will be notified in late July. Training is slated to begin late this year or early 2025 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

These are highly in-demand, and also extremely perishable, skills in todays rapidly evolving landscape, David Flosi, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, said in the news release.

As we navigate the complexities of Great Power Competition, our ability to adapt and innovate hinges on the expertise of our Airmen, he said.
U.S. Air Force and local constabulary vehicles carry the 100th RAF Baton to RAF Croughton from RAF Barford St. John in 2018 during an anniversary event. U.K. officials have agreed to spend nearly $5 million to improve road safety near the two U.S. Air Force bases in England. (Chase Sousa/U.S. Air Force)

The United Kingdom will spend at least $6.5 million to improve road safety near two bases hosting the U.S. Air Force.

The work is to be carried out near RAF Barford St. John, Oxfordshire, and RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The bases are about 9 miles from each other.

It comes after an American driver hit and killed a 19-year-old British motorcyclist outside the Croughton base in 2019, prompting the countrys transport secretary to launch a review of road safety in the area.

The Oxfordshire county and West Northamptonshire councils have since been working with the Transport Department to determine the best ways to enhance safety. The department has offered grants for the improvements.

On Thursday, the Oxfordshire council accepted a grant worth $1.6 million, adding to $3.4 million it accepted in March 2023.

The money will be used for things like road resurfacing, maintenance work and new signs, according to government documents.

The government has made available money to look at road safety around bases used by United States visiting forces. This is  part of Oxfordshires allocation of those funds, Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transportation management, said Thursday during a recorded council meeting.

Its not one scheme; its lots of relatively small interventions, Gant added.

Meanwhile, the West Northamptonshire Council approved $1.6 million for similar projects, with work being carried out this year, spokeswoman Beth Longhurst said in an email.

U.K. officials have agreed to spend nearly $5 million to improve road safety near two U.S. Air Force bases in England, RAF Croughton and RAF Barford St. John. (Facebook/RAF Croughton)

An additional $250,000 allocated to the council for improvements around RAF Croughton will be considered later, Longhurst added.

The program of works will introduce additional measures on the routes between the two U.S. Army bases, Longhurst said.

The projects include traffic-calming measures, removal of obstructing vegetation, enhanced street lighting and a new pedestrian crossing. The work is expected to be done by the end of this year, she said.

Vehicles in the U.K. travel on the opposite side of the road compared with the U.S., and signs already exist around RAF Barford St. John and RAF Croughton to remind drivers of that.

In 2022, Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. intelligence officer, received an eight-month suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to driving on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton in 2019 and colliding with a motorcycle driven by teenager Harry Dunn, causing his death.

Sacoolas returned to the U.S. days after the crash, and the U.S. invoked diplomatic immunity on her behalf, which prompted an outcry in Britain.

In December, the transport secretary wrote to Dunns parents to say that the Department for Transport would provide funding for all the recommendations in the road safety audit of RAF Croughton and RAF Barford St. John, British government spokesperson Christy OBrien said Friday.

RAF Croughton is home to the 422nd Air Base Group and processes approximately a third of all U.S. military communications in Europe.

RAF Barford St. John, a satellite of RAF Croughton, also operates as a communications center.
The commander of U.S. Army Japan, Maj. Gen. Dave Womack, congratulates a Japanese soldier for earning the U.S. Army Expert Soldier Badge on April 26, 2024, at Sagami General Depot, Japan. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

SAGAMI GENERAL DEPOT, Japan  A soldier in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force became one of the first Japanese troops to earn the U.S. Armys Expert Soldier Badge after a five-day test of physical and mental endurance.

Sgt. Seita Shohei, of Camp Kusu on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four largest islands, accepted his badge Friday alongside 12 other Self-Defense Force troops and 10 Americans during a ceremony here. The Japanese troops fully participated in the event this year for the first time.

Shohei said his favorite part of the often-grueling experience was going out to eat and hanging out with the American troops taking part in the competition.

We talked about music we liked, foods we enjoyed, our families and what it is like to be in the military, he said Thursday at the event.

The U.S. and Japanese troops shared the same barracks throughout the competition, another first, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffery Woolard, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of U.S. Army Japans Expert Soldier Badge 2024 event said Thursday at the event.

We do numerous bilateral engagements with our Japanese counterparts, and this is a natural step in the integration process to strengthen those alliances, he said.

Although the Japanese troops earned the certificate and badge, they dont yet have the orders to wear them, something they are working on for next year, Woolard said.

Its a little harder for them because the language barriers there, but we do try to help them a lot as we get them the books that are in Japanese for them, said Sgt. Felix Rosario Acosta. But the Japanese have all been doing really well.

Rosario Acosta, a human resources specialist with 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Sagami General Depot, earned his Expert Soldier Badge in 2022 as a private first class. This year, he was a non-commissioned officer-in-charge of three stations at the Expert Soldier Badge competition.

Sgt. Lloyd Shepherd, a member of the U.S. Army Japan Band, performs first aid on a simulated casualty during the Expert Soldier Badge evaluation, April 26, 2024, at Sagami General Depot, Japan. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes) Sgt. Leslie Quinteros receives her U.S. Army Expert Soldier Bage at Sagami General Depot, Japan, April 26, 2024. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Its good to be able to teach people and to pass on the knowledge, because they can learn and take that grasp within their mind and be able to become teachers and mentors later on in life, he told Stars and Stripes at Fridays awards ceremony.

Sgt. Leslie Quintero, a mechanic for the First Transportation Company, 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Zama, succeeded on the third try. She came up short in 2022 and 2023 but this year she earned her badge.

Every time, I got a little step closer and, finally, I made it to the end, she said. Im so ecstatic to never have to do this ever again.

Quintero said the hardest thing was the ruck marches but she prepared by exercising and running.

If you didnt make it this year, dont give up because you have the upper hand to people that are doing it for their first year, she said. Dont give up.
The FBIs investigation identified a photo from Gregory Yetmans Instagram page, showing him wearing a hat consistent with a hat he had worn on Jan. 6, 2021. Yetman pleaded guilty April 25, 2024, in federal court to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with physical contact during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (District Court of the District of Columbia)

An Army National Guardsman who admitted to pepper spraying police during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and later sparked an FBI manhunt has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Gregory Yetman, 47, entered the plea Thursday to one felony charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with physical contact, according to records filed in federal court for the District of Columbia.

Yetman, an enlisted military police officer with the Army National Guard in 2021, came to the attention of authorities after he posted on Facebook about being at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots, court documents said.

I dont think ill be backing the blue after this, one post by the New Jersey heavy equipment operator said after the riot, investigators said. The Jan. 6 insurrection left at least 140 police officers injured, the Justice Department said in January.

These posts were sent as screenshots to the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI, a criminal complaint against Yetman said. Investigators said they used photos posted online and taken via body cameras to identify Yetman as the man who used a 20-inch-tall MK-46H chemical spray cannister on police officers that day.

A screenshot of Gregory Yetmans Facebook posts. Yetman, a military police officer with the Army National Guard who participated in the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty April 25, 2024, in federal court to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with physical contact. (District Court of the District of Columbia)

Yetman told investigators in 2021 that during the attack he was just helping people exposed to tear gas by pouring water in their eyes, that he supports law enforcement and that anyone assaulting police officers should be prosecuted, a 2023 criminal complaint said.

But in his guilty plea Wednesday, Yetman conceded that he used an MK-46H pepper spray cannister on a group of police officers for 12 to 14 seconds, causing them to retreat, the court document said. Yetman was among the rioters encircling officers on the west terrace of the Capitol, his plea agreement said.

After that, Yetman said, he used his phone to document the crowd and walked up to the lower west terrace, where rioters attempted to enter the Capitol.

Yetmans guilty plea comes after an FBI manhunt to arrest him in November. Yetman fled into the woods when federal agents arrived at his home Nov. 8. He turned himself in two days later after a police dragnet.

He held the rank of sergeant at the end of his service in the National Guard, a report in November by the New Jersey-based NJ.com said. He served in the New Jersey Army National Guard from 2008 to 2022, an Army spokeswoman told NJ.com.

Yetman is scheduled for sentencing July 22. He faces up to four years in prison. He initially faced four other charges, which were dropped.

Yetman is one of more than 1,385 people charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot and one of almost 500 charged with assault or impeding law enforcement, a Justice Department statement said Wednesday.

Thus far, five active-duty troops arrested in connection with the breach of the Capitol. Other National Guardsmen who have been implicated in the incident include Joseph Bierbrodt of Illinois and Matthew Honigford of Ohio.

Yetman had been one of about 15 people connected to Jan. 6 held in pretrial custody without having been convicted of a crime, an NBC News report Thursday said.
Bangladeshs internet slowdown due to a break in the SEA-ME-WE-5 subsea cable may reportedly continue to the end of May due to red tape and haggling over the cost of lighting up more bandwidth on the countrys only alternate subsea route.

On April 20, Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC)  which is a stakeholder in SEA-ME-WE 5  said that a break had occurred in the cable 440 km from the Singapore end, off the coast of Indonesia. That places the repair work under Indonesias jurisdiction.

According to local media reports, Saidur Rahman  BSCPLCs GM for operation and maintenance  said in a statement on Wednesday that repairs have been delayed because Indonesias administrative paperwork to authorise the work takes a little longer.

Rahman said that Indonesian authorities have informed BSCPLC that repairs could be completed in the third or fourth week of next month.

The SEA-ME-WE 5 break  which disconnected all traffic between Singapore and SEA-ME-WE 5s landing station in Kuakata  means Bangladesh has lost close to 1.7 Tbps of international capacity, which has impacted internet speeds across the country, BSCPLC said earlier.

Bangladeshs only other international capacity sources  apart from 100 Gbps still available from the western side of SEA-ME-WE 5  are the SEA-ME-WE 4 subsea cable, which provides 800 Gbps, and terrestrial cable (ITC) licence holders that import 2.7 Tbps of bandwidth from India.

SEA-ME-WE 4  in which BSCPLC is also a stakeholder  is capable of providing additional capacity to Bangladesh, but Rahman said that this is still not decided because it would cost extra money. Rahman also said that other options are being considered, without elaborating.

The cause of the cable disruption remains undisclosed.
The Remonon mobile app being tested by Installation Management Command-Europe allows users to scan purchase receipts and file claims for VAT reimbursement directly from their smartphones. The pilot program is being expanded to include 200 more testers. (U.S. Army)

WIESBADEN, Germany  A pilot program set up last month to test a value-added tax form consolidation app for U.S. personnel in Germany is about to grow in both numbers and reach.

Installation Management Command-Europe started the Remonon pilot program in March with a pool of about 50 soldiers, civilians and family members in Wiesbaden.

Beginning May 1, the command will add 100 patrons from Wiesbaden as well as 100 users in the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria community, according to an IMCOM-E statement released Friday.

New participants must sign up in person at their VAT office to verify eligibility and receive an individualized number before downloading the Remonon app, IMCOM Europe spokesman Mark Heeter said in an email Friday. A European IBAN is required for registration and use of the app, Heeter added.

Remonon was created by Novat, a company based in Grafenwoehr. The company is seeking to bundle micro purchases that shoppers normally wouldnt use a VAT form for, according to the description in Apples App store.

Users wouldnt have to complete a form in the store and would be reimbursed for the taxes at a later date. The pilot program applies to VAT forms for purchases valued up to 2,500 Euro.

If we think about adding up all the value-added tax we pay, down to the smallest micro purchase, the quick trip to the bakery or the coffee shop or the grocery store, this new app provides our community members the chance for significant money coming back to them, Jeff Wertz, IMCOM-Europes assistant chief of staff for family, morale, welfare and recreation, said in the commands statement.

This program doesnt eliminate the $10 VAT form. At the beginning of a month, customers upload a photo of a VAT form into the app and can then begin uploading receipts for purchases.

At the end of the month, Remonon will prompt users to fill in the total value of accepted receipts, sign and date the form, and upload a photo to the app within five days, Heeter said.

App users will then receive refunds in their registered bank accounts at a rate of 14% and 4% for items with VAT of 19% and 7%, respectively, as a service fee for using the app, he said.

IMCOM-E did not provide a projected timeline for implementation across Germany but said it will announce the launch the of the apps full availability when developers and VAT program management are satisfied that full service is feasible.

To ensure only authorized patrons are using it, the app will only record credit and debit card transactions, Wertz said. However, some case-by-case exceptions will be possible, such as when a vendor does not accept cards.
Father Daniel Mode, then chaplain of the U.S. Coast Guard, visits with the commands of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Base Guam in Guam on Dec. 4, 2023. (Sara Muir/U.S. Coast Guard)

The chaplain of the Coast Guard was fired after an investigation found he did not act appropriately when he learned of another chaplains sexual misconduct that predated military service, the Coast Guard said Thursday.

Navy Capt. Daniel Mode, a Catholic priest who became the Coast Guards top chaplain in April 2022, was reassigned Wednesday to the Navy. The Navy provides chaplains to the Coast Guard and Modes career spans both military service branches.

A Coast Guard administrative investigation found that Capt. Mode did not take appropriate action when made aware of pre-service sexual misconduct by another chaplain, according to the Coast Guard. That member has already been removed from the Coast Guard and Navy. The investigation revealed that Captain Modes decisions and actions did not demonstrate the judgment required of a senior leader and chaplain of the Coast Guard.

However, the Coast Guard said Modes actions did not violate the law or policies that would require punitive action. Instead, it was a failure in judgment below what is expected from his key leadership position.

Father Daniel Mode, then chaplain of the U.S. Coast Guard, explains the meaning of his challenge coin at the Naval Base Guam chapel in Guam on Dec. 3, 2023. (Sara Muir/U.S. Coast Guard)

The Navy said Mode has been assigned to the Navy Office of the Chief of Chaplains but did not define his role. The service also declined to comment or speculate on any future or pending administrative or disciplinary actions.

Mode maintains his ecclesiastical endorsement, according to the Navy.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, the arm of the Catholic church that certifies Roman Catholic chaplains for the U.S. military, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The decision comes as the Coast Guard faces a Senate investigation into its handling of a report titled Fouled Anchor, which looked into the handling of sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. Operation Fouled Anchor reviewed 102 instances of rape or sexual assault at the academy dating back to the early 1990s through 2006, according to information from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It identified 43 alleged perpetrators and 63 victims. Only five cases had been reported to law enforcement at the time.

The Senate is also reviewing whether the Coast Guard intended to bury the report because senators were only informed about its existence years later after CNN began reporting on it.

From June 2009 to 2012, Mode was assigned to the Coast Guard Academy where he worked with staff and cadets, according to his online biography.

He commissioned into the Navy Reserve in 1998. He moved into the active component in 2007 and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, with which he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mode is the author of The Grunt Padre, a biography of Vietnam War hero Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno, a Catholic Navy chaplain who received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Vietnam War.

The Navy is also facing a challenge with a Catholic chaplain in Europe. A civilian priest assigned to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy for more than a decade filed a complaint with the Defense Department inspector general that alleges he was singled out for punishment and other unfair treatment that led base officials not to renew his contract.
Friends and family of sailors onboard the USS George Washington watch as it departs from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on April 25, 2024. (Billy Schuerman, The Virginian-Pilot/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The USS George Washington aircraft carrier departed Thursday from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., embarking on a months-long journey to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, where it will begin a new chapter.

The Washington and about 3,200 sailors on board crossed the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel around 11 a.m. ET before cruising out of the Chesapeake Bay. It marked the end of the Washingtons time in Hampton Roads for the foreseeable future, but it is a journey the crew is ready to begin, leaders said.

We are excited to do what we signed up to do  to be part of something bigger than ourselves, be a part of a winning team and travel and see the world, said Randy Swanson, command master chief of the Washington.

The Washington came to Naval Station Norfolk in December 2015 from Japan, but the bulk of the carriers time in the region was spent inoperable at Newport News Shipbuilding, where it was a fixture for more than six years. During that time, there were nine suicides among the Washington crew, including three in one week in April 2022.

Now, the ship is headed to South America to train with foreign forces as it circumnavigates the continent over the next two to three months en route to Japan, said Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic.

The carrier will stop this summer in San Diego, where a portion of the crews of the Washington and the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier will swap ships. This means Reagan sailors will take over the Washington for their assignments in Japan, and Washington sailors will take over the Reagan for its next phase. Meanwhile, others will be reassigned to new units and dispersed across the country.

The transition will affect roughly 6,000 sailors across both ships, Stankus said. Of the current crew assigned to the Washington, only a few hundred will follow the ship to Japan. She said exactly how many was unknown Thursday.

The Washington is scheduled to arrive in Japan by this fall, officials said.

Michelle Nation is one of four volunteer ombudsmen who acts as a liaison between families and the ships leadership. Two ombudsmen have moved to Japan to help the families who will be following sailors overseas.

The ombudsmen help families navigate the move, including scheduling movers and travel. Families moving to Japan, Nation said, often live in the local community and have to overcome language barriers, cultural differences and challenges that come with getting children established in a new school or finding employment.

However, not every sailors family will relocate. Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Sanders, 32, said his wife and three children, ages 13, 9 and 7, will stay in Hampton Roads for the three years he is stationed in Japan. The decision was difficult, Sanders said, but he wanted to see it through with the Washington.

I am excited to see us out there performing and earning the trust of the American people, Sanders said.

Sanders, an aviation boatswains mate, has been with the Washington since it entered Newport News Shipbuilding.

To see it transform  from shipyard workers working alongside us with hoses and pipes running through the ship  to see what we have become now is amazing, Sanders said.

From San Diego, the Reagan will head to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state for maintenance. The ship will make the journey to Newport News Shipbuilding in the coming years for its midlife refueling and maintenance overhaul.

For now, Naval Station Norfolk is home to four carriers, down from five. The Hampton Roads installation serves as the hub for all East Coast-based aircraft carriers. Until Thursday, that included the Washington, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Harry S. Truman, USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

But the Eisenhower is deployed to the Middle East, the Bush is undergoing maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and the Truman is in and out of port as it prepares for deployment later this year. That leaves the Ford alone at the piers and the naval stations Carrier Row along the Elizabeth River looking sparse.

As the Washington prepared to leave Thursday, Capt. Brent Gaut released the last rope securing the warship to the pier. He served as commanding officer of the Washington from June 2021 to February 2024. Gaut, who is retiring after a 31-year career, said he wanted to see the ship off to close a personal chapter as well as to see the start of the ships new chapter.

The journey to get here was very challenging, Gaut said. But to be here today gives me hope and gives sailors hope that you can believe in something, have that faith and keep working to achieve your goals. And today is a celebration of all the people who have been involved in this tremendous project.

2024 The Virginian-Pilot

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry steams across the South China Sea, April 21, 2024. (Sang Kim/U.S. Navy)

A U.S. Navy amphibious ship, a French frigate and a pair of Philippine vessels have kicked off the at-sea portion of a joint-force exercise taking place throughout the Philippines this month.

Balikatan  shoulder-to-shoulder in Tagalog  involves 16,000 mostly American and Filipino troops. The drills began Monday and run until May 10 amid high tensions over Beijings claims to maritime territory held by the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Clashes between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards have increased near Second Thomas Shoal since last summer. Chinese vessels with water cannons blast Philippine resupply vessels bound for a ship stranded on the shoal off Palawan. The BRP Sierra Madre serves as Philippine outpost safeguarding its claims.

The U.S., Philippine and French ships departed Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Thursday, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported that day. The landing ship dock USS Harpers Ferry, the French navys FS Vendemiaire and the Philippines offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz and landing dock BRP Davao Del Sur were headed for the exercise area in the South China Sea.

Crews will carry out tactical training and officer-of-the-watch maneuvers in waters east of Palawan, Philippine navy Capt. Ariel Joseph Coloma said in the report.

Then going up north up to Mindoro Strait they will enter the West Philippine Sea, he said, using his governments official name for parts of the South China Sea that are inside the countrys exclusive economic zone.

There, the vessels will practice gunnery until Monday before breaking away for other activities. For example, the Davao del Sur is scheduled to join an amphibious assault exercise on Tuesday, Coloma said.

Meanwhile, the Ramon Alcaraz and the Vendemiaire will do a bilateral sail from Tuesday to May 3, while the Harpers Ferry will proceed independently, he said.

Similar training has occurred in previous years, according to Grant Newsham, a retired Marine colonel and senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo

The exercise does include a French Navy ship, so that has a certain political significance, he said by email Friday. The fact the three nations navies are getting out and about in the contested West Philippine Sea does say something  and the US is hoping it says resolve.
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sails in the Gulf of Aden, Dec.18, 2023. Ike arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on April 26, 2024, leaving the Middle East after five months in the region. (Nicholas Rodriguez/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group left Middle East waters and arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday, on the heels of a Pentagon announcement that construction of a humanitarian sea corridor into Gaza is underway.

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower transited the Suez Canal along with the destroyer USS Gravely, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement.

The carrier strike group brings more flexibility and capability to 6th Fleet, the Navy said.

Entering the region is only a small gesture of our ability to project combat superiority to any part of the globe, Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander of Carrier Strike Group 2, said in the statement.

The Navys announcement came less than a day after the Pentagon confirmed a mortar attack in the area where a 1,800-foot-long causeway needed to deliver as many as 2 million meals daily eventually will connect to the Gaza shore.

U.S. military personnel are building the temporary pier and a companion floating dock at sea, out of range of the attack, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Defense Department spokesman, told reporters at a briefing Thursday. Once completed, the pier would be pushed onto the Gaza shore and anchored.

The attack, which caused minimal damage, wont delay the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore operation, which is expected to be operational in early May, Ryder said.

Cargo offloaded at the Navy-built dock about 3 miles from Gaza would be ferried to the pier. No U.S. service members would be on the ground in Gaza, and security would be provided by Israel, according to the DOD.

The department still has not specified how the food would be received and distributed, saying previously it was working out those details with the U.S. Agency for International Development and other groups.

Eisenhowers arrival into the Mediterranean comes after it spent more than five months in the Middle East as part of international efforts to battle Iranian-backed Houthi militants intent on disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.

The carrier and its escorts arrived there in early November after being ordered to the region by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as the U.S. worked to keep the Israel-Hamas war from broadening into a larger regional conflict.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea, March 29, 2024. Eisenhower arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on April 26, 2024, leaving the Middle East after five months in the region. (Samantha Alaman/U.S. Navy)

In March, Eisenhower officials said the carrier had been launching about 100 aircraft a day for six to seven days a week since Dec. 31. Those aircraft were completing a variety of missions, such as identifying Houthi movements indicating the potential launch of drones or missiles.

On Thursday, one anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen over the Gulf of Aden, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Friday. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S. coalition or commercial ships.

The same day, U.S. forces destroyed a surface drone and an aerial drone in separate actions, CENTCOM said.

The Navy didnt say how long the Eisenhower, which deployed from its homeport in Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 14, would remain in the Mediterranean.

Aircraft carriers are typically scheduled for six-month deployments but often extend their time at sea, particularly during conflicts. For example, USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Norfolk in January after an eight-month deployment in the 6th Fleet area of operations.

In addition to Gravely, the Eisenhower group includes the destroyer USS Mason and the cruiser USS Philippine Sea. It wasnt clear if the ships, which were last reported in the Red Sea on Monday, would join the Eisenhower.
Members of the Navys Rapid Response Team test tap water at an Aliamanu Military Reservation home in Honolulu on March 21, 2024. (Glenn Slaughter/U.S. Navy)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The Navy has determined that hundreds of tap water tests taken at Pearl Harbor in recent months produced false positives for low-level petroleum contamination due to the tests chemical reaction with chlorine in the samples, the service announced Thursday.

The Navy convened a swarm team in January to determine the root cause of an uptick in detections of low levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons, or TPH, in water samples taken in late 2023 and early this year.

Navy officials had also fielded an increased number of complaints from residents in housing on and near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam about oily sheens in tap water.

TPH refers to hundreds of compounds found in petroleum-based products, and it can serve as an indicator of contamination.

The Navy quickly determined that the TPH did not match the type of jet fuel that had been stored at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility a few miles from the joint base.

A massive spill of that jet fuel in late 2021 contaminated one of the wells used by the Navy to supply water to roughly 93,000 residents of military housing on and near the joint base.

Thousands of residents were forced to temporarily relocate to area hotels as the Navy sealed off the contaminated well and flushed the entire system of petroleum contamination.

A Navy task force is in the multiyear process of permanently closing the World War II-era facility.

The swarm team consists of experts from the Navy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii Department of Health and contracting firms.

The teams root cause investigation concluded that challenges with the laboratory method itself were responsible for the increase in frequency of the low-level TPH detections, the news release states.

The team hypothesized that the low-level detections could be arising from problems with the test method itself.

To test that theory, the team asked the Navy to collect side-by-side drinking water samples from the distribution system. Almost 600 samples were collected from February through March from homes, schools, child development centers and other locations, the news release states.

For each pair of samples, one was given the routine test while the second was tested using a method called Micro-Extraction with Quenching, or MEQ.

The MEQ method uses sodium thiosulfate to neutralize or remove chlorine so the TPH testing process is accurate, Chris Waldron, a contractor who is a member of the team, said in the release.

The results of the side-by-side sampling conclusively demonstrated that the MEQ method eliminated the false positive TPH detections that were reported using the original sampling method, the news release states.

The MEQ method can specifically detect traces of JP-5, the type of jet fuel that contaminated the water system in 2021, according to the release.

The team validated that by injecting JP-5 in water samples at controlled levels, and those were detected using the MEQ method.

A change of testing method, however, does not address recent complaints about water quality by some residents.

There is still work to do, Rear Adm. Marc Williams, deputy commander of Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill, said in the release.

We are confident there is no JP-5 or fuel in the water, but we will keep testing and assessing the data to determine what is causing some of the reported smells, sheens, and health concerns residents have expressed.
Zushi, a popular beach near Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, is pictured on March 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOSUKA, Japan  The U.S. sailor accused of slamming into and injuring a group of Japanese people in 2022 was heavily intoxicated and suffering from side effects of a preexisting brain injury, his wife testified Thursday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Krieger sat stoically in the courtroom of Yokohama District Courts Yokosuka Branch as Rina Krieger detailed the events of July 9, 2022.

Japanese authorities allege Daniel Krieger, 29, slammed into five people in Zushi, a beach town near Yokosuka thats popular with locals and U.S. service members alike. He pleaded not guilty March 8 to four counts of bodily injury.

Among the most severe injuries was a 33-year-old man with multiple sprained vertebrae and a 58-year-old woman who suffered a broken upper jaw, broken nasal bone and other facial injuries.

Krieger that day consumed at least 11 alcoholic drinks over the course of several hours, Rina Krieger testified in Japanese. She said her husband struggles with mood swings, physical pain, lapses in memory and difficulty with balance, the result of a 2015 head injury.

Rina Krieger eventually returned home that day, she said, leaving her husband alone at Zushi Beach. She believed him capable of getting home and staying out of trouble, despite his heavy intoxication, she told prosecutors.

Now I regret leaving him alone, she testified.

After she left, Daniel Krieger became irate with her and that night left her several voice messages saying they as a couple were over and telling her: You are dead.

Rina Krieger testified that she interpreted those messages as drunken anger rather than legitimate threats. She also testified that she deleted those messages at her husbands request.

She admitted lying to police during a voluntary interview several days after the incident and telling them she had been drinking but her husband had not. She told prosecutors she also did this at her husbands request because it would look bad.

Surveillance video played in court showed the couple arriving at Zushi; footage from later in the day showed Daniel Krieger slamming into the group.

This was not an act of his personality, but an act of his disease, Kriegers defense attorney, Takashi Takano, told Stars and Stripes after the trial session.

The brain injury occurred in January 2015 when Krieger attempted to break up a fight between two men, an American person and a Japanese person, Rina Krieger testified. The American attacked him and he was left with a broken skull and brain hemorrhage, she said.

Krieger was a very normal person who was kind and loved his family but developed a mental disorder caused by his head injury as well as his drinking problem, he said.

The next trial session is scheduled for May 13. A psychiatrist who examined Krieger will testify sometime in June, Takano said.

We are confident that our defense will prevail, he said.
The Whales of August, named after the 1987 drama, is a movie-themed bar in Tokyo where customers can order drinks named after their favorite films. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

In an alleyway just about a block from the worlds busiest street crossing, the Shibuya Scramble in Tokyo, cinephiles will find a bar built just for them.

The Whales of August, named after the 1987 movie starring Bette Davis, Lillian Gish and Vincent Price, is a movie-themed bar where customers can order drinks named after their favorite films, from The Shining to Love Actually.

Finding the bar isnt hard. Its in an old, wooden building and sticks out from its neighbors. Inside, however, its a much nicer experience than some of the surrounding establishments.

A poster for Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey greets patrons at the Whales of August in Tokyo. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

The interior is covered with movie posters, including The Sting starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford and the Stanley Kubrick classics 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange.

Movie themes play all night. It was fun to make a game of matching the songs with their films. My friend and I identified the music from Spider-Man, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and The Exorcist.

The Whales of August can seat around 100 people, and there is a 500 yen  about $3.37  table charge. Get there early in the evening, especially on weekends, when it fill ups by 9 p.m. Reservations are not accepted.

Patrons can order drinks named after their favorite films at Whales of August in Tokyo's Shibuya district. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

English menus are available, and it is massive, with more than 100 movie-themed cocktails. Beside each drink is a code: S for short, L for long or F for frozen.

My favorite drink, for 750 yen, was named after Amadeus, the 1984 fictionalized version of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts life. This drink includes chocolate liqueur from Mozart Distillery, based in Salzburg, Austria. Very sweet and perfect for chocolate fans.

The Clockwork Orange drink from the Whales of August bar in Shibuya. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

I also ordered a Shawshank Redemption for 900 yen, a frozen blue liqueur drink that tastes like sherbert; and a Clockwork Orange for 939 yen, also frozen liqueur, orange flavored and topped with more oranges.

The kitchen serves a tasty beef stew with mushroom for 1,200 yen and boiled sausage and prosciutto, both for 939 yen.

The Whales of August is a must for cinephiles; the drink service is its own experience, and yet so affordable.
Nature challenge start today across the Palouse

The Palouse Conservation District and the city of Moscow have teamed up to support the 2024 City Nature Challenge: Palouse Region. The City Nature Challenge is an international effort to document nature that will take place today through Monday. Nearly 700 cities from seven continents will participate in this years event.

To participate, residents are asked to find wild (not captive or cultivated) plants, animals or fungi anywhere in Whitman or Latah counties. Take a photo and upload the observation to the iNaturalist app. Scientists both locally and across the world will use these observations in biodiversity data to increase our understanding of species patterns globally. Observations will count toward the Palouse Region project in competition with communities across the globe. More information can be found at palousecd.org/city-nature-challenge.

Electric vehicles to be showcased at PCEI event Saturday

The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute invites the community to celebrate Drive Electric Earth Month by attending an electric vehicle meet-and-greet from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Palouse Nature Center at 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow.
Panelists discuss North Korean human rights abuses at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, South Korea, April 26, 2024. From left to right: Kim Tae-Hoon, president of the People for Successful Corean Reunification; Lee Keumsoon, senior research fellow at the Korean Institute for National Unification; and Yoon Sanguk, director general for human rights policy at the Ministry of Unification. (David Choi/Stars and Stripes)

SEOUL, South Korea  An upcoming report will revise the United Nations decade-old review of North Koreas record of human rights abuses, according to experts on the humanitarian crisis at a panel discussion hosted Friday by the South Korea Ministry of Unification.

The last comprehensive report on human rights in North Korea was published by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2014. It included testimonials from over 240 victims and witnesses and stated systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed by [North Korea], its institutions and officials.

The council is scheduled to release an updated version in 2025, a Ministry of Unification spokeswoman said by phone Friday. South Korean officials customarily speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

The councils 2014 findings included state-sponsored punishment for watching and listening to foreign media and an absolute ban on ordinary citizens traveling abroad. It also reported that North Korea stems the practice of any religion.

The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world, the report said.

The report accounts for only the first three years of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns reign and the country may have undergone societal shifts in the past decade, said Yoon Sanguk, director general for human rights policy at the Ministry of Unification.

We need to think about how many changes there are compared to his father or grandfather, Yoon told an audience of roughly 250 people.

Kims regime took no credible steps to prosecute officials who committed human rights abuses or corruption since his fathers death in 2011, according to a U.S. State Department report on North Koreas human rights abuses published in 2021.

Human rights concerns have since been overshadowed by other issues, such as North Koreas weapons program, according to Kim Tae-Hoon, president of the Seoul-based People for Successful Corean Reunification non-governmental organization.

Kim said public executions in North Korea may have dropped since 2014 and recommended the upcoming review should name and shame China for being complicit in Pyongyangs human rights abuses.

Over 2,000 North Korean escapees, 70% of them women, are believed to be detained in China, the Human Rights Council reported in July 2023.

The Human Rights Watch accused China of facilitating human rights abuses in North Korea, including forcibly repatriating at least 120 defectors in 2023, according to the non-governmental organizations website.

The updated report is urgently needed now, more than ever and should include the voices of those who are most affected, said Hanna Song, executive director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights.

The [report] would not have been possible if the victims, family members and the North Korean people themselves had not spoken out, she said. The report is for them. The report is to show that the international community is listening.
Ukraines Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi arrives for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on May 30, 2023. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Ukraines agriculture minister became the first cabinet member under Volodymyr Zelenskyys presidency to be detained in a crackdown on corruption demanded by allies as a condition for aid in Kyivs war against Russia.

The High Anti-Corruption Court in Kyiv ordered Mykola Solskyi, who has overseen Ukraines grain-export policy during the conflict, to be taken into custody early Friday, the court said on its website. The minister, who submitted his resignation even as he denied wrongdoing, was released after paying roughly $1.9 million, according to a ministry statement.

Before he became Ukraines wartime leader, Zelenskyy was propelled to office in 2019 on a pledge to root out endemic corruption that eroded Ukraines economy for three decades since the Soviet Union collapsed. Moscows invasion has made the issue more urgent as international donors have demanded progress while they dispatch billions to keep the war-battered economy afloat and provide weapons to the frontline.

Bolstering anti-corruption efforts and reducing oligarchs control over the economy is a central issue for lenders including the International Monetary Fund but also the European Union, which opened accession talks with Kyiv at the end of last year.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau and prosecutors Tuesday accused Solskyi, who played a key role in seeking export channels for Ukrainian grain since taking office a month after Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022, of involvement in a scheme to illegally appropriate state-owned land and issued a notice of suspicion.

Solskyi, a former businessman, earlier said he guarantees openness to authorities for activity that took place before he took office. In an April 23 statement on Telegram, Solskyi said the land under scrutiny is part of a legal dispute between state enterprises and individuals.

Kateryna Ryzhenko, the deputy executive director for legal affairs for Transparency International Ukraine, said the case against the cabinet minister was uncommon and sent a positive signal to international donors.

It shows that our anti-graft authorities are not afraid to investigate high-profile politicians and government officials, Ryzhenko said in an interview. Still, too many such cases can reinforce the narrative promoted by Russia that Ukraine is a corrupt nation.

Seizure of land

The scheme tied to Solskyi involves the seizure of some 2,500 hectares (6,177 acres) of land in Ukraines northern Sumy region worth an estimated 291 million hryvnia between 2017 and 2021, the bureau known as NABU said.

Public outrage over corruption has also played a role in the political arena. Anti-graft officials last year opened an investigation into suspected purchases of food at inflated prices for war-hit regions, a probe that entangled Solskyis deputy, Taras Vysotskyi. The ministry denied the accusations.

Zelenskyy dismissed his defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, as part of the wartime cabinets biggest shakeup last year. The former defense chief long fended off allegations over graft in military procurement by subordinates, charges that he denied.

The Supreme Court chief was detained in May 2023 after investigators said they had uncovered large-scale corruption in the highest judicial body. Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, who supported Zelenskyy during an election campaign in 2019, is suspected of the embezzlement and has been in a detention center since September.

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U.S. Army mariners construct a floating pier off the coast of Bowen, Australia, in July 2023. The pier is similar to one being constructed to move humanitarian aid into Gaza. (Ashunteia Smith/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  U.S. ships have begun constructing the initial stages of the temporary floating pier off Gazas coast, and defense officials expect it will be ready to flow aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave by early May, the Pentagons top spokesman said Thursday.

I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

He also confirmed there was a mortar attack in Gaza in the area where the pier will connect with the shore. But the strike, which happened Wednesday, caused minimal damage.

This occurred before U.S. forces started moving anything. The incident in no way delays our efforts to establish the maritime port, Ryder said.

The pier, known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, is meant to provide a new way to deliver badly needed aid into Gaza. The World Health Organization has warned some 2.3 million Gaza inhabitants face extreme hunger that could become a full-blown famine by next month as Israel continues its war against Hamas militants who launched a surprise assault in October from the enclave.

President Joe Biden first announced the JLOTS operation on March 7 during his State of the Union speech. One day later, Ryder said the temporary pier would be operational within about 60 days.

The operation is expected to include about 1,000 American troops.

The Army last month sent four ships from the 7th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., toward the Mediterranean to spearhead the operation. The Navy, in addition to the Benavidez, deployed two more ships to help in the construction of the pier. One of those ships, the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo was forced to return to the United States last week after suffering an engine room fire.

A senior military official, who spoke Thursday to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said the Air Force has airdropped more than 1 million meals into Gaza. Upon receiving orders to assist with the temporary pier, U.S. ships sailed from the East Coast within 36 hours.

The official explained the aid for Gaza will move into Cyprus by air or sea where it will be screened and prepared for delivery. Pallets will be loaded onto predominantly commercial vessels that will travel about 200 miles to a floating platform anchored miles off the coast of Gaza. This is part of the JLOTS system where pallets will be transferred from commercial vessels onto smaller Army ones. These vessels will transport the humanitarian assistance, including trucks, from the floating platform to the temporary pier fixed to the shore in Gaza.

Trucks will drive off the vessels and onto the causeway to drop off assistance in a secure area. The senior military official could not provide more specifics but said a third-party group would be driving the trucks, not the U.S. military.

We believe we have developed a comprehensive integrated security plan with the Israeli Defense Forces to address force protection of American troops and everything is in place  the people, procedures, ships and coordination protocols. Our plan to deliver lifesaving aid from the sea is on track for delivery in early May, the military official said.

The official added the U.S. is prepared to execute this mission for several months.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement Thursday referred to the mortar attack as unfortunate but predictable.

This has been an ill-conceived mission from the start. President Biden should never have put our men and women in this position, and he should abandon this project immediately before any U.S. troops are injured, Wicker said.

The senior military official said the U.S. has full confidence in the plan developed with the Israelis in the last month. It is comprehensive and addresses all issues from the air, land and sea.

We have rehearsed defensive and protective measures on multiple occasions and feel very competent in that, the official said.
Smoke rises over the village of Alma al-Shaab in south Lebanon during an Israeli bombardment on April 25, 2024. (AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Israel is stepping up preparations for a potential all-out war with Hezbollah, as the risk of a devastating new phase in the countrys conflict with Iran and its proxy militias grows more acute.

Israeli forces have been exchanging cross-border fire with the Lebanon-based group almost daily since the start of the campaign against Hamas in October, and is now putting in place measures that would enable an escalation of hostilities  if required. Those include additional military exercises for ground, naval and aerial forces in the north of the country, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Local leaders in the area have been briefed on the processes to accelerate readiness for continued fighting, the IDF said in a statement. Additional storage facilities are being installed to enable a quick and broad mobilization of IDF troops to the front line, the armed forces said.

Israel said it struck about 40 sites linked to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, an escalation of hostilities after the militant group staged its deepest attack inside Israel the previous day. Tensions between the two have been high since Israel invaded Gaza to try and eradicate Hamas  which like Hezbollah is an Iran-backed group considered a terrorist organization by the U.S.  but appear to have intensified since Israel and Iran began attacking each other directly earlier this month.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said April 8 he was working night and day to serve this resistance after a deadly attack on Irans diplomatic compound in Syria a week earlier, which the Islamic Republic blamed on Israel.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been evacuated from settlements on both sides of the Lebanese border. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said pushing Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon is a national goal. A United Nations security council resolution put in place after the two sides fought a war in 2006 called for Hezbollah forces to respect a no-go zone close to Israels border.

This will be achieved using diplomacy or military force, Netanyahu has said on several occasions.

Dangerous play

An Israeli escalation of fighting with Hezbollah would be fraught with danger. The group is considered the most powerful militia in the Middle East, and is believed to possess some 150,000 missiles and rockets  some with a long enough range to reach almost anywhere in Israel  according to a senior Israeli official.

Israel has been targeted by about 17,000 rockets, missiles and artillery shells since Oct. 7  the date Hamas militants invaded the country and killed about 1,200 people  with some two thirds making it across the border. About 3,000 were fired from Lebanon and the rest from Gaza, with a total of 27 fatalities. Around 350 people have been killed by Israeli strikes on Lebanon, most of them Hezbollah fighters.

If a fully fledged war breaks out in the north, Israel estimates a baseline scenario of as many as 5,000 missiles a day will be fired from Lebanon, on top of several hundred more by other Iranian proxies in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, said the Israeli official, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information.

The sheer volume of rockets could test Israels much vaunted air defense systems to breaking point, increasing the number of casualties and disrupting daily life. Hezbollah is likely to try and hit infrastructure facilities like power plants and water pipes, as well as sea ports, airports and communication sites, the official said.

The military effort would come on top of on Israels ongoing war in Gaza, where the IDF is preparing a potential ground invasion of Rafah, the southern city where more than 1 million civilians have taken refuge from the months of bombardments further north. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the campaign so far, according to Hamas-run health authorities.

New war

Israel has been preparing for a new war with Hezbollah for over 15 years, setting up a National Emergency Authority to coordinate government ministries, local authorities and other agencies to prepare for a surprise attack. The blueprint has become known as the compass  a classified document that lays out Hezbollahs capabilities and the maximum damage the group could cause.

The plan dictates the amount of emergency stocks Israel will buy to prepare for war and potential evacuations from affected territories. These were topped up by about 2 billion shekels ($530 million) in five different categories after Oct. 7, including energy, medical supplies and raw material for the food industry. Officials have studied Russias invasion of Ukraine for ideas, noting how Moscows forces looked to dismantle energy infrastructure and impose blackouts to assert its dominance.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen recently pledged that no one will be in the dark for an extended length of time in a Hezbollah war scenario. We have established an unprecedented set of backups which allows us to route electricity in a short time to any affected area, he said.

Every government ministry has been roped into preparations for war. Israels train company will use diesel-run locomotives to replace electric ones. Ramon airport in Israels south will be able to partially take over from Ben Gurion International hub, though whether international airlines will keep flying to Israel is another question.

Supermarkets that install generators to enable the use of credit cards during power shortages will be dubbed iron markets and published on a specialized government web page. The same goes for Iron gas stations.

Many Israelis are not waiting for the authorities to tell them what to do. Before Irans attack on Israel earlier this month, grocery chains reported a huge surge in food sales, and delivery service Wolt reported a spike in orders from supermarkets and convenience stores.

We are also experiencing a renewed wave of demand for emergency products, said Amit Shabtai, the trade and import manager of the Kravitz office supply and electronic products chain. It started in October with the outbreak of the war, faded toward the end of December, but there is once again an increase in the sales of products such as portable power and energy stations, folding solar panels, docking stations, flashlights, batteries and transistors, she told the Globes newspaper this month.

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A Russian rocket launcher fires at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on March 21, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service)

Israels trading of missile attacks with Iran this month may be on hiatus, yet the unprecedented direct clash between the two old foes has raised questions over the role played by Russia in the unfolding Middle East crisis.

An operation believed to have been carried out by Israel on the Iranian city of Isfahan a week ago took out part of an air-defense system supplied by Moscow, according to US and Israeli reports. A day later, an Iranian official news agency trumpeted the imminent arrival of new fighter jets from Russia, later withdrawing the news without explanation.

Russia is ready to expand its mutually beneficial military cooperation with Iran, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani on Friday in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana.

The suggestion that Iran is sourcing weapons from Russia has raised concerns in Israel about the implications of expanding Moscow-Tehran defense ties  especially at a time when Israel and Iran appear closer than ever to all out war. Israel has its own backer in the US, and plans to use a recently-passed $26 billion aid package from Washington to strengthen its air-defense capabilities.

Russia looks set to supply Iran with Sukhoi Su-35 fighter planes to modernize its decades-old air force as well as the sophisticated S-400 air defense system, said Shay Har-Zvi, a former acting director general in Israels Ministry of Strategic Affairs who remains close to the countrys security establishment. Moscow is also working with Iran on cyber warfare and sharing intelligence as well as helping it launch spy satellites, he said.

Russia is an adversary for Israel  it supports the radical axis that is fighting against us, said Har-Zvi, now a senior fellow at Reichman University near Tel Aviv. Moscows role will only grow in importance as Israels conflict with Iran and its various allied militant groups around the region intensifies, he added.

Supersonic Missiles

Israel managed to get past Irans air defenses on April 19 by firing supersonic air-to-surface missiles that damaged the Russian-made S-300 battery in an air base near Isfahan, according to Israeli state broadcaster Kan. The attack was a more limited response to Tehrans massive missile and drone barrage on Israel six days earlier, allowing both sides to pause the tit-for-tat exchange without losing face.

Russia has been relying on Iran for drones to support its invasion of Ukraine, giving the Islamic Republic leverage to bolster its armory with Russian help. The supplies of the two countries complement each other: Russia needs more drones and missiles, Iran lacks sophisticated air defense systems and fighter jets.

Reflecting the wider strategic shift, North Korea, another country thats providing Russia with weapons to fight Ukraine, sent a delegation to Tehran this week.

Russia and Iran are closer than ever thanks to the war in Ukraine, said Major General (Reserve) Amos Gilead, a former top Israeli Defense Ministry official. The Russians could now supply them with some very important technology that would represent a dramatic upgrade of Iranian capabilities, he added.

Israel-Russia ties have been close in recent decades, forged by a personal relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Vladimir Putin and long-standing security cooperation. But the two countries have been at increasing odds since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, with Israels close ties with the US making it impossible to stay neutral. Thats pushed Russia and Iran closer together.

Middle East Push

The Kremlins partnership with Iran is part of a broader push to counter the US and its allies in the Middle East, where Russia is seeking to step up its military presence, including with a naval base in Libya.

Thats provoked tensions over Syria, and Israel late last year stopped routinely informing Russia ahead of strikes in the war-torn country against Iran-backed militias. Israel regards its ability to hit targets in Syria as essential to obstruct Iranian weapons supplies to Lebanons Hezbollah, its most powerful enemy among Irans proxy groups. Russia, which is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has military bases in the country, maintains extensive air defense capabilities in Syria.

Russia took Tehrans side after its April 13 missile barrage on Israel, with the Foreign Ministry describing the attack as an act of self-defense following deadly airstrikes on Irans diplomatic compound in Damascus two weeks earlier. Israel hasnt confirmed or denied it was behind that assault, which killed high-ranking Iranian military leaders, in line with the countrys usual policy.

Iran received the first delivery of Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft from Russia in September. They can be used to train pilots for the Su-35, and two months later the deputy Iranian defense minister said the arrangements for delivery of those fighter planes had been finalized. Irans current fleet of warplanes is outdated, including US F-14 aircraft that first entered service in the 1970s.

S-400 Query

Iran is also seeking the S-400 system, which can hit targets as far as 240 miles away and have some ability to counter stealth jets such as the US-made F-35 in Israels airforce, Bloomberg News reported last year.

An Iranian official delegation visited a plant in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg that produces components for air defense systems including the S-400 in March 2023, according to a document posted online by a hacker group, Prana Network. The Washington Post first reported the Iranian visit.

Russias cooperation with Iran has included the transfer of Western weapons captured in Ukraine such as anti-aircraft missiles, said Sima Shine, former head of research and analysis at Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and now head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

The two countries are likely to study the Israeli strike on the S-300 battery to understand how to improve air defenses, she said.

With Russian submarines also on the potential Iranian shopping-list, Moscows military alliance with Tehran is not only a worry for Israel, but for other US allies in the region like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, said Yury Lyamin, a Russian expert on Iran.

The only restraining factor now on Russia-Iran military cooperation may be Moscows desire not to cause a rift with Saudis and the Emiratis, he said.

Marissa Newman, Galit Altstein and Thomas Hall contributed to this report.
Twenty-one people have been indicted by a Louisiana federal grand jury April 25, 2024, in connection with stealing millions of dollars from military service members and other customers banking with USAA. (Donna L. Burnett/U.S. Air Force)

A federal grand jury in Louisiana has indicted 21 people in connection with stealing millions of dollars from military service members and other customers banking with USAA.

The scheme used customer information, including names, ages, and account numbers and balances to steal almost $7 million from USAA and its customers, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown told The Shreveport Times on Thursday.

The group gained access to those banking details through three workers employed by a call center in Shreveport, La., that provided customer service for USAA, according to a 10-page indictment filed in the U.S. Western District Court of Louisiana on Wednesday.

The stolen bank information was used to issue counterfeit checks, typically from the accounts of older customers with high bank balances. The group believed their targets were less likely to regularly monitor their account activity, the indictment states.

Proceeds from the checks were deposited into the bank accounts of people recruited by the group through social media. They would then withdraw the money, sometimes at a local casino, and share it with their co-conspirators, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Shreveport said Thursday.

The groups activities took place from about Jan. 1, 2021, to about Oct. 31, 2022, and included USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Chase Bank, among other financial institutions, according to the indictment.

For example, fraudulent checks totaling $41,000 and drawn on USAA accounts were deposited to Navy Federal accounts owned by three people in June 2022, the indictment alleges.

One of those people later withdrew $7,000 from her account at a Shreveport casino, according to the indictment.

The indictment charges 20 people with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Five of those people and another person also face charges of possession of a counterfeit security, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

The scheme was uncovered when local banks reported checks bouncing, according to The Shreveport Times.
A Patriot air defense missile launches at the NATO Missile Firing Installation in Chania, Greece, in November 2017. (Sebastian Apel/German air force via U.S. Department of Defense)

WASHINGTON  The United States on Friday announced for the second time this week more military aid for Ukraine, including Patriot missiles as part of $6 billion in weapons and equipment to help its air defense against invading Russian forces.

The aid is the largest security assistance package that the U.S. has committed to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday during a news conference at the Pentagon. It will be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI, which gives long-term assistance to procure weapons and munitions from the defense industry or partner countries for a later time.

The package also includes more munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, as well as additional gear to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraines air-defense systems.

Russia is launching increasingly fierce attacks on Ukraines critical infrastructure, including targeting its power plants. And more and more Ukrainian citizens are dying, Austin said during a Ukraine Defense Contract Group meeting held earlier Friday. So were going to have a special focus today on boosting Ukraines air defenses. Ukraine is in dire need of more air-defense systems. And it urgently needs more interceptors.

The rejuvenated U.S. effort to provide military aid to Ukraine comes after Congress passed legislation earlier this week approving $95 billion in foreign aid.

The $95 billion includes money for Israel and Taiwan, with $60 billion going to Ukraine. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law Wednesday, followed by the Pentagon announcing $1 billion in military aid in air-defense systems and artillery rounds. The $1 billion is provided through the presidential drawdown authority in which equipment is pulled from existing U.S. military stocks and sent to Ukraine on an emergency basis.

The legislation ended months of political deadlock that saw the bill stall because some Republicans were opposed to arming Ukraine even though Russia has gained momentum on the battlefield.

As Congress tried to strike a deal, the Pentagon was unable to provide Ukraine with military aid since its last aid package of $250 million in December.

However, the U.S. was able to send $300 million in weapons and ammunition in March after defense officials said the Pentagon was able to find cost savings in earlier Ukraine contracts and used that money to send more military aid to Ukraine.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Friday, April 26, 2024, that the U.S. is sending another $6 billion in weapons and equipment to Ukraine. (Chad J. McNeeley/DOD)

In two years, 793 days later, Ukraine is still fighting. And thats quite remarkable, and its holding that ground even in the face of a question as to whether or not were going to continue to support them, Austin told reporters Friday. That question is off the table. And that has reassured the Ukrainians, but also its reassuring our allies and partners around the globe.

The Ukraine Defense Contract Group, which consists of about 50 nations to provide assistance and weapons to Ukraine, met on the two-year anniversary of the first meeting at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended Fridays group meeting and discussed the need for Patriots.

We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them. This is what can and should save lives right now, he said.

Austin told reporters that he hopes to work with several countries to put together Patriot capabilities, while making clear this is not a silver bullet.

I would say its going to be the integrated air and missile defenses  that really turns the tide, he said. There are other capabilities they need that we really pushed hard to get and we may be able to get to the Ukrainians a bit faster.

Other nations have recently provided assistance to Ukraine, including Germany sending a Patriot air-defense system and the United Kingdom providing $620 million in military aid. The shipment will include British Storm Shadow long-range missiles, which have a range of about 150 miles and have proved effective at hitting Russian targets.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters Tuesday that next year Britain would deploy its Typhoon fighter jets to Poland to help police its skies. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has seen several incursions of its airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The items in the military aid announced Friday include:

 Additional munitions for Patriot air-defense systems.

 Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems.

 Equipment to integrate Western air-defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraines air-defense systems.

 Counter-drone equipment and systems.

 Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems.

 Multi-mission radars.

 Counter-artillery radars.

 Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

 155mm and 152mm artillery rounds.

 Precision aerial munitions.

 Switchblade and Puma drones.

 Tactical vehicles to tow weapons and equipment.

 Demolition munitions.

 Components to support Ukrainian production of drones and other capabilities.

 Small arms and additional small arms ammunition.

 Ancillary items and support for training, maintenance and sustainment activities.
The Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters building in Washington. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  Fifteen million veterans were notified by the Department of Veterans Affairs this week that a cybersecurity breach involving one of its vendors might have exposed their private health care information.

Change Healthcare, which processes payments for VA patients, informed the agency that a substantial proportion of people in America could have had some information leaked, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Thursday during his monthly news conference.

We are pushing for more information. We will move quickly to provide full support and protect veteran data. We are not waiting for that confirmation, he said.

Change Healthcare is the nations largest payment processor for health care services.

Clinics, pharmacies and community providers submit patient claims via a portal or directly to Change Healthcare, which processes them for payment.

United HealthGroup, parent company of Change Healthcare, described the breach as a malicious criminal cyberattack and issued a statement this week following an audit of the companys systems.

Based on initial targeted data sampling to date, the company has found files containing protected health information or personally identifiable information, which could cover a substantial proportion of people in America, the company said.

But there is no evidence that doctors charts or patients full medical histories were transferred from Change Healthcare systems. The attackers were identified as a criminal organization that deployed a ransomware attack against United HealthGroup.

The VA was first notified in February of a cybersecurity incident at Change Healthcare that delayed payment processing and some prescription orders for veterans using VA health services, McDonough said.

The incident initially impacted a good number of our IT functions, community care payment processes among them. Weve now restored many of those capabilities, and were working to get 100% of them up and going, he said.

McDonough said there was no impact on patient care. He also said the VA has remained focused on restoring systems and strengthening firewalls to protect veteran data.

Veterans have been notified by email that they are eligible to sign up for two years of free credit monitoring paid for by Change Healthcare, McDonough said.

The VA also is providing veterans with links to resources for preventing online identity theft and fraud.

McDonough said as Change Healthcare provides more information on the scope of the breach, the VA will inform Congress, veterans service organizations and veterans.

We are committed to transparency and moving quickly to provide full support for protecting veterans and their data, he said.
Students at Washington State University and the University of Idaho this week joined growing campus protests across the country calling for a ceasefire in Palestine and for their universities to divest from corporations with financial ties to Israel.

Since October, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 14,000 children and nearly 10,000 women.

In March, MSNBC reported that more children had been killed in the span of four months in Gaza than in four years of war globally. At least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, along with almost 500 health care workers and 196 aid workers.

Connor Luce, a first-year mechanical engineering student at WSU, helped organize his campus protest.

(WSUs) money is still being invested in companies that are actively facilitating the ongoing genocide and apartheid in Palestine, Luce said, and theyve not done a damn thing.

Petitions from the WSU and UI groups are online asking the universities to divest.

Organizers said calls for divestment at both universities were modeled after similar resolutions adopted by universities to divest from Apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.

Nick Koenig, a doctoral researcher at UI, said they personally read the 1985 resolution adopted by the universitys board of directors that stated no funds managed by the foundation would be invested in companies doing business in South Africa unless those companies subscribed to racial fairness and equality.

This is something we can do today, Koenig said. It is a method that the University of Idaho has done in the past, and they have to do it now.

Students also called on politicians representing them to end their support for Israels military campaign.

One student organizer, who declined to share his name, specifically called out U.S. Senator Jim Risch for voting against a ceasefire and blocking $75 million in food aid for Palestinians, alongside Texas Rep. Michael McCaul.

That student led a chant, joined by a few dozen protestors:

Jim Risch, Jim Risch, wheres your heart? How many Gazans Did you starve? students chanted. From Palestine to the Philippines, end the U.S. war machine.
WWII veteran Donald Stern got to spend his 101st birthday with a flight from the Central Jersey Airport in Hillsborough to the Statue of Liberty on Thursday, April 25 2024. The centenarian served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. (Amanda Brown Murphy/TNS)

A World War II pilot who flew 32 combat missions in Europe had a wish for his 101st birthday  to fly once again in a small plane.

Donald Stern fulfilled his dream Thursday at Central Jersey Regional Airport, sitting in the front passengers seat for a 40-minute flight aboard a Cessna Skyhawk that soared above the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks before returning to Manville.

Upon exiting the plane just before 12:30 p.m., Stern was guided toward a small building near the runway, where friends and family were waiting with his birthday cake.

He took a seat on the couch and gave a salute and a gentle wave, before blowing out the candles.

Thank you, he said to the small crowd.

Glenn Sinibaldi, a retired Air Force major, piloted the flight, officials said.

Russell Stern, the younger of Donald Sterns two sons, was in the back passengers seat for the flight. The 101-year-olds other son, Howard Stern, was waiting on the ground.

Russell Stern, 63, said his father was mesmerized at the sights as they gazed down at the New Jersey Turnpike, Rutgers University and the Manhattan skyline.

He seemed comfortable and almost at home, almost like he was mesmerized and he was looking back, said Stern, who lives in Madison.

It was good. He liked it. He was quiet during most of the trip, Russell Stern said.

Donald Stern was born in New York City on April 25, 1923, according to an overview provided by officials who organized the event. He lives at Brandywine Princeton Senior Living Community in South Brunswick.

He was 21 when he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps 483rd Bombardment Group. He flew 32 combat missions in a B-17 Flying Fortress between January and April 1945. His final combat mission was April 24, the day before his 22nd birthday.

After returning from the war, Stern received a degree in architecture from Cooper Union. He and his wife, Barbara, had two sons, settling in 1960 in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick.

He worked as an architect for New Jerseys division of building and construction, retiring in the late 1980s.

He was a bureaucrat with a heart, his family said.

With his sons Howard, left, and Russel, right, and Life Enrichment Director at Brandywine Living Stephanie Gaber, Donald Stern, second from left, prepares to get into the plane, on Thursday, April 25 2024. He got to spend his 101st birthday with a flight from the Central Jersey Airport in Hillsborough to the Statue of Liberty. The centenarian served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. (Amanda Brown Murphy/TNS)

In retirement, he wrote a book on the 483rd Bombardment Group. He frequently discussed his World War II experiences at middle schools, high schools, senior clubs, veterans groups and other civic organizations, his family said.

His World War II experiences as a bombardier navigator in combat has been so important to him, has been such a cornerstone of his life, said his older son, Howard Stern.

Leading up to his 101st birthday, he made a request: To fly in a small plane again, his family said.

A ceremony was held before the plane took off. He was seated as friends and family sang happy birthday, then he was taken to the plane.

Howard Stern, 66, stood in wait for his father and the plane to return.

Hes enjoying it today, said Howard Stern, who lives in Plainsboro.

When his father emerged from the plane, he son was ready with a joke, saying, You didnt even have to wear a parachute.

Once inside, Donald Stern made a point of counting everyone in the room to celebrate his 101st birthday. He stopped when he reached 30.

He was handed a slice of pizza.

Hes 101. Hes frailer than he used to be, but Dad is an amazing guy, Howard Stern said.

He never ceases to amaze me, how sturdy he is and how he has bounced back. The guy is stoic, even in his old age, Stern said.

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Conti Birali (28) previously received a nine-year sentence for assault which left victim with life-changing injuries

A father of one who smashed a window in a house was identified as the culprit after his DNA was found in blood spatter at the property, a court has heard.

Conti Birali (28) was now destitute, his solicitor said, and he had lost everything after he received a nine-year sentence earlier this year for a serious assault which left his victim with life-changing injuries.

Simon Fleming, defending, said Birali had lost everything due to his own actions.

Judge Maire Conneely convicted and sentenced Birali to four months in prison.

On a separate uninsured driving charge, the judge fined Birali 200 and disqualified him from driving for two years.

The defendant, of Parslickstown Drive in Mulhuddart, admitted criminal damage at Avondale Park in Mulhuddart on March 15, 2022.

Garda Shane Woods told Blanchardstown District Court he was called to the scene following reports that a window had been smashed.

Gda Woods said there was blood spatter around the window, and gardai sent this blood for DNA analysis.

The blood matched a DNA sample taken from the defendant, the court heard.

The damage to the window was 420, the garda said.

The court heard Birali had a small number of previous convictions. He recently received a nine-year prison sentence, and was not due for release until December 2030. Birali was jailed for an unprovoked attack in Mulhuddart village in July 2022 which left his victim with life-changing injuries.

The victim, who was aged 38 at the time, is now a wheelchair user and needs daily care.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that a number of men waited an hour until the victim left a Dublin nightclub before attacking him and leaving him unconscious on a roadway.

Mr Fleming told the court that the defendant, a father of one, was now destitute and had lost everything due to his own actions.

He asked the judge to give Birali credit for his guilty plea, meaning that witnesses had not needed to come to court, and not to extend his time in jail.
The man will appear in the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning

A man aged in his 40s will appear in court this morning after a large seizure of cannabis at Dublin Airport during the week.

Revenue officers seized over 14.2 kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of approximately 285,000 at the airport on Wednesday.

The operation was conducted as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of detector dog Sam.

The man has been charged and is due to appear the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning, Friday, 26.

The illicit drugs were discovered concealed in vacuum-packed packages within the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from Spain.

Investigations are continuing, according to gardai

This seizure is part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs.

If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, "they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
He must get a just sentence for what he did on the particular night

A rapist who sexually assaulted a sleeping woman has been jailed for a further two years.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Joseph Parker (32), who is currently serving a four-year sentence for rape, committed the sexual assault while on bail on the rape charge.

Parker, previously of Crowfall, Bridge Road, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the woman at a Dublin hotel on September 9, 2020. The guilty plea was entered on the basis of recklessness.

The maximum sentence for this offence is ten years imprisonment.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said he was not sure he could say with any degree of certainty that Parker would not offend again but noted the court was not in the business of preventive detention.

He must get a just sentence for what he did on the particular night, he said.

Judge Nolan set a headline sentence of four years and noting the mitigating circumstances, such as his guilty plea, he imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment. This is to be served consecutively to his current sentence.

Garda Philip Cunningham told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that Parker and the woman had a number of drinks in the city centre before going back to a hotel room. The woman had previously indicated to him that she did not wish to be intimate, and he had promised to behave in this regard.

The woman had not been planning to stay the night at the hotel but felt dizzy there and asked for a glass of water before falling asleep. She awoke to feel Parkers fingers inside her vagina.

She pushed him away, locked herself in the bathroom and rang a friend.

Parker spoke to her, asking her not to report the matter and apologising. The woman left with her friend and reported the matter to gardai.

Parker told gardai that they had both been drunk, and he tried to initiate sex. He said it was possible she was asleep, but he thought she was moving around.

Barry Ward BL, defending, asked the court to take into account Parkers cooperation and assistance to the investigation, as well as his guilty plea. He said Parker has expressed remorse.

He said his client was in a particular state of belief but accepted the woman said she was asleep.

He said Parker did not try to stop her leaving, and while he had acted recklessly and foolishly in his offending, he had done everything he could after that to deal with the case in a correct fashion.
At the Court of Appeal today, Mr Justice George Birmingham said that the original four-year sentence with the final two years suspended was unduly lenient

The two-year jail sentence handed down to a robber with 92 previous convictions who rammed garda cars while travelling the wrong way down a motorway was significantly too lenient, the Court of Appeal found today as it more than trebled the offender's prison time.

At the Court of Appeal today, Mr Justice George Birmingham said that the original four-year sentence with the final two years suspended was unduly lenient to a significant extent, as he resentenced Alan Melia (29) to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended.

Melia, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, had pleaded guilty to robbery at Applegreen filling station, Tullynacross, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and endangerment, dangerous driving, and criminal damage at various locations on the M1 in Louth, all on August 23, 2020.

Melia was armed with a screwdriver and accompanied by another individual when he entered the filling station on the day before escaping with stolen cash in a black Ford Focus, which had the back window smashed in.

He was observed by gardai driving on the M1 and stopped after the gardai activated the blue lights, but when the garda got out of the patrol car, the Ford Focus reversed, smashing into the patrol car and forcing the garda to jump out of its way.

Other gardai joined the pursuit while the Ford Focus travelled the wrong way on the motorway, forcing a motorist to brake to avoid a head-on collision.

Two further garda vehicles were damaged in intercepting Melia, including one used by the Armed Support Unit.

Appealing the undue leniency of the original sentence, Simon Matthews BL, acting on behalf of the State, said that Judge Patrick Quinn set a headline sentence of six years at Dundalk Courthouse in January 2023, which was then reduced to four with two years of that suspended.

Mr Matthews said that the respondent had 92 previous convictions, nine of which were imposed in the circuit court. He said that Melia was the main aggressor in the robbery and the main participant in the subsequent driving offences, with only some of the stolen money recovered.

Mr Matthews said that four years for robbery before the reduction and 12 months on the criminal damage charge was unduly lenient.

The sentence as a whole was unduly lenient, but in particular the suspension of 50pc, said Mr Matthews.

Counsel said that the headline sentence of six years was unduly lenient, particularly regarding the history of the respondent who had previous convictions for offences of violence and dangerous driving. He contended that the sentencing judge had not given enough consideration to these previous convictions.

He said that Melia had a high moral culpability by way of his actions, suggesting that the range should be six to ten years.

Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL said that there had been an initial pursuit by members of the public who were present in the store, with one witness saying she pushed one of the assailants whom she believed to be Melia and confronted him. Mr Spencer said that no violence was used before both men fled, which led to a pursuit by gardai.

Defence counsel said that the robbery was described as premeditated, but there had been no longstanding premeditation. A witness had said that Melia was shouting incoherently, which had been perceived as a threat that then led to a physical altercation.

Mr Spencer acknowledged that this had been a serious offence, but nobody had been injured. He said that the damage caused to one garda car was 5,900, while two other garda cars incurred damage of 3,900 and just over 1,000 respectively.

Mr Spencer said this was serious offending, but it all took place over the course of an hour and was all bound up with attempts to evade capture. He said his client entered an early guilty plea and had experienced a difficult upbringing, which he suggested was enough mitigation for the sentencing judge to reduce the headline sentence from six to four years before suspending some of it to encourage rehabilitation.

In delivering the courts judgment, Mr Justice Birmingham said that this was offending of a very serious nature indeed and the ultimate sentence was unduly lenient to a significant extent.

In resentencing, Mr Justice Birmingham said that if the robbery offence stood in isolation, a headline sentence of seven to eight years would be appropriate, however the offence and subsequent sentence could not be viewed in isolation.

He noted the respondents appalling record of previous convictions, as well as the serious criminal damage of reversing a vehicle into a garda car, which caused a garda to jump for safety, before two more cars were damaged while Melia deliberately drove the wrong way.

Mr Justice Birmingham said that the headline sentence could not be less than ten years, but after considering the mitigation of Melias guilty plea and his cooperation in consenting to have the robbery offence dealt with in this jurisdiction, the judge reduced this to seven and a half years, with the final year suspended for 12 months.
Ademola Bangbose (31) forced other road users to brake to avoid colliding with his vehicle.

A dangerous driver who performed a U-turn and entered a bus lane at speed, all in front of gardai, has been put off the road for two years.

Ademola Bangbose (31) forced other road users to brake to avoid colliding with his vehicle.

Judge David McHugh fined him 400 and disqualified him from driving for two years.

The defendant, of Palmerstown Woods in Clondalkin, admitted dangerous and uninsured driving at Fonthill Road in Clondalkin on July 25, 2022.

Garda Daniel Thoms told Blanchardstown District Court that he was on routine patrol when he saw a vehicle driving at speed on Fonthill Road.

It then performed a U-turn and entered a bus lane.

Gda Thoms said the vehicle, a blue Renault Megane, pulled across two lanes of traffic, causing other vehicles to brake hard to avoid a collision.

The garda said he activated the blue lights and sirens on the garda car and Bangbose stopped his car.

The court heard Bangbose had five previous convictions, including one for uninsured driving.

Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin said Bangbose was originally from Nigeria, and lived with his partner and young child.

Mr MacLoughlin said the defendant was insured on another vehicle, and wished to apologise for his actions.
The city of Pullman is planning to build a new fire station and police station in the coming years.

More information about the projects was revealed in the citys Capital Improvement Program draft for 2025-30, released early this month.

RJ Lott, Pullman director of community development, said the Capital Improvement Program is reviewed and updated annually. Its been an ongoing process for decades, he said, used to outline multiple city projects and improvements. He added it allows residents to see where their taxpayer dollars are going.

The program anticipates the fire station to cost $10.2 million, which was increased by $1 million compared to 2023s estimate. Construction is slated to begin in 2028. The document states WSU would share costs of building the facility.

Lott said the fire station was brought to Pullman voters attention in 2018 when constituents approved a $10.5 million bond and property tax increase. It included $500,000 designated to buy land near Washington State University for the venture, which is still being decided.

The proposed police station is projected to cost $9.9 million, which has risen about $500,000 from last years approximation, according to the documents.
Gardai came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene

Scene of fire at site slated to house asylum seekers in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said unacceptable scenes at a site slated to house 160 asylum seekers turned to violence last night and gardai were disgracefully attacked by protestors.

He visited the scene in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow this morning, where three garda cars were damaged and gardai were attacked with stones.

Gardai maintained a presence at the scene overnight and remain on site this morning, with no further significant incidents reported overnight.

"There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence, Mr Harris said following his visit to Newtownmountkennedy.

"Weve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse type premises, but also then disgracefully attacks on members of An Garda Siochana who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged, and one vehicle, the vehicle behind me, was damaged with an axe.

Mr Harris said both the front window and the rear window of a patrol car had been smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe and tyres of a Public Order vehicle were slashed.

"Beyond that, there was there were attempts to injure members of An Garda Siochana. Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them.

Three men and one woman have since been charged in relation to the incident at the site and will appear before the District Court later today.

One man has been charged with alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997, and released to appear before court at a later date.

One male juvenile has been released without charge and a referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.

Responding to the scenes in Wicklow, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that any attack on a member of the gardai is an attack on our democracy and our state

"Any attack on a member of an Garda Siochana is an attack on our democracy and our state, Ms McEntee said in a post shared to X.

"Gardai have my full support in their work and while peaceful protest is a right we all value, we will not tolerate vandalism and attacks on gardai.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has also condemned what happened in Newtownmountkennedy last night.

Mr Harris told RTE News that gardai are charged with upholding the laws of the land and they should be supported in doing so.

"This is a country of laws. Attacks on gardai should be condemned by all.

Scenes in Wicklow

Six arrests were made in total by gardai responding to the public order incident yesterday.

Gardai came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene. Three garda cars were damaged, including several broken windows and tyres being slashed, during the incident.

The garda public order unit was deployed and videos from the scene showed people attempting to breach the grounds, which have been sealed off, as a large fire burned at the entrance of the property. It is not clear if any damage has been caused to the property.

Gardai also used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response, a garda spokesperson said.

Last night, a garda spokesperson said gardai on duty outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy came under attack by persons gathered at the location.

This incident has developed as a result of workers, contracted to carry out lawful employment on the site, entering the site. A number of trespassers were also identified on and removed from the site last night.

Uniform Gardai have been subject of both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks and other missiles being thrown this evening. Fires have been lit and an axe has been recovered by Gardai during this evenings incident, the spokesperson said.

Six people were arrested for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 and are currently detained at Garda stations in Wicklow.

An Garda Siochana is not aware, at this time, of any persons injured during this incident, the spokesperson said.

As the situation has intensified, members of An Garda Siochana used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation. Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Siochana Public Order Unit and approximately 50 members of An Garda Siochana remain at the scene this evening. The use of force included the use of Incapacitant spray and deployment of Public Order Gardai in Public Order helmets and shields.

"Persons gathered at the entrance of the site have been moved away from the entrance but remain gathered in the area.

An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Siochana.

Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort. An Garda Siochana is also aware of misinformation and disinformation being spread in relation to this ongoing incident, the spokesperson said.

Round the clock protests have been staged outside the River Lodge site in recent weeks since news broke locally that it may be used to house asylum seekers. A small-scale fire also broke out at the site last week.

Videos taken at the scene today, and widely shared online, showed a large garda presence and people clashing with officers sporadically.

Masked men could be seen attempting to tear down fencing at the property as gardai were positioned inside.

A fire was also lit at the entrance to the property and flames could be seen burning close to a structure on the property.
Emergency services brought the man to Tallaght Hospital

A man in his 30s is being treated in hospital in Tallaght after he was assaulted in Lucan last night.

The shocking incident happened at roughly 8pm on Thursday evening, April 25.

It is understood gardai were alerted to the attack on Foxborough Road in Lucan where they discovered the injured man.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital.

His injuries are being described as non-life threatening.

A Garda spokesperson stated: "Gardai are investigating an assault that occurred on Foxborough Road in Lucan, Co Dublin shortly after 8pm on Thursday, April 25.

"A male in his 30s was conveyed to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injury.

Investigations are continuing into the incident, according to gardai.
Prosecuting barrister Paula McCarthy BL said that the minimum sentence in the case was 10 years imprisonment

Three men were jailed for eight years after being caught by gardai attempting to retrieve 4.2m worth of cocaine hidden behind panels in a refrigerated container truck which had just arrived at Cork Port.

Albanian nationals Gentjan Dodaj (39) and his brother, Donatel Dodaj (30), with addresses at Paradise Row, Athlone, Co Westmeath, and Romanian national Daniel Afedoaei (23) of Sli an Aifreann, Athlone, Co Westmeath, were jailed before Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The court heard father-of-three Gentjan, who has no previous convictions, only got involved in the scheme in a bid to pay off bills he had accrued whilst setting up a car valeting business.

He recruited his younger brother Donatel who owed 60,000 to a loan shark in his native country while Daniel Afedoaei had a debt of 50,000 arising out of a previous conviction for money laundering which involved the seizure of cash.

The court heard that none of the three men had any trappings of wealth.

Det Garda Gavin Curran of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told Judge Jonathan Dunphy the men were under surveillance when they were observed at a transport storage yard in the Dunkettle area of Cork removing panels from a container.

He said that the men had waited for the container to arrive at the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy and followed it to the transport storage yard after its legitimate load was removed.

The men then removed panels from either side of the container in the early morning of August 5, 2023, and bags of cocaine were removed from self-made concealment chambers within the panels.

The three men were observed by Gardai leaving the scene in a transit van and a Ford Mondeo, driving in convoy.

The container had also carried food which had previously been brought to a factory in Ballycurreen in Co Cork.

Bags of cocaine weighing some 60kg were seized by gardai a short time later from under a seat compartment and in the back of the Transit van.

The drugs were seized following a five-day surveillance operation by gardai.

The 60kg was broken down into 1kg packages hidden in panels in the refrigerated truck container which also had Apple tracking devices on it.

The three men were taken to Togher Garda Station in Cork city where they made admissions about their roles in the operation.

Det Garda Curran said that the men, who were wearing ski masks and dark clothes, planned to travel to Athlone with the drugs.

He said the men had recovered the drugs from the container in the dead of the night with Gentjan Dodaj being the point of contact for the operation.

Tom Creed SC for Gentjan Dodaj, said that his client was very frank with gardai about what had occurred.

However, he explained that Mr Dodaj had failed to tell gardai the name of the person who hired him arising out of genuine fear for his loved ones.

He was visibly upset about his family. He has never done anything like this before in Ireland where he has lived for 17 years. He has no previous convictions in Ireland or Albania, the barrister said.

He owed money [relating to the set up of a car valeting business]. He became involved to defray those expenses. He is remorseful and ashamed.

Mr Creed said that Det Garda Gavin Curran of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had very fairly told the court that Gentjan was very unlikely to reoffend.

Det Garda Curran said he accepted that Mr Dodaj was fearful of the person who hired him.

Mr Creed said that Gentjan managed to keep his car valeting business open and worked hard on it whilst on bail. He emphasised that his client had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and saved the State the cost of an expensive trial.

His wife took to the stand and said that she was not in any way condoning the behaviour of Gentjan who was 100pc responsible for his actions.

However, in mitigation she said that the father of her three children was a a devoted father and a hard worker. She said that he wasnt a career criminal.

She asked Judge Dunphy not to be too harsh in sentencing as she said that her children needed their father.

The court heard that Donatel Dodaj has no previous convictions whilst Daniel Afedoaei was on bail for a money laundering offence when he committed the crime.

Ray Boland SC for Mr Afedoaei, said that his client had been very forthcoming in garda interviews.

He stated that his client was in debt. He was on bail having received a four-year sentence with one year suspended in 2021 for money laundering.

Mr Boland said that his client had lived in Ireland for several years. He worked as a manager in a phone shop in Athlone but lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jane Hyland SC for Donatel Dodaj said that her client had accrued a debt in Albania which he was trying to pay off.

Ms Hyland said Donatel identified himself on CCTV to gardai and set out what had occurred. She said that even with his limited English he was doing his best to improve himself whilst in custody.

She added that her client had lived for a period in Germany where he worked as a pizza chef. Ms Hyland added her client was remorseful for having got involved in the unwise event and had lost his French girlfriend arising out of his actions.

Prosecuting barrister Paula McCarthy BL said that the minimum sentence in the case was 10 years imprisonment, other than for exceptional circumstances, whilst the maximum sentence was life imprisonment.

Judge Dunphy heard that a joint operation was conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and personnel attached to the Revenue Customs Service.

He noted that Donatel Dodaj had entered his plea at an early stage and was without previous convictions. He said that the accused was under pressure from a loan shark in Albania having borrowed a deposit for a house.

He accepted that Mr Dodaj was genuinely remorseful and jailed him for nine years, suspending the last year of the sentence.

In sentencing Mr Afedoaei, Judge Dunphy said that he was factoring in as an aggravating factor that he was on bail for a previous offence when the crime occurred.

He said that the accused had co-operated fully with gardai and identified himself on CCTV. He also pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Judge Dunphy jailed Mr Afedoaei for nine and a half years, suspending the final 18 months of the sentence.

In sentencing Gentjan Dodaj, Judge Dunphy said that he was without previous convictions and had identified himself on CCTV to gardai. He said that the defendant had engaged in the criminal activity in order to defray the costs of setting up his car valeting business.

He noted that he was a married father of three and a good worker before jailing him for nine years and suspending the last year of the sentence.

Each accused was charged and pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of the Drugs Act, 1977 and possession of cocaine for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 at Richmond, Dunkettle, Co Cork on August 5, 2023.
The premises was badly damaged by the fire and there was serious smoke damage to the top floors of the building.

Car goes on fire after crashing into building in Carlow

A car that gardai linked to an arson attack at a tanning salon earlier this month was used for a shoplifting spree in west Dublin just a day later, the Irish Independent can reveal.

The link to the Mini-style car played a significant role in the arrest of three suspects on Thursday for their alleged roles in the tanning salon attack in the centre of Carlow town which happened in the early hours of April 8.

The two males and one female are from the Clondalkin area of the capital. Detectives are investigating whether they were paid by a local crime gang to burn out the business premises on Tullow Street.

Gardai have been investigating whether this months arson attack is linked to a similar incident that happened on the same street in May 2022.

The tanning salon was completely destroyed by the fire

A number of west Dublin men are due to be sentenced at Carlow Circuit Court in the coming weeks in relation to the 2022 attack.

The belief is that Dublin criminals were hired in both incidents to carry out attacks for an organised crime based in Carlow, a source said.

What is known for sure is that the same individuals were not involved in both attacks as some of those charged with the 2022 incident were in prison when this latest one happened but it is being investigated if these have links to the other crew.

The modus operandi in what happened in both incidents is very similar.

The latest incident happened on Tullow Street around 2.30am that morning when a car was driven backwards into the building and the premises went on fire.

The premises was badly damaged by the fire and there was serious smoke damage to the top floors of the building.

The stretch between Doyle's Corner and the Potato Market in the town was closed due to the incident at the tanning salon located between the towns AIB branch and Dealz Carlow.

It is a different property to the one that was targeted in 2022, but located very close to it.

A silver Mini-style car was identified at a very early stage in this investigation. Its movements were tracked on CCTV, a source said.

This car was later identified as being used for transport in a significant shoplifting incident in the Blanchardstown area, and the female that has been arrested is a suspect in that.

Fire units from Carlow town and Bagenalstown were called to the scene along with gardai to evacuate the apartments above the premises. The fire was quickly brought under control. None of the residents were injured.

The force of the crash effectively demolished the shopfront before the flames destroyed the tanning salon on the ground floor.

At the time sources described it as a very very serious criminal incident and a major investigation has been taking place.

Some of the local criminals who have been investigated may have links to the gangland plot to murder James Nellie Walsh in Carlow in December 2022.

Walsh survived the assassination attempt at The Laurels estate in Carlow town on the evening of December 5, 2022. The attack was the second attempt on Walshs life in the space of six weeks.

A Carlow-based gang is suspected of taking on the contract  offered by a sub-cell of the Kinahan cartel.
Nine Georgians have been nicked

A Georgian gang has been smashed after stealing 2.5m worth of antique books across Europe.

The operation was carried out by Europol on Wednesday in Georgia and Latvia, with four Georgians suspected of stealing antique and rare books from libraries across Europe taken into custody.

The gang is believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 170 books, causing financial loss of 2,500,000 and immeasurable cultural loss to society.

Some of these stolen historical artefacts were sold via auction houses in St. Petersburg and Moscow, making them irrecoverable.

Three suspects had been arrested in Estonia, France and Lithuania, with another two suspects under judicial supervision in France.

Over 100 cops were deployed in Georgia and Latvia, searching 27 locations in total. In addition to arresting four suspects, officers on the scene secured over 150 books in order to establish their provenance.

Recovered books

Between 2022 and 2023, the gang managed to steal rare books from national and historical libraries in Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Switzerland.

The thieves would target rare books by mainly Russian writers, such as first editions authored by the likes of Alexander Pushkin or Nikolai Gogol.

When visiting libraries, the thieves would request to check the antique books in person, feigning a specific such as academic interest.

They would then measure the books and take photographs before handing them back. Several days, weeks, or months later, the perpetrators would return and ask to access the same books, this time returning counterfeit versions.

Experts have established that the copies were of outstanding quality.

Europol image

In other cases, "the perpetrators relied on a more crude approach and simply broke into libraries. In preparation of the thefts, they would typically visit libraries and research the books they later stole, according to Europol.

With reports of rare and historical books being stolen across Europe, Europol facilitated an information exchange between the affected countries and helped to identify the main suspects.

Europols analysis uncovered some thefts that had not yet been discovered, and reached out to police in the affected countries to register the stolen antiques in databases.

Operational meetings were held in the Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

In Georgia, authorities opened an investigation to identify and locate several members of the organised crime group.

Supported and funded by Eurojust, a joint investigative team involving France, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Switzerland as well as Europol was formed.

A coordination centre was established at Eurojust on Wednesday as investigations continue into the book blaggers.
In an obituary posted online Monaghan is described as the daughter of Irish immigrants who was extremely proud of her Irish heritage

A Massachusetts firefighter with a Grim Reaper tattoo has been accused of stabbing his Irish-American girlfriend 40 times before attempting to kill himself.

Jason Chapdelaine (52) of Springfield is facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly knifing 48-year-old Eileen Monaghan in the head, arms and torso on April 14.

He has pleaded not guilty, and is being held in custody without bail.

After responding to a 911 call made by a security guard, Holyoke Police Department officers found Chapdelaine covered in blood with Monaghan lying motionless under him

According to the Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, the woman appeared to be suffering from stab wounds and the male was unresponsive due to self-inflicted harm.

Eileen Monaghan

A police report further described Monaghan as covered in an excessive amount of blood and appeared to have a laceration near the right side of her mouth.

[She had] multiple wounds consistent with injuries inflicted by a sharp-edged instrument, the report states.

Officers provided aid to both at the scene but the mother-of-two succumbed to her injuries.

An autopsy report determined that Monaghan's death was a homicide caused by sharp instrument wounds and blunt force trauma including some 40 wounds to her head, torso, and arms.

Chapdelaine was allegedly found with bloodshot eyes and reeked of alcohol at the scene, according to officials.

The arrest report states that officers found Chapdelaine with a belt tied around his neck and determined that the accused had attempted to hang himself.

The report further states that before deputies arrived the scene, Chapdelaine had allegedly told the 911 caller: I didn't really mean to do it.

And during follow-up questioning, the accused firefighter reportedly said: I murdered a woman.

In an obituary posted online Monaghan is described as the daughter of Irish immigrants who was extremely proud of her Irish heritage.

She had a love of Irish music and culture, the obituary reads. On the wall of her kitchen, she hung maps of both C0 Kerry, her mother's birthplace, and Co Mayo, the birthplace of her father

Her greatest joy in life was her family and extended family, and having them gathered together taking pictures, making memories, and enjoying her homemade feasts.

For all that Eileen will be remembered for, she was a devoted and loving mother above all else. She shared a very special bond with her two daughters, Ashley and Kathleen. Eileen will be deeply missed, every day.

According to the Hampden County Sheriff's Office, the victim was the daughter of retired HCSO maintenance supervisor Michael Monaghan Sr and Bridie Monaghan.

Monaghan was an assistant to Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi who described her as a generous person and a rose in a world of thorns.

This loss is felt deeply by the entire Hampden County Sheriff's Office, Eileen's family, friends, and the community.

Eileen was not only a loved and valued colleague but also a dedicated and generous person who meant so much to so many, especially her kids.

Eileen was truly a rose in a world of thorns. As we try to process this tragic loss, please keep the Monaghan family in your thoughts and prayers. To say Eileen was loved and will be missed is an understatement,' the post read.

Chapdelaine was arrested at the scene by Holyoke police and charged with murder.

He was arraigned on April 16 in Holyoke District Court where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

The court ordered Chapdelaine to be held without right to bail at the Franklin County House of Correction in Greenfield. Later, Chapdelaine was ordered to be transferred to the Bridgewater State Hospital for a 30-day evaluation by reason of mental illness.
The ceremony is now in its 21st year and celebrates the best of Irish style

Fashion icon Lyra was never going to wear something low key

Brendan Courtney brought sunglasses just in case he saw himself in a mirror

The atmosphere is buzzing at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublins Ballsbridge tonight as Irelands most stylish celebrities waltzed down the red carpet in their Friday best for the annual Platinum VIP Style Awards.

Muireann O'Connell, Lyra, Glenda Gilson, Erica-Cody, Lottie and Bonnie Ryan are among the well-known faces dolled up to the nines at the five-star resort  where the ceremony was held for the first time back in 2001.

Glenda wowed on the red carpet

Nominees spent the day getting primed for photographs at an exclusive VIP Glam suite, with title sponsor Platinum Hair Extensions back once again ensuring that every attendee has a good hair day, while Laura Mercier was hand to get everyone glammed up.

Tan partner Dripping Gold and nail partner 14 Day Mani have also worked their magic, as the InterContinental has transformed into a sea of glowing bronze beauties with picture perfect talons.

This evenings bash now in its 21st year, is hosted by Irelands Fittest Family host and former Miss Sunday World Laura Fox, who is stealing the spotlight in a show-stopping Barbarella-esque gown constructed from shards of silver.

The Galway beauty revealed that the dress is actually a costume that she borrowed from a friend.

She got it for a fancy dress party and I was like, when are you ever going to wear it again? and I was like, Ill wear fancy dress!

Lottie , Morah , Bonnie and Babette Ryan

Shell be handing out gongs to the countrys best dressed showbiz favourites across nine categories later tonight: Most Stylish Woman, Most Stylish Online Influencer, Look of the Year, Most Stylish Newcomer, Most Stylish Man, Favourite Irish Designer, Favourite Irish Stylist, The Sustainable Style Award, and Best Dressed On the Night.

Plus, the exciting Icon of the Year award will be bestowed on one special guest  and everyone is eager to find out wholl take the crown.

Rosanna was the lady in red(ish)

Laura, fresh from her stint on Dancing With the Stars after narrowly missing out to former Paralympic sprint runner Jason Smyth and his pro partner Karen Byrne, can catch up with her fellow contestants Rosanna Davison and Katja Mia in Ballsbridge too, as both starlets could take home a coveted Platinum VIP Style Award tonight.

But the RTE reunion doesnt stop there. Pro dancer Laura Nolan is a vision in white tonight with her Love Island boyfriend Matthew MacNabb in tow and Arthur Gourounlian is ready to cheer on his husband Brian Dowling, who is nominated for the Most Stylish Man award.

Laura Nolan with her boyfriend Matthew MacNabb

The pair are set to become parents for the second time this July as Brians sister Aoife is acting as their surrogate once again  almost two years after she helped welcome their daughter Blake into the world.

They were eager to gush about their incoming bundle of joy on the red carpet but are keeping the babys gender a secret after finding out the news before Christmas.

Well have all the winners and more pictures from the glamourous event tomorrow and in Sundays paper.
Carpenter Josip Strok, 31, who lived in central Dublin, suffered severe head injuries at Grange View Way, Clondalkin, on March 30.

TWO Clondalkin youths have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a Croatian man who died following an incident in west Dublin last month.

Carpenter Josip Strok, 31, who lived in central Dublin, suffered severe head injuries at Grange View Way, Clondalkin, on March 30.

His friend David Druzinec, 28, was allegedly attacked during the same incident.

Mr Strok died from his injuries four days later, on April 3, in Tallaght Hospital.

Gardai attached to the Clondalkin District and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) carried out arrests on Thursday and charged two local men.

Conor Rafferty, 19, of Castlegrange Close, Clondalkin, and Anthony Delappe, 18, of Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, were both charged at Ballyfermot Garda station with the murder of Mr Strok and assault causing harm to his friend on March 30.

On Friday morning, they appeared separately before Judge Maire Conneely at Blanchardstown District Court.

Anthony Delappe, 18yrs, of Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin pictured at Blanchardstown District Court

Giving evidence, Garda Patrick Fallon told the court that Connor Rafferty was charged just after 10pm on Thursday; he was cautioned and made no reply.

The District Court does not have jurisdiction to consider bail in murder cases, which require applications in the High Court.

Mr Raffertys solicitor, Luke Staines, said his client intended to apply for bail on the assault charge at his next appearance.

Mr Rafferty dressed in a black and grey tracksuit and runners, sat silently throughout the brief hearing.

Judge Conneely remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 2.

Josip Strok

Garda Barry OShea gave evidence in the case of the co-accused. Mr Delappe, dressed in a navy tracksuit and runners, had no reply when he was charged, the court heard.

His solicitor, Valerie Buckley, also said her client would move a bail application on the assault charge when his case resumes at Cloverhill District Court on May 2.

They have yet to indicate how they will plead.

Conor Rafferty (19) of Castlegrange Close, Clondalkin, Dublin pictured at Blanchardstown District Court

The gardai were granted a minor amendment directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), changing the date of the murder offence from March 30 to April 3.

The judge granted legal aid to the pair.

A third man arrested during the investigation was released without charge on Friday, pending directions from the DPP.
There is no doubt vape manufacturers will find and exploit loopholes in new regulations, say marketing experts.

Disposable vapes will be banned by the end of this year as part of the coalition's 'crack down' on youth vaping.

Academics RNZ have spoken to say the action is taking too long and will be ineffective, given market workarounds.

Otago University professor of public health Janet Hoek says reusable vaping products are already being sold at similar prices to disposable vaping products.

"That to me is exploiting a loophole that is inconsistent with the spirit of the regulation, which was to make these products less available, less affordable and less appealing to young people."

Health Select Committee chair and National MP Sam Uffindell last month expressed concern the industry would simply work around tighter regulations.

"What we don't want to see is at the start of October when the regulations come into force, is that the tobacco companies have out-thought the regulations and got a device that gets around them on a technicality and has a similarly low price point and defeats the intention and the purpose of what Cabinet approved a couple of weeks ago.

"We have to see disposables, or any little variations of them, out."

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello acknowledges the industry is evolving as regulations are.

"The issue you mention around the changing price point for reusable vapes and the way new products keep emerging are one of the reasons we need a comprehensive review of the regulations and enforcement regime around nicotine and tobacco products," she says in a statement.

"Regulatory changes to date - such as those that came into force last December around child safety mechanisms and removable batteries - have seen immediate workarounds from vape manufacturers."

But Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand chair Jonathan Devery says it's incorrect to suggest the industry "worked around" regulations.

"The last round of regulations were the result of knee-jerk, half-baked decision-making from the previous government with no meaningful consultation with industry.

"The result was a selection of seemingly irrelevant regulatory requirements that are not only ineffective at achieving any real purpose, they are also proving too complicated to be enforced effectively."

He says the government must work with the industry to create meticulously-drafted legislation and regulation that reduces youth vaping and safeguards smokers' access to products.

Costello says she paused work on changing vape regulations in March so the government can get them right.

"We are clear that we don't want low-cost, single use products available as they are the most appealing to youth and we need to make sure that any new regulations we put in place don't allow new products to take their place.

"The regulations also need to be enforceable and coherent across all related products - from cigarettes through to oral products."

AUT associate professor of marketing Sommer Kapitan says vape manufacturers and retailers will continue to adapt to regulations; pointing to dairies who have set up specialist vape stores inside their businesses to get around flavour limits.

"So a dairy would split a third of itself out and create a vape shop where they sold speciality flavours with the other two thirds being a regular dairy. They're following the law and the rules but there was a clear loophole."

Both Hoek and Kapitan see merit in reducing the number of vape retailers, though the Minister does not agree.

"I have great concerns with picking an arbitrary number and saying this is how many we're going to have because anybody who deals with addiction knows that reducing supply does not reduce demand," says Costello.

"We have to attack demand and that's what I'm focused on."

-RNZ.
Former deputy mayor Tina Salisbury wants to leave the past behind her as she bids for the Tauranga mayoralty in the upcoming election.

Salisbury was part of the council that was deposed by former local government minister Nanaia Mahuta.

The Tauranga City councillors served just over a year of their term and were ousted because of in fighting and significant governance issues in December 2020.

They were replaced by the four-person commission led by Anne Tolley in February 2021.

The commissions term is ending with elections for a mayor and nine councillors taking place on July 20.

Salisbury said she was not involved in the interpersonal politics of the previous council.

The city needs to move forward and leave all that behind us. We need to get on with the job because the job is big.

Asked if she would do anything differently if she were to be elected, Salisbury replied: "There really isn't much I would do differently.

I was values driven then, and Im values driven now. I worked hard then, I will work hard now.

My only regret is that I didn't have the opportunity to complete the work that I was elected to do and I'm asking for that opportunity now as mayor.

Tina Salisbury, centre, at a 2019 New Years Eve event, with former mayor Tenby Powell, his wife Sharon Hunter and former councillor Larry Baldock. File photo / SunLive.

Asked if other members of the previous council were elected as well, would that concern her, she replied: I trust the city to elect good people to lead the city and I will work with whoever is elected.

Salisbury is only running for mayor and not as a councillor in her home ward of Welcome Bay.

I was initially going to run for both, but I just felt like what we need is a decisive leader in our city and so in running, I would like to be that leader.

Welcome Bay, it's my home, but I think we need decisive leadership.

She said she decided to run again because she understands the complexities of Tauranga from having already been on council.

I learned a lot in that process and feel that I can bring a different style of leadership to the city to be a part of the solution.

Salisbury was a first-time councillor when she was elected in 2019 and was appointed deputy mayor after the previous deputy Larry Baldock resigned from his deputy mayor position in June 2020.

Asked if her different leadership style was compared to past leaders, she replied: Perhaps politics in general.

I think we all would like to see a culture change. In the way politics is done, the way councils are run, and I think I would bring that style of leadership.

Tina Salisbury in 2020. File photo / SunLive.

She said her leadership style was decisive and collaborative.

I engage, listen, I can pull people together. I'm a team person and I think that's how we're going to find the solutions is we're going to do it together.

Salisbury said if elected her key priorities were to address the housing shortage, build a connected city through transport and infrastructure, value community and foster collaboration.

She has been a business owner, a church pastor and became a justice of the peace in 2021.

After her time on council Salisbury was part of the Wednesday Challenge. The initiative that aimed to get people out of their cars and using other modes of transport every Wednesday.

She was also the interim chair of the Welcome Bay Community Centre. Salisbury said she has continued her work in the community working with the homeless and advocating for young people.

I've been focused on that community work for a long time and that's what drives me; for our city to become a place we can all thrive.

Nominations for mayor and councillors in the Tauranga City Council election are open now and close on May 24.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Mobile home residents in the Moscow area continue to be frustrated with a landlord who has significantly raised their rents and asked them to sign leases that attorneys say do not hold up to the law.

Hurst & Son, LLC, manages six mobile home communities in the Moscow area. The western Washington-based company manages Abiel, Appaloosa, Bluebird, Evergreen, Palouse Hills and Woodland Heights mobile home communities.

The past two years, residents in those parks have been asked to sign leases with significantly higher rents. New leases have raised rents between $110 and $170 a month in communities that are populated by low-income residents. Abiel residents, for example, saw their monthly rents spike from $375 per month to $525.

Furthermore, an attorney representing residents in those communities has advised them that the leases do not comply with the Idaho Manufactured Housing Residency Act and federal law.

The residents are being represented by the Intermountain Fair Housing Council, a Boise-based nonprofit. The IFHC wrote seven education letters to Hurst & Son in 2023 detailing the lease language and practices that the IFHC believes is illegal.

We are still hearing from tenants in your parks that they continue to receive monthly statements from you that list an incorrect rent amount, purport to add late fees to that incorrect rent amount, and/or charge for utilities that are not in their leases, said one of the letters, dated Nov. 9.

The IFHC has warned Hurst & Son that landlords must provide 90-day written notice before any amendment to a lease is made, including any rent increase. Otherwise, the old lease will automatically renew. Residents say they were not properly notified of the new leases according to the law.

Because some of the residents have refused to sign the new lease, Hurst & Son is charging residents different rates for the same tier of lots. This also violates Idaho code, the IFHC wrote.

IFHC is concerned that the sharp rent increase harms people with disabilities in particular, the IFHC wrote in an April 20, 2023, letter. Thus, the new lease, rent, rules should not be enforced or used to retaliate or evict/terminate your tenants.,

The IFHC has also pointed to vague and restrictive rules regarding issues like the communities quiet hours, lawns and children in the park.

Kim Stretch, an IFHC attorney, wrote in an email that Hurst & Son has communicated with the IFHC. Hurst & Son has claimed the leases are in compliance with Idaho law, Stretch said. But Hurst & Son requested the names of the tenants being represented by the IFHC before it addresses these concerns.

For clarification, IFHC did not have permission from the tenants to reveal their identities because they feared retaliation from Hurst, Stretch wrote.

As of Thursday evening, Hurst & Son had not replied to emailed requests for comment.

The IFHC did not advise against signing the new leases. But many refused to sign them after learning they may not be legal.
Francisco Grinan Friday, 26 April 2024, 11:41 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Halfway round this exhibition is an image of a woman with a mischievous look on her face having taken down a portrait in oil of a distinguished gentleman while her accomplice finishes putting the painting of a young woman in its place. We do not know who they are, nor does it matter, but this work clearly illustrates the spirit of Acha-Kutscher's Womankind exhibition. This is a collection of secret, hidden, unpublished and suppressed portraits of women from the 20th century that have been salvaged by this artist, Maria Maria Acha-Kutscher (born in Lima, 1968). It is a review of feminine thinking made from real photos published in magazines or encased in family albums retrieved by the artist and then transformed by her to give them a more contemporary look. The result is a subversive and stimulating exhibition that runs until 11 July at La Malagueta cultural centre in Malaga.

"There have always been female photographers who have reflected their world through their work, but this exhibition puts women at the centre of history with these fictitious, documentary-style images that re-imagine the world of women if truly free," stated the Madrid-based Peruvian artist at the launch of the show in Malaga. This is a project she has been working on for fourteen years. More than 500 photo collages make up the displays, exhibiting everything from postcards, such as that of a woman looking at the imposing skyscrapers towering overhead, to gigantic montages up to three metres high, like the one of a female farmworker carting the head of the Statue of Liberty in a wheelbarrow. Women: empowered, serene, readers, contemplative, hard-working, warrior-like, assertive, solitary, relaxed, fun-loving and modern - women who are captivating because of their unpredictability, but also because of their powerful aesthetic appeal.

Womankind Artist: Maria Maria Acha-Kutscher. Where and when: La Malagueta Cultural Centre (in Malaga bullring, Paseo de Reding, 8), until 11 July 2024.

By firstly taking images from old books, posters, magazines and even private portrait photos, the artist reinvents these originals by transforming them into digital photographic collages that make up "a fictitious but credible archive that tells stories about the silencing of women in history", explained exhibition curator Sema D'Acosta, describing Acha-Kutscher as a "pioneering artist for Spanish feminism". This iconographic review of the 20th century in terms of gender is bordered by two key dates in women's history, from the suffragette movement for voting rights for women to the introduction and wide availability of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s.

Black and white to colour

Three quarters of Womankind fall into this timeline, following the life and times of women depicted in black and white. The anthology is completed, however, with several series in colour that correspond to the most recent work by this Peruvian artist. The final pieces in this show are the most autobiographical of Maria Maria Acha-Kutscher's work, directly addressing ageism, growing old and the menopause, "also suppressed topics", said the curator while following the extensive exhibition through the galleries of the city's bullring, alongside the artist and the culture delegate at the provincial Diputacion, Manuel Lopez Mestanza.

"I wanted to show my own ageing process, which I consider to be more like my femininity growing," said Maria Maria - not a typo, her double name is a tribute to her parents' names, Maria and Mario. She uses images of women from different posters, torn from walls, leaving behind worn faces and bodies that for the artist are a metaphor for the passage of time. Amid her latest work, one photo collage stands out: I Remember the Nights When I Used to Sleep (2023). In this series the artist openly confronts our thinking about the menopause through some of its most characteristic symptoms: sleep disorder, insomnia and hot flushes. Also, with the polyptych It Took Years to Get a Head Full of Silver Strands (2024) - several panels joined together like an altarpiece showing a woman's greying hair as a vindication of what is just a natural process.

Silver hair was not only an artistic choice, but also a personal one as the digital creator herself gave up dyeing her hair when she was still young and began to whiten it. The message to accept oneself and view growing older as something positive, not a decline, is what closes this exhibition. She seeks not only an aesthetic, but also an emotional connection with the onlooker in the final series, fresh from her studio: Deep Within the Mirror Old Age Lies In Wait For Me (2024). A simple invitation to take a proper look at ourselves in the mirror and accept the image that looks back at us.
Javier Marquez Madrid Friday, 26 April 2024, 16:49 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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It may seem that equestrian tourism has always been around. There is no rural destination we might go to where we do not find a company offering 'horseback riding routes through...'. However, that is like saying that taking a walk in front of the facade of several museums is cultural tourism. In other words, equestrian tourism is not 'just' horseback riding. In recent years, companies across Spain are taking seriously the development of this type of tourism that allows you to enjoy getting to know regions of great natural beauty and historical value accompanied by one of the noblest and most interesting animals.

Zoom Exploring the Sierra de Guadarrama on horseback. Club Deportivo Jarahonda

In addition, experts agree that horse riding has both physical and psychological benefits. It improves balance, neuromotor coordination and body posture for example, as well as strengthening the body's musculature. It helps to reinforce self-esteem and individual confidence, improves attention, concentration and self-control, in addition to raising awareness of respect for animals and nature.

In the Parque Nacional de Guadarrama in Madrid, the Club Deportivo Jarahonda (rutasacaballomadrid.es) has been offering a wide range of equestrian proposals for all ages and levels of difficulty for more than a decade. Just 45 kilometres from Madrid, this group of horse riding enthusiasts, which ended up becoming a club in 2010, offers everything necessary for those who want to enjoy an unforgettable day or even for those who decide to take it more seriously and train to become more proficient.

Thanks to its wonderful surroundings, immersed in the mountains but close to cultural sites such as San Lorenzo de El Escorial or Segovia, the club's experienced equestrian tourism professionals ensure that the route is both interesting and safe.

The club is not an equestrian centre, it does not have stables, dressage arenas or any other type of facilities; it is a group of enthusiasts who have sporting experience, having participated with great success in competitions of different equestrian disciplines.

From two hours

The club's proposals are divided into both short and long routes. The former range from two hours, for beginners, to six or seven hours, which require a medium or high level. The long routes take at least two days on the trail and are the most attractive if you want to enjoy a truly immersive experience in a natural setting.

An example of this type of route is the Puerto de la Fuenfria, which leaves Navacerrada in the direction of Valsain (Segovia), crossing the aforementioned pass in the middle of the Parque Nacional de Guadarrama. The Puerto de la Fuenfria is a mountain pass that crosses the mountain range joining the provinces of Segovia and Madrid. It has an altitude of 1,796 metres and it crosses the Roman road, the so-called 'carretera de la Republica', the forest track of La Calle Alta and trails that ascend to nearby mountains.

Zoom Horse riding is an enjoyable way to see the countryside. Club Deportivo Jarahonda

The main path follows the aforementioned 'carretera de la Republica', also called 'carretera Puricelli', originally used by the Spanish kings to travel from Madrid to Segovia and restored during the Second Spanish Republic (between 1931 and 1939) to create a route between the two cities. Ernest Hemingway quotes it in his classic 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.

The journey continues to Valsain, where King Felipe II built the palace known as the Casa del Bosque on the foundations of an old hunting lodge. The night is spent there before returning the following morning.

The long routes on offer do not all run through the mountains of Madrid. They are other equestrian tourism routes through the Reserva Natural de Saja (Cantabria), Los Montes Universales (Sierra de Albarracin) and the route that follows the steps of Emperor Carlos V on his journey to the Monasterio de Yuste, where he spent the last years of his life, and which begins in the town of Barco de Avila (in the Sierra de Gredos).

Equestrian astrology

But if history is not our forte, horses can also accompany us in another type of equally exciting and even more original experience. This is the case of equestrian astrology. In the Sierra de Guadarrama, several equestrian centres (such as hipicapradosmonteros.com or losciruelos.es) offer the possibility of nighttime riding routes to reach ideal places for observing the celestial vault.

These experiences include a fun dinner under the stars, as well as guides who help both in dealing with the horses and in the observation and identification of the stars overhead.
SUR Malaga Friday, 26 April 2024, 17:06 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The Guardia Civil's UCO group - similar to a serious crimes unit - has taken down two clandestine tobacco factories in Madrid and Cordoba, but arrests took place across several more Spanish towns, including Antequera.

The operation, which has culminated in 20 arrests and nearly 33 tonnes of tobacco leaf and six million counterfeit cigarettes being seized, has dismantled an international organisation dedicated to the distribution of contraband tobacco, presumably for sale on the black market in Portugal and France, according to Guardia Civil sources. Among the counterfeit material were brand name products and, for the first time, the use of generic packaging has been uncovered.

In addition to Antequera, arrests were made in Montilla and Lucena (Cordoba), Humanes de Madrid (Madrid) and Azuqueca de Henares (Guadalajara), as well as various property searches in the provinces of Cordoba and Madrid.

Eleven workers released

Eleven workers of Bulgarian origin have been released from the Humanes factory. The criminal organisation kept them permanently on the premises and did not let them leave, according to the Guardia Civil. Likewise, in the Lucena factory, officers discovered a hideout where the workers had hidden themselves in case of a police raid or any police checks were carried out.

In both facilities all stages of cigarette production were undertaken, including the grinding and processing of tobacco leaf, rolling the cigarettes, then packaging and preparation for distribution. According to investigators' estimates, the value of the seized products amounts to around 7.6 million euros.

Zoom One of the factories now shut down. GC

The investigation has been carried out by UCO via its Economic and Anti-Corruption Investigation Department, together with Cordoba city's Judicial Police Unit, with the support of various police units from Badajoz, Cordoba, Guadalajara and Madrid.

International cooperation was provided by the European agencies of Europol and OLAF, the Department of Operational and Search Activities of the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and especially the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security.

Apart from all the counterfeit goods seized during the raid on the facilities in Lucena town, Guardia Civil officers also recovered other items. So, on 9 March, they handed over all the non-perishable foodstuffs and basic necessities found there to the charity Caritas Diocesana de Cordoba.
A. M. Romero / P. Martinez/ C. Vallejo / M. Stuber Malaga. Friday, 26 April 2024, 14:01 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The voices are growing louder and each is saying the same thing. All elements of Costa del Sol society are increasingly coming together and urging radical improvements to Malaga province's train network to avoid a breakdown in public transport, which, they say, will hit the long-term development of the area.

Local business leaders, members of cultural and academic institutions, trade union bosses and heads of professional bodies, among others, have recently been telling SUR why it is so important to lobby central government to expand the train service beyond Fuengirola and do something about public transport the length of the Costa from Manilva to Nerja.

Long and middle distance line ap46 a45 A7 Metro line and stations A7 Malaga Line 1 el palo A357 Local Cercanias line and stops C2 Line 2 Estacion de Malaga Maria Zambrano Main roads Ma20 torremolinos C1 AP7 arroyo de la miel A7 benalmadena Fuente: Adif y Renfe fuengirola E. HINOJOSA Long and middle distance line ap46 a45 A7 Metro line and stations A7 Malaga Line 1 el palo A357 Local Cercanias line and stations C2 Line 2 Estacion de Malaga Maria Zambrano Main roads Ma20 torremolinos C1 AP7 arroyo de la miel A7 benalmadena fuengirola E. HINOJOSA Fuente: Adif y Renfe Long and middle distance line ap46 a45 Metro line and stations Local Cercanias line and stations A7 Malaga Main roads A7 MA20 el palo Line 1 Estacion de Malaga Maria Zambrano A357 C2 Line 2 MA21 Ma20 torremolinos C1 AP7 arroyo de la miel A7 benalmadena fuengirola E. HINOJOSA Fuente: Adif y Renfe a45 ap46 A7 Malaga A7 MA20 Long and middle distance line el palo Line 1 Estacion de Malaga Maria Zambrano Metro line and stations A357 Local Cercanias line and stations C2 Line 2 Main roads MA21 Ma20 torremolinos C1 AP7 arroyo de la miel A7 benalmadena fuengirola E. HINOJOSA Fuente: Adif y Renfe

In a round of questions to gauge their opinion, SUR asked some 30 non-politicians representing different elements of civic life what the main things lacking were in the transport system in the province, which rail initiatives were priority and what the benefits would be for the people they represent of having more trains.

Among the leaders asked in the province, Javier Gonzalez de Lara, head of the CEM Malaga business owners association, pointed out that the Malaga area has the most companies in Andalucia and more train lines would significantly improve the business environment.

Jose Luque, president of the Costa hoteliers association, stressed a double track railway was needed to Estepona at least and that improvements to the busy A-7 coastal road were urgent, with the unlikelihood of scrapping the tolls on the AP-7.

Marti Gomez, head of the Mijas traders association, called for more bus frequencies and longer timetables in his area as well as the coastal train.

As well as business leaders, Malaga University has shown its support along with Malaga province's influential associations of doctors and lawyers, among others, all agreeing how important extended rail services are and willing politicians to work together to build and create them.

Local politicians

The growing clamour from community representatives and local society at large for better transport, especially rail links, on the Costa del Sol is receiving cross party support from local politicians.

However there is still confrontation between parties on the left and right over who should be driving forwards what everyone has said clearly they want.

With central government responsible for railway infrastructure and controlled by the Socialist party, the conservative Partido Popular (PP) regional government has blamed Madrid for not prioritising Malaga province for infrastructure investment. The Junta de Andalucia's Patricia Navarro claimed this week that central government was "marginalising" Andalucia overall, and that of about 50 strategic rail plans for Spain only three were in the Andalucia region.

The president of Malaga provincial authority, Francisco Salado, also of the PP, urged politicians to start talking and make real moves. "We need to look for financing from Europe, from central and regional governments and the private sector... Let's stop talking through the media and Twitter. What the people want is for the national transport minister to speak to the regional minister or the prime minister to the regional president."

Central government's representative in Malaga, the PSOE's Javier Salas, while welcoming the opinion of civic leaders added that "it would have been more effective if it had come together in 2015 when a study for the coastal train was carried out. The PP put this a drawer for three years and it is now asking for what it did not do when it was in power nationally."

On the tensions between the two main political parties, the head of the left-wing Izquierda Unida party locally, Toni Morillas, explained what she felt should be done.

"We need to stop the confrontation over this plan and channel it towards greater cooperation - the different governments have to support sustainable, integrated public transport that is effective. The only train that isn't profitable is the one that goes to constant confrontation, exasperation, irresponsibility and lack of real commitment," Morillas said.

Local mayors

Local mayors along the Costa del Sol have also been having their say and coming out in support of more trains along the Costa. Mayor of Marbella Angeles Munoz said, "It is impossible to understand why Marbella is the only place in Spain with a population over 150,000 that doesn't have a rail connection."

"We are at the point of no return with the coastal train: we have to do it. It has gone beyond political debate" Margarita del Cid Mayor of Torremolinos

"Together... we will have more strength to demand what we want, which is fair and seeks more effective transport" Ana Mula Mayor of Fuengirola

"For the Costa this would be a leap forward in excellence, as the airport extension or high-speed train were in their day" Ana Mata Mayor of Mijas

"It is impossible to understand why Marbella is the only place in Spain with over 150,000 people that doesn't have a train" Angeles Munoz Mayor of Marbella

"The transport minister knows very well the Costa del Sol and its needs so this plan should be among government priorities" Jose Maria Garcia Urbano Mayor of Estepona
Mario Sauco, the last Christmas he spent with his family, with his three daughters in the background.

Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 26 April 2024, 11:53 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The family of a Spanish man who died after being punched in the face by a British man outside a bar in Fuengirola in 2018 have said that they still haven't received any of the compensation the man agreed to pay during the trial.

In the summer of 2018 during a holiday in Fuengirola, Mark T., now in his 50s, punched a man, knocking him out, after an incident in a bar. The victim, Mario Sauco (66), fell to the ground and died eight days later in hospital. Mark T. was married, had two daughters and was working for a property investment company when it all happened.

The assailant immediately returned to the UK with his family, meaning Spain's National Police force had to open an investigation to identify him and it took three months to arrest him. He was tried two years later when he pleaded guilty and was convicted of reckless homicide.

"Light" sentence

Mark T. accepted a sentence of two years' imprisonment and compensation of 183,500 euros for the family of Mario Sauco, who left a widow and four grandchildren whom he used to look after so that his three daughters could go to work. Mr Sauco's family considered the sentence "light".

The British man applied for a suspended sentence on condition that he did not reoffend and that he paid civil liability. Mark T. undertook to pay 800 euros per month into the court account, meaning it would have taken him almost 20 years to pay the full amount of compensation.

The court warned him that after the third missed monthly payment, his sentence would be revoked and he would have to go to prison. Six years have passed since the murder and four years have passed since the sentence was imposed. Mark T. has not paid a single cent, as reported by the family and confirmed by the Andalusian High Court of Justice (TSJA).

An aggression "without any possibility of explanation" The sentence against Mark T. considered it proven that he punched Mario Sauco in the face "unexpectedly and without any possibility of explanation". Mario was "knocked out" by the blow for a few seconds and collapsed backwards on the asphalt. In the fall, the victim hit his head "hard on the ground", which caused a cranioencephalic traumatism with a right temporal fracture, subdural haematoma and bilateral subarachnoid haemorrhage. He was admitted to hospital in a coma. Eight days later, he died. The reason for the punch was an incident that happened minutes before in a bar in Fuengirola. Mario was drinking in the company of a friend. The British man was sitting at another table with his family and friends, with whom he was celebrating a birthday. Someone told Mark that Mario Sauco "got heavy" with one of the Briton's daughters, who did not even see the incident By then, Mario had already left the bar and was on his way home. Mark chased him down the street and threw the punch that killed him. The sentence stated: "There was no evidence of any kind of abuse or sexual advances [by Sauco] towards Mark T.'s daughters".

During the first months, the British sent several emails to Malaga's fifth criminal court alleging problems with the bank transfers. However, at the time of writing, the judicial account had not received any amount in Mark T.'s name.

"He is laughing at us and at Spanish justice," said Veronica Sauco, the eldest of Mario's three daughters, who still lives in Fuengirola. "We have been without my father for six years and we are still in the same situation. I don't understand why the injured parties, the victims, have fewer rights than the criminals," she points out.

Veronica and her sisters, Analia and Elisabeth, are convinced that the convicted man used the confession to avoid prison. "If this man had approached us and told us something, that he was wrong and asked for forgiveness, the situation would have been less painful. But this? He said he was guilty so he could go free and then he hasn't made a single transfer. That's making a mockery of us."

Revoke sentence request

Law firm Herrera & Abalos, which is representing the Sauco family in the case, requested at the end of 2020 that the suspension of the sentence be revoked due to repeated non-compliance with the payment schedule and that the Briton be sent to prison. The court did so and issued an International Arrest Warrant (OID) and a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for Mark T. to imprison him for the murder.

The law firm contacted the Spanish liaison magistrate in the UK and a UK body dealing with the enforcement of foreign civil and commercial judgments, to whom they turn for help with the civil liability part of the criminal proceedings against Mark T.

To make matters worse, the UK's exit from the European Union completely changed the regulatory framework, although the Sauco family's lawyers maintain that the facts predate Brexit.

Interestingly, while this report was being drafted, and after years without any communication with the court, Mark T. sent a new email to the lawyer of the Administration of Justice (LAJ) of the court in Malaga to inform her that he had recently been arrested - there is still no official confirmation - under the European arrest warrant for the non-payment of the compensation.

In the email, the convicted person again insisted that there has always been "a problem" with sending money to the account and said that, according to the OEDE, imprisonment and extradition to Spain would be avoided if he keeps to the income schedule, so he has offered - once again - to update the payment and regulate his situation.

The court has already notified the relevant parties of the content of this latest email and has asked that Interpol, the Sirene bureau (whose mission is to complete the alerts and requests of the files) and the fugitive locator group of the National Police be notified so that they can inform of the personal situation of the convicted person.
Chus Heredia Friday, 26 April 2024, 12:45 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The photo is taken in the district of El Ejido, just north of Malaga city centre. Francisco Estevez, a pensioner who has had to deal with a non-paying tenant in his property for two years, is accompanied by his wife, Maribel. Alongside them is Teresa Gutierrez, who had serious problems with a flat that belonged to her father. Also there are Javier, Virginia and her mother. They have just put an end to a four-year ordeal.

Normally the focus on squatting is more on people who move into someone else's home by force or without permission. A different issue is that of tenants who start paying rent, but at a certain point the payments stop but they do not move out.

The landlords interviewed by SUR share a similar diagnosis. They have lost income, energy and morale along the way. In all three cases they complain that the authorities have failed to follow up claims of vulnerability of tenants. All three are in favour of measures to provide access to housing, but stress that landlords should not be used as a "social shield".

"There is impunity. It's easy to be vulnerable. This is infringing property rights," say the affected owners

An association for property owners affected by squatters, the Plataforma de Afectados por la Okupacion, estimates that there may be as many as 80,000 people affected by non-payment in Spain. A government decree, issued following coronavirus, prohibits the eviction of people classified as vulnerable by social services. According to the association, many tenants are clinging to this situation to stay in their homes.

Francisco Estevez and Maribel Bascunana

Francisco Estevez is retired. He thought he would buy a second property so his son had somewhere to live when he left home. "Now [my son] has to share a flat with three friends paying rent because I don't have the flat; it's been tied up for two years. It's a good thing I didn't put the electricity and water in my name," he says. At the same time he only sees the political route as a solution and that the future law should include non-paying tenants, rather than just squatters. On this point, he points out that the government has refused on more than 20 occasions to receive the Plataforma. Owners with non-paying tenants are the majority, but we are invisible. A large area of impunity is being created. It is easy to be vulnerable. This is infringing property rights," he says.

Estevez has not been paid for two years and for one year he has had a court sentence in his favour but the tenant has a declaration of vulnerability. "The first two years they paid normally. What's more, I signed the contract through the municipal housing institute, and it paid half. But when they stopped paying, I went to the city hall and they just told me to report it. They already owe me 16,000 euros," he says.

He complains that the compensation provided by the Junta in cases of non-payment is partial, full of bureaucracy and takes a long time. "I know people who have even had to sell their homes under pressure from non-payment. It's a good thing I don't have a mortgage on the flat," he adds. The court has requested a new date for the eviction, but he is not optimistic.

Teresa Gutierrez

Teresa Gutierrez (not her real name) recounts an intricate odyssey: "My tenant left in February 2022 after two years of non-payment. The contract was in 2016 and was in the name of two people [she later discovered that one was never registered there]. It was a flat that belonged to my father, it was my home, a 52-year-old property. We rented it out to be able to pay rent for my father here in Malaga."

At the beginning, they paid, but not regularly. After three years, the end of the contract, I asked her if they wanted to extend it, but she was on her own. My father died in March of that year, 2019. She was working without a fixed salary, she told me. And her ex-partner is the one who had signed the contract. She told me that she was going to pay with the rental benefit," she adds. The aid never arrived.

From there began an ordeal of lawyers, contacts and litigation with the municipality in question (she prefers not to identify it). The non-payments began to pile up. The tenant went to work for the council and Teresa was reassured that she would pay. She lived with her two children, 18 and 17. "I went so far as to offer her the chance to leave without paying her debt of 9 months and giving her two months to look for an alternative. She refused. I had to sue. It was in October 2020. When the proceedings were activated, it was the second [Covid] state of alarm and everything had to be suspended. I had a trial in March 2021. She had moved faster than I did. She had a court-appointed lawyer and a vulnerability report. I provided the screenshot proving that she was working without a contract," she adds.

The story gets even more complicated from here. She had to hire two private detectives and they discovered that the tenant was working and that the life she led, according to social media, did not correspond to being vulnerable. "We wrote to the judge with the detective's report, the standard of living and my unemployment certificate and my mother's 80% disability. She argued that she had paid me cash in hand, that she had made renovations... The judge declared her not vulnerable," she continues, adding that there were also problems with the neighbours, including complaints of drug use. Meanwhile, it was Teresa herself who was paying "skyrocketing" electricity, water and community fees.

She was able to prove, after spending 2,000 euros on detectives, that this person was not in a vulnerable situation. She even received 1,000 euros a month in benefits and had a property in Zaragoza. The whole process cost Teresa more than 30,000 euros. And a destroyed flat.

Javier Merino and Virginia Robles

Javier and his wife Virginia finally breathed a sigh of relief during the making of this report. "I have just regained possession," Javier, a hotel and catering professional, told this newspaper. "We are in favour of aid but there is no follow-up. A lot of public money is being thrown away. And now the court-appointed lawyers know all the tricks," he says.

The debt of his tenants built up over four years and amounted to 20,000 euros. "This has been an ordeal and lawyers are of little help. I have had to be a detective and we have managed to unmask the vulnerability. I don't understand why social services don't follow this up. And tenants should inform them when they are no longer in that situation. There is public money being embezzled," he criticises.
Isabel Mendez Friday, 26 April 2024, 13:13 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Puente Romano Beach Resort in Marbella resort is set to expand its dining experiences with three new restaurants offering different types of cuisine. El Pimpi is due to open its new establishment at the beginning of May.

This is the first expansion of Malaga city's iconic bodega which opened its doors in 1971, run by Pepe Cobos and Paco Campos. It is still in the hands of the Cobos family together with actor Antonio Banderas and Pablo Gonzalo.

Zoom Decoration plays a big part in Chanca by COYA.

It will be joined by Chanca by COYA, which picks up the baton from Coya Marbella, which opened last year. It will offer an immersive Peruvian-inspired dining experience accompanied by carefully chosen decor that also plays an important part in the sophisticated ambience of the space.

"When the night begins, Chanca by COYA transforms into a place for music and party enthusiasts, ushering in a new era of elevated nightlife experiences in Marbella," says COYA Group Global COO Yannis Stanisiere.

The first in Spain

The third new dining experience at Puerto Romano Beach Resort, Gaia Marbella, is already open to the public. The name pays tribute to a goddess from Greek mythology and the cuisine follows suit; chefs Izu Ani and Orestis Kotefas prepare Greek-Mediterranean dishes such as carpaccio of whole sea bream, roast kid in a wood-fired oven and Kritharaki Orzo seafood pasta, among others.

Zoom Gaia pays homage to Greek-Mediterranean cuisine.

The experience is rounded off with NYX Marbella, where diners can enjoy handcrafted cocktails. "Gaia is a totally unique concept, offering guests a 'home from home' experience on every visit and in every city. We are proud to present our 'made in Dubai' concept and the experience that comes with it in Marbella," said Fundamental Hospitality president Evgeny Kuzin. The group currently has restaurants in London, Monte Carlo, Doha and Dubai, making Marbella its first in Spain.
Javier Almellones Friday, 26 April 2024, 17:48 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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It was not easy to find the right formula, but at La Molienda Verde it had been clear for some time that they wanted to make a jam using the most abundant subtropical fruit grown in the province of Malaga. After many tests to find the ideal texture and a good match, they found the key. Thus was born the latest jam of many varieties made by this small company from Benalauria in the Serrania de Ronda: avocado jam with tomato.

"We were missing a product whose main ingredient was avocado, which is so abundant in the province of Malaga and therefore very representative of the area", explained Jose Antonio Calvente, director at La Molienda Verde, who usually attends the main trade fairs in the food sector every year, such as Alimentaria or the Madrid Gourmet Fair. For each one of them, he usually cooks up a new product to try out with potential clients at these events.

So, their avocado jam with tomato, containing more of the subtropical fruit than tomato, was taken for the first time to the most recent H&T fair in Malaga. The good vibe generated by this jam at this event and the desired consistency achieved with the jam meant that it began to be marketed from that event onwards.

"As well as being a good option for breakfast, we also recommend it as an accompaniment to some dishes as a garnish, almost as if it were guacamole", Calvente explained. In fact, he suggested it can be eaten with nachos or cauliflower, giving a surprisingly tasty result.

This jam is made from organic avocados and tomatoes from the Axarquia region, although for the moment it is not certified as such. However, its main ingredients are organic and additionally they have very low food mileage (zero km in Spanish), which is in keeping with the philosophy of this small company from the Genal valley. "With avocado we also want to make another product that is not sweet, a pate, but for the moment we haven't found the desired texture and flavour", says Calvente.

This jam, bearing La Molienda Verde label, can already be found in the usual commercial food shops and delis where this company distributes its products. Also, in the next few days, it will be available in LMV's online shop.

Other new products

Despite being a small business, La Molienda Verde proudly makes it known that they have almost a hundred product lines, which can only be explained by the management's eagerness to innovate. In fact, another of the products that is also being launched after its great success at the last Alimentaria food fair is the vinegar and orange marmalade. Although it is technically a jam, it is ideal for use as a garnish or, above all, as a salad dressing. Anyone attending the Gourmet Fair in Madrid (22-25 April) had a chance to taste it.

Zoom

For this food fair, Calvente also took the final version of the avocado jam with tomato and another one, still in the testing phase, made from vermouth from a Malaga winemaker. "We want to complete our range of jams made with wine, as we have already had organic red wine from Ronda and Pedro Ximenez for some time now", he says. Unlike the previous wine-based jams, the vermouth will be packaged under the company's most recently created brand label, Experiencias del Sur.

La Molienda Verde, which was founded as a co-operative in 1996, is now a limited company that has undergone major development and change in recent years. Firstly, with the number of products and customers. Secondly, for coming up with unique products such as their gin and tonic jam, olive pate (both green and black) and chestnut-flavoured chocolates. Lastly, it has been picked out to receive several awards, such as the Bioinnova award for its organic, dried cherry tomato, or the Agrosur award from Prensa Malaguena (category of Local Production and Development), the publisher of SUR.
We must evolve

Seems like columnist Dale Courtney wants to see America return to the legalisms of the Old Testament.

He seems to say it is the only way our country can walk in the sight of God. Lets do away with equal marriage. Lets totally ban abortion. Lets punish the evil doers.

However, to me, the task of the Christian church is to do justice, share love. I look at the Beatitudes, and I find those in need are blessed. I look at the parable of the sheep and goats and I find visiting the sick, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger more God-like than returning to the old ways.

I note whenever there are significant changes in society, there is a group of people who would dearly love to return to Egypt. We went to war over the question of slavery with both sides claiming divine guidance.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A storage bay that once housed an illegal biker nightclub in the Hawley-Green area in Syracuse caught on fire Thursday night.

Firefighters were called at 8:18 p.m. to the former New York Central Railroad Station in the 400 block of Burnet Avenue. Crews found heavy black smoke and fire that spread from walls to a false ceiling in one of the bays, said District Chief Matt Craner, a Syracuse Fire Department spokesperson.

Flames were caught in between the ceiling and the roof, a hard-to-get area for firefighters, Craner said. They had to peel back the roof to extinguish the flames, he said.

The storage bay was declared unfit for occupancy by the city in September after it found the space was operating as a bar and club without the right licenses.

Related An illegal nightclub, a biker gang and a sledgehammer fuel a neighborhood feud in Syracuse

A property owner across from the storage bay said the space has since become a car detailing shop.

Neighbors and business owners on the block celebrated the city shutting down the illegal club last fall. Tom Hornstein, owner of the troubled property, previously said he was putting it up for sale, seeking $2.1 million.

City property records still show Hornsteins Cashe, LLC as the propertys owner Thursday.

Fire investigators are working to determine what caused the fire, Craner said. No injuries were reported.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com.
Jamesville, N.Y.  An analysis of inmate counts shows Onondaga Countys plan to close the prison in Jamesville would not be possible or cost-effective, Sheriff Toby Shelley says.

A state Supreme Court judge this month threw out Shelleys lawsuit to stop the county from closing the prison and moving its inmates to the downtown Justice Center jail. Shelley said he would appeal.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers (ECOs) on Long Island conducted a series of fishing compliance checks earlier this month that resulted in several striped bass busts:

April 6, an ECO ticketed seven people for catching and keeping out-of-season striped bass near Caumsett State Park in Suffolk County ahead of the April 15 season opener. ECOs found 16 fish hidden in the sand, and behind logs and brush piles, all measuring from 25 to 35 inches.

On April 7, an ECO caught three anglers fishing for striped bass from atop the Bayville Bridge. Anglers hid seven fish inside traffic cones spanning the bridge.

On the evenings of April 8 and 9, ECOs seized 10 fish and ticketed seven people for possession of out-of-season striped bass, and three for failing to possess a marine registry.

A property owner in the town of Lysander was ticketed on April 1 for unlawfully operating an illegal dump.NYSDEC

Illegal dump - Onondaga County

A property owner in the town of Lysander was ticketed on April 1 for unlawfully operating a solid waste management facility when an ECO discovered a smoldering pile of solid waste at his property. The waste originated from an auction house in Auburn, and it wasnt the first time the owner used his property as a dumping site. The ECO also ticketed the owner for unlawful disposal of solid waste and unlawful open burning, all returnable to Town of Lysander Court.

Burning tires - Albany County

On April 3, a construction company in Albany County was fined more than $2,000 for illegal burning and the unlawful disposal of solid waste, stemming from an incident in March when police noticed a large plume of black smoke from burning tires and other prohibited materials.

An ECO warned a group of photographers in Nassau County for getting too close to an owl's nest and taped off a barrier surrounding the tree.NYSDEC

No close-ups, please - Nassau County

On April 7, a group of photographers got too close to a nesting great horned owl and her chicks. An ECO observed the group on a bike trail, pushing through nearby brush to get access to the owls. The ECO advised the photographers of regulations prohibiting harassment of wildlife, as well as the importance of observing them at a safe distance. The ECO then taped off a barrier surrounding the tree as a reminder.

Thou shall not dump - Nassau County

On April 7, a Nassau County woman dumped several five-gallon buckets and garbage bags containing construction debris next to a park in Levittown before going to church next to the park. An ECO waited in the parking lot of the church until mass ended and then confronted the suspected dumper who denied the act until she was informed that a witness saw her do it. The dumper got a ticket for unlawful disposal of solid waste. She also had to clean up the mess and supply a receipt for proper disposal.

Anglers in Albany were caught on camera on April 10 unlawfully using a cast net at Six Mile Waterworks Park.NYSDEC

Cast netters caught on camera - Albany County

Anglers in Albany were caught on camera on April 10 unlawfully using a cast net at Six Mile Waterworks Park. An ECO caught up with the offenders and took appropriate enforcement action. Anglers are reminded that cast nets are only allowed on the main stem of the Hudson River, downstream of the Federal Dam in Troy and in the Marine and Coastal District.

K9 track - Clinton County

On April 16, an ECO and a K9 responded to a residence in the town of Plattsburgh to help New York State Police locate a person making suicidal comments during a domestic dispute. The person fled the residence into nearby woods, but was tracked down by the K9. State police took the person into custody.

A noisome and unwholesome substance - Suffolk County

Someone dumped a home heating oil tank on the side of the road in Islip Terrace on March 29, leaking petroleum sludge onto the roadway. A hazmat team cleaned up 20 gallons of residual oil from the tank while an ECO checked neighborhood surveillance cameras for evidence. Videos showed a white transit van abandoning the tank, which the ECO traced to its owner, who admitted that hed lent the van to a friend. The dumper was ordered to reimburse the hazmat team and was ticketed for unlawful disposal of solid waste and depositing a noisome and unwholesome substance on a highway.



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Bear cub rescued from excavator in Upstate NY - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate NY man illegally kept giant gator as pet, allegedly let people swim with it - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate NY man caught red-handed for spray painting squirrels bright red - newyorkupstate.com

Two Upstate NY poachers busted after using fake social media profiles to target big deer - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate NY man ticketed for shooting decoy deer - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
Queensbury, N.Y.  When she was pulled from the lazy river inside an Upstate New York water park last weekend, the 5-year-old girl wasnt breathing, according to reports.

Stacy Brayton, a paramedic, was visiting the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury with her young son on Saturday when she saw people carry a child from the Tak-It-Eesi-Creek area, WNYT NewsChannel 13 reported. Although she wasnt on duty, she rushed to help.

When they could not find a pulse, Brayton told NewsChannel 13 she and others  including the waterparks lifeguard and EMT team  started to give the child CPR. After about five minutes worth of compressions, she said the girl started to breathe on her own.

By the time the ambulance got there, she was conscious and crying, Brayton, who works for Medcor, told NewsChannel 13. So then when everybody came in, I just said to them, shes breathing, shes breathing, because thats the first thing you want to hear as a first responder.

The child from Hudson was airlifted by LifeNet to an Albany hospital, where the Warren County Sheriffs Office reported she is recovering, according to the Hudson Valley Post.

The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is on the edge of the Adirondacks at 89 Six Flags Drive in Queensbury, Warren County.
New York  The decision by New Yorks highest court to overturn the rape conviction of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has reopened a painful chapter in Americas reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures  an era that began in 2017 and helped launch the #MeToo movement.

Here is what you need to know about why Weinsteins rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next:

WHY WAS THE CONVICTION TOSSED?

New Yorks Court of Appeals found the trial judge in the rape case prejudiced Weinstein with egregious improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that Weinstein wasnt charged with.

In its 4-3 decision, the courts majority said it was an abuse of judicial discretion for Judge James Burke to allow testimony from these other women about loathsome alleged bad acts and despicable behavior.

Without question, this is appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct that could only diminish defendants character before the jury, they said.

Weinsteins attorney Arthur Aidala had argued that Burke also swayed the trial by giving prosecutors permission to confront Weinstein, if he chose to testify, about his past history.

He said Weinstein wanted to take the stand but opted not to because he would have had to answer questions about more than two-dozen alleged acts of misbehavior dating back four decades, including fighting with his movie producer brother, flipping over a table in anger, snapping at waiters and yelling at his assistants.

WILL WEINSTEIN BE RELEASED?

Weinstein, 72, will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years.

Weinstein has been serving time in New York, most recently at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany.

He could be taken to California to serve his sentence there, though he might be held in New York while awaiting a new trial if prosecutors choose to pursue one.

WHATS THE STATUS OF THE CALIFORNIA CASE?

Weinsteins lawyers are appealing the only conviction now remaining  Weinsteins guilty verdict in Los Angeles, for charges of rape and sexual assault against Italian actor and model Evgeniya Chernyshova.

A jury was told in California that he was convicted in another state for rape ... turns out he shouldnt have been convicted and it wasnt a fair conviction.  It interfered with his presumption of innocence in a significant way in California, said attorney Jennifer Bonjean, whose arguments freed Bill Cosby in his appeal on Pennsylvania sex assault convictions.

Chernyshova described in tearful testimony how Weinstein attacked her in a hotel room during a film festival in 2013. Jurors rejected the allegations of another woman and couldnt reach verdicts on two others, including those of a documentary filmmaker married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Chernyshova has, and her attorney approved of the AP using her name.

Prosecutors from the California trial said in a statement Thursday that the legal issues identified by the New York Court of Appeal are not present in the Los Angeles County Case. The states laws allow for a judges discretion in letting witnesses testify to a defendants propensity for a crime, they said, and they were justified in putting on the stand four such women.

Weinsteins lawyers will argue otherwise and suggest that Judge Lisa Lench, like her counterparts in New York, went too far in allowing testimony laying out a pattern of predatory behavior.

Bonjeans appeal brief is due May 20. Lench rejected a previous motion for a new trial.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Manhattan district attorneys office isnt giving up, which means Weinsteins accusers could be forced to retell their stories on the witness stand.

We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, the prosecutors statement said.

Weinstein maintains he is innocent of the charges of criminal sex acts involving forced oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He said any sex was consensual.
Security cameras are a great way to observe your home while youre away, whether youre monitoring your pets, watching for intruders, or just making sure your packages arrive safely at your doorstepand stay there. But if you dont take care to secure your cameras, hackers can gain access to them and start observing you. Fortunately, camera manufacturers offer easy ways to harden these devices against attack. Well show you the basic steps to protect your privacy.

One of the most common mistakes people make is to reuse the same password on more than one device or service. If one manufacturer or service provider suffers a security breach that exposes usernames and passwords, hackers will try and use those stolen credentials to gain access to other devices and service accounts. This happened to Roku customers recently, through no fault of Roku.

Shopping for a home security camera? Youll find TechHives recommendations at every price level in our best home security camera roundup.

In one example involving security cameras specifically, a California familys Nest camera received a fake warning of a North Korean missile launch. In another situation, two men were indicted for hacking Ring cameras to livestream swatting raids. Thats not to say hackers cant gain access to your camera by exploiting known vulnerabilities in the manufacturers hardware or software; but in these two cases, neither Nest nor Ring was directly responsible for the attacks. The security lapses were traced back to the cameras respective owners.

If youre now ready to throw your security cameras out the window, dont fret. There are several ways you can protect your security cameraand your homefrom being hacked. We consulted Vladimir Daschenko, a security evangelist at Kaspersky, to make sure we were on the right track.

our overall favorite home security camera Arlo Pro 5S 2K (model number VMC4060P) Read our review Price When Reviewed: 249,99 Euro

1. Change your security cameras default passwords

A lot of security cameras come with default passwords, mostly to make the initial setup a little easier for new users. But since these are so easy to guess, changing the factory-set password is one of the first things you should do.

Daschenko recommended using a complex password for the device as well as any associated applications or services. The password should either be a random nonsensical phrase or have a long string of characters (both lowercase and uppercase), numbers, and symbols.

Daschenko also recommends using complex passwords for the email address thats associated with the security camera (which you should be doing anyway). Otherwise, hackers can access your email account, send a password reset to that email address, defeating the entire purpose of that complex password you just set.

2. Use a password manager

If you have trouble remembering all those complex passwordsdont worry, we all dothen consider using a password manager. Password managers allow you to have multiple unique passwords for every service you use without needing to memorize all of them.

Your password-manager login is encrypted, so all you need to remember is one single master password. There are quite a number of different password managers on the market; we recommend taking a look at PCWorlds recommendations for the best password managers, so you can pick your favorite.

our favorite budget security camera Wyze Cam v4 Read our review

3. Set up multi-factor authentication

In addition to using complex passwords, Daschenko also advises using two-factor authentication. This adds an additional layer of security to access your security camera. If you opt in to this, youll get a single-use passcode via text message, email, or an authenticator app that youll need to enter in addition to your usual username and password. Its generally preferable to use an authenticator app, as its less likely to be accessed remotely compared to text message or email.

Security cameras that offer two-factor authentication include the ones from Google, Ring, Eufy and Wyze. If your security camera doesnt offer two-factor authentication, then definitely get it for your email (which, again, you should have anyway).

One of the biggest mistakes that most security camera owners make is they just plug it in, set it up, and then forget about it. Software bugs and security vulnerabilities get discovered all the time, so its important that you regularly update your cameras firmware.

These updates will patch known vulnerabilities, so you can stay ahead of the hackers. Some cameras will download updates automatically; others might require a manual update. Either way, it doesnt hurt to check your cameras settings every so often to make sure your firmware is up to date. The same goes for the cameras monitoring software.

our favorite floodlight camera Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 Read our review

5. Enable end-to-end encryption

In addition to making sure your camera adheres to up-to-date security protocols and encrypts private information such as your username and password, you should also enable end-to-end encryption if your camera has this feature. This essentially ensures that no third parties will get access to your videos or live feeds. Ring is an example of a manufacturer that supports end-to-end encryption, but you need to turn the feature onit defaults to being disabled.

6. Stay informed

Last but not least, its worth doing a bit of research on your security camera manufacturer every once in a while to see if there are publicly known cases of vulnerabilities. Try to analyze how the vendor responded to them, said Daschenko. If the vendor fixed everything, went public, and admitted their mistakes, then they can be trusted.

Daschenko also recommends finding out if the vendors website has a section dedicated to cybersecurity issues. This suggests that the vendor pays attention to this and works more closely with third-party researchers, he said.
In brief: Anyone who types in Chinese using cloud-based apps from Baidu, Honor, iFlytek, Oppo, Samsung, Tencent, Vivo, and Xiaomi should update their software immediately. The Huawei service appears to be safe, but security flaws in the other apps, most of which recently received patches, could invite snooping, potentially impacting up to a billion users.

Researchers recently discovered severe encryption flaws in cloud-based pinyin input software from eight companies that could allow eavesdropping. Although there is no evidence that the vulnerabilities are actively being exploited, earlier incidents make this a potentially serious issue.

Chinese writing incorporates thousands of unique characters that could never fit on conventional keyboards, so typing in the language requires alternate input methods (IMEs). All of the vulnerable cloud tools employed pinyin systems, in which users type phonetic pronunciations using Roman letters and then pick from a selection of corresponding symbols. Operating system vendors and third-party developers have provided Chinese IMEs with wholly on-device processing for decades, but cloud services can determine the correct characters more accurately.

Normally, any internet-based typing utility comes with inherent risk, but the companies offering cloud-based pinyin apps guarantee user privacy through encryption. Researchers from the University of Toronto tested the security of apps from nine companies: Baidu, Honor, Huawei, iFlytek, OPPO, Samsung, Tencent, Vivo, and Xiaomi, and successfully read keystrokes from all of them except the Huawei tool, potentially exposing every input to eavesdroppers. Some of the vulnerabilities can leak data to completely passive snoopers.

Notably, the researchers found no flaws in iOS apps because Apple automatically sandboxes the platform's keyboard apps. Allowing iPhone keyboard apps to access and transmit data requires explicit user permission. Meanwhile, equivalent Android and Windows tools were deemed far less secure. Android users can choose whether keyboards connect to the internet, but the researchers found that the corresponding controls could be too difficult for some users to find.

After the researchers warned all nine vendors, most released updates to fix the problems, but encryption flaws remain in Baidu's apps, Honor's keyboard, and Tencent's QQ Pinyin service. Furthermore, the researchers listed dozens of similar apps that they couldn't test but might suffer from the same issues.

The researchers expressed alarm partly due to prior episodes involving government surveillance. The report notes that the Five Eyes  an intelligence-sharing alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand  had previously used similar vulnerabilities in Chinese apps to spy on their users.
In brief: With ransomware becoming so lucrative and widespread, hackers have started deploying new malware strains in developing and emerging nations as a way of testing them before attacking businesses in richer countries. Organizations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia are hit first as they tend to have weaker security and draw less attention. The hackers then attack high-profile targets in North America and Europe.

Attacks have been observed on a bank in Senegal, a financial services company in Chile, a tax firm in Colombia, and a government economic agency in Argentina using strains of malware that were later used in Europe and North America, writes cybersecurity firm Performanta (via Ars Technica).

One of these ransomware strains is Medusa, a variant that gets its name from being able to turn files "into stone" by stealing and encrypting data. It was first used against businesses in South Africa, Senegal, and Tonga in 2023. It was later used in 99 breaches in the US, UK, Canada, Italy, and France.

Medusa victims would see a file with the subject line !!!READ_ME_MEDUSA!!!.txt. instructing users to start negotiations with the ransomware gang on the dark web. Failure to do so would result in the stolen data being published online.

Nadir Izrael, chief technology officer at cyber security group Armis, said that when attackers were discussing a new vulnerability, named CVE-2024-29201, earlier this year, they "specifically targeted a few [exposed servers] in third world countries to test out how reliable the exploit was." The gang's attacks were restricted to South East Asia before becoming more widespread.

Teresa Walsh, chief intelligence officer at global cyber threat intelligence body FS-ISAC, said some gangs perfect their ransomware techniques in poorer countries, such as Brazil, against less well-protected companies before exporting their attacks to richer nations that speak the same language, like Portugal.

Sherrod DeGrippo, director of threat intelligence strategy at Microsoft, has a different take. She believes the increase in attacks on organizations in developing countries is due to ransomware gangs selling their product to less-sophisticated hackers in poorer nations. These attackers often do not understand how the malware works, so they only stage their attacks against less well-guarded targets.

In other ransomware news, a member of the notorious LockBit ransomware group was sentenced to four years in jail last month for infecting over 1,000 systems.
In a nutshell: The FCC has voted to reinstate net neutrality in the US seven years after being repealed under former FCC Chair Ajit Pai. The 3-2 vote on Thursday was along party lines, with the three Democratic commissioners, including Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, voting in favor of the bill.

The Obama-era rules classify broadband service providers in the US as common carriers under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, subjecting them to the same regulatory oversight as telephone networks and cable TV. According to the FCC, the open internet standard will "protect consumers, defend national security, and advance public safety."

Internet service providers (ISPs) were classified as common carriers in 2015 under the Obama administration's Open Internet Order, a move that aimed to bring them under regulatory oversight. The order also introduced a set of net neutrality rules, ensuring an open and equally accessible internet for all users. However, these rules were overturned a few years later, a decision criticized by net neutrality advocates nationwide.

Today we voted to restore Net Neutrality. This reestablishes a national open internet standard to protect consumers, defend national security, and advance public safety. https://t.co/moRpznTDEd  The FCC (@FCC) April 25, 2024

The principle of net neutrality states that all internet traffic, irrespective of their source or destination, must be treated the same. As part of that principle, the rules bar the creation of "internet fast lanes" that could offer a massive advantage to corporate monoliths to the detriment of their competitors. Without net neutrality, behemoths like Google, Meta, and Microsoft could pay large sums of money to ISPs to get fast upstream connectivity to end users, while reducing the speeds of their smaller competitors to a crawl.

However, net neutrality aims to prevent such scenarios to ensure a level playing field for all internet users regardless of who they are. The rules also prevent anti-consumer behavior, like the so-called "zero-rating" schemes that involve ISPs arbitrarily exempting particular websites and services from data caps to boost their traffic artificially.

This week's vote to restore net neutrality has received widespread support from activists and former FCC commissioners, who believe that it will lay the bedrock for a consumer-friendly internet. However, it also has some notable dissenters, including Ajit Pai, who criticized the FCC's actions as a "complete waste of time" and blamed "a gaggle of Beltway partisans" for imposing an unwanted regulation on American citizens.
What just happened? Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings report was a good one overall for the company, with revenue and net income showing large increases compared with the previous year. It wasn't all welcome news, though, as Xbox Series X and S sales are still crashing.

Microsoft made $61.86 billion in revenue during the first three months of 2024, up 17%, with a net income of $21.9 billion, beating analysts' estimates.

Microsoft's gaming revenue was up 51% year-over-year, but this is nearly all due to the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Activision Blizzard was responsible for the vast majority of the business' $5.45 billion profits  gaming revenue would be down 4% were it not for money from the likes of Call of Duty  while Xbox Series X and S revenue was down 31 percent year-over-year. Microsoft reported a 30% decrease in Xbox hardware revenue last year, and, as was the case back then, it is attributing the latest fall on a lower volume of consoles being sold. Xbox content and services revenue was up 62 percent  61% came from Activision.

It's estimated that Microsoft has sold around 21-25 million Xbox Series X/S consoles to date, around half the PlayStation 5's estimated 50 million units. Even the Atari 2600 from 1977 sold more units (30 million). It's partly why Microsoft is making former exclusives available to other platforms. CEO Satya Nadella said in the Q3 earnings call that the company published 7 of the top 25 games on PlayStation this month, more than any other publisher.

The Activision Blizzard division recorded $1.97 billion in revenue during Q3, but purchase accounting adjustments, integration, and transaction-related costs, along with other costs of revenue, came to $980 million. Combined with $1.34 billion in operating expenses, Activision Blizzard recorded an operating loss of $350 million.

Microsoft CFO Amy Hood expects Xbox hardware revenues to continue declining again in the next quarter, with overall gaming revenue growth in the low to mid 40 percent region.

Away from gaming, Microsoft's Cloud revenue was up 23% YoY to $35.1 billion. As investors become impatient with the slow returns on the massive AI investments made by some companies, Microsoft noted that 7% of revenue within the Azure cloud computing division was from AI services, up from 3% during the previous quarter.
In a nutshell: Ayaneo is now accepting pre-orders for Pocket S, an Android-based handheld powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Gaming Platform. The Pocket S looks a lot like a high end smartphone with integrated controls, or perhaps an advanced Nintendo Switch Lite. At the heart of the handheld is a 6-inch 1440P (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) IPS borderless screen (490 PPI) boasting 400 nits of brightness that covers 100 percent of the sRBG color gamut.

The aforementioned Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is an eight-core chip with an Adreno A32 GPU, and it can be configured with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5x memory and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage. It will ship running Android 13 out of the box, we are told.

Other noteworthy features include Hall sensing joysticks with RGB lighting, linear Hall triggers with zero contact electromagnetic induction drive, a CNC machined, all metal mid-frame with active air cooling, a 6,000mAh battery, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity, dual noise canceling microphones, a micro SD card slot for storage expansion, A - B / X - Y key swapping, and a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader.

The Pocket S measures 213.9 mm x 85 mm x 14 mm and weighs just 350 grams, or about 12.3 ounces. The 6-inch display feels a little small at this stage but you can always output to a larger screen. The handheld's USB 3.2 Type-C port supports up to 10Gbps transfer rates, as well as DP 1.4 video output and up to 40 watt PD fast charging.

Interested parties can "pre-order" the Pocket S through Indiegogo in your choice of black or white colorways. Pricing starts at $400 for a 1080P edition with 12 GB of memory and 128 GB of onboard storage with an estimated shipping date of June 2024. The top-tier 1440P Pocket S packing 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of local storage will set you back $591 when it ships in May.
ARCH Venture Partners and Foresite Labs, a Foresite Capital subsidiary, announced a revolutionary AI-driven drug discovery effort. With a $1 billion investment, they founded Xaira Therapeutics.



This development comes as the tech sector undergoes a major transformation as a result of generative AI advances, with far-reaching effects that even extend to biotechnology.



With the support of seasoned drug developers, Xaira Therapeutics unveils a potent platform poised to revolutionize therapeutic product development in various modalities. According to a media release, Xaira targets elusive medication prospects using its design expertise, creating a pipeline of diverse treatments. Its objective is to turn lab and clinical studies into powerful data-generating engines to improve AI and biological basis models.



Robert Nelsen, Managing Director and Co-Founder of ARCH Venture Partners believes AI will unlock biological insights that will transform illness treatment. ARCH's highest financing pledge highlights the significance of Xaira.



Dr. Vikram Bajaj, CEO of Foresite Labs and Managing Director of Foresite Capital, emphasizes the growing synergy between growing datasets and cutting-edge AI methods, notably from David Baker's work at the Institute for Protein Design. Xaira's founding brings together unique talents and capabilities to revolutionize medication research and clinical development.



Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, a former Genentech CSO, Rockefeller, and Stanford president, leads Xaira. Dr. Hetu Kamisetty, previously of Meta and the Institute for Protein Design; Dr. Arvind Rajpal, with Genentech expertise; and Dr. Don Kirkpatrick, with Interline and Genentech experience, provide support.



Under the direction of co-founder David Baker, the University of Washington's Institute of Protein Design develops fundamental models that bolster Tessier-Lavigne's ambitious goal. These models, like OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney picture generators, generate molecular structures for practical purposes.



Xaira is a promising firm, but stakeholders stress that generative AI and biology are still developing. To accelerate model development, Foresite Labs CEO Vik Bajaj emphasizes the particular problems of biological data scarcity, which requires significant dataset production.

Revolutionizing the Drug Industry

The startup collaborates with Recursion and Genesis Therapeutics to use generative AI for drug development. Xaira's debut drug's timing is unknown, but stakeholders, including ARCH Venture Partners managing director Bob Nelsen, stress the long-term challenge.

Read Also : President Biden Signs Bill Enforcing TikTok Ban Amid National Security Concerns

A selection of over the counter vitamin supplements is pictured on July 12, 2005 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Drug discovery relies on AI to screen compounds, predict bioactivities, and anticipate protein-drug interactions. In virtual screening, predictive algorithms find compounds that are likely to bind to target proteins by using different kinds of data, such as protein-ligand complexes and molecular descriptors. AI optimizes medication characteristics like solubility and permeability. It simplifies chemical production and reveals drug interactions through reaction mechanism insights.



According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, AI improves drug refinery target specificity, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. Leveraging virtual chemical space speeds up structure identification and reduces lab experimentation. Multi-objective optimization tailors molecules. Molecular dynamics simulation and docking simulate compound stability, dynamics, and orientation.

Investors' Confidence on Xaira

However, Xaira's rise also gets scrutinized, per a report from TechCrunch. Given his recent Stanford University resignation amid research misconduct charges, Tessier-Lavigne's nomination as CEO is puzzling for some. Stanford exonerated Tessier-Lavigne but criticized him for manipulating data in his Genentech lab.



However, investors continue to back Tessier-Lavigne because of his ethics and scientific expertise, which are vital to Xaira. Stakeholders agree with Nelsen that Tessier-Lavigne's exoneration by Stanford shows his character and ability.



Visionaries like Tessier-Lavigne and investors betting on healthcare's future are driving a new era of innovation as Xaira Therapeutics uses AI to revolutionize drug discovery.
Security specialists founded DoubleYou to enhance the cybersecurity of Apple devices. Former National Security Agency staffer turned macOS security researcher Patrick Wardle and ex-Apple offensive cybersecurity expert Mikhail Sosonkin formed the startup to address the lack of powerful macOS and iPhone security technologies.

The growing use of Macs in business situations has made them profitable targets for hackers, according to Wardle and Sosonkin. Their defensive strategy will be based on offensive cybersecurity methods, as well as modular hacking-style tools, per TechCrunch.

Firms can personalize their defenses by incorporating these distinct capabilities into their security systems. These include assessing new processes, monitoring DNS network traffic, detecting malware persistence efforts, bitcoin miners, ransomware, and webcam and microphone use rights.

DoubleYou is devoted to developing world-class defensive capabilities to combat the latest Apple device threats. "But instead of deploying these ourselves, we aim to empower others who are building security products," per its website.

To democratize security, the cybersecurity firm's capabilities are carefully designed to effortlessly integrate with other security solutions, enhancing their detection and protection capabilities.

DoubleYou's founders want to be independent and do not need outside financing. They focus on technological development without a quick scale to advance cybersecurity while keeping true to their values.

MacOS Gets Increased Attacks from Online Criminals

According to Apple security expert Patrick Wardle, Mac malware is increasing in quantity and sophistication. From 2022 to 2023, Wardle saw over 100% more macOS malware specimens, mostly ransomware, trojans, and backdoors.

This surge led Bitdefender to discover Trojan, a new backdoor.MAC.RustDoor resembles BlackBasta and ALPHV/BlackCat. Bitdefender claims that this stealthy virus has been attacking for three months.

Bogdan Botezatu, Bitdefender's Director of Threat Research and Reporting, said that cybercriminals' growing targeting of Apple customers and their macOS infiltration methods, according to Techopedia. Unfortunately, Macs' rising enterprise presence has made them lucrative targets. Some cybercrime gangs are switching to Mac to seek new routes amid heavy Windows competition.

Read Also : iPhone Upgrade Program Members Informed That Their Trade-Ins Have Been Cancelled in Latest Apple Email

MacOS malware has progressed from adware to trojans and backdoors. Famous North Korean cybergangs, such as the Lazarus Group, have created macOS-targeted malware. Bitdefender found new Mac malware variants from BlackBasta and BlackCat organizations exploiting macOS vulnerabilities.

Sneak Attack Identified

The increasing use of macOS by cybercriminals seeking fresh opportunities is a clear indication of the platform's growing market share. The prevalence of devastating trojans, outnumbering MacOS dangers such as potentially unwanted programs and aggressive ads, serves as a stark reminder of the evolving threat landscape, necessitating heightened vigilance and robust security measures.

A recent cybercrime campaign, as reported by 9to5Mac, has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community. The campaign, discovered at this year's Black Hat Asia, was a complex operation that managed to steal over $400,000 in just two years. The fraudsters exploited stolen credit cards and Apple Store Online's 'Someone else will pick it up' option, highlighting the audacity and sophistication of modern cybercriminals.

Gyuyeon Kim and Hyunho Cho from South Korea's Financial Security Institute discovered a series of assaults on over 50 legal online retailers in September 2022, leading to substantial data breaches. To avoid detection, the attackers took credit cards and personal information and modified payment sites.

Kim and Cho told Black Hat that fraudsters profited from Apple Store Online's 'Pickup Contact' policy. They used stolen credit cards to buy cheap Apple products from the Apple Store and sold them to second-hand web retailers. Buyers unaware of the fraud would pick up the merchandise and pay the threat actors.

According to South Korea and Japan, "Poisoned Apple" has made $400,000 in two years. The researchers believe the offenders are from China but caution that crooks worldwide may use similar methods.
Reddit announced on Thursday, Apr. 25, that it has successfully resolved a significant outage that disrupted access to the social media platform for numerous users worldwide. The issue, which left tens of thousands without service for over half an hour, was promptly addressed with a fix that restored functionality.

Reddit Users Can't Access Platform for the Past Hour

According to The Verge, the downtime began at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET and quickly impacted a vast user base. At the height of the outage, Downdetector.com, a website that monitors online service interruptions by aggregating user reports and other sources, recorded nearly 70,000 affected users in the United States alone.

It should be noted that the latest outage was not confined to the United States; Reddit users from other countries, including the UK and India, experienced similar problems. The widespread nature of the issue highlights the global reach of Reddit and the broad impact such an outage can have on its international community.

As per Bleeping Computer, Redditors who access the website are greeted with errors showing "Unknown server error," "502 Bad Gateway," and "Try Again Later."

Meanwhile, users of the mobile version of the app reportedly encountered an "Error: Choose failed. Missing field 'user_id'" error.

At the time, the platform said that its engineers were monitoring the source of the outage to determine whether there was a potential glitch in the web server configuration.

Reddit Swiftly Solved the Annoying Outage

Reddit quickly addressed the outage, deploying a fix that brought the platform back online. The company confirmed the resolution by updating its status page, assuring users that the platform was operational.

The front page of the internet also experienced an outage in June 2023. The root cause of the downtime was the subreddit protests against API policy.

According to Tech Times, Redditors and several communities joined forces to launch a dark protest against the platform regarding the unfair API changes. It appeared that Reddit did not care about their concerns. It did not even have an answer about the revisions it would do concerning the new API policy.

In other news, Reddit ads became available when the new format was introduced. From their looks, they could pass as a regular post with upvotes and comments.

While Reddit ads have no issue with other users, they did not sit well with some Redditors. According to them, the ads could invade their privacy by gathering private data across the platform.

Read Also : Reddit AI Training User Data Sale Now Under FTC Investigation, But is Unfazed




The social media company clarified the looming US ban on TikTok recently that it has no plans to sell or divest ByteDance, with the platform leaning more towards shutting down its operations in the country. This follows an earlier report that rumored TikTok is considering its options for its continued operations in the United States, and the social media shutting down these hearsays.

It follows the monumental approval of the US Senate regarding the bill that will ban TikTok in the country should it continue its operations under ByteDance.

TikTok Would Not Sell, Divest Operations Despite US Ban Threats

TikTok is not selling, and the company made it clear via its recent statement to the New York Post, which disputes the earlier story from The Information behind its options consideration of divesting. The social media platform reiterated that it would rather shut down its operations in the US than sell its ownership to an American company, as the progressing bill requires.

It was revealed that The Information released an inaccurate report regarding TikTok's plans to move forward in the US, saying that it would explore the scenarios wherein TikTok's US business would be sold without its algorithm.

Moreover, it follows the recent claim by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who will enter a legal battle with the US should President Joe Biden sign it into law.

Read Also : TikTok Vows Legal Battle Against Potential US Ban

TikTok is Not Divesting: ByteDance to Remain?

With this recent clarification, TikTok is making it clear that it is not divesting, and this means that it will remain under ByteDance's umbrella moving forward. It also means that ByteDance will remain as its owner and parent company, with the social media executives looking to fight it out in court in the future.

The Information further said that selling ByteDance's business will only have a limited impact on TikTok operations, but it will not necessarily mean giving up the famed algorithm.

TikTok's US Ban Saga

The massive TikTok US Ban saga, which threatened its operations in the country, has been going on for a long time, but it gained significant traction earlier this year as lawmakers pushed for its passing in the US Congress and the White House. At one point, President Joe Biden expressed his sentiments regarding this matter, saying he would sign the bill into law if it passed Congress.

It followed the massive move by TikTok, which sent notifications and pop-up messages to its users asking them to practice their constitutional rights and urge Congress to vote "No" during the House vote. However, this backfired against TikTok, as users could bombard the representatives' offices with calls, leading to a landslide 50-0 vote for the bill's progression.

ByteDance's ownership of TikTok caused massive scrutiny in the country for its alleged access to US user data and many other issues like security and mental health effects against platform users. However, the main focus of the RESTRICT Act is to brand TikTok as a foreign entity that is subject to selling the company to a US company, with the company wanting to shut down rather than adhere to the ramping bill.

Related Article: TikTok Faces Potential Ban or US Sale After Senate Vote




Instagram's Threads messaging app introduces Hidden Words, an automated filtering tool similar to Instagram's content moderation.

On Thursday, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said Hidden Words will screen offensive language, phrases, and representations in "Following" and "For You" feeds, search results, profiles, and post responses.



Users can add or remove words from their Hidden Words settings in Threads. They can turn this functionality on or off at will.

Threads is also testing notification controls, such as muting post-interactions. According to a report from The Verge, a new tool in testing lets users choose who cites their articles and withdraw them.

In 2016, Instagram empowered users to filter out comments and then extended the feature to direct messaging.

Like Instagram, Threads allow for post-reply management, content screening, and word muting. Posters may select who can comment and mention them in Threads, replies, and biographies.

The social media platform also tests a function to archive posts, automatically hiding older content from profiles.



This move comes as Threads, launched in July last year, continues its impressive performance. At Meta's Q1 2024 earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that Threads had 150 million monthly active users, up from 130 million in February.

Threads Sustains Momentum

In Meta's quarterly financial report, Zuckerberg expressed satisfaction with Threads' growth, which is as expected. Since February, the Twitter rival has added 20 million subscribers.



Threads' steady growth rate suggests a stable and growing user base, even though launch-phase downloads have dropped. Zuckerberg suggested that Threads might become Meta's next billion-user platform despite initial engagement issues.



Meta's Q1 2024 financial results were positive, as were Threads'. Family daily active persons (DAP) on Meta's applications rose 7% to 3.24 billion in March 2024, as previously reported by TechTimes

Read Also : Reddit Resolves Global Outage Affecting Tens of Thousands of Users

Hate Speech Accusations Against Meta

Notably, GLAAD accused Meta's Facebook, Instagram, and Threads of hosting 'extreme' anti-trans hate material last month.



The group claims Meta has violated its standards by not enforcing its platform content guidelines. Meta is under investigation for failing to enforce LGBTQ-friendly standards and ensuring community safety online despite past assurances.



GLAAD's latest analysis shows Meta's platforms host anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans hate material despite business promises to promote equality online. This complaint follows GLAAD's June 2023 open letter to Meta about LGBTQ-hate content on their platforms.



Meta responded with major rule revisions and community-building initiatives, but GLAAD claims that nine months later, the corporation has failed to enforce these rules, notably with transgender hatred.



According to GLAAD's report, the Meta Oversight Board previously criticized Meta for failing to safeguard LGBTQ users on its platforms.
United Kingdom's gigabit-capable broadband proves to be continuously reaching more and more houses as 80% of households can now get gigabit-capable broadband, according to Ofcom's latest market update.

UK mobile coverage has also reportedly improved, according to the Connected Nations spring update. 92% of UK premises can now receive an outdoor 5G signal from at least one mobile network operator, up from 82% in just a year.

Data from the Connected Nations study, which was based on mobile and fixed broadband coverage in the UK as of January 2024, also show that 62% of UK households, or 18.7 million homes, had access to full-fibre broadband.

The number of locations without adequate broadband, which the government defines as at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds, has steadily decreased over the past year, going from 68,000 to 57,000.

Additionally, mobile coverage is getting better. Within a year, 92% of UK properties were able to receive a 5G signal outside from no fewer than one mobile network operator, up from 82%.

In terms of mobile, the research indicates that 4G coverage is still robust, with 93% of the UK's landmass expected to have decent outdoor 4G service from at least one provider. Almost every location in the UK is included in this section. Over the preceding four months, 5G coverage has likewise stayed consistent, with 92% of premises receiving an outside 5G signal from at least one mobile network operator.

Read Also: US-UK Partnership for AI Safety Testing: Collaborative Efforts to Ensure AI Model Security

IT Infrastructures Across England

Ofcom's latest report proves to be echoing a previously reported study that found ICT infrastructures across England are more or less equal, driven by widespread mobile phone and high-speed internet availability across England. Urban areas perform slightly better than rural regions.

The same study indicated that from 2016 to 2020, improvements in IT infrastructure, particularly access to high-speed internet have significantly increased across all regions.

A stable and high-quality internet connection proves to be paramount in the country for a multitude of reasons. Previous Connected Nation reports have highlighted the risks of a potential digital divide between those who have access to gigabit networks and services and those without. This decreased from the previous year from 68,000 to 57,000.

Ofcom's update shows there has been steady progress in lowering the number of premises without access to "decent" broadband, which the government defines as a download rate of at least 10 Mbps and upload rates of 1 Mbps.

EV Charging and Mobile Internet

Without a stable internet connection, a recent study found that electric vehicle charging points could stop working. To function, the majority of charging points need strong cellphone connections, which puts EV drivers' access to charging stations in danger.

The investigation finds that, outside of London, 66% of Type-2 chargers with up to 8 kW of speed are located in areas where at least one 4G mobile network carrier does not provide usable service. Drivers must use mobile phone applications to access the majority of Type-2 public chargers, and the chargers themselves need a stable mobile connection to function.

The study states that drivers cannot refuel their EVs unless the charger's location offers satisfactory service from all four of Britain's mobile network providers: O2, EE, Vodafone, and Three.

Related Article: UK Competition Watchdog Targets $19B Vodafone-Three Merger Impact on Prices and Infrastructure
I think we stayed teachable  we were open to criticism and feedback and sought to address things that were brought up quickly. We ensured egos were put aside to ensure we could keep moving forward and provide a healthy balance of innovation and genuine connection and care. Jenny Gurry

Jenny Gurry, the visionary leader behind Diamond Women, has dedicated nearly two decades to empowering women facing unplanned pregnancies. Since its founding in 2006, she has served as both the founder and Executive Director of the organisation.

Jennys first-hand experience witnessing the transformative power of practical support for women in crisis fuelled the creation of Diamond Women. The organization has since grown significantly, establishing centers in Sydney, Gosford, and Wollongong, and extending its reach across Australia. Diamond Women helps women facing unplanned pregnancies. They offer support for finances, mental health, relationships, jobs, housing, and safety. This is all thanks to Jenny, her team, and generous donors.

This week, Dynamic Business features Jenny in our founder friday section, where well discuss her entrepreneurial journey.

The beginning

Jennys firsthand experience ignited a passion to help. Witnessing the transformative power of practical support for women in crisis, she saw a significant gap in available resources. Unable to find an existing organization offering sincere guidance, authentic support, and non-judgmental care, Jenny knew she had to take action. I knew what I think I needed if that was my situation and couldnt find anywhere, she recalls. It also needed to be free so we could reach more and didnt look like we were profiting from someone in a vulnerable state.

Right from the start, Jenny emphasized establishing a strong foundation for sustainable growth. Governance and effective management were solidified before taking any significant strides forward. Our approach was centered around people, Jenny says. We were committed to training, empowering, and equipping everyone  staff, volunteers, and clients. Recognizing the importance of family, we made it a priority to create a work environment that complemented family life, with particular consideration for women in the workforce. Even before the onset of the Covid pandemic, we implemented flexible hours and remote work options.

We adopted a mindset of seeing opportunities in every challenge. Whenever we encountered obstacles such as lack of awareness or access to resources, we adapted our strategies and remained agile, constantly pivoting to find solutions. If we received a no as an answer, we interpreted it as not yet and persisted.

Throughout our journey, we remained steadfast in our commitment to our mission and values. By staying true to our purpose, we were able to consistently deliver professional and excellent services to our clients.

Building Strong Relationships

Innovation often arises out of need for us. We want to be able to reach more and provide better supports

Diamond Women recognizes the complex challenges unplanned pregnancies present. They offer comprehensive support, including financial assistance, mental health resources, relationship guidance, job search assistance, housing solutions, and safety measures.

Jenny underscores the importance of maintaining consistency in both the care provided and the caregiver involved. We work with vulnerable people and want to ensure that they dont have to reiterate their story to several people inducing more anxiety and trauma. Where they need support, we try to fill that space in their life and with someone consistent, that consistently cares.

Strong and sustainable relationships for 18 years and being planted in the community we are serving.Innovation often arises out of need for us. We want to be able to reach more and provide better supports, so thinking of ways to provide access to care, to increase our resources through financially viable and sustainable means drives new ideas and ensures we are quick to adopt new technologies and processes.

Embracing Challenges

Jenny reflects on the multitude of challenges faced by her organization, from misconceptions about their work to the daunting task of competing for donor funding against the marketing budgets of larger NGOs. Amidst this, they grapple with the necessity of standing out amidst the noise without being misconstrued. So many challenges!! Misunderstanding what we do. How do we compete for a donors dollar against the marketing budget of big NGOS? How do we cut through the noise and get noticed and not get mistaken for something we arent.

Despite these hurdles, the organization has made significant strides by forging unexpected partnerships. We made small inroads into various companies that have no real direct alignment with a pregnancy resource centre ie. The building and construction industry. We were able to find good men that wanted to do good and they did. We found partners that were happy to support the mission and were wanting to make a difference in an organisation that has long term outcomes. Think we have learnt that challenges are par for the course. We may not conquer all of them but we will continue to forge forward. That the hope for the future we make tangible for our clients is tangible for us as an organisation with the same principles we teach them to apply  keep moving forward, rethink the way we are doing it, if it doesnt work- try something new.

I think we stayed teachable  we were open to cristicism and feedback and sought to address things that were brought up quickly. We ensured egos were put aside to ensure we could keep moving forward and provide a healthy balance of innovation and genuine connection and care.

Discovering Your True Why

Jenny emphasizes the importance of discovering your true why before starting a business. It has to be about more than just you, she says. She stresses the importance of purpose, vision, and passion, along with market research, a solid business plan, and a strong support network.

What is your purpose? Vision? Passion? Who is it benefitting? It has to be about more than just YOU. Do your market research, do a business plan, build your support network and look at your cash flow ( and a contingency plan if it doesnt work! Focus on the end user. How does it benefit them and make it unique to you  find your USP.

Remember its not going to be smooth or easy -because nothing worthwhile in life is! That persistence in the face of adversity is crucial. Find a work-life balance, your family is not worth trading this in for. Remember you dont know what you dont know so continue to learn and grow and listen to what others are saying and ethics & integrity matter. In a world full of corruption  be different. Be honest and transparent. The world will thank you!

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Hasbro and Robosen are at it again with the famed autonomous Transformers toy robot, now featuring Megatron, the leader of the villainous Cybertron military faction known as Decepticons.

For avid fans and those who have watched the shows or films, Megatron is best known as Optimus Prime's main nemesis, with the self-transforming bot meeting its iconic match.

Optimus Prime and Megatron have been pitted against each other in metal-bashing action for many years, and now this new toy is bringing the adversity to life.

Hasbro, Robosen Brings Megatron as an Autonomous Transformers Toy

Robosen's G1 Flagship Series continues its collaboration with Hasbro to introduce a new Transformers toy, Megatron, an auto-converting robot to play with.

This release centers on yet another retro-iconic look, featuring the villainous military tank character who brought mayhem to Earth and terrorized the Autobots for a long time.

As part of Transformers' 40th anniversary celebration, Hasbro and Robosen decided to feature the Decepticon leader in this release as part of the French robotics company's iconic G1 platform.

Megatron vs. Optimus Prime: The Remote-Controlled Battle for Cybertron

Megatron vs. Optimus Prime may be coming soon, as the autonomous toy robot is now available for pre-order at a discounted price of $899.00 ($1,199.00 original price) from both Hasbro and Robosen.

It is still a remote-controlled robot that users may configure using the dedicated smartphone app. It also features multiple voice-activated actions.

Robosen also brought more and brighter LED lights throughout the body, offered in a metallic finish highlighting its black, gray, and purple colorway. It also features as many as 270 phrases from the villain, as voiced by Megatron's original voice, Frank Weller.

Autonomous Toy Robots: Transformers In Real Life

Three years ago, in August 2021, Hasbro and Robosen first released their Transformers collaboration to the world. It features the iconic Optimus Prime in his animated show of glory as an autonomous toy robot.

The classic design for the Autobots' leader brings a nostalgic 90s feel to life, and it is also voiced by the original actor, Peter Cullen, to offer the ultimate Transformers collectible for all.

A year later, in 2022, Hasbro and Robosen's collaboration is not yet over, as the companies released a new Flagship Optimus Prime auto-converting toy robot which also brings the iconic trailer of the Autobot leader's truck form.

In the shows and films, it is known that Optimus Prime's trailer includes an assortment of his popular weapons, one of which makes the bot better equipped against otherworldly threats.

The collaboration also brought the iconic Dinobot Transformer to life in 2023, featuring Grimlock, the dinosaur-based alien bot known for its conflicting ideas with the Autobots.

The Auto-Converting G1 robot platform from Hasbro and Robosen already has five robots in total, with the latest one centering on the big baddie of the franchise, Megatron, now available for pre-order.
NASA and Boeing have officially confirmed that the latter's crewed Starliner mission is officially launching on May 6 after completing its critical flight test review.

Two astronauts are scheduled to go to the International Space Station in the spacecraft. Following the conclusion of a crucial flight test assessment on Thursday, NASA and Boeing determined that the capsule is prepared for launch.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are scheduled to board Starliner on May 6th evening, assuming all goes according to plan, and ride an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance into space.

The astronauts, both veteran test pilots for the United States Navy, will not only be the first humans to fly on Starliner but also reportedly the first to board the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

(Photo: Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - DECEMBER 18: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft onboard is seen illuminated by spotlights on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the Orbital Flight Test mission.

The Crew Flight Test mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed for almost four years because of Starliner problems, which Wilmore and Williams have consistently emphasized require long-term fixes. However, Wilmore told sources that additional issues would undoubtedly arise during their roughly one-week test trip.

After about a day and a half, the two astronauts will reach the International Space Station (ISS), where they will spend approximately a week.

The two will use Starliner to return to Earth while it remains docked with the station. Starliner will use five parachutes to decelerate down from extremely high orbital speeds and make a smooth landing in the western United States.

Read Also: Former Boeing Engineer Says Aircraft Giant's Planes Could Break While Flying

NASA's Commercial Crew Program

NASA launched the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) in 2011 to procure astronaut transportation services from commercial enterprises. In a billion-dollar agreement, the agency chose to work with SpaceX.

However, several technical problems have caused Boeing's Starliner to be significantly delayed, unlike SpaceX, which has finished all six missions under the original contract and more.

These delays have cost Boeing more than $1.5 billion in extra expenses. The aerospace behemoth has recently experienced numerous such near-disasters, and it is currently under regulatory examination because of errors in its commercial aircraft division.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of 2024.

In preparing for the first astronaut flight, Williams commended the Boeing and NASA trainers for incorporating "lessons learned" from two uncrewed flight tests with Starliner and practicing those procedures in simulators.

Starliner Delays

The launch was previously slated for March this year after being delayed twice in 2023. According to sources, the Starliner was originally introduced in 2010 after nearly 15 years of development.

This is Boeing's attempt at creating a reusable spaceship to compete with SpaceX's Falcon and Dragon.

Despite a successful docking to the International Space Station in 2022, the Starliner's operations for its crewed mission in 2023 have been problematic.

The cancellation of the scheduled flights in April and July 2023 has already generated significant problems for Boeing, as NASA and its astronauts are still waiting for the launch vehicle.

Boeing is the sole firm and service the world is waiting to launch, with the commercial crew well along and the other half having already completed such flights.

Related Article: NASA's Voyager 1 Transmits Usable Data After 5 Months of Nonsense

(Photo: Tech Times)
The latest Q3 2024 financial results from Microsoft are here, and they reveal that the Xbox and its other hardware (Surface devices and more) businesses are bringing yet another low revenue for the company.

However, its biggest earners for this quarter are the Microsoft Office and Cloud businesses, which saw a massive rise during this third fiscal quarter.

All in all, it was a great third quarter for the company, which showed off its significant earnings and numbers, with a rise in its revenue percentage.

Microsoft's Q3 2024 Sees Xbox, Surface Low Revenue

Microsoft posted its Q3 2024 results earlier today, and while it boasts of a massive 17 percent revenue increase, Xbox and its hardware business are still struggling.

This is because Microsoft hardware development saw another dip in revenue for this fiscal year's third quarter, following the stagnant numbers reflected last January.

It also includes the Surface hardware business of the company that is seen struggling this third quarter, with Microsoft not catching a break for its devices.

The good thing is that Microsoft's gaming division has not entirely lost, as it still saw higher revenue thanks to Activision Blizzard's contributions.

Microsoft Office, Cloud Bring Biggest Business

Microsoft's Office and Cloud businesses were the biggest gainers in Q3 2024, raking in a massive 23 percent year-over-year increase.

Additionally, the Windows OEM revenue is third place for its biggest gainer, seeing an 11 percent year-over-year increase. Microsoft's revenue reached $61.9 billion, and a net income of $21.9 billion.

Microsoft and its Xbox Hardware Struggles

The struggle has been real for Microsoft these past few quarters, as the company faced significantly low numbers for its Xbox and hardware businesses, as reflected in its financial results.

The last quarter's financial report showed stagnant numbers for Xbox and Microsoft's hardware. Still, the good thing is that its Activision Blizzard acquisition is bringing in massive revenue for the company.

Amidst all of this, Microsoft still brings massive focus to its hardware development as evidenced by the company's various plans for future devices, discovered by insiders and rumor mongers.

This includes the Xbox handheld device and a new Xbox Series X console, which will feature an all-white and digital refresh, which has been highly speculated for the previous months.

On the other hand, there are still no new details behind the company's Surface business, with the development of its laptop and tablet hybrid devices at a stalemate.

Microsoft's revenue is up by a massive 17 percent this Q3 2024, but that does not overshadow its current challenges in the hardware division, particularly with its Xbox gaming offers.
Artificial intelligence will reportedly now be used by Los Angeles Metro Buses as a way to easily ticket vehicles that are illegally parked in bus lanes.

According to Metro, the program will be live by the end of 2024, following two months of community outreach to make sure the general public is informed about the goals, timeline, and effects of this new initiative. This summer is scheduled for testing.

According to the government, drivers will receive a 60-day warning period when cameras are placed. Warning citations are intended to be used as informative notices within the first sixty days and are not grounds for any violations.

(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) San Francisco has introduced an autonomous shuttle service, marking another step in the city's exploration of self-driving vehicles for public transportation.

The initiative, created by the tech startup Hayden AI, aims to enhance bus schedules, boost ridership, and solve mobility issues. The company received approval from Metro's board of directors last year to put out 100 camera systems under a $11 million deal. The contract began in December and is anticipated to be in effect for around five years.

To aid in the enforcement of new parking regulations following the L.A. incident, cameras will be installed inside Metro buses' windshields to look for cars parked in bus lanes and at bus stops. Last year, the City Council authorized a fine.

Read Also: New Google Maps Features Will Assist Drivers in Finding EV Chargers' Locations

Buses with AI Cameras

According to Metro, about fifteen of the cameras are mounted on buses traveling on lines 212, which travels from Hollywood/Vine to Hawthorne/Lennox stations via La Brea Avenue, and line 720, which travels from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles via Wilshire Boulevard.

Additionally, some buses on lines 910, 950, and 70 from San Pedro, downtown Los Angeles, will have cameras installed

The chief growth officer of Hayden AI, Charles Territo, stated that while the AI-powered security cameras will continuously search for cars parked illegally, the system is designed to only record when a possible infraction is noticed.

Following an occurrence of a parking infraction, the L.A. Department of Transportation, where a representative will decide if a ticket needs to be issued.

AI in Public Transit

The Metro Buses in Los Angeles are not the first in the US to apply AI in public transportation; New York City recently initiated testing AI-based gun detection devices in its subway system.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, declared last month that the city will begin testing a new system at subway turnstiles that uses artificial intelligence to identify weapons.

The decision was made in response to a recent incident at a subway station in Brooklyn where a patron was shot with his own revolver during an altercation.

The city's program entails a collaboration with Evolv, a Massachusetts-based business that specializes in weapon detection devices that are extensively used in public spaces and educational institutions around the country.

But Evolv has had to deal with criticism about the accuracy of its gadgets, as well as continuing government probes and a lawsuit from shareholders.

The New York City Police Department will comply with the POST Act's provisions as part of the pilot program, which is scheduled to start in ninety days.

Before introducing new technology, this legislation requires the department to publish impact and usage studies and to disclose the surveillance technologies it uses. The city intends to assess alternate vendors during the waiting period.

Related Article: NYC's AI Gun Detection System Faces Criticism Over Effectiveness, Accuracy
Joby Aviation, a California-based electric aircraft maker, has signed initial agreements with several government entities in Abu Dhabi to introduce air taxi services in the emirate.

This development aims to revolutionize transportation by offering faster travel times and promoting sustainable regional mobility.

The agreements were signed with Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Department of Economic Development (DED), and Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), paving the way for Joby Aviation to establish and expand air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi and potentially across the UAE, including routes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Joby Aviation Set to Launch Flying Taxis in Abu Dhabi

Joby Aviation's initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi's vision to lead advancements in advanced mobility solutions, leveraging the emirate's Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster.

The company's CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, expressed enthusiasm for the agreement, highlighting the momentum behind clean flight adoption in the UAE.

"We're looking forward to delivering a fantastic experience for our future customers in Abu Dhabi and we're excited to be unlocking the potential for zero-emissions flight between Abu Dhabi and Dubai," Bevirt said in a press release statement.

"We're grateful for the support and collaboration of our governmental partners and the entire ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and we remain deeply impressed by their commitment to building out a world-class aviation ecosystem in the Emirate."

Revolutionizing Intra-City Travel

Joby Aviation's electric aircraft, currently on display at the DRIFTx event in Yas Marina, is made to accommodate a pilot and four passengers, reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (321 km/h) with zero operating emissions and minimal noise impact.

This technology promises to revolutionize intra-city travel, significantly reducing travel times compared to traditional ground transportation methods.

The companies and entities involved in this ambitious endeavor envision flying between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes instead of a two-hour drive during rush hour.

Joby Aviation has been collaborating closely with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to establish regulatory frameworks for air taxi operations.

These efforts prioritize safety and compliance with aviation standards, leveraging Joby's expertise and ongoing partnerships with regulatory bodies to ensure the seamless integration of air taxi services into the UAE's aviation ecosystem.

Notably, Joby Aviation achieved significant milestones in recent years, including the first electric air taxi flight in New York City in November 2023 and the production launch at its manufacturing facility in California.

The company has garnered support from various investors, including Toyota, Delta Air Lines, SK Telecom, Uber, and Baillie Gifford.

"Abu Dhabi aims to spearhead the advancement and implementation of the next era of advanced mobility solutions. Through the Emirate's SAVI cluster and this visionary partnership with Joby, we are not only laying the foundation for cutting-edge air taxi services but also shaping the future of transportation; igniting a journey where the sky is no longer the limit, but the beginning of endless possibilities," Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of DMT, said in a statement.
NASA's daily image release showcases a roaring sight featuring the star Regulus, the Lion's heart.



The captivating image, credited to Markus Horn, captures Regulusa hot, rapidly spinning starabove the eastern horizon in the northern hemisphere's spring sky.

Regulus and a Dwarf

This alpha star of Leo stands out prominently in the telescope's field of view, residing at a distance of 79 light-years. Regulus is known to be part of a multiple star system, characterized by its hot and swiftly rotating nature, according to NASA.

Accompanying Regulus in the captured image is a diffuse patch of starlight located just beneath it. This light emanates from Leo I, a dwarf spheroidal galaxy within the Local Groupa cluster dominated by our Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31).

Leo I holds a unique distinction as one of the most remote known small satellite galaxies revolving around the Milky Way, situated approximately 800 thousand light-years away.

NASA also noted that studies of Leo I have uncovered evidence of a supermassive black hole at its core, akin in mass to the one residing at the center of our own Milky Way.

Regulus: The Heart of the Lion

According to EarthSky, Regulus is the brightest star in the Leo constellation. As March and April progress, Regulus climbs higher in the sky, replacing winter constellations like Orion now receding in the west. This blue-white luminary shines brightly in the eastern evening heavens upon sunset in May.

Identifying Regulus amidst the stars is made easier by its location at the base of a star pattern resembling a reversed question mark, constituting the head and forequarters of Leo the Lion. Additionally, Regulus contributes to the Spring Triangle, an asterism formed by three prominent stars.

Despite appearing singular to the naked eye, Regulus is, in fact, a system of four stars, ranking 21st among the brightest stars visible from Earth. Notably, its position almost directly on the eclipticthe path traced by the sun, moon, and planets across the skypresents opportunities for planets to pass near or even occult (cross in front of) Regulus.

Venus notably performed this rare alignment on July 7, 1959, with a repeat occurrence expected on October 1, 2044, according to EarthSky.

Regulus remains a consistent fixture in the night sky, visible throughout the year except for a brief period around August 22.

Observers can anticipate notable events, such as the passage of bright planets like Venus and Mars near Regulus, which adds to the star's allure.

Additionally, the moon regularly graces Regulus with its proximity, occasionally occulting the star as seen from Earth - a spectacle set to unfold in a series of 20 lunar events from July 2025 to December 2026, with Mars and Jupiter poised to join the cosmic display in December 2026.
The NHTSA has concluded its inquiry into Tesla's Autopilot driving assistance system. After reviewing hundreds of collisions, including 13 fatalities and many serious injuries, the agency found that Tesla's Autopilot system's mismatched driver engagement system and permissive operating capabilities caused a safety gap.



In Friday's documents, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation stated that Tesla's inadequate driver engagement system was unsuitable for Tesla Autopilot, resulting in anticipated abuse and preventable crashes, per TechCrunch.



The government's 2021 Autopilot software inquiry concludes.NHTSA investigated 956 accidents until August 30, 2023. About half were inconclusive or irrelevant to the inquiry. Frontal collisions when an observant driver might have intervened, roadway exits in low-traction situations, and autosteer disengagement were the remaining crashes.



Tesla instructs Autopilot users to stay alert and keep their hands on the wheel, but NHTSA and other safety groups say the EV maker's effort is inadequate.

NHSTA Launches New Probe



As a Tesla inquiry comes close, the NHTSA started investigating the EV maker's December recall of over 2 million vehicles to deploy additional Autopilot measures.



Concerns raised by collision incidents following the software update and early agency tests on repaired vehicles prompted NHTSA to launch an inquiry, according to Reuters.



The government noted Tesla's acknowledgment that some of the solutions required owner opt-in and allowed drivers to quickly reverse it. Tesla released software upgrades to tackle pertinent issues, but the NHTSA noted that these updates were not part of the recall or deemed sufficient to address an unacceptable safety risk.



The report highlights Tesla and the automobile industry's continuous autonomous driving safety and efficacy examination. As NHTSA evaluates Tesla's recall procedures, stakeholders await Tesla Autopilot system safety updates.

Read Also : South Korean Woman Scammed Out of $50K by Impersonator Using Deepfake of Elon Musk

(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A Tesla model S sits parked outside of a new Tesla showroom and service center in Red Hook, Brooklyn on July 5, 2016 in New York City.

Tesla's Mounting Troubles This Year

TechTimes reported earlier that a motorcyclist perished in a tragic collision in the Seattle region that involved a Tesla driver operating on Autopilot.



The driver of a 2022 Tesla Model S admits to using Autopilot and using his phone while driving, highlighting the perils of semi-autonomous driving. The trooper wrote in a probable-cause form that the driver felt a shock and saw the car accelerate before hitting the motorcyclist ahead.

The 56-year-old motorist is under investigation for vehicular homicide owing to his admission of attention while driving in Autopilot mode and using a mobile phone.



The motorist told the officer he crashed at 3:45 p.m. while going home from lunch. Authorities said 28-year-old Stanwood, Washington resident Jeffrey Nissen was found beneath the truck and pronounced deceased.



Capt. Deion Glover of the Washington State Patrol said they haven't confirmed Autopilot was active during the crash.



These challenges Tesla faces come after it announced a 55 percent profit drop, below estimates, due to slow sales and increased competition in the EV market.



In the first quarter of 2023, Tesla recorded sales of $21.3 billion, a 9% decrease from the previous year. Yahoo Finance surveyed analysts, and they predicted earnings per share of $0.51 on revenue of $22.15 billion.



In the first quarter, Tesla recorded operating profits of $1.2 billion, a 54% drop from last year. Tesla sold $21.3 billion in Q1 2023, down 9% from the previous year. Analysts expected $0.51 earnings per share on $22.15 billion in sales.



The company's Q1 financial report cited the Red Sea situation, Gigafactory Berlin's arson attack, and Fremont, California's phased Model 3 deployment among its first-quarter problems.
WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging service, on Thursday, told the Delhi High Court that it would shut down operations in India if it is forced to break the message encryption system.

The Delhi High Court was hearing a plea filed by WhatsApp and its parent company Meta, which challenges Rule 4(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 for significant social media intermediaries.

This rule mandates them to trace chats and identify the first originator of information if a judicial order is passed by a court or any competent authority.

As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes, advocate Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, told Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, adding that the rule was introduced without consultation.

Karia emphasized that the platforms commitment to user privacy and the end-to-end encryption of messages are the reasons crores of users subscribe to its robust services. As user privacy is a core value, end-to-end encryption is essential to maintaining it.

Complying with the newly amended IT Rules would weaken encryption and infringe on user privacy rights enshrined in Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which protect individuals freedom and liberties. It would also require WhatsApp to store millions of messages for years, an obligation that does not exist anywhere else in the world.

We will have to keep a complete chain and we dont know which messages will be asked to be decrypted. It means millions and millions of messages will have to be stored for a number of years, Karia said.

Additionally, Karia also highlighted that the parent Information Technology Act does not provide for the breaking of encryption.

When the bench questioned whether similar laws existed anywhere else in the world. Have these matters been taken up anywhere in the world? You have never been asked to share the information anywhere in the world? Even in South America? to which Karia replied,  There is no such rule anywhere else in the world. No, not even in Brazil.

Advocate Kirtiman Singh, representing the central government, defended the regulations, citing the importance of tracing message originators, especially given India is WhatsApps largest market with over 400 million users. He also argued that WhatsApp and Meta make money by using users data for commercial purposes and are not entitled to claim they protect user privacy.

The idea behind the guidelines was to trace the originator of the messages, said Kirtiman. He added that some mechanism for tracing messages is necessary, especially considering the challenges WhatsApp faced before the U.S. Congress.

The Delhi High Court acknowledged that privacy rights are not absolute and that somewhere balance has to be done. It has adjourned the case for further hearing on August 14.

Opposing the petition by WhatsApp against the newly amended IT Rules, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) argued that the company has already violated the fundamental rights of Indian users by refuting them any dispute resolution rights in the country.

The MeitY told the court that if the IT Rules 2021 are not implemented, law enforcement agencies would struggle to trace the origin of fake messages, and such messages would lead to the proliferation of such messages across other platforms, thereby potentially disturbing peace and harmony in society.

WhatsApp earlier said, Requiring messaging apps to trace chats is the equivalent of asking us to keep a fingerprint of every single message sent on WhatsApp, which would break end-to-end encryption and fundamentally undermines peoples right to privacy.
Heres a recap of recent funding developments from Australia, India, the US and beyond.

NextWork Secures $2.3 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

NextWork, a New Zealand startup, has raised $2.3 million in pre-Seed funding for its initiative to provide free training in the entry-level AWS certification to 1000 students. Led by Kiwi VC GD1, the round saw participation from Blackbird, Icehouse, Phase One Ventures, and the founders of Eucalyptus. The Wellington-based startup aims to globally upskill workers in tech talents.

WorkRex Raises $220,000 in Pre-Seed Funding

Melbourne startup WorkRex has secured $220,000 in pre-Seed funding from early stage VC Skalata. Founded by Jing Chen, Lance Qian, and Myron Liuan optometrist, ex-McKinsey consultant, and software engineerthe startup offers an all-in-one customer marketing platform for small businesses, addressing the challenges of managing communication channels and meeting customer demands.

New Business Growth Fund Launched

A new Business Growth Fund has been announced, targeting small and medium-sized businesses with 5-49 employees. Offering grants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000, the program aims to support high-growth plans and specialized equipment purchases. Expressions of interest open on May 1st, with businesses invited to submit their applications.

Prep Secures $200,000 in Pre-Seed Round

Food distribution startup Prep has raised $200,000 from Melbourne VC Skalata to enhance its platform connecting major food retailers, corporates, and restaurants with emerging food brands. Prep facilitates efficient B2B distribution, integrating with producers ordering systems and providing marketing support, aiming to scale distribution for emerging food brands.

LetsTransport Receives $22Mn Investment in Series E

LetsTransport, one of Indias largest trucking aggregators, has secured a significant investment of USD 22 million in its Series E round led by Bertelsmann India Investments. This investment will accelerate LetsTransports mission to revolutionize Indias trucking industry by aggregating fragmented truckers and offering multiple assets across last-mile, mid-mile, and EV space.

BlackSoil Records 40% Investment Growth in FY24

BlackSoil, a leading alternative credit platform in India, has achieved over 40% growth in portfolio investment in the financial year 2024, surpassing $118 million in disbursement. With 36 new deals and 18 exits, BlackSoils strategic diversification approach across sectors like Financial Institutions/FinTech, Saas/DeepTech/IOT, and Consumer has contributed to its consistent profitability.

14Peaks Closes $30M Inaugural Fund for Fintech Startups

Venture capital firm 14Peaks Capital has successfully closed its inaugural fund at $30 million, attracting capital from influential High Net Worth Individuals and family offices across Europe and the United States. Specializing in B2B SaaS companies, particularly in Fintech and the Future of Work, 14Peaks aims to invest at the earliest stages and has already backed 11 companies in its portfolio.

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Production of minerals for clean energy is insufficient: UN



Geneva, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2024



Current production levels of key minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel needed for clean energy technologies are insufficient to reach global climate goals, a United Nations agency said Friday.

According to a study by UN Trade and Development, demand for lithium could rise by more than 1,500 percent by 2050, with similar increases for other minerals required to manufacture solar panels, wind turbines and electric car batteries.

"Global investments in critical energy transition minerals are not keeping pace with escalating demand," the report said.

"Current production levels are inadequate to meet the needs required to limit global warming to 1.5C, in line with the Paris Agreement."

The UN said it identified 110 new mining projects across the world with a value of $39 billion, with $22 billion invested in 60 projects in developing countries.

But meeting the objective of net-zero emissions by 2030 would require 80 new copper mines, 70 new lithium mines, 70 nickel mines, and 30 cobalt mines.

Investments of 360 billion to 450 billion euros would be needed between 2022 and 2030, the study said.

The expanding demand for critical materials offers opportunities for many developing economies, especially in Africa, it said. The continent holds more than a fifth of the global reserves of a dozen essential metals.

The UN called on developing countries to increase the local value added of their mining operations. It noted that no country in Africa or Latin America is currently a major actor in the manufacturing of cathodes or other battery components.

The report did note the experience of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which by refining cobalt locally has raised the price it receives from $5.80 a kilogram at the moment of extraction to $16.20 a kilogram after transformation.
Heat waves would sweep through most Vietnam localities during the Reunification Day-Labor Day holiday (April 30-May 1), with certain areas recording temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecast department under the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on Friday said northern Vietnam regions would be impacted by a low-pressure area from the west, resulting in hot sunny days until May 1.

The highest temperatures in northwestern Vietnam would be at 36-40 degrees. The plains and northeastern Vietnam would record temperatures at 36-38 degrees.

This is the first time in 10 years where all Vietnamese regions (northern, central and southern) would see heat waves during the Labor Day holiday. A mass of cold air would arrive in northern Vietnam the night of April 30, which would reduce the temperatures, but the sudden temperature differences may result in hails and gusts.

U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather anticipated Hanois temperatures to reach 38 degrees at the highest on Saturday. Daytime temperatures in the capital would remain at 37 degrees in the next three days. High-altitude locations like Lao Cais Sa Pa would see temperatures at 19-31 degrees during the holiday.

Several areas in central Vietnams Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and Phu Yen recorded temperatures over 40 degrees on Thursday. 11 coastal localities from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen are expected to record temperatures at 37-40 degrees during the holiday, which will last five days from this weekend.

Certain coastal destinations in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh may record temperatures up to 44 degrees next Monday. In Da Nang, temperatures may reach 37 degrees on Sunday, while Khanh Hoas Nha Trang may record temperatures up to 35 degrees.

Southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands will continue to see heat waves until April 30, with the highest temperatures in the Central Highlands at 35-37 degrees. Southeastern Vietnam would record temperatures up to 37 degrees.

In HCMC, the highest temperatures during the holiday would be 38 degrees, with Lam Dongs Da Lat, known as a hill town with cool climate, recording temperatures at 29-30 degrees. From May 1 to May 3, these two regions would see rains at dusk, with temperatures gradually dropping.

Meteorologists recommend people not to go out between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the holiday period to avoid the impacts of the heat and UV rays. People should also wear sunscreens and other measures to protect against the sun while going out.
Environment workers load trash onto a truck in Con Dao in southern Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Chinh

Sanitation workers will have the right to refuse collecting unsorted trash, according to a draft by the environment ministry.

The draft circular on the collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment says environment workers have the right to check peoples trash bags and refuse to collect trash that's improperly sorted.

Workers will be tasked with collecting particular sorts of trash, instead of collecting all kinds of trash in one go, as currently.

Waste will also be categorized based on its potential to be reused or recycled, among other classifications.

Food waste must be collected in tightly shut containers, to prevent leakage during transportation. Workers will also monitor households that do not sort trash properly, and report them to local environmental hygiene units.

Hoang Van Thuc, head of the Pollution Control Department, last month said 30 localities had issued instructions on household waste sorting, and trials had begun.

In accordance with environmental laws, trash must be sorted at the source by Dec. 31, 2024.

Last year, Vietnam produced 24.5 million tons of trash, with 1,456 facilities to deal with solid waste.
Helena Moreno is a former legislator and a current at-large member of the New Orleans City Council.
The 20-year-old university student wrongly identified by Seven Network as the Bondi Junction mass murderer has settled his legal dispute with the network for an undisclosed sum.

Benjamin Cohen was identified by Sevens Sunrise on Sunday, April 14, the morning after six people were murdered in a Sydney shopping centre.

Sydney man Ben Cohen was misidentified as the Bondi Junction killer by the Seven Network.

The full terms of the settlement are confidential, representatives for Cohen said on Friday morning.

A full apology from Sevens chief executive, Jeff Howard, said the network accepts the identification was a grave mistake and the assertions were entirely false and without basis.
The premise of this genre-bending experiment is this. A stranger comes into town and is confronted with a problem that he helps the townsfolk sort out and then  heres the shift  stays. In this case, the stranger is retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper who has bought a plot of land, fixed up a derelict house, and befriended a child called Trey, one of six children living with their mother up on the mountain in hardscrabble conditions.

What French herself didnt expect was that The Searcher would require a sequel. The Hunter, is therefore the second book in an unplanned trilogy, and while it makes sense to start at the beginning, I cheerfully dived into the middle and had no problem keeping up. Although, having been captivated by the inhabitants of the remote village of Ardnakelty in Western Ireland, Ive since back-tracked.

Fans of Irish crime writer Tana French  they are legion  already know to expect the unexpected. In this case, its an experiment in genre that French herself has described as mystery software running on Western hardware that began with Frenchs previous book, The Searcher. And yes, shades of John Fords classic film The Searchers are hovering.

In The Hunter, French plays yet another Western card with the suggestion that there is gold in them there hills. Treys feckless father, Johnny, returns to Ardnakelty with a millionaire expat in tow, the unlikeable Rushborough. Johnny has a swindle in mind and the local farmers are soon bedazzled by the prospect of fleecing a stranger and more than ready to leprechaun up.

What has made the farmers particularly susceptible to Johnnys bedazzlement is their concern about the brazen drought which is messing up their schedule for silage and hay  making the sheep irritable  and threatening the grazing. Heat is the main topic of discussion in the village pub, which shares a building with the village shop run by Noreen, who also runs the rest of the village while shes at it.

What concerns Cal most is the fact that Trey has revenge on her mind. Whether she wants to punish her father for his neglect, or the credulous villagers for the disappearance of her adored elder brother two years earlier, isnt really the point. Cal and the widowed Lena, both somewhat peripheral to the village community, are worried that Treys involvement in Johnnys get-rich-quick scheme will end badly for her. And then Rushborough is murdered.

Its a twisty plot that gives French the leisure to evoke a beguiling place and its inhabitants, both human and animal. Treys dog Banjo, for instance, is a lot more talkative than his mistress, were told on the first page. Wherever Trey is, theres Banjo, who is also a brother to Cals dog, Rip. The latter spends a lot of his time trying to catch the rooks that torment him and Cal when they yell down the chimney, drop rocks in the fireplace, bang on the windows and have recently learnt to bark.
Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Charge daffaires a.i. of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN, speaks at a UNSC session in New York, the U.S., April 25, 2024. Photo by VNA

A representative of Vietnam appealed to all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint and to end hostilities, while addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on the Middle East and Palestine situation on March 25.

In his remarks, Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Charge daffaires a.i. of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the UN, voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in the region.

He affirmed that Vietnam objects to any act of threatening to use or using force, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state, or running counter to international law and the UN Charter.

Vietnam strongly condemns all forms of violence targeting civilians and civil infrastructure, as well as the recent attacks on commercial vessels on international shipping routes, he noted.

Nguyen called on all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint, end hostilities, unconditionally free all hostages, and comply with international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN.

Vietnam supports every reconciliation effort towards sustainable and durable solutions to the ongoing conflict and the Middle East peace process on the basis of the two-state solution. It advocates the key role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in delivering humanitarian relief in the Gaza Strip, the diplomat went on.

Vietnam strongly supports the State of Palestines legitimate aspiration to soon become an official member of the UN, he added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of spreading conflict in the Middle East amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

He perceived that the failure in promoting the two-state solution will worsen instability and threaten millions of people in the region.

Voicing concern over the risk of conflict escalation, representatives of most states called for maximum self-restraint and an end to the cycle of violence and retaliation. Many also expressed disappointment over the UNSCs failure in adopt a draft resolution on the official admission of Palestine to the UN on April 18.
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Eating outRestaurant news Chip butties to Chiko rolls: Your retro favourites are back on the menu (and heres where to find them) Cringeworthy dishes and old faves your mum used to make are on top in the world of food right now. And apparently its perfectly natural to crave it. Emma Breheny April 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Dining at the top of a skyscraper, in one of the citys most expensive restaurants, youd expect to eat lobster, caviar, foie gras. A hot jam doughnut? Not so much. But thats one of three desserts that Vue de Monde, perhaps Melbournes best-known fine diner, serves as part of its $360 tasting menu, and its inspired by the Queen Victoria Market doughnut van. Its one of the boldest statements  but certainly not the only one  that nostalgia is the most sought-after flavour among diners today. The Goldys Roll at Collingwood pub Goldys is modelled on a Chiko roll, right down to the wrapper. Chris Hopkins At Glory-Us cafes two locations in Fitzroy North and Strathmore, a chip butty is stacked high with fries and spread with butter and homemade HP sauce. Goldys pub in Collingwood and South Melbourne brewery Pirate Life both serve a take on a Chiko roll. Goldys incorporates savoury mince and creamed corn, while Pirate Life uses braised goat and salted cabbage. And at Argentinian grill restaurant, Asado in Southbank, the menu is flipping to an Australian theme for a day next month. Tickets for the six-course lunch sold out in 48 hours. The chip butty at Glory-Us cafe is finished with homemade HP sauce. Supplied

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Theres a lot of uncertainty with the economy at the moment, says Victor Liong, chef at Lee Ho Fook, another upscale restaurant in the city thats looking to the past, in its case through prawn toast. In these kinds of times people look towards things that are comforting. Classic cooking is one of the things that people hold on to. Lee Ho Fook casts the suburban staple of prawn toast in a new, albeit far more luxurious, light by adding raw seafood as a garnish to crisp rectangles of white bread smeared with prawn mousse. Its so popular, Liong had to make an emergency dash to a fish shop on Monday night because hed run out of ingredients. Prawn toast is very relatable to people, and its relevant in an Australian Chinese [restaurant] context, says Liong. Updating the dish, he says, still gives us an opportunity to be creative and do it in our style.

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Prawn toast joins soft serve, potato cakes, cream buns and more old-school dishes getting a contemporary makeover, as chefs give people food that will tug at their heartstrings, as well as appeal to their tastebuds. Lee Ho Fooks prawn toast comes with luxurious touches, like a sea urchin on top. Simon Schluter Whats happening right now with economic uncertainty and a lot of global uncertainty is that we seek comfort via familiarity, says Dr Meg Elkins, a behavioural economist in RMITs School of Economics, Finance and Marketing. Research shows strong links between nostalgia and food, Elkins says, because food is so sensory and this triggers memories of people and places. Both my business partner and I ate chip butties regularly growing up, every time we had fish and chips, says Glory-Us co-owner Tori Bicknell. Its a given we want it on our menu.

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The latest trend in fine-dining is  the potato scallop (or cake) In the years after the GFC, Melbourne menus were filled with mac and cheese, banana fritters, Country Womens Association-like cakes and spiders, all put through a 21st-century lens where ingredient quality and provenance are paramount. When we return to comfort in times of uncertainty, thats called the nostalgia bias, says Elkins. To some degree, its about social identity and belonging, Right now, theres a strong Australiana thread running through the nostalgic food chefs are celebrating, perhaps a sign of our countrys recently discovered pride in First Nations ingredients and even more recent culinary history, regardless of daggy labels.

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As Elkins points out, things like Chiko rolls and prawn toast are associated with fun and life not being complicated. The food that triggers feelings of nostalgia varies from person to person and culture to culture. But that hasnt stopped Colombian-born chef Camilo Guzman from creating updated versions of beloved Australian snacks, like the dim sim. In fact, its made his dishes more interesting. Asados take on a lamington includes strawberry consomme surrounding the cake. Trend. Agency The emu dim sim that hell serve at Asado restaurants special Australiana event in May combines two street-foods from two different cultures. A dim sim, he says, is just a filled, fried pastrythat you can only find in Australia. But its very similar to a street-food of Latin America: you find empanadas on nearly every corner in every city.

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Dessert  a lamington with strawberry consomme  is another double-whammy of nostalgia, depending on where you grew up. For Guzman, it reminds him of a packaged ice-cream served in Colombia around Halloween that was named after Count Dracula because it had strawberry jam oozing out of vanilla ice-cream. With nostalgic food looking so different for different people, the only thing thats certain is that restaurants have plenty more dishes up their sleeve. Potato cakes at Saint George in St Kilda come with whipped cod roe and avruga. Wayne Taylor Five old-but-new bites of nostalgia to try Hashbrowns and potato cakes

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Fried spuds get a glow-up at Wallys wine bar (Albert Park), where hashbrowns come topped with cured bonito fish, and at the Sporting Club Hotel (Brunswick), where smoked trout is the fancy finish. Potato cakes are powering snack time at Saint George (St Kilda), Kirks Wine Bar (Melbourne) and Stokehouse (St Kilda). If you like your carbs with a side of carbs, get yourself to Glory-Us cafe (Fitzroy North, Stanmore) for a chip butty thats dense with pencils of fried potato. Pistachio soft serve at Roccos in Fitzroy. Supplied Sundaes or soft serve Swirly, creamy bowls of soft serve cap off dinner at restaurants including Roccos Bologna Discoteca (Fitzroy) and Di Stasio (Carlton and CBD). Roccos regularly changing flavours have included Iced Vovo for an extra dose of the good old days. Step it up to a sundae at Johnnys Green Room (Carlton), featuring strawberry and pepper granita along with the usual ice-cream and fudge sauce. Yugen Dinings prawn toast made with youtiao (Chinese doughnuts). Gareth Sobey

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Prawn toast An Aussie Chinese favourite gets a new lease on life at Lee Ho Fook (Melbourne), where its topped with either raw sea urchin or ama ebi, a premium type of prawn. Yugen Dining (St Kilda) combines the filling with Chinas own bready treat, youtiao (long cylindrical doughnuts), for a visually stunning result. Try a Spanish twist at MoVida Aqui (Melbourne), where the toast is topped with a gentle chilli sauce from the Basque region, or the version at Peruvian-Chinese restaurant Casa Chino (Brunswick). East Handy General Store owner Josh Thomas with his paean to the Chiko roll. Richard Cornish Chiko rolls The snack of choice in Puberty Blues gets a glow-up at Goldys pub (Collingwood) where it comes with its own Goldy Roll wrapper; Pirate Lifes beer hall (South Melbourne), although the filling is braised goat instead of the traditional mutton; and the East Handy General Store (Bairnsdale), which makes a chop suey from a Womens Weekly recipe and adds Keens Curry Powder.

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Despite being science-literate and deeply appreciative of modern medicine, it wasnt until I recently started a new job in healthcare that I realised I had no immunity to measles, a nasty and vaccine-preventable disease thats having a worldwide resurgence.

Victoria Hanlon, 44, a Melbourne-based freelance copywriter, was similarly surprised during routine blood tests, when she was pregnant with her now eight-year-old twins, that she was not immune to chickenpox. This was despite having parents who followed vaccination schedules and family knowledge that shed had the illness at the tender age of six months. I still have a scar on my chin, she says.

After discovering theyre not immune to the measles or chickenpox, many adults are playing catch-up. Credit: iStock

Since my own not-so-measly discovery, Ive learnt that many other Australian adults incorrectly assume they have immunity to diseases.

Heres what experts want you to know about playing catch-up with vaccines.
My older brother Keith also enlisted and we were both part of Bomber Command. He was a wireless operator, and I was a pilot, flying Halifax bombers with No 102 Squadron RAF. My crew were mostly English, and we were based in Pocklington in Yorkshire. Ron Houghton, 1944. The aircraft types he flew included Tiger Moths, Wirraways, Airspeed Oxford, Wellington Bombers, Halifax Hurricanes and Spitfires. In 181 hours of flying time, he participated in 31 sorties (13 in daylight and rest at night over enemy territory  France, Holland Germany, Belgium. The Halifax bomber missions were mainly raids over targets in the Ruhr Valley in Germany, chiefly munition factories and fuel dumps.

I remember so clearly, one evening when we were attacked, he said. It was a very dark night and my tail gunner spotted a German aircraft flying behind us, so I told the crew to get ready for a fight. He was flying to the left of us, trying to get underneath us to take out our fuel tank. I turned the aircraft nearly all the way over so we could have a look at him. There was only one pilot, and we were that close that I could see him, and what he was up to. The gunners gave him a pretty hard time and the plane was ripped apart. We survived and came back to base. We had had the same crew for many of our flights, and it was great to stick together. Houghton received a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for a mission over Germany to take out a key target. We had some technical issues releasing the bombs, so we had to release them manually over a series of circuits without any protective fighter cover, as the rest of the aircraft in that raid had already turned back. We managed to complete the mission and returned safely back to base. The citation stated: This Officer has completed in numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has displayed the upmost courage, fortitude and devotion to duty. Posted to Fighter Command, he flew Spitfires and Hurricanes. It was not common to transfer from bomber to fighter, but in the Spitfire Houghtons role was purely in training.

Ron Houghton on Anzac Day 2021. His job was to emulate Luftwaffe fighters, undertaking an attack profile to train bomber crews to be prepared on missions. I would wait for them to come home and without warning used to come up behind or under them and use the tactics of the German fighter pilots. This helped our bomber crews know how to avoid being hit by the enemy, he said. Spitfires were the best fighter plane. Halifaxes and Lancasters were both good and there is always a good argument to be had between crews as to which is best. But actually, Halifax VII had

better speed and height than any other bombers. Houghton had a lasting friendships with his Halifax crew, known as Joes Flying Circus, and from 1946, he attended nearly every annual reunion. Two gunners were absent  one killed on the next operation after his tour of duty finished, having joined another crew, and the other uncontactable in South Africa. Ron Houghton, then 96, and Tony Adams, 97, of The Australian Air Force Association (New South Wales branch) led a service at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park commemorating the RAAF Centenary in 2021. Credit: Louise Kennerley

I tried to find him for years and went to the South African Embassy in Canberra and they helped

to find everyone with that name in South Africa. I wrote to them all but never got an answer. [As] the last surviving member of my crew and I visited the widows in UK but they have

all passed on now as well. I have a crew photo here in front of our Halifax. We were known as Joes Flying Circus. At wars end in 1945, Houghton spent time at General Eisenhowers Operation Centre at RN Portsmouth. He recalled being awestruck at the immense amount of time and planning the D-Day landings had required. In recent years, he said of his decoration: The DFC was presented to me at a ceremony in NSW Government House when we retuned. But I felt the entire crew should have been given one as well. A few years ago I also received a French Legion of Honour for our contribution to the D-Day efforts with some of the other members of Bomber Command. On discharge in November 1945, he joined the RAAF Reserve, and soon was employed by Qantas, rising to executive level. After working with several Asian airlines, he completed a PhD in aeronautical engineering at Sydney University, eventually becoming an Honorary Associate. Two years ago, he flew with Matt Hall (former RAAF combat instructor and World Champion Air Racer) and aerobatics pilot Emma McDonald, describing it as the time of his life and becoming Halls oldest aerobatic flight participant.
Terry Anderson, the American journalist who had been the longest-held Western hostage in Lebanon when he was finally released by Islamic militants in 1991 after more than six years in captivity, has died at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York, in the Hudson Valley. He was 76.

The cause was apparently complications of recent heart surgery, said his daughter, Sulome Anderson.

Terry Anderson waves to the crowd in Lorain, Ohio, 1992. Credit: AP

Anderson, the Beirut bureau chief for The Associated Press, had just dropped his tennis partner, an AP photographer, at his home after an early morning tennis match on March 16, 1985, when men armed with pistols yanked open his car door and shoved him into a Mercedes-Benz. The same car had tried to cut him off the day before as he returned to work from lunch at his seaside apartment.

The kidnappers, identified as Shia Hezbollah militants of the Islamic Jihad Organisation in Lebanon, beat him, blindfolded him and kept him chained in some 20 hideaways for 2454 days in Beirut, South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
The security guard who was fatally stabbed trying to defend shoppers from a knife-wielding man at Westfield Bondi Junction a fortnight ago has been hailed a national hero by the prime minister.

Faraz Tahir, 30, was killed on his first day shift at the centre as he tried to protect shoppers from Joel Cauchi, a schizophrenic who embarked on stabbing rampage which ultimately killed six people.

At his funeral on Friday at the Masjid Baitul-Huda mosque in Marsden Park in north-western Sydney, his security guard colleague Muhammad Taha, who was also stabbed, recounted how Tahir rushed towards danger.

Speaking in a wheelchair and covered with a hospital-issued blanket, Taha recounted how he had only met Tahir that day. His last words were, Lets find out what is going on, he said.
The fate of the Pinkenba quarantine hub has been decided after nearly two years, with the federal government announcing it would be handed over to the Australian Federal Police.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus confirmed the site, in Brisbanes east, would be used for police training, with additional funding provided from the federal government.

The federally owned and operated 500-bed quarantine facility at Pinkenba, empty since completion in 2022, will be converted to a police training facility.

The Centre for National Resilience, a quarantine hub built in response to the COVID pandemic, was officially finished on August 25  less than a month after the Queensland government advised the Commonwealth it would no longer be needed.

The land, owned by the Department of Defence, is in an industrial area next to Brisbane Airport.
A woman charged with murder in an unusual case over the death of a police officer in an alleged hit-and-run has been released on bail.

Senior Constable David Masters died after being struck by a suspected stolen car on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, about 3am on June 26, 2021.

David Masters, 53, was a dedicated police officer based at Deception Bay.

The officer had just deployed a tyre deflation device and police were not actively pursuing the vehicle.

The Crown alleges Kari OBrien was a passenger in the car driven by Skye Anne Wallis.
Heres the dilemma: mental health problems are, rightly, private. Morrison now says at times he dreaded the future, struggled to get out of bed, and was wracked by debilitating and agonising anxiety. Has the country got a right to know that? And if a leader is so afflicted, can they be expected to self-report and step down? What are the options? Morrison was at least twice offered the opportunity to tell the Australian people about his debilitating anxiety and decided against it.

After my tip, on 27 October 2021, in a regular radio interview I delicately raised the topic, asking how he personally handled the stress, including the pandemic: Morrison: My faith and my family, thats what sustains me. As you know Pat McGorry (prominent psychiatrist), a great Victorian, a great Australian, has been a constant source of counsel and advice to me over the course of these last two years particularly, and Im very proud of the work weve done in mental health in the pandemic. Mitchell: But what do you do for your own mental health if you get stressed, if you get down? Morrison: Oh, I exercise, thats the main one that I try to do. And spend as much time as I can with family and friends that doesnt involve talking politics.

With the leak I had, this was unconvincing. So, on 11 November 2021, I arranged a private telephone call with Morrison where I told him what information I had. I suggested if it were true we should discuss it on air and handle it sensitively. I asked for confirmation but got none. He was wary, and defensive, but made the reasonable point that mental health was a persons private business. Without his confirmation, I decided against broadcasting what I suspected. I was uncomfortable because I sensed, without proof, that my information was correct and what has now been made public was the reality.

Was that in Australias interests? Do voters have a right to know the mental and physical health of their prime minister? Can we expect a person in such a situation to make a decision on their own ability to function? Or does Australia need a mechanism that sidesteps self reporting and requires the mental and physical health of political leaders to be independently and regularly medically assessed. People living with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease are required to take annual checks if they wish to drive a car. Many major companies have annual medical reviews for senior staff. It is not unusual for doctors to advise patients who hold senior positions to stand down because of their illness. Was this ever suggested to Scott Morrison? Did he ever consider it?

Morrison is overseas and declined an interview. I told him I planned to report our private conversation. He said he remembered it. Then this: The key point is these things dont need to hold you back. In the midst of all this I landed AUKUS. Dealing with the crises was not the issue, the issue was the combination of exhaustion and personal/political media attacks. He later posted on Facebook that his aim was to normalise and destigmatise something many Australians face. Fair enough, leaders are human too. The question is whether he owed it to the public and the party to be open with them. Given it was leaked to me, some in Canberra knew what was going on and were concerned. Former colleagues contacted on Friday were surprised by his revelations, which indicates he hid it well.

But they said it would have created pressure for Morrison to stand down or face a challenge because any talk of mental health issues would spook already alienated voters. Warren Entsch, the Liberal National member for Leichhardt, thought at the time Morrison should step aside for Frydenberg. I didnt know about this, Entsch said on Friday. But it does join a few dots. Its sad he was not comfortable enough to share it. I feel for him. If I had known, I would have quietly suggested to him that he step down for his own sake, for the sake of his wife and children, and for the sake of the country.

John Alexander, the former Liberal member for Bennelong, believes Frydenberg teamed with new Nationals leader David Littleproud would have walked in another term. A Morrison critic, he too was unaware of the mental health battles. It would certainly have been relevant to the party room, he said. To be fit for the job you have to be in good mental and physical and emotional health. Its fundamental. Some questioned whether health was part of the reason for Morrisons bizarre decision to swear himself in secretly to various portfolios. Between March 2020 and May 2021, he was sworn in as minister for the portfolios of health, science, finance and treasury. Did that have anything to do with his state of mind?

Scott Morrison is not the first leader to suffer mental health problems in office: think Winston Churchill. He wont be the last. Loading But now hes raised it, and given some of the inexplicable decisions, it is reasonable to ask what can be done to manage this when it happens. Mental health can be treated. People with crippling anxiety are not dangerous lunatics. We have grown out of all that. But at times Morrison says his problems risked shutting him down mentally and physically.
Victorian fire authorities are now responding to one lithium-ion battery-related fire a day, up from an estimated one a week last year. On Friday, 60 people were evacuated from the eight-storey Morgan Apartments building on Flinders Lane after an e-scooter battery exploded, setting fire to a one-bedroom apartment on the seventh floor. Those inside escaped by squeezing out a window to a downstairs balcony, risking a 10-metre drop to the street. A 35-year-old woman was treated for smoke inhalation. Last week, a Carlton apartment building was evacuated when a mobile phone power bank exploded and set fire to a bed on which two students were sleeping. The apartment was gutted and the pair were treated for smoke inhalation.

Last month, a Narre Warren home was left with a $100,000 fire damage bill when a battery from a rechargeable drill  which was not charging at the time  spontaneously combusted. In March, two people died in a townhouse fire in Port Macquarie linked to a lithium-ion battery. The ferocious blaze at Jim and Marias home started when a 20-centimetre lithium-ion battery spontaneously combusted mid-morning in early March. They do not have to be on charge ... to explode. These are things that are in your home and they are a ticking time bomb. Maria Johnstone, Sunbury resident The battery was sitting on an outdoor dining table, waiting for a new motor to arrive for the pool cleaner. Jim says the battery was not damaged and was only 18 months old.

On the day of the fire, Jim was in Gippsland for work and Maria out on errands. By midday, they received a call the house was all but gone. One dog, Milly, was rescued by a passing tradie who threw a brick through a second-storey window allowing the dog to jump out. But their spoodle dog, Lucy, and cat Daisy were trapped upstairs and died. Lithium-ion batteries can break down in whats called a thermal runaway where meltdown occurs cell by cell. Telling initial signs are heat, swelling, and crackling or popping sounds in the battery shell. Eventually, the batteries can catch fire or explode, sending out jet-like flames as each cell explodes. These fires are particularly ferocious and difficult to extinguish.

The devastated Sunbury couple say that when they rebuild their home, they will install a fireproof cabinet to charge and store all their home devices. Loading Its seriously scary because theres so many of them around and theyre everywhere, says Jim. Maria says she wants to see tighter regulations on the standard of products entering Australia for sale  echoing calls from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission  and a step-up in warning labels about correct use and storage. The message I want to get across is that they do not have to be on charge for these things to explode, Maria says.

These are things that are in your home and they are a ticking time bomb. I dont want anyone to go through this. Anyone. We lost our pets and its devastating because theyre our babies  and [next time there is a fire], it could be someones kids. Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner Josh Fisher says there have been no fatalities linked to battery fires in Victoria, but they are a quickly growing risk worldwide, and public education is crucial. Authorities say the No.1 rule is to avoid buying a device with a rechargeable battery unless it comes from a reputable brand and seller. The ACCC estimates that by 2026, the average household will have 33 devices powered by lithium-ion batteries.

The consumer regulator was alarmed last year that a national voluntary survey of more than 4000 Australians found 54 per cent of respondents used aftermarket chargers, 39 per cent did not know how to correctly dispose of lithium-ion batteries, and many respondents said they would leave devices unattended while charging. Fischer says Fire Rescue Victoria is particularly concerned about the growing risks for people living in apartments where dwellings typically have one entrance and are more likely to have people storing e-bikes and scooters in smaller spaces. Top tips from fire agencies Buy devices with batteries only from reputable sellers and suppliers

Only use chargers and cables that come with the device

Dont leave devices charging overnight

Dont charge near doorways, where a fire would block your exit

Charge only on hard, non-combustible surfaces

Charge large battery devices in the shed or garage, not living areas

Dont tamper with battery-powered devices

Dont leave devices in the sun

Never use a device if the battery is swelling, bulging, leaking, damaged or overheating

Have smoke alarms in the room where devices charge

Never put batteries in the rubbish Thats a real concern for us because  you may not get past that if its in your escape path and you may be trapped, says Fisher. Fire Rescue Victorias official advice is that people store and charge e-bikes and e-scooters in underground basements or outside if possible, and if they must be charged and kept inside, not to leave them in front of escape routes.

Fisher says batteries on chargers can catch fire if they are overcharged or with the use of different chargers or cables than those they came with, but as in the case of Jim and Maria, non-charging batteries are also a risk. Particularly if the device has been damaged. So whether its been hit, struck or dropped, that could cause the [non-charging] battery to go into that thermal runaway event and to cause a fire to occur, he says. Fire Rescue Victoria recommends a smoke alarm in every bedroom, and if possible, interconnected smoke alarms throughout the home. It advises devices should be charged only while youre awake or at home. The risk of fire continues after a device is disposed of, with major waste company Cleanaway now experiencing one fire a week in its trucks or facilities linked to batteries.
Vietnam has eliminated malaria in 46 provinces and major cities, out of its 63 localities, as of the end of last year, and is determined to eradicate the disease by 2030, according to official data.

The World Health Organization (WHO) commemorates World Malaria Day on April 25 every year to highlight the community's commitment to as well as global solidarity towards the shared goal of a malaria-free world. WHO aims to reduce the number of malaria cases by at least 90% by 2030.

In response, this year, Vietnam adopted the theme of making concerted efforts towards malaria elimination, in a bid to enhance access to healthcare services for malaria prevention and control.

According to Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Director of the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology under the Ministry of Health, Vietnam recorded 448 malaria cases last year, a decrease of 97.3% compared to 2011. In the same period, the numbers of severe malaria cases and deaths from the disease went down by 89.19% and 85.71%, respectively.

Although Vietnam has brought malaria cases down to below 500 cases per year, its prevention and control work still face many challenges.

In addition to the nations tropical climate, over 6 million Vietnamese now live in malaria-endemic areas and there is evidence of mosquito resistance to insecticides.

To achieve the 2030 goal, Canh noted it is necessary to develop a malaria elimination strategy to mobilize the participation of the entire society and use local budgets to replace aid sources.

He recommended strengthening related communications work, training personnel involved, maintaining surveillance and reporting systems, and utilizing information technology, among other measures.
An elderly Girrawheen couple have bravely spoken out about a terrifying home invasion and violent assault at the hands of three men who pretended to be police officers.

Ninette and Philip Simons were at home at their Allinson Drive property on the evening of April 16 when three men knocked on their door and produced a badge, claiming to be police officers.

Ninette Simons, 76, was assaulted in her own home by men pretending to be police officers.

The men gained entry to the house by saying they had a warrant to search it for stolen gold.

Once inside, 76-year-old Philip was tied up, while 73-year-old Ninette  a recent cancer survivor  was violently assaulted.
Anthony Albanese will attend a rally against male violence on Sunday and use the power of national cabinet to reverse the troubling wave of women being killed by men.

As the federal Coalition joined several premiers, including Victorias, in demanding urgent national cabinet attention on the issue, the prime minister declared he was committed to arrest the scourge of violence after a series of alleged murders.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have both called out the worrying statistics. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

I am determined to work constructively with state and territory governments as well as civil society on this scourge of violence against women, Albanese told this masthead.

[NSW] Premier Minns and Premier Malinauskas, who is Chair of the [Council for the Australian Federation], raised this with me today and we agreed there should be a discussion at national cabinet.
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 Australians did not know the real Scott Morrison when he occupied the nations top political office, the former prime minister says, adding he largely kept his faith private during his four years in power. Morrisons new book, Plans for Your Good: A Prime Ministers Testimony of Gods Faithfulness, which will be released next week, also reveals he took anti-depressants in 2021 while serving as prime minister to deal with waves of acute anxiety he suffered in the nations top political job. The admission is the first time a prime minister or former prime minister of Australia has spoken publicly about using medication to deal with the huge demands of the job and the toll they can take on a persons mental health. In an interview with this masthead before the books launch, Morrison hit out at critics who accused him of proselytising while in office: People used to accuse me of peddling my faith, which I found outrageous by the way. If I was peddling my faith, you would have known. Based on what youve now read, I kept all of that within. I did not engage in any sort of evangelical mission whilst in office. Asked directly if Australians had not known who he really was, Morrison said: I think thats true ... I think at the end of the day, to my detriment, they [voters] bought a narrative peddled by others to destroy me, which was effective, but they didnt know [me] and frankly ... maybe if I had told them, they may have reacted more strongly. Who knows?

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While Morrison previously promised the book would not be a typical political autobiography, many readers will be stunned by the depth of Morrisons Christian faith. The book frequently quotes Bible passages, and the role of God in the former prime ministers life is the dominant theme. Morrison is an evangelical Christian, the nations first evangelical prime minister and worships at Horizon Church in the Sutherland Shire. The book also sets out Morrisons version of events about the lead-up to the 2018 spill in which he replaced Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister and his recollection of pulling together the AUKUS deal, including a detailed explanation of how French President Emmanuel Macron was informed that the contract for French submarines was imperilled. Loading Time and again, Morrison discusses how God helped inform and guide him in making decisions at crucial moments, such as whether to stand for the countrys top political job, how he handled the impact of COVID-19 and even how it informed his handling of the delicate negotiations over the AUKUS submarine deal. Nevertheless, the recently retired MP insisted he was always quite conscious of trying to keep this balance. I was very conscious that yes, I was an evangelical Christian, but the country had no national religion and nor should it. So I didnt want to blur those lines. But equally, I didnt want to undermine the integrity of my faith, Morrison said.

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Morrisons revelation that he took antidepressants is contained in chapter six, which is about anxiety, and covers his governments handling of the pandemic, the suicide of the brother of a childhood friend, the importance of R U OK? Day, his meeting with the Queen  while at the same time discussing how God set out a six-step plan for how humans should deal with their worries in St Paul the Apostles letter to the Philippians. In the interview and the book, Morrison declined to say which medication he had taken and said that while he had got through the first year of the pandemic in 2020, in 2021 thats when the pile-on really got under way. He writes that as the challenges of COVID-19, dealing with China and putting together the AUKUS deal grew, his anxiety got worse and when he finally saw a doctor, they were amazed I had lasted as long as I had before seeking help. Im pretty high functioning in those environments, and staff and colleagues will say the same. But when youre trying to do all that, while trying to land AUKUS, were dealing with the Chinese ... and then Ive got what started in February [2021, following Brittany Higgins rape allegations]  we had what was a pretty oppressive campaign of vilification going on daily and that was a pretty tough period, he told this masthead. Thats when the premiers, particularly [then-Queensland premier Annastacia] Palaszczuk started to amp up a bit. And COVID went into a different phase, 2020 was a pretty co-operative year, 2021 it changed. And Labor then, they did what was required.

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There is little discussion in the book of some of the key controversies of his prime ministership, including the vaccine rollout and his infamous its not a race comment, the controversial holiday to Hawaii during the 2019 bushfires, and Robo-debt, while his decision to swear himself into multiple ministries is handled in just a single sentence about continuity of government during the pandemic. But on the AUKUS deal, Morrison declares he had been happy to stand up to the French president who, he believed, thought I was just playing him on the contract and would have would have killed it [the deal] if given enough time and notice. It was a terrible failure of his intelligence service, by the way, which would be very embarrassing for him to admit. Macron, he added, underestimated me. Even on the submarines deal, Morrison said God played a part in guiding his decision-making because of the confidence that I gain from having a secure identity ... my faith gives me a sense of security and grounded-ness which means that I could take on things like that and be prepared to wear what came afterwards. I think people often misunderstood my faith thinking, Oh, hes a Christian, therefore he believes everythings gonna turn out for him. No, I dont. I just know however it turns out, Ill be fine. Win, lose or draw, Ill be fine.

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The French president had been clearly told that Naval Groups submarines were going to be of no use to us and were looking at other options and that included nuclear. In the book, Morrison refers to a WhatsApp chat group he participated in with friends who were pastors, reveals that in response to the negative impact of reaching for his smartphone every morning, he resolved to read his Bible app first every day before he grappled with the incoming reports, texts and emails he received as prime minister. In about 18 months, he had read the Bible cover-to-cover and the evangelical Christian prime minister, Australias first, ruminates on King Hezekiah and the Old Testament character of Daniel who braved the lions den and who had a job like a prime minister by providing advice to kings and how Daniel chose to stand firm for God rather than conform to the lifestyles and beliefs of the land he was now living in. Morrison discusses his fondness for praying out loud, noting that people should cry, shout, groan, scream  do whatever comes out of your heart because you are pleading for God to take this burden of worry away from you. While discussing his attempts with wife Jenny to conceive children through IVF sessions, he recalls walking through a forest on the outskirts of Wellington, New Zealand, in 1999 and screaming out loud Psalm 37:4  which is about trusting in God  to express his frustration at their failure to conceive. Loading If anyone was in earshot, they must have thought I was a mad man, he writes in the book. The couple conceived eight years later.

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He expressed hope it should make it possible to stabilise the situation and overtake the initiative. Our warriors on the front lines, as well as our cities and villages suffering from Russian terror, will feel it, he said. The support would bring a just end to this war closer, the war that Putin must lose. Ukrainian servicemen load Javelin anti-tank missiles onto military trucks. More are set to be delivered under the assistance package approved this week. Credit: AP The Pentagon, which had ample time to prepare, reportedly had an initial weapons package ready for deployment as soon as the funding was approved. The initial tranche may be worth as much as $US1 billion and include vehicles, artillery ammunition and air defence ammunition. The New York Times reported the Pentagon said it would include shoulder-fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles, 155-millimetre shells, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and cluster munitions.

Ukraine for the first time began using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday. The US is providing more of the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in the new military package, according to one official who was not authorised to comment and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. Biden said the process should have been easier, and should have gotten there sooner, but also: We rose to the moment  Now we need to move fast, and we are. Ukrainian cities have suffered as an ammunition shortage compromised the effectiveness of the nations air defence systems. Credit: AP While US aid was blocked in Congress by Republicans, Ukrainians have quite literally been digging in, creating new fortifications, many thousands of kilometres worth of trench systems, bunkers, and so-called dragons teeth  concrete obstacles that help stop the advance of tracked armoured vehicles. At the same time, Ukraine struggled to maintain eastern territory and in Kyivs military circles, the prospect of the front collapsing had not been ruled out.

In February, Ukrainian forces lost Avdiivka, a fortified frontline city in the Donetsk region, due to the lack of artillery shells and air defences to disrupt Russian ground attacks and glide bomb airstrikes. The capture of the city became Russias first major gain since conquering Bakhmut in May last year. Since then, Russia has managed to make gains in and around that area, including capturing the village of Ocheretyne, north-west of Avdiivka. In that advance, Russian forces gained eight kilometres of territory by exploiting a blunder by Ukrainian forces who left part of the front line unguarded during a rotation of troops. Two Russian soldiers in Avdiivka after Ukraines retreat from the town in February. Credit: AP Kyiv also needs to raise hundreds of thousands of men for its army, but the number of volunteers has dwindled and the government has recently adopted a new law to expand mobilisation, including for those abroad. A new full-blown Russian offensive is expected between May and July, Zelensky has predicted, while General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said he expected it in June.

Olga Tokariuk, a Chatham House Open Society University Network Academy Fellow in the Ukraine Forum, said the unstable model of Western aid had emboldened Russia to escalate the fight  perceiving Western hesitancy as weakness. She said it was naive to believe that the front line in Ukraine could remain stable without a steady flow of Western military assistance. Ukrainian soldiers with the 71st Jaeger Brigade fire a M101 howitzer at Russian positions on the front line, near the city of Avdiivka in Ukraines Donetsk region. Credit: AP Without a better plan for consistent aid delivery, sooner or later Ukraine will again find itself in a critical situation. However, US support should not be overly relied upon. Europe must act, too, using the time Ukraine has bought it to get serious about defence. Tokariuk said European countries must follow the significant new commitment from the US by urgently seeking to ramp up domestic ammunition production.

It must move faster with the delivery of 1 million artillery shells, promised long ago. And it must finally get serious about increasing military spending budgets. Announcing a new 500 million ($958 million) weapons package for Ukraine including long-range missiles this week  its biggest package since the February 2022 invasion  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said one of the central lessons of the war was that Europe needed deeper stockpiles of munitions and needed to be able to replenish them more quickly. Sunak repeated the US assessment that China was supporting Russias military in its biggest expansion since the Soviet era, while North Korea and Iran were also significantly contributing to the regeneration of the Kremlins military capability. Since the Cold War ended, the freedom of our Continent has been based on a simple idea: that it is for people to decide the fate of their countries, not foreign armies, Sunak said. Defending Ukraine against Russias brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border.

French President Emmanuel Macron also views Russias invasion of Ukraine as an existential threat to the Continent, warning that if Kyiv falls, other capitals could be next. Loading On Friday, he said Europe must strengthen its role in NATO by lifting spending to at least 2 per cent of GDP on its militaries. It also needed to take more initiative in defining a strategy for its collective defence. CIA Director William Burns said on Thursday that without the new US package, there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Russian President Vladimir Putin in a position to dictate terms of a political settlement. But some analysts also fear the new aid might prompt Russia to quickly stage attacks it might otherwise have waited to launch, knowing that action could soon become harder.
Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, precipitated by Hamas terrorist attack October 7, the United States has been leading efforts to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians.



At a press briefing, Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield said, The volume of assistance has increased dramatically over the course of the last several months:

Israel has taken significant steps in these last two, two and a half, weeks. Erez and an additional northern crossing are in the process of being made accessible for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. That was at our request. The so-called gate 96 crossing into the center of Gaza has been open now for several weeks and is being utilized by the UN to move assistance into Gaza.

"The Jordan channel as we refer to it  Jordanian trucks carrying assistance from the humanitarian hub near Amman directly into Gaza  has also been flowing, for now, through Kerem Shalom into Gaza, but in the near future directly from Jordan across the river, in via Israel to northern crossings and into Gaza for distribution.



Ambassador Satterfield said, Were going to have an increased volume within the predictable next few weeks moving in from land and sea ... There is still considerable work to be done, but progress has been made.



Progress has also been made in getting an effective communications mechanism that works in real time between humanitarian aid workers and IDF personnel. Too many humanitarian workers have been killed, deplored Ambassador Satterfield.



Ambassador Satterfield also shone a spotlight on Hamas: Since September 13, 1993, the Oslo Agreement, Hamas has had a choice, he said, to accept what we refer to as the Oslo principles:



To eschew the use of violence; to accept a negotiated, peaceful settlement to the Palestinian-Israel issue ... Hamas, for its own ideological and political reasons has chosen in favor of violence, threat, to pursue its ambitions. The greatest victims of this have been Palestinians themselves, not just the Israelis who were massacred on October 7th in that paroxysm of violence.



Ambassador Satterfield declared, Let us not lose sight, in our correct focus on the requirements incumbent upon Israel to assure all of those humanitarian steps, that the fundamental actor responsible for the suffering here is a terrorist group: Hamas.
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The recently released State Department Human Rights Reports are one way the United States demonstrates its commitment to these universal rights, said Ambassador Robert Gilchrist, Senior Bureau Official for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Even though our human rights are universal, they are far from universally respected, and the United States recognizes that standing up for these rights is often dangerous. Human rights defenders and civil society leaders around the world often work at great personal risk to improve the lives of all, he said. Members of these groups  and those who press for the protection of human rights  are often targeted with threats and harassment, arrest, and violence.

As we look to the future, one thing is clear, said Ambassador Gilchrist: U.S. global leadership in defense and support of human rights is as necessary as ever.

The Human Rights Report presents for each country a credible, carefully vetted report that provides the world with a clear window into the human rights conditions in every corner of the globe, including in Iran, explained Ambassador Gilchrist:

In 2023, Irans dismal human rights record continued to deteriorate. The regime increasingly targeted members of religious and ethnic minority groups, human rights lawyers, journalists, and civil society activists. ... [T]he situation with regard to women continued to deteriorate as well. Iranian women faced increased discrimination through expanded application of punishments against people who violated the mandatory dress code ... leading to protests and widespread acts of civil disobedience.

And many [Iranian] women and human rights activists received additional prison sentences for their activism, and they remain behind bars, said Ambassador Gilchrist.

The authorities continue to detain, sentence, and execute people in an effort to suppress the peaceful protests that began after the Mahsa Jina Aminis September 22 death while in custody of the morality police.

The State Department has imposed visa restrictions and economic sanctions to promote accountability for Iranian authorities human rights violations since the most recent crackdown following the 2022 riots.

By shining a light on the human rights conditions of our adversaries and our partners equally, said Ambassador Gilchrist, and by lifting up the selfless efforts of human rights defenders and civil society groups working to improve respect for those rights, the United States is helping contribute to a world where those rights are better protected for everyone.
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Eisberg refreshes core collection of alcohol-free wines

Alcohol-free wine brand Eisberg is updating its core collection. The original range of Eisberg wines will now unite under the Eisberg Signature banner.

The move differentiates the wines from Eisbergs premium range, Eisberg Selection, which was rolled out last year.

The updated Signature branding includes a refresh of the wine label to include the new collection name.

Dan Harwood, account manager, commented: At Eisberg, we're thrilled about the upcoming changes. The refreshed label on our beloved original range will give the brand a new perspective, showcasing our commitment to staying in tune with the evolving trends amongst the alcohol-free audience.

The brand is planning further expansions, including Eisberg Cans and Eisberg Spritz. Eisberg aims to provide more options for those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake. According to Harwood, The more alcohol-free options that are on the market, the more likely people will be to swap out one or two nights of drinking per week.

The six-strong Signature range includes alcohol-free Sparkling Blanc, Sparkling Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The updated bottles will roll out to stores across the UK including, Tesco, Nisa, Morrisons, and the Co-op, as well as online via Ocado.

For more information, visit eisberg.co.uk

In January, Portman Group released the first industry-wide guidelines on marketing alcohol alternatives in response to the growing market.

26 April 2024 - Lucy Schofield
William Grant & Sons names new managing director global travel retail

Drinks company William Grant & Sons has appointed Rufus Parkinson (pictured) as managing director global travel retail. Parkinson joined the company in 2023 as regional director of global travel retail for Europe, the Americas, India, and the Middle East.

Through his career in luxury consumer brands and retail, Parkinson has held roles at well-known companies including Moet Hennessy and Mars. In his new role, he will oversee global travel retail for William Grant & Sons as it builds its presence in the sector.

Parkinson commented: I am delighted to take on this key role and explore new ways in which to meet the evolving demands of travelling consumers  and our retail partners.

The resurgence of the luxury spirits segment within global travel retail offers so many exciting opportunities, and we will continue to push the boundaries of innovation in order to deliver memorable brand experiences, drive footfall, and uplift sales.

Parkinson takes over from previous managing director global travel retail David Wilson, who announced in January that he would step down from William Grant & Sons.

26 April 2024 - Lucy Schofield
China says talks on Tibet only with Dalai Lama's representatives; rules out dialogue on autonomy

By K J M Varma

Beijing, Apr 26 (PTI)

China on Friday said it will talk only with the representatives of the Dalai Lama and not the officials of the Tibetan government in exile based in India but ruled out dialogue on the highest Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader's long-pending demand for autonomy for his remote Himalayan homeland.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was reacting to reports of the back-channel talks between the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Chinese government when he said China regards the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala as a separatist bloc.

The so-called Xizang's government-in-exile is a completely separatist political bloc. It is totally against the Chinese Constitution and laws. It is illegal, Wang told a media briefing here. No country has recognised it.

On Thursday, Sikyong or the political head of Tibet's government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, told a visiting group of journalists in Dharamshala, India, We have had back-channel (engagement) since last year. But we have no immediate expectations from it. It has to be a long-term (one).

Insisting that the talks are very informal, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said, I have my interlocutor who deals with people in Beijing. Then there are other elements also trying to reach out to us.

According to Wang, the Chinese government has two basic principles for contacts with this (Dalai Lama's) group.

First, we will only have talks with the representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama instead of the so-called representatives of the so-called government-in-exile or the so-called administrative centre, Wang said.

Secondly, the topics for talks will be only for the arrangements and not for the so-called autonomy of Tibet, the main demand of the 88-year-old Dalai Lama.

They should have some self-introspection and refrain from all activities sabotaging the stability of Xizang and go back to the right way so that we can move towards the next step, Wang said without elaborating.

From 2002 to 2010, the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government held nine rounds of dialogue that did not produce any concrete outcome. The Tibetan side pitched for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people in line with the Dalai Lama's Middle-Way Policy.' No formal talks have been held since after 2010.

In Dharamshala, another senior Tibetan leader indicated that the back-channel talks are aimed at reviving the overall dialogue process as it is the only way out to resolve the Tibetan issue.

The 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and came to India where he set up the government-in-exile at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.
Collector asks schools to return fees increased in an unauthorised manner with interest to the parents





Staff Reporter

Collector Deepak Saxena reviewed the report of investigation team while chairing a meeting to discuss about arbitrary fee increased by the private schools in the district, on Thursday. The Collector asked the schools to return the fees increased without logical base in an unauthorised manner, with interest to the parents. The Collector said that many schools have increased fees in an arbitrary manner without any logical basis. Neither the competent officer nor the District Education Committee was informed about the fee hike. The officers concerned informed that one of the schools has unfairly recovered fee worth of Rs 1 crore 64 lakh following arbitrary fee increase.

Collector Saxena clarified that secretly increasing fee comes under the category of earning profit in an unfair manner and cheating, hence, as per rules, the school should be charged with fine and get the fees refunded to parents with interest. He also asked to file an FIR against the school management. The Collector said that an opening hearing of all the branches of St Aloysius and Stemfield School will be organised from 5 pm on April 30.

He appealed to all the parents concerned with these schools to send their complaints to the Collector or Additional Collector, based on which the district administration can hear the same. Even the parents should remain present during the open hearing and present their side. Hearing concerned with other private schools will also be organised in future and the parents will be informed separately. kAdditional Collector Misha Singh, District Education Officer, Ghanshyam Soni, Treasurer, Vinayaka Lakra and other officers were present in the review meeting.
DPK Wins S Korean Polls





By Kap Seol

SOUTH Koreas unpopular Conservative President, Yoon Suk-yeol, and his People Power Party (PPP) suffered a well-deserved defeat on April 10 when voters went to the polls to elect a new National Assembly. The governing party could only manage 108 out of the 300 seats. Yoon now looks set to be a lame-duck President for the remaining three years of his five-year term. The main Opposition was the Democratic Alliance, comprised of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and some smaller allies. They took 176 seats in total, with 169 going to DPK candidates. From a left-wing perspective, however, the most important thing to note about South Koreas latest election is that it confirms the established bipartisan hegemony of two rival pro-business parties. Those parties increasingly resemble each other not only in terms of politics and ideology but also in their routine corruption. The Korean left has been unable to challenge this hegemony and is losing ground. The Justice Party, running in alliance this time with the Greens, failed to win a single seat in the national legislature, having taken six in both 2016 and 2020. In 2020, the combined proportional vote score for the Justice and Green parties was almost 10 per cent; this time, they got a little over 2 per cent between them. Meanwhile, the Jinbo (Progressive) Party  a regrouping from the Unified Progressive Party, which the countrys highest court ordered to be dissolved in 2014 because of alleged links to North Korea  won three seats due to its alliance with the DPK.

In effect, this involved vote swaps between districts where neither party could defeat a conservative rival without the electoral base of the other. In contrast with the Justice Party, whose working-class base has eroded over the years, the Jinbo Party has a solid presence in the construction and platform labor sectors. However, quite apart from its controversial electoral alignment with a major pro-business party, the partys left-wing profile remains questionable. It has flirted with hostile sentiment toward migrant workers in these sectors while offering uncritical support for the North Korean national leadership, including its hereditary succession. Institutionally, both the Justice and Jinbo parties have roots in groups that broke away from the Korean Democratic Labour Party (KDLP), the countrys first mass left party since the Korean War of 195053. In 2004, when it elected ten members in the National Assembly with 13 per cent of the proportional vote, the KDLP appeared to be on a path to becoming a full-fledged social democratic party. This was happening in a wider context where the entire country seemed to be moving leftward, at least briefly.

There were nonviolent mass protests that thwarted conservative attempts to impeach a liberal president. The political reverberations of the first national strike by the independent Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in 199697 were still palpable. By the late 2000s, however, the KDLP was heading for a split. It proved to be a marriage of convenience, with one faction vaguely pursuing Western-style social democracy while the other staunchly adhered to nationalist, proNorth Korea views. The party broke up after bitter debates about whether to discipline members involved in a North Korean spy ring that profiled leaders of the party. The KDLP faced a dilemma about whether to expel these members for voluntarily providing sensitive party information to their North Korean handlers, as they were not convicted under an anti-espionage act but rather under the National Security Law that has been in force since the late 1940s. The party was torn between the need to retain its integrity as an organisation and the imperative of fighting this notorious piece of legislation, which has often been used to suppress political dissent under the pretext of North Korean threats. Neither of the groups that emerged from KDLP and became respective forerunners of the Justice and Jinbo Parties proved to be a formidable force against the two mainstream parties.

While the conservatives wanted to destroy these groups, the liberals aimed to siphon off their talent and support until they wilted away. In 2014, the conservative government of Park Geun-hye successfully petitioned the Constitutional Court to outlaw the Unified Progressive Party after the conviction of its leader under the National Security Law. Park was the daughter of former military strongman Park Chung-hee and was impeached for corruption two years later. Meanwhile, the Justice Party embraced identity politics and middle-class feminism only to experience a series of electoral setbacks, with talented young party cadres being drained away to the DPK. The Jinbo Party at least maintained some political relevance due to shrewd vote swaps with DPK and dedication of party stalwarts who spent years unionising and recruiting new members from the most disfranchised portions of the working class after the legal dissolution of the predecessor group.

Most of South Koreas citizens view a nuclear-armed, dictatorial but poverty-stricken North Korea as neither a military menace nor a socialist motherland but simply as a disturbing political and economic risk. In short, over the past four years, South Koreas legislature, where the DPK possessed a majority, was consumed by endless bipartisan squabbles and finger-wagging from the two main parties, which respectively aimed to keep the leader of the main Opposition party and the first lady out of jail. With a legislature populated by bipartisan loyalists and devoid of a left-wing voice, the next four years are likely to offer more of the same, punctuated by Chos and Lees attempts at impeachment of Yoon. The challenge of building a left alternative in South Korea is similar to that faced in so many other countries around the world. The crisis of democracy is the crisis of the Left. (IPA)
Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas





KARGIL,

IN A tribute to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a new selfie point was unveiled at Hombotingla Pass in Ladakh on April 24. This initiative, a joint effort by the Indian Army and the Tourism Department of Kargil, honours the valour and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War. With the resounding slogan I Love Indian Army, the site offers breathtaking views of Kargil Town and the Mighty Batalik Sector, serving as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the defence of the nation.

The inauguration of this selfie point serves as a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our soldiers and aims to promote tourism and patriotism in the region. Located amidst the majestic Zanskar ranges of Kargil, this selfie point will serve as a powerful symbol of unity and appreciation for the Indian Army. Featuring the hashtag #KVDRajatJayanti, the Selfie Point invites visitors to capture and share moments of reverence for the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers.

With panoramic views of the rugged terrain and the serene beauty of the surrounding landscapes, the selfie point offers a unique opportunity for tourists to immerse themselves in the rich history and natural splendour of the region. The inauguration ceremony, attended by veterans, school and college children, leaders and members of religious communities, was a poignant reminder of the courage and valour displayed by our armed forces during the Kargil war.

In addition to honouring our heroes, the selfie point also aims to promote tourism in Kargil and showcase the regions cultural heritage and hospitality.
INHERITANCE TAX





CONGRESS partys so-called mod and extremely westernised ideologue Mr. Sam Pitroda -- sitting in a foreign land -- has exposed the negative philosophy and policy of his party about what he may love to describe as socio-economic justice. Citing an American law of inheritance as demonstrating a correct approach to the issue, Mr. Sam Pitroda has said that he finds the law interesting since it allows control of only 45% of the inherited wealth to be handed over to the succeeding generations while the Government grabs the rest 55% of that inherited wealth. Countless people in the country, including Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, have termed the Pitroda statement as an affront to the Indian thought of legacy that travels down the generations. Possibly sensing that the issue may push it in deep trouble, the Congress party appears to have distanced itself from the Pitroda assertion and the antagonistic nationwide reaction to the statement. No matter that, the Congress party finds itself pushed to the wrong side of the divide on this issue -- a condition that it can hardly afford in the election period. True, Mr. Sam Pitroda tried his best to wriggle out of the jumble by stating that he did not mean what is being interpreted by others. Yet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the leading lights of the Modi Government are in no mood to miss the advantage of the situation and have stepped a strong campaign against the Congress party as anti-people.

The Prime Minister even asserted that the Congress party intended to snatch peoples genuine earnings and redistribute those with other have-nots. He also cited the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as saying that the first right on national resources is that of the Muslim community. The heat of this anti-Congress drive is being felt severely in the Congress camp. No matter its bravado, the Congress leadership finds itself on the wrong side of public opinion, and will have to undertake a lots of corrections to resurrect itself from a negative image. It must be admitted that the members of the larger Indian society are very touchy about inheritances. When a country is buying about 700 tonnes of gold every year, its members are not likely to listen to the crap some elements may dish out as a new social narrative. It is against this background that the common people are not going to accept even a hint of the Congress partys plan of carrying out a nationwide survey of peoples inherited wealth so that the have-nots in the society may be given an appropriate share of excess wealth from other people. The trouble with the Congress party is that in recent years, it has lost connect with the Indian thought-process in different fields. It is trying to follow an inexplicably anti-Indian agenda to pursue its political interests.

Those who understand politics in its fine nuances realise that the Congress party is following a strange agenda not because it cares for the people but mainly because it is playing into the hands of some anti-India forces operating from outside the country. Initially, the common people did not believe this theory. But with passage of time, common people, too, believe that the Congress party has changed in its core values. It may not be acceptable to sanity that an Indian political party can take such a stance. Yet, as facts shout themselves hoarse, the common people now tend to believe that the Congress party may be harbouring such a political agenda following a wrong brand of socio-economic justice. It is unfortunate that Indian politics is dogged by such controversies that should have had no business being there in the first place. That is the actual trouble with Indian political discourse -- particularly during election-time.
Powerful Explosion: at scrap warehouse near city sends shockwaves





Staff Reporter

A powerful explosion occurred in a scrap warehouse near Jabalpur Khajri-Khiria bypass on Thursday afternoon. The loud sound of the blast was heard around 5 kms away. Initially, people in the near-by areas thought it was an earthquake, but when they came out of their homes, they saw smoke billowing from the warehouse. Senior police officials and a team of Adhartal Police Station immediately reached the spot on receiving information about the incident. The fire brigade and ambulances were also called in. One body was recovered from the debris and efforts are underway to identify the deceased. Fragments of bombs were also found. Owner of the scrapyard Shamin Kabadi is currently absconding and police have detained two people. The explosion caused cracks in the walls of nearby houses. At around 12 noon, a severe explosion took place at Raza Metal Industry located near Khajri-Khiria bypass. The explosion was so intense that the entire warehouse collapsed. A large shed made of iron was also blown away and the extent of the damage to surrounding houses is still being assessed.

It is reported that Shamins scrap warehouse extends over an area of 20,000 square feet. It is used to store various damaged products, including LPG gas cylinders, oxygen cylinders and oil extracted from vehicles. Following the explosion, police and district administration swung into action and administrative officials reached the site. Preliminary investigations revealed that the terrible incident was not caused by a cylinder explosion but rather due to some other reason. Investigations are being conducted thoroughly. The Dog Squad, FSL and other teams visited and examined the scene to gather evidence. Taking a note of the severity of the situation, Collector Deepak Kumar Saxena, Municipal Commissioner Preeti Yadav and other senior officials also visited the site. The Collector informed that a major explosion had occurred, causing the roof of the warehouse to collapse and the walls of nearby houses to crack. Information about some casualties is being ascertained, but it is currently difficult to determine the exact number. Further investigations are on.

WAREHOUSE BELONGS TO A HISTORY-SHEETER: The warehouse belongs to a notorious criminal, history-sheeter Shamim Kabadi. A few months ago, police had taken action to demolish his illegally constructed luxurious house located near the bypass. It is suspected that the incident occurred due to a fire in the scrap material, such as bullet, bomb casings brought from defence installation or gas cylinders used for metal cutting. A team from FSL and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was also called to the scene for investigation.
Rajiv scrapped inheritance tax to save Indiras wealth from going to Govt: Modi





MORENA :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said then-PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax after his mother Indira Gandhis death in 1984 to save her wealth from going to the Government, and alleged the Congress now wants to bring back the levy. As the high-decibel canvassing for Lok Sabha polls sent political temperatures soaring, the BJPs star campaigner doubled down on his wealth redistribution and inheritance tax charge at the Congress and vowed to protect peoples from what he called the rival partys plans to loot the people of country. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradeshs Morena, where voting will take place on May 7, Modi escalated his attack on the Grand Old Party and accused it of cutting off the countrys hands by accepting Partition on the basis of religion. Modi said, then-PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax, a levy imposed on inherited movable and immovable assets, in 1985 after his mother Indira Gandhis death to save her wealth from going to the Government.

Listen with your ears wide open about the sins the Congress party has committed. I want to put forth an interesting fact. When sister Indira Gandhi passed away, there was a law by virtue of which half of the wealth used to go to the Government. There were talks then that Indiraji willed her wealth in her son Rajiv Gandhis name, Modi told the gathering. To save the money going to the government, the then-PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax, the BJP stalwart opined. If the main Opposition party comes to power, it will snatch more than half of peoples earnings through inheritance tax, the PM warned voters, latching onto controversial remarks on the issue made by US-based senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda. A day after MP Rahul Gandhis remark that those who call themselves deshbhakt (patriots) are scared of a caste census, Modi said the Congress wants to confiscate peoples jewellery and small savings by conducting an X-ray of their properties and valuables. An adviser to the opposition partys shehzada (referring to Rahul Gandhi) has now suggested imposition of an inheritance tax, he said, seizing on Pitrodas remarks. The Congress wants to bring back the inheritance tax now that after its four generations have reaped the benefit of the wealth passed on to them, he said. But the BJP will not allow such designs to succeed, the PM assured the crowd.

The wealth that you have accumulated by working hard and enduring hardships will be looted from you once a Congress-led government is formed, he said. Modi with his 56-inch chest is standing as a wall between you and the Congress plan to loot you. That is why Congress leaders and the Opposition abuse me so much, the PM said. He accused the Congress of accepting Partition of the country on religious lines. Instead of unshackling the hands of Maa Bharti, the Congress cut off her hands and divided the country, Modi alleged. The Congress wants to snatch reservation of SCs/STs/OBCs for the sake of its Muslim vote-bank and was bent on grabbing power with religious appeasement, the PM said. The Congress says Muslims have the first right on the countrys resources, while I say the poor have the first right on them, Modi emphasised. Describing himself as kaamdar (working class) and Rahul Gandhi as naamdar (dynast), the PM said, Nowadays, the shehzada (prince) of the Congress is enjoying abusing Modi. We are there to listen to the abuses from the naamdaars but I will continue serving the people and Maa Bharti. For years, the Congress did not allow the One Rank One Pension scheme for armed forces personnel, but we did it (implemented the scheme), the PM noted.
US safe country, cares deeply for well-being of Indian students: Ambassador Eric Garcetti





New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI)

United States is a safe country and it "cares deeply" for the well-being of Indian students, its Ambassador Eric Garcetti said here on Friday and assured their parents that "their children are our children" when they are in the US.

His comments during an interview to PTI at the American Center comes in the backdrop of reports of nearly half a dozen deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US since January.

While the US remains a preferred destination for higher studies among Indian students, the string of such cases has raised concern among the Indo-American community as well as the Indian population.

"We care so deeply for the well-being of Indian students in the US. We want parents to know that their children are our children when they are in United States. And, there is a wealth of resources that can help students prepare...In the US, whether it is mental health... And resources for that being far away for home, parents and families," he told PTI.

While lamenting these tragic deaths in the past few months, the American ambassador to India asserted that "US is a safe country".

Garcetti underlined that students studying abroad should familiarise themselves, have a network, trusted friends, and should know what to do if there is a dangerous situation, or if there is a mental health issue.

He said in a new country it could just be an issue of common sense public safety, and students might not know which neighbourhood to go to and not to go to and at what time of night, as also what resources are there.

The US envoy underlined that students going to study in the US should know that there are campus securities, local law enforcements, and that "all these things sometimes students just don't know, since it is a new country".

In the interview, Garcetti, a former mayor of Los Angeles, shared his own experience of personal safety when he was a student.

"When I was a student, I went to NYC in the 1980s, which was a pretty dangerous city then. But I sat down and listened to campus security, 'don't walk down here at night, don't go there. Here is a way to stay safe' and this is before cell-phones. Now, in 2024, we have so many more resources, than when I was a student," he said.

The envoy said American universities are "extraordinary places" to come to and offer overwhelming experience to students, including Indian students, and he wanted all students to have that rich experience.

"The United States is a safe country. And, there are a lot of resources to help students feel protected. But if they don't reach out, we might not know about the incidents, before it is too late," said Garcetti, who had arrived in India in early April last year after receiving the confirmation to the post from the US Senate in March 2023.

A pre-departure orientation programme was held at the American Center here for a group of Indian students who have been chosen for various academic programmes starting this fall at different universities, such as Purdue University, University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and University of Los Angeles.

Many students also joined the event online.

Garcetti briefly interacted with the students and asked them to make the best use of their time in the US and make good use of resources.

"America is a very safe country... And, we want to make sure you are completely safe," he told students.

In April, a 25-year-old Indian student who had been missing since last month was found dead in the US city of Cleveland. Uma Satya Sai Gadde died in Ohio this month and police are investigating the case.

Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5.

In the wake of such cases, Garcetti said the US wants to provide students and their parents with resources that can help students to stay safe such as websites, links to organisations, and ways to familiarise themselves. He urged students to adhere to campus safety briefings.

American universities attract a large number of Indian students, and last year, the US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas -- more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row.

"With a record number, we are going to see these tragic incidents statistically, whether it is in US, or whether it is in India, things happen to students. And, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said there is no evidence of any connection, there is no evidence of any targeting of Indian students. So, this is really about common sense and arming yourselves with knowledge of the resources and the best practices, so that you can have the best experience possible," Garcetti said in the interview.

"We see so many Indian students whose lives have been enriched, had such wonderful experiences. We want that to be the experience of 100 per cent of Indian students and that is our goal," he said.

Asked if steps have been taken by US authorities to ensure such incidents do not recur, Garcetti said, "Many things... We care about the well-being of all students in US, including American students".
KIRKLAND, Wash.  In a building tucked into tony Carillon Point, voices are low and candles are lit. The bathroom is equipped for whatever could go wrong: a stain, a stray hair, something stuck in your teeth. There is sleek wood, white walls and lots of glass, behind which staffersmen and women, but mostly womenlook up from their screens and smile.

This is Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company created by philanthropist Melinda Gates to attack the issues she has found most vexing. Paid leave for working families. Mental-health support. Closing the gender gap in tech. Providing venture capital to women-founded businesses.

But it is also a place where Gates can establish herself more fully, separate from her fame, her family and the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she established with her husband, the Microsoft co-founder, in 2000.

Gates, 54, calls this my house. She had just emerged from a pocket door in the back of a meeting room that was more like a living room, filled with white-leather couches and family photos, a few awards and a fire going. Just outside the door, a table was stacked with copies of her book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.

The bookwhich Gates has been promoting with, among other things, an onstage chat with Oprah Winfreyis a roundup of the things she has learned in 20 years of traveling for the foundation. Those trips, taken with her husband, her children, and alone, have been spent administering vaccines, carrying water, winning the trust of villagers in the developing world. And listening. Lots of listening.

What I tried to do was to take these womens stories that you just dont know youre going to be the beneficiary of when youre in the developing world, Gates said. When a woman opens her heart to you, and her home, and shares her life with you ... I wanted to put those stories down in the hopes that they would call other people to action.

The stories are contained in separate chapters focused on issues like maternal and newborn health, family planning, girls in school, unpaid work, women in the workplace. All the issues that Gates has lived and studied for two decades.

The books title comes from the space launches Gates watched growing up in Texas, the straight-A daughter of a NASA engineer: There was nothing more exciting than the moment when the engines ignited, the earth would rumble and shake and then the rockets started to rise, she said in a promotional video for the book. The moment of lift. The moment we broke through gravity. Thats what I want to see for women and girls around the world. I want to see the forces pulling us up overpower the forces pushing us down.

Because I believe when you lift up women, you lift up all of humanity. I believe that this is the moment. We are the lift.

Gates had been thinking about writing a book for four years. But it wasnt until the #MeToo movement caught fire that she saw this window, this opening in time to talk about the greatest frustrations in womens lives: Labor inequality, family planning, child care, income potential and the desire to be treated as equal partners. Respected.

I want to make sure that that window doesnt shut, she said. That its not open for a short time. That we actually make huge progress for women around the world. And so it is a bit of saying, This is what I have learned, and these are the places where we still need to go as a society for low-, middle- and high-income countries.

In telling these womens stories, though, Gates also tells her own. How she joined Microsoft after attending Duke, and at a company event, took one of the last two empty seats at a table. Her future husbandand bosstook the other.

She wrote about how she didnt want to move into that massive, state-of-the-art compound on Lake Washington that her husband had started building before they got married. ( ... I was wondering what people would think of me, because that house was not me.). How she felt alone in their marriage after the birth of their first child, Jenn.

He was beyond busy, she writes of her husband. Everyone wanted him, and I was thinking, OK, maybe he wanted to have kids in theory, but not in reality. We were not moving forward as a couple to try to figure out what our values were and how we were going to teach those to the kids. So I felt I had to figure out a lot of stuff on my own.

Her husband made her feel invisible, even on projects we worked on together. When a friend told her, Melinda, you married a man with a strong voice, it gave her perspectiveand the desire to find her own voice and seek a more equal partnership.

It worked, in big and small ways.

The first time the Gateses wrote an annual letter for their foundation, she wrote, we almost killed each other. Bill Gates started writing it without his wife, even though much of what it contained they had learned together.

It got hot, Melinda Gates wrote. We both got angry. It took a few yearshe writing one section, she anotherbut they now write the letter together.

Gates also writes of asking her husband to take over getting their three kids to school in the morning before workinadvertently launching a fleet of fathers, prodded by their observant wives, to follow suit. (If we ended up role modeling that one, hey, fantastic, right?) She also became a more public co-founder and co-chair of their foundation because we wanted people to know that it was both of us setting the strategy and doing the work, she wrote.

That work included visits to developing countries, where she walked with village women to stand under trees to talk about their finances. She prepared meals in tiny cooking huts, carried water, stood out in the dust doing dishes at 10 p.m. She learned what the approach of rain smells like on the plain. She also spoke with women about their struggles to feed their families and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The issue of birth control raised some conflicts with Gates Catholic upbringing, since the Catholic church teaches against contraceptives. But there is another church teaching, which is love of neighbor, Gates wrote. When a woman who wants her children to thrive asks me for contraception, her plea puts these two church teachings into conflict, and my conscience tells me to support the womans desire to keep her children alive. To me, that aligns with Christs teaching to love my neighbor.

Her time with these women taught her, humbled her, and enraged her.
Vice Chairwoman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Ngo Tan Phuong (7th from right) and the delegation work with the Governor of East Kazakhstan province. (Photo: bacninh.gov.vn)

He made his remarks on April 24 when leading a delegation to hold talks with Mr. Kosherbayev E.B., Governor of East Kazakhstan province.

According to Mr. Phuong, if the memorandum of understanding is signed, it will open up comprehensive cooperation on investment, trade, science and technology, cultural and social exchanges between the two provinces, contributing to promoting the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Kazakhstan.

He also shared the pain and loss of the people of East Kazakhstan province after the historic flood in early April this year and wished people in the affected areas to soon stabilize their lives.

The Governor of East Kazakhstan province thanked the Bac Ninh province delegation for the good feelings, and expressed good impressions of the country and people of Vietnam, especially the successful development of Vietnam in the reform process.

The Governor of East Kazakhstan province said that the government of East Kazakhstan province, as well as relevant Kazakh agencies, strongly support the establishment of twinned relations with Bac Ninh, considering this a positive lever to promote bilateral relations between localities of the two countries, in accordance with the wishes of the leaders and people of the two countries. He added he is looking forward to visiting Vietnam and the land of a thousand years of civilization, Bac Ninh, in the near future.

During their stay in East Kazakhstan province, Bac Ninh provinces delegation visited industrial and cultural facilities in East Kazakhstan province./.
Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee Vu Dai Thang (right) gives a gift to the Secretary and Governor of Salavan province. (Photo: NDO)

On April 23, in Dong Hoi city, Quang Binh province, high-level delegations of Quang Binh and Salavan provinces held talks and signed a memorandum of cooperation.

At the talks, the leaders of the two provinces' delegations informed each other about their respective socio-economic and defense-security situations, the building of Party and authority of each province; and proposed some cooperation areas between the two localities.

Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee Vu Dai Thang shared more information about the socio-economic, defense and security of Quang Binh province and assessed the relationship between Quang Binh and provinces of Laos.

In addition to the long-standing traditional relationship with the bordering provinces of Khammouane and Savannakhet, Quang Binh has expanded cooperative relations with the provinces of Champasak, Xaysomboun and Bolikhamxay.

In June 2023, Salavan province also organized a delegation led by the Deputy Governor to visit and work in Quang Binh province. Since 2022, each year Quang Binh province has given Vietnamese language training for two officials and specialized training for five students at different facilities.

In the spirit of the great friendship between the two Parties, the two States and the people of Vietnam and Laos, Quang Binh and Salavan provinces discussed and agreed to sign minutes on diverse contents.

Accordingly, every year, Quang Binh province supports Salavan province in training 10 Vietnamese language learning staff and specialized students at the province's training facilities.

Salavan province supports Quang Binh province to train a cadre or student to study the bachelor's degree program at the National University of Laos.

The two provinces actively promote cooperation in trade and tourism; and encourage and create conditions for businesses to invest in production and business in fields suitable to the potential and strengths of each province.

In the future, the two provinces will continue to promote dissemination and education of cadres and people, especially the youth generation, about the great friendship and special solidarity between the two Parties, the two States and people. The two provinces send messages of congratulations to each other on holidays, festivals and anniversaries of the two countries; and support each other when natural disasters or epidemics occur./.
Some days back, the Honourable minister in charge of Education in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Tahir Mamman, expressed concerns over the number of young people sitting for entrance examinations into Nigerian universities. In the words of the revered professor of law, "The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15, 16 years going in for the entrance examination. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.

We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about. This is the period when children migrate from controlled to uncontrolled environment; when they are in charge of their own affairs. But, if they are too young, they wont be able to manage properly. I think that is part of what we are seeing in the Universities today.

There is no gainsaying that the concern of the minister is genuine to the extent that it harps on the importance of leaner readiness in effective curriculum implementation. Without equivocation, learner readiness places serious emphasis on the necessity of maturation in stages of biological and mental development to enable the pupils or students cope with the level of classroom instruction. Curriculum implementation is a chain of intentional activities including classroom interactions; and all are aimed at achieving proper development of the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of the learners to make them functional members of the society.

Traditionally, maturation was assumed to come in a chronological order where the first in age matures first in time. This now moribund template was used to fix age-limits for the different tiers of our school system which includes primary, secondary and tertiary. In demonstration of their obvious conviction that maturation is attained by age, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, threw her weight behind the intention of the minister of education to reinvigorate the enforcement of the 18 years age-limit for university admissions in Nigeria. Speaking in support of the idea, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had this to say:

"We are in full support. It is the right thing. What the minister said is the correct thing. The issue of age benchmark is not a new thing. Its just that regulators have not been doing their work. In those days, you could not go to primary school if you were not six years old. Then you spend six years and finish at age 12; and then by the time you get to secondary school you spend six years and then you graduate by 18".

Prof. Osodeke, nay the Academic Staff Union of Universities, was right in the account of the historical background of the age-limit or benchmark for university education in Nigeria but their is more to the development of the education system of any given nation than history. This is enough to say that the blanket support given to the 18 years age-limit or benchmark for university admissions by Academic Staff Union of Universities without considerations for modern developments arising from the dynamics of the global society needs an urgent review. The age benchmark on university admissions, and even admissions into primary and secondary schools, belongs to the analog era. The entire globe, including Nigeria, has gone digital with factors that fasttrack the maturation of young people, animals and plants. Due to the impact of digitalisation, we have seen, in recent times, teenagers hold the fort in areas which used to be the exclusive preserves of the old. In countries like Israel, China, etc, the security, IT, industrial and economic sectors have been positively revolutionized with guaranteed sustainability by young people in those countries. ASUU should not put herself forward as a promoter of gerontocracy. The future of Nigerian whiz kids should not be sacrificed on the alter of age benchmark which the rest of the world has moved away from.

For the Nigeria Parents Forum which is noted in Nigeria for her interests in positive parenting, the policy of age benchmark for university admissions should be approached with a balanced mindset. According to Nigeria Parents Forum, "Nigeria Parents Forum is mindful of the importance of learner readiness in successful curriculum implementation and shall back the 18 years age limit with a caveat that the development of gifted children or children who have demonstrated capacity to cope should not be held back with the age-limit rule.

"Again, the drivers of the National Policy on Education should not single out university admission for age benchmark. If age benchmark has become very important in our education system, it should be set for admissions into primary and secondary schools.

"Above all, the ministry of education should do a comparative analysis of what is obtainable in the educational settings of other countries before teeing off the reinvention of this moribund policy. For instance, a few years back, a young boy passed the Nigerian universities examination but was denied admission because of his age. Universities in Ghana, UK, USA and other parts of the world offered the boy university admissions with mouth-watering scholarships. That was sufficient prove that capacity benchmark for university admissions is the global best practice. The forum would rather encourage the Honourable minister to tackle the infrastructural decay, dearth of instructors and other critical challenges facing the education sector in Nigeria.
Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director delivers the remarks at the event. (Photo: USAID)

It was first announced during President Joseph Bidens September 2023 visit to Vietnam that the United States would expand its persons with disabilities program into two new provinces, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau, bringing the total number of supported provinces to 10.

For years, the U.S. Government, through USAID, has been focusing our disabilities efforts in eight provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange in the southern and central parts of Vietnam, said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director, during remarks delivered at the event. Now, to answer the Government of Vietnams request to expand our partnership, we are launching support for persons with disabilities in the Mekong Delta starting with Bac Lieu this past March and with Ca Mau today.

USAID is launching its Disabilities Rights Enforcement, Coordination and Therapies project in Ca Mau. The USD1.2 million project supports the enforcement of disability laws, improvements in early childhood disability detection and the expansion of rehabilitation services and livelihoods for persons with disabilities in Ca Mau. The project is implemented by long-time USAID partner, Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH), and runs until October 2025. The project will provide direct assistance to more than 700 persons with disabilities in the province while training nearly 300 local service providers, including 30 rehabilitation professionals, to improve the quality of care provided to persons with disabilities.

USAID has worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Vietnam since 1991. U.S. assistance has addressed medical and social needs, improved disability policies, and reduced physical and social barriers. To date, the U.S. Government through USAID has contributed more than USD155 million in assistance to persons with disabilities in Vietnam. The two countries cooperation to overcome the legacies of war has been foundational for building trust, demonstrating our commitment and advancing the relationship between the United States and Vietnam to what is now a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./.
People have spoken, Manipur has voted Two phased polls

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Manipur has voted and while it is still not very clear whether repoll will be held in any of the polling stations where trouble erupted in Ukhrul district and at Karong AC in Senapati district during the second phase of the election on April 26, it is now clear that if Angomcha Bimol Akoijam was the candi-date to watch out in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency, in the Outer that man was Alfred Kangam Arthur, again of the Congress. Early days yet and while the line man to watch out for need not necessarily translate into votes, it is clear that the Congress is back in the reckoning of the people after a hiatus. Remains to be seen how the oldest political party in the country is able to maintain the tempo here and take it the full stretch when Manipur goes for her Assembly elections in the early part of 2027. The Parliamentary elections serving the interest of a political party, the Congress in this case, and it would be interesting to see how the saffron party is able to blunt the fresh energy that seems to have been injected into the Congress, which is the only Opposition party in the House of 60 with just five MLAs. As noted earlier here, early days yet, but it is good for democracy when the Opposition gets stronger and this is what many may read into the Congress of today, unlike 2019 when it lost the Inner and the Outer seats to the BJP and the NPF respectively. Again it should be acknowledged that it is the candidates who seem to have injected fresh blood in the Congress and far from the candidates riding on the shoulder of the party, it was the party riding on the wave generated by its candidates. In the Inner the Congress rode on the shoulder of its candidate, Bimol Akoijam who managed to fire the imagination of quite a number of voters, especially amongst the youth, while in the Outer its candidate Alfred Kangam Arthur presented a fresh face, a face that the voters could identify with. Whatever the outcome of the elections, the Congress is well placed to take off from here and work to get back into the consciousness of the people. How it goes about doing that remains to be seen, but it needs to study how two individuals have managed to create a new image of the party. It is this which the Congress should study and see how to take things from there. For starters the Congress may study how it can become a more effective Opposition party, especially on the floor of the Assembly, despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered.

The ongoing ethnic clash which has claimed over 200 lives, rendered thousands homeless with over 60,000 still surviving in the relief camps set up all over the State, many still missing and hundreds of houses being pulled down and levelled to the ground, was central to the election in the Inner seat. This reality too would have been central in places like Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, but in the Naga dominated districts such as Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, there are other issues which could have held sway. The people in the Outer have already tried and tested two MPs from the NPF and one wonders how much of an impact the NPF MPs had on the ongoing political dialogue between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India. This point is being brought up here, given that the NPF is a Naga centric political party and is widely believed to be keenly interested in the ongoing political dialogue. This issue no doubt could have been central in the Naga dominated districts and how the Congress candidate managed to sell his idea on the political dialogue would go an appreciable distance to influence the voters. To repeat a point already stressed here earlier, the 2024 Parliamentary election is perhaps the first such election to have evoked so much interest amongst the people. The reason is not far to seek and as stated many times earlier, the outcome of the election will to a certain extent reflect the peoples stand on how the BJP led Government at Imphal has dealt with the ongoing state of unrest and herein lies the biggest stake of the saffron party. The people have spoken, now let the EVMs do the talking, a talk which will come out on June 4.
At an IT class at a secondary school in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)

Answering a reporter's query about Vietnams response to the US's 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released on April 22, Hang said though the US Department of State's annual human rights report has reflected Vietnam's achievements and progress in protecting human rights, it is regrettable that it continued to make several unobjective assessments based on inaccurate information about the actual situation in Vietnam.

She said the fundamental rights and freedom of people are recognised in the Constitution of Vietnam, protected and promoted by specific legal documents and exercised in practice.

Vietnam did, is, and will continue to engage in frank, open and constructive discussions with the US on issues of differing views to enhance mutual understanding and thereby contribute more positively to the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, the spokeswoman said./.
An adolescent girl died of heat wave while she along with her friend was making reels in the Sonarpur area of South 24-Parganas district.

The incident happened at Radhagobinda Pally, under Sonarpur police station on Wednesday afternoon when mercury crossed 41 degrees Celsius on an average in most of the south Bengal districts.

According to local police sources, ignoring the heat wave sweeping across south Bengal Alpana Mondal along with her friend was making reels under scorching sun, near her residence around 2.30pm. She collapsed and fell on the ground. Her parents were not at home when the incident occurred.

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Local residents said she was rushed to a nearby Sonarpur rural hospital where she was declared dead by doctors.

Police have registered an unnatural death case and the body has been sent to the police morgue for post-mortem.

Bengal is reeling under severe heat wave with temperature crossing 40 degrees Celsius in many districts across the state.

Alipore Met office has sounded a red alert on heat wave for next four days in the several districts mainly in East and West Midnapore, West Burdwan, Bankura, Jhargram, North Dinajpur and Malda.

The Met office also predicted that the temperature might shoot up further by two to four notches in the next couple of days in Gangetic Bengal. There is also no possibility of rain in south Bengal.

Kolkata recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday afternoon, according to the weather office. The Met office said that this is the first time in the last 44 years since 1980 that the city recorded such a high temperature.

The temperature in Midnapore crossed the 42 degrees Celsius mark.
During a election campaign rally in support of her party candidate Debangshu Bhattacharya in Tamluk, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today unleashed a blistering critique of the Adhikari family, without once uttering their names. Speaking to a rapt crowd, Miss Banerjee delved into the tumultuous history between her and the Adhikari clan, tracing their interactions from the Nandigram movement to the present day.

Challenging the Opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, without mincing her words, Miss Banerjee declared from the heart of Adhikari territory: I stand here to challenge you, traitor. If you have the courage, release the four white papers. In a poignant recollection, Miss Banerjee recounted her harrowing experience in Nandigram, where she found herself isolated amidst chaos. When I went to Nandigram, there was no father and son that day, she lamented. I heard the sound of bombs all night, yet no one came to my aid. She vividly described the perilous situation, revealing how she sought refuge with Chitta Maiti, who provided her with shelter amidst the turmoil.

Miss Banerjee accused the Adhikari family of orchestrating treacherous schemes, including attempts to harm her physically. When the shooting erupted in Nandigram, CPI-M goons conspired to harm me, she asserted. But through the loyalty of individuals like Anisur, who is now incarcerated because of the gaddar (betrayal), I persevered. The chief minister also targeted former judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the BJP candidate in the constituency, condemning his actions and urging him to rectify his own misdeeds before casting aspersions on her. Before demanding my resignation, cleanse your own tarnished reputation, she said, addressing the former judge directly.

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Miss Banerjee outlined the alleged duplicity of the BJP candidate, highlighting his previous ties to the ruling party and his purported collusion with them. He sat on the judges bench while maintaining close ties with the BJP, she accused. Now, he seeks to represent the people, but his past deeds cannot be ignored. Turning her attention to the promises made by the BJP, Miss Banerjee admonished them for their failure to deliver on key pledges. They promised 15 lakhs and jobs for the unemployed, but instead, they betrayed the people, she said. They obstructed welfare schemes and deprived the needy of their rightful dues. As the rally drew to a close, Miss Banerjee reiterated her unwavering commitment to the people of West Bengal, vowing to combat treachery and uphold the principles of justice and integrity.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will address two election rallies in Asansol and Kulti on 27 April along with a road show in favour of Trinamul Congress Asansol Lok Sabha seat candidate Shatrughan Sinha.

Law minister Moloy Ghatak, chairman of AMC, Amarnath Chatterjee and other top TMC leaders inspected both the venues in Asansol and Kulti, today.

Moloy Ghatak said that on 27 April, TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee will addresses two rallies, at Milon Sangha ground in Ward 60 of Kulti and another in Ushagram High School ground in Asansol North.

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The Kulti meeting will start at 2pm and the Asansol meeting at around 5pm. The CM will also likely take part in a road show along with Shatrughan Sinha from Neamatpur to Gopalpur on GT Road.

All the meetings will be held when the mercury is at an all-time high and the party is keeping around 15,000 to 20,000 pouches and drinking water bottles in each of these venues.

We have come here for final inspection. Didi is coming here on Saturday and will address two election rallies which will further boost our party workers and we are keen to see what message she sends out for all of us on that day, added Moloy Ghatak.

Yesterday, Shatrughan Sinha filed his nomination papers along with Moloy Ghatak, Bidhan Upadhyay, Amarnath Chatterjee and other top leaders. Before filing nomination papers, wife Poonam Sinha had offered puja at Kalyaneswari Temple, near Asansol.

Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia of BJP has also filed his nomination papers at the office of district magistrate of West Burdwan at Asansol along with his wife yesterday.

CPM candidate Jahanara Khan has also filed her nomination papers on Wednesday. The election of Asansol Lok Sabha seat will be held on 13 May.

Plaint against CM for anti-judiciary remarks:

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday admitted a petition filed by CPM Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya seeking action against CM Mamata Banerjee for her alleged anti-judiciary remarks made in the past two days.

However, the Division Bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam maintained that although the plea has been admitted, whether the court will take any action in the matter will be decided by a separate Bench.

As administrative head of the high court, the Chief Justice will decide which Bench will hear the matter.
The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) fined a prominent diagnostic clinic in the southern part of the city Rs 3,00,000 on charge of negligence in performing colonoscopy investigation of a patient.

The WBCERC has directed the management of the clinic to pay the money to the patient as compensation in eight installments.

Subhra Dey took her husband, an employee of a Odisha-based private company, to the diagnostic centre for colonoscopy test, a couple of weeks ago. But the patient developed perforation, a severe complication with a relatively high mortality rate, during the procedure. The patient required emergency medical intervention.

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The patient lodged a complaint with the regulatory commission seeking its interventions.

As per the complaint, the diagnostic center didnt take any initiative for emergency medical care of the patient. The patient was rushed to the ESIC Medical College Hospital at Joka in an ambulance. He was discharged from the hospital, but still bed-ridden at his residence.

After hearing both sides, the complainant and diagnostic center, we found several negligence while performing the colonoscopy process. Perforation may develop during this procedure but the diagnostic couldnt take any initiative by making emergency medical arrangements like sending the patient to any government hospital, said Justice Asim Banerjee, chairman of the WBCERC, today.

The patient belongs to a poor middle class family and is still bed-ridden at his residence. He couldnt join the office in Odisha. He has one child and ailing parents who are dependent on him. We have asked the diagnostic center to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation in eight installments to the patient, Justice Banerjee, a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court told reporters today.
Ms. Tran Thi To Nga at the press conference on April 25. (Photo: VNA)

Nga said at a hybrid press conference on April 25 that Vietnam had more than 3 million AO/dioxin victims at the time she filed the lawsuit in May 2009; however, the impact of the toxic chemical has lingered for generations, even to the fourth generation, increasing the number to over 4 million.

Im fighting for not only myself, but also millions of victims in Vietnam and many other countries, Nga stated.

She said she always has the backbone to follow the lawsuit as this is a just and noble fight.

William Bourdon, one of the two lawyers who have given voluntary support to Nga and millions of Vietnamese victims since the start of the lawsuit, said that they will have to provide strong evidence convincing the Court of Appeal to reject the Crown Court of Evry citys irrational decision in favour of the multinationals that produced toxic herbicide causing unprecedented humanitarian, health and environmental disaster.

There are many legal arguments showing that the firms were not forced by the US Government but voluntarily joined the bidding and produced the poison, he said, expressing his optimism about the courts result.

William Bourdon (R) and Bertrand Repolt have supported Nga in her fight. (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, lawyer Bertrand Repolt said that Nga has garnered enthusiastic support from AO/dioxin victims as well as many associations and organisations, which give the lawyers strength to follow this legal fight.

At the press conference, many organisations voiced their solidarity with Nga. Collectif Vietnam Dioxine said it will organise a meeting to support Nga and AO/dioxin victims at the Republique Square in Paris on May 5. Meanwhile a charity party will be held on April 26 night to raise funds for Ngas lawsuit.

Tran To Nga, born in 1942, graduated from a Hanoi university in 1966 and became a war correspondent of the Liberation News Agency, now the Vietnam News Agency. She worked in some of the most heavily AO/Dioxin affected areas in southern Vietnam such as Cu Chi, Ben Cat and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, ultimately experiencing contamination effects herself. She suffered from five out of the 17 diseases, disorders, deformities, and malformations associated with dioxin exposure recognised by the US.

Among her three children, the first child died of heart defects and the second suffers from a blood disease.

In 2009, Nga appeared as a witness at the Court of Public Opinion in Paris, France against the US chemical companies.

On April 16, 2015, the Crown Court of Evry city in the suburb of Paris held the first hearing on the case, but since then, lawyers of the sued chemical companies tried every way to prolong the procedures.

On May 10, 2021, the Evry Crown Court rejected her lawsuit, saying it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, a ruling that disappointed the Vietnamese and international public.

However, Nga and her lawyers decided to file an appeal, and the struggle for justice for AO/dioxin victims is still underway.

From 1961-1971, US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides44 million litres of which were AO, containing nearly 370 kilograms of dioxinover southern Vietnam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the chemicals effects./.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday cautioned the public against Prepaid Payment Instruments issued by unauthorised entities.

Members of public are urged to exercise utmost caution while using websites/ applications, and parting with their money to any such unauthorised entity, the RBI said. Members of the public should verify and satisfy themselves that the website/ application used or the entity they are dealing with is authorised to carry out the activity it performs, it said.

The list of authorised payment system providers/ authorised payment system operators is displayed on RBI website at  https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=12043.

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The RBI has issued a red alert against TalkCharge Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a company having its registered office at Sohna Road, Sector 48, Gurgaon in Haryana which is issuing Prepaid Payment Instruments (Wallets) through its website and app without obtaining the required authorisation from RBI.

It has come to the notice of the Reserve Bank that the entity has issued a legal notice to its customers demanding the return of Cashback, failing which the matter will be reported to the RBI.

Thus, the entity has created an impression in the minds of its customers that demand for repayment of cashback amount is being made as per the directions of the RBI. The RBI clarified that it has only directed TalkCharge Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to refund the prepaid amount lying in the wallets, to the customers.

The entity was issued directions dated April 2, 2024, to stop issuance and operation of its Prepaid Payment Instruments or Wallets and refund the balances held in the wallets within 15 days, which was later extended on the entitys request to 45 days to May 17.
Stepping up his attack, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Friday accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of running on an arbitrary and unconstitutional system.

He also claimed that over 3,000 files relating to developmental and administrative measures are pending with the Chief Minister and ministers, leading to a standstill in both development and administration works.

Addressing a press conference, the Delhi BJP chief said, The Arvind Kejriwal government operates in an arbitrary and unconstitutional manner. It is often said that the Kejriwal government is more focused on propaganda than administration, a notion proven true by the revelation of over 3,000 pending files.

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Attacking Kejriwal, he said, Everyone knows that the Chief Minister has an authoritarian personality. He avoids taking responsibility for any department. The fact that 420 administrative files are pending with him shows how careless he is. Keeping so many files pending is a betrayal of the publics trust.

Sachdeva further said, The Kejriwal government is not only authoritarian and deceitful but also insensitive in nature. The Delhi government has left files relating to the implementation of the life-saving Ayushman Bharat scheme for the poor pending. Besides, it has also kept files relating to the reconstitution of the Senior Citizens Council and Womens Commission pending.

The extent to which the Kejriwal government is complicit in corruption and malpractice is evidenced by the fact that it has also kept files related to increasing the powers of Lokayukta and Deputy Lokayukta pending for two years, he alleged.

It is shameful that files related to Delhis water policy have been pending for 7 years. Similarly, the government has kept files related to the reorganisation of the Delhi Flood Control Board pending, Sachdeva said.

He also alleged that the government has left files related to development funds for villages in Delhi pending since 2018, and files related to the development of unauthorised colonies have been pending with ministers for more than two years.

Talking about the Yamuna, Sachdeva said, Cleaning the Yamuna in Delhi is a major issue for which STP construction is extremely necessary, but files related to STP construction by the Delhi Jal Board have been pending since 2015 and 2018.

He alleged that the Delhi government has also left files related to the welfare and education reforms of Delhi University teachers, as well as electricity reforms, sports, trade, and heritage protection, pending.
The Delhi Police arrested two men for allegedly assaulting and harassing a woman who is a native of Uganda, the police said on Friday.

Around midnight on Thursday, the police received a PCR call about an injured woman. When a police team reached the spot, a 27-year-old Uganada national was found injured.

The woman told the police that around 10.45 pm, while she walking near Phool Mandi at 100 Feet Road, Chhattarpur Pahari on the footpath, two men with a dog followed her. As she was scared of dogs, she tried to keep a distance. However, the boys allegedly grabbed her from behind and dragged her to the other side of the wall.

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Following the incident, an altercation took place and they robbed her purse containing Rs 800 in cash, and also took away a silver ring, and further, she alleged that the two also tore her clothes and hit her head with a stone before fleeing from the spot, the police said.

It was revealed that she resides in Chhatarpur, Mehrauli, New Delhi, and based on her statement, a case under relevant sections of the law was registered at the Mehrauli Police Station.

During the investigation, based on the CCTV footage and mounting local intelligence, both the accused were identified, and were apprehended from Satbari Village, New Delhi, the police said.

It was found that both were drug addicts and had robbed their victims.

They were found in a slightly intoxicated state at the time when they were apprehended, the police added.

The accused were identified as 24-year-old Kinnu and 26-year-old Rinku, and currently resided at a shanty in the Chattarpur Pahari area.

The police also said that accused Kinnu, who was a native of Farukhabad Uttar Pradesh was earlier arrested under section 107/151 CrPC in Mehrauli.
Ayushmann Khurrana, the suave and charismatic Indian actor, made waves at the prestigious TIME100 Gala held in New York City. Rubbing shoulders with global luminaries like the sensational Dua Lipa, acclaimed actor Dev Patel, Hollywood star Uma Thurman, and the iconic pop sensation Kylie Minogue, Ayushmann exuded charm and elegance.

Sharing glimpses of his star-studded encounter on Instagram, Ayushmann delighted his fans with a series of captivating pictures from the gala. Dressed impeccably in an all-black ensemble, he radiated confidence as he posed alongside Dua Lipa, Dev Patel, Uma Thurman, and Kylie Minogue, capturing moments that sparkled with glamour and camaraderie.

In one of the highlights, Ayushmann shared a heartwarming video of his interaction with Dua Lipa, showcasing the warmth and connection between two creative souls.

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Expressing his gratitude, Ayushmann penned, It is the @time of the disruptors! Honoured to be a part of the #TIME100 Gala this year and having met the most brilliant minds and artistes of our generation. The post instantly lit up with comments from fans and industry peers, showering him with praise and admiration for his remarkable achievement.

Among the chorus of accolades, Tahira Kashyap exclaimed, Amazingg, while Ali Fazal hailed Ayushmanns success with a hearty, Wow congrats bhai. Super super achievement!! Ektaa R Kapoor couldnt help but compliment Ayushmanns inner and outer beauty, calling him a Gorgeous man inside out.

Ayushmanns accolades extend beyond the glitz of the red carpet. TIME Magazine has honored him twice, notably with the TIME100 Impact Award in 2023, making him the sole Indian recipient, and earlier in 2020, recognizing him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

On the professional front, Ayushmann Khurrana has carved a niche for himself with stellar performances in films like Vicky Donor and Dream Girl. Renowned not just for his acting prowess but also for his musical talents, he has captivated audiences with hits like Pani Da Rang and Saadi Gali Aaja. Now, with a global record deal with Warner Music India and his latest collaboration Akh Da Taara, Ayushmann is set to enchant music lovers worldwide.

Fresh from the success of Dream Girl 2, Ayushmann Khurrana continues to shine as a multifaceted artist, leaving an indelible mark on both the silver screen and the music charts.
Actor Kiccha Sudeepa didnt miss his chance to make a difference as he joined the bustling crowds at a polling booth in Bengaluru, Karnataka, during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Sporting a laid-back white ensemble, he eagerly awaited his turn to mark his choice on the ballot.

After fulfilling his civic duty, Sudeepa emphasized the significance of voting, stressing that it symbolizes hope rather than a guaranteed fix for the countrys challenges. Speaking to ANI, he expressed his concern about the escalating issues in the nation and called upon citizens to scrutinize the leaders they are electing.

This isnt the first time Kiccha Sudeepa has ventured into the political arena. Last year, he threw his weight behind Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai during the intense campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka, a move that sparked controversy among opposition circles.

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In this phase of the elections, half of Karnatakas 28 Lok Sabha seats are up for grabs, with constituencies like Udupi Chikamagalur, Bangalore Rural, and Mandya among those in the fray. In the 2019 elections, the BJP dominated the state, clinching 25 seats out of 28, but this time, its sharing the spotlight with its alliance partner, the JDS, which is contesting in three constituencies.

Across the country, the electoral buzz is palpable as 88 seats in 13 states and Union Territories are in the spotlight during this second phase of polling. The first phase witnessed a commendable turnout of over 62 percent across 102 constituencies spread across 21 states and UTs, according to the Election Commission.

As the democratic juggernaut rolls on, eyes are now set on the upcoming third phase slated for May 7. With each voter casting their ballot, theyre not just marking an X but shaping the future trajectory of the nation. So, as the clock ticks and the ballots are cast, the nation waits with bated breath to see the outcome of this democratic spectacle.
In the vibrant town of Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, amidst the buzz of democracy in action, popular film actor and producer Tovino Thomas stepped into a polling booth to cast his vote.

Sporting a smile, Tovino Thomas, known for his roles in films like Minnal Murali, not only fulfilled his civic duty but also embodied his role as the state brand ambassador for the Election Commissions SWEEP program, aimed at enhancing voter education and participation.

The polling station at the Government Girls Higher Secondary school in Irinjalakkuda witnessed a steady stream of voters, reflecting the enthusiasm of the electorate. As the day progressed, Kerala recorded a commendable voter turnout of nearly 12 percent by 9 am, setting a positive tone for the democratic exercise.

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Across the state, different constituencies showcased varying levels of voter engagement. Alappuzha led the pack with over 13 percent turnout, while the political battleground of Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi seeks reelection, saw a turnout of nearly 13 percent. From the bustling streets of Thiruvananthapuram to the serene corners of Kottayam, voters turned out to make their voices heard.

The electoral landscape in Kerala is diverse, with 20 constituencies playing a crucial role in shaping the states political future. Among the key contests, the battle in Wayanad between Rahul Gandhi and his opponents adds an extra layer of intrigue to the electoral narrative.

Meanwhile, in Thrissur, K Muraleedharan of Congress vies against VS Sunil Kumar of CPI and the BJPs Suresh Gopi, showcasing the multi-cornered fight characteristic of Kerala politics. From Thiruvananthapuram to Attingal, seasoned politicians and fresh faces vie for electoral success, underscoring the democratic vibrancy of the state.

Beyond Keralas borders, polling unfolds across 13 states and Union Territories, marking the second phase of the mammoth Lok Sabha elections. With 88 constituencies up for grabs, voters across the nation participate in shaping the countrys political destiny.

As the electoral journey progresses, anticipation builds for the remaining phases, culminating in the declaration of results on June 4. With each phase, India reaffirms its commitment to democracy, setting an example for the world to witness and admire.
Voting for second phase of Lok Sabha elections in 8 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh commenced at 7 AM at a slow pace with just 11.67 per cent of the total electorate exercising their franchise in the first two hours on Friday.

Even after several efforts, the poll percentage in the early hours did not show any improvement and rather dipped by one per cent compared to the first phase polls on April 19 in 8 seats, when 12.66 per cent of voters had voted in the first 2 hours.

There were reports of malfunctioning of EVMs at several booths at the start but machines were either rectified or replaced by the authorities immediately.

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Queues were witnessed in several booths of Mathura ,Noida , Ghaziabad and Meerut constituencies since early morning.

ECI officials here said the polling was underway in a peaceful note in all the 8 constituencies.

The report said Amroha constituency polled 14.32 per cent till 9AM followed by 12.28 per cent in Meerut, 11 per cent in Baghpat, 10.67 per cent in Ghaziabad, 11.57 per cent in Gautam Buddha Nagar, 11.99 per cent in Bulandshahr , 12.20 per cent in Aligarh and 10.09 per cent in Mathura.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to the voters to vote.

My humble request to the voters of all the seats in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections today to vote in record numbers. The more voting, the stronger our democracy will be. I have a special appeal to our young voters as well as the women power of the country that they should come forward enthusiastically to cast their votes. Your vote is your voice! PM said in his appeal.

Similarly, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in his appeal said In todays second phase of Lok Sabha Elections-2024, there is an appeal to the respected voters to vote for Secure and Developed India.

Your every vote is decisive in creating a golden future for the country. First voting, then
The newly carved out Shri Mata Vaishnodevi assembly segment of Jammu Lok Sabha seat on Friday recorded the highest voting percentage of 74.65 till 5pm as polling for the constituency was held in the second phase of the election in Jammu and Kashmir.

Polling was scheduled to continue till 6 pm but long queues of voters were still there outside the booths. The constituency recorded 67.22 per cent voting till 5 pm and the final figure was expected later in the evening.

The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi assembly segment was carved out in the recent delimitation of seats in J&K. This was followed by 74.03% polling in the border segment of Akhnoor. The other segments bordering Pakistan, Suchetgarh, RS Pura and Marh recorded 63.49, 62.31 and 73 percent polling respectively. Jammu West had the lowest polling percentage of 58.7 till 5 pm.

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BJPs sitting MP Jugal Kishore Sharma is aiming to make a hat-trick as he won the seat in 2014 and again in 2019. Congress has fielded its working president Raman Bhalla against him.

The constituency witnessed brisk polling as soon as voting began at 7 am. Long queues of men and women were seen outside polling booths across the constituency with 18 assembly segments.

The Jammu Lok Sabha constituency had recorded 72.16 per cent polling in 2019 and 67.8 per cent in 2014.

Elderly persons and first time voters came out in large numbers to exercise their right of franchise. Sunderbani in the Rajouri district witnessed an enthusiastic elderly voter, Dhanni Ram of 103 years cast his vote.

In Reasi an 102-year-old Haji Karam Din casts his vote showcasing age is no barrier to civic duty. Rawel Singh of 98 years and his wife Harbans Kour of 90 years of village Govindgarh in Ramgarh border area exercised their democratic right. An 86 years old Raj Dulari made sure to bring along her entire family to vote at a polling station in Peer Mitha of the Jammu city.

The commencement of polling in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu Constituency began with enthusiasm, especially among the new voters.

The Election Commission had put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The polling began at 7 am in all 2416 polling stations across the constituency.

In a first of its kind move towards inclusivity and environmental consciousness, the Election Commission of India (ECI) established 109 remarkable polling stations of different categories for voters in Jammu Parliamentary Constituency (PC) which went for polling today in the second phase of General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024.

These innovative polling stations viz; women manned, youth manned, PwD manned, Green Polling Stations, Border Polling Stations and Unique Polling Stations were designed to cater specifically to women, youth, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), promote eco-friendly practices and cater to voters of different kind in the region.

The polling stations were established under specific themes in all four districts of Jammu Parliamentary Constituency.
Launching a scathing attack against the Congress and INDIA bloc, BJP National President J. P. Nadda on Friday said the oppositions hidden agenda is to snatch the rights of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other backward classes and give them to Muslims.

Appeasement politics of the opposition is evident in the Congress Manifesto, the BJP president said.

He said, BJP does not want Muslims to be neglected, but they should not take undue advantage at the expense of other communities.

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The Congress says that Muslims have the first right to the countrys resources, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that they belong to the poor, he added.

In December 2006, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs remark on Muslims having the first right to the countrys resources was not inadvertent. It was as an intentional statement as during a press conference in April 2009, while replying to a question in Mumbai, Manmohan Singh once again justified and reiterated his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority, and they should have first right to the countrys resources, he said.

Claiming misrepresentations in Sachar Committees report, he said the condition of Muslims has been portrayed as even worse than Dalits in it, which means that Congress had already laid the groundwork for declaring Muslims as Scheduled Castes to give them the benefits of SC reservation, he said.

The BJP National President alleged that the Congress has stated in its manifesto that there is no place for majoritarianism in the country, which means that they have extreme hatred towards the SCs, STs, and OBCs because the majority population in the country belongs to these poor classes.

The Congress has a long-standing habit of robbing their (poor classes) rights, he said, adding that Jawaharlal Nehru always stood by Muslims.

The BJP National President targeted the Congress, citing several steps taken by the previous Congress governments at the Centre and in the incumbent government led by the grand old party in various states for appeasement politics.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that the inheritance tax, if imposed, will nullify the progress India has made in the last 10 years.

Speaking to news agency ANI after casting her vote in Bengaluru, the finance minister criticised the Congress party for allegedly advocating the inheritance tax.

I remember earlier in 1968 there was a compulsory deposit scheme where peoples deposits were all 18 per cent, 20 per cent. Something was taken away. There was no justification given at that time If such wealth creators are going to be punished purely because they have some money kept behind, Indias progress in the last ten years would just go for a zero. And well probably be going back to that era when Congress imposed a 90 per cent tax. Youll probably not believe that the current generation, wouldnt even remember or know anything about it. There was India where under the Congress rule we paid 90% of all that was earned by us as tax. Thats the socialist model which the Congress party is comfortable with, she said.

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Sitharaman said that the inheritance tax, if imposed in the country, will directly impact the middle class and aspirational class.

It (the inheritance tax) directly hits the middle class. It directly hits the aspirational class. They work hard, sweat and toil of theirs are saved in small savings here and there, or they buy a house, a dream house, and keep some fixed deposits. All this is going to be exposed to the so-called property tax, she told ANI.

Her remarks came after Indian Overseas Congress president Sam Pitrodas allegedly called for a debate on the inheritance tax.

The Congress party, however, distanced itself from Pitrodas remarks, terming them his personals views. After the controversy over his remarks, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh clarified that his views dont reflect the partys position on the issue.
At the working session (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

At the meeting with the delegation, Deputy Governor of Malanje province Dr Franco Cazembe Mufinda introduced the economic and cultural situation of the province, expressed his desire to receive investment projects in all fields of Vietnamese enterprises, and committed to apply the highest preferential measures of the province.

Ambassador Duong Chinh Chuc agreed to promote cooperation and asked the authorities of Malanje province to continue to pay attention and support the Vietnamese community in Malanje province to have a stable, safe life and good business.

During the meeting with the Vietnamese community in Malanje province, Ambassador Chuc thanked the overseas Vietnamese community in Malanje for their support for the embassy's work, listened to and recorded their opinions and wishes, and committed that the embassy will always accompany and support the Vietnamese community in Angola and in Malanje, emphasizing the importance of establishing Vietnamese associations in localities.

On behalf of the community, Mr. Tran Huu Que affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese community in Malanje is always united, mutually supportive, looking towards the homeland, and supports the guidelines and policies of Vietnams Party and State.

On the occasion of the visit, the Ambassador and the delegation visited the province's Nursing Center and together with representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community in Malanje presented gifts to the Center./.
Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway in 88 constituencies across 13 States and union territories. The voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.

According to Election Commission of India data, 25 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours in the second phase of Lok sabha elections.

Tripura recorded the highest voter turnout of 36.42 per cent, followed by 35.47 per cent in Chhattisgarh, 33.22 per cent in Manipur and 31.25 per cent in West Bengal.

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Maharashtra recorded the lowest turnout at 18.8 per cent. Uttar Pradesh (24.31 per cent), Bihar (21.68 per cent) and Karnataka (22.31 per cent) also saw low voter turnout in the first four hours.

The voter turnout in Kerala was recorded at 25.61 per cent, Assam 27.43 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 28.15 per cent Rajasthan 26.84 per cent and Jammu and Kashmir 26.61 per cent.

More than 1,200 candidates, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar, and Bollywood actress Hema Malini, are in the fray for the 88 seats.

The polls are being held in all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

The second phase of polling was to be held on 89 seats but the voting has been deferred to May 7 in Betul in Madhya Pradesh due to the death of the BSP candidate.

Of these 89 seats, the BJP-led NDA had won 56 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while the Congress-led UPA, 24.Counting will take place on June 4 and the results are also likely to be declared on the same day.
After BJP leader Sobha Surendran made a serious revelation against CPI-M leader and LDF convener EP Jayarajan, BJPs Kerala President K Surendran claimed that more leaders would join the BJP after June 4 and that there would be unexpected names in the list.

Speaking to media persons in Kalpetta, Surendran said negotiations are underway with many unsatisfied leaders on both fronts, the UDF and the LDF regarding their entry into the BJP.

Surendran made a serious revelation against CPI-M leader and LDF convener EP Jayarajan.

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Shobha Surendran revealed that EP Jayarajan had held discussions with her and other party leaders on joining the BJP.

Negotiations regarding Jayarajans entry into the BJP had been almost completed, she said and added that Chief Minister Vijayan is aware why Jayarajan has withdrawn from his attempt to join the saffron party.

Sobha also said the flight tickets for her journey were sent to her by Dallal Nandakumar. She also produced the copy of Kochi-Coimbatore and Coimbatore-Delhi flight ticket, said to have been sent by Nandakumar to her.

Responding to the allegation against Jayarajan, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said people will understand the false propaganda against LDF.

Speaking to media persons in Kannur on Friday, CM Vijayan said there was nothing scandalous in EPJayarajan meeting BJP leader Prakash Javadekar or any other rival politician. But it should not have been in the presence of a dubious middleman whose sole concern was making money by hook or crook, he said.

He said Jayarajan is a victim of an election-eve plot to discredit the LDF and the CPI-M. Lots of money and few mediapersons are involved in it. The party viewed the matter seriously, Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Everyone knows Jayarajans nature. He maintains friendship with everyone. But there is an old saying: If Lord Shiva joins a sinner, he would also become a sinner, he added

Earlier, EP Jayarajan on Friday told reporters in Kannur that he had briefly met Prakash Javadekar, the BJP Kerala in-charge, at his sons flat in Thiruvananthapuram.
Raging forest fires have engulfed more than 650 hectares land in Uttarakhand in less than a month. Though no loss of life has been reported so far, officials say with the rise in mercury level the blaze is going out of control.

Till Thursday, around 550 incidents of forest fire were reported in the state. Strangely, less than 10 hectares of forest cover was reported under fire in the first week of April.

Even as the wildfire is rising with each passing hour state forest officials are clueless on dealing with the crisis. Senior officials in the department informed that although there has not been any loss of life or public property, nearly 15 lakh forest wealth has been lost. Serious efforts are needed to deal with the situation before it goes out of hand.

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Almost half of the affected forest, more than 370 hectares, is in the Kumaon region while around 234 hectares of forest are burning in Garhwal. Nearly, 52 hectares of the affected area is part of rich wildlife presence.

A senior forest official, on the condition of anonymity, said the situation may turn worse similar to what happened in 2016 when late president Pranab Mukherjee had to make a statement.

The 2016 forest fire in Uttarakhand hills was so huge that choppers were to be deployed to airdrop water. Even that was of not of much use. All remedial measures were delayed leading to loss of massive forest wealth, public properties and several human and wild lives. We have to act fast now, he said.

Interestingly, so far the state Forest Department is dependent on mere Jhap (dousing fire manually). In addition to these, local officials are holding public awareness campaigns and harping on legal action against those found involved igniting fires inside forest areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed the department officials to take all necessary action to mitigate forest fires in across and keep strict vigil over human actions responsible for blazes. He asked senior officials to assign the officials their duties to deal with the crisis at the earliest. Similar directions were given by the chief secretary Radha Raturi as well.

Principal Secretary, Forest RK Sudhanshu, informed that instructions have given for strict action against the miscreants who ignite fire in the forest. No sooner than a tipoff on forest fire is received officials are rushed to the spot and reports are being sought from them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the Supreme Courts rejection of petitions against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections was a strong slap on parties like the Congress which for decades deprived the poor, dalits and OBCs of their voting rights by loot of polling booths and ballot papers.

Addressing a BJP election rally in Araria, Bihar, Mr Modi attacked the Congress Party on the reservation issue also, and said after the OBCs, the Congress could target the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to take a part of their reservation benefit and give it to its favourite vote bank of Muslims.

The Congress, Mr. Modi said was persisting with its policy of giving reservation on the basis of religion, in spite of the fact it was prohibited by the Constitution, and Supreme Court had given a ruling against it.

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He said an old video of Congress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had come out on Friday and exposed the partys policy and belief that the first claim on the nations resources was of the Muslims. The exposure of the video had made silent all those questioning his earlier reference to the Congress policy, he said.

For its vote bank politics, the Congress Party discriminated against the Hindus, and its thinking is now exposed, the Prime Minister said. This time also, the Muslim League-inspired election manifesto of the Congress shows that for grabbing power, it can even go against the Constitution.

The Congress wants to implement its Karnataka model of giving reservation to the Muslims, all over the country, he said. As per this model, the Congress will take a part of the 27 per cent quota of the OBCs, and give it to the Muslims.

For this, the party played a trick, he said. Just one night, the Congress government in Karnataka brought all castes of Muslims, whether rich or well placed, under the OBC category and passed on a sizable part of the OBCs reservation quota to the Muslims.

This was just a dacoity on the rights of the OBCs, he said. Now the Congress wants to do it in Bihar, and the RJD is fully supporting the party. The RJD has not spoken a word about this sin of the Congress, Mr Modi said.

Will you allow this loot of the OBCs reservation, will you allow a dacoity on the OBCs right, will you let your right go. Today, they are targeting the OBCs; tomorrow the Congress and the RJD can do this with the SCs and the STs, he said.

I want to alert you on this. These parties are so deep in the mud of appeasement, that the Constitution or Ambedkars views do not matter for them, he said.

He said Congress PM Manmohan Singhs Cabinet in 2011 had cleared a proposal to take the OBCs quota, and give it to the partys vote bank on the basis of religion. At that time, a vigilant Supreme Court had stopped it from being implemented.

In his belief, he said, the first claim on the nations resources was of the poor, the toiling workers, farm labour and women living in poverty, irrespective of the religion they belonged to.

The prime minister said the RJD-Congress INDI alliance neither cares for the countrys Constitution nor democracy. People in Bihar have seen it how during the RJD-Congress rule, the ballot papers were looted, the poor were not even allowed to come out of their homes to cast votes. The Dalits and backward classes people were threatened by lathis not to dare leaving their homes.

The EVMs had come as a big relief to the poor and honest voters, he said, but the powerful parties which used to loot the booths on the polling days, and swell the number of their votes by unfair means, were unable to accept this. They kept trying to get the EVMs scrapped by committing the sin of creating doubts in the minds of people.

Now, these people have got a big slap in the Supreme Court ruling and they will not be able to show their faces chins up. Today is an auspicious day, a day of victory for democracy, the Prime Minister said. He said all INDI alliance leaders should apologise to people for their acts.

The prime minister said the Congress-RJD alliance had made lives of people in Bihar miserable. The RJD took lands of the poor for jobs. If somebody was well-off, there could be abductions. This was the kind of life during their jungle raj. With great labour, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP and NDA partners worked hard to lift Bihar out of that jungle raj, he said.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Election Commission of India on a plea by motivational speaker Shiv Khera, seeking the framing of rules to the effect that that NOTA be treated as a fictional candidate and in case NOTA gets majority of votes in a constituency, then election in this constituency be declared null and void and re-election ordered.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud issued the notice to the poll panel.

Shiv Khera has also sought the framing of rules to debar a candidate getting less votes than polled by the fictional NOTA candidate ,from contesting any election for five-years and to ensure proper and efficient reporting/publicity of NOTA as a Fictional Candidate.

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Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for Shiv Khera told the court about the current situation in the Surat Lok Sabha election. In Surat, since there was no other candidate, all the voters had to go for only one candidate.

In November 2013, the Election Commission had introduced an option in the EVMs stating none of the above (NOTA) candidates at the central level including in local body elections.

The petitioner has said that the most significant change brought in the form of NOTA was seen in Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi and Puducherry.

The respective State Election Commission (SEC) declared that if NOTA emerged as the winner in any election, there would be a mandatory re-poll. This was the first significant change in the electoral system since the inception of NOTA. The notification put forward by the respective State Election Commissions fields NOTA as a fictional candidate and categorically holds that declaring the second highest candidate as winner (in case NOTA gets the highest votes), violates the underlying principle and object of NOTA, says the petition.

The petition further states that since 2013, the implementation of NOTA has not fulfilled the very purpose that it was supposed to achieve.

The same can only be done if the Election Commission gives teeth to NOTA just as done in Maharashtra, Delhi, Puducherry and Haryana, the petitioner urged the court.

The option of NOTA in the Electronic Voting Machines is the result of the right to reject possessed by the voter in our electoral system and before India, 13 other countries adopted negative voting or the right to reject, the plea said.

The Election Commission has failed to regard NOTA as a valid candidate. which in a democratic form of governance is essential since NOTA, is not merely a citizen NOT voting but is actually a valid selection, the petition has said. It further states that it can be summarised that while the top Court had an idealistic approach in adopting NOTA in the electoral system, the State Election Commissions utilizing their power under the Constitution have turned that idealistic thought into reality. What has begun from the Panchayat and Municipal polls in 4 states should be implemented uniformly at all levels, states the petition.

the idea and purpose of NOTA is to put pressure on political parties to put up better candidates. There continue to be instances when almost all candidates in a constituency have had pending criminal cases. What does a voter do? NOTA is a potent weapon in the hands of the voter, states the petition.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Friday that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country is a guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it would be fulfilled at any cost.

Addressing an election rally at Piprai in the Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh, the Home Minister accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party of trying to advocate personal laws. He stated that the BJP would never let the wicked schemes of the Congress fructify.

Shah told the large gathering that regardless of Rahul Gandhi and the Congresss attempts to pursue politics of appeasement for their vote bank, the BJP stands firm in the way of their evil designs.

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He criticised Rahul for declining the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya on 22 January this year.

The Home Minister claimed that the Modi government has successfully crushed the challenges of Naxalism and terrorism in the country. He pointed out that the problem of Naxalism has been resolved in Madhya Pradesh.

Referring to the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir, the Home Minister highlighted how Congress and Rahul Gandhi had raised apprehensions that rivers of blood would flow if that happened. Shah said that contrary to these fears, not even a single stone has been hurled after the decision, let aside the rivers of blood.

Ashoknagar falls within the Guna Lok Sabha constituency, where Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is the BJP candidate. Voting in Guna will take place in the third phase on 7 May.
As voters head to polling booths in half of Karnatakas 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the second phase of the general election today, the political landscape of the state stands as testament to the intricacies of caste dynamics and shifting alliances. In Karnataka, where politics is often painted with the colours of caste, the dominance of Vokkaligas and Lingayats has long been a defining feature.

However, as the state gears up for yet another electoral showdown, it is evident that the mosaic of caste politics may be slowly changing. The recent ticket distribution patterns by major political parties highlight a nuanced approach to appease different caste groups. While the BJP and Congress have traditionally favoured Vokkaligas and Lingayats, there is a growing awareness of the need to address the concerns of other communities, such as Muslims and Scheduled Castes. The influence of prominent leaders within these caste groups cannot be overstated.

Figures like B.S. Yediyurappa and D.K. Shivakumar wield significant sway over their respective communities, often determining electoral outcomes. However, as newer leaders emerge and old alliances shift, the balance of power may be tilting in unexpected directions. The BJPs decision to replace Mr Yediyurappa with Mr Basavaraj Bommai as chief minister before last years assembly elections ~ which the party lost ~ raised eyebrows, particularly within the Lingayat community.

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Yet, the partys strategic move to retain Lingayat support demonstrates a keen understanding of caste dynamics and the importance of maintaining traditional voter bases. Similarly, the Congress revival of AHINDA politics under chief minister Siddaramaiah signals a renewed focus on mobilising minorities, backward classes, and Dalits. By positioning itself as a champion of marginalised communities, the party hopes to broaden its appeal beyond traditional strongholds. Yet, amidst these intricate caste calculations, one cannot overlook the role of regional factors. Coastal Karnataka has emerged as a BJP bastion, thanks to support from communities like Bunts and Billavas. In contrast, the Old Mysore region remains a stronghold of the JD(S), largely due to the support of Vokkaligas. The BJP-JD(S) alliance presents a formidable coalition, leveraging the support of Lingayats in the north and Vokkaligas in the south.

However, the Congress efforts to forge a broad-based coalition of caste groups could prove to be a game-changer. Ultimately, the evolving caste dynamics in Karnatakas politics defy simplistic narratives. As voters cast their ballots, they do so against a backdrop of complex alliances, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present influence of caste. Only time will tell how these dynamics shape the outcome of the election and the future of Karnatakas political landscape. Amid the cacophony of caste politics, it is imperative to remember that true progress lies in transcending these divisions. While acknowledging the importance of caste in shaping identities and political allegiances, it is essential for leaders and voters alike to prioritise issues of governance, development, and social justice.
The recent Parliamentary elections in the Maldives have sent ripples across the Indian Ocean, signalling a potential recalibration of diplomatic ties in the region. President Mohamed Muizzus Peoples National Congress (PNC) securing a landslide victory, capturing 71 out of 93 seats, underscores the shifting sands of geopolitical influence in this picturesque archipelago. For years, the Maldives has been a key ally of India, sharing cultural, historical, and strategic bonds.

However, Mr Muizzus ascent to power last year marked a departure from the traditional India First policy, raising concerns in New Delhi about the future trajectory of bilateral relations. The election results, with Mr Muizzus party now holding a commanding majority in Parliament apart from the presidency, amplify these concerns and hint at a potential pivot towards China. Chinas growing footprint in the Maldives, manifested through significant investments and infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has been a cause for apprehension in Indian strategic circles. The Maldives strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a prized asset for any regional power seeking to expand its influence.

With Mr Muizzu signalling his governments eagerness to explore partnerships under the BRI, India is understandably wary of being sidelined in its own backyard. The implications of this electoral outcome extend beyond bilateral relations. They underscore the broader geopolitical dynamics at play in the Indo-Pacific region, where major powers such as China and India are engaged in a complex game of strategic manoeuvring. As Beijing and New Delhi vie for influence, smaller nations like the Maldives find themselves at the centre of this geopolitical chessboard, forced to navigate carefully to safeguard their interests.

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It is imperative for India to recalibrate its approach towards the Maldives in light of these developments. While it is natural for countries to pursue their national interests, India must not lose sight of the strategic importance of its relationship with the Maldives. A stable, prosperous, and democratic Maldives is not only in Indias interest but also essential for the peace and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region. Indias response to the changing dynamics in the Maldives should be guided by pragmatism and foresight.

Instead of adopting a confrontational stance, India should engage constructively with the Maldivian government, seeking to strengthen economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. By demonstrating the tangible benefits of a closer partnership, India can win hearts and minds in the Maldives, countering the allure of Chinese investments. The outcome of the Maldives Parliamentary elections serves as a wake-up call for India to re-evaluate its approach towards its maritime neighbour. By embracing nuanced and proactive diplomacy, India can safeguard its interests while fostering greater stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but with strategic foresight and diplomatic finesse, India can navigate the shifting geopolitical waters with confidence and conviction
Humanity has come a long way in the choices it has made in electing those who are called to govern. Understandably, the systems of governance throughout the world are far from perfect. Until such time a system of governance is created that truly reflects the virtues of nobility, and the principles of justice and oneness, the democratic system is considered to be the best that human genius have devised based on the maxim ~ Vox populi, vox Dei (voice of people, is the voice of God).

Nevertheless, Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, is reported to have said:  The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim is quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge and determine right This has relevance to how the nearly 98.68 crores citizens of India, eligible to exercise their franchise for the Lok Sabha elections in the coming two months, respond to the call of the Election Commission of India. Nearly two crore young voters, or those between the ages of 18 and 29 would-be first-time voters. Regardless of the outcome of the elections or the imperfections that might impact its conduct, the fact that a system has been created where some 100 crore people are going to determine who will represent them in the highest institution of governance is a tremendous collective achievement to be proud of.

To gain a perspective on how significant this achievement is, we need only to look back at the state of affairs a century ago. Until Indias independence in 1947, the voiceless masses were the subjects of hundreds of maharajas and rajas and they in turn had to submit to the diktats of the European colonial powers. Another thing to remember is that the electoral process in most countries has become discredited because of endemic corruption and widespread violence, resulting in trust deficit among the voting populations, restrictions on freedom of choice inherent in the party system, and distortion caused by fake news and social media, yet we must not despair but remain ever hopeful.

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As the largest democracy in the world, India is looked upon as a model owing to its ideals, such as a non-partisan Election Commission, free dialogue and debate and several abiding features such as non-discriminatory management of diversity, concern for an equitable and equal society, as well as profound reverence for the countrys Constitution. However, there are many challenges to be overcome for fulfilling the ambitious goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. For, true prosperity implies well-being of peoples regardless of gender, race, caste, class, religion and all other lesser identities. In exercising ones spiritual obligation of voting, citizens must choose candidates who possess the capacity to effect and manage change, and to respond creatively to challenges that lie ahead. It entails the development of a number of critical skills.

These include the ability to maintain a clear perception of social reality and of the forces of integration and disintegration operating in the country; to properly assess the resources of the community; to consult freely and harmoniously as a body and with ones constituency and to realize that every decision has both a material and spiritual dimension.

It also includes the ability to arrive at decisions in a manner that preserves and promotes institutional unity; to win the confidence, respect and genuine support of those affected by these decisions; to effectively use the energies and diverse talents of the members of the society it serves; to integrate the diversity of initiatives of individuals and groups into one forward movement that benefits all; to uphold standards of fairness and equity and to implement decisions.

In the light of the foregoing, the key questions before every voter are the following: What foundational principles must be definitive to our ideas of nationhood, citizenship, and democracy? How may we enliven our national discourse with a renewed spirit of inquiry and imaginative erudition, and mid-course correction? There is also a yearning for the elected representatives to be non-partisan, to be fair and just, to dispel oppression, and to foster harmony among disparate elements of society.

In contradistinction to the above electoral practices and goals, the Bahai Faith has a totally different approach to selecting those who are invited to serve on its administrative institutions within the framework of an Administrative Order fashioned by its Founder, Bahaullah and His appointed Successors. This new system, Bahais believe, is destined to replace the present-day defective patterns of governance. It is divinely-ordained, transcends geographic boundaries, it is non-partisan, there are no candidates, no campaigning, no acrimonious debates or clash of personalities, no electioneering, no craving for seats of power or pecuniary benefits, by those elected to serve.

In this system of governance unassuming, honest, fair-minded people imbued with the fear of God, lovers of humankind, whose endeavour is to promote amity and concord in the society and ensure the wellbeing of all whom they are called upon to serve, irrespective of religion, race, caste, creed, nationality. Decisions are made based on clearly understood principles of Bahai consultation, which is considered to be the basis for receiving the necessary spiritual guidance.

The members of these institutions, to be known in future as House of Justice currently designated as Spiritual Assemblies at local, regional, national and international levels are elected by secret ballot, except for the international ones all are elected annually by adult voting members of the Bahai Community wherever they reside. Since these institutions are divinely-ordained they are not answerable to the people but to God. The men of Gods House of Justice (a term designated by Bahaullah for the elected administrative institutions) have been charged with the affairs of the people.

They, in truth, are the Trustees of God among His servants and the daysprings of authority in His countries.  God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth. The elected bodies are supported by an appointed arm comprising of individuals, men and women, whose role is to inspire, advise and assist the elected institutions and the generality of believers in every community, both rural and urban.

The Bahai pattern of governance was studied by the research wing of the United Nations and appreciated but given the system of sovereign states, with varied patterns of political institutions, it could not be implemented in its member-states. At a time when far reaching and even catastrophic changes are taking place throughout the world, the Bahais see the system of governance enunciated by Bahaullah as a model for how present-day society will manage its collective affairs in the future.

The roots of this system are spiritual, its methods are flexible, its goals are forward-looking and it is capable of serving the needs of the entire planet. With every passing day until we complete the seven phases as outlined by the Election Commission of India and the results are announced it is hoped that as a loyal citizen, the elector will exercise the right and privilege to cast his or her vote as sacred and of tremendous significance during this critical period in the fortunes of humanity.

All must come forward to exercise their franchise with confidence so that a social climate of unity of thought and action may take our country to a higher level in its growth trajectory mindful of our civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ~ one planet, one family, one future.

The writer is a social worker and independent researcher who works with a number of non-governmental organizations on issues of governance, environment and education. Views expressed are personal
War history has long served as a fertile ground for cinematic exploration. Epics such as Saving Private Ryan encapsulate the visceral tumult of World War IIs critical moments, exemplified by the harrowing realism of the D-Day landing sequence. Meanwhile, Apocalypse Now delves into the existential quandaries of morality and duty amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War, creating a profound meditation on the human psyche amidst chaos. Films like Schindlers List meticulously chronicle the atrocities of the Holocaust, intertwining tales of heroism and compassion amid unspeakable suffering. Dunkirk, with its genius narrative interplay, captures the essence of collective resolve and survival during the Allied evacuation from France.

Cinematic endeavours wield the power to transport audiences across epochs, offering glimpses into foregone eras and shedding light on the history of human experience. Yet, beyond their aesthetic allure, these films serve a deeper intellectual purpose, inviting viewers to engage with history in a dynamic and immersive manner: stories waiting to be told, narratives waiting to be immortalised and lessons waiting to be learned.

History came alive within the serene campus of Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, as the department of history conducted an intellectually stimulating contest the second edition of ClioVenture. On the 2nd of April, the college hosted its annual one-day state-level fest, providing a sanctum for students from diverse academic backgrounds to explore their ardour for history, art and culture under the overarching theme of Filming History.

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The event drew over 250 students from more than 25 esteemed colleges and universities across Kolkata and West Bengal, and the fest radiated with intellectual fervour and creative energy. The highlight of the event was the paper presentation segment, where scholarly minds delved into diverse historical narratives through the lens of filmmaking.

Rik Bhattacharya, a student of RKM Residential College, Narendrapur, expressed his perspectives as outlined in his research paper titled Interrogating Humanist Ideals in the Face of Historical Trauma: Masaki Kobayashis Exploration of Patriotism, Morality and Identity during the Asian Holocaust in The Human Condition Trilogy during an interview with The Statesman.

Beyond the well-documented horrors of the Jewish holocaust by the Nazis, the Empire of Japan perpetrated numerous war crimes and atrocities against various Asian-Pacific nations, notably during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific Wars. These crimes, including sexual slavery, massacres, human experimentation, starvation and forced labour, were directly carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Events such as the Nanjing Massacre and the invasion of Manchuria witnessed mass murder, arson, looting and the widespread rape of women of various ethnicities.

When war is brimming and tearing apart Japan, what is the responsibility of the average Japanese individual or soldier? Does he turn off his conscience and buy into the jingoistic idea of patriotism preached by his tyrannical superiors? Or does he stand by his humanist morals even when the times are against him? These are the burning questions which keep on repeating themselves in Masaki Kobayashis anti-war humanist film, The Human Condition. Bringing in multilayered discourses of oppression, power and inhumanity, Kobayashi, just like Jean-Francois Lyotard, critiques the grand narratives of modernity and the idea of progress  The Asian Holocaust is significant in teaching us how the imperialist and rapacious patriarchal attitude to life and humanity in general can affect human history, and the worst victims of this kind of transgression have always been women and children, commented Bhattacharya.

In an age marked by rising xenophobia, hate speech and authoritarianism, the lessons of history embedded within celluloid serve as stark warnings against the dangers of unchecked power, ideological fanaticism and collective indifference. Many films centred on war history have tackled the themes of the Jewish Holocaust and Nazi propaganda extensively. Such was taken up as a subject in a paper titled Ideological Poisoning and Shifting Perspectives in Nazi Germany: Observing Through Lens of Jojo Rabbit and A Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by Sharmistha Dasgupta of Lady Brabourne College.

In films like Jojo Rabbit and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, we see the intensive use of propaganda to brainwash the minds of the youth. Jojo had joined the Deutsches Jungvolk, the junior section of the Hitler Youth. As Jojo Rabbit begins, we can see Nazi officials instructing children about the duties of being a soldier for Germany and the racial superiority of the Aryans. Throughout both films, we observe how anti-Semitism was indoctrinated in the minds of children. This was one of the chief means that the state adopted to fulfil their requirements, the main victims of which were the children. According to Armin Lehman, who was a Hitler Youth courier in the Fuhrerbunker towards the end of Hitlers life, the indoctrination of youth was such that they lost their objectivity and rationality and never questioned what they were told. Ideological poisoning was thus a phenomenon in widespread practice in Nazi Germany, Dasgupta told The Statesman.

Seldom does a Bollywood film manage to evoke profound inspiration and trigger a significant social impact that galvanises action. However, the Aamir Khan-starrer Rang De Basanti achieved precisely that. The Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial is widely regarded as one of the most significant contributions to Indian cinema. Its stirring portrayal of patriotism resonated deeply with audiences nationwide, igniting emotional responses and prompting calls to action. Rang De Basanti emerged as a catalyst for social change, inspiring a range of movements, from peaceful candlelight vigils to the fervent pursuit of justice in cases like that of Jessica Lals murder. Presenting a paper in Bengali titled Rang De Basanti  Itihasher Aaloke  Bartamaner Khoj (meaning, Rang De Basanti Finding the present in the light of history) Swaprava Mukhopadhyay, a student of the University of Calcutta, raised a question: As rulers come and go and foreign dominion gives way to indigenous governance, one must ponder: does the essence of humanity truly undergo transformation?

Talking to The Statesman, he said, Rang De Basanti serves as a wake-up call, reminding us of the sacrifices made by millions to attain freedom, only to witness our nation succumb to internal strife such as corruption, religious fanaticism and economic disparity. The spirit of revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad resides within each of us; we need only awaken them. Despite the challenges we face, we must not lose faith in humanity.

Professor Arup Kumar Biswas, Founder of ClioVenture, said, There are so many fests held in different colleges outside Narendrapur, but mostly they are all cultural in nature, while ClioVenture is an academic fest. There are numerous seminars and symposia in academia where papers are presented, particularly by the teachers and the research scholars, but ClioVenture is the only platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students where they can manifest their research skills and academic talents in public.

Paramita Banerjee and Bipasha Chakrabarty from Jadavpur University clinched the top honours, followed by Ujjayini Talukdar and Priyakshi Sen from Loreto College as the runners-up. The joint accolade for the second runners-up was bestowed upon Rik Bhattacharya from Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, and Monami Banerjee from Loreto College.

Observing students passionately presenting their papers on a diverse array of topics within the realm of film history is indeed a gratifying experience. The enthusiasm and dedication with which students researched various facets of film history, from exploring cinematic techniques to analysing cultural influences and historical contexts, is surely commendable. Moreover, the exchange of ideas and perspectives among students fosters a dynamic learning environment, enriching the collective understanding of film as an art form and cultural artefact, said professor Somshankar Ray of Vidyasagar College, one of the jury members.

Additionally, the event featured a quiz competition, with RJ Pushpal serving as the quizmaster.

Talking to The Statesman, film critic Siladitya Sen, who delivered the keynote address at the fest, said, When discussing filming history, we delve into two main aspects: the history of cinema itself and the portrayal of historical events within films. Another facet encompasses the depiction of history through the artistic medium of film. David Wark Griffith revolutionised the narrative film genre. However, in our nation, historical storytelling often veers towards embellishment and distortion. Biopics frequently transform into hagiographies, where the central character is magnified while others are diminished in comparison. Dudley Andrew argues that historians and critics scrutinise historical films for inconsistencies, yet when emphasis is placed on cinematic elements, they critique it for overlooking historical accuracy. However, there exists another perspective known as the auteurship, meaning authorship of cinema, pioneered by Satyajit Ray in our country.

Movies depicting historical events hold a distinctive and intellectually profound position within the realm of cinema. However, it is essential to recognise that historical films are not without their complexities and controversies. The inherent tension between historical accuracy and artistic licence often sparks debates about authenticity, interpretation and representation. Filmmakers walk a fine line between fidelity to historical facts and the demands of narrative coherence, artistic expression and audience engagement. Moreover, the lens through which history is portrayed in cinema is inevitably shaped by the cultural, social and ideological context of the filmmaker and the audience. Nevertheless, historical films have the potential to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. By bridging the realms of history, art, literature and sociology, they provide fertile ground for cross-disciplinary exploration and scholarship. Whether depicting the triumphs of ancient civilisations, the upheavals of revolutions, or the tragedies of war, historical films have the power to humanise the past, espousing a sense of connection and empathy across temporal divides.
The mining industry plays a critical role in securing a sustainable future for our planet. Mining provides the essential resources needed to create the renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, green construction materials, medical devices and space technologies that will guide the worlds sustainable economic and social development across the next century.

Australian METS delegation to Vietnam

To reduce impacts on the environment and secure a social license to operate, mining must look to new technologies, processes and business models in its pursuit of sustainability. In this pursuit, Australian METS companies are natural partners for the global mining industry, including Vietnam.

During the Australia-Vietnam Green Economy Summit in Ho Chi Minh City on 16 April, Ms Rebecca Ball, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade affirmed: Australia can further support Vietnams ambitions to develop more sustainable mining practices through upskilling the labor force, implementing ESG practices and applying Australian METS solutions to reduce carbon emissions from mining operations, improve mine water management and investigate opportunities to take mine waste and turn it into valuable building materials.

The Australian METS sector has been at the forefront of developing and implementing innovative practices and cutting-edge technologies for mining operations around the world.

Australian delegates consulting Vietnamese participants at Mining Vietnam 2024

The key Australian businesses participating at this years Mining Vietnam Exhibition and Conference include internationally experienced suppliers of: underground communications equipment (Nautitech); aerial survey/mapping technology (Xcalibur Smart Mapping); specialist mine engineering services and equipment, minerals processing and extracting technologies (Mincore, Mineral Technologies, Blackstone Minerals); industrial process fluids (Quaker Houghton Australia); water solutions, pump, maintenance, consumables, mineral processing equipment (Weir); and innovative/sustainable mine extraction and material processing technology (Ekion). The move aims to help Vietnamese mining operations develop and improve safety, sustainability, productivity and efficiency.

In terms of mining investment in Vietnam, Australian firm  Blackstone Minerals  is also developing the Ta Khoa Nickel-Cooper-PGE project, located 160km west of Hanoi in the Son La Province of Vietnam, which includes an existing modern nickel mine built to Australian standards.

This project is an integrated upstream (Ta Khoa Nickel Project) and downstream (Ta Khoa Refinery Project) battery metals processing business in Vietnam that produce NCM Precursor products for Asias growing Lithium-ion battery industry. The Ban Phuc nickel mine successfully operated as a mechanized underground nickel mine from 2013 to 2016 and was built by an Australian construction contractor at international standard.

Weir's booth at Mining Vietnam presents their water solutions and mineral processing equipment

Another area of cooperation between Australia and Vietnam is the upskilling of local labor; sustainable and responsible mining practices lead to professions in environmental management, community engagement and social responsibility to mitigate the impact of mining operations.

Austrade also released an industry capability statement showcasing Australias expertise and examples in equipping the green economy transition workforce with essential skills in renewable energy, sustainable mining, hydrogen and bioenergy, transport, manufacturing and carbon management and abatement sectors.

Ms Rebecca Ball affirmed, The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam shows there is strong support for businesses to build partnerships, particularly in the resources and advanced industrial material sectors. These are required for energy transition targets and will continue to support the resource value chain linkages between Australia and Vietnam, leading to increased business partnerships in the future. We look forward to working closely with our partners in Vietnam to further strengthen our enduring partnership in mining and METS, for the benefit of both our countries.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources also recently signed a MoU on the establishment of the ministerial-level dialogue on energy and minerals at Australia-ASEAN Special Summit in March 2023 that looks to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the above-mentioned sectors./.
It most certainly would not do to leaf through Sreya Sarkars novel, Beneath the Veneer, because the title subtly asks us to do otherwise. It could have been just one of those books, but something about the sinister cover draws you to it and gets you hooked.

Shreya is a US-based public policy analyst, journalist and author who contributes extensively to various Indian and American publications. Belonging to a civil service family, she graduated from Presidency College Kolkata and earned her masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Surrounded by voracious readers and fervent political discussions, she currently lives in Massachusetts with her spouse and teenage son.

The writers commitment to her art is evident from the outset with her choice of subject and racy style. The author has demonstrated intelligence in choosing a pertinent topic that one can relate to in todays fast-paced, tech-driven city life.

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Rangvihars nomenclature does justice to the utopian, colourful life that people aspire to live nowadays, which is the backdrop of her simple tale. The simplicity stems from the no-frills-attached narration, which makes the story all the more appealing. Yet she has done a thorough job of detailing every situation and human emotion.

Sreya has perhaps picked six women protagonists, including a doctor, lawyer, athlete, banker, businesswoman, and maidservant, all of whom share a camaraderie being thwarted at some point in their lives by crafty males to send a strong message: that men, no matter how powerful and heinous, can never overcome woman shakti like Asura, who was slain by the ten-armed Goddess Durga! There is also mention of a fair being held during Navratri to celebrate Ramleela, which also always concludes with the destruction of a demon!

Having said that, I feel, however, that at the end, the modus operandi of execution is bizarre and that although they were women scorned, they could have devised other means of destruction to avoid being termed killers by the lawyer Farzeen, whom the writer keeps out of the gory goings-on. But they have a ready explanation for their deeds. As Dr Gunjan says, This was the only way out. This path has chosen us. We did it to survive to protect each other.

On the flip side, maybe the author is justified because evil always raises its ugly head, hydra-like, and the women use their wits to obliterate the evil prevailing in their microcosm, once and for all!

Rangvihar is the model new town for Gunjan, Asha, Rani, Farzeen, Kesri and Falguni to relocate to with dreams of starting a new and fulfilling life, but fate has other plans for them, and therein lies the plot of the story with its remarkable twists towards the end. The women find themselves mired in problems with their past rearing its ugly head to torment them afresh and their present in some way or another, due to the goings-on behind the facade of the ashram precincts.

Trafficking of women is a major issue in third-world countries, and more fiction could highlight it. Drug peddling, human trafficking, and a major twist in the tale in the end make the novel a gripping read.

The reviewer is a former teacher and freelance contributor
Pakistan has categorically rejected a report by the US State Department over the human rights violations in the country last year, saying that only a politically motivated report can ignore the alarming situation in Gaza.

It is deeply concerning that a report purported to highlight human rights situations around the world ignores or downplays the most urgent hotspots of gross human rights violations such as in Gaza, Pakistans Foreign Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday.

Titled 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Pakistan, the contents of the report are unfair, based on inaccurate information and are completely divorced from the ground reality, the ministry said.

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This years report is once again conspicuous by its lack of objectivity and politicization of the international human rights agenda, it added.

It clearly demonstrates double standards thus undermining the international human rights discourse, according to the ministry.

Issued on April 22, the US State Departments report stated that there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Pakistan over the past year.

It said that the Pakistani government intimidates or seeks reprisal against individuals beyond its borders, including civil society activists, human rights defenders, and journalists.

The report also claimed that successive Pakistani governments tacitly approved enforced disappearances.
Dien Bien Phu victory is an inspiration for peace-loving people worldwide (File photo: VNA)

In a recent interview granted for Vietnam News Agency, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg (Russia) Evgeny Grigoriev confirmed the Dien Bien Phu victory shows that there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome with determination and will.

He compared the Dien Bien Phu battle with Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) in the great national defence war of the former Soviet Union (now Russia), during which residents of the city overcame hundreds of days and nights of blockade to defeat the fascist army, creating a turning point in the war. Grigoriev underlined that national will is a decisive factor for victory in any battle.

The victory was a great encouragement for peoples, especially neighbouring countries, to stand up for independence, firmly believing in the power of will and desire for independence in the fight against colonialism, he said.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Labour Party (PT) of Mexico Alberto Anaya Guitierrez, affirmed that the two victories have risen above the stature and boundary of a country, as they embodied and symbolised the burning desire and unyielding strength of a nation fighting for freedom and independence.

According to Mr. Alberto Anaya Guitierrez, the great Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 1954 turned a new page in the history of world revolution, becoming a great source of encouragement for the struggle for independence in other countries around the world.

He recalled that during those days, the name of Dien Bien Phu and the slogan "Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - Dien Bien Phu" resonated across the five continents, becoming a source of inspiration for the independence movement around the world.

The spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, the will to fight, the determination to win and the historical lessons from the Dien Bien Phu victory have remained valid today, giving more strength to Vietnam to firmly go forward on the path that President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam have chosen, he asserted.

The book Dien Bien Phu - An Immortal Song quotes Mr. Evgeni Glazunov - Minister Counselor of the Soviet Embassy in Vietnam in the period 1962-1965, who commented that the victory of Dien Bien Phu was a meaningful event of great significance, not only opened the way to negotiate the Geneva Agreement to liberate North Vietnam, but also defeated the war strategy of the French colonialists in Indochina.

Meanwhile, Major General Anatoli Pozdeev, former Soviet military expert, Vice President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, said, "The Dien Bien Phu victory is not only a victory of the Vietnamese Army and people against the French colonial but also the American imperialists because before going to Vietnam to take up its duties, General Nava came to the United States to agree on a plan to re-colonize Vietnam, violating the peace commitment signed with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in early 1946".

Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda, coordinator of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CESEA) of the Institute of International Relations of the National University of La Plata Argentina (UNLP) affirmed the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is the spiritual symbol of the movement to fight for national liberation and independence of all colonial countries in similar circumstances, not just the countries that were French colonies at that time. This victory of the Vietnamese people is not only a source of support and encouragement, but also a testament to the efforts and sacrifices to overcome difficulties and hardships of a nation always fighting for independence and freedom.

Professor Ramoneda assessed that, in the context of a poor country, a young army, and no modern weapons, the Vietnamese people are still closely united under the leadership of the Communist Party, won a glorious victory over the very modern and powerful French army. The correct and wise political and military policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by President Ho Chi Minh, who flexibly and creatively applied Marxist-Leninist theory in Vietnam's actual conditions, played an extremely important role in the victory of Dien Bien Phu.

According to Professor Ramoneda, during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the great solidarity and determination of the Vietnamese people were promoted at the highest level.

Praise, admiration and pride, that's how many international friends talk about the Dien Bien Phu victory. They considered that victory to be a great resource for the movement to fight for national independence of the people of other countries as well as millions of oppressed people around the world./.
Head and neck cancers are a significant public health concern in India. Traditional treatment approaches, often involving surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are effective but can come with side-effects. Personalized medicine provides hope for patients by offering treatments that are more targeted and effective, with fewer side-effects. Personalized medicine takes into account finer aspects of the cancers behaviour as well as the patients body to optimize outcomes. April is head and neck cancer awareness month.



Interview with Dr. Deepak Sarin, Vice Chairman, Head and Neck Cancer Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Cancer Care, Medanta Hospital.

What are the various kinds of head and neck cancers?

Head and neck cancers are not uniform. These varied tumours originate from different sites, show differences in molecular composition, and react differently to treatment.

What are the benefits of personalized treatment?

Improved efficacy: By identifying specific mutations driving tumour growth, personalized medicine allows for targeted therapies that have a higher success rate compared to one-size-fits-all approaches. This can lead to better tumour shrinkage, improved survival rates, and potentially higher cure rates.

Reduced side-effects: Traditional treatments often cause a range of side-effects due to their broad impact on healthy cells. Personalized treatments, by focusing on cancer-specific targets, minimize collateral damage to healthy tissues, leading to a better quality of life during treatment.

Predicting treatment response: Personalized medicine allows doctors to predict a patient's response to specific therapies before treatment begins. Knowing this information upfront helps in selecting the most effective treatment and avoiding those with a low chance of success, sparing patients from unnecessary side-effects.

Identifying new treatment options: As research delves deeper into the landscape of head and neck cancers, it unveils new targets for therapy. Personalized medicine facilitates the exploration of these new potential treatments through clinical trials designed for patients with specific mutations.

What are the tools of personalized medicine for head and neck cancers?

Genetic testing: Analyzing the tumour's DNA reveals specific mutations that can be targeted by existing therapies or it is used to identify patients who might benefit from clinical trials involving novel targeted drugs.

Immunotherapy: This approach leverages the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Personalized medicine helps identify patients whose tumours are more susceptible to immunotherapy by analyzing factors like the presence of specific proteins in the tumour cells.

Liquid biopsy: This minimally invasive technique analyzes circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) shed by the cancer cells in the bloodstream. By analyzing ctDNA, doctors can track mutations over time, monitor treatment response, and detect potential recurrences earlier.

What are the challenges and the road ahead?

Despite its promise, personalized medicine for head and neck cancers face hurdles. The high cost of genetic testing and targeted therapies can be a barrier for some patients in India, where healthcare costs can be a significant burden. Additionally, continuous research is needed to identify more actionable mutations and develop targeted therapies for a broader spectrum of head and neck cancers specific to the Indian population, as there might be genetic variations compared to other regions.

What about the question of ethics in genetic testing?

It is essential to consider ethics when it comes to genetic testing and personalized medicine. Strict measures are needed to protect patient privacy and data security. Although there is potential for using artificial intelligence (AI) in analyzing data and choosing treatments for personalized medicine, this technology is still early in its development in India's healthcare system.

What is the future of personalized treatment?

Personalized treatment for head and neck cancers is a transformative approach that offers a brighter future for patients in India. By harnessing the power of genetic and molecular analysis, this strategy paves the way for more effective, patient-centric treatment with minimized side-effects. As research progresses, costs decrease, and access to testing improves, personalized medicine holds immense potential to improve the lives of head and neck cancer patients in India significantly.
After the Supreme Court verdict on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the judgment was a "tight slap" to the Congress-led opposition for creating distrust against EVMs.

While addressing a rally in Bihar's Araria, Modi said that RJD and Congress never cared about the Constitution of India. He also criticised the Opposition for trying to "steal" reservations meant for OBCs, SCs and STs "for the sake of their favourite vote bank of Muslims".

"When the Congress, the RJD and other INDI alliance parties were in power, the poor, backwards and Dalits used to be deprived of their votes through booth capture. With the introduction of EVMs, they are no longer able to play their old game. Hence, they committed the sin of creating distrust against EVMs," alleged the Prime Minister in Araria.

The SC on Friday dismissed all pleas demanding to vote using paper ballots, 100 per cent cross-verification of the vote count in the EVMs with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and physical deposit of VVPAT slips.

While pronouncing the verdict, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta observed that blindly distrusting a system can lead to unwarranted suspicions.

Meanwhile, PM Modi accused the Congress of having "stolen" reservations meant for the OBCs and transferring the benefits to Muslims in Karnataka.

"Being an OBC myself, I know the hardships faced by the backward classes", said Modi, adding "In future, they may loot reservations for SCs and STs as well".

Claiming that the previous government headed by Manmohan Singh had given its "assent" for reservations to Muslims, the prime minister slammed the Congress and its "ecosystem" for "trying to browbeat me, without success".

"I will not allow reservations meant for SCs, STs and OBCs to be diverted for vote bank politics. This is Modi's guarantee", he said.

Modi reiterated that the Congress manifesto 'Nyay Patra' bore "the imprint of Muslim League". "I say the poor have the first claim on the country's resources. Congress, RJD and their allies say the first claim is of their vote bank. They want to steal your belongings, even mangalsutras of women", he alleged.

On Thursday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to PM Modi and sought time to explain the 'Nyay Patra' in person. Kharge in the letter claimed that Modi had been "misinformed" by his advisors regarding the content of the manifesto as he is speaking about those things that are not even written in it.

Hitting out at RJD, Modi said that they want to enjoy looting the country. "The RJD is quiet on the Congress' plans to track every citizen's wealth and snatch away 50 per cent of it if the INDI alliance came to power. Both allies want to enjoy the loot", charged the PM.

(With PTI inputs)
The Election Commission, on Friday, filed a case against BJP leader and Bengaluru South sitting MP Tejasvi Surya for "soliciting votes on the ground of religion."

"Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and Candidate of Bengaluru South PC on 25.04.24 at Jayanagar PS u/s 123(3) for posting a video in 'X' handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion," Karnataka chief electoral officer said in a tweet.

According to media reports, the case has been filed against Tejasvi Surya with Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru.

The BJP MP, who is seeking reelection from Bengaluru South, has been appealing to people on social media to come out and vote in large numbers. Polling is underway in 14 of the total 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, including Bangalore South.

In some of his appeals to voters, he had mentioned Ram Mandir, Article 370, and border security, say media reports.

Earlier in the day, the BJP leader had said only a small percentage of BJP voters have come out to vote so far. We the BJP voters are 80 per cent but only 20 per cent come out and vote. Congress voters are 20 per cent but they come out and vote 80 per cent. This is the ground reality at the polling booths in most cases. Every single vote of yours matters. Please come out and vote because if you are not voting, Congress 20 per cent is definitely voting, he had said.

Tejasvi Surya is pitted against former Jayanagar MLA and daughter of state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Sowmya Reddy in Bengaluru South, which has been a BJP bastion.
Congress has brought an X-ray machine from abroad to scan the publics assets and they will give a share of it to its vote bank, Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged on Friday.

Addressing the Lok Sabha poll campaign in West Bengal, Modi said, Congress has declared it will investigate all assets of the poor people. They have brought an X-ray machine from abroad and will conduct an X-ray of everyone in the country. They want to seize all assets, including jewellery and property, and give a part of it to their vote bank, ANI reported.

Modi alleged the Trinamool Congress is supporting the Congress plan by staying silent. He also alleged Trinamool Congress is giving land to illegal migrants from Bangladesh in the state. TMC settles illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in the state by giving them your lands, and Congress is talking about giving away your wealth to their vote bank. Congress's loot will continue - 'Zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi'."
Voting will be held at all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala on Friday amid tight security arrangements. The voting commenced in the South state at 7 am where the fight is predominantly between INDIA allies, CPI(M) and the Congress, in the majority seats.

People began queuing up in front of the voting booths from early morning in over 25,000 polling booths, registering a 5.62 per cent turnout in the first hour.

It is a high-voltage contest in Kerala with two Union ministers, K Muralidharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in the fray. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will seek a reelection from Wayanad, a state minister, three actors and a few MLAs are among the candidates who are trying their luck in Kerala.

One of the seats witnessing a tight fight is the Thiruvananthapuram constituency where the Congress has fielded sitting MP Shashi Tharoor against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP candidate. The Left has fielded former CPI state secretary Panniyan Ravindran in a bid to reclaim the seat.

The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency is predominantly urban and Tharoor enjoys significant support among the dominant Nair and Nadar communities in the constituency. But a decisive factor that helped him win the previous polls was votes from coastal areas, especially from Christians.

Citing Pannians campaign as "not very impactful", Tharoor himself has asserted that the battle in Thiruvananthapuram is directly between the Congress and the BJP.

#WATCH | Congress MP and candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor says, "I am fully confident because I have seen harmony from one end of the constituency to the other... People have given me the same enthusiasm, support and goodwill in the three elections that I am pic.twitter.com/4m2FwoLExS  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

But, interestingly, Chandrasekhar himself insists that the fight is triangular. After submitting his nomination on April 5, he said, "This constituency is witnessing a triangular fight; it remains to be seen who the principal opponent is." Chandrasekhar, it seems, recognises that the notion of a head-to-head contest between him and Tharoor could consolidate minority votes in Tharoors favour. The BJP is yet to win a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, but it had come second in Thiruvananthapuram in 2014 and 2019.

Another constituency which has grabbed eyeballs is Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi will take on CPI's Annie Raja and BJP state party president K. Surendran. In 2019, Gandhi defeated the CPI candidate by more than 400,000 votes, the highest margin in Kerala, although he lost his second seat to BJP in the family bastion of Amethi.

Raja has been harping on the incumbents absence in her campaign. Her appeal to the voters, especially women, is "Kindly give me a chance to stand with you". Raja told THE WEEK that people across Wayanad were asking her the same question.

K. Surendran, who is contesting from Wayanad and claims he will put up a tough fight (the BJP has never secured a 10 per cent vote share in the Wayanad parliamentary constituency), is also highlighting Rahuls unavailability and has tried to club Annie in the same category. They are, in his words, "tourists to Wayanad".

The BJP is also pinning its hopes on the Thrissur constituency where actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopis eleventh-hour effort in 2019 had led to a significant surge in the BJPs vote share. This year, Suresh Gopi will face Congress's K. Muraleedharan and CPI leader and former agriculture minister V.S. Sunil Kumar.

The BJP has promised that if its candidate in Thiruvananthapuram or Thrissur wins, he will be made Union minister. "In Thrissur," said political observer and academic Mohan Varghese, "the BJP must secure a considerable portion of Christian votes from the Congress to succeed, whereas in Thiruvananthapuram, even if it doesnt secure Christian votes outright, it still requires diverting them from the Congress to the CPI to emerge victorious."

Thrissur, too, is witnessing a tight triangular contest. The Congress has fielded K. Muraleedharan, senior leader and son of former chief minister K. Karunakaran, and the CPI has fielded former agriculture minister V.S. Sunil Kumar.

(With inputs from Nirmal Jovial)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on the grand old party, saying the latter is scared and may even shed tears on stage.

Addressing a public gathering in Karnataka's Vijayapura, the Congress leader said Modi is trying to divert the attention of people through various means.

Mod has been attacking the Congress on a variety of issues in his recent campaign rallies, including with "redistribution of wealth" and "inheritance tax" charges.

Modi tries to divert your attention. Sometimes he talks about China and Pakistan, and sometimes he will make you beat plates and ask you to switch on the torch light of your mobile phones, Gandhi said.

Pointing out that there are three or four core issues in India, including poverty, unemployment and price rise, he said the Congress can eliminate unemployment, contain price rise and give people their due share.

Modi has only snatched money from poor people. He has made some billionaires. There are 22 people who have wealth equivalent to the 70 crore people of the country. Just one per cent people are controlling 40 per cent of the wealth of the nation, the Congress leader alleged.

Gandhi claimed that in the present scheme of things, there is "no scope" for Dalits, OBCs, tribals, minorities and poor general category people.

The Congress leader also promised the youth that his party would scrap the Agniveer' scheme, which he dubbed as an insult to the Army and soldiers, if it is voted to power.

Gandhi charged Modi with imposing a faulty GST where he introduced five different types of tax, which are hefty.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about the equipment concerning battlefield medical treatment and its operation demonstration at the Army Medical University on April 23, 2024. Xi inspected the Army Medical University on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

CHONGQING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building world-class military medical universities, stressing that they should serve the battlefield and troops, and embrace the future.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection at the Army Medical University on Tuesday.

Stressing the need to implement the thinking on strengthening the military for the new era, Xi urged the university to improve its running and talent cultivation, and enhance its medical support capability.

During the inspection, Xi learned about the university's basic information and the key discipline concerning battlefield medical treatment.

As a reorganized institution established in 2017, the university has accomplished a series of major tasks including medical support for military struggle and COVID-19 prevention and control. Xi acknowledged the university's efforts in boosting development and completing tasks.

Xi met with representatives of officers and soldiers of the university and had a group photo with them.

He underscored the importance of fostering virtue and developing combat capabilities, as well as vigorously promoting innovation in military medical scientific research to gain an edge in the frontiers.

Xi stressed exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance and carrying out Party discipline education.

Work should be done to advance law-based governance and tighten education management, said Xi, calling for concerted efforts to open up new horizons for university development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of officers and soldiers of the Army Medical University and has a group photo with them on April 23, 2024. Xi inspected the Army Medical University on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Editor: ZAD
Senior Congress leader Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan quit as star campaigner for the party, upset over MVA's (Maha Vikas Aghadi) decision to not field a Muslim candidate in Maharashtra for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. Calling the decision "unfair", he said he is unable to answer the Muslim community when they raise this issue.

In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, he said, "I would like to inform you that I will not be campaigning for the party candidates in Maharashtra for the third, fourth and fifth phase."

He gave the following reasons for this decision.

"1) From total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra M.V.A has not nominated a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra

2) Many Muslim organisations, leaders and also party workers from all over Maharashtra was expecting congress to at least nominate 1 candidate but unfortunately congress has also not nominated single Muslim candidate

Now they are asking

"Congress ko Muslim vote chahiye..... candidate kyun nahi?"

He said he is "upset with party's unfair decision."

"Due to all this reasons I will not be able to face and I have no answers to Muslims and other Muslim organisations in Maharashtra who always raise such issues."

He said he would not be campaigning for the party in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls and that he would resign from the campaign committee of Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections.
The second phase of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held on Friday across 13 states and one Union Territory. Polling began in 88 seats, all 20 of Kerala's seats, 14 of Karnataka's 28, and 13 of Rajasthan's 25, 8 in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, 5 each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, 3 each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.

The prominent names seeking a mandate on Friday include Rahul Gandhi (Congress) from Wayanad, Hema Malini (BJP) from UP's Mathura, Arun Govil (BJP) from UP's Meerut and Bhupesh Baghel (Congress) from Chattisgarh's Rajnandgaon constituency.

#WATCH | A 94-year-old woman casts her vote in Ukhrul Outer Manipur as polling begins on one parliamentary seat



Voting for 13 Assembly segments under Outer Manipur seat is being held in the second phase today. The state has a total of two seats.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/7gekjv4xPU  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people on Friday to cast their votes in record numbers in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy.

INDIA bloc leader and Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge too had a message to voters. In a post put up on X, Kharge asked the people "to not forget that this was not an ordinary election".

"'We, the people of India' - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds, before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of Dictatorship. To all my dear citizens, from 89 Constituencies in 13 States and UTs, do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies. Always make your vote count," he added.

Ahead of the polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people to vote, stating that their vote is their voice. "Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice!" the prime minister said on X.

After a low turnout in the first phase, the Election Commission has been making all-out efforts to boost the voting percentage. The turnout had fallen to around 65% in the first phase from nearly 70% in 2019 in the first phase. The poll panel has increased appeals for voter participation since, asking them to "vote with responsibility and pride".

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that adequate arrangements have been made for smooth polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers. "We have made complete preparations for todays elections. Polling booths have been decorated. There is no possibility of any kind of violence at any booth nor has any such report been received," he told ANI.
The second round of the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh will see polling on eight seats, all of which, barring one, were won by the BJP in 2019.

Among the big names in the fray are television actor Arun Govil in Meerut seat who played perhaps the most recognisable Lord Ram on the small screen. Govil might be a popular face- especially given his recent prominence during and after the pran pratishtha of the new Ram temple - but the fact that he has replaced a three-time winning candidate has not gone well with the partys supporters. It has not helped that Govil has made some utterly ill-informed statements about issues such as the amendment of the Constitution.

Another seat where the BJP might face anger from traditional supporters is Ghaziabad, the seat from which General VK Singh won last time. It is worth mentioning that Rajputs have expressed their anger against the BJP this election, and the denial of a ticket to Singh might exacerbate that.

From Mathura, actor Hema Malini is seeking a third term. Her daughters appeared on the campaign trail to give it a final push. Malinis wins in 2014 and 2019 came against candidates fielded by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) which is a BJP ally in this election.

The Congress had won from Amroha in 2019. Both Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi have campaigned for this winning candidate- Danish Ali, while the BJP has reposed its hope in Kanwar Singh Tanwar- who won the seat in 2014.

Gautam Budh Nagar is another seat where BJP is eyeing a third term. Ditto in Bulansher where its candidate is Bhola Singh. Here BSP has pitted Girish Chandra, its MP from Nagina, who could upset some calculations.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: BJP candidate from Bulandshahr Lok Sabha seat, Bhola Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Bulandshahr.



Uttar Pradesh is voting on 8 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/ihjRmGZfaZ  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024

For the RLD, the seat of greatest prestige is Baghpat- which was won by the BJP in 2014 and 2019. While Chaudhary Charan Singh had won the seat in 1977, 1980 and 1984; Ajit Singh also represented the seat thrice. The seat has gone to the RLD after the partys tie-up with the BJP; and instead of the two-time winner Satya Pal Singh; Rajkumar Sangwan is the candidate.
The CBI, on Friday, unearthed arms and ammunition during its search at a house in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in connection with its investigation into an attack on an ED team by a mob allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, officials said.

Five teams of CBI officials, with support from West Bengal Police and central forces including National Security Guard (NSG), conducted the search at the house in Sarberia in Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district, a senior official said.

"We had received specific information regarding the stockpiling of this huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives. A total of 12 firearms, including foreign-made pistols, have been seized. Explosives stacked inside boxes have also been found. The search operation is underway," the official told PTI.

The owner of the house, identified as Abu Taleb Mollah, is a relative of Shajahan Sheikh, sources in the CBI said.

"It is not yet clear why such a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and explosives were stacked inside the house," they said.

The house, which was cordoned off by the security forces, was built amid water bodies used for fish farming.

Central forces were using metal detectors outside the house to check whether more arms and ammunition were buried. A robotic device was also deployed for the purpose.

On January 5, an ED team was attacked in Sandeshkhalia riverine delta bordering the Sundarbanswhere it had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), during its probe, received inputs of a large cache of weapons hidden in Sandeshkhali.

Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack by around 1,000 people, in which three Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were injured.
The Boeings Starliner spacecraft will take off from NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on May 6, its first crewed mission. The maiden flight will carry astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to and from the International Space Station (ISS) for a roughly 10-day stay.

The historic project, delayed for over two years due to a variety of technical problems, was set into motion after NASA and Boeing held a flight readiness review for the Crew Flight Test mission, which found no serious issues.

Here are the key details of the first crewed Starliner launch:

1) Boeing and SpaceX received NASA Commercial Crew Program funding first announced in 2014. Though the initial estimate was that the programme would be ready to take astronauts to the ISS in 2017, it got delayed due to funding and development challenges.

2) The Starliner will lift off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station which houses NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The capsule is shaped like a gumdrop and measures 4.5 metres across its widest point. It can carry up to seven astronauts.

3) Though this is the maiden crewed flight of the Starliner, it has taken off to the ISS twice before. The first in December 2019 was a failure after it suffered problems after liftoff. The capsule got stranded in an orbit too low for a rendezvous with the station. The second attempt was successful in May 2022 was successful.

4) Though the crewed flight was planned for July 2023, it had to be delayed after engineers discovered several issues in the lead-up to liftoff.

5) The flight will make Starliner the second after SpaceX's CrewDragon to ferry astronauts to ISS. Space X began sending U.S. astronauts to orbit in May 2020. The latest was on March 4, carrying a crew of three American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut for a six-month science mission in Earths orbit.

6) Willians and Wilmore, seasoned NASA astronauts, entered quarantine on April 23rd at the NASA Johnson Space Centre. Both former Navy test pilots, will dock at the space station on May 8 and return to Earth on May 15 or shortly thereafter.

7) Mark Nappi, the vice president, and program manager for Boeing's commercial crew program expressed optimism. "This is an important capability for NASA. We signed up to go do this, and were gonna go do it and be successful at it. I dont think of it in terms of whats important for Boeing as much as I think of it as in terms of whats important for this program," he told reporters.
As Portugal commemorates 50 years of democracy, the air lingers with the smell of carnation flowers and the spirit of liberty. This year marks an important milestone for the Portuguese people, celebrating five decades of the end of the dictatorial regime of Estado Novo and the new dawn of democracy. Freedom of the press, free elections, the right to health, to protest, the right to education for all, and women's empowerment were many of the achievements of the revolution. But every year, during the celebrations, a question always arises  what more is to be accomplished?

Coronation day: A misnomer in the Portuguese context

The 25th of April is etched in the hearts of the Portuguese not as a day of Liberty but as a day of rebirth, a day when the fragrance of freedom overpowered the scent of tyranny. Its a day that doesnt commemorate the ascent of a monarch but honours the rise of the peoples will. The Carnation Revolution, as its affectionately known, is a narrative of peacea revolution so unique that not a single bullet was fired in anger to overthrow the dictatorship.

Celeste Caeiro, a humble restaurant worker, becomes an unwitting symbol of the revolution as she handed out carnations to soldiers. A simple act, but it resonated deeply, sparking a movement where flowers become mightier than guns. Following her, others too, jubilant in the twilight of dictatorship, adorned rifles with carnations and draped the soldiers uniforms with petals of peace and freedom. Many such sights were seen in the city of Lisbon on Thursday when people handed out flowers to the police and military.

Portugal has been a nation since 1910, and its empire is a monument to antiquity. April 25, therefore, is not a crowning of heads but of idealsthe crowning of democracy and freedom. Dia da Liberdade (Liberation Day), celebrates Portugals transformation from an authoritarian state to a beacon of democracy as this revolution not only overthrew the dictators but also inspired the abandonment of Portugals colonies in Africa.

On the auspicious day, it was a sight to see the people trying to recreate 1974. They took to the streets dancing, singing, even parading and shouting 25 de Abril sempre! Fascismo nunca mais (25th of April always! Fascism no more). The parade held at the Avenida Liberdade, the main street that connects old and new Lisbon, saw many processions shouting slogans and holding banners raising issues regarding the economy, salary hikes to even extending support to Palestine.

People gather Avenida da Liberdade during the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of Portugal's Carnation Revolution that resulted in the overthrow of dictatorship and transition to democracy, in Lisbon | Reuters

A reflection of the revolutions legacy

This year, as the Portuguese mark the golden jubilee of the revolution, were reminded of its indelible legacy. The festivities are a tapestry of memory and joy, with military parades and cultural showcases that mirror the revolutions profound influence on Portuguese life and governance. A recent poll underscores this sentiment, revealing that 65% of Portuguese view the 25th April Revolution as the pivotal event in their nations historya sentiment that resonates even after fifty years.

The women of the revolution

The unsung heroes of this revolution were the women of Portugal. Womens rights were severely restricted under the Estado Novo regime before the revolution. They were expected to abide by traditional roles in the family and community, and their legal rights were limited. Long marginalised in the oppressive shadow of the Estado Novo, their rights were sometimes little more than an afterthought. But the winds of change on April 25, 1974, heralded a new era. The subsequent constitution in 1976 was a watershed moment, establishing legal equality between women and mena major change in a country once dominated by outdated educational barriers and curtailed opportunities for women on having to vote

After the revolution, womens activism grew. The Movimento da Libertacao da Mulher (MLM) emerged from the shadows, supporting the cause of womens rights and social acceptance. It was a clear call to accept, one that still resonates in the ways of the times.

Looking forward: Challenges and triumphs

Reminiscing the fifty years, Portugal does so with pride and contemplation. The revolution brought basic rights and freedoms, but challenges such as economic inequality and the need for access to the steady progression of life remain.

Undoubtedly, Portugal is better today than it was 50 years ago. However, the low productivity of the economy, low income and high expense ratios, precarious work and the decline of public services place the country in a backward position compared to other European countries.

According to Eurostat data, productivity per worker in Portugal is 28% lower than the average for Eurozone countries. For at least 10 years, Portugal has remained at the tail end of productivity in the single currency space, falling short of even the poorest economic countries of Europe. In six years, it was overtaken by the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), and in the context of the European Union (EU), it was also overtaken by Croatia, Romania and Poland.

In short, Portugal continues to be at the table bottom as the poorest country in Western Europe. Portugal still has not improved its relative situation in terms of country ranking. It also continues to be most backwards in terms of human capital and the education levels of its population. Furthermore, it still trails the table in terms of the functioning of political institutions of Western Europe. According to economic pundits, even with PS and PSD ruling back-to-back the economic situations have not changed nor have been able to generate reforms to converge with the rest of Europe.

With five decades of democratic life and 38 years in the European Union, the country will also have to rethink its participation in the community project and yet reduce its dependence on European Union money for its welfare.

That said, the 50th anniversary of the 25th April Revolution was a day of joyous celebration and serious reflection for Portugal. Commemorating the countrys journey towards freedom and democracy is a call to continue striving for the values of a revolution-supporting nation. As the Portuguese celebrate, they also reflect on the true essence of this day: the day the people were able to triumph over brutality and fight for liberty.

Viva a Liberdade! 25 de Abril, sempre! (Long live freedom! 25th April, always!)
As protests over Gaza continue to spread on college campuses, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that these were the hallmark of American democracy. However, he criticised the "silence" over Hamas and its militant activities.

While speaking at a press conference in China, Blinken said that he understood the conflict elicited "strong, passionate feelings" and assured that the administration was doing all it could to halt the war.

In the latest protests, the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles cancelled its graduation ceremony citing "new safety measures" as many gathered to protest.

"In our own country, it's a hallmark of our democracy that our citizens make known their views, their concerns, their anger, at any given time, and I think that reflects the strength of the country, the strength of democracy," Blinken said.

Hundreds of people have been arrested on dozens of campuses where protests have sprung up in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

At Atlanta's Emory University, 28, demonstrators were arrested on Thursday after refusing to leave. The latest wave of campus protests began after officials at Columbia University called in police to clear a new protest encampment and over 100 people were arrested.

Criticising "silence" over Hamas, Blinken said that "It is notable that there is silence about Hamas as if it wasn't even part of the story.

"But as I've also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that Oct. 7 never happens again matters profoundly. And we're working every day to try to minimize the damage that's done to innocent people and to make sure that they have the assistance and support that they need," he added.
The premature Palestinian baby, Sabreen Jouda, rescued from her mother's womb, after the woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike, died in a Gaza hospital on Thursday.

According to the baby's uncle, her health worsened and the medical team could not save her.

Sabreen's parents and her four-year-old sister were killed in the Israeli airstrike that hit their home in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

An emergency C-section was performed on the mother as first responders rushed her to a nearby hospital. She was brought 30 weeks pregnant. Sabreen was near death herself and was struggling to breathe. But yet she survived.

She was kept in an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit at another hospital until she died five days later.

Rami al-Sheikh, her uncle, told the Associated Press that Sabreen was buried next to her father.

"We were attached to this baby in a crazy way, he said, speaking near Sabreens grave in a cemetery in Rafah. God had taken something from us but given us something in return (with the baby surviving after the family died).

But [now] he has taken them all. My brothers family is completely wiped out. Its been deleted from the civil registry. There is no trace of him left behind, he added.

Over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war. Protests have erupted across the world over the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, an Egyptian delegation met Israeli officials on Friday, looking for a way to restart talks to end the war and return the remaining hostages. Though no new truce proposals were discussed, reportedly, Israel is willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released instead of the 40 previously under discussion.
An Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus.

Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson.

Protesters set up tents for a student-led pro-Palestine encampment in McCosh Courtyard at about 7 a.m. Thursday. After warnings from University officials, two Princeton students were arrested, and the remaining protesters packed away their camping gear and continued the demonstration as a sit-in, the Princeton Alumni Weekly said in a report.

About 100 undergraduate and graduate students began a sit-in on McCosh Courtyard early Thursday morning, joining a wave of pro-Palestinian sit-ins nationwide.

The protesting students are demanding that colleges cut their financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the deadly Gaza conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have now become antisemitism and they are afraid to enter the campus.

After student organisers first began to erect tents, Princeton Public Safety (PSAFE) issued its first warning to protesters. At least two student arrests have been made. After the initial arrests, students folded them away, the Daily Princetonian reported.

The two students, Achinthya Sivalingam GS and Hassan Sayed GS were arrested within six minutes of the first tents being set up.

The two graduate students have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote to the Prince.'

No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance, Morrill added.

Students face arrest and being barred from campus if they refuse to stop after a warning, according to a campus-wide message from Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun on Wednesday morning.

Urvi, a first-year PhD student, called the arrest violent and said zip ties were put around their wrists.

They've been evicted from their houses and were given under five minutes to get their stuff, Urvi said.
Pune, Apr 26 (PTI) The sessions court here has directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Maharashtra Police to investigate allegations against IT major Cognizant Technologies that it paid a bribe through a contractor to local government officials to secure necessary permits and environmental clearances for its campus at Hinjawadi on the city's outskirts.

The bribe was allegedly paid between 2013 and 2014.

The order was passed on April 19, on a complaint filed by Delhi-based environmental activist and retired police officer Prit Pal Singh through his lawyer Pratik Rajopadhye.

The complaint relied on proceedings of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of the USA against Cognizant Technology Private Ltd's parent firm Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, USA regarding alleged bribing and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Singh had requested the Pune court to direct the ACB to register an offence under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against Cognizant, its Indian construction contractor, and Manikandan Rammurthy, former vice president (administration and real estate officer, Cognizant, India).

Additional Sessions Judge S B Hedaoo stated in the order that as the reference to the alleged transaction was found in the US SEC order, there was sufficient material to forward the complaint to the ACB Pune.

Unless an offence was registered against the unknown government officers involved the alleged bribery, "this matter would not move even inch further", the court observed, adding that without an urgent investigation, evidence in the company's computers may vanish.

"Complaint is forwarded to Anti Corruption Bureau, Pune under section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for investigation. Anti- Corruption Bureau, Pune is directed to investigate these allegations and submit a report," the order said.

As per the complaint, the contractor firm which constructed the software firm's Hinjawadi and Chennai offices informed it that bribes were required to be paid to government officials at both places to obtain necessary permits and environmental clearances.

Cognizant, USA and its Indian subsidiary allegedly agreed to this, the complaint said.

In 2013-2014, USD 7,70,000 were reimbursed by the Indian subsidiary company to the contractor firm (which had allegedly paid the bribe of the same amount on its behalf) with regard to the Pune campus, the complaint claimed, citing the US SEC order.

"Some time in 2016, in the internal audit of parent company at U.S.A. this fraud was detected and as against this bribe amount so pumped up to India, some fake vouchers and bills of non-existing work were raised to cover up the bribe transaction. The parent company in U.S.A. conveyed this fact to Securities Exchange Commission, U.S.A. Before this statutory authority, the Department of Justice of U.S.A. prosecuted the parent company and parent company admitted its offence and undertook to pay the penalty of 25 million dollars to U. S. government by entering into a settlement of deferment of prosecution as per U.S.A. law. The order to that effect was passed by SEC, USA on 15/02/2019," the Pune court's order stated.

When contacted, Cognizant said in a statement that it does not comment on sub-judice matters and it was "committed to complying with the law". PTl SPK KRK
A nurse administers a dose of vaccine against malaria to a child at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

YAOUNDE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In Soa, a town about 20 kilometers north of Cameroon's capital city, Yaounde, malaria is endemic.

"We are constantly sick, me, the children and their father. All of us live with malaria," said Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna, a Soa native.

Like Zeuna, almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country.

In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths.

Cameroon wants to create multiple layers of protection against malaria and work closely with partners to develop, invest in and deploy new tools and innovations, said Paul Onambele, a public health expert who heads the Health District of Soa.

"We have other partners in the fight against malaria, but China is particularly welcomed," he said. "We have very good cooperation with China."

Thanks to a scholarship, he received public health training at Peking University in China, which eliminated malaria after decades of efforts, and the valuable experience could provide innovative pathways for Cameroon, Onambele said.

"What happened in China was like a miracle. Malaria was once rampant in China, and China managed to cut down the annual number of malaria infections from about 30 million in the 1940s to zero in 2017," he said. "We draw a lot of inspiration from the Chinese health system... It puts community and its involvement at the center of its operations."

China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria, said Jerry Afanda, an epidemiologist at Cameroon's St. Louis Health Institute.

China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. "These efforts have led to a significant reduction in malaria prevalence rates," Afanda said.

He called for more cooperation, especially in the fight against malaria. "Cameroonian specialists can travel to China to discover and learn from the successes of the fight against the disease."

Ita Ebot, another public health specialist, pointed to China's approach to malaria prevention and control, which emphasizes the importance of eliminating the source of infection and controlling the spread of the disease, with the help of traditional Chinese medicine.

"This approach is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which prioritizes addressing the root cause of an illness rather than just treating the symptoms," Ebot said. "This is something we badly need in malaria treatment in Cameroon, and China can come to our aid."

The Cameroonian government, with support from partners and friendly countries, is rolling out malaria vaccination, mosquito nets, preventive treatment for young children and pregnant women, as well as community-based testing and treatment services to tame the disease.

"These methods have helped us cut mortality rates," said Jean Fosso, deputy permanent secretary of the National Malaria Control Program in the Ministry of Public Health.

Cameroon wants to be at the forefront of harnessing the latest lifesaving tools to fight back, and build on progress made over the last decade in malaria prevention and control, but it lacks "badly needed" resources, Fosso said.

"With more investment, Cameroon will be on the right path to control and eventually eliminate malaria. Our main difficulty now is mobilizing financial resources," Fosso said.

A nurse prepares a dose of vaccine against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna (L), a Soa native, drinks traditional anti-malaria drink in Ebang, a neighborhood in the commune of Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

A nurse prepares a dose of vaccine against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

People wait to have their children vaccinated against malaria at a district hospital in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Arlette Diane Miafo Zeuna (R), a Soa native, hangs a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide to protect her children against malaria in Ebang, a neighborhood in the commune of Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Paul Onambele (R), a public health expert who heads the Health District of Soa, talks with nurses in the hospital hall in Soa, Cameroon, on April 17, 2024. Almost the entire population of Cameroon, over 27 million people, are at risk of malaria, a daunting health challenge that is particularly devastating for pregnant women and young children in the central African country. In 2022 alone, according to the World Health Organization, Cameroon recorded more than 6.4 million cases of the disease and over malaria-related 12,500 deaths. China is sharing its experience in malaria prevention and control with Cameroon and contributing to the fight against malaria. China has dispatched medical teams and professionals to Cameroon since 1975, serving locals and improving local health services. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Editor: WXL
Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) CESC Ltd on Friday said one of its step-down subsidiaries has completed the acquisition of a company that is in the process of implementing a 300-MW solar park in Rajasthan.

The acquisition aims at bolstering the renewable energy portfolio of the power utility.

In a regulatory filing, CESC said Purvah Green Power has completed the acquisition of the 100 per cent stake in Bhadla Three SKP Green Ventures at a consideration of Rs 3.84 crore.

The power utility said that the acquired company is developing a solar park with a capacity of 300 MW in Phalodi district of Rajasthan, and its operations are entirely based in India.

"The target company has not yet generated any revenue, as its project is still under development. However, it has obtained the necessary approval from the central transmission unit for interstate evacuation of solar power with a capacity of 300 MW and has partially acquired land," CESC said in the filing.

The power utility did not provide details regarding the additional investment required to complete the solar park project.

The RP-Sanjiv Goenka group's flagship company had earlier expressed its intention to acquire over 50,000 acres in Rajasthan and Gujarat to build its 3 GW hybrid renewable energy portfolio.

The company was exploring possibilities for substantial investments in renewable energy generation of up to 3 GW in a hybrid portfolio through its subsidiaries in multiple states across the country.
KOLKATA, India, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Giving the Hospitality industry its much deserved recognition and acknowledging the contribution of hospitality stalwarts and every person associated with the industry, the International Hospitality Council (IHC) and IIHM got together once again to celebrate International Hospitality Day 2024 on 24th April 2024. As Chairman of the International Hospitality Council (IHC), Prof David Foskett said in his special address on the occasion of International Hospitality Day, "Hospitality brings light and hope to so many people. We take this opportunity to honour and celebrate those people who work hard to bring pleasure and comfort to others across the world. These professionals are an inspiration to the next generation of hoteliers. To be human is to be hospitable. By celebrating the lives of these industry legends, IIHM and IHC aim to bring hope and inspiration to future generations."







The key highlights of the celebrations on this special occasion included, the third FIIHM Convocation, conferring of the Lifetime Achievement Award and a Global Conference. The International Hospitality Day global celebration opened with a grand and inspiring speech by Dr Suborno Bose, CEO and Convenor, International Hospitality Council and Chairman, IIHM. He said, "International Hospitality Day is celebrated in over 100 countries, in hotels, cafes and restaurants. This is something that we aspired 10 years back and we have achieved that feat. Talent is a scarcity and we want to inspire youngsters to join this wonderful industry. I remember how we requested Ratan Tata, the Emeritus Chairman of Tata Group to be inducted in the Hall of Fame right in his office in Mumbai. We celebrate everyone involved in the hospitality industry and we will continue to celebrate the contribution of each and everyone in the future as well."



Legendary hotelier, Nakul Anand, who helmed the YCO Global Advisory Council in 2024 and who had received the Lifetime Achievement Award previously, sent his best wishes and inspirational words on this special day, "I wish the very best to the Global Hospitality Summit taking place today. My compliments go to Dr Suborno Bose and IIHM for the work they are doing in developing future future talent for this industry. I would like to reiterate that the future has never looked brighter for this industry with our eyes set on making Indian tourism a trillion dollar economy with 50 million international tourists and 15 billion domestic tourists by 2047. The manpower required to manage this influx is unimaginable and I compliment team IIHM for their contribution."



One of the most iconic moments of the International Hospitality Day celebrations is presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Awards 2024. This year IIHM Global Director, Neil Rippington, was present to do the honours on the virtual platform. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to some iconic hospitality personalities who have contributed immensely to the hospitality and culinary industry. The award this year went to:



 Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of the Exclusive Collection Group of hotels and country homes



 Chef Anton Mossiman OBE DL, renowned Swiss Chef and Restauranteur. He was Maitre Chef de Cuisines at the Dorchester Hotel for 13 years.



 Chef Jeff Galvin, the young brother of Chef Chris Galvin and co-founder of a number of prestigious restaurants in London.



 Patu Keswani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Lemon Tree Group of Hotels



On receiving this great honour, celebrity chef and restaurateur, Anton Mosimann, OBE DL, said, "It is a great honour to be recognized by the International Hospitality Council and IIHM. I have 50 gold medals but this honour will take a special place in my heart."



The third FIIHM Convocation Ceremony was held on this day as well. The President of the IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows, Diwan Gautam Anand, said in his address, "IHC and IIHM's contribution to the transformation of education, development and growth and an eye on the future is an exemplar to the Indian, Asian and European entrepreneurs. Your stewardship is a beacon of international togetherness coupled with your community of global greats. You are making the hoteliers of the future."



The exhaustive list of FIIHM Awardees at the IHD 2024 ceremony included:



 David Russell, CEO, Russell Partnership



 Jayen Mehta, MD, Amul



 Harshwardhan Mehta, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group



 Viraj Bahl, Founder and MD, Veeba



 KB Kachru, Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group



 Vikas Khanna, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur



 Sarah Hartnett, executive pastry chef, Smart Group



 Stefan Breg, Managing Partner, Keane Consulting



 Steven Munkley, Consultant Chef



 Rashmi Uday Singh, TV Personality and Author



 Sidharth Gupta, Co Founder and CEO, Treebo Hotels



 SP Jain, Chairman and MD Pride Hotels



 Dato' Abdul Wahab Zamzani, Malaysian Celebrity Chef



On receiving the honour, David Russell said, "I feel proud and honoured and treasured to be a part of the IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows. To be able to support the next generation of hospitality professionals is a passion that I would love to share with IIHM." Jayen Mehta expressed his gratitude for the support to the dairy community, "On behalf of 3.6 million farmers who are a part of the Amul Dairy Co-operative I would like to thank Dr Bose and IIHM for recognizing the efforts of Amul."



The International Hospitality Day 2024 celebrations were marked by special panel discussions by eminent hospitality personalities. Panel Discussion 1 was Views from the Top: the Future of Hospitality. The discussion was moderated by Neil Rippington with Prof David Foskett OBE and Mr Rajiv Kaul.



The second Panel discussion was on Considerations in AI Adoption in Hospitality. The session was moderated by Harish Chandra, Managing Director, Technology, HotelKey. The panelists included Dr Sophal Ear, renowned academic and Associate Professor Thunderbird School of Global Management, Nayana Arya, Co-President, Artificial Intelligence Club, Thunderbird School of Global Management. The third discussion was fire-side chat on the topic of Experiential Learning and Industry Partnerships: Enhancing Hospitality Education for Real-World Success by Dr Swaroop Sinha, Head of ITC Hospitality Management Institute and Paul Jervis, Head of School, Westminster Kingsway College, London.



About IIHM



IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is one of the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MoU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World.



The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India.



Please visit for more information: www.iihm.ac.in



Contact:

Abdullah Ahmed

COO, IIHM Hotel School Group

T: +91-(0)11-43204700

E: Abdullah.ahmed@iihm.ac.in



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2397684/IIHMIHC.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256068/4623101/IIHMLogo.jpg



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MUMBAI, India, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kylie Cosmetics, the global beauty phenomenon founded by Kylie Jenner, is thrilled to announce its launch in India, a significant milestone in the brand's global expansion. Partnering with House of Beauty, the leading beauty specialty company which brings coveted international beauty brands to India, Kylie Cosmetics' arrival has been long awaited by Indian beauty consumers. This partnership marks the first time the brand has partnered with an Indian omnichannel specialist like House of Beauty. Kylie Cosmetics is now available exclusively in 25 Sephora India stores nationwide and online on www.sephora.in.







"I am so excited to launch Kylie Cosmetics in India  I created Kylie Cosmetics to give my fans access to the makeup products that I use and love, and I can't wait to share my collection with all my fans in India," said Kylie Jenner, Founder of Kylie Cosmetics. In 2015, Kylie Jenner embarked on her beauty business with the launch of Kylie Lip Kits - a collection of three liquid lipsticks with corresponding lip liners. Since then, Kylie supported by Global beauty powerhouse Coty, have continued to expand her beauty empire around the world in over 50 countries, and across eye, complexion, and countless innovations in lip. The beauty line is carefully crafted with clean formulations and vegan ingredients that deliver on trend, high-quality, high-pigment, and high-performance formulations that fans around the world have come to love.



The launch collection includes the best-selling Matte and Velvet Lip Kits, as well as recent must-have launches such as Precision Pout Lip Liner, Power Plush Longwear Foundation, Kylash Volume Mascara, Power Plush Longwear Concealer and Tinted Butter Balm.



Launch Core Collection



Matte and Velvet Lip Kit: The perfect duos for creating velvety, demi-matte lip looks. Each kit includes a highly pigmented liquid lipstick and the fan favorite long-lasting lip liner. The liquid lipstick is a long lasting, comfortable and lightweight formula that effortlessly glides on lips. The creamy lip liner offers a 24-hour smudgeproof wear and pairs well with all lip textures.



Kylash Volume Mascara: For a full, lifted and defined lash look that feels weightless. Featuring a clean and vegan formula that doesn't compromise on performance, this mascara provides volume, length and holds curl.



Power Plush Longwear Foundation: A hydrating, instantly smoothing foundation with medium, buildable coverage and up to 12 hours of comfortable wear. This weightless formula seamlessly blends into the skin to blur fine lines, pores, and texture. It leaves a soft, cushiony feel with an airbrushed, satin finish that's not too dewy, not too matte, but the perfect in between.



Power Plush Longwear Concealer: A weightless, medium buildable concealer that brightens, blurs, and smooths to a natural, satin finish. Its hydrating formula offers flexible and highly comfortable wear with a cushiony, soft feel for up to 12 hours. This crease-proof, cake-free, multi-purpose concealer covers under eye circles, dark spots, and redness or can be used to highlight, bronze and contour.



About Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin



Inspired by her love for makeup and passion for business, Kylie launched her cosmetics brand, Kylie Cosmetics in November 2015. The debut product, the Kylie Lip Kit, sold out in less than a minute and Kylie's direct-to-consumer retail concept disrupted the beauty industry. Her e-commerce site KylieCosmetics.com is now one of the most successful online stores in the world today and in March 2019, Kylie Cosmetics was recognized by Fast Company as one of the 'The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies' for "authentically connecting with an entire generation." In May 2019, Kylie launched her skincare brand, Kylie Skin, featuring products that are cruelty free, vegan, gluten-free, paraben and sulfate-free and suitable for all skin types. In 2020, Coty acquired 51% of Kylie's beauty brands with a focus on jointly building and further developing the beauty business into a global powerhouse brand. In July 2021, Kylie announced the relaunch of Kylie Cosmetics as clean and vegan, with first-time global availability through select brick and mortar retailers such as Harrods and Selfridges in the UK, Douglas in Europe, and Mecca in Australia along with a new Direct-to-Consumer website where consumers are able to shop both Kylie Skin and Kylie Cosmetics.



About Coty Inc.



Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. We serve consumers around the world, selling prestige and mass market products in more than 125 countries and territories. Coty and our brands empower people to express themselves freely, creating their own visions of beauty; and we are committed to protecting the planet. Learn more at coty.com or on LinkedIn and Instagram.



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MUMBAI, India, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baccarose, a renowned name in the fragrance industry, proudly announces its latest venture  Eternal Journey, an exclusive fragrance brand crafted to resonate with the rhythm of life and the essence of inner balance. Developed in collaboration with Pierre Ravan, renowned DJ, producer, and spiritual guide, Eternal Journey unveils a collection that captures the essence of a continuous, harmonious experience.







Eternal Journey takes inspiration from the KaRavan concept, pioneered by Pierre Ravan, which combines music, yoga, and meditation into a transformative 24-hour journey. With this new venture into luxury fragrances, Pierre Ravan extends the ethos of balance and unity to the realm of fragrance, allowing individuals to embark on their own Eternal Journey through sensory exploration.



Commenting on the launch of Eternal Journey, Kadambari Lakhani, Director of Baccarose Perfumes & Beauty Products Pvt. Ltd., expressed, "We are excited to unveil Eternal Journey, a fragrance that embodies a unique fusion of scent and spirituality. This collaboration with Pierre Ravan signifies our commitment to introducing transformative experiences to the fragrance enthusiasts of India. We believe Eternal Journey will resonate strongly with those seeking a deeper connection through the art of perfumery, enriching India's olfactory landscape with elegance and wellness."



Commenting on the launch Pierre Ravan, creator Eternal Journey, said, "Entering the vibrant and diverse Indian market with Eternal Journey is an exhilarating moment. We bring more than just fragrances to India; we bring an invitation to embark on a transformative sensory odyssey. Our partnership with Baccarose showcases our unwavering dedication to delivering an unparalleled olfactory experience to the Indian consumer. As we unveil our distinct collections - each a unique journey of scent and emotion - we invite our customers to embrace the epitome of French luxury perfumery, where every fragrance tells a story of sophistication and creativity."



The Eternal Journey fragrance collection offers a gender-fluid range designed to evolve with the wearer's day, mirroring the phases from sunrise to sunset and beyond. Comprising three distinct perfumes, each tailored to a specific time of day, the collection is a testament to the transformative power of scent:



Sunrise to Sunset: Awaken the senses with a harmonious blend that mirrors the tranquility of dawn. This fragrance, infused with Mandarin, Orange Blossom, and Dreamwood, evokes a sense of peace and centeredness perfect for the start of the day.



Sunset to Midnight: As the day transitions into evening, indulge in a fragrance that embodies harmony and introspection. Featuring notes of Incense, Helvetolide, and Myrrh, this scent captures the essence of twilight, preparing one for the night ahead.



Midnight to Sunrise: Embrace the magic of the night with a captivating blend that symbolizes creativity and renewal. Saffron, Cashmeran, and Oud combine to evoke a sense of euphoria and escapism, guiding one towards dawn.



Baccarose is strategically introducing Eternal Journey Perfumes into the thriving fragrance market of India, aligning with the country's growing appreciation for luxury and artistic expression. This partnership enriches Baccarose's fragrance portfolio, adding the unique and sophisticated offerings of Eternal Journey. The collaboration reinforces Baccarose's position as a leader in the Indian fragrance market, introducing a world of artistry and enhancing sensory experiences.



Eternal Journey will be available exclusively at Parcos stores and online at Parcos.com & Tata Clique platforms, retailing at Rs. 18,000 for a 100ml Eau de Parfum.



About Eternal Journey



Eternal Journey is a pioneering luxury fragrance brand that harmonizes artistry with accessibility, redefining the landscape of niche perfumery. Our mission is to democratize the world of fine fragrances, offering exquisite scents crafted with meticulous care and premium ingredients, yet accessible to all. Each fragrance within the Eternal Journey collection is a testament to our commitment to quality, elegance, and personalization, ensuring a deeply enriching olfactory experience for every individual.



Driven by a passion for innovation and a dedication to excellence, Eternal Journey embodies a strategic partnership that resonates with India's evolving taste for luxury scents. We aspire to elevate the standards of perfumery, enriching the olfactory tapestry of India while providing unparalleled access to global sophistication and craftsmanship. Immerse yourself in the essence of Eternal Journey and discover a world where luxury knows no bounds. Experience the journey. Embrace the eternal. Discover Eternal Journey.



For more information, visit: https://theeternaljourney.com/



About Baccarose:



In 1984, Mr. Hemansu Kotecha founded Baccarose and soon began making inroads into the burgeoning Indian beauty industry. With an unparalleled understanding of local customer preferences and a prized operational nous, Baccarose today is a leader in the distribution of international luxury beauty brands in India. The core mission & vision of the company is to be the leading authority in the Indian luxury Beauty market and undisputed partner-of-choice for leading international brands. To build the Luxury Beauty business in India, establish our partner luxury brands as preferred choices for consumers/retailers and bring an international shopping experience to consumers in India.



For more information, visit: https://baccarose.com/



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2397598/BaccaroseEternalJourney.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India on Friday reported a 47.8 per cent rise in net profit for the March quarter of FY24 to Rs 3,877.8 crore, on account of higher sales volume and favourable commodity prices.

The auto major had reported a net profit of Rs 2,623.6 crore in the year-ago period, Maruti Suzuki India said in a regulatory filing.

"For the first time, the company surpassed annual total sales milestone of 2 million units in FY24. The company continued to be the top exporter for the third consecutive year, now contributing 41.8 per cent of total passenger vehicle exports from India," the company stated.

Maruti Suzuki shares were trading at Rs 12,687.05 apiece at the day's close, down 1.7 per cent from its previous close on the BSE.
Islamabad, Apr 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to attend the World Economic Forum and also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, it was announced on Friday.

The World Economic Forums (WEF) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy will be held on April 28 and 29 in Riyadh in the Gulf nation.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would accompany the prime minister to a key moot, for which they had been invited by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and WEF founder and Chief Executive Professor Klaus Schwab, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly briefing here.

High-level participation in the forum will afford an important opportunity to present Pakistans priorities, specifically in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalising regional collaboration and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption, she said.

Sharif and Dar would also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, heads of international bodies and other leading personalities on the margins of the event, she added.

Separately, sources said that Prime Minister Sharif would also have interaction with the Saudi Crown Prince to discuss Saudi investment in Pakistan. The two sides are expected to sign an agreement towards the same.

Meanwhile, Baloch said the prime minister would also participate in the 15th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit being held in Banjul, Gambia on May 4-5, adding that the summit was being convened at a critical time for the Muslim ummah as the war on the people of Gaza continues unabated.
New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) Writer-filmmaker J S Nandhini, who has earned praise for her new series "Inspector Rishi", says the idea was to tell a supernatural horror thriller that is relatable to people and is rooted in the culture of the place it is set in.

The 10-episode Prime Video series, starring Naveen Chandra, Sunainaa, Kanna Ravi and SriKrishna Dayal, revolves around inspector Rishi Nandhan (Chandra) who is investigating a series of bizarre murders taking place in a small mountain village near Coimbatore.

"When I started researching about who the spirit could be, I wanted the story to be rooted in our culture. I wanted it to be something that people from the villages and from our local towns are familiar with, to go into those deeper spiritual beliefs and those superstitions of the villages," Nandhini told PTI in an interview.

Chandra, who essayed the role of inspector Rishi, said he grew up listening to such stories from his grandmother.

"I belong to a place called Ballari (Karnataka), which is close to Humpi. So I heard all these stories that if you go out by evening, 7pm, there's a demon waiting for you. That will hurt you or kill you or do something. I don't believe in supernatural powers but I grew up on these stories," he said.

Actor Ravi, who plays a sub-inspector in the series and helps Rishi in his investigation, said he found the script very appealing and could even visualise the scenes as he read it.

"The writing was so gripping and I could visualise what all she wrote. I thought it would be a nice series if I become a part of this and I would love to perform in this and to see these visuals.

"I felt like I haven't done anything like this before, so I will do horror. Apart from the horror, I liked the way she covered all the things together."

Sunainaa, another cast member, said she generally doesn't like going through the scripts but the narration of "Inspector Rishi '' made her curious to read everything, including for her part of a female guard.

"It was a collection of suspense, horror and thrill," she added.

Dayal, who plays forest officer Sathya in the series, said Nandini's script was very visual in nature.

"When we read the text, the images start reflecting, those images are the captivating portion. When you actually see the series, it's so beautiful because all those takes have come out. The characters have just jumped out of that screen and they just coloured the entire space. It's so beautiful to see that."
Lahore, Apr 26 (PTI) Pakistan's Punjab government on Friday sought time from a high court on the issue of naming the Shadman Chowk here after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was hearing a petition by the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan seeking contempt proceedings against three top officials of the provincial and district governments for not complying with the court's order about naming the Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh.

In 2018, the LHC ordered the government to name after Bhagat Singh the Shadman Chowk in Lahore, where he was hanged 93 years ago.

During the hearing, Assistant Advocate General of the Punjab government Imran Khan told the court that the government should be given more time for the issuance of a notification to name Shadman Chowk after the freedom fighter.

The petitioner's counsel, advocate Khalid Zama Kakar, argued that a lot of delay had already been made in the matter.

The court accepted the request of the government law officer and adjourned the hearing till June 7.

The provincial and district governments committed contempt by deliberately not complying with the LHC's order to change the chowk's name in 2018.

Bhagat Singh, who fought for the independence of the subcontinent, was hanged by British rulers on March 23, 1931, along with Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar after being tried under charges of hatching a conspiracy against the regime.

Singh was initially jailed for life but later awarded the death sentence in another fabricated case.

Bhagat Singh is respected in the subcontinent not only by Sikhs and Hindus but also by Muslims.

Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah reportedly paid him tribute twice during his speech in the central assembly, saying there had never been another brave person in the subcontinent like Bhagat Singh.

Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Chairman of Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan, stated Bhagat Singh was a freedom fighter of the subcontinent and gave his life along with his companions for the cause of freedom.

"It will be in the interest of justice to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh and also install his statue at the square to inspire the people of Pakistan and the world," he said, adding that in neighbouring India, there were many roads and thoroughfares named after Muslim rulers such as Akbar Road, Shahjahan Road and Bahadur Shah Road.
New York, Apr 26 (PTI) An Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus.

Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson.

Protesters set up tents for a student-led pro-Palestine encampment in McCosh Courtyard at about 7 a.m. Thursday. After warnings from University officials, two Princeton students were arrested, and the remaining protesters packed away their camping gear and continued the demonstration as a sit-in, the Princeton Alumni Weekly said in a report.

About 100 undergraduate and graduate students began a sit-in on McCosh Courtyard early Thursday morning, joining a wave of pro-Palestinian sit-ins nationwide.

The protesting students are demanding that colleges cut their financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the deadly Gaza conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have now become antisemitism and they are afraid to enter the campus.

After student organisers first began to erect tents, Princeton Public Safety (PSAFE) issued its first warning to protesters. At least two student arrests have been made. After the initial arrests, students folded them away, the Daily Princetonian reported.

The two students, Achinthya Sivalingam GS and Hassan Sayed GS were arrested within six minutes of the first tents being set up.

The two graduate students have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote to the Prince.

No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance, Morrill added.

Students face arrest and being barred from campus if they refuse to stop after a warning, according to a campus-wide message from Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun on Wednesday morning.

Urvi, a first-year PhD student, called the arrest violent and said zip ties were put around their wrists.

Theyve been evicted from their houses and were given under five minutes to get their stuff, Urvi said.
Beijing, Apr 26 (AP) The United States and China butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with senior Chinese officials and warned of the dangers of misunderstandings and miscalculations.

Blinken's discussions started with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and then Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, who said Blinken would also see President Xi Jinping  a meeting that had been expected but not previously announced by either said. A State Department official confirmed that Blinken would meet the president before leaving the country late Friday.

Talks between the two sides have increased in recent months, even as differences have grown. Blinken and Wang underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open, but they also lamented that divisions were becoming more serious in nature.

They each underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open but they also lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security. Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Their comments hinted at a long list of differences to be discussed, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, and trade and human rights, China's support for Russia and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize, Wang told Blinken at the start of about 5 1/2 hours of talks. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? he asked. This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.

Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about U.S. policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and China's right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit.

China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said. China's concerns are consistent. We have always called for respect of each other's core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in China's internal affairs, not to hold China's development back, and not to step on China's red lines on China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on U.S.-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

I look forward to these discussions being very clear, very direct about the areas where we have differences and where the United States stands, and I have no doubt you will do the same on behalf of China, Blinken told Wang.

There is no substitute in our judgement for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try to move forward, but also to make sure we're as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations, he said.

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter China's growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijing's growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok's sale.

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russia's invasion. The Biden administration has complained loudly that Chinese support for Russia's military-industrial sector has allowed Moscow to subvert western sanctions and ramp up attacks on Ukraine.

U.S. officials have said China's ties with Russia would be a primary topic of conversation during Blinken's visit, and just before Friday's meetings began, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would visit China in May. (AP)



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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Some Western countries have lately accused China of "overcapacity," which is typical double standard, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said on Thursday.

This will not only block the global green transition and undermine confidence in climate change cooperation, but also hurt the willingness of enterprises to carry out foreign trade and investment cooperation, he said.

The issue of production capacity should be fully examined in the context of economic globalization, taking into account the facts of global division of labor and the global market, and adhering to an objective, fair and scientific stance, He said.

From a global perspective, there is no overcapacity in the new energy industry, but a shortage of production capacity, he said.

Developing green, low-carbon and environmentally friendly new energy is an important measure in the global response to climate change, while the demand for new energy products continues to grow, with enormous growth potential, He noted.

China's new energy industry continues to provide affordable and high-quality production capacity, making important contributions to global green development, he added.

He called on some countries and regions to objectively, rationally and comprehensively view the needs of the global new energy market and the development of China's new energy industry, and fairly evaluate the important role of China's new energy products in the global green shift.

"We are willing to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties on the basis of adhering to market principles, and to promote industrial cooperation for mutual benefit to jointly boost global green development," he said. 

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London, Apr 26 (AP) A former researcher working in the UK Parliament and another man charged with spying for China were granted bail Friday after an initial court appearance in London.

Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, were charged with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be useful to an enemy  China  and prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK between late 2021 and February 2023.

Cash, a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers from the governing Conservatives, was ordered not to enter Parliament or contact members of the House of Commons.

Cash's colleagues included Alicia Kearns, who now heads the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, and her predecessor in that role, Tom Tugendhat, who is now security minister.

Berry is reportedly an academic based in Oxfordshire.

The two didn't enter pleas during a short hearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The defendants were also ordered not to to travel outside the UK or contact each other.

They were ordered to appear May 10 at the Central Criminal Court known as the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing.

The Chinese Embassy has called the allegations completely fabricated and malicious slander, and urged the UK to stop anti-China political manipulation.

The pair were charged the same day that three people were arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for China and arranging to transfer information on technology with potential military uses.

British intelligence authorities have ratcheted up their warnings about Beijing's covert activities in recent years. (AP)



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Washington, Apr 26 (AP) Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two US military officials told The Associated Press.

The US agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about USD 10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.

But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.

Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks.

The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means "there is not open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection", a senior defence official told reporters on Thursday.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide an update on US weapons support for Ukraine before Friday's Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting.

For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Admiral Christopher Grady and a third defence official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.

"When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armour in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk," Grady told the AP in an interview this week, adding that tanks are still important.

"Now, there is a way to do it," he said. "We will work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately."

News of the sidelined tanks comes as the US marks the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries that meets monthly to assess Ukraine's battlefield needs and identify where to find needed ammunition, weapons or maintenance to keep Ukraine's troops equipped.

Recent aid packages, including the USD 1 billion military assistance package signed by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, also reflect a wider reset for Ukrainian forces in the evolving fight.

The US is expected to announce on Friday that it also will provide about USD 6 billion in long-term military aid to Ukraine, officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defence systems. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The USD 1 billion package emphasised counter-drone capabilities, including .50-calibre rounds specifically modified to counter drone systems, additional air defences and ammunition, and a host of alternative, and cheaper, vehicles, including Humvees, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles.

The US also confirmed for the first time that it is providing long-range ballistic missiles known as ATACMs, which allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian-occupied areas without having to advance and be further exposed to either drone detection or fortified Russian defences.

While drones are a significant threat, the Ukrainians also have not adopted tactics that could have made the tanks more effective, one of the US defence officials said.

After announcing it would provide Ukraine the Abrams tanks in January 2023, the US began training Ukrainians at the Grafenwoehr Army base in Germany that spring on how to maintain and operate them. They also taught the Ukrainians how to use them in combined arms warfare -- where the tanks operate as part of a system of advancing armoured forces, coordinating movements with overhead offensive fires, infantry troops and air assets.

As the spring progressed and Ukraine's highly-anticipated counteroffensive stalled, shifting from tank training in Germany to getting Abrams on the battlefield was seen as an imperative to breach fortified Russian lines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his Telegram channel in September that the Abrams had arrived in Ukraine.

Since then, however, Ukraine has only employed them in a limited fashion and has not made combined arms warfare part of its operations, the defence official said.

During its recent withdrawal from Avdiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine that was the focus of intense fighting for months, several tanks were lost to Russian attacks, the official said.

A long delay by Congress in passing new funding for Ukraine meant its forces had to ration ammunition and in some cases, they were only able to shoot back once for every five or more times they were targeted by Russian forces.

In Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces were badly outgunned and fighting back against Russian glide bombs and hunter-killer drones with whatever ammunition they had left. (AP) RC
Washington, Apr 26 (AP) The students at Columbia University who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country dug in at their encampment for the 10th day on Friday as administrators and police at campuses from California to Massachusetts wrestled with how to address protests that have seen scuffles with police and hundreds of arrests.

Officials at Columbia and some other schools have been negotiating with student protesters who have rebuffed police and doubled down. Other schools have quickly turned to law enforcement to douse demonstrations before they can take hold.

As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities across the country are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus, partly prompting the calls for police intervention.

After a tent encampment popped up Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 33. Hours later at the University of Connecticut, police tore down tents and arrested one person.

And at Ohio State University, police clashed with protesters just hours after they gathered Thursday evening. Those who refused to leave after warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass, said university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson, citing rules barring overnight events.

The clock is ticking as May commencement ceremonies near, putting added pressure on schools to clear demonstrations. At Columbia, protesters defiantly erected a tent encampment where many are set to graduate in front of families in just a few weeks.

Columbia officials said that negotiations were showing progress as they neared the school's deadline of early Friday to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment. Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.

We have our demands; they have theirs, said Ben Chang, a spokesperson for Columbia University, adding that if the talks fail the university will have to consider other options.

Just past midnight, a group of some three dozen pro-Palestinian protesters handed out signs and started chanting outside of the locked Columbia University gates. They then marched away as at least 40 police officers assembled nearby.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, has been negotiating with students who have been barricaded inside a campus building since Monday, rebuffing an attempt by the police to clear them out. Faculty members met with protesters Thursday to try to negotiate a solution as the campus remains shut down at least through the weekend.

A dean at the school, Jeff Crane, suggested during the meeting that the university form a committee that would include students to do a deep dive into the school's investments. Crane also suggested faculty and students continue meeting every 24 hours to keep an open line of communication. The sides have yet to announce an agreement.

The school's senate of faculty and staff demanded the university's president resign in a vote of no confidence Thursday, citing the decision to call police in to remove the barricaded students Monday.

On the other end of the state, the University of Southern California cancelled of the school's May 10 graduation ceremony. The announcement was made a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus. The university said it will still host dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school commencement ceremonies.

Tensions were already high after USC cancelled a planned commencement speech by the school's pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

At the City College of New York on Thursday, hundreds of students who were gathered on the lawn beneath the Harlem campus' famed gothic buildings erupted in cheers after a small contingent of police officers retreated from the scene. In one corner of the quad, a security training was held among students.

Elsewhere in the city, around a dozen protesters spent the night in tents and sleeping bags inside a building at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The institute's museum, which is located in the building where the demonstrators set up camp, was closed on Friday.

Protesters also stayed overnight at the encampment at George Washington University, according to local news stations. In a statement after the Thursday evening deadline to disperse, the university in Washington said the encampment violated university policies and that the administration and police were figuring out how to address the situation.

At Emerson College in Boston, 108 people were arrested at an encampment by early Thursday. Video shows police first warning students in an alleyway to leave. Students linked arms to resist officers, who moved forcefully through the crowd and threw some protesters to the ground.

As the night progressed, it got tenser and tenser. There were just more cops on all sides. It felt like we were being slowly pushed in and crushed, said Ocean Muir, a sophomore.

Muir said police lifted her by her arms and legs and carried her away. Along with other students, Muir was charged on Thursday with trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Boston police said four officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening during the confrontation.

The University of Texas at Austin campus was much calmer Thursday after 57 people were jailed and charged with criminal trespass a day earlier, when state troopers in riot gear and on horseback bulldozed into protesters. University officials pulled back barricades and allowed demonstrators onto the main square beneath the school's iconic clock tower.

At Emory University in Atlanta, local and state police swept in to dismantle a camp. Some officers carried semiautomatic weapons, and video shows officers using a stun gun on one protester they had pinned to the ground. The university said late Thursday that objects were thrown at officers and they deployed chemical irritants as a crowd control measure.

Jail records showed 22 people arrested by Emory police were charged with disorderly conduct. Emory said it had been notified that 28 people were arrested, including 20 members of the university community, and some were released.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the US Education Department has launched civil rights investigations into dozens of universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia. Among those under investigation are many colleges facing protests, including Harvard and Columbia. (AP) PY

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Bucharest, Apr 26 (AP) A court in Romania's capital on Friday ruled that a trial can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The Bucharest Tribunal ruled that prosecutors' case file against Tate met the legal criteria but did not set a date for the trial to begin.

Tate's spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said the ruling will be appealed.

Tate, 37, was arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest along with his brother Tristan Tate and two Romanian women.

Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June last year. They have denied the allegations. (AP) GRS

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Washington, Apr 26 (PTI) The United States on Thursday said India can speak about its visa policy and, as such, refrained from commenting on the allegation of denial of visa renewal of an Australian journalist.

"Look, the government of India can speak to its own visa policy. That is not something I am going to opine on from here," US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a news conference.

He was responding to a question on the controversy surrounding the visa of Australian journalist Avani Dias.

"Broadly, we have been clear with countries around the world about the integral role that a free press plays in the fabric of democracy. That is why we come up here and take questions regularly. But I will let the officials in India speak to the specific," Patel said.
Cairo, Apr 26 (AP) Egypt sent a high-level delegation to Israel on Friday with the hope of brokering a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, two officials said. At the same time, it warned that a possible Israeli offensive focused on Gaza's city of Rafah  on the border with Egypt  could have catastrophic consequences for regional stability.

Egypt's top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, is leading the delegation and plans to discuss with Israel a new vision for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the mission freely.

As the war drags on and casualties mount, there has been growing international pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a cease fire.

Friday's talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza with minimum restrictions, the Egyptian official said.

The hope is that negotiations will then continue, with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, he said.

The official said mediators are working on a compromise that will answer most of both parties' main demands.

Hamas has said it will not back down from its demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which Israel has rejected. Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated and that it will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Ahead of the talks, senior Hamas official Basem Naim told The Associated Press there is nothing new from our side, when asked about the negotiations.

Both Israeli and Egyptian officials confirmed the Egyptian delegation had arrived in Tel Aviv, but further details weren't immediately available.

Overnight, Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery shells at an Israeli military convoy in a disputed border area, killing an Israeli civilian.

Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed the convoy shortly before midnight Thursday, destroying two vehicles. The Israeli military said the ambush wounded an Israeli civilian doing infrastructure work, and that he later died of his wounds.

Low-intensity fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border has repeatedly threatened to boil over as Israel has targeted senior Hezbollah militants in recent months.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border. On the Israeli side, the cross-border fighting has killed 10 civilians and 12 soldiers, while in Lebanon, more than 350 people have been killed, including 50 civilians and 271 Hezbollah members.

Meantime, Israel has been conducting near-daily raids on Rafah, a city in which more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people have sought refuge.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles in an area of southern Israel that is close to Rafah, in apparent preparations for an invasion of the city.

Rafah also abuts the Gaza-Egypt border. While in Israel, Kamel, who heads Egypt's General Intelligence Service, plans to make clear that Egypt will not tolerate Israel's deployments of troops along that border, the Egyptian official said.

The official said Egypt shared intelligence with the United States and European countries showing that a Rafah offensive would inflame the entire region.

A Western diplomat in Cairo also said that Egypt has intensified its efforts in recent days to reach a compromise and establish a short cease-fire in Gaza that will help negotiate a longer truce and avert a Rafah offensive.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.

On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi cautioned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation in the strip, as well as the regional peace and security.

El-Sissi's comments came in a phone call with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of The Netherlands, the Egyptian leader's office said.

Egypt has also said an attack on Rafah would violate the decades-old peace deal between Egypt and Israel.

Illustrating the pressures facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the far-right flank of his government, his ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, scoffed on the social media platform X about the Egyptian attempts to bring about a cease-fire.

The Egyptian proposal arrived because Hamas is afraid of a Rafah operation," he wrote. "Rafah now!

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the Hamas' October 7 raid into southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people as hostages. Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, around two-thirds of them children and women.

The ministry said Friday that the bodies of 51 more people killed in Israeli strikes had been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours.

Israel has reported at least 260 of its soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza. (AP) PY

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Manila, Apr 26 (AP) France and the Philippines will begin talks next month on a defense pact that would allow troops from each country to hold exercises in the other's territory, the French ambassador has said.

French and Philippine officials will meet in Paris next month for talks on a visiting forces agreement, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said on Thursday.

She said the defense chiefs of both countries agreed in Manila last December to pursue such an accord.

"We will have an opportunity in May to maybe start officially the negotiations or, at least, discuss the modalities, Fontanel said at a news conference with French Ambassador to the Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour.

The Philippines currently has status-of-forces agreements with the United States and Australis. The agreements provide a legal framework for the entry of foreign forces into a country.

Manila has pursued similar agreements with other countries, including Japan and France, amid escalating disputes with China in the South China Sea. Since last year, Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships and accompanying vessels have been involved in high seas skirmishes which included minor collisions and injuries to Philippine navy personnel near disputed shoals in the contested waters.

In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also involved in the long-running territorial disputes, a potential Asian flashpoint that could bring the US and China into a collision course if disputes escalate into a major conflict.

France has been boosting its security engagements with the Philippines. A French navy ship is joining US and Philippine navy ships in and near the disputed South China Sea as part of largescale combat-readiness exercises by longtime treaty allies Manila and Washington that started Monday.

Abensour renewed France's commitment to helping maintain freedom of navigation and overflight and respect for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the region.

China has strongly criticised the exercises, saying the Philippines was ganging up with countries from outside Asia, and warned that the drills could instigate a confrontation and undermine regional stability.

The Philippine military dismissed China's criticism, saying the drills are aimed at boosting Manila's territorial defense and are not directed at any particular country.(AP)



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Washington, Apr 26 (AP) The US has determined that an Israeli military unit committed gross human-rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank before the war in Gaza began six months ago, but it will hold off on any decision about aid to the battalion while it reviews new information provided by Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The undated letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, defers a decision by the US whether to impose a first-ever block on US aid to an Israeli military unit over its treatment of Palestinians. Israeli leaders, anticipating the US decision this week, have angrily protested any such aid restrictions.

Blinken stressed that US military support for Israel's defence against Hamas and other threats would not be affected by the State Department's final decision on the one unit. Johnson muscled through legislation providing USD 26 billion in additional funds for Israel's defense and for relief of the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The US declaration concerns a single Israeli unit and its actions against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank before Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza began in October. While the unit is not identified in Blinken's letter, it is believed to be the Netzah Yehuda, which has historically been based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The unit and some of its members have been linked to abuses of civilians in the Palestinian territory, including the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian American man after his detention by the battalion's forces in 2022.

Blinken said the Israeli government has so far not adequately addressed the abuses by the military unit. But "the Israeli government has presented new information regarding the status of the unit and we will engage on identifying a path to effective remediation for this unit, he wrote.

A 1997 act known as the Leahy law obligates the US to cut off military aid to a foreign army unit that it deems has committed grave violations of international law or human rights. But the law allows a waiver if the military has held the offenders responsible and acted to reform the unit.

The Leahy law has never been invoked against close ally Israel.

The US review comes as protests and counterprotests over American military aid for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza are roiling US college campuses as well as election-year politics at home and relations abroad. (AP) PY

PY
Beijing, Apr 26 (PTI) China on Friday said it will talk only with the representatives of the Dalai Lama and not the officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in India but ruled out dialogue on the highest Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader's long-pending demand for autonomy for his remote Himalayan homeland.

Also, Beijing for the first time in recent years, did not slam the Dalai Lama as a separatist and instead said it is ready to discuss his personal future, hinting that it is open for the 88-year-old monk to return to his homeland, Tibet, ending 65 of years of his exile in India.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was reacting to reports of the back-channel talks between the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Chinese government when he said China regards the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala as a separatist bloc.

The so-called Tibetan government-in-exile is an entirely organised separatist political group with a political platform and an agenda for Tibetan independence. It is an illegal organisation that violates Chinas Constitution and laws. No country in the world recognises it, Wang said.

China calls Tibet as Xizang.

On Thursday, Sikyong or the political head of Tibet's government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, told a visiting group of journalists in Dharamshala, India, We have had back-channel (engagement) since last year. But we have no immediate expectations from it. It has to be a long-term (one).

Insisting that the talks are very informal, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said, I have my interlocutor who deals with people in Beijing. Then, there are other elements also trying to reach out to us.

Elaborating on Chinas stand, Wang said the Chinese government has two basic principles when it comes to contact and talks.

First, we would only have contact and talks with the personal representative of the 14th Dalai Lama, not the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile or the Central Tibetan Administration. The Chinese government will not be dealing with it, he said.

Second, any contact or talks will only be about the personal future of the 14th Dalai Lama himself, or to the utmost extent, a handful of people close to him, not the so-called high degree of autonomy for Tibet, Wang added.

We hope the 14th Dalai Lama will have a right understanding of the central governments policy, seriously reflect on and thoroughly correct its political propositions and actions, give up any activity aimed to disrupt the social order in Xizang, and return to the right path. Only then can contact and talks be considered next, he said.

The Dalai Lama has, time and again, denied aspiration for independence, and instead called for autonomy for Tibet, which has subsequently been bifurcated into various prefectures by the Chinese government after taking it over in 1951.

The 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and came to India where he set up the government-in-exile at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

From 2002 to 2010, the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government held nine rounds of dialogue that did not produce any concrete outcome.

The Tibetan side pitched for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people in line with the Dalai Lama's Middle-Way Policy.' No formal talks have been held since after 2010.

In Dharamshala, another senior Tibetan leader on Thursday indicated that the back-channel talks are aimed at reviving the overall dialogue process as it is the only way out to resolve the Tibetan issue.
London, Apr 26 (PTI) The UK government hailed its vaccine partnership with India which will help combat malaria as one of the biggest killers of children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Collaboration between British scientists and Indian manufacturers has resulted in two essential life-saving malaria vaccines  RTS,S and R21 -- being developed. These have been used in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, with 2 million children vaccinated since 2019, and, in January, Cameroon became the first country to give the vaccines to children routinely.

Both vaccines are significant scientific breakthroughs and important additions to the range of tools we have for fighting malaria, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said recently.

Both vaccines are now being rolled out across Africa to immunise more than 6 million children by the end of 2025. This is a huge step forward in the global fight against malaria and would not have been possible without a strong UK-India partnership, she said.

On Thursday, to mark the World Health Organisations World Malaria Day, the FCDO announced that Sierra Leone, Liberia and Benin will begin their first rollout of the UK-Indian developed RTS,S vaccine, marking a significant milestone in ending malaria.

Another success story in India-UK collaboration. The joint effort in developing and manufacturing two malaria vaccines, the High Commission of India in London said in response.

The UK is the largest sovereign donor to the core immunisation programme of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is currently supporting the rollout of the RTS,S malaria vaccine. A total of 22 countries are approved to roll out the vaccine, with Gavi aiming to immunise more than six million children from malaria by the end of 2025. The only two WHO-approved malaria vaccines are developed by UK scientists at GSK and the University of Oxford and are now being manufactured at scale by Indian pharmaceutical companies. The GSK vaccine RTS,S is being produced by Bharat Biotech, and the University of Oxfords newer R21 vaccine, by the Serum Institute of India. Findings from a major pilot study which began in 2019 rolling out RTS,S in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, has shown that 13 per cent more children are not dying from malaria in combination with other malaria interventions, according to UK ministers.

This week, the FCDO announced GBP 7.4 million in funding from the UK to make malaria drugs and tests accessible to countries around the world. The funding brings total UK support to MedAccess, which guarantees sales volumes of drugs in uncertain markets at affordable prices, to GBP 17.4 million to help 1 million people access new diagnostic tests and 120 million patients to receive anti-malarial treatments.

In three years, it is expected that more than 50 million people will have access to drugs and other items.

Deaths from malaria are entirely preventable and the UKs support for MedAccess will ensure that countries can afford to offer people the best protection against the disease, said Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell.
New York, Apr 26 (AP) President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall  his most definitive comment yet on the issue.

The comment came during an interview with the Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern, who asked Biden whether he would participate in debates against Trump.

I am, somewhere. I don't know when, Biden said. But I'm happy to debate him.

So far, Biden's reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

The president himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behavior.

Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Biden's remarks on the social media site X: OK let's set it up! The Trump campaign had said the former president is willing to debate anytime, any place and anywhere, although Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates this cycle.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: September 16 in San Marcos, Texas; October 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and October 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for September 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Biden engages in relatively fewer press interviews than his predecessors, and his aides tend to choose outlets and media avenues outside the traditional press corps that covers the president in Washington.

His interview with Stern on Friday, which ran well over an hour, took on a conversational and introspective tone and spanned topics that included Biden's upbringing, family, and his favorite president (Thomas Jefferson, Biden said).

Less the shock jock of old, Stern still commands a loyal audience. And he's become known for his conversational interviewing skills. He can turn talks with celebrities into revealing discussions, often by asking things others might be afraid to, but not in confrontational ways. (AP) NPK

NPK
Washington, Apr 25 (PTI) Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, on Thursday launched her first ad campaign for the Congressional run from Oregon.

Candidate for Congress in Oregons Third Congressional District and former Multnomah County Commissioner, Susheela in her ad campaign highlights her service as a progressive champion and abortion rights activist.

Jayapal released two 30-second ads, Talk About It, and Personal, on streaming television and digital platforms in the first major investments to bring her message to the Thirds primary voters.

Talk About It details Jayapals difficult choice to have an abortion as a young woman, and how that experience informed her advocacy for protecting womens abortion rights, working with the local Planned Parenthood clinic to become the first in the nation to offer medication-assisted abortion, and her commitment to stop Republicans national abortion ban in Congress, a media release said.

In addition to her abortion rights advocacy, Personal also describes how Jayapal is the true progressive in this race, with ideals rooted in her personal story as an immigrant whose parents taught her values of service and equity.

The press release said it informed her beliefs in bold solutions like a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and concrete solutions to the housing crisis.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on the use of electronic voting machines in polls and said it has exposed opposition parties, including the Congress, that had left no opportunity to "defame" the Election Commission.

The court has rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and said "blindly distrusting" any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism.

"The Supreme Court in its decision said that the EVM (electronic voting machine) system is all right, its credible and there cannot be any tampering with it. The Supreme Court has given a fabulous decision. We welcome this decision on behalf of the BJP," Meghwal told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here.

The decision has exposed the Congress and other constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc, the senior BJP leader said and added that they had left no opportunity to "defame" the Election Commission by raising questions on the credibility of EVMs.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) G7 economies are currently targeting doubling of renewable energy capacity by 2030, falling short of the tripling goal agreed at the UN climate conference in Dubai last year, according to an analysis by global energy think-tank Ember.

At the UN's COP28 climate change conference in December, world leaders, including all G7 members, reached a historic agreement to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

"The G7 needs to set a goal to triple their renewable capacity," said Katye Altieri, electricity analyst at Ember.

"Last year, the G7 agreed targets for solar and offshore wind. Given the COP28 agreement, these goals are now outdated and need to be aligned with a tripling of global renewables. The acceleration of solar shows the renewables goal is increasingly achievable," she said.

According to the International Energy Agency, tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency is crucial to limiting the average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A global tripling does not mean that every country is required to triple its renewables capacity  some will do more, some less  but evidence shows that G7 countries in aggregate would require a tripling.

According to Ember's 2030 Global Renewable Target Tracker, the G7 economies are collectively targeting just over a doubling of 2022 capacity from 0.9 terawatts (TW) at the end of 2022 to 2 TW of renewables capacity by 2030.

A tripling of renewable capacity would require the G7 to reach 2.7 TW by 2030, leaving a 0.7 TW gap between current targets and a tripling-aligned goal.

Italy, this year's host of the G7, along with Germany and the UK, are leading the way with 2030 targets that are more than doubling of the 2022 capacity.

However, France and Japan are lagging behind their G7 partners with targets well below a tripling.

The US and Canada do not have official targets, though modelling studies indicate that US policies would deliver an almost-tripling while Canada will hardly see an increase.

This weekend, the G7 Ministerial on Climate, Energy, and Environment in Italy presents an opportunity to translate the COP28 goal to triple renewable capacity into clear action.

Ember's report recommends that the G7 commit to tripling their collective renewable capacity from 0.9 TW in 2022 to 2.7 TW in 2030 while acknowledging the gap in current ambition.

Earlier this week, an analysis by global climate science and policy institute Climate Analytics showed that none of the G7 members are on track to meet their existing emission reduction targets for 2030.

The G7 collectively aims to achieve a 40-42 per cent emission reduction by 2030, but existing policies suggest that it will likely achieve only 19-33 per cent by the end of this decade.

This is at best around half of what is needed and would lead to GHG emissions in 2030 exceeding a 1.5 degrees Celsius compatible level by around 4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Such a shortfall in ambition does not provide the leadership signal needed from the world's richest countries, making up around 38 per cent of the global economy, and responsible for 21 per cent of the total GHG emissions in 2021, researchers of Climate Analytics said.

The G7 economies need to slash their emissions by 58 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels to do their part to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, they said.

The G7 is made up of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Representatives from the European Union also attend its annual summits.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Congress will continue with its political campaign on greater use of VVPATs to increase public trust in the electoral process, the party said on Friday after the Supreme Court rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs.

The Congress was not a party, directly or indirectly, to the petition on VVPATs rejected by the Supreme Court today, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

"We have taken note of the verdict of the 2-judge bench and our political campaign on the greater use of VVPATs to increase public trust in the electoral process will continue," Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Supreme Court has rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and said "blindly distrusting" any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism.

Maintaining that "democracy is all about striving to build harmony and trust between all institutions", a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta delivered two concurring verdicts and dismissed all the pleas in the matter, including those seeking to go back to ballot papers in elections.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Will the prime minister continue with the Agnipath scheme, why did his government throttle MGNREGA in Bihar and why did he not do anything to prevent river erosion in West Bengal's Malda, the Congress asked on Friday as Narendra Modi campaigned in the two neighbouring states.

Posting a series of questions on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also raised the issues of unfinished airport and cattle smuggling in Malda as the prime minister addressed poll rallies in the West Bengal district and in Bihar's Munger on Friday.

"Questions for the PM as he heads to Bihar: Is Nitish Kumar preparing for a palti? Or is the PM distancing himself from Bihars caste census? Does the Prime Minister want to continue with his ill-advised Agnipath scheme? Why has the Modi Sarkar throttled the MGNREGA in Bihar," he asked in a post on X.

"Questions for PM as he visits Malda in West Bengal: Why has the PM done nothing to prevent river erosion in Malda? What about Malda airport? What has the PM done to halt the illegal smuggling of cattle," Ramesh asked in another post.

He said thousands of families in Malda district suffer due to their land being eroded by the Ganga and Fulahar rivers.

BJP MLA from Englishbazar town Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhary had written to the prime minister in 2023 to seek an appointment to apprise him about the problem, he said. She highlighted the fact that affected residents are mostly from the Scheduled Castes or Other Backward Classes, and requested Rs 10,000 crore to conduct anti-erosion works, Ramesh added.

Most of the district lies in the region of the Farakka Barrage, operated by the Central government and is, therefore, the responsibility of the "Modi Sarkar", he said.

"Ten years after coming to power, and despite generous on-paper allocations to Namami Gange, why has the Modi Sarkar not made a single intervention to protect Malda's Scheduled Caste and OBC families from the rampant problem of river erosion," he asked.

Ramesh also alleged that the Modi government had neglected the Malda airport for almost 10 years.

"The state government had already built a runway by the time the PM came to power in 2014. However, flight services are yet to start. Airports would increase business and trade opportunities - especially for perishable goods like Malda's famous mangoes - and improve access to medical services in the district," he said.

The BJP had assured the people of Malda that they would provide small aircraft services, and Airports Authority of India officials visited the site multiple times but the airport still remains closed, Ramesh claimed.

The runway, he contended, is being used by people from surrounding neighbourhoods for their morning walks. Locals fear the airport will eventually fall into disrepair because of the Modi government's apathy, he said.

"What has the Prime Minister done in the last ten years to halt the illegal smuggling of cattle into Bangladesh," Ramesh said using the hashtag "#ChuppiTodoPradhanMantriji".

Noting that cattle smuggling across the Bangladesh border has emerged as a key issue in recent years, one often raked up by the PM himself, the Congress general secretary alleged that Modi fails to mention that cattle smuggling is only a reality because of the failure of the BJP administrations at the Centre and various states.

"At the national level, the BSF and the Customs Department are responsible for aiding and abetting the smuggling mafia. At the state level, the origin of most of the cattle is BJP-ruled states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. State police and administration turning a blind eye to smuggling of cattle out of these states is the root cause of the issue," he claimed.

In his post on the PM's campaign in Bihar, Ramesh said the BJPs "new-old" ally Nitish Kumar was not present during Modi's rally at Araria and also gave a miss to the PMs rallies on April 16 in Gaya and Purnia.

When Nitish Kumars government, on the insistence of the Congress and RJD, released Bihars caste census in October last year, PM Modi accused him of "dividing the country in the name of caste", he said.

"Is the PM shying away from his coalitions Bihar Chief Minister to avoid associating himself with the caste census? Or is Nitish Kumar preparing for another palti," Ramesh asked.

"The Modi Sarkar has repeatedly betrayed Bihars youth. The youth have consistently voiced their opposition to Modi Sarkars ill-conceived Agnipath Scheme. Even if we ignore the unrealistic expectation of preparing young soldiers for battle within 6 months, how can we ignore the schemes impact on their long-term job prospects? Where will young recruits go after spending four years of their prime in the army," he asked.

"In a country that has been rocked by rampant unemployment under the BJPs mismanagement of the economy, what options do the youth have," he claimed.

"Does the PM stand by his Governments flagship Agnipath programme despite the popular protests against it," Ramesh asked.

He said in a state that faces such high levels of youth unemployment and rural distress, the MGNREGA is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families, adding that yet, this crucial scheme falters whenever the BJP is in power in Bihar.

"The Modi Sarkar is legally bound to guarantee 100 days of work and timely payment to MGNREGA beneficiaries. Are these states of affairs an indication of what Modi ki Guarantee really looks like," he asked.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) In the wake of the Supreme Court rejecting pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted the verdict was a "tight slap" to the Congress-led opposition which must "apologise" for creating distrust against EVMs.

While most opposition parties remained silent after the verdict, the Congress said it will continue with its campaign on greater use of VVPATs to increase the public trust in the electoral process.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal welcomed the SC verdict saying it has exposed opposition parties which did not let go of any opportunity to "defame" the Election Commission.

The court on Friday rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail, or VVPAT, saying, "blindly distrusting" any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism.

Addressing poll rallies in Araria and Munger in Bihar, Modi charged the opposition with trying to "steal" reservations meant for OBCs, SCs, and STs "for the sake of their favourite vote bank of Muslims."

"When the Congress, the RJD and other INDI Alliance parties were in power, the poor, backwards, and Dalits used to be deprived of their votes through booth capture. With the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines, they are no longer able to play their old game. Hence, they committed the sin of creating distrust against EVMs," the PM alleged in Araria.

"But today, the highest court of the land delivered a verdict  which comes as a tight slap to these parties," he added.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the opposition was not a party, directly or indirectly, to the petition on VVPATs.

"We have taken note of the verdict of the 2-judge bench and our political campaign on the greater use of VVPATs to increase public trust in the electoral process will continue," Ramesh said in a post on X.

Asked about the prime minister's attack on the opposition, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that similar doubts against the EVMs were made by BJP stalwart LK Advani and advised the ruling party to start with him.

"So, in 2009, was Mr Advani misleading the nation? When he released the book of G V L Narasimha against EVMs, when Mr Advani was championing the cause of leading a protest against EVMs, was he misleading the nation?

"The Prime Minister should do a basic homework, instead of focusing on Nehru Ji, he should start focusing on Advani Ji. He will stop talking irresponsibly," Khera said.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, the law minister said, "The Supreme Court in its decision said that the EVM system is all right, it's credible and there cannot be any tampering with it. The Supreme Court has given a fabulous decision. We welcome this decision on behalf of the BJP."

The decision has exposed the Congress and other constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc, the senior BJP leader said.

"Once again, INDI Alliance and its constituents are in the dock. They always underestimated the Election Commission and defamed it. Going abroad, Rahul Gandhi defamed the Election Commission. Recently, Priyanka Gandhi raised questions on EVMs. They stand exposed today," Meghwal said.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, when asked about the decision on the sidelines of a poll rally in UP's Kasganj, urged the people to make the INDIA bloc victorious and do away with the EVMs.

"Two phases of election are over, we are now looking at the third phase of voting... I would like to say only one thing, make INDIA alliance, Samajwadi Party victorious, and remove EVMs..." Yadav said.

"The BJP is scared of the growing PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minorities) family. PDA is fighting for its rights and honour, BJP government has taken away jobs... It is a big fight and we will keep fighting," he said.

Weighing in on the intensely debated issue that has long divided parties, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on Friday delivered two concurring verdicts and dismissed all the pleas in the matter, including those seeking to go back to ballot papers in elections.

It also maintained that "democracy is all about striving to build harmony and trust between all institutions."
Srinagar, Apr 26 (PTI) National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah, Friday expressed gratitude to former minister Basharat Bukhari and former MP Abdul Rasheed Shaheen for announcing their support to the party.

Both Bukhari and Shaheen have announced that they will support the NC for the polls which are scheduled to be held on May 20.

Abdullah is the candidate for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat.

Thanking them for their support, Abdullah said their endorsement comes as a significant boost to the party's campaign, "fortifying our resolve to represent the people of Baramulla with dedication and integrity".

He said with their support, the NC is poised to overcome any challenges and obstacles that may arise during the election process. This united front sends a powerful message of solidarity and determination, reaffirming the NC's commitment to serve the interests of the Kashmiri people and safeguarding their voices in the parliamentary arena, Abdullah said in a statement.

He said together, with their backing, the party is confident in its ability to secure victory and pave the way for a brighter future for Kashmir.

Abdullah is pitted against Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone and Peoples Democratic Party leader Mir Fayaz in the North Kashmir constituency.
Ahmedabad, Apr 25 (PTI) The Gujarat Congress on Friday suspended from the party for six years its Surat Lok Sabha candidate Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form was rejected over discrepancies leading to the BJP's Mukesh Dalal getting elected unopposed.

A statement from the Congress said the party's disciplinary committee decided to suspend Kumbhani after thorough discussion, adding it had come to the conclusion that the nomination form was rejected due to gross negligence on his part or "in connivance with the BJP".

"To be fair to you we have given time to you to explain your case but instead of coming before the party disciplinary committee you have gone incommunicado. After your form was rejected by the authorities, BJP went ahead and got form of other eight candidates withdrawn. This has deprived people of Surat their voting rights," the Congress disciplinary committee headed by Balu Patel said.

"People of Surat and party workers have become very angry due to your action and are expressing their anger in different ways. The Congress party has decided to suspend you for six years from the party," the press note said.

Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected on April 21 after his three proposers submitted affidavits to the district returning officer claiming the signatures on the document was not theirs.

The nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the Congress' substitute candidate from Surat, was also invalidated on the same grounds.

In his order, Returning Officer Sourabh Pardhi said the three nomination forms submitted by Kumbhani and Padsala were rejected after prima facie discrepancy was found in the signatures of the proposers and they did not appear to be genuine.

Kumbhani, a former corporator from Surat, had unsuccessfully fought the 2022 Assembly polls from Kamrej there.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Mukesh Dalal was elected unopposed from Surat Lok Sabha constituency on April 22 after all other nominees, including one from BSP, withdrew from the fray one by one on the last day of withdrawing papers.
Guwahati, Apr 26 (PTI) Nearly 150 passengers heading to Assams Barak Valley to cast their votes on Friday were stranded on their way due to the derailment of a train engine, while political parties sought immediate action to transport them to ensure they can exercise their franchise.

Several trains were cancelled, short-terminated or rescheduled since Thursday following the derailment of the engine of a goods train between Jatinga Lampur and New Harangajao stations under Lumding division, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) chief spokesperson Sabyasachi De said here.

"Passengers of the trains going towards Barak Valley and Agartala that were affected were at the Lumding railway station," De told PTI.

Movement of passengers towards their destinations was arranged by buses, and most of them left already, he said.

"Around 100-150 passengers are still at Lumding railway station and buses are reaching them shortly. Due to elections, buses had to be arranged from Guwahati, which took more time," the spokesperson added.

He said work for the restoration of tracks was going on in full swing and is expected to be completed by 4 pm on Friday.

As polling in Silchar and Karimganj constituencies of Barak valley commenced on Friday morning and many of the passengers were on their way to cast their votes, ruling as well as opposition parties urged the railway authorities to make alternate arrangements swiftly.

I urgently urge @ECISVEEP to intervene! Stranded voters in Silchar and Karimganj deserve special arrangements after train cancellations disrupted their travel plans. Lets prioritize their right to vote and ensure no one is left behind in this democratic process, leader of opposition in state Assembly Debabrata Saikia of the Congress wrote on X.

BJP spokesperson Dewan Dhruba Jyoti Maral also requested the railway authorities to ensure that the passengers can reach their destination in time so that the eligible voters are not deprived of their rights.

"We understand it is a technical issue. It is unfortunate. We appeal to the authorities to help the passengers to reach their destinations as early as possible," he said.

Among the nine trains cancelled are Trivandrum-Silchar Express, Silchar- Guwahati Express, Agartala  Guwahati Special, Sealdah- Agartala Kanchanjunga Express and Firozpur- Agartala Express.

Seven other trains have been short-terminated and three rescheduled due to the engine derailment.
Ranchi, Apr 26 (PTI) The filling of nomination papers for three Lok Sabha seats  Chatra, Koderma and Hazaribag - in Jharkhand commenced on Friday with the issuance of notification for the fifth phase of parliamentary polls, an official said.

BJP candidate Kalicharan Singh filed his nomination papers for the Chatra Lok Sabha constituency on the first day of submitting the document.

The three constituencies will go to polls on May 20.

Talking to reporters before filing his nomination, Singh said, "I am thankful to the party for reposing faith in me. I am sure that people would cast votes in favour of the BJP, as they want development of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

The BJP has fielded Singh, replacing its sitting MP Sunil Kumar Singh, who had defeated Congress' Manoj Kumar Yadav by a margin of over 3.77 lakh votes in 2019.

The nomination filing starts at 11 am and concludes at 3 pm every day till May 3, the last date of the process for the fifth phase of polls, the official said.

Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on May 4 and the last date for withdrawing such documents is May 6.

Over 58.22 lakh electors, including 28.29 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the three Lok Sabha constituencies.

Besides Kalicharan, the BJP has fielded Union Minister Annapurna Devi from Koderma and MLA Manish Jaiswal from the Hazaribag Lok Sabha seat.

From the opposition bloc INDIA, the Congress has nominated legislator JP Patel, who recently switched from BJP, from Hazaribag and former MLA KN Tripathy from the Chatra parliamentary constituency.

CPI-ML (L), an ally of the opposition, nominated its Bagodar MLA Vinod Kumar Singh from the Koderma seat.
Patna, Apr 26 (PTI) Voting for the five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar to decide the fate of 50 candidates began, amid tight security on Friday morning.

Polling started at 7 am in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Banka and will continue till 6 pm, a senior official said.

Over 93 lakh voters, including 45.15 lakh women and 306 belonging to the third gender, will decide the fate of 50 nominees, including three women, in these five seats.

Young voters form more than one-third of the electorate, with 13.77 lakh in the age group of 18-19 years and another 20.86 lakh aged between 20 and 29 years.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), a BJP ally, is contesting all the five seats, including Kishanganj, which it seeks to wrest from the Congress, while its MPs in the remaining four constituencies are trying to retain their turf.

More than 150 companies of paramilitary forces are assisting the local police in ensuring free and fair polls, the official said.

The elections are taking place at a time when the state is reeling under an intense heat wave, with the mercury shooting past the 40-degrees Celsius mark in most parts.

Arrangements for tents and drinking water have been made at the polling centres, he said.
Moradabad/Lucknow (UP), Apr 26 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the Congress wants to give minorities the right to eat beef, adding that this amounted to allowing cow slaughter.

"These shameless people promise to provide the right to eat 'gaumaans' (cows meat), whereas our scriptures call the cow mother. They wish to give cows into the hands of butchers. Will India ever accept this? An Uttar Pradesh BJP statement quoted Adityanath as saying.

The chief minister said they wanted to give minorities the liberty to eat the food of their choice, meaning they are talking about allowing cow slaughter.

Adityanath was addressing an election rally in Bilari in Moradabad district to garner support for BJP candidate Parmeshwar Lal Saini for the Sambhal Lok Sabha seat.

Echoing the recent speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM alleged the Congress intends to seize the 'stridhan' (womens wealth), and distribute it among Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators.

He claimed the Congress in its manifesto has talked about the X-ray of people's property.

"This means that if somebody has four rooms in his home, two of those will be taken away by them. Not only this, the Congress says that it will take possession of women's jewellery, the country will never accept this," he said.

They had made such efforts from 2004 to 2014 under the UPA government, Adityanath said.

"They had tried to give a quota to Muslims out of the reservation provided to the SCs, STs and OBCs in Karnataka," he said.

He referred to the Sachar Committee recommendations, and said the Congress wanted to implement it by giving six per cent reservation to them out of the quota for the SCs, STs and OBCs.

Accusing the Congress of double standards, he claimed that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had said that Muslims have the first right to the country's resources.

The UP chief minister also alleged the Congress is hatching a conspiracy for further division of the country.

Adityanath said it is being said that "bhai-bahan" (referring to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) are planning to go to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram.

"When they had a government, they used to question the existence of Lord Ram. But the deity is for everybody. This is an example of their double standards," he said.

Adityanath said those who hesitate in chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram' should not get their votes.

Sambhal will vote in the third phase on May 7.
Surat, Apr 26 (PTI) Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form for Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat was rejected on April 21 due to issues with signatures of proposers, on Friday claimed his Congress colleagues did not help during campaigning.

The party hit back saying the cancellation of nomination was part of Kumbhani's "plan".

Kumbhani was suspended for six years by the Congress earlier in the day, which said the party's disciplinary committee had concluded that his nomination form was rejected due to gross negligence on his part or "in connivance with the BJP".

In a video he shared with the media, Kumbhani said he had received offers from the BJP in the past but remained with the Congress all these years and even kept his office open in Varachha area despite losing elections.

"When I was coming to Ahmedabad to file a petition in the High Court regarding my nomination form, some Congress workers had staged a protest outside my house in Surat, which forced me to return. Congress leaders used to remain absent during my poll rallies as well as my door-to-door campaign," he claimed in the video.

"The Congress leadership did not even give a list of workers who were supposed to be given booth duties during the election. Those who are speaking against me today are actually working in connivance with the BJP and left me to fend for myself. Though I was denied a ticket in the 2017 assembly polls, I did not desert the Congress," he further claimed.

Hitting back at Kumbhani, Gujarat Congress leader Prafull Togadia said the former had betrayed his party and the people of Surat.

"He is making false allegations. He first made his relatives his proposers and then claimed they were kidnapped. When we asked him to lodge a police complaint, he told the media nothing happened. It was his plan to get his nomination cancelled. People of Surat will never forgive him," claimed Togadia.

Kumbhani, who was a former corporator in the Surat Municipal Corporation, had unsuccessfully fought the 2022 assembly polls on a Congress ticket from Kamrej.

On April 21, his nomination form was rejected after his three proposers submitted affidavits to the district returning officer claiming the signatures on it were not theirs.

The nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the Congress' substitute candidate, was also invalidated on the same grounds.

On April 22, the BJP's Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed from Surat after all other candidates, including from the BSP, withdrew their nominations.

Following the declaration of result on April 22, Kumbhani had gone incommunicado and his whereabouts are still not known.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday said it will consider listing a plea challenging the ongoing contempt proceedings against the chairperson of the state Bar Council and others before the Madhya Pradesh High Court for allegedly giving a strike call.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for the MP State Bar Council chairperson and other bar leaders, that several bar leaders have been facing contempt proceedings and the matter needs to be heard urgently.

"Not only the State Bar Council chairman, but 103 bar associations also are facing contempt proceedings. The matter is urgent," Tankha said.

"I will see," the CJI said.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has initiated a contempt case against the State Bar Council chairperson and its elected members over the continuing strike of lawyers in the state.

Instead of resolving the issue, the State Bar Council chose a path of confrontation without justifiable cause, the high court had said.

The MP State Bar Council chairperson filed the appeal against the high court's interim order of November 2, 2023.

"In a nutshell, the case of the Petitioners is that Contempt Proceedings were initiated against them for calling a strike and asking all lawyers to abstain from work from March 23, 2023 against a circular issued by the High Court which had caused mass unrest in the State of Madhya Pradesh.

"Against the said action, the High Court initiated Suo Motu proceedings ..., from which emanated multiple contempt proceedings against the Chairman and other office bearers of State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh and against individual lawyers for refraining from court proceedings, the letter of urgency, filed through lawyer Sumeer Sodhi, said.

It said the matter was resolved and the strike was called off on March 29, 2023, after the intervention of the top court. Subsequently, the circular, which was the cause for strike, was also amended.

The bar leaders tendered "unconditional and unqualified bona fide apology" before the High Court on November 2, 2023, it said.

"However, the High Court, while passing the impugned Order, has accepted the apology tendered by individual lawyers and dropped contempt proceedings against them, but did not accept the apology tendered on behalf of the Chairman State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh and its office bearers. As a result, criminal contempt proceedings pending against them were continued," the letter said.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking guidelines for the release of undertrial prisoners in view of overcrowding in jails.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan observed that the issues raised by the petitioner, Gautam Kumar Laha, are already being considered by the Supreme Court and there was no reason to entertain the same.

"We are satisfied that since the issues raised by the Petitioner in the present petition are directly in issue in the W.P.(C) 406/2013 pending before the Supreme Court and are being supervised therein, we find no reason for entertaining the present petition. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed," said the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, in its order dated April 24.

The petitioner's counsel argued that the PIL was filed for the benefit of undertrials who are languishing in overcrowded jails and prayed that a committee be appointed to hold a meeting at least once every month to decide which inmate can be released for passing of an appropriate order of bail by the court concerned.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Centre, said the issues raised by the petitioner are directly pending before the Supreme Court and he can therefore approach the top court.

He informed that the 'Standard Operating Procedure for Under-Trial Review Committees', drafted by NALSA, was taken on record by the Supreme Court in 2018.

In its order, the court noted that the apex court has also taken up the pressing issue of setting up more jails in each state and union territory due to overcrowding and issued directions to each state government to set up a designated committee with a focus on taking steps for setting up new jails, expanding the existing facilities in the jails and providing facilities to inmates through the use of technology.

"Thus, the issue of overcrowding urged in the present petition is also directly under consideration in the pending writ petition before the Supreme Court," opined the court.

The Delhi government's standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi said the issue raised by the petitioner is already under consideration and steps are being taken to address it.

He stated that the ad hoc relief which is being prayed for by the present petitioner in the form of an extra-judicial mechanism will further burden this court with "frivolous" petitions.

The petitioner argued that there are three prison complexes in Delhi with a sanctioned inmate strength of 10,026 against which 19,500 prisoners are lodged, as per 2021 data.

He emphasised that undertrial prisoners constitute 83.33 per cent of the total population of Delhi prisons, which is more than the national average.

It was also claimed that the charge-sheeting rate in Delhi was only 31 per cent against the national average of 73 per cent of the total FIRs filed, which prima facie shows that the fundamental rights of these undertrial prisoners are being adversely affected and violated.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat High Court Registry to provide details of the procedure adopted by it to shortlist the names of senior civil judges for appointment as additional district and session judges in the state under promotional category.

According to the 2005 service rules, 65 per cent of vacancies in the cadre of additional district and sessions judges (AD&SJs) in the state were to be filled from the feeder cadre comprising civil judges (senior division) in the state by applying the merit-cum-seniority selection criteria.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked senior advocate V Giri, appearing for the Gujarat High Court, to file an affidavit by April 28, giving details of the selection criteria adopted.

The bench asked how the names of the judicial officers were decided that they would be considered for promotion as AD&SJ.

The plea will now be heard on April 29.

Earlier, the top court stayed the promotion of 68 Gujarat lower judicial officers, including Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Harish Hasmukhbhai Varma who had convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case.

It had said the promotion of the judicial officers was in violation of the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules 2005, amended in 2011, which states that promotions must be made on principle of merit-cum-seniority and on passing a suitability test.

"We are more than satisfied that the impugned list issued by the high court and the subsequent order issued by the state government granting promotion to district judges are illegal and contrary to the decision of this court. The same are, therefore, not sustainable," the bench had said.

"We stay the implementation of the promotion list. Respective promotees are sent to their original post which they were holding prior to their promotion," it had said.

A bench headed by Justice M R Shah, since retired, had passed an interim order staying the promotions and referred the case to the CJI for setting up an appropriate bench.

The top court was hearing a plea of senior civil judge cadre officers, Ravikumar Maheta and Sachin Prataprai Mehta, challenging the selection of the 68 judicial officers to the higher cadre of district judges.

The bench, which had issued notices to the state government and the Registrar General of the Gujarat High Court on April 13, last year on the plea of the two judicial officers, was very critical of the decision and the order passed on April 18, 2023 to promote the 68 officers despite knowing the pendency of the case before it.

"It is very unfortunate that despite the fact that the respondents, more particularly, the state government, was aware of the present proceedings and the fact that in the present proceedings, this court made the notice returnable on April 28, 2023, the state government has issued the promotion order dated April 18, 2023, i.e. after the receipt of the notice issued by this court in the present proceedings," the top court said in its order on April 28.

In the promotion order, even the state government stated that it would be subject to the outcome of the proceedings pending in the top court, the SC had said.

"We do not appreciate the haste and hurry in which the state has approved and passed the promotion order... when this court was seized with the matter and a detailed order was passed while issuing the notice," it had said.

It is to be noted that the selection was in 2022 and hence, there was no extraordinary urgency in passing the promotion order, and that too when this court was seized of the matter, the order had said.

"We are prima facie of the opinion that it is nothing but overreaching the court's process and the present proceedings. Let the secretary of the state government explain the extraordinary urgency shown in the matter in giving promotion and issuing the notification dated 18.04.2023 granting the promotion, subject to the ultimate outcome of the proceedings, it had said.

The top court had also asked the High Court Registrar General to file a reply specifically on whether the promotions to the post in question are to be given on the basis of the seniority-cum-merit or the merit-cum-seniority and place on record the entire merit list.

Prior to this, the top court on April 13 had issued the notices on the plea of the two judicial officers.

The petition said as per the recruitment rules, the post of district judge is to be filled in by keeping 65 per cent reservation based on the principle of merit-cum-seniority and passing a suitability test.

They said the merit-cum-seniority principle has been given a go-by and the appointments are being made on the basis of the seniority-cum-merit.

The two judicial officers had secured 135.5 marks and 148.5 marks respectively out of 200.

Despite this, the candidates who had lower marks were appointed as district judges, they submitted.

The CJM Surat on March 23 had sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Two men were stabbed to death allegedly after an argument over cigarettes in Northwest Delhi, police said on Friday.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the case, police said.

The victims were identified as Sameer, and Fardeen, residents of Bhalsawa Dairy, they said.

The police received a PCR call at 1.22 am on Thursday regarding the stabbing incident, they said.

According to an eyewitness, Mubin, his relative Fardeen was invited to a reception hosted by his cousin, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh said.

Around midnight, his relatives Sameer and Fardeen went outside together. Sometime later, Sameer returned seriously injured with three men chasing him with a knife, Mubin told police.

Sameer was then admitted to BJRM hospital with an incised wound after he was attacked by a sharp object on his abdomen and shoulder. He was referred to the LNJP hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the DCP said.

Meanwhile, Fardeen, a battery rickshaw driver, died on the spot, he said.

Mubin further informed the police that he had later learnt that an argument broke out when the three accused -- Abdul Sammi (19), Vikas (20), and Arshlan (20) -- were demanding cigarettes from the victims and they denied having any, the DCP said.

Based on Mubin's statement to the police, a case was registered at Bhalswa Dairy police station, he said.

During the initial investigation, police found that the victims may have relieved themselves near the street of the accuseds houses which also could have triggered the argument and they stabbed Fardeen and Sameer to death, he said.

The police have recovered weapons of offence, a country-made pistol and blood-stained clothes along with the CCTV footage where the accused were seen chasing Sameer, police said.

A case was registered and further investigation is underway, they said. NIT HIG

HIG
New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Delhi police has arrested a 24-year-old sharpshooter of the Naresh Sethi gang, officials said on Friday.

According to police, the accused, identified as Mohit was wanted in connection with a firing incident at a property dealers office in Rohini for extortion.

"On February 27, an incident of firing occurred in a property dealer's office at Sector-24, Rohini. The complainant Yogesh Sharma also received a message from Gangster Naresh Sethi demanding Rs 2 crore," a senior police officer said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap and arrested Mohit, he said.

Mohit is a close associate of Naresh Sethi and Akshay gang, police said.

During the investigation, police found that Mohit is involved in several cases of robbery, murder and the Arms Act in Haryana, they said.
Muzaffarnagar, Apr 26 (PTI) The body of a 22-year-old, first-year MBBS student was found near a railway track here, with the family alleging that her batchmate killed her, police said on Friday.

According to the Chief Administrative Officer of Medical College Prasanjeet, the victim was found missing during the counting of the students in the hostel. Following this, he approached the police.

While searching for the woman, the police found her body near a railway track at Begarazpur village under the Mansurpur police station, towards the back side of the hostel of Muzaffarnagar Medical College.

During the investigation, the police examined the CCTV footage and found that the woman left the hostel with her batchmate, Kunal Saini, on Friday evening, officials said.

Subsequently, during the search, her body was found near a railway track located towards the back side of the hostel of Muzaffarnagar Medical College.

During examination of the CCTV footage, the deceased girl was seen going with Kunal from the hostel last evening.

The victims family has alleged that Kunal Saini had killed the woman.

Based on their complaint, an FIR was lodged under sections 302 (murder), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of the offence, or giving false information, to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code. Saini was arrested and further investigation is underway, they said.
Erode (Tamil Nadu), April 26 (PTI) Forest officials here on Friday said that they trapped a big leopard which had killed a host of farm animals a month ago.

According to forest officials in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), a month ago the leopard entered into the cattle shed owned by one Bagyalakshmi at Malkuth Thotti area located within the Thalavadi forest range under the STR here and killed six goats, 20 poultry birds, two calves of a cow and five dogs.



Based on a complaint given by Bhagyalakshmi, the forest officials placed a cage near her plot a few days ago.

The villagers heard the noise of a leopard coming and found it inside the cage. Later they informed the forest personnel who visited the spot and later took the animal to release it into an interior part of the forest.
Legislation forcing TikToks parent company to sell the video-sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. received President Joe Bidens official signoff Wednesday. But the newly minted law could be in for an uphill battle in court.

Critics of the sell-or-be-banned ultimatum argue it violates TikTok users First Amendment rights. The apps China-based owner, ByteDance, has already promised to sue, calling the measure unconstitutional.

But a court challenges success is not guaranteed. The laws opponents, which include advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, maintain that the government hasnt come close to justifying banning TikTok, while others say national-security claims could still prevail.

For years, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data, or influence Americans by suppressing or promoting certain content on TikTok. The U.S. has yet to provide public evidence to support those claims, but political pressures have piled up regardless.

If upheld, legal experts also stress that the law could set a precedent carrying wider ramifications for digital media in the U.S.

Heres what you need to know.

IS A TIKTOK BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

Thats the central question. TikTok and opponents of the law have argued that a ban would violate First Amendment rights of the social media platforms 170 million U.S. users.

Patrick Toomey, deputy director of the ACLUs National Security Project, said a TikTok ban would stifle free expression and restrict public access to a platform that has become central source for information sharing.

Among key questions will be whether the legislation interferes with the overall content of speech on TikTok, notes Elettra Bietti, an assistant professor of law and computer science at Northeastern University, because content-based restrictions meet a higher level of scrutiny.

ByteDance has yet to officially file a lawsuit, but Bietti said she expects the companys challenge to primarily focus on whether a ban infringes on these wider free-speech rights. Additional litigation involving TikToks commercial actors, such as businesses and influencers who make their living on the platform, may also arise, she added.

COULD TIKTOK SUCCESSFULLY PREVENT THE BAN IN COURT?

TikTok is expressing confidence about the prospects of its planned challenge.

Rest assured, we arent going anywhere, TikTok CEO Shou Chew said in a video response posted to X Wednesday. The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again.

Toomey also said that he is optimistic about the possibility of TikTok being able to block the measure in court, noting that both users and the company have extremely strong First Amendment claims.

Many of the calls to completely ban TikTok in the U.S. are about scoring political points and rooted in anti-China sentiment, Toomey added. And to date, these steps to ban TikTok had not been remotely supported by concrete public evidence.

Still, the future of any litigation is hard to predict, especially for this kind of case. And from a legal perspective, it can be difficult to cite political motivations, even if theyre well-documented, as grounds to invalidate a law.

The battle could also string along for some time, with the potential for appeals that could go all the way to the Supreme Court, which would likely uphold the law due to its current composition, said Gus Hurwitz, a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvanias Carey Law School.

HOW MIGHT THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE?

TikToks legal challenge wont go on without a fight. The government will probably respond with national-security claims, which were already cited prominently as the legislation made its way through Congress.

Toomey maintains that the government hasnt met the high bar required to prove imminent national-security risks, but some other legal experts note that its still a strong card to play.

One of the unfortunate and really frustrating things about national-security legislation (is that) it tends to be a trump card, Hurwitz said. Once national-security issues come up, theyre going to carry the day either successfully or not.

Hurwitz added that he thinks there are legitimate national-security arguments that could be brought up here. National security can be argued because its a federal measure, he noted. That sets this scenario apart from previously unsuccessful state-level legislation seeking to ban TikTok, such as in Montana.

But national-security arguments are also vulnerable to questioning as to why TikTok is getting specific scrutiny.

Personally, I believe that what TikTok does isnt that different from other companies that are U.S.-based, Bietti said, pointing to tech giants ranging from Google to Amazon. The question is, Why ban TikTok and not the activities and the surveillance carried out by other companies in the United States?

IF THE LAW IS UPHELD, COULD THERE BE WIDER RAMIFICATIONS?

Still, legal experts note that there could be repercussions beyond TikTok in the future.

The measure was passed as part of a larger $95 billion package that provides aid to Ukraine and Israel. The package also includes a provision that makes it illegal for data brokers to sell or rent personally identifiable sensitive data to North Korea, China, Russia, Iran or entities in those countries.

That has encountered some pushback, including from the ACLU, which says the language is written too broadly and could sweep in journalists and others who publish personal information.

Theres real reason to be concerned that the use of this law will not stop with TikTok, Toomey said. Looking at that point and the bigger picture, banning TikTok or forcing its sale would be a devastating blow to the U.S. governments decades of work promoting an open and secure global internet.

(AP)
Even as it works to get much-needed new supplies of weapons and ammunition from a huge U.S. aid package to the front line, Ukraine is seeking to reverse the drain of potential soldiers from the country, announcing that men of conscription age will no longer be able to renew their passports from outside Ukraine.

The Cabinet of Ministers said late Wednesday that men between 18 and 60 years old who are deemed fit for military service will only be able to renew their passports inside Ukraine.

Millions of Ukrainians have fled the country since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, mostly to neighboring European countries. The European Unions statistics agency, Eurostat, says 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in EU countries, 860,000 of them men 18 years of age or older.

The defense minister of Poland, home to one of the biggest Ukrainian diasporas, said the country was ready to help in ensuring that those who are subject to compulsory military service go to Ukraine, though he did not specify how.

Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Ukrainian citizens have obligations towards the state.

The move has met with some criticism inside Ukraine. Opposition lawmaker Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, who heads the Parliamentary Committee for Ukraines European Integration, said denying military-age men access to consular services could lead to well-founded legal challenges at the European Court of Human Rights.

I think that these actions will only push an enormous number of Ukrainians to look for different ways to obtain citizenship from other countries, she said.

Russias population of almost 150 million dwarfs Ukraines 38 million, and Moscow can draw on a much bigger army. Earlier this month, Ukraine lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to bolster the size of its military.

Oleksandr Pavlichenko, executive director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, said the measure was a violation of individual rights  and also unlikely to succeed in getting Ukrainian men to return home from abroad.

Its just an emotional step, not a legal one, he said. It will not bring the results.

Ukraine is in need of fresh troops to bolster forces in the south and east, where Russia is pressing forward with its efforts to take ground from outnumbered and outgunned troops.

The U.S. is sending $61 billion in new U.S. military aid, a lifeline for Kyivs armed forces in their more than two-year war with Russia. President Joe Biden signed into law the aid package on Wednesday.

U.S. officials also confirmed Wednesday that the United States last month secretly sent Ukraine a number of long-range missiles that Kyiv has urgently sought so that its forces can hit Russian forces well behind the front lines. Ukraine used them for the first time last week to strike an airfield in occupied Crimea, the officials said.

The Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMs, have a range of some 300 kilometers (190 miles). More are expected to be sent to Ukraine as part of the new U.S. aid package.

Russia was dismissive of the weapons likely impact.

This will not fundamentally change the outcome of the special military operation. We will succeed. But it will cause more problems for Ukraine itself, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the key now is speed in getting the supplies into place. Ukrainian forces have run desperately short of artillery ammunition and air defense missiles during six months in which the U.S. aid was held up by wrangling in Congress. That has allowed the Kremlins forces to inch forward in parts of eastern Ukraine in what has largely become a war of attrition.

Ukraines general staff said Thursday that the situation at the front remained difficult.

Six people were injured in the Cherkasy region of central Ukraine on Thursday after a high speed target struck a critical infrastructure object, Regional Gov. Ihor Taburets said on social media. He said a rescue operation was underway.

Russian forces also targeted infrastructure in northern Ukraine, launching a guided aerial bomb on the city of Sumy. The Regional Military Administration said emergency services were responding to the attack and the impact of the strike was still being clarified.

In the eastern Kharkiv region, an attack near a railway station injured seven people, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram.

Britains Treasury chief, on a visit to Kyiv, urged all NATO countries to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP to help Ukraine and pile the pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt said he told Zelenskyy during Wednesdays visit that the U.K. would maintain at least its current level of military support, some 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) in 2024, for as long as it takes.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this week his countrys defense budget will increase to 2.5% of GDP from its current level of just over 2% by 2030. Sunak also announced 500 million pounds ($625 million) in new aid for Ukraine  including ammunition, vehicles, boats and 1,600 strike and air defense missiles.

(AP)
Top officials from the NYPD have confirmed that they are in standby mode as they work to ensure the safety of Columbia University students amidst ongoing anti-Israel protests on campus.

In an interview on The Story, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry emphasized the departments commitment to protecting students while respecting the First Amendment rights of demonstrators. However, they drew a clear line, stating that protesters would not be allowed to take over city streets, referencing the 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle.

We will not have any Seattle-type encampments on the streets of New York City, Chell asserted. I can guarantee you that would end rather quickly.

The officials also condemned the language used by protesters, who compared police officers to the KKK. Chell described the comments as reprehensible and disgusting. Daughtry noted that if his officers spoke in a similar manner, they would face disciplinary action.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall  his most definitive comment yet on the issue.

The comment came during an interview with the Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern, who asked Biden whether he would participate in debates against Trump.

I am, somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said. But Im happy to debate him.

So far, Bidens reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

The president himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behavior.

Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Bidens remarks on the social media site X: OK lets set it up! The Trump campaign had said the former president is willing to debate anytime, any place and anywhere, although Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates this cycle.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Biden engages in relatively fewer press interviews than his predecessors, and his aides tend to choose outlets and media avenues outside the traditional press corps that covers the president in Washington. His interview with Stern on Friday, which ran well over an hour, took on a conversational and introspective tone and spanned topics that included Bidens upbringing, family, and his favorite president (Thomas Jefferson, Biden said).

(AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of responsibly managing the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues.

Talks between the two sides have increased in recent months, even as differences have grown. Blinken said he raised concerns with Xi about Chinas support for Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, as well as other issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea, human rights and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

Blinken sounded a positive note on recent progress made in bilateral cooperation, including in military communications, counternarcotics and artificial intelligence, on which the two sides agreed to start a dialogue on how to reduce risks from the rapidly emerging technology.

We are committed to maintaining and strengthening lines of communication to advance that agenda, and again deal responsibly with our differences so we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations, he said.

But he stressed that even as we seek to deepen cooperation, where our interests align, the United States is very clear-eyed about the challenges posed by (China) and about our competing visions for the future. America will always defend our core interests and values.

Notably, he said he raised ongoing concerns about Beijings supply of materials, including machine tools and micro electronics, to Moscow that President Vladimir Putin is using to boost Russias defenses and its war on Ukraine.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, Blinken told reporters after his meeting with Xi.

Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security, he added. As weve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will.

Blinken did not elaborate on how the U.S. would address the matter if China did not, but Washington has imposed large numbers of sanctions against Chinese firms for doing business with countries such as Russia, Iran and North Korea.

He said he urged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East  and convince North Korea to end its dangerous behavior and engage in dialogue.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday hailed military cooperation with China during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun in Kazakhstans capital, Astana.

Russian-Chinese military cooperation is an important element in increasing defense capability and maintaining global and regional stability. We regularly conduct joint operational and combat training on land, sea and in the air, and successfully practice combat training missions of varying degrees of complexity, Shoigu said.

He said the cooperation is important as new hotbeds of tension are emerging and old ones are exacerbating. In essence, this is the result of geopolitical adventures, selfish neo-colonial actions of the West.

Blinken also discussed with Xi Chinas maritime maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea, and reiterated ironclad American support for the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

Xi stressed that China and the U.S. must seek common ground rather than engage in vicious competition.

China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, the Chinese leader said. We hope the U.S. can also look at Chinas development in a positive light. This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed.

Earlier, Blinken held lengthy talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong.

He and Wang underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open as they lamented persistent and deepening divisions that threaten global security. Those divisions were highlighted earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a massive foreign aid bill that contains several elements that the Chinese see as problematic.

Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize, Wang told Blinken at the start of about 5 1/2 hours of talks. But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.

Wang also outlined, without being specific, well-known Chinese complaints about U.S. policies and positions on the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas right to conduct relations with countries it deems fit, saying Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed.

Chinas concerns are consistent, he said. We have always called for respect of each others core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, not to hold Chinas development back, and not to step on Chinas red lines on Chinas sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Blinken responded by saying that the Biden administration places a premium on U.S.-China dialogue even on issues of dispute. He noted there had been some progress in the past year but suggested that talks would continue to be difficult.

Blinken arrived in China on Wednesday, visiting Shanghai shortly before Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including $8 billion to counter Chinas growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It also seeks to force TikToks China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.

China and the United States are the major players in the Indo-Pacific. Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijings growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbors with which it has significant territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikToks sale, although Blinken said this issue did not come up in his talks on Friday.

The bill also allots $61 billion for Ukraine to defend itself from Russias invasion. Chinas foreign ministry said the U.S. position on Chinese defense trade with Russia was hypocritical when considered alongside the amount of military assistance Washington is providing to Kyiv.

It is extremely hypocritical and irresponsible for the U.S. side to introduce a bill for large-scale assistance to Ukraine while making groundless accusations against normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia, said ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

Shifting the blame to China will not solve the problem, nor will it alleviate the passive situation of the parties involved in the Ukraine crisis, he said.

(AP)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The topic, of course, is Hallel on Chol HaMoed as opposed to the actual Yom Tov. There is a difference between the two Chol HaMoeds. Why do we only say half Hallel on Chol HaMoed Pesach, but full Hallel on Chol HaMoed Sukkos?

It seems that there are a few answers or combinations of answers provided by the Gemorah and meforshim:

The Gemorah itself in Arachin 9a tells us that the offerings on Pesach are all the same after the first day. However, the offerings on Sukkos are different each day.

after the first day. However, the offerings on Sukkos are different each day. The Shibolei HaLeket quoted by the Bais Yosef (OC 490) quotes the Midrash that Hashem prevented the malachim from singing Hallel at the time that the Mitzrim were drowning. Hashem said, Maasei Yaddai tovim bayam vattem omrim shira?  My handiwork are drowning in the sea, and YOU ARE RECITING HALLEL??

Hashem said, Maasei Yaddai tovim bayam vattem omrim shira?  My handiwork are drowning in the sea, and YOU ARE RECITING HALLEL?? Another Midrash explains that it is because of the pasuk in Mishlei 24:18 which says, In the falling (death) of your enemy  do not rejoice . [It could be that the pasuk in Mishlei and the Midrash are one answer together. Or it could be that they are two different answers.]

. [It could be that the pasuk in Mishlei and the Midrash are one answer together. Or it could be that they are two different answers.] The Taz (OC 490:3) and Chavos Yair (225) explain that because of the midrash, full Hallel cannot be said on the seventh day of Passover, and it would be a bizayon, a disgrace to the Yom Tov  if Chol HaMoed had a more extensive Hallel than the last day of Yom Tov itself. Therefore, we limit the hallel recited on Chol HaMoed Pesach as well.

But what is the reason for this multiplicity of answers?

RAV AHARON KOTLERS ANSWER

Rav Aharon Kotler ztl in Mishnas Rebbe Aharon Maamarim (Vol. II p.3) explains that there are two types of Hallel that can be recited  one for a Yom Tov and one for the experience of a Nais  a miracle. He writes that both reasons are needed to explain why the full Hallel is not said. It doesnt require a full Hallel because of the fact that Musaf offerings do not warrant it. It would require it because of the Nais aspect  were it not for the fact that there was the suffering of the Mitzrim.

Also, what we recite on Chol HaMoed isnt really half hallel. It is more like 81 percent (62 lines out of 77 lines in the ArtScroll Siddur). Is there a reason why its so much more than half?

CONTRADICTORY PSUKIM IN MISHLEI

The truth is that there are contradictory Psukim in Mishlei. There is (24:18): In the falling (death) of your enemy  do not rejoice.

But there is another seemingly contradictory earlier verse. It was also written by Shlomo HaMelech  In the death of evil-doers  exhuberance! (Mishlei 11:10). How are these two verses to be understood together?

THE RALBAGS UNDERSTANDING  TOO MUCH IS NO GOOD

The Ralbag in interpreting the pasuk just before pasuk 18 in chapter 24, writes that inappropriate rejoicing over the matter will lead to Hashem removing His Divine Anger against that enemy and placing it upon you. It is clear from this Ralbag that too much rejoicing is wrong and dangerous. But what is too much?

It is interesting to note that the Alshich in Esther (5:3) writes that this is exactly why Esther wished to make Haman rejoice at the party. She did so in order that the Divine Will be turned against the evil Haman on account of his rejoicing at the fall of Israel.

APPROPRIATE REJOICING IS OKAY

We can infer from the Ralbag that although inappropriate rejoicing is wrong  appropriate rejoicing, where one is on the correct spiritual level, is fine. This is the type of rejoicing that is indicated in Chapter eleven.

THE MAHARSHAS AND RABBEINU YONAHS VIEWS

But what exactly is the correct spiritual level?

The Maharsha in Megillah 28a understands the verse in Chapter 24 as referring to someone who is rejoicing because of his feeling of hate toward his enemy. Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos 4:19 writes that that the high level in which rejoicing is permitted is if one does so in celebration of the Kavod Shamayaim  of the honor due to G-d at the fall of this evil-doer. This may be very much in line with our Ralbag.

THE ALSHICHS VIEW

The Alshich (Tehillim 5:11) qualifies the verse in Mishlei to refer only to a personal enemy, but one whose evil is so much against G-d  the opposite feeling is in order  one should, in fact, rejoice. Thus the Chapter eleven verse refers to one who is so evil in the eyes of G-d. The Alshich does not distinguish between our own levels, but rather the type of enemy that the pasuk refers to.

THE OTHER VIEW  THE MESHECH CHOCHMA AND GERRER REBBE

The Meshech Chochma (Shmos 12:16) writes that upright individuals do not rejoice at the death of others as do, say, some of the other nations. This seems to be across the board. Thus, on Passover, we celebrate the freedom of the Jewish people and not the fact that G-d punished the Egyptians. Similarly, on Chanukah, we celebrate the miracle of the oil lasting and not the fall of the Syrian Greeks. It would seem that the Meshech Chochma is not in agreement with the aforementioned Alshich in Tehillim.

The Gerrer Rebbe on Sukkos 5658 also expressed this thought. He explained that even though Yom Tovs must all have Simcha, the word is used only regarding Sukkos and not Pesach. Why? The death of the Egyptians that occurred on Pesach caused the use of the word Simcha in regard to Pesach as not appropriate.

The Yalkut Shimoni mentioned earlier (Mishlei 960) also points out that we do not recite a full Hallel on Pesach except for the first day because of the notion of not overly rejoicing over the deaths of enemies. Also, the Midrash points out, that Noah refrained from marital intimacy during the time that the evildoers in the world were being destroyed on account of the notion of the verse in chapter 24. Seemingly, this Midrash is not in accordance with the distinctions made by the Alshich and the Ralbag.

PERHAPS NOT ALL OF KLAL YISROEL FOLLOWED THIS

It may also be suggested that the notion was perhaps not necessarily universally adhered to by all of Klal Yisroel. How so? In Pirkei Avos (4:19) Shmuel HaKatan says almost the exact same thing as Shlomo haMelech did in Mishlei. The Rambam and the Bartenura point this out but remark that Shmuel actually utilized and taught this approach. The fact that the Mishna singles Shmuel HaKatan out for this indicates that it may not necessarily have been kept so universally. In fact, it could be that King David himself, the father of King Shlomo may have erred in his reciting of joyful song at the fall of Kush Ben Yemini, as pointed out in Midrash Tehillim (7).

The conclusion? It seems that the words of Rebbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos that if one rejoices at the Kavod Shamayim  the honor that finally justice has been accomplished with the knowledge that the honor of Heaven has been further enhanced and uplifted with this mans death  then one may rejoice, but nonetheless, it should still be tempered.

So, we do recite Hallel on Pesach, but not a full one. One should make sure that the feeling not come from an improper emotion. One may also take pride in the fact that Kavod Shamayim  the honor of Heaven was uplifted.

The aurgor can be reached at [email protected]
CNN National Correspondent Nick Watt was forced to cut his live report short on Wednesday after being surrounded by anti-Israel protesters at the University of Southern California (USC). The atmosphere turned unpleasant as protesters attempted to intimidate Watt and his news crew, CNN reported.

As Watt tried to continue his report, a protester wearing a face covering interrupted the shot, prompting Watt to say, Show your face. Show your face. Show your face. Why are you scared to show your face?

Despite the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) being called to the scene, the situation escalated, with protesters shouting and attempting to wave a Palestinian flag in front of the camera. Watt appeared flustered, saying, Anyway, I think we should probably go because its getting a little nasty here More than 50 people arrested. You know, back to you guys, we need to go.

The camera quickly returned to the CNN studio, where anchor Laura Coates expressed concern for Watts safety, saying, I could hear the commotion, Nick. Please stay safe.

USC has announced that its campus will remain closed until further notice following the large anti-Israel protest that resulted in 93 arrests.

The protest, which lasted for several hours, saw clashes between demonstrators, campus police, and the LAPD. The arrested individuals were taken into custody for trespassing, with the LAPDstating that they will undergo a lengthy booking process. It is unclear whether they will be cited or face further charges.

One protester was also arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, although details of the incident and the nature of the weapon were not disclosed. The arrest led to the dispersal of the remaining protesters in the area.

According to the LAPD, no injuries were reported among protesters or officers during the demonstration. The university announced the end of the protest at 11:58 p.m. and confirmed that the campus would remain closed until further notice.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An Israeli civilian was killed overnight Thursday by an anti-tank missile fired by the Hezbollah terror group in southern Lebanon toward the Har Dov area.

The victim was Sharif Suad, an Israel-Arab from the village of Ras al-Ein in the Galil. Saud was carrying out infrastructure work for the IDF at the border area. He was working at night to reduce the risk of being exposed to Hezbollah attacks.

He was killed when an anti-tank missile hit the truck he was driving near the border. His body was recovered in a complex and multi-hour rescue operation by the IDF under fire.

The IDF attacked the sources of the fire with artillery fire and tanks.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
According to a report from ABC News, Washington has decided against imposing sanctions on Israeli military and police units that the United States has accused of human rights violations against Palestinians, including the Netzach Yehuda Battalion.

While the Biden administration acknowledges gross human rights violations committed by the IDF against Palestinians in the West Bank, the relevant battalions will still be eligible for US military assistance.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed this assessment in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as reported by ABC. Blinken emphasized that this decision will not delay the delivery of any US assistance, allowing Israel to receive the full amount allocated by Congress.

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure, which includes support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The legislation provides $17 billion in wartime assistance to Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian relief for Gaza and other conflict-affected regions. Biden highlighted the inclusion of $1 billion in additional humanitarian aid for Gaza during a White House event announcing the bills signing.

The ABC report points out that allegations of rights abuses by IDF units occurred before the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7, triggered by Hamass brutal massacre in southern Israel. Importantly, none of the reported cases involve operations against Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, engaged in separate discussions with Blinken this week to dissuade Washington from pursuing reported plans to impose sanctions on Netzach Yehuda.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A senior officer at the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Pehr Lodhammar, has stated during a briefing in Geneva that the extensive rubble and unexploded ordnance left behind by the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip may require approximately 14 years to clear.

Lodhammar reported that the war has resulted in an estimated 37 million tons of debris scattered across the densely populated coastal enclave, which presents significant challenges for removal efforts.

While the exact number of unexploded ordnance in Gaza remains uncertain, Lodhammar emphasized the potential time frame for debris clearance, suggesting that it could take up to 14 years under certain conditions. He highlighted the persistence of unexploded ammunition, estimating a failure rate of at least 10 percent, and outlined the magnitude of the task ahead, indicating the need for 100 trucks to address the extensive cleanup process.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Mike Henry is in danger of being regarded as public enemy number one by backers of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The BHP boss was instrumental in shifting the groups main share listing from the City to Sydney in 2022.

He is now laying siege to one of Londons great heritage companies, Anglo American.

BHP has been working on how best to structure a deal for more than a year with a view to gaining control of copper assets seen as the future in the green energy era.

The UK used to be regarded as the home for natural resource companies.

Takeover plot: BHP boss Mike Henry (pictured) was instrumental in shifting the groups main share listing from the City to Sydney in 2022

The prospective 29.5billion offer for Anglo would be a further blow to the efforts to rebuild the reputation of London as a place to list shares.

Eliminating a top constituent of the FTSE 100 would raise concerns that the London discount  the undervaluation of UK stocks relative to US counterparts could expose other firms such as Reckitt Benckiser and Burberry to takeover risk.

One of the great strengths of UK stock markets has been the natural resources sector.

The close relationship of the UK with Australia, South Africa and Canada, where extraction industries are critical, gave the London market cachet.

It attracted resources firms from Latin America and Russia among other places. Indeed, in 2011 the LSE came close to buying the mining-rich Toronto exchange but was blocked by Canadian authorities.

BHP will not necessarily triumph in pursuit of Anglo-American. But it will almost certainly tempt other buyers.

Those mentioned are Indias Vedanta, which made a previous failed offer, or perhaps a Chinese miner.

Glencore, which last year was frustrated in a bid for the whole of Teck Resources with its valuable copper interests, will be watching. Anglo-Americans board faces a difficult defence.

The share price has been static over the last two decades while rivals such as BHP prospered.

The sparkle which came with ownership of De Beers, the worlds dominant diamond producer, has worn off.

Anglo itself is no longer an enthusiastic owner amid competition from manufactured stones. BHP would almost certainly look to dispose of De Beers.

It is not just the London exchange which would suffer a setback should Anglo-American be absorbed and broken up.

A BHP deal probably would lead to a political backlash in South Africa. The Oppenheimer dynasty (no longer involved) left a lasting mark on South Africa as a liberal force during apartheid.

It is no accident that South Africas Public Investment Corporation, which manages government employee pensions, is among the largest equity holders, with 10pc of Anglo.

The complex BHP deal is also dependent on the separate distribution to existing shareholders of holdings in two publicly quoted South African entities Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore.

In the UK, a deal would again place a question mark over the fate of the Woodsmith fertiliser project, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, which employs up to 1,300 people.

Henrys ultimate objective is to be a dominant force in copper, adding ownership of mines in Chile and Peru to current operations.

A deal would give BHP some 10 per cent of the world market at a time when demand has been growing exponentially.

Buying companies on the London market has been made easy because of the replacement of UK-run funds by an assortment of US investors interested in quick wins rather than the public interest.

This is not a transaction which is going to be rushed. It will be reviewed by competition authorities across the globe and that could take 18 months. The fear must be that if Anglo-American is lost then other miners will be shaken off the tree.

Glencore is under pressure from activist Tribeca to shift its listing to Sydney. Shell, the FTSE 100s biggest company, has hinted at moving to New York amid concern that climate change enthusiasts are making Britain hostile to big oil.

Anglo-American will not vanish without a fight. Political ramifications for the City and in the groups South African hinterland may prove more important than the bid on the table.
Rocketed? Soared? Took off? Whatever word you choose, news that Elon Musk's SpaceX could become a major Filtronic shareholder definitely set a fire under the AIM-listed microwave technology company.

Filtronic on Wednesday confirmed that it will supply 'E-band Solid State Power Amplifier' modules for SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation under a $19.7million deal.

In conjunction with the strategic partnership, Filtronic will issue a total of 21.7 million warrants to SpaceX, allowing the US rocket group to acquire 10 per cent of Filtronic's equity base.

The first modules are scheduled for delivery in 2025, with further order flow expected to continue thereafter to support the ongoing deployment of SpaceX's Starlink constellation.

SpaceX's vice president of Starlink engineering Mike Nicolls called Filtronic an 'outstanding supplier for Starlink'.

Eyeing deal: Elon Musk's SpaceX could become a major shareholder in tech firm Filtronic

Previously little-heard-of Filtronic's shares took to the air, ascended to the stars etc etc, adding 43 per cent over the week to smash an all-time high of 47.34p.

The AIM All-Share Index had a resoundingly solid week in general, having climbed 1.5 per cent over the five-day session to hit 756 come Friday.

This was only half as good as the FTSE 100 index though. Stellar earnings from domestic big caps including AstraZeneca, LSEG, Barclays, Reckitt and more (not to mention a good showing from Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet across the pond), sent the blue-chip index to a string of all-time highs amid a 2.7 per cent weekly rally.

Speaking of all-time highs, how many small caps can claim to be at all-time highs right now?

This reporter hasn't done the requisite research, but there's at least two now.

AIM-listed cosmetics supplier Warpaint London plc's sales, margins and profits hit a record last year following significant growth across all geographical regions. Warpaint's shares spiked to an all-time high of a tidy 500p, closing the week 8.5 per cent higher.

Filtronic wasn't the only AIM member to benefit from a big-cap tie-up.

ANGLE PLC shares jumped 30 per cent following the announcement of a strategic partnership with AstraZeneca that aims to advance cancer drug development by enhancing ANGLE's DNA damage response assay.

Specifically, the collaboration will focus on adapting ANGLE's existing Parsortix-based assay for identifying micronuclei in circulating tumour cells (CTCs), a crucial step in studying DNA damage responses.

ANGLE's shares fell back a bit later in the week, but still closed a respectable 23 per cent higher.

Base Resources Ltd topped the small-cap leagues with a 131 per cent gain on its share price. The mineral sands miner announced a merger with US-based Energy Fuels to create a global critical minerals business.

Tim Carstens, Base Resources' managing director, said the deal was the culmination of twelve months of discussions and the group will focus on developing the world-class Toliara project in Madagascar.

Solid-state battery technology group Ilika had what is technically known as a blinder of a week, news-wise.

An early-week trading update noted that cash and cash equivalents for the year are higher than expected due to cost reduction activity resulting from its 10-year deal with US firm Cirtec. Then on Friday, Ilika told investors that it's teamed up with Tata's battery business Agratas for a solid-state battery project.

Ilika shares added around 7 per cent throughout the week as a result.

Ferrexpo plc shares added 8.5 per cent as production at the Ukraine-based iron pellet maker hit its highest since the Russian invasion, while exports have also resumed from ports in the country.

Made Tech, the supplier of data and technology services to the public sector, travelled to the top of the movers list with a 43 per cent share price gain. The group was awarded a new 19.5million contract with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, thus continuing a strong five-year partnership with the government body.

Video streaming solutions provider Aferian plc was among the biggest weekly fallers on the junior market, with shares falling 40 per cent to an all-time low.

In a trading update, African said revenues and earnings will be at the lower end of previous guidance. A 'further deterioration' in trading in its Amino division has forced a further restructuring of the business and it is seeking a refinancing deal with lenders.

Destiny Pharma said it is exploring 'strategic options' to advance the development of XF-73 nasal, a breakthrough gel to prevent postoperative infections. Shares dipped 24 per cent.

Ironveld plc fell 80 per cent after signing off on a 125,000 working capital loan with shareholder Tracarta.
More than 100billion was wiped off the value of Meta as fears mount over the Facebook owners huge spending on artificial intelligence (AI).

Shares in the company, which also owns Instagram and Whats- App, fell 10.6 per cent in New York after it said expenses would be higher than previously forecast.

That wiped 105billion off Metas value. In an update on Tuesday, the group said it will fork out as much as 32billion in 2024  up from a previous forecast of 30billion.

Boss Mark Zuckerberg said the group should invest significantly more to build even more advanced models and the largest-scale AI services in the world.

The FTSE 100 topped 8100 for the first time, rising as high as 8102, before it eased back slightly.

AI drive: Shares in Facebook-owner Meta, which also owns Instagram and Whats App, fell 11.1% in New York after it said expenses would be higher than previously forecast

However, it remained up by 0.5 per cent, or 38.48 points, to 8078.86. The FTSE 250 was down 0.6 per cent, or 117.39 points, to 19,601.98.

Housebuilder Persimmon is on course to build between 10,000 and 10,500 homes this year.

It built 1,027 between January and March, 10 per cent below the same period last year, while sales rose as did enquiries. But shares fell 0.7 per cent, or 9.5p, to 1282.5p.

Travel retailer WH Smiths high street sales, which fell 4 per cent to 256million in the first half to February 6, took the shine off an otherwise strong set of results.

Shares dropped 6 per cent, or 76p, to 1182p. Ad giant WPP slid 0.9 per cent, or 7.4p, to 796.4p due to a poor performance in North America, its largest market.

There, sales fell 5.2 per cent to 1.06billion in the first three months of the year as tech clients cut spending and contracts ended.

That led to revenues falling 1.6 per cent to 2.7billion.

Stock Watch - Inchcape Inchcape rose 9.3 per cent, or 67p, to 786p after a bright start to life in car distribution. Revenues rose 5 per cent to 2.3billion in the first three months of the year  driven by strong trading in places such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Inchcape also won a contract with Ford to distribute vehicles in Estonia. It recently sold its UK retail business for 346million and now works with car makers to plan the pricing, timing and logistics of bringing vehicles to market.

Schroders reported 760.4billion of assets under management  up from 750.6billion in the previous quarter.

Its update came a day after the investment firm said its chief executive Peter Harrison will retire next year. Shares retreated 5.5 per cent, or 20p, to 347.2p.

British engineer Senior will be paid 104million to work with Spirit Aerosystems for another five years to supply components for Boeing aircraft. It saw stock rise 2.4 per cent, or 3.8p, to 163.8p.

Hikma rose 2.3 per cent, or 41p, to 1854p after the pharma group hiked its dividend for last year and had a strong start to 2024.Biotech firm Destiny Pharma is to review how it can maximise value for its nasal gel.

It hopes a trial will lead to a licensing deal for a treatment to prevent post-surgical infections, and narrowed losses to 6.4million last year, down from 7.7million in 2022. It fell 22.1 per cent, or 4.75p, to 16.75p.

Business was tough for Travis Perkins after sales fell 3.7 per cent in the first quarter  but the builders merchants shares increased 1 per cent, or 7p, to 719,5p.

Brick maker Ibstock had a sluggish start to the year as construction activity was weak and sales were worse than hoped due to rain. It fell 1.9 per cent, or 2.8p, to 147p.

Durham tech group Kromek, which makes products to identify cancer and dirty bombs, will get 2.3million from a US federal agency for its nuclear security kit. It rose 7.1 per cent, or 0.5p, to 7.5p.
Unilever boss Hein Schumacher is to spin off the company's ice cream business next year

Unilever is talking to the Government about listing its ice-cream business in London rather than in Amsterdam or New York.

Boss Hein Schumacher is to spin off a 15billion company that includes household names Ben & Jerrys, Walls and Magnum next year.

The Dutch chief executive was tight-lipped about whether Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had got involved in talks but said that there had been regular updates with people in government.

But the troubled London stock market faces hot competition from exchanges in Amsterdam and New York.

Schumacher said Unilever would look at all the options on the table. We are really at the beginning, he said, adding that dedicated project teams are progressing the work at pace.

The remarks came as the maker of Dove soaps and Hellmanns mayonnaise sold 2.2 per cent more goods in the first quarter of 2024, lifting shares 5.6 per cent to 4082p.

And he insisted he was doubling down, not watering down his stance on plastic packaging, pay and diversity.

Last week, the firm rowed back some sustainability pledges amid an investor backlash.

It is felt London would be a natural home for its ice-cream firm as it is where Unilever is listed and it is the birthplace of Walls, in 1922.

But Dutch officials believe Amsterdam is the favourite.

London could net a rare listing as Greek industrials conglomerate Mytilineos, listed in Athens and valued at 4.7billion, ponders a multi-billion-pound float.
British companies have been labelled sitting ducks as foreign predators hunt takeover bargains in London.

The swoop on Anglo American  the second FTSE 100 firm to receive a takeover bid this year  has sparked speculation over which company will be next.

City analysts think vulnerable blue-chip stocks include BP, Unilever, BP, Reckitt Benckiser, Standard Chartered, Entain and Burberry, (whose values are listed above).

Other targets include names such as Dr Martens and Aston Martin, according to AJ Bell, which said companies are under threat mainly because they are undervalued in the UK market but have strong brand value.

Dan Coatsworth, of AJ Bell, said: Publicly, these companies might give the impression everything is fine but behind closed doors management could be worried they are sitting ducks for predators seeking bargains.

City analysts think vulnerable blue-chip stocks include BP, Unilever, BP, Reckitt Benckiser, Standard Chartered, Entain and Burberry

Susannah Streeter, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said predators eye bigger firms to get immediate bang for their buck.

Overseas buyers are still likely to steer more clear of growth stocks offering the promise of jam tomorrow and focus on those offering jam today in terms of solid earnings, she said.

Abrdn investment manager Sasha Kachanova said: Burberry remains a potential takeover target, particularly at its current valuation.

The speculation comes as FTSE 250 music firm Hipgnosis is at the centre of its own bidding war.

The group, which owns the song catalogues of the likes of Beyonce and Blondie, yesterday backed an increased offer from rival Concord, valuing it at 1.2billion.

It previously backed a separate bid from private equity titan Blackstone. But takeover tussles have become the norm.

Packager DS Smith, telecoms firm Spirent Communications and haulage firm Wincanton have fallen to overseas bidders.

Insurer Direct Line and electrical retailer Currys have fended off recent approaches.

The sorry state of affairs has led to some experts warning that the London stock market is facing death by a thousand cuts.

There are growing concerns in the City and Westminster that there is a lack of investment in UK stocks which has left them undervalued and vulnerable.

And some companies, including Paddy Power-owner Flutter, building supplier CRH and plumbing group Ferguson, are leaving London to list elsewhere, such as New York.

A further concern is the lack of companies joining the stock market through so-called initial public offerings.

In a report, Peel Hunt has warned that an index of small UK firms could be wiped out in four years in a feeding frenzy.

Brokers say the FTSE Small Cap will cease to exist if relentless merger and acquisition activity continues.

The index, made up of firms on the UK main market that are not big enough for the FTSE 100 or FTSE 250, has seen numbers drop from 160 in 2018 to 114 last year. If we extrapolate the current trend, the last company will leave in 2028, its report said.

The prospect of a big hitter such as BP and Unilever being snapped up prompted an intervention from one of Britains best-known stock-pickers this week.

Nick Train, of Lindsell Train, this week said a bid for a substantive UK company could change investor sentiment about unloved domestic shares.
Marco Amitrano is to become the new boss of accountancy giant PwC

UK partners at accounting giant PwC have chosen the only man from its three-person shortlist to become their next leader.

Marco Amitrano, the firms head of clients and markets, was chosen ahead of female rivals Laura Hinton and Hemione Hudson.

None of the so-called Big Four accounting firms  which includes Deloitte, EY and KPMG  has ever been led in Britain by a woman.

Italian-born Amitrano, who has been with PwC for 32 years, will start a four-year term in July, replacing current boss Kevin Ellis.

Ellis described his successor as a fantastic leader, with a deep understanding of our business.

Three-quarters of PwC UKs partners are men and it has admitted that women are underrepresented in the industry. The gender pay gap at the firm stood at 7.1 per cent last year.
Anglo American has rejected rival BHP Group's 31.1billion takeover proposal, which the London-listed miner said significantly undervalued the company and its future prospects.

BHPs megadeal offer intended to create a mining behemoth, responsible for around 10 per cent of global copper production.

But analysts last night said BHP would have to improve its offer, which faced political opposition in South Africa and investors describing the bid as opportunistic due to Anglos depressed valuation.

Anglo chair Stuart Chambers described the deal as opportunistic and fails to value Anglo American's prospects'

And FTSE 100-listed Anglo on Friday shared those sentiments, concluding that the Proposal significantly undervalues Anglo American and its future prospects.

The deal would have forced Anglo to demerge both its platinum business and its Kumba Iron Ore unit, a proposal the group said is highly unattractive for its shareholders given the uncertaincomplexity and significant execution risks involved.

Anglo American shares were flat at around 2,559.5p on Friday morning, having been supercharged yesterday by the BHP bid.

BHP shares were down 1.1 per cent to 2,285p.

Anglo chair Stuart Chambers described the deal as opportunistic and fails to value Anglo American's prospects, while significantly diluting the relative value upside participation of Anglo American's shareholders relative to BHP's shareholders.

He added: Anglo American is well positioned to create significant value from its portfolio of high quality assets that are well aligned with the energy transition and other major demand trends.

With copper representing 30 per cent of Anglo American's total production, and with the benefit of well-sequenced and value-accretive growth options in copper and other structurally attractive products, the Board believes that Anglo American's shareholders stand to benefit from what we expect to be significant value appreciation as the full impact of those trends materialises.

Anglo American has defined clear strategic priorities - of operational excellence, portfolio, and growth - to deliver full value potential and is entirely focused on that delivery.
Darktrace could be the latest high-profile name to leave the London Stock Exchange after it agreed to a $5billion (4.3billion) takeover bid by a US private equity firm.

The cybersecurity company has agreed terms with Thoma Bravo, which tried to snap up Darktrace two years ago until talks broke down.

Thoma Bravo is now offering 6.20 per share, 20 per cent higher than Darktrace's closing price on Thursday and a 44.3 per cent premium to its average share price over the past three months.

Takeover bid: Cybersecurity company Darktrace has received an offer from US private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which tried to snap up Darktrace two years ago

It believes the acquisition represents an 'attractive opportunity' to boost its presence in the cybersecurity sector, accelerate the group's growth and boost the development of artificial intelligence products.

The Chicago-based firm already has investments in dozens of software developers, such as British business Sophos, a security software seller it bought for 3billion four years ago.

If Thoma Bravo buys Darktrace, it would mark another blow for London's shrinking public markets, which have recently lost multiple prominent companies to foreign buyers.

Well-known acquisitions in the past few years have included G4S, Hotel Chocolat, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, supermarket chain Morrisons, and fashion brand Ted Baker.

UK-listed firms are perceived as easy targets for takeover due to their perceived undervaluation compared to rival global peers and the pound's depreciation since the Brexit referendum.

Darktrace told investors on Friday that its financial and operational accomplishments have not been 'reflected commensurately' in its valuation.

Gordon Hurst, chairman of Darktrace, said: 'The offer represents an attractive premium and an opportunity for shareholders to receive the certainty of a cash consideration at a fair value for their shares.'

Darktrace shares jumped 17.5 per cent to 607.4p on early Friday afternoon following the deal's announcement, more than twice their 250p flotation price.

Its share price has undergone significant turbulence since listing in April 2021, initially rising to over 10 before plunging after broker Peel Hunt alleged Darktrace was significantly overvalued.

Later on, the company was targeted by short-sellers ShadowFall and Quintessential Capital Management, with the latter accusing it of questionable accounting practices.

An independent probe by auditor EY highlighted 'a number of areas' where Darktrace could make improvements but said none of the firm's previous financial statements required correction.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Darktrace uses artificial intelligence in software to protect organisations against cyber threats, such as ransomware, email phishing, and software-as-a-service attacks.

Its clients have included the Royal Mint, satellite operator OneWeb, cruise giant Royal Caribbean, and the power generation provider Drax Group.

Entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who is standing trial in San Francisco accused of fraud at Autonomy, a company he sold to HP in 2011, was one of Darktrace's early backers.

Lynch, who has pled not guilty to 16 counts of conspiracy and wire fraud, and his wife stand to make around 300million should Thoma Bravo buy Darktrace.

Dan Ridsdale, head of technology at Edison Group, said: 'The [takeover] deal is certainly a blow for the UK stock market, which is losing one of its few structural growth technology companies of significant scale.

'Ultimately, a market which is underweight structural growth will underperform those in which it is well represented, and that is what we have seen from the UK over the past number of years.'
The Tanaiste has voiced concerns about growing militancy of groups in Ireland who he accused of attempting to characterise the Government as a regime that needs to be overthrown.

Micheal Martin said democracy was under threat amid an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws and maintain those laws.

Mr Martin made the comments as he condemned scenes of disorder in Co Wicklow on Thursday evening when Garda members were attacked as a protest at a site earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation turned violent.

We as a society have to make it very clear as a government and as a society that we will not tolerate any infringement on people going about their daily work, and in particular will not accept attacks on members of An Garda Siochana, he told reporters in Dublin.

Members of An Garda Siochana are the key to a democratic society and to cohesion of a democratic society and what we are witnessing is unacceptable.

And we will give every support that we have to the gardai in the light of what is without question an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws and maintain those laws, An Garda Siochana.

Mr Martin said the Government would discuss at cabinet level if further support was needed for the Garda.

I think theres a fundamental point in terms of where Irish society is going and the level of commentary, the coarseness of the commentary, the abuse, the violent nature of that commentary and now, as we see, in actions as well, that threatens our democracy, that threatens the way of life, he added.

We have challenges, we have pressures, and we have pressure from migration, we know that, (but) this isnt tolerable.

Asked about threads on social media agitating for civil conflict, Mr Martin expressed concern.

Im very, very concerned about that type of language and that type of militancy that is emerging among some groups, he said.

But Im very clear that the vast, vast majority of Irish people want nothing to do with that and oppose that.

Weve got to reflect the views of the vast majority of people who want civil order, who want our gardai protected and they want the gardai to be allowed to do their daily duties unhindered.

So, the obligation of government is to support the democratic will of the people in respect of the upholding of basic law and order and civil order and how we do things.

And we understand the challenges and pressures and many local communities and many people out there who have legitimate concerns and legitimate interests that theyre entitled to raise.

But he said some threads that he has seen described the Government as a regime to be overthrown.

Were going to have to stand up to that, he added.
Kansas City's top conservative scribe offers his take on falling test scores that aren't just to blame on "migrants" from across the world . . . But many parents from school districts across the metro looking for refuge . . . Check-it:



At Shawnee Mission West, for instance, according to the Kansas Department of Education, only 33% of 10th-graders were rated proficient  meaning college and career ready  in English/Language Arts (ELA). For math, that figure was 20%.



West is hardly an outlier.



At Shawnee Mission South, the numbers were 37% for ELA and 30% for math  at Shawnee Mission Northwest, 37% and 31%. At Shawnee Mission East, the historic apple of the districts eye, less than half the students tested proficient in math and barely half in ELA.



Do the parents know this?



I pick on Shawnee Mission for a reason. Close to the historic heart of Kansas City, it is the district Kansas City refugees have found least alien. Olathe? De Soto? You kidding? Lately, however, these folks have been taking the Santa Fe Trail to Blue Valley, which, Im told, is now the district of choice in metro KC.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
This is probs the closest we'll get to a public service message . . . Our biggest concern is that we don't come off preachy given that we merely serve to share info that we find interesting.



Sure, sometimes we'll warn that backdoor shenanigans come with inherent risks but skeptical souls often discount our genuine concern amid so much snark and hottie celebrities reported upon on by this blog.

Maybe we're feeling a bit of Catholic guilt over joining the hype for the historic Missouri legal weed boom.



Either way . . . Recent blogging about cash crop profits got us thinking about a longstanding local connection to good times by way of dangerous substances . . . Again, we were inspired by local bar celebration of this town's sketchy history:



The Wise Guy readies for grand opening inside former Rieger Hotel - Kansas City Business Journal Restaurateurs Bret Springs and Zach Marten want The Wise Guy to become a go-to neighborhood joint, from business meetings to date nights.

Glamorizing mobsters is fun for middle-class dorks but generally EVERYBODY KNOWS that bars make their profits by selling customers what is tantamount to poison in much the same way that gangsters seem cool until they're kicking you in the face.



Similarly . . .

Weed has garnered more sympathy for medicinal uses that seem legit but it's IMPROBABLE that so many people are BUYING BILLIONS WORTH OF LEGAL WEED to help their glaucoma.

A quick consideration . . .



Is Marijuana Bad for Health? Here's What We Know So Far Marijuana's health impacts-good and bad-are coming into focus

Democrats urge DEA to end delay, 'swiftly' reclassify status of marijuana - UPI.com Twenty-one Congressional Democrats sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday, urging officials to "swiftly" reschedule marijuana's drug status.

And so tonight, because April is Alcohol Awareness Month despite so much of our local economy is dependent upon liquored up gut fests . . . We'll share just a few more resources about the rising tide of booze drowning Americans that started during the pandemic and continues to impact locals more than most of us would like to admit.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Alcohol vs. Edibles: Is One Worse for Your Health Than the Other? Are edibles healthier than alcohol? Learn what experts have to say about the long- and short-term implications of each.

Youth alcohol, e-cigarette use 'alarming': WHO The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm on the use of alcohol and e-cigarettes in adolescents, calling the widespread use "alarming" in a new analysis. The WHO, in a report published Thursday, said their findings show a "concerning picture" of substance use in youth, according to data from age groups 11, 13 and 15....

Hangovers suddenly worse? Researchers think COVID could be the cause Can't handle your booze like you used to? You might have COVID-19 to blame, according to researchers at Stanford University.

Why Are Older Americans Drinking So Much? The pandemic played a role in increased consumption, but alcohol use among people 65 and older was climbing even before 2020.

60% of Americans battling drug or alcohol addiction also have jobs. Here are the professions with the highest rates of substance-use disorder 60% of Americans with drug or alcohol addictions are employed. "If you think that you do not have anyone in recovery or with substance-use [issues] in your business, you're either too small, or you're mistaken."

Taylor Swift sings about being 'a functioning alcoholic.' What does it mean? Taylor Swift's song "Fortnight" on her new album has lyrics that include the line "I was a functioning alcoholic." Addiction doctor explains what that means.

Alcohol Awareness Month: Examining The Ills of Alcohol Use Disorder Discover the rising rates of alcohol-related deaths and the health implications of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. Find out how recovery advocates are addressing this issue in Washington, D.C.

Hopefully, we'll have more for the next update . . . STAY TUNED!!!
Authorities are desperately seeking a conversation with a group of young men following a recent spate of gunfire on the Country Club Plaza.

What we noticed from this Friday alert . . .

SHOULD WE BLAME PLAZA GUNFIRE ON CONT'D KIA BOYZ CAR CRIME TREND?!?



At the very least . . . Take note of the ride description as well.

Here are more deets and reporting . . .

Police responded to the shots fired incident shortly after 6:30 p.m. on April 6 near W. 47th Street and Central Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.



A window at the Shake Shack was damaged by gunfire, as were multiple vehicles in the area.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCPD attempting to identify 8 people in April 'shots fired' incident on the Country Club Plaza Police said multiple vehicles had been shot into, including one vehicle with a person inside.

KCPD seeks public's help after shots fired on Country Club Plaza Kansas City police are asking for help identifying people who could be connected to the shots fired on April 6 at the Country Club Plaza.
Shame on our public radio betters . . .

They're reporting a neighborhood victory as some kind of rebuke of "unhoused" people.

In fact . . .

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS OPPOSED KANSAS CITY 'LOW-BARRIER' PLANS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO HUD RULES & REGS!!!

Per ushe, City Hall wanted to dump a half-baked plan on the urban core but locals including council members LISTENED to nearby residents who offered a myriad of so many reasons why the scheme wouldn't work.

Here's the aftermath report . . . For now . . .



"Following months of contentious debate and public outcry, the Kansas City Council voted 8-2 Thursday to restart the application process to build a low-barrier shelter  a type of homeless shelter that is accessible to everyone regardless of race, religion, sobriety, gender or other condition.



"The councils action means that Hope Faith, a nonprofit that provides shelter and services to unhoused Kansas Citians, will have to reapply for more than $7 million in federal funds it was initially granted through the city. Hope Faith and other organizations will have 30 days to apply, after which the city will consider the proposals and move forward."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City's homeless advocates, city leaders weigh funding for low barrier shelters A Kansas City, Missouri, city council committee passed a resolution Wednesday to issue a new request for proposal for a low barrier homeless shelter.
A showdown is underway over Kansas taxpayer cash.



Here are the basics . . .



"Gov. Laura Kelly and her staff had signalled that she had misgivings about a package of income, sales and property tax cuts worth $1.5 billion over the next three years. Her chief of staff said before it cleared the Legislature this month that it was larger than Kelly thought the state could afford in the long term. The governor also told fellow Democrats that she believes Kansas' current three personal income tax rates ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share. The plan would have moved to two rates.



"The governor immediately proposed new tax cuts worth roughly $1.3 billion over the next three years, but the Kansas House's top Republican immediately said the governor isn't serious about tax relief. The Legislature was set to reconvene Thursday following a spring break and wrap up its work for the year in just six days."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link from "many sides" of the issue . . .

Kansas governor vetoes bipartisan plan to slash income, property and sales taxes * Kansas Reflector Gov. Laura Kelly rejected a bipartisan package of tax cuts Wednesday and proposed a cheaper alternative, setting up a showdown with lawmakers who return Thursday to the Statehouse after a three-week break.

Kansas' governor vetoed tax cuts again over their costs. Some fellow Democrats backed it Kansas' Democratic governor on Wednesday vetoed a broad package of tax cuts for the second time in three months, describing it as "too expensive."

Kelly veto of HB 2036 shows disdain for taxpayers and the state's economy - The Sentinel Kelly could at least be honest and say her veto of HB 2036 is just a dictatorial power play.

Developing . . .
A hot take from the Missouri leader encourages more law enforcement action from the National Guard despite his "iconic" fondness for civil unrest after the 2020 election . . . Check-it:



Sen. Josh Hawley: These students are a 'disgrace' -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., calls for action against anti-Israel protesters on campuses from New York to Los Angeles on 'Hannity.'



Here's the interview via www.TonysKansasCity.com embed . . .
Toronto police have charged an Oshawa man after he allegedly lured children over the Internet using Snapchat.

Investigators carried out a search warrant on April 25 at an Oshawa residence after receiving reports a suspect had been luring a child on the Internet using the social media platform Snapchat and the username Starboy_xx0, say police.

As part of their investigation into the alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials, officers executed a search warrant at an address in the Thornton Road North and Rossland Road West area and seized an electronic device, police say.

As a result, a 24-year-old Oshawa man was arrested and charged with luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication, luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication and invitation to sexual touching. He also faces charges of make child pornography, make available sexually explicit material to a person under 16, possess child pornography, access child pornography, make available child pornography and breach of probation.

Police say investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-8500.
A recent incident involving three young men climbing White Rock in Queensland's Spring Mountain Conservation Estate has sparked a heated debate.

The event occurred this past Saturday when the men were spotted on the sacred site, which is culturally significant to the Yagara people as a women's area. Local regulations and cultural protocols strictly prohibit climbing on White Rock, yet the men disregarded these rules.

Trespassing at White Rock Causes Uproar

White Rock, known to the Yagara people as Nugum/Boogun, is a protected cultural heritage site under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003. Despite being a popular hiking destination with a 1.5-kilometer trail leading up to it, climbing on the rock itself and its adjacent southern ridge is not allowed.

According to news.com.au, this is out of respect for its significance as a place where Indigenous women have historically gathered and held ceremonies.

The issue came to light when a local captured a video of the men, one of whom was shirtless, and shared it on a Facebook group. The post labeled the men as "ignorant and disrespectful" for ignoring the signs that clearly mark the climbing ban. This act has led to strong reactions from the community, with many condemning the trespassing as an invasion of a sacred space.

While some argue that people should be free to explore natural sites, others emphasize the importance of respecting cultural traditions and legal restrictions.

The City of Ipswich has reiterated that the area remains a significant cultural landscape for the traditional owners, linking them to their country and identity.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding the access and use of natural sites considered sacred by Indigenous communities. Similar discussions occur across Australia as traditional owners seek to protect their heritage while balancing public access to these lands.

Related Article : Australian Airports Face Risk as Aviation Firefighters Plan to Walk Off

White Rock Conservation Area Plans 20-Year Upgrade

Ipswich City Council has announced a 20-year master plan to enhance the White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate. This plan aims to improve visitor experiences while protecting the estate's natural and cultural values.

In a report released by Ipswich First in 2020, Mayor Teresa Harding highlighted that these changes are crucial as nearby areas like Ripley and Redbank are expected to see rapid growth.

The estate, which covers 2,633 hectares, is the largest protected natural area in Ipswich and a vital part of the Flinders-Karawatha Corridor.

It supports 14 significant species and numerous sacred sites, including White Rock, caves, and overhangs that are important for cultural education and connection.

The plan, funded by the Enviroplan Levy, includes upgrades like better trails, new boardwalks, and educational signs, especially around key features such as White Rock and the Bluff. These improvements aim to educate visitors about the area's cultural and environmental significance.

The first phase also proposes enhancements to the Paperbark Flats picnic area and the integration of native plants in landscaping to reflect local flora. The proposal will be reviewed by the Full Council next week.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has canceled visits to Labadee, Haiti, for the summer and early fall seasons. The decision comes after the U.S. State Department issued a severe travel warning. This affects multiple ships including Adventure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Revises Destinations

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is making changes to its itinerary. Due to safety concerns, the cruise line will no longer stop at Labadee, Haiti. This decision affects trips planned for the summer and early fall.

Royal Caribbean had already stopped visits to this private resort through the end of May. Now, this break is extended. Instead of stopping in Haiti, these cruises will visit other places or spend a day at sea.

The cruise line's decision follows a warning from the U.S. State Department. According to AL.com, the government advises against traveling to Haiti because of very high levels of kidnapping, crime, and unrest. The healthcare system there is also not well-equipped.

Haiti is currently at a Level Four travel advisory. This is the same serious warning level given to countries like Russia and Syria.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line cares about the safety of its guests and crew. This is why they decided to avoid stops in Haiti. The ships affected by this change include Adventure of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.

Labadee is on the northern coast of Haiti. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. However, the Dominican Republic only has a Level Two travel advisory. Visitors there are simply told to be more careful.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line will keep monitoring the situation. They hope to ensure all destinations on their cruises are safe for everyone.

Related Article: Royal Caribbean Cruises Plans To Offer Land Tours For Its Clients

Young Man Jumps Overboard

A tragic event occurred on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship when 20-year-old Levion Parker jumped from the 11th deck during a trip. The incident happened just hours before the ship, Liberty of the Seas, was set to return to Fort Lauderdale from a four-day Caribbean cruise.

Levion, who was from North Port, Florida, jumped after a heated argument with his father.

According to the Daily Mail, this took place early in the morning around 3:30 am, following some time in a hot tub on the deck. Witnesses say he shouted, "I'll fix this right now," before leaping. It is unclear how Levion was under the influence, as the drinking age on the ship is 21.

The U.S. Coast Guard ended their search without finding him. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line stated that they are deeply saddened by the incident and are cooperating with authorities.

The event has raised concerns about safety and regulations on cruise ships. The incident and its aftermath were felt by all passengers, marking a somber end to their journey.
Southwest Airlines, known for its unique open seating arrangement, might be changing its approach. CEO Bob Jordan, in a CNBC interview before the airline's quarterly earnings announcement, revealed that the company is thinking about different seating options. This news comes as the airline tries to handle a drop in money earned.

Southwest Airlines Explores New Seating Options and Route Adjustments

For many years, Southwest Airlines has stood out in the airline industry by offering a single class of seating on its planes. This means all seats are the same, without options for extra legroom or first-class upgrades, which are common on other airlines.

However, the company's leaders are now considering a new strategy to meet changing customer desires and improve earnings.

Currently, the only way for passengers of Southwest Airlines to choose their preferred seats is to pay more for an early boarding spot. This system lets passengers pick their seats in the order they board the plane.

During the earnings call, as per USA Today, Jordan also mentioned that Southwest Airlines will stop flying to several locations due to poor performance. These locations include Syracuse, New York; George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas; Cozumel, Mexico; and Bellingham, Washington.

The company will continue to serve Houston through William P. Hobby Airport.

Southwest Airlines is still in the early stages of considering these changes. While they have not made any final decisions, the idea of modifying their seating and boarding process is being closely studied.

The potential shift from their long-standing open seating arrangement could significantly alter how customers experience flying with Southwest.

Related Article : Southwest Airlines Brings Back Popular Companion Pass Offer for Limited Time

Decides to Stop Serving Four Airports Amid Financial Struggles

Southwest Airlines announced it will discontinue flights to four airports due to ongoing financial difficulties and unexpected delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing.

According to CNN, the affected airports are Bellingham International in Washington, Cozumel International in Mexico, Syracuse Hancock in New York, and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston. However, Southwest will keep serving Houston through another local airport.

This decision was part of Southwest's effort to improve its financial health, which has suffered from increased losses and fewer new planes than planned.

In the first quarter, Southwest lost $218 million, despite making $6.3 billion, the most it has ever made during this period. This is a significant increase in losses compared to last year's $163 million.

The airline had hoped to receive 79 new planes this year but now expects only 20 due to issues at Boeing.

According to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, the decision to stop serving these locations was based on their performance rather than directly related to the aircraft delays.

He explained that although the Boeing delays are a major inconvenience, impacting revenue and efficiency, the decision to exit these airports was necessary to stabilize the airline's operations and finances.
You can go through the by dialing the helpline number of Hawaiian Airlines for your seat selection - 1800 955 912 or 1-860-845-0471. You will get an instant response.



(TRAVPR.COM) USA - April 26th, 2024 -

Everyone likes travelling. Seat selection plays an important role in making your travel fully enjoyable. Hawaiian Airlines provides you with the facility to change seats and can choose according to your preference. You have to use the offer of Hawaiian Airlines Seat Selection.

You just need to know about the details of Hawaiian Airlines Change Seats and the Policy. Let's know -

What is Hawaiian Airlines' seat selection Policy?

1. If you are thinking of flying with Hawaiian Airlines, you may be thinking about how to select a seat on their flight. The preparation for Hawaiian Airlines seat selection is moderately clear, and there are a few diverse choices accessible to you.

2. One way to select a seat is to do so when you book your flight. When you book your ticket online or through the Hawaiian Airlines customer service center, you will have the opportunity to select your seat. Select the seat you need from the seating chart, and it will be saved for you.

3. If you favor, you can moreover select your seat when you check in for your flight. When you check in online or at the airport, you will be able to see the seating chart for your flight and select the seat that you need. You can too utilize the Hawaiian Airline portable app to check in and select your seat.

4. If you do not select your seat in progress, you will be doled out a seat at check-in. You may moreover be able to alter your seat after check-in if seats are available.

5. In addition to choosing a seat in progress, Hawaiian Airlines too offers a few options for travelers who need to overhaul their seating encounters. If you need more legroom or a seat with additional conveniences, you can buy a premium seat or overhaul to a business or begin with a first-class seat. These options are accessible for an extra expense and are subject to availability.

How to Select Your Seat on Hawaiian Airlines?

You will see so many different methods that will help you in the Hawaiian Airlines seat assignment

Here are the methods mentioned with the steps.

By website -

You can visit the official website of Hawaiian Airlines for Hawaiian Airlines seat assignments - https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/ or

By dialing

You can go through the by dialing the helpline number of Hawaiian Airlines for your seat selection - 1800 955 912 or 1-860-845-0471. You will get an instant response.

By social media

Social media will help as your expectation you will get the response. Hawaiian Airlines is also available on social media you can find the pages of the Airline. Links are also mentioned for your convenience.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hawaiianairlines/?hl=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HawaiianAirlines/

Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawaiian-airlines/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/HawaiianAir

These are the links through which you can apply for Hawaiian Airlines seat assignment withHawaiian Airlines.

How can you do Hawaiian Airlines' main cabin basic seat selection?

Once more, it depends upon the tickets you've acquired with the airline. The Hawaiian air seat selection policy has diverse arrangements of action for check-in seat assignments and booking ticket seat arrangements.

 Basic Cabin Fundamental: Seat selection Hawaiian isn't a choice for these tickets. Be that as it may, when they check in 24 hours sometime recently the flight takeoff, they can choose the accessible seats.

Hawaiian Airlines won't charge its travelers for selecting a seat from the accessible seats after check-in. So, choose a seat from accessible seats for free!

 Premium fare Bookings: Travelers who purchase, to begin with, first class, some more comfort, fundamental cabin favored, or primary cabin tickets can save a seat while obtaining their tickets online. So, there isn't a confinement for picking a seat.

However, premium ticket buyers have to pay a charge depending on which seat they lean toward for flying. If the seat isn't designated, Hawaiian Airlines will return this amount.

Conclusion

To sum up, Hawaiian Airlines offers various methods for seat selection, allowing passengers flexibility in choosing their preferred seats. Whether booking online, through customer service, or via the mobile app, passengers can select seats in advance or during check-in. Premium seating options are available for those seeking extra comfort, albeit at an additional cost. Additionally, passengers with Basic Cabin tickets can select seats after check-in without extra charges. With these options and policies, Hawaiian Airlines aims to enhance the travel experience for all passengers, ensuring comfort and satisfaction throughout their journey.

FAQs

1 How do I choose seats on Hawaiian Airlines?

You have multiple options to select seats on Hawaiian Airlines. You can choose seats when booking your flight online or through customer service options, you can select seats during online or airport check-in. The Hawaiian Airlines mobile app also allows seat selection. Additionally, premium seating options are available for those seeking extra comfort, albeit at an additional cost.

2. Can I select seats for free on Hawaiian Airlines?

Passengers with Basic Cabin tickets can select seats for free after check-in, choosing from available seats. However, premium ticket holders, such as those in first class or other upgraded cabins, may need to pay an additional fee depending on their preferred seat selection.

3. What if I don't select a seat in advance?

Sometimes it happens you may forget then If you don't select a seat in advance, you will be assigned a seat at check-in. However, you may still have the opportunity to change your seat after check-in if seats are available.

4. How can I contact Hawaiian Airlines for seat selection assistance?

You can contact Hawaiian Airlines seat selection assistance by dialing their helpline number at 1800 955 912. Additionally, you can reach out to them through their social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter for support with seat assignments. There are many options available for the passengers because Hawaiian Airlines always tries to keep calm totheir passengers calm and provide satisfaction.

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Please, if you have information, just share it. It's the plea of the mother of missing teen,
Museum offers two teen workshops in May

UAMN photo

A participant creates art inspired by butterfly wings at an ARTSci teen workshop in April 2019.

The University of Alaska Museum of the North will offer two ARTSci workshops for teens in May. The workshops explore the connections between art and science.

On Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., the program will focus on field sketching. Participants will sharpen observation skills and explore sketching techniques with Nicole Webster, scientific illustrator and UAF Ph.D. student in oceanography.

Bug Boot Camp will be held on Thursday, May 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. Guided by entomologist Taylor Kane, participants will practice identifying, photographing, sketching and preserving insects.

The workshops are open to teens ages 13 to 18. Preregistration is required, and teens can sign up for one or both sessions. Visit the ARTSci website for more information and to sign up.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Jennifer Arseneau, 907-474-6948, ua-museumlearn@alaska.edu

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By Alex Greenwood, April 26, 2024

Students Hadley Oden (left) and Krystle Lain participated in activities that helped UCM become a 2024 Tree Campus.

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) was honored with the 2024 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Currently there are 410 campuses across the United States with this recognition, and UCM is one of only 10 such campuses in Missouri to earn this designation.

Earning Tree Campus designation is one more example of how UCM's students, faculty and staff work collaboratively to create a vibrant and supportive campus community of which we can all be proud to be a part, said Dr. Shari Bax, UCM vice president for student experience and engagement.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the worlds largest-membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. The first Arbor Day celebration was held on April 10, 1872, a year to the month after UCM was founded on April 27, 1871. The Tree Campus Higher Education program began in 2008 to encourage colleges and universities to plant trees on their campuses.

Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives, said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and facultys overall well-being.

Earning this recognition involved a service learning project completed by students in the UCM Student Government Association (SGA) and the Horticulture Club.

We are extremely excited about the universitys new Tree Campus status. I am thrilled that SGA has gotten to be a part of this initiative and has been able to contribute to making our campus environment and world better as a whole, said Hiba Lukadi, SGA president.

Mark Goodwin, associate professor of Horticulture, advises the universitys Horticulture Club, which participated in the service project.

I helped make Warrensburg a Tree City, Goodwin said of efforts that resulted in the citys recognition since 2010. Its fitting that we (UCM) should get Tree Campus status now.

UCM staff member Kathy Strickland, alumni and development communications manager and grounds Manager Greg Nelson have also been instrumental in helping with this effort.

I love our campus, and Ive always thought its a beautiful campus to brag about, said Hadley Oden, a student involved in the project who also serves as a student governor on the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. Making it a Tree Campus and giving UCM another thing to be proud of was something I wanted to be a part of, and Im glad we were able to do so.

Trees on campus and in urban spaces can lower energy costs by providing shade cover, cleaner air and water, and green spaces for students and faculty. In addition, trees have been shown to improve students mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for studying and gathering.

More information about the program is available at

treecampushighered.org
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Published April 26, 2024

CAPTION: Representatives from ULM, KEDM Public Radio, and the City of West Monroe pose with participants of the oral history project. Twelve West Monroe residents were interviewed for the project.

WEST MONROE, LA  The University of Louisiana Monroe and KEDM Public Radio recently partnered with the City of West Monroe for the West Monroe Oral History Project in honor of the citys 140th birthday in 2023. A special presentation of the project was held at the West Monroe Convention Center on April 16, 2024. The event was co-hosted by the West Ouachita Senior Center.

The project consisted of 12 West Monroe residents being interviewed by ULM faculty members. Each of these residents shared stories and recounted moments of West Monroe's history, dating back from the 1940s to the present day. A 30-minute video was compiled using clips of these oral histories and was shown at the community event and featured remarks from Dr. Jeffrey E. Anderson, the Associate Director of the School of Humanities at ULM.

ULM School of Humanities faculty who served as interviewers for the project were Associate Professor Dr. Will Rogers, English program coordinator; Associate Professor Dr. Ann Rodriguez, program coordinator for Communication; and Assistant Professor of English Dr. Meredith McKinnie.

The full-length version of each oral history video will be available on the City of West Monroe website in the near future. KEDM will air highlights of the oral histories during Morning Edition and All Things Considered and will post longer versions at KEDM.org and in podcast form.

The project was funded in part by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the information produced does not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, contact the West Monroe Mayor's Office at (318) 396-2600 or email mayorsoffice@westmonroe.la.gov.
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On Wednesday, tensions flared at several universities across the United States as pro-Palestine student protesters clashed with police and campus administrators.

The most notable incident occurred at the University of Texas at Austin, where authorities confronted demonstrators, leading to multiple arrests. Similar confrontations and crackdowns on protests were reported at other institutions, including Brown University and the University of Southern California.

University of Texas at Austin: A Forceful Response

At the University of Texas at Austin, the police response to pro-Palestine student protesters was particularly forceful. According to The Austin-American Statesman, state and university police, some in riot gear, engaged with rally goers on horseback, bikes, motorcycles, cars, and on foot. They warned protesters to disperse or face arrest under the penal code.

Eyewitness accounts described police arresting protesters at the front of the group seemingly indiscriminately. Police also pushed back protesters, at one point knocking over a tent filled with food and water. By Wednesday evening, at least 30 protesters had been arrested during what was reportedly a peaceful protest.

READ MORE : UT-Austin President Addresses Fallout From DEI Layoffs

University Administrators' Responses

Prior to the clashes, the dean of students at the University of Texas at Austin had sent a letter to the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the group behind the demonstration, stating that the protest was unauthorized. The letter also expressed the university's stance against allowing the campus to be "taken" and its mission to be derailed, citing concerns similar actions had caused elsewhere.

The protest was planned by the Palestine Solidarity Committee in solidarity with students at other universities. These students are calling on administrators to divest from companies that support Israel. However, the university deemed the protest unauthorized and took a strong stance against it.

Free Speech Concerns and Political Reactions

Free speech advocates have criticized the police presence and actions taken during the demonstration. Kristen Shahverdian, from PEN America, expressed alarm over the escalation, especially based on the behavior of students at other campuses. She emphasized the need to protect even contentious student protests, calling the police intervention counterproductive.

On the other hand, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott supported the police response, with Cruz stating he was "glad" that law enforcement took the situation seriously, and Abbott advocating for the expulsion of students participating in what he called "hate-filled, antisemitic protests."

Clashes at Other Universities

The incident at the University of Texas at Austin was not isolated. Similar clashes and crackdowns on protests were reported at other universities. At Brown University, for example, between 75 and 90 students erected an encampment that violated university policy. The university swiftly informed the participants that they would face conduct proceedings.

At Emerson College in Boston, President Jay Bernhardt warned protesters of imminent law enforcement action for violating city code. He also mentioned credible reports of targeted harassment and intimidation of Jewish supporters of Israel and others passing through the area.

Further west, at the University of Southern California, pro-Palestine protesters set up an encampment at Alumni Park, where the university's commencement ceremony is scheduled. The university closed the campus after protesters refused to remove their tents, citing safety concerns for officers and the campus community.

The clashes between pro-Palestine student protesters and authorities highlight the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The incidents also raise important questions about the limits of free speech on university campuses and the appropriate response of law enforcement and administrators to student protests. As these issues continue to unfold, they underscore the need for dialogue, understanding, and peaceful resolution.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. In recent years, Azerbaijan has been playing an increasingly active role in shaping the agenda of Central Asia. Thanks to its unique geographical position, extensive geopolitical potential, and robust economic growth, Azerbaijan and the nations within this region are becoming indispensable players in global discussions and initiatives.

Numerous high-level bilateral visits in recent years underscore the political commitment to enhancing this cooperation. For instance, the visit of Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov to Azerbaijan marked a significant milestone in the deepening of relations between Baku and Bishkek.

As President Ilham Aliyev pointed out at the joint press conference with his Kyrgyz colleague, Azerbaijan and Central Asia are bound together by centuries-old ties of cooperation, friendship and interaction, and cooperation with Kyrgyzstan is of particular importance.

"Today, the region of Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan, as part of the Caspian and the South Caucasus regions, are of great importance in terms of energy resources, transportation routes and trade. We are seeing great potential here. Most importantly, we are strengthening interaction with our traditional partners from brotherly countries," said President Ilham Aliyev.

Despite the long history of active political exchanges between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, their trade and economic ties have lagged behind. Azerbaijan's economic cooperation with Kyrgyzstan has been relatively sluggish. However, there's been a notable uptick lately. Trade is on the rise, joint projects are underway, and both countries are fostering mutual investments and engaging the private sector.

For example, in 2023 alone, trade between the two countries skyrocketed more than sixfold, reaching $65 million. And just in the first quarter of 2024, trade surpassed $23 million, with Kyrgyzstan ranking among the top three trading partners of Azerbaijan within the CIS countries.

In this regard, formed in 2022, the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund was set up to boost economic collaboration between the two nations, modernize industries, and foster efficient use and expansion of bilateral economic ties. After President Japarov's visit to Azerbaijan and the agreements inked during his stay, it was agreed to ramp up the fund's capital from $25 million to $100 million. In addition to boosting the capital of the joint development fund, both sides also agreed to eliminate double taxation on income.

"The main reason is that there are a lot of applications. We have been informed that more than 40 applications have been submitted to the Fund for realization of investment projects in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, I think that 100 million dollars is not the limit either. And we gave a joint instruction to relevant government agencies in order to quickly launch the mechanism of implementation of projects within the framework of the joint investment fund," President Ilham Aliyev commented on the decision.

Overall, following the Kyrgyz president's visit to Azerbaijan, besides the successful 2nd session of the Joint Intergovernmental Council, the parties also signed a package of over 10 Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz documents spanning various sectors such as energy, education, healthcare, migration, and more.

President Zhaparov specifically highlighted the importance of adopting a joint declaration on the establishment of deep relations of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. "The signing of this document formalizes the deep nature of bilateral strategic relations we have established between our countries," he said.

Certainly, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan hold strategic significance for each other. Take, for instance, the development of transit routes. For Central Asia, Azerbaijan serves as a direct gateway to Europe. Conversely, for Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and its neighbors offer a pathway to access the Chinese market. The proposed 454-kilometer railway, intended to link China's railways with Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan and onward through Turkmenistan, could serve as another pivotal link in the network of routes connecting the South Caucasus region with the East. Efficient logistics are essential for fostering trade and economic ties between Azerbaijan and Central Asia at large. Positioned adjacent to China, Kyrgyzstan could emerge as a key player in the Middle Corridor.

One can't overlook President Japarov's visit to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. It truly showcases the complete support and mutual understanding between the two nations. As a gesture of solidarity and friendship, Kyrgyzstan is supporting the construction of a school in the liberated Aghdam, where yesterday the leaders of both countries laid the foundation.

Azerbaijan has strengthened its ties with Central Asia and is working closely with the partners to drive the region's development, benefiting all stakeholders involved. By forging bilateral cooperation, Baku and Bishkek also enhance communication within the Turkic world. This not only adds new dimensions but also brings practical value to it. In this context, the current joint initiatives and those upcoming between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are set to introduce new transportation projects, promote energy initiatives, and bolster overall infrastructure capabilities. This transformation will turn the region into a hub of mutual cooperation, benefiting all parties involved.
Two employees of Turning Point USA, a conservative group, have admitted to charges stemming from an incident in October 2023, in which they followed and harassed an Arizona State University (ASU) instructor on campus.

The incident, which was captured on video and posted online by Turning Point USA, has raised concerns about the group's tactics and the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals on campus.

The Incident and Its Aftermath

The video, posted by Turning Point USA, shows Braden Ellis filming David Boyles, a writing instructor at ASU, as he walked on campus. Kalen D'Almeida, the other employee involved, can be heard accusing Boyles of being attracted to minors and making derogatory remarks about his sexuality. Boyles remained silent throughout the encounter.

As Boyles attempted to reach for the camera, D'Almeida pushed him to the ground, causing him to fall face first onto the concrete. The video ends abruptly, but campus security footage reveals the full extent of the incident. D'Almeida was charged with misdemeanor assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, while Ellis was charged with misdemeanor harassment.

Both men signed deferred prosecution program agreements, admitting guilt to the charges. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, defended the employees' actions, claiming that Boyles fell because he was wearing high platform shoes and a skirt, and described D'Almeida's actions as a "defensive action."

READ MORE : University Of Maryland Baltimore County Settles Sexual Assault Allegations For $4.1 Million

Response from ASU and Law Enforcement

ASU responded to the incident by emphasizing that harassment or threatening behavior toward its employees would not be tolerated. An ASU spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the admission of guilt by the Turning Point USA employees, stating that the university would continue to protect the rights of all its members, including those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Rachel Mitchell, the Maricopa County Attorney, also weighed in on the incident, stating that diversion programs, like the one the defendants entered, demand more of defendants and should not be seen as a lesser penalty. She reiterated her commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals in Maricopa County, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Implications and Reactions

The incident involving the Turning Point USA employees has sparked outrage and concern among many in the ASU community and beyond. Some have criticized the tactics employed by Turning Point USA, arguing that they amount to harassment and intimidation. Others have raised questions about the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals on campus and the need for greater awareness and understanding.

In response to the incident, ASU has stated that it is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all its members. The university has encouraged anyone who feels threatened or harassed to report the incident to campus authorities.

Turning Point USA has stood by its employees, stating that it believes they did nothing wrong. The organization has paid for their legal fees and maintains that the incident was a result of Boyles' actions, rather than those of its employees.

The incident involving the Turning Point USA employees and the ASU instructor has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals on college campuses. It has also raised important questions about the role of conservative groups in shaping campus discourse and the need for greater awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.

As ASU and law enforcement continue to investigate the incident, it serves as a reminder of the importance of fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Biden administration's recent decision to broaden Title IX protections to encompass LGBTQ+ students has sparked a firestorm of controversy. Conservative groups and Republican officials are gearing up for legal battles, arguing that these expansions represent a fundamental redefinition of the law and its intended purpose.

Expanding Title IX Protections

Title IX, a landmark legislation enacted in 1972, was initially designed to combat sex-based discrimination in educational settings. Over the years, its application has evolved, reflecting societal shifts and legal interpretations. Now, the Biden administration's move seeks to extend these protections to LGBTQ+ students, acknowledging the intersectionality of discrimination.

The crux of the controversy lies in the interpretation of "sex discrimination" under Title IX. Critics argue that by including sexual orientation and gender identity, the administration is overstepping its bounds and altering the original intent of the law. They contend that Title IX was primarily aimed at ensuring equitable access to education for women and girls, and these expansions deviate from that mission.

READ MORE : Biden Administration Overhauls Title IX, Strengthening Protections And Redefining Procedures

Legal Battles Looming

Conservative groups and Republican officials have wasted no time in mobilizing against the expanded Title IX protections. Plans to file lawsuits to block the new regulations from taking effect this summer are already underway. These legal challenges center on the argument that the administration is effectively rewriting the law through administrative fiat, bypassing the legislative process.

Jennifer C. Braceras, vice president for legal affairs at Independent Women's Forum, encapsulates the sentiment of many critics, stating, "The Department of Education can't flip the statute on its head by administrative fiat. And we are confident the courts will remind the department of this basic principle and strike down this rule as unlawful."

The battleground for these legal disputes extends beyond the courtroom, with public statements and comments shaping the narrative. Republican attorneys general have vowed to challenge President Biden in court over the expanded Title IX rule, signaling a fierce political and legal showdown in the coming months.

Impact on Education and Beyond

Beyond the legal wrangling, the expanded Title IX protections have far-reaching implications for educational institutions and students alike. One of the most contentious aspects is the alteration of how colleges respond to reports of sexual misconduct and harassment. Changes in the regulations, including provisions that some experts argue could infringe on the rights of accused students, have stirred heated debate.

Moreover, the broadened definition of sex discrimination means that students will now be protected from bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This shift has significant implications for LGBTQ+ students, who have long faced discrimination and marginalization in educational settings. The newfound protections offer a glimmer of hope for a more inclusive and equitable educational environment.

However, challenges remain, particularly in conservative-leaning states where resistance to these expansions runs high. Louisiana's state superintendent of education, for example, has urged K-12 school districts to hold off on changing their policies to comply with the new rule, citing conflicts with state laws.

As the Biden administration moves forward with its expansion of Title IX protections, the debate rages on. While proponents herald these changes as a step toward greater inclusivity and equality, opponents decry them as a departure from the law's original intent. Legal battles loom large, promising a protracted struggle over the interpretation and application of Title IX in the modern era. Ultimately, the outcome of these disputes will shape the landscape of education and civil rights for years to come.
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Federal Minister for Defence & Defence Production Khawaja Muhammad Asif is leading the Pakistan delegation to Kazakhstan for the annual meeting of the Defence Ministers of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) Federal Minister for Defence & Defence Production Khawaja Muhammad Asif is leading the Pakistan delegation to Kazakhstan for the annual meeting of the Defence Ministers of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The meeting reviewed the regional security issues, including the defence cooperation initiatives, a news release said.

The Defence Minister also held meetings with the defence ministers of the friendly countries of the SCO to discuss issues of bilateral defence cooperation.

Various areas of mutual interest including respective regional security, counter terrorism, Afghanistan situation and review of national security priorities, extremist threats, border management and maritime security were also deliberated upon.

Minister of Defence stated that Pakistan is deeply concerned about the escalating situation in Gaza. Pakistan has consistently advocated for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question anchored in international law and in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.

He also said that Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the SCO platform. I would reiterate that Pakistan takes great pride in our partnership with SCO and are fully committed to further deepening and expanding this association, said the Minister for Defense while addressing the forum.
Assistant Commissioner (AC) Industrial Area, Farwa Batool accompanied by the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) conducted anti-encroachment operation at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and removed all illegal encroachments around the hospital

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) Assistant Commissioner (AC) Industrial Area, Farwa Batool accompanied by the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) conducted anti-encroachment operation at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and removed all illegal encroachments around the hospital.

Talking to APP, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration Spokesman, Dr Abdullah Tabassum said that on the directives of the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon, the authority was conducting extensive operations targeting encroachments, illegal gas canning, and cleanliness issues in Federal Capital.

In a recent operation conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), he said the AC removed all illegal encroachments and structures blocking public pathways were demolished in the area.

The AC also inspected the canteens and tuck shops of the hospital, focusing on cleanliness standards, pricing, and the use of plastic bags.

After these inspections, she issued fines totaling Rs 23,000 for various violations and warned businesses to comply with regulations.

In another part of the operation, Dr Abdullah said the district administration teams targeted illegal gas cylinder filling activities in the G-8 area. Four LPG shops in the area were found in the unlawful canning of gas cylinders, posing a safety risk. These shops were immediately sealed to prevent further illegal activity, he said.

He said the Islamabad administration's efforts were part of a broader campaign to crack down on various violations in the city. Daily operations were being carried out to combat encroachments, rising prices, and professional begging, he added.

On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon urged the residents and businesses to adhere to city regulations to avoid penalties and contribute to a safer, cleaner Islamabad.
A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by Mr Koji Nakashima on Friday visited the headquarters of the Water and Sanitation Services Company Abbottabad (WSSCA) to discuss potential collaboration initiatives

ABBOTTABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by Mr Koji Nakashima on Friday visited the headquarters of the Water and Sanitation Services Company Abbottabad (WSSCA) to discuss potential collaboration initiatives.

The delegation included members of JICA Yoshiako Yukota, Koki Sawa, Hironobu Nakayama and Naila Almas.

The delegation held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of WSSCA Rehan Yusuf, during which they were briefed on the day-to-day operational activities of the Water Supply Department.

As part of the discussion, the Water and Sanitation Services Company, Abbottabad, presented a comprehensive set of proposals for collaboration with JICA.

These proposals encompassed various areas such as capacity building, installation of tube wells and pumping stations equipped with SCADA systems, energy optimization initiatives, modernization of aging machinery, replacement of deteriorating pipelines, and conducting energy audits, among others.

The delegation expressed their commitment to engage in detailed discussions on the presented recommendations, highlighting their optimism regarding the effective implementation of collaborative efforts.
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The Ambassador expresses hope for the continuation of defense ties between Pakistan and the United States and encouraged both countries to invest in both security and non-security areas.

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 26th, 2024) Pakistans Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan on Friday said that the significance of improving Pakistans defense capabilities lies in its challenging geographical location and rough neighborhood.

He made these remarks while addressing a gathering of scholars, intellectuals and opinion-makers during Ambassador Circle Series organized by World Affairs Council of Charlotte in US state of North Carolina.

The Ambassador expressed hope for the continuation of defense ties between Pakistan and the United States and encouraged both countries to invest in both security and non-security areas.

The Ambassador highlighted the threat of counter-terrorism saying that it has not diminished just because the United States has returned from Afghanistan. He said this menace poses a significant danger not only to Pakistan and Afghanistan but also to the United States and its allies in the region.

Masood Khan said that for maintaining regional peace and stability, it is crucial for Pakistan and the United States to keep collaborating through all diplomatic channels and tools.

He said the rapid growth of Pakistans tech industry in recent years is a promising development in the context of strengthened Pakistan-US relations. He said Pakistan has become an integral part of the overall technological ecosystem and has made significant strides in the tech industry.

In response to a question regarding Pakistans tourism potential, the Ambassador emphasized the diverse range of tourism options available, such as adventure, religious, and eco-tourism which draw millions of visitors from around the world annually. He warmly invited the audience to explore Pakistan firsthand and witness the countrys abundant tourism offerings.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum on "Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development" in Riyadh on April 28-29

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum on "Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development" in Riyadh on April 28-29.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in her weekly press briefing, told the media that the prime minister, accompanied by Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, would travel to the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

She said that the high-level participation in the Forum would provide an opportunity to highlight Pakistan's priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, regional collaboration and balance between growth and energy consumption, besides interacting with the participating world leaders and heads of international orgnisations.

The prime minister will visit Gambia to attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference under the slogan Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development, on May 4-5, 2024 in Banjul, the capital city of Gambia.

The OIC summit is being held at a critical time when the Israeli atrocities in Gaza continued unabated where the Muslim world leaders will deliberate on the situation in Palestine.

She said that Prime Minister Shehbaz would express Pakistan's grave concern on genocide in Gaza, advocate for their right to self-determination, the imperative of solidarity, besides deliberating on Islamophobia, terrorism, and the challenges faced by the world, particularly the Muslim world.

The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the Muslim world leaders.

The OIC Summit will be preceded by the preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 2-3 to be attended by Foreign Minister Dar, who will also hold bilateral meetings.

The spokesperson told the media that Pakistan was witnessing a surge in provocative statements from the Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan rejects the Indian claims as fueled by hyper-nationalism with inflammation rhetoric, such claims pose threats to regional peace and stability.

She urged the Indian politicians to cease the practice of dragging Pakistan into their internal discourse aimed at gaining electoral motives.

She said that despite Indian rhetoric and assertions, IIOJK remained an internationally recognized disputed territory as the UN Security Council's resolutions clearly outlined that final status would be determined by the will of the Kashmiri people through a free plebiscite.

"India would be wise to help implement those resolutions instead of harboring delusion of grandeur," she remarked.

The spokesperson also condemned the ongoing vilification, stigmatization and victimization of Muslims and other minorities in India.

To a question, Spokesperson Baloch said currently, there was no back channel diplomacy going on between Pakistan and India to normalize bilateral trade.

Apprising the media of the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, she said during the interactions, both sides agreed to strengthen economic and cultural cooperation, turn the bilateral borders into borders of peace and cooperation, fast-track the negotiations on Free Trade Agreement and release each other's prisoners.

Asked about the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, she said it was discussed during President Raisi's visit and also featured in the joint statement. She said Pakistan had significant energy needs and was exploring options for its import.

She said Pakistan had noted the statements from the US authorities about the Pakistan-Iran trade and was engaged with the US and discussed all aspects of the energy needs.

She told the media that a high-level delegation of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) led by Chairman Luo Zhaohui visited Pakistan and met Prime Minister Shehbaz and other leadership wherein both sides agreed to accelerate the projects being executed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Highlighting the situation in Gaza and the discovery of two mass graves, Spokesperson Baloch called for investigation and fixing of responsibility for the Israeli war crimes, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, lifting of the siege and unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

Coming to the US Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the spokesperson reiterates the rejection as it had flawed methodology.
Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari held a courtesy meeting with Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune at the Embassy of Morocco, signifying a pivotal moment in the humanitarian relationship between Pakistan and Morocco

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari held a courtesy meeting with Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune at the Embassy of Morocco, signifying a pivotal moment in the humanitarian relationship between Pakistan and Morocco.

The meeting marked a significant juncture in the humanitarian partnership between Pakistan and Morocco, emphasizing their shared commitment to aid and disaster management.

Chairman Laghari emphasized on the substantial partnership between the two nations in addressing humanitarian challenges.

During the discussions, Chairman Laghari provided insights into the ongoing programs and projects of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, emphasizing the organization's commitment to serving vulnerable communities nationwide.

He underscored the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in effectively addressing humanitarian crises, expressing gratitude for Morocco's past participation in PRCS-organized events such as the International Donors Conference.

Chairman Laghari specifically emphasized PRCS's anticipation of support from the Government of Morocco, especially in the recovery phase following the devastating Monsoon 2022 floods.

He also expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation, particularly with the Moroccan government and the Moroccan Red Cross, and other humanitarian organizations aligned with the Red Crescent mandate, aiming to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable communities in Pakistan.

Chairman Laghari extended an invitation to Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune to visit the PRCS National Headquarters, which was graciously accepted.

Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune expressed gratitude to Chairman Laghari for the comprehensive information and insights provided regarding disaster management during the floods, noting the impressive execution.

He commended the Pakistan Red Crescent Society for its relentless efforts, led by Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, in providing assistance to those in need, especially during times of crisis.

The Moroccan Ambassador pledged to facilitate Chairman Laghari's visit to Morocco, arranging meetings with counterparts from the Moroccan Red Cross and heads of humanitarian organizations.

The aim is to investigate opportunities for collaboration and address any gaps in interventions, such as shelter, livelihood, health, and cash assistance, being carried out by PRCS during the recovery phase.

He recognized the indispensable role of humanitarian organizations like PRCS in mitigating human suffering and promoting resilience within communities.

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Laghari presented a memento to Ambassador Mohammed Karmoune, along with a souvenir, symbolizing the spirit of humanitarian collaboration.
WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) United States State Department's spokesperson for the middle East and North Africa, Hala Rharrit, has resigned in protest of America's policy on Gaza -- at least the third high-profile resignation from the department, as pro-Palestinian demonstrations at university campuses across the country grow.

Ms. Rharrit was also the Dubai Regional Media Hub's deputy director and joined the State Department almost two decades ago as a political and human rights officer, the department's website showed.

I resigned April 2024 after 18 years of distinguished service in opposition to the United States' Gaza policy. Diplomacy, not arms. Be a force for peace and unity," Hala Rharrit wrote in a LinkedIn post, according to Al Arabiya.

"Diplomacy, not arms. Be a force for peace and unity," she added.

A State Department spokesperson, asked about the resignation in Thursday's press briefing, said the department has channels for its workforce to share views when it disagrees with government policies. Under close questioning, Spokesperson Vendant Patel refused to go beyond saying, "This is a personal matter."

Nearly a month earlier, Annelle Sheline of the State Department's human rights bureau announced her resignation, and State Department official Josh Paul resigned in October.

A senior official in the US education Department, Tariq Habash, who is Palestinian-American, had stepped down in January.

The United States has come under mounting criticism internationally and from human rights groups over its support for ally Israel which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, caused a grave humanitarian crisis, and stands accused of genocide in Gaza.

Meanwhile in New York, protesters at Columbia University, an epicenter of growing student dissent against Israeli aggression in Gaza, faced a deadline Thursday to dismantle their encampment as protests and arrests intensified across the United States.

Columbia President Minouche Shafik warned students that if the tents aren't moved by Friday, "we will have to consider options for restoring calm to campus."

In an update late Thursday, the university said talks between student protestors and the school have "shown progress and are continuing." The school, the scene of more than 100 arrests in recent days, also denied rumours that the New York City Police Department was invited to the campus on Thursday night.

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson lashed out Thursday at Columbia protesters, who booed him during his visit to the school a day earlier. Johnson had criticized students and faculty who participated in the protest and called for Shafik's resignation.

"Hamas backed these protests at Columbia," Johnson claimed in a social media post. "The things that have happened at the hands of Hamas are horrific, and yet these protestors are out there waving flags for the very people who committed those crimes. This is not who we are in America."

Demonstrators across the nation are protesting the civilian toll in Gaza, where more than 34,000 people have died since the Israeli invasion on Oct 7.

Students oppose U.S. military aid to Israel and want their schools to stop investing endowment money in companies with Israeli links.

Meanwhile, amid the turmoil, the University of Southern California said it was canceling its main commencement ceremony, citing safety concerns.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The Western Azerbaijan Community has condemned the European Parliament's resolution urging the European Union to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan, the statement of the West Azerbaijan Community said, Trend reports.

Malicious foreign circles, controlled by one center, have intensified crusades against Azerbaijan in recent days under the pretext of human rights. Following the anti-Azerbaijani steps taken in Congress and the US State Department this week, the European Parliament on April 25 adopted an act full of prejudice and slander. Hypocritical European parliamentarians, supposedly concerned about the human rights of Azerbaijanis, in their resolution called on the European Union to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan.

One wonders why, in the last 30 years, when Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories and subjected hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis to ethnic cleansing and massacred about 30,000 Azerbaijanis, their rights were not taken into account by the European Parliament. Why is the European Parliament not concerned that 300,000 Azerbaijanis exiled by Armenia from their territory cannot return to their homes and ignore the call of the Community of Western Azerbaijan for dialogue?

All of this proves that the real reason for the European Parliament's recent actions is not human rights but its inability to digest Azerbaijan's restoration of its territorial integrity.

If the European Parliament wants to promote human rights through sanctions, it should have tried to impose sanctions against Armenia, which has violated the fundamental rights of more than a million Azerbaijanis. The community of Western Azerbaijan demands that the European Parliament abandon its policy of discrimination and steps that aggravate the situation in the region and attempt to abuse the highest value, such as human rights, and respect the right of return of Azerbaijanis exiled from Armenia.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) President Joe Biden's government on Friday said it was taking more time to consider a ban on menthol cigarettes, amid fears it could alienate Black voters in a tough election year.

The food and Drug Administration began working on a proposal that classifies menthol as a flavor -- and thus lead to its prohibition -- in 2021, and the rule was supposed to have been finalized last year.

Health secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement the matter "has garnered historic attention and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement.

"It's clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," he added.

Black smokers are far more likely to buy menthol cigarettes than white smokers, leading to claims from some -- including those with links to the tobacco industry -- that a ban would disproportionately impact African Americans.

Around eight in 10 African American smokers consume menthol cigarettes, compared with three in 10 white smokers.

"Smoking is bad for you, no question about it, but if it's a health issue, why aren't you banning all cigarettes?" Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist and a vocal opponent of regulation, asked at an event in 2019.

In the lead up to the FDA proposal, he wrote a letter to the Biden White House saying "a menthol ban would exacerbate existing, simmering issues around racial profiling, discrimination and policing.

"

And with the presidential election approaching, Republican groups are looking to poach crucial African American votes.

In South Carolina, conservative group Building America's Future sent letters to around 75,000 Democrat voters in February listing Biden's proposed menthol cigarette ban as a reason not to vote for him in that month's Primary vote.

An ad from the group said Biden should focus on bigger priorities, rather than "telling adults what they can and can't do."

American Lung Association spokeswoman Erika Sward told AFP: "The president has failed to follow the science."

Menthol, she said, has certain anesthetic properties that help mask the harshness and irritation of tobacco smoke, which made it a gateway drug for regular cigarettes.

"It makes the poison go down easier, which means that kids who experiment with cigarettes with menthol cigarettes are much more likely to go on to become addicted and the menthol in cigarettes also makes it harder for black individuals to quit," said Sward.

"The bottom line is that today's news is very disappointing and ultimately will lead to more deaths."

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the country, with some 480,000 tobacco-related fatalities recorded each year.
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Apr, 2024) Copper prices rallied Friday above $10,000 per tonne for the first time in two years, propelled by soaring global demand and tight supplies.

In early morning trade on the London Metal Exchange, the price of copper breaching the key level for the first time since April 2022 to peak at just over $10,028. It later stood at $9,992.50 per tonne.

The base metal is in the spotlight after mining giant BHP launched Thursday a $38.8-billion takeover bid for British rival Anglo American, in an audacious move to create the world's biggest listed copper producer.

However, Anglo American on Friday rejected the offer as too low, slamming it as "highly unattractive" and "opportunistic".

Copper is currently experiencing a demand boom on the back of its diverse uses in the renewable energy transition, from electric vehicles to solar panels and wind turbines.

The metal faces additional upward pressure from other factors including strikes, geopolitical tensions and increasing regulation.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) meeting featured a session on the management of mHSPC, and a presentation by Dr. Dana Rathkopf discussing how to manage patients with low-volume on conventional and high-volume on next generation imaging. Dr. Rathkopf notes that clinical risk groups and treatment selection are already complex for mHSPC, so how do we incorporate next generation imaging into the current paradigm? Currently, overall survival ranges from ~3  8 years for mHSPC patients depending on disease volume and timing of presentation:

The clinical conundrum of PET imaging for initial staging and treatment of mHSPC has several pros and cons. The pros include:

Increased accuracy relative to conventional imaging

Better detecting small lymph nodes and early/lytic bone disease even at low PSAs

Potential for targeted treatment options based on imaging results

The cons include:

Indeterminate findings that can delay treatment and cause patient distress

The importance of PSMA PET-only and conventional imaging metastasis is unclear

Do PET-directed treatment decisions lead to better clinical outcomes?

Sutera and colleagues1 recently published an analysis assessing the clinical and genomic differences between advanced molecular imaging detected and conventional imaging detected metachronous oligometastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Among 295 patients included in this study, patients with conventional imaging detected oligometastatic HSPC had significantly higher Gleason grade group (p = 0.032), higher PSA at oligometastatic HSPC diagnosis (8.0 versus 1.7 ng/ml; p < 0.001), and more frequent pathogenic TP53 mutations (28% versus 17%; p = 0.030):

Additionally, patients that had conventional imaging detected oligometastatic HSPC had worse 10 year overall survival (85% versus 100%; p < 0.001):

Dr. Rathkopf wonders if we can extrapolate this concept of PET-only disease being potentially more indolent to polymetastatic mHSPC. Francini et al.2 assessed whether a classification based on time of metastatic disease (after prior local therapy vs de novo) and disease volume (low volume vs high volume) are prognostic for mHSPC patients treated with ADT. Among 436 patients treated at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute included in the analysis, the median overall survival for patients after prior local therapy/low volume disease was 92.4 (95% CI: 80.4-127.2) months and 43.2 (95% CI: 37.2-56.4) months for de novo/high volume disease, whereas intermediate values were observed for after prior local therapy/high volume disease and de novo/low volume disease. A robust gradient for both outcomes was observed (Trend test p < 0.0001) in the four groups:

Data presented at GU ASCO 2024 by Unterrainer et al. suggests that based on conventional imaging, 25.4% of patients have conventional imaging high-volume disease, and 74.6% of patients have conventional imaging low-volume disease. Based on PSMA PET, 40.3% of patients have PSMA high-volume disease 35.8% PSMA low-volume disease, and 23.9% of patients have no PSMA PET positive lesion or only local / N1-disease. Upshift and downshift from conventional imaging to PSMA-PET occur in 40.3% of patients, including 16.4% of patients who are upstaged and 23.9% of patients who are downstaged by PSMA PET:

As such, Dr. Rathkopf states that we should use caution when trying to retrofit PSMA PET findings into conventional imaging defined volume subgroups. Dr. Rathkopf then discussed the new STAMPEDE2 trial design (Arm S), which incorporates PSMA PET/CT as a stratification factor and using the more appropriate terminology of oligometastatic disease (1-5 bone +/- non-regional lymph node metastases) versus polymetastatic disease (>5 bone +/- visceral metastases):

There is increased use of PSMA PET/CT in mHSPC based on accuracy but with limited outcome data. However, there is clinical guidance from several key governing bodies:

APCCC 2022: For patients with low volume conventional imaging/high volume next-generation imaging, 53% of panelists voted to treat as low volume and 47% voted to treat as high volume

EAU Annual Congress, Milan 2023 (EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG): Treatment should not be changed based on PSMA PET/CT findings, in view of the currently available data

ESMO 2020: Patients with localized prostate cancer according to conventional imaging should not be denied radical local treatment solely because metastatic lesions are identified via next-generation imaging

Dr. Rathkopf then discussed a case of a 58-year-old with newly diagnosed Gleason 4+5 prostate cancer whose bone scan showed a solitary vertebral metastases. Given that he is conventional imaging low volume, treatment options include (i) ADT, (ii) ARPI, (iii) prostate radiotherapy (+/- ARPI), and (iv) potentially metastasis directed therapy (although no overall survival data). However, his PSMA PET/CT showed polymetastatic disease, which changes his potential treatment options if we take into consideration the PSMA PET/CT findings:

Dr. Rathkopf provided the following general principles for the treatment of mHSPC in the burgeoning age of next-generation imaging/PSMA PET imaging:

Clinical subgroups should guide (not decide) treatment decisions Conventional imaging volume-based treatment decisions should not be directly extrapolated to PET findings, especially when they are discordant PSMA PET imaging is just one piece of the treatment puzzle, we should use caution, as sometimes what you see is not what you get

Dr. Rathkopf concluded her presentation by discussing how to manage patients with low-volume disease on conventional and high-volume disease on next-generation imaging by stating that the metastatic HSPC treatment puzzle has many pieces, and it is our challenge to put them together.

Presented by: Dana Rathkopf, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Meeting, Lugano, Switzerland, Thurs, Apr 25 - Sat, Apr 27, 2024.





References:
History Senior Micah Lynn Carries USM Gulf Park, Coast in His Heart

Fri, 04/26/2024 - 09:11am | By: Gabriela Shinskie

Although hes a Versailles, Ky. native, Micah Lynn calls the Mississippi Gulf Coast his second home as he nears graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

I chose USM Gulf Park because I wanted the smaller campus experience and the location, Lynn said. All my professors were attentive and encouraging, and my experience was great.

Lynn is not foreign to USM, especially after spending countless summers in the beautiful coastal town of Bay Saint Louis, Miss. He transferred from Kentucky State University (KSU) to USM Gulf Park, where he embraced coastal living, finding the Long Beach Campus to be a peaceful and perfect fit for continuing his college career. A transfer student, his two years of study at USM motivated him to embrace his passion for Southern history.

Lynn did extensive research on the campus and connected with a close family friend who attended the then Gulf Park College for Women in the early 1970s and shared her wonderful memories from her time there with him.

She showed me her dorm in Hardy Hall where she lived. It was very cool, he said. She remembered Camille and a notice sent to all students that the Friendship Oak was still standing after the storm.

South Mississippis unique qualities strengthened that passion along with analyzing southern history and race relations in the post-Civil War era. Encouraged by his professors to present research at an undergraduate symposium, Lynn focused his writing on race relations in the South during the Reconstruction era and Civil Rights Movement. His work won him first place in 2023 and second place in 2024.

Drs. Douglas Bristol, associate professor of history and Westley Follett, interim director of the School of Coastal Resilience, praised Lynns accomplishments.

My Gulf Park History colleagues and I are enormously proud of Micah, said Dr. Follett. We each have had the opportunity to teach him, and he has continually impressed us with his coursework and scholarship.

Lynn recently earned the 2024 John E. Wallace Award for Outstanding History Major at Gulf Park, named in honor of a distinguished past professor of history who taught at USM. It is presented annually to a Gulf Park history senior displaying the highest standards of history scholarship.

We are delighted to have named him the 2024 winner of the John E. Wallace Award for Outstanding History Major at Gulf Park and can't wait to hear what he will go on to accomplish in graduate school, said Follett.

Congratulations to Micah on a well-deserved honor, Dr. Bristol said. I am sure it is the prelude to greater achievements in the field of history.

After graduation, Lynn plans to return to Kentucky to pursue his masters in history.

But he says hell dearly miss the peaceful landscape of the USM Gulf Park Campus and nearby beach, and the countless visits with friends over a meal at the nearby Waffle House.

I would walk the beach every day after work and class, said Lynn. Ill miss it here. Id love to find some excuse to come back down here. I love the coast a lot.
Dale Centers 2024 Richard McCarthy Lecture set for May 2 on Hattiesburg Campus

Fri, 04/26/2024 - 10:16am | By: David Tisdale

The Dale Center for the Study of War & Society at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will host the 2024 Richard McCarthy Lecture Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Buildings Gonzales Auditorium (room 108) on the Hattiesburg campus. The program, titled "Levels of Command: The Mississippi National Guard in Peace and at War: The 155th Brigade Combat Team in 2005" will feature:

Maj. Gen. Augustus Leon Collins, U.S. Army, (Ret.) Former Adjutant General, Mississippi National Guard

Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, U.S. Army, 18th Airborne Corps, Deputy Commanding General, Operations

Col. Christopher M. Thomas, U.S. Army, Director of Legislative Affairs & Economic Development, Mississippi National Guard

Dale Center Founding Director Dr. Andrew Wiest will moderate the talk. This event is free and open to the public.

The National Guard has long been a pillar of the society and culture of Mississippi, but their story has been too often under reported in history, Dr. Wiest said. We are approaching the 20th anniversary of the deployment of the 155th Brigade Combat team to Iraq in 2005, so this seemed like a perfect time [for this program] to remember that deployment and the Guards service to the state.

The Dale Center and our new Center of the Study of the National Guard at USM are honored to do what we can to help preserve and tell the stories of the brave men and women of the Mississippi Guard.

The Richard McCarthy Lecture Series was founded in 2006 through the generous support of Dr. Richard McCarthy and Dr. Craig Howard and is designed to bring together students, faculty, and community members to access cutting edge research in the field of military history and War and Society.

For more information om this event, visit here or email dalecenterFREEMississippi.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BERLIN, Germany, April 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is expected to take part in the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Trend reports.

The event will feature a joint address by President Aliyev and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In addition, there are also expected to be meetings between the Azerbaijani head of state and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, as well as with the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock.

Meanwhile, since 2010, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue has served as a platform for annual meetings of individual countries to prepare for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP).

This year, COP29 will be hosted by Azerbaijan. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11th of the previous year. Over the course of two weeks, Baku, becoming the center of attention, will welcome around 70-80 thousand foreign guests.
The 12-month grace period for student loan borrowers ended on September 30. The "on-ramp" period helped borrowers who are struggling to make payments avoid the risk of defaulting and hurting their credit score.

"The end of the on-ramp period means the beginning of the potentially harsh consequences for student loan borrowers who are not able to make payments," said Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Around 43 million Americans have student loan debt, amounting to $1.5 trillion. Around eight million of those borrowers had enrolled in the SAVE plan, the newest income-driven repayment plan that extended the eligibility for borrowers to have affordable monthly student loan payments. However, this plan is currently on hold due to legal challenges.

With the on-ramp period and a separate program known as Fresh Start ending and the SAVE plan on hold, student loan borrowers who are struggling to afford their monthly payments have fewer options, added Yu. Student loan borrowers who haven't been able to afford their monthly payments must consider their options to avoid going into default.

If you have student loans, here's what you need to know.

What was the on-ramp period?

The Education Department implemented this grace period to ease the borrower's transition to make payments after a three-year payment pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this year-long period, borrowers were encouraged to keep making payments since interest continued to accumulate.

"Normally, loans will default if you fall about nine months behind on making payments, but during this on-ramp period, missed payments would not move people towards defaulting and then being subject to forced collections. However, if you missed payments, you still be falling behind ultimately on repaying your loans," said Abby Shaforth, director of National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

Since this grace period has ended, student loan borrowers who don't make payments will go delinquent or, if their loans are not paid for nine months, go into default.

Borrowers who cannot afford to make payments can apply for deferment or forbearance, which pause payments, though interest continues to accrue.

What happens if I don't make my payments?

Borrowers who can't or don't pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits.

If a borrower missed one month's payment, they will start receiving email notifications, said Shaforth. Once the loan hasn't been paid for three months, loan servicers notify to the credit reporting agencies that the loan is delinquent, affecting your credit history. Once the borrower hasn't paid the loan for nine months, the loan goes into default.

If you're 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 see whether you qualify by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you've 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.

What happens when a loan goes into default?

When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days  roughly nine months  the loan appears on your credit report as being in default.

Once a loan is in default, it goes into collections. This 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 if I can't pay?

If your budget doesn't allow you to resume payments, it's important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.

If you're in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, you can contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also impact potential loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

What is an income-driven repayment plan?

The U.S. Education Department offers several plans for repaying federal student loans. Under the standard plan, borrowers are charged a fixed monthly amount that ensures all their debt will be repaid after 10 years. But if borrowers have difficulty paying that amount, they can enroll in one of several plans that offer lower monthly payments based on income and family size. Those are known as income-driven repayment plans.

Income-driven options have been offered for years and generally cap monthly payments at 10% of a borrower's discretionary income. If a borrower's earnings are low enough, their bill is reduced to $0. And after 20 or 25 years, any remaining debt gets erased.

What is the latest with the SAVE program?

In August, the Supreme Court kept on hold the SAVE plan, the income-driven repayment plan that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.

Eight million borrowers who had already enrolled in the SAVE plan don't have to pay their monthly student loan bills until the court case is resolved. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.

The next court hearing about this case will be held on October 15.

What happened with the Fresh Start program?

The Fresh Start program, which gave benefits to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the pandemic payment pause, also closed on September 30. During this limited program, student loan borrowers who were in default prior to the pandemic were given the opportunity to remove their loans from default, allowing them to enroll in income-driven payment plans, or apply for deferment, among other benefits.
Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone launched large-scale malaria vaccine programs on Thursday under an Africa-focused initiative that hopes to save tens of thousands of children's lives per year across Africa.

The three West African countries are the latest to participate after successful rollouts of routine malaria immunization for children in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the global vaccine alliance GAVI said in a statement.

The World Health Organization-approved vaccine is meant to work alongside existing tools such as bed nets to combat malaria, which in Africa kills nearly half a million children under the age of 5 each year.

"This introduction ... will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems," said Aurelia Nguyen, GAVI chief program officer.

Benin has 215,900 doses of the vaccine, which will be available to children from around 5 months old, according to GAVI.

Sierra Leone has 550,000 doses and neighboring Liberia has 112,000 doses, it said.

At the official launch in Benin, which took place in the town of Allada, some 54 kilometers from the country's largest city, Cotonou, 25 children received the vaccine.

"I came to have my children vaccinated against malaria. It's important to me because when children get this malaria disease, we spend a lot of money," said Victoire Fagbemi, a 41-year-old mother of four.

Another mother, Victoire Boko, who had her 10-month-old child vaccinated at the launch, said the health minister's explanations about the vaccine in the local Fon language had allayed any anxieties she had about its safety. "When I get home, I will share the information ... with my neighbors and friends," she said on the sidelines of the launch.

The African region is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria, according to GAVI.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's arrival in China on Wednesday has been met with skepticism, cynicism and suggestions that the absence of a red carpet for the top U.S. diplomat's arrival was a not-so-subtle message from Beijing.

Blinken kicked off his three-day visit to China in Shanghai with online commenters and analysts noting China had omitted the usual practice of laying out a red carpet for a distinguished visitor.

Posting on X, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of Chinese state media Global Times, said, "Blinken has arrived in Shanghai, China. Many people noticed when he stepped off the plane that there seemed to be no red carpet on the ground. His China visit should be seen as an 'imploring' one, although the U.S. made some tough public opinion preparations in advance."

Gordon Chang, a distinguished senior fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute think tank, responded to Hu Xijin's post, "#China, before #Blinken even stepped off his plane in #Shanghai today, insulted him."

An X user under the name Lord Bebo, who claims to be anti-mainstream media, posted, "Blinken arrives in China and is met WITHOUT RED CARPET. No band or anything  he's welcomed like a somebody unimportant." His post received more than 10,000 likes.

U.S.-China relations have eased since the two sides resumed high-level contacts, but many differences remain.

Before Blinken's visit, U.S. media reported that the U.S. discussed sanctioning some Chinese banks to counter their support for Russia. Blinken also stated in releasing the State Department's 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that the Uyghurs in Xinjiang are victims of genocide and crimes against humanity.

He arrived in China the same day President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that includes Taiwan military aid and pushes TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations.

"What an awkward moment for Blinken as he lands in China," Canadian geopolitics expert Abishur Prakash said. "The U.S. is full-steam ahead on taking on China, led by the bills around TikTok, Taiwan and support nations in the Indo-Pacific against Beijing."

'Face-to-face diplomacy matters'

On his day of arrival, Blinken posted a video speech against a backdrop of Shanghai's iconic buildings, such as the neon-lit Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

"We just arrived here in Shanghai in the People's Republic of China to work on issues that matter to the American people," he said in the video. "One of those is fentanyl, synthetic opioids, the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.

"President [Joe] Biden, President Xi [Jinping], when they met in San Francisco at the end of last year, agreed to cooperate to help prevent fentanyl and the ingredients that make it from getting to the United States. We will be working on that."

Blinken said he would be talking not only to his counterparts in the Chinese government, but also to students, academics, business leaders and "the people who are building bridges and ties between our countries.

"And of course, we will be dealing with areas where we have real differences with China, dealing with them directly, communicating clearly. Face-to-face diplomacy matters," he said. "It's important to avoid miscommunications, misperceptions, and to advance the interests of the American people."

Reaction takes anti-American tone

On Chinese social media, Blinken's overtures were met with cynicism.

On Weibo, China's largest social platform, Blinken's second visit to China had limited coverage, and the discussion was dominated by an anti-American tone.

A Weibo user under the name of Xiao Fan Hao She argued that the United States has not officially listed all fentanyl-like substances on the control list.

"We ask whether the United States believes that it can solve the domestic problems in the United States by shifting the blame externally, shirking responsibility, and smearing China's image," she wrote.

A Weibo user under the name of An Hao Xin said, "Coming with him is also the bargaining chip of 'bank sanctions.' To be honest, if you want to kick SWIFT out, just do it quickly. Why are you hesitating?"

Another commenter said, "If you dare to overturn the table, then we just aid Russia with weapons and see who suffers."

Kenneth Roth, a former executive director of Human Rights Watch and visiting professor at Princeton University, linked the visit to U.S. Middle East policy, saying on X that Blinken "would have an easier time telling the Chinese government not to provide military supplies to Russia as it commits war crimes in Ukraine if the U.S. government were not arming Israel as it commits war crimes in Gaza."

But Roth also said, "It will be shameful if Blinken is so determined to make nice to Beijing that he doesn't publicly mention its crimes against humanity targeting Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang."

Jonathan Cheng, the China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, said on X, "Unnamed Chinese official to Blinken: 'Perception is always the first button that must be put right. Whether China and the United States are rivals or partners is a fundamental issue, on which there must not be any catastrophic mistake.' "

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
A British man has been charged over alleged hostile state activity intended to benefit Russia, including by allegedly recruiting others for an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in London.

Foreign minister David Cameron voiced deep concern about the allegations, and the foreign ministry later said it had summoned Russia's ambassador to London to express its concern about "Russian orchestrated malign activity on UK soil."

Dylan Earl, 20, appeared at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with two offenses under the National Security Act over "activity likely to benefit Russia," according to court records.

One of the two charges alleges Earl assisted a foreign intelligence service, including by agreeing to undertake the "research and reconnaissance of targets, and attempting to recruit individuals to assist with such activity."

The other alleges Earl engaged in preparations for "an act endangering the life of a person or an act creating serious risk to the health or safety of the public in the United Kingdom."

Earl was also charged with aggravated arson in relation to commercial premises in London.

Three other men have also been charged with aggravated arson: Paul English, 60, and Nii Kojo Menash, 21, who appeared in court on Monday, and Jake Reeves, 22, who appeared in court on Friday. They have not yet been asked to enter a plea.

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, said in a statement that the arson charges related to "an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024."

Britain 'concerned' by allegations

Relations between Russia and Britain have long been strained, and they have deteriorated further since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

David Cameron said he was "deeply concerned" by the allegations in the case.

"We will use the full weight of the criminal justice system to hold anyone found guilty of crimes linked to foreign interference to account," he wrote on X.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, called it a "highly significant moment and investigation for us."

"Not only are the charges that have been authorized by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act," he said.

Reeves has also been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday alongside Dmirtrijus Paulauskas, 22, who was charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts.

All five men are next due to appear in court at the Old Bailey on May 10.
Burkina Faso has temporarily suspended the programs of Voice of America and BBC/Africa following the broadcast of news stories about a Human Rights Watch report accusing the Burkinabe army of abuses against civilian populations.



The Superior Council of Communication Thursday ordered the immediate halt of the rebroadcasts and suspension of the programs of both international radio stations for two weeks. Access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and Human Rights Watch was also suspended within Burkina Faso.

VOA stands by its reporting about Burkina Faso and intends to continue to fully and fairly cover events in that country, the outlets acting director John Lippman said Friday in a statement.

We ask the government of Burkina Faso to reconsider this troubling decision, Lippman noted.

A BBC spokesperson had a similar message: The suspension reduces the BBCs ability to reach audiences with independent and accurate news. We will continue to report on the region in the public interest and without fear or favour.

Press freedom groups also condemned the suspension of the two outlets.

The suspensions extend a pattern of censorship in the country, which has included previous suspensions of several French and local outlets, Jonathan Rozen, the senior Africa researcher at the Committee to Protect Journalists, told VOA in a statement.

Military-ruled Burkina Faso has in recent months suspended other Western news outlets, including the French television broadcasters LCI and France24, French radio broadcaster Radio France Internationale, the French daily newspaper Le Monde and the French magazine Jeune Afrique.

Journalists in Burkina Faso should not have to contend with censorship by authorities in addition to challenges of reporting amid insecurity in the country, Rozen said.

Sadibou Marong, the director of the Reporters Without Borders sub-Saharan Africa bureau, agreed, calling the suspensions yet another blow to press freedom in Burkina Faso.

They [authorities] are using suspensions against those who dare to report freely, added Marong, who is based in Senegals capital Dakar.

Burkina Faso is one of several West African nations in the Sahel region, including Mali and Niger, that have been combating Islamist insurgencies. The military seized power in a 2022 coup, citing the governments failure to put down a jihadist insurgency that erupted in 2015.

The West African country was once lauded as a regional leader in media freedom.

It used to really be a success story in terms of press freedom in Africa, Marong said. But that status came to an end following military coups in January and September 2022, he noted.

The decision to suspend VOA and the BBC comes just one week ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse, Reuters and The Associated Press.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Joint Russian-Turkish Monitoring Centre in Azerbaijan's Aghdam has held a closing ceremony today, Trend's Karabakh Bureau reports.

The ceremony was attended by first Deputy Minister of Defense - Chief of General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army. Colonel General Karim Valiyev, Advisor to the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Bakhtiyar Ersai, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Sergey Istrakov, as well as other servicemen and representatives of the media,

First, the national anthems of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Russia were played.

Welcoming the participants of the ceremony, Colonel General Valiyev spoke about the activities of the Joint Monitoring Center established under the Memorandum signed on November 11, 2020, between Turkiye and Russia.

The Chief of General Staff expressed gratitude to the Turkish and Russian servicemen for their diligent and courageous service for peace and stability in the region since January 30, 2021, and wished them success in their future service.

It was also noted that in line with the trilateral Statement signed on November 10, 2020, by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of the Russian Federation, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the activities of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation temporarily stationed in the Karabakh Economic Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the agreement reached between the top leadership of the two countries, are halted ahead of schedule, and the process of complete withdrawal from the country's territory begins.

The closing ceremony concluded with an artistic performance featuring the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ideological and Cultural Center named after Hazi Aslnov and the Military Orchestra of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev.

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A journalist with the Russian edition of Forbes magazine has been detained on charges of spreading what Moscow views as false information about the Russian army, his lawyer said Friday.

Sergei Mingazov is being held in the southeastern Russian city of Khabarovsk, more than 8,000 kilometers from Moscow.

Konstantin Bubon, the journalists lawyer, said in a Facebook post that Mingazov was detained over social media posts he made about the Ukrainian city of Bucha, where Russian forces have been accused of massacring civilians before leaving in April 2022.

In short, for reposting a publication about the events in Bucha on a Telegram channel, Bubon said.

The Kremlin has banned criticism about its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all but rendering independent coverage of the war illegal.

Forbes Russia said Friday that it has been unable to contact Mingazov.

Mingazov is set to appear in court on Saturday. If convicted, he faces 10 years behind bars.

Russias Washington embassy did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

At the end of 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Russia fourth in the world in terms of journalist jailings, with 22 behind bars, including two Americans.

Alsu Kurmasheva, the American journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who has been jailed in Russia since October 2023, is also facing charges of spreading what the Kremlin views as false information about the Russian military, as well as failing to self-register as a so-called foreign agent. She rejects the charges.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journals Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Moscow since March 2023 on espionage charges that he and the U.S. government vehemently deny.

Some information in this report came from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Torrential rain and flooding in Tanzania have caused 155 deaths and 236 injuries while affecting more than 200,000 others, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told parliament on Thursday.

"The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage," Majaliwa told parliament. He urged people living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground, and he urged local governments to ensure that supplies go to those who have lost their homes. He said more than 51,000 households have been affected to some degree.

The prime minister also said "environmental degradation" contributed to the destruction. He blamed deforestation, unsustainable farming practices and unregulated livestock grazing.

El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with increased temperatures worldwide, has worsened the abnormally heavy rainfall hitting the East African region. In March, the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization said the 2023-24 El Nino was one of the five strongest ever recorded.

The rain has caused flooding, destroying roads and other important infrastructure in several countries in the region, including Kenya and Burundi.

In Kenya, 35 people were reported dead because of the flooding. That was the toll as of Monday, and it is expected to rise as the flooding continues. Some parts of Nairobi remained under water as of Thursday, with more rain in the forecast.

In Burundi, about 96,000 people have been displaced by months of relentless rains, according to reports from the United Nations and the government earlier this month.

Farther north in Somalia, the U.N. humanitarian agency said the April-to-June rains have been intensifying since flash floods were reported April 19.

Deadly flooding is not uncommon in the region.

More than 300 people died late last year in heavy rains and floods in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia as the region was trying to recover from its worst drought in four decades that left millions of people hungry.

From late 1997 to early 1998, massive floods left more than 6,000 people dead in five countries in the region.

While El Nino is slowly weakening after peaking in December, it will still affect weather patterns in the coming months.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Two days after Toomaj Salehi, a dissident rapper in Iran, was sentenced to death, reactions at home and abroad continue to pour in. In the latest wave of criticism, a coalition of educators rights activists has vehemently condemned the verdict.

On Friday, the Teachers Guild of Fars Province issued a statement saying, "These are dire times. It is a stark reflection of our era when the judiciary turns a blind eye to the hands of embezzlers and financial criminals, yet keenly listens to the voices of artists, fearing they might utter the words, 'I love you.' "

The teachers guild said that while the death sentence was handed down to a renowned artist, economic plunderers and corrupt individuals not only escape punishment but also evade detention or prosecution within the judicial system, perpetuating a grave injustice.

The guild wrote, "In a climate where avenues for legal criticism and activism are obstructed, and society witnesses mounting discrimination, injustice and recurrent legal violations, there's a looming concern that the pent-up rage of the populace will erupt, potentially fueling even more radical social movements in the foreseeable future."

The guild was alluding to recent events, notably the 2022 protests that swept Iran, and it said the governments actions "have underscored the looming inevitability of such outcomes, leaving no room for escape."

In its statement, the teachers guild demanded Salehis immediate and unconditional release, along with an annulment of the verdict. "The issuance of such disgraceful judgments by the judiciary system only deepens society's distrust in the judicial process," it said.

'Art does not succumb'

The Harsin Educators Association also strongly condemned the death sentence given to Salehi, calling it a "murder of art and life."

The teachers association said, "Art does not succumb to torture, incarceration or execution, as it embodies the essence of humanity itself."

Likewise, educators in Alborz province issued a statement condemning the "inhumane verdict against Toomaj Salehi, a son of Iran," and said "history's testimony reveals that the trend of stifling and intimidating dissenters has never succeeded in quelling activism and criticism worldwide.

The statement's signatories urged the government: "Be mindful that the voices of Toomajs cannot be silenced. Indeed, the newly breathed voices sheltered within the nest will echo his voice. Indeed, it is this resilient voice that endures and refuses to be silenced."

The educators said that "Toomaj stands accused not of embezzlement or theft, but solely for echoing the anguish and hardship endured by his compatriots."

Esmaeil Abdi, a teachers rights activist, wrote on his social media account that "Toomaj Salehi epitomized the ability to ignite social movements and exemplified the ethical and humanistic value of art in our time."

According to Abdi, "Toomaj Salehi's works resonated with the anguish of various segments of society, including teachers, laborers, nurses and marginalized communities such as the Baluch, Kurd, Turk, Fars, Arab and others."

Another educational activist, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, wrote on his Telegram account that the death sentence imposed on Salehi lacked legal justification.

Salehi initially received a six-year prison sentence but was released after Irans Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court over flaws in his original sentence. However, shortly thereafter, he was rearrested and transferred to Isfahan Prison.

He was apprehended in November 2022 amidst nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini during her detention by Irans morality police.

Salehi faced trial earlier this month at Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, where he was charged with "assembly and collusion" and "assisting in rebellion." His legal team received notification of his death sentence on Wednesday.

The Telegram channel "Charter of Freedom, Welfare, Equality" called Salehi's death sentence a tool "for intimidation and suppression" of the Iranian populace. It said: "The court issuing this decree is aware that its decision lacks such a foundation that it cannot even be upheld within the current legal structure of the Islamic Republic."

Mojgan Eftekhari, the mother of Mahsa Amini, penned a poignant message on her Instagram story: "Do not allow Toomaj's mother's heart to mirror mine; let Toomaj breathe so that his mother does not suffocate."

Renowned filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi, in a video shared on Instagram, sought updates on the status of Salehi and other detained protesters. He depicted the Islamic Republic on the brink of collapse, urging Iranians to unify once more in efforts to topple the government.
As the coffin bearing the body of Rosebella Awuor was lowered into the grave, heart-wrenching sobs from mourners filled the air. Her sister Winnie Akinyi, the guardian to Awuor's orphaned son, fell to the ground, wailing.

It was the latest of five deaths in this family attributed to malaria. The disease is common in Kenya, and it is preventable and curable, but poverty makes it deadly for those who can't afford treatment.

In the family's compound in the western county of Migori, three other graves are visible, that of Awuor's husband and their other two children who died from malaria before age 2.

Awuor, 31, fell ill in December and lost her five-month pregnancy before succumbing to malaria. Her 11-year-old son is the family's only survivor.

Malaria is still a significant public health challenge in Kenya, though some progress may be coming. Parts of Kenya participated in an important pilot of the world's first malaria vaccine, with a reported drop in deaths for children under 5. Kenya's health ministry hasn't said when the vaccine will be widely available.

The biggest impact is felt in regions characterized by high temperatures like Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, and places with high rainfall like the western region near Lake Victoria.

Kenya had an estimated 5 million malaria cases and more than 12,000 deaths reported in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO has declared April 25 as World Malaria Day.

Most of those affected are children under 5 and pregnant women.

New approaches needed

Kenya continues to combat malaria with traditional methods such as distributing bed nets that are treated with insecticides, spraying breeding areas, and promoting early diagnosis and treatment, but experts say progress against the disease with those approaches has plateaued.

Public health expert Dr. Willis Akhwale, special adviser for the Kenya End Malaria Council, said the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the distribution of drugs and treatment.

He said innovative treatment methods are needed in the wake of drug-resistant cases reported in parts of Africa.

"We need to start looking at investments in new-generation medicines. That should then be able to counter any resistance in [the] foreseeable future," he said.

Akhwale said other needs include more funding and logistical support.

"In Kenya, the shortfall in terms of the need is almost $52 million, so we need to close that gap," he said, citing health ministry data. He recommended domestic funding and private sector support amid donor fatigue with crises around the world.

Wilson Otieno has been admitted to a hospital three times for malaria and has received outpatient treatment countless times. It's expensive for the 33-year-old accountant and father in the lakeside city of Kisumu.

Malaria is never "pocket friendly," he said.

Some progress has been made with local manufacturing of crucial medication.

The Kenya-based Universal Corporation Limited last year received the WHO's approval to produce an antimalarial drug known as Spaq, a combination of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine.

The approval was an important step in Africa's capacity to make lifesaving medications, a new focus for governments and public health officials after vulnerabilities were exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa relies heavily on drug imports.

"It will really help in lowering the dependency for imports as we saw during the COVID era, where whatever was being imported actually had huge supply disruptions," said Palu Dhanani, the founder and managing director of UCL.

If you don't get the right medicine at the right time, malaria can cause unnecessary deaths, Dhanani said.
Namibia is recognized as one of the few African nations to reach continental health targets outlined in the Abuja Declaration, allocating at least 15% of its national budget to health.

Despite that progress, the country is struggling with its rollout of the human papillomavirus vaccine, which was set to begin in April.

Over the years, Namibia's government has dedicated a sizeable portion of its budget to health and social services, with the proportion increasing over the years. This has not, however, always translated into improved health delivery, as seen in the delayed rollout of vaccinations for human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes an estimated 90% of cervical cancers in women.

On Wednesday, Namibia's minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula told VOA the country is on track with the mass immunization of adolescent girls and is simply figuring out the logistics. But he also highlighted Namibia's upper-middle income classification by the World Economic Forum as a barrier to health funding in the country.

"We are convinced that the basis for ranking is not sound because you use the denominator as the population," said Shangula. "You know the population in Namibia is small. The smaller the denominator, the higher the product, but we have many countries  maybe even those ones with 50 million who are in a similar situation like Namibia  but they are ranked as least developed countries."

Last month, Namibia's cabinet charged Peya Mushelenga, minister of international relations and cooperation, with lobbying other middle-income countries at forums such as the World Bank and United Nations "to put direct pressure on Bretton Woods Institutions to adopt the United Nations Development Program Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index as a more accurate determinant of a country's development status."

The government believes the lower ranking is a more accurate indication of the country's development profile and will help it obtain loans and grants to aid its development programs.

"We have high unemployment rate, rapid urbanization and so forth," Mushelenga said.

Some critics have refuted the idea of middle-income status as a barrier to delivering health care by pointing out how local middlemen known as "tenderpreneurs" have become instant millionaires through government procurement of essential health services and products, which does not translate to health care gains for the public.

Wade Henckert, a political scientist and lecturer at a local university, said Namibia's upper-middle-income status has the advantage of giving Namibia access to international capital financial markets and potential foreign direct investment, which is good for development.

"The delay in rolling out the HPV vaccine in Namibia continues to highlight the challenges the country faces in procuring vaccines and also providing essential health care services," said Henckert. "While a downgrade in ranking may potentially make Namibia eligible for grants from organizations like GAVI, it is essential to consider that the broader implications of such a decision could also deter investor confidence in the country."

Henckert said tenderpreneurship, while widespread in Africa, is exploited to an unusual degree in Namibia because of loopholes in procurement that make it lucrative for opportunistic businesspeople to take advantage of Namibia's health care procurement system.

Macroeconomic factors such as the reported slowdown in production by one of the leaders in HPV vaccine producers, Merck, could be a variable hurting Namibia's rollout of HPV vaccines, although VOA could not independently verify this.
It has been only a day since the transitional presidential council was installed in Haiti, and the list of demands on the Caribbean nation's new leaders is rapidly growing. Haitians want security, food, jobs  and they want them now.

The members of the council, tasked with bringing political stability to Haiti, are under immense pressure to produce quick results, despite a deep-seated crisis that has been years in the making.

Making Haiti safer is a priority. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March alone, and more than 90,000 have fled the capital of Port-au-Prince so far this year amid relentless gang violence.

The task is really monumental, said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia.

Gangs have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that has been closed since early March, and stormed the countrys two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

Gangs now control 80% of Port-au-Prince, and though they have long depended on powerful politicians and the countrys economic elite for their survival, they are increasingly becoming self-sufficient.

How you extricate yourself from that is very complicated, Fatton said. I dont expect the presidential council to come up with a solution.

However, the council could push for disarmament and find ways to ease poverty in the slums, he added. Those gangs are simply not going to go away by simply saying, We want you to be nice guys.

The nine-member council acknowledged the challenges it faces after it was sworn in early Thursday at the National Palace, located in an area in downtown Port-au-Prince that has been under attack by gangs in recent weeks.

Gunfire erupted during the ceremony as some officials looked around the room. Hours later, the new interim prime minister, Michel Boisvert, addressed the council.

The task ahead is daunting, Boisvert said. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the population expects a lot from you ... everything becomes a priority alongside security.

How exactly the council plans to tackle the daunting tasks is unclear. Its members have met behind closed doors with top government officials as they prepare to choose a new prime minister, a Cabinet and a provisional electoral commission. They will also establish a national security council.

However, no strategy to quell gang violence has been publicly announced. Several council members did not return messages seeking comment Friday.

After the swearing-in ceremony, curious pedestrians slowed down as they passed by the building housing the prime ministers office.

Some were openly displeased. Thieves and gangs! Thats all they are! yelled a man as he drove past on his motorcycle.

There wasn't much hope at a crowded makeshift shelter set up at Haitis former Ministry of Communications  a building the government had abandoned due to gang violence.

Rose Hippolite, 66, was forced to flee her Port-au-Prince home with her four children after gangs raided their neighborhood. They have now spent two months in the yard of the ministry building, sleeping on the ground or sitting in a corner when it rains, waiting for the ground to dry out.

Gunshots ring out every day across the city. We live in fear, she said. Only God knows if the new leaders will help.

Nancy Philemon, a 42-year-old mother of six children, sat under a large and tattered umbrella nearby, selling candy and other small items to shelter refugees.

I dont have any hope, she said. Instead of things getting better, they are getting worse. ... There is no safe place anywhere.

Haitis National Police remains largely overwhelmed by gangs that are better armed and have more resources. More than 15 officers have been killed by gangs so far this year.

Lionel Lazarre, general coordinator for the SYNAPOHA police union, told The Associated Press over the phone Friday that the council must prioritize security above everything."

Police need so much, he said, including combat helicopters, armed vehicles, drones, high-caliber weapons and infrared thermal imaging for nighttime operations.

It is important to us that the council meet with us urgently, Lazarre said. I believe if there is political will, we have hope things can change.

There is hope because for the past three weeks, police have managed to prevent gangs from taking over the National Palace and multiple police stations, he said.

Fatton, the Haitian expert, said he heard predictions on the radio about how the council is doomed to fail if things dont change with the security situation."

They have a very short period of time to get their act together and get results, he said.
Pakistans decision on Friday to extend the term of a key document that allows Afghans to live in the country legally has created some breathing room for refugees who fear they would be sent back to Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs Cabinet Friday approved extending proof of registration cards for Afghan refugees that expired April 1 to June 30, according to an official statement.

The document allows Afghan refugees to have access to health, educational, and banking facilities.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed Pakistan's decision but said refugees should be given a longer extension to lessen the uncertainty they face.

"We welcome the extension, but also hope that after June, they [POR cards] can be extended for longer than three months to give more certainty to Afghan refugees, said Philippa Candler, the refugee agency's Pakistan representative in written comments to VOA.

According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Information, expulsion of documented refugees will come at later.

The POR cardholders will be sent back in the third stage of the program to expel foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan, the statement said.

Faced with rising terror attacks, Pakistan launched a drive in October 2023 to evict foreign nationals residing illegally in the country.

The decision primarily impacted Afghans who arrived in Pakistan over the last four decades, seeking refuge from war and poverty at home.

In the first phase of the on-going drive, more than half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since last fall, according to data compiled by the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to the UNHCR, Pakistan is now home to around 3.1 million Afghans. Data shows 1.35 million are registered or POR cardholders. More than 800,000 have Afghan citizenship cards while the remaining are unregistered.

In the second phase, Pakistan plans to repatriate Afghan citizenship card (ACC) holders. At a recent news briefing, the spokesperson for Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified the second phase of the expulsion program had not yet begun.

I would like to underline that Pakistani authorities are considering all aspects of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan and at this point there are no plans to repatriate the ACC holders, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said. When such a decision is taken the relevant authorities will make an announcement, she added, addressing media reports suggesting the phase had been launched.

Afghan Taliban as well as international and Pakistani human rights activists have condemned Islamabads plan to send Afghans back.

Rights activists worry women and girls will live under severe repression as the Afghan Taliban have forbidden women from most jobs and public spaces, and banned education for girls beyond the sixth grade.

Pakistans Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan is in violation of refugee and international human rights law, Amnesty International said in a statement earlier this month.

A recent survey by Save the Children revealed nearly 65% of the 250,000 children who returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan are not in school anymore, largely because of a lack of documents needed to enroll.

Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. convention protecting refugee rights. But the country has run registration drives in the past with help from the UNHCR to give Afghans documentation that gave them long-term protection.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops in August 2021, Pakistan has seen a spike in terror attacks primarily by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an ideological offshoot of the Afghan Taliban. TTP and groups affiliated with it have killed thousands of Pakistani security personnel in attacks concentrated in the provinces along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistani military and the government accuse Afghan Taliban of providing a haven to anti-state terrorists, a charge the de facto rulers in Kabul deny. Pakistani authorities claim Afghan nationals have been involved in several deadly attacks on Pakistani security personnel.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, set for May 9 at the White House, has been postponed because of changes in the Turkish leader's schedule, a Turkish official said on Friday.

A new date will soon be set, the official said, requesting anonymity.

The White House had not formally announced the visit, but a U.S. official told Reuters in late March that the White House had offered, and Ankara had accepted, May 9 for the meeting.
The Somali government has admitted that rations for the elite Somali soldiers trained by the United States have been diverted within a unit of its forces.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the government said it had conducted an investigation, which resulted in the suspension and detention of officers. The number and identity of the officers suspended and detained have not been disclosed.

The Somali National Armed Forces over the past few years have enhanced their accountability measures in line with its reform agenda, the statement read.

During these investigations the Somali National Armed Forces have reported a diversion of Danab rations within a unit of its forces. FGS [Federal Government of Somalia] takes these incidents seriously and have immediately launched an investigation which resulted in the suspension and detention of officers within the ranks to ensure accountability and transparency.

The Somali government has not reported when the diversion took place and type of rations diverted, but it said it notified the incident to its stakeholders and will share the outcome of these investigations in due course.

Contacted by VOA, Somalia Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur would not comment on the matter. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu also did not immediately respond to a VOA query.

But the statement says the Somali government will assume responsibility for the Danab rations from the United States, a hint Washington has been providing the support.

In recent bilateral discussion, the FGS in consultation with the United States Government will assume the responsibility of providing rations to Danab and is currently working closely with USG in the gradual transition of Danab support to the FGS as Somalia is focusing on its ability for the longer term sustainability of its Forces, statement said.

Somalias Ministry of Defense said it appreciates the support of the United States government for its strategic partnership with the Somali people and government in its fight against al-Shabaab as well as the provision of critical humanitarian and development support.

The investments of the United States Government in SNA Danab build program have resulted in a capable strike force that has been the tip of spear of SNAF [Somali National Armed Forces] offensives against al-Shabaab, it said.

The U.S. has been advising and assisting Danab Lightning forces for many years to build their capability to fight al-Shabab. Somali officials previously told VOA Somali that the target for Danab forces 3,000.

Last month, Danab forces participated in a U.S.-led military exercise in east Africa.

In February this year, the U.S. and Somali governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of up to five military bases for the Danab Brigade.

In addition, the United States twice last year gave weapons, including heavy machine guns and ammunition, to Danab forces to use for their operations against al-Shabab.

Somali officials have been recruiting extensively since late 2022 in order to generate enough forces to take over from the African Union peacekeepers in the country who are expected to leave Somalia by the end of this year. The Somali government is negotiating with the international partners for a leaner multinational forces to continue to operate in the country for an additional year.
Thailands most popular political party, Move Forward, is facing the familiar threat of dissolution by court order, but senior members say plans are already in place for a swift comeback if they are disbanded, refusing to let their reform movement die.

MFP secured a plurality in Thailands May 2023 elections with 14 million votes and 151 seats, ending nine years of military-dominated government.

The party did it with a radical slate of reforms for equitable governance  to cut the military from power, break up an economic monopoly and amend the royal defamation law, known as lese-majeste, which criminalizes criticism of the powerful monarchy.

Yet the partys candidate for prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat, was blocked from forming a government by the appointed Senate of ultraconservatives allied to the generals who seized power in a coup nearly a decade earlier.

Forced into the opposition, MFP has since faced an obstacle course of legal challenges brought by rivals determined to kill its reform agenda.

Thailands Constitutional Court is expected within weeks to decide whether the centerpiece of MFPs agenda  a proposed amendment of lese-majeste  is tantamount to subversion.

The court dissolved MFPs previous incarnation, Future Forward, in 2020, triggering vigorous street protests by pro-democracy activists.

A repeat of that ruling potentially sets a precedent for any future review of the law, which carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison and has been cited in the prosecution of at least 260 people in the past four years.

"Weve seen party dissolution being used as one of the tools against parties that are opposite from the establishment institution of Thailand," MFP spokesperson Parit Wacharasindhu told VOA.

"Its not normal for any democratic country to have this kind of party dissolution but  if it were to happen, it highlights why theres a need for a party like Move Forward Party to exist in Thai politics," he said.

If banned, MFP will have to rebrand under a new name and work quickly to keep its lawmakers from being poached by the coalition parties led by Pheu Thai  Thailands previously dominant electoral force, which now holds the premiership through property tycoon Srettha Thavisin.

It will also most likely have to replace Pita, leader Chaithawat Tulathon and several other front-line figures who could be banned from politics for 10 years if the party is ordered to dissolve.

Parit, 31, is widely tipped to emerge as the next leader with a strong speaking style and connection with the public.

"The party has plans in place for all scenarios," he said, without confirming any possible future role.

An MFP lawmaker, who also faces a ban from politics as a possible result of the imminent ruling, summed up the limbo of political life in a country where courts routinely eliminate talented new politicians and parties as feeling similar to "knowing your friend is really sick and knowing he can go any day."

"Ive put in so much in this political career and it could just be the end of it just like that," the lawmaker told VOA, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of political reprisals.

MFP is set to present its final argument on May 3, and the head of Thailands nine-member constitutional court, Nakarin Mektrairat, has publicly called it "impossible" to prejudge the benchs decision.

But political observers say the dissolution is a virtually done deal as the establishment seeks to politically suffocate Thailands most radical movement of the last two decades.

Powerful royal legacy

Thailands monarchy is extremely powerful, and the royal defamation law protects it from criticism, with sentences of up to 15 years per conviction.

Dozens of young pro-democracy activists have been jailed in the last few years under the law.

MFP leaders have been touring the country, saying the mere fact of a looming court decision signals the rot within Thailands current political system.

"Im not sure if those who have the power to dissolve us have asked themselves what they gain by doing it," Pita said before a party meeting April 6.

"Sure, it may weaken us in the short term, but it may turbocharge us into the next election  whatever the name of the party may be."

Analysts say banning the party is futile given two factors: millions of young people joining the electorate and the looming term limit of Thailands 250-member militarily appointed Senate, which has been instrumental in blocking MFPs progress.

"It makes no difference," Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, law professor at Thammasat University, told VOA. "The coalition government will get slightly stronger [without an opposition]. But when it comes to the next election, there will be four million new voters. Without the appointed Senate, its highly likely that the MFPs next version will be the government."

But MFPs "next reincarnation" may have to be politically expedient, softening calls for reform of the royal defamation law to reach power, he added.

As MFP awaits its legal fate, party leaders say they are focusing on their work as the opposition, especially challenging the governments efforts to draft a new constitution to reflect the changing political realities.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai-led government is newly confident with billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatras late-February release from prison. Thaksin, Pheu Thais longtime patron, has toured parts of the country and routinely hosted the great and the good of Thai politics at his Bangkok home, where he is serving out a house-arrest sentence for corruption.

So long as the kingdoms old political allegiances continue to crumble and MFPs call for sweeping social, political and economic reforms continue to resonate with a substantial part of Thailands electorate, it may mean the countrys progressive movement, whatever its name may be, emerges stronger in the long-term.

"No one is distracted by the legal struggle, no one is less energetic," Parit told VOA. "We remain as committed as ever in terms of pushing ahead for change whether by submitting draft laws to the parliament, contesting local elections or expanding party membership."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The activity of the Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center in Azerbaijan's Aghdam has been stopped, Trend reports.

On this occasion, a solemn ceremony organized by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is being held at the center.

In this regard, a media tour was organized for a group of media representatives.

To note, the joint monitoring center was established on January 30, 2021, in order to monitor the ceasefire in Azerbaijan's Karabakh and prevent violations in accordance with the memorandum signed between Turkiye and Russia.

As a result of local anti-terror measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh on September 1920, 2023, Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty throughout the country. Since the Russian peacekeeping contingent began to leave the Karabakh region a few days ago, the need for the activities of this center has disappeared.

Additionally, on April 18, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the cessation of the center's activity.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday took up Donald Trump's bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trumps lawyers argue that former presidents are entitled to absolute immunity for their official acts. We talk to Richard O. Lempert from the University of Michigan School of Law. New Yorks highest court on Thursday threw out Harvey Weinstein s 2020 rape conviction with a ruling that shocked and disappointed women who celebrated historic gains during the #MeToo era. And paleontologists in Argentina have announced a new herbivorous dinosaur that lived over 90 million years.
The United Nations says Sudans warring parties appear headed toward major clashes in the northern Darfur city of El Fasher, home to 2 million people and about a half-million internally displaced.

The office of the spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general said in a statement Friday that The Rapid Support Forces [RSF] are reportedly encircling El Fasher, suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent. Simultaneously, the Sudanese Armed Forces [SAF] appear to be positioning themselves.

The statement said the secretary-general's personal envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, is working with the parties to de-escalate tensions in El Fasher.

At least 43 people, including women and children, reportedly have been killed in fighting in the northern Darfur city since April 14 when the RSF, backed by its allied militia, began a push to gain control of the city, the SAFs last remaining stronghold in Sudans Darfur region.

Earlier, a spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the parties to immediately halt violence in and around El Fasher.

Speaking from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Seif Magango warned that the fight for El Fasher, already raging outside the city for several weeks, may be taking a turn for the worse.

Reports indicate that both parties have launched indiscriminate attacks using explosive weapons with wide-area effects, such as mortar shells and rockets fired from fighter jets, in residential districts, the spokesperson said. Since early April, the RSF has conducted several large-scale attacks on the villages in western El Fasher mostly inhabited by the African Zaghawa ethnic community, he said, noting that several Zaghawa villages have been burned down.

Such attacks raise the specter of further ethnically motivated violence in Darfur, including mass killings, he said.

Last year, fighting and attacks between the Rizeigat and the African Masalit communities in West Darfur left hundreds of civilians dead or injured, and thousands displaced from their homes.

The earlier Darfur conflict that erupted in 2003 between Arab and non-Arab communities killed at least 200,000 people and left a deadly legacy of mines and explosive remnants of war, which continue to wreak havoc on communities long after that war ended.

The new war between rival factions of Sudans military that broke out last year has left more than 18 million people facing acute food insecurity and uprooted nearly 9 million from their homes.

OHCHR spokesperson Magango said civilians trapped in El Fasher are afraid they will be killed if they try to flee the city.

This dire situation is compounded by a severe shortage of essential supplies as deliveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid have been heavily constrained by the fighting, and delivery trucks are unable to freely transit through RSF-controlled territory, he said.

High Commissioner Turk is urging both parties to the conflict and their allies to grant civilians safe passage to other areas and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian aid to reach civilians in dire need.

For his part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his call on all warring parties to refrain from fighting in the El Fasher area, warning of devastating consequences for the civilian population that is in an area already on the brink of famine.
The United States is calling on China to do more to monitor North Korean sanctions violations as a U.N. panel charged with that task is set to expire this month.

"Beijing can do more to combat the DPRK's sanctions evasion efforts in PRC territorial waters, repatriate North Korean laborers earning income in PRC territory, and shut down procurement networks," a State Department spokesperson said in an email Wednesday to VOA's Korean Service.

DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. China's official name is the People's Republic of China.

The U.S. official also reacted to comments this week by Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, who told VOA, "The U.S. needs to ... stop heightening the pressure and sanctions, stop military deterrence, and take effective steps to resume meaningful dialogue."

Washington has been sending messages to Pyongyang seeking a dialogue "in multiple ways  through third parties and directly, orally and in writing," said the U.S. spokesperson, who insisted on anonymity according to department policy. But North Korea has shown "no indication it is interested in engaging," he wrote.

Liu, whose remarks were delivered to VOA by email on Monday, also maintained that "China has faithfully implemented relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions."

DPRK 'grows stronger'

The North Korean Foreign Ministry's vice minister for U.S. affairs, Kim Un Chol, released a statement through its state-run KCNA on Thursday saying Washington's attempt "to enliven the worn-out sanctions and pressure the DPRK" would be met with a military response.

"If the U.S. introduces a new version of sanctions against the DPRK, the latter will take a new opportunity necessary for its upward readjustment of force which the U.S. is most afraid of," said Kim. "The DPRK is a state entity that grows stronger before harsher sanctions and pressure."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, visited South Korea and Japan last week to discuss new ways of enforcing sanctions on North Korea.

Authorization of the U.N. panel of experts that has been monitoring sanctions enforcement expires at the end of this month because Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an annual extension of its mandate. China abstained.

Thomas-Greenfield said at an April 17 news conference in Seoul that it was "critical" for all U.N. member states to continue "receiving independent and accurate reporting of the DPRK's ongoing weapons proliferation and sanction evasion activities."

She also said, "We will eventually find a mechanism to continue to do that reporting. And yes, Russia and China will continue to try to block those efforts."

She added, "I don't expect that they will cooperate or agree with any efforts that we make to find another path, but that is not going to stop us from finding that path moving forward."

Aaron Arnold, former member of the U.N. panel of experts and currently a senior associate fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said he believed it is possible to create an external monitoring body without Russia and China.

"Although the report [of a new body] may not hold the same political legitimacy as a report produced under a [U.N.] mandate, relevant stakeholders such as banks will certainly make use of them," Arnold said.

The U.N. panel produced reports twice a year detailing the violations of sanctions by U.N. member states, including China and Russia.

"Everyone who reads the reports of the U.N. panel of experts knows the truth" that China is violating sanctions, said Joshua Stanton, a Washington-based attorney who helped draft the Sanctions and Policy Enforcement Act in 2016.

"It has been illegally importing North Korean coal, knowingly hosting North Korean hackers, helping North Korea disguise its smuggling fleet, and hosting North Korea's money laundering and computer hacking networks," he said.

"North Korean missiles even parade through the streets of Pyongyang on Chinese trucks."

China is harboring at its port in its eastern Zhejiang province a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Angara, that transported arms from North Korea, Reuters reported Thursday, citing the Royal United Services Institute's findings.

Eunjung Cho contributed to this report.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Friday a military aid package for Ukraine valued at up to $6 billion that will allow the U.S. to help build up Ukraines defense industry. Austin said the U.S. would send the anticipated aid as soon as possible.

He made these comments during a news conference after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group concluded its meeting on the second anniversary of its creation.

The announcement underscores Americas commitment to Ukraine, the U.S. defense secretary said.

This coalition stands together and we will not falter, we will not flinch, and we will not fail to stave off Russian aggression, he said.

Austin said the Ukraine Defense Contact Group would also assist in the creation of a self-reliant Ukrainian defense industry, boosting Ukraines capabilities on air defense, information technology, demining and new unmanned aerial vehicles, among others.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of more than 50 countries, for its decision Friday to swiftly provide more munitions to Ukraine.

"If we in Ukraine had not received your help with weapons, and if your countries had shown indifference to the destiny of our people, the world would definitely be different, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. But he warned the group that predatory regimes like Russia's are rapidly increasing their appetite for aggression, and that aggression spreads when not stopped.

If our solidarity with you had not worked out and if your reaction to the war had remained only in words, the world would have had to deal with a much more powerful Russia, he said.

Combination of weapons

Austin said the U.S. would provide Ukraine additional Patriot missiles for its air defense systems at Zelenskyys request.

He said the U.S. was also providing more ATACMS ballistic missiles.

Responding to a question from VOA on the significance of ATACMS ballistic missiles, Austin said they were not a silver bullet that would allow Ukraine to turn the tables on Russia in the battlefield. But they are an effective weapon in combination with other munitions, he said.

I think with the capabilities, resources we provided, hopefully Ukraine will have the ability to not only hold its own but regenerate additional capability and create options for itself, he added.

Austin expressed his gratitude to Congress for passing the $95 billion supplemental package, $61 billion of which will be going toward Ukraine, allowing it to keep defending its territories.

Galvanized world

Austin said the Ukraine Defense Contact Group reflects a galvanized world against Russian aggression on Ukraine.

The nations gathered today understand whats at stake for Ukraine, Europe, the United States and for the world, he said. If Putin prevails in Ukraine, the security circumstances would be global, he said, adding, As President Biden said, Putin will not stop in Ukraine.

European Union governments are also stepping up to provide defense systems to Kyiv.

Spain's defense minister, Margarita Robles, said Friday that Madrid would deliver Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. She confirmed the planned missile deliveries during a videoconference with other countries supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, her ministry said.

During Fridays virtual meeting of the Ukraine defense group, Zelenskyy said Kyiv needed Patriot missiles to create a shield against Russian missile attacks.

Blinken in China

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Friday that China's support for Russia's military could sour the recent inroads in relations between the world's biggest economies.

"I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] providing components that are powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine," Blinken said Friday at a news conference at the end of his visit to Beijing.

Blinken raised his concerns during 5 hours of talks with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi.

"China is the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, nitrocellulose - which is critical to making munitions and rocket propellants - and other dual-use items that Moscow is using to ramp up its defense industrial base," Blinken said.

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on Friday and said the two countries were working to strengthen their "strategic partnership in the defense sector."

Russia is intensifying its strikes across Ukraine, hitting rail lines to hamper the delivery of urgently needed U.S. weapons to the front and to complicate military logistics, a Kyiv intelligence source said Friday.

Russia also struck industrial facilities in different parts of Ukraine on Friday, killing two civilians and injuring at least seven, according to local authorities.

VOAs Penelope Poulou contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
The head of Vietnams Parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue  who was believed to be a leading contender for Vietnam's top office  has resigned amid a corruption investigation into a real estate firm. Some activists say a power struggle within the Communist Party is the underlying cause of Hue's downfall.

After a meeting Friday of the Communist Party's Central Committee, the committee announced that at his own request, Hue was stepping down from his role as chairman of the National Assembly, one of the four pillars in Hanoi's political system.

According to the Central Inspection Committee, Hue violated Communist Party regulations and these infringements have affected the reputation of the party, the state and Hue himself.

Hue's resignation is believed to be connected to corruption charges levied at one of his top aides. Pham Thi Ha, deputy head of the office of the National Assembly and Hue's assistant, was arrested Sunday over alleged power abuses.

Ha's arrest is part of an investigation into corruption at Thuan An Corporation, according to a Sunday statement from the Ministry of Public Security. Local outlet VnExpress reported that the firm was established in 2004 by its chairman Nguyen Duy Hung, and its operations include infrastructure construction, electricity and renewable energy trading, real estate and investment.

Hung was arrested April 15 on charges of violating regulations on bidding and bribery, along with five other individuals, according to a Public Security Ministry statement.

Nguyen Hong Hai, senior lecturer at VinUniversity in Hanoi, told VOA by phone Friday that Hue was well-respected and seen as a "bright star" who could have taken over the role of general secretary from 80-year-old Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Congress in 2026.

"From people who worked with him and met him before, they always praised him for his intellect and capability," Hai said of Hue, who is well-regarded as an economist and has a Ph.D. in the field. "If he did not violate the party's rules  I think it's possible that he could have been promoted to the secretary general position."

Hai added that Hue's resignation should be seen as part of General Secretary Trong's anti-corruption campaign, dubbed the Blazing Furnace, and sends the message that no one can escape the anti-graft push.

"It is a clear message from the party that there's no exception for someone who has made wrongdoings or had negative practices," Hai said.

Political infighting

Some see a power struggle for the general secretaryship as the cause of Hue's downfall.

Tran Anh Quan, a Ho Chi Minh City-based activist, told VOA on Friday that Hue's resignation shows jockeying for political status and division within the ruling Communist Party. He said that while the Communist Party used to keep infighting under wraps to give the appearance of being a "united bloc," officials now "openly harm and purge each other in a ridiculous way that everyone can see."

In March, before Hue's resignation, former President Vo Van Thuong left his position amid corruption charges. Roughly a year earlier, his predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, resigned in connection with inflation in the price of COVID-19 test kits. Vietnam's National Assembly also voted in January 2023 that two deputy prime ministers, Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam, should leave their posts.

"Vuong Dinh Hue's resignation is just a matter of political fighting, but if we really fight corruption, all communist officials would have to go to jail because everyone is corrupt," Quan wrote in Vietnamese on the messaging app Signal.

Duy Hoang, executive director of the unsanctioned Vietnamese political party Viet Tan, shared a similar sentiment Friday in a phone call with VOA. "So many leaders are tainted by corruption so it's almost now that it is being used to sideline rivals," he said of the anti-corruption effort.

Both Hoang and Quan accuse Minister of Public Security To Lam of vying for political control and using the graft crackdown to push out rivals.

"The country is being run by an 80-year-old in very frail health, and To Lam is kind of controlling things behind the scenes," Hoang said. "The Ministry of Public Security is running these investigations, and [To Lam] is discrediting his rivals and positioning himself to be the dominant leader in the Communist Party."

If To Lam were to become the de facto leader, Hoang said, it would turn the country closer to Beijing  which he sees as an "existential threat"  worsen human rights and negatively affect the country's economy.

"To have a police general running the country would reinforce the fact that Vietnam is a police state," he said. "The security services are very paranoid about change, about Western influences, and they're very concerned about what they perceive as peaceful evolution."

Still, Hai said that although To Lam is one of a few candidates for general secretary, there isn't any proof that his ambitions are related to the recent leadership resignations.

"I think it's very hard to confirm whether or not it is political infighting because no one has that kind of evidence," Hai said.
Yes, Shogun producer Eriko Miyagawa has seen your memes. Photo: FX

Shogun is a show about fate. About cross-cultural differences, statecraft, chaos, about war never changing, and about getting my ship the Erasmus back. But most importantly, its a show about communication. Court etiquette of the Sengoku era, as well as the gender politics of the time, mean a lot of things cannot be said explicitly. Even if you speak the same language as someone, you can never fully know them, and yet you all have to work together toward a common goal.

The making of Shogun mirrored these themes in many ways. As a cross-cultural production  shot in Canada, produced by Hollywood, filled with Japanese actors  interpretation was key. Enter Eriko Miyagawa. The producer worked closely with lead actor/producer Hiroyuki Sanada to ensure the show was accurate to period Edo yet still relatable to modern Tokyo. From consulting on translating English scripts for Japanese actors, to translating the shows press kit, to serving as interpreter for multiple interviews with Vulture, she wore many hats and was gracious enough to answer all our questions about how Shogun was interpreted from English book to Sengoku Japan and back.

Can you start by telling me some of the things that you did as a producer on Shogun and how that differed from previous experiences in which you were just consulting?

I think the main difference is the sheer volume. Ive done all sorts of things. I started as an on-set interpreter. My first job was Kill Bill. Since then, Ive been servicing mostly American shows with Japanese elements. But when the volume is so big and comprehensive, like Shogun, it becomes producing. On this show, Hiro and myself were brought on as producers from the get-go. We had access to the entire process; we were able to give input on all the different aspects of the show. That was quite different.

A lot of times on other shows there will be an American producer overseeing the show. Ill consult in this department or we need this bit translated, and they sort of put it together. What was really great about Shogun is that Hiro and I were able to see the entire process. Nothing fell between the cracks.

Miyagawa (left) on set with co-creator Rachel Kondo. Photo: Katie Yu/FX

Tell me about the process of translating scripts into the various languages the show uses.

It needed to go through steps of polishing so that what ends up in the show feels authentic to native Japanese audiences. Obviously, James Clavells novel was based on rigorous research and passion for Japanese culture. So they had that to work from as a base, but the scripts went through layers of consultations to get it right. Then the American writers, they write the script. Then it goes to a team of Japanese translators in Tokyo. Hiro and I are checking in at different stages. Then it goes to Japanese dialogue polishers, who are experienced with Japanese period shows, to make sure its period-appropriate and feels natural for a human being to be speaking. Because you know, it happens a lot in dubbing, when dialogue is pretty much directly translated from another language and it just sounds like something thats been translated. So we wanted to make sure it felt natural.

Whats great about a TV series is that the actors have the time to be able to really immerse in the world. They have their own opinions and input, so we just kept polishing until the moment we roll. When a script is translated, its not just one thing it could be. There are so many different options. There are so many ways to interpret one thing. There is a lot of conversation for every single line. Its just exhausting.

As you were saying, some of the work that the Japanese translators were doing was specifically to keep it rooted in this period accuracy. Its a work of translation not just into Japanese but into Sengoku-period Japan.

Ultimately, if they really speak how they spoke in that time, we wouldnt understand it. So its a fine balance, which takes from a tradition of Japanese jidaigeki. Every jidaigeki made their own choices, depending on if they wanted to be a little bit more modern versus if they wanted to feel more classic. I think, generally, we went for the classic. But we were very careful because we really wanted a young Japanese audience who may not typically watch jidaigeki to be able to understand and enjoy it without any stress.

Whats your professional opinion of Mariko-sama as an interpreter? Was she good, or did she put too much of her own feelings into her translation?

[Laughs.] I think shes a great diplomat. So shes the best diplomatic interpreter. Toward the end, she sort of infused her opinions a little strongly, but I think shes just a great interpreter.

When working on a translation, how much do you think about the audience as opposed to just trying to accurately represent what the actor is saying?

First of all, we try to be as close as possible, to be respectful to the script, and close to the intention of the writers as much as possible. Theyre great writers and the text is so loaded with beautiful nuances and a great sense of humor. But there are things that are quite difficult to translate, sometimes. Theyre not a natural part of our language or our culture. So it becomes a conversation, how to preserve that in the most realistic way. Also, and I think Anna spoke about this on one of her TV appearances, but Japanese text is longer. So a lot of balls were in the air.

Can you tell me more about Japanese text being longer?

Especially when you have to be polite  when youre using the honorific, like when Mariko is talking to Toranaga  it starts to get a little longer. To say thank you, you have to be super polite, and at the end say these honorifics. It just becomes longer. Justin also wanted to be respectful, and he was kind of enjoying that process. I think Justin saw how he could incorporate that in the subtitles.

Your bio calls you bilingual and bicultural, which I love. Sometimes, like in the case of honorifics, the language barrier isnt the site of miscommunication, sometimes the cultural barrier can be greater.

Totally, and theyre so intertwined. I like to be seen as bicultural. Im familiar with different filmmaking processes. Ive never worked on a project without interpreters present on set. Thats sort of my specialty: to work on projects with different cultures and different languages and sort of bridging that and moving things forward.

In previous interviews for which youve interpreted, the actors talked about how different they found the Shogun set compared to Japanese productions. Is there anything you think that an American audience would be surprised to know about working in Japan versus working in the West?

Yeah, theres a lot. But I think one of the important things, what Eita said, is that actors are more included in the process [on Shogun]. I mean, every project is different. But I know that all the Japanese actors whove only worked on Japanese shows really appreciated how theyre much more a part of the process than they typically are in Japanese shows.

In Japan, theres no union. So I think working conditions can be a lot tougher. Thats probably one of the big things. And I think theres a lot longer of a development process, as well as prep time, in Hollywood shows. They allow more time for actors to prepare for the role, training. Theres just more time because theres more money.

I want to get into some specific choices the show made with language that Im hoping you have insight into. The choice of pillow as the euphemism for sex, how did that come about?

I think its from the book. I think Ive heard it in Japanese jidaigeki.

I think I have too. But it was so insistent on the show. I was like, Wow, were just going with pillow, okay.

Its a good euphemism.

And we talked about this with Eita a little bit, but one of his little poetic flourishes was translated to something like trying to fuck a sunset. And I was given to understand there isnt really a swear word for sex in Japanese, nothing that has the stigma of fuck.

Yeah.

So what was being said there, that felt like fuck was what needed for the subtitles?

He just says  not even make love to. The Japanese euphemism for sex is to hold tight. Literally, it means to hug. So its not really as hard as the English.

Its interesting that there isnt necessarily a word for that activity that has the same boundary-pushing power in Japanese.

Definitely, that was super hard for translators. Who swears the most in our show, other than Blackthorne?

Maybe Yabushige? At least thats what it looks like in translation.

Yeah, he does.

And what word is being used when people discuss fate on the show? What concept is that?

Most of the time the word shukumei is used. That basically means fate. Theres another word called unmei, which is more like destiny. Theres a couple of lines that use unmei because its a little bit lighter. In terms of nuance, shukumei is a bit more loaded. Shukumei is a very important concept for this show. I think we use it very selectively, in the right places.

I was reading the shows official glossary, which is so cool that you have, and it says that shukumei is tied into Buddhism. So its interesting that even the converts on the show still hold onto that concept.

Its also a part of Shintoism. Buddhism and Shinto are very present. Theyre quite seamlessly intertwined with politics. Temples had a lot of power, certain relationships with lords. I think it is a Buddhist concept, but it might have a life of its own at this point.

Can you think of a specific time where the translation process was especially nuanced? That made you go, Wow, this really took some time, but we figured it out eventually.

Many. But, you know, you kind of forget the hard things. I think one kind of interesting, and a little bit controversial, example could be Ochibas line at the end of episode four. She is with Ishido and she, in a very Ochiba, passive-aggressive way, is like Get things moving. And at the end, the subtitle says The council will answer to me. Something like that. I think originally we had pretty much the direct translation of that line in Japanese, but it felt like she became a Disney villain or something. A Japanese woman of that stature wouldnt say that, and also it felt a bit out of Ochibas character. I mean, thats what she is really saying, thats her intention. But she wouldnt say that. So in Japanese shes saying, Lets hear what they have to say.

Japanese audiences, who are so familiar with these types in jidaigeki, are going to immediately understand that what she means is, The council will answer to me. But I think the subtitle needed to get more to the point. That was one of the more difficult choices that we needed to make. There are many of those on a smaller scale, many lines that needed to be deliberated and adjusted. But I thought that was a pretty interesting example of how different it can be.

Blackthorne: yes, the Vault-Tec story seems on the surface like Amazon is in on the joke of itself, like The Boys Vought plots, but is it not also a brand attempting to comfort us with the belief that our oppressors have a sense of humor?



Mariko: the Anjin has watched Fallout pic.twitter.com/UWC0k2aYyu  Kathryn VanArendonk (@kvanaren) April 20, 2024

Have you seen the memes where the whole joke is that Mariko is interpreting really asymmetrically? Like Blackthorne says a whole essay, and she translates a single sentence?

Yeah, its very Lost in Translation. Remember the scene where the commercial directors telling Bill Murray many things, and then the interpreter goes, more intensity?

I do, yeah. You worked on Lost in Translation, right?

Yeah, but as a PA in prep.

Ill say that, when youve been interpreting for me, Ive been grateful for your concision. I know I yammer.

Youre thinking while youre talking. Also I think sometimes interpreters are diplomats. Im often involved with hiring and placing interpreters who work on set. Not only do they need to be skilled interpreters, but I think more importantly they need to be a good diplomat and be able to mediate as needed, to move things forward. For better or worse, its part of the job.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Related
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The Joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center in Azerbaijan adequately coped with its tasks, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the center's closure ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

The official reminded that on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani army carried out a counter-terrorism operation, suppressing another provocation by the Armenian army.

According to Valiyev, the 2020 second Karabakh war, under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, ended with the complete victory of the Azerbaijani Army and the restoration of the country's territorial integrity.

The Chief of the General Staff emphasized that on November 10, a statement signed by President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin declared a ceasefire regime.

"The joint monitoring center, established in accordance with the memorandum signed between Turkiye and Russia, has contributed to maintaining peace for over three years. As a result of the joint efforts, the center has effectively fulfilled its tasks.

As a result of local anti-terror measures conducted in September 2023 by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh, aimed at establishing full control over the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and Armenian illegal military formations were completely withdrawn from our country's territory. For this reason, the tasks of the joint monitoring center are considered fulfilled," he emphasized.

To note, the joint monitoring center was established in Azerbaijan's Aghdam on January 30, 2021, in order to monitor the ceasefire in Karabakh and prevent violations in accordance with the memorandum signed between Turkiye and Russia.

As a result of local anti-terror measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh on September 1920, 2023, Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty throughout the country. Since the Russian peacekeeping contingent began to leave the Karabakh region a few days ago, the need for the activities of this center has disappeared.

Additionally, on April 18, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the cessation of the center's activity.

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Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done?
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The process of complete withdrawal from the territory of the country of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation temporarily deployed in the Karabakh Economic Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan has begun, First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the closing ceremony of the Joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center organized by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Chief of General Staff expressed gratitude to the servicemen of Turkiye and Russia for their diligent and courageous service for peace and stability in the region.

To note, following the memorandum signed between the Republic of Turkiye and the Russian Federation, the Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center was established on January 30, 2021, in the Azerbaijani city of Aghdam to control the ceasefire regime in the Karabakh region and prevent violations of the law.

Azerbaijan has restored its sovereignty over the entire territory of the country as a result of anti-terrorist activities of a local nature carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh on September 1920, 2023. Since the Russian peacekeeping contingent started leaving the Karabakh region a few days ago, there is no need for the activity of this center.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense circulated information on April 18 that the activity of the Joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center located in Aghdam would be suspended.

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If every dog has its day, Friday was Oscar the cavoodles. His barrister owner has been awarded $150,000 in damages after she won her defamation case against television program A Current Affair over broadcasts a judge found depicted her as a dog thief.

Gina Edwards sued the Nine Network and one of its journalists in the Federal Court over stories aired in May and June 2021, and the accompanying online articles, regarding the ownership of Oscar.

Gina Edwards and Oscar the cavoodle outside court before the judgment. Credit: Janie Barrett

The dog sat outside the courtroom on level 19 on Friday wearing black barristerial robes and a white jabot, later replaced with a red bandana around his neck reading Justice.

Edwards argued Nine defamed her by making numerous incorrect claims, including that she was a thief who stole Oscar the cavoodle, exploited the dog for her own financial benefit, and deliberately delayed court proceedings.
Pet dogs were welcomed on board CityCats and ferries in Brisbane in mid-2020 after a six-month trial, and they are allowed to travel during off-peak times Mondays to Fridays, and all weekend.

So why in Brisbane is my pooch allowed on CityCats, but banned on trains and buses?

In Paris, Berlin, London and New York, dogs are allowed on public transport.

Rules include dogs must be on a lead and wearing a muzzle, or in an enclosed carrier, they must stay outside the cabin and owners have to pick up any mess.

But despite pups being given the green light on the Brisbane River, TransLink has no plans to allow them on trains and buses.

I sympathise with people who have phobias and allergies, but if it can be done interstate and overseas, it can be done in Brisbane.

Dog owners have a responsibility to socialise their pets and taking them in public provides exercise and a chance to meet strangers and animals to ensure they grow into happy, calm, healthy and well-adjusted animals.

If public transport is off-limits, the only way to transport a dog is private car, which adds more traffic to already congested roads, courtesy of people living in the one-third of Brisbane homes that have a dog.
Australia is a world leader in quantum technology  the cutting edge of advanced computing  and the federal government hopes to extend that lead by funding a new body combining the countrys top experts to help turn innovative research into reality.

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic said the federal government is investing $18 million to create Quantum Australia, which will link Australias major universities with industry groups and strategic partners to boost the countrys quantum edge.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic in front of a trapped ion quantum computer at the quantum labs at Sydney University. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Weve got a tech edge with quantum. Were giving Quantum Australia the job of turning that into a competitive edge for our economy, he said.

The jump from todays technology to quantum technology is like the jump from typewriter to personal computer. This is coming, we cant ignore it, and we can let our advantage slip away.
Like many children of veterans Perth man Leon van Erp wished he had asked more questions of his father to understand better the profound impact war had on him.

When youre growing up, you dont ask enough questions, and then they go and die, and you realise you dont know it all, he said.

Leon van Erp wearing his father Frans service medals at the 2024 Perth Anzac Day dawn service in Kings Park. Credit: Hamish Hastie

Leon, 74, pestered his father Frans Alexander van Erp to write about his experience in the Dutch Navy in World War II, but after two chapters Frans put the pen down and Leon could see he didnt want to continue.

Little did he know Frans hadnt given up on telling his story completely.
Baltimore: A high school athletic director in Maryland has been charged with using artificial intelligence to impersonate a principal on an audio recording that included racist and antisemitic comments, authorities said.

Dazhon Darien faked the voice of Pikesville High Schools principal in January following conversations that Dariens contract would not be renewed, according to charging documents filed by Baltimore County police.

Pikesville High School in Maryland.

The principal had expressed concerns over Dariens work performance, including a theft investigation involving allegations that Darien had paid his roommate using school funds, police said.

Using cloning technology, Darien forged an audio clip in which it sounded as if the principal was frustrated with black students and their test-taking abilities, police wrote. The recording also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish individuals and two teachers who should never have been hired.
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. As the host country of COP29, Azerbaijan is in the active phase of preparation, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the High-Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on April 26, Trend reports.

For a global event, we have less than 1 year for preparation so we are doing all our best in order to deliver good results, the Azerbaijani leader noted.

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As happens every year, the World Customs Organization (WCO) is joining forces with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day.

This years theme for the awareness campaign launched by WIPO is: IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity.

Adopted on 25 September 2015 by the 193 Member States of the United Nations, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the global challenges and promoting development that focuses, in particular, on the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition; inclusive economic growth; the creation of resilient communities; and sustainable management of resources.

As key stakeholders in the detection of counterfeit products in global supply chains, Customs administrations play an essential role in safeguarding intellectual property rights (IPRs).

Focusing simultaneously on IPRs and SDGs, World Intellectual Property Day 2024 reminds us that IP fuels the innovative and creative solutions that we need to boost human development and achieve a better world for all. This awareness is vital for Customs administrations and consumers alike.

The WCO Secretariat therefore calls on Customs administrations to raise awareness among their staff as well as among consumers of the importance of IPRs, the harmful impact of trade in counterfeit goods and the dangers posed by those goods. Consumers should be encouraged, in particular, to exercise increased vigilance when purchasing online. To this end, Customs administrations may refer to the video raising awareness of this issue, which has been produced by the Secretariat.
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. Being elected by a unanimous decision as the host country for COP29 is really a big honor for us, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the High-Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on April 26, Trend reports.

We consider it as a sign of respect from the international community to Azerbaijan and to what we're doing, in particular, in the area of green energy, the Azerbaijani leader pointed out.
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. As a country rich in fossil fuels, Azerbaijan is a member of the OPEC+ platform. I think that this is also an additional advantage, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the High-Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on April 26, Trend reports.

Because we think that a country rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas, should be at the forefront of those addressing the issues of climate change. So, these different layers, I think, will create a good spirit of solidarity and will allow us to reach our goals. As we were elected as the host country of COP, the main focus of some media outlets was on our energy portfolio and energy background, the Azerbaijani President emphasized.
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BERLIN, Germany, April 26. We have created a very good investment climate. All these green energy projects I mentioned are financed by foreign investors. Azerbaijan just provides its infrastructure and a very friendly investment climate, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the High-Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on April 26, Trend reports.

Our proven reserves of offshore wind energy are 157 gigawatts. So, this is an illustration of the potential, the head of state mentioned.
Rebecca Black, PA

Fresh inquests have been ordered into the deaths of 15 people killed in a bomb attack on McGurks Bar in Belfast.

Two children were among those killed in the attack carried out by loyalist paramilitary group the UVF in December 1971.

The families of the victims believe the security forces had knowledge of the attack in advance and could potentially have prevented it.

Northern Ireland's Attorney General Brenda King informed a family in the case on Thursday that she has ordered new inquests into the deaths.

It comes just days before the UK governments Legacy Act will halt legal proceedings relating to the Troubles.

Legacy inquests which have not reached the point of verdict by May 1st will be transferred to the UK's new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

Gerard Keenan, whose parents were killed in the bomb, said: Our families welcome the historic decision of the Attorney General to direct a new inquest as all the families have campaigned with great dignity for over 52 years for scraps of truth and justice from the British state.

Like many other bereaved families now, though, we face the reality that the British state will not allow this inquest to go ahead as it desperately wants to stop us from discovering why our loved ones were murdered in the McGurks Bar massacre and how it failed to prevent it.

Solicitor Niall O Murchu, from Kinnear and Co, said the families will fight to repeal the Legacy Act.

This is a poignant reminder of the power of family campaigning and the fact that legal processes  however slow  can work if not shut down by the British State, he said.

Even after more than half a century, an inquest may offer the families an opportunity for truth and justice, but now, of course, they first must fight for the repeal of the shameful Legacy Act.
A Mayo student has won a top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone, one of Irelands largest regional science fairs for second-level students, held this week at the Technology University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone Campus.

The prestigious "Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award" went to Dana Carney of Mount Saint Michael Secondary School in Claremorris. The school completed a hat trick in the Junior Technology  Individual category, taking home the gold, silver and bronze.

Dana's project concerned the use of a mobile application and a machine learning model to aid Ireland's emergency services with communication and interpretation of Irish Sign Language (ISL) for a safer and more inclusive society.

She will now go forward to compete at the SciFest National Final in November 2024 for a chance to named SciFest STEM Champion 2024 and represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.

A total of 380 students competed in this years SciFest@TUS Athlone, showcasing their passion for and knowledge of science, engineering, technology, and maths.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and rather mild; a few scattered showers are possible, but mainly in the Poconos and along and north of the I-80 corridor..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a few showers; many only get a couple hundredths of an inch at most but a bit more in the Poconos and points north...maybe as much as a quarter of an inch.
MAIDENCREEK TWP., Pa.  Richard Earl "Dick" Redner, the chairman and past president and CEO of Redner's Markets, died Thursday, the Berks County-based company announced Friday afternoon. He was 73 years old.

Redner was born in Peekskill, New York, on April 23, 1951, to the late Earl "The Chief" and Mary Redner.

Redner began his career in the food industry in 1970 as a manager for the newly founded Redner's Markets. During his 54 years of leadership as the chain's president, he oversaw the expansion of the company's footprint from 10 stores in Pennsylvania to the current 44 grocery and 24 convenience stores locations in eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, according to the company's news release.

Redner's said he was known for his "nose to the grindstone work ethic and just get it done personality." His motto was always to take care of the guest first and to prioritize the needs and wellbeing of the employees.

One of his most notable achievements during his tenure came in 2022, when the company surpassed $1 billion in sales. Redner was admired throughout the company and fondly known as "The Boss."

"This business has been in my father's blood for over 50 years. Second only to his family, this company was his greatest sense of pride and love," said Ryan Redner. "My father was my idol and will be deeply missed by so many. The amount of outreach I have received has been humbling. His fingerprints are everywhere around this company and this community, and we will continue to move forward with the same drive and determination to carry his vision forward."

In addition to Ryan, Richard Redner is survived by Elaine, his wife of 52 years; his daughter, Stacy; and six grandchildren  Taylor, Amber, Brendan, Sidney, Brooke, and Beckett.

Viewings will be held at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Formal services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Crime Alert Berks County, 600 N. Park Rd., Wyomissing, PA 19610.

Crime Alert is a nonprofit organization the family has supported deeply since Richard's brother, Gary Redner, was killed near his home in 2008. His homicide remains unsolved.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Partly sunny and rather mild; a few scattered showers are possible, but mainly in the Poconos and along and north of the I-80 corridor..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a few showers; many only get a couple hundredths of an inch at most but a bit more in the Poconos and points north...maybe as much as a quarter of an inch.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.  The Allentown School District Board of Directors voted Thursday to deny Lehigh Valley STEAM Academy Charter School's application.

The district is the third in the area to do so.

Back in February, Whitehall-Coplay and Bethlehem Area school districts denied applications for similar STEAM schools.

In January, ASD's board held the second of two public hearings on the proposed charter school. At that time, the administration identified 82 deficiencies in the applicant's submission at that meeting.

The Lehigh Valley STEAM Academy Charter School is proposed to be located in the Commonwealth Building at 510 Hamilton St. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Key applicants and founders of the school are Carol and Carlos Garcia. The Garcias testified at that January meeting that they would need a minimum of $750,000 to open the school, which would pay for the first three months of the initial school year.

The intention is to borrow the startup funds from Community First Fund and negotiate repayment terms once the charter school gets its approval and the reimbursements from the school districts begin.

The charter school application states the school proposes to begin in its first year with kindergarten through third grade, for a total of 300 students.

The school expects to add one additional grade in each of the five years of the charter, expanding the enrollment to 600 students. The school proposes to add an eighth grade during the first renewal process.

ASD identifies more than 80 'deficiencies' in charter school proposal The Allentown School District held a second public hearing on a proposed charter school and described numerous shortcomings it said it identified in the plan.

In January, key administrators took turns testifying to more than 80 deficiencies they said they found within the application:

22 in curriculum, planning, instruction and assessment.

15 in policies and procedures for the school.

8 in business and operations.

7 in proposed staffing.

7 in the reporting of the suitability of the location and site.

6 in professional development requirements.

4 in proposed health services.

4 in documented community support.

3 in instructions for English language learners.

3 in special education plans.

2 in instructional time requirements.

2 in student attendance improvement plan.

In January, the attorney for the applicant, Brian Leinhauser, countered the administration's review of the third submission of the application.

"I am fascinated that there are issues raised in this document that have been in the document in each submission that were not objected to in prior submissions," Leinhauser said at that meeting.

ASD to hold budget forum, strategic plan focus group Allentown School District Superintendent Carol Birks said attendees will learn how the district spends its resources.

In other news, district Superintendent Carol Birks announced a budget forum will be held at 5:45 p.m. on April 30 at Hayes Elementary.

Birks also announced a strategic plan focus group will be held on May 2 at Bridge Church.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center in Azerbaijan contributed to regional stability, peace, and confidence for over three years, the spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Anar Eyvazov told Trend.

He pointed out that the monitoring center involving Turkish and Russian military personnel alongside Azerbaijani servicemen has made its contribution through their joint activities.

"After the successful local anti-terror measures conducted by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in September 2023, the remnants of the Armenian Armed Forces and Armenian illegal armed formations on Azerbaijani territory were withdrawn, and Azerbaijan established full control over the Karabakh economic region. With this, the activities of the joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center have concluded," he added.

To note, the joint monitoring center was established on January 30, 2021, in order to monitor the ceasefire in Karabakh and prevent violations in accordance with the memorandum signed between Turkiye and Russia.

As a result of local anti-terror measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Karabakh on September 1920, 2023, Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty throughout the country. Since the Russian peacekeeping contingent began to leave the Karabakh region a few days ago, the need for the activities of this center has disappeared.

Additionally, on April 18, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the cessation of the center's activity.

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BERLIN, Germany, April 26. A number of important issues will be discussed during COP29 in Baku, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz said during a joint press conference with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

Mr. President, your visit today is primarily focused on climate policy, and Azerbaijan has assumed the presidency of COP29, meaning it will be hosting this event. Important decisions were made in Dubai during COP28. Therefore, by 2030, renewable energy generation should triple, energy efficiency should double, and methane emissions should be reduced. I would also like to note that the plan to increase the share of wind, solar, and hydroelectric power in Azerbaijan's energy sector by 30 percent by 2030 is very encouraging news. Germany is aiming for 80 percent.

I believe that there is great potential in the region for cooperation in the fields of green and hydrogen energy, and German companies are interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan, mainly, as I mentioned, in the fields of hydrogen and renewable energy. Of course, there must be appropriate framework conditions for this.

The World Climate Conference to be held in Baku will usher ample opportunities for the region. By jointly discussing and reassessing climate policy questions and decisions made in Dubai, we can formulate new climate goals and targets until 2035 and, of course, at the same time, advance the issue of climate financing, he said.
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. By the end of 2027, nine solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 2 gigawatts will be operational. By 2030, an extra ten wind and solar power plants with a combined capacity of up to 5 gigawatts will be constructed, President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on April 26, Trend reports.

The head of state highlighted that Azerbaijan is actively working to export green energy to Europe. He stated, "I believe that Azerbaijan, a supplier of natural gas, will also become a supplier of green energy to Europe."
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. Lately, my visits to Germany have had a regular character. I can say that in recent times, the relations between Germany and Azerbaijan have been experiencing a period of rapid development, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Trend reports.

The head of state recalled previous meetings with the Chancellor in Berlin last March and two months earlier in Munich, saying: The bilateral agenda is sufficiently broad. The development of relations between Germany and Azerbaijan is of great importance not only for our countries but also for the overall development and stability of the South Caucasus region.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BERLIN, Germany, April 26. During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on April 26, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for Germany's support regarding COP29 in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev stated, "The members of our teams are in close contact with each other. Hosting COP29 is both a great honor and a responsibility for us. We are ready for it, and Azerbaijan's green agenda is already well-known worldwide."
BERLIN, Germany, April 26. As a result of the ongoing process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the delimitation and even demarcation of borders have begun. Four Azerbaijani villages occupied in 1990 and 1992 have been returned to us, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Trend reports.

Emphasizing that the Russia-Turkiye Joint Monitoring Center, located in Azerbaijan, has ceased its activities this morning, the head of state noted: there are very good opportunities to achieve peace. We are ready to collaborate with countries willing to assist us in this matter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. On April 26, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Fuzuli from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports.

At this stage, another 39 families (140 people) moved to the city of Fuzuli.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 783 families - 2,979 people.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Explosive substances have been detected in Azerbaijan's Khojavand district, a source in the Interior Ministry told Trend.

According to the source, within a building located near the district's Guney Khirman village, 74 mines and grenades of various types, four explosives of TNT equivalent, 110 explosive substances, 12 shells, over 23,000 cartridges, and other ammunition were uncovered and handed over to relevant authorities.

Besides, a person was identified and taken into custody who refused to provide the police the discovered ammunition as a result of the operative actions conducted, and sixty machine gun cartridges were discovered and seized from him.

An investigation into these facts is being conducted at the Khojavand district police department," added the source.

Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan began operations in November 2020 to clean its lands of mines, booby traps, and other weaponry left behind by illegal Armenian forces.

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Three scientists receiving the 2024 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences pose for a group photo with award presenters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 23, 2024. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Tuesday that three scientists from China, Egypt, and Greece won the 2024 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. Qiao Jie of China, Mohamed Ali Farag of Egypt, and Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos of Greece received the awards for their outstanding contributions to improving the quality of human life through scientific research at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 10th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. [Chinese mission to the African Union/Handout via Xinhua]

ADDIS ABABA, April 24 (Xinhua)  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Tuesday that three scientists from China, Egypt, and Greece won the 2024 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences.

Qiao Jie of China, Mohamed Ali Farag of Egypt, and Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos of Greece received the awards for their outstanding contributions to improving the quality of human life through scientific research at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 10th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

"You have not only advanced the understanding of science, but also improved the lives, health, and well-being of the world's people," said Qu Xing, UNESCO deputy director-general, while applauding the prize winners.

Appreciating the government of Equatorial Guinea for organizing such a prize that annually recognizes the efforts and achievements of renowned researchers and scientists, Qu said the award has a lasting impact and underlines that science is a common good that one must support for the betterment of human life.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, said on the occasion that the prize serves as a catalyst to promote scientific excellence and future relations of scientists across the continent.

She said the prize honors those who have dedicated themselves to advancing knowledge and addressing pressing health, agricultural, and environmental challenges around the world.

"Your exemplary accomplishments are inspirational to all of us and a testament to the power of dedication and research. You are lighting up the path for others to follow," said Nsanzabaganwa, hailing the prize winners for their scientific achievements and dedication to human life.

Qiao, a specialist in reproductive medicine, won the prize for helping couples conceive healthy babies and improving reproductive health, especially for women.

She studied the detailed genetic processes and developed innovative techniques for preimplantation genetic diagnosis, a procedure that can dramatically improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and help avoid the transmission of genetic diseases through IVF. Her most revolutionary contribution to improving women's reproductive health has been her discovery of microbiomes that cure reproductive disorders among females.

Farag is a specialist in metabolomics and one of the pioneers in this field in Africa. He has developed a metabolomic platform, which is the first of its kind in Africa.

His discovery has enabled scientists to observe volatile compounds emitted by microbes for both medical and agricultural applications. It was noted at the ceremony that Farag's seminal work in agrochemical discovery using metabolomics has already aided in identifying novel biocontrol agents from soil bacteria that can boost plant growth.

Stylianopoulos is spearheading research into cancer therapies. He won the prize for his research that leveraged the principles of biomechanics, blending physics and biology to improve the delivery and efficacy of cancer treatments for patients who face the grim prognosis of solid tumors.

The prize, funded by Equatorial Guinea, is given annually to a maximum of three laureates. This year's winners received a monetary award of 350,000 U.S. dollars, divided equally among them, to help further their research.

The prize was established by UNESCO's Executive Board to support the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as UNESCO's global priorities.

Qiao Jie (R, front), a specialist in reproductive medicine, receives the 2024 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 23, 2024. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Tuesday that three scientists from China, Egypt, and Greece won the 2024 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. Qiao Jie of China, Mohamed Ali Farag of Egypt, and Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos of Greece received the awards for their outstanding contributions to improving the quality of human life through scientific research at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 10th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. [Chinese mission to the African Union/Handout via Xinhua]

(Source: Xinhua)
Six charged with high value shoplifting offences in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 26th, 2024

North Wales Police say officers have charged six individuals with shoplifting offences following a high value theft from a store in Wrexham earlier this week.

Police said, Staff at the Boots store in Eagles Meadow made two separate reports of suspected shoplifting, which had occurred in quick succession on Wednesday, 24 April.

Upon officers arriving at the scene and reviewing CCTV footage, the suspects and their vehicles were quickly identified.

Two cars, each carrying three individuals, were subsequently stopped by patrol officers in Wrexham and Chirk respectively.

All six of the occupants were arrested after goods worth in excess of 3,000 were recovered from the vehicles.

Three male suspects, Florian Ionel Mihai, 42, of Lord Street, Walsall; Sima Vasile, 55; and Alexandru Florin Mihai, 22, both of no fixed address, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday 25 April, charged with theft from a shop.

Three females, Ana-Maria Mihai, 27; Florina-Luminita Mihai, 40; and Vivi Ionela Nastur, 22, all of no fixed address, faced similar charges.

Nastur pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison.

Each of the five other defendants entered not guilty pleas and have been remanded in custody.

They are currently awaiting trial and will appear in court at a later date.
Wales dental services at risk of catastrophic collapse

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 26th, 2024

Dental services are at risk of catastrophic collapse, with people resorting to DIY dentistry and pulling their own teeth with pliers, the Senedd heard.

Peter Fox warned that NHS dental services are seeing rapid decline following the Welsh Governments introduction of a new contract in 2022.

He told the Senedd: These contracts dont work for dentists, nor do they work for patients, as he highlighted a 60% fall in the number of NHS dental posts compared with 2021.

Echoing concerns raised by the British Dental Association, the Conservative MS said dental services face potential catastrophic collapse due to the contract reforms.

Mr Fox, who represents Monmouth, cautioned that patients are being left with a choice between years-long waiting lists or paying hundreds of pounds for private care.

Harrowing

He said: This lack of accessibility has led people to drastic action  from harrowing stories of people pulling out their own teeth with pliers or people being forced to take 200-mile round trips to get dental appointments.

Clearly, this is just simply unacceptable in the 21st century.

Leading a debate about primary care on April 24, Mr Fox warned GPs are also struggling due to a lack of contract funding, which is not uplifted in line with rising costs and pay uplifts.

He told MSs some GPs are having to pay staff and utility bills out of their own pockets, with practices forced to withdraw more and more services.

The Conservative said some constituents face 50-mile round trips and 50-week waits for services in hospitals that were previously carried out routinely and timely in GP practices.

Mr Fox, who led Monmouthshire council for more than a decade before being elected to the Senedd in 2021, urged the Welsh Government to urgently review GP and dental contracts.

Extreme pressure

Eluned Morgan told the chamber the majority of contacts with the NHS are in primary care  with up to one-and-a-half million contacts a month in a population of three million people.

Wales health secretary recognised the extreme pressure on practices, saying the contract last year provided a 5% uplift not just to GPs but also staff who work in their surgeries.

She said: We want to reform the dental contract on a preventative basis, responding to risk and need, and we have introduced up to 300,000 appointments to new dental patients.

Baroness Morgan, who is married to a GP, stressed the importance of other professionals in the community, such as pharmacists and opticians, to the preventative agenda.

She said most pharmacies in Wales provide a free service for 27 common ailments, helping to reduce pressure on GPs and other parts of the healthcare system.

DIY dentistry

During first ministers questions on April 23, Sian Gwenllian said many of her constituents are unable to access public dental services  an entirely unacceptable situation.

The Plaid Cymru MS for Arfon raised concerns a new dental academy in Bangor closed its books to NHS patients despite promises it would help tackle a lack of public services.

Sam Rowlands, the Conservatives new shadow health secretary, said far too many people across north Wales do not have access to an NHS dentist.

He raised comments from Russell Gidney, chair of the Welsh general dental practice committee, warning of a rise in DIY dentistry due to a lack of proper access.

Vaughan Gething said the Welsh Government is committed to reforming the dental contract to unlock capacity and access to NHS services is one of the health secretarys top priorities.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. A roundtable event themed Intellectual property at the present stage on the occasion of International Intellectual Property Day is being held in Baku, Trend reports.

The event will feature a report by Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan's Intellectual Property Agency, Kamran Imanov, on the topic Supporting authorship for the sake of innovation and creativity.

The roundtable is being attended by officials of government bodies in Azerbaijan, MPs, employees of scientific and educational institutions, specialists in this field, and other persons.

Will be updated
Warning to motorbike and moped owners after series of vehicle thefts

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 26th, 2024

North Wales Police are urging motorbike and moped owners to ensure that their vehicles are secured following a series of thefts.

The incidents have taken place in the Caego and Gwersyllt areas of Wrexham.

The plea from NWP Wrexham Rural comes off the back of an attempted vehicle theft in Coedpoeth.

NWP Wrexham Rural have now issued advice on how to keep your motorbike or moped secure:

Dont advertise the fact youve got a bike worth stealing

If you must leave it outside, park it somewhere highly visible

Make your garage super secure

Be vigilant

Your bikes steering lock is your first line of defence

Consider removing the spark plug

Get yourself a disc lock

Use a heavy-duty chain and ground anchor

Have a motorcycle alarm/immobiliser fitted

Take advantage of tracking devices and identification systems

More details can be found here. If you see any suspicious behaviour, especially around peoples vehicles, call 101 and report it to North Wales Police.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Another group of former IDPs arrived in Fuzuli city, having left Baku's Garadagh district of Baku city and other regions of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Today, 140 Fuzuli residents - 39 families have returned to their homeland.

Among them, 25 families (comprising 89 individuals) resided in Baku city, 6 families (totaling 22 individuals) in Absheron district, 4 families (with 11 individuals) in Sumgayit city, 2 families (consisting of 11 individuals) in Fuzuli district, 1 family (including 5 individuals) in Ganja city, and 1 family (comprising 2 individuals) in Gazakh district.

The families who arrived in Fuzuli city were warmly welcomed, feeling the joy of reuniting with their homeland.

As of today, 783 families, or 2979 people, have been provided with accommodation in Fuzuli city.

Following the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continues.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
In future, Polish schoolchildren are to be indoctrinated in militarism beginning in primary school. Polish Education Minister Barbara Nowacka and Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz presented a program to this effect titled Edukacja z wojskiem (Education with the army) last Wednesday.

The governing coalition in Poland led by former European Union Council President Donald Tusk, which has been in office since last autumn, is thereby increasing the militarisation of Polish schools.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a visit to Poland [Photo by Krystian Maj/KPRM / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

During the pilot programme, Polish soldiers will conduct a three-hour training course in primary and secondary schools. The main objective of the programme is to raise the awareness of children and young people in the field of security and defence and develop basic habits and skills in the field of defence and civil protection as well as behaviour in crisis situations, reads the ministrys statement.

All grades from the first year of primary school to secondary school are eligible to participate. Only the eighth year of primary school and the first year of secondary school are excluded. The PiS (Law and Justice Party)-led government, which was voted out of office in 2022, had already introduced security training, i.e., military training including shooting practice, into the curriculum for these grades.

Registration takes place via the local authorities. The program will run from May 6 to June 20 and cover around 3,500 schools. If the program proves successful, it will be permanently established in the curriculum, the two ministers announced.

At the press conference, the ministers made it abundantly clear that the programme is not about imparting neutral knowledge about first aid and disaster control, but instead is aimed at creating a militaristic culture (showing the army at school).

We are increasing the resilience of our society. We live in times in which all measures that can improve security must be taken... From pre-school children to senior citizens, everyone must be prepared for challenges, emphasised Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The education minister added that patriotism is the willingness to act for the fatherland, but above all to acquire the skills necessary to serve ones country and ones neighbour. And that is exactly what our programme is for.

The praise for patriotism is reminiscent of speeches made by the former PiS education minister Przemysaw Czarnek, who introduced military training and a new civics lesson, History and the Present (Historia i terazniejszosc, HiT), in 2022. According to Nowacka, HiT is to be replaced in 2025 by the subject political education.

The controversy surrounding HiT shows just how small are the differences between the old and new governments. While in opposition, the current governing parties criticised HiTs textbook as a right-wing construct because it demonised feminism, communism and even parts of pop culture as anti-Polish ideologies.

Now, however, Barbara Nowacka, leader of the feminist party Inicjatywa Polska (iPL), is praising the promotion of patriotic attitudes among seven-year-olds. Pseudo-left organisations and parties play a key role, not only in Poland but worldwide, in accompanying the return of militarism and war with phraseology embracing feminist and identity politics.

The Tusk government is seamlessly continuing and intensifying the PiSs war policy, not only in education but also in all other areas. A few weeks ago, Tusk publicly declared that the world had entered a pre-war era and had to prepare accordingly. Poland has long played a key role in the NATO war offensive against the nuclear power, Russia. Foreign Minister Sikorski recently refused to rule out the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine.

Certain disagreements between Tusks PO (Citizens Platform) and the PiS are primarily of a tactical nature. For example, President Andrzej Duda, who belongs to the PiS camp, recently confirmed in an interview his willingness to station US nuclear weapons in Poland as part of nuclear sharing. Tusk reacted coolly and called on Duda to hold consultations on this issue.

According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the military alliance currently has no plans to station nuclear weapons in other member states. Stoltenberg stated this while visiting British troops stationed in Poland alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

This does not mean Stoltenberg and Tusk advocate a less aggressive nuclear policy towards Moscow. According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), around 150 US nuclear weapons are currently stored in Europe as part of nuclear sharingin Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey.

The differences of opinion between Duda and Tusk over the stationing of US nuclear weapons in Poland are primarily about foreign policy orientation. While Tusk favours close cooperation with the major European powers, especially Germany, the PiS is seeking to strengthen its close military alliance with the USalso as a counterweight to Germanys dominance in the EU. Both camps are prepared to risk and wage a third world war and militarise all of society right down to the schools.
Ten years ago, on April 25, 2014, state and local officials assembled at the water plant in Flint, Michigan to celebrate as Mayor Dayne Walling pushed the button that switched the citys water source from treated Lake Huron water to the caustic and untreated water of the Flint River.

The fact that the river water being pumped into the homes of 100,000 residents wasnt properly treated was known only to an elite inner circle of officials. But shortly after the switch, the residents of Flint began protesting against the move. It was common knowledge that the river was rife with industrial waste.

The bad taste, disturbing odor and abnormal color of residents tap water were the first indicators that something was wrong. Scientific studies proved, more than a year later, that Flint had dangerously high levels of lead in its water. One indicator was the fact that the number of children with alarmingly high levels of lead in their blood had doubled.

The official response was to conceal and flat-out lie. The protests were answered with the claim that all health protocols were being followed and the water was safe to drink. It was a full 18 months before the city reverted back to its original water source.

Downtown Flint, Michigan

During that time, fertility fell by 12 percent and there were hundreds of miscarriages. Some 9,000 young children were poisoned with lead, causing incalculable long-term health consequences.

Flint became the center of one of the countrys largest outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease. Officially, nearly 100 cases were recorded, resulting in 13 deaths. Over the same period, there were 119 deaths attributed to pneumonia that were likely caused by undiagnosed cases of Legionnaires.

Ten years later, the Flint water crisis provides further proof of the impossibility within the framework of capitalism and its two-party political system to promote public health or hold accountable the banks and corporations, and their political stooges in both parties, that knowingly spread disease and death in the interests of private profit.

This stark reality applies to the most basic elements of modern societyfrom clean water and air to the protection of the public from pandemics, such as the ongoing mass killer, COVID-19. Due to the public health policy on COVID of both presidents Trump and Bidenwhich was and continues to be Let it ripwell over 1 million have died of the disease in the US alone. The criminal response of the government, driven by the profit interests of corporate oligarchs and monopolies, allows the virus to thrive as new variants continue to emerge.

Today, according to the National Resources Defense Council, high levels of lead have been found in Baltimore, Detroit, Milwaukee, Newark, New York, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. Just last month, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that almost 70 percent of children under six in Chicago are exposed to lead in their home tap water.

No accountability, no justice

The question, How could this have happened? remains to a significant extent unanswered to this day. The decisions leading to the catastrophic degradation of the citys drinking water were the outcome of a conspiracy of officials, many of whom are knownmost prominently then-Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, and then-state Treasurer Andy Dillon, a Democratand many who have yet to be identified.

Prominent figures in the conspiracy to shift Flints water supply (left to right): Governor Rick Snyder; Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon; senior adviser to the governor, Richard Baird; Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright.

There is no mystery here, as no serious investigation of the lead poisoning of the largely working class city has been conducted, and none of the perpetrators has been prosecuted.

Investigations launched at both the state and federal levels were cover-ups. In 2016, the Republican attorney general of Michigan, Bill Schuette, proclaimed that the families of Flint will not be forgotten. He continued, We will provide the justice they deserve. And in Michigan, the system is not rigged.

Then, during the 2018-2019 transition to a Democratic state government, the attorney generals office offered seven key defendants plea bargain deals that made them legally untouchable and prevented pursuit of the chain of command because of double jeopardy protections.

The mantra of the incoming Democratic prosecution team was justice delayed is not always justice denied. Repeating ad nauseum that the Democratic administration of Governor Gretchen Whitmer would follow the evidence wherever it led, in November, 2023 it ignominiously announced the ending of all efforts to prosecute the officials who aided and abetted the poisoning of Flints water.

A derisory settlement of $626 million for the people of Flint was awarded by a US district court in November 2021, after months of deliberations. To this day, not a single dollar has been disbursed to residents, while some $64 million has already been paid to various legal firms out of their approximately $200 million legal bill. Meanwhile, many impacted residents have died or left the state, having received nothing.

Just last month, the City of Flint was held in contempt by a federal district judge for repeatedly violating a settlement agreement to replace all lead service lines in the city.

Flint residents are plaintiffs in a longstanding suit against the federal government over the failure of the Environmental Protection Agency to act quickly during the water crisis. In a letter sent to President Biden this week, residents said:

Your administration publicly expressed dismay and shock about what was going on in our city, and yet, to this date, the federal government is the only entity that refuses to take any responsibility for its failures.

The White House stonewalled the residents with platitudes, while making no commitment to provide additional funds.

The decade that has passed since the onset of the water crisis in Flint provides an opportunity to view the disaster from a broader historical perspective. In early 2016, Flint swarmed with pro-Democratic Party hucksters who peddled the myth that it was solely the Republicans, particularly Governor Snyder, who were responsible. Filmmaker Michael Moore, liberal television commentator Rachel Maddow and Rainbow Coalition leader Jesse Jackson held separate events on behalf of the Democratic Party.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debate in the 2016 election in Flint, Michigan [AP Photo/Carlos Osorio]

The Democrats, hoping to exploit the crisis in Flint to boost their campaigns in a presidential election year, chose the city as the site of the March 6, 2016 Democratic primary debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Neither candidate would commit to serious measures to improve the safety of water. Clinton continued to advance the lie that racism was the cause of the water crisis.

When President Barack Obama finally visited the city in May of that year, he made a point of publicly drinking from a glass of city tap water, effectively telling the residents to Shut up and drink the water.

Flint residents protest unsafe water during President Obama's visit, May 4, 2016.

When a vast social crime is committed, many ostensibly concerned and learned individuals emerge seeking to cover up the fundamental social, economic and class issues and, in one way or another, shield the perpetrators and the capitalist system they represent.

In March, 2017, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) issued its report, concluding that the crime against the Flint population was caused by systemic racism. Given the fact that the lead-poisoned water flowed through the taps of all Flint residents, making no distinction on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual identity, and that nearly half of the citys population is non-African American, the assertion that the root cause of the disaster was racism is absurd on its face.

It had nothing to do with science or the pursuit of truth, and everything to do with the Democratic Partys adoption of racial and identity politics as a means of diverting attention from the staggering growth of socioeconomic inequality in capitalist Americaincluding among blacks and other minoritiesand the deployment of the age-old tactic of divide and rule against the working class.

Some six years before the shift in Flints water supply, the 2008-2009 economic collapse had changed the entire economic landscape. The crash resulted from wild speculation on the financial markets linked to subprime mortgages. The incoming Obama administration pledged to the financial establishment that it would do whatever it took to stave off a chain reaction of bank failures and protect the investments of billionaire speculators.

During the transition to Obamas administration, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel famously declared:

You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.

The so-called recovery piloted by the Democratic Obama government represented the beginning of the greatest transfer of wealth to the ruling class in history.

No matter what reckless investments the profit-mad speculators made, there was never any question that the politicians of both parties would make sure they were protected. Who would pay for the multi-trillion-dollar Wall Street bailout? The working class, of course!

Obamas new Presidential Task Force on Auto used federal bankruptcy laws, and the willing collusion of the United Auto Workers bureaucracy, to cut the pay of new-hires in half, introduce a multi-tier workforce with starting pay at poverty levels, end cost-of-living pay escalators, gut retiree health benefits and pensions, shut down dozens of plants and slash tens of thousands of jobs.

The recovery of the auto industry worked so well that bankruptcy laws were used to force municipal bankruptcies. Detroit would become the model. So-called emergency managers were imposed to override popular elections and impose a direct dictatorship of the banks.

Detroits city charter had long prohibited profiteering from the sale of water. But as the payments on Detroits debt increased due to financial speculation, water rates went up. This had a sharp and detrimental impact on the finances of Flint, the biggest consumer of water sold by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD).

In the five-year period from the 2008 crash to just before the switch of Flints water, DWSD prices had nearly doubled. Flint water rates had become the highest in the country, while the population was among the poorest.

The new pipeline scheme

Jeff Wright, a Democrat, was the drain commissioner of Genesee County, which includes Flint. He founded the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) in 2010, which he described as the only reasonable solution to monopoly, price-gouging and corruption on the part of the Detroit water system.

The centerpiece of the KWA was a 65-mile pipeline to be built just six miles north of the DWSD pipeline. This new pipeline would deliver raw, untreated water from Lake Huron to Genesee and surrounding counties. It would not provide water safe for drinking. The pipeline was not designed to carry treated water. Flint would have to perform costly upgrades to its outdated water plant to enable it to treat the water.

The KWA pipeline was built just six miles north of the existing pipeline, which had delivered treated water to Flint for over 50 years.

The only justification for building another pipeline was mercenary. The existing pipeline had more than enough capacity to deliver treated drinking water to Flint and the surrounding area for decades to come.

There wasand isno scientific or technological reason why clean, safe drinking water could not be provided to everyone affordably. Yet not a single politician, Democratic or Republican, who approved the City of Flint taking on additional debt to finance another pipeline, entertained the notion that the financial vultures who profited off of Detroits debt should take a loss to keep the water flowing safely and cheaply.

The elevation of private interests over public health and safety

Modern municipal water systems are based on historical gains in the science of public health. Humanity has understood the dangers of lead toxicity for millennia. Yet, the vast majority of homes still employ lead pipes to bring in water.

The lead industry is responsible for this. By the beginning of the 20th century, most municipalities used lead to pipe in their water. As public awareness of the danger of lead increased and many cities banned the use of lead pipes, the Lead Industries Association (LIA), founded in 1928, fought back through an intense campaign of lobbying.

Until 1986, when lead pipes were officially outlawed, the LIA was successful, with the help of capitalist politicians, in making sure lead was the material of choice for water pipes.

Today, remediation of the millions of homes serviced by lead pipes ranks on the list of urgent projects in public infrastructure, along with gas and electric lines, eroding bridges, crumbling roadways and aging public transport.

There is an ever-widening gap between the funding required to address urgent public needs and what the capitalist politicians in Washington will allow. The priorities of both parties are for funding weapons of police repression, and, most significantly, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, where over a trillion dollars have already been spent. President Joe Biden committed a mere $45 billion to infrastructure, which has already been cut to $15 billion.

After 10 years of the water crisis in Flint, it is high time that the real lessons be drawn. The capitalist class has two parties at its beck and call. Moreover, the ruling class has never forgotten or forgiven that Flint was the home of the historic sit-down strike of 1936-37, which revealed the immense social and potential political power of the American working class.

To fight for any of its interests today, the working class must consciously mobilize that power as an independent industrial and political force, breaking from the two parties of capitalist war and reaction, uniting with its class counterparts around the world, and consicously fighting to put an end to capitalism and reorganize society on socialist foundations.
Royal Mail postal workers will recall during our bitter 2022-23 industrial dispute the transparently disingenuous performance of then CEO Simon Thompson in front of the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee.

When questioned about the technology that posties carry with them, Thompson was by turns evasive, feigned ignorance, and denied that Royal Mail was tracking its employees movements while out on delivery. It was a patently false statement, one that was greeted with derision by delivery workers on the ground throughout the UK.

The Postal Digital Assistant (PDA) that we carry is both GPS-equipped and also uses GPS to record the location by pinging every time a Tracked item is scanned. At Prenton Delivery Office last October, workers voted to strike in defence of colleagues suspended and sacked after their PDAs were used to target them for taking their rest break in a local pub long-approved for such breaks.

Royal Mail People App [Photo: Screenshot: Royal Mail People App]

But what many postal workers remain unaware of is the potentially far greater extent to which they are subject to surveillance by their employer even when they are not at work.

Beginning in 2021, Royal Mail began a two-year internal marketing campaign to promote its People App to employees. It was sold as a convenient way of receiving our pay details, if we chose to download the app onto our smartphone or similar device. It is part of the firms digital transformation (cost-cutting) strategy to eventually move all HR services onto the app.

The shift from voluntary to mandatory employee-adoption of the People App came in late April 2023, after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) leadership vetoed our strike mandate and unveiled their pro-company national agreement co-authored with company executives at ACAS.

Royal Mail gave notice to its operational employees (workers) that it was ceasing production of paper wage slips altogether in June. Unsurprisingly, given the total lack of opposition from the CWU, this coercive tactic saw staff uptake of the People App increase from 85 percent in April 2023 to 97 percent by January 2024. The CWU bureaucracy made no public comment, despite the provision of pay details being a statutory right in UK employment law.

For an application with ostensibly bureaucratic functionsproviding pay details, HR forms and policy, annual leave, plus corporate comms over the heads of the union on occasion the People App appears to be incredibly invasive of the private lives of Royal Mail employees.

According to the permissions in the apps listing on Google Play, the app may request access to the employees:

Calendar (add or modify calendar events and send emails to guests without owners knowledge; read calendar events and details)

Camera (take pictures and videos)

Contacts (read contacts; find accounts on the device; modify contacts)

Location (access precise location (GPS and network-based); access approximate location (network-based)

Microphone (record audio)

Storage (modify or delete contents of SD card; read the contents of SD card).

In addition to its highly intrusive permissions, People App contains the code signature of a couple of third-party trackers, according to Exodus, a privacy audit platform for Android applications. The purpose of such trackers, the collection and sharing of behavioural data about individuals, is a significant and ubiquitous privacy threat in mobile apps identified by computer science academics Kollnig et al (Internet Policy Review, December 2021).

The two trackers detected by Exodus are Google Firebase Analytics and Tealium. The former offers functionality like analytics, databases, messaging and crash reporting and is present in 107,792 applications (60 percent).

Tealium appears to have a much wider remit and thus far a far smaller uptake (fewer than 1 percent of applications use it, according to Exodus). It collects user data from any source including websites, mobile applications, devices, kiosks, servers, files and more in order to create actionable profiles' of app users. Tealium will use these profiles to score individuals based on their likelihood to complete any behaviour (or combinations of behaviours) selected. As application owner, Royal Mail is empowered to influence and direct employee behaviour.

In principle then, Royal Mail has a set of capabilities for spying on its employees that would be the envy (or at least equal) of any secret police force in the world. Over 100,000 employees have downloaded an app which could track their precise location; record audio and video; and read/modify their calendar, contacts, and SD card. It will also track all online activity and build a detailed profile of the user.

Rather than oppose this, the CWU appears fully on board.

The CWUs BRT&G agreement with Royal Mail enshrined the use of PDAs for performance management. Appendix 5 of the agreement gives managers a new tool to oppressively monitor delivery workers. The intention is also clearly there to link performance to pay in future, further dividing the workforce.

The People App gives management vastly increased powers of surveillance and control of the workforce, outside working hours, and raises questions about civil liberties. The CWU is either unaware of this, or pretending to be; either way it is a dereliction of its duty which indicates it has learnt nothing from the Horizon scandal at Post Office Counters Ltd.

Nevertheless, the union can still talk a good fight, with recent social media footage including misleading titles such as Fighting Against Workplace Surveillance, and Your Employer May Be Spying on You. In the first of these, CWU Deputy General Secretary (Telecoms & Financial Services) Karen Rose talks about the issue of inward-facing dash cams in BT Openreach vans. She and her colleagues were only belatedly forced to act on the issue by an emergency resolution at Young Workers Conference, combined with a management leak/disclosure to the Openreach workforce which caused uproar on the company Workplace (Facebook) internal social media.

The CWUs action was to start a campaign (a political not industrial response) against the proposal, which was quickly shelved by management recognising the scale of member opposition to being spied on in their cabs at work. Nevertheless, Rose warns that dash cams will return as an issue in the future. She also argues against surveillance from a productivity or management viewpoint rather than on a principled basis of workers right to privacy.

The very notion of civil liberties for working class people under capitalism where an employer can have this kind of 24-hour surveillance of workers is laughable, especially when the trade unions are in league with the employers.

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) opposes the oppressive surveillance of the corporate state. The measures used against Julian Assange and other opponents of war are part of wider state build-up against the working class. We need a rank-and-file fightback against the CWU bureaucracy that is colluding with the company to crush democracy in the union and the workplace.

We urge postal and logistics workers to attend the next online meeting of the PWRFC on April 28 at 7pm, Oppose Royal Mails Assault on the USO! Defeat CWUs Collusion. Register here to attend.
Families of some of the 29 workers killed in the 2010 disaster in New Zealands Pike River coal mine are continuing their fight to uncover the full truth about an unlawful deal to prevent the companys chief executive Peter Whittall from being prosecuted.

Bernie Monk (left), Christopher Harder and Carol Rose outside the Wellington High Court, April 22, 2024

Despite a 2012 royal commission of inquiry finding that the company managers and the board prioritised production and profit over safety, no one has been held accountable for the extremely unsafe conditions in the mine. Pike River had no functional emergency exit, grossly inadequate ventilation and methane gas monitoring, and faulty equipment. It was a gas bomb waiting to go off.

In December 2013, however, the state regulator WorkSafe dropped a planned prosecution of Whittall. In exchange, an unsolicited payment of $3.41 million was made to the victims families, which many denounced as blood money.

At a Wellington High Court hearing on April 22, Christopher Harder, a former criminal lawyer who is representing some of the families, questioned why more than a decade later WorkSafe continues to withhold information about the dealincluding certain conditions demanded by Whittalls lawyer.

Harder also alleged that the fact that the original copy of a crucial letter sent from Whittalls lawyer to WorkSafes lawyer has apparently disappeared, could constitute evidence of corrupt intent.

The deal was found to be unlawful by the Supreme Court in 2017, but charges were not reinstated against him or anyone else in Pike River Coal. The officials and lawyers responsible for scuttling the prosecution have never been held to account or made to answer questions about the deal.

Successive governments have sought to protect those responsible for the disaster. In 2021 the then Labour Party-led government shut down an operation to re-enter the mine workings and permanently sealed its entrancedespite opposition from the victims families and supporters, including mining experts.

This prevented a forensic examination of the underground fan and other equipment. Mines almost never install their main fan underground because of the safety risks involved; the royal commission identified it as a possible source of ignition.

The sealing of the mine also prevented the recovery of the 29 bodies, which remain entombed within.

At Mondays court hearing, Harder was accompanied by Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in Pike River, and Carol Rose, whose son Stuart Mudge was killed there. He is also acting on behalf of Dean Dunbar, whose 17-year-old son Joseph died in the disaster.

Harder has applied for disclosure of information relating to correspondence in 2013 between Crown Solicitor Brent Stanaway and Whittalls lawyer Stuart Grieve arranging the deal to drop charges.

It remains unclear who approved this deal in the then National Party government, what legal advice was provided by Crown Law to WorkSafe, and the source of the blood money. Pike River Coal had declared bankruptcy and could not pay a fine after it was found guilty of health and safety breaches in an earlier court ruling in 2013.

Harder explained that the families had finally learned the name of the insurance company that made the payment, which is subject to interim name suppression. For 10 years, Harder said, the name of the insurer had been kept secret.

Tracing the source of the money and the terms under which it was paid could shed light on who wanted to stop Whittall from going on trial. This could include companies that played a role in the mines development and supplied its equipment, such as the underground fan.

Harder told the court that the families were asking for a disclosure order against Stanaway and Grieve for information about other conditions demanded by Grieveon behalf of the then unidentified insurerin return for the $3.41 million payment, on condition the charges were first dismissed.

He cited a letter from Stanaway to Grieve dated August 20, 2013, including the statement: I would simply not be able to support, and indeed would not be prepared to advance to the Solicitor-General or anyone else, the other two conditions which you referred me to in our without prejudice discussions.

Harder said Stanaway correctly rejected the conditions but made a grave error in concealing their content, which he told Justice Christine Grice, was evidence of corrupt intent on the part of the insurer.

WorkSafes lawyer rejected the application, telling the court Harders application for disclosure orders was an abuse of the judicial process. Harder suggested WorkSafe, in opposing the disclosure orders, was seeking to thwart justice.

The agency has questioned how the other two conditions are relevant, since they were rejectedeven though WorkSafe says it does not know what the proposed conditions were. Harder told the court that the concealment of the conditions hid the corrupt intent, and that this compromised the ability of then solicitor-general Michael Heron KC to give informed advice to WorkSafe about whether or not to prosecute.

Even though the proposed conditions were rejected, knowing what they were and who demanded them could shed further light on who else was involved in the unlawful bargain.

On December 6, 2013, Grieve sent Stanaway an email, which proposed that the victims families explicitly acknowledge that the $3.41 million was being paid on behalf of Pike River Coal in recognition of harm arising directly or indirectly from the explosions or any subsequent events arising from those explosions [emphasis added]. This sweeping conditionapparently an attempt to limit the liability of the insurance companywas rejected by Stanaway.

Harder said the families were seeking disclosure of the original clean copy of this letterwhich WorkSafe says it does not have. The only copy in existence is one that includes a handwritten note by Stanaway. It is not clear what happened to the original email attachment or who saw it in 2013 besides Stanaway.

Justice Grice asked WorkSafes lawyer Aaron Martin if Harders claim that the clean copy of the letter had never been disclosed to any court was correct. Martin confirmed that this was the case.

On April 26, Justice Grice issued a judgement in favour of WorkSafe, stating that there was no jurisdiction for Harders application for the disclosure orders. Instead of awarding costs to WorkSafe, the judge gave Harder five days to file submissions elaborating on the basis of his opposition to costs.

Excerpts from the correspondence between Stanaway and Grieve were published by TVNZ in February this year, but both lawyers declined to answer questions put by TVNZ.

The final agreement reached between WorkSafe and Whittall to drop the prosecution was presented to Judge Jane Farish, who relayed it to the victims families on December 12, 2013. It contained no reference to the conditions that had been discussed.

Harder also revealed a March 2022 Minute from Judge Farish to TVNZ which showed that the broadcaster had requested a copy of any tape recording of a December 10, 2013 chambers hearing between Farish, Grieve and Stanaway. The Minute stated that there was no recording of it but that what was discussed in chambers was subsequently reflected in what the Judge said in court: that the decision to drop all the charges and the decision to pay the $3.41 million were two discrete acts.

Chief Justice Sian Elias stated in the Supreme Courts 2017 decision that this was incorrect but that Judge Farish did not have the information that was subsequently put before the Supreme Court, which revealed that the decision to drop the charges and the money were in fact inextricably linked. Harder suggested that Judge Farish had been misled.

Police announced in July 2013 that they would not lay any criminal charges against Whittall or anyone else at Pike River Coal, after receiving advice from Crown solicitors. This was justified, in part, on the grounds that WorkSafe was preparing charges of health and safety breaches. What was not revealed at the time is the fact that in July 2013, Stanaway, acting on instructions from WorkSafe, was already in negotiations with Grieve with the aim of avoiding a trial.

The government agency itself had a clear motivation for not proceeding with the prosecution. Whittalls lawyers made clear that their defence would focus on the role of the regulators, who allowed Pike River to operate despite flagrant breaches of health and safety laws. This would have exposed the pro-business, deregulated regime under which successive governments allowed mining companies to effectively make their own safety rules.

The trial would also have raised questions about the role of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), which was then led by Andrew Little. The union knew about dangerous conditions in the mine, but kept quiet about them and took no action. After the explosion, Little falsely claimed that Pike River Coal had a good safety record.

Little became the Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry in the 20172023 Labour Party government. He played the key role in aborting the re-entry of the mine and the underground investigation, thus continuing to protect the company.

Police initiated a new criminal investigation in 2018, when the Labour-led government prepared a manned re-entry of Pike River mine, ostensibly to gather evidence that would lead to prosecutions. Investigators only explored the drift (the entrance tunnel), however, and were prevented by the government from entering the mine workings where the most important physical evidence is located.

Labours Andrew Little made unsubstantiated claimsthat were refuted by independent mining expertsthat it was too unsafe and too expensive to re-enter the mine workings.

The shutdown of the manned re-entry in 2021 was opposed by thousands of people and prompted protests near the mine site. Labour suffered a landslide defeat in the October 2023 election, including in the West Coast electorate where Pike River mine is located, previously considered a safe Labour seat.

Harder told the High Court that the families hope that uncovering fresh evidence related to the Whittall deal will bring pressure to bear on the government to once again re-enter the mine.

In 2013, police declared that an obstacle to laying manslaughter charges was the lack of physical evidence from inside the mine to show precisely what happened.

Nearly 14 years after the Pike River mine disaster, the police investigation is officially ongoing. In March 2022, Detective Superintendent Peter Read declared that a decision on prosecutions was months, rather than years away. More than a year later, in May 2023, the timeframe was extended to the end of that year. This meant there would be no decision made before the October electionpreventing the lack of justice for the Pike River victims from becoming an election issue, something none of the parties wanted.

So far this year the police have made no public statements on the investigation. No explanation has been given for the endless delays.

The National Party-led coalition government, including the far-right ACT and New Zealand First Parties, has remained completely silent on Pike River. The entire political establishment is seeking to bury the case, prevent any re-entry of the mine, and continue the cover-up. The ruling class is determined that no one be held accountable for decisions, dictated by the drive for profit, that led to the deaths of 29 people.
More than four years into the COVID pandemic, on April 18, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated their terminology on airborne transmissions of pathogens in a way that finally aligns it with the evidence that had been presented to the UN health agency by scientists, including aerosol physicists, at the beginning of the global outbreak. The report acknowledges that the virus that is causing COVID is, indeed, airborne. Other airborne pathogens listed include influenza, MERS, SARS and tuberculosis, among others.

Notably, it was on December 23, 2021, during the initial surge of the Omicron variant, when the WHO, after repeated denunciations of the airborne mode of transmission was forced to accept this simple premise. At the time, there had been 5.4 million confirmed deaths and over 17 million excess deaths.

Quietly, they updated their guidance, writing, Current evidence suggests that the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, for example at conversational distance  the virus can also spread in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings, where people tend to spend longer periods of time. This is because aerosols can remain suspended in the air or travel farther than conversational distance (this is often called long-range aerosol or long-range airborne transmission.

World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (center) declaring the coronavirus pandemic a Public Health emergency of International Concern in March 2020. [Photo: Fabrice Coffrini]

The new consensus was reached after the WHO consulted with multiple agencies and several hundred experts from a broad range of fields across a span of two years, and vetted by the CDCs of Africa, China, Europe, and the United States. Not surprisingly, much about the global technical consultation report on proposed terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air falls short of what is required from such a document.

Foremost, the new nomenclature, through the air transmission, which has been substituted for the straightforward and commonly used term airborne, seem intentionally laborious and clumsy, and, in the final analysis, muddles what is a simple concept in a way that will only sow further confusion and effectively forestall or prevent implementing the necessary public health measures to make indoor spaces safe from pathogens.

As the report explicitly noted, [The] process aimed to be a starting point for what is anticipated to be difficult and complicated discussions on a topic with enormous complexity, which would form the basis for common language across disciplines. However, it would likely require further work in order to operationalize and implement within pathogen-, discipline- and setting-specific contexts. [Emphasis added]

This gets at the crux of the problem of the definition of airborne and goes a long way to explaining the WHOs persistent refusal, well into the COVID pandemic, to acknowledge the mode of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as the implication would have been profound.

By way of an example, the recent attempts by the federal advisory committee, HICPAC, which is dominated by the hospital industry, to weaken infection control protections in healthcare as cost saving measures, are only strengthened by such caveats, which will have an impact on how airborne precautions are implemented in other aspects of society. As Dr. Jose-Luis Jimenez, professor of chemistry at the University of Colorado-Boulder, recently noted on social media, Medical infection prevention and control still DOES NOT want airborne protections used more widely. And they want the POWER over WHEN they should be used (as @microlabdoc points out).

However, if it is acknowledged that the airborne transmission is the dominant mode by which respiratory pathogens infect people, then appropriate equipment and infrastructure are needed to prevent the transmission of respiratory pathogens anywhere. These become urgent social priorities.

A study published in The Lancet last year found that children who developed lower respiratory infections before the age of two were twice as likely to die prematurely from respiratory diseases. The findings persisted even after they adjusted for socioeconomic factors and adult habits, such as smoking. Chronic respiratory diseases account for nearly 4 million deaths annually, 7 percent of the global figure.

As the lead author, Dr. James Allinson from the National Heart & Lung Institute at Imperial College London said, Current preventative measures for adult respiratory disease mainly focus on adult lifestyle risk factors such as smoking. Linking one in five adult respiratory deaths to common infection many decades earlier in childhood shows the need to target risk well before adulthood.

In other words, it is not just preventing pandemics and epidemics. Eradicating all respiratory infections becomes a primary goal for public health. Failing to operationalize and implement broad airborne precautions as a public concern of international scope represents public health negligence of a criminal character.

Perhaps one positive aspect of the consensus report is that it did away with the previous construct that only particles five microns or less can become airborne and all larger particles are therefore transmitted through droplet transmission, and would fall to the ground under gravitational force within one or two meters. This was the basic erroneous dogma that had been in place for more than a century as Dr. Jose-Luis Jimenez explained in July 2021 in an interview with the World Socialist Web Site.

The WHO declares that infectious respiratory particles [IRPs] that travel through the air are of any size across any distance. They also acknowledge that IRPs can be released not just through coughs or sneezes, but through talking and exhaling. Under the mode of transmission labeled through the air, these are further subcategorized as Airborne transmission/inhalation and direct deposition, which is the new term for droplet transmission.

More than just awkward usage, presenting the two terms as subcategories of a larger unit, instead of making them separate modes of transmission only perpetuates the misleading characterization of how COVID is transmitted. Direct deposition has not been the dominant route of sustained human-to-human transmission of COVID, characterized by superspreading events and the mass infection of hundreds of millions of people each year.

It has taken two years and 52 pages to acknowledge the airborne nature of COVID-19. Moreover, the document fails to promulgate any guidance on what needs to be done to protect populations from pathogens that transmit through the air. Anticipating the political difficulties the WHO would face in acknowledging the airborne nature of respiratory pathogens, they concluded their executive summary with a backhanded apology for their oversight on issuing any guidance.

They said, This consultation is the first phase of the global scientific debate led by WHO. From which the next steps will require further technical and multidisciplinary research and exploration of the wider implications of the updated descriptors before any update on infection prevention and control or other mitigation measures guidance is issued by WHO.

The implication of this admission by the WHO, even as COVID continues to mutate and infect millions of people across the world, means that despite having accepted the airborne nature of SARS-CoV-2, they will not issue any guidance to prevent and mitigate the spread of this disease or any other respiratory pathogens present and future.

Clearly, the inability by member states to agree on the text of the first-ever global pandemic accord, being voted on at the end of May at this years World Health Assembly, means that the world is even less prepared to address future global outbreaks than on the eve of the COVID pandemic. This includes equitable sharing of technical information on therapeutics and vaccines and their distribution to populations.

Speaking with Human Rights Watch, the legal adviser at Amnesty International, Tamaryn Nelson, said, Creating a new pandemic treaty could offer an opportunity to ensure that countries are equipped with proper mechanisms for cooperation and principles to prevent the level of devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rights violations resulting from government responses. By failing to ground the treaty in existing human rights obligation and inadequately addressing human rights concerns arising during public health emergencies, governments risk repeating history when the next global health crisis hits.

The former chief scientist at the WHO, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, an Indian pediatrician, who left her position in mid-November 2022 after a series of high-profile departures, has not fully explained why she resigned. But in an interview with Science Insider she expressed regrets over the UN agencys handling of the COVID pandemic.

She said, We should have done it much earlier, based on the available evidence, and it is something that has cost the organization. You can argue that [the criticism of WHO] is unfair, because when it comes to mitigation, we did talk about methods, including ventilation and masking. But at the same time, we were not forcefully saying, This is an airborne virus. I regret that we didnt do this much, much earlier.
On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the rape conviction of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The ruling determined that the judge in the 2020 trial made egregious errors, thus violating the defendants rights, by allowing testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case. In fact, as the WSWS insisted at the time, that trial was an anti-democratic travesty and rigged from the start for political reasons.

In a 4-3 decision, the states highest court overturned Weinsteins conviction on felony sex crime charges because Justice James Burke permitted prosecutors to call as witnesses several women, who testified that the producer had assaulted them even though their claims had never been tested or proven, and he was never charged with a crime involving any of them.

Harvey Weinstein departs a Manhattan courthouse in New York City on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. [AP Photo/John Minchillo]

As the majority opinion stated:

We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes because that testimony served no material non-propensity purpose.

Citing the right to a fair trial protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, the decision went on:

Under our system of justice, the accused has a right to be held to account only for the crime charged and, thus, allegations of prior bad acts may not be admitted against them for the sole purpose of establishing their propensity for criminality (see People v Molineux, 168 NY 264 [1901]).

The appeals court decision also pointed out that the decision by Judge Burke to permit other accusers to erroneously testify was further compounded by the lower courts ruling that Weinstein, who had no criminal history, could be cross examined about those allegations as well as numerous allegations of misconduct that portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light.

The fact that the allegations by individuals who were not part of the trial were admitted meant that Weinstein was judged on irrelevant, prejudicial, and untested allegations of prior bad acts.

The majority continued:

The only evidence against defendant was the complainants testimony, and the result of the courts rulings, on the one hand, was to bolster their credibility and diminish defendants character before the jury. On the other hand, the threat of a cross-examination highlighting these untested allegations undermined defendants right to testify. The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.

The WSWS pointed out at the time that

Weinsteins [23-year] sentence is longer than that given to numerous former Nazi officials convicted of horrifying war crimes at the Nuremberg trials. US government leaders, responsible for illegal, aggressive wars in the Middle East and Central Asia, resulting in more than 1 million deaths and tens of millions of refugees, have never been charged with any crime. Executives of corporations that murder workers or civilians, out of profit concerns, such as Boeing and General Motors, likewise escape without punishment. Burkes brutal action was an obviously and overtly political one. The judge had no intention of coming under fire like Judge Aaron Persky, who sat on the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Persky handed down a relatively humane decision in the Brock Turner sexual assault case in 2016 and was turned out of office in a recall vote.

Even though his New York conviction has been overturned and he is being granted a new trial, Weinstein will remain in prison for his conviction in a separate case in California, where he is serving a 16-year sentence.

The charges and 2020 prosecution of rape were based on the complaints of two women, a former production assistant and a former actress, who gave lurid details of their sexual encounters with Weinstein to the jury from 2006 and 2013, respectively.

The former film producer, now 72, was found guilty of rape in the third degree and a criminal sexual act in the first degree on February 20, 2020, and he was sentenced to more than two decades in prison by Judge Burke on March 11, 2020. Weinstein has been serving his sentence at Wende Correctional Facility, located approximately 20 miles east of Buffalo, New York.

The New York Court of Appeals decision to overturn the conviction represents a devastating blow to the anti-democratic and reactionary #MeToo campaign and accompanying media hysteria. The courts references to fundamental rights, such as the right to a fair trial, expose the right-wing and authoritarian thrust of #MeToo.

According to the premise of #MeToo, elementary constitutional rights, guaranteeing due process of law and maintaining the standard innocent until proven guilty, mean nothing. An accusation is sufficient grounds to force the accused to lose their job, be blacklisted from their professional field, to disappear from public life and/or be sent to prison.

Burkes decision to permit the testimony of three principal witnesses, Annabella Sciorra, Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann, exposed inconsistencies and revealed the frenzied atmosphere encouraged by #MeToo. Each of the three women had long-term friendships with Weinstein that lasted years after the attacks they alleged. They each asked him to help them professionally and never once in any communications claimed they were victims of rape or abuse.

There were two dissenting opinions on the court. In one, Judge Madeline Singas accused the majority of whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative and argued that the ruling has continued a disturbing trend of overturning juries guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence. In another, Judge Anthony Cannataro said the decision was an unfortunate step backwards.

The corporate media has been quick to seek out Weinsteins accusers and representatives of #MeToo who all say they are shocked and dismayed by the decision. At a press conference on Thursday, Tarana Burke, one of the founders of #MeToo, said, Moments like this underscore why movements are necessary. And we have a movement.

Juda Engelmayer, Weinsteins spokesperson, acknowledged to NBC News being thrilled with the courts decision, adding, We obviously have a long road ahead of us in California.

Weinsteins attorneys have said the New York ruling will have a major impact on the appeal of the former film producers Los Angeles rape conviction where arguments are due May 20. A Weinstein attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said the California prosecution also relied on evidence of uncharged conduct alleged against him.

A jury was told in California that he was convicted in another state for rape, Bonjean said. Turns out he shouldnt have been convicted and it wasnt a fair conviction.  It interfered with his presumption of innocence in a significant way in California. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala called the ruling a tremendous victory for every criminal defendant in the state of New York.
The Greens, who began 45 years ago as pacifists, have not only become Germanys leading pro-war party, they have also lost all their inhibitions.

Robert Habeck [Photo by Michael Brandtner / wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0

In an interview with broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Monday, Economics Minister Robert Habeck boasted that he was now also the German defence industry minister. You know which party I belong to, said the Green politician, who is also vice-chancellor. I really didnt have the idea that I would once again prioritise my work as defence industry minister, but thats what I have to do now.

Habeck defined his new task as needing to scale up the defence industry in Germany. He continued, If Ukraine needs the weapons and ammunition, then it should get them, and if it no longer needs them ... then the Bundeswehr [Armed Forces] can make good use of them. So, we have to scale up faster, scale up and produce more. This was a very, very necessary decision, he concluded.

Habeck had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, which he had visited along with managers from several defence companies. He had previously invited representatives from defence companies to his ministry to discuss the expansion of production capacities.

Speaking on Deutschlandfunk, he insisted that Germany must play a pioneering role in armaments, even though it was already Ukraines second-largest arms supplier after the US. We have to see that we are first movers, that we lead the way, that we say we can go one step further, the Green politician stressed.

Habeck, who has a doctorate in literature and worked as a writer before making a career in politics, chooses his words carefully. And he knows what he is talking about.

There has only ever been one minister of the defence industry in German historyunder Hitler. On March 17, 1940, six months after the German invasion of Poland, a decree by the Fuhrer established the Reich Ministry of Armaments and Munitions. Minister Fritz Todt, a member of the NSDAP (Nazi Party) since 1922 and SA (Storm Trooper) Obergruppenfuhrer, ensured that the war economy covered the growing needs of the Wehrmacht (Armed Forces).

After Todts accidental death in February 1942, Hitler appointed his personal architect Albert Speer as his successor, under whose leadership the ministry developed into the central control centre of the Nazi war economy. In September 1943, it was renamed the Reich Ministry of Armaments and War Production. All other economic sectors had to be subordinated to it. Armaments production tripled between 1940 and 1944. The ministry exploited millions of forced labourers and concentration camp prisoners, only a minority of whom survived.

The fact that Habeck is now taking up this criminal tradition by appointing himself defence industry minister makes clear how far to the right the entire ruling class has moved. On the 300th anniversary of Immanuel Kants birth, it is not the celebrated philosophers categorical imperative that determines their thoughts and actions, but their naked imperialist class interests.

During the First and Second World Wars, German imperialism sought to satisfy its hunger for markets, raw materials and cheap labour by subjugating Europe and expanding eastwards. It is now following the same path again.

After two years of war in Ukraine, which NATO deliberately provoked, and six months of genocide in Gaza, which the German government fully supports, there is no longer anyone in the ruling class who is in favour of military restraint. Pacifism, which relies on reason and the good will of those in power, is proving to be completely bankrupt.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the pro-war policy of the Greens, the party of the wealthy and privileged upper-middle class. They are unrivalled when it comes to dressing up a pro-war policy with moral fumes. But now this is taking on perverse forms.

They support the slaughter of the Palestinians and persecute anyone who protests against the genocide in Gaza as antisemites, while in Ukraine they cooperate with the admirers of Nazi collaborators and Jew-haters in the war against Russia. They are enraged by Putin and Xi, while in the Middle East they throw themselves at dictators and mass murderers like Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman and the butcher of Cairo, Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi.

Disgust and revulsion at these policies and the opposition to them are growing. But it is necessary to consciously draw the lessons from the bankruptcy of the Greens. Pressure on the government and the ruling class cannot stop the danger of a third world war. What is needed is the building of an independent anti-war movement based on the international working class and linking the struggle against war, social inequality and fascism with the struggle against their cause, capitalism. This is what the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is fighting for in the European elections.
Campaigns have been mounted at Royal Mail delivery offices and mail centres this week, distributing the statement by the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee: Oppose Royal Mails Assault on the USO! Defeat CWUs Collusion!

Sunday nights meeting will discuss Royal Mails plansbacked by Ofcomto officially end six-day-a-week mail delivery to 32 million households across the UK. The company has announced it plans to reduce second class and bulk mail deliveries to 2.5 days or 3 days from next April.

Royal Mails submission to Ofcom states that 7,000-9,000 delivery routes will be axed and thousands of jobs are threatened.

London

At Mount Pleasant sorting office in Farringdon, London, postal workers described back-breaking workloads. Those coming off shift were tired, stressed and fed up. But they stopped to take leaflets and expressed interest in Sundays Zoom meeting.

A delivery worker explained: The main talk is about delivery services. On the floor our hours have been cut, staff halved, yet we are doing the same amount of work. I dont think management even consult the CWU anymore. They just go ahead and make any changes they want. Ive seen your leaflets before its about time there is an opposition.

A group of drivers who deliver parcels to other Royal Mail offices said, We see firsthand how bad things are at the delivery offices. The weight that can be carried has doubled. We deliver carpets and other large items. One postie has to load and deliver these parcels in small vans on their own.

He took the rank-and-file appeal for Sunday's meeting, This is very interesting. There are other depots youll win support from. If youre here for a while all the delivery walks are returning. Im pleased to see this being done.

He asked about the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee, Hows it come about? Is it happening across the country? Members of the SEP explained how the committee was formed during last years dispute, after hundreds of postal workers wrote to the World Socialist Web Site supporting a fightback against the CWUs pro-company agreement. The worker added, So what's happening in London is happening across the country, we cant all be wrong can we?'

Among the issues discussed was the untimely death of postal worker Gorakh Singh, 54, who collapsed and died of heart attack outside The City Pride pub, last December. Flowers and cards were left by colleagues at the spot.

One colleague said, I knew him. Its happened to others on their way home from the depot. Hed been complaining of pains in his legs and arms for a while.

Another explained, Were expected to lift boxes weighing 25-30kg or more on our own Its a two-man job. Im 56, Im not a young man anymore, and they dont seem to care if we get injured.

Other postal workers said, Ive seen piles and piles of post stacking up and I feel sorry for the people who arent getting it delivered but they (management) dont care. People pay for the service and they deserve to have it delivered. I feel sorry for them (people who arent getting post delivered on time).

Another added, Its bad what theyre doing. Theyve got rid of the morning shifts. Theres three positions where people have gone and they keep saying theyre going to replace them but they havent replaced them and were having to fill in instead.

Northern Ireland

At Craigavon delivery office in County Armagh, members of the Socialist Equality Party met a warm response from postal workers when they visited on Tuesday. Workers at Craigavon described impossible workloads and ongoing prioritisation of parcel delivery over letters.

A delivery worker who took a leaflet said, If I could leave, I would. Another said of the advertisement for Sundays Zoom meeting: Its about time someone was doing something.

Craigavons two local reps suspended last year during the year-long industrial dispute have not returned to the depot and are reportedly on sick leave. The reps were victimised for opposing unagreed revisions and management bullying. Workers have told the World Socialist Web Site how the same managers who victimised the pair are still in place and they fear ongoing victimisation.

Workers on strike at the Craigavon delivery office during last year's strike [Photo by postal worker reprinted with kind permission]

Leaflets were distributed at Mallusk Road, Newtownabbey depot to the north of Belfast, with some workers taking multiple copies for their colleagues. At East Belfast depot a postal worker commented, We were out on Christmas Eve protesting and freezing, and for what? The union sold us out. There is widespread anger toward Communication Workers Union officials over last years sellout agreement that lit a bonfire of terms and conditions, driving thousands of postal workers from their jobs.

West Yorkshire

Campaign teams have visited Wakefield and Bradford depots, with a postal worker from a nearby delivery office stopping to chat: The rounds are too big and always getting bigger, completing on all but the quietest days is unachievable unless were willing to work over, otherwise were left with a big backlog that we have to tackle the next day. Flex [extra mail loops and parcels] is added to all rounds every day now and sometimes takes an hour alone. If you take any care in your work or take care to drive safely it feels like you're going to fall way behind.

As a spare [someone who doesn't have their own regular walk], I might work hard to clear the round, and next day I find myself on a different round that has double the mail. Were encouraged to focus on the parcels and leave the mail if we have to. Mail builds up and when it has to go out, it weighs a ton.

Lots of people quitting the job recently, being replaced by new starters on part time contracts. Its bad enough not knowing who you are going to be working with from day-to-day but now I am often working with people that have just started the job and have never done the round before and I am still expected to do the same amount of work.

Managers are manipulative, intimidating and specifically target new starters that might feel like their job is at risk. Recently a new starter was called at 4pm, hours after he had finished, and was asked to come back out and deliver tracked parcels that he had missed.

The scanners crash often. Theyre falling to bits, and lots of them are buggy so you need to restart themreally stressful and embarrassing when you're waiting on someones door step and they're waiting for their parcel.

Almost all vans are in bad condition, old, dirty, some probably not even road-legal, lots of the tyres are bare, side doors are broken on many vans, which means we dont have easy access to parcels. Half of the vans are half as big as they need to be, so parcels have to be piled to the ceiling which means parcels will inevitably be missed, which means going out of our way to deliver later in the day.

We have more responsibilities in the office now, so were getting out later and theres more to forget. From arriving in the office, even as a part time worker that starts later, I have to sort mail, scan all my small parcels, scan large parcels, go through letter re-directions, pick up and sign for special deliveries, pick and box the mail for the duty I'm on, pick the mail for the flex duty, pick up the collections box keys (sometimes two sets if theres a box on the flex), load all mail and parcels into the van, do a full van check... all within about 40 minutes if I want to get out on time and have half a chance of finishing.

We urge postal and logistics workers to attend the next online meeting of the PWRFC on Sunday April 28 at 7pm, Oppose Royal Mails Assault on the USO! Defeat CWUs Collusion. Register here to attend.
UPS workers: Tell us what you think about the company beating expectations due to mass layoffs by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

UPS Chief Executive Officer Carol Tome. [Photo: Carol B. Tome]

The announcement on Tuesday that United Parcel Services quarterly earnings report had exceeded expert predictions sent stock prices higher throughout the day, as the company plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs in the coming period.

This is the first earnings report since the announcement of a massive cost-cutting plan, the Network of the Future, at an investors meeting last month. The goal of the plan is to save UPS $3 billion by 2028 by closing 200 facilities and massively automating work in those that remain open. Half of the savings will be realized by 2026. The exact number of jobs on the line has not been released but will almost certainly be in the tens of thousands.

The jobs bloodbath is already well underway. UPS cut 30 sort shifts in 2023 and has plans to close another 40 sorts this year. In January, UPS announced its intention to cut 12,000 white collar and management jobs globally.

Last month, 206 workers were laid off from the New Stanton facilitys day shift package sorting operations in Pennsylvania. The Greensboro, North Carolina facility cut 37 workers. In March, 333 UPSers were laid off in Ontario, California after a shift at the Ontario air hub was eliminated.

This exposes the contract pushed through last year by the Teamsters bureaucracy, which they falsely hailed as a massive victory, as being in reality a huge sellout. UPS CEO Carol Tome cited labor certainty provided by the new contract as critical to the companys plans to slash jobs.

First-quarter 2024 consolidated revenues of $21.7 billion marked a 5.3 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2023, while consolidated operating profit was $1.6 billion, down 36.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023.

In the companys press release, Tome said, Our financial performance in the first quarter was in line with our expectations, and average daily volume in the U.S. showed improvement through the quarter.

UPS volumes have declined somewhat from 2022, when the company made a record $100 billion in revenue. During an earnings call on Tuesday, Tome told analysts that volume decline had slowed in the first quarter, down only 1 percent from a year ago.

During the call, UPS CFO Brian Newman said that customers are choosing more inexpensive shipping options. Lower-cost SurePost shipments, packages picked up by UPS then delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS), grew 10.8 percent from a year ago while daily air volume was down 8.3 percent year over year.

In spite of the slight declines in revenue and profits, UPS reduced its expenses by $414 million in the first quarter compared to a year ago. Most of this has been through layoffs. In the last year, UPS has closed 18 sortation facilities and cut 5,400 management and support staff positions so far this year, reducing operational resources by almost 5 percent on the year, according to Newman.

Tome told analysts she expects 2024 revenue to total between $92 billion and $94.5 billion, up from $91 billion in 2023. Once we get through the second quarter, well tell you what we think the back half of the year will be, she said.

Wall Street analysts are encouraged by Tomes projections as well as the new air cargo deal brokered with USPS, which is expected to show a profit in both its first year and throughout the five-year term. According to UPS, USPSs unified network will lower costs by reducing the distances postal service shipments travel.

The mass layoffs at UPS are part of a broader jobs cutting campaign aimed at smashing resistance in the working class through mass unemployment.

In the first quarter, companies announced plans to cut 257,254 jobs, 90,309 of which were announced in March alone, making it the highest monthly job losses in 14 months according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. Layoffs in the transportation sector rose 483 percent since March 2023, a total of nearly 16,000 jobs.

The Teamsters bureaucracy have said nothing as UPS plans to carry out some of the deepest cuts in its history, which were well advanced by the time the new contract was ratified last year, in light of the slump in volume that has gripped the logistics industry since 2022.

In opposition to this guilty silence, this week the UPS Rank-and-File Committee demanded answers in an open letter to Teamsters President Sean OBrien. The committee wrote, We workers have every right to take all action deemed necessary to protect our jobs, regardless of whether you choose to sanction them or not. If you will not fight the layoffs, then get out of the way so that UPS workers can do it ourselves.

The UPS Rank-and-File Committee has called for a rank and file rebellion against management and the union bureaucracies. UPS and other major corporations must be transferred to public ownership under the democratic control of the working class.

In the most recent statement against the closing of 200 facilities, the Committee wrote, What we face is not a contract issue, and there is no middle ground between our interests and those of the ruling elite around which reasonable minds will prevail. Either our interests prevail, or those of the capitalist oligarchy. There is no in-between.

A broad-based movement in the working class is required to stop the jobs bloodbath. UPS workers must join with workers in the auto industry, the post office, in healthcare and education, anywhere jobs are under attack in a common struggle based on the interests of the working class.

If you agree, join the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by emailing upsrankandfilecommittee@gmail.com.
In its final day of oral argument for its current session, the US Supreme Court questioned attorneys for the fascist ex-President Donald Trump and for the Biden Justice Department over Trumps claim of absolute immunity from prosecution for all actions taken during his presidency.

In this January 6, 2021 file photo, with the White House in the background, former President Donald Trump speaks at the Save America rally in Washington D.C. Trump urged the right-wing mob, whom he knew to be armed, to march to the Capitol and fight like hell. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin]

If the court upholds the claim, the federal case brought against Trump by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, as well as the case over conspiracy to overturn the election in Georgia brought by Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis, would be thrown out. The court will have guaranteed that no president can be held accountable for his actions in the White House once he leaves office.

More likely, at least as indicated by the questioning, is that the court will send the case back to the federal district court with instructions to distinguish between Trumps private actions and his actions as president, based on a tendentious distinction embraced by most of the conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority.

As outlined by Chief Justice John Roberts, in prosecuting Trump for conspiracy to overturn the 2020 elections, the special prosecutor could only target actions involving private lawyers and campaign operatives.

They could not include actions involving Trumps communications with government officials, such as his effort to get the Justice Department to send out letters to battleground states saying that there were serious questions about their certification that Democrat Joe Biden had won their electoral votes. Nor could Trump be prosecuted for pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of electoral votes by Congress.

It was unclear whether a majority would even allow evidence of these actions to be introduced to show Trumps intent and the context of the conspiracy with private lawyers and political operatives to create slates of fake electors to be submitted to Congress as though they were genuine.

The oral arguments began with an extraordinary warning by Trumps attorney, John Sauer, that if Trump were to be subject to criminal prosecution, the same fate would await George W. Bush, Barack Obama and President Biden once he leaves office.

Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it, he said. For 234 years of American history, no president was ever prosecuted for his official acts.

He continued: The implications of the Courts decision here extend far beyond the facts of this case. Could President George W. Bush have been sent to prison for obstructing an official proceeding or allegedly lying to Congress to induce war in Iraq? Could President Obama be charged with murder for killing US citizens abroad by drone strike?

Sauer raised these examples as though just posing the question would win support on the court, as of course it will. But he was playing with fire. The response of working people throughout the world is likely to be, These presidents are criminals, and they should be sent to prison. The same with Trump, the instigator of the coup attempt of January 6, 2021, and Biden, the instigator of war with Russia in Ukraine and the enabler of Israels genocide in Gaza.

The hearing lasted for two hours, and the transcript extends for nearly 180 pages. We will have more to say about the legal and constitutional issues raised. But several points must be reviewed even in a preliminary assessment of the proceeding.

The attorneys on both sides, and all nine justices, discussed the case within the framework of upholding the power of the president and his right, as commander-in-chief, to order the most far-reaching and bloody measures against whatever target he selects.

Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben was at pains to preserve the power of the president to take whatever actions he pleases under the rubric of national security, rejecting the suggestion that Obama could have been prosecuted, since he had legal advice from the Department of Justice that drone missile assassinations, even of US citizens, were legal.

The same argument would apply to decisions by George W. Bush to invade and occupy Iraq, and to authorize the torture of prisoners alleged to be terrorists at secret CIA prisons in Europe and Asia, and at the US naval base/prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The hypothetical examples introduced by the justices, and particularly the three liberals, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, suggest the depth of the political crisis wracking the US ruling elite.

Justice Kagan asked, How about if a president orders the military to stage a coup?

Sauer replied, I think that, as the Chief Justice pointed out earlier, where theres a whole series of, you know, sort of guidelines against that, so to speak, like the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] prohibits the military from following a plainly unlawful order 

He then concluded, I think it would depend on the circumstances whether it was an official act. If it were an official act, again, he would have to be impeached and convicted.

Sauer did not spell out what circumstances would make an attempted military coup a legitimate exercise of presidential power, nor did Kagan pursue the question.

Kagan pointed out that there was no presidential immunity clause in the Constitution, although several states had such clauses in their constitutions for their governors at the time the Constitution was adopted. And, you know, not so surprising, they were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law. Wasnt the whole point that the president was not a monarch, and the president was not supposed to be above the law?

The more right-wing justices weighed in on the side of Trumps appeal, suggesting that the president would be deterred by the threat of prosecution from bold, decisive action (Samuel Alito), that presidents would be driven to pardon themselves on their way out of office (Neil Gorsuch), or that executive immunity could be inferred from the Constitution in the same way that the court created executive privilege (Brett Kavanaugh).

When the Justice Department attorney Dreeben spoke in support of the special prosecutor, he undermined his own position by agreeing with the suggestion of Chief Justice Roberts that the appeals court decision, which Trump is challenging, was based on a circular argument.

Roberts continued, If its tautological and those are the only protections that the court of appeals below gave and that is no longer your position, youre not defending that position, why shouldnt we either send it back to the court of appeals or issue an opinion making clear that thats not the law?

Roberts then declared that the court of appeals opinion was not a basis for taking away any official immunity, but Dreeben pointed out, There is no immunity that is in the Constitution, unless this Court creates it today. There certainly is no textual immunity.

In a remarkable exchange, Gorsuch gave Dreeben a hypotheticalclearly modeled on a sanitized version of January 6where the president leads a civil rights protest, mostly peaceful, which briefly disrupts congressional consideration of legislation.

Now, under 1512(c)(2), that might be corruptly impeding a proceeding, an official proceeding. Was that subject to prosecution, he asked. Gorsuch did not mention, although all the justices were aware, that this is precisely the issue raised by those members of the January 6 mob who were prosecuted for disrupting the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote.

This argument clearly suggests that the high court majority is prepared to strike down these prosecutions, leaving most of these January 6 defendants facing only misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct charges, rather than the far more serious felony of which they were convicted.

A final decision on the case is likely to be issued in late June, making an actual trial of Trump on the charges related to January 6 impossible until after he accepts the Republican presidential nomination and highly unlikely before the November 5 election.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Residents of Azerbaijan's liberated Lachin city and Zabukh village have been presented with more than 40 professions, a source in the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the source, about 15 employers presented more than 40 professional areas and conducted master classes for the residents at the fair with the motto Learn a profession in Lachin! held for the first time in the liberated territories.

The fair participants were briefed on professions as well as enterprises that provide training in these professions.

The source pointed out that the agency continues to work on organizing vocational courses for residents of the liberated territories, where they learn the knowledge and skills of professions meeting the demands of the demands of the labor market.

Upon completion of these courses, residents of the liberated territories are provided with assistance in finding employment.

To note, following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands.

Overall, 1,500 citizens living in the liberated territories have been provided with permanent jobs.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The visit of the delegation led by the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov continues, Trend reports via the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

On April 26, the Kazakh delegation arrived at the Air Force's Central Command Post. The guests received extensive information about the command post's primary activities, opportunities, and capabilities.

Following that, the Kazakh representatives went on a tour of the Military Administration Institute's Center for War Games at the National Defense University. During their tour, they were given a full overview of the center's history and current activities, as well as answers to their questions. The meeting was followed by the presentation of gifts to visitors.

To note, on April 25, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov received a delegation led by the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov.

The sides exchanged views on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in military, military-technical, military-educational, and other fields.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bakcell, the country's largest private telecommunications company, unveiled its new brand identity at a press conference held on April 25. The rebranding event of Bakcell as a response to the requirements of the changing world continued last night with a concert full of innovations at the Boulevard.

On a day full of innovation and excitement for the telecommunication sector of Azerbaijan, Bakcell put on a spectacular show for the audience, featuring celebrities like Roya, Miri Yusif, Tunzala Aghayeva, Murad Arif, Husniyya Maharramova. One of the highlights of the event was Ardi, an AI-powered humanoid robot introduced by Bakcell during the press conference who later that night sang a duet with Murad Arif.

Bakcell organized contests throughout the night at the event with 10,000 spectators, gave away prizes like iPhone 15 Pro Max and other valuable gifts to the lucky winners. At the conclusion of the night, everyone on Boulevard received the promised 100,000 GB gift by Bakcell.

It is worth mentioning that during his speech at the press conference, Klaus Muller, the CEO of the company shared that a number of innovative products and services will be announced in the coming future. By embracing a new era, Bakcell will provide its customers with an experience abundant of innovations, as demonstrated by the concert.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. One of the priorities in Azerbaijan is to increase the number of NFC devices, Mastercard's regional manager in Azerbaijan Emil Zeynalov said during the press conference, Trend reports.

One of our priorities is, of course, to increase the number of NFC devices. As we said earlier, NFC devices are very popular among everyone. You use these services on social media, and all our campaigns are aimed at expanding this. We also plan to continue investing in tokenization by running more campaigns that encourage NFC payments, as well as adding more banks to ApplePay and Google Pay services, he said.

According to him, the second priority is to expand the scope of Masterpass.

We are also prioritizing further expanding the reach of Masterpass technology by partnering with banks and starting to integrate with their mobile apps. We introduced Masterpass as part of the mobile application of one of the largest banks in Azerbaijan in 2023, he added.

To note, Mastercard is an international payment system that provides financial services, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards. It allows its holders to make cashless payments at millions of points of sale around the world. Mastercard also provides technology solutions for banks, merchants, and other financial institutions. Mastercard cards are accepted in many countries and are used for a variety of transactions, including in-store purchases, online transactions, ATM cash withdrawals, and other financial transactions.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Amy Duggar King said her cousin Josh Duggar, who is serving prison time on charges related to child sex abuse images, deserves his fate.

I hope every day there is absolute torture for him, King told People. I really hope that, because what he watched and what he was viewing for his own fulfillment is those kids experiencing torture.

King added: He deserves every second in there, and I hope he gets a longer term. I hope he messes up again.

In May 2022, Josh, one of the stars of TLCs 19 Kids and Counting was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on federal charges of downloading and possessing child sex abuse images, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

Josh is the eldest child of religious couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of Arkansas, who, with their family, starred in the long-time reality show.

In 2015, Josh was accused of sexually abusing five girls who were underage, as TODAY.com previously reported, prompting the cancelation of 19 Kids and Counting.

Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends, Josh said in a statement in May of 2015.

Josh also admitted to cheating on his wife Anna through a secret addiction to pornography. Josh and Anna have seven children together.

King told People that she has no contact with Josh or Anna.

I have not spoken to him, and I will not. I will not, King told the outlet. When you just cross those evil lines like that, there is no coming back. I just think theres no coming back.

King told People that she had offered her home to Anna and her children, before crossing paths with her at a 2023 funeral.

I wanted to say a whole lot. I wanted to say tons of things, but in that moment it wasnt obviously the right location, King said. It was a ceremony, a viewing actually, at a funeral, and yeah. It wasnt the right timing and I didnt want to make a scene ... But if you ask me, I think she is mad. I do. I think shes just really, really mad.

King, a mother of one, told TODAY.com in a 2021 interview that she feared for his children.

Who wouldnt worry about that? My heart goes out to all those innocent, sweet victims... It breaks my heart, King said. I really hope justice is served.

I will just say that whatever you do in the darkness comes out in the light. If youre going to look at such disgusting and sickening images, justice has to be served.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
That Donald Trump has a tendency toward pettiness is hardly surprising to those who have been paying attention to the former presidents antics in recent years. (See Exhibits A, B, C, D, and E.) But a late-night outburst on Wednesday attacking Bill Barr has The Daily Show correspondent and this weeks co-host Jordan Klepper declaring the former president the official King of Pettiness.

Though Trump spent most of Thursday in a New York City courtroom (again) for his hush money trial, Kleppers co-host Ronny Chieng said that it wasnt all bad news for the former president. After months of calling him unfit for office, Trumps former attorney general Bill Barr said hes voting for him anyway, Chieng shared. And Trump responded with as much grace as youd expect.

Just after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Trump posted the following message to Truth Social:

Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud in our Country, has just Endorsed me for President despite the fact that I called him Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy (New York Post!). Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word Lethargic from my statement. Thank you Bill. MAGA2024!

Klepper couldnt help but be amused by the former president, who he called the king of pettiness.

I am positive in an alt universe Trump was a sorority president just dripping with shade, Klepper continued. Like, Wow, Bill. I love that bikini. Youre so brave to be wearing that. You go girl!

If running for President of the United States fails to work out for Trump again, he could always see if Kappa Kappa Gamma is hiring.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rebel Wilson's memoir is reportedly facing censorship in the United Kingdom following the actress's account of workplace misconduct against former co-star Sacha Baron Cohen.

In a passage from her book "Rebel Rising," which was released April 2, Wilson alleges that Cohen requested for her to digitally penetrate him during the filming of the 2016 film "The Brothers Grimsby."

HarperCollins, the U.K. publisher of "Rebel Rising," said in a statement that a portion of the memoir  purportedly Wilson's allegations against Cohen  has been removed from its edition. The book was released in the U.K. Thursday.

"We are publishing every page, but for legal reasons, in the U.K. edition, we are redacting most of one page with some other small redactions and an explanatory note," a HarperCollins spokesperson told People magazine and BBC. "Those sections are a very small part of a much bigger story, and were excited for readers to know Rebels story when the book is released."

Rebel Wilson's account of workplace misconduct against actor Sacha Baron Cohen has reportedly been removed from the U.K. edition of her recent memoir.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for HarperCollins and Wilson for comment.

In a statement posted to her Instagram Stories Thursday, Wilson thanked "all the people who have come forward and acknowledged my experiences with Sacha Baron Cohen."

"Thank you for sharing your own stories with me," Wilson added. "I am so grateful to you and really appreciate it."

Sacha Baron Cohen applauds redaction in Rebel Wilson memoir

In a statement to USA TODAY Thursday, a representative for Cohen praised HarperCollins' redaction of Wilson's account, adding that "printing falsehoods is against the law in the U.K."

"HarperCollins did not fact check this chapter in the book prior to publication and took the sensible but terribly belated step of deleting Rebel Wilson's defamatory claims once presented with evidence," Cohen's rep wrote in an email. "This is a clear victory for Sacha Baron Cohen and confirms what we said from the beginning, that this is demonstrably false in a shameful and failed effort to sell books."

In an excerpt of Wilson's memoir published by People magazine, Wilson alleged that while filming "The Brothers Grimsby," Cohen told her they would need to shoot an additional scene before proceeding to pull down his pants and instructing her to stick her finger inside his buttocks.

"I was now scared," she reportedly writes. "I wanted to get out of there, so I finally compromised: I slapped him on the (bottom) and improvised a few lines as the character."

Sacha Baron Cohen speaks out: Actor calls Rebel Wilson's claims 'false' amid memoir 'Rebel Rising'

Days before the release of Wilson's memoir, Cohen said Wilson's claims were "demonstrably false," according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.

"While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of 'The Brothers Grimsby,' " Cohen's rep told USA TODAY March 25.

Rebel Wilson accuses Sacha Baron Cohen of 'bullying and gaslighting' after workplace misconduct allegations

On March 29, the Daily Mail published previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage from "The Brothers Grimsby," which the outlet said cast doubt on Wilson's account of workplace misconduct. In the video, Wilson and Cohen can be heard talking through their sex scene, with Wilson saying she will slap Cohen's butt and go "down the crack."

"It's almost as if you're going to ram your fingers inside," Cohen said in the video, to which Wilson replied, "Yeah."

Rebel Wilson and Sacha Baron Cohen: Actress accuses former co-star of 'bullying and gaslighting' after leaked footage

The Daily Mail suggested the footage showed Wilson was "on board" with the scene and that it was part of the script. In a statement provided to USA TODAY, however, the actress doubled down on her allegations against Cohen and said the video does not tell the entire story.

"It is an (expletive) move to release footage of one part of that disgusting episode while leaving out everything that preceded it including my horrified refusal to stick my finger up SBC's butt," Wilson said at the time. "What this edited video shows is what I had to do in order to get out of the room, as written in 'Rebel Rising.' Releasing unauthorized and misleading behind-the-scenes video without my approval is SBC's latest way of bullying and gaslighting me.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rebel Wilson memoir: Sacha Baron Cohen allegation redacted in UK
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Sunny 95s longtime morning radio hosts are leaving the airwaves after a series of personnel changes at Columbus Radio Group.

Stacy McKay and Dino Tripodis will no longer host the morning radio show at Sunny 95. The duo were each on their second stint with the station after originally starting in the 90s. On Thursday morning, the pairs morning show had been removed from Sunny 95s website. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, McKay confirmed her departure but did not share future plans.

ALL good things must come to an end, McKay said in a post. Its been the most amazing ride a girl could ask for! Thanks for allowing me to join you on your ride to work/school every morning!

Tripodis, on the other hand, told NBC4 that he is going straight into producing Down to the Felt, a movie that he co-wrote and called the largest indie film ever made in Columbus. Details can be found on a website made for the movie. Tripodis also expressed gratitude for his radio audience members over the years.

Thank you Columbus for allowing me in your daily lives for 30 years, Tripodis said. I look forward to the opportunity to continue being in your lives with any future opportunities that may come my way. I may be gone from one place but far from done.

After 84 years, Bexley pizzeria closes its doors

The duos departure comes amidst multiple personnel changes at Columbus Radio Group. Longtime cluster News Director Clark Donley and producer Greg Hansberry are also leaving the morning show, according to radioinsight.com.

Andre Styles Friedrich, morning host at Mix 107.9 and cluster Events Director, is also leaving the airwaves. On Thursday morning, Friedrichs show had been taken down from Mix 107.9s website. He personally announced in an Instagram post he would be leaving after 14 years with Saga Communications  the broadcasting company behind Columbus Radio Group.

To say Im shocked is an understatement, Friedrich said in a post. The amount of years, days, hours I put in. A lot of hours not at home. Going in when sick, late at night, early in the morning, during Covid and more. Some said the face, voice and heartbeat of Mix. It sucks! But I met so many great people, artists, bands. The memories are forever.

Dozens facing housing worries after Riverview eviction notices

In late March, Miss Lisa Bryant left afternoons at Sunny 95 and mornings at Rewind 103.5/104.3.

Columbus Radio Group includes four stations: Sunny 95, Mix 107.9, Rewind 103.5/104.3, and 96.3 WLVQ Qfm96. This is the second central Ohio radio group to undergo public changes in 2024, as CD 92.9 previously lost its FM frequency to broadcast with and was replaced with 93X.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Mastercard will establish a consulting group in Azerbaijan in 2024, Vice President for Business Development of Mastercard Mehmet Gulez said, during a press conference, Trend reports.

The significant expansion of our advisory services in Azerbaijan, particularly in 2022 and 2023, has made Azerbaijan the world's fastest-growing country and the top in terms of advice revenue consumed by households. As a result of all of this, as a Mastercard advisory service, we decided to establish an advisory group in Azerbaijan in 2024 and strengthen our investments, he said.

He said Mastercard's objective will be to contribute to the development and growth of the consulting sector in Azerbaijan every year, create new jobs, and bring global knowledge and expertise to Azerbaijan in the best possible way.

Although this team we will create will initially serve our clients in Azerbaijan, in the coming years it will also serve all surrounding countries from Baku, he added.

Mastercard is an international payment system that provides financial services, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards. It allows its holders to make cashless payments at millions of points of sale around the world. Mastercard also provides technology solutions for banks, merchants, and other financial institutions. Mastercard cards are accepted in many countries and are used for a variety of transactions, including in-store purchases, online transactions, ATM cash withdrawals, and other financial transactions.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
All-surfing, all-the-time, all streaming on one channel  for free.

Thats SURFER TV, and its now available on Samsung TV Plus in Australia and New Zealand. From the latest surf edits, to full-length films, to original series, and more, SURFER TV satiates the need for stoke, even when you cant make it to the beach.

At launch, titles will include SURFER original series Quivers, the CJ and Damien Hobgood documentary And Two if By Sea (narrated by comedian Daniel Tosh), the social action adventure doc Isolated (narrated by actor Ryan Phillippe), Fish: the Surfboard Documentary, and the festival favorite Dirty Old Wedge, chronicling the famed shorebreak wave in Southern California, along with hundreds more titles and shows.

Surfing has long been a sport embedded in Australian culture, going back through decades, and churning out some of the best competitors and freesurfers the sport has ever seen. All the while, SURFER Magazine has captured the scene in words, pictures, and video clips, and that robust library of exciting, visually stunning content will serve as the foundation for the new SURFER TV channel.

Now, as SURFER enters its 65-year anniversary of publishing, that Australia and New Zealand surf coverage has evolved and adapted into the streaming era.

I'm happy that surfing fans in Australia and New Zealand will get to watch SURFER, built on the success of the most iconic brand in surfing culture, as a 24/7 streaming channel on Samsung TV Plus in Australia and New Zealand, acTVe CEO Geoff Clark says. This new channel seems like the right way to mark this important anniversary.

Other places to watch SURFER TV:

 Roku

 Plex

 SportsTribal

 LocalNow

 FireTV

Note: Availability on streaming platforms may vary by region. Check your local listings for more information.
The truth as we know it is over. Civil War star on how it really could happen here.

The biggest movie in the country right now is about a civil war  in America.

If you see the film Civil War at a theater in downtown Washington, the scenes of the Lincoln Memorial exploding and the White House being attacked are jarring when you exit into the D.C. air.

The movie is writer and director Alex Garlands very in-your-face attempt to imagine the unimaginable in America  an authoritarian leader in the White House, intractable political differences being resolved through violence and the very specific horrors of modern warfare  urban fighting, refugee camps, mass atrocities, the collapse of the currency  all the things that we associate with stuff that can happen over there happening right here in the United States.

Civil War is also a movie about journalism.

It follows four reporters traveling from New York to Washington, D.C., via a circuitous route through Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

The movie takes on a lot of the weighty issues we talk about on shows like this one: media ethics, political polarization, disinformation polluting our media ecosystem and the potential threat from an autocratic leader.

Wagner Moura plays a hardened war correspondent addicted to the battlefield. He also provides some much needed levity in the movie.

Moura is best-known for his role as Pablo Escobar in Narcos. But hes also a former journalist, a political activist and a writer and director himself. His 2019 movie Marighella about the coup and counter-revolution in Brazil in the 1960s incurred the wrath of then-president Jair Bolsonaro in Mouras home country of Brazil.

Deep Dive host and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talked with Moura on Thursday just as Washingtons annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner festivities were getting under way. Its the time of year when the relationship between journalists, politicians and Hollywood is at its peak in this town.

They had a fascinating conversation about how making a movie about a new civil war changed Mouras own personal thinking about politics, how his experience with Bolsonaro in Brazil is a warning for Americans and the role of art in politics.
Midwestern food is often overlooked or dismissed as bland, but it's really a mix of cultures that's produced some amazing recipes. A blend of German, Russian-German, and other cultures, along with plain old frugality and a desire for filling food, has given the Midwest a wealth of tasty treats at every meal. Never ignore Midwestern food lest you miss out on some of the most delicious dishes in the country.

While you can technically make some of these at home, these are all restaurant staples in the region. In fact, some of these dishes got their start in restaurant kitchens, created specifically for sale, rather than as homemade dishes that worked their way into the commercial food scene. No matter where they were first made, these dishes are classics and really need to be on your list of things to try the next time you're in the Midwest. And if you currently live there, enjoy the variety every time you eat one of these iconic restaurant dishes.

Read more: The Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffets In Every State

Chislic

Chislic and fries - SDPB / YouTube

Chislic is as simple a food as you can get; it's cubed lamb or mutton on a skewer. The meat can be grilled, deep-fried, or even broiled, and when you order it, you get multiple skewers along with a dipping sauce and some soda crackers. There's no real marinade or meat seasoning other than celery salt or garlic salt in the traditional form. Obviously, you can find a lot of variations.

Chislic is likely the most iconic food you'll find in South Dakota. While the state definitely has other foods you could call iconic, chislic is the one that people tend to suggest that visitors try. Chislic was brought to southeastern South Dakota by European immigrants, but the name itself may derive from "shashlik," a dish of skewered meat from the Ottoman Empire. The dish became South Dakota's official state "nosh" in 2018, and there's a yearly Chislic Festival in the town of Freeman.

Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati chili - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

If you get offended by beans in chili or can't stand the idea of chili being served with anything other than a cinnamon roll (and we'll talk about that dish later), you might not want to look at Cincinnati chili. But if you love variety and fusion food with unexpected combinations, you're going to love Ohio's take on this meaty dish. Cincinnati chili contains seasoned ground meat, beans, and onions in a nest of spaghetti, and the whole thing is topped with a pile of shredded cheese. The recipe famously includes spices like cinnamon and cloves, but it does not contain chocolate or cocoa as so many cooks claim it does.

Cincinnati chili can be ordered in different ways. One is just the chili, called "one way"; the chili is more like a Mediterranean meat stew in terms of spices. Two-way is the chili poured over spaghetti, and three-way is when you add that shredded cheddar to the top of the chili.

Cincinnati chili was first made in 1922 and has a variation called Skyline chili. This one came about after an employee of the Empress Chili Parlor, where Cincinnati chili was created, developed his own version and set up a restaurant. You'll now hear the names used interchangeably.

The Slinger

Slinger on plate - Kimchi & Beans / YouTube

The Slinger is one of those dishes where several ingredients are layered on top of each other in a way that brings to mind late nights, cheap diners, and absolute comfort consisting of both breakfast and dinner foods. Picture hash browns, eggs, ground sausage, cheese, onions, and chili all piled up in no particular order (although the chili and cheese tend to be on top) with a side of toast, and you can see why this dish has such a following. It's easy to customize, requires no special treatment, and contains just about every food you'd want in an indulgent but unfancy recipe. This is a dish you eat when you need a lot of food.

The history of the Slinger is hazy. It's definitely a St. Louis creation, and it's spread to other states including Illinois. When you try to find out who invented it, a few restaurants stand out, including the Eat-Rite Diner and O.T. Hodge Chile Parlor. However, no one really knows how this heap of food got its name or even why it was concocted in the first place.

Runza/Bierocks

Bierock cut in half - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Runza sandwiches and bierocks are the same thing; you'll find runzas mainly in Nebraska and bierocks mainly in Kansas. These are dough pockets made in different shapes that contain some version of ground beef, onions, cabbage, and spices; it's also common to find other fillings, but the beef-onion-cabbage mix is the classic version. The shapes can be squares, triangles, and pretty much any other simple geometric shape that you can reproduce with dough. However, commercially-made bierocks tend to be shaped like round buns, and commercially-made runzas tend to be shaped like rectangles.

While runzas and bierocks can easily be made at home, they also make a great on-the-go meal due to their compact shape and neat envelope of dough that keeps the filling from leaking out. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that there's also a fast food chain in the Midwest called Runza. This sells -- you guessed it -- runza sandwiches, and as of early 2024, the chain has restaurants in five states with most locations in Nebraska. It's been around since 1949 and has drive-thrus.

Limburger Sandwich

Limburger sandwich - Turnips 2 Tangerines / YouTube

Think of Limburger cheese as the durian of cheeses; it has a terrible smell but tastes good, or at least that's what fans of this Wisconsin sandwich say. A Limburger sandwich has slices of Limburger cheese, onions, and mustard on rye bread. It's traditionally eaten with a cup of coffee or glass of lager, and the sandwich experienced a decline in demand during Prohibition.

Limburger is from Switzerland and was first made in the U.S. in the 1860s. Its smell changes as the cheese ages, and comparisons have ranged from the smell of feet to sweaty socks or worse. But it pairs well with strong-tasting foods like onions and even strawberry jam. Limburger sandwiches existed at least as early as the 1910s, with one used as a prop in a Charlie Chaplin film in 1916. They were considered a staple food among the working class and are available at bars and taverns even today.

Toasted Ravioli

Toasted ravioli with dipping sauce - johnlck/Shutterstock

Toasted ravioli is a St. Louis invention, and it's generally accepted that they were created in the 1930s or 1940s when a cook accidentally dropped some ravioli in hot oil. Some stories have a drunken cook as the responsible party while others include a kitchen assistant who misinterpreted another chef's order. As many of these "mistake" stories go, the cook realized the mistake tasted great, and the rest is history. The problem is at least two, if not three or more, restaurants claim they were the ones that made the famed mistake.

Mama's on the Hill, Charlie Gitto's, and Lombardo's have all claimed that "t-ravs," as toasted ravioli are called, first appeared on their menus. However, given how long ago the dish was created, the truth of who first dropped ravioli into oil may be lost to time. Investigations into who may have actually created the dish turn up gap after gap in both time and information, enough to allow details to be embellished or forgotten.

Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey butter cake - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

So many Midwestern dishes seem to center on meat, but the region also has some fantastic desserts. One of these is gooey butter cake from Missouri, which has a bottom layer of cake topped with a gooey filling (or with a center filled with something gooey). One gooey butter cake isn't necessarily going to look like another; you may see cakes that look more like pies filled with thick custard or cakes with sunken tops over gooey centers. Some restaurants serve multiple versions.

More than one person lays claim to inventing the cake. The story is that a baker made a mistake when trying to make a cake and ended up adding ingredients in the wrong proportions. According to messages sent to the cooking website What's Cooking America -- and according to comments following the messages supporting one of the stories -- the baker in question may have been a man named Johnny Hoffman, who made the mistake, realized it produced something that actually tasted good, and called another baker to help him perfect the recipe.

Detroit-Style And Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza

Detroit pizza - Lauripatterson/Getty Images

While you can find Detroit-style and Chicago deep-dish pizza outside the Midwest, they're two of the most well-loved restaurant dishes in the region. Detroit-style pizza uses rectangular pans that are modeled on spare pans used in car plants. The story goes that the inventor of the pizza, Gus Guerra, used his mother-in-law's Sicilian pizza dough recipe with tomato sauce and cheese for a new recipe for his restaurant in 1946, and then he baked the pizzas in pans he got from a friend. The pans make the crust bake up nice and crunchy on the outside while keeping it light on the inside.

Chicago deep-dish pizza isn't much older -- it was invented in 1943 at Pizzeria Uno -- but it's certainly one of the more controversial pizzas around. Instead of having a flat crust covered in sauce, cheese, and toppings in that order, Chicago deep-dish pizza has a crust that's got high sides, like a deep pie. It's filled with cheese, toppings, and then sauce, and some accuse it of not actually being pizza, but rather a casserole or another type of recipe. That's probably not how you want to approach ordering it in Chicago; just treat it as a form of pizza.

Knoephla Soup

Knoephla soup - Michael's Home Cooking / YouTube

A lot of the food in the Midwest is from a group of people known as "Germans from Russia." This is exactly what it sounds like; it means someone descended from ethnic Germans born in Russia, rather than in Germany (you may hear them called Russian-German or Volga Germans, too). One of the foods that Germans from Russia brought over is called knoephla soup, which is a potato-and-chicken broth with cream and flour that holds chopped vegetables and small dumplings made from flour and egg. There's typically no meat, although families here and there add some if they prefer it.

The soup is commonly made at home, but it's also a fixture of the Kroll's Diner chain of restaurants in North Dakota. This is comfort food at its best, made as quickly and inexpensively as you like. It cooks up easily in bulk quantities and reheats well, too, making it an economical dish for large families or restaurants serving several cold and hungry customers.

Chicago Hot Dog

Chicago-style hot dog - Scott Olson/Getty Images

The hot dog may be a nationally loved food, but in Chicago, there's only one variation that will do. The Chicago hot dog is all beef (usually from Vienna Beef) on a poppyseed bun with sport peppers, a special relish (almost always described as neon green), tomatoes, onions, pickles (spear form only), mustard, and celery salt. There's absolutely no ketchup  it changes the taste of the whole concoction and makes it too sweet. And, all the ingredients have to be in certain proportions. In other words, it isn't a real Chicago dog if you leave out some ingredients and increase the amounts of the others.

The Chicago hot dog uses an all-beef dog thanks to the image people had of kosher meat. The Chicago meat-packing industry didn't have a good reputation for food safety back in the early 1900s, and kosher beef was considered a better choice due to stricter standards. When the Great Depression was in full swing, hot dogs proved to be a filling yet economical choice for a meal. As the price of the meat increased, vendors decided to add more and more vegetables to compensate, so customers could get something satisfying to eat. Eventually, the combination of the hot dog beef, the bun, and the seven toppings emerged as the best-loved combination in the city.

Kuchen

Apple kuchen - Millermountainman/Getty Images

Want dessert but aren't sure if you want cake or fruit pie? Try kuchen, the official state dessert of South Dakota and a popular treat throughout the Midwest. "Kuchen" is German for cake, although this is more of a cake base layer with fruit and fruit custard on top. In fact, kuchen in the Midwest can take a few different forms, so it's best to ask what form a particular restaurant serves instead of assuming anything. The Midwest has a lot of German heritage, so it's not that surprising that kuchen would be among its representative dishes.

In South Dakota, kuchen tends to be a layer of cake-like pie crust with a filling of either custard or a fruit-filled, thick syrupy version akin to apple pie filling. It can also be savory, with fillings like cottage cheese. You might also find nut rolls, coffee cakes, and cheesecake-like pastries that are also called kuchen.

Maid-Rite (Loose-Meat) Sandwich

Maid-Rite sandwich and onion rings - Paul Orr/Shutterstock

Next on the list is an Iowa institution: the Maid-Rite sandwich. This is a loose-meat sandwich, meaning the ground meat isn't formed into a solid patty. Instead, it's piled onto the bun in a heap, similar to a Sloppy Joe but without all that sauce. (You can get ketchup or mustard, but they're not mixed into the meat.) Loose-meat sandwiches may have started out as "steamed hamburgers" in 1920 in Montana. However, another name for this is the tavern sandwich, so-called because an Iowa restaurant called Ye Olde Tavern came up with its own version in 1924.

The Maid-Rite version was born in 1926 when that restaurant's owner decided to work on creating a loose-meat sandwich, and that's the one that really took off, at least regionally. Loose-meat sandwiches are so iconic in the Midwest that they were even the subject of a long-term storyline in the sitcom "Roseanne" in 1992. And by the way, before you brush these off as slightly different Sloppy Joe sandwiches, it's true that the Sloppy Joe is a loose-meat sandwich, but the meat is specifically cooked in tomato sauce and spices. Never call a Maid-Rite a Sloppy Joe.

Chili And Cinnamon Rolls

Chili with cinnamon roll - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Another chili dish that makes its home in the Midwest is a school staple that also may have started in Iowa and then spread to other states. This is the combo of chili and cinnamon rolls, with the chili being any type you choose that contains beans. The pairing has been around since the 1960s, and legend has it that a thrifty cook, who was trying to get more kids to eat chili for lunch to use up all the beans that the USDA had started sending to schools, included a cinnamon roll along with each bowl of chili. There are hints that the dish may have been around earlier than that in logging camps (and Washington state is one of the few places outside the Midwest that knows of this pairing), but using this combination in school lunches is the better-documented origin.

Go outside the Midwest, Washington, and a few other places, and you'll find the combination is either unknown or greeted with disgust and bafflement. That's not so surprising given that chili and cinnamon rolls are not natural partners on a lunch tray. But if you ask people who grew up in the Midwest about it, they'll tell you those lunches were terrific. Some people actually dip the cinnamon rolls in the chili, but many keep the two separate and simply alternate taking bites of each.

Whirl-a-Whip

Whirl-a-Whip machine in action - Steve Fork Mining / YouTube

If you like ice cream with customized blended toppings but don't necessarily want the usual Dairy Queen or McDonald's concoctions, the Whirl-a-Whip is for you. This isn't a food so much as it's a machine, and one that's only available at Dakota Drug in Stanley, North Dakota, or at the Whirl-a-Whip restaurant in Girard, Illinois. The machine produces a soft-serve ice cream with toppings blended in, but what makes the machine so unique -- aside from the option of having just about anything as a potential topping choice -- is the fact that the soft serve starts out as regular ice cream.

The Whirl-a-Whip was invented in the 1930s but never really gained the visibility and popularity that later ice cream blending machines had. Fixing the machines now, given how few of them exist, requires custom-made parts. Devoted fans still travel to the Midwest to try out mixtures that range from basic ice cream and cookies or nut butter to savory blends with bacon or pickle relish. One thing to note is that you may see the name "Whirla Whip" in some sources; this appears to be another company that's only 30 years old.

Read the original article on Mashed
This red-eyed tree frog in Costa Rica is just one of the many different animals you can find in rainforests around the world. Dan Mihai / Getty Images

A rainforest is simply a forest that receives a lot of rain. But when you think "rainforest," the image that comes to mind is probably a tropical rainforest: one located near the equator, between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer.

The combination of year-round sunlight, warmth and rainfall is what creates the biodiversity of amazing rainforest animals found in the tropical rainforests of Africa, Asia and Central and South America. From the forest floor to the canopy layer, these regions are full of colorful and curious creatures.

6 Famous Rainforest Species in Central and South America

Central and South America are home to the most tropical rainforests of any region. The Amazon rainforest alone is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, covering about 40 percent of Brazil and stretching into parts of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Here are some of the region's best-known residents.

6. Red-eyed Tree Frog

Red-eyed tree frog. Michael J. Cohen, Photographer / Getty Images

With its bright green body and red eyes and feet, the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) might be what comes to mind when you think "frog." Frogs use their big eyes to spot their prey from all angles.

Red-eyed tree frogs live primarily in Central America.

5. Poison Dart Frog

Poison dart frog. Lillian King / Getty Images

Poison dart frogs (about 180 species in the Dendrobatidae family) get their name from the fact that their poisonous skin secretions were traditionally used to coat the tips of arrows and darts. (They're also known simply as poison frogs.)

Interestingly, all frog species are technically poisonous to the touch, but members of the Dendrobatidae family are the only ones whose secretions are powerful enough for a human to notice. Poison dart frogs can be found in both Central and South America.

4. Blue Morpho Butterfly

Blue morpho butterfly. Mark Newman / Getty Images

With their brightly colored iridescent wings, blue morpho butterflies (Morpho peleides and related species) are some of the most popular insects in butterfly houses at museums and zoos around the world.

But if you want to see morphos in their natural habitat, you'll have to visit the rainforests of Central and South America.

3. Emerald Tree Boa

Emerald tree boa.  Justin Lo / Getty Images

Emerald tree boas (Corallus caninus) are red-orange at birth; it takes at least six months for these magnificent snakes to mature and turn that bright green hue that gives them their common name.

The scientific name "caninus" apparently comes from the fact that they look like dogs in profile. Whoever came up with that one must have known some pretty unique-looking dogs.

The emerald tree boa is arboreal, meaning it spends almost its entire life in trees. It lives in the Amazon rainforest.

2. Scarlet Macaw

Scarlet macaw. all images copyright of Jamie La / Getty Images

Unlike most of the animals on this list, "macaws can make wonderful pets in the right household," according to Gregory Rich, D.V.M., an avian and exotic pet veterinarian. "Macaws are playful and seem to enjoy being trained to perform tricks like waving hello or using a skateboard," Dr. Rich told HowStuffWorks.

While riding a skateboard wouldn't be particularly useful in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, macaws' other skills  like their ability to make and imitate a variety of sounds  are crucial for life in the canopy layer.

Scarlet macaws (Ara macao), with their red bodies and rainbow plumage, are perhaps the best-known species of macaw (there are 17 in total).

1. Capybara

Capybaras. Joe McDonald / Getty Images

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the world's largest rodent. But don't let the word "rodent" scare you away  capybaras are famously cute (they look somewhat like hairy pigs).

An adult capybara is about the size of a large dog, and they're found throughout Central and South America.

4 Iconic Rainforest Animals in Asia

In Asia, tropical rainforests are located primarily in South and Southeast Asia, with Indonesia accounting for most of the region's tropical rainforests.

4. Bengal Tiger

Bengal tiger. Jose Renteria Cobos photograph / Getty Images

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the world's second-largest tiger, after the Siberian tiger. When you think "tiger," the Bengal is probably what comes to mind. This tiger subspecies has a distinctive orange coat with black stripes and white accents.

Bengal tigers occupy wetlands and rainforests of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

3. Asian Elephant

Asian elephants. wootthisak nirongboot / Getty Images

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is found throughout South and Southeast Asia. This large land mammal  the continent's biggest  has adapted to live in a variety of environments, from grasslands to rainforest.

2. Red Panda

Red panda. Marianne Purdie / Getty Images

"People think [the] red panda is [a] lesser form of giant panda because of its name," Saroj Shrestha, program coordinator for the Red Panda Network in Nepal told HowStuffWorks. In fact, red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) aren't closely related to giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

While the giant panda is endemic to China's lowland forests, the smaller red panda inhabits rainforests in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

1. Flying Lizard

Flying lizard. Rizky Putra Ramadhan / Shutterstock

What would make a lizard grow wings and fly? For flying lizards (any of about 40 species in the genus Draco), the ability to glide between tree tops (they don't technically "fly") provided an evolutionary advantage for life in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Their "wings" are actually scaly membranes located between their front and back legs. Like a butterfly, a flying lizard's wings are often much more colorful than its body.

5 Incredible African Rainforest Animals

Africa is more than just the Sahara Desert. The Congo Basin in East-Central Africa is home to most of the continent's tropical forests and some of its most famous animal species.

5. Gorilla

Gorillas. Paul Souders / Getty Images

There are two gorilla species: the Eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and the Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), both of which live in African rainforests. These endangered primates are some of our closest living relatives (after chimpanzees and bonobos).

4. African Leopard

African leopard. Joe McDonald / Getty Images

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the most numerous leopard subspecies, with around 700,000 individuals occupying Sub-Saharan Africa. The African leopard is suited to a wide range of habitats, including tropical rainforests.

3. Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee baby. Manoj Shah / Getty Images

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is tied with the bonobo (Pan paniscus) as the primate most closely related to humans. (We share 98.7 percent of our DNA with this member of the great ape family.)

Chimpanzees are found throughout Central and West Africa and are adapted to many climates, but many groups are found in tropical rainforests.

2. Green Mamba

Green mamba. John Conrad / Getty Images

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), one of the world's deadliest snakes, gives other mambas a bad rap. But the tree-dwelling green mambas (three species of Dendroaspis) have not been known to attack humans. (They are venomous, though, so don't mess around with a green mamba, either.)

Both black and green mambas are native to Africa, but black mambas live in rocky Savannah environments while green mambas prefer rainforest habitats.

1. Okapi

Okapi. Mark Newman / Getty Images

"The okapi was once referred to as being as 'mythical as a unicorn,' a striped, donkey-like beast of the rainforest," Rick Schwartz, a global ambassador for California's San Diego Zoo, told HowStuffWorks. But the okapi isn't legendary, it's just good at hiding.

Although it looks more like a zebra, the okapi's closest relative is actually the giraffe.

3 Most Endangered Rainforest Animals in the World

It's hard to say which rainforest animals are the "most" endangered species. But these three critically endangered species just might be some of the rarest and most vulnerable animals on Earth.

3. Sumatran Orangutan

Sumatran orangutan. Anup Shah / Getty Images

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) lives in the rainforests of Sumatra, where it has developed long arms ideal for swinging between trees in the rainforest canopy. Sadly, these special apes are critically endangered due to the conversion of their habitat into palm oil plantations.

2. African Forest Elephant

African forest elephant. Robert Muckley / Getty Images

In the early 21st century, researchers discovered that the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) was genetically distinct from the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana). These famously elusive elephants can be found in tropical rainforests from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

1. Spider Monkey

Spider monkey. Juan Carlos Vindas / Getty Images

Spider monkeys (genus Ateles) are nimble primates who spend the majority of their lives in the rainforest canopy. Found in both Central and South America, spider monkeys are some of the world's most endangered primates.

"The main threat is habitat destruction," Filippo Aureli, research professor at Universidad Veracruzana, told HowStuffWorks. "In some areas, they are also threatened by the illegal pet trade." (Here's why monkeys should never be pets.)

Original article: 18 Tropical Rainforest Animals You Should Know

Copyright  2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company
Get the dirt and shovels ready, it's Arbor Day and it's time to celebrate by planting a tree.

Arbor Day started back in 1872 in Nebraska City, when a journalist proposed a day to inspire Nebraskans to plant trees in their community, states the History Channel.

Today, the holiday is recognized nation wide. According to GovInfo, President Richard Nixon designated the last Friday of April as National Arbor Day in 1970.

"At a time when we as a people are becoming more concerned with the quality of our environment, it is fitting that we give more attention to the planting of trees in rural and urban communities," said Nixon.

Trees tower over a hiking trail in the Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon.

More ways to celebrate the Earth: When is Earth Day 2024? How the day raises awareness about climate change, our environment

How did it get started?

This is the story of how the holiday got it's start, according to the History Channel.

The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 after Julius Sterling Morton, a journalist who soon became editor of Nebraska City News, the states first newspaper, proposed the idea.

He used his platform at the paper to educate people on the importance of trees, then proposed the idea for the day on January 7, 1872. It was a total success.

Fast forward to over a century later and his holiday is still being celebrated.

Trees surround a hiking trail in the Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon.

How do you celebrate Arbor Day?

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, there are several different ways folks can celebrate the holiday.

First, folks can always celebrate by planting a tree or volunteering for an organization to plant trees locally. The organization states people can also volunteer to clean up a park.

There are also simpler options, like reading books or even writing about trees.

Folks with extra cash can also choose to donate to organizations, like the National Forest Foundation, that are working to reforest national forests.

Why are trees important?

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, climate change is the biggest challenge that faces the planet, but more trees can pull greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, out of the atmosphere.

"Every tree planted is a step in the right direction," states the foundation's website.

According to the EPA, planting trees and vegetation can cool areas.

A protected stand of long leaf pines in Georgia is an example of the kind of forest preservation that experts say will help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help get the world closer to limiting the rise in temperatures.

"Research shows that urban forests have temperatures that are on average 2.9 degrees lower than unforested urban areas," it states.

Not only does planting trees in urban areas reduce the temperature, it also reduces energy use, improves air quality, and improves quality of life.

Trees prevent heat islands, too. These "islands" are urbanized areas that see higher temperatures of one to seven degrees higher than surrounding areas states the EPA.

According to Scientific American, they happen when an area lacks trees so heat gets absorbed by buildings, streets and parking lots.

According to the EPA, this phenomenon often affects people of color and folks who live in low-income communities and historically redlined neighborhoods.

"Planting trees in underserved neighborhoods addresses basic human rights to health, safety and welfare," states the Tree Equity Score's website, a tool that"highlights inequitable access to trees," which was developed by American Forests.

According to the Tree Equity Score, to reach "tree equity" around half a billion trees need to be planted in the United States, which would provide $3 billion in benefits every year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Arbor Day? Raise awareness about trees and climate change
Parents often feel isolated, even when they're not really alone. Yasser Chalid via Getty Images

Like most parents of young children, Anne Helms juggles a lot of responsibilities throughout the day. She works full time in human resources for Ohio State University and cares for her 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

Were in the throes of it, thats for sure, Helms told HuffPost.

Yet, in spite of spending every hour of the day with her children, husband, co-workers, sisters or friends, Helms realized that she was experiencing a parent-specific variety of loneliness.

I have all these people around me, she explained. I wasnt lonely in the traditional definition.

But when it came to parenting struggles, such as her sons resistance to riding the school bus to kindergarten, Helms felt like I was the only one thinking so deeply into certain aspects of parenting. Her husband was confident that their son would figure out his fear of riding the bus, but instead of feeling reassured by this, Helms felt alone in her anxiety.

It turns out that a majority of parents have experienced this sense of isolation. In a recent poll conducted by Ohio State University, 66% of parents reported that they sometimes or frequently feel isolated or lonely when facing the demands of parenthood. In addition, 62% said they felt burned out, and 38% felt that they didnt have anyone to support them in their parenting role.

It isnt necessarily the lack of interactions in parents lives that causes the feeling of isolation  although it can indeed be isolating when your only conversation partner for the day is a toddler  but rather the types of interactions that parents are having.

We have all been in a situation where we have been in a room full of people and still felt lonely, Kate Gawlik, a professor at the Ohio State College of Nursing, told HuffPost. Conversations with our children are very different from our conversations with other adults, and as parents, we need both.

Interactions at work dont always fit the bill, either. Helms, like many workers these days, frequently works from home. She says that conversations tend to be task-focused, with small talk remaining rote.

Another thing that Im conditioned to do is have a generic response. So if someone asks me, Hi, how are you? Im always saying, Im great. How are you? she said.

Helms found an opportunity to get away from this automatic type of response in a positive parenting group facilitated by Gawlik at Ohio State. The group met for six weeks. Each session had its own topic but also included time for participants to speak about their current parenting challenges. Helms said that with Gawliks lead, she felt like she had access to a parenting expert, although the way the group worked involved tapping into the expertise of each parent participant.

When Helms opened up about her sons difficulties boarding the school bus, for example, other members in the group shared similar experiences and offered tips about what had worked for them.

I felt validated. I felt like I wasnt alone in that moment, Helms said.

The Epidemic Of Loneliness

Parents arent the only ones experiencing loneliness at an alarming rate. In 2023, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory report outlining the prevalence and dangers of our nations epidemic of loneliness, as well as potential solutions.

About half of U.S. adults said they experience loneliness, the report on the Ohio State poll explained, and this number was even higher among young adults. In comparison, as the report mentions, this rate is higher than for other health risks, such as smoking (12.5%) and diabetes (14.7%).

This means the 66% of parents who reported loneliness in the survey is significantly higher than for adults in the same age brackets who are not parents. Whats striking about this is that most parents are never alone. Even in the middle of the night, theyre just one bad dream away from being called to duty.

The number also speaks to how much pressure parents feel not to crack or admit to how much they are struggling.

Theres a lot of times where I think parents sometimes want help but dont want to be put on display or dont want to be shamed or made to feel like theyre doing it wrong, and so that might even compound isolation, Mercedes Samudio, a licensed social worker and author of Shameproof Parenting, told HuffPost.

The times were living in are also playing their part. Technology and the pandemic have had a lasting impact on the ways we live and work, Gawlik said.

We got really isolated during the pandemic, so that meant that a lot of peoples support systems kind of fell away, Samudio said. Many workers still work remotely since COVID lockdowns began, and while this can help parents meet child care obligations, it can reduce opportunities to connect with co-workers as well.

Connecting outside of work isnt always easy. We have less extended family support as we live in a society where many of us live far from relatives, Gawlik said. Many communities have experienced a breakdown in traditional social networks. Factors like increased mobility, longer work hours and suburbanization have weakened the sense of community in some areas.

Although were all virtually connected to others day in and day out via our smartphones, this type of connection can lack the depth and honesty needed to combat feelings of isolation.

As much as I am a proponent of using technology to connect, I think technology also is a way to disconnect, because you can reach out to people without really reaching out, Samudio said. We might see someones posts on social media, for example, and assume that they are doing well  not knowing that this public face doesnt reflect whats actually going on in their lives.

Our basic human need for emotional intimacy cannot be met this way, Gawlik said of the reliance on smartphones and social media.

Its not hard to imagine a parent slipping out of their childs bedroom at night after finally getting them to sleep. Exhausted, craving a break, they pick up their phone to check for messages, only to slide into a long scroll on social media, where curated photographs of other peoples virtuous and cooperative children leave them feeling as if, clearly, they are doing this whole parenting thing wrong  and become more alone than ever.

Parenting groups or connecting with friends can help parents feel less isolated. SolStock via Getty Images

The Health Risks Of Loneliness, And How Parents Can Combat Isolation

The repercussions of loneliness extend beyond the emotional, affecting physical health as well.

Murthys 2023 report mentions that loneliness correlates with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death. One study even found that prolonged periods of loneliness increased premature mortality risk as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day. It hastens death even more than physical inactivity.

Though her husband, sisters and friends are all supportive, Helms said, the structured nature of the parenting group provided her with something she had been missing: a regular opportunity to articulate and troubleshoot her parenting challenges.

To a parent who is struggling with loneliness, isolation or burnout, Helms said she would advise looking in the community for opportunities to connect with other parents. She encourages people to be brave and be authentic and share how youre truly feeling.

It takes courage to admit that youre struggling with something, particularly when social media posts make it look like everyone else has it all figured out.

I think parents sometimes want help but dont want to be put on display or dont want to be shamed or made to feel like theyre doing it wrong, Samudio said.

She recommended that parents first show themselves some empathy. Parenting is hard. Helms also recalled that in the parenting group, Gawlik at one point said something along the lines of, It would be expected that someone would be burned out as a parent, if you are working full time and youre a conscientious parent. ... How could you not feel burned out at some moment?

Hearing this, I felt a weight lifted off of me, Helms said.

From this place of empathy, Samudio recommends thinking carefully about your needs.

Its really good for parents to slow down to say, What do I really need? Is it parenting help, or is it companionship or is it feeling back to my old self? The answer might be a parenting group, reconnecting with old friends or finding time to devote to an activity that brings you joy.

Helms said that some of the things she does for self-care include working out and engaging in arts and crafts, with her kids or on her own.

You cant pour from an empty cup, she said.

Though some loneliness is to be expected if youre a parent, Gawlik emphasized that if the loneliness is chronic, severe or interfering with the ability to function or parent, it is time to take action.

She suggested reaching out to a family member, friend or other support person.

If you feel that you dont have a good support person or network, it is never too late to find one, Gawlik said. Parenting groups are one option, as are other parent-child classes or activities, such as library story time.

As with any other health intervention, you may have to wait a bit before you notice results.

Anything new can be difficult and intimidating at first, so dont be surprised if you feel nervous the first couple of times you attend, Gawlik said. Remember that relationships are built on seeing the same people multiple times.

Related...
Hairbreak Hotel, 2614 130th St., Unit 3., will be offer hair services for men and boys.

The newest hair salon and future cigar lounge plans to get the Lubbock salon scene "All Shook Up" by taking inspiration from the King of Rock and Roll.

Tristan Chancey, owner of the upcoming Hairbreak Hotel, 2614 130th St., Unit 3, plans to open her unique men's hair salon on Wednesday, May 1. Chancey named the business in honor of her grandmother, who loved Elvis Presley.

Hairbreak Hotel, 2614 130th St., Unit 3., will be offer hair services for men and boys.

"I was raised with my grandmother in the house, and she had an enormous love for Elvis Presley," Chancey said. "It was something for me to keep her present in my life, so we came up with Heartbreak Hotel, just like the double platinum Heartbreak Hotel."

The salon will offer a variety of hair cuts, stylings, waxing and its own line of beard oil.

Opening day will come with free champagne and sparkling grape juice, treats and a special for $20 haircuts between May 1-15. Walk-ins and appointments are welcome.

Hairbreak Hotel, 2614 130th St., Unit 3, will open on May 1, 2024.

"We are more than just your in-and-out kind of salon," Chancey said. "It's going to be a fun, upbeat environment with its rock 'n' roll theme."

Customers can enjoy free coffee and beer during their services.

Hairbreak Hotel, 2614 130th St., Unit 3., will sell its own line of beard oil, with names inspired by Elvis Presley.

Another product customers can purchase exclusively through Hairbreak Hotel is the salon's line of beard oil, which Chancey personally makes. It is starting out with four oils, each named after popular Elvis songs:

Blue Suede Shoes.

Burning Love.

Hound Dog.

All Shook Up.

"Each stylist will have it on their station and (customers) can try it and purchase it," Chancey said.

The cigar sales and lounge part of the business is in the works.

People can keep up with the business on Facebook and Instagram. Potential customers can also book services at hairbreak-hotel.square.site/.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Elvis-themed Lubbock men's salon to offer beard products, cigar lounge
Doomed from the start

Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo

Dreamt up in the 1980s as a show of North Korea's Cold War might, the Ryugyong Hotel has never, even briefly, opened its doors. Instead, it's been towering above North Korean capital Pyongyang for almost 40 years  unfinished, semi-abandoned and shrouded in mystery, but not forgotten.

We uncover its chequered past and curious secrets.

A troubled past

colaimages/Alamy Stock Photo

A single nation before it was annexed by Japan in 1910, the Korean peninsula's last century or so has been extremely turbulent. At the end of the Second World War, Korea  which was formerly occupied by the Japanese  was divided into two parts: South Korea and North Korea.

The former is a capitalist country with US support, which became a democracy in 1987 and is now a tech hub and one of the world's foremost economies. Meanwhile, North Korea is a totalitarian communist state run by the Kim dynasty. It was supported by the Soviet Union until its demise in 1991.

The Cold War rivalry between the two countries and their different systems was a big part of the motivation behind the Ryugyong Hotel project.

The story begins

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

The hotel's story began in 1986, when the Westin Stamford Hotel opened in Singapore and became the tallest hotel in the world. It was built by a South Korean company, and the Ryugyong Hotel was partly conceived to steal away the Westin Stamford's record, as well as to open up a channel for Western investment in North Korea.

It's thought that the North Korean government hoped to attract 186 million ($230m) of foreign investment when the project broke ground in 1987. The building site is pictured here in 1990.

A practical design

robertharding/Alamy Stock Photo

The imposing structure consists of three wings, each of which climb up to the 1,080-foot-high (330m) tip and slope at a 75-degree angle. However, its unusual shape is not a thought-through design feature; the North Koreans didn't have the advanced construction materials used in most modern skyscrapers and instead relied on reinforced concrete, so physics partially dictated the building's form.

To achieve the intended height, there had to be a large base and a tapered top to support the enormous weight of the building.

The tallest pyramid in the world

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

It's hard to put the hotel's massive size into context when it's the only skyscraper piercing the Pyongyang sky, but it's the tallest pyramid-shaped building in the world, surpassing even the Shard in London and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. The total floor area is just under four million square feet (360,000sqm)  on the low side for a tower of such height and stature.

A symbol of the capital

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

The skyscraper is so much taller than the rest of Pyongyang that it can be seen for miles outside it  here it is pictured in 2011 on a road leading into the city. The hotel was named after a historic nickname for Pyongyang, meaning 'capital of willows'.

It was apparently intended to resemble the shape of a willow too, but the retro Soviet design made it look more like a rocket or a missile, leading local guides to sometimes humorously refer to it as 'the missile launch pad'.

Ambitious amenities

Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis via Getty Images

The body of the hotel was designed to contain at least 3,000 rooms, while the cone at the top was supposed to house eight rotating floors and a further six static floors, as well as a viewing platform. The rotating floors were intended to host five revolving restaurants offering high-end dining and panoramic 360-degree views out over the city, in addition to the hotel's most exclusive guest rooms.

Political tug of war

Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

South Korea was booming in the late 1980s  Seoul was gearing up to host the 1988 Olympics (pictured) and the country was part-way through transitioning into a capitalist democracy. The North naturally boycotted the Olympics and, as a response, organised the World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang in 1989.

The Ryugyong Hotel was supposed to be ready for the event  to debut on the world stage as a symbol of North Korean greatness. But thanks to a series of engineering problems, it was unfinished when the festival began.

A failed project

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

The government had already poured billions into expanding Pyongyang's airport, paving new roads and building a stadium for the festival, and the start of the collapse of the Soviet Union later in 1989 was a disaster for North Korea. Deprived of vital aid and investment and with nowhere else to turn, the secretive state entered full-scale economic crisis.

The grand opening of the hotel was replanned to coincide with the 80th birthday celebrations of then-President Kim Il Sung in 1992, but this too never occurred.

Constructions ends

Mark Scott Johnson/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0

The skyscraper's concrete exterior was finished by 1992, but construction then ground to a halt so rapidly that a crane was left abandoned at the building's top. Japanese newspapers estimated that the construction had so far cost the North Korean government around 605 million ($750m), or 2% of North Korea's GDP at the time.

The building's menacing shadow stood over the capital for another 16 years before any work resumed.

Hotel of Doom

Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

For years, the building's hollow shell lay abandoned  a hundred or so seemingly empty floors gathering dust and dirt  resembling something out of a dystopian, apocalyptic movie. It was during this time that the monstrous structure, towering over the rest of Pyongyang's buildings, earned the moniker 'Hotel of Doom'.

The Egyptians come to the rescue

ERIC LAFFORGUE/Alamy Stock Photo

After the 16-year hiatus, construction restarted in 2008, when an Egyptian conglomerate contracted to install North Korea's 3G network also resumed work on the hotel. The by-then rusty crane was finally removed from the tower's top and workers clad the building in the sparkling glass and metal panels that adorn it today.

The project was completed in 2011 and it was announced that the hotel would be finished by the 100th birthday celebrations of the late president Kim II Sung a year later.

A helping hand...

ERIC LAFFORGUE/Alamy Stock Photo

A year after the exterior of the hotel was finally finished, luxury hotel group Kempinski announced they would assist in its management and promised a partial opening by the middle of 2013. The deal promised 150 hotel rooms, shops, office spaces, restaurants, ballrooms and a cinema on the lower floors.

The announcement was met with surprise  particularly in South Korea.

...but it's then retracted

ERIC LAFFORGUE/Alamy Stock Photo

Kempinski pulled out of the deal just a few months later, saying that "market entry is not currently possible". Some pointed to tensions surrounding the 2013 North Korean nuclear test, and the statement also reignited rumours that the building was structurally unsound  rumours fuelled by a 23-storey apartment block collapsing in Pyongyang a year later due to shoddy construction practices.

Further whispers alleged that the lift shafts were not correctly aligned, but these suggestions have never been proven.

A new purpose

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

In 2018 the building was brought back to life once again, as a wall of LED lights was added to an entire side of the hotel. These lights have played a role in government propaganda efforts, projecting clips of North Korean history and sprawling political slogans across the hotel's vast, glassy surface, with a huge North Korean flag splashed across the hotel's top.

A political staging area

ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

Even when the lights are switched off, the hotel serves as a dramatic backdrop to political propaganda performances. For example, an arts troupe that North Korea sent to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea did a widely-publicised performance in front of the building before they left for South Korea; while in 2009, May Day (also known as International Workers Day) was celebrated with fireworks launched from the sides of the skyscraper.

Is there a need for a new hotel?

ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

Despite North Korea's aversion to foreigners, the hermit state has hosted a steady trickle of organised tours over the years, so there are already several functional hotels in the capital. The Yanggakdo International Hotel (pictured) is the largest, set on an island in the Taedong River, while the Ryanggang Hotel is generally considered the fanciest  that is until the Ryugyong finally opens.

A rare look inside

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

North Korea is extremely secretive about the hotel, so Simon Cockerell (pictured), a tour guide and leading North Korea tourism specialist, couldn't believe his luck when he and his colleague Hannah were finally allowed a sneak peek back in 2012. They're the only two confirmed Westerners to have been allowed inside the building.

While leading tours with Koryo Group, Simon has visited North Korea a whopping 182 times, starting in 2002 and finishing in 2019, when North Korea closed its borders.

Glass and metal

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

Simon's visit came shortly after the process of cladding the building with glass was completed, offering unique glimpses of the unfinished interior and rare close-ups of the structure's shiny new panelling.

Cement and concrete

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

Simon describes the interior as "very much a work in progress". "It was all cement and concrete," he says, and the inside was extremely sparse and bare.

"Since then a lot of work has been done on the lower floors at least," he adds, "but how much nearer to any form of completion it is impossible to say."

Modern spaces

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

Some parts of the building, like this interior cityscape view through floor-to-ceiling windows, wouldn't be out of place in any office block or undeveloped apartment block in any of the world's major cities.

Welcome to the lobby

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

Simon managed to see a remarkable cross-section of the building. His tour started on the ground floor and the mezzanine areas before ascending to the 99th floor  the location of the viewing platform.

He says that it's a common misconception that the building has 105 floors; the construction elevator topped out at 99 and didn't have any other floor buttons.

The view from the top

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

There's another viewing platform in Pyongyang atop the 560-foot (170m) Juche Tower, but the Ryugyong platform is nearly twice as high. "You could see the entire city and the sensitive government area nearby too," says Simon.

"I did ask when it opens if there would be limits on how people could take photos up there and was told that this would be decided in the future."

Piercing the city skyline

Benoit Cappronnier/Alamy Stock Photo

Here, the skyscraper can be seen from the viewing platform at Juche Tower, the second tallest monumental column in the world after the San Jacinto Monument in Texas in the United States. The San Jacinto Monument is 567 feet (172m) tall, edging Juche Tower into second place by roughly the height of an average refrigerator.

Pyongyang in miniature

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

From the Ryugyong viewing platform most of Pyongyang is so far below you that it looks like it's made from Lego, but you can also spot other important North Korean building projects. One side yields views of the so-called Arch of Triumph and the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, also known as the May Day Stadium, which claims to be the world's largest with a capacity of 150,000.

The myth of failure

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

Some reports say the government is trying to pretend the building isn't there and is airbrushing it out of official images until it's open. Simon says that's not true: "It appears on books, is always mentioned with pride and is no secret."

He also says locals don't mind the time it's taking to finish it: "The timescale is long, but Pyongyang is not Dubai or Shanghai, so I dont think people are really that bothered. Also they've built all kinds of prestige areas in the capital that look very impressive since then, so there's much for people to be proud of in terms of construction in the capital. It isnt the weird white elephant that is often assumed."

National pride

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

Simon predicts that the hotel could successfully be used as a propaganda tool in the future. "I know many people imagine it is some symbol of shame, but I think locals see it differently," he says.

"They see it as a long-term project, and also see the delays in completion as being the fault of the outside world (basically the US), which is blamed for everything in North Korea. No doubt if it finally opens, it will be much publicised there as some kind of massive victory over enemy forces."

What's next?

Alek Sigley/X

In June 2019, new signage appeared above the hotel's entrance bearing the hotel's name in both Korean and English and its logo, but it remains impossible to tell whether it's any closer to completion. It was shared on social media platform X (then Twitter) by Alek Sigley, an Australian tour guide and blogger who was later detained and expelled from North Korea on espionage charges.

Light shows for now

Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo

For now, light shows of still and moving images appear every evening between 7-10pm and have become part of daily life for Pyongyang locals. But there's currently no sign of any building works happening, nor any further information on when the hotel might finally open.

We might have to wait a little while yet to see if the Hotel of Doom can shed its nickname and finally fulfil its purpose...

Read on for more tourist attractions that failed to live up to the hype
From left; Nadine James (Unique Cafe), Jess Hamilton (Fund Development Specialist, Theresa Lynn (CEO, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts) and Kevin Comellas (Little Havana) are among the chefs and organizers involved with this year's signature Girl Scout cookie-inspired challenge at the Fork It Over fundraiser.

Talented chefs will showcase signature Girl Scout cookie-inspired sweet and savory dishes at the Fork It Over fundraiser scheduled May 9 at Top of the Tower, 446 Main St., Worcester. The event, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., supports Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts.

Tickets are $60 each. Visit gscwm.org, or call (508) 365-0015. Jen Carter, co-host of the XLO Morning Show, is emcee. Newport Ave. will present live music. About Top of the Tower: Synergy Investments in 2019 bought the 24-story glass tower, Worcester Plaza, transforming the two top floors to event space. Years ago, the top floor was home to the Plaza Club, a venue for private parties and business meetings. The room offers a spectacular view of the city, especially in the evening.

At Fork It Over, participating chefs will present their signature dishes to guests, who are encouraged to vote in the Peoples Choice award. A panel of judges will determine winners in both Sweet and Savory categories before the event begins.

Worcester participants include: Bris Sweet Treats; The Burger Bah; Little Havana; Mozelles Sweet Shoppe; Pastry Chef (Idaliana) Medina; Unique Cafe. Also, Hilltop Restaurant at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton; Figsfood Portuguese Cuisine in Sterling; Simply Delicious Catering in Auburn.

I am on the judging panel with Attorney Rubby Wuabu, Policy and Cabinet Affairs Liaison for Gov. Maura Healey; Natalie Rodriguez, CEO To Life Enterprises and professional chef; Patrick Baliva, Executive Sales Director at Saint-Gobain; Dr. Marlina Duncan, Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at UMass Chan Medical School; Erin Saviano, Community Relations Manager at The Hanover Insurance Group.

A highlight of the fundraiser will be raffle that includes a Boston Bruins jersey, signed by all the team players. Theresa Lynn, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, said the signatures are written inside the spoked-B logo on the front of the jersey. The item is expected to drive up a lot of interest and excitement, she said.

More Table Hoppin': House-made bakery and small, creative menu help the Goods Bakery & Cafe in Spencer shine

More Table Hoppin': Well, isn't this a pretty pickle bread? Dish at Marvin's Corner Lunch is a surprise hit

Other raffle items: Patriots pre-season game tickets and behind-the-plate Worcester Red Sox tickets; A one -night stay at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge that includes breakfast for two at Henriettas Table; A private wine class for 20, with Total Wine as host; A Central Massachusetts Restaurant Gift Card Bundle, plus more.

The chefs recipes definitely will put a new spin on different kinds of Girl Scout cookies, from Thin Mints, reportedly the best-selling Girl Scout cookie flavor in the United States, to the peanut-butter Do-si-dos. Its a well-kept secret what cookies chefs will incorporate into their presentations.

It was fun testing different recipes, said Kevin Comellas, Managing Partner/Executive Chef of Little Havana at the Worcester Public Market. Hes new to the city and Fork It Over competition. I look forward to meeting guests and other competitors, said Comellas. Im happy to support Girl Scout programming.

Unique Cafes owner Nadine James also is a first-time participant in the event. She opened her Jamaican eatery and catering business at 322 Cambridge St., Worcester, in 2023, offering mixed cuisine, pairing her native Jamaican dishes with American staples. Shes extremely excited as a competitor. I enjoyed taste testing recipes and I think I may have a winner, said James. It promises to be a fun event. The venue is beautiful.

There will be some familiar faces in the competition, with returning businesses, such as Bris Sweet Treats, Figsfood Portuguese Cuisine and Pastry Chef Medina, who took first place in both the Sweet and Savory categories, Peoples Choice 2023. Culinary students from Bay Path won second place in Savory, Peoples Choice 2023.

Marcie Wood, Chef/Instructor at Bay Path, said winning is secondary to the skills students learn while participating. The chance to work together, collaborating on two distinct dishes with different student palates is its own sort of education, said Wood. We always have great discussion on other competitors dishes and always leave the event inspired for new dishes.

Welcoming student participation at Fork It Over is consistent with the Girl Scout mission, said Lynn, who became GSCWM CEO in January, previously Senior Vice President of Advancement, United Way of Central Massachusetts. Learning, creating, courageously throwing your student chef hat in the ring with professionals, what wonderful access for these young entrepreneurs, she said.

All proceeds from Fork It Over will benefit Girl Scouts and continuing efforts to provide innovative programs and vital support to more than 5,000 girls in grades K-12 throughout central and western Massachusetts.

The 2024 Fork It Over is bigger than ever.

Mother's Day dining options

Mothers Day, May 12, is around the corner, so dont wait until the last minute to make restaurant reservations. Lock in your plans and ensure a wonderful dining experience. Note: Some restaurants limit your time at your table.

Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield will open its dining room from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mothers Day. The menu of appetizers, entrees and desserts also includes specials for children, aged 10 and under. Visit www.salemcrossinn.com.

If youre looking for Mothers Day brunch, check out the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, where youll find a variety of selections, including breakfast, salads and appetizers, seafood and stations offering omelets, waffles, roasted carved items (ham and roast beef), hot food, desserts and childrens favorites, such as chicken fingers, Mozzarella sticks, mac n cheese, french fries and specialty cookies.

Brunch reservations for parties of up to 20 are accepted. Visit www.beechwoodhotel.com.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin': Local chefs tackle Girl Scout cookies at Fork It Over
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Representatives of bp, SOCAR, and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) presented their vision for Azerbaijan's gas production and supply at the Flame 2024 gas conference in Amsterdam, Trend reports.

The conference, held on April 23-25, brought together around 300 representatives from companies specializing in the development of the gas industry.



SOCAR Deputy Vice President Vitaly Beglyarbekov, bp Vice President for the Caspian region Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, and TAP delegate Maria Savova all advocated for Azerbaijan's interests at this international gathering.



In their speeches, they underlined the development of the Shah Deniz field.



Maria Savova, commercial director of TAP AG, remarked during the conference that TAP's capacity to export Azerbaijani gas to Europe may be increased gradually.

Beglyarbekov mentioned that the first stage of the increase will start in January 2026 (by 1.2 bcm) and refers to the growth of TAP throughput capacity to 14 bcm per year from the current 12 bcm.

Meanwhile, gas from Shah Deniz (1 billion cubic meters) is also included in this stage of the TAP capacity increase.

To note, Azerbaijan has been supplying gas to the EU since December 2020.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Beans are one of the most important staples in Mexico, whether they're brothy, bacon-infused charro beans to enjoy with sizzling steak fajitas or refried black beans to spread over molletes. While we're usually given a choice between more popular types of beans such as pinto and black beans at Mexican restaurants in the U.S., in Mexico, creamy light-colored beans known as Peruanos are another great option.

As their name implies, Peruanos are native to Peru, where they're widely used in local cuisine. However, they're equally popular in central Mexico -- especially Mexico City. Peruanos are also known as mayocobas in Spanish-speaking countries and canary beans in English, a nod to their yellow hue. Known for their buttery, bean-y flavor and creamy consistency, Peruanos are enjoyed both whole, in soups, and mashed into refried beans.

They're milder with a smoother, more velvety texture than pinto and black beans, which are the two main Mexican natives favored in the northern and southern regions, respectively. Dried Peruanos are sold in bulk or bags at Mexican markets and grocery stores. Common Mexican brands like Isadora, La Costena, and La Sierra all offer refried Peruanos in cans or bags.

Read more: 21 Delicious Ways To Use Up Leftover Rice

How To Prepare Traditional Peruanos

Closeup of a Peruvian meat, rice, and bean dish - Jaime Delgado Rosas/Shutterstock

Peruanos are interchangeable with pinto and black beans in classic dishes like refried or whole frijoles de olla. You can thus prepare them the same way, by slowly simmering them from scratch with a few simple seasonings. You can use them in a Mexican frijoles de olla recipe, bringing them to a boil with halves of white onion, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper, then simmering them for a few hours until they're tender and creamy. You could add bacon, cilantro, and jalapenos to the pot for a complementary balance of spicy and savory.

You can also serve the beans right out of the olla, or pot, as a brothy side dish to garnish with Cotija cheese. Or, you can blend a portion of them for a delightful textural contrast and add shredded cheese, crushed tomatoes, and canned chipotles in adobo for an elevated bean dip to enjoy with chips or fresh corn tortillas. Add the drained beans with a bit of the cooking liquid and lard to a frying pan, mashing them with a potato masher or bean masher into refried beans.

You can also prepare them the Peruvian way, by frying an aromatic foundation of onion, garlic, aji paste, and savory spices with lard or bacon before adding cooked Peruanos and a bit of their simmering liquid. Peruvians call this dish frijoles a la criolla and it's often eaten alongside red meat, chicken, or pork with rice.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Pride Month is here! Here's when major cities celebrate with parades in 2024.

The number of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ+ has more than doubled in the last 12 years, a recent Gallup poll found. Over 20% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+. The rising numbers are a sign of "larger society changing" because people feel more comfortable sharing their identities, experts told USA TODAY.

And while Pride Month is about celebrating these identities, it also comes at a time of widespread anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, particularly anti-trans legislation.

Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming 2024 Pride Month, including dates and a history lesson on the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Pride flags at the Indy Pride Parade in Indianapolis on June 10, 2023.

When is Pride Month 2024?

Pride Month is in June every year. In 2024, it begins on Saturday, June 1 and ends on Sunday, June 30. Pride celebrations  including parades, festivals, parties and picnics  are held throughout the month across America.

New York hosts the countrys largest pride parades each year. Approximately 5 million people attended 2019 World Pride there, a global LGBTQ festival that marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising.

Heres a glimpse at the dates and themes of some of the countrys biggest pride celebrations:

What is Pride Month?

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York and celebrates the LGBTQ community and the fight for equal rights.

The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattans Greenwich Village. The protests that followed are credited with a shift in LGBTQ+ activism in the U.S.

The following year saw some of the first Pride parades in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Despite the pivotal role transgender people and women of color played in the riots, including trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, they were largely excluded from early Pride celebrations.

"The reality is that most of the folks on the front lines at the Stonewall uprising were trans women, trans women of color, other people of color, butch lesbians, Cathy Renna, Communications Director for the National LGBTQ Task Force, told USA TODAY in 2022. And yet somehow, the power that was coming together ... to put together Pride events was from cisgender, gay white men.

Today, Pride Month presents an opportunity for visibility and community. In addition to celebrating LGBTQ love and joy, its also a time to highlight important policy and resource issues the community faces. In 2021, NYC Pride banned law enforcement presence at Pride events through 2025 because of escalating violence "against marginalized groups, specifically BIPOC and trans communities."

This year, anti-trans legislation is growing across the country. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric online has also lead to threats at schools and hospitals and to trans communities, USA TODAY found.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 130 bills targeting trans rights have been filed and 325 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed in 2024. More than 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 2023.

When was Pride Month created?

The first Pride marches in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago happened on June 28, 1970, the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

In New York, thousands marched from Greenwich Village to Central Park in what is widely considered the first Pride parade in the U.S.

But even before the first Pride parades, the gay rights movement was beginning to gain traction all over the country. In 1950, for example, activist Harry Hay founded the Mattachine Society, the first national gay rights organization. And in 1955, the first lesbian rights organization, the Daughters of Bilitis, was founded.

The year 1965 saw the first Reminder Day, an annual picketing event outside of Philadelphias Independence Hall calling attention to the lack of civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community. In 1966, the Mattachine Society staged a sip-in at a Greenwich Village bar after the New York Liquor Authority banned serving gay patrons because they were disorderly, PBS reports. And in 1966, the Compton's Cafeteria riot began when a police officer manhandled a transgender customer at a San Francisco eatery. This led to the founding of the National Transsexual Counseling Unit. As the LGBTQ+ rights movement grew, the community turned away from outdated terms like transsexual and homosexual to transgender, gay and lesbian. While many consider these terms offensive, some still use them to describe their identities.

The Christopher Street Liberation Day March on June 28, 1970, marked a shift from politeness to pride. In earlier protests, the Homophile Movement of the 1950s and 1960s focused on respectability  dressing in suits and skirts and carrying signs in protest. Post-Stonewall riots didnt come with a dress code or tone requirement.

A new spirit has entered the struggle for homosexual freedom  a new spirit both militant in tone and revolutionary in orientation, a 1970 Gay Liberation Front flyer reads. Homosexuals at last have realized that they will never be able to be liberated by politely asking the system. Freedom is never given  it must be taken.

What does Pride stand for?

Pride itself does not stand for anything, but the LGBTQ+ community comprises several identities related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Here are the definitions to know:

L: Lesbian

G: Gay

B: Bisexual

T: Transgender

Q: Queer, or sometimes questioning

+: Encompasses other identities under the rainbow umbrella

Revamped pride: Colors of Philadelphia, Progress Pride flags, explained

Dig deeper: Learn the meanings, and origins of Pride flags

Pride Flag | Progress Pride Flag | Lesbian Pride Flag | Bisexual Pride Flag | Pansexual Pride Flag | Asexual Pride Flag | Intersex Pride Flag | Gender Identity Flags | Trans Pride Flag

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered.

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What does the B in LGBTQ stand for?" to "When was gay marriage legalized in the U.S.?" to "What does deadnaming mean?"  we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Pride Month? Parade dates for major cities near you in 2024.
Steer clear of these sunscreen brands during brutal Texas summer. Experts have this to say

The popular sunscreen brands made by Neutrogena, Coppertone, and Banana Boat are all not recommended, according to dermatologists.

As Texans begin to spend time under the sun as the days grow warmer here in Fort Worth, exactly which brand of sunscreen should they use?

Sun Protection Factor, otherwise known as SPF, is a measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen. Its main job is to protect from UVB rays, which are what causes cancer. UVA rays relate to aging, which is also what people look to protect their skin from. All sunscreens have SPF protection from UVB. However, sunbathers should use a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect from both cancer and aging.

Every little bit of sun that your body is exposed to matters  it is why you should be wearing sunscreen everyday. While spray sunscreens are convenient, they lack sufficient coverage of your skin, resulting in unsafe sun exposure.

Dr. Kathryn Durham, a physician with U.S. Dermatologists in Fort Worth suggest an ounce-sized amount per every application. This is enough to fill a shot glass. For the face and neck a nickel-size amount is sufficient. Most sunscreens come in three to five ounce containers, so one bottle of sunscreen should not last all summer, Durham cautioned.

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Another rule of thumb when using sunscreen is to always find the waterproof variety, if not water resistant. It should say on the front of the bottle. Most sunscreens are waterproof for 40-80 minutes, so be sure to reapply.

There are two types of sunscreen, chemical and physical. Dr. Durham uses both, they just have different ways of protecting your skin. Physical sunscreen reflects the rays off your skin, protecting your skin cells. Chemical sunscreen absorbs the sun rays and transforms them into heat, releasing warmth from the body.

For my face on a daily basis I use a tinted mineral sunscreen either Elta MD UV Elements or Revision Skincare True Physical. In summer for my body, I tend to lean towards a chemical sunscreen as they absorb and perform really well, LaRoche Posay Melt in Milk. suggests Durham.

Now you know what to look for when protecting your skin from aging and cancer, but how do you know what brands to trust? Here is a list of safe and unsafe sunscreen options.

What sunscreens are unsafe to use

Unsafe sunscreens, according to website draxe.com:

Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Sunscreen Clear Spray, SPF 70

Bare Republic Clearscreen Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100

Banana Boat Ultra Defense Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion Spray, SPF 60

Australian Gold Botanical Natural Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100

CVS Health Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Spray, Fragrance Free, SPF 70

Banana Boat Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 65

Banana Boat Kids MAX Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 65

Equate Beauty Ultra Light Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100

What sunscreens are safe to use

On the other end, here are a glimpse into products you can trust, according to EWGs guide to sunscreen:

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Face Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance Free, SPF 30, $10

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Lotion, Aloe Vera, SPF 30, $10

All Good Sport Sunscreen Butter Stick, SPF 50+, $17

ATTITUDE Sunly Mineral Sunscreen Stick, Unscented, SPF 30, $20

Bsbo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50, $20

Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream, SPF 40, $15

Kabana Organic Skincare Green Screen D Sunscreen Lotion, Original, SPF 35, $10

Stream2Sea Every Day Mineral Sunscreen, Tint, SPF 45, $25

SunBioLogic Naturally Tinted Sunscreen Lotion, Light/Medium, SPF 30+, $25

Thinksport Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50, $20

Waxhead Sun Defense Zinc Oxide Vitamin D Enhanced Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35, $30

You can see the full list of safe sunscreen brands and products at EWG Researchs website.

Doctors stress the importance of daily application for healthy skin.

Even walking to your car, you are getting sun! Sun exposure and risk of skin cancer is cumulative over your lifetime and daily protection is paramount to prevention of skin cancer. Daily exposure is also a contributing factor to aging, she said.
A large portion of the north end of Wrightsville Beach is permanently off limits to people due to fact that its an important nesting area for shorebirds and resting area for other birds that are migrating along the N.C. coast.

As the weather warms, sun-seeking tourists aren't the only ones drawn to North Carolina's rich necklace of barrier islands along its 320 miles of coastline.

If youre visiting the beach this summer, theres a good chance youll see wildlife mixed in with visitors and the occasional resident.

But sharing valuable beach real estate with nesting shorebirds and sea turtles can be challenging.

Mix in the loss of habitat on many islands to development, the growing risk from climate change, and the increased threat of disturbance tied to human activities, dogs and even predators and the odds are often stacked against the native fauna.

The eggs and chicks of nesting shorebirds often blend in perfectly with the sand, making it easy for people or pets to accidentally step on them. Getting close to the nests or babies can be just as bad, scaring the parents off and leaving the eggs and chicks at the mercy of predators and the summer heat.

That's where groups like the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Audubon North Carolina come in to help level the playing field.

Hundreds of signs ring the state's coastal nesting sanctuaries from Currituck Sound in the north to Sunset Beach in the south, warning visitors to respect nesting areas. In some locations, including Wrightsville Beach, volunteers help reinforce that message.

Hope Sutton, eastern wildlife diversity supervisor with the wildlife commission, said education and outreach efforts are some of the most powerful tools officials have to raise awareness about the birds' requirements.

PHOTOS: Bird watching in the Wilmington area

A black skimmer feeds its young along the southern end of Wrightsville Beach back in 2019. The southern tip of the New Hanover County island is largely closed off to beachgoers during the late spring and summer to protect nesting shorebirds.

"It's a critical component, whether its students at Wrightsville Beach Elementary making cute signs to warn beachgoers to stay out of the refuge or adults learning about these birds through one of our outreach activities," she said. "Our behavior patterns can really impact the chance of success many of these birds species have."

The helping hand comes as regulators worry about the future of some of the state's shorebirds.

North Carolina's 2023 waterbird survey, which is conducted every three years and is a collaborative effort among government agencies and environmental groups, showed substantial dips in the numbers of many nesting shorebirds. Among wading birds, that list included cattle egrets, tricolored heron, little blue herons, snowy egrets and glossy ibis. Beach-nesting species showing substantial declines included the common tern, gull-billed tern, and Caspian tern.

Another species that is in trouble is the black skimmer, with North Carolina's population decreasing by half since 1999. Because skimmers nest directly on the open sand, they are especially vulnerable to disturbance and loss of nesting sites.

But the survey wasn't all bad news. Least tern numbers were found to be increasing, with many of the nests found on the beaches at the south end of Wrightsville Beach and on Lea-Hutaff Island in Pender County. Brown pelicans also are doing well, with 5,227 nests reported in 2023, well above the 15-year average of about 4,000 nests.

WHAT'S FLYING BY? Researchers go high-tech to track migratory birds along Pender County coast

Royal terns, brown pelicans and gulls walk along the shoreline on Bird Island along the Cape Fear River. Manmade spoil islands, like Bird Island, are important nesting habitats for many shorebirds.

Many of the shorebirds holding their own nest on spoil islands, like those in the Cape Fear River or Intracoastal Waterway, or on sections of protected natural areas like Masonboro Island that are hard to access.

But climate change is an unknown variable that could add to the pressure many species face. On low-lying manmade dredge islands, for example, rising seas and stronger tropical storms tied to warming temperatures could increase erosion and overwash threats.

"And the competition for sand is already tough and is likely to get worse in the coming decades," Sutton said, referring to the limited nearshore sand resources and many coastal towns now seeking nourishment projects to boost their eroding beaches.

A warming climate also could prompt some birds to nest sooner.

Lindsay Addison, a coastal biologist with Audubon North Carolina, said learning to share the beach and knowing when to back away, such as when a shorebird starts acting irritated, can go a long way to help.

"Anyone who has lived down here for a while knows that there are more and more people now, and sometimes it's really hard to anywhere along the coast and not run into a lot of people," she said. "The birds also are experiencing that, and there are a lot of opportunities for people to disturb them and impact their survival.

"But if we just keep our distance and take some other steps, like keeping our dogs on a leash during certain times, it can make a really huge difference."

Shorebird nesting season runs from March through mid-September.

Turtle time

Shorebirds aren't the only ones looking to nest on area beaches. Peak sea turtle nesting season begins May 1 and continues through the end of October.

Most local beaches are monitored daily during sea turtle nesting season to look for evidence of nests, which are then monitored and protected if needed during the roughly two-month incubation period.

While sea turtle nesting numbers have been showing increases in recent years, regulators and environmentalists warn the marine reptiles still face many threats  especially during the decades they navigate the oceans before females return to their birth beach to nest.

While on the beach, threats dangers include holes dug in the sand and left by beachgoers, which can trap hatchlings after they emerge from the nest, and bright lights from homes and businesses that can distract nesting mothers and hatchlings and lead them away from the ocean.

CONSERVATION WIN? NC sees record number of green sea turtle nests in 2023

A loggerhead sea turtle hatchling makes its way toward the ocean during a turtle nest excavation in Kure Beach back in 2018.

Sharing the beach

Tips from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on how to share the beach with nesting wildlife this summer:

Respect the boundaries of the roped-off nesting areas

Keep dogs on a leash

Follow beach driving regulations

Throw away trash properly, including fishing line and kite strings

Don't feed sea gulls or least terns

Don't fly drones or kites near nesting sites

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: As weather warms, people aren't the only ones heading to NC's beaches
We see it in the news. We hear it at conferences. Its a hot topic at community discussions. Theres a need in our community to connect our youth with career-ready skills and leadership opportunities that will lay the foundation for them to grow and thrive in their future careers.

To help meet that need, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (Ashland SWCD) is kicking off a new program to provide just those opportunities for Ashland County youth.

Through May 10, Ashland SWCD is accepting applications for our brand-new Youth Conservation Ambassador program. The program is open to Ashland County youth who are at least 16 years old who are interested in learning more about conservation opportunities in our community.

The program will provide opportunities for youth to be involved in local soil and water conservation issues.

They will work hand-in-hand with Ashland SWCD board members by participating in four board meetings over the upcoming year. Ambassadors will gain hands-on experience in how local boards work and provide input on conservation issues and priorities facing Ashland County. Working with Ashland SWCD board and staff members, youth ambassadors will develop professional connections and networking opportunities.

Each ambassador will participate in a community service event. Examples include collecting and testing water samples from rivers and streams and cleaning trails at the 40-acre Hazel Willis Woods property. (TIMES-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO)

Helping with education events, doing community service

Ambassadors also will work with SWCD staff members to assist with at least two educational events throughout the year, such as helping at the districts conservation chats or in-school classroom programs. Ambassadors might help check attendees in at events, help prepare and mail promotional materials, visit local classrooms for Arbor Day programs or help at the third grade farm tour. Ambassadors can choose programming that fits their needs, schedule and interests.

Each ambassador will participate in one community service event. Examples include collecting and testing water samples from rivers and streams, cleaning trails at the districts 40-acre Hazel Willis Woods property, packing trees as part of the annual tree sale or setting up barrels as part of the fifth annual Rain Beat on Main Street program.

And as the capstone to their ambassador experience, youth will work with Ashland SWCD staff to lead, plan and execute a conservation-centered service project in the community. When it comes to developing a service project, the sky is the limit. We really want the ambassadors to take ownership of developing their program, from generating ideas and timelines to developing a budget and funding plan all the way through to the execution of that plan.

Those real-world conservation experiences will develop career-ready skills the ambassadors will use for the rest of their lives. Plus, they will learn about the importance of volunteer leadership and service opportunities in our community.

Win-win for ambassadors and SWCD

The program is designed to be a win-win for both the ambassadors and the Ashland SWCD board. While the ambassadors will learn more about conservation issues in our community and gain career-ready skills, the SWCD board will learn more about the conservation interests and concerns of youth and receive input in planning and directing future SWCD programming.

At the conclusion of their year of service, each ambassador will receive a $500 educational stipend to be paid to their post-secondary school of choice; ambassadors who are not seniors will be awarded their stipend after high school graduation.

The ambassadors selected for the programs first year will service from July 2024 to June 2025.

The application for is available at www.ashlandswcd.com under the education menu tab. Applicants should complete the application along with a letter of recommendation. Completed applications can be submitted to ashlandswcd@ashlandcounty.org.

Jane Houin is the director of the Ashland Soil & Water Conservation District.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Youth Conservation Ambassador Program creates leadership connections
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person has died after a water rescue Friday morning, April 26 in South-Central El Paso, according to a spokesperson with the El Paso Fire Department.

The spokesperson says the water rescue was just after 6 a.m. at 1905 Delta Dr. in South-Central El Paso.

The spokesperson says two people were rescued and one person died at the scene.

No further information has been released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  On Friday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced that they have arrested 10 total suspects in two separate marijuana grow robberies that occurred in January. One of the suspects is being charged in connection to both incidents.

10 total suspects arrested in connection to two separate marijuana grow robberies. Image courtesy Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

On January 7, Okfuskee County deputies responded to a reported incident at a marijuana grow site near Castle, Oklahoma, where they discovered 53-year-old Harry Dam dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Other victims who appeared to have been assaulted were also found on scene.

Marijuana business not up to fire code goes up in flames

The Okfuskee County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from OSBI special agents in the homicide investigation. On April 24, OSBI special agents, U.S. Marshals and Oklahoma City Police arrested the following suspects in Oklahoma City in connection to the robbery and homicide:

Dillon Brown, 24

Isavier Dawkins, 18

Holland Mason, 38

Kayla Green, 23

Yi Lee, 50

The second incident, a home invasion robbery in Stephens County, occurred on January 27.

OSBI special agents, Stephens County investigators, Texas Rangers, Waco Police, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Police arrested the following suspects in Texas in connection to the robbery:

Justin Stewart, 31

Artist Stewart, 36

Ricky Harris, 45

Timothy Evans, 29

Andre Dawson, 35

Yi Lee, 50

Anyone with additional information related to these cases is asked to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (PIX11)  Its one heck of a way to spend your 101st birthday.

I love the view, said Donald Stern, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran.

Its no B-17 Flying Fortress, the bomber Stern served on as a bombardier and navigator in the 1940s, but on board a Cessna Skyhawk, he still got to spend his big day in the sky.

In his time in the Army Air Corps, Stern flew 32 combat missions, the last one coming the day before his 22nd birthday. Just shy of 80 years later, hes at the controls again.

More New Jersey News

Flown by a fellow veteran, Stern took off from Central Jersey Regional Airport in Hillsborough, after a ceremony honoring Stern and unveiling the airports newly paved runway.

With 24 miles of visibility, it was a perfect day to fly to Manhattan and circle the Statue of Liberty.

Its just kind of wonderful, said Donalds oldest son, Howard. Who else lives to 101? Not very many people. Weve been blessed to still have him at this age his sense of humor, I hope that stays with him forever.

Before returning to his home at Brandywine Living at Princeton, stern offered a secret to making it to 101:

Be sure to eat three meals a day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Alumni Gateway at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. (Getty Images.)

Twelve race-based scholarships totaling $46,000 werent given out at Ohio Universitys E.W. Scripps School of Journalisms awards banquet this week, said Journalism School Director Eddith Dashiell.

And thats only a fraction of the 130 gift agreements that represent $450,000 worth of scholarship money under review by the university after comments Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost made about race-based scholarships after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions.

Im disappointed that the university chose this route, Dashiell said to the Ohio Capital Journal. It would have been a clear, very easy way to demonstrate their true commitment to diversity and by cowardly cowering to one persons opinion about how to interpret the U.S. Supreme Courts decision has resulted in at least 12 of our students not getting scholarships they need.

Ohio Universitys scholarship review is ongoing, university spokesperson Dan Pittman said in an email.

It would be premature for us to speculate on any potential outcomes, including the scope of impacted scholarships and/or gift agreements, Pittman said.

Dashiell said its misleading for a university to say the scholarships are still under review at the tail end of spring semester.

To me, when the university says their official position is the scholarships are still under review, that is code for they havent been given out, she said. Scholarship season is over.  The decision has already been made.

The Capital Journal reported in March that at least seven Ohio public universities  including OU  are reviewing scholarships. The other universities include Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Akron, the University of Toledo, Youngstown State University and Ohio State University. Bowling Green State University is also reviewing race-based scholarships.

Cleveland State University said the scholarships in questions remain under review and Bowling Green said it continues to evaluate next steps. The rest of the universities did not respond by the Capital Journals deadline.

Dave Yosts remarks

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.)

The day after the Supreme Court decision, Yost sent a letter to Ohio colleges and universities saying his office wont legally protect someone at a college or university who uses race as a factor.

Race-based scholarships came up on a January call Yost had with universities  even though scholarships were not mentioned in the Supreme Court decision.

What was said in response to a question was after the recent Supreme Court decision, scholarships will need to be looked at to ensure compliance with the law, Yosts spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said in a Febuary email.  Race-based scholarships discriminate on the basis of race in awarding benefits. Therefore, it would follow that such programs are unconstitutional.

Not long after that phone call, university faculty and staff across the state got wind that diversity scholarships were under review.

A public institution of higher education is  supposed to follow the law, Dashiell said. (OU is) following one mans opinion of what the law is.

12 missing scholarships

Dashiell compared this years list of journalism scholarships to last years list and noticed 12 scholarships were missing.

They arent there, she said. Thats more than under review. They made a decision. They deleted them.

OUs journalism school is made up of 84% white students, Dashiell said.

The diversity scholarships werent created to keep white students from getting any money, she said. They were designed to help encourage African American students to come to a little bitty town called Athens, Ohio.  To say that these 12 scholarships somehow according to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, somehow that these scholarships discriminate against whites, is so blatantly racist, I dont even know how to explain that.

Dashiell apologized to the donors whose scholarships werent awarded in her speech during Tuesdays awards banquet.

On behalf of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism: To our donors, please accept our deepest apology for our inability to share your generosity with our students for next academic year, she said.

Some of the donors whose scholarships werent awarded include Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and columnist Clarence Page and former Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander.

Dashiell is worried how else the Supreme Court decision is going to be interpreted.

If its diversity scholarships this year, what are they going to pause next year? she asked. How are they going to stretch the U.S. Supreme Court decision again?

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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The post 12 race-based scholarships worth $46,000 werent awarded to Ohio University journalism students appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The Arizona Secretary of State's Office has forwarded suspicions of signature forgery to the Attorney General for the obvious forgery of voter signatures on a petition to get Republican Rep. Michele Pena on the 2024 primary ballot. Petition circulator Richard (Ricky) Guthridge, of Tucson, is responsible for gathering the signatures.

The Arizona Secretary of States Office has referred 13 cases of potential candidate petition signature fraud to the attorney general for investigation, including allegations that Republican Rep. Austin Smith personally forged voter signatures.

The Secretary of States Office also pointed out what it said was a glaring case of candidate petition signature forgery, allegedly by a petition circulator for Yuma state Rep. Michele Pena, a Republican.

Candidates for elected office in Arizona must collect a certain number of nomination petition signatures from registered voters they hope to represent to qualify for the ballot. The number of signatures required depends on which office the person is running for, but candidates typically attempt to gather at least 30% more signatures than needed because its a given that some of those signatures will be disqualified.

The deadline to file a civil court case challenging the petition signatures gathered for candidates looking to get on this years July primary ballot was April 15. In all, 21 challenges were brought against Arizona candidates for the U.S. and state legislatures and nine of those candidates have already dropped their bids for office.

The challengers  typically they are allied with a candidates political opponents  must point out to the courts specific signatures that they say are invalid. Many of those individual challenges are aimed at signatures from unqualified voters, such as registered Democrats who signed a Republicans petition or vice versa, or voters who live outside of the candidates district.

Other challenges might target signatures from a voter who signed the same candidates petition more than once, or who signed petitions for multiple candidates running for the same office. In the latter case, the petition that the voter signed first is valid and subsequent ones are not.

Signatures can also be challenged if they dont belong to a registered voter, if they are illegible or if the signee didnt date their signature.

But the 13 cases that the secretary of states office referred to Attorney General Kris Mayes include allegations of signature fraud or forgery, which could result in criminal charges.

However, JP Martin, a spokesman for Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, told the Mirror that its up to AGs prosecutors to determine if fraud or forgery occurred and whether to file charges.

Richie Taylor, a spokesman for Mayes, told Mirror that no charges had been filed in any of the cases as of April 24.

The most high-profile forgery allegations that could garner criminal charges were leveled against Smith, a Republican state representative from Surprise and a member of the state legislatures far-right Freedom Caucus.

Smith announced that he was dropping his bid for reelection just days after the signature challenge was filed by a Democratic precinct committeeman who accused Smith of personally forging the signatures of more than 100 voters. Two voters whose signatures appear on his petition told the court in a sworn statement submitted alongside the challenge that they did not sign the petition.

Smith released a two-page statement announcing the end of his campaign but he never took accountability, and blamed Democrats for launching a coordinated attack against him.

Photos of petition sheets that Smith circulated himself show full pages of signatures that look as if they were all written by the same person, with handwriting that is strikingly similar to Smiths.

A candidate challenge to state Rep. Austin Smith, R-Surprise, alleges that he forged more than 100 voter signatures on his nominating petitions.

In the statement, Smith said that he didnt want to start out his life with his new wife in debt because of costly legal fees to fight the allegations. Although the challenge to his candidacy is moot since hes no longer running for office, he could still face criminal charges of forgery.

And though Smith hasnt announced it or removed the job from his social media profiles, the Washington Post reported last week that he had resigned from his job at Turning Point Action, the campaign arm of the far-right Turning Point USA, which is aimed at young Republicans and run by Charlie Kirk.

The Secretary of States Office also identified what appears to be an even more obvious case of signature fraud on Penas petitions.

Even though no one filed a challenge to Penas petition signatures, the Secretary of States Office still forwarded its suspicions of fraud to the Attorney General.

In an email obtained by the Mirror through a public records request, Lisa Marra, the states election director, told several other staffers in the office that she suspected possible circulator fraud on some of Penas petition sheets.

Richard (Ricky) Guthridge, of Tucson, is accused of gathering these obviously forged signatures on a petition to get Republican Rep. Michele Pena on the 2024 primary ballot.

All of the petition sheets that Marra highlighted were circulated by a man named Ricky Guthridge, and the 60 signatures that he collected seem to be obvious forgeries. The signature lines on the petition sheets that he collected differ significantly from the ones collected by other circulators for Pena in that they almost exclusively consist of single-name signatures.

The signatures, printed names, addresses and dates on Guthridges petition sheets all feature the same, often illegible, handwriting.

Richard (Ricky) Guthridge, of Tucson, is accused of gathering these obviously forged signatures on a petition to get Republican Rep. Michele Pena on the 2024 primary ballot.

Neither Guthridge nor Pena responded to questions from the Arizona Mirror asking if the petition circulator is the same Ricky Guthridge who is president of the University of Arizona College Republicans, but the address of the petition circulator is an off-campus apartment building for students who attend the university.

While Pena lives in Yuma, her district also covers part of Tucson.

The Guthridge who attends UofA is a national committeeman for Arizona College Republicans and is on the boards for Pima County Young Republicans and for Turning Point USAs operations at the university. He has been active in supporting candidates like election denier and U.S. Senate hopeful Kari Lake.

Other candidates whose cases were referred to the Attorney General for allegations of fraud are:

Michael Eaton, a Libertarian running for Legislative District 9 in the state House, who has already dropped out of the race and whose civil case has been dismissed.

Shaunte Saulsberry, a Democrat running for Legislative District 13 in the state House who has already dropped out of the race and whose civil case was dismissed.

Jesus David Mendoza, a Republican running for Congressional District 3 in the U.S. House, whose civil challenge case, brought by Shelby Busch, head of the conservative election denier group We the People Az Alliance, has been dismissed.

Izaak Ruiz, a Democrat running for Legislative District 11 in the state House, whose civil case has been dismissed.

David Cook, a Republican running for Legislative District 7 in the state Senate, who was challenged by incumbent Republican Wendy Rogers. A judge ruled on Wednesday that enough of his signatures were valid for Cook to remain on the ballot. The judge also found that Rogers provided no proof of signature forgery.

Christy Kelly, a Republican running for Arizona Corporation Commission who has withdrawn from the race.

Arturo Hernandez, a Green Party candidate running for U.S. Senate, whose civil case was set for trial on Thursday.

Clifford Cast, a libertarian running for Congressional District 6 in the U.S. House, who has dropped out of the race.

Marlene Galan-Woods, a Democrat running for Congressional District 1 in the U.S. House whose civil challenger dropped the challenge after the Maricopa County Recorders Office found that she had gathered enough signatures. Galan-Woods attorneys also refuted the challengers claims that she participated in signature fraud.

Ralph Heap, a Republican running for Legislative District 10 in the state House whose civil challenge was dismissed, along with three others filed by the same law firm that the Maricopa County Recorders Office found had made false allegations throughout their petition signature challenge filings.

Matt Welch, a Democrat running for Legislative District 18 in the state Senate who has already dropped out of the race.

Even if a candidate has dropped out of a race, their petition circulators (in some cases the candidates themselves) could still be charged criminally if the Attorney General finds evidence of fraud or forgery.

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The post 13 allegations of candidate petition signature forgery forwarded for possible criminal charges appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Members of the organizing committee of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) have held a meeting with Chilean Environment Minister Maisa Rojas, Trend reports via the official page of COP29 on X.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized their belief that Chile will be a vital partner in building the COP29 working process in Baku.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP- the Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott walks to a closed-door, classified briefing for Senators at U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 14, 2023, in Washington, DC. Scott is running for reelection in 2024. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

There are 13 Floridians vying to win the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Republican incumbent Rick Scott.

Thats after the qualifying period for all federal candidates, which ended Friday at noon.

Leading the pack is Scott, who narrowly won the seat six years ago against then 18-year Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. He will face two candidates in August: businessman Keith Gross and John S. Columbus.

On the Democratic side, while former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has dominated news coverage in the past few months, she still will have to defeat four other challengers to get a chance to face off against the GOP candidate in November.

In addition to Mucarsel-Powell, the other Democrats in the race are Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Brian Rush and former Congressman Alan Grayson.

Rush served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986-1994. He ran and finished a distant second to Val Demings in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is shown at left. Source: Screenshot from 2022 campaign ad

Grayson is a former star in Florida Democratic politics who hasnt been in public office since 2016. He represented a Central Florida congressional district from 2008-2010, and again in 2012-2016. But he has lost his last three races  the 2016 Democratic Senate primary against Patrick Murphy; the 2018 Democratic primary in Congressional District 9 to Darren Soto; and the Congressional District 10 primary against Maxwell Frost in 2022.

Grayson says that while the establishment believes that Mucarsel-Powell is the favorite, he begs to differ, saying that there havent been any polls of the Democrats in the contest.

I think that what the establishment is doing is covering up the fact that Im the only candidate with any statewide recognition, he says. Im definitely in it to win it.

He says he can do so by concentrating his resources on voter-registration efforts.

In addition to the major political party candidates, there are five other independent and/or third-party candidates who have filed for the U.S. Senate seat.

Three of them are non-party-affiliated candidates: Shantele Renee Bennett, Ben Everidge and Tuan TQ Nguyen. Libertarian Feena Bonoan and write-in candidate Howard Knepper complete the list.

The post 13 Florida candidates file to run for U.S. Senate nomination appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
The Wisconsin Social Session on Abortion and Family Well Being has brought together 14 residents from a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints to create proposals for state lawmakers on abortion. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Editors note: This is the first in a three-part series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide.

MADISON, Wis.  Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion.

Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning  is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated.  And Im saying, no, that child has rights.  And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this.



Can a group of strangers find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America?

Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care.

Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend.

Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument.

Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery.

In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation.

Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am.

For its second session, held for three days in Madison in December 2023 and for a final day this month, Starts With Us invited 14 Wisconsinites to tackle what has become a galvanizing political issue ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights nearly two years ago.

To us, the opportunity to build and to actually create solutions is the brass ring, Starts With Us CEO Tom Fishman told States Newsroom. But at minimum to have transformative experiences for 14 people in a room and then tell that story is such that it gives people hope and confidence  that at minimum we dont have to  reduce each other as a caricature list of talking points on two sides of an issue thats sold to us by algorithms and cable news.

After months of processing the discussions from the sessions with health, legal and policy experts, Starts With Us on Wednesday unveiled what the group achieved consensus on. Wisconsin residents can now rank and comment on the proposals online. At the end of a monthlong public feedback period, the participants will see which proposals have majority support and evaluate next steps, including potentially bringing some or all of the proposals to state lawmakers for consideration. Starts With Us is hopeful these consensus solutions could eventually serve as a policy model for other states, representing what the most polarized minds on abortion can agree on with respect to improving family well-being.

Why Wisconsin

The team chose Wisconsin because of its dynamic politics  a swing state with a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature, and a liberal-leaning state supreme court  and because its one of more than a dozen states that banned abortion in the wake of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Abortion services resumed in Wisconsin last year, after a Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 feticide law does not apply to abortion, but litigation continues, as do further attempts to restrict abortion. Earlier this year the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a 14-week abortion ban that failed to advance in the Senate. As of now, abortion can be performed until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision attempted to reconcile biological complexities and diverse moral worldviews regarding pregnancy, developing life, and reproductive autonomy. Dobbs changed that by letting states make their own abortion laws. And in many states that has meant conservative lawmakers pursuing hardline restrictions and even resurrecting laws from the 1800s, as in Arizona. These policy changes have broadly impacted maternal health care throughout the U.S.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

 Jacob VandanPlas, a veteran and father of two

A majority of voters post-Dobbs are showing they dont want strict abortion bans. Already in six blue, purple, and red states voters have preserved abortion rights directly on the ballot, and about a dozen more are trying to do the same in November. Spurred by the fall of Roe, some have gotten into politics, like Wisconsin participants Heather Martell, now a Chippewa Falls alderman, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who this month launched a bid for Congress as a Democrat in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District (she has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status). Lyerly is among several OB-GYNS around the U.S. who have sued their states for criminalizing pregnancy termination, which they believe cannot be divorced from standard medical care.

Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being participants

Laura Brown  A 61-year-old white, Protestant nonprofit chief financial officer from West Allis, who opposes abortion rights.

Jeff Davis  A 76-year-old white, Catholic semi-retired bovine veterinarian and widower with three daughters and eight grandchildren from southwest Wisconsin, who opposes abortion rights.

Milly Gonzales  A Hispanic domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking professional in Door County, who supports abortion rights.

Bria Halama  A white, Catholic clinical mental health counselor in Milwaukee, who opposes abortion rights.

Kateri Klingele  A 25-year-old white, Catholic clinical mental health professional and mother in Madison, who opposes abortion rights.

Thomas Lang  A 61-year-old white, Catholic property manager from Janesville, who opposes abortion rights.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly  A 54-year-old white OB-GYN, mother of four, and abortion provider from Green Bay. (She has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with their nonprofit status.)

Heather Martell  A 37-year-old white mother, legal assistant, and Chippewa Falls alderman, who supports abortion rights.

Kai Gardner Mishlove  A Black grief doula and the director of Jewish Social Services of Madison, who supports abortion rights.

Patricia McFarland  A 75-year-old white abortion-rights activist, mother, grandmother, and retired college teacher.

Monique Minkens  A 55-year-old Black executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, who believes abortion should be available to everyone.

Ali Muldrow  A 36-year-old Black mother of three daughters and the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin in Madison.

Jacob VandenPlas  A 39-year-old white veteran and farmer from Sturgeon Bay, who used to oppose abortion but now believes it should be available with limits later in pregnancy.

Ramona Williams  A Black mother and regional nonprofit coordinator who supports abortion rights.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said they recruited individuals based on their nuanced public views on abortion and their willingness to come to the table with opponents on this issue. She said hundreds of Wisconsinites were contacted but many never responded. The selected participants were each paid travel expenses and a $900 honorarium for four days of their time and effort.

The chosen 14 consist of 11 women and three men. Five (three women, two men) mostly oppose abortion; they are white, range in age from 25 to 76, and identify as Catholic or Protestant. The remaining nine include four Black women, one Hispanic woman, and range in age from mid-30s to mid-70s, and identify as Unitarian, Jewish, and atheist. Theres a lot of overlap in the whole group. Several have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. Most are parents.

How abortion views are born

From day one there is resounding agreement around the table that the current health, economic, and legal systems do not work for many families in Wisconsin or the country at large. Roe and Dobbs flipped the overall legality of abortion, but neither federal court decision addressed the underlying economic and social factors that, according to reproductive-health researchers at the University of California San Francisco, lead many to choose abortion  nor did they address the limited reproductive, prenatal and maternal care access around the U.S.

But the larger debate in the room, and outside of it, is who gets to make decisions in a given pregnancy: the person who is pregnant or the state? And at what point should the developing life be protected from termination?

These charts have guidelines participants in the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being project are following as they try to arrive at some consensus on potential abortion policies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Though life-of-the-mother exceptions exist in most of the current abortion bans, stories about women being denied health care pervade around the country. Patients who have been able to travel and survive their experiences have sued. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether doctors should be protected from prosecution under federal law if they provide abortion care to a patient in an emergency, even in a state with an abortion ban.

Also becoming more pervasive are stories about women denied abortions despite a fetuss fatal anomalies. The same weekend the group met in Madison, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a court order that would have allowed Texan Kate Cox to terminate a non-viable pregnancy, forcing Cox to travel out of state. Its a story that 37-year-old alderman and legal assistant Heather Martell is unfortunately familiar with.

As Martell explained to the other participants, in 2021, she went to her 19th week anatomy scan excited to see what would have been her second living child. But the ultrasound and subsequent detailed scans uncovered a rare disorder known as VACTERL association, which can affect multiple body systems and cause abnormalities in the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidneys, and limbs. The disorder carries varying degrees of severity depending on how many systems are affected, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Martell said her babys case was incredibly rare in that it impacted nearly every part of his body. It was the worst possible prognosis: incompatible with life.

This child would have needed open heart surgery before he was a year old, but wouldnt have been able to have the surgery, because he would have been in late stages of kidney failure, having only one undersized kidney, Martell told States Newsroom in an email after the sessions had concluded.

After a second opinion, Martell and her husband, who is Catholic and was at that time against abortion, sought a termination to spare the suffering of the baby they would name Oliver, which she learned was imminent if he continued to develop. They had to leave the state, because Wisconsin restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

I Googled it, and I found studies that said the fetal nervous system develops fully by 24 to 26 weeks, she told the group during their first day introductory discussions. It gave me 14 days to get an abortion, or kill myself.

Martell traveled to a Minnesota clinic, where she faced anti-abortion protesters telling her she had other options and where the type of abortion procedure she wanted  an induced stillbirth  was unavailable. That meant she couldnt hold and bury Oliver, which remains a traumatic memory.

Her pregnancy and life experiences solidified Martells belief that reproductive health decisions should be left to patients and their families.

But its all about the child for Laura Brown, a 61-year-old chief financial officer for a nonprofit in West Allis, whos on the board of an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center.

A concern I have is that in almost every discussion I dont hear any mention of the child, said Brown on the second day of the session.

When I talk about abortion, I am talking about the child, Martell said. Im talking about my child.

Martells two previous pregnancies, when she was 19 and then 21, were marked first by a life-threatening miscarriage, and then by intimate partner abuse and extreme pressure to have an abortion, which she resisted. She told States Newsroom it was difficult to hear some of the statements from the abortion opponents at the sessions, including the implication that she didnt consider the life of the child in her abortion decision.

We would have had to pay millions of dollars out of pocket for Oliver to suffer and die. And in the meantime, our living child, Jack, would have become a glass child, Martell said. It isnt easy to watch someone die. Its even harder when it is your own child and sibling. I was not going to allow that to happen to my family. To be accused of not taking the child into consideration when I discuss abortion is a slap in the face, because I did.

Browns view on abortion is also shaped by trauma.

At 20, her affair with a married man culminated in an unplanned pregnancy that she said she felt pressured to end. The man didnt offer any support, she said, and though she didnt want to end the pregnancy, she didnt see other options. Brown alleges that a counselor at the Planned Parenthood sensed she was not sure about her decision and tricked her into believing she had an ectopic pregnancy that was not viable.

After the procedure began, Brown said she asked the doctor to stop and recalled him telling her, You should have thought of that before. The experience made her feel violated and eventually suicidal and informed her unbending view that abortion is not health care, she said.

Like Martell, Brown still mourns the baby that would never be born.

Brown said she turned to God and is now a regional coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which shares stories of those who say they were harmed by abortion, and is affiliated with the national anti-abortion-rights group Priests for Life. She told States Newsroom that years ago, her daughter went into labor at 26 weeks and the medical care she received allowed her baby to be born very small but healthy. These life experiences have made it difficult for Brown to approve any reason for abortion, including if theres a health risk, fetal anomaly, or the pregnant person is a child or victim of sexual abuse.

Because abortion is traumatic, its also physically traumatic to force a young person to go through that. And then what happens is that the young person is a victim, and then they actually turn into a perpetrator, Brown told States Newsroom in an interview. Giving birth is less traumatic than having an abortion and later realizing what you did.

The majority of those who oppose abortion in this group believe in the concept of personhood for all unborn children, starting at the early stages of fertilization. It is the principle behind banning some forms of contraception that can prevent implantation, as well as in vitro fertilization, which since the Alabama Supreme Courts controversial ruling that frozen embryos are equivalent to human children, has proven to be very politically unpopular.

Martell told States Newsroom that hearing Browns story helped her understand how someone becomes an anti-abortion-rights opponent.

For me it was very interesting to see someone who regretted it, and how easily my life view could have been shaped by that one choice, Martell said. Had I not experienced that [pregnancy] loss in 2006, in 2008, I might have succumbed to that kind of peer pressure [to have an abortion], and who knows, I could have ended up like Laura, living with that shame and that regret. And if Laura had had a situation where she had put her foot down and said  Im having this kid, maybe she would have been pro-choice now.

Brown said she agrees with separation of the embryo or fetus in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies, but she believes abortion is over-recommended and not always necessary to save maternal life. With our medical advancements, high risk pregnancies can definitely be mitigated and cared for.

But in this group, no one understands the medical nuance of pregnancy better than Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a white, 54-year-old OB-GYN and mother of four who has provided abortions throughout her career. When she herself needed a second-trimester abortion procedure after miscarrying years ago, she told the group she couldnt find a doctor in Madison qualified to perform what she described as a complex and politicized procedure. Lyerly now commutes to Minnesota for work; she stopped performing abortions in her home state in 2023 while Wisconsins abortion ban was briefly in effect.

When gestational limits or narrow health exceptions are proposed, Lyerly consistently pointed out that things happen progressively in pregnancy and that each case is different. Were philosophizing. Were not in the middle of it like my patients are, she said. When in the middle of it, you sometimes do things you wouldnt expect.

The only other doctor in the room is Jeff Davis, a white, semi-retired bovine veterinarian from southwest Wisconsin who has been involved with crisis pregnancy centers. He said his earliest defining moment on this issue happened on his familys farm in Illinois.

My whole pro-life view on life began when I was like 12 years old, and my hand was small enough to get inside the vagina of a ewe to pull out some twin baby lambs, Davis told States Newsroom. It was so exhilarating to be able to do that because if not, she might have had dead lambs.

Davis believes that terminating pregnancies at any stage is wrong because it ends life. His belief was solidified by the birth of his children, the viewing of his first grandchild on an ultrasound, and his Catholic faith.

No magic solutions

But when given the hypothetical, the majority of Americans take a middle position, explained Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, one of three subject-matter experts to address the group that weekend. The Marquette Law School Poll director has been polling Wisconsinites on abortion for years, and he said the overall numbers havent changed much.

Marquettes most recent poll, from June 2023, finds that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all.

A few in the group take that middle view, like Jacob VandenPlas, a white veteran and farmer who runs a rehabilitation farm for other veterans in Sturgeon Bay and has run for Congress (the same district as Lyerly, but as a Libertarian). The father of two said he thinks abortion should be allowed until approximately 15 weeks gestation and then qualified with exceptions for fetal and maternal health, rape and incest.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do, VandenPlas said. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

Morality is so personal; I struggle with assigning it, said domestic violence advocate Monique Minkens. The 55-year-old Black mother and executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin told the group that she personally opposes abortion later in pregnancy, but that she doesnt believe in imposing limits. She noted that she has worked with people trying to avoid being tethered to an abuser for life.

Late-term abortion, thats hard, Minkens said. I cant see someone carrying a child, feeling it kicking, and then being given an abortion. And yet I know that there are times when someone says, your child is dead, youre going to have to push out this child, or your child is going to die as soon as theyre born, or whatever it is, and your life is in danger. Im not going to pull out my morality on them.

Abortion polling numbers vary widely, Franklin explained to the group, depending on where people live throughout the state, their politics, their race, their religion, and when presented with real-life circumstances, like Martells husband.

Theres no magic solutions here, Franklin said. Im not trying to present you with solutions. But what I am trying to do is say we need to understand what the broad public is thinking when they think about these things and get a little bit away from the common impression that we have two monolithic, adamantly opposed groups.  Were divided, though a majority in almost every measure say they favor legal abortion in at least some circumstances.

Ali Muldrow, who is a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group about how Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women and spoke of her own difficult pregnancies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

As predicted, the solutions this group ends up with months later are not magical, though they are, the participants will eventually agree, positive steps toward improving reproductive health access and family well being in Wisconsin. They include standardizing and ensuring accuracy in pregnancy options information, and expanding health insurance coverage. The group is almost but ultimately unable to come up with abortion-specific policy agreements.

But while these participants were still in the thick of debating and trying to see past their own trauma-laced biases and experiences, consensus on this issue seemed far away.

I think that well go round and round and round, and I dont know how we reach an understanding, Minkens said at the end of the second day; on the third they would be expected to agree to a list of proposals. Im just thinking about  the history of harm that has happened over the years; its always been the Catholic Church or its always been a Christian state that has done the harm, and that is where Im struggling. Your cold dead hands, my cold dead hands, I dont know where we go from here.

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The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being has brought together 14 residents from a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints to create proposals for state lawmakers on abortion. (Baylor Spears / Wisconsin Examiner)

Editors note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide.

MADISON, Wis.  Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion.

Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning  is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated.  And Im saying, no, that child has rights.  And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this.

Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care.

Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend.

Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument.

Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery.

In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation.

Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am.

For its second session, held for three days in Madison in December 2023 and for a final day this month, Starts With Us invited 14 Wisconsinites to tackle what has become a galvanizing political issue ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights nearly two years ago.

To us, the opportunity to build and to actually create solutions is the brass ring, Starts With Us CEO Tom Fishman told States Newsroom. But at minimum to have transformative experiences for 14 people in a room and then tell that story is such that it gives people hope and confidence  that at minimum we dont have to  reduce each other as a caricature list of talking points on two sides of an issue thats sold to us by algorithms and cable news.

After months of processing the discussions from the sessions with health, legal and policy experts, Starts With Us on Wednesday unveiled what the group achieved consensus on. Wisconsin residents can now rank and comment on the proposals online. At the end of a monthlong public feedback period, the participants will see which proposals have majority support and evaluate next steps, including bringing some or all of the proposals to state lawmakers for consideration.

Why Wisconsin

The team chose Wisconsin because of its dynamic politics  a swing state with a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature, and a liberal-leaning state supreme court  and because its one of more than a dozen states that banned abortion in the wake of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Abortion services resumed in Wisconsin last year, after a Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 feticide law does not apply to abortion, but litigation continues, as do further attempts to restrict abortion. Earlier this year the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a 14-week abortion ban that failed to advance in the Senate. As of now, abortion can be performed until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision attempted to reconcile biological complexities and diverse moral worldviews regarding pregnancy, developing life, and reproductive autonomy. Dobbs changed that by letting states make their own abortion laws. And in many states that has meant conservative lawmakers pursuing hardline restrictions and even resurrecting laws from the 1800s, as in Arizona. These policy changes have broadly impacted maternal health care throughout the U.S.

A majority of voters post-Dobbs are showing they dont want strict abortion bans. Already in six blue, purple, and red states voters have preserved abortion rights directly on the ballot, and about a dozen more are trying to do the same in November. Spurred by the fall of Roe, some have gotten into politics, like Wisconsin participants Heather Martell, now a Chippewa Falls alderman, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who this month launched a bid for Congress as a Democrat in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District (she has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status). Lyerly is among several OB-GYNS around the U.S. who have sued their states for criminalizing pregnancy termination, which they believe cannot be divorced from standard medical care.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said they recruited individuals based on their nuanced public views on abortion and their willingness to come to the table with opponents on this issue. She said hundreds of Wisconsinites were contacted but many never responded. The selected participants were each paid travel expenses and a $900 honorarium for four days of their time and effort.

The chosen 14 consist of 11 women and three men. Five (three women, two men) mostly oppose abortion; they are white, range in age from 25 to 76, and identify as Catholic or Protestant. The remaining nine include four Black women, one Hispanic woman, and range in age from mid-30s to mid-70s, and identify as Unitarian, Jewish, and atheist. Theres a lot of overlap in the whole group. Several have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. Most are parents.

How abortion views are born

From day one there is resounding agreement around the table that the current health, economic, and legal systems do not work for many families in Wisconsin or the country at large. Roe and Dobbs flipped the overall legality of abortion, but neither federal court decision addressed the underlying economic and social factors that, according to reproductive-health researchers at the University of California San Francisco, lead many to choose abortion  nor did they address the limited reproductive, prenatal and maternal care access around the U.S.

But the larger debate in the room, and outside of it, is who gets to make decisions in a given pregnancy: the person who is pregnant or the state? And at what point should the developing life be protected from termination?

Though life-of-the-mother exceptions exist in most of the current abortion bans, stories about women being denied health care pervade around the country. Patients who have been able to travel and survive their experiences have sued. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether doctors should be protected from prosecution under federal law if they provide abortion care to a patient in an emergency, even in a state with an abortion ban.

Also becoming more pervasive are stories about women denied abortions despite a fetuss fatal anomalies. The same weekend the group met in Madison, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a court order that would have allowed Texan Kate Cox to terminate a non-viable pregnancy, forcing Cox to travel out of state. Its a story that 37-year-old alderman and legal assistant Heather Martell is unfortunately familiar with.

As Martell explained to the other participants, in 2021, she went to her 19th week anatomy scan excited to see what would have been her second living child. But the ultrasound and subsequent detailed scans uncovered a rare disorder known as VACTERL association, which can affect multiple body systems and cause abnormalities in the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidneys, and limbs. The disorder carries varying degrees of severity depending on how many systems are affected, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Martell said her babys case was incredibly rare in that it impacted nearly every part of his body. It was the worst possible prognosis: incompatible with life.

This child would have needed open heart surgery before he was a year old, but wouldnt have been able to have the surgery, because he would have been in late stages of kidney failure, having only one undersized kidney, Martell told States Newsroom in an email after the sessions had concluded.

After a second opinion, Martell and her husband, who is Catholic and was at that time against abortion, sought a termination to spare the suffering of the baby they would name Oliver, which she learned was imminent if he continued to develop. They had to leave the state, because Wisconsin restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

I Googled it, and I found studies that said the fetal nervous system develops fully by 24 to 26 weeks, she told the group during their first day introductory discussions. It gave me 14 days to get an abortion, or kill myself.

Martell traveled to a Minnesota clinic, where she faced anti-abortion protesters telling her she had other options and where the type of abortion procedure she wanted  an induced stillbirth  was unavailable. That meant she couldnt hold and bury Oliver, which remains a traumatic memory.

Her pregnancy and life experiences solidified Martells belief that reproductive health decisions should be left to patients and their families.

But its all about the child for Laura Brown, a 61-year-old chief financial officer for a nonprofit in West Allis, whos on the board of an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center.

A concern I have is that in almost every discussion I dont hear any mention of the child, said Brown on the second day of the session.

When I talk about abortion, I am talking about the child, Martell said. Im talking about my child.

Martells two previous pregnancies, when she was 19 and then 21, were marked first by a life-threatening miscarriage, and then by intimate partner abuse and extreme pressure to have an abortion, which she resisted. She told States Newsroom it was difficult to hear some of the statements from the abortion opponents at the sessions, including the implication that she didnt consider the life of the child in her abortion decision.

We would have had to pay millions of dollars out of pocket for Oliver to suffer and die. And in the meantime, our living child, Jack, would have become a glass child, Martell said. It isnt easy to watch someone die. Its even harder when it is your own child and sibling. I was not going to allow that to happen to my family. To be accused of not taking the child into consideration when I discuss abortion is a slap in the face, because I did.

Browns view on abortion is also shaped by trauma.

At 20, her affair with a married man culminated in an unplanned pregnancy that she said she felt pressured to end. The man didnt offer any support, she said, and though she didnt want to end the pregnancy, she didnt see other options. Brown alleges that a counselor at the Planned Parenthood sensed she was not sure about her decision and tricked her into believing she had an ectopic pregnancy that was not viable.

After the procedure began, Brown said she asked the doctor to stop and recalled him telling her, You should have thought of that before. The experience made her feel violated and eventually suicidal and informed her unbending view that abortion is not health care, she said.

Like Martell, Brown still mourns the baby that would never be born.

Brown said she turned to God and is now a regional coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which shares stories of those who say they were harmed by abortion, and is affiliated with the national anti-abortion-rights group Priests for Life. She told States Newsroom that years ago, her daughter went into labor at 26 weeks and the medical care she received allowed her baby to be born very small but healthy. These life experiences have made it difficult for Brown to approve any reason for abortion, including if theres a health risk, fetal anomaly, or the pregnant person is a child or victim of sexual abuse.

Because abortion is traumatic, its also physically traumatic to force a young person to go through that. And then what happens is that the young person is a victim, and then they actually turn into a perpetrator, Brown told States Newsroom in an interview. Giving birth is less traumatic than having an abortion and later realizing what you did.

The majority of those who oppose abortion in this group believe in the concept of personhood for all unborn children, starting at the early stages of fertilization. It is the principle behind banning some forms of contraception that can prevent implantation, as well as in vitro fertilization, which since the Alabama Supreme Courts controversial ruling that frozen embryos are equivalent to human children, has proven to be very politically unpopular.

Martell told States Newsroom that hearing Browns story helped her understand how someone becomes an abortion-rights opponent.

For me it was very interesting to see someone who regretted it, and how easily my life view could have been shaped by that one choice, Martell said. Had I not experienced that [pregnancy] loss in 2006, in 2008, I might have succumbed to that kind of peer pressure [to have an abortion], and who knows, I could have ended up like Laura, living with that shame and that regret. And if Laura had had a situation where she had put her foot down and said  Im having this kid, maybe she would have been pro-choice now.

Brown said she agrees with separation of the embryo or fetus in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies, but she believes abortion is over-recommended and not always necessary to save maternal life. With our medical advancements, high risk pregnancies can definitely be mitigated and cared for.

But in this group, no one understands the medical nuance of pregnancy better than Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a white, 54-year-old OB-GYN and mother of four who has provided abortions throughout her career. When she herself needed a second-trimester abortion procedure after miscarrying years ago, she told the group she couldnt find a doctor in Madison qualified to perform what she described as a complex and politicized procedure. Lyerly now commutes to Minnesota for work; she stopped performing abortions in her home state in 2023 while Wisconsins abortion ban was briefly in effect.

When gestational limits or narrow health exceptions are proposed, Lyerly consistently pointed out that things happen progressively in pregnancy and that each case is different. Were philosophizing. Were not in the middle of it like my patients are, she said. When in the middle of it, you sometimes do things you wouldnt expect.

The only other doctor in the room is Jeff Davis, a white, semi-retired bovine veterinarian from southwest Wisconsin who has been involved with crisis pregnancy centers. He said his earliest defining moment on this issue happened on his familys farm in Illinois.

My whole pro-life view on life began when I was like 12 years old, and my hand was small enough to get inside the vagina of a ewe to pull out some twin baby lambs, Davis told States Newsroom. It was so exhilarating to be able to do that because if not, she might have had dead lambs.

Davis believes that terminating pregnancies at any stage is wrong because it ends life. His belief was solidified by the birth of his children, the viewing of his first grandchild on an ultrasound, and his Catholic faith.

No magic solutions

But when given the hypothetical, the majority of Americans take a middle position, explained Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, one of three subject-matter experts to address the group that weekend. The Marquette Law School Poll director has been polling Wisconsinites on abortion for years, and he said the overall numbers havent changed much.

Marquettes most recent poll, from June 2023, finds that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all.

A few in the group take that middle view, like Jacob VandenPlas, a white veteran and farmer who runs a rehabilitation farm for other veterans in Sturgeon Bay and has run for Congress (the same district as Lyerly, but as a Libertarian). The father of two said he thinks abortion should be allowed until approximately 15 weeks gestation and then qualified with exceptions for fetal and maternal health, rape and incest.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do, VandenPlas said. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

Morality is so personal; I struggle with assigning it, said domestic violence advocate Monique Minkens. The 55-year-old Black mother and executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin told the group that she personally opposes abortion later in pregnancy, but that she doesnt believe in imposing limits. She noted that she has worked with people trying to avoid being tethered to an abuser for life.

Late-term abortion, thats hard, Minkens said. I cant see someone carrying a child, feeling it kicking, and then being given an abortion. And yet I know that there are times when someone says, your child is dead, youre going to have to push out this child, or your child is going to die as soon as theyre born, or whatever it is, and your life is in danger. Im not going to pull out my morality on them.

Abortion polling numbers vary widely, Franklin explained to the group, depending on where people live throughout the state, their politics, their race, their religion, and when presented with real-life circumstances, like Martells husband.

Theres no magic solutions here, Franklin said. Im not trying to present you with solutions. But what I am trying to do is say we need to understand what the broad public is thinking when they think about these things and get a little bit away from the common impression that we have two monolithic, adamantly opposed groups.  Were divided, though a majority in almost every measure say they favor legal abortion in at least some circumstances.

As predicted, the solutions this group ends up with months later are not magical, though they are, the participants will eventually agree, positive steps toward improving reproductive health access and family well being in Wisconsin. They include standardizing and ensuring accuracy in pregnancy options information, and expanding health insurance coverage. The group is almost but ultimately unable to come up with abortion-specific policy agreements.

But while these participants were still in the thick of debating and trying to see past their own trauma-laced biases and experiences, consensus on this issue seemed far away.

I think that well go round and round and round, and I dont know how we reach an understanding, Minkens said at the end of the second day; on the third they would be expected to agree to a list of proposals. Im just thinking about  the history of harm that has happened over the years; its always been the Catholic Church or its always been a Christian state that has done the harm, and that is where Im struggling. Your cold dead hands, my cold dead hands, I dont know where we go from here.

Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being participants

Laura Brown  A 61-year-old white, Protestant nonprofit chief financial officer from West Allis, who opposes abortion rights.

Jeff Davis  A 76-year-old white, Catholic semi-retired bovine veterinarian and widower with three daughters and eight grandchildren from southwest Wisconsin, who opposes abortion rights.

Milly Gonzales  A Hispanic domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking professional in Door County, who supports abortion rights.

Bria Halama  A white, Catholic clinical mental health counselor in Milwaukee, who opposes abortion rights.

Kateri Klingele  A 25-year-old white, Catholic clinical mental health professional and mother in Madison, who opposes abortion rights.

Thomas Lang  A 61-year-old white, Catholic property manager from Janesville, who opposes abortion rights.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly  A 54-year-old white OB-GYN, mother of four, and abortion provider from Green Bay. (She has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with their nonprofit status.)

Heather Martell  A 37-year-old white mother, legal assistant, and Chippewa Falls alderman, who supports abortion rights.

Kai Gardner Mishlove  A Black grief doula and the director of Jewish Social Services of Madison, who supports abortion rights.

Patricia McFarland  A 75-year-old white abortion-rights activist, mother, grandmother, and retired college teacher.

Monique Minkens  A 55-year-old Black executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, who believes abortion should be available to everyone.

Ali Muldrow  A 36-year-old Black mother of three daughters and the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin in Madison.

Jacob VandenPlas  A 39-year-old white veteran and farmer from Sturgeon Bay, who used to oppose abortion but now believes it should be available with limits later in pregnancy.

Ramona Williams  A Black mother and regional nonprofit coordinator who supports abortion rights.

The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Ali Muldrow, who is a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, tells The Wisconsin Social Session on Abortion and Family Well Being about how Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women and spoke of her own difficult pregnancies. The group has brought together 14 residents from a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints to create proposals for state lawmakers on abortion.(Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Can a group of strangers find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America?

Editors note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide.

MADISON, Wis.  Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion.

Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning  is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated.  And Im saying, no, that child has rights.  And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this.

Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care.

Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend.

Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument.

Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery.

In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation.

Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am.

For its second session, held for three days in Madison in December 2023 and for a final day this month, Starts With Us invited 14 Wisconsinites to tackle what has become a galvanizing political issue ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights nearly two years ago.

To us, the opportunity to build and to actually create solutions is the brass ring, Starts With Us CEO Tom Fishman told States Newsroom. But at minimum to have transformative experiences for 14 people in a room and then tell that story is such that it gives people hope and confidence  that at minimum we dont have to  reduce each other as a caricature list of talking points on two sides of an issue thats sold to us by algorithms and cable news.

After months of processing the discussions from the sessions with health, legal and policy experts, Starts With Us on Wednesday unveiled what the group achieved consensus on. Wisconsin residents can now rank and comment on the proposals online. At the end of a monthlong public feedback period, the participants will see which proposals have majority support and evaluate next steps, including bringing some or all of the proposals to state lawmakers for consideration.

Why Wisconsin

A group of people speaking around a table

The Wisconsin Social Session on Abortion and Family Well Being has brought together 14 residents from a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints to create proposals for state lawmakers on abortion. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

The team chose Wisconsin because of its dynamic politics  a swing state with a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature, and a liberal-leaning state supreme court  and because its one of more than a dozen states that banned abortion in the wake of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Abortion services resumed in Wisconsin last year, after a Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 feticide law does not apply to abortion, but litigation continues, as do further attempts to restrict abortion. Earlier this year the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a 14-week abortion ban that failed to advance in the Senate. As of now, abortion can be performed until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision attempted to reconcile biological complexities and diverse moral worldviews regarding pregnancy, developing life, and reproductive autonomy. Dobbs changed that by letting states make their own abortion laws. And in many states that has meant conservative lawmakers pursuing hardline restrictions and even resurrecting laws from the 1800s, as in Arizona. These policy changes have broadly impacted maternal health care throughout the U.S.

A majority of voters post-Dobbs are showing they dont want strict abortion bans. Already in six blue, purple, and red states voters have preserved abortion rights directly on the ballot, and about a dozen more are trying to do the same in November. Spurred by the fall of Roe, some have gotten into politics, like Wisconsin participants Heather Martell, now a Chippewa Falls alderman, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who this month launched a bid for Congress as a Democrat in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District (she has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status). Lyerly is among several OB-GYNS around the U.S. who have sued their states for criminalizing pregnancy termination, which they believe cannot be divorced from standard medical care.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said they recruited individuals based on their nuanced public views on abortion and their willingness to come to the table with opponents on this issue. She said hundreds of Wisconsinites were contacted but many never responded. The selected participants were each paid travel expenses and a $900 honorarium for four days of their time and effort.

The chosen 14 consist of 11 women and three men. Five (three women, two men) mostly oppose abortion; they are white, range in age from 25 to 76, and identify as Catholic or Protestant. The remaining nine include four Black women, one Hispanic woman, and range in age from mid-30s to mid-70s, and identify as Unitarian, Jewish, and atheist. Theres a lot of overlap in the whole group. Several have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. Most are parents.

How abortion views are born

Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being participants

Laura Brown  A 61-year-old white, Protestant nonprofit chief financial officer from West Allis, who opposes abortion rights.

Jeff Davis  A 76-year-old white, Catholic semi-retired bovine veterinarian and widower with three daughters and eight grandchildren from southwest Wisconsin, who opposes abortion rights.

Milly Gonzales  A Hispanic domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking professional in Door County, who supports abortion rights.

Bria Halama  A white, Catholic clinical mental health counselor in Milwaukee, who opposes abortion rights.

Kateri Klingele  A 25-year-old white, Catholic clinical mental health professional and mother in Madison, who opposes abortion rights.

Thomas Lang  A 61-year-old white, Catholic property manager from Janesville, who opposes abortion rights.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly  A 54-year-old white OB-GYN, mother of four, and abortion provider from Green Bay. (She has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with their nonprofit status.)

Heather Martell  A 37-year-old white mother, legal assistant, and Chippewa Falls alderman, who supports abortion rights.

Kai Gardner Mishlove  A Black grief doula and the director of Jewish Social Services of Madison, who supports abortion rights.

Patricia McFarland  A 75-year-old white abortion-rights activist, mother, grandmother, and retired college teacher.

Monique Minkens  A 55-year-old Black executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, who believes abortion should be available to everyone.

Ali Muldrow  A 36-year-old Black mother of three daughters and the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin in Madison.

Jacob VandenPlas  A 39-year-old white veteran and farmer from Sturgeon Bay, who used to oppose abortion but now believes it should be available with limits later in pregnancy.

Ramona Williams  A Black mother and regional nonprofit coordinator who supports abortion rights.

From day one there is resounding agreement around the table that the current health, economic, and legal systems do not work for many families in Wisconsin or the country at large. Roe and Dobbs flipped the overall legality of abortion, but neither federal court decision addressed the underlying economic and social factors that, according to reproductive-health researchers at the University of California San Francisco, lead many to choose abortion  nor did they address the limited reproductive, prenatal and maternal care access around the U.S.

But the larger debate in the room, and outside of it, is who gets to make decisions in a given pregnancy: the person who is pregnant or the state? And at what point should the developing life be protected from termination?

Though life-of-the-mother exceptions exist in most of the current abortion bans, stories about women being denied health care pervade around the country. Patients who have been able to travel and survive their experiences have sued. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether doctors should be protected from prosecution under federal law if they provide abortion care to a patient in an emergency, even in a state with an abortion ban.

Also becoming more pervasive are stories about women denied abortions despite a fetuss fatal anomalies. The same weekend the group met in Madison, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a court order that would have allowed Texan Kate Cox to terminate a non-viable pregnancy, forcing Cox to travel out of state. Its a story that 37-year-old alderman and legal assistant Heather Martell is unfortunately familiar with.

As Martell explained to the other participants, in 2021, she went to her 19th week anatomy scan excited to see what would have been her second living child. But the ultrasound and subsequent detailed scans uncovered a rare disorder known as VACTERL association, which can affect multiple body systems and cause abnormalities in the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidneys, and limbs. The disorder carries varying degrees of severity depending on how many systems are affected, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Martell said her babys case was incredibly rare in that it impacted nearly every part of his body. It was the worst possible prognosis: incompatible with life.

This child would have needed open heart surgery before he was a year old, but wouldnt have been able to have the surgery, because he would have been in late stages of kidney failure, having only one undersized kidney, Martell told States Newsroom in an email after the sessions had concluded.

After a second opinion, Martell and her husband, who is Catholic and was at that time against abortion, sought a termination to spare the suffering of the baby they would name Oliver, which she learned was imminent if he continued to develop. They had to leave the state, because Wisconsin restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

I Googled it, and I found studies that said the fetal nervous system develops fully by 24 to 26 weeks, she told the group during their first day introductory discussions. It gave me 14 days to get an abortion, or kill myself.

Martell traveled to a Minnesota clinic, where she faced anti-abortion protesters telling her she had other options and where the type of abortion procedure she wanted  an induced stillbirth  was unavailable. That meant she couldnt hold and bury Oliver, which remains a traumatic memory.

Her pregnancy and life experiences solidified Martells belief that reproductive health decisions should be left to patients and their families.

But its all about the child for Laura Brown, a 61-year-old chief financial officer for a nonprofit in West Allis, whos on the board of an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center.

A concern I have is that in almost every discussion I dont hear any mention of the child, said Brown on the second day of the session.

When I talk about abortion, I am talking about the child, Martell said. Im talking about my child.

Martells two previous pregnancies, when she was 19 and then 21, were marked first by a life-threatening miscarriage, and then by intimate partner abuse and extreme pressure to have an abortion, which she resisted. She told States Newsroom it was difficult to hear some of the statements from the abortion opponents at the sessions, including the implication that she didnt consider the life of the child in her abortion decision.

We would have had to pay millions of dollars out of pocket for Oliver to suffer and die. And in the meantime, our living child, Jack, would have become a glass child, Martell said. It isnt easy to watch someone die. Its even harder when it is your own child and sibling. I was not going to allow that to happen to my family. To be accused of not taking the child into consideration when I discuss abortion is a slap in the face, because I did.

Browns view on abortion is also shaped by trauma.

At 20, her affair with a married man culminated in an unplanned pregnancy that she said she felt pressured to end. The man didnt offer any support, she said, and though she didnt want to end the pregnancy, she didnt see other options. Brown alleges that a counselor at the Planned Parenthood sensed she was not sure about her decision and tricked her into believing she had an ectopic pregnancy that was not viable.

After the procedure began, Brown said she asked the doctor to stop and recalled him telling her, You should have thought of that before. The experience made her feel violated and eventually suicidal and informed her unbending view that abortion is not health care, she said.

Like Martell, Brown still mourns the baby that would never be born.

Brown said she turned to God and is now a regional coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which shares stories of those who say they were harmed by abortion, and is affiliated with the national anti-abortion-rights group Priests for Life. She told States Newsroom that years ago, her daughter went into labor at 26 weeks and the medical care she received allowed her baby to be born very small but healthy. These life experiences have made it difficult for Brown to approve any reason for abortion, including if theres a health risk, fetal anomaly, or the pregnant person is a child or victim of sexual abuse.

Because abortion is traumatic, its also physically traumatic to force a young person to go through that. And then what happens is that the young person is a victim, and then they actually turn into a perpetrator, Brown told States Newsroom in an interview. Giving birth is less traumatic than having an abortion and later realizing what you did.

The majority of those who oppose abortion in this group believe in the concept of personhood for all unborn children, starting at the early stages of fertilization. It is the principle behind banning some forms of contraception that can prevent implantation, as well as in vitro fertilization, which since the Alabama Supreme Courts controversial ruling that frozen embryos are equivalent to human children, has proven to be very politically unpopular.

Martell told States Newsroom that hearing Browns story helped her understand how someone becomes an abortion-rights opponent.

For me it was very interesting to see someone who regretted it, and how easily my life view could have been shaped by that one choice, Martell said. Had I not experienced that [pregnancy] loss in 2006, in 2008, I might have succumbed to that kind of peer pressure [to have an abortion], and who knows, I could have ended up like Laura, living with that shame and that regret. And if Laura had had a situation where she had put her foot down and said  Im having this kid, maybe she would have been pro-choice now.

Brown said she agrees with separation of the embryo or fetus in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies, but she believes abortion is over-recommended and not always necessary to save maternal life. With our medical advancements, high risk pregnancies can definitely be mitigated and cared for.

But in this group, no one understands the medical nuance of pregnancy better than Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a white, 54-year-old OB-GYN and mother of four who has provided abortions throughout her career. When she herself needed a second-trimester abortion procedure after miscarrying years ago, she told the group she couldnt find a doctor in Madison qualified to perform what she described as a complex and politicized procedure. Lyerly now commutes to Minnesota for work; she stopped performing abortions in her home state in 2023 while Wisconsins abortion ban was briefly in effect.

When gestational limits or narrow health exceptions are proposed, Lyerly consistently pointed out that things happen progressively in pregnancy and that each case is different. Were philosophizing. Were not in the middle of it like my patients are, she said. When in the middle of it, you sometimes do things you wouldnt expect.

The only other doctor in the room is Jeff Davis, a white, semi-retired bovine veterinarian from southwest Wisconsin who has been involved with crisis pregnancy centers. He said his earliest defining moment on this issue happened on his familys farm in Illinois.

My whole pro-life view on life began when I was like 12 years old, and my hand was small enough to get inside the vagina of a ewe to pull out some twin baby lambs, Davis told States Newsroom. It was so exhilarating to be able to do that because if not, she might have had dead lambs.

Davis believes that terminating pregnancies at any stage is wrong because it ends life. His belief was solidified by the birth of his children, the viewing of his first grandchild on an ultrasound, and his Catholic faith.

No magic solutions

Three pieces of paper on a bulletin board listing ieas

Charts with guidelines participants in the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being project on display at a recent meeting of the group. Participants are trying to arrive at some consensus on potential abortion policies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

But when given the hypothetical, the majority of Americans take a middle position, explained Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, one of three subject-matter experts to address the group that weekend. The Marquette Law School Poll director has been polling Wisconsinites on abortion for years, and he said the overall numbers havent changed much.

Marquettes most recent poll, from June 2023, finds that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all.

A few in the group take that middle view, like Jacob VandenPlas, a white veteran and farmer who runs a rehabilitation farm for other veterans in Sturgeon Bay and has run for Congress (the same district as Lyerly, but as a Libertarian). The father of two said he thinks abortion should be allowed until approximately 15 weeks gestation and then qualified with exceptions for fetal and maternal health, rape and incest.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do, VandenPlas said. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

Morality is so personal; I struggle with assigning it, said domestic violence advocate Monique Minkens. The 55-year-old Black mother and executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin told the group that she personally opposes abortion later in pregnancy, but that she doesnt believe in imposing limits. She noted that she has worked with people trying to avoid being tethered to an abuser for life.

Late-term abortion, thats hard, Minkens said. I cant see someone carrying a child, feeling it kicking, and then being given an abortion. And yet I know that there are times when someone says, your child is dead, youre going to have to push out this child, or your child is going to die as soon as theyre born, or whatever it is, and your life is in danger. Im not going to pull out my morality on them.

Abortion polling numbers vary widely, Franklin explained to the group, depending on where people live throughout the state, their politics, their race, their religion, and when presented with real-life circumstances, like Martells husband.

Theres no magic solutions here, Franklin said. Im not trying to present you with solutions. But what I am trying to do is say we need to understand what the broad public is thinking when they think about these things and get a little bit away from the common impression that we have two monolithic, adamantly opposed groups.  Were divided, though a majority in almost every measure say they favor legal abortion in at least some circumstances.

As predicted, the solutions this group ends up with months later are not magical, though they are, the participants will eventually agree, positive steps toward improving reproductive health access and family well being in Wisconsin. They include standardizing and ensuring accuracy in pregnancy options information, and expanding health insurance coverage. The group is almost but ultimately unable to come up with abortion-specific policy agreements.

But while these participants were still in the thick of debating and trying to see past their own trauma-laced biases and experiences, consensus on this issue seemed far away.

I think that well go round and round and round, and I dont know how we reach an understanding, Minkens said at the end of the second day; on the third they would be expected to agree to a list of proposals. Im just thinking about  the history of harm that has happened over the years; its always been the Catholic Church or its always been a Christian state that has done the harm, and that is where Im struggling. Your cold dead hands, my cold dead hands, I dont know where we go from here.

Tomorrow: The group struggles to find common ground.

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The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Milly Gonzales, who works with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors, supports abortion rights. She said the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was "devastating." (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Editors note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide.

MADISON, Wis.  Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion.

Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning  is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated.  And Im saying, no, that child has rights.  And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this.

Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care.

Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend.

Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument.

Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery.

In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation.

Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am.

For its second session, held for three days in Madison in December 2023 and for a final day this month, Starts With Us invited 14 Wisconsinites to tackle what has become a galvanizing political issue ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights nearly two years ago.

To us, the opportunity to build and to actually create solutions is the brass ring, Starts With Us CEO Tom Fishman told States Newsroom. But at minimum to have transformative experiences for 14 people in a room and then tell that story is such that it gives people hope and confidence  that at minimum we dont have to  reduce each other as a caricature list of talking points on two sides of an issue thats sold to us by algorithms and cable news.

After months of processing the discussions from the sessions with health, legal and policy experts, Starts With Us on Wednesday unveiled what the group achieved consensus on. Wisconsin residents can now rank and comment on the proposals online. At the end of a monthlong public feedback period, the participants will see which proposals have majority support and evaluate next steps, including bringing some or all of the proposals to state lawmakers for consideration.

Why Wisconsin

The team chose Wisconsin because of its dynamic politics  a swing state with a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature, and a liberal-leaning state supreme court  and because its one of more than a dozen states that banned abortion in the wake of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Abortion services resumed in Wisconsin last year, after a Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 feticide law does not apply to abortion, but litigation continues, as do further attempts to restrict abortion. Earlier this year the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a 14-week abortion ban that failed to advance in the Senate. As of now, abortion can be performed until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision attempted to reconcile biological complexities and diverse moral worldviews regarding pregnancy, developing life, and reproductive autonomy. Dobbs changed that by letting states make their own abortion laws. And in many states that has meant conservative lawmakers pursuing hardline restrictions and even resurrecting laws from the 1800s, as in Arizona. These policy changes have broadly impacted maternal health care throughout the U.S.

A majority of voters post-Dobbs are showing they dont want strict abortion bans. Already in six blue, purple, and red states voters have preserved abortion rights directly on the ballot, and about a dozen more are trying to do the same in November. Spurred by the fall of Roe, some have gotten into politics, like Wisconsin participants Heather Martell, now a Chippewa Falls alderman, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who this month launched a bid for Congress as a Democrat in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District (she has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status). Lyerly is among several OB-GYNS around the U.S. who have sued their states for criminalizing pregnancy termination, which they believe cannot be divorced from standard medical care.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said they recruited individuals based on their nuanced public views on abortion and their willingness to come to the table with opponents on this issue. She said hundreds of Wisconsinites were contacted but many never responded. The selected participants were each paid travel expenses and a $900 honorarium for four days of their time and effort.

The chosen 14 consist of 11 women and three men. Five (three women, two men) mostly oppose abortion; they are white, range in age from 25 to 76, and identify as Catholic or Protestant. The remaining nine include four Black women, one Hispanic woman, and range in age from mid-30s to mid-70s, and identify as Unitarian, Jewish, and atheist. Theres a lot of overlap in the whole group. Several have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. Most are parents.

How abortion views are born

From day one there is resounding agreement around the table that the current health, economic, and legal systems do not work for many families in Wisconsin or the country at large. Roe and Dobbs flipped the overall legality of abortion, but neither federal court decision addressed the underlying economic and social factors that, according to reproductive-health researchers at the University of California San Francisco, lead many to choose abortion  nor did they address the limited reproductive, prenatal and maternal care access around the U.S.

Fourteen Wisconsin residents of diverse backgrounds and stances on abortion rights met for three days in December and a day this month to try to arrive at consensus solutions on abortion access and family well-being. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

But the larger debate in the room, and outside of it, is who gets to make decisions in a given pregnancy: the person who is pregnant or the state? And at what point should the developing life be protected from termination?

Though life-of-the-mother exceptions exist in most of the current abortion bans, stories about women being denied health care pervade around the country. Patients who have been able to travel and survive their experiences have sued. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether doctors should be protected from prosecution under federal law if they provide abortion care to a patient in an emergency, even in a state with an abortion ban.

Also becoming more pervasive are stories about women denied abortions despite a fetuss fatal anomalies. The same weekend the group met in Madison, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a court order that would have allowed Texan Kate Cox to terminate a non-viable pregnancy, forcing Cox to travel out of state. Its a story that 37-year-old alderman and legal assistant Heather Martell is unfortunately familiar with.

As Martell explained to the other participants, in 2021, she went to her 19th week anatomy scan excited to see what would have been her second living child. But the ultrasound and subsequent detailed scans uncovered a rare disorder known as VACTERL association, which can affect multiple body systems and cause abnormalities in the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidneys, and limbs. The disorder carries varying degrees of severity depending on how many systems are affected, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Martell said her babys case was incredibly rare in that it impacted nearly every part of his body. It was the worst possible prognosis: incompatible with life.

This child would have needed open heart surgery before he was a year old, but wouldnt have been able to have the surgery, because he would have been in late stages of kidney failure, having only one undersized kidney, Martell told States Newsroom in an email after the sessions had concluded.

After a second opinion, Martell and her husband, who is Catholic and was at that time against abortion, sought a termination to spare the suffering of the baby they would name Oliver, which she learned was imminent if he continued to develop. They had to leave the state, because Wisconsin restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

I Googled it, and I found studies that said the fetal nervous system develops fully by 24 to 26 weeks, she told the group during their first day introductory discussions. It gave me 14 days to get an abortion, or kill myself.

Martell traveled to a Minnesota clinic, where she faced anti-abortion protesters telling her she had other options and where the type of abortion procedure she wanted  an induced stillbirth  was unavailable. That meant she couldnt hold and bury Oliver, which remains a traumatic memory.

Her pregnancy and life experiences solidified Martells belief that reproductive health decisions should be left to patients and their families.

But its all about the child for Laura Brown, a 61-year-old chief financial officer for a nonprofit in West Allis, whos on the board of an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center.

A concern I have is that in almost every discussion I dont hear any mention of the child, said Brown on the second day of the session.

When I talk about abortion, I am talking about the child, Martell said. Im talking about my child.

Martells two previous pregnancies, when she was 19 and then 21, were marked first by a life-threatening miscarriage, and then by intimate partner abuse and extreme pressure to have an abortion, which she resisted. She told States Newsroom it was difficult to hear some of the statements from the abortion opponents at the sessions, including the implication that she didnt consider the life of the child in her abortion decision.

We would have had to pay millions of dollars out of pocket for Oliver to suffer and die. And in the meantime, our living child, Jack, would have become a glass child, Martell said. It isnt easy to watch someone die. Its even harder when it is your own child and sibling. I was not going to allow that to happen to my family. To be accused of not taking the child into consideration when I discuss abortion is a slap in the face, because I did.

Browns view on abortion is also shaped by trauma.

At 20, her affair with a married man culminated in an unplanned pregnancy that she said she felt pressured to end. The man didnt offer any support, she said, and though she didnt want to end the pregnancy, she didnt see other options. Brown alleges that a counselor at the Planned Parenthood sensed she was not sure about her decision and tricked her into believing she had an ectopic pregnancy that was not viable.

After the procedure began, Brown said she asked the doctor to stop and recalled him telling her, You should have thought of that before. The experience made her feel violated and eventually suicidal and informed her unbending view that abortion is not health care, she said.

Like Martell, Brown still mourns the baby that would never be born.

Brown said she turned to God and is now a regional coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which shares stories of those who say they were harmed by abortion, and is affiliated with the national anti-abortion-rights group Priests for Life. She told States Newsroom that years ago, her daughter went into labor at 26 weeks and the medical care she received allowed her baby to be born very small but healthy. These life experiences have made it difficult for Brown to approve any reason for abortion, including if theres a health risk, fetal anomaly, or the pregnant person is a child or victim of sexual abuse.

Because abortion is traumatic, its also physically traumatic to force a young person to go through that. And then what happens is that the young person is a victim, and then they actually turn into a perpetrator, Brown told States Newsroom in an interview. Giving birth is less traumatic than having an abortion and later realizing what you did.

The majority of those who oppose abortion in this group believe in the concept of personhood for all unborn children, starting at the early stages of fertilization. It is the principle behind banning some forms of contraception that can prevent implantation, as well as in vitro fertilization, which since the Alabama Supreme Courts controversial ruling that frozen embryos are equivalent to human children, has proven to be very politically unpopular.

Martell told States Newsroom that hearing Browns story helped her understand how someone becomes an abortion-rights opponent.

For me it was very interesting to see someone who regretted it, and how easily my life view could have been shaped by that one choice, Martell said. Had I not experienced that [pregnancy] loss in 2006, in 2008, I might have succumbed to that kind of peer pressure [to have an abortion], and who knows, I could have ended up like Laura, living with that shame and that regret. And if Laura had had a situation where she had put her foot down and said  Im having this kid, maybe she would have been pro-choice now.

Brown said she agrees with separation of the embryo or fetus in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies, but she believes abortion is over-recommended and not always necessary to save maternal life. With our medical advancements, high risk pregnancies can definitely be mitigated and cared for.

But in this group, no one understands the medical nuance of pregnancy better than Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a white, 54-year-old OB-GYN and mother of four who has provided abortions throughout her career. When she herself needed a second-trimester abortion procedure after miscarrying years ago, she told the group she couldnt find a doctor in Madison qualified to perform what she described as a complex and politicized procedure. Lyerly now commutes to Minnesota for work; she stopped performing abortions in her home state in 2023 while Wisconsins abortion ban was briefly in effect.

When gestational limits or narrow health exceptions are proposed, Lyerly consistently pointed out that things happen progressively in pregnancy and that each case is different. Were philosophizing. Were not in the middle of it like my patients are, she said. When in the middle of it, you sometimes do things you wouldnt expect.

The only other doctor in the room is Jeff Davis, a white, semi-retired bovine veterinarian from southwest Wisconsin who has been involved with crisis pregnancy centers. He said his earliest defining moment on this issue happened on his familys farm in Illinois.

My whole pro-life view on life began when I was like 12 years old, and my hand was small enough to get inside the vagina of a ewe to pull out some twin baby lambs, Davis told States Newsroom. It was so exhilarating to be able to do that because if not, she might have had dead lambs.

Davis believes that terminating pregnancies at any stage is wrong because it ends life. His belief was solidified by the birth of his children, the viewing of his first grandchild on an ultrasound, and his Catholic faith.

No magic solutions

But when given the hypothetical, the majority of Americans take a middle position, explained Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, one of three subject-matter experts to address the group that weekend. The Marquette Law School Poll director has been polling Wisconsinites on abortion for years, and he said the overall numbers havent changed much.

Marquettes most recent poll, from June 2023, finds that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all.

A few in the group take that middle view, like Jacob VandenPlas, a white veteran and farmer who runs a rehabilitation farm for other veterans in Sturgeon Bay and has run for Congress (the same district as Lyerly, but as a Libertarian). The father of two said he thinks abortion should be allowed until approximately 15 weeks gestation and then qualified with exceptions for fetal and maternal health, rape and incest.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do, VandenPlas said. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

Morality is so personal; I struggle with assigning it, said domestic violence advocate Monique Minkens. The 55-year-old Black mother and executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin told the group that she personally opposes abortion later in pregnancy, but that she doesnt believe in imposing limits. She noted that she has worked with people trying to avoid being tethered to an abuser for life.

Late-term abortion, thats hard, Minkens said. I cant see someone carrying a child, feeling it kicking, and then being given an abortion. And yet I know that there are times when someone says, your child is dead, youre going to have to push out this child, or your child is going to die as soon as theyre born, or whatever it is, and your life is in danger. Im not going to pull out my morality on them.

Abortion polling numbers vary widely, Franklin explained to the group, depending on where people live throughout the state, their politics, their race, their religion, and when presented with real-life circumstances, like Martells husband.

Theres no magic solutions here, Franklin said. Im not trying to present you with solutions. But what I am trying to do is say we need to understand what the broad public is thinking when they think about these things and get a little bit away from the common impression that we have two monolithic, adamantly opposed groups.  Were divided, though a majority in almost every measure say they favor legal abortion in at least some circumstances.

As predicted, the solutions this group ends up with months later are not magical, though they are, the participants will eventually agree, positive steps toward improving reproductive health access and family well being in Wisconsin. They include standardizing and ensuring accuracy in pregnancy options information, and expanding health insurance coverage. The group is almost but ultimately unable to come up with abortion-specific policy agreements.

But while these participants were still in the thick of debating and trying to see past their own trauma-laced biases and experiences, consensus on this issue seemed far away.

I think that well go round and round and round, and I dont know how we reach an understanding, Minkens said at the end of the second day; on the third they would be expected to agree to a list of proposals. Im just thinking about  the history of harm that has happened over the years; its always been the Catholic Church or its always been a Christian state that has done the harm, and that is where Im struggling. Your cold dead hands, my cold dead hands, I dont know where we go from here.

The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
The Wisconsin Social Session on Abortion and Family Well Being has brought together 14 residents from a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints to create proposals for state lawmakers on abortion. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Editors note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide.

MADISON, Wis.  Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion.

Each one of us has a beginning, and that unique beginning  is conception, Lang said. And I would go back to the lack of personhood in slavery and how that personhood can be manipulated.  And Im saying, no, that child has rights.  And yet we are going to allow for the killing, murder, because of this, this and this.

Anti-abortion activists and legal scholars in the U.S. increasingly argue that denying the personhood of all unborn life is akin to slavery. Its a comment that doesnt sit well with the women of color in this room of people with different beliefs about abortion, including some with their own traumatic pregnancy experiences. The women repeatedly point out that white supremacy and racism are well rooted in every aspect of American life, including reproductive health care.

Ali Muldrow, who is Black, a mother of three girls, and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group that the so-called father of gynecology, J. Marion Sims, invented tools like the speculum and surgical techniques after torturing enslaved women in horse stables. As someone who faced painful and medically complex pregnancies, Muldrow, 36, pointed out repeatedly that Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and more likely to experience criminalization because of their pregnancies. She said she was temporarily jailed while pregnant with one of her daughters after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend.

Muldrows first pregnancy was at 16, and she hired a lawyer to be able to have an abortion as a minor. She said she doesnt regret that abortion or the one she had at 18, or her subsequent decisions to parent despite the varying medical, social, and economic perils she sometimes faced. But shes firm that these were her decisions to make, and rejected Langs personhood argument.

Our personhood is invalidated every day, Muldrow said. My health matters, and its a factor throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. My body as a tool for breeding, like a cattle animal that can be bred and forced to have kids, is something Im really against, because Im against slavery.

In this room at a historic space in Wisconsins capital city, 14 people from around the state have been recruited to find common ground on abortion amid their deeply divergent stances. The Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being is an experiment designed by Starts With Us, a nonprofit civic organization whose mission is to try to effect change through citizen solutions and show that people on opposite sides of controversial issues can come to a mutual understanding when they engage in guided mediation.

Founded in 2021, Starts With Us launched its first project last year on gun rights and safety in Tennessee, following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. KIND Snacks founder and Shark Tank entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky has said that, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was motivated to co-found this nonprofit to address toxic polarization and extremist thinking. Other founding partners include renowned chef Jose Andres, civil rights activist Bernice King, and hip-hop artist will.i.am.

For its second session, held for three days in Madison in December 2023 and for a final day this month, Starts With Us invited 14 Wisconsinites to tackle what has become a galvanizing political issue ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights nearly two years ago.

To us, the opportunity to build and to actually create solutions is the brass ring, Starts With Us CEO Tom Fishman told States Newsroom. But at minimum to have transformative experiences for 14 people in a room and then tell that story is such that it gives people hope and confidence  that at minimum we dont have to  reduce each other as a caricature list of talking points on two sides of an issue thats sold to us by algorithms and cable news.

After months of processing the discussions from the sessions with health, legal and policy experts, Starts With Us on Wednesday unveiled what the group achieved consensus on. Wisconsin residents can now rank and comment on the proposals online. At the end of a monthlong public feedback period, the participants will see which proposals have majority support and evaluate next steps, including bringing some or all of the proposals to state lawmakers for consideration.

Why Wisconsin

The team chose Wisconsin because of its dynamic politics  a swing state with a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature, and a liberal-leaning state supreme court  and because its one of more than a dozen states that banned abortion in the wake of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. Abortion services resumed in Wisconsin last year, after a Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 feticide law does not apply to abortion, but litigation continues, as do further attempts to restrict abortion. Earlier this year the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a 14-week abortion ban that failed to advance in the Senate. As of now, abortion can be performed until 20 weeks post-fertilization.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision attempted to reconcile biological complexities and diverse moral worldviews regarding pregnancy, developing life, and reproductive autonomy. Dobbs changed that by letting states make their own abortion laws. And in many states that has meant conservative lawmakers pursuing hardline restrictions and even resurrecting laws from the 1800s, as in Arizona. These policy changes have broadly impacted maternal health care throughout the U.S.

A majority of voters post-Dobbs are showing they dont want strict abortion bans. Already in six blue, purple, and red states voters have preserved abortion rights directly on the ballot, and about a dozen more are trying to do the same in November. Spurred by the fall of Roe, some have gotten into politics, like Wisconsin participants Heather Martell, now a Chippewa Falls alderman, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who this month launched a bid for Congress as a Democrat in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District (she has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status). Lyerly is among several OB-GYNS around the U.S. who have sued their states for criminalizing pregnancy termination, which they believe cannot be divorced from standard medical care.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said they recruited individuals based on their nuanced public views on abortion and their willingness to come to the table with opponents on this issue. She said hundreds of Wisconsinites were contacted but many never responded. The selected participants were each paid travel expenses and a $900 honorarium for four days of their time and effort.

The chosen 14 consist of 11 women and three men. Five (three women, two men) mostly oppose abortion; they are white, range in age from 25 to 76, and identify as Catholic or Protestant. The remaining nine include four Black women, one Hispanic woman, and range in age from mid-30s to mid-70s, and identify as Unitarian, Jewish, and atheist. Theres a lot of overlap in the whole group. Several have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. Most are parents.

How abortion views are born

From day one there is resounding agreement around the table that the current health, economic, and legal systems do not work for many families in Wisconsin or the country at large. Roe and Dobbs flipped the overall legality of abortion, but neither federal court decision addressed the underlying economic and social factors that, according to reproductive-health researchers at the University of California San Francisco, lead many to choose abortion  nor did they address the limited reproductive, prenatal and maternal care access around the U.S.

But the larger debate in the room, and outside of it, is who gets to make decisions in a given pregnancy: the person who is pregnant or the state? And at what point should the developing life be protected from termination?

Though life-of-the-mother exceptions exist in most of the current abortion bans, stories about women being denied health care pervade around the country. Patients who have been able to travel and survive their experiences have sued. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether doctors should be protected from prosecution under federal law if they provide abortion care to a patient in an emergency, even in a state with an abortion ban.

Also becoming more pervasive are stories about women denied abortions despite a fetuss fatal anomalies. The same weekend the group met in Madison, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a court order that would have allowed Texan Kate Cox to terminate a non-viable pregnancy, forcing Cox to travel out of state. Its a story that 37-year-old alderman and legal assistant Heather Martell is unfortunately familiar with.

As Martell explained to the other participants, in 2021, she went to her 19th week anatomy scan excited to see what would have been her second living child. But the ultrasound and subsequent detailed scans uncovered a rare disorder known as VACTERL association, which can affect multiple body systems and cause abnormalities in the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidneys, and limbs. The disorder carries varying degrees of severity depending on how many systems are affected, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Martell said her babys case was incredibly rare in that it impacted nearly every part of his body. It was the worst possible prognosis: incompatible with life.

This child would have needed open heart surgery before he was a year old, but wouldnt have been able to have the surgery, because he would have been in late stages of kidney failure, having only one undersized kidney, Martell told States Newsroom in an email after the sessions had concluded.

After a second opinion, Martell and her husband, who is Catholic and was at that time against abortion, sought a termination to spare the suffering of the baby they would name Oliver, which she learned was imminent if he continued to develop. They had to leave the state, because Wisconsin restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

I Googled it, and I found studies that said the fetal nervous system develops fully by 24 to 26 weeks, she told the group during their first day introductory discussions. It gave me 14 days to get an abortion, or kill myself.

Ali Muldrow, who is a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group about how Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women and spoke of her own difficult pregnancies.

Ali Muldrow, who is a mother of three girls and runs an abortion fund in Wisconsin, told the group about how Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than white women and spoke of her own difficult pregnancies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Martell traveled to a Minnesota clinic, where she faced anti-abortion protesters telling her she had other options and where the type of abortion procedure she wanted  an induced stillbirth  was unavailable. That meant she couldnt hold and bury Oliver, which remains a traumatic memory.

Her pregnancy and life experiences solidified Martells belief that reproductive health decisions should be left to patients and their families.

But its all about the child for Laura Brown, a 61-year-old chief financial officer for a nonprofit in West Allis, whos on the board of an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center.

A concern I have is that in almost every discussion I dont hear any mention of the child, said Brown on the second day of the session.

When I talk about abortion, I am talking about the child, Martell said. Im talking about my child.

Martells two previous pregnancies, when she was 19 and then 21, were marked first by a life-threatening miscarriage, and then by intimate partner abuse and extreme pressure to have an abortion, which she resisted. She told States Newsroom it was difficult to hear some of the statements from the abortion opponents at the sessions, including the implication that she didnt consider the life of the child in her abortion decision.

We would have had to pay millions of dollars out of pocket for Oliver to suffer and die. And in the meantime, our living child, Jack, would have become a glass child, Martell said. It isnt easy to watch someone die. Its even harder when it is your own child and sibling. I was not going to allow that to happen to my family. To be accused of not taking the child into consideration when I discuss abortion is a slap in the face, because I did.

Browns view on abortion is also shaped by trauma.

At 20, her affair with a married man culminated in an unplanned pregnancy that she said she felt pressured to end. The man didnt offer any support, she said, and though she didnt want to end the pregnancy, she didnt see other options. Brown alleges that a counselor at the Planned Parenthood sensed she was not sure about her decision and tricked her into believing she had an ectopic pregnancy that was not viable.

After the procedure began, Brown said she asked the doctor to stop and recalled him telling her, You should have thought of that before. The experience made her feel violated and eventually suicidal and informed her unbending view that abortion is not health care, she said.

Like Martell, Brown still mourns the baby that would never be born.

Three charts with guidelines participants in the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being project are following as they try to arrive at some consensus on potential abortion policies.

These charts have guidelines participants in the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being project are following as they try to arrive at some consensus on potential abortion policies. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Brown said she turned to God and is now a regional coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which shares stories of those who say they were harmed by abortion, and is affiliated with the national anti-abortion-rights group Priests for Life. She told States Newsroom that years ago, her daughter went into labor at 26 weeks and the medical care she received allowed her baby to be born very small but healthy. These life experiences have made it difficult for Brown to approve any reason for abortion, including if theres a health risk, fetal anomaly, or the pregnant person is a child or victim of sexual abuse.

Because abortion is traumatic, its also physically traumatic to force a young person to go through that. And then what happens is that the young person is a victim, and then they actually turn into a perpetrator, Brown told States Newsroom in an interview. Giving birth is less traumatic than having an abortion and later realizing what you did.

The majority of those who oppose abortion in this group believe in the concept of personhood for all unborn children, starting at the early stages of fertilization. It is the principle behind banning some forms of contraception that can prevent implantation, as well as in vitro fertilization, which since the Alabama Supreme Courts controversial ruling that frozen embryos are equivalent to human children, has proven to be very politically unpopular.

Martell told States Newsroom that hearing Browns story helped her understand how someone becomes an abortion-rights opponent.

For me it was very interesting to see someone who regretted it, and how easily my life view could have been shaped by that one choice, Martell said. Had I not experienced that [pregnancy] loss in 2006, in 2008, I might have succumbed to that kind of peer pressure [to have an abortion], and who knows, I could have ended up like Laura, living with that shame and that regret. And if Laura had had a situation where she had put her foot down and said  Im having this kid, maybe she would have been pro-choice now.

Brown said she agrees with separation of the embryo or fetus in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies, but she believes abortion is over-recommended and not always necessary to save maternal life. With our medical advancements, high risk pregnancies can definitely be mitigated and cared for.

But in this group, no one understands the medical nuance of pregnancy better than Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a white, 54-year-old OB-GYN and mother of four who has provided abortions throughout her career. When she herself needed a second-trimester abortion procedure after miscarrying years ago, she told the group she couldnt find a doctor in Madison qualified to perform what she described as a complex and politicized procedure. Lyerly now commutes to Minnesota for work; she stopped performing abortions in her home state in 2023 while Wisconsins abortion ban was briefly in effect.

When gestational limits or narrow health exceptions are proposed, Lyerly consistently pointed out that things happen progressively in pregnancy and that each case is different. Were philosophizing. Were not in the middle of it like my patients are, she said. When in the middle of it, you sometimes do things you wouldnt expect.

The only other doctor in the room is Jeff Davis, a white, semi-retired bovine veterinarian from southwest Wisconsin who has been involved with crisis pregnancy centers. He said his earliest defining moment on this issue happened on his familys farm in Illinois.

My whole pro-life view on life began when I was like 12 years old, and my hand was small enough to get inside the vagina of a ewe to pull out some twin baby lambs, Davis told States Newsroom. It was so exhilarating to be able to do that because if not, she might have had dead lambs.

Davis believes that terminating pregnancies at any stage is wrong because it ends life. His belief was solidified by the birth of his children, the viewing of his first grandchild on an ultrasound, and his Catholic faith.

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No magic solutions

But when given the hypothetical, the majority of Americans take a middle position, explained Charles Franklin, a professor of law and public policy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, one of three subject-matter experts to address the group that weekend. The Marquette Law School Poll director has been polling Wisconsinites on abortion for years, and he said the overall numbers havent changed much.

Marquettes most recent poll, from June 2023, finds that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all.

A few in the group take that middle view, like Jacob VandenPlas, a white veteran and farmer who runs a rehabilitation farm for other veterans in Sturgeon Bay and has run for Congress (the same district as Lyerly, but as a Libertarian). The father of two said he thinks abortion should be allowed until approximately 15 weeks gestation and then qualified with exceptions for fetal and maternal health, rape and incest.

I dont believe the government has a place to dictate what someone can and cant do, VandenPlas said. It doesnt mean I have a disregard for life. Im not happy about abortions and want to solve the root cause.

Morality is so personal; I struggle with assigning it, said domestic violence advocate Monique Minkens. The 55-year-old Black mother and executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin told the group that she personally opposes abortion later in pregnancy, but that she doesnt believe in imposing limits. She noted that she has worked with people trying to avoid being tethered to an abuser for life.

Late-term abortion, thats hard, Minkens said. I cant see someone carrying a child, feeling it kicking, and then being given an abortion. And yet I know that there are times when someone says, your child is dead, youre going to have to push out this child, or your child is going to die as soon as theyre born, or whatever it is, and your life is in danger. Im not going to pull out my morality on them.

Abortion polling numbers vary widely, Franklin explained to the group, depending on where people live throughout the state, their politics, their race, their religion, and when presented with real-life circumstances, like Martells husband.

Theres no magic solutions here, Franklin said. Im not trying to present you with solutions. But what I am trying to do is say we need to understand what the broad public is thinking when they think about these things and get a little bit away from the common impression that we have two monolithic, adamantly opposed groups.  Were divided, though a majority in almost every measure say they favor legal abortion in at least some circumstances.

As predicted, the solutions this group ends up with months later are not magical, though they are, the participants will eventually agree, positive steps toward improving reproductive health access and family well being in Wisconsin. They include standardizing and ensuring accuracy in pregnancy options information, and expanding health insurance coverage. The group is almost but ultimately unable to come up with abortion-specific policy agreements.

But while these participants were still in the thick of debating and trying to see past their own trauma-laced biases and experiences, consensus on this issue seemed far away.

I think that well go round and round and round, and I dont know how we reach an understanding, Minkens said at the end of the second day; on the third they would be expected to agree to a list of proposals. Im just thinking about  the history of harm that has happened over the years; its always been the Catholic Church or its always been a Christian state that has done the harm, and that is where Im struggling. Your cold dead hands, my cold dead hands, I dont know where we go from here.

Part 2: The group struggles to find common ground.

Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well Being participants

Laura Brown  A 61-year-old white, Protestant nonprofit chief financial officer from West Allis, who opposes abortion rights.

Jeff Davis  A 76-year-old white, Catholic semi-retired bovine veterinarian and widower with three daughters and eight grandchildren from southwest Wisconsin, who opposes abortion rights.

Milly Gonzales  A Hispanic domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking professional in Door County, who supports abortion rights.

Bria Halama  A white, Catholic clinical mental health counselor in Milwaukee, who opposes abortion rights.

Kateri Klingele  A 25-year-old white, Catholic clinical mental health professional and mother in Madison, who opposes abortion rights.

Thomas Lang  A 61-year-old white, Catholic property manager from Janesville, who opposes abortion rights.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly  A 54-year-old white OB-GYN, mother of four, and abortion provider from Green Bay. (She has since stepped away from Starts With Us because her campaign conflicts with their nonprofit status.)

Heather Martell  A 37-year-old white mother, legal assistant, and Chippewa Falls alderman, who supports abortion rights.

Kai Gardner Mishlove  A Black grief doula and the director of Jewish Social Services of Madison, who supports abortion rights.

Patricia McFarland  A 75-year-old white abortion-rights activist, mother, grandmother, and retired college teacher.

Monique Minkens  A 55-year-old Black executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, who believes abortion should be available to everyone.

Ali Muldrow  A 36-year-old Black mother of three daughters and the executive director of the abortion fund WMF Wisconsin in Madison.

Jacob VandenPlas  A 39-year-old white veteran and farmer from Sturgeon Bay, who used to oppose abortion but now believes it should be available with limits later in pregnancy.

Ramona Williams  A Black mother and regional nonprofit coordinator who supports abortion rights.

The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
146 combined charges for 3 after drug bust at Parkway Village hotel

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Three people are facing dozens of charges after a drug bust at a Parkway Village hotel revealed large amounts of illegal weapons and narcotics, police say.

According to an affidavit, on Thursday afternoon at around 1 p.m., several police units executed a narcotics search warrant at 3896 Lamar Avenue.

Dewayne Dukes was the target of the warrant, but two others, Morgan Matheson and Dylisha Lovelady, were also found inside. All three suspects were taken into custody.

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A detective on the scene said that during Dukes arrest, he told officers that Matheson and Lovelady had nothing to do with the room.

A search of the hotel room revealed a large amount of drugs and guns.

Several duffle bags, firearms, and narcotics were found in the ceiling tiles above the toilet in the bathroom. It was determined that the narcotics found were fentanyl, oxycodone, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine.

Along with the drugs, 13 firearms and 7 scales were also found in the hotel room.

Below is a list of the total amount of narcotics found during the drug bust, according to police.

Fentanyl  15.4 grams

Cocaine  7 grams

Ecstasy (MDMA)  171 pills

Methamphetamine  35.1 grams

Oxycodone  132.5 pills

Marijuana  568.6 grams

Three thousand dollars was recovered from Matheson, but she allegedly told detectives that Dukes handed her the money when he entered the hotel room. Eleven hundred dollars was also found in Dukes pockets. The money was believed to be drug proceeds and was seized.

Dewayne Dukes and Morgan Matheson are each facing 53 drug-related charges. Those charges are listed below.

13 counts of convicted felon in possession of a handgun

13 counts of unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon

13 counts of possessing a firearm during commission/attempt to commit a dangerous felony

7 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia

Theft of firearm less than $2,500

Possession of methamphetamine felony

Possession of cocaine with intent

Possession of marijuana with intent

3 counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent

Dylisha Lovelady is facing 40 drug-related charges. Those charges are listed below.

13 counts of possessing a firearm during commission/attempt to commit a dangerous felony

13 counts of unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon

7 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia

Theft of firearm less than $2,500

Possession of methamphetamine felony

Possession of cocaine with intent

Possession of ecstacy with intent

Possession of marijuana with intent

2 counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent

Dukes has a criminal history involving drugs. In 2017 he was convicted for possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture/deliver/sell, and was sentenced to four years and six months confinement.

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Reports say he had multiple felony warrants for possession of cocaine with intent, petition to revoke suspended sentence, driving with suspended/revoked license, and possession of a controlled substance with intent.

Matheson also showed to be a convicted felon. In 2022, she pleaded guilty to theft of property $10,000-$60,000, and was sentenced to two years and six months supervised release.

Dukes, Matheson, and Lovelady are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
16 California fallen firefighters to be honored at national memorial next month

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will host its annual Memorial Weekend next month, a yearly opportunity to remember and celebrate firefighters and emergency personnel who died in the line of duty.

Among the more than 200 firefighters to be honored are 16 who served in the state of California.

CAL FIRE and Los Angeles County accounts for the majority of those firefighters. Many died from complications of cancer, which was later deemed by the State of California to be a line-of-duty death.

The California firefighters to be honored next month are below:

Assistant Chief Joshua Bischof , 46, of CAL FIRE

Captain Timothy Rodriguez , age 44, of CAL FIRE

Pilot Tony Sousa , 55, of Air Shasta Rotor & Wing Inc. Bischof, Rodriguez and Sousa died on Aug. 6, 2023, when two firefighting helicopters collided in Cabazon while fighting the Broadway Wildland Fire in Riverside County.

Firefighter Specialist Robert Brantley , 50, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Brantley died on Jan. 5, 2018, due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter Russell Fagan , 56, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Fagan died on Nov. 24, 2018, due to complications of cancer.

Capt. Brian Falk , 47, of the Kern County Fire Department Falk died on July 14, 2022, from a heart attack suffered while working an overtime shift at Station 23 in Fellows. Falk had responded to a residential structure fire the previous morning.

Firefighter II J acob Flores , 45, of CAL FIRE Flores died on Jan. 14, 2022, due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter Joseph Gandara , 63, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Gandara died on Nov. 3, 2023, due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter II Daniel Geary , 38, of CAL FIRE Geary died on July 5, 2018, due to complications of cancer.

Capt. Scott Gomes , 53, of CAL FIRE Gomes died on Nov. 17, 2022, due to complications of liver and throat cancer.

Capt. William Lee Knott , 65, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Knott died on Nov. 29, 2019, due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter Specialist Samuel Neubauer , 47, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Neubauer died on March 2, 2020, due to complications of cancer.

Capt. Manuel Ramos , 62, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Ramos died on Sept. 8, 2019, due to complications of cancer.

Capt. Kenneth Renz , 58, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Renz died on April 29, 2023, due to complications of cancer.

Battalion Chief Mark Tolbert , 60, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Tolbert died on May 19, 2019, due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter/Paramedic Andrew Valenta , 33, of the Vista Fire Department Valenta died on April 25, 2021, due to complications of metastatic melanoma.



The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a nonprofit organization originally established by Congress, which aims to honor those who have died in the line of duty while also providing resources and programs for their surviving colleagues and loved ones.

Images show a firefighter symbol at the 2023 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (National Fallen Firefighters Association)

Images show a large bell and plaque that honor fallen firefighters at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (National Fallen Firefighters Association)

The National Fallen Firefighters Monument sits at the center of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (National Fallen Firefighters Association)

Each year, the organization hosts the national tribute to the firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year, which is attended by thousands annually.

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year, said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroesand their families.

This year marks the 43rd time the ceremony will be held. It takes place May 4-5 in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where the Foundation is headquartered.

The tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years but have not yet been honored.

Detailed information about all of the firefighters being memorialized can be found on the organizations 2024 Roll of Honor.

Hundreds attend the 2023 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (National Fallen Firefighters Association)

Public events will be streamed on Firehero.org, as well as on the organizations social media pages.

On Saturday, a candlelight service will be held beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday will feature the morning Memorial Service beginning at 7 a.m. All times listed are in Pacific Time and streaming will begin 30 minute prior to the event.

For more information about the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, including information about attending, click here.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer compared to the general public, and 14% more likely to die from it. Cancer is among the leading causes of firefighter deaths in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ASHTABULA, Ohio (WJW)  A local 17-year-old is set to graduate this spring  not with a high school diploma, but with a Bachelors degree.

Selinda Floss, a recent graduate of Edgewood High School, is set to graduate on May 9 with a Bachelors degree in criminology and justice studies from Kent State University.

King Charles III will resume his public duties next week after cancer treatment

She has worked tirelessly since she was in eighth grade to accomplish this feat, Floss mother, Sherilyn Carlo, told FOX 8 News.

While she was in middle school, Floss learned about Ohios College Credit Plus program, which allows students in grades seven through 12 to take college courses for free.

She was instantly interested, Carlo said. In just eighth grade, she started her college journey.

Selinda Floss (Credit: Sherilyn Carlo)

Selinda Floss (Credit: Sherilyn Carlo)

Selinda Floss (Credit: Sherilyn Carlo)

Selinda Floss (Credit: Sherilyn Carlo)

We spoke with her guidance counselor at the middle school who gave us the directives needed to apply. She then went on to take the entrance exam and began taking college courses in January of her eighth-grade year, Carlo said. Selinda gave up every single summer since eighth grade to take classes so that she could achieve her goal that everyone thought was impossible.

During her college journey, Floss suffered the unexpected loss of her father in July 2022, navigated obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic and worked two jobs, Carlo said.

Cause of NE Ohio plane crash now under investigation

[Her jobs] gave her time with her friends that she didnt get to experience while in school, and to earn extra cash for anything that she wanted, as well as provide crucial money management skills necessary for adulthood, Carlo said.

Floss first graduated at the age of 15 with an Associate of Arts degree from Lakeland Community College in 2022. She then went on to attend Kent State Ashtabula/Trumbull, where she is set to receive her Bachelors degree on May 9. She also graduated from Edgewood High School in January of 2024.

In September, Floss was crowned Miss Grapette in 2023s Geneva Grape Jamboree. After that, she traveled around the state to encourage young women not to give up on their hopes and dreams.

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After graduation, Floss wants to study law at the University of Alabama. After that, shed like to return to Ohio to study at the School of Law at Case Western Reserve University or Cleveland-Marshall Law School at Cleveland State University, Carlo said.

She hopes to fight the human trafficking atrocities that are currently so prevalent. She has a great passion for this. In fact, that is the reason she went into criminal justice to begin with, Carlo said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Who are the 18 indicted co-conspirators in the Arizona fake electors scheme?

Rudy Giuliani appears to have been indicted related to a fake electors scheme in Arizona in 2020 (AP)

An Arizona grand jury indicted 18 individuals for their role in an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election in favour of Donald Trump by falsely certifying the states 2020 election results.

The states Attorney General Kris Mayes has so far released the names of 16 of those charged, explaining that two of the defendants names have been redacted but will be released after all defendants have been served.

Eleven names were first released on Wednesday, but on Friday, the states Attorney General also revealed the names of five more defendants, all of whom were once Trump allies: John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Jenna Ellis, and Michael Roman.

Disgraced former New York City Mayor Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani appears to be the only the defendants left in the redacted group.

The indictment accuses the defendants of committing the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald J Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted.

The defendants scheme relied on their false claims to be duly elected and qualified electors, the filing says.

The plot ultimately failed when then-Vice President Mike Pence certified the election for Joe Biden after the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The 11 indicted individuals who were initially named were selected to be the states Republican Party Presidential Electors in 2020. Each was charged with the same nine counts of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

Here is what we know about those indicted:

Dr Kelli Ward

An outspoken Trump supporter, Dr Ward was the chair of the Arizona Republican party from 2019 through 2023. Before that, she served as a state Senator from 2013 through 2015, when she resigned to run for a US Senate seat in 2016; she lost in the GOP primary to incumbent Senator John McCain. She was defeated in another bid for the US Senate in 2018.

The indictment states that she arranged the fake electors vote on December 14, 2020, when she voted for Trump-Pence as a fake elector and falsely stating that she was duly elected and qualified.

After casting her vote, she declared the Arizona Republican electors as the true electors.

On December 14, 2020, the Republican Party of Arizona tweeted its plan to convene to cast votes for Mr Trump, she replied, Oh yes we did! We are the electors who represent the legal voters of Arizona #Trump2020 #MAGA

Months later, she later urged Mr Pence to accept false electoral votes for Trump-Pence on January 6, the filing says.

Maggie Haberman of the New York Timesreported that Ms Ward told Mr Pences then-Chief of Staff Marc Short in late 2020 that the Arizona Republican party would not have joined a lawsuit claiming that the vice president could accept and reject electors at will had Trump not been okay with it.

She was born and raised in West Virginia and later earned a medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she met her now-husband Michael Ward, who is also a defendant in the case.

Dr. Kelli Ward, left, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, talks with a supporter of President Donald Trump as they join the crowd at a rally outside the Arizona Capitol, Nov. 7, 2020 (AP)

This isnt the first time Ms Ward has been embroiled in scandal.

In January, Dr Ward was accused of assaulting a woman who questioned her involvement in an Arizona Republican Party meeting, seeing as Dr Ward was no longer the party chair, the Arizona Mirror reported. She was never charged over the alleged incident.

In her second US Senate bid in 2018, she claimed that an announcement John McCain was ending his cancer treatment was made to paint a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me.

She later apologised, saying, I do understand how many could have misconstrued my comments as insensitive The intention of my comments were in no way directed at Senator McCain or his family.

Two days after Senator McCain died in August 2018, she tweeted: Political correctness is like a cancer!

Tyler Bowyer

Mr Bowyer is a member of the Republican National Committee and serves as the chief operating officer of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point Action.

He voted for Trump while claiming to be a qualified elector and made statements indicating that he intended to have Pence accept the false electoral votes for Mr Trump on January 6, the indictment states.

Two years ago, he told The Arizona Republic that he was an elector for the states Republican party, but said he didnt know all the details and facts around the alleged fake electors scheme.

On 14 December 2020, Mr Bowyer tweeted, Today I was proud to cast my vote as Republican Elector for Arizona for Donald J Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The results have been transmitted to proper parties for consideration by Congress on January 6th and litigation and investigation into the election continues.

He has also touted that he was a primary organizer and speaker at Mr Trumps Phoenix rally in July 2015.

Nancy Cottle

Ms Cottle was the chair of the Arizona Republican Presidential Electors. She has also served on the Maricopa County Republican Committee and the Republican Party of Arizona executive committee.

She is accused of voting for the Trump-Pence as a fake elector and falsely stated that she was duly elected and qualified.

She serves on the Arizona Federation of Republican Women.

A memo from 14 December 2020 shows that Ms Cottle sent the Certificate Of The Votes Of The 2020 Electors From Arizona to the President of the Senate, the Archivist of the United States, Arizonas Secretary of State, and the chief judge of the US District Court District of Arizona.

Ms Cottle was subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

She also led the pledge of allegiance at a 2022 Trump rally in Florence, Arizona.

Jacob Hoffman

Jake Hoffman is currently a Republican Arizona state Senator. But at the time of the allegations, he was a representative-elect in the Arizona Legislature. He is also the founder and chair of the Arizona Freedom Caucus.

Like the others, Mr Hoffman was charged with voted for Mr Trump as a fake elector on 14 December 2020.

Following his vote as an Arizona Republican elector, the indictment states, Mr Hoffman urged Pence, in a letter dated January 5, 2020, to delay accepting Arizonas certified Democrat elector votes on January 6, 2021, during the Joint Session of Congress in Washington DC.

After the indictment was announced, on Thursday, the State Freedom Caucus Network issued a statement saying the group stands with Mr Hoffman and Anthony Kern, another defendant and member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus.

The group wrote, Their crimes? Supporting President Trump after the 2020 election. Alternate electors have been a part of Americas electoral process for decades.

The State Freedom Caucus Network said it looks forward to a swift acquittal of these bogus charges.

Mr Hoffman told the Associated Press that Attorney General Mayes was weaponising her office by bringing the case. Let me be unequivocal, I am innocent of any crime, I will vigorously defend myself, and I look forward to the day when I am vindicated of this naked political persecution by the judicial process, he told the outlet.

Anthony Kern

Mr Kern has served as an Arizona state senator, is a member of the Freedom Caucus, and is now running for a US Congressional seat in his home state. His bio on the Arizona state legislature website details that he firmly believes in the United States Constitution.

The state senator voted for Mr Trump as a fake elector on 14 December 2020, the indictment says.

Republican Rep. Anthony Kern argues in support of a provision in the Arizona budget package that strips cash from Maricopa County Sheriffs Office, May 4, 2017, in Phoenix (AP)

After that, Mr Kern continued to urge Arizona officials and Pence to accept the Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6.

He was photographed in restricted areas outside the Capitol building during the January 6 riot.

James Lamon

Mr Lamon, the founder of energy company DEPCOM Power, ran for a US Senate seat in Arizona in 2022 but lost in the GOP primary.

He was also accused of falsely claiming to be duly and elected and qualified when he voted as a fake elector for Mr Trump in December 2020.

Robert Montgomery

Mr Montgomery served as the chair of the Cochise County Republican Committee in 2020.

The indictment accused him of voting for the Trump-Pence ticket as a fake elector in December of that year.

Samuel Moorhead

Mr Moorhead is a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County.

He also cast his vote for the former president in December 2020 as a fake elector, the indictment states.

Lorraine Pellegrino

Ms Pellegrino served as the Secretary of the Arizona Republican fake presidential electors, the filing states.

She previously served as the former president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women

Ms Pellegrino is also accused of casting her vote for Mr Trump and Mr Pence on 14 December 2020 as a fake elector.

Gregory Safsten

Mr Safsten was the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party.

He is accused of helping Ms Ward organize the fake electors vote and of voting for Trump as a fake elector.

Michael Ward

Mr Ward is the husband of co-defendant Kelli Ward and is also a doctor. His X bio says, The J6 Committee fascists hate America. #UltraMAGA Married to #SuperUltraMAGA Warrior @kelliwardAz.

The indictment charges him with serving as a fake elector and voting for Mr Trump.

Kelli Ward, with her husband Michael Ward at her side, concedes to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the race for the Republican nomination to U.S. Senate, August 30, 2016 (AP)

In January 2019, he was accused of spitting in the eye of one of his wifes former volunteers, who apparently then backed her 2019 primary rival Martha McSally, according to The Arizona Republic.

12. Rudy Giuliani?

Although some of the names were redacted, some descriptions, which were not redacted, made their identities clear. Mr Giuliani was one of them.

The description believed to be referring to Mr Giuliani says the individual is frequently referred to as the Mayor and was an attorney for Unindicted Coconspirator 1  who is a former president of the United States who spread false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election.

He spread false claims of election fraud in Arizona and nationally shortly after November 3, 2020, the filing says.

He pressured the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Arizona legislators to change the outcome of Arizonas election, and he was responsible for encouraging Republican electors in Arizona and in six other contested states to vote for Trump-Pence on December 14, 2020, the indictment reads.

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Washington, December15, 2023. (AP)

A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani told The Independent in a statement: Mayor Rudy Giulianione of the most effective prosecutors in American history who took down the Mafia, cleaned up the streets of New York and locked up corrupt public officialsis proud to stand up for the countless Americans who raised legitimate concerns surrounding the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.

The bankrupt ex-mayor was also indicted in Georgia in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sprawling criminal case related to another fake electors scheme among other charges.

Separately, on Wednesday in Michigan, a state investigator testified that he considered Mr Giuliani to be an unindicted co-conspirator in the slate of alternate electors scheme in the state.

13. John Eastman

Mr Eastman was described as an attorney who encouraged the GOP electors to vote on 14 December 2020 and spread false claims of widespread election fraud. He also pressured the legislature in Arizona and six other states to change the outcome of the election, citing urging the then-Arizona Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers to convene a Special Session to decertify Arizonas presidential electors, telling him to just do it and let the court sort it out.

Additionally, on the same day, the attorney went to the White House to meet with Unindicted Coconspirator 1, Vice President Pence, and others to convince Pence to reject or at least delay the confirmation of the lawfully chosen electors two days later at the Joint Session of Congress.

Mr Bowers testified to the House January 6 Committee in 2022 that Mr Eastman contacted him in early January, encouraging him to schedule a vote to decertify the electors because we had plenary authority to do so.

John Eastman sits in Fulton Superior Court in Atlanta during a hearing on January 19, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia (Getty Images)

The then-Arizona Republican Speaker of the House added, I took an oath  for me to take that, to do what you do would be counter to my oath.

A lawyer for Mr Eastman told The Arizona Republic after the indictment had been handed down: Dr. Eastman does know, of course, but we havent had a chance to delve into it.

14. Boris Epshteyn

A description lists a lawyer and adviser to the Trump Campaigns in 2016 and 2020.

The indictment says he was involved with the scheme to submit false Republican electors votes for Mr Trump and to obstruct the certification process on January 6 during the Joint Session of Congress.

15. Jenna Ellis

Ms Ellis was described as a former attorney for the Trump Campaign who worked closely with lobbied Arizonas Republican legislators after the 2020 presidential election to disregard the popular vote in Arizona.

She additionally helped organize the false Arizona Republican electors votes on December 14, 2020, the indictment says.

Ms Ellis was also indicted in Georgia, where she pleaded guilty.

16. Christina Bobb

Ms Bobb was a correspondent for OAN. Last month, she was tapped by the Republican National Committee to lead its election integrity program.

An individual was an attorney for the Trump Campaign who made false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states, the filing says.

She encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election. She also encouraged Pence to accept the false Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6, the indictment says.

Steven Cheung, Mr Trumps spokesperson, told Newsweek: Another example of Democrats weaponization of the legal system. Christina Bobb is a former Marine Corps officer, who served our nation and the President with distinction. The Democrat platform for 2024: if you cant beat them, try to throw them in jail.

Ms Bobb was sued in the defamation cases brought by Dominion and Smartmatic voting system companies.

17. Mike Roman

This defendant is referred to as the Director of Election Day Operations for the Trump Campaign  Mr Romans role  that worked with others to organize the false Republican electors votes in Arizona and in six other states.

The indictment also accuses him of refusing to add contingency language to the Republican electors vote certificates.

18. Mark Meadows?

The description thought to belong to Mr Meadows describes the individual as Chief of Staff in 2020.

He worked with members of the Trump Campaign to coordinate and implement the false Republican electors votes in Arizona and six other states.

Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington (AP)

The individual was involved in the many efforts to keep Unindicted Coconspirator 1 in power despite his defeat at the polls, the indictment states.

Mr Meadows was also indicted in Ms Willis election interference case in Georgia, although on charges unrelated to the fake electors scheme there.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 26. The chairman of the Turkmenaragatnashyk Agency (Turkmen Communications), Khadzhimyrat Khudaiguliyev, discussed the prospects of partnership in the space industry with a high-ranking delegation of the French Airbus company, Trend reports.

According to the official source, at meetings of the leadership of the communications department of Turkmenistan with representatives of Airbus, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world and a leading developer of telecommunications solutions for the aerospace and transport industries, prospects for cooperation and the implementation of joint projects, including in the space sector, were discussed.

The Turkmen side noted that cooperation with Airbus opens up unique opportunities for Turkmenistan in the field of space, and in the international context, the development of the space industry plays an important role, and Turkmenistan, having become a reliable partner of the largest companies, is ready to actively introduce advanced technologies and promote space research in the region and the world.

The parties expressed their willingness to cooperate and stressed the importance of long-term strategic partnership in the field of space technologies, while noting that this meeting marks an important stage in the development of Turkmenistan's space industry and strengthens its status as an active participant in international space programs and research.

Meanwhile, cooperation between Airbus and Turkmenistan extends to various fields, including aviation, the space industry, and infrastructure projects.

In general, Airbus provides Turkmenistan with advanced technologies and solutions in the field of aviation, such as modernization and renewal of the air fleet, as well as consulting on the development of airports and infrastructure projects.

Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
18-year-old and 17-year-old shot in face in apartment shooting on South Side: CPD

CHICAGO  An 18-year-old man and 17-year-old boy are in critical condition after being shot in the face inside an apartment in the citys South Shore neighborhood.

Police said two offenders entered a residential apartment in the 7400 block of South Kingston around 11:24 p.m. Thursday, and began shooting at the victims.

According to police, the 18-year-old was shot in the jaw and right arm. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. The 17-year-old was shot in the right side of the head and cheek and transported to the same hospital in critical condition.

Woman thwarts attempted sex assault by biting mans finger on Near West Side

A rifle was recovered on the scene, police say. Circumstances surrounding the shooting are unknown at this time.

No one is in custody. Area One Detectives are investigating.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Update: The San Francisco Fire Department has contained the fire.

(KRON)  Two San Francisco Fire Department crews are working to extinguish a large fire in a 4-story building at Lyon and Clay Street in Presidio Heights. The SFPD said on X, there are 60 firefighters currently at the scene.

San Francisco Fire Department

The San Francisco Police Department is asking residents to shut their windows due to the heavy smoke.

This story is developing. Stay tuned with KRON4 for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A dog was killed and two elderly residents were injured in a house fire Friday morning in Suffolk, firefighters say.

It broke out around 10:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Eagle Lane in the Chuckatuck area. Photos from Suffolk Fire & Rescue show heavy smoke and flames throughout the one-story home.

Firefighters say the two people who were hurt were occupants of the home, and they were in the process of evacuating when crews arrived. They were taken to the hospital. One of the occupants is reported to be in serious condition, while the other has injuries. A dog was also killed as a result of the fire.

Firefighters work a fire on Eagle Lane in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

A firefighter at the Eagle Lane house fire in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

Firefighters work a fire on Eagle Lane in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

Firefighters work a fire on Eagle Lane in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

Firefighters work a fire on Eagle Lane in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

Firefighters work a fire on Eagle Lane in Suffolk on April 26, 2024 (Courtesy of Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

No firefighters reported injuries, Fire Chief Michael Barakey says.

The fire was knocked down at 11:06 a.m.

Theres no word on what caused it at this time, but the fire marshal is investigating.

Rhoda Kelly told 10 On Your Side her grandmother and father were inside. She learned about the fire on Facebook by seeing the WAVY article.

I couldnt stop trembling. I felt her pain, she said.

Kelly said her father tried to save the dog.

My dad tried to save the dog from what I was hearing, and he went back into the house, and he got a lot of smoke and got burned, Kelly said.

She said her father is being transported to another hospital to get more care. Kelly said he grandmother is doing better than her father, but is heartbroken over her beloved dog.

She is crying a lot because she lost her dog. She loved that dog, Kelly said.

She said her grandmother lived in the home for around 6 decades.

She has been here over 60 years, Kelly said. I grew up in this house. Its a lot to processMy grandmama will probably have to stay with me until they can do something else.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue said the Red Cross is assisting the family.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
After a six-hour standoff, two people, including the suspect, are dead after a gunman opened fire at an Anaheim senior living complex on Thursday.

The deadly shooting happened at the Tyrol Plaza Senior Apartments located near State College Boulevard and Vermont Avenue at around 3:40 p.m.

The female victim, who was not identified, is the manager of the apartment complex.

A witness, Joe Guerrero, said he was speaking with the manager at the leasing office when the suspect suddenly entered the room.

The suspect, who lives in the complex, approached them and shot the manager multiple times at close range.

He just came up to her and shot her four times, Guerrero said. I just cant believe what happened. I thought he was going to shoot me next, but he just looked at me and took off.

Two people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting at a Anaheim senior apartment complex on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

The male suspect barricaded himself inside his third-floor apartment after fatally shooting the complex manager on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

The male suspect barricaded himself inside his third-floor apartment after fatally shooting the complex manager on April 25, 2024. (KTLA)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

Two people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting at a Anaheim senior apartment complex on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

SWAT Team members surrounded an Anaheim senior apartment complex after a woman was shot to death on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

Two people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting at a Anaheim senior apartment complex on April 25, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

The suspect then barricaded himself inside his third-floor apartment.

SWAT Team members and a large police presence surrounded the building and evacuated several residents. Multiple schools in the area also went into temporary lockdown.

I was asleep in my room and I heard gunshots, recalled a tenant who did not wish to be identified. I get up and five minutes later, police are surrounding the building. Someone on the third floor shot at the manager. Its crazy.

The woman was rushed to a local hospital by paramedics. She later died from her injuries.

The suspect remained barricaded inside his apartment for around six hours before he reportedly shot and killed himself.

The motive behind the shooting and details of the relationship between the suspect and the victim remain unclear.

Residents, including Guerrero who moved into the complex five months ago, remain shocked over the deadly incident.

Shes a nice lady, Guerrero said. I dont know what happened but [the suspect] just mentioned a couple words and then he shot her.

The fatal incident remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two more people have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting deaths of a Clarksville couple earlier this month.

Savannah Lumpkin, 30, and 26-year-old Glenn Nicholson were found shot to death on Martin Street just after 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8.

Family of murdered Clarksville man pleads for information

On Wednesday, April 24, Clarksville police announced investigators, intel analysts and other officers worked together to charge 20-year-old Tyson Mullins and Tristan Riley, 36, for the murders of Lumpkin and Nicholson.

(Courtesy: Shaqueta Nicholson)

Detectives have identified and arrested two more suspects involved in the double homicide of Lumpkin and Nicholson.

 Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

On Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy from Oak Grove, Kentucky was taken into custody by the Hopkinsville Police Department and transported to a juvenile detention facility in Kentucky. He is currently awaiting extradition to Tennessee and his name was not immediately released.

Agents with Clarksville polices Special Operations Unit arrested 20-year-old Christopher Watkins, of Hopkinsville, on Thursday, April 25. He was taken into custody at a home in Clarksville and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

Christopher Watkins (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department)

Tristan Riley (Courtesy: Cook County jail via Clarksville police)

Tyson Mullins (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department)

(Photo: WKRN)

Both have been charged with two counts of criminal homicide.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Riley was arrested on Friday, April 12 in Chicago with the help of the Chicago Police Departments Fugitive Recovery Team. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Clarksville. Mullins was arrested Tuesday, April 23 and booked into the Montgomery County jail. He was charged with two counts of homicide.

This is still an active and ongoing investigation. No additional information was released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CAROLINA FOREST, S.C. (WBTW)  Two students have been charged after a bomb threat at Carolina Forest High School late Thursday evening, Horry County police said Friday.

The students were charged with communicating a school threat. They were issued a juvenile summons and taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.

Their actions created further worry, unrest and misinformation in our community, Horry County police spokesperson Mikayla Moskov said. We will hold individuals accountable for their illegal activities.

Moskov said another threat was received on Friday, bringing the total to five. Authorities conducted a search with swiftness and efficiency and the threat was found to be another hoax. Multiple officers will remain at the school throughout the day on Friday.

HCPD takes the safety and security of our local students, faculty and school campuses seriously. Any and all threats will continue to be investigated and those responsible held accountable for their actions, Moskov said. That said, significant resources have been expended this week for threats that ultimately proved to be fake, some created by local individuals and some by foreign parties.

The threat called into Horry County authorities Thursday night was the third one directed toward the school since a threatening phone call on Wednesday that led to students being evacuated. All of the threats have been hoaxes, authorities said.

The threat received Thursday night by Horry County police came on the heels of one earlier in the day that authorities said was traced to an internet server in India. That incident began with a bomb threat at the school and was followed by nearly simultaneous calls to Myrtle Beach and Horry County 911 dispatchers about an active shooter in the school.

The server identified in the threat was also linked to another threat on Thursday in the Midwest, Moskov said.

One of the things that I think all Americans agree on is that there are way too many spam phone calls, said Robby Hill, the CEO of Hillsouth IT. I would kind of put these fraudulent bomb threat calls into that category of spam calls.

Authorities also said Thursday that they were aware of additional misinformation in the community surrounding the incident. Some of that information claimed that there was a real threat to safety, police said. However, it appears to have been generated by Artificial Intelligence programs and shared via social media.

I think A.I. is still evolving and its becoming more realistic every day, Hill said. I just dont think the tools are there yet for public or even government yet.

I would say whats happening in this situation is a form of cyberterrorism, Hill continued. Because its internet-based, its very difficult, if not impossible, to trace the actual source of this threat. And yet, it creates fear in our community, which is what the terrorists want.

Hill talked about the accessibility of A.I.

Now, good guys and bad guys, both have access to a lot of more artificial intelligence, he said. So, for example, there are free tools that a bad guy can use. In this A.I. boom rush, that gold rush that were in right now, to generate pictures that look very realistic, you can upload a photo of a school, you can ask A.I. to modify it, and you have this done in seconds. And you can share it along with your fake phone calls, with bomb threats. And it can just be very difficult to ferret this out.

About 3,000 students attend the school as of the 2022-2023 school year, making it one of the largest public high schools in South Carolina.

 Download the News13 app to stay updated on the go

 Sign up for WBTW email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WBTW.com for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.

Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Lakeside Park Elementary students Brock and Brody Nickens were treated to a special surprise Friday morning by the Hendersonville Police Department, their school, and a man they helped rescue.

According to Sumner County Schools, Brock, Brody, and their father were out driving around when one of the boys spotted a badly-injured man, who turned out to be Judge Dee David Gay.

There is no telling how long I would have been there unseen, if these guys hadnt stopped to help, Gay said as he spoke to students at Lakeside Park. The lesson is never ever pass up somebody; talk about being good humans. It doesnt matter how busy you are, it doesnt matter whats going on in your life, if someone needs help, you help them. These guys are my heroes.

Wilson County family travels to Barbados for IVF treatments

School officials said Gay was involved in a serious bicycle crash and was unable to stand due to three broken bones. However, thanks to the boys quick actions, the judge was able to get help.

On Friday, April 26, the district said Gay surprised Brock and Brodys school with a special assembly, during which time he spoke to students about the good Samaritan and honored Brock and Brody with the Good Samaritan Award.

In addition, Hendersonville Police Chief Jim Jones presented the boys with the Outstanding Citizenship Award, and the director of Sumner County Schools, Dr. Scott Langford, commended the boys for their courageous and noble actions, according to officials.

(Courtesy: Sumner County Schools)

(Courtesy: Sumner County Schools)

(Courtesy: Sumner County Schools)

(Courtesy: Sumner County Schools)

(Courtesy: Sumner County Schools)

We are excited to celebrate the extraordinary bravery and compassion demonstrated by Brock and Brody Nickens who exemplify the values of kindness and selflessness, Langford said. Their quick thinking and willingness to help Judge Gay in his time of need showcase the best of our community. We are incredibly proud of their actions and the example they set for us all. Congratulations, Brock and Brody, on your well-deserved recognition as heroes.

Grant offers new equipment for grain bin rescues in Lawrence County

The district said Brock and Brodys parents, Marshall and Melissa Nickens, were in the audience for the celebration, showing how proud they are of both boys for their compassion and empathy.

That is a trait thats hard to teach or train. Its inside of them, so it feels good as a parent that they are making good decisions, Marshall said

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CHICAGO  A 24-hour vigil to honor the men and women of the Chicago Police Department who died in the line of duty is underway Friday.

CPD honor guard members are standing watch at Gold Star Memorial Park honoring the Gold Star families. A total of 601 flags are posted at the site, each representing an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice  including officer Luis Huesca who was killed earlier this week.

The 24-hour memorial pays respect to fallen CPD officers with honor guard members standing watch for several hours on 30-minute rotations each.

Its open to the community and police say anyone is welcome to stop by, something they encourage and appreciate.

The vigil is somber, but this week it brings with it an even greater heartache as CPD mourns the loss of Officer Huesca.

He set a good example: Slain CPD officer Luis Huesca remembered days before being laid to rest

Huesca was shot multiple times and killed as he arrived home from work Sunday morning. The motive for his murder still is not clear, but sources said his gun and badge were both taken in the attack.

His SUV was also stolen, but later recovered.

Huesca would have turned 31 two days after his murder. Now the department and his family are preparing to lay him to rest.

Its just a sad state of affairs were on the anniversary of some recent fallen officers that were going to be commemorating in both Springfield and Washington. Last year we lost officer Areanah Preston in a very similar fashion and also Andre Vasquez Lasso, said Sgt. Jorge Rivera of the Chicago Police Department.

CPDs honor guard will stand watch during the services for Officer Huesca before members travel to Springfield and D.C. for National Police Week events honoring fallen officers.

The memorial will go until midnight Friday.

Gold Star families attended the memorial for a wreath laying ceremony to honor their loved ones and all of the officers who gave their life protecting the city.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is accepting a substantial donation to drive future development.

Fawn Moser, Interim Director at the Topeka Zoo, announced in a press release on Friday, April 26 that a donation of $250,000 is being made towards the zoo. This cash comes from Security Benefit, a retirement savings and investments provider, to go towards the zoos next masterplan.

A public campaign kickoff is planned for later in the year to showcase exciting new plans for the zoos future development.

The Topeka Zoo is a treasured asset in our community and one that our company and our employees have supported for decades, said Doug Wolff, Security Benefit CEO. In the past, we have provided funding for the pavilion, Camp Cowabunga, the petting zoo, and more recently for Zoo Lights. We are excited to be a part of a new and dynamic habitat creating great spaces for both guests and new animals for the zoo and the community.

Blind Tiger Brewery wins three awards at international beer cup

We are deeply grateful to Security Benefit for their generous donation, Moser said. Together, we will create transformative experiences that inspire a lifelong passion for sustainability and awareness of our environment.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
$36M Lewis Street Overpass opens Friday in Pasco. How to join the celebration

After years of work, the new Lewis Street overpass in Pasco is set to open Friday.

Pasco is hosting a celebration with a vehicle caravan representing local businesses, the city officials and community members.

Construction on the overpass project began in 2020 and has run significantly over budget, and has caused issues for business owners as street closures prevented them from doing business.

Five blocks of Lewis Street, between 2nd Avenue and Oregon Avenue have been closed since Feb. 26.

A group of downtown Pasco businesses on West Lewis Street between 2nd Avenue and the recently closed underpass are concerned about the survival because of limited access, limited parking and a detour funneling customers away from their businesses.

Cascade Bridge, a Vancouver, Wash. based firm, was awarded the contract in 2021 to build the overpass for $22.3 million, with the cost of the project already totaling more than $36 million.

It replaces an underpass that was seen by many as a symbol of the citys history of racial segregation.

The underpass was built in 1937 and was seen as functionally obsolete for decades and a hazard for pedestrians, said a city news release.

Talks to find funding to replace the underpass began in the 1990s. Some of its major issues included low clearance, narrow lanes, lack of accessibility, poor visibility and tendency to create bottlenecks in traffic.

Traffic recently drives through the Lewis Street underpass that was built in 1937 below the BNSF railroad tracks.

The long awaited project is seen as a step toward connecting the citys central business district with growing eastern Pasco neighborhoods. They hope it will boost accessibility and connectivity.

The overpass stretches from 2nd Avenue on the west side to Oregon Avenue on the east and features a 625-foot four-span concrete structure over the BNSF Railway yard and a 70-foot single span over 1st Avenue, according to the city.

Additionally, the project includes 3,000 feet of new two-lane streets and upgrades to key intersections.

The caravan begins at noon Friday, traveling east from 2nd Avenue, office rally opening the overpass to the public.

The Lewis Street Overpass not only facilitates smoother travel across our city but also enhances safety and accessibility for all residents, including those with disabilities, Pasco Interim Public Works Director Maria Serra said. This project represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to building a more connected and accessible community in Pasco.

The overpass officially opens for traffic this weekend, but work isnt done yet.

Crews will continue working on final touches and landscaping in the coming months, with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for later this year.

Project Highlights:

Accessibility and Safety Improvements: The overpass, with wide, ADA-compliant sidewalks and bicycle lanes, ensures safe, accessible routes for all pedestrians and cyclists.

Community and Economic Advancement: The new overpass is expected to drive economic growth and revitalization, improving access to various parts of the city.

Enhanced Urban Mobility: This crucial structure supports efficient emergency services, freight movement, and public transportation, enhancing overall city logistics and safety.

Lewis Street overpass opening drive route.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 26. The Chairman of the Turkmenaragatnashyk Agency (Turkmen Communications), Khadzhimyrat Khudaiguliyev, discussed the prospects of cooperation in the field of cybersecurity with a high-ranking delegation of the Thales SIX GTS France, Trend reports.

According to an official source, during the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and communication systems, as well as issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of space.

It was noted that Thales SIX GTS France is positioned as the number one in Europe and one of the first in the world in the field of cybersecurity and communication systems, as well as a major player in the field of space.

Furthermore, representatives of both sides expressed interest in deepening cooperation and stressed the importance of a long-term partnership.

The meeting was held within the framework of the International Forum to Attract Foreign Investments in Turkmenistan's Energy Sector, which is taking place in Paris.

Meanwhile, Thales SIX GTS SAS specializes in telecommunications solutions, catering to a diverse range of sectors including aerospace, transportation, defense, and security.

Their offerings encompass communication equipment like electro-acoustics, radar, and television systems, serving a global clientele with innovative technology and reliability.

Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK (AP)  The third day of witness testimony in Donald Trumps hush money trial concluded Thursday after Trumps lawyers got their first chance to question a witness on the stand.

The trial resumed around the same time the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Washington over whether Trump should be immune from prosecution for actions he took during his time as president.

At the trial in Manhattan, veteran tabloid publisher David Pecker took the stand after testifying previously about his longtime friendship with the former president and a pledge he made to be the eyes and ears of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

The testimony was sought to bolster prosecutors premise that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 election through a catch-and-kill strategy to buy up and then spike negative stories. Key to that premise are so-called hush money payments that were paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, along with the doorman.

National Enquirer editor talked of being pardoned by Trump for 2016 electoral fraud

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of those payments and falsely recorded them as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

Currently:

 No one is above the law. Supreme Court will decide if that includes Trump while he was president

 The National Enquirer was the go-to tabloid for many years. Trump helped change that

 Investigator says Trump, allies were uncharged co-conspirators in plot to overturn Michigan election

 Trump trial highlights: David Pecker testifies on catch-and-kill scheme

 Key players: Whos who at Donald Trumps hush money criminal trial

 The hush money case is just one of Trumps legal cases. See the others here

Heres the latest:

HEARING ON CLAIMS OF GAG ORDER VIOLATIONS SCHEDULED AS COURT ADJOURNS

The judge in Donald Trumps hush money trial on Thursday scheduled a hearing for Wednesday on prosecutors latest claims that Trump violated a gag order that bars him from making public statements about witnesses and jurors.

Its unclear if Trump will need to attend Wednesdays scheduled hearing in New York. His campaign has already scheduled back-to-back rallies that day in Wisconsin and Michigan.

The court has adjourned for the day and the jury has left the courtroom.

EX-TABLOID PUBLISHER QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS RECOLLECTION OF DATES

Defense attorney Emil Bove grilled former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker on his recollection of specific dates and meetings, an apparent effort to underscore the difficulty of recalling details relevant to the years-old allegations at the heart of Donald Trumps hush money trial in New York.

After noting Pecker had mistakenly told a grand jury the wrong week that the former president was in New York City, Bove suggested: There are times that there are gaps in your memory that you have to fill in with what you assume happened based on other events.

Pecker rejected that premise. He later told Bove hed met with Manhattan prosecutors between three and five times since the start of the year, as recently as a few weeks ago. He said his testimony was based on his best recollection of the time.

THE DEFENSE TRACES PECKERS LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMP

Defense attorney Emil Bove on Thursday traced former National Enquirer publisher David Peckers long relationship with Donald Trump early in his cross-examination during the former presidents hush money trial in New York.

Bove showed how Pecker had flexed his power to help his friend long before the presidential election.

Bove said back in 1998, the former publishing executive tried to squelch a negative National Enquirer story about Trumps then-wife Marla Maples. Though the story was published anyway, Pecker acknowledged he attempted to stop it.

Seventeen years of providing President Trump with a heads up about potentially negative publicity? asked Bove.

Thats correct, Pecker replied.

The reason for the long-running collaboration, Bove posited, was that Trump helped drive magazine sales  and Pecker wanted to maintain close access to him.

At one point in the 1990s, Pecker testified, the publisher launched Trump Style, a magazine built around Trumps brand and real estate holdings.

Boves questioning also shed light on the origins of the term catch-and-kill, at least as it relates to Trumps case.

Before this investigation started, you had never heard the phrase catch-and-kill, isnt that correct? Bove asked.

Yes, Pecker answered.

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF PECKER BEGINS

Donald Trumps lawyers are getting their first chance to question a witness in the former presidents hush money trial Thursday in New York.

Defense attorney Emil Bove opened his cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker by noting that he managed American Media Inc. to make money and asking about what Pecker has described as its checkbook journalism.

Pecker acknowledged that during his tenure, the tabloid and magazine publisher printed only about half the stories it bought  a fact the defense appears to be eliciting in order to suggest there was nothing unusual or criminal about the catch and kill operations involving claims about Trump.

PECKER SAYS HE STILL CONSIDERS TRUMP A FRIEND

Prosecutors wrapped up their questioning of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker by asking whether he bears former President Donald Trump any ill will.

On the contrary, he said, I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career.

Although they havent spoken since the FBI began investigating the hush money arrangements several years ago  Pecker said he thought it would be inappropriate for them to communicate, given the probe  I still consider him a friend, Pecker said.

Trump looked on stoically as Pecker said so.

When asked earlier Thursday what he thought of Peckers testimony, Trump said he was a nice guy.

FORMER TABLOID PUBLISHER IS VIVID NARRATOR

The silver-haired, mustachioed former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker appeared at ease on his third day on the witness stand Thursday at Donald Trumps hush money trial, calmly bringing to life the machinations he says were involved in identifying and burying stories on Trumps behalf.

He vividly recounted conversations he says he had with Trump and the former presidents onetime lawyer and henchman Michael Cohen. He recalled meetings at Trump Tower and a dinner at the White House.

He shed light on the inner workings of the Enquirer and the supermarket tabloid industry  and its use of checkbook journalism and catch-and-kill tactics  and the frantic race to pay off porn actor Stormy Daniels after the release of Trumps infamous Access Hollywood tape.

Many of the details were previously known, but theyd been relegated to court papers and news articles. At Trumps trial they have a narrator  a grandfatherly figure who made his living in the world of celebrity gossip.

The ex-publisher divided his focus between the jury and the prosecutor questioning him. Jurors looked on, often with rapt attention.

PECKER IS BACK ON THE WITNESS STAND

David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, did not look at Donald Trump while walking by him on his way back to the witness stand at the former presidents hush money trial Thursday in New York.

Pecker testified that Trump invited him to a White House dinner in July 2017 to thank him for helping the campaign  and asked for an update on former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The Enquirer had paid McDougal for the rights to her story claiming an affair with Trump and then kept it under wraps, Pecker testified earlier.

Trump was furious when McDougal gave an interview to CNNs Anderson Cooper in March 2018, Pecker testified.

I thought you had and we had an agreement with Karen McDougal that she cant give any interviews or be on any TV channels, Pecker testified that Trump told him by phone.

He said he explained to Trump that the agreement had been changed to allow her to speak to the press after a 2016 Wall Street Journal article about his tabloids $150,000 payout to McDougal.

Mr. Trump got very aggravated when he heard that I amended it, and he couldnt understand why, Pecker told jurors.

JUDGE SETS STAGE FOR ARGUMENTS ON CONTEMPT

Donald Trump waved his fist as he returned to the courtroom after a lunch break in his hush money trial in New York.

He did not respond to a shouted question about the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard arguments earlier Thursday in his bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Meanwhile, the judge in the New York case signed an order setting in motion arguments, not necessarily immediately, over prosecutors request earlier in the day for more contempt findings against Trump.

Prosecutors had already asked the judge to fine Trump over 10 social media posts they say violate a gag order that bars him from making public statements about witnesses and jurors.

Thursday morning, they flagged four additional episodes, including comments at a press event earlier in the day about key witness David Pecker.

PECKER RECALLS MEETING WITH TRUMP BEFORE INAUGURATION

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker recalled Thursday a meeting with Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2017, about two weeks before his inauguration, at which they discussed former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The testimony came in Trumps hush money trial in New York shortly before the court broke for lunch.

As Pecker recalled it, Trump introduced him to a group of top aides as the National Enquirer owner and joked: He probably knows more than anyone in this room.

After dismissing the aides, Trump asked Pecker for an update on our girl, meaning McDougal, according to Pecker. The Enquirer had paid McDougal for the rights to her story claiming an affair with Trump, Pecker testified earlier.

Pecker said he reassured Trump that McDougal was keeping quiet, and Trump thanked him for handling the matters with McDougal and Dino Sajudin, the former doorman at one of Trumps buildings who was also paid for his claims.

He said that the stories were very embarrassing, Pecker recalled.

EX-PUBLISHER RECALLS TRUMP AS VERY UPSET

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker recalled an irate Donald Trump calling him a day after The Wall Street Journal published an article shortly before the 2016 election.

Peckers testimony came in his third day on the stand in Trumps hush money trial in New York, and as arguments at the Supreme Court in Washington in a separate case over Trumps presidential immunity were concluding.

The Journal article broke the news of the Enquirers $150,000 payment to Karen McDougal for the rights to the former Playboy models story claiming an affair with Trump.

Donald Trump was very upset, saying, How could this happen? I thought you had this under control. Either you or one of your people leaked the story, Pecker testified.

He said he told Trump that perhaps McDougal or someone connected with her had tipped off the Journal.

Our call ended very abruptly. He didnt say goodbye, which was very unusual, Pecker testified.

Pecker testified that Enquirer owner American Medias response to the Journal that the company had not paid people to kill damaging stories about Mr. Trump was a lie.

I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself, and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump, Pecker explained on the witness stand.

The court broke for lunch shortly afterward. Trump left the courtroom without addressing reporters in the hallway.

TESTIMONY TURNS TO STORMY DANIELS

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was asked by a prosecutor Thursday in Donald Trumps hush money trial in New York about porn actor Stormy Daniels and her claim of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. The former president denies it happened.

On the stand, Pecker recalled the night after the public learned of the infamous Access Hollywood tape in which Trump discussed grabbing women sexually without asking permission, when the Enquirers editor at the time called with an urgent matter.

The editor said he had heard from Daniels representatives that she was trying to sell her story and that the tabloid could acquire it for $120,000 if it decided right away, Pecker told jurors.

Pecker said he put his foot down, noting to the editor that the magazine was already $180,000 in the hole for Trump-related catch-and-kill transactions.

I said we already paid $30,000 to the doorman, we already paid $150,000 to Karen McDougal, Pecker recalled. I am not a bank and we are not paying out any further disbursements or monies.

At the same time, Pecker said, he told former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen that he should buy the story and take it off the market to avoid it getting out.

A DISPUTE OVER EXHIBITS

While jurors were on a break Thursday in Donald Trumps hush money trial in New York, both sides debated disputed exhibits that prosecutors want jurors to see.

Some of the disputed evidence, which the judge is keeping out of the trial for now, involved text messages then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard exchanged with a relative around the time of Trumps 2016 election.

At least if he wins, Ill be pardoned for electoral fraud, Howard said in one of the messages, which was read aloud in court by a prosecutor.

In another message, Howard informed his relative that Trump has just been named president elect.

The relatives response  Oh dear  elicited laughter from the gallery when it was read in the courtroom.

The messages were not shown in court.

Trumps lawyers argued the messages were hearsay, not business records, and couldnt be used as evidence.

The jury then returned to hear more from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.

A SPLIT-SCREEN MOMENT FOR NEWS OUTLETS

Former President Trumps hush money trial in New York and his lawyers arguments about presidential immunity before the U.S. Supreme Court provided news outlets with an extraordinary split-screen moment Thursday.

To put it plainly, there is a lot going on, said MSNBCs Jose Diaz-Balart shortly before the Supreme Court arguments started.

MSNBC, Newsmax and NewsNation concentrated fully on the Supreme Court arguments as they were taking place. As they began, Fox News Channel covered them with a small box on its screen giving a live view outside the Manhattan courtroom where Trump was on trial, but it quickly dropped the box.

CNN tried to capture both, its audio carrying the Supreme Court arguments, while a live written blog with details of what was going on in the New York trial took up about one-third of its screen.

The New York Times website carried live blogs of both trials side by side under the headline, Keeping track of Trumps legal woes. News sites for both The Washington Post and The Associated Press also had two live blogs but gave the Supreme Court case more prominence than the hush money trial.

Trump left the New York courtroom after a break from the mornings testimony, giving a thumbs up to reporters who shouted questions, but he didnt say anything.

PECKER SAYS HE BELIEVES TRUMP KNEW ABOUT MCDOUGAL CONTRACT

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Thursday at Donald Trumps hush money trial in New York that he believes Trump was aware of a contract with Karen McDougal as she sought to sell her story about claims of an affair.

Asked by a prosecutor whether he knew if anyone other than former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen was aware of the Enquirers contract with McDougal, Pecker said: I believe that Donald Trump did.

Pecker testified he was leery of paying McDougal on Trumps behalf because of trouble he ran into with an earlier arrangement benefiting Arnold Schwarzenegger during the movie stars run for California governor in 2003.

McDougals contract gave American Media Inc., which owned the Enquirer and several fitness magazines, exclusive rights to her story on any relationship with a married man. Pecker said that clause was specifically about Trump.

Based on his experience with Schwarzenegger, Pecker said he wanted to be comfortable that the agreement that we were going to prepare for Karen McDougal met all the obligations with respect to a campaign contribution.

But he said the real purpose of the deal was to keep McDougals story from becoming public and potentially influencing the 2016 presidential election.

TRUMP LISTENS INTENTLY AS PECKER TESTIFIES

Former President Donald Trump listened intently Thursday at his hush money trial as longtime friend David Pecker testified in detail about the National Enquirers efforts to buy and kill unflattering stories related both to Trump and other celebrities.

He passed along notes to the two attorneys on either side of him.

Pecker testified that Karen McDougal demanded $150,000  plus writing assignments and other business opportunities  for the rights to her story about claims of an affair with Trump. But according to Pecker, it wasnt clear who was going to pay for it.

Pecker said Trumps former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, initially asked him to front the costs: I said, Michael, why should I pay? I just paid $30,000 for the doorman story. Now youre asking me to pay $150,000 for the Karen story, plus all of these other additional items that she wants to do.

When asked how he would be reimbursed, Pecker said, Cohen assured him: Dont worry about it. Im your friend. The boss will take care of it.

PROSECUTORS FLAG TRUMPS RECENT REMARKS

Prosecutors asked the judge Thursday as former President Donald Trumps hush money trial resumed to consider whether he violated a gag order four more times with remarks he made outside court this week.

Among others, prosecutor Christopher Conroy flagged comments that Trump made just Thursday morning at an early-morning press event about David Pecker. Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher who has been testifying as a prosecution witness, returned to the stand Thursday.

Trump had said Pecker has been very nice, which Conroy characterized as a message to Pecker: Be nice. He argued that its also a message to other potential witnesses that Trump has a platform and will use it to attack them if they arent kind to him.

The judge hasnt immediately ruled on Conroys request to hold Trump in contempt and levy appropriate sanctions.

TRUMP ARRIVES AT COURTHOUSE

Donald Trumps motorcade arrived at the courthouse in lower Manhattan as his criminal hush money trial readied to resume Thursday.

After a morning campaign event in midtown, the former president returned to Trump Tower, then left again in the motorcade.

Addressing reporters in the hallway before court resumed, Trump began by speaking not about the trial, but instead the economy, griping about gas prices and the latest economic numbers.

He again addressed the Supreme Court, which is hearing oral arguments Thursday on whether hes immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

I would have loved to have been there, Trump said.

TRUMP: NO IDEA IF ID PAY A CONTEMPT FINE

Donald Trump, visiting construction workers for a campaign stop Thursday before heading to court in his criminal hush money case, was dismissive when asked about prosecutors push for the judge to hold him in contempt of violating a gag order because of his social media posts.

Oh, I have no idea, Trump said when asked whether he would pay the $1,000 fine for each of 10 posts. He then said, Theyve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order.

A QUICK REMINDER OF THE ALLEGATIONS AT THE HEART OF THIS CASE

Donald Trump is accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women.

The allegations focus on payoffs to two women, porn actor Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said they had extramarital sexual encounters with Trump years earlier, as well as to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he alleged Trump had out of wedlock. Trump says none of these supposed sexual encounters occurred.

Trumps former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 and arranged for the publisher of the National Enquirer supermarket tabloid to pay McDougal $150,000 in a journalistically dubious practice known as catch-and-kill in which a publication pays for exclusive rights to someones story with no intention of publishing it, either as a favor to a celebrity subject or to gain leverage over the person.

Prosecutors say Trumps company reimbursed Cohen and paid him bonuses and extra payments, all of which were falsely logged in Trump Organization records as legal expenses. Cohen has separately pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance law in connection with the payments.

WHAT HAPPENS IF TRUMP IS CONVICTED?

Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records  a charge punishable by up to four years in prison  though its not clear if the judge would seek to put him behind bars.

A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Four people have been arrested following a shooting that took place in the parking lot of a WinCo in Clovis earlier this month, the Clovis Police Department said on Thursday.

According to police, on April 8 at around 1 a.m., they responded to the WinCo parking lot at Ashlan and Peach avenues for reports of multiple shots fired. When officers arrived, they said they found a man in the parking lot who was shot. The victim was taken to the hospital and his injuries were described as not-life-threatening.

Police say this was a gang-related shooting that took place simply because gang members were in the same place at the same time.

Adarrius Stevenson Jr.

Adarrius Stevenson Sr.

Police say detectives took two of the four suspects in custody on Monday: 42-year-old Adarrius Stevenson Sr of Fresno  and his son, 22-year-old Adarrius Stevenson Jr.

On Thursday, detectives arrested 25-year-old Charles Muhammad of Fresno and 33-year-old Dominique Williams of Clovis.

Charles Muhammad

Dominique Williams

According to police, there is also an allegation of child endangerment because, during the shooting on April 8, there were two children in an unrelated parked car that was struck by bullets. Neither child was injured.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) awarded a total of $4 million to 165 fire departments and districts and EMS providers across the state.

The program provides grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. The OSFM received 417 applications, requesting around $9.5 million in funding for this period.

According to a release, the following departments around the QCA received grants:

Bureau County:

Bureau Fire Protection District: $20,277

Cherry Fire Protection District: $26,000

Henry County:

Atkinson Fire Protection District: $23,245

Anawan Alba Fire Protection District: $23,455

Galva Fire Department: $22,217.99

Kewanee Community Fire Protection District: $26,000

Jo Daviess County:

City of East Dubuque Fire Department: $22,556

Menominee-Dunleith Fire Department: $25,455.06

Knox County:

Elba Salem Fire Protection District: $26,000

Maquon Fire Protection District: $25,987.83

Oneida-Wataga Fire Protection District: $25,972

Williamsfield Fire Protection District: $26,000

Knox/Warren County:

Abingdon Fire Protection District: $26,000

Rock Island County:

Coyne Center Fire Protection District: $25,429.15

Warren County:

Central Warren Fire Protection District: $24,686

We continue to see and hear about the need and understand the issues fire departments face when it comes to funding across the state, Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera said. I am proud this year we were able to increase our grant funding to $4 million, a $2.5 million increase from last year, which has allowed us to award over 100 more departments money to purchase lifesaving tools they might not have been able to afford otherwise.

Most fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments and nonprofit ambulance service providers in Illinois were eligible to apply. All fire departments, fire protections districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years prior to applying.

For more information, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Andre Ventura, the leader of Portugal's far-right party is popping red balloons with darts, under a sign which reads "Socialism explodes in Portugal". He is celebrating the gains made by his political party Chega (enough" in Portuguese), at Futurallia, Portugals biggest student fair.

Chega came third in the snap elections held in early March, surging from 12 to 50 seats. The rise of the far-right comes as the country marks fifty years since the right-wing military dictatorship led by Antonio Salazar was overthrown.

A crowd of young people aged between 15 and 18 years old are cheering Andre Ventura on. This moment is being recorded and will later be shared on the party's social media accounts - namely TikTok - where the party and its politicians have amassed a large following. Ventura boasts over 280,000 followers on TikTok, while the Conservative Prime Minister Luis Montenegro doesn't have an account*.

18-year old Tiago watches on, his face hidden behind a mask of Andre Ventura, "it's funny that they even thought of handing out masks. I know Ventura isn't the perfect candidate, but he's trying to change things, and that's why I voted for him."

Besides him, 19-year old Joaqim who voted for the centre-right Democatic Alliance party which won March's elections. He may not be a Chega supporter, but he still wanted to catch a glimpse of the action, "I am originally from the Cape Verde, I think that Andre Ventura focuses too much on immigration but I think he wants to make changes for the youth.

18-year old Tiago - Estelle Nilsson-Julien

Young people in Portugal face two major problems, according to political scientist Antonio Costa Pinto, "they are dealing with a very low average wage and an economy that cannot absorb educated young people. Emigration is in many cases the only alternative for this skilled labor." Young men "aged between 18-34 years old with lower levels of education voted for Chega in the highest numbers", adds Costa Pinto.

Banking on "negative perceptions of immigration"

Once his show of darts is over, Andre Ventura heads for the exit of the student fair. His every move is calculated as he stops to take selfies with fans. But there's one thing that he can't control: his opponents.

"You are fascists", shout a group of young people at the edge of the crowd. "Chega, Chega, Chega", reply his supporters.

16-year old Inez watches on, "I would never vote for him. Portugal had a dictatorship under Salazar, so it's frightening to see this today. I don't feel safe around these people." Her friend Raquel, worries about her future, "I see a lot of teenagers in this crowd, but one day they'll be able to vote."

A hate group according to NGOs

According to anti-discrimination organisations, Chega represents a threat to minorities, with the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism labelling the party a hate group.

"Chega is a form of propaganda because they wash away the racist ideas. People usually say they are voting against the system because they are tired of politicians. But it's a vote in support of racism and discrimination, which stands against minorities", 20-year old Lou, an activist for the NGO SOS Racismo tells Euronews.

In 2020, Andre Ventura told a politician to go back to her country". He was targeting Joacine Katar Moreira, who is originally from Portuguese Guinea and had proposed a law for the restitution of art work to former colonies. Ventura has targeted the Portuguese Roma community, claiming its members are "addicted" to welfare. During the COVID-19 pandemic he also called for a separate isolation policy for the community.

Young Chega activists

25-year old Ricardo Reis waits outside the Chega partys headquarters, located a few hundred metres away from the Portuguese Parliament. Wearing a sleek suit, Reis may work in the tech industry, but he spends his spare time campaigning for the partys youth wing.

The young activist does not mince his words, using the term parasite to refer to immigrants who receive benefits from the Portuguese state, "we are experiencing a new wave of immigration, where you don't see families coming for a better life or trying to integrate themselves." Reis insists that the party is "not racist", all members are welcome but "what matters is that the person works and contributes to society."

Ricardo Reis - Euronews

This rhetoric mimics the words and slogans used by many far-right parties across Europe. In Portugal's case, a new wave of immigration has become the movement's focus, while others would say its scapegoat.

"In the last five years Portugal has experienced a new wave of immigration from South Asia, which marks a change from the historic immigration from former Portuguese colonies like Mozambique and Angola. This immigration may be essential to the economy, but a negative perception of immigration related to insecurity has allowed Chega to make gains", explains Professor Costa Pinto. The southern Portuguese region of the Algarve which has a tourism-based economy and "relies on a migrant workforce", voted for Chega in the highest numbers.

"Young people join us in secret"

25-year old Rita Maria Matias who defines herself as an 'anti-feminist' and stands against abortion was reelected to the Portuguese Parliament last month. Hailing from a political family, her father Manuel Matias, was the leader of Portugal's defunct anti-abortion party Pro Vida.

"We have lots of young people coming to us in secret, some have created tensions in their families in order to join the party. There are a lot of scars in Portugal but I'm not responsible for an authoritarian period during which I wasn't living," Matias tells Euronews. In 2021, the party adopted the slogan "God, country, family and work", strikingly similar to Portuguese dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazars God, country, family motto.

Matias worked as a campaigner in the party's youth wing and managed Andre Ventura's Tiktok account. "We have a formal communications team which manages Mr. Ventura's content but then we all are responsible for our own personal accounts, where we try and be as natural as possible", says Matias.

Rita Maria Matias at the Chega headquarters in the Portuguese Parliament - Euronews

In 2022, she became the party's first female politician and its youngest - until 20-year old Madalena Cordeiro overtook was elected last month.

"We are tired of feeling that in France, in England, in Switzerland, young people have more opportunities than in Portugal", says the young politician who blames this situation on immigrants "we are being replaced and nobody cares".

For Matias, making ties with the rest of Europe's far-right remains a priority ahead of June's European elections. Jordan Bardella, head of France's far-right Rassemblement National for the upcoming European elections "is a friend", she says with a smile.

As for Chega's stance on Europe, the party remains cautious, "they do not play Eurosceptic card too much because they know that the European Union is quite popular in Portugal, due to its association with economic development," says Professor Costa Pinto.

* at time of publication
8-year-old beaten to death with rolling pin, Georgia cops say. Now, parents indicted

A Georgia couple accused of beating their 8-year-old daughter, then waiting to seek medical attention are now charged in her death, according to officials.

A grand jury indicted Natiela Barros, 34, and Cledir Mendes Barros, 37, on charges of murder and child cruelty in connection with the Jan. 30 killing of Sayra Barros, the Gwinnett County District Attorneys Office said in an April 25 news release.

These defendants were supposed to protect and care for (her), District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said in a statement. No child deserves the treatment that Sayra was exposed to, and our SVU team will work diligently to ensure that these defendants face justice for what they did.

EMS officials responded to a medical emergency at the familys home in Bethlehem just after 2:15 p.m. that day, McClatchy News previously reported, citing police. By the time officers arrived, medics determined the girl was dead.

Prosecutors said Natiela Barros, Sayras stepmother, got angry with her for playing with her breakfast and not doing her schoolwork. After an initial spanking, Barros grabbed a rolling pin from the kitchen and hit Sayra between 10 and 20 times near the back of her neck, officials said.

Barros called her husband, Cledir Mendes Barros, who is Sayras father. He was at work at the time and returned home when he learned what happened, according to the DAs office. Natiela Barros also called a friend and a priest, prosecutors said.

Cledir Mendes Barros told his wife to pray over the girl after she became ill and fell unconscious, officials said. Once he arrived, they continued praying over Sayra for 10 to 20 minutes before calling 911, prosecutors said.

Natiela Barros is charged with malice murder, aggravated assault, child cruelty and two counts of felony murder, officials said.

Cledir Mendes Barros faces charges of second-degree murder and two counts of child cruelty.

Both remain in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond, authorities said.

Lawrenceville is about a 30-mile drive northeast from downtown Atlanta.

Unresponsive 6-year-old taken to fire station dies, Georgia cops say. Man charged

Dad kidnaps son from mom at gunpoint, then tries to run her over, deputies say

Missing child found at school said he hadnt been home in days, Florida deputies say
8th grader saves bus full of students when driver passes out, Wisconsin school says

An eighth grade students composure amid a medical emergency on a Wisconsin school bus saved everyone on board from a potential tragedy, school officials said.

On April 24, a school bus driver experienced a medical event causing her to lose consciousness and veer into oncoming traffic, Glen Hills Middle School principal Anna Young said in a letter to families.

What easily could have resulted in tragedy was avoided due to the quick thinking of 8th grade student, Acie Holland III, Young said.

Recognizing that the driver passed out, Holland rushed to move her foot off the gas, applied the brake, and securely parked the bus, according to school officials.

After calling 911, Holland made sure the younger students were okay and told them to contact their parents. School officials said Holland even called his grandmother, who is a nurse, for additional support.

The driver regained consciousness and called for another bus driver to finish the route, according to Young.

The Glen Hills school community could not be any prouder of Acie, school officials said. The compassion and leadership that we see him exhibit daily was taken to the next level on his bus ride home yesterday.

Glenn Hills Middle School is in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee.

10-year-old driving recklessly in stolen family car crashes into pond, Indiana cops say

School bus driver, a sex offender, molested 7-year-old, suit says. District owes $3.1M

School bus driver charged with DUI after crashing outside school, Georgia district says
Aaron Sorkin says he blames Facebook for Jan. 6, has movie in the works

Writer and director Aaron Sorkin revealed during a live interview Thursday in Washington that he blames Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Sorkin, who created the film The Social Network, which depicted Zuckerbergs rise to fame and the creation of the social media platform, also mentioned he was creating a new movie about how Facebook contributed to the Jan. 6 attack.

Look, yeah, Ill be writing about this  I blame Facebook for January 6th, Sorkin told reporter Matt Belloni during an appearance on podcast The Town.

Belloni questioned Sorkin and asked him to explain why.

Youre going to need to buy a movie ticket, Sorkin replied.

He later clarified he believes Facebook has been perfecting its algorithm to promote content that divides people because that is what will increase engagement.

That is what will get you to what they call inside the hallways of Facebook, the infinite scroll, he said.

Belloni asked who should be responsible for the divisive nature of social platforms, in particular, Facebook. Sorkin plainly said he thinks Zuckerberg should be responsible for how much his platform has divided Americans.

There is supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isnt. Its just growth, Sorkin said. So, if Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized that there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you cant buy for $119 billion, so how about if I make a little less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.

Yes, you can do that by honestly switching a one to a zero and a zero to a one, he continued.

As for how the news media has handled former President Trumps divisiveness, Sorkin said he appreciates that more organizations have an emphasis on fact-checking him.

Clearly, an effort is being made to not repeat the mistakes of 2016 and 2020. That you dont have to cover every move he makes, that you should fact-check the statements hes making. I appreciate that, Sorkin told Belloni.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DALLAS (KXAN)  At the Young Conservatives of Texas April 19 convention in Dallas, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for an end to gender non-conforming behavior by teachers, according to audio released to KXAN by Texas Observer reporter Steven Monacelli.

During Abbotts keynote speech, the Governor brought up a Lewisville ISD teacher who went viral online after wearing a pink dress as a Spirit Day costume.

In Lewisville, Texas just a month ago, they had a high school teacher, who is a man, who would go to school dressed as a woman in a dress, high heels and makeup, said Abbott at the conference. The person is trying to normalize that this behavior is ok! Its not ok!

He added that this behavior is what he wants to end in the state of Texas, and said that he feels it would be distracting for students.

OutLaw: A Half-Century of Criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans

According to reporting by KXAS, Hebron High School students had asked their teacher to wear the costume for a February spirit day event. In a statement, the teacher said he resigned to remove attention from the school after hateful comments online. Lewisville ISD told KXAS that the teacher didnt violate any school policies.

Abbott did not define that behavior  attire that doesnt meet the Governors opinions about gender, or more broadly LGBTQ+ teachers. KXAN asked the Governors Office for clarification, but has not yet received a response.

I assume the concept would be either gender nonconformity or anything to do with people having gender identities that are more fluid, said Monacelli in an interview with KXAN. There was some applause from the crowd in response to Abbotts comments about how he wanted to end the behavior of people expressing their gender identities in ways that do not correspond with the traditional binary that he endorses.

Abbott followed the anecdote with a call for state funding of a voucher system.

If you had a child in that classroom, would you want to be able to say hey, wait a second. Im not gonna send my child to that classroom,' said Abbott, according to Monacelli. Do you think you would have that right? You dont We tried to get school choice passed in the regular session and special session after special session.

Fourth special session ends without school vouchers, public education funding

According to Monacelli, this speech wasnt the first time Abbott used the Lewisville teacher as an example.

I think its possible that we could see banning gender non-conforming teachers become a legislative priority, Monacelli said. I do think it is very much geared towards a particular subset of people whose religious values or social values make them intolerant to the LGBTQ community. Effectively, they want to segregate themselves from people who are a part of the LGBTQ community. Thats the message I think is being sent when Governor Abbott says this is why we need school choice.

LGBTQ+ educators respond

Transgender and gender-nonconforming Texas educators responded anonymously to KXAN about Abbotts speech.

It goes against every right so many fought for and died to protect, said an Austin ISD educator. Our constitution was built on the ideas of the freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These laws are directly going against this. Our country is built on diversity and freedoms, to strip this away is un-American.

A transgender private school teacher said that the Governors comments has them wanting to move their family out of a state theyve called home for over a decade and otherwise dont want to leave.

Education has been the only career Ive thrived in and truly cared about. I love getting to know students and families individually and seeing them learn new things and grow as people, they said.

Another LGBTQ+ teacher in Central Texas said that Abbotts remarks disgusts and angers them.

I think Abbotts comments are ludicrous and dangerous, the teacher said. I think that banning educators who fall under the umbrella of being trans, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming is not only a violation of their rights, but also, it would do a huge disservice to students across the state of Texas.

In a statement, LGBTQ+ education nonprofit GLSEN condemned Abbotts comments, calling it a shameful display of his ongoing strategy to weaponize state powers against transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.

His attempt to end gender expression in classrooms reeks of bigotry and ignorance, said GLSEN Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers. Despite his hateful efforts, LGBTQ+ employees are protected by federal law from workplace discrimination. We have full confidence that his despicable proposition will meet its rightful demise in the face of constitutional challenges, just like many of his other discriminatory bills.

GLSEN recommends that Texas teachers join their educator network for support and resources.

State conservatives voice support

Monacellis post reporting the Governors speech drew supportive and sometimes hateful responses from other conservative voices in Texas.

State Republican Executive Committeeman Rolando Garcia pushed back on Monacellis characterization that Abbott called for banning teachers, and voiced his support of the Governors remarks.

He doesnt even suggest banning anyone from teaching, just not allowing them to play dress up in the classroom. Its astonishing that this is even considered controversial, Garcia wrote.

Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi and Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French both said that Abbott was exactly right.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, R-Harris County, commented perverts should not be teachers.

Cain followed his incendiary comment with an letter to Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath on Thursday, which asks Morath to direct state superintendents to ignore federal law redefining sex to encompass gender identity.'

These proposed changes to Title IX would likely conflict with existing state law, the legislator wrote. Now is not the time for Texas to wait for legislation to save us from having to take a stand on this issue.

Bidens new Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students, eductators

Such a restriction would likely violate both the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause and the Supreme Courts 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. That ruling determined that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects workers from job discrimination related to a workers sexual orientation or gender identity.

An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch in the ruling. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.

For our Governor and leaders in the Republican Party to openly call for a form of blanket discrimination, no matter how its legislated, that is their clear intent, Monacelli said. I think that should be deeply unsettling for anyone who cares about civil rights in this country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Wynne Lee, the driver in the shooting death of 6-year-old Aiden Leos on the 55 Freeway in Orange County, pleaded guilty to related charges in court on April 26. (Orange County District Attorney's Office)

The Costa Mesa woman driving the car involved in the road-rage shooting that killed 6-year-old Aidan Leos pleaded guilty Friday morning to being an accessory to the boys killing.

She wont spend any time in prison, however.

Wynne Lee, 26, was driving on an Orange County freeway on the morning of May 26, 2021, when her then-boyfriend, Marcus Eriz, fired a single shot into a car driven by Aidan's mother, Joanna Cloonan, who was taking the boy to kindergarten. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

On Friday, Lee pleaded guilty in a Santa Ana courthouse to one felony count of accessory after the fact and one misdemeanor count of having a concealed firearm in the vehicle. Superior Court Judge Richard King gave her the maximum sentence: three years behind bars for the felony, one year for the misdemeanor.

She wont be incarcerated, however, because she had already spent nearly three years on court-ordered home confinement and GPS monitoring. She was initially arrested along with Eriz, 27, on June 6 .

By the state's count, that gave her more than five and a half years in credit for time served, essentially fulfilling her sentence.

Lees sentencing left the Orange County District Attorney seething.

Read more: Man who killed 6-year-old in freeway shooting gets 40 years to life

Her behavior is despicable and I, along with our entire Orange County community, am outraged that the state Legislature continues to water down our laws to give criminals charged with egregious crimes break after break, Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement .

Spitzer was referring to 2011 Assembly Bill 109 , which allows some offenders to serve time in a home detention program instead of jail or prison.

Spitzer said that time earned in home confinement rather than in a jail was disgraceful.

The fatal encounter began as Lee was driving north in her Volkswagen sedan on the 55 Freeway near Chapman Avenue around 8 a.m. She and Eriz were heading to work, according to court testimony.

Cloonan was driving her Chevrolet in the same direction with her son strapped into a booster seat behind her. Cloonan said that Lee cut her off and then flashed a peace sign at her, which she interpreted as a sarcastic gesture.

Read more: 'I just grabbed my gun for some reason': Trial opens in freeway shooting death of 6-year-old

Thats when Cloonan followed Lee for a short distance, changed lanes to pass her and flashed her the middle finger.

As the Chevy pulled away, Cloonan heard a sound that made her think she'd hit a rock until her son cried out in pain. She pulled over to the side of the freeway and called for help. Within an hour, her son was pronounced dead at Childrens Hospital of Orange County.

Eriz fired a single bullet from his Glock 17, which he said in court he carried because people have been acting crazy around the freeway.

The shot traveled through the Chevys trunk and child seat and through the 6-year-olds liver, lung and heart, according to court testimony.

Eriz, 27, was found guilty on Jan. 25 of one felony count of second-degree murder and one felony count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. There were also two felony enhancements stemming from his use of a firearm to cause great bodily injury and death. Eriz was sentenced April 12 to 40 years to life in prison.

A motorist nearby snapped a blurry photo of Lees Volkswagen, which led to a 16-day hunt by authorities for the vehicle.

Read more: Costa Mesa man convicted of murder in freeway shooting of 6-year-old

Eriz eventually parked Lees car at a family friends home and they began using Erizs truck to drive to work.

Spitzer accused Lee of duplicity.

A 6-year-old little boy is dead, and instead of coming forward while the rest of Southern California was desperately searching for his killer, she helped the murderer hide critical evidence and then continued to live her life like nothing ever happened, he said.

A call to Lee's public defender was not immediately returned.

One case is still outstanding regarding Aidan Leos.

Joey Leos, the boys father, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lee, Eriz, Cloonan and his mother-in-law, Carla Lacy.

The next scheduled court day for the lawsuit is June 25.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) will become a crucial part of the global supply chain for the foreseeable future, Ding Jianwei, Senior Fellow of the Chinese Taihe Institute, told Trend.

"In the foreseeable future, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route will enter a new cycle of accelerated development and become a new major trade route in Eurasia, an important part of the global supply chain. More and more countries will participate in this transport route, and the volume of freight traffic will increase significantly," he said.

At the same time, according to Ding Jianwei, the future development of the Middle Corridor will not be smooth and will face many risks and challenges.

"It will inevitably be influenced by geopolitics, especially by various forces that are focused on the corridor of their own geopolitical ambitions. The battle for dominance will intensify," he noted.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe.

The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
Maximilian Krah, Alternative for Germany (AfD) lead candidate for the European elections, stands in the elevator in the Bundestag after a meeting with the AfD parliamentary group leadership. One of Krah's employees is suspected of spying for China. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

A suspected Chinese spy who worked as a top aide to a far-right German politician in the European Parliament had previously applied to work for Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND.

The accused spy, Jian Guo, was turned down by the BND several years ago, according to information obtained by dpa. The man also reportedly applied to work for the BfV domestic security service in the eastern German state of Saxony but was rejected as unreliable.

German public broadcaster ARD first reported on his previous applications.

Jian Guo was dismissed by Maximillian Krah, the far-right Alternative for Germany's (AfD) top lawmaker in the European Parliament, earlier this week following his arrest on suspicion of espionage.

Prosecutors allege that the man passed sensitive information from inside the European Parliament to Chinese intelligence, and also may have relayed information about Chinese political activists living in Europe.

He was arrested by German police on Monday evening and has been held in custody since. He is accused of acting as an agent for a foreign secret service.

Krah, who is the AfD's lead candidate for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June, has faced pointed questions over his close working relationship with Jian Guo as well as his own views that are sympathetic to Russia.

German prosecutors on Wednesday announced that there is a separate preliminary investigation into Krah related to possible payments from both Russia and China.

The public prosecutor's office in Dresden said the purpose of the probe is to examine whether there is any reason to suspect criminal conduct involving bribery of members of parliament.
TechCrunch

Starship is ready to fly again  and for the first time, SpaceX is going to try to bring the booster back to the launch site to catch it with a pair of oversized "chopsticks." SpaceX will launch the mammoth Starship on Sunday in a launch window that opens at 5 AM PST (7 AM local time) from the companys Starbase site in southeast Texas. This flight, which will be the fifth in the Starship development program, is coming a little sooner than expected: the Federal Aviation Administration had previously said that it did not anticipate issuing a modified launch license for this test before late November.
A purple, sort of flaring-up star is seen on the left and on the right are bright tendrils representing dark matter distribution.

Scientists posit that some dead stars made from the densest material in the known universe, so-called "neutron stars," could act as traps for dark matter particles that smash together at high speeds and annihilate one another. In turn, the crew says, the annihilation process likely heats the dead stars from the inside out.

In general, dark matter is a problematic subject for researchers because, despite making up an estimated 85% of the stuff in the universe, it is effectively invisible because it doesn't interact with light. Dark matter also doesn't seem to interact with "ordinary matter" made up of protons, neutrons and electrons, either  or, if it does, these interactions are rare and weak. We've never seen them. This brings up an interesting question: Does dark matter interact with itself?

Nicole Bell, a theoretical physicist at the University of Melbourne, is interested in the kind of dark matter self-interaction that occurs in normal matter when an electron and its anti-particle, a positron, meet and annihilate, thereby releasing energy. Dark matter is electrically neutral, which means that whatever particles make up the substance could theoretically have their own antiparticles, too.

And, like with normal matter annihilation, when dark matter particles meet, dark matter annihilation should happen  and neutron stars could be the ideal extreme environment for such interactions.

Related: Exotic 'Einstein ring' suggests that mysterious dark matter interacts with itself

"Annihilation is when a particle and antiparticle collide and destroy each other. This is what would happen if dark matter is its own antiparticle, as is often assumed in the most widely studied dark matter models,'" Bell told Space.com. "The capture and annihilation of dark matter in neutron stars would provide a source of heating that stops the star from getting really cold."

That means that if neutron stars can act as "dark matter traps," then they could emit a thermal signature. If this can be detected, neutron stars could act as rudimentary "dark matter detectors," which would help scientists hunt down this effectively invisible form of matter.

What it takes to ensnare dark matter

A neutron star is born when a star at least eight times as massive as the sun runs out of the fuel supply it needs for nuclear fusion occurring in its core. This ends the outward force driven by radiation pressure that has supported the star against the inward force of its own gravity for millions, or sometimes billions, of years.

As a result, the core of the star collapses, sending out shockwaves that trigger a supernova. This shockwave blows away the dying star's outer layers as well as the majority of its mass, leaving behind a stellar core with a mass between one and two times that of the sun that has collapsed to a width of around 12 miles (20 kilometers).

A blue orb is seen over a satellite view of Earth to represent size.

Crushing a mass equivalent to over half a million Earths into a body that could sit within the city limits of Chicago naturally has an extreme effect on the matter of that stellar core. It forces electrons and protons together, creating a sea of neutrons, which are particles only normally found at the hearts of atoms. This sea of neutrons that makes up a neutron star is so dense that if a mere tablespoon of it were brought to Earth, it would weigh over 1 billion tons. That's about the same weight as Mount Everest.

Neutron stars are thus made of the densest matter in the known universe, and that's why scientists believe their gravitational influences could be great enough to ensnare dark matter  which, despite its lack of interaction with light and matter, does interact with gravity.

Bell explains that dark matter annihilation is thought to have happened frequently when the 13.8 billion-year-old universe was less than a second old, but is thought to rarely happen in the present-day universe. The one exception to this would be in regions in which there is a lot of dark matter.

And if dark matter can indeed accumulate in the interiors of neutron stars, Bell and colleagues found this would provide precisely that dark matter-rich environment, thus allowing it to annihilate in the aged universe.

"You could end up with a lot of dark matter in a small area, enough that there could be an appreciable amount of dark matter annihilation happening in these stars," Bell said.

Bell added that, in dark matter experiments in laboratories on Earth, scientists search for signals of dark matter particles interacting with ordinary matter, but neutron stars have a natural advantage in this respect.

"In the lab, we are looking for collisions between dark matter particles and atomic nuclei," she said. "But if that can occur, then dark matter must also be able to collide with the neutrons and protons in neutron stars. And neutron stars have a lot of neutrons."

In addition to this, Bell was surprised to learn, as she investigated neutron stars and dark matter, that the immense gravity of neutron stars could create another condition that makes the self-interaction of dark matter particles even more likely within these dead stars.

"Dark matter is accelerated to speeds close to the speed of light when it infalls to a neutron star," Bell said. "This is useful because it can enhance the rate of interactions, potentially allowing us to probe some types of dark matter interactions that would be almost impossible to see in experiments on Earth."

The cross section of a neutron star made of quark matter

Dark matter annihilation releases thermal energy into these dead star traps, so the team also looked at how long it would take neutron stars and the dark matter they capture to reach a state called "thermal equilibrium." This is the point at which two substances reach the same temperature, and heat no longer flows between them.

This investigation revealed that a dark-matter-saturated neutron star could reach thermal equilibrium in a period no longer than 10,000 years, and as short as one year, depending on the model used. In cosmic terms, this is a mere blink of an eye.

an illustration of the james webb space telescope, with a honeycomb-shaped golden mirror configuration aboard a silver sunshield with pink reflections.

To validate this theory, researchers would need to measure the temperature of neutron stars. Finding these extreme dead stars are hotter than expected would reveal dark matter particles are indeed annihilating in their interiors. Such a discovery would be no mean feat, however, as only older and colder neutron stars would emit thermal radiation that is not overwhelmed by other light. This would require the most powerful observational instrument humanity has ever shot into space: The James Webb Space Telescope.

"The neutron stars we are most interested in are very cold stars, which are difficult to see," Bell added. "The temperatures of these stars would lead to emission in the near-infrared, which may be possible to see with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)."

RELATED STORIES

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The lack of understanding regarding neutron stars could mean that this model of dark annihilation might be easier to test with the type of stellar remnant left behind when more diminutive stars like the sun die: White dwarfs.

"Neutron stars would be good for capturing dark matter because of their extreme density. But they are also relatively poorly understood stars," Bell concluded. "Similar ideas can be applied to other stars that we understand better, such as white dwarf stars."

If the theory turns out to be correct, it would not only shine a light on dark matter but also help scientists better understand the evolution of neutron stars.

Bell and colleagues' research, yet to be peer-reviewed, is available on the paper repository site arXiv.
From left, panel moderator and chief rural health correspondent with KFF Health News, Sarah Jane Tribble, asks questions of Democratic former U.S. representative from Florida, Val Demings, and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken during a youth mental health crisis discussion on April 26, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of Dirk Lammers)

From left, panel moderator and chief rural health correspondent with KFF Health News, Sarah Jane Tribble, asks questions of Democratic former U.S. representative from Florida, Val Demings, and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken during a youth mental health crisis discussion on April 26, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of Dirk Lammers)

SIOUX FALLS  The kids are not all right, and replacing socializing with social media contributes to it.

That consensus emerged during a public dialogue Friday on the mental health challenges faced by Americas youth, hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center at the Avera Behavioral Health Hospital in collaboration with the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The Bipartisan Policy Center is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank established by former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, and others. A video message from Daschle was played at the start of the dialogue.

One of the dialogue participants, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, a Republican, highlighted the impact of social media and the weakening of community bonds as contributors to youth mental health problems. He said those problems were exacerbated when people stayed home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When you isolate people  I dont care if youre a kid, an adult, a senior in a senior living facility  isolation is not good for your mental health, he said. We are designed to be in community with one another.

More than 40% of U.S. teenagers say they struggle with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Youth suicide attempts and drug overdoses are increasing.

State survey data shows the number of South Dakota high schoolers suffering a serious injury from an attempted suicide grew by 100% between 2009 and 2019. The state had the second-highest suicide rate in the U.S. for teens ages 15 to 19 from 2018 to 2020. In 2019, 23% of South Dakota high schoolers seriously considered suicide, 19% planned an attempt, and 12% made an attempt. Among Native American students, 31% reported attempting suicide.

The center created a Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force in January. The dialogue was part of the centers tour across rural America to learn more. It brought together policymakers and health experts to discuss treatment needs, dissect the complex causes and discuss policy solutions.

TenHaken said mentorship programs can make a difference.

As cliche and kind of corny and simple as that sounds, theres a lot of youth living in very dark, lonely places, he said, which forces them to live life on screens.

Co-chair of the youth mental health task force and Democratic former U.S. representative from Florida, Val Demings, said she does not blame policymakers who encouraged kids to stay home for public health during the pandemic.

We lost a million people in this country, Demings said.

However, she added that policymakers moving forward have to acknowledge the long-term mental health side effects of removing children from their friends and mentors.

Now, we know better, she said.

Demings told South Dakota Searchlight that implementing a policy limiting youth social media use or banning it for children under a certain age is necessary but difficult to implement in Congress.

Some members come from certain districts where the headquarters of a social media platform is located, Demings said.

Shes optimistic lawmakers are warming up to greater regulations  pointing to the recent bipartisan push to force China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a national ban.

Demings said the task force is looking at advocating for a federal office responsible for regulating social media.

On treatment  which health care officials on a separate panel said needs more funding and staffing  Demings told South Dakota Searchlight that fiscally conservative policymakers should see investments in youth mental health as ensuring a productive and healthy future labor force.

South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff offered a different take. He said faithlessness may be a primary contributor to the U.S. mental health crisis.

This is a critical thing that isnt getting enough attention  the evil that is afoot, the secularistic sort of influences that are pulling people away from what has historically been a turning to God, Althoff said.

Althoff told South Dakota Searchlight he was not referring to any one religion in particular, but rather what believing in a higher power can do for an individual and society.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is available anytime by dialing 988. The service is free and confidential.

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The post Action needed to protect kids mental health from social media, bipartisan panelists say appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
By Steph Quinn

JaKa McKnight dances as she prepares to lead a procession to the street being named, on this April morning, after her late son, King Douglas. The crowds shouts rise in a gray morning that is slowly turning to spring sunshine.

Long live King! they sing out. Long live King!

It has been three years since her sons murder and McKnight, 36, is trying to make those words true  to turn her childs life into a hopeful legacy that will help others suffering the aftermath of gun violence in their Prince Georges County community.

The worst thing that can happen, she says, is for people to put it out of their minds, to try and live with the pain by suppressing it.

People sweep it under the rug, she says, and so it affects them later on down the line. By that time, its too late.

On this morning, she is turning the official street-naming ceremony into a celebration of Kings life. Every other day of the week, she is becoming a full-time community advocate, looking for every small way she can to help others confront the suffering.

She invites more than a dozen kids over for movie nights, home-cooked meals and sleepovers. She helps them search for jobs and figure out what they want to do in life. McKnight said shes like the cool mom slash big sister. Shes there for them to confide in, or when they want help doing the right thing.

Shes also become a sister to other moms who have lost sons.

Its just like a support group, where were supporting each other and just trying to just be there for one another, she said. It brings comfort to us to know that were not in it alone and that somebody just really understands us.

This month marks the three-year anniversary of Kings death at 13, when he was fatally shot in a Prince Georges County parking lot near an arcade where McKnight had dropped him off to hang out with friends.

A 12-year-old boy confessed to shooting King during a fight with Kings friend over a girl. A judge ordered supervised probation for the boy, who said he didnt mean to shoot King when his friend handed him a gun in that parking lot. But the sentence and the explanation provided no solace to McKnight.

In the years since Kings death, McKnight has had more encounters with the justice system than shed ever imagined possible. She has talked with police, applied for victims compensation and sat in court hearings  for the boy who shot King and for children in foster care, whom she represents as a court appointed special advocate.

She has testified about her experience in committee hearings of the Maryland General Assembly. When lawmakers voted this month to expand the list of crimes that automatically send kids as young as 10 to the court system, McKnight agreed.

But that change wouldnt have made much difference in the court hearing of her sons killer, since violent crimes were already included on that list. And it wouldnt have made it any easier for McKnight or Kings friends to find resources to work through what happened.

It will help the next child, though, McKnight said.

A crowd gathers at the street naming ceremony celebrating the life of King Douglas on April 20, 2024. Photo by Steph Quinn/CNS.

The street naming turned into a party to celebrate Kings life. There was a DJ onstage behind a giant photo of King surrounded by balloons. Facing the stage was a semicircle of tables, offering resources on kids mental health, job openings with the local fire department and information from a local crime victims advocacy organization.

McKnight has created her own support program  for other parents and children whose lives have been rocked by gun violence, and for her own healing  that is driven by a conviction that tragedy need not beget more tragedy.

Im dealing with the emotional trauma that they go through, McKnight said. Mental health awareness  it needs to be discussed more, and its not.

McKnight started her mentoring outreach with Kings best friend, who was present the night of Kings killing and lost his father that same year.

Not all the kids touched by Kings death got therapy, even though parents wanted to get them help, so McKnight stepped in  just talking to them, mentoring them, letting them know situations of what Ive been around and what I went through as a child.

To see your friend get shot and killed laying on the ground at the age of 13 is traumatizing for any child, McKnight said. So if you dont get them the proper help, then theyre going to act out in whichever way they know how to act out, to be able to let loose of the anger that theyre holding inside.

Some of the kids McKnight mentors have been involved in robberies or carjacking and want to get on a better path.

Theyre trying to do right with their lives, but they are in situations where the home life is not well, or theyre around the wrong type of friends, McKnight said.

And McKnight has bonded with a group of women who understood what she was going through.

We feel like the world doesnt know actually how we feel, how we function and how were making it on a day-to-day basis after losing our child, said Tiffani Evans, 36, of Capitol Heights, who lost her son in August 2021.

Crystal McNeal, 39, of Washington, D.C., met McKnight at an event where they both shared memories of their children.

We just keep on trying to motivate each other and keep on pushing, said McNeal, who lost her son to gun violence in July 2020.

Tyeisha Lucas, 36, of Washington, D.C., said that after the death of her son in October 2022, the group of moms has helped her to be strong for her four other kids.

Im only at one year and six months in. Theyre like two or three years in. So they keep me strong, Lucas said.

When Lucass son was shot dead on a family members porch, victims compensation from the D.C. government covered the burial, but Lucas funded other needs, like plates for food, by calling around for donations. She wanted to move from the apartment where she was raising her son, but the assistance she received didnt cover those expenses. And she waited seven months for her first therapy appointment to process her grief.

I dont wish this on nobody, Lucas said.

The women are creating the support they and others need in the community.

We dont go looking for the support, Evans said. We just put the information out there so people know what were going through. Either they support it or they dont. But at the end of the day, we know weve got the almighty power of God to get us through the tough times.

Now that the Under King We Stand Foundation is registered as a nonprofit, McKnight plans to lease a mentoring center for kids, and where moms can do healing circles and just release and find resources. She wants to expand her work to help kids in Washington, D.C., too.

And she wants grieving families and kids  including those who have committed crimes  to have a place in lawmakers conversations about youth crime.

In their eyes, from experiencing what Ive experienced since King has passed, it (seems as if it) really doesnt matter about my child or the next child that passes away because they no longer have life and a second chance, McKnight said. However, they can give a second chance to the person who committed these crimes.

We need resources, she said. We need help.

The post Activist mom turns sons life into hopeful legacy appeared first on Maryland Matters.
The Ada County Coroners Office on Friday identified the teenage boy who was found dead in a home that police called deplorable.

The Boise Police Department said it was called to a home off West Russet Street after 8 a.m. April 18 after one of the boys parents called and said theyd found their teenage son dead. The Coroners Office identified him as 14-year-old Dredonn Riach.

Riachs manner and cause of death havent been released by the coroners office, which said further information was pending an investigation.

Boise Police Special Victims Unit Lt. Josiah Ransom previously said the conditions inside the home were deplorable, unsafe, and some of the worst he has seen in his career, according to a news release. He added that the home was not fit for habitation by anyone, let alone children. Seven other children, who were all found alive, were living in the home and placed with the Department of Health and Welfare.

Haley Williams, a spokesperson for the police department, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday that the investigation was ongoing and that the Boise Police Special Victims Unit was looking into whether there was neglect or injury involved. The unit is being assisted by the departments violent crime detectives, who investigate all unattended deaths with these types of circumstances, police said.

Once our detectives have completed the investigation it will be sent to the prosecutors office for review, Williams added. Police said everyone in the household has been cooperative with law enforcement.

Williams said in an email Friday that police didnt have any additional information.

Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar said in the news release that the department wont know if Riachs death was due to an ongoing medical problem or some other contributing factor until their investigation is completed.

It is always troubling when a young person dies and our officers and detectives are working diligently to determine what factors may have contributed to this situation and what, if anything, could have been done to prevent it, Winegar said. I express my sympathy for the passing of this young boy.
Advocates, Bernie Tiede ask for air conditioning for him and other Texas inmates

HOUSTON (AP)  A legal battle over a lack of air conditioning in Texas prisons is bringing together advocates on the issue and one current inmate who says his health is being endangered by the states hot prisons  the former mortician whose murder case inspired the movie Bernie.

TDCJ adding air conditioning to more units following heat concerns

Advocates for Texas prisoners on Monday asked to join a federal lawsuit filed last year by Bernie Tiede, who has alleged his life is in danger because he was being housed in a stifling prison cell without air conditioning. He was later moved to an air-conditioned cell.

Tiede, 65, who has diabetes and hypertension, alleges he continues to have serious health conditions after suffering something similar to a ministroke because of the extreme heat in his cell. Only about 30% of Texas 100 prison units are fully air conditioned, with the rest having partial or no air conditioning. Advocates allege temperatures often go past 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) inside Texas prisons. Tiede is housed in the Estelle Unit, which has partial air conditioning.

Attorneys for several prisoners rights groups, including Texas Prisons Community Advocates and Lioness: Justice Impacted Womens Alliance, filed a motion in federal court in Austin asking to join Tiedes lawsuit and expand it so that it would impact all Texas prisoners.

The groups and Tiede are asking a federal judge to find that the Texas prison systems current policies to deal with excessive heat are unconstitutional and require the prison system to maintain temperatures in its housing and occupied areas between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 29 degrees Celsius).

Bernie and the tens of thousands of inmates remain at risk of death due to heat related sickness and being subjected to this relentless, torturous condition, Richard Linklater, who directed the 2011 dark comedy inspired by Tiedes case, said during a virtual news conference Monday.

Tiede is serving a sentence of 99 years to life for killing Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow, in Carthage. Prosecutors say Tiede gave himself lavish gifts using Nugents money before fatally shooting her in 1996 and then storing her body in a freezer for nine months.

Amanda Hernandez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or TDCJ, said her agency does not comment on pending litigation.

New TDCJ webpage tracks A/C projects at state prison facilities

Hernandez said two recently created web pages highlight TDCJs efforts to install more air conditioning and explain the different measures the agency takes to lessen the effects of hot temperatures for inmates and employees. TDCJ said that includes providing fans and cooling towels and granting access to respite areas where inmates can go to cool down.

Core to the mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is protecting the public, our employees, and the inmates in our custody, according to the web page detailing air conditioning construction projects.

TDCJ has said there have been no heat-related deaths in the states prisons since 2012.

On Monday, advocacy groups pushed back against those claims, saying that increasingly hotter temperatures, including last summers heat wave, have likely resulted in prisoner deaths or contributed to them.

A November 2022 study by researchers at Brown, Boston and Harvard universities found that 13%, or 271, of the deaths that occurred in Texas prisons without universal air conditioning between 2001 and 2019 may be attributed to extreme heat during warm months.

As summer approaches in our state, the threat of extreme heat once again appears, reminding us of the urgent need for action, said Marci Marie Simmons, with Lioness: Justice Impacted Womens Alliance, and who has endured the stifling prison heat as a former inmate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Durham Rep. Marcia Morey and other anti-gun violence advocates speak at a Thursday press conference. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

Dozens of Moms Demand Action members and advocates, including elected officials, rallied at the General Assembly on Thursday to urge lawmakers to address gun violence during the legislative session.

Moms Demand Action was founded after the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut shooting at which 26 people, including 20 children, were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The group, which advocates for stronger gun laws to combat gun violence, has 10 million supporters across the country, according to its website. Every year, Moms Demand Action volunteers join other gun safety advocates in their states to lobby lawmakers for gun safety.

Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, highlighted the broad support North Carolina residents have for sensible gun legislation, which she said has not been a priority in the General Assembly. She said she will file discharge petitions to advance gun violence bills out of committee onto the House floor. A House member can file a discharge petition  a procedural maneuver that releases the bill from a standing committee  if it has been in that committee for 30 days. Republican leaders have repeatedly refused to allow Democratic gun violence bills to be heard in committee hearings in recent years.

Were here again today to call attention to gun violence and urge passage of common-sense gun safety legislation, including red flag laws and safe storage measures, Morey said, kicking off the press conference. This is about saving lives. Thats why were here again.

Grassroots North Carolina, a gun rights group, yesterday submitted a petition requesting that Sen. Phil Berger repeal the permit requirement for carrying a concealed handgun.

Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, said this reflects a larger trend among Republicans pushing for legislation that would do away with even more background checks, do away with permits and do away with training.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, called the attempt to repeal the permit requirement disgraceful.

Thats not what North Carolinians want or deserve, Ferrell-Zabela said. We are at a crossroad, and we need our elected leaders to show some courage and prioritize popular effective common sense gun safety bills instead of rolling back existing laws and exacerbating this crisis.

Speakers including Durham Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said North Carolina legislators need to step up and implement red-flag and safe, secure storage laws. The trauma that is being impacted upon these young people, these young lives in these communities, cannot be measured, Birkhead said.

Rae Rackley, a freshman at Duke University and a volunteer with Students Demand Action, was spurred to join the group after a person died in a 2021 school shooting near her former high school.

Students are sick of being forced to live in a world shaped by the cowardice of politicians who are endangering us every day, Rackley said. Dont forget its election year so if our politicians dont listen to us, theyll be wishing for thoughts and prayers come election day.

The post Advocates rally for gun safety measures at the General Assembly appeared first on NC Newsline.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has said that long-range armament, air defence systems and artillery are priority among the aid Ukraine needs from its allies.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Zelenskyys address at a meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraines Defence (Ramstein format) on the second anniversary of the meeting, broadcasted on Twitter (X) of the Pentagon

Details: Zelenskyy noted that the way events will unfold in the combat zone depends on how fast Ukraine and its allies act, and whether their agreements are fully implemented.

"Although in half a year while we were waiting for a decision on the American support, the Russian army managed to seize the initiative on the battlefield, we can still not only stabilise the front but also move forward, achieving our Ukrainian goals in the war," Zelenskyy stated.

He called long-range weapons a top priority as "no part of the occupied territory of Ukraine should remain safe for the occupiers". Zelenskyy thanked Ukraines allies for adopting decisions on the missiles that have been "working hard on the frontline": Storm Shadows, SCALPs and ATACMS.

Zelenskyy listed air defence as the second priority.

"This year Russian jets have used more than 9,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. We need the ability to shoot down their combat aircraft so that they do not approach our positions and borders. It is possible. It is just as possible as giving protection to the cities of Ukraine from Russian rockets. We urgently need Patriot systems and the missiles for them," Zelenskyy stressed, adding that Ukraine needs at least seven such systems.

"You have these systems, and they truly can change the situation for the better. As well as accelerating the transition to the F-16s," Zelenskyy stated.

Zelenskyy called artillery and ammunition the third priority, stressing that the ratio of Ukrainian and Russian forces in artillery is 1:10, and such a situation inspires Russia to plan a counteroffensive.

The fourth priority is the production of weapons both in partner states and within joint projects.

"Now in Ukraine we have the potential for the production of drones, in particular [those] which significantly exceeds our financial capabilities. Same with electronic warfare systemsWe need to fill our defence capacities with real orders," Zelenskyy noted.

Background:

Reportedly, Spain refused to provide a Patriot system for Ukraine, but will provide some missiles.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, ruled out the possibility of supplying air defence for Ukraine.

In addition, on 13 April, Germany announced the urgent delivery of one Patriot system to Ukraine.

The German government is pressuring the United States to provide Ukraine with at least one more Patriot system to strengthen the country's air defence, and Berlin will continue to put pressure on European allies.

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Air defence systems for Ukraine to be key topic of upcoming Ramstein format meeting

Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, has stated that strengthening Ukraines air defence will be the key priority at the meeting of the Ukraines Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format), which started on the afternoon of 26 April.

Source: Austin, at the opening of the Ramstein meeting, held in a video format, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Austin noted that lately, Russia has intensified its air strikes on the territory of Ukraine.

"Were going to have a special focus on boosting Ukrainian air defences. Ukraine is in dire need of more air defence systems, and it urgently needs more interceptors. Thats going to be a huge priority for us all today," Austin said.

Artillery and armoured equipment will also be priority issues.

"As I said at Ramstein two years ago, we know the burden you carry, and you should know that all of us have your back. We still do, and we wont back down," Austin stressed.

About 50 countries are involved in the Contact Group for Ukraines Defence. It received its unofficial name, Ramstein, from the airbase in Germany where the first meeting was held.

The meeting held on 26 April marks the second anniversary of the Ramstein format.

Background:

Reportedly, Spain refused to provide a Patriot system for Ukraine, but it will provide some missiles instead.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, ruled out the possibility of air defence systems supply for Ukraine.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 26. The National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Central Bank of Turkiye have signed a memorandum of understanding, Trend reports.

The document was signed by the chairmen of the banks at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

The main goal of the document is to strengthen bilateral relations, exchange information, and establish best practices in the areas of activity of central banks.

In particular, the parties plan to cooperate in studying macroeconomic trends, developing financial markets, and studying the activities of central banks in the fields of monetary policy, macroprudential policy, financial stability, and digital financial technologies, as well as in other areas.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Central Bank of Turkiye plan to develop cooperation through mutual dialogue and the exchange of experience and expertise, including joint research activities.

Notably, Turkiye is one of the main trading partners of Kazakhstan. Thus, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkiye amounted to $6 billion in 2023.

At the same time, in the structure of trade turnover, exports to Turkiye for the above period amounted to $3.9 billion.

In addition, imports from Turkiye from January through December 2023 increased by 27 percent and amounted to $2 billion.
Ala. Mom Allegedly Tried to Drown Son, 10, in Bathtub. To Survive, He 'Played Dead': Docs

The mother, Ashley Elizabeth Jones, allegedly threw bleach on her son and then followed him to the bathtub when he tried to wash it off

Colbert County Jail Ashley Elizabeth Jones

Ashley Elizabeth Jones, 34, is charged with aggravated child abuse

The alleged abuse had been going on for more than a week when the child reported it to his father, who shares joint custody

Jones made bail Tuesday, April 23, and is slated to appear in court May 20

An Alabama mother allegedly tried to drown her son in the bathtub after he told her that he would prefer to live with his dad, according to authorities.

Ashley Elizabeth Jones, 34, is charged with aggravated child abuse, the Colbert County Circuit Court clerks office confirms to PEOPLE.

The 10-year-old boy told investigators that his mother  who shares joint custody with his father  hit and bit him, according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

When the child said he wanted to live with his father full-time, Jones allegedly doused her sons body with bleach, per the affidavit.

According to the court documents, the child claimed that he had gone to take a bath and wash off the bleach, when his mother followed him into the bathroom, jumped into the tub with him, and proceeded to grab his face, shoving it under water for about 45 seconds, the affidavit alleges.

To survive, the child told investigators that he stilled his body, pretending to play dead, per the affidavit.

Afterward, his mother allegedly locked him in a closet for three hours, per the court documents.

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The alleged abuse had been going on for more than a week, per the affidavit, when Jones was booked into Colbert County Jail Tuesday, April 23, Chief Deputy Sheriff Lee Smith confirms to PEOPLE.

The affidavit does not specify the date that Jones allegedly tried to drown her son, but court documents note multiple instances of alleged physical abuse between Monday, April 15 and Sunday, April 21, along with visible scrapes and bruises, on the child, which he claimed were caused by his mother.

The boy called his father and asked him to pick him up that Sunday, the father told authorities, per the court documents.

The father told investigators that his son sounded distressed and had run out of the house to meet him, carrying only his Xbox and clothing.

The father then told his son that they needed to check in with his mother before an unscheduled pick-up, per the affidavit, which notes that the child begged him not to before revealing the alleged abuse, which the father then reported to authorities.

Law enforcement brought the mother in for questioning the next day, per the affidavit.

Jones has not yet entered a plea to the charges, according to the clerks office, but during her interview with police, she denied the allegations, per the affidavit.

It is unclear if custody rights have changed hands since the incident, as those proceedings are closed to the public.

Jones posted her $50,000 bail and was released the same day of her arrest, per the clerks office.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance May 20 at 8 a.m. A defense lawyer has not yet been assigned to her case.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, speaks at a rally in support of legislation protecting access to in vitro fertilization at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama on Feb. 28, 2024. The rally took place ahead of scheduled committee hearings on the bills on Wednesday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama Senate Thursday approved legislation creating a uniform suspension and expulsion process for public K-12 students.

HB 188, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, extends due process to children in the school disciplinary system. The bill passed 32-0.

They are the only body that did not have due process, said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, after the Senate adjourned. You and I are grown people. We have due process all the way through the legal system.

Smitherman said that some places had their own due process, but this creates an equalizing baseline system.

The Senate was originally supposed to take up Smithermans version of the bill, but he said that Collins bill reflects the concerns of interested parties.

Smitherman filed a version of the bill last year, but it failed on the Senate floor. Collins also filed a version of the bill last year, but representatives and speakers at a public hearing shared concerns about demographics and anonymity.

The bill was altered throughout the 2024 session.

We finally got there, said Smitherman after the Senate adjourned. Its just sometimes it takes a while. You know how the cake sometimes dont want to rise up? But we were able to put enough yeast in this cake, to get it up to where it was supposed to be. And now I think its going to be something that people are going to enjoy all around the board.

Under the legislation, the principal or the principals designee would be able to consider the age of the student, disciplinary history of the student, seriousness of violation or behavior or whether a lesser intervention would suffice in considering punishment. .

Before a recommendation for long-term alternative school placement, long-term suspension or expulsion, a local board would need to provide a disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing would be held within ten days after the initial suspension, if the parent or guardian responds, unless there is good cause or agreement between the parties.

The student could be represented by legal counsel or another advocate of the students choice at the students expense. The student, representative and parent or guardian would be able to review any evidence five days prior to the hearing. Representatives of the school will present evidence at the hearing.

The student, parent/ guardian or representation may present a defense, question present adverse witnesses offering testimony, offer testimony from witnesses (excluding students under 14), offer written statements and present other documentary, audio or video evidence. Witness anonymity is protected, and witnesses cannot be compelled to testify.

The legislation also requires a reasonable written notice to the student and parent or guardian with a statement of a time, place and nature of the hearing, as well as a short statement outlining the alleged violation, with the provision of state law or student conduct violated and recommended disciplinary action.

It would also need to include a statement outlining the rights of the student at the hearing and an optional hearing waiver indicating that the parent or guardian assents to the alleged violation and any recommended action. If a parent or guardian did not respond to the notice, the hearing would be waived.

The local board of education will provide an electronic or written record of the hearing to each party in the hearing, upon request.

The student and his or her parent or guardian would be notified of the decision within five days of the hearing with a written record and instructions on the appeal process.

The bill passed with little discussion on Thursday with only Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, asking about language for per incident.

Jerome Dees, Alabama policy director of the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, said in a statement Thursday that the law was an acknowledgment that student rights do not stop at the school door.

While there is still more work to be done to address the school-to-prison pipeline in Alabama, especially for Black and Brown students, this is a major step in the right direction, Dees wrote.

The House concurred with Senate changes.

This story was updated to reflect that the House concurred with Senate changes.

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The Supreme Court justice who authored the Dobbs ruling overturning Roe v. Wade jumped headlong Wednesday into the debate about whether a fetus is entitled to the same rights as a person.

Abortion-rights advocates were concerned ahead of arguments that the case about whether Idahos abortion ban violated a federal emergency care law might be used to advance the fight for fetal rights.

The Department of Justice argued that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals that take Medicare funds to provide stabilizing treatment to a patient in an emergency, even if that treatment is an abortion.

Idaho said the law doesnt mention abortions, and the state has set its own standard: a total ban on abortions except when it is needed to save a pregnant womans life, but not to prevent serious risks to her health.

As the Supreme Court wrestled for the first time with the fallout of a state abortion ban since it overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Justice Samuel Alito seemed to endorse the idea that a fetus needs the same stabilizing treatment as the pregnant person.

The conservative justice zeroed in on the laws reference to an unborn child.

Isnt that an odd phrase to put in a statute that imposes a mandate to perform abortions? Alito asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar.

The hospital must stabilize the threat to the unborn child, and it seems that the plain meaning is that the hospital must try to eliminate any immediate threat to the child, but performing an abortion is antithetical to that duty, Alito said, adding that the hospital has a duty to protect the interests of the unborn child.

Prelogar countered that Alitos reading of the statute was erroneous and the hospital only has a duty to stabilize the pregnant women.

Congress amended the law to add the phrase unborn child in order to expand protections for pregnant people and ensure a woman got the treatment she needed, Prelogar argued.

Congress wanted to be able to protect her in situations where shes suffering some kind of emergency and her own health isnt at risk, but the fetus might die, Prelogar said, in instances such as a prolapse of the umbilical cord in the cervix where the fetus is in distress, but the woman is not.

Hospitals otherwise wouldnt have an obligation to treat her, and Congress wanted to fix that, she said.

Anti-abortion groups have long argued that life begins at conception, and some like The Heritage Foundation have promoted views that the 14th Amendment can be interpreted to ban abortion nationwide. Granting a fetus the same rights as a person would mean abortion for any reason is murder.

Its not surprising to hear some of the justices expressed sympathy for fetal personhood. This was a significant motivating part of the efforts to overrule Roe vs. Wade, said Leah Litman, a professor at University of Michigan Law School.

This theory would just radically reshape the health care and reproductive rights landscape as we know it, because it would just mean no abortions anywhere in the United States, period, and also jeopardize other forms of reproductive care as well, Litman said.

The idea of fetal personhood gained steam when Roe was overturned, but dozens of states consider a fetus to be a person at some point during pregnancy.

At least 19 states have either extremely broad personhood language in their laws or somehow define person to include a fetus or unborn child, according to a report from the liberal organization Pregnancy Justice.

Abortion-rights advocates said Alito has been laying the groundwork for federal fetal personhood since his opinion in Dobbs, though he did not take an explicit position on the issue.

According to the dissent, the Constitution requires the States to regard a fetus as lacking even the most basic human right  to live  at least until an arbitrary point in a pregnancy has passed. Nothing in the Constitution or in our Nations legal traditions authorizes the Court to adopt that theory of life, he wrote.

The court also sidestepped the issue a few months after Dobbs, when it declined to hear a case that asked the justices to declare whether a fetus has constitutional protections.

Litman said the justices could be taking incremental steps toward fetal personhood protections, essentially nudging the law in that direction rather than declaring it outright.

I dont know that the Court wants to do this, like, immediately, two years after Dobbs in the immediate lead up to an election, she said. I think the strategy is like, in addition to just asking for full blown constitutional fetal personhood, why not do a few things that move us toward that end.

On a call with reporters, Alexa Kolbi-Molinas with the American Civil Liberties Unions Reproductive Freedom Project said fetal personhood is the goal for conservatives.

Whether or not we see a decision in this case that discusses fetal personhood or recognizes these issues or excludes pregnant people from the protection of federal law, we know that is what these extremist anti-abortion politicians are pushing and theyre not going to stop, she said.

During arguments Wednesday, it wasnt just Alito asking about the unborn child language in the law.

Justice Neil Gorsuch asked Idahos attorney, Joshua Turner, what to do with EMTALAs definition of individual to include both the woman and the unborn child.

Turner said it wasnt the states position that EMTALA prohibited abortions, because in some states abortion can be allowed as stabilizing treatment.

But he said adding unborn children into the law was deliberate.

It would be a very strange thing for Congress to expressly amend EMTALA to require care for unborn children  and yet also be mandating termination of unborn children, Turner said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Virginia State Police say a former Alleghany County Chief Deputy resigned and has been charged with two misdemeanors after an accident in Alleghany County on Sunday, April 14.

According to VSP, a 2006 Toyota Tacoma, driven by 40-year-old Chief Deputy Chad D. Wickline of Clifton Forge, was driving east on I-64 near mile marker 10.6 when his vehicle ran off the side of the roadway and hit a guardrail. He was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured in this crash.

State police said Wickline called a tow truck and allegedly left the scene without reporting the crash to police.

Child seriously injured by crash on Shenandoah Ave NW in Roanoke

According to Alleghany County Sheriff Kyle Moore, he became aware of the crash and immediately instructed Wickline to contact VSP and report the crash, which he did.

In response to the incident, VSP charged Wickline with misdemeanor charges for Reckless Driving and Failure to Report an Accident.

According to the Alleghany County Sheriffs Office, Chief Deputy Wickline chose to resign from his position.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN)  An AMBER Alert that was issued for an infant out of San Antonio on Thursday was discontinued Friday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, DPS said the alert was issued for a 2-month-old boy, who had last been seen around 10:22 p.m. on April 11.

The alert was discontinued just before 11 a.m. Friday after the infant was found.

Law enforcement did not provide any further details.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Amendments to Missouri Constitution are on the line amid GOP infighting

Amendments to Missouri Constitution are on the line amid GOP infighting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Republican Missouri lawmakers are divided over how far to go with a ballot measure that would make it more difficult for future voters to amend the state constitution.

The GOP-led House on Thursday amended a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would raise the vote threshold needed for all constitutional amendments going forward.

The heart of the proposed amendment would raise the percentage of votes needed to enact voter-directed constitutional changes.

Currently, the constitution is amended with a simple majority statewide vote.

Under the Republican proposal, amendments also would need a majority of votes in five of the states eight congressional districts to pass.

House lawmakers on Thursday added a provision to the amendment to ban noncitizens from voting  which they already cant do  setting up a showdown with the GOP-led Senate.

In the Senate, Democrats earlier this year negotiated with Republicans to strip the language stating that noncitizens cannot vote.

House Republican Majority Leader Jon Patterson on Monday acknowledged that including additional provisions could mean that the proposed amendment is killed in the Senate. But Patterson said House members are willing to take that risk.

Contractor makes a million-dollar mistake on I-55 project: whos paying the bill?

Missouri Republicans have been trying for years to put stricter limits on constitutional amendments, arguing that policies such as the legalization of recreational marijuana, approved by voters in 2022, should not be included in the document.

Its not meant as a document that is going to be coopted by special interests, by political parties, by deep pockets, by billionaires out of state, (and) foreign interests, Republican Rep. Adam Schnelting said during House floor debate. That is not the purpose of the constitution.

House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade told reporters Thursday that the measure would take away the citizens ability to, in my opinion, hold the Legislature accountable.

Missouri citizens have used the ballot initiative whenever the Legislature has gone too far or not done enough, Quade said. Whether that was for passing Medicaid expansion and stopping right to work, legalization of medical and recreational marijuana; the list goes on and on.

The GOP faces added pressure this year as advocates work to get a constitutional amendment that would restore abortion rights in Missouri on the ballot this fall.

If lawmakers send the constitutional changes to the August ballot and they are approved by voters, the higher vote-threshold would be in place if the abortion-rights amendment is on the November ballot.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
The United States faces an "increasingly fragile global order" that's strained by competition from adversarial world powers and foreign humanitarian disasters fueling migration, a U.S. spy report says.

The Intelligence Community released its annual threat assessment report that "focuses on the most direct, serious threats" facing the country over the next year.

Not surprisingly, "an ambitious but anxious" China and a "confrontational" Russia are the biggest threats.

And overseas conflicts orchestrated by terrorist groups have far-reaching effects. The report mentioned the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, which has sparked months of protests and hostilities throughout the U.S.

CHINA'S MILITARY TARGETS AMERICAN TROOPS, VETERANS FOR EXPLOITATION CAMPAIGN, GENERAL SAYS

Soldiers exit their cars to take up positions during military drills in Jiangxi, China, Jan. 29, 2023.

The 41-page report, released in February, includes several threats, along with regional instability that will demand the U.S.'s attention "as states and non-state actors struggle in this evolving global order."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Haiti's civil unrest, which has broken out in civil war, and Venezula's instability exacerbated by corrupt regimes that are backed by China, Iran and Russia are forcing citizens to flee, which is fueling America's immigration spike.

These are three threats outlined by the Intelligence Community.

The report specifically mentioned four countries  China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  but none of them pose a greater threat than China, according to the report.

"China has the capability to directly compete with the U.S. and U.S. allies and to alter the rules-based global order in ways that support Beijings power and form of governance over that of the U.S.," the report says.

There's concern that the People's Republic of China (PRC) will attempt to influence the 2024 U.S. elections "at some level  to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. society divisions."

CHINA SPENDING DRASTICALLY MORE ON MILITARY THAN DECLARED, US ADMIRAL SAYS

"PRC actors have increased their capabilities to conduct covert influence operations and disseminate disinformation," the spy report says. "Even if Beijing sets limits on these activities, individuals not under its direct supervision may attempt election influence activities they perceive are in line with Beijings goals."

President Xi Jinping still sees Taiwan as rightfully part of the People's Republic of China. An always-looming potential invasion similar to Russia's attack on Ukraine is a "flashpoint" for confrontation between China and the U.S., the report says.

China is America's greatest competition in a technological arms race as artificial intelligence advancements explode, and Beijing is "trying to fast-track" its advancements.

Members of Taiwan's Navy navigate onboard a special operation boat during a drill for the media to show combat readiness ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays on the waters near a military base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Jan. 31, 2024.

WATCH: FBI TALKS CHINA'S THREAT TO U.S.

Like China, it's no surprise Russia is high up in a 41-page report about threats to America and its allies.

"Russia will remain a serious foreign influence threat because of its wide-ranging efforts to try to divide Western alliances, undermine U.S. global standing, and sow domestic discord, including among voters inside the U.S. and U.S. partners around the world," the Intelligence Community report says.

Vladamir Putin and the country suffered "enormous damage" after invading Ukraine, which mounted an unexpected defense.

ZELENSKYY PRAISES 'HEROIC' SOLDIERS IN PREVIEW OF BRET BAIER'S EXCLUSIVE FOX NEWS INTERVIEW: 'NO PLAN B'

Russia is like a limping wild animal that "almost certainly" doesn't want any direct military conflict with the U.S. and NATO forces, but there's still the threat of nuclear weapons and chemical warfare.

Russia "maintains the largest and most diverse nuclear weapons stockpile," including long-range capabilities and underwater delivery systems designed to penetrate or bypass U.S. missile defenses.

There have been at least two recent uses of chemical weapons in assassination attempts, in 2020 and in 2018.

WATCH PUTIN TELLS THE WEST: RUSSIA IS READY FOR NUCLEAR WAR

The report details several countries being torn apart by domestic unrest, government corruption and economic discontent, which fuels cycles of insurrections and violence.

Six countries' current situations are laid out in the report, including Haiti, which descended into civil war led by warlord Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier, and Venezuela's government corruption.

The Haitian government lost its grip on warring gangs, and the Haitian National Police is severely understaffed and overwhelmed by the gangs.

ROYAL FAMILY OF HAITIAN GAN TAKEN DOWN BY US, ALLOWING BARBEQUE TO RISE TO POWER

The report was released before gangs freed 4,000 inmates after a days-long gun battle with police in early March.

Gang Leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier patrolling the streets with G9 federation gang members in the Delmas 3 area Feb. 22, 2024, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

WATCH: GANGS WREAK HAVOC ON HAITI

In Venezuela, disputed President Nicolas Maduro is more like a dictator and will likely hold onto power. Maduro's regime is backed by China, Russia and Iran, which allows the country to evade sanctions.

Maduro banned opposition candidates from holding public office, restricted news coverage and placed close allies in the National Electoral Council to ensure his victory despite evidence of "blatant" voter fraud, according to the report.

More than 80% of the country lives below the poverty line, and almost 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2017.

Both countries' situations have fueled the immigration crisis in the U.S.

MADURO'S LATEST CRACKDOWN IN VENEZUELA COMES RIGHT OUT OF A HIT 1999 MOVIE

"Conflict, violence, political instability, poor economic conditions and natural disasters will continue to displace growing numbers of people within their own national borders and internationally, straining countries capacity to absorb new arrivals and governments abilities to provide services and manage domestic public discontent," the report says.

The U.S. and the Western Hemisphere in general, will "likely" continue to see high levels of migrant flows, according to the report.

The number of people displaced from their homes in 2022 was three times higher than the average of the previous 10 years, the Intelligence Community noted.

"Political repression and lack of economic opportunities will continue to drive Cuban, Nicaragua, and Venezuelan emigration; however, those regimes will continue to blame U.S. sanctions and policies for irregular emigration from their countries," the report says.

READ THE FULL REPORT: MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE





Original article source: Americans face 'direct' threats from foreign dictators, terrorists, migrants: 3 things to know
House Speaker Dean Plocher holds a press conference on Thursday in the Missouri Capitol (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

The saga of Dean Plocher took yet another twist this week, with the House speakers leadership team circumventing the chambers rules to try to force the ethics committee to hold a hearing.

Plocher has been under investigation by the committee for months, and recently he and his allies have started demanding it convene and dismiss the complaint against him. But because House rules only allow the chair of a committee to schedule a hearing, the meeting scheduled by GOP leadership was quickly scuttled.

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The reason why I canceled the meeting is because I didnt notice it up, said state Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain View Republican appointed last year by Plocher to serve as ethics chair. She ultimately ended up scheduling a meeting for 11 a.m. Monday.

Plocher wouldnt comment Thursday on what his role was in the push to force a meeting.

But the unusual maneuver, coming as the speaker is already being accused of obstructing the committees work, has added even more fuel to questions about whether the ethics rules in the House need to be reworked in order to deal with the possibility of the chambers most powerful member being the focus of an investigation.

It is deeply difficult to hold elected officials accountable in the process that we have in this ethics committee, particularly when were talking about the speaker, who appoints those members and ultimately has authority over how that committee works. Whether or not subpoenas are issued, you know, and the list goes on, said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat.

House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, a Lees Summit Republican set to take over as speaker next year when Plochers term expires, agreed that changes to the ethics rules in light of everything thats been going on this year are worth looking at.

Theres always room to look at things, he said earlier this week, and see how they can be improved as we go forward.

Since late last year, the ethics committee has been digging into Plochers unsuccessful push for the House to sign an $800,000 contract with a private software company outside the normal bidding process; alleged threats of retaliation against nonpartisan legislative staff who raised red flags about that contract; purported firing a potential whistleblower; and years of false expense reports for travel already paid for by his campaign.

Over the course of the ethics committees inquiry, Plocher refused to speak to the private attorney hired to gather evidence and on three occasions over March and April refused to sign off on subpoena requests by the committee.

Kelly and the committees vice chair, Democratic state Rep. Robert Sauls of Independence, also accused Plocher of undermining the inquiry by pressuring potential witnesses.

Last week, the committee voted 6-2 to reject a report recommending a formal letter of disapproval for Plocher, that he hire an accounting professional to manage his expense reports moving forward and that he refrain from retaliation against any legislator or House employee who cooperated with the committee.

The rejected report also includes numerous suggested changes to the rules governing the ethics committee process. Among the changes would be transferring subpoena power automatically to another member of House leadership  the speaker pro tem  if the speaker or anyone on his staff are subjects of an inquiry.

The report also suggests strengthening the House policy protecting legislative employees from unlawful harassment and clarifying that the committee can investigate any alleged obstruction of one of its investigations.

David Steelman, an ex-member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators hired by House Speaker Dean Plocher as his attorney, speaks to reporters on Tuesday (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).

Plocher has insisted he cant say anything while the investigation is ongoing.

I cant comment on anything on ethics, he told reporters Thursday. I just cant comment.

But his attorneys have not been nearly as hesitant to weigh in on the speakers behalf.

On Tuesday, one of those attorneys  former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators David Steelman  said there was nothing at all wrong with the House ethics rules.

The problem, Steelman contends, was that Kelly and the committee didnt follow them.

The rules work fine if the committee chairman would have applied them, Steelman told reporters. It was not the procedure that didnt work. It was the chairman who ignored the procedure. That didnt work.

The committee should have dismissed the complaint at the start of its inquiry in November, Steelman said, and throughout the process the committee seemed to be ignoring its mission and digging for dirt.

After rejecting the draft report last week, the ethics committee has held no other meetings. Steelman says the committee has no choice but to convene and finish its work.

Dean Plocher, Steelman said, has a right to a resolution.

As speaker, Plocher also has the power to approve  or refuse to approve  subpoenas issued by the committee. And three times, the speakers office informed the committee he would not be granting its request.

Steelman said Tuesday that two of the requested subpoenas were for Plocher and his chief of staff, Rod Jetton. They both agreed to testify willingly, so no subpoenas were needed.

As for other requests, after roughly a month of resistance, Plocher eventually recused himself, allowing Speaker Pro Tem Mike Henderson to sign off on some of the subpoenas.

When, exactly, Plocher decided to recuse himself remains unclear.

Asked why Plocher didnt recuse himself from the start of the investigation, or at least when subpoena requests started showing up to his office, Steelman told reporters the speaker recused himself when it mattered.

Steelman did not respond to an email seeking details on when, exactly, Plocher recused himself from the committees subpoena process.

Plocher also has the power to take away Kellys position on the ethics committee. He declined to answer whether he was considering that when asked about it at a recent press conference.

As for this weeks kerfuffle over committee hearings, Marc Powers, chief of staff for the House Democrats, said Sauls was approached by the speakers office about convening a hearing and informed them that only Kelly had the authority to do that.

However, Powers said Sauls doesnt object to having another hearing in order to close the investigation for good.

Regardless of how the Plocher saga turns out, any rule changes will have to wait until next year.

House rules are proposed at the beginning of a General Assembly, which convenes the January after Election Day, and voted on by the entire chamber. They govern the House for two legislative sessions.

Quade, who is running for governor and in her final term in the House, said the allegations coming out of the ethics committee against Plocher are deeply concerning.

There are conversations around potential obstruction, she said. There are conversations around employee treatment. Theres a lot of concerning pieces in there.

She hopes those who return next year will make the issue a priority.

I do hope that the members who will remain after my time here will look at what is the most effective way to hold folks accountable, she said, when they are doing something that violates our code of ethics.

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The post Amid Dean Plocher obstruction allegations, talk turns to fixes for House ethics rules appeared first on Missouri Independent.
ANDALUSIA, Ala (WDHN)  A woman is suing an Andalusia Police Officer after claiming he violated her civil rights during an unlawful arrest earlier this year.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Twyla Stallworth and her son, Jermari Marshall.

The lawsuit alleges that on February 23, 2024, Andalusia Police Officer John Barton assaulted 18-year-old Marshall before entering Stallworths home, where he attacked and arrested her because she refused to give Barton her ID.

She was charged with obstruction, resisting arrest, and eluding.

According to the complaint, Stallworths arrest was racially motivated and went against her constitutional and federal rights as a citizen of the United States.

Defendant Barton unlawfully arrested Ms. Stallworth due to his lack of skills or carelessness, the lawsuit reads. Defendant Barton assaulted Jermari due to his lack of skills or carelessness.

Stallworth says after her arrest, she was taken to the Covington County Jail, put in an inmate uniform that was too small, and placed in a cold cell for over 15 hours before she posted a $3,035 bond.

On March 8, Stallworth received word her charges were being dropped and got an apology from Early Johnson, the mayor of Andalusia.

On behalf of the City of Andalusia and the Andalusia Police Department, I would like to apologize to Twyla Stallworth for her arrest in February, Mayor Johnson said in the apology. The arresting officer has a clean record with our department, but he made a mistake in the case on February 23. He has been disciplined.

The lawsuit did not go into detail about Officer Bartons punishment.

As a result of the unlawful arrest, Stallworth says she and her son suffered psychological and physical damages such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.

Stallworth is asking for an unspecified amount of compensatory damages.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Craig Soupir has $20 million to spend, and wants to do it right.

In fact, the money isn't Soupir's, and he alone isn't responsible for ensuring the Department of Natural Resources builds the best fish hatchery $20 million can buy.

But it's safe to say no one is more excited than Soupir, the DNR's area fisheries supervisor in Waterville, Minn., about the prospect of replacing the ancient (built in 1954) hatchery in that southern Minnesota town of about 1,800 residents.

"Being able to build a new hatchery is a big deal for the state, considering how important stocking is to fishing in Minnesota," Soupir said. "With the new hatchery, we hope to increase our production capacity in Waterville by about 150 percent."

The DNR staff and various angler groups have sought a new Waterville hatchery for decades. But it wasn't until the last legislative session, when the DNR was awarded more than $300 million to update many of its facilities, including its Waterville hatchery, that a funding breakthrough was reached.

Leading the charge was the angler group Minnesota Sportfishing Foundation Coalition (MN-FISH), which helped to convince legislators and Gov. Tim Walz the time had come to replace a hatchery that originated as, and generally has remained, a garage.

The Waterville hatchery is among 11 DNR cool- or warm-water facilities in the state that produce channel catfish, northern pike and muskies, in addition to walleyes, for stocking in 1,100 lakes and a smattering of streams.

Others are in Walker Lake, Bemidji, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Glenwood, Grand Rapids, New London, Park Rapids, St. Paul and Tower.

"Cold-water" hatcheries, meanwhile, in Altura, Lanesboro, Peterson and Remer, produce 1.7 million brook, brown, lake and rainbow trout each year, as well as splake (a brook and lake trout hybrid) for stocking in 200 Minnesota lakes and 100 streams.

Raising fish for stocking can be challenging in a "north-south" state like Minnesota, in which lake types in the bottom half of the state differ from those "up north."

Walleyes in southern Minnesota, for example, frequently don't reproduce naturally. If fishing opportunities are going to exist in those waters, they have to originate from stocking.

Conversely, in northern Minnesota, many lakes don't need walleye stocking. It would be a waste of money, because those lakes facilitate natural reproduction far exceeding anything stocking could provide.

Another consideration in fish stocking is the amount of "biomass," or life, a given lake can support. Stocking fish beyond this demarcation, which often has to be guessed at, can be counterproductive.

Additionally, survival rates of stocked "fry," or tiny infant fish, often vary widely from those of "fingerlings" (fry raised in hatcheries to the fall of their birth year) or yearlings, which as their name implies are older, bigger and more likely to survive but considerably more expensive to produce.

Another fish-rearing consideration, "biosecurity," weighs on Soupir as he and others in the DNR prepare to choose engineering and construction firms for a Waterville hatchery that likely will serve Minnesota for at least a half-century.

"Biosecurity is critical," Soupir said. "Keeping invasive species and fish diseases out of a hatchery has become more and more important. Being able to control the new hatchery's water temperature and ensuring the water is pure will help in that regard."

About 1 million northern pike fry, 60 million walleye fry and 120,000 muskie fry are now produced annually in Waterville, some of which remain in the hatchery until fall, when they are stocked as fingerlings.

Of these, muskies are an example of a stocked fish that gained a lot of traction among anglers, but whose sizes and numbers have changed as its populations have matured. Thirty years ago, give or take, an early morning or late evening spent casting on lakes such as White Bear, Bald Eagle, Forest, Minnetonka or Mille Lacs likely would have yielded a few muskie follows and perhaps a hookup.

But muskie populations those many years ago generally comprised smaller individuals than they do today.

"As the size structure of muskies has shifted to larger individuals, and fewer of them, we're finding that muskie stocking is less successful," Soupir said. "That's why we want to produce more yearling muskies for stocking, believing we can stock fewer, but bigger, fish that have a much better chance for survival."

DNR fisheries researchers also have discovered that Minnesota walleyes differ genetically from north to south.

Eggs stripped from Cannon River walleyes in southern Minnesota, for instance, can vary from those taken up north, which explains why the Waterville hatchery produces walleye fry and fingerings primarily from Cannon River stock.

Soupir, a 25-year DNR veteran, has toured other states' hatcheries in the year since the Legislature approved the $24 million, gleaning features that should be incorporated in Minnesota's newest facility.

"Right now, we have water come into our facility and water go out," he said. "With new technologies, we will be able to recirculate 98% of our water, which among other things will allow us to raise fish year-round. This will potentially get our muskie growth up to 16 inches by the following spring, and also help us produce better walleyes more consistently."

Selection of a hatchery engineering firm is expected within the next nine months, with groundbreaking slated for spring 2026.

"I'm hoping also we can have an observation room so the public can visit to see how a hatchery works," said Soupir, who with staff welcomed about 150 people during an open house Wednesday. "We want anglers and the public to see what we're doing. We're working hard to support the state's fisheries."
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 26. Within the framework of Kazakhstan's presidency in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a meeting of defense ministers was held, Trend reports.

Heads of defense departments of the SCO member states, the Secretary-General, the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, as well as the Minister of Defense of Belarus, took part in the meeting.

The sides discussed topical issues of international and regional security in a traditionally friendly and constructive manner and identified steps to develop cooperation between defense agencies.

Additionally, it was noted at the meeting that the SCO is not a military-political bloc, and military cooperation is not directed against other countries.

The meeting's activities are focused on strengthening confidence-building measures in the military sphere and coordinating efforts to counter challenges and threats to regional security. In this connection, the necessity of continuing the joint military counter-terrorism exercise Peace Mission was noted.

To promote the activities of the Armed Forces of the organization's member states, the heads of the defense departments agreed to develop interaction between military history museums.

Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov, head of Kazakhstan's defense ministry, drew the participants' attention to the historical aspect of the organization.

If we go back to the origins of the SCO, it should be noted that the basis for its creation was laid by the Agreement on Strengthening Confidence-Building in the Military Field in the Border Area of April 26, 1996 (Shanghai Agreement) and the Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Armed Forces in the Border Area of April 24, 1997 (Moscow Agreement), he said.

Further, Kazakhstan's Defense Minister proposed to develop and adopt an agreement on confidence-building measures for all SCO states within the framework of the organization, providing for mutual visits to military units voluntarily and providing information on major military exercises, leadership, and the structure of defense agencies.

The meeting resulted in the signing of a protocol, several documents regulating cooperation, and the adoption of a joint communique.

Kazakhstan's Minister of Defense and the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization made a joint statement at the conclusion of the event.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Andrew Tate to be tried on rape, trafficking and sexual exploitation charges, Romanian court rules

Andrew Tate insists that Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him - Alexandru Dobre/Ap

Kickboxer and social media influencer Andrew Tate is to be tried on charges of rape, human trafficking and sexually exploiting women for financial gain, a court in Romania ruled on Friday.

Tate, 37, who has described himself as the king of toxic masculinity and has a huge following online, has been under investigation for months over allegations that he recruited young women and forced them to make online pornographic content.

A court in Bucharest has now decided that there is enough evidence to send him to trial, although it did not set a date for proceedings to begin.

The court notes the legality of evidence management by prosecutors, and rules that the case can go to trial, the court said.

Tate and his brother Tristan deny all allegations against them - Vadim Ghirda/AP

The decision came after months in which the case was discussed at a preliminary level, a stage which allows defendants to challenge the evidence amassed by prosecutors.

Tate, who has British and American citizenship, was arrested in Romania in December 2022 with his brother, Tristan Tate, and two Romanian women.

The brothers have both denied all the allegations against them.

Their lawyers said they would appeal the decision to send the case to trial.

We have filed a strong appeal

The ruling issued by the preliminary chamber judge lacks legal basis and reasoning, said Eugen Vidineac, one of their lawyers.

We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful.

Tate, a former professional kickboxer who has more than nine million followers on X, insists that prosecutors have no evidence against him.

He and his brother were indicted last June for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as does rape.

Andrew Tate who promotes an ultra-masculine lifestyle has said he is 'absolutely a misogynist'

The brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from December 2022 until April 2023 amid concerns they might try to leave the country.

They were then under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a lighter measure that enables them to move around Romania freely but not leave the country.

Prosecutors allege that they recruited women by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

The women were then taken to properties outside Bucharest and through physical violence and mental intimidation were forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated huge sums of money.

A conspiracy theorist who promotes an ultra-masculine lifestyle, Tate has described women as intrinsically lazy and said he is absolutely a misogynist.

Tate was raised in the US and then Luton. He is reported to have lived in Romania since 2017.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
FILE - Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan, right, wait inside the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. A court in Romania's capital on Friday, April 26, 2024, ruled that a trial can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  A court in Romanias capital on Friday ruled that a trial can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The Bucharest Tribunal ruled that prosecutors case file against Tate met the legal criteria but did not set a date for the trial to begin. Tates spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said the ruling has been appealed.

Tate, 37, was arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest along with his brother, Tristan Tate, and two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June last year. They have denied the allegations.

The ruling issued by the preliminary chamber judge lacks legal basis and reasoning," Eugen Vidineac, one of the brothers lawyers, said after the decision. "We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful.

Ahead of the court's decision Friday, the legal case had been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, a process in which the defendants can challenge prosecutors evidence and case file.

We reassert our belief in the fairness of the arguments we presented during the preliminary hearing and in the memoranda concerning the legality of the criminal investigation," said Ioan Gliga, another lawyer for the Tates. "Although they did not receive the necessary attention in the preliminary hearing, we are confident that the appeal court judge panel will support us.

Andrew Tate, who has amassed 9.1 million followers on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him.

Tate was previously banned from various prominent social media platforms for expressing misogynistic views and for hate speech. Both Tates are dual British-U.S. citizens.

Last month, the Bucharest Tribunal extended geographical restrictions against Tate, a former professional kickboxer, stipulating he cannot leave the country. Tate had requested that he be able to travel within the European Union with the prior approval of a judge.

After the Tate brothers' arrest, they were held for three months in police detention before being moved to house arrest. They were later restricted to Bucharest Municipality and nearby Ilfov County, but can now travel freely around Romania.

Also last month, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case, after British authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a U.K. case dating back to 2012-2015.

The appeals court granted the British request to extradite the the Tates to the U.K., but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.



McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
Anger over new romance led Wichita man to strangle his childs mother and kill a man

A seven-day trial ended Thursday night with jurors finding a 29-year-old Wichita man guilty of first-degree murder in a Dec. 3, 2019 fatal shooting at an southeast Wichita duplex.

Chevy Omar Jones was also found guilty on other charges related to strangling his childs mother, killing 31-year-old Robert Junior because she had slept with him and then ramming a police vehicle days after the killing when police tried to arrest him, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office. The woman survived.





The jury found Jones guilty of a misdemeanor battery for ramming the unmarked police vehicle, criminal damage to property for hitting that vehicle and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon.

A sentencing date is not yet set.

Jones will spend at least the next 50 years in prison for the premeditated, first-degree murder before he is eligible for parole.

The jury trial started April 16. The jury began its deliberations at 4:15 p.m. Thursday and reached a verdict at 6:30 p.m.

The jury found him guilty of aggravated domestic battery for strangulation and domestic battery involving his childs mother in October 2019, after finding out about her romantic relationship with Junior that summer, deputy DA Aaron Breitenbach said.

Jones continued to be angry about what happened which ultimately leads to him killing Robert Junior, Breitenbach said.

A neighbor found Junior shot near the driveway of the duplex they both lived in in the 8500 block of East Parkmont. Police were called at 2:20 a.m.

A few days later, police went to arrest Jones as he got into a 2002 Grand Marquis in a parking lot at the apartments in the 2600 block of South Topeka. He took off in the vehicle and rammed police Lt. Chad Beard, who was in an unmarked vehicle.

Beard was taken to the hospital for minor injuries before being released. The vehicle was registered to Jones childs mother.

Jones ran away and went inside the Walmart at Pawnee and Broadway before being arrested. He also had a handgun on him.

Junior helped organize a 2019 event to unite the community after a well-known rapper was killed in Los Angeles.

From what I knew, he was a good guy, council member Brandon Johnson said. Motivated to make more of himself and give back to his community.
As city officials question whos funding anti-Israel protests broiling with antisemitism at Columbia University and New York University and point to the nearly identical tents used at these "encampments" occupying campuses, one expert tells Fox News Digital the apparent organization and recent student "training sessions" suggests "foreign assistance."

"I think there is good reason to suspect that there is foreign assistance and coordination that's fueling the campus protests," Dr. Jay Greene, a senior research fellow at the Center for Education Policy at the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital. While the "hard evidence to prove this is still fuzzy," given organizing happens "sometimes indirectly or secretly," Greene said there are "enough signs to make it reasonable to suspect that that is occurring."

"Those signs include things like having common tents, having those tents all purchased and ready to go. Even the timing of the protests, right on the eve of Passover, this is well-timed to put Jewish students in a disadvantageous position because they'd be away for the holiday. And then also the remarkable similarities in language being used by protesters and foreign actors, including Hamas and Hezbollah," he said.

Greene also referenced how there have been "training sessions" at Columbia and elsewhere organized by Palestinian groups to help train students on the same "talking points" that Hamas and Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly made in speeches that call for "a global intifada and the assistance of foreign allies."

PARENTS WARN OF 'NIGHTMARE' CLIMATE ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: JEWISH STUDENTS 'ARE BEING THREATENED'

"We know that there were these training sessions, we know that there are speeches, we can see similarities in equipment. We can see similarities in language," Greene said. "But this is not to say that these movements don't also have a domestic origin. I mean, I think that they certainly do, but they're being facilitated and fueled by foreign agents."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Weeks before anti-Israel demonstrations reached a fever pitch in the days following Columbia President Minouche Shafik's testimony before Congress about antisemitism on campus, Columbia University had already suspended several students over a March 24 event hosted at a campus residential facility that the school said it already barred twice from occurring.

Video circulating on YouTube showing the virtual portion of the two-hour "Resistance 101" seminar organized by "Columbia University Apartheid Divest" that featured Charlotte Kates, an international coordinator of Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, and her husband, Khaled Barakat.

An Israeli government document links Barakat to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S. State Department designated foreign terrorist organization.

"There is nothing wrong with being a fighter in Hamas," the speakers told students on the call, according to the New York Post. Kates, appearing remotely, said of the most extreme anti-Israel agitators at Columbia and its sister college, Barnard, "These are the people who are on the front lines defending Palestine and fighting for its liberation."

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce on March 25 also called out Barakats link to the PFLP terrorist group, noting how he told Columbia students during a webinar that "friends at Hamas and Islamic Jihad" emphasized the importance of support on U.S. college campuses, adding that by contrast, "they dont care what Biden says, what Kamala Harris says."

"Every demonstration in New York matters more than all this nonsense that happens in mainstream media," Barakat told students. "Your work is so important to the resistance in Gaza, more than ever."

NYPD officers clear away tents from an encampment set up by anti-Israel protesters on the campus of New York University (NYU) on April 22, 2024.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kates group, Samidoun, for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Students for Justice in Palestines name has been plastered among anti-Israel demonstrations at several elite universities, which Greene described as a "remarkably shadowy group," given it doesnt operate under its own 501c3, making it difficult to "observe exactly how it's organized and funded."

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Greene told Fox News Digital how terrorist-affiliated NGOs, including the Holy Land Foundation, were prosecuted by the U.S. government for assisting terror.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROTESTS: REP. ELISE STEFANIK CALLS ON BIDEN ADMIN TO DEPORT TERRORIST SUPPORTERS ON VISAS

"The government bothered to investigate these organizations and the flow of funds closely enough to find organizations that were essentially abusing the nonprofit tax code to facilitate foreign influence and support for terrorism," he said. "Over time, that same kind of investigation could occur here. And it could well reveal similar kinds of problems, but it requires a significant government intervention."

"Its going need a presidential administration that makes this a priority," he continued. "The Biden administration does not have this as a priority."

Anti-Israel demonstrators at an encampment outside the Stern School of Business at New York University in Greenwich Village on Monday, April 22, 2024.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry on Tuesday separately called out how the tents used by demonstrations all seemed similar, if not identical.



"Was there a fire sale on those tents? So theres organizing going on," Adams said. "And whats the goal of that organizing? Thats what we have to ask ourselves." Similar to what happened in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations when "anarchists came into the city," the mayor said "outside agitators" have latched onto the Columbia and NYU protests.

Adams said authorities "have identified individuals who don't attend the schools who are on the campuses" fanning the flames of unrest.

In an interview with local news Tuesday morning, Daughtry said the NYPD has identified "known professional agitators" at Monday nights protests who wanted to "rouse up the mob mentality to agitate the officers to get the officers to react, to get one of them to assault one of the protesters, so they can get that image [that shows] Look, Im getting brutally assaulted by the police.'"

Anti-Israel students and faculty of New York University, inspired by Columbia University, occupy a plaza on campus and declare it a Gaza solidarity encampment on April 22, 2024 in New York City.

"It's great that city officials in New York are attuned to the potential difficulty here and are calling for more information," Greene told Fox News Digital. "But they alone don't have the resources or the reach to conduct this kind of investigation and really requires a federal effort, especially because these are international and sometimes involve classified materials."



Greene added, "it would be especially tragic if it required some horrible tragedy to then spark an investigation for how that came about," because "that's basically how the Holy Land Foundation was caught."

"We had, you know, the horrible tragedy of 9/11. And let's hope we don't have to have another one of those to track down bad actors again," he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson paid a visit to Columbia Universitys campus on Wednesday in support of Jewish students, as the timing of the demonstrations reached a fever pitch ahead of Passover. Over screams from the crowd, Johnson said that "if this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard."

"We have to bring order to these campuses," he said. "We cannot allow this to happen around the country."

NYPD officials have said they need approval from Columbia leadership to come onto campus and make arrests, explaining officers are barred from entering private property unless a crime is in progress and officers in that case would intervene when someones life is in danger.

Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y., on campus Wednesday, condemned "terrorist sympathizers" and said to those protesters who are "proud that youve been endorsed by Hamas, you are part of the problem."





Original article source: Anti-Israel agitators: Signs of 'foreign assistance' emerge in Columbia, NYU unrest
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former Republican presidential candidate for the 2024 race, said Thursday that any anti-Israel protesters on Florida college campuses could face expulsion for any harassing, offensive or belligerent behavior.

This comes as Ivy League schools like Columbia University, Harvard and Yale have all faced pro-Palestinian protesters overtaking their campuses with encampments and intimidation towards the Jewish population. Schools like Texas, USC and the University of Minnesota have also faced challenges, with Texas and USC having more than 100 people arrested, collectively, between the two on Wednesday.

DeSantis told a group of people at a "Strengthening Florida" event Thursday that pro-Palestinian demonstrators are "taking over bridges, and theyre taking over roads."

"First of all, you dont have a right to do that," DeSantis said, adding that if someone in a medical emergency who needed to get to a hospital might get stuck in unwarranted traffic at an inopportune time.

PARENTS WARN OF 'NIGHTMARE' CLIMATE ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: JEWISH STUDENTS 'ARE BEING THREATENED'

"Someone may need to pick up a child somewhere, and youre just going to commandeer the road because you have this [ideology]?"

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The governor recanted when a similar group tried to do that in Miami, and "in 10 minutes they got dragged off the road where they belong."

"Were not going to tolerate that," DeSantis said, which was followed by a room full of applause.

Pro-Palestine students demonstrate on Columbia Universitys campus in New York City on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Multiple students were arrested as officers cleared an encampment on the campus lawn.

DeSantis called demonstrators who protest on behalf of Hamas "absurd." He said that chasing Jewish students around, and not letting Jewish professors into certain places, "isnt free speech. Thats harassment. That violates appropriate conduct."

The governor said anti-Israel protesters at Yale and Columbia "rule the roost, do whatever they want." He said those university presidents are "weak, scared, and they dont do anything."

"You do that at Florida, at our universities, were showing you the door. You're going to be expelled when youre doing that stuff," he said. "And you know what? The minute people start to face consequences, you are not going to see this nonsense going on."

DeSantis later tweeted his speech with this statement attached, echoing his earlier comments.

"At places like Columbia and Yale, Hamas protesters rule the roost, and the universities are too weak and scared to do anything  even as these mobs harass Jewish students and faculty," DeSantis tweeted Thursday.

Anti-Israel agitators at Columbia issue defiant ultimatum, end negotiations with school

"If you try that at a Florida university, you are going to be expelled."

Florida is home to three of the countrys most-populated campuses, with the University of Central Florida at fourth in the country with 68,442 students. The University of Florida is fifth in the country with 60,795 students, and Florida International University in Miami has 55,687 students, all according to enrollments from the 2022-23 academic year.

Two Texas schools in the top 10 have had demonstrations and protests this week. Texas A&M University, the second-largest populated campus in the country with 74,869 students, saw a small gathering of pro-Palestinian students Tuesday reading to folks on the College Station campus to raise money to evacuate a family trapped in Gaza. There were no reported frictions or arrests.

Meanwhile, two hours west in Austin at the University of Texas  the 10th-most populated campus in the country with 52,384 students  there were hundreds of anti-Israel protesters who flooded a campus lawn Wednesday. Many of them clashed with local police officers and state troopers. There were 57 arrests on Wednesday, and 46 of those charges have already been dropped, according to the Texas Tribune.





Original article source: Anti-Israel protesters at Florida universities can be expelled: DeSantis
(KRON)  A good Samaritan in Antioch called about a stray dog who got stuck in the canal, Antioch Animal Services said on Thursday.

Animal services said that for almost two weeks, a pair of scruffies had been running around in the vicinity of the Twin Creeks Apartments on James Donlon Boulevard in Antioch.

Despite a citizen being able to secure one of the scruffies, the other dog seemed harder to pin down, often running away from anyone attempting to approach him, animal services said.

Earlier this week, the dog trapped himself by falling down into the canal and luckily getting wedged in the framework of the bridge, animal services said.

Alameda sheriff investigation leads to massive gun bust

Officials from the canals safety team provided animal services access to the canal, as well as trendy blue jackets, animal services said.

Slowly but precisely, animal services were able to secure the terrified dog and avoid him falling into the water or injuring himself.

All of Antioch Animal Services lost/found and adoptable pets are listed at 24petconnect.com, filtered by ZIP code 94509. Adoption fees are waived during April, thanks to Antioch Friends of Animal Services.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Ukrainian forces have pulled U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks from the front lines due to the high risk of detection by Russian drones, two U.S. military officials told the Associated Press (AP) on April 25.

The U.S. announced in January 2023 that it would send Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks, a force equivalent to one Ukrainian battalion. Officials confirmed in October 2023 that all 31 vehicles had been delivered.

According to the U.S. officials who spoke to the AP, Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones have changed the situation on the ground substantially, increasing the vehicles' risk of detection.

Five of the 31 Abrams tanks have already been lost on the battlefield, they said.

The concentration of drones means "there isn't open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection," one senior military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

For the time being, the Abrams tanks have been removed from the front lines. The U.S. and Ukraine will work together to change tactics, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Adm. Christopher Grady told the AP.

Read also: What will it take for Ukraine to maintain and operate the M1 Abrams?

"When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armor in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk," Grady said.

"Now, there is a way to do it. We'll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately."

Officials also said that the drone threat is not the only issue, and that Ukraine needs to adopt new tactics that will make the Abrams tanks more effective in the field.

The U.S. provided Ukrainians with training on tank operation at the Grafenwoehr Army base in Germany in spring 2023. This included training on using the Abrams vehicles in combined arms warfare.

The defense officials said that since last spring, Ukrainian forces have only made limited use of the Abrams tanks and have not taken advantage of combined arms warfare tactics.

The officials spoke to reporters about the status of U.S. weapons in Ukraine on the eve of the April 26 Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. The summit will mark the coalition's two-year anniversary.

Read also: When and how will US aid impact the front lines in Ukraine?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A woman dons tally marks on her face representing the number of days prisoners of war who defended Mariupol have been held in Russia, during a rally in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

April 19-25, 2024

The U.S. House swiftly approves $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies. Haiti opens a new political chapter with the installation of a transitional council tasked with preparing for elections. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war pop up on an increasing number of U.S. college campuses.

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images from around the world made or published by The Associated Press in the past week.

The selection was curated by AP photo editor Anita Baca in Mexico City.

___

Follow AP visual journalism:

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
An Indigenous man attends the opening ceremony of the 20th annual Free Land Indigenous Camp in Brasilia, Brazil, April 22, 2024. The 7-day event aims to show the unity of Brazil's Indigenous peoples in their fight for the demarcation of their lands and their rights. (AP Photo/Luis Nova)

April 19-25, 2024

A transitional council tasked with bringing political stability to gang-ravaged Haiti has been installed. Ecuadorians vote overwhelmingly for toughening the fight against gangs. Thousands of Indigenous people gather in Brazils capital to protest against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The selection was curated by AP photojournalist Dolores Ochoa in Quito, Ecuador.

___

Follow AP visual journalism:

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
In the world today, there is nothing more prestigious than pain, even when it is unfounded. A few days ago, I received a letter from a genealogist which claimed I was a collateral descendant of Pocahontas, and in light of this, suggested that I reconsider my opposition to reparations. My part descent from a Native American, it was argued, made me yet another victim of white tyranny. (In which case, should I be paying reparations to myself?)

After conducting my own research, I concluded that my correspondents claims were baloney of a kind that no respectable New York deli would dream of peddling. But what price truth, when potential victimhood is involved? Invention, in most cases, is involuntary and inevitable, but it is becoming a national compulsion.

Consider Queen Charlotte. The Charlotte myth, which began with Bridgerton casting a black actress as the German princess, has emerged once more, with the Royal Museums Greenwich informing visitors that the wife of George III was a person of colour. Social media users are now suggesting the queen was a victim of racism. She might have been, if any of this were true, but these are falsehoods based on a German diplomat remarking that she resembled a mulatto at birth. Gib mir eine break, as Charlotte might have said. Is this how history is conducted these days? The queen, who was as Teutonic as bratwurst.

Queen Charlotte, played by India Amarteifio in Netflix's Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story - Liam Daniel

So why do allegedly rational people engage in such a false, exhausting vocation as culture wars? What keeps them from deserting this type of warfare for occupations that are less onerous and far more honest? One reason, I believe, is that the culture warrior is a person in whom the normal vanity of the rest of us is so vastly exaggerated that they find it impossible to hold it in.

Their overpowering impulse is to gyrate naked before us, flapping their wings and emitting defiant, lunatic yells. This is still  only just  forbidden by the police so they take it out on paper or social media. Such is the thing called exhibitionism. In the confidences of the culture warriors, of course, it is depicted as something more worthy. Either they argue they are moved by a yearning to spread enlightenment and thereby save the world, or they allege that what steams them is their pain-ridden desire for justice.

Both theories are quickly disposed of by the facts. The stuff written by nine out of 10 of these bons soldats, including my letter-writing friend, has as little to do with spreading the truth and alleviating suffering as the tall tales of a psychotic mythomaniac. The impulse to do good is almost completely absent from their make-up. If it shows itself at all, it comes as a sort of afterthought. Far ahead of it comes the yearning to make money. And after that comes the desire to be noticed. Feel my pain? Ill take a rain check.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 26. Kazakhstan and Turkiye have outlined prospects for a threefold increase in the volume of cargo transportation as part of developing the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor), Trend reports.

This topic was discussed during intergovernmental negotiations between the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and the Vice-President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz.

At the same time, the parties discussed specific measures to build up a mutually beneficial partnership, and also expressed their readiness to reveal prospects for further cooperation in the areas of transit and transport.

The parties noted that in just one year, the volume of freight transport by rail and road transport increased by 40 percent.

Notably, Turkiye is one of the main trading partners of Kazakhstan. Thus, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkiye amounted to $6 billion in 2023.

At the same time, in the structure of trade turnover, exports to Turkiye for the above period amounted to $3.9 billion.

In addition, imports from Turkiye from January through December 2023 increased by 27 percent and amounted to $2 billion.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe.

The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
New Arizona law speeds up zoning process, calls for cities to track housing shortages

Arizona legislation to speed up the zoning process and require cities to track how much housing they need was signed by the governor earlier this week. Both are moves to address the states housing shortage.

Republican-backed SB 1162 sets a deadline of 180 days for municipalities to decide on zoning requests that are complete when filed. Governments also must decide within 30 days if a zoning request is complete.

Housing developers say two- to four-year delays in getting zoning decisions is a big reason behind Arizonas housing crisis.

Starting in January, cities and counties will be required to provide assessments of how much more housing they need based on population and job growth forecasts, land zoned for single-family and multifamily development and the need for rental and for-sale housing.

Housing construction continues on Nov. 15, 2023, at the site of the old Paradise Valley Mall, which closed in March 2021.

Tracking how many more homes Arizona needs is currently difficult, with groups citing numbers ranging from 270,000 to 50,000.

Government helped create this problem (the housing shortage and higher home prices), and we will continue to craft policy getting government out of the way so the free market can respond to our citizens' needs, said Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, who sponsored the bill.

Previous controversial legislation to address the housing shortage that called for stopping Arizona cities from requiring HOAs, minimum home sizes and community amenities passed in both the House and Senate earlier this year.

Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed that bill in March, saying she was supportive of other legislation, including bills related to accessory dwelling units, missing middle housing options, commercial repurpose and reuse and streamlining local approval processes.

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns opposed that legislation, saying it circumvented general plans developed by residents and put all the power in developers' hands to decide the quality and density of housing developments.

Tom Savage, legislative director for the League of Arizona Cities, said the group supports SB 1162 because it is a collaborative solution between local governments and developers and provides certainty developers need on the time horizon for zoning approvals while preserving the public hearing process and local decision-making.

Mike Lieb is a founder of the group Home Arizona, formed to combat the states housing shortage by tackling not in my backyard NIMBYism and zoning delays. He estimates at least 25,000 metro Phoenix apartments have been planned but not built over the past decade due to NIMBYism and zoning fights that not only delay the process but kill projects.

The new bill takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.

Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona law speeds up zoning, calls for cities to track housing needs
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A new initiative is providing an opportunity to recognize Latinos who have made a significant contribution to Arkansas.

A release Friday stated that the Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame has been launched, and nominations for its inaugural class are being accepted through June 14. The hall of fame was established by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce with the mission to foster unity, honor cultural richness, and amplify Natural State Latino voices.

North Little Rock celebrates Hispanic Heritage Festival

Officials said nominations are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and are for Latinos who have:

Made significant and enduring contributions to their field of endeavor, professional or otherwise.

Affected the social, cultural, economic, or political well-being of the community, state or nation.

Elevated the status of Latinos and positively impacted the Latino community.

Helped open new frontiers for Latinos and for society in general.

Inspired others by their example.

The importance of recognizing individuals who have contributed to the enrichment of our state serves to inspire the next generation of leaders, Chair of the Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame Angele Galvis Schnuerle said.

Latino voters are coveted by both major parties. They also are a target for election misinformation

The induction of honorees will take place Oct. 24 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.

Nominations may be made, and additional information can be found at ARLatinoHallofFame.com.

Little Rock Metro ranked top 10 place for young professionals

North Little Rock chamber representatives said the initiative represents its commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and community engagement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Rep. Ryan Rose, R-Van Buren, questions the state's participation in a federal refugee resettlement program during a legislative meeting on April 25, 2024. (Screenshot courtesy of the Arkansas Legislature livestream)

This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. on April 26, 2024 to include additional comments from the Department of Human Services.

Arkansas lawmakers on a split vote approved an amended Department of Human Services appropriations bill Thursday and promised continued discussion about the states involvement in a federal refugee resettlement program.

The Joint Budget Committee advanced an amended version of House Bill 1077 that changed some appropriations for DHS Division of County Operations, but the refugee programs appropriation remained at $272,846.

Van Buren Republican Rep. Ryan Rose said his qualms about DHS issuing a $65,000 subgrant to the states social services designee for the refugee program, Canopy Northwest Arkansas, shouldnt torpedo the Division of County Operations budget.

DHS spokesman Gavin Lesnick said the department has worked with Canopy NWA for several years, but the subgrant, which is limited to data services, started in 2023. No funding was provided to Canopy prior to that, he said.

Rose said after this contract ends, the Legislature should not send more money to the nonprofit organization.

For a number of us, the challenge is we have significant concerns with the funding going to an organization that has the reputation that it does in this arena and that the only security we have on these individuals who come into our state is that theyre federally vetted, Rose said. Thats the only kind of outlier there is, hey, we should feel comfortable because theyre federally vetted, which doesnt give me any comfort.

Division of County Operations Director Mary Franklin said vetting by the U.S. State Department typically lasts about two years and some applicants have lived in refugee camps as long as 15 years before starting that vetting process. She also noted that if officials discover significant criminal history, refugees would not be allowed to continue the process.

Rose told the Advocate concerns have been voiced by legislators and local residents about the impact of refugee resettlement and the transparency of organizations involved, such as Canopy NWA, which has resettled hundreds of refugees.

This has raised questions about potential strains on resources, infrastructure and social services in our state, Rose said. Additionally, there are concerns about the ideological alignment of organizations like Canopy NWA with the values and priorities of our communities.

The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement was established by the Refugee Act of 1980. Individuals granted refugee status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States by the State Department, according to the Federal Register. Voluntary agencies and the ORR help resettle refugees, who are eligible for benefits and services when they arrive in the country.

As Human Services social services designee, Canopy NWA can help refugees get settled by assisting them with housing or accessing required health screenings, Franklin said. Meanwhile, state agencies can coordinate the distribution of federal funds through cash and medical assistance to eligible refugees for up to 12 months after they enter the United States.

Franklin said the cash assistance and eligibility requirements for refugees are the same as those for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The amount is $81 a month per individual with a limit of $523 per month regardless of household size.

In response to lawmakers questions about the states partnership with Canopy NWA and its continued participation in the federal program, DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam said that under its current arrangement, the state is able to designate an agency to provide data about refugees resettling in Arkansas.

Without that ability to make that designation, if Arkansas were to opt out completely, we would lose any ability that we have to have insights and information and coordination with the agency to know what kinds of outcomes there are, the locations where people are resettling. We would not have that information, Putnam said.

Franklin said 169 refugees resettled in Arkansas in federal fiscal year 2023. For fiscal year 2024, which began in October, that number is currently 130.

The number of refugees admitted to the U.S. is controlled by the federal government. President Joe Biden in September set a refugee admissions target of 125,000 for fiscal year 2024. The U.S. has admitted more than 3 million refugees since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980.

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The post Arkansas lawmakers question implementation of federal refugee resettlement program appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
MAUMELLE, Ark.  A central Arkansas native is graduating at the top of her class from one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.

Genrietta Churbanovas journey started at Pulaski Academy with just a graduating class of 86 people and now shes preparing to walk across the stage at Princeton University with the title of valedictorian.

I definitely spent a lot of time focusing on school, Churbanova said. I took it pretty seriously, and I really enjoy what I study so it never really felt like a chore.

Conway teen earns associate degree at 16

Luckily, she didnt allow other peoples fears to stop her from moving forward.

Regardless of what your dreams are, theres going to be people who doubt them, Churbanova said.

Churbanova said shell be graduating with a degree in anthropology and said shes now hoping to inspire people from Maumelle and her high school. Her parents are very proud as well.

I just want her to do what her passion is and keep following her dreams, Churbanovas mother Genoveva Gilbert said.

Magnet Cove student scores perfect 36 on first ACT attempt

Churbanova said she will be heading to China after graduation to further her education.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
For roughly a decade, advocates, legislators and workers pushed to pass legislation offering better workplace protections for pregnant workers. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed in December and became effective on June 27, 2023. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for A Better Balance)

The attorneys general of Arkansas and Tennessee filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to halt enforcement of a new federal rule that requires employers to accommodate pregnant workers who want or need an abortion.

The rule, finalized last week by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, extends the 2022 Pregnant Workers Fairness Acts definition of workplace accommodation to include abortion.

The law took effect in June 2023, and requires employers to accommodate known limitations connected with pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. But proposed rules that included abortion in the laws definition of related medical conditions generated significant opposition.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday, Arkansas Tim Griffin and Tennessees Jonathan Skrmetti argue that the final rule violates the U.S. Constitutions First and 14th Amendments, the separation of powers in Article II and individual states sovereign immunity. Griffin and Skrmetti were joined in the lawsuit by 15 other attorneys general.

The suit asks the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas to declare that the EEOC exceeded its authority in including abortion in the final rule and to declare the rule arbitrary and capricious as well as unlawful and invalid under the Constitution and federal administrative law.

The attorneys general seek a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of the rule; its set to take effect in June. They also ask that the rule be permanently enjoined.

The complaint notes that the PWFA helped fill a gap in employment law by making sure employers provided workplace accommodations to protect pregnant workers and their unborn children.

A diverse coalition of lawmakers, business groups, and nonprofit organizations supported that pro-family aim and secured the laws bipartisan support and passage, the lawsuit says.

Yet in a new rule, a bare 3-2 majority of unelected commissioners at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) seeks to hijack these new protections for pregnancies by requiring employers to accommodate workers abortions  something Congress did not authorize.

The lawsuit alleges the EEOC ignored the clear meaning of the text of the PWFA and of the intent of its supporters, who noted that the law would include commonsense accommodations  like extra restroom breaks or the ability to work while seated  to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

The rule means employers must accommodate pregnant workers abortions, whether or not medically necessary. Such accommodations could include abortion-related leave, even for elective abortions made illegal by state law, the lawsuit says.

An elective abortion is neither a known limitation nor a medical condition, but a voluntary, time-limited procedure intended to terminate a pregnancy, the suit says.

The complaint notes that the proposed rule encountered substantial opposition and quotes some at length but that EEOC proceeded anyway.

The attorneys general allege their states will suffer irreparable harm if the rule is enforced because they would incur significant costs from lost productivity, shift covering and additional leave days as well as compliance costs.

Forcing states with abortion bans to facilitate the procedure also would irreparably harm those states right to regulate abortion, the petition states.

The EEOC rule violates the First Amendment protections of speech and religion, the attorneys general argue, by forcing employers and employees to engage in speech and conduct that might violate their deeply held religious beliefs.

In a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit, Griffin said the EEOC rule is yet another attempt by the Biden administration to force through administrative fiat what it cannot get passed through Congress.

Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law. The PWFA was meant to protect pregnancies, not end them.

The states joining Arkansas and Tennessee in the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

The post Arkansas, Tennessee file suit over federal pregnant-worker protections rule appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said an extended day worker at an elementary school faces charges after he showed pornography to children.

The Arligton County Police Department (ACPD) said it arrested Matthew Pineda, 18, of Fairfax County who is charged with two counts of Possession of Child Pornography and Assault & Battery.

Middle school counselor accused of headbutting student in Fairfax County

ACPD said it began its investigation into Pineda, who worked at Abingdon Elementary School in Fairlington, on April 19. The police department said it received information that Pineda showed pornography to three children.

As of Friday, April 26, Pineda was in the Arlington County Detention Facility with no bond set.

ACPD said it believed there could be other children who had similar encounters with Pineda. It asked that anyone with information that could help the investigation contact Det. R. Munizza at rmunizza@arlingtonva.us or (703) 228-4171. People also can submit informattion anonymously through Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Arlington officer fatally shoots man who came out of apartment with knife, police say

A man who came out of a north Arlington apartment brandishing a knife was shot and killed by police Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

At around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Arlington police responded to an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Lawrence Road to investigate reports of a possible stabbing, according to a news release from Arlington police.

When officers arrived at the apartment, just southwest of where North Collins Street intersect NE Greens Oaks Boulevard, they observed a man looking out a window, the release says. Due to the nature of the call, officers set up a perimeter around the apartment and gave the man commands to come outside and show his hands. The man came out of the apartment holding a knife, according to the release.

Officers instructed the man multiple times to drop the knife, but he did not comply, police said. The man then suddenly moved in the direction of the officers and one of the officers fired his weapon, the release states.

The man fell to the ground, but quickly stood up and began running toward a wooded area on the east side of the complex between apartment buildings and North Collins, according to police. Officers chased the man on foot as they continued to give him commands to stop and drop the knife.

As officers approached an embankment, the man turned around, raised the knife and began moving toward them, police said. The same officer who discharged his weapon fired it again, according to the release.

The man turned away from officers and began running down the embankment into a field along North Collins when he went to the ground still holding the knife, police said.

A second officer deployed his Taser, immobilizing the man, and detained him, according to the release. As they were placing him in handcuffs, they discovered the man had a gunshot wound, the release says.

Officers immediately began performing life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, according to police. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Additional officers may have deployed lethal options, which will be confirmed in the investigation, police said.

Other responding officers went back to the apartment and conducted a protective sweep to check for anyone who may have been injured or in need of assistance, but did not locate anyone inside.

Officers also checked with local hospitals to see if anyone arrived at an emergency room with stab wounds or other injuries, but did not receive any reports.

Police say it is possible that the man with the knife placed the original 911 call.

The officer who discharged his firearm has been placed on administrative leave.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office will identify the deceased once next of kin have been notified.
DENVER  After canceling the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program earlier this year, the U.S. Army has yet to earnestly invest in its manned attack helicopter or other capability to fill the armed recon role, and service leaders warn that without a clear plan, its ability to fight as effectively in future wars could be in jeopardy.

The Army has talked about how unmanned systems and sensors will largely perform such a mission along with the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter when required, but little money is programmed to be spent on the aircraft in the coming years.

While there are plenty of ideas streaming in from industry, the service is still working through technology that will be critical to integrate pilots, drones and soldiers on the ground to fill the mission and has yet to present a clear upgrade plan for the Apache.

And even four-star combatant commanders have questions.

The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, or FARA, was to deliver the capability to identify and destroy [anti-access, area denial] bubbles to create advantages for [the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft] to exploit, Gen. Laura Richardson, U.S. Army Southern Command commander and an Army aviator, said in an April 25 speech at the Army Aviation Association of Americas annual conference here.

FARA intended to combine our pilots with high end capabilities that unmanned systems provide and create advantages against adversaries. What is going to meet that requirement? she asked. What is going to replace the Apache that weve taken risk in, in order to field FARA?

The Army should at least be upgrading and matching sensors to the firepower in the Apache to keep pace with rivals, Richardson said.

While the Army has not announced any investment in our current attack helicopter, our strategic adversaries are doubling down, she said.

Whats the plan of attack?

When the Army canceled FARA  citing the changing character of war and observations made in Ukraine  it argued a manned helicopter was no longer survivable against near-peer adversaries in a high-end fight. The Army said it would make investments in other aviation capability and touted the performance of the Apache in the armed scout role.

AH-64s teamed with Shadow unmanned aircraft systems have filled that role since the Army canceled the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter in 2013.

Even so, the initial investment, the Army said at the time it killed FARA, would be to buy more UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters and CH-47F Block II Chinook cargo helicopters. Its working toward multiyear contracts for both aircraft, with a goal of minting a new UH-60M deal in fiscal 2027. But neither of those aircraft will fulfill the armed scout mission.

Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen, the director of the Army aviation in the G-3/5/7, emphasizing the continued need for manned aviation, told the same audience at AAAA that unmanned aircraft in armed reconnaissance is needed, but we need them to team with our crewed aviation to be decisive.

While the Army has stated the Apache will continue to serve in the armed scout role when necessary, it took a risk with the Apache fleet, Rugen noted, and said not only do improvements to Apache need to be made if it will fill in that role, but the service should consider replacing 16 crash damaged aircraft.

Those aircraft are not funded in FY25 or the subsequent four years of the budget cycle, he noted.

Additionally, the Army has three squadrons of Delta-model Apaches that were not going to be bought, that now we have to look at very closely and see how we fill that in and modernize those three Delta squadrons, Rugen, whose last job was managing the Armys Future Vertical Lift efforts including FARA, said.

A year ago, at AAAA in Nashville, Tennessee, Boeing unveiled what it could do for the Apache beyond its latest version. The model on display featured an additional wing pylon, joining the two already there on the current version, to provide additional weapons in a greater variety onboard.

The payloads would count on the additional lift provided by the Improved Turbine Engine Program, or ITEP engine, which has long been delayed. The timeline to integrate ITEP in Apache is farther afield than the UH-60, which is scheduled to received engines in the summer for testing. The Army decided, earlier this year, to delay procurement of ITEP and keep it in research and development for now.

Boeing said it has been working with the Army through its conceptual design and modernization efforts to ensure that were meeting the future needs of the fight, Christina Upah, company vice president in charge of attack helicopters, told Defense News in an interview at AAAA.

The company is focused on ensuring a modular open system architecture environment to enable rapid integration of technology affordably when the time comes, she noted. Boeing showcased at AAAA how launched effects could be deployed with the attack helicopter.

Even today, the last couple of days at this event, weve heard from a number of senior Army leaders who have communicated that this is the attack reconnaissance helicopter for the future, Upah said.

There is a tremendous amount of development effort afoot that were doing in partnership with the U.S. Army that can be a part of the modernized Apache as well as efforts that we, Boeing, are doing and spending our investment dollars to invest in this future platform along with our industry partners, she added.

Whats the limit for UAS?

Army leaders have stressed that unmanned aircraft play an important role in the joint warfighting concept and are taking lessons from the war in Ukraine, which exhibits a change to the character of war.

The Army plans to increase investment in FTUAS and [launched effects], which is absolutely necessary to fight and win in the air and ground littoral, Richardson said, but it may not be sufficient. Unmanned systems provide commanders amazing capabilities but there are limits. UAVs lack situational understanding, situational curiosity and lacks situational agility.

Manned systems with pilots and crew is the Armys asymmetric advantage, she said.

Rugen agreed. We have a lot of people confusing swapping UAS at less-than-mortar-round range with some type of decisiveness and its not decisive.

The Army cant settle on just swarming drone capabilities, it must refine and master the concept of a wolfpack of unmanned systems that goes on the hunt and kills big game, Rugen said.

Its a very complex conversation, we absolutely need [UAS], Rugen said, but we need them to team with our crewed aviation to be decisive at the point and time of our choosing.

The service says it is accelerating procuring modern unmanned aircraft systems like a Future Tactical UAS, launched effects and commercially available small UAS, but clear plans to rapidly get after how an ecosystem of UAS will come together, in some cases, is just beginning to materialize or hasnt yet.

The Army decided this year to officially retire Shadow, which FTUAS would replace, but according to Rugen there is not enough funding available to accelerate its fielding timetable. The service, instead, is investing some money to buy prototypes and fly them over the next few years with two competing teams.

For UAS to work in the armed reconnaissance role particularly, Rugen said the service needs to get its modular open architecture system established across the current fleet of aircraft, which is a challenge, in order to be able to network and integrate effectively with UAS.

Within the Armys Future Vertical Lift portfolio, the service is focused heavily on launched effects and is only beginning to flesh out exactly how it will take capability out of the concept and development realm and into fieldable systems.

The service plans to wrap up a prototyping evaluation effort for a medium-range LE in September and will weigh options from rapid fielding to low-rate initial production to more prototyping depending on how things go. The Army is also pursuing a long-range and short-range version, which are farther afield but will begin prototyping soon.

The service plans to also focus heavily on LE at its EDGE aviation demonstration event in the fall. Another focus will be autonomy.

What has to still evolve is autonomy to completely do a reconnaissance and security mission, Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, the Army Aviation Center of Excellence Command commander, said at AAAA. We are still investing in that path to autonomy. Being able to see and surveil something is a component of reconnaissance, but not sufficient to perform the whole thing.

The Future Vertical Lift cross functional team in charge of bringing modernized aviation capability to the force in the 2030 timeframe, is increasingly focused on autonomy, according to its director, Brig. Gen. Cain Baker.

Autonomy is a critical aspect of all of this. How do you bridge autonomy across all of these systems, he said. How does it get integrated? How does it get shared? How do you do mission command?

Companies like Shield AI are dedicated to increasing autonomy on a wide variety of air assets. Brandon Tseng, the companys president, told Defense News in a recent interview it is in the process of integrating its artificial intelligence pilot onto a seven different platforms including quadcopters, Kratos MQM-178 Firejet and XQ-58 Valkyrie.

I think what were seeing from the drone industry, from our standpoint, with AI and autonomy, if you think about the problem differently, you can still solve a problem with lots of different small things rather than one large thing, Tseng said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, concerns about Melania, and mentor Trump: Key takeaways from Trumps day in court

Donald Trumps hush money trial heard wide-ranging testimony from former American Media Inc. chief David Pecker during his third day on the stand.

The former tabloid chief divulged background into the infamous catch-and-kill scheme and his time at a thank you dinner hosted by then-President Trump for his efforts to block compromising stories about Mr Trump from being published.

On Thursday, lawyers also told the judge about four more potential breaches of the gag order  against the criminal defendant. Judge Juan Merchan still has to make a decision about previous claims that Mr Trump violated the gag order.

Here are some of the key moments from the Manhattan courtroom:

Four more potential gag order violations

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy divulged several instances in which his team alleges that Mr Trump breached the gag order, barring him from making public statements about potential witnesses or staff members of the DAs office or the judge.

Two alleged violations happened as recently as Monday, Mr Conroy told the judge. The former president spoke about Michael Cohen in a nine-minute rant in which Mr Trump claimed that the former fixer got caught lying, pure lying, when are they going to look at that?

Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen stands behind Trump as he runs for president in 2016 (REUTERS)

Later that night, Mr Trump said I cant get away from the trial. Hes rushing the trial like crazy  jury was picked so far, 95 per cent Democrat.

In a separate remark the following day, Mr Trump claimed that Cohen is a convicted liar and hes got no credibility whatsoever.

These allegations arrived after the judge held a hearing on Tuesday related to at least 10 allegations that Mr Trump violated the gag order  before the new incidents shared in court today.

The boss will take care of it

The former tabloid chief testified that he had agreed to spend tens of thousands to acquire  and then bury  politically damaging stories about Mr Trump, being assured that the boss would handle it.

Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps attorney at the time, authorised Mr Pecker to pay the former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story of an alleged 10-month affair with Mr Trump, he said on the stand.

Dont worry about it. Im your friend. The boss will take care of it, Cohen allegedly told Mr Pecker, seemingly referring to Mr Trump.

The former AMI chief also told the court about interactions between him and Mr Trump, directly linking the defendant to the scheme.

Former President Donald Trump watches as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass questions David Pecker, former publisher of The National Enquirer (REUTERS)

On one occasion, Mr Trump asked him: Hows our girl? and thanked him for handling the McDougal story and the doorman situation.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing  to him, his family and the campaign, Mr Pecker testified.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked if he believed Mr Trump was concerned about his family.

In conversations I had with Michael Cohen with respect to both of these stories, his family was never mentioned. Conversations I had directly with Mr Trump, his family was never mentioned, Mr Pecker told the court. The concern was the campaign.

Pecker testifies Trump invited him to White House for thank you dinner for killing stories

After he won the election, Mr Trump invited Mr Pecker to the White House for a thank you dinner for killing compromising stories about the then-2016 presidential candidate.

During that visit, Mr Trump allegedly asked him Hows our girl?, in an apparent reference to Ms McDougal.

Mr Pecker testified that Mr Trump thanked him for handling Ms McDougals contract and the doorman situation  a salacious and false story alleging Mr Trump fathered an illegitimate child with a maid.

He said the stories would be very embarrassing, Mr Pecker said, to him, his family and the campaign.

He invited myself and my wife. She didnt want to go to Washington.

So, he brought the then-editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer Dylan Howard.

Mr Trump asked me to join him in a walk from the Oval Office to the dining area  as we walked out, President Trump asked me how is Karen doing. So I said shes doing well, shes quiet, things are going good.

Mr Howard texted Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougals attorney on 12 July 2017: Surreal last night.

Playboy model said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky

On the stand, Mr Pecker recounted what the National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard told him about his interview with Karen McDougal.

He described to me who Karen McDougal was  She claims that she had a year-long relationship with Mr Trump, a sexual relationship  He said that she was a 12 out of 10, Mr Pecker told the court.

While Mr Howard said there was no corroborating evidence he believed the story to be true. So, he had offered $10,000 to buy the story and it was refused.

Howard later told Mr Pecker that ABC was interested in acquiring the story, and mentioned that a Mexican group made an offer for $1m. Michael [Cohen] and I both said we didnt believe a Mexican group was going to buy the story, Mr Pecker said.

Karen McDougal speaking to CNN about Donald Trump (CNN)

I knew from my experience that ABC doesnt buy stories, Mr Pecker testified.

Mr Howard also told him that Ms McDougal didnt want the story to be published. She said she didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky, he added.

Howard felt that she had been more interested in having American Media buy the story than anyone else, Pecker added.

Trump was concerned Melania would hear about alleged affairs

The ex-tabloid chief also testified about a detected difference in Mr Trumps reactions to the bombshell stories before and after the 2016 election.

Prior to the election, if a negative story was coming out with respect to Donald Trump, and he spoke about it, he was concerned about Melania  What the family might hear, Mr Pecker recalled of Mr Trump.

Melania Trump speaks to Fox News (Screenshot / Fox News)

By contrast, After the campaign when I was in his office and we were discussing this, he was concerned about the doorman story with respect to, if the story came out, which wasnt true, about him having an illegitimate child, I didnt hear or discuss his concern what would Melania say or what Ivanka would say.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is dragged into trial

Mr Pecker testified about how he was initially wary of the idea of purchasing politically linked stories, citing his experience with The Terminator actor.

The former tabloid boss said he had an arrangement back in 2002 when Schwarzenegger asked Mr Pecker to name him an editor-at-large of some fitness publications that were up for sale, which AMI was poised to acquire.

Mr Pecker testified that Schwarzenegger also asked for an agreement regarding the tabloids Globe and National Enquirer because the actor had endured legal battles with those magazines over unflattering stories about him.

I plan on running for governor and I would like you to not publish any negative stories about me now and in the future, and Ill continue being the editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex and be a spokesperson, Mr Pecker recalled Schwarzenegger saying.

Mr Pecker said he agreed to the arrangement.

The actor announced his gubernatorial bid on NBCs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in August 2003. After this, Mr Pecker testified that a number of women called up the National Enquirer claiming they had stories to sell on different relationships, or contacts, or sexual harassment that they felt that Arnold Schwarzenegger did.

Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed in Trump hush money trial (Getty)

The agreement I had with Arnold is I would call him and advise him of other stories that were out there and I would acquire them, buy them for a period of time, the former publisher told the court.

After Schwarzenegger was elected governor, one of the women whose story had been acquired by American Media took her story to The Los Angeles Times.

It was very embarrassing, Mr Pecker testified. Most of the press approached Arnold when he was governor. And his comment was: Ask my friend David Pecker.

The ordeal made me sensitive about buying any stories in the future. Thats how I became sensitive about this topic, Mr Pecker told the court.

Former president called him very upset when Playboy model affair story broke

Despite extensive efforts to prevent any other publication from getting its hands on the Karen McDougal story, it did become public.

On Thursday, Mr Pecker divulged that he had worked with Cohen to buy the rights to Ms McDougals story so it wouldnt be published by any other organisation.

We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, he told the court.

During his testimony, the former publisher recalled the Wall Street Journal publishing an article just days before Election Day in 2016 revealing the blockbuster story.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trumpcalling him, being, very upset, saying, How could this happen? I thought you had this under control.

The executive said he authorised public statements from his company about the true nature of American Medias contract with Ms McDougal. I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself, and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump, he said.

When Mr Trump requested that AMI transfer the rights to Ms McDougals story in September 2016, Cohen established a shell company that sent an invoice for the agreed upon flat fee for advisory services, Mr Pecker said.

In court, he clarified that the transaction was for the lifetime rights to the Karen McDougal story. Mr Pecker said he then told Cohen that the deal was off after his conversations with counsel about the transaction.

He was very, very angry, very upset, screaming basically at me, Mr Pecker said. Michael Cohen said The boss will be very angry with you. I said, Im sorry, Im not going forward, the deal is off, he added. He said, I cant believe it. Im the lawyer, Im your friend.

The publisher has never been reimbursed for the payment, according to Mr Pecker.

Stormy Daniels payments mentioned for first time

Jurors heard an allusion to Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who claims she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006, just one year after he married his now-wife Melania. The $130,000 so-called hush money payments made to Ms Daniels are at the heart of this criminal case.

On Thursday, Mr Pecker said that Cohen asked him for his help to get Trump to pay him his bonus.

I understood he was complaining that he has not been repaid, Mr Pecker says.

He said, Michael Cohen had paid Stormy Daniels out of his own funds, which is the first time that I had heard of that. I wasnt involved in that transaction.

In a conversation with Trump, Pecker told him: I said, Michael Cohen is very concerned about this bonus this year and I want you to know hes very loyal, hes been working very hard from my perspective, I believe hed throw himself in front of a bus for you.

The former publisher said Mr Trump told me, I dont know what youre talking about. He said Michael Cohen has multiple apartments in my buildings.  He owns 15 taxi medallions.

Mr Pecker recalled Mr Trump saying: Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it.

Pecker describes Trump as his mentor who called him if he needed help

Repeatedly on the stand, Mr Pecker relayed his efforts to protect Mr Trump.

Asked whether he has any bad feelings about Mr Trump all these years later, Mr Pecker said, On the contrary.

He went so far as to say: I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career.

The former publisher added, I have no ill will at all. Even though we havent spoken, I still consider him a friend.
Voting rights groups say they want a federal court to reconsider a ruling that upheld the constitutionality of a controversial Florida congressional map redistricting plan, News Service of Florida reported.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

These groups say Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outsized his role in pushing the plan through the legislature. Attorneys for the groups, including Common Cause Florida and the Florida NAACP, filed a motion Wednesday asking a 3-judge panel to look again at whether the 2022 redistricting map was passed with a racially discriminatory motive.

The federal court case is one of 2 legal challenges to the redistricting plan. Floridas 1st District Court of Appeal rejected a state challenge in December based on a part of the Florida Constitution. The plaintiffs took the case to the Florida Supreme Court, where its still pending but remains on schedule, which means the lines wont be redrawn for the presidential election.

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The motion for reconsideration, however, said the judges were wrong when they ruled Gov. DeSantis intent was all but irrelevant. The lawsuit alleged the map involved intentional discrimination and violated the U.S. Constitutions 14th and 15th Amendments. The 14th Amendment ensures equal protection, and the 15th Amendment prohibits abridging or denying someone the right to vote based on race.

First, the court erred by treating the governor as an outsider to the legislative process, Wednesdays motion said. Unlike private citizens advocating for legislative action, the governor is himself a state actor directly subject to the 14th and 15th Amendments. He may not discriminate on the basis of race when using state authority, any more than the Legislature can. No case law supports the notion that, where multiple state actors act jointly to bring about the challenged conduct, all of them must be driven by illegal consideration of race.

The case centers around the overhaul of Northeast Floridas District 5, which previously stretched from Jacksonville to Gadsden County, west of Tallahassee and incorporated many Black voters. The district past elected Black Democrat Al Lawson.

DeSantis vetoed a redistricting plan initially passed by the Republican legislature and pushed through a replacement that put District 5 solely in the Jacksonville area. White Republicans won all North Florida congressional seats in the November 2022 elections after the map was passed.

Read: Florida Supreme Court justices to take up local redistricting fight

DeSantis argued that keeping the district a similar shape to the former District 5 would be racial gerrymandering and was unconstitutional.

The March 27 opinion shared by the 3 judge panel that handles redistricting cases focused on the legislatures role in passing the plan.

There are two relevant state actors in this case  the Florida Legislature, which passed the enacted map, and the governor, who proposed, pushed for and signed the enacted map into law, the opinion said. It is not enough for the plaintiffs to show that the governor was motivated in part by racial animus, which we will assume without deciding for purposes of our decision. Rather, they also must prove that the Florida Legislature itself acted with some discriminatory purpose when adopting and passing the enacted map. This they have not done.

Read: Councilmembers react to redistricting ruling, opinions divided on appeal

Wednesdays motion argues that DeSantis exercised legislative authority in the redistricting process.

It said in part, For purposes of Florida law, the power to veto or approve legislative enactments are legislative powers, not executive ones, and when the governor vetoes or approves a bill, he is acting legislatively  just as the Senate and House of Representatives are when they vote on legislation ... The governors actions here were not an outside influence that must be ratified, like the lobbying of a bigoted faction of private citizens, but an important exercise of unambiguously legislative power itself.

News Service of Florida contributed to this article.

Read: Jacksonville civil rights groups win redistricting lawsuit against city following federal ruling

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Lawyers for a woman whose husband was shot to death by Sullivan County sheriffs deputies a year ago say Karen Crowleys case is about far more than trying to extract punitive damages from Sullivan County.

PREVIOUS: SCSO, officers sued over 2023 shooting that killed man

Its just making sure that the checks and balances exist, Christopher Rogers, whom Karen Crowley first approached about Casey Crowleys death, told News Channel 11 from his Johnson City office Thursday.

If you dont advocate for these individuals, they dont have a voice so therefore you cant really make sure that there are balances to what transpires. Its got an accountability prong, but it also just makes sure the system functions as its supposed to function.

Along with Atlanta lawyer Eric Hertz and Greeneville attorney Corey Shipley, Rogers represents Crowley in a wrongful death suit alleging multiple civil rights violations. Casey Crowley was shot four times outside a Blountville Dollar General store on April 19, 2023 after three officers arrived to conduct a midday welfare check regarding a man slumped over in a pickup truck.

Christopher Rogers, left, and Corey Shipley, right, listen as co-counsel Eric Hertz discusses the civil lawsuit theyve filed related to the 2023 officer-involved shooting death of Casey Crowley in Sullivan County, Tenn. (Photo: WJHL)

A Sullivan County grand jury reviewed a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) probe of the incident, which involved two of the officers discharging their weapons. Jurors determined officers followed policy and were justified in deploying their weapons.

Shipley, a former federal prosecutor, said the attorneys review of available evidence suggested the shooting deserved more scrutiny. The lawsuit notes that a gun Crowley supposedly brandished didnt have his fingerprints on it and that many other questions remain unanswered  enough for the lawyers to put forward a 60-page civil complaint alleging rights violations.

Grand jury proceedings are different because the prosecutor and the officer controls the narrative, and there is nobody there on the other side, Shipley said. So I think what were doing is just trying to make sure that those sides are told correctly.

Hertz has taken part in numerous high-profile civil rights and other cases.

One of the things that we always look at is the bias that can happen when a law enforcement agency investigates another law enforcement agency, he said. Thats some of the things when you do civil rights cases you have to look into and thats just a natural bias that exists.

Many questions

Hertz said hes reached a point in his career (it spans three-and-a-half decades and tens of millions in verdicts) where he can pick and choose cases. He said Karen Crowleys plight moved him in this one.

When you realize your husband or wife or spouse was killed, youre going to be very, very sad, grief stricken, but you also have unanswered questions, Hertz said. And this is a perfect forum to get these questions answered. As the complaint states, theres a lot of unanswered questions, and were really looking forward to the answer.

The defense in a civil case provides a paragraph by paragraph answer to the allegations by plaintiffs in one of the initial filings in such proceedings. The Crowley complaint has 203 paragraphs.

Shipley, who also handles civil rights violations, said his office looks at peoples stories on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, he said, other factors outweigh the simple fact a grand jury exonerated authorities.

Were asking for just some transparency here, and accountability, Shipley said. We saw something in this case that went kind of above and beyond some of the other cases that weve looked at in the past and as Eric said, the complaint kind of speaks for itself and our theory is of what happened.

Rogers said after conferring with Karen Crowley, he reached out to Hertz, who has aided him in the past, due to his reputation and character, and called in Shipley because of his prosecutorial experience.

The trio said a 34-second bystander video provided by a witness is a plus for them. The proliferation of such evidence has changed the dynamics of the law field, Hertz said.

Shipley said video can mean the difference between him taking a case or not.

When you have this presence of a third party video, especially when theres a lack of video from law enforcement, lack of video from cruiser cams, lack of video from body cameras  a video kind of speaks for itself, he said. Its very difficult to argue with what happens in the video.

The ultimate origin of a gun that at least one officer said Crowley pulled is another major question. He was shot in the hand, and the gun had neither blood nor his fingerprints on it, according to the complaint.

Hertz said in past cases, hes always wanted to know what ATF (the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) comes back with as to who owned the firearm. The lawsuit claims it was not registered to Crowley and that his wife testified he had never owned or used guns.

Getting to the bottom of those types of questions is a key, Shipley said.

Any attorney can put his or her subjective spin on it, but when there are certain objective facts on tracing, fingerprints, DNA, things like that that really are what they are, those are really important too in not only evaluating the case but also evaluating the strategy and how the attorneys handle it and how they want to proceed forward with the trial, he said.

Hertz said Karen Crowley wants transparency  and something else for a man that authorities claimed was justifiably shot and killed by police.

She wants people to know her husband as she saw him, as she has pictures of him  those pictures also say a thousand words.

Like Rogers, he and Shipley said they want to contribute to systems being sufficiently accountable.

I have a lot of friends from my background that are officers, a lot of great officers, Shipley said. But I think when it boils down to  (is) that no organization is beyond reproach and theres no reason that any organization should never be held accountable if you make a mistake.

He said the civil litigation process can create a greater level of transparency.

Wanting the process to take its course from the answer to the discovery to the depositions to the motion practice to the eventual trial. I think thats what really does a lot for me, when it comes to that, is just making sure that we can provide closure to people that that have questions that are oftentimes left unanswered.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Every year, nearly 200,000 men and women leave the U.S. Military and many have a tough time transitioning out of service.

Youre part of the military. Youre part of a team. Its very structuredyour lifevery regimented, and youre losing that. For many, its a feeling of a loss of identity, possibly a loss of purpose, described Brigadier General Mike Eastman with Onward Ops.

As a service member, Eastman said he knows the pressures.

Youre contemplating all of the major decisions that anyone making a life change has to do. A new job, a new house, relocation schools for the kids. So how do you relieve the convergence of all those decisions? Eastman asked.

The answer? Mentorship.

Onward Ops is a military transition support program partnering with Andrea McCarren, the President of the PenFed Foundation.

We get to veterans who are transitioning up to 12 months before they separate from the military, McCarren said. We stick with them with mentors for 12 months after theyve left and it is an idea that is innovative, but it is working.

There is a need for mentors, said McCarren.

It can be anyone in the Austin community because think about geographic moves youve made in your life. When you get to a new town, you need housing, you may need schools for your children, you need doctors medical care, McCarren said.

Last year, 10,000 service members were enrolled in the program.

Mentorship is a total game changer. It doesnt cost the mentor anything to do it, just a few hours a month, explained McCarren.

And as Mike said, everyone needs a purpose. everyone needs a mission. Fewer than 1% of Americans serve in uniform, serve in our military. Lets give a purpose and a mission to the other 99%.

Sign up to become a mentor with the PenFed Foundation.

All you need to do is give of your time and think about the impact we could all make working together, McCarren said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he has been speaking with allies in Europe about how to send Ukraine more air defense systems.

He discussed the conversations in a Pentagon press conference Friday, referencing a series of one-on-one calls held this week. Pentagon readouts say Austin spoke with defense officials in Romania, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and Greece, among others.

Going forward, well be able to, hopefully work with a number of countries to put together additional Patriot capability for Ukraine, Austin said.

His remarks came after the 21st meeting of a coalition the U.S. convened to support Kyivs self-defense. Friday marked the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, or UDCG, an occasion that prompted Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy to address the summit virtually.

We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles, Zelenskyy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, accompanying his remarks. Ukraine, he argued, is seven batteries short of what it needs.

Throughout the war, Pentagon officials have said Ukraine needs a steady supply of air defense interceptors to stop volleys of attack drones and missiles. The urgency for those missiles rose when American aid ran out at the start of this year, and Ukraine began rationing its stocks.

After waiting for half a year, Congress approved a $48 billion refresh of security aid to Ukraine, and the Pentagon rushed Kyiv a $1 billion batch of aid, which includes air defense interceptors

Austin also announced a separate $6 billion package Friday. While it will include air defense, this tranche is part of a longer-term pool of funding and the weapons may not arrive for years.

Meanwhile, Russia has increased its production of one-way attack drones and missiles that can fire deep into Ukraine.

Germany said this month that it will send Kyiv another Patriot battery, though other European leaders have been more cautious.

Were going to ask them to accept a little bit more risk so that we can do whats necessary in Ukraine, Austin said.
Authorities searching for emergency slide that fell off Delta plane during flight

Authorities are still searching for the missing emergency slide that fell off a Delta passenger jet Friday morning, forcing the plane to turn around roughly a half hour after takeoff. File photo by John Dickerson/UPI

April 26 (UPI) -- An emergency slide fell off a Delta Airlines Boeing 767 shortly after takeoff Friday, forcing the plane to return to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Delta Air Lines Flight 520 turned around about a half-hour after taking off for Los Angeles Friday morning. Pilots aboard the plane reported vibrations and a banging sound not long after takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Crews then found an emergency slide from one of the plane's exits had fallen off the aircraft, according to Delta.

All 176 customers and seven crew members exited the plane safely, according to Delta Air Lines. The airline said it substituted another Boeing 767, and passengers were expected to land in Los Angeles three and a half hours behind schedule.

Police were still searching for the missing slide early Friday afternoon.

Delta, in a statement, said it was working to determine where the slide could have landed.

"Delta is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will fully cooperate in investigations," the statement read.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

The 33-year old plane, registration number N176DN, has previously had engine problems, a cracked windshield, smoke in the cockpit and suffered a bird strike.
People celebrate at a United Auto Workers vote watch party on April 19, 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With over 51% of workers voting yes the UAW won the right to form a union at the plant. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  Younger, smaller assembly plants combined with long-held anti-union sentiments may make South Carolina less attractive in organized labors drive to unionize the South, experts say.

The United Auto Workers, in a $41 million campaign, wants to organize battery and electric vehicle plants as the auto industry makes a major shift away from gas engines. South Carolina has been particularly successful in this arena, netting half a dozen electric vehicle-related development projects over the past few years.

But even before Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga voted overwhelmingly to unionize last week  the first foreign-founded auto plant in a Southern state to do so  South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster sought to stave off organized labors courting of workers in the least unionized state in the country. Just 2.3% of the states workforce, or 49,000 employees, are dues-paying union members.

About 2,500 UAW members live in South Carolina, but theyre mostly retirees. There are less than 400 working UAW members in the state.

States with unionization rates of less than 5% of their workforce:

2.3%  South Carolina

2.7%  North Carolina

3.6%  South Dakota

4.1%  Utah

4.2%  Arizona

4.3%  Virginia

4.3%  Louisiana

4.5%  Texas

4.5%  Idaho

4.6%  Georgia

4.7%  Florida

States with unionization rates above 15%:

24.1%  Hawaii

20.6%  New York

16.5%  Washington

16.1%  New Jersey

15.9%  Connecticut

15.4%  California

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023 report

But UAW hopes to capitalize after winning big wage increases in contracts with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the giant auto company formed in 2021 by the mergers of Chrysler, Italian Fiat and French Peugeot.

Its a message that rang true for 73% of workers who voted in favor of a union at the Chattanooga factory.

Chattanoogas top wage is about $35 an hour, compared to the $40 an hour on the high end of the pay scale and $30 an hour starting wage that Ford, G.M. and Stellantis now pay UAW members.

Now, all eyes are on Vance, Alabama, where in a couple of weeks, workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant will cast a union ballot. If that vote goes through with overwhelming support, experts say look for Nissan to be next.

They want to make certain that, within the communities they organize, they get the maximum chance of winning because theres a lot at stake, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit who studies the union. What they dont want to have is one major setback or a string of setbacks, which would cause all workers to have pause.

Though the union named the Palmetto States BMW and Volvo plants as part of its push, South Carolinas auto industry is probably farther down the priority list.

How does UAW view SC?

The current organizing efforts are more about economies of scale, according to Masters. Smaller factories with fewer workers mean fewer dues-paying members to cover costs when it comes to bargaining for a contract.

The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in North Charleston, where workers have made more than 350,000 large gas and electric passenger vans since 2006, is likely not large enough to be a target for the union, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at the research firm AutoForecast Solutions.

That plant employs 1,600, according to Mercedes-Benz.

The same holds true for Volvo as its still ramping up for electric vehicle production near Ridgeville. The plant is currently hiring to bring its headcount up to 2,800 people, a number that is expected to reach 4,000 people when the facility gets to full capacity.

And Volkswagen subsidiary Scout Motors is under construction in Blythewood and still a couple years out before it even starts building electric trucks and SUVs.

I dont think theyll neglect any opportunity if it comes along and they think its an easy win, but theyre going to have to calibrate that against what they gain, Masters said.

Of all the foreign-owned automakers in South Carolina, BMW would be the most likely mark in the near term if enough of its workers show interest.

The massive plant near Greer  the manufacturers only U.S. production facility  employs some 11,000 people, twice the number of workers at Volkswagen in Tennessee and Mercedes in Alabama. It has operated in the Upstate for nearly 30 years and is in the process of adding electric vehicle lines.

The starting wage for workers at the plant is about $22 per hour, according to the hiring firm the company contracts with. The pay scale for more advanced workers is not publicly available.

Similar to VW and Mercedes, BMW is headquartered in Germany, where unions are commonplace and relations have been relatively friendly.

Campaign to organize the South

UAW began its efforts by casting a wide net across 13 automakers as part of an organizing campaign launched last fall. But its likely to be more calculated in where it focuses its energy. The union asked people to sign so-called authorization cards to gauge interest, giving the group an idea of where they were most likely to be successful, Masters said.

UAW has said it will file a petition to unionize once it has these commitment cards from 70% of a plants eligible workers. A union vote only requires a simple majority to succeed.

Both Tennessee and Alabama already have higher unionization rates than their Southeastern neighbors, at 6% and 7.5% of their workforces, respectively, according to a January report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And in Chattanooga, UAW had the benefit of previous organizing attempts. Two earlier bids over the past decade were narrowly defeated.

While last Fridays vote was a watershed moment, Fiorani said, it was likely a matter of time before the group succeeded at the plant.

Continued success also will be contingent upon how quickly the union is able to secure a contract with VW in Chattanooga. Any hiccups would likely slow momentum.

In Vance, Alabama, there have been discussions in the past, but no official action. But if what occurred at Chattanooga is any indication, Martins said, UAW has a good chance convincing those who signed cards to vote yes.

If the union gets an overwhelming victory there, its likely to take aim at Nissan, which has major plants in both Tennessee and Mississippi.

Beyond that, at least 30% of workers have signed cards at a Hyundai plant in Alabama.

A union spokesman said the group does not have numbers for Volvos or BMWs South Carolina facilities.

Where they go is going to depend on the response theyve gotten, Masters said. I dont think theyre writing anybody off but they know the history of unionization. And I would say South Carolina is is a very inhospitable place for unions.

Masters points to the 2017 attempt by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to unionize Boeing in North Charleston. Employees voted 3-to-1 against representation. Leading up to the vote, then-Gov. Nikki Haley slammed the union on social media and in radio ads.

We have a reputation internationally for being a state that doesnt want unions, because we dont need unions, she said during her State of the State address. I have every confidence that the Boeing workers in Charleston will see this play for exactly what it is and reject this union power grab.

Most recently, an attempt by the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers to unionize a Columbia-area nuclear fuels plant was voted down by 60% of the 625 participating employees.

Wake-up call

Gov. Henry McMaster has been equally vocal, vowing to fight unions to the gates of hell during his own State of the State address in January.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster walks into House chambers to give his State of The State address Wednesday, Jan. 24., 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. Directly behind him to his left is Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-West Columbia. To his right is Rep. Jay West, R-Belton. Giving two thumbs up in the background is McMasters Chief of Staff Trey Walker. (File/Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Were a target. We know that. Theyve said so, the Republican governor said more recently. All those unions that want to move to the South, theyve destroyed a lot of the cities up North.

He was among six Southern governors to sign a letter saying unionization would endanger jobs and future industry investment in the Palmetto State.

We have a responsibility to our constituents to speak up when we see special interests looking to come into our state and threaten our jobs and the values we live by, the governors wrote. We have worked tirelessly on behalf of our constituents to bring good-paying jobs to our states.

We want to keep good paying jobs and continue to grow the American auto manufacturing sector here, they continued. A successful unionization drive will stop this growth in its tracks, to the detriment of American workers.

The letter also pointed to layoffs at UAW-represented plants.

There indeed have been jobs cuts, many tied to production pauses due to declining demand. Automakers also have sought to curb labor costs while investing billions of dollars in electric vehicles, where demand growth has been slower than early projections.

Stellantis  which makes Jeep and Dodge branded vehicles in the U.S.  has cut 1,000 of its so-called temporary workers. Under the contract with UAW, these workers  who were the lowest paid  saw the largest pay gain. They went from less than $16 per hour up to more than $42.

Ford has offered voluntary buyouts and layoffs, but many of its laid-off workers were transferred to nearby facilities rather than going unemployed.

GM also is offering voluntary buyouts. Layoffs have been associated with factory changes, such as 1,300 workers in Michigan who lost their jobs when the company decided to close two plants.

Masters also expects automakers to ramp up their own opposition efforts.

Chattanooga was a major wake up call, Masters said. Theres going to be a reaction and you can expect that these companies are not sitting passively by and hoping that the UAW stays away.

The post Auto union is targeting Southern assembly plants. Heres where SC stands. appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
By Rachel More

BERLIN (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Friday rejected criticism over the arrests of journalists and said the fact that people had access to the internet meant press freedom was assured.

"We must protect our media landscape from external negative influences, just like any other country, and everyone must comply with the laws," Aliyev told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Berlin.

"We have a free press and a free internet. If there is an internet in the country, then what kind of violation of press freedom can we talk about?"

It was the first time Aliyev had spoken publicly about the arrests, which have prompted strong concern from the United States, the European Union and press watchdogs.

The president, who was re-elected in February in a vote boycotted by two main opposition parties and preceded by a media crackdown, was pressed by a reporter from Germany's ZDF broadcaster on when his colleague Imran Aliyev would be free.

Aliyev is head of the Meclis.info outlet and had also worked for ZDF. He is currently behind bars on charges of smuggling.

Six others are in detention in connection with the case relating to the Abzas Media group. Police said last November they found 40,000 euros ($42,820) in cash in the media outlet's Baku offices.

Aliyev said media representatives "who illegally receive funding from abroad" had been arrested within the framework of the law.

Azerbaijan ranks 151 out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, which accuses Aliyev of working to silence his critics in a media landscape dominated by state-controlled outlets.

"It is no secret that we see room for improvement, to put it that way," Scholz said when asked about whether the issue had featured in his talks with Aliyev.

($1 = 0.9341 euros)

(Reporting by Rachel More; additional reporting by Nailia Bagirova; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  On Monday, tragedy struck near the McDonough playground in Algiers when 25-year-old Brittany Ussin was shot and killed.

She just wanted to make it to Chastitys birthday. She died on her birthday. Her nieces birthday. That hurts. That hurts, Brittanys sister, Ciera Ussin said.

To help honor Ussins life, friends and family gathered right at the playground for a balloon release, saying prayers and sharing stories in memory of her.

She was full of love. Full of life. She loved unconditional and she loved her sisters and her brothers, her mother, Montrice Ussin, said.

Cardell Hayes sentenced in killing of former New Orleans Saints player

She didnt deserve to leave us the way that she did, Brittanys aunt, Cotrena McIntyre, said.

The balloon release comes the same day of 37-year-old Nayiondra Woolridges arrest in connection with the shooting.

She now faces a charge of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Im thankful for the NOPD for doing at least apprehending the main shooter. Everything else will fall into place and with gods grace we will as a family will be able to get through this, McIntyre said.

For now, the family hopes the city takes this tragedy as a lesson to put the guns down.

We got to go back to being a loving community again. We got to go back to being a village, alright? And thats what we want to do. We want to send a message out. We are hurt right now. Yes, but we are going to heal. But we want everyone to heal because we want this to be the last of it and were hoping that this case here will open other peoples eyes to where this never happens again, her uncle, Michael Willis, said.

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Isaac Johnson, who just completed an internship with Topeka's public schools and is finishing work on a social work degree, talks to reporters during a news conference, Thursday, April 26, 2024, in front of a mural at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Johnson, who is transgender, worries about the effects of a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which also would bar state employees from promoting social transitioning for youth. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  A proposed ban in Kansas on gender-affirming care for minors also would bar state employees from promoting it  or even children's social transitioning.

Teachers and social workers who support LGBTQ+ rights worry that they could be disciplined or fired for helping kids who are exploring their gender identities.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the proposed ban, and top Republicans anticipated Friday that the GOP-controlled Legislature will attempt to override her action before lawmakers adjourn for the year Tuesday. Their bill appeared to have the two-thirds majorities needed in both chambers to override a veto when it passed last month, but that could depend on all Republicans being present and none of them switching.

Supporters of the bill said the provision now being singled out for criticism is designed to ensure that the banned care  puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgery  isn't still promoted with tax dollars or other state resources.

But compared to the restrictions or bans on gender-affirming care in two dozen other states, the Kansas proposal appears more sweeping because of its broad language against the promotion of social transitioning that applies to state employees whose official duties include the care of children," LGBTQ+ rights advocates said.

That is not something that we have seen before," said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, an attorney for the LGBTQ+ rights group Lambda Legal. It really allows us to look behind the curtain at what is the true motivation behind this bill, which has nothing to do with protecting the health and safety of youth and everything to do with attacking transgender people and erasing transgender identity.

About 300,000 youths ages 13 to 17 identify as transgender in the U.S., according to estimates by the Williams Institute, an LGBTQ+ research center at UCLA Law. It estimates that in Kansas, about 2,100 youths in that age group identify as transgender.

Other provisions of the proposed ban would prevent gender-affirming care from occurring on state property and prohibit groups receiving state funds from advocating medications or surgery to treat a child whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.

Brittany Jones, an attorney and policy director for the conservative Kansas Family Voice, said courts have consistently ruled that a state has the right to direct what is being done with its funds.

This does not block any child from socially transitioning, but it cannot be at the behest of a government entity, she said in an email.

In statehouses across the U.S., Republicans have promoted restrictions on gender-affirming care by portraying it as experimental and the potential source of long-term medical problems.

Backers of the Kansas proposal have repeatedly pointed to the National Health Service of England's recent decision to stop prescribing puberty blockers as a routine treatment for minors seeking gender transitions.

Obviously, we believe in our heart of hearts that they shouldnt be steering students toward that sort of thing, that they should be looking at all alternative counseling and things of that nature, said state Sen. Mike Thompson, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican.

Such bans are opposed by major American medical groups, which have firmly endorsed gender-affirming care for minors. At least 200 Kansas medical and mental health professionals signed a letter to lawmakers opposing the proposed ban.

Young transgender Kansas residents have repeatedly said their transitions improved their lives dramatically. Parents of transgender kids have described gender-affirming care as vital to combatting severe depression and suicidal tendencies.

But as troubling as they and others find the loss of access for kids to gender-affirming care, they have focused in recent weeks on the provision against promoting social transitioning as especially scary to them.

I was taught to uplift students and make them know that I will support them 100 percent, no matter who they are, Riley Long, a transgender special education teacher, said during a news conference in the Kansas City area. This bill makes it seem like it is only OK to listen to my cisgender students, and that my transgender students are automatically incorrect.

Under the bill, social transitioning includes the changing of an individuals preferred pronouns or manner of dress. The measure doesnt spell out what constitutes promoting it.

The Kansas State Department of Education says public school teachers and administrators arent legally considered state employees. However, educators who support transgender rights arent confident that they wouldn't fall under the ban  or that opponents of transgender rights wouldnt attack their jobs regardless.

Isaac Johnson, who is completing a social work degree and just finished an internship in Topekas public schools, said problems could arise from interactions like one he had with a girl who told him, I dont really feel like a girl. I only feel like a boy.

All I said back in response is, Well, what does that mean? What does it mean to be a girl?  Johnson, who is transgender, told reporters during a Statehouse news conference Thursday. My fear is that, per the law, because I didnt come out explicitly and say, No, youre a girl. Youll always be a girl, that will be seen as promoting social transition.

Transgender Kansas residents and parents of transgender kids also believe they have even more cause to be nervous after Republican lawmakers last year overrode Kelly's veto of a measure that ended the state's legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities. The law's most visible consequence has been to keep transgender people from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates to reflect their gender identities  something that wasn't the focus of last year's debate.

Aaron Roberts, the pastor of a United Church of Christ congregation in the Kansas City area, said support from social workers was crucial to his transgender daughter before she joined his family out of foster care. She is now a college student.

All the support that she got from those wonderful social workers who went above and beyond to help her navigate her gender identity  this bill wipes them out," he said. Gone.
A ban on noncompetes and expansion of overtime: What new US rules mean for KC workers

The Biden administration announced two new labor rules this week that will impact millions of workers across the country, including many in the Kansas City area.

The first is a ban on so-called noncompete clauses by the Federal Trade Commission that could go into effect as early as late August.

The decision, which already faces a legal challenge from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will prohibit employers from restricting their employees ability to take another job in the same industry. It will also nullify most existing noncompete clauses.

The other reform, through the U.S. Department of Labor, significantly raises the threshold under which salaried employees are entitled to overtime benefits.

Currently only salaried workers making less than $35,568 are eligible for time-and-a-half pay for working more than 40 hours per week. That cap will rise to $43,888 July 1 and to $58,656 Jan. 1, 2025.

The Star spoke with labor advocates and business groups in Kansas City about what impact these developments could have in the metro. Heres what to know.

How will a ban on noncompete clauses impact KC workers?

With the exception of some corporate executives, the FTCs ban on noncompete clauses will also nullify those already that bind many Kansas City workers.

If you have signed a noncompete agreement in the past, you will no longer be bound to it when the rule goes into effect  likely around late summer. That means you will be free to work for a competitor of your current or past employer, or start your own business in the same field.

While originally intended to protect trade secrets and sensitive company information, noncompetes were increasingly being used in low-wage industries to prevent employees from changing jobs. Local labor groups say that these clauses are often used in the Kansas City area to trap workers in agreements they may not fully understand.

We know its happening in the fast food industry, said Jordan Hoffman Kahle, a staff attorney at the Kansas City based nonprofit Heartland Center for Jobs & Freedom.

Those noncompete agreements (are) pretty restrictive for any worker, but especially for workers in the wage position (who) need the job and might not have the opportunity to review this contract thats presented to them.

According to the nonprofit National Employment Law Project, noncompete agreements disproportionately impact women and people of color by reducing job mobility and stifling entrepreneurship.

Employers were definitely abusing those provisions, sneaking them into workers employment contracts, Kahle said. We definitely welcome the change for noncompete agreements, and hope that in the future, maybe well see other changes where other abusive and maybe hidden contract provisions like that wont be included.

While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sued to stop the rule, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce told The Star that it does not have an official position on the issue.

What will the new overtime threshold mean for KC workers?

Hundreds of thousands of workers in the metro area make more than $35,568 but less than $58,656 per year, according to Mid-America Regional Council research director Frank Lenk.

An estimated 38.4% of the total workforce in the greater Kansas City area work in industries with a median pay rate between those two numbers, he said. If you earn a salary in this range, that means youll be eligible for overtime pay starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The new rule wont apply retroactively to past salaried work.

Kahle said this development will benefit many Kansas City employees, particularly those in low-paid managerial positions.

In all sorts of industries, to get around paying someone overtime, the employer might just classify them as a manager, give them some managerial responsibilities and then under the existing rule they were able to just not pay them any overtime for really, really long weeks, she said.

Kahle added that in service industry positions, managerial roles can still involve many of the same tasks as those done by hourly workers. The new threshold will ensure those making a modest salary are compensated for their overtime work alongside their co-workers who are paid by the hour.

Local labor advocates noted that while the increase will help many workers, their fight continues to ensure fair wages and working conditions for all.

These policy changes constitute a huge victory for the working class, said Aditi Ramaswami, a spokesperson for the Missouri Workers Center and the local service industry employees advocacy group Stand Up KC.

(But) much work remains to ensure fair pay for all workers, including those who have been fighting with Stand Up KC to raise the minimum wage to a living one, and to achieve dignity and respect on the job.

Missouris minimum wage is $12.30 per hour this year, while Kansas is the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the hourly wage a single adult with no children needs to earn to afford basic life necessities in the city of Kansas City is $21.70 per hour in 2024.

When will new labor reforms go into effect?

The ban on noncompete clauses goes into effect 120 days after the FTCs order appears in the Federal Register. This online journal is where all federal government agency rules and notices are published.

FTC spokesperson Victoria Graham told The Star that the agency does not know the exact date its rule will appear in the publication. If the journal publishes the rule within the next week, it would go into effect in late August.

After the rule takes effect, your employer is not allowed to ask you to sign or hold you to a noncompete agreement unless you are a senior executive. If they do, you can report a violation by emailing noncompete@ftc.gov.

The overtime threshold will increase twice in the coming months: to $43,888 on July 1 and to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. The cap will then continue to renew every three years starting July 1, 2027, to match updated wages and salary levels.

If you believe youre being illegally underpaid for your work before or after this increase goes into effect, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labors Wage & Hour Division online or by calling 1-866-487-9243.

Do you have more questions about labor or wages in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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The Scoop

A senior U.S. official is warning that a Russian disinformation campaign in Moldova is under way to undermine the countrys pivot away from Russian gas.

The Russian disinformation has kicked into high gear, Isobel Coleman, the deputy administrator of the US Agency for International Development, told Semafor ahead of a visit to the former Soviet republic. Russia is putting out a narrative to scare people about how Moldova cant survive without Gazprom, she said, noting that she discussed the campaign during a meeting with Moldovas energy minister, Victor Parlicov, earlier this month.

Energy independence is one of several areas where the US government is trying to support Moldova, which neighbors Ukraine, as it seeks more distance from Russia. Bolstered by financial support from Europe and the US, Moldova moved to end its reliance on Russias Gazprom after Moscows full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Gazprom still supplies energy to a power plant in the pro-Russian breakaway province of Transnistria, which is not internationally recognized as independent of Moldova.

Moldovas reliance on Russian energy, Coleman said, makes them very vulnerable if Russia wants to use energy as a weapon of war or a weapon of influence. A new power line linking Moldova directly to Romania would change that.

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Colemans trip beginning Saturday  the details of which she shared ahead of time with Semafor  will focus broadly on supporting Moldova as it implements democratic reforms and seeks membership in the European Union. She said she plans to meet with Moldovan government and business leaders and NGOs about anti-corruption and how the country can achieve EU membership, which is on the ballot when Moldovans head to the polls in October.

Moldova is among the countries USAID is focused on in its pro-democracy initiative, in large part because of the threats the country faces from Moscow.

Moldovas foreign minister, Mihai Popsoi, recently told the Associated Press that the years since the Ukraine invasion have been by far the most difficult in the past 30 years. He further warned in an interview with the Washington Post that Russia would move on Moldova next if it is successful in Ukraine: God forbid, if the Russians would feel emboldened, clearly Moldova would be next. And after that, its anybodys guess, he said.

In addition to struggling to detach from Russian energy supplies, Moldova has also seen Russian drones crash on its territory and missiles breach its airspace during the Ukraine war. Last year, Moldovas President Maia Sandu accused the Russian paramilitary group Wagner of unsuccessfully attempting a coup against her.

The Moldovans would tell you that what they are experiencing is just an extension of Russias war in Ukraine, Coleman said, adding that Russia is waging military and economic aggression to force submission of these border states.

The US Congress just approved, and President Joe Biden signed, a $95 billion foreign aid package largely for Ukraine, Israel, and allies in Asia. Coleman said she hoped some of the funds could be used to provide additional resources to Moldova.

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Moldova should serve as a cautionary tale for Ukraine, Moldovan journalist Paula Erizanu wrote this week in the New York Times.

A Pew Research Center survey released this week showed supporting Ukraine and promoting democracy around the globe are on the lower end of foreign policy priorities for Americans, though half of respondents said that limiting Russias influence should be a top US long-term goal.

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Beaufort mourns the loss of beloved chef Steve Brown who made it his business to help others

Beauforts Steve Brown, a beloved local restaurant owner with a larger-than-life personality who made it his mission in life to help people, has died, according to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott and confirmed by family members. He was 74.

Brown was revered not just for his companies he created that included Steve Brown Catering and Market on Ribaut Road and the Village Inn Pizza Parlor on Boundary Street but for how the life-long Beaufortonian treated customers, friends, family and colleagues in the industry  even complete strangers including dozens who were stopped in traffic on a bridge one afternoon.

His enduring motto was, Never lay your head down on any day without blessing somebodys life that day. He went so far as to have that thought printed on his business notepads.

That drove him more than money or anything else, said his wife, Jean Brown. He credits that back to his mother (Trannie Brown).

Steve Brown owned Steve Brown Catering and Market and co-owned Village Inn Pizza Parlor on Boundary Street. But people were his priority, his family and friends say. He celebrated other peoples success, Nick Borreggine said.

Brown died Tuesday at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston due to complications from injuries he sustained when a car accidentally struck his motorized wheelchair as he crossed Ribaut Road on April 9, Ott said.

According to Beaufort police, officers were called at 11:55 a.m. to an accident scene at 1295 Ribaut Road for a report of a car hitting Brown while he was in his motorized wheelchair. At the scene, Brown refused emergency medical services. But a few hours later, after having lunch at a restaurant, he requested medical assistance and was transported to Beaufort Medical Hospital and then to the Charleston hospital, Ott said.

This is a very tragic death to the community, said Ott, describing Brown as a Beaufort icon.

Celebration of Browns life scheduled

A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. May 5 at Kate Gleason Park in Beaufort.

Nick Borreggine, a friend, and the owner of Alvin Ords Sandwich Shop, Shellring Ale Works and Fat Patties in Port Royal, called Brown, One of a kind, thats for sure.

Borreggine said Brown could change the way his friends and colleagues looked at the path ahead. He had the ability, Borreggine said, to turn bad days into good days, and his enthusiasm could not be missed. How ya doin darlins! Brown would say in his booming voice when he walked into a restaurant.

One example encapsulates the kind of person Brown was to Borreggine. It occurred when Borreggine was in the process of adopting a newborn child in Las Vegas. Borreggine sent pictures to Brown who was back home in Beaufort. When Borreggine returned home, he went to see Brown at his catering business. Brown had displayed several blown up photos of Borreggines adopted daughter behind the register.

Thats the kind of guy he was, Borreggine said. He celebrated other peoples success.

Browns own children  Stephanie, Kelsey, Mitchell and Steven Wade  and granddaughters Elise and Genevi meant everything to him, said Jean, his wife.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was Kelsey who encouraged Brown to share his wit and warmth on social media. Thats when Brown, who took on the persona of the Low Country Chef, used Facebook to teach the world how to make Southern desserts and delicacies such as shrimp burgers, Lowcountry peach cobbler and sweet potato biscuits. Good evening everybody! he would exclaim in his welcoming South Carolina accent.

Well-known Beaufort chef and food caterer Steve Brown has died. He was 74.

It actually  I believe  got people through COVID, said Nan Brown Sutton, Browns sister. Steve had a huge personality so it was perfect. Steve Brown was larger than life.

Photography, not food, was Browns first love. He studied at Rochester Institute of Technology and became an award-winning photographer. For a few years, he joined his father, Ned, at a photography business called Ned Brown and Son Photography. But Brown eventually transitioned into the food business.

After he closed the catering business, Brown launched Steve Brown Cookies. The gourmet goodies were ordered on online and picked up locally or shipped anywhere in the country.

Brown was known for giving out cookies, maybe more than he sold. Once, when he got stuck on the Woods Memorial Bridge, the citys swing bridge that pauses traffic to allow boats to pass, Steve got out of his van and passed out Steve Brown cookies to everybody sitting on the bridge, Brown Sutton recalled with a laugh. Thats how generous he was.

Browns faith was a big part of his life and he attended Baptist Church of Beaufort, where he pushed others at Bible study to dive deeper into scripture. In a 2009 interview with the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet, he quoted the well-known Bible passage, Love thy neighbor as thyself, when talking about his philosophy in life.

If we hear theres a problem  someones homeless, somebody lost their home in a fire, a death in the family or some tragic circumstance  and we can help, well be there, Brown said at the time. The end result is taking care of people.

Steve Brown got these guiding words from his mother, Trannie Brown.
In life, Andrea Doria Dos Passos surrounded herself with a community that loved her, which surprised and pleased her mother, who long worried she was alone in the world. In death, those same friends and supporters held a vigil Thursday to honor a life taken away in a senseless, violent beating.

In the shaded courtyard of Miami Beachs Old City Hall, family, friends and residents joined to celebrate Dos Passos life. It was an event organized by Pridelines, one of the citys only LGBTQ+ community centers, where people knew the trans woman intimately.

This is hard for our organization, said Edward Summers, executive director of Pridelines. Weve had a personal relationship with Andrea, a.k.a. Maggie. She was someone who came to our office every day and interacted with nearly my whole team here at Pridelines.

Summers recalled how Andrea would frequently relax in their offices and hang out while she handled her personal business. It was a safe space for her, he said, and to have her taken away was heartbreaking.

Shame, shame that her life was taken this tragically, he said. She was ... our whole world, just having fun, enjoying the experience and being her authentic self.

Edward Summers, executive director of Pridelines, an LGBTQ+ community center, gives mother Ana Van Gilst flowers during her daughters vigil on behalf of his organization.

Police have charged Gregory Fitzgerald Gibert, 53, with beating a sleeping Doria Dos Passos to death with a pipe in front of the Miami City Ballet. Her body was also mutilated when she was found by a ballet employee Tuesday morning.

READ MORE: Man accused of beating trans woman to death as she slept near Miami City Ballet is arrested

Ana Van Gilst, Dos Passos mother, was brought to tears hearing how much her daughter meant to those around her. She spent years gently and lovingly pushing Dos Passos to go out into the world and find a community she could embrace.

Knowing her daughter had succeeded was almost too much to bear.

It gave me so much bliss that she had a community, she said, holding back tears. I feel a little bit lighter knowing that she had this group of people that loved her and accepted her.

While Van Gilst had asked her daughter if she would want to come back to her Coral Gables home, Dos Passos admitted her heart belonged out in the world, she said.

She wanted to be free, Van Gilst said. She wanted to be on the beach. She wanted to swim.

Ana Van Gilst, mother of slain Andrea Doria Dos Passos, and her husband Victor Van Gilst hug community members who attended her daughters vigil.

Aside from Dos Passos grandmother and stepfather, along with about a dozen residents, Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones also attended the vigil to pay his respects to the family.

Andrea Contreras, 23, didnt know Dos Passos but she was compelled to attend and honor her.

Its nice to see the support from everyone, especially for the family, she said. That was really lovely.

The murder emphasized for Contreras that to her, while Miami Beach is safer than other communities, there is still a sense of danger, she said.

Where can you really be safe? Especially since Im a woman, Contreras said. Even my girlfriend and I walking around, we still feel the effects. So its just shocking a lot of people think [Miami Beach] is so fun, so party but its not.

Rebe Silvey, 29, shed tears as she listened to the retelling of Dos Passos life while holding a lit white candle. While she didnt know Dos Passos, she wanted to pay her respects.

I found out that this beautiful person was taken from us way too soon, she said. I wanted to come out here and show support for the community and the family that is here.

Silvey was outraged that authorities were not calling the vicious fatal beating a hate crime and wanted to see more done.

Its just really upsetting that the police are not calling this a hate crime when it is, she said. I just wanted to...celebrate her life and raise awareness that this is a problem. Trans people deserve to exist and be alive. They deserve to be protected.

READ MORE: Was the brutal killing of a trans woman in Miami Beach a hate crime? What Florida law says

The Miami Beach community gathered at one of the citys only LGBTQ+ community centers to honor slain trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos.

The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office said it will continue to investigate the case to see if it qualifies for a hate crime enhancement.

Miami Beach Police have said there is no evidence the attack was targeted and the murder is not being investigated as a hate crime.

Gibert was jailed a day after the slaying and is facing a first-degree murder charge, which was increased from an original second-degree charge in his first court appearance Thursday. He was also denied bond, meaning he will remain in jail for the length of his trial.

READ MORE: Man arrested for murder of transgender woman on Miami Beach, has charge upped, denied bond

Van Gilst said she would only have a few words for the man who allegedly killed her daughter if she ever saw him, which were spoken seemingly without any hate or malice: Go find help because you need help.

Thinking of Dos Passos, she wanted to share a message with her late daughter.

Go look for your grandfather, she tearfully said, explaining that while she may have never met him in life, they were just alike. He will take care of you.

Andrea Doria Dos Passos with her mother Ana Van Gilst, her stepfather Victor Van Gilst and her grandmother Elci Doria.
Belgium to accelerate efforts to deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine in 2024

The Belgian government has decided to accelerate the supply of its own F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and make it happen by the end of 2024, without waiting for the formation of a new cabinet.

Source: statements by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder, European Pravda with reference to VRT

Details: De Croo referred to the decision to supply F-16 jets as a "big step for Ukraine's defence", noting that Belgium had already participated in the fighter jet coalition and has provided repairs to the supplied aircraft and has trained Ukrainian pilots.

Quote: "But now our country is joining the limited group of countries that will actually supply aircraft to Ukraine," he stressed.

The Belgian Defence Minister did not name a specific timeframe for the supply of F-16 jets to Ukraine, but stressed that it will happen as soon as possible.

"We will do our best to provide the aircraft by the end of the year. I want to make it clear that our own security will not be compromised," Dedonder emphasised.

Background:

Belgium is one of 13 countries participating in a coalition to provide Ukraine with fighter jets. It had previously planned to send F-16 jets to Ukraine starting from 2025, which it is gradually replacing with more modern F-35 jets.

According to media reports, the first F-16 fighter jets may appear in Ukrainian skies around June 2024.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 26. Kazakhstan is ready to provide support to Turkish investors for the implementation of projects, said Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, addressing Turkish business representatives, Trend reports.

"The investment potential of our country is enormous, and we are interested in further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with Turkiye. Kazakhstan is aimed at transferring advanced technologies, localizing production, and creating deep processing clusters to obtain high-quality, high-value products. Investors who are ready to cooperate in this direction will be provided with the necessary resources, infrastructure, and support. The government of Kazakhstan is ready to become a reliable and long-term partner for everyone who is ready to do business in our country," he said.

Among the promising areas, Bektenov noted petrochemicals, coal chemistry, and mechanical engineering, with a focus on deepening the localization of production and expanding the model range of manufactured equipment.

In turn, Vice President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz, noted that there is a positive trend in trade and economic relations between the countries.

"I would also like to note the special importance of today's negotiations. The governments of our countries will continue to make joint efforts to develop their economies and provide all possible assistance to businesses. I am confident that cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkiye will expand thanks to new agreements," he added.

Notably, Turkiye is one of the main trading partners of Kazakhstan. Thus, the volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkiye amounted to $6 billion in 2023.

At the same time, in the structure of trade turnover, exports to Turkiye for the above period amounted to $3.9 billion.

In addition, imports from Turkiye from January through December 2023 increased by 27 percent and amounted to $2 billion.
Belgium may ship the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine later this year, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo and Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder confirmed on April 26, according to the Belgian news outlet RTBF.

Belgium was among the first countries to join the F-16 training coalition established in the summer of 2023 to bolster Ukraine's Air Force. The initiative was spearheaded by the U.S., Denmark, and the Netherlands.

"In coordination with our partners in the F-16 coalition, our country will make every effort to speed up deliveries, if possible, by the end of this year," Dedonder said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also announced at the Ramstein-format summit on April 26 that "more than a squadron" of donated F-16s will start to arrive in Ukraine this year, along with trained pilots and maintainers, thanks to the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The announcement accompanies news that the U.S. has prepared an immediate military aid package worth $1 billion to send to Ukraine, and a $6 billion weapons package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide arms to Kyiv in the next few years.

The Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway have also pledged to supply Ukraine with dozens of U.S.-made fourth-generation jets, though the exact timeline and number of planes to be sent have remained unclear.

Last October, Belgium said that it would provide Ukraine with several F-16 fighter jets, without specifying a number, and help with the training for Ukrainian pilots in EU countries. In October 2023, Dedonder said that the first batch of F-16s from Brussels were expected to arrive to Ukraine in 2025.

The Belgian government approved in late March the 25th assistance package for Ukraine, which contains 100 million euros ($107 million) for the maintenance and support of F-16 fighter jets.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article said that the United States and Belgium were sending F-16s to Ukraine in 2024. The U.S. announced that F-16s from allies would arrive this year, not that it is sending the planes. The error has been corrected.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The man accused of killing Mirna Soza Arauz on April 22 is being held on $2 million bail

GoFundMe Mirna Soza Arauz

A man was arrested on a murder charge after allegedly fatally stabbing a woman on a Los Angeles metro train on the morning of April 22, according to police

The victim was identified by family as Mirna Soza Arauz, who was on her way home from work when she was attacked

The LAPD believes the suspect, Elliot Tramel Nowden, has attacked others and are asking those alleged victims to come forward

A California man was arrested and charged with murder after authorities accused him of fatally stabbing a beloved grandmother on a Los Angeles metro train.

On Monday, April 22, around 5 a.m., officers were called to the Universal City metro station, where a man had reportedly stabbed a woman while she was on the train, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a press release. When the train stopped, the victim exited onto the platform, where the suspect also got out and allegedly fled on foot.

The family of the woman, who was identified on a GoFundMe campaign as Mirna Soza Arauz, wrote that she was on her way home from work at the time of the attack.

Metro contract security began rendering aid until the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, the LAPD said.

Around 5:30 a.m., patrol officers spotted a person who resembled the suspect's description and took him into custody, police said. After interviewing witnesses and reviewing other evidence, authorities arrested 45-year-old Elliot Tramel Nowden on a murder charge.

LAPD News: Woman Killed on Metro Train in North Hollywood pic.twitter.com/ZTU59Nr1B1  LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) April 23, 2024

According to the LAPD, Nowden is being held on a $2 million bail. Its unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

So far, the GoFundMe has raised over $40,000 for Arauzs family in three days.

The fundraiser was created by Arauzs relative, Alex Castillo, who wrote that the familys biggest priority is giving her a proper burial at home in Nicaragua and that the funds will go directly to funeral expenses, with any leftover donations going to Arauz's two daughters in Nicaragua.

While we appreciate the first responders that tried to save her life, we hope that Mirnas death does not go unnoticed, and results in real change to the public safety efforts in the area, Castillo wrote in the fundraisers description.

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Its a tragedy for the immigrant community of Los Angeles and for all that rely on the Metro to get home safe. We will not rest until justice is served.

Castillo also wrote that Arauz was a beloved mother of three and grandmother of seven.

Investigators strongly believe there are additional, unreported victims of Nowden, the release states. Anyone with information on the case or Nowden is asked to contact Operations Valley Bureau Homicide Detectives at (818) 374-9550.



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Read the original article on People.
A police officer stands in front of the pro-Palestinian protest camp outside the German Bundestag. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

A protest camp in Berlin's government district voicing support for Palestinians and demanding an end to the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip has been banned by German police.

About 150 police officers appeared at the 20 or so tents near the Chancellery in Berlin on Friday morning and demanded that the 20 or so people staying in the camp leave, a police spokesman said.

Police also announced that the camp had been banned via loudspeaker.

The protest camp pitched its tents at the site more than two weeks ago. Berlin police had previously handed the camp's management a prohibition order.

Police said efforts to clear the camp began peacefully.

Berlin police justified the decision to ban the camp by contending that camp participants had repeatedly committed criminal offences, including incitement to hatred, and that there had also been acts of violence by residents against police officers.

In addition, certain restrictions had not been adhered to, such as the protection of the green area and certain buildings.

Supporters of the camp have appealed for support online.
Police officers clear the pro-Palestinian protest camp outside the German Bundestag. Paul Zinken/dpa

A protest camp in Berlin's government district voicing support for Palestinians and demanding an end to German shipments of weapons to the Israeli military has been banned by German police.

About 150 police officers appeared at the 20 or so tents near the Chancellery in Berlin on Friday morning and demanded that the 20 or so people staying in the camp leave, a police spokesman said.

Police carried protesters away one by one as they huddled together and refused to leave the encampment, while other officers tore down the tents, a police spokeswoman told dpa.

A loud demonstration formed against the police action with more than 100 participants, and police had not yet managed to evict the protesters from the area by early afternoon on Friday.

The protest camp pitched its tents at the site more than two weeks ago. Berlin police had previously handed the camp's management a prohibition order.

Police said efforts to clear the camp began peacefully.

Berlin police justified the decision to ban the camp by contending that camp participants had repeatedly committed criminal offences, including incitement to hatred, and that there had also been acts of violence by residents against police officers.

In addition, certain restrictions had not been adhered to, such as the protection of the green area and certain buildings.

Supporters of the camp have appealed for support online.

Police officers clear the pro-Palestinian protest camp outside the German Bundestag. Paul Zinken/dpa

Protesters hold Palestinian flags while police officers clear the pro-Palestinian protest camp outside the German Bundestag. Paul Zinken/dpa
Better Call Behnken: Results for HOA residents who couldnt get mail after box fell over

Better Call Behnken: Results for HOA residents who couldnt get mail after box fell over

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Rachel Sykes says she could see it coming. Her HOA neighborhood mailbox was rusty and then it fell over in early March.

She reported the issue to the post office, but getting a new mailbox has not been easy.

After a month of complaining, they did take away the old box but left no box at all.

They said, Yeah, were working on it, it just takes time,' Sykes recalled. In talking with a bunch of employees at the main location, its very normal that it would take six months is what theyre telling us.

Sykes says its an inconvenience for her to drive to the post office daily to collect her mail, but for others, its difficult.

I know a lot of the residents that are elderly, they have their Social Security checks that get mailed to them, their medicine is mailed to them. If youre a business professional, maybe you have business-important mail that comes to your residence.

Less than 24 hours after Better Call Behnken got involved, two workers from the postal service showed up with a new mailbox.

The postal service sent this statement:

The Postal Service strives to always provide the best possible service to our valued customers. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced by our Carrollwood Condominium customers due to the damaged Cluster Box Unit (CBU). Local postal officials have worked with the local HOA and corrected the situation. We appreciate the patience of our valued customers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
FILE PHOTO: Newport and Camel cigarettes are stacked on a shelf inside a tobacco store in New York

By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) -The Biden administration on Friday delayed its plan to ban menthol cigarettes, a move that reflected the potential for a political backlash from Black voters in an election year.

For decades, menthol cigarettes have been in the crosshairs of anti-smoking groups who argue that they contribute to disproportionate health burdens on Black communities and play a role in luring young people into smoking.

About 81% of Black adults who smoked cigarettes used menthol varieties, compared with 34% of white adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the proposed ban had brought immense feedback including from parts of the civil rights and criminal justice movement.

"It's clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," he said in a statement that appeared to suggest it would not be sorted before the presidential election in November.

Shares of tobacco companies were muted following the news. Altria Group and British American Tobacco closed down marginally, while Imperial Brands' shares ended nearly 1% lower.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said his organization was outraged and disgusted by the political move.

"In an election year, politicians should be prioritizing people, not profiteers. Today's news from the Biden Administration is a blow to the Black community, who continue to be unfairly targeted and unjustly killed by Big Tobacco," he said.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, also expressed dismay over the delay. "Two full years after releasing proposed rules backed by extensive scientific evidence  and more than a decade since the FDA began examining menthol cigarettes  the administration has failed to take decisive action to remove these deadly, addictive products from the market."

"We strongly believe there are more effective ways to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes permanently," said a spokesperson for Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.

The spokesperson said that providing access to nicotine alternatives such as vaping products, "are critical in supporting adult smokers to migrate from combustible cigarettes."

Menthol cigarettes account for a third of the industry's overall market share in the United States.

The highly addictive products have been cited for their appeal to young smokers, as well as significant health impacts for Black communities.

Civil rights groups have contended for years that menthol cigarettes pose a disproportionately higher risk in Black communities, where they are heavily marketed.

Yolonda Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said last month that research showed eliminating menthol cigarettes would cut the number of young people who start smoking, increase the number of smokers who quit, and save up to 654,000 lives within 40 years, including 255,000 Black lives.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington and Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru, Emma Rumney in London and Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Sriraj Kalluvila and Bill Berkrot)
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm speaks at an electric substation in South Salt Lake on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Granholm highlighted the Biden-Harris administrations latest efforts to strengthen Americas electric grid, boost clean energy deployment, and support good-paying, high-quality jobs in Utah and across the nation. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm traveled to a Rocky Mountain Power substation in South Salt Lake Thursday morning to unveil the Biden administrations latest efforts to build a more resilient, secure and cleaner electric grid.

Utah is a powerhouse of a state when it comes to potentially producing, generating clean energy and then getting that energy to move to places where its needed and to be able to take energy as well, Granholm said. Although the scene behind her portrayed a stillness, the tall, tapered-shaped transmission towers actively circulated high-voltage electricity through the taut wires. Granholm says she wants to bolster this grids capabilities and connect it to an expanded network in the West.

Between the geothermal resources that Utah has, the wind and the sun, and now weve got all of this commitment to transmission, she said, hailing the Beehive State as an instrumental piece of the nations infrastructure.

The biggest challenge to the already overextended grids across the U.S. has been a lengthy permitting process. Grid congestion cost consumers $20.8 billion in 2023, a significant increase from $13.3 billion the previous year, as reported by Grid Strategies in 2023.

Granholms visit coincided with the Biden administrations decision to reform the permitting rule that will shrink the approval time for a transmission line from 10 years to two by consolidating the requirements from different federal agencies and streamlining the review process.

We want to make transmission better, said Granholm. This means enhancing technology while adding new lines, wires and miles to the grid. But all of that requires cooperation with the federal government and that means permitting.

She said ger department is focused on connecting more communities to power, taking a page out of President Franklin D. Roosevelts book. He is hailed for championing the Rural Electrification Act, responsible for providing federal loans to establish an electrical distribution system in the 1930s.

Granholm told the story of a man from this era who wanted to have power in his home but lived outside this distribution wires reach. He did what anybody reasonably would do; He built a new foundation down the road, put his house on logs and just rolled it over to the transmission, she said jokingly. Now, we want to do it a little bit differently.

The energy secretary also announced a series of grants while breaking down the Biden administrations approach to improving the power system in the Western U.S.

For Utah, specifically, Rocky Mountain Power is receiving $5.7 million to ensure the state has resilient power and the ability to protect against wildfire or extreme weather events, she said.

Granholm told reporters this will help utility companies install underground transmission lines and cover their conductors, and thats what Rocky Mountain Power is doing as it considers reducing risk while wildfires rise in intensity and frequency.

Joel Ferry, the executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, noted utility companies will also be able to protect themselves against cyber threats by leveraging advanced technologies.

On the state level, the administration is propelling an interconnected web of power lines that allow electrons generated from wind and solar energy to flow from Idaho and Nevada to Utah and California.

Its all coming together, she said, before diving into three transmission line projects moving power across six Western states.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm speaks at an electric substation in South Salt Lake on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Granholm highlighted the Biden-Harris administrations latest efforts to strengthen Americas electric grid, boost clean energy deployment, and support good-paying, high-quality jobs in Utah and across the nation. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

The grid deployment offices Transmission Facilitation program has $2.5 billion to disperse to developers for setting up new power lines.

The federal government reached a $330 million agreement with Cross-Tie Transmission to connect power from Utah and Nevada, Granholm said.

Were particularly excited because thats going to strengthen the Utah power grid and make sure that you can access resources from all over the West, Maria Robinson, the director of the grid deployment office told reporters.

This 214-mile line, set to go into service in 2028, will create 4,000 jobs in the Beehive State, and all workers will have to be a part of a labor union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, for this more than $1 billion project, she added.

Ed Rihn, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Canada, said this projects construction is expected to generate $760 million for the local economy.

Another $331 million is going toward the Southwest Intertie Project North, bridging power between Idaho and Nevada through a 285-mile line. According to a press release, this will add more than 2,000 megawatts to the grids capability and power 2.5 million homes.

Ashley McGeary, the communications director for Grid United, the developer for Southline, told the Deseret News after Granholms remarks that transmission lines cost a lot to construct when they cover so much (area), it can be kind of risky for investors because a utility company has to get on board to use these lines.

The Department of Energy is the strongest backer you can ask for, since it prompts utility companies to sign on to the new lines, she explained.

These transmission lines will connect the Western U.S. and allow electricity to flow wherever needed. Sometimes its so windy in one place, and you want to be able to send that wind elsewhere, said McGeary.

Ferry, from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, said that the Beehive State doesnt entirely align with the Biden White House, but that doesnt take away from the Energy Departments announcements.

At the crossroads of the West, Utah is always looking for opportunities. That pioneer spirit exists here in the state of Utah, said Ferry. Sometimes the state of Utah and the Biden administration are at odds, but its great to be able to come together in terms like this under common goal and common cause.
Debates between the two presidential candidates in 2020 were frequently chaotic, with Joe Biden erupting in anger over Donald Trump's frequent interruptions and attempts to speak over him - Patrick Semansky/AP

Joe Biden said he is ready to debate Donald Trump after months of evading questions over whether he would face off his Republican opponent on stage.

The US president gave a rare live interview to the radio host Howard Stern in Manhattan on Friday, just a few miles from the courthouse where his predecessor was listening to testimony in his hush money trial.

Asked by Stern whether he would agree to a much-anticipated debate against Mr Trump, the president replied: I am, somewhere, I dont know when but I am happy to debate him.

It represents a striking shift in the Biden campaigns approach after months of ducking the question.

Mr Biden has previously suggested his willingness to consent to a debate would depend on Mr Trumps behaviour.

The two presidential candidates debates in 2020 were frequently chaotic, with Mr Biden erupting in anger over Mr Trumps frequent interruptions and attempts to speak over him.

For months, Mr Trump, 77, has sought to goad Mr Biden, 81, into agreeing to a debate during their 2024 White House re-match.

Mr Trump, who declined to debate his 2024 Republican primary rivals, has attacked the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates which schedules the official debates.

The Trump campaign criticised the commission for cutting off Mr Trumps microphone - a policy it enforced after his chaotic first 2020 debate with Mr Trump, and accused them of using biassed moderators.

Mr Trump said he is willing to go head-to-head with Mr Biden anytime, anyplace and anywhere.

His advisers have called for more presidential debates, and for them to begin much earlier than the commissions scheduled events.

The first debate is currently scheduled for Sept 16, the second for Oct 1 and the third for Oct 9.

Mr Biden has previously suggested his willingness to consent to a debate would depend on Mr Trump's 'behaviour' - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Some members of Mr Bidens campaign have also voiced criticism of the presidential debate system.

This month, a group of major news outlets took the rare step of penning an open letter urging both the Biden and Trump campaigns to commit to participating in the debates.

Mr Bidens declaration to Stern on Friday comes as his campaign appears to be trialling a new strategy following intense criticism of their strategy of keeping the 81-year-old at arms length from the media.

On Thursday, the New York Times issued a scathing statement about Mr Bidens refusal to do a one-to-one interview with a major US outlet.

The newspaper called it troubling that Mr Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term, calling it a dangerous precedent.

Systematically avoiding interviews and questions from major news organizations doesnt just undermine an important norm, it also establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to avoid scrutiny and accountability, it said.

The presidents surprise appearance on the popular Howard Stern Show opened with the radio host gushing about being a longtime admirer of Mr Biden.

I think I should leave now, Mr Biden joked in response.

I know everyones going to think Im doing a fake interview with you, but you are really here, Stern said.

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Biden opens up about contemplating suicide after tragic deaths of first wife and daughter

President Joe Biden has opened up about how he comtemplated suicide following the tragic deaths of his first wife and baby daughter.

In an interview with Howard Stern on Friday, the president described how he turned to alcohol after the car crash that killed Neilia Biden and their 13-month-old daughter Naomi in 1972.

The incident in Delaware occurred shortly after Mr Biden was first elected to the US Senate.

I just thought about it, you dont need to be crazy to commit suicide I never drank. Thats not a virtue, I just never drank, he said.

I used to sit there and just think to myself Im going to take out a bottle of scotch we always had liquor in the house. I thought Im going to just drink it and get drunk.

Joe Biden and wife Neilia cut his 30th birthday cake at a party on 20 November 1972 (Bettmann Archive)

He added: I could never bring myself to do it.

He continued: I just thought about it, you dont need to be crazy to commit suicide. If youve been to the top of the mountain and you think its never gonna be there again.

But I had two kids. And dont get me wrong I wasnt like I gotta commit suicide but it was like youve been to the top of the mountain youre never gonna be ok again.

Mr Biden went on to say that his two eldest children Beau and Hunter Biden, who had been injured but survived the car accident, had helped him through the period.

The president encouraged others to seek therapy if they experience similar feelings.

While surviving the car crash, Beau Biden also died in 2015 of brain cancer, something the president has stated he believes was linked to his sons deployment in Iraq and his exposure to burn pits there.

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Biden told Mr Stern that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this year  his most definitive comment yet on the issue.

Mr Trump has issued the challenge to the president multiple times, offering to debate him any time, though has questioned Mr Bidenss willingness.

During the Sirius XM interview, Mr Stern asked the president whether he would participate in debates against Mr Trump.

Mr Biden said during the interview that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this year (AP)

I am, somewhere. I dont know when, Mr Biden replied. But Im happy to debate him.

Mr Trump quickly responded with a post on Truth Social, challenging him to come to the Manhattan courthouse where he is on criminal trial to debate him. At the end of the days proceedings  when it was clear Mr Biden had not shown up  Mr Trump invited himself to the White House to debate him there instead.

So far, Mr Bidens reelection campaign has declined to commit to participating in debates.

In March, the president was vague on the matter, saying it depends on his behaviour.

The two men debated twice during the 2020 general election  a campaign year constrained significantly by Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Biden was notably irritated by his rivals antics in the chaotic first debate that year, at one point shouting at Mr Trump: Will you shut up, man?

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
President Joe Biden said he will debate former President Donald Trump ahead of this years election, the clearest declaration yet of his willingness to face-off with his Republican rival before voters cast ballots in November.

Still, Biden said he didnt know yet what format the debates might take, leaving open the possibility the three traditional on-stage events could look different this year.

I am, somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said when asked by interviewer Howard Stern whether he planned to debate his predecessor. Im happy to debate him.

Its the first time Biden has said explicitly he would debate Trump in this election cycle. Previously, he has equivocated, saying it would depend on the former presidents behavior. Some of Bidens aides have questioned whether Trump would abide by established rules in any potential debate, and before Friday his campaign hadnt set out any specific debate plan.

Earlier this month, a dozen of the nations biggest news organizations posted an open letter urging Biden and Trump to participate in televised debates ahead of the 2024 election.

The letter was signed by a consortium of broadcast, cable and print outlets, including ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC News, NewsNation, Univision, NPR, PBS NewsHour and USA Today. In the letter, the news organizations urged the candidates to publicly commit to participating in general election debates before Novembers election.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three presidential debates for September and October in Texas, Virginia and Utah.

Trump, who refused to participate in the Republican primary debates, has posted on social media that he will debate Biden anytime, anywhere anyplace despite the Republican National Committee voting unanimously in 2022 to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Biden had responded to Trumps calls for earlier debates in February, telling reporters: If I were him, Id want him to debate me, too. Hes got nothing else to do.

After Biden made his comment on Sterns program on Friday, Trumps campaign manager Chris LaCivita responded on social media.

Ok, he wrote on X, lets set it up!

Biden gets personal in Howard Stern interview

Biden also delved into personal topics Friday in the surprise, wide-ranging 74-minute appearance on The Howard Stern Show, a notably unusual venue for the president as his campaign leans into a strategy utilizing alternative media outlets to reach voters.

An animated Biden was prodded by Stern on topics including loss, his childhood, his relationship with his parents, his early career as a public defender, dealing with his stutter and why he didnt take law school seriously enough, highlighting a more intimate side of the president.

White House officials amplified the interview, reposting it on Instagram and with the @POTUS account, as well as chief of staff Jeff Zients, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and communications director Ben LaBolt, among others.

Stern pontificated on why high-profile Republicans havent said theyll vote for Biden, citing Jeb and George W. Bush, to which Biden responded, I dont think the elections over yet on that score.

And he again offered thoughts on segregationist former Republicans, saying, They were totally wrong on civil rights, but the fact is that they understood theres a need for a consensus to run this country. Biden took heat in 2019 while running for the presidency for saying he could work with segregationist senators during his time in the chamber.

True to Stern form, the interview was intimate at times as Biden described meeting his first wife, Neilia Hunter, on a vacation in Nassau.

Walking her back  never kissed her, never went to her room, never went to bed with her, Biden said, describing as he tripped over a fence while they walked back from their first dinner. She says, Oh thats OK. I get up and I  stupid thing to say, I said, You know, I think Im gonna marry you. 

Stern pressed Biden multiple times on the death of his first wife and daughter and how he moved forward  his answer: Family.

He also asked him about contemplating suicide in the wake of the tragic car accident, to which the president said: You dont have to be crazy to commit suicide  if youve been at the top of a mountain, you think its never going to be there again. And just a brief moment, I thought maybe Id just go to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and jump. But I had two kids.

Asked if he considered speaking to a therapist after that loss, he said he didnt.

I strongly, strongly, strongly encourage people to go to therapy, he said, citing the strong support system of his family. I never considered it, but I wish I had.

Biden got emotional when asked about son Beaus military service and his illness.

And he poked fun at his age, talking about visiting with old friends in Scranton: Now Im getting so damn old a lot of them are passed away, he said.

He also said he was admittedly a jerk in law school.

I didnt take it seriously enough. For example, I didnt buy my textbooks until the middle of the first semester, he said.

At one point, Biden misspoke, saying Trump instead of Nixon but immediately corrected himself adding: Excuse me  Freudian slip.

He also described the family meeting he held after then-Sen. Barack Obama asked him to be his running mate.

Jill Biden said, You got to do it, and I said, What? She said, Otherwise youll be asked to be secretary of state and youll be away all the time.

He then detailed how his mother chastised him for giving up the potential opportunity to be vice president to the first Black man in history  a story hes told on the campaign trail.

Biden also talked about recent actions by his administration to crack down on junk fees, including a move announced earlier this week that will require airlines to provide cash refunds to travelers who experience significant delays  not vouchers or travel credits.

When youre raised and come up in a middle-class family all this stuff matters to you. It matters, Biden said, adding, Theres a lot of junk fees too.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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President Joe Biden participated in a surprise live interview on Friday with radio host Howard Stern, the latest example of the White House favoring media personalities and nontraditional outlets ahead of the presidents reelection.

Biden said in the interview that he planned to debate former President Donald Trump this election cycle, but did not know when or where it would happen.

I am happy to debate him, Biden said.

Although Trump did not participate in any of the presidential primary debates, his campaign has called on Biden to debate and has suggested adding more debates to the general election schedule. The Biden campaign had previously been noncommittal about participating.

In a post to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Biden doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.

Aside from weighing in on the fall debate schedule, the hour-long interview largely stuck to Bidens biography. Biden and Stern spoke about the presidents time in law school, how he met his first wife, his life-long journey with his stutter and the death of his son. And the interview often veered into the personal.

Biden spoke about his grief after losing his first wife and daughter and his struggle with suicidal thoughts in the aftermath, and he appeared to choke up when talking about his late son Beau Biden.

You dont have to be crazy to commit suicide. If you've been at the top of a mountain and you think its never going to be there again, Biden said.

The Biden team has been criticized by some members of the Washington press corps for how few interviews the president has participated in with legacy outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Since taking office, Biden has sat for interviews with only two print reporters (Josh Boak of the Associated Press and Evan Osnos of The New Yorker).



The Biden White House has maintained that the media landscape has dramatically shifted and that the president no longer has to engage with traditional outlets in the same way in order to reach voters. Instead, Biden has leaned into friendlier formats such as podcasts, appearing on popular shows such as SmartLess and On Purpose with Jay Shetty.

Biden has also been critical of traditional media. He argued on Friday that the free press is not speaking up as much as it used to particularly when it comes to Trump and issues of democracy.

I think some of them are worried about attacking him, worried about taking him on, Biden said.

Although Stern frequently hosted Donald Trump on his radio show prior to his presidential run, the radio host has become an outspoken critic of the former president.
After weeks of hesitation, President Joe Biden said on Friday that he would be happy to debate his de facto 2024 rival Donald Trump ahead of the November election.

During an interview with longtime radio giant Howard Stern, Biden was asked if he planned to once again debate Trump in their rematch.

I am, somewhere, I dont know when but I am happy to debate him, Biden responded.

Immediately after the interview aired, Trump adviser Chris LaCivita responded on X, formerly Twitter. Ok lets set it up! he wrote.

Trump himself wrote a lengthy statement on Truth Social in response to the interview. Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters, he wrote. The former president suggested Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, as potential dates  and even offered to hold a televised debate on Friday night from the Manhattan Courthouse where he is currently standing trial for allegedly falsifying business records in a 2016 hush money scheme.

Trump says will debate Biden: ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE pic.twitter.com/xQkSFmKBw2  unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) April 26, 2024

I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT  A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! Its the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight  on National Television, Ill wait around! Trump wrote.

Last month, after a blowout win on Super Tuesday, Trump challenged Biden to a one-on-one debate. Neither man is officially the nominee for their respective parties, but are both expected to be confirmed at the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer.

It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People. Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! Trump wrote in March on Truth Social.

Biden and his administration were hesitant to outright commit to a showdown. Days after the challenge from Trump, the president said that his willingness to debate his predecessor depends on his behavior.

Earlier this month, major news organizations issued an open letter calling for a public debate between the presumptive nominees.

With the contours of the 2024 general election now coming into clear focus, we  the undersigned national news organizations  urge the presumptive presidential nominees to publicly commit to participating in general election debates before Novembers election, the read the letter, which was signed by major networks including ABC News, CBS News, CNN, NBC Universal News Group and Fox News Media.

While Trump was the first to level a debate challenge against Biden, during the Republican primaries he refused to participate in the debates hosted by the Republican National Committee, instead holding competing rallies and airing an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the same time his rivals took the stage.

But while he couldnt be bothered to spar with his rivals within his own party, it seems Trump may finally get the televised rematch hes been itching for.

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President Joe Biden speaks Thursday at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, New York, about how his policies have boosted the economy and created jobs. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Sometimes I wonder if Democrats are intentionally trying to blow the next election.

In a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered a flippant response to a problem President Joe Biden is facing in the looming presidential election.

Its Biden versus Trump. We know that, Fallon said. What do you say to voters who are upset that those are the two choices?

Get over yourself. Those are the two choices, Clinton said. Its kind of like, one is old, and effective, and compassionate, has a heart and really cares about people. And one is old and has been charged with 91 felonies.

As she continued, I was reminded once again how even if former FBI Director James Comey were largely responsible for her election loss to Donald Trump in 2016, she ignored calls back then about her own troubles reaching the voters she needed to win.

I dont understand why this is even a hard choice, really, Clinton said. I dont understand it. But we have to go through the election, and hopefully people will realize whats at stake because its an existential question. What kind of country are we going to have? What kind of democracy are we going to have?

People who blow that off are not paying attention, because its not like Trump, his enablers, his empowerers, his allies are not telling us what they want to do. I mean, theyre pretty clear about what kind of country they want.

I cant believe the next sentence Im about to write, but Stephen A. Smith provided one of the better responses to Clintons lecturing.

I dont think it was a very wise statement on her part, Smith explained in a CNN interview. How did that work out for her in 2016? I think thats something that we have to recognize. Yeah, she won the popular vote. But at the end of the day, she wasnt the president of the United States. It was [Trump].

He was also correct in asserting that the last thing you need to do is to do anything that could agitate a potential voter in this particular election.

Most Americans are indeed dissatisfied with their choices for president in the looming 2024 election, but say what you will about Trump, he at least has a personality cult to count on.

By contrast, Biden needs a coalition that includes a significant number of non-white voters, young voters and just enough white people who think the presentation of Trumps various strains of bigotry are just too loud and tacky for their taste to win.

Though I have noticed the polls are tightening if not tilting in Bidens favor and Trump is already seemingly flopping in his first criminal trial, the president nonetheless has noticeable problems with young Black male voters and younger voters more broadly.

With the younger Black men, I would imagine that has a lot to do with our current fragmented ecosystem and how conservatives have, sadly but shrewdly, focused on Black men more than have Democrats.

Thats how you get DJ Akademiks being paid handsomely to stream on Rumble to play Drakes diss record one day and interview Donald Trump Jr. to talk Diddy and Kim Porter next or Candace Owens showing up on The Breakfast Club. Gone are the days when a Black celebrity being a Trump booster might ruin their livelihood.

Im part of the problem because, as disappointed as I am with Sexyy Reds professions of love for Trump, Im not going to stop playing Get It Sexyy.

I have written for years that Democrats have wasted precious time not asking their rich supporters to buy local and national TV stations and listen to people like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and update their digital operations.

Its their fault for not listening.

Then there is the matter of how Democrats are handling protesters.

Recently, some Democrats shamefully joined a Republican-led effort in the California State Legislature to double the fines for protesters.

These Democrats in whats purportedly the most liberal state in all the nation want to make it harder for folks to protest massive death because theyre tired of their commute being disrupted.

Even more disturbing is how college students are being treated on campuses across the country for protesting the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

I shouldnt be seeing college students and journalists slammed to the ground in New York, California and Texas. I shouldnt be reading about threats to call the National Guard to remove students who pay tens of thousands of dollars each year to be on that campus. Political protest should be encouraged, not criminalized.

After an Earth Day event in northern Virginia, Biden was asked by a reporter about the demonstrations in support of Palestinian civilians that were taking place at Columbia University, among others nationwide.

I condemn the antisemitic protests, Biden told reporters.

Thats why Ive set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who dont understand whats going on with the Palestinians.

Before he could finish, another reporter cut off Biden before he could finish his sentence.

Im not sure if he needed to finish his thought, though. Nothing will change until the war ends.

I wish some reporter had cut off Nancy Pelosi from once again alleging that the Kremlin is playing a role in the protests. The California Democrat, and past House speaker, sounds goofy and detached when she talks about a Russian-tinge to it with respect to young folks being upset about massive civilian casualties.

Hillary Clinton is right to say that Republicans are telling us directly that they find democracy a useful construct in their pursuit of power, but the same might be said of some Democrats.

For a president and a party positioning itself as the only haven from Trump and the GOPs toppling of American democracy, they have a funny way of showing it in how they are handling the treatment of political protesters.

There is a palpable anger among the electorate about a litany of problems plaguing Americans, but with regard to these specific issues, at one point will more people in government and the media recognize that the view of these college kids is now held by a majority of Americans?

The summer preceding the 2020 presidential election produced the Black Lives Matter protests, considered the largest social movement in American history, in the wake of the May 25 police murder of George Floyd. The movement undoubtedly benefited Democrats that November.

Yet they didnt provide legislation to stop police brutality, and years later Democrats are discouraging political dissent while saying little about how law enforcement is treating students who are exercising their right to protest.

This does not inspire voters who are justifiably apathetic about the system failing them to come vote for Biden in order to save democracy.

Perhaps Trumps apparent increased support among young voters, which has been showing up in polling, is a mirage, but Trump should not have young voters believing he is the answer to their economic sorrows or their war-weary woes all the same.

Young voters, especially young Black men, may not show up for Trump, but right now its hard to see them running out to vote for Biden either.

What I can see, though, is Augusts Democratic National Convention in Chicago and its cheers of Four more years! being loudly drowned out.
US holds off on sanctioning Israeli military units accused of human rights violations in West Bank before start of war with Hamas

The Biden administration has determined that three military battalions with the Israel Defense Forces committed "gross human rights violations" against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank but will remain eligible for U.S. military aid regardless because of steps Israel says it's taking to address the problem, ABC News has learned.

The administration assessment, which has not yet been made public and could change if Israel doesn't take specific steps, was outlined in an undated letter by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to House Speaker Mike Johnson obtained by ABC News.

The U.S. determination "will not delay the delivery of any U.S. assistance and Israel will be able to receive the full amount appropriated by Congress," Blinken wrote.

The allegations involving each of the units occurred before the Oct. 7 war began when Hamas attacked Israel. None of the cases involves operations against Hamas in Gaza or against Iran or its proxies.

Still, Blinken's determination is likely to roil critics of the Biden administration who say not enough is being done to hold Israel accountable for military operations in Gaza that have pushed the civilian population toward famine.

PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks to students at NYU Shanghai, on April 25, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

MORE: IDF denies mass grave claims

Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian human rights activist who lives in the West Bank city of Hebron, said he was "disappointed" but not surprised by the U.S. decision.

The U.S. "is not doing concrete actions to reduce violence, to a minimum and to make peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis," he told ABC News.

Administration officials counter that its process in reviewing human rights violations has been fair and that Israel was not given preferential treatment. They also note that it's not uncommon for the U.S. to work with countries through a process known as "remediation" that can encourage foreign countries to weed out bad actors within their militaries.

"Each of these situations is different, and we have to do our best to collect the facts and follow the facts and that's what we're doing," Blinken told reporters Monday at a press briefing when pressed for details on the U.S. review.

PHOTO: An Israeli army battle tank moves in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Under a federal measure known as the Leahy Law, the U.S. military is required to withhold weapons, training and other military assistance to any foreign military unit that commits gross human rights abuses.

The law, however, allows an exception for countries that have taken steps "to bring to justice the responsible members of the unit," according to Blinken's letter.

According to a person familiar with the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that hasn't been made public, the U.S. and Israel also have a special agreement that requires the U.S. to consult with the Israelis before making any decisions related to the Foreign Assistance Act.

The person said those consultations with Israel remain ongoing and that if a military unit is found not to take "satisfactory remediation or accountability measures," US aid would then be restricted.

MORE: IDF's conduct, ethics under scrutiny following soldiers' social media posts

Overall, five units -- three military and two civilian -- were under review for human rights violations. According to Blinken's letter, four have undergone proper remediation steps.

Israel also has "acknowledged" that another IDF battalion had engaged in "conduct inconsistent" with Israel's rules. As a result, the unit was transferred from the West Bank to the Golan Heights in 2022, Blinken noted.

That description matches the Netzah Yehuda battalion, established for ultra-orthodox Jewish men.

PHOTO: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel in Jerusalem, April 17, 2024. (Kira Hofmann/picture-alliance/DPA/AP)

"The Israeli government has presented new information regarding the status of the unit and we will engage on identifying a path to effective remediation for this unit," Blinken wrote.

"But this will have no impact on our support for Israel's ability to defend itself against Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, or other threats," he assured Johnson, a staunch supporter of Israel who helped push a foreign aid bill through Congress this week.

Blinken noted that no other units were found in violation of the Leahy Law.

The secretary spoke with top Israeli officials this week following reports by Axios and ProPublica that the U.S. planned to "sanction" IDF units.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would fight the Biden administration on such a move, calling it a "moral low."

ABC's Tom Soufi Burridge contributed to this report.

US holds off on sanctioning Israeli military units accused of human rights violations in West Bank before start of war with Hamas originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had a secret dinner with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a restaurant in one of Berlin's five-star hotels.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bild

Bild says Baerbock and Stoltenberg were spotted as they exited the five-star hotel surrounded by seven security service officers.

Photo: Bild

Photo: Bild

According to Bild, Baerbock and Stoltenberg spent nearly three hours at the Telegraphenamt hotel restaurant.

Eyewitnesses reported that the German minister and the NATO Secretary General dined on fish and were engaged in a lively discussion.

As Bild later learned, Stoltenberg had requested a meeting with Baerbock to discuss European security and further assistance to Ukraine.

Background:

On 25 April, during a speech at an event in Berlin, Stoltenberg urged allies to accelerate military support for Ukraine, emphasising that it still has a chance to win the full-scale war against Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the Alliance's member states should prioritise greater military assistance to Ukraine over meeting their own defence spending targets.
Bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians advances in Alabama House

Bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians advances in Alabama House

Lawmakers in Alabama passed legislation that could lead to the prosecution of librarians under the states obscenity law for providing minors with harmful materials.

The bill, approved 72-28 by the Alabama House of Representatives, will now move to the state Senate. It removes existing exemptions for public libraries in the states obscenity law and is part of a larger nationwide effort to ban books.

The bill will also expand the definition of sexual conduct prohibited at public K-12 schools or public libraries to include any sexual or gender oriented conduct that may expose minors to people who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumers, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities.

If signed into law, any librarian who violates the law could face a misdemeanor.

Anyone who believes public schools or libraries are violating the law can provide written notice of the violation to the organizations leaders and the district attorney in the county.

Opponents of the bill say that it will allow anyone who disagrees with a librarians choice of content to threaten criminal prosecution on a whim, The Associated Press reported.

State Rep. Chris England, a Democrat from Tuscaloosa, said during debate that the process will be manipulated and used to arrest librarians that you dont like, and not because they did anything criminal, the AP noted.

State Rep. Neil Rafferty, a Democrat from Birmingham, said he thinks the bill is easily going to be abused and is a violation of the First Amendment. Republican state Rep. David Faulkner said its only a misdemeanor and librarians would only face punishment if they didnt do anything about the content after knowing about it.

The law would go into effect Oct. 1 if passed by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey (R).

The law continues a nationwide effort to restrict books and other material that depict LGBTQ+ communities. Republican state Rep. Arnold Mooney, the bills sponsor, said during the debate that the bill is an effort to protect children.

It is not a Democrat bill. Its not a Republican bill. Its a people bill to try to protect children, Mooney said, per the AP.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bird Flu 'Certainly Is Deadly' But Experts Say Milk and Eggs Should Be Safe for Now

The risk of contracting bird flu is low for most Americans, experts say

Getty Stock image of milk at a grocery store.

The Food and Drug Administration announced this week that fragments of the virus that causes bird flu  the highly contagious virus thats commonly found in aquatic birds  have been found in samples of milk bought at the grocery store.

The news comes after reports that the virus, (highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI), has spread to dairy cows, which also resulted in one Texas resident contracting the disease. He'd had direct contact with an infected animal.

However, theres no need to worry  yet  Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, Critical Care and Pulmonology at the Cleveland Clinic, tells PEOPLE.

Should humans be concerned about catching the virus?

It certainly is very deadly, but thankfully it does not seem to be very contagious [to humans], Habbaza said, explaining that while those who work closely with potentially infected animals could be at risk, we're not really seeing person-to-person spread since it's been discovered.

And as he pointed out, bird flu is something we've known about for over two decades.

Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Stock image of dairy cows.

Is it safe to eat milk and eggs?

While the virus was found in milk, Khabbaza tells PEOPLE that pasteurized milk is going to be safe and also cooked eggs. In general, we should be cooking our eggs and not eating raw eggs. But as long as these are pasteurized dairy products and cooked foods, it really would eliminate any kind of risk to us.

What about the virus particles detected in milk?

Khabbaza explained that the virus particles recently found in pasteurized milk indicate that the pasteurization process is actually working: If a live virus is killed, as they are during a pasteurization process, then you'd expect to see some particles.

There's nothing at all that would suggest that having pasteurized milk, if there are virus particles, that is something that can cause actual viral infection and viral replication in a person who drinks that milk.

Based on the evidence that we have," Khabbaza said, "That's why the pasteurization is key.

Related: Avian Flu Kills Record 50.54 Million U.S. Birds, Making It Worst Outbreak in History

Does the virus pose a risk to the larger food supply?

While our food supply appears safe, last week, the World Health Organization said there is enormous concern about the virus  which has been found in livestock in several states  evolving.

United States Departmant of Agriculture

The great concern, of course, is that in doing so and infecting ducks and chickens  but now increasingly mammals  that virus now evolves and develops the ability to infect humans, Dr. Jeremy Farrar  WHOs chief scientist, said, according to a United Nations report.

And then critically, the ability to go from human-to-human transmission.

But as Khabbaza pointed out, we're not there yet.

Related: Man Dies After Having COVID for 613 Days

Does bird flu have the potential to become a pandemic like Covid?

This is nowhere near Covid-levels of concern, says Khabbaza.



This would be completely different than four years ago in Covid, because there's no human-to-human transmission that really occurs.

As he added, A very small, very tiny percentage of people are even at risk of getting infected. So, if you work in one of those fields where you have very close exposure to cattle and wild birds and poultry, those are the people who have to be most vigilant.



If it shows that there's a level of human-to-human transmission like we haven't seen before, and then you find clusters where there is a human case reported, then you start seeing people in that person's bubble starting to get sick, he explained, adding if you have a region that starts getting lots of people going to the hospital or having flu-like symptoms ultimately manifesting to death. That's when you'd get nervous.

But as for now, For the the vast majority of Americans, there should be no Covid-like fears.

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Read the original article on People.
TechCrunch

The dispute between WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine continues, with Mullenweg announcing that WordPress is forking a plugin developed by WP Engine. Specifically, Advanced Custom Fields  a plugin making it easier for WordPress users to customize their edit screens  is being taken out of WP Engines hands and updated as a new plugin called Secure Custom Fields. The Advanced Custom Fields team responded on X, describing this as a situation where a plugin under active development has been unilaterally and forcibly taken away from its creator without consent, which it said has never happened in the 21 year history of WordPress.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 25. Kyrgyzstan and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have agreed to establish a bilateral working group for the financing of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP) construction, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the decision was made following negotiations between the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, and the President of the AIIB, Jin Liqun, in Washington.

During the meeting, Japarov emphasized that the Kambarata-1 HPP would have the greatest possible positive influence on Kyrgyzstan and the Central Asian area as a whole. Japarov suggested to the head of the AIIB to take part in funding the project's construction.

In response, the president of the AIIB stated that, this situation is a clear indication of the gravity and scope of the Kambarata-1 HPP, guaranteeing its success, given that the World Bank Group would initially fund $500 million and will continue to oversee the project. He stated that the bank is fully prepared to take part in funding this exciting endeavor.

A delegation led by Chairman Japarov is currently in Washington to participate in the spring meetings of the boards of governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG).

The Kambarata-1 HPP on the Naryn River is the largest hydroelectric project in the country. This HPP, which is expected to become one of Central Asia's largest hydropower ventures, will have a capacity of 1,860 MW and a reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic meters, with an annual electricity generation of 5.6 billion kWh.
With bird flu found in milk, what you need to know about outbreak

Holstein heifers are loaded into trucks at a dairy in Oregon on Jan. 21, 2011. Dairy cattle moving between states must be tested for the bird flu virus, U.S. agriculture officials said Wednesday, April 24, 2024, as they try to track and control the growing outbreak. | Kobbi R. Blair

Federal food safety regulators believe that retail milk is still safe to consume, despite the fact that 1 in 5 samples tested nationwide by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration show traces of highly pathogenic avian influenzas viral fragments. Most of the positive results showed up in areas where an outbreak of bird flu has been found in dairy cattle herds.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are partnering with state agencies to investigate the outbreak, which has infected dairy cows in multiple states, according to an FDA advisory. The notice said that the viral infection in the cattle is causing decreased lactation, low appetite and other symptoms in infected cattle.

After the milk sampling returned findings of viral fragments in so much of the milk supply, the USDA ordered all dairy cows be tested for bird flu before they can be transported between states. Any positive finding must be reported to federal health officials.

USDA and FDA food safety experts say that current information suggests the commercial supply is safe because of these two reasons: 1) the pasteurization process and 2) the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.

Pasteurization, a heating process, is done to kill pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health. The process of pasteurizing milk is more than a century old. The regulators said while pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus, its not expected to remove viral particles like those detected, so the finding in milk samples was not especially surprising.

The agencies said theyre vetting their determination that pasteurized retail milk is safe by checking positive findings using another type of test called egg inoculation, which is deemed a gold standard for determining viable virus.

In that test, samples of the milk that tested positive are injected into an egg to see if the virus replicates, as Nam Tran, senior director of clinical pathology at UC Davis Health, explained in a news release. UC Davis said the results from that test are more sensitive, but the test takes longer to complete, so results are pending.

The FDA said results from its various studies will be available in a few days to weeks.

History of the outbreak

By late this week, 33 herds in eight states tested positive for bird flu. The states were Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas.

There are many strains of avian influenza, but the one thats the focus of concern is a type A influenza designated H5N1 or A(H5N1). Its worrisome because while it doesnt easily spread to humans  in the U.S. there are just two known recent cases  globally more than half of the people who contracted the illness died, per the CDC. The U.S. cases, one this year related to the cattle outbreak and another in 2022, have both produced just mild symptoms.

The virus does not transfer easily from person to person, according to health experts. CDC has reported, however, that while human infections are rare, they have occurred sporadically worldwide. CDC has been monitoring for illness among people exposed to H5 virus-infected birds since outbreaks were first detected in U.S. wild birds and poultry in late 2021. Human illnesses with H5N1 bird flu have ranged from mild (e.g., eye infection, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe illness (e.g., pneumonia) that have resulted in death in other countries.

Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, said human infections can be effectively treated with the antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

CDC notes that H5 bird flu is widespread among wild birds around the world, including in the U.S.

But health officials are concerned because viruses tend to mutate and a change that made it easier for the strain of influenza to infect humans could be dire. Bird flu has already been detected in a number of types of mammals  examples include mink, red foxes, bears, cows and mountain lions, among others  though primarily in small numbers.

Officials have warned against consuming raw dairy milk, since its not known whether H5N1 can be transmitted that way. It is believed that some infected animals, including sea lions, contracted illness through consuming infected wild birds, for example.

Underestimating size of outbreak?

Experts believe the outbreak in cattle may have been underway longer than previously known, in part based on viral genome sequences the USDA released Sunday. As STAT News reported, Both of these data  the milk data and the genetic data that shows this has been around since December of last year  suggests that the outbreak is probably much bigger than we know, said Angie Rasmussen, a virologist studying emerging zoonotic pathogens at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

It may also signal that herds can be infectious with only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, which would complicate the response and make containment much more difficult, per the article.

Some experts question if all the infected herds have been found. A veterinary epidemiologist at Ohio State University, Andrew Bowman, and one of his graduate students figured a complete accounting of the outbreak was unlikely, so they collected 150 commercial milk products around the Midwest and did their own testing.

They told STAT that the samples included milk products from processing plants in 10 different states and they found viral RNA from bird flu in well over a third of the samples.

Per STAT, The researchers expect additional lab studies currently underway to show that those samples dont contain live virus with the capability to cause human infections, meaning that the risk of pasteurized milk to consumer health is still very low. But the prevalence of viral genetic material in the products they sampled suggests that the H5N1 outbreak is likely far more widespread in dairy cows than official counts indicate.

NBC News quoted a flu virologist at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Richard Webby, who noted that the number of milk samples that tested positive for viral fragments does seem high if the number of infected farms is indeed only 30-odd. Clearly there are more infected animals out there than being reported.

Of the outbreak, I think its safe to say that its longer and much more extensive that has been realized, Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and former professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told reporters during a briefing midweek.

But again, health experts are not unduly worried about human health related to avian influenza in cattle at the moment.

CDC has not identified any out-of-the-ordinary influenza-related emergency department visits, even when we compare areas where H5N1 has spread among cattle against areas where it has not, Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the CDC, said during the media briefing.

Safety advice

As for staying safe, CDC recommends that people avoid entirely or use respiratory and eye protection around sick or dead birds and animals, domesticated or wild, as well as animal feces, litter or materials contaminated by birds or other animals that might have bird flu infection.

CDC also warns against preparing or eating uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk or raw cheeses from animals with suspected or confirmed bird flu.

For farmers or those with livestock or backyard flocks, the safety recommendations extend to surfaces and water that might be contaminated with animal excretion, as well.
For weeks, the dairy industry has been gripped by a highly contagious virus that is threatening to only get worse. Federal regulators announced this week that samples of pasteurized milk tested positive for H5N1, the strain of bird flu that has jumped from poultry to cows with one recent infection in an American.

At the moment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the countrys milk supply is safe thanks to the pasteurization process, which works by heating milk to kill bacteria and viruses, and the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.

However, infectious disease experts warn this these positive tests are a sign that the outbreak is much bigger than previously thought, and indicate that the government doesnt have a good grasp on the situation. And the problem only seems to be worsening. According to the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), H5N1 has been identified in 33 herds in eight states. On Thursday, a senior FDA official said 1 in 5 milk samples have tested positive for H5N1.

While experts arent expecting a H5N1 pandemic in humans to spread across the United States this year, yet, its likely it could be the next pandemic in the not-so-distant future. The fact that the current spread between species, and even to a few humans, is likely underestimated could mean that an emergency could arrive too late to contain.

Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, told Salon the worst case scenario is that this turns into a massive pandemic. If a person asked a group of epidemiologists what the next pandemic is going to be, a majority would likely say bird flu, she said.

I think what would be most helpful is to mount a proactive response rather than always being in this reactive, defensive mode with diseases, Jetelina said. And if we can understand where it's going, how it's changing, then we can certainly prepare and know when it jumps to humans and when we do need to employ all the other steps.

Such steps include making more vaccines, starting to get frontline workers vaccinated and more.

But if we're not following it, this could easily jump and start spreading without us knowing for a while, Jetelina said. And by then we're already in this reactive-defensive perspective.

Just like humans, birds can get the flu. When that happens, they can pass it on to other poultry  such as chickens, ducks and turkeys. But the most recent strain of avian influenza, H5N1, has jumped species. Instead of only infecting fellow birds, the current outbreak is infecting dairy cows.

In the most recent confirmed human case, the virus spread from a cow to a human; which is the first time cow to human transmission has happened. The last time a human tested positive for H5N1 was in April 2022 in Colorado when an individual got infected from poultry. As Salon previously reported, one major concern is that the more it jumps from animal to animal, or animal to human, the more likely it is to mutate to become more effective at infecting humans.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

Jetelina said at the moment, infectious disease experts are pretty much blind to how big the outbreak is, and that the discovery of viral fragments in milk suggests its more widespread among dairy cows. Another clue the bird flu is more widespread is genomic surveillance that suggests the spillover to dairy cows started in December of last year despite the outbreak being detected at the end of March.

Part of the issue is that testing animals is voluntary at the moment. According to APHIS, the agency is recommending a voluntary testing approach instead of a mandatory one for cattle. The agency says it wouldnt be practical, feasible or necessarily informative to require mandatory testing. For context, the agency stated, there are more than 26,000 dairy herds nationwide and its still a small portion thats infected. However, if cows are going to be moved between state lines the USDA is requiring testing.

However, Dr. Rajendram Rajnarayanan of the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., told Salon testing is still voluntary for the most part and there needs to be comprehensive guidelines on what a common citizen should know, as well as the cattle ranchers.

"Mandatory tests for cattle that are transported is a welcome move. I'd strongly recommend them to include a period of quarantine and retesting before integrating them into the existing herd," Rajnarayanan said. "The recent data about commercial milk samples testing positive for H5N1 fragments suggests a much wider spread of H5N1 among dairy cattle. Several cows are asymptomatic [but] they still spread the virus to others.

He added there is no guidance on asymptomatic cattle testing either. However, dairy farmers, Rajnarayanan said, will likely see signs that their herds are infected without testing. In the confirmed infected cows with H5N1, their milk production dropped and turned yellowish. But what about beef cattle? Rajnarayanan asked.

Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, told Salon via email that more testing needs to be done  especially among asymptomatic cows, beef cattle and cows in states with no known cases. Testing people in contact with animals and testing other animals is essential. Serology testing to see evidence of previous infections would be helpful, too.

In addition, we need complementary lab research to show how tissues of the cow can be infected and more epidemiological data to better understand transmission routes, Rasmussen said. Above all, we need more data on virus sequences and sample collection/analysis to date from USDA and other government agencies to better direct our efforts.

When asked if more humans could be infected, Rasmussen said this is definitely possible. But she said it is challenging to assess since the one cow-to-human case was mild and not a respiratory infection.

As well as the fact that many people at the greatest exposure risk may be undocumented, discouraged from reporting by their employers, and not have access to health care, she added.

Some public health experts are concerned that human cases are flying under the radar, likely because they are asymptomatic, highlighting anecdotes about dairy workers who have pink eye and other symptoms, but are avoiding testing or being seen by doctors. Earlier this week, James Lowe, a researcher who specializes in pig influenza viruses, told ScienceInsider, I believe there are probably lots of human cases.

Rajnarayanan told Salon he is cautious to categorize the current outbreak as mild and downplay it despite it not being an immediate risk to humans right now. He added that if public health experts learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, its that if you keep saying everything is mild then the common people tend not to pay attention at all. He added the biggest concern is that officials are missing other infections among other species, like pigs. The goal should be to contain the virus as much as possible to keep it from mutating and evolving into something worse.

The moment it hits species like pigs, it can produce all this reassortments from coinfected viruses; that's when we'll have problems, Rajnarayanan said. Then it will be better adapted to mammalian species.

Jetelina agreed.

The more this spreads, the more it jumps from animal to animal, the more ability it has to mutate,Jetelina said. I think that it's a good sign that we haven't seen more human cases, we haven't seen any human clusters, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen  the flu is incredibly unpredictable and we need to treat it with urgency and transparency.
Ohio police have released a video showing a black man  who later died  telling officers he cannot breathe as they pin him down after he fled a car crash.

The body camera footage released on Thursday by the Canton Police Department, shows officers apprehending Frank Tyson, 53.

The clip is reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd, the black man who died in May 2020, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes, in an incident that unleashed a wave of protests.

Body camera footage shows officers apprehending Frank Tyson in a club in Canton, Ohio

The 36-minute clip begins with a patrol officer coming upon a car that had struck an electrical pole and a bystander telling him that the driver of the vehicle had fled into a club for military veterans on the edge of Canton, 60 miles south of Cleveland.

Officers are then seen entering the establishment, where they find Tyson standing at the bar. An altercation ensued as they attempted to grab his arms, and he repeatedly shouts they are trying to kill me and call the sheriff.

Several officers grapple with Tyson, pinning him to the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Youre fine

Later, as one appeared to place a knee on his back near his neck for about 30 seconds, Tyson shouts several times: I cant breathe.

One officer can be heard to respond: Youre fine.

The footage shows that, after Tyson had been arrested, the officers appeared as though they had forgotten about him and even engaged in some banter with other customers at the bar.

One customer says: I always wanted to see a bar fight.

Tyson is left lying on the ground for five minutes before one officer appears to release all is not well.

Hes out, the officer says.

Does he have a pulse?

After 13 minutes, an officer attempts CPR, asking why an ambulance has not yet arrived. Is he breathing? asks one officer. Does he have a pulse? asks another.

Paramedics then arrive at the scene and take Tyson out of the bar on a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance, the video shows.

Tyson died at a local hospital, according to local broadcaster WKYC. The official cause of death has not been determined.

In the aftermath of Tysons death, William Sherer II, the Canton mayor, said that two officers involved in the incident had been placed on paid administrative leave and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) had been contacted.

I first want to send my sincere condolences to the family of Mr Tyson. My intention is for us, as the City of Canton and a police department, to be fully transparent throughout this entire process, he said.

He added: We will make sure we comply with all protocols to ensure BCI has what is necessary to conduct what I know will be a thorough investigation.

Police had been seeking Tyson in connection with a car crash.

The investigation is being handled by [the] Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Lt Dennis Garren, Canton police spokesman, said. They are a part of the Attorney Generals office.

The Canton Police Department identified the officers involved in the Tyson incident as Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch.

The clip appears reminiscent of the killing of George Floyd four years ago, which led to worldwide protests - Nam Y Huh/AP Photo

Many will see parallels between what happened to Tyson and Floyds deadly encounter with Minneapolis police four years ago. A cellphone video of Floyds killing, which went viral, prompting protests worldwide against police brutality and racism.

It showed Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyds neck for more than nine minutes as he begs for his life, repeating I cant breathe before falling silent.

A jury convicted Chauvin of unintentional second-degree murder.

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 11: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to a crowd at the Atlanta University Center Consortium, part of both Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University on January 11, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks on voting rights legislation. Georgia has been a focus point for voting legislation after the state voted Democratic for the first time in almost 30 years in the 2020 election. As a result, the Georgia House passed House Bill 531 to limit voting hours, drop boxes, and require a government ID when voting by mail. - Photo: Megan Varner (Getty Images)

Democratic presidents delivering graduation commencement addresses at HBCUs are typically good vibe moments. But thats not the case this time.

Strong opposition is brewing against President Joe Bidens invitation to deliver the May 24 keynote speech at iconic all-male HBCU Morehouse College in Atlanta. Morehouse, which extended the invitation in September, received immediate backlash after announcing Bidens keynote address.



Many complain that Morehouse is a merelypolitical pawn in Bidens re-election bid  nothing more than a campaign stop in the crucial swing state of Georgia.







Polls predict that disgruntled young Black men could turn their backs on Biden and the Democratic Party on Election Day. And the way things are looking, Black men in caps and gowns at Morehouse could literally turn their backs to him in protest on graduation day.

Martin Luther King Jr.s alma mater is one of only two commencement invitations that Biden accepted  the United States Military Academy at West Point is the other  among what is likely dozens of invites. Given the polling data, cynics say its unsurprising that the White House accepted an invitation to address the graduating class, since the chance for TV news sound bites is tantalizing.



$100 says commencement address morphs into a campaign speech, where President Biden talks about what hes gonna do about the two key pieces of voting registration that has languished in the senate since 2021, Instagram user Adcusmc commented.



Opponents also criticized Morehouses plan to present Biden with an honorary doctorate.



Speaking here is cool I guess but giving the man who drafted the 94 crime bill an honorary degree from morehouse is crazy, Quin.zip wrote.



Indeed, many Black folks have not forgiven Biden for sponsoring the 1994 crime law as a senator that criminal justice reform activists blame for the wave of mass incarcerations of Black men in the 1990s.



This is all playing out against the backdrop of widespread protests against Biden on university campuses over his support of Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, where Palestinian civilians face a humanitarian crisis.



Opponents have dubbed the president genocide Joe, including former Morehouse professor Marc Lamont Hill.







How Does Morehouse Invite GENOCIDE JOE to Dr. King's Stomping Grounds???!https://t.co/ZkEcV6OzTl  Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) April 25, 2024

White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre addressed the backlash at a press conference on Wednesday. A reporter asked if Biden had any concern about Morehouse disinviting him.



Im certainly not going to speculate or go into hypotheticals, Jean-Pierre responded. The president is certainly looking forward to these two commencements  and hes done these many times before, understanding the important moment and how special that moment is for the graduates and their families. And hes going to do his best to meet that moment as it relates to whats going on, the pain that communities are feeling.











Theres no chance of the college rescinding the invitation, Morehouses provost and senior vice-president of academic affairs, Kendrick Brown, told fuming faculty members, according to The Guardian.

Still, Morehouse political science professor Andrew Douglas told NBC News that several faculty members refuse to sit on a stage with Joe Biden.



With university protests spreading, theres concern for student safety.



Our priority should be  to try and ensure that under no circumstances are the police brought to bear on our students, Douglas said. Our students do not have the same privileges that Ivy League students typically do, and confrontations with the police can turn deadly for our students.



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Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinas President Xi Jinping and other Beijing officials as differences between the two nations grow on a number of issues.

Blinken said he outlined the U.S. worries with China, mentioning Beijings backing of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has surpassed the two-year mark, and Taiwan.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, Blinken said to reporters following the meeting.

Blinken also said he told Xi that Kyivs security is directly correlated to the broader security of the continent.

Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security, Blinken said. As weve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today. I made clear that China does not address this problem.

Xi stated the two nations need to find compromises to ensure prosperity on both sides, but he expressed worry regarding the U.S. impact on Beijings economic growth.

This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilize, improve and move forward, Xi said, according to Reuters.

Apart from the talk with Xi, the U.S. secretary of State met with Chinas public security minister, Wang Xiaohong, and the nations foreign minister, Wang Yi.

Wang Yi mentioned the relation between the countries is starting to stabilize, but also warned the U.S. to not meddle with the countrys internal developments.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, Wang Yi said.

Chinas concerns are consistent, he continued. We have always called for respect of each others core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, not to hold Chinas development back, and not to step on Chinas red lines on Chinas sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Blinkens visit is due to wrap up on Friday. He came to China on Wednesday, not long after President Biden penned the $95 billion foreign aid package that included $8 billion to deter Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. The tranche of bills also includes legislation to ban TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company ByteDance, based in China, does not sell the American operations.

The Associated Press contributed

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. The pair worked to ease tense relations between the two countries, which have sparred in recent months over Chinas support of Russia, Chinese manufacturing dominance, and Beijings military posturing in the South China Sea.

I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC providing components that are powering Russias brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Blinken told reporters after the meeting. Xi, meanwhile, told the US top diplomat that China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals, Chinese state media reported.

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Tensions between Washington and Beijing likely to intensify

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Source: The South China Morning Post

Despite Washingtons attempt to soften ties with Beijing, its likely that the two nations trade war will intensify in the coming months, Stephen Olson, a senior adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum, argued in the South China Morning Post. New tariffs on Chinese goods, alongside an investigation into Chinas shipbuilding industry, imply that Washington isnt about to back off from applying economic pressure on Beijing. Talks between Blinken and Xi will be characterised in typical diplomatic jargon as frank and productive and a further indication of growing stability in the relationship, Olson noted. The words are intended to reassure, but an escalation in trade tensions is all but certain.

Chinese support of Russia will keep two sides apart

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Source: Nikkei Asia

The US and China remain distant on key issues, particularly Beijings material support for Russias war in Ukraine. That support, which reportedly includes the sale of Chinese equipment to Moscow, which Russia is then using to produce weapons for its war in Ukraine, has prompted threats of sanctions on Chinese banks involved in transferring funds to Russia. But Xi Jinping will never agree to putting a stop to supplying dual-use or even semi-lethal weapons to Russia, Willy Lam, a senior fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, told Nikkei Asia. Xi is a very ideological person, he said, and despite Chinas flagging economic growth is still somehow very convinced that at the end of the day, the East is really rising and the West is declining.

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By Simon Lewis

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday protests at U.S. universities over U.S.-ally Israel's war in Gaza are a hallmark of American democracy, but criticized what he called the "silence" about Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Police have clashed with students critical of the war and the Biden administration's support for Israel's war in Gaza, with nearly 550 arrests made over the protests in the last week across major U.S. universities, according to a Reuters tally.

Asked at a press conference in China whether he was taking on board the protesters' message, Blinken said he understood the conflict elicited "strong, passionate feelings" and that the administration was doing it all it could to halt the war.

"In our own country, it's a hallmark of our democracy that our citizens make known their views, their concerns, their anger, at any given time, and I think that reflects the strength of the country, the strength of democracy," Blinken said.

But he suggested critics should focus their ire on Hamas militants who sparked the war with their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and some 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's military response has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 77,000, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

"It is also notable that there is silence about Hamas, as if it wasn't even part of the story," Blinken said.

"But as I've also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that Oct. 7 never happens again matters profoundly. And we're working every day to try to minimize the damage that's done to innocent people and to make sure that they have the assistance and support that they need."

Blinken, who met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials in Beijing on Friday, said he had discussed how China can play a constructive role in global crises, including in the Middle East, where he said Beijing can discourage Iran and its proxies not to escalate the conflict.

Blinken said he spoke to Foreign Minister Wang Yi multiple times this month when tensions spiked between Israel and Tehran. China is the main buyer of oil exported by sanctions-hit Iran.

"I think the relationships, again, that China has can be positive in trying to calm tensions, prevent escalation, avoid the spread of the conflict, and we agreed that we'd remain in regular in regular touch on this, and that's certainly my intention," Blinken said.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Additional reporting by Antoni Slodkowski, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended three days of meetings in China on Friday with a stark warning to Chinas leadership  stop exporting materials that allow Russia to rebuild its industrial base or face U.S. sanctions.

Chinese state-owned firms are providing key components for Russias defense industrial base, including microelectronics and machine tools that have a material effect against Ukraine and constitute a growing threat that Russia poses to countries in Europe, Blinken told reporters ina press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Blinken said that, in his meetings with Chinas leader Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he made clear that the Biden administration is running out of patience with Beijings refusal to stop that support.

Were looking at the actions that were fully prepared to take if we dont see a change  weve already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities, export controls and were fully prepared to take additional measures, Blinken said.

Blinken said that there has been important progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations sincePresident Joe Bidens meeting with Xi in San Francisco in November, but that key irritants  including tensions over trade, Taiwan and Beijingsincreasingly aggressive incursions into Philippine waters of the South China Sea  remain major obstacles.

Beijing didnt give an inch. U.S.-China ties risk a return to a downward spiral in bilateral ties because Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, Wang told Blinkenahead of their meeting Friday.



That impasse reflects the fragility of the current reduction in bilateral rancor since the Biden-Xi meeting in November. And it suggests that the Biden administrations months ofintensive high-level diplomatic outreach to Beijing  including visits by Cabinet officials such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo  is failing to meaningfully change Beijings behavior.

Beijing accuses the Biden administration of making demands of the Chinese government without delivering on cooperation agreed by Xi and Biden in November. The U.S. shouldn't "engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a readout of Xi's meeting with Blinken.

Despite the creation of a bilateralCounter Narcotics Working Group in January, the administration sees more rhetoric than substantive action to addressChinas role in supplying the chemicals that Mexican cartels process into fentanyl that ends up on the streets of U.S. cities. Beijing, Blinken said, needs to start prosecuting those who are selling chemicals and equipment used to make fentanyl and disrupting illegal illicit financing networks who fund that trade.

The Biden administration is also taking a hard line on the risk that Chinas industrial overcapacity for products like solar panels and electrical vehicles flood the U.S. with low-cost state-subsidized exports that could harm domestic firms. This is a movie that we've seen before and  President Biden will not let this happen on his watch, Blinken said.

Administration officials will sit down with their Chinese officials for a meeting agreed back in November by Biden and Xi on managing the development and use of artificial intelligence. Bilateral talks on the risks and safety concerns around advanced AI and how best to manage them will occur in the coming weeks, Blinken said.


BLOG: Threat of storms in Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Storms are sweeping through Central Texas into the weekend, with the possibility of hail and gusty winds on Friday.

KXAN First Warning Weather forecast

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11:05 a.m.

The tornado threat moved eastward out of the KXAN viewing area and into Coryell County.

10:45 a.m.

Tornado Warning issued for eastern Lampasas County until 11:30 a.m.

Check back for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 26. China's Kashgar Jiabo Technology company plans to launch automobile production in Kyrgyzstan's Naryn region, Trend reports.

According to the regional administration, investors held negotiations with the head of the region, Altynbek Ergeshov, and a tripartite memorandum was signed for the construction of a car assembly plant following the discussions. Altynbek Ergeshov, the CEO of Jiabo, Huang Yongqi, and the head of Kyrgyz Post, Marat Cherikchiev, were signatories to the document.

The plant's launch is expected to provide employment for 100 to 1000 local residents, producing vehicles powered by gasoline, gas, and electric cars. Suitable locations for construction are currently being considered, including options in Kochkor, Naryn, and At-Bashy.

The specific car models to be manufactured remain undisclosed. A special working group will be set up on this issue.

Meanwhile, earlier in April, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov signed a law, according to which green license plates will be issued for electric cars in the country.
A group of New Jersey Republicans is trying to reverse a directive from the state's liberal district attorney general that "handcuffs" local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officials.

Assemblymen Greg Myhre and Brian Rumpf and state Sen. Carmen Amato Jr., are gaining support from nearly a dozen Republicans in the state legislature for their companion bill. Introduced in both the state Assembly and Senate, the bills would repeal the so-called "sanctuary state" directive to allow local police officers to coordinate with ICE to detain illegal migrants.

"The New Jersey Attorney Generals directive handcuffs law enforcement and, overall, undermines public safety, placing citizens at risk by creating a separate class of people who are permitted to flagrantly break the law and undermine U.S. sovereignty," the lawmakers said in a statement.

FLORIDA GOV. RON DESANTIS SAYS 'NEXT STOP' FOR HAITIANS WHO LAND IN FLORIDA KEYS MAY BE MARTHA'S VINEYARD

New Jersey's AG issued a 2018 directive that prohibits local law enforcement from fully collaborating with ICE agents.

New Jersey is one of the states most overwhelmed by illegal migrant arrivals in recent months. This year, buses of undocumented migrants have been dropped off at various NJ Transit train stations, New Jersey officials have said. Many of the migrant families being dropped off there have then made their own trek to New York City.

"Our attorney general could fix this right away," Myrhe told Fox News Digital Wednesday. "I'd like to say we could fix this legislatively, and that this could be the legislature effectively checking the executive branch if we can get that level of support."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

MIGRANTS FLOWN TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD ON FLIGHTS COORDINATED BY DESANTIS CAN SUE AVIATION COMPANY

Thousands of migrants have arrived in New Jersey over the last year.

The lawmakers said the bill's passage "faces an uphill battle" among the state's Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat and both the House and Senate are controlled by Democrats.

"Regardless, this is a serious issue with national implications that needs to be debated by the state legislature if we want to be serious about public safety and how state tax dollars are being spent," they said. "We will also continue to educate the public and our colleagues in the legislature on the dangers of perpetuating this lawless policy."

Under Attorney General Matt Platkin's directive, first issued in 2018, state, county and local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from assisting and even communicating with ICE agents when the purpose is to enforce federal immigration law.

The directive also places limitations on law enforcement regarding immigration detainers, barring them from notifying individuals of their impending release from custody or extending detention solely based on civil immigration detainer requests.

SOME OF 49 MIGRANTS FLOWN TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE NOW ABLE TO LEGALLY WORK IN US

Multiple migrants wade through the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, Sept. 27, 2023.

"This is a slap in the face to every law-abiding, taxpaying citizen who is fed up with federal and state immigration policies that are failing our nation," the lawmakers said.

There are upward of 500,000 illegal migrants living in New Jersey, according to the American Immigration Council, and roughly 17,000 entered the state illegally in 2023.

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.





Original article source: Blue state in battle over AG's illegal immigration dictate that 'handcuffs' police
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Boating season is about to kick into high gear across north Alabama and folks in Guntersville need your help keeping the water free from invasive aquatic species.

The W.E.T. foundation, a non-profit focused on protecting and preserving Lake Guntersville, recently purchased two CD3 boat cleaning systems in hopes that the public can help with this effort.

Art, Music, & More: Panoply returns to Downtown Huntsville

The two CD3 systems are on trailers so they can be moved between boat ramps when needed. Currently, the two are stationed at the Claysville Boat Ramp in Guntersville and the Goose Pond Boat Ramp in Scottsboro.

The CD3 systems in north Alabama are the only ones in the entire state of Alabama. Matt Arnold with the W.E.T. Foundation & the Marshall County Economic Development Council, said they first learned about the system after neighboring states saw success with reducing the spread of invasive aquatic plant species.

The lake is our most significant economic driver in Marshall and Jackson counties, Arnold said. So, we want to encourage boaters to help us take care of this lake, and this [the CD3 system] is one simple way to do that.

The stations are equipped with multiple tools including brushes, blowers, and vacuums. The purpose is to have boaters clean their boats both before and after getting in the water, to help ensure invasive plant species arent hitching a free ride between waterways.

[People] are the canvas for my art!: Jewelry artist prepares pieces for panoply

It allows the public to help us out by minimizing the spread [of invasive aquatic plant species], Stephen Turner, the Program Manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority Aquatic Plant Management program told News 19.

Turner said it is an annual battle to control invasive aquatic plant species like eel grass on Lake Guntersville.

The plants start growing about this time of year, but they really dont become a big issue until about the first of June, Turner said. He said eel grass can pose a problem by blocking the flow of water and can impact recreational activities.

The new CD3 trailer is just one measure that the TVA is helping with to stop the spread of invasive plant species on Lake Guntersville.

Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.

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The hydrillas, milfoils, eel grass  the invasive hybrid species of eel grass, those are the primary issue plants we see, Turner said.

He said his team at the TVA frequently surveys the lake by boat to look for and address problem areas. He said they treat those spots with an herbicide, as needed.

He said boaters can do their part to help out by using the CD3 system when they enter and exit the water

It may not seem like a lot if you pull your boat up there and clean a few stems off, but all it takes is one plant to get to another reservoir and within a year or two were going to have it out of control on those reservoirs too, he said.

The CD3 trailers are solar-powered and high-tech. There is technology that allows officials to monitor how many times each cleaning station is being used. As boating season really ramps up, officials say they hope the CD3 trailers become popular.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Boston police seek help identifying person in connection with assault and battery at an MBTA station

Boston police are seeking the publics help in identifying a person in connection with an assault and battery incident.

Police say the incident happened on April 17 at the MBTA Park Street station around 9:53 p.m. The incident was an unprovoked assault on an unsuspecting female.

ID Sought re: Assault & Battery Investigation. 4/17 #MBTA Park St. 9:53PM Unprovoked assault on unsuspecting female. Recognize this person of interest? Pls contact our CIU at 617-222-1050 w/any info you may have. TY pic.twitter.com/JjprDP0Eqx  MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) April 26, 2024

Anyone with information is asked to contact Transit Police at 617-222-1050.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A boys body in a suitcase and a mother on the run after calling him a demon. What happened to Cairo Jordan?

Cairo Jordan and his mother Dejaune Anderson on left. The suitcase his body was dumped in on right (INDIANA STATE POLICE)

Back in April 2022, the remains of a little boy were found inside a novelty Welcome to the fabulous Las Vegas suitcase.

For six months, his identity remained a mystery. No one came forward. No one reported him missing.

Finally, in October of that year, the little boy was given a name: Cairo Jordan, who would have been five when he died.

Investigators announced his mother was on the run, wanted for his murder  with online posts about exorcisms, hexes and curses, and her demonic child offering a chilling glimpse into the terrors the small child may have endured in his final days.

The mystery body in the suitcase

The harrowing tale began on the evening of 16 April 2022 when a mushroom hunter stumbled across the suitcase abandoned by the side of a road in a rural area of Washington County, Indiana.

The distinctive hard-shell case was emblazoned with Welcome to the fabulous Las Vegas.

But inside the novelty item, the man made a grim discovery.

Finding the crumpled body of a small Black boy, he called 911.

The boys body was stuffed inside this Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas suitcase (Indiana State Police)

Investigators with Indiana State Police were stumped as to the little boys identity.

The local Washington County community held a funeral for the unnamed child.

In May that year, an autopsy revealed that he died from electrolyte imbalance, which was likely caused by viral gastroenteritis  an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and ultimately dehydration.

His blood toxicology was negative and there were no significant signs of trauma on his body.

His name is Cairo

Six months on from the grim discovery, Indiana State Police announced that the little boy had been identified as Cairo Ammar Jordan.

Cairo, from Atlanta, Georgia, was five years old at the time of his death.

Police said that the boys mother Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, murdered Cairo after posting disturbing posts on social media about him being a demon.

A second woman, 40-year-old Dawn Elaine Coleman, was also accused of causing the boys death.

The two women each faced charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, while Ms Anderson also faces an additional charge of murder.

Mother and son Dejaune Anderson and Cairo Jordan pictured together (Instagram/Vincent C Jordan)

Ms Coleman, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was arrested on 19 October 2022 in San Francisco, police said. She was eventually jailed in November 2023.

Indiana State Police Sgt Carey Huls told The Independent in October 2022 that she Ms Coleman had been interviewed by detectives but would not confirm or deny whether or not she was cooperating with the investigation.

It is unclear what connection she has to Cairo and his mother.

She is not believed to be related to Ms Anderson and there is no definite connection other than them being acquaintances or friends, said Sgt Huls.

Theyre just acquaintances who travel together and possibly work together, he said.

Ms Anderson, from Atlanta, Georgia, remained on the run.

Investigators issued a warrant for her arrest, revealing that she had last been seen in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.

It was not clear when exactly the last sighting was but The Independent learned that troopers were searching the area in October 2022 and believed the mother was still there at that time.

Ms Anderson was eventually arrested in California in March 2024.

Exorcisms and demons

What exactly led a mother to allegedly murder her young son and dump his body in a suitcase in a case that has spanned multiple states remains a mystery.

But a look at Ms Andersons disturbing social media posts offers some clues.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Ms Anderson made several social media posts about exorcisms, hexes and demons.

On April 12 2022, just four days before his remains were found, she wrote on Facebook that her five-year-old son was actually a 100-year-old demon.

I have survived the death attacks from my 5-year-old throughout the 5 years he has been alive. I have been able to weaken his powers through our blood. I have his real name and he is 100 years old. Need assistance, she wrote.

One day before his body was discovered, she made another chilling post that read in part this is a whole demon in a child body.

Dawn Elaine Coleman, 40, was arrested in connection to Cairos death last week (Indiana State Police)

The concerning posts began as far back as December 2021 when she wrote: I offer, Reversal spell, Protection spell, Activating your DNA, Exorcism, Hex/Curse.

The affidavit reveals that her alleged accomplice also made several posts about children being avatars and warning that evil and wicked is hiding in plain sight.

In one post from 8 April 2022, Ms Coleman wrote: You better check to see if the children that you think are children actually have souls or if theyre not malevolent beings with a soul.

Dejaune Anderson appears in court

Following her arrest in March 2024, Ms Anderson appeared in court to hear the charges against her on 25 April.

Appearing in an orange jumpsuit, she named herself a Princess who was representing the entity of Dejaune Anderson. She told the judge she was 63-years-old.

State prosecutors asked that the court raise Ms Andersons bond to a level that she would be unable to pay, as she had been a fugitive.

She objected to this, however.

"Ive been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months and how can that qualify me as a fugitive on the run when Ive also had a detail from Space Force that was following my every move?" Anderson told Washington County Circuit Judge Larry Medlock, who quickly cut her off, stating these claims were not valid objections.

She asked to represent herself, stating that she was not seeking an attorney.

Ms Anderson was remanded back into custody after hearing her charges, with a pre-trial conference set for 20 June.

The evidence

The net closed in on the two suspects when testing found both of their fingerprints on trash bags inside the suitcase with Cairos body, police said.

Investigators quickly learned from official records and her Facebook page that Ms Anderson had a five-year-old son.

Cellphone location data then placed both of the women at the dump site between 4.30pm and 5.15pm on 14 April 2022.

Surveillance footage also captured a vehicle driving along the dead-end road where Cairos remains were found at around 4.35pm that same day.

Cairo would have turned six years old this week (Instagram/Vincent C Jordan)

Police said that photos and videos on Colemans Facebook page show her with the same distinctive Welcome to Las Vegas suitcase.

On the day that Cairos remains were found, Ms Andersons vehicle was captured on security cameras driving from Jeffersonville, Indiana, to Louisville, Kentucky.

In another bizarre twist, Ms Anderson had listed her five-year-old son as an employee in her logistics business, according to the affidavit.

Records showed that Ms Anderson was the owner and CEO of Ashley Logistics Corporation in Georgia. The records showed Cairo as the company secretary.

Crime spree

It also emerged that Ms Anderson had multiple brushes with the law in the lead-up to her sons death  and had been sprung from jail just five days before his body was discovered.

On 12 March 2022, she was accused of leading police on a chase in South Carolina, according to the affidavit.

Both Cairo and Ms Coleman were inside the car at the time.

Officials said that police spotted her vehicle driving at 92 mph on a 60 mph road and when they tried to pull her over, she refused to stop.

The chase lasted for around 30 miles, until her car eventually ran out of gas.

Even then, both Ms Anderson and Ms Coleman refused to comply with officers commands to let them inside the car, leaving officers forced to break the rear drivers side window.

Dejaune Anderson is on the run wanted on suspicion of her sons murder (Indiana State Police)

Ms Anderson was arrested for child engagement, speeding and failure to stop and taken to jail.

She allegedly told officers that Ms Coleman was her sister and the 40-year-old was taken with Cairo to a nearby Hilton hotel.

Days later, on 31 March, Ms Anderson was arrested again  this time for robbery.

She was allegedly caught red-handed trying to steal clothes from a shopping mall and punched a security guard in the face,

She was released on bail on 11 April and failed to return to court for her preliminary hearing.

A heartbreaking tribute

As news of the childs identity was finally released, Cairos father revealed in heartbreaking detail how he had heard about the case of the boy in the suitcase  and could never have imagined it would be his own son.

Today my heart was broken into a million pieces. I got a call from an officer telling me that my 5 year old son Cairo Jordan (who ironically turned 6 today) was murdered by his mother Dejuan Anderson in Indiana April 14th 2022, Vincent Jordan wrote on Instagram in October 2022.

Its October 25th his birthday and they are just now notifying me about his death.

Mr Jordan said that he had been embroiled in a custody battle with his ex and that she had taken him back in 2017.

He has been looking for his son for three years, he said.

Cairos father posted a heartbreaking tribute saying he had been looking for his son for years (Instagram/ Vincent C Jordan)

Me and my family have spent the past three years looking for Dejuan and Cairo. She took him away at the beginning of our custody battle back in 2017, she threatened to call the police on me for coming to pick him up on a agreed weekend, he said.

She never showed up in court and its killing me because that weekend is the last time I seen my baby boy. I swear yall dont know the pain, as a father I feel defeated this was the only thing I feared on this earth.

He said that he was sick to my stomach to learn that the child on the news was his own.

The unidentified little boy who was found in a suitcase is my Son! Cairo Jordan His story has been on CNN and other news platforms for the past 6 months and whole time its my child OMFG!!!! he wrote.

Boy when I tell you Im sick to my stomach Everyone knows how I am about my kids and I never thought I wouldve got that call today, this is a parents worse nightmare.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Visit Baton Rouge have launched a multi-year, national campaign called Better in BTR to attract young professionals to Louisianas Capital Region.

According to BRAC, the campaign is centered on the BetterinBTR.com website, which provides interactive content for potential new residents to explore communities, neighborhoods, recreational events and activities in Baton Rouge.

The Better in BTR strategy addresses two of BRACs top priorities which are increasing our young professional population and building positive local sentiment, said Ann Trappey, BRAC interim president and CEO. Over the course of this campaign, Baton Rouge will be positioned as one of the most appealing and rewarding southeastern cities in which to build a fulfilling life, which will enable us to diversify our economy, create more inclusive economic opportunities and improve the regions livability.

Registration open for EBR Schools spring job fair, retention event

There will be pop-up events in the area this summer with Better in BTR branded merchandise. An HR toolkit to support local recruitment and retention strategies is in development and will be available on the website, BRAC said.

The campaign is made possible through a grant from the East Baton Rouge City-Parish Office. The nearly $1 million grant was awarded in September 2022, BRAC said.

Details about how to work, live and move to the area can be found on the campaign website.

Stoking a fervent pride of place among our talented young professionals in the City-Parish, while also inviting the best and brightest of their peers to become our neighbors and colleagues is essential to Baton Rouges future, said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. I encourage everyone in our community to become ambassadors, letting the world know how life is Better in BTR.

The strategic partnership between Visit Baton Rouge and BRAC aligns with the best practices taking shape in the most successful cities around the country, said Jill Kidder, Visit Baton Rouge president and CEO. Linking our efforts through this campaign will elevate the citys visibility, supporting tourism and economic development efforts that together enhance the vitality of the area.

Latest News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Met Police said Friday they had used a new British national security law to charge two Britons for allegedly aiding Russian intelligence after a suspected arson attack on a Ukraine-owned warehouse in London. File photo by Andy Rain/EPA

April 26 (UPI) -- A new British national security law has been used to charge two Britons for allegedly aiding Russian intelligence after a suspected arson attack on a Ukraine-owned warehouse in London.

Dylan Earl, 20, from Leicestershire was also charged with aggravated arson and preparatory acts endangering a person's life or creating a serious risk to public safety contrary to the 2023 National Security Act while Jake Reeves, 22, from London was charged with aggravated arson and receiving payment from a foreign intelligence service, Met Police said in a news release.

Earl was remanded in custody by magistrates to appear at the Old Bailey on May 10.

Reeves and Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, also from London, who is charged with failing to disclose information to police about terrorist acts under counter-terrorism laws, were due in court Friday.

The investigation, led by the Met Police's counter-terror unit, also netted two other suspects, both from London, who have been charged with aggravated arson but are not being prosecuted for national security offenses.

"This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us. Not only are the charges that have been authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act," said Counter Terrorism head, Commander Dominic Murphy.

The Met confirmed that the foreign state involved was Russia but stressed it did not believe there was a wider threat to the public.

The charges follow a major five-week Met investigation into a huge, late-night blaze at commercial premises on an east London industrial estate in Leyton in March, started, the prosecutors say, with an accelerant.

Eight fire trucks surrounding stations attended with 60 firefighters battling for more than four hours to bring the blaze under control, the London Fire Brigade said in a March 20 update.

The industrial units targeted were occupied by two parcel delivery services that public records show are owned by two Ukrainian expatriates.

Earl is accused of being the ringleader undertaking planning and efforts to recruit individuals to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, engaging in fraud and arson.

Reeves is alleged to have accepted money knowing it was from the Russian intelligence service.

The prosecutions come four days after the Met Counter Terrorism Command arrested and charged two men with spying for China.

Parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, 29, of London, and Christopher Berry, 32, an academic from Oxfordshire, were released on bail Friday after appearing in court on Official Secrets Act charges.

Both men, who were first arrested in March 2023, held security clearance passes for the Parliamentary estate.
British man charged with acting on behalf of Russia in plot to torch Ukrainian-linked business

This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook shows Dmitrijus Paulauska, left, and Jake Reeves, who along with Paul English and Nii Mensah have been charged in connection with the case of a London arson plot, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, central London, Friday April 26, 2024. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

LONDON (AP)  A British man accused of plotting to torch a London business connected to Ukraine has been charged with conducting hostile activity to benefit Russia, prosecutors said Friday.

Dylan Earl, 20, is connected to Russias Wagner mercenary group, which the U.K. government has declared a banned terrorist organization, court documents said.

Earl is accused of fraud, carrying out reconnaissance of targets and recruiting others to assist Russian intelligence services in the U.K.

Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March, said Nick Price, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.

He allegedly planned and paid others to burn down two shipping businesses at an industrial park in east London on March 20. The target of the fire was named as Mr X in the court charges.

Earl is the first person to be charged under the National Security Act 2023, which created new measures to combat espionage, political interference and benefiting from foreign intelligence services. It also gave authorities additional powers to search and seize property and detain and arrest suspects.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg cited the case Friday during a visit to Berlin, saying members must remain vigilant regarding covert Russian activities across the alliance.

Stoltenberg pointed to the British case and to the arrest on suspicion of espionage in Germany last week of two men, one of them accused of agreeing to carry out attacks on potential targets including U.S. military facilities in hopes of sabotaging aid for Ukraine.

NATO allies stand in full solidarity with Germany and the United Kingdom, he said. Such acts are dangerous and unacceptable. They will not deter us from providing support to Ukraine, and we are coordinating closely in our response to any hostile act against NATO allies.

Earl appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court last week but restrictions prevented reporting on the case until Friday when two co-defendants appeared in court. He is also charged with conduct endangering lives or endangering the public in violation of the National Security Act and aggravated arson.

Jake Reeves, 22, was charged in court Friday with accepting money knowing it was from a foreign intelligence service, and aggravated arson.

Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, was charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist acts.

Two other men, Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, appeared in court previously on aggravated arson charges.

None of the five have entered pleas and were being held in custody. They are to appear May 10 at a hearing at the Central Criminal Court known as the Old Bailey.
Brookhaven Mayor John Park and a group of other city leaders announced Thursday that they will petition the state to let them take over control of the citys ambulance service.

The effort comes after multiple and prolonged delays in emergency response in Brookhaven, according to officials.

Among the examples listed by Park and other officials were ambulances taking sometimes up to an hour to arrive at a scene to help those in need, including for pepper spray discharges and injury victims.

Part of the issue, according to the mayor, is due to how ambulance services are overseen in the state. In Georgia, the states Department of Public Health - Emergency Medical Services governs oversight and management of ambulances and EMS.

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Through that setup, Brookhavens ambulance needs are handled by DeKalb Countys government.

Brookhaven officials said Thursday morning that the county needed to work on addressing the needs of the city for medical services.

This is no longer a matter of if someone is going to lose their life over DeKalb Countys lack of response. Now we are at a point where the question is how many more will have to die before Brookhaven can take this service over, said Mayor John Park. The time is up for DeKalb County to fix their ambulance problem.

DeKalb County contracts with a private vendor American Medical Response (AMR) to provide emergency management services to its cities, and contract oversight is under the control of the DeKalb County Fire & Rescue Department.

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According to Brookhaven officials, delayed response times have yet to be improved, even ignoring the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, Brookhaven and North DeKalb County worked together to create a new Emergency Medical Services Hub on Buford Highway, with Brookhaven purchasing and renovating it and leasing the facility to the county at no cost.

Despite the EMS hub, response times have not improved, according to city officials.

The city said in a release that for multiple years, DeKalb County consistently fell short in EMS response times per their contract with their private vendorand well short of comparable cities and national standards.

In DeKalb County, the 90% EMS response goal in 2023 was 12 minutes. However, the DeKalb County EMS providers actual average response time in 2023 for those criteria was almost 20 minutes, Brookhaven officials said.

Now, the city is petitioning the state to let them handle the service themselves.

This isnt the first time that Brookhaven has requested that State (The Georgia Department of Public Health-Emergency Medical Services) grant Brookhaven the authority to provide ambulance service. I have requested it twice before, City Manager Christian Sigman said. So, we are stepping up to the plate one more time, and hopefully the Department of Public Health will see that there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving Brookhaven the go-ahead.

In a presentation published by Brookhaven officials, AMRs response time rarely met the standards needed.

...less than 50% of the time, AMR meets the 12 minute or less standard for Priority 1-3 calls, the presentation said.

The private vendor for DeKalb County, American Medical Response, responded to requests for comment from by Channel 2 Action News regarding the response times and issues mentioned by Brookhaven officials, saying:

American Medical Response (AMR) values our longstanding relationship with DeKalb County and the communities we serve, including Brookhaven. We are actively engaged with DeKalb leadership in an ongoing fashion to strengthen the EMS system throughout the entire County through meaningful, innovative, and significant system investments. We are committed to providing the highest level of emergency medical services available to the communities that we serve, and we continue to work with our partner agencies on finding equitable solutions to address any EMS system-related challenges.

The next meeting of the Georgia Department of Public Health-Emergency Medical Services for Region 3, which contains DeKalb County, is May 9.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 26. Kyrgyzstan and Russia have signed two documents following the meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana (Kazakhstan), Trend reports.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Defense Ministers Sergey Shoigu and Baktybek Bekbolotov, during their meeting in Astana, signed two interdepartmental agreements: "On Information Exchange" and "On Cooperation in the Field of Detection and Assessment of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Situations."

During the negotiations, the heads of defense ministries discussed current issues of cooperation in the military sphere and outlined prospects for further collaboration.

The Council of Ministers of Defense of the SCO in Astana was attended by the heads of defense ministries of SCO member states, the Secretary-General, the Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the SCO, as well as the Defense Minister of Belarus.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the SCO is not a military-political bloc and that cooperation in the military sphere is not directed against other countries.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Vietnam Veterans Reunion began Thursday morning at the National Infantry Museum.

Every two years, the 47th Infantry Regiment hosts their Vietnam Veterans Reunion in Columbus due to the number of military personnel who have served at the Fort Moore post.

Veterans arrived at the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Thursday morning and were welcomed by soldiers dressed in the uniforms worn during the Vietnam War. Veterans thanked soldiers for their service and also shared their wisdom.

The reunion consisted of a reef laying ceremony to honor the soldiers who have passed since their last reunion. After each name, a golden bell was rung.

WRBL spoke to a veteran who was emotional during the ceremony for the fallen soldiers.

The first name was my wife, and there was three other names in there that I served with, and I didnt know that they were sick, but now I do. And I know they passed. Richard Martin, 47th Infantry Regiment Vietnam War Veteran

Harris Pruitt, another Vietnam Veteran who attended the reunion, spoke to WRBL about his feelings toward the ceremony.

Any time the taps are played at any ceremony, that brings back memories. 50 some years ago, when we would come out of the field and go back to base camp, said Pruitt. They would have the fallen brothers boots and rifle in the ground, sometimes ten times 30, and the taps would play. And that brings back that memory every time. And its part of the honor of being with our brothers on this wall.

Afterwards, the veterans were invited to tour the National Infantry Museum. Veteran Michael Gray spoke to WRBL about his memories of the war after going through the Vietnam War Exhibit.

Gray says, Yes. It brought back memories  darkness unknown, which beyond your close eyesight, you know, five to 10 meters. You rarely, you rarely saw the enemy until you were being shot at by them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
TechCrunch

Court documents suggest that TikTok executives are aware of the app's potential harm to teenagers, according to reporting by NPR and Kentucky Public Radio. Fourteen U.S. attorneys general sued TikTok earlier this week, claiming that the app harms childrens mental health. According to Kentuckys lawsuit, the companys own research shows that compulsive usage correlates with a slew of negative mental health effects like loss of analytical skills, memory formation, contextual thinking, conversational depth, empathy, and increased anxiety.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo mom is seeking reforms to the bus system for Buffalo Public Schools, after the bus for her children was nearly three hours late in picking them up from school.

The family says this wasnt the first time their bus was extremely late and that its been a recurring issue this school year. They say the districts three-tiered bell system, implemented at the beginning of the year to address the bus driver shortage, hasnt been working for their family.

Its so unfair to these kids, it really is, they end up spending almost more time on the bus than they actually do inside of the school building, said Jillian Cannan.

Cannan isnt just talking about her own kids, shes also talking about other children in Buffalo Schools who have to endure long wait times, due to the ongoing bus driver shortage.

With it being so inconsistent, its almost impossible to plan for anything like were not just talking about a ten-minute difference here, were talking about hours of difference, Cannan said.

Thats what happened on Friday  Cannan got this bus alert on her phone  saying her kids bus at Lorraine Academy would be delayed. And that, a driver would be available around 5:15 in the evening, not even given an approximate time. The screen shot is taken at about 2:45 that afternoon  just before dismissal time  that means her kids bus on that day was at least two hours late. Her family lives about five minutes from school by car.

I think the biggest issue for me is the delay in communication, the fact that were not finding out until the school is already dismissed that our children dont have a way home that is a huge problem for me, Cannan said.

On Friday, Cannan says she went and picked her kids up so they didnt have to wait all that time.

In response to Cannans concerns, First Student says the challenge they run into is when they have bus drivers who call off, service changes then need to be made, which can cause delays, because buses have to run double routes.

Buffalo Schools say the districts three-tier bell system has improved pickup and drop off times and shortened the average length of time students are on buses. According to parents weve heard from the system got off to a rocky start with students and student-athletes being late for school, games and practices.

But to Cannan, she says its made things worse.

Im failing to see the benefit in any of this for our children, she said.

She says First Student has agreed to switch her kids bus route, but that wont take effect for another two weeks. First Student says its been trying to address the bus driver shortage by hosting more job fairs, increasing pay and signing bonuses and referral bonuses.

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Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Burkina Faso suspends BBC and Voice of America after they covered a report on mass killings

FILE - A soldier applauds the presidential inauguration of Junta leader Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba during his swearing-in ceremony broadcast on national television on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio stations for their coverage of a report by Human Rights Watch on the mass killing of civilians carried out by the country's armed forces. According to the report published by Human Rights Watch on Thursday, April 25, 2024, the army killed some 223 civilians, including 56 children, in villages accused of cooperating with militants. (AP Photo/Sophie Garcia, File)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Burkina Faso suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio stations for their coverage of a report by Human Rights Watch on a mass killing of civilians carried out by the country's armed forces.

Burkina Faso's communication spokesperson, Tonssira Myrian Corine Sanou, said late Thursday that both radio stations would be suspended for two weeks, and warned other media networks to avoid reporting on the story.

According to the report published by Human Rights Watch on Thursday, the army killed 223 civilians, including 56 children, in villages accused of cooperating with militants. The report was widely covered by the international media, including the Associated Press.

Burkina Faso, a once-peaceful nation, has been ravaged by violence that has pitted jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group against state-backed forces. Both sides have targeted civilians caught in the middle, displacing more than 2 million people, of which over half are children. Most attacks go unpunished and unreported in a nation run by a repressive leadership that silences perceived dissidents.

Earlier in April, the AP verified accounts of a Nov. 5 army attack on another village that killed at least 70 people. The details were similar  the army blamed the villagers for cooperating with militants and massacred them, even babies.

VOA stands by its reporting about Burkina Faso and intends to continue to fully and fairly cover activities in the country, the network said in a news article reporting on its suspension.

The BBC didn't respond to a request for comment.

On Friday, the United Nations called on Burkina Faso to reverse the suspension of the two international broadcasters.

Restrictions on media freedom and civic space must stop immediately. Freedom of expression including the right of access to information is crucial in any society, and even more so in the context of the transition in Burkina Faso, it said in a statement.

In the same statement, the U.N. said it had received additional reports that large numbers of civilians, including children, had been killed in several villages in the Yatenga and Soum provinces of northern Burkina Faso. The AP couldn't immediately verify those reports.

More than 20,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso since jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and IS first hit the West African nation nine years ago, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit group.

Burkina Faso experienced two coups in 2022. Since seizing power in September 2022, the junta led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore has promised to beat back militants. But violence has only worsened, analysts say. Around half of Burkina Fasos territory remains outside of government control.

Frustrated with a lack of progress over years of Western military assistance, the junta has severed military ties with former colonial ruler France and turned to Russia instead for security support.
Seven students and a driver were hospitalized when two buses bound for Carowinds crashed on Interstate 85 in Gastonia on Friday morning, police said.

One of the charter bus drivers was cited for failure to reduce speed, according to a Gastonia Police Department news release.

A first responder frees students and staff trapped in a bus off Interstate 85 in Gastonia. The bus was involved in a crash with another bus while both were traveling to Carowinds on Friday morning, April 26, 2024, police said.

About 85 students and staff from Richard H. Gettys Middle School in Easley, South Carolina, were aboard the buses for a band field trip to the theme park south of Charlotte, police said.

One of the drivers braked in heavy traffic and was rear-ended by the other driver about 9:40 a.m., police said. The collision sent one of the buses into woods, where first responders used ladders to reach the emergency exit windows and free everyone.

The driver cited in the crash was hospitalized with apparently non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of this bus that rear-ended the other bus on I-85 was cited for failure to reduce speed, police said.

The seven students who were hospitalized had minor injuries, mostly bumps and bruises, police said in the news release.

Everyone else on the buses got a pizza lunch at Bradley Community Center, compliments of the city of Gastonia, city spokesman Bill McGinty said.
A new homeless response project aims to move up to 80 people out of encampments and off the streets of San Luis Obispo into a village of cabins as a first step toward finding permanent housing.

The Welcome Home Village project, which could break ground as soon as this fall and open in 2025, is planned at the countys Health Agency Campus at the intersection of Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue, according to a joint news release from San Luis Obispo Countys homeless services division and the city of San Luis Obispo.

Cut from a similar mold as projects such as the Five Cities Homeless Coalitions Cabins for Change project in Grover Beach, the project is intended to provide stability to unhoused people while they work toward a permanent housing solution.

Facilities like Welcome Home Village have demonstrated success in relocating individuals from encampments and off the streets across the state, Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg said in the news release. I am acutely aware of the importance of having the Welcome Home Village come to my district and my own neighborhood.

The Welcome Home Village project  which could break ground as soon as this fall and open in 2025  calls for 80 cabins of homeless transitional shelter space to be built on the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Campus at the intersection of Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue. San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Department

What can the Welcome Home Village do for unhoused people?

Each individual housed in the Welcome Home Village will have their own unit, with access to laundry facilities, kitchens, and in some cases, private bathrooms.

Once individuals are signed up for the site, they will have access to individualized case management, basic medical care, mental health assessments, substance abuse treatment services, wellness activities, education and self-improvement opportunities, social-emotional skill building and job readiness training.

Tackling homelessness is a top priority for the city of San Luis Obispo, and this project and program is an important part of our strategic plan to address homelessness, San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart said in the release. We need to reduce the number of homeless encampments along the Bob Jones Bike Trail by providing our most vulnerable neighbors with a place to call home and also clean up the area so that all community members can use it as originally intended. We are so grateful to the county and the San Luis Obispo community for their ongoing support.

In the months leading up to the project opening, unhoused residents will be identified by outreach teams, starting with people living on the Bob Jones Trail and surrounding creekbeds, according to the release.

San Luis Obispos homelessness response team has been reaching out to people living along the Bob Jones Trail and in the surrounding creekbeds since 2015 and will expand outreach efforts in that area in the months leading up to the village opening, according to the projects website.

An outreach team led by Good Samaritan Shelter will also provide in-field case management and behavioral health intervention where needed, along with housing navigation, the release said.

County behavioral health staff will provide psychiatric support to the project and surrounding area, and the South Higuera Street area will also be prioritized by police patrols, according to the website.

The city will focus on trash and debris removal from the local riparian ecosystem, and will install portable restrooms and bear-proof trash cans along the trail, according to the website.

The Welcome Home Village project  which could break ground as soon as this fall and open in 2025  calls for 80 units of homeless transitional shelter space to be built on the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Campus at the intersection of Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com

Who will live at Welcome Home Village?

The village will be comprised of an interim supportive housing program and a permanent supportive housing program that will help people in different housing situations.

The 90-day interim program will aim to first stabilize clients before pursuing permanent housing, with extensions permitted under some circumstances, according to the website.

The permanent supportive program will provide a long-term and stable housing option for residents in need of long-term rental assistance and supportive services.

Residents of the permanent supportive housing will likely include the elderly, those with mental or physical disabilities and people that need supportive housing services for a longer period of time than provided in the interim housing program, according to the website.

Registered sex offenders will not be enrolled in the program, according to the website.

On top of these integrated support services, the Welcome Home Villages placement near county behavioral health facilities can offer a wider range of services to residents, San Luis Obispo County deputy director of adult and homeless services Linda Belch said in the release.

Locating these projects near intensive services is something weve seen be successful in other communities such as Santa Maria and Grover Beach, Belch said. The integration of the Welcome Home Village into the Health Agency Campus is the perfect opportunity to replicate that success in San Luis Obispo.

The Welcome Home Village project  which could break ground as soon as this fall and open in 2025  calls for 80 units of homeless transitional shelter space to be built on the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Campus at the intersection of Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue. John Lynch/jlynch@thetribunenews.com

Project set to operate through 2026

The Welcome Home Village is funded through June 2026 by a $13.4 million Encampment Resolution Fund grant from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness received in the summer of 2023, according to the project website.

The grant funds will be used to build the structures and develop the site for around $9.64 million, with the rest of the funds going to administration, village operations and outreach, according to the website.

Beyond June 2026, the site will cost approximately $1.85 million each year to operate. County staff are looking at funding sources that can keep the project going after the initial grant money runs out.

Neighbors and community members will have an opportunity to express their thoughts on the project and get more information at an community meeting on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m.

People can register for the event at the projects website or at bit.ly/3vZSoqt.

The project will be further reviewed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on May 21, according to the release.

Site development and construction can start this fall if the project is approved, the release said, with the first program residents being accepted in 2025.

Belongings from homeless people line the Bob Jones Trail at Los Osos Valley Road in January 2023 after high water from storms made the area uninhabitable. Laura Dickinson/ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Reality Check is a Sacramento Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

A California oversight agency held its second hearing on the states homeowner insurance issues Thursday. Like the first meeting, there was a conspicuous person absent: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

Major companies are dropping policies and limiting business across the state, leaving homeowners with fewer options and higher prices.

The Little Hoover Commission, which makes recommendations to the governor and Legislature, has vowed to study the issue and come up with possible solutions.

I think its a mistake, Pedro Nava, the chair of the agency, said of Laras absence. The oversight bodys staff has made multiple requests to the department, he said, and one of its commissioner even contacted Lara directly. Those offers were not accepted.

It is extraordinarily unfortunate, said Nava, a former assemblyman.

The commission, created in the 1960s, reviews state government operations and policies. Other issues it are exploring include retail theft and a state environmental quality act. Its 13 members are made up of people appointed by governors and state legislators, as well as California lawmakers themselves.

Commissioner David Beier, a managing director of an investment firm, said their work would be lessened without the involvement of Lara or his department.

We cannot proceed with them being silent and not participating, Beier said. Weve got too many questions for what they do or how they should reform themselves. And we dont want to waste the time of the Legislature by proposing things that are not a result of consulting them.

Commissioner Gil Garcetti, the former Los Angeles County district attorney, agreed: We need to hear from the insurance commissioners office, ideally the insurance commissioner.

None of the state lawmakers who serve on the oversight commission spoke during the virtual meeting.

When asked about the comments, department spokesman Gabriel Sanchez responded in an emailed statement: Commissioner Lara has testified at several legislative oversight hearings over the years on his efforts to safeguard the integrity of the states insurance market.

He did not say if Lara, or a department representative, would speak at a future hearing.

Laras top priority, the statement went on to say, is pushing forward a series of rule changes this year that he hopes will more insurance more available to homeowners.

The commission has the ability to compel that people participate, through a subpoena. Nava questioned if issuing one was the best way to proceed, adding the agency would make another request for Lara or a department representative to take part.

Ethan Rarick, the oversight bodys CEO, said in an interview after the hearing the commission has not issued a subpoena during his five years in the role and he was not aware of the last time it did, if at all. He said the agency would work with Lara, or a department representative, to find a convenient time to participate and that they could also submit information in writing.

During the commissions March hearing, former insurance commissioner Dave Jones spoke, along with people representing insurers and consumer groups. Thursdays speakers included Victoria Roach, president of the California FAIR Plan, the states insurer of last resort.

Roach described how the private association has seen a rapid rise in policyholders in recent years as major insurance companies have paused or restricted new business in the state.

She also said it was very possible some policyholders with the FAIR Plan could see substantial increases in the future, if it is allowed to use computer modeling to estimate fire risks and recover costs related to buying its own insurance.

The department currently does not allow either but is proposing to change that as part of the rule revisions it is unveiling this year. Roach said the insurer would work with the department to incorporate large increases over time so people arent hit as much up front.

Before the almost three-hour hearing ended commissioners did not say if and when they would hold a third hearing on the topic.
A corrections counselor at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for interest on back pay that was seized in what he described as whistleblower retaliation in response to him complaining of discrimination.

Joshua Kuzmicz has worked at Pelican Bay since March 2001, and for the last five years has worked as a counselor at the prison.

According to the complaint, Kuzmicz applied five times for a supervisor position.

Although Mr. Kuzmicz was very qualified for this position, given he had the experience, had actually done the job, and his interviews had gone well, he was never promoted. He believed the only explanation for not being promoted, over and over again, was discrimination. Specifically, Mr. Kuzmicz believed he was the victim of discrimination based on his national origin, ancestry and/or race, according to the complaint.

CDCR spokeswoman Mary Xjimenez told The Bee that the department does not comment on pending litigation.

In January of 2022, Kuzmicz said he submitted a complaint to the prison, alleging discrimination. A month later, he complained to what is now called the Civil Rights Department of California.

In June of 2022, he complained to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Finally, that July, he complained to the Office of Internal Affairs for what he believed to be illegal conduct by an associate warden at the prison.

In March of 2023, Kuzmicz was notified by CDCR that he was under investigation, according to the complaint, for inexcusable neglect of duty, discourteous treatment of the public or other employees, willful disobedience and other failure of good behavior.

The allegations included that Kuzmicz allegedly obtained confidential promotion hiring material and had accosted a corrections counselor supervisor.

Kuzmicz denied the allegations, which his complaint described as fabricated and completely untrue and were meant to vex, annoy, injure and retaliate against him because he had made complaints of discrimination.

According to the complaint, Kuzmicz was never interviewed for the investigation or given a chance to defend himself.

In May of 2023, CDCR served Kuzmicz with a notice of adverse action and fined him 10% of his pay for a period of two years.

In Mr. Kuzmiczs over 20 year career with the CDCR, he had never been disciplined for any reason, according to Kuzmiczs complaint.

Kuzmicz appealed to the State Personnel Board and in March, an administrative law judge sided with him, dismissing the charges and ordering CDCR to reimburse Kuzmicz for all back pay, benefits and interest.

As of the filing of this complaint, the retaliation towards Mr. Kuzmicz is ongoing because (CDCR) has refused to pay him the interest on the back pay, and benefits, which had been improperly withheld from him, as ordered by the administrative law judge and the State Personnel Board, according to the complaint.
After the California Assembly's Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee recently voted 11-0 to support a far-reaching, speech-quelling, lawsuit-promoting bill in the name of protecting "the children," Assemblymember Joe Patterson (RRocklin) posted this on X: "The most simple bill ever and I was pleased to support it after a lot of heartburn. All the bill says is companies are liable if they don't 'exercise ordinary care or skill towards a child.' Do you disagree?"

Well, yes, I disagree, but more on that in a moment. When asked by a reporter about his gut reaction, Patterson doubled down: "I worry a little bit about exploding litigation that could clog up our courts. But I think the risks to our children are greater if we don't ask them to exercise ordinary care."

I'm not picking on Patterson because he's a bad guy. Quite the opposite. I'm quoting him because he's one of the more level-headed lawmakers in the Capitol. If legislation this nefarious gains the imprimatur of someone this thoughtful, then supporters of a free and open internet are in for a long and difficult slog. I do agree that the bill is simple, though. Much bad legislation is gummed up in pages of fine print, but single, poorly drafted sentences can be dangerous, too.

Here is Assembly Bill 3172's simple text: "This bill would make a social media platform, as defined, liable for specified damages in addition to any other remedy provided by law, if the platform fails to exercise ordinary care or skill toward a child." Ordinary care is defined, per the Legal Information Institute, as "the standard of care where a reasonable person would exercise in the same situation or under similar circumstances."

That does sound so reasonable. Butand it's generally true that you can ignore everything a person says before the "but"the measure will lead to "exploding litigation" that apparently was the cause of Patterson's burning gut. When it comes to free discussions, online or otherwise, it's impossible to determine a level of ordinary care. Different people (and children are people who also enjoy speech protections) have different reactions when faced with uncomfortable ideas and information.

How can a social media company comply with that vague concept on platforms that cater to millions of users and involve billions of interactions? I've known young people with thick skins and inquiring minds who benefit from perusing reams of information on websitesand others who act like crushed snowflakes when they stumble upon something that challenges their cherished assumptions.

Social media platforms will have little choice but to restrict access to teens, and limit and increasingly police content. It's a form of prior restraint. "(B)y leveling millions of dollars' worth of damages for editorial decisions that could be considered harmful to a child, AB 3172 effectively chills private speech," notes First Amendment attorney Jess Miers in an X post. And, she adds, that's true even if the bill merely affects the platform's design (rather than the moderation) given such designs determine what users see.

If it becomes law, any child who experiences any potential harm (real or imagined) from viewing a troubling image (war, famine, LGBTQ materials, racist rants) can seek up to $1 million in damages from media platforms. Parents have online tools available to them, including filters with endless settings, to help oversee their kids' online habits. Instead of trusting parents to manage their families, lawmakers from both parties prefer to empower the Nanny State. It truly is a great time to be a lawyer.

These 11 lawmakersincluding Assembly members Isaac Bryan (DCulver City), Diane Dixon (RNewport Beach), Jacqui Irwin (DThousand Oaks), and author Josh Lowenthal, (DLong Beachreally are playing fast and loose with the First Amendment. The courts have repeatedly struck down overly broad internet regulations because they limit social media companies' freedom to make editorial decisions. The bill targets firms with any users in California.

Perhaps they know what courts will do, which adds cynicism to the list of the bill's troubling qualities. The measure is backed by groups with a broad agenda. "Unless and until the profit is taken out of harming children, the harm will endure," says the Children's Advocacy Institute. "We must change the incentive structure," notes Parents Against Social Media Addiction. That should have been a clue, at least to Republicans such as Patterson and Dixon.

"Reasonable people, even parents in the same household, might disagree about what is harmful to a particular teen," notes an opposition letter from prominent tech and free-speech groups. "AB 3172 asks social media platforms to decide what is harmful to every user and exercise ordinary care to prevent that harm. This ambiguity will be impossible for platforms to operationalize."

So, yes, the bill causes heartburn. Generally, when something other than a burrito creates that reaction there's good reason for it and it requires some deeper reflection.

This column was first published in The Orange County Register.

The post California's New Social Media Law Invites Expensive Lawsuits appeared first on Reason.com.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 26 Tajik Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ilhom Abdurahmon and Executive Director of Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC (AIC) Ulvi Mansurov discussed investment in Tajikistan's aluminum industry, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the parties addressed the potential of cooperation in the commercial, economic, and investment domains, as well as opportunities for investment and expansion of direct cooperation with TALCO OJSC (Tajik Aluminum Company), and expressed their willingness to strengthen further cooperation, the information says.

Additionally, in November, Tajik Economic Development and Trade Minister Zavqizoda Zavqi and Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov signed agreements on major investment projects. Among them was an investment agreement under which Azerbaijan will invest in increasing the production capacity of TALCO.

TALCO is the largest aluminum plant in the country. Its design capacity is 517,000 tons of aluminum per year.

To note, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan in 2023 amounted to $6.1 million, which is 2.98 percent higher than in 2022 ($5.9 million).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect recent statements by Delaware's congressional delegation.

Delaware House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The resolution also calls for the release of hostages held in Israel's war with Hamas, the delivery of sustained humanitarian aid in the ravaged territory as well as "diplomatic action" to bring about "long-term and mutually respectful peace" in the region.

"I just want to thank members on both sides of the aisle for working together on language we can all agree to," said state Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, a Newark Democrat and the resolution's primary sponsor.

Following a fiery debate on a failed cease-fire resolution in January, Thursday's resolution passed the House without any dissent or debate. The language of the resolution acknowledges death on both sides of the conflict.

It notes the 1,200 killed during Hamas' Oct. 7 incursion into Israel and calls for the release of hostages that remain held since that day. It also recognizes the more than 34,000 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel's military bombardment and invasion of the territory since.

Editor's note: The resolution is posted at the bottom of this story.

Israel's military campaign has leveled civilian infrastructure and entire neighborhoods in the 140 square mile territory that is one of the most densely populated and impoverished areas in the world. The resolution also recognizes the humanitarian crisis that continues to grow for displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

Earlier this week, David Satterfield, the U.S. regional envoy for humanitarian issues, said the risk of famine in Gaza, especially in the north, was very high.

From left, Lead Rally Organizer Yara Awad, Ohio State Rep Munira Abdullahi, Delaware State Rep Madinah Wilson-Anton, Lead Organizer Dounya Ramadan and Palestinian Political Activist Linda Sarsour join arms and walk over to the secret service and police barricade in front of President Biden's home to deliver a message and roses at a Rally in Support of Palestine that culminated with a march along Barley Mill Rd. to the President's home in Greenville, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. According to event organizers, close to 2,000 supporters participated in the rally and march.

Gaza has seen a "slight increase" in the number of aid trucks arriving from Egypt and Jordan, but Federico Dessi, Middle East director for the aid group Humanity & Inclusion told USA TODAY, "it is still far below the level we need."

The resolution also recognizes more than 480 health care workers and 97 journalists who have been killed in Gaza since October. A host of international political leaders, aid groups and watchdogs have called for investigation of potential war crimes since October.

Recent: State lawmaker among few Delaware officials protesting for permanent cease-fire in Gaza

Wilson-Anton said the point is to send a message that elected representatives on behalf of their constituents are calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. She noted the rippling of the conflict through the Middle East and fears it could spread further.

"Every day we don't have a ceasefire, more people are killed and more people are put in danger," she said in an interview after the vote.

Wilson-Anton has been critical of Delaware's congressional delegation and local leaders for not using their voice and platform to end the bloodshed as tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since October.

Through United Nations vetoes and public statements, the administration of President Joe Biden and Delaware's congressional delegation stood by Israel's military actions as the death toll rose into the tens of thousands.

In March, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester became the only member of Delaware's congressional delegation to call for a long term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, also advocating for an eventual, permanent two-state solution.

U.S. Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper have not released any statements advocating for an immediate end to the military campaign, but both senators signed a letter to President Joe Biden in early February urging the administration to bring more humanitarian aid into Gaza. In March, the two signed onto a letter calling for Biden to "establish" the "framework" for the "U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state."

The resolution follows months of protests around the country and in Delaware demanding U.S. leaders, including Delaware's congressional delegation, to stop facilitating Israel's bombing campaign in the territory.

Protesters stand outside Legislative Hall after being ejected for disrupting Gov. John Carney's State of the State.

Most recently, national attention has been focused on protests spreading across U.S. college campuses. On Wednesday, hundreds marched at the University of Delaware in protest of Palestinian bloodshed, according to a Delaware Public Media report.

It follows months of protest by Delawareans as well.

Scores of protesters marched on President Joe Biden's Greenville residence in November. Weeks later, an uncharacteristically large crowd of protesters successfully petitioned the Wilmington City Council to support a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire.

Earlier this spring, protesters interrupted Gov. John Carney's State of the State speech. More recently, regular protests have occurred outside Biden's home as well as the Wilmington residences of Coons and Carper.

The protesters have argued that Delaware has a role to play in ending the bloodshed.

Recent: At State of the State speech, protesters draw attention to starvation, death in Gaza

They've pointed to the fact that Delaware is Biden's home and its politicians have special relationships with the president as well as the state's congressional leaders. They've also noted the shipments of armaments to Israel from Dover Air Force Base and the flow of billions in U.S. military aid to Israel.

On Wednesday, Biden signed legislation that, among many other things, includes $5 billion to replenish Israel's defenses and $1 billion for Gazan citizens, according to reporting in The New York Times.

Wilson-Anton argued that military aid could be better spent "creating opportunities" for people in Delaware.

"Why is our priority warfare?" she said.

Dozens of protesters demonstrated near President Biden's Greenville, Delaware home Friday night, urging the president to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

Local protesters have argued that local politicians and voters alike should be using their platform to pressure Biden to end or condition military aid that goes to Israel and use his leverage to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to engage in a long-term diplomatic solution.

Most recently, that attention has focused on staving off an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza where more than one million Palestinians have taken shelter. Israeli officials have said they intend to invade the area to root out Hamas.

In March, Biden warned that an invasion of Rafah would be a mistake, but last week the White House said the U.S. and Israel have a shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah.

After Thursday's vote, Rep. Mike Ramone, a Pike Creek Republican, said if members of the House who are not "100 percent" in agreement on the issue can be compassionate, considerate and kind, "they can do it anywhere."

The resolution will move to the Delaware Senate for a potential vote in the coming weeks.

Reporting from USA Today contributed to this article.

HCR125 by Xerxes Wilson on Scribd

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware House OKs cease-fire resolution as protests over Gaza swell
Canada allocates almost $12 million for drone production and ammunition for Ukraine

Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence of Canada, has announced the allocation of supplementary funds for the Ukrainian drone production and the Czech initiative for artillery ammunition procurement at the 21st Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Canadian Defence Ministry

Details: At the Ramstein-21 meeting, Blair stated that Canada, in cooperation with the UK, will for the first time allocate CAD$3 million (US$2.2 million) for the production of drones by the Ukrainian domestic defence industry.

Ottawa will additionally allocate about CAD$13 million (US$9.5 million) for the Czech ammunition procurement and delivery initiative for Ukraine in addition for the previously announced CAD$40 million (US$29.4 million).

Blair added that Canada will supply Ukraine with 900 SkyRanger drones instead of 800. The supply of these drones was first announced in February.

Background: Following the 21st Ramstein meeting, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US will allocate US$ 6 billion for military aid for Ukraine within the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) programme.

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Canada will donate 3 million Canadian dollars ($2.2 million) to Ukraine's domestic drone production and around 13 million ($9.5 million) to a Czech-led ammunition initiative, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced on April 26.

The announcement of a new batch of military aid from Canada comes after the Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which was held online on April 26, the two-year anniversary of the group. The meeting included representatives from more than 50 countries.

This is the first time Canada has directly contributed to the production of military drones in Ukraine. The donation will be made in collaboration with the U.K., according to the Canadian government's statement.

Blair also confirmed that Canada will provide additional funding to the Czech-led ammunition initiative, which aims to purchase 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe for Ukraine.

In March, Canada committed 40 million Canadian dollars ($29.2 million) to the initiative, and now its total contribution has grown to 53 million ($38.7 million), the statement read.

Funding for these donations comes from a previous military assistance package worth 500 million Canadian dollars ($371 million), announced by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in June 2023.

Blair also gave updates on other military provisions for Ukraine. Canada will deliver an additional 100 SkyRanger drones from Teledyne FLIR in Waterloo, bringing the total contribution to 900 instead of 800. The deliveries will begin in May.

Blair said the first 10 of 50 armored combat support vehicles donated to Ukraine will be sent to Europe this summer. After Ukrainian personnel complete the vehicle training, they will be delivered to Ukraine in the fall.

Ten multirole boats committed in January are set to be delivered this July, Blair added.

"Ukrainians have been relentless in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rules-based international order that keeps us all safe. On the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Canada reaffirms that it will stand with Ukraine for as long as victory takes," Blair said.

Canada's budget for 2024 allocated 1.6 billion Canadian dollars (about $1.16 billion) to Ukraine's defense aid over the next five years.

Canada has been one of Kyiv's strongest supporters since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ottawa has provided Ukraine with over $10 billion in various forms of assistance, including around $2.8 billion in military aid.

Read also: Canada allocates $1.5 billion to Ukraine to finance budget deficit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Canadian wildfires have started. Will smoke descend on the USA like last year?

Remember the watery eyes, inflamed lungs and the apocalyptic orange skies of last summer?

The smoke that descended over swaths of the U.S. was primarily caused by distant wildfires in Canada  and those fires are back. So will the U.S. have a repeat of the smoky, unhealthy skies?

Top Canadian fire experts offered mixed answers for 2024: "It is extremely unlikely that the 2024 fire season will be as extreme as 2023, as 2023 was a record-smashing year," Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, told USA TODAY.

However, he said there is an existing drought across Canada and forecasts call for a warmer-than-normal summer, so "these factors suggest the potential for an active fire season."

Another expert, Rebecca Saari, an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, also pointing to the drought and warm forecast, told USA TODAY that she sees "similar patterns to last year."

A person wearing a face mask takes photos of the skyline as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. An orange-tinged smog obscured its famous skyscrapers, causing residents to wear face masks, as cities along the US East Coast issued air quality alerts.

How bad were the fires in Canada in 2023?

In 2023, Canada endured its worst year for wildfires, with more than 6,600 blazes burning 37 million acres, an area roughly seven times the annual average. Eight firefighters died and 230,000 people were evacuated from their homes across Canada.

The word unprecedented doesnt do justice to the severity of the wildfires in Canada (in 2023), said Yan Boulanger, research scientist in forest ecology at Natural Resources Canada, in a statement.

Report: U.S. air pollution worst in 25 years as new environmental regulations finalized

In the U.S., thick smoke from the fires  pushed around by what Saari called an "unlucky weather pattern"  wafted its way across the border, settling over such major metropolitan areas as New York City and Chicago, bringing hazardous to dangerous air quality to tens of millions of people.

Was climate change a factor?

Climate change more than doubled the likelihood of extreme fire weather in eastern Canada last year, according to a report prepared last year by the World Weather Attribution group.

What's going on in Canada now?

Wildfires were reported across the western Canadian province of Alberta this week, forcing dozens of people from their homes. The evacuation orders mark what is expected to be another severe year for wildfires in western Canada, authorities said, which is dealing with widespread drought and warmer-than-normal spring temperatures.

Whether or not smoke from fires in Canada makes its way to the U.S. this year will depend on weather patterns at the time the fires are at their worst.

What's the wildfire forecast in the U.S.?

AccuWeather, in its 2024 wildfire forecast released this week, said that the upcoming wildfire season in the U.S. is not expected to shatter records, but "millions of people may still face hazardous air quality from blazes burning across the country and Canada."

Overall, AccuWeather said that the 2024 U.S. wildfire season is expected to be below average in terms of the number of fires and acres burned. Fires across the country are predicted to burn between 4 and 6 million acres of land in 2024, below the historical average of around 7 million acres.

It's already been a newsworthy year for wildfires in the U.S.: Due mainly to the wildfires that roared across the grasslands of Texas in March, some 1.7 million acres have burned in the U.S. so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. That's the most since 2017 and more than double the average of around 700,000 acres (to date), the center said.

What can you do to stay fire-aware?

During the past decade, wildfires have become more destructive, the fire center said in a statement. "These sometimes-historic blazes can be attributed to several factors. Accumulated fuel, like dead trees and brush, becomes a tinderbox ready to burn when combined with drought."

"We cannot stop hot weather and lightning storms, but we can do our part to be fire-wise when we are recreating, traveling, or maintaining our homes," the fire center advised.

Take the time to find out the weather conditions and fire danger where you live and plan to vacation, the fire center said. Get the information you need here about current wildland fire danger and be prepared.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadian wildfires have begun. Will smoke cover the USA again?
IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A career drug offender was arrested with half a million dollars in drugs following a traffic stop this week, the Iredell County Sheriffs Office said on Friday.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop on New Jersey resident Hector Iglesias, 43, on Wednesday along I-77 near mile marker 62. Deputies said Iglesias was inconsistent when telling them of his travel plans from his Jersey home to Knoxville, Tennessee, and also detected indicators of criminal activity.

60+ charges, more than $2.5 million bond for Iredell County drug dealer: Sheriff

A canine was called in and cocaine, THC, and marijuana with a street value totaling half-a-million dollars were found in his vehicle in the trunk. Iglesias was arrested and faces multiple charges including trafficking.

He is being held on a $950,000 bond. Iglesias was previously convicted on drug charges in West Palm Beach and served six years in prison, the sheriffs office said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A vehicle chase from Interstate 80 to a south Sacramento neighborhood ended Thursday with the arrest of four suspects believed to have held-up a Roseville CVS Pharmacy at gunpoint.

The armed robbery occurred about 3 p.m. Thursday at the CVS on Sierra College Boulevard and East Roseville Parkway. The suspects entered the CVS armed with handguns, said Lt. Chris Ciampa, a Roseville Police Department spokesman.

The Police Department hasnt said what was taken in the robbery. Ciampa said the suspects were last seen leaving the CVS before on foot before officers arrived; no injuries were reported.

Later in the afternoon, Sacramento County sheriffs deputies tried to pull over a vehicle for a vehicle code infraction near Watt Avenue and I-80, the Sheriffs Office announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The car failed to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Sheriffs officials said the pursuit continued into south Sacramento, before the fleeing car crashed shortly after 4 p.m. near Dade Way.

Four suspects ran from the car, but the deputies apprehended them shortly after. Sheriffs officials deputies recovered a gun nearby.

Ciampa said other weapons used in the robbery were found in the car, and the clothing the arrested suspects were wearing matched the robbers clothing captured on store security camera video.
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of PA announced Friday that a Lackawanna County woman is being charged with producing and distributing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam says Mykayliah Hevener, 25, of Carbondale, was indicted Tuesday on charges of producing and distributing pictures and videos of herself engaging in sexual activities with a toddler.

According to the indictment, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported a cyber tip of a Verizon user who was sending or receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Investigators say the phone number belonged to a man residing in Tipton, Iowa, who Hevener had an online sexual relationship with.

The indictment reads that a forensic examination of the phone, produced around a dozen videos that appear to be screen recordings of Hevener with a toddler. Officers say they also found a phone number associated with Hevener.

Schuylkill County settles part of sexual harassment lawsuit

According to law enforcement, a database search revealed Hevener lived in the 100 block of Birkett Street in Carbondale, since October 2020.

On April 4, 2024, federal agents of the FBI Scranton office executed a search warrant at Heveners home, during which she agreed to be interviewed.

According to the indictment, Heverner told law enforcement she made the videos for the man she had an online sexual relationship with because he was sexually attracted to children.

Investigators say Hevener told law enforcement the man would request the video chats and she would do so using Snapchat to provide the man with sexual gratification.

U.S. Attorneys say that the maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Cases of whooping cough were confirmed Friday at two Lexington high schools, Bryan Station High School and Lexington Catholic High School.

One case of pertussis was confirmed at each school, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department said in a news release Friday afternoon.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial illness that is spread by coughing or sneezing. It can affect anyone of any age, but pertussis can be most serious in infants and people with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, the health department said. Babies under six months old who contract whooping cough must often be hospitalized.

Officials are recommending that students be treated with preventative antibiotics if theyve been exposed to whooping cough and have a weakened immune system or chronic illness, live with someone else who fits that description, or live with an infant or pregnant woman.

Any school-age children with symptoms of pertussis should stay home from school and visit their health care provider for evaluation, even if they have previously been vaccinated, the health department said in the release. If found to have probable or confirmed pertussis, they should remain out of school until completion of their antibiotics. For more information about pertussis, call 859-288-2437.

The health department sent letters to parents of students at both schools to alert them to the threat of illness.

The letter indicated that anyone in the affected schools could have been exposed, and kids who develop a cough should see a doctor.

It is very important not to ignore the symptoms, the letter stated.

Pertussis symptoms begin like a common cold, with sneezing, runny nose, coughing and low-grade fever, but after a week or two, the cough may worsen, changing from a dry, hacking cough to bursts of uncontrollable, sometimes violent, coughing that can tire the patient and sometimes even result in vomiting, the release stated.

The term whooping cough comes from the sound patients may make when they are finally able to get a breath of air after a coughing episode.

The pertussis vaccine, administered along with vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus, is given in a series to young children and is required before kids enter school. Kids must also get a booster before entering middle school.

The health department says immunity can wane over time, so pregnant women should get a booster, and teens or adults who have never received the vaccine should contact their health care provider or the health department about getting it.

The last confirmed cases of pertussis among school-aged children in Lexington were in February 2022, said health department spokesman Kevin Hall.
A poll worker in Madison, Wis., sets up signage before early voting began in a 2023 election. This month, Wisconsin voters opted to ban private grants from funding local election administration. (Morry Gash/The Associated Press)

This month, Wisconsin joined 27 other states that have banned or restricted local governments use of private donations to run cash-strapped election offices, buy voting equipment or hire poll workers for Election Day.

All of the state laws came in the past four years, pushed by conservative lawmakers and activists who claim that Democratic voters disproportionately benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in grants primarily funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, during the 2020 presidential election.

Courts and federal regulators have rejected those claims, but the debate over the role of outside money reveals a broader worry among election experts, who say there are significant shortcomings in local government funding of election offices. That includes not just Election Day duties and vote counting, but also the year-round administrative work of maintaining voter rolls and taking care of and updating voting equipment.

Local municipal budgets are tight, and they vary depending on the tax base. It can be hard to justify a new ballot-counting machine when there are potholes to fix or schools to fund.

The ongoing funding uncertainty is untenable, said Tammy Patrick, the chief executive officer for programs at the National Association of Election Officials. Election officials need to have consistent funding to know they can replace outdated equipment and provide a secure and efficient voting experience, she said.

Ultimately and ideally, we wouldnt need to run such a critical function of our democracy relying on volunteers or donations, said Patrick, who is leading a national initiative to promote election funding. Everyone wants our elections to be secure, accessible, legitimate. And in order to have that, we have to support our election administrators.

Funding democracy

Counting ballots at 2:30 a.m. on election night in 2020, Dusty Farmer, the election clerk of Oshtemo Township, Michigan, realized she should have chosen a high-speed ballot tabulator.

When Michigan voters amended the state constitution in 2018 to allow for voting absentee without having to provide an excuse to officials, the number of mail-in ballots shot up and townships had to find a way to process those new ballots. Farmer opted for the less expensive, slower ballot processors.

After two years of lobbying her local board, she was able to secure the $40,000 high-speed counting machines last year  a big investment ahead of the 2024 election, she said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

This isnt a situation where we can just overcome it with pure grit and buck up and get it done, Farmer said. We need the tools to get it done.

Money from Congress has been limited. This year, congressional leaders agreed to provide $55 million in election grant funding for states to distribute locally. That is around as much as Los Angeles County alone spent conducting a gubernatorial recall election in 2021.

State and local election officials could breathe easier about some of the cybersecurity challenges if they had more funding from Congress, Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said to a room of fellow secretaries of state at a Washington, D.C., meeting in February.

This is an unfunded federal mandate, the only part of our critical infrastructure that does not have sustained federal funding, he said.

State money for elections varies widely. Lawmakers in some states do not allocate any of their budget to local election officials. In many cases, states just distribute federal grants for improving election security or as reimbursement for new equipment. Often, however, states hold onto federal grants dollars because they are unsure when the next installment from Congress might come.

Other states do allocate some local election funding in their budgets, but often not at a level that would allow for major equipment replacement, said Matthew Weil, executive director of the Democracy Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a D.C.-based think tank.

States such as Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii and Louisiana also reimburse localities for a portion of elections where statewide candidates are on the ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alaska and Delaware pay for all expenses of state and federal elections, while other states will pay for statewide special elections or presidential primary elections.

Funding elections mostly at the local level is not the model that is going to work for the future, Weil said.

But asking state governments to use their limited budgets on election equipment is politically tough, he added; its hard to cut a ribbon on a new $100 million voting system. Local governments spend as much on elections as they do to maintain parking facilities, according to a report by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in 2021.

I dont necessarily disagree with banning private funding in elections, Weil said. But that does require that counties, states and the federal government step up and fund elections at the levels they need to provide the services that voters have come to expect.

Banning private money in elections

Four years ago, as thousands of Americans died every day during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, local election officials hurriedly prepared for the 2020 presidential election, not knowing whether they had the money needed to allow voters to safely cast a ballot and for their staff to safely count those votes.

Foreseeing a democratic disaster, the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a Chicago-based nonprofit, used $350 million from Zuckerberg and Chan to hand out grants to nearly 2,500 local election offices across 49 states.

Local clerks, like Robin Cleveland of Williamstown Township, Michigan, used that money to buy personal protective equipment, pay and train temporary election workers, and run voter education campaigns.

The $5,000 private grant was essential for getting desperately needed supplies for her small community east of Lansing, Cleveland said. Though she feels supported by her township board, she has not been able to pay election workers more competitive wages nor replace ancient equipment  except in 2018, when she got a federal grant for new ballot tabulators.

Basically, the money has to come from somewhere if were going to have safe, secure and accurate elections, she wrote to Stateline in an email about private grants.

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In Wisconsin, more than 200 communities received a collective $10 million in private grants. Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine  the states most populous cities  received 86% of that money, according to a report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, a conservative litigation group that supported the ballot question to ban private donations for election administration. Those five cities accounted for nearly 18% of the states total registered voters.

It was important to prevent outside groups from potentially dictating terms for grants or giving the impression that the money is helping a certain political party, said Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.

It creates an appearance of impropriety, and it undermines confidence in the outcome of the election, he said. Elections are a public function that have to be undertaken with scrupulous neutrality.

Esenberg doesnt think elections are underfunded. If local election officials feel like they need more money, he said, they should go to their state legislature.

Voters approved the states new constitutional amendment by more than 54%.

Of the 28 states that have now enacted bans, only Pennsylvania supplemented its measure with more election funding. In 2022, then-Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law the compromise measure, which invested $45 million in local elections.

A total lifeline

Before Wisconsins ban went into effect, Cities Forward, a nonprofit based in the state, awarded an $800,000 grant to Milwaukee for new ballot tabulators, text messaging services to reach voters and polling place upgrades. Madison was also able to spend $1.5 million from Center for Tech and Civic Life and U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence grants before the ban went into place.

The need hasnt dissipated, said Tiana Epps-Johnson, founder and executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, the nonprofit that drew conservative ire. Election officials need equipment, such as fast-counting ballot processing machines, to prevent delays in results that can fuel misinformation, she said.

We hear from election officials in every corner of the country who are severely underfunded, she said. Right now, election officials run the risk of having equipment that is not up to the task of the demand that theyre going to see from voters this fall.

Although the Center for Tech and Civic Life is not issuing grants this election cycle, it is a founding partner of the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, which has been distributing money to local offices in states that allow it in the years since the last presidential election.

Macoupin County, Illinois, a downstate farming community halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, recently received a $500,000 grant to create a new early voting center  an amount equivalent to two years of the countys election budget.

The voting center, which opened in January, is in a building that used to house an insurance agency and law office. It sits across the street from the courthouse, where early voters used to have to cast ballots in cramped hallways, next to people waiting for their court dates. Election equipment was stored under staircases in a hallway or in the boiler room.

It was a total lifeline that otherwise never would have happened, said Pete Duncan, the county clerk. While we would love for it to have been federal or state funding that came in to help get this accomplished, thats just not something that the feds or states are interested in doing.

The post Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
A poll worker in Madison, Wis., sets up signage before early voting began in a 2023 election. This month, Wisconsin voters opted to ban private grants from funding local election administration. (Photo by Morry Gash/The Associated Press)

This month, Wisconsin joined 27 other states, including Iowa, that have banned or restricted local governments use of private donations to run cash-strapped election offices, buy voting equipment or hire poll workers for Election Day.

All of the state laws came in the past four years, pushed by conservative lawmakers and activists who claim that Democratic voters disproportionately benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in grants primarily funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, during the 2020 presidential election.

Courts and federal regulators have rejected those claims, but the debate over the role of outside money reveals a broader worry among election experts, who say there are significant shortcomings in local government funding of election offices. That includes not just Election Day duties and vote counting, but also the year-round administrative work of maintaining voter rolls and taking care of and updating voting equipment.

This isnt a situation where we can just overcome it with pure grit and buck up and get it done. We need the tools to get it done.

 Dusty Farmer, election clerk of Oshtemo Township, Mich.

Local municipal budgets are tight, and they vary depending on the tax base. It can be hard to justify a new ballot-counting machine when there are potholes to fix or schools to fund.

The ongoing funding uncertainty is untenable, said Tammy Patrick, the chief executive officer for programs at the National Association of Election Officials. Election officials need to have consistent funding to know they can replace outdated equipment and provide a secure and efficient voting experience, she said.

Ultimately and ideally, we wouldnt need to run such a critical function of our democracy relying on volunteers or donations, said Patrick, who is leading a national initiative to promote election funding. Everyone wants our elections to be secure, accessible, legitimate. And in order to have that, we have to support our election administrators.

Funding democracy

Counting ballots at 2:30 a.m. on election night in 2020, Dusty Farmer, the election clerk of Oshtemo Township, Michigan, realized she should have chosen a high-speed ballot tabulator.

When Michigan voters amended the state constitution in 2018 to allow for voting absentee without having to provide an excuse to officials, the number of mail-in ballots shot up and townships had to find a way to process those new ballots. Farmer opted for the less expensive, slower ballot processors.

After two years of lobbying her local board, she was able to secure the $40,000 high-speed counting machines last year  a big investment ahead of the 2024 election, she said.

This isnt a situation where we can just overcome it with pure grit and buck up and get it done, Farmer said. We need the tools to get it done.

Money from Congress has been limited. This year, congressional leaders agreed to provide $55 million in election grant funding for states to distribute locally. That is around as much as Los Angeles County alone spent conducting a gubernatorial recall election in 2021.

State and local election officials could breathe easier about some of the cybersecurity challenges if they had more funding from Congress, Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said to a room of fellow secretaries of state at a Washington, D.C., meeting in February.

This is an unfunded federal mandate, the only part of our critical infrastructure that does not have sustained federal funding, he said.

State money for elections varies widely. Lawmakers in some states do not allocate any of their budget to local election officials. In many cases, states just distribute federal grants for improving election security or as reimbursement for new equipment. Often, however, states hold onto federal grants dollars because they are unsure when the next installment from Congress might come.

Other states do allocate some local election funding in their budgets, but often not at a level that would allow for major equipment replacement, said Matthew Weil, executive director of the Democracy Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a D.C.-based think tank.

States such as Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii and Louisiana also reimburse localities for a portion of elections where statewide candidates are on the ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alaska and Delaware pay for all expenses of state and federal elections, while other states will pay for statewide special elections or presidential primary elections.

Funding elections mostly at the local level is not the model that is going to work for the future, Weil said.

But asking state governments to use their limited budgets on election equipment is politically tough, he added; its hard to cut a ribbon on a new $100 million voting system. Local governments spend as much on elections as they do to maintain parking facilities, according to a report by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in 2021.

I dont necessarily disagree with banning private funding in elections, Weil said. But that does require that counties, states and the federal government step up and fund elections at the levels they need to provide the services that voters have come to expect.

Banning private money in elections

Four years ago, as thousands of Americans died every day during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, local election officials hurriedly prepared for the 2020 presidential election, not knowing whether they had the money needed to allow voters to safely cast a ballot and for their staff to safely count those votes.

Foreseeing a democratic disaster, the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a Chicago-based nonprofit, used $350 million from Zuckerberg and Chan to hand out grants to nearly 2,500 local election offices across 49 states.

Local clerks, like Robin Cleveland of Williamstown Township, Michigan, used that money to buy personal protective equipment, pay and train temporary election workers, and run voter education campaigns.

The $5,000 private grant was essential for getting desperately needed supplies for her small community east of Lansing, Cleveland said. Though she feels supported by her township board, she has not been able to pay election workers more competitive wages nor replace ancient equipment  except in 2018, when she got a federal grant for new ballot tabulators.

Basically, the money has to come from somewhere if were going to have safe, secure and accurate elections, she wrote to Stateline in an email about private grants.

In Wisconsin, more than 200 communities received a collective $10 million in private grants. Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine  the states most populous cities  received 86% of that money, according to a report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, a conservative litigation group that supported the ballot question to ban private donations for election administration. Those five cities accounted for nearly 18% of the states total registered voters.

It was important to prevent outside groups from potentially dictating terms for grants or giving the impression that the money is helping a certain political party, said Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.

It creates an appearance of impropriety, and it undermines confidence in the outcome of the election, he said. Elections are a public function that have to be undertaken with scrupulous neutrality.

Esenberg doesnt think elections are underfunded. If local election officials feel like they need more money, he said, they should go to their state legislature.

Voters approved the states new constitutional amendment by more than 54%.

Of the 28 states that have now enacted bans, only Pennsylvania supplemented its measure with more election funding. In 2022, then-Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law the compromise measure, which invested $45 million in local elections.

A total lifeline

Before Wisconsins ban went into effect, Cities Forward, a nonprofit based in the state, awarded an $800,000 grant to Milwaukee for new ballot tabulators, text messaging services to reach voters and polling place upgrades. Madison was also able to spend $1.5 million from Center for Tech and Civic Life and U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence grants before the ban went into place.

The need hasnt dissipated, said Tiana Epps-Johnson, founder and executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, the nonprofit that drew conservative ire. Election officials need equipment, such as fast-counting ballot processing machines, to prevent delays in results that can fuel misinformation, she said.

We hear from election officials in every corner of the country who are severely underfunded, she said. Right now, election officials run the risk of having equipment that is not up to the task of the demand that theyre going to see from voters this fall.

Although the Center for Tech and Civic Life is not issuing grants this election cycle, it is a founding partner of the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, which has been distributing money to local offices in states that allow it in the years since the last presidential election.

Macoupin County, Illinois, a downstate farming community halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, recently received a $500,000 grant to create a new early voting center  an amount equivalent to two years of the countys election budget.

The voting center, which opened in January, is in a building that used to house an insurance agency and law office. It sits across the street from the courthouse, where early voters used to have to cast ballots in cramped hallways, next to people waiting for their court dates. Election equipment was stored under staircases in a hallway or in the boiler room.

It was a total lifeline that otherwise never would have happened, said Pete Duncan, the county clerk. While we would love for it to have been federal or state funding that came in to help get this accomplished, thats just not something that the feds or states are interested in doing.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
CBP gives go ahead for proposed fast pass pedestrian crossing at San Ysidro, Baja official says

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Kurt Honold Morales, Bajas Secretary of the Economy and Innovation, says a border project called CBX Pedestrian has cleared a major hurdle.

Honold Morales says U.S. Customs and Border Protection has given the go ahead to a plan that would give pre-screened pedestrians who purchase a ticket fast access into the United States through a special walkway at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

It is patterned after the Cross Border Xpress in Otay Mesa, which connects travelers in San Diego with Tijuanas international airport.

New port of entry wont be done in time as US has yet to start work on its side of the border

Its been authorized by CBP, they are working directly with us, looking at logistics, Honold Morales said.

The special lane, or walkway as some are calling it, would be built on land owned by the state of Baja California on the south side of the border.

Passengers will pay a monthly fee for daily access.

Honold Morales says the plan is to have the operators of the CBX in Otay Mesa operate the new lane once it is built in San Ysidro.

Theyll run it just like the facility at the airport, but at street level, he said. The fee will be more affordable than the one at the airport.

Checkpoint Charley expansion will make it the largest in US

Honold Morales stated pedestrians will be able to pick their crossing times, something that will help CBP prepare and assign the right amount of personnel to handle the flow of commuters through the special lane.

He believes this new access point will also reduce vehicular traffic by 20 percent as more commuters will choose to walk across quickly and then take public transportation north of the border.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Honold Morales did not provide a timeline for the project.

But the project may not be as far along as Honold Morales believes it to be.

A spokesperson with CBP tells Border Report there is nothing confirmed on this. And that its all preliminary discussion.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of suicide and murder. Reader discretion is advised.

CBS 48 Hours will take a look into the shooting death of Kristen Trickle in October 2019. The upcoming episode Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind airs on the network this Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. ET. A synopsis reads, A Kansas woman is found dying from a gunshot wound. Evidence at the scene doesnt add up, so a prosecutor gets creative.

According to KAKE News, on October 31, 2019, first responders found Kristen wounded or died from a gunshot wound to the head in her Kays, Kansas, home. Her husband, Colby Trickle, had made the distressing 911 call after 5:00 that morning, per the CBS 48 Hours sneak peek. Colby told officers that the 26-year-old took her own life.

Later, an autopsy ruled that Kristen Trickles death was a suicide. But, her family refused to agree that she was ever suicidal. Evidence at the crime scene and a subsequent investigation then revealed otherwise. Nearly two years later, authorities made an arrest and concluded with a shocking murder conviction in 2023.

Kristen Trickles murder: Who was the suspect charged and convicted?

A Kansas woman is found dying from a gunshot wound. Evidence at the scene doesnt add up, so a prosecutor gets creative. @EFMoriarty reports, Saturday at 10/9c on @CBS and streaming on @paramountplus. https://t.co/Uep06XBc5S  48 Hours (@48hours) April 25, 2024

In the CBS 48 Hours episode sneak peek, experts describe the crime scene, the murder weapon, and the suicide claim. Authorities found Kristen Trickle with a large weapon laying in bed, which is not a common sight to witness. Moreover, the weapon was a pretty hefty firearm. Experts claimed that they had a replica of the weapon she allegedly used. They said the gun was awkward to maneuver, alleging that its not something youd easily turn on yourself.

Authorities described the crime scene to be unusual. Additionally, they found evidence that linked Kristens husband, Colby Trickle, to her death. They believed he killed her. However, Colbys defense attorney argued that he placed the call when Kristen was still alive and wouldnt have done that if he intended to murder her. His lawyer also highlights the possibility that Kristen picked up the gun that night in great anguish and ended her life.

Hays Post reported that authorities arrested Colby Trickle in July 2021, nearly two years after Kristen Trickles death. He was facing a premeditated first-degree murder charge as well as charges for lying to the police. Colby stood trial in September 2023, which ended in a murder conviction. The jury deliberated for almost two hours before delivering the guilty verdict. He received a prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole for 50 years, per Fox 54 News Now.

The CBS 48 Hours episode will also examine how experts conducted a forensic psychological evaluation. The evaluation was a part of the detailed investigation. The episode sneak peek reveals that a professional dug into basically every aspect of her life to learn who Kristen was before her death.

Correspondent Erin Moriarty describes it as a psychological autopsy of Kristen Trickle. In the preview, Moriarty confirms with the expert that the purpose of the evaluation is to figure out the state of mind of a person who died. Kristens case was the first criminal instance in which they did a forensic psychological evaluation in Kansas.

The episode Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind airs on Saturday, April 27, on CBS.

The post CBS 48 Hours: What Happened to Kristen Trickle? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Concerns about chronic wasting disease have heightened after a case report surfaced of two hunters who developed neurological disorders and died after eating venison from a population of deer that may have been infected with "zombie deer disease."

The report of the two hunters who died in 2022, presented in early April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, did not prove the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from deer to humans, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio researchers wrote.

However, the researchers wrote, the case "emphasizes the need for further investigation into the potential risks of consuming CWD-infected deer and its implications for public health."

There have been no cases of CWD in people reported to date, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But past studies raised concerns that CWD could "pose a risk to people," the CDC has said, suggesting "it is important to prevent human exposures to CWD."

Here's what to know about the hunters' deaths and the CDC's response to the report.

Chronic wasting disease is slowly spreading to deer in the US.

Watch: Smart mama bear saves cub's life after plummeting off a bridge into a river

CDC: Deer meat did not lead to hunters' illnesses, death

About the 2022 report, the agency agreed with the researchers "that there is a need for careful investigation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) as a potential risk to people's health," CDC epidemiologist Ryan Maddox said in a statement to USA TODAY.

But the CDC reviewed the 2022 cases and considered the two men's deaths as "part of the normal number of cases of CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) we see in the U.S.," he said.

The men died after developing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which like CWD is a prion disease, a class of fatal neurological disorders, which can affect humans and animals, and usually progress rapidly and are always fatal. In prion diseases, certain proteins in the brain begin to fold abnormally, causing brain damage and other symptoms, the CDC says.

"A history of hunting and/or eating venison does not mean that someone got CJD that way," Maddox said. "Many Americans hunt and even more eat venison. Some will develop sporadic CJD by chance and others will not."

What is chronic wasting disease?

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), in deer, elk and other animals, leads to weight loss, lack of coordination, stumbling, listlessness, weight loss, drooling, and lack of fear of people, hence the term "zombie deer disease."

First identified in captive deer at a Colorado research facility in the late 1960s, CWD emerged in wild deer in 1981 and has since been reported in free-ranging deer, elk and moose in 33 states, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Scientists have been concerned about CWD because mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, jumped to humans in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.

"We know that prion diseases can spread from animals to people, as we saw with (mad cow disease)," Maddox said. "Studies are ongoing to assess whether CWD might pose a risk to people. Increases in the annual number of CJD cases in the United States can be explained by the aging population, improved surveillance, and better testing."

Aspects of the two hunters' cases point to classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), rather than a newer neurological disorder caused by CWD, he said.

Prion diseases typically take many years to cause symptoms in people. "The men died from CJD either before or around the same time that CWD was found in the area where they hunted, leaving no time for a lengthy incubation period," Maddox said.

Their ages, symptoms and brain changes "were all consistent with what we normally see in classic, sporadic CJD not attributed to CWD," he said. When variant CJD emerged as a result of "mad cow disease," those affected were younger with different symptoms, Maddox said.

And ongoing studies do not show an increase in rates of CJD in hunters in Colorado. "Results so far have been reassuring," he said. "The number of cases of CJD or other prion disease in this hunting population has not been higher than what we would expect in the general population."

Chronic wasting disease: Tips to lower risk when hunting deer and elk

Even though CWD hasn't transmitted to humans, hunters should take precautions to avoid exposure to chronic wasting disease. Here's some tips from the CDC:

Do not shoot, handle or eat meat from deer and elk that look sick or are acting strangely. Similarly, don't handle or eat roadkill.

Wear latex or rubber gloves when field-dressing the animal or handling the meat. Do not use household knives or other kitchen utensils for field dressing.

Avoid handling the organs of the animal, particularly the brain or spinal cord tissues.

Check state wildlife and public health guidelines to see if CWD testing of animals is recommended or required where you hunt.

Strongly consider having the deer or elk tested for CWD before you eat the meat. If your animal tests positive for CWD, do not eat meat from that animal.

If you have your deer or elk commercially-processed, consider asking that your animal be processed individually to avoid mixing meat from multiple animals.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunters didn't get 'zombie deer disease' from venison, CDC says
Three women tested positive for HIV after receiving vampire facials from a New Mexico salon

Getty

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new report involving the three patients who were likely infected with HIV after receiving vampire facials at a now-shuttered New Mexico salon.

On April 25, the agency shared details about the investigation of VIP Spa in Albuquerque due to former clients receiving HIV infection diagnoses between 2018 and 2023, marking the first CDC investigation to associate HIV transmission with nonsterile cosmetic injections.

The first case was a woman, aged 40-50, who tested positive for HIV in 2018. At the time, she reported no use of injectable drugs, recent blood transfusions or recent sexual contact with someone with HIV. However, she did report getting a recent vampire facial at the salon.

Vampire facials use the clients own blood pulled and re-inserted with micro-needling to refresh the skin on their face. The procedure gained attention in March 2013 when Kim Kardashian posted photos on Instagram after getting one.

Two additional cases in the CDC investigation were also women, aged 40-60, who both received vampire facials in 2018. One woman tested positive for HIV in 2018 during a routine evaluation for life insurance while the other woman received her diagnosis in 2023 after being hospitalized with an AIDS-related illness.

Related: Vampire Facials at New Mexico Spa Linked to Additional Cases of HIV

These are people who had no known risks for HIV acquisition, said CDC epidemiologist Anna Stadelman-Behar, the Washington Post reports. It was a shock to them definitely.

A joint investigation by the CDC and New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) revealed multiple unsafe infection control practices. At the VIP Spa, health officials found unlabeled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter, unlabeled tubes of blood and medical injectables (i.e., botox and lidocaine) in the kitchen refrigerator next to food, and unwrapped syringes in drawers, on counters, and discarded in trash cans.

Following the investigation, the agency states that HIV transmission likely occurred following vampire facials at the New Mexico salon. However, it said that the source of contamination remains unknown.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Google Maps VIP Salon and Spa

Related: Are Vampire Facials Still Safe After 2 People Who Got Them Tested Positive for HIV?

New Mexico health officials first warned clients who got a vampire facial at the Albuquerque spa to get tested for HIV and hepatitis in September 2018, after the first reported infection.

The NMDOH immediately shut down VIP Spa and the initial investigation found that their injected treatments, including vampire facials and Botox, could spread blood-borne infections like HIV, and hepatitis B and C.

At the time, NMDOH epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen said they were alarmed by how VIP Spa stored, handled and disposed of needles. Thats concerning, because if needles arent handled appropriately, you could potentially increase the risk of a blood-borne infection, Landen told KOAT News.

Maria Ramos de Ruiz, the owner of VIP Spa, said that they only use disposable needles. I open them in front of my clients every time they come, she told the outlet.

More than 100 former clients were tested during the initial investigation in 2018 and 2019.

In April 2021, Ramos de Ruiz was charged individual counts of racketeering and fraud, as well as five counts of practicing medicine without a license, six counts of money laundering, four counts of tax evasion and seven counts of willful failure to collect and pay taxes.

In June 2022 she was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

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Read the original article on People.
CDCR sues to restore punishment for prison guard who used tear gas on 2 inmates

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is suing the State Personnel Board, alleging that it committed a prejudicial abuse of discretion in overturning the departments punishment of a prison guard last year.

The lawsuit stems from a January 2022 incident at Sierra Conservation Center, a CDCR facility in Jamestown.

During the incident, two inmates rushed to attack a third. Though the men ultimately never harmed the third inmate and proceeded to get down on the ground as ordered, one guard threw a tear gas grenade at them. Of six guards on the scene at the time of the incident, only that one officer responded with force.

In December of 2022, that officer was served a notice of adverse action, deducting 5% of his pay for a span of 12 paychecks for allegations that he used unnecessary force on two inmates.

CDCR spokeswoman Mary Xjimenez said that the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The officer appealed to the State Personnel Board in January of 2023. In July of that year, an administrative law judge ruled in his favor and awarded him back pay, benefits and interest for all money that had been seized.

The administrative law judge, Amy Friedman, wrote that the evidence showed that the officers use of force was unnecessary because the two inmates were backing away from the other inmates and were in the process of lying down.

These conclusions, however, are drawn with the benefit of knowing how the incident played out, and after repeatedly viewing video footage of the incident that allows frame-by-frame playback, a fraction of a second at a time. Such exacting hindsight is not an appropriate measure for evaluating whether (the officer) failed to adhere to the use of force policy, Friedman wrote.

CDCR in September 2023 petitioned for a rehearing but in November of that year, the petition was denied by the SPB.

According to the complaint, CDCR alleges that the personnel board abused its discretion in revoking the penalty.

The order revoking the penalty is a patently abusive exercise of discretion by the SPB, the complaint reads.

CDCR said that the administrative law judges findings were not supported by the facts of evidence.

The department is suing to overturn the SPBs ruling.

SPB spokeswoman Camille Travis said that the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
Census change will lead to more data on health of Middle Eastern, North African people in US

A patient and volunteer clinician are pictured at a COVID-19 vaccine event in April 2021 at the Dearborn, Mich., clinic run by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, a wellness, community service and education nonprofit. Experts and advocates have long advocated for a different category in official data for people from the Middle East and North Africa. | Jacob Ermete/Courtesy of ACCESS

Before the successful, healthy birth of her son, recalls Germine Awad  an Egyptian American who is a psychologist at the University of Michigan  clinicians told her that her hormone levels were too high and that her pregnancy was in danger. They dont know us, her mother reassured her.

Iyman Hamad, a Palestinian American public health graduate student at Wayne State University in Detroit, had to search online to figure out which race or ethnicity box she should check at the doctors office and on school forms.

And Itedal Shalabi, who runs an Arab American family services center in the Chicago area and is also Palestinian, said misinformation and hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccines were rampant in her community. Because Arab Americans were considered to be white in the absence of a category for them, county funding for outreach in minority communities was delayed, probably causing avoidable deaths, she said.

In that time, we had so many Arab Americans die, especially elderly, she said. By the time we got the funding, we had so much work to do to catch up, while other [minority] communities were taking advantage of the shot.

For decades, U.S. residents with heritage from the Middle East and North Africa, which is known internationally as the MENA region, have been classified by the government as white. The grouping masked differences in income, health, housing and other important markers. And when public health officials lack data on COVID-19 deaths or vaccine uptake in the MENA community, for example, its difficult to distribute dollars and other public resources effectively.

The lack of a dedicated identifier makes it hard to isolate data, said epidemiologist Nadia Abuelezam, an associate professor at the Boston College Connell School of Nursing and the daughter of Palestinian refugees. Systemically, structurally, we were ignored, or our needs were ignored.

Last month, the federal Office of Management and Budget approved revisions to race and ethnicity data collection across federal agencies, including the addition of a new MENA category to the census. They are the first race and ethnic category changes since 1997. Along with a combined race/ethnicity category, the changes include a combined Hispanic or Latino checkbox and removal of phrases that can be considered pejorative, including Negro and Far East. Federal officials have said these revisions will yield more accurate counts and use language respectful of how people refer to themselves.

The new federal classification of MENA people is geographical and includes people from Arabic-speaking groups, such as Lebanese, Algerians, Egyptians, Palestinians and Syrians, as well as people from non-Arabic-speaking groups, such as Iranians and Israelis. It also includes ethnic groups who live in multiple countries, such as Assyrian, Kurdish and Chaldean people.

The updates will appear on the next census in 2030, but by next year, federal agencies must submit detailed plans on how they will incorporate the new requirements.

Apart from independent studies by academic and nonprofit researchers, little is known about the health of Middle Eastern and North African people in the U.S. Experts and advocates hope the census change will spur local and state health agencies to update their own data collection methods to shed light on health inequities and needs.

Theres so many of us here, yet we know so little, said Hamad, who interns at the Oakland County, Mich., health departments data division. There needs to be change.

A volunteer runs a science activity booth at an August 2022 back-to-school fair held by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn, Mich. | Jacob Ermete/Courtesy of ACCESS

Filling in gaps

Abuelezam, who studies maternal and infant health outcomes among MENA people in Massachusetts, is among a handful of researchers in the U.S. who are trying to fill in gaps in MENA health data.

Her research on Massachusetts mothers has found, for example, that Black Arab mothers had higher odds of preterm birth and low birthweight than Arab mothers classified as white, while Arab mothers were more likely to suffer gestational diabetes than white mothers.

One study found that from the beginning of the pandemic through July 2021, about 17% of Arab Americans in Michigan tested positive for COVID-19 compared with 11% of Hispanic people, 9.8% of Black people and 7.5% of white people.

Similarly, researchers who study aging and Alzheimers and related dementias found that confusion and memory issues, which can be early symptoms of the diseases, were found among 17% of MENA immigrants, compared with 9.6% of U.S.-born white people.

The change in categories only applies to federal agencies, not state governments, said Rima Meroudeh, director of the National Network for Arab American Communities. However, the official forms used by states, health agencies and school systems typically mirror the categories used by the census, and the change provides something much more concrete as we advocate at the state level because they want interoperability between state and federal data, she said.

Awad, the University of Michigan psychologist, studies mental health and the influence of discrimination in the MENA community. She said the change will help her illuminate social determinants of health, such as housing and environment, income, access to resources, health care and transportation, as well as trauma experiences. Awad and other researchers also are interested in exploring the prevalence of health conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular disease in MENA communities.

A group of us have been working for years advocating for this box, Awad said. Its been long overdue, and finally, we are going to be able to collect data to truly delve into some unanswered questions. We know there are disparities, but we dont actually truly understand the extent because there hasnt been systematic data collection.

The health data that schools collect also is skewed, said Matt Jaber Stiffler, who co-founded the Center for Arab Narratives, part of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, or ACCESS. For example, Stiffler said, Arab children are the majority of K-12 students in Dearborn, Michigan, but state data identifies them as white.

Inclusion would give a better picture of who these communities are and what their needs might be, Stiffler said.

Population counts

So far, federal population counts of MENA communities have been estimates. For the first time, the 2020 census offered a write-in option so respondents could mark their race and ethnicity as white but write in their ancestry. About 3.5 million people wrote in MENA countries of origin, with Lebanese, Iranians and Egyptians making up nearly half of them.

California, Michigan and New York had the largest MENA populations, with more than 300,000 residents combined. Those states were trailed by Texas, Florida, Illinois and New Jersey. Prior to the 2020 write-ins, the American Community Survey, an ongoing survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, provided limited estimates.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, a think tank that analyzes immigration policy, the 1920 census reported around 50,000 people from the MENA region. In the years since, a steady flow of Palestinians, Egyptians, Iraqis, Syrians and others have immigrated to the U.S., some after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and many more after the U.S. loosened its restrictive immigration policies in 1965. By 1980, the MENA population in the U.S. had risen to about 224,000.

Last August, Illinois became the first state to enact a law mandating all state agencies that collect race and ethnicity data include a MENA category. Lawmakers in California and Michigan are considering similar bills.

Systemically, structurally, we were ignored, or our needs were ignored.

 Nadia Abuelezam, an epidemiologist and Boston College Connell School of Nursing associate professor

We should incorporate this at all levels, whether in our health system data or educational systems, like on university levels, said Sarah Abboud, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago who studies health outcomes among Arab immigrants.

Some critics argue that the census should move away from categorizing people by race, instead of adding new racial categories. They point to the Human Genome Project, which found that humans share 99.9% of their DNA. Race, some argue, is a social construct, a relic of the 18th century.

But public health experts have demonstrated that racism affects peoples health, and Abboud said that Arab Americans experience worse health outcomes because of it. Additionally, immigrants displaced by war, such as Palestinian and Syrian refugees and their children, may have unique stressors around trauma.

Shalabi, of Arab American Family Services in Chicago, said inclusion of MENA in data is long overdue.

Were so excited because its about time that our community was identified, was visible, and in a way that really works toward their betterment of health and  being part of the American fabric, she said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Census change will lead to more data on health of Middle Eastern, North African people in US appeared first on Michigan Advance.
In what Superintendent Jeff Elstad called a "historic event for our community," a more than century-old time capsule has been discovered in the demolition of an old high school Owatonna, Minnesota. The contents of the capsule were unveiled for the first time during a press conference this week.

Bob Olson, director of facilities, infrastructure and security at Owatonna Public Schools, said at the event that the capsule was discovered while an old school was being taken down. According to the Owatonna People's Press, it was the former Owatonna High School that had been erected in 1921.

Owatonna Public Schools Director of Facilities, Infrastructure and Security Bob Olson carefully removes documents from a time capsule dated 1920 that was found during the demolition of an old high school site. / Credit: Owatonna Public Schools via YouTube

Olson said he had instructed construction crew members during the demolition to "nice and carefully" remove a cornerstone because they wanted to preserve it somewhere in the new district office or in a new high school. Inside that cornerstone, which was laid on September 30, 1920, was the time capsule.

And inside was a vast collection  and a typed list of everything inside. Among the items was a copy of one of the high school's first student newspaper volumes, finance committee reports, a list of mayors and city reporters, numerous items from the Minnesota Freemasons, and even a booklet written in Czech.

There was even information about the school at the time. The enrollment, uncovered documents show, was just 327 students in 1920.

Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Elstad and Director of Facilities, Infrastructure and Security Bob Olson examine documents hidden in a 1920 time capsule. / Credit: Owatonna Public Schools via YouTube

"Today we have over 1,500 students at Owatonna High School," Elstad said. "So we've grown."

Elstad said they are going to identify what documents in the capsule have "a direct tie to the school district." The items will go under curation, with the hopes that some of them will be able to be displayed at the new school district office and the high school. The Steele County Historical Society will also be taking some of the items for curation and display.

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Charges have been refiled against an 18-year-old accused of attacking four staff members at a Pittsburgh school earlier this year.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: PPS student charged, accused of assaulting at least 4 school employees

Police say Qvawn Rembert-Leonard became violent at Oliver Citywide Academys satellite campus after a dispute with staff about his cell phone.

He allegedly threw a staff member across the room, punched another in the face and choked another.

Charges against him were dropped earlier this month when the officer assigned to the case was not notified of a court date and victims werent notified to appear, according to the complaint.

Now Rembert-Leonard is charged with four counts of aggravated assault.

The teachers union sent Channel 11 a statement that said, in part, The educators at OCA, I am sure are encouraged that the student is getting the mental health services he needs. At this point in his life, Pittsburgh Public Schools is not the right place for this young man. He will not return to PPS.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A wealthy attorney was sentenced in a San Francisco courtroom this week for hiring someone to murder his ex during a contentious child custody dispute.

Allen Gessen, 49, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison for paying an undercover FBI agent $50,000 in exchange for murdering the mother of his young children, United States Attorney Ismail Ramsey said. The 10-year sentence was handed down by U.S. Northern District of California Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley.

Gessens original plot against his estranged partner was to bribe immigration agents to deport his ex back to her home country, prosecutors said.

Gessen believed that he could get full custody of his two children if their mother was deported, investigators said. Gessen initially agreed to pay the undercover FBI agent $100,000 to accomplish the bribery and deportation scheme. Gessen explained he could justify the expenditure because he would pay more in child support if his former partner remained in the United States, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote.

He later decided that a cheaper, and more permanent, plan to make her go away was to hire someone who would kill her, prosecutors said.

At the time, Gessen was an attorney licensed in New York. In the summer of 2022, Gessen met with an undercover FBI agent on two occasions, first in Boca Raton, Florida, and then again in New York City. During the meetings, Gessen explained that he was embroiled in a years-long legal battle over custody of their son and daughter.

Gessens objectives quickly transformed from bribing an immigration official to deport his former partner, to hiring someone to murder her. Gessen resolved to murder his former partner because it was a cheaper way to get rid of her and was a more permanent solution, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote.

At the meetings and through a series of encrypted electronic messages, Gessen initiated plans to commit crimes utilizing the undercover FBI agents connections. Gessen gave the agent a target package containing details about his ex, including her photograph, social media accounts, home address, boyfriend, friends, vehicle, and lifestyle, court records show.

Gessen agreed to pay a $25,000 deposit and have the remaining $25,000 be due after her murder was completed, investigators said.

The trial evidence established that Gessen wired a total of $23,000 to an FBI undercover bank account in San Francisco. Gessen also sent to the undercover FBI agent a written agreement containing a promise to pay for phony consulting services as a method to disguise the true nature of the funds, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote.

A federal grand jury indicted Gessen in the summer of 2022, charging him with one count of murder for hire. The case was prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office. Gessen was ultimately convicted following a one-week jury trial at the federal courthouse in San Francisco.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 26. President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and Pope Francis discussed strengthening cooperation in the Vatican, Trend reports.

The Tajik president's press service underscored Tajikistan's dedication to tolerance and cohabitation among all religions, as well as its historical contributions to global culture through scientific and literary progress. The meeting also included excellent discussions about other vital topics.



Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, began his first official visit to Italy and the Vatican on April 22. During his tour, he met with Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, and Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy. These high-level meetings resulted in the signing of seven new accords.

As part of Rahmon's official visit to Italy, an investment forum between Tajikistan and Italy took place in Rome on April 24. The forum resulted in the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements totaling over $160 million. Over 100 companies from both Tajikistan and Italy participated in the event.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he prepares to depart Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport en route to Beijing (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States has learned of Chinese efforts to influence and arguably interfere with this years upcoming general election and is working to stop them, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

In an interview with CNN on the tail end of his three-day trip to China this week, Mr Blinken said hed reiterated a warning President Joe Biden had delivered to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their November 2023 summit, in which Mr Biden told Mr Xi not to get involved in the 2024 election.

At the time, Mr Xi reportedly told Mr Biden that China would not interfere or attempt to interfere in the upcoming balloting. But Mr Blinken now says it appears that promise is going unfulfilled.

We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that thats cut off as quickly as possible, he said.

He added: Any interference by China in our election is something that were looking very carefully at and is totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure that they heard that message again.

China professes that it does not get involved in other nations internal affairs, but over the years Beijing and its allies and affiliates have been the subject of election-meddling accusations from multiple countries.

In 2020, Trump administration officials accused Beijing of attempting to interfere with that years presidential election. Many national security experts and pundits suggested at the time that the allegations were raised to distract from past foreign interference on behalf of then-president Donald Trump.

In 2016, Russias government mounted what the Department of Justice described as a sweeping and systematic effort to interfere in that years election to boost Mr Trump and denigrate his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ms Clinton ultimately went on to lose the 2016 race to Mr Trump, who is currently running to regain his former post after losing to Mr Biden four years ago.

Mr Trump solicited foreign support during his campaign in a speech his supporters claim was meant to be simply an attempt at humor. He later claimed that Russia did not interfere in the election on his behalf, despite evidence that it did.
HONG KONG  Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday as he wrapped up a three-day visit to China dominated by contentious issues and warnings from his hosts of another downward spiral in relations.

The two men met Friday afternoon local time at the Great Hall of the People, an ornate and cavernous building next to Tiananmen Square.

Xi noted that this year is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and said the two countries should be partners rather than adversaries.

The world is big enough to accommodate the simultaneous development and prosperity of both China and the United States, he said, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout, adding that U.S.-China relations will stabilize once the U.S. takes a positive and constructive view of Chinas development.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Blinken said the U.S. did not aim to hold back Chinas development or decouple the worlds two largest economies.

We want Chinas economy to grow, he said, but the way China grows matters.

That means fostering a healthy economic relationship where American workers and firms are treated equally and fairly, said Blinken, who cited what he called Chinas unfair trade practices and the risk that Chinese industrial overcapacity in key industries such as solar panels and electric vehicles could result in U.S. and other markets being flooded with Chinese products.

The visit is Blinkens second in less than a year as the two superpowers work to stabilize ties with renewed talks despite a growing list of geopolitical differences.

A primary goal of Blinkens visit to China was to warn about its support for Russias war against Ukraine, which began weeks after Moscow and Beijing declared a no limits partnership in 2022. Though China does not appear to be supplying Russia with lethal assistance, Blinken said Friday that it was providing machine tools, microelectronics and other dual-use items that make it the top supplier of Russias defense industrial base.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, he said.

Blinken meets with Xi in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein / AFP - Getty Images)

Other issues on the agenda included Chinese economic and trade practices the U.S. views as unfair, Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, stability in the Taiwan Strait, North Koreas nuclear and missile programs and the Israel-Hamas war.

Earlier Friday, Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where foreign dignitaries are often received.

Theres no substitute, in our judgment, for face-to-face diplomacy in order to try and move forward, but also to make sure that were as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences, at the very least, to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations, Blinken told Wang before the meeting.

Speaking through an interpreter before the meeting, Wang said the U.S.-China relationship has gone through ups and downs and twists and turns.

He said the relationship was beginning to stabilize but that negative factors were increasing.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, Wang said, in an apparent reference to U.S. export controls and other measures that Beijing says are intended to limit its economic growth.

Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? he said. This is a major question before our two countries.

Blinken later described his meeting with Wang, which lasted more than three hours, as extensive and constructive.

According to a State Department readout, the two men discussed next steps on a range of commitments that Xi and President Joe Biden made at their summit in California in November, including advancing cooperation on counternarcotics, military-to-military communication, talks on artificial intelligence risks and safety, and facilitating people-to-people exchanges.

Blinken announced Friday that the U.S. and China would hold their first talks on artificial intelligence in the coming weeks.

The Biden-Xi summit, the first encounter between the two leaders in a year, was intended to stabilize U.S.-China relations that had reached their lowest point in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, the status of Taiwan and the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over U.S. territory.

Though ties have improved since then, they are being tested by the strengthening of U.S. security alliances in the Asia-Pacific, U.S. concerns about Chinese goods flooding global markets, U.S. inquiries into Chinas electric vehicle, shipbuilding and other industries, the possibility of increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, and the passage this week of legislation that could result in a U.S. ban on the Chinese app TikTok.

The legislation, which Biden signed into law on Wednesday as Blinken was arriving in China, also includes $8 billion for security in Taiwan, a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its territory, and the broader Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. and China are competing for influence.

Blinken last visited China in June, when he also met with Xi. This trip also included a stop in Shanghai, where Blinken met with U.S. business leaders and visited the Shanghai campus of New York University.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's foreign minister Wang Yi shake hands in Beijing on Friday when the two held a closed-door meeting. Photo courtesy of Secretary of State Antony Blinken/X

April 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Beijing Friday he raised serious economic and security issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials focused on advancing commitments made last year at Xi's summit with President Joe Biden.

"In the months since then we focused intensively on advancing those commitments. I returned to China this week to take stock of where we've made progress and where more needs to be done so that we can deliver tangible results to the American people," Blinken said.

Blinken said he discussed a wide range of issues with Chinese leaders from economics to global security.

"America's actions are not aimed at holding back China's development, nor are we decoupling our economies. [Treasury Secretary Janet] Yellen said during her recent visit that would be disastrous for the global economy, including for the United States," he said.

But he said the way China grows matters. He warned that China is flooding markets, undermining competition and putting economies and livelihoods at risk around the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said Friday in Beijing that he raised serious economic and security issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders to deepen commitments made between the two nations at last year's San Francisco summit. File photo by MFA China/UPI

"President Biden will not let this happen on his watch," Blinken said. "We will do what's necessary to make sure that American workers can compete on a level playing field."

Blinken said he told his Chinese counterparts the United States and China must foster a healthy economic relationship where American workers and firms are treated equally and fairly.

The economic discussions included an agreement to hold talks on artificial intelligence.

"We agreed to hold the first talks on artificial intelligence to be held in the coming weeks. We'll share our respective views on the risks and safety concerns around advanced AI and how best to manage them," Blinken said.

On security issues, Blinken raised concerns about China's support of Russia's military industrial base, South China Sea actions Blinken called dangerous, Taiwan and the erosion of Hong's autonomy and democratic institutions.

"I made clear that while the U.S. will continue to work to de-escalate tensions, our defense commitments to the Philippines remain ironclad," Blinken said. "I reaffirmed the U.S.'s one China policy and stressed the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

He urged China to stop enabling Russia's defense industrial base that is being used to wage a war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Biden administration has threatened to impose sanctions on Chinese companies' sale of dual-use materials and weapons components to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine and also pose a threat to Europe.

"In my discussions today I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC providing components that are powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine," Blinken said. "China is the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, nitrocellulose, which is critical to making munitions and rocket propellants and other dual-use items Moscow is using to ramp up its defense industrial base. "

He said those components are used to churn out weapons that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses against Ukraine to "attack the power grid and other civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent women, children and men."

Without Chinese support, Blinken said, Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine. He told Chinese leaders Russia's war and its military-industrial base threaten European security.

Blinken also urged China to use its influence to discourage Iran and its proxies from expanding the conflict in the Middle East and to press North Korea to end what Blinken described as its dangerous behavior and to engage in dialogue instead.

Blinken said military-to-military communications between China and the U.S. have resumed "at multiple levels."

On fentanyl and other illicit drugs Blinken said U.S.-China cooperation has advanced, but more needs to be done. He said those drugs are the number one killer of Americans aged 18-45.

Blnken said China has increased enforcement action and is also providing information to international law enforcement to intercept illegal drugs. He called that important progress while calling for further Chinese action on the issue.

The U.S.-China relationship could either continue to stabilize or spiral downward, China's foreign minister Wang Yi warned Friday as he met Blinken, in Beijing as the diplomats seek to foster dialogue between their two countries amid conflicts.

Wang remarked during the joint press conference in Beijing on Friday that the U.S.-China relationship has begun to normalize, stating dialogue, cooperation and "the positive side of the relationship" have increased, but that negative factors remain hindrances.

"China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges," he said.

He said that their relationship was at a precipice, and that the world was waiting to see what will happen.

"This is a major question before our two countries," he said.

"Should our two sides lead international cooperation against global issues and achieve win-win for all, or engage in rivalry and confrontation or even slide into conflict, which would be a lose-lose for all? The international community is waiting for our answer."

He said China's position has been consistent -- that it wants mutual respect and peaceful coexistence with the United States -- but that so, too, are its concerns, which are for Washington to not interfere in Beijing's internal affairs, not to hold back its development "and not to step on China's red lines on China's sovereignty, security and development interests."

Blinken stressed the importance of their two countries continuing to improve communications and implementing the agreements their two presidents agreed to when they met in November.

He called their relationship "the most consequential ... in the world" and that there is no substitute for face-to-face diplomacy, as it can move their relationship forward while making it possible to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations where they have differences.

"That really is a shared responsibility that we have not only for our own people but for people around the world given the impact that the relationship between our countries has around the world," Blinken said.

The meeting comes as the two countries seek to if not repair their relationship, then prevent it from worsening.

In August of 2022, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which China responded to with fury and a military exercise nearby.

China views Taiwan as a rogue province that it has vowed to take back by force if necessary. The self-governing island has been a source of strain in the U.S.-China relationship, as the United States has deepened its ties with Taiwan, including militarily.

The visit resulted in Beijing ending high-level military-to-military communications with the United States, which were only repaired recently, with the heads of their militaries holding their first conversation since November 2022 10 days ago.

In February 2023, their relationship was further strained when Blinken canceled plans to visit Beijing after a Chinese balloon was spotted flying over the United States.

In the last year, the Biden administration has sought to improve communications with Beijing, with several high-ranking officials visiting to at the very least find areas where they could work together, such as climate change.

Biden has also sought to level the economic playing field with China, promising earlier this month to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum on accusations Beijing has been overproducing the metals and dumping them on the global market, negatively affecting U.S. steelmakers.
On the last day of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China, Beijing has warned of a deterioration in relations between the two powers.

Although the two sides are talking to each other again, the "negative factors" in the relationship between the US and China have increased, said China's chief diplomat Wang Yi on Friday in Beijing.

Wang cited China's right to develop being "unreasonably suppressed" as one of the reasons. According to him, the two countries are faced with the question of whether their relationship will either stabilize or slide into a downward spiral.

According to US media reports, Blinken said that progress had been made in some areas to close the gap between the two countries. However, he wanted to express clearly and directly the issues on which there were differences of opinion with China.

In talks on Thursday with the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Chen Jining, Blinken addressed points of difference with China regarding unfair trading practices, US press reports said. During his three-day visit to China Blinken also met students and US business representatives in Shanghai.

After a year of complete radio silence, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met in person last November near San Francisco in order to stabilize strained relations.

However, since then new disputes on political and economic issues have continued to boil over.

China is angry about US sanctions in the tech sector or against Chinese companies supplying componentry which could be used in Russia's war machine against Ukraine.

Washington is concerned about Chinese influence and recently passed a law to force the Chinese company ByteDance to divest itself of its video sharing platform TikTok in the US.
On Chornobyl anniversary, Zelenskyy urges world to put pressure on Russia and liberate Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant  video

On the anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the world to put pressure on Russia to ensure the liberation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) from the Russians.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Radiation sees no borders or national flags. The Chornobyl disaster demonstrated how rapidly deadly threats can emerge.

For 785 days now, Russian terrorists have held hostage the Zaporizhzhia NPP. And it is the entire world's responsibility to put pressure on Russia to ensure that ZNPP is liberated and returned to full Ukrainian control, as well as that all Ukrainian nuclear facilities are protected from Russian strikes."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that this is the only way to ensure that the world does not suffer new radiation disasters, which is a threat every day the Russian occupiers stay at ZNPP.

Zelenskyy also reiterated that the Russians seized the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant at the beginning of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and occupied it for 35 days.

"Russian soldiers looted the laboratories, captured the guards, abused the staff and used it [the Chornobyl NPP  ed.] to launch further military operations," Zelenskyy noted.

Radiation sees no borders or national flags. The Chornobyl disaster demonstrated how rapidly deadly threats can emerge. Tens of thousands of people mitigated the Chornobyl disaster at the cost of their own health and lives, eliminating its terrible consequences in 1986 and the pic.twitter.com/ezclAdytag  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2024

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On Thursday the justice of the Supreme Court appeared to endorse the idea that Donald Trump should be afforded some degree of presidential immunity from criminal charges that pertain to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. MSNBCs Chris Hayes described the days proceedings as almost a philosophical endorsement of the worst aspects of Trumpism.

Which is that this is all just power politics by another name, Hayes continued. That none of this actually adheres to any set of regularity or rules of law. That the reason that this hasnt happened before is because theres never been as partisan a prosecutor as Jack Smith, that thats whats unprecedented here, he said incredulously.

.@chrislhayes: The Supreme Court Trump immunity hearing was a "genuinely shocking experience."



"From the very first moments the conservatives on the court and in the framing of the question adopted the notion that what is new here and extraordinaryis the prosecution itself." pic.twitter.com/BIvCKOgvcp  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) April 26, 2024

At the top of the segment, Hayed likened watching the proceedings to having experienced genuine vertigo, like almost a physical sensation of like, am I losing my mind here?

Theres something wrong about this, he continued. The cause of the political whiplash, he said, is that Donald Trumps framing of this prosecution is that what is extraordinary about it is the fact of the prosecution. Whereas the lower courts and the rest of us, I believe, that whats extraordinary are the actions he took to warrant the prosecution.

What is unprecedented here are the actions at issue, which is the first attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power since the cannons fired at Fort Sumternot that an indictment was brought.

This is a repeat of last months case in which the court blocked Colorados attempt to remove Trump from the states primary ballot. The conservatives on the court, Hayes added, have adopted the notion that what is new here and extraordinary needs to be justification is the prosecution itself.

The prevailing thought among the conservative justices, he continued is that everyone below this court, these austere gentlemen with their impeccable vision, everyone below them are political hacks and only their views on the matter are important. Not, say, the views of the District Court and the Appellate Court and the Grand Jury and the Prosecutor and the Department of Justice and the Attorney General and the duly elected president who appointed him in the Colorado Supreme Court.

Conservative justices, he continued, arent considering that theyre the political hacks.

So to walk into the third branch of government, and these people with all this power, the creative minds who brought you 12-year-old giving birth to her rapists child, to listen to these folks and find them in the highest halls of power, adopting the most authoritarian and cynical vision of this was a genuinely shocking experience, Hayes concluded.

While it seemed unlikely that todays nearly three-hour-long session convinced any of the justices that Trump deserves fully immunity, the conservative justices who dominate the court 6-3 seemed sympathetic to the idea that he should be afforded some degree of protection, and that the case should return to lower courts. The case was escalated to the Supreme Courts after Trump appealed a lower court ruling.

Trump is the first former American president to face criminal prosecution. He has pleaded not guilty in this case, as well as in the additional three federal cases against him, and was not present at the hearings because he was required to be present at his hush money case in New York City.

Trumps lawyer D. John Sauer argued that presidents should receive absolute immunity for acts undertaken while serving, a suggestion that was rebuked by the courts liberal justices. Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson worried that such immunity runs the risk of turning the Oval Office into the seat of criminal activity in this country.

Watch the segment with Chris Hayes in the video above.

The post Chris Hayes Says Apparent Philosophical Endorsement of Trump Immunity Claims by SCOTUS Is Genuinely Shocking | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A cigarette setting a couch on fire, which quickly spread to the rest of a mobile home blocking exits, was the cause of a deadly fire early Saturday morning, April 20, in El Pasos Lower Valley, El Paso Fire officials said.

The El Paso Fire Department responded to a Condition 1 fire in a mobile home at 7260 Alameda Ave, El Paso Fire officials said.

1 person dead in mobile home fire in Lower Valley; second fatal fire of week

El Paso Fire officials confirmed two people were inside the mobile home at the time. One of them was seriously hurt while the other died at the scene.

KTSM spoke with the family of the victims who said two sisters, Maria Montes and Irene Roman, lived in the mobile home.

UPDATE: Heat source near combustibles causes deadly mobile home fire

The family confirmed Roman died in the fire. Montes said she suffered severe burns and lung damage due to smoke inhalation.

Additionally, No working smoke alarms were found within the premises, highlighting the critical importance of fire safety and use of early detection devices, El Paso Fire officials said.

To request free smoke alarms, residents can dial 311 or visit elpasofire.org

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Cities and schools see new opportunities to partner on child care with state grants

Brookings children watch caterpillars grow at the local Boys and Girls Club. (Courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains)

Brookings children watch caterpillars grow at the local Boys and Girls Club. (Courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains)

Jody Hernandez has a pitch for Brookings businesses to support a child care initiative in the city.

We can go to employers and say, if you want to retain employees, then we have a system that their potential employees children from ages 0 to 5 can be kept safe with a great education from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Hernandez, who serves as CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains.

She was referring to a new collaboration between the Boys and Girls Club and the Brookings School District. The nonprofit will create three club sites at elementary schools in Brookings to offer preschool and child care for the entire workday.

Second in a series

This is the second of three stories about the ways communities are utilizing child care grants from the state. The first story examined how small towns are using the grants, and the next will examine how the states two largest cities are thinking creatively.

The club will use school facilities and a shared curriculum to help prepare 4- and 5-year-olds for kindergarten in a structured environment similar to what theyll experience in school.

The collaboration provides continuous care for preschoolers, rather than a half-day model, and it isnt tied to public education. Instead, its starting out as a fee-based model where the school district provides the facilities and the Boys and Girls Club covers the rest of the childrens needs.

The move will open up the Boys and Girls Clubs current facility to double the number of 3-year-olds the club can provide preschool and continuous care for. The nonprofit also plans to remodel the facility and partner with another child care provider to serve children up to 2 years old. Hernandez said the nonprofit is partnering with the Childrens Museum and South Dakota State University to create a fun, interactive design for the space.

Hernandez hopes the collaboration will open 100 new 0-2 child care spots in the Brookings area by 2025 and serve up to 240 children at the school district club sites. While Brookings has four child care centers, two are associated with an employer and primarily serve employees children, which limits community options for child care, she said.

A child waters plants at the Boys and Girls Club in Brookings. (Courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains)

A child waters plants at the Boys and Girls Club in Brookings. (Courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains)

Brookings is one of 13 communities awarded a child care grant from the Governors Office of Economic Development last month. In total, the grants, using federal funds, are infusing over $3.7 million into helping communities find collaborative, innovative solutions to address child care needs across South Dakota.

The initiatives range from improving the child care workforce, to creating after-school programs, to supporting existing providers with continued education. The Brookings partnership was awarded $400,000 for its program.

It just made sense that wed work hand in hand with the school district on this program, Hernandez said, saying the partnership will help children transition to school more easily, especially with a focus on early literacy. In 18 years well see the success weve got from this program. When they graduate from school, hopefully theyll have handled school better, performed better and will become adults thatll give back to their community.

Brookings isnt the only community that sees a partnership between child care providers and the local school district as a potential solution to addressing child care shortages:

Burke will launch its first after-school program in collaboration with the school district with its $211,000 grant.

Mobridge will hold privately funded preschool classes and child care inside its school buildings with its $500,000 grant.

Vermillions school district gifted an empty elementary school to child care providers to use.

Mobridge preschool model

Michele Harrison, executive director for the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce in north-central South Dakota, said the towns lone licensed child care facility has a waitlist of over 35 children. Many of the child care spots are filled by 3- and 4-year-olds rather than younger children.

I have employers on my board whove been screaming at me for a long time to do something about day care, because they cant have employees without it, Harrison said.

Similar to Brookings, the local child care center, after-school program and school district are partnering to provide fee-based preschool and child care for 3- and 4-year-olds across the street from the school. The schools tech class will build two classrooms on the currently vacant lot, Harrison said.

Additionally, the future child care program, called Lake Oahe Learning Academy, will work as an umbrella organization to help in-home child care providers become licensed, answer their questions and provide support.

Harrison said Mobridge will gain 18 infant and toddler slots as well as 34 preschool-age slots by the start of the school year in the fall. She plans to have 16 more infant and toddler slots available by fall 2025.

Creating after-school programs in rural areas

Gregory County, in south-central South Dakota, doesnt have any licensed after-school or summer care programs, said Kelsea Sutton, president of the Burke Business Promotion Council. Those students, similar to Mobridge, end up filling needed child care slots for younger children and infants. It can also impact productivity in the county.

I dont think families here understand how much theyve rearranged their lives to accommodate the lack of after-school care, Sutton said. Whether thats a grandparent reducing their work hours to take care of their grandkids after school, a parent doing that, or even a family making not the best or safest decision so they can have a full work day.

The plan is to run an after-school care program through the three licensed child care facilities in the county  in Burke, Gregory and Bonesteel  since the requirements for licensing a child care center are similar to after-school care. But the programs themselves will be hosted on school campuses.

The program will be fee-based, but Sutton is encouraging eligible families to enroll their children using the states child care assistance program because it helps providers be sustainable. The after-school program can serve up to 90 children.

Platte, using its nearly $300,000 grant, is planning to create an after-school program at an existing child care center in the town. The town, across the Missouri River from Gregory County, doesnt have an after-school program.

The communitys original plan was to create a school-adjacent after-school program by relocating another child care provider to a former assisted living facility, said Colette Mesman, executive director for the Platte Development Corporation, but that plan fell through.

The money will now be used to expand capacity at the child care facility to accommodate over 20 more children and to help the provider recruit and retain more employees for the expanded program. Mesman said the grant will be used to offer sign-on and retention bonuses.

Its still great, Mesman said. Its a smaller impact than what we planned, but were still utilizing the money to impact child care in Platte.

Vermillion School District donates building, uses grant to expand access and workforce

In Vermillion, the city is looking to increase child care slots by 46 by using an old elementary school building for a child care center, and by using grant money to renovate the school building and a couple of other child care centers.

The school district donated the building to the Vermillion Boys and Girls Club, but the center will be run by another child care provider.

The city also plans to build a preschool science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) lab for preschoolers, establish a voucher system for businesses to buy slots in child care throughout Vermillion, and help improve the child care workforce by paying for certification for child care workers, said President and CEO of the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company Jim Peterson.

Peterson hopes the initiatives will set an example for other South Dakota communities. He added that the University of South Dakota will work with child care providers to research and assess the impact of the proposed STEAM lab, which will be available for providers across the state to access.

We really tried to look at the model overall and make it sustainable over the long term, Peterson said. Based on the study and need and looking at the workforce demands in Vermillion, our group felt this was the best utilization of the grant and gives the best return on the feedback we got from parents and businesses. It hits on accessibility, affordability, quality and getting more teachers into the workforce.

The post Cities and schools see new opportunities to partner on child care with state grants appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
NEW YORK  Students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment Thursday at City College of New York, with one passerby being driven away when a protester claimed she could smell he was a Zionist.

Concern about antisemitism at protests sweeping campuses around the nation has grown in recent days, sparking demands for university officials to act more decisively to dismantle the demos.

Protests at Columbia University and New York University have led to the arrests of more than 200. The State University of New Yorks Fashion Institute of Technology saw a small pro-Palestinian encampment pop up Thursday, following a similar demonstration at The New School.

At City College in Harlem, students have erected dozens of colorful tents around an American flagpole, where they also hung a Palestinian flag. CUNY Students Resist Zionism and BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, signs read.

On Thursday night, protesters at the campus were seen booing a passerby and driving him away from the demonstration.

I can sniff you, we can all sniff you, one protester sneered at the man. We can smell the Zionist on you.

The protester told the New York Daily News the person shed targeted was frowning and recording as he passed.

I just could tell he was a Zionist, said the woman. They victimize themselves so quickly.

CNN initially reported that university officials had been in touch with the NYPD, with plans to clear the encampment at about 5 p.m., but posted an update citing an unnamed law enforcement official saying no action is imminent. A call to the NYPD seeking clarification was not immediately returned.

In solidarity with Palestine, while following the legacy of the CUNY student organizers that came before us, we have established the CUNY GAZA Solidarity Encampment at City College, the oldest campus from the City University of New York, students wrote on Instagram.

CUNY students are calling for the university system to divest from Israel, ban partnerships and trips to Israel such as Birthright and Fulbright programs, reverse student and faculty disciplinary action related to pro-Palestinian activism and remove police from campus.

They also called on CUNY to release a statement affirming the right of the Palestinian people to national liberation and the right of return, and to make CUNY tuition-free.

We demand a fully-funded, free CUNY that is not beholden to zionist and imperialist private donors, the students wrote.

Throughout the afternoon, students shouted chants like, Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest. Some of them were skipping their plans for spring break, which runs through Tuesday, to be at the encampment.

Frankly, I cant really relax in a time like this, said Andrew Shapiro, a PhD sociology candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center and part-time faculty member at Hunter College, who is Jewish. I have not felt like I could relax comfortably, like I can be a student normally. Nothing feels normal as an ongoing genocide is happening, allegedly in my name.

People were away and they flew back in, said Hadeeqa Arzoo, a student at City College. They flew from home to be here, and I think that speaks volumes to what this means for many people.

Arzoo, whos majoring in political science and international relations, said the encampment at Columbia really lit a fire under us that could not be delayed until after the break. CUNY officials had not engaged in any negotiations as of Thursday afternoon, she noted.

As of right now, were seeing what happens, Arzoo said. Because were not moving. Were not gonna be intimidated into silence. Were here.

Meanwhile in Chelsea, students set up a similar encampment inside the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Demonstrators stormed into The Museum at FIT on W. 27th St. and Seventh Ave., Fox News reported. Video shows scores of people pushing through the doors, where a security guard worked to pull them closed but was overtaken.

Free, free, free Palestine, protesters shouted as they took over the lobby of the on-campus museum.

By early Thursday evening, about 60 protesters remained in the lobby, where tents and a sign stating FIT Gaza Solidarity Encampment were set up.

A student group said in a statement theyre calling on FIT to divest from Israel and provide amnesty from disciplinary action. Encampment rules include: Do not under ANY circumstances talk with NYPD or media.

The NYPD had not responded to the site as of Thursday evening.

We are monitoring and managing the situation to ensure the safety of the entire FIT community, which remains our highest priority, a FIT spokesperson said in a statement.

At City College, a spokesperson said it was in the process of determining if the protesters were affiliated with CUNY.

While The City College of New York is strongly committed to the principles of freedom of speech and expression on campus, it is mindful of any action that may cause disruption to our community in any way, the spokesperson said in a statement.

CCNYs longstanding position is that any legitimate protest  by any group that is part of our community  must be peaceful, respectful, nonthreatening, and devoid of any hatred or intimidation. It must also not interfere with any activities on campus.

The encampment included a poster to Support the Five Demands Viva Palestina, resembling similar signage to Support the Five Demands Viva Harlem U in April 1969, when a group of Black and brown students set up a tent demonstration to promote racial equity.

____
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 26. Tajikistan voices concern over the increasing number of cases where Tajik citizens are denied entry into Russia without valid reasons, Trend reports.

According to Tajikistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this issue was raised during a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoriev, at the Ministry.

The meeting focused on further strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two countries across various domains and upcoming political events in bilateral and multilateral formats. Discussions also touched upon the challenges faced by citizens of Tajikistan in recent weeks when crossing Russia's state border.

On March 22, unidentified individuals opened fire with automatic weapons at "Crocus City Hall" in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk. The incident occurred before the start of a concert by the band "Piknik." On March 26, emergency responders completed the clearing of debris following the terrorist attack. According to the latest information, the death toll from the attack is at least 145. In Tajikistan, nine individuals suspected of involvement in the terrorist act at "Crocus City Hall" have been detained.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The City of San Angelo has recognized 265 staff members for their many years of service to the organization.

Service awards were presented to each of the employees who had a milestone anniversary in 2024, with awards honoring those who have spent five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years serving the City and San Angelo at large.

Dancing With the San Angelo Stars 2024

Those who mark significant milestones in their years of service are those who have tirelessly fixed water breaks, cleaned up after frequent storms and supported our community, Human Resources Director Bryan Kendrick said. Public servants often work long, thankless shifts, and I want to say Im so proud of our city staff. San Angelo is truly blessed!

Of the 265 staff members honored, four had been serving for 35 years. One, Randy Owen, is part of the Permits and Inspections Department, while the remaining three  Assistant Police Chief David Howard, Chriselva Soto and Laura Washington  are all with the San Angelo Police Department.

For a full list of service award recipients, view the .pdf file below.

Employee-service-awards-list-2023-24Download

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
A bomb threat to Wichita State University was determined not to be credible, the university said in a release shortly before 1 a.m. Friday.

No devices have been found. The university will now resume normal activities, the release states.

The all-clear was given roughly three hours after a suspicious call led police to lock down two sites on campus.

At around 10 p.m. this evening, April 25, 2024, a call was made to Wichita State University Police indicating the presence of a bomb on WSUs campus at Wallace Hall and the Starbucks on 21st Street, the university said in a previous release at 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

With the help of officers from the Wichita Police Department, WSU police set up perimeters around both sites and searched them exhaustively, the university said.

A university-wide emergency alert was sent out shortly after the threat was made, and people on campus were asked to stay away from both sites.

At this time, police suspect the threat is not credible but are taking every precaution to ensure campus safety, the earlier release stated.

No information has been provided about the caller who contacted university police.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Coke County Sheriffs Office has asked for the publics help in apprehending a woman wanted for burglary.

According to the sheriffs office, the individual is 49-year-old Christina Santos. Also known as Christina Garivay, she is a white female who is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 138 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Santos has a warrant out for her arrest in Coke County in relation to a charge of burglary of a habitation. Concho Valley Homepage staff contacted the Coke County Sheriffs Office to ask how the charge was acquired but were told that the office is unable to provide an answer until Santos has been apprehended.

Individuals with information regarding Santos whereabouts are asked to contact the sheriffs office at (325) 453-2717. The office also asked residents not to engage in any police-action yourself nor post tips on social media.

Image courtesy of the Coke County Sheriffs Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
A 46-year-old native of Colombia has been identified as the cyclist hit and killed by a fleeing driver in Los Angeles Wednesday morning.

Jose David Monsalve Rojas was hit in the Central-Alameda neighborhood by a vehicle allegedly driven by 23-year-old Germaine Smith.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the area around 6:10 a.m. after a woman who was the victim of a burglary the night before informed them that she was tracking her stolen electronic device.

She believed her device was in the suspects vehicle and she contacted police to report its location, police said.

Officers found the vehicle, a gold Chevrolet Suburban, parked in front of an apartment building at East 48th Street and South Central Avenue.

A police vehicle approached the SUV from behind and flashed its lights, and the driver of the vehicle immediately drove off at high speeds down Central Avenue, police said.

Police pursued and a brief chase began down several surface streets, but it came to an end after the SUV struck the passing cyclist and then collided with several vehicles and a telephone pole before rolling and landing on its roof.

A white canopy is set up over what appears to be a victim of a pursuit crash in Los Angeles on April 24, 2024.

The driver then fled the scene on foot, but was quickly captured, arrested and identified as Smith.

Monsalve Rojas was pronounced dead at the scene. On Thursday, police announced that the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner had identified him and said he was a native of Colombia.

A GoFundMe page set up by loved ones describes Monsalve Rojas as a father of five who left Colombia in search of a better life and had a dream, they said, of curing his daughters liver disease.

Imagine, a regular morning now turned into a day well never forget, the campaign organizer wrote. David touched lives in ways that words can barely capture. A soul so deeply devoted to his children.

Smith has since been booked into jail to await charges for felony evading causing death. He also had additional outstanding warrants, bringing his total bail amount to $327,000.

Police said additional stolen property belonging to several different people was found inside the stolen vehicle.

Anyone with information about the deadly collision is urged to contact LAPD Traffic Group Detectives at 213-486-0690. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 800-222-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Colorado Senate Democrats on Sept. 8, 2023, elected Sen. Robert Rodriguez, center, to serve as majority leader. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado could be one of the first states to broadly regulate generative artificial intelligence, as lawmakers consider the balance between setting guardrails on a potentially-harmful technology and stifling innovation and entrepreneurship.

Senate Bill 24-205 seeks to limit discriminatory uses of AI technology by requiring businesses to self-report instances of bias to the state.

It passed through its first Senate committee hearing on a 3-2 party-line vote on Wednesday, the same day the Connecticut state Senate approved similar legislation. The idea is for states to pass a consistent, uniform law as the federal government delays action.

This bill isnt trying to change the world right now, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a Denver Democrat and the bills sponsor, told committee members. It has always been about providing a framework for accountability for biases and discrimination (and making sure) people know when theyre interacting with (AI). The more this evolves, less and less people know theyre touching it.

Rodriguez is a member of a multi-state AI task force that began meeting last year. He also led the bill to create the states consumer data privacy law in 2021, which gives people the right to ask companies to stop collecting their personal data.

The AI bill, which was essentially rewritten through a strike-below amendment in committee, would require that deployers of the technology notify consumers that they are interacting with AI, mandate risk assessments of systems and direct companies to report known risks and incidents of algorithmic discrimination to the attorney generals office.

Those requirements are aimed to prevent discrimination that could arise when companies use AI in hiring, housing and health care decisions, among other operations. AI relies on existing data and algorithms, and that influences how they perform and opens it up to baked-in bias. Practical examples of AI bias include computer-aided diagnosis systems returning less accurate results for Black patients because it was based on data that had an overrepresentation of white patients, or a hiring algorithm favoring men because it is drawn to words more commonly used on mens resumes.

It has implications for almost every area of law and policy, from telecommunications to criminal law to copyright laws, civil rights, privacy, financial regulation and so much more, Rodriguez said.

The bill is facing opposition from the business and technology community, who argue that it is too early to regulate an ever-changing technology. They compared the current state of AI to the very early days of the World Wide Web.

The bill in its current form will do more harm than good, said Eli Wood, the founder of Denver-based Black Flag Design. At first glance, it seems like its a sensible solution to control the impacts of this technology before it negatively impacts society. But I believe it will severely curtail the ability of small organizations like ours, and ultimately negatively impact democratizing the technology for societal good.

Wood was one of the signatories on a letter sent to Rodriguez earlier this week in opposition of the bill. The group wrote that the requirements in the bill ignore the technological reality of AI and would be burdensome to Colorado small businesses and startups that use the technology, potentially driving them out of the state. The opponents instead want a task force on the issue that considers the input of local business leaders, data ethics researchers and consumer advocates.

Though many people testified in opposition to the bill on Wednesday, there is consensus that some level of AI regulation is needed. The sticking point is the extent of those regulations and when they should happen.

Legislating in an area where technology evolves daily is inherently challenging and fraught with unintended consequences. What may seem like sensible regulation today could quickly become obsolete or counterproductive tomorrow, said Michael McReynolds, senior manager of government affairs at the Governors Office of Information Technology, which has registered to lobby for amendments to the bill.

The bill would set an implementation deadline for October 2025, which Rodriguez argued is ample time for a comprehensive rulemaking process to address concerns.

SB-205 is not the only bill this year to consider the impacts of AI. The Legislature gave final approval this week to a bill that would require disclosure on political campaign communications that use AI.

The bill now heads to the entire Senate for consideration. It has just under two weeks to make it through both chambers before the legislative session ends on May 8.

This article first appeared in the Colorado Newsline, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post Colorado lawmakers consider landmark artificial intelligence regulations appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Columbia anti-Israel encampment ringleader Khymani James banned from campus after raging Zionists dont deserve to live in resurfaced video

A ringleader of Columbia Universitys anti-Israel encampment was banned from the Ivy League campus Friday after newly resurfaced video showed the student publicly raging that Zionists dont deserve to live.

Khymani James, who says they go by he/she/they pronouns, made the disturbing remarks during a disciplinary hearing with university officials back in January, which the student livestreamed and then blasted out on social media.

Zionists dont deserve to live comfortably, let alone Zionists dont deserve to live, the student filmed themselves saying.

Khymani James, who says they go by he/she/they pronouns, is under fire after newly resurfaced video showed the student publicly raging that Zionists dont deserve to live. LP Media

The same way we are very comfortable accepting Nazis dont deserve to live, fascists dont deserve to live, racists dont deserve to live, Zionists, they shouldnt live in this world.

Be grateful that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists, James added. Ive never hurt anyone in my life, and I hope to keep it that way.

James made the sickening comments as they were being grilled by officials from Columbias Center for Student Success and Intervention over a past Instagram post, according to the video, which was first reported on by the Daily Wire.

In the post in question, James  who is a spokesperson for Columbias anti-Israel student group Apartheid Divest  had warned any Zionist wanting to meet up and fight that they fight to kill.

Meet Khymani James, a student leader of Columbia Universitys anti-Israel Gaza Solidarity Encampment who openly states that "Zionists dont deserve to live"



He made the comments during a meeting with the school that he live-streamed.



We put together the highlights: pic.twitter.com/JFlxnRkNC2  Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) April 25, 2024

Do you see why thats problematic in any way? a Columbia official probed during the meeting, to which James fired back, No.

I feel very comfortable, very comfortable, calling for those people to die, James said, according to the video. And with that being said, Khymani is signed out.

According to the New York Times, James proudly spouted the shocking remarks during a disciplinary hearing  which they claimed was institutional violence.

The student in question has been banned from campus, a campus spokesperson confirmed Friday.

Columbia University did not make it clear, however, whether barring James from the campus meant they were suspended or permanently expelled.

The school also declined to comment on whether the student had been, or would be, disciplined for the remarks other than their banishment.

The footage of James remarks started circulating on social media Thursday as the disruptive anti-Israel protests on the Ivy League campus raged on.

The student made the disturbing remarks during a meeting with university officials back in January, which James livestreamed and then blasted out on social media. Khymani James

James made the sickening comments as they were being grilled by officials from Columbias Center for Student Success and Intervention over a past Instagram post, according to the video. Khymani James

Hours before they were banned from campus, James, who has been spotted holding rally-style speeches within Columbias encampment zone this week, fired back with a half-hearted, too-little-too-late apology in which they claimed they were a victim of racism.

James, who has been spotted holding rally-style speeches within Columbias encampment zone this week, fired back with a half-hearted apology in which they claimed they were a victim of racism.

On Thursday, a video of me taken back in January began to circulate online. What I said was wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification, they said in a statement posted on X.

I also want people to have more context for my words, which I regret. Far right agitators went through months of my social media feed until they found a clip that they edited without context. When I recorded it, I had been feeling unusually upset after an online mob targeted me because I am visibly queer and black.

James, who has been spotted holding rally-style speeches within Columbias encampment zone this week, fired back with a half-hearted apology in which they claimed they were a victim of racism. NYPJ

On Thursday, a video of me taken back in January began to circulate online. What I said was wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification, they said in a statement posted on X. NYPJ

James went on to acknowledge that both CUAD and encampment organizers had distanced themselves from the students past comments. NYPJ

James went on to acknowledge that both CUAD and encampment organizers had distanced themselves from the students past comments.

I agree with their assessment. Those words do not represent CUAD. They also do not represent me, the student said.

I am frustrated that words I said in an Instagram Live video have become a distraction from the movement for Palestinian liberation. I misspoke in the heat of the moment, for which I apologize.

Still, the students apparent apology flies in the face of remarks they made as recently as this week.

People can have entrance to our encampment as long as theyre respecting community guidelines, James told reporters Wednesday during one of their many addresses. The most important one being that we do not allow for any discrimination or bigotry of any kind.

Just days earlier, though, a group of Jewish students claimed to News Nation that James had been spewing the activists prior anti-Zionist rhetoric.

We have Zionists who have entered the camp, James is alleged to have said, before telling those close by to form a human chain.

Walk and take a step forward so that we can start to push them out of the camp.
NEW YORK  As a deadline for Columbia University administrators and protesters to iron out a deal to clear a Gaza encampment edges closer, university officials are facing a lose-lose decision if students continue to flout school rules: Call in the NYPD for a second time or allow a situation they have said cannot continue to continue.

Columbia officials have faced criticism by students, faculty and civil rights groups for calling in the police last week to deal with campus unrest, and increasing violence at other college campuses is no doubt sparking concern.

On the other side, Columbia president Minouche Shafik is under fire by Jewish students and an array of public officials for failing to protect students from anti-Semitism and abuse in and around the upper Manhattan campus. House Speaker Mike Johnson Wednesday visited campus and called on Shafik to resign.

Thursday, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn), whose daughter Isra Hirsi was among the Columbia students arrested and suspended last week, visited the campus lawn, according to students social media posts from inside the closed-off encampment.

Columbia says it is making progress in talks with the protesters, who are demanding the university divest from investments tied to Israel. According to the administration, students have committed to removing a number of their tents and promised that protesters not enrolled at the school will leave.

But negotiations, which started last Friday, continue on unstable ground.

Student negotiators meet twice daily with members of the administration, according to student news site BWOG. The campus outlet reported the university has tried to offer an alternative space for the encampment, because they need the current lawn to set up for graduation on May 15.

Students briefly pulled out of talks when administrators raised the prospect of clearing out the encampment again  a threat that, for now, is on hold.

This is a win for us, said Khymani James, a representative the encampment. Our negotiation team has committed not to participate in a bargaining process so long as the university attempts to extract concessions by police or military force.

Still, James added, James, there is no guarantee of NYPD not being involved after 48 hour deadline.

The NYPD has said it is prepared to clear the campus if asked  but want a clearer plan for what comes next. After the police arrested more than 100 protesters last week, students returned to campus shortly after and reestablished the encampment.

The student protests continued much as usual on Thursday, the one-week mark since NYPD arrested more than 100 protesters  with dozens of tents still camped out on the lawn. An adjunct theater professor posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that students had designated a nut-free zone for their classmates with allergies.

I very much hope these discussions are successful, University President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Tuesday night. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate.

After university officials announced they were making important progress with representatives for the encampment, they extended the cutoff for conversations by 48 hours, which will culminate overnight. While the exact time of the expiration is unclear, the extension of Tuesdays deadline as announced in the early morning hours Wednesday, outting the end of the 48 hours sometime between midnight Thursday and 8 am Friday.

Shafik, in the memo, said she is deeply sensitive to the fact that this years graduating class spent their first year of Columbia online during the pandemic.

It is essential that we move forward with a plan to dismantle it, Shafik wrote. She recognized free speech and that many protesters have gathered peaceful, but said the encampment still raises safety concerns, disrupts campus and creates a tense environment.

University officials denied they would request the National Guard, an idea thats been put forward by Republican lawmakers including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who visited campus Thursday.

Let me be clear, Columbia spokesman Ben Chang briefed media after Johnsons visit. That is untrue and an unsubstantiated claim.

Our goal is to restore order, he continued, and if we can get there through dialogue, we will.

Hundreds of faculty members, many clad in university regalia, walked out of online classes Monday to condemn Columbia administrators for using the NYPD to arrest students engaged in peaceful protests, according to a campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors declaration handed out at the demonstration.

The chapter on Thursday released a statement condemning any interference by members of Congress in Columbias governance.

These political assaults on higher education are an affront to academic values, and they endanger the entire university community, it continued.

Students at Columbia were the first to erect an encampment mid-last week, calling on the university to divest from Israel and reverse student and faculty discipline related to antiwar protests. Since then, tent demonstrations have popped up across the country and abroad at American universities satellite campuses, such as in Paris and Berlin.

In Atlanta, Emory University officials on Thursday called in police to clear an encampment, using tear gas and rubber bullets to respond to the student protesters, according to the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and memo from the university president.

______

(With Sheetal Banchariya.)
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 26. Turkmenistan and Georgia discussed issues of expanding economic cooperation, Trend reports.

According to official data, these issues were discussed during the meeting of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Georgia, Dovletmyrat Seyitmammedov, with Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze.

During the meeting, the sides noted with satisfaction the high level of bilateral relations, considered the possibilities of expanding trade and economic ties, investment cooperation, further implementation of joint projects for the development of transport, logistics, and energy infrastructure, and created conditions for direct contacts between the business communities of Turkmenistan and Georgia.

They also discussed issues regarding the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Georgian Commission on Economic Cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed confidence that relations between Turkmenistan and Georgia, based on the principles of friendship, mutual respect, and trust, will continue to actively develop for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

Meanwhile, recently, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili held a meeting where they discussed the development of fruitful, comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting took place within the framework of Shalva Papuashvili's official visit to Turkmenistan, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK  A crowd of pro-Israel protesters gathered just outside the Columbia University campus on Thursday evening, chanting through the gates at a group of pro-Palestinian students inside to go to Gaza!

Go home, terrorists! the pro-Israel crowd screamed at the students. Go back to Gaza! they yelled. Stop wasting mommy and daddys money! one man said through a megaphone. You want to camp? Go camp in Gaza! said another man, referring to the Palestinian territory where Israels siege has killed some 33,000 people, and where this week local health officials said medics had discovered mass graves at hospitals raided by Israeli troops.

The White House  which under President Joe Biden has continued to send aid and weapons to Israel months after the International Court of Justice ruled that Palestinians in Gaza were at risk of experiencing a genocide  responded to HuffPosts video of the incident in a statement Friday.

Every American is an American, full stop, deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said. It is bigoted and outrageous to suggest that anyone should go back anywhere. These kinds of statements degrade all of us, whether its telling someone to go back to Gaza, or telling someone to go back to Belarus and Poland, which was captured in other videos yesterday  countries where Jews were victims of the Holocaust and pogroms. President Biden stands against hateful rhetoric, and believes we must constantly respect the dignity of all people, regardless of disagreements about policy.

Heres another video where you can more clearly hear the pro-Israel crowd chanting go to Gaza at Columbia students through the gate https://t.co/3tYRP4XGGUpic.twitter.com/uDcSzcNWiH  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 26, 2024

The pro-Israel demonstration Thursday was helmed by a group of far-right Christian nationalist figures. Sean Feucht, the prominent MAGA pastor and musician, was the main organizer of the Unite for Israel rally. Feucht is closely tied to a slew of prominent Republican lawmakers, once bestowing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with a Defending Freedom award at a Miami Let Us Worship event, meeting with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Capitol Hill, and praying over former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. He has appeared multiple times on Fox News, is a regular on Steve Bannons War Room podcast, and is close with Jack Posobiec, the far-right influencer who has a history of making antisemitic remarks.

Ahead of the rally Feucht said in a livestreamed video that the rise in antisemitism on college campuses was another welcome harbinger of the end days. Many American evangelicals, like Feucht, see the return of Jews to Israel as key to an End Times prophecy that would usher in the Second Coming of Christ and commence true Christians ascent to heaven. These evangelicals believe at that moment Jews will have to convert to Christianity or perish  a belief grounded in antisemitism.

Members of the group screamed at the students from beneath a giant Israeli flag theyd fastened to the top of the tall black gate at the schools Amsterdam Avenue entrance. A phalanx of NYPD cops stood behind them. The scene was the culmination of a tumultuous week at the Ivy League university, where on Apr. 17 pro-Palestinian students formed an encampment on Columbias West Lawn, setting up tents in a Liberated Zone to occupy the space. The students want the university to agree to divest from companies they say are profiting from Israels war, its illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and a social system the students argue amounts to apartheid.

Last week Columbias president, Minouche Shafik, took the shocking step of summoning the New York Police Department to quash the encampment, with cops removing the tents and arresting over 100 students. The university suspended some students and evicted them from campus housing. But the encampment returned shortly thereafter, inspiring dozens of other pro-Palestinian occupations at universities across the country.

Sean Feucht leads the United For Israel March outside Columbia University on April 25 in New York City. Feuch called on Columbias president to resign. Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed in small numbers with pro-Israel protesters, many who chanted bring them home and remove your mask. Alexi Rosenfeld via Getty Images

Columbia University students participate in an ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on their campus following last week's arrest of more than 100 protesters on April 25 in New York City. Stephanie Keith via Getty Images

Earlier this week a handful of videos posted to social media showed protesters, who were not Columbia students, making antisemitic remarks just outside the campus. In one especially egregious incident, a viral video showed a man yelling, Go back to Belarus! Go back to Poland! at a group of pro-Israel protesters.

Columbias pro-Palestinian encampment quickly became a lightning rod for accusations of antisemitism, with right-wing politicians and media figures falsely equating the students criticism of Israel with hatred for Jews. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) even held a press conference on campus Wednesday, calling on Biden to take action, and suggesting the president may need to summon the National Guard to end the encampment.

Earlier this week Bates, the White House deputy press secretary, issued a statement responding to the Columbia pro-Palestinian demonstration. While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly Antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous, he said.

Sean Feucht, the Christian nationalist preacher and organizer of this rally. This week he talked about abt how whats happening at Columbia is a sign of End Times. Just asked him what happens to Jews during the End Times, & whether theyd have to convert. He refused to answer. pic.twitter.com/OBZj8FLWIQ  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 25, 2024

When HuffPost approached Feucht at the start of Thursdays rally, twice asking him about what happens to Jews during the End Times, he refused to answer. What Im speaking about is tonight, why were here tonight, he said. Our heart is to bless the Jewish students, to worship and to pray.

After singing songs on his guitar, Feucht led a crowd of some 100 people in a march around the campus. Many carried Israeli and American flags as they all chanted Bring them home!  referring to over 100 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, when the militant Palestinian group based in Gaza breached the fences surrounding the territory. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed during the attack.

There were intermittent clashes with lone pro-Palestinian protesters during the march. A man carrying an Israeli flag swung his flagpole at one pro-Palestinian protester wearing a keffiyeh, while another pro-Israel protester attempted to rip the Palestinian flag from his hands.

At another point HuffPost witnessed a pro-Israel protester tell a man wearing a keffiyeh who was not white: I look forward to you delivering me my food on DoorDash. (In New York, food delivery drivers are predominantly Latino and south Asian immigrants.) Afterwards, according to tweets from other reporters on the scene, the man in the keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian headscarf, grabbed on to a long metal pole, which he then put down but attempted to pick up again before a pro-Israel demonstrator intervened. The pro-Israel crowd then summoned the NYPD to arrest him. The NYPD obliged. (An NYPD spokesperson told HuffPost a 35-year-old man from Brooklyn was arrested on charges of menacing and harassment. Two other people were arrested during the demonstration for disorderly conduct, though the circumstances of their arrests werent immediately clear.)

As Feuchts march circled the campus, he and a couple of other Christian nationalist influencers  including Russell Johnson and Eric Metaxas  led the crowd in chants of our God reigns!

They marched past a small counter-demonstration made up of pro-Palestinian Christians singing This Little Light of Mine. Standing behind police barricades, these Christians held signs reading Not In Jesus Name! Ceasefire Now In Gaza and It Should Be Easy As A Christian To Oppose Genocide as Feucht marched by.

Christian nationalists marching past fenced-in counter-demo of pro- Palestinian Christians who support a ceasefire pic.twitter.com/4RQYmN3vDA  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 25, 2024

End-Times Christian Nationalist Russell Johnson holding this sign outside Columbia gates pic.twitter.com/dZP3xXPtXM  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) April 25, 2024

Eventually Feucht led the march to the Columbia gates on Amsterdam Avenue, where a larger crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators not affiliated with Feuchts grouphad gathered. The NYPD threatened over a loudspeaker to arrest the demonstrators for obstructing pedestrian traffic if they didnt clear the sidewalk outside the gate, but police eventually allowed the demonstration to carry on.

Johnson, Feuchts colleague and fellow far-right pastor, held up a sign for everyone to see. HAMAS UNIVERSITIES, the sign read, above a drawing of a Nazi swastika drawn over with the names of schools where other pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place, including New York University, Harvard, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania.

A short time later Johnson climbed the gate, while waving a half-Israel, half-U.S. flag, staring down at a small group of pro-Palestinian students inside the campus below.

One pro-Israel protester from Brooklyn, 47-year-old Ayton Eller, held a sign calling for a boycott of Columbia Hamas University. When HuffPost asked Eller what he thought of the Jewish Columbia students taking part in the pro-Palestinian encampment, he called them traitors and self-hating Jews.

Feucht led the crowd in screaming while a pro-Israel protester blew through a shofar  a rams-horn trumpet traditionally used by Jews in religious ceremonies that in recent years has been appropriated by Christian nationalists as a battle cry, and a way of commencing spiritual warfare. (Shofars were a common sight during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.)

Feucht eventually helped lead the crowd in the singing of the Israeli national anthem and the American national anthem, before ending the rally and leaving. But a large contingent of angry pro-Israel demonstrators remained at the gates, yelling at pro-Palestinian students inside the campus to go to Gaza!

A short walk away inside the campus, students at the pro-Palestinian encampment gathered quietly in a circle to hold a meeting. They stood in the middle of the tents, the grass littered with signs with slogans like JEWS AGAINST GENOCIDE, and discussed providing jail support to each other in the event they were to be arrested again.

That day theyd watched videos of some 200 students at campuses across the country  in Boston, Austin, Los Angeles, Atlanta and elsewhere  being arrested at their own encampments.

Shafik, Columbias president, had set a deadline for Friday morning for the pro-Palestinian demonstrators to reach an agreement with the school to clear the encampment. That deadline has passed, and according to students, negotiations with the school are ongoing.
Columbia student protesters share what its like sparking a national wave of activism

On 17 April, pro-Palestinian Columbia students began an encampment on campus to demand the university divest from Israel.

More than 100 people were arrested.

Since then, a wave of student activism has swept the nation in solidarity with Gaza.

The Independents Richard Hall spoke with Columbia University students about the gravity of this movement and why it matters to them.

The people of Palestine are who we are doing this for, one student said. Theyre the people who sparked this awakening, who sparked this mobilisation of this student body.
By Julia Harte and Kia Johnson

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Columbia University's embattled president came under renewed pressure on Friday as a campus oversight panel sharply criticized her administration for clamping down on a pro-Palestinian protest at the Ivy League school.

President Nemat Minouche Shafik has faced an outcry from many students, faculty and outside observers for summoning New York police to dismantle a tent encampment set up on campus by protesters against Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

After a two-hour meeting on Friday, the Columbia University Senate approved a resolution that Shafik's administration had undermined academic freedom and disregarded the privacy and due process rights of students and faculty members by calling in the police and shutting down the protest.

"The decision... has raised serious concerns about the administration's respect for shared governance and transparency in the university decision-making process," it said.

The senate, composed mostly of faculty members and other staff plus a few students, did not name Shafik in its resolution and avoided the harsher language of a censure.

The resolution established a task force it said would monitor the "corrective actions" the senate asked the administration to take on dealing with protests.

There was no immediate response to the resolution from Shafik, who is a member of the senate but did not attend Friday's meeting. Columbia spokesperson Ben Chang said the administration shared the same goal as the senate - to restore calm to the campus - and was committed to "an ongoing dialogue."

Police arrested more than 100 people on Columbia's campus last week and removed the tents from the main lawn of the school's Manhattan campus, but the protesters quickly returned and set up tents again, narrowing Columbia's options on dismantling the encampment.

Since then, hundreds of protesters have been arrested at schools from California to Boston as students set up camps similar to the one at Columbia, demanding that their schools divest from companies involved with Israel's military.

On Friday at least 40 protesters were arrested in Denver at the Auraria Campus, an institution shared by the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Community College of Denver, according to a press release from the school.

Like-minded protests against Israel's actions have spread overseas. At the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, pro-Israeli protesters came to challenge pro-Palestinian students occupying the building on Friday. Police kept the two sides apart.

A few blocks from the White House, about 200 protesters at George Washington University remained gathered for a second day on Friday. The school said students did not follow directions to leave, and several were suspended and temporarily barred from campus.

The White House has defended free speech on campus, but Democratic President Joe Biden denounced "antisemitic protests" this week and stressed that campuses must be safe.

Some Republicans in Congress have accused Shafik and other university administrators of being too soft on protesters and allowing Jewish students to be harassed on their campuses.

TEXAS CLASH

The president of the University of Texas at Austin, Jay Hartzell, faced a similar backlash from faculty on Friday, two days after he joined with Republican Governor Greg Abbott in calling in police to break up a pro-Palestinian protest.

Dozens of protesters were taken into custody, but charges were dropped because authorities lacked probable cause - or reasonable grounds - for making the arrests, the Travis County Attorney's office said.

Nearly 200 university faculty members signed a letter expressing no confidence in Hartzell because he "needlessly put students, staff and faculty in danger" when police in riot gear and on horseback moved against the protesters.

Hartzell said he made the decision because protest organizers aimed to "severely disrupt" the campus for a long period.

The clash in Texas was one of many this week between demonstrators and police summoned by university leaders, who say the protests jeopardize the safety of students and at times, subject Jewish students to antisemitism and harassment.

Civil rights groups have condemned the arrests and urged authorities to respect free speech rights.

But one member of the encampment at Columbia, Khymani James, on Friday apologized for saying in a January social media video that "Zionists don't deserve to live."

"What I said was wrong," James said in a statement. "Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification." A university spokesman said James had been banned from campus and faced disciplinary action.

Three protesters were arrested for criminal trespass at an encampment at Arizona State University, the university said.

(Reporting by Julia Harte in New York, Kia Johnson and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Andrew Hay in New Mexico, Jonathan Allen in New York and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Frank McGurty, Bill Berkrot and William Mallard)
Commissioner calls for Shelby Co. judge to resign over release of defendants

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright is calling for General Session Judge Bill Anderson to step down.

Wright says Anderson should resign based on his leadership and because too many criminal defendants are being released back on the streets of Memphis.

House Speaker Sexton defends bill arming teachers, pins Memphis crime on gangs

They (Memphians) are seeing friends and neighbors assaulted and harmed by all the crime and people are crying out and want to see something different from our justice system, Wright said. Its time for Judge Anderson to step down from leading the judicial commissioners.

Anderson supervises Shelby Countys 14 judicial commissioners. Their job, among other things, is to set bail when someone is first arrested.

The number one important thing for a judge is to be impartial, and I know hes already been reprimanded with regard to his statements on the bail bond industry, Wright said.

In an interview with WREG last year, Anderson defended the job of his judicial commissioners.

I will take the heat for any magistrate that works down here. I will defend my magistrates cause it is one of the toughest jobs there is, Anderson said.

More criminals in the Mid-South making their own machine gun

But Wright questions Andersons leadership.

To know that hes been on record basically pressuring them saying theres some type of quota they need to make with regard to release on recognizance, those things are totally inappropriate, Wright said.

In the past, Anderson has pointed blame at bail bond companies for the quick release of defendants.

The people who make the decision on who gets out of our jails on a monetary bail is the bail bond company. Its not the judges. Its not the magistrates, Anderson said. Its a private entity we have absolutely no control over.

Wright also points to the bond hearing of Jaylen Lobley, an 18-year-old who was back on the streets just weeks before he was in a shootout with police, leaving an officer dead.

Im also reflecting on some of the comments hes made in particular cases. Hes said that its an appropriate decision to release someone who ultimately ends up being involved in a firefight where three of our officers are shot and one of them ultimately passes away, Wright said.

What happened at Jaylen Lobleys bond hearing before shootout with police

For now, Wright says hell continue to push for Andersons resignation.

We need leadership change, and we need people who are willing to keep the public safe, Wright said.

WREG did reach out to Judge Anderson for comment today but has yet to respond to our request.

In a published report, Anderson was quoted as saying I was elected to an eight-year term, by the people of Shelby County and I intend to fulfill my obligation to the best of my ability.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Seventy-four hurricane survivors are now eligible for homeowner recovery funds, according to a settlement between Legal Aid and ReBuild NC. (File photo: Lisa Sorg)

ReBuild NC erroneously disqualified 74 hurricane survivors from its Homeowner Recovery Program because they could not prove they owned a share of heirs property, but those applicants are now eligible for assistance under an agreement announced April 25.

Legal Aid of North Carolina, which represented a homeowner whose application had been rejected, reached a conciliation and voluntary compliance agreement with the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, also known as ReBuild NC. The agreement includes new rules to address challenges owners of heirs property face when applying for recovery assistance.

Heirs property refers to family-owned property passed between generations of family members without a valid will or formal estate. Each heir shares legal ownership of the entire property and can maintain it through repairs, improvements, and payment of property taxes.

The complaint was filed in February 2023 with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It alleged that ReBuild NCs proof of ownership requirements, as applied to owners of heirs properties, violated the federal Fair Housing Act because they disproportionately affected and denied equal housing opportunities to Black homeowners seeking disaster recovery assistance funds. Decades of research shows that heirs property issues most often impact Black families, and that heirs properties, particularly in the South, are disproportionately owned by Black/African American landowners.

The ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program administers Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds to assist survivors of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence in rebuilding their homes.

HUD enforces the federal Fair Housing Act. Once an administrative housing discrimination complaint is filed, HUD begins investigating the allegations. During the investigation, HUD also works with the parties to try to reach an agreement, a process known as conciliation.

A.D. Skaff, supervising attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolinas Fair Housing Project, said the resolution reduces unnecessary barriers for owners in heirs properties to access crucial relief funding to preserve existing homeownership structure to keep such properties in the family.

We hope that these revised policies can serve as a model for other disaster relief programs in North Carolina and CDBG-DR funded programs across the country, Skaff said.

A ReBuild NC spokesperson said the agency will mail letters to the 74 homeowners after it receives final resolution from HUD, likely in early May. The notice will explain the policy change and how it removes barriers to their participating in the program. The letter will also contain instructions for how to contact the program for a file review, should the applicant wish to pursue it, the spokesperson said.

The ReBuild NC policy on establishing ownership of the property has evolved significantly over time, the spokesperson told Newsline, and the Homeowner Recovery Program was already implementing a flexible process for establishing ownership of heirs property before new HUD guidance offered even greater flexibility.

In addition to allowing the 74 applicants previously rejected from the program to submit appeals for reentry into the program, ReBuild NC has agreed to implement new procedures. The agency will:

Adopt a new proof-of-ownership policy that complies with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act. Under the revised policy, owners of heirs property will now only need to agree that they have or will notify, in whatever way they see fit, any party that may have an ownership interest in the property about their participation in the ReBuild program, if such parties are known to the applicant.

Provide written notice of the new policy to the approximately 74 applicants previously rejected from, or otherwise deemed ineligible for, the ReBuild Homeowner Recovery Program due to previous proof of ownership requirements as applied to owners of heirs property.

Train staff on the requirements of the new policy. A ReBuild spokesperson said that training occurred last December and in February.

HUD will monitor ReBuild NCs compliance with the agreement, and Legal Aid will continue to assist our existing clients that will be impacted by these policy changes, a Legal Aid spokesperson said.

We commend ReBuild NC for prioritizing fair housing, implementing these new policies, and working with us to resolve this matter, so all homeowners in North Carolina recovering from devastating natural disasters have equal housing opportunities, said Lauren Brasil, co-director and managing attorney of Legal Aid of North Carolinas Fair Housing Project.

The post After complaint filed with HUD, owners of heirs property prevail in dispute with ReBuild NC appeared first on NC Newsline.
An economics professor at Emory University whose needlessly violent arrest was captured by a news crew on Thursday at the schools pro-Palestine protest, is now facing charges for battery against a police officer.

In a disturbing video captured by CNN, Professor Caroline Fohlin approached several police officers as they wrestled one protester to the ground, forcefully shoving their head into the concrete sidewalk. Oh my God, what are you doing? Fohlin asked, horrified.

Fohlin yelled at the officers to get away from the student. She leaned down closer to the student, but did not touch them, or any of the officers.

One cop raced up to her, grabbing her wrists. Get on the fucking ground, he yelled, pulling her away from the student. Get on the ground, I said, he repeated.

Fohlin opened her mouth to protest as the officer kept his grip locked on her wrist. Do not, Im a ... she said, before the cop violently flipped her onto the ground, smashing her head into the sidewalk.

Ow my head, you just hit my head on the concrete! Fohlin yelled. Another cop joined to help press her into the ground. The two pinned her hands behind her back, as they proceeded to secure her hands with zip ties.

I am a professor! I am a professor of economics, she cried to onlookers. As the officers continued to tighten the ties on her wrists, Fohlin could be heard apologizing to them. I reacted impulsively, I apologize. Please remove the handcuffs.

It is worth watching this CNN video from the moment Emory Econ Professor @CarolineFohlin came across the violent arrest of a protester on campus and asked the police, with shock, "What are you doing?" That's all that prompted an officer to hurl her to the ground and handcuff her. https://t.co/QKNRqOoIiS pic.twitter.com/uYpXwKuc8D  Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) April 26, 2024

Court filings in DeKalb County Jail, showed that charges have been filed against Fohlin: one for disorderly conduct, and another for simple battery against a police officer. A screenshot of the charges were shared on X by freelance reporter Robert Mackey.

DeKalb, Georgia court records show Fohlin, the Emory professor seen on video being thrown to the ground and handcuffed by an Emory police officer for expressing concern at the violent arrest of a protester, was jailed for 11 hours and charged with "Battery Against Police Officer" pic.twitter.com/sXwXMTIuqL  Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) April 26, 2024

Simple battery in Georgia, applies when an individual is perceived as intentionally causing harm to a person. Specifically, this is making contact with someone in a threatening, provoking, intimidating manner, according to Burns Smith and Law P.C. However, the video reveals that Fohlin did not injure, or even fight against her arresting officers.

In Georgia, a charge of simple battery carries a fine of $1,000 or 1 year in prison.

Fohlin was one of two professors arrested at the Emory protest on Thursday, the other was Noelle McAfee, the chair of the universitys philosophy department. Emory was the site of some of the most violent clashes between students and law enforcement since nationwide protests began. Cops deployed tear gas on protesters, and in one disturbing video, were seen tasing a medic as he lay handcuffed on the ground. According to one witness, the protest at Emory started off peaceful, until over 200 state troopers arrived to break it up.

At least 23 people were arrested on Thursday, on charges including disorderly conduct and obstruction of law enforcement officers. All have been granted bond, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Fohlin was granted a $50 bond on her charge of simple battery.

There is a chance, however that the charges against Fohlin and the others arrested at the Atlanta university will be dropped. On Friday, charges were dropped against all 57 protesters who were arrested at UT Austin on Wednesday.

Across the country, universities have continued to invite law enforcement onto their campuses to brutally disrupt the peaceful protests urging institutions to divest from companies supplying Israel with weapons used to murder tens of thousands in Gaza.

While university administrations continue to contend that increased security is meant to keep students safe, the threat of violence against students and faculty members, particularly people of color, continues to rise. On Thursday, one Columbia professor said he was racially profiled by the schools beefed up campus security.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Cops release image of person involved in fatal shooting of Bronx teen

Police on Thursday released a photo of a person wanted for being involved in the March slaying of a 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot as he ran away from a gunman.

Laquai Quai Dash was killed March 7 in a clash his grandmother believes was sparked by a fight between his girlfriend and another girl just a block from his high school on Cauldwell Ave. near E. 158th St. in Melrose.

Previously arrested in the fatal shooting was Tyrell Williams, 17, who cops say pulled the trigger that killed Laquai.

During the fight, Williams put Laquais girlfriend in a headlock and the slain teen intervened, the Daily News previously reported.

When Laquai stepped in, Williams pulled out a gun, prosecutors said at Williams arraignment.

As the victim was running away, they were struck twice in the back and once in the neck, a Bronx prosecutor said during the March 13 arraignment. Video footage shows [Williams] sprinting away and going back to home of the girlfriend.

Laquai was rushed to Lincoln Hospital, but he could not be saved.

Williams was charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the death, and cops are still searching for another person involved.

They released an image of the person in the hopes someone may recognize them.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.

A Utah couple accidentally shipped their cat, Galena, in an Amazon return package.

The cat was found safe in California after six days without food or water.

An Amazon worker found the cat in a box alongside five pairs of steel-toed work boots.

A Utah couple accidentally shipped their pet cat in an Amazon return package, trapping it in the box without food or water for six days.

The cat, named Galena, was eventually discovered safe and well in California, Utah's KSL-TV was the first to report.

Carrie Clark, one of the cat's owners, noticed the pet had gone missing on April 10, the outlet reported.

For nearly a week, Clark, along with family and friends, searched the couple's house and neighborhood and plastered missing posters around town hoping to locate the cat, KSL-TV reported.

"The anxiety and stress of not knowing what happened to her was excruciating," Clark told the outlet.

Clark then received a text notifying her that Galena's microchip had been scanned, and later that day, she received a call from a veterinarian in California.

"I didn't believe her at first and thought it was a prank," Clark told KSL-TV.

The shortest distance between Utah and California is several hundred miles.

The vet told Clark the cat was found inside an Amazon return package, alongside five pairs of steel-toed work boots.

"I ran to tell my husband that Galena was found, and we broke down upon realizing that she must have jumped into an oversized box that we shipped out the previous Wednesday," Clark said.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, people increasingly turned to buying online instead of visiting brick-and-mortar stores.

The shift brought a big spike in the number of online returns in 2021, which has continued to rise, eMarketer said.

KSL-TV reported that the cat was rescued from the box after six days without food or water by an Amazon employee who found her in a warehouse and took her to the vet.

Clark and her husband then flew to California to be reunited with their cat.

"It was an amazing reunion! Galena instantly stopped shaking and relaxed in my arms when I got to hold her again," Clark said. "Despite being skinnier and some mild dehydration, her bloodwork was completely normal and she was completely unharmed!"

Clark said she hopes the story inspires all pet owners to microchip their pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says that one-third of pets will become lost at some point in their lives, but those with microchips are much more likely to be reunited with their owners.

A cat microchip typically costs between $40 and $70.

Clark didn't immediately respond to a BI request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 26. The meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of Government will be held in Ashgabat city, the capital of Turkmenistan, on May 24 this year, Trend reports.

According to an official source, this was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

In this context, he noted that in the implementation of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, great importance is attached to fruitful cooperation with the CIS countries, adding that as an associate member of the Commonwealth, the country regularly participates in CIS events and makes a significant contribution to the development of multilateral partnerships.

"Currently, proper work is being carried out in order to organize preparations for the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government. In this regard, it is also planned to hold an information briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on May 20 and a corresponding working meeting in the capital on May 23," he said.

Furthermore, they concluded that, following the results of this meeting, it is planned to sign a number of documents and hold a press conference.

Meanwhile, the development of Turkmenistan's cooperation with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) continues to gain importance in the region.

The country is actively strengthening economic, political, and cultural ties with other CIS members by participating in various initiatives, such as joint projects in the fields of energy, transport, and trade.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect new updates to the story.

Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the arrest of Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi, suspected of illegally acquiring state-owned land, Ukrainian media outlets reported early on April 26.

Solskyi was ordered to be held in custody until June 24 unless he posted bail, set at Hr 75.7 million ($1.9 million), according to Suspilne.

Later in the day, the ministry wrote on Facebook that Solskyi had posted the bail and was released from custody. Solskyi reportedly returned to perform his work duties, the ministry added.

Solskyi is suspected of illegally appropriating Ukrainian state-owned land worth Hr 291 million ($7.4 million) and attempting to seize another plot worth an additional Hr 190 million ($4.8 million), according to Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).

Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced on April 24 that it will request the arrest of Solskyi with an alternative option of a Hr 200 million ($5 million) bail. The court reduced the requested bail more than twice.

After posting bail, Solskyi will be obliged to wear an electronic bracelet and to hand over his passport and other documents, Suspline wrote. The minister would be reportedly forbidden to leave Kyiv and communicate with his deputy and witnesses in the case.

Solskyi submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament on April 25, just a day after he said he had not planned to resign. His resignation is expected to be considered during the next plenary session.

Solskyi denied the allegations on April 24, saying that the case concerned the period of 2017-2018 when he served as a lawyer, not as a minister.

Read also: Ex-defense ministry officials formally accused of embezzlement

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
This week, the Supreme Court managed to fail to meet the already extremely low expectations most sane people already had for it. First, during the Idaho EMTALA case on whether hospitals receiving federal funding can refuse to provide abortions to women who are actively dying as a result of a pregnancy, we heard debate over which, and how many, organs a woman had to lose before an abortion becomes legally acceptable. By all appearances, it looks as though the court is going to gut the already laughably weak life of the mother protections by a 54 vote.



It followed up this abysmal performance with hearing the Trump immunity case the next day, and the comportment of the same five male, conservative justices was even worse. When Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Donald Trumps lawyer, If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person, and he orders the military or orders someone to assassinate him, is that within his official acts for which he can get immunity? he replied, It would depend on the hypothetical, but we can see that would well be an official act.

Based on that one line of questioning, Trumps argument should be going down in flames 90. A democracy cannot survive when its supreme leader can arbitrarily decide that its in the nations best interest to rub out his opponents and then leave it to some future court to decide whether it was an official act because hell get away with it, as long as there arent 67 votes in the Senate to impeach. And given that it will have been established that the president can put out a contract on political foes, how many senators are going to vote to impeach?

But the justices did not laugh this argument out of court. Quite the contrary: At least five of the justices seemed to buy into the Trump teams arguments that the power of the office of the president must be protected from malicious and politicized litigation. They were uninterested in the actual case at hand or its consequences. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation, perhaps captured my response to the Supreme Courts arguments best: I am in shock that a lawyer stood in the U.S. Supreme Court and said that a president could assassinate his political opponent and it would be immune as an official act. I am in despair that several Justices seemed to think this answer made perfect sense.

At a minimum, it appears the court will send all of the federal cases back down to lower courts to reconsider whether Trumps crimes were official acts. Its also likely that their new definition of official acts is likely to be far broader than anyone should be comfortable with, or at least broad enough to give Trump a pass. This delay all but guarantees that Trump will not stand trial for anything besides the current hush-money case before the 2024 election.

This is catastrophic in so many ways. The first is that it increases the already high chances that the United States ends up with a dictator who will attempt to rapidly disassemble democracy in pursuit of becoming President for Life. It simultaneously increases the chances that yes, he will go ahead and violate the civil and human rights of political opponents and classes of people he calls Communists, Marxists, and fascists. People forget that the first German concentration camp (Dachau) was built in 1933 to hold members of the Communist and Social Democratic Parties, and Trump has made it clear that hes building enough camps to process a minimum of 11 million people (migrants, at least for starters).

The conservatives on the Supreme Court have also exposed their hubris, willful ignorance, and foolishness to the entire world in stark terms, and it will cost them and the nation dearly in the long run. They somehow presume that if Trump is elected and goes full dictator, the power of the court, and their reputation, will save them. The truth is, Trumps relationships with everyone he meets are completely transactional. If the court ever stops being useful to him, he will terminate it with prejudice if he thinks he can get away with it, and this court is doing everything it can to make him think he can get away with it.

These justices foolishness lies in their lack of foresight as to what happens if Trump wins in 2024. In the justices efforts to ensure that they are the most powerful branch of government, they are about to make it the weakest. They are creating a win-win situation for Trump, and a lose-lose for themselves. When Trump is president again, he is likely to believe that he has the option of removing any member of the Supreme Court who defies him. As long as the court doesnt rule against him, theyre fine. From the justices perspective, they either end up neutered lap dogs of a despot who do whatever theyre told out of fear, or they defy him and end up somewhere  unpleasant (at best). Taking a dirt nap at worst. After all, if Trump can rub out a political opponent, cant he do the same to an uncooperative jurist?

The Roberts court surely believes that Trump would never stoop to thisthat the sanctity of court and the laws and norms of our democracy will protect them. Anyone who has spent 10 minutes studying how democracies collapse knows this is idiotic, but it stems from the justices own hubristic belief that the court is so powerful and respected that it is immune to everything. They believe the respect for the institution will ensure their power endures.

Except, what happens when neither Democrats nor Republicans have any respect for the courts? If Republicans see the court as neutered pets who can be put down the first time they bite, or ignored like a chihuahua straining against a leash, what real power does it possess? Much like Stalin asked, How many divisions does the Pope have? Trump and Republicans will be fully cognizant that the court controls nothing once every federal agency has been packed with loyalists.

If Democrats nearly universally see the court as a corrupt rubber stamp for an autocrat, what happens if Republicans push too far on an issue? Like, say, an effective 50-state ban on abortion from the moment of conception with no real exceptions, which is almost certainly coming, despite Republican claims to the contrary. Well, when the court upholds this, or implements it, it becomes highly likely that blue state governments tell the court, and the administration, to go f--- yourself.

In the end, the court appears to be doing everything to destroy itself, democracy, and the union, with its own arrogance and lack of foresight. Its either castrated itself, and in the process doomed the country, or signed its own death warrant.
There are few high-profile criminal defendants as unsympathetic as Harvey Weinstein, the erstwhile Hollywood mogul whose alleged sexual misconduct against women was so pervasive that it was reportedly an open secret in celebrity circles. So the New York Court of Appeals' decision yesterday overturning his sex crime convictions in that state may have seemed to represent something deeper: backlash to the #MeToo movement, how powerful men are held to a less robust standard of justice, how we don't take survivors of sexual assault seriously.

In reality, it was about none of those things. It was actually about a criminal defendant receiving a fair trialan uncontroversial premise in most cases. This case admittedly isn't like most cases. The premise should still be uncontroversial.

In February 2020, Weinstein was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape after three women testified about nonconsensual encounters with him. But during his trial, the prosecution convinced the judge to allow three additional witnesses to testify about their experiences with Weinstein as well, despite that their testimony related to alleged misconduct for which Weinstein wasn't charged.

That was a fatal error, said the New York Court of Appeals.

"We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes," wrote Judge Jenny Rivera for the 43 majority ruling. "The only evidence against defendant was the complainants' testimony, and the result of the court's rulings, on the one hand, was to bolster their credibility and diminish defendant's character before the jury. On the other hand, the threat of a cross-examination highlighting these untested allegations undermined defendant's right to testify. The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial."

At the heart of that decision is People v. Molineux, a landmark New York ruling that significantly hamstrings the government's ability to introduce evidence of uncharged conduct, as it could unfairly prejudice a jury against the defendant. According to that 1901 decision, the Molineux rule "is the product of that same humane and enlightened public spirit which, speaking through our common law, has decreed that every person charged with the commission of a crime shall be protected by the presumption of innocence until [they have] been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

There are ways to dance around that rule, but they're limited. Most notably, Molineux begins with somewhat of a litmus test: Does the testimony merely establish propensity for criminality? If the answer to that is "yes," then that testimony must be excluded. And in Weinstein's case, the appeals court ruled, the answer to that question was "yes."

The court's decision doesn't mean Weinstein is innocent. It means he deserves a fair proceeding. And he will still await that new proceeding behind bars, as he was also sentenced to 16 years in prison by a California court after a jury found him guilty of three sex crimes there.

In dissent, Judge Madeline Singas said the testimony detailing uncharged conduct rose above mere propensity in that it helped rebut longstanding myths about rape victims that could have tainted a jury's evaluation. There are indeed many such myths, including the notion that credible victims immediately report attacks and sever any relationship with their attackers.

"But justice for sexual assault victims is not incompatible with well-established rules of evidence designed to ensure that criminal convictions result only from the illegal conduct charged," countered Rivera. "Indeed, just as rape myths may impact the trier of fact's deliberative process, propensity evidence has a bias-inducing effect on jurors and tends to undermine the truth-seeking function of trials."

The #MeToo movement was in many ways a necessary corrective to years of unacceptable behavior by powerful men, including Weinstein, who, in some sense, were genuinely above the law. The solution, however, is not to make them beneath it. "Under our system of justice, the accused has a right to be held to account only for the crime charged," wrote Rivera. "It is our solemn duty to diligently guard these rights regardless of the crime charged, the reputation of the accused, or the pressure to convict."

The post The Court Was Right To Overturn Harvey Weinstein's Rape Conviction appeared first on Reason.com.
Journalist Charlie Kratovil lost his appeal in his constitutional challenge of Daniel's Law. He plans to ask the state Supreme Court to act. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

A state appellate panel on Friday ruled against a journalist who challenged the constitutionality of a state law barring the publication of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers home addresses.

The three-judge panel affirmed a lower courts ruling denying journalist Charlie Kratovils request for an injunction to prohibit New Brunswick officials from pursuing penalties against him if he publishes the home address of Anthony Caputo, who lived in Cape May while serving as director of the citys police department and parking authority.

The appellate panel, as well as the trial court, agreed with Kratovil that Caputos residency in Cape May, two hours from his public job, was a matter of public concern. But both also agreed his exact street address was not.

Kratovil, founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, disagreed and said he will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The opinion released today oversimplifies the matter of public interest as the mere fact that Mr. Caputo lived in Cape May while holding positions in New Brunswick, Kratovil said in a statement. There is much more to the story, and I would like to tell that story without the facts being edited by the judiciary.

After first learning of Caputos residency last year, Kratovil did further reporting and discovered additional real estate purchases and job promotions in both New Brunswick and Cape May involving Caputo and his former deputy director. Because of his findings, the officials home addresses have increased relevance that are of public interest, he added.

Kratovils lawsuit was the first to challenge the constitutionality of Daniels Law, which is named after a federal judges son who was gunned down at the judges home in 2020 by a disgruntled attorney who found the familys address online.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other media organizations filed briefs supporting Kratovil. Groups including the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, the State Troopers Fraternal Association, and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police filed briefs in the case defending Daniels Law as necessary to protect public officials.

The appellate judges rejected Kratovils claim that applying Daniels Law to his investigation of Caputo would stifle journalism.

We also agree with the trial court that protecting public officials from violent attacks and harassment is a compelling State interest of the highest order, they wrote.

Attorney Vito Gagliardi, who represented the State Association of Chiefs of Police, applauded the decision, saying the judges understood what this case was about.

There was no infringement on anyones right to free speech here. The plaintiff was free to write the story he wanted about the police director living in Cape May, just so long as he didnt include his street address in violation of Daniels Law, Gagliardi said. We are gratified that the court agreed that protecting the addresses of our judges and law enforcement officials was a state interest of the highest order.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey represented Kratovil in his lawsuit against Caputo and New Brunswick.

Alexander Shalom, the ACLU-NJs director of Supreme Court advocacy, warned the ruling will have a chilling effect on journalism.

The court failed to apply well-established law that protects journalists ability to report information they get from government on matters of public concern, Shalom said.

If left undisturbed, the decision will not only keep a gag on Mr. Kratovil, but also have a devastating effect on reporters and members of the public who rely upon them to hold public officials accountable, he said. Without intervention from the Supreme Court, journalists and news organizations would be chilled from reporting on official misconduct and other issues of critical public importance.

The post Court rejects constitutional challenge of law shielding public officials addresses appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Crime Reports: Woman arrested for walking on wrong side of road in Abilene

Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

4300 block of Crawford Drive  Theft of Property

A victim reported his motorcycle worth $25,000 was stolen from an Abilene shop.

6300 block of Buffalo Gap Road  Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information

Police took a report for fraud/identity theft.

800 block of Grape Street  Theft of Property

A cellphone was reported stolen in north Abilene.

1900 block of S 3rd Street  Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse

Police took a report in reference to fraud.

1600 block of Hwy 351  Theft of Property

A known suspect was issued a citation for theft after stealing from a north Abilene grocery store.

2000 block of Kirkwood Street  Theft of Property

A victim reported an amazon package worth $160 was taken from a north Abilene home.

1200 block of N Mockingbird Lane  Assault

A victim reported he was assaulted by a known suspect.

500 block of Western Hills Drive  Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse

A report for fraud was taken in south Abilene.

4000 block of Ligustrum Drive  Deadly Conduct

A report for deadly conduct was taken.

700 block of S Jefferson Drive  Assault Family Violence

A report for assault family violence was taken in south Abilene.

Arrests

Spencer Freeman  Warrant, Possession of Controlled Substance

Albert Ware  Public Intoxication

Joe Rodriguez  Warrant

Jadyn Dane  Theft of Property

Mireya Gomez  Manufacture Delivery of Fentanyl

Kyle Marden  Public Intoxication

Brendia McGee  Warrant

Leatyia Jackson  Walking on Wrong Side of Road

Jaycee Mitchell  Warrant

Mateusz Ciezki  Public Intoxication

Richard Pittillo  Warrant

Tayvia Turner  Public Intoxication

Johnnyray Stokes  Possession of Controlled Substance, Warrant

Michael Lomas  Possession of Controlled Substance

Blanca Montez  Public Intoxication, Possession of Controlled Substance

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
A second victim of Tuesdays northwest Fort Worth shooting has died, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office.

Martin Hernandez Jr., 26, died Thursday night at John Peter Smith Hospital from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiners website. His death was ruled a homicide.

Officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Irion Avenue on Tuesday evening regarding the shooting. They found two people with gunshot wounds, according to police.

One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities havent publicly identified the first victim.

Hernandez was taken to JPS in critical condition. The motive and circumstances leading up to the shooting are still unclear, a police spokesperson said Wednesday.

Alfredo Martinez, 43, was arrested and faces a murder charge, according to court records. Hes being held in the Tarrant County Jail on $250,000 bond.

Today's top stories:

 What we know about Arlington Bowie High School shooting: Victim, suspect identified

 Fort Worth ISD to stop giving free school supplies to elementary students

 Murderer had fixation with Bonnie and Clyde when he shot cop: witness

Get free alerts when news breaks.
MIAMI (WFLA)  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested a Cuban man after he was caught illegally voting multiple times, according to a release.

Friday, the FDLE said Lazaro Valle-Villar, a six-time convicted felon in Miami-Dade County, filled out two voter registration applications in February 2020 and November 2021 while falsely stating he was a citizen of the United States.

Southwest to end nonstop flight to Tampa over Boeing delivery delays

According to officials, Valle-Villar illegally voted in two local elections back in 2021.

Voter fraud in any election jeopardizes the integrity of all elections, FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said. FDLEs Election Crime Unit and Department of States Office of Election Crimes and Security are steadfast in making sure that the criminals that commit these crimes will not go unpunished in Florida.

Valle-Villar was arrested Wednesday on charges of submitting false voter registration to secretary of state, voting as an unqualified elector, submission of false voter registration and false affirmation regarding voting or elections.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Carlisle man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges after officials say he stabbed his ex-girlfriend, led law enforcement on a high-speed chase and solicited multiple Cumberland County Prison inmates to kill the victim and witnesses involved in his case.

According to the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office, Jonathan Lepperd entered guilty pleas to Criminal Attempt to Murder of the First Degree, Retaliation Against Victim, Fleeing and Eluding Police, and Criminal Solicitation to Murder of the First Degree on Wednesday, April 24.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, and the office says there is an agreement that Lepperd will receive a sentence of between 20 and 40 years in a state correctional institution.

The District Attorneys office says the charges stem from several incidents dating back to March 2023.

PAST COVERAGE: Carlisle man arrested after allegedly stabbing girlfriend

According to the office, the victim first reported being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend to Pennsylvania State Police on March 28, 2023. The office says she obtained a Protection from Abuse Order that day.

Three days later on March 31, the office says, Lepperd attacked the victim from behind outside her home and stabbed her multiple times.

The office says a bystander witnessed the attack and intervened. The victim was then airlifted to Hershey Medical Center for treatment.

After the attack, the office says, Lepperd fled the scene in his vehicle and led troopers on a high-speed chase.

According to the office, Lepperd could be heard saying, You think that PFA was going to stop me? to troopers during the pursuit.

After he was arrested, the office says, he was awaiting trial in Cumberland County Prison when he solicited multiple inmates to kill the victim and witnesses.

PAST COVERAGE: Cumberland County inmate accused of murder for hire plot

According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women, one in four men and nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. In Pennsylvania, 104 victims died of domestic violence last year, and 54% were killed by a current or former partner.

To find help for yourself or a loved one, go to www.pcadv.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
(KRON)  The man who attacked San Jose Mayor Matt Mahans security detail on Tuesday has been charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney, the DAs office confirmed to KRON4. On Thursday, the district attorneys office filed three counts against Wesley Pollard for his attack on the mayors security detail, which was caught on video.

Pollard had been charged with one felony count and two misdemeanors. The following charges are listed in documents from the Superior Court of Santa Clara County.

Resisting or deterring an officer by means of threat or violence (felony)

Battery (misdemeanor)

Disturbing the peace (misdemeanor)

VIDEO: Pedestrian fights San Jose mayors security detail during KRON4 interview

Pollard also had a warrant for his arrest from a Georgia incident in which he resisted arrest with violence, according to the San Jose Police Department.

He is scheduled to appear in a Santa Clara County court on Friday at noon. Pollards bail is set at $26,000, according to county jail records.

The altercation between the two parties started as verbal before escalating to physical. Pollard was then seen fighting Mahans security detail and landing a punch to his head. Watch the full video of the altercation HERE.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Dan Rather Will Return to CBS News for First Time in 18 Years

The former anchor was fired from the network in 2006 after a controversial '60 Minutes II' report on President George W. Bush

Santiago Felipe/Getty Dan Rather on Nov. 5, 2019

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather is making a return to the network.

PEOPLE can confirm that Rather, 92, is set to be interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning 18 years after his controversial exit. According to a description of the April 25 episode of news program, Lee Cowan talks with former CBS News anchor Dan Rather about his work at CBS and his life in news.

The journalist has maintained that his ousting was a result of being scapegoated for the fallout from a 60 Minutes II report in 2004 on allegations that President George W. Bush went AWOL during part of his time in the Texas Air National Guard.

The Bush administration disputed the authenticity of the documents cited in the story, leading to an investigation that concluded the piece disregarded fundamental journalistic principles. The documents were not, however, ever proved to be forgeries.

Related: Dan Rather Remembers the 'Toughest' Goodbyes to His Children and Wife: 'You May Not Come Back' (Exclusive)

Rathers reputation suffered following the dispute, and he was removed from the anchor desk in 2005 before being fired the subsequent year. Producer Mary Mapes and three news executives were also let go from CBS after their involvement with the story.

The controversy, dubbed Rathergate, was dramatized in the 2015 film Truth starring Cate Blanchett as Mapes and Robert Redford as Rather. According to The Associated Press, CBS refused to run advertising for the movie, which was based off of Mapes memoir Truth and Duty.

John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Dan Rather anchors his last 'CBS Evening News' broadcast on March 9, 2005

Related: Dan Rather Recalls How a Scary Home Invasion He Believes Was Connected to Watergate 'Changed My Perspective' (Exclusive)

Its astounding how little truth there is in Truth, CBS spokesman Gil Schwartz  who was chief spokesman during that 2004 scandal  told The AP prior to its opening day. There are, in fact, too many distortions, evasions and baseless conspiracy theories to enumerate them all. The film tries to turn gross errors of journalism and judgment into acts of heroism and martyrdom."



Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in December 2015, Rather still stood by the report.

We reported a true story. We didnt do it perfectly, the former anchor said. We made some mistakes of getting to the truth. But that didnt change the truth of what we reported.

He claimed that partisan political forces and ideological forces who found this a very inconvenient story attacked the weak points of the story to avoid the hard facts and change the conversation.

The corporate entity caved, Rather told THR.

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.

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Read the original article on People.
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a pharmacy counter. (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images)

A Dane County resident has a confirmed case of measles, the state health department reported Friday, the first reported case in Wisconsin since last fall.

Citing privacy concerns, the Department of Health Services (DHS) withheld demographic information about the person infected and whether the individual had been vaccinated, but reported that the individual had acquired the illness while traveling domestically.

There have been about 125 measles cases in 18 communities across the country so far this year, said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin immunization program manager, at a briefing for reporters.

Thats quite a change from the previous year, Schauer said, prompting DHS to call attention to the case. We need to ensure that folks are protected against this disease.

In the last decade, measles vaccination in Wisconsin has dropped by about six percentage points, from 88.2% of the population in 2013 to 81.6% in 2023, Schauer said.

If measles is introduced into a community that really is too low to prevent the spread, Schauer said. To prevent the virus from taking hold in a population requires a vaccination rate of more than 95%.

Vaccination rates also vary by county. With the decline in vaccination rates public health providers expect to see more outbreaks, Schauer said.

Health officials are monitoring to see whether other cases are reported, particularly among people exposed to the individual who has been identified with the disease.

The illness typically starts with a fever and can be accompanied at first by a cough or a runny nose. A rash typically develops about four days after the first symptoms appear, starting at the hairline and working its way down the body. Up to 30% of patients may develop diarrhea, an ear infection or other secondary complications. A typical patient is infectious for about nine days, and when the rash appears patients are likely to be infectious for another four days, Schauer said.

The illness is highly contagious, and people who begin to notice symptoms should stay home if youre feeling sick, she said. It can take up to 21 days for a person who is exposed to show symptoms.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been in use since 1963, and its widespread use has helped reduce the frequency of the illness since then. These diseases arent gone, theyve been held at bay, Schauer said.

DHS is encouraging people who have not been vaccinated to get the vaccine. The recommended dose for children ages 6 months to 11 years old is one shot, and for ages 12 and up into adulthood, two doses. The vaccine is recommended for all, but particularly for people who are traveling outside the country.

DHS is recommending that people who havent been vaccinated or who arent sure about their vaccine status check with their health providers. People can also check with the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

Schauer said it takes about two weeks for the full effect of the vaccine to take hold in a person. Even for someone who has had the shot for less time, it can help prevent some symptoms or reduce their severity, she added.

The post Dane County measles case prompts state health department to alert the public appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A Quad Cities bar is grateful for community support after incidents that led police to charge a suspect with robbery and burglary charges.

The establishment targeted was Probstei Inn Bar and Grill in Davenport.

Court records say Davenport Police arrested 24-year-old Trenton Stewart early Tuesday. Stewart, whose address is listed both as Davenport and Moline, faces two felony charges of forgery, and a felony charge of third-degree burglary.

Trenton Stewart (Scott County Jail)

Court records say police responded to a call about 10:30 a.m. Monday in reference to a commercial burglary. Arrest affidavits say Steward with no right, license, or privilege forced entry into Probstei Inn by pushing out an air-conditioning unit attached to the window of the business.

In arrest affidavits, police allege that, once Stewart was inside the business, he stole various business checks belonging to Probstei Inn, along with a safe.

An hour later on the same day, court records say, Davenport Police responded to CBI Bank & Trust, 2322 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport, in reference to fraud. Arrest affidavits say Stewart entered CBI Bank & Trust with a forged check belonging to Probstei Inn. Court records say the defendant did this twice at different times, and was captured on surveillance footage.

Its nothing anybody ever wants to go through, said Mandy, a Probstei Inn Bar and Grill manager. Nobody wants to get robbed.

Probstei Inn workers arrived Monday morning to find the business wasnt the way they left it.

There was a bartender on her way out of the bar already, Mandy said. She made it in the door, and immediately noticed something wasnt right. The rug was in the wrong spot, she stepped behind the bar and realized the safe was gone.

(Surveillance footage provided by Probstei Inn)

In surveillance video workers provided Our Quad Cities News, the suspect can be seen inside, pulling the safe out from under the bar. He then leaves with it, but because its too heavy, he doesnt get very far.

He made it to the field next door with the safe, Mandy said. The police were able to recover it. He was not able to get into it, so really all he really did was make a huge mess for us to clean up.

That mess would extend to the business bank account. Court records show Stewart forged a check belonging to Probstei Inn.

We had to close our bank account, Mandy said. We werent able to take cards initially, because everything dumps into the account that we cant use. Its just a nightmare. It was a mess in here that had to be cleaned up. We werent even sure when we were able to be open.

Against all odds, Probstei Inn opened its doors on the same day of the break-in.

We didnt expect that either, Mandy said. Were going to post were open, and like its just going to be a ghost town, we just got robbed. Thats just now how it worked out, so its been really great.

The staff at the Probstei Inn are thankful for the community support.

We have to deal with the consequences of it right now, Mandy said. So its been really cool to see people reach out on Facebook, customers check in to check on us. People say theyre going to come in and support us through this.

A preliminary hearing for Stewart, who was released on his own recognizance, is set for May 10 in Scott County Court.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
A Davenport man was sentenced April 23, 2024, to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, Marveon Dashawn Jovan Williams, 27, was arrested in 2022, after Davenport Police responded to a call in May for a gunshot victim in a vehicle. Upon arrival on the scene, the victim was located in the driver seat of a vehicle, with a gunshot wound to the head.

Marveon Williams (Scott County Jail)

Several firearms, including one located on the passenger side, and one located on the sidewalk outside the passenger side of the vehicle were recovered. A cell phone belonging to Williams was also located on the scene.

Witnesses described a shootout between two different vehicles. A male, matching Williams physical description was seen possessing the firearm that was dropped on the sidewalk and recovered by police and fleeing the crime scene, according to a Justice Department release Friday.

Video surveillance footage of the scene showed Williams fleeing the area and then changing his clothing in a nearby wooded area. The discarded clothing was recovered by law enforcement and tested for DNA. DNA belonging to Williams was located on the clothing recovered from the wooded area.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Williams will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Davenport Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Former President Donald Trump returned to a New York City courtroom Thursday as his hush money trial continues.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

There is no case here, he told reporters outside the courtroom.

During testimony Thursday, the ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, tied Trump to payments to buy then kill negative stories about him ahead of the 2016 election.

Pecker told jurors he believes Trump was aware of the agreement.

This case isnt formally branded as a conspiracy case, but in many ways, thats what it is, said David Super, a law professor at Georgetown University.

Super said Peckers testimony early on is important.

That, I think, makes it much harder for Trump to claim that this is a mischaracterization of his money or that he didnt understand what was being done, he said.

Prosecutors accuse Trump of illegally hiding hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, but Trumps defense argues the money was legal.

This is just a political witch hunt, Trump said.

Trump insists the case is a Democratic conspiracy to keep him off the campaign trail.

But I guess based on what Im looking at, its driving up my poll numbers, not driving them down, he said.

Before heading to court Thursday, Trump visited construction workers for a campaign stop.

We have a good chance of winning New York, in my opinion, he said.

Nationally, a new Quinnipiac poll has Trump and President Joe Biden in a dead heat.

As court wrapped up Thursday, the judge announced he scheduled a last-minute hearing for Wednesday to hear alleged gag order violations.

Prosecutors requested more contempt findings against Trump after they asked the judge to fine him over social media posts they say violate a gag order.

The hearing next week directly conflicts with two Trump rallies in battleground states. Its unclear if Trump will be required to attend.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The first week of testimony in former President Trumps hush money trial has wrapped Friday in Manhattan.

The trial so far has been dominated by splashy testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who spent much of this week divulging seedy details of media agreements he entered into with Trump and ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to keep negative stories about Trump out of the news while he mounted his 2016 campaign.

Pecker, the prosecutions first witness, was on the stand all four days of the trial this week. On Friday afternoon, the prosecution called its second witness, Trumps longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff, who took the stand for just a few minutes. Next came banker Gary Farro, who detailed financial dealings he had with Cohen.

The trial resumes Tuesday.

Follow below for a recap from New York.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On April 26, 2002, a German youth who had been expelled from the Gutenberg school in Erfurt, Germany, returned to the school and shot 16 people to death. File Photo by ASK/Wikimedia

April 26 (UPI) -- On this day in history:

In 1607, the first British colonists to establish a permanent settlement in America landed at Cape Henry, Va.

In 1933, Nazi Germany's secret police, better known as the Gestapo, is formed by Hermann Goering. The Allies declared the Gestapo a criminal organization during the Nuremberg trials and sentenced Goering to die.

In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, German-made planes destroyed the Basque town of Guernica, Spain.

In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged, forming the country of Tanzania.

Valentina Lopatyuk cries near the bas-relief portrait of her son Viktor on his grave at a cemetery in Moscow on April 26, 2000, on the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. File Photo by Maxim Marmur/UPI

In 1982, Argentina surrendered to British forces on South Georgia Island amid a dispute over the Falkland Islands.

In 1986, a fire and explosion at the Soviet Union's Chernobyl nuclear reactor north of Kiev, Ukraine, resulted in the world's worst civilian nuclear disaster. About 30 deaths were reported in the days following the accident. It is believed that hundreds of people eventually died from high doses of radiation from the plant and that thousands of cases of cancer could be linked to the crisis.

Lebanese students demonstrate in Beirut on March 14, 2002, against Syria`s military presence in their country. On April 26, 2005, the last of Syria's troops left Lebanon, ending a 29-year military presence. File Photo by Mahmoud Tawil/UPI

File Photo by Sergey Starostenko/UPI

In 1993, Indian Airlines Flight 491 slammed into a parked truck during takeoff and crashed minutes later near the western Indian city of Aurangabad, killing 56 people.

On April 26, 1993, an Indian Airlines Boeing 737-2A8, similar to the one pictured, hit a truck during takeoff and crashed minutes later near Aurangabad, India, killing 56 people. File Photo by Aero Icarus/Wikimedia

In 1994, South Africans began going to the polls in the country's first election that was open to all. Four days of voting would elect Nelson Mandela president.

In 2002, a German youth who had been expelled from the Gutenberg school in Erfurt, Germany, returned to the school and shot 16 people to death.

Nelson Mandela raises his fist to the crowd at the Washington Convention Center during his introduction June 26, 1990. On April 26, 1994, South Africans began going to the polls in the country's first election that was open to all. Four days of voting would elect Mandela president. File Photo by Martin Jeong/UPI

In 2005, the last of Syria's troops left Lebanon, ending a 29-year military presence.

In 2010, longtime Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, sought by the International Criminal Court in connection with reputed crimes against humanity in the Darfur section of western Sudan, was re-elected president in a controversial vote.

File Photo by Abderaouf Ubgadar/UPI

In 2012, a U.N.-backed court convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor of war crimes, including murder, acts of terrorism, rape, sexual slavery and use of child soldiers, for aiding rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

In 2018, a Pennsylvania jury found actor Bill Cosby guilty on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand in 2004. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.

In 2020, the 23rd victim of the Aug. 3, 2019, shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart died from his injuries.

In 2021, Kanye West's Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototype shoes sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million through a private sale facilitated by Sotheby's. It was the first recorded sneaker sale for more than $1 million.

File Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said someone shot a teenage boy in Southeast Friday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it happened in the 1500 block of Alabama Ave. at Stanton Road.

Arlington elementary school employee showed pornography to children, police say

The boy was conscious and breathing, according to MPD.

MPD said the person responsible for the shooting was wearing black clothing, a gray camo ski mask and red shoes. He last was seen heading towards 15th and Savannah streets SE.

Anyone with information was asked to call (202)727-9099 or text 50411.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Last week Chris Allen-Black, a math teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, was arrested in February for exposing himself.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Action News Jax told you that he wasnt removed from the classroom for weeks after the arrest.

RELATED: Douglas Anderson teacher re-assigned, accused of exposure of sexual organs in Orange County

Now, DCPS Superintendent Dana Kriznar said Allen-Black should have been removed from the classroom long before he was.

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He was allowed to stay in the classroom for nearly two months despite being charged for exposing himself at a resort on Disney property.

Orange County deputies said Allen-Black was arrested on Feb. 24 but the school district said he wasnt removed from the classroom until April 11.

The report said the victims saw him standing naked in front of a hotel window. It adds he was touching himself on one of the top floors overlooking the pool.

On Friday, Kriznar sent a statement to Douglas Anderson families that read in part:

In hindsight, the decision to pull him from the classroom should have been immediate given the nature of the charge against him. Additionally, following our normal procedures, only the teachers students families were notified. Given the current situation at the school, we should have informed all of you. DCPS Superintendent Dana Kriznar

Action News Jax Ben Becker pressed the school district all week to prove it conferred with the Office of the General Council.

Thats because the district claimed it did -- in its original statement last week. But a public records request only turned up one email.

RELATED: State senator calls out current superintendent for issues at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

But today, the district admitted to Becker it never sought guidance until April 15, which was four days after Allen-Black was kicked out of the classroom -- and two days before parents were notified.

The district called their original statement, unintentionally misleading.

As a result, DCPS provided the following timeline of events for clarification.

We opened our investigation on Feb. 27 when we learned of his arrest. We notified the Department of Education on Feb. 28. We received the police report on the incident on March 11. Principal Wilson relieved him of his teaching duties on April 11. The district reviewed the situation with OGC on April 15. Based on OGC guidance, we formally reassigned him on April 16 to duties off campus and with no student contact. We notified families of students in his classes on April 17.

Florida Senator of District 4, Clay Yarborough, who called out the current superintendent earlier this week, issued this statement concerning issues at Douglas Anderson:

While I am thankful it appears an effort has been made to send communication to parents related to the most recent issue, I call on DCPS and COJ OGC to immediately release the results of the taxpayer-funded investigation into the 2023 scandal that the Superintendent and School Board were briefed on. To do so could help give parents and the public confidence that whatever responsive measures DCPS plans to implement are sufficient.

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Arrest made in deadly shooting of 23-year-old NH woman, AG says

Police arrested a man accused of shooting and killing a woman in her New Hampshire residence overnight.

24-year-old Conor J. Macleod is charged with manslaughter for recklessly shooting 23-year-old Alex M. Leach, according to Attorney General John M. Formella.

Conway Police say they responded to an apartment in the area of 36 Council Road around 11:30 p.m. for a report of a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. Arriving officers found Leach with a gunshot wound to her neck, according to officials. Macleod was present in the apartment at the time of the shooting.

Leach was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Macleod will be arraigned at a later date.

The investigation remains ongoing and no further updates were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The family of a woman and a 4-year-old child who were murdered in Dover says they want the suspect in their deaths to be executed.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, stabbed his girlfriend Amalia Cuc-Choc, 36, and her daughter Estrella Pec-Choc, 4, to death on Wednesday.

Court documents reveal possible motive in gruesome Dover double murder case

On Thursday, Sheriff Chad Chronister said his deputies arrested Cuz-Choc after a manhunt that ended near an abandoned farmhouse on Glen Harwell Road.

He may have been able to outrun the visual sight of the deputies that were out here, but he couldnt outrun the scent of this K-9, Chronister said. The K-9 took us right to him.

In an interview with 8 On Your Side, Amalias sister, Dolores Choc, who resides in Guatemala, said Cuz-Choc kept her sibling from speaking to her family.

Victim Amalia Cuc Choc holding her daughter Estrella in a photo taken before their deaths (UGC)

Dolores even accused Cuz-Choc of threatening Amalia and her family when she went to the police for help and tried to get away from him.

A man called me telling me tell your sister to come back with me because if she doesnt come back then shell see  its not the first time Ive killed people  I already have people Ive killed in Guatemala, he told me, the victims sister said.

Dolores and another woman who knew Amalia and Estrella both said the child told them about the abuse.

I looked at her and saw that she had bruises, said the local woman, who wanted to stay anonymous. Her eyes were also very purple.

Dolores said she wants Cuz-Choc to face the full punishment of the law for their deaths.

Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc (Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office)

Death penalty and justice for the girl, because the girl has nothing to do with anything he did, she said. A child is sacred. He doesnt have to mess with the girl.

Dolores said she and her family want to go to Florida to lay Amalia and Estrella to rest, but they dont have enough money at the moment.

To get there at this moment we have no capital, she said. We do not have anything. Yes, we need fundraising help for her because it is too much. It will cost $12,400. the funeral home is telling me something like that.

Cuz-Choc was set to make his first court appearance on charges of first degree murder and kidnapping Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Before Marylands 90-day legislative session began in January, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones urged not only her colleagues, but also the general public, to simply be more decent with each other.

During the session, the Baltimore County Democrat presented a decency agenda, a package of five bills that sought to eradicate discrimination and election misinformation, provide leadership training for school officials, and ensure diverse books and other materials are available for everyone.

Those bills were among the 261 that Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed into law on Thursday.

We need to stop allowing our worst instincts to drive the conversation. Together these bills will help all of us, Jones said during the bill signing ceremony at the State House in Annapolis.

The legislation that leads the decency agenda is the Freedom to Read Act  House Bill 785 and Senate Bill 738.

Stacks of bills awaiting the signature of Gov. Wes Moore (D). The governor signed into law more than 250 bills April 25. The ceremony was the second since the 2024 legislative session ended. Moore also planned on signing roughly two dozen other bills into law in a non-public event on April 25. Those bills are mostly departmental bills and sunset extensions for various entities. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Both measures reflect a national conversation about what books and materials should be publicly available in schools and libraries.

The act requires local school officials to manage library programs and not exclude or remove materials because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval.

Local school officials must develop policies and procedures to review objections  made by a student, parent or guardian  about books or materials.

School districts also must establish a reasonable timeline to conduct and conclude a review. Books and materials being reviewed must remain available for use by students and school personnel until the review process has concluded.

Under the bill. officials at county libraries, resource centers and a metropolitan cooperative service program must follow state standards such as not excluding materials from catalogues because of the origin, background, or views of a person who created the material.

If one of those three library operations fails to adopt policies consistent with state standards, then the state comptroller would withhold state funding until a written policy is certified by the Maryland State Library Board.

The new law will go into effect immediately.

It makes Maryland one of the first states in the nation with strong protections to preserve access to information in libraries, as well as penalties for those who attempt to thwart access. It also prohibits retaliating against employees for doing their jobs.

Im proud that Maryland is a place where everyone can see themselves in literature, where that book will remain on the shelves for them to read and see and not feel alone and that peoples history isnt erased, said Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel), who sponsored the House version. Were not telling anyone what to read. The readers are choosing. People are choosing. This is a statewide bill for everyone to protect literature, libraries and librarians and I couldnt be prouder.

Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery) sponsored the Freedom to Read Act in the Senate.

Del. Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel) and Sen. Nancy King during a bill an April 25 bill signing. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Parts of the speakers decency agenda signed into law include:

HB 333  Requires the state Board of Elections to maintain a portal on its website for the public to report election misinformation and disinformation. The board must conduct a periodic review of all materials submitted, and to the extent necessary, issue corrective information or refer submissions to the state prosecutor. The new law goes into effect June 1.

HB 602  Requires that employers not discriminate against a person based on their sexual orientation. It goes into effect Oct. 1.

HB 1287  Requires the state Department of Education and Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) to establish a school leadership training program for the state superintendent, local superintendents, chairs and vice chairs of state and local school boards and the Blueprint board. Some other local school board members and school employees are not required, but are encouraged, to complete the training. It is a change from an earlier proposal to require an incoming state superintendent of public schools or local school superintendent to complete a leadership course or training program. It goes into effect June 1.

HB 1386  Requires the Department of Education to develop guidelines for an anti-bias training program for school employees. It sets no deadline but states that it is assumed the guidelines would be ready in fiscal year 2025. It goes into effect July 1.

Jones said she plans to work with the governor and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) to present another package of bills next year aimed to promote decency in our public discourse and help protect the most vulnerable among us.

The governor, sitting between Jones and Ferguson, also signed dozens of education-related bills Thursday, including HB 1426, which goes in effect June 1 and focuses on provisions of the Blueprint plan

The bill allows the AIB and Maryland State Board of Education, in consultation with local school systems, to limit the number and types of courses a high school students can take in a dual enrollment program for classes at a higher education institution. This would be in effect from fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2027 as part of the Blueprints post-college and career readiness pathway.

Could not wait

Moore also signed three bills Thursday that were part of his affordable housing package.

HB 538 seeks to incentivize developers to add affordable housing options in future developments and would allow certain development projects to exceed typical density limits if the new development incorporates a certain percentage of affordable housing units. The law goes into effect Jan. 1.

HB 599 creates the Maryland Community Investment Corp., a state entity to make loans or investments aimed at developing and improving low-income communities. This goes into effect July 1.

The Renters Rights and Stabilization Act, HB 693, seeks to help tenants know what protections and legal options they have under state law. The new law, which takes effect Oct. 1, establishes the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the states Department of Housing and Community Development.

Besides praising legislators and advocates who helped work on the housing package, Moore called out Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen (D), who attended the bill signing.

Gov. Wes Moore (D), hugs Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen before presenting him with a ceremonial pen before the April 25 bill signing. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

We would not be here if it wasnt for Sheriff Sam Cogen, Moore said. Because of your hard work, from today on forward, all the time that you were spending focusing on evictions, lets get that off your plate.

After Moore presented Cogen with a first ceremonial pen, the two embraced.

During his remarks, Moore highlighted two statistics that show why housing became one of his administrations top priorities: a shortage of 96,000 housing units and the fact that 30% of younger Marylanders are considering leaving the state because of housing costs.

This was a year that we made the choice to put housing front and center because we knew this was an issue that could not wait, the governor said. You cannot have a growing and a thriving state if people cannot afford to live here.

Moore also signed legislation that will expand eligibility for compensation for people wrongly convicted of crimes in the state.

HB 1086 and SB 890, requested by the Office of the Attorney General expands eligibility for compensation from the state to include people erroneously convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony. Current law only covers those erroneously convicted of felonies. The new law, which goes into effect July 1, allows for an administrative law judge to award compensation without a pardon if a judge reverses or vacates a conviction and that order does not include provisions for a retrial.

The governor also planned to sign about two dozen other bills into law during a non-public event Thursday.

Bryan P. Sears contributed to this story.

The post Decency agenda, affordable housing package among bills signed into law appeared first on Maryland Matters.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident with the Boeing 767 aircraft

Getty Stock image of Evacuation Training Slide aircraft sliding raft

A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency return landing back to New York City from Los Angeles after the evacuation slide fell off the aircraft.

The Delta Air Lines Flight 520 was headed to Los Angeles International Airport but returned to its departure destination, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, around 8:35 a.m. on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration, per a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA confirmed it has launched an investigation into the incident involving the Boeing 767 aircraft.

Getty Los Angeles Airport sign full highway with airplane flying

Related: Engine Cover Dramatically Rips Off Southwest Airlines Plane During Takeoff in Denver

A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines told PEOPLE in a statement: As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK.

We appreciate their professionalism and our customers patience for the delay in their travels, concluded the statement.

Eduardo Munoz / VIEWpress via Getty Delta Airlines airplane sits on the tarmac inside the John F. Kennedy International Airport

Related: United Airlines Experiences Fifth Incident in One Week After Plane Turns Around Due to 'Maintenance Issue'

After takeoff, the aircrafts crew detected there was a non-routine sound from near the right wing as well as an indication that something was awry with the right-wing emergency exit slide. As a result, the flight crew contacted air traffic control with this emergency in an effort to gain priority in returning to JFK.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Upon return, the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft safely landed with all 183 passengers  176 customers, five flight attendants and two pilots.

Once the aircraft returned to JFK, it was documented that the emergency slide was missing from the aircraft. As a result of this incident, Delta has suspended the aircrafts service and will be evaluated by the airline.

After the redirected customers landed, they were placed on a new aircraft and to travel to LAX.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
A Democrat representative who is now running for Senate in battleground state Michigan is facing scrutiny over a Limited Liability Company she started in 2017 just weeks prior to announcing her congressional bid.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., established the LLC, called Pinpoint Consulting, weeks before announcing in 2017 that she was running for Congress to unseat an incumbent Republican. According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the business is "Not in Good Standing," as of 2020.

The last annual report for the business was filed in 2019.

TOP SENATE DEM CALLS FOR PROBE INTO MUSLIMS PROSECUTED BY DOJ FOR ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS

Rep. Elissa Slotkin's LLC started before her congressional bid appears to have never generated any income.

"Im a third-generation Michigander and spent my early life on a farm in Holly, Michigan where I currently live and run a small consulting business," Slotkin's campaign website, ElissaForCongress.com, stated in October 2017, according to an internet archive snapshot.

In an ad launched by End Citizens United advocating for Slotkin in May 2018, the organization claimed, "she is a small business owner in Holly."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In a financial disclosure report filed with the House clerk in August 2023, Slotkin is still listed as the founder and CEO of Pinpoint Consulting. However, a comment on the document states, "Business has been inactive since 2017 and generates no income/revenue."

Slotkin's campaign did not say whether she ever had any clients, revenue, or employees. The congresswoman's various disclosures don't reveal any income coming from her firm at any time.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for her said, "Rep. Slotkin set up a consulting firm after leaving the Department of Defense, when she was considering a number of different job opportunities. She ultimately decided to run for Congress."

JEWISH DEMOCRAT CALLS OUT BERNIE SANDERS OVER OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL AID: 'NOW DO ANTISEMITISM'

Slotkin served as an acting assistant secretary of defense until January 2017, per her official biography. The LLC was established with the state of Michigan on June 21, 2017. By July 10, she had announced her campaign for Congress to unseat then-Republican Rep. Mike Bishop.

Slotkin's business was noted as inactive since the year it was established in a financial disclosure.

Her campaign further pointed to comments made in May 2018 to local outlet Lansing City Pulse. "I was looking for my next step after being in government for 14 years, and I was asked to do some work on an Iraq-related matter," Slotkin said of her departure from the DOD at the time. "Every time Ive had a sort of life change, Ive come back to Michigan to reset, to find out whats going on. Thats always the place I come back to figure out what my next steps [are]."

But some critics don't think the company's establishment and apparent inactivity are that simply explained.

"She was running against a sitting member of Congress in a Republican-leaning district and  everybody was wrapping their arms around small businesses" at the time, said Jason Cabel Roe, who led the Congressional Leadership Fund's effort to support Bishop in the 2018 race.

"What she tried to do in 2018 was make herself look like a moderate Republican to Republican voters that did not like Donald Trump," he said.

HELP CHAIRMAN BERNIE SANDERS AVOIDS AGREEING TO CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM HEARINGS

Mike Bishop was defeated by Elissa Slotkin in 2018, when she touted her consulting business Pinpoint Consulting.

Roe explained the business "was a talking point that she relied on in 2018. But once she got elected, I bet she never talked about it again after 2019."

Slotkin's business is not mentioned in her Senate campaign. It's also not featured in her official biography. "I mean, it doesn't stand up to scrutiny," Roe said.

"Elissa Slotkin created a consulting business on paper, so she could call herself a small business owner when she ran for Congress," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesperson Maggie Abboud told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"However, it does not appear that she ever actually had any clients. Slotkins misrepresentation of her experience in business could be a major issue for her campaign," she added.

GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND BIDEN ADMIN PROSECUTE PRO-TERRORIST MOBS, HOLD SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE

Dixon slammed Slotkin as phony.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication.

Slotkin is considered the front-runner for the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan to replace outgoing Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Actor Hill Harper is also running for the nomination but is far behind the congresswoman in polls of the primary race and with endorsements. Additionally, a Lebanese-born businessman from Dearborn is also running. Nasser Beydoun, an advocate for Gaza civilians amid the war between Israel and Hamas, was recently the chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League in Michigan, which is home to one of the largest Arab populations in any state.

The Senate primary in Michigan takes place on Aug. 6. The general election race is considered competitive by non-partisan political handicapper The Cook Political Report, which rated it "Lean Democratic."

On the Republican side, the likely nominee is less clear. However, former Rep. Mike Rogers boasts the endorsement of former President Trump, giving him an edge. Former Reps. Peter Meijer and Justin Amash are also running, as well as businessman Sandy Pensler, who was previously endorsed by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.





Original article source: Dem Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin's 'small consulting business' may have never been active
We have our demands; they have theirs: Pro-Palestinian protests ongoing at Columbia

We have our demands; they have theirs: Pro-Palestinian protests ongoing at Columbia

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11)  Pro-Palestinian protests inside the Columbia University campus are expected to continue Friday as talks between the school and demonstrators are ongoing.

Discussions between the school and students have shown progress when it comes to dismantling and dispersing, according to the schools Office of Public Affairs.

We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues, Columbia officials said.

The NYPD was allegedly invited to campus Thursday night, but the school claimed that was false rumors. One person was arrested and two summonses were given out Thursday night in connection to the ongoing protest, according to the NYPD.

Protesters are calling for the school to stop investing money in companies linked to Israel amid what they called a growing genocide in Gaza. Pro-Israel demonstrators and some Jewish students told PIX11 News they dont feel safe on campus.

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My daughter is on campus here and is subject to all of the disgusting rhetoric that has been going on so Im here in combination for myself and as a concerned mother, said Amy Gallatin, a pro-Israel demonstrator.

The NYPD is also searching for a suspect accused of stealing a blue and white flag from a man near the Columbia protests last Saturday. Another person is accused of throwing a rock at the man before someone else lit the flag on fire, according to authorities.

Police were unable to confirm if the flag was an Israeli flag.

There will be a rally at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the main gate of Columbia in support of hostages still being held by Hamas.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Three down, six to go.

On Tuesday, progressive Rep. Summer Lee won renomination in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. She fended off a challenge from an opponent who'd attacked Lee's willingness to break with President Joe Biden and her vociferous criticism of Israel's policies in the ongoing war in Gaza. Such critiques have put electoral pressure on Lee and other members of The Squad, an informal group of about nine progressive Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With Lee's victory, three members have won renomination in solidly Democratic districts in March and April primaries, all but ensuring that they'll win reelection in November.

Yet as the electoral calendar turns toward summer, around half of the group's other members must contend with serious threats in their respective Democratic primaries. The Squad's criticisms of Israel and its actions in Gaza in the wake of Hamas's October attack on Israel helped spur many of their challengers' campaigns back in the fall, and pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee could boost efforts to take down these progressive incumbents. Still, Democrats writ large have become increasingly critical of Israel, so The Squad's views about the conflict may not sink them. Rather, other scandals and controversies might be the extra ingredient that proves to be the undoing of some Squad members.

The Squad and primary opposition

The Squad burst on the scene following the 2018 election, in which Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib won their first terms in the House. The group has since grown in size to include Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Lee and, arguably, Reps. Greg Casar and Delia Ramirez  The Squad does not have a formal membership list, which makes detailing its representatives an inexact science.*

Regardless of whether we include Casar and Ramirez, the reality is that neither had opposition in their March primaries, which makes them outliers in The Squad. Lee's victory on Tuesday began a run of primaries in which Squad members will encounter at least some level of competition: Of the six who still face renomination contests, all but Pressley appear to have at least one opponent on their primary ballot so far.

Most members of The Squad face primary opposition

Members of The Squad, when they were first elected, their primary date, whether they have a 2024 primary opponent and whether they won renomination (if primary has occurred)

2024 Primary Greg Casar TX-35 2022 March 5  Delia Ramirez IL-03 2022 March 19  Summer Lee PA-12 2022 April 23   Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez NY-14 2018 June 25  Jamaal Bowman NY-16 2020 June 25  Rashida Tlaib MI-12 2018 Aug. 6  Cori Bush MO-01 2020 Aug. 6  Ilhan Omar MN-05 2018 Aug. 13  Ayanna Pressley MA-07 2018 Sept. 3

The candidate filing deadlines in Massachusetts (May 7) and Minnesota (June 4) have not yet passed. Michigans primary candidate list is still unofficial.

Sources: Daily Kos Elections, News Reports

That some Squad members have primary opposition is nothing new, thanks to their tendency to break party ranks and their efforts to move Democrats to the left. For instance, its members (six at the time) were the only House Democrats to vote against the Biden-supported bipartisan infrastructure package in 2021. In the 2022 primaries that followed, Bowman had multiple intraparty challengers who held him to 54 percent, while Omar narrowly survived to win renomination. Earlier, in 2020, Ocasio-Cortez and Omar turned back well-funded primary challengers who ran as moderate alternatives.

How the Israel-Hamas war spurred challengers in 2024

In the 2024 election cycle, The Squad's response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has generated opposition within their own party. Following Hamas's attack on Oct. 7, Democratic divisions developed, as Biden and many Democratic leaders signaled support for Israel in the face of a terrorist attack on its population, while The Squad and some other Democrats pushed back because of the danger Israeli military action represented to the lives of Palestinian civilians. Some Democrats even joined in a mostly Republican-backed vote in the House to censure Tlaib, the lone Palestinian American in Congress, for her rhetoric, including her use of the Palestinian nationalist slogan "from the river to the sea"  a phrase some consider a call for Israel's destruction, an interpretation Tlaib has disputed.

Such intraparty hostility has affected The Squad's primary races, thanks in part to the influence of pro-Israel outside groups. The bipartisan American Israel Public Affairs Committee has played a feature role, having reportedly worked to recruit challengers and developed plans to spend $100 million against progressive candidates, including The Squad. Although United Democracy Project, AIPAC's associated super PAC, has not yet spent money against The Squad, AIPAC itself has formally endorsed Westchester County Executive George Latimer in his challenge to Bowman and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in his race against Bush. Other pro-Israel and/or moderate groups have also endorsed challengers or made overtures about opposing Squad members in their primaries.

Israel's potency as an anti-Squad issue, however, appeared mixed in its first test: Lee's primary in her Pittsburgh-based district against Edgewood Borough Council member Bhavini Patel. Patel launched her campaign just before Hamas attacked Israel, but she made Lee's stance toward Israel  Lee condemned Hamas but claims Israel's military has committed "war crimes"  part of her broader pitch that Lee was too divisive and not supportive enough of Biden in a crucial election year. Yet Lee defeated Patel 61 percent to 39 percent on Tuesday, a solid, if unspectacular, result for a House incumbent who appeared at least somewhat threatened.

This is not to say that concerns about Israel didnt affect Lees support in some places. One example is the primary results in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburghs historically Jewish neighborhood where, in 2018, an antisemitic shooter attacked the areas Tree of Life synagogue and killed 11 worshippers. Patel sought to make inroads in this community, although Lee garnered federal funding for the Tree of Lifes planned education center and museum to combat antisemitism. Across Pittsburgh as a whole, Lee won about 67 percent, a 12 percentage point improvement on her 2022 primary showing against multiple opponents. But her support in Squirrel Hills precincts actually fell slightly: After winning the area with a narrow plurality of 46 percent two years ago, Lee won only 43 percent to Patels 57 percent on Tuesday.

Still, Lees relative strength despite criticisms of her views on Israel speaks to a larger challenge for anti-Squad efforts: Democrats have become increasingly critical of Israels actions and U.S. military assistance to Israel. In March, Gallup found that just 18 percent of Democrats approved of Israels military action in Gaza, down from 36 percent in November. And in Quinnipiac Universitys polling, support among Democrats for sending military aid to Israel for its war against Hamas fell more between late October and late March  from 49 percent to 25 percent  than among Republicans or independents.

In this environment, the politics of AIPAC have made its potential support for primary challengers less of an unalloyed boost than some may have expected a few months ago. A Reject AIPAC coalition of progressive groups have launched a campaign to defend Squad members and other House members who oppose further American support for Israel. And because AIPACs United Democracy Project super PAC has received substantial funding from both Democratic and Republican donors, progressives have ammunition to attack the group as a GOP-backed vehicle for taking down politicians on the left.

The Democratic Party and its leaders too have grown more reticent about unqualified support for Israel. In recent days, the House and Senate did pass legislation to provide more aid to Israel (as well as separate packages for Ukraine and Taiwan), but the Israel legislation included $9 billion in worldwide humanitarian aid, including for civilians in Gaza, that House Democrats made clear was a necessary inclusion to receive their support. Still, the lack of restrictions on the military aid in the Israel package frustrated some Democrats  about 1 in 6 House Democrats opposed the legislation, including all nine Squad members.

Which Squad members are in real danger?

Amid these shifting political sands, primary voters will determine the fates of six more Squad members over the next four or so months. And although Israel and Gaza have been center stage in the early campaign season, some Squad members  namely Bowman and Bush  face unrelated scandals that could be just as worrisome for them, if not more so.

In New Yorks 16th District on the edge of New York City, Bowman drew renewed scrutiny in September when he pulled a fire alarm in a Capitol office building right before a pivotal vote to avoid a government shutdown, for which he was censured by the House and had to pay a fine. Then in January, discovery of Bowmans years-old blog posts showed that he once dabbled with conspiracy theories about the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. These strange episodes may add fuel to the fire for Latimers bid to defeat the incumbent. And he very well could: A late March poll by the Mellman Group for Democratic Majority for Israel PAC, which has endorsed Latimer, found Latimer ahead 52 percent to 35 percent. Looking to counter the DMFI survey, Bowmans campaign released older data from an early March survey conducted by Upswing Research that showed Bowman only a tick ahead, 44 percent to 43 percent.

But especially in a district with a roughly 10 percent Jewish population, Israel is still playing a major role in this primary race. For one thing, Latimer has built a fundraising edge over Bowman with the help of AIPACs endorsement and financial support: Individual donors have used the group as a conduit to contribute $1.3 million to Latimer, constituting about one-third of the nearly $3.7 million hes raised. That puts the Westchester County executive about $1 million ahead of Bowman, who has brought in $2.7 million, and is the best-funded of the Squad primary challengers.

Two or more face serious primary challengers

Members of The Squad with upcoming primaries, their main primary opponents, fundraising totals and percentage opponent has raised compared to incumbent

Squad member Main primary opponent NY-16 Jamaal Bowman $2,702,175 George Latimer $3,676,377 +36% MO-01 Cori Bush $1,601,784 Wesley Bell $1,733,782 +8 MN-05 Ilhan Omar $4,914,821 Don Samuels $755,458 -85 NY-14 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez $6,682,353 Marty Dolan $242,175 -96 MI-12 Rashida Tlaib $6,552,315    MA-07 Ayanna Pressley $855,440   

Main primary opponent based on fundraising and news reports. Fundraising data as of March 31, 2024.  indicates either no primary opposition or that no opponents have filed fundraising data with the Federal Election Commission. The candidate filing deadlines in Massachusetts (May 7) and Minnesota (June 4) have not yet passed.

Sources: Federal Election Commission, News Reports

With two months to go until New Yorks June 25 primary, AIPACs role and the Israel-Hamas conflict may only ratchet up tensions. In a nod to AIPACs influence and bipartisan funding base, Bowmans campaign has run ads arguing that Donald Trumps megadonors are funding his opponents attacks, and the congressman has claimed that AIPAC has spread racist propaganda in its efforts targeting Squad members. Latimer, for his part, has worked to balance his support for Israel with concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza as Democratic opinion sours on Israels actions. In a seeming nod to Bowmans controversies, Latimers initial ads argued that true public service means putting people over personal agendas, and emphasized his real progressive results as county executive.

Meanwhile in Missouris St. Louis-based 1st District, Bush looks to be in trouble in her primary. The incumbent faces investigations by the Department of Justice, Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee into alleged misuse of funds to pay her security team, including payments to her husband as part of that operation. Bush has claimed the allegations are spurious, driven by right-wing organizations looking to damage her standing. But this development has cast a cloud of potential scandal on top of other points of division. Bell has criticized Bush for voting against money for Israels Iron Dome defense system, though more of his criticisms of Bush focus on issues such as her vote against the 2021 infrastructure package. Hes also emphasized his credentials as part of the progressive prosecutors movement by highlighting his work to divert nonviolent offenders away from prison.

Bell, who abandoned a bid for Missouris U.S. Senate race to challenge Bush, has also found himself in an advantageous fundraising position. He has slightly outraised Bush, $1.7 million to $1.6 million, and he finished the first quarter of 2024 with more than twice as much money in the bank, $1.1 million to Bushs $529,000. AIPAC has served as a conduit for around one-third of Bells fundraising receipts by bringing in more than $550,000 in contributions from individual donors. Bushs legal troubles have hampered her campaign finance situation, too, as she paid legal firms about $86,000, according to reporting by Axios. The primary wont take place until Aug. 6, but an early February poll by Remington Research/Missouri Scout found Bell up 50 percent to 28 percent, a pretty terrible finding for an incumbent.

Beyond Bowman and Bush, the only other Squad member who could have some primary difficulties is Omar, who faces a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. In 2022, Samuels only lost to Omar by 2 points in Minnesotas 5th District primary, boosted in part by his criticisms of Omar for being soft on crime in a city that had wrestled with debates over the future of policing in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. Now, Samuels has added Omars stance on Israel to his criticisms, suggesting that she may have alienated Jewish voters, while he would pursue healing and unity.

This time around, however, Omar looks readier to deal with a primary challenge. As of March 31, the incumbent had raised $4.9 million, more than twice what she had raised just before the 2022 primary. She has about 10 times as much money in the bank as Samuels, too, with $2.2 million to his $233,000 (Samuels has raised $755,000 this cycle). In 2022, AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project sent about $350,000 to another super PAC that ended up spending about $625,000 on behalf of Samuels. Though theres still time to go before the Aug. 13 primary, AIPAC hasnt played in this race yet, and Samuels doesnt have an endorsement from AIPAC  so unlike Latimer and Bell, he hasnt received a boost from individual donors who use the group as a vehicle to support pro-Israel candidates.

The three other original Squad members appear unlikely to have much primary trouble. In New Yorks 14th District, Ocasio-Cortez will face former insurance executive Marty Dolan, but shes outraised his mostly self-funded campaign $6.7 million to $242,000. Dolan originally ran against Bowman, but switched races to take on Ocasio-Cortez. Conservative media outlets have taken the most notice of Dolans bid  Ocasio-Cortez is their bete noire  but his appearances on Fox News are unlikely to boost his chances in a Democratic primary. Tlaib, meanwhile, has raised $6.5 million, boosted by a surge in donations after the House censured her for her criticisms of Israel. Michigans still-unofficial candidate list suggests shell have one primary challenger in the 12th District, but that unheralded contender doesnt offer much of a threat. As for Pressley, she currently has no primary opponents in Massachusettss 7th District, as was the case in her 2020 and 2022 reelection bids.

Footnote

*Media outlets hadnt necessarily included Ramirez as part of The Squad in the past  although she had a similar voting record  but a collection of left-wing groups recently began a Protect The Squad campaign that included Ramirez, who reposted it on X (formerly Twitter). However, this pitch didnt name Casar.

Democratic divisions over Israel aren't guaranteed to sink The Squad originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
INDEPENDENCE (KSNT)  Former Kansas Attorney General and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt is making a run for Kansas Second Congressional District.

Schmidts announcement on Friday comes after Republican Congressman Jake LaTurner announced that he wouldnt be seeking re-election last week.

My family and I are grateful for the many friends and neighbors who have reached out to let us know they believe we have more to offer Kansas, said Schmidt, a fifth-generation Kansan. I feel a calling to serve, so I am excited to announce that I am running. I strongly believe that America needs more effective, conservative voices in public service.

Schmidt touted his record as Kansas Attorney General in a press release on Friday, emphasizing his record of prosecuting criminals, including numerous illegal aliens who committed crimes in Kansas. He also talked about his experience leading initiatives to protect children from sexual predators and protecting older Kansans from financial and physical abuse. He said he proudly represented Kansas before the United States Supreme Court, personally arguing three cases and winning all of them. He also talked about his lawsuits against the Obama and Biden Administrations when their actions were illegal and harmful to Kansas.

Holton man arrested for alleged use of explosives

Schmidt issued the following statement:

President Biden and the radicals he enables have unleashed a dangerous agenda on our country. Those of us who represent Kansas conservative values need to stand up and fight back. In Congress, I will work to secure our border, fight overreach from a federal government that doesnt understand or respect our way of life, and stop the federal government from making daily life increasingly expensive and difficult.

My steady guidepost will be what is best for the people of the Second District and for America. These past four years have made clear that America was stronger when President Trump served in the White House, and I look forward to working with him and others next year  yes, to truly make America great again.

Kansans know me and my longstanding support for our freedoms that generations of Americans have sacrificed so much to defend, for law and order, for Veterans and those currently serving in our armed forces, for farmers and ranchers, for small businesses, for our great Kansas colleges and universities, for life, and for the Second Amendment. They know I am proud to be a Kansan. Always have been. It would be an honor to be your voice in Congress. I respectfully ask for your vote.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz told school superintendents not to make any changes in response to the Biden Administrations Title IX expansion, according to a memo sent Wednesday.

Florida Republicans are vowing to fight the new federal protections.

Governor Ron DeSantis said the added protections would impose gender ideology on students.

We will not comply. We will fight back. We are not going to let Joe Biden inject women into mens activities. We are not going to let Joe Biden undermine the rights of parents, and we are not going to let Joe Biden abuse his constitutional authority to try to impose these policies on us here in Florida, DeSantis said in a video posted to X on Thursday.

Read: What should you do if you encounter a wrong-way driver?

Since 1972, Title IX has banned sex discrimination against students and employees at public institutions that receive federal funding. The Biden Administration announced Friday it is adding to that by banning discrimination against LGBTQ students based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

UCF Political Science Professor Dr. Aubrey Jewett said the new protections set up a possible conflict with new Florida laws on everything from locker room and bathroom access to classroom instruction on gender and sexual orientation.

That might come under attack by the federal government and or might be accused of being discriminatory, according to federal government. I say might because they did not specifically say that yet, in this Title IX ruling, Jewett said.

The states fight with the Biden Administration is expected to cause even more confusion among school leaders.

Read: Records: Man killed after shooting at police in downtown Orlando shot at his ex earlier this week

The Biden Administration maims the statute beyond recognition in an attempt to gaslight the country into believing that biological sex no longer has any meaning. In doing so, it seeks to commandeer Floridas education institutions and force them to violate various federal and state laws, including the First Amendment and Floridas Parental Rights in Education Act, as well as statutes to protect students privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms, Diazs memo to superintendents reads.

Some Florida students like Jen Cousins child, who identifies as non-binary, could be caught in the middle with Florida and the Feds fighting over how LGBTQ students are protected.

Livid! I mean, Im just outraged beyond all belief. You know, I just dont understand wanting to make kids suffer, just because you cant understand what world theyre coming from. You know, its, its outrageous to me!, Cousins said, speaking of how her child may not have the same Title IX protections as other students.

This legal battle could play out for months, even years, past when the rule is set to be implemented in August. The rule could be reversed depending on the outcome of the November election.

Read: Marion County deputies ask for help finding woman reported missing under suspicious circumstances

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The Defence Intelligence of the United Kingdom has analysed the situation in the area of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, where they are recording further Russian advancement.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 26 April, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The intelligence notes that the advancement of the Russians in this area has accelerated over the past week.

The ground forces of the Russian occupation army have created a narrow passage deep into Ukrainian territory to enter the town of Ocheretyne, located approximately 15 kilometres north of Avdiivka.

Since Russian troops took control of Avdiivka in mid-February 2024, this area remains one of the main directions of Russian operations, added intelligence.

"Despite sustaining continued high losses, it is highly likely that RGF are able to continuously target Ukrainian positions in the area and have taken control of several small settlements," the review says.

Background:

In the previous review, the intelligence analysed the detention of Timur Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Russia, on bribery charges.

Before that, Defence Intelligence of the United Kingdom analysed reports of a record number of desertion cases being considered by military courts in Russia, as well as a record number of requests from Russians for asylum in foreign countries.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 26. Uzbekistan launched new regular flights from Tashkent to Makhachkala (Russia) and back, Trend reports.

According to Uzbekistan Airways, the flights will operate starting May 9 on Thursdays.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways increased the number of flights to Russia with the beginning of the spring-summer season in 2024.

According to the airline, the number of flights from Tashkent to Russia's Irkutsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and Khabarovsk increased.

Thus, the airline added a regular flight on Sundays to the Tashkent - Irkutsk - Tashkent route. Also, a regular flight on Thursdays to the Tashkent - Nizhny Novgorod - Tashkent route and a flight on Saturdays to the Tashkent - Khabarovsk - Tashkent route are added.

At the same time, Uzbekistan Airways plans to operate up to 22 flights per week from Russia's Pulkovo Airport during the summer schedule. Flights to seven cities in Uzbekistan have been opened from St. Petersburg: Tashkent, Bukhara, Namangan, Samarkand, Termez, Urgench, and Ferghana.
(Photo by Andy Sacks/Getty Images)

(This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with WPLN/Nashville Public Radio. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published.)

A bill that would strengthen oversight of Tennessees juvenile detention centers has failed, despite a concerted push for reform after multiple county-run facilities were found to be locking children alone in cells.

The bill was introduced in the state legislature in January after a WPLN and ProPublica investigation last year reported that seclusion was used as punishment for minor rule infractions like laughing during meals or talking during class. One facility, the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center in Knoxville, was particularly reliant on seclusion, in violation of state laws and standards that banned the practice as a form of discipline.

If we cant get behind independent oversight and transparency as a good thing in the juvenile justice system, there will never be meaningful accountability and our system cant change for the better, Zoe Jamail of Disability Rights Tennessee said. So it is frustrating and disappointing.

The oversight bill aimed to give an independent agency the power to require changes at facilities that violate state standards, effectively forcing Tennessees Department of Childrens Services to act.

Currently, the ombudsman at that agency, the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, responds to family complaints about DCS but doesnt have enforcement power. Under the bill, if a facility didnt follow those recommendations, the department would have been required to suspend the sites license or stop placing kids there until the violations are fixed.

It was sponsored by two prominent Republicans and one Democrat, and a version of the legislation had the departments backing. It wouldnt have cost the state any money, according to the bills fiscal note.

Usually in Tennessee, that would be a recipe for a bill to become a law. But the legislation was sent to what is called summer study, a maneuver that allows lawmakers to continue working on the legislation but is typically used to effectively kill a bill. Its sponsors and child welfare advocates are baffled as to why.

I cant think of a reason for not wanting oversight unless theres something to hide, Jamail said.

One of the first signs of trouble occurred when the bill was heard in a House subcommittee in late March. State Rep. Andrew Farmer, a Republican from Sevierville who was not involved in the bills creation, introduced an amendment that removed the robust oversight powers. That move boiled the bill down to little more than one sentence, requiring DCS to publish its inspection reports online.

Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, said he wanted to repeal a law that strictly limited the seclusion of children at juvenile detention centers. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, said he wanted to repeal a law that strictly limited the seclusion of children at juvenile detention centers.(Photo: John Partipilo)

After the hearing, Farmer said he was unfamiliar with WPLN and ProPublicas reporting on the Bean Center that bill sponsors said inspired the legislation. He said he opposed the original legislation because of how much state oversight it introduced, and he criticized the sponsors for not clearly explaining the reasons for the bill.

I think there was a failure to communicate the issue that they seek to address and establish a reason why they went from a county-run facility in Knoxville to try to have this sort of intrusion all over the state, Farmer said.

State Sen. Heidi Campbell, a Nashville Democrat and sponsor of the original bill, said she believes part of the reason the bill failed was the influence of Jason Crews, who runs privately operated juvenile detention and residential treatment centers in Tennessee. Campbell and others working on the bill said a lobbyist for Crews business spoke to them about removing privately run facilities from the bill. One amendment filed in the House would have done just that.

It really does feel like this is about the lobbying influence that Jason Crews has in the legislature, Campbell said.

Crews is the executive director of Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center as well as Wayne Halfway House, a company that also operates residential treatment centers for kids in Tennessee and Florida.

WPLN and ProPublica reached out to Crews for comment. His spokesperson emailed a statement from Nicole Polk, the government affairs director with Wayne Halfway House.

Research over the past decade has shown that isolating children doesnt improve their behavior  if anything, it could worsen it. Solitary confinement can cause psychological impacts like depression, anxiety or psychosis,

Polk said the company had concerns about the bill giving regulatory power to an independent agency without more extensive consideration about whether its a good idea and how such a step would affect accountability in the governance of youth corrections in Tennessee. The legislature clearly agrees with that concern.

In addition to lobbying against the bill, Crews has donated to the campaigns of the lawmakers who sunk the bills chances. Rep. William Lamberth, a Sumner County Republican who sent the bill to summer study, has received $13,000 from Crews super PAC, Focus PAC, since 2021. Farmer received $4,500 from the PAC since 2021. One of Crews facilities, Mountain View Academy, is in Farmers district.

Like many individuals and businesses, we participate in the electoral and policy arena, Polk said. We support strong leaders to serve our state, and do so through donations that are fully disclosed, within legal requirements.

Lamberth did not respond to requests for comment. No contribution I have accepted will ever influence my vote on a piece of legislation, Farmer said in an emailed statement.

Farmer was one of the sponsors of the 2021 bill that limited the time children could be kept in seclusion in juvenile detention centers and put in place some of the state rules that the Bean Center was violating. Despite that, after that House hearing in March, he told WPLN that he thought that law should be repealed altogether, saying that in retrospect, he thinks facilities should have more discretion.

Frankly, if it was up to me, I would reverse the seclusion law that we passed and be sure that youth that are violent, that attack guards, that attack other children, can be put into a place by themselves until they calm down, Farmer said.

Richard Bean, superintendent of the center that bears his name, did not respond to requests for comment.

Research over the past decade has shown that isolating children doesnt improve their behavior  if anything, it could worsen it. Solitary confinement can cause psychological impacts like depression, anxiety or psychosis, and young people are especially vulnerable to those effects. The majority of suicides inside juvenile correction facilities in the United States happen when a child is isolated.

State Sen. Kerry Roberts, a Republican from Springfield who chairs the government operations committee, was one of the reform bills sponsors. He said that in his years in the Senate, he has never seen a lawmaker who wasnt involved in the original bill introduce an amendment that completely gutted it  let alone a member of his own party.

Anytime you have a supermajority, you know, youre going to have factions develop, Roberts said. Thats just part of the dynamic of where we are in Tennessee today.

Roberts said hes both surprised and disappointed that it got killed, and he doesnt understand why.

But Roberts said the bills failure this year is not going to stop him from reforming the system.

Im just going to take the lemons and try and make some lemonade, he said. And well see if we cant come up with an even better, more robust inspection program than what we proposed.

The post Despite outcry at juvenile detention centers, Tennessee lawmakers fail to pass oversight bill appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
CHICAGO (AP)  A man killed in a traffic stop last month when plainclothes Chicago police officers fired their guns nearly 100 times was shot 13 times, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.

The March 21 police shooting that left Dexter Reed, 26, dead has prompted protests with activists calling for the five officers involved to be dismissed. Reeds family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit questioning plainclothes tactical squads. And a police oversight agency and the Cook County states attorney are investigating.

SEE ALSO: Lawsuit filed against Chicago and CPD in fatal shooting of Dexter Reed

Earlier this month, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates police shootings, released videos and documents from the traffic stop where the officers arrived in an unmarked squad car. The office said Reed fired first at the officers, who pulled him over purportedly because he wasnt wearing a seatbelt. The officers returned fire, shooting 96 times in 41 seconds, according to the office. Reed was pronounced dead at a hospital, and his death was classified as a homicide.

Reed was struck five times on his legs, four times in the buttocks, twice in the chest and hit on the back and shoulder, according to the Cook County medical examiners autopsy report. A toxicology screen also released Thursday showed his system contained THC, marijuanas main psychoactive ingredient.

Dexter Reed shooting: Policy versus public perception

Police have offered few details about the shooting, which left one officer injured. The officers were placed on 30-day administrative leave.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Photo of forest crime scene with police line do not cross tied to the tree. - Photo: Joos Mind (iStock by Getty Images)

Authorities identified the body of a missing Black Louisiana teen, who was discovered floating in the Ouachita River. The family of the slain 19-year-old, Sheryl Mae Turner, called her a shining light to all who knew her.

The New Iberia, La. teen was last seen by her family in December before, authorities allege, she traveled to the home of Anthony Pierce Holland Jr., 29, in West Monroe. According to the West Monroe Police Department, Turner told her family that she was leaving to stay with a person shed met online in West Monroe.

Police identified Holland as the man she was visiting; his home was Turners last known location. In January, police said they received a call about Turners dismembered body floating in the river.

On Tuesday, officers conducted a search warrant on Hollands home, where they said they found forensic evidence of a crime of violence. Authorities took Holland into custody and charged him with one count of second-degree murder.

According to police, Holland confessed to the crime, stating that he dismembered her body in his home.

Sheryl M. Turner - Screenshot: Fields Funeral Home

In an obituary, Turners family bemoans her loss. Sheryl Mae Turner, born on April 12, 2004, in New Iberia, LA, left this world too soon on January 19, 2024, in Jonesville, LA, writes the family. She was a shining light to all who knew her, with a kind and loving personality that radiated through her beautiful smile and touched the hearts of those around her.



To those who had the privilege of knowing Sheryl Mae Turner, she will always be remembered for the love she shared, the kindness she showed, and the light she brought into the lives of others, they write. May her sweet soul rest in eternal peace.

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Did Texas researchers link hunter deaths to deer disease? Not quite. Here are the facts

In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com.

A group of San Antonio researchers have loosely connected a deer-specific disease to two human fatalities  which, if confirmed, would be the first known cases of the disease jumping from deer to humans.

The research publication this month triggered a flood of news articles, with at least one declaring directly that the deer disease had taken its first human lives.

Heres the thing, though: The research, which took the form of a poster presentation at a neurology convention, doesnt actually directly link the human deaths to the deer disease.

For decades, researchers have kept tabs on chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious and always fatal disease thats similar to mad cow disease. Unlike mad cow disease  which is officially called bovine spongiform encephalopathy  there have been no known cases of CWD spreading from deer to humans. (The human equivalent of CWD, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD, is extremely rare and leads to dementia and death.)

If there was a confirmed case of CWD jumping to humans, it would be a big deal. But right now, even with the recent poster presentation, there are no confirmed cases.

Today's top stories:

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From the poster presentation, I think we can conclude that somebody died of CJD, said Krysten Schuler, the director of the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab and a longtime researcher of CWD. What we cant say is that there was any connection to chronic wasting disease.

CWD was first identified in Colorado in the 1960s, and has now been found in 33 states, according to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. CWD has been found in Texas deer, too, in counties across the state. The disease is of particular concern to Texas deer breeders, who face the culling of their entire herds if CWD is found on their farms.

A doe checks on a fawn as others wait for food at a ranch in North Texas in July 2022. Deer on the farm had tested positive for chronic wasting disease, and the owner fought an Texas Parks and Wildlife order to kill the rest of the herd.

While there have not been any confirmed cases of CWD infecting humans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long advised against eating venison from CWD-infected populations.

The question marks in the research have meant policymakers, hunters and deer breeders are on high-alert for any evidence that CWD could pose a risk to humans. The media, too, has caught onto the issue and dubbed CWD the zombie deer disease, much to the chagrin of almost everyone with a vested interest in wildlife.

[MORE: Texas rancher fights the state to save his deer herd]

The latest wave of public attention started earlier this month, when a group out of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio presented a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. The poster presentation was then converted into a brief publication in the academys journal.

The publication describes the death of a 72-year-old man who was a hunter with a history of consuming meat from a CWD-infected deer population. He died in 2022, of CJD. The mans friend, also a hunter in the same area, had previously died of CJD, the publication says.

There are few additional details about the two deaths, or about how CJD was confirmed in the friends death. The researchers, through UT Health San Antonio spokesperson Monica Taylor, declined an interview request and also declined to provide details about where the two hunters lived. In an email statement, the researchers emphasized that the publication did not prove CWD transmission.

The publication itself is also clear that causation remains unproven and that more research is needed.

But, given the rippling of panic, the publication has garnered forceful pushback from special interest groups such as the National Deer Association, which called the publication sketchy. Researchers in the field have been less dismissive of the publication, but have also called for healthy skepticism.

Schuler emphasized that the publication is, at this point, all speculation.

The first human case is going to be a big deal. It may impact thousands of hunters and their decision to go hunting or not, she said. But right now its hard because its not based on good information or a thorough investigation.

Ellen Peters, the director of the Center for Science Communication Research at the University of Oregon, said that individual case studies might grab peoples attention, but they often dont provide context on how common an illness actually is.

Those kinds of stories, or labels like zombie deer disease, can point toward what an experience is like or what it feels like, but it cant tell us how common it is, Peters said. You have a story, you have an anecdote, you have a case study.

Kent Munden, an animal identification coordinator at USDA APHIS, draws samples from a sheep head to demonstrate how to collect samples for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing during the Deer Breeders Corp. auction in January 2022 at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Hunter Reed, a wildlife veterinarian for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said he felt the publication itself was clear about its limitations, and that there has been responsible media coverage of the study, too. At its heart, the publication calls for the same caution that state and federal agencies have been encouraging for years.

Were just still in the same boat as weve always been, Reed said. The guidance doesnt really change, but still exercising caution.

Both Schuler and Reed said that their main takeaway from the publication is that there needs to be more research into CWD, and into the origins of human CJD cases.

The odds of CWD going into humans is extraordinarily low, but I cant say that its zero, Schuler said. Unfortunately, time will tell.

In Texas, the state Parks and Wildlife Department recommends that hunters have all their deer tested for CWD before eating any of the meat. If a deer tests positive, experts recommend not eating meat from that deer. In some parts of Texas, known as surveillance zones, CWD testing of harvested deer is mandatory.
They didnt know: Family of slain 14-year-old sympathizes with killer(s)

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The family of a slain 14-year-old is sympathizing with his killer(s).

Mere minutes after seeing Jevario Buies body for the first time since being released from the coroners office, Buies family gave a heartfelt plea.

His grandmother Joquetta Winters broke down in tears Friday saying, I just cant believe that hes gone, they took him away.

She describes the young teen as goofy, saying he was getting ready to start high school.

Suddenly, a family planning for Buies middle school graduation party is left planning his funeral.

Tampa police said the 14-year-old was shot and killed on April 17 in Tampa.

This was a baby who was murdered at the hands of other babies, Buies grandfather, Michael Baldwin explained.

Nine days later, this family is still without answers.

Theyre left not knowing who killed Buie and left him for dead near railroad tracks along Busch Blvd.

Some of these boys who participated in this didnt want to be there but they didnt know how to walk away after a certain point, Baldwin explained. They didnt know how to leave without being teased or picked on themselves.

Baldwin sympathizes with whoever killed his grandson, saying in a way, hes been in their shoes. He spent 26 years incarcerated.

The cats I swore to live and die for, man they aint sent me a dime, didnt write me a single letter, Baldwin explained. Them people who murdered Jevario, man, we already forgive them.

We already forgive them, because I understand them, because I was them, he continued.

Baldwin is offering a $1,000 reward, hoping whoever knows who killed his grandson wont listen to the common phrase snitches get stitches.

Thats a trick, he explained. Thats a trap.

I spent 26 years in the penitentiary myself, he described. That used to be one of the beliefs I endorsed, was snitches get stitches until it touches my family then it changes the whole ball game.

Both the family and national organizations like Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety are asking if anyone knows what happened, for them to come forward.

We have a term we use in our communities that is unfair, Jamilia Landa, a national survivor fellow with Everytown For Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action said. Its called snitching.

Theres a difference between snitching and standing on morals and values that we have seen diminish over time, she continued.

She also sent her understanding and sympathy to the perpetrator(s).

These are children, 14-, 15 years old, she explained. Their brains are not developed enough to understand the magnitude of what they have done, who they took, how they have changed the trajectory of their own lives and their families lives.

So to those parents, to those community members who know, we ask that you do the right thing and stand up, she said. This was a child, a beautiful, loving, caring, gentle child.

He was someones son, grandson, nephew, [and] community member, she continued. We ask that you do the right thing.

They set up a website for Buie.

You can find out more about him and ways you can report anonymous tips or any audio or video clips here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A diesel repair shop in Oregon and its owner are facing heavy penalties for illegally tampering with pollution monitoring devices, a violation of the Clean Air Act.

What happened?

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Oregon, Christopher Kaufman of Veneta, Oregon, and his company Diesel & Offroad Authority pleaded guilty in federal court to "knowingly and intentionally tampering with pollution monitoring devices on at least 184 vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act."

According to court documents, Diesel & Offroad Authority collected more than $378,000 for illegally modifying vehicles over four years.

"The defendants in this case illegally tampered with the onboard diagnostics systems and removed the emissions control components from hundreds of diesel trucks," said special agent in charge Lance Ehrig of the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division in Oregon.

Why it's important

Diesel pollution increases the risk of serious health conditions, including asthma, cancer, and respiratory illnesses, and can make existing heart and lung diseases worse, especially in children. Studies have shown that diesel exhaust may also be linked to new allergies.

People often remove pollution monitoring devices so they can "roll coal." It's a common practice when diesel truck drivers release big black clouds of soot from their tailpipes, often directed at bicyclists or EV drivers. It's a dangerous act that has been known to cause serious accidents.

According to the EPA, diesel exhaust contributes to ground-level ozone, which damages crops, trees, and other vegetation and produces acid rain. It also adds to the heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere that are responsible for the Earth's rising temperatures, leading to more extreme weather events like wildfires, floods, and droughts.

Rising global temperatures are also severely impacting food prices, winter sports, and even wine.

What's being done?

Kaufman and his company have agreed to pay $150,000 each in criminal fines and serve three years of probation. Sentencing will take place on July 17, 2024.

This isn't the only case of a company finding out the hard way that violating the Clean Air Act has significant consequences. California-based Sinister Diesel was fined $1 million for selling "delete devices" or "defeat devices" that bypass tailpipe pollution controls on diesel trucks.

After the Oregon case, special agent Ehrig issued a warning for others who violate the Clean Air Act: "This guilty plea demonstrates that EPA will vigorously prosecute those who violate laws designed to protect our communities from harmful air pollution."

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A View of the entrance to the Charite Campus Virchow-Klinikum hospital at the Augustenburger square. Following the death of two patients, a senior physician at Berlin's Charite hospital has been sentenced to four years in prison. Joerg Carstensen/dpa

A senior cardiologist at Berlin's Charite hospital has been sentenced to four years in prison over the death of two patients.

The 56-year-old physician was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter by a court in Berlin on Friday after determining that the doctor was responsible for killing the two patients with overdoses of the anaesthetic Propofol.

The patients, a 73-year-old man who died in 2021 and a 73-year-old woman who died in 2022, were being treated at the hospital's cardiac intensive care unit.

The doctor denied the allegations during the trial and disputed the amount of drugs claimed in the indictment. The doctor argued he administered a sedative to both of them to reduce their suffering.

Prosecutors had sought murder convictions and a life sentence for the doctor. Public prosecutor Martin Knispel also asked the court to ban the doctor from practising medicine for life.

The verdict is not final.

The doctor's defence lawyer had asked the court for an acquittal and argued on Friday that the physician's actions were not the cause of the deaths.

Both patients were severely ill and in an "active dying phase," a condition in which it was permissible to switch to palliative therapy.

During the trial, the doctor said he was certain that he had "not shortened the lives of the patients" and testified that his only mistake was having failed to document the administration of the drug, Propofol, in both cases.
In the 1970s and 1980s, 1,250 people with haemophilia were infected with HIV after treatment with blood-clotting drug Factor VIII

Pharmaceutical giants have been accused of bribing doctors to use infected blood products that gave patients HIV and hepatitis C.

Money was offered to NHS hospitals to buy imported US blood products, which were known to be at high risk of contamination with blood-borne viruses, The Telegraph can reveal.

In the 1970s and 1980s, 1,250 people with haemophilia were infected with HIV after treatment with blood-clotting drug Factor VIII. Up to 5,000 more contracted hepatitis C in what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.

The Infected Blood Inquiry is due to report on May 20 on mistakes that led to some 3,000 people dying after being treated with contaminated blood products and transfusions.

It is expected to be critical of the role big pharma played in the infections of people with haemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder that prevents clotting. Survivors and bereaved relatives have been seeking compensation for 40 years and hope the government will finally deliver.

Factor VIII, was invented in the 1960s and deemed a wonder drug for haemophilia. US pharmaceutical companies paid high-risk donors for plasma, including intravenous drug users, prisoners and gay men. They collected plasma from STI clinics and set up mobile donation trucks outside gay nightclubs as the Aids crisis was emerging in the 1980s.

A letter from January 1981 shows that St Thomas' Hospital in London was offered thousands of pounds in rebates for buying Factor VIII

In the UK, where it is illegal to pay for plasma, Factor VIII was made from donations by British people and deemed to be safer.

The UK was warned in 1974 that US Factor VIII was more likely to contain hepatitis, with the World Health Organization advising countries the next year not to import blood products.

By 1983 all Factor VIII manufactured in the US was highly likely to contain HIV, according to court testimony from 1999. However, doctors believed the benefits of Factor VIII outweighed the risks and failed to warn patients.

Doctors were offered incentives to prioritise the US Factor VIII over the British version.

A letter from January 1981 shows that St Thomas Hospital in London was offered thousands of pounds in rebates for buying Factor VIII made in the US by Bayer and Baxter Healthcare.

Distributor Inter-Pharma said it would pay St Thomas rebates of up to 8,500  almost 41,000 today  for buying four million units of commercial Factor VIII, according to the document, which is published in The Poison Line. One dose of Factor VIII contained around 1,000 units and patients with severe haemophilia A could be treated with multiple doses a week.

Doctors were literally offered cash to use dangerous products, said Jason Evans, director of the campaign group Factor 8. In my opinion, on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, this basically amounts to bribery.

The Poison Line: Life and Death in the Infected Blood Scandal by Cara McGoogan is out now

For every 250,000 units purchased, Dr Geoffrey Savidge, director of St Thomas haemophilia centre, was offered 400, equivalent to almost 2,000 today.

Prof Edward Tuddenham, a leading haematologist and emeritus professor at the Royal Free in London, described the sale of Factor VIII in the 1970s and 1980s as a free for all.

The companies were pushing to get as much of their product bought as they could, he said.

Prof Tuddenham said St Thomas had some of the highest rates of usage of Factor VIII per patient in the country.

Dr Savidge was known for years for using American concentrate, he said. He had very well-equipped laboratories. The money must have come from commercial sources.

Dr Savidge, who died in 2011, gained a reputation for exclusively using imported commercial Factor VIII, even though it was clear the NHS-made version was safer.

At an earlier inquiry in 2007, Dr Savidge described the UKs Blood Products Laboratory as antiquated and said it had poor manufacturing practices.

He used almost exclusively commercial products but he shouldnt have done, said Prof Liakat Parapia, former director of the Bradford Haemophilia Centre. Because of the kickback. Not a nice man.

Prof Parapia added that pharmaceutical companies giving hospitals money for using their higher-risk Factor VIII was widespread.

Sir Brian Langstaff, the chair of the inquiry, has ordered the Government to set up a compensation body.

Routine practice in the early 1980s

A spokesman for Bayer said: The offer of discounts, rebates and other commercial offers associated with the supply of medicines and other products to the NHS, was routine practice in the early 1980s and continues today. The benefit of such arrangements, expressly permitted in applicable legislation, accrues to the NHS and does not determine prescribing by individual healthcare professionals.

They added that Bayer had cooperated with the Infected Blood Inquiry, saying: Bayer is truly sorry that this tragic situation occurred.

A spokesman for Baxter said: We sympathise with anyone impacted by infected blood in the 1970s and 1980s. Baxter is committed to providing the highest-quality products to its patients and customers, and to conducting its business ethically and compliantly.

The Poison Line: Life and Death in the Infected Blood Scandal by Cara McGoogan is out now.

Listen to Bed of Lies, a six-part Telegraph podcast laying bare one of the biggest medical disasters in history, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast app.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free is a slogan echoing through pro-Palestinian rallies across the United States and elsewhere, including those observed on the campuses of the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles this week.

Like all aspects of the Middle East conflict, the phrase is polarizing, and interpretations vary.

For the Anti-Defamation League, however, its clear.

What it connotes to the Jewish people, a vast majority of whom have an intrinsic tie between their Judaism and the State of Israel, From the river to the sea means eradicating that piece of land and all Jewish life, says Jeffrey Abrams, the ADLs Los Angeles regional director. Thats what we saw on October 7 by Hamas, a terrorist organization, which committed the greatest atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

For context, the State of Israel and the Palestinian territories lie between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. The river, spanning over 200 miles, forms a natural border between the Jewish state, the Palestinian-controlled West Bank, and neighboring Jordan and Syria.

The ADL and other Jewish advocacy groups insist that From the river to the sea is blatantly antisemitic and crosses the line between freedom of speech and hate speech. They argue that those who chant it are advocating for genocide rather than simply supporting the plight of Palestinians.

Not true, says Palestinian-American writer and political analyst Yousef Munayyer.

When we talk about From the river to the sea, were talking about a place that we call home, Munayyer told the CBC. He argues that the phrase expresses a desire for Palestinian independence and freedom, not the eradication of Jews.

USC cancels all commencement speakers amid valedictorian speech controversy

From the river to the sea today, there is one state, an Israeli state, that rules over millions of people: Palestinians who dont have equal rights, who are not free. Thats what has to change. It doesnt mean that there should be any violence against Israelis, he says.

What many Jews hear, of course, is something different. Their belief that the phrase is antisemitic is shared by many political leaders who can point to its adoption by Hamas over a decade ago.

Palestine is ours from the river to the sea and from the south to the north, Khaled Mashaal, the militant groups former leader, said in a 2012 speech in Gaza celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas. There will be no concession on any inch of the land.

When Rep. Rashida Tlabi (D-Michigan) used From the river to the sea in speeches and on social media last year, she was censured by the U.S. House of Representatives.

In October 2023, Vienna police banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration, citing the phrase From the river to the sea mentioned in invitations and characterizing it as a call to violence.

In the United States, law enforcement and universities have largely avoided addressing whether the slogan constitutes hate speech that incites violence, focusing instead on the actions of the protesters rather than their words.

At USC, demonstrators were removed for pitching tents and erecting banners, which violates the private schools policy. Activists at UCLA, however, were unchecked as they took over a large plaza on the public universitys campus with tents and barricades and displayed signs with the slogan.

While the ADL condemns the use of From the river to the sea, Abrams says his organization is more concerned with these disruptions on college campuses and the threats, both real and perceived, targeting Jewish students.

Its not an issue of free speech. With free speech, there are obligations to each other, he says. Just because one group has a right doesnt mean they have the right to trample on the rights of others, which, unfortunately, is whats been happening across our country when it comes to the rights of Jewish students on these campuses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
NEW YORK  The eighth day of Donald Trump's New York hush money trial gave the former president's legal team their chance to attack the story prosecutors have so far told of Trump colluding with a tabloid executive to boost his 2016 presidential campaign.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified this week about an alleged scheme to catch and kill stories that could hurt Trump's 2016 presidential election chances. On Friday, Trump's defense attorney Emil Bove elicited testimony from Pecker that the tabloid had other motives for its actions besides helping Trump's campaign.

After Pecker's testimony concluded, the prosecution called former Donald Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Trump for alleged paramours and hush money recipients Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. She was cross-examined by Trump attorney Susan Necheles.

The prosecution then began examining its third witness, Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, before the trial concluded for the day. Cohen who allegedly orchestrated the payments to McDougal and Daniels.

Trump challenges Biden to debate in Michigan or at the White House

Former President Donald Trump responded to President Joe Bidens offer to debate by proposing meeting in Michigan or at the White House.

Biden told radio host Howard Stern on Friday he was willing to debate as part of the 2024 campaign, although he wasnt sure when. Trump immediately invited Biden to the New York courthouse, where he is on trial on charges of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn actress.

We can do it any time he wants, including tonight, Trump said. Were ready, willing and able.

Trump said the debate could happen any weeknight on national television. He suggested meeting in Michigan, to highlight criticism of what he argued was car manufacturers moving to China and elsewhere because of Bidens support for electric vehicles. Another option is where they both have lived.

Well do it at the White House, Trump said. That would be very comfortable, actually.

Bart Jansen

Who is Gary Farro?

Gary Farro is the former senior managing director at First Republic Bank.

Farro was assigned Michael Cohen as a client in 2015, as the banker had expertise managing individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro could be used to bring in email evidence about the payment issued to Stormy Daniels. CNN reported Cohen used money from his home equity line to cover Daniels' payment, and an email from a First Republic Bank employee confirmed the transfer.

Proceedings end for the day

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold said she reached a natural stopping point for the day in her questioning of Farro. The judge dismissed the defense and prosecution at 4:29 p.m. ET.

 Aysha Bagchi

Records for second transaction for Cohen also indicate no political fundraising connection

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to another possible transaction for Cohen. For this one, too, the form indicated the work wasn't related to political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC).

 Aysha Bagchi

Form for Cohen's planned account indicated no relation to political fundraising

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold showed Farro a form related to an account Cohen was trying to open. The form asked if the entity tied to the planned account was associated with political fundraising or a political action committee (PAC). The box indicating "no" was checked. Farro confirmed if the box indicating "yes" had been checked, the bank would have needed to do additional review.

The particular account for that form was never opened, Farro testified.

 Aysha Bagchi

Cohen needed account for new LLC 'immediately' in October of 2016

Prosecution witness Gary Farro is being asked about emails concerning Michael Cohen's efforts in October 2016 to get an account opened at First Republic Bank for a new limited liability company. Cohen said it was related to real estate, according to Farro.

According to an email from October 13, 2016, Cohen needed an account "immediately." Farro said on the stand that it wasn't unusual for Cohen to say he wanted something done immediately.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecution witness who worked with Cohen asked about emails

Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold is asking Gary Farro, who said Michael Cohen was his client at a bank, about emails that went through the bank's server. It sounds like Farro could be used as a witness to bring in email evidence.

 Aysha Bagchi

Michael Cohen was Farro's client at bank

Farro testified that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was assigned to him as a client at First Republic Bank in 2015. Farro said he was told he was chosen to take over the Michael Cohen relationship because of Farro's knowledge and his ability to handle individuals that "may be a little challenging."

Farro later added: "Frankly, I didn't find him that difficult."

 Aysha Bagchi

Third prosecution witness called: Gary Farro

The prosecution has called its third witness, Gary Farro. He is discussing his experience in the banking industry. In 2016, he was a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he said.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump re-enters courtroom after short break

Trump re-entered the courtroom at about 3:32 p.m. EST. We are still waiting for the judge and the jury.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump stands and extends arm for handshake as Rhona Graff exits courtroom

Graff's testimony ended and, as she was getting off the witness stand, former President Donald Trump stood up, moved toward where she would need to walk to exit the courtroom, said something to her, and extended his hand for a handshake. A court officer obstructed my view of their hands, but she appeared to look at him warmly.

Before that, Graff testified that she didn't want to be at the court proceedings.

Graff was using a cane. She appeared to walk at a normal pace. She was wearing black pants, a black top, a black cardigan, and a long, gold-colored necklace.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Rhona Graff?

Rhona Graff is Donald Trump's former executive assistant and the second witness called to the stand in his criminal hush money trial.

She was known as Trump's "gatekeeper" for decades before he became president, several outlets reported. Politico also said she helped with Trump's personal schedule during his first campaign.

Graff was subpoenaed in Trump's New York civil fraud case, according to NBC News. She was also called on by the House Judiciary Committee to submit documents for a 2019 investigation into Trump.

Kinsey Crowley

Graff recalls Stormy Daniels casting discussion for Celebrity Apprentice

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testified to remembering a discussion about potentially casting porn star Stormy Daniels on The Celebrity Apprentice.

 Aysha Bagchi

Judge and lawyers privately talk after 'Celebrity Apprentice' raised

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles began asking former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff about the show, "The Celebrity Apprentice." After Necheles began to ask Graff about Trump's beliefs when it came to potentially boosting the show by having controversial people on it, the prosecution objected and there was a private conversation between the lawyers and the judge at the judge's bench, after which Necheles shifted to a new question.

Stormy Daniels has previously described having sex with Trump as he seemed to be dangling the possibility of casting her on "The Apprentice" of "The Celebrity Apprentice." Trump denies they had sex.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff testifies to positive memories working for Trump

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff if Trump was a good boss. Graff responded that he was a fair and respectful boss to her. Graff confirmed Trump promoted her and gave her responsibility. Asked whether Trump respected her intelligence, Graff responded: "I don't think I would have been there for 34 years if he didn't."

Graff also said she was given a good spot for witnessing Trump's presidential inauguration.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecutor ends questioning of second witness

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger ended her brief questioning of Graff. Defense lawyer Susan Necheles is now cross-examining Graff.

 Aysha Bagchi

Stormy Daniels was in Trump reception area, witness recalls

Graff said she has a "vague recollection" of seeing porn star Stormy Daniels in the reception area of the 26th floor of a Trump building.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff confirms creating entries for Trump of Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels contact information

Graff said she believed she created contact information entries for Donald Trump of contact information for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. The McDougal information, which was displayed in redacted form in the courtroom, included a phone number and email address, while the Daniels information included a cell phone number. The Daniels entry was labeled "Stormy" and Graff said she believes that was Stormy Daniels.

 Aysha Bagchi

Graff may be used by prosecution to bring in evidence

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is asking Graff about her awareness of various pieces of potential evidence. For example, Graff confirmed the Trump Organization server captured and saved emails during the ordinary course of its business. Graff also confirmed contact and calendar information tied to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal was saved.

 Aysha Bagchi

Former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff testifying

The prosecution has called former Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff to the stand. She is testifying about her responsibilities when it came to the Trump Organization and Trump's calendar.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker testimony ends with Trump lawyer's attempt to focus on family, not 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his re-cross-examination of David Pecker by asking Pecker to confirm he knows Trump cares about people, including his family. Pecker said he understands that. Bove then asked Pecker to confirm he understands that things discussed at this trial  presumably hush money to women who allege they had affairs with Trump  were stressful when it came to the Trump family. Before Pecker could answer, Judge Merchan sustained an objection from the prosecution. The nature of the objection wasn't explained, but it may have been an objection to speculation from a witness.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump lawyer conducting cross-examination of Pecker again

Trump lawyer Emil Bove is asking Pecker questions again in his opportunity to conduct re-cross-examination.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker re-direct ends with comment on truthfulness

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass ended his re-direct questioning of Pecker  an opportunity to question a witness again after cross-examination  by asking Pecker if anyone from the New York Attorney General's office ever told him to be anything other than truthful. Pecker said he was told to be truthful on any question he is asked. "And only be truthful," Pecker added.

Just before that question, Steinglass was pointing Pecker to past statements in order to establish Pecker has been consistent over time on many statements.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump's eyes closed extensively although he appears awake

Former President Donald Trump has his eyes closed for very extensive periods as Pecker continues to testify this afternoon, although Trump appears to be awake. I just counted to 107, with the word "Mississippi" in between each number, until Trump opened his eyes at all. He opened them only briefly. Occasionally, Trump is shifting his head left or right, or giving a slight facial expression that appears to react to Pecker's testimony. His eyes are still closed.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker says he first learned phrase, "catch and kill," from press

When Trump lawyer Emil Bove was cross-examining Pecker, Bove suggested Pecker learned of the phrase "catch and kill" from the investigative or prosecuting work behind this case. But prosecutor Joshua Steinglass noted a news article that Pecker was aware of that used the phrase. Pecker then said he first learned the phrase from the press.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump re-enters courtroom ahead of afternoon witness testimony

Former President Donald Trump re-entered the courtroom at 2:12 p.m. EST, following the lunch break. Prosecution witness David Pecker is set to re-take the stand soon.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Karen McDougal?

Karen McDougal is a former Playboy model.

National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc. (AMI) paid McDougal $150,000 in 2016 for the rights to her life story, including an alleged 10-month affair with Donald Trump starting in 2006. (Trump denies the allegation.)

Former Trump lawyer and convicted felon Michael Cohen negotiated the payment she received as part of a "catch and kill" strategy to block negative stories about Trump while he ran for president.

She is expected to take the stand, though the prosecutors have not shared the official witness list.

Who is Judge Juan Merchan?

New York Judge Juan Merchan who is presiding the first criminal trial in history of a former president, is no stranger to the defendant, Donald Trump.

Merchan presided over a 2022 tax-fraud trial of two parts of the Trump Organization, in which the companys former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, was convicted for not reporting $1.7 million in benefits, and he sentenced Weisselberg to five months in jail.

Trump has attacked Merchan as biased on the grounds that Merchan's daughter works for a marketing firm with Democratic politicians as clients, and he has twice unsuccessfully moved for Merchan to recuse himself from the case. Merchan has refused, citing the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics finding that the judge's impartiality couldn't be reasonably questioned based on his daughter's work.

Trump's attacks spurred Merchan to expand a gag order to limit his commentary about the family members of people involved in the trial. On the second day of the trial, Merchan chastised Trump for speaking to prospective jurors.

Merchan has been a felony judge for 15 years.

-Bart Jansen

Court breaks for lunch

Judge Juan Merchan halted proceedings for a lunch break. Trump exited the courtroom at 1:01 p.m. EST.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker agrees Karen McDougal's story would have sold magazines

Pecker confirmed in response to Steinglass's questioning that, had he published a story that a Playboy model had an affair with a presidential candidate while the candidate was married, it would have sold magazines. Pecker seemed to have a slight chuckle in his throat as he confirmed that.

 Aysha Bagchi

Steinglass trying to show actions weren't normal for tabloid company, were for Trump campaign

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been trying to push back on Trump lawyer Emil Bove's effort to distance Pecker's actions from Trump and the Trump campaign.

In response to questions from Steinglass, Pecker confirmed it wasn't standard operating procedure for AMI  the National Enquirer's parent company  to be communicating with a presidential candidate's fixer about amendments to an agreement. Pecker also confirmed this was the only time he coordinated with a campaign, and that he ran more attack articles against Trump's opponents when their polling numbers rose.

Pecker did say he didn't run negative Trump stories in earlier times because he and Trump were friends. But he agreed with Steinglass that, before the agreement at Trump Tower with Trump and Cohen in August of 2015, AMI never agreed to be the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign.

 Aysha Bagchi

Read the AMI contract with Karen McDougal

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McDougal contract left out a lot of details, Pecker confirms

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been going over the contract between Karen McDougal and National Enquirer parent company AMI, which Trump lawyer Emil Bove also asked David Pecker about.

Pecker said the lawyer who reviewed the contract only billed for 30 minutes of work. Pecker also confirmed the contract didn't mention anything about Trump reimbursing Pecker, about a plan to re-assign the rights over McDougal's story to Trump or Michael Cohen, or about the alleged agreement between Pecker, Cohen, and Trump to catch and kill stories in order to help the Trump 2016 campaign.

 Aysha Bagchi

Cross-examination of Pecker ends

Trump lawyer Emil Bove ended his cross-examination of David Pecker, the prosecution's first witness. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now asking Pecker questions again.

 Aysha Bagchi

AMI didn't admit to a campaign violation in conciliation agreement, Pecker confirms on cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove suggested that Pecker testified inaccurately yesterday by saying the National Enquirer's parent company, AMI, admitted to a campaign violation. In a conciliation agreement, AMI said it wasn't contesting that its arrangement when it came to buying former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story of an affair with Trump constituted a prohibited corporate campaign contribution.

Bove pointed Pecker to this language in the agreement: "Solely for the purpose of settling this matter expeditiously and avoiding litigation, with no admission as to the merit of the Commissions legal conclusions..."

That language came before specific details on the agreement.

"That's different from an admission, right?" Bove asked Pecker. "Yes," Pecker responded.

 Aysha Bagchi

Why is Trump lawyer Bove asking about campaign violations?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got prosecution witness David Pecker to confirm that the National Enquirer's parent company didn't admit to a campaign violation in a non-prosecution agreement Pecker signed. The company did pay a $187,500 civil penalty as part of a separate agreement not to contest having committed a violation.

It's an important issue for the defense because, in order for Trump to be convicted on the felony charges, prosecutors have to prove Trump not only falsified business records, but also that he did so to commit or conceal another crime. One of the prosecution's theories is that Trump was trying to conceal that he violated federal campaign finance laws by making a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels via his attorney Michael Cohen to benefit his campaign. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to a violation of federal campaign contribution limits for making the payment.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker confirms AMI didn't admit to campaign violation in non-prosecution agreement

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got David Pecker to say American Media Inc., the parent company to the National Enquirer, didn't admit to a campaign violation in its non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors. In that agreement, the company and its representatives were promised they wouldn't be prosecuted for a campaign violation if they cooperated and gave truthful testimony and information.

However, Pecker also described yesterday a separate conciliation agreement between the company and prosecutors, in which the company agreed not to contest that it committed a campaign violation. As part of that agreement, AMI agreed to pay a $187,500 civil penalty to the Federal Election Commission.

 Aysha Bagchi, Bart Jansen

More: Donald Trump's strange split-screen moment: SCOTUS immunity case and hush money trial clash

Bove suggesting Pecker has been under pressure

Trump lawyer Emil Bove appears to be trying to establish David Pecker has been pressured by law enforcement investigative work. Bove had Pecker describe being visited by FBI agents, and then asked about pressure on Pecker at later meetings with investigators, although Pecker said he had legal representation and felt okay.

Bove also got Pecker to confirm that American Media Inc's non-prosecution agreement gave the company helpful protection as a business.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker describes 2018 FBI visit to home

Trump lawyer asked Pecker about his interactions with the FBI. Pecker said three FBI agents visited his home on April 9, 2018. They didn't search his house, but they took his phone.

 Aysha Bagchi

Proceedings re-start

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's cross-examination of David Pecker started again at 11:35 a.m. EST, after a short morning break.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is Michael Cohen?

Michael Cohen is the longtime lawyer and political fixer for Trump, but he has become an open critic of him in recent years.

In 2016, Cohen paid $280,000 to silence two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump in 2006. "Everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr. Trump," Cohen said at a House hearing.

David Pecker, the first witness on the stand for the hush money trial, has testified he frequently communicated with Cohen about stories regarding Trump and his opponents leading up to the 2016 election.

Kinsey Crowley

Court taking a short break

The judge announced a short morning break. After jurors exited, Trump lawyer Emil Bove said he thinks he has less than an hour of cross-examination left. The prosecution may choose to ask David Pecker some further questions after the cross-examination. Trump exited the courtroom at 11:15 a.m. EST.

 Aysha Bagchi

Pecker sounds meek as he responds to cross-examination

Trump lawyer Emil Bove's tone on cross-examination isn't exactly friendly, but it also isn't terribly aggressive. David Pecker is largely agreeing to every point Bove tries to make, which have largely focuses on distancing Trump from the actions of Pecker and the media companies Pecker was running.

Still, Pecker has sounded strikingly meek in the tone of his answers today, sometimes almost as if he is mumbling. He testified yesterday that he still considers Trump a friend. He is now testifying against that "friend" about details he shared with prosecutors under an agreement to protect the company he used to run, American Media Inc., from prosecution.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump trial transcripts available online

New York courts announced Monday it would publish the trial transcripts and copies of the evidence shown to the jury.

Transcripts of proceedings aren't always available, but officials decided to make them available due to "unparalleled public interest."

Monday and Tuesday's proceedings are currently available on the New York State Unified Court System's media website. Evidence shown to the jury, including texts, emails and photos, are also available from Tuesday's and Thursday's proceedings.

Kinsey Crowley

What is AMI?

American Media Inc. (AMI) is the parent company of the tabloid National Enquirer.

David Pecker, the first witness called in the trial, was the CEO and President of AMI when he met with Trump and Michael Cohen to talk about how the publication could help Trump's first presidential campaign.

The National Enquirer bought Karen McDougal's life story but refused to pay for Stormy Daniels', Pecker testified Thursday.

Kinsey Crowley

Who is Emil Bove?

Emil Bove is one of Trump's lawyers, part of the criminal defense team along with Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles. He is cross-examining the first witness, David Pecker.

Bove is a former federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Emil is an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation and his trial skills are among the best in the business, Blanche said in a statement provided to Politico.

Trump eyes closed for extended period

Trump's eyes have been closed for an extended period during Pecker's testimony, even though he doesn't appear to be actually asleep this morning. Trump's eyes were closed as I counted to 40 with the word "Mississippi" in between each number. In general, I've seen Trump's eyes closed for extended periods especially during the mornings of the trial. I saw him struggling to stay awake last Friday, April 19  with his head repeatedly dropping and his mouth at one point agape. Other reporters have also seen him appear sleepy in the courtroom.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump Media stock price

At open on April 26, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. shares rose to $40, up 3.92% from the previous close.

--Kinsey Crowley

Pecker confirms desire for Sajudin story was self-interested

Trump lawyer Emil Bove got Pecker to confirm that walking away from Dino Sajudin's story wouldn't have made business sense to Pecker's media company, American Media Inc. (AMI). AMI paid Sajudin $30,000 for the story that Trump fathered a child with a housekeeper. The company later concluded the story was false.

"It would be too great a loss to AMI" to lose to lose control of the story if it were true, "right?" Emil Bove asked. Pecker said yes.

 Aysha Bagchi

Bove suggests public knew Pecker was helping Trump before 2016 election

Trump lawyer Emil Bove displayed to the jury a portion of a Wall Street Journal article that ran days before the 2016 presidential election. The portion states: "Since last year, the Enquirer has supported Mr. Trumps presidential bid, endorsing him and publishing negative articles about some of his opponents."

Bove got Pecker to confirm that statement showed the Enquirer's support for the 2016 Trump campaign was publicly known prior to the election.

 Aysha Bagchi

Bove trying to distance Trump from Pecker's actions?

Trump lawyer Emil Bove has gotten David Pecker to confirm the National Enquirer was already running stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton before the August, 2015 meeting Pecker has already described about assisting the Trump 2016 campaign through The National Enquirer's coverage.

Pecker also confirmed that The Guardian published an article in May of 2015 about several malpractice suits against Dr. Ben Carson, who was a political opponent of Trump's in the Republican primaries ahead of the 2016 election. Pecker confirms having recycled photos from that article in The National Enquirer's own coverage of the malpractice suits.

The questions may be aimed at suggesting to the jury that Pecker's coverage of political issues wasn't shaped by Trump.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump lawyer asks about Hope Hicks presence in Trump Tower meeting

Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove started his cross-examination for today by asking David Pecker about Hope Hicks' presence at an August, 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. Hicks was the Trump campaign's communications director for the 2016 election, and also held high-level roles in Trump's White House. Pecker previously testified that he, Michael Cohen, and Trump agreed to a scheme at the Trump Tower meeting to catch and kill stories that could hurt the 2016 Trump campaign.

In response to Bove, Pecker confirmed Hicks was in and out of the Trump Tower meeting. Pecker also confirmed he doesn't remember Hicks speaking during that meeting.

 Aysha Bagchi

Jurors enter courtroom, instructed on witness-prosecutor meetings

The jurors entered the courtroom at 9:41 a.m. EST. Witness David Pecker entered about a minute earlier. Judge Merchan just briefly instructed jurors on how it's normal for prosecutors to meet with witnesses ahead of trial. Trump lawyer Emil Bove questioned Pecker yesterday about having met with prosecutors several times before his current testimony.

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump now says he will testify 'if it's necessary'

The former president is starting to equivocate on whether he will testify in the hush money trial.

"I would if it's necessary," Trump said a telephone interview Thursday with Newsmax.

Trump, who once said he would take the stand, told Newsmax television that "there is no case," suggesting that he might not testify after all.

-David Jackson

Trump wishes wife Melania happy birthday from hush money trial

Former President Donald Trump wished his wife Melania a happy birthday Friday while complaining about being stuck at his New York hush money trial for allegedly hiding payments to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had sex with him while he was married.

I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday. It would be nice to be with her, but Im in a courthouse for a rigged trial.

Trump said he would join his wife in Florida after the trial wrapped up for the day.

--Bart Jansen

Judge Merchan arrives in courtroom

Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom right at the 9:30 a.m. EST start time. As usual, he said a general good morning to the trial teams and a specific "Good morning, Mr. Trump" to Trump.

Merchan also announced that a hearing over alleged gag order violations by Trump will be held next Thursday at 9:30 a.m. EST

 Aysha Bagchi

Trump arrives in the courtroom

Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom for Day 8 of his criminal trial at 9:26 a.m. ET. We are still waiting for the judge.

 Aysha Bagchi

Prosecution team arrives for Day 8 of trial

The lead trial prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office arrived in the courtroom at 9:18 a.m. EST. We are still waiting for the defense team and the judge.

 Aysha Bagchi

Today is Melania Trump's birthday. Where is she?

Melania Trump turns 54 today. She hasn't attended any of her husband's criminal trial so far.

Melania Trump was furious when she first learned of reports in early 2018 that her husband paid off porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair, according to The New York Times. She left Washington for Florida, and when she returned for her husband's State of the Union address, she took a separate car.

If she were at the trial, she would likely be spared some embarrassing testimony. Judge Juan Merchan issued a tentative ruling last week that Melania Trump's pregnancy during an alleged affair between former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Trump can't be shared with the jury. McDougal also received a hush money payment.

Trump denies the affairs with both McDougal and Daniels.

 Aysha Bagchi

Who is David Pecker, first witness in Trump trial?

David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirers parent company, wraps up a week of testimony Friday as the first witness in Donald Trumps hush money trial.

Pecker, 72, the former CEO of American Media Inc., described himself as a friend of Trumps from the 1980s until 2018, in the aftermath of revelations about the company paying to silence derogatory stories about Trump as he ran for president the first time.

Pecker testified the first payment was $30,000 to a doorman at Trump Tower who was peddling a story that never ran about Trump having an illegitimate child  even though Pecker knew it was absolutely 1,000% false.

Pecker also testified about paying $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for a story that never ran. McDougal claimed a year-long affair with Trump in about 2006, while he was married. Trump denied the affair.

But as Pecker coordinated with Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, he refused to pay $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Cohen has testified he arranged the payment himself.

Trump is charged with falsifying business business records to hide his reimbursement to Cohen for Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty and says he didnt know about paying off the women.

--Bart Jansen

What is Trump on trial for?

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office allege Trump falsified the purpose of checks to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in order to conceal a conspiracy to unlawfully interfere in the 2016 presidential election through a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump has pleaded not guilty, and also denies Daniels' claim that the pair had sex in 2006.

 Aysha Bagchi

What happens if Trump is found guilty?

Some legal experts believe Trump could face jail or prison time if convicted on all 34 counts, while others believe he would likely only receive probation. Several experts told USA TODAY they would expect a sentence that ranges from no jail time to up to four years in prison. No one predicted Trump would be forced to serve an incarceration sentence before his appeal ran out.

Each felony count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but New York caps such sentencing for these types of felonies  known as Class E felonies  at 20 years.

 Aysha Bagchi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump on trial Day 8 recap: prosecution calls Michael Cohen's banker
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The man accused of murdering his girlfriend and her child in Dover remained in custody at Hillsborough Countys Falkenberg Road Jail on Friday after waiving his first court appearance.

Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez filed a motion for pretrial detention ahead of his scheduled appearance, asking a judge to order Cuz-Choc be held in jail, without bond, until his trial.

Body cam video shows Hillsborough deputies arrest dangerous suspect in brutal double murder

Cuz-Choc is a flight risk and could skip out on his trial, Lopez wrote, because he entered the country illegally. Cuz-Choc told investigators he traveled from Guatemala with the help of a coyote, a term for people who are paid to smuggle migrants across the border between Mexico and the U.S.

Lopez also pointed to Cuz-Chocs arrest, where body camera video showed him fleeing into a dense area of vegetation and allegedly resisting deputies.

There are no conditions of release that will ensure the defendants presence at trial, Lopez wrote.

Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc (Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office)

The state attorney believes he poses a threat to the community due to the brutal and violent nature of the crimes he was accused of.

The defendant confessed to killing both victims to one of his brothers and later to law enforcement in a post-Miranda interview, Lopez wrote. The State respectfully requests the Court to find that the proof of the defendants guilt is evident or the presumption is great.

The court documents revealed new details of what Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister described as an extremely gruesome scene. Detectives reported blood surrounding the victims, in parts of the home and throughout the yard.

Heinous, vile and unthinkable: Man fatally stabbed girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter in Dover, HCSO says

Surveillance video obtained by HCSO showed the woman, identified as Amalia Cuc Choc, 36, attempting to run from a male subject and screaming, the motion stated. The video also showed the woman yelling in terror as she was being carried against her will to a trailer, following the same path where deputies later discovered a trail of blood, according to detectives. They found her partially clothed, laying in a pool of blood and hidden beneath a tarp.

Her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella Pec Coc, was also found dead, laying in a small pool of water in a bathtub with the water still running, according to HCSO. Both victims were discovered with multiple stab wounds.

Cuz-Chocs brothers told investigators they heard from him shortly after the alleged murders. They told HCSO that he confessed to his crimes and provided a motive: Amalia Cuc Choc was out with a friend for three hours instead of her allotted hour and a half.

Estrella Pec Coc, 4, and her mother, Amalia Cuc Choc, 36.

Speaking with investigators after his arrest, they reported that Cuz-Choc admitted to the offense and provided details on how he stabbed the victims, according to court documents.

He was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and charged with two counts of premeditated first degree murder with a weapon, first degree murder while engaging in aggravated child abuse, and kidnapping.

Death penalty and justice

The victims relatives told 8 On Your Side they want the most serious consequences for their loved ones alleged murderer.

The death penalty and justice for the child, because the child had nothing to do with what he did, one of the victims sisters said.

Those who know Amalia and Estrella said this wasnt the first time the suspect was violent with the victims. Pec Cocs sister said Cuz-Choc had previously threatened their family.

A man called me and told me to tell my sister to come back to him, because if she doesnt, there will be consequences. Its not the first time Ive killed people. Ive already killed people in Guatemala, Dolores Choc said.

Since coming to the Tampa area, others said they had noticed some warning signs of domestic violence.

Death penalty and justice: Dover murder victims sister wants suspect executed

I looked at her and saw that she had bruises said a woman who knew the daughter, but wished to stay anonymous. Her eyes were also very purple.

On Friday, a judge ordered Cuz-Choc to be held without bond. His attorney also waived his pre-trial detention hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
In this combination of images from body-camera videos, medics prepare to inject sedatives to Ivan Gutzalenko in Richmond, Calif., in 2021; Hunter Barr in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2020, and Wesley Garrett-Henry in San Diego, Calif., in 2020. An investigation led by The Associated Press published in 2024, has found the practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police spread quietly over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts. (Richmond Police Department, Colorado Springs Police Department, San Diego Police Department via AP)

Demetrio Jackson was desperate for medical help when the paramedics arrived.

The 43-year-old was surrounded by police who arrested him after responding to a trespassing call in a Wisconsin parking lot. Officers had shocked him with a Taser and pinned him as he pleaded that he couldnt breathe. Now he sat on the ground with hands cuffed behind his back and took in oxygen through a mask.

Then, officers moved Jackson to his side so a medic could inject him with a potent knockout drug.

Its just going to calm you down, an officer assured Jackson. Within minutes, Jacksons heart stopped. He never regained consciousness and died two weeks later.

Jacksons 2021 death illustrates an often-hidden way fatal U.S. police encounters end: not with the firing of an officers gun but with the silent use of a medical syringe.

The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the nation over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found. Based on thousands of pages of law enforcement and medical records and videos of dozens of incidents, the investigation shows how a strategy intended to reduce violence and save lives has resulted in some avoidable deaths.

At least 94 people died after they were given sedatives and restrained by police from 2012 through 2021, according to findings by the AP in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism. Thats nearly 10% of the more than 1,000 deaths identified during the investigation of people subdued by police in ways that are not supposed to be fatal. About half of the 94 who died were Black, including Jackson.

Behind the racial disparity is a disputed medical condition called excited delirium, which fueled the rise of sedation outside hospitals. Critics say its purported symptoms, including superhuman strength and high pain tolerance, play into racist stereotypes about Black people and lead to biased decisions about who needs sedation.

The use of sedatives in half these incidents has never been reported, as scrutiny typically focuses on the actions of police, not medics. Elijah McClains 2019 death in Aurora, Colorado, was a rare exception: Two paramedics were convicted of giving McClain an overdose of ketamine, the same drug given to Jackson. One was sentenced last month to five years in prison and the other was sentenced Friday to 14 months in jail and probation.

It was impossible to determine the role sedatives may have played in each of the 94 deaths, which often involved the use of other potentially dangerous force on people who had taken drugs or consumed alcohol. Medical experts told the AP their impact could be negligible in people who were already dying; the final straw that triggered heart or breathing failure in the medically distressed; or the main cause of death when given in the wrong circumstances or mishandled.

While sedatives were mentioned as a cause or contributing factor in a dozen official death rulings, authorities often didnt even investigate whether injections were appropriate. Medical officials have traditionally viewed them as mostly benign treatments. Now some say they may be playing a bigger role than previously understood and deserve more scrutiny.

Time and time again, the AP found, agitated people who were held by police facedown, often handcuffed and with officers pushing on their backs, struggled to breathe and tried to get free. Citing combativeness, paramedics administered sedatives, further slowing their breathing. Cardiac and respiratory arrest often occurred within minutes.

Paramedics drugged some people who were not a threat to themselves or others, violating treatment guidelines. Medics often didnt know whether other drugs or alcohol were in peoples systems, although some combinations cause serious side effects.

Police officers sometimes improperly encouraged paramedics to give shots to suspects they were detaining.

Responders occasionally joked about the medications power to knock their subjects out. Night, night is heard on videos before deaths in California, Tennessee and Florida.

Emergency medical workers, "if they arent careful, can simply become an extension of the polices handcuffs, of their weapons, of their nightsticks, said Claire Zagorski, a former paramedic and an addiction researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.

Supporters say sedatives enable rapid treatment for drug-related behavioral emergencies and psychotic episodes, protect front-line responders from violence and are safely administered thousands of times annually to get people with life-threatening conditions to hospitals. Critics say forced sedation should be strictly limited or banned, arguing the medications, given without consent, are too risky to be administered during police encounters.

Ohio State University professor Dr. Mark DeBard was an important early proponent of sedation, believing it could be used in rare cases when officers encountered extremely agitated people who needed rapid medical treatment. Today, he said hes frustrated officers still sometimes use excessive force instead of treating those incidents as medical emergencies. Hes also surprised paramedics have given unnecessary injections by overdiagnosing excited delirium.

Others say the premise was flawed, with sedatives and police restraint creating a dangerous mix. The deaths have left a trail of grieving relatives from coast to coast.

Theyre running around on the streets administering these heavy-duty medications that could be lethal, said Honey Gutzalenko, a nurse whose husband died after he was injected with midazolam in 2021 while restrained by police near San Francisco. Its just not right.

IM BEGGING YOU TO STOP

Jackson was standing on a truck outside a radio station on the border of the small Wisconsin cities of Eau Claire and Altoona. An employee called 911 before dawn on Oct. 8, 2021, hoping officers could shoo away a stranger who doesnt seem to be a threat, but not normal either.

Police video and hundreds of pages of law enforcement and medical records show how the incident escalated.

An Altoona police officer met Jackson in the parking lot. Jackson appeared uneasy and paranoid, looking around and talking softly. He had taken methamphetamine, which a psychiatrist said he used to self-medicate for schizophrenia. Hed been in and out of jail and living on the streets, with frequent visits to the emergency room seeking a place to rest.

The officer, joined by a second Altoona officer and a sheriff's deputy, told him he could leave if he gave his name. Jackson refused.

Police identified him through his tattoos, learning he was on probation for meth possession. They noticed the truck had minor damage and decided to arrest him.

Jackson took off running. The officers chased Jackson, who stopped seconds later and staggered toward the first officer. Body-camera video shows she fired her Taser, its darts striking Jackson in the stomach and thigh. He screamed after the electrical shock and collapsed.

When officers couldnt handcuff Jackson, she fired additional darts, striking Jackson in the back as he lay on the ground. Officers from the Eau Claire Police Department forced Jackson onto his stomach to be handcuffed and restrained him in whats known as the prone position.

Im begging you to stop, Jackson said. I cant breathe.

After a couple of minutes, officers moved him to his side and then sat him up, trying to improve his breathing.

An officer wondered aloud whether Jackson had excited delirium and asked a colleague if paramedics were going to stand around and do nothing. He voiced approval when one arrived with ketamine, adding Jackson would not like it when he gets poked.

The Eau Claire Fire Departments excited delirium protocol advises, Rapid sedation is the key to de-escalation!!!!! The medic measured 400 milligrams after estimating the 6-foot-tall Jackson weighed 175 pounds, enough to immobilize someone within minutes. He injected the medicine into Jacksons buttocks.

Five medical experts who reviewed the case for AP said Jacksons behavior did not appear to be dangerous enough to justify the intervention.

I dont believe he was a candidate for ketamine, said Connecticut paramedic Peter Canning, who said he supports sedating truly violent patients because they stop fighting and are sleeping by the time they get to the hospital.

Minutes later, Jackson stopped breathing on the way to Sacred Heart Hospital. Hed suffered cardiac arrest and, after he was resuscitated, had no brain function.

Jacksons mother, Rita Gowens, collapsed while shopping at an Indiana Walmart when she learned her oldest son was hospitalized and not expected to survive.

Gowens rushed to the hospital 500 miles away, where she was told hed been injected with ketamine. She searched online and was stunned to read its used to tranquilize horses.

Gowens spoke to Jackson, held his hand and hoped for a miracle. She eventually agreed to remove him from a ventilator after his condition didnt improve, singing into his ear as he took his final breaths: Youve never lost a battle, and I know, I know, you never will.

She still has nightmares about how police and medics treated her son, whom she recalls as a happy boy with chunky cheeks that inspired the nickname Meatball. There are few days when she doesnt ask, Why did they give him an animal tranquilizer?

KETAMINE MOVES TO THE STREETS

The practice of using ketamine to subdue people outside hospitals began in 2004 when a disturbed man scaled a fence, cut himself with a broken bottle and paced along a narrow strip of concrete on a Minneapolis highway bridge.

The man was in danger of falling into traffic below when officers reached through the fence and grabbed him.

Dr. John Hick, who worked with first responders, heard the emergency radio chatter while driving and rushed to the scene with an idea. Hick gave the man two shots of ketamine, started an IV and kept him breathing with an air mask.

The man stopped struggling, and responders lowered him to safety.

Paramedics had occasionally used other sedatives to calm combative people since the 1980s. Hick and his Hennepin County Medical Center colleague Dr. Jeffrey Ho believed ketamine worked faster and had fewer side effects, showing promise to avert fatal police encounters.

Ho was a leading researcher on Taser safety and an expert witness for the company in wrongful death lawsuits. In a 2007 deposition in one such case, he argued for a potentially life-saving tactic of having sedative injections quickly follow Taser shocks, saying the combination could shorten struggles that, if prolonged, might end in death.

Some doctors at his public hospital in Minneapolis were using something called ketamine, which is an analog to LSD, he said. Its sort of an animal tranquilizer.

The drug became more common outside the hospital in 2008 when Hennepin County paramedics were given permission to use it.

An American College of Emergency Physicians panel that included Ho said in 2009 that ketamine had shown excellent results and safety while acknowledging no research proved it would save lives.

In time, its use became standard from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, to Palm Beach County, Florida. The earliest death involving ketamine documented in APs investigation came in 2015, when 34-year-old Juan Carrizales was injected after struggling with police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas.

Shortly after ketamine became authorized for such use in Arizona in 2017, deputies who were restraining David Cutler facedown in handcuffs in the scorching desert asked a paramedic to sedate him.

The medic testified he was surprised when Cutler stopped breathing, although the dose was larger than recommended for someone weighing 132 pounds. He said he had been trained that ketamine didnt impact respiration. Cutlers death was ruled an accident due to heat exposure and LSD  though that was disputed by experts hired by Cutlers family, who said heat stroke along with ketamine caused his death.

In Minneapolis, an oversight agency found the use of ketamine during police calls rose dramatically from 2012 through 2017 and body-camera video showed instances of officers appearing to pressure paramedics to use ketamine and joking about its power. The department told officers they could never suggest or demand the use of sedation.

Facing criticism, Hennepin Healthcare halted a study examining the effectiveness of ketamine on agitated patients. The Food and Drug Administration later found the research failed to protect vulnerable, intoxicated people who had not given consent.

By 2021, the American College of Emergency Physicians warned ketamine impacted breathing and the heart more than previously believed.

Ketamine is not as benign as we might have hoped it to be, a co-author of the new position, Dr. Jeffrey Goodloe, said on the groups podcast in 2022.

He said the practice of giving large doses of ketamine, sometimes too much for smaller patients, had spread nationwide as agencies copied each others protocols with little independent review.

But the APs findings show risks of sedation go beyond ketamine, which was used in at least 19 cases.

Roughly half of the 94 deaths documented by the AP came after the use of midazolam, which has long been known to heighten the risk of respiratory depression. Many came during police encounters in California, where ketamine is not widely used. Midazolam, a common pre-surgery drug known by the brand name Versed, is also part of a three-drug cocktail used in some states to execute prisoners.

Other cases involved a range of other drugs, including the antipsychotic medications haloperidol and ziprasidone, which can cause irregular heartbeats.

The need for monitoring side effects is often laid out for paramedics in written guidelines, many of which are based on the disputed belief that excited delirium can cause sudden death.

THE HISTORY OF EXCITED DELIRIUM

The theory of excited delirium was troubling from the start.

In the 1980s, with cocaine use soaring, Dr. Charles Wetli, a Miami forensic pathologist, coined the term to explain a handful of deaths of violent cocaine users, many of whom had been restrained by police. Wetli, who died in 2020, also blamed excited delirium for the mysterious deaths of more than a dozen Black women. He said cocaine and sexual activity triggered the fatal condition.

The womens deaths eventually were attributed to a serial killer. Wetlis theory survived. And over time, symptoms described by Wetli and others  superhuman strength, animal-like noises and high pain tolerance  became disproportionately assigned to Black people. The terms spread to police and emergency medical services to describe certain agitated people  and explain sudden deaths.

By the mid-2000s, police were encountering more drug users and mentally ill people as stimulant use increased and psychiatric hospitals closed. Departments adopted Tasers as a less-lethal alternative to firearms, but there was a problem  hundreds died after being jolted.

Supporters of Wetlis research, including the medical examiner in Miami-Dade County, ruled again and again that excited delirium was the cause of these deaths, not the effects of the weapons and other physical force. Executives at Tasers manufacturer agreed, promoting excited delirium to medical examiners around the country and retaining experts who explained the concept to juries in wrongful death lawsuits.

In 2006, a grand jury that investigated Taser-related deaths in Miami-Dade recommended an untested treatment that it said could save people before they died from excited delirium: squirting midazolam up their noses to cause almost immediate sedation. Its report acknowledged they may experience difficulty in breathing. Miami-Dade paramedics adopted this treatment.

But key medical groups didnt recognize excited delirium, and activists were calling for limits on Taser use. What happened next would help promote sedation alongside Tasers as tools to gain control.

In 2008, the biggest names in excited delirium research gathered at a Las Vegas hotel for a three-day meeting organized by a group with ties to Tasers manufacturer.

A lot of talk took place on chemical sedation because the cops didnt know what to do with these people, recalled John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, which sponsored the meeting. Jeff Ho had done some work up in Minnesota. He said, Look. Ive been using ketamine. It knocks them out quicker.

The timing was fortuitous: The American College of Emergency Physicians would soon form a task force to study excited delirium and how police and medics should respond.

The 19-member panel included Ho, who became Tasers medical director under an arrangement in which the company paid part of his hospital salary; Dr. Donald Dawes, a Taser research consultant; and University of Miami researcher Deborah Mash, who testified for Taser about several deaths she blamed on excited delirium. At least two other panelists were routinely retained by officers and their departments as expert witnesses.

The panels 2009 paper disclosed none of these relationships. It found excited delirium was real, could result in death regardless of whether someone was shocked with a Taser and called for aggressive chemical sedation to treat the symptoms.

DeBard, the now-retired Ohio doctor who chaired the panel, told AP he recruited relevant experts to join and that disclosure of conflicts wasnt required by the ER doctors group then. He said Taser didnt influence the outcome, which reflected the panel's consensus. Mash said she had no conflict because Taser didnt fund her research. Dawes declined an interview request. Ho didnt return messages.

Taser rebranded itself in 2017 as Axon. A spokesperson for the company declined interview requests and did not respond to written questions.

Dr. Brooks Walsh, an emergency physician in Connecticut who was not on the panel, said the 2009 paper reinforced racial bias as it formalized loaded terms used to describe excited delirium, influencing how the diagnosis would be applied.

Ho and other Taser- and police-aligned experts joined a federally sponsored panel in 2011 that built on the work, recommending four actions on a checklist for officers and paramedics: Identify excited delirium symptoms; control (with a Taser if necessary); sedate; and transport to a hospital.

No test measures for excited delirium, so paramedics faced a judgment call: Which patients were so agitated, strong, impervious to pain and dangerous that they needed to be sedated?

DeBard said the symptoms were based on medical observations, not race. If youve got somebody thats delirious, irrational, aggressive, hyperactive, running around naked, I mean, its really pretty easy" to recognize, he said.

Yet, over time, prominent medical groups and some experts pointed to overuse of sedation during police encounters and a disproportionate impact on Black people. Even supporters of the practice have acknowledged that the wrong patients at times have been injected.

The deaths of Black men in police custody, including the 2020 killing of George Floyd, put pressure on the medical community to re-examine excited delirium. The ER doctors group in 2023 withdrew approval of the 2009 paper and said excited delirium shouldnt be used in court testimony. Some doctors called that decision political and note the group still recognizes a similar condition  hyperactive delirium with severe agitation  that can be treated with sedation. But today no major medical association legitimizes excited delirium.

CONVENIENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

In more than a dozen cases reviewed by AP, police asked for or suggested the use of sedatives, calling into question whether medics were working for law enforcement or in patients interests. Officers often suggested their detainees had excited delirium.

University of California, Berkeley, law and bioethics professor Osagie Obasogie, who has studied excited delirium and sedation, said officers should be banned from influencing medical care.

We need to be sure that folks are treated in a way that meets their medical needs and not simply given a chemical restraint because its convenient for law enforcement, he said.

Officers are told not to dictate medical treatment but some knuckleheads have done otherwise, said Peters, whose group hosted the 2008 Las Vegas meeting that focused on excited delirium.

Paramedics say they make medical decisions independently from police, following guidelines that call for sedating people who may be dangerous. But in several cases AP found, people were injected though they had calmed down or even passed out after struggles with police.

Ivan Gutzalenko, a 47-year-old father, was struggling to breathe as two officers restrained him in Richmond, California. Gutzalenko told the officers they were hurting him, and bucked to try to get one off his back.

A paramedic viewed Gutzalenkos action as aggression, and went to his ambulance to get a 5-milligram dose of midazolam. When he returned three minutes later, Gutzalenko lay motionless. Hes faking like hes unconscious, an officer said.

The medic plunged the needle into his bicep. Gutzalenkos heart stopped. He was declared dead at a hospital. A pathologist testified that midazolam was given to quiet him down during an episode of excited delirium but did not contribute to the death, which he blamed on prone restraint and meth use.

His wife said Gutzalenko, a former critical care nurse, would never have consented to receive midazolam that day.

I know from being a registered nurse since 2004, you dont administer a sedative to someone who is clearly already in respiratory distress, she said, adding that his death has been devastating to their two teenage children.

Dr. Gail Van Norman, a University of Washington professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine, said its dangerous for officers to put pressure on the backs and necks of detainees before and after theyre injected with sedatives.

Its a recipe for disaster, because you may have created a situation in which you are impeding a persons ability to get oxygen, she said.

The AP investigation found half who died following sedation had been shocked with a Taser and the majority had been restrained facedown.

Their blood acid levels may already have been spiking from drugs, adrenaline and pain while oxygen levels may have been plummeting  life-threatening conditions called acidosis and hypoxia.

Sedatives can dull the instinct to compensate by breathing quickly and heavily to blow off carbon dioxide, essential for the heart to beat, said Dr. Christopher Stephens, a UTHealth Houston anesthesiologist and former paramedic.

Under sedation, he said, the body doesnt respond as efficiently to the buildup of carbon dioxide. Your brain doesnt care as much about it, Stephens said. And they can go into respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Paramedics usually have no idea whether their patients have alcohol, opioids or other depressants in their bodies that increase sedatives effects on breathing.

More than a dozen who died had been drinking, including Jerica LaCour, 29, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, mother of five young children.

She was stressed about family finances, husband Anthony LaCour recalled, when deputies found her trespassing at a trucking company.

Guess who gets ketamine? paramedic Jason Poulson of AMR, the nations largest ambulance company, said as LaCour was restrained on a gurney, according to body-camera footage.

An EMT said in a report that she told Poulson that LaCour had calmed and didnt need ketamine, and later warned that LaCour was no longer breathing. In a disciplinary agreement with state regulators, Poulson admitted he was unsuccessful in protecting LaCours airway despite multiple attempts, mishandled the syringe and failed to document the ketamine use properly. His state certification was put on probation.

AMR and Poulson denied responsibility for LaCours death in court filings, arguing LaCour was experiencing excited delirium and ketamine was appropriate. This week they settled a long-pending wrongful death lawsuit, LaCour family attorney Daniel Kay said Friday. He said the settlement amount was confidential and the proceeds would help her children. AMR didnt immediately respond to a request for comment and a man who answered a cellphone number listed for Poulson hung up on a reporter.

AFTER DEATH, SEDATION GOES UNQUESTIONED

When people died, the use of sedation often went unacknowledged publicly and unquestioned by investigators.

After Jacksons death in Wisconsin, police press releases said nothing about ketamine. State police redacted mention of the drug from investigation records and blurred video of the prone restraint and injection, saying his familys privacy outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The fire department, which declined comment, blacked out the information in its incident report. But when AP uploaded the document, redactions disappeared, revealing Jackson was given 400 milligrams of ketamine.

An autopsy concluded Jackson died from complications caused by meth. The report said Jacksons ketamine dose was 100 milligrams, a quarter of what the fire department report said.

Two longtime forensic pathologists who reviewed the case for AP said meth use wasnt the only factor. Dr. Joye Carter said she believed the police altercation and ketamine caused the death, saying the sedative can cause heart problems when given to a meth user.

Dr. Victor Weedn said the level of meth in Jacksons blood was high but generally not lethal. He said Jackson likely died from high blood acid levels, with police restraint and possibly ketamine contributing.

The autopsy was performed in Ramsey County, Minnesota. A county spokesperson defended the findings from a now-retired medical examiner, saying the discrepancy on the ketamine dose wasnt significant.

Citing the autopsys finding that meth was the cause, Eau Claire County District Attorney Peter Rindal ruled Jacksons case was not an officer-involved death under Wisconsin law and closed the investigation.

In nearly 90% of the deaths examined by AP, coroners and medical examiners did not list sedation as a cause or contributing factor. Some autopsy reports failed to document that the deceased had been sedated.

The most common ruling was an accidental death in which other drugs, often meth or cocaine, were causes or contributing factors. More than a quarter were at least partially attributed to excited delirium.

Medical examiners view sedatives as safe treatments to control patients and wouldnt question their use unless there was a grievous error, said Dr. James Gill, the chief medical examiner of Connecticut and past president of the National Association of Medical Examiners.

Generally were going to default then back to whats the underlying disease or injury that started this chain of events, Gill said.

He said sedatives rarely cause deaths by themselves but additional studies could look at whether they play a role in fatal police struggles where many factors are involved.

Even when autopsies implicated sedatives, investigations didnt always follow.

In LaCours case, the coroner found she died from respiratory arrest associated with acute alcohol and ketamine intoxication. The district attorneys office said it had no record of reviewing her death.

Nine miles from LaCours injection, a paramedic injected 26-year-old Hunter Barr with ketamine as officers held him facedown in the dirt outside his Colorado Springs home in September 2020.

Retired postal worker Mark Barr had called 911 for help controlling his son, who he said wasnt violent but was having a bad reaction to LSD. He watched as a medic gave two injections just minutes apart. He said he couldn't figure out why the second injection was necessary, saying his son was subdued. Hunter Barr became unconscious on the way to a hospital and died within hours.

The coroner ruled Barr died from the effects of ketamine. The Colorado Springs Police Department closed the case as non-criminal and the DAs office again had no review.

When deaths were investigated, inquiries usually focused on whether police used excessive force. In audio and video reviewed by AP, investigators seemed uninterested in how sedation may have contributed.

Im not trying to get in the weeds with a whole bunch of that, an investigator told a paramedic explaining the ketamine injection he gave 18-year-old Giovani Berne before Bernes heart stopped in Palm Bay, Florida, in 2016.

Bernes sister, Christina, said the family didnt know he had been given ketamine until contacted by AP years later, but we knew something bad happened in the ambulance. A medical examiner ruled that Berne died of excited delirium.

The death of McClain, 23, in Colorado is the only one that resulted in charges against paramedics. Prosecutors argued Aurora paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec didnt assess McClain, gave him too much ketamine for someone his size and didnt monitor him afterward.

Their convictions shook the EMS field, whose leaders say treatment mistakes shouldnt be criminalized. Defense attorneys argued the paramedics followed their training on excited delirium and ketamine. A judge gave Cichuniec five years in prison while Cooper was sentenced Friday to 14 months in jail and probation.

Civil liability is also rare, in part because deaths have multiple causes and some courts have ruled that unwilling injections arent excessive force even when they cause harm. That hasnt stopped families from trying: A number of wrongful death lawsuits involving sedation are pending.

Lawmakers in Colorado banned excited delirium as a justification for using ketamine and put other restrictions on the drug, but changes in the law elsewhere have been few.

Paramedic reformers are working to address the failures that increase the risk of sedatives contributing to deaths.

Paramedic Eric Jaeger helped rewrite New Hampshires protocols and, at a fire station in Hooksett, recently used Jacksons death as a training scenario after evaluating the case for AP. He questioned whether sedation was necessary. He said medics failed to thoroughly evaluate Jackson and should have had monitoring equipment ready before any injection.

He said he had been aware of a handful of deaths but the number found by AP dramatically increases the scope.

If we dont change the training, change the protocols, change the leadership to make the system safer, Jaeger said, then we all bear responsibility for future deaths.

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Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed from New York.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Public Welfare Foundation for reporting focused on criminal justice. This story also was supported by Columbia Universitys Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. Also, the AP Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation led by The Associated Press in collaboration with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism programs and FRONTLINE (PBS). The investigation includes the Lethal Restraint interactive story, database and the documentary, Documenting Police Use Of Force, premiering April 30 on PBS.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Claire Zagorski is a former paramedic instead of a paramedic
Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Chanting Clean water is what we demand, Water is a right and No justice, no peace, dozens of people marched to Flint City Hall on Thursday to demand justice and accountability as the Flint water crisis turns 10 years old.

This march is not just about remembering the past; its about shaping our future, said Claire McClinton of Flint. We must stand together to ensure that no community ever suffers the same fate as Flint.

The state offers advice on how to reduce lead exposure at michigan.gov/mileadsafe. Testing results for Flints water system can be found at michigan.gov/flintwater.

Residents, activists and researchers have described the Flint water crisis as one of the most egregious cases of environmental racism the state and country have ever faced.

In 2011, former Gov. Rick Snyder had appointed an emergency manager to oversee Flint, which was facing a financial crisis. On April 25, 2014, then-Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and other officials praised the switch from Detroits water system to the Flint River, part of a cost-cutting move that was estimated to save the cash-strapped city about $5 million in less than two years.

However, officials from the former Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) failed to follow federal regulations put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that required corrosion control chemicals in water. That water then passed through aging pipes and lead service lines, causing them to leak lead into the citys drinking water supply.

The ensuing water crisis left at least 12 people dead and thousands of people, including children, with lead-contaminated drinking water and was also tied to an outbreak of pneumonia known as Legionnaires Disease in 2014 and 2015.

A 2016 study by pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha found that elevated blood levels doubled after the water switch, affecting 4.9% of children. Some neighborhoods saw an increase of as high as 6.6%, according to Hanna-Attishas research.

In 2016, the then-President Barack Obama administration declared a federal emergency in Flint and freed up millions in water infrastructure aid. Obama visited the city in 2016 and drank a glass of water.

I want all of you to know I am confident that Flint will come back, Obama said at the time. I will not rest, and Im going to make sure that the leaders, at every level of government, dont rest until every drop of water that flows to your homes is safe to drink and safe to cook with, and safe to bathe in  because thats part of the basic responsibilities of a government in the United States of America.

Flint has been in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act for seven and 1/2 years, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) announced in December. The citys water system has tested below action levels for both lead and copper since July 2016, over 15 consecutive testing periods.

However, many of those gathered on Thursday said they are still waiting for justice, which has not come from the court system.

Snyder, a Republican who left office in 2019, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty in January 2021, to which he pleaded not guilty. But in 2022, a Genesee County judge dismissed two criminal charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in the Flint water crisis, saying the charges were not properly brought.

And a mistrial was declared in August 2022 in a federal lawsuit against two companies that consulted with the city of Flint during its water crisis, Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN).

The crisis did result in the largest civil settlement in Michigan history.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced in March 2023 the Flint water settlement totaling about $626.25 million had been formally approved by Genesee County Circuit Court Chief Judge David J. Newblatt. The state has been ordered to pay $600 million, the city of Flint will pay $20 million, the McLaren Regional Medical Center will pay $5 million and $1.25 million will come from Rowe Professional Services.

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

Dozens marched to Flint City Hall on April 25, 2024, considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the Flint water crisis | Ken Coleman

But many residents on Thursday said that the process was dragging on too slowly.

When are they going to issue it out? said Gail Morton of Mount Morris. People have been waiting. What are they waiting on?

Nessel spokesperson Danny Wimmer told the Advance on Thursday that the continued delay in settlement dollars reaching claimants is understandably a frustration.

We are hopeful that the claims review process is soon finalized so that compensation will reach the claimants in Flint as soon as possible, Wimmer said. Though the state is not involved in making any payments under the settlement agreement and is not directly involved in the claims review process, we look forward to the settlement being fully implemented.

Wimmer referred the Advance to court-appointed Special Master Deborah Greenspan, who is overseeing the claims process. Greenspan did not respond to a request for comment.

Flint-area leaders also commemorated the somber anniversary.

In the richest country in the world, access to clean drinking water should be a right, not a privilege. Yet, access to clean water has been a decade-long struggle for Flint families, said U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) who pointed out that he supported a bipartisan $170 million aid package for Flint. Flint is resilient. But there is more work to be done to deliver justice to families. Justice will come in many forms, including holding those who poisoned our water accountable, giving residents relief from high water bills, connecting families with health care services and investing in our public schools. America cannot forget what happened in Flint.

State Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) said the Flint water crisis exposed deep-rooted systemic injustice steeped in racism and elitism, which contributed to it going unchecked for as long as it did.

He noted his support for filter first legislation, universal lead testing and the Rx Kids program, under which every pregnant person in Flint receives a one-time payment of $1,500 followed by $500 payments per month for the first year of their childs life.

In doing this, I hope we can continue to pave the way to a more inclusive and equitable society, recognizing that environmental injustice is a pressing issue that concerns all of us, he said.

The post Dozens march to Flint city hall as the water crisis turns 10 year old appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The "March for Peace" at the Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 15, 1969. This copy was saved and kept by participant and Montana columnist George Ochenski (Photo courtesy of George Ochenski).

The current protests sweeping college campuses nationwide against the slaughter of Palestinians by Israel with U.S. weaponry brings a dreadful sense of deja vu of the protests against the Vietnam War. And once again, the powers that be are doing exactly the wrong thing, having learned nothing from the foolish, authoritarian mistakes they made more than 50 years ago.

For those who came of age during that turbulent era, the images of cops in full riot gear with helmets, clubs and shields beating unarmed, helpless college students brings a visceral and bitter reaction. In a nation founded on the rights of free speech and dissent against the governments actions what we are seeing now is a wholesale betrayal of our democracy.

As in the 60s, todays politicians readily mimic the phony propaganda of what was then called the Establishment. In the meantime, national news networks have painted one-sided perspectives that claim Israeli self defense, but gives short shrift to the horrifically lopsided toll of death and destruction wreaked on Palestinians.

To put it in perspective, from 1961 to the Fall of Saigon in 1975, the US lost 58,200 men and women in Vietnam. As of today, more than 110,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured by Israel in just six months  and among the 34,200 killed, three-quarters of those were women and children.

Yet, only now, when the Israeli actions in Gaza have become so undeniably inhumane, has our mainstream corporate media slowly moved to admit Israel has long passed the self defense stage into genocide.

Yet our politicians excoriate the student protestors, wagging their fingers and pontificating about how students should simply get back to their classes  as if none of this is actually happening on the world stage and as if the U.S. is not fully complicit.

But now, as it was 50 years ago, those students on the college campuses across our country are appalled at the actions of their own nationthe nation in which they are preparing to lead their generation into the future. They have every right to be outraged that Congress and the president just sent Israel another $26 billion to continue the slaughter.

Now, as a half century ago, the concept of patriotism is not defined by who waves the biggest flag or spouts the loudest condemnation of the protestors. True patriotism requires being brave enough to stand up to the government and the deeply embedded interests of the military-industrial complex when the result is massive death and destruction of other humans. Thats called humanity  and true patriots have every right to demand humane policies and actions from their own government.

Nor will clubbing, gassing, and arresting students work any better now than it did 50 years ago. In fact, it will backfire and actually increase the resistance. Likewise, the phony propaganda being spewed by politicians will fail to disguise the grim reality that what were witnessing is genocide aided and abetted by the U.S.

By the late 60s, even the national newcasters had to admit the Pentagon was filing false reports, we were not winning the Vietnam War, and the domino theory that sent our men and women to die was a phony political construct that resulted in two million civilian casualties in Vietnam  a completely unacceptable slaughter for a modern democracy that was not threatened by a tiny nation in Southeast Asia.

The parallels are undeniable  as will be the outcome. Despite the violent, iron-fist tactics of our increasingly authoritarian nation, if history is any indication the student protestors will be proved right, the lies and misrepresentations by politicians and the media proved wrong, and Israels genocidal war on the Palestinians will come to an ignominious end  as did ours in Vietnam.

The post A dreadful sense of deja vu: Gaza protests look a lot like the ones during Vietnam appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Driver flown from scene by Flight for Life, another injured in Sheboygan County crash with semi

HOLLAND, Wis. (WFRV)  Two Wisconsin men were hospitalized, one flown from the scene by Flight for Life, after a two-vehicle crash involving a semi in Sheboygan County on Thursday morning.

According to a release from the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office, the Sheboygan County Emergency Communications Center received multiple 911 calls around 5:20 a.m. on April 25 after a crash on I-43 northbound in Holland.

Car left with extensive damage after rollover crash in Wisconsin, driver not found

Authorities say that a vehicle with two occupants, a 51-year-old man who was driving and a 59-year-old male passenger, both from Milwaukee, were reportedly involved in a crash with a semi.

The driver of the vehicle suffered major injuries and was taken away from the scene by Flight for Life. The passenger did not report any injuries.

It was noted that the driver of the semi, a 44-year-old man from Racine suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital by an ambulance.

Fire damages Fond du Lac Culvers, cause under investigation

The following agencies assisted with the incident:

Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office

Oostburg Fire Department

Oostburg Jaws

Oostburg First Responders

Adell Fire Department

Orange Cross Ambulance

Flight for Life

Wisconsin State Patrol

Sheboygan County Highway Department

The crash remains under investigation. Local 5 will update this story when new details are released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Drugs, money and murder: A look at the probe into Homestead womans deadly carjacking

An investigation into the carjacking and kidnapping of a Homestead woman who was ambushed at a Central Florida red light  and later shot to death and found in her torched car  began with a widely circulated video taken by a witness earlier this month.

It has since led detectives on a winding trail of drugs, money and murder  with ties to Florida, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

On April 11, Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas had driven from Homestead and was stopped at a red light near Winter Springs, a suburban community in Seminole County, when she was carjacked by a masked man pointing a semiautomatic rifle at her. Later that night, her body was found in her burned-out Durango at a construction site in Osceola County, just south of Orlando.

READ MORE: Man admits he was paid to kidnap Homestead woman in Central Florida, FBI says

A few people have been arrested in connection to the case, though many questions remain unanswered. Heres a look at how the investigation continues to unfold.
Duo wraps wire around veterans neck, stabs him, officials said. Now man heads to jail

Two men are accused of killing a U.S. Army veteran, Utah officials said.

In February 2022, Mario Alberto Carreto-Morales and Raul Jaimes Cortez met the victim, later identified as Cesar Martinez, for the first time at a parking lot in West Valley City, according to an April 25 news release by the Salt Lake County District Attorney Sam Gill.

The duo asked Martinez for a ride to Cortezs Magna apartment and Martinez agreed, officials said.

The three spent some time in the apartments parking lot before Carreto-Morales told Cortez he wanted to rob Martinez, prosecutors said.

Martinez, 37, had been drinking so the pair offered to drive him home, officials said. While driving in his truck, one of the men wrapped a metal wire around Martinezs neck and stabbed him several times.

Martinez tried to escape by opening the car door, and one of the men pushed him out, officials said.

Martinez, who enjoyed hiking, running and sailing, was born in Los Angeles, California, according to his obituary. He served two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan as a Staff Sgt.

In March 2022, the two men also kidnapped and robbed another person in Park City, officials said. The victim was driven to an ATM and forced to withdraw money.

Carreto-Morales was sentenced to 15 years to life on a murder charge and 15 years to life for felony kidnapping, prosecutors said. The sentences will run consecutively.

Cortez has yet to be sentenced, officials said.

West Valley City is about a 10-mile drive southwest of Salt Lake City.

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Cadets sit and wait for ceremonies to begin at the West Point graduation ceremony in Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on May 27, 2023. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

April 25 (UPI) -- This week was the first time in many years that I missed filing my Wednesday UPI column. One reason was that my gallbladder exceeded its sell-by date. I had an unexpectedly short but successful hospital stay. The other was more substantial. I simply did not understand how and why from virtually every perspective, the U.S. appeared to be in chaos and turmoil.

The two likely presidential nominees are showing on a daily basis why most Americans do not want either to occupy the Oval Office. Congress is in disarray despite the House of Representatives congratulating itself on finally passing aid bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. These should have been approved long ago.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is being touted as a "profile in courage" for doing the right thing. That it took months to convince Johnson of the severity of the military crisis in Ukraine over the critical absence of weapons to fend off the Russian army raised this question. What is Johnson doing in Congress if he does not understand the ABCs of foreign and defense policy? And he had been cowed by Marjorie Taylor Greene and the threat of being vacated as speaker.

A profile in courage would have not tolerated Greene's threat and moved to neutralize her. However, in today's pernicious and poisonous political environment, such a display of backbone might have unlocked a reprimand from Donald Trump, collapsing support for the speaker. So, today, Johnson deserves a gold medal for ultimately doing the right thing.

Concurrently, riots and protests broke out across some of the most prestigious American colleges and universities in strong support of Hamas and in furious opposition to Israel. The safety and security of Jewish students are at grave risk. Anti-Semitism has become a political COVID in its ability to infect students, many who are wearing masks to prevent identification. Some might call that cowardice.

And make no mistake. Foreign interference is at work to exacerbate the intensity of the protests, riots and violence.

What is most distressing is the ignorance that many of these young protestors display over basic issues. Does no one know that the aim of Hamas is to eradicate the Jewish state and Zionism? The inhuman savagery of Oct. 7, when 1,200 Jews were slaughtered, raped or tortured has been dismissed.

Instead, Israel's offensive into Gaza that has led to about 35,000 Palestinian deaths is perceived as genocide. Calls for the destruction of Israel exemplify what is absolute hatred toward the Jewish state without any reasons or rationale for that animosity being presented. Chants of "from the river to the sea" are made without knowing the names of the river or the sea that are referenced. This ignorance may be unprecedented.

My experience with student protests dates to the late 1960s and early 1970s. Beyond civil rights, the cause celebre was Vietnam. As the war escalated and more American body bags came home, protests intensified. The Tet Offensive of Jan. 31, 1968, forced Lyndon Johnson to forego a second term. Walter Cronkite, one of the most trusted of American journalists, turned against the war.

The 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago; the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King; the Kent State killings of students by National Guardsman; the so-called secret war in Cambodia; and the My Lai massacres in Vietnam all intensified the protests and riots. But the causes were obvious and dispassionately could be understood as to why the intensity increased.

Is today different? Beginning with the Vietnam War, the government gradually lost its credibility and trustworthiness with the public. Concurrently, what would become a dramatic decline in so-called values and standards of behavior and the increase in vulgarity occurred. Truth and fact became the victims. When truth and fact are discounted, the consequences are obvious.

A relatively unnoticed but very significant reference point makes this case. Founded in 1802, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point had as its compass, three words: duty, honor and country. Despite promises that nothing has changed, as of this March, West Point's mission is "to build, educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and the Nation."

Duty, honor and country have been replaced by bureaucratic gobbledygook. Tragically, this erosion is not limited merely to West Point. How we got here is less important than what we will or can do to return to the principles on which this nation was based. And does anyone know what those are?

Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and author of "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Follow him @harlankullman. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
It is embarrassing to have to type this sentence, but type it we will: If and when there are no shelter beds available, it is unacceptable for a city or town to make it a crime for individuals to fall asleep outdoors. Though Grants Pass, Oregon, insists it is only prohibiting behavior, not the people themselves, thats a distinction without a difference when it refers to a basic, involuntary human need like sleep. The U.S. Supreme Court should invalidate its attempts to punish those who fall asleep outside.

To underscore the point, though its technically illegal for anyone to doze off outdoors anywhere, the town uses the statute only to go after those who have no homes. If youre well-dressed and well-fed and clean and begin to drift off on a bench on a lazy summer day or while stargazing in a park late at night, there will be no citation or arrest; its only if you have no place else to go that this activity becomes a public offense.

Its important to say what we dont mean. We dont mean that a dense city with a right to shelter, like New York, cannot enforce rules against sleeping rough on sidewalks and in parks overnight and on subway platforms. In this case, individuals without homes have other options  and when it is cold, those individuals are endangering themselves, which can trigger government intervention.

We dont mean that a city or town cannot prohibit encampments, where people cluster and set up tents and collect other materials. That is unsanitary and unsafe, as is public urination or defecation. Public health and order and safety should permit the regulation and even punishment of many behaviors that tend to overlap with homelessness.

But banning outdoor sleep altogether, like banning outdoor eating or even breathing, is so expansive a prohibition that the Supreme Court should indeed rule that it violates the Eighth Amendments bar on excessive fines and unduly harsh penalties.

So asserted Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who in oral arguments on Monday smartly pointed out that there might be ample sanitation rationale to bar public eating  but that to do so would cruelly target only those who have no choice but to nourish themselves outdoors, forcing them and only them to starve. It seems both cruel and unusual to punish people for acts that constitute basic human needs, she said.

The attorney for the town was right to say that regulating homelessness  and helping homeless people, who sometimes struggle with mental health problems or drug addiction  involves complicated choices and tradeoffs. But she was wrong to suggest that every choice should be left in the realm of policy, with no basic rights to be protected by the judiciary ever at stake.

Where do we put them if every city, every village, every town lacks compassion and passes a law identical to this, where are they supposed to sleep? asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Are they supposed to kill themselves not sleeping?

No, the Grants Pass lawyer would have replied if she was being honest, they can sleep all they wish in jail, locked up  an answer that wouldve laid bare the insanity and brutality of enforcing a law such as this one.

___
A scaled-down version of the Horse Heaven Hills wind turbine project is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee.

Proponents and opponents continue to pick at the details, but the current iteration of the plan strikes a reasonable compromise between developing desperately needed green energy and the impacts of the project on the Tri-Cities.

The governor should sign off on it.

The original plan was an outrageous overreach, at least for anyone who looked beyond megawatts. Scout Clean Energy, the Colorado-based company behind the project, had proposed building hundreds of turbines that would reach hundreds of feet into the air.

They would have marred the scenic horizon for much of the region. More than 100 would have been visible from downtown Richland.

While some people might find the spinning blades high atop towers attractive, even soothing, a lot more dont appreciate having natural vistas overrun by human energy demands. It was hardly the sort of first view the region wants to present to tourists coming here to sip wine or hike.

Scenery wasnt the only problem, perhaps not even the greatest problem. The projects turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems also would have impinged on habitat for the endangered ferruginous hawk, as well as valued Native American cultural resources.

The Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) had the unenviable task of weighing those challenges against the states push for clean energy. Washington is shifting away from fossil fuels and, with foolhardy haste, away from hydropower.

It needs more wind and solar power projects to make up for the energy lost to fighting climate change and salmon habitat restoration.

In January, the council heeded local concerns and limited where turbines could go along the 24 miles of the Horse Heaven Hills in order to protect views, Native American cultural resources and ferruginous hawks. Last week, a divided council ratified that decision and will soon send its formal recommendation to the governor.

Local residents who challenged the project should count this as a victory and deserve thanks from the entire community.

Hard, relentless advocacy by Paul Krupin, Dave Sharp, Pam Minelli, Karen Brun and other members of Tri-City C.A.R.E.S ensured that state officials could not ignore local concerns, which is what many people feared would happen when Scout first proposed the project. EFSEC listened and endorsed a compromise.

Some project proponents arent happy with that compromise. They point to the need for more clean energy, worry about the feasibility of a smaller project and note that it will now create fewer jobs.

EFSEC still recommends allowing a substantial wind power project on the site. No, it might not be the biggest one in the state as originally proposed, but its not small.

Naysayers on both sides now will lobby the governor, hoping to sway him closer to their side.

Inslee, who has made combating climate change a cornerstone of his time in office, might want to lean toward more turbines and therefore more clean power. He should remember the many months of contention that led to the current compromise plan before upending it.

Other projects will come along in better places. Washington cannot meet all of its electricity demands in an instant. Indeed, much of the power generated at Horse Heaven Hills could flow out of the state.

Long-term strategic planning and careful consideration of the specifics of each project will end with a much better result, one that fits the character of the region and the state.

Inslee has an opportunity with Horse Heaven Hills to demonstrate that he is able to build consensus around a plan that doesnt give everyone what they want but successfully lands in the middle where everyone can walk away with something.
Pro-Palestine protesters set up an encampment on the UCLA campus on April 25 in Los Angeles. (Ringo Chiu/For The Times)

On Wednesday during a visit to Columbia University, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned that if the wave of protests against Israels U.S.-funded war in Gaza on college campuses, including UCLA and USC, is not contained quickly, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard. We have to bring order to these campuses.

How troubling that the man who is the third in line to the presidency seems to think that it's OK to silence largely peaceful student protests by sending in armed troops.

It's a terrible idea, with a deadly history in the U.S. It was the Ohio National Guard that killed four unarmed students and wounded nine others at a rally against the Vietnam War at Kent State University in 1970. Since then, there have been uncountable examples of armed responses to nonviolent activities ending with innocent people getting hurt or killed.

Read more: Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It's up to lawmakers now

Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have called on President Biden to deploy the National Guard to quash pro-Palestinian protests. Republican state lawmakers in New York want Gov. Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard to Columbia University. And more than two dozen Republican senators signed a letter urging the Biden administration to restore order to campuses" by using federal law enforcement, prosecution and deportation against "the outbreak of anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist mobs."

Never mind that they are unfairly assigning racist motives to thousands of people protesting the killing of more than 34,000 Palestinian people, most of them women and children. Its clear that these Republican politicians are less concerned with the wave of antiwar protests than using them for their own political ends.

Johnson also threatened to use his power as speaker to punish colleges that don't eject protesters by withholding federal education funding. If these campuses cannot get control of this problem, they do not deserve taxpayer dollars.

Read more: Editorial: Netanyahu's government is to blame for rift in historic Israel-U.S. alliance

This kind of tough talk is especially rich coming from a man who has shown no interest in cracking down on the most serious threat to our democracy: President Trump's lies, and his supporters use of violence to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.

To the contrary, Johnson played a key role in helping Trump try to overturn the election. He has suggested the Jan. 6 insurrectionists who participated in the attack on the Capitol were innocent people who just happened to be walking through the building and wanted to blur their faces from video so they could not be charged with crimes.

It seems that his send-in-the-troops mentality applies only to some Americans.

Read more: Editorial: The Supreme Court cannot allow homelessness to be a crime

Part of living in a free society is accepting the right of others to speak out and protest, even when you don't agree with them.

How someone in power responds to 1st Amendment rights being exercised in criticism of the government says a lot about what they value. Republicans' eagerness to deploy armed troops to quash peaceful protests suggests that they dont really believe in free speech after all.

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.
An Egyptian delegation is in Israel in an effort to advance stalled negotiations aimed at releasing hostages and implementing a ceasefire in Gaza, Egyptian and Israeli officials told CNN on Friday.

The delegation is also set to continue discussions with Israeli officials on security coordination around a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, another Israeli official said. Egypt is concerned about the implications of a full-scale Israeli operation in Rafah, close to its border, where around a million displaced Palestinians have taken shelter in recent months.

Despite months of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have failed to reach an agreement over differences on key demands.

A senior US administration official said on Thursday that there are some indications of an avenue to broker a deal.

The latest framework presented over several rounds of talks in Qatar and Egypt includes a six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

One key demand by Hamas is the unrestricted return of displaced Palestinians from the south of Gaza to the north.

The US official confirmed that the draft agreement included that element, but there are provisions for ensuring the safety of those returning.

That means shelter, that means assistance. That means a UN mission to make sure things are ready, the official said.

Hamas said Saturday it had received a response from Israel over its position on the ceasefire talks.

The movement will study this proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response, it said in a statement.

Demand for complete Israeli withdrawal

In an interview with Al Jazeera, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya reiterated other key demands  previously rejected by Israel  as key conditions for any agreement.

He said that Hamas cannot strike a deal without a guarantee that there will be a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Despite the catastrophe (in Gaza) it is not possible for us to release (the hostages) for a poor exchange, which could then lead to a restart of an (Israeli) assault or war on our people, he said.

Israel has maintained that its operation in Gaza will continue until Hamas is eliminated.

As talks drag on, the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, and hostage families in Israel grow desperate to bring their loved ones home. Qatar, a key mediator, this week questioned the seriousness of Israel and Hamas about reaching a deal.

A Palestinian woman inspects a house that was destroyed by Israeli bombing in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. - Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Another sticking point in the negotiations is the number of Israeli hostages set for release in the first phase of the agreement. After initially agreeing on 40 hostages, including all the women, as well as sick and elderly men, Hamas indicated that it does not have enough living hostages who match those criteria for release, according to another Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions.

In a rare joint statement Thursday, leaders from 18 countries, including the United States, urged Hamas to accept the terms of a deal and to release the hostages, which would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza and lead to credible end of hostilities.

A lot of times we hear things from leaders of Hamas outside (of Gaza) that do not reflect the Hamas leadership inside, which seems determined to simply sit underground holding hostages, the senior US administration official said.

A senior Hamas official criticized the statement as a show of ironic international politics and called for the signatory countries to put pressure on Israel to accept a deal.

Their sons and daughters are not more precious than our sons and daughters, the official, Basem Naim, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Israeli demonstrators joined families of the hostages in a protest in Tel Aviv on Thursday, a day after Hamas released a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped during Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

We really hope that seeing him and hearing his voice serves as a very stark reminder to all of the negotiators that you are negotiating over the lives of real people, Goldberg-Polins parents said in a video statement.

In Gaza, aid has slowly trickled in, but aid agencies say its nowhere near enough to provide adequate relief for destitute Palestinians, and frustration continues over the sluggish response to the catastrophe, caused by Israels offensive and its siege on the strip.

People need food assistance every day and were able to take in trucks every day but not enough, Matthew Hollingworth from the World Food Programme said.

CNNs Zeena Saifi contributed to this report.

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Spain will send a small number of critically needed Patriot missiles to Ukraine, the El Pais newspaper reported on April 26, citing unnamed government sources, but has ruled out sending the system's anti-aircraft launchers.

The move is the latest from Western nations responding to calls from Kyiv for more air defenses in the face of escalating Russian missile and drone attacks on cities across the country.

The exact number of Patriot missiles Spain is sending has not been reported, but El Pais said the number would be small as the country only has around 50 in total in reserve.

"The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defense ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border," El Pais said.

"It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units, and interceptors are very expensive," it added.

U.S.-made Patriots are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks.

"We need to step up our commitment to Ukraine," a Spanish diplomatic source told Reuters on April 25.

Read also: Explainer: Irans cheap, effective Shahed drones and how Russia uses them in Ukraine

Germany said on April 13 that it would provide Ukraine with one more Patriot air defense system, bringing the total number of Patriots supplied by Germany to three.

But hopes that Greece would follow suit were dashed on April 25 when Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country would not supply Ukraine with Patriots or S-300 missiles.

Kyiv is also pushing Washington for the joint production of Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said in an interview with European Pravda on April 23.

"This is a major global strategic task and an element of economic cooperation. But it is also an increase in combat capability and production of the capabilities that Ukraine needs immediately," the ambassador said.

Representatives of Ukrainian and U.S. businesses have already reportedly met to discuss investment and cooperation not only in weapons but also in materials needed to launch the production.

"We should start producing a lot of products ourselves, at least components, and at most already completed products," Markarova added.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A 74-year-old woman who has been charged with carrying out an armed robbery in an Ohio credit union was a victim of an online scam, her family has said.

Ann Mayers, who has had no previous run-ins with the law, faces counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm and tampering with evidence in a robbery in Fairfield Township, north of Cincinnati.

She remained in jail on a $100,000 (80,000) bond pending an initial court appearance, and court records do not list an attorney for her.

Officers arrested Ms Mayers at her Hamilton home shortly after the robbery, Fairfield police said in a Facebook post. A handgun was found in her car, which police alleged she used in the robbery.

Ann Mayers was filmed on CCTV inside the bank - Facebook

Authorities later learned that Ms Mayers might have been a scam victim and are looking into the claims.

Her relatives told detectives that she had been sending money to an unidentified individual, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Sgt Brandon McCroskey told the newspaper: In that aspect, some may see her as a victim. Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimise several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation.

If what her relatives say is true, Sgt McCroskey called Ms Mayers situation very sad and unfortunate. He said she reportedly spoke with family members about robbing banks in days leading to the hold-up, but they did not take her comments seriously.

Ann Mayers is accosted by police outside her home - AP/Fairfield Township Police Department

Scams against the elderly have become increasingly common over the last 10 to 15 years, according to experts. Among them are so-called grandparent scams, in which callers claim to be anyone from a victims grandchild to a police officer and tell the victim something terrible happened and that their younger relative needs money.

An 81-year-old Ohio man was charged with murder this month after he fatally shot an Uber driver because he wrongly assumed she was part of a scheme to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative, authorities have said.

The driver was a victim of the same con, summoned by the grifters to the mans house to retrieve a purported package for delivery.

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A longtime Elk Grove Unified School District teachers aide has been placed on administrative leave after he was accused of injuring a 9-year-old child on Tuesday, authorities said.

The aide faces a child endangerment misdemeanor charge after a student at Arlene Hein Elementary School suffered an injury, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

The type of injury the student suffered was not disclosed by authorities or the district. The childs parent told the Sacramento Observer that the aide had grabbed her son by the neck after the boy got into an argument with another student on the playground.

James Tran, a spokesman for the Elk Grove Unified School District, said in a statement district officials are investigating the alleged misconduct.

The safety of our students and staff remains a top priority, Tran wrote.

The aide, who has not been charged, has worked for the district since December 2013, Trans said.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff had calls with two Jewish leaders at Columbia University as pro-Palestinian protests spread to campuses across the country, a White House official confirmed.

Emhoff spoke with the director of Orthodox Union-JLIC at Columbia and Barnard College, Rabbi Elie Buechler, and Columbia Barnard Hillel Director Brian Cohen earlier this week, according to the official.

During the calls, the second gentleman recognized that while every American has the right to freedom of speech and to protest peacefully, hate speech and calls for violence against Jews is both antisemitic and unacceptable, the official said.

Emhoffs conversations with the leaders focused on the immediate need to address antisemitism on college campuses, the official said, adding that the second gentleman emphasized that no student should feel unsafe on campus and offered his support on behalf of the administration.

His calls with Jewish leaders came as students at the Ivy League institution protest Israels military campaign in Gaza, which followed the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Protesters set up encampments on campus, calling for Columbia to halt endowment money going to Israeli-linked companies.

Columbia is in ongoing negotiations with students over the removal of the encampment, giving them a Friday deadline to disband.

The schools board of trustees, meanwhile, has shown support for the schools president, Minouche Shafik, with ongoing calls for her to resign.

The Columbia University Board of Trustees strongly supports President Shafik as she steers the university through this extraordinarily challenging time, the board said in a Wednesday statement. During the search process for this role, President Shafik told us that she would always take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbias, while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment and discrimination.

Protests have spread across the country with schools canceling commencement ceremonies, switching class schedules and protesters standing off against law enforcement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Video taken by a witness and confirmed by local reporters captured the moment Noelle McAfee, the chair of Emory Universitys philosophy department, was dragged from a pro-Palestine campus protest in handcuffs Thursday eveningas she called on a student to let her peers know shed been arrested.

McAfee, whos also the president-elect of the Emory University Senate, can be heard calling out to a strangerwho recorded the whole ordealand telling him she was merely observing the protest and was not participating.

While McAfee spoke, she was dragged in the opposite direction down a sidewalk by an officer whod concealed his face with a balaclava. The onlooker recording repeatedly told her he was sorry as she was whisked away.

Here is Noelle McAfee, the Chairwoman of the Philosophy Dept. at Emory University, being dragged away by an officer wearing a balaclava. #dystopian



This video provided to us by an #Emory PHD student. You can hear him in this video. @ATLNewsFirstpic.twitter.com/mgbNwnqT0r  The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) April 25, 2024

Emory, in Atlanta, was the site of some of the nastiest clashes between protesters and students nationwide Thursday, with clips spreading online of mass arrests, of cops using a stun gun on a restrained demonstrator, and of police firing non-lethal rounds to corral protesters.

The prestigious private university, which ranks in the top 25 in U.S. News and World Reports annual rankings, was among dozens of colleges across the country that have held demonstrations against Israels brutal campaign in the Gaza Stripand their schools investments in arms manufacturers providing the nation with weapons.

Protests have exploded nationwide since a violent clash at Columbia University last week, where the NYPD was dispatched to shut down a massive on-campus tent cityjust for it to be rebuilt days later.

In Atlanta, protesters railed against the police response at Emory, describing it as overkill. Caleb Bunch, a junior at the university, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he witnessed a Georgia State Patrol officer ride a motorcycle into the quad of protesters to disperse them.

Extremely disturbing footage. Atlanta cops tasing a restrained student protester at Emory university minutes ago.



pic.twitter.com/Iq9p98za8y  Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) April 25, 2024

Its a little alarming, he said. I dont really understand why its necessary to have GSP be here, especially riding in on motorcycle.

Tara Doyle, a lecturer in the schools theology department, agreed. She told the paper she was disappointed that her employer would unleash heavy-handed, unnecessary violence against our students.

In total, 23 people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction of law enforcement officers, or other charges, reported the Journal-Constitution.

UPDATE: Atlanta police violently attacked the Gaza protest encampment at Emory University within hours after it was set up.



Cops teargassed, shot rubber bullets, arrested several students and faculty, and brutally tased a detained student. pic.twitter.com/jzrqPVF7k6  BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 25, 2024

Cops defended their response, telling the paper there wasnt anything peaceful about what was going on with the approximately two dozen who were arrested. Emory also had polices back, writing in a statement that protesters had pushed campus cops as part of their demonstration and set up tents in an area that was needed for commencement set-up.

Emory said one demonstratorwho was not affiliated with the universityattacked an officer and was tased, the Journal-Constitution reported.

The Georgia State Patrol confirmed it used pepper balls to disperse the crowd, but denied using tear gas.

Jail records did not show McAfee as being arrested or charged, and she did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast. Statements from police and the university did not address the arrest of McAfee.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Environmental Protection Agency issued new rules Thursday to try and reduce air pollution that makes people sick and destroys the climate. These rules put stricter guidelines on coal power plants, requiring safe management of coal ash and reducing pollutants but some opponents are criticizing this move.

Coal and natural gas power plants operated by our power sector are some of the largest sources of air, water, and land pollution, said EPA administrator Michael Regan.



EPA administrator Michael Regan announced new regulations that require coal plants to reduce 90% of their greenhouse pollution by 2039.



Biggest environmental challenge facing our nations is man-made pollution, Regan added.



The EPAs rules would also tighten mercury emission limits for those burning the lowest grade coal, restrict toxic ash seepage into water supplies, and limit wastewater discharge.



Its EPAs responsibility to protect the American people from harmful contaminants, said Vickie Patton of the Environmental Defense Fund.

Vickie Patton, with the Environmental Defense Fund, says these rules will positively impact the environment and the economy. The EPA estimates it will draw $370 billion in benefits.



The clean solutions are the least expensive solutions, she said.



However, some lawmakers accuse the Biden administration of trying to shut down the backbone of the countrys energy grid.



The EPA is waging a war on coal and really a war on all of the above energy, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).



West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito says this will negatively impact coal miners in her state.



This is a, really a, targeting an industry and targeting a lot of people in my state and saying we dont need you anymore. You powered the nation for a hundred years; you can go away now, she said.



Capito promises to take action to overturn these rules.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Law enforcement officers confront a protester during a pro-Palestinian protest by the University of Texas Students. Sandra Dahdah/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday condemned the US authorities` response to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests in universities across the United States.

"We, like the rest of the world, have been following the events in American universities for the last week with great interest," Erdogan told a conference on Palestine in Istanbul.

Protesting students have been "threatened" in Western colleges, Erdogan said.

"We have seen how those who have lectured us for years about democracy and freedom of expression and assembly suddenly become fascist when it comes to Israel and Israel's interests."

Erdogan`s government has itself been criticized of suppressing student and academic protests after the president appointed an unpopular rector at the country`s top university Bogazici in 2021.

Several elite universities in the US have cracked down on the Gaza protesters and their encampments, including by calling in the police and making many arrests. They accuse some participants of making anti-Semitic statements.

In his speech, Erdogan reiterated his support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel responded to the Hamas-led rampage on October 7 that killed 1,200 in the south of the country with a massive military operation throughout Gaza.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza over the past six months.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Erbil International Airport (EIA). Ismael Adnan/dpa
Rapid escalations in Myanmars civil war are creating a rare opening for potential cooperation between the U.S. and China, with the chaos and violence in Southeast Asia posing a threat to both countries interests overseas.

While Washington and Beijing are making an effort to improve relations with each other, any common ground on Myanmar must still overcome deep mistrust and suspicion.

The Chinese are fundamentally suspicious about what the U.S. agenda is, said Yun Sun, nonresident fellow with the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings Institution.

But I think for the two great powers to at least have a conversation about where they think that the country is going, whether the violence will continue to escalate, that it will get worse, which is in no ones interest, is necessary.

A senior administration official said that discussions around Myanmar, also called Burma, were included on the agenda for Secretary of State Antony Blinkens three-day visit to China, taking place between April 24 and 26.

Thats a positive signal for regional experts, watching with alarm the countrys descent toward a failed state. A coalition of rebel groups fighting Myanmars military dictatorship have made shocking territorial gains in recent weeks. Theres no clear path to organized governance.

The U.S. and China are in a pretty  sweet spot might be overstating it  but theyre in a stabilization mode, said Yun.

I do think theres an effort to find the thing that they can work on or at least find something that they can avoid conflicts or avoid further deterioration of relations, and Myanmar is one of those issues.

China holds massive influence in Myanmar, a border country in which Beijing has provided diplomatic cover for the junta since it took over in a military coup in February 2021.

The U.S. at that time condemned the militarys jailing of the countrys democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and responded with sanctions in the wake of military leaders carrying out violence and terror against peaceful protesters.

The Chinese have leverage, but theyre not willing to use it, because although China wants stability, China does not want to throw out the junta. So that is the fundamental difference between the U.S. and China, Yun said.

Experts say theres much more that separates China and the U.S. on Myanmar than brings them together, but that Myanmars bleak trajectory is making conversations, and potential cooperation, feel increasingly urgent.

We have a shared interest in trying to reduce the level of violence in Southeast Asia, and the level of violence in Myanmar in particular, a senior administration official told reporters last week, ahead of Blinkens departure for the region.

I would anticipate the secretary will be prepared to lay out what our policy is, to lay out the areas where we think we have a shared interest, and to see if at a minimum we can ensure that were not working at cross purposes or if perhaps there is a way that we could together contribute to those shared goals in Burma.

On the ground in Myanmar, which borders India, China and Thailand, a wide coalition of rebel Burmese groups are making sweeping military gains against the junta. These disparate armed groups have seized key territory on Myanmars borders, putting them in control of billions of dollars of trade, humanitarian deliveries and weapons.

On the ground, the humanitarian situation is desperate. The United Nations reported in April that it expects 18.6 million people in the country will need humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 19-fold increase from February 2021.

Approximately 2.8 million people have been displaced, 90 percent of them since the military takeover. Hunger is on the rise across the country, and there is a risk of malnutrition among children and pregnant women, according to the U.N.

And criminal groups are operating with impunity, running massive cyber scams targeting U.S. and global consumers and carried out on the backs of an estimated 100,000 trafficked persons.

Theres no state infrastructure, the entire state has collapsed. Men with arms and different groups control different parts of the country, said Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The resistance has gained a lot of ground, and while the military still controls some areas, even there, everything has collapsed. The health system has collapsed, the economy has collapsed  And so part of this has meant that China, which was [the juntas] diplomatic backer, has definitely become increasingly concerned about all of this chaos.

While Kurlantzick said there is opportunity for U.S.-China collaboration, its a modest priority for the Biden administration, and falls far down a long list of issues Blinken is tasked with raising with his Chinese counterparts.

These issues include Chinas role in Americas fentanyl crisis; Beijings support for Russias war in Ukraine; deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan; concerns about Chinas military buildup; and risks facing American citizens and businesses in China. President Bidens signature Wednesday on a law that would ban TikTok, unless it separates from its Chinese owners, is likely to be another point of high friction.

To the extent that theres cooperation, most of it would have to come from China and to some extent other forces and actors in the region. Some Southeast Asian countries seem to be increasingly believing that the opposition is going to win, Kurlantzick said.

I dont know whether theyre planning contingency policies for that. But the U.S. is pretty occupied, and our avenues of leverage are pretty limited.

Despite their many areas of contention, Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both committed to opening lines of communication  starting with their meeting in Woodside, Calif., in November, then talking on the phone earlier this month.

The goals of these more frequent phone calls and meetings is twofold: at the very least, avoid an outbreak of conflict, and when possible, seek cooperation on shared interests.

For the Biden administration, one of the key China-related issues ahead of the November election is getting the Chinese government to address the export of precursor chemicals for fentanyl that are fueling the opioid epidemic in the U.S.

Jason Tower, Myanmar country director for the U.S. Institute of Peace, said joint counternarcotics efforts could provide a framework for the U.S. and China to cooperate on combating criminal groups in Myanmar engaged in cyber scams, one avenue that could begin to build trust.

This is maybe one area where there is a real need, I think, for the U.S. to raise this issue with China and to push just many of the ways that weve been pushing on the fentanyl issue  push for the Chinese side to cooperate, share intelligence and to be more constructive in dealing with some of these problems, lest it becomes more and more of a  threat to U.S. national security, he said.

The U.S. has become the No. 1 target of so-called pig-butchering scams in recent months, where scammers engage in long-term cons, posing as friendly or romantic prospects to victims who are swindled out of large sums of money.

For China, its citizens are increasingly being trafficked, held against their will, tortured, and forced to work in the scam centers. And the criminal gangs are operating on both sides of Myanmars civil war.

China has dramatically increased its involvement in Burma since last September, and the issue thats triggered much, much deeper Chinese involvement is the presence of largely Chinese crime groups that have been engaging in cross-border scams targeting Chinese nationals using trafficked labor, Tower added.

The crisis has escalated dramatically in recent weeks, with armed groups putting the junta on the back foot in a surprisingly successful offensive launched in October.

Levels of instability are much higher, Tower said. Theres a good reason why the U.S. would be raising these issues now, both because of the escalation and the weaker position of the military and the very significant shift in Chinas role and involvement there.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Estonia, in coordination with Denmark, delivers 2 patrol boats to Ukraine

The Ministry of Defence of Estonia has announced the delivery of two patrol boats to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing Estonian Defence Ministry on Twitter (X)

The delivery of boats occurred in coordination with Denmark.

"Estonia has delivered two patrol boats to Ukraine in coordination with ally Denmark. Such aid helps Ukraine secure vital sea lines and defend its waters to stop Russian aggression," the message reads.

Here we go again! #Estonia  has delivered two patrol boats to #Ukraine  in coordination with ally #Denmark . Such aid helps Ukraine secure vital sea lines and defend its waters to #StopRussianAggression. pic.twitter.com/Zh4KLXs2En  MoD Estonia (@MoD_Estonia) April 26, 2024

Background:

Earlier, Estonia outlined a three-year strategy for Western countries to help Ukraine win the war against Russia.

Estonia has promised to provide Ukraine with aid in the amount of 0.25% of its GDP over the course of four years.

Estonia will provide Ukraine with a total of 1.2 billion in aid before 2027.

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Estonia, in coordination with Denmark, has transferred two naval patrol boats to Ukraine, the country's defense ministry announced on April 26.

"Such assistance allows Ukraine to secure vital sea lines and protect its waters," it said in a post on X.

Ukraine requires naval vessels for tasks such as the protection of Black Sea shipping routes.

After Russia effectively canceled the grain deal in July 2023, Ukraine opened a new corridor the following month.

Initially envisioned as a humanitarian corridor to allow the departure of ships stranded there since the start of the full-scale war, it has since grown into a full-blown trade route.

The boats are just the latest aid announcements from Estonia and Denmark.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced a defense aid package for Ukraine worth 20 million euros ($22 million) during a visit to Kyiv on March 21.

"The package includes recoilless anti-tank guns, explosives, various types of artillery ammunition, gas masks, sniper equipment, smaller caliber ammunition, and more," Pevkur said.

The Danish parliament agreed to add 4.4 billion Danish kroner ($633 million) in military support to the country's Ukraine Fund in 2024, the Danish Foreign Ministry announced on April 25.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Denmark is the fourth largest provider of military aid to Kyiv, committing around 8.4 million euros ($9 billion) as of January 2024.

At 2.3% of GDP, Denmark is the second largest provider of military aid in terms of percentage of GDP.

Read also: Ukrainian grain exports slump in March, expected to further slow down this year

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Colonel Ants Kiviselg, Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre, believes that Russia is trying to take advantage of the last window of opportunity to step up attacks before the arrival of Western military equipment and ammunition in Ukraine.

Source: Kiviselg at a briefing on 26 April, as reported by European Pravda, citing Estonian public broadcaster ERR

Details: The colonel noted that the main activity of Russian forces is still focused on putting pressure on the town of Chasiv Yar west of Bakhmut, the Marinka front west of Donetsk, and attacks on settlements on the railway connecting Avdiivka and Pokrovsk.

"In the latest case, Russian forces also made a localised breakthrough of Ukrainian defences in the area of Ocheretyne. By maintaining the pace and speed of its attacks, Russia is trying to use the last window of opportunity before Western military assistance fully arrives in Ukraine and is engaged in operations," he said.

Meanwhile, Kiviselg added that Russia's advances on the battlefield remain localised, and the likelihood of a collapse of the Ukrainian defence and front is decreasing.

Separately, the colonel commented on Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians, which he described as intended to create a so-called no-man's land.

"However, thanks to successful air defence operations, Ukraine has been able to reduce the use of Russian long-range bombers for deep strikes over the past week, as well as to diminish the intensity of bombing," Kiviselg added.

He added that Ukraine has been carrying out systematic deep strikes, attacking a number of military facilities in occupied Crimea and oil facilities in Russia.

Background: Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence noted that Russia is capable of capturing settlements near Avdiivka despite significant losses.

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EU Commission to provide another 68m in aid for Palestinians in Gaza

People walk between damaged buildings and streets as debris removal and cleaning works continue after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Khan Yunis. Palestinians started returning to the city and trying to live their lives despite the heavily damaged infrastructure system. Omar Naaman/dpa

The European Union is releasing another 68 million ($72.7 million) in humanitarian aid for Palestinians affected by the ongoing war in Gaza, the European Commission said in Brussels on Friday.

"In light of the continued deterioration of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the steady rise of needs on the ground, the Commission is stepping up its funding to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war," the EU's executive said in a press release.

The additional sum is intended to "scale up the desperately needed food assistance, nutritional, health, water and sanitation and shelter support, amongst others."

This brings the total amount of EU aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region to 193 million since the beginning of the year.

Besides financial aid, the EU is also involved in airdropping supplies provided by member states and allies into the sealed-off coastal region.

The Commission says it has further funded the transport of more than 130 tonnes of shelter, health, water and sanitation supplies donated by Ireland and humanitarian partners.

Gaza has been under constant Israeli bombardment since the October 7 attacks, when militants led by Palestinian extremist organization Hamas killed some 1,200 people in Israel.

Almost 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of the war.
Donald Trumps hush-money trial is revealing new details from his life, including things that even some of the people in his inner circle didnt know.

Im talking to these Trump senior advisers a lot of them are learning about this in real time, reporter Kristen Holmes said Friday on CNN. They have no idea whats going on inside the courtroom.

Trump cant communicate with anyone while hes in the Manhattan court, and only a small number of his aides are in the (apparently frigid) courtroom with him. That means the rest of them have to keep up with media reportsand find out new revelations at the same time as the public.

It is exactly as salacious as they thought it was going to be. There was no mistake. We know what is at the heart of this alleged cover-up for an alleged affair with a porn star, Holmes said.

So far, the court has heard testimony from David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc. and ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, who has provided damaging information about Trumps activities and even how many of Trumps associates were involved. Trump has been hesitant to attack Pecker, leading some observers to suspect that hes afraid of the tabloid magnate.

Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly falsifying business records with the intent to further an underlying crime for having his former fixer and attorney, Michael Cohen, pay off adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair before the 2016 presidential election. Both Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify in the trial, meaning that more shocking details are forthcoming.
A former associate of Rudy Giuliani has blown open the Hunter Biden laptop story, revealing that Donald Trump and his associates decided to target President Joe Bidens son months before they claimed they had unearthed his laptop at a Delaware repair shop.

In an interview released Thursday night by MeidasTouch, Ukrainian American businessman Lev Parnas claimed the cohort had been notified of the presence of a laptop belonging to Hunter in February 2019.

We knew as early as middle-to-end of February 2019, is when the first time I heard about the Hunter Biden laptop from Yuriy Lutsenko, Parnas told MeidasTouch, referring to Ukraines former minister of internal affairs. He told me that there is a hard drive out there with compromising information on Hunter Biden, and he promised to get it to us.

Lev Parnas says an official promised to get them the Hunter Biden hard drive in February of 2019.



Denver Riggleman points out that the computer shop owner claimed that Hunter Biden dropped off three laptops in April of 2019 pic.twitter.com/I4CGBPqrcd  Acyn (@Acyn) April 26, 2024

But that was two months before Trumpworlds accusations of impropriety by Hunter Biden officially began, with the Delaware computer repair shop owner claiming that a man identifying himself as Hunter Biden had dropped off a laptop for repairs in April 2019.



The laptop story has been thoroughly debunkedincluding by a joint investigation by two Republican Senate committees, as well as an investigation by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.

Parnas, who had been tasked with helping Giuliani connect with Ukrainian officials in his effort to find dirt on the Bidens ahead of the 2020 election, has been unearthing the inner workings of his former associates since the scheme blew up. On Tuesday, Parnas revealed that Giuliani had basically insisted on bribes while meeting with Ukrainian officials who did not pose immediate aid to the Hunter Biden corruption narrative.

Lutsenko told me, Im the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, I want to meet A.G. Barr, so, I tell that to Rudy and hes like, Look, you want to meet Attorney General [Bill] Barr, the way things work here is you pay a lobbyist and they will get you in there, so you can pay me $200,000 and I will introduce you to Attorney General Bill Barr, Parnas recalled to MediasTouch.

That evening I go meet with Lutsenko they get drunk. Lutensko is pouring his heart out to me, like he cant believe what just happened, he looked up to Giuliani as his hero and here Giuliani is basically shaking him down for $200,000 to meet with Attorney General Barr.
The Embassy of India in Baku hosted a focussed trade event, Weaving Wonders with Threads of Opportunity: Unveiling Indias Textile Treasures, on 24 April 2024. This event aimed to strengthen the Indian textile industrys presence among Azerbaijans key business people and textile importers.

Mr. Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan, addressed the event attendees. He highlighted the global reputation and increasing demand for Indian textiles and underscored the integration of cutting-edge technology and innovative designs within Indias textile manufacturing sector.

Additionally, Mr. Sanjay Jain, Counsellor, provided an in-depth analysis of the strengths and competitive advantages of Indian textiles in the international arena and their relevance to the Azerbaijan market.

India, the worlds largest producer of cotton and jute and the second-largest producer of silk and man-made fibres plays a vital role in the global textile market. In 2022, Indias textile exports surged to USD 44 billion, with man-made fibre (MMF) textiles reaching USD 6.8 billion. The leading importers of Indias MMF textiles include the USA, Turkiye, UAE, Bangladesh, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Germany, Italy, and Belgium.

The event showcased the superior quality of both cotton and synthetic Indian fabrics, emphasising the cost-effectiveness and technological advancement that characterise Indias textile offerings.

The gathering was well attended by importers and representatives from major Azerbaijani textile businesses, demonstrating a keen interest in Indian textile products. The event concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, during which Embassy officials reiterated their commitment to providing comprehensive support for Azerbaijani textile importers and distributors for their import initiatives from India. Participants from Azerbaijan shared their positive experiences and satisfaction with the quality of textile products sourced from Indian manufacturers, highlighting the mutual benefits and promising growth potential for both nations in this sector.
Former Trump White House lawyer Jim Schultz suggested it was a big mistake that Donald Trump had referred to the deadly 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during a rant outside the courthouse hosting his hush money trial on Thursday.

The former president and presumptive GOP nominee claimed the white supremacist Unite the Right hate rally was a little peanut compared to campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war.

Just the fact that hes mentioning Charlottesville has to make his campaign cringe at this point, right? Schultz told CNNs Jake Tapper.

Former Trump lawyer: For Trump to bring up Charlottesville just now was a big mistake. It was really bad. He looks tired. I don't think it was a good idea to go out and do that in any shape and form pic.twitter.com/RotTDR8lLs  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) April 25, 2024

That just brings back all those bad memories about that issue. That was a really bad issue for him at the time, he continued. I was in the White House when all that was unfolding and to bring that back now was a big mistake on his part, politically, to raise that.

At the time, Trump drew fierce blowback for claiming there were very fine people on both sides of the march.

The rest of Trumps comments on Thursday  which contained multiple untruths  were just campaign rhetoric, Schultz added.

Trump seemed a little tired, the lawyer said. He also suggested the former president shouldnt do such briefings unless hes going to be sharp and make his points.

Schultz was an associate White House counsel throughout 2017.

In 2021, he told CNNs Bianna Golodryga that he wouldnt act as a private attorney for Trump.

I know that I would not serve as his personal counsel, he said. He tends to run over his personal attorneys and not take their advice when they give it to him and tries to strategize beyond what the lawyers are trying to do in court. So, thats not something I would take on as a personal attorney.

Given the numerous legal cases Trump faces, I asked his former White House lawyer, Jim Schultz, if he would consider personally representing him if asked:



"Look, I just would not. I wouldn't take on that representation at this point in time for all the reasons we've seen." pic.twitter.com/Jx7YV8SSap  Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) February 15, 2021

Related...
Former UK defence secretary Ben Wallace has called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to agree to send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, as he continues to resist this step despite repeated pleas from Kiev.

"I think the reason is you can't incrementally help Ukraine, you know, a bit of this and a bit of that. Do we want Ukraine to win? Or do we want them to lose?" Wallace said.

While he understands Scholz's reasons for concern regarding a possible escalation of the conflict, these are unfounded, Wallace said. "We've seen throughout this whole process, Russia's red lines are like chalk, they just brush off the chalkboard," he said.

"Ukraine will abide by any restrictions you put on them. So you could give them Taurus. And you could add all sorts of restrictions about where you want it used or not used," said Wallace of the missiles Kiev has been requesting for months.

He also dismissed comments made by Scholz that suggested British and French troops are in Ukraine, programming cruise missiles.

"He was wrong," said Wallace. "I can't tell you how Storm Shadows and Scalps are programmed. But it doesn't involve people standing around in an airport in Ukraine, it doesn't need to do that."

While applauding Germany for ramping up its support for Ukraine, the former minister reiterated his harsh criticism of Scholz's leadership.

"I think he's not a leader for conflict at the moment. And there is conflict on our shores. And I think he, you know, the point he doesn't understand deterrence, he doesn't understand ambiguity, he doesn't seem to understand that in the process we face in dealing with Russia, looking either indecisive, or flip flopping on certain decisions, or seeming to be out of step with your allies, only aids Putin."

Furthermore, poor communication is undermining Germany's support for Kiev, Wallace said. "There are countries who have done less than Germany. But their communication has been better. And their use of deterrence and ambiguity has meant that people think they've done more than Germany."

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
University of Kentucky HealthCare is expanding its reach in Eastern Kentucky.

St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead, Kentucky. Photo provided by UK HealthCare.

The UK Board of Trustees is expected to approve the acquisition of St. Claire HealthCare Friday. The hospital system in Morehead will add 139 licensed beds to the UK HealthCare hospital system.

The deal is expected to close July 1, officials said.

We have the opportunity here to transform the people that we serve. Weve traditionally been a safety net provider - we serve some of the most impoverished counties, not only in Appalachia but in the country, St. Claire HealthCare President and CEO Don Lloyd said.

The university has always been there, helping us educate the next generation of providers to serve those populations through various educational programs.

UK HealthCare will take control of St. Claire through a member substitution agreement. St. Claire and UK entered into formal negotiations nine months ago.

Lloyd said rural healthcare systems across the nation have seen financial challenges and workforce issues. Demonstrating the workforce issues Kentucky healthcare faces, Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Eric Monday said UK has to hire 5,000 more employees by 2031 to keep up with patient demand.

Were kind of the last of the Mohicans. Theres very few independent health systems left in the commonwealth and if you look at what has happened to healthcare - in particular rural healthcare - across the country, its being devastated in various areas, Lloyd said.

Were very fortunate, because of the university, to not be in that situation.

Dr. Philip Overall examines a patient in the emergency room at St. Claire Hospital. John Flavell/John Flavell

UK HealthCare in Eastern Kentucky

The proposed acquisition will preserve an asset of Eastern Kentucky, Lloyd said, citing St. Claires 1.25 million patient encounters last fiscal year.

Thats not the number of patients seen each year, but the total number of visits the hospital reported.

With 54 of Kentuckys 120 counties in Appalachia, Monday said improving access is the only way to address significant health disparities in the region.

If a patient can stay closer to home and get their care, their outcomes are better, he said.

St. Claire sits about 65 miles east of Lexington. Drive another 60 miles east of that, to Ashland, and you will find another hospital system acquired by UK in 2022, Kings Daughters Health System.

Lloyd said the success UK demonstrated with the acquisition of Kings Daughters shows UKs investment in Morehead will bring economic growth and healthcare workforce expansion. Through partnership with UK, Kings Daughters was able to employ about 500 people who had lost their jobs following the closure of another hospital in the Ashland area, at the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

If you look at the economic impact of what has happened in the previous demonstration and the investments that the university has made (in Ashland), and you replicate that impact in our community and those areas that we serve, its absolutely transformative, Lloyd said.

For the nine months of fiscal year 2023 that Kings Daughters operated as part of UK, the hospital generated a net revenue of over $46 million. Thats more revenue than the hospital generated in 12 months for the fiscal year 2021 acting as its own entity.

UK gets access to more patients

Robert Edwards, UK HealthCares chief strategy and growth officer, said UK does not pursue the acquisition of community hospitals as a growth strategy, but it does answer calls when there is a real need.

When we talk about Kenutckians not having to leave the state, that means we have to have programs for (solid) organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, CAR-T cell therapies and oncology, Edwards said.

To support those types of programs  you have to cover big populations in order to feed our sub-specialty practices. We have partnerships across the state of Kentucky and beyond the borders.

Acquiring St. Claire HealthCare will give UK practitioners and students access to more patients with different needs than the metropolitan population of Lexington, officials said.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis County man was sentenced to prison after an expired temp tag, a rifle, and methamphetamine led to his arrest several years ago.

Antwon Fulton, 33, was a convicted felon prior to that arrest on May 6, 2021. A federal judge sentenced Fulton to 160 months (just over 13 years) on drug and gun charges.

Contractor makes a million-dollar mistake on I-55 project: whos paying the bill?

According to court documents, a St. Louis officer pulled over a car with no license plate and expired license plate and later found Fulton as a passenger in the car. While responding, the officer noticed a Chinese SKS semi-automatic rifle and a bag with more than half a pound of meth inside the car, both which belonged to Fulton.

Because of Fultons prior felony convictions, he was banned from possessing a firearm. He pled guilty last December to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors say this case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Explainer: 38 years after Chornobyl, Ukraine relies on nuclear for more than half its energy production

Thirty-eight years after the Chornobyl disaster, Ukraines nuclear industry continues to produce around half of Ukraines power output and remains vital to keeping the country functioning.

The share of energy output in Ukraine that comes from nuclear power is the third highest in the world after France and Slovakia.

Amid ongoing attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the threat of a new nuclear accident in Ukraine remains elevated and has brought an unprecedented level of attention and involvement from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The infographic showcases the countries with the top percentage share of nuclear energy production. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent)

After the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia plant by Russian forces in March 2022, the other three Soviet-era nuclear power plants remain under Ukrainian control. Compared to the devastation wrought on thermal and hydroelectric power production by Russian strikes, the wars effect on these three plants has been less severe and their production has remained relatively resilient.

With Ukraines energy infrastructure under attack, Ukraine has announced that further nuclear development will be a key focus in 2024. Already, construction has started on additional reactors at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant to increase its output.

The construction of new power units is very important for the country, because nuclear energy remains an island of stability, Petro Kotin, the head of Energoatom, the state-owned company responsible for Ukraines nuclear plants, said earlier this month.

A view of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on June 15, 2023. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)

Crisis at Zaporizhzhia

The largest impact to Ukraines nuclear production since the beginning of the war has been the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. The plants conditions are also the current biggest threat to nuclear safety.

The plant, located in the town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia oblast, was captured by Russian forces shortly after the full-scale invasion began. Since September 2022, it has not supplied energy to the Ukrainian power grid.

The infographic showcases the change in Ukraine's nuclear production by the power plant. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent)

In early 2022, the Zaporizhzhia plant had been responsible for 43% of nuclear power generated by Ukraine, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) figures. However, due to reductions in other types of power generation  such as from the recent strikes that have crippled thermal power production  nuclear power is still around half of Ukraines total power generation despite losing Zaporizhzhias contribution.

Fears of a nuclear accident or sabotage have spread across Europe since its capture. Last year, Ukraine carried out large-scale exercises to prepare an emergency response in case of a Russian attack on the plant.

The main purpose of Russia at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is military control, not to safely and securely operate it, Oleh Korikov, the head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent in an interview.

After more than two years of military occupation, the equipment and safety at the plant has significantly degraded from a lack of proper maintenance and repair as well as incompetent and illegal Russian staff, he added. The inspectorate was also forced to withdraw its supervisory staff for their protection.

Although the reactors are currently shut down, they still require access to water and external power to maintain a safe core temperature and to operate safety measures. Power outages have periodically cut electricity to the plant, forcing it to rely on backup generators at least eight times, according to the IAEA.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023 also renewed fears around the plants access to water, since water from the dams reservoir was previously pumped to the plant for cooling. However, the plant has a separate cooling pond whose water levels are currently stable, according to Energoatom.

The Dnipro hydroelectric power plant after the Dnipro River's water level dropped following the Kakhovka dam breach, on July 9, 2023. (Elena Tita/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

As long as the war is ongoing and there are hostilities and shelling from the Russian side, the threat will remain, Korikov said. All nuclear power plants in the world were designed and built with the concept that they would be operated in peaceful conditions.

To respond to the heightened threats, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has deployed rotating staff to the plant since September 2022 to provide technical support and monitoring. However, the staff have been denied access to some areas of the plant.

The IAEA began recording manual readings of the radiation situation near Zaporizhzhia for its international database, after the automated monitoring system at the plant was disconnected last year.

Because of safety concerns, the IAEA in September adopted a resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw from the power plant, and warned of a major escalation following at least three direct strikes on the plant earlier this month, the first such strikes in over a year.

In the shadow of Chornobyl

The memory of the nuclear meltdown at Chornobyl looms large over the current crisis at Zaporizhzhia.

After one of the reactors at the Chornobyl power plant exploded on April 26, 1986, vast amounts of radioactive material were released into the atmosphere. For years following the incident, around 600,000 soldiers, firemen, cleanup workers, and residents continued to be exposed to radiation. Some historians credit the response to Chornobyl and cover-up by the Soviet Union government in Moscow as accelerating Ukraines exit from the USSR and its collapse in 1991.

Today, an uninhabitable exclusion zone surrounds the former nuclear power plant, and, up until the war, the site operated as a tourist attraction.

A photograph shows the New Safe Confinement at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant which cover the number 4 reactor unit in Ukraine on May 29, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Dimitar Diloff/AFP via Getty Images)

Chornobyl was occupied for several weeks by Russian forces in the initial phase of the full-scale invasion before they withdrew in March 2022. Though Chornobyls reactors are decommissioned, there are still active projects at the site related to management of radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, and sources of ionizing radiation.

During the occupation, we (the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate) were unable to fulfill our control and supervisory functions due to the physical impossibility to get into these enterprises, Korikov said.

The plant at Zaporizhzhia is more powerful than the Chornobyl plant, raising fears that a catastrophe could be far more damaging. However, the plant has stronger modern safety features, as well as a longer lead-time to resolve issues in case of power outages due to the shutdown state of its reactors.

Nuclear production away from the front lines

With the six reactors of the Zaporizhzhia plant in a state of shutdown, nuclear production has fallen on the nine reactors at Ukraines remaining three plants, which are situated further from the battle lines.

The three plants  Pivdennoukrainsk (South Ukraine), Khmelnytskyi, and Rivne  were also forced to briefly use backup generations after all three sites lost power in November 2022, but have mostly maintained their production throughout the war.

The infographic showcases Ukraine's nuclear capacity as of April 2024. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent)

Nuclear facilities have suffered the least attacks and destruction of infrastructure, Olena Lapenko, general manager for security and resilience at the Ukraine-based DiXi Group think tank, told the Kyiv Independent in response to written questions. However, these are very large power nodes, the disruption of which has a significant impact on the entire power system.

We understand they are better protected than other energy facilities, but the strictest safety requirements for the operation of nuclear power plants are practically impossible to meet if affected by military operations, Lapenko added.

Because of the high stakes of a potential nuclear accident, the IAEA has maintained a presence at these three power plants since January 2023 and the decommissioned Chornobyl plant.

The constant presence of specialist inspectors at all five reactor sites is unique to Ukraine; staff rotate regularly at all sites, the IAEA said in a statement to the Kyiv Independent.

In addition to the IAEAs on-site actions, it has facilitated an international assistance package to help Ukraine secure its nuclear safety, and has kept the world informed on the status of Ukraines nuclear facilities with more than 220 update reports since the beginning of the conflict, as well as multiple briefings to the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

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The IAEAs efforts include helping provide medical supplies and assistance to Ukraines nuclear workers and arranging delivery of equipment such as communication systems to Ukraines authorities.

Ukraine had already shifted its nuclear infrastructure in response to Russian aggression prior to the full-scale invasion. After Russias annexation of Crimea and invasion of Donbas in 2014, Ukraine began using fuel from the American company Westinghouse at its nuclear facilities, rather than the Russian-produced fuel that was used previously.

And, despite the war, Ukraine opened a new facility for storing spent nuclear fuel in 2022, furthering its energy independence from Russia. Contracts for the site were signed in 2005 with U.S.-based Holtec International, though construction only began in 2017 in the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

According to Energoatom, the site will save Ukraine $200 million each year, which previously was paid to Russia for storing and transporting used nuclear fuel.

Future nuclear expansion

With no clear end in sight to the attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, the government is seeking to diversify and expand its energy industry.

Construction of two new nuclear reactors at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant began earlier this month, which will be the first reactors in Ukraine built using more modern U.S. technology rather than relying on modernized Soviet-era technology used currently. Two more are planned to begin construction later this year to make up for the loss of energy from Zaporizhzhia, according to Energy Minister Herman Haluschchenko.

Once completed, the Khmelnytskyi plant is projected to overtake Zaporizhzhias plant as the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

Unit 1 is pictured at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, Netishyn, Khmelnytskyi Region, Ukraine on Aug. 31, 2023. (Volodymyr Tarasov / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Ukraine ultimately plans to build nine total units in the country using U.S. technology, according to government decisions and memorandums signed between Energoatom and Westinghouse.

As part of an effort to seek foreign partnerships and investment for further development, Ukraine has also begun reforming Energoatom. While the company will remain fully owned by the state, a law passed last year means the company is introducing a supervisory board and international management standards to increase oversight and transparency.

However, the focus on nuclear energy has tradeoffs.

In addition to safety and environmental concerns, costs for disposal and storage of used fuel can be quite high, while building new plants requires high upfront costs and lengthy implementation, Lapenko of DiXi group noted. Although it is believed that electricity produced at nuclear power plants is the cheapest one, this is far from the case.

And, growing the nuclear sector is at odds with the governments goal of decentralizing its power supply, she said. Given the permanent threat of the aggressive Russian Federation, again betting on large, powerful generation nodes, even nuclear ones, looks quite risky.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
During the summer of 2023, people across Louisiana experienced record-breaking heat  and the stress and discomfort that came with it  as heat indexes climbed as high as 120 degrees. In June and July alone, the Louisiana Department of Health reported 16 heat-related deaths across the state. On Aug. 11, 2023, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards declared the states first-ever extreme heat emergency.

Many were able to seek shelter from life-threatening temperatures in cooling centers or air-conditioned homes. But some of Louisianas most vulnerable incarcerated people were trapped with suffocating indoor heat, lack of air conditioning and forced outdoor labor during the hottest recorded year on Earth.

People incarcerated in Louisiana prisons, their families and prisoners rights advocates allege that the Louisiana Department of Corrections has failed to properly protect prisoners from extreme heat. The department has requested funding in next years state budget to install air conditioning in two prisons  Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel and Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson  according to an email statement from DOC spokesperson Ken Pastorick to Verite News.

Still, people in prison and those connected to them are anxious as climate experts predict this summer may be even hotter than last.

Deaths from extreme heat and cardiovascular stress are estimated to increase in the United States by as much as 233% by midcentury. And Black adults, who comprise the majority of the states incarcerated population, are at the highest risk for fatality, said Sameed Khatana, assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and lead researcher of a study on the increase in cardiovascular heat deaths related to climate change. This is due, in part, to limited access to air conditioning, he said  a condition that inmates in Louisianas correctional facilities will be faced with again this summer.

Juveniles held at Louisiana State Penitentiary reported extreme heat without air conditioning at the former death row facility where they were held.

Everybodys extremely anxious about going into the summer, said Lydia Wright, associate director of civil litigation at the Promise of Justice Initiative, an organization that is suing DOC over the working conditions for prisoners at Louisiana State Penitentiary. The lawsuit singles out extreme heat as a major contributor to brutal conditions that lawyers at PJI say amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Last summer was one of the hottest, if not the hottest on the books, and this summer is going to be no better.

Heat and disability: working the Farm Line

Temperatures at prisons, jails and immigration detention centers have been climbing steadily in the past 30 years, according to a study published in Nature Sustainability in March. Cascade Tuholske, the lead author on the study, noted that there is an increased risk of prison deaths on hotter days.

The wife of someone imprisoned in Angola told Verite that prisoners have had to cope with escalating temperatures for decades in the states prisons. She spoke to Verite on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation against her husband, currently serving a sentence of life without parole for second-degree murder.

My husband  has been dealing with the heat for 16 years. It gets worse every year, she said, adding that her husband has a heart condition that makes him particularly vulnerable to the heat. He suffered severe migraines and sleep deprivation from the extreme heat last year, she said.

According to the suit filed by PJI last year, prisoners have suffered dehydration, headaches and muscle pain from heat exposure. Many of them work on Angolas Farm Line, a several-acre operation where inmates grow crops for as little as 2 cents per hour.

The suit alleged that the drinking water given to prisoners on the Farm Line is dirty, in a moldy cooler that often contains dead insects. Prisoners are given few breaks and no access to shade during work, according to the suit.

Among the plaintiffs in the 2023 lawsuit is prisoner Myron Smith, who claimed that once, in 2021, he felt dehydrated and experienced muscle seizures during forced manual labor at Angola.

A federal appellate court refused to throw out a ban on housing incarcerated youth at Angola.

When emergency medical care was called, he was told to drink water and then forced to sit in the field, in the hot sun, for the rest of the shift, the plaintiffs attorneys wrote.

Prisoners with disabilities face the greatest risks working in the heat in Angola, the plaintiffs attorneys claimed in the lawsuit.

The conditions that they reported are shocking. They shock the conscience forcing men with serious disabilities to go out in 120 degree [heat index] in the sun, without a hat, Wright said.

Conditions such as high blood pressure and sickle-cell anemia also were noted in the complaint, making some Louisiana inmates particularly vulnerable to heat stroke, the lawsuit said.

This is not the first time that DOC has been sued for allegedly exposing inmates with disabilities to extreme heat. In 2013, three death-row prisoners alleged that the lack of air conditioning had caused headaches, cramps and exacerbated their medical conditions. A district court judge sided with the prisoners in 2013 and effectively ordered the state to install air conditioning at Angola, but an appellate court overturned that decision in 2015.

While extreme temperatures can be dangerous for anyone, the risk of fatal exposure is particularly high for people with chronic heart conditions and other disabilities.

When the body is exposed to high temperature levels for an extended period of time, the heart will beat faster and harder to try and transport heat away from the core of the body, Khatana said.

Black adults are at the greatest risk for cardiovascular heat deaths, partially due to a higher prevalence of medical conditions such as high blood pressure, than other populations, Khatana said.

Of the nearly 30,000 prisoners in Louisianas correctional system, 65% are Black, according to the Department of Corrections.

Extreme heat and strenuous labor conditions also cause psychological stress, Wright said. She likened the labor on the Farm Line to the experiences of enslaved people at Angola when it was a plantation. Black men are forced to do manual labor in the scorching heat, she said, much like their ancestors.

If that is not cruel and unusual punishment, it stretches the mind to think of another example that would satisfy the test.

Psychological stress from heat exposure could have perilous effects. According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, theres a 30% increase in suicide watch incidences in Louisiana correctional facilities thats associated with extreme heat events.

The study began during other research into the effects of solitary confinement in Louisiana, said lead researcher David Cloud, but extreme heat was the elephant in the room. As he walked through narrow cells in state-run facilities he saw men lying in their boxers on concrete floors. Cloud said the heat in many of the prisons he visited beginning in 2017 was unbearable, and prompted him to look into it further.

Conditions of confinement are generally harmful to people, but the heat was a factor that was just compounding everything, Cloud said.

Solitary confinement is already highly associated with psychological distress, he said, but the added factor of extreme heat is correlated with an uptick in suicide watch incidences.

In indoor spaces made of concrete and confined rooms with more than one person, theres nothing you can do to escape the heat, Cloud said.

The infrastructure of a prison is going to be something like heat hazards in cities where youre in a neighborhood that doesnt have a lot of trees or a park and youre surrounded by buildings, Cloud said.

Materials such as concrete absorb heat and raise indoor temperatures. Fans provide only limited relief.

Of the eight prisons operated by the Louisiana Department of Corrections, none are fully air-conditioned. The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel, which closed after it flooded in 2016, was fully air conditioned. The women assigned to LCIW are now held in temporary units at Jetson  all of which are air conditioned, Pastorick said.

Whats been done since last years heat emergency?

In a statement to Verite, Pastorick said, in accordance with policy informed by the Louisiana Department of Health, all inmates in Louisianas correctional facilities are provided with cold water, ice, additional cool showers and increased ventilation by opening windows and the use of fans when temperatures rise above 88 degrees.

He said prison officials and staff use heat alerts to signify when temperatures reach over 88 degrees and distribute water and ice every 30 minutes. At Angola, the staff supplies Gatorade, unlimited ice and water to prisoners and reduce outdoor work hours, he said.

The policy that Pastorick sent to Verite is from 2018. Wright said PJI isnt aware of any changes in DOCs extreme heat policy since last summers heat emergency.

We have not seen evidence that the DOC has taken seriously the extraordinary dangers caused by extreme heat at Angola or any other prison in Louisiana. PJI has been litigating these issues for more than a decade, she said.

While the Department of Corrections is planning to air condition all of its prisons, said Pastorick, they are awaiting an engineers report and a study to determine the best way to climate control their facilities.

Louisiana State Penitentiary has recently added air conditioning to four living facilities, Pastorick said. The living facilities without air-conditioning have high-volume fans and cross ventilation to provide cooling. Extra fans have also been placed in some living facilities.

Climate controlling all of Louisianas state-run prisons is contingent on funding, said Pastorick.

In the meantime, researchers are hoping to document heat conditions in individual facilties, which have been difficult to get access to, said Tory Lynch, co-author of the Nature study on prisons and extreme heat exposure.

The conditions in jails and prisons are under-covered as a public health issue, certainly as an environmental justice issue, Lynch said, noting the disproportionate effect of heat on low income and minority communities.

We can acknowledge that people can commit crimes or cause harm and suffer consequences from that. But the imprisonment is the consequence, not dying of heatstroke or becoming incredibly ill because of exposure to heat.

 The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Extreme heat in Louisianas prisons raises risks for incarcerated
As an attempt to shut down the anti-Israel encampment that has been on campus for more than a week, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik entered negotiations with student protestors. Among her interlocutors is Khymani James, a student quoted in national news outlets including CBS News who was described as a protest organizer in a recent interview with the Columbia Spectator.



Newly unearthed footage of James, posted on his public Instagram in January and published by The Daily Wire on Thursday, reveals a radical side of the Columbia junior. In the video, which James described as a recording of a conversation with a school official who called to discipline him after he posted a threat against Zionist students, the Columbia junior spoke at length about his hatred of Zionists and his belief that they should not be alive. (James was also recorded in a video at the encampment encouraging protestors to form a human chain to keep Zionists out of the camp.)



Zionists dont deserve to live, James said in the January video. Zionists, along with all white supremacists, need to not exist.



Be grateful, he said, that Im not just going out and murdering Zionists. Ive never murdered anyone in my life and I hope to keep it that way. A Columbia spokesperson told Jewish Insider on Thursday that such statements are unacceptable, full stop, but declined to comment specifically on James case and whether he will face disciplinary action. (At 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning, James released a statement expressing regret for the comments in the Instagram video. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification, wrote James, who added that Zionism necessitates the genocide of the Palestinian people and I oppose that in the strongest terms.)



As similar encampments have spread to dozens of universities around the country, James isnt the only student protestor promoting violence against Zionists. A growing number of campus activists have veered into extremism  including demanding the expulsion of Zionists from their campuses, calling for the destruction of the state of Israel and promoting their messages in terrorist-aligned social media channels. At Columbia, some protestors called on Jewish students who walked by to go back to Belarus and go back to Poland.





ANTISEMITIC HATE AT COLUMBIA For the first time people were truly afraid: Antisemitism hits boiling point at Columbia U Read more

Student organizers of campus anti-Israel encampments at several universities have taken to Telegram, a messaging app, to spread their message and elicit support, donations and advocacy from other students and outside supporters.



A channel run by the organizers of the encampment at New York University, which was shut down by the university on Monday, posted a message on Wednesday encouraging supporters to follow another Telegram channel called Resistance News Network, where organizers said people could stay informed about updates on the situation in Gaza. (It is not known who sent the message, as Telegram allows users to remain anonymous.)



Resistance News Network is a channel that is closely associated with Hamas and other terrorist groups. Its pinned post the post to which it directs all new members of the channel is a message posted early on Oct. 7 with a video from Hamas military chief, praising the groups terror attack in Israel and calling on supporter to take up arms. Several times a day, the Telegram channel posts messages praising Hamas attacks on the Zionist enemy in Gaza and quoting propaganda from other terror groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.



NYU spokesperson John Beckman told JI that the matter has been referred to our Bias Response Line for investigation.



NYU takes very seriously instances and allegations of antisemitism, exhortations of violence, and our responsibility to create a safe and welcoming environment for all NYU students, Beckman said.



The Resistance News Network channel has cheered the anti-Israel encampments, and on Thursday it posted a message from Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine  a U.S.-designated terrorist organization  calling on Arab students to follow  the example of American universities.



Members of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at The Ohio State University shared a message with the Resistance News Network channel on Thursday asking members of the Hamas-aligned Telegram channel to support them and to stand with other SJP chapters.



We ask for you all to pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, and to support your local SJP as they combat the controlling powers that have stripped the world of any decency, the message said.



An Ohio State spokesperson said there is no ongoing encampment or continuous demonstration at Ohio State, noting that the gathering had been broken up by campus officials earlier on Thursday. But the spokesperson declined to comment on the SJP chapter seeking support in a Hamas-aligned forum.



At Princeton, a university staff member posted a photo to the social media platform X of a person at the encampment  where at least one professor has held their classes this week  holding a Hezbollah flag.




(Bloomberg) -- Exxon Mobil Corp. plunged the most in six months after higher-than-expected maintenance costs diminished oil-refining results.

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The shares dropped as much as 4.2% Friday, marking the oil giants worst intraday decline since it announced a $60 billion takeover of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. in October. It came on a day when the rest of the S&P 500 was buoyed by blockbuster profit reports from Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

A grab bag of mostly non-cash accounting items was behind the rare earnings miss for Exxon, which posted an adjusted per-share profit that was 13 cents below what analysts had forecast. Those surprises included elevated spending on refineries, lower-than-expected US production and unsettled derivative contracts.

Any given quarter well have a number of non-cash, just a bit more unusual expenses that kind of ebb and flow, Chief Financial Officer Kathy Mikells said in an interview. This quarter we had a number of small ones that added up together to be more significant, and thats difficult for analysts to model.

Chevron Corp., meanwhile, announced better-than-expected profits Friday but reported lower free cash flow than analysts expected. Its shares dipped less than 1%.

Expectations were particularly high for Exxon going into earnings because its the best-placed among big oil companies to take advantage of a shift in investor sentiment favoring production growth. But surging growth from Exxons massive project in Guyana, which rose more than 35%, wasnt enough to lift the stock.

Particularly weak results from international refining which failed to capture the strength in refining margins due to high turnarounds, Kim Fustier, head of European oil and gas research at HSBC Holdings Plc, wrote in a note.

One bright spot for Exxon was cash flow from operations. At $14.7 billion, it came in $1 billion higher than analysts forecast. Meanwhile, the company still expects the Federal Trade Commission to approve its $60 billion deal to purchase Pioneer in the second quarter.

We continue to work constructively with the FTC as they conduct a very thorough review and remain confident that no competition issues should hinder the transaction, Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods said during a call with analysts.

Read More: Exxon Expects FTC to Approve Pioneer Deal by Mid-Year, CFO Says

In Guyana, Exxon started output at its third development in the region, Payara, ahead of schedule late last year, adding 220,000 barrels of daily supplies that would be profitable even if crude plunges to $35 a barrel.

We continue to bring projects in more quickly and under budget so weve just had great execution in Guyana, Mikells said, noting that gross daily production now exceeds 600,000 barrels, up from 440,000 in the final three months of 2023.

Follow Exxon and Chevron First-Quarter Earnings: TOPLive

Exxons performance in Guyana underscores why arch-rival Chevron wants to get a piece of the project through its proposed $53 billion takeover of Hess Corp., which has a 30% stake in the South American discovery. Exxon claims it has a right-of-first refusal over Hesss stake while Chevron says that doesnt apply because its deal is a corporate merger.

The two companies are locked in arbitration proceedings over the dispute, which are still in very early days, Mikells said. Each side has chosen one arbitrator who will sit on a panel of three, she said. Hess this week extended the closing date of its deal with Chevron by six months to October.

On Chevrons call with analysts, Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said he sees no legitimate reason to delay arbitration, saying he hopes to complete the Hess deal by the end of the year. He acknowledged, however, that the timeline will be determined by the arbitrator panel.

Wirth pushed to reassure analysts on the call that own Chevrons mega project on Kazakhstans western steppe, Tengiz, remains on schedule for full start-up next year.

The companys adjusted first-quarter profit of $2.93 a share was 3 cents higher than the average of analyst estimates in the Bloomberg consensus. Crude-oil output of almost 2 million barrels a day exceeded forecasts.

Chevrons Permian Basin output dropped to the equivalent of 859,000 barrels a day during the period from 867,000 in the final three months of 2023. Wirth had warned production would temporarily sag before rebounding during the second half of the year and eventually growing 10%.

--With assistance from David Wethe, Mitchell Ferman and Ruth Liao.

(Adds detail beginning in the 12th paragraph.)

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The Rev. Wheeler Parker, 85, was a 16-year-old Chicago resident on vacation during August 1955 in the Mississippi Delta when friend and cousin Emmett Till wolf whistled at a white woman. Within days he was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by two white men who were acquitted by an all-white jury but subsequently confessed to the crimes. (Tim Carpenter | Kansas Reflector)

LAWRENCE, Kansas  Black teenagers Wheeler Parker and Emmett Till were on vacation from Chicago when they stepped into the white-owned Mississippi Delta grocery store operated by Roy and Carolyn Bryant to buy candy in the summer of 1955.

In a region saturated with influences of the Ku Klux Klan and in rural towns organized around brutal realities of the Jim Crow era, Till and Parker made their purchases at Bryants Grocery and Meat Market. Parker, 16 at the time, said Carolyn Bryant followed them out of the store, apparently to retrieve something from a car. It was at that moment on Aug. 24, Parker said, 14-year-old Till did what no Black male cognizant of strict, racist codes of conduct dictating social interaction in the South should have done in presence of a white female.

Emmett, of course, did the wolf whistle, Parker said during a visit Wednesday to exhibitions of civil rights artwork and history in Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. We knew the mores of the South. We knew the people of the South. When he whistled, we just all made a beeline for the car. Nobody said, Lets go. Lets get out of here. We just made a beeline for the car.

Their car sped down gravel and dirt roads toward potential safety in the home of relatives near Money, Mississippi. Parker said they worried about retaliation for crossing a line with playful whistling, which could be interpreted as a forbidden public expression of affection for a white woman. Nothing happened until early morning Aug. 28.

Roy Bryant and his half brother, John William Milam, were at the shack, armed with a handgun and demanding to speak to the ill-mannered boys from Chicago. Parker and Till, best friends and cousins, were terrified.

I said, God, Im getting ready to die. These men are going to kill us,  Parker said. I closed my eyes to die.

Wheeler, the last surviving witness to the kidnapping of Till, said the prankster kid with a speech impediment and the nickname Bobo went peacefully with the two men. They loaded him into the back of a truck and disappeared into the night.

Thats the last time I saw him alive, said Wheeler, who went on to a life as a minister and author. You dont want to ever experience anything like that in your life. You feel so helpless.

The Rev. Wheeler Parker said the murder of Emmett Till, 14, by white supremacists in Mississippi reignited the civil rights movement in 1955. This bullet-riddled sign marked the spot Tills body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River. Parker says the vandalism tells a story about race relations. (Tim Carpenter | Kansas Reflector)

Tortured injustice

Milam and Bryant, perhaps with assistance, took Till to a shed where he was beaten, tortured, and shot. He was tossed into the Tallahatchie River with a heavy weight tied with barbed wire around his neck. His body was found after three days in the water.

Till was a direct casualty of a social caste system that relied on barbarism and intimidation to reinforce racism. He posthumously became a civil rights icon as his death exposed for the nation the limitations of U.S. democracy and justice.

The grimness of the crime was amplified when his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on an open casket funeral in Chicago on Sept. 3, 1955. He was barely recognizable given his decomposed body and disfigured face. Photographs of his condition were published in newspapers and magazines, giving the tragedy an international audience. Those images exposed in black-and-white the vulnerability of Americans to prejudice.

Let the world see what they did to my boy, the grieving mother said.

What they saw contrasted with Mississippi courthouse images of the subsequent murder trial and decision by an all-white, all-male jury to find Bryant and Milam not guilty of Tills murder. In 1956, no longer fearing prosecution, both men confessed in a Look magazine story.

Over the next 30 years, Parker said, public interest faded in terms of exploring and reckoning with Tills slaying. That began to change in the 1980s, he said.

Parker, 85, has made an effort to speak publicly about circumstances of Tills death and how the United States could work toward improving race relations. Talking about Till, however, wasnt easy.

Emmett Tills story is not a pleasant story. Its not a pretty story, but it has to be told, he said. It must be told because we need to know the truth. Sometimes I go right back there and I start crying. You tell the story and you start wondering how could that have happened? How could people be like that?

Sydney Pursel, curator of public practice at Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, the Rev. Wheeler Parker, and Dave Tell, a KU professor of communication studies, discuss art and historical exhibits at Spencer Museum tied to the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955. (Tim Carpenter | Kansas Reflector)

Bullets and the signs

Parker was on the KU campus for a public event at the Spencer Museum tied to the traveling exhibition, Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See. It will be at KU until May 19.

Dave Tell, a communication studies professor at KU, helped launch the Emmett Till Memory Project in 2019. Its an app highlighting locations associated with Tills murder, including vandalized signs identifying the Tallahatchie River location where Tills body was recovered.

The first sign was stolen, thrown in the river and never recovered, Tell said. The second was filled with 317 bullet holes and eventually went to the Smithsonian. The third is here. The fourth  still standing  is bulletproof.

Tell served as a consultant for the design and content of the Let the World See exhibition, which was developed in consultation with the Till family. It has been presented at the National Civil Rights Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

We dont just learn what happened in 1955. We also learn how hard it has been to tell the story of what happened in 1955, he said.

Come a long way

The Spencer Museum also hosted a companion exhibit, One History, Two Versions, with artwork by contemporary Black artists exploring racial violence and justice movements. The artwork served to elaborate on themes raised in the Till exhibit and is expected to remain until June 16, said Sydney Pursel, Spencer Museum curator for public practice.

The artwork is big, bold, colorful, and expands on themes of Emmett and Mamies story, like the love between a mother and her children, or how media representation and activism have evolved over time, while also recognizing that more work is needed in the fight for racial justice, she said.

Parker said the intersection of art and history, including the river marker with 10 bullet wounds, offered insight into the plague of racism in America.

Bullet holes in a sign tell a story, the minister said. It speaks volumes. It reminds you of where youre at. How much work we have to do.

He said the world of 1955 no longer existed, because law enforcement officers, juries, judges, and prosecutors as well as the broader public had less tolerance for racially motivated crime.

There was a whole different atmosphere, a whole different attitude. Weve come a long way, said Parker, who has preached reconciliation. I often think about the price Emmett paid. We cant afford the luxury of hate.

This story was originally published by Kansas Reflector, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Eyewitness to kidnapping of Emmett Till hasnt closed his eyes to quest for racial justice appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A ground delay at Nashville International Airport (BNA) has been lifted.

The FAA initially issued a ground delay at around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, April 25, due to unanticipated air traffic controller staffing issues.

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Travelers were asked to check with their airline directly for the most up to date flight information.

The ground delay was expected to last until at least 7 p.m., but officials lifted it just after 6 p.m.

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It has been theorized that modern Japanese are descended from two groups for a long time. These are Jomon hunter-gatherers, who lived from 16 to 3 thousand years ago (and were probably isolated from the rest of the world during the last glacial maximum), and the later immigrant farmers of Yayoi, who lived in the country from 900 BC to 300 AD.

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But a study of 12 ancient Japanese genomes suggested that there is a third group, IFLScience reports. According to scientists, it could have existed between the Yayoi and Kofun periods (imperial period) in 300-710 AD.

"Our analysis shows that Jomon maintained a tiny population of about 1,000 people for thousands of years. This is a striking difference from the continental figures of the same period (15-20 thousand years ago) when Japan was isolated due to rising sea levels," the scientists write.

"Rice began to be cultivated by tribes from northeast Asia. Unexpectedly, our study showed the presence of a large number of these individuals during the Kofun period. This confirms the theory of the tripartite model of Japanese genomic ancestry," they add.

The team believes this is consistent with archaeological evidence of new large settlements at the time, as well as cultural and political changes.

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The authors of the study analyzed the genealogy of 3,200 Japanese and found that most of the representatives of the Jomon family were in Okinawa (28.5%), followed by the northeast (18.9%), and the western region (13.4%).

The third group of ancestors probably originated from Northeast Asia, which "could potentially be related to ancient populations in Japan and the Korean Peninsula."

"Our results indicate a much closer relationship between Western and ancient Chinese groups around or in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, especially during the Middle and Late Neolithic period," the team of scientists writes in their article.

However, individuals from the northeast showed significantly higher genetic similarity to the Jomon genome and ancient Japanese from Miyako Island in Okinawa (which had a high proportion of Jomon genes), as well as ancient Koreans from the Three Kingdoms period (fourth to fifth century AD).

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The team suggested the existence of a possible genetic group but emphasized the need for further research.

"Historical records indicate that the Northeast was inhabited by the so-called Emishi people, which literally translates to 'shrimp barbarians.' The origins of the Emishi are somewhat unexplored and remain a subject of debate, but there is speculation that they may be related to Northeastern Europe. In addition, the Emishi people could speak a separate Japanese language similar to the historical Izumo dialect," the researchers explain.

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President Joe Biden went on The Howard Stern Show on Friday and repeated his familiar story about the time he supposedly got arrested trying to defend the civil rights of Black Americans.

As in the past, Biden told the story on Friday while recounting what his mother supposedly said while urging him to accept Barack Obamas 2008 offer to be his running mate. His mom, he said, did not want him to turn down a man who was vying to become the first Black president.

Biden told Stern: She said, Joey, let me  remember  true story, she said  Remember when they were desegregating Lynnfield, the neighborhood  suburbia  and I told you  and there was a Black family moving in and there was  people were down there protesting; I told you not to go down there and you went down, remember that? And you got arrested standing on the porch with a Black family? And they brought you back, the police? And I said, Yeah, Mom, I remember that.

Facts First: There is no evidence Biden ever got arrested during a civil rights protest, as The Washington Post and PolitiFact found when they looked into this claim in 2022  and Biden has at least twice told the story of his supposed presence at this particular Delaware protest without mentioning any arrest, instead claiming that the police merely took him home that day.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The Post noted that in the version of the story Biden told during a public conversation with Oprah Winfrey late in the 2020 presidential campaign, he said the police escorted him home from the protest because they thought he would get in trouble; he did not say they arrested him.

The Post reported that he told Winfrey his mother said: And there were people protesting and I told you not to go down there and you went down and the police brought you back because you were standing on the step with the Black family.

You were standing with them. And the police brought you home because they thought youd get in trouble. He told Winfrey that he responded, Yeah, Mom, I remember that.

As the Post and PolitiFact also noted, Bidens 2017 memoir included an abbreviated version of the story about his mothers 2008 comments urging him to accept Obamas running mate offer, but it made no mention of an arrest. No other Biden memoir, either, says he was arrested at such a protest.

The Post and PolitiFact did find that there were protests roughly matching Bidens description in early 1959, when Biden was 16 years old, in communities not far from Bidens home in Delaware. Crowds protested against a Black couple that had bought a home in a previously all-White community and against the realtor who sold it to them.

But the Wilmington News Journal reported that the four teenagers arrested at the protest at the couples home were arrested for possessing fireworks  and that all seven of the arrests that day were of people in the anti-integration crowd outside the home. The newspaper reported that the police on scene were defending the home and the Black couple. It also quoted one member of the couple as saying, Nobodys behind us.

Its impossible to definitively prove whether or not Biden was present at this protest or any similar protest 60-plus years ago. (Bidens mother died in 2010.)

Previous false claims

Biden has made a series of false claims about his personal past in the last two weeks. They include the false claim that he used to drive an 18-wheeler and the false claim that he has never earned $400,000 in a year.

And while running for president in 2020, Biden claimed he was arrested as a US senator as he tried to visit South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela while Mandela was imprisoned. After media outlets found no evidence of such an arrest, Biden told CNN that he had been stopped in South Africa but did not mean to say arrested.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Claim:

A photograph genuinely shows a pile of 1 million mosquitoes "caught in a trap in Sanibel, Florida."

Rating:

Rating: True

A photograph shared to Reddit on April 17, 2024, (archived here), claimed to show 1 million mosquitoes that had been "caught in a trap in Sanibel, Florida." The post had received more than 43,000 upvotes at the time of this publication.

To confirm whether this claim was true. Snopes conducted a Google keyword search (archived here) using the phrase "1 million mosquitoes sanibel florida." Returned results included dozens of credible news reports that included the image, such as WFLA, WTSP and CBS News.

One outlet, Atlanta's WAGA, included a link to a Facebook post shared by the Lee County Mosquito Control District on Feb. 16, 2022, which featured a photo of the massive mosquito mound. According to the post, the image genuinely showed the "results of an LCMCD trapping project that took place in one section of one neighborhood on Sanibel Island over the summer of 2021."

Located outside of Fort Myers on the western side of Florida, the city of Sanibel has been serviced by the LCMCD since 1958. The agency reports providing "uninterrupted mosquito control services to the citizens of Lee County for over sixty years."

LCMCD didn't elaborate in its post on the details of the project or how its employees were able to capture so many of the pests, but it noted on its website that the district "uses a variety of biological, mechanical, and chemical control techniques to reduce mosquito populations."

To determine how authorities calculated the 1 million figure, Snopes reached out to the agency directly. In an email, Aaron Lloyd, LCMCD assistant director, told Snopes that it's a matter of estimation. He wrote:

When trap counts reach these levels, especially when there is one dominant mosquito species, we will use aliquot sampling of the trap capture. Essentially, we weigh the total trap capture, take a sub-sample of the trap capture, weigh the sub-sample, count and identify the mosquitoes in the sub-sample, and mathematically calculate how many mosquitoes are in the entire trap capture.

Some county programs target mosquito larvae using materials called larvicides, while adult mosquitoes are targeted using adulticides. LCMCD added that:

All materials used to control mosquitoes have been thoroughly tested as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration process and are used according to the product label directions. Larvicides and adulticides are applied by ground or air using highly sophisticated application technology including satellite navigation and global positioning for precision application targeting. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is also used to reduce the number of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito vector of several diseases.

Because some mosquitoes can spread viruses such as Zika, West Nile and dengue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that mosquito control efforts are led by local government departments and control professionals who track numbers and types of mosquitoes in a given area.

Snopes has debunked other claims related to mosquitoes, including whether the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided funding to genetically modify  and release  mosquitoes in various locations, including Florida. We've also fact-checked whether mosquitoes are attracted to certain blood types and whether it's true that Disney World "never" sees mosquitoes inside its gates.

Sources:

"1 Million Mosquitoes Trapped in One Part of a Neighborhood on Sanibel Island." Wtsp.Com, 21 Feb. 2022, https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/mosquitoes-trapped-sanibel-island/67-f39f0be6-ebff-4cdf-a431-d05d91f7f7b4.

1 Million Mosquitos Sanibel Florida - Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=1+million+mosquitos+sanibel+florida&oq=1+million+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDkyBggCEEUYQDIGCAMQRRg8MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPNIBCDExODFqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

CDC. "Mosquito Control | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 May 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/index.html.

---. "Why Is Mosquito Control Important? | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Oct. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/why-is-mosquito-control-important.html.

Dapcevich, Madison. "Are Mosquitos Attracted to a Certain Blood Type?" Snopes, 21 July 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/mosquitoes-blood-type-attraction/.

---. "Is Bill Gates Releasing Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in Florida? | Snopes.Com." Snopes, 3 June 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/bill-gates-release-gmo-mosquitoes/.

Lee County Mosquito Control District | LCMCD. 2 Apr. 2024, https://lcmcd.com/.

Liles, Jordan. "Disney World Has Mosquitoes, Despite Claims Seen Online." Snopes, 18 June 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/disney-world-mosquitoes/.

Log in or Sign up to View. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

---. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

"One Million Mosquitoes in Florida Caught on Sanibel Island." FOX TV Digital Team, 19 Feb. 2022, https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/one-million-mosquitoes-in-florida-caught-on-sanibel-island.

One Million Mosquitoes Trapped In Sanibel Last Summer For Research - CBS Miami. 18 Feb. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/one-million-mosquitoes-trapped-in-sanibel-last-summer-for-research/.

"Photo Shows 1 Million Mosquitos Caught on Florida Island." WFLA, 16 Feb. 2022, https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/photo-shows-one-million-mosquitos-caught-on-florida-island/.

Updates:

May 2, 2024: This story was updated to add comment from the Lee County Mosquito Control District.
Jill Stein, the former and likely future Green Party presidential nominee, is facing widespread criticism after she posted a video on Thursday from Columbia Universitys campus in which she supposedly claimed that Jewish people have a homeland in Poland.

Near the end of the eight-minute video, a pro-Israel demonstrator can be seen behind Stein, saying Israel is the only homeland of the Jewish people. According to the videos captionswhich were included in versions posted by Steins team on Facebook and on Xthe candidate responds that the Jewish people have Poland.

Listening to Steins comments (at the 6:36-minute mark), however, it is clear that she said the Jewish people have homeland, not the Jewish people have Poland. A representative of Steins campaign confirmed the candidates words and explained how the video ended up with incorrect captions.

She absolutely did not say Poland, the spokesperson told The Dispatch Fact Check via email. It was auto captioned that way and our video editor did not change it before posting. She said homeland.

The video sparked widespread condemnation of Stein, but many of those condemnationsincluding from prominent journalists like Yashar Ali and Caitlin Flanaganwere based on a word that Stein, who is herself Jewish, did not say. Jill Stein comes to Columbia to share her genius take: The Jewish people have Poland, tweeted Rikki Schlott, a journalist at the New York Post. The Daily Wire published an entire article about the kerfuffle titled, Green Partys Hard-Left Jill Stein: The Jews Have Poland.

On Friday afternoon, Stein posted an updated version of her exchange with the pro-Israel demonstratorthis time with corrected captions. Confronting a Zionist @Columbia U, she said in a tweet accompanying the new video.

Though Stein may not have said that Jews have a homeland in Poland, she did not clarify where the Jewish homeland should be if not Israel. She also made several other dubious claims in the video, including that only 0.1 percent of Israelis support the military operations in Gaza that she calls genocide, and that Israel is actively violating international law. Israeli actions in Gaza do not align with the formal definition of genocide, and public support within Israel for armed interventions in Gaza has been strong since the commencement of renewed military operations against Hamas in October.

A spokesperson for Stein did not immediately respond to a question from The Dispatch Fact Check about whether the candidate supports a Jewish homeland in Israel or elsewhere.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Update: On April 29, Falls Township sought a 30-day extension on a Right to Know request for a copy of Daniel Doyle's resignation letter. An answer is expected June 3.

Falls Townships chief human resource officer has resigned after less than a year on the job.

A township spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed that Daniel Doyle stepped down as director of employment operations and chief human resources officer effective April 23. He was hired for the newly created $130,000 a year position in September 2023.

No additional information was provided about why Doyle resigned. A Right to Know request is pending for a copy of his written resignation letter.

Falls Township has confirmed its Human Resources chief has quit after less than eight months on the job.

Can you help Falls police Falls police investigating violent road rage gun incident on Route 1

The hiring of Doyle raised questions in the community. He previously served as the police chief for Tullytown, where he retired in 2022 after serving in the department since 1997.

Doyle started working for the township before the board of supervisors held a public vote to ratify his professional service agreement, a potential violation of the public transparency law.

Under the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, any action on official government business, including personnel matters, must take place in a publicly advertised meeting where there is opportunity for citizens to comment.

The Falls police union filed a private criminal complaint alleging the hiring of Doyle and an outside auction house violated the act, but the Bucks County District Attorneys office declined to prosecute. The office did not provide a reason it rejected the complaint.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Former police chief steps down as human resources officer in Falls
ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, Ark.  The body of Troy Strope was found stuffed into a plastic storage tote on Feb. 20, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The family of the 42-year-old mother of three is now offering a $1,000 reward, hoping to entice someone to come forward with information.

Teens find womans body in plastic container in Arkansas

Thoughts of how her niece must have suffered keep Troy Stropes aunt, Eve Dillman, awake at night, as the search for her killer or killers drags on.

You can imagine the worst things, from the beginning to the end, from the time she disappeared to the time she was put in the tote, said Dillman. Its just over two months since she was found, and we have been absolutely sick over it.

Stropes body was found by a couple of kids on four-wheelers, stuffed in a plastic storage tote along St. Francis County Road 731.

She is a girl of 5-foot-10-inches, so to fit inside that tote, one can only imagine what they had to do to get her in there, she said.

Goddaughter mourning AR woman found dead inside plastic bin

Investigators say forensic evidence gathered at the site, and at a house in Forrest City in March, are still being analyzed at the Arkansas Crime Lab, but no arrests have been made so far.

This is frustrating news for Stropes family, who is now, with the blessings of investigators, offering a reward to help entice someone to speak.

At this point, we are offering a thousand dollars for information leading to the conviction of the killers, said Dillman. None of us got to say goodbye. They took her from us, and by taking her from us, nobody got to have that closure.

A Facebook group called Justice for Troy Strope has been started where people can post their thoughts of Troy. A Gofundme account has also been set up to help raise reward money.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
CANTON  An attorney representing the family of Frank Tyson, who died while being arrested by city police, is likening the circumstances of his death to George Floyd.

Both Tyson and Floyd's last words were "I can't breathe."

The death of George Floyd traumatized and galvanized the American people  it led to a decisive call for change and an end to systemic police violence against Black men," Bobby DiCello, an attorney for the Tyson family, said in a prepared statement released Friday.

"Its an unimaginable tragedy, that only four years later history repeats itself. Why tackle him? Why kneel on him? How could you know he lost consciousness and then do nothing? These questions demand answers. And so, we will get those answers for Frank and the whole Tyson family in this time of pain, grief, and disbelief."

Tyson, 53, of Canton Township died April 18 during the encounter with police. He had earlier crashed his car, shearing off a utility pole, and entered the nearby private AMVETS club and was acting erratically, authorities said.

Two police officers got into a scuffle as they tried to remove Tyson from the club on Sherrick Road SE. Tyson, who was taken to the floor, yelled, "They're trying to kill me," as officers fought with him. He also had told people at the club that someone was trying to kill him before officers arrived.

Police body camera footage released Wednesday by the city shows Tyson, with his arms handcuffed behind his back, on the floor face down for nearly 8 minutes before an officer realized he couldn't feel a pulse. He took the handcuffs off; and he and another officer applied chest compressions for several minutes.

Tyson was subsequently treated by Canton Fire Department paramedics, who took him to Aultman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Tysons family is being represented by DiCello Levitt attorneys Bobby DiCello, who is based in Cleveland, as well as Ken Abbarno, Joe Fouche III, and Jordyn Parks.

Expert questions Canton police response used on Frank Tyson

This is a screen capture from a Canton police body camera of 53-year-year Frank Tyson before he struggled with police on April 18. Tyson, who had crashed his vehicle before entering a local establishment, died following the confrontation.

An expert on law enforcement's use of force is questioning the way police officers treated Tyson.

Kalfani N. Ture, a former police officer and assistant professor of criminal justice and African American studies at Widener University, said officers should not have left Tyson face down on the floor for so long after they handcuffed his arms behind his back.

He said that creates the potential for Tyson to suffocate due to the position of his body, a condition known as positional asphyxiation.

It takes less than 6 minutes for a life to expire in the context of a positional asphyxiation situation," Ture said.

What is positional asphyxiation?

Ture, a former city, state and county law enforcement officer, said police are trained to prevent positional asphyxiation.

We learned in the police academy, and this is universal," he said. "We all learned about positional asphyxiation. The chest cannot expand against a hard, flat structure. Ourstomach and our thoracic cavity expands forward, and if you are in aprone position against a hard structure, you're going to suffocate. You're going to asphyxiate. We are trained that once you secure the person in handcuffs, you immediately sit them up in aresting position."

Ture, who trains New York City police officers in addition to his work at Widener, located near Philadelphia, said the responding officers were indifferent to Tyson's condition, with one telling him to "calm down."

Well, you have this gentleman in restraints. He is not kicking. He's trying to lift up ..., just to breathe," Ture said.

The U.S. Department of Justice advises law enforcement about positional asphyxia in a June 1995 fact sheet.

"The cause of most explained in-custody deaths is a little-known phenomenon called positional asphyxia, in which body position interferes with the ability to breathe," says the advisory from the National Institute of Justice, the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The federal agency advises officers to "remove the subject from their stomach as soon as they are handcuffed" and monitor them carefully.

Canton police have turned the investigation of Tyson's death over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Officers Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch have been placed on administrative leave. The Stark County Coroner's Office sent Tyson's body to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The cause of death has not been released.

Ture said the gurgling noises Tyson made while lying on his stomach sounded similar to those made by Floyd, a Black man murdered by a police officer during an arrest May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis.

Reaction to Frank Tyson's death at the hands of Canton police

Tysons niece, Jasmine Tyson, told Canton Repository news partner NewsChannel 5 that she watched the video with police.

He said that he didn't want to die, she said. He was like, Call the sheriff, and then when they finally got him down, he said that he couldnt breathe.

Jasmine Tyson said her uncle was released from a 24-year prison sentence two weeks ago. They didnt get a chance to visit yet.

We just kept saying we are going to see each other, we are going to see each other, she added.

Considering that an officer first checked her uncle's pulse after he had been on the floor for 5 minutes, she said, It just seemed like forever that they finally checked him, and they checked him I swear the officer knew he was gone; thats why he hurried up and had to call something, Jasmine Tyson added.

I just hope BCI takes their time watching this because every inch and every time of that video needs to be played at the bar; thats what they need to see, she said. "Its crazy, its nonsense.

Stark County chapter of the NAACP posted a message on its Facebook page Friday, saying the civil rights organization is "in the fight!"

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Mr. Tyson," the message says. "We are monitoring this situation closely and helping where we can. We have oversight from our State NAACP and National. We're in the fight!"

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Attorney, expert liken Frank Tyson's death in Canton to George Floyd
Family begs jail to give man life-saving medicine  but get ignored, suit says. He died

A man born with a potentially life-threatening condition died after spending four days in a Virginia jail, where he wasnt given his daily medications until it was too late, according to a new federal lawsuit.

The family of Brad Hensley, who was held as a pretrial detainee at the Henry County Adult Detention Center, pleaded with officers and jail nurses to give him his medicine and warned he would die without it, a complaint filed in the Western District of Virginia says.

Hensley had congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which can send a persons kidneys into a crisis if untreated. He needed two doses of two different prescription steroids everyday as prescribed, the complaint says.

After entering the jail Aug. 2, 2022, Hensley wouldnt receive his medicine until the evening of Aug. 4, when he was too ill to stomach an oral dose and regurgitated the medication in front of a jail nurse, according to the complaint. What shouldve happened next, according to the suit, was an immediate transfer to the hospital.

The jail never returned at least 18 calls from Hensleys mother and sister on Aug. 3, 4 and 5, when they urged in voice messages that he needed emergency hospitalization and treatment due to the missed doses of his mandatory medications.

Hensley wasnt taken to a hospital, and he never got the chance to defend himself in court. He died in jail at age 41 on Aug. 6, 2022, according to the suit.

He was facing charges of petit larceny and possession of burglary tools, according to the Martinsville Bulletin, which first reported the lawsuit.

In Virginia, a person is charged with petit larceny when theyre accused of stealing something worth less than $5 from someone, or when theyre accused of stealing goods worth less than $1,000.

Brads life would have been saved if the healthcare providers and deputies at Henry County simply did their jobs and provided Brad with his medication in a timely fashion, said attorneys representing his family in an April 26 news release.

Because they refused to do so, a loving son and brother unnecessarily lost his life, they said.

Hensleys parents, Robert and Robin Hensley, are suing the jails medical provider Wellpath LLC. The suit also names several Wellpath employees staffed at the jail, a Henry County Sheriffs Office deputy lieutenant and former county sheriff as defendants.

Wellpath, Henry County and the sheriffs office didnt immediately respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News on April 26.

Man accused of faking illness

Following his first day in jail, Hensley was vomiting blood on Aug. 3, according to the complaint.

He was unable to eat, could barely keep fluids down and since he was too weak to shower on his own, other inmates helped him, the complaint says. Hensley and the fellow detainees repeatedly tried to request medical help on Aug. 3, according to the complaint.

One correctional officer, who wasnt identified in the complaint, accused Hensley of faking it, the complaint states.

The next day, on Aug. 4, 2022, Hensley continued to ask for help as he was dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea and showed other signs of an adrenal crisis, including fever, weakness and fatigue, according to the complaint.

Man, Im not going to make it, Im going to die in here, Hensley said when he was too sick to stand for a shakedown conducted by deputies, according to the complaint.

I need my medicine, he said, according to the lawsuit.

Johns Hopkins Medicine warns an adrenal crisis often happens when people with (congenital adrenal hyperplasia) are sick, have a fever or an infection, undergo surgery or stop their medications.

When people experience an adrenal crisis, Johns Hopkins Medicine urges to call 911 or seek medical care immediately.

Hensleys mother was ultimately able to reach a sheriff lieutenant on the phone Aug. 4, when the deputy told her Hensley would have to wait to get his medication at night, the complaint says.

By the time the Wellpath nurse assistant unsuccessfully tried to give him his medication, resulting in him throwing up, Hensley had missed his doses for nearly three days, according to the complaint.

The day before his death, Hensleys medical file said he refused to take his prescribed medication, the complaint says.

The lawsuit states his inability to take his oral medication was obvious, but no one sought medical treatment for him.

The next day, he was dead.

His autopsy report listed his cause of death as Acute fentanyl toxicity with adrenal crisis due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia contributing, the lawsuit says.

Attorneys Jonathan E. Halperin, Darrell J. Getman, Devon Munro and Ben Byrd, who represent Hensleys family, said they are still investigating how exactly Brad died and suspect he was exposed to fentanyl while in jail.

He either did not take the fentanyl voluntarily  or, even if introduced voluntarily, the fentanyl was introduced into his system at a time when his adrenal crisis was so advanced that Brad was likely to succumb to the adrenal crisis notwithstanding the fentanyl, the attorneys said in the news release.

Jail nurse charged

In March 2023, former Wellpath jail nurse Deborah Sue Damron, whos named as a defendant in the lawsuit, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hensleys death, according to the Martinsville Bulletin.

Shes due to appear in Henry County Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing on May 28, court records show.

Information regarding her legal representation in the criminal case wasnt immediately available.

Hensleys parents are seeking an unspecified amount in damages with the lawsuit and demand a trial by jury.

During the several days that Defendants knowingly deprived Brad of his urgent prescribed medications for a known adrenal disorder and watched him writhe in distress while heading towards foreseeable death, they also ignored the frantic warnings of concerned family members, the complaint states.

Naked inmate left to die alone in pool of blood, Nevada suit says. Mom wants answers

Jail ignored womans illness, causing her avoidable death, lawyer says. Daughter suing

Detainee held in jail freezer died of hypothermia, suit says. Death ruled homicide

Man tased and starved in SC jail before death was supposed to be in hospital, suit says
A family in the United Kingdom got more than they expected when they purchased a toy and found a large six-legged stowaway inside, according to an animal rescue organization.

The family bought a toy playhouse from a store on Guernsey, an island in the English Channel. When they opened the box, they found a very large beetle inside, Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said in an April 26 news release.

We believe (it) is a Meloe Angusticollis or more commonly known as a short-winged blister beetle, Steve Byrne, the manager of the organization, said in the release.

The toy house  and stowaway beetle  had been imported from Pennsylvania, the organization said. Pennsylvania is about 3,500 miles away from Guernsey.

We believe (the beetle) is male as he keeps leaving oily spots which the males do to deter predators, Byrne said. The beetle, nicknamed Angus, is in quarantine at the GSPCA with a selection of greens.

A photo shared by the organization on Facebook shows the black beetle in a container.

The organization said it is still trying to figure out what to do with the imported animal.

We see all sorts of things arrive at the GSPCA and we never know what will be next, Byrne said. Weve never had this type of beetle before.

Excavator operator collapses bear den in New York  and ends up with a tiny stowaway

Tourists see unusual animal at Australia beach, video shows. Great deal of mystery

Tiny stowaway outraged after being rescued from inside of car, Texas photos show
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A 15-year-old Bay Point girl died in the driveway of a strangers San Francisco home while people walked by without stopping to help or check on her, according to family members.

Jazmin Pellegrini ran away from her familys Bay Point home in Contra Costa County on April 17 without a phone or money, the girls aunt, Ametiszt Hajdu, said. Her loved ones frantically searched for Jazmin and alerted law enforcement that the juvenile was missing.

Just three days later, on April 20, Jazmin was found deceased in San Francisco, the citys Chief Medical Examiners Office told KRON4. The medical examiner did not release her cause of death.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Image via GoFundMe)

San Francisco police officers said a body was found on Lobos Street just before noon. Her grieving family is now left searching for answers. Was she with anyone in the city? Why did she go there? Why did she die?

A GoFundMe page created by her family states, Jazmin Pellegrini was a beautiful loving enthusiastic 15 year old. The exact cause of her death is still unclear, along with the events leading up to it. Her family does not know who she was with, how she got there, what she was doing, nor why her body was left alone to decompose in the street. People walked past this teenage girls body and ignored it, assuming it is a passed out homeless person. One man stopped to call the paramedics, she was revived once and then returned to flatline.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Image via GoFundMe)

Her mother, Marta Barany, said she wants to find the person responsible for this heinous act. We miss her so much and would do anything to find whoever did such a horrible thing to her.

According to Hajdu, the medical examiner said Jazmin did not have any physical injuries, and no foul play is suspected in her death. When her body was found by the first firefighters on scene, however, the teens shirt and bra were missing. A 15-year-old girl is not going to take her shirt off and walk around like that, Jazmins aunt told KRON4.

An autopsy report determining cause of death will not be completed for three months. In the meantime, we are sitting here not knowing what happened to her, the aunt told KRON4.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Image via GoFundMe)

The GoFundMe page states, This poor child was abandoned by whoever she was with, and left to die. She could have been saved, but strangers ignored her. A tragedy so unreal and impossible to comprehend. This injustice cannot be accepted. The truth must come out.

Jazmins loved ones posted fliers in the neighborhood asking for potential witnesses to come forward with information or surveillance videos around Lobos Street and Plymouth Avenue. They also posted the flier on social media hoping to get the word out.

One man who saw the poster called and said he thinks he saw Jazmin riding on a BART train from Bay Point to San Francisco before she exited at the Powell Street station on the morning of April 18.

Jazmin had short dark hair and facial piercings. She spent several months within the past two years in hospitals, her aunt said. The 15-year-old girl struggled with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, the GoFundMe page states.

Hajdu told KRON4, Her mom tried everything in her power to keep her safe. Everything she did was for Jazmin.

Slack co-founders child reported missing, may be in San Francisco

The girl was released from a Contra Costa County hospitals psychiatric unit in Martinez on the night of April 17. Her mother urged the hospital to keep her daughter longer so she was in a safe place with health professionals and security, but the staff refused, according to Jazmins aunt.

Hajdu said, Her mom knew she wasnt well, she could always tell just by looking in her eyes. When they took her home, she wasnt talking, wasnt smiling, and had a blank stare. She was not OK.

Just hours after returning home, Jazmin ran away. Her concerned family members immediately alerted the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office and drove around for hours trying to find her.

Everyone started driving around, my sister was searching for her until 3:30 in the morning. She thought the police officers would continue to search for her and open a missing person police case. They did not, the aunt said.

As the family continues waiting and hoping for more answers, Hajdu said, Please keep your kids safe. We gotta watch out for our babies.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Ihor Likarchuk, former head of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA) and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, said that school uniforms used to be worn only by elite educational institutions. During the Soviet era, however, they tried to make everyone look the same. So, according to him, the fact that some leaders now require students to adhere to a uniform is nothing more than a relic of the Soviet Union.

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Likarchuk said this in an interview with OBOZ.UA. He noted that if a high school student grows a beard and is required to shave it, this could be seen as a violation of his or her rights. Therefore, in his opinion, the abolition of school uniforms was one of the wisest decisions in the field of education.

"The fact that even now some teachers require students to adhere to a uniform is either a deed relic of USSR or an agreement on certain conditions with those who make the uniform," the educator assures.

"By the way, if a high school student has grown a beard, demanding that he shave it off can be seen as bullying or a violation of his rights. Parents of such students asked me similar questions," Likarchuk adds.

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He explained that earlier one of the factors that influenced the introduction of school uniforms in independent Ukraine was the desire to support the domestic clothing industry. And that is why the first presidential decree on the introduction of uniforms in schools was issued.

According to the teacher, schoolchildren should go to school in comfortable and convenient clothes. And if older students allow themselves certain excesses, such as makeup or jewelry, each educational institution should establish a certain dress code. According to Likarchuk, it should be developed according to the principle "everything is allowed except...", not "you can only wear...".

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
As protests calling for an end to Israels attack on Gaza flare up on campuses across the country, far-right personalities spent the week trying to convince their followers the protests were anything from a Marxist takeover to terrorism exploding in America. Meanwhile, the officials who sent a document falsely certifying Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election in Arizona are indicted by a grand jury. And an internal investigation shows no bias from the FBI for investigating Catholic extremists.

Its the week in extremism.

A protestor confronts a campus police officer during a demonstration at the University of Southern California, where several hundred people are protesting the ongoing war in Gaza.

Far-right paints campus protests as terrorism

As protests broke out on college campuses across the country, influencers and politicians on the far-right began to portray the protestors as violent, dangerous and intent on taking over the country. The claims were similar to what happened after mostly peaceful protests against police brutality in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, political organizer Charlie Kirk, and right-wing influencers Laura Loomer and Jack Posobiec all took to various social media channels, calling the protests terrorism and calling for a crackdown.

Round them up and throw them off these campuses. Taylor-Greene said.

It is a cancer that hates America, Loomer said of the protests.

The only option now is to place all of the Ivy League under indefinite military occupation, Posobiec posted.

Protests across the country began mostly peacefully, but many others have cited elements of the protests as antisemitic or expressed fears about threats toward Jewish students. Safety concerns have escalated on other campuses, leading to remote classes and a graduation ceremony cancelation.

Most protest organizers across the country have stressed to their followers that the protests should be non-violent.

Media coverage has reflected scores of arrests for trespassing and other minor crimes, and footage has been circulating online of clashes between police and protestors.

Joan Donovan, an assistant professor of journalism and emerging media studies at Boston University and an expert on the far-right, told USA TODAY the protest movement should also be very wary of far-right agitators trying to infiltrate protests, with the aim of undermining their messaging: I will not be surprised when groups like that do infiltrate and try to amp up the violence, Donovan said.

Those counter-protesters might, in turn, be met with violence from militant far-left activists aligned with the anti-fascist movement, said Colin P. Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security consultancy. The far-left has become increasingly organized over the last few years, in response to growing violence from the far-right, Clarke said, and hes worried about possible violence that could spill out from the protests.

I'm more concerned about the kind of onesies and twosies of people that say, Politics aren't working, the system is broken  let's do something impetuous, Clarke said. Like, let's do something big, and let's film it and let's Instagram Live it.

Inside the issue: Bosses at companies like Google are cracking down on Israel-Hamas war protesters

Fake electors for Trump indicted in Arizona

Arizona grand jury indicts former Trump aides and others in 2020 fake elector scheme

On Wednesday, a grand jury charged 11 Arizona Republicans and seven top aides to Donald Trump in a scheme to keep Trump in the White House by falsely certifying he won the state in 2020.

The 11 named fake electors include Tyler Bowyer, the chief operating officer at Turning Point USA, a Phoenix-based nonprofit with a similarly named political advocacy arm, and Nancy Cottle, who has served on the Arizona GOP Executive Committee and Maricopa County Republican Committee.

Two of the people indicted are sitting Arizona state legislators.

The indictment also lists seven more defendants whose names are redacted. As the Arizona Republic reported this week, those defendants likely include disgraced former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump aide Mark Meadows.

The nine-count indictment alleges the fake electors and Trump aides engaged in a conspiracy aimed at "preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald J. Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted."

The charges in Arizona come after similar charges over fake election certification against other groups in Michigan, Georgia and Nevada.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on December 05, 2023.

Internal review finds FBI report on Catholic extremists not biased

An internal investigation released late last week by the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General found there was no bias behind an FBI memo last year warning about threats from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists in radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology.

The confidential internal memo to House members , which was leaked last year, sparked outrage from conservatives when it was revealed. But investigators found no evidence of malicious intent or an improper purpose, in creating the document.

The investigation found analysts erred in tradecraft standards and evinced errors in professional judgment in crafting the memo, however.

The F.B.I. has said numerous times that the intelligence product did not meet our exacting standards and was quickly removed from F.B.I. systems, the FBI said in a statement. We also have said there was no intent or actions taken to investigate Catholics or anyone based on religion.

Statistic of the week: 44% of the time

Thats how often Jewish gamers in an online experiment faced harassment when gaming, according to a report released Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League.

The ADL has been tracking extremism and hate in online gaming for years, and has long found that all users encounter hate and extremism online. The new study specifically focused on Jewish gamers.

Researchers asked 11 participants to play three online games with the username Proud2BJewish. According to the report, 44% of their sessions resulted in some form of harassment, and between 25% and 41% of their gameplay resulted in harassment on the basis of identity.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student protests violent, right-wing accounts claim
Class attendees taking their lives in their own hands. (Photo by Beth Hoffman)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

Lets start with the price: $7,170. Thats the insurance quote I got this week from the only company that will insure us.

The only company.

Apparently agritourism  having tourists on your farm for classes or pizza night or to pet goat kids  is a no-no in Iowa now. And really, when you think about it, watching a cooking demo is pretty dangerous.

The cost of the premium on our cattle and goats is also extremely high. And yet, if we were trying to insure our corn or soybean crop, we would not only be able to find companies to cover us, the cost of our premiums would mostly be paid by you, the American taxpayer. More on that in a minute.

First, we tried to get coverage for our farm with our current company. When they told us they would not insure our new Barn House building we moved on to others, and got a no, we are not doing that anymore response from almost all.

All except Farm Bureau Financial Services, our last-ditch resort. We were reluctant to call them  we used to be members of the Iowa Farm Bureau and grew tired of the positions held by the group. They lobby hard for large-scale commodity crops (aka  corn and soybeans), and often seem to have the interest of large corporations in mind more than that of smaller-scale farmers. And above all, we care about promoting a kind of farming that cares for the land in ways they do not (they have fought the Clean Water Act, for example).

But we called a FB agent.

A list of typical insurance questions came back to us. How many cows did we have? What were our farm receipts? Did we have employees? Then they threw this in:

We [the Farm Bureau Financial Services] would need wording to be removed from Whippoorwill Creek Farms Home page. It was the page that said:

Driving around Iowa is an eye-opener.

There it is, everywhere  corn and beans, corn and more corn. But this has left us with polluted waterways, high cancer rates and unhealthy foods for our kids.

Thats why we are excited to do things differently, to bring you beef, goats and veggies without the sprays and chemicals, the GMO corn or soybeans.

Buying from Whippoorwill Creek Farm connects you to the things that matter: feeding our families delicious and nutritious food, creating jobs in our community and making sure Iowas land is healthy for our great-great-great grandkids.

I responded to their request:

No thanks.

I had known the Farm Bureau was not friendly to differing opinions, but I didnt think they would deny members from having them too.

Thanks for trying.

So the search for insurance continued. Finally, we found a new young Go-Getter Insurance Guy in a nearby town who came up with a different way of insuring us. Thats how we ended up with the whopping $7,000+ insurance bill.

The quote is more than twice what we paid last year. Granted, the Go-Getter Insurance Guy seems much more engaged than our old agent and is likely actually getting us the coverage we need. And we do have a new, costly (and beautiful) building that is now up and running, where we are hosting classes and overnight farm stays.

(Photo by Beth Hoffman)

But there are issues with the coverage too. It only covers the cattle if they are struck by lightning, fall into a frozen pond (en masse), are caught in a tornado, or are hit by hail, for example. Theyre not covered if there is a flood that takes out the herd, or extreme heat or cold causes their end, each of which seems far more likely than lightning killing 10 cows.

And in all cases, it would take many of them meeting their maker at the same time (all by the same cause) to make sense for us to file a claim. We will have a $2,500 deductible, and the premium will likely increase as soon as we make a claim.

The broker also added that we could not be sure how much the company would pay to replace the herd if they indeed expired en masse. Thats up to them, not us.

Its true, insurance is an American tradition. The first company in the United States began in 1735 in South Carolina; Ben Franklin formed one of the first companies to insure against fire in 1752. Today, the insurance industry collected $1.4 trillion in premiums (in 2021).

And insuring agricultural commodities is also not new. Federal crop insurance began during the Great Depression to ensure that farmers would not go broke and lose the farm while trying to grow food to feed the rest of us.

But only those who grow the Golden Crops (a term I am making up)  corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat  typically gain access to that special kind of insurance, the federally backed kind. The kind heavily subsidized by the American taxpayer, and supported by the aforementioned Farm Bureau.

The Government Accountability Office explains how crop insurance works:

USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] partners with private insurance companies, which sell and service insurance policies to farmers. The federal governments crop insurance costs include (1) subsidies to pay for part of a farmers crop insurance premium (over 60% in recent years) and (2) compensation to the insurance companies for selling and servicing crop insurance policies. [italics added].

Let me make sure you caught that taxpayers pay for BOTH the farmers premium AND compensation to the insurance companies. We pay the light blue portion of farmers insurance, costing us almost $10 billion a year from 2011 through 2021.

The Government Accountability Office (an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress) has made it clear in the past that this is an excessive cost to taxpayers.

We have previously suggested that Congress:

Reduce subsidies to high-income participants by creating an income limit

Adjust compensation to insurance companies to better align with market rates

As of February 2023, Congress hasnt acted on these matters. Savings from these changes could provide funding for other Farm Bill priorities.

Aligning with the market would likely mean that, like our insurance, covering your corn crop would be a more expensive endeavor. Perhaps then less corn would be insured, resulting in fewer people growing it. The continual creation of new ways to utilize the overproduction of corn  making it into plastics, ethanol, toothpaste or paint  could be eliminated. And maybe, just maybe, more farmers in Iowa might then raise foods we can actually eat.

Yet Republican lawmakers including Sen. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are asking for increased support for crop insurance coverage  up to 85% of premiums, resulting in billions more going toward supporting the Golden Crops. Higher premium payments are also supported by the Soybean Growers, the Corn Growers, and you guessed it  the American Farm Bureau.

Let me be clear: I do not think the American public should subsidize the insurance of our cattle, or goats or our barn. I dont really understand how anyone with a business would feel entitled to have 85% of their insurance premiums covered by our taxes.

And I am unclear how those very same Republicans who are unwilling to fund our schools, our parks, science research, Medicare and Social Security, or to relieve student debt burden (a different kind of subsidy in our future) can justify such a huge expense being covered by the American people.

In the end, the Go-Getter Insurance Guy has done the best he can, and we will have to bite the bullet and pay the premiums  all on our own.

This column was originally published by Beth Hoffmans blog, In the Dirt. It is republished here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and its member writers to support their work.

The post Farm insurance unfairness: Taxpayers foot the bill, but only for the golden crops appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Arts education

I recently read about art being cut from Cassidy Elementary and music being cut in other local schools. I am not surprised.

Anyone who has any contact with our only specialized arts school, SCAPA, knows how little funding is allocated for the arts in our district. The building is in desperate need of repair, and lacks facilities that any arts school should include.

I understand that a group of parents collectively went to a board meeting to address the problems. They were put off and told that nothing could be done for 5-10 years.

Looking at the building, the paint is peeling. Thats nothing compared to the inside. The floors are concrete which is not a big deal when you consider there has never been a stage. Performances are held elsewhere or in the multipurpose gym-cafeteria. Having no stage is a big problem when the school is producing a play or musical performance. This is at an ARTS school!

There is no specialized dance floor, resulting in kids getting hurt in rehearsal. Ceiling tiles are missing and there are leaks in the ceiling upstairs. The practice rooms have very little ventilation which creates quick spread of germs.

Why has no one, outside of the school staff and parents, cared about the funding for this school? Probably because SCAPA is listed as one of the top schools in the state in reference to test scores! There is no push to fix SCAPA because, on paper, its succeeding.

Suzanne F. Jones, Lexington

Climate effects

Chocolate prices have skyrocketed and candy bars have shrunk. Why? -- Climate Change.

Half the worlds source of chocolate is grown in West Africa. Because of fossil fuels, temperatures are rising in Africa and elsewhere, lowering rainfall, and encouraging pests and plant diseases. Climate Change is a long-term threat to chocolate, coffee, tea, and bananas. Some experts predict that soon only the rich will be able to afford these American favorites.

What can ordinary people do? The Citizens Climate Lobby advocates for carbon pricing in which companies pay a fee on their coal, oil and natural gas production. The fee will be distributed to all citizens in a revenue-neutral, income-adjusted way. Our plan is fair to poor and middle-class people. The Citizens Climate Lobby plan will encourage energy efficiency. A border adjustment will ensure that foreign imports pay the same fee. This plan is favored by 50 top Kentucky economists.

As a first step, please urge U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul to support the PROVE IT Act in the Senate, which will measure U.S. carbon emissions. Better yet, join the nonpartisan Citizens Climate Lobby (ccl.usa.org) and help keep chocolate, coffee, tea, and bananas affordable.

Dr. Charles T. Lutz, Lexington

The University of Kentucky marching band before a football game against Northern Illinois at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

UK ranking

In a recent survey conducted by the Wall Street Journal, the University of Kentucky ranked 239th out of 400 colleges in the U.S. The survey was based upon economic metrics and not some touchy-feely factors. The only two criteria used in the survey measured the efforts made by the college to assist students in graduating on time thus reducing the overall cost of obtaining a degree and the post-graduation earnings thus measuring the economic value to the student over their work life. Comparing UK to other colleges of interest, the survey revealed that UK trailed Vanderbilt, Florida, Texas A & M, Berea, Centre, Georgia, Auburn, Missouri, Tennessee, LSU, Texas, Thomas More, and Mississippi. On the bright side, UK led both the University of Louisville and the University of Arkansas.

As a UK graduate and a taxpayer, I would like to see a detailed and specific public report by the leadership of the UK describing the currently existing plans to have a higher score in future surveys of this sort and I am fairly sure that tuition-paying parents would like to see those plans as well.

Calvin D. Cranfill, Lexington

Military presence

It looks like the US is pulling military assets from Niger and probably Chad. It was noted that both are turning to Russia and that Russia may well be using our facilities in the future.

We pulled out of Afghanistan and many other places, leaving infrastructure and machinery behind. Some of the machinery may have been left inoperable, but it was still whole.

If we are going to remove our military presence from a country that no longer wants us there, everything useful should be removed or razed. If it cant be removed for some reason (usually because of the cost involved), it should be left as piles of rubble, with pieces as small as possible. Otherwise, we are offering aid to our adversaries. Weve already assisted Russia in Ukraine. We dont need to assist them to replace us elsewhere.

Glenna Brouse, Lexington

Homeless case

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case this week about the homeless epidemic in our country. Its simple  is it a crime for a homeless person to lay down in America? Understanding how we got here is also very simple  private prisons. A private prison charges the government $150 a day to house inmates. They cant go out and drum up business by recruiting criminals so they have set their sights on the desperate humans littered on our streets.

Who owns private prisons? The super-wealthy own private prisons; the same people who own corporations that abuse workers, and the same monied folks who purchase Supreme Court justices with luxury gifts and vacations.

Ive lived on way less than $150 a day over the past 20 years after fleeing domestic violence and trying to be a full-time parent to my traumatized son. I could have built a beautiful life if the government had invested $150 a day in me and my son. The addicts and mentally ill could get treatment, and the able bodies could get housed and employed. Instead, we are just a profit margin for the wealthy.

Denise Martin, Lexington

Condemning hate

Neither anti-Semitism nor anti-Palestinian sentiment are valid. Hate is never valid, no matter who it is expressed against.

Any religion that undermines its aspiration of Divinity by adhering to any doctrine of hate and domination is not Divine, but a vain attempt to be Gods among us. A religion that worships at an altar of hate, no matter what other gospel it proclaims, is only a group of charlatans attempting to control others. This is usually only to help them maintain power, influence and authority.

Palestine has a right to exist.

Israel has a right to exist.

No one has the right to demand the extinction of another.

All are equal, none are better, none are worse... the commanding rule of any valid religion is in principles and in its foundation: Love and all it entails - reason, honor, empathy, kindness, and, yes, generosity.

Hamas is a terrorist organization and terrorism exacted back upon it regardless of the innocent that they place in that crossfire ultimately serves only more terrorism. Hate begetting more Hate, a vortex of hate eating all.

Hate must be rebuked if humanity is to survive and to deserve that survival.

Robert Moreland, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey
The FBI continues to ignore Jeffrey Epstein's victims even after reaching $139 million settlement for botched Larry Nassar investigation

The FBI continues to ignore Jeffrey Epstein's victims even after reaching $139 million settlement for botched Larry Nassar investigation

The Justice Department settled over 100 claims from victims of Larry Nassar for $138.7 million.

But it's ignored claims from Jeffrey Epstein victims, who say law enforcement failed to protect them.

The Justice Department has already concluded that it botched an investigation into Epstein.

This week, the Justice Department agreed to a mammoth $138.7 million settlement to resolve more than 100 claims brought by accusers of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor.

It was announced nearly three years after the Justice Department's internal watchdog found that the FBI botched its handling of its investigation into Nassar, who has been the subject of hundreds of sexual abuse claims and is currently serving over a century in prison sentences after being convicted of sexual assault and child pornography charges.

But the FBI seems less interested in resolving claims from victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

Jordan Merson, an attorney representing about 30 of Epstein's victims in claims against the FBI, told Business Insider that the Justice Department has so far turned a blind eye to his clients.

"We are happy that the FBI has resolved those cases so that the Nassar victims can have that sense of accountability, responsibility, and justice and try to get some peace moving forward," Merson told Business Insider. "But it's curious as to why the FBI won't do the same thing in this case, won't allow these women who have bravely come forward to get that accountability, responsibility, and justice."

Merson filed the lawsuit, initially on behalf of 12 Epstein accusers, against the FBI in February. It alleges the law enforcement agency knew about the well-connected financier's serial sexual abuse of girls since at least the mid-1990s  and did nothing to stop him.

The agency ignored numerous tips and pleas from victims as early as the 1990s, according to the lawsuit. And the FBI also failed to act when visas and passports were issued for girls who flew on his plane  actions that should have required background checks, the lawsuit alleges.

Representatives for the Justice Department didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment Friday.

"Epstein orchestrated an illegal sex trafficking ring for the elite and the FBI failed to adequately investigate the abuse, failed to interview the victims, failed to investigate the crimes and did not follow routine procedure or offer victim assistance notwithstanding credible reports and tips," the lawsuit alleges. "The FBI sat back while Epstein and his co-conspirators sexually abused Jane Does 1-12."

The DOJ concluded it botched an earlier Epstein investigation

In 2019, Epstein killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in New York.

Years earlier, in 2007, he reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida that allowed him to serve an insubstantial sentence on a prostitution charge, even though law enforcement officials believed at the time that he had sexually abused dozens of girls. The deal was widely recognized as a corrupt bargain between Epstein's lawyers and then-US Attorney Alexander Acosta, who later resigned as labor secretary in Donald Trump's cabinet following an investigation into the agreement by the Miami Herald.

(The unusual plea agreement could also end up nullifying the sex-trafficking conviction of Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.)

The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility later concluded that Acosta exercised "poor judgment" with the agreement, which was also kept secret from Epstein's victims. And in December, US Senators Cory Booker and Marsha Blackburn pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray on "getting to the bottom" of the scope of Epstein's sex trafficking and the failures of the FBI to investigate his accusers' claims.

Wray told the senators that it had "been a while since I looked at the specific case" and that he would "figure out if there's more information we can provide" with his team.

But Merson told Business Insider that Wray has been uninterested in resolving claims from Epstein's victims, even though it's been nearly a year since he filed administrative claims against the FBI.

"The FBI has so far shown no interest in resolving these cases amicably," Merson said. "And it makes you scratch your head. Like, why is that? And what about this case? Why are they out these women who have come forward with claims against Jeffrey Epstein and the FBI's role?"

Jeffrey Epstein. Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images

In addition to the FBI's failures in investigating their sex crimes, Epstein and Nassar are connected in another way: While in jail, Epstein attempted to send Nassar a letter.

It was returned to the sender, and the contents have not been made public.

Merson's case is part of a spate of lawsuits seeking to hold government agencies and corporations accountable for allegedly facilitating Epstein's sexual abuse. His firm is also involved with a lawsuit against the US Virgin Islands, claiming the territory and its politicians helped Epstein traffic girls to one of his private islands for sex.

A compensation program formed by Epstein's estate after his death identified 136 different victims, while later litigation put the number closer to 200.

Merson's clients initially filed Standard Form 95 claims with the FBI  which offers federal agencies the chance to resolve claims efficiently and quietly, and serves as a precursor to a lawsuit if they don't  in May 2023. But the Justice Department, while not denying wrongdoing, hasn't engaged in settlement talks, he said.

Since filing the lawsuit in February, Merson has more than doubled the number of clients with claims against the law enforcement agency for failing to stop Epstein.

He said, "It's confusing and confounding" that the FBI isn't addressing the claims of Epstein's victims with the same urgency it gave Nassar's.

"Why won't the FBI do the right thing for sexual abuse survivors of Jeffrey Epstein?" Merson said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The ongoing student protests over Israel and Palestine have become the center of a national controversy, with members of Congress calling for National Guard deployments and terrorism financing investigations against the protesters. But a few years ago, the federal government was interested in a very different sort of campus controversy: whether right-wing journalist Ben Shapiro should be allowed to speak.

In October 2017, the FBI prepared a "tactical intelligence report" on Shapiro's upcoming speaker event at the University of California, Los Angeles. The bulletin was released last week in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for FBI documents on the Black Lives Matter movement, and posted to the public records platform MuckRock by journalist Jordan Lassiter.

It's unclear what FBI agents actually dug up. A cover page says that the memo "is based on FBI, DOJ [Department of Justice] and other law enforcement databases, as well as open source research conducted from 26 October 2017 to 27 September 2017." However, the FBI redacted most of the content before releasing it.

Only one line, under the header "Black Lives Matter," was left uncensored: "Protesters from the 'No Hate Speech' movement have shown up at most of the Ben Shapiro speaking events in the past, including at the UC Berkeley and University of Utah speaking engagements in September 2017."

The term "No Hate Speech movement" appears to be a catch-all for left-wing groups protesting right-wing campus speakers. For example, the protest at UCLA was organized by the Young Democratic Socialists and Students for Socialism, while the protest in Utah was organized by a coalition that included Students for a Democratic Society and the Latino rights group Brown Berets.

None of these organizations responded to Reason's request for comment. Not that there was much to say: The protest against Shapiro at UCLA turned out to be small and nonviolent.

The danger of campus protests may have been brought to the feds' attention by local police. On September 6, 2017, a detective from the Berkeley Police Department requested two analysts from the North Carolina Regional Intelligence Center, a "fusion center" set up by the Department of Homeland Security, to help set up a 24/7 command center during the upcoming protests.

"We have on-going demonstrations with ANTIFA/Black Bloc people, which have repeatedly shown a propensity of violence. We are expecting large scale, violent demonstrations" against speeches by Shapiro and the right-wing pundit Milo Yiannopoulos, said the memo, which Reason obtained from BlueLeaks, a trove of leaked fusion center documents.

Berkeley police weren't wrong to expect violence. A previous speech by Yiannopoulos had been canceled in February 2017 due to a riot by left-wing protesters. Then, in April, both far-left and far-right activists showed up in Berkeley to fight.

The September event at Berkeley with Shapiro, however, went smoothly. Under heavy police presence and protected by over half a million dollars in security measures, Shapiro spoke to hundreds of audience members while hundreds of protesters gathered off campus. A few demonstrators were arrested for carrying a banned weapon or assaulting a police officer.

Meanwhile, Yiannopoulos' planned "Free Speech Week" at Berkeley in September fell apart due to organizer incompetence. Reason's Robby Soave described a "sad, aborted" event with a tiny crowd that lasted for only a few moments while far-left and far-right activists spoiled for a fight outside.

Shapiro's appearances at the University of Utah and UCLA were even quieter. Police in Salt Lake City broke up two fights before Shapiro's event outside the venue, and a few audience members walked out in protest after Shapiro began speaking. There were no arrests at UCLA. The campus speech controversy, it seems, was already old and boring news.

Preparing for violence was probably still a sensible move by local police. But the FBI's involvement may have been a bit of overkill.

The post The FBI Was Monitoring Student Protests Against Ben Shapiro appeared first on Reason.com.
About the authors: James Roosevelt, Jr. is a grandson of President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Henry Scott Wallaces grandfather, Henry A. Wallace, served President Franklin Roosevelt as Secretary of Agriculture, Vice President, and Secretary of Commerce.

Pop quiz: Who said this?

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Well, most recently, it was Donald Trump, in an angry Truth Social post on the second day of his criminal trial in New York, demanding that his supporters be allowed to protest on the front steps of courthouses, to rally behind MAGA. SAVE OUR COUNTRY! (Shades of his will be wild invitation to his January 6 rally.)

Before that, of course, it was FDR. And candidate Trumps repetition of it is spectacularly ironic, because he is running on a platform of nothing but fear.

Fear of immigrant vermin and animals poisoning the blood of America. Fear of crime and American carnage. Fear of the Radical Left, communists, socialists, George Soros and Black Lives Matter. Fear of white Christians being replaced. Fear of China intentionally spreading viruses, and fear of the vaccines that cure them. Fear of taxes, of the Deep State, of the Justice Department and FBI, of government agents confiscating the guns of patriotic Americans. Fear of windmills, and of Obamacare. Fear of the fake news mediathe enemy of the people. Fear of mail-in ballots, rampant voter fraud, and (Black women) election workers stealing suitcases of ballots from him. Hell, fear of democracy itself.

Run for your lives! We have EVERYTHING to fear, including fear itself.

If FDR Built It, Donald Trump Wants to Destroy It

FDRs nothing to fear line is one of the most memorable in history, and perhaps one of the least understood. Surely everybody fears somethinglike, say, death. And why would people fear fear itself?

Only by considering the context of that dayFDRs first inaugurationcan we begin to grasp what he was talking about, and why the line resonated so deeply. It was a time when the Great Depression was raging and a quarter of all workers were unemployed. Industries had withered. Farmers found no market for their goods. Banks failed and family savings were wiped out. Foreclosures and bankruptcies were rampant. FDR acknowledged the dark realities of the moment. People were fearful.

But this was just the launching point for his bright sweeping vision for the future, to respond to Americans demand for action, and action now. He proposed vast public jobs programs, putting the unemployed to work building the nations infrastructure and protecting natural resources. He proposed agricultural reforms, foreclosure relief, and reining in irresponsible speculation by banks and Wall Street. He spoke soaringly of leadership which aims at a larger good, acting on old and precious moral values.

Our constitutional system has proved itself the most superbly enduring political mechanism the world has ever known, he exalted. It has met every stress  of foreign wars, and of bitter internal strife.

He reassured a desperate public that this great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and prosper.

So, yes, America, times are tough, said FDR, but theyve been worse, and with the warm courage of national unity, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. With resolute action by a newly invigorated government, there is nothing at all to fear.

He had campaigned throughout with unadulterated joy (in the words of close aide Ray Moley) for his rosy New Deal for the American people, and brought great happiness and confidence into the White House, according to the Secret Service chief who oversaw the transition from Hoover to Roosevelt.

Trump turns this visionary optimism upside down and inside out. From a period of what he describes as darkness, he promises  more darkness. Retribution against his political enemies. Gutting the nonpolitical civil service and requiring personal loyalty. Making the Justice Department his personal instrument. Pardoning those who savagely attacked police and waged an insurrection against our Constitution. Harassment or de-licensing of unfavorable media outlets. Backsliding on climate pollution, gun violence, reproductive rights, civil rights and voting rights. Giving Putin some or all of Ukraine. I dont give a shit about NATO.

Follow-up pop quiz. Who said this?

Trump is more dangerous than anyone could ever imagine.

Answer: Trumps Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis.

Whats truly dangerous: Trump inviting comparisons to FDR. No way can that go well for him.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced grizzly bears will be coming back to Washingtons North Cascades. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Grizzly bears are coming back to Washingtons North Cascades.

The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday a decision to actively restore the animals in the region, where they lived for thousands of years. The last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear in this area was in 1996.

The plan is to move three to seven grizzly bears from the Rocky Mountains or British Columbia every summer for five to 10 years until reaching a population of 25 bears. The goal is a population of 200 bears in 60 to 100 years.

Theres no timeline yet for when the bears will be moved into Washington, but federal officials will publish updates as they are finalized, according to the Park Service.

We are going to once again see grizzly bears on the landscape, restoring an important thread in the fabric of the North Cascades, Don Striker, superintendent of North Cascades National Park Service Complex, said in a statement.

Debate about reintroducing grizzlies in North Cascades has been going on for years

Thursdays decision follows a decadeslong debate over the best way to bring back the bears to the North Cascades. The most recent push, which the federal government started in 2022, drew more than 12,000 public comments, many with concerns over the bears effect on humans, livestock and other wildlife in the area.

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican who represents Washingtons 4th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of the North Cascades region, has been a critic of the plan.

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington

U.S. Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse represents Washingtons 4th District in Congress. (Courtesy of Dan Newhouses official website)

Newhouse called the latest decision outrageous and misguided.

While it was my hope that NPS and USFWS would listen to the will of concerned of residents in the affected areas, this administration is, once again, disregarding local public opinion and instead catering to the whims of coastal elites and the out-of-touch environmentalist lobby, which has been rushing to finalize this plan since its inception, he said in a statement.

Grizzly bears are considered a threatened species in the lower 48 states under the federal Endangered Species Act. There are about 2,000 grizzly bears outside of Alaska. In the 19th century, there were an estimated 50,000 in the U.S., but their numbers dropped into the hundreds by the 1930s, mostly because of killing by humans.

Under the new plan, the bears in the North Cascades would be considered a nonessential experimental population under the Endangered Species Act, which the Park Service said will provide authorities and land managers additional tools for managing the population.

This means that the bears will be treated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act but eases some of the regulations normally associated with endangered species. For example, the management of black-footed ferrets, also considered a nonessential experimental population, makes harm done to the animals during traditional land management legal, giving landowners the ability to continue managing their property without fear of violating the federal law.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will release its final rule for managing grizzly bears as a nonessential experimental population in the coming days.

The designation is based on extensive community engagement and conversations about how the return of a grizzly bear population in the North Cascades will be actively managed to address concerns about human safety, property and livestock, and grizzly bear recovery, said Brad Thompson, state supervisor for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The Washington State Standard, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Feds will move grizzly bears into Washingtons North Cascades appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
Former paramedic Jeremy Cooper has been sentenced to a four-year probationary sentence Friday after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the final case connected to Elijah McClain's 2019 death.

Prosecutors accused the Aurora, Colorado, paramedic and his co-defendant Peter Cichuniec of administering an excessive amount of ketamine to sedate the 23-year-old McClain after an encounter with police on August 24, 2019. According to department policy, administering ketamine to sedate a suspect is intended "to minimize time struggling."

The paramedics were accused of improperly assessing McClain medically before and after administering the dose of ketamine.

Both men were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in December. Cichuniec and Cooper were both acquitted of assault in the second degree with intent to cause bodily injury causing serious bodily injury. Cooper was found not guilty of assault in the second-degree unlawful administration of drugs.

Both had pleaded not guilty to their charges.

PHOTO: Paramedics Jeremy Cooper, left, and Peter Cichuniec, right, at an arraignment in the Adams County district court at the Adams County Justice Center Jan. 20, 2023. (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images, FILE)

As part of his sentence, Cooper will serve 14 months in a work release program and complete 100 hours of "useful public service," according to Judge Mark Warner.

Elijah McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, held back tears as she read an impact statement before the sentencing. She said Cooper "followed the crowd of cowards," and did not show any remorse for his actions.

"I have already experienced so much and I am sure I still have much more to endure for my son," she said.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement that with the sentence there was "a measure of justice for Elijah McClain, his family, and loved ones."

"There were many things that the officers and paramedics could have done the night of August 24, 2019 to prevent this deadly encounter," he said.

Warner said it was "somewhat unusual, after being on the bench for 18 years, in criminal for at least half or more of that, being faced with such a situation where you have somebody who has really dedicated his life to helping other people, and yet being involved in a case of this nature, where a young man died for really no reason."

The judge added that Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison with a three-year period of parole for assault in the second-degree unlawful administration of drugs and criminally negligent homicide.

He received one year on the criminally negligent homicide conviction that will run concurrent to the five years for the assault conviction. The sentence for his offenses was reportedly expected to be between 5-and 16 years behind bars.

The death of the young Black man in an encounter with white police officers became another rallying cry for police reform in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 death.

MORE: What happened to Elijah McClain? Protests help bring new attention to his death

McClain's death

The 23-year-old was confronted by police while walking home from a convenience store after a 911 caller told authorities they had seen someone "sketchy" in the area.

McClain was unarmed and wearing a ski mask at the time. His family says he had anemia, a blood condition that can make people feel cold more easily.

When officers arrived on the scene, they told McClain they had a right to stop him because he was "being suspicious."

In police body camera footage, McClain can be heard telling police he was going home, and that "I have a right to go where I am going."

Officer Nathan Woodyard placed McClain in a carotid hold and he and the other two officers on the scene moved McClain by force to the grass and restrained him.

When EMTs Cooper and Cichuniec arrived, McClain was given a shot of 500 milligrams of ketamine to sedate him and he was loaded into an ambulance where he had a heart attack, according to investigators.

McClain's cause of death, which was previously listed as "undetermined," was listed in an amended autopsy report as "complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint." The manner of death remained listed as "undetermined" as it was in the initial report.

McClain weighed 143 pounds, but was given a higher dose of ketamine than recommended for someone his size and overdosed, according to Adams County coroner's office pathologist Stephen Cina.

Cichuniec and Cooper diagnosed McClain with "excited delirium," after approximately two minutes on the scene, according to the indictment.

Excited delirium is characterized by the FBI as a "potentially deadly medical condition involving psychotic behavior, elevated temperature, and an extreme fight-or-flight response by the nervous system."

State attorney Shannon Stevenson explained to the jury during the paramedics' trial that the only time paramedics are allowed to administer ketamine is if the patient is suffering from excited delirium and is a danger to themselves and others.

The prosecution argued that Cichuniec and Cooper failed to give McClain adequate medical assessments before administering the ketamine when they arrived at the scene. Prosecutors also criticized the paramedics for waiting 6 minutes before checking McClain for a pulse after administering the ketamine.

"They intentionally injected Elijah McClain, who was laying on the ground, barely moving, struggling to breathe, with an overdose of ketamine without following a single step of their training and protocols," Stevenson said during Cichuniec and Cooper's trial. "They conducted no assessment. They didn't speak a word to Elijah. They didn't put a finger on him. And then they overdosed him with 150% of the dose someone his size should have gotten. And then they failed to even check on him until this pulse was gone. They knew better."

Cooper's defense attorney argued there is a lack of protocol for the situation these paramedics found themselves in, citing the aggravated police presence, the way paramedics say they had to estimate McClain's weight with police on top of him, the way to determine who had authority at the scene, and the protocols to accurately assess if a patient is suffering from excited delirium.

McClain died on Aug. 30, 2019, three days after doctors pronounced him brain dead and he was removed from life support, officials said.

Former police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the third degree in McClain's death. He was sentenced to over one year in the county jail in January.

Two other officers, Jason Rosenblatt and Woodyard, were found not guilty on charges of reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Rosenblatt was also acquitted on charges of assault in the second degree.

Paramedic sentenced to 4 years probation in connection with Elijah McClain's death originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Typically, 17 million students submit the form each year, but applications were down 40 percent nationwide as of March 29, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM)

Maureen Ford has already been accepted to nine colleges and universities as she waits to graduate from Navajo Preparatory School on May 20. She wants to be the first generation in her family to graduate from college.

But first she needs to get her federal financial aid fixed as the clock ticks toward a May 1 deadline. Like many students across the country, Ford will rely heavily on financial aid to meet her goals.

Although she filed her application in January, the system still wont allow her to complete the process.

Its very frustrating because I really want to know and submit my application because a lot of my colleges are asking for it, Ford told ICT. May 1 is coming up, and I need to make my decision on where I want to go to college. I really need to find out how much aid I am getting because I need financial aid for every college.

Ford is among millions of students whose financial aid remains up in the air after changes to the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, have upended the application process.

Online system glitches, calculation errors and incorrect tax information have all contributed to the data exchange madness between the U.S. Department of Education, on-the-ground school specialists and students.

The changes could hit particularly hard for students at tribal colleges and universities and historically Black colleges and universities, where as many as 70-90 percent of students rely on financial aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Maureen Ford, who is set to graduate from Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, New Mexico, on May 20, 2024, is among millions of students whose financial aid for college remains up in the air after changes to the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. (Photo courtesy of Maureen Ford)

Typically, 17 million students submit the form each year, but applications were down 40 percent nationwide as of March 29, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Delays have pushed back the timelines on the FAFSA process, which typically opens in October and responds to students by March. Most college award letters will start to arrive in May.

The amount of stress that its causing students is pretty monumental, said Sam Bader, a Kanaka Maoli teacher at Navajo Prep in Farmington, New Mexico, who helps students navigate the college application process.

The uncertainty is creating headaches not only for Native students and their parents, but also school counselors, college admissions administrators and executives.

Twyla Baker, Mandan-Hidatsa and Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College president, voiced concerns on social media about how the delays and glitches are affecting Native students.

Requiring changes in FAFSA without funding resources to do so is a great way for politicians to cause problems for our most vulnerable students, Baker wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Millions of college students [are] in limbo.

What is FAFSA?

The application system for financial aid was originally set up under the 1965 Higher Education Act under President Lyndon B. Johnson to establish the U.S. government as the primary provider of financial aid for college students.

The application was initially called the Financial Aid Form, or FAF, as an optional form for colleges and universities. In 1992, when the Higher Education Act was reauthorized by Congress, the form was standardized to FAFSA for all prospective students.

Federal financial aid can include Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or SEOGs, which do not need to be repaid. Students can also receive federal direct student loans, which require repayment, and can participate in federal work-study programs.

With the details provided in FAFSA, the government uses a formula to calculate a students aid index  how much the government estimates the family can provide for college tuition and expenses.

A key component is that families are not required to be low-income to qualify for assistance. Students whose parents earn as much as $200,000 a year can be eligible for aid.

Many dont ever apply, however. According to the College Board, millions of dollars in federal aid are left on the table because students failed to file a FAFSA. The College Board is a nonprofit organization that provides information to help students succeed in college.

This year, changes ostensibly to make the system easier have instead caused delays, with the government pushing back the deadlines from March 1 to May 1 for applying.

FAFSA Help Available

Stressed out waiting for your college financial aid awards letter after filing your FAFSA?

Counselors are in the same boat, waiting on pins and needles to hear back from the U.S. Department of Education. Their advice: breathe, be patient and stay in touch with your selected colleges for the fall semester.

If you havent yet filled out the FAFSA form, you have until May 1 to complete the process.

Here are some tips for navigating the system:

*If you are starting the application from scratch, follow these 8 tips.

*Keep checking back on your submitted application and make any corrections required.

*Have patience.

*Stay in touch with your counselor, college advisor and college financial aid office.

*In your state, research other financial aid avenues: state, public and private scholarships.

*Apply for scholarships at your selected college.

*Dont give up. Persevere.

The revamped system does include some advantages, however. The number of questions on the form has been reduced from 103 to about 30, and applicants can fill out their income and college choices in a way that is considered more streamlined.

A new formula for determining financial aid will also make more students eligible for assistance, by making more low-income and medium-income families qualify. It also opens up eligibility requirements for homeless youth, foster care youth and incarcerated individuals, and allows more than one member in a family to attend college on aid.

One of the big things, of course, is the new formula, said Ruben Reyes, a public outreach coordinator for the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation who holds FAFSA workshops for counselors, parents and students.

So thats a positive thing, Reyes said. More students are going to be able to get more federal aid.

Most college officials tout the new rollout, despite the roadblocks.

It is a lot easier for a student and family members to complete the FAFSA than it ever was before, said Michaela Willis, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at South Dakota State University.

It doesnt take very long, Willis said. You dont have to give up three hours of your time. Fifteen minutes to a half-hour, and you could be finished with that FAFSA. So go out there, check it out, and get it done. Its pretty quick and easy.

Meanwhile, counselors are encouraging students in limbo to apply for state and private scholarships, the applications for which are usually readily available in high school and college financial aid offices.

New Mexico, for example, offers free in-state tuition to state residents to attend public colleges now, plus offering the New Mexico Opportunity grant and the lottery scholarship.

Some states also offer free tuition to Native students, but financial aid experts said the students are still eligible to apply for other grants and scholarships to help offset costs.

Counselors, also in wait mode, expect their jobs to extend into the summer months and maybe even into the fall.

Unfortunately, financial aid staff will be under a massive workload in processing records for aid due to all the system glitches, calculations, and tax errors, Reyes said. Many corrections will need to be addressed, further delaying the process of awarding student aid for the fall.

Impact on TCUs

The upheaval is creating problems for tribal colleges and universities as well.

In New Mexico alone, about 28 percent fewer graduating high school students  including Indigenous students  have yet to file their FAFSA.

Reyes said the year has been hectic.

We are all working as hard as we can to try to ease the pain to all the students and families being Native American or any New Mexico student residents here in New Mexico, Reyes said. The new FAFSA rollout has been quite a challenge.

At South Dakota State University, Willis said about 23 percent of self-identified American Indian and Alaska Native students did not complete the FAFSA for the 2023 or 2024 academic years.

That does mean that 75 to 80 percent are relying on federal financial aid in part for their schooling, Willis said. We also know that within a specific group of students are Wokini Scholars, who must be tribally enrolled to be eligible for that scholarship. About 18 percent did not complete the FAFSA.

At the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, counselor Scott Whitaker said that the institute staff cannot view even the applications submitted in January, further delaying the process.

We cant bring them in like we normally do and load them into our computer systems and start awarding financial aid based on that, Whitaker said.

About 75 percent of IAIA students are Native American  about the same percentage as those who attend one of the 37 tribal colleges in the nation.

I imagine its similar because were all drawing from a very similar population, said Whitaker, a 35-year veteran in college financial aid.

Looking ahead

Meanwhile, as her high school graduation approaches, Ford faithfully returns to the online application in hopes of making the corrections the system has flagged.

It hasnt been as simple as promised.

I filed it back in January, but Im currently waiting to make corrections, she said. Theres a button and its not letting me press it. Theres a notification saying that Ill have to wait a couple more weeks in order to make corrections.

Julia Begay, who is set to graduate from Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, New Mexico, on May 20, 2024, waited four months to hear back on her college financial aid after changes to the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, upended the process. (Photo via Zoom)

Aiming to study human health or biological sciences, Ford dreams of attending Emory University in Georgia or Reed College in Oregon. Shes also interested in the University of Colorado.

When I got most of my acceptances, it kind of boosted my confidence and made me want to finish high school, Ford said. Im just really excited for what the future holds for me.

Despite the hold-ups, Ford remains determined.

I cant really do anything, she said. I just have to wait and see. I check every day, every hour of the day.

Julia Begay, another Navajo Prep senior, was accepted to 11 of the 14 colleges she applied to, but has received only two financial aid award letters. Waiting four months to hear back from FAFSA was a bit excruciating, but she has since committed to attend Seattle University.

It was really torture, said Begay, also a first-generation student to attend college. My Mom, you know, has never experienced this before. So it was a first for both of us, and we were both just getting really impatient because I had to make these college decisions. But I couldnt make it without my financial needs. It was really, really frustrating.

After going through the process, Begay has sage advice for peers.

Have patience and dont worry about it too much, Begay said. Keep yourself busy and fill out what you need to fill out and do what you need to do.

Reyes also tells students and parents not to lose faith.

Youre still going to get that state aid, but just know that that federal aid will come in time, said Reyes. The schools may be a little bit behind on getting everything processed for you, but they will get it done eventually.

He continued, Just go through the process, make sure you get your admissions application done. Make sure you attend orientation in the fall. Thats very important at your chosen college. Go through all the steps and just move forward. Even if your financial aid award offer is not ready yet, just pretend that it is okay.

The post Financial aid upheaval puts college students at risk appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Sometimes, when choosing a country for your next trip to Europe, you want to take a break from the crowds of tourists, city noise, and tourist locations. Most travelers avoid such places because they consider them not as interesting as the main travel centers.

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However, such "hidden gems" are the best choice for people who want to get to know the country, its culture and flavor as deeply as possible. Or just to relax in a more or less tranquil environment. That's why European Best Destinations has published an annual ranking of European "secret" cities.

1. Villajoyosa, Spain

This small city on the Mediterranean coast has a comfortable microclimate and pleasant air temperature throughout the year. It is special for its colorful houses.

2. Ares del Maestrat, Spain



Halfway between Barcelona and Valencia, there is another gem: Ares del Maestrat. Due to the fact that the city is located on a rocky hill, it offers incredible scenery. In particular, you can visit the Mola Castle and the watchtower.

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3. Primosten, Croatia



It is located just half an hour by car from Sibenik Airport. The city is famous for its sunny beach vacations, such as the longest beach Mala Raduca with lots of bars, restaurants and various water activities.

4. Bokod, Hungary



The village on Lake Bokod is located just an hour's drive from Budapest. It is a calm and hospitable place that is definitely worth a visit. However, you should be careful as many of the houses are privately owned.

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5. Naantali, Finland

This city is ideal for Moomin fans as it is home to Muumimaailma, a theme park based on the works of Tove Jansson.

6. Bour, Faroe Islands

Bour has only 75 inhabitants, so this village is the best option for complete seclusion. It has unique views of the sea and the impressive Thindholmur, an incredibly majestic rock.

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7. Blavand, Denmark

Blavand was one of the most protected places in the whole of Denmark during World War II. Because of this, it has bunkers that overlook the beaches. Nowadays, local authorities have tried to fit it into modern landscapes by decorating it with statues of horses.

8. Ulm, Germany

This city is unique for its red roofs and colorful historic buildings, such as the town hall and the chapel of St. Nicholas, which dates back to the 13th century. In particular, it is located almost at the source of the Danube River, which flows through Ukraine to the Black Sea.

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9. Aljezur, Portugal

Recently, various cities in Portugal have been included in the rankings of the best settlements, and Aljezur in the south of the country is no exception. The municipality itself is a vast territory with protected areas and has the best beaches for recreation.

10. Dartlo, Georgia

Georgia is one of the least visited countries in Europe, so tourists are not so common. Among the green hills and mountains of Dartlo are historical houses, clan defense towers and religious buildings. Due to its historicity, the city has a "grounded" appearance and exudes tranquility.

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Fire breaks out in Washington County home

The Red Cross was called to assist the residents of a Washington County home that caught fire late Thursday night.

It happened just after 11 p.m. at a home along South McNary Street in Houston.

A Channel 11 photographer captured video of fire damage on the second story of the home.

The Red Cross was called to help the occupants, though its not clear how many people live in the house.

No injuries were reported.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Pennsylvania man among Americans facing prison time over strict law at popular vacation destination Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh issues warning about man accused of disturbing Masses Harvey Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction overturned by NY appeals court VIDEO: Motive, smoking gun and shocking defense revealed in John Chapman murder trial DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Fire in the city of Jackson

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Firefighters from at least two agencies battled a blaze in Jackson Friday.

Michigan Fire Alerts tells 6 News the crews were called to the 100 block of E. Argyle St. in Jackson. There they discovered a structure fire involving a home and a shed.

Firefighters battle a blaze in the 100 block of Argyle St. in Jackson Friday. (Courtesy Michigan Fire Alerts)

Firefighters battle a blaze in the 100 block of Argyle St. in Jackson Friday. (Courtesy Michigan Fire Alerts)

Firefighters battle a blaze in the 100 block of Argyle St. in Jackson Friday. (Courtesy Michigan Fire Alerts)

Firefighters battle a blaze in the 100 block of Argyle St. in Jackson Friday. (Courtesy Michigan Fire Alerts)

Firefighters battle a blaze in the 100 block of Argyle St. in Jackson Friday. (Courtesy Michigan Fire Alerts)

Mutual aide from Summit Township Fire Department was called in, Township fire officials confirmed to 6 News. Officials from Jackson were not immediately available for comment.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV)  A fire in the attic of a local northeast Wisconsin Culvers on Friday caused smoke and water damage to the building.

According to the Fond du Lac Fire Rescue (FDLFR), crews were sent to the Culvers Restaurant on West Pioneer Road just after 1:50 a.m. on April 26 after receiving reports of a fire in the attic.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Car left with extensive damage after rollover crash in Wisconsin, driver not found

When crews arrived, smoke was visible from the roof of the Culvers building. It was noted that at that time, a construction company was doing work on the roof of the building and were the ones to report the fire.

Firefighters were able to gain access to the attic space and had to open holes in the ceiling in multiple areas to get to the fire, which was then quickly put out.

The building sustained smoke and water damage, FDLFR officials say. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Neenah Menasha Emergency Society hosts Kitchen Tour

The Town of Fond du Lac Fire Department, North Fond du Lac Fire Department, and Lamartine Fire Department all assisted at the scene.

No other information was provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A legal firm is reportedly recruiting TikTok creators to join a lawsuit targeting the bill President Joe Biden signed into law this week, forcing the platforms Chinese parent company to sell its stake in the app to a U.S.-based entity within a year to avoid it getting banned nationwide as court challenges over the legislation loom.

Forbes reported that First Amendment legal firm Davis Wright Tremaine has been contacting creators and small business owners with a presence on the platform about joining legal action to block the legislation.

The outlet added that its unclear if the companys outreach is being made on behalf of TikTok. Davis Wright Tremaine previously represented TikTok creators and users who filed a lawsuit to block a Montana law that would ban the app statewide starting in January. The company won the court challenge, which was funded by TikTok.

Davis Wright Tremaine is not the only company reaching out to potential plaintiffs. Puneet Nanda, a small business owner with nearly 273,000 followers on the platform, told Forbes he has already been approached by lawyers from three different firms but did not name the companies as he was still considering his options.

TikTok has already announced it is planning legal action against the legislation, which was approved by both chambers of Congress as part of a wider foreign aid package to support U.S. allies abroad, including Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court, a TikTok spokesperson told HuffPost Wednesday. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate 7 million businesses and silence 170 million Americans.

Under the signed legislation, ByteDance would have up to 12 months to finalize a sale of its stake in TikTok to a U.S.-based entity.

However, its unclear if the company plans to comply with the directive.

ByteDance on Thursday took to one of its other social media platforms, Toutiao, to deny a report by The Information that said the Chinese tech company was exploring a sale of its stake in TikTok, notably without the algorithm that recommends videos to users, to a U.S. company outside the tech space.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that ByteDance would rather cease TikToks operations in the U.S. if the upcoming legal challenge fails than go forward with a forced divestiture, citing four sources.

U.S. officials have long voiced concerns about the companys ties to China, saying that TikTok could be forced to share its user data with the Chinese government if requested under local law.

The company has repeatedly refuted the argument, citing its investment in Project Texas, a plan to safeguard U.S. users data.

Under Project Texas, all protected U.S. data will be stored exclusively in the U.S. and under the control of the U.S.-led security team, the company writes. This eliminates the concern that some have shared that TikTok US user data could be subject to Chinese law.

The developments around a possible TikTok ban come as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing Friday for talks.

China has signaled it would not green-light a TikTok sale to an American company.

Related...
(The Hill)  A cargo ship passed through a new deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday, the first to cross the new channel since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed last month, shutting down most traffic in the Port of Baltimore.

The bulk carrier, Balsa 94, sailed out under a Panama flag Thursday morning using a new 35-foot channel, The Associated Press reported. It is headed toward St. John, Canada, and is expected to arrive next Monday.

It comes nearly four weeks after Dali, a 984-foot cargo ship, crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the structure to collapse into the Patapsco River.

The ship issued a last-minute mayday call, allowing police to halt traffic moments before the crash, but eight individuals working on the bridge were unable to get off and were thrown into the water.

Two workers were rescued and survived, and the bodies of four victims have been recovered. Two more workers are still missing and presumed dead.

The collapse brought maritime traffic to a halt, and crews are still working through the massive cleanup process. The Balsa is one of five vessels previously stuck in the port that can now use the new temporary channel.

The new 35-foot channel opened Thursday morning and is the fourth temporary channel created to circumvent the damage. The other channels have been primarily used by vessels involved in the cleanup effort.

The newest temporary channel will remain open until Monday or Tuesday of next week, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

Bridge collapse fallout

Earlier this week, the city of Baltimore filed court documents arguing the owner and operator of the Dali should not be able to avoid liability. The city claimed the vessel was unseaworthy when it left the Baltimore port last month and alleged Grace Ocean Private, the owner of Dali, and the ships operator, Synergy Marine Group, are grossly and potentially criminally negligent.

For more than four decades, cargo ships made thousands of trips every year under the Key Bridge without incident, the attorneys wrote. There was nothing about March 26, 2024, that should have changed that.

In the days after the collapse, Grace Ocean and Synergy asked a federal court to limit their legal liability to about $43.6 million.

The city is arguing this liability cannot be limited at this time without a trial, where the companies failures could be shown.

The Hill reached out to the city of Baltimore for further comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Three women who had so-called vampire facials at a New Mexico spa appear to have been infected with HIV, marking the first cases of the disease being spread through cosmetic injection services, according to a CDC report.

In the summer of 2018, a woman in her 40s was told she was HIV positive, despite not being exposed to any known HIV risk factors  like injection drugs, blood transfusions, or sexual contact with someone who had tested positive for HIV. The woman did, however, report that she had recently been exposed to needles during the vampire facial procedure.

The two other patients had received vampire facials in 2018.

Vampire facials  done to rejuvenate skin  are conducted by receiving platelet-rich plasma with microneedling, the CDC wrote. They gained popularity since Kim Kardashian underwent the procedure during an episode of Kim and Kourtney Take Miami. She posted photos on Instagram after the procedure, revealing a horror-movie-like blood-smattered skin that was allegedly in the process of becoming more youthful.

Evidence suggests that contamination from an undetermined source at the spa during spring and summer 2018 resulted in HIV-1 transmission to these three patients, the agency wrote.

The CDC noted that the procedures were performed at an unlicensed facility that did not follow recommended infection control procedures or maintain client records.

During an inspection of the spa in the fall of 2018, investigators found  multiple unsafe infection control practices, including a rack of unlabeled tubes containing blood on the kitchen counter, unlabeled tubes of blood and medical injectables, like botox, stored in the kitchen refrigerator  next to food  and unwrapped syringes scattered in drawers, on counters, and discarded in regular trash cans.

The CDC report noted the unprecedented nature of the findings, writing that HIV transmitted through cosmetic injection services via contaminated blood has not been previously documented.

The owner of the spa pleaded guilty in 2022 to negligence, sentenced to more than three years in prison, KOB reported at the time.
First lady DeSantis, daughter assist in rescued manatee release

Floridas first lady Casey DeSantis and Mamie DeSantis joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and SeaWorld at Three Sisters Springs on Thursday for the release of a rescued manatee back into the wild.

Toast was rescued at Kings Bay near Three Sisters Springs in January after suffering from a natural buoyancy problem.

The manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlandos rescue and rehabilitation facility.

Read: Some Dr. Phillips Center expansion plans indefinitely on hold

On Thursday, Casey DeSantis was on hand as FWC and SeaWorld conducted a final medical check of Toast before releasing him back into the water.

It was a joy to be a part of this release and to see a rehabilitated manatee be returned to his home, happy and healthy, said DeSantis. I am proud of the work that FWC and their partners, like SeaWorld, do to help these animals when they are in need. The Governor is committed to providing the resources necessary for these gentle sea giants to thrive in Floridas waterways, and I am happy to see that Floridas investments are paying off for the manatee population.

Read: Sunrail would add millions of new riders with airport, theme park line, report says

Florida manatees face many threats including watercraft strikes, cold stress, red tide, entanglement, entrapment, and habitat loss, according to a news release.

Over the past few years, Gov. DeSantis and the Sunshine State has taken on a concerted effort to rescue, rehabilitate, and release manatees as well as investment in conserving their natural environment.

First lady DeSantis, daughter assist in rescued manatee release

We were delighted to have First Lady Casey DeSantis join us in releasing a rehabilitated manatee back into the wild, said FWC executive director Roger Young. Governor DeSantis bold leadership in funding manatee protection, habitat restoration, and rehabilitation ensures their sustainability for years to come.

The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership works as a cooperative of agencies, organizations, and private sector partners, to rescue, rehabilitate, and release manatees.

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The release stated that Since 2019, Governor DeSantis has funded nearly $70 million for manatee protection, expanding and enhancing manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and providing habitat restoration for areas where manatees are highly concentrated. Additionally, Florida has invested $380 million to restore Floridas world-renowned springs which serve as an important manatee habitat when the animals seek warmer waters in the wintertime. As a result, in 2023, Florida manatees had the lowest mortality rate since 2017. And, in January of this year, Blue Spring State Park saw a record 932 manatees seeking warm waters in their spring, beating their previous record on New Years Day of 736 manatees.

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The inaugural T-54A multi-engine training system aircraft arrived at Training Air Wing 4 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, last week  a move that comes as the Navy phases out the T-44C Pegasus aircraft the service commissioned in 1977.

The Navy will use the T-54A to train aviators flying the P-8A Poseidon, E-2D Hawkeye and C-130 Hercules, and it features a pressurized aircraft cockpit with side-by-side seating as well as a jump seat.

We produce the best multi-engine pilots in the world, Capt. Michael Albus, Training Air Wing 4 commander, said in a statement. The T-54A will be the training aircraft to carry that legacy into the future. With its ProLine Fusion avionics suite, combined with increased range, speed, and altitude, the T-54A will ensure that our aviators are well-prepared to operate complex fleet aircraft, and are ready for tomorrows challenges in a multi-domain environment.

Navys new Project Avenger flight training program aims to produce stronger aviators

Albus is overseeing the integration of the aircraft into Training Squadrons 31 and 35, as the Navy moves to acquire 64 T-54 aircraft the service will continue to receive through 2026.

In addition to the new technology installed on the aircraft, the trainer aircraft is also painted gray  a departure from the orange and white paint scheme the Navy has employed for 70 years on trainer aircraft.

The gray color aims to reconnect students and instructors with the Fleet and mimics the color scheme of the P-8A Poseidon and E-2D Hawkeye, the Navy said.

The aircraft is slated to provide Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and select U.S. allies training capabilities for multi-engine and advanced tilt-rotor aircraft through 2055, the Navy said.

This aircraft brings modernized training to student naval aviators and prepares them for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet, program manager Capt. Duane Whitmer said in a statement. Our team is committed to delivering integrated air warfare capabilities to enable the fleet to compete, deter and win  tonight, tomorrow and in the future.
Protestors gather at the Historic Florida Capitol building following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned abortion protections under Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. Credit: Danielle J. Brown

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

One little word in the Florida Supreme Courts ruling striking down the long-recognized right to abortion under the Florida Constitutions Privacy Clause could carry a lot of weight: Today.

It appears within a footnote in which the courts majority sought to narrow the scope of its ruling: [T]oday we do not revisit our precedents outside the abortion context.

Jerri Blair photographed on Aug. 25, 2023, in Leesburg, Florida. Credit: Michael Moline

The phrasing alarms Jerri Blair, the retired Central Florida attorney who in 1989 persuaded the Florida Supreme Court of that era to find a right to abortion in that Privacy Clause.

Like Dobbs, the majority tries to limit its decision to abortion but, like Dobbs, it used language that makes it clear that it may use this same reasoning in other contexts, Blair told the Phoenix, referring to the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade.

It is the word today that gives me that opinion. It says the opinion today only impacts abortion. Clearly tomorrow may bring another disappointing result, Blair continued by email.

With abortion-rights groups including Planned Parenthood preparing for a ban on abortions after six weeks gestation taking effect on May 1, observers are assessing the full dimensions of the Florida Supreme Courts ruling. Its already an issue in the November elections; President Joe Biden campaigned on abortion in Florida this week and Vice President Kamala Harris will be here next week.

Unprotected?

True, Justice Clarence Thomas in his concurring opinion to Dobbs agreed with that courts majority that nothing in [the courts Dobbs] opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.

But Thomas immediately added that, in future cases, we should reconsider all of this courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell  establishing privacy rights to contraception, same-sex relations, and same-sex marriage.

Clarence Thomas via U.S. Supreme Court

(He didnt mention Loving v. Virginia, in which the U.S. Supreme Court used similar reasoning to overturn a law under which Thomas own interracial marriage would be illegal.)

The implication seems clear: If the nations highest court ever does reconsider those rights, Floridians shouldnt rely on their states highest court to protect them.

Biden pressed the point Tuesday during his Tampa speech.

Justice Thomas means it, and so does Donald Trump, the president said.

Again, heres what that means: the right to make the best decisions for your health, the right to use birth control, the right to marry the person you love. All that is at risk now because there it is no longer viewed by some of our good friends in the court as a constitutional guaranteed right, Biden continued.

Blair noted: Like Dobbs, the [Florida Supreme Court] majority tries to limit its decision to abortion, but, like Dobbs, it used language that makes it clear that it may use this same reasoning in other contexts.

Theres more: In his sole dissent to the majority opinion, Justice Jorge Labarga warned that the ruling could undermine the broad privacy protections that are extended in the medical context  suggesting the state eventually could invade your doctors appointments more broadly than in the abortion context.

Anna Eskamani. Credit: Florida House

Getting there presumably would require additional legislation and litigation but Orange County state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a former executive for the Planned Parenthood branch that sued to block Floridas abortion restrictions, suggested some areas at risk.

Access to contraception and gender-affirming care to name just two, Eskamani told the Phoenix by text message. We are already seeing other states limit access to contraception and STI testing and treatment for minors.

IVF

And then theres in vitro fertilization  the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that embryos in cryostorage are children, effectively ending IVF in that state, although in March Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation designed to allow treatments to resume.

Rights currently protected by the federal constitution, e.g., gay marriage and contraceptives, are safe (for now), Adam Richardson, a South Florida appellate attorney and writer who has taken a keen interest in the issue, told the Phoenix by email.

The Florida Supreme Court will protect your personal information but your right to make decisions about your own life is fair game now, Richardson continued.

The Florida Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida v. State of Florida on April 1. On that same day, the court ruled, 4-3, that a proposed state constitutional amendment to block government interference with abortion before the fetus becomes viable could go before the voters in November.

The court purports to take a textualist approach to jurisprudence, looking for the original public meaning of a statute or constitutional provision.

Jamie Grosshans. Credit: Florida Supreme Court

Our analysis focuses on the Privacy Clauses text, its context, and the historical evidence surrounding its adoption. After considering each of these sources and consistent with longstanding principles of judicial deference to legislative enactments, we conclude there is no basis under the Privacy Clause to invalidate the statute, Justice Jamie Grosshans wrote for the majority.

In doing so, we recede from our prior decisions in which  relying on reasoning the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected  we held that the Privacy Clause guaranteed the right to receive an abortion through the end of the second trimester, Grosshans continued.

Those previous decisions include In re T.W., the 1989 ruling in which the earlier court found that the clause included the right to abortion, plus related rulings that drew upon it. That was the case lawyer Blair won so many years ago.

Privacy Clause

The clause, enacted as Article I Section 23 of the Florida Constitution, says:

Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the persons private life except as otherwise provided herein. This section shall not be construed to limit the publics right of access to public records and meetings as provided by law.

At the federal level, the principle of substantive due process holds that people have rights that arent spelled out in the Constitution but are implicit under the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments.

The late Leander J. Shaw, Jr. Credit: Florida Supreme Court

In T.W., then-Justice Leander J. Shaw, Jr. writing for a unanimous court on this point, drew upon the reasoning behind Roe but also found an explicit right under the state Privacy Clause.

We can conceive of few more personal or private decisions concerning ones body that one can make in the course of a lifetime, except perhaps the decision of the terminally ill in their choice of whether to discontinue necessary medical treatment, Shaw wrote.

Richardson, in extensive prebuttal and rebuttal to what the Planned Parenthood court concluded, emphasizes that Roe had been decided just seven years before T.W. came down, and that the substantive due-process theory that underlined Roe (and Griswald, Lawrence, Obergefell, and Loving) was well understood by the voters at the time.

Richardson is still digging up a contemporaneous written record, including news accounts, supporting that voters knew they were approving a broad right to make ones own decisions without interference by the state. And in 1989, the sitting justices were considerably closer in time to the 1980 vote than our justices are today.

A broad right

In a January article for Slate, Richardson acknowledged lawmakers at the time mentioned informational privacy only, not decisional privacy. That is, the right to shield your personal records as opposed to the right to go about your life without the government nosing in.

But it was communicated to voters that the proposed right was extremely broad, would mirror or exceed the rights protected by the federal Constitution, and would protect informational and decisional privacy, Richardson added.

Add to that the general political, social, cultural, religious, and legal background. Most importantly, in 1973s Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court rooted the right to an abortion in a broader constitutional right to privacy  something the public widely understood.

The Planned Parenthood majority sweeps such concerns aside, arguing the T.W. court should have deferred to the abortion parental consent law that T.W. invalidated (although the court later upheld a narrower version).

This error led the court to read additional rights into the constitution based on Roes dubious and immediately contested reasoning, rather than evaluate what the text of the provision actually said or what the people of Florida understood those words to mean, Grosshans wrote.

The decision to extend the protections of the Privacy Clause beyond what the text could reasonably bear was not ours to make. As a result, we removed substantial authority from the peoples elected representatives to regulate abortion  a profoundly unique and complicated issue that affects society in many significant ways.

To Richardson, the ruling means the court will want to see that asserted implications of voter-approved constitutional amendments had been specifically and widely debated before approval for those protections to be considered part of the original public understanding.

Whats more, the protection needs to have been uncontroversial at that time, he added.

No solace

For the Privacy Clause, maybe the rights to contraceptives and to cohabitation will pass muster, but nothing else, like private use of marijuana in the home or gay rights of any sort. Basically, the reasoning applied in Planned Parenthood applies to all these issues, and we should take the same amount of solace in the courts distinction of abortion as we do from Alitos in Dobbs, Richardson continued.

Alito wrote the majority opinion in that case.

Ken Connor. Source: The Florida Bar

Ken Connor, a veteran anti-abortion litigator in Florida who subsequently moved his practice to South Carolina and who participated with Liberty Counsel, a national Christian legal operation based in Central Florida, in writing friend-of-the-court briefs in the case, was pleased at the outcome.

Does he see implications for other rights?

Not really, but heres what I think you can expect: People on the other side of this will weep and wail and gnash their teeth saying precisely that, Connor said in a telephone interview  that this is a cataclysmic event, so you all need to get out and vote and turn the rascals out, etc., etc., etc. This is the kind of stuff that gins up the base.

Still, the Alabama rulingmakes sense from Connors perspective. If life begins at conception, whats the difference between an embryo in utero and one in sub-zero storage?

Thats what the Alabama court in part was faced with: What are we dealing with? Is this property, is this detritus which can be disposed of with impunity, or not? Because its not resident within that womans womb, so it doesnt implicate the privacy of the woman to make decisions concerning her own body, he said.

Attorney Mat Staver speaking to reporters outside the Florida Supreme Court on Feb. 7, 2024 (photo credit: Mitch Perry)

Mat Staver is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, Like Connor, he believes the Privacy Clause applies to informational privacy only.

I think it would be very helpful to use that in protecting privacy, for example, on the internet and social media, Facebook, that compiles data on people, or the government compiling information or documents on individuals without proper search warrants, Staver told the Phoenix by phone.

The Planned Parenthood court ducked whether the clause applies to informational or decisional privacy, Staver noted. They just said it doesnt apply to abortion.

Implications?

Does Staver see implications for same-sex marriage? I think that fails just as much as abortion, he said.

Contraception? I dont see the Legislature changing the law on that issue. But I dont think that Article I Section 23 applies to contraception.

Bob Jarvis, professor of constitutional law at Nova Southeastern Universitys Shepard Broad College of Law, describes himself as pro-choice but figures the court got the law right. In any case, he has long argued that Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed reliable conservatives to the court to achieve exactly this result.

Bob Jarvis. Credit: Nova Southeastern University

I do not believe that the courts decision in Planned Parenthood will have any effect on privacy. The decision was a very targeted one  indeed, the court had a specific mission (to overturn In re T.W.) and accomplished that mission. And even though I am pro-abortion, I think the court was right, he told the Phoenix.

Article I Section 23 does not use the word abortion and, at the time of its adoption, no one thought that it was creating a right to an abortion (especially given that Roe v. Wade was the law of the land and the U.S. Supreme Court was years away from its decision in Planned Parenthood of SE Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), which marked the beginning of the end of Roe), Jarvis continued by email.

Moreover, the Florida Supreme Court has been so narrow in its interpretation Article I Section 23 that there really isnt much that it protects or that the court could eliminate in its new decision. Thus, I think privacy rights in Florida stand exactly today where they stood before the ruling, Jarvis wrote.

Disturbing

For her part, Jerri Blair finds the outcome disturbing, to say the least.

My concern goes much deeper than just the abortion issue. The Florida Supreme Courts majority opinion in Planned Parenthood echoed that of the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs. Both cases ignore the concept of stare decisis, which is the backbone of the law in our country, Blair said. The expression means respect for precedent.

The Planned Parenthood court seems to realize that its crossing the Rubicon from the stability of a common law built on precedent that goes back for hundreds of years to the chaos of decision-making based upon the current political beliefs (or even religious beliefs) of the sitting court. This trend will crush the effectiveness and strength of the American judicial system, she said.

The post FL Supreme Court abortion ruling could extend to other rights long thought settled appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, who was appointed to the post last week, arrived on Friday, April 26, on an official visit to Ukraine. She was met by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.

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This was reported by the Latvian Foreign Ministry in a post on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter). Together, they honored the victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine at the Wall of Remembrance.

"The visit to Ukraine is the first bilateral foreign visit of the minister, which confirms the priority role of supporting Ukraine in Latvia's foreign policy," the post reads.

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Earlier it was reported that on Friday, April 26, the 21st meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the Ramstein format will take place after it was first convened exactly two years ago. The meeting will discuss how to make up for the six-month delay in U.S. aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Democrats are hoping that an explosive debate in Florida over abortion rights will drive fired-up voters to the polls this November, amid a wave of new restrictions that are limiting access to the procedure in the state and across the U.S.

But for Floridas vast and influential Hispanic electorate, its not clear if abortion access is going to be the winning issue that Democrats and activists hope it will be. While polls show that many Hispanic Floridians support a measure to protect abortion rights, they are less likely to embrace it than state voters as a whole.

In Florida, a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy  a time when many women dont yet know they are pregnant  is set to go into effect May 1. Abortion-rights activists in the state are seeking to rally support for a proposed constitutional amendment that would safeguard access to the procedure up to the point of fetal viability  the point at which the baby can survive out of the womb, generally understood to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy  or when deemed medically necessary by a physician.

That measure will need to win at least 60% of the vote in November to be enshrined into state law. Early polling shows that the proposal is more popular than not among Florida voters: One recent poll found that more than half of all Floridians would back Amendment 4, while another poll showed that roughly half would support it.

Nationwide, more than half of Hispanics believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to a July 2022 Pew Research Center polling. But research shows that abortion access might enjoy a smaller share of support among Florida Hispanics.

A survey from Florida International University and the marketing firm Adsmovil asked Hispanics in Florida whether doctors should be banned from performing abortions after six weeks except in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking. Thirty-five percent of those polled said they strongly or somewhat agreed, while the other 36% strongly or somewhat disagree; 27% said they neither agree nor disagree. Meanwhile, a higher percentage of Hispanics at the national level, 42%, said they are against banning abortions after six weeks except for rape, incest or human trafficking; 34% were in favor.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, a citizen-led coalition, sponsored the amendment and gathered nearly a million signatures to get it on the ballot. But Hispanics, who make up over a quarter of the states population, will be critical to getting the amendment on the books.

Latinos make or break elections in Florida. The Latino vote is so important, said Michelle Quesada, the vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood of southeast and north Florida.

Hispanics on the abortion amendment

A USA Today/Ipsos poll this month found that only 34% of Hispanic Floridians would vote in favor of the abortion ballot measure, while 42% said they were not in favor of legalizing abortion. Thats a statistically significant difference compared to White and Black Floridians, who said they would vote in favor of the measure at 57% and 67% respectively.

Polling from Bostons Emerson College released earlier this month found that Florida Hispanics are less likely than White Floridians to support the proposed abortion rights amendment. Wile nearly 39% said that they would vote in favor of the ballot measure in November, about 25% said they plan to oppose it. Another 36% said that theyre still undecided on the proposal.

Yet a majority of Florida Hispanics  nearly 57%  also said that the states six-week abortion ban is too strict.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican and former Florida governor whos up for reelection this year, said that the proposed constitutional amendment is out of step with where most Florida Hispanics are on the issue of abortion.

Hispanics are compassionate people, Scott told the Miami Herald. They actually have faith, they cherish life.

While Scott has said that he would have signed the six-week abortion ban into law if he were still governor, he argued that most voters would accept a ban on the procedure after 15 weeks. He also said that lawmakers should take steps to support access to contraceptives and safeguard reproductive treatments like in vitro fertilization.

If you look at where the consensus is in our state, the consensus isnt even close to where the Democrats are. The consensus is around 15 weeks with exceptions for rape incest and life of the mother.

Latinos make or break elections

Quesada said there is polling to suggest different outcomes in November, and that the survey results are constantly evolving. One UnidosUS poll from November 2023 showed that 65% of Florida Hispanics oppose efforts to restrict/ban abortion rights, no matter their own beliefs on the issue.

The Floridians Protecting Freedom coalition has several initiatives to mobilize and educate Hispanics on the amendment, including regularly hosting Spanish-language volunteer calls and deploying organizers on the ground to spread the word about the proposal, Quesada said.

I think many Latino families know what its like to live under an authoritarian government, they know what its like to live under a government that tries to control our lives and restrict our freedom. They understand whats at stake with Amendment 4, Quesada said.

Quesada emphasized that Hispanics are not a monolith, which means that engagement that the coalition is attempting to have with Florida Hispanics is not one-size-fits all. Studies have shown that language fluency and religious beliefs can play a role in how Hispanics view abortion. For example, the Pew Research Center found that over two-thirds of Hispanic evangelicals believe abortion should be outlawed in most or all cases, while the majority of Spanish-dominant Hispanics hold the same view.

Studies show that Hispanic women experience reproductive and sexual-health disparities, including higher rates of cervical cancer, HIV and other STIs, and unintended pregnancies. A March of Dimes report from August 2023 also found that there were several counties that were maternity health care deserts in Florida. In Okeechobee County, which is over a quarter Hispanic, there was low access to maternity care for expectant mothers and their babies.

These are laws that are affecting people and putting people in harms way. People that are not able to stay pregnant because of health conditions, birth control failing, or having several children at home. Every reason is a valid reason and people need to be able to make these decisions, Quesada said.

Marijuana on the ballot

Another proposed amendment on the Florida ballot in November would legalize recreational use of marijuana. If it passes, adults 21 and over could buy and use marijuana in Florida. Smart & Safe Florida, a political action committee that sponsored the measure, gathered over 1 million signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Floridians in general appear to be supportive of legalizing recreational marijuana. A poll from Ipsos puts 56% of Floridians in favor of the measure, while another from Florida Atlantic University says 47% would vote for it

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been vocal about his opposition to the measure, saying that if the amendment passes Floridas streets will reek of marijuana. Smart & Safe Florida did not respond to multiple interview requests from the Miami Herald. But the groups lawyers have argued that the governor and the Legislature could establish a regulatory framework should the amendment pass that could eventually serve as a national model.

However, Hispanics in the state dont appear to be in favor of legalizing pot compared to other voters in the state. While 55% of White Floridians and 65% of Black Floridians said they are in favor of the amendment, only 32% of Florida Hispanics said the same, according to the Ipsos/USA Today poll. Nearly half, or 45%, said they would oppose it. However, the researchers noted that the sample size of Black Floridians in the poll was small.

An FAU/Mainstreet Research survey found that only about 30% of Hispanics would vote in support of the measure, while roughly 45% oppose it. One-quarter of respondents said they were unsure. However, FAU researchers noted that the survey was not designed with representative samples of each smaller group in mind and that subsamples have higher margins of error.

Republicans in Florida are skeptical that Democrats will be able to gain the momentum they are looking for with the proposed amendments come November.

They want to say that abortion and marijuana are these silver bullets, said Kevin Cabrera, a Miami-Dade County commissioner who served as Florida state director for Donald Trumps 2020 presidential campaign. I just dont see it happening.
Florida man arrested for allegedly pointing lasers at passenger aircraft at international airport: police

Florida man arrested for allegedly pointing lasers at passenger aircraft at international airport: police

A Florida man's hobby of allegedly pointing lasers directly at incoming aircraft was recently caught after a Jet Blue pilot experienced the blinding rays of a laser.

The Tampa Police Department said in a press release that 47-year-old Douglas Sollenberger allegedly pointed lasers at more than 40 incoming flights at Tampa International Airport since Jan. 1.

Police said the lasers posed a serious danger to both pilots and passengers.

FLORIDA TEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY POINTING LASER AT SHERIFF'S HELICOPTER: HES BLINDING OUR PILOT'

Douglas Sollenberger, 47, was seen pointing the laser at the flight, which was landing after midnight on Thursday morning, police said.

On Thursday, a Jet Blue pilot confirmed that he had been struck by the blinding light of a laser as he attempted to land at the Tampa, Florida airport.

Authorities said that despite the pilot's impaired vision he managed to safely land.

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While investigating, police pinpointed Sollenberger's location and conducted surveillance on the suspect's home.

The Tampa Police Department said that Douglas Sollenberger pointed a laser at a Jet Blue pilot.

On Thursday, authorities conducted a search warrant and found two lasers inside Sollenbergers home, including the one they believe was used on the Jet Blue flight.

FORMER GOP CONGRESSMAN CRASHES INTO FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL VEHICLE IN ALLEGED ROAD RAGE INCIDENT: REPORT

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said that this "could have resulted in a tragic accident."

"These laser strikes are not only illegal but also incredibly reckless behavior that could have resulted in a tragic accident," Bercaw said. "We are grateful for the tireless efforts of our officers and the FBI in bringing this case to a close."

The Tampa Police Department released photos of the lasers pointed at airplanes.

TPA Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos thanked law enforcement for their "diligent work."

"Tampa International Airport takes every measure to ensure the safety of flight, and we rely on our entire community to assist us in those efforts," TPA Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos said. "We're thankful to our TPD and FBI partners, whom we work very closely with, for their diligent work in protecting our aircraft, passengers, and crews. Never point a laser at an aircraft!"

Sollenberger was charged with misuse of a laser lighting device and taken to the Orient Road Jail.





Original article source: Florida man arrested for allegedly pointing lasers at passenger aircraft at international airport: police
Adele Graham, wife of former Florida Governor Bob Graham, looks over his casket as he lies in state at the Historic Capitol on Friday, April 26, 2024. Credit: Ana Goni-Lessan/Pool via USA TODAY

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Florida bade farewell Friday to Bob Graham during a public memorial at Floridas Old Capitol, with hundreds of people filing up to the second-floor rotunda where Graham lay in state and sharing memories with his family and friends.

Among the mourners was Grahams wife, Adele, his daughters, Gwen (a former congresswoman), Cissy, Suzanne, and Kendall, and their families. A military honor guard conveyed the casket to its bier and stood watch throughout the event.

The daughters of former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, (from left) Kendall Graham, Cissy Graham McCullough, Gwen Graham, and Suzanne Graham, hold each other in front of their fathers casket as he lies in state at the Historic Capitol on Friday, April 26, 2024. Credit: Ana Goni-Lessan/Pool via USA TODAY

Adele Graham took a few moments before the flower-festooned coffin and then greeted mourners from an armchair nearby.

Graham died on April 16 at age 87.

Gov. Ron DeSantis had ordered U.S. and Florida flags flown at half-staff through the date of Grahams interment, scheduled to follow the Capitol memorial. DeSantis hadnt commented on Friday, but Attorney General Ashley Moody offered praise on X.

An authentic Florida leader, Gov. Bob Graham, receives one of our states highest honors today, lying in state at the Old Capitol so Floridians can pay their respects. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who mourn him, Moody wrote.

Many of the gentlemen and several ladies in attendance wore the ties bearing outlines of the state of Florida, a Graham trademark in the day. We spotted at least one of Grahams campaign pins, shaped like a Graham cracker.

The mourners included gray eminences of Florida politics, people of both parties whod served with Graham during his career in the Legislature, two terms as governor, and three terms as U.S. senator. In remarks shared with reporters, they also mourned a kinder era in state politics, when members of both parties competed but also cooperated to advance the state.

Among them was Bob Martinez, the Republican former Tampa mayor who succeeded Graham in the Governors Mansion. Martinez said he first met Graham when he was a teachers lobbyist and Graham was in the Legislature. Education was a key priority for Graham at the time.

He was so easy to work with. Whether he agreed with you or not, you never left without a pleasant feeling about the meeting, Martinez said.

It was a different time

Martinez and his wife, Mary Jane, had lunch with the Grahams in Tampa before the pandemic. It was their last meeting, Martinez said.

He was the first one to put the climate on the front burner. He did a lot of great things but, in my mind, bringing the environment to the forefront was the greatest thing he ever did for the state of Florida, Martinez said.

Bob Martinez official portrait

It was a different time. It wasnt as contentious as it is today. We had a great transition. Whatever we needed was provided, whether it was office space or access to information, Martinez said.

You cant go back  thats gone. But Im glad I was in public life yesterday, not today, he said.

Former Senate President Jim Scott, also a Republican, recalled that he and Graham sat next to each other when the chamber was in the Old Capitol. They remained friends, he said.

We were taught, and Graham was of that mold, youre elected as a Democrat, youre elected as a Republican, but then youre a senator, or then youre a governor, and you govern based on the whole state and try to deal with policy, Scott said.

In fact, Scott added, he supported Graham during his 1978 race for governor. Then-state Attorney General Bob Shevin led in the first primary but Graham prevailed in the runoff and went on to beat drug store magnate Jack Eckert handily in the general election.

I think he did an admirable job, and a great job in the U.S. Senate, too, Scott said.

Hairstyle

It had been widely known that Graham planned to run for governor. The future candidate wore his hair slicked back in those days, Scott said. Dempsey Barron, the former Senate president from Panama City who remained powerful, made fun of Grahams hairstyle.

Jim Scott. Source: State Library and Archives of Florida

Dempsey Barron said, Youll never get elected governor with that hair. The second time he said it, he [Graham] leaned over to me and said, What do you think about what he said? I said, I think hes right. I swear, he changed his hair, Scott said.

While Graham was governor, Scott recalled, a trucking strike in Fort Lauderdale threatened gasoline supplies. He announced he was going to call out the National Guard to deliver gas. Well, that was the end of the strike. He was willing to take a stand, Scott said.

In all those years of public service, I never saw him lose his temper, be rude or impatient, Scott said.

Also spotted were Florida Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, former Lt. Gov. Bobby Brantley, Tallahassee Mayor John Daley, former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Public Service Commissioner John Marks, former Chiles aide Doug Cook, former Secretary of State Bruce Smathers (who served when that office was elective), state Sen. Linda Stewart of Orange County, and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.

Joyful

People attending the memorial were joyful because they have this remembrance of a great leader that really cared about the average Floridian, their problems, their concerns, said Bud Chiles, son of the late Gov. and U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles.

Graham dedicated his life to meeting those needs. Put that above power, fame, money, and made the sacrifices that you needed to make, Chiles added.

An honor guard escorts the casket of former Florida Gov. Bob Graham up the stairs at the Historic Capitol on Friday, April 26, 2024. Credit: Ana Goni-Lessan/Pool via USA TODAY

He recalled a golden age for Florida governors stretching from Leroy Collins during the 1950s through Reubin Askew and Graham during the 70s and 80s, and then Lawton Chiles during the 90s, who fought the conservative rural interests who ran the state and brought Florida into the modern world on race relations, the environment, education, and more.

It was Lawton Chiles who ousted Martinez in the 1990 election after a single term and defeated Jeb Bush in a close 1994 election (Bush won the next time around). Lawton Chiles died suddenly of a heart attack in the Governors Mansion in 1998.

Today, who is rising to the occasion, to really become a leader in governance and elective politics that will answer that call and be there for their needs, whether its the cost of housing in Florida, insurance issues, all the things that are really not being addressed? Chiles said.

He also praised Adele Graham. I think Bob Graham was elevated tremendously by Adele, and by how she was the strength at his side and how she was so open to treating everyone kindly. She was a wonderful First Lady.

The post Floridians mourn both Bob Graham and a kinder era in state politics appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
File cabinets. (Getty)

One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise.

In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small  and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating.

Unsealed warrants shed light on Southwest Virginia cannabis sweep

Last fall, officials announced a large-scale drug operation in nine Southwest Virginia counties targeting businesses involved in the cannabis industry.

Many of those search warrants were sealed for 180 days, according to Cardinal News, and some recently unsealed documents detail weeks of undercover buys and catalog the seizure of ATMs, thousands of dollars in cash and containers of plant materials bearing labels like Grease Monkey and Stomp Purple.

Other documents related to the operation remain sealed however, and officials gave Cardinal News conflicting information about whether any charges have been filed. A spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police said there were no charges, but an investigator with the Scott County Sheriffs Office said charges had been filed in that county but refused to provide names.

Several officials didnt respond to inquiries from Cardinal News seeking more information about the results of the law enforcement searches described as part of an extensive, ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of money laundering and illegal narcotic distribution network by retail establishments.

The Mercurys efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings.

Martinsburg reverses course on compensation for former city attorney

After documents released under FOIA showed that Martinsvilles former City Council majority approved a plan to boost the compensation of the departing city attorney in 2022, the current City Council voted to settle the matter by paying him $110,000, according to the Martinsville Bulletin.

The former attorney, Eric Monday, had initially demanded that the city pay him $3,025 every month for the rest of his life, the paper reported.

Modifications to Mondays employment contract in late 2022 gave him full time credit for years he had spent working part time.

While this dispute was unfortunate and could have been avoided, we made a decision that was in the best interest of the residents of the city of Martinsville, Councilman Lawrence Mitchell said as he read from a prepared statement. As we move forward to solidify and strengthen the city with fiscal and policy best practices, it is our belief that this settlement of $110,000 is in the best interest of our community.

RVA Dirt digs into differing FOIA responses

The activist watchdogs at RVA Dirt, a site that covers local government in the Richmond area, filed FOIA requests throughout the region to gauge the responsiveness of various agencies.

A blog post reporting the findings notes that the results were highly variable, with some agencies responding within hours and the city of Richmond blowing the full five-business day window for legally acceptable response times.

The exercise also revealed major differences in how local governments process FOIA requests and what kind of fees they charge for their time.

Even though FOIA seems like something only journalists and activists care about, RVA Dirt opined, it affects citizens too.

Its tempting, then, to dismiss this as someone elses problem, the post reads. But FOIA hits local medias headlines the way your car hits potholes: both are easy to ignore, both reveal a level of government failure. Its only after you hit too many that you know youve got a real problem on your hands.

Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: info@virginiamercury.com

The post FOIA Friday: Unsealed cannabis warrants and highly variable transparency policies appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Following Columbia University, pro-Palestinian protests erupt at colleges across U.S.

Pro-Israeli counter-protesters hold a rally outside of Columbia University in New York on Friday. The university announced that classes would be held remotely starting Monday, as pro-Palestinian protests have continued for almost two weeks on the school's campus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

April 26 (UPI) -- Pro-Palestine protests and encampments have spread across the United States, leading to the arrests of hundreds and an increasing administrative nightmare for college officials.

Protesters throughout the United States are mainly calling for their respective universities to cut financial ties with entities connected to Israel in response to the war in Gaza.

While none of the demonstrations have led to divestments of funds, they have forced universities to move some classes online and cancel graduation ceremonies.

Demonstrators at New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the demonstrations, last week called for the university to end its relationship with Israeli academic institutions and a "complete divestment" of funds from pro-Israel entities.

Columbia's president Nemat "Minouche" Shafik called for the New York City Police Department to remove people who were encamped on the South Lawn of the campus, "in violation of the university's rules and policies."

A Pro-Israeli counter-protester takes down a Palestinian flag outside of Columbia University. The University announced that classes would be held remotely starting Monday, as pro-Palestinian protests have continued for almost two weeks on the school's campus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Law-enforcement officials said they arrested more than 108 people on April 18.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., condemned Shafik's actions on behalf of the protesters. Her remarks followed fellow New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who accused Columbia of "caving to right-wing pressure."

United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exits the campus of Columbia University after visiting the pro-Palestinian encampment as pro-Israeli counter-protesters hold a rally outside of the university. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Shafik, however, faces pressure from the right, as well. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for her resignation after a crowd of protesters repeatedly interrupted him and other GOP lawmakers during a press conference at Columbia on Thursday.

Student protest leaders on Friday said they are still in negotiations with university leadership, but the university's offers still fall short regarding divestment from Israel-linked organizations and amnesty for students and faculty who have been punished for their involvement in the protests.

Pro-Israeli counter-protesters hold signs featuring the hostages taken in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks outside of Columbia University. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Protests and counter-protests continued Friday at Columbia, leading with hundred's of pro-Israel demonstrators holding images of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 and chanting "Bring them home now! Alive!"

Later in the day, the space became occupied by a large group of pro-Palestine Hasidic Jews holding signs that read "All Palestine must be returned to Palestinian Sovereignty" and "Judaism Rejects Zionism."

A Pro-Israeli protester takes down a Palestinian flag outside of Columbia University in New York on Friday. The University announced that classes would be held remotely starting Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The situation at Columbia has spread and engulfed colleges and universities across much of the United States over the past week.

More than 100 people on Friday set up tents in front of the administrative building of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to the campus newspaper The Daily Tar Heel. The event was organized by UNC's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Pro-Israeli counter-protesters hold a rally outside of Columbia University in New York on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The group issued a statement saying it stands "in solidarity with our comrades at Columbia and across the U.S. who have been repressed, arrested, and physically attacked," and that the purpose of the demonstration was to "center Palestine and call attention to the university's participation in the genocide in Gaza."

SJP said it has called on the university to divest funds since October, and there has been no change in the administration's response.

Israeli flags fill a patch of grass near the Pro-Palestinian encampment on the grounds of Columbia University in New York on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

More than 50 encamped protesters occupied campus Thursday and Friday at George Washington University, according to the campus newspaper the GW Hatchet. Demonstrators remained the U-Yard past the 7 p.m. deadline set by administrators to clear the encampment but have yet to face serious pressure from campus police.

Students from nearby colleges, including Georgetown University, American University, George Mason and the University of Maryland later joined student protesters at George Washington.

Signs hang on the tents inside the Pro-Palestinian encampment on the grounds of Columbia University in New York on Friday. The University announced that classes would be held remotely starting Monday, as pro-Palestinian protests have continued for almost tow weeks on the school's campus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

About 200 students linked arms at Illinois' Northwestern University on Friday to protest what they called censorship from the university and to call for it to divest funds from Israel.

Administration officials said the demonstrators had largely dispersed and removed their tents later in the day. Students who refused were cited by campus police. No arrests were made.

The University of Florida took a hardline stance Friday after two days of pro-Palestine protests.

The university threatened suspension and banishment from campus for three years for protesters if they violate a host of behavior-related rules. Employees or professors caught breaking those rules will be fired, the school said.

Campus police said they have not yet made any arrests during the largely peaceful protests at UF.

Some of the rules include prohibiting protesters from using bullhorns, possessing weapons or protesting inside campus buildings. Other rules were vague, such as one prohibiting "disruption." Permitted activities include "speech," "expressing viewpoints" and "holding signs in hands," according to the university.

Dozens of protesters at Emory University in Atlanta camped out on Thursday until police officers deployed what they called "chemical irritants" to break up the demonstration.

Twenty-eight people were arrested, including 20 students and faculty, according to university officials.

First appearance hearings for the Emory protesters began Friday in DeKalb County. One of the first was Emory University Economics professor Caroline Fohlin, a tenured professor of 13 years who was charged with disorderly conduct and simple battery against a police officer, according to county jail records.

DeKalb County Magistrate Court Judge Ann Guerrant ordered no restrictions on students and faculty involved in the protest per the university's request.

Police arrested 57 people who refused to disperse from a protest Wednesday at the University of Texas at Austin, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office.

All people who were arrested have since had their cases disposed after the county attorney's office determined they "lack sufficient probable cause to proceed."

UT-Austin on Friday placed the protest's organizers, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, on "interim suspension," citing the "alleged violation of institutional rules."

The University of Southern California on Thursday cancelled its main graduation ceremony after students set up an encampment Wednesday. Police arrested 93 people after ordering them to disperse.

Police on Thursday arrested 36 demonstrators at Ohio State University after they refused to disobey orders to disperse. University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said 20 of those people were not affiliated with the university, and 16 were students.
The forgotten comfort women of the Philippines  and their struggle for justice

Photos of the victims supported by Lila Pilipina, an organisation for comfort women - Tristan Biglete

Maria Quilantang was one of the lucky ones. To this day, she can still remember the sound of warplanes and the footsteps of Japanese soldiers as they stormed her village in central Philippines.

During the surprise attack, which took place at Mapaniqui in November 1944, houses were torched and many of the local men shot on suspicion of being resistance fighters. Some of the villagers were violently beaten in front of their own children.

Our parents were punished, said Quilantang, 88. Some were tied, and the others were being kicked. We could only watch. My parents lost consciousness for a long time.

Although Quilantang was able to escape  she ran into the dense undergrowth of the surrounding forest and eventually took refuge in a neighbouring village  her mother and sisters were taken to the so-called Red House, a nearby mansion that served as a headquarters for the Imperial Japanese army.

There, the women and girls, some as young as eight at the time, were detained for weeks, beaten and raped by soldiers.

They were among 1,000 Filipino women forced into sexual enslavement during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Many women died or committed suicide due to brutal mistreatment and sustained physical and emotional distress.

In total, 200,000 comfort women are estimated to have endured similar experiences across Asia during World War Two, as the Japanese army occupied one country after another, from Korea to Indonesia, subjecting their people to oppression, executions, and sexual violence.

Maria Quilantang, a Filipino comfort woman - Tristan Biglete

Today, Japan faces ongoing diplomatic pressure from several countries in the region to apologise for its actions during the war and pay reparations.

Although millions have been paid in compensation to Korea  home to the majority of the wars comfort women  for the Philippines, there has been little acknowledgment of what happened in villages like Mapaniqui.

Filipino campaigners are doing what they can to change this, but its proving a tough fight.

Since its inception in 1997, a comfort women survivors group called Malaya Lolas, led by Quilantang, has repeatedly called on the Filipino government to press their case with Japan.

There have been protests in Manila, court cases and government lobbying  though such action has largely been ineffective.

In 2019, opting to circumvent the Filipino government, Malaya Lolas filed a complaint to the United Nations in which they detailed their abuse at the hands of Japanese soldiers.

The complainant called for reparations and the recognition of their sufferings at the hands of Japanese soldiers. At the same time, it also urges the UN to step in and compel the Filipino government to support the nations surviving comfort women.

Estelita holds a photo of her mother, Maxima, an abuse survivor during the Japanese attack on Mapaniqui - Tristan Biglete

In the Philippines, only 40 victims of Japans sexual enslavement are still alive today. One of them is 94-year-old Maxima Mangulabnan, another villager from Mapaniqui who, in the wake of the 1944 attack, was raped by Japanese soldiers and later taken to the Red House.

Mangulabnan no longer lives in Mapaniqui, having moved to another province, but she has passed some of the stories of the war onto her daughter Estelita.

The people of Mapaniqui were running. The bombs were coming and they were dying. They were hiding in different places but they couldnt go far, said Estelita. Both my mother and grandmother were raped.

For so long, such experiences remained hidden within families, a secret shame, only shared from one generation to the next.

But in the early 1990s, the women of Mapaniqui travelled to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to lobby for government support for their plight.

It fell on deaf ears, Quilantang said.

It was the beginning of a long struggle for justice.

The road to reparations

In 1995, the divisive Asian Womens Fund, a reparations scheme for comfort women created by the Japanese government, began compensating victims.

However, the women of Mapaniqu and other members of Malaya Lolas were denied access to the fund as they were not considered to have been abused for a long enough period.

In 2004, the group reached out to the Philippine Supreme Court to compel the state to aid them in their pursuit of restitution but the petition was dismissed in 2010. The court ruled that only the president can decide to represent the comfort women in their demands to Japan.

A subsequent move to appeal the decision was also rejected four years later.

The Supreme Court said it sympathises with the experiences of Malaya Lolas but it also said that its a political question, a political question that only the executive department or only the president of the Philippines can decide and he cant be forced by the court, said Virginia Suarez, a lawyer for Malaya Lolas.

After exhausting all possible legal remedies on the domestic front, the women carried their fight for justice to the UN, arguing that the Filipino government has failed to address sexual violence against the survivors by refusing to represent their demands for reparations.

The 'Red House,' a mansion that served as a headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army - Tristan Biglete

There have been some successes, though.

In March 2023, Malaya Lolas scored a landmark victory after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) found that the state had violated the rights of the victims by failing to offer proper recognition and redress for their suffering.

The decision also directed the state to dispense full reparation, including recognition and redress, an official apology and material and moral damages.

Following the ruling, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered government agencies to craft a comprehensive response to the ruling. Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla promised to discuss with lawmakers a potential law that would help the victims.

A key suggestion made by CEDAW was the creation of a state-sanctioned fund to provide compensation and other forms of reparation to women who are victims of war crimes. Yet there have been no signs yet from the government or Congress about creating such a fund.

The Mapaniqui Second World War memorial - Tristan Biglete

As a result of campaigners refusal to quit, the issue of the Philippines comfort women has shadowed over the Marcos Jr administration for many years.

During the presidents trip to Japan in February 2023, the Department of Foreign Affairs told reporters that Marcos Jr would not explore the subject with his counterpart, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

We dont expect it to be raised. But the position of the Philippines on this issue is that compensation claims by former comfort women are considered to be already settled as far as the government is concerned, a department spokesperson said.

This response highlights the states reluctance to upset Japan, the largest lender of foreign aid in the Philippines. From 2001 to 2020, development assistance from Japan reached $19.65 billion, according to the Department of Finance.

The position of the Philippine government is difficult. It doesnt have any bargaining leverage with the Japanese government, said Sharon Cabusao-Silva of Lila Pilipina, another organisation for comfort women.

The Japanese government remains the number one creditor country to the Philippines, funding many of its flagship projects under the current and past Philippine governments. That puts us in a very weak position.

Besides loans for development programs, the Marcos Jr administration also seeks to expand military ties with Japan. A defence agreement allowing troops to operate within the territories of both nations is on the table, with a deal expected to be signed soon.

Such arrangements have been heavily criticised by campaigners like Cabusao-Silva.

Japan has not even apologised yet for its atrocities during World War Two and to the Philippine comfort women. Even the Filipino individuals harmed severely by the actions of the Japanese Imperial Army have not received an acceptable standard for justice, she said.

A sketch created by comfort women from Lila Pilipina depicting wartime violence in their village - Tristan Biglete

As Marcos Jr courts Japan for regional security, progressive lawmakers in Congress have proposed adding the history of the Philippines comfort women to the national school curriculum.

Such a move would ensure that the experiences of these women arent forgotten with the passing of time, campaigners say.

Perlita Bulaon, 84, another survivor from Mapaniqui, agrees. She laments how some survivors are reluctant to disclose their experiences, even to their relatives.

We will never forget what happened to us even if we were young back then. However, we dont talk about it here. Our children and grandchildren grew up asking why the school has a grave. We dont answer their questions, Bulaon said.

Memorialisation has always been a contentious topic within the Philippines. Despite calls to preserve the infamous Red House, the mansion eventually fell into ruins. Only the roof and frame remain.

And in 2018, a comfort women statue installed in Manila Bay was removed amid an outcry from Japanese authorities. Former president Rodrigo Duterte remarked that it is not the policy of the government to antagonise other nations. Many other sculptures honouring victims have also been dismantled over the years.

Despite the hurdles, advocacy groups continue to push for remembrance.

In Mapaniqui, the grave at the local school serves as a reminder of the suffering the village and its people endured.

Our call to the government is to help the grandmothers while they are still alive. Only a few of us remain, Bulaon said. We should be able to attain justice.

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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin can end the war in Ukraine in five minutes with a phone call to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu saying he is withdrawing his troops. But our state cannot do this so easily.

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This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, RMF24 reports. In this way, the official answered the question of Sejm deputies whether Poland has scenarios for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

"Yes, we do. The restoration of Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, according to the so-called peace formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," he said.

The minister added that Putin could have ended this war in five minutes.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine cannot end it with one phone call, this is a big difference," Sikorski said.

Earlier, former US President Donald Trump said he would have achieved peace in Ukraine in a day. He admitted that he would give Russian President Vladimir Putin the occupied territories.

As reported, Sikorski criticized President Andrzej Duda for his words that the country would be ready to deploy American nuclear weapons on its territory. The minister reminded that the government is responsible for foreign policy in Poland. He stressed that no one had authorized Duda to speak publicly about the nuclear weapons program.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A former American Airlines flight attendant accused of taping his iPhone to the toilet to record a teenage girl who was using the airplane bathroom on a Boston-bound flight in September has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was indicted on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement Friday.

Thompson is also alleged to have recordings of four additional minor female passengers  some as young as 7 years old  using bathrooms aboard aircraft he had worked on previously, prosecutors said.

Thompson has been in federal custody since his arrest in January in Lynchburg, Virginia, Levy said.

According to the charging documents, on Sept. 2, 2023, while working as a flight attendant onboard an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Boston, Mass., Thompson videorecorded or attempted to surreptitiously video-record a 14-year-old female passenger as she used the aircraft lavatory, Levy said.

Midway through the flight, the girl got up to use the main cabin bathroom nearest to her airplane seat.

When she arrived to the bathroom, it was occupied. After the girl had been waiting a short time, Thompson allegedly approached her, told her that the first-class bathroom was unoccupied and escorted her toward first class, Levy said.

Before she entered that bathroom, Thompson allegedly told her that he needed to wash his hands and that the bathrooms toilet seat was broken, and he briefly entered the bathroom.

After Thompson exited the bathroom, the girl entered the bathroom and saw red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, that stated, INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT and REMOVE FROM SERVICE, and SEAT BROKEN was hand-written in black ink on one of the stickers, Levy said.

Underneath the red stickers, Thompson allegedly had concealed his iPhone to record a video, Levy said. The girl used her own phone to take a picture of the red stickers and the concealed iPhone she found in the bathroom before exiting, at which time Thompson allegedly re-entered it immediately, Levy said.

According to court documents, when the girl returned to her seat, she informed her parents of what she saw and showed them the picture. The victims parents reported the matter to other flight attendants onboard who notified the flight captain, who in turn notified law enforcement on the ground.

The victims father confronted Thompson who, shortly thereafter, locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes prior to the flights descent, Levy said.

Parents of girl on Boston flight say attendant put camera in bathroom to record their daughter

When the flight arrived at Logan International Airport, law enforcement saw that Thompsons iPhone may have been restored to factory settings, Levy said.

A subsequent search of Thompsons suitcase was found to contain 11 INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT stickers, like those observed by the girl on the back of the toilet seat, Levy said. A search of Thompsons iCloud account allegedly revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 in which Thompson recorded a minor using the bathroom on an aircraft.

The other minor victims allegedly depicted in the recordings were ages 7, 9, 11 and 14 at the time, Levy said. Additionally, over 50 images of a 9-year-old unaccompanied minor were allegedly found in Thompsons iCloud. The images included photos taken while the minor victim was seated in her seat pre-flight, and close-ups of her face while sleeping.

Prosecutors said that hundreds of images of AI-generated child pornography were also found stored on Thompsons iCloud account.

The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison.

The charge of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Both charges also provide for at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) community continues to grieve after the Feb. 16 campus shooting that left two people dead. Police have identified the victims as Samuel Knopp and Celie Rain Montgomery.

Knopp was a passionate musician and was studying music at the university when he was gunned down inside his dorm room. According to family and friends, the 24-year-old was a talent taken too soon, and now one Colorado musician is honoring Knopp in a special way.

The benefit concert was on April 26 at Sunshine Studios in Colorado Springs. Doors opened at 6:00 p.m.

When we heard about Sams passing, we decided that it was only right to hold a benefit concert to honor his life because he was actually the longest lasting guitarist in the band, said Anthony Scornavacco, lead drummer.

Community reacts after two found dead in UCCS dorm room

Scornavacco said he is stunned by the news, but he and his former bandmate are forever bonded by their passion for music. Scornavacco is now hoping to heal heavy hearts with a benefit concert that will celebrate the life and musical legacy of Knopp.

To be honest, were all nervous because the show is almost sold out, Scornavacco said.

The concert will feature several performances, special tributes, a moment of silence and a special guitar raffle. Scornavacco told FOX21 that he has communicated with Knopps mother about the benefit concert.

She was floored, Scornavacco said. She specifically said theres no better way you could have honored my son than through music, because it was his biggest passion.

The benefit concert was on Friday, April 26 at Sunshine Studios in Colorado Springs. The show began at 6:30 p.m. Scornavacco said his band is donating 50% of ticket proceeds to Knopps family, and hes also raffling a guitar with 100% of those proceeding going to the family.

The venue holds 800 people, and Scornavacco said the goal was to sell it out.

Music is about bringing people together, Scornavacco explained. Means a lot to us that we get to carry on his name and, you know, keep him alive in spirit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Former British defence secretary Ben Wallace has warned against suggestions that the conflict in Ukraine should be frozen, during an interview that addressed the outlook in the war with Russia.

The idea of "freezing" the war in Ukraine was put forward recently by a senior member of Germany's governing Social Democrats.

"In 2014 they froze the conflict and Ukraine had 18,000 soldiers murdered on the front line between 2014 and the invasion," Wallace said in an interview with dpa on Thursday.

"Russia would re-arm, re-equip and do what it did after 2014. And it would come back later," he added.

"So the problem with the freeze is, you'd have to guarantee it," Wallace said. But he noted that Ukraine would not be persuaded either, as Britain, the US, Germany and France had all tried to give their guarantees to keep helping Kiev in the past.

"So if you're Ukrainian, would you really trust our guarantee at the moment? And what would you give Ukraine to persuade them to freeze? (...) They might say, Give us membership of NATO. Right, draw a new line, wherever the line is, but what's left: NATO."

Asked to speculate as to whether Ukraine might be willing to accept NATO membership in exchange for stopping fighting for territory occupied by Russia, Wallace refused to be drawn.

"France and Germany will never go for that," he said. "I don't like to get to the speculation of what the deal should be. It's for Ukraine to decide, they are the ones who've lost thousands of people. And they're the ones fighting for us right now. We're not fighting.

"I don't think Russia would go for it either," Wallace added. "I mean, Russia would say no, but ultimately, we'd have to get Russia in a position where it knows it's got something to lose."

Ben Wallace, former British Defence Minister, speaks during an interview with German Press Agency dpa. Christoph Meyer/dpa
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A former American Airlines flight attendant accused of secretly recording a teen girl in an aircrafts bathroom has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

The incident, involving Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, happened in September 2023.

Thompson is also accused of possessing videos of four more minors using bathrooms on an aircraft he had worked on previously, court officials said.

Thompson has been indicted on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor.

Thompson was previously charged and arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has been in federal custody ever since, authorities said.

Photo: Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, of Charlotte

According to court documents, on Sept. 2, 2023, while working as a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Boston, Thompson tried to secretly record a 14-year-old girl as she used the bathroom inside the plane.

About halfway through the flight, the teen girl got up to use the main cabin bathroom near where she was seated. When she got to the bathroom it was already occupied. After waiting a short time, Thompson allegedly came up to her, told her that the first-class bathroom was available, and walked her toward first class, court documents said.

MORE: Second lawsuit alleges flight attendant from Charlotte filmed 9-year-old girl in bathroom

Before the teen girl entered the bathroom, Thompson allegedly told her that he needed to wash his hands and that the bathrooms toilet seat was broken and briefly entered the bathroom.

It is alleged that, after Thompson left the bathroom, the teen girl saw red stickers on the bottom of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, that stated, INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT and REMOVE FROM SERVICE, and SEAT BROKEN was hand-written in black ink on one of the stickers. It is alleged that, under the red stickers, Thompson had hidden his iPhone to record a video. The teen girl used her own phone to take a picture of the red stickers and the hidden iPhone she found in the bathroom, records state.

FILE  In this photo provided by the law firm Lewis & Llewellyn LLP, an iPhone is taped to the back of a toilet seat on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Boston, Sept. 2, 2023. Estes Carter Thompson III, an American Airlines flight attendant arrested on suspicion of trying to secretly record a 14-year-old female passenger using an airplane bathroom last September 2023, is being held in custody until his trial.(Lewis & Llewellyn LLP via AP, File)

Once the plane landed at Bostons Logan Airport, and the teen girl reported what happened, authorities noticed that Thompsons iPhone was restored to factory settings. A search of Thompsons iCloud account revealed four more incidents between January and August 2023 in which Thompson recorded a minor using the bathroom on a plane. The minors depicted in the recordings were 7, 9, 11, and 14-years-old at the time, documents state.

MORE: Flight attendant from Charlotte arrested, accused of secretly recording children in plane bathrooms

Authorities said more than 50 images of a 9-year-old were found in Thompsons iCloud. They said the photos were taken while the child was in her seat pre-flight and close-ups of her face.

Hundreds of images of AI-generated child pornography were also found stored on Thompsons iCloud account, according to federal authorities.

Thompson could face up to 30 years in prison on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children. He could also face up to 20 years in prison on charges of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Former Colorado paramedic Jeremy Cooper was sentenced to four years probation, 14 months work release and 100 hours of community service on Friday afternoon. Cooper is one of the two paramedics who were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain.

Adams County District Judge Mark Warner stayed Cooper's sentence until June 7, which he said will give Cooper time to "make arrangements to continue his employment."

Jeremy Cooper / Credit: CBS

Former Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced last month to 5 years in prison last month and 3 years of probation by the same judge, Adams County District Judge Mark Warner. He said the sentence and the example it might send are tied to public safety, but also said he does not believe Cichuniec is a risk to the public.

McClain was walking home in August 2019 when the 23-year-old Black man was confronted by police officers who forcibly restrained him and then the Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics -- Jeremy Cooper and Cichuniec -- injected him with ketamine.

Body camera video from an Aurora police officer shows paramedics injecting Elijah McClain with ketamine. / Credit: Aurora Police Department

He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance a few minutes later and died three days after that.

Cooper speaks directly to Elijah before sentencing

Cooper spoke in court before his sentencing, after several others testified about his character on his behalf about how he was a devoted husband, a devoted firefighter and a paramedic for more than 20 years.

"What I would like to do now is just talk to Elijah. Elijah, I am a man of faith, I know you are here among us and I know you can hear me. I wish I wasn't standing here, talking up to you, because that would mean that you are here. There's so much I want to say to you, first I want you to know how sorry I am that I couldn't save you. I want you to know how sorry I am that I didn't get to hear your last words. I want you to know that I would give anything to have a different outcome," said Cooper. "I am so sorry, collectively, that we all failed you."

Elijah's mother gives statement in court

During Cooper's statement, Sheneen McClain, Elijah's mother, walked out of the courtroom for a time until she returned to speak at the podium before the judge handed down Cooper's sentence.

"Jeremy Cooper did what he thought was best. He did nothing. Jeremy Cooper did not check for my son's pulse. Jeremy Cooper did not conduct a thorough examination to see if my son was breathing normally. Jeremy Cooper did not interact with my son or ask my son how he was doing under the weight of a monster. Jeremy Cooper was there for more than several minutes before my son took his last words. Jeremy Cooper heard my son talking and was there for my son's last words. But Jeremy Cooper just stood there like a drug dealer waiting for his sale," said Sheneen McClain. "Nothing Jeremy Cooper can say can bring back my son or remove my son's blood from his hands."

Sheneen McClain spoke at Jeremy Cooper's sentencing. / Credit: CBS

Cooper's wife makes statement before sentencing

"On the tragic night of Elijah McClain's death, knowing Jeremy and knowing his heart, and his integrity, I know he was using his calm, even-keeled demeanor to try to help save Elijah. There was just so much that he didn't have control over," said Cooper's wife Tarrah Cooper before the judge handed down the sentence. "The loss of life is a tragedy, there is no disputing that and Jeremy will carry the loss of Elijah with him forever just as he does all the patients that he was not able to save. Jeremy has relived that eight minutes many times a day for the last nearly five years."

History of court proceedings in death of Elijah McClain



Cooper and Cichuniec were both convicted in December 2023.

In addition to criminally negligent homicide, Cichuniec was also found guilty of second-degree assault-unlawful administration of drugs, a conviction that typically carries a 5-to-16-year prison sentence. The judge handed down the minimum five-year sentence.

Three officers from the Aurora Police Department have been tried in connection to McClain's death. Last fall, two of the officers were acquitted in Elijah's death and a third was found guilty.

Paramedic Peter Cichuniec, convicted for his role in Elijah McClain's death sits in court before his sentencing on Friday, March 1, 2024 in Brighton, Colo. Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison for the death of McClain in a rare prosecution of medical responders that has left officials rethinking how they treat people in police custody. / Credit: Colorado State Court via the Associated Press, POOL

A jury found Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, while Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty of manslaughter and assault in October 2023. A jury also found Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 23-year-old's death.

In January, Roedema was sentenced to 14 months in jail along with four years of probation. He has filed an appeal and is asking the court to review nine different aspects of the case.

The City of Aurora agreed in 2021 to pay $15 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by McClain's parents.

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Former Denver police officers speak out about harassment in the department

DENVER (KDVR)  Former female law enforcement officers with the Denver Police Department spoke out during hearings on an advancing law enforcement misconduct bill, and on Thursday, said there needs to be changes from within for women to feel safe.

Were bringing attention to some very important issues that is facing our community and that is, not only a focus on legitimacy in our police department, but also safety for women and minority communities, said Carla Havard, a former Denver police sergeant.

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Havard was with the department for 25 years, retiring from her position last July.

I retired so that I could have a little bit more freedom to legitimately challenge some of these narratives and certainly some of this propaganda that Ive alleged has been out here, Havard said.

Another woman also came forward on Thursday. She did not want her name or face printed but chose to go by TC. She said she was sexually harassed by a Denver police officer.

This officer, in a way, was sort of grooming me. He pretended like he cared, he was compassionate, but in reality, it was a game for him, she said.

Havard said this is a common thing she is hearing from many women still with the police department.

Youre certainly the subject to offensive comments that have always been framed in the sense of being a joke. Weve had situations where  that have been reported to me  where women have been physically assaulted, you know, their space not respected, Havard said.

Former officers speak out

While she supports women doing what they are passionate about and joining the police force, she also advocates for more safety.

Unfortunately, almost weekly we are faced with articles about police misconduct and issues with, oftentimes, with the woman being the victim, Havard said. And those are just ones that we know about.

Womens police academy set for this weekend in Denver

With a womens police academy approaching this weekend, Havard said this needs to be stressed even more.

As more and more women get into this profession, as they should, I think we have to be ensured that they are truly operating in a safe environment, not just in a statement form, but their actual workplace environments are safe, she said.

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The police department responded to the allegations in an email to FOX31, saying:

The police department also outlined a list of initiatives it has implemented to improve internal and external practices, including but not limited to:

The DPD Diversity and Support Bureau

Racial and Social Justice Academy

Multiple community academies including a Spanish-speaking Community Academy, Womens Community Academy and Youth Community Academy

The Womens Collective

A goal to have at least 30% of officers be female by 2030

Instituting respectful workplace training

Working with the Mayors Office of Social Equity and Innovation to develop an Equity Action Plan

Continuing the LGBTQ+ liaison program for internal and external outreach

Creation of an Asian Community Outreach Hotline

Providing Active Bystander for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training

Creating the Before the Blue and Beyond the Badge orientation program

A mentorship program

A childcare stipend grant to assist with childcare challenges and better support employees

The department said these are not all the steps they have taken but provide an idea of the departments direction.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The ex-publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid testified during former President Donald Trumps hush money trial Thursday that in the run-up to Rahm Emanuels first run for Chicago mayor, the publisher helped quash a story about an alleged affair Emanuel had.

David Pecker, who has had a long relationship with Emanuel and has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to his political campaigns over the years, testified he paid $20,000 for a story about an alleged Emanuel affair before Emanuels Chicago mayoral campaign kicked off in 2010, according to testimony reported by Politico.

The Enquirer then did not report on the allegations, effectively preventing them from becoming public, according to the Politico report.

Pecker testified he had a relationship with Emanuels brother, Ari, a well-known Hollywood talent agent, and had worked with him to buy stories about celebrities and suppress them, a process known as catch-and-kill, according to Politico.

Emanuel, now the U.S. ambassador to Japan, could not be reached for comment Thursday. He served two terms as Chicagos mayor, before opting not to run for reelection in 2019 amid fallout from the Chicago police shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Pecker was on the stand Thursday in the trial in which Trump is charged with falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to suppress stories about his sex life as he was running for president in 2016.

Peckers statements about catching and killing the alleged Emanuel affair story and stories he said would have been damaging to various celebrities came under cross-examination by Trumps lawyers.

Emanuels ties to Pecker go back years, according to campaign finance reports that show that around the same time Pecker testified he was catching and killing a story for Emanuel he was also contributing to Emanuels first successful bid to run for Chicago mayor.

Pecker contributed $5,000 to the Chicago for Rahm Emanuel campaign fund on Nov. 12, 2010, one day before Emanuel formally declared he was running for mayor at a rally at Coonley Elementary School on Chicagos North Side.

In all, Pecker and his company, American Media Inc., contributed $33,200 to Emanuels mayoral campaign fund, according to records with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Previously, Pecker and his wife, Karen, contributed $12,000 to Friends of Emanuel for Congress, which was Emanuels congressional campaign fund. Emanuel was a congressman from 2003 to 2009, when he stepped down to become President Barack Obamas chief of staff in the White House. He left the chief of staff job to run for Chicago mayor.

Emanuel aides in the past have said that while the former mayor was working for investment firm Wasserstein Perella & Co. he worked with Pecker on a deal that never came through, according to a 2018 report in the Chicago Sun-Times. In court, Pecker described it as a deal to try to acquire Playboy magazine.

In April 2010, Emanuel told interviewer Charlie Rose he hoped Richard M. Daley would seek reelection, but also said, One day I would like to run for mayor of the city of Chicago.

Five months later, Daley announced he would not seek reelection. Shortly thereafter, Emanuel left the Obama White House and began prepping his own run.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A former counselor at a Northwest Arkansas summer camp accused of child sex crimes has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.

Alexander Baiza, 22 (Courtesy: Adams County, Iowa Sheriffs Office)

Alexander Baiza, 22, of Olathe, Kansas, was arrested on March 28 on pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child and two sexual indecency with a child charges.

On Feb. 23, a parent came forward to Fayetteville police and reported grooming and sexual communications between their child and Baiza, according to an affidavit.

The parent who reported the incident believed their child knew Baiza because he was one of their camp counselors at Camp War Eagle, a Christian sports, adventure and recreation summer camp, according to its website.

Former NWA summer camp counselor accused of child sex crimes

The messages included Baiza performing sexual acts while fully nude. The affidavit said his face was visible in multiple images.

Baiza reportedly asked the victim for nude photos on numerous occasions and received them on at least nine occasions.

During a recorded call, Baiza admitted what he did was wrong and that he was aware of the victims age. The affidavit says he told the Fayetteville Police Department he was only 18 years old, but documents in his work file received by the department said he was 21 years old at the time of the report.

Fayetteville police issued an arrest warrant on March 8 and it was served in Adams County, Iowa on March 28.

Baizas trial date has been set for July 15.

KNWA/FOX24 reached out to Camp War Eagle for comment but did not hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  William Husel, the former physician who was acquitted of murder charges in connection to patients overdoses, has filed another lawsuit in federal court against Mount Carmels parent company, about one month after a similar lawsuit was dismissed.

Husel on Tuesday sued Trinity Health, the parent company of Mount Carmel, seeking $20 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, accuses the healthcare giant of malicious prosecution, alleging Husel was a scapegoat for the hospital and they actively sought his criminal prosecution.

The lawsuit claims that since Husels acquittal, he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, and has not been able to obtain employment. It also says Husel has developed physical symptoms not related to any other medical condition including a limp and loss of fine motor skills.

William Husel sits during his trial Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Husel is accused of ordering excessive painkillers for patients in the Columbus-area Mount Carmel Health System. He was indicted in cases involving at least 500 micrograms of the powerful painkiller fentanyl. (Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch via AP, Pool)

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Husel previously filed a similar lawsuit in April 2023, which also sought $20 million in damages and alleged malicious prosecution. The lawsuit was dismissed in March after the court found that Husel failed to argue against the presumption that probable cause existed for his prosecution.

The new lawsuit addresses the dismissal, which indicated the original lawsuit never explicitly stated which Trinity staff member presented false or misleading testimony. The new lawsuit accuses Dr. Daniel Roth, the health systems chief clinical officer, of presenting knowingly false information to the Franklin County grand jury that indicted Husel.

From 2015 to 2018, critically ill patients in Columbus ICU physician Husels care died from a potentially excessive amount of painkillers. In 2019, Husel faced 14 murder charges in relation to his patients deaths. A jury ultimately found him not guilty in 2022. Husel surrendered his medical license in the aftermath of his trial.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Russian troops carried out air strikes with two anti-aircraft gunships on an industrial facility in the city of Sumy. Bilopillia also came under fire, killing two women and injuring several others.

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According to Suspilne, citing sources, Bilopillia was hit by various types of weapons on the afternoon of April 26, killing a woman and injuring several others. A fire broke out in the town, said Yuriy Zarko, head of the Bilopil community.

According to him, the primary health care center was damaged, and windows and doors in nearby residential buildings were smashed.

Later, Yuriy Zarko reported the second woman killed . The first died on the spot, the second died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

In addition, as of 11:29 a.m., the Sumy Military District reported that the enemy had launched an air strike on an industrial facility in Sumy, using two KABs.

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"All necessary services are working at the site. The consequences of the attack are being clarified," the regional administration said in a statement.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 10:58 a.m. reported the launch of guided aerial bombs in Sumy region. Explosions were reported in the city.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Sumy City Council reported that at night and in the morning of April 26, the enemy fired five times at the border areas, and settlements of Sumy region. 41 explosions were recorded. Krasnopilska, Seredyno-Budska, and Znob-Novgorodska communities were shelled.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, at about two o'clock in the afternoon, the Russian military dropped unexploded ordnance on the infrastructure of Sumy. Previously, a Su-34 fighter-bomber from the airspace of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation "worked out" the city.

Sumy came under attack on Wednesday evening, April 24. The enemy fired missiles at the suburbs of the regional center, and there were no reports of casualties.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Former paramedic sentenced to 4 years probation in police-stop killing of Elijah McClain

April 26 (UPI) -- Former first responder Jeremy Cooper was sentenced Friday to four years probation for the the death of Elijah McClain.

He's the final of three men to be sentenced in McClain's death.

District Court Judge Mark Warner imposed the sentence, which includes 14 months in jail with work-release and 100 hours of community service.

His sentence will begin June 7.

"The life of Elijah McClain mattered, and matters," Warner said. "It's almost unthinkable, the way things rolled out and the facts and circumstances in this case."

Cooper was convicted of negligent homicide in the 2019 killing after paramedics used ketamine to sedate McClain, 23, during a police encounter in Aurora, Colo.

McClain, who was Black, was unarmed and not accused of breaking any laws when he was killed.

Cooper had faced up to three years in prison. Warner, in passing the sentence, said that while Cooper had injected McClain with more ketamine than protocol for a person his size, Cooper had shown remorse and was not likely to commit crimes in the future.

Cooper and co-defendant Peter Cichuniec were found guilty of negligent homicide in December. Cichuniec got five years for assault and another year for the criminally negligent homicide charge.

They were found to have improperly treated McClain before and after he was given ketamine.

After the December verdicts, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said, "Elijah did nothing wrong that evening. His life mattered and he should be here today. Accountability does not end with these trials. Too many times we have seen people die when officers unnecessarily escalate situations that don't call for the use of force."

McClain was confronted by police after a 911 caller reported him as "suspicious." An officer grabbed him within seconds and forced him to the ground, where he was held in a position that cut off oxygen to his brain for a short time.

Cooper administered ketamaine to sedate him after McClain became upset while handcuffed and restrained on the ground for about 10 minutes. McClain died when his heart stopped after the ketamine dose.

Former Colorado police officer Randy Roedema was sentenced to 14 months in prison and four years probation for his role in McClain's death.

Former officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted in the case.
George Stewart was a man driven by the desire to serve others, whether that was his family, his church or his community. He retired the first time at age 50 so he could spend more time with his wife, Jo Anna, and their 11 children, worried that he would die at age 53 like his father. Instead, just before George turned 55, he was elected as the mayor of Provo. He returned later to serve on the city council, then stepped down mid-term to serve a church mission with his wife. He was reelected to the city council in 2016, just before he turned 77.

The former mayor and city councilman from Provo died this week at age 84.

George Owen Stewart was born on Nov. 16, 1939, to Joseph Leonard Stewart and Marjorie Esther Brand. Raised in Arizona, he went to work when he was in the fifth grade to help support his family following the death of his father. He began working at age 10 and, as a youth, delivered papers, worked at a dry cleaner, carried groceries and stocked shelves. He was the oldest of six children, living in an 1,100-square-foot home, as Doug Robinson of the Deseret News reported in 2016.

He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru as a young man, and then graduated from Arizona State University with a political science degree. He and his family ended up in Utah in 1978 and never left. In fact, he and Jo Anna never moved from the first home they owned on the Provo bench.

During his first retirement, Stewart served as the executive director of Deseret International (now Charity Vision) and as president of the Provo School Foundation. He returned to work for a couple of years, and then retired again two years later. He was serving as a bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a BYU ward when he was encouraged to run for Provo mayor. He filed the night before the deadline in 1993, won the election in November and then served from 1994 to 1998.

He was a controversial figure as mayor, dubbed King George by radio personality Tom Barberi for his stance on closing the citys swimming pools on Sundays. He argued successfully that even the U.S. Postal Service took Sundays off. The Provo pools are still closed on Sundays, three decades later.

In spite of controversy during his term as mayor, he was well-liked overall. He was elected twice more to the city council and left an impression on mayors who followed him. Upon learning of Stewarts death, Rep. John Curtis, a previous Provo mayor, said, He was a protector of all that makes Provo a special place to raise a family, start a business and enjoy a prosperous community. Im grateful for his friendship and mentorship. He left an important legacy of service to his family, community and faith.

Current Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said he was a wonderful mayor mentor. On social media, she posted: To know George was to love him, and I did. George was a man of service to all  his friends, family, and especially his community  serving as Provo Mayor and on Provo (City) Council. When I was given the same honor to serve as Provo mayor, I found myself often at his home asking for advice. Of course, George was right there to be a much-needed mentor, constantly giving me useful mayoral tips while serving on the council. He is a dear friend and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 27.

Former Provo Mayor George Stewart is greeted by his wife, Jo Anna, as he works in his home office in Provo, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. | Ravell Call
The Fort Worth Independent School District will no longer be providing free school supplies to elementary students next school year as federal relief money is expiring.

District officials confirmed the change this week to the Star-Telegram, as summer break is about one month away and back-to-school shopping wont be far behind. Fort Worth ISD students return on Aug. 13.

Regrettably, due to the concluding of ESSER funds, we wont be able to offer free school supplies to students next year. However, our district is collaborating with teachers to lessen the impact on families. We remain committed to supporting students by partnering with our generous local community donors to ensure families have the resources they need for success, district spokesperson Jessica Becerra said.

Since the 2021-2022 school year, the district footed the bill for elementary students through the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, which helped school districts return students to school safely and catch up on learning gaps brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last round of funding expires on Sept. 30.

Fort Worth ISD spent about $4.5 million on classroom supplies for the 2021-22 school year, which included a supply budget of $200 per teacher who taught at the secondary level in the district. In 2022-2023, district officials distributed up to $2.6 million worth of supplies to elementary students and secondary level teachers. In 2023-2024, more than $2.1 million was spent.

For the 2024-2025 school year, families will be on their own again when buying or acquiring backpacks, notebooks, writing utensils and more.

Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, executive director and founder of Parent Shield Fort Worth, said the change will put many parents in a tough spot, and she hopes other resources will be available for them to obtain supplies.

Most of our communities, especially for Fort Worth ISD, are economically disadvantaged. It just breaks my heart that Fort Worth ISD wouldnt fight to make sure that those kids have supplies they need for school, she said.

The district distributing the same supplies to all students creates a more equal and fair way for them to get the tools they need, so families who purchase their own supplies are not the ones who become indirectly responsible for providing for other students, Dorsey-Hollins added.

From what I see in a lot of school settings as a parent, is that what I send for my kid is going to be distributed and shared amongst their peers, she said, referring to paper, pens and notebooks as examples.
Another week in Fresno, another road closure necessitated by Californias bullet train.

When will the construction headaches end? Probably not until the moment high-speed rail transforms from a future concept into something you can actually purchase tickets for.

In other words, not until 2030 at the absolute earliest, but likely a couple years after that.

Until then, I have a request to the California High Speed Rail Authority, the agency overseeing the most expensive public works project in state history:

Opinion

No more road closures in Fresno until the roads already closed for high-speed rail projects finally reopen.

Is that too much to ask? It shouldnt be.

Earlier this week, Golden State Boulevard became the latest asphalt casualty of the bullet train when a half-mile stretch between Belmont and Olive avenues bordering Roeding Park permanently closed. The nearby Belmont Circle (Californias first traffic circle) will also be a thing of the past as crews construct an overpass to carry traffic over both the freight tracks and high-speed rail route.

Golden State joins Tulare and Ventura streets in downtown Fresno, which have been closed since 2017 and 2021, respectively, for the construction of underpasses. Both are well behind schedule. And, as reported by The Bees Tim Sheehan, the Church Avenue overpass being erected two miles south of downtown is lagging behind as well.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Fresno Trench (a mile-long tunnel running beneath Highway 180, a rail spur and an irrigation canal), an overpass at McKinley Avenue, the realignment of Golden State between Herndon and Shaw avenues and several other projects in Fresno and Madera counties.

Meaning there are enough bullet train construction sites to keep those crews busy for the time being. Without breaking ground on any new ones that would only further inconvenience construction-weary residents.

A new overpass is being built to carry traffic on Belmont Avenue up and over the existing Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks and future high-speed rail route through central Fresno, replacing the aging Belmont underpass beneath the UP tracks. Golden State Boulevard is permanently closed between Belmont and Olive avenues because of the work. California High Speed Rail Authority

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, a staunch high-speed rail proponent, recently expressed those frustrations during an agency board meeting.

Quite frankly, I stuck my neck out as mayor to give authorization to have (Church Avenue) closed with the assurance that we would not have delays, Dyer told board members, and now were months behind.

Rather than pile on, my simple request to high-speed rail officials is to refrain from adding to their pile of ongoing projects. At least until the ones currently underway are complete.

No end in sight

High-speed rail construction began in earnest in 2015 with the realignment of Highway 99 between the Clinton and Ashlan exits to make room for the new tracks. Nearly a decade later, theres no end in sight.

Since Fresno will benefit from the bullet train more than anyplace else  both in terms of connectivity to other regions of California and the elimination of grade-level railroad crossings  its only fair we endure most of the work-in-progress headaches.

Its also fair to expect lengthy construction delays, not to mention cost overruns, on a project of such massive scope and with so many moving parts.

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias said hes giving rail authorities quite a bit of grace even though his district contains most of the road closures and construction sites.

Every single transportation and infrastructure project is behind schedule, including those being done by the city of Fresno, Arias said. Its part of the cost of rebuilding our city.

The Ventura Street underpass for high-speed rail in downtown Fresno is seen under construction on Friday, March 22, 2024. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA/ezamora@fresnobee.com

Arias said other government agencies, as well as the Union Pacific Railroad Co., contributed to the delays of high-speed rail projects by asking for improvements and upgrades that are beyond the original scope of work.

When everything is finished were going to get a project that will have a greater benefit to the public, he said. But in the meantime were going to have to put up with construction and street closures.

More street closures are on the way. Future grade separation projects at Olive, McKinley, Shaw and Herndon avenues will undoubtedly cause more headaches for residents.

But before the rail authority creates any more construction zones, it should complete the ones already underway. Especially the underpasses that would make downtown whole again. Thats a perfectly reasonable request.
REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Eligible individuals in Reedley will have more access to therapy services after a grand by the Sierra Kings Health Care District to the on-site Counseling Center at the Fresno Pacific University.

The On-Site Counseling Center at Fresno Pacific University (OSCC) is partnering with the West Coast Mennonite Central Committee Global Center, which will supply office space in its building at 1012 G Street in Reedley, according to Fresno Pacific officials.

Fresno Pacific officials announced an awarded grant of $25,000 by the Sierra Kings Health Care District to support therapy services for eligible individuals in Reedley.

The center offers educational, art, and relief programming as well as a social space to provide opportunities to learn about MCC and participate in its global relief work.

The grant will also fund three training sessions for community organizations in Reedley, focusing on the impact of trauma on children and families, according to officials.

Were excited to expand our reach in Reedley and partner with SKHCD to provide therapy services to the community. This is a very encouraging opportunity, said Angela Turner, M.A., director of OSCC.

This grant will be effective from July 1 to June 30, 2025.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Friday marks two months since 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers disappeared from his home in Sumner County.

The teenager is still the center of a nationwide AMBER Alert and two months of searching has not yielded any results.

The AMBER Alert was issued the day after Sebastian was first reported missing. The search was scaled back before it moved to a Kentucky landfill.

Sebastian Rogers father hires private investigators

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

The community is working to make sure no one forgets about Sebastian.

Law enforcement has not, you know drawn any conclusions, so we need to keep hope up and keep praying for this young teen and his parents and his dad that you know he is going to be found. We just got to keep the faith, explained Don Schmit, Sumner County commissioner for District 18.

Large-scale search continues for Sebastian Rogers

More than a month after 15-year-old Sebastian went missing from his home in Hendersonville, officials combed through the neighborhood in a massive operation for clues in his disappearance.

During a press conference afterward, Sumner County Chief Deputy Eric Craddock said there has been no evidence pointing to foul play in Sebastians disappearance, but they are not ruling anything out.

Theres really a lack of answers and the truth is nobody knows where he is. I see his family hurting. I see a community trying to rally around this boy, said volunteer Trevor Lee.

Sebastian Rogers father, grandparents hold out hope at prayer vigil

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued the following statement ahead of the two-month mark:

April 26th marks two months since Sebastian Rogers was reported missing from his Sumner County home. Since that time, TBI special agents from multiple units have been assisting the Sumner County Sheriffs Office in efforts to locate Sebastian. These efforts have included multiple large-scale searches on the ground, in water, and from the air. The searches have included multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service. Residents in the area have also conducted searches on their own properties, in the hopes of finding Sebastian, or learning what may have happened to him. To date, there have been no confirmed sightings of Sebastian since the issuance of the Alert. TBI special agents continue to review the information gathered since the investigation began, follow up on all leads or tips that come in, and work with counterparts from other law enforcement agencies to review strategies and consider options. The AMBER Alert for Sebastian Rogers remains active. We continue to encourage anyone with information to call 1-800-TBI-FIND, or send an email to TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov.

Meanwhile, the community will gather on Friday, April 26 to Light the path for Sebastian to come home.

Everyone is asked to join at the bridge on East Main Street in Hendersonville at 7:30 p.m. The bridge will be lit up in Sebastians favorite color of green. There will also be a two minute and 26 second long moment of silence honoring the day he went missing.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville.

Sebastian Rogers: Description

Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI.

AMBER Alert Issued

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him.

Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ.

Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonvilles first responders, Sumner County Sheriffs Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian.

Who to Contact

If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Friends of Badger Mountain trail blazer honored as Tri-Citian of the Year

Sharon Grant, the indefatigable conservationist who co-founded Friends of Badger Mountain, is the 52nd Tri-Citian of the Year.

Grant was honored with the communitys highest civic honor at the annual Tri-Citian of the Year banquet, held Thursday night at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

By tradition, her name was kept secret until it was announced by the previous years honoree, Lura Powell, the former PNNL director. The award is given by the Tri-Cities Rotary and Kiwanis clubs to honor service to the community.

Sharon Grant, co-founder of Friends of Badger Mountain, was named the 52nd Tri-Citian of the Year for 2024. In this file photo, she pauses on the west end of Red Mountain with the Yakima River and Rattlesnake Mountain visible in the background. Courtesy Sharon Grant

Grant was nominated by some 30 civic, business and government leaders for her role in creating the nonprofit that established the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve and a growing network of trails providing access to Candy Mountain, Little Badger Mountain and the vineyards of Red Mountain.

Extraordinary leadership

Collectively, the FOBM network is used by hundreds of thousands of hikers each year.

Casual day hikers and world-class athletes who participate in endurance running events alike flock to the local slopes. The trail network supports millions in visitor spending.

Sharon Grants extraordinary leadership, vision, passion, commitment, and dogged persistence have positively transformed the Tri-Cities in ways few can truly understand and imagine, the nomination reads. Through her work, she has created a living legacy for generations to come.

Grant graduated from Pasco High School, then earned a bachelors from the University of Washington and a masters from George Washington University. She has spent 45 years in the Tri-Cities and worked as a family counselor in addition to championing the outdoors. She and her husband, Steve Ghan, live in Richland.

In addition to co-founding the group, she was its president from 2007-2012 and continues as a board member.

Saving ridges for the public

The organization was born out of frustration on the part of members of the Inter-Mountain Alpine Club, including Grant, according to the nomination and to Tri-City Herald archives that document its progress over the years.

For decades, the alpine club organized a New Years Day hike to the Badger summit. When no trespassing signs appeared on both Badger and Red mountains more than 20 years ago, its members recognized that public access to local ridges was in jeopardy.

The Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve offers access to the summit and territorial views of the Columbia River and the Tri-Cities. Sharon Grant, co-founder of Friends of Badger Mountain, was named 2024 Tri-Citian of the Year for her work to establish the trail network. Wendy Culverwell/Tri-City Herald

In 2004, a year after FOBM formed, Grant told the Herald a property owner had been blunt: The only way youre going to hike these hills is if you buy them.

By then, the group had an agreement with a sympathetic landowner willing to sell 574 acres on the crest and slopes of the 1,580-foot Badger Mountain.

The young group raised $750,000 to buy the land, then convinced government leaders to invest in saving the mountain.

Grant is credited with dogging the Benton County Commission to purchase the Badger Mountain property with money raised by the group. She met with commissioners seven times before they voted  unanimously  to support the deal.

(H)er tenacity and stick-to-itiveness paid off, the nomination said.

The city of Richland supplied $100,000. Benton County provided $25,000. The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council provided $485,000 from its shrub-steppe habitat preservation budget.

Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve was born with trail heads on either side of the ridge and a network of crisscrossing routes to the top.

The 650-acre Badger Mountain Preserve was formally created in 2006 and deeded to Benton County.

Badger Mountain is the regions most prominent landmark. Grant has described it as a beacon that welcomes visitors and residents alike.

Today, it is one of Washington states post popular destinations for casual hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and wildflower enthusiasts alike.

Sweeping views of West Richland, Candy Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain in the distance can be seen from the Skyline Trail hike on Badger Mountain. Laurie Williams/Tri-City Herald

Growing trail network

Friends of Badger Mountain didnt stop at Badger Mountain.

It took on Candy Mountain, Little Badger Mountain and even Red Mountain. Its goal is to increase public access and to create a regional trail. Grant remains at the forefront, fielding public and media questions about its work and steering inquiries to the people best equipped to answer questions about fundraising campaigns, land deals, trail construction and more.

It leveraged its Badger Mountain success to take on neighboring Candy Mountain. In 2016, it completed a $1.5 million campaign to establish the Candy Mountain Preserve, which opened in 2017. The trail networks connect via Dallas Road along the Richland/West Richland border.

Little Badger Mountain was its next target.

Grant is credited with persuading a property owner to donate 44 acres to build a trail to its summit. Construction began in 2020.

Today, the Badger and Little Badger trails connect below the Badger summit. The Little Badger Mountain Preserve added 75 acres to the trail system.

Ridge to Ridge vision

The two-summit stretch is part of a long-term vision to create a 20-mile ridge-to-ridge trail extending from Little Badger, Badger, Candy and Red Mountains between the Amon Basin at the Kennewick-Richland border to the Yakima River.

The project was partly stymied by a Red Mountain property owner who declined to provide summit access. Instead, Friends worked with Red Mountain vineyard owners to create a trail along the mountains lower slopes. it is set to open  with some restrictions to protect vineyard operations  in November..

Friends of Badger Mountain is well recognized for its work.

The city of Richland awarded its 2006 Green Project of the Year. Visit Tri-Cities, the regional tourism agency, honored it in 2007 and again in 2018 for its impact on tourism. It has been widely profiled in local and national media.

Grant herself was honored a year ago as Tapteal Greenways 2023 Tri-Cities Conservationist of the Year.

Her legacy is a singular showcase  a free, public park with wide open spaces and remarkable expansive views, the nomination notes. What would Tri-Cities be like if we didnt get to enjoy Badger Mountain? What would Tri-Cities be like without Sharon Grant?

The Tri-City Herald created Tri-Citian of the Year in 1962 to honor exceptional Tri-Citians for their service to the community.

It fell inactive during the 1970s and again during the COVID-19 era, but has been given annually to some of the most prominent members of the community.

Tri-Cities Kiwanis and the Rotary clubs took over managing the honor about 1980.

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The FTC's ban on noncompete clauses could be good for startups. But it also might be struck down.

The Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to ban the use of most noncompete agreements on Tuesday. This ruling means companies can't require employees who aren't senior executives to wait a set amount of time before joining a competitor or launching their own company in the same category. While the FTC's ruling will impact industries like financial services and hedge funds the most, due to the prevalence of such agreements in those industries, it could also impact startups.

The ban could actually be positive news for startup founders and hiring managers in a number of ways. For one, it could open up the hiring pool, says Nick Cromydas, the co-founder and CEO of hiring and recruiting startup Hunt Club.

"Now there will be more potential cross-pollination of companies that really understand businesses' models and spaces," Cromydas said. "I expect you will see more hiring with direct domain experience than you've seen in a while."

Ryan Vann, a partner focused on employment law at Cooley, agreed. He said that he's had clients that were too anxious to hire potentially game-changing talent away from larger companies for fear those companies would act on the noncompete agreement.

Banning noncompete agreements could also encourage startups to foster a strong company culture that makes people want to stay, as opposed to using threats to keep them, Cromydas said.

Some members of the startup community seem happy about the ruling as well  rare these days when it comes to decisions by the FTC. Sarah Guo, the founder at AI-focused VC firm Conviction, tweeted that banning noncompete agreements is a win for innovation. Cole Harrington, the co-founder and CEO at ThoughtWave AI, agreed with her.

Understandably, some startup CEOs are worried about how the end of noncompetes could impact the security of intellectual property, but Cromydas said there are other ways for companies to protect themselves. Startups can have employees sign non-disclosure agreements regarding intellectual property, or spend more time filing patents. Instead of blocking an employees future employment, such alternatives prevent them from using the previous employers intellectual property knowledge at their new jobs.

Startup employees might not see much of a change for two other reasons: noncompete agreements were already very hard to enforce, Vann said, and they were trending out of vogue among startups anyway. Certain states, including startup-heavy California, have existing state laws that restrict them. Although, he added that any client of his that can use them typically does, despite the low rate of them actually coming into play.

"Even without this ban, it is really, really hard in virtually every court in America to enforce a noncompete unless you have something added that are bad facts, like theft of confidential information, soliciting customers before you go, trying to set up competing business before you go," Vann said. "I would almost never go into litigation unless I was armed with that kind of evidence or misappropriation of trade secrets."

Given all that, noncompetes are becoming less common, according to company data from Hunt Club. While five years ago 90% of offers that came through Hunt Club's platform included a noncompete agreement, that figure now is about 40%. Although, Cromydas said he wouldn't doubt it they were rising again in hot sectors like AI where intellectual property is crucial and the war for talent is high.

So what should startup CEOs do if they currently use noncompete agreements with their employees? Absolutely nothing, according to Vann, who questions whether the ban will actually stick. Multiple lawsuits against the ruling have already been filed including one from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and another from tax service firm Ryan LLC.

Vann thinks this potential ban could be struck down by numerous courts. If it does clear these legal hurdles, startups wanting to hire someone that may have signed one can terminate existing noncompete agreements incredibly easily.

"The worse-case scenario if you are a startup and hire someone with a noncompete, is all you have to do is issue the notice to say that your noncompete is not enforceable," Vann said. "I would keep it at status quo right now and monitor what's happening."

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL87aHoXrvA?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360]
Ukraine has handed over a list of names of Ukrainian children illegally deported by the Russian occupiers from the temporarily occupied cities to the territory of the aggressor state of Russia to Qatar. The list includes 561 children. The Russian side is already working on it.

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This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram, following his visit to Qatar. He emphasized that this country is acting as a mediator in the negotiations. However, there were no direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

The Commissioner noted that Ukraine expects the return of these children but will not disclose any details for now.

"We are not disclosing details at the moment. As always, when children are brought back to Ukraine, we publicly announce their return," the statement said.

In addition, Lubinets said that Qatar also discussed the return of so-called status children: orphans and children deprived of parental care. Qatar agreed to accept the first list of these children and work on the issue of their return to Ukraine.

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"I would like to note that, according to our data, there may be more than 3,600 such children," Dmytro said, emphasizing that Russia is obliged to return children regardless of their status as there is no legal difference between biological parents and official adoptive parents or guardians.

Also, according to him, Qatar agreed to participate in negotiations with Russia on the return of civilians illegally stolen by Russia.

As reported earlier, Russia is developing a system of "re-education" and digital control over children illegally taken from Ukraine to Russia after the start of the large-scale invasion. Among other things, the occupiers convince little Ukrainians that their parents are dead.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted 7-1 to select Dr. Jeffrey Gold, an internal pick, as its ninth system president. The president-elect will take the helm effective July 1. April 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents selected Dr. Jeffrey Gold on Friday in a nearly unanimous vote as the universitys ninth system president.

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president-elect of the University of Nebraska, meets with reporters following his confirmation vote. April 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Regents voted 7-1 to appoint Gold, currently chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and NUs executive vice president and provost (chief academic officer), to take over the presidency effective July 1.

He will receive a 3% boost in his current salary (about $31,000 extra) to $1,062,573 total, which could have happened anyway through annual increases.

He will continue to be a surgery professor at UNMC and receive various benefits.

The future is bright for this university and, as a result, I believe the future is extremely bright for the state of Nebraska, Gold said after the confirmation vote.

I guarantee you that over these years together, I will trip and fall, but I promise you that I will get up, dust off and come back the next day and do it better and better and better, he continued.

Future leadership changes

Gold told reporters he will never finish his to-do list at UNMC but will continue many of those priorities and strategies across all campuses, including the med center.

University of Nebraska regents, chancellors and interim NU President Chris Kabourek join with state senators and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen following the announcement of a new scholarship for top-performing Nebraska students. Feb. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

At multiple events, Gold has asked what three things NU should focus on, and the answer is always, workforce, workforce and more workforce.

And by the way, Jeff, if youre not listening, its workforce, Gold said with a laugh.

With Golds elevation, interim NU President Chris Kabourek will return to just his role as chief financial officer. Gold told the Nebraska Examiner he will search for a full-time successor for provost as well as an interim UNMC chancellor. At a campus public forum last week, he said a search for his permanent successor would likely be done through a national search.

NU is currently conducting a search for a University of Nebraska at Kearney chancellor.

In June, NU will present its two-year budget, and Gold said he will soon sit down with Gov. Jim Pillen, Kabourek and others to figure out the right requests and priorities for NUs future. NU continues to face $58 million in expected budget cuts for that biennium, which has largely flown under the radar, behind the scenes and on individual campuses, in recent months.

Presidency will be life changing

Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice (center), board chair. April 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice, board chair, said regents set out to find a leader who could build on NUs current momentum, lead NU into the future and take us to even greater heights.

After a process that has been both efficient and thoughtful, we have found the person we were looking for, Schafer said.

Regent Elizabeth OConnor of Omaha said Friday was one of the days throughout her six years as a regent shes been most optimistic about the future of the university. OConnor added that with Golds history with NU, the system will move forward without skipping a beat.

Dr. Golds experience with getting research funding, fundraising and strategic planning will end up being life changing for thousands of students across the state of Nebraska, she said.

Unresolved issues

Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City, the lone regent to vote against Golds appointment, told reporters afterward she did so because of unresolved issues.

She declined to explain further but said many of those issues have been raised behind closed doors in executive session.

Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City is flanked by Chancellor Rodney Bennett and Mike Zeleny, vice chancellor for business and finance, both at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. April 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Wilmot, who represents the states western 45 counties, thanked those involved with the search and outlined the importance of three listening sessions that Gold attended in Curtis, Scottsbluff and North Platte this week.

My constituents know what they told me, what their concerns were, and thats not what this is, Wilmot said of her vote.

Gold said Wilmot was extremely supportive of his candidacy when they spoke and she had not given him any indication of her opposition. He said that they spoke about what was important to NU and that he committed to her that he would listen, as he did with all other regents and stakeholders.

He said he will sit down with each regent again, including Wilmot, prior to becoming president.

Schafer said he understands listening is Golds next step and said doing so and working together will bring NU to an even higher level of excellence.

A man of character

In October, prior to beginning the official presidential search with nominations due Jan. 1, regents first signaled they were looking for a leader who would listen and who had experience with academic health centers.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents meets Oct. 5. 2023, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln, who chaired a 22-member search committee, which included all regents and the four student regents (who unanimously supported Gold), said NU is very fortunate to have Gold and his demonstrated skills for NUs next leader.

Im excited to work with him, excited for what he can bring to the University of Nebraska, Clare said. Weve seen part of it through his work as chancellor, and Im anxious and optimistic for big things in the future.

Regent Jack Stark of Omaha, a former UNMC faculty member who has worked across NU and who added the health center experience recommendation, said the most important trait for leadership is character, which he said Gold has.

Dr. Gold has a wise mind, kind heart and accepting soul, and thats what we need, Stark said. Were fortunate to get him because everybodys been after him.

A new adventure

From left, Regents Paul Kenney, Katie Schultis (UNMC student regent), Barbara Weitz, Kathy Wilmot and Hakim Lotoro (UNO student regent). Oct. 5, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The board also set out to find a leader who would stay in the role for 10 years, especially as top academic leaders have stayed in their roles for shorter periods of time. Gold, 71, said he is a good 71 as it is said in the medical world and he not only feels well but takes no meds, exercises almost every day and loves what he does.

Gold said his understanding with the board is hell continue to serve as long as he continues to be productive and has an impact. His initial contract is for five years.

Student Regent Hakim Lotoro of the University of Nebraska at Omaha said it has certainly been a tumultuous time for NU, including with criticism from Gov. Jim Pillen, a former regent himself.

It is needed peace for the thousands and thousands of Nebraskans across the state to really make this all possible, Lotoro said.

Regent Barbara Weitz of Omaha said she is giddy about NUs new adventure and regents just had to believe they would get to the right place, and they did.

This is going to be such an adventure, Weitz said. Everybody get ready.

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The post The future is bright: Regents confirm Dr. Jeffrey Gold to lead University of Nebraska appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
The Galesburg Fire Department (GFD) has chosen Captain Matthew Cain as the 2023 Firefighter of the Year.

The annual GFD Firefighter of the Year award recognizes significant contributions, achievements, character, and dedication of a firefighter or fire captain, according to a city release Friday. Selection is based on criteria including skills and ability as a firefighter, performance of duties, motivation, teamwork, leadership, and professionalism.

Captain Matthew Cain, right, is congratulated by Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Novind.

Candidates are nominated by the fire department staff, and the final selection is made by a consensus of the management staff, union president, and staff captain.

Captain Cain was appointed to the Galesburg Fire Department on Feb. 16, 2003, and subsequently promoted to the rank of captain on June 29, 2015. He manages the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) inventory and has performed a tremendous job keeping up with industry changes and ensuring firefighters are properly protected, the release said.

Cain is the lead for GFDs Juvenile Fire Setter Program and handles the compressor and fill stations as well. He is instrumental in doing much of the behind-the-scenes work in procuring grant funds to keep SCBAs current.

Cain took a special interest in GFDs recruiting efforts. For the past couple of years, he has become heavily involved, often identifying events to attend, coordinating with other firefighters to attend the events, and arranging travel plans for career recruitment events in Champaign and Macomb.

In addition, Cain has been instrumental in training new firefighters after they return from the Illinois Fire Academy, providing positive leadership and years of experience.

A ceremony was held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Galesburg Fire Department to honor Captain Cain as Firefighter of the Year and recognize his achievements and dedication to the Galesburg Fire Department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
A premature baby girl who was saved from the womb after her mother was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza has now died as well.

Sabreen Jouda passed away in a hospital in the southern city of Rafah on Thursday after surviving for five days in an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit, her uncle told the Associated Press. Her father and four-year-old sister were also killed in the airstrike that claimed the life of her mother shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Emory Universitys Philosophy Chair Arrested at Campus Gaza Protest

First responders transported the familys bodies to a hospital where medical workers performed a posthumous cesarean section on Sabreens mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time she was killed. The infant was then rushed to another hospital where doctors battled to keep her alive.

Rami al-Sheikh, Sabreens uncle, told the AP that his niece had been buried alongside her father on Thursday. We were attached to this baby in a crazy way, he said. God had taken something from us but given us something in return, he added, referring to Sabreens survival after the death of her family.

But (now) he has taken them all, al-Sheikh said. My brothers family is completely wiped out. Its been deleted from the civil registry. There is no trace of him left behind.

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Gaza baby pulled alive from womb of mother who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah

Gaza baby pulled alive from womb of mother who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah

By Mohammad Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Relatives gathered by a tiny sandy grave in Gaza on Friday, where they had buried a baby girl, who lived just a few days after doctors delivered her from the womb of her dying mother following an Israeli airstrike.

The baby had been given the names Sabreen, after her dead mother, and Rouh, which means "soul".

Her mother, Sabreen al-Sakani al-Sheikh, 30-weeks pregnant, was seriously injured when the Israeli strike hit the family home in Rafah, the southernmost city in the besieged Gaza Strip, on Saturday night. The baby's father Shukri and three-year-old sister Malak were killed.

Doctors delivered the baby by Caesarean section, but the mother died of her wounds. Doctor Mohammad Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital, who had been caring for the baby, said the infant suffered respiratory problems and a weak immune system, and died on Thursday.

"I and other doctors tried to save her, but she died. For me personally, it was a very difficult and painful day," he told Reuters by phone.

"She was born while her respiratory system wasn't mature, and her immune system was very weak and that is what led to her death. She joined her family as a martyr," Salama said.

"Maybe if it werent for the Israeli war on Gaza and the devastation of hospitals, we would have been able to help more children survive. But hospitals were damaged and others destroyed and our capabilities have become much limited."

More than 34,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been confirmed killed in the six-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas militants, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel denies deliberately targeting civilians in its campaign to eradicate Hamas.

Much of Gaza has been laid to waste by Israeli bombardments and most of the enclave's hospitals have been badly damaged, while those still operating are short of electricity, medicine sterilisation equipment and other supplies.

The baby's grandmother had pleaded for the doctors to save her, to "keep the memory of her mother, father and sister alive, but it was God's will that she died," Salama said.

Her uncle, Rami al-Sheikh Jouda, sat by her grave on Friday lamenting the loss of the infant and the others in the family.

He said he had visited the hospital every day to check on the baby's health. Doctors told him she had a respiratory problem but he did not think it was bad until he got a call from the hospital telling him the baby had died.

"Rouh is gone, my brother, his wife and daughter are gone, his brother-in-law and the house that used to bring us together are gone," he told Reuters.

"We are left with no memories of my brother, his daughter, or his wife. Everything was gone, even their pictures, their mobile phones, we couldn't find them," the uncle said.

(Reporting by Mohammad Salem in Rafah and Nidal al-Mugharbi in Cairo; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan, Peter Graff)
George Soros is paying student radicals who are fueling nationwide explosion of Israel-hating protests

George Soros and his hard-left acolytes are paying agitators who are fueling the explosion of radical anti-Israel protests at colleges across the country.

The protests, which began when students took over Columbia Universitys Morningside Heights campus lawn last week, have mushroomed nationwide.

Copycat tent cities have been set up at colleges including Harvard, Yale, Berkeley in California, the Ohio State University and Emory in Georgia  all of them organized by branches of the Soros-funded Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)  and at some, students have clashed with police.

George Soros is paying agitators who are fueling the explosion of radical anti-Israel protests at colleges across the country.

The SJP parent organization has been funded by a network of nonprofits ultimately funded by, among others, Soros, the billionaire left-wing investor.

At three colleges, the protests are being encouraged by paid radicals who are fellows of a Soros-funded group called the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR).

USCPR provides up to $7,800 for its community-based fellows and between $2,880 and $3,660 for its campus-based fellows in return for spending eight hours a week organizing campaigns led by Palestinian organizations.

They are trained to rise up, to revolution.

The radical group received at least $300,000 from Soros Open Society Foundations since 2017 and also took in $355,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund since 2019.

George Soros and Wall Street moguls financed radical anti-Israel groups behind campus protests at Columbia University. Rikki Schlott

The University of Texas-Austin is one of the campuses where anti-Israel protests have exploded this week, copycatting the takeover of Columbia Universitys lawn. AP

It has three fellows who have been major figures in the nationwide protest movement.

Nidaa Lafi, a former president of the University of Texas Students for Justice in Palestine, was seen at an encampment at UT Dallas Wednesday making a speech demanding an end to the war in Gaza.

Lafi, a former legislative intern for the late Democratic Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, graduated from the school last year with a degree in global business and is now a law student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Lafi was seen at the University of Texas-Austin on Wednesday leading a protest against Israel. Alamy Live News.

Nidaa Lafi returned to the University of Texas, Dallas, campus Wednesday to lead a teach-in at the Students for Justice in Palestines occupation of the college lawn. She is paid as a fellow by a group backed by George Soros.

In January, she was detained for blocking the route of President Bidens motorcade after he arrived in Dallas for the funeral of Johnson, her former boss.

At Yale, USCPRs fellow Craig Birckhead-Morton was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree trespassing when SJPs branch, Yalies4Palestine, occupied the schools Beinecke Plaza, the Yale Daily News reported.

Birckhead-Morton  also a former intern for a Democrat, Maryland rep John Sarbanes  emerged from custody to address a sit-in blocking traffic in New Haven.

At Yale, Craig Birckhead-Morton (circled) is paid up to $3,360 for his work encouraging protests. He was arrested for trespass Monday and charged with first-degree trespass.

The most high-profile of the fellows is Berkeleys Malak Afaneh, co-president of the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine.

She has been a serial speaker at an anti-Israel protest on the campus this week  which came after she first shot to prominence by hijacking a dinner at the law school deans home to shout anti-Israel slogans, then accused the deans wife of assaulting her when she asked the radical to leave.

Serial protester Malak Afaneh is paid by the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights as a fellow. She has repeatedly spoken to an encampment of students at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is a law student.

UC Berkeley law student Malak Afaneh speaks to a large crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters during a protest on the campus of UC Berkeley in Berkeley, Calif., Monday, April 22, 2024. AP

The cash from Soros and his acolytes has been critical to the Columbia protests that set off the national copycat demonstrations.

Three groups set up the tent city on Columbias lawn last Wednesday: Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Within Our Lifetime.

At the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, students sleep in tents apparently ordered from Amazon and enjoy delivery pizza, coffee from Dunkin, free sandwiches worth $12.50 from Pret a Manger, organic tortilla chips and $10 rotisserie chickens.

Afaneh posted this video after hijacking a dinner to which she was invited by the dean of the law school and shouting anti-Israel slogans  then claimed she was the victim. TikTok/@realsairarao

An analysis by The Post shows that all three got cash from groups linked to Soros. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund also gave cash to JVP.

The fund is chaired by Joseph Pierson, and includes David Rockefeller Jr, a fourth-generation member of the oil dynasty, on its board of directors. The non-profit gives money to sustainable development and peace-building.

And a former Wall Street banker, Felice Gelman, a retired investment banker who has dedicated her Wall Street fortune to pro-Palestinian causes, funded all three groups.

Free sandwiches from upscale takeout joint Pret a Manger are on offer at the encampment, worth up to $12, and $10 rotisserie chickens. Cash for the encampment has come from billionaire investor George Soros. NYPJ

Both SJP and JVP were expelled from Columbia University in November for threatening rhetoric and intimidation. JVP blamed Israel for the Oct 7 Hamas terrorist attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead.

Israeli apartheid and occupation  and United States complicity in that oppression  are the source of all this violence, JVP said in a statement on its website.

SJP called the terrorist strike on Israel a historic win.

Also on offer for the thirsty anti-Israeli protesters camped out at Columbia is free coffee from Dunkin. Behind the scenes, the groups organizing the encampment have received cash from Soros and another former Wall Street banker. NYPJ

An analysis by The Post shows how Soros and Gelmans cash made its way to the students through a network of nonprofits that help obscure their contributions.

Soros has given billions to the Open Society Foundations which his son Alexander  whose partner is Huma Abedin, Hillary Clintons top aide and the estranged wife of pervert Anthony Weiner  now controls.

In turn, Open Society has given more than $20 million to the Tides Foundation, a progressive nonprofit fiscal sponsor that then sends the cash to smaller groups.

George Soros, the billionaire investor, is the ultimate source of cash for JVP and SJP, two of the groups encamped on Columbias lawn. It comes via a series of intermediaries. Andrew Toth

Those groups include A Jewish Voice for Peace, which between 2017 and 2022 has received $650,000 from Soros Open Society. Its advisers include the academic Noam Chomsky and the left-wing feminist author Naomi Klein.

JVP has been a prominent part of the protests at Columbia and one of its student members was among a group expelled from the university for inviting the leader of a proscribed terrorist group, Khaled, to the Resistance 101 Zoom meeting.

Soros has also donated $132,000 to WESPAC, called in full the Westchester Peoples Action Coalition Foundation.

Soros Open Society Foundations is now controlled by his son Alexander. It has been the ultimate source of funds for all three groups that set up camp on the Columbia lawn.

The White Plains-based nonprofit was founded in 1974 to rally for civil rights and against the Vietnam War but is now a major funder of anti-Israel groups, including Within Our Lifetime and Students for Justice in Palestine.

SJP has also received funding from the Sparkplug Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit run by Gelman and her husband, Yoram Gelman.

The couple funneled their $20,000 donation to the group through WESPAC in 2022, according to public filings.

Alexander Soros partner is Huma Abedin. The Hillary Clinton aide separated from her husband Anthony Weiner after he was caught sexting an underage girl. X/@humaabedin

Gelman was previously on WESPACs committee for Justice and Peace in the Middle East in 2009 when she was invited to Gaza by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, according to the groups website.

The UN group has been slammed for its support of Hamas.

Gelman is on the board of the Bard Lifetime Learning Institute, an offshoot of the infamously progressive college, as well as the Jenin Freedom Theatre, located in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

David Rockefeller Jr., seen with daughter Ariana, is a fourth-generation scion of the Standard Oil fortune. He chaired the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which champions progressive causes until 2022. It is now chaired by Joseph Pierson. Paul Bruinooge/PatrickMcMullan.c

Felice Gelman, a former Wall Street investment banker, gave Students for Justice in Palestine $20,000 through Sparkplug, her family foundation. Bard LLI

WESPAC president Howard Horowitz, a former Orthodox Jew, is a member of the New York chapter of JVP, which says it works for advocacy and public education for Palestinian human rights.

Horowitz said he embraced the Palestinian cause after time spent living in Israel, according to a report in the Israel Times.

WESPAC has also given money to Within Our Lifetime, founded by the ubiquitous anti-Israeli protester Nerdeen Kiswani.

Howard Horowitz, a former Orthodox Jew from New York, is the longtime leader of WESPAC, which funds radical anti-Israel groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine. 914Wired/ YouTube

Within our Lifetime uses a loophole in the law to avoid declaring how much it receives from donors by not being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, meaning it is unknown how Kiswani has benefited.

However, WESPAC is named as a fiscal sponsor of Within Our Lifetime.

After The Post published our story, an Open Society Foundations spokesperson said: For the record, Open Society Foundations has a long history of fighting antisemitism, islamophobia and all forms of racism and hate.

Open Society has funded a broad spectrum of US groups that have advocated for the rights of Palestinians and Israelis and for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Israel and the OPT.

This funding is a matter of public record, disclosed on our website, fully compliant with US laws, and is part of our commitment to continuing open debate that is ultimately the only hope for peace in the region.

The Open Society Foundations proudly support the right of all citizens to peaceful protest  a bedrock principle of our democracy.

None of the other groups responded to requests by The Post for comment.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Students in the District have been gathered at George Washington University (GWU) for over 24 hours to protest the war in Gaza.

This is not about us. This is not about solidarity with other universities. This is about solidarity with us. This is not about our sacrifice, students. This is about the genocide thats going on in Gaza right now and get out onto the streets, said Reem, a GWU student.

Control fences around the George Washington University encampment on Friday morning. (Ya-Marie Sesay/DC News Now)

Reema is one of hundreds of students, along with faculty and staff from GWU and Georgetown University, who began staging an encampment at GWUs campus on Thursday morning.

Just before the rally began on Friday, GWU officials placed control fences around the front of the encampment.

THURSDAY: GWU protest continues into evening, students set up encampment in solidarity with Gaza

Students said they are demanding universities in the area divest any investments from Israel over the Palestinian deaths in Gaza due to the Israeli war. Theyre also demanding free speech when it comes to pro-Palestine views.

Repression only makes our movement stronger. Repression only encourages other people to join, it only angers folks. Even if they dont grant our demands, weve seen day by day, more and more people join us, and so eventually those demands will be met, said Reema.

College students across the DMV  and the United States  have been joining peers in New York, who protested the use of force by the Israeli government in Gaza over the course of the past week.

(Leonard N. Fleming/DC News Now)

(Leonard N. Fleming/DC News Now)

(Leonard N. Fleming/DC News Now)

(Leonard N. Fleming/DC News Now)

Students protesting at GWU have received a lot of support from teachers, faculty, former students and even many in the community.

People were bringing food to support them, to have meals here, the community support. You cant arrest the movement So Ive been energized and activist and activated around these things for a long time, and Im re-energized because of the students, said Olivia Dinucci, a community organizer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Paris on Friday for final talks on a joint Franco-German armaments project worth billions of euros.

Pistorius and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for an effort to jointly develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), which is aimed at replacing the countries' current main battle tanks.

The MGCS project is conceived around not just a new main battle tank design, but also a series of systems and vehicles built off that platform that will connect battle tanks in a data network with support weapons such as drones and other unmanned systems.

Interconnecting the weapons systems will enable a technological leap in military technology, according to supporters of the project.

The MGCS project is expected to replace Germany's Leopard 2 and France's Leclerc main battle tanks.

Germany is to play a lead role in developing the MGCS, which is a counterpart to the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project being led by France, which includes the development of a next-generation fighter jet as well as drones and other systems.

Like other joint European defence projects, the effort has been delayed by tensions between participating countries over how to distribute industrial contracts and other spending among firms.

In May 2021, Germany, France and Spain reached an agreement in principle on the FCAS, which is worth billions, following a lengthy struggle over industrial policy.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu (L) welcomes Boris Pistorius (R), Germany's Defence Minister, with military honors. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu (L) welcomes Boris Pistorius (R), Germany's Defence Minister, with military honors. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu (L) welcomes Boris Pistorius (R), Germany's Defence Minister, with military honors. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Tino Chrupalla, leader of the AfD parliamentary group, can be seen during a topical debate on "Russia, China and the AfD" in the German Bundestag. Jessica Lichetzki/dpa

The leader of the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has defended the actions of its leadership in connection with reports about the possible involvement of leading party politicians with Russia and China.

"We will draw clear consequences if these things are confirmed against Mr Krah and Mr Bystron," Tino Chrupalla said on the German public broadcaster ZDF on Thursday evening.

Both had given written assurances that there was nothing to the allegations and therefore the presumption of innocence applied.

Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament is the AfD's top candidate for the European elections in June, while AfD Bundestag member Petr Bystron is in second place on the election list.

Following media reports about possible links to pro-Russian networks and possible financial payments, public prosecutors are examining whether investigations should be opened into both politicians.

Krah is also under pressure because one of his employees was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

In the heated TV debate, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician Armin Laschet attacked Chrupalla: "There have never been such conditions to this extent of treason in the Federal Republic of Germany," said the former CDU candidate for chancellor.

"If you were as sure as you're acting here, would you be saying I'm sending Krah on every talk show to prove his innocence? Please don't take us and the German people for fools!"

Krah will not take part in the AfD campaign inauguration event with party leaders Alice Weidel and Chrupalla on Saturday in Donaueschingen in south-west Germany as planned. There will also be no videos with him.
German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius (L), and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu shake hands after signing the declaration of intent between the two countries for the main battle tank system of the future. The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) is intended as the successor to the Leopard and Leclerc tanks of both countries and should be operational in the course of the next decade. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

The French and German defence ministers signed an agreement in Paris on Friday for a joint Franco-German led armaments project worth billions of euros, which includes the development of a next-generation main battle tank.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu signed the memorandum of understanding for an effort to jointly develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), which is aimed at replacing the countries' current main battle tanks.

Both ministers confirmed signing the agreement after the meeting.

The MGCS project is conceived around not just a new main battle tank design, but also a series of systems and vehicles built off that platform that will connect battle tanks in a data network with support weapons such as drones and other unmanned systems.

Interconnecting the weapons systems will enable a technological leap in military technology, according to supporters of the project.

The MGCS project is expected to replace Germany's Leopard 2 and France's Leclerc main battle tanks.

Germany is to play a lead role in developing the MGCS, which is a counterpart to the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project being led by France, which includes the development of a next-generation fighter jet as well as drones and other systems.

According to reports, the ministers also reached agreement on the contested distribution of tasks and contracts for the project along eight pillars, of which Germany and France each have the lead in two. The other four pillars are to be coordinated jointly.

Like other joint European defence projects, the effort has been delayed by tensions between participating countries over how to distribute industrial contracts and other spending among firms.

In May 2021, Germany, France and Spain reached an agreement in principle on the FCAS, which is worth billions, following a lengthy struggle over industrial policy.

Lecornu had said in Berlin in March that the main battle tank system would be a "generational leap."

Pistorius described the agreement in principle as "historic" and added: "We have agreed on the distribution of all tasks for this major project."

However, the details have not yet been publicly released.

There is intense interest among observers about the particulars of the deal, including how individual development tasks will be divided and whether the weapons system will be standardized to allow for shared jointly produced ammunition and other parts.

In the past, there have also been repeated difficulties with joint armaments projects because individual nations have insisted on special technical requirements, resulting in delays and cost increases.

German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius (L), and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu hold a press conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
German law enforcement seized four special edition Bugatti Veyron hypercars from a private storage facility in Munich, Germany this week. The cars are reportedly linked to a massive corruption scandal out of Malaysia.

The news was initially reported by the German publication Bild, which notes that the cars were found inside the parking structure of Motorworld Munich, an automotive event space in the northern part of the city.

While any Bugatti is a rare item, the four seized cars are part of the Les Legendes de Bugatti run. Only 18 of these machines were built, spread across six bespoke lines. The four cars in question were Rembrandt, Black Bess, Jean-Pierre Wimille, and Meo Constantini edition Veyrons. The special edition models were based on the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. Each example carried an MSRP of around $3 million when they were new, but values are hard to place today. The cars rarely come up for sale, and usually are not sold at public auction. The cars were located and seized by members of the Criminal Investigation Department 7, which specializes in white-collar crimes.

Bugatti

While Munich Police were unwilling to share any specific details about the ongoing case with Bild, the publications sources within the judicial system were a bit more open. Bild reports that the cars were seized in relation to an investigation surrounding the sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. The Malaysian firm was founded in 2009 in an effort to bolster the country's economy, but instead served as a tool for embezzlement. Billions of dollars were stolen from the Malaysian public, with former Prime Minister Najib Razak sentenced to 12 years in jail for his involvement back in 2020. Razak stole more than $600 million alone. The owners of these specific vehicles remain unclear at this time, but should become public as the investigation moves along, as will their connection to 1MDB.

Bugatti

Via The Supercar Blog

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed that Ukraine had asked the country to transfer Patriot and S-300 air defense systems. However, Athens will not be able to transfer these air defense systems to Kyiv as they are "critical" for the protection of Greek airspace.

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The Prime Minister clarified that, despite the request, Greece is not going to supply Ukraine with either S-300 or Patriot. This was reported by Iefimerida.

"The air defense systems you mentioned are critical systems for the protection of Greek airspace and will not be transferred to Ukraine," Mitsotakis said.

The Prime Minister noted that Greece "has supported Ukraine in various ways, including with defense materials." However, from the very beginning, the country stated that it could not be left without weapons, which are "crucial for its own defense potential."

"We have surplus equipment that we can support Ukraine with, we have done so, and I believe that this is the right choice. And if we are able to find such equipment, we will continue to do so," the Greek Prime Minister added.

The FT reported the day before that the EU and NATO are pressuring Greece and Spain to transfer air defense systems to Ukraine. Although both countries have more than a dozen Patriot systems, among other systems, both Madrid and Athens do not need that many of them.

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Greek media reported that the country is considering the transfer of Patriot systems to Kyiv but only if it receives US "guarantees" about the threat from Turkey and a financial compensation package.

As reported, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the allies have made specific commitments to supply more air defense systems to Kyiv. According to him, NATO is negotiating on this issue with "some specific countries."

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has cancelled a planned panel discussion on the Gaza war at his official residence in Berlin amid criticism that no Palestinian voice had been invited to take part.

At the event called "How do we talk about the war in the Middle East?" originally scheduled at Bellevue Palace for Thursday, Steinmeier had intended to give a speech and discuss the topic with three guests, Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Educational Centre, journalist Tilo Jung and Melody Sucharewicz, an expert on German-Israeli relations.

Critics have called out the lack of a Palestinian voice in the panel in recent days, however, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

In a statement obtained by dpa, the presidential office justified its decision to cancel the event, saying that it had "come to the conclusion that the round table planned for May 2 does not serve the goal of strengthening social peace in the current tense situation. The event will therefore not take place at this time."

According to his office, the German president has hosted several round table events since the beginning of the Gaza war triggered by the October 7 attacks on Israel.

The idea had been to counter anti-Semitism, hatred and violence, open up space for the pain of all sides, facilitate dialogue and strengthen social peace, the statement said. To this end, dialogue partners with different positions, perspectives and backgrounds were invited, it said.

Germany is among Israel's staunchest allies, and political leaders in Berlin have repeatedly stated that Israel has a right to self defence in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

Domestically, authorities have been quick to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests citing fears of anti-Semitism, with critics saying the current climate has led to a supression of Palestinian voices.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier boards an aircraft (Airbus A350) of the German Armed Forces Air Wing at Esenboga Airport in Ankara to fly back to Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned his fellow Germans against viewing political and social problems in the United States with smug superiority, given the increasing divisions and radical politics at home in Germany.

"In my view, we look across the Atlantic with far too much arrogance and think that what has been happening in the United States for many years has nothing to do with us," Steinmeier said on Friday at a conference organized by the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspapers. "But we do not live on an island."

Steinmeier said that Germany is still a long way from what has "manifested itself as a division of society" in the US.

"We have quality media, we still have a high voter turnout by international standards, we have an intensive debate on all political events from Kiel to Munich," Steinmeier said during a discussion moderated by the newspaper's publisher, Berthold Kohler.

Even if that distinguishes politics and social relations from the US, people in Germany still have "lived for far too long in the idea that [they] are equipped with completely different guarantees of stability," said Steinmeier.

There is no guarantee that prosperity and economic growth will be maintained, he said.
A police officer walks across a platform while in the background a double-decker Deutsche Bahn (DB) regional train pulls into the station. Jonas Walzberg/dpa

Electrical cable thieves paralysed train service in parts of western Germany overnight, with some delays expected to last until midday on Friday.

A spokeswoman for state rail operator Deutsche Bahn said the situation in the Ruhr region and in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia normalized somewhat during rush hour on Friday morning, but trains were still unable to run at Bochum main station, near Dusseldorf.

Long-distance trains were widely diverted. There were also cancellations and diversions on regional services and suburban trains. The spokeswoman said that the disruption in Bochum was expected to last until midday on Friday.

Due to the cable theft, the Bochum signal box is no longer operational. In addition, radio traffic in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia was disrupted by the crime during the night, said the railway spokeswoman.

Train drivers were unable to reach the signal boxes and were therefore not allowed to continue their journeys for safety reasons. According to the railway, freight trains and around 20 passenger lines were affected.
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Germanys parliament on Friday amended the countrys climate change legislation after weeks of debate, in a move that has dismayed climate activists.

The reform to the Climate Protection Act will reduce the responsibility for individual government ministries to meet their own annual emission targets, and will now focus on achieving collective government targets to cut emissions. The amendment will give leeway to ministries like transportation who had pressed for a more flexible approach after historically failing to reach set emission goals. Climate NGOs warned that the reforms will reduce the overall efficiency of reaching emission targets.

The debate on climate law reform tested the limits of the Chancellor Olaf Scholzs brittle government, with his cabinet proposing radical changes if their partys demands could not be met.

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Scholz stresses commitment of private sector in emissions goals

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Source: Deutsche Welle

The German government is pushing private firms to invest more in fighting climate change as individual ministries reduce their burden. Discussions which focus only on public financial pledges arent nearly enough, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at Berlins Petersberg Climate Dialogue on Friday, adding that the $2.4 trillion per year that experts have said is needed for developing countries to switch to renewable energy sources cannot be entirely supplied by public institutions.

Transport minister threatened weekend driving ban if reform wasnt passed

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Source: Politico

Before the amendment, Germanys transportation minister had threatened to ban weekend driving indefinitely for the agency to reach its independent emission targets. Minister Volker Wissing also dismissed other proposals to reduce emissions like implementing a speed-limit on Germanys autobahn highways. Wissing has wasted two years blocking every climate protection measure in road traffic  now he is coming up with horror scenarios so that he wont have to do anything in the future either, said one Greenpeace mobility expert.

Reform debate is latest coalition clash that is increasing support for German far-right

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Sources: Politico, The Washington Post, The Financial Times

The lengthy debate over climate reform within Germanys ruling coalition once again tested the limits of the fragile alliance between the Social Democrats, Free Democrats, and The Greens. Their relationship has been fraught over socio-economic differences, including an incident when the Green Party proposed a ban on hunters importing trophy kills from Africa, angering the libertarian-leaning Free Democrats and prompting Botswana to threaten sending 20,000 elephants to Germany to illustrate the issue of overpopulation. The inter-alliance fighting is pushing voters to favor the far-right AfD party, the Financial Times reported. Sometimes it feels more like childcare than actually running a country, one cabinet minister told the FT on current frustrations.

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A general view of a plenary debate in the German Bundestag. On Friday, the Bundestag will hold final deliberations and vote on the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (solar package) and the reform of the Climate Protection Act. Jessica Lichetzki/dpa

The lower house of Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has passed a controversial reform of the country's Climate Protection Act, which will significantly overhaul how targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are implemented.

The proposed changes have been deeply controversial, with some environmental groups sharply opposed to the changes. The opposition conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), also objected to the reforms, and unsuccessfully sued to delay Friday's vote.

The upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, will still have to consider the bill.

The reforms have been primarily pushed by the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP), the smallest member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition government, which includes Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens.

But current law also sets CO2 emissions reduction targets by economic sector, such as housing or transport, and includes requirements that ministries prepare immediate action programmes if a sector falls short of achieving those targets.

Under the proposed reforms, however, compliance with the climate targets will no longer be monitored retrospectively by sector but will instead be forward-looking, multi-year and take multiple sectors as once.

Critics of the changes have complained that requirements which ensured accountability, such as placing specific responsibility with individual ministries, will be stripped from the law.

Last year, Germany's transport and construction sectors missed targets.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing of the FDP warned that he would need to impose drastic measures such as nationwide weekend driving bans if he was forced to submit an action programme for the transport sector as required under current law.

He instead urged the German government to scrap the requirement as part of the overhaul of the Climate Protection Act.

The proposed changes passed by the Bundestag on Friday get rid of the sector-specific requirements, and would instead look at overall CO2 emissions in Germany and whether the country remained on track to achieve its climate commitments.

If it becomes clear in two consecutive years that the country is not on track to achieve its 2030 climate goals, then broader changes would be required.

Lawmaker Andreas Jung of the opposition CDU accused the government of gutting the very heart of the Climate Protection Act, and

The FDP's Christian Durr, however, defended the reforms as offering necessary flexibility and argued that it doesn't matter for the climate whether CO2 reductions come from the energy, industrial or transport sectors.

Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Droge said the law is now oriented toward the future, instead of basing action around past sector-by-sector emissions, and that climate targets remain unchanged.

However, Droge conceded that the Greens would have liked the individual sectors to take even clearer responsibility.

Further climate targets enshrined in German law include reducing emissions by 88% by 2040 and achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045, which would mean emitting no more CO2 than can be absorbed.
Rudolph Giulianis defense against facing criminal charges for his involvement in Arizonas fake elector plot is not exactly a good one: Hes pointing out other states where he may have committed crimes as well.

Well, I didnt spend as much time on Arizona as I did, lets say, with Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. I know those better, Donald Trumps former attorney told Newsmax Thursday night.

I used Christina Bobb to a large extent, and Im not putting anything off on Christina. If Christina said it happened, its probably more accurate than if I said it happened, Giuliani added, referring to another former Trump attorney.

Giuliani: I didn't spend as much time on Arizona as I did, let's say with Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania. I know those better. I used Christina Bobb to a large extent.. If Christina said it happened, its probably more accurate than if I said it happened pic.twitter.com/8fGjYFSeFp  Acyn (@Acyn) April 25, 2024

Bobb is now the Republican National Committees new senior counsel for election integrity. She and Giuliani were among seven Trump aides hit with criminal charges in Arizona for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.



Even after being charged on Wednesday, Giuliani couldnt stop shooting his mouth off. New Yorks former mayor has had a bad year, stuck in bankruptcy court thanks to the various lawsuits against him as well as unpaid legal fees from Trump.

Arizona has joined Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia in charging fake electors for trying to overturn the 2020 elections. Fake electors in Wisconsin have settled a civil lawsuit over their fraudulent efforts. Meanwhile, in Fulton County, Georgia, Trump himself faces charges for trying to overturn the state election results.
Glasgow could soon become the latest European city to offer free public transport to its citizens.

The Scottish city is set to trial a pilot scheme which could see 1,000 people given cost-free access to all forms of public transport for nine weeks.

Glasgows council put forward the idea and has won some support for the pilot which, if successful, would determine if there should be a wider rollout to every resident.

The scheme has yet to secure full funding though, meaning theres no guarantee it will go ahead - although lawmakers are still hopeful that it will come to fruition.

How would free public transport work in Glasgow?

If the pilot does work out and proves successful enough to merit a full rollout, Glasgow would be one of only a handful of cities in Europe to offer free public transport.

Hasselt in Belgium abolished fares in 1997 and has seen passenger numbers grow exponentially ever since. Estonias capital Tallinn has been offering free rides to all of its 420,000 citizens since a public vote in 2013. The entire micronation of Luxembourg also offers free public transport to locals and visitors alike - and a new scheme has recently extended this offering for commuters across the border in France.

In Glasgow, the pilot would see people between the ages of 22 and 59 as testers and each user would receive a preloaded travel card for cost-free transport for nine weeks.

Theyd be able to access all buses, the citys subway and local trains across Glasgows Zones 1 and 2.

At the end of the trial period, statistics would be examined closely, with experts analysing the pros and cons of providing free travel in the city, before deciding whether to move forward with broadening the scheme.

Thats all very much an if not when for now, though.

Councillors in Glasgow have only allocated funding to support the development of the potential of a pilot, but no funding has been allocated for the actual delivery of it at the present moment.
The entrance to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Glendale. The personal information of hundreds of Glendale Unified School District employees was posted to the internet after a data breach at the school district in December 2023. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The IRS recently notified teachers, nurses, counselors and other faculty members in the Glendale Unified School District that they could not file their taxes this year because they already had  or at least somebody using their information did.

In December, the school district with more than 25,000 Los Angeles County students learned that it was the latest victim of a ransomware attack aimed at institutions that store sensitive data, but lack the same type of security standards of a large government agency. The attackers locked district employees out of their own system and demanded an undisclosed ransom for the safe return of their data, according to a district spokesperson. The data included employee and student names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security and driver's license numbers and financial account information, according to a letter sent to district employees reviewed by The Times.

In the ensuing months, the full extent of the breach emerged when district employees tried to file their federal and state income taxes but couldn't because they'd already been filed fraudulently.

As of Friday, at least 231 union members have been affected by the breach and many were required to verify their identity with the IRS to legitimately file their taxes, said Glendale Teachers Assn. union president Taline Arsenian.

"The [union] members are spending a lot of their time to clear this issue," Arsenian said. "It's very time-consuming when you get down to it."

The first sign of a problem arrived in district inboxes on Dec. 6. In an email, the district asked employees and students to stay off their Chromebook laptops and not log in to their school accounts.

"After learning of the cybersecurity incident, GUSD immediately partnered with local law enforcement, outside cybersecurity experts, and the FBI to investigate its scope and assess the potential risk to our employees and students," district spokesperson Kristine Nam said in an email.

Around the same time, Glendale Unified reached out to employees going back 20 years and notified about 14,000 people that they could potentially be affected by the data breach, Nam said.

It's unclear whether all the information compromised in the breach was accessed and posted to the dark web, a part of the internet not accessible by traditional search engines, but often where stolen information can be found. But the district has offered one year of free credit monitoring and identity theft detection for anyone who wants the service as a precaution regardless.

Still, some employees have not been satisfied with the district's handling of the situation.

A current employee who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from their employer, said the district has been slow to disclose information about the data breach.

"They've been so unclear about what happened. It's been on a need-to-know basis," the employee said. "The reality is that my information is out there and the damage could happen years from now."

In contrast, when the second-largest school district in the country, Los Angeles Unified, was the target of a ransomware attack in September 2022, district administrators notified the public within days that they had partnered with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement to investigate the situation.

Glendale Unified, on the other hand, did not initially let district employees know about what was happening and information since then has been released as a "slow drip of updates," the anonymous employee said.

In response to the criticism, Nam said Glendale Unified is "committed to being fully transparent with our community and providing employees, students and families with as much information and support as possible. As is protocol in any cybersecurity incident, communications are dictated by law enforcement and the external cybersecurity team."

Nam also pushed back on suggestions from employees that the district was slow in notifying staff about the problem.

"We sent a message to our entire community immediately on Dec. 6 when the incident occurred, sent a follow-up on Dec. 7 stating that a cyber forensics team was working on the issue, and sent almost daily messages after that," Nam said in an email.

But Arsenian, the union president, said the union was not notified about the 14,000 former and current employees until April 19.

In January, the district announced that personal data on the school's network was accessed in a ransomware attack, including some current and past employees and students. In late February, the district notified the California Franchise Tax Board about the data breach "after an employee reported concerns about their tax filing," Nam said.

On March 4, a district administrator sent out a districtwide email warning employee's of the fraudulent activity. That administrator included the phone number and mailing address for the California Franchise Tax Board, along with a link to an IRS webpage to help protect against identity theft.

"At that point, it felt like the cat was already way out of the bag," the anonymous employee said. "They have just been unhelpful through all of this."

Though Nam said that no student information had been compromised in the breach, she acknowledged there could be a small handful of exceptions such as paid student tutors whose financial information is in the school's information system.

"We do not have reason to believe that, in general, students' personal information was compromised by the data breach," Nam said. "If we identify that a students personal information was compromised for any reason, we would notify the student and parent/guardian directly."

Clifford Neuman, director of the USC Center for Computer Systems Security, said if a ransomware attack gains access to someone's wage and tax statement  commonly referred to as a W-2  it's a "treasure trove of information for someone looking to commit identity theft."

But there is different information stored for an average student that is likely not the type of information used to fraudulently file taxes, Neuman said.

School districts are not necessarily a high-priority target for the type of people who would be behind a ransomware attack, but they're relatively easy targets because they have so many vulnerabilities, Neuman said. The "attack surface" on a school district is larger than a bank's, for example, because there are more people exchanging messages and documents through email in a school. Ransomware perpetrators understand that schools and hospitals are willing to pay a ransom to regain access to their systems because it's valuable information and, in the case of a hospital, potentially a life-or-death situation.

If someone were to trace where the Glendale Unified ransomware hack originated, it could be something as simple as someone on the district's network visiting a website with an outdated web browser, Neuman said.

"It's pretty hard to secure their systems against all of these types of instances," he added.

For all the impacted employees in Glendale Unified, Neuman expects the IRS would be held liable if it processed any fraudulent filings and sent a check to a fake address, not the school district.

"That takes a long time to straighten out," Neuman said.

Arsenian, the union president, said that employees affected by the fraudulent filings have been told they'll have to wait three to six months for their income tax returns.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $30,000 in two days

GoFundMe Lindsay Candy with her sons

Relatives of a 10-year-old boy who woke up earlier this week to find his parents and three older brothers dead in their Oklahoma home has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with expenses following the murders.

The fundraiser was created by the boys uncle, Brent Remerowski, who wrote that the funds will go towards funeral expenses, counseling, education, and the child's general welfare.

The 10-year-old boy  whose name hasnt been shared by authorities or family  dialed 911 after waking up and discovering five bodies at home on the morning of April 22, Oklahoma City police previously said. The boy said that everyone in the home appeared to be dead, according to police.

Related: All About Okla. Family Murder-Suicide, Where Dad Killed Wife, 3 Sons Before the Last Surviving Child Called 911

According to ABC News, Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Gary Knight said the boy was in his room sleeping with the door closed and a box fan on during the murders, presumably muffling any sound.

There is no indication he didn't sleep through it, Knight said, per the outlet.

According to police, Jonathon Candy, 42, killed his wife, Lindsay Candy, 39, after the two "became involved in an altercation" and then fatally shot three of their four children  Dylan Candy, 18, Ethan Candy, 14, and Lucas Candy, 12. Jonathon then turned the gun on himself.

Jonathon Candy;Ethan Candy;Dylan Candy/Facebook From left: Jonathon Candy, Ethan Candy, Dylan Candy, and Lindsay Candy. (Not pictured: Lucas Candy.).

So far the GoFundMe has raised over $30,000 for the surviving boys family in just two days.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The entire family is at the beginning of [a] long journey, but everyone is focused on one and one thing only....my Nephew and his future.....thanks to all of you, Remerowski wrote in an April 25 update.

Related: Loved Ones of Okla. Murder-Suicide Victims Pay Tribute: I Could Have Never Imagined That'

Police have not discussed a motive for the shooting. They have asked anyone with information to call the Homicide Tip-Line at 405-297-1200.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Read the original article on People.
Exactly 38 years ago, the world shuddered from one of the worst disasters of the 20th century  the Chornobyl accident. However, the specter of a new radiation disaster has not only not receded from humanity since then, but has come closer to it.

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For the third year in a row, the world has been brought to the brink of irreparable tragedy by the terrorist state of Russia, which first seized and looted the Chornobyl NPP and is now blackmailing humanity with the Zaporizhzhya NPP seized by Russian invaders. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the threat of new radiation disasters and the only way to avoid them on the anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, April 26, 2024.

The Head of State reminded us that less than 40 years ago, the world had already seen with its own eyes one of the most terrible deadly threats, which was averted at the cost of lives and health of tens of thousands of people.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Radiation does not recognize borders and does not distinguish between national flags. The Chornobyl disaster showed the world how quickly deadly threats can arise. Tens of thousands of people stopped the growth of the Chornobyl disaster at the cost of their health and lives and eliminated its terrible consequences in 1986 and years afterwards," he wrote.

A few decades later, the Chornobyl NPP, followed by the ZNPP, seized by Russian invaders, brought the world face to face with a potential catastrophe that would affect all of humanity.

"For 35 days, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was under occupation. Russian soldiers looted the laboratories, captured the guards, mocked the staff, and used them to launch further military operations. For 785 days, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhia NPP, has been held hostage by Russian terrorists," Zelenskyy emphasized.

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He emphasized: "It is in the interests of the whole world to "knock out" the means of nuclear blackmail from the hands of the aggressor state. Only by expelling the occupiers from the ZNPP can a catastrophe be avoided.

"It is the duty of the whole world to put pressure on Russia to ensure that ZNPP is liberated and returned under full control of Ukraine and that all nuclear facilities in Ukraine are protected from Russian strikes. Only this will ensure that the world does not suffer new radiation disasters  exactly what the Russian occupants' stay at ZNPP threatens every day. We remember the strength and dedication of people who saved lives in 1986. We appreciate everyone who helps to protect lives now," the President of Ukraine summarized.

As a reminder, on April 14, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that Russian terrorists were preparing for another provocation at the ZNPP.

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"Russia is the only terrorist in the world that holds a nuclear power plant hostage and uses it to blackmail Ukraine and the whole world. No one else, except for Russian terrorists, has ever brought the world so close to the brink of a deliberate radiation disaster," the General Staff said in a statement.

The General Staff also emphasized that in recent weeks, the Russian terrorist country has repeatedly tried to shift the responsibility for the use of drones to attack Zaporizhzhia NPP facilities onto Ukraine. By their actions, the Russians are deliberately continuing the practice of blackmailing Ukraine and the entire international community with the risk of a nuclear disaster.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, March 10, 2023. Credit: U.S. House of Representatives

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Republican U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee is breathing easier today, after the deadline for candidates to qualify to run in Floridas 15th Congressional District, which is part of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.

As of Friday, she will participate in the August 20 GOP primary election.

Lee won a contested battle for the Florida seat in the GOP primary in 2022. But just last month, she was considered to be politically vulnerable after former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform last month that he wanted someone to challenge her.

Any great MAGA Republicans looking to run against Laurel Lee in Floridas 15th Congressional District? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD! the former president wrote.

The post was considered to be retribution for Lee being the only member of Floridas Republican congressional delegation who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and not Trump, for president. After DeSantis dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, Lee did officially back the former president for the GOP presidential nomination.

Lee is a former federal prosecutor who was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott in 2013 to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Floridas Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. She then was appointed by DeSantis in 2019 to serve as Floridas Secretary of State, a position she held until she resigned to run for the congressional seat in 2022.

Among the names who had been speculated to run included Maureen Bannon, the daughter of Steve Bannon, a prominent Republican who served as the White Houses chief strategist during the first year of Trumps presidential administration.

Another Republican considered to be eyeing the race was former Tampa-based state legislator Jackie Toledo, who finished third behind Lee in the 2022 GOP primary election for CD 15. But Toledo announced on Thursday that she would not enter the contest.

My fight is far from over, and I will continue working tirelessly until we make America great again! As a mom, I know that a moms mission is never over, and I will keep fighting for a better future for our children and our country, Toledo said on X.

Two Republicans did qualify to run against Lee in the Republican primary: James Judge, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Kathy Castor in 2022, and Jennifer Barbosa, who ran (and lost) as an independent candidate for Congress in Southern California against Democrat Adam Schiff in 2020. She received 5.6% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.

On the Democratic side, the lone candidate is Hillsborough County Commissioner Patricia Pat Kemp.

The post GOP Congresswoman Laurel Lee avoids a MAGA-backed challenger in her bid for reelection appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Democrats are bracing for a backlash from young voters over the potential ban of TikTok on U.S. phones, something made more likely by the Chinese governments opposition to ByteDance selling off one of the most sophisticated algorithms in the world.

Its a problem for President Biden, who won 60 percent of voters 18 to 29 years old in the 2020 election but has seen his support drop to 45 percent in that key demographic, according to a recent Harvard Youth poll.

An NBC News poll published in November even showed former President Trump leading Biden among voters ages 18-34 nationwide, 46 percent to 42 percent.

Democratic strategists have attributed Bidens struggles with younger voters to the presidents age  81  and dissatisfaction over his handling of the war in Gaza, which has sparked protests on college campuses across the country.

Now a potential TikTok ban could become another headwind. While a ban wouldnt go into effect before Election Day, TikTok plans to fight it vigorously and has warned its devoted fanbase that the popular app could disappear from their phones.

A higher percentage of Americans under 30 oppose [the ban,] said Stephen Weymouth, a professor at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.

Unless the political leaders here are more persuasive in convincing people of the benefits of this possible divestment/ban, I think this is going to be relatively unpopular at a time when the president needs turnout from younger voters, he added. This is not likely to help.

Up to 170 million Americans now use TikTok, and its especially popular with younger people.

An Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published earlier this year found that 73 percent of Americans who use TikTok on a daily basis oppose a ban.

A poll of 1,001 Americans conducted by CNBC last month found that 48 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 opposed banning TikTok.

Another poll conducted by ClearPath Strategies, found that 51 percent of Black voters, another important Democratic constituency, said they oppose a ban and view the app favorably.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) this week blamed House Republicans for jamming language potentially banning TikTok into the $95 billion foreign aid package the Senate passed Tuesday.

Look, Speaker [Mike] Johnson [R-La.] put it in the bill, in the big supplemental bill, and we had to get the supplemental bill passed as quickly as possible, he told reporters when asked about a political backlash to the TikTok ban.

Republican strategists, however, say Biden will bear the brunt of any fallout because he signed the bill into law, and he is relying on young voters more than Trump.

The fact that more younger voters are shying away from supporting President Biden, according to the polls, this doesnt help him, this doesnt help the Biden administration, said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist.

I think it would have some type of effect on the election, he said. Its easy for younger people to understand that President Biden signed into law the TikTok ban. Republicans can point that out to younger voters but the national media will do the same.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who voted for the broader foreign aid package, warned Senate colleagues about the impact of a TikTok ban on younger voters.

It could and likely will result in widespread censorship and this censorship would most predominantly affect young people in our country, many of who are just obtaining the right to vote, he warned.

Instead of protecting young people online, were censoring their speech. And this is a grave mistake, he argued.

A Republican strategist who requested anonymity noted the Biden influencer space, the Democrat influence space on TikTok is absolutely huge.

Thats why you see all the Democrat politicians, even if they say support banning TikTok, they still use it, said the source. Especially among the Senate Democrats, who say they support banning it but still use TikTok.

The strategist noted that Texas Senate candidate Colin Allred, a Democratic member of the House, came under criticism for posting several times on TikTok the very same day he voted for the TikTok ban.

Brooooooooooo, we voted for you. But you Voted against us, fumed one of Allreds followers, according to The Texas Tribune.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan had to answer tough questions this week about why the Biden campaign continues to use TikTok, even though the president signed the new law requiring its Chinese owner to divest because of national security concerns.

Im going to let campaigns decide for themselves what theyre going to do, Sullivan told reporters when asked if its safe for campaigns to continue to use TikTok in light of allegations that the Chinese government has access to the apps data.

What were focused on right now in implementing the bill is working through that divestment in a way thats consistent with the intent of the law and consistent with the national security concerns that brought the law to force in the first place, Sullivan said.

Lawmakers who backed the potential TikTok ban have tried to frame it as simply forcing Chinese ownership to divest, but the Chinese governments opposition to a sale makes a ban now seem more likely.

Under the law passed this week, ByteDance would have 270 days to sell TikTok to avoid a ban in the United States.

Experts are skeptical that ByteDance will sell TikTok given a 2020 Chinese export control law that requires Chinas government to approve the sale of algorithms and other cutting-edge technology.

The Chinese are going to try to block the divestment. In 2020, they updated their export control rules to include restrictions on the sale of specific technologies, including algorithms, to foreign companies without government approval, Weymouth said.

That could lead to problems with the sale or divestment of TikTok because of course the algorithm is where the value of the company principally lies, he said.

Reuters reported Thursday that ByteDance would opt for shutting down TikTok in the United States over selling the app if it fails to defeat the legislation in court.

Darrell West, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, however, noted that a ban wouldnt take effect until well after the election.

Voters still will have access to the app and candidates will be using TikTok to win young voters. The company has indicated it will fight the ban in court so it could take years before the legal issues are addressed, he said.

There wont be any specific harm to Biden because it was a large bipartisan vote that approved the ban, he argued.

TikTok issued a statement calling this unconstitutional law a TikTok ban and vowing to fight it in court, something that would take months or even years.

We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail, it said.

Bonjean, the political strategist, said that while a ban will not take effect before Election Day, TikTok will draw plenty of attention to it over the next several months as it tries to whip up public opinion against the new law.

This gives an opportunity for those who support TikTok to create more awareness that theres a significant possibility that the app will go away, he said. This can be a long sustained campaign by candidates on both sides of the aisle, along with the company and the grassroots supporters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FIRST ON FOX: House Republican lawmakers are urging major Columbia University donors who are outraged at the anti-Israel protests on campus to speak out with their wallets.

"As Members of Congress, we urge donors and individuals affiliated with Columbia University to condemn the antisemitic incidents occurring on the universitys campus by pulling donations and support for the university until there are demonstrable changes in leadership, including the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik," House Republicans, led by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., wrote in an open letter to the Ivy League's vast and influential alumni and donor network.

For days, students at Columbia and its sister school, Barnard College, have camped out on the Upper Manhattan campus while holding demonstrations in protest of Columbia's investments in companies with ties to Israel. It's part of a wider progressive backlash against Israel's response to Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks against the Jewish state.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS

House Republicans, led by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., inset, are urging Columbia University's top donors to pull their dollars from the school over its anti-Israel protests.

But that protest and similar ones cropping up at colleges around the country are now facing bipartisan backlash and accusations of having waded into antisemitic territory.

Social media videos from the anti-Israel tent encampment on Columbias campus show activists cheering on the deaths of Israeli soldiers and showing support for Hamas. Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe on campus and shared stories of being verbally and physically assaulted.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"They were pushing and shoving me They threw rocks at my face. At that moment, my life was totally threatened. And there was no safety authority on campus," one student told NY1 over the weekend.

COLUMBIA SETS DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT WITH PROTESTERS, THREATENS ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CLEARING PROTESTERS

Columbia University, where students have set up what is being referred to as a Gaza Solidarity Encampment, is seen in New York on Wednesday.

In their open letter, the House GOP lawmakers urged donors to follow the example of Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, who pulled his support earlier this week in response to the protests.

"We encourage all supporters of the university to do the same and call for the resignation of President [Minouche] Shafik," they wrote.

"The university should also provide a thorough review of all school funding and investigate the outside forces influencing students and agitators to participate in these disruptive and violent incidents that target and intimidate Jewish students on campus," they continued.

"Additionally, we urge all individuals affiliated with the university to call for a transparent and thorough audit of all university funding concerning the anti-Israel movement on campus, and what outside groups are contributing and influencing students and agitators to participate. "

OMAR'S DAUGHTER DECRIES HYPOCRISY,' SAYS ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS ARE 100% TARGETED AFTER SUSPENSION AND ARREST

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently announced he would stop his donations over the protests.

It comes a day after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., traveled to Columbia with House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., and three New York Republicans, where he denounced the protests and reiterated his earlier call for Shafik to resign.

"I'm here today joining my colleagues in calling on President Shafik to resign if she can not immediately bring order to this chaos," Johnson said as students heckled. "As Speaker of the House, I have committed today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear."

Fox News Digital reached out to Columbia University for comment.





Original article source: GOP lawmakers demand major donors pull funding from Columbia over 'antisemitic incidents'
If Ocmulgee Heritage Trail visionaries have their way, the riverwalk could eventually extend from north Macon all the way to Milledgeville on 33 miles of abandoned railway.

At Thursdays work session of the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, former UDA chairman Chris Sheridan laid out recently drawn plans that take the trail to Amerson Water Park and up to Bass Road, loop back into the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and downtown, as well as lengthen the trail past the levee in Carolyn Crayton Park to near the old landfill around Walker Road.

Its another world down there. Its gorgeous, Sheridan said of that wilderness around 11th Street just outside of the urban core of downtown.

There are multiple logistical hurdles to leap, such as convincing Norfolk Southern to permit the trail to encroach a few feet on their right-of-way, and having the Masonic Home agree to the trail hugging the river on its land, he explained.

In 1997, the concept of a 35-mile Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway from Juliette to Warner Robins was born. Over the years, Macon moved ahead and completed its Phase 1 of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail in stages. Now Sheridan, and retired NewTown leader Mike Ford, Bill Causey and others want to connect more of the city to the river.

Sheridan doesnt think hell be alive to see it all come to fruition, but NewTown Macon and other organizations are putting plans in place now to apply for grants and funding.

The UDAs endorsement and inclusion of the project in the next Macon Action Plan is important, Sheridan said.

Especially for funding from out-of-town organizations and entities with the state, its helpful to have your endorsement, he said.

UDA Executive Director Alex Morrison agreed.

He imagines a trail network that could eventually reach Macon Mall and the amphitheater.

A master plan can move us up for grant funding, and for federal funds its absolutely a requirement, Morrison said.

NewTown plans to observe National Trails Day on June 1 by partnering with Bike Walk Macon and other entities to offer behind the scenes tours of the trail to show which parts have been closed for highway construction, what is accessible now and preview what could be coming.

Hopefully 30 people on each tour will see whats going on, said NewTowns Digital Content Manager Hailie Poppell.

Plans are also in the works to have a master plan presentation at Fall Line Brewing Company, she said.

Securing final approval from stakeholders such as the railroad and private landowners will be a challenge,. Sheridan said.

When we get around to it, its going to depend on the personalities at the time, he said.

A pedestrian bridge to connect the east and west banks of the Ocmulgee River is a long range goal, but would be mighty expensive. Sheridan said.

There will be at least one pedestrian bridge over the river. Once the Georgia Department of Transportation finishes construction of the Interstate 75/16 interchange, it plans to abandon one of the temporary flyover bridges built to keep traffic moving during the lengthy project.

UDA Chair Kay Gerhardt lamented that road construction has diminished the number of people using the trail over the last decade.

Weve kind of forgotten how much traffic we had on that trail, how much we used it, she said. They cut down so many trees. It used to be kinda shady, and since it hasnt been used it looks kind of derelict.

Its in bad shape right now, UDA board member Ryan Griffin added.

Sheridan said there is money available to link the trail in Rose Hill Cemetery on the west bank to the east bank with a new leg under the Spring Street bridge.

Were clearing, but the homeless are winning down there right now. Its a very unpopulated part of the trail, he said. The only way the homeless will leave is if citizens use it, and theyll want to go someplace else.

Bicentennial Park contractor selected

Groundbreaking is imminent on Bicentennial Park off Main Street in the Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village.

Macon-Bibb Countys Procurement Department selected Renfroe Construction as the winning bid for the project that will commemorate the communitys history from Native American origins through the 200 years since Macons founding.

The Urban Development Authority approved Wimberly Treadwells park design at its Thursday work session.

Tell them to get to work, Gerhardt said.

Long before the Bicentennial Committee designated the park as its signature project, UDA purchased wind sculptures for the property that is adjacent to its Arts Village project with the Macon Arts Alliance. That artwork has been in storage awaiting completion of the design.

The park also will feature Indigenous artwork including a representation of a stickball player. The field meets the dimensions for playing stickball, and can be used for demonstrations of the official game of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which plans to build a cultural center in the old DeWitt McCrary house that was saved from the wrecking ball in recent years.

The Bicentennial Committee also purchased a brick peace pole designed for the Atlanta BeltLines 2017 exhibition that was constructed by Macon artists Alexis Gregg and Tanner Coleman of AnT Sculpture and Design, Morrison said.

The Bicentennial Committee raised the bulk of the funding for the park, and grant money is providing new shade trees for the property. Bicentennial donors also will be listed on the grounds.

Groundbreaking is expected next month with the parks completion set for this fall.

Bicentennial Park is expected to be on the gateway to the new Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, if approved by Congress, and across from Macon-Bibb Countys proposed East Bank development now in the planning stages.

(Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at fabian_lj@mercer.edu or 478-301-2976.)
Gov. Bill Lee says he will sign bill to allow arming teachers in schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday he will sign legislation that will allow for arming teachers into law.

Lawmakers and advocates alike debated the issue for over two hours in the House Tuesday, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle arguing why the measure was or was not necessary before ultimately passing the bill.

The bill, brought by Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville), would permit teachers to carry concealed handguns on campus if they meet certain requirements.

PREVIOUS: Legislature OKs permitting armed teachers in Tennessee schools

The House ultimately passed the bill with a 68-28-2 vote. The bill previously passed the Senate last week.

Among the necessary requirements to allow teachers to be armed is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between local law enforcement, the school district and the particular school principal. Unless those three entities come to an understanding on allowing faculty and staff to carry on school grounds during school hours, nothing else can happen.

If the three agree to an MOU, then teachers and staff members in that specific school would be required to meet more requirements:

Submit to a background check

Pass a psychological evaluation

Receive 40 hours of firearms training

Submit their fingerprints

Middle TN school districts waiting on further guidance before decisions on arming teachers

Many school districts in Tennessee have said they will wait for the bill to officially become law before they make any decisions on the measure, but others have already rejected the idea.

Several Middle Tennessee school systems, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, Williamson County Schools, Wilson County Schools, and Rutherford County Schools, said they would not allow teachers to be armed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Gov. Laura Kelly visits Trox Gallery during an April 25, 2024, tour of Emporia main street businesses. Kelly made her final pitch for Medicaid expansion ahead of a procedural vote Friday in the Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

EMPORIA  Kaila Mock says Medicaid expansion would help small business owners like her, the people she employs at Trox Gallery and the 104 artists whose work appears in the store.

And she isnt fond of GOP legislative leaders who claim that Medicaid expansion would serve able-bodied adults who dont want to work.

MEDICAID EXPANSION

A series of stories by Kansas Reflector examining the impact of the states failure to expand Medicaid.

I mean, its kind of bulls***, Mock said. There are a lot of people who work really hard but just arent making the ends meet, especially with everything being so expensive now. I know a ton of these artists work really hard at their craft and are hustling and going to different craft shows and selling stuff here and doing everything they can, but its just not enough.

Mock met with Gov. Laura Kelly, who purchased a small crocheted cat from the art gallery during a tour Thursday of main street businesses in Emporia.

Kelly made her final pitch for Medicaid expansion in a speech at the Granada Theatre, after months of touring the state and pressuring lawmakers to embrace her plan to provide health care coverage to 152,000 low-income Kansans at no additional cost to the states taxpayers. She urged the crowd of about 75 people to call legislators ahead of a procedural vote Friday in the Senate.

But she acknowledged the odds were against the Legislature approving Medicaid expansion this year.

Im not a bookie, she said, before adding: Honestly, I will be surprised.

Kaila Mock, owner of Trox Gallery, shows Gov. Laura Kelly around the store during the governor's April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia

Kaila Mock, owner of Trox Gallery, shows Gov. Laura Kelly around the store during the governors April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

The governor said she has met with leaders in health care, child care, retail, hospitality, banking, real estate, aerospace, law enforcement and the medical community during her statewide campaign to support Medicaid expansion. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, responded by calling her efforts a welfare tour.

Kelly said Hawkins and Masterson have skewed the facts, spread myths and peddled false rhetoric to the public while working behind the scenes to prevent a vote on legislation that would expand Medicaid.

Before lawmakers adjourned for a three-week break earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, made a motion to advance a Medicaid expansion bill. That procedural vote, which required approval from 24 out of 40 senators, failed on Friday when only 18 senators voted in favor of it. Even if it were successful, a second procedural vote would have required approval from 27 senators before they could consider the actual bill.

I think thats evidence quite honestly of the fact that if rank-and-file legislators were given an opportunity to debate and vote on Medicaid expansion, it would pass, and thats why theres been a reluctance to give them the opportunity, Kelly said.

Kansas is one of 10 states that havent expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Currently, the federal government covers 60% of the states program costs. If expanded, the federal government would pay for 90% of the additional costs. That would bring about $700 million in federal money into the state every year. Instead, tax collections from Kansas are being distributed to other states.

The Kansas version of Medicaid is available to people who earn up to 38% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400. By expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate, the annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.

About 70% of the adults who would benefit from Medicaid expansion are already working. Others are college students, caretakers or suffering from chronic illness.

Gov. Laura Kelly talks with Calebh Shedd, owner of the Axe Shedd, during an April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia

Gov. Laura Kelly talks with Calebh Shedd, owner of the Axe Shedd, during an April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

While in Emporia, the governor toured the Axe Shedd, where she declined to throw an axe, and the Sweet Granada, a candy store physically connected to the theater, where the governor snagged some chocolate-covered popcorn.

At the Trox Gallery, she was approached by Jean-Ellen Kegler, a former director of the citys visitors bureau, who said she moved back to Kansas after being gone for 25 years because Kelly was governor.

Kegler, now retired, also expressed dismay about the messaging from GOP leaders that Medicaid expansion would benefit people who are too lazy to work.

Weve heard that ever since the New Deal: People are lazy. People are trying to bilk the government. And I think if were honest with ourselves, we see who is bilking the government, and its not the poor, Kegler said. Its those who have money. And I dont like to use the word greed, but in this case, were seeing the greedy side of capitalism.

The post Gov. Laura Kelly makes last pitch for Medicaid expansion in visit to Emporia main street businesses appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Encouraging someone to die by suicide will be a crime in Kansas. Its a first step, mom says

A measure to criminalize the act of encouraging someone in Kansas to die by suicide has been signed into law.

Gov. Laura Kelly signed the measure, HB 2144, on Wednesday.

The new measure would punish someone for knowingly encouraging another person to commit or attempt suicide when the person knows that such other person has communicated a desire to commit suicide, the bill read.

Perpetrators could face a felony if the person died, with a conviction carrying 11 to 36 months in prison. In cases where the victim of suicide encouragement does not die, the charge would be a misdemeanor, The Eagle reported.

Jill Janes lost her son, Max Coleman, to suicide in April 2023. The 21-year-old Coleman lived in Wichita and had told his mother that he was struggling with depression.

Janes, who lives in the Houston area, drove to Kansas to find her son had died by suicide. She learned that Coleman was receiving harassing messages encouraging him to take his life.

This led Janes to advocate for change at the Kansas Statehouse so others would not meet the same fate as her son. On Thursday, Janes said this is only the first step in making a change.

This is a huge win for Kansas and one major leap in the right direction for suicide prevention. The next critical step is that people are made aware, Janes said. Thats the only way perceptions change and behavior will be altered, resulting in lives saved.

Republican Rep. Stephen Owens, who worked to passed the bill, shared his connection to the new measure.

Having lost a brother to suicide myself, I understand the pain of losing someone close to you who chooses to take their own life, Owens said in a statement to The Eagle. These individuals who are contemplating suicide need our support. They need to know there is HOPE that their mental illness is temporary.

Owens added: I strongly support criminal penalties for anyone that preys on those that are vulnerable by encouraging them to follow through with ending their lives.
Gov. Stitt steps in after Oklahoma couple detained in Turks and Caicos

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma man is out of jail in Turks and Caicos, but his legal battle is far from over.

Ryan and Valerie Watson were on the islands for a birthday trip earlier this month.

As the Watsons were about to fly home, airport security stopped them after they say ammo was found in one of Ryans carry-on bags.

This is a serious crime in Turks and Caicos and carries a possible 12 year prison sentence if convicted.

Ryan Watson called it a bonehead mistake. He was granted bail Wednesday but is being forced to remain in Turks and Caicos away from his wife and children. Its not clear when he will be able to return home.

Valerie was released April 22 and her charges were dropped, after being detained for 11 days on the island. She returned home to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. McIntyre Law Chopper 4 captured the moments her plane touched down at Will Rogers World Airport. Inside the airport, her two children, loved ones and friends waited for her. They were emotional as she walked out of the terminal.

Gov. Kevin Stitt wrote a letter on behalf of the family. He vouches for their character and high morals.

Gov. Stitt letter on behalf of the Watson familyDownload

Ryan was granted bail earlier this week but he cannot leave the islands.

His next court date isnt scheduled until June 7.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Russian troops carried out nearly 20 attacks on April 26 on the Nikopol District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring at least three people, regional governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Russia struck the city of Nikopol, as well as Myrove and Marhanets communities, reportedly damaging 12 houses, several high-rise buildings, three utility buildings, and a stadium, according to Lysak.

Nikopol, situated on the banks of the dried-up Kakhovka Reservoir, just across from Russian-occupied Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is a regular target of Russian attacks.

As of noon local time, the governor reported that the Russian shelling of Nikopol injured a 42-year-old man and a 9-year-old boy.

The number of casualties rose to three, as Lysak said at around 6 p.m. local time that an 18-year-old was also injured.

Moscow has intensified attacks against Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city, and the surrounding region this spring.

Four people aged between 22 and 74 were injured in Russian strikes against the Nikopol district on April 25, Lysak reported earlier.

Read also: Why does everyone have 2 legs but me? Children learn to live with prosthetics after being injured by Russias war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned China against supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine if it wants positive relations with the West in a rather harsh manner. He emphasized that it is China that is currently "fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe."

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Beijing's assistance to Moscow is important for sustaining Russia's military aspirations, Stoltenberg said. China's provision of highly innovative technologies, such as semiconductors, is "vital for Russia's military production," the NATO Secretary-General said.

"China says it wants good relations with the West. At the same time, it is Beijing that continues to fuel the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. These are mutually contradictory aspirations," Stoltenberg said.

The NATO chief also aptly characterized modern Russia.

"The past is now loudly echoing in the present of the Russian Federation. Thoughts are controlled, freedom is restricted, opposition is suppressed. And as Russia becomes more and more oppressive at home, it has become more aggressive abroad, waging a full-scale war in Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

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While warning Beijing against relations with Moscow, the NATO Secretary General also warned Western countries against dependence on China. Stoltenberg drew parallels with Russian energy resources.

"In the past, Europe made a mistake by becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas. We must not repeat this mistake with China. Dependence on its money, its raw materials, its technology makes us vulnerable," Stoltenberg warned.

As reported, China provided a berth for the Russian cargo ship Angara, which is under US sanctions and is involved in the supply of weapons to North Korea to Russia. This situation caused outrage in the US State Department and led to a call for the implementation of a UN resolution restricting trade with North Korea.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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First Lady Jill Biden sits on stage at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Well, what would Betty Ford do?

In a raspy voice, first lady Jill Biden told attendees thats what she was thinking before arriving to headline the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundations annual First Ladies Luncheon.

Biden said she woke up feeling under the weather and without her voice. She didnt know how she would deliver a speech at the event in Grand Rapids, where former first lady Betty Ford grew up. But as an American who loved Ford as first lady and all she did for womens health care by letting the world know about her battle with breast cancer while in the White House, Biden said she knew she wanted to come to the event.

Betty, Im here for you, Biden said, looking up and then yielding the podium to Dr. Carolyn Mazure, chair of the White House Womens Health Research Initiative to deliver the speech on her behalf.

This year marks 50 years since Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1974 and made the decision that was unheard of at the time: She talked about it.

Where womens health issues are concerned, American history is divided into two unequal periods: Before Betty and After Betty, Bidens speech quoted from American Historian Richard Norton Smiths eulogy at Fords funeral in 2011.

Ford said at an American Cancer Society Dinner on Nov. 7, 1975, I just cannot stress enough how necessary it is for women to take the time out of their active lives and take an interest in their own health and their own body. Too many women are so afraid of breast cancer, that they endanger their lives. These fears of being less of a woman are very real and its important to talk about the emotional side effects. We have to speak up honestly.

Fords public disclosure of breast cancer and vocal advocacy for self-screening and routine checkups led to the Betty Ford Blip wherein a stark increase of women sought out screening and early intervention for cancer diagnoses.

Ford did not waste her moment, Bidens speech said, taking it with grace, as a voice of advocacy for accessing different forms of health care, including resources for addiction, another personal battle Ford made public.

Not every example Ford set should be followed, her daughter, Susan Ford Bales, told attendees, advising them that should they find themselves in the Cabinet Room in the White House, they shouldnt strike a dance pose on the table like her mother did.

There was a time when words of breast cancer would never be uttered publicly and most certainly never by Americas first lady and then, ladies and gentlemen, there was Betty, Bates said. There was a time when the stigma on prescription drugs and alcohol addiction was as cynical as it was cruel, most often it was confused, incorrectly, with individual moral failure, and a failure caused solely by personal choice and then, ladies and gentlemen, there was Betty.

First Lady Jill Biden (right) sits with Susan Ford Bales (left) daughter of former First Lady Betty Ford at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

First Lady Jill Biden speaks briefly at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Dr. Carolyn Mazure, chair of the White House Womens Health Research Initiative, gives First Lady Jill Biden's speech at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Betty, Im here for you, First Lady Jill Biden says at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

First Lady Jill Biden sits on stage at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

First Lady Jill Biden (right) sits with Susan Ford Bales (left), daughter of former First Lady Betty Ford, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

First Lady Jill Biden waves goodbye at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation's annual First Ladies Luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 26, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Former first lady Betty Ford stamp | USPS image

But Bates said in reflecting on how to express to guests the deep feelings she and her mother would share in having Biden come to her moms hometown, it made her think of what everyone should learn from the two first ladies.

My thoughts kept coming back to the great work that mom and our guest each carried out for decades. History now allows us to see the bedrock connections between these two remarkable ladies, Ford said Each of them had their moment in time. Each of them had their moment to make a difference. So in short, they had one chance at forever. And, oh my, ladies and gentlemen, did both of them make that moment count.

Health care is not always accessible to women, Bidens speech said, and every woman has a story where they couldnt find an answer to their health issue or their pain was undermined by a care provider.

You know her, shes the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but doesnt know why and cant find treatment options that work for her. Shes the woman going through menopause who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives, Bidens speech said.

Bidens speech noted all the women whose heart attacks arent recognized by doctors because their symptoms dont look like a mans symptoms.

Even though we are half of the population, and womens health is under study, and research is underfunded. Too many studies have left women out and too many of the medications, treatments and medical textbooks are based on men and their bodies, Bidens speech said. This has created gaps in our understanding of conditions that mostly affect women, only affect women, or affect women and men differently, leaving women seeking health care in the medical world largely designed for men.

So even with Fords achievements having brought a new era to womens health care, Bidens speech calls for a new era, a fundamental change in how the nation approaches and funds womens health care research.

Thats what the White House Womens Health Research Initiative is about, Bidens speech said. In March, President Joe Biden issued an executive order calling for a host of changes to health care research, including investments in womens health care research, filling the gap in research for womens health post-menopause, research on environmental factors impacting womens health care and more.

Change cant come overnight, Bidens speech said, but if Betty has taught the nation one thing, its that small, everyday acts will lead to big things. With daily consistent efforts, there can be a future where women have answers to their health care needs.

Mrs. Ford was extraordinary and at her core, she was always Betty Bloomer from Grand Rapids, Mich., Bidens speech said. Even as she soared to great heights, she was also grounded. Every woman can see a part of herself in Betty and in her resilience and triumph, we found our own strength: If Betty can do it, I can do it.

The post In Grand Rapids, Jill Biden hails Betty Ford for her lasting mark on womens health care appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stated that Greece has no intention of supplying Ukraine with either the S-300 or Patriot systems.

Source: Mitsotakis in an interview with Iefimerida

Details: Mitsotakis said Greece was asked about these weapons, but the government explained why they could not provide Ukraine with them.

Quote from Mitsotakis: "Greece has supported Ukraine in various ways, including defence means. However, from the very beginning, we stated that we cannot give out defence systems that are crucial for our deterrence capabilities.

We have surplus means that we can use to support Ukraine and we have done so. I believe it is the right choice. If we can find such means, we will continue to do so.

However, the air defence systems you mentioned are critical for protecting Greece's airspace and will not be provided to Ukraine."

Background:

On 22 April, it was reported that Greece and Spain are under intense pressure from their EU and NATO allies to provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems.

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ATHENS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece can not offer air defence systems like 'Patriots' or S-300 to Ukraine responding to pressure from EU and NATO allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.

With Russia having stepped up air attacks on Ukraine, EU governments are under pressure to supply more protective systems to Kyiv especially countries like Greece and Spain that have such systems in their arsenal.

"Greece is not going to send S-300 or Patriot to Ukraine," Mitsotakis said in an interview in Skai TV late on Thursday.

European Union ministers said on Monday they were looking urgently at how to provide more air defences to Ukraine but they stopped short of concrete pledges of the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.

"We were asked and we explained why we cannot do it," Mitsotakis said adding that these systems are "critical to our deterrent capability."

Defense is a very sensitive issue for Athens given the tensions with Turkey especially for a conservative government.

Greece has sent to Ukraine in the past thousands of rockets, explosives, IVFs vehicles, high explosive incendiaries, ammunition and anti-tank rockets.

The U.S. will host on Friday a virtual meeting of Ukraine international aid donors, days after Congress emerged from a half-year of deadlock to approve a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Michael Perry)
Greece will not supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems or S-300 missiles, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with the news outlet Iefimerida on April 25.

Greek media reported on April 22 that Athens planned to send at least one Patriot system to Ukraine, following pressure from the European Union to ramp up air defense assistance to Kyiv.

Mitsotakis said on April 25 that Greece would not send Ukraine either Patriots or S-300s, despite these requests and Ukraine's critical air defense shortage.

"Greece supported Ukraine in various ways, with defense materials," Mitsotakis said.

"But we said from the first moment that we cannot get rid of the weapons systems that are of crucial importance for our deterrence capabilities."

According to Mitsotakis, sending the equiptment to Ukraine would pose too great of a risk to Greek air security.

"We have a surplus of material with which we can support Ukraine, we did it, and I believe that this is the right choice. And, if we can find such material, we will continue to do so. But the air defense systems you mentioned are critical for the protection of Greek airspace and will not be provided to Ukraine."

Escalating Russian strikes and resulting civilian casualties underscore Ukraine's dire need for additional air defenses.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 19 urged allies to move from discussions to concrete decisions on air defense aid, following a Russian missile attack on Dnipro.

"This year cannot be just a year of further discussions. Everything is quite specific now. Ukraine needs air defense, and the partners can help with it," Zelensky said.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: US secretly provides Ukraine with 100 ATACMS; Denmark announces additional military aid for Kyiv

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(WFRV)  Two people from northeastern Wisconsin were arrested in Florida after authorities learned that the vehicle they were driving was reported stolen.

According to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office in Florida, on April 23 around 9:20 a.m., a deputy pulled over a vehicle with a Wisconsin tag that was reportedly going 31 mph in a 20-mph school zone. The driver was reportedly identified as 17-year-old Jayden Reed from Green Bay.

Reed told authorities he was new to the area and didnt know he was driving through a school zone. He was reportedly given a written warning.

A couple of hours later, the Flagler County Sheriffs Office Communications Center got information that a vehicle matching the plate of the one that was stopped earlier had just been reported stolen. It was also learned that Reed was entered as a missing person by the Green Bay Police Department.

Wisconsin man driving 5-10mph and deviating from lanes arrested for 4th OWI

Authorities ended up finding the vehicle at a gas station and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. Reed and a passenger, identified as 18-year-old Katie Stevens from Seymour, were removed from the vehicle.

Deputies determined that Reed stole the vehicle from his father and left Wisconsin two or three days before he was stopped in Florida. Reed was arrested for Grand Theft Auto.

Stevens said she was traveling with Reed and her boyfriend. She claimed that her boyfriend was arrested on their way to Florida. Authorities ended up arresting her for Grand Theft Auto and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Im incredibly proud of our hardworking team for quickly responding to alerts for a missing child and stolen vehicle. A runaway in a stolen car is a recipe for disaster, but due to our teams efforts a stolen car was safely recovered, a missing juvenile was found and arrested before anyone could get hurt, and his adult accomplice gets to spend the remainder of her Florida vacation in the Green Roof Inn. Sheriff Rick Staly

Fire damages Fond du Lac Culvers, cause under investigation

No additional information was provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
CENTRAL, La. (BRPROUD)  A man accused of causing an 18-wheeler crash on Hooper Road in Central has been arrested, the Central Police Department said.

Police said Joseph Montgomery of Greenwell Springs turned himself in to the Central Police Department Thursday afternoon. Montgomery complied with officers and answered questions with his attorney present, police said.

According to the police, surveillance footage showed a vehicle crossing the centerline on Hooper Road on Friday, April 19. This caused an 18-wheeler to veer off the road and overturn.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was trapped in the trucks cab for hours. Central emergency responders rescued them.

We would like to thank the victim drivers company, Quantix, the Baton Rouge Police Departments Traffic Homicide Unit, the public for their response to our previous social media post concerning this case, as well as our citys license plate reader system, all of which assisted us in bringing this matter to resolution. This is a textbook case of government and citizens working together to solve a community problem. In that regard, we at CPD hope this continues to be the rule rather than the exception in Central, said Chief Roger Corcoran.

Police said Montgomery was charged with a felony hit-and-run. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Magnolia Mound Plantation House shows history of Louisianas colonial time, offers tours

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Authors: Shaun Burnie, Jan Vande Putte, Daryna Rogachuk, Greenpeace Green Reconstruction Ukraine Project

Chornobyl is one of the most recognised synonyms for disaster in the world.

Its legacy is to serve as a universal reminder of the terrible consequences of nuclear power when it goes wrong: on this day in 1986, a test procedure produced an explosion at the power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, causing a chain reaction that blew a colossal release of radioactive contamination across Europe and eventually the whole Northern hemisphere.

For people of Ukraine, the Chornobyl disaster is a personal tragedy. Millions have been affected by the destruction of reactor unit 4 and the radiation it released into the environment, either directly or through their families, friends and colleagues. The disaster may have been nearly 40 years ago but its impact is still felt across generations.

Today, 38 years later, the spectre of nuclear catastrophe looms large, not only at the abandoned region around Pripyat. The ongoing illegal Russian military occupation of the south-east Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant creates a direct threat of another nuclear catastrophe. Aggressively capturing the largest nuclear plant in Europe, one of the 10 biggest in the world, places not only Ukraine and neighbouring countries in danger, but also most of Europe.



By deliberately firing missiles at Ukraines wider energy infrastructure, the Russian military places Ukraines four nuclear power plants  South Ukraine, Rivne, Khemelnitsky and Zaporizhzhia - at risk of an emergency power loss and station black-out. All are vulnerable, but it is the Zaporizhzhia plant most at risk: the amount of radioactivity on the site and conditions of the plant as a result of direct military occupation, along with the behaviour of Russian armed forces and Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, risk a disaster that would, like Chornobyl, be a result of decisions made in Moscow.

The Chornobyl RBMK reactor design had evolved out of the Soviet Unions military reactors in the 1950s which were used for producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. Even before the construction began on the first large RBMK reactor at Leningrad in 1970 it was known by designers at the Kurchatov Institute that the design had major flaws that would make it unstable to operate. As early as 1965 scientists warned that the instability included a positive steam coefficient which could lead to an explosion. They were ignored. Twenty years later that design flaw and others led to two massive explosions that destroyed the Chornobyl unit 4 reactor. The high temperatures in the reactor contributed to the burning of hundreds of tons of graphite, melting of nuclear fuel and the release of an estimated 450PBq of radioactive iodine, cesium, strontium and plutonium and many others. The radioactivity rose to between 7km and 9 km into the atmosphere and at these high altitudes were carried great distances and deposited across Europe and eventually the whole northern hemisphere.

For the hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of Chornobyl, Pripyat and hundreds of villages and towns across northern Ukraine it was the end of a way of life as evacuations were implemented. The battle of Chornobyl that was fought in the hours, days, weeks, months and the years between 1986-1990, eventually engulfed over 600,000 firefighters, soldiers, janitors, and miners  collectively called liquidators who were sent to the Chornobyl site after the explosion. Many tens of thousands have suffered long term health consequences and mortality.

For the decades that followed, hundreds of Ukrainian scientists, engineers and technicians worked every day to monitor, investigate and and seek to recover control of the nuclear plant site and the vast radioactive exclusion zone - until 24 February 2022, when Russian armed forces invaded and installed Rosatom. Although the Russian occupation of Chornobyl ended in March 2022, the impact and consequences continue today. The nuclear plant and the exclusion zone now sit on the front of Ukraines defensive line with Belarus and Russian forces.

Pripyat, Chornobyl, 3 November 2023

S Burnie/Greenpeace - photos from Media Library

The Russian threat at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant today

Only days after the start of the full-scale invasion on 24th of February, Russian armed forces attacked and then occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the South of Ukraine. The citizens of Energodar and workers at the power plant heroically put barricades of cars, trucks, tires and sandbanks on the main road leading to the nuclear plant to block the advancing Russian troops, but they were overwhelmed.

The attack damaged the plant, including its electricity infrastructure, which is vital for maintaining the cooling function of the hot nuclear fuel in the reactor buildings.

At that moment, the power plant was still producing electricity, which means an enormous amount of heat is produced by the nuclear fuel. One reactor core that is producing heat for the electricity generation has the power of 2 million water cookers. In a crisis, that reactor would be shut down, but the radioactive fuel remains extremely hot even after that. If the cooling would be stopped after shutdown, it would take only hours for the cooling water to boil off, expose the hot nuclear fuel to the air and melt down, leading to a new major nuclear disaster.

Luckily, the power supply was not interrupted during the occupation, but it could have happened. In a peaceful situation, the workers at the power plant still have several options to restore cooling in an emergency, but under the threat of war, this is severely compromised. For instance, the Russian attack set off a fire at the training centre of the nuclear plant and the Ukrainian fire brigade that wanted to extinguish the fire was stopped by the Russian troops.

There is a long list of dangerous incidents caused by the reckless attitude of the Russian occupiers. Most dramatic was the destruction by Russia of the Nova Kakhovka dam on 6 June 2023, which not only led to an enormous damage and suffering below the dam, but also emptied the Kakhovka reservoir which is the ultimate cooling water reservoir for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Because all reactors have been shut down since September 2022, lowering cooling needs, that water supply is rather stable for the moment, but its tight.

The electricity supply needed to run the cooling pumps is even more critical. To date, external electricity supply has been interrupted eight times completely, making the cooling dependent on the 20 diesel generators on the site. But on top of that, there is a lack of maintenance of such critical equipment since the occupation, and a lack of qualified personnel. Ukrainian workers have been tortured and killed, many have left. Some Russian workers have been brought in by the Russian nuclear company Rosatom, but they lack experience. We should thus doubt the reliability of such emergency diesels, especially if they have to work for a longer period of time.

The ultimate blow to nuclear safety however is the plan of Rosatom and Moscow to attempt to restart one or more reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The existing cooling water resources are far from sufficient to cool an operational reactor. Rosatom would have to build a new pump system, which would not be as reliable, and they do not have the workforce and expertise to control an operational reactor. Such a plan is thus a direct nuclear threat to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries in Europe.

What worries us today, is that Russia might have launched a disinformation campaign to pave the way for blaming Ukraine in case something goes very wrong. Hiding behind false flag attacks might make it easier for them to take higher risks. That is why it is so important to remember Chornobyl today, the way it happened, through irresponsible deliberate decisions and acts by the Soviet system.

The international community needs to act to lower the risks. In the first place to avoid a restart of a reactor in Zaporizhzhia. The IAEA so far has not made an unambiguous statement calling Russia not to restart. They even hinted at engaging into a process to define the safety requirements for a restart. Such signals are dangerous, as they can and will be used by Moscow to justify the restart process. Also the UN Security Council needs to act, by debunking the disinformation by Russia and calling for a no restart. Finally, as many ambassadors at the Security Council stated last week on 15 April, the only solution is for Russian troops to stop the war, leave the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and return back to Russia, respecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

****

Greenpeace has today written to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General calling on him to make clear to Rosatom and the Russian government that restart of Zaporizhzhia under Russian control is not possible. The IAEA must do all it can to prevent restart and not cooperate with Rosatom. IAEA must not seek to accommodate the interests of the nuclear industry, while disregarding who they are or what they have done. Three years before the Chornobyl disaster, the IAEA Deputy Director General, B. A. Semenov, wrote assuredly that, "The safety of nuclear power plants in the Soviet Union is assured by a very wide spectrum of measuresThe regulation of safety by official documents is one of the main tools for ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants in the USSR."

1 In 1986 this led the IAEA to accept without serious scrutiny the Soviet government's evidence on the causes of the Chornobyl disaster  blaming it on plant workers, and ignoring the fundamental reactor design flaws.

2 After the hosting of the Post-Accident Review Meeting on the Chernobyl Accident, Vienna, in August 1986, IAEA Director General Dr Han Blix, concluded that, "There is no reason to think that the Soviet Government is more willing than others to take conscious risks with the populations of great cities."

3 As we now know, the Kremlin was indeed more than prepared to put lives at risk across Ukraine and beyond by operating the unsafe Chornobyl nuclear reactors as it is today at Zaporizhzhia. Nearly forty years later the people of Ukraine and the wider world are in danger of history repeating itself with the Russian government's disregard for nuclear safety and security amidst its illegal war against Ukraine. The IAEA must not repeat the mistakes of the past and blindly accept Moscow and Rosatom assurances that restart will meet Russian regulatory standards. Rosatom and the Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor have no legitimacy in Ukraine and no right to make any decisions on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - that responsibility lies only with Ukrains nuclear regulator SNRIU and government.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Gov. Janet Mills on Friday vetoed a bill that union and climate leaders argued would ensure clean energy projects on state land arent disrupted by labor disputes. The Democratic governor, however, said the legislation was overly ambiguous.

Advocates of the bill castigated the action as yet another anti-worker, anti-union veto by the governor.

LD 373, sponsored by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), would have required an entity leasing state land for a clean energy development project to mandate that the lessee enter an employer and employee harmony agreement.

Tipping earlier this year explained that such harmony agreements represent a compromise between workers and employers. The agreements require companies awarded bids for the types of projects specified by the bill to agree not to bust a union or lock out workers. In exchange, workers give up their right to strike.

The overall goal of the bill is to ensure that public money isnt used to fight unionization while also making sure that essential climate projects are completed without labor fights slowing things down.

In her veto message, Mills criticized the bill for containing what she called unclear language. In particular, the governor said there was not adequate clarity on whether the measure would apply to the construction of (and not just permanent jobs at) a potential offshore wind port and whether a harmony agreement would be applicable to renewable energy projects involving state-owned land beyond such a port.

The governor said on both of those questions, the language of the bill could be interpreted in a way that is more expansive than the intent of the proposal.

Mills also cited a bill she signed last year that established labor and compensation standards for offshore wind construction projects. She said that measure was the product of engagement with stakeholders and a fair and reasonable approach, while LD 373 was not.

Because this bill is ambiguous, potentially more far-reaching than intended and raises a number of unanswered questions as to its intent and scope, I return LD 373 unsigned and vetoed, Mills said.

In a statement, Tipping criticized Mills veto, saying skilled Maine workers are ready to help the state transition from fossil fuels and deserve a fair chance to join a union.

Union busting is a $400 million a year industry and we have seen how companies both in Maine and across the country  from Starbucks and Amazon to MaineHealth  have exploited our weak labor laws to prevent workers from exercising their basic right to freedom of association, he said. Unfortunately, the governor has sided with corporations over working Mainers and hampered efforts to efficiently create clean energy jobs. I urge the Maine Legislature to override this misguided veto of basic workers rights.

Union leaders also decried the veto.

Working people deserve a free and fair chance to form a union without employer intimidation and harassment, said Matt Schlobohm, executive director of the Maine AFL-CIO. This is another anti-worker, anti-union veto from Governor Mills.

In its news release, the AFL-CIO also noted that Mills previously rejected several other labor priorities. The governor earlier this week vetoed two bills seeking to expand rights for farmworkers and last month rejected a measure to further limit noncompete clauses in Maine.

In their criticism of the veto, advocates of LD 373 also pointed out that Maine is receiving once-in-a-generation money for clean energy projects from the federal government that is designed to grow the workforce of that industry while also creating strong labor standards.

Workers fought for generations to make fossil fuel work into a dignified, family-sustaining career with collective power on the job, said Francis Eanes, executive director of the Maine Labor Climate Council. If were serious about tackling the climate crisis at scale, its essential that workers see the clean energy economy built on those same foundations, and LD 373 would have gone a long way towards that.

The post Groups say Mills veto of energy-labor bill will weaken state efforts to tackle climate change appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
An agent from the Attorney General's office carries evidence collected at Save the Children's headquarters during a raid, in Guatemala City, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The NGO is being investigated for an alleged complaint about the violation of migrant children's rights, according to statements made by prosecutor Rafel Curruchiche. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  The aid group Save the Children said there is nothing to support accusations of misconduct, speaking after Guatemalan prosecutors raided its offices in the Central American country looking for evidence of alleged abuse of migrant children.

We have been shocked and puzzled by the unprecedented search of our offices by the Public Prosecutors Office in Guatemala, the organization said in a press release Thursday night hours after the raid.

The group said it was not aware of any specific accusations against it.

We defend the rights of children and adolescents and ensure that they survive, learn and are protected from harm in more than 100 countries around the world, said the group, which has worked in Guatemala since 1976.

The raid came after prosecutors  themselves accused by the U.S. of corruption and trying to undermine Guatemalas democracy  claimed Save the Children and a number of other non-governmental groups could be participating in child trafficking operations.

Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche said the raid was to search for evidence from a complaint made relating to those claims, which was transnational and of great importance because it involves childrens rights.

The escalating controversy began last week when Fox News contributor Sara Carter published a video of Angel Pineda, the secretary general of the Public Prosecutors Office, saying it had received a complaint about the organizations. Carter was the first to announce the raid on social media before police and prosecutors had even entered the offices.

In the video, Pineda called not on the Biden administration or other international authorities, but on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to aid him in the investigation.

Paxton, a Republican, has railed against U.S. President Joe Biden's handling of rising migration to the U.S.-Mexico border. In February, he tried to sue a migrant aid group in El Paso, accusing it of facilitating illegal entry to the United States, alien harboring, human smuggling, and operating a stash house. The effort was blocked by a judge.

The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where NGOs, funded with taxpayer money from the Biden Administration, facilitate astonishing horrors," Paxton said in a statement.

Those allegations sounded strikingly similar to ones made by Guatemalan prosecutors in a letter sent to Paxton earlier this month.

The Guatemalan government confirmed that the prosecutors office contacted Paxton without going through the diplomatic protocols required for international collaboration.

Paxton's office and Guatemala's prosecutor's office did not respond for a request for comment and more information on the case.

The Guatemalan Attorney Generals Office's communication department said Friday that it would not go into details because the case was related to children and adolescents.

Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras has faced international criticism for years and has been sanctioned by the U.S. government for purported undemocratic actions. Since Guatemalans elected reform-oriented President Bernardo Arevalo last August, Porras has grown increasingly isolated and her office has attempted to find allies among some far-right U.S. lawmakers.

Both Pineda and Curruchiche are sanctioned and banned from entering more than 40 countries, including the United States and the European Union, for hindering the fight against corruption in Guatemala and undermining the country's democracy. This notably includes failed efforts to prevent Arevalo from taking office earlier this year.

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Associated Press correspondent Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City.

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Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
After six months of serving on the International House of Prayer-Kansas City board of directors, Shane Holden decided last week that his work with the beleaguered ministry was done.

Frustrated by the organizations failure to reach an agreement with former leaders on a third-party investigation into sex abuse allegations against founder Mike Bickle and last weeks perplexing announcement that IHOPKC was shutting down, then restructuring and downsizing, Holden turned in his resignation.

He announced his action Tuesday afternoon in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.

Because of this continued impasse & due to IHOPs present trajectory, I resigned from the Board April 17th, Holden wrote.

In an exclusive interview with The Star on Thursday, Holden  senior pastor of First Free Church, a congregation of several thousand in Onalaska, Wisconsin  said it was painful to be speaking publicly about his concerns but believed it was the right thing to do.

Im not looking for a platform, and I certainly dont want to use this crisis in any way, he said. This whole thing is uncomfortable for me, of having to go public with my resignation. And I did that because I felt like it was integrity. IHOP has been pretty secretive about lots of things. And I just wanted to have integrity in walking away.

IHOPKCs attorney, Audrey Manito, the organizations spokesperson, did not respond to a request for comment.

Holden said Stuart Greaves, IHOPKCs then-executive director, asked him in November to become a board member. He said Greaves wanted him to serve as a mediator between IHOPKCs leadership and the Advocate Group, a coalition of former leaders who support Bickles alleged victims.

The Advocate Group was pushing for an independent investigation into the sex abuse scandal, but couldnt reach an agreement with IHOPKC leaders on who should conduct it.

Ive been like a friend from a distance to IHOP for years and years, and so theres friendships and respect there, Holden said. But I also have friends and relationships with the Advocate Group. And so I was just in this unique position. And you know, it was kind of like, Hey, you know, we trust you, both sides trust you. Would you maybe kind of step in, bring some mediation?

Because at that point, at the beginning, there was just a breakdown of trust, and so I was just kind of helping them go back and forth with conversations and building a bridge between the two groups.

Shane Holden, senior pastor of First Free Church in Onalaska, Wisconsin, resigned from the International House of Prayer-Kansas City board of directors on April 17, 2024. Holden said he was frustrated by the organizations failure to reach an agreement with former leaders on a third-party investigation into sex abuse allegations against IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle. Screenshot

Holden said he agreed to join the IHOPKC board sincerely just because of obedience.

I felt like Jesus just asked me, Shane, my body hurts; I want you to help, he said. And so my whole heart in it the whole time has been trying to be a peacemaker. Trying to be a bridge between the two sides.

And so in walking away, my heart is still the same. Im not looking to hurt IHOP. I spent six months trying to love them and serve them and help them do the right thing.

Systemic changes needed

Holden, a longtime pastor and church planter, said Greaves also wanted his help making some of the systemic changes that IHOP needs to make to be healthy. (Greaves resigned from his leadership position in December.)

Holden said he had a long history with IHOPKC, which was founded by Bickle in 1999.

When I was 25 years old and planted my first church and stumbled into some of Mikes teaching, it was just really helpful for me, he said. I thought Mike was one of the best Bible teachers Id heard. So Mike and I, you know, we connected just briefly when I was young. Its not like there was ever some friendship, but his teaching had an influence on me.

Holden loved IHOPKC and the night-and-day prayer room, he said, and was there a lot. He added, however, I never lived there and was never really a part of it.

After becoming a board member, Holden told The Star, he made several trips to Kansas City  all on his own dime  and also participated in numerous Zoom meetings and phone conversations.

Holden resigned two days after IHOPKC leaders told staffers that the ministry planned to close and open a new, smaller organization. That revelation was based on a leaked recording of a staff meeting at IHOP University and an email sent to staffers announcing the action.

At that meeting, Isaac Bennett, senior pastor of IHOPKCs Forerunner Church, said the organization had been hit hard by Bickles sex abuse scandal. He called it a crisis that began on the day that allegations were brought against Mike.

When the allegations surfaced, Bennett said on the recording, IHOPKC began losing donor support. He said IHOPKC accrued some pretty significant financial challenges, with expenses outpacing revenue by about $500,000 a month. Bennett also told the group that the scandal had put the 24/7 global prayer movement in legal jeopardy.

The ongoing push to investigate potential mishandling of abuse allegations and cover-up through the movements 24-year history, he said, will produce, inevitably, a contingent of individuals who are wanting to get restitution.

Theyre not gonna go knock on Mikes door, because he doesnt have any money, Bennett said. But IHOPKC has facilities. Were the people to sue at the end of the day. So that presents a significant liability there.

Simply rebranding IHOPKC, he said, wouldnt be enough. Separating from Bickle, who for nearly 20 years was the ministrys CEO, operations director and senior pastor, is the best way, he said. Further, in an email to staffers, the leadership of the Prophecy and Healing Department said, IHOPKC will be closing for good in a staggered fashion.

On April 17, however, Manito told The Star in an email that IHOPKC was not shutting down, but reorganizing.

Adding to the confusion was a statement, also dated April 17, from IHOPKC executive director Joseph Taylor that said we have come to the conclusion that we will wind down many of the ministry and training expressions of IHOPKC. Those included IHOP University, Forerunner Church, the Childrens Equipping Center and the organizations internships, Taylor said.

Our ongoing focus as a ministry will remain on the 24/7 prayer room and intercession for Israel, Taylor said.

He said that the financial and personnel losses have not been without consequence, yet they are only a part of the deeper issues we must address in order to continue night and day prayer for future generations.

The governance and structure of a Mission Base with a church, ministry school, ministries, and hundreds of staff have been strained for several years and need reform, he said. We believe now is the opportune time to address those challenges through a transition and reorganization process.

Mike Bickle, founder of IHOPKC Screenshot

Many, including former followers, said IHOPKCs move to reorganize and restructure smacked of a ploy to protect itself, not to help or comfort those hurt by the organization.

Holden wasnt happy with the way the issue was handled. When asked Thursday if IHOPKC was indeed closing, he said, To be completely honest with you, at this point, I dont know.

A thousand moving pieces

Holden said he believed the announcement on reorganization was premature.

Theres a thousand moving pieces, he said. And so I think, this is my opinion, they maybe got out a little over the skis in some of the things that were said last week.

Of the leaked recording, he said: I was shocked. The whole world heard that. And some of those words that were said that the whole world heard, it made it seem like one of the reasons that IHOP was shutting down was to protect assets.

And do I think thats the ultimate motive of the board in shutting down? Thats honestly not mine to speak to; I just know it sounded that way.  If we didnt mean that, we need to say that we did not mean that. Things were just very cloudy. And just in integrity, I just had to step away from this.

Holden said he understands the complexity of trying to reboot an organization such as IHOPKC.

To give them a little grace, youre talking about an organization that had a footprint of 1.5 million people and thousands and thousands of people attached to it in different ways and so many people making a living from it and so many divisions  I mean, it is a machine, he said. And so when you start to actually think about how do we redo it, youre gonna run into so many different options.

I think theyre doing their best, but I dont know that you fully know how to bring something like this in for a landing. Youve just kind of got to do it. And I think its going to change and flex as youre doing it.

Holden said while IHOPKC leaders pledge to keep the round-the clock prayer room up and running, as it has been for nearly a quarter of a century, thats going to be difficult  especially if there is no third-party investigation.

To do 24/7 takes a lot of people, he said. And you have to have the trust of the larger body of Christ. You need guys like me, pastors of large churches, encouraging their young people to go there.

Theres a trust issue at IHOP right now.  They do not have the trust of the larger body of Christ. Whereas if you would just do this investigation, open this thing up, be transparent, you could gain that trust back and I think that would make it much more conducive for 24/7 prayer to continue.

Another transparency concern thats often been raised during the scandal is that IHOPKC wont reveal the names of its board members. Holden declined to provide them as well, but noted that he didnt keep his identity a secret.

The reason I let my name be public is because it just kind of seems like it comes with the territory, he said. If youre going to step into something like this, youve got to deal with it. But that was their posture. They wanted to protect people.

But perception is a big deal. The way the world looked at that was, Youre hiding it. Youre not being transparent, youre being secretive.

Impasse over third-party investigation

The controversy over a third-party investigation has been ongoing since the allegations against Bickle surfaced last fall.

IHOPKC originally hired the Stinson LLP law firm to investigate, but quickly reversed that decision after critics questioned whether it could be impartial. Then it hired Manito, who has close ties to IHOPKC, to conduct interviews with those alleging abuse.

When that action was heavily criticized, IHOPKC in December hired Rosalee McNamara of the Lathrop GPM firm to conduct the outside investigation. But Bickles alleged victims and the Advocate Group declined to talk to McNamara, saying she couldnt be impartial because her firm has represented defendants in sex abuse cases, including those involving clergy.

McNamara responded that while I have investigated other clergy abuse allegations, I have never been involved in the defense of such cases.

At the end of January, IHOPKC released the results of McNamaras investigation, which found Bickle more likely than not engaged in inappropriate behavior that included sexual contact and clergy misconduct. That behavior was an abuse of power for a person in a position of trust and leadership, a report of the findings said.

Though IHOPKC called it an independent investigation, critics  including the Advocate Group  complained that it was far from impartial. They said the alleged victims did not participate in the investigation because they didnt feel safe doing so.

Former International House of Prayer-Kansas City leaders (from left) Jono Hall, Allen Hood, Wes Martin and Dwayne Roberts are seen in a video recently released by the group. The video showed the former leaders discussing sex abuse allegations against IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle. Screenshot

Holden said he believed the McNamara investigation was truly independent.

IHOP had no control over that, he said. And when she released what she released, everybody saw it at the same time. Its just that because there wasnt agreement between the two sides, she just didnt have access to the main victims.

Holden has tried for months to broker an agreement between IHOPKC and the Advocate Group to get a new investigation going. But he said IHOPKCs perspective is that we have done an independent third-party investigation, and on top of that, we have permanently separated from Mike Bickle. Lets move on, you know, lets just get on with what we need to do next.

And then the other side, the perspective is, We havent really walked this thing out together. Lets do this together. A lot of it just came down to the breach of trust that was there between the two sides from the beginning.

Holden said the Advocate Group has tried to be sensitive to the victims feelings, to just make sure that with whatever investigation, the victims would feel safe.

And sometimes that seems like it gets lost in the midst of the battles back and forth, he said. But they have tried to hold on to that.

From the beginning, Holden said, he strongly believed a mutually agreed-upon third party investigation was crucial to help restore trust in the organization.

To me, it was painfully obvious that that was the path forward, he said. And I said that if we ever get to the point where it looks like thats going to be impossible, thats when Ill have to bow out.

No evil intent from either side

Holden said hes impressed with the attorney the Advocate Group is proposing to conduct the new investigation.

I did get to be a part of a conversation with her, and she was brilliant, he said. I dont think anybody who was objective who had a conversation with her and heard her heart and her process would think anything other than shes the right person for this.

Moreover, he said, The Advocate Group is basically going to crowd source it, so it wasnt even necessarily going to cost us anything. But even so, he said, it got to the point for me where it just didnt appear that it was gonna happen.

I understand the perspective that the board has, but for us not to do this was just too far, he said. It just seemed like a simple way for us to put our hands in the hands of the AG and just show the larger body of Christ a step towards unity. This just didnt seem like a big ask to me. A very low risk for the potential of healing and unity.

Holden said he believed that Taylor, IHOPKCs new executive director, has wanted to find a way forward in unity with the AG. But others, he said, didnt agree.

From their perspective, we have permanently separated from Mike  hes gone, he is over and hes not going to be a part of this, he said. We have done an investigation, and were done with Mike. And were shutting this thing down and were going to reboot it and make sure we create a culture thats healthy. So whats the purpose of this?  We want to focus on whats next, we want to focus on the future and learn from all of this.

Holden said there were no nefarious actions committed by either side.

What I saw on both sides were sincere people in a very difficult situation, who ultimately wanted the same thing and just radically disagreed about how to get there, he said. I didnt see people trying to cover up sin on the IHOP side, and I didnt see people on the advocate side trying to destroy IHOP. I know thats a lot of the narrative thats been out there. There was great confusion and great pain, great mistrust. But there was no evil intent from either side from the beginning.

Now, he said, This is a very fluid and dynamic situation. It does appear that the AG is going to move ahead on their own.

Last week, the Advocate Group said that in the coming days it planned to announce an independent investigation into wrongdoing committed at IHOPKC.

We remain hopeful, it said, that IHOPKC leadership will be open to this investigation.

But on Wednesday, the day after Holden announced his resignation, Dwayne Roberts, a former IHOPKC leader and member of the Advocate Group, posted a response on X:

This is a pivotal announcement for me personally, on a near daily basis I have talked hours with Shane trying to get a third party investigation into MB and ihopkc. With Shane having resigned from the board that now signals to me that ihopkc is unwilling and perhaps has even been lying to me about participating with us in an investigation.

This is a sad day because there are victims that we want to be heard and their stories to be recorded so that repentance and restitution can be made towards these victims. God help us as the church, we value our ministries over people, open our eyes!
Before dissolving the chamber with applause, goodbyes, hugs and even selfies, the last regulation that the MEPs in Strasbourg approved on Thursday, at their last plenary session before the European elections of June, was the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). This piece of legislation to promote clean strategic industries summarizes, to a large extent, the main concerns and disputes of the term that is now ending, and which will also mark the one following the elections: how to continue simultaneously promoting European competitiveness and the green transition, in the midst of growing questions about the European Green Deal by the denialist far right and even by a sector of the traditional right.

The feeling of now-or-never created by the upcoming European elections  where there could be a surge of the far right, which has no qualms about describing climate change as a hoax and the laws to combat it as stupid, as some MEPs called them this week  accelerated the negotiation of multiple laws in recent months, largely environmental projects.

Many observers regret that this speed has come at the cost of more concessions than usual that lower the ambition of these regulations, as is the case with the European law that seeks to force large companies to better ensure respect for human rights and the environment across their value chains. The final text of the so-called Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) that the European Parliament validated this week will end up affecting many fewer companies than initially planned, and its impact will also be lower in sectors that are especially sensitive to environmental violations or child exploitation such as the textile industry, mining, agriculture (including fishing and logging) and construction. These concessions had to be accepted by the MEPs due to the refusal by states to approve the text originally agreed with them, which was more ambitious. A similar pattern has emerged with several environmental regulations, and some bills have been shelved, such as the one that sought to reduce the use of pesticides.

In addition to the zero emissions law and the CSDDD, at this last Strasbourg plenary session MEPs also gave their final approval (pending final ratification by the states) to half a dozen regulations that seek to reduce or mitigate climate change. Among the measures that received legislative approval in recent days was the directive on the right to repair, which obliges manufacturers to facilitate the repair of household appliances such as washing machines or vacuum cleaners instead of forcing customers to purchase a new product, thus promoting the circular economy and creating significant savings for consumers.

MEPs also endorsed new measures to improve air quality in the EU, with the goal of halving the main air pollutants by 2030. Likewise, they gave their final approval to one of the regulations that has suffered the most pressure from lobbies in recent years: the new rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging that will imply a ban, from 2030, on products such as packaging for fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, food and drinks consumed in cafes and restaurants, or small packaging for personal hygiene products, such as hotel shampoo bottles, as well as individual sachets of condiments or sauces.

An example of the difficult balance in the face of growing questions about the European Green Deal is the approval, also during this plenary session, of the review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to lower environmental requirements and grant broad exemptions to its compliance. The changes made due to fear of the electoral impact of the farmers protests that have multiplied throughout Europe in recent months, and whose discontent the most radical (and not so radical) forces throughout the EU have tried to capitalize on. This vote shreds the last scraps of credibility that the EUs farm policy protects the environment and the public interest, Greenpeace EU agriculture policy director Marco Contiero condemned in a statement.

A key piece of the Green Deal is still in limbo, the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) seeking to protect biodiversity, which has become one of the symbols of the polarization and politicization of environmental measures in the EU for at least a year. The bill that emerged from the difficult procedure in the European Parliament, amidst tremendous clashes and strong concessions, is once again hanging by a thread at the state level, due to the lack of sufficient votes to give it definitive ratification.

What is at stake with the European fight against climate change, if the far right gains enough strength in the European elections in June, was illustrated on Wednesday by Jorge Buxade, a MEP for the Spanish ultranationalist party Vox: he promised to end the EUs environmental transition agenda, and crumpled up two sheets of paper with the logos of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda.

You people are a meme. Of course, we are going to repeal your Green Deal and of course we are going to erase your diabolical 2030 Agenda from history, the far-right lawmaker promised inside the EU Parliament.

It has become clear that denialism exists and that it is very strong. It will be up to the people, between June 6 and 9, to ensure they are not the majority in this chamber, warned the promoter of the Nature Restoration Law, the Socialist MEP Cesar Luena.
Backlash against Texas governor after he sends troopers on horseback into Gaza protest on campus

Texas governor Greg Abbott has been accused of going too far with crackdowns on college pro-Palestine protesters.

Up to 100 state troopers, including some on horseback, were called in to stop demonstrations at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday.

Students are demanding that the college divest from manufacturers supplying weapons to Israel, a call thats been echoed on campuses nationwide. Universities from New York to California have staged similar pro-Palestine demonstrations in recent days.

Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail, Republican Governor Abbott, posted on X.

Dozens of people were arrested at the protest that had been organised by the universitys Palestinian Solidarity Committee.

Cally, a former UT student, faces off with a mounted state trooper at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Austin (Austin American-Statesman)

One photographer covering the demonstration for TV station, Fox 7 Austin, was in the push-and-pull when an officer yanked him backwards to the ground, video shows.

The station later confirmed that the photographer had been arrested. A journalist was also knocked down in the mayhem and could be seen bleeding before police helped him to medical staff.

The reaction to the protest was met with harsh criticism from Democrats in the state.

Today, Greg Abbotts [Department of Public Safety] has more courage to arrest peaceful student protesters than when an active shooter entered an elementary school in Uvalde, state Democrats said on Wednesday.

Gov. Abbott is taking a very political opportunity to enforce his agenda, a very right-wing agenda focused on control, not on governance, Chelsea Collier, a doctoral student at the school of information and a native Texan who spent her entire academic career at UT, told The Washington Post.

Texas state troopers cracked down on protests at UT at Austin on Wednesday on the order of Governor Greg Abbot (Austin American-Statesman)

On Thursday the Travis County Attorneys Office announced that those arrested at Wednesdays demonstrations would not be facing charges at this time. All those detained have been ordered released due to deficiencies in probable cause, ABC reported.

And roughly half the demonstrators arrested at the school were not affiliated with the institution, according to administrators.

Of the 55 people who were found to have violated institutional rules, some 26 were not staff or students, according to a statement released by UT Austin on Thursday.

A statement from UT Austin, shared with Fox7 on Thursday, said that the original protest had sought to follow the playbook of the national campaign to paralyze the operations of universities across the country.

Like at each of those universities, and confirming our serious concern, there was significant participation by outside groups present on our campus yesterday. This outside group presence is what weve seen from the affiliated national organizations efforts to disrupt and create disorder, the statement read.

Roughly half (26) of the 55 people who violated Institutional Rules and were ultimately arrested were unaffiliated with The University of Texas.

UT at Austin later said that around half of those arrested during campus protests on Wednesday were not affiliated with the university (Reuters)

Thirteen pro-Palestinian free speech events have taken place at the University largely without incident since October. In contrast, this one in particular expressed an intent to disrupt the campus and directed participants to break Institutional Rules and occupy the University, consistent with national patterns."

The scenes in Texas come as unrest and violence sweeps campuses across the US. Shocking scenes played out in states including Georgia, where police used Tasers on restrained students and shot pepper balls at demonstrators at Emory University.

However, Cheryl Elliott, Emory Universitys vice president for public safety, said the person on whom officers used a stun gun in a video that has subsequently gone viral online, did not appear to be affiliated with Emory.

Based on current information, this individual is not a member of the Emory community, Elliot said in an email shared with the Emory community, via ABC. Due to the direct assault of officers, law enforcement released chemical irritants into the ground to assist with crowd control.

Twenty-eight people were arrested during the incident, 20 of whom were affiliated with the university, according to Ms Elliot.

On Thursday, the University of Southern California (USC) announced that the main stage ceremony for its commencement ceremony on 10 May would no longer take place. It followed protests on Wednesday which were ultimately dispersed by riot police with rubber bullets.

The Independent has reached out to UT at Austin for comment.
PORSTMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Several schools in Hampton Roads were among those recognized statewide for their academic achievement by The Virginia Board of Education.

The Exemplar School Recognition Program recognized 37 schools by giving them the Board of Education Highest Achievement Award, including six in Hampton Roads. Five of which were in Virginia Beach and one in York County.

Those recognized in Virginia Beach were: Green Run Collegiate, Kingston Elementary, North Landing Elementary, Old Donation School and Rosemont Forest Elementary. York Countys Seaford Elementary was also recognized.

The awards are based on performance and practices during the 2022-2023 and prior school years, a release states.

Three schools in Hampton Roads also received an award for improvement. Green Run High and Tallwood High in Virginia Beach as well as York River Academy in York County.

On behalf of the Virginia Board of Education, I am thrilled to celebrate and honor the 64 schools who are being recognized for their accomplishments, said Board of Education President Grace Turner Creasey. Recognition in this program is one of the highest achievements a school can receive in the Commonwealth. Congratulations to the staff, students, and communities who support these remarkable schools for their success.

For more information, click here.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Ohio authorities have released body camera footage of the arrest of a 53-year-old Black man who died after repeatedly telling police officers I cant breathe as they pinned him to the ground and handcuffed him.

The video of Frank Tysons arrest is reminiscent of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, who told Minneapolis police officers the same thing as he was choked to death.

Canton Police Department identified Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch as the two primary officers who responded to a call on April 18 of a car that had struck a utility pole. The 36-minute video was captured by Schoenegges body camera.

The start of the video shows officers approaching the car that had struck the pole and a bystander informing them that the driver of the car had fled to a nearby bar at the American Veterans (AMVETS) post.

When police enter the bar, a woman asks them to, Please get him out of here, now, referring to Tyson.

Were going outside, one of the officers said as they approached Tyson.

Tyson refuses, saying, You aint killing me. You aint killing me tonight.

As the officers move to grab him, Tyson knocks over a barstool and demands they call the sheriff.

The officers attempt to handcuff Tyson, and as a struggle ensues, an officer can be heard telling Tyson to get on the fing ground.

Tyson begins to shout, Theyre trying to kill me. He once again asks for someone to call the sheriff.

Officers wrestle Tyson to the ground, and as he is handcuffed, one of the officers places his knee on Tysons upper body.

At this point, Tyson begins to say, I cant breathe.

An officer tells Tyson to calm down, but Tyson repeats he cant breathe, and continues to repeat it.

At one point, his voice appears muffled, and he appears to struggle, telling the officer he cant breathe.

I cant breathe, Tyson can be heard saying. I cant breathe. Youre on my neck. Get off my neck.

The officer appears to have his knee on Tyson for no more than a minute. Tyson continues to tell officers he cant breathe, even after the officer removes his knee.

Youre fine, someone responds. Shut the f up.

One of the officers tells the other to pull him up and place him on his side or something.

Soon after, Tyson stops moving and appears unresponsive.

At the same time, an officer can be seen on the video looking through Tysons wallet and talking with bystanders as Tyson lays motionless on the ground.

Tyson lays there for about five minutes. At one point during this time, an officer can be heard telling some of the bars patrons that he always wanted to be in a bar fight.

I dont know if this counts, the officer adds.

When one officer approaches to ask if Tyson has calmed down and is still breathing, the other checks him for a pulse.

Does he have a pulse? one of the officers asks. The other responds he didnt feel one.

Will you tell the medics to step it up? the officer asks. Hes not responsive. I dont know if I can feel a pulse.

Officers then begin chest compressions.

CPR and several doses of Narcan were administered before Canton Fire Department medics arrived, according to a news release. Tyson was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:18 p.m.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now conducting an independent investigation, according to NBC News.

Schoenegge and Burch, who are assigned to the traffic bureau, are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
What happens now that Harvey Weinstein's conviction was overturned in New York

Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned Thursday by the New York Court of Appeals and many are wondering what happens next.

Weinstein has been serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York's Mohawk Correctional Facility following his conviction on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and third-degree rape for an attack on an aspiring actor in 2013.

Where things stand now

In an interview with NBC News on Thursday following the New York Court of Appeal's decision, Weinstein's longtime spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, said that their first order of priority is to seek medical care for the 73-year-old.

"Were going to try to bring him for medical care here in Bellevue [Hospital] down here first," he said. "[Weinstein] is still in a walker, still in a wheelchair ... he has audio issues, he has heart issues. Harvey has a lot of health mountains and hurdles to climb but hopefully this cheers up his mood better and helps him fight them better."

While he awaits a new trial in New York, Engelmayer said there is a chance Weinstein may be extradited to California where he faces a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in a separate trial in 2022.

"We dont know exactly what the process is but we expect within 24 to 48 hours the Los Angeles courts or Los Angeles prosecutor will file an extradition charge to bring him in there," he said.

How we got here

The state Court of Appeals found that the judge in the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced Weinstein, the former film mogul, with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that werent part of the case.

We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes because that testimony served no material non-propensity purpose, the court said in a 4-3 decision.

The court compounded that error when it ruled that defendant, who had no criminal history, could be cross examined about those allegations as well as numerous allegations of misconduct that portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light, it said.

New York Court of Appeals Judge Jenny Rivera called the errors egregious and said the remedy is a new trial. Weinsteins accusers could again be called to testify if prosecutors decide to pursue another trial.

Judge Anthony Cannataro, one of the judges who voted against this decision, said in his dissenting opinion that this was an unfortunate step backwards.

Attorney Lindsay Goldbrum, who represented six Weinstein accusers, called the decision a leap backward for the rule of law that could deter future sexual assault victims from coming forward.

To all victims of sexual assault who are retraumatized by todays ruling, I am so sorry, said Goldbrum, whose clients included model Tarale Wulff, who testified that Weinstein raped her at his Manhattan apartment in 2005 after having lured her there with talk of a movie audition.

Will there be another trial?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement following the court's decision that he plans to retry the case, We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon in downtown Manhattan, Weinsteins attorney Arthur Aidala said, His case will be restarted like it just started from the beginning, and he will be transported to a facility down here yet to be determined.

A hearing is expected to be scheduled as early as next week with a new potential trial date set, according to Engelmayer.

NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said in an interview with NBC News on Friday that, if Weinstein is indeed retried, it won't take as long as his previous trial.

Depending on the court's dockets, retrials dont take all that long, they wont give them a whole new discovery period," he said.

Engelmayer and Aidala have both said that if the case is retried, Weinstein will testify.

Weinstein's California conviction

Weinstein's legal team is currently appealing his California criminal conviction and one of his lawyers on that case, Jennifer Bonjean, said that she believes the decision to overturn Weinstein's New York charges bodes well for their appeal.

"A jury was told in California that he was convicted in another state for rape. Turns out he shouldnt have been convicted, and it wasnt a fair conviction," she said in a statement. "It interfered with his presumption of innocence in a significant way in California."

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said in a statement that the legal issues identified by the New York appeals court are not present in the Los Angeles County case because California law does allow for evidence that speaks to a defendants character in sexual assault cases, subject to the judges discretion.

But Engelmayer remained hopeful about their changes for an appeal in Los Angeles.

"We have an even better case [in California] ... He was charged on one alleged victim for someone that we know was not in the room at the same time they claimed Harvey was. We know where she was. We know where Harvey was at the time ... we have the evidence," Engelmayer said.

Adding, "I believe one day he will walk free. He might hobble on his walker, he might be in a wheelchair, but he will be free."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Bloomberg) -- A cause celebre is ringing out across Harvard Yard, Columbias South Lawn, Yales Beinecke Plaza and UC Berkeleys Sproul Plaza: Disclose and divest.

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And university students say they wont stop protesting against Israel until that demand is met.

Never miss an episode. Follow the Big Take podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Read the transcript.

Were willing to risk suspension, expulsion and arrest, and I think that that will put pressure, said Malak Afaneh, a law student at University of California, Berkeley, and a protest organizer.

She and her fellow pro-Palestinian demonstrators want universities to cut their investments in everything tied to Israel and weapons that fuel the war in Gaza. That means funds run by BlackRock, Google as well as Amazons cloud service, Lockheed Martin and even Airbnb.

Its a long-shot demand  university administrators and lawmakers have for decades rejected the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel, viewing it as antisemitic because it calls into question the legitimacy of the Jewish state and singles out the policies of one country.

Its fiercely opposed by many donors and alumni, and whats more, acting on the BDS concept is discouraged by laws in more than half of US states, including New York and California. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon.

I have consistently opposed all forms of antisemitism, including discrimination against and demonization of the people of Israel through the BDS movement, said California Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur. I would strongly oppose any attempts to change laws protecting against such discrimination.

Yet its gaining proponents, especially among students at elite universities since Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel and sparked the conflict in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Theyre chanting on college grounds, waving Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyehs and beating drums. Encampments have sprouted on campuses, including at Harvard where about 30 tents currently stand in front of the John Harvard statue, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Some protesters, including at Columbia and Berkeley, have threatened Jewish students and expressed support for Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US.

Read more: USC Cancels Main Commencement Ceremony Amid Protests, Arrests

All that has left universities struggling to balance the right to free speech with the need for maintaining order and ensuring the safety of students. But on the question of divestment, they are unmoved.

Harvard, which has the largest US endowment at almost $51 billion, made clear this month it opposes calls for a policy of boycotting Israel and its academic institutions. Brown refused to acknowledge BDS demands while students led an eight-day hunger strike. Yale this week wouldnt even consider a proposal to divest from weapons makers and instead police rounded up protesters outside of the Schwarzman Center, arresting more than 40 students.

BDS supporters take inspiration from the drive to isolate South Africa during the apartheid era  including actions taken at the time by Columbia, Michigan State and California universities  and recent pushes for colleges to address fossil fuel holdings.

This time at Michigan State, where groups of students are camped in tents in Peoples Park, theres no appetite for severing ties with Israel.

Read more: Why Israel-Hamas War Tests Campus Tolerance of Speech: QuickTake

Divestment would conflict with stewarding the institutions financial health, would increase investment risks, and limit returns and jeopardize the assurance resources will continue to be available now and for future generations, said Sandy Pierce, chair of Michigan State Universitys board, speaking earlier this month at a Board of Trustees meeting.

Columbia in February declined a proposal to withdraw financial support from Israel, months before students set up tents on the Morningside Heights campus and created a standoff with the university that resulted in more than 100 arrests.

Ray Guerrero, 27, whos studying for a masters in public health, helped pen the divestment proposal for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition. The group has a litany of demands, including cutting ties to Israeli academic institutions, defunding public safety and reparations for the indigenous people of New York. Guerrero understands the goals are lofty for the immediate term, but stresses the main focus for now is disclosure and divestment around Columbias $13.6 billion endowment.

Layla Saliba, a 24-year-old studying for a masters in social work, is part of CUADs research team, which she said has been studying the schools financial disclosures, including its tax forms and 13Fs disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We were only able to get about 0.6% of their investments as public information, she said.

The latest 13F discloses just $47 million of its holdings, with the vast majority stock in Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway. That leaves billions of dollars undisclosed.

Thats really concerning because our endowment, yes, its funded by benefactors, its funded by donors, but a portion of that is also funded with our tuition dollars, Saliba said. And we feel that as students, we need to have more transparency on that.

Universities say the protesters claims arent accurate.

The University of California, which opposes any boycott of Israel, said in a statement that tuition fees are not used for investments. College endowments are almost always funded with donations and investment gains. Whats more, they fund financial aid for students and other operating expenses such as teacher salaries.

And the challenge isnt just ideological. Endowments typically dont hold large concentrations of single stocks as they used to decades ago, when activists targeted companies operating in South Africa.

Endowments have long relied on external managers, including private equity firms and hedge funds. Almost 700 institutions hold about $840 billion in endowment assets. They also use ETFs, index funds or mutual funds that pool hundreds of stocks and bonds.

With private equity, a schools money may be locked up for several years, without an option to withdraw, while hedge fund managers can rapidly move in and out of securities without disclosing their trades to investors.

These active strategies are not buying stocks to hold on for the long term, said Philip Zecher, chief investment officer of Michigan State Universitys $4 billion fund. Theyre looking to make money off trading. Its not like your grandmother buying AT&T stock and sitting on it for 50 years.

The fight against fossil fuel investment, a cause championed by students for decades, also shows how hard it can be to implement divestment. Universities largely havent switched strategies to sell holdings, which are frequently tied up in long-term private equity funds, even as theyve committed to policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campuses.

Despite the setbacks and opposition, some pro-Palestine protesters are undeterred.

It seems like a no for now, but students will keep pushing, said Lumisa Bista, a junior studying astrophysics at Yale, who was among protesters at the university who slept overnight at Beinecke Plaza this week. Ill keep pushing.

--With assistance from Shelby Knowles and Brendan Case.

(Updates with University of California comment in 23rd paragraph.)

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Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe on Thursday slammed as shameful the U.S. Supreme Courts arguments over Donald Trumps total immunity appeal in which the justices kicked their decision  and subsequently a potential trial in the former presidents election subversion case  further down the road.

Much of the argument was quite depressing in the sense that it really amounted to four [conservative] justices  Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas  in search of a lifeline for Donald Trump, Tribe summarized to MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell.

That was embarrassing, Tribe continued. And much of it seemed to be kind of like a congressional hearing. They didnt want to talk about this case. They just wanted to spin hypotheticals in the air and almost draft a new law for some kind of immunity.

At one point in Thursdays hearings, liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked why isnt it enough, for the purposes of this case [] to just answer the question of whether all official acts get immunity?

Tribe said, Jackson got to the point, All we have to do is do our job, and our job is to decide the case before us, and on the facts before us, there is no plausible case for immunity. And if we take a step back, thats something the court could and should have done in December so we could maybe in closing arguments in this trial.

Tribe added, It was a shameful performance by the court, buying the very time that Donald Trump wanted.

Watch Tribes full analysis here:

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Miriam Haley, the key witness at Harvey Weinsteins rape trial in New York, said Friday that she is weighing whether to testify again, after an appeals court on Thursday overturned his guilty verdict.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office has indicated that it will seek to retry the former producer, but a trial likely would not go forward without Haleys participation.

More from Variety

At a press conference with her attorney, Gloria Allred, Haley said she does not want to go through the ordeal of another trial, but recognized there are broader issues at stake.

This isnt just about me, she said. Its a really important case. Its in the public eye. It is difficult for me personally, but it is important for the collective.

The Court of Appeals overturned Weinsteins verdict on a 4-3 vote, finding that the trial judge, James Burke, erred by allowing testimony from three additional accusers whose allegations were not charged. Prosecutors would not be able to call such Molineux witnesses at a retrial.

Weinstein is due to appear in court in Manhattan on Wednesday. In a statement on Friday afternoon, the D.A.s office said, Our mission is to center survivors experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case.

Haley said she believed Weinstein could still be convicted again even without the Molineux testimony.

The truth doesnt change, she said Friday. The evidence is still there. So I dont see why it would be another result.

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020, after being convicted of the rape and sexual assault of Haley and another victim, Jessica Mann. He was later convicted in Los Angeles of three additional rape charges, adding an additional 16 years to his sentence.

At the New York trial, Haley testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted her at his apartment in July 2006. On Friday, she said the testimony was more arduous than people realize, that it took two years of preparation, and that she endured harassment because of it.

It was just rehashing and reliving over and over again, she said Friday. Especially after so many years, it was retraumatizing and grueling and exhausting I definitely dont want to actually go through that again. But for the sake of keeping going and doing the right thing, because it is what happened, I would consider it.

She said that she felt sick to my stomach after hearing that the conviction was overturned, and was still processing her feelings about her next steps.

People really dont know what I had to go through and what the other women had to go through In preparation for this, she said. Its insane.

The Court of Appeals also overturned Burkes ruling that would have allowed prosecutors to use 28 incidents of bullying or abusive behavior on cross-examination, had Weinstein taken the stand in his own defense. Weinsteins lawyers have argued that the ruling effectively prevented Weinstein from defending himself. Without it, they indicated that he may testify at a retrial.

Weinsteins lawyers are also appealing his Los Angeles conviction, and an appellate brief is due on May 20. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office has expressed confidence that the conviction will be upheld, in part because Californias evidence code explicitly allows additional accusers to testify in sex assault cases.

Allred said she will lobby for a similar law in New York.

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Harvey Weinstein to appear in NYC court next week in first step toward retrial

Harvey Weinstein, whose sex crimes conviction was just overturned by New York's highest court, is expected to take his first step toward being retried when he appears in court next week.

He is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday, after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his conviction on sex crimes against three women.

Weinstein was transferred to Rikers Island and then the New York City jail medical unit at Bellevue Hospital Center ahead of the court appearance, his spokesperson said on Saturday.

"We are cautiously optimistic and are prepared to go to trial, if it comes to that," his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, said in a statement. "There are fewer charges now and the deck isn't going to be illegally stacked against him. While we all enjoy the same rights when it comes to our justice system, a defendant has an additional right to due process. We are glad the Appeals Court judges saw it that way."

The district attorney's office said it intends to retry Weinstein if the complaining witnesses are willing to participate in another trial.

"At the Manhattan D.A.'s Office, our Special Victims Division fights each and every day to center survivors, uplift their voices, and seek justice for these horrific crimes," a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. "Our mission is to center survivors' experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case."

MORE: Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned in New York; DA will attempt to retry

In a scathing 4-3 opinion released on Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals found that the trial judge "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes."

The court said that testimony "served no material non-propensity purpose" and "portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light."

PHOTO: Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, Oct. 4, 2022. (Etienne Laurent/Pool via Reuters, FILE)

Engelmayer told ABC News on Thursday that they are "happily surprised" by the ruling. His appellate case lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said in a Thursday press conference that the court's decision showed that "yes, no one is above the law, but no one is below the law either."

"You can't throw out 100 years of legal precedent because someone is unpopular," Aidala said.

The initial trial and conviction followed an explosive New York Times article in October 2017 that reported Weinstein had reached at least eight settlements with women who accused him of sexual misconduct over decades. The story sparked an avalanche of accusations from women who came forward with similar accounts and largely kicked off the #MeToo movement, targeting prominent celebrities for sexual misconduct.

Weinstein, 72, was arrested on May 25, 2018, and charged with first- and third-degree rape for one victim, and first-degree criminal sex act for another woman.

MORE: Timeline: Harvey Weinstein's path to his New York City rape and sexual assault convictions

Prosecutors said the movie producer abused his power to take advantage of aspiring female actors, like the alleged victims, to coerce them into unwanted sexual encounters. According to the prosecution, the quid pro quo of assisting them with their careers in exchange for sexual favors on demand was both common behavior and a well-known secret throughout the film industry.

He was found guilty in February 2020 of two felonies -- criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape -- but acquitted of the two most serious charges -- predatory sexual assault. He was also acquitted of first-degree rape.

Weinstein was also convicted of sex offenses in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison there.

Because Weinstein is already convicted in California, he will not be released, but instead transferred to the custody of prison authorities in California.

Harvey Weinstein to appear in NYC court next week in first step toward retrial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Harvey Weinstein will return to court on May 1.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office said Friday that Weinstein is expected to appear before Judge Curtis Farber on Wednesday, May 1 at 2:15 p.m.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The court appearance will be the first for Weinstein since the New York Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction earlier this week.

In the 4-3 ruling, judge Jenny Rivera wrote that the judge in the New York County trial prejudiced Weinstein with improper rulings, including allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.

The D.A.s office did not indicate what Wednesdays hearing would be about, but it reiterated its previous statement that we will do everything in our power to retry this case.

Some of Weinsteins accusers responded to the ruling by declaring it profoundly unjust.

Even if Weinstein is released from New York State custody pending a new trial, he has also been convicted in California, meaning that he would likely be transferred to authorities in that state.

In a statement Friday, a spokesperson for the Manhattan D.A. said: At the Manhattan D.A.s Office, our Special Victims Division fights each and every day to center survivors, uplift their voices, and seek justice for these horrific crimes. Our mission is to center survivors experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case.

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China and the United States remain willing to preserve the recent  and fragile  stabilization of bilateral ties, but recognize that active diplomacy is necessary to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations. Thats the main message from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens three-day visit to China, his second in 10 months. His last stop, which took place on Friday in Beijing, was marked by a nearly six-hour meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a brief meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which, as was the case last June, was not on the official agenda. This meeting has been taken as a sign that things have gone relatively well.

Over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through wind and rain, and the two sides can draw a few important lessons: China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition, Xi confided to the American, according to the official reading provided by Chinese authorities.

Ive said many times that the planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the United States, Xi said during the meeting in the Great Hall of the People, the stage for major political events. Xi said that China was happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States. We hope the U.S. can also look at Chinas development in a positive light.

The division between the two powers came to the fore hours before Blinken landed in China, when the U.S. Senate approved a bill that provides $8.12 billion to counter communist China in the Indo-Pacific and another that forces ByteDance, the Chinese technology company that owns TikTok, to sell the platform within nine months or else face a ban. Blinken told the media in Beijing that the issue of TikTok was not mentioned in the meeting.

The broad and thorny agenda hinted that the meeting points would be limited. The war in Ukraine occupied much of the conversations. Blinken raised concerns with Xi that Chinese companies are helping to re-equip and resupply the Russian defense industry with components for weapons manufacturing. Fueling Russias defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security. As weve told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. In our discussions today, I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will, Blinken said in a press conference. The secretary of state, however, avoided giving details of the response he received and whether he outlined what measures Washington could take against these companies.

China and the U.S. are aware that the enormous and growing divergences between the two powers mean that the slightest change could hurt the progress they have achieved in the last year. Twelve months ago, ties were at their lowest point in decades after Washington shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon crossing U.S. territory without permission. But relations had been sour since 2002, when then U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan  a trip that sparked unprecedented military maneuvers by China around the island. Thanks to intensive diplomatic efforts between officials of the two giants, talks have become much more routine, allowing the worlds two largest economies and rival geopolitical powers to improve their tense but interdependent relationship.

Prior to the meeting with Xi, Blinken met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with his Chinese counterpart, who received him with tougher words. Wang conceded that, after the Xi and Biden summit held last November in San Francisco, relations have stabilized and there has been growing cooperation and positive progress in various fields. However, negative factors are still increasing and building, said Wang. Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed, and our core interests are facing challenges, he told Blinken.

In front of the cameras, Wang said that their two countries could either keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral or even slide into confrontation. He also stressed that Washington must refrain from interfering in Chinas internal affairs and from crossing its red lines regarding its sovereignty, security and development, a clear reference to Taiwan, the democratically self-governed island that China considers an inalienable part of its territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that he will travel to China in May, but did not provide further details. Putin last visited China in October. Reuters also reported on Thursday that a U.S.-sanctioned Russian freighter has been docked at a shipyard in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang since February. It is the Russian vessel Angara, which has moved thousands of containers allegedly containing North Korean munitions to Russian ports since August 2023.

Blinken was accompanied on his trip by Todd Robinson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and Nathaniel Fick, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. U.S. officials expect China to make progress in stopping chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl from coming into the United States.

Blinken arrived in Beijing on Thursday from Shanghai, where he urged authorities to offer a level playing field to U.S. companies. His trip comes two weeks after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited China. On her visit, Yellen made it clear that the U.S. remains wary of Chinese economic practices and warned of the risk and negative effects of Chinas massive investments in advanced manufacturing of clean energy goods.

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The head of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office Richard Cordray announced Friday he would step down from his role following the difficulties with the first season of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

My first day at FSA was May 4, 2021. Next week, my three-year term as the Chief Operating Officer will come to a close, and I have written to the Secretary to confirm that I will not be continuing for another three-year term. We have agreed, however, that I will continue to fulfill my current duties for a transitional period as the Department considers the longer term, Cordray said in a letter to FSA employees.

The Department of Education has faced bipartisan criticism for the struggles students and colleges have had with the new FAFSA forms.

Republicans have pressed for Cordray to resign, while advocates have called for consequences against the department for the chaotic rollout.

If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep, Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said at a House hearing focused on the FAFSA implementation.

The new FAFSA forms were rolled out at the beginning of January, but it took several weeks before people could get access to them without technical difficulties.

There were then delays in colleges receiving financial aid information. While originally schools should have received it at the end of January, it got pushed back to mid-March.

Once the information was sent, millions of applications had processing issues that had to be corrected. Some schools dont expect aid offers out until May, when the normal deadline students have for deciding which school to go to is May 1.

As my three-year term as FSA Chief is ending, we have achieved key milestones for FSA. Over my tenure, we provided student loan forgiveness to more than 4,000,000 borrowers and their families; made it easier for people to apply for and manage federal student aid; and took strong actions to hold schools accountable for defrauding students. I have agreed to stay on for an interim period to help with the transition, Cordray said in a statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Vietnamese Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue shake hands as they pose for a photo at the national assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Vietnamese state media outlet VN Express reports that the head of Vietnams Parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue, has resigned. He is the latest member of senior government to leave office amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang, Pool, File)

HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  The head of Vietnams parliament has resigned, according to state media, making him the latest senior member of government to leave office amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that's shaken the country's political and business elites.

The resignation of National Assembly Chair Vuong Dinh Hue adds to growing instability in the country. President Vo Van Thuong resigned in March  just over a year after the previous president, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, resigned to take political responsibility for corruption scandals during the pandemic.

It also highlights the extreme uncertainty in a political environment that's often boasted of its stability, as three top leaders have been axed in just a year, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Hue's resignation came days after his assistant Pham Thai Ha was arrested on charges of abusing his position and power for personal gain on April 21, according to state media outlet VN Express.

Initial reports did not say that Hue was implicated in corruption, but noted that investigators found that the parliamentary leader had violated Party regulations, and his violations have affected the reputation of the Party, the State and himself. Vietnams Communist Party accepted what it called a voluntary resignation from Hue, according to VN Express.

Hue, 67, had been the chair of Vietnams national assembly for over three years. That made him the fourth most important politician in Vietnam, along with the President, the Prime Minister and the head of the Communist Party.

Political instability could threaten Vietnams economic ambitions as it vies to become an alternative to China in the regions supply chain. On a visit to Vietnam earlier in the month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he wants to further increase investment in the country.

Has arrest resulted from an expansion of the ongoing investigation into the Thuan An Group, said Vietnam News Agency, citing Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Lt. Gen. To An Xo. Company chair Nguyen Duy Hung and several others were arrested earlier in April.

The Blazing Furnace campaign has singed businesses, and led to an unprecedented death sentence for real estate tycoon Truong My Lan in Vietnams largest-ever fraud case.

Giang, the analyst, said Hue was previously seen as a likely successor to Trong. His downfall will only intensify Vietnams succession crisis, he said.

Vietnams leaders are next due to convene a Communist Party congress in early 2026.

Meanwhile, experts say, rivals are jostling to position themselves as a successor to Trong, who was elected to an unprecedented third term as party chief in 2021. Given his age, experts say that it is unlikely that he will continue for another term.
Help is coming for a Jersey Shore town that's losing the man-vs-nature battle on its eroded beaches

FILE- Mayor Patrick Rosenello stands next to a destroyed section of sand dune in North Wildwood N.J., Jan. 22, 2024.. on April 25, 2024, North Wildwood and the state of New Jersey announced an agreement for an emergency beach replenishment project there to protect the city until a full-blown beach fill can be done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that may still be two years away. Winter storms punched a hole through what is left of the city's eroded dune system, leaving it more vulnerable than ever to destructive flooding. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP)  A long-running sandstorm at the Jersey Shore could soon come to an end as New Jersey will carry out an emergency beach replenishment project at one of the state's most badly eroded beaches.

North Wildwood and the state have been fighting in court for years over measures the town has taken on its own to try to hold off the encroaching seas while waiting  in vain  for the same sort of replenishment projects that virtually the entire rest of the Jersey Shore has received.

It could still be another two years before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection begin pumping sand onto North Wildwood's critically eroded shores. In January, parts of the dunes reached only to the ankles of Mayor Patrick Rosenello.

But the mayor released a joint statement from the city and Gov. Phil Murphy late Thursday night saying both sides have agreed to an emergency project to pump sand ashore in the interim, to give North Wildwood protection from storm surges and flooding.

The erosion in North Wildwood is shocking, Murphy said Friday. We could not let that stand. This is something that has been out there as an unresolved matter far too long.

Rosenello  a Republican who put up signs last summer at the entrance to North Wildwood beaches with Murphy's photo on them, telling residents the Democratic governor was the one to blame for there being so little sand on the beach  on Friday credited Murphy's leadership in resolving the impasse. He also cited advocacy from elected officials from both parties, including former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a Democrat, and Republican Sen. Michael Testa in helping to broker a deal.

This is a great thing for North Wildwood and a good thing for the entire Jersey Shore, Rosenello said.

The work will be carried out by the state Department of Transportation, but cost estimates were not available Friday. Neither the governor nor the mayor could say for sure whether North Wildwood will be required to contribute to the cost of the work, although Rosenello said the town has offered to make an unspecified contribution.

The agreement could end more than a decade of legal and political wrangling over erosion in North Wildwood, a popular vacation spot for Philadelphians.

New Jersey has fined the town $12 million for unauthorized beach repairs that it says could worsen erosion, while the city is suing to recoup the $30 million it has spent trucking sand to the site for over a decade in the absence of a replenishment program.

Rosenello said he hopes the agreement could lead to both sides dismissing their voluminous legal actions against each other. But he added that more work needs to be done before that can happen. Murphy would not comment on the possibility of ending the litigation.

North Wildwood has asked the state for emergency permission to build a steel bulkhead along the most heavily eroded section of its beachfront  something previously done in two other spots.

But the state Department of Environmental Protection has tended to oppose bulkheads as a long-term solution, noting that the hard structures often encourage sand scouring against them that can accelerate and worsen erosion.

The agency prefers the sort of beach replenishment projects carried out for decades by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where massive amounts of sand are pumped from offshore onto eroded beaches, widening them and creating sand dunes to protect the property behind them.

Virtually the entire 127-mile (204-kilometer) New Jersey coastline has received such projects. But in North Wildwood, legal approvals and property easements from private landowners have thus far prevented one from happening.

That is the type of project that will get underway in the next few weeks, albeit a temporary one. It could be completed by July 4, Rosenello said.

Hopefully by the July 4 holiday, North Wildwood will have big, healthy beaches, and lots of happy beachgoers, he said.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X, formerly Twitter, at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
For the record:

8:52 a.m. April 26, 2024: A previous headline on this story referred to Henry Cervantes as a fighter pilot in World War II. He flew bombers.



Henry Cervantes was a Fresno-born, 19-year-old son of Mexican farmworkers when the Navy told him in 1942 that he could not fight for his country.

An enlistment officer sent him home, saying the Navy didn't take Mexicans, Filipinos or Black people. In an interview with the American Patriots of Latino Heritage, Cervantes said he directed a couple of choice epithets at the officer and declared, "I'll prove you wrong," before running out the door.

He found a spot instead in the Army and the Army Air Force, where he flew more than two dozen missions as part of the "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group. He later served as a test pilot and flight instructor, among other roles, before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force in the mid-1960s.

Cervantes lived to see his 100th birthday before his death on April 7 at his home in Playa Vista. The centenarian is remembered by his friends as a man with "impeccable diction" and gentle spirit, but he was no shrinking violet.

Cervantes was born on Oct. 9, 1923, to a young Mexican couple, Maria Rincon and Pedro Cervantes. But his father left days after Cervantes was born, and his mother eventually married his stepfather, Ignacio Gutierrez, a Mexican farmhand.

When he was growing up during the Great Depression, his family was so poor they lived in a tent with a dirt floor, he said in an interview with the National WWII Museum. He couldn't even afford shoes with intact soles. On one occasion, in fact, he was sent home from school with bleeding feet.

His family moved to Pittsburgh in 1934, but times were still tough. Cervantes resorted to stealing a quarter from a stash of tips collected by a nearby market, using the money to buy new shoes  which turned out to be two sizes larger than his feet; 77 years later, he reached out to Times columnist Steve Lopez, whose family owned the market, to repay the debt.

But racism and poverty did not stop Cervantes from ascending the ranks of the military. The Army drafted him six months after he was rejected by the Navy, and during basic training at the Presidio in Monterey, he took and passed a test for prospective pilots. He went on to fly B-17 Flying Fortress bombers as one of the few Latinos in his cohort.

"During his training, he was called a dirty Mexican," said retired Judge Frederick Aguirre, who met Cervantes in 2002 at a veterans event and grew close to him through Aguirre's work documenting the lives of Latino War War II veterans. He recalled that his friend had faced trouble earning the respect of his white subordinates, and there was "a lot of discrimination against dark-skinned Mexican persons" at the time.

Cervantes survived 26 missions during World War II as part of the 100th Bomb Group, which flew over the English Channel and Holland into German skies. Its combat missions were dramatized in the TV miniseries "Masters of the Air," executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Cervantes told the WWII Museum that he also flew humanitarian missions to bring food and supplies to Holland, but the bombers still had to survive attacks from German fighter planes  one of which rammed Cervantes' B-17, which somehow made it back to base and successfully crash-landed.

From left, Tom Hanks, Henry Cervantes, John Luckadoo, Robert Wolff, James Rasmussen and Gary Goetzman attend the premiere of the Apple TV+ "Masters of the Air" miniseries at the Regency Village Theater on Jan. 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Eric Charbonneau / Getty Images )

Cervantes also set records as a test pilot for the initial jets that were being integrated into military flight craft in 1945. By the time he retired in 1965, the Air Force had advanced from the B-17 to the B-58s, the first bombers to fly at twice the speed of sound.

Life didn't stop moving for Cervantes, who detailed his life before and after the military in his memoir, "Piloto: Migrant Worker to Jet Pilot." Cervantes went on to work for the Los Angeles office of Defense Contract Administration Services and for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, managing Hispanic affairs.

Among other hobbies, Cervantes, who had been a track-and-field athlete in high school, became an official for USA Track and Field and a officiant at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He would often volunteer his services to the L.A. Special Olympics.

Cervantes is survived by his sister, Jennie Gonzalez, several nieces and nephews, and his longtime partner and friend of more than 60 years, Nancy Kahn. The couple first dated in 1964 when they met in the Air Force, staying together for 10 years before they broke up. Cervantes remained single his whole life.

"He used to say he was married to the military," Kahn said. When the two reconnected after the death of Kahn's husband in 2014, she was 75 and he was 90.

"We did everything together," said Kahn of the last decade of their rekindled friendship. They took care of each other and enjoyed the mundane things after a long and exciting life. Hank, as Kahn calls him, was spry and agile even in his last decade.

But his health started to decline after he developed vascular dementia from a stroke five years ago. He was hospitalized after a second stroke in early March of this year and sent home on hospice care after he lost the ability to swallow.

Kahn said Cervantes died on the same date, April 7, as he'd escaped death 79 years previously when German pilots tried to ram his B-17 bomber out of the sky.

A memorial service for Cervantes will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Chapel in Culver City.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As her child cried, woman escorted by OHP troopers out of a state education board meeting

Audra Beasley is arrested Thursday at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol.

A woman whos long advocated for adult changing tables to be installed in public buildings was escorted in handcuffs out of the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on Thursday morning.

Five Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers took Audra Beasley out of the room while one of her children stood at a podium addressing state board members, including state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Another one of her children  a younger child in a wheelchair  cried while watching his mother be led away.

One of the troopers, realizing Beasley had two children in the room, walked over to the crying child and asked if he was OK. Two people from the audience helped escort the children out of the room. Neither Walters nor any of the board members said anything.

Beasley, 45, was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on $500 bond on a misdemeanor complaint of willfully disturbing, interfering with or disrupting state business.

Beasley had just finished speaking during the public-comment portion of the meeting, at which a maximum 10 members of the public are allotted three minutes each to address board members. Beasley forcefully asked Walters what hed done to advocate for handicapped students and said she was tired of being told by state employees to use the floor of a bathroom while changing her child.

At one point, Beasley told Walters shed brought her own changing table for her son and then slammed a small plastic folding table onto the glass-covered board table.

When her time expired, one of her sons followed her to the podium, but Beasley continued to speak, standing by the side of the board table in the cramped board room. Troopers asked her to sit down, and when Beasley did not, they surrounded her and one of them placed handcuffs on her.

Maxwell Beasley cries on his brother Gabriels side after his mother, Audra Beasley, is arrested Thursday at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting at the state Capitol.

Although she raised her voice, Beasley never cursed, nor did she threaten Walters or any board member. As troopers escorted her out of the room, she turned to Walters and said, "You are an obnoxious bigot and bully."

After the meeting, Walters deferred to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for comment on the incident.

Beasley has spoken at previous board meetings on the same subject. Her Facebook page has a profile picture calling for the impeachment of state Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

In 2023, Beasley, a paralegal, ran unsuccessfully for the Oklahoma City Ward 5 city council seat.

During the campaign, she told The Oklahoman she is a disability rights advocate and believes more must be done to remove barriers to access that keep citizens living with intellectual and developmental disabilities isolated and discriminated against.

She also advocated for the unhoused population and pushed for trauma-informed response training for first responders.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: State troopers escort woman from Oklahoma Board of Education meeting
Secret deals, six-figure payoffs, salacious stories -- the testimony of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in Donald Trumps hush money trial this week has offered a rare window into the tabloid practice of checkbook journalism, where a publication pays its sources.

A scheme to catch and kill unflattering stories about Trump lies at the heart of the prosecutors case, alleging Pecker arranged to pay sources for the rights to such stories to suppress them.

Trump has been charged with 34 counts of fraud tied to his alleged role in payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a catch and kill agreement. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. He has also denied having sex with Daniels.

Experts who spoke to ABC News described a narrow set of tabloid publications in the U.S. that offer direct payment for source cooperation, explaining why the practice is widely condemned but still continues.

Heres what to know about checkbook journalism and the role it plays in the hush money trial:

How did the National Enquirer pay for stories and why does it relate to the case against Trump?

The hush money trial has unearthed fresh details about the checkbook journalism overseen by Pecker, who served as CEO of National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc. from 1999 to 2020.

Editors at the magazine could spend up to $10,000 to get ahold of a story, but any payment exceeding that amount required sign-off from Pecker, he testified.

Pecker said that he retained "the final say on the celebrity side of the magazines."

We used checkbook journalism and we paid for stories, Pecker added.

Pecker established a "secret arrangement" with Trump and his then-attorney Michael Cohen during a "20-25 minute meeting" at Trump Tower in August of 2015, Pecker testified.

Pecker testified that he suspected that multiple women would come forward to shop stories about Trump during Trump's run for president. If those stories emerged, Pecker said he would notify Cohen, per their agreement.

Cohen also agreed to provide opposition research to Pecker for negative stories on Trumps opponents, Pecker said.

According to Pecker, most elements of their agreement -- including running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents -- were "mutually beneficial" to Trump and Pecker.

"It would help his campaign, but it would also help me," Pecker said.

How commonplace is the practice of paying sources?

In his opening statement at Trumps hush money trial, defense attorney Todd Blanche said the National Enquirers practice of paying sources was in keeping with standard journalistic practice.

In U.S. media, the practice of paying sources for stories is largely confined to tabloids like the National Enquirer, experts told ABC News, rejecting the notion that checkbook journalism is carried out across the industry.

Its definitely not within the bounds of journalistic practice, Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, told ABC News.

The alleged catch-and-kill scheme is especially egregious, Kirtley added. Journalists exist to report the news, not suppress it, she said.

PHOTO: In this Jan. 19, 2012, file photo, David Pecker attends an event in Paris. (Francois Durand/Getty Images, FILE)

The approach of paying sources for news is widely condemned by media ethics organizations and major news outlets.

The Society of Professional Journalists, a nationwide organization representing journalists, condemned checkbook journalism in a statement on Tuesday in response to testimony in the hush money trial.

It is clearly unethical, SPJ National President Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins said in a statement.

Is it illegal to catch and kill news stories?

While frowned upon by many in the field, checkbook journalism is perfectly legal -- and that includes the catch-and-kill scheme involved in this case, experts said.

Instead, Trump stands accused of falsifying business records as part of the arrangement to reimburse Cohen for the hush money payments to Daniels. According to prosecutors, Trump fraudulently recorded $130,000 in expenses as the cost of legal services for Cohen.

"This is the business capital of the world," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference announcing the charges last year. "The bedrock, in fact the basis, for business integrity and a well-functioning business marketplace is true and accurate record keeping."

Prosecutors called up Pecker for testimony in part as a means of bolstering allegations that Trump played a role in the scheme involving the payments.

Checkbook journalism is protected by the First Amendment, John Watson, a professor of journalism at American University who focuses on ethics, told ABC News, noting that the press enjoys wide latitude around how and what to publish.

"The First Amendment protects any sort of expression, outside of obscenity," Watson said, while acknowledging other exemptions for false and defamatory speech.

The legality of checkbook journalism, however, makes up a separate consideration from the question of whether it's ethical, Chad Painter, a professor of media ethics at the University of Dayton, told ABC News.

"Ethics goes further than the law," Painter said. "There are things that are perfectly legal but we're still not going to do them -- in terms of media or us as people."

ABC News' Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Olivia Rubin, Lucien Bruggeman and Julia Reinstein contributed to this report.

Hidden world of 'catch-and-kill' tabloids spotlighted in Trump's hush money trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Video above: HCSO pulls off birthday surprise

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Throughout the history of the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, a total of 17 deputies have died in the line of duty. On Thursday, the sheriffs office hosted a touching memorial service to honor the fallen heroes.

The families and loved ones of the fallen deputies, along with HCSO personnel, gathered at the Fallen Heroes Memorial outside the sheriffs office to honor the deputies lives and service.

These Florida cities are the worst places to drive in, study says

As we prepare to honor our fallen deputies, let us also reaffirm our commitment to carrying on their legacy, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. Let us uphold the values of honor, integrity, and courage that they exemplified every day in the line of duty.









Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn spoke during the service, which also included a flyer over by the HCSO Aviation Unit and a 21-Gun Salute.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One person was arrested and hospitalized after a high-speed chase ended in a crash on a Columbus interstate early Friday morning.

Columbus police said that at 1:08 a.m. officers attempted a traffic stop after spotting a possible suspect car at the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Whitethorne Avenue in the Hilltop. The driver fled the scene and led police onto Interstate 70, where the vehicle crashed into a barrier at I-70 East and Livingston Avenue in Downtown, Columbus.

Dozens of protesters demanding OSU divest from Israel detained

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The suspect ran away from the crashed vehicle but was eventually apprehended. He was taken to Grant Medical Center in stable condition.

Police did not elaborate on possible suspect car. No other injuries were reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Extremist ideas are spreading rapidly among young people in Central and Eastern Europe. According to several studies, ideologies that favor autocratic leadership or question the usefulness of democracy are gaining ground among this demographic.

Rumena Filipova, director of the independent organization Institute for Global Analytics (IGA), argues that millennials and Gen Z are politically aligned, inclined to autocratic leadership and susceptible to pro-Russian disinformation. Contrary to expectations that young people are more forward-looking than their parents, the evidence shows that young people do not have greater affection for democracy, social tolerance or pro-Western attitudes than the rest of society, says the Bulgarian expert, who has just published an article on this topic in the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

For young people in Central and Eastern Europe, the fact that scant democratic progress has been made in the more than three decades since the fall of communist dictatorships is a source of disappointment. They feel excluded from political processes and economic benefits, which makes them less satisfied with democracy, explains Filipova. Proof of this is the low voter turnout in these countries.

According to a survey conducted by the Bratislava-based think tank GLOBSEC, more than half of Bulgarians aged between 18 and 24 would prefer a strong leader so as not to have to worry about possible challenges in parliament. The survey also highlights that nationalist feelings are gaining ground in Bulgaria: only 32% of young people in the mentioned age range perceive the far right as a threat; a percentage that rises to 37% in the 25 to 34 age group.

On the other hand, support for international institutions, especially the EU, is waning. An overwhelming 71% of the under-35-group believe that Brussels dictates what to do in Bulgaria. Furthermore, young people are more divided when it comes to condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine: almost 40% blame the invaded country for inciting the war. The educational system is partly responsible. Stereotypes that present Russia favorably are still transmitted in Bulgaria, says Filipova.

A similar panorama is seen in other countries in the region. High voter abstention and nationalist-authoritarian inclinations are spreading among the younger generations. According to the Washington-based National Democratic Institute, less than a third of young people in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are satisfied with the current political situation in their countries.

In Hungary, for example, the prime minister, the ultra-conservative Viktor Orban, uses social media influencers to champion the government, and this has fostered a sociopolitical environment that favors traditionalist and pro-Russian positions. Even if young Hungarians do not vote for the ruling Fidesz party, polls with the under-30 demographic show that this age group is more likely to align themselves with far-right opposition forces like the Our Homeland Movement. According to a survey carried out by Median a little over a year ago, the far-right faction is the most popular among young people. The Hungarian authorities also increased control over education, notes Filipova.

Along the same lines is neighboring Romania, which has just partially entered the Schengen area along with Bulgaria: both countries have lifted controls on air and sea borders, but maintain land borders. A survey carried out in March by the company IRES reveals that the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR, which means gold in Romanian) is the favorite of Romanians under 35 years of age. Young people distrust democracy and institutions, especially the government and Parliament because endemic corruption has made them susceptible to far-right propaganda, says Madalina Voinea, an analyst at the think tank Expert Forum. She also blames this drift on the inaction of the traditional parties. The rise of anti-democratic ideas is also explained by far-right politicians campaigns on social networks, especially TikTok, the fastest-growing platform in the region.

According to Daniel David, rector of the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (UBB), the largest university in Romania, half of the young people in the country who opt for far-right groups have secondary education and 22% have basic education. That a party with a more pro-nationalist discourse attracts this type of young people is not a surprise, says this sociologist, who believes that their frustration lies in the current democratic institutions.

In Serbia, the younger generations do not deviate significantly from their elders when it comes to their attitudes on nationalism or authoritarianism. A survey revealed that only 36% of young Serbians positively view democracy, while 40% prefer their country to maintain a balanced foreign policy between East and West. Only 13% want the country to be aligned with the EU and NATO. For Gen Z, the accession to NATO and the EU of the countries of Eastern and Central Europe in the 2000s happened a long time ago, they dont have as vivid a memory as millennials, so they are more open to the diatribes launched by nationalists, says Filipova.

Perceptions of political and economic exclusion, fueled by inequality, declining opportunities and governments limited consideration of young peoples concerns have fueled disaffection. Democratic political forces should devise policies that take young people into account and promote their inclusion in the political process so that they perceive themselves as a key constituency, rather than an afterthought in democratic renewal, the expert concludes.

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Teachers, parents and students packed the Hinsdale South High School cafeteria during Thursdays Hinsdale Township High School District 86 School Board Meeting, following calls by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and Hinsdale High School Teachers Association (HHSTA) to reorganize the districts board of education and appoint a new board president.

We want to shed light on these issues so we can work together to resolve them, Hinsdale Central math teacher and HHSTA Co-President John Bowman said in a news release Thursday. All school board members pledge an oath to work with educators and the superintendent to foster excellence in every student when they take office. This is not happening. Our community, schools and, most importantly, our students deserve better.

In Thursdays news release, the Illinois Education Association accused the board of fostering toxic working and learning environments in the district, citing a list of high-level staff turnover in the last 12 months, and non-collaborative decision-making regarding school curriculum.

Since the May 2023 election the district placed former Superintendent Tammy Prentiss on administrative leave, two board members resigned over irreconcilable differences, an assistant and interim left to work at a neighboring school district, an interim superintendent departed early for personal reasons, the director of human resources resigned, and most recently Hinsdale South Principal Patrick Hardy is expected to leave at the end of the school year and become the new principal of Hampshire High School in Kane County.

Bowman also accused the board of micromanaging staff, pointing to the creation of an academic committee run by board members, instances in which the board dismissed recommendations by Hinsdale teachers and administrators regarding curriculum changes and maintaining classes of low interest that would ordinarily result in the course removal at the end of the year.

Our students deserve better. We need you to do your jobs and let us do ours, Bowman said at Thursdays board meeting.

For its part, the Board was caught off guard by the HHSTAs announcement Thursday.

I am very disappointed by the HHSTA ambush of the Hinsdale Township District 86 Board of Education, Board Vice President Peggy James said. We have had informal meetings for several months to do exactly what was being requested, to build a collaborative working relationship.

While the cafeteria was filled with teachers sporting blue HHSTA shirts, a small group of community members came out in support of the boards recent decisions, including Andrew Catton, a former board candidate.

Catton praised the board for ousting former superintendent Prentiss, calling her a symbol of everything gone wrong with the District. As more time passes, more and more of her handpicked associates are following her out the door, what a thing to celebrate. Amen.

Later that evening, Catton made accusations towards Board Member Asma Akhras regarding an attack website setup during the board members campaign last year, resulting in Akhras and Board Member Terri Walker walking out for the remainder of Cattons public comment.

Following the meeting board members Akhras Walker and Jeff Waters refused to comment further on the action by the HHSTA.

I have, and always will, continue to work with all stakeholders for the better of our students, Board President Catherine Greenspon said in an interview with the Pioneer Press.
ATWATER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A historic aircraft that used to oversee California during the Cold War, will roll out in Atwater in the Castle Air Museum, officials announced.

Castle Air Museum officials say they will be rolling out a Convair F-102 Delta Dagger Interceptor after a lengthy restoration from the Museums Restoration Hangar at 3040 A Street.

This aircraft, according to officials, is retired from the California Air National and served as a guardian over the skies of the state for over a decade at a crucial time during the Cold War years against any threat from the former Soviet Union.

This aircraft has been painstakingly restored to reflect the heritage of the California Air National Guard and honors past and current contributions and keeping the airspace over the Golden State sovereign for generations to come! said officials with the Castle Air Museum.

The aircraft will be rolling out the Convair in the Castle Airport in Atwater on Saturday at 11 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Photos by Caitlin Sievers & Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, both staunch reproductive rights advocates who ran on promises to protect abortion access, unveiled a website on Thursday that includes information on Arizonas changing abortion laws and connects women seeking a procedure with providers.

The websites launch follows a month of turmoil in the political arena and uncertainty for healthcare providers across the state after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to reinstate a near-total abortion ban from 1864.

The law, which was passed before Arizona became a state, threatens doctors with a minimum of 2 years in prison for performing an abortion for any other reason than saving a womans life. That punishment isnt expected to be enforceable until June 8 due to court orders that delay the rulings effect. Until then, a 15-week limitation on abortion is the law of the land.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, Hobbs said the new website, which is a part of her official Arizona governors website, serves as an educational tool to keep Arizonans informed amid the shifting legal landscape.

The Arizona Supreme Courts decision to uphold the 1864 total abortion ban left millions of women and doctors wondering what their rights are when seeking or providing reproductive health care. Im proud to deliver this comprehensive website to provide timely updates, trusted resources, and a safe venue to seek reproductive health care options, she wrote.

In the wake of the Arizona Supreme Courts decision to reimpose a near-total abortion ban from 1864, it is important for us to provide accurate, up-to-date information to Arizonans, echoed Mayes.

The website acknowledges that the legal status of abortions in Arizona is not yet settled.

The earliest the 1864 near-total abortion ban could take effect is June 8, 2024. This page will be updated as we learn more, reads a banner at the top of the FAQ webpage.

While the state Supreme Court upheld the 1864 law, litigation in the case is still ongoing. Earlier this week, Mayes filed a motion urging the court to reconsider its decision, and Planned Parenthood Arizona, which has led the court challenge against the law, has until the end of the month to file an intent to pursue arguments that the law is unconstitutional.

Democratic lawmakers in the state legislature, with the help of a handful of Republicans, are also pushing through a repeal that could mean the 1864 law will only be temporarily enforceable after it goes into effect over the summer. And Arizona voters will likely get a chance to weigh in on the legality of abortion in November, when a pro-abortion initiative enshrining the procedure as a right in the state Constitution is expected to appear on the ballot.

In the meantime, however, access to abortion is uncertain. Reproductive rights groups fear a repeat of 2022, when the states abortion clinics shuttered while the 1864 law was briefly in place after the fall of Roe v. Wade, and women seeking help were left in the lurch.

An executive order issued by Hobbs last year may prevent the criminalization of any doctor. The order centralizes the prosecutorial authority over abortion law violations in the attorney generals office, preemptively blocking any attempt from county attorneys to take doctors to court. And because Mayes has repeatedly stated that she wont prosecute any abortion law violation, the 1864 law may never be enforced even if it goes into effect.

But the legal strength of the order has yet to be tested in court, and county attorneys protested its passage, warning they would launch a lawsuit against it. So far, no such challenge has materialized, though at least one county attorney, Yavapai Countys Dennis McGrane, has signaled an interest in enforcing the 1864 law.

The website includes information on reproductive health clinics in the state, how to obtain free or low-cost birth control, mental health helplines and a link to a search engine to find a nearby abortion clinic. Also included is information on how to cover an out-of-state abortion. The rates of women who seek abortion care in other states have spiked in the post-Roe world. As many as 21 states currently ban or restrict the procedure.

Its more important than ever to know how to find the care you need, reads the title of the websites list of resources.

In their written statements, Hobbs and Mayes vowed to continue working to safeguard abortion access.

I refuse to accept a future in which my 22-year-old daughter has fewer rights than I did when I was her age, and I refuse to let radical extremists take control of womens bodies, Hobbs said.

Rest assured, Ill do everything I can to prevent this 160-year-old law from ever taking effect, added Mayes.

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The post Hobbs, Mayes launch website to help Arizona navigate changes to abortion laws appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Hospital cost review board passes Delaware House in 21-16 vote. What the legislation does

The Delaware House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill in a 21-16 vote, with four people absent, to create a hospital cost review board.

When first proposed, the measure received considerable pushback from doctors and other health care providers, who argued that the politician-controlled model would harm patient care and fail to control costs.

Despite changes to the original House Bill 350  which included adding the executive director of the Delaware Healthcare Association as an "ex-officio" member to the board and an interim step before requiring hospitals to submit budgets  health care advocates say the changes do not go far enough for stakeholders to support the measure.

Dozens of healthcare workers wait in the hallways at Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 ahead of a meeting on House Substitute 1 for House Bill 350.

The Delaware Healthcare Association  representing several hospitals across the state  presented alternatives to the bill's sponsors, but they were ultimately rejected, association CEO and President Brian Frazee said.

We share your concerns around health care costs, which is why we offered the sponsors alternative approaches that address health care costs comprehensively and focus on transparency without threatening quality, access and the health care workforce, he said in an email to House members on Thursday. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach agreement on an alternative in such a short amount of time.

Delaware lawmakers spent over three hours debating the proposal, questioning whether the bill went through the proper legislative process; why it doesn't target one of the main drivers of health care costs  pharmaceutical drugs; and what level of financial information is necessary for hospitals to turn over to get an accurate fiscal picture.

Early in the debate, a motion was made to table the vote on the bill, but it ultimately failed 23-16 with two absentees.

The bill proposed by House Speaker Valerie Longhurst would create the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board, which would consist of a seven-member board, with six of those members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The health care association's representative would be a seventh, "non-voting" member.

Amendments to the bill included providing an interim step of creating a performance improvement plan before requiring proposed budget submissions; excluding psychiatric and rehabilitative facilities; and making other adjustments to what facilities the bill would impact.

Alternatives proposed by health care advocates

Frazee said the health care association proposed three alternatives to a cost review board, including:

Explore contracting arrangements for state employee benefits

Require hospitals to send detailed price transparency, audited cost reports and other financial information to the Healthcare Commission

Establish a longer-term, collaborative effort with stakeholders to identify and propose ideas that not only address health care affordability, but also aim to address Delawares health care challenges more broadly

Unfortunately, these ideas were rejected by the sponsors, he wrote in the email to legislators.

Brian Frazee, CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association, speaks during the public comment period of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 350 at Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Longhurst described weeks of talks with the health care association, often on the verge of coming to an agreement, only for things to fall apart.

"Numerous times we believe we had an agreement, but then the goalposts would be moved," the House speaker said, adding that the group attempted to renegotiate a deal the night before the bill's vote. "At a certain point, you have to ask if each party is negotiating in good faith, and I'm really not sure if thats the case anymore."

Frazee said the organization also proposed an additional regulatory structure, oversight, and enforcement of the health care benchmark. This would hold hospitals accountable for meeting the benchmark by authorizing a state-run board to require hospitals missing the benchmark to undergo a performance improvement plan approved and enforced by the board.

The latest version of House Bill 350 incorporates a performance improvement plan as an interim step before requiring a hospital to submit a proposed budget for approval or modification by the board, according to the bills synopsis.

Frazee pointed to the fact that nine other states, including Delaware, have a health care benchmark, but the provisions dont include the authority to control a hospitals entire budget and seize their assets.

What the bill does

The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board would be responsible for reviewing hospital budgets and related financial information annually.

MORE: Hospital review board, health care provider tax among proposals to reign in Delaware costs

Hospitals would be required to submit yearly budgets, audited financial statements and related financial information. If a hospital fails to meet the states budget benchmark for cost increases, it would be required to come up with a performance improvement plan, according to the bill.

Healthcare workers were among those in the gallery to listen to public comments at Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

If the board and the hospital cannot agree on an improvement plan or where the hospital fails to successfully implement a performance plan, the board may require the hospital to have its future budget approved by the board, the bill reads.

Some of the amendments include:

An opportunity to appeal through the Superior Court

The exclusion of psychiatric facilities and the exemption of rehabilitative hospitals

An adjustment of the deadline for the board to issue a final decision on a budget to 90 days before the state of a hospitals fiscal year.

The exemption of hospitals that derive 45% or more of their revenue, or whose patient population has 5% or less Medicare patients from the 2025 reference pricing provision

The bill also dictates that until the board begins operations, hospitals cannot charge more than 250% of Medicare costs to any payer for services in 2025.

BACKGROUND: Delaware hospitals say cost review board proposal a 'non-starter' for providers

Frazee cautioned lawmakers that the bill, as is, would have devastating consequences for Delaware. He also warned that the Medicare provision could invalidate the agreement they reached with state Sen. Sarah McBride to bring more than $100 million of new federal funding into our Medicaid program through a tax on hospitals with Senate Bill 13.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or call or text her at 302-598-5507. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware House approves hospital cost review board in 21-16 vote
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton sat down with WREG to talk about Memphis crime and even arming teachers in classrooms.

As Memphis deals with the aftermath of a mass shooting and nonstop gun violence across the city, lawmakers are wrapping up another legislative session. Sexton says Memphis crime is top of mind.

Child found shot in South Memphis

I understand the frustration here in Shelby County, Sexton said. I have friends who still live here and they dont want to go out at night. They dont want to go pump gas at night.

WREG showed him photos of young people holding guns and waving them in the air at Orange Mound Park before two people were killed and seven hurt.

I dont think open carry had anything to do with those guns looking like in those pictures because that should be illegal currently in the state of Tennessee for waving those things, especially if theyre juveniles, Sexton said.

Now, guns will be allowed in classrooms. Possibly one of the most controversial bills passed allows teachers and school staff to carry firearms.

More criminals in the Mid-South making their own machine gun

And I think sometimes when things get out there, people missed that part, Sexton said. And so, all were doing is giving the local education association or the school system here the ability to say yes or no. Were not mandating that they do it. Its their decision.

When asked about the ongoing crime and gun violence plaguing the city, Sexton points to gangs. 

When schools shut down during COVID, it increased gang activity, increased the number of people who are in gangs. So not only do you have over 100 gangs, you have over 15,000 people in those gangs. And that is a huge number, Sexton said.

Sexton says he is now working with all city leaders in hopes of gaining control of the city again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
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Police have arrested more than 400 people  including students, other activists, and faculty members  at pro-Palestinian protest encampments being held at universities across the nation.

The encampments started at Columbia University last week and quickly spread to dozens of colleges and universities, with students calling for an end to the war in Gaza and for their schools to divest their financial ties to Israel and pro-Israel companies and causes.

Police, clad in riot gear and wielding semi-automatic weapons, started making arrests at these protests last Thursday following Columbia University president Nemat Minouche Shafiks calls for the New York Police Department to break up the encampment at her university. More than 100 protesters were arrested at Columbia, and more arrests followed at schools across the country including Indiana University and Emory University as school presidents issued similar calls for police involvement.

Columbia Universitys senate is poised to vote Friday on a resolution expressing displeasure with Shafiks handling of the situation. University senators initially planned a censure vote, but have watered down their resolution over concerns about removing the president at a time of campus turmoil.

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Columbia censure vote watered down in part over concerns of caving to GOP

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Sources: Semafor, The New York Times

Shafik, who is also facing growing pressure from the Republican Party to step down over claims that shes allowed antisemitism to thrive on campus, has defended her decision to involve police. There were hundreds of people sleeping out in an unsafe environment, she said at a faculty meeting, conceding that she had not visited the encampment.

Columbias university senate opted to admonish Shafik without censuring her in part to avoid being perceived as yielding to Republican lawmakers who had called for her resignation, The New York Times reported. It really isnt a precedent any university wants to set, a Columbia faculty member told the paper. We shouldnt be bullied by someone in Congress.

Divestment is practically impossible, some experts say

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Sources: The Washington Post, The Associated Press, NPR

Experts told The Washington Post that students calls for their universities to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies that do business with Israel would be practically impossible to follow through on. Most schools relationships with Israeli-based interests would be via endowments invested in index funds, and its impossible to know just how and where universities endowments are invested. But not everyone agrees with that assessment: I think anything is possible in todays financial services industry, the executive director and cofounder of the Intentional Endowments Network told the Associated Press.

Campus divestment movements have a long history  and some have seen success. Several schools including Harvard and Princeton committed to divesting from fossil fuels in 2021; and many schools have rules barring investments in categories such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling.

Activists escalate their tactics  and police do too

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Sources: The Washington Post, Inside Higher Ed

Though theyve just started making international headlines, The Washington Post noted, campus protests began within days of Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Supercharged by social media, student involvement escalated throughout the winter and spring, with protesters employing increasingly aggressive tactics after saying they got little or no response from administrators.

Police are also escalating their tactics, increasingly using force  shooting rubber bullets, wrestling protesters to the ground, and firing pepper balls at crowds  to disperse the encampments. Some Republicans have called on President Joe Biden to send in the National Guard to protect Jewish students, which he does not seem inclined to do. This response to peaceful protest is an assault on free speech  and it is also deeply reckless, Knight First Amendment Institute said in a statement Thursday.

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It is shocking to hear our attorney general say he cant imagine a scenario when women would be transferred to an out-of-state medical facility for emergency abortions. This is the same political buffoon who once said in a town meeting Nobody dies because they dont have access to health care. He has proven over and over that he is totally unqualified to speak to medical issues. And about Idahos abortion ban; its like so much legislation coming out of our legislature. Bills are either so poorly written that they need clarification or re-writing AFTER theyre passed and signed into law, or theyre so contrary to the Constitution that they require taxpayer funded legal battles. So much of it is because many of the bills are crafted and/or heavily influenced by radical right wing groups like the Idaho Freedom Foundation. This legislature is so focused on culture wars that so much of the session is wasted on legislation in search of a problem and real issues important to the majority of Idahoans are addressed at the last minute, if at all. Voters should require more than an R next to a candidates name to earn their vote.

Brad Chambers, Boise

Trump support

Joe and Brad, not a backbone between them.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said he cant turn a blind eye to what Trump did on Jan. 6. He said Trump was innocent until proven guilty. Joe conveniently forgot that a political endorsement does not require a trials high bar beyond a shadow of doubt. It only needs good judgment. Governors Lombardo and Little showed none.

Actually, the Supreme Court of Colorado upheld the trial judges conclusions that Trump engaged in the Jan. 6 insurrection. While the Republican U.S. Supreme Court did not allow the 14th Amendments political punishment of removing Trump from the ballot, none of the justices questioned Trumps guilty role in the insurrection. He has been found guilty of Insurrection.

No friend of police, Trump incited the criminal insurrectionists to attack the Capital and D.C. Metro Police to overturn a fair and just election. The Department of Justice review of body cam videos finds there were approximately 1,000 assaults on 160 Capitol and D.C. police. Idaho Gov. Brad Little tweeted Idahoans stand up for law enforcement and respect the rule of law. Both claim to support police but neither have the backbone to retract endorsements of Trump who incited and lead the largest attack on police ever.

Ed Wardwell, Boise

GOP

Want to know what kind of Republicans your GOP primary candidates really are? Ask them to answer the following questions with ONLY a simple, YES or NO. Should any U.S. citizen be above the law? Should registered voters have the right to vote in all Idaho elections their taxes fund? Should all voters have the right to vote early, or by no-excuse absentee ballot in every Idaho election? Should Idaho voters have the right to pass laws by citizen ballot initiatives? Should Idahos legislature be allowed to amend or nullify a successfully passed citizens ballot initiative? Should Idahos voters decide via a citizen ballot initiative if Idahos abortion laws are too restrictive? Should a 34% minority of bond voters be able to deny funding to repair, or replace, unsafe Idaho public school facilities? Should Idaho tax dollars fund private or religious schools? Should legislators prioritize their political party agenda over the needs of their district constituents? Should GOP party bosses be allowed to censure or punish elected public officials? Should personal religious beliefs of any legislator be forced upon other citizens through laws? Good luck getting any direct answers from your GOP candidates before Mays primary election.

Steven Shake, Caldwell

Wolves

Imagine chasing a wolf with a snowmobile, and running it over. The wolf is disabled, so you take it home to show your family and take pictures. With its mouth-muzzled, you then take the still-alive wolf to a bar, for all your friends to see. You then drink beers with your buddies, and shoot videos of the wolf lying disabled, muzzled, and suffering on the floor. Finally, you take the wolf outside, and shoot it dead. This is the story of Cody Roberts of Wyoming.

Cody is the new poster-child for everything thats wrong with the state management of wolves.

Ever since Senator Tester orchestrated the removal of federal protections for gray wolves in 2009, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho have unleashed a barrage of policies that have resulted in the slaughter of wolves numbering in the thousands. Hunting, trapping, and strangulation (snaring) are some of the tactics employed by sportsmen. Dont forget poisoning, killing wolf pups in their dens, and state-sanctioned aerial gunning and bounties. Its been a blood-bath.

I support the recent lawsuit seeking federal protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. And Cody Roberts should have his hunting privileges suspended for life, and be sent to jail.

Brett Haverstick, Missoula

Social media

Social medias impact on mental health in Idaho is significant. While it offers instant communication and connection, studies, such as one from the National Institute of Health, consistently highlight its detrimental effects. Cyberbullying and unrealistic standards contribute to increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescents and young adults.

Locally, Boise State Public Radio discussed this issue with Dr. Spencer Merrick, emphasizing social medias addictive nature and its role in fostering isolation and loneliness among Idahos youth.

To address this, community awareness is essential. We must provide tools and education to mitigate social medias negative impact on mental health. Most importantly, we need to support one another during challenging times.

Colby Colaianni, Meridian

Dumb Americans

Here is how dumb America has become. Our populace is naturally fixated on the upcoming Paris Olympics, especially when we learn female athletes are fuming that the Nike wardrobe fashioned for them is too revealing.

Meanwhile, on the same news day, those few Americans who are paying attention notice that Joe Bidens dream of an expanded war in the Middle East that will sweep him into a second term of office is about to be realized.

Here is Bidens plan. Biden greenlights enough Netanyahu carnage in Gaza to upset the Arab world to no end. Israel then takes the next step and commits an act of war against Iran by attacking its embassy complex in Damascus, killing top commanders. Biden then publicly and unilaterally commits ironclad American support whenever Iran retaliates against Israel.

Biden does all this war-making without consulting with Congress as a whole as the Constitution requires. But who is paying attention? American men are drooling over the prospect of watching young ladies jump over hurdles exposing more than just muscles.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah
Ethan Chapin's family doesn't think about his suspected killer, as prosecutors in Bryan Kohberger's high-profile Idaho murder case filed a new motion regarding his next court appearance.

The judge in the case this week ruled that Kohberger's defense team could resume phone surveys of potential jurors, and prosecutors filed a motion to seal his next court appearance.

"Its not a place I spend much time, thinking about him," Stacy Chapin told Fox 13 Seattle when asked about Kohberger. "We made a decision to not let it impact our family. We cant change the outcome. We cant bring Ethan back."

Instead, they're letting the judicial process unfold and celebrating Ethan's siblings' accomplishments while she's back in Moscow, Idaho, where two of her children are in college.

BRYAN KOHBERGER OFFERS UP ALIBI: DRIVING TO SEE THE MOON AND STARS

Ethan Chapin's mother, Stacy Wells Chapin, reflected on a 'challenging time' deciding to send Ethan's surviving siblings back to the University of Idaho after his Nov. 13 murder.

Just two years ago, in November 2022, Ethan, along with Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, were allegedly murdered by Kohberger in a seemingly random attack in the middle of the night.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A judge entered a not guilty plea to four counts of murder and burglary on his behalf, and prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if he's convicted.

IDAHO MURDERS: BRYAN KOHBERGER DEFENSE FIRMLY BELIEVES IN SUSPECT'S INNOCENCE

Stacy had a positive spin about a town that could be a haunting reminder for her and her family.

"Weve been, and our kids have been, to hell and back, but were definitely on the other side of this thing," Stacy told the local news outlet. "That university and the town of Moscow, and the kids that go to school there and the police department, we have felt so much love from there and the support."

Bryan Christopher Kohberger was arrested Friday morning in connection to the murders of four University of Idaho students. Officials released few details about killings or the suspect during a Friday news conference.

The case made international headlines and gripped the true-crime community, and has been under the microscope since the four college students were killed. The case has been the topic of countless true-crime podcasts and shows.

The court has sealed most of the records in the case to avoid potentially poisoning the jury pool.

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S PENNSYLVANIA CLASSMATES SAY HE WAS BRIGHT, AWKWARD, BULLIED IN SCHOOL

Prosecutors asked for the seal to include his next hearing, which is scheduled for May 14, because "discussion or dissemination of information" could be prejudicial.

"There exists a compelling interest at stake to preserve a fair trial, no reasonable alterative exists but to conduct a closed hearing," prosecutors wrote in the April 23 court filing.

A compilation of mugshots for Idaho student murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, a criminologist accused of sneaking into an off-campus rental home and killing four students with a knife at 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022.

Kohberger, who was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University at the time of the stabbings, is accused of driving across the state line and massacring four University of Idaho undergrads in a 4 a.m. home invasion attack.

The defense is pushing for a change of venue to a larger county with more potential jurors in the jury pool, suggesting Ada, Bonneville and Bannock counties.

That is scheduled to be decided by June 27.





Original article source: Idaho prosecutors in Bryan Kohberger case file new motion as defense raises fair trial questions
Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent is exclusively re-publishing an interview with Ihor Poshyvailo prepared by the Forum for Ukrainian Studies, a research publication for experts, practitioners, and academics to discuss, explore, reflect upon, develop, and transform international understanding of contemporary affairs in Ukraine. This platform is run by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) of the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada).

Ihor Poshyvailo is the director of the National Museum of Revolution of Dignity (Maidan Museum) and curator of the Destroyed Temples of Ukraine exhibit.

CIUS: You are the director of the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, or Maidan Museum, which has done groundbreaking work on contemporary history and new commemorative practices in Ukraine. How do you see the Maidan Museums role in the present war?

hor Poshyvailo: The Maidan Museum was established by the EuroMaidan Revolution. The idea of the Maidan Museum was developed at the very heart of the original protest. A small group of activists, including from the grassroots Maidan Self-Defence organization, as well as some representatives of NGOs and Kyiv museums, envisioned an institution that documented the history of this important uprising. It was unclear how events would transpire at that time because it was January 2014, in the middle of the ninety-four-day protest. Still, it was clear to us that we wanted to speak about a future museumthe Maidan Museum, which we were calling the Museum of Freedom (Muzei svobody) at that time. We wanted to address not only the details of the historical event or focus only on the past but also to focus mostly on the future, speaking about human rights and the universal values that brought Ukrainians to the protests. Therefore, the Maidan Museum is formally a historical museum, but in reality it is a kind of museum of memory, human rights, and values.

In connection to the present war, its quite clear to us, and all Ukrainians, that the Russo-Ukrainian War is a continuation of Ukraines fight for freedom, not only in our contemporary history but across a centuries-long period. One hundred years ago we had the Ukrainian Revolution of 191721, and then we had the so-called vyzvolni zmahannia [liberation struggle] in the middle of the Second World War. In Soviet times, we had the dissident movement before Ukraine re-established its independence in 1991. We had the students Granite Revolution and then the Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity. So, it is one process of Ukrainians fighting for their historical memory and cultural identity, for their future and, of course, for human rights and individual freedoms.

In this connection, the Maidan Museums role is clearly defined, because our main declared mission was to document the different manifestations and expressions of freedom, human rights, and the struggle for and defence of Ukraines independence. For us, this war is a continuation of the Maidanand not in a symbolic way, because the war started on February 20, the same day when the largest number of unarmed protesters (later named the Heavenly Hundred heroes) was brutally killed by riot police in Kyiv. Recently, at a press conference, Ukraines Office of the General Prosecutor revealed the conclusions of its investigation, confirming the Russian Federations presence during the events of the Euromaidan and how Russian secret services influenced the Ukrainian government and presidents actions and responses to the protests. We see Russias aggression against Ukraine as a single coordinated process, and we also understand that the Maidan protests destroyed Moscows plans to seize Ukraine, stealthily and covertly, through political collaborators at the highest level of government, using hybrid technologies.

When the war started in February 2014, the ongoing Maidan was transformed into a powerful volunteer movement supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Many Maidan protesters, cultural activists, lawyers, scholars, journalists, artists, and medical personnel went to Eastern Ukraine as soldiers and volunteers. In this way, many protesters exchanged their wooden shields and makeshift ammunition for bulletproof body armor and firearms and set out to defend their country. It was quite natural for us to document this process, and in particular the role of the Maidan Revolutions participants and civil societys resistance to the occupiers.

When the large-scale war broke out on February 24, 2022, the Maidan Museum initiated and co-founded the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative. Within this initiative we not only launched cultural emergency rescue operations but also expanded our museum work. For example, we collected oral histories on the ground, not only about the events at Maidan but also accounts of cultural and civil resistance to the military aggression. Today, we continue to collect artefacts from the war and document the wars impact on heritage and crimes against culture.

CIUS: You touched on the importance of memory. Cultural memory operates within a spectrum, tying the local to the regional, national, and even transnational. Could you comment on the interaction between these levels of memory in the current context of the war and how they are changing in response to the war?

Poshyvailo: In Ukraine there was a big problem with cultural memory, which was connected to our historical memory, because during the times of Russian Imperial and Soviet domination, and even in the post-Soviet period, many Ukrainians had yet to rediscover their national identity and cultural historical memory. However, in 1991 quite powerful processes were set into motion. A lot of Ukrainians, especially in the eastern and southern regions, recovered their history and cultural identity. It was quite clear that this was a revelation for many Ukrainians and, especially after Maidan, it was a fantastic moment, a kind of catharsis for many people. Maidan also launched the process of decommunization, and Russias large-scale aggression resulted in the first stage of Ukraines decolonization policy.

Interactions between different levels of memoryregional, national, and transnational are quite active at the moment. For example, special institutions that had been created in Ukraines capital, such as the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, were transformed after Maidan from a research institution into a governmental institution. The Institute started to establish an infrastructure of memory quite effectively and actively.

Of course, there were various challenges at the regional level due to a lack of educational capacities. There was a large demand, for example, to change the former Soviet or post-Soviet exhibits in small regional town and village museums, where narratives from the Soviet Union still dominated the interpretation of Lenins revolution, the Second World War, and Ukrainian-Russian relations in general. Many falsifications and myths about Soviet history in particular were very prominent. In this connection, efforts were launched from the national level. Simultaneously, after the Maidan Revolution many reforms were launched. One of these reforms was administrative decentralization. This meant that the center in Kyiv was not able to exert undue influence on the regions in this regard. It took a lot of time, but the war helped to accelerate the process by which local communities became interested in rediscovering their previously imprisoned memory and the hidden history of their towns and cities, artistic traditions, cultural expressions, rites and customs, and local figures and heroes.

About the transnational level, Ukraine had a great need for methodologies of interpretation and presentation related to traumatic or controversial histories. For example, the Maidan Museum became one of the first Ukrainian members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, which is headquartered in New York. Many museums and institutions in Ukraine that are connected to conflicted or traumatic histories also became members of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience. We needed to learn how to transition our cultural institutions from places that served ideology, as in Soviet times, to places of dialogue whose role is not only to justify the government, especially in traumatic events like wars and social conflicts, but to create a kind of open and dynamic platform for dialogue and peacebuildingfor understanding, healing trauma, and consolidating the nation. This interaction is very active and since 2014 has been strongly supported at the national, regional, and local levels.

In the current context, we also see a great process of cultural memory transformation, even in the occupied territories, because this war is a big shock and stress to Ukrainian society. A lot of people keep asking themselves why this war happened. Why did the Russians do this to us? Before the war, even Putin declared that Ukrainians and Russians are brothers, but on the other hand he said that Ukraine and Ukrainian people do not exist at all as an independent nation. There are large contradictions within Kremlin propaganda, and many people who were under the influence of Russian propaganda for a long time have awakened and are quite open to learning and rediscovering their national and cultural identity in this crisis situation.

For example, we recently hosted a book presentation by the outstanding Ukrainian historian Oleksandr Zinchenko, the author of a book whose translated title is How Ukrainians Destroyed the Empire of Evil. He said that when President Yushchenko recognized Stepan Bandera as a Hero of Ukraine in 2010, the majority of Ukrainians did not support this action because Bandera was still seen quite negatively due to the influence of Soviet propaganda. Five years after the war started in 2014, around fifteen percent of people supported Stepan Bandera as an important Ukrainian historical figure. Zinchenko provides statistics from more recent sociological surveys that show support for Stepan Bandera has grown since the large-scale invasion in 2022 to more than eighty percent. It is the same situation with recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide against Ukrainians. These are very good illustrations of how the crisis situation has influenced and changed peoples thinking about history.

Read the full interview here.

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All of Argentina knows that the president, Javier Milei, adores his little four-legged children, as he calls the dogs that live with him in Quinta de Olivos, the residence of the heads of state on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. What no one is sure of, however, is how many English mastiffs he has. In the few known images of his pets, Milei appears with four of them. But Milei himself says that there are five, and that is how they appear in the presidential scepter that he received when he took office in December. A couple of journalists this week asked the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, about the exact number of dogs, but his answers have only managed to add fuel to an issue that has led the presidents detractors to question his mental health.

I dont understand how it changes anything for you if there are four dogs, if there are five dogs or if there are 43 rabbits. Whats the difference? Adorni answered in his morning press conference on Monday. When cross-examined, he tried to settle the debate with a confusing clarification: If the president says there are five dogs, there are five dogs and thats it.

On Thursday, another journalist argued that it was necessary to repeat the question: Whether there are four or five dogs is not a problem for the president but for all Argentines, because if the president has four dogs, and he sees five, we are talking about a person who sees something that does not match reality, thats why I say that we are interested in the number of dogs.

The spokesperson replied that it is a lack of respect to define the president as a person who speaks with things that do not exist. Adorni accused the journalist of messing with his family and insisted that discussion of this issue needed to stop.

The questions echo a debate that has been alive in Argentine society since the election campaign. In his biography of the libertarian leader, El loco (The Madman), Juan Luis Gonzalez writes that Mileis first dog, Conan, died in 2017. Milei, unable to accept his death, contacted a laboratory to have him cloned and began to talk to him through a medium. When EL PAIS interviewed the then presidential candidate in July, this was his remark on the matter:

 Is it true that you have telepathic conversations with Conan?

 Sure, and they also say that my dogs are my advisors, and they are fabulous, because look at everything Ive achieved in terms of results.

 But then you do talk to Conan?

 What I do inside my home is my problem.

At that time, there were four months left until the election. Following his victory at the polls, the media echoed the message published by the laboratory where he cloned the mastiff, PerPETuate, in which they boasted that Milei had dedicated the victory to Conan, his deceased dog, and to the four clones created from the preserved cells. Along with the message there was a photograph of Milei with four dogs in 2018, another photo of Conan, and a third in which three clones are seen. The same webpage today, however, shows a corrected picture with five clones.

The confusion has continued unabated. In a recent interview with CNN en Espanol, the journalist asked him about his four dogs, named after famous libertarian economists: Murray, Milton, Robert and Lucas. There are five, Milei corrected the reporter, before confessing that his way of relaxing is to go see them every day in the kennels that he ordered built for them in the Quinta de Olivos estate. The president offered details about the character of each of his five pets. Conan looks very calm, but dont provoke him, he warned.

Was Milei referring to the Conan who died in 2017, or to a fifth clone of which there are no known photographic records?

Mileis opponents have been using the mystery to ridicule the president. I am studying so I dont need to ask a dead dog for advice, read one of the banners at a massive demonstration in defense of public education on Tuesday. Without mental health, you see your dead dog, said another. Conan is dead, read signs painted on the walls of buildings along the path of the protesters. Some demonstrators pretended to give orders to an invisible dog, represented by a stick to which they had tied a collar on one end.

Mileis political rivals know that his devotion to his pets is one of the weak points of a leader known for his outbursts of anger. Some have even suggested that he may be suffering from a psychological disorder. This was raised by former president Alberto Fernandez, who addressed him in a post on social media on Thursday: You should know that my dog does not advise me (and he is alive), that forces from heaven do not send me signals, and that my actions and reactions are the result of reflection and not of psychological alterations. The president, at least in public, has not responded to these provocations.
The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower is now sailing in the eastern Mediterranean Sea after operating in the Middle Eastern waters of U.S. Central Command since November.

The carrier, along with the guided-missile destroyer Gravely, transited the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean on Friday, according to the Navy.

The Ike and its carrier strike group first got underway in October amid concerns about a larger conflict erupting in the region at the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. The Eisenhowers presence in the Middle East marked the first time a carrier operated in CENTCOM since the end of the Afghanistan war in 2021.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group has delivered exceptional naval power in the U.S. 5th Fleet for the last five months, Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander of Carrier Strike Group 2, said in a statement. Reentry into the U.S. 6th Fleet is only a small gesture of our ability to project combat superiority to any part of the globe.

Navy authorizes combat awards and devices for Red Sea operations

During the deployment, the Eisenhower and its strike group participated in operations taking down missiles and drones that Houthi militants in Yemen launched toward military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Navy and Pentagon officials did not provide comment to Navy Times regarding why the Ike has entered the Mediterranean, which falls under U.S. European Command.

The Navy destroyer Carney, which had been battling Houthi rebels in the Middle East since October, also entered the Mediterranean earlier this month and helped intercept Irans drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13.

The Ikes carrier strike group includes destroyers Mason and Gravely, cruiser Philippine Sea and Carrier Air Wing 3.

When Ike will head home from its already-extended deployment remains unclear.

The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman concluded a maintenance period in December. At the time, the Navy said that the carrier would next deploy in early 2024.

Lt. Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, a spokeswoman for Naval Air Force Atlantic, told Navy Times the Truman is expected to deploy later this year once it concludes its Composite Training Unit Exercise this summer.

Composite Training Unit Exercise, known as COMPTUEX, is required for deployment to bring together carrier strike group elements, and the Truman is not currently certified to deploy.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker used the release of a report on Black homelessness in Illinois to press the case for his proposal to increase funding on efforts to address the issue in next years budget by $50 million, which would go toward additional rental assistance, legal aid and new programs.

The report, a collaboration between the states Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and the University of Illinois Chicagos Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, found that Black people are about eight times as likely as white people to experience homelessness in Illinois.

The report included an analysis of the historical factors influencing higher rates of homelessness within Black communities compared with white people as well as short- and long-term policy recommendations to reduce inequities.

Our approach understands that homelessness is not an issue of personal failing but of historical discrimination and structural barriers that have driven inequality for Black families across the nation and, of course, right here in Illinois, Pritzker said during a Thursday afternoon event at UIC. Confronting these legacies of inequality will require us to collaborate across issue areas, from public health to commerce to criminal justice.

Christine Haley, whose position of Illinois homelessness chief was created three years ago by Pritzker, called the report a launchpad to continue work toward reducing rates of homelessness, particularly among Black people.

We are releasing today not only the report and roundtable recommendations but a series of commitments state leaders are making to reduce this disparity, Haley said. We are committing today to dismantle the Black-white disparity in homelessness, starting with Gov. Pritzkers proposed budget.

The budget Pritzker proposed in February, which remains under negotiation in the General Assembly until a vote scheduled for late May, would increase spending on the states Home Illinois Plan to End to Prevent and End Homelessness, an initiative under the Illinois Department of Human Services, to $250 million from $200 million.

Pritzker said in his remarks that $35 million from the increased funding would go toward rental assistance, and $13 million would be for pilot programs to reach at-risk populations and work on racial disparities in homelessness. Those pilot programs would include efforts to connect formerly incarcerated people and foster youths with housing and related resources. Another $2 million would be earmarked for legal aid for those facing court-ordered eviction.

Pausing as he discussed his proposed spending hike, Pritzker jokingly told the crowd, Its OK to clap.

And it encourages the state legislators to pass the budget, he said.

_____
Imelda Louise Sansone, a Baltimore County Public Schools language teacher who started an Italian culture club, died of pneumonia April 14 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The Lutherville resident was 88.

Born in Collelongo, a town in the Abruzzo region of Italy, she was the daughter of Benilde and Angelo Sansone. She spent her first 12 years in Italy with her mother and extended family while her father, who had moved to Baltimore, worked at Bethlehem Steel.

She, her mother and sister sailed to New York City in 1948 to reunite the family.

Imelda remembered the horrible sea passage, said her niece Michelle Costa-Briggs. The boat was tossed around by the sea as if it were a toy.

When she saw her father, she did not remember him.

I looked at this man who I was introduced to as my father, but I didnt know him,' said her niece, recalling her aunts conversation. He was a stranger to me. I last saw him when I was 4.

The family initially lived on Exeter Street and later moved to a Loch Raven Boulevard home.

She was a 1954 graduate of the old Institute of Notre Dame and earned a bachelors degree at what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she was vice president of the Modern Language Club and secretary of the National French Honor Society.

Ms. Sansone was active in school musicals and operas.

Like her father, she had an operatic voice, said her niece.

She earned a second bachelors degree at Middlebury College in Vermont.

She held a part-time job wrapping holiday gifts at the old Hutzlers department store.

She then joined the old Army Intelligence School and Counter Intelligence Records Facility at Fort Holabird, where she translated and taught the officers Italian and French.

She went on to become a foreign language teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools at what is today Pikesville High, where she taught French, Spanish and Latin for nearly 35 years.

In the summers of 1973 and 1974, she attended the University of Salamanca in Spain to finish a masters degree in Spanish.

There she met the love of her life, Miguel Angel, a medical doctor who wanted her to remain in Spain, said her niece. When I asked my aunt why she didnt stay? She said she would have to leave her family behind yet again.

She was a season ticket holder of the old Baltimore Opera Company.

She often sang arias around our home while cleaning and grading papers, said her niece.

She was a founding member of the Circolo Culturale Italiano, the Italian Culture Club.

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She was also a 30-year member of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queens choir, where she sang second soprano.

After retiring, Ms. Sansone studied piano.

She joined her teacher and other music enthusiasts on Smithsonian-sponsored trips  a Franz Liszt tour of Italy and a Beethoven tour through Germany, said her niece.

She loved music, languages, the structure of words, sentences, the tenses of verbs and the declension of nouns in Latin; history and learning, her niece said.

She had no qualms correcting anyones English if she heard someone speaking incorrectly. We grew up with punctuation, pronunciation and tense corrections midsentence, said her niece. For those of us who attempted speaking or writing in Spanish, French, Latin, and/or Italian, she was quick to correct with a smile or laugh.

A Mass was held Thursday at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium.

Survivors include two nieces, Paula Stoller, of Towson, and Michelle Costa-Briggs, of Lutherville; a nephew, Matthew Costa, of Lutherville; a sister, Theresa Sansone Costa, of Lutherville; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that incidents involving Russian missiles flying in the airspace of NATO member states threaten to spark a wider war.

Source: Duda in an interview with The Wall Street Journal

Details: The most recent incident involving a Russian missile flying over Polish territory occurred on 24 March, when a Russian cruise missile aimed at Ukraines west entered Polish airspace for 39 seconds.

"We have no doubt whatsoever that these are Russian provocations, and we have no doubts that it is a Russian provocation when there is a missile entering our airspace, then it turns around and it goes into Ukraine," Duda said.

Although NATO forces have not yet attempted to intercept Russian missiles, Duda expressed concern that such actions could lead to a strike on Polish territory, infrastructure damage or human casualties.

"That is the most dangerous situation that we could imagine today, because that is a situation in which we could say that Russia has started a war [against Poland]," Duda noted.

He said that shooting down a missile over Polish airspace could result in casualties from the debris, but that NATO members are also wary of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine, which they believe would mean direct intervention in a conflict that allies avoid.

Duda declined to say how Poland would react if a Russian missile did cause casualties in Poland, or whether he would try to invoke NATO's collective defence agreement.

"I believe that we should try to avoid a situation in which Russia could say that it was provoked by NATO. So far it is Russia which has been provoking and everybody can see that," he stressed.

Background:

At 04:23 on the morning of 24 March, a Russian missile violated Polish airspace during a Russian missile attack on Ukraine. The missile reportedly entered Polish airspace near the village of Osierdow in the Lublin Voivodeship. It was there for 39 seconds.

Poland informed its NATO allies of the incident and stated that it would demand explanations from Russia.

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By Dhanya Skariachan and Nikunj Ohri

BENGALURU/MATHURA, India (Reuters) - India held the second phase of the world's biggest election on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals hurling accusations of religious discrimination and threats to democracy amid flagging voter turnout.

Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general election that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4.

Modi is seeking a record-equalling third straight term on the back of his economic record, welfare measures, national pride, Hindu nationalism and personal popularity. Surveys suggest he will easily win a comfortable majority.

His challengers have formed an alliance of more than two dozen parties and are promising greater affirmative action, more handouts and an end to what they call Modi's autocratic rule.

A total of 88 seats out of the 543 in the lower house of parliament went to the polls on Friday, with 160 million people eligible to vote across 13 states and federal territories.

Approximate voter turnout data at the end of polling put Friday's turnout at 61%, lower than the 65% in the first phase last week, and 68% in the second phase five years back.

The Election Commission and political parties are concerned that unseasonably hot weather, and weddings in some parts of the country, would affect turnout.

Analysts say that there is no single issue strong enough to pull voters out this time and the committed Hindu nationalist base of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may not be stepping out due to complacency or overconfidence, resulting in lower turnouts.

HEATED CAMPAIGN

More than half the seats in Friday's contests were in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and the northwestern state of Rajasthan.

The campaign has become more heated since the first phase of voting on April 19 as Modi and the main opposition Congress party have faced off on communal issues with Modi accusing Congress of favouring minority Muslims, aiming to dilute affirmative action and planning to impose an inheritance tax.

Congress has denied the charges and said Modi fears losing and was using divisive language to distract voters from real issues such as unemployment, rising prices and rural distress.

But some voters were responding to the BJP.

"I will vote for BJP. Muslims will get a lot of benefits if Congress comes to power and I don't want taxpayers' money to go for the benefit of any one community," said Shree Hari S.S., 23, who voted in the tech hub of Bengaluru.

Others were not happy with what they said was a sectarian shift in politics.

"BJP is using temples and mosques to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims, to move away from real issues such as unemployment and rising prices," said Sokin Qureshi, 29, an unemployed Muslim voter in the northern city of Mathura.

RAHUL GANDHI IN THE FRAY

Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president and the face of the party, was among the 1,200 candidates hoping to be elected on Friday.

"This election is not a regular election ... because for the first time in the history of India, one party and one person is trying to finish the constitution and democracy of India," Gandhi said at an election rally in a region of Karnataka, which votes next week.

Gandhi is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala and faces Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP's K. Surendran, among others, in the Left Front-ruled state.

In 2019, Gandhi defeated the CPI candidate by more than 400,000 votes, the highest margin in Kerala, although he lost his second seat to BJP in the family bastion of Amethi in north India. India allows a candidate to contest more than one seat but they can keep only one if they record multiple victories.

Congress slumped to a historic low when it was swept out of power by BJP in 2014 and won its second-lowest number of seats - 52 - in 2019, with Kerala contributing the highest tally of 15.

The party is expected to do better in Karnataka this year where it won just one of 28 seats in 2019 but gained strength and defeated BJP in state elections last year.

It is still seen to be struggling nationally as bickering within the opposition alliance it leads and graft cases against some leaders has hobbled its challenge to Modi.

"Phase Two has been too good!" Modi posted on X after voting closed. "The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more," he said, referring to his BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance.

(Reporting by Haripriya Suresh, Dhanya Skariachan, Ananya Mariam Rajesh and Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru, Chris Thomas in Kottayam, Nikunj Ohri in Mathura, Tanvi Mehta in Noida, Sakshi Dayal, Shivam Patel and Shivangi Acharya in Delhi; Writing by YP Rajesh; Editing by Stephen Coates, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Miral Fahmy; Editing by Toby Chopra)
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Indias top court declined to order any changes to the counting of votes in the countrys on-going national elections.

Petitioners had demanded that the Election Commission of India verify each electronic vote cast with a paper slip generated at the time of voting.

The VVPAT, or voter-verified paper audit trail, generates a paper slip when a vote is cast using an electronic voting machine. The paper slip enables a voter to cross-check if their vote is registered accurately. India relies exclusively on electronic voting machines to conduct its elections. The voting machines were introduced to curb vote tampering, ballot-stuffing and coercion under the old system.

Currently, the verification process entails tallying votes with VVPATs from five randomly selected voting machines in each constituency.

More than 1 million polling stations, with 5 million voting machines are being used in the elections, which began on April 19 and will run until June 1. Results will be counted on June 4. About 970 million Indians are registered to vote. The second phase of the election across 13 states and covering 88 constituencies is currently underway.

Though the court reject the counting of paper ballots, it did give additional direction regarding the sealing and storing of the machines after polls. While affirming the reliability of the EVM system, the court also observed that democracy is all about maintaining harmony and trust among its pillars.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aiming to extend his decade in power by another five years, with his party boldly predicting it will win an even bigger mandate this time around having won the last two elections with large majorities.

The top court was hearing petitions filed by the Association of Democratic Reforms, or ADR, an independent election watchdog, as well as an individual petitioner. Both sought more transparency in the polling process.

ADR had argued that every voter should have a mechanism to ensure that their vote has been registered and will be counted. The second public interest litigation plea asked for a complete cross-verification of votes with the paper trails.

A voting machine lists the political party symbols of all contesting candidates and provides a button next to each entry. A voter simply presses the button against the candidate of their choosing. The machine then briefly displays the chosen candidate, allowing the voter to check their choice. The voter is then given an indelible ink mark on their finger from polling booth workers as a mark of having successfully voted.

India transitioned from the paper ballot system to electronic voting machines gradually since the 1990s. The move, however, hasnt been free of criticism, with the losing party often accusing the winner of rigging the voting machines.

The VVPAT system was introduced to ward off some of the criticism with the top court fixing the number of voting machines to be randomly selected for cross-verification in 2013.

--With assistance from Swati Gupta.

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Indian voters are battling sweltering conditions to take part in the worlds biggest election as a severe heat wave hits parts of the country and authorities forecast a hotter-than-normal summer for the South Asian nation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a heat wave will affect parts of south and east India until the end of the week, including four states that are voting on Friday.

Parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are among 13 states and union territories voting in the second phase of Indias mammoth elections, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.

On Thursday, Baripada in the eastern state of Odisha hit 43.6 C (110.4 F) and Telanganas Khammam in the south reached 43.4 C (110.1 F), according to the IMD, which warned last month that India would likely see stronger and longer heat waves this year due to above-normal temperatures.

Gandhi Ray, a farmer in his 60s from eastern Bihar state, said he lives in a small hut in the forest, and will walk to a nearby village to vote.

Temperatures above 41 C (105 F) are forecast every day until May 1 in his hometown of Banka district, according to the IMD.

Its important for me to vote but definitely every day this heat is getting worse and worse, he told CNN. I work outdoors mostly so I am used to it but as I get older it becomes harder to cope. Now my kids have taken over most of the work.

A man wipes his face during a hot day in New Delhi on April 21, 2024. - Noemi Cassanelli/CNN

High temperatures have raised concern this election cycle, as campaigns marked by outdoor political rallies draw thousands of people under the baking sun. The issue was underscored Wednesday, when one lawmaker collapsed from the heat while addressing supporters in western Maharashtra state.

The Election Commission, National Disaster Management Authority and IMD formed a task force to minimize the impact of heat waves ahead of polling days and Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting earlier this month to review the countrys preparedness for the hot season.

The Election Commission has released guidelines for staying cool at polling stations, including drinking water and carrying an umbrella, and warned against leaving children or pets in parked cars.

And in Bihar, election officials have extended voting hours at some polling stations in view (of the) prevailing heat wave.

Ray said the heat isnt going to stop him from voting on Friday.

This is the one right we have so of course I will vote, everyone should vote for whomever they want to represent them, he said.

Of course it would be good if the election took place in a cooler time but whether I go to vote or not, I am still going to feel hot so thats not going to stop me.

Despite the heat warnings, the Election Commision said there are no major concerns for heat waves during Fridays polling and weather forecasts indicate normal conditions for the constituencies voting.

Climate politics

India, the worlds most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, often experiences heat waves during the summer months of May and June. But in recent years, they have arrived earlier and become more prolonged, with scientists linking some of these longer and more intense heat waves to the climate crisis.

In 2022, a heat wave that killed 90 people across India and Pakistan was made 30 times more likely because of climate change, the World Weather Attribution initiative found.

Last year successive heat waves hit India again, closing schools, damaging crops and putting pressure on energy supplies. In June alone, temperatures in some parts of the country soared to 47 C (116 F), killing at least 44 people and sickening hundreds with heat-related illnesses.

A man carries ice on his bicycle in Mumbai, India on Sunday, April 14, 2024. - Noemi Cassanelli/CNN

The human-caused climate crisis is already threatening Indias development goals and putting millions of people at risk in a nation where more than 50% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, studies have found. By 2050, India will be among the places where temperatures have passed survivability limits, according to climate experts.

But analysts say climate has not featured as a major issue this election, despite being mentioned in the election manifestos of the two main parties  the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress.

Climate impacts do shape voter demands  though this tends to filter through as anxieties about livelihood and continued welfare support, rather than in a neatly defined area of politics labeled climate, said Aditya Valiathan Pillai, fellow and coordinator for adaptation and resilience at the New Delhi-based Sustainable Futures Collaborative, in a recent op-ed for CNN.

You can see it in farmers asking for loan waivers and irrigation facilities after years of drought, in urban families demanding reduced electricity prices to offset cooling bills and in calls for more penetrating social welfare.

A man rests on a cycle rickshaw during a heat wave in New Delhi on April 21, 2024. - Noemi Cassanelli/CNN

Regional impact

Extreme heat has already had an impact across the region this year with little respite from merciless heat and humidity for hundreds of millions of people living in areas most vulnerable to climate change.

Neighboring Bangladesh is sweltering through a heat wave this week with prolonged temperatures above 40 C in many districts and no relief during record hot nights, according to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. The government declared a heat alert across the country on Thursday, in place for 72 hours.

Extreme temperatures are also soaring across Southeast Asia, with dozens of heatstroke deaths report by local media in Thailand, hundreds of schools closed in the Philippines, and droughts drying up rice fields and rivers in Vietnams Mekong Delta rice bowl region.

The weeks-long heat wave in Vietnam has forced three provinces to declare a state of emergency as salt seeps into fresh water sources, limiting access to drinking water for more than 70,000 households, according to Save the Children.

A report released Tuesday by the World Meteorological Organization found that Asia remained the worlds most disaster-affected region in 2023 and the region is heating up faster than the global average.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The West Tennessee Drug Task Force arrested an Indiana man, who was wanted for attempted murder, along with many other charges, in Memphis Wednesday.

According to the WTDTF, agents with the 30th judicial district out of Memphis conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-40. During the stop, a man was seen laying down in the backseat of the car.

The suspect was identified as Khalid Stamps, who had been on the run since 2022 and was wanted out of Marion County, Indiana, for attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, and pointing a loaded firearm.

Khalid Stamps (Photo courtesy of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force)

(Photo courtesy of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force)

He was taken into custody and is now awaiting extradition back to Indiana.

A woman was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Elisabeth Bik, 57, does the work of a detective. She spends hours reading and rereading documents, delving into pages, making notes, asking questions and solving cases. But her cases have nothing to do with murders, scams, robberies, infidelities or state secrets, but rather science. A microbiologist by profession, she has been a scientific integrity consultant since 2019 and has revealed academic errors in thousands of scientific articles. Her analyses focus on images that accompany a research paper that may have been retouched or duplicated by the authors, either by mistake or for fraudulent purposes. Bik, who speaks to EL PAIS by video call, believes that the publication of scientific articles has become an unstoppable and accelerated wheel and that it must be slowed down to prevent a rise in falsehoods and manipulations.

Question. What led you to your interest in fraud in scientific literature?

Answer. One day I read about plagiarism, I took a sentence from an article I had written and put it in quotes in Google Scholar. The result was not only my own paper, but there were two other hits: one was in another article and the other was in a book chapter. The authors, who were from Italy, had taken two of my paragraphs and also paragraphs from other authors and built a new article by stealing a paragraph here and a paragraph there. That made me very angry, so I started searching for more examples of plagiarism. It was like a hairball, you find one thing and you start pulling and you find more.

Q. And the manipulated images?

A. By accident, I found in a PhD thesis not only plagiarized text, but also duplicated images. There were three photos and they were all the same, but one was mirrored, it was a mirror image but recognizable. I thought, Ive seen this before. Then I switched from looking for plagiarized articles to looking for image duplication because its faster. Plagiarism took time, you have to put each sentence in Google Scholar and it was very slow.

Q. How many articles have you analyzed?

A. I searched 20,000 papers and found around 800 of them to contain these duplications. By now, about half of them have been corrected or retracted. I reported them in 2015, nine years ago, although I did not report them all at once. After five years, about 30% had been corrected or retracted and now it is about 50%. Many of these articles are still being corrected or retracted.

Its not always clear whether problems in images are fraud or an honest error

Q. Do you consider this a high or low number of corrections?

A. Now it is approximately half, but the fact that before most of these articles had not been acted up was very surprising and a disturbingly low [correction] number. I was frustrated by the lack of responses from the journals. These numbers are still going up because Im sending reminders and calling them out on Twitter: Hey, this paper I reported in 2015, you still havent done anything.

Q. What do you think the reason for this is?

A. There could be a multitude of reasons. Sometimes an editor, especially if its from a smaller journal, might have never had to deal with suspicions of misconduct or a correction. And they just dont know what to do. They might contact the author, but maybe that person moved to another university or they have a very common name and they are not sure if the person is the same person who wrote the paper 10 years ago. Or the author may send a reply and say, Oh yeah, sorry, here are some new images. And then the editor thinks: Well, case closed. But they dont really address it. They feel that the case has been closed, but they dont report it to me, for example.

Q. What is considered a fraudulent scientific image?

A. It is not always clear if problems in images are fraudulent or an honest error. I have three categories of duplications that I look at. One is when the exact same photo has been used to represent figure one and figure three. Its the same photo, but they are representing different experiments. That could be an honest error, somebody grabs the wrong photo. The second is whether the images overlap or are rotated or shifted or stretched. Its a little more likely that that was done on purpose, with the intent to mislead, especially when its a rotated photo. That usually doesnt happen by accident. And the third type is when within a photo you see duplicated bands or cells or tissues. That is done intentionally, the cells dont use Photoshop.

Microbiologist Elisabeth Bik photographed at her home in an image provided by the scientist. Clara Mokri

Q. Why does someone duplicate the image of a cell with Photoshop?

A. Sometimes it is to hide a crack or a hair or some dust on the lens. But it could also be intentionally to make it look like there are more cells or fewer cells. So they copy the background over some cells, for example. You never [fully] know why it was done or if it was fraud. We may have an idea if something was done intentionally, but there could be an innocent reason behind it. For me, its hard to know. Some cases are very obvious that it was misconduct, but in most, youre not quite sure.

Q. What happens next?

A. The editor needs to ask the author and the author needs to produce the original photos. Ive seen cases where the author says there was a crack in a corner and they patched it up with some background tissues. In most cases, only the institution can do an investigation. They need to investigate the author or the research group and they need to compare the lab books to what has been published. That can obviously take a long time. Thats another reason why these papers arent retracted. In some cases, the institution claims to be investigating, but they dont really want to investigate because its their star professor.

Q. How do you know if an article may contain these types of images?

A. I get tips from people, but Im still working off my initial research of 20,000 articles. I found 800 papers with problems, I can follow leads. For example, I found a problem in such and such an article, I can look at other articles by the same authors and see if there is a problem associated with a particular person, moving from one lab to another, or if it is a problem in that lab where maybe theres sloppiness or a culture of misconduct. I follow all these leads and I get a daily stream of people saying, can you look at this paper?

In some cases, the institution claims to be investigating, but they really dont want to investigate because it is their star professor

Q. What is the process for identifying manipulated images?

A. I download the article or look at it online. I look at figures that are photos, or a bar graph or a line graph or something similar. I look for things like missing error bars or weird bars or axes numbering that doesnt make sense, or repetitive features on a spectrum. I scan by eye, but I also use software: ImageTwin and Proofic. The first one has a lot of false positives, because a lot of photos look similar, and you have to work through them and de-click them. But it has a database of photos from other papers that are open access and compares all the photos in a particular article against that big database. Its like a Google image search, but focused on scientific papers.

Q. On more than one occasion you have mentioned that your inquiries, especially at the beginning, were not always taken seriously.

A. In the beginning, many people did not believe what I was finding. They thought it was something only I saw. Imagine youve written a bunch of articles and someone comes back and says, some of the articles you wrote five years ago contain a typo and I want that to be corrected. You think, Who cares? They just didnt pay attention. Even my collaborators didnt believe me at first either. After we published the article where we showed that this happens, that you can find errors in one in every 25 articles, they saw that it was a real problem and took us a little more seriously. I have gained credit that I dont make wrong accusations, but it takes time.

Q. Years later, you continue to encounter resistance and not very positive reactions from the scientific community.

A. No one likes to be criticized for the work they produce. If someone finds and points out an error in your work, you may feel annoyed, angry and defensive. They say things like, Yes, but I wasnt feeling well, or we just moved labs and made some mistakes. They try to find excuses or claim that it was someone elses fault. Most of them become a little defensive, but some are even aggressive and start attacking me, digging into my past, they find out where I live, who my family is. Then they lash out on Twitter or write weird articles about me, about how Im an evil person. But there is no evidence that I was wrong. For now I have not been sued, theyre just threats. Ive been extremely lucky, but at some point Ill run out of luck.

Q. Has the use of manipulated images increased, decreased or stayed the same in recent years?

A. It has increased and it has also decreased. It grew from 2010 to 2018-2019 and is now declining because people simply do a better Photoshop job and they know that we can screen for these things. There are many ways to cheat that leave no trace and are becoming harder to see because the fraudsters are getting smarter. Also because of the rise in the [use] of artificial intelligence. Now we can create images that are completely unique and fairly realistic that, with my techniques and software, I cannot detect as a problem.

Q. Are you worried about artificial intelligence?

A. Very much. Its true that it can be used to do good things, obviously, but it can also be used by the fraudsters to create fake images, fake data, fake text. Im not completely worried about fake text; scientific data fraud worries me more than text generation. You can ask it to generate a fake set of patients, split them into two groups and do some experiment with them. It is so good that we can no longer distinguish those sets from real data sets. Were only going to catch the really dumb fraudsters because they leave traces for us to find. There are smart fraudsters who will be very thankful for AI that can help them generate even more fake papers.

Q. Do you think part of the problem has to do with how quickly scientific publications are supposed to be produced?

A. Definitely. We focus on metrics to evaluate a scientists career: how many articles they have published, how many times they were cited, what was the impact factor of all these articles. These are numbers you can look at and its easy to rank your candidates according to these metrics. People are going to try to fake these metrics, theyre going to cite themselves a lot, or theyre going to buy a paper from a paper mill or slice their papers into little pieces and publish all of them. There are universities that have strict requirements. For example, if you want to get your PhD, you need to publish two or three papers before you can get it. Thats not completely fair, because you can be a brilliant scientist, but the experiments might not work and you may not have published any papers.

Q. How do you think scientific journals are responding to the detection and prevention of image manipulation?

A. Now they are realizing it, but I think its too late. They have not been very vigilant in finding these problems, especially for paper mills. Its not just individual labs that are cheating, its a criminal organization that is pumping out paper after paper. And those have not been picked up by journals, theyve been picked up by volunteers. Weve been alerting the journals that they need to set safeguards a little higher and not let this crap go through. After they are published, its very obvious that its fake.

Journals are starting to set up safeguards like image duplication detection by screening for ChatGPT-generated language, and in the meantime, fraudsters know were going to screen for these things. Its a rat race where the fraudsters will always win, but we can make it harder for them. We need to slow down scientific publishing.

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The candidate who has been declared ineligible for the Mansfield school board election is looking toward a potential special election, according to one of his social media posts.

Angel Hidalgo is on the ballot for Place 2 but was declared ineligible April 18 because he had not been a registered voter in the district for six months by the filing deadline. If he is the top vote-getter, the board will appoint someone to fill the seat until until the next trustee election or may order a special election to fill the vacancy.

Hidalgo, in a post on his campaign page on Facebook, said he would run in a special election.

Vote Angel Hidalgo for Mansfield ISD, Place 2 for special election possibly in November, his post reads. NO, I do not expect nor do I think the school board should appoint me to the seat. Special Election!

Jandel Crutchfield, an associate professor of social work at UT Arlington, is also on the ballot for Place 2 in the May 4 election. Early voting ends April 30.

Hidalgo did not respond to numerous requests for interviews the past month, so the Star-Telegram emailed him a list of questions about the topics that would be discussed if he were to agree to one.

Hidalgo, a Spanish instructor at Tarrant County College, posted his answers to his Facebook page Wednesday and then emailed the responses to the Star-Telegram.

Asked about the post regarding the special election, Hidalgo said: This question is an example of your inaccurate reporting. I have posted no such thing.

Angel Hidalgos campaign page on Facebook.

Asked if he would accept an appointment from the school board if he receives the most votes, Hidalgo said, I am declining to comment on hypotheticals.

In a question about using his his college email to campaign, an apparent violation of the states election code, Hidalgo brought up homestead exemptions claimed by Crutchfield.

What I am aware of is that it is illegal to intentionally claim homestead exemptions on 2 homes in two different states, Mississippi and Louisiana, while living in Texas, cheating those local governments and SCHOOL DISTRICTS of much needed funds, as my opponent has done, he wrote.

Crutchfield has said she provided the district utility bills to verify her residency. There is no homestead exemption on her Mansfield home, according to the Tarrant Appraisal District.

Asked about a homestead exemption on a property in Crutchfields name in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Parish of East Baton Rouge said the property was sold March 12.

Crutchfield has a homestead exemption on a home in Tupelo, Mississippi, but said that is likely a paperwork error.

My husband owns hundreds of properties, pays hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes in multiple states yearly, Crutchfield told the Star-Telegram on Thursday. He buys and sells properties monthly as a normal course of business and sometimes paperwork falls behind.

Mississippi law requires those with homestead exemptions to occupy the dwelling and be a resident of the state. Crutchfield worked at the University of Mississippi before joining UTA in 2018.

Asked why people should vote for him given his ineligibility, Hidalgo referred to a paper Crutchfield wrote with two others in 2021, The Obligation of White Women: Dismantling White Supremacy Culture in Social Work Education.

He cited the following the passage from the paper: Unless racist views that uphold white supremacy culture are thoroughly examined, white women may perpetuate acts of violence towards their clients. White women who want to be social workers need to self reflect on why it is they want to be involved in this field.

Hidalgo ends his statement by saying, you would understand that should I gain enough votes to win this election, the school board would have to appoint someone to serve or declare a special election. Either option would best serve the children of our District.

Records indicate board president Courtney Lacky Wilson knew Hidalgo was ineligible in early February. Asked whether she notified him that he wasnt registered to vote in the district, Hidalgo replied, No.






Information session on applying to U.S. military service academies is Saturday in Cranston

The U.S. Corps of Cadets return to the U.S. Military Academy after their spring break on April 2, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth V. Woodruff/USMA PAO)

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will visit Cranston Public Library Saturday morning for his annual U.S. Military Service Academy Day, an informational seminar for Rhode Island high schoolers interested in attending one of the nations five service academies.

The event runs from 9-11 a.m, with Reed scheduled to deliver opening remarks at 9 a.m. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse will also attend, as will representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine and Coast Guard academies, who will be able to answer questions about the application process, which is a bit different from civilian academies.

The application process for the United States Military Academy requires slightly more preparation than many other colleges, the West Point website notes.

The federal government encourages youth to apply for the academies free college education, which covers tuition, boarding and other costs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 23, unmarried, not pregnant and not have children. The competitive admissions process also assessed potential cadets physical fitness and leadership qualities alongside their academic skills.

But thats not all: The final step for four of the academies is usually getting a congressional nomination  from someone like Reed, a 1971 West Point graduate.

I am honored to nominate outstanding young Rhode Islanders for admission to our nations prestigious service academies, said Reed in a statement.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, Connecticut, does not require a congressional nomination.

The United States Military Academy is in West Point, New York. The U.S. Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The U.S. Naval Academy is in Annapolis, Maryland. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is in Kings Point, New York.

Reed, who was nominated to the United States Military Academy by Sen. John O. Pastore, serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Academy Day helps interested Rhode Island students learn about the many available opportunities afforded by our nations military service academies and familiarizes them with the application and nomination process, Reeds statement continued.

Saturdays seminar will review the steps of the application process. Students who want to attend for the 2025-2026 school year need to apply for a nomination by Oct. 15, 2024. Information on nomination can also be found on Reeds website.

Accepted students are considered on active service the day they enter their respective academy, and are ranked as cadets, or, at the Merchant Marine Academy, as midshipmen. Undergraduates live as soldiers do: They sport uniforms, live in barracks and have daily military training.

The two outliers are the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine academies: While graduates of these service academies may also receive an officer commission upon graduation, they differ from the military service academies in many respects (e.g., statutory authorities, application and acceptance processes), a Congressional Research Service briefing explains.

Regardless of their chosen program of study, all graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree because the core curriculum is technically-focused. Cadets and midshipmen then accept appointments as commissioned officers, with typical service obligations lasting eight years overall. Usually, five of those years are spent in active duty,

Military academies are also the only type of collegiate institution that can still employ race-conscious admissions. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling struck down race as a contributing factor in undergraduate admissions but allowed service academies alone to continue the practice. In February, the nations highest court also avoided involvement in a case involving race-conscious admissions at West Point.

The post Information session on applying to U.S. military service academies is Saturday in Cranston appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Paddy Fox (left), son of Charles and Tess Fox, and Tommy McKearney, speaking outside the court - DAVID YOUNG/PA

MI5 has blocked the release of intelligence over the murders of four Catholics in Northern Ireland more than 30 years ago, prompting a coroner to halt an inquest.

Relatives of the victims accused the UK Government of a disgraceful attempt to stop justice being done.

Judge Richard Greene KC said the inquest into the deaths of four members of one family in 1992 had been seriously compromised, after the security services and the Northern Ireland Office objected to intelligence being made public.

The judge said rumours and suspicion of state collusion had been circulating for some time, following the fatal shootings in County Tyrone.

The inquest had threatened to expose the alleged involvement of the security services in two separate attacks carried out by loyalist paramilitaries, eight months apart.

Gunned down

Kevin McKearney, 32, was shot dead by a UVF gunman inside his family-run butcher shop in the village of Moy, in January 1992. His uncle, Jack McKearney, 69, was wounded in the same attack and died in hospital three months later.

Later that year, Kevin McKearneys mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and Tess Fox  who were 63 and 54 respectively  were shot dead by the UVF inside their home in Moy.

But Mr Greene said on Friday he had been prevented from delivering a summary of intelligence information around the deaths, after Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris objected to it being stated in open court.

The inquests opened last year, but were paused while a lengthy public interest immunity process took place over the disclosure of sensitive security-forces material.

Mr Greene said: A significant intervening event has occurred, which prevents me from delivering my ruling this afternoon.

The proposed gist is not accepted by the security service and the Northern Ireland Office, who object to its release in open [court].

He said his provisional view was that he could not continue with these inquests and he suggested only a public inquiry could now consider the full circumstances of these deaths.

Absolutely disgusting

Outside Laganside courthouse, Gavin Booth, solicitor for the Fox and McKearney families, said he believed the intelligence material involves state agents working for, employed by, and assisted by the state in these murders and the murders of many other people in the mid-Ulster area in the 1990s.

He added: This is a disgraceful attempt to divert justice for families. Its absolutely disgusting.

Kevin McKearneys brother, Tommy, said: Theres been multiple incidents of state agents being involved in collusion.

And Im at the stage now refusing to even use the word collusion, because I am suggesting very strongly that what were looking at here is participation by the British state in this outrageous round of murders.

I think weve got to call for a public inquiry and I endorse the statement by the judge for a public inquiry.

In a statement, a UK Government spokesman said: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will give careful consideration to the coroners ruling when it is delivered and to related correspondence when it is received.

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In interview with Howard Stern, Biden says he considered suicide after death of first wife and daughter

NEW YORK  President Biden Friday said he considered killing himself after his first wife and baby daughter died in a car crash shortly after he won election as a U.S. senator.

In an interview with radio host Howard Stern, Biden admitted being distraught after his first wife, Neilia, and 18-month-old daughter, Naomi, died in a 1972 crash.

In just a brief moment, I thought: Let me just go to the Delaware Memorial [Bridge] and jump, Biden said.

You dont need to be crazy to commit suicide, he added.

This is the remains of the car in which the wife and daughter of Delawares U.S. Senator-elect Joseph R. Biden Junior were killed. Neilia Biden and her daughter, Amy, 1, were killed when the familys station wagon was hit broadside by a flat-bed tractor-trailer on highway. Bidens two other children were also hurt in the wreck and were listed in guarded condition at the hospital. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Biden said he turned away from the suicidal thought because of his then-young sons, Beau and Hunter, who survived the crash.

I had two kids, he said. It wasnt like I got to commit suicide (But) youre never going to be OK.

Biden also said he considered getting drunk to ease the pain of the tragedy, even though he doesnt drink.

I used to sit there and just think Im going to take out a bottle of scotch, Biden said. Im going to just drink it and get drunk.

The startling revelation came in a wide-ranging surprise interview with Stern, the one-time shock jock who now hosts a show on Sirius XM radio.

Biden also said he is willing to debate former President Trump before the fall election.

Senator-elect Joseph Biden and wife Nelia cut his 30th birthday cake at a party in Wilmington, November 20th. His son, Hunter waits for the first piece. Biden by becoming 30 fulfills the constitutional requirement of Senators being 30 years of age when they take office. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)Somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said. But Im happy to debate him.

Trump quickly responded on his social media site by agreeing to a clash: I say: Anywhere, anytime, anyplace.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced dates and locations for three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

But its not 100% clear that the debates will happen because Trump and Republicans have derided the commission as biased.

_____
Investigation underway after two reported robberies of postal carriers in Dorchester, police say

Authorities said a mail carrier in Dorchester was robbed of their master key after someone pulled a gun on them and less than an hour later another postal worker was almost robbed Friday morning.

Officers responding to the area of 23 Mora Street around 11:10 a.m. for a report of an armed robbery found that a postal carrier had been robbed of their master key at gunpoint, according to Boston Police. The victim was uninjured and the suspects fled the scene. A description of the suspects was not immediately available.

Gin Manuel said he was working outside on Mora St. in Dorchester Friday morning when a mail carrier came running up to him.

He told me A man came he took the keys, and he ran, said Manuel.

During that time, Dan Hendrigan, whose been a mail carrier in Dorchester for 24 years said, he got two messages on his scanner, one warning him about an armed robbery.

Its been going on a lot weve had many, many 5-6 the past six years, said Hendrigan.

He said back at the post office he was filled in on what happened.

Bobby was held him at gunpoint and took his keys, he said, From what I know Bubba didnt let them have they wanted the keys Bubba didnt let them have the keys.

Less than 30 minutes later, police say they received a call after an attempt was made to rob a second postal carrier, this time at 226 Fuller Street.

Joe Donald said he was sitting in his truck on Fuller St. when a mail carrier came rushing up to his window.

He said that guy right that he just tried to rob me and the guy was running damn he was going on down the street on the other side, said Donald.

Donald said he didnt get a good look at the suspect.

All saw was the back with the black hoodie on I didnt see his face, he said, the mail carrier was kind of upset.

Hendrigan said when it comes to safety theyre told to be aware of their surroundings and just hand over their keys if ever faced with this type of situation.

The Postal Inspection said neither of the mailmen were hurt.

According to investigators, its unclear if the two robberies are connected.

In a statement, the U.S. Postal Service says theyre in the early stages of the investigation.

The Postal Service employees did not suffer any physical injuries and Postal Inspectors are working with local management to support the involved employees, a spokesperson said.

Anyone with information about either incident is urged to contact Boston Police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Stephen Lane (second from the left) stands with his supporters in front of Arsenal Tech High School as he announces his resignation from the Indianapolis Public Library board ahead of a meeting of the Indianapolis Public School board on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Indianapolis Public Library board member Stephen Lane, who served as the representative of the Indianapolis School Board, announced his resignation from the board Thursday afternoon, ahead of a scheduled Indianapolis Public Schools board action to rescind his appointment.

Lane has served on the library board for a little over a year. The IPS school board picked Lane as their appointee early last year after the library board faced controversy over their search for a new library CEO.

IPS school board president Angelia Moore told IndyStar Friday afternoon that she didnt think it was appropriate to share why the board proposed removing Lane.

All seven of us have had conversations around this and weve had conversations with Mr. Lane previously, but as a collective, it was not a match to the expectations we had so members of the board called for a conversation," Moore said.

Since Lane resigned before the board could vote on the proposal, it is not clear which IPS commissioners support his removal.

IPS commissioner Will Pritchard told IndyStar on Friday that he supported Lanes removal, saying he wasnt as effective as I hoped he would be.

Moore went on to say that she appeciates Lane's service on the library board over the last year.

We boldly appointed him and we have no regrets around appointing him but the shift needed to happen and that was called for by commissioners and as chair that is the recommendation that we give and we wish him all the best, Moore said.

A librarian, Lane told IndyStar Thursday afternoon that no one from the school board had contacted him about the intent to remove him from the library board; he heard about it the day before from a friend who saw the proposal on the school board agenda for Thursday night.

I was really shocked and surprised, Lane said.

Lane said that instead of focusing on his service on the library board, the IPS board should focus on the district's low literacy proficiency rates.

Why are they so keen on removing people who act in the communitys interest instead of the fact that only 60% of IPS students can read at grade level? Lane said before the board meeting Thursday. That should tell you where their priorities lie.

And right before the board meeting started Stephen Lane delivered his resignation letter to the school board. pic.twitter.com/7ovZqkYu61  Caroline Beck (@CarolineB_Indy) April 25, 2024

IPS board president Angelia Moore accepted his resignation and did not give any further explanation during Thursdays meeting.

The IPS school board is one of three appointing bodies for the library board members.

Indianapolis Public Schools new library appointee to the library board Stephen Lane speaks to the IPS school board during a meeting Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at the Board Room of the John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services in Indianapolis.

When Lane was initially appointed to the library board, the IPS school board noted that he might be controversial but hoped that his appointment would move the library board towards its goal of equity and providing a safe space for minority communities.

Lane was an outspoken activist during the controversy over picking the librarys CEO and argued that interim head Nichelle Hayes should be the next CEO. After Hayes was passed over for an outside candidate, she left the library in January.

Lane told IndyStar that his time on the library board for the past year has been very contentious and that he has met with resistance from some of the board members in his work to improve working conditions for library staff.

More from IPS: School 87 parents share their hurt and anger with IPS over recent teacher abuse scandal

Before Thursday nights board meeting, some supporting Lane spoke about their disappointment in seeing him resign and their frustration with the IPS school board and the IPL board.

The community has had a representative that was not afraid to ask the questions, said Michael Torres, an IPL employee, on Thursday. He took his responsibility as a steward of our money seriously as he should. Indy PL is losing a trustee who I know in spite of resigning will continue to be involved in shaping our community libraries.

As he handed in his resignation, Lane focused, however, not on the library's challenges but on those that the school board faces. Referencing the recent video that surfaced of a IPS School 87 teacher appearing to encourage one student to beat up another, Lane marched up to the board before the formal meeting began.

I dont want to be a part of your fight club, I resign, Lane said.

Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CarolineB_Indy.

Carolines reporting is made possible by Report for America and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Report for America is a program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms. Report for America provides funding for up to half of the reporters salary during their time with us, and IndyStar is fundraising the remainder. To learn more about how you can support IndyStars partnership with Report for America and to make a donation, visit indystar.com/RFA.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Library board member Stephen Lane resigns publicly
It is not unusual in politics for a measure to be attacked from two opposite fronts at the same time.

Sometimes, for example, a welfare reform is branded too tough by left-wing, pro-claimant campaigners and yet too lenient by right-wing hawks.

But it is very unusual indeed for a measure to be attacked from two opposite fronts at the same time by the same person.

So hats off to Irelands deputy PM Micheal Martin for achieving just that with his criticisms of the UK Governments Rwanda policy. Mr Martin says that the spectre of being removed to the African country is already causing hundreds of UK-based asylum seekers to cross into Ireland in a pre-emptive bid to evade deportation.

The controversial policy is already impacting on Ireland, he complained, leaving people fearful of being detained by UK authorities and getting transferred to central Africa. So they are travelling to Northern Ireland and then wandering into the Republic via the land border that Dublin has always insisted should be entirely open and unguarded. Maybe thats the impact it was designed to have, said Martin.

Yet moments later he levied precisely the opposite criticism of the Rwanda scheme, implying it would be entirely ineffective at deterring illegal immigration. The sort of knee-jerk reaction like the Rwanda policy, in my view, isnt going to really do anything to deal with the issue, he said.

Well, which is it then, an irrelevant gimmick or a deterrent so potent as to have already started working just by dint of people knowing it is looming? Cynics will wonder if the truth of the matter could be that Mr Martin starts his consideration of any issue relating to Britain determined to conclude by condemning us, but just hasnt yet worked out on what grounds on this one.

I suggest we place more store on his initial complaint, based on the actually observed movement of irregular migrants, rather than his secondary and contradictory one, which is just the standard bien-pensant EU line.

After all, French president Emmanuel Macron  our neighbour on the other flank  has just grandly pronounced that the Rwanda plan will prove totally ineffective, while also branding it a betrayal of values. Sounding a bit rattled, are we, chaps?

Should the UKs Rwanda policy result in at least some degree of extra deterrence, leading to a notable reduction in illegal arrivals via the cross-Channel dinghies, pro-EU ideologues will go into meltdown. Their entire approach is based on the idea that unilateral action cannot work and that only a continent-wide policy determined by Brussels can conceivably contain illegal migration.

This side of the Channel, even those of us who have long-despaired of Rishi Sunak achieving anything worthwhile might admit that the spectacle of pompous EU-leaders panicking that Rwanda might work is rather cheering.

We may even dare to hope that perhaps it really will, at least to some extent and for a while  until the leftist legal Blob finds a way of thwarting it. This could lead to our own struggle with cognitive dissonance, as we attempt to maintain our across-the-board derision towards Sunak while also delighting in him proving continental neighbours wrong.

And lets be honest, there is no denying that the fellow  cruelly dubbed a pint-size loser by Labours Angela Rayner  has had a rather good week. He started out by getting stuck into the sick note culture, then crushed House of Lords resistance to get the Rwanda measure onto the statute book and then unveiled a much-needed funding uplift for our Armed Forces. Why, the man is starting to look and sound like a Conservative.

The newfound sure-footedness even extended to a jog around St Jamess and Green parks with Russ Cook, aka the hardest geezer who raised a million pounds for charity by running the length of Africa. And Sunak proved himself both a capable runner and a master of cheery banter in a social media video which documented his trot around the royal parks.

Were I to tell you that hes a useless Rishi-washy and also that hes just put one over on the Irish and French on illegal immigration then Id be in danger of sounding as confused as Micheal Martin. And that would never do.

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An Israeli tank waits on the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip near Rafah - ATEF SAFADI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Amid 40C heat, key players from the UN gathered in a tattered compound in Rafah to hear the organisations most senior security official brief them on what many expect to be a traumatic and bloody few months in southern Gaza.

We cant predict but we can prepare, Gilles Michaud, UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, told aid workers from the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation, Unicef and others on Thursday.

They should plan for all contingencies, including a full-scale military incursion, he warned.

A graduate of the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mr Michaud is better placed than most to read the runes over an expected Israeli push into Rafah, the last holdout of Hamas in Gaza and home to more than a million displaced people.

For those who take Benjamin Netanyahu at his word, there is no doubt an assault is coming. Ever since Oct 7, he has promised to not stop until the destruction of Hamas in complete.

Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, the terror groups two most senior leaders in Gaza, are believed to be hiding somewhere in the southern city.

A Yemeni protester holds up a mock rocket at a pro-Palestine rally in Sanaa as Israel prepares its invasion of Rafah - AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman

This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there, he said earlier this month. It will happen. There is a date.

In recent days, preparations appear to have been ramping up.

Israel is reported to have procured 40,000 tents, each with space for 10 to 12 people, into which it intends to evacuate people from Rafah in the coming weeks. Satellite pictures show hundreds being erected in neat rows on vacant ground in Khan Younis, just three miles north of Rafah.

The Israeli media are also reporting that the IDF is readying to deploy two reserve brigades  amounting to some 6,000 soldiers  to the Gaza Strip.

The 679th Yiftah Armored Brigade and the 2nd Carmeli Infantry Brigade, which had been operating on the northern border, were set to move into central Gaza ahead of the Rafah offensive, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

They will free up the Nahal Brigade, part of the 162nd Division, which is expected to lead the push into Rafah with heavy air support if it comes.

A satellite image of a tent camp settlement for Palestinian refugees near Rafah - Maxar Technologies

It was the Nahal Brigade that was responsible for the drone strike that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, including three Britons, a month ago, although the senior officers responsible have since been dismissed.

Another possible indicator of impending action came with a reported meeting between Egypts intelligence chief and the head of Israels Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi on Wednesday morning.

Cairo has long warned against an assault on Rafah, fearing a humanitarian catastrophe that could push Gazans over the border into Egypt.

Despite these and other risks, the IDF is keen to promote the idea that an attack on Rafah is imminent.

Hamas was hit hard in the northern sector. It was also hit hard in the centre of the Strip. And soon it will be hit hard in Rafah, too, said Israeli Brig Gen Itzik Cohen of the 162 Division. Rafah will not be the Rafah of today There wont be munitions there. And there wont be hostages there.

Most Western governments expect the assault to go ahead, but questions remain about the viability of the IDFs stated aims.

Families of hostages held by Hamas demonstrate outside the Kirya base where the Israeli cabinet held a meeting on Thursday - Amir Levy/Getty Images

An Israeli attack [on Rafah] will succeed in killing some Hamas fighters, it will succeed in destroying some Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels, and it will put part of the movements armed wing under pressure, said Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

[But] my assessment is that Hamas in Gaza will survive the Rafah operation. It has been a long time coming and the military wing will have been preparing for this to a certain extent, they will be able to regroup in the central part of Gaza and the north.

That could bode poorly for the Netanyahu government, he said: If at the end of things they havent brought home the hostages and havent vanquished Hamas, then I think there will be a huge political crisis.

That is one reason Israel is persisting with hostage negotiations despite a lack of progress for several months. Some have interpreted the mounting military noise over Rafah as a device to force Hamass hand.

Brigadier General (Res.) Assaf Orion, a former IDF head of strategy and a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said one of the gains of an assault on Rafah other than finishing off Hamas was pressure on the hostage negotiations.

A high-level Egyptian delegation led by Abbas Kamel, the countrys intelligence chief, arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday morning to try to break the deadlock.

If Hamas regroups after the attack, it could bode poorly for Netanyahu - Shir Torem/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Israels war cabinet has reportedly agreed to soften its approach by reducing the required number of hostages to be released in the first phase from 40 to 20, so long as all of them are either women, children, elderly or wounded, according to Channel 12 news.

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is also expected in Israel next week to discuss Rafah, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan.

Those discussions may be difficult. While the US previously supported an Israeli attack, its attitude has hardened in recent weeks.

We dont think theres any effective way to evacuate 1.4 million Palestinians. Theres no way to conduct an operation in Rafah that would not lead to inordinate civilian harm and severely hamper the delivery of humanitarian assistance, said Matthew Miller, US State Department spokesman, on Monday.

On Friday, US navy ships arrived offshore to start building a floating pier to improve the flow of aid into Gaza. IDF troops are supervising the building of a jetty on the beach to receive the cargo.

Hamas has said it will resist any foreign military presence involved with the project and UN officials touring the site on Thursday had to take cover amid a mortar attack.

Some analysts believe the US and others have greater sway over Israel following the Iranian drone, missile and rocket barrage two weeks ago, in which Western forces played a decisive role in intercepting the projectiles.

The attack made clear Israel relies on Centcom [United States Central Command] for forward cover, said an Israeli intelligence analyst. It also reset the diplomatic compass, with Israels measured response demonstrating a degree of strategic acumen in the eyes of its partners.

There can be little doubt an attack on Rafah could prove costly diplomatically.

Rafah has become an international symbol, so perhaps relations are going to be difficult regardless of the changing conditions, said Brig Gen Assaf Orion.

The cost depends on the method and prior evacuation and humanitarian support, of which there are early indicators - tents, US dialogue, aid flood, etc.

Regardless, planning is under way on the ground.

We are looking at where there are still partially functioning hospitals in the other areas, and [asking] will they be able to manage an upsurge in patients? said Nyka Alexander, part of the WHOs health emergencies division.

While the flow of food into the area had improved recently, Ms Alexander said conditions in Rafah were poor, citing a lack of nutritious food, lice, extreme heat and food-borne viruses, including hepatitis.

There are just so many difficulties that people here face, she said. I was at a shelter yesterday, a shelter for 50,000 people. There are 44 toilets. So you do the maths.

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Only one person has presented his candidacy for rector of one of the oldest academic institutions in the world, the University of Salamanca. He is Professor Juan Manuel Corchado, who specializes in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. On March 15 EL PAIS published a story revealing that for years this academic has been enhancing his resume with tricks, publishing odd documents such as a pseudo-study on Covid with four insubstantial paragraphs and citing a hundred references to his own work. Corchado, a 52-year-old native of Salamanca, denied claims of fraud and continued on his path towards the universitys highest position, once held by the philosopher Miguel de Unamuno. On May 7, 33,000 university students are called to vote for a single candidate. If there are no surprises, the candidate will assume command of the university, with an annual budget of almost 290 million.

Corchado told seven lies in his reply to the information published by this newspaper and which he posted on his website with the title Defending the truth. The professor claimed that the documents with thousands of self-citations were simply class exercises posted on a university website. Thats the first lie. The reality is that Corchado used the same trick in his presentations at conferences. In a two-page abstract for a conference in Chennai, India, he cited himself 200 times. The academic knew that the Google Scholar search engine would track these documents and take them into account to develop its metrics, which is why Corchado appears to be one of the experts in artificial intelligence with the greatest impact in the world, without actually being one. Corchado has ignored new requests for information from this newspaper.

The professor maintains that he deleted the documents with self-citations when he realized that they were boosting his resume, but that is the second lie. The mass deletion began in March, just when this newspaper began to ask around. He had 45,000 citations, more than the top luminaries in the United States. And they were not class exercises published on the internet by mistake. In another superficial talk for the University of Technology Malaysia, Corchado added more than 150 self-citations and another 136 mentions of works published in the journal that he edits: Advances in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence Journal (ADCAIJ). Thus he artificially multiplied his own impact and that of his magazine.

There are many more examples like these. Corchado and his assistants have for years instructed workers in his research group  called BISITE  to include in their studies a ready-made list of references to papers written by the professor or taken from ADCAIJ, according to internal emails to which this newspaper has had access. The more than 150 self-citations from the Malaysian talk are the same ones that were copied and pasted in other presentations with different titles at conferences in Spain and Portugal.

Jordi Cami, a physician who is a reference in scientific ethics in Spain, is forceful: We expect exemplary behavior and verifiable honesty in people who aspire to occupy a position of responsibility. In view of the overwhelming data on the practices of the future rector, it is very bad news for the University of Salamanca, says Cami, a professor at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. These ways of doing things are possible because there is impunity, he adds.

Juan Manuel Corchado (left), with the mayor of Salamanca, Carlos Garcia Carbayo (center), and the chief of economic affairs of the regional government of Castilla y Leon, Carlos Fernandez Carriedo, on March 18. Ayuntamiento de Salamanca

On March 18, three days after EL PAIS published information about his practices, the candidate for rector acted as if nothing had happened, making a public appearance alongside the mayor of Salamanca, Carlos Garcia Carbayo, and the head of economic affairs of the regional government of Castilla y Leon, Carlos Fernandez Carriedo (both from the conservative Popular Party), to present the International Video Game and Animation Innovation Pole, a project endowed with 2.5 million in public funds for the AIR Institute, a private entity created by Corchado.

Jose Maria Diaz Minguez, a professor of genetics at the University of Salamanca, is asking for blank votes as a sign of protest. It is a flagrant case of academic fraud: resorting to self-citations, to massive publication, to magazines that you promote to publish your friends work and have them publish yours... All this is artificially boosting results due to an excessive desire to try to make people think that you are a very good scientist, not because of the quality of your discoveries, but because of manipulated figures. This man gets a huge amount of money without having to prove anything, he warns. A year ago, the city of Salamanca handed over a 700,000 building to Corchados AIR Institute so it could lead a 3.5 million project to promote the digitalization of businesses in the region.

The physicist Javier Mateos, a professor of electronics at the University of Salamanca, has publicly criticized Corchados shenanigans and cheating. Without those tricks he would not be among the most cited, and the Arabs would not be calling him, he stated on his social media accounts. Corchado says on his website that he regularly travels to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Last November Corchado presented a 2 million project involving digital currencies in Abu Dhabi. Qatar has announced a project of almost 1 million to manage the energy consumption of buildings.

Fragment of a presentation by Juan Manuel Corchado at a conference in Chennai (India), in which he cited himself 200 times. EL PAIS

On April 23, this newspaper sent Corchado a copy of his presentation with 200 self-citations in Chennai and the one with 150 self-citations in Malaysia, requesting an interview on two occasions to hear his explanations regarding these and other practices. The academic read the messages on WhatsApp, but did not respond. When the first EL PAIS article came out, Corchado claimed on his website that he was suffering an attack with political intentions to prevent him from becoming rector. Thats the third lie. The reality is that the American organization Retraction Watch, specialized in scientific fraud, had already revealed the professors practices in March 2022, yet Corchado maintained his behavior. The scientific journalist Dalmeet Singh Chawla, from London, showed that the professor from Salamanca copied and pasted the same string of self-citations in different conferences, even if they dealt with different topics.

In his article Defending the truth, Corchado claims that the Retraction Watch reporter did not identify himself as a journalist at the time and that is why he did not answer the questions. It is the fourth lie. The reporter tells the real story. On February 10, 2022, Chawla sent a first message to Corchado, introducing himself like this: My name is Dalmeet Singh Chawla and I am a science reporter from the United Kingdom. I am writing an article for Retraction Watch about your Google Scholar profile, because several of your documents have quite a few references to your own work. The reporter also asked him about a mysterious Arturo Perez Pulido, a supposed scientist who cited Corchado thousands of times in insubstantial works published on the ResearchGate repository, another one of Google Scholars usual sources.

The professor maintains that he did not pay attention to the message. Those who work with me know that I regularly receive a multitude of emails, he says. Its the fifth lie. Faced with the silence of the Spanish professor, Chawla insisted on February 15, 2022. Corchado then responded that he would answer the questions as soon as possible, but said that he had just broken his arm. The journalist sent him reminders on March 21 and 23 of that year, but Corchado did not reply.

Building handed over by the city of Salamanca to the AIR Institute of Juan Manuel Corchado. AIR Institute

Corchado acknowledges that there were many false profiles of scientists on ResearchGate dedicated to compulsively citing his work, but assures that they were not created by him, but by a former colleague who wanted to do harm. This newspaper verified there are at least three apparently non-existent researchers  Juan Rodriguez, A. Perez and Marcus Ress  whose profiles disappeared on March 13, the same day that Corchado had arranged a telephone interview with EL PAIS. The professor stated that he and his collaborators used their knowledge in cybersecurity to delete these false profiles, since, according to their version of events, they did not have the login details as they had not been created by themselves.

A spokesperson for the scientific repository offers a different version: We have no indication that anyone has hacked into ResearchGate. To delete an account, the account holder has to log in and delete it themselves. That would be the sixth lie. There are still suspicious profiles of alleged researchers who only cite Corchado. A certain Denika Rout, from the University of Delhi (India), published five conference papers in 2005 with different titles, but with the same content and the same 50 citations to Corchados work in each of them. There are identical paragraphs that are repeated in a presentation signed by Rout, in another by Arturo Perez Pulido, and in a chapter of a book by Corchado himself.

This newspaper has spoken with more than 40 people from the University of Salamanca and other institutions for this investigative story. Many interviewees highlighted Corchados moves to take the reins of the university as soon as possible. The previous rector, Ricardo Rivero, should have held the position until the end of 2025, but he resigned unexpectedly on March 7, citing personal reasons. The surprising thing is that Corchado was already campaigning for the post before that, even though the elections were theoretically almost two years away. On February 27, the dean of the School of Economics, Jesus Galende, had called faculty members to a meeting in which Corchado would explain his future candidacy for rector, as he wrote in an email message to which this newspaper has had access.

Susana Perez Santos, a professor of applied physics, was the only one who threatened to compete against Corchado for the role, but she quit the race on March 19 after unsuccessfully requesting that the elections not be called so urgently. In a letter to faculty members, she denounced the opacity and the apparent pre-established planning of the sudden resignation of the previous rector. The political scientist Francisco Sanchez, director of the Ibero-American Institute of the University of Salamanca, also expressed astonishment. I think the resignation of Rector Ricardo Rivero was irresponsible, because it caused an unforeseen early election that only favors one candidate who was already campaigning. We are in the midst of an institutional crisis that generates suspicions and casts doubts on the true motives of this entire process.

Professor Juan Manuel Corchado, on April 11, registering the one and only candidacy for rector of the University of Salamanca. USAL

The only candidate for rector even owns a self-proclaimed independent digital media outlet, World Diarium, and a video platform with its own cryptocurrency, Noixion.tv, in which he does advertising for himself. Corchado insists that he does not need to cheat on Google Scholar because his metrics are also very good in other more selective databases, such as Scopus. That is the seventh lie. The reality is that his ready-made lists of self-citations have artificially boosted him everywhere, although in recent weeks he has deleted the most scandalous papers. He has also resorted to other shortcuts, such as being editor of 31 special issues of journals published by MDPI, which is owned by the Chinese chemist Shu-Kun Lin and has been criticized for easily publishing insubstantial studies in exchange for a fee of about 2,600 per paper.

MDPIs behavior is abnormal. Around 85% of its hundreds of thousands of studies are published in so-called special issues managed by guest editors, who practically become sales agents for the magazine in exchange for being able to publish one or more articles for free. In a special issue of MDPIs Sensors magazine, co-edited with a professor from King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia), Corchado published five studies signed by himself, adding 20 self-citations. In Spanish universities there is a sarcastic way of talking about MDPI professors, a reference to academics who rise quickly thanks to a curriculum boosted with these tricks.

In 2019, the publisher Elsevier withdrew a study by Corchado and three collaborators for plagiarizing a masters thesis. The professor has also been associate editor of the controversial artificial intelligence magazine IJIMAI, whose editor-in-chief is the computer engineer Ruben Gonzalez Crespo, vice-rector of the International University of La Rioja (UNIR). Corchado coincided in the position with Indias Gunasekaran Manogaran, accused of setting up a megafactory of fraudulent scientific studies. A person who worked with Gonzalez Crespo showed evidence that the vice-rector organized a scheme with other UNIR faculty members to boost references to the magazine IJIMAI. When they reviewed studies for other publications, they suggested to the authors that they should add references to their magazine. Both Corchados magazine and Gonzalez Crespos have risen in the rankings with this type of crude trick. And both have entered the list of the most-cited scientists in the world developed by Stanford University.

The current candidate for rector and his aides also organize the annual PAAMS International Conference, with six simultaneous talks and a fee of up to 585 per attendee. It is, in addition to being a business, an easy way to fatten your resume, as Felipe Meneguzzi, chair in computing science at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), emphasizes. The PAAMS conference is known for being a bit predatory: anyone with a pulse would get papers accepted, he notes.

Meneguzzi is a councillor in the Executive Council of the Washington-based Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). Corchado is not unique in what he does, and this is definitely not only in artificial intelligence. I reckon artificial intelligence is an easier area to disguise this because there is so much buzz and so many people working and publishing barely incremental (and very seldom, really transformative) work, that many researchers can reach profiles and citation counts that would be mind boggling to other areas. What is just unusual is that this could be done effectively to climb the hierarchy of a prestigious European University, he emphasizes.

Computer scientist Carles Sierra directs the renowned Artificial Intelligence Research Institute in Cerdanyola del Valles (Spain), and also chairs the European Association for Artificial Intelligence. He prefers not to comment on the specific case of Corchado, but issues a general warning: Promoting irrelevant self-citations is a very unethical practice. The president of the ethics committee of the University of Salamanca, Bertha Gutierrez, is Corchados running mate as his future vice-rector. The timeless rector of the venerable Salamanca institution, Miguel de Unamuno, left another motto for history in 1936: Vencer no es convencer (To win is not to convince).

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Israels military says it already looked into reports of mass graves and found no wrongdoing by its forces, even as the Biden administration calls for an investigation into the matter.

Over the past few days, U.S. officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, have called for Israel to thoroughly and transparently investigate reports of mass graves at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which Israeli forces last raided in February. The State Department came under fire from advocates for refusing to call for an independent investigation, instead saying the U.S. will press Israel for information.

When POLITICO asked Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Nadav Shoshani whether Israel plans on investigating, he at first waived off the question, calling the reports fake news.

Asked if that means Israel wont investigate the mass grave reports, Shoshani said: Investigate what? He then added that Israel has already looked into the matter and found that there was no wrongdoing. We gave answers. We dont bury people in mass graves. Not something we do.

Shoshani didnt provide details of that investigation or who Israel provided answers to specifically.

The Israelis have told us privately what theyve said publicly, that they totally reject the allegations, said a U.S. official, granted anonymity to detail private conversations. We arent in a position to validate that, and would like a thorough and transparent investigation into the reports. The White House and the State Department declined to comment.

At least two of the three burial sites were dug prior to Israeli troops arriving, The New York Times reported. But the Gaza Civil Defense said only about 100 people were buried in graves before the IDF raid, and a total of 392 bodies were recovered.

Experts dont believe there would be accountability if Israel investigates: It is hard to see any real accountability or change coming out of that, said Mairav Zonszein, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

Simply asking Israel to investigate itself is meaningless, said Khaled Elgindy, the Middle East Institutes director of the program on Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian affairs.

They both cited the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was found to have been likely killed by an Israeli soldier while reporting in the West Bank in 2022. No one was held accountable.

But Israel did react swiftly following its deadly strike on World Central Kitchen aid workers on April 1, dismissing two officers and reprimanding three others involved in the attack, which Israel deemed a mistake. The strike killed seven people, including an American-Canadian dual citizen.

After news of the mass graves broke, the Israeli military said its troops had exhumed bodies, in a respectful manner, that Palestinians had previously buried as they searched for remaining hostages. Those not belonging to Israeli hostages were returned to the graves, the military said. European Union and United Nations leaders have called for an independent investigation.

This is really gruesome, gruesome stuff, said Yousef Munayyer, head of Palestine/Israel Program at Arab Center Washington D.C., citing reports that some people buried had their hands tied.

If Israel is found culpable, it could bolster the case that the Israeli military has violated international humanitarian law during its war with Hamas. Though U.S. lawmakers have been silent about the graves so far, outspoken critics of Washingtons military assistance to Israel could seize on the report as another reason to stop sending weapons to Israel.

A lot of people are losing faith in the administration's handling of allegations of human rights violations by Israel, Munayyer said.

A version of this story previously appeared in POLITICO's National Security Daily newsletter. Like this content? Consider signing up!


Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council speaks during an interview with Reuters in Sin El Fil

Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council speaks during an interview with Reuters in Sin El Fil

By Maya Gebeily and Emilie Madi

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An Israeli assault on southern Gaza's Rafah area would spell disaster for civilians, not only in Gaza but across the Middle East, the head of an aid group warned on Friday, saying the region faced a "countdown to an even bigger conflict".

Jan Egeland, the Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters that 1.3 million civilians seeking refuge in Rafah - including his aid group's staff - were living in "indescribable fear" of an Israeli offensive.

Israel has stepped up airstrikes on Rafah this week after saying it would evacuate civilians ahead of an all-out assault, despite allies' warnings this could cause mass casualties.

Egeland urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to go through with the operation. "Netanyahu, stop this. It is a disaster not only for the Palestinians, it would be a disaster for Israel. You will have a stain on the Israeli conscience and history forever," he said.

The NRC head spoke to Reuters in Lebanon, where he visited southern villages that he said were caught in a "horrific crossfire" between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The exchanges of fire have been taking place in parallel with the Gaza war, and have intensified in recent days.

"I am just scared that we haven't learned from 2006," said Egeland, referring to the month-long war between Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israel that was the two foes' last bloody confrontation, during which he headed the United Nations' relief operations.

"We do not need another war in the Middle East. At the moment, I'm feeling like (this is a) countdown to an even bigger conflict," he said.

Israel has been waging a military campaign for more than six months against the Gaza Strip, saying it aims to eradicate Hamas, the Palestinian group whose Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and saw another 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's campaign has killed more than 34,300 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities say, and laid waste to much of the widely urbanised enclave, displacing most of its 2.3 million people and leaving many with little food, water or medical care.

"Gaza has had a bigger bombardment than even Aleppo, even Raqqa, even Mosul," Egeland said, referring to cities in Syria and Iraq that have been ravaged by fierce bombing campaigns in the last decade. "We haven't seen it in modern times, which shows that this is indiscriminate."

He said a modest improvement in aid deliveries had allowed some bakeries to reopen in Gaza, but that, with border crossings still shut, famine was still looming. An attack on Rafah would paralyse aid operations "in an instant", he said.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Emilie Madi; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was injured in a car accident on Friday evening after reportedly running a red light.

Three people were injured and hospitalized in the accident in Ramle near Tel Aviv, police said, announcing an investigation.

Israeli media published a dashcam video from an uninvolved vehicle at the scene of the accident, allegedly showing two cars colliding at a junction. Further footage is said to show Ben-Gvir's car overturned on a road.

The Haaretz newspaper reported that in addition to the minister, his daughter, a security guard and the driver of the other car were also taken to hospital.

The minister was in good condition, the Times of Israel said, citing his office.

Ben-Gvir was reportedly on his way back from visiting the scene of a suspected knife attack in Ramle. An 18-year-old girl was seriously injured in the incident, with police announcing that the suspected perpetrator had been "neutralized," without specifying further details.

The car accident was not the first Ben-Gvir has been involved in since taking office. The Times of Israel said he had suffered another crash last summer after his driver ran a red light.
Russian forces are seeking "tactical gains" northwest of Avdiivka, but the primary offensive operation, and the one most likely to be successful, is still Chasiv Yar, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on April 25.

Chasiv Yar is situated in Donetsk Oblast, around 10 kilometers (six miles) west of Bakhmut and 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Avdiivka, cities Russia captured in May 2023 and February 2024, respectively.

Russian forces have been focusing their efforts near Chasiv Yar, which they see as crucial for further advances toward the nearby cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, the Ukrainian military said.

The ISW said that while it is possible that Russian forces may make some gains northwest of Avdiivka, an offensive in the area is "unlikely to develop into an operationally significant penetration, let alone cause the collapse of the Ukrainian defense west of Avdiivka."

The operation to seize Chasiv Yar has the most potential in the short term to be an operational victory for Russian forces, the ISW added.

The taking of Chasiv Yar would present an opportunity for Russia to "launch subsequent offensive operations against cities that form a significant Ukrainian defensive belt in Donetsk Oblast," the ISW said.

Nazar Voloshyn, the Khortytsia Group of Forces' spokesperson, said on April 22 that as many as 20,000 to 25,000 Russian troops are attempting to storm Chasiv Yar and surrounding settlements.

Read also: PTSD crisis looms as troop shortages take toll on Ukrainian soldiers mental health

President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in April that Russia is attempting to capture Chasiv Yar by Victory Day on May 9, a heavily militarized holiday in Russia marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russia is likely trying to take as much territory as possible before the impact of the recently passed U.S. Ukraine aid bill can be felt on the battlefield, which will likely be within the next few weeks.

Despite the infusion of much-needed aid, unnamed U.S. officials told Politico on April 24 that the package may not be enough for Ukraine to regain all of its territory. The aid also does not address Ukraine's manpower shortage or the need to improve its military-industrial capacity.

Read also: Russia prepares for a major offensive in Ukraine, eyes Chasiv Yar

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni takes part in a ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the Liberation. Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

The journalists' union USIGrai has called for a 24-hour strike at Italian public broadcaster Rai on May 6 and 7, mainly to protest against interference by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

They accused Meloni of wanting to turn the broadcaster into a "mouthpiece of the government."

The background to this is the last-minute disinvitation of the writer Antonio Scurati, who wanted to read a text on the day of Italy's liberation from German occupation and fascism on April 25.

During the performance, he wanted to criticize Meloni's party for its post-fascist origins. The text was eventually read out by a Rai journalist.

Meloni has been at the head of a right-wing three-party coalition since October 2022. Her own Brothers of Italy party, has its origins in the post-fascist political spectrum. The former dictator Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) is still revered by prominent party members to this day.

Meloni has avoided describing herself as not a fascist, despite repeated calls to do so.
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.  The Jacksonville Police Department has made a second arrest in connection with a shooting at a park that left two people injured Tuesday night.

Authorities said Kenell Scott of Jacksonville was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Jacksonville police investigating Tuesday night shooting at park

On Tuesday night, officers with the Jacksonville Police Department responded to the park around 7:24 p.m. in reference to a shooting and, when they arrived, said they found two people who had been shot. Authorities said they were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Officials said detectives learned on Wednesday that the suspect vehicle from the shooting had been seen near the 6000 block of Highway 161. Detectives said they arrived at the home and found the vehicle. They said Scott then exited the home and he was taken into custody.

Community reacts to Tuesday night shooting at Jacksonville park

Scott is facing several charges, including 36 counts of terroristic act, two counts of first-degree battery, aggravated robbery, felon in possession of firearms, unlawful use of a communication device, four counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of aggravated assault.

Police also said they arrested Wayne Lee Jr. on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

Jacksonville police arrest suspect in Galloway Park shooting investigation

JPD officials said this is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department at 501-982-3191 or after hours at 501-985-2802.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin took aim at a peculiar line of questioning brought by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in Donald Trumps presidential immunity arguments on Thursday, during which one of the high courts most conservative members seemed to claim that actually punishing Trump for any alleged crimes might only encourage him to break more laws.

The most astonishing thing for me today was Justice Alitos question. He actually asked whether holding the president criminally accountable for actual crimes committed, whether murder or coup or you name it, whether holding them accountable would actually encourage them to stage more violent coups to stay in office to avoid prosecution, Raskin told MSNBC later Thursday.

Which buys completely into Donald Trumps narcissistic criminal worldview. I mean, for all of American history, we have said presidents are subject to criminal prosecution if they commit crimes. Thats why Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon. Thats why Bill Clinton agreed to give up his law license with the bar for five years so he wouldnt face criminal prosecution.

Now they say, If youre really mean to Donald Trump and you hold him accountable the same way every other American citizen is held accountable, then hell really overthrow the government, hell really bring out the big guns, and we cant afford that, Raskin continued. And thats a kind of masochistic capitulation-ism of Donald Trumps authoritarianism.

Of course weve got to hold the president accountable to the law, he said. Its the basic premise of our law, that nobody is above the law, including the president.

Raskin: For all of American history, we have said presidents are subject to criminal prosecution if they commit crimes. That's why Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon. pic.twitter.com/au9MSzPWOn  Acyn (@Acyn) April 25, 2024

Raskin also went on to argue that a popular mode of thinking about how to hold Trump accountablewhich is that you can impeach and convict and then you can prosecute himdefies the language of the U.S. Constitution.



That twists the language and turns it upside down in the Constitution. It says, even if youre impeached and convicted, nevertheless you can still be prosecuted and tried and convicted and punished, presupposing, of course, that the president is subject to criminal law, Raskin said.

The Supreme Courts decision to take up the case has already significantly waylaid Trumps D.C. trial, which hinges on whether the former president can be tried for his alleged involvement in the MAGA-led January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, disrupting Congresss certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

Following a hearing on Thursday, the court appeared ready to reject Trumps claims that he cant be tried on alleged election interference, but their decision may still significantly delay a trial that was originally slated to be the GOP presidential nominees first criminal proceeding. The high courts ruling is expected to be released sometime between late June and early July.
Some Quad-City elementary school students celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees on their schools lawn.

Third grade students at Jane Addams Elementary School planted two trees for Arbor Day. The City of Moline Parks Maintenance donated the trees. Students the importance of trees, and Teresa Landon, Jane Addams principal, said it was a special day for the school.

Students all worked together to plant the trees in honor of their two retiring teachers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
If there are no unexpected forks in the road, there will be electoral debates ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. It is a decades-old tradition, but its continuity on this occasion was up in the air. The incumbent president, Democrat Joe Biden, had been reluctant to debate his Republican rival, Donald Trump, whom he considers a danger to democracy. On Friday, however, Biden indicated his willingness to verbally spar with the former president in a radio interview.

When the host of the show, Howard Stern, asked Biden if he was willing to debate Trump, the president replied: I am, somewhere, I dont know when. Im happy to debate him. Previously, Biden had said that Trumps conduct would be a prerequisite to whether he would agree to participate in a debate. On March 8, he was asked if he would commit to a face-to-face with the Republican candidate and replied: It depends on his behavior.

For his part, Trump, who did not participate in the Republican primary debates, has said he would face Biden under certain conditions. His campaign managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, said this month: We have already indicated President Trump is willing to debate anytime, anyplace, and anywhere  and the time to start these debates is now.

A total of 12 news organizations issued a joint statement on April 14 calling on the presidential candidates to agree to hold debates during the campaign for the upcoming November 5 presidential election.

General election debates have a rich tradition in our American democracy, having played a vital role in every presidential election of the past 50 years, dating to 1976, the news organizations release said. In each of those elections, tens of millions have tuned in to watch the candidates debating side by side, in a competition of ideas for the votes of American citizens.

Since 1988, the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has sponsored every general election presidential debate. It has already set dates for three meetings between the White House candidates and one for the vice-presidential nominees, but it is too early to tell whether they will take place.

Three proposed debates

According to the commissions proposal, the first presidential debate would take place on September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos. The second would be held on October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, and the third on October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Between the first and the second debate between the presidential candidates, one between Kamala Harris and Trumps as-yet undecided running mate would be staged on September 25 at Lafayette College, in Easton (Pennsylvania). The committee has yet to decide on the format and moderators if these dates are confirmed. All debates would begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and last 90 minutes, without a commercial break.

Though it is too early for invitations to be extended to any candidates, it is not too early for candidates who expect to meet the eligibility criteria to publicly state their support for  and their intention to participate in  the Commissions debates planned for this fall, the news organizations noted in their release in a statement underwritten by ABC, Associated Press, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, NBCUniversal, NewsNation, Univision, NPR, PBS, and USA Today.

If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high. Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation, they concluded.

The Republican National Committee voted in 2022 to stop participating in debates staged by the commission. Campaign officials contend that in 2020 the commission selected an avowedly anti-Trump moderator, then-Fox News host Chris Wallace. The former president also reported a technical problem with his microphone during a 2016 debate and criticized the decision to cancel a third debate with Biden in 2020, after Trump tested positive for Covid and refused to participate virtually. The Trump campaign also wants the schedule moved up, arguing that many Americans will have already voted by the time the commissions proposed dates arrive.

During the 2020 election campaign, at the height of the pandemic, there were two debates. In the first, in Cleveland (Ohio), Biden was visibly upset with his opponent in a chaotic debate in which Trump interrupted him 35 times during his turn to speak. The moderator called Trump to order up to 13 times, and at one point Biden said in exasperation: Will you shut up, man? The second debate took place in Nashville (Tennessee) and was somewhat less heated.

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At least one televised presidential debate might happen this election year after all.

President Joe Biden told radio host Howard Stern on Friday hed be happy to debate former president Donald Trump.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

I am somewhere, Biden replied when asked if he would debate Trump during this election cycle. I dont know when. Im happy to debate him.

The comments represent a shift from Biden and his communications teams previous hedging statements about the issue, which have led many to assume there simply wasnt going to be a debate in the run-up to the November general election.

Trumps campaign adviser Chris LaCivita quickly replied on X, Ok, lets set it up!

Earlier this month, a dozen news organizations wrote an open letter urging Biden and Trump to publicly commit to participating in general election debates before Novembers election.  If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high. Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation.

According to Fox News, Trump himself also posted a reply to the news on Truth Social, despite currently being on trial in New York for his hush-money indictment: Crooked Joe Biden just announced that hes willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesnt really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters. I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. MandateIn the alternative, hes in New York City today, although probably doesnt know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT  A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! Its the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, lets do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight  on National Television, Ill wait around!

The White House hasnt yet confirmed the president will indeed participate in a debate, and Bidens team has faced some criticism for seeming to keep Biden from potential media moments where he might misstep (such as declining to participate in the traditional Super Bowl interview this year).

Trump has been pressuring the Biden team for months to commit to a debate, despite Trump ducking all four debates during the recent Republican primaries.

Trump and Biden faced off for just two debates in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, with Trump pulling out of a third.

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CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (PIX11)  A jogger was robbed at gunpoint in Central Park early Friday morning, police sources told PIX11 News.

The robbery happened around 6:30 a.m. at the south end of the park, near East 59th Street and East Drive, according to the sources. The victim had stopped during his jog to take some photos, sources said. Thats when three suspects wearing black punched the victim and held him at gunpoint while they took his cellphone and wallet, they said.

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It wasnt immediately clear whether the victim suffered injuries.

Police are looking for three suspects, sources told PIX11 News. Their descriptions were not immediately available.

Robberies are on the rise in Central Park. So far this year, police have responded to 15 robberies compared to three for the same time period last year.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Lauren Cook is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City area for over a decade. She has been with PIX11 since 2020. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
John Dean: Trumps offer to testify in hush money trial just bravado for his base

John Dean, former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, said Friday that former President Trumps offer to testify in his New York hush money trial is just bravado for his base.

Dean told CNN anchor Boris Sanchez he suspected Trumps legal team was trying to dissuade the former president from testifying, when Sanchez asked.

He is not a good witness, Dean said, referring to Trump. Hes  the few times hes been on the stand and in depositions at some length, we can see hes not a good witness. So, this is a lot of bravado for his base, because there are, obviously, political implications of great dimension for him, in this trial and the others.

Trump has previously said he would testify in the hush money case a few times.

Yeah I would testify, absolutely, Trump said during a joint press conference with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida earlier this month. Its a scam. Its a scam, thats not a trial.

Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the hush money case, said earlier this month that Manhattan prosecutors can question the former president about previous decisions in civil lawsuits, including his E. Jean Carroll and civil fraud cases  both of which also occurred in the Empire State  if he testifies.

The hush money case, which began last week, marks the first criminal trial of a current or former American president. Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to reimbursements to then-fixer Michael Cohen, who paid an porn actor Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, which he denies having.

Following the second day of jury selection in his trial, Trump referred to the reimbursements as a legal expense, putting some blame on his accountants.

I was paying a lawyer, and we marked it down as a legal expense  some accountant. I didnt know, Trump told reporters. Mark it down as a legal expense. Thats exactly what it was. And you get indicted over that?

A recent CNN poll found that a majority of Americans believe former President Trump is being treated differently than most criminal defendants in his hush money case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
John Roberts isnt happy with previous ruling against Trump  what happens now?

During nearly three hours of historic Supreme Court arguments, John Roberts said little. But the cagey chief justice made some points abundantly clear.

A lower court decision that Donald Trump lacks absolute immunity will not stand as written. The court cannot rely on the good faith of prosecutors. And whatever the staggering facts of the election subversion allegations against Trump, they are not his concern here.

Yet, Roberts kept his cards close to his vest on the full merits of the case as other justices played theirs  for and against the former president. That strategy will no doubt give the chief more options as the nine begin negotiating the decision.

Given the signals Thursday from Roberts and other justices, a majority would reject his broad proposition and find some criminal liability for former presidents who engaged in criminal acts while in office.

Yet, whatever Trump loses on larger constitutional grounds, he may gain in the pure practicalities of avoiding to account for charges arising from the 2020 presidential contest before the 2024 election  a gift for Trump from the conservative Supreme Court.

The tenor of the arguments differed strikingly from the sentiment of lower court judges whod previously heard Trumps claim, as Roberts and the right wing concentrated on a former presidents potential exposure to retaliation by political opponents.

They avoided the particulars of the allegations against Trump, his rejection of the 2020 presidential election results, the efforts to organize alternate slate of electors and the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.

The DC Circuit US Court of Appeals had highlighted all of the post-presidential election activity.

Roberts attention, however, was elsewhere. He said he found the appeals court opinion lacking in sufficient grounding, and he derided the unanimous panel decision as circular and tautological.

As I read it, it says simply a former president can be prosecuted because hes being prosecuted, Roberts said.

Michael Dreeben, arguing on behalf of special counsel Jack Smith who brought the charges against Trump, countered with prosecutorial safeguards, including that allegations would be presented to a grand jury, which then votes on an indictment.

Now you know how easy it is in many cases for a prosecutor to get a grand jury to bring an indictment, Roberts rejoined with derision, and reliance on the good faith of the prosecutor may not be enough in some cases.

Roberts suggested the case be returned to the lower court for deeper legal grounding and possible determination of what of the Trump actions charged could be considered part of his official duties and which his private conduct.

Sitting at the center of the bench and with several conservative hardliners to his right, Roberts matters. In difficult, closely divided controversies, such as Thursdays, he can hold the deciding vote. Further, when he is in the majority, Roberts has the power, as chief justice, to determine who writes the opinion.

In past high-profile disputes involving Trump, Roberts has kept the pen for himself. Having begun his legal career in the Ronald Reagan administration, Roberts is protective of the office of the presidency.

But he has sometimes tried to put distance between the high court and the polarizing figure of Trump. He may be loath to write an opinion appearing to give the former president a victory that could be waved on the campaign trail. The nine-member bench is dominated by six conservatives, including three appointed by Trump.

Conservatives express fear of retribution against former presidents

The riveting arguments played out before a packed courtroom, with overflow seats set up in an alcove. Spectators included several current and former high ranking Justice Department officials.

Among the guests in the justices reserved seats were Jane Sullivan Roberts, wife of the chief justice, and Patrick Jackson, husband of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

John Sauer, representing Trump and up first at the lectern, drew a more receptive response than might have been expected, perhaps because he quickly conceded his more expansive claims about absolute immunity. Sauer also acknowledged that certain private actions Trump took would not be shielded at trial.

But the dominant theme emerged when Dreeben stood at the lectern. The justices voiced fear of retribution against a former president, instigated by a new administration and overzealous prosecutors.

That possibility loomed larger than any court concern about the current indictment of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee or about his possible danger to democracy.

Whenever Dreeben tried to return to allegations of fraud, obstruction and other crimes against Trump, conservative justices swept them away.

In one exchange between Dreeben and Justice Samuel Alito regarding the reach of a law punishing conspiracy to defraud the United States, Alito asked, Would you not agree that that is a peculiarly open-ended statutory prohibition?

Its designed to protect the functions of the United States government, Dreeben responded. And its difficult to think of a more critical function than the certification of who won the election.

Responded Alito, with the stance implicitly shared by Roberts: Im not, as I said, Im not discussing the particular facts of this case.

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In Shreveport, Louisiana, across the street from House Speaker Mike Johnsons hometown church, an unusual billboard would pop up occasionally.

During weeks when Congress was out of session and Johnson was home, it showed a picture of a bombed-out church in the southeastern Ukraine city of Berdyansk, next to a caption: Speaker Johnson, For a time such as this. Esther 4:14.

While the debate raged in Washington over whether to approve another round of aid to Ukraine or pair it with an immigration overhaul, the billboard  part of a campaign to remind Johnson of the price his fellow evangelical Christians were paying for American inaction  stood as a mute reminder to Johnson, a Southern Baptist.

A billboard in Louisiana asking House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to help Ukraine by passing an aid package. Razom for Ukraine

The inaction lasted for six months, only ending after President Joe Biden signed a law Wednesday giving Ukraine $60.8 billion in additional aid that passed Congress only days before.

Over the half-year time frame, advocates for Ukraine made argument after argument aiming to sway Republicans like Johnson: Inaction would reward Russia President Vladimir Putin and embolden other enemies of the U.S. Sending the weapons would reboot the industrial base needed to supply our own military. The U.S. owed it to Ukrainians who gave up their nuclear weapons in 1994, at the behest of the United States.

But the arguments appeared to make little impact on Johnson, who insisted on linking aid and border security until about two weeks ago.

Two pro-Ukraine groups, the Ukraine Project Freedom and Razom for Ukraine, settled on a much narrower, and ultimately maybe more potent, argument  arguing Russian invaders were systematically and intentionally destroying churches belonging to evangelical Christians.

Its not clear how much the argument worked. Johnsons office declined to comment, and Johnson himself listed several reasons he changed his mind and decided to allow a vote on Ukraine aid when he spoke to reporters April 17.

But on the day Johnson made it clear he would hold the vote, even if it cost him his job as the most powerful Republican in Washington, he met with two Ukrainian evangelicals, including one who had lost his wife and 4-month-old son only weeks before to a Russian air attack.

The responsibility of the free world was placed upon the shoulders of America after World War II, Johnson told reporters. We have to be the beacon of light and we have to show strength.

Johnsons words were music to the ears of Ukraine supporters who had worked for months to get the aid package unstuck. But they also contained echoes of the Old Testament story of Esther, a Jew who was picked to be the wife of the Persian King Xerxes at a time when the Jews were in captivity.

Esther, according to the story, kept her heritage a secret until Mordecai, the man who took care of the orphaned Esther when she was young, told her of a plan by one of Xerxes advisors to kill all the Jews. He asked her to intercede with Xerxes on their behalf, even though it could mean her death.

Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Mordecai said to the reluctant Esther. She eventually talked to Xerxes, who stopped the plan to kill all the Jews, and hung the advisor.

Someone who is close to Johnson told me he is animated by the story of Esther, said Steven Moore, the founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, which helps get aid, medical supplies and food to frontline areas.

Johnson was seen as an almost accidental speaker after he came from backbench obscurity in October to replace ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. His tenure has been marked by constant threats of a similar removal by party hardliners over spending, U.S. spying laws and Ukraine.

But Johnson has persevered and his stock may be rising after the Ukraine vote, which saw the package supported by 311 House members, though only a slight minority in his own party.

He has worn his faith on his sleeve, saying when he took the gavel there was an easy way to try to divine his views on specific issues. Go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it  thats my worldview, he said two days after he was elected speaker.

Johnsons activism in conservative Christian circles also meant he could be exposed to the stories of what was happening in Ukraine, whose two main religious traditions are Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism.

Pavlo Unguryan, a former parliament member and a Baptist evangelical leader in Kyiv, told HuffPost he has known Johnson for some time from the prayer breakfast movement. The initiative, to have public officials gather regularly for religious fellowship, is a project of The International Foundation, a secretive group of conservative evangelicals better known as The Family. Unguryan saw Johnson in February, during a prayer breakfast at the Museum of the Bible in Washington.

Johnson is a great, great Christian. And we know his wonderful story from his church, from his family. And hes [an] amazing servant of God, Unguryan said.

(From left to right) Ukrainian air raid victim Sehrii Haidarzhy, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Ukrainian evangelical leader Pavlo Unguryan meet in Washington on April 17. Steven Moore

Unguryan said in 2014, before Russia took over the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, there were about 11,000 evangelical churches in the country, with about 3,000 of them being Baptist.

But those numbers have dropped since the full-scale invasion started in February 2022, in part, Unguryan said, because Russians see evangelicals as Western and potential spies.

Russia disproportionately targets Protestant Christians. Protestants make up about 4% of the Ukrainian population, but they comprise more than a third of the documented incidents of Russian persecution, said Melinda Haring, a senior advisor for Razom, in an email.

Baptists are hard hit. The Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary reports the loss of some 400 Baptist congregations since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Moore said hes shown members of Congress video of Russian troops entering an evangelical church in occupied Melitopol, telling the congregation to stay seated so their presence could be documented, and that they would be fingerprinted and have their phones searched.

Ukraines small evangelical community also took a hit March 2 when the port city of Odesa was attacked with drones. A drone hit by air defense fell on a nine-story apartment building, causing part of it to collapse and killing 12 people.

Among the dead were 4-month-old Timofii Haidarzhy and his mother, Anna, 31. She was the daughter of a prominent local evangelical church minister and the attack, which killed four other children, made headlines across the country.

It was an absolutely big tragedy for many people and people share the pictures of the mom and her baby, Unguryan said.

The father, Serhii, was in another room with the couples daughter and survived. He and Unguryan, on a trip paid for by both Ukraine Freedom Project and Razom, met with Johnson on April 17, the day Johnson said he was willing to risk being booted from being speaker for allowing a vote on Ukraine.

The photo of Anna Haidarzhy, 31, and her 4-month-old son, Tymofii, who died under the rubble of the collapsed section of the apartment block hit by the Russian drone in Odesa on March 2 is seen during the memorial service, in Odesa, southern Ukraine. Nina Liashonok /Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

It was not a long conversation, Unguryan said, estimating the meeting only took seven to 10 minutes. Haidarzhy showed Johnson some pictures of his dead son and a piece of the Iranian drone that hit his building, Unguryan said, noting similar drones had struck Israel only days before the meeting.

Johnson was moved.

He just stay and pray and want to encourage [Serhii]. It was like a real conversation, in one spirit, Unguryan said. It was a great blessing to have some minutes.

Later that day, Johnson told reporters he believed Russia, Iran and China were working in coordination as an axis of evil.

We have to do the right thing and history will judge us, he said.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, presents a measure to the Joint Budget Committee that would have reduced Arkansas PBS' spending authority. The committee rejected the proposal. (Screenshot courtesy of Arkansas Legislature)

A legislative panel on Thursday narrowly rejected a proposed 20% reduction to Arkansas PBS spending authority for fiscal year 2025.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, has repeatedly been critical of the publicly funded educational television station. He presented the Joint Budget Committee with an amendment to Arkansas PBS fiscal 2025 appropriations bill that would have reduced the agencys spending authority for privately raised funds, from $8.96 million to $7.17 million.

Sullivan told his fellow committee members Thursday that the proposed amendment would reduce Arkansas PBS spending power but not the actual amount of money the agency has.

In order to spend more money than their appropriation allows, PBS officials would have to seek approval from the Arkansas Legislative Councils Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) subcommittee.

If we need to cut those appropriations to a level where people have to come to PEER who have a history of not managing well, I think thats a really good precedent to set, Sullivan said.

PBS administrators faced questions from lawmakers last year about the results of a 2022 audit of the agency that revealed what auditors considered questionable purchasing practices. Auditors and lawmakers expressed concerns that PBS officials sidestepped state laws related to contract bidding, possibly intentionally. CEO Courtney Pledger and her cohorts insisted they had no such intentions.

In August, a Legislative Joint Auditing subcommittee tabled a potential merit pay raise for Pledger at Sullivans urging, citing the lack of resolution of the 2022 audit.

In November, the full Legislative Joint Auditing Committee authorized a fresh audit to examine more than two years of procurements and related processes at Arkansas PBS.

Sullivan said Thursday that he did not think a reduced appropriation would impact the networks programming. Pledger said this was not necessarily true.

Depending on what would be approved before PEER, it may or may not seriously hamper programming, she said.

Concerns

PBS receives $6.2 million in taxpayer dollars but also operates with money from grants and donations. Sullivans amendment would have applied exclusively to the private funds, and he said the Legislature should oversee how state agencies spend money from all sources.

Sen. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, said he found this counterintuitive.

Sen. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock

We have an agency here that supplements the money they receive through general revenue through their own grit, Tucker said. Thats the type of behavior we should encourage among state agencies, and here we are saying, If you want to spend the money that you get on your own, youre going to have to come and kiss the ring.

Tucker was one of several Democratic lawmakers to vote against the amendment. Four Republican House members also voted no: Les Eaves of Searcy, Jeff Wardlaw of Hermitage, Jim Wooten of Beebe and House Speaker Matthew Shepherd of El Dorado.

The committee members who supported Sullivans amendment were exclusively Republicans. Rep. Robin Lundstrum, an Elm Springs Republican and chair of the auditing committees state agencies subcommittee, called the 2022 audit a disaster and the proposed amendment extremely helpful and a measured approach to government oversight of Arkansas PBS.

Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, said she did not expect the Legislature to ever consider reducing the spending power of executive branch agencies due to negative or questionable findings in an audit.

Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock)

Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock

I believe [some people] would have had a problem with PBS whether they had findings or not, she said. I think those problems accrue from some people who are disgruntled, perhaps reasonably so, but I dont want us to set a precedent whereby every time we do something to an agency we dont like, we might treat them differently than some other agencies.

Chesterfield also reminded Sullivan that he has said equal treatment is important to him.

Sullivan sponsored a bill last year to end affirmative action in Arkansas, calling it state-sponsored discrimination that impeded the ability to judge Arkansans on merit. The bill narrowly passed the Senate but was voted down in the House.

Past legislation

Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville, said she remembered Sullivan trying to reduce Arkansas PBS spending authority during the 2022 fiscal session; Sullivan said he took issue with being accused of this.

In February 2022, Sullivan introduced a bill that would have cut the networks appropriations for both private and state funds by a cumulative 25%. The bill died in the Joint Budget Committee at the end of the fiscal session.

Sullivan said in an interview after Thursdays committee meeting that he did not remember his reasons for introducing the 2022 bill.

In response to Clowneys questions, Sullivan said the Legislature should ensure that every state agencys spending power has limits.

He compared his proposal to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed fiscal 2025 state budget. The $6.3 billion general revenue budget proposal includes a significantly smaller spending increase  $109 million, or 1.76%  compared to previous fiscal years annual 3% hikes. Sanders has touted this as a reduction of governments spiraling growth.

Clowney said she had big concerns that PEER would not approve additional appropriations requests from Arkansas PBS if the agency had to request them. Sullivan said he could not predict any legislative panels voting behavior.

In December, PEER tabled an appropriation request from the agency because Pledger had been absent at several legislative hearings in which PBS was on the agenda. Lawmakers said her absence was disrespectful; the networks then-chief financial officer, Karen Watkins, said Pledger missed the December meeting due to illness.

Clowney asked Sullivan if his proposed appropriation cut was due to disapproval of any of the networks programming. Sullivan did not answer the question.

In December 2021, Arkansas PBS retracted two requests to enter into federally-funded contracts for educational programming after Sullivan claimed a producers social media posts were too liberal, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

The post Joint Budget Committee rejects proposal to reduce Arkansas PBS spending authority appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Celebrity chef and founder of nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) Jose Andres memorialized his seven employees killed during an aid mission in Gaza at a service at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday.

They risked everything to feed people they didnt know and would never meet, he said, saying his employees were the best of humanity. Their examples should inspire us to do better, to be better.

The seven aid workers were leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza after delivering food. They were driving in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars when an Israeli airstrike hit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the unintended strike and said it was a tragic event, but he also said things like this happen in war.

Andres praised each of the workers during a tearful speech at the celebration of life. He said every innocent life taken is one too many.

Food can never be a weapon of war. Humanitarians can never be targets because they are the best of us, he said.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the memorial, representing the Biden administration, Politico noted.

After the strike, President Biden called Andres to offer his condolences and released a statement that said he was outraged at the news of the workers deaths, including an American Canadian dual citizen.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) was also in attendance for the memorial.

As Jose Andres said, we cannot ignore the suffering of those caught up in humanitarian disasters, and we can help the light shine through, even in the worlds darkest places, Coons posted on the social platform X.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Journalists at Italys public broadcaster walk out over right-wing government censorship of media

Giorgia Melonis government has been accused of trying to censor Italian media (AP)

Journalists at Italys state broadcaster are planning to go on strike next month in protest at the suffocating control over their work by the countrys right-wing government.

Workers at RAI have a raft of grievances, including what they say are political attempts to turn the broadcaster into a mouthpiece for the government.

Other issues include staff shortages and the cancellation of an agreement over performance bonuses, according to the reporters trade union, Usigrai, which announced the 24-hour strike for 6 May.

Since Giorgia Meloni became prime minister in 2022, several high-profile executives and presenters have left RAI, lamenting government interference, and critics have expressed alarm over legislation proposed by her Brothers of Italy party to increase punishments for defamation.

Political influence over RAI is a long-standing issue, which came to a head last weekend over the last-minute cancellation of a talk-show appearance by Antonio Scurati, an anti-fascist writer and academic.

He had been due to read a monologue marking the national holiday on Thursday that celebrated Italys liberation from fascism, in which he criticised Ms Melonis party for not repudiating its post-fascist past. He also accused the prime minister of trying to rewrite history.

Italian newspapers have since published his piece.

Television officials and the prime minister denied censoring Mr Scuratis monologue, with the company saying only it had been dropped for editorial reasons and including his high fee.

Anti-fascist uthor Antonio Scuratis appearance on a talk show was cancelled (Getty Images)

Ms Meloni, whose party traces its roots back to wartime dictator Benito Mussolinis fascists, has decried all forms of totalitarianism and spoken of her aversion to fascism. But she avoids defining herself as anti-fascist, despite frequent calls for her to do so.

Successive governments have handed out top jobs at RAI to loyal proteges. Its board members, appointed by parliament and the government, are picked according to their party affiliation.

Proposals to make the broadcaster more independent have been discussed for years but have never achieved results.

Unirai, a smaller union of RAI journalists, said they would not join next months strike, calling it a political protest.

Additional reporting by Reuters
FILE - Spain's Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez and and his wife Begona Gomez, left, celebrate general election results in Madrid, Spain, April 28, 2019. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has left Spain in suspense on announcing he may step down because of what he called an "unprecedented" smear campaign against his wife. Sanchez, who has been in office since 2018, stunned all Wednesday April 24, 2024 by announcing that he was canceling all events until next week when he will unveil his future. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

MADRID (AP)  Thousands of Spanish journalists came out Friday in support of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife following Sanchezs announcement that he was considering his future as premier after a court opened preliminary proceedings against his wife on corruption allegations.

Sanchez, who is to announce his future Monday, blamed the judicial probe on spurious attacks by right and far-right opponents in the media and political parties.

In support, several thousand journalists and writers signed an online manifesto saying, the attack by the media and judicial extreme right against the wife of the President of the Government is a new attempt to subvert the popular will expressed at the polls through illicit means.

It criticized what it called a campaign of hoaxes, falsehoods and harassment against members of the last two leftist coalition governments, saying they were coordinated and financed by right-wing political parties, aligned media, businesses and judiciary members.

The legal complaint against Sanchezs wife, Begona Gomez, was filed by a far-right legal platform that says Gomez used her position to influence business deals.

The group, Manos Limpias, or Clean Hands, acknowledged that the complaint was based on newspaper articles. Spanish prosecutors say it should be thrown out.

The undersigned journalists invite civil society to join this manifesto and to mobilize on social networks and in the streets against this anti-democratic outrage, Fridays manifesto read.

Governments are chosen and changed at the polls and in Parliament, it continued, before ending with the call of No to the judicial and media coup. No to the mud machine.

The right-of center opposition Popular Party, however, said Sanchezs behavior was a pathetic ploy to try to win support in upcoming regional and European elections.

Sanchezs supporters plan a demonstration in support of Sanchez in Madrid on Saturday.
A congressional hopefuls effort to be on GOP ballot in June received a blow when a federal judge Thursday denied his request to stop ballot printing with his name left off.

Michael LaPierre, who filed to run as a Republican in the 3rd Congressional District but was not allowed to be on the ballot, sued the S.C. GOP and South Carolina Election Commission. His request for a temporary retraining order against the party and election commission to stop ballot printing was denied.

LaPierre does not provide the court with a sufficient reason to enjoin the defendants before they can be served with notice of the motion and heard in opposition to the motion, Judge Mary Geiger Lewis wrote in her order.

The state election commission will continue printing ballots without LaPierres name and ballots as military and overseas voters begin going out on Saturday. The primary election is June 11.

Well just continue with ballot production as is, said John Michael Catalano, a spokesman for the election commission.

LaPierre, who is representing himself in the case, said he is considering his options, including a possible appeal of the case.

The citizens and candidates of South Carolina must believe that their right to vote and right to be viable candidates in a primary process are not being disenfranchised, LaPierre said in an interview. I will do everything in my power to change that dynamic.

The S.C. GOP declined to comment for this story.

LaPierre, of Travelers Rest, was kept off the ballot because he did not live in the district as required by the state party rules. The constitution only requires a congressional candidate live in the state where theyre running.

The 3rd Congressional District covers all or parts of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties.

Republicans Sheri Biggs, Kevin Bishop, Mark Burns, Franky Franco, Phil Healy, state Rep. Stewart Jones, and Elspeth Snow Murday have also filed to run for the seat.

LaPierre could choose to run as an independent in Novembers election, but to appear on the ballot, he would need to submit 10,000 valid voter signatures by July 15 from the 3rd Congressional District. It would be a monumental task to accomplish in two-and-a-half months.

Taking them on in a fight for the general election may be a viable alternative for me. Well see which direction I go, LaPierre said.
Judge says Louisville House representative can stay on ballot, but challenge is coming

A judge ruled Thursday that Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, can stay on the ballot after her filing paperwork was challenged.

Kulkarnis candidacy on the May 21 primary ballot was challenged by former state representative Dennis Horlander, who she had unseated in a 2018 Democratic primary.

Horlanders petition sought to disqualify Kulkarni on the basis that one of her paperwork co-signers was a registered Republican at the time of signing. Also, another signatorys spouse, who notarized the petition, could potentially pose a conflict of interest, Horlander argued.

Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry ruled that wasnt enough to kick Kulkarni off the ballot for the primary election.

The Court is mindful too of Kentuckys longstanding history and tradition that liberal construction in favor of broad voter participation is deeply embedded in Kentucky law, Perry wrote. Viewed in that permissive light, the Court cannot justify interfering in the electoral process on the inadequate grounds presented here.

Horlanders petition largely centered around Sharon LaRue, who was one of two registered voters of the same party from the district required by law to sign Kulkarnis candidate paperwork.

LaRue was a Republican at the time, but weeks later became a Democrat on Jan. 8, according to records obtained from the Jefferson County Clerks Office.

LaRue signed Kulkarnis filing on Dec. 22, 2023, according to the suit, as well as records obtained from the Kentucky Secretary of States Office.

Kulkarni had said the challenge was based on an outdated technicality to disenfranchise voters. She called it outdated because LaRue is now a Democrat and became one before the filing paperwork was certified by the Secretary of States Office on Jan. 17.

A spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Adams confirmed the date of certification.

Perry, in his ruling, emphasized that Kulkarni had no prior knowledge of the signatorys Republican affiliation and took immediate corrective action once informed. Additionally, the court ruled that the notarization by the spouse of another signatory did not constitute a conflict of interest.

Thats because the notarys spouse was neither a party to nor had a direct beneficial interest in the petition.

Its possible Perrys ruling isnt the end of the story. Horlanders attorney, Steven Megerle, filed a notice of appeal later Thursday to kick the case up to the states Court of Appeals. However, the primary election will take place in less than a month.

The only other person to have filed for Kulkarnis office is Louisville Democrat William Zeitz.

Sharon LaRue was one of two registered voters of the same party from the district required by law to sign Kulkarnis candidate paperwork. She was a Republican at the time, but weeks later became a Democrat on Jan. 8, according to records obtained from the Jefferson County Clerks Office.

LaRue signed Kulkarnis filing on Dec. 22, 2023, according to the suit, as well as records obtained from the Kentucky Secretary of States Office.

In a comment on the ruling, Megerle expressed confidence the Court of Appeals would overturn Perrys ruling.

Apparently, election petition requirements apply to everyone but Nima Kulkarni, Megerle wrote.

Now the law is Republicans can nominate Democrats, and Democrats nominate Republicans in partisan primaries as long as they switch parties before the petition is certified and after the filing deadline.
FILE- Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides over a hearing, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. DeKalb Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick on Thursday, APril 25, 2024, upheld the disqualification of Tiffani Johnson, a candidate who had had planned to run against McAfee. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File)

DECATUR, Ga. (AP)  A judge upheld the disqualification of a candidate who had had planned to run against the judge presiding over former President Donald Trumps 2020 Georgia election interference case.

Tiffani Johnson is one of two people who filed paperwork to challenge Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. An administrative law judge earlier this month found that she was not qualified to run for the seat after she failed to appear at a hearing on a challenge to her eligibility, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger adopted that decision.

Johnson last week filed a petition for review of that decision in Fulton County Superior Court. After all of McAfee's colleagues on the Fulton County bench were recused, a judge in neighboring DeKalb County took up the matter and held a hearing Thursday on Johnson's petition.

At the end of the hearing, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick upheld the decision that said Johnson is not eligible, news outlets reported. A representative for Johnson's campaign did not immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment.

The ruling leaves McAfee with a single challenger, civil rights attorney Robert Patillo, in the nonpartisan race for his seat.

With early voting set to begin Monday for the May 21 election, it's likely too late to remove Johnson's name from the ballot. The law says that if a candidate is determined not to be qualified, that persons name should be withheld from the ballot or stricken from any ballots. If there isnt enough time to strike the candidates name, prominent notices are to be placed at polling places advising voters that the candidate is disqualified and that votes cast for her will not be counted.

Georgia law allows any person who is eligible to vote for a candidate to challenge the candidates qualifications by filing a complaint with the secretary of states office within two weeks of the qualification deadline. A lawyer for Sean Arnold, a Fulton County voter, filed the challenge on March 22.

Arnolds complaint noted that the Georgia Constitution requires all judges to reside in the geographical area in which they are elected to serve. He noted that in Johnsons qualification paperwork she listed her home address as being in DeKalb County and wrote that she had been a legal resident of neighboring Fulton County for 0 consecutive years. The qualification paperwork Johnson signed includes a line that says the candidate is an elector of the county of my residence eligible to vote in the election in which I am a candidate.

Administrative Law Judge Ronit Walker on April 2 held a hearing on the matter but noted in her decision that Johnson did not appear.

Walker wrote that the burden of proof is on the candidate to affirmatively establish eligibility for office and that Johnsons failure to appear at the hearing rendered her incapable of meeting her burden of proof.

Walker concluded that Johnson was unqualified to be a candidate for superior court judge in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Raffensperger adopted the judges findings and conclusions in reaching his decision to disqualify her.

A lawyer Johnson, who said in her petition that she has since moved to Fulton County, argued that Johnson failed to show up for the hearing because she did not receive the notice for it.

Without addressing the merits of the residency challenge, Hydrick found that Johnson had been given sufficient notice ahead of the hearing before the administrative law judge and concluded that the disqualification was proper.
Gov. Laura Kelly talks with Sen. Jeff Longbine during a visit April 25, 2024, to Emporia. Kelly's line-item vetoes include rejection of a $9 million earmark to support Emporia Sate University's unique model for changing course offerings. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Gov. Laura Kelly sliced tens of millions of dollars from the state budget through a series of line-item vetoes, striking out funding to deploy the Kansas National Guard to the Mexico border, support for anti-abortion programs, and another earmark for Emporia State Universitys enrollment-cratering model.

The Legislature could vote to override any of the governors vetoes if two-thirds of the members of both chambers want to do so.

The governor preserved the bulk of the states $25 billion spending blueprint by signing Senate Bill 28. The legislation includes investments in water infrastructure, economic development projects, workforce training programs and raises for state employees.

Based on current revenue, the budget would leave the state with a $3 billion surplus. The governor on Wednesday vetoed a bipartisan tax cut package that would reduce reduce annual revenue by $520 million, burning through reserves and leaving the state with a budget deficit within five years. She proposed an alternative plan that would lower income, sales and property tax collections by about $430 million per year.

She also trimmed the budget, pending legislative overrides, by eliminating a combination of big ticket items, improper uses of funds and unvetted pet projects that materialized with little explanation or debate.

Kelly vetoed $15.7 million in funding to support sending the Kansas National Guard to Texas to assist with alleged criminal activity happening at the Mexico border.

As the Kansas National Guards commander-in-chief, it is my constitutional authority to direct the National Guard while on state duty, the governor said. It is not the Legislatures role to direct the operations or call out the National Guard.

She said border security is a federal issue that needs to be resolved by lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

When a governor deploys soldiers as part of a federal mission, it is done intentionally and in a manner that ensures we are able to protect our communities and that we do not threaten Guard readiness or limit our ability to respond to natural disasters at home, Kelly said.

She rejected a $2 million earmark for the Pregnancy Compassion Awareness Program, saying it is inappropriate to provide taxpayer funding for unregulated pregnancy crisis centers that have no medical credentials.

The funding would continue the program administered by the state treasurers Office. Last year, the office awarded the $2 million to a nonprofit whose directors include former U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who was linked to an attempt to mislead voters through false text messages ahead of the August 2022 vote on an anti-abortion constitutional amendment.

When Kansans overwhelmingly rejected that amendment, Kelly said, they told politicians they should stop inserting themselves in private medical decisions between women and their doctors.

The governor removed $9 million from the budget earmarked to support the ESU model. The university in 2022 fired tenured faculty members under the guise of a financial emergency, then rebranded the move as an attempt to align course offerings with the needs of Kansas employers and the interests of new students.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, an ESU graduate who in the early 1980s was in the same fraternity at the university as current ESU president Ken Hush, has praised the ESU model as a way to right-size the needs of students and businesses in Kansas.

I believe it is truly the way forward for all higher education institutions in our state, Hawkins said last year, when the state budget provided a highly unusual $9 million earmark for ESU.

In the fall, ESU enrollment plunged 12.5% while overall enrollment increased 2% at state universities.

This years budget included another $9 million earmark for the ESU model, but Kelly said she preferred funding to stabilize all state universities.

Another line item veto from the governor removed language that would have allowed universities to create STAR Bond districts without the consent of local government or a revenue requirement.

While I support innovative proposals to bring new economic development opportunities to the state, the changes to the program proposed in this budget do not adequately protect local governments authority or ensure the long-term solvency of the projects, Kelly said.

She also removed language that would cap the states waiting lists for disability services, funding for foster care and child care programs that didnt allow for open bidding, the impermissible attempt to redirect $1.8 million in federal childrens food money to pay for toiletry kits in public schools, and an attempt to use taxpayer money to support for-profit private schools by changing eligibility requirements for a state scholarship program.

The post Kansas governor slices border funding, anti-abortion program, ESU earmark from state budget appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Kansas lawmakers who support Medicaid expansion on Friday failed in a last-ditch effort to pass the measure, setting the stage for Democrats to campaign on the issue this fall.

The Kansas Senate voted 18-17 on a motion to place Medicaid expansion legislation on the floor. Under Senate rules, 24 votes were needed.

The failure, while not entirely unexpected, forced senators to take a procedural vote related to expansion in an election year where Democrats are seeking to break the Republican supermajority in the Legislature.

Republican leaders have largely resisted expansion over the past decade, leaving Kansas as one just 10 states without it. Upwards of 150,000 additional Kansans would be eligible for health coverage under expansion, with the federal government picking up 90% of costs and offering millions in incentives.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has made expansion a signature priority during her two terms, entered the 2024 legislative session taking a more confrontational approach with Republicans over the issue. After past efforts at compromise failed, Kelly and Democrats instead opted for a more openly political approach to pressure GOP leaders.

Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City, Kansas, Democrat, emphasized how the Legislature hadnt advanced expansion for over half a decade. Lawmakers have passed expansion just once, in 2017, but the measure was vetoed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

I would hate to see Kansas be the last state in the union to make this wise decision to pass Medicaid expansion. But it seems to be that were on that road instead of looking forward for the good of the health of Kansans, Pettey said on the Senate floor.

Lawmakers held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years in March. But GOP leaders havent brought up expansion for debate in either the House or Senate.

Republican opponents offer a variety of reasons for their position. They have said expansion would benefit able-bodied adults who could be working and have said the state should be focusing on providing services for residents with intellectual and physical disabilities who have to endure a lengthy waitlist for help. Expansion advocates have rejected that stance as a false choice.

Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said she supports a Kansas solution. Fridays vote was procedural, she said, and not on Medicaid expansion itself. And, she said, Medicaid has been expanding by increasing the availability of services to individuals on the waitlist.

Those are people in need, not able-bodied Kansans who choose not to have insurance, Tyson said.

Sen. Beverly Gossage, a Eudora Republican who chairs the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, in opposing the motion said extensive hearings were held on expansion. We had discussions on this floor, she added.

Polling indicates most Kansans support Medicaid. A recent poll from the Sunflower Foundation found that 68% of Kansans including 51% of Republican primary voters support expansion.

Democrats plan to emphasize expansion in races against Republicans this fall. Every legislative seat will be on the ballot, and a number of competitive races  including in Democratic-leaning Johnson County  may determine whether Republicans maintain their veto-proof majorities in both the House and the Senate.

Were gonna pick up some more seats in the House on this issue, House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said Kansans would remember the votes of Republicans opposed to expansion.

Theyll remember how they voted against the nearly 80% of Kansans who support Medicaid expansion. Theyll remember in November, Sykes said.

Seeking to overcome Republican objections, Kellys expansion plan this year included work requirements  an idea long favored by conservatives. It says able-bodied adults must provide documentation showing theyve been employed for the past 12 months, including a pay stub and tax papers.

There were several exceptions including for: caregivers, veterans, full-time college students, individuals experiencing homelessness, people with a permanent disability or who are mentally or physically unfit for employment, residents who volunteer at nonprofits for 20 hours a week, parents of children under the age of 18, and others.

Applicants would have had to provide proof of employment or community engagement at the time of entry and renewal each year, Kelly previously said the work requirement will make sure that no one is taking advantage of the program without doing their part.

In a December interview with The Star, Kelly said she hoped the concessions would bring more Republicans to the table. But she also telegraphed the more political posture taken this year.

Its always been my typical, bring people to the table, talk about it, negotiate, collaborate, Kelly said.

None of that worked, obviously. So weve just taken on a more political approach to it. Its been nothing but a political issue. There is no good policy, no good budgetary reason not to expand Medicaid, its purely political.

The Stars Katie Bernard contributed reporting
Kansas man sentenced to 10 years for crash that killed officer, pedestrian and K-9 last February

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander.

Jerron Lightfoot, 20, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, said he was truly sorry and never intended to hurt anyone before he was sentenced Wednesday.

The Feb. 15, 2023, crash killed Officer James Muhlbauer, who was 42, Jesse Eckes, who was 52, and Muhlbauers police dog, Champ.

Police determined that Lightfoot sped up to nearly 90 mph just two seconds before hitting Muhlbauers car on the drivers side. The impact sent the car crashing into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.

Gov. Kelly vetoes Banes Law, says legislation needs more study

Lightfoot, who initially blamed his brakes, entered a guilty plea this February in which prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison.

Eckes sister, Mandi Dunbar, argued against sentencing Lightfoot to prison, saying her brother was in and out of jail during his life. She said his life might have turned out better if he had been given a chance when he was younger.

But family and friends of Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer and father of three, sought the maximum sentence.

The hearing ended with Lightfoot handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, which was packed with friends and family, along with uniformed officers.

Currently, I dont think I can forgive him, maybe in time, Muhlbauers widow, Cassie Muhlbauer said outside the courthouse.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
This KC Star reporter flew on Air Force One. It was an undeniably cool experience

Inside Look is a Star series that takes our readers behind the scenes of some of the most well-known and not-so-well-known places and events in Kansas City. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at InsideLook@kcstar.com.

It is easy to become jaded in this town.

You can be awe-struck by the elegance of the U.S. Capitol as you walk up to it, or the beauty of its chambers and halls. Then you meet the people inside. Working out of the White House sounds glamorous. Then youre sitting in a cramped basement cubicle in what used to be the swimming pool with spotty WiFi, hoping you dont see any mice.

But flying on Air Force One? Thats undeniably cool.

Im in Washington as part of McClatchys D.C. bureau. Like many outlets that cover the White House, McClatchy is sometimes responsible for being part of the protective press pool  a group of 13 journalists responsible for being the eyes and ears of the press corps while the president travels.

Each reporter traveling on Air Force One is greeted by a card welcoming them aboard on their assigned seat.

The press pool exists so that if theres ever a crisis, there are reporters who can share information for the country. They were there when President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas and when President George W. Bush was whisked away from a Florida elementary school after two planes struck the World Trade Center on 9/11.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden was scheduled to fly to Tampa. It was McClatchys turn for travel pool duty. It was this reporters turn for his first trip aboard Air Force One.

Marine One lands at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

There are two presidential planes  two modified Boeing 747-200Bs with the tail numbers 28000 and 29000. They have been flying since George H.W. Bush was president and are supposed to be retired next year.

Technically any plane the president flies in is called Air Force One, and there are four smaller planes  Boeing 757-200s  he can use for smaller runways.

Ive only ever seen the smaller Air Force One  one of my first assignments was covering former President Barack Obamas arrival and departure in Charleston, W.Va. So I was a little taken aback walking up to the big plane on Tuesday and giving my name to the Air Force Officer to get onboard.

I have never flown first class. When I purchase a plane ticket to visit family or go to a wedding, I generally choose the cheapest option, which means I usually dont get to pick my seat. So it was a low bar when I got onto the plane and saw leather chairs with plenty of legroom and a little card with my name welcoming me onboard.

Dinner is served aboard Air Force One. The menu included beef with broccoli, fried rice, vegetable rolls and chocolates with caramel.

A lunch is delivered on Air Force One. In the bag: an Italian hoagie, a bag of vegetable chips and two snickerdoodle cookies.

We had two meals  Italian hoagies with real vegetable chips and snickerdoodle cookies on the way out and beef with broccoli, fried rice, vegetable rolls, and milk chocolates with caramel on the way home. My father asked me whether it was better than normal airline food?

It was, but you could still tell it was airplane food.

The press is toward the back of the plane and kept separate from the president and most White House staff.

Biden was in Tampa for two campaign events. First, he made a speech to about 200 people in a community college gymnasium denouncing Floridas six-week ban on abortion which goes into effect next week. Then he spoke to a smaller crowd of Democratic activists about the campaign. He told four young kids in the crowd that their parents owed them ice cream for dragging them along.

President Joe Biden tells two young girls they deserve ice cream for sitting through his campaign speech at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry in Tampa on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Local press cover a speech by President Joe Biden at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry in Tampa on Tuesday April 23, 2024.

Being in the press pool is a little like being cattle, youre herded from place to place as the president moves around. Airplane hangar to the plane, plane to motorcade, motorcade to event, event to motorcade, motorcade to plane. All the while, youre supposed to send frequent updates with time stamps and details.

It wasnt until we were up in the air on the way back that I allowed myself to relax a little and let reality sink in.

Theres an awful lot that isnt fun about being a political journalist. But every once in a while, I feel like I can reach out and touch history; and get a reminder of both my privilege and my responsibility.

Just as soon as that thought started to settle in, John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council came back to chat with the reporters off the record. It was back to work.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2024 - 13:23 | All, Japan

The Self-Defense Forces on Friday reprimanded five members over two cases of mishandling state secrets in its ground and maritime branches, the government said, in the second such punishment of SDF members under the secrecy law since its enforcement in 2014.

The ministry said none of the state secrets in question were found to have leaked outside the SDF. It did not elaborate on the contents of the secrets for security reasons.

"These kinds of incident must not be allowed to happen at a time when we are trying to step up collaboration with our allies and like-minded countries," Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference, pledging to take "swift and thorough" preventive measures.

In the first of the two cases, four Maritime Self-Defense Force members including a captain were suspended or given pay cuts after allegedly assigning an unqualified MSDF destroyer crew member the task of recording vessel movements in June 2022. The crew member carried out the duty for approximately two months.

The four officers failed to confirm the crew member's eligibility, according to the ministry.

In the second case, a lieutenant colonel of the Ground Self-Defense Force received a six-day work suspension after giving an order revealing state secrets to 15 personnel who were not entitled to know them during a drill in Hokkaido in July last year.

The lieutenant colonel was serving as a commander of a GSDF unit on the northernmost of Japan's main islands at the time, and had intended "to raise the spirits" of the unit, the ministry said.

In December 2022, the ministry dismissed an MSDF captain over the alleged leak of state secrets to a former admiral who had already retired from the force, in the first case of state secrets being leaked since the secrecy law came into effect.

Related coverage:

Lower house OKs bill to create economic security clearance system

Japan OKs bill to make crucial economic security info classified

Japan's parliament to convene 150-day regular session on Jan. 26
UPDATE: KCPD says Earnestine Black was located and is safe.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a missing 83-year-old woman with Alzheimers.

Earnestine Black was last seen around noon Thursday in the area of E. 103rd Street and Wornall Road.

She was driving a 2018 blue Chevrolet Impala, with Missouri license plate GD6Y8B, heading westbound toward Stateline Road.

Shes described as standing 52 and weighs 100 pounds.

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KCPD says she suffers from Alzheimers and needs immediate medical care.

If located, police ask that you call 911 immediately.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police are asking for help identifying people who could be connected to the shots fired on April 6 at the Country Club Plaza.

In an interview with reporters Friday, Kansas City Police Department Sergeant Phil DiMartino said potentially hundreds of people were on the Plaza that Saturday evening.

Several of these individuals were observed firing guns, he said.

He also said several of the other people who didnt shoot that evening were also armed with guns.

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KCPD is asking for help identifying the people and the cars in the pictures below:

I dont know the exact ages on these individuals, but you can look at the pictures, you can see for yourself, theyre young, DiMartino said.

DiMartino says the gun violence problem plaguing the citys young people is going to take more than just KCPD to fix.

What youre going to see moving forward on the Plaza is extra patrols, directed enforcement, he said. Youre also going to see some community resources. Our community engagement division is out there every weekend, and they will be out there every weekend moving forward.

If you can identify the people or car in the photos, contact KCPDs Assault Squad at 816-234-5227 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

The shots left Shake Shack with shot-out windows and cars with bullet holes.

DiMartino had some advice for parents and their kids who are involved in conflict.

Walk away. Walk away from the incident. Nothing is worth gunfire, he continued. Nothing is worth someone losing a life or an innocent person getting struck by gunfire.

The details of what led up to the incident earlier this month are currently unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. According to police, there were no injuries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
On April 11 in Dallas, I participated in a debate on immigration that was sponsored by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and The Free Press. The proposition was "America should shut its borders," and columnist Ann Coulter and Compact magazine cofounder Sohrab Ahmari defended it. The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur and I opposed the motion, while The Free Press' Bari Weiss moderated.

The full video is currently only available to Free Press subscribers (a monthly subscription costs $8 a month; go here for details), but I'm happy to share video and a lightly edited transcript of my opening statement, with relevant links embedded.

I went second, after Ann Coulter, and a few of my comments below directly respond to her opening remarks and require a bit of context. She drew a distinction between immigrants and their descendants who were in the United States before 1970 (good) and those who came after (bad).

Most pre-1970 immigrants came from Europe and had entered the country before ultra-restrictive immigration laws were passed in the early 1920s that were explicitly designed to reduce the number of Jews, Italians, and other undesirable groups allowed to enter America. The Johnson-Reed Act completely banned immigration from Asia (including India) and sharply limited newcomers from Europe based on their country of origin. Under the new law, for instance, just 4,000 Italians were allowed to enter the country each year, down from an average of well over 200,000 in each year of the preceding decade. Jewish immigration plummeted by 80 percent.

National origins would remain the basis of U.S. immigration law until 1965, when those quotas were abolished and replaced by a system that emphasized family reunification and labor force needs. Along with Sen. Philip Hart (DMich.) and Rep. Emanuel Celler (DN.Y.), Sen. Ted Kennedy (DMass.) was one of the sponsors of the new legislation. Since 1970, the vast majority of immigrants have come from Latin American countries, especially Mexico, and Asia.

The following transcript has been edited for style and clarity.

I'm the token libertarian on the panel, and I know that means you probably think I'm going to talk mostly about economics and drugs. And you'll be right, I am going to talk most about economics and drugs tonight.

In 1902, the nativist publication, Judge, which I'm pretty sure Anne Coulter had a column in, ran a cover image showing a giant horseshoe magnet suspended from a rope titled "American Prosperity." And then all sorts of stereotypically "bad" immigrantsChinese coolies, fez-wearing Turks, weird people who were probably Persian, French actresses (!), bomb-throwing Italians, Russian peasants, European-looking people who were just carrying bags that said filth on themwere being sucked into the magnet. And the caption of the magnet on the cover of this Judge issue just said, "The only bad feature of our prosperity."

We're a nation of immigrants, but we have never, ever, ever been comfortable with the ones currently streaming across our borders. So it's fascinating to hear Ann talk about how the Jews were pretty good as pre-1970 people. Jews were locked out of this country to such a degree that millions perished during the Holocaust because they couldn't emigrate to America, including Otto Frank.

That was the law that Teddy Kennedy amended. We've never been comfortable with the people streaming across our borders. It was true in 1902, it's true in 2024.

Last year, saw what the AP called a record number of illegal crossings into America from Mexico. And that's not even the whole story, since the majority of people in the country illegally don't bum rush their way across the southern border. They come here legally and then don't leave. That's why South Asian Indians are the third-largest group who are illegal in America. Is that your vision of an illegal immigrant?

But what's really strange about these invaders, these people who are rushing into our country and destroying everything, is what do they do when they get here. They break into our countryand then they pick our crops, prepare our meals, cut our lawns, clean our toilets, and babysit our children. What strange armies of the night!

At the same time that we are creating panic on the borderand we need to deal with thatwe've made it harder and harder for people to immigrate legally. Over 9 million people are waiting to get green cards and the wait time has skyrocketed over the past few decades from "just a few months to years, possibly decades."

Immigrants want to come to America now for the same reason they did 100 years ago when my grandparents came here from shithole countries (to use a Donald Trump phrase), from Italy and Ireland. They come here because of American prosperity. And they don't come here to destroy American prosperity, they come here to enjoy it and expand it and make it rich and new again.

Contra Donald Trump, illegal immigrants are not bringing drugs or crime. Illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. Legal immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. Immigrants have a higher labor-force participation rate, and they're more likely to start a business than native-born Americans. In fact, immigrants and their children started 45 percent of today's Fortune 500 companies. But they're stealing from us, aren't they?

Even anti-immigrant economists like Harvard's George Borjas, himself a refugee from Castro's Cuba, conclude that immigrants on net are a boon because they expand markets and fill labor gaps. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has said that the deficit going forward will be a trillion dollars less over the next decade because immigrants have expanded the economy.

So what should we do? We should create a system that allows more people to come here legally and enter through the front door. Nobody can shut the border. Peter Savodnik in The Free Press wrote recently that even Donald Trump couldn't shut America's borders. He slashed, and I'm quoting here, "he slashed legal immigration by making it harder to get a green card or visa," even as "he failed to stop migrants from crossing the border."

What people who want to shut the borders really want is Prohibition, this time for people. Prohibition was passed 100 years ago at the same time that the first wide-scale exclusionary acts against Europeans were passed, driven by the same thing, fear of un-American immigrants like Catholics and Jews from Central and Southern Europe. It was costly and ineffective. Within a couple of years, Americans were drinking more liquor than they had before Prohibition was passed. We get the same thing with border control. Costs have tripled since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The amount of money being spent on border security has tripled, and yet we seem to have less of it.

Let's create an orderly, regulated, and growing market for immigration just like we ultimately did for beer and booze. Let people who want to live and work peacefully here come and do so. We can vet them and have them apply in their own countries and then come here to wherever they want to be rather than getting clogged up at the southern border, or any one place in particular. Allow individuals, churches, businesses, and nonprofits to sponsor them. Immigrants are already barred from most forms of welfare, as they should be. We should tighten up that. But our national debt is out of control. We should be building a wall around the welfare state, not the United States.

We need to legalize immigrants pulled here by the magnet of our prosperity and get on with the business of building the future of our country rather than trying to restore a tattered imagined past.

The post Nick Gillespie: Keep America's Borders Open appeared first on Reason.com.
The Kennewick School Board voted Wednesday night on two policy changes in an attempt to define Critical Race Theory and refine how parents are brought into discussions about changes to a students gender identity.

In a 3-2 vote following a heated debate, the board ultimately chose to vote down adding a definition of Critical Race Theory, or CRT, to the districts policies on Race and the Curriculum.

Board members Mike Connors, Josh Miller and Brittany Gledhill voted against adding it, while President Gabe Galbraith and Vice President Micah Valentine voted for it.

Then, in a 4-1 vote on its first reading, the board approved a policy revision clarifying that parents should, in most circumstances, be included in discussions when a student wants to change their gender identity, pronouns or name. Connors was the lone dissenter.

CRT and public schools

The change would have defined CRT as the belief that society is organized by racism and is an academic discipline that holds that the United States is a nation founded on white supremacy and oppression and that these forces are still at the root of our society.

It also would have mandated that the district and its partners will not promote or emphasize Critical Race Theory and its ideologies or tenets.

Valentine brought the policy change forward, citing a need to shut the door on this issue.

Micah Valentine

The board made revisions to the policy two years ago, saying that students cannot be indoctrinated into the belief that the U.S. is a fundamentally or systemically racist. Valentine believes defining the issue is essential, and says it would bring more apprehensive families back into the public school system.

But CRT isnt taught in Kennewick schools, Superintendent Traci Pierce has previously said.

And Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal has repeatedly shot down accusations that public schools are teaching CRT or engaging in inappropriate political talk.

I think right now we have a policy that is a little bit gray and leaves the door open, and we have a chance to just close the door and answer the question, Valentine said Wednesday. When people ask, Are you guys teaching Critical Race Theory in Kennewick School District? We obviously say no. But then they say, But you dont say that. Theres nothing that says you dont teach it.

The term Critical Race Theory emerged in the 1970s in legal circles as a way to examine the law in how it serves the interests of people in power at the expense of others.

Conservatives in recent years have coopted the term CRT as a broad umbrella to encompass progressive ways of re-examining the U.S.s troubled history with slavery, racism and civil rights.

Its a culture war issue that has arisen in recent years as progressives and conservatives debate over how best to teach the nations youth.

But one school board member took aim at Valentine, accusing him of engaging in partisan politics and for rehashing old issues, calling the policy change an astronomical waste of time.

We settled this, we talked about it, we laid it out. Theres no reason to revisit this. This is absolute political BS, Connors said.

Youre pandering to people because you think somehow that youre going to get back at these people if we just write this down on a piece of paper. Its total horse shit  its got nothing to do with nothing, he said.

Michael Connors

Citing other arrangements he had to get to, Connors left the meeting before a vote could even take place. He told the clerk he would be a no vote on both the CRT definition and changes to the districts gender-inclusive schools policy.

Miller said he had difficulty supporting the definition because the term has become so nebulous in society and has different definitions to different people.

Most people would agree with the crux of what theyre trying to accomplish, he said, but using the term opens it up to confusion and polarization.

What is the benefit of using this term, which is very polarizing and which is very poorly defined no matter which definition you use? Miller asked.

If they hear you cant teach Critical Race Theory, what will they think that means? Theyre not going to go and look at our definition in most cases, theyll just assume that the definition is the one they know, which may or may not be the one we use, he said.

Galbraith said he understood the arguments being made on both sides of the issue.

Gender-inclusive terms

The school board plans to make changes to how queer and transgender students go about disclosing to the school staff changes to their gender identity or name.

The board wants to encourage students and staff to involve family and parents on all major discussions about gender identity unless a scenario presents itself where identifying those changes could harm the student.

A students fear or concern about their family learning of their gender identity should not be automatically discounted, the proposed policy amendment reads.

However, the students stated preferences are not the sole factor to consider. Decisions about communicating with a parent/guardian about such things should be made holistically based on as many factors as the school is aware (of).

Washington state law prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender expression or identity in public schools. School staff and teachers must address students by their preferred names, pronouns and gender designation. Parents still have the right to access their childs education records up until they turn 18.

Kennewick is not removing any of the states model policy against discrimination as listed in Policy 3211 on gender-inclusive schools.

Staff members dont have any interest in keeping information from parents, Pierce said, adding that in most cases parents and students come to staff together to make gender-identity changes.

But Kennewick School Board members believe its important in most instances to bring parents into the discussions.

It is not the proper role of the school to foster curriculum, instruction or activities which would reasonably be expected to lead children to question their gender identity, when no such questions existed before, the proposed policy says.

Gender affirming curriculum, instruction and/or activities in schools will not be provided where it is not part of the board-approved subject manner of a particular class, it reads.

The vote passed on first reading, meaning that the policy change will come back to the school board for a second, final reading before being voted on. If it passes it becomes official policy.

School board student representative Mallory Dupaquier said she believes fallout between students and parents over gender issues is more common than the board makes it out to be.

Shes heard instances of kids being kicked out of their home, ostracized by their parents or feeling that home is no longer a safe place for them.

I hear this stuff all the time. Its not an extreme for parents to react like that at all. I just think its a lot more common than you guys think. But I understand, its difficult and is a balance, she said.

She thinks fewer transgender and non-binary students will be willing to be open about their sexuality if schools push more to have their parents involved in policies like this.
WARNING: GRAPHIC

The family of a 14-year-old Kentucky girl says one of her female classmates brutally assaulted her with a "metal tumbler" on a school bus earlier this month.

Emma Filback, a freshman with autism at Franklin Simpson High School, was riding the school bus on April 18 when "she was attacked by another female high school student who hit her in the head repeatedly with a metal tumbler" with "no provocation," the description on a GoFundMe page for the family states.

"These two have never spoken to each other before the incident occurred," the GoFundMe page says.

Emma's family shared several graphic photos of the 14-year-old's bloody head injury, which required her to get stitches across the top of her scalp.

PARENTS AT PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTRAGED AFTER GIRL BRUTALLY BEATEN: THERE WERE SO MANY FAILURES

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Emma Filback, a 14-year-old student at Franklin Simpson High School in Kentucky, was allegedly attacked by another student on the school bus on April 18.

Chryslee Filback, Emma's mother, filed an Emergency Protection Order on Monday that was "denied by the judge, for unknown reasons," the family said.

Simpson County Superintendent Tom Schlosser told Fox News Digital that the school district referred the case to Franklin Simpson High School's designated school resource officer (SRO), who works for the sheriff's office. The SRO is working with the Simpson County Attorney's Office.

PA GIRL CHASTISES SCHOOL BOARD FOR NOT HEEDING WARNING ABOUT STUDENT WITH HIT LIST BEFORE GRUESOME ATTACK

"We do not condone that behavior, and we take this situations very seriously. We're handling it. We're dealing with it. Both parties get due process," Schlosser said. "We've reached out to the family. We've supported the family."

Filback's family shared graphic photos of the incident to their GoFundMe page.

Emma's family is also alleging that cameras on the school bus did not capture the attack.

In a Monday statement, the Simpson County School District confirmed that "a student incident" involving "two students" on a school bus occurred on April 18 around 3:35 p.m.

"The bus monitor immediately intervened to stop the incident," the school district said. "The parents of both students involved were contacted by our Transportation Office, and by school administrators. Local law enforcement was also contacted."

MICHIGAN GRANDMOTHER HELPED HER GRANDDAUGHTER BEAT UP ANOTHER STUDENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BATHROOM: OFFICIALS

Franklin Simpson High School administrators met with both students on April 18.

"This matter is being dealt with in accordance with our District and School Policies. The School District will continue to process the investigation and will deal with all administrative issues as they pertain to student discipline," the district said. "Local law enforcement and the County Attorneys Office are responsible for addressing any criminal action that is deemed necessary as a result of the incident. Since both parties are juveniles, the ability of the school district to further comment is limited by state law."

FRUSTRATED PARENTS, TEACHERS DEMAND SCHOOLS BRING BACK POLICE TO CURB VIOLENCE: 911 CALLS ALMOST EVERY DAY

The alleged attacker  an older student at Franklin Simpson, according to Emma's family  apparently posted a photo of the tumbler on social media with the caption, "I beat her with this." Emma's family shared a screenshot of that social media post to their GoFundMe page.

The family has established a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise funds for an attorney "to not only protect their autistic daughter but also to receive justice against any person or organization that may have mishandled this traumatic incident."

"Emma is also going to need hours of trauma therapy and counseling," her family said.





Original article source: Kentucky girl, 14, brutally attacked with metal tumbler on school bus, family alleges
The death toll due to floods in Kenya has risen to 76, with 29 people injured and 19 still missing, a government spokesperson said as authorities ordered more evacuations of people from at-risk areas due to ongoing heavy rainfall.

Nairobi is currently experiencing the highest impact, with a significant death toll of 32 and 16,909 households displaced, Isaac Maigua Mwaura said in a statement, adding that 24,196 households had been displaced  comprising about 131,450 people. Government and humanitarian agencies have erected 50 camps across the country to house those displaced, Mwaura said.

Earlier Friday, a truck carrying people in Makueni County, southern Kenya, was swept away by raging waters, according to the Kenyan Red Cross, which described it as a distressing incident. The Red Cross has rescued more than 300 people since the onset of the heavy rain in March.

This comes after Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday that he had authorized emergency crews to evacuate people living along riverbanks and other affected areas forcibly. Unfortunately, we will have to move some of them even without them agreeing, because otherwise, they put themselves in danger, Ruto said.

The president said that he is working with multi-agency teams to provide adequate support to all those in need and to move citizens who are in dangerous areas, that may be susceptible to floods, away from those areas.

According to the Red Cross, 26 of Kenyas 47 counties have been affected by the flooding.

On Thursday, the Kenya Meteorological Department issued an advisory, explaining that heavy rainfall will continue in several parts of Kenya, including Nairobi, although the intensity is likely to reduce on Sunday.

The flooding in East Africa has also affected Tanzania and Burundi. Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday that at least 155 people have been killed by flooding in the country.

CNNs Robert Shackelford contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner is being investigated over allegations that he sexually assaulted one of his children. (Alex Horvath / Bakersfield Californian)

Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner is being investigated for allegedly sexually assaulting one of his four children, according to the Kern County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriff Donny Youngblood said in a news conference Thursday that he received a call from Dist. Atty. Cynthia Zimmer  Scrivners aunt  Tuesday night, saying that Scrivner was armed and appeared to be having some type of psychotic episode at his home in Tehachapi. Zimmer then called Youngblood back to notify him that Scrivner was no longer armed.

We were responding to what we believed at the time was a suicidal person having a psychotic episode, not any crime, Youngblood said.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they secured the firearm. They found that Scrivner had a physical altercation with his children and was stabbed twice in the upper torso over allegations that he had sexually assaulted one of his children, Youngblood said. His injuries were non-life-threatening, he added.

Scrivners four children, who are minors, and his parents were at the house at the time of the incident, Youngblood said. His wife, Christina, who filed for divorce in March, was not present.

Child was protecting other child from what he believed occurred, Youngblood said in describing the incident.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and seized 30 firearms, psychedelic mushrooms, electronic devices and possible evidence of sexual assault in the house, he said.

Scrivners attorney, H.A. Sala of Bakersfield, told the TV news station KGET 17 that the allegations of sexual assault are not true and that Scrivner was going through a mental health crisis, distraught over his divorce. He said the altercation ensued after his child attempted to disarm him.

We have a reasonable basis to believe and conclude that that allegation is absolutely not reliable, Sala said. Its not true. It did not occur.

Youngblood said an emergency protective order is barring Scrivner from any contact with his children. He declined to disclose their ages and whether the victim was one of Scrivners daughters or sons.

Youngblood said the investigation will be a lengthy process.

It should be noted that this investigation is ongoing and not near completed, he said. We still have interviews to conduct, forensic evaluations to make.

Scrivner was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2010, serving as chairman in 2012, 2017 and 2022. Before serving on the board, he spent six years on the Bakersfield City Council.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California Democrats are demonstrating that they view Sacramento as their own little club, where duly elected Republicans have no power. This malignant feature of Californias one-party state results in a legislature that seems to us like a mere puppet of the Governor.

On Thursday, the state Assembly Democrats made a quick and quiet kill of a bill that would have banned non-disclosure agreements in legislation negotiations in a move that was conniving and obvious proof of an unapologetic cabal with narrow membership  you just need a D next to your name.

Opinion

Assembly Bill 2654, introduced by Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, would have updated the states Political Reform Act of 1974 by banning the use of non-disclosure agreements in crafting legislation for lobbyists, the governors staff, a member of the legislature or any public official. It was a direct response to Gov. Gavin Newsoms Panera-gate debacle last month.

In that case, secret negotiations on the legislation gifted some fast food outlets that produce bread an exemption from having to pay fast food workers $20 an hour. The groups involved in those negotiations signed non-disclosure agreements  NDAs  that prevented the public from ever finding out who asked for the exemption, or why and how the exemption came to exist.

The exemption appeared to benefit the Panera fast food bakery change, and with it, an owner of several franchises who happens to be a billionaire campaign contributor to the governor. The Newsom administration has unilaterally claimed that Panera does not qualify from the wage exemption because it does not make bread dough on site, a condition that isnt in the legislation itself.

Were not so naive to think that all bill-making happens in public; after all, both deals and sausage must be made. But according to the California Business Roundtable, the California Business Properties Association and the National Federation of Independent Business  all of whom wrote in support of the bill  the previous four California gubernatorial administrations did not use NDAs to obfuscate the process of legislating from the people and the press. While this administration claims to not directly employ or sign such agreements, it has also refused to be transparent and provide Republicans with its records about Panera-Gate, leaving us wondering what Democrats are trying to hide.

NDAs may have their role in the corporate world, but they have no place in the legislative process. They certainly should never be used to withhold pertinent information from the public. In the case of Panera-gate, we dont know how or why the bread-making exemption to the state minimum wage was crafted. Even the author of the bill says he was not a part of the process.

Fongs bill would have stopped that scenario from ever happening again, but his efforts were stymied almost immediately by a confederacy of Democrats. Had the governor wanted to see the bill on his desk, this bill would not have died Thursday.

Its public beheading took place before the Elections Committee, where the bill faced an onslaught of disingenuous excuses from the Assembly Democrats garrisoned there, including Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz; Steve Bennett, D-Ventura; Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park; Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside; and Akilah Weber, D-San Diego.

Once there, Committee Chair Pellerin repeatedly attempted to stop the Republicans on the committee from asking questions. The committees chief complaint was about the limited time they had to read the bill, a curious excuse given how quick bill changes are routine in the Capitol.

Every single Democrat on the committee abstained with the exception of Pellerin, who voted no. Pellerin later fled the chambers, hiding behind staff as she refused to answer questions from a journalist. The only Aye votes came from Fongs fellow Republicans: Bill Essayli, of Corona, and Tom Lackey, of Palmdale.

The fact that NDAs are now a tool being used to negotiate and craft legislation  is an unfortunate and disturbing development, Fong said after the committee meeting. Non-disclosure agreements are designed to shield information. Now theyre being used to shield information from legislators and from the public.

If there is secrecy and subterfuge in the California Legislature, it is entirely to blame on the party that controls it. The Democrats brazen kill of AB 2654 leaves intact an insiders club that has grown monstrous under this governor.
Killing in multiple murder case in Fresno was over a stupid $20 debt, witness says

A witness to the third slaying in an ongoing Fresno County court case said Thursday the violence was over what amounted to a $20 debt, which she called stupid.

The Fresno County Superior Court case of Andrew Levi Hammond entered its ninth day of the jury trial as the Coarsegold 28-year-old faces charges for three separate shootings. His defense attorney has said they were all in self defense.

The most recent killing was of 39-year-old Brandon Munoz, who was shot to death Nov. 2, 2022 inside a vacant house on Anna Avenue near Gettysburg Avenue and Fresno Street, according to investigators.

The Fresno County District Attorneys Office called to the stand Rebecca Ojeda, who said Munoz was a friend who she had dated briefly but had not seen for about eight years until the night he was killed.

She said on the day of the killing she began getting video calls on FaceTime from someone she identified as And One and only learned later it was Hammond, who she did not previously know. Hammond was known to go by And One, according to previous testimony.

Later the same day, she gave Hammond and a woman she described as a friend a ride to a home on Anna Street, where they met with others. She knew one of the men there, who she called AWOL, and the group including Hammond walked across the street to the abandoned home where Munoz was later shot.

I just wasnt thinking clearly, because if I did I would have thought something isnt right, she said.

The group went into the home and began smoking methamphetamine, Ojeda said, though she said she abstained because though she uses meth, she does not smoke it.

A short time after that, Munoz arrived and it wasnt long before he and Hammond were arguing over $20. She said the argument may have been over accusations that Munoz had stolen something  possibly an air conditioner  from the vacant home.

I pulled out $20 from my pocket, she said. I was going to give him 20 bucks, because I was like, This is stupid. 

She said Hammond was moving his arms around while talking and had his hand wrapped in a bandage because he said, according to Ojeda, he had shot himself in the hand.

He was clearly up too many days on meth, she said.

Ojeda said she fled the house after the gunfire, saying she saw Hammond with a gun and saw the gunfire before Munoz, who was seated next to her, slumped over.

She gave Hammond a ride to a location about 10 minutes away, saying she was afraid to turn him down, she testified.

She told police on the night of the killing Hammond told her, he kills snitches and their families. Ojeda did not repeat that on the stand but rather confirmed it after Senior Deputy District Attorney Kelly Smith read it from a police report.

About two hours after the shooting, she said, she called 911.

Upon questioning by Hammonds attorney, Richard Beshwate, Ojeda said Munoz was a gang member. She said she did not see Munoz with a gun that night, but her friend who was also there said she did see him with a gun.

The other homicides

The other fatal shootings Hammond had been charged with include Fernando Gonzales, 41, on Sept. 28, 2020, and Steven Rice, 47, on Oct. 21, 2022.

Rice, who some called Dopey, had been in a fight with Justin Cox on the day he died.

Coxs older brother of six years, Ryan Clowers, testified Thursday Cox called him to say he had been beaten. Clowers said he left his house and traveled about three blocks to see his brother, whose face was red and his eye swollen.

Earlier testimony from witnesses said Rice confronted Cox about a stolen shotgun and during the fight attempted to gouge out Coxs eye.

Clowers said he took Cox to go speak with Rice, and two other men he did not know also got in the car before they drove half a block to where Rice was on Indianapolis and Sherman avenues. He brought a bat, because Cox said Rice had a gun.

I wanted to make sure, in the grand scheme of things, my brother did not get shot, Clowers said.

As the brothers walked up the driveway to a home where several people were gathered in a garage, Clowers said, he heard gunfire. During his testimony, he said he did not know who was firing.

He also said he could not identify anyone in the courtroom, which included Hammond.

The case was scheduled to continue on Friday.
(The Hill)  Kim Kardashian joined Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday for a roundtable on criminal justice reform that highlighted President Bidens use of pardon power.

A White House official said Kardashian, a reality television star who has become an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform in recent years, attended the discussion alongside Harris, pardon recipients and Steve Benjamin, the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Kardashian worked closely with the Trump White House on the case of Alice Johnson, a Black woman who had received a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense and had her sentence commuted by then-President Trump.

NYC has the 2nd best bar in North America: ranking

The roundtable comes a day after Biden granted clemency to 16 people who were convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Four of those people will be in attendance for Thursdays event.

As part of the roundtable, Harris announced the finalization of a Small Business Administration rule to remove restrictions on loan eligibility based on a persons criminal record.

Biden has pardoned numerous people for nonviolent drug offenses, citing the moves as part of a broader effort to address racial disparities and to give deserving Americans a second chance. In October 2022, he announced pardons for thousands of people who had been convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law.

Harris last month convened a roundtable focused on marijuana reform, where she was joined by rapper Fat Joe and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2024 - 14:13 | All, Japan

Japan started Friday tightening rules on the management of foreign student enrollments at educational institutions after a Tokyo university was found in 2019 to have lost contact with more than 1,000 students from abroad.

Universities and vocational schools are no longer allowed to accept foreign students unless their enrollments are properly managed under the revised rules, which are aimed at preventing educational institutions from recruiting students inappropriately and stopping them from working illegally.

The move by the immigration services agency comes after the Tokyo University of Social Welfare was found in 2019 to have lost touch with 1,610 foreign students in three years since the 2016 academic year.

A Justice Ministry ordinance on immigration has been revised based on the government's policy drawn up later in 2019 on measures to prevent recurrence, urging such schools to thoroughly manage student registrations, while it criticized them for easily accepting students who came to Japan for work.

Many of the students that went missing from the Tokyo university were so-called "research students," who were taking preliminary classes at the institution in preparation for advancing to a regular course.

In response, the agency decided to not grant student visas to foreign people studying the Japanese language as "research students" or "auditing students."

Related coverage:

More foreign students set to be eligible for Japan government scholarships

Japan adds driver, railway roles to skilled foreign worker visa

New visa rules to allow more foreign students to find jobs in Japan
Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian joined Vice President Kamala Harris for a roundtable discussion on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform and pardons recently issued by President Joe Biden.

The conversation included four recent pardon recipients -- Jason Hernandez, Bobby Darrell Lowery, Jesse Mosley, and Beverly Holcy -- and came a day after Biden granted clemency to 16 people.

In a statement, Biden said that April is Second Chance Month, and that he is using his clemency power to pardon 11 individuals and commute the sentences of five individuals who were convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

MORE: Kim Kardashian West speaks at criminal justice reform event at White House

PHOTO: Kim Kardashian attends an event to discuss criminal justice reform with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House in Washington, Apr. 25, 2024. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

"Many of these individuals received disproportionately longer sentences than they would have under current law, policy, and practice," Biden said in a statement.

According to a White House official, Biden has commuted the sentences of 122 individuals and granted pardons to 20 who committed non-violent drug offenses.

During her remarks, Harris showed her appreciation for Kardashian's advocacy and for "using your platform in a way that has really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances."

Kardashian has been outspoken on the issue of criminal justice reform since 2018, when she spoke directly with former president Donald Trump and his son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, to push for the commutation of Alice Marie Johnson, who served 21 years for a nonviolent drug offense. In 2019, she returned to the White House to speak on an initiative aimed at helping former inmates receive jobs upon their release.

MORE: Kim Kardashian West talks path to becoming a lawyer and new shapewear line

"I'm so honored to be here to continue this fight, to learn more every day, every visit, every administration," Kardashian said. "I'm just here to help and spread the word."

Harris recounted her efforts as the District Attorney of San Francisco and the Attorney General of California to reduce recidivism and provide reentry support.

"I'm a big believer in the power of redemption," Harris said. "Is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people to earn their way back, and give them the support and resources they need to do that?"

PHOTO: Kim Kardashian speaks as President Donald Trump holds an event on second chance hiring and criminal justice reform in the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 13, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Harris also touted the administration's finalization of a Small Business Administration rule that will remove restrictions on loan eligibility that are based on a person's criminal record.

"Making this available, reducing and eliminating that restriction is going to mean a lot in terms of second chances and the opportunity for people to excel," Harris said.

All four of the pardon recipients have started businesses and nonprofits or volunteered in their communities since their incarceration.

"Receiving my commutation and my pardon, it breathed life not only into me, but into my mother, into my father and also into my community," said Hernandez, a 47-year-old man who had been convicted of several non-violent drug offenses for conduct that began while he was still a juvenile.

MORE: Kim Kardashian West meets with Trump, recently commuted ex-prisoners at White House

Hernandez now runs a nonprofit that transformed a store -- the front of which he once used to sell drugs -- into a market that provides quality, affordable food, according to the White House.

Lowery -- a 50-year-old man who was convicted of a non-violent drug offense at the age of 25 -- said the pardon meant "we are hope for somebody else." Since his release, Lowery has actively volunteered at his church and at various community-based organizations, the White House said.

Kardashian said her involvement with the programs have been enriching.

"Every time I've gone and visited a prison, I've met some of the smartest individuals with the brightest ideas and to see the changes that are happening to make their reentry easier, I think, is going to be life changing and give so many people hope," Kardashian said.

Kim Kardashian joins Kamala Harris, pardon recipients to discuss criminal justice reform originally appeared on abcnews.go.com


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Kim Kardashian is continuing her work on criminal justice reform.

The Skims founder joined Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday at the White House for a roundtable discussion on U.S. prison reform and recent pardons issued by President Joe Biden.

Apart from Harris and Kardashian, the meeting included four of the 16 people granted clemency by Biden this week. All had been convicted for nonviolent drug offenses.

All fourJason Hernandez, Bobby Darrell Lowery, Jesse Mosley and Beverly Holcyopened businesses or nonprofits in their communities after their incarceration.

JIM WATSON - Getty Images

Im a big believer in the power of redemption, Harris said at the event. Is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people a way to earn their way back and give them the support and the resources they need to do that?



The vice president also praised Kardashian for her advocacy and for using your platform in a way that has really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances.

Kardashian, who is studying to be a lawyer to focus on criminal justice reform, visited the White House various times during the Trump administration to push for change in the U.S. prison system. In 2018, she famously launched a successful campaign to free Alice Marie Johnson, a 64-year-old woman who was 19 years into her life sentence for a first-time, non-violent offense. Then-President Donald Trump commuted her sentence and granted her a pardon. Since then, Kardashian has helped free many others from prison, and has said she will never stop.

Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images

Im just here to help and to spread the word, Kardashian said to Harris, before telling the pardon recipients she was so excited to be here to hear your stories.

Mosley, one of the formerly incarcerated roundtable participants, said he felt overwhelming gratitude for being one of the few that they did pardon. He added, Now Im sitting at the table with the VP and Kim K.

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Kim Kardashian made a return to the White House this week to discuss criminal justice reform with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The reality TV star  and billionaire business mogul  joined a roundtable discussion Thursday regarding the 11 pardons issued and five sentences commuted by President Joe Biden the day prior.

Kardashian was joined by Jason Hernandez, Bobby Lowery, Jesse Mosley and Beverly Holcy  all of whom had been behind bars for decades on nonviolent drug offenses. The clemency recipients spoke with Kardashian and shared their experiences with the justice system.

Im just here to help and to spread the word, Kardashian said, telling the former prisoners she was honored to be here to hear your stories.

She vowed to continue this fight and to learn more every day, saying shed advocate for prison reform with any administration, no matter whos in office.

Kardashian, who previously worked with former President Donald Trump to get convicted drug trafficker Alice Marie Johnsons life sentence commuted in 2018, encouraged the fellow guests to share and amplify their personal stories to help increase understanding regarding the obstacles former prisoners face as they reenter society.

Every time Ive gone and visited a prison, Ive met some of the smartest individuals with the brightest ideas  The changes that are happening to make their reentry easier, I think, is going to be life-changing and give so many people hope, the 43-year-old SKIMS founder said.

During her remarks, Vice President Harris confirmed the finalization of a new rule limiting most of the restrictions on small business loan eligibility for people with criminal records.
King Charles III leaves The London Clinic after undergoing a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate on Jan. 29, 2024.

King Charles has cancer.

"During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," Buckingham Palace announced on Feb. 5, 2024.

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," the royal family's statement continued. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

PEOPLE reported that Prince William is remaining close to Charles and that Prince Harry is flying in from his home with Meghan Markle in Montecito, California, to be with his father as well. Kate Middleton, meanwhile, is recovering from a cancer diagnosis of her own.

Since the announcement of his vague diagnosis, information is still somewhat scant, but there have been King Charles health updates that you can follow below.

Find out all the details and updates on King Charles' health, King Charles' medical conditions and what kind of cancer King Charles has.

Related: King Charles Breaks Silence Amid New Royal Family Drama

What is King Charles diagnosed with?

King Charles was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate initially. While undergoing surgery for that, he was then diagnosed with cancer, though the type of cancer hasn't been reported.

"The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer."

Related: How Accurate Is The Crown? Fact-Checking the Netflix's Dramatized Royal Family Series

How old is King Charles III?

Born on Nov. 14, 1948, King Charles is 75 years old as of this writing.

Related: Kate Middleton Health Updates

Does Charles have any medical conditions?

King Charles has an undisclosed type of cancer, for which he is undergoing treatment. He also underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate, which is how his cancer (which reportedly isn't prostate cancer) was detected.

On April 26, 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles would begin resuming some of his royal responsibilities.

"His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis," the Palace tweeted in part, adding that King Charles and Queen Camilla would visit a cancer center together in the following weeks, as well as hosting the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June. The statement continued, "As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year."

His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.



To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they pic.twitter.com/jWF8ITP0rg  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 26, 2024

A palace spokesperson also told The Times of London that King Charles' treatment was ongoing.

"His Majestys treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majestys continued recovery," the spokesperson noted, adding that they weren't sure when his treatment would finish: "It is too early to say, but His Majestys medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The Kings continued recovery."

Related: What Type of Cancer Does Kate Middleton Have?

What type of cancer does King Charles have?

The Palace hasn't yet disclosed with which type of cancer King Charles was diagnosed. That said, the royal family's announcement specified that doctors found his cancer while he was undergoing surgery for an enlarged prostate, so it's likely a type of cancer found in that region of his body.

Related: King Charles' Touching Tribute to Queen Elizabeth

What is King Charles' hands' condition?

King Charles' hands in May 2022 Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles' hands went viral for appearing puffy and red, and it's a condition he's publicly seen with often. The official term for what appears to be his condition is dactylitis, severe swelling of the fingers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dactylitis can affect individual fingers and toes or entire hands and feet, and it's often caused by arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Certain infections can also cause dactylitis.

It's not typically linked to cancers or prostate conditions, so it's likely that the King's dactylitis is unrelated to his current health battles.

Next, What Were Princess Diana's Last Words?
King Charles III ascended to the royal throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022. But after his reign began, the monarch was diagnosed with cancer, nearly three weeks after he underwent prostate surgery.

"During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," a statement from Buckingham Palace read at the time. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

Days after Queen Elizabeth's death on September 8, 2022, former Royal Protection Officer Simon Morgan spoke with Today, explaining, "Unfortunately, as of tomorrow morning, planning for [Charles' funeral proceedings] Operation Menai Bridge will start in earnest."

He added, "Even the King said in his acceptance that he will take this role for as long as life allows him to. He is 73 years of age, it's got to be in the back of your mind, and from the police, we've got to start planning again for the future."

In Touch takes a look at Operation Menai Bridge, the plan in place for after his death, and how it will unfold when King Charles dies.

Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III

Why Is It Called Operation Menai Bridge?

Operation Menai Bridge is the code name for the plans in place after King Charles' death. Its name refers to a suspension bridge spanning the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales.

Code names for royal funeral plans are common in the British monarchy. According to The Independent, code names were initially used to prevent Buckingham Palace switchboard operators from learning of the news of one's death and the possibility of it leaking to the press before an official announcement can be made.

The 10-day plan Operation London Bridge was the code name used for Queen Elizabeth II, while other code names included Hyde Park Corner for the death of King George VI; Operation Tay Bridge for Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother; and Operation Forth Bridge for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

How Will Operation Menai Bridge Unfold?

While details are kept mostly under wraps, The Daily Beast was told in April 2024 that King Charles' funeral plans are being regularly updated and that there is a document reviewing what went well after Her Majesty's death; however, the Cabinet Office declined to comment (a standard practice). Operation Menai Bridge is expected to play out similarly to Operation London Bridge following the Queen's death.

After Charles dies, Prince William  the heir apparent to the British throne and Charles' elder son  is next in line to become king. His wife, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, would become queen consort.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Like Queen Elizabeth's death, according to documents obtained by Politico in 2021, the prime minister would be informed of the news by the monarch's private secretary. Others who would be immediately told include the cabinet secretary and the Privy Council Office as well as senior ministers and officials.

An "official notification" to alert the public would then be issued, and flags at Whitehall are expected to be lowered to half-mast. Per Politico, the goal is for this process to take only 10 minutes.

The new king would deliver a broadcast to the nation, much like Charles did when his mother died, and it is expected the former king will lie in state in the Palace of Westminster as he is mourned. Charles is also expected to be laid to rest in the royal vault in King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Sources exclusively told In Touch in August 2024 that the business of planning his funeral has already begun as death is a possibility for the royal amid his deteriorating health.

The palace is giving the impression that Charles is on the mend, but hes still very sick, an insider explained. Officials will make sure a funeral for the king meets his wishes and expectations while following proper protocol.

Buckingham Palace also confirmed Charles' funeral plans were being updated on an ongoing basis.

What Is Expected to Happen on Social Media?

In Politico's 2021 report on Operation London Bridge, social media now apparently plays a big part in the announcement of a royal death. The royal family's website will reportedly change to a black holding page with a short statement confirming the death, and the U.K. government website will display a black banner. Content that is not urgent will be held from publication.

A source told The Daily Beast in April 2024, "Of course they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen's funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It's not an emotional thing, it's a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no-one plans to get caught out."
King Charles III will return to public duties next week, a first since his cancer diagnosis was revealed publicly in February.

Buckingham Palace announced Friday that Charles, 75, and his wife Queen Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center Tuesday, where they plan to meet with the center's patients and medical staff.

The visit will be the first official public engagement Charles has held since earlier this year, when he was diagnosed with cancer following treatment for benign prostate enlargement.

In its announcement Friday, the palace said Charles' return to public duties comes after "a period of treatment and recuperation" following his diagnosis. The palace noted that Charles' treatment continues.

"His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise," a palace spokesperson said in a statement.

The palace has not specified the type of cancer or the stage of cancer with which Charles was diagnosed.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, March 31, 2024, in Windsor, England. (Hollie Adams/Reuters, FILE)

At the time his diagnosis was announced on Feb. 5, the palace said only that Charles had started "a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties."

While he did not hold public engagements, Charles had for the past three months continued the behind the scenes work of a monarch, handling official paperwork and continuing his weekly audiences with Britain's prime minister.

MORE: King Charles' cancer battle puts spotlight on William, Camilla

The king was last seen publicly on Easter Sunday, when he and Camilla joined other members of the royal family for the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England.

Charles' return to public duties is expected to be a boost of public confidence for not only his health, but also the royal family.

While Charles was in the midst of cancer treatment, his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced publicly that she too had been diagnosed with cancer.

Kate, whose type of cancer was not publicly revealed, has been on a break from public duties since January, when she underwent planned abdominal surgery at the same London hospital where Charles was treated for benign prostate enlargement.

Kate said in a video message in March announcing her diagnosis that the cancer was discovered in post-operative tests after her surgery.

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official statement on her health on March 22, 2024. (BBC Studios)

MORE: King Charles leads royal family on Easter Sunday as William, Kate and kids are absent

With both Kate and Charles recuperating, the weight of carrying on royal duties has fallen on Camilla and Prince William, who just returned to work himself on April 18, after spending the Easter holiday with Kate and their three young children.

Charles' return to public engagements comes ahead of a momentous two months for the royal family.

In June, Charles is expected to be joined by members of the royal family in celebrating his second Trooping the Colour as king.

Later in June, Charles and Camilla are expected to host the emperor and empress of Japan for a state visit.

PHOTO: A handout photo issued by the Royal Household on April 26, 2024, shows Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the garden of Buckingham Palace in London, on April 10. (Millie Pilkington/BUCKINGHAM PALACE/AFP via Getty )

Additionally, May 6 will mark the first anniversary of Charles and Camilla's historic coronation ceremony.

"As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year," a palace spokesperson said in a statement.

King Charles III to return to public duties amid cancer treatment originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
King Charles III an Queen Camilla - Credit: Courtesy of the Royal Family

Over two months after King Charles III revealed he had been diagnosed with a still-unspecified form of cancer, the monarch has announced he will return to public-facing duties in the coming weeks.

Outside of a few public appearances  including greeting well-wishers outside of an Easter Sunday church service last month  King Charles III had taken a step back from royal duties as he received treatment for cancer, during which he continued to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.

More from Rolling Stone

However, on Friday, Buckingham Palace shared the news that His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.



To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they pic.twitter.com/jWF8ITP0rg  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 26, 2024

To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead, the royal familys website proclaimed.

In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.

Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, news of King Charles IIIs return to royal duties comes just a day after reports surfaced that the British officials were updating a lengthy document code-named Operation Menai Bridge that detailed the Kings funeral plans upon his death. Additionally, the Daily Beast cited friends of King Charles III who said of his condition, Its not good.

(King Charles III has not disclosed what form of cancer he has; although the cancer was discovered while he underwent treatment for benign prostate enlargement, Buckingham Palace has stated it is not prostate cancer.)

The royal statement Friday continued, As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.

The Kings daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, also recently announced her own cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy amid the ever-growing rumors surrounding her after stepping back from public appearances and royal duties.

Best of Rolling Stone
Originally appeared on E! Online

King Charles III has reached a milestone in his health journey.

Buckingham Palace announced April 26 that the royal monarch will return to public-facing duties "after a period of treatment and recuperation" following his recent cancer diagnosis.

Charles and Queen Camilla will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment center April 30, where they will meet medical specialists and patients, according to the palace, who also noted that this outing "will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead."

The couple also plans to host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June.

Additionally, as the first anniversary of Charles' coronation approaches, the statement noted that the royals "remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year."

A spokesperson for the palace also shared an update on the 75-year-old's health, stating that His Majesty is "greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise."

King Charles III's Road to the Throne

More from E! Online

And although Charles' treatment program will continue, his doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far.

"Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary," the spokesperson noted, "to minimize any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery."

Handout/Millie Pilkington/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images

This health update comes nearly three months after Charles' diagnosis was shared with the public.

"During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted," a February statement from Buckingham Palace read. "Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties."

For the latest updates on the royal family, including Kate Middleton's own cancer diagnosis, keep reading...

Returning to Public Duties

On April 26, nearly three months after sharing his cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles will return to public-facing duties.





Queen Camilla Attends Royal Maundy Service

The queen consort attended the Royal Maundy Service on March 28 in place of King Charles III, making her the first spouse of the Monarch to continue the ancient tradition.





Kate Middleton Shares Cancer Diagnosis

In a March 22 video message, the Princess of Wales shared that she'd been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. "It was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful," she said before noting that tests after the operation found cancer had been present. "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment."





Kate Middleton Apologizes for Edited Family Photo Controversy

After photo agencies pulled the picture Kensington Palace shared of Kate since having her abdominal surgery on March 10, the Princess of Wales addressed claims the photo was doctored. "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she tweeted on March 11. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."





Lady Kitty Spencer Privately Welcomes Baby

Princess Diana's niece celebrated Mother's Day in the U.K. by sharing she and her husband Michael Lewis privately welcomed their first baby. Its the joy of my life to be your mummy, little one. I love you unconditionally," she captioned her March 10 Instagram post. "Happy Mothers Day to those who celebrate today."





Queen Camilla Takes a Break

After keeping up her full slate of engagements in the wake of her husband's cancer diagnosis, the palace cleared Camilla's schedule. The Times pointed out March 2 that the 76-year-old didn't have any engagements on her calendar until March 11, when she'd be due at Westminster Abbey to observe Commonwealth Day.





Thomas Kensington Dies at 45

The husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor and ex-boyfriend of Pippa Middleton, was found dead Feb. 25. Days later, a coroner's inquest found that he died by suicide.





King Charles Diagnosed With Cancer

While King Charles III was in the hospital for his benign prostate enlargement procedure, the royal family member was diagnosed with cancer. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," Buckingham Palace said Feb. 5. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible."





Sarah Ferguson Is Diagnosed With a Second Type of Cancer

The Duchess of York's rep said in a statement on Jan. 21 that Sarah was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. Several months prior, she underwent a single mastectomy to treat breast cancer.





Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Abdicates the Throne

On Jan. 14, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made history as she officially abdicated the throne, handing the crown over to her son, now known as King Frederik the 10th.





Kate Middleton Is Hospitalized

Kensington Palace announced on Jan. 17 that Kate Middleton underwent planned abdominal surgery and was set to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days. "Based on the current medical advice," the Palace said, "she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."





Prince William Adjusting His Schedule

Amid Kate's recovery, Prince William postponed a number of engagements as he supported his family, including the couple's three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.





King Charles III Undergoing Treatment

Shortly after Kate's hospitalization was made public, Buckingham Palace shared that Charles "has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate." "His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure," the statement added. "The Kings public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation."





Luxembourg Welcomes a New Baby

Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg welcomed son Balthazar Felix Karl on Jan. 7, the first royal baby of the New Year!



Get the latest tea from inside the palace walls. Sign up for Royal Recap!
King Charles Will Mark His Public Return In Very Special Way

King Charles III is seen here attending the Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, England, on March 31, 2024. Credit - Max MumbyGetty Images

King Charles III is set to visit a cancer treatment center with his wife, Queen Camilla, on Tuesday to mark his return to public-facing duties after receiving treatment and recuperating following his cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said Friday.

The Palace announced in February that the King, 75, had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. The cancer was discovered after a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement. The King postponed public-facing duties while he was undergoing treatment.

At the time, the Palace said the King chose to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.

Read More: King Charles III Frustrated By Speed of Cancer Recovery, Keen to Get Back to Normality

On Tuesday, the King and Queen will meet medical specialists and patients at a cancer treatment centerthe first among a number of public engagements in the coming weeks. The royal couple is also set to host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June.

The King ascended to the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, and celebrated his coronation in May 2023.

As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year, Fridays statement from Buckingham Palace read.

The resumption of the Kings public-facing duties marks a return to some sense of normalcy for the royal family amid a turbulent year. The King was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 26 to undergo a planned procedure to correct his enlarged prostate that led to the discovery of his cancer.

Read More: Why Kate Middletons New Title Is of Historical Significance

At the same time, his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, was also in hospital recovering from a planned abdominal surgery. After her release from hospital, Kensington Palace said she would recover out of the public eye until after Easter on March 31.

On March 22, the Princess announced she also had been diagnosed with cancer after post-surgery test results revealed cancer had been present. She has stepped back from official duties while she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy and will return when cleared to do so by her medical team.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2024 - 08:35 | All, Japan, World

Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. made public on Thursday their respective plans to step up cooperation with Chinese IT giants, mainly over the use of artificial intelligence in their vehicles to boost the appeal for potential local customers.

Toyota announced an agreement to team up with Tencent Holdings Ltd., while Nissan revealed a plan to seek an alliance with Baidu Inc. at the Beijing motor show, which opened the same day.

Hiroki Nakajima, a vice president of Toyota, said during a presentation that Tencent has offered cooperation in fields such as AI and big data, and the Japanese automaker will release a vehicle that mounts services to be jointly developed by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Nissan said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the major Chinese internet search company Baidu.

Makoto Uchida, president of the Japanese automaker, said, "We'll further enhance localization to make ourselves more competitive" in the Chinese market, where new electric cars and smart vehicles are being developed at a rapid pace.

Nissan plans to begin exporting vehicles manufactured in China in 2025, with an annual target of 100,000 units in the future, Uchida said.

Related coverage:

Honda eyes $11 billion investment to build new EV factories in Canada

Latest EVs displayed at 1st Beijing motor show in 4 years

Toyota fails to meet 10.1 million output target in FY 2023 amid scandals
In spring 2020, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako planned to travel to the United Kingdom for a state visit. That trip was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and now, four years later, it is finally happening.

"Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan have accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom in late June 2024," Buckingham Palace announced in April, sharing that King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the visit.

MARCO BERTORELLO - Getty Images

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, their first overseas trip since Naruhito's enthronement ceremony in 2019. They did not attend Charles and Camilla's coronation; instead, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attended on their behalf.

King Charles has a long history with the Japanese Imperial Family; he's visited the country five timesthe most recent trip occuring in October 2019, for the enthronement ceremony. This will be the third state visit he's hosted during his reign; the first, in honor of South Africa's President Ramaphosa, took place in November 2022, and the second, in honor of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, was in November 2023.

YUI MOK - Getty Images

State visits typically include a state dinner on the first night, attended by senior members of the royal family. Per the royal family's website, the state banquet "is a very grand formal occasion held in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom. Around 150 guests are usually invited on the basis of their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the country being hosted." (For example, South Korean girl band Blackpink attended the last state banquet.) Typically, the royal women wear tiarasat the last state banquet, Kate Middleton debuted the Strathmore Rose tiara and Queen Camilla wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara.

On June 4, Buckingham Palace shared the schedule for the upcoming Japan State Visit:

Tuesday, June 25: Prince William will greet the Emperor and Empress of Japan, followed by a Ceremonial Welcome at Horse Guards Parade. Emperor Naruhito and King Charles will then inspect the Guard of Honor, then all the royals will take part in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. That afternoon, the Japanese royal couple will visit Westminster Abbey, where the Emperor will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, and then tour the Abbey. In the evening, there will be a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Wednesday, June 26: Emperor Naruhito will visit the Francis Crick Institute. In the evening, Naruhito and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a banquet at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London.

Thursday, June 27: Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will formally bid goodbye to King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Palace, and then view an exhibit at the Young V&A museum. After, Naruhito will lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth in Windsor. In the afternoon, he will tour the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Friday, June 28: On their final day, they will visit Oxford, where both the Emperor and the Empress studied.

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King Charles III is going to resume public duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said in a Friday statement.

Charles will make his first public appearance next week at a cancer treatment center after his cancer was discovered during a hospital stay in early February.

The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients, Buckingham Palace said.

This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead, it added.

The king and the queen will also meet with Japans emperor and empress in June, per the U.K.s government request, according to the statement.

As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year, Buckingham Palace said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
King Charles to resume public duties next week, despite reports of funeral planning, says palace

King Charles has progressed enough in his cancer treatment that hell return to public duties next week for the first time since announcing his diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said Friday.

The news comes just one day after unnamed sources told The Daily Beast that the 75-year-old British monarch was significantly more unwell than his aides are letting on.

The king was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early February while being treated for benign prostate enlargement. The palace at the time said it would not provide a running commentary about his health, and much speculation has followed surrounding the details of his condition.

Buckingham Palace said Charles will travel with his wife, Queen Camilla, to a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, where theyre expected to meet with the patients and medical specialists.

This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead, the palace revealed, adding that hell also host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June.

His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise, a palace spokesperson told ABC News.

Fridays update contradicts reports that surfaced Thursday claiming Charles is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.

Anonymous sources told The Daily Beast that Buckingham Palace and the British government had begun reviewing hundreds of documents related to the planning of King Charles future funeral as his condition allegedly declines.

Plans for Operation Menai Bridge  the purported code word for his death  are being evaluated by the Cabinet Office, according to the sources. However, they noted the review is no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer.

Exactly what form of cancer Charles has remains a mystery, with the palace only emphasizing its unrelated to the prostate issue.

_____

(New York Daily News staff writer David Matthews contributed to this story.)

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King Charles III is set to resume public appearances for the first time after his cancer diagnosis and current medical treatment.

His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Friday.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

In February, the Palace first revealed a cancer diagnosis for the 75-year-old British monarch, without specifying the nature of his illness. That followed an earlier announcement that King Charles would undergo a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate.

King Charles isnt expected to take on a full load of royal duties as his cancer treatment is ongoing. To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead, Buckingham Palace stated.

King Charles will also host a state visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June.

As the first anniversary of the Coronation approaches, their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year, the statement added.

The cancer treatment for King Charles coincides with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, revealing she, too, is battling cancer following abdominal surgery earlier this year and was undergoing a series of preventative chemotherapy treatments.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
King Charles is to return to public-facing duties next week, Buckingham Palace said Friday, in an encouraging sign that his cancer treatment is working.

One of his first engagements will be to visit a cancer treatment center with Queen Camilla on Tuesday, and in June he will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit. Hopes will be high that he will now be cleared by doctors to attend the Trooping the Color ceremony which celebrates the monarchs official birthday in June.

King Charles Funeral Plans Dusted Off, as His Health Remains a Mystery

In the statement the palace said, His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment center next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.

In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.

As the first anniversary of the Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.

The latest revelation that he is to return to public life will be welcome, even though his aides would not comment when asked by The Daily Beast whether the new developments mean he was in remission, or doing well.

A palace spokesperson quoted in the London Times said that Charles treatment was not yet over and it was too early to say how long it would last, his medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the Kings recovery.

The spokesperson added: His Majestys treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majestys continued recovery.

Charles cancer journey began on January 17 when, after experiencing discomfort at his Scottish home of Birkhall, a doctor diagnosed him with a benign enlarged prostate. On Friday, January 26, he was admitted to The London Clinic, a private hospital, where he underwent treatment for the condition.

King Charles and Queen Camilla leave Clarence House, the day after it was announced King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, in London, Britain, Feb. 6, 2024. Toby Melville/Reuters

In an extraordinary twist of fate, Princess Kate was also in the hospital, recovering from abdominal surgery which was not at the time thought to be cancerous, although cancer was subsequently diagnosed.

Something similar happened to Charles; on Feb. 5, Buckingham Palace announced cancer had been found while the procedure was taking place. The palace did not specify what type of cancer he had, but did say it was not prostate cancer. They said he would start treatment immediately. Prince Harry raced back to the U.K. to see his father, adding a sense of urgency to the situation.

Britains Prime Minister tried to calm nerves by saying that the cancer had been caught early.

The palace said the king would have to retreat from view while the treatment was ongoing. They emphasized that although he had been advised to withdraw from public-facing duties, the king would continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual. He has made videos since the diagnosis, and has been photographed being driven through London.

Since then the palace has not given any updates on Charles condition until today.

Although he has sometimes appeared gaunt and weary, and The Daily Beast has been told that he is more unwell than the palace is suggesting, public sentiment was hugely buoyed when he appeared at an Easter Day service and spent some time after the service chatting to the public and shaking hands with up to 56 well-wishers.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Bloomberg) -- King Charles III will return to public-facing duties next week for the first time since revealing his cancer diagnosis in February.

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Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will meet with medical specialists and patients at a cancer treatment center on Tuesday to mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Friday evening. The UK monarch will then have a number of external engagements in coming weeks, including hosting Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in June, the Palace said.

The kings return to public life is welcome news for the British royals following a difficult year so far for the family. King Charless diagnosis for an unspecified form of cancer was announced in February, and last month Princess Catherine, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, also said she is being treated for cancer.

The palace said Charles will continue his treatment program, but that doctors are sufficiently pleased with his progress that he can resume some duties. His engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majestys continued recovery, the Palace said.

King Charless cancer was discovered earlier this year during a hospital stay by the 75-year-old as he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace said at the time that the cancer didnt have any connection with what was a benign prostate condition.

The news of his need for medical treatment came less than 18 months into his reign, following his ascension to the throne in September 2022 after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. May 6 will be the first anniversary of his coronation.

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Update 4/26/24: "Portrait of Fraulein Lieser" by Gustav Klimt sold at auction this week for $32 million to an anonymous bidder from Hong Kong. The original story on the painting and auction, below.

Original, 1/29/24: A portrait by Gustav Klimt, "Portrait of Fraulein Lieser," was believed to be lost for nearly a century. Recently found, it will go up for auction in April in Vienna.

"The rediscovery of this portrait of a woman, one of the most beautiful portraits of Klimts final period of creativity, is a sensation," auction house Im Kinsky said in a statement. "While the picture is documented in Klimt catalogue raisonnees, it was only known to art historians as a black and white photograph." They added, "A painting of such rarity, artistic significance and value has not been available on the art market in Central Europe for decades."

Only identified as "Lieser," art historians have thought that the sitter could be Margarethe Constance Lieser, the daughter of Adolf Lieser, but new research shows it could be one of the daughters of Adolf's brother Justus Lieser and Henriette Amalie "Lilly" Lieser-Landau: Helene Lieser or Annie Lieser. (Henriette Lieser was a noted patron of the arts in Vienna; she was murdered in Auschwitz in 1943.)

Per Im Kinsky, "The Lieser family belonged to the circle of wealthy, upper-class Viennese society in which Klimt found his patrons and clients. The brothers Adolf and Justus Lieser were among the leading industrialists of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Henriette Amalie Lieser-Landau, known as Lilly, was married to Justus Lieser until 1905 and was a patron of the avant-garde. Catalogs of Klimt's paintings state that Adolf Lieser commissioned Gustav Klimt to paint a portrait of his eighteen-year-old daughter Margarethe Constance. However, there is some suggestion that the art-loving Lilly Lieser commissioned Klimt to immortalize one of her two daughters."

Whichever Lieser woman it was, she visited Klimt's studios nine times in April and May 1917. When Klimt died in February 1918, it was left in his studio, with small parts unfinished. After 1925, the painting disappears. In 1960, it was acquired by a private Austrian family, and went to the current owner (who is remaining anonymous) through three successive inheritances. "We have a gap between 1925 and the 1960s," art law expert Ernst Ploil said. "There are no indications of any illegal confiscation during the Nazi era, i.e. the usual stamps from the Gestapo or a shipping house where looted art was stored."

After acquiring the portrait, the auction house contacted the heirs of of Adolf and Henriette Lieser, and they will receive a portion of the proceeds from the auction, on the basis of an agreement with 1998 Washington Principleswhich outlines the return of Nazi-stolen art. "Portrait of Fraulein Lieser" will be up for auction at im Kinsky in Vienna on April 24, 2024.

It's valued to sell for $33 to $55 million, but Klimt artworks have gone for record-breaking prices lately, including "Lady with a Fan," which sold for $108.4 million in June 2023 and "Birch Forest," which sold for $104.6 million in 2022 (as part of the sale of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's art collection).

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What to know about Bell's palsy, the facial paralysis affecting Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts during the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition that can strike out of the blue and cause muscles on one side of a person's face to become weak or paralyzed, distorting expression.

Heres what to know about the mostly temporary condition:

WHAT IS IT?

Bells palsy occurs when something inflames or injures a nerve that controls facial muscles. Symptoms come on rapidly over two to three days. They can include difficulty closing an eyelid, a drooping eye or mouth or paralysis of an entire half of the face.

Cases can be mild or severe.

It can affect anyone but is most likely to occur between the ages of 15 and 45, according to the National Institutes of Health.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

No one knows. But people more at risk include those who have high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or are pregnant.

Its been associated with infections such as the herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus, as well as Lyme disease and autoimmune disorders. The NIH says other possible triggers may include impaired immune reactions to minor illnesses or injury.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED AND TREATED?

There isnt a single test to diagnose Bells palsy but doctors start by physically examining facial muscles. Its important to seek care to rule out more serious conditions such as a stroke.

Treatment depends on the persons symptoms and severity. Doctors may prescribe steroidal medications to reduce the nerve inflammation or antivirals. If theres any involvement of the eyelid, patients receive care to protect the eye from dryness, such as an eyepatch or eye drops or ointments.

Fortunately, Bells palsy is temporary for the vast majority of patients. The NIH says most recover some or all facial function within a few weeks to six months.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
What to know about Zyn, the tiny nicotine pouch that's sparked a big health debate

FILE - Containers of Zyn, a Phillip Morris smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in New York. The product has been making big headlines, sparking debate about whether new nicotine-based alternatives intended for adults may be catching on with underage teens and adolescents. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A tiny Philip Morris product called Zyn has been making big headlines, sparking debate about whether new nicotine-based alternatives intended for adults may be catching on with underage teens and adolescents.

Heres what to know about Zyn:

WHAT IS ZYN?

Zyn is an oral pouch that contains nicotine powder and flavorings like mint, coffee and citrus. The pouches are the fastest-growing segment of the tobacco industry, which has struggled for decades to replace falling cigarette sales.

Zyn is marketed by Philip Morris International to adult tobacco users. Although it doesnt contain tobacco, U.S. regulators still treat it as a tobacco product.

Competitors sell similar products. Altria, for instance, sells its own flavored pouches called On.

HOW DO NICOTINE POUCHES WORK?

Users stick them between their lip and gums, where they slowly release low levels of nicotine that are absorbed into the bloodstream. Because pouches generally don't contain tobacco, there's no spitting, unlike older products like chew and snuff.

Philip Morris representatives say the nicotine-only formulation is part of Zyns appeal.

People can be reluctant to move into an oral tobacco product if they view it as similar to traditional chewing tobacco, company spokesman Corey Henry said. Consumer acceptability is a big part of Zyn.

IS ZYN HEALTHIER THAN OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS?

All tobacco products carry serious health risks. Cigarettes are widely understood as the most harmful, increasing the likelihood of cancer, heart disease and lung problems. Chewing tobacco is linked to mouth cancer, gum disease and tooth loss.

But in the last decade or so, researchers and health regulators have begun to acknowledge different levels of harm among different tobacco products.

In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration said a different oral tobacco product, called snus, contains lower cancer-causing chemicals than cigarettes and could benefit smokers who switch.

Snus are similar to nicotine pouches like Zyn, except that they contain fermented tobacco. Studies from Sweden and other places where they are popular have shown lower rates of lung cancer and related diseases compared with other European countries where smoking is more prevalent.

Theres little research on the long-term effects of nicotine pouches, but many researchers expect they will show similarly low rates of carcinogens and other toxic components.

Still, that doesnt mean theyre safe. A study last year found Zyn and similar products contain low levels of harmful substances such as ammonia and formaldehyde.

WILL THE FDA AUTHORIZE ZYN FOR ADULT SMOKERS?

Currently FDA officials are letting Zyn stay on the market while they review Philip Morris marketing application, which was submitted in 2020.

To win FDA authorization, companies generally must show that their products will reduce disease among adult tobacco users without attracting underage use by teens and adolescents.

IS ZYN POPULAR AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE?

Not according to the latest federal data. Only 1.5% of high school and middle schoolers reported using nicotine pouches when surveyed last year. Thats well below the roughly 10% who used electronic cigarettes.

But anti-tobacco advocates point to worrying signs: videos of young people popping the pouches have racked up millions of views on social media in recent months. A similar surge of online activity preceded the rise of Juul, the sleek e-cigarette widely blamed for triggering a spike in teen vaping in the years before COVID-19.

Concerns about Zyn going viral have sparked debate among health experts, parents and even politicians.

The FDA says its monitoring underage use of Zyn and other pouches and will take action, if necessary.

CAN ADULT SMOKERS USE ZYN TO HELP QUIT?

Currently only a handful of products are FDA-approved to help with quitting smoking, including medications, nicotine gums and patches. Some researchers point out that Zyn works similarly to some of those products  gradually delivering nicotine that reduces cravings.

But early research suggests Zyn and other pouches may not be enough to help smokers quit.

Ohio State University researchers recently found it took smokers 30 minutes to an hour to get enough nicotine from Zyn to relieve their cravings. With cigarettes, smokers achieved the same nicotine levels  and relief  in five minutes.

For now, Philip Morris is focused on obtaining FDA authorization to stay on the market, and eventually it has said it could seek a reduced-risk designation similar to snus. But no tobacco company  Philip Morris included  has ever asked the FDA to approve their products to help smokers quit completely.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 27, 2024 - 00:02 | World, All

The United States expressed Friday its serious concern over China's support for the Russian defense industry, claiming it enables Moscow to prosecute its war against Ukraine, while the two countries agreed to continue high-level exchanges to stabilize ties despite differences on many issues.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Beijing after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Beijing is a "top supplier" of components Russia uses to ramp up its defense industry base amid its invasion of Ukraine.

At a press conference, he warned Washington could impose additional sanctions on Chinese firms unless they change their practices. But Beijing maintains that Washington makes "groundless accusations over the normal trade and economic exchanges" between China and Russia.

The two sides, meanwhile, said they agreed to promote cooperation on issues including climate change, drug control and artificial intelligence and will hold the first intergovernmental talks on managing risks posed by AI technology in the coming weeks.

Xi called on the two global powers to seek common ground and put aside their differences rather than engage in vicious competition, saying they should be partners instead of rivals, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese leader told Blinken it is a shared desire of the international community to see strengthened bilateral dialogue, the ministry added.

On Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing views as its own, Blinken said he stressed the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Cross-strait tensions have been rising ahead of the inauguration of Taiwan's next leader Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing denounces as an independence advocate, on May 20. Blinken also said he reaffirmed Washington's commitment to a "one-China policy," under which it recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China.

During the talks between the two countries' top diplomats that lasted for five and a half hours, Wang said the Taiwan issue is "the first red line that must not be crossed" in bilateral relations and called on Washington to "stop arming" Taiwan, according to the Chinese ministry.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that includes arms support for Taiwan, among other Indo-Pacific allies and security partners, amid increased Chinese military pressure on the island. Communist-led China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split due to a civil war in 1949.

As for tensions in the South China Sea, where China is engaged in territorial disputes with the Philippines and other neighboring countries, Blinken expressed concern over Beijing's "destabilizing actions" in the sea area at the press conference, vowing that Washington will work to de-escalate the situation.

Vessels of China and the Philippines have often been involved in confrontations. Blinken said the U.S. defense commitment to Manila remains "ironclad."

Wang urged the United States to halt coercing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to choose sides and stop deploying land-based midrange missiles, the Chinese ministry said.

His remarks apparently referred to recent moves by Washington to deepen security ties with Asian partners including Japan and South Korea and the deployment of a U.S. midrange missile system in the Philippines.

On the economic front, Blinken told reporters he raised U.S. concerns about Chinese overcapacity in production of electric vehicles, solar panels and other items, saying it could put business around the world at risk by flooding markets with cheap products and undermining competition.

Wang urged the United States to "stop hyping up the false narrative" of industrial overcapacity in China and revoke "illegal" sanctions on Chinese companies, according to the Chinese ministry.

He called on the United States "not to hold China's development back," apparently referring to U.S. trade curbs on China-bound semiconductors and other high-tech items based on national security concerns.

The top Chinese diplomat said that overall, Sino-U.S. ties are "beginning to stabilize," but added that "negative factors in the bilateral relationship" are "still increasing and building" and it faces "all kinds of disruptions."

Blinken also said he urged China to use its influence to prevent the expansion of conflict in the Middle East and press North Korea to end its "dangerous behavior" and engage in dialogue. He underscored the U.S. commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to the State Department.

The U.S. secretary returned to China for the first time in 10 months after Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed during phone talks in early April the importance of enhanced high-level bilateral dialogue to stabilize relations.

Blinken also met with Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, who serves as the country's police chief, on Friday and agreed to advance counternarcotics cooperation.

His China visit followed a trip to the Asian country by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen earlier this month.

Related coverage:

Philippines, U.S. begin military exercise amid concerns over China

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Military spending at new high in 2023 amid Ukraine war, China tension
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Faculty at the University of Kansas has voted to unionize.

The United Academics of the University of Kansas represents over 1,550 full-time and part-time tenured and nontenure-track faculty; teaching, research, clinical and online professors; lecturers; curators; librarians; grant-funded research scientists; and other academic staff.

Faculty have been voting for the past month. They cited competitive wages, job security, safety and health concerns around aging, as well as unkept classrooms and buildings as major issues.

Ballots were counted on Thursday, and the result was 850 to 132.

3 local student volunteers win $50K in scholarships

Faculty and academic staff are coming together to fight for a better KU; and today, we voted resoundingly to have our voices heard on the critical issues facing our university, said Kate DeJarnette, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing, in a news release. Were eager to get to work making KU a better place to study, teach and perform world-class research.

The next step is bargaining their first contract with the university.

The university sent KSN the following statement:

The Provost looks forward to working with the new union  and with all faculty, staff and students  on initiatives to advance KUs mission of education, service and research. We are grateful to the many Lawrence campus faculty who share our goal to make KU the best place it can be.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Ukraine and Latvia are working to increase joint drone production, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on April 26 during a press conference with Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze in Kyiv.

The drone coalition co-led by the U.K. and Latvia was established in January to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Seven countries, apart from the founding states, have joined the alliance, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark.

"I certainly thank Latvia for its leadership in the drone coalition. We are now working together to increase this production. We need more drones. Ukrainian and Latvian companies can really do a lot," Kuleba said.

The Latvian minister also reportedly met with employees of one of Ukraine's thermal power plants to learn about their needs.

Moscow has recently intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, destroying several thermal power plants across the country, including the Trypillia plant, the main electricity supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts.

Braze said that the Latvian state-owned company Latvenergo will hand over a 215 MW generator to Ukraine to cover its energy needs.

Latvia has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters since the outbreak of the full-scale war. The country's prime minister, Evika Silina, recently said that Riga's military aid for Kyiv amounted to 392 million euros (around $425 million), including an upcoming defense aid package in April.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said on April 24 that a drone coalition had collected over 500 million euros ($535 million) to purchase drones for Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, have also recently signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement.

Read also: Media: Lancet drone analog presented to Zelensky, being used at the front

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv authorities announced on April 26 an urgent evacuation of two hospitals, including a children's one, saying that they were at a risk of being targeted in an air attack.

The two hospitals are located on Bohatyrska Street in the capital's northern Obolon district, according to the statement.

The Kyiv City State Administration cited an unspecified video, which it said was circulating on social media, that appeared to "effectively announce an attack on these medical facilities." According to the administration, the video falsely claims that the hospitals host military personnel.

The authorities were likely referring to the video that showed Ivan Tertel, Belarusian security chief, speaking at the All-Belarusian Peoples Assembly on April 25. In the video, which circulated online, the Belarusian official references "terrorists hiding in Kyiv hospitals," after which he named the addresses of two Kyiv hospitals on Bohatyrska Street. While Belarus troops aren't participating in the war, Belarus is an ally of Russia. The country, Ukraine's northern neighbor, has helped Russian war effort by welcoming

Kyiv authorities said there was no military personnel in the hospital.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) called Tertel's claims "a manifestation of psychological operations that play into the hands of Russia."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted a video on Telegram showing the undergoing evacuation from hospitals "to protect children, their parents, adult patients and staff from a possible attack on these medical facilities."

"There is no evidence to suggest that Russia is actually going to launch such strikes so far," Kyiv City Military Administration head Serhiy Popko said.

Read also: Lithuania ridicules Belarusian claim of thwarted drone attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Kyiv City State Administration has reported that it is urgently evacuating two Kyiv hospitals, one of them being a childrens hospital in the Bohatyrska Street, due to the information about a possible Russian strike on these hospitals.

Source: the Kyiv City State Administration

Quote: "The city is starting urgent evacuation of two hospitals, one of them being a childrens hospital, located in the Bohatyrska Street.

A video with an announcement of a Russian strike on these medical institutions is being spread online because the [Ukrainian] military are allegedly inside.

This is a complete lie and the enemys provocation which is being used to strike the social infrastructure of the Ukrainian capital.

In order to protect sick children, their parents and medical staff, the Kyiv authorities are doing everything possible to transfer patients and medics to other medical institutions."

Details: The Kyiv City State Administration added that it had turned to the SSU, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for help and informed them about the measures taken to preserve life and health of the patients and staff of the hospitals.

Updated: On 25 April, the 7th All-Belarusian People's Assembly took place in Belarus with the participance of the self-proclaimed president of the country, Aleksander Lukashenko, and representatives of his government.

In particular, the head of the Belarusian KGB, Ivan Tertel, said on stage that "terrorists are hiding" in Kyiv hospitals, on 30 and 32 Bohatyrska St.

Tertel said that he would oppose the mythical terrorists from Ukraine "in accordance with wartime laws  decisively and without hesitation."

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Mr Trump has been ahead of Joe Biden in recent polling - EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS

The Labour Party is competing with Lord Cameron to curry favour with Donald Trump and his inner circle, as diplomats ramp up efforts to engage with the former president ahead of the US election.

David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has held meetings with a series of Trump world figures in recent months, in the hope of smoothing relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, if both win office later this year.

It comes as Trump insiders have claimed Britain is working harder than any other country to woo the former president. An unnamed British diplomat is said to have repeatedly visited Mar-a-Lago, his home in Florida, and dined with Mr Trump, US media reported.

Lord Cameron also met Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago on a visit to the US earlier this month and has dispatched officials from the British embassy in Washington DC to attend his campaign events and connect with his advisers.

Foreign Office insiders have expressed frustration that too little was done to engage with the Republican candidate before he won the 2016 election.

Mr Lammy has met several key backers of Mr Trump - GEOFF PUGH

The Telegraph understands Labour has launched a shadow diplomatic operation to win over Mr Trumps allies, including on visits by several of Sir Keirs top team.

Mr Lammy, who is friends with Barack Obama and attended Harvard University, has met several key figures including Elbridge Colby, a Trump-era Pentagon official, and Mr Trumps former national security duo, Robert OBrien and Matt Pottinger.

Labour has also launched a Congress first strategy to build relationships with key Republicans on Capitol Hill ahead of the election, including GOP senators JD Vance and James Risch.

Mr Vance has been mooted as a possible running mate for Mr Trump in November, while Mr Risch is a ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee.

Mr Lammy, who visited New York on Friday, has been to the US six times since he was appointed to his shadow cabinet role by Sir Keir in 2021.

His team has held briefings on the Labour Partys foreign policy with more than 20 Republican congressional offices, and has emphasised the partys support for America and the Nato alliance.

Mr Lammy recently outlined his ideas for the Foreign Office in an article for Foreign Affairs magazine  a decision sources say was designed to put his views in front of congressional Republicans  and publicly stated he would be happy to meet Mr Trump.

Lord Cameron met the former president earlier this month - ZUMA PRESS INC/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Mr Trump has received a flurry of visitors since becoming the presumptive Republican nominee last month, including Lord Cameron and Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the US.

On Thursday night, Dame Karen hosted a drinks reception at the British embassy in Washington DC, which was attended by Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Mr Trumps campaign.

Lord Cameron has declined to comment on his discussions with the former president at Mar-a-Lago, but described him on Wednesday as certainly an interesting guy. In his 2019 memoir, the former prime minister said Mr Trump was xenophobic and misogynistic.

At the dinner, Lord Cameron tried to convince Mr Trump over a steak dinner that he should support Ukraines war effort, by arguing that Vladimir Putin would continue invading European countries if he is not stopped by the West, the Washington Post reported.

A readout of the meeting from Mr Trumps campaign referred only to the need to stop the killing during the war, in an apparent reference to his preferred policy of a negotiated ceasefire.

It was also reported on Friday that British diplomats had dined privately with the former president, attended his Super Tuesday victory party, and held meetings with Liz Truss and Nigel Farage  both of whom have a better relationship with Mr Trump than the British government.

Five sources told The Washington Post that a British diplomat was regularly meeting with Mr Trump and senior Republicans.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM)  Lancaster City Police are investigating a shooting on Friday afternoon.

Police say shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday a gunshot victim arrived at an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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The shooting occurred in the area of the 200 block of Juniata Street and police say this was not a random event.

UPDATE:

On April 27 at 10:17 a.m., Lancaster City Police said that the 17-year-old male suspect turned himself in last night.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Land next to a park was going to get an elementary school. But then Meridian bought it

After over five years and some setbacks, Meridian finally secured land to build a community center to replace the small and aging center downtown.

The city bought over 11 acres from West Ada School District near Settlers Park on Ustick Road and Venable Avenue to add to the existing park and build the center.

The Meridian City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to the $4.2 million purchase with money from the citys general fund, which city staff members previously said would allow the construction of the larger center to accommodate Meridians growing population.

The existing community center has 4,178 square feet and was built in the early 1960s. Since then, Meridians population has grown by over 130,000, people.

The Meridian Community Center at 201 E. Idaho Ave. downtown hosts events and activities. But the city believes its population has outgrown the 4,178-square-foot building.

This has been many years in the making, searching for the right site for our community center, Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Steve Siddoway told council members.

The city of Meridian says it spent years looking for the right location for a future community center. Parks Director Steve Siddoway thinks he found it in this 11-acre West Ada property.

The plan to build began in late 2019, when the city offered land downtown for developers willing to build a community center. The city planned to invest $13 million to tear down the existing center and build a new one as well as a charter school.

Mayor Robert Simison and the City Council selected Galena Opportunity Fund to build the project. But the center never materialized, because the agreement between Galena, the city and Meridian Development Corp., the citys urban renewal agency expired and was never continued.

Since 2019, Simison and the council have made it a priority to find a new location. They finally found one after discussions and negotiations with the school district.

West Ada planned to build a new elementary school on the acreage, but Siddoway said the school district no longer needs a school there, though the district is still expected to build new schools in other areas of the city to accommodate growth.

Jonathan Gillen, chief financial officer for the West Ada School District, told the Idaho Statesman in an email that the district assessed its enrollment and future projections and decided that the existing elementary schools in north and central Meridian adequately serve the community.

Teens and children play on the playground at Settlers Park. A site west of the park that was set aside for a school is now planned for a community center instead.

Us purchasing this property from them, not only does it give us a home for the community center that works well for us, it also gives them the ability to then reinvest those dollars in purchasing a property that they need for another school site elsewhere, Siddoway said in the meeting.

Before voting, Meridian Council President Luke Cavener thanked West Ada for its partnership.

Its really two separate taxing agencies really representing our community and trying to do whats best for Meridian, he said.

Ada County home prices just spiked by a record-setting amount in 1 month. This is why

Another Saltzer Health practice in Meridian will be kept alive. Heres the new owner
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man has pleaded guilty to paying an undercover police officer to kill a man he suspected was having an affair with his wife, according to documents.

Mario Valdez, 45, was initially charged last summer with solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit kidnapping or arson, records showed. Documents filed April 16 indicate Valdez agreed to plea guilty to the charge of solicitation to commit murder.

As part of the deal, prosecutors will not argue for a sentence, though a judge could sentence Valdez to a minimum of two years and a maximum of 15 years in prison.

On Aug. 16, a Metro police detective received information from a confidential informant about a person, later identified as Valdez, who allegedly was offering money for another person to be kidnapped and murdered, documents said.

The confidential informant told the detective Valdez is a local contractor and wanted [a man] murdered due to an alleged affair between Valdezs wife and [the man], documents said. The mans name is redacted in the documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained last year.

Later on Aug. 16, an undercover officer met with Valdez and offered to kill the man for a fee, documents said.

Valdez explained he wanted the victim interrogated and killed due to an affair he had with his wife, police said. Valdez gave instructions that during the interrogation, he would like the victim to answer questions related to a chain/piece of jewelry, what his plans were with an associate named [redacted], and if he had sex with his wife.

Valdez then allegedly told the undercover officer that the victim would need to be truthful because he had located his family in Mexico, documents said. He also told the undercover officer to threaten to cut off the victims sons genitals to get him to talk, police said.

The [undercover officer] asked specifically how he wanted the murder to happen and if he wanted him to cut off one of the victims ears to give to Valdez as a keepsake, documents said. Valdez replied he would like an ear but would not want to be contacted during the act due to concern of it being traced, meaning the murder could be tracked back to Valdez.

Valdez agreed to pay the undercover officer $4,000 in cash and then an additional $2,000 at a later date, police said. Valdez then allegedly texted the undercover agent a picture of his target.

On Aug. 22, police interviewed the intended target who said Valdez was his former employer, documents said. The man told police he was no longer in the United States and was worried about his safety.

Also on Aug. 22, Valdez texted the undercover officer and asked for a meeting, documents said. Valdez once again showed the undercover officer a photo of the intended target and gave him $1,000, police said.

Valdez later told the undercover officer he wanted a second man murdered and he wanted the homicide to look like a robbery gone wrong, police said. There was no indication in police documents as to why Valdez wanted the second man murdered.

The conversation then turned back to the first target with Valdez allegedly telling the undercover officer he wanted the murder recorded, police said. The undercover officer then told Valdez the murder would occur the next day, Aug. 23, documents said.

Police arrested Valdez on Aug. 23, records showed. Judge Susan Johnson was scheduled to sentence Valdez on July 16.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Latest | Israeli drone strike kills 2 in Lebanon after Hezbollah fires at an Israeli convoy

A protester gestures as she is carried to a police car after blocking a road along with a delegation of American and Israeli rabbis from Rabbis for Ceasefire marching towards the Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip with food aid for Gaza civilians and to call for a ceasefire, in southern Israel, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

An Israeli drone strike on a car in eastern Lebanon killed two people Friday, Lebanons state-run National News Agency says. The strike came after Lebanons militant Hezbollah group carried out an attack along the border that killed an Israeli civilian.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire on a near-daily basis along the border since the start of Israel-Hamas war nearly seven months ago.

Egypt sent a high-level delegation to Israel on Friday for talks seeking to push through a cease-fire agreement with Hamas and avert an Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, officials said.

More than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah. The city is on the border with Egypt, which warned that a possible Israeli offensive focused on Rafah could have catastrophic consequences to regional stability.

The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in the area in what appears to be preparations for an invasion of the city.

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

The war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, around two-thirds of them children and women.

Currently:

 Egypt sends delegation to Israel, its latest effort to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas

 Private security company says missile fire seen off the Yemen coast in the Red Sea near crucial strait

 Premature baby girl rescued from her dead mothers womb dies in Gaza after 5 days in an incubator

 PEN America cancels World Voices Festival amid criticism of its response to Israel-Hamas war

 Columbia University protesters say theyre at an impasse with administrators and will continue anti-war camp

 Students at prestigious Paris university occupy campus building in pro-Palestinian protest

Here is the latest:

DRONE ATTACK ON IRAQ GAS FIELD KILLS 4

BAGHDAD  A drone attack Friday on a gas field in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq killed four Yemeni workers and wounded three others, the regional government said.

The governments statement called it a terrorist attack without blaming a specific group. No group claimed responsibility.

The attack happened on the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniyah. The regional governments electricity ministry announced the suspension of gas production and a loss of 2,500 megawatts of power production.

A rocket attack on the same gas field in January caused infrastructure damage and widespread power outages. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation, but the government has not announced any results.

Fridays attack followed a failed rocket strike that was launched from Iraq early this week toward a base housing U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria, an apparent resumption of attacks on U.S. forces by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias.

From October to February, an umbrella group of militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched regular drone attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. The group said it was retaliating for Washingtons support of Israel in the war in Gaza and wanted to force U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq.

Those attacks halted after a stroke on a base in Jordan killed three U.S. soldiers and prompted U.S. retaliatory strikes in Iraq.

U.S. POSTPONES DECISION ON AID TO ISRAELI BATTALION ACCUSED OF ABUSES

WASHINGTON  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has determined that an Israeli army battalion committed grave human-rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank before the war in Gaza. But he said in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he is postponing a decision on blocking aid to the unit to give Israel more time to right the wrongdoing.

The undated letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, defers a decision on whether to withhold U.S. assistance to an Israeli military unit for the first time over its treatment of Palestinians and its compliance with international and human rights law. Israeli leaders, anticipating the U.S. decision this week, have angrily protested any such aid restrictions.

Blinken stressed that overall U.S. military support for Israels defense against Hamas and other threats would not be affected by the State Departments eventual decision on the one unit.

It comes as Blinken is again headed to Israel. An Israeli foreign ministry official told The Associated Press that Blinken will visit on Tuesday, the latest trip he and other top U.S. officials have made since the war in Gaza began.

The U.S. declaration concerns a single Israeli unit. While the unit is not identified in Blinkens letter, it is believed to be the Netzah Yehuda.

 By Ellen Knickmeyer, Farnoush Amiri, Matthew Lee and Julia Frankel

U.N. INTERNAL WATCHDOG IS INVESTIGATING 14 UNRWA STAFFERS

UNITED NATIONS  U.N. investigators say Israel has alleged that 19 employees of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel and they are now investigating 14 cases.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Friday that the U.N. internal watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, has closed one case because Israel provided no evidence. Four others have been suspended for lack of sufficient evidence.

In January, Israel alleged that 12 employees of the Palestinian refugee agency known as UNRWA participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. Dujarric said Israel has since made allegations against seven additional employees.

Dujarric provided no details on the allegations.

Dujarric said OIOS investigators had met with authorities in Israel and would undertake another visit in May.

These discussions are continuing and have so far been productive and have enabled progress on the investigations, he said, adding that there is no indication of when the OIOS probes will be finished.

The update Dujarric followed Mondays release of an independent review of UNRWAs neutrality. That review found that Israel never expressed concern about anyone on the staff lists it has received annually since 2011 from the U.N. agency.

ISRAELI DRONE STRIKE IN LEBANON KILLS 2

BEIRUT  An Israeli drone strike on a car in eastern Lebanon killed two people Friday, Lebanons state-run National News Agency says.

The Israeli military said it targeted an official with Lebanons al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, or the Islamic Group, that is allied with Hezbollah. It has been active in predominantly Sunni Muslim villages along the Lebanons southern border with Israel.

The Israeli military said the man killed was Musab Khalaf. It says Khalaf was behind attacks on Israeli troops in the disputed Chebaa Farms that Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war. The Lebanese government says the area belongs to Lebanon.

An official with al-Jamaa al-Islamiya refused to confirm NNA's report when contacted by The Associated Press. The attack occurred on a road near the eastern village of Maydoun, NNA said without identifying the two killed.

The strike came a day after Hezbollah carried out an attack along the border that killed an Israeli civilian.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire on a near-daily basis along the border since the start of the war in Gaza nearly seven months ago. Hezbollah says it is acting in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose deadly Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel triggered the war.

MISSILE FIRE SEEN IN THE RED SEA

JERUSALEM  Missiles suspected to have been fired by Yemens Houthi rebels landed in the Red Sea on Friday, a private security company said.

The attack follows an uptick in assaults launched by the Houthis in recent days after a relative lull in their monthslong campaign over Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The private security company Ambrey said three missiles could be seen in the attack, which landed closest to a Panama-flagged, Seychelles-registered tanker it described as being engaged in Russia-linked trade. The vessel was traveling from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, Ambrey said.

Those details corresponded to a tanker called the Andromeda Star, which had been previously broadcasting its location off Mocha, Yemen, according to ship-tracking data.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the missile fire, though it typically takes the rebels several hours to acknowledge their attacks.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

ISRAEL'S NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER IS INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT

JERUSALEM  Israels national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was injured in a car accident and brought to the hospital Friday after visiting the scene of a stabbing attack in central Israel, according to Israeli police and Hebrew media.

Ben-Gvirs office said he was in good condition. The statement also said that Ben-Gvirs daughter, a security guard, and a driver were lightly injured.

He had just visited the scene where Israeli police said a young woman had been stabbed several times in the back by a militant on Friday. Paramedics brought her to the hospital in serious condition.

Israels police chief said the attacker was chased by civilians for about a kilometer before he tried to stab another woman. He was then shot dead by a civilian with a licensed weapon.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, Palestinians have carried out a number of attacks against Israelis, some of them deadly. Violence also has surged in the West Bank, with 489 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

The car accident involving Ben-Gvir injured three people, police said. Hebrew media aired footage of a black car overturned on the road and quoted a witness who said that the car had run a red light.

ERDOGAN DENIES TURKISH RADAR BASE WAS USED TO INTERCEPT IRAN'S MISSILES

ISTANBUL  Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday denied rumors that drones and ballistic missile strikes from Iran's attack on Israel on April 13 were intercepted due to early detection by a NATO radar base in southeastern Turkey.

The radar center in Kurecik (Malatya province) does not and cannot have any relationship, bond or contact with any state other than the security of our country and our alliance, he said

Speaking at a televised pro-Palestinian event, Erdogan also reiterated that Turkey has cut diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel and will impose more trade restrictions.

From a commercial perspective, the only country that imposes export restrictions on Israel in 54 product groups is Turkey, Erdogan said.

Turkey, a staunch critic of Israels military actions in the Gaza Strip, announced that it was restricting exports of 54 types of products to Israel in early April. They include aluminum, steel, construction products, jet fuel and chemical fertilizers. In response, Israel banned products from Turkey.

LEADING ISRAELI ACADEMICS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER US CAMPUS PROTESTS

The heads of Israels major research universities signed a letter Friday expressing deep concern over what they viewed as a surge of antisemitism at American colleges as pro-Palestinian protests sweep campuses across the United States.

In the letter, the university heads allege that the recent demonstrations have created a climate where Israeli and Jewish students and faculty members feel compelled to hide their identities or avoid campuses altogether for fear of physical harm. The letter did not include specific examples.

The statement comes as pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampments at universities across the country.

Many are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.

Israel and its supporters have branded the protests as antisemitic, while critics of Israel say it uses such allegations to silence opponents.

While some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, organizers of the protests, some of whom are Jewish, say it is a peaceful movement aimed at defending Palestinian rights and protesting the war.

Freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate are vital to the health of any democracy, wrote the college presidents, whose association goes by the acronym VERA in Israel. However, these freedoms do not include the right to to engage in violence, make threats against communities, or call for the destruction of the state of Israel.

They said that they would help Jewish students and faculty wishing to move to Israel.

EGYPT SENDS CEASE-FIRE DELEGATION TO ISRAEL

CAIRO  Egypt sent a high-level delegation to Israel in the hope of reaching a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, while warning a possible new Israeli offensive focused on the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt could have catastrophic consequences for regional stability, two officials said Friday.

Egypts top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, is leading the delegation and plans to discuss a new vision on establishing a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza with Israeli officials, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the mission.

Talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, along the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza with minimum restrictions, the official said.

The hope is that negotiations will then continue, with the goal of a larger deal to end the war, he said.

Hamas has said it will not back down from its demands for a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which Israel has refused. Israel says it will continue military operations until Hamas is definitively defeated and will retain a security presence in Gaza afterwards.

Israel has also been conducting near-daily raids on Rafah, a city in which more than half of Gazas population of 2.3 million have sought refuge.

While in Israel, Kamel plans to make clear that Egypt will not tolerate Israels deployments of troops along Gazas borders with Egypt, the Egyptian official said.

A Western diplomat in Cairo also said that Egypt has intensified its efforts in recent days to reach a compromise and establish a short cease-fire in Gaza that will help negotiate a longer truce and avert the Rafah offensive.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the developments.

 Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed.

HEZBOLLAH AMBUSHES ISRAELI CONVOY, KILLING CIVILIAN

BEIRUT  Lebanons militant Hezbollah group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery shells at an Israeli military convoy in a disputed area along the border, killing an Israeli civilian, the group and Israels military said Friday.

Hezbollah said that its fighters ambushed the convoy on Thursday shortly before midnight, destroying two vehicles.

The Israeli military said the ambush wounded an Israeli civilian doing infrastructure work, and that he later died of his wounds.

The incident took place in a disputed area known in Lebanon as the Kfar Chouba hills and in Israel as Har Dov. The area was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and is are part of Syrias Golan Heights that Israel annexed in 1981. The Lebanese government says the area belongs to Lebanon.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire on a near-daily basis along the border since the start of the war in Gaza nearly seven months ago. Hezbollah says it is acting in solidarity with the Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, which triggered the war with its deadly Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel.

The low-intensity fighting has repeatedly threatened to boil over as Israel has targeted senior Hezbollah militants in recent months.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

On the Israeli side, the cross-border fighting has killed 10 civilians and 12 soldiers. In Lebanon, more than 350 people have been killed, including 50 civilians and 271 Hezbollah members.
The Latest | Trump speaks with reporters after 4th day of witness testimony in hush money trial ends

Former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom after a lunch recess during his trial at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, Friday, April 26, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)

NEW YORK (AP)  Defense lawyers in Donald Trumps hush money trial dug Friday into assertions of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.

David Pecker returned to the witness stand for the fourth day as defense attorneys tried to poke holes in his testimony, which has described helping bury embarrassing stories Trump feared could hurt his campaign.

Pecker has painted a tawdry portrait of catch and kill tabloid schemes  catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.

The prosecution later called to the stand Rhona Graff, Trumps former longtime executive assistant who has been described as his gatekeeper, and Gary Farro, a private client adviser who previously worked at First Republic, which was used by former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen. Farro will continue his testimony Tuesday when the trial resumes, with Monday being a long-scheduled day off.

Testimony from the prosecution's three witnesses capped a consequential week in the criminal cases the former president is facing as he vies to reclaim the White House in November.

The charges center on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep porn actor Stormy Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the encounter ever happened.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of those payments and falsely recorded them as legal expenses. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The case is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president and the first of four prosecutions of Trump to reach a jury.

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Here's the latest:

TRUMP SPEAKS AFTER COURT ENDS FOR THE DAY

Donald Trump spoke to reporters with more energy than he had in past days after spending the day in the Manhattan courtroom where his hush money trial is being held.

The former president declared that the case was politically motivated and reaffirmed his willingness to debate President Joe Biden anytime, anywhere, even Friday night or at the White House.

Trump left for the day after speaking for a few minutes and didnt take any questions from reporters on the way out of court. Hes expected to head back to Florida.

4TH DAY OF WITNESS TESTIMONY CONCLUDES

Trump exited the Manhattan courtroom where his hush money trial is being held, exhaling and with a stern expression. It marked the end of the trial's fourth day of witness testimony.

So far, prosecutors have called three witnesses.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker spent about 10 hours on the stand over the course of four days.

Then Trumps longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff answered questions for about 30 minutes.

The current witness, Cohens former banker Gary Farro, was on the stand for a little under an hour Friday and will return when the trial resumes Tuesday, with Monday being a long-scheduled day off.

BANKER EXPLAINS HOW HE HELPED FORMER TRUMP ATTORNEY CREATE AN LLC

Gary Farro detailed the step-by-step process of helping Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen create an account for his limited liability company while testifying Friday in the Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan.

According to Farro, Cohen said Resolution Consultants, which he opened in September 2016, was related to real estate. In fact, the LLC was formed to facilitate the planned purchase of Karen McDougals story rights from American Media. That deal never went through.

Prosecutors have shown emails in which Cohen describes the opening of the account as an important matter.

Farro said that since the account was never funded, it was never technically opened. Instead, Cohen pivoted to starting another account for another LLC  Essential Consultants  which he used to make the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Similarly, Farro said Cohen led him to believe that firm would be involved in real estate consulting.

PROSECUTION CALLS BANKER AS ITS 3RD WITNESS

The prosecution on Friday called its third witness in former president Donald Trump's hush money trial to testify.

Gary Farro works at Flagstar Bank as a private client adviser and was previously at First Republic Bank, which was used by former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen.

Farro, testifying pursuant to a subpoena, said Cohen had several personal bank accounts at First Republic when Farro took over the client relationship in 2015.

I was told that I was selected because of my knowledge and because of my ability to handle individuals that may be a little challenging, Farro said.

Frankly, I didnt find him that difficult, he added.

FORMER LONGTIME EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OF TRUMP CONCLUDES HER TESTIMONY

After Rhona Graff concluded her testimony Friday in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan, Trump spoke briefly to his former executive assistant as she left the stand.

The former president appeared to reach out to her with his hand as an officer guided her away from the witness stand past the defense table.

Trumps lawyers were at the bench, talking with Judge Merchan, when Trump stood up and engaged with Graff.

Soon after, Trump left court for a break. He was carrying the thick stack of papers he brought in with him in the morning. He gave a thumbs up as he left and ignored a shouted question from a reporter about Stormy Daniels. He returned several minutes later.

SECOND WITNESS, DESCRIBED AS TRUMP'S GATEKEEPER, TESTIFIES

Rhona Graff, Donald Trump's longtime executive assistant, was called to the stand Friday in the former president's hush money trial in Manhattan.

Graff started working for Trump in 1987 and left the Trump Organization in April 2021. She has been described as his gatekeeper and right hand. She was among several people involved in keeping his records.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, the first prosecution witness called, testified Thursday that Graff was often the conduit for his communications with Trump, routing his calls and summoning him to a Trump Tower meeting on Jan. 6, 2017. At the meeting, the ex-publisher said, he and Trump discussed some of the hush money arrangements at issue in the case.

Graff testified that porn actor Stormy Daniels was once at Trumps offices in Trump Tower.

I have a vague recollection of seeing her in the reception area one time, Graff said.

The date of the visit wasnt immediately clear.

Graff said she assumed Daniels was there to discuss potentially being a contestant on one of Trumps Apprentice-brand shows.

You had heard President Trump say that he thought that she would be an interesting addition to the cast, Trump lawyer Susan Necheles asked.

It was part of the office chatter, Graff said.

PUBLISHER DAVID PECKER CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker concluded his testimony Friday afternoon in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan.

Before he left the witness stand, however, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass elicited testimony pushing back on a defense suggestion that Pecker had changed his story about Trump thanking him at a Jan. 6, 2017 Trump Tower meeting for his help burying negative stories.

During cross-examination, Trump lawyer Emil Bove had shown Pecker notes from the first of two FBI interviews he gave in 2018. According to the notes, Pecker told investigators that Trump hadnt shown gratitude at their meeting.

Pecker maintained that the FBIs notes of the interview may have been wrong. And, as Steinglass noted, he told investigators in an interview a week later that Trump had thanked him for handling Karen McDougals affair claims and a Trump Tower doormans false rumor about him.

Pecker confirmed he later told a federal grand jury that Trump was very grateful and these stories could have been very, very damaging.

Asked by Steinglass if he had any confusion over whether that happened, Pecker replied: No.

TRUMP SAYS HE DOUBTS BIDEN'S WILLINGNESS TO DEBATE

While on a lunch break from his hush money trial in Manhattan, Donald Trump reacted on social media to Bidens comment Friday that hes willing to debate this fall.

Trump said on Truth Social that he thinks Biden doesnt really mean it. He said if Biden is serious, they should debate next week or even Friday at the Manhattan courthouse on national television, saying Ill wait around.

Trump on the way into court on Friday complained he was in court instead of in Florida with his wife for her birthday and said he planned to fly to Florida after the trial wrapped for the day.

PROSECUTORS CLAW BACK AT PORTRAIT OF TABLOID DEAL

Before breaking for lunch Friday, prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush money trial in Manhattan clawed back at the defenses contention that an arrangement with the National Enquirer wasnt unique to Trump, eliciting testimony from former publisher David Pecker that underscored the unusual nature of their deal.

Is it standard operating procedure for AMI to be consulting with a presidential candidates fixer about amendments to a source agreement? Steinglass asked, using initials for the tabloids parent company. No, Pecker responded.

Several similar questions followed suit, with Pecker acknowledging that he had not previously sought out stories and worked the companys sources on behalf of a presidential candidate, nor allowed political fixers close access to internal decision-making.

Its the only one, Pecker said.

BEGINNING OF REDIRECT AND THEN LUNCH

As court broke for lunch, Donald Trump stopped to confer with aide Jason Miller just outside the courtroom doors at his hush money trial Friday in Manhattan. He left without making any remarks to reporters waiting nearby.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass had begun conducting what the legal world calls redirect examination  a follow-up round of questioning in response to what defense lawyers asked former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. The defense's cross-examination of that key witness ended earlier Friday.

And the defense can then conduct a recross. The sides can go back and forth, but they generally cant just re-ask questions or delve into new topics that werent raised in prior questioning.

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF EX-PUBLISHER PECKER ENDS

The defense's cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York ended around midday Friday, his fourth day on the witness stand.

As Trump lawyer Emil Bove wrapped up his cross-examination, Pecker said, Ive been truthful, to the best of my recollection.

Bove earlier argued that Peckers testimony has been inconsistent with statements to federal prosecutors in 2018.

Pecker testified that Trump thanked him for his help handling potential news stories involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump Tower doorman, during a White House visit in 2017.

But Bove said Pecker previously told federal authorities Trump did not express any gratitude at the meeting. Pecker stuck Friday to the story he has given in court.

PUBLISHER CHALLENGED ON PAST STATEMENTS

In the most confrontational moment so far Friday in Donald Trump's hush money trial, defense lawyer Emil Bove said former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's testimony has been inconsistent with statements to federal prosecutors in 2018.

Pecker testified that Trump thanked him for his help handling potential stories involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Dino Sajudin, a Trump Tower doorman, during a White House visit on Jan. 6, 2017.

But according to notes cited by Bove in court, Pecker had previously told federal authorities that Trump did not express any gratitude to him or American Media during the meeting.

Pecker stuck Friday to the story he has given in court.

I know what the truth is, he said.

FORMER PLAYBOY MODEL'S WORK HIGHLIGHTED

A lawyer for Donald Trump in his hush money trial turned Friday to the 2016 deal the National Enquirers parent reached with former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The $150,000 agreement gave American Media exclusive rights to McDougals account of any relationship with any then-married man. McDougal claims she and Trump had an affair. Trump denies it.

The contract also called for McDougal to do work for various American Media titles. Former Enquirer publisher David Pecker earlier testified the provision was really about keeping McDougals story from becoming public and influencing Trumps chances at the presidency.

But under questioning Friday from Trump lawyer Emil Bove, Pecker added that American Media had pitched itself as a venue to help McDougal restart her career.

When American Media signed its agreement with her, you believed it had a legitimate business purpose, correct? Bove asked.

I did, Pecker said.

The company ended up running more than 65 stories in her name, he said.

McDougals story, and American Medias deal with her, ultimately became public anyway, in a Wall Street Journal article four days before the 2016 election, after early and absentee voting had started.

PROSECUTORS OBJECT TO USE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP

The insistence of Donald Trump's defense in his hush money trial to refer to him as President Trump, even when describing events that took place before his election, is rankling prosecutors.

Trumps lawyers said at the outset of the trial that theyd refer to their client as president out of respect for the office he held from 2017 to 2021.

But Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass suggested Friday that using the title is anachronistic and confusing when tacked onto questions and testimony that involve things that happened while he was campaigning in 2015 and 2016.

Objection. He wasnt President Trump in June of 2016, Steinglass noted after one such mention. The judge sustained the objection.

QUESTIONING TURNS TO EARLIER SALACIOUS TESTIMONY

A lawyer for Donald Trump in the former president's hush money trial Friday got to a salacious story at the center of former National Enquirer publisher David Peckers earlier testimony.

Emil Bove brought out that the Enquirers parent company  not Trump or his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen  paid a former Trump Tower doorman $30,000 in 2015 for the rights to an unsubstantiated claim that Trump had fathered a child with an employee there.

Pecker testified earlier that the Enquirer thought the tale would make for a huge tabloid story if it were accurate but eventually concluded the story was 1,000% untrue and never ran it. Trump and the woman involved both have denied the claims.

Bove asked Pecker whether he would run the story if it were true. Pecker replied: Yes.

SPECIFICS OF HELPING TRUMP CAMPAIGN

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker has testified in Donald Trump's hush money trial that he hatched a plan with Trump and former Trump henchman Michael Cohen in August 2015 for the tabloid to help Trumps presidential campaign.

But under questioning by Trumps lawyer, Pecker acknowledged Friday there was no mention at that meeting of the term catch-and-kill, which describes the practice of tabloids purchasing the rights to story so they never see the light of day.

Nor was there discussion at the meeting of any financial dimension, such as the Enquirer paying people on Trumps behalf for the rights to their stories, Pecker said.

Pecker also acknowledged that the National Enquirer had been running negative stories about Trumps 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, long before the August 2015 meeting. Pecker previously testified that stories about the Clintons boosted sales of the supermarket tabloid.

DIGGING INTO NATIONAL ENQUIRER'S EDITORIAL PROCESS

Donald Trump's lawyer Emil Bove is getting under the hood of the National Enquirers editorial process, seeking to show the tabloid had its own incentives unrelated to any deal with Trump, in the fourth day of testimony in the former president's hush money trial.

To underscore his point, Bove pulled up five unflattering headlines that ran in 2015 about Ben Carson, who ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP primary. Bove noted the information was pulled from publicly available information published in other outlets, including The Guardian.

In his testimony, former Enquirer publisher David Pecker, on the stand for a fourth day, acknowledged that it was standard practice at the publication to recycle stories from other outlets with a new slant.

Because its good, quick and cost efficient, and you wouldve done it without President Trump? Bove asked.

Um, yes, Pecker replied.

PECKER OFFERED INSIGHT INTO THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER

Even by National Enquirer standards, testimony by its former publisher David Pecker at Donald Trumps hush money trial this week has revealed an astonishing level of corruption at Americas best-known tabloid and may one day be seen as the moment it effectively died.

It just has zero credibility, said Lachlan Cartwright, executive editor of the Enquirer from 2014 to 2017. Whatever sort of credibility it had was totally damaged by what happened in court this week.

On Thursday, Pecker was back on the witness stand to tell more about the arrangement he made to boost Trumps presidential candidacy in 2016, tear down his rivals and silence any revelations that may have damaged him.

GAG ORDER HEARING RESCHEDULED DUE TO CAMPAIGN EVENTS

A change in the court schedule means Donald Trump wont be forced off the campaign trail next week to attend a hearing in his hush money criminal trial in New York.

Judge Juan M. Merchan moved a hearing on the former presidents alleged gag order violations to next Thursday, avoiding a conflict with his scheduled campaign events next Wednesday.

Merchan had initially set the hearing for next Wednesday, the trials regular off day. Trump is scheduled to hold campaign events that day in Michigan and Wisconsin. His lawyers have urged the judge not to hold any proceedings on Wednesdays so he can campaign.

The hearing  now set for 9:30 a.m. next Thursday, May 2  pertains to a prosecution request that Trump be penalized for violating his gag order this week on four separate occasions.

The order bars Trump from making comments about witnesses and others connected to the case. Merchan is already mulling holding Trump in contempt of court and fining him up to $10,000 for other alleged gag order violations.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 26, 2024 - 15:23 | World, All

The Philippines and France may begin negotiations next month on a visiting forces agreement as their militaries seek to step up their defense exchanges, according to the French ambassador.

The envisioned pact, which would allow the two countries to hold joint military drills in their territories, was first brought up during bilateral defense ministerial talks in December. The negotiations would come as the Philippines diversifies its alliances and France gives increasing attention to the Indo-Pacific region.

"We will have an opportunity in May to maybe start officially the negotiations, or at least discuss the modalities" in Paris when the two countries' defense officials meet, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said in a press briefing held with visiting French Ambassador to the Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour on Thursday.

The Philippines, which is embroiled in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, has similar agreements with the United States and Australia, and is currently negotiating one with Japan.

France is participating for the first time in an annual military exercise held by the Philippines and the United States, which started on Monday and lasts until May 10, with a French navy frigate joining an exercise in the South China Sea that started Thursday.

In late May, another French navy frigate is set to make a port call in Manila, to be followed by a stopover of French fighter jets at the Clark Air Base north of the Philippine capital in July.

"We are very convinced that through our Indo-Pacific strategy, we should contribute to the stability of the region," stressing the importance of sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific, Abensour said.

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Transmission towers carry electricity in LaPlace on Dec. 28, 2021. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

State lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that intervenes in a land dispute and threatens to block construction of an interstate power line at the behest of a small group of north Louisiana landowners, including the wealthy owner of a large pharmaceutical company that made billions during the opioid crisis.

Paul Dickson Sr. is a principal owner and former board chairman of the Shreveport-based Morris & Dickson Co., one of the largest wholesale pharmaceutical distributors in the nation. It was the target of a federal investigation that revealed one of its own agents was secretly negotiating with the company to preserve its federal license.

Senate Bill 108, sponsored by Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, stands to benefit Dickson in his dispute with a Texas power company. It cleared the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure without objection and will head to the House floor for consideration.

The bill is tailored in ways that would effectively prohibit a single business from exercising its expropriation rights, which allow governments and certain companies to force the sale of private land for public use. Its typically used for development of a project that serves a public need, such as a new highway or, as in this case, a power line. In exchange, the owner must be paid, at minimum, fair market value for their land.

Proponents of Seabaughs measure tout it as a way to protect landowners from businesses and projects that dont benefit the people of Louisiana.

Were here because of one project, Seabaugh told the committee.

The project Seabaugh targets  Pattern Energys Southern Spirit Transmission line  would deliver electricity to the regional power grid that covers most of the state.

The Southern Spirit Transmission project is a 320-mile line that will begin at a power station in DeSoto Parish and deliver wind power from the Texas grid to a power station in Choctaw County, Mississippi, crossing through North Louisiana. Onshore wind has been the cheapest source of electricity for the past several years in the United States and around the world, according to a study by the financial firm Lazard.

Although the line would end in Mississippi, it would feed electricity into Louisiana by way of the regional Midcontinent Independent System Operator grid. The MISO grid covers most of Louisiana, and Mississippi and spans into a large swath of the Midwest and into Manitoba, Canada.

Dickson told the committee Seabaughs bill wont kill Pattern Energys project but will merely give the landowners a better advantage in their negotiations.

It needs to be negotiated in the private sector, Dickson said. It will get done well Right now, the landowners hands are tied behind his back. Senate Bill 108 gives the landowner the ability to negotiate by removing the threat of expropriation.

Pattern Energy has claimed the project will bring economic development to towns and parishes in North Louisiana, but Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, D-Bossier City, said he hasnt heard from any of those local officials. Campbell is against the Pattern transmission project but has not taken a position on Seabaughs bill.

Im troubled by the way they do business, Campbell said in a phone interview, referring to Pattern Energy. He said it has been difficult to get straight answers from the company.

Seabaugh told the committee the power line would not deliver one watt of electricity to Louisiana and that the company would claim lucrative state tax incentives such as the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP). When it was his turn to testify, Pattern Energy executive Adam Renz failed to give concise answers in response to Seabaughs accusations, neither of which were accurate.

Instead, Renz gave lengthy, detailed explanations on the concepts of inter-regional interconnection, the history of the Southern Spirit project and the geography of the MISO grid. His long discourse continued even after lawmakers specifically pointed it out, asking for shorter answers.

When Renz finally did say electricity would indeed flow to Louisiana and that were not using ITEP  you have my word, half of the committee members had long ago left the room.

Pattern Energy land director Shannon Gwen and attorney Scott Keaty were more concise in their testimony. Gwen explained how the company has nearly acquired 60% of the land needed for the project and that it begins land negotiations with offers of at least 120% of market value. Keaty said he had deals worked out with the two landowners until Seabaugh filed his bill.

We have not taken anybodys property, Keaty said. We have not initiated any expropriation proceedings.

The company has rerouted the transmission project 11 times at the request of one landowner who is still not satisfied, he said.

Even if Pattern Energy were to initiate expropriation proceedings for the land, it would have to do so through lawsuits filed in the landowners parish and would have to show the judge why the project is in the best interest of the public. Gwen said the company also includes value for any timber on the land and even pays the landowners legal fees if they hire an attorney to negotiate.

Many others testified against Seabaughs bill, including Public Service Commissioners Mike Francis, R-Crowley, and Davante Lewis, D-Baton Rouge.

Lewis said the bill is a big solution for what is a small contested issue. He said it will have significant ramifications for improving Louisianas grid and signal to other companies that Louisiana will change the rules on them at the finish line.

The Louisiana-based utility Southwestern Electric Power Cooperative (SWEPCO) currently imports cheap electricity from wind turbines in Oklahoma  in the same way Louisiana would benefit from the Southern Spirit line  through the MISO grid, Lewis said.

If Oklahoma passed this same law, it would undoubtedly raise the rates for people in Louisiana, Lewis said.

At the end of Tuesdays hearing, the committee members who had left the room finally returned, having missed testimony given in support of the project. Even those lawmakers who stayed and voiced some sympathy to Pattern Energys position were confronted with one final question from Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, who had returned to his chair just before the bills fate was decided.

Sen. Seabaugh, I have just one question, and I dont think I heard it in your testimony earlier: Do you know if the governor supports or opposes your bill? Johnson said.

Seabaugh replied that Gov. Jeff Landry quietly supports it but admitted he doesnt quite know what that means.

If he opposed it, he wouldnt likely be quiet, would he? Johnson asked.

I think thats probably correct, Seabaugh said.

When committee chairman Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, R-Hammond, asked if anyone objected to moving the bill favorably to the floor, the lawmakers remained silent.

Dangerous drugs and DEA negotiations Paul Dickson Sr., who testified at Tuesdays committee hearing, is a principal owner and former board chairman of the Shreveport-based Morris & Dickson Co., one of the largest wholesale pharmaceutical distributors in the nation and, according to Dickson, the second oldest company in Louisiana. I ran a company that currently does $5.5 billion a year in sales, Dickson told lawmakers. Thats bigger than Pattern [Energy]. I know who makes decisions in companies, and the people who will decide whether or not this power line goes through Louisiana after this bill is passed will make an economic business decision. Dickson was president of Morris & Dickson when it mishandled more than 12,000 suspicious large orders of the highly addictive drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone during the height of the nations opioid crisis, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Last year, the Associated Press reported on secretive negotiations between Dickson and top DEA officials. The DEA was investigating Morris & Dicksons distribution of opioids and filed formal charges against the company in 2018 for violating the Controlled Substances Act. Dickson had met with a DEA official, Louis Milione, on at least two occasions beginning in 2016 to negotiate a way for the company to stave off punishment and keep its distributors license. That following year, Milione left the DEA and received a $3 million consulting contract from Morris & Dickson. Dicksons company continued operating under its license for over four years after a judge recommended it be revoked in 2019. The DEAs decision to stall on the judges ruling was highly unusual, according to officials quoted in the AP story. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, a Biden appointee, rehired that same agent in 2021 as her top deputy and continued to stall on the judges ruling until the situation made national headlines last year. Milgram revoked the companys license in May 2023 right after the AP reached out to her for comment on the matter. The company didnt stay in trouble for long. In February, the DEA announced it had negotiated a settlement with Morris & Dickson in which the company admitted all wrongdoing, promised not to break the law again and paid a $19 million penalty. In return, Morris & Dickson got its DEA license back. Dickson also owns Sports South, one of the regions largest firearm distributors. He is also a major Republican donor, giving $24,999 to Seabaugh and more than $40,000 to Gov. Jeff Landry over the past several years. Landrys office didnt respond to a request for comment on this story. Dickson has also donated smaller amounts totaling $2,000, to Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, D-Bossier City, who opposes the Pattern Energy transmission line project Dickson wants to stop, but he hasnt taken a position on Seabaughs bill.

The post Lawmakers advance bill to intervene in land dispute for wealthy drug distributor appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
A bipartisan bill is set to be introduced in Congress that would allow the Department of Education to set up an antisemitism monitor at colleges and universities that receive federal funding.

The move comes amid a wave of Pro-Palestinian protests at colleges across the country, and sponsors of the legislation say an antisemitism monitor is needed to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Schools would be forced to comply with the monitor, who would publish public reports of their findings, or lose federal funding.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., issued a written statement Friday: "My office and I have spoken with countless Jewish students from campuses across America who feel deeply unsafe, purely as a result of their religious and ethnic identity. This is a blatant violation of Title VI and the federal government cannot allow this to continue unchecked."

The COLUMBIA Act, or the College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability Act, would allow the secretary of education to appoint a monitor who would be tasked with "evaluat(ing) in detail the progress that a college or university has made toward combating antisemitism on campus and issuing policy recommendations to Congress, the Secretary, and state and local regulators as needed."

Torres said he would co-sponsor the bill with Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

Recent data shows incidents of both antisemitic discrimination and Islamophobic discrimination are up amid the Israel-Hamas war. The Department of Education has launched several investigations into discrimination claims of both kinds at U.S. schools, Reuters reported in November.

The Council on American Islamic Relations says it has seen a spike in Islamophobia and hate incidents since the start of the war.

"A lot of people in the Muslim community reported that the time period felt a lot worse to them than 9/11," CAIR staff attorney Zanah Ghalawanji said earlier this month.

What's happening at Columbia University and other campuses across the country?

Upheaval over the Israel-Hamas war began at Columbia University in New York City when University President Nemat Shafik spoke in Washington about how the Ivy League school planned to combat antisemitism on campus.

After her testimony, pro-Palestinian students launched a protest on the Columbia campus April 17 by pitching tents on campus grounds in what they called a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment."

They demanded the university sever ties to Israel amid the war.

"We demand divestment and an end to Columbias complicity in genocide," reads a post from by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine on X, formerly Twitter.

A pro-israel protester stands in the pro Palestian encampment on the campus of Columbia University in New York City on April 23, 2024.

Protests have spread to the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Emory University in Atlanta and other schools.

Police across the nation have arrested hundreds of students and faculty protesters. Columbia University suspended some students. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent Texas state troopers to arrest protesters at UT-Austin. The University of Southern California has canceled its main commencement ceremony because of the unrest.

Contributing: Krystal Nurse

Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lawmakers to propose antisemitism monitor for universities
This article was originally published in Louisiana Illuminator.

Several changes could be in the works for how special education programs at Louisianas K-12 public schools are monitored. They include a deadline to install video cameras in classrooms that the state funded two years ago.

The Senate Committee on Education gave unanimous approval Wednesday to House Bill 153, authored by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville. It needs only full Senate approval before the heading to Gov. Jeff Landry.

The legislation calls for schools to install cameras in classrooms with special education students within 90 days of a parents request. The framework for installing the cameras was approved in 2021, and state money for the equipment was provided in 2022. However, many parents still complain that the cameras havent been placed and schools are ignoring the requests.

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So, the cameras, we have tried to address this for a long time, Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, said Wednesday at a Senate Committee on Education meeting. Ive seen the calls from parents who cannot get the cameras, even though we funded it, even though we have said it is an urgent need in those classrooms Id love to know the level of compliance with the requests that have been made.

To address compliance concerns, Bacalas bill requires each school district and charter school operator to submit a report to its local special education advisory committee. The reports must include, at minimum: any compliance violations for failing to meet special education requirements; details on federal, state and local funding; and academic performance details for special education students .

The bill also calls for local school board members to undergo training on special education policy in addition to the subjects they already have to cover, such as literacy and numeracy, dropout prevention, early childhood education, school discipline and bullying.

The legislation also addresses dispute resolutions for parents, who would get up to two years to request a hearing once they become aware of an alleged action. The two-year timeline does not apply if local school officials misinform parents or withhold information on a violation of special education policy.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is also directed to write rules for a early resolution process for settle nonadversarial disputes with local school systems.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on Facebook and Twitter.
Scott C. DuPont in a court file photo before he was removed from the bench

Former Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, who was removed from the bench by the state Supreme Court which said he was unfit to be a judge in 2018 and later suspended from practicing law, should be barred from running for another seat on the circuit bench because he fails to meet an eligibility requirement, according to a lawsuit filed Friday.

Incumbent Circuit Judge Rose Marie Preddy, whom DuPont has filed qualifying papers this week to challenge for her seat in the Circuit 7 Group 11 race, filed the suit.

The lawsuit cites the Florida Constitution which states that no person will be eligible to be a circuit judge unless he or she has been a member of the Florida Bar for the preceding five years.

But DuPont was suspended for 91 days by the Florida Supreme Court in 2019 after the court found him guilty of violating multiple Florida Bar rules, the lawsuit states.

The Florida Supreme Court defines the phrase "a member of the bar of Florida" to mean "a member with the privilege to practice law," the lawsuit states.

Therefore, DuPont was not a member of the Florida Bar during the time he was suspended, and he doesn't meet the five-year threshold, according to the suit.

"Defendant Scott C. DuPont fails to satisfy the constitutional eligibility requirements for the office of Circuit Court Judge," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit names as defendants DuPont and the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, and also names each of the supervisors of elections in the four counties covering the 7th Circuit: Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns.

In addition to seeking a court judgment ruling DuPont ineligible to serve as a circuit court judge, Preddy's lawsuit is requesting an injunction directing the state Division of Elections and the Supervisor of Elections offices in Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties to withhold certification of DuPont as a qualified candidate, exclude DuPont from any ballots printed for the primary election and not certify any votes cast for DuPont.

Preddy is represented by attorneys, Daniel Nordby of Shutts & Bowen and Barry Richard, all in Tallahassee. The lawsuit was filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit in Tallahassee.

Preddy referred a reporter to Richard, who said he was curious to see what Scott's defense would be.

It seems to me that the law is pretty clear, Richard said. It also seems to me that a judicial candidate should be aware of what the law is. I mean everyone should be aware of it but especially a judicial candidate.

DuPont said Friday afternoon in a brief phone interview that he had not yet seen the lawsuit but maintained he could run.

We believe that the constitution and the Florida Bar rules are clear in that I do qualify, DuPont said. Im looking forward to my day in court.

DuPont declined to get into specifics of why he believed it was clear he could run for office.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Lawsuit: Ex-judge Scott DuPont not eligible to run for judicial seat
The House Judiciary Committee considers a bill on Feb. 13, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Two Coloradans who intentionally misgendered transgender people while they testified against a bill are suing the legislators who cut them off and asked them to be respectful.

The initial complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Colorado in early April claims the legislators named as defendants violated the plaintiffs right to free speech by stopping them from misgendering and deadnaming transgender people during their testimony. A hearing has yet to be scheduled in the case.

The First Amendment does not allow defendants to force their ideological beliefs on plaintiffs in this manner, the complaint says. Plaintiffs are entitled to relief securing their fundamental rights to free expression and petition and freedom from compelled speech.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Rich Guggenheim and Christina Goeke, are seeking damages and for the court to block enforcement of decorum rules around respectful language in committee hearings at the Colorado Legislature.

They both testified against House Bill 24-1071, which will add gender-affirming care to the definition of good cause for when a person convicted of a felony petitions to change their legal name. The complaint says the plaintiffs are opposed to the bill because they believe it will make it easier for transgender individuals to conceal criminal convictions and thus pose a danger to children, women, and vulnerable populations.

During their testimony against the bill, both plaintiffs repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed Tiara Latrice Kelley, a transgender woman who lives in Colorado Springs and was convicted of three misdemeanor charges from previous sex work in Florida. Her charges were converted to a felony according to a provision of Florida law.

Deadnaming is when someone calls a transgender person by their previous name. Z Williams, co-director of the Denver nonprofit Bread and Roses Legal Center, said deadnaming someone is an act of transphobic violence that causes harm to transgender people, particularly the person being deadnamed. Williams isnt involved in the case, but their organization offers legal services in support of LGBTQ communities and supports HB-1071.

Lawmakers considered naming the bill after Kelley, as she has been unable to change her legal name because of current regulations. Kelley hasnt been able to access victim support for survivors of the Club Q mass shooting because of a legal name requirement, she said.

The complaint also says Guggenheim and Goeke disagree with the concepts of misgendering and deadnaming, calling the ideas personally degrading and demeaning. They consider adherence to a transgender persons pronoun preferences, assumed gender, or assumed name to be a form of lying.

Rules for public testimony in both the Colorado House and Senate note that a committee chair has the discretion to limit testimony and ask for disruptive people to be removed. Williams noted that because legislative hearings are limited public forums, legislators, in this case committee chairs, historically have the right to limit speech in these venues. A limited public forum means the discussion can be confined to a certain topic and must follow the rules set ahead of time.

Trans movements and trans leaders are winning, and I think that this is the equivalent of a temper tantrum.

 Z Williams, of the Bread and Roses Legal Center

They could have made every single point that they wanted to in their speeches, and followed the decorum that exists, Williams said. Its decorum that also we had to prepare our side for  and we knew that if we didnt abide by the rules of the committee, that there would be consequences.

Legislators named in the lawsuit include state Rep. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adam County Democrat, Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat, state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet. Legislative staff said the legislators would not comment on the lawsuit given the pending litigation, but they have retained counsel.

Testimony cut off

The complaint, which repeatedly mixes up Garcias and Gonzales names, noted that bill sponsors Garcia and Michaelson Jenet asked for witnesses to be respectful and use names and pronouns that other witnesses preferred during their respective chambers hearing. Gonzales and Weissman, the two judiciary committee chairs, echoed the sponsors sentiments and adopted their recommendations against misgendering and deadnaming as rules for testifying during the hearing.

Weissman interrupted and stopped Goekes testimony during the bills House Judiciary Committee hearing in late January after she continuously misgendered and deadnamed Kelley during her testimony. Weissman asked her to keep her testimony focused on the bill and not individual people, and she continued to refer to Kelley. Herod also interrupted Goekes testimony, and she was cut off again before the committee went into a brief recess.

When Gonzales told Goeke during her Senate Judiciary Committee testimony against the bill in March that there would be no misgendering or deadnaming permitted, Goeke said she does not respect that and would not lie in her testimony. When she continued to deadname Kelley, Gonzales cut off the rest of her testimony.

The audio recording of the Senate hearing cut most of Goekes testimony because of her repeated use of Kelleys former name.

Guggenheim decided against testifying during the House committee hearing after he heard that he would not be permitted to misgender or deadname people, according to the complaint. He testified during the Senate hearing, and after he also deadnamed and misgendered Kelley, he was cut off.

The plaintiffs claim their First Amendment rights were violated when their testimony was stopped and that the legislators wrongfully discriminated against them when enforcing rules of decorum based on their views against the bill and transgender rights. They argue that making a witness acknowledge someone as transgender is compelled speech. Goekes testimony being erased from the public record of the meeting is also a violation of her constitutional rights, the lawsuit alleges.

Attorneys from the Institute for Free Speech, an organization that advocates for the right to free political speech, are representing the plaintiffs in the case.

Americans are having a debate about sex, gender, and pronouns. The First Amendment protects Americans right to express their views on those matters, even if those views might be offensive to some, Del Kolde, a senior attorney at the institute, said in a statement. By forcing speakers to adopt a contested ideology, Colorado lawmakers unlawfully privileged one viewpoint over another and silenced dissent, going so far as to erase it from the public record.

Gays Against Groomers, for which Guggenheim is the Colorado chapters president, and Rocky Mountain Womens Network, for which Goeke is a founder, are also named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Both organizations oppose transgender rights.

Williams said legislative leaders in Colorado are working hard to make spaces like legislative hearings accessible and comfortable for marginalized communities. To Williams, the lawsuit is a desperate attempt to get attention and cause harm to the transgender community.

The fact is all the bills they fought passed, and Colorado continues to become a better and safer place for trans people, Williams said. Trans movements and trans leaders are winning, and I think that this is the equivalent of a temper tantrum.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill that the plaintiffs testified against into law Friday. The Legislature also passed a bill that would require public schools to use students preferred name and pronouns.

Another lawsuit in Colorado related to compelled speech made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that Colorado cannot compel a website designer to create custom sites for same-sex couples in June 2023.

Republicans in the Colorado House accused Democratic leadership of censorship this week when they asked members to avoid using sensitive language around immigration.

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The post Lawsuit seeks to remove requirement for respectful language in legislative hearings appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  A Louisiana Supreme Court decision released on Friday, April 26, will allow the city of St. George to incorporate.

They found that legal error led to lower courts denying the incorporation, and the lower courts judgment was reversed. The citys incorporators and electors won the judgment requested.

The justices said the record doesnt support the supposition that the city cant support its necessary services. They also challenged the idea that a city-parish council member could contest the incorporation without living in St. George.

J. Andrew Murrell, the attorney who represented the incorporators, is holding a news conference to discuss the opinion and what it means for residents. Watch the video live in the player above.

Louisiana Supreme Court: St. George can incorporate into new city, taxes can support services

Murrell said, were ready to move forward, weve had a goal the entire time, two goals, create a world class city that everyone can be proud of thats accountable to its citizens, and second, make a better East Baton Rouge Parish. A parish thats on the decline with a high crime rate, a poor education system and people leaving in record numbers to go to other parishes who are benefitting from those citizens. We had two goals, better city, better parish, and now we move forward in that process.

He said that a better city is the opportunity to build a city from scratch.

We are open for everyone. If you want more opportunity, you want a better life, you want a chance for lower crime, St. George. I dont care what you look like. No one does. No one ever did. Thats a narrative that was created as a smokescreen to rally people to a cause. Its never been true, Murrell said.

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In regards to a plan of government, the model works by privatizing as many services as you can to deliver better services, more efficient services at a better cost. Its eliminating overhead thats unnecessary, said Murrell.

He was asked about the criticism that the decision was based on racial or financial lines.

Well, every judge so far, even the ones that ruled against us, said that was not true, said Murrell.

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New leaders take on Haiti's chaos as those living in fear demand swift solutions to gang violence

Police escort musicians arriving for the swearing-in ceremony of a transitional council tasked with selecting a new prime minister and cabinet at the Prime Minister's office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  It has been only a day since the transitional presidential council was installed in Haiti, and the list of demands on the Caribbean nation's new leaders is rapidly growing. Haitians want security, food, jobs  and they want them now.

The members of the council, tasked with with bringing political stability to Haiti, are under immense pressure to produce quick results, despite a deep-seated crisis that has been years in the making.

Making Haiti safer is a priority. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March alone, and more than 90,000 have fled the capital of Port-au-Prince so far this year amid relentless gang violence.

The task is really monumental, said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia.

Gangs have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that has been closed since early March, and stormed the countrys two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

Gangs now control 80% of Port-au-Prince, and though they have long depended on powerful politicians and the countrys economic elite for their survival, they are increasingly becoming self-sufficient.

How you extricate yourself from that is very complicated, Fatton said. I dont expect he presidential council to come up with a solution.

However, the council could push for disarmament and find ways to ease poverty in the slums, he added. Those gangs are simply not going to go away by simply saying, We want you to be nice guys.

The nine-member council acknowledged the challenges it faces after it was sworn in early Thursday at the National Palace, located in an area in downtown Port-au-Prince that has been under attack by gangs in recent weeks.

Gunfire erupted during the ceremony as some officials looked around the room. Hours later, the new interim prime minister, Michel Boisvert, addressed the council.

The task ahead is daunting, Boisvert said. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the population expects a lot from you ... everything becomes a priority alongside security.

How exactly the council plans to tackle the daunting tasks is unclear. Its members have met behind closed doors with top government officials as they prepare to choose a new prime minister, a Cabinet and a provisional electoral commission. They will also establish a national security council.

However, no strategy to quell gang violence has been publicly announced. Several council members did not return messages seeking comment on Friday.

After the swearing-in ceremony, curious pedestrians slowed down as they passed by the building of the prime ministers office.

Some were openly displeased. Thieves and gangs! Thats all they are! yelled a man as he drove past on his motorcycle.

There wasn't much hope at a crowded makeshift shelter set up at Haitis former Ministry of Communications  a building the government had abandoned due to gang violence.

Rose Hippolite, 66, was forced to flee her Port-au-Prince home with her four children after gangs raided their neighborhood. They have now spent two months in the yard of the ministry building, sleeping on the ground or sitting in a corner when it rains, waiting for the ground to dry out.

Gunshots ring out every day across the city. We live in fear, she said. Only God knows if the new leaders will help.

Nancy Philemon, a 42-year-old mother of six children, sat under a large and tattered umbrella nearby, selling candy and other small items to shelter refugees.

I dont have any hope, she said. Instead of things getting better, they are getting worse. ... There is no safe place anywhere.

Haitis National Police remains largely overwhelmed by gangs that are better armed and have more resources. More than 15 officers have been killed by gangs so far this year.

Lionel Lazarre, general coordinator for the SYNAPOHA police union, told The Associated Press over the phone on Friday that the council must prioritize security above everything."

Police need so much, he said, including combat helicopters, armed vehicles, drones, high-caliber weapons and infrared thermal imaging for nighttime operations.

It is important to us that the council meet with us urgently, Lazarre said. I believe if there is political will, we have hope things can change.

There is hope because for the past three weeks, police have managed to prevent gangs from taking over the National Palace and multiple police stations, he said.

Fatton, the Haitian expert, said he heard predictions on the radio about how the council is doomed to fail if things dont change with the security situation."

They have a very short period of time to get their act together and get results, he said.
Less than 2 months in office: Zelenskyy transfers commander of support forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces to other position

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has reassigned Oleksandr Yakovets from the position of commander of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to the position of the head of the Administration of the State Transport Special Service of Ukraine.

Source: decrees on the website of the President of Ukraine

Details: At the same time, Zelenskyy fired Bohdan Bondar from the post of head of the Administration of the State Transport Special Service of Ukraine. Bondar had been in office since March 2022.

The State Transport Special Service of Ukraine is a military formation within the system of Ukraines Defence Ministry. It facilitates the operation of transport in peaceful times and during war.

Background:

On 4 March Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, appointed Oleksandr Yakovets as the new commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Support Forces.

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A laboratory technician works at the National Malaria Elimination Center in Lusaka, Zambia, April 24, 2024. Zambia is eager to draw lessons from China's successful efforts in malaria elimination to accelerate its own pace, a government official said on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

LUSAKA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Zambia is eager to draw lessons from China's successful efforts in malaria elimination to accelerate its own pace, a government official said on Wednesday.

Sampa Chitambala-Otiono, the acting director of the National Malaria Elimination Center, emphasized the importance of learning from China's experience as Zambia strives to eliminate malaria by 2030. "The situation in China might be different, but I am sure there are one or two things we can learn from China to fasten the pace of eliminating malaria," she said.

The official expressed gratitude to China for its support to the malaria fight over the years, saying China has provided enough support such as provision of vehicles to the malaria program, donation of laboratory equipment as well as conducting training programs.

According to her, malaria remains a significant public health concern in the country, accounting for 30 percent of the disease burden, despite the interventions that have been implemented.

Zambia aims to begin using malaria vaccines next year, she said, adding that the country will need to analyze the vaccine's efficacy and side effects before administering it to the people.

She attributed the high malaria burden in the country to various factors, including the climate, which creates a conducive environment for mosquito breeding, as well as issues such as poor adherence to interventions like consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Additionally, long distances to health centers and the lack of local production of drugs were cited as contributing factors.

She said that pregnant women and children under the age of five years are the most vulnerable to malaria. The government is ensuring that these two groups receive priority in terms of services to combat malaria. 

This photo taken on April 24, 2024 shows the National Malaria Elimination Center in Lusaka, Zambia. Zambia is eager to draw lessons from China's successful efforts in malaria elimination to accelerate its own pace, a government official said on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

A laboratory technician works at the National Malaria Elimination Center in Lusaka, Zambia, April 24, 2024. Zambia is eager to draw lessons from China's successful efforts in malaria elimination to accelerate its own pace, a government official said on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

Sampa Chitambala-Otiono, the acting director of the National Malaria Elimination Center, is pictured in an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, April 24, 2024. Zambia is eager to draw lessons from China's successful efforts in malaria elimination to accelerate its own pace, a government official said on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Peng Lijun)
Doctors join abortion rights supporters in a rally at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

To the editor: Arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court on Idaho's abortion ban imply that it is clear when a mother's life is threatened by a pregnancy. As a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, I can tell you that is not always the case.

I recall two patients of mine with nonviable fetuses, a rupture of the amniotic membranes and infection of the fluid. Although the patients looked well, I recommended delivery of the fetus to clear the infection. The mothers chose to go home.

They developed sepsis and quickly returned to the hospital, and the fetuses were expeditiously extracted. Nonetheless, both patients died.

This scenario is not uncommon. Fortunately, mothers without objections to abortion opt to intervene before an irreversible infection develops.

The death of a woman who decides not to end a pregnancy after discussion of the risks to her is tragic. The government mandating that decision should be unacceptable to even the most fervent opponents of abortion.

Yvonne Gollin, M.D., Solana Beach, Calif.

..

To the editor: In your article on Arizona abortion clinics, a pregnant student seeking an abortion states that she wants "a two-parent household in a stable home."

If this is her ideal, why are she and her partner having sex when they are not married? Our society advocates discipline in many areas  can we not exercise discipline in how unmarried couples behave?

Judith Seki, San Gabriel

..

To the editor: I was outraged as I read the article about so many emergency rooms in Republican-controlled states refusing to treat pregnant women who were in desperate need of medical care, often resulting in the loss of their babies.

In the print edition, this article should have been on the front page, as I worry that many people's attention span won't allow them to make it deeper into the newspaper.

This article illustrates how the Republican Party and our far-right U.S. Supreme Court justices are hurling this country backward in time. Voters need to see the path that our country is taking due to these so-called patriots and pro-lifers.

Tracey Pomerance-Poirier, Chatsworth

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DENVER (KDVR)  Lightning is suspected behind house fires in Broomfield, Evergreen and Erie on Thursday as severe weather moved across the Front Range.

Officials reported the separate fires sparked after 4 p.m., not long after the days sunshine was darkened by storm clouds that also brought a confirmed tornado to the Eastern Plains.

Video: Tornado spotted near Akron during Thursday storms

The Broomfield fire happened on West 154th Avenue, North Metro Fire Rescue posted on social media.

Occupants escaped with their dogs with no injuries. Crews quickly extinguished the fire, containing most of the damage to the roof and attic, the fire department posted on social media at 4:25 p.m.

Fire crews respond to a house fire under dark afternoon storm clouds

North Metro said it was uncertain whether the family can stay at the home because of the damage. Firefighters continued to check for hotspots around 4:45 p.m. but some crews had cleared the scene by then.

Westminster Fire Department assisted with the response.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team

Meanwhile, Evergreen Fire Rescue said at 4:20 p.m. that it was responding to a fire along Denver View Drive, and the incident commander confirmed lightning struck the home.

The fire was extinguished, including hot spots, by about 6:45 p.m.

Fire crews were on the scene of an Evergreen house fire on Thursday afternoon that may have been caused by lightning, according to fire officials.

Fire crews were on the scene of an Evergreen house fire on Thursday afternoon that may have been caused by lightning, according to fire officials.

Fire crews were on the scene of an Evergreen house fire on Thursday afternoon that may have been caused by lightning, according to fire officials.

Fire crews were on the scene of an Evergreen house fire on Thursday afternoon that may have been caused by lightning, according to fire officials.

Mountain View Fire Rescue said it responded to a lightning fire at a house in west Erie just after 4 p.m.

When crews got to the scene, they found the front of the home on Homestead Road had been struck by lightning and it did cause a small fire, the department posted on social media Thursday evening.

No one was in the home when it happened, and no one was hurt. Fire departments from Lafayette and Louisville helped in the fire response and put it out within half an hour.

Firefighters respond to house fire

The fire came as severe weather moved across the region, with parts of the Eastern Plains on a tornado watch and one tornado confirmed near Akron just before 4 p.m.

Denver, Colorado weather resources

Stay prepared for storms and forecast changes, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day and other important weather information:

The Pinpoint Weather team will continue to update the forecast multiple times each day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, pictured during German President Steinmeier's visit to the Pabrade military training area in Lithuania. Soeren Stache/dpa

Lithuania has joined calls for higher military spending from NATO member states.

"We must work together to convince our NATO partners to increase defence spending," said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on Friday.

The two presidents had attended a joint military exercise by the armed forces of both countries in the so-called "Suwalki Gap," a strategically important area on NATO's eastern flank.

Duda recently proposed that NATO should oblige its members to spend at least 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence each year.

Nauseda said that he agreed with Duda that the current target of 2% of GDP was not enough in these "dynamic and complicated times."

Poland spends more than 4% of its economic output on defence - a goal Nauseda said Lithuania was aiming for also.

The Suwalki Gap is a term to describe a strip of land just 70 kilometres wide that lies between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and along the Lithuanian-Polish border. A theoretical Russian advance there could cut off the Baltic states from the other NATO countries.
A live cockroach was found at a Modesto amusement park and a cross-contamination risk was observed at a Vietnamese restaurant during Stanislaus County health inspections in April.

The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county receive two unannounced routine food safety inspections per year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.

Food trucks that operate under a Stanislaus County Health Department permit are also inspected by the county, though those are scheduled and done at the departments office.

Dirty conditions at a Stanislaus County restaurant? How to report health code violations

Of the 42 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Friday, four were not updated on the site as of Friday morning.

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at dwilliams@modbee.com.

Live cockroach among major violations at food facilities

Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of April 7-14. Only the dates of violations are listed.

The details of the reports do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed inspection. Corrective actions may have been made by the business by the time of publication.

The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, search the DER website.

GK Mongolian BBQ, 2300 W Monte Vista Ave. in Turlock, had five violations during a reinspection on April 8. All five of the previous violations were noted as corrected, but the restaurant had five new violations. Inspectors observed grill scraping tools stored in the hand wash sink. A scoop and strainer were in the walk-in refrigerator on top of soiled soy sauce containers lids. A stainless steel pan was in the mop sink. The person in charge said the pan is used to fill up the mop bucket and is not used for food storage. Grease and food debris were on several food contact surfaces throughout the restaurant.

Boomers, 4215 Bangs Ave. in Modesto, had three violations on April 9. Inspectors observed one small live cockroach in a floor sink beneath a soda fountain in the bar area. The cockroach was removed from the facility during the inspection. No other vermin, or evidence of vermin, were observed during the inspection. Boomers shared a copy of the last pest control service report from March 12, and the pest control company noted no rodent or cockroach activity.

Aioli sauce in a refrigerator had an internal temperature of 43 and 44 degrees. The ambient air temperature in the main kitchen refrigerator was 48 and 52 degrees. The preparation refrigerator in the snack shack had an ambient air temperature of 45 and 43 degrees. The refrigerators and potentially hazardous foods must be kept at 41 degrees or colder.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on April 16.

Saigon Restaurant, 2601 Oakdale Road Suite K in Modesto, had three violations on April 10  two of them major. Inspectors observed raw produce stored below various raw meat products on storage shelves in the walk-in refrigerator, which is a cross-contamination risk. Fan covers in the refrigerator were coated with dirt and grime. Sanitizer test strips were unavailable upon inspection.

Arco AM/PM, 2345 Sperry Road in Patterson, had three violations on April 10  two of them major. There were eight sandwiches, two salads, and two burritos missing the use by date sticker in the refrigerator on the sales floor. The womens restroom had hot water at 93 degrees for hand washing (must be 100 degrees or hotter). The ice machine was missing the cover for the equipment motor.

Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections include:

One or two violations for some Stanislaus County restaurants

According to Stanislaus County, other food facilities that had one to two violations, none of them major, are:

Some restaurants had no violations

These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The family of 14-year-old Jevario Buie, who was found fatally shot Wednesday, April 14, spoke on Friday.

The family spoke following their first viewing of Buies body since his release from the coroners office.

After talking with the funeral home director and learning what really happened to my grandson, we, as a family, in the spirit of Emmett Tills mother, want the world to know what happened to Jevario, Jevarios grandfather Michael Baldwin, said in a press release sent out Friday morning.

Baldwin, who flew to Florida from California for the viewing and press conference, said Jevario was an upstanding kid who was not a part of any gangs, never did drugs and never drank alcohol.

We gotta do something about this, Baldwin said.

So long as we continue to capitalize on victimization, were not going to be able to do anything about gun violence, Baldwin said, noting the family has had discussion about funeral costs and his daughter (Jevarios mother) has already been told she has to return to work.

Baldwin also said the family does not want whoever killed Jevario to be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty and promised the family would walk beside them on the path to healing.

I know this crime happened as a result of some hurting boys who hurt other people, Baldwin said. They arent bad boys, theyre hurting, and we want to help them address their own pain.

Joining the family was Jamilia Land, a national survivor fellow with the Everytown For Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action group, the release said.

Someone, somewhere knows something, said Land, imploring anyone with information to come forward and revealing the family has offered a $1,000 reward for information about the case.

Land asked for the parents of the shooter(s) to come forward.

We ask that you do the right thing, Land said.

Jevario was found on Wednesday around 3:30 p.m. near the railroad tracks by West Busch Boulevard and Rome Avenue.

Officials are still searching for information about the case and urge anyone with information to call 813-231-6130 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was back on the witness stand for the fourth day.

Donald Trumps hush money trial resumed Friday in Manhattan criminal court, where former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker  the first witness called by the prosecution  faced cross-examination by the defense.

Judge Juan Merchan continues to weigh whether the former president violated a gag order by attacking other witnesses on social media.

Pecker testified about his effort to catch and kill stories of Trumps alleged extramarital affairs with adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal weeks before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels, who is among the witnesses expected to testify in the trial, which will last between five and six weeks.

Follow our live blog below for the latest updates from inside and outside the courtroom.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 119 updates Trump's plane spotted at LaGuardia Trump's plane was seen at LaGuardia Airport Friday. (Yahoo News) While court was in session, an eagle-eyed Yahoo News editor snapped a picture of Trump's plane on the tarmac at LaGuardia as it was preparing to take off. Trump told reporters that after court was adjourned in his criminal hush money trial, he planned to fly home to Florida to celebrate Melania Trump's birthday. The former first lady turns 54 on Friday.

Court is dismissed for the weekend After prosecutors questioned Farro, Judge Juan Merchan dismissed court for the weekend. "Have a good weekend, take care," Merchan told the jurors. Court will resume on Tuesday morning.

Farro testifies about Cohen opening account to pay Stormy Daniels Under questioning from prosecutors, Farro detailed his dealings with Michael Cohen to open an account for Essential Consultants LLC that was used to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000. "Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me, he gave a sense of urgency, and this was one of those times," Farro said of the call he had with Cohen about establishing the LLC account. Farro testified that on the form First Republic Bank used to create the account, Cohen checked "no" when asked if the LLC was "associated with political fundraising/Political Action Committee (PAC)." Prosecutors allege that the payment to Daniels violated campaign finance laws.

Farro testifies about being assigned to work with Michael Cohen Former First Republic Bank senior managing director Gary Farro testified about how he came to work with Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, saying he inherited his new client in 2015 because Farro was known by colleagues for his "ability to handle individuals that may be a little challenging."

Prosecutors question Farro about banking regulations and payment to Stormy Daniels Prosecutor Rebecca Mangold questioned Gary Farro about banking regulations put in place under the Bank Secrecy Act for wire transfers as well as those made by political candidates. Farro worked at First Republic Bank when Michael Cohen arranged payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Prosecution calls Gary Farro to witness stand As their third witness in the trial, prosecutors called Gary Farro, First Republic Banks former senior managing director, to the witness stand. He will testify about the payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Graff finishes testifying; judge excuses jury for 15-minute recess After defense lawyers finished their cross-examination of Rhona Graff, Judge Juan Merchan excused the jury for a brief recess. Graff testified that Trump had contract entries for adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Model Karen McDougal, both of whom claim to have had extramarital affairs with him.

Graff says Trump was potentially interested in casting Stormy Daniels for 'Celebrity Apprentice' Rhona Graff said she had heard that Donald Trump was considering casting adult film actress Stormy Daniels for a role on his hit show, Celebrity Apprentice. "I vaguely recall hearing him say that she was one of the people that may be an interesting contestant on the show," Graff testified.

Under cross-examination, Graff speaks glowingly of Trump During cross-examination by Trump attorney Susan Necheles, Rhona Graff spoke highly of working at the Trump Organization. "It was a very stimulating, exciting, fascinating place to be," she said. Graff also offered a glowing assessment of her former boss. "I think that he was fair and, whats the word Im looking for, [a] respectful boss to me," she said of Trump.

Prosecutors quickly finish questioning Graff After Rhona Graff spent approximately 15 minutes on the witness stand, prosecutors finished their initial questioning, establishing that she saw Stormy Daniels in the Trump Tower reception waiting area prior to June 2015.

Graff testifies she saw Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower before Trump announced 2016 presidential run Stormy Daniels in 2018. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP) Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime assistant at the Trump Organization, said she saw adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the reception area at Trump Tower prior to his June 2015 announcement that he was running for president.

Graff testifies about her role at the Trump Organization Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger is now questioning Rhona Graff about the 34 years she worked at the Trump Organization. Graff testified that she sat just outside Trump's office in Trump Tower and was responsible for scheduling his calendar and coordinating his contact with others in the company.

Prosecutors call Rhona Graff to the stand Rhona Graff, former executive assistant to Donald Trump, in 2005. (Katy Winn/Getty Images) Prosecutors called Trump's former assistant Rhona Graff as their second witness in the hush money trial.

Pecker is done After four days on the witness stand, David Pecker's testimony as the first witness called in the historic trial has finished.

Pecker warned Cohen that Trump would be mad if he didn't buy the Stormy Daniels story Stormy Daniels in 2018. (Markus Schreiber/AP) Resuming his redirect, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker about a phone call he had Michael Cohen after learning Stormy Daniels was shopping her story about an alleged affair with Trump. Pecker testified that he warned Cohen that that if the story were to get out through another media outlet, the boss is going to be very, very, very angry with you. Cohen eventually paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money in a deal that is at the center of the prosecution's case.

Court is back in session After an hourlong lunch break, Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is back on the witness stand, and court is back in session.

Prosecutor: Hush money contracts were not 'standard operating procedure' for National Enquirer and AMI During his redirect, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass tried to poke holes in the defenses argument that Peckers arrangement to bury negative stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign was, as Trump attorney Emil Bove put it, standard operating procedure at the National Enquirer and AMI. Steinglass got Pecker to agree that the companys contracts with former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Trump, and a doorman at a Trump property, who falsely alleged Trump fathered a child out of wedlock, were not standard operating procedure at the tabloid.

Court is taking a lunch break Judge Juan Merchan has called for a lunch recess until 2:15 p.m. ET, when Pecker will return to the witness stand for more questioning from prosecutors.

Defense concludes its cross-examination of Pecker The defense has concluded its cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Trump attorney Emil Bove asked Pecker why he cooperated with the prosecution at this trial. To be truthful, Pecker replied. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now asking Pecker follow-up questions.

While Trump is in court, Biden tells Howard Stern he'd be 'happy to debate him' Former President Donald Trump and President Biden. (Brendan McDermid, Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) While Trump was inside Manhattan criminal court at his hush money trial, President Biden was several blocks away at Sirius XM studios for a live interview with Howard Stern. During the hourlong interview, Biden told Stern he would be happy to debate Trump this fall. Trump has not yet committed to participating in the three presidential debates that have already been scheduled. And until Friday, Biden and his campaign had declined to commit to appearing onstage with Trump. But when asked by Stern if he would debate Trump, Biden replied he would be happy to debate him.

Court has resumed After a brief recess, the defense continued its cross-examination of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. During the break, Trump attorney Emil Bove told Judge Merchan that he has about an hour's worth of questions left for Pecker. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said there will be a redirect.

Trump attorneys zero in on Pecker's testimony about a Trump Tower meeting David Pecker is cross-examined by Trump lawyer Emil Bove as Judge Juan Merchan and the former president look on in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) Before the break, Trump attorney Emil Bove was questioning Pecker about his testimony regarding a Jan. 6, 2017, meeting Pecker attended at Trump Tower with the then president-elect and numerous officials, including FBI Director James Comey. On Thursday, Pecker testified that at the meeting Trump thanked him for paying to silence a Trump Tower doorman who claimed Trump had fathered a love child. But according to notes from a 2018 FBI interview with Pecker, he told agents that Trump had not thanked him at the Jan. 6 meeting. Pecker initially suggested that the FBI's notes were wrong, but later during Bove's cross-examination acknowledged that he may have, in fact, told them Trump had not thanked him.

The court is in a brief recess Per reporters inside the courtroom, the court has taken a short break. Pecker has stepped down from the witness stand, and the jury and Trump have left the courtroom.

Gag order hearing has been rescheduled Trump sits at the defense table inside Manhattan criminal court with attorneys Emil Bove, left, and Todd Blanche before Friday's proceedings. (Jeenah Moon/AFP via Getty Images) Before the jury was brought in Friday, Judge Juan Merchan said that a hearing on the prosecution's latest claims that Trump violated the gag order imposed on him before will be held next Thursday, May 2, at 9:30 a.m. ET. The hearing had been previously scheduled for Wednesday, May 1,  the same day his campaign had planned back-to-back rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan. Court does not meet on Wednesdays, though Merchan has said that he reserves the right to adjust the trial schedule if needed.

Prosecution objects to the defense referring to defendant as 'President Trump' During the defense's cross-examination of Pecker, the prosecution has objected to Trump lawyer Emil Bove referring to the defendant as President Trump while discussing the events that led up to the 2016 election. He wasnt President Trump, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued. Judge Juan Merchan sustained the objection. During opening arguments, Trump attorney Todd Blanche told the jury that he would be referring to his client by his former title. We will call him President Trump out of respect for the office that he held from 2017 to 2021, Blanche said during his opening statement on Monday. And as everybody knows, its the office hes running for right now.

Trump is listening to Pecker with his eyes closed Trump sits at the defense table inside Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday. (Michael M. Santiago/AFP via Getty Images) According to reporters inside the courtroom, Trump has been listening to Pecker's testimony with his eyes closed. Cameras are not allowed inside the room during the proceedings, but photographers are allowed to shoot still images for 45 seconds at the beginning of each day. Trump appeared to be noticeably tired in photos taken this morning, like the one above.

Defense asks Pecker about negative stories the Enquirer ran about Trump's GOP rivals Under cross-examination, David Pecker was asked by defense attorney Emil Bove about negative stories the National Enquirer ran about Donald Trump's 2016 Republican rivals, including Ben Carson and Marco Rubio. Earlier this week, Pecker testified that part of the plan he hatched with Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen was to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents and to buy and bury stories about any alleged extramarital affairs to help boost Trump's candidacy. On Friday, Bove asked Pecker whether the Enquirer would have run such negative stories about Trump's rivals without his involvement, given the tabloid's practice of recycling content from other outlets and the fact that some of the stories were already in the public domain. Pecker acknowledged that the publication would have.

Pecker is back on the witness stand After some discussions with both sides, Judge Juan Merchan called for the jury, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker has returned to the witness stand. Emil Bove, one Trump's defense attorneys, has resumed his cross examination.

Trump wishes Melania happy birthday as he arrives at court Trump speaks to reporters after arriving at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on Friday. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) After arriving at Manhattan criminal court, where he is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal the $130,000 hush money payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to conceal an alleged extramarital affair, former President Donald Trump stopped to express his birthday wishes to his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, who turns 54 Friday. "I want to start by wishing my wife, Melania, a very happy birthday," Trump told reporters outside the courtroom. "It would be nice to be with her. But I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial." Trump is required to attend every day of the trial, which is expected to last up to six weeks. He has been staying at Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan, while the former first lady is home in Florida. "I'll be going there this evening," Trump said.

What to expect today Trump yells to supporters as he exits Trump Tower en route to his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court Friday. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) Trump's hush money trial is set to resume Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET. The former president arrived at the courthouse a few minutes ago. David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, will return to the witness stand for more cross-examination by the defense. It's expected to take up much of the day. Trump's attorney Emil Bove will lead the cross examination of Pecker. On Thursday, Bove used his questioning of Pecker to argue that the tabloid's efforts to help Trump during the 2016 election was not unusual. Judge Juan Merchan has yet to issue a decision over whether Trump violated the gag order imposed on him before the trial. Another hearing on the gag order has been scheduled for next week.

Judge dismisses jury for the day Judge Merchan officially dismissed the jury for the day. Pecker will be back on Friday for his fourth day on the witness stand.

What to know about Pecker's immunity agreement Before concluding the prosecution's examination of Pecker, the Manhattan district attorney's office brought up the non-prosecution agreement that he hasigned. Vanity Fair first reported that Pecker was granted immunity in exchange for his testimonies against Trump and Cohen in 2018. CNN legal analyst Elie Honig said the prosecution reiterating the immunity deal is to emphasize to the jury that Pecker's "incentive right now is to tell the truth."

Trump defense argues 'checkbook journalism' is 'standard operating procedure' While cross-examining Pecker, Trump's defense lawyer Emil Bove is arguing that "checkbook journalism"  a phrase for the practice of reporters or news agencies paying for rights to stories  was part of the "standard operating procedure" at the National Enquirer. Bove is trying to establish that Pecker's relationship with Trump was no different from Pecker's relationship with other celebrities in terms of buying story rights. Some of the celebrities mentioned include Rahm and Ari Emanuel, Mark Wahlberg and Tiger Woods. Trump's lawyer Bove: Before this case, you'd never heard the phrase catch and kill, right?

Pecker: Right

Bove: It was the *prosecutors* who taught you the phrase, right?

Pecker: Yes

Bove: You have similar relationships with other politicians too, right?

A: Yes.  Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024

Trump's defense team begins cross-examination of Pecker The prosecution has just concluded its examination of David Pecker, which ended with Pecker saying he does not feel any ill will toward Trump despite not speaking to him since 2019. Emil Bove is handling the cross-examination for Trump's defense. Bove is the newest addition to Trump's legal team. He was previously a federal prosecutor in New York.

Pecker says Trump was 'very upset' with him after McDougal's interview with Anderson Cooper Karen McDougal was interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper in March 2018 about her alleged affair with Donald Trump. (Screen capture via CNN) Prosecutors asked Pecker about a phone call he had with then-President Trump after the story of Karen McDougal's alleged affair with him was leaked. Before the lunch break, Pecker testified that American Media Inc. amended its contract with McDougal  over the objections of Trump lawyer Michael Cohen  to allow her to speak to the press after the Wall Street Journal reported AMI's deal with the former Playboy model. He also testified that AMI had hired a press consultant to help McDougal navigate the crush of media surrounding her. In March 2018, after McDougal was interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper about her alleged affair with Trump, Pecker said he got an angry call from the president, who told him he thought McDougal was not permitted to give any interviews or be on any television shows. After Pecker told Trump that he had amended McDougal's agreement, Trump was "very upset." "He couldn't understand why I did it," Pecker said.

Trump as seen in court today Trump is in attendance at today's testimony. He said that Judge Juan Merchan denied his request to attend a Thursday hearing at the Supreme Court weighing his claim that presidents are immune from prosecution for any potential crimes committed while in office. During a break, former President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he appears at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Thursday. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Times via AP) Trump appears at his trial on Thursday. (Spencer Platt/AP) Trump talks to reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Thursday. (Mark Peterson/AP)

Court is back in session Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench and the prosecution's first witness, David Pecker, will continue his testimony.

National Enquirer's ties to Trump behind why publication can't sell, has 'zero credibility' Pecker's testimony about the relationship between Trump and the National Enquirer seems to be damaging the publication's credibility and therefore its parent company's ability to sell the publication, which it has been trying to do for five years. It just has zero credibility, Lachlan Cartwright, a former executive editor for the Enquirer, told the Associated Press. Whatever sort of credibility it had was totally damaged by what happened in court this week. American Media Inc., which currently owns the Enquirer, has been struggling to find a buyer  made worse by the publication's involvement in Trump's hush money trial. In April 2019, AMI said it was going to sell several of its tabloid publications, including the Enquirer, to James Cohen for a deal reportedly worth close to $100 million, but it never closed.

Pecker testifies he thought Cohen and Trump should have bought Daniels's story Pecker is testifying more about why AMI, the National Enquirer's parent company, couldn't pay $120,000 for Daniels's story. "I said, 'I don't want the National Enquirer to be associated with a porn star,'" Pecker said on the stand, adding that with Walmart as a main distributor of the magazine, it would be very bad for AMI. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass then asked Pecker to explain why he sent Daniels's story to Michael Cohen. Pecker said the story could be "very damaging" and he thought it should come off the market. "If anyone was going to buy it, I thought Michael and Donald Trump should buy it," Pecker said.

Trump's concerns over negative stories shifted from family to campaign, says Pecker David Pecker testified that before the 2016 election, Donald Trump would be concerned about his family hearing about or reading negative stories in the press. "If a negative story was coming out with respect to Donald Trump and we spoke about it, he was always concerned about Melania, he was concerned about Ivanka, he was concerned about what the family may hear or say about it, not saying whether it was true or not," he said, according to CNN. But while running for president, Pecker said Trump's concerns shifted to be more about the campaign. "It was basically what the impact would be to the campaign and the election," Pecker said, adding that Trump never brought up his family during discussions on Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. Q: After Mr. Trump announced his candidacy for the presidency, did he ever express concern for how [...] Melania Trump would think of his affairs?



A: No.  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 25, 2024 This distinction is important because it suggests Trump's concerns over negative stories were politically inclined, not personal.

Court taking a lunch break, proceedings to resume at 2:15 p.m. The court is now on lunch break, and the proceedings will resume at 2:15 p.m. ET. Judge Juan Merchan, the jury, Donald Trump and his legal team have all left the courtroom.

AMI issued false statement denying 'catch and kill' tactics for Trump stories in 2016, Pecker says In November 2016, the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing Karen McDougal's deal with AMI, the National Enquirer's parent company. Pecker testified that Trump was furious and accused Pecker or "one of your people" of having leaked the story. Following the WSJ story, AMI issued a statement denying the allegations that it was killing negative stories about Trump. On the witness stand, Pecker said the denials were false. "I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump," he said Asked by he lied about the McDougal payment in response to the WSJ story, Pecker said: I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I wanted, also, to protect Donald Trump.  erica orden (@eorden) April 25, 2024

'I don't want the National Enquirer to be associated with a porn star.'  David Pecker explaining another reason why he declined to buy the story that adult film actress Stormy Daniels was shopping in October 2016 about her alleged sexual affair with Donald Trump. "If anyone was going to buy it, I thought Michael [Cohen] and Donald Trump should buy it," Pecker testified.

Pecker said he refused to pay Stormy Daniels for her story of an alleged affair with Trump Stormy Daniels in 2018. (Markus Schreiber/AP) The prosecution asked Pecker to describe how the National Enquirer came across the story at the center of the hush money case: the claim by adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, that she had a sexual encounter with Donald Trump. Pecker described an urgent phone call he received from Enquirer editor Dylan Howard in October 2016 in which he was informed that Daniels was shopping a story about her alleged tryst with Trump for $120,000. Pecker said he refused to pay for the story, noting his previous payments of $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman for a story about an out-of-wedlock child allegedly fathered by Trump and $150,000 to Karen McDougal for the story of her alleged affair with Trump. "I am not a bank," Pecker said.

Trump loses bid for new trial, judgment overturn for E. Jean Carroll verdict Outside the courtroom today, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, of the Southern District of New York, ruled that Trump's motions for a new trial for the E. Jean Carroll verdict are denied. Carroll is one of dozens of women who have accused Trump of sexual assault. In January she won $83.3 million in damages for defamation. Breaking



Trump LOSES his bid for a new trial or a judgment overturning the more than $80 million verdict for E. Jean Carroll in the second trial.



Ruling https://t.co/5JncAkNDLj pic.twitter.com/pLpN2CWS4i  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 25, 2024

'Access Hollywood' tape was 'very embarrassing, very damaging' to Trump campaign Back on the stand, Pecker is discussing the infamous "Access Hollywood" outtake from the 2000s that showed Trump bragging to host Billy Bush about grabbing women sexually without asking for permission. The tape was released on Oct. 7, 2016, and Pecker said Cohen called and said it was "very embarrassing, very damaging" to Trump's campaign. Pecker: "Michael Cohen told me that the feedback on the Access Hollywood tape was very, very damaging to the campaign. And everybody was very concerned about what impact it would have."  erica orden (@eorden) April 25, 2024

Pecker returns to the witness stand The jury is back in the courtroom and Pecker is back on the witness stand. Prosecutors said that they anticipate that the direct examination of the former National Enquirer publisher will take several more hours.

Court resumes  without the jury present Trump gives a thumbs-up to reporters during a break in Thursday's proceedings. (Jefferson Siegel for the New York Times) After a brief recess, court resumed  but without the jury present, as both sides discussed disputes over exhibits that the prosecution wants to present to illustrate its case. Prosecutors want to enter text messages sent by National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard entered into evidence. One of the texts from 2016 reads, "If he wins, Ill be pardoned for electoral fraud." Judge Juan Merchan said that for now, he won't allow the texts to be shown but would consider it some more over lunch.

Pecker says he didn't buy Stormy Daniels's story because he never got reimbursed $150K for McDougal's story Pecker testified he was expecting to be paid back for the $150,000 he sent to Karen McDougal but had a hard time getting Trump to reimburse him. Pecker claimed he asked Michael Cohen multiple times about repayment and was told not to worry and that "the boss"  referring to Trump  would take care of it. Because of this, Pecker declined to buy Stormy Daniels's story, in which she alleged she had sex with Trump. Trump denies the claim. Cohen bought her story instead for $130,000, which is the hush money accusation at the center of this case.

Pecker says the 'married man' in McDougal's contract referred to Trump Trump sits with with his lawyers in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday. (Jefferson Siegel/Pool via Reuters) As part of his testimony, Pecker was asked about a line in America Media Inc.'s agreement with Karen McDougal that states that AMI acquired the lifetime rights for her story, including "any romantic personal and/or physical relationship McDougal has ever had with any then-married man." Joshua Steinglass, one of the lawyers for the prosecution, asked Pecker who the "then-married man" was in reference to. Pecker replied that it was "referring to Donald Trump." Show more updates
Ill kick the s*** out of you: Man with suspended license arrested following high-speed chase in Pasco County

Ill kick the s*** out of you: Man with suspended license arrested following high-speed chase in Pasco County

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man on felony probation for burglary is behind bars after leading Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers on a high-speed chase in Pasco County on Thursday.

Just before 1:30 p.m., an FHP trooper was conducting a traffic stop on State Road 52 at Kent Grove Road when Demarco Lee Earls, Jr., passed the trooper going an estimated 100 mph, according to the arrest report.

The trooper, driving an unmarked patrol car, and another trooper in a marked vehicle pursued Earls, who was reportedly traveling between 103 mph and 111 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone.

The chase led troops east of Shady Hills Road, back onto State Road 52, and eventually onto the Suncoast Parkway (SR 589). Earls also reportedly spun out briefly before traveling the wrong way into oncoming traffic on the entrance ramp from State Road 54 and SR 589.

The trooper in the marked vehicle was able to bring the chase to and end with a successful PIT maneuver, aided when the unmarked vehicle was intentionally rammed into Earls white Nissan Altima, according to the report.

Earls reportedly attempted to flee the vehicle but was arrested by the two troopers. The arrest report says Earls was combative, flailing his legs and attempting to kick several officers during his arrest.

While being put into the patrol car, Earls reportedly told one officer Ill kick the s*** out of you and attempted to bite him.

The arrest report says Earls had a suspended license and is on felony probation for burglary until 2028.

During a search of the vehicle, officers said they found 28 grams of cocaine and more than 8 grams of fentanyl.

Earls is facing charges of reckless driving, flee with disregard of safety to persons or property, driving while license suspended, possession of cocaine, possession of drug equipment, trafficking in fentanyl, resisting officers with violence, and simple assault on an officer/firefighter/EMT.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The New York Post found a way to peg the nationwide, pro-Palestine student protests on billionaire investor and hedge fund manager George Soros on Friday, once again reviving the rights favorite antisemitic conspiracy theory.

The publication tied the overarching group organizing the campus-based protests, Students for Justice in Palestine, to some nonprofits funded in part by Soros. Those include the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, which received funding from Open Society Foundations, which was founded by Soros.

The cash from Soros and his acolytes has been critical to the Columbia protests that set off the national copycat demonstrations. Three groups set up the tent city on Columbias lawn last Wednesday: Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Within Our Lifetime, wrote the Post, taking aim at purchases of tents, pizza, coffee, rotisserie chickens, organic tortilla chips, and sandwiches, allegedly paid for by groups tied to Soros.

An analysis by The Post shows that all three got cash from groups linked to Soros. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund also gave cash to JVP, the publication wrote.

But the complicated, antisemitic trope forgoes the reality that American opinion has aggressively soured on Israels war in Gaza since it began. A poll conducted by Gallup in March revealed that just 36 percent of Americans approved of the military action Israel has taken in Gazadown from 50 percent in November. According to the poll, Republicans are practically the only demographic still holding on to U.S. support for the war, which some U.S. lawmakers have decried as genocide.

Dont be surprised if the its all Soros trope quickly picks up among others on the right. Conservative leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson have flown up to Columbia University to stoke the flames of an otherwise peaceful encampment of students who pay more than $68,000 per year in tuition to utilize the grounds, warning individuals practicing their First Amendment rights that he may call upon the National Guard to break them up. That violent call came after the universitys president, Minouche Shafik, authorized the New York City Police Department to sweep and arrest protesting students on school grounds, and after the schools sister institution Barnard suspended and evicted at least 53 students participating in the encampment.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 Palestinians injured in the conflict, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel has advanced its attacks on the beleaguered nation by engaging in what the U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has described as war crimes, including blocking humanitarian aid from reaching those who need it. Israel has also utilized mass starvation, as well as blocking or destroying access to critical resources such as water, food, fuel, electricity, and medical aid.

Open Society has funded a broad spectrum of US groups that have advocated for the rights of Palestinians and Israelis and for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Israel and the OPT, the group said in a statement provided to the Post. The Open Society Foundations proudly support the right of all citizens to peaceful protesta bedrock principle of our democracy.
Local teens create platform to help students looking to volunteer in their community

Thousands of people will fill the streets of downtown Orlando on Saturday for this years Florida Puerto Rican Parade.

This years theme is civic engagement, highlighting the importance of volunteering and community service.

Channel 9 spoke with a Puerto Rican student and a Venezuelan student at Celebration High School who started a new platform connecting teens to more opportunities to volunteer.

Read: Watch the Florida Puerto Rican Parade on Channel 9

If children are our future, then Florida is in good hands with Alexa Perez and Francesca Erdody.

Both have always had a calling to serve their communities.

However, when volunteering opportunities proved hard to come by, they took matters into their own hands by creating Volunteering Orlando.

Read: 2024 Florida Puerto Rican Parade & Festival to spotlight the town of Juncos

Its an online platform that connects high school students to community service with groups like Osceola History and AdventHealth.

From community clean-ups to hospital help, volunteering has made an impact.

Watch: Hope Community Center helps engagement with Central Floridas Puerto Rican community

They are now working to expand the program to other parts of Florida.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
In Xinjiang's Kazanqi folk tourism area, a family warmly welcomes relatives and friends. The vibrant and hospitable ambiance, coupled with unique pastries crafted from local ingredients and distinctive beverages, permeates the air with an unmistakable "Xinjiang flavor."
A passerby interrupted a local television interview Tuesday with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan to start a fight with one of Mahans security personnel, leading to an arrest for felony battery on a police officer, among other charges, local media reported.

During an interview with KRON, which captured video of the altercation, Mahan was speaking on camera when a man, who police have identified as 35-year-old Wesley Pollard, approached the security detail from behind Mahan and began swearing.

After Pollard got into frame beside Mahan, the mayor told him, Sorry, were doing an interview, sir. Pollard soon spoke to Mahans security guard, who is an officer of the San Jose Police Department. Im talking on the phone. You got a problem?

Pollard also appeared to tell him, You should mind your f-cking business.

I will fcking smack you, he said moments later as things got physical, mostly out of frame.

Pollard soon threw a punch that appeared to strike the officer, who spent the night at a local hospital with head and neck pain, according to KRON.

Pollard swung at the officer several more times, and was eventually handcuffed after two other men intervened to help.

The mayor, who was unharmed, released a statement afterwards thanking his security detail.

Mayor Matt Mahan is deeply grateful to his security detail and the entire San Jose Police Department. The actions of the Officer tonight were heroic and a testament to the deescalation training that makes our officers effective, compassionate and stewards of community trust. His thoughts are with the Officer and he hopes for a speedy recovery, he said.

The Mayor understands how privileged he is to have an armed officer protecting him at all times, and is resolved in his commitment to create a safer city for everyone, Mahan added. That means hiring more police officers and addressing the root causes of crime, including by intervening earlier and more effectively in cycles of addiction, mental illness and violence.

Pollard had a warrant out of Georgia for resisting arrest with violence, KRON reported Wednesday. His bail is set at $26,000, and his court date is scheduled for Friday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Log Cabin Republicans Los Angeles chapter posted a meme on its Instagram Story that appears to celebrate the death of President Joe Biden.

The meme is no longer available online but was captured in a screen shot by Meidas Touch. It shows the internet personality known as kombucha girl reacting negatively to the message Joe Biden 2024 but positively to one that says Joe Biden 1942-2024.

Wishing for the death of ones political opponents is something that some MAGA Republican groups welcome, Meidas Touch notes.

The Advocate has sought comment from both the L.A. chapter and the national Log Cabin Republicans but has not yet received a response.

The Los Angeles chapter has hosted events with numerous prominent Republicans who are generally anti-LGBTQ+, including Congressman Matt Gaetz and Kari Lake, a candidate for U.S. Senate from Arizona.

The national group held a fundraising event last weekend at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, at which the former presidents wife, Melania Trump, announced a plan to woo LGBTQ+ voters to her husband as he seeks to retake the White House.

It will be led by Richard Grenell, who was U.S. ambassador to Germany and later acting national security adviser in the Trump administration. Bill White, a former president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and longtime friend of Donald Trump, and his husband, Bryan Eure, a senior vice president at insurance brokerage firm Willis Towers Watson, will also be involved, ABC News reports.

They hear us, they see us, and they love us, White told ABC of the Trumps.

Thats debatable, given the many anti-LGBTQ+ and especially anti-transgender actions of the Trump administration. Donald Trump has not received much support from LGBTQ+ voters in his previous campaigns. He got only 27 percent of the communitys vote in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 64 percent for Biden, according to ABC; other sources say 28 percent. But that was more than he received in 2016, 14 percent.
A memorial for Cilivea Thyrion, who died in the Milwaukee County Jail in 2022, erected in her mother's Green Bay home. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Nearly a year and a half has passed since Kerrie Hirte  a mother from Green Bay  learned that her 20-year-old daughter, Cilivea Thyrion, had committed suicide while confined in a solitary cell at the Milwaukee County Jail. Since that December day in 2022, Hirte has grappled with painful questions about how to protect others from what her daughter experienced. For Hirte and many others there is no solution without an end to solitary confinement in jails and prisons.

On Tuesday dozens of opponents of solitary confinement gathered in the Wisconsin State Capitol for a day of action. Hosted by faith groups, criminal justice reform advocates, formerly incarcerated people and their families and elected officials, the activists decried the use of solitary confinement as torture. After sharing testimonies, the group dispersed throughout the Capitol to visit legislative offices and lobby for reform, and compassion.

Panelists at a day of action to call for an end to solitary confinement sit in the Capitol. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Panelists during a day of action at the Capitol call for an end to solitary confinement. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Hirte didnt visit the legislative offices, something she has done several times over the months that have passed since Thyrions death. Instead, the grieving mother listened to the testimonies of others who have lost loved ones in solitary confinement as well as people who have experienced solitary themselves. It saddens me, because it shows just how broken our system really is, and how much we really need to change it, and how much we really need community support rather than putting people in jails where they can be victimized, Hirte told Wisconsin Examiner, reflecting on the mixed sense of community and shared agony she felt hearing other peoples stories.

A grim practice

Tuesdays day of action began and ended with prayer from faith leaders calling for an end to the use of solitary confinement. Jails and prisons across the country employ solitary confinement, which is known by different names depending on the facility. For incarcerated people, however, solitary confinement is often colloquially known by a single name  the hole. You can be sent there for any number of reasons including being perceived as a danger to yourself or others, having a mental health crisis or for committing a minor rule violation.

A United Nations report held that solitary confinement can amount to torture and that no stint in solitary should exceed 15 days. Segregation, isolation, separation, cellular, lockdown, Supermax, the hole, Secure Housing Unit whatever the name, solitary confinement should be banned by States as a punishment or extortion technique, UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan E. Mendez testified in 2011.

Ive been there, done that, said Talib Akbar, a formerly incarcerated man turned activist, during the Tuesday event in Madison. Akbar was released from the Waupun Correctional Institution in 2013, after serving 20 years. During his prison sentence, Akbar spent multiple stints in solitary confinement. Its no joke, Akbar told the crowd. It changes you, it alters you in some type of way. Akbar expressed his sympathy for other people who have suffered from the practice. Solitary confinement is torture, he said.

Melissa Ludin, statewide Coalition and Relations Advocate for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin, called the prison system a very violent environment, it is a system that is violent. Ludin described grim conditions of confinement in Wisconsin as a public health crisis. Where is our Department of Health and Human Services on the lockdowns of Wisconsin? she asked.

Rep. Darrin Madison (D-Milwaukee) stands next to Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) during a day of action to end solitary confinement. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Rep. Darrin Madison (D-Milwaukee) with Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) during the day of action to end solitary confinement. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Last year, the states Department of Corrections (DOC) implemented modified movement orders at prisons in Green Bay, Waupun, and Stanley. The orders essentially lock down the prisons by restricting general movement, recreational activity, and visitation rights. Safety concerns and understaffing motivated the lockdowns, the DOC has said. As the months have passed, however, increasingly disturbing reports have emerged about the conditions within the prisons as the lockdowns continue.

In November, the modified order at the Stanley medium-security prison was lifted. Restrictive policies have also gradually eased at Waupun and Green Bay, the DOC states. While the day of action focused on the use of solitary confinement across the criminal justice system, county jails are not among the facilities under the oversight of the DOC.

As a formerly incarcerated person, Ludin understands how damaging being in prison and jail can be, and how solitary confinement increases that damage. Solitary confinement is just used because you break a rule inside of a prison, said Ludin. Its the jail within the prison. Access to medical treatment, hygiene products, and even light and human contact are restricted in solitary. Ludin, who was incarcerated from age 19-24, recalled her own stint in the hole. For 100 days, I had to sit in a cell. I saw no light. I got to experience no physical touch. I was taken out of my cell twice, shackled and handcuffed, to two medical appointments, said Ludin. My meals came in through a trapdoor.

Incarcerated people continue to face the same experience, including in the Wisconsin prisons under lockdown orders. Waupun has reported a string of deaths during lockdown. Among them was 60-year-old Dean Hoffmann, who committed suicide after being placed in a solitary cell for nine days during Waupuns modified movement order. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hoffmanns family earlier this year alleges that the prison showed deliberate indifference to Hoffmann, who had struggled with mental illness for many years. For more than three-quarters of his time at Waupun, prison staff failed to provide Hoffmann his medication for depression and bipolar disorder. The lawsuit alleges that there is also no evidence that Hoffmann received his medication while in solitary.

Hoffmans daughter, Megan Hoffmann-Kolb, was among the speakers in the Capitol Tuesday, joined by her brother Barry. It is my belief that the reason solitary confinement exists, and even persists today, is because people that it impacts are not even seen as human in the first place, said Hoffman-Kolb. My dad, who was on federal disability for over 30 years due to his mental illness, spent the last nine days on Earth in solitary confinement alone, calling out for help, begging for his medications, and completely ignored. Four deaths have occurred at Waupun since last June, including a man who died of a fentanyl overdose and another who had a stroke.

Waupun prison

The Waupun prison sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood (Photo | Wisconsin Examiner)

Hirte said Tuesday that she hopes lawmakers will learn about the plight of people like her daughter Cilivea. She told Wisconsin Examiner that officials should focus on allowing them to have communication, religion, support systems, being able to be clean and have running water, healthy food.

I hope they end the solitary confinement, because that does nobody good, Hirte added. When it comes to putting mental illness in a cell block and locking them away, it makes it 100 times worse than a normal person. So I believe theres just going to be more deaths in the system due to the confinement.

Messages from Cilivea

Over the past several months Hirte has learned more details about what happened to her daughter. Thyrions stay at the Milwaukee County Jail lasted most of 2022, after she arrived there in February. Medically private information has been redacted from both the death investigation conducted by the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department and the Milwaukee District Attorneys two-page summary decision not to file criminal charges in the case. Wisconsin Examiner obtained both documents through open records requests.

Despite the redactions, its clear that Thyrion, who also struggled with mental illness, periodically spent time in the jails Special Needs Pod. On Dec. 16, 2022, Thyrion requested help from correctional officers. Correctional officers provided Thyrion with an adult diaper, something they didnt consider to be useful for self-harm. Some time later, Thyrion signaled for emergency help. When officers arrived in the cell, Thyrion was choking with the diaper lying unworn nearby, but with bits torn off, according to the DAs letter and the Waukesha Sheriffs investigative file.

During a Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission meeting last week, Hirte said it took four months to see video of her daughters death, which remains unavailable to the public.

In late 2023, the jail finally released Thyrions belongings to her mother. Wisconsin Examiner was invited to observe as Hirte went through the bags in December 2023. They included letters written to and from her daughter, legal documents related to her arrest, Thyrions phone, inhaler, photocopies of her mail, books, playing cards, calendars used by Thyrion to keep track of passing time, a full, unlabeled urine sample container, and other items.

Among the first things Hirte pulled out of the bag was a handwritten note from her daughter. I need to see the psych about my meds, Thyrion wrote to jail staff. I think I need a med adjustment. Can it please be the female doctor[?] The correspondence, undated though signed by Thyrion, appears to be a grievance report document used by incarcerated people to communicate needs to jail staff.

Separately, Thyrion raised concerns while at the Milwaukee County Jail, according to records of requests included among the Waukesha Sheriffs file.

Thyrion requested a new cellmate and to be transferred to the HOC  now known as the Community Reintegration Center  but was denied by the jail. In early April 2022, she complained about a jail staffer who Thyrion wrote, has been really rude, she has been calling me crazy B**** and making fat jokes towards me and just has a really disrespectful mouth. The jail replied that the staff member in question no longer worked for the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office. In late March, Thyrion reported that after she asked for a new pair of pants to replace the ones she had which had holes, a jail staffer, just sat there and ate her sunflower seeds and said in a very rude mannor that she did not have no pants and to leave her alone she also did not even look for them and then when I asked her to give me some liquid soap she said in a rude mannor again that she did not have any and again did not look and proceeded to eat. The jail later responded, requests cannot be expected to be adhered to instantaneously. We all have a job to do and running a housing unit takes precedent over retrieving items for inmates, if time does not allow for it.

Later that same month, Thyrion asked to be moved out of the pod she was in because too much was happening, and it is mentally upsetting. When Thyrion was denied time in the gym in mid-June, jail staff said they would talk with their colleagues as they must allow all occupants to go to the gym unless the gym is closed for everyone. Multiple requests were made for a bible, hygiene products and other items. As the months passed, Thyrions messages to the jail became more pleading. I have not been [getting] my [redacted] and I dont know why. I really need it. I have been getting really bad [redacted], she wrote on June 29, 2022.

RECORD REQUEST FORMS_Redacted

Records from the Milwaukee County Jail showing correspondences between Cilivea Thyrion and jail staff during her time at the jail, obtained through open records requests.

In mid-August, Thyrion reported that a correctional officer had stated that he was going to burn my fu***** eyes out then he was trying to fix my cuff and he was hurting my arm so I resisted and he said i dont care if I hurt your a** he was really rude and disrespectful and highly unprofessional. The jails response to Thyrion countered that the sergeant in question warned her that hed use OC spray if Thyrion continued to [redacted] and make threats. He denied making those exact statements you are grieving. He was reminded to remain professional.

Thyrion sent more messages in August 2022 questioning why she wasnt receiving mail, and whether she could be moved out of protective custody. Medical issues also arose for the 20-year-old, who asked, if I can get some cream for my feet they are cracking and bleeding really bad. Thyrion was asked by the jail to put in a sick call slip, per policy, in order to be seen. Thyrion complained about another officer in October, who, she wrote, puts my trays on the floor like I am a dog and does not provide me with anything to drink [no cup for water no milk.] In early November, she again asked for a cream for my face my [redacted] is getting worse can I also get some cream for my feet they are cracking and bleeding. Later that month, according to Thyrion, another correctional officer mocked her while she was in a restraining chair. In another message, she requested a specific officer by name saying I promise to be better I Just need to talk to her please shes a good friend shes great to talk to please she was in cell four please Im sorry. The jails response was: Request denied at this time.

A memorial for Cilivea Thyrion, who died in the Milwaukee County Jail in 2022, erected in her mother's Green Bay home. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

A memorial for Cilivea Thyrion, who died in the Milwaukee County Jail in 2022, erected in her mothers Green Bay home. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

The last message Thyrion sent jail staff was on Dec. 12, just a few days before her death. She complained about a jail staffer who she claimed used the intercom to call her fat, insulted her family, and said she looked pathetic telling my I need to loose weight and that no one in my family should have raised an inmate and she said some other things that I dont want to put on here. In the message, Thyrion said that the mockery started because she threw up her food. She said that maybe if I would stop eating everything I would not be throwing up so could someone please talk to her. The messages, which were provided as part of the Waukesha Sheriffs investigation into Thyrions death, do not document a reply from the jail.

Hirte said that her daughters case has been slowed by the Milwaukee Sheriffs reluctance to provide certain files. Why havent they released the video on Cilivea, Hirte asked Wisconsin Examiner. And why arent they releasing everything to the lawyers if they say that it is no longer under investigation?

This article has been edited to clarify that the Department of Corrections (DOC), does not have oversight of county jails, and that modified movement or lockdown orders at the Stanley medium-security prison were lifted in November.

The post The long road to end solitary confinement in Wisconsin appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Be on the lookout: Semi truck wanted in hit-and-run

Be on the lookout: Semi truck wanted in hit-and-run

MEDINA, Ohio (WJW)  Montville Township police need help identifying a semi truck whose driver they say rear-ended a vehicle and then fled the scene.

Police responded just after 9 p.m. on Monday, April 22, to the intersection of Medina Road and Normandy Park Drive in the township, according to a Facebook post.

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The truck was believed to be heading east, coming from Medina, according to the post.

Though there were no injuries, the vehicle that was rear-ended sustained notable damage, according to the post.

After the crash, the driver was seen getting out to inspect his truck before fleeing south on Interstate 71 with the trucks lights blacked out, according to the post.

Beloved Parma restaurant closing for good

The red truck has distinctive features including red and amber lights, according to the post. It was towing a lowboy equipment trailer at the time of the crash.

The driver was described as a white man about 50 to 60 years old, standing between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 and having a scruffy white goatee.

Anyone who recognizes the semi truck is urged to call Montville Township police Ptl. Daniel Hazek at 330-725-8314 ext. 1607.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Shampelle Davis, 25, had just laid down her 6-month-old baby for an afternoon nap earlier this month when she smelled barbecue. Then, the room quickly filled with smoke. Her baby coughed. She ran and grabbed a wet towel, placing it on her babys face as she yelled to her partner and two other children.

Its really hard because its like everything that I work for just went up in flames, she said later of the fire that consumed her Kansas City apartment in the Aster building, leaving her and her neighbors without a home.

While she recognizes shes fortunate to be alive and to have her family out safe, Davis now believes the April 11 fire that engulfed her apartment could have been prevented had building owner Matt McGee and management company North Terrace Property Management done proper maintenance.

After the fire, Davis, and other residents partnered with the Midtown Tenants Union, part of KC Tenants, demanding compensation and restitution, and for management to address the neglectful conditions theyd lived in before the fire displaced nine people, including three children.

This whole situation isnt okay at all, Davis said. I have three kids and now we are homeless, technically, and stuff like this truly hurts people. We have to rebuild everything.

Fire damage done to Shampelle Davis apartment on April 11, 2024.

In their letter demanding action, tenants claimed they were completely ignored and left in the dark the weekend after the fire. They said their belongings were put at risk of theft and further damage.

Tenants also said the maintenance team at North Terrace ignored multiple reports of problems with pests, mold, security, heating and insulation for years  illustrating a pattern of negligence. In fact, they said the damage done by the fire was just the latest in a long list of grievances with apartment management over living conditions.

Rent cost the family $895 a month for a two bedroom apartment, but Davis said some of the space was unusable. Her family couldnt use the back bedroom because of extreme temperature issues.

Its like you were outside, she said.

When she first moved in, Davis plugged in the washer and dryer and started seeing sparks fly. Plus, her sliding back door could easily be pried open, she said, even when locked.

Being a mom and me having three kids, that was a major, major concern, she said. And they never came and fixed it.

One time, the window in her sons room blew in and he caught it. She heard screaming and came running. Luckily, he was able to catch it without injury, she said.

Complaints submitted to maintenance were ignored, up until a few days before the fire. Then, what wasnt damaged by the flames, Davis said, suffered smoke and water damage.

Honestly, I feel like we as a collective in that building deserved more. We shouldnt have had to live like that. We shouldnt have had to be paying them, especially if they werent gonna give us the accommodations that we were promised, Davis said. This is unfair. No one should have to do this. Especially families.

In their demands, tenants asked for a reimbursement of Aprils rent and for their full deposits. Additionally, they listed demands for pet boarding fee compensation, restitution of perishable goods, moving expenses and $300 per month per unit for each month they suffered inadequate heating.

On Wednesday, the tenants and the management company came to an agreement, which was finalized Friday.

The agreement

Several tenants in the Aster building after their meeting with KC Tentants outside of their office. Shampelle Davis joined that day over Zoom. From left to right: DJ Holt, Nikki Fenn, Ash Lakota, Tate Caldarello and Abbey the dog.

In the agreement, tenants without renters insurance will receive $1,500. They will also get prorated April rent as well as their entire deposit. Those who choose to move to another property managed by the company will receive a 20% discount on their rent for one year. All five tenants will get rental verification that shows they are in good financial standing and are released from their current leases.

Im really proud of them and like proud of our deal on like sticking together for this win. Its the least they could give, but its, its really not enough, you know, for what theyve been through, said Gabe Coppage, community organizer with the citywide tenant union KC Tenants.

Three of the six tenants are leaving North Terrace management. Two took the deal to stay and relocate for the discount. One tenant left the union agreement and took a deal with the management company.

Despite the financial win, the tenants are now searching for apartments. They will have to put down application fees, deposits and submit background and credit checks. All while paying for temporary housing and food, and working to replace what was lost.

The city, Coppage said, did not reach out to tenants after the fire. There isnt a program in place to help relocate tenants in Kansas City, though he is in contact with Councilmember Melissa Robinson, who is aware of the situation.

Alone we are powerless. Like no matter what our rights are, the dynamic of this relationship is the landlords have a lot of like power and can manipulate because they know we dont have anywhere else to go, he said.

Fire damage done to Shampelle Davis apartment on April 11, 2024.

Win back some of what we lost

Its going to take time to rebuild their lives. The fire, Davis pointed out, damaged more than just her home, it also hurt her livelihood.

In addition to being a full-time student, Davis owns her own business called Gemstone Beauty. In her free time, she makes naturally derived hair, nail and skin products for those with melanin skin. All of which she believes were also damaged in the fire.

All of my products were in my storage closet in that home. And some stuff is not supposed to reach certain temperature, some things are not supposed to be around smoke. And so a lot of the stuff Im gonna have to end up throwing out and replacing, she said. Its insane. Thats why the impact that this has on us has been major.

Since the fire, Davis and her three children, all under the age of five, have camped out on mattresses on the floor of her mothers living room. Its a difficult position for a young mom who worked hard to build a home for her family.

Shampelle Davis stands in front of the Aster building, the Kansas City apartment building where she lived which burned down on April 11, displacing the tenants.

I graduated early at 17 years old. I have busted my butt in school. I got my liberal arts degree and Im working on my second one as to be a nail tech, she said. Ive done the things that I was supposed to do and I worked my tail off, and I was proud of it because I worked so hard and I got this place big enough for us and fit us all comfortably.

Representatives of the management company did not return The Stars requests for comment.

Davis is currently looking for a house to rent. She wants her children to have the space and freedom again to be kids.

Im glad we were able to win back some of what we lost, she said. But itll never take away the experience and the feelings I felt that day having to rush my kids out the house and hope they dont have any smoke inhalation.
Getty Images

Louisiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would crack down on the proliferation of dubious emotional support animal certifications, which people are misusing to get their pets aboard commercial flights or to skirt no-pet policies at apartments and hotels.

House Bill 407, sponsored by Rep. Joe Stagni, R-Kenner, cleared the Senate Health & Welfare Committee Tuesday and is pending consideration on the Senate floor.

The proposal would make it illegal for health care professionals to certify an emotional support animal for anyone who is not actually disabled. It would also make it illegal for anyone to falsely represent an animal as a service dog or service dog-in-training.

Unlike service dogs that are bred and trained to perform tasks or detect seizures for people with disabilities, critics say emotional support animals are, for the most part, just pets with no special training or skills.

Emotional support animals have proliferated in recent years, with viral photos and videos showing people boarding flights with all manner of exotic pets. Numerous websites exist offering easy-to-obtain certifications from actual licensed therapists. One can get a certificate for any kind of animal simply by paying a fee.

Stagni said there has been a 9,000% increase in emotional support animal applications since 2011. Its unclear where the statistic originated, but it was included in a 2019 article in The Hill that cited an unidentified online, for-profit national service registry.

Sens. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, and Jay Luneau, D-Pineville, joked about the problem during Tuesdays hearing.

Sen. Luneau just told me he has a peacock as an emotional support animal, McMath said.

The joke isnt that far from reality. In 2018, a New York woman tried to board a United Airlines flight with an emotional support peacock named Dexter. The airline refused the feathered passenger as photos of the bird perched on the handle of an airport luggage cart quickly went viral.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dexter The Peacock (@dexterthepeacock)

Although the senators were supportive of Stagnis legislation and seemed to agree there is a growing problem with pet owners misrepresenting the clinical necessity of their animals, there were some hangups with certain provisions that would give landlords absolute immunity from lawsuits for any injuries or damages caused by service animals.

Luneau said he could envision big problems if a service dog repeatedly bites a tenant after a landlord was warned the first time and refused to take action. Luneau said he would work on an amendment to rectify that issue.

The post Louisiana senator wants to curb spread of emotional support animals appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisiana Supreme Court: St. George can incorporate into new city, taxes can support services

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  A Louisiana Supreme Court opinion released on Friday, April 26, will allow the city of St. George to incorporate.

They found that legal error led to lower courts denying the incorporation, and the lower courts judgment was reversed. The citys incorporators and electors won the judgment requested.

The justices said the record doesnt support the supposition that the city cant support its necessary services. They also challenged the idea that a city-parish council member could contest the incorporation without living in St. George.

J. Andrew Murrell, the attorney who represented the incorporators, issued a statement:

Today is a great day not only for the citizens of St. George but for East Baton Rouge Parish as well. This is the culmination of citizens exercising their constitutional rights. We voted and we won.

Now we begin the process of delivering on our promises of a better city. We welcome both our friends and foes to the table to create St. George.

To our volunteersyou are amazing. Your dedication, hard work, and perseverance created the City of St. George. Without you, this would have failed. Because of you, we are now afforded the opportunity to build a modern city from scratch.

Three dissents also were noted by justices. Chief Justice John Weimer and Justice Scott J. Crichton outlined their stances in written dissents, and Justice Piper D. Griffin agreed with their reasons.

Lawyer for new city of St. George talks about Supreme Court decision OKing incorporation

How did the court make the decision?

The court heard arguments in January on the matter.

The justices found that Metropolitan Councilman LaMont Cole, who helped issue the initial legal challenge, doesnt reside in St. George or own property there.

Consequently, he has no real or actual interest in challenging the sufficiency of the petition. Because no one from within the incorporated area objected to it, the court of appeal erred in considering the sufficiency of the petition, the justices wrote.

The court said a challenge to the incorporation was the new citys timely ability to provide services, which will be split between parish-provided and non-parish-provided. The justices said the parish-provided services wouldnt be affected by incorporating.

The other services, the justices wrote, are determined by tax income, and those taxes must be approved by voters. They pointed to the incorporation of the city of Central as an example of a community where that happened.

Justices said it would take about $51 million a year to operate the city, which currently only has a $48 million expected tax revenue, pending voter approval. They said the estimated $3 million annual deficit swayed decisions.

However, a change to the way pension debt is calculated would reduce the new citys liability from an estimated $8.9 million a year to $5.1 million. That $3.8 million reduction would put potential operating expenses in the black.

Another $4 million in potential costs also were debated but determined to be a potential, supplemental cost.

The court said the town has unique characteristics, a fire department and a thriving business community.

The area also desires its own school district, which is largely the impetus of the incorporation effort, they wrote.

They also specified that Baton Rouge itself did not attempt to contest the incorporation.

And the challenges brought in the suit, according to the justices, only showed a loss of tax revenue.

On the other hand, if St. George citizens receive services for the taxes they pay, incorporation brings cost-savings to Baton Rouge, which will no longer be required to provide those services.  Without evidence of the full economic impact of incorporation, denying incorporation because of an unreasonable economic impact on Baton Rouge is an error, the opinion reads.

The justices said that evidence that St. George would negatively affect the city-parish were incomplete or shown to have no effect because of the financial offset of no longer providing some services.

History of the case

The area has been working to become a city since 2018. Residents of the community agreed and voted on the incorporation. Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome did not approve the change.

In 2019, she filed a lawsuit against the incorporation of the city.

In 2022, former 22nd Judicial District Judge Martin Coady denied the creation of a new city. He noted an estimated $48 million cost to taxpayers and said the plan for public services isnt adequate to meet residents needs.

In 2023, a Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals ruling again said the group cant become a city, stating the plan to incorporate doesnt meet state law requirements.

Why did some justices disagree?

Weimers dissent

The decision in this case achieves a result masquerading as an opinion, Weimer wrote in his dissent.

He said state law requires a complete listing of services that a town will provide, and the petition is legally deficient because it doesnt include a plan to support residents.

The plan was not part of the petition and he noted phrasing that all services will be provided subject to the availability of funds means those services might not be provided.

An escape clause allowing the municipality to avoid altogether its promise to provide services is not the same as an affirmative plan to provide those services, Weimer wrote.

He said the majority strained to determine that Cole didnt have the right to challenge the incorporation.

He would deny incorporation.

Ignoring the law to achieve a result results in the law losing all efficacy and meaning. Although a desired result may be achieved by ignoring the law, the cost to the system of justice is too great, Weimer wrote.

Crichtons dissent

Crichton also determined that the majority made errors both in the merits of the petition and in saying Cole didnt have the legal standing to argue against incorporation.

He agreed with a lower court finding that incorporation was unreasonable. He does not believe that court made a legal error.

He holds that a court of appeal cant reverse a ruling if the findings are reasonable.

Crichton argued that the lower courts findings that the new city might be operating at a deficit from the start, that it likely could not provide services in a timely manner, and Baton Rouge could be negatively affected were reasonable to the lower court even if the other justices would make a different ruling themselves.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
On opening night of the Republican National Convention in 2016, Donald Trump came out onstage like a pro wrestler, amid clouds from a smoke machine and dramatic shadows.

It was the kind of image he likes to project of himself: grandiose and imposing, like the floating head of the Great and Powerful Oz ordering Dorothy to bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch.

But eight years later, the real Trump has been revealed before the world in a courtroom in lower Manhattan. Whether he was sitting in the courtroom or standing outside of it amid bad fluorescent lighting, he looked small, diminished and the very opposite of presidential.

And just as the Wizard of Oz tried desperately to distract Dorothy and her friends when he was revealed, Trump and his lawyers are trying hard to keep the public from looking at the man behind the curtain.

We will call him President Trump out of respect for the office that he held from 2017 to 2021, his lawyer Todd Blanche said during opening statements this week. And as everybody knows, its the office hes running for right now."

Trumps lawyers can use whatever title they want, but there is nothing presidential about whats unfolding in that courtroom. Make no mistake, Trumps current circumstances define him. The fact that he has spent every day court has been in session at the courthouse is the physical representation that Trump is not special. He is not above reproach and not above the law. His fate, like the fate of every other defendant in a jury trial, is in the hands of his fellow citizens.

The case, too, has diminished Trump. Focusing on his actions during the 2016 election, prosecutors have presented him as a small man, desperate to protect his reputation, colluding with the editors of a tabloid newspaper to spread smears about his opponents and pay off anyone who might share the truth about him.

The ex-presidents longtime friend, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, has already proved to be a star witness in this trial. In court testimony, Pecker detailed the steps he took to fabricate actual fake news against Trumps political opponents and catch and kill damaging allegations against Trump during the 2016 election.

The details have truly been stunning. I lived and worked through the 2016 presidential election, and even I learned new things when I read Peckers testimony.

I had to read it because  to the detriment of the American voters, there are no cameras or microphones to allow them to see and hear the testimony from inside the courtroom. Thats left the public relying on the exceptional journalists sitting inside to paint a picture of the ongoing revelations. That picture is far more damning than even the allegations that Trump cheated on his wife by having a one-night stand with an adult-film actor. (Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty in the case.)

During opening statements, the Manhattan district attorneys office argued that the case was actually about election fraud, pure and simple. The prosecution then described the case to the jury as an orchestrated criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election by paying people to stay silent about stories that might damage one of the two major candidates reputations.

Its not the only case revolving around Trumps disgraceful approach to democratic elections, either.

In the federal election interference case against Trump, special counsel Jack Smith similarly accused Trump of defrauding the country he once led. And in the Fulton County, Georgia, election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants, District Attorney Fani Willis described the sprawling RICO case as a plot to steal the 2020 election. (Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases.)

The allegations in these cases spell out the brazen ways Trump has plotted to secure and hold on to power. They are not a coincidence, they are a pattern, and one that he will keep attempting in his third run for the White House this year.

Trump may try, just as the Wizard of Oz desperately pushed buttons and pulled levers, to maintain his failing facade before finally admitting that he was nothing more than a humbug.

For more thought-provoking insights from Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele, watch The Weekend every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on MSNBC.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China's attitude has always been consistent. China views and develops China-U.S. relations from the world vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

He said China's position has always been consistent. China adheres to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and commits to promoting the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

Wang said China's request has always been consistent. China proposes to respect each other's core interests, and urges the U.S. side not to interfere in China's internal affairs, suppress China's development, or cross China's red lines when it comes to China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Noting that in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met in San Francisco and jointly outlined a future-oriented San Francisco vision, Wang said under the leadership of the two heads of state, China-U.S. relations have been generally stabilized from further deterioration, and bilateral dialogue, cooperation and positive aspects in various fields have increased, which is welcomed by the two peoples and the international community.

On the other hand, China-U.S. relations are still facing increasing negative factors and various disruptions, Wang said, adding that China's legitimate development rights are being unreasonably suppressed, and China's core interests have been constantly challenged.

He stressed that whether China and the United States should stick to the right path of stability or repeat the mistake of a downward spiral is a major issue facing the two countries, which tests the sincerity and capability of both sides.

The world is waiting to see whether the two countries will lead international cooperation to address global issues and achieve win-win outcomes, or confront each other, even break out into conflicts and lead to a lose-lose situation, Wang added. 
It looked for a while like Luther Campbell, the 2 Live Crew frontman and activist, was going to make a run for Congress. The opportunity to do so just passed.

A Friday noon deadline for candidates to qualify to run for federal office came and went without Campbell, who for the past month floated a potential primary challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who represents Floridas 20th congressional district, covering parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. His decision leaves Cherfilus-McCormick unopposed, effectively guaranteeing her a second full-term in Washington.

READ MORE: Who will take on Rick Scott in Senate election, and what local U.S. House races look like

For weeks leading up to the deadline, Campbell repeatedly vented his frustrations with what he saw as a Democratic Party that had lost its fight against an increasingly aggressive contingent of Republicans, like U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Campbell promised that, if he launched a bid for Congress, he would run a no-holds-barred campaign that would embrace his reputation as a scrappy, unfiltered rapper and First Amendment activist.

He even teased the possibility of having a documentary film crew follow his would-be campaign, arguing that doing so would inspire a new generation of young people to jump into politics.

For them to see that would be amazing, Campbell told the Miami Herald earlier this month. Youll have more young people get involved in politics and youll have more of our people actually understanding how politics actually work.

READ MORE: People will be a whole lot better off. Uncle Luke to consider running for Congress

Up until Thursday, Campbell was still teasing the possibility of a congressional run. In a post on the social media website X, he wrote that he would reveal his decision at 11 a.m. on Friday. That announcement never came.

Campbell did not return a phone call or text message from the Herald seeking comment on Friday afternoon.

Set up a PAC, registered with the FEC

Campbells interest in challenging Cherfilus-McCormick for her seat wasnt just talk. In January, he established a political action committee called Dont Stop Get It Get It to support a potential campaign. He also met with political consultants about the possibility of running.

Another sign that he was seriously moving toward a congressional bid came on Tuesday, when Campbell registered his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. Still, he failed to qualify with the Florida Division of Elections by Fridays deadline, effectively taking him out of contention.

Campbell has run for public office before. He launched a bid for Miami-Dade County mayor in 2011, eventually finishing in fourth place with 11% of the vote, despite barely campaigning.

With the possibility of a primary challenge from Campbell now a thing of the past, Cherfilus-McCormick is set to coast to another term.

No Republican qualified to run in the district, though even if one did, winning would be an uphill battle. Its one of only two majority-Black districts in the state  and one of the most Democratic. The seat was held by the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings for decades until his death in 2021.

Cherfilus-McCormick, a relative newcomer who ran against Hastings twice before, won a special election for his seat in 2022 by just five votes. She went on to win reelection later that year by nearly 45 percentage points. Those two elections are the subject of a U.S. House Ethics Committee investigation into whether Cherflius-McCormick violated campaign finance laws and other regulations.

In a statement on Friday, Cherfilus-McCormick said that she was blessed to win reelection without opposition, but noted that there is still a lot of work to be done before the November elections.

We still have down-ballot candidates and races, she said. Most importantly, we have to get President Biden and Vice President Harris across the finish line. And together, we can and will. 
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  The Lynchburg Police Department arrested a man in connection to a malicious wounding that occurred on Newport Drive in February 2024.

On Feb. 18, officers were dispatched to the 6200 block of Newport Drive on a report of a fight. LPD arrived to find a woman with non-life-threatening injuries to the head.

Police identified 50-year-old John Sheffery Jr. as the suspect for the charge of malicious wounding, but his location was unknown.

ORIGINAL REPORTING: LPD searching for suspect in malicious wounding on Newport Drive

On Thursday, April 25 police say Sheffery Jr. was arrested on outstanding warrants from Lynchburg and Bedford County. He was charged with Malicious Wounding related to the incident on Newport Drive, and Felony Possession of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance.

Sheffery Jr. is currently held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
As special counsel Jack Smiths elections case against Donald Trump has progressed, the former president hasnt just proclaimed his innocence. The Republican and his defense attorneys have also claimed that he enjoys near-complete immunity from crimes he mightve committed during his White House tenure.

A federal district court rejected the argument, concluding, [The] defendants four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens.

Team Trump took the same claim to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the judges were not only unpersuaded by the argument, they also presented the former presidents lawyers with a hypothetical: Could a president be prosecuted for ordering the assassination of a political opponent?

D. John Sauer replied that such a prosecution could possibly take place  but only if the president is impeached and convicted by the Senate first. Or put another way, as far as Team Trump was concerned, a sitting president could order SEAL Team Six to literally murder his or her political rivals, and that president shouldnt face criminal prosecution unless a majority of the U.S. House and two-thirds of the U.S. Senate act first.

When this flopped at the circuit court, the presumptive GOP nominee and his defense counsel took the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, where as NBC News noted, the same question returned to the fore.

He was, by all appearances, quite sincere about this.

Sotomayor: If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assassinate him, is that within his official acts for which he can give immunity? pic.twitter.com/mJCAeE4sXx  Acyn (@Acyn) April 25, 2024

The phrase official act dominated the oral arguments at the high court yesterday, with Trumps lawyer repeatedly insisting that a president must be free to make official acts without fear of possible prosecution while in office. Could that include ordering the assassination of an opponent? Maybe so, Sauer answered.

How about selling nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary? Again, Sauer said that, too, could be structured as an official act, which would mean that a president would have to be impeached and convicted by the Senate first.

How about if the president orders the military to stage a coup? Justice Elena Kagan asked. I think it would depend on the circumstances, Sauer replied.

All of which left us with an unsettling dynamic:

Trumps defense counsel concocted an audacious immunity claim, rooted in the idea that a president can commit some of the most outrageous felonies imaginable.

Every federal judge whos ruled on the argument has fundamentally rejected it as ridiculous.

Team Trump continues to double down on the claim as if it has merit  and its at least possible that an untold number of Supreme Court justices might be willing to rule in the Republicans favor.

Most high court observers tended to agree yesterday that the justices will not endorse Trumps expansive claims to absolute immunity. Its more likely that the Supreme Court will come up with some kind of new rule related to prosecutions and official acts, all of which will send the matter back to the district court and delay the process further.

And since the entire point of this absurd series of appeals is to run out the clock before Election Day 2024, the justices will be playing their part in effectively immunizing Trump from pre-election accountability for the most serious of the former presidents alleged felonies.

It was nevertheless against this backdrop that Team Trump once again confronted the assassination question, and answered it in a head-spinning way.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
It was, by any fair measure, a day unlike any other for a major party presidential candidate. In the morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case in which Donald Trump claimed immunity from criminal prosecution. As the day progressed, the former presidents criminal trial progressed in New York in embarrassing and damaging ways.

As the day came to an end, the Republican decided to wrap things up with a call-in interview to Greg Kelly Reports on Newsmax, where the two touched on a variety of topics, including Trumps alleged reluctance to prosecute Hillary Clinton after the 2016 election.

Trump claims he didnt want to put Hillary Clinton in jail because he thought it would be a terrible thing despite there being opportunities. He adds these people have to be careful with what theyre doing because it comes back to bite pic.twitter.com/LbyxGlujUd  Acyn (@Acyn) April 26, 2024

The conservative host began by crediting Trump for making comments that he never actually uttered. You said, [The Clintons] are good people. I dont want to hurt them. And I kind of thought that was a very honorable thing to say.

Trump agreed with the praise of himself. Well, let me tell you, I didnt want to [prosecute Clinton], the former president said. I thought it would be a terrible thing.

Trump added that there were opportunities to go after the former secretary of state, before concluding, But I did not want to, and I thought it would be a terrible thing for our country. ... That would have been a horrible thing to do.

The presumptive GOP nominee, of course, proceeded to contrast his gracious magnanimity with the radical lunatics trying to hold him accountable for his alleged felonies.

This has become an oddly familiar claim in Republican circles. In August 2022, for example, after the FBI executed a court-approved search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida told Fox News that after Trump became president, he made a conscious choice to leave his Democratic opponent alone.

President Trump took that approach. He said, You know what, were not going to prosecute Hillary Clinton, Waltz said, as if reality had no meaning. The GOP lawmaker added, [Trump] said, You know what, lets move on. Lets move forward.

Nearly a year later, Sen. Ron Johnson also went to Fox News to push the same line. President Ford decided it was best for America not to pursue prosecution against President Nixon. President Trump pretty much made the same decision and decided not to pursue any kind of prosecution of Hillary Clinton, the Wisconsin Republican claimed. Joe Biden could have made the exact same decision, but he didnt.

To the extent that reality still has any meaning, lets review the receipts. In Trumps first year in the White House  after the 2016 election was over and Clinton largely withdrew from public view  the then-president publicly pleaded with the Justice Department to go after Clinton.

A year later, in 2018, the then-president told the White House counsel that he wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute Clinton.

Ahead of Election Day 2020  nearly four years after Clintons defeat  Trump again publicly called for the Democrats incarceration and lobbied then-Attorney General Barr to prosecute Clinton for reasons unknown.

None of this was kept secret. It happened out in the open. We all saw it play out in public.

And yet, there was Trump on national television last night, patting himself on the back for showing restraint, saying it wouldve been terrible and horrible if hed targeted Clinton after the 2016 election and tried to have her prosecuted.

The problem, of course, is that Trump targeted Clinton after the 2016 election and tried to have her prosecuted. Its not a matter of opinion; its simply what happened, whether the Republican assumes weve forgotten or not.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As Donald Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, tried to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that his client should have immunity from prosecution, there was a phrase the defense attorney turned to on several occasions.

A former president, Sauer said, has permanent criminal immunity for his official acts, unless he was first impeached and convicted in Congress. What if a president were to sell nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary? He or she would have to be impeached and convicted first, the attorney told the justices. What if a president tried to stage a coup? He or she would have to be impeached and convicted, he added.

Summarizing his position, Sauer at one point declared, Ill say in response to all these kinds of hypotheticals, [a president] has to be impeached and convicted before he can be criminally prosecuted.

It is, to be sure, a difficult argument to take seriously. The presumptive GOP nominees defense counsel apparently expects the judiciary to agree that a former president might be subject to prosecution  for some of the most outrageous felonies imaginable  but only if a majority of the U.S. House and two-thirds of the U.S. Senate act first.

But its not just foolish. Its also the opposite of what the Republicans lawyers said during Trumps second impeachment trial. MSNBCs Chris Hayes was understandably exasperated by this as the oral arguments progressed.

Something that drives me a little insane, I'll admit, is that Trump's OWN LAWYERS at his impeachment told the Senators to vote not to convict him BECAUSE he could be prosucuted if it came to that. Now they're arguing that the only way he could be prosecuted is if they convicted.  Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 25, 2024

This might seem a little complicated at first glance, but its actually entirely straightforward:

In early 2021, Trumps lawyers said during his second impeachment trial that there was no need for the Senate to convict the former president, because the matter was better left to the judiciary.

In early 2024, Trumps lawyers said the former presidents alleged crimes cant be left to the judiciary, because the Senate didnt vote to convict.

The Washington Post ran a great analysis on this in January, highlighting the specific claims the former presidents defense counsel made  out loud, on camera, during the Senate impeachment trial.

We have a judicial process in this country; we have an investigative process in this country to which no former officeholder is immune, Trump attorney David Schoen said at the time. That is ... the appropriate one for investigation, prosecution and punishment, with all of the attributes of that branch.

Schoen went to argue that that the courts were better prepared, because Congress does not and cannot offer the safeguards of the judicial system.

Soon after, Bruce Castor, another member of Trump legal team, was even candid on this point: If my colleagues on this [Democratic] side of the chamber actually think that President Trump committed a criminal offense ... after he is out of office, you go and arrest him.

In other words, Team Trump effectively argued in 2021, Congress should leave such matters to the courts. Its now arguing, The matter cant be left to the courts because Congress needs to act.

How are the former president and his lawyers resolving the contradiction? By ignoring it and hoping others dont notice.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Last fall, congressional Republicans said they were so desperate to deal with U.S./Mexico border policies that they took a radical step: GOP officials said that unless Democrats agreed to a series of conservative reforms, Republicans were prepared to let Russia take part of eastern Europe by force.

Democrats, left with little choice, agreed to pay the GOPs ransom and endorsed a conservative, bipartisan compromise. It was at that point when Republicans, acting at Donald Trumps behest, killed the compromise plan they demanded.

Complicating matters, the calculus was electoral, not substantive: The former president didnt want Congress to hand President Joe Biden an election-year victory on one of the partys top priorities. Republicans followed Trumps lead and concluded that theyd rather have a campaign issue than a solution.

In the months that followed, an underlying security aid package  the legislation that was going to include the border and immigration reforms  slowly advanced on Capitol Hill and ultimately passed this week. But before the work wrapped up, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reflected on his partys missed opportunity.

We all felt that the border was a complete disaster, myself included, the Kentucky Republican said. First there was an effort to make law, which requires you to deal with Democrats, and then a number of our members thought it wasnt good enough. And then our nominee for president didnt seem to want us to do anything at all.

As NBC News reported, that was a line the White House was eager to draw attention to.

This week Senator McConnell explicitly said why the toughest, fairest bipartisan border legislation in modern American history is stalled: our nominee for president did not seem to want us to do anything at all, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a memo sent to news organizations this week.

After President Biden worked with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate to assemble a landmark deal that secured the border and cracked down on fentanyl, congressional Republicans have been direct about why many of them sided with drug cartels and human smugglers over the Border Patrol Union and the Chamber of Commerce  because Donald Trump told them to, Bates added. This comes after President Biden turned around the soaring violent crime rate he inherited from his predecessor, leaving in its place the largest drop in violent crime in half a century. It also comes as 80% of House Republicans propose defunding the police by cutting the COPS program, in contrast to his plan to hire over 100,000 more officers.

President Biden will not allow extreme Republican officials to endanger American communities. He will keep fighting for the toughest, fairest border security deal in decades.

We probably havent heard the last of this. Every time border policy comes up in the coming months, the White House and its allies want voters to hear the same message: Democrats agreed to a conservative, bipartisan compromise, which Trump and his allies killed.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Married at First Sight Australia star John Aiken has shared his excitement at joining an all-new spin-off show.

The relationship expert will be dishing out his advice in Married at First Sight New Zealand, which is set to relaunch this year. The series will see eight New Zealand participants paired up by John and his fellow experts in a bid to find the perfect love match.

In a new interview with 9Entertainment, John said that he "can't wait" for audiences to see the show.

Don Arnold - Getty Images

Related: Married at First Sight Australia airs final decisions for three couples

"It's different, it's fresh and I can't wait to share it  certainly with people from New Zealand, but also across Australasia," he said. "I was really excited to be approached to be a part of it.



"I've got 11 seasons of being an expert on the Australian version," he continues, with John having been a part of MAFS Australia since it's inception in 2015.

"So I was able to apply a lot of what I've learned along the way and put it into practice over here. It was a good challenge for me."

Nine Network - Channel 4

Related: MAFS star Mel Schilling shares update amid cancer battle4 hours ago

John also revealed the special connection he has to New Zealand, with his wife Kelly descending from the country.

"I spent a lot of my time growing up there as well, so I had a good familiarity with the culture and relationship dynamics there," he adds.

As with the hit Australian series, John teased that "you never know what you're going to get" with the couples taking part in the experiment.

"You're watching people really take the masks off, reveal themselves and the question is  can they make a deep connection and fall in love in a small space of time?"

Married at First Sight New Zealand will air on channel 9Now in Australia later this year. It's currently unknown if the New Zealand edition will premiere in the UK.

Married at First Sight New Zealand is coming soon to channel 9Now in Australia.

Married at First Sight UK airs on E4 in the UK. Married at First Sight Australia airs on Nine Network in Australia and E4 in the UK.

Interested in talking about Married at First Sight? Visit our dedicated sub-forum





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Six months ago, no one would have believed that Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Matt Gaetz would turn out to be the two men most responsible for the passage of a new Ukraine aid bill and the explosion of the myth that the GOP has abandoned its Reaganite roots.

And yet they are.

Before ascending to his current position, Johnson voted against an aid package for Ukraine as early as May 2022, just months after Russia invaded its neighbor to the west. In social media posts, Johnson repeated anti-Ukrainian talking points, excoriating President Joe Biden for visiting Ukraine to promise endless amounts of taxpayer dollars.

Gaetz is an even more unlikely champion of the Ukrainian cause. He was  and still is  the most relentless isolationist advocate in the entire Republican caucus. Last February, he introduced a resolution calling for an end to all military and financial aid to Ukraine. America is in a state of managed decline, and it will exacerbate if we continue to hemorrhage taxpayer dollars toward a foreign war, he said at the time.

Whats more is that when Johnson earned his spot in the presidential line of succession last fall, Gaetz declared victory. If you dont think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then youre not paying attention, he boasted.

But last week, Johnson shepherded a new package benefitting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan through the House of Representatives, defying Gaetz and the self-proclaimed sources of power within his party. And ironically, its Gaetz who put him in a position to do so.

Remember, Gaetz and a small group of small-minded nihilists dethroned McCarthy last fall over a short-term spending deal he cut with the Democrats to keep the government open. That deal included no new funding for Ukraine; McCarthy made sure of it because he knew that otherwise, his speakership stood no chance of surviving.

It still didnt. Gaetz was settling a personal score with McCarthy that he was disguising as a principled complaint and the Democrats were unwilling to save McCarthy because of their own personal gripes with him. McCarthy had been in House leadership for far too long and made far too many enemies to carry on, with or without a Ukraine aid package, though he calculated he had better odds without. In that way, McCarthy was actually the Ukraine skeptics strongest bulwark against further involvement in the conflict.

Johnson, whatever his previous ideological leanings, is not bound by the same institutional constraints his predecessor was. For one thing, the Gaetz wing placed a bet on Johnson. If they were to make a serious attempt at removing him, they would only confirm the popular perception that they are an unserious group of insatiable rabble-rousers. Moreover, Democrats harbor none of the personal animus they had for McCarthy for Johnson and have indicated that they would be willing to save him should Gaetz and Co. try to execute another coup.

It was these conditions  for which Gaetz is chiefly responsible  that made the provision of this new round of aid possible. Still, Johnson needed to take a leap of faith in order to make it happen. It is possible, after all, that even if he survives the coming weeks, his decision will eventually end with his removal from leadership.

He nevertheless decided that a demonstration of Americas resolve to defend the worlds most beleaguered democracies from its worst actors was worth the political risk.

My philosophy is you do the right thing and you let the chips fall where they may. If I operated out of fear of a motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job, said Johnson last week after casting his die. History judges us for what we do. This is a critical time right now, a critical time on the world stage.

His decision doesnt make him a hero, but it did prove that hes a man worthy of his position and the moment.

Ultimately, a small majority of the GOP caucus voted against the Ukraine aid bill, but thats a somewhat misleading indicator. A large majority voted to bring it to the floor for a vote, which suggests that while many Republicans fear the political consequences of doing the right thing, they still would like to.

Johnsons example  and for now, survival  might encourage them to do so less tepidly in the future. Should they be so empowered, it would mean that Matt Gaetz finally served some noble purpose  inadvertently, of course.

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Delays in processing mail at a new regional distribution center in Palmetto arent just affecting individual Georgians trying to obtain vital prescription drugs or pay their monthly rents or mortgages.

Chronic failures to deliver the mail in a timely manner are being seen in some quarters as a threat to the underpinnings of American democracy: elections and the ability to ensure an informed electorate.

Mail-in absentee ballots played a critical role in the 2020 elections, with voters wary of venturing outside during a global pandemic either for in-person advance voting or to cast their ballots on Election Day. Many voters liked the convenience of mail-in voting, and the practice continued in 2022.

But this year, officials in charge of monitoring the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are worried that delays in delivering mail processed at the Palmetto distribution center will jeopardize mail-in voting in Georgia.

Voters and election officials must know the amount of time needed to deliver ballots, Michael Kubayanda, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, said April 16 during a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

The delays began in February when the USPS opened the Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto, part of a plan to make the postal service financially self-sufficient and better able to compete with private shippers including Federal Express and the United Parcel Service.

To staff the new center, the postal service consolidated 10 local mail distribution offices in the Atlanta region into the one Palmetto location, a move that involved nearly 10,000 employees.

A recent survey found that since the regional center opened, only 36% of inbound mail is being delivered on time.

You are failing abysmally to fulfill your core mission in my state, Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during the hearing.

Ossoff said hes heard from constituents who cant get their prescription drugs or make rent or mortgage payments.

Meanwhile, newspaper publishers across the state are taking their complaints directly to members of Georgias congressional delegation.

Patrick Graham, president of the Georgia Press Association, which represents 90% of the states newspaper subscribers, wrote in a letter to the delegation April 8 that many in-town and nearly all out-of-town subscribers are not receiving their newspapers.

Im losing subscriptions, said Chuck Southerland, publisher of the Hawkinsville Dispatch & News, a weekly with a little more than 2,000 subscribers. Its not unusual to get a call once or twice a month (from a subscriber who didnt get their paper in the mail). Now, were getting two a day.

Graham wrote that the disruption in deliveries not only threatens newspapers bottom lines but leaves the public uninformed on important issues.

Newspapers are not only economic engines for their communities, in many places they are the only reliable sources of information for readers, Graham wrote. Cities and counties throughout Georgia rely on newspapers to provide news about local governments, community events, crime and other issues that affect their daily lives.

The Newnan Times-Herald, which serves a broad swath of west-central Georgia, plans to file a formal complaint against the Newnan Post Office over the delays.

Many of our customers have complained that their newspapers are not delivered the same day, co-publishers Beth Neely and Clayton Neely wrote April 22 in an open letter. In some cases, they are two or more days late, others as late as weeks.

DeJoy attributed the delays in mail deliveries in Georgia and at a second regional USPS distribution center in Richmond, Va., to growing pains in an overhaul of the postal service thats necessary to stem the flow of red ink from the agency.

This is an organization that has not engaged in change for over 15 years, DeJoy told the Senate committee. We are taking longstanding broken practices and trying to transition from losing $137 billion over the last 15 years.

In light of the delays at the Palmetto and Richmond centers, DeJoy said the postal service will hold off on implementing the planned overhaul in other parts of the country until the consolidations in Georgia and Virginia take hold.

I expect Atlanta and Richmond to be stabilized coming into the summer, he said. Were going to fix it.  Well get to where we need to be in 60 days.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks during a news conference in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  If red-led Nebraska holds a special session this summer and decides to award its five Electoral College votes to the statewide winner of the presidential vote, then blue-led Maine will match it, canceling any advantage for former President Donald Trump.

Maine House Majority Leader Maureen Terry issued a statement Friday saying that local voters value their independence, but they also value fairness and playing by the rules. She said Maine would not let others game the system.

Maine House Majority Leader Maureen Terry (Courtesy of the Maine Legislature)

If Nebraskas Republican governor and Republican-controlled Legislature were to change their electoral system this late in the cycle in order to unfairly award Donald Trump an additional electoral vote, I think the Maine Legislature would be compelled to act, she said in a statement she confirmed to the Examiner.

Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that split some of their electoral votes for president. They award a single electoral vote to the winner in each congressional district and send the remaining votes to the statewide winner.

Special session update

Cornhusker State Gov. Jim Pillen said he would call a special session if state lawmakers could find the 33 votes needed to overcome a filibuster or the 30 votes needed to suspend legislative rules and pass the change with fewer votes.

National populist pundit Charlie Kirk tells a Nebraska crowd that Gov. Jim Pillens office has told him the governor will call a special session to pass winner-take-all for presidential races if they can help him get the votes. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Pillen and other Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Unicameral Legislature have faced outside pressure from Trump supporters to make the change, including from populist conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk, known for his political group Turning Point USA.

Kirk argued during a recent rally in Omaha that allowing the 2nd District a chance to vote Democratic could tilt the election from Trump to Biden. He urged his supporters to call and write to their state senators and call for the change.

Trump himself lobbied at least one Nebraska lawmaker for winner-take-all, State Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents north-central Nebraska, although Trumps campaign denied it.

Senators office phones and emails lit up, overwhelming staff.

Dont have the votes

One Republican senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the measure does not have anywhere close to 33 votes to pass and said the outside pressure was costing the measure votes. Speaker John Arch had no immediate comment.

State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City. Feb. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, the sponsor of this years winner-take-all proposal, Legislative Bill 764, said he does not yet know if a special session on that issue will happen. He said he hopes to hear something next week.

We have to wait and see if Governor Pillen wants to address Winner Take All in a special session, he said.

Pillens office had no update on a possible special session.

Lippincott said supporters of winner-take-all in Nebraska want to make the change regardless of what Maine does. Republican supporters of switching have argued that it dilutes Nebraskas influence nationally and should be standardized.

Some argue current system more fair

Others, including Democrats in the Legislature, have argued that the unusual way Nebraska and Maine award electoral votes ensures that at least one part of Nebraska gets more attention from presidential candidates and campaigns than it otherwise would.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City. (Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images)

Statewide, Nebraska has voted Republican in every presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. But the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District has swung to Democrats twice, in 2008 for President Barack Obama and in 2020 for President Joe Biden.

Maine has similarly voted Democratic since 1988, when part-time Kennebunkport resident George H.W. Bush won the state and its four electoral votes. But Maines rural 2nd District sent an electoral vote to Republicans in 2016 and 2020.

The Nebraska Republican Party has supported moving back to winner-take-all since the idea passed in 1991. The new populist party leadership had no immediate comment, but it has been vocal in its support of Trump and hopeful of helping his campaign.

President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said Nebraska remains proud of our split electoral vote system that brings fairness and competition to the state.

Trump and his online bullies failed to change our system this year, and even if they got their way Maine would make that move null and void, she said in response to a reporters question. So how about we all compete at the doors to win over voters rather than change the rules this close to an election?

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The post Maine draws a line in the Sandhills: Will match Nebraska on winner-take-all appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Business insiders and customers attending an electric vehicle conference in Nairobi are impressed by the fair prices and high quality of Chinese-brand e-vehicles.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Michele Catinella, a Nurse Practitioner at the John Knox Village Continuing Care Retirement Community receives a Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine from Carmen Pi, a Registered Nurse with American Medical Response on December 16, 2020 in Pompano Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court confirmed that Maine Emergency Medical Services had the authority to require workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza.

The rule was challenged by a group of more than 100 plaintiffs led by Chris Calnan, who claimed Maine EMS was acting outside of its authority.

In a decision issued Thursday, the states highest court found that the Maine EMS board followed the appropriate rulemaking process regarding the required immunizations and that it was in line with the purpose of the Maine Emergency Medical Services Act of 1982, which is to ensure optimum patient care and the safe handling and transportation of patients. This affirmed a lower court decision from the Kennebec County Superior Court.

In August 2021, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced an emergency rule that healthcare workers  including EMS workers  must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October of that year. The Maine EMS board eventually declared its own nonemergency vaccine requirement effective August 2022.

A few months later, in December 2022, Calnan filed the complaint.

At the start of 2024, the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for healthcare workers was lifted after DHHS and Maine EMS proposed the rule change.

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The post Maine high court rules EMS had authority to require COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 63-year-old man was charged in federal court on Thursday in connection to the fentanyl overdose deaths of two people at a North park residence in 2022.

Scott Anthony Sargent is accused of supplying the drugs that led to the two individuals passing. He was also charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, federal prosecutors said. He was ordered to be held without bond on Thursday.

According to the local U.S. Attorneys office, San Diego police were alerted to the incident around 6 a.m. on Nov. 10, 2022. Upon arrival to the scene, four people, including Sargent, were found lying unresponsive on the floor of a bedroom.

Grand jury indicts 51 in East Village open-air drug market crackdown

Two of the individuals, identified in court records by the initials Z.W. and M.L., were pronounced dead at the scene. Sargent and the third individual were treated with Narcan and transported to nearby hospitals where they made a full recovery, prosecutors said.

In the investigation, authorities say Sargent was identified as the individual who brought the drugs  a mixture of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl  that led to the overdoses. According to the U.S. Attorney, this mixture was found inside his backpack and a duffel bag recovered at the scene, as well as a storage unit belonging to the San Diego resident.

Each charge facing Sargent carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, federal prosecutors say.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Man Accused of 'Gruesome' Stabbing Murders of Fla. Mom and Her 4-Year-Old Daughter

Amalia Coc Choc de Pec, 36, and Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, 4, were stabbed to death

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc

Florida authorities have accused a man of murdering his girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter.

Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, is facing two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Amalia Coc Choc de Pec, 37, and Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, 5.

Deputies found Amalia Coc Choc de Pec outside a mobile home in Dover around 5:30 p.m. on April 24. Her daughter was found inside the home.

Both were fatally stabbed.

This was a gruesome scene, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a press conference Thursday. He stabbed these two victims. Both of them very violently.



Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department Body Cam Footage of Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc arrest

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Cuz-Choc was found by K9 deputies hiding in a wooded area less than two miles from the crime scene.

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The arrest was caught on body camera video.

"Not only did he commit an unimaginable crime which cruelly claimed the lives of two innocent victims, he then made the cowardly and ultimately futile attempt to evade capture, Chronister alleged in a press release.

"Cuz-Choc will face the full weight of the criminal justice system for his vicious, vile, and evil actions," he said.

Authorities allege Cuz-Choc confessed to the murders.

It's unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney.



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Man accused of chase that killed state trooper indicted on murder charges, Gwinnett DAs office says

A grand jury indicted a man accused of leading a Georgia State Trooper on a high-speed chase that ultimately ended in his death.

Trooper Jimmy Cenescar, 28, died in January while working for Georgia State Patrol on Jan. 28.

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

GSP said he was trying to stop a motorcyclist on the run on Interstate 85 when his patrol car hit an embankment near SR 317 in Suwanee.

Doctors pronounced him dead at the hospital.

Gerson Danilo Ayala-Rodriguez, 21, was formally charged with felony murder, first-degree vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence, and three counts of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Additionally, Ayala-Rodriguez faces misdemeanor charges for reckless driving, and speeding, two counts each of driving without a license, operating a vehicle without insurance, and operating an unregistered vehicle.

TRENDING STORIES:

On Wednesday, the DAs Office announced an indictment for Ayala-Rodriguez.

The important thing to remember is that this defendants reckless behavior led to the tragic death of Trooper Jimmy Cenescar, said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. This was inexcusable, and we intend to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.

Cenescars family and friends held a funeral for him in February.

Ayala-Rodriguez remains in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond as he awaits trial.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Nearly 18,000 young Chinook salmon are dead after a man poured bleach into a fish hatchery in Douglas County, officials said.

Joshua Heckathorn, 20, of Gardiner is accused of attempting to poach and then killing the fish at a tank in Reedsport, Ore. on Monday.

Former Alberta Main Street president pleads not guilty to stealing from nonprofit

A patrol deputy claimed to see Heckathorn walking south along Highway 101 before seeing him again behind a locked gate in the hatchery facility that evening.

Authorities said Heckathorn trespassed on the property, entered the storage area, and tried to take the 17,890 salmon before reaching for the bottle of chemicals. He later admitted to using the bleach.

Deborah Yates, the president of the hatchery program, said her team struggles to understand Heckathorns actions after they put hundreds of hours raising the fish, which were intended to be released with about 60,000 others in June.

When nature does something, its crushing. But its nature, and it happens. But when someone comes in and does something like this, you cant wrap your head around it, she said. We have so many hours wrapped up in those fish, to have someone come in so cavalier, and kill them, it doesnt make sense.

Police: 3 armed robberies within hour on Portlands west side possibly connected

Sergeant Levi Harris has served 25 years as a game warden and called it one of the most senseless acts I have seen.

Heckathorn was first arrested on charges of second-degree burglary, criminal trespassing, and criminal mischief. He now faces additional charges for unlawfully taking Chinook salmon, a felony, and making a toxic substance available to wildlife, a misdemeanor.

The maximum civil penalty in Oregon for illegal take of a single Chinook salmon is $750, Sgt. Harris said. Courts have the authority to multiply that amount by the number of fish taken, with a judgment in this case potentially raising the amount to over $13 million.

Oregon State Police superintendent on paid leave after firing during Amber Alert chase

He could also face additional penalties like damage lawsuits or a lifetime angling license suspension.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A man accused of sending two Smyrna Police Department officers to the hospital is facing a new charge and another victim is involved, according to a new warrant from Cobb County courts.

Little Stone is in jail and charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault against an officer.

In February, court documents obtained by Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell said Stone walked into the Smyrna Police Department with documents intended for the police chief.

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

In the documents shared with Channel 2 Action News, investigators say Stone was talking to the desk clerk when he handed paperwork to the officers. Minutes later, the officers started feeling extremely fatigued, chest pain, chest tightness, dizziness, and had difficulty breathing.

Both officers were taken to the hospital.

Now, Stone is facing an intent-to-murder charge connected to a third victim.

New court documents say Stone is accused of assaulting a third victim, leading to another charge of intent to murder.

TRENDING STORIES:

The document says on March 2, a pastor at Second Smyrna Baptist Church, came to Smyrna Police Headquarters to report that one of the administrative workers at the church came in contact with papers left by Stone and had been out sick since the exposure.

The pastor says he went to the police after seeing a news story on Stone about the incident with the officers.

He further explained that the employee located papers, similar to those given to the officers, near the door. The worker touched the papers and placed them inside the church.

They were later found by the pastors wife. Two weeks later, the pastors wife located the papers and placed them in his bible. When he looked at the papers, he noticed Stones name on them and realized that it was the same man from the news story.

He realized that the church employee had been out sick since Feb. 10, when they found the papers under the door and suspected that they had been exposed to the substance as well. Court documents say all of her symptoms were consistent with those described by the SPD officers.

On March 12, the employee confirmed to authorities that they had been suffering from severe illness since Feb. 10, but that they had not initially linked the exposure to the paperwork to their illness.

Documents say the churchs location is adjacent to the Smyrna Police Headquarters building. The building is on the direct path known to be taken by Mr. Stone on the day of the officers exposure.

The FBI assisted the Smyrna Police Department with the case, testing the paperwork to determine what kind of substance was on it. The new court documents do not reveal what that substance was.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A man is accused of punching the window of a school bus full of children in Franklin County earlier this week, according to a social media post by the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

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Around 3:30 p.m. on April 23, deputies responded to reports of a road rage incident involving a school bus on Sturbridge Road and Beacon Hill Road in Prairie Township.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Upon arrival, deputies learned a school bus driver honked at a driver who cut her off.

The driver then aggressively confronted the school bus driver, putting 22 kids on the bus at risk the post said.

Jared Dennis, 25

The driver, identified as 25-year-old Jared Dennis, then allegedly punched one of the windows, causing it to break, WBNS-10 reported.

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Dennis has been charged with menacing, criminal damaging, disorderly conduct, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and parking a vehicle in the roadway, according to the post.

WBNS-10 reported that the South-Western City School District shared a statement condemning Dennis actions.

When it comes to the safe transport of students, there is simply no place for such senseless aggression and heated exchanges directed towards our dedicated bus drivers, their buses or our students, the statement read in part.
Man arrested in connection to deadly shooting in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT)  A man has been arrested in connection to a shooting death that happened on April 19.

On Friday, April 26, the Topeka Police Department announced that Kavshun J. Boykin, 26, of Topeka was arrested on the following charges:

Murder in the 1st degree; intentional and premeditated

Aggravated burglary, dwelling for felony, theft, or sexually motivated crime

Theft>$1,500<$25,000 from building

Just before 8 a.m. Friday, April 19, Topeka police responded to a reported shooting at the 3700 block of Southwest Park South Court.

Once officers arrived, they located one individual suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. The person was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Topeka police announced in a press release the victim of the deadly shooting was Cody P. Cooper, 22, of Topeka. This is the fifth homicide investigation of 2024.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  A man has been arrested and charged with arson for lighting an abandoned trailer on fire.

After firefighters on scene extinguished the fire that happened on April 17, investigators looked into the cause and determined it was a probable arson fire.

Mattoon Fire Department extinguishes abandoned trailer fire

Mattoon Fire Department then contacted the police department for assistance, who collected surveillance video from area businesses close to the scene of the fire. The video helped find a person of interest.

Police say 32-year-old Lawrence Moritz admitted to starting the fire during questioning. They arrested and charged him Thursday. Moritz was then transported to Coles County Safety & Detention Center.

The Mattoon Fire Department said in a release they would like to thank the Mattoon Police Department for their hard work on this case, along with the community partners who provided the surveillance video.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Man Claims He Was Given Money to Kidnap and Deliver Woman Later Found Dead in Burning SUV

Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas was found dead in her Dodge Durango on April 11

Seminole County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Jordanish Torres-Garcia

A man being questioned about a Florida woman that was found dead following an armed carjacking is now saying he was paid to kidnap her.

On April 11, at approximately 4 p.m. local time, Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas, 31, was driving north from Homestead when a green Acura rammed her SUV from behind.

After being carjacked at gunpoint, Aguasvivas' body was later found inside her Dodge Durango, which had been set on fire.

PEOPLE previously reported that Jordanish Torres-Garcia, 28, was a person of interest in the case, and had been arrested on unrelated charges.

Related: Woman Told Husband Someone Was Following Her, Then She Was Killed  as Persons of Interest Revealed

Torres-Garcia, who authorities said they believed to be the person that bought the green Acura, has now told investigators that he was the masked man seen on camera pointing the gun at Aguasvivas.

Seminole County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Jordanish Torres-Garcia

However, per court documents filed by an FBI agent in federal court in Orlando on April 24, Torres-Garcia claimed he'd been paid to kidnap and deliver her to somebody else, the Associated Press and local outlets WSVN and WKMG reported.

The federal affidavit also stated Torres-Garcia claimed he was given the gun used in the carjacking, per WKMG, stating someone met him 30 minutes before the attack in the Lake Drive area in Casselberry, and handed him an AR-15, per the court documents. He said the weapon was not loaded.

The outlet stated Torres-Garcia told investigators he was paid $1,500 to take Aguasvivas to the person, who was not identified in the court documents. He was told in court on April 25 that he's facing a charge of carjacking resulting in death, per WKMG.

Torres-Garcia's attorney didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Facebook on April 23 that person of interest Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, 27, had turned himself in on an active warrant for Fentanyl trafficking and marijuana with intent to sell. Hernandez is thought to be the last person the victim spoke to before she was killed.

They also confirmed person of interest Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, 28, believed to be the driver of the green Acura, had been taken into custody in Puerto Rico on unrelated drug trafficking and weapons charges amid the ongoing investigation.

SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas

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As PEOPLE previously reported, Aguasvivas called her husband, Miguel, from Winter Springs in Seminole County to tell him she was being followed before her car was rammed by the green Acura toward the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road on April 11.

In broad daylight, a man wearing a black mask and wielding a gun emerged from the Acura and approached the driver's side of the woman's car while she was stopped at a red light, before presumably ordering her to let him in.

The Acura continued to follow the SUV after the man got into the back of the car. An hour and 45 minutes later, authorities received a 911 call about a car burning in Osceola County. Seminole sheriffs deputies found Aguasvivas's body inside.



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NEW DELHI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed in a devastating fire that broke out in a wedding marquee in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, police said Friday.

The fire broke out Thursday night due to setting off firecrackers in Alinagar area of Darbhanga district, about 184 km northeast of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

According to officials, the marquee erected for the wedding function caught fire during the bursting of firecrackers and immediately spread to the nearby house.

Reports said the fire also killed three cows. 
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  One man is in critical condition and another is in serious condition after being involved in a crash with an Escambia County Sheriffs deputy, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to the release, the crash happened at the intersection of State Road 95 and W. Hope Drive.

CRASH LOCATION:

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Arab High football coach charged with sending obscene photos to student resigns

A vehicle with a 60-year-old driver and 59-year-old passenger was traveling north on State Road 95 when they were attempting to make a left turn onto W. Hope Drive, according to the release.

The ECSO deputy was traveling south on State Road 95 heading towards W. Hope Drive. The release said the first vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic when they made a left turn, which caused a collision to occur.

The front of the ECSO patrol car hit the back right side of the other vehicle, according to the release. The collision with the patrol car caused the first vehicle to rotate and come to a stop facing east in the intersection. The patrol car stopped facing south in the intersection.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A 62-year-old man from Washington was killed in a boating incident at the Lake Ming boat dock, the Kern County coroner said.

Kyle Lee Cannon, 62, of Brush Prairie, Washington was pronounced dead at Kern Medical on April 21, according to the Kern County Sheriffs Office. At 1:45 p.m., Cannon was ejected from a boat near the Lake Ming boat dock. He taken to a hospital where he later died, officials said

Police launch search for runaway teen last seen on Panama Lane

A postmortem examination will be conducted to determine the manner of death, said officials.

The incident is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Man dies after concrete slab falls on him in Bluffdale

BLUFFDALE, Utah (ABC4)  A man died Thursday after a cement slab fell on him at a concrete manufacturing business in Bluffdale.

Bluffdale Fire Chief Matt Evan told ABC4.com that crews responded at about 12:45 p.m. to Olympus Precast, located on Pony Express Road, for what appeared to be an industrial accident.

Karen in viral video facing sexual battery charge for pulling down teens skirt

First-responders found the man dead at the scene. Witnesses told them that a cement slab fell on top of him, crushing him underneath.

The mans identity has not been released, and its yet unclear what caused the slabs to fall.



This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities are investigating after a pedestrian was killed in a series of collisions on Interstate 5 in downtown San Diego last Saturday.

On Saturday around 10 p.m., a 20-year-old man driving a Honda Civic south on I-5 north of J Street was involved in a property damage only crash, California Highway Patrol said in a release Thursday.

Northbound SR-125 to close in Spring Valley starting Friday

They said the driver left his vehicle and was standing in the traffic lanes when he and the Honda were struck by a Ford Escape driven by a 44-year-old man.

The driver of the Honda was thrown into the traffic lanes due to the force of impact, according to authorities. Shortly after, he was struck by a silver Honda Accord driven by a 36-year-old woman.

The Ford Escape was later hit by another vehicle  a black Ford Bronco  driven by a 34-year-old woman, according to authorities.

Authorities said the Honda driver sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. All lanes of I-5 north of State Route 94 were closed during the subsequent investigation.

The drivers of the Ford Escape and Ford Bronco were found to be driving under the influence and were arrested for various DUI-related charges, according to CHP. They were both booked into San Diego county jails.

CHP is still investigating the cause and sequence of events. The identity of the man who died has not been released pending family notification.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Man hid gun in Norfolk convenience store, dropped bag of meth in front of officers

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A felon has pleaded guilty after authorities say he tried to hide a gun in a Norfolk convenience store.

During the arrest, police said 37-year-old Christopher Kevin Sheppard also dropped a bag containing more than a gram of methamphetamine.

Sheppard pleaded guilty Thursday in Norfolk court to charges of possession of a firearm, possessing methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm with a Schedule II drug in the case.

Police say Sheppard was arrested on the afternoon of October 29, 2023, after officers responded to a report of a man with a weapon at the Quick Serve Food Store on Sellger Drive in the Woodbine area near Military Circle.

Sheppard and a witness, who told police they saw Sheppard with a gun, were at the scene. A review of security footage showed Sheppard had hidden a loaded gun in one of the stores aisles before police arrived.

Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. accepted his plea with no agreement to his sentence. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on June 7.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  One man was hurt in a shooting early Friday morning, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department.

Around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting on Griggs Street SE and Horton Avenue SE. A man was found with a gunshot would that was not considered life-threatening, police say.

The suspect was brought into custody.

There is no word on what led up to the shooting.

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The investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Man who killed retired lecturer in hit-and-run passed test hours before

Andrew Forrest suffered fatal injuries as he crossed a road in Eastbourne, East Sussex, last July - South Coast News

A retired college lecturer was killed in a hit-and-run by a speeding driver who had passed his test hours before.

Sharon Abraham was jailed for six years after Andrew Forrest suffered catastrophic injuries as he crossed a road in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on July 26 last year, Lewes Crown Court was told.

The newly qualified driver travelled at more than 20mph above the speed limit as he approached the zebra crossing, where Forrest, 75, was crossing the road.

Abraham reached an estimated 52mph in a 30mph zone driving in a Lexus in Upperton Road, Eastbourne.

Sharon Abraham, 26, only stopped momentarily before driving off, a court was told

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: Abraham failed to stop for 75-year-old Andrew Forrest who was crossing the road. After striking Mr Forrest, he drove away and did not report the collision to police.

The collision happened just hours after Abraham had passed his driving test. He had previously held a driving licence abroad for nine years and was then required to take a full UK driving test.

Tragically, Mr Forrest died as a result of his injuries.

Forrest, who used to be head of history at Woking College, Surrey, was thrown into the air by the impact and landed in the road.

Instead of stopping at the scene, the driver sped off leaving Mr Forrest dying in the road.

Mr Forrest had taught history at the sixth form college in Surrey for 30 years.

At Lewes Crown Court Abraham appeared for sentencing after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

The 27-year-old student was jailed for six years and was disqualified from driving for eight years.

Lack of attention

Judge Christine Laing told Abraham: You were driving at a speed which was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road and weather conditions.

Secondly, you drove with a lack of attention for a substantial period of time and it was only in the last second or two that you braked.

This case is aggravated by the fact that you only stopped momentarily before driving off. It must have been obvious at the very least there must have been terrible injuries, but your thoughts were of yourself and your car.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
FORDHAM, the Bronx (PIX11)  A man was shot and killed while confronting a robber in the Bronx Tuesday night, police said.

The shooting happened at the intersection of East Fordham Road and Morris Avenue in Fordham just before 9:50 p.m., according to police. It unfolded as two brothers confronted a man who robbed one of them earlier, police said.

Bronx mom accused of killing 6-year-old daughter in NYCHA complex

Michael Mendez and his brother approached the robber, but things escalated, and the robber pulled out a gun and shot them both, according to police. Emergency crews rushed both brothers to a hospital, but 34-year-old Michael Mendez died, police said. His brother Chris survived.

A friend of the brothers told PIX11 News that the brothers worked as delivery workers and that they never bothered anyone. They are natives of the Dominican Republic, where most of their family members live. The friend said that the brothers were more like family to him as well.

Detectives were interviewing witnesses and looking for surveillance video on Thursday.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Man Lost His Leg After Tree-Cutting Accident, But Hes Still Alive Thanks to Heroes Who Rescued Him

Manuel Manny Teixeira sustained life-threatening head and leg injuries while cutting down a tree in Massachusetts last month, authorities said

Dighton Firefighters Local 4332/Facebook Manuel Manny Teixeira reunites with first responders who helped save his life after a tree fell on him in March

Manuel Manny Teixeira reunited with the first responders who saved his life last month after a tree fell on top of him while he was working on a site in Massachusetts

Teixeira had his leg amputated after the incident

Kenneth Almeida and Aaron Swartz, two Dighton police officers, were also honored at a Board of Selectmen meeting on April 24 for their heroics

A man has reunited with the rescue crews who helped save his life after a tree fell on him while he was working in Massachusetts last month.

Crews responded to the scene in Dighton on March 9 and found a man whose leg was pinned underneath a tree, according to a news release from Dighton Firefighters Local 4332.

Manuel Manny Teixeira, 67, sustained life-threatening head and leg injuries while cutting down a tree on Oak Street, CBS affiliate WPRI-TV reported.

Related: Bystanders Rescue Man Trapped in Burning Car After Minnesota Highway Crash: 'Glad He Got Out in Time'

Crews quickly determined the tree was not stable and posed a threat to both the patient and personnel on scene, Dighton fire officials said.

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Officers Kenneth Almeida and Aaron Swartz worked to provide life-saving medical aid to Teixeira, which included the use of multiple tourniquets, until paramedics arrived at the scene, according to Dighton Police.

Eventually, crews were able to safely remove the tree from the patient, utilizing technical lifting equipment. The ordeal lasted less than 15 minutes after authorities were contacted.

Teixeira was transported to the Rhode Island Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center. His injured leg was later amputated.

Related: 'Fearless' Scuba Diver's Leg Amputated After Being Attacked by Shark in the Bahamas

Officers Almeida and Swartz were honored for their efforts at a Board of Selectmen meeting on Wednesday, April 24. The duo received letters of commendation for their response to the incident, which likely saved Teixeiras life.

They also had the opportunity to reunite with Teixeria, who is still recovering from his amputation.

Courtesy Dighton Police Department Officers Kenneth Almeida and Aaron Swartz, who helped saved Manuel Manny Teixeira in March

Related: 3 People Survive After Minnesota Hot Air Balloon Hits Power Line, Basket Disconnects and Falls '20-30 Feet'

These officers relied on the training they have acquired throughout their years of service and their quick action helped to save this mans life, Police Chief George Nichols said in the DPDs news release.

Dighton firefighters thanked Teixeria for sharing his story and wished him a speedy recovery."



Meanwhile, Teixeira is thankful to be alive, according to NBC affiliate WJAR.

"If it wasn't for them, I don't know where I would be. I wouldn't be here today," Teixeira said.



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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man who was released on bond Tuesday related to charges of false imprisonment and assault was arrested again Friday morning, this time for trying to kidnap a Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School student.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said on Friday, April 26, the 15-year-old female student saw a man, identified as 26-year-old Jamien Taylor, watching and then following her as she got off a school bus on 17th Avenue North. She then started running with Taylor in pursuit and made it safely inside the school building where she notified adults.

Man accused of following women around Nashville, assaulting one woman

MNPD officers quickly arrived in the area and stopped a WeGo bus Taylor was aboard near the intersection of 17th Avenue North and Charlotte Avenue. Taylor was taken into custody without incident and admitted to running after the student, according to investigators.

Taylor is charged with attempted kidnapping and assault. His bond is set at $75,000, which will require a source hearing before a judge before he could be considered for release.

Jamien Taylor (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Taylors arrest this week comes just one week after he was arrested for making sexual advances toward a woman in an elevator.

During that incident on Wednesday, April 17, police said Taylor allegedly followed a woman into an elevator near Public Square Park and made unwanted sexual advances toward her. He was charged with false imprisonment and assault.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

The Community Bail Fund posted his $3,000 bond on Tuesday, April 23, and he was released.

The safety of our community should be a real consideration in the setting of bonds and pre-trial release conditions, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said. That should involve weighing the nature of offenses and the specific details alleged in arrest warrant affidavits. Its no secret that our officers are dealing with the same people time and again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that currently China-U.S. relations have generally stabilized, avoiding further deterioration, but negative factors are still growing and accumulating.

China's attitude, stance and requirements have always been consistent, Wang said, adding that China views and develops China-U.S. relations from the global vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, adheres to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and proposes respect for each other's core interests.

In November last year, the presidents of the two countries met in San Francisco and jointly outlined a future-oriented San Francisco vision for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, which should be fully implemented, he said.

He said that in the current turbulent international situation, the two countries should first answer a fundamental question on their relationship, which is whether China and the United States should be partners or rivals, adding that it is like the first button of a shirt that must be put right for the stable development of bilateral relations.

If the United States constantly regards China as its main rival, China-U.S. relations are bound to remain fraught with troubles and problems, Wang said.

Noting that the Taiwan question is the "first red line" that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations, Wang said China demands that the United States should faithfully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, refrain from sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatists in any way, and act on U.S. President Joe Biden's commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," not supporting "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and not seeking to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China.

China also demands that the United States should stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification, he added.

Wang said the Chinese people's right to development is inalienable. The United States has taken endless measures to suppress China's economy, trade as well as science and technology, he said, noting that "this is not fair competition but containment, not de-risking but creating risks."

The United States should implement its statement that it does not seek to contain China's economic development, does not seek to "decouple" from China, and is not intended to halt China's scientific and technological progress, Wang said.

It should stop hyping up the false narrative of "overcapacity" in China, revoke illegal sanctions on Chinese companies, and stop imposing 301 tariffs that violate WTO rules, he said.

Noting that the Asia-Pacific region should not become an arena for major-country contest, Wang said it is hoped that the U.S. side will make the right choice, work with China to achieve positive interactions in the Asia-Pacific, stop forming exclusive small groupings, refrain from pressuring regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles, stop undermining China's strategic security interests and stop undermining the hard-won peace and stability in the region.

For his part, Blinken said the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and it is the shared responsibility of both countries to manage it responsibly.

He said the United States continues to abide by the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence," adding that the U.S. side does not seek to change China's system, has no intention of conflicting with China, does not seek to decouple from China, and does not seek to contain China's development.

A developing and successful China is good for the world, and the United States is willing to work with China on the basis of the consensus reached by the two presidents in San Francisco, strengthen dialogue and communication, effectively manage differences, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, and promote the steady development of U.S.-China relations, Blinken said.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues related to Ukraine, the Palestine-Israel conflict, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar.

The two sides agreed that the talks were candid, substantive and constructive, and agreed to continue to work hard to stabilize and develop bilateral relations in accordance with the guidance of the two heads of state.

The two sides affirmed the positive progress made in China-U.S. dialogue and cooperation in various fields since the San Francisco summit, agreed to speed up the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in San Francisco, maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels, continue to carry out military exchanges and consultations in various fields, and further promote China-U.S. cooperation on drug control, climate change and artificial intelligence, while taking measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides expressed readiness to strengthen communication on international and regional hotspot issues. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
Man released on probation after serving 4 months in prison on attempted sex assault charge

AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an Austin-area senior living and memory care facility in March 2022 was given probation, according to Travis County court documents.

Documents showed Sidney Leon Holmes was sentenced on a charge of attempt to commit aggravated sexual assault, a second-degree felony.

PAST COVERAGE | Police: Ring camera catches sex assault at Austin-area senior living facility

Court records showed Holmes was originally sentenced in November 2023 to serve 10 years in prison, with six months in shock community supervision, an alternate type of sentencing or early-release program in Texas.

Records showed Holmes sentence was modified March 26 and was changed to have him serve his remaining nine years and 6 months on probation.

PAST COVERAGE | Austin-area senior care facility sued after March sexual assault incident

During the term of community supervision, Holmes must follow specific terms set by the court, which include reporting to a supervision officer in the sex offender unit and having no contact with the victim.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Man said he was paid to kidnap woman he carjacked in Florida, affidavit says

Man said he was paid to kidnap woman he carjacked in Florida, affidavit says

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  A man questioned about his role earlier this month in the fatal carjacking of a woman in central Florida told investigators that he was paid to kidnap her and deliver her to someone, according to court documents filed Thursday.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia told investigators that he was the masked man in a hoodie seen in a video jumping out of a vehicle at a traffic light in suburban Orlando and pointing a semi-automatic rifle at Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, who was stopped in front of his vehicle at the stoplight, according to an affidavit filed Thursday by an FBI agent in federal court in Orlando.

Its about drugs and money: 2 charged in deadly Florida carjacking caught on camera, sheriff says

Garcia said the weapon was unloaded and had been given to him a half hour before the carjacking two weeks ago. Garcia jumped into the South Florida womans vehicle, which made a U-turn and drove away. Garcia told investigators he was paid $1,500 to deliver her to an individual who wasnt identified in the affidavit.

Hours after the carjacking, the 31-year-old womans body was found inside her burned-out vehicle in another Orlando-area county. She had been shot multiple times, according to the affidavit.

The last person she spoke with by a video call before her murder was Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, to whom authorities believe she was delivering money, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said at a news conference on Tuesday.

This case is about drugs and money, Lemma said.

Hernandez has been taken into custody on unrelated drug charges.

Deadly Florida carjacking tied to another murder and deputys arrest, sheriff says

Garcia was questioned last week following his arrest on a federal warrant for violation of probation from a weapons charge in Puerto Rico. He was being held Thursday in the Seminole County Jail in Florida, with the FBI agents affidavit supporting a charge of carjacking resulting in death.

Court documents show his public defender asked to be removed from the case because of a conflict of interest. His new court-appointed attorney, Roger Weeden, said in an email late Thursday that, without an indictment yet, there were no charges with which to plea.

Going forward, the initial plea after indictment is always not guilty, which freezes the case, allows for discovery, defense investigation and pre-resolution negotiations, Weeden said.

The driver of the car Garcia jumped out of, Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, was taken into custody earlier this week in Puerto Rico on unrelated drug- trafficking and weapons charges, authorities said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Man shot on Miccosukee reservation, according to police

A man was shot on the Miccosukee Indian Reservation on Friday afternoon, according to police.

The shooting happened on Southwest Eighth Street and Loop Road around 3:30 p.m., according to emergency scanner traffic.

According to Miccosukee police Cpl. Martel Llewellyn, one person was shot and flown to a hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics.

The person, who police have not identified, is in stable condition, Llewellyn said.

Llewellyn declined to say if anyone was arrested as of Friday evening because the details of the shooting were still under investigation.

The shooting happened within the reservation, which is sovereign territory, so police denied the Herald access to the crime scene.
Man shot by officers in Woodbury had a pistol-type BB gun, BCA says

A man shot multiple times by police Monday in a busy Woodbury shopping center was wielding a pistol-style BB gun when confronted by officers, according to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The shooting happened Monday morning in the parking lot at Target in Woodbury Village, near the intersection of Interstate 494 and Valley Creek Drive.

Donald Roche, 63, remains hospitalized in serious condition, the BCA said in a news release with further details from the preliminary investigation.

The officers who fired at him were Washington County sheriffs deputy Brian Krook and Woodbury police officer James Stoffel. Both are on standard administrative leave, the BCA said.

According to the agency, Woodbury police license plate readers spotted a car in the Target lot that was connected to a felony-level crime. A person associated with the vehicle also was wanted in connection with a felony-level crime. Officers found no one in the vehicle, but, as they were investigating, Roche returned to it.

Roche fought with officers when they attempted to arrest him, Woodbury Public Safety Director Jason Posel said in a news release earlier this week

The officers saw that the man had a handgun and officers backed off, at which point the man barricaded himself in the vehicle, the BCA statement said.

Police called the Washington County SWAT team, which negotiated with Roche and used less-than-lethal force, including 40- millimeter and PepperBall chemical irritants, to get him to surrender.

Roche got out of the vehicle, ignored commands from the officers, and again pulled out what looked like a handgun and pointed it in their direction, the BCA statement said. Thats when Stoffel fired his rifle and Krook fired his department handgun. Roche was struck by the gunfire.

Officers provided medical aid at the scene until Roche could be taken to the hospital.

The BCA is reviewing all available video, including footage from body-worn and squad-car cameras. It is also working to determine the exact nature of the alert on the license plates that summoned law enforcement and how it is connected to the vehicle and Roche.

According to the BCA, Krook has 13 years of law enforcement experience and Stoffel has 11.

In 2020, Krook was acquitted of manslaughter by a Washington County jury in connection with the shooting death of Benjamin Evans.

The 23-year-old Evans was killed in an April 21, 2018, standoff where he held a gun to his head for about 45 minutes at an intersection in Lake Elmo. Krook was also named in a federal wrongful-death lawsuit in connection with the shooting. As of August, the matter was the subject of court-ordered mediation after a judge narrowed the scope of the lawsuit.

The officers who used nonlethal force in Mondays Woodbury incident were:

Woodbury police officer Scott Melander, who has 27 years of law enforcement experience.

Woodbury police officer Matthew Noren, 19 years.

Cottage Grove police officer Benjamin Deitner, five years.

Cottage Grove police officer Matthew Sorgaard, eight years.

Related Articles
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Two Buffalo men were involved in a stabbing at University Station on Friday, according to the NFTA.

A group of people were allegedly arguing in the bus station lobby on the University at Buffalo South campus around 1:30 p.m. According to an NFTA public information officer, a 36-year-old man pulled out a knife and stabbed a 48-year-old man as the fight escalated.

The victim was transported to ECMC for non-life-threatening injuries. The alleged assailant is being held in police custody.

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening an officer with a shovel near a McDonalds in Hanford on Thursday morning, the Hanford Police Department said.

Officers say on Thursday at 7:21 a.m. they were dispatched to the McDonalds located at 335 West Lacey Boulevard in Hanford for a suspicious man. The man was observed by witnesses carrying a shovel in the drive-thru and striking a customers vehicle.

Police say one officer contacted a man matching the description of the suspect a block away from the restaurant. The man was identified as 32-year-old Joshua Erkelens. While contacting Erkelens to investigate the possible vandalism, Erkelens armed himself with a shovel.

Investigators say Erkelens began to show erratic behavior, raised the shovel above his head, and walked toward the officer. The officer maintained distance and ordered Erkelens to drop the shovel.

Erkelens, according to detectives, began to walk away from the officer but was still armed with the shovel and threatened to kill him. He ignored all commands from the officer. The officer kept his distance while ordering the man to drop the shovel.

Police say Erkelens stopped, turned towards the officer, raised the shovel over his head a second time, and started yelling obscenities.

Investigators say the man started walking again and entered the parking lot of the Armtrak station. Additional officers arrived on the scene. Due to Erkelens erratic behavior and being armed with a shovel, less-than-lethal bean bag rounds were deployed striking Erkelens.

The bean bag rounds had a limited effect on Erkelens. Police say a taser was then deployed. Erkelens was taken to the ground and continued to resist officers, but he was eventually handcuffed.

According to the Hanford Police Department, Erkelens was medically cleared on scene by paramedics and booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of exhibiting a deadly weapon towards an officer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Man tries to move Texas teen back to his Indiana home for sexual activities, feds say

An Indiana man tried to move a move a teenager away from her Texas home for sexual purposes, federal officials say.

Now, hell serve a 10-year prison sentence.

Authorities said 26-year-old Ryan Steele, of Fort Wayne, traveled to Texas in March 2023 to locate a 16-year-old he had been talking to online, according to an April 25 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Indiana.

Law enforcement located Steele traveling to Texas and upon his arrival in the state, discovered he was attempting to locate the girl, officials said.

After his arrest, he told authorities he traveled to Texas with the purpose of moving the teen back to his Indiana home to live and engage in sexual activity, according to officials.

Steele told authorities he knew the girl, who he had been talking to since she was 11, was a minor, prosecutors said.

Steele pleaded guilty to attempted transportation of a minor and was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, officials said.

The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and several local law enforcement agencies in Texas and Indiana were involved in the case, officials said.

GPS bracelet places 18-year-old at the scene of 11 different break-ins, MO cops say

National guardsman repeatedly raped child until someone caught him, Ohio officials say

Man raped and impregnated 14-year-old, Louisiana officials say. Hell be castrated
A majority of Americans believe former President Trump is being treated differently than most criminal defendants in his hush money case, according to a new CNN poll.

Trumps hush money trial began last Monday, marking the first criminal trial of a former American president. He has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to reimbursements to his attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, who paid an adult film actor $130,000 prior to the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.

Another recent poll from The Economist/YouGov found that 24 percent of surveyed Americans think the former president is going to be convicted of a crime in the hush money case, 36 percent said they dont think the former president will be convicted and 39 percent said they werent sure.

The same poll found that 43 percent of surveyed Americans think Trump should be convicted of a crime in the case, 37 percent think he shouldnt be and 20 percent are unsure.

Following the second day of jury selection in his trial, Trump referred to the reimbursements as a legal expense, putting some blame on his accountants.

I was paying a lawyer, and we marked it down as a legal expense  some accountant. I didnt know, Trump told reporters. Mark it down as a legal expense. Thats exactly what it was. And you get indicted over that?

The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS between April 18 and 23, with a sample of 1,212 respondents and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(The Hill)  A majority of Americans believe former President Trump is being treated differently than most criminal defendants in his hush money case, according to a new CNN poll.

Another recent poll from The Economist/YouGov found that 24 percent of Americans think the former president is going to be convicted of a crime in the hush money case, 36 percent said they dont believe the former president will be convicted and 39 percent said they werent sure.

Trumps hush money trial began last Monday, marking the first criminal trial of an American president. He has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to reimbursements to his attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, who paid an adult film actor $130,000 prior to the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.

DeSantis: Florida will not comply with new Biden Title IX rules

Another recent poll from The Economist/YouGov found that 24 percent of Americans think the former president is going to be convicted of a crime in the hush money case, 36 percent said they dont think the former president will be convicted and 39 percent said they werent sure.

The same poll found that 43 percent of Americans think Trump should be convicted of a crime in the case, 37 percent say they think he shouldnt be and 20 percent are unsure.

Following the second day of jury selection in his trial, Trump referred to the reimbursements as a legal expense, putting some blame on his accountants.

I was paying a lawyer, and we marked it down as a legal expense  some accountant. I didnt know, Trump told reporters. Mark it down as a legal expense. Thats exactly what it was. And you get indicted over that?

The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS between April 18 and 23, with a sample of 1,212 respondents and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with a delegation led by Jotham Napat, President of the Leaders Party of Vanuatu, in Beijing on Friday.

The two sides exchanged views on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning on governance experience, promoting practical cooperation in various fields and promoting the development of China-Vanuatu relations. 
Mike Johnson had been speaker for less than two months when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to him with a stark message: Time is running out.

As the two men huddled in the speakers office in December, a Ukrainian Ostroh Bible perched near them, Zelenskyy made it clear just how much longer his country could hold out against a renewed onslaught of Russian missiles and drones.

March or April, the president said, according to two people familiar with the discussion.

The December meeting and the bleak prognosis contributed greatly to Johnsons decision to go against his conservative colleagues and come to the aid of Ukraine with a $60 billion aid package, according to three people familiar with the speakers thinking, granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Most importantly, it provided Johnson with a deadline  one the speaker took on as his own for the Ukraine aid package.

Johnson hit that deadline with just a little over a week to spare. On Saturday, the House passed the four separate measures  for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific and other national security matters  and President Joe Biden signed them into law Wednesday. Now $1 billion in military aid is headed to Ukraine, including long-range missiles that can help Kyiv strike beyond Russian positions.

There is no single reason why Johnson, who had previously insisted that support for Ukraine be tied to conservative border policies, got to yes this time. But the meeting with Zelenskyy gave Johnson more urgency to decide if staking his speakership to send more weapons to Ukraine was worth it, the three people said.

It kicked off four months of personal and professional agonizing over whether to defy Republicans seeking to oust him and secure military assistance for American allies. And it provided a target to the staffers in Johnsons office tasked with crafting the House package: Get something workable ready by the deadline  just in case.

This account is based on interviews with eight Republican and Democratic congressional aides, lobbyists and officials familiar with Western intelligence, all granted anonymity to detail Johnsons inner thinking and conversations among staffers inside his office.

When Johnson assumed the speakers gavel in October, he was set on making more military aid for Ukraine conditional  pairing it with other items like stronger border security provisions that were highly unlikely to get through the Democratic Senate. Over time that list grew to include turning some assistance into loans and using seized Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.

But after the Ukrainian leader mentioned his troops would be nearly out of weapons by the spring, a person in House leadership familiar with Johnsons thinking said the speaker decided action had to be taken before then. They needed the ammunition and they needed the hardware so they could actually keep fighting, said the person, also granted anonymity to speak candidly.

The task to prepare legislation and a pathway forward fell to Josh Hodges, Johnsons national security adviser. Hodges, who studied at the Naval War College and wrote a profile of Russian President Vladimir Putins leadership style, was one of the offices most instrumental advocates for sending aid to Ukraine.

Josh is the one who did the majority of the heavy lifting during this period, a person familiar with Hodges role said. Hes the one who slowly pieced it all together with the DOD, NSC, committee chairs and other members. He had also for months been working to ensure Johnson had the space necessary to get concessions and make an informed decision.

Hodges also exerted direct influence on Johnson. The speaker would hear advice from others in his office that he should not move forward with the assistance, or only back aid for Israel. But Hodges, among other voices, argued that the U.S. had an opportunity to stand up to a growing axis between Russia, China and Iran in a way that was both immediate and cost-effective.



Not providing aid now, per a person familiar with Hodges stance, would weaken Americas standing in the world and empower its adversaries at a time when they were increasingly hostile. That choice would also keep billions of dollars from building more military capabilities for the U.S. as older weapons made their way into Ukraine.

Hodges didnt respond to a request for comment. But a person close to him said that he maintains he was part of a broader team effort.

Johnson was hearing similar arguments from other sources. Many Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the House Foreign Affairs chair, kept in close touch with Johnson about the need to push the foreign aid bill through.

Pro-Kyiv lobbyists also visited Johnson often, including like-minded evangelical Christians from Ukraine. The advocacy group Razom for Ukraine put up billboards in Johnsons Louisiana district with his favorite Bible verse, Esther 4:14, which concludes, who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Over the last two weeks, intelligence officials and analysts had briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Johnson, about the situation on the ground in Ukraine.

Those officials said they increasingly believed Putins plans to mobilize new military units  including a new cadre of paramilitary fighters, coupled with additional ammunition from Beijing and dwindling Western support for Kyiv, would likely land him a win in Ukraine  and sooner than expected  if new U.S. assistance did not go through.

Putin would not get the outcome he wanted: total takeover of Ukraine. But he could find himself in a situation by the end of 2024 where hed be able to negotiate favorable terms with Zelenskyy, the officials and analysts said. CIA Director Bill Burns publicly repeated that assessment in mid-April.

At the same time, Irans launch of 300 missiles and drones at Israel earlier this month spurred Johnson to treat aid to Israel with more urgency, per the same three people familiar with Johnsons thinking. The day after the attack, the speaker called House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, his Democratic counterpart, and said he was ready to move forward on all the foreign aid bills.

Conservative colleagues assailed Johnson on the Tuesday that the House returned to session, demanding he only advance aid for Israel  or not support the supplemental at all. Some said that putting the Ukraine measure on the floor would lead to his removal as speaker. Momentum, they said, had gathered behind Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) proposal to oust him.

Johnson turned to prayer, McCaul later told reporters: He was torn between trying to save his job and do the right thing."

Johnson gathered his aides once more later that night. They revisited every argument, pro and con, and hashed out every scenario. Amid the back and forth, Hodges made an impassioned plea to back the foreign aid plan.

Johnson then told his staff he needed the night to think it over. By the time the speaker arrived back in his Capitol office Wednesday morning, he had made up his mind once and for all: Im going to do the right thing. Im going to do what I know is right. Were going to move forward.

Erin Banco contributed to this report.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Storm Prediction Center has placed mid-Michigan in a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for Severe Weather this Saturday, as a warm and active weather pattern moves into the area.

A warm front, associated with a large storm system to the southwest, will move into mid-Michigan Friday evening, bringing the chance for showers and isolated non-severe thunderstorms overnight.

This initial round of rain will exit late Saturday morning, with some possible clearing in the afternoon. The system will pump warm and humid air into mid-Michigan on Saturday.

A warm front, associated with a large storm system to our southwest, will move into mid-Michigan Friday evening. (WLNS)

The Storm Prediction Center has placed Mid-Michigan in a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for Severe weather on Saturday. (WLNS)

The Storm Prediction Center has placed Mid-Michigan in a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for Severe weather on Saturday. (WLNS)

The Storm Prediction Center has placed Mid-Michigan in a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for Severe weather on Saturday. (WLNS)

The question is whether or not we will be able to warm up enough to develop pop-up thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon and early evening. With the warm and unstable air that will be available in the atmosphere, any storms that do develop will have a favorable environment in place and could potentially turn severe.

If storms do develop, all kinds of severe weather will be possible for the area.

All available data suggests storms are unlikely to form. Keep an eye to the sky just in case and your StormTracker 6 Weather App handy just in case. At this point though, outdoor plans Saturday afternoon look ok.

Be sure to stay turned for updated information, on-air and online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Mark Cuban. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Businessman and TV personality Mark Cuban has a seemingly straightforward question for the huge drug middleman owned by CVS: If youre as transparent about drug pricing as you claim, why dont you publish prices on your website?

The company didnt answer directly.

Cuban, founder of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs, last week raised that question to the Capital Journal in response to a paid column that appeared April 3 in Forbes magazine. It was written by David Joyner, president of CVS Caremark, CVSs pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM.

The company is the largest drug middleman in the United States. It represents insurers in drug transactions by creating lists of drugs that are covered, negotiating deals with manufacturers, reconciling transactions at the pharmacy counter and reimbursing pharmacists.

The three biggest PBMs  CVS Caremark, OptumRx, and Express Scripts  are part of giant corporations that each own a top-10 insurer. Together they represent 80% of the patients whose prescriptions are covered by insurance. And they say they use that size to force the big pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices.

Our size and scale allow us to go toe-to-toe with drug companies, driving competition and negotiating discounts that make the difference between someone affording their medication or going without, Joyner wrote in his Forbes column.

However, those companies have for years been dogged by accusations that theyre not transparent and that theyre pocketing huge amounts from their position as middleman in lucrative pharmaceutical transactions.

For example, a special investigation by the Ohio Department of Medicaid showed that CVS Caremark and OptumRx in 2017 took nearly a quarter-billion dollars in previously unknown fees from the health program for the poor. Six years later, the companies are still in court, fighting to keep secret information that it redacted in the report  even though the media reported it in 2019.

Questions about the big PBMs reached the point that the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 mounted a major investigation of the companies practices. Its ongoing.

Amid stories about seemingly arbitrary pricing in which the big PBMs were sometimes paying themselves 100 times as much for drugs as they could be gotten elsewhere, Cuban and others started opening businesses that take drug purchases outside the insurance/PBM system. Discarding the PBM model of using a dizzying array of maximum allowable cost lists, the pharmacies publish their cost for the drugs and charge that plus a set markup plus a set dispensing fee.

For example, pharmacist Nate Hux opened Freedom Pharmacy in Pickerington. Illustrating how arbitrary pricing in the insurance/PBM system can be, Hux in 2021 reported selling a patient Celecoxib  a generic version of the anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex  for $23.05. When the patient used her insurance, her copayment alone had been $141.

The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company site reports other such disparities.

In his column, Joyner, the CVS Caremark president, points out that such operations deal chiefly in generics  the least expensive class of drugs that are no longer patented and thus available from multiple manufacturers. He said the idea behind such cost-plus businesses is old and outmoded.

The reality is, the Cost Plus offering is neither novel nor unique  it is a generic sourcing business that is 10 years too late, Joyner wrote.

Cuban appeared to tweak Joyner for claiming the Cost Plus idea is irrelevant, while simultaneously going to the trouble to write a column in a national magazine criticizing it.

My only response is that we are honored that he would take the time to talk about us and we hope he continues to do so, Cuban, an owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said in an email.

In his column, Joyner said Cubans operation couldnt address the real issue: This country has a brand drug pricing problem.

Those are the more-expensive drugs that are still under patent. The big PBMs negotiate huge, non-transparent rebates and discounts from their manufacturers in exchange for covering them on behalf of the millions of patients they represent. Joyner blamed drugmakers for raising list prices of drugs, but research has shown that list prices go up in conjunction with rebates and discounts received by PBMs.

A spokesman for CVS Caremark didnt respond directly to a question asking whether, through its negotiations, the company impacts the prices of branded drugs.

In his column, Joyner also said CVS Caremark was bringing sunlight to drug pricing. He wrote,  we are creating a more transparent environment for drug pricing in this country, and its not just for 2,500 drugs; its for every drug from every manufacturer for every condition and every patient.

That prompted Cuban to ask whether the company would publish drug prices on its website as his company had.

All anyone has to do is go to costplusdrugs.com and look at our pricing and then go to their websites and do the same, Cuban said. Then they can make their own decisions.

Asked whether CVS Caremark would publish prices, its spokesman, Phil Blando again didnt respond directly.

The point David (Joyner) is making is one weve talked to you and many others about: PBMs are the only enduring protection from high prescription drug prices for seniors, the disabled, and working families, Blando said in an email. Prior to the advent of PBMs, consumers were at the mercy of drug companies high list prices. Many patients could not afford their medicines and otherwise manageable conditions took a heavy toll. We remain confident in our model and our ability to deliver sustainable savings to our clients and their members without sacrificing access or quality.

For his part, Hux on Monday said his Pickerington business has grown by the month. He said word-of-mouth, media coverage and Cubans venture have all raised awareness of the cost-plus pricing model.

He said that it not only allows him to offer many medicines much more cheaply, the model also creates fewer headaches than his insurance-using pharmacy does.

We dont have to fool around with chasing claims, all the extra administrative work, Hux said. The documentation, theres a lot of paperwork to deal with. And the fees they charge the pharmacies. And the audits. Its just very inefficient. I hate it.

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The post Mark Cuban has a simple question for CVSs drug middleman: Why dont you publish your prices? appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
This article was originally published in Maryland Matters.

Shes staying put.

The interim title will be removed from Carey Wrights name after the Maryland Board of Educations unanimous vote Wednesday to make her the permanent state superintendent of public schools.

Wright began as interim superintendent Oct. 23, replacing Mohammed Choudhury, who resigned days prior to become senior adviser for the state school board with a base salary of $310,000 until his contract expires June 30.

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Wright, a Maryland native who received a $350,000 salary that was prorated for the remainder of her term until June 30, led several initiatives during her half-year leading the state school system of nearly 890,000 students.

She will begin her term as the states permanent leader July 1 until June 30, 2028, at an annual salary of $360,500.

Wright, who began in the education profession as a teacher in the Prince Georges County public schools in September 1972, thanked the board and said one of her goals is to listen to all stakeholders to improve public education.

We want all of our children to be as successful as they can possibly be and its our job to support them to get there, she said. I am committed and determined to make Maryland the education destination.

In December, the state school board retained Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) of Illinois to help conduct a nationwide search. The firm that has conducted searches for various school systems in Maryland worked alongside the school boards search committee to help recruit and vet qualified candidates.

At the end of the application deadline on March 1, nearly 40 people expressed interest with 26 fully completing applications.

The board announced a special meeting April 13, but went into an executive session. On that day, the board interviewed semi-finalists and narrowed it down to the final candidates.

On Wednesday, the board voted to retain Wright.

We looked all across the country and you came to us as one of the top national leaders and our thorough search found that, said board Vice President Joshua Michael, who chaired the boards search committee. You have both the experience and knowledge of being a Marylander and of Maryland schools and the disposition, experience and skill set to lead the reform and the improvement in public schools.

Wright began working on statewide priorities such as incorporating the science of reading in all 24 school systems starting in the 2024-25 school year. The program, which Wright led during her tenure as state schools chief in Mississippi, focuses on teaching students based on phonics instructions sound, comprehension and vocabulary.

Wright testified this year in Annapolis, urging lawmakers to fully fund public education and to continue to support the Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform.

Maryland public schools Interim State Superintendent Carey Wright testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 24, 2024. (William J. Ford)

The 10-year, multi-billion-dollar Blueprint plan is overseen by the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which Wright supports.

However, the Blueprint mandates continue to vex local school officials, who have outlined in Blueprint documents their challenges in hiring new teachers amid a shortage in the profession, expanding prekindergarten to include 3- and 4-year-old children and incorporating college and career readiness programs into the curriculum.

Wright is leading other education initiatives such as sending literacy expert teams to visit schools and the release of a statewide literacy plan later this year. In addition, she is creating strategies to boost math test scores and has established a joint committee with representatives from the state Higher Education Commission and University System of Maryland to assess educator programs.

The state Department of Education released a leadership profile report in January to highlight agency strengths and challenges, which was based on 564 interviews and surveys with various state, regional and local agencies and organizations, parents and students.

Some of the strengths, according to the report, include the push for education reform, continued support of the Blueprint and collaboration between the state board, department officials and staff and other stakeholders.

The challenges include ensuring equitable experiences for all students, the challenges of the state superintendent working in collaboration with both the state board and the AIB, and state officials trying to encourage Blueprint buy in with some local school officials.

One challenge mentioned several times is how to improve relationships between the department, local school systems and the community.

Transparency between the State Superintendent and all stakeholder groups was mentioned in interviews and focus groups as a significant challenge that developed under the previous administration, according to the report. While there has been positive momentum in recent months, the challenge to continue to provide transparent communications in order to rebuild trust with stakeholder groups is something on which the new superintendent will need to focus.

When Wright arrived last fall, she was praised for work in Mississippi and for being a native Marylander. She received her bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Carey Wrights distinguished career as an educator, administrator, and leader in public education has uniquely prepared her to meet this moment as Marylands State Superintendent, Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a statement. She is a champion for students, and Im confident that she is the leader we need to fulfill the promise of creating a world-class public education system for Maryland.

Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association, said in a statement shes appreciated the working relationship with Wright during her tenure as interim superintendent.

As superintendent, we hope that she will prioritize ensuring that educator voices are at the table in helping to make decisions that impact our schools, students, and critical issues like ending the educator shortage and implementing the Blueprint for Marylands Future, Bost said.

This story was originally published in Maryland Matters.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A staff member of the Mason Independent School District was arrested Thursday on a felony charge after allegedly having an improper relationship with a student.

2 arrested after 3-year-old dies in San Angelo

The public jail roster for the Mason County Sheriffs Office shows that 37-year-old Micah Walker was taken into custody on April 25 at 1:48 p.m. He was arrested on a charge of Improper Relationship Between Educator/Student.

According to Mason ISDs website, Walker is listed as the districts director of maintenance. However, Mason ISD Interim Superintendent Dennis Hill stated that Walker has resigned from his position.

Concho Valley Homepage staff attempted to contact the Mason County Sheriffs Office and the Mason County District Clerk for statements and more information but were unsuccessful as of the time of publication.

Walker currently has a posted bond of $50,000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Mass graves with hundreds of bodies were discovered last weekend at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, prompting serious concerns about war crimes, according to the OHCHR, the U.N.s human rights office.

Much remains unknown about the victims, but the discovery of the bodies comes after Israeli troops ended their two-week operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in early April. The hospital, which was once the main tertiary facility in the region before Oct. 7, has since been reduced to an empty shell. Troops also similarly raided Nasser Hospital, claiming that their intelligence showed Hamas was holding hostages in the medical center.

Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law. And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are hors de combat [out of combat or action] is a war crime, said Volker Turk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Attacks on hospitals are one of six grave violations the U.N. Security Council monitors and reports. Hospitals can lose their special protections, however, if they are used by a party to the conflict to commit, outside their humanitarian functions, an act harmful to the enemy, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. What constitutes an act that is harmful to the enemy is not defined under international humanitarian law. However, the Red Cross does list the placing of a medical establishment or unit in proximity to a military objective with the intention of shielding it from enemy's military operations as an example.

Read More: The Struggle to Save Lives Inside Gazas Hospitals

Turk has called for an independent investigation into the matter, and reiterated his support for an immediate ceasefire. The European Union backed his call for an independent probe into the mass graves on Tuesday.

Among the deceased were allegedly older people, women and wounded, while others were found tied with their handstied and stripped of their clothes, said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Shamdasani, shared that local health authorities in Gaza have also reported that some 30 Palestinians were buried in two graves in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital. At least 12 victims have been identified, though identification was not possible for others.

Col. Yamen Abu Suleiman, Director of Civil Defense in Khan Younis, told CNN that some of the bodies were possibly buried alive or executed and that most of them were decomposed. Some family members also told CNN that they had been unable to locate the remains of their loved ones after Israeli troops attacked the hospital.

Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israeli Defense Force, called the claim that Israeli troops buried Palestinians in mass graves misinformation.

The grave in question was dug  by Gazans  a few months ago. This fact is corroborated by social media documentation uploaded by Gazans at the time of the burial, he tweeted on April 24. Any attempt to blame Israel for burying civilians in mass graves is categorically false and a mere example of a disinformation campaign aimed at delegitimizing Israel. Shoshani added that military personnel had examined the corpses buried near Nasser Hospital to make sure that there were no hostages or missing people among the victims. He says all remains were respectfully returned to their place. Gazan authorities affirm that graves were previously dug before the Israeli military arrived, but allege that troops added bodies to the grave site. TIME has not independently verified the claims about the cause of death of individuals.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, and another 77,368 people have been injured in Gaza, per the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The White House has expressed concern over the matter. We want answers, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a press conference on Wednesday. We want to see this thoroughly and transparently investigated.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stood by his past comments that presidents should not have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for their actions while in office.

After the Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue Thursday, NBC News Kristen Welker pressed McConnell about 2021 remarks he made following Donald Trumps second impeachment trial. While McConnell voted with the majority to acquit Trump on a charge of inciting the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol, he blamed Trump for provoking the riot and said that former presidents were not immune from being held accountable by civil litigation or criminal prosecution.

That was my view, but I dont make that decision, McConnell said Thursday, pointing to the case currently pending before the court, which Trump brought as he seeks to avoid federal prosecution over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The president clearly needs some kind of immunity or hed be in court all the time. So we will see how the Supreme Court deals with it, he said.

Following nearly three hours of oral arguments, the Supreme Court on Thursday appeared ready to reject Trumps claims of sweeping immunity and the broad protections he has sought to shut down the federal election subversion case. The former president maintains that the conduct Smith charged him over was part of his official duties as president and he is shielded from criminal liability.

Trump and McConnell have a strained relationship. CNN reported in January that the two hadnt spoken in more than three years. McConnell, who will step down as the Senates Republican leader in November, has also found himself at odds with Trump and other members of his party over Ukraine aid and his occasional willingness to negotiate with Democrats.

Still, McConnell endorsed Trump in March, shortly after the former president dominated races across the country on Super Tuesday. McConnell said that Trump had earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be the GOP nominee.

It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support, McConnell said in a statement.

CNNs Manu Raju, John Fritze, Tierney Sneed and Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Washington is hoping new deliveries of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine will push Germany to finally send Taurus missiles to help Kyiv fend off Russia's full-scale invasion, the French public television network TV5 Monde reported on April 25, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is against sending the weapons to Ukraine because he fears the move will draw Germany into the war.

Ukraine has received other long-range missiles, such as the Storm Shadow from the U.K. and the French-made SCALP, and it was reported on April 25 that the U.S. had secretly sent more than 100 long-range ATACMS missiles to Kyiv last week.

"On the issue of the Taurus... it's a decision for Germany to make," an anonymous senior U.S. defense official told TV5 Monde on April 25.

"But of course, with the US supply of ATACMS as well as the previous decisions of the U.K. and France to supply long-range missiles, we obviously have the hope that this will play a role," they added.

In February, U.S. President Joe Biden instructed his team to include the long-range ATACMS in a military aid package, doing it in secrecy for security reasons and "to maintain the element of surprise for Ukraine," Reuters reported on April 24, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

The NYT, quoting another unnamed U.S. official, said it was these missiles that struck the airfield in Dzhankoi in Russian-occupied Crimea on April 17. Ukraine's military intelligence on April 18 said that Ukrainian forces had destroyed four S-400 launchers, three radar stations, a command post for air defense operations, and air space surveillance equipment Fundament-M in the attack.

Read also: When and how will US aid impact the front lines in Ukraine?

The U.S. first delivered mid-range older models of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine last fall, following months of deliberation. The older models have a range of 165 kilometers (roughly 100 miles).

Newer models of ATACMS have a maximum range of around 300 kilometers (around 190 miles), and their delivery to Ukraine was previously unknown to the public.

Taurus is a joint German-Swedish-made cruise missile with a range of over 500 kilometers, further than the Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles Ukraine currently has as well as the newer models of ATACMS.

They are also designed to hit buried and protected targets.

These advantages would allow Kyiv to hit targets deeper inside occupied Ukraine, including the Crimean Bridge, a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces.

But their increased range would also allow for strikes deep inside Russian territory, a scenario that has made Berlin nervous.

The missiles would be "used solely inside our borders," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in August.

"The longer the missile range, the shorter the war," he argued.

Read also: NYT: US secretly sent Ukraine over 100 ATACMS last week

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A staff member of Hangzhou Yushu Technology Co., Ltd. (1st R) demonstrates a robotic dog at Hannover Messe 2024 in Hannover, Germany, April 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

"We would love it that the Chinese participation would enlarge in the size of the booths and then that we have this global marketplace for supply and demand," said Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the Managing Board of Deutsche Messe AG, the organizer of Hannover Messe 2024.

HANNOVER, Germany, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies "are more and more innovative," the organizer of this year's Hannover Messe told Xinhua, expressing his hope of expanding trade with China in the future.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua during the leading annual industrial trade fair in Germany, Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the Managing Board of the organizer Deutsche Messe AG, said he was "very happy to have many exhibitors from China."

Established in 1947, the Hannover Messe this year runs from Monday to Friday, with Chinese exhibitors accounting for 30 percent of almost 4,000 exhibitors from around 60 countries and regions, second only to Germany.

This year's theme -- "Energizing A Sustainable Industry" -- just reflects the proactive role of Chinese companies in the global innovation arena, according to Koeckler.

An industrial welding robot of Siasun Robot and Automation Co., Ltd. is seen at Hannover Messe 2024 in Hannover, Germany, April 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

He recalled that 20 years ago, Hannover Messe was more of "a trade show only for components" where exhibitors sought buyers, while today, visitors have problems that need exhibitors to solve. "Chinese exhibitors, like all exhibitors, are more and more in solution-orientated topics for automation."

As climate change has worried more in recent years, energy transformation is a key topic of Hannover Messe 2024, where more than 500 exhibitors from the hydrogen and fuel cell industry present energy solution innovations.

An advocate for the transition towards fully renewable energy production, Koeckler noted China's strides in green transformation.

"I visit China every year, and I am really impressed that you have a clear plan to reduce CO2 emission," he said.

During his recent visit, he stayed in Shanghai for a week and was impressed by a noticeable reduction in air pollution and the prevalence of electric vehicles.

"Yes, you see it's less pollution of the air. Then, there I see a very good progress," he said.

A visitor plays rock paper scissors with an intelligent robot at Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany, on April 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

China represents a colossal market and Hannover Messe can serve as a pivotal platform for Chinese exhibitors to cultivate partnerships and expand their global reach, Koeckler said.

For eight consecutive years, China has been Germany's largest trading partner, with two-way trade soaring to over 200 billion euros (214 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

"From our point of view, we would love it that the Chinese participation would enlarge in the size of the booths and then that we have this global marketplace for supply and demand," he said.

Referring to China as "a huge economy with a good development looking on prosperity," Koeckler emphasized win-win cooperation between Germany and China, and the importance of fair and free exchange of ideas and goods.

"That is what happened on exhibition," he told Xinhua.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Birders are crowing over an extremely rare bird sighting that occurred at Hug Point State Recreation Site on April 21.

Vancouver resident Michael Sanchez told KOIN 6 News that he was photographing Hug Point Falls at sunrise when he noticed a little bird near the shoreline.

I happened to look behind me toward the ocean and saw this cute little bird standing on the sand, Sanchez said. The sun wasnt fully up yet, so to my eyes, it looked like a little black bird. It posed for me for a minute or two, and then it flew up to the rocks. It stayed there for another moment or so, and then it flew away toward the east. I didnt think much more of it than that.

Sanchez was unaware that he had photographed the first known blue rock thrush sighting in U.S. history.

Returning home to review his pictures, Sanchez noticed that that little black bird was much more colorful than he realized. This led him to post his photos on social media, where they shocked the local birding world.

Photos of the ultra-rare blue rock thrush sighting captured at Hug Point on April 21, 2024. (Michael Sanchez)

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blue rock thrush

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I noticed the bird wasnt black at all, but it was a pretty blue and chestnut-colored bird, he said. I posted it on social media for some help identifying it and a friend of mine passed it along to one of her birding friends. He let me know that this was an extremely rare bird in this part of the world.

According to experts, the blue rock thrush sighting is the second unofficial sighting in the documented history of North America. Oregon Birding Association member Nolan Clements, who is also a PhD student with Oregon State Universitys Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, told KOIN 6 News that the blue rock thrush is native to Europe and Asia and is not known to inhabit any part of North America.

There has been only one report ever in North America, Clements said. In 1997, one was photographed in British Columbia. However, many birders were skeptical of the origins of this bird, thinking it may have been an escaped caged bird or perhaps accidentally transported across the Pacific on a cargo ship. Ultimately, the 1997 BC record was written off.

Birders have flocked to Hug Point in recent days in an attempt to find Sanchezs blue rock thrush. However, no other sightings have been reported. While Sanchezs sighting is still under review by experts, Clements said that the bird seen in the photos is definitely a blue rock thrush.

The report has not passed the scrutiny of the Oregon Bird Records Committee or the American Birding Association Records Committee, both voting bodies that adjudicate natural history records, and so is not an official record yet, Clements said. I am currently a voting member of the OBRC and I suspect there will be lengthy discussions about this bird, but my guess is that ultimately this report will be accepted.

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Clements said that its unclear how the bird may have arrived in the U.S., but added that a similar species, the rufous-tailed rock thrush, was also photographed in northern Alaska in 2021. The Alaska sighting was the first known record of the species in North America.

It seems possible that the bird hitched a ride on the ship, but it may be unlikely, he said. If this bird were in Astoria or Portland, Id say it was much more likely to be ship-assisted. Its really hard to know for sure with occurrences like this.

Sanchez said that hes working with the Oregon Bird Records Committee to provide as much info about the sighting as possible. KOIN 6 will continue to monitor the story for the committees final ruling on the sighting.

Now that I know just how rare of a sighting this is, I wish I would have captured more pictures of it, he said. However, Im happy with the photos that I was able to get, and I hope this brings new interest in the fascinating world of birdwatching.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
When Melania Trump cast her ballot last month in the Florida primary alongside her husband, former President Trump, she was asked if she would return to the campaign trail this year.

Stay tuned, the former first lady replied with a smile.

But apart from a fundraiser earlier this month for Log Cabin Republicans at her Mar-a-Lago home, Melania Trump has been absent on the stump. And those around her say they dont expect that to change.

Its just not her comfort space, said one source who has spent time with the former first lady and is familiar with her preferences when it comes to campaigns and the political stage.

And I think its a real loss, because first ladies are typically helpful on the campaign trail with women, with undecideds, and she has a very compelling story and shes good at telling it, the source said. I respect her for not doing something she doesnt want to do, but you have to look at it as a detriment to her husbands campaign.

A second source added: The campaign doesnt ask her to be out there because they know she dislikes it.  Shes a very private person.

Trumps criminal hush money trial in New York  in which he is accused of fraudulently concealing payments made to a porn actress to hide an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election  is keeping the former president off the campaign trial for the time being.

Strategists say surrogates such as the former first lady and Trumps children could help fill the void, particularly with a number of polls showing President Biden gaining on his predecessor over the last several weeks.

Trump has a paper-thin lead of 0.4 percentage points over Biden in the latest Decision Desk HQ/The Hill (DDHQ) aggregation of national polls. Biden has overtaken Trump in Pennsylvania in the DDHQ aggregate of polls in the Keystone State, while the race has narrowed in the swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

But those who know Melania Trump say they expect she will likely stay out of the spotlight, despite the pressure of Trumps legal fights and the campaign.

If shes not on the campaign trail now that her husband is in the middle of a criminal trial, I dont think shes going to do it at all, the first source said, adding that the former first lady doesnt want to be in a position where shes asked about it.

Trumps campaign and the former first ladys aides would not comment on how Melania Trump would participate in the presidential campaign, after repeated requests.

Sources who know the former first lady say she wields a lot of power with her husband and privately remains one of his top advisers. When an issue or news item matters to her, she makes it a point to get in his ear, sources say. And in key moments on the campaign  including the selection of his vice president  she is known to voice her opinion.

Earlier this month, the former first lady made headlines for launching a line of customizable necklaces for Mothers Day. The so-called Her Love & Gratitude necklaces cost $245. Proceeds from the necklace  which is sold on her website  appear to go to Melania Trump.

Being a mother is one of the most important roles in life, Melania Trump said in a statement, adding that the necklace expresses immense gratitude and honor to all mothers.

Since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has spent most of her days focused on her family. One source said she spends time with her sister, Ines, and goes to the Mar-a-Lago spa. Next months focus: the high school graduation of the former first couples son, Barron.

Shes not on Worth Avenue hanging out with her girlfriends, the first source said, referring to the renowned Palm Beach street known for its high-end shops. Shes introverted and family-focused and is not really motivated by the things that motivate most political spouses.

Melania Trumps absence from the campaign trail differs greatly from the approach taken by first lady Jill Biden.

Since the start of the year, Jill Biden has made 26 appearances on behalf of the campaign, including a tide of fundraisers and events in battleground states such as Georgia, Nevada and Arizona, where she helped launch the Women for Biden-Harris coalition. Last week, the first lady, a longtime college professor, appeared in Minnesota to launch Educators for Biden-Harris, a program aimed at engaging and mobilizing teachers, school staff and parents in support of her husbands campaign.

Jill Biden has also sat down for interviews, as she did in January with Mika Brzezinski, the co-host of MSNBCs Morning Joe, where she talked about how the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol makes her want to be in the fight even more.

Because we have to win. We must win. We cannot let go of our democracy, she said.

In the interview, the first lady also advocated on her husbands behalf, even as questions about his age and mental acuity loom over the campaign.

He can do it. And I see Joe every day. I see him out traveling around this country. I see his vigor. I see his energy. I see his passion every single day, she said. His age is an asset.

First ladies typically shine a spotlight on the softer, more human side of a president, discussing more private moments, highlighting their personalities and their passions.

But in the case of Trump, he doesnt need to be humanized because thats not what his voters want, Kate Andersen Brower, the author of First Women: The Grace and Power of Americas Modern First Ladies, said. They dont want to see the softer side of Donald Trump.

Brower went on to say that Melania Trump is the most private lady in American history.

And his supporters are fine with her being in the shadows, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
For more than a decade, two Louisiana men drained a dead womans bank account of Social Security benefits and used her money to pay bills and buy cars, federal prosecutors said.

They stole over $442,000 in benefits that the Social Security Administration deposited into her bank account from August 1999  the month she died  until July 2020, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The theft began as early as 2008, when the men started paying utility bills for their vacation home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with the womans money, a federal indictment filed April 19 says.

Prosecutors believe the men plotted to steal her benefits much earlier, on Nov. 15, 2002  the day they purchased her New Orleans home, according to the indictment.

The two men also used her benefits to make $61,495 worth of payments for two Lincoln vehicles and for other personal expenses, including credit card and health insurance bills, prosecutors said.

The men, who are both 60 and live in New Orleans, were indicted on charges of a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds and making false statements to federal agents, the U.S. attorneys office announced April 25.

Information regarding their legal representation wasnt immediately available on April 26.

In addition to Social Security money, the men stole $1,200 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds deposited into the womans account in April 2020, according to the indictment.

In 2022, both men lied to SSA special agents who interviewed them about the theft of the womans benefits, the indictment says.

One of the men claimed he had no idea Social Security funds were used to pay for his vacation homes utility bills in New Smyrna Beach, FL, according to the indictment.

However, in truth and in fact, (he) knew that (the womans) Social Security money was used to do so, the indictment states.

From 2008 to 2015, the men paid $3,474.83 in bills for their Florida home, the indictment says.

They also used SSA funds to pay $2,527 toward utility bills for their New Orleans home from 2009 to 2017, according to the indictment.

If convicted on all counts against them, the men could face up to 35 years in prison, prosecutors said.

Both men are due in court for an arraignment on May 6, court records show.

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Man steals dead wifes benefits, then threatens to stab agents arresting him, feds say

Man pretends he doesnt live with his wife, steals benefits for 16 years, feds say
Merced College honored former longtime president Ben Duran and his wife RoseMary Parga Duran during MCs 10th annual State of the College event in downtown Merced on Thursday afternoon.

A crowd of more than 500 community leaders, local school administrators, Merced College staff and local dignitaries were on hand as Merced College President Chris Vitelli delivered his State of the College address and awarded Ben and RoseMary Parga Duran the Presidents Medallion Award, which recognizes the colleges greatest supporters.

A brief ceremony followed in which the the Business Resource Center, which Duran played an instrumental role in getting built  was renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center.

Duran called the recognition a huge honor for him and his family and also everyone who helped him during his tenure at Merced College.

It really was a culmination of a lot of people working together and thats really what today was, Duran said. It really was a mutual honor of them and ourselves. Were just delighted that this was able to happen today.

Former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran speaks during the Merced College State of the College event after he and wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Merced Colleges Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

Duran grew up in Le Grand as the son of migrant farm workers. As he grew up he fell in love with teaching, eventually becoming principal at Le Grand High School before moving on to Merced College.

I absolutely loved my teachers, Duran said. I can go back to elementary school, to kindergarten, I still remember them with fondness and to this day the time I spent in the classroom is the greatest time in my life.

Merced College saw its enrollment almost double during Durans 14-year tenure as the schools president from 1998 through 2012. Merced College went from an enrollment around 6,000 students to over 12,000 students with Duran as president.

We were providing access to student populations that typically wouldnt have thought about coming to the college, Duran said. The proudest thing that I have are the people who have gone through and been successful.

Former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran poses for photos in front of Merced Colleges Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center, following the Merced College State of the College event where he and wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters, in Merced Calif, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

Duran spent his speech on Thursday talking about a couple of those success stories, about students who struggled in high school and eventually went on to U.C. Berkeley or an immigrant who had to learn to read and write English when they came to the U.S and was able to eventually make their way through the Merced College nursing program.

Merced College also saw new and renovated buildings during Durans leadership, including the Business Resource Center and the Los Banos Campus, that were funded by multiple bond measures that passed.

Merced College President Chris Vitelli speaks during the Merced College State of the College address in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. During the event, former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran and his wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters. Merced Colleges Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

One success story Duran shared was his wifes journey from Planada to Merced College to becoming an educator for 35 years, including becoming the first female superintendent for the Merced City School District, a role she served for 11 years.

We teach in our leadership classes that the highest level of leadership is those that have a legacy of leadership, where others go out and continue to pursue their passions, Vitelli said. Thats what these two individuals  these trailblazers that represent our community is so many different ways  have done for education and higher education.

During his State of the College speech Vitelli highlighted some of recent news surrounding Merced College.

Former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran looks on during the Merced College State of the College event where he and wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Merced Colleges Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

The first topic Vitelli broached was the colleges goal to focus on the whole student and not just their academic pursuits.

Its no longer just our job to educate students inside of the classroom, Vitelli said. Were also focus on their well-being.

Merced College students have access to a Timely Care app that is a virtual health and well-being provider.

Merced College President Chris Vitelli speaks during the Merced College State of the College address in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. During the event, former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran and his wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters. Merced Colleges Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

Im proud that Board of Trustees adopted an agreement with Timely Care just last year, Vitelli said. Timely Care now provides 24-hour service to all of our students...they will now have full-covered medical care, as well as mental health services just by being a student at Merced College.

Vitelli expressed his excitement about the beginning of the construction of a new Career/Transfer Center on campus.

We intend for this to be a place K-12 partners, our four-year partners, many of which are here, as well as all of our employers within our service area, can come and meet the high quality students that we have for internships and job placement, Vitelli said.

Merced College President Chris Vitelli speaks during the Merced College State of the College address in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. During the event, former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran and his wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters. Merced Colleges Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

Vitelli also revealed the Merced College nursing program has doubled its capacity in the past year. Merced College was originally approved for a maximum of 35 students per semester in the RN program and that has increased to 80 students.

Currently Merced College has 147 nursing students enrolled.

Vitelli also mentioned the $100 million housing facility for community college and transfer students that Merced College and UC Merced teamed up to address a housing shortage that affects low-income residents in Merced County.

The Merced College Business Resource Center, located at 630 W. 19th Street, has been renamed the Dr. Benjamin T. Duran Business Resource Center following the Merced College State of the College address in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. During the event, former Merced College President Dr. Ben Duran and his wife Dr. RoseMary Parga Duran, former Merced City School District Superintendent, were honored with the Presidents Medallion Award recognizing them as among the colleges greatest supporters. Andrew Kuhn/akuhn@mercedsun-star.com

The California Legislature approved the funding of the project in August of 2023.

Vitelli also highlighted Merced Colleges partnership with Dreamscape Learn to bring immersive, VR-enabled learning experiences to students.

The new courses will be offered in Merceds new Virtual Reality Center, which will open this fall.

This is the most advance immersive technology that education can invest in and we are so excited to be on the cutting edges and our students get to see the world right here in Merced through this immersive virtual learning classroom, Vitelli said.

Vitelli says Merced College has its eyes on the future and will continue to find better ways to serve its students.

Were laser-focused on being one of the most innovative community colleges in the country, Vitelli said. What that means is were going to embrace the best technology, the most innovative practices, were going to embrace things like artificial intelligence, knowing that is the future as we train your students and our community members here.
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  During a public meeting Tuesday, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners approved a $1 million contribution towards the permanent protection of the Shoshone water rights.

The Shoshone water right is considered the most senior, non-consumptive water right on the Colorado River. It provides water to five communities, a $4 billion recreation system and agriculture throughout Western Colorado.

Commissioner Bobbie Daniel called the million-dollar investment a pledge to our communitys future.

In December 2023, Xcel Energy agreed to sign over the water rights to the Colorado River District for $98.5 million.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
On Thursday, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke voiced her disappointment at Harvey Weinsteins conviction being overturned by the New York Court of Appeals at a press conference in New York City.

Burke said the #MeToo movement will continue the fight to make sure survivors of sexual abuse are protected. When we have low moments, we get low and we get dirty and we do what we have to do. We get in the trenches and we do our work, and we will continue to do that, she said, according to multiple outlets coverage of the press conference. The outcome of this case doesnt change that.

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The activist also expressed that she was devastated for the survivors who are connected to this case and the survivors who have found some solace and catharsis in the original verdict around Harvey Weinstein.

However, in a video shared by The Guardian from the press conference, Burke was also optimistic about the significance of Weinsteins court cases. I want to be clear that this moment and this decision actually means that we have a movement, she said.

Burke added, Ten years ago, we could not get a man like Harvey Weinstein into a courtroom and you need to be clear about that.

This is not a blow to the movement, she reminded. This is a clarion call and we are prepared to answer that call.

In interviews later Thursday, Burke spoke about the difference between what Thursdays decision means for the legal system and what it means for the movement.

The judicial system has never been a friend of survivors. And so its the reason why we need movements, because movements have historically been what has pushed the legal system to do the right thing, Burke told The Associated Press.

She added, noting that she spent the morning speaking to accusers including Annabella Sciorra who testified at Weinsteins 2020 trial that he raped her: I can understand how devastating and disgusted and angry, just the range of emotions that so many of them must feel. And I hope they understand for those of us survivors who will likely never see a day in court, that they are still heroes to us.

In a 4-3 ruling, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the judge in the New York County trial had reached a decision on the trial with improper rulings, as he allowed women to testify with allegations that were not specifically part of this case. The court has now decided that a new trial is to take place.

Weinstein will remain in prison, as he was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in December 2022. He is expected to be transferred to a prison in California to serve this sentence.

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas response to cannabis seizures by border patrol agents in the state during a recent phone call.

The Democratic governor further complained that she feels boxed in by the federal governments crackdown on New Mexicos state-legal cannabis industry.

Lujan Grishams comments came in a phone conversation with a senior administration official  whose identity has not been disclosed  that was recorded by a third party and posted on X by Tore Maras, who runs the website Tore Says.

Lujan Grishams office confirmed the audios authenticity to POLITICO on Friday, and said the conversation was with a high-level federal administration official, but did not specify which agency.

In the audio, Lujan Grisham references the recent seizures of state-licensed cannabis by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in southern New Mexico. Over the last two months, officers have seized more than $300,000 of state-licensed cannabis at various checkpoints, according to data collected by the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

Some of these checkpoints are located as far as 80 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, like the one on I-70 en route to the town of Alamogordo, where two different cannabis operators told POLITICO theyve been stopped and had licensed products seized in the last two months.

On the call, Lujan Grisham confirms she has raised the issue all the way to Mayorkas, in a meeting that was previously reported by local news station KRQE.

Customs and Border Protection agents are worried about fentanyl, so theyre taking all our cannabis, she says on the call.

Lujan Grisham spokesperson Michael Coleman previously told the Associated Press that Mayorkas assured the governor that federal policies with respect to legalized cannabis have not changed.

However, the new audio highlights the governors frustration with Mayorkas response.

The secretary said to me, just so you know: Who cares? They make a lot of money, she tells the official, referring to the secretarys comment about the states licensed cannabis industry. I thought that was really inappropriate.

CBP has the legal authority to confiscate any cannabis with more than 0.3 percent THC, because it remains federally illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. However, over the last three decades, 38 states, four territories and the District of Columbia have legalized either medical or recreational marijuana. The federal government has not recently taken steps to shut down any of those legal industries.

In 2014, Congress passed an appropriations amendment that limits the ability of the Department of Justice to go after state-legal medical marijuana businesses. But CBP is not part of the Justice Department  its part of the Department of Homeland Security, which is not limited by the amendment. The amendments limitations have been on display in New Mexico before, when Bureau of Indian Affairs drug officers entered Picuris Pueblo land and pulled up licensed medical marijuana plants.

But the seizures by CBP are more widespread than a few Department of the Interior officers. Lewinger says 15 seizures have occurred since mid-February at the checkpoints heading north, east and west out of Las Cruces.

In a statement issued to POLITICO, CBP reiterated that marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Consequently, individuals violating the Controlled Substances Act encountered while crossing the border, arriving at a U.S. port of entry, or at a Border Patrol checkpoint may be deemed inadmissible and/or subject to seizures, fines, and/or arrest.

Lujan Grisham campaigned on enacting recreational legalization in 2018 and called a special session of the state Legislature in 2021 to get it done. She proudly touted legalization as an economic boost for the state  which is one of the poorest in the country  and sales have topped $1 billion since the recreational market launched just over two years ago.

But in this call, Lujan Grisham pushed the unnamed federal official to take action, saying shes being accused of being feckless in addressing the issue.

Either you have to adjust it or I have to send you a letter saying youre persecuting the states, you are not using your discretion, youre not working with me on immigration, Lujan Grisham said. And I dont want to send that letter, but Im boxed in.
The longest-serving state attorney in Miami-Dade County history coasted to a seventh term Friday, when a noon filing deadline passed and no other candidate surfaced.

Katherine Fernandez Rundle, who was automatically re-elected without opposition, no longer has to concern herself with a possible opponent in November and is expected to be sworn in on Jan. 7.

Fridays victory was the second time the political powerhouse  who spent 15 years as a top assistant before replacing legendary Janet Reno  has not faced an opponent in the countywide race. She also ran unopposed in 2016. In other years, Fernandez Rundle has defeated a series of challengers, including Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Alberto Milian, defense attorney Rod Vareen and former ACLU of Florida deputy director and Florida International University professor Melba Pearson.

A state database for candidates showed no new challengers had qualified to take her on this year.

In a prepared statement, the state attorney said she was humbled and grateful to have won a seventh term.

This is a testament to our continued work in the community and my longstanding commitment to always put public safety first and seek justice for victims, fairness for all, said Fernandez Rundle.

The 73-year-old democrat  who has recently come under fire for the mishandling of a high-profile murder case in which two prosecutors were tossed by a judge  was first appointed to office in 1993 and elected a year later. Though there has been a string of political and law enforcement arrests in recent years, Fernandez Rundle has also been criticized for never having prosecuted a law enforcement officer over a fatal shooting.

Her office did prosecute former North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda for the 2016 shooting of a behavioral therapist as he laid down with his hands in the air on a roadway next to his severely autistic client. Aledda said it was an accident. He was found guilty of culpable negligence three years later and received a years probation. The conviction was later overturned and Fernandez Rundles office chose not to move forward with another trial.

Under her watch, the state attorneys office has embedded investigators with some police units. They often show up at major crime scenes. State investigators also sit in on interviews for serious crimes  practices unheard of in most other counties.

Read More: Fernandez Rundle faces mounting criticism over prosecutor conduct

The state attorneys office has also created about a dozen investigative task forces, from human trafficking, to gang units to hate crimes, since Fernandez Rundle has taken office.

But for the first time, Fernandez Rundle could face the unraveling of some, or even all of those units. Thats because for the first time in 57 years, Miami-Dade will have an elected sheriff with the power to scuttle those task forces in November.

The president of Miami-Dades largest police union said he expects little change in the dynamics between the state attorneys office and police even with a new sheriff. And late last year, Fernanez Rundle said she was optimistic the transition would be smooth and promised to remain focused on crime.
TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani on Friday praised the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for upholding international norms and security through cooperation, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.

He made the remarks at a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the SCO in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, saying the SCO mechanism had played a vital role in fostering a new trend that respects each country's security rights and demands, as well as upholding national and international norms and values, such as justice, independence, equality and peace.

He noted that the SCO's growing influence in shaping international trends derived from its members' diverse socio-economical, cultural, and security capacities.

According to Ashtiani, the platform stands in sharp contrast to major military blocs like NATO in the West. He believed "NATO's hegemonic stance and policies have brought about wars and security crises, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, over the past few decades."

Turning to counterterrorism, he said fighting terrorism is one of SCO strategic targets, and Iran is ready to share its capabilities, knowledge and experiences in combating terrorism with other SCO members. 
The Rev. Michael Terrence Moran, a former Sacramento minister and co-founder of the Spiritual Life Center in Arden Arcade, died in his Idaho home on March 24. He was 75.

Described as a trailblazer and interfaith champion, the congregation welcomed a diversity of faiths from Christianity to Islam to Judaism.

(Moran) dared to build a trans denominational, interfaith spiritual community long before it was acceptable to do so, said the Rev. Kevin Kitrell Ross, the CEO of Unity of Sacramento. His vision for a world without walls and without war is still a guiding light for our time.

The congregation is described as a spiritual center, where everyone can experience faith practice, regardless of their background. The message of the center was to honor inclusivity and to respect for all faiths that teach love, said Gaea Swinford, Morans partner.

The Spiritual Life Center, founded in 1998, would have a continuous close relationship with the interfaith community. After 9/11, Moran and his late wife, Rev. Faith Clark Moran, began working with his Muslim colleagues to lend support, a news release stated. The center would hold its Easter services at the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims Islamic Center in North Highlands in 2008.

Members of the Spiritual Life Center of Sacramento hold their Easter morning services at the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims auditorium next to SALAMs mosque in 2012. Moran, who co-founded Spiritual Life Center, died March 24 at his home in Idaho. He was 75.

Moran invited Sikh and Muslim youth from the SALAM Islamic Center to perform in 2012, which was a centerpiece in the congregations Sunday service.

Moran was a foundational guide in the interfaith community coming together, using his kindness as a service to others, Swinford added. It was one his greatest gifts.

If you knew Michael, he was your friend, Swinford said. He was absolutely funny and irreverent and wanted to be known as being kind. That was the highest compliment you could have given him.

Moran was known to be a generous and loving soul. He was charismatic in the best sense of the word, Faith Whitmore the CEO of the Family Justice Center, said in the release.

(He) brought people of varying faiths together with such ease to share the common good, Whitmore said. He was a shining light among us and will be missed beyond measure.

The Revs. Michael Moran, left, and Christine Bouten, right, of the Spiritual Life Center applaud Dr. Metwalli Amer, executive director and founder of SALAM, as he greets the members of the Christian congregation for their 2012 Easter services, held at the SALAM Islamic Center. Moran, who co-founded Spiritual Life Center, died March 24 at his home in Idaho. He was 75.

To many, Moran was a role model on interfaith work, said the Rev. James Trapp, senior minister at the Spiritual Life Center.

Moran was a beacon of light who served as a reminder that all people, regardless of religious beliefs, are one in spirit, Trapp said in a news release. He will forever be a model for how to bring lasting peace and harmony to all humanity. His legacy has left an indelible imprint on everyone fortunate enough to have crossed his path.

Moran was born May 24, 1948, in McKinney, Texas. His family later moved to Spokane, Washington. Throughout his life, Moran used the gift of his voice. In the 1970s, he worked as a morning radio broadcaster in Washington.

Morans career as a unity minister began in the mid-1980s after attending the Unity Institute in Kansas City. He later served at several unity churches.

In 1998, he opened the Spiritual Life Center alongside his late wife. After 12 years of services at Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ in midtown and several years of sharing spaces with other groups including the SALAM Islamic Center and Sacramento City College, the congregation took up permanent residence at a building on Park Towne Circle and Butano drives in Arden Arcade.

Spiritual Life Center minister the Rev. Michael Moran, left, wipes his eye while listening to Gurtej Singh Cheema during a service for the Spiritual Life Center on the Sacramento City College campus in 2012. Moran, who founded the congregation with his late wife, the Rev. Faith Clark Moran, died March 24 at his home in Idaho. He was 75.

Moran retired in 2014, six years later after the death of his wife. He moved back to Coeur dAlene, Idaho, to be near his family.

In addition to Swinford, he is survived by his sister, Patti Moran Cook; daughter, Jennifer Moran Miller; sons Darin Nelson and Talor Moran; and six grandchildren.

Morans public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. May 4 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and N streets in downtown Sacramento.
Authorities on Friday morning will announce criminal charges in connection with a multi-jurisdictional investigation.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Massachusetts State Police, and other law enforcement partners will announce the charges at the state police Lower Basin Barracks at 250 Leverett Circle in Boston at 10 a.m.

There were no additional details immediately available.

Boston 25 News will stream the news conference live here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The News

Speaker Mike Johnson is being re-evaluated in political circles after breaking with conservative rebels to pass Ukraine aid  and that includes among donors.

Taking over for Kevin McCarthy and his vaunted fundraising operation, large donor money has been slower to pour in so far. Now, both Johnsons critics and supporters are waiting to see whether his decision on the national security package changes things.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, one of the rebels threatening to oust Johnson, is making the case that the speakers ability to raise cash will only get worse from here as it becomes clear hes reliant on Democrats to maintain his position at all.

Even if he were able to change the rules in order to hang on to power and form some coalition with Democrats, he cant win speakership next year, and frankly, the donors arent inspired to talk to a speaker whos a lame duck, Massie said on Fox Saturday, echoing similar comments he made on CNN earlier last week.

Others have also speculated the vote could cost Johnson with smaller donors, who are more likely to be plugged into the MAGA networks that led the charge against the aid bill and are currently threatening to primary incumbent Republicans they view as moderate.

The animus against him is coming from the grassroots who are mad over his capitulation to send aid to Ukraine without border reform, a senior House Republican aide told Semafor.

But some in GOP fundraising circles see Johnsons latest move as a potential turning point, not only because more traditional major donors agree with him on the merits of Ukraine assistance, but because they see his newfound decisiveness as a sign he may be able to stick around.

He achieved some conservative wins, helped America lead, and neutralized a challenge from the far right  all of this will earn him credibility with Republican donors, including with those who have been skeptical of his ability to navigate a razor-thin majority. one former senior Republican aide familiar with political fundraising operations, told Semafor.

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The View From The Speaker

In less than six months and after just one full quarter in office, Speaker Johnson has built a team from the ground up and traveled across nearly 25 states raising more than $30 million to grow the House Republican majority, Johnsons campaign spokesman Greg Steele told Semafor. The Speaker continues to build on this momentum thanks to strong support from grassroots activists and major donors across the country.

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Kadias view

It was always going to be tough to fill McCarthys shoes as a lesser-known member, especially with a chaotic GOP conference thats competing for scarce resources with other Republican candidates and outside groups around the country during a presidential election year. One vote is unlikely to fully change that.

Hes new. Hes surrounded by threats to his authority, not only in the House but every other R-affiliated political org in town, one Republican in regular contact with fundraisers said. A lot of donors I know are, like, Im not dealing with the House anymore  Im just going to focus on the Senate, I cant take this craziness.

But some also see Johnson making steady progress in building trust, and the Ukraine episode helping him with more business-minded donors who are still sizing him up.

Johnsons views on social issues wont align with every donor, but if he demonstrates an ability to lead when the moment calls and is able to keep the various factions of the House GOP from tearing each other apart, donors who care about Republicans keeping the House majority will be there for him, the former senior Republican aide said.

They added hes been doing all the right things in recent weeks, including meeting large donors, visiting members in their districts, pledging to protect them from challengers, and building an infrastructure to reach grassroots donors, much like his predecessor, former Speaker McCarthy. Johnson is visiting eight states this week, including a stop by Columbia University where he sparred with Israel-Gaza protesters  always a hit across the Republican spectrum.

He also has help from other veteran members of Republican leadership, like Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer and Chair Elise Stefanik which isnt unusual but even more relevant this cycle with an abrupt change at the top. And despite being outraised by their Democratic rival last quarter, the top GOP-affiliated super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, has maintained a cash-on-hand advantage and kept pace with the last cycle.

Kevin McCarthys departure left a fundraising gap that everyone in leadership is working to fill, a House GOP leadership aide said. Republican leadership has been criss-crossing the country to ensure House Republicans have the resources necessary to win in November.

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Notable

Bloomberg reported last month on Johnsons difficulty connecting with some Republican donors. National Republican Congressional Committee chair Richard Hudson defended Johnson saying he had exceeded my expectations after having to sub in for McCarthy mid-cycle.

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In a move that shocked many Republican leaders in the state, Sen. Mike Lee endorsed the Republican opponent of his congressional colleague Rep. Celeste Maloy on Thursday.

The surprise announcement in favor of 2nd Congressional District candidate Colby Jenkins came just two days before the state GOP nominating convention and follows a vote by Maloy on legislation Lee opposed.

Maloy responded to Lee putting his thumb on the scale for her challenger in an exclusive statement given to the Deseret News:

President Trump called me last week  because thats what he does when two of his cabinet-level advisors endorse someone  and he asked me how I like being in Congress. And I told him, Ill be honest with you, Mr. President, I like the job, but Im sick and tired of Republicans losing because we fight each other harder than we fight the Democrats. And he laughed and told me I was right, and said hes sick of it, too. And this is a prime example of why Republicans keep losing. When we agree on principle, but disagree on tactics, we go out and try to harm each other instead of trying to bring home wins for our constituents.

In an interview with the Deseret News, Jenkins said he did not personally speak with Sen. Lee before this discussion started, before this became an opportunity, but some of his staff, and people who support Sen. Lee asked me how I would vote, and what were my positions, and Im confident those got back to him. And that led him to say, hey, I should learn more. And then that led to several intense conversations and interviews, question and answer kind of from Sen. Lee. And thats what led to last night.

Maloy, who had previously introduced public lands legislation with Lee, voted in favor of a FISA 702 amendment that Lee supported requiring a warrant for intelligence agencies to access Americans private information. But after the amendment failed in the House, Maloy voted for the bills reauthorization without the warrant provision.

I implore all House members to vote no, and take a stand for the Fourth Amendment, Lee posted on April 14 before a House vote that would have allowed representatives to vote on the warrant provision again. (Rep. Maloy), its not too late to join us! Its not every day when someone gets a legislative do over!

On her vote, Maloy said, The federal government shouldnt have any more authority to spy on American citizens. Today, I voted in support of a FISA reform bill that includes increased civil and criminal penalties for violating Americans Fourth Amendment rights. Holding agents accountable for abusing Americans is a top priority for me. I am disappointed that certain amendments didnt make it into the final bill, but Ill work with my Senate colleagues to secure even more safeguards, she said in a statement.

Two weeks later, Lee weighed into Maloys Utah congressional race against the incumbent congresswoman with a statement and lending his face and name to Jenkins campaign advertising to delegates ahead of the April 27 convention.

Too many Republicans in Congress have voted to expand the size, scope, and cost of the federal government, in many cases deferring to congressional GOP leaders bent on advancing the Democrats agenda. Now more than ever we need bold conservatives in Congress, Lee said.

Jenkins, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret colonel and combat veteran, said he was challenging Maloy in mid-January.

The St. George resident serves as the director of tech integration for Crown Castle, a national telecommunications company. In the past, he worked with Congress as a Green Beret liaison, at the Pentagon as a counterterrorism policy adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at George Washington University as a professor.

Jenkins told the Deseret News he swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic 25 years ago. He said he wants to provide a positive contrast in leadership, judgment and accountability for the voters of Utahs 2nd District.

Maloy was elected to represent Utahs 2nd Congressional District in November 2023 after she won at a June special nominating convention. Maloy, who previously worked as former Rep. Chris Stewarts chief legal counsel and was endorsed by him, took her old bosss office in mid-November after winning a primary and general election.

Jenkins, who was a delegate at the June 2023 special convention, told the Deseret News he voted for Maloy in the final round of voting at the convention, but said he decided to run after hearing she hadnt voted in recent elections.

Maloy, who grew up in a working class household on the Nevada side of the Utah border, then went to Southern Utah University on a scholarship, before attending law school at Brigham Young University, expressed surprise and gratitude when she was sworn in in November.

I understand what a great honor and what a rare privilege it is to be standing here on the House floor right now giving a speech, she said that day. So thank you.

In an interview with the Deseret News in November, Maloy said, I want Congress to feel accessible to people. Ive been on the other end of this where it felt like Congress was a distant entity, was not responsive, and Im doing my best right now to pull back the curtains and let people see as much of how this works as possible so that they feel like theyre part of the process.

During her six months in office, Maloy has introduced legislation to transfer some federal lands to Utah and voted against further military aid to Ukraine.

Maloy chose not to gather signatures to qualify for the primary ballot in her first reelection attempt. Her electoral future depends on state delegates, some of whom were the same that got her elected last year.

Lee may endorse additional candidates before or at the state convention. Two days before Jenkins announced he had Lees backing, the senator posted a criticism of fellow Republicans that was similar to his statement criticizing Maloy.
Russian troops are trying to encircle the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, Nazar Voloshyn, the Khortytsia Group of Forces' spokesperson, said on national television on April 26.

Chasiv Yar is situated in Donetsk Oblast, around 10 kilometers west of Bakhmut and 50 kilometers north of Avdiivka, cities Russia captured in May 2023 and February 2024, respectively.

Russian forces have been focusing their efforts near Chasiv Yar, which they see as crucial for further advances toward the nearby cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, the Ukrainian military said in March.

Russian troops are now trying to outflank Chasiv Yar through the villages of Bohdanivka and Ivanivske to surround the town, according to Voloshyn.

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"The assault is ongoing. The enemy is trying to take Chasiv Yar into an operational encirclement but has not had any successes over the past seven days," he said.

Russia also focused its efforts on breaking through Ukraine's defenses west of Bakhmut to gain access to the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal, he added.

As many as 20,000 to 25,000 Russian troops are attempting to storm Chasiv Yar and surrounding settlements, Voloshyn previously reported on April 22.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in April that Russia is attempting to capture the town by Victory Day on May 9, a heavily militarized holiday in Russia marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russia is likely trying to take as much territory as possible before the impact of the recently passed U.S. Ukraine aid bill can be felt on the battlefield, which is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

Despite the infusion of much-needed aid, unnamed U.S. officials told Politico on April 24 that the package may not be enough for Ukraine to regain all of its territory. The aid also does not address Ukraine's personnel shortage or the need to improve its military-industrial capacity.

Read also: ISW: Russian forces looking to make tactical gains west of Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar remains primary pressure point

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With news Thursday night that a fifth of the U.S. milk supply contains fragments of bird flu virus, the Biden administration and dairy industry are racing to convince the public not to worry about the spread of the disease among the nations cattle.

Despite the assurances, the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that 1 in 5 retail milk samples tested positive for viral fragments suggests that the virus may have spread beyond symptomatic dairy herds. The pathogen has now been found in at least 33 dairy herds across eight states since first being detected among Texas cattle in late March. Virologists say it could be much more widespread than that data suggests. To date, however, just one person has been confirmed to have contracted the virus  a dairy worker in Texas who developed a case of conjunctivitis, i.e. pink eye.

Federal officials and industry executives maintain the discovery of inactive fragments of the virus strain, known as H5N1, in milk sold to consumers is not, in and of itself, worrisome  rather, its evidence that the pasteurization process is working to neutralize the virus. But given that bird flu has never before spread to cattle, public health officials warn there are still many unknowns. And they and some farmers and lawmakers are now urging the government to rapidly expand its testing and research  and to make that data available ASAP.

"This has been and continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and we are treating it seriously and with urgency, which why this week we issued a Federal Order to further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by this virus," said USDA spokesperson Allan Rodriguez in a statement.

What is the Biden administration telling consumers about drinking milk?

USDA, FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement Tuesday reiterating that the commercial milk supply is safe.

And the agencies emphasized this week that pasteurization is key to preventing milk from transmitting the bird flu virus to humans. The pasteurization process, they noted, kills harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to make milk safer. Even if the virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health.

That said, they did acknowledge that the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles, and said some of the milk samples the government has tested have contained these inactivated virus fragments.

What about raw milk?

Government officials have been pretty clear that drinking raw  or unpasteurized  milk is a bad idea. The FDA has a long-standing recommendation to consumers not to consume raw milk, the agencies said in their Tuesday statement, while noting that the presence of the [H5N1] virus has been detected in raw milk.

As POLITICO has reported, raw milk has been gaining in popularity in recent years, with a half-dozen states passing laws legalizing its sale. But it remains a very niche product  as the agencies noted in their Tuesday statement, 99 percent of the commercial milk supply "comes from farms that participate in the Grade 'A' milk program and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.



Are there any other safety caveats?

Yes. The administration has been careful to say that pasteurization is likely to inactivate the avian flu virus in milk, but they also acknowledge that the detection of the virus in dairy cows is a novel and evolving situation and no studies on the effects of pasteurization on HPAI viruses (such as H5N1) in bovine milk have previously been completed.

The federal government is racing to complete such testing, using a variety of methods that include lab tests and sampling milk and other dairy products at various stages of processing and on store shelves.

USDA on Wednesday also issued a new federal order requiring all dairy cattle to be tested for bird flu before being moved across state lines. Laboratories and state veterinarians will also be required to report any positive virus findings in livestock to USDA. Testing and mandatory reporting will be enforced beginning Monday.

Some public health experts are concerned about how long that testing is taking  and the lack of transparency thus far about the governments findings. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, questioned why the FDA did not immediately say it would test milk products and expeditiously culture any potential virus fragments found.

Just from a government credibility standpoint, being transparent about what you're doing, it's important, Nuzzo said.

In an April 24 letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) urged the USDA to quickly deploy additional resources in states that have the opportunity to prevent the disease from entering herds within their borders by working directly with farmers on improving their biosecurity options.

The World Health Organization has also noted that while the risk from the avian flu outbreak to the general public is low, there is a low-to-moderate risk of infection for farmworkers and others regularly exposed to dairy cows. The one case in which a human has been infected by this latest outbreak of the virus was a dairy worker in Texas.

USDA and the CDC are working to alert farmworkers about the risks and necessary precautions through organizations like the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents meat processing workers, and the United Farm Workers union. CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah met with two farmworker groups in two weeks, according to spokesperson Jason McDonald. The CDC has also released updated guidance for workers as well as fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Marc Perrone, UFCW president, confirmed his union is in contact with USDA, CDC and OSHA on increased safety measures and access to testing for all our members in meatpacking and processing.

But other farmworker groups say they are struggling to implement CDC recommendations without employer support or government-mandated changes to workplace safety policies.

Lack of training and proper equipment is a very common complaint we hear from farmworkers already, so if this were to blow up into a bigger outbreak, its clear that many farms dont have basic preventive measures in place, said Jessica Maxwell, a spokesperson for the Workers Center of Central New York, which represent dairy farmworkers.

It continues to frustrate me that we have an active threat to public health right now with these farmworkers being exposed and nobodys talking about that, Nuzzo said, adding that it is likely that additional human infections have been missed. I fear that because we're putting all of our attention on the future threat and we're just completely ignoring the one right in front of us.



Is there a vaccine for humans to protect against the bird flu?

The Biden administration says it has two vaccine candidates that appear to be good matches for the circulating avian flu virus. But officials dont believe its necessary to ramp up a vaccination campaign right now.

HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O'Connell told reporters on Tuesday that if needed, hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccines that target the H5N1 avian flu virus in humans could be deployed within weeks, pending FDA action. Over 100 million doses could then be deployed within months. States can also request personal protective equipment from the national stockpile to help protect farmworkers and others in close contact with infected animals, officials said.

I want to be clear, while we have these tools available, the risk to humans from the current avian flu outbreak remains low and there's not currently a need to ramp up, OConnell said. The health official previously told POLITICO the vaccine would be a two-dose regimen.

How is this affecting the dairy industry?

Industry groups say they are cooperating with the U.S. governments testing efforts, as well as abiding by existing rules to segregate sick dairy cows on their farms so their milk doesnt enter the food supply in the first place.

And they are reiterating the agencies assessments that pasteurized milk and dairy products sold in stores remain safe for consumers. Viral fragments detected by lab tests following pasteurization are evidence that the pasteurization process has effectively destroyed HPAI; these fragments have no impact on human health, the International Dairy Foods Association said in a fact sheet.

Is the outbreak driving up the price of milk at the grocery store?

Theres no indication of that happening yet. Alan Bjerga, a spokesperson for the National Milk Producers Federation, said he has not seen any milk price changes for farmers or consumers.

Even with the recent FDA tests, which may suggest a wider prevalence of the illness than earlier thought, federal agencies are still noting that pasteurization is effective at making the virus inactive in milk and that consumers can be confident in the safety of the milk supply, he wrote in an email. Based on what we know, it seems that they are.
Under the new proposal, there are three new brackets for individuals making $144,500 and more that are taxed at progressively higher rates.(Getty Images)

A proposal to add new tax brackets and increase rates for wealthier Mainers was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills on Friday.

In her veto message, Mills listed multiple reasons for her veto. Because the bill started as a concept draft  a document without substantive text that is often used as a placeholder before the full bill language is drafted  she said the legislative process didnt have enough transparency or opportunity for public input. She also said the bill wouldnt provide meaningful relief for low-income taxpayers and fears it would have unintended consequences for the state budget.

The bill, LD 1231, passed in the Maine House of Representatives 88-57 and in the Senate 22-12. The proposal would have increased the income threshold for current tax brackets starting in 2025 and created three new income brackets with higher tax rates for wealthier residents.

It was put forward by Rep. Meldon Carmichael (R-Greenbush) because he said he wanted to specifically help out middle class workers, who he described during the House debate as a segment of hardworking Maine families that have been continually left behind economically because of circumstances out of their control.

Carmichael quoted the governor, who in her annual address said the state of the state is strong, but, he added, the state of hard working families is not.

Under LD 1231,most earners would have seen the same or lower tax rate while those at the top of the pay scale would contribute a greater portion of their income.

Currently, any single individual making more than $58,050 is taxed $3,686 plus 7.15% of excess over that amount. Couples filing jointly making $116,100 or more are taxed $7,371 plus 7.15% of excess over $116,100.

Under the proposal, there would be three new brackets for individuals making $144,500 and more that would be taxed at progressively higher rates.

Mills, a Democrat, said she shares the worthy goal of reducing the tax burden for lower-income people, but she said this bill wouldnt actually achieve that because of the states many exemptions, deductions and credits that more people have become eligible for in recent years.

The cumulative impact of these changes is that low-income individuals in Maine have little or no tax liability, Mills said in her veto message. As a result, this bill would have little or no impact on the taxpayers it is intended to benefit.

In a statement following the veto, Garrett Martin, president and CEO at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, also said there wouldnt have been much benefit to low-income taxpayers, but asking the wealthy to pay more was a step in the right direction.

When multimillionaires pay the same income tax rate as a Mainer making just $62,000 a year, it should be obvious that change is needed, Martin said. The Maine Legislature should continue to work towards a fairer tax code, and Governor Mills should join the bipartisan effort to do so.

However, Mills said she fears the bill would have had unintended consequences for the state budget by increasing the reliance on less than one percent of taxpayers. She said those taxpayers incomes are disproportionately composed of highly volatile sources such as capital gains and business income.

At a time when we are already keeping a close eye on Maines budget because of increased spending and flattening revenues, there is concern from budgeting officials that relying on more volatile forms of revenue may inadvertently jeopardize the State of Maines fiscal standing, she said.

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Belgium will pledge 200 million euros ($213 million) for the German-led air defense initiative and supply Ukraine with rockets, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on April 26 during the press conference, according to the Belgian channel RTBF.

Ukraine is facing a shortage of air defense systems amid an uptick in Russian attacks on population centers and energy infrastructure.

U.S.-made Patriots are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles. Berlin is reportedly pressuring NATO and European allies to send their systems to Kyiv rather than keeping them unused.

Dedonder noted that Belgium would provide Ukraine with additional rockets from its own military stocks for the air defense systems. The Belgian Defense Minister did not specify the number or the type of weaponry to be sent to Kyiv.

"Our message is always the same: the day Russia stops its invasion and cedes the illegally occupied territories, the conflict will end. We will never stop to reiterate our demand for an end to hostilities and a return to political and diplomatic dialogue," Dedonder said.

Brussels previously announced the first F-16 fighter jets to be delivered to Ukraine "later this year."

This news came after the Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which was held online on April 26, the two-year anniversary of the group.

Canada also announced on April 26 a new batch of military aid, donating to Ukraine's domestic drone production and a Czech-led ammunition initiative, while the U.S. would allocate $6 billion for military assistance for Kyiv under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

Read also: 5 things to know about the latest weapons being sent to Ukraine

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YAOUNDE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen have killed at least four fishermen in a raid at a river in Waza, situated in Lake Chad in Cameroon's Far North Region, local and security sources said on Friday

Suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were responsible for the "abominable act" which took place on Thursday, residents and military sources said.

Local media reported that the fishermen, from Tchounkoul and Bounderi villages, were busy fishing when the gunmen ambushed, kidnapped and killed them.

While expressing shock and sadness over the killings, a military official in the region who asked for anonymity told Xinhua that the army would deploy more personnel to secure the area.

The ISWAP has collaborated with the Boko Haram group with the aim of establishing an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria. The two groups have also extended the reach of their attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. 
By this summer, Minneapolis leaders hope to open a Lake Street Community Safety Center  a place where residents, social service providers and police officers could come together to work with each other and serve people in need.

But first, the city faces a tough task: gathering direction from residents, including many who remain wary of police after years of drug use, vandalism and more serious crimes along the key south Minneapolis corridor.

In community-led gatherings over the last year, residents discussing safety issues noted that the area is already dotted with organizations serving the area's least privileged residents, offering care that the government has traditionally declined to provide: clean needle exchange, naloxone distribution, and food, showers and tents for those living on the street.

Sam Gould, co-founder of Confluence, an East Lake Street community design studio, said some neighbors feel the city's plans ring "hollow."

"It's not necessarily being developed through the immediate needs and desires of the people living here, and therefore not really responsive to a unique place," Gould said.

But others see opportunity. A few years ago, there was a modest storefront safety center on East Lake Street and Chicago Avenue. Staffed full-time by a city crime prevention specialist, it was a place where neighbors could make victim impact statements and get help for domestic violence. The center eventually burned down, a casualty of the riots that snarled the immigrant business corridor after a former Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd in 2020.

East Lake Street and the residential neighborhoods that flank it have since undergone several years of hard healing, trying to rebuild amid chronic police understaffing and an endless march of homeless encampments. Some community leaders believe a relaunched safety center, which would build on Minneapolis' fledgling efforts to expand its public safety model, could help.

"Since 2020, there have been lots of challenges on Lake Street, certainly hotspots and chronic issues with addiction, mental health and violence, and so we have wanted, given the absence of a Third Precinct, to shape a new approach, to blend prevention work with law enforcement," said Louis Smith, a member of the Lake Street Greenway Partnership.

The effort has funding: Last year, the City Council set aside half a million dollars to put up a temporary safety center, which does not yet have a publicly announced location. Officials hope to replace it in early 2025 with a permanent facility at 2633 Minnehaha Av., just off Lake Street. Third Precinct police officers, who have been at an interim headquarters downtown ever since protesters torched their former station at 3000 Minnehaha Av., are expected to return at that point as part of a comprehensive collection of services including unarmed responders.

"A subset of folks who could use that facility might not if the police are present, and that's not necessarily an argument for not trying something new and different that gets at the immediate community safety needs and promotes coordination and cooperation across silos," said Russ Adams, manager of corridor recovery initiatives for the Lake Street Council. "Residents and businesses would like to see something done about the current conditions on Lake Street ... The worst thing would be status quo."

Lake Street hot spots

In early spring, a man and a woman were injured by gunfire at the intersection of Lake and Bloomington, a busy intersection anchored by the Mercado Central marketplace and the nonprofit Family Partnership. Soon after, a 58-year-old man was shot and killed near the corner.

This year there's been drug activity where Bloomington and 16th Avenues meet Lake Street. Last year the commotion was concentrated around 12th and Lake, where a shooting left a man dead and a woman injured. Increased police presence soon moved crime to other corners, yet the little plaza outside the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, which has benches and a statue of the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, remains surrounded by a chain-link fence.

"Anything additional on Lake Street that has to do with safety is a good idea right now," said Dianne Haulcy, CEO of the Family Partnership. The building has a childcare center and an anti-sex trafficking drop-in hub where six to 10 people a day come to shower, wash their clothes, eat and nap. Haulcy would like to see the Lake Street Community Safety Center augment the Family Partnership's existing services with harm reduction, addiction treatment and housing casework.

So far one organization has committed to being a part of the Lake Street Community Safety Center: Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD), a year-old program that works with indigent, homeless and disabled people to keep them out of the criminal justice system.

On a blustery afternoon in April, LEAD project manager Latasha Jennings and caseworker Maria Zavala walked down East Lake Street. The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches at 11th and Lake offers meals and showers on Fridays, when people experiencing homelessness can visit the Sanctuary Supply Depot, a group that distributes outdoor survival gear. Just a few blocks away is the latest iteration of Camp Nenookaasi, where many of LEAD's clients live. At a nearby furniture shop, a glass door had been busted in the middle in the night. The person captured on security cameras bashing it with a rock looked like they might have been seeking a warm place to sleep, the business owner told the team.

Business owners often call LEAD about people congregating outside their shops, being disruptive or having crises. But unlike traditional security, LEAD doesn't just show up and shoo people off; they try to establish communication and de-escalate conflict.

For example: People were calling police about someone snatching bread from the bakery at Mercado Central. The baker didn't want to involve police and exacerbate tensions with someone who was probably just hungry. So Zavala leveled with the suspect, telling him that the baker was willing to give him bread if he just asked, but that if he loitered right outside, it could hurt the business.

"We don't want to just listen to the complaint. We ask them, what are we gonna do together to change it?" Zavala said.

The city is hosting engagement sessions through the end of May with ethnic groups, disabled and homeless people about services they want to see in the community safety centers.
Anhydrous ammonia is a common farm fertilizer used to boost corn yields. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Environmental groups recently asked the federal government to intervene in northeast Iowa, where ag pollution is believed to have contaminated scads of private wells with unhealthy concentrations of nitrate.

Their petition mirrors one that sought the same help last year for southeast Minnesota, which has the same porous topography that makes its groundwater more prone to contamination from the surface.

That request prompted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to direct Minnesota to analyze the scope of the problem, provide clean drinking water to affected residents and develop longer-term plans to prevent the contamination.

Its likely the EPA will give the same direction to Iowa, said Alicia Vasto, water program director for the Iowa Environmental Council, one of the groups that petitioned.

Areas of porous bedrock called karst are mostly located in eastern Iowa. (Map courtesy of Iowa DNR)

It is the same geologic formation  a lot of the issues are the same, Vasto said. High concentrations of industrial agriculture, intensive cropping systems and livestock facilities. The same risks to drinking water.

Iowa funds a program that tests private wells at their owners request for nitrate and bacteria, and those tests have shown widespread contamination in the area. Notably, nearly a quarter of those tests in Delaware County from 2015 to 2020 had nitrate concentrations that exceeded 10 milligrams per liter, which is a safety threshold to which public water supplies must adhere.

High concentrations in water can acutely affect infants, and studies have linked them to cancers in adults.

State officials in Iowa have been reticent about the petition and what they might do in response. A spokesperson for Gov. Kim Reynolds did not respond to a request to comment for this article.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which oversees livestock operations and manure management, declined to comment about the petition.

A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship did not directly address the petition but said the departments efforts to spur farmers to voluntarily implement conservation practices has accelerated in recent years.

Whats happened in Minnesota

The EPA directed Minnesota to take action in November, about six months after it received the petition regarding that state.

Minnesota has said it will  among other actions  adapt its voluntary suggestions and regulatory requirements for livestock operations and the spreading of manure and commercial fertilizers on fields.

An animal confinement in northwest Iowa. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

That includes potential changes to its feedlot rules that govern manure handling and how much of and where the manure can be spread. It also might include new oversight of smaller feedlot operations.

Theyre taking this seriously, said Dani Replogle, an attorney for Food & Water Watch, which joined the EPA petitions concerning Iowa, Minnesota and other states. They are gearing up to do a regulatory overhaul for the feedlot regulations, and thats what we would like to see happen in Iowa.

Minnesota had already, in recent years, sought to protect groundwater in sensitive areas that range beyond its southeast region. Minnesota forbids the fall application of nitrogen fertilizer where there are coarse textured soils, shallow bedrock or karst geology, which is a feature of northeast Iowa.

Those fall applications increase the potential for groundwater pollution because the fertilizer is in soil for longer periods of time when crops arent growing.

Minnesota also can require farmers to take steps to curb groundwater contamination in certain areas.

Iowas approach to agricultural regulations has tended toward loosening them while encouraging farmers to voluntarily reduce their pollution.

A bill that received subcommittee support in the Iowa Senate this year would have allowed feedlots to dispose of manure prior to state approval, even if state regulators rejected their disposal plans, pending an appeal of the rejections.

Another bill would have curtailed anonymous complaints to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about manure violations. It also failed to advance.

And the DNR recently reversed course on a proposed rule change that would have required better barriers between manure basins and bedrock in karst landscapes. Last week the DNRs Environmental Protection Commission approved feedlot rules that did not include the provision, and the Iowa Environmental Council announced the EPA petition shortly thereafter.

What the petition seeks

The petition concerning northeast Iowa asks the EPA to use its emergency authority granted by the Safe Drinking Water Act to urgently address the imminent and substantial endangerment to public health within the karst region of Iowa caused by ongoing and increasing nitrate contamination.

It alleges that Iowas attempts in recent decades to reduce farm pollution have failed.

The North Raccoon River routinely has elevated levels of nitrate contamination. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The state has used its Nutrient Reduction Strategy to encourage voluntary actions by farmers to prevent their fertilizers from leeching into the states waterways. Stream monitoring has yet to show significant progress in reducing nitrate and phosphorus contamination since the strategys inception in 2014.

It has been an abysmal failure, said Michael Schmidt, an attorney for the Iowa Environmental Council. The fact that Minnesota is having to do more  even though it already has more regulation, more oversight of these sources  means that Iowa will have to take even bigger steps to address the pollution problems here.

The answer: state-mandated restrictions on the amount of fertilizer than can be applied to crop fields, with special rules for karst landscape, said David Cwiertny, director of the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination at the University of Iowa.

It cant be voluntary. It cant be suggested, he said. What will get us improvement  and I know people dont like to talk about it  but its regulations. And regulations work.

Its unclear when the EPA might direct Iowa to address the drinking water contamination.

The post Minnesotas actions foreshadow potential farm regulations for Iowa appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Sheryl M. Turner was remembered as "a shining light to all who knew her"

Gofundme Sheryl Turner

The death of a 19-year-old female from New Iberia, La., has been connected to a 29-year-old man she met online.

Sheryl M. Turner was last seen by her family on Dec. 31, 2023, before traveling to the West Monroe home of Anthony Pierce Holland Jr., the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Department explained in a press release on Wednesday, April 24.

The two "engaged in a romantic relationship over text message," and Turner told her family that she was going to stay with him before leaving home, the West Monroe Police Department, which collaborated with Catahoula authorities in the investigation, explained in a separate press release.

getty Stock image of a text conversation

According to KLFY-TV, Turner's phone was connected to wifi near Holland Jr.'s phone before it stopped transmitting on the night of Jan. 2. Her twin sister Sherry explained in a GoFundMe campaign that Turner was reported missing on Jan. 3, expressing that "as the days went by we knew something was wrong."

Nearly three weeks later, on Jan. 24, the Catahoula Parish Sheriffs Office received a call about a body floating in the Ouachita River.

"Deputies recovered the body, and the remains were found to be only a torso. There was no head or extremities connected to the body. The remains were sent for an autopsy and the findings led to the case being listed as a homicide," the West Monroe Police Department shared in its release.

Sheryl Turner/ Facebook Sheryl Turner

With the help of a DNA sample from her twin sister Sherry, the remains were identified as Turner on Feb. 23.

Through "forensic data and surveillance," Holland Jr. was named a suspect in the case, and the West Monroe Police Department executed a search warrant on his home on April 23.

"During the search warrants at Hollands home, forensic evidence of a crime of violence was obtained. During subsequent interviews with Holland, he admitted to killing Turner inside his residence. Holland further stated he dismembered the body of Turner inside his home. Holland stated he placed Turners dismembered remains into a body of water that fed into the Ouachita River," the department states in its press release.

Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Department Anthony Pierce Holland, Jr.

Holland Jr. was taken into custody without incident and booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center for one count of Second-Degree Murder, according to the department.

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In her obituary, Turner was remembered as "a shining light to all who knew her, with a kind and loving personality that radiated through her beautiful smile and touched the hearts of those around her."

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The search for a missing Iowa trucker came to a tragic end Wednesday, with loved ones revealing David Schultz body was found lying in a field, his cowboy boots still on and his keys in his pocketdetails police used to identify him.

Schultz, 53, disappeared without a trace on Nov. 21 in Sac City, Iowa, where his truck was left abandoned, loaded with hogs he was set to deliver to a farm 10 miles down the road. His keys and phone were left in his rig, and his jacket was found in a nearby ditch, police said.

A months-long search ensued, with his wife, Sarah Schultz, pleading for authorities to pursue answers about her husbands whereabouts. She told the Sioux City Journal she now feels equal relief and sorrowglad her family has some answers, but grief-stricken by the outcome.

Im glad we know where he is, she told the Journal. Theres still a lot of questions. You know, things just dont make sense.

David Schultz and his twin sons in an undated photo. GoFundMe

Iowa authorities said they do not expect foul play in Schultz death.

Iowas Division of Criminal Investigation said Thursday it had definitively identified Schultz using dental records. Its still unclear how he ended up in the rural field near Sac City, which was more than a mile away from where his truck was abandoned on a highway flanked by corn fields.

Schultz was the father of 10-year-old twin boys, his family revealed in a GoFundMe fundraiser, which had raised $19,000 as of Thursday evening. He was last heard from the morning of his disappearance, the Lake View Police Department said.

While foul play isnt expected, Sarah Schultz said shes not convinced thats the case. She questioned why her husband would trek a mile-and-a-half in the Midwestern cold during the week of Thanksgiving to where he was found dead Wednesday.

I cant think of any reason why he would have walked a mile and a half out into the middle of a field and laid down, and taken his coat off, and shut his truck down for the day, she told the Journal. Things dont add up, dont line up. I suspect foul play.

Sarah Schultz said her husband was found lying on his back with boots on and jeans down.

5th Suspect Nabbed in Deaths of Women Found Buried in Oklahoma

Jake Rowley of the United Cajun Navy told the Journal that it scoured more than 100,000 acres in search of Schultz. They did not search the area he was ultimately found, however, because police had told them theyd already thoroughly searched a two-miles radius near the abandoned truck.

Sarah Schultz posted updatesand pleas for answersto her Facebook regularly for months. In December, she suggested Schultz was not suicidal.

This is not something David would do, she posted. He would never leave. His family is his life.

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As the Supreme Court weighs whether Donald Trump is shielded from prosecution for acts committed while president, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he opposes Trumps view of absolute immunity.

McConnell spoke with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker Thursday for a pre-recorded interview set to air Sunday.

During their talk, Welker inquired whether McConnell stood by his February 2021 commentmade just after he voted to acquit shameful Trump during his Jan. 6-related impeachment trialthat former presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution.

As we sit here, Donald Trump's attorneys are arguing before the Supreme Court that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions that they take while they are in office. Do you agree with that argument? she asked.

McConnell didnt seem to understand the question, responding instead about what the conservative-majority high court will decide.

Were going to find out, arent we? I mean, the Supreme Court is going to deal with that direct issue that I was referring to on February 13th of 2021, and I think well find out sometime soon, he replied.

When Welker asked again if he himself supported that far-reaching notion of presidential immunity, McConnells answer was clear.

Obviously, I dont think that, McConnell said, before again referencing the Supreme Court. But its not up to me to make that decision. The president clearly needs some kind of immunity, or hed be in court all the time. So well see how the Supreme Court deals with it.

NEW: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he does not think presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken in office.@LeaderMcConnell: Obviously, I dont think that, but its not up to me to make that decision. pic.twitter.com/o7Bn9FMa4E  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 25, 2024

Welker then followed up for clarity three more times. Each time, McConnell for some reason included in his response the fact that the Supreme Courtnot himwould be making that determination.

Just to be very clear, you said former presidents are not immune from being held accountable. Do you stand by those comments? Welker asked.

That was my view, but I dont make that decision. The court McConnell said, prompting Welker to reiterate her question.

Thats my view. But my view is only my view. I mean, the court is going to decide, McConnell said once more.

And again, Welker asked if he stood by his comments from three years ago. McConnell said he did, but with the same qualification.

I do, but how many times do I have to say it: Im not on the Supreme Court. I dont get to make the final decision on that.

While the Supreme Court deliberates, Trumps criminal trial in Washington, D.C., for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection is on hold. A decision could come as late as July.

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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mayor Sandy Stimpson released a video on his Facebook page aimed at the members of the Mobile Police Department after an investigation into the MPD.

Mobile police officer under investigation for 2 high-profile incidents

Former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown was brought in to investigate the MPDs use of force due to six incidents in 2023 involving officers. Four of the six incidents were deadly.

Mayor Sandy Stimpson

Today, Stimpson, who has been critical of the Mobile Police Departments leadership under Police Chief Paul Prine, expressed a message of support for the force.

To the men and women of the Mobile Police Department, there has been much discussion about the criticism of the MPD and the third-party review of the six incidents involving our officers last year, said Stimpson.

He continued, I want to assure each of you that you have my full support and confidence. You put your lives on the line each and every day to protect our citizens and for that, Im tremendously grateful.

Browns report was released Tuesday, and in it, he said all four of the deadly encounters were justified but preventable.

He said there is a problematic MPD culture that starts with the leadership.

In todays society, there is a tendency to hold police officers to a standard of perfection, which is a standard no human being can achieve, said Stimpson.

Stimpson said he and the City of Mobiles attorney decided to bring Brown in for a third-party review of the MPD training, policy, and procedures after Mobile City Council President C.J. Small expressed the need for a review.

Stimpson said, Please understand these types of investigations do not focus on what were doing right. Instead, the author focuses on errors where they believe operations can be improved according to the best standards of policing as outlined by (the Department of Justice) and other communities across the country.

Mobile woman accused of chasing ex with knife: Police

In the video, he continued to say that he did not agree with every aspect of the report but that he agreed with Browns opinion that MPD has the professionalism and the leadership to examine every recommendation and create a path that works for the community.

Stimpson finished the video by saying, I am certain that MPD will continue to be among the best police departments in the country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Modesto hospital approved as training site for new doctors. The first arrive next year

Modesto is moving up in the graduate medical education world as healthcare needs grow in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Sutter Health announced Thursday that Memorial Medical Center received national accreditation for an internal medicine residency and a second training program for family practice doctors. Residency programs teach medical school graduates to effectively care for patients in medical clinics and hospitals.

Sutters Memorial Medical Center, at Briggsmore Avenue and Coffee Road, will be a training facility for 26 resident physicians in an internal medicine program starting in June 2025. In addition, a family medicine residency with 13 doctors-in-training will begin the same month. Both are three-year programs.

The internal medicine program will have 19 residents in each annual class, plus seven residents who are there for a one-year internship before going on to specialized training in a field such as anesthesiology. The three-year family medicine program will have 13 residents in each class, or a total of 39 in the program.

A Sutter news release said the Central Valley has a disproportionately low number of healthcare providers, yet its one of the fastest-growing regions in California. Nationally, the primary care field has not attracted as many new physicians as young doctors aspire to work as specialists.

The resident physicians coming to Modesto may be from any medical school in the country and will receive training in primary care, which includes family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and pediatrics.

Dr. Robert Altman, president and chief executive officer of Gould Medical Group, said its more difficult to recruit doctors to the Central Valley, where homes are being built again and medical care needs are growing faster than in the coastal counties.

Sutter Health needs to keep up with the demand. From Riverbank to Tracy and Mountain House in San Joaquin County, the Sacramento-based nonprofit system is projecting 30,000 housing starts in the next three years.

We hope the majority of the (resident physicians) stay, but its not a requirement, Altman said Thursday. Some may decide to set up their own private practice. The goal is to bring as many good doctors to work with us as we can.

Health organizations that invest in graduate medical education are heartened by studies showing that a substantial number of doctors stay within 25 to 50 miles of where they completed residency training.

Sutter Health has residency and fellowship programs across its Northern California service territory in Sacramento, Davis, Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Rosa, offering training in family practice, surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology and organ transplants. The two new programs are a first for Sutter in Modesto.

With its expansion of graduate medical education, Sutter said it aims to turn out 1,000 graduates each year by 2030.

In Modesto, the resident physicians will receive rigorous training at Memorial Medical Center and a continuity clinic on Sylvan Avenue.

Altman said a Sutter Health residency may offer a range of experience for new doctors, from rural primary care clinics to high levels of care such as organ transplants at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

Altman said the residents will learn from Sutter physicians. At the same time, a residency program keeps practicing physicians updated on medical knowledge as they educate the new physicians. Its possible the residency programs in Modesto will attract a few physicians to the area who are interested in teaching.

Awareness of the Valleys diversity

The doctors-in-training will work with patients from a diverse community in Stanislaus County. Latinos represent about half the county population and Sutter will keep that in mind as resident physicians are chosen for the programs, the news release said.

One of the larger goals of our graduate medical education programs is to have our residents and fellows reflect the diversity of the patients we serve, Dr. Raeleigh Payanes said in the news release. Payanes will oversee the family medicine residents in Modesto. We look forward to welcoming some of the best and brightest minds next summer, who will come from all walks of life and bring their unique experiences to help care for those here in the Central Valley.

A family medicine residency has operated in Stanislaus County for decades with training at Doctors Medical Center and county health clinics. The three-year program operated by the Valley Consortium for Medical Education has 12 residents in each class. In July, physicians with Golden Valley Health Centers will assume the role of supervising the residents at the Paradise Medical Office in west Modesto.
A 35-year-old Moline man was sentenced Thursday to two years conditional discharge in connection with the death of his 15-year-old stepson who had disabilities, court records show.

Court records say Justin Keim pleaded guilty to an amended felony count of child endangerment in Rock Island County Court.

Justin Keim (Moline Police Departent)

The 2020 incident

On Nov. 3, 2020, a hospital contacted Moline Police after 15-year-old boy who was severely disabled was transported to the hospital for emergency care by Moline firefighters from the family home in the 1600 block of 25th Avenue, according to police and court records.

Hospital staff found the child to be extremely dehydrated and emaciated, with severe open wounds that had not been properly treated. The child went into cardiopulmonary arrest and later was pronounced deceased at the hospital, a news release said.

The Rock Island County Coroners Office, the Moline Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services began an investigation that included numerous interviews, consultations with medical professionals and an in-depth examination of the childs medical records and past medical treatment, according to a news release.

The inquiries revealed a consistent pattern of medical and physical neglect, which led to the childs death, the release said. The autopsy ruled the childs manner of death to be complications from chronic malnutrition and dehydration because of underlying physical neglect.

Jennifer Keim (Moline Police Department)

Earlier, the childs mother, Jennifer Keim, 37, was sentenced to four years of probation in connection with the death, along with 180 days in the Rock Island County Jail with credit for time served.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday exchanged congratulations with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan over the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

In his message, Xi pointed out that the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania was forged by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries.

Over the past 60 years since its establishment, the bilateral relationship has withstood the test of international vicissitudes and grown stronger, he added.

In recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously consolidated, and cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, which has become a model of South-South cooperation, Xi noted.

Standing at a new historical starting point, Xi said he is ready to work with Hassan to renew bilateral traditional friendship, turn the shared dream of developing and rejuvenating their two countries, as well as the magnificent chapter of bilateral Belt and Road cooperation a reality, continue to enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and make greater contributions to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

For her part, Hassan said over the past 60 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, the two countries have continuously deepened solidarity, friendship and sincere cooperation, adding that both sides respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as support each other in bilateral and multilateral affairs.

Tanzania admires China's epoch-making achievements in economic and social development, deeply appreciates China's support in the field of development, and will unswervingly support major initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, so as to strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, she said. 
MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Monroe restaurant has issued a counterclaim to a lawsuit against them, saying protesters for the businesss all-ages drag shows have defamed and cost them business.

The claim comes after protestors filed suit against East Frank Superette and Kitchen over the use of altered photos of them. In one photo, promotional restaurant material showed images of the protestors with altered signs.

The groups lawsuit claims the restaurant of Wrongful Appropriation of Personal Image and of violating North Carolinas Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Union County restaurant sued over altered photos promoting drag events: Records

In the counterclaim, filed April 12, the restaurant said the protestors routinely and regularly accused East Frank  a restaurant that, from time to time, hosts drag performances  of child abuse, child sexual exploitation, and child grooming.

The counterclaim further added that the knowingly false accusations have damaged East Franks reputation, cost East Frank substantial profits, and worst of all, have exposed East Frank, its customers, and the drag performers it hosts, to threats of violence.

The counterclaim also includes exhibits of what the restaurant calls dangerous misinformation by the protestors.

The counterclaim accuses the protestors of defamation, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and civil conspiracy. The restaurant requests a case dismissal and with compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys fees covered.

Queen City News first reported on the East Frank Superette and Kitchens drag shows and the protests that have resulted.

Monroe restaurant drag show sparks controversy

The restaurant has previously said that the shows have resulted in a boost in business, with tickets for performances regularly selling out.

Queen City News has also previously heard from other protestors who said they were protesting these events on moral or religious grounds to keep these demons away from our children in a county that leans politically conservative.

Drag performances have become popular in the last several years due to more cultural awareness in the media. Once limited to bars catering to the LGBTQ community, many restaurants and bars of all types across the United States regularly have performances to bring in business.

Performers and businesses have repeatedly stressed the shows are catered to the audiences attending, with performances and music often adjusted for all performances, and have taken deep offense to any claims of child abuse.

East Frank noted in their counterclaim, Drag performances are not child abuse. They are not child sexual exploitation. They are not child grooming.

The attorney for the protestors who filed the initial lawsuit said previously that their case centers on the altered photographs East Frank Superette and Kitchen used on social media.

Queen City News reached out to the protestors attorney on Thursday. The attorney said they could not provide a substantive comment by our deadline but noted they would be open to having a conversation about this case sometime next week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled California lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate in late March, it seemed to trigger the start of a new and exciting phase of his long shot independent presidential bid: "Kennedy '24" signs suddenly made room for a second name, which water bottles and teddy bears sold on the campaign's website within minutes of the Oakland announcement showcased.

Yet weeks later, the cadence of Kennedy's campaign feels similar to his pre-Shanahan days, in large part because his running mate -- the young, largely unknown sidekick who might have helped shape the image of a presidential candidate prone to a damaging loop of conspiratorial rhetoric -- has been almost completely absent on the campaign trail.

That will change somewhat with the launch of a podcast Shanahan has been taping, which will "spotlight everyday Americans and their stories and cover issues important to [Shanahan] and [Kennedy]," according to someone familiar with Shanahan's activities. The podcast, the details of which were first obtained by ABC News, is scheduled to launch in the coming days.

Still, she has not appeared at any of the public, in-person, open-press campaign events, appearing instead on several podcasts discussing issues such as coronavirus lockdowns, free speech, fertility and the body's healing.

MORE: RFK Jr. names lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate

She is scheduled to appear at a "Night of Laughter" in Nashville, Tennessee, May 15, an open-press event where she and Kennedy will be joined by several comedians to raise money for the campaign.

"Right now, she's kind of, I think, getting into the race the same way I did -- by doing a lot of podcasts and doing emergence events," Kennedy told reporters in Dallas on Wednesday.

"She spent three or four days at the border learning that issue," he added, referencing her trip to Yuma, Arizona, earlier this month, which was closed to the press.

PHOTO: Independent vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan speaks during a campaign event to announce Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick for a running mate, March 26, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (Thos Robinson/Getty Images )

Still, her exact role in the campaign is somewhat a mystery. In a podcast interview with Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Shanahan claimed that her days have "definitely evolved" since the announcement. But she didn't say exactly how, which triggered critics to question what exactly Shanahan's role in the campaign is.

Opponents have painted Shanahan, a wealthy Silicon Valley lawyer and a longtime Democratic donor, as simply an open checkbook for Kennedy's campaign, which has spent nearly as much as it raised -- $33 million raised compared to $27 million spent -- over recent months, according to federal financial disclosures.

Unlike regular donors, candidates can contribute however much they want to their own campaigns.

MORE: Who is Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.'s running mate?

A significant portion of Kennedy's expenses go toward paying for security and the unique challenge of obtaining ballot access in each state, according to federal financial disclosures. In fact, the campaign's top two expenses in the month of March were to a private security firm and a petition-gathering vendor, federal financial disclosures show.

"It's clear that she was chosen for two reasons: she was the last woman standing after a litany of unqualified prospects said no. And she has the money to infuse his campaign with badly needed cash as he continues to work to be a spoiler for Donald Trump," Matt Corridoni, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, told ABC News.

Many Democrats have spoken out against the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket, saying it is destined to siphon votes from President Joe Biden and deliver the White House to former President Donald Trump.

MORE: Democrats sound alarm on RFK Jr. and new running mate, Shanahan

Kennedy effectively denied these claims in a NewsNation interview in March -- when Shanahan's name was floated in media reports as the possible pick. At the time, Shanahan had contributed the maximum amount to the campaign and millions more to a pro-Kennedy super PAC.

"I would never choose a vice presidential candidate based on how much money that they have," Kennedy told NewsNation.

Nevertheless, one of Shanahan's first acts as a candidate appears to have been to pump $2 million into the campaign, according to its latest financial filing. Her donation was dated one day after the announcement that she would be Kennedy's running mate.

Shanahan, 38, who earned a law degree from Stanford University, has helped found multiple organizations focused on "human and planetary health," as she explained to ABC News in a March interview.

At the event announcing her as running mate, Shanahan said she began to support Kennedy after a friend encouraged her to listen to an interview with him.

"And then I listened to another one, and then another one, and I recognized that the person who I was seeing in these interviews was the exact opposite of the media slander of his character," she said.

When pressed on her absence from the trail on Meghan McCain's podcast, Link Lauren, a former senior campaign aide who worked closely with Shanahan, told McCain that Shanahan was "heavily involved" in the campaign's efforts to thwart multiple ballot access hurdles "behind the scenes." (Lauren has since stepped away from the campaign.) Still, when the campaign hosted an event in Iowa in an effort to get on the state's ballot shortly after the interview, Shanahan was nowhere to be seen.

Speaking to a group of reporters after that event, Kennedy attributed Shanahan's absence to a scheduling conflict with childcare, and added he talks to Shanahan at least twice a day, stressing they are a "unified front."

"I'm very proud of her, I'm very proud of what she's doing," Kennedy said. "I talk to Nicole probably two, three times a day and I'm very proud of the stuff she's been doing and I look forward to appearing with her in places."

On her trip to Yuma, Shanahan came "prepared" with "pages of questions," said Shara Whitehead, president of the Yuma Community Food Bank, which hosted Shanahan as part of a roundtable with the leaders of several nonprofits in the area.

"The thing that resonated most, I think, was the fact that she sees the need to secure the border to control immigration, and that immigration needs to be fixed," Whitehead told ABC News, adding that Shanahan seemed "emotional" about the hardships families who visit the food bank face.

MORE: RFK Jr.'s ability to sway 2024 election depends on ballot access: Where he stands

On Monday, Shanahan made her first appearance in front of the press as part of an online Earth Day panel -- albeit virtually. Reporters were unable to ask questions, and Shanahan and Kennedy appeared to be in two separate locations.

And it's unclear where and when the two will appear in person, in front of voters, next.

"I think you'll see a lot of her soon," Kennedy offered in Dallas.

The campaign's press office did not respond to a detailed list of questions about Shanahan's activities and whether she would contribute more of her own money to the effort.

Where she has been quite active, however, is on social media, posting frequently on X.

Earlier this month, Shanahan took to X to blast Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who shared a letter with CBS News calling on her to step down because he said her support of Kennedy would help Trump win the election. Khanna had not yet shared that letter with Shanahan.

".@RoKhanna you have my phone number and could have called instead of going to the press. This is performative.," Shanahan claimed in a post on X.

Supporters' tepid reception of Shanahan

Her absence could exacerbate a vulnerability with Kennedy's heterogeneous supporter base, which seem split on Shanahan. On online forums, skeptics seem worried she's either too liberal or that they don't seem to know where she stands on a host of issues.

Kennedy boasts a sizable online following, with many of his most ardent followers congregating on the candidate's Reddit forum. In fact, r/RFKJrForPresident boasts more than 7,000 users, and Reddit ranks the group within the top 8% of its community by size.

A popular Kennedy sub-Reddit forum illustrates the back-and-forth on Shanahan in great detail: One busy thread, for example, has a supporter wondering if Shanahan turns off Kennedy's more conservative followers. On another thread, a supporter said Shanahan's relatively unknown background and record are a major risk, and will do little to persuade those on the fence to back Kennedy.

PHOTO: Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. announces his running mate Nicole Shanahan in Oakland, Calif., March 26, 2024. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)

"We don't know how good of a debater she is. We don't know if she'll have pull and influence in Washington to get things done. And god forbid, if something happens to Bobby, she's president...... I have no doubt she's a smart woman. But that gives no indication of how she'll do politically," the user writes, adding "I don't feel good about voting for someone I don't know anything about at all."

Another user said they wished Kennedy had gone another direction.

"I wish he would have picked someone more high profile to elevate the ticket, especially because what the tickets needs now more than anything is elevating as opposed to policy wonks," the user said.

MORE: RFK Jr. says he has ruled out Libertarian run for president

Even still, not all hope is lost for Shanahan -- there's a windfall of support for her on online forums as well. While ranging from reluctance to emphatic support, many encourage the skeptics to keep an open mind.

"People change," one user said. "Voters should listen to Shanahan speak to learn about her views and why she holds them."

The same user said they shed tears of hope following Shanahan's first speech.

"I'm a 56-year old oligarchy-hating, 30+ year independent voting, curmudgeonly guy who has also cried when hearing Bobby speak," wrote the user. "It was the first time in my life I ever cried listening to a politician. Today I heard Nicole speak, and now there are two politicians in my lifetime who've brought me to tears."

Month after announcement, RFK Jr.'s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, remains in the shadows originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The University of Kentuckys university senate will be dissolved and moved into an advisory role, changing its role in setting school policies, the board of trustees voted on Friday.

The decision comes after two months of debate and objections from faculty, though student and staff groups support the changes. Faculty members have said they worry about the long-term implications of making the university senate an advisory body, with hundreds of faculty attending the Friday morning meeting. Nine people spoke before the board in opposition of the proposed changes, while five people spoke in favor of it. Three of the supporting five were college deans.

President Eli Capilouto presented the new governance structure to the board of trustees, which moves the university senate, established in 1917, from a policy-making body to an advisory faculty senate. The Student Government Association and the staff senate would remain as advisory bodies at UK.

Capilouto said the time to make changes was now, in order to be able to change and evolve. Capilouto said hed heard from staff and students throughout this process, who said they often felt left out of the decision-making process at the university.

Change can be uncomfortable. Thats why theyre called growing pains, Capilouto said. But if we are to live up to our promise and to our potential, we must be willing to evolve with the world around us.

Faculty members told the board they wanted to bring more student and staff voices into decision-making, but opposed the process used to propose changes to the board.

This is institutional betrayal and this president and the board of trustees, except Trustee Swanson, have not upheld their fiduciary responsibility, said DeShana Collett, chair of the senate council. It has been clear that they do not intend to do anything opposing the president, their only employee.

Change to UK governing regulations

In addition to changes to the senate, the board also approved a slate of changes to the universitys governing regulations, which lay out how the university operates and what authority is given to the president, board of trustees and other university bodies.

Throughout my conversations with more than a thousand community members, it has become abundantly clear that all of us care deeply about this community and the way we accomplish our goals, Capilouto said. I believe this is the right time to make a sustainable change. I believe we are the right community for this work.

The universitys governing regulations have existed since the third president, Frank McVey. Governing regulations have not seen major changes proposed since the early 2000s, when the university moved to its current organizational structure. Prior to that, administrative regulations also saw changes in the mid-1960s, said UK spokesperson Jay Blanton.

University of Kentucky faculty and staff attend the board of trustees meeting on April 26, 2024. The board heard from nine people opposed to a proposed change to the universitys governance structure, which would move the university senate to an advisory role. Marcus Dorsey/mdorsey@herald-leader.com

The proposed changes were approved nearly unanimously, with one faculty trustee, Hollie Swanson, voting against.

The faculty do not fear change. We encounter change every day in our academic work, Swanson said. We do fear loss  loss of our voice and and loss of quality of education currently being offered here at the University of Kentucky.

The other faculty trustee, Hubie Ballard, said hed heard support from faculty members for the resolution, and voted in favor. Other board members said they supported the proposal because it elevated the role of students and staff.

Im very disappointed with the results, said history professor Karen Petrone. I know the faculty absolutely agree that there should be meaningful student voices and meaningful staff voices at the table. But the problem is that the new structure makes everyone advisory, and no one has the decision making policy power that is necessary. ... This is a loss for everyone.

Capiloutos proposal was sent to the board, faculty, staff and students last Friday. Both the Student Government Association and the staff senate passed resolutions supporting the proposal, while the university senate has passed multiple resolutions opposing the changes.

The bottom line is that what (Capilouto) heard  and what I heard as well  is that too many members of our community, particularly students and staff and those at the local unit level, dont feel as though they have a voice, said Board Chair Britt Brockman. They dont see themselves as having a seat at the table in the decisions that are made about the University, whose progress and promise is our joint project. It is our shared responsibility, but that implies actually sharing in it.

With the university senate moving into an advisory role, items that the senate currently oversees, like new courses, curriculum or academic programs, will instead be approved by departments or colleges, then the provost, before going to the board for approval.

William Taylor, a UK senior, said they felt the changes meant no checks and balances at the university.

We made recommendations for better representing students and staff by adding them to the existing senate with voting rights. It was pretty much ignored and not considered, Taylor said.

University of Kentucky President Eli Capiloutos new governance structure: The university senate will become an advisory board, and decisions about courses and curriculum would be approved by the provost. Provided by the University of Kentucky

At the February board meeting, trustees gave Capilouto the authority to recommend changes to the universitys governing regulations. Since then, the university senate and senate council, which has authority to create broad education policy and academic standards for UK, has passed multiple resolutions calling on Capilouto to slow the process and delay making a recommendation to the board.

Capilouto has said the change is needed to make the university more nimble, and would align the universitys structure with more common governance models.
Step, step, step, step. Nine military honor guards lifted the late Bob Grahams closed casket up the two flights of stairs just past 10:30 a.m. on Friday, in Floridas old Capitol, where he served as governor before the current one was built directly behind it.

The Florida A&M University Gospel Choir sang Walk in the Light, by Aretha Franklin.

Graham  a former Florida governor, U.S. senator, state representative and state senator  died on April 16 at age 87. Flowers meant to evoke iconic Florida landscape paintings and symbolize his environmental stewardship adorned his casket at the Tallahassee lie-in-state ceremony: orchids, magnolias, kumquats, Spanish moss.

Grahams daughter, former Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham, followed behind a few minutes later with her husband, Steve Hurm, and together they led about 50 family members and close friends in paying their respects.

Grahams widow, Adele Graham, came to the old Capitols second floor rotunda by way of elevator and, after her own tribute, sat in a chair next to her husbands casket for the entire ceremony, which ended past 1:30 p.m., going more than half an hour long.

From that chair, Adele Graham greeted more than 500 people.

It was chaotic outside. The current Florida Capitol is under construction and many entrance points are blocked off. Parking is a nightmare. Before the procession began, reporters wondered aloud whether anyone would find their way inside. But they did. And inside those historic walls was a whos-who of old Tallahassee, a time when Republicans and Democrats were both colleagues and friends.

Former Republican Gov. Bob Martinez, 89, who served after Graham, said: He was so easy to work with, whether he agreed with you or not. You never left with an unpleasant feeling about the meeting.

Martinez said he had lunch with Graham in Tampa just before the pandemic, along with Adele Graham and Gwen Graham. I thanked him, because I think hes the first one that really put environment on the front burner, and the Everglades in particular.

About the political era in which he and Graham served, Martinez added: It was a different time. It wasnt as contentious as it is today. You cant go back. Thats gone. But Im glad that I was in public life for 20 years, yesterday, and not today.

Other public officials who paid their respects to Graham: Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey; Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz; former Republican Lt. Gov. Bobby Brantley; Tallahassee-based Democratic state Rep. Allison Tant; Democratic Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey; former Tallahaseee-based Democratic state Sen. Loranne Ausley; Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, and former Republican state Senate President Jim Scott.

We were seat mates where they sat you two-by-two in the old Capitol, said Scott, 82, after paying his respects. We became great friends for our whole career.

Scott shared a memory from their time as seat mates. Graham was getting ready to run for governor and Democratic state Sen. Dempsey Barron was razzing him about his hair. It was kind of slicked back.

Barron said, Youll never get elected governor with that hair. And so, about the second time he said it, [Graham] leaned over to me and said, What do you think about what he said? I said, I think hes right. I swear he changed his hair, Scott said laughing.

At 9:30 in the morning, an hour-and-a-half before the public ceremony began, Ramon Day, 69, was standing by himself outside the old Capitols North entrance, under scaffolding because of all the construction. Hed driven over from Jacksonville on Thursday to make sure he was not only on time, but first in line.

Day was chief of staff to Democratic Congressman Charlie Bennett when he met Graham, who had joined the U.S. Senate in 1987. Later, when Graham was running for re-election in 1998, Day was part of a campaign group called Young Friends of Bob Graham, and remembered Graham telling them in Jacksonville about how his car broke down on the way to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital when Adele was about to give birth to one of his daughters.

He was trying to push the Volkswagen up Magnolia Circle up here, and somebody came and rescued him, Day said. I thought that was a really funny anecdote, that he would share that, a vulnerable moment like that. And that just has always stuck with me.

Kim Barnhill, 68, from Tallahassee, said she met Graham when he was governor through her friend, Betty Lantaff, wife of former Democratic U.S. Congressman Bill Lantaff, who was friends with Adele Graham from Miami. Betty moved to Tallahassee after her husbands death in 1970.

Whenever they had a party, we would go and just assist the family with errands and that sort of thing, said Barnhill. We were at the governors mansion quite often for Christmas parties, Gwens wedding, we helped decorate for that.

Barnhill recalled at one particular event during a December open house in the early 1980s, she was eight months pregnant. The governor said, When are you due? And I said, January the 8th. And three hours later, when Betty and I were leaving, he looked at me, and pointed, and said, January the 8th, right?

She added: And that was just Bob Graham.
Interim Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Christopher Durand, right, talks with transit advocate Grant Dulgarian after the agency's Board of Directors met on April 25, 2024. It was Durand's first meeting since taking the interim position. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

PROVIDENCE  Facing a budget shortfall of $18 million next fiscal year, decreased ridership and the sudden resignation of its CEO, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)s interim leader, Christopher Durand, has his work cut out for him.

But Durand, who previously served as the bus agencys finance chief for the last three years, said hes up to the task.

RIPTA job fair

RIPTA is hosting its next job fair on Wednesday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its headquarters at 705 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Applicants can drop-in or sign up online at RIPTA.com/careers. All new bus operators receive up to eight weeks of paid training, including commercial driver license education and certification.

This is kind of a fresh start for us, he told RIPTAs Board of Directors Thursday in his first board meeting since being named interim CEO on April 16. In the past week Ive been trying to ride and talk with as many people as possible to get a better feel for the things  and a lot of the issues, theyre not unknown to us.

Among them are proposed cuts to 20 routes in Providence and Kent counties to make up for the agencys ongoing driver shortage. The plan for service cuts was developed after the agency held four public hearings on the matter earlier in the month.

RIPTAs board was scheduled to vote on the plan Thursday. Much to the delight and surprise of transit advocates, Durand announced those cuts might be unnecessary.

He told the board that while the agency currently does not have enough drivers to maintain service, he feels a 16.7% hike in starting pay for new drivers in late February is attracting applicants.

Since the wage increase went into effect, RIPTA has hired 12 new bus operators, with 16 additional offers pending, agency spokesperson Cristy Raposo Perry said via email. A total of 214 driver driver applications have been received since then, she added.

RIPTA now has 377 fixed route bus operators  which leaves a gap of around 47 positions to fill, Durand said in an interview after the meeting.

If we capture 50  25% of those applications, all of our services are covered, he told the board. Theres an impact to this, but I believe we have an opportunity over the next four or five months to resolve this.

That was welcome news to Board Chairman Peter Alviti, who praised Durands preparation for Thursdays meeting.

I love that youre setting goals and schedules, Alviti said.

Of course, getting drivers onboarded presents its own set of challenges. Around 160 applicants do not have a commercial drivers license (CDL) necessary to operate a RIPTA bus  25 of whom have not received necessary endorsements for a CDL, Raposo Perry said.

And training takes time, which RIPTA Head of Human Resources Kathy Nadeau said many applicants dont have. That leaves many not following through on getting hired.

I believe we have an opportunity over the next four or five months to resolve this.

 Rhode Island Public Transit Authority interim CEO Christopher Durand on filling vacant bus driver jobs

Nadeau suggested that the board allow potential drivers to earn a RIPTA wage while they train to get their CDL permit.

Theyll learn the structure and instill some pride in what they do every day, she said. That will actually bring in more applicants.

It was a welcome idea to Alviti, who said its a policy he uses to attract maintenance drivers for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

And its been very successful in onboarding the people we need, he said.

RI Transit Riders Co-Chair Patricia Raub told Rhode Island Current she was delighted to see RIPTA avert cuts to service.

Thank God, she said. Its really exciting that Chris and the staff are rethinking this instead of inconveniencing more riders.

Search for permanent leader underway

New drivers arent the only personnel RIPTA is looking to onboard, as the agencys board Thursday also held its first discussion on how to attract and hire a permanent CEO.

Alviti said he would like to see the agency hire an outside firm to conduct a nationwide search rather than kind of in our microcosm of Rhode Island.

And its not just Alviti who would like to see an expansive search, saying legislative leadership and Gov. Dan McKee have each expressed a desire to seek out a person with extensive knowledge and experience in transit agency administration.

Board member Normand Benoit didnt oppose the idea but warned it could be costly. Ultimately no decision was made.

Durand himself was noncommittal about if he wants the permanent role, telling Rhode Island Current after the meeting, its a board decision.

Im happy to serve whatever role  thats it, he said. I just enjoy this agency, and Im happy to be here, period.

The post With more bus driver applications coming in, RIPTA avoids service cuts appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
More criminals in the Mid-South making their own machine gun

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A tiny device called a switch can turn a Glock handgun into a weapon of war, and law enforcement says theyre infiltrating the Mid-South.

The official name is a machine gun conversion device. Its also known as a switch or auto-sear.

On April 12, police responded to a seemingly standard call. Officers were told to check on a suspicious vehicle in Southwest Memphis when police said two occupants opened fire. They fired back.

Three officers were hit. Officer Joseph McKinney didnt survive.

One occupant was also injured, and the driver, Jaylen Lobley, was fatally shot.

As chief of police I am hurt, MPD Interim Police Chief CJ Davis said. We are really, really disturbed by the boldness and the use of weapons.

Its unclear what guns were fired at officers that night.

What we do know is that WREG Investigators found court records stating just six weeks before, officers had responded to another suspicious vehicle where again, Lobley was in the drivers seat. This time, he was asleep.

Court records state that tucked next to him was a loaded, stolen Glock illegally modified into a machine gun, so that in one prolonged pull, he could have fired 30 bullets in two seconds. He told police he had fired it before.

But despite that, a judicial commissioner released him on his own recognizance and gave him a curfew since this was the first offense on the 18-year-olds record.

Teens involved in police shooting had juvenile records

This defendant does not have any prior convictions, and as such, there is no basis for the court to find that he is a risk, a risk of safety to the community, Judicial Commissioner Chris Ingram said.

In the audio recording we obtained of Lobleys bond hearing, the vehicle theft charges were the main focus of discussion, not the modified weapon. That may be because, the weapon charge is a Class E felony, making it the least serious offense that day.

But law enforcement is calling these modified weapons an emerging threat.

ATF Special Agent Tom Neely showed us why.

Special Agent Neely first showed us what a Glock was designed to do. It fired a single round every time he pulled the trigger.

Then, when he fired the switch, 15 rounds fired fast  fast, as in 1,000 rounds per minute. Even in the hands of an expert, its tough to control.

All the semi-automatic rounds were here in the center, he said.

A big difference, from the switch. While the first bullet might be accurate, the rest werent even close.

They essentially make these firearms impossible to control, especially if youre using just one hand to try to control a firearm, said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin Ritz.

He said the devices are really dangerous and highly illegal under federal law.

Ritz said hes made it a top priority to prosecute crimes involving switches.

He established a task force called Project Safe Neighborhoods. Local, state and federal law enforcement meet with local and federal prosecutors every week to go over every case involving a switch. They see what cases can and are worth prosecuting at the federal level since penalties are much steeper. They can carry up to 10 years in prison.

Were making it a priority, because were seeing these devices on the streets, Ritz said. We want to identify the drivers of violence. A lot of times, these are repeat players in our system.

Theyve indicted suppliers like a Memphis man who allegedly ordered 25 switches from China, and have also gone after those caught with the modified weapon like Jaquan Bridges accused of firing shots at Shelby County deputies in 2022.

We are seeing them, unfortunately, in the hands of younger people, he said. I have noticed cities across the country are starting to deal with this challenge as well.

The ATF reports the number of switches recovered nationwide increased more than 500 percent between 2017 and 2021.

We asked Memphis police for their totals. Theyre still working on our request.

Some local agencies will track this. Not many, said Daniel Webster, with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

He said the device is understudied despite the danger it poses.

Just look at the crime scene outside a Memphis restaurant where witnesses told us they saw a Glock firing like an automatic weapon. Nearly 60 shell casings were marked.

Recently Memphis police showed us the unnerving guns officers are encountering like this Glock with a switch attached, they say, found in a stolen car.

The man arrested got out on bond. Twelve days later, court records state he was caught again with a switch during a traffic stop.

Police said in January, they also found four switches and drugs while searching an Oakhaven home. They said they also found a 50-round drum magazine.

Nine people were arrested.

Law enforcement says some criminals are making these devices on 3D printers, and they continue to modify the design making it even harder to spot.

This is a huge challenge we just have to acknowledge, Webster said. We only have 15 states that have their own laws around fully automatic weapons, and the vast majority of cases of gun-related crimes that are investigated and prosecuted are prosecuted at the state level.

Webster said state laws arent tough enough. In Tennessee, its a low-level felony often resulting in sentencing alternatives.

We cant expect the ATF and the U.S. Attorneys Office to solve whats an incredibly large problem right now. Youre going to need stronger state laws and a willingness to enforce them, Webster said.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said they are seeing more cases involving switches.

If we had a higher-level offense chargeable for it, I think that would be a useful thing, Mulroy said. If someone has gone to the trouble of adapting their pistol so that they can fire it as an automatic, theyre up to no good. Theyre theyre causing harm in the community.

Thats why hes added it to the the list of crimes his office is prioritizing.

Were arguing for higher bond amounts when we think that public safety requires it. Asking for monitoring. GPS monitoring or enrollment in like the Memphis VIP program where you have, you know, weekly check-ins, he said. Also, more robust investigative tools. So specifically, were monitoring jail calls.

Mulroy said criminals caught with switches must be dealt with accordingly.

He stressed Lobley was a high-risk offender and that federal prosecutors had planned to file charges.

While the DAs office doesnt set bail, they can argue for higher bonds and have vowed to do so in priority cases like Lobleys.

Yet, he still got out.

Mulroy stated hes re-emphasized to all attorney supervisors their presumption against releasing defendants caught with switches on their own recognizance.

Some cases prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Tennessee:

 Prenagio Baines: MPD officers said he had a machine gun conversion device attached to his pistol. He pled guilty to possessing a machine gun and was sentenced on February 27, 2023 to 24 months in prison.

 Daniel Banks: Officers say while running away from a traffic stop, he dropped his gun with a switch. He pled guilty to drug and gun crimes, including possession of a machine gun. He was sentenced on March 24, 2023 to 84 months.

 Justin Hardaway: In March 2022, officers say he was in a stolen Dodge Charger. He had a Glock handgun with a machine gun conversion device attached. He was sentenced on February 14, 2023 to 30 months.

 Terrance Jones: The switch charge derived from a shooting at Young Dolphs memorial. Police said he discarded a firearm with a switch. He was sentenced on October 27, 2022 to 30 months for the switch charge.

 Daniel Kirtman: Police said Kirtman, a convicted felon, had a Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and a machine gun conversion device. Kirtman pled guilty to firearm crimes and was sentenced on December 7, 2022, to 102 months in prison.

 Michael Thomas: He sold and possessed multiple machine gun conversion devices. Thomas

pled guilty to possessing the switches and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug

trafficking crime. He was sentenced on December 1, 2022 to 84 months.

 Michael Naylor: Investigators discovered Naylor worked at a gun store and was selling

machine guns, switches, and other firearms. During the investigation, agents met with Naylor to purchase switches. On the final occasion, Naylor brought twenty switches to sell. Naylor pled guilty and was sentenced on March 3, 2023 to 27 months.

 Kameron Chatman: Authorities say Chatman was seen in a Facebook video with a switch. On March 9, 2023, he pled guilty in federal court in Jackson, Tennessee, to firearm crimes, including possession of a machine gun.

 Avonta Gregory: He pled guilty on May 1, 2023 to possessing a Glock firearm with a machine gun conversion device.

 Martavious Hodges: Authorities say he sold firearms with switches. He pled guilty on March

22, 2023 to possession of a machine gun.

 Cameron Person: Law enforcement say they found four switches, material to put one together and two firearms in his home. He pled guilty on March 7, 2023 to possession of a machine gun.

 Michael Rimmer, Jr.: Police say he had two firearms with switches. He pled guilty on March 20, 2023 to a drug crime and possession of machine guns.

 Mitchell Shaw: He pled guilty on September 28, 2022 to possessing a machine gun.

 Maurice Wilson: Defendant possessed a switch and pled guilty on March 14, 2023 to firearm

crimes.

 Dionco Lowe: Investigators say he had four firearms and a machine gun conversion device. He pled guilty on May 9, 2023 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 Nakiel Addison: He was indicted on March 30, 2023 for federal gun crimes, including

possessing a firearm with a switch.

 Khamron Roberts: He was indicted on April 27, 2023 for federal gun crimes, including

possessing a firearm with a switch.

 Roosevelt Wilson: He was indicted on April 27, 2023, for federal gun crimes. His alleged

crime involved ordering 25 switches from China.

 Jaquan Bridges: He was indicted on April 27, 2023 for possessing a machine gun. Investigators say he shot at Shelby County deputies on the interstate and they recovered a gun with a switch.

 Jaqerious Conner: Conner was indicted on November 10, 2022 for drug and gun crimes,

including possession of a machine gun.

 Quatavious Doggett: He was indicted on March 16, 2023 for being a felon in possession

of a firearm and possession of a machine gun. Police say he had a firearm with a switch.

 Pariss Johnson, Paris Brown and Leroy Cloyd: They were indicted on February 16, 2023 for possessing machine guns. Police say they purchased guns with conversion devices in an undercover operation.

 Timothy Williams: He was indicted on February 7, 2023 for being a felon in possession

of firearms and other crimes. Police say he had four firearms and a machine gun conversion device.

 Eddie Martinez: Police say agents recovered a Glock 9mm with a switch. Martinez was indicted on January 26, 2023 for possession of a machine gun.



For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Jhon Valencia plays with Thian, 2, with his mother, Katherine Gonzalez, in the back, on Towne Avenue on Los Angeles' Skid Row. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Skid Row is a playground for children again, despite homeless officials' assurances that it wouldn't happen.

On Thursday morning, a 2-year-old rode a broom like a horse, running past a tent, where he lives with his parents. His 5-year-old friend, who lives in the tent next door, ran alongside him.

A 9-year-old emerged from her own familys tent to show her mother how shed styled her hair with beaded clips.

And a 1-year-old boy slept inside a car, his father trying to keep him from the cold in his familys tent.

Josias Carrasquero, 1, sleeps in a car, with his father nearby, on Towne Avenue on Skid Row. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Just over a month after a Times report on migrant families with children living on Skid Row prompted authorities to rush several families into a motel, a more extensive community has formed on Towne Avenue, with at least seven new families, with at least 10 children, living in an array of large tents, pup tents and tarp shelters.

Some of the families said they had been there for days. Others said it had been weeks.

Although several families told The Times that outreach workers told them housing wasn't available, county officials say that they offered "immediately available interim housing" to families in the area, but that some chose to decline it.

Homeless authorities have asserted that they have readied resources to immediately identify and find appropriate shelter for families with children on Skid Row.

Read more: Children on Skid Row: Four migrant families form a tenuous community

In response to The Times report, Cheri Todoroff, executive director of Los Angeles Countys Homeless Initiative, told the county Board of Supervisors during an April 9 meeting that "outreach teams who are on Skid Row are able to immediately identify families who they are seeing unsheltered on Skid Row, and they have the resources available to bring those families inside immediately, on the same day."

Officials told the supervisors there has been a 45% increase in the number of families in the homeless system compared with last year.

"It has grown increasingly apparent in the day-to-day efforts of providers, front-line staff  that there are increasing numbers of unsheltered families in the county," Todoroff said. "Our teams are working quickly to determine if this is a new norm or a one-time surge."

The Homeless Initiative issued a statement Thursday saying it is "deeply concerning to see families, especially with young children, experiencing unsheltered homelessness on Skid Row" but contending that every family engaged by outreach workers in the area has been offered immediately available interim housing.

"These opportunities are entirely voluntary, and they may not feel that the housing option available that day meets their unique needs," the statement said. "Unfortunately, some have chosen to decline it. We and our service partners will continue to engage with these families to bring them inside and resolve their homelessness as quickly as possible given their individual circumstances.

The families living on Towne Avenue this week came from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela and entered the U.S. in Texas and Arizona. Some said they arrived in Los Angeles on buses and airplanes that were paid for by people they did not know. Others paid their own way, thinking they would find opportunity in L.A.

Members of three families said they had been staying at Union Rescue Mission for about three months, until they were asked to pay a monthly fee they could not afford. The parents said they do not have permits that allow them to legally earn money in the country.

Currently, migrants make up about 75% of the 400 family members at the mission. Last year, facing financial stress, the mission established a policy requiring residents who stayed 90 days or more to pay a fee.

But Jeff Hudson, the mission's interim chief executive, denied that anyone is required to leave for nonpayment.

It is antithetical to what we do to put people out on the street, Hudson said.

The only reasons anyone would be evicted would be violence or drug or alcohol use, he said.

If somebody cant pay, we will find them someplace else to go. They will not be put out on the street. It wouldnt make sense. The term 'migrant' is irrelevant to us. Any women and children on the street we want off the street.

Hudson said he could not talk about individual clients, but speculated that people might leave out of a sense of honor when they couldnt pay, or because they saw the street as a better pathway to a housing voucher than the mission, which has no access to public support.

When the city declares us a sanctuary city and they will say to URM, We will not give you any support because you [prohibit substance use] and you are faith based, it squeezes us at both ends, he said.

During the April 9 board meeting, Va Lecia Adams Kellum, chief executive of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, told the board that a plan was being worked out to help subsidize the families at the shelter.

Weve made some headway." Adams Kellum said. "We have a team out right now because weve learned that some of the families that went to the mission dont have the money to pay the rates. Its minimal to some of us. But to some families its impossible to consider.

"So LAHSA is going to start paying that fee in partnership with H.I. [the Homeless Initiative] so that theres no barrier for families staying indoors while were working on a more permanent plan. Ive asked teams to remain stationed out on Skid Row to look for those families.  Were meeting with the missions to ensure that we can be that support and also keeping the motels aware that we may have last-minute urgent needs.

LAHSA issued a statement Thursday saying that for several weeks, it has maintained its focus on Skid Row to identify unsheltered families and place them in interim housing as quickly as possible.

"So far, we have moved 30 families living on Skid Row into motels and seven into a building operated by a collaboration between Downtown Womens Center and LAHSA," it said.

Katherine Gonzalez, left, Thian, 2, and Jhon Valencia live on Towne Avenue. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

"Some of the families we have encountered left Union Rescue Mission and we are working with them to bring them back inside. LAHSA has offered to cover the dues for nine families, but all have declined so far. Since the family system is overstretched, we have temporarily placed those families in motels while we work on alternative options to keep them sheltered.

"LAHSA is working with several partners to increase its resources to support these families, including identifying additional staff and discussing opening an additional space for families at Union Rescue Mission."

Migrants regularly arrive at Union Rescue Mission, the only open door for families on Skid Row in a severely overburdened and disjointed system.

Its the only crisis shelter where people can be accepted without referral from a provider, but it's not connected to the county system, said Avian Weiswerda, clinical coordinator for mental health and homeless services at the nonprofit Para Los Ninos, which has hundreds of clients on Skid Row.

Read more: A deal to buy Skid Row homeless housing fell apart. Here's why vulnerable tenants and taxpayers are at risk

The influx of migrants is a new stress that is causing new cracks, Weiswerda said. "But as long as Ive been at Para Los Ninos, those cracks have always been there. I wouldnt say the system worked well or flawless before this."

"There isnt enough crisis shelter, crisis support, transitional shelter or permanent housing," she said, which causes families to stay too long in transitional shelter.

Alejandra Lozada said she landed on Skid Row after she was asked to pay $370 to remain at Union Rescue Mission with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, Flavia.

I didnt have money to pay, she said.

In lieu of the fee, she was told, she could work as a volunteer doing cleaning shifts at night to cover the amount, but she could not do it because she didnt have anywhere to leave her toddler, she said.

She has applied to dozens of job agencies but never gets called back because she doesnt have a work permit, she said.

Since they ended up on the street two blocks from the shelter, aid workers have come by but told them there is no place for them to go. Right now theres no help, Lozada said.

Sometimes people come by and tell them their kids are going to be taken away if they dont get off the street, she said.

Were on the street because we dont have anywhere to live, not because were doing anything bad.

On Thursday, the families living on Towne received a social call from Glenda Bustamante, who dropped by with two babies in a stroller. She said she has been at the mission for a year and pays $200 monthly that she raises by babysitting for other parents who work.

Though they are not eligible to work legally, some parents do find informal jobs as day laborers, babysitters, dishwashers or street vendors, she said.

Jhon Valencia and Katherine Gonzalez and their 2-year-old, Thian, came on a bus from Texas routed through Denver.

Gonzalez, who was watching over two other children, 5 and 2, while their mother worked, said she and her son had left the mission last week after being asked to pay $300 a month.

Makeshift housing lines a sidewalk on Towne Avenue. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

They joined others who had relocated to the area across the street from the Skid Row Community Refresh Spot, where they could shower and do laundry.

On Thursday morning, Gonzalez fried an egg on a burner while Thian sat in a childs camping chair, watching videos on a phone.

She needs work and a place to stay, she said.

With a home and a job, we can move ahead, she said.

Yuhendry Carrasquero, whose 1-year-old son slept in a car in the morning, said that he works in plumbing, taking jobs when he can, but that the work is unstable.

He and his family have been on and off the streets since November, he said. Sometimes, when he earns enough money, they rent a room or stay at a motel. For now, theyre in a tent. On Thursday, Carrasquero said his wife had gone out to local agencies to ask about housing while he stayed with their baby.

At the south end of the tent row, Dori Mera shares a tent with her husband and daughters, 9 and 10.

She said she left the mission voluntarily, at first to stay with her brother, who was sick and living on the street. She thought she had permission to leave temporarily, but when she tried to return she was told she was no longer able to, she said. Recently, workers have told her she can go back, but she said she's no longer comfortable there.

Her husband has a temporary dish-washing job at a restaurant filling in for a friend who is sick. He earns enough to buy food.

The only thing we want is the chance to work, she said. An apartment, something stable to be able to work.

We just need a little push, and we can take care of the rest. We came here to work, she said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A gray wolf (Photo by MacNeil Lyons/United States Fish and Wildlife, Midwest Region via Flickr/CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Another coalition of conservation groups, including several from Montana, has given notice to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service it plans to sue to try and force the agency to give Endangered Species Act protections back to gray wolves in Montana and other states in the West.

The group, which includes the Gallatin Wildlife Association and Footloose Montana, is the third to threaten or file a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service since it in February announced that there was a Western distinct population segment of gray wolves but it would not be making any changes to their listing statussomething many western conservation groups have been pushing for for years.

The group said its notice of intent to sue also comes in response to an incident in Wyoming in late February in which a man ran down a young wolf on his snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, took the injured wolf to a local bar to show it off to patrons, and later killed the animal, as WyoFile has reported.

So far, the mans only punishment has been a $250 fine. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said earlier this month the incident did not represent Wyoming and overshadows our states proven track record and dedication to the conservation service.

But the groups that have long asked for more protections for gray wolves in the West, especially since they have been under state management in Montana and Idaho since 2011 and in Wyoming since 2017, say the killing in Wyoming is another sign that state management policies are not working.

States have proven they cannot be trusted to sustain the wolf species. They not only allow but endorse bounties on wolves. They have encouraged increased hunting quotas on wolves, spotlighting, baiting, trapping, snaring, hound hunting, said Footloose Montana executive director Jessica Karjala in a statement. Here, Wyoming is turning a blind eye to the heinous acts of Cody Roberts. The delisting of wolves has led to the failure of state wildlife agencies to protect wolves.

In early February, the Fish and Wildlife Service released its decision not to list wolves in the West as a threatened species, but said it would develop a National Recovery Plan for wolves in the lower 48 states. It said its projections showed there was no risk of quasi-extinction in the next 100 years for wolves, so extra protections were not necessary.

Gray wolves are listed as a threatened species in Minnesota and endangered in 44 states, but they are managed by the states in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the easter thirds of Oregon and Washington.

The review found there were about 2,800 wolves living in seven states at the end of 2022, and that even if hunting and trapping continues to the current extent in Montana and Idaho, the median wolf population in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming would be between 935 and 2,161 wolves.

Under the most extreme harvest scenario, the population was modeled to be around 739, and under the least extreme scenario, up to nearly 2,600 wolves, according to the decision and a species status assessment.

The 19-page notice of intent to sue was written by Kate Chupka Schultz, the senior attorney for the Center for a Humane Economy, which is one of five groups behind this weeks letter. It accuses the Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to duly consider how increasing hunting and trapping quotas and the conflicting politics surrounding wolves in the West could affect wolf populations and their interconnectivity, and of not using the best available science for its population and health forecasts.

It says that bills run by lawmakers and wolf management plans put together by various state agencies in the West signal objectives to greatly reduce and limit their wolf populations, including Montana, and that the Fish and Wildlife Service wrongly forecasted that those plans could not be further changed by politicians.

Gray wolf conservation  or, alternatively, gray wolf eradication  is no longer just a concern of biologists, environmentalists, and ranchers, but rather has grown to embody an outsize but fundamental political conflict roiling the country, especially since 2021, the letter says. The FWS has utterly failed to properly account for these sociopolitical aspects, especially those happening in the past three years, in its Species Status Assessment. And politics has been shown to predict public attitudes towards gray wolves and their management.

The notice also accuses legislators, including Montanas, of co-opting management decisions from regulatory agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and says the Fish and Wildlife Service has failed to account for what the groups call further radicalization of those lawmakers against wolves.

The notice also cites the Wyoming incident, an example of wanton and egregious cruelty not seen for decades, as well as other poaching reports from across several states to say that people opposed to wolves, or who are targeting their fur, are increasingly targeting the animals, and that there is evidence that many illegal wolf killings go entirely unreported.

It is at best unlikely that legalizing killing decreases poaching, and at worst, liberalized legal killing leads to an increase in unlawful take too, the notice of intent to sue says.

The group, like others, also plans to challenge the wolf population estimation methodologies used in Idaho and Montana  they use space-to-event models and integrated patch occupancy models  which they say are deficient when it comes to estimating populations and means the Fish and Wildlife Service did not use the best available science in making its decision.

The groups also say that the Fish and Wildlife analysis failed to look into the danger of extinction wolves face in their historical range where they might not currently exist but where suitable habitat remains, as well as in places that only have small but growing populations.

With its latest Finding, the FWS is repeating many of the same mistakes it has made in its many prior attempts to delist the gray wolf from ESA protection and the action is likely to face the same outcome as these earlier efforts, Chupka Schultz wrote in the notice of intent to sue.

The groups hope the suit will force the Fish and Wildlife Service to vacate its decision; they will have to wait 60 days before they can file suit.

USFWS_Intent-to-Sue

The post More Montana conservation groups intend to sue over decision not to re-list wolves appeared first on Daily Montanan.
More charges have been filed in a case involving alleged abuse at a western Kentucky boarding school, according to Kentucky State Police.

Pilgrims Rest School in Ohio County has been under investigation since October 2022 after Social Services investigated allegations of abuse, KSP said. In December an Ohio grand jury indicted Kelly Vanderkooi, 52; Johnathan Vanderkooi, 28, and Amanda Vanderkooi, 27, all of Dundee, court records show.

As a result of the continued investigation, Kelly Vanderkooi and Amanda Vanderkooi now face new charges while two more have been charged in the case, according to KSP.

Kelly Vanderkooi, who was previously indicted on 21 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under and 10 counts of fourth-degree assault (child abuse), now faces new 16 charges of first-degree criminal abuse of a minor under 12, according to KSP.

Amanda Vanderkooi, who was indicted on one count of first-degree sexual abuse, has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a minor under 12, according to KSP.

Joshua Vanderkooi, 31, has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal abuse of a minor under 12, according to KSP. Christina Vanderkooi, 51, has been charged with three counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a minor under 12 and one count of intimidating a participant in a legal process.

The new indictments were handed down on April 19, according to court records. Four days later KSP executed a search warrant at the boarding school and collected 29 boxes of items, KSP said.

A motion has been filed to consolidate the cases against Kelly Vanderkooi, Johnathan Vanderkooi and George Serven, according to court documents. Johnathan Vanderkooi faces eight counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under and three counts of fourth-degree assault (child abuse) while Serven faces 24 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under and six counts of fourth-degree assault (child abuse) in two separate cases.

KSP said many of the victims are from various parts of the country. Thirty-two different churches from 10 states provided financial or spiritual support to the school, including 12 in Kentucky, according to a court document.

KSPs investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact KSP post 16 at 270-826-3312.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

CHENGDU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu in Sichuan Province, southwestern China.

China is ready to work with all other countries to build a better homeland and a community with a shared future for mankind, Han said, adding that the latter had received positive responses from countries around the world.

He pointed out that the Chinese government has relentlessly promoted green development, contributing about a quarter to the increased afforestation areas worldwide, and made positive contributions to the sustainable development of mankind.

The world today still faces global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity protection, and there is a long way to go to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Han said, calling for joint efforts from all parties to promote the modernization of harmony between man and nature.

"We should regard the ecological environment as the foundation of human survival and development, respect nature, follow nature's ways, and protect nature," Han said.

He also called on all parties to uphold the concepts of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, jointly improve the environmental governance system, explore and develop solutions for sustainable development.

As the largest developing country in the world, China will actively shoulder international responsibilities commensurate with its level of development and capabilities, strengthen dialogue with other parties on ecological progress, and carry out extensive cooperation on biodiversity, climate change and other fields, Han said.

With the theme of "Park City, Beautiful Habitat," about 1,000 representatives from 54 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony.

Before the opening ceremony, Han toured the expo site and took a group photo with important guests from both China and abroad. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng takes a group photo with important guests from both China and abroad before the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 26, 2024. Han Zheng on Friday attended and addressed the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
Todd Blanche, one of the unhappy attorneys defending Donald Trump in one of the criminal actions against him, insisted this week the former president deserves to continue to be called President Trump out of respect, that this is something the former game-show host and quondam pornographer has earned. That is pure drivel, of course, but Trump, who has a thing about titles, has insisted for years that employees and sycophants continue calling him President Trump.

The continued use of the title president before Trumps name is, of course, a violation of republican norms. We do not have aristocratic titles in the United Stateswe have job titles, and we have only one president at a time. (Goodness knows one is enough.) Trump isnt the first ex-president to cling pathetically to the title, though Trumps insistence takes on a special valence because he also insists that he is the rightfully elected president and attempted to stage a coup detat in 2021 to hold onto the office. So there is more at work here than etiquette.

But lets talk about the etiquette a little bit.

The legend of George Washington was modeled on that of Cincinnatus, the Roman hero who personified republican virtue. Cincinnatus was a poor patrician who was made dictator during a time of national emergency and, as soon as the danger had passed, returned to his farmback to his plow, as the story goeseven though his term in office had not expired. It did not matter to Cincinnatus that he could have continued in office for a few more months and that doing so might have been financially rewardingthe question of what Cincinnatus was entitled to was entirely secondary to the question of what his country required from him. That is what real patriotism looks like in action.

Trump fancies himself a kind of American royal. You may recall that before and during his visit to the United Kingdom in 2019, Trump suggested that the younger British royals should hold a next generation summit with the Trump children, as though the Trump brats were something like princes rather than reality-television grotesques. The idea of a hereditary Trump aristocracy is particularly galling to those of us who are old enough to remember that one of the arguments put forward for Trump in 2016 was that nominating him would help to put an end to dynastic politics in the United States in an era when the leading figures included Trumps primary rival Jeb Bush, son of one former president and brother of another, and Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton, the much-abused wife of a former president. And what happened? In 2024, we have a Trump as co-chair of the RNC while Uday and Qusay continue lingering herpetically around the orifices of the body politic.

An aristocrat is nothing without a title, and the one Trump really favors is baron, which was both the name of the imaginary friend he invented to lie to the New York Post about his sex life (which is a totally normal and not at all obviously insane thing to do) and the name of his youngest son. In the United States, we have had steel barons and newspaper barons and even robber barons, but, alas, there are no baronages for reality television programs or for selling cheap polyester ties and knockoff watches at Macys. We have had cattle barons, but Trump Steaks were too far downstream to make him a baron. And since Trump Steaks went out of business two months after its launchwho could have guessed that selling meat via QVC would go bust?the title would not have been an ancient one.

But it takes more than a title to make an aristocrat. The American natural aristocrat is not a figment of Thomas Jeffersons rich political imagination, and we have had a few. Some of them are famous and wealthy, some of them are very cultured, andthis is why I am forgoing names herefew of them enjoy public praise or attention, though many of them are public men by necessity. They tend to have very good manners, and by that I do not mean knowing which fork to use for which course but the talent for making other people feel valued, honored, and at ease. They can do that because they have no reason to be jealous of their own positionsthey can be generous with grace and applause for the same reason a very wealthy man can be generous with money: They are not worried about running out. Donald Trump is, to say the least, not one of these. He is the very opposite type, the man who needs to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Strange that he doesnt seem to be enjoying his trial more.

The title business can get comical. We get vitriolic denunciations of the Chinese Communist Party from a legislator who insists on calling himself Chairman Smith. Newt Gingrich is still Mr. Speaker to the dinosaurs on Fox News, although he held the office in a prior centuryhe left the speakership before Ice Spice had even been born! Nikki Haley is still ambassador, as though she were an envoy from some faraway planet where Republicans didnt suck quite so badly.

And so Trump will insist that he is Mr. President. P01135809 suited him better, and something along those lines may await him still.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Mt. Juliet traffic stop results in arrest of Nashville man out on bond for involvement in 2022 murder

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  A traffic stop in Mt. Juliet resulted in the arrest of a Nashville man who was out on bond following a triple shooting that left one person dead and two injured in 2022.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department said officers pulled a vehicle over on Mt. Juliet Road near Providence and discovered the Nashville man in the vehicle had a handgun with him, despite being a convicted felon with a previous robbery charge.

Further investigation revealed the man was out on bond for his involvement in a Nashville triple shooting and murder that happened in September 2022. Police also found marijuana in the vehicle, according to investigators.

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Mt. Juliet officials told News 2 the 20-year-old man was identified as Jaylen Floyd. Based on court records, though, Floyd is actually 21.

News 2 previously reported that Floyd was charged in connection with a deadly shooting from Sept. 9, 2022 in the parking lot of a taco restaurant in South Nashville.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, surveillance video captured a black Infiniti sedan and a black Nissan Rogue arriving in the parking lot of Oscars Taco Shop and parking next to each other. The video showed a woman exiting the Rogue and entering the back seat of the Infiniti. Thats when then-19-year-old Dyquan Poole and then-17-year-old Omarian Arrington reportedly got out of the Rogue and started shooting at the Infiniti.

The woman  identified as 19-year-old Destinee Jnobaptiste  was killed during the gunfire. Meanwhile, authorities said the two occupants of the Infiniti, a 21-year-old and 19-year-old, were critically wounded.

PREVIOUS: 2 charged with homicide for deadly shooting outside taco shop in South Nashville

The Rogue left the scene after the shooting, but it got wedged between two trucks at the intersection of Fesslers Lane and Lebanon Pike, so four people in the Rogue  including Poole and Arrington  ran off, according to officials. However, they were caught shortly afterward and interviewed by investigators.

As News 2 previously reported, Floyd, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, was charged with evidence tampering after he fled from the Rogue armed with a gun, which was later recovered. Court records show he has a hearing set for Sept. 18.

Meanwhile, Metro police said Poole and Arrington were charged with criminal homicide and two counts of attempted criminal homicide. Poole is set to appear in court on Sept. 4 for multiple charges, including murder, but Arringtons name does not show up in the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk database.

No other information was released.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Nurses at Multnomah County jails are demanding commissioners to oust the administrators leading the Corrections Health Department.

The Oregon Nurses Association made their demands in a letter sent to Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey ODonnell, Health Department Director Rachael Banks and the countys five commissioners on Thursday.

Former Alberta Main Street president pleads not guilty to stealing from nonprofit

According to the letter, 95% of corrections nurses who were surveyed in February said their workplace conditions hadnt improved within the past four years. About 97% of respondents also returned a vote of no confidence in the current leaders.

The nurses reported they had expressed their concerns during more than 10 meetings with CH administrators between June 2023 and January of this year, but they have yet to see management address their issues.

Specifically, ONA said CH is facing a staffing shortage despite the county adding 20 new positions. The organization partially attributes the staffing issues to the health departments leadership.

The current director was accused of being underqualified for their position, creating a hostile work environment and leaving for over a month in the midst of a crisis in CH with multiple deaths, the loss of multiple prescribing clinicians, and known crisis in Nurse staffing.

In the letter, nurses alleged CHs former senior clinical manager  who has since been demoted to nursing supervisor  frequently missed scheduled meetings, behaved erratically to the point that staff were concerned with possible substance abuse issues and was arrested twice over endangering public safety.

Markham Elementary will not reopen for entire 2024-2025 school year

ONA is calling for the director and nursing supervisors termination. The organization also asked Multnomah County commissioners to prohibit the former operations manager from holding another leadership position due to gross mismanagement.

The organization additionally said staff in corrections healthcare worked 563 forced overtime shifts throughout 2023.

Between an explosion of fentanyl use and a lingering physical and psychological toll from the COVID epidemic, CH and its Multnomah County clients are dealing with particularly unprecedented challenges, ONA wrote. CH needs strong leaders who are willing and able to navigate us through these difficult times and ensure the best possible health outcomes for the population we serve.

The letter also called for higher pay for nurses, and insisted they be included in the hiring process.

In a statement, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson told KOIN 6 that ONA representatives have declined her multiple attempts at meeting to discuss nurses concerns from Apr. 9  which she said were not highlighted in the recent letter.

Nine arrested in multi-agency mission that recovered seven stolen cars

I want to make sure their concerns are heard by me, this board and this organization, Vega Pederson added. All of us are committed to the safety and health of everyone in our detention centers. The health and well-being of employees and the people they provide healthcare for in custody are a priority. I am also interested in receiving more details about ONAs recent survey that havent yet been provided.

She noted that CH has hired 14 new employees and re-hired 15 on-call nurses to address staffing concerns.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
MCCLAIN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Murder charges have been filed after the death of a 9-month-old baby on April 12.

According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Newcastle Police Department requested the bureaus help on April 11, 2024, regarding a child abuse investigation.

LOCAL NEWS: Man arrested for death of infant son

The day before, officers responded to a home in Newcastle after receiving a call about an unresponsive 9-month-old baby. The child was quickly taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Medical staff discovered the child had internal bleeding of the brain and hemorrhaging behind the eyes. Two days later, on April 12, the child passed away.

OSBI agents spoke with the childs father, 25-year-old Hunter Smiley, who was there when officers responded.

Previous court records showed abuse by Smiley to the childs mother. He was arrested in January of 2023 for domestic assault and battery against a pregnant woman. He pled guilty to hitting the mother with pieces of a door he broke while in a fight after a night drinking.

The OSBI says the information gathered during the investigation led to the arrest of Smiley on April 15 and he was booked into the McClain County Jail on a First-Degree Murder charge.

LOCAL NEWS: Newcastle man arrested after childs death

It is tragic when a life is taken so early, says District Attorney Greg Mashburn. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law to be the voice of this victim who is unable to speak for himself. Thank you to the Newcastle Police Department and the OSBI for your hard work on this case so we may seek justice for B.S.

On April 25, Smiley was arraigned and his bond was set ay $5 million with no contact with the victims family, according to the Cleveland County District Attorney. If bonded out, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and have no access to weapons.

Officials say Smileys next court date is a Preliminary Hearing Conference on May 22.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Elon Musk's social media platform X defended publishing posts showing a bishop in Australia being stabbed during a sermon as "part of public discussion", rejecting a regulator's order to take down the content on grounds it is offensive and violent.

In a post overnight, X's "global government affairs" account said the video taken by an "innocent bystander" should not have been banned under Australian law, which "permits content that can be reasonably considered as part of public discussion or debate".

"The content within the posts does not encourage or provoke violence," the X account said.

The statement from the company formerly called Twitter, which the billionaire bought in 2022, clashes with Australian lawmaker claims that police feared the footage would be used to encourage people to join terrorist groups.

The e-Safety Commissioner ordered X to remove posts containing the video globally to stop Australians seeing them, but X has challenged the order partly on grounds of "exhorbitant jurisdiction". A court this week temporarily upheld the takedown order until a hearing on May 10.

The order has sparked increasingly heated public exchanges between Musk, who calls himself a free speech absolutist, and Australian officials including the prime minister and one senator who Musk said should be jailed.

Overnight, Musk shared a series of posts by another user which described the takedown order as part of a World Economic Forum "plot to impose eSafety rules on the world". "Accurate thread," Musk wrote to his 181 million followers.

The e-Safety Commissioner was not immediately available for comment.

The dispute follows an April 15 attack on an Assyrian bishop in Sydney, for which a 16-year-old boy has been charged with terrorist offences, according to the authorities.

After raids related to the incident this week, police charged five associates of the youth, also teenagers, with terrorism offences including possessing extremist material.

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; editing by Miral Fahmy)
Nail Salon Owner Sentenced to 46 Months After 'Plot to Exact Revenge' and Set Competing Salon on Fire

Kim Lien Vu, 46, "developed animosity" toward those at the other salon, per officials

Getty Stock image of police tape

An Ohio nail salon owner was sentenced to 46 months in prison after admitting that she plotted to burn down a competing salon.

Liberty Township native Kim Lien Vu, 46, admitted in a guilty plea in September that she conspired to commit malicious destruction via fire, months after she worked with an employee on a "plot to exact revenge on the competing salon" beginning in December 2022, per the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

After Vu "developed animosity" toward those at the other salon in Monroe, she and co-defendant Cierra Marie Bishop, 30, began to discuss setting it on fire, per the office.

The two women continued to text about the plan, which they referred to as "Job 1," and which involved "a remote-controlled incendiary device that could start a fire within a small box."

On February 5, 2023, Bishop was seen on surveillance footage with another friend and co-defendant Makahla Ann Rennick, 19, entering the salon after Rennick had made an appointment under an alias.

The alias of Katelynn" was decided on after Vu and Bishop advised Rennick to just use another name, sound White," per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Bishop reportedly entered the salon during Rennick's appointment and "tucked the device under a salon desk before leaving." A salon employee found it and realized it smelled like gasoline.

According to local ABC affiliate WCPO, the plot took place at Bora Bora Nail Salon in Monroe, and it appeared that "the plan was to detonate or ignite the device that evening and destroy the salon."

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Vu is the owner of two nail salons in West Chester Township, Allure Nails Vu LLC and Love Nail Vu LLC, per Secretary of State records obtained by the Journal-News.



"The employee opened the package, seeing that it looked like an explosive device, and took it outside near the salons dumpsters. The employee later went back outside to check on the device and noticed the box had begun to catch on fire," the U.S. Attorney's Office reports. "Monroe police officers and fire department responded to a call reporting a dumpster fire near the salon."

Vu, who was headed toward a property in Virginia as an alibi, was in contact with Bishop during the ordeal.

"The three women were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023," the office notes. "Bishop has pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting sentencing."

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The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest in Namib-Naukluft National Park (Getty Images)

The Namibian authorities have slammed a group of tourists for posing naked on the popular Big Daddy dune in the Namib desert, saying they are shocked by the incident.

Three male travellers allegedly stripped off for pictures and videos during a dune safari after hiking up the over 1,000-foot-tall sandbank  then ditching their clothes.

After the images circulated widely on social media, officials said the act was a public indecency violation of park regulations and national law.

The Big Daddy dune at Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park is one of the three largest dunes in the park and a top tourism draw for Namibia.

According to the Namibian Sun, vice-chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Association, Kenneth Nependa, labelled the incident disgusting adding that tourists think they can do whatever they want in Namibia.

Nependa said: I mean, we have tourists writing graffiti on the Bushman rock art in Spitzkoppe, tourists hanging on the trees in Deadvlei, and now naked tourists climbing Big Daddy  which is a very famous dune for families and other tourists and locals.

The ministry should really speak up and warn tourists that if this were to happen, the law will take its course.

Disturbed visitors who came across the stark naked trio reported the incident to the authorities.

Romeo Muyunda, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism told local outlet The Nambian: It is a punishable act, according to the countrys laws. When this had been brought to our attention, we were shocked at the extent to which people could go.

We condemn this type of action as it does not only go against our morals but also violates the countrys laws.

The nude men have not been publicly identified and were believed to have left the country before local authorities could act on the reports.

Muyunda added that the ministry is considering blacklisting the foreigners from entering any of Namibias national parks in the future.

Its not the first time tourists have been a nudist nuisance while overseas.

In October, authorities in Bali investigated a foreign visitor who was filmed meditating naked at a Hindu shrine, sparking anger on the Indonesian island.

Balinese influencer Ni Luh Djelantik reposted a video of a tourist baring all to the outrage of disrespected locals.

The incident followed the case of a woman who was reportedly detained by police in Bali after posing naked by a sacred tree in April 2023.
A deep purple spiral galaxy is seen head-on, and a small bright dot toward the top of this spiral has been highlighted and circled in yellow.

While examining a nearby supernova with NASA's Fermi gamma-ray space telescope, an effort meant to discover how these stellar explosions ignite charged particles called cosmic rays, scientists have uncovered a bigger mystery.

The team found the supernova, designated SN 2023ixf, to be completely lacking the gamma-ray emissions that should be present when cosmic ray particles are accelerated to near-light-speeds. This is a discovery that could challenge our understanding of supernovas. Scientists have long believed them to be cosmic ray factories, pumping out gamma-rays in immense quantities.

SN 2023ixf is a "new" supernova (at least as we see it here on Earth) that was discovered on May 18, 2023. It's situated in the galaxy Messier 101(M101), also known as the "pinwheel galaxy," located around 21 million light-years from Earth. Caused by the death and collapse of a supergiant star with a mass estimated to be around 12 times that of the sun, SN 2023ixf is the brightest supernova relatively close to Earth that's been spotted by Fermi since the telescope started searching for these events in 2008.

Yet, this powerful event lacks a key ingredient. That's extremely odd.

Related: Peer inside remnants of an 800-year-old supernova and see a 'zombie' star

"Astrophysicists previously estimated that supernovas convert about 10% of their total energy into cosmic ray acceleration," team member and University of Trieste researcher Guillem Marti-Devesa said in a statement. "But we have never observed this process directly. With the new observations of SN 2023ixf, our calculations result in energy conversion as low as 1% within a few days after the explosion.

"This doesnt rule out supernovas as cosmic ray factories, but it does mean we have more to learn about their production.

Mysterious cosmic ray factories

Trillions of cosmic rays slam into the atmosphere of Earth every day, and around 90% of these charged particles are atomic nuclei of hydrogen; the rest are free electrons or the nuclei of heavier elements.

However, the source of cosmic rays has been difficult to investigate. That is because, as these charged particles travel millions of light-years to reach Earth, they encounter a multitude of magnetic fields that divert them. This endless bouncing around means the trajectory of cosmic rays is nearly impossible to reconstruct. High-energy photons or gamma rays don't experience such deflections and can, therefore, be used as tracers of cosmic ray production.

"Gamma rays, however, travel directly to us," Elizabeth Hays, the Fermi project scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in the statement. "Cosmic rays produce gamma rays when they interact with matter in their environment. Fermi is the most sensitive gamma-ray telescope in orbit, so when it doesnt detect an expected signal, scientists must explain the absence.

"Solving that mystery will build a more accurate picture of cosmic ray origins."

a large bright white fireball star emanates a sphere of fiery expulsion

Supernovas happen when stars around eight times as massive as the sun run out of fuel needed for nuclear fusion at their cores. This also ends the outflow of energy that has been providing radiation pressure to support a star against its own gravity.

As this cosmic tug of war that has raged for millions of years ends, with gravity as the clear victor, the core of the star collapses. The outer layers are then blasted outward in a supernova explosion.

This punched-off material causes a shockwave that races out from the dying star, slamming into surrounding gas and dust and accelerating particles as well as creating cosmic rays. These shockwaves can last for as long as 50,000 years, influencing interstellar matter during that time. And when the cosmic rays in particular interact with interstellar gas and dust, they create gamma-ray photons.

In 2013, Fermi discovered this phenomenon happening around supernova remnants in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. This discovery revealed that these supernova remnants aren't creating enough high-energy particles to match scientists' measurements on Earth. One reason for this may be that supernovas only accelerate particles to create the most energetic cosmic rays during the first days after the star that launches them collapses.

This picture was complicated further when Fermi looked at SN 2023ixf for months after the supernova was first detected by other telescopes in visible light. Despite the Fermi observations coming right after the supernova explosion, the NASA space telescope still saw no gamma rays from SN 2023ixf.

The team has a few possible explanations as to why this supernova might be producing cosmic rays but not gamma rays, at least none that Fermi can detect. One theory is that the supernova debris is unevenly distributed and aligned in such a way that the gamma rays aren't streaming toward Earth, so Fermi can't find them. Another possibility is the debris around this supernova could be absorbing any gamma rays being produced.

Related stories:

 Aftermath of 2 star explosions captured in breathtaking new NASA image

 Astronomers catch rare glimpse of oldest known supernova, which dates back to Year 185

 These supernovas are whipping up a storm, contributing to cosmic life and death

Astronomers will now continue to study SN 2023ixf in other wavelengths of light as well as create computer models to learn what may be causing its odd appearance,

"Unfortunately, seeing no gamma rays doesnt mean there are no cosmic rays," Matthieu Renaud, team member and an astrophysicist at the Montpellier Universe and Particles Laboratory said in the statement. "We have to go through all the underlying hypotheses regarding acceleration mechanisms and environmental conditions in order to convert the absence of gamma rays into an upper limit for cosmic ray production."

The team's research has been accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
National Guardsman who became FBI manhunt suspect pleads guilty in January 6 riot at U.S. Capitol

A National Guardsman who launched an FBI manhunt following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol pleaded guilty Thursday during a hearing in Washington, D.C. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

April 25 (UPI) -- A National Guardsman who launched an FBI manhunt following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol pleaded guilty Thursday during a hearing in Washington, D.C.

Gregory C. Yetman, 47, of Helmetta, N.J., pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with physical contact, a release from officials at the U.S. Justice Deptartment said.

Yetmen pleaded guilty to spraying police officers with a lethal substance, officials said. As rioters were assaulting police officers, Yetman picked up an MK-46H canister containing OC spray, capable of causing serious bodily injury, held the canister under his arm, and intentionally assaulted the officers by spraying them, authorities said.

"After Yetman sprayed multiple officers for approximately 12-14 seconds, the officers retreated toward other officers and left the area," officials said.

When officers tried to arrest Yetman on Nov. 8, 2023, he fled into the woods when he could not get back into his house, Justice Department officials said.

Yetman, who was a heavy equipment operator and enlisted in the military police at the time of the riot, said he did attend it.

Court documents, though, indicate that he "then walked to the west side of U.S. Capitol building, where he heard people chanting, 'Stop the Steal.' While there, he heard 'flash bangs' and observed tear gas being deployed by U.S. Capitol police officers who were defending the Capitol. He observed rioters who had been exposed to gas and oleoresin capsicum ('OC') spray and watched as other rioters attempted to break windows. He also saw a police officer get pulled into the crowd but did not attempt to help the officer."

Yetman had been one of 15 defendants held in custody without having been convicted of a crime.

At least 1,385 people have been charged in almost all 50 states for crimes related to the Capitol riot in the 3-plus years since it happened, including nearly 500 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, which is a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Prosecutors said Yetman is expected to serve between 37 and 46 months in federal prison.
VIENTIANE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Lao government officials gathered in Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday and Friday to review the content of a draft law on investment promotion.

The meeting was chaired by vice president of the Lao National Assembly Sommad Pholsena and attended by representatives from various ministries, audit and legal committees, and the private sector, Lao News Agency reported.

Speaking at the meeting, Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Sthabandith Insisiengmay highlighted the significance of the proposal to revise the Law on Investment Promotion, with a focus on the current state of its implementation, and reasons and the need for revising it.

The meeting is expected to ensure that the contents of the law are correctly completed and in line with the constitution, other promulgated laws, conventions, and related international agreements, according to the media report. 
A NATO country is refusing to give Ukraine its Patriots because it says it needs them for itself

A NATO country is refusing to give Ukraine its Patriots because it says it needs them for itself

Greece's prime minister said his country cannot give Ukraine its Patriots due to security concerns.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country needs them to protect its own airspace.

Ukraine has spent months begging its allies for Patriots to help fend off Russian attacks.

One of Ukraine's European allies is refusing to hand over Patriot air-defense systems because it says it needs them to protect its own airspace.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece, said in an interview with Greek news outlet Iefimerida that his country would not provide Patriots or S-300 missile systems to Ukraine.

"Greece has supported Ukraine in various ways, including defense means," he told the outlet on Thursday, per a translation by Ukrainska Pravda.

"However, from the very beginning, we stated that we cannot give out defense systems that are crucial for our deterrence capabilities," Mitsotakis said.

Athens has supplied Kyiv with thousands of rockets, explosives, infantry vehicles, high-explosive incendiaries, ammunition, and anti-tank rockets since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, per Reuters.

A breakthrough seemed possible last month when the NATO country was reportedly considering sending Ukraine its Russian-made S-300 air defense missiles, if it was able to obtain US-made MIM-104 Patriots, according to Greek media.

An exchange deal with the US to replace either a Patriot system based in Athens or a Soviet-era S-300 system stationed on the island of Crete also looked likely, Greek media reported in recent days, per Politico.

But Mitsotakis seems to pull back on that during Thursday's interview.

"The air defense systems you mentioned are critical for protecting Greece's airspace and will not be provided to Ukraine," he said.

Greece has long been at odds with Turkey, with the two neighbors coming close to military conflict in 1987 and 1996. Both sides have accused the other of violating their airspace in recent years.

Ukraine is desperate for air defenses to help it counter Russian attacks.

Earlier this month, its foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told The Washington Post that his team had identified over 100 Patriot air-defense systems that they believed its allies could spare.

He said they'd identified four European and Asian countries with Patriots that could be immediately sent to Ukraine, without naming the countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said earlier this month that Ukraine needs 25 Patriot systems with between six and eight batteries each to protect itself fully.

Ukraine currently has between three and five Patriots, with the exact number and location of their deployment being kept secret.

Read the original article on Business Insider
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Officials in North Carolina and across the country are encouraging citizens to discard their unneeded and expired medications.

Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. For the last 15 years, this day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded or unwanted medicines, some of which can be a gateway to addiction.

I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to clean out their medicine cabinets and take those unused, expired, and unneeded medications to a nearby collection site for safe disposal, said Erek Davodowich, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Louisville Division. This small act can have a big impact at a time when Americans are dying in record numbers from drug overdoses and poisonings. Oftentimes, opioid abuse and the path to addiction begins with the home medicine cabinet.

There are several ways to misuse medications including taking medicine prescribed to someone else, using medicine in a way other than it was prescribed, taking medicines to get high or mixing them with illicit drugs or alcohol.

Properly disposing of unneeded medications is essential. It stops drug poisonings and minimizes the risk for misuse, said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. DEA is committed to protecting the safety and health of all Americans. DEAs National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a free and easy way to come together as a community to turn the tide on the drug poisoning epidemic.

To find location sites to dispose of your expired or unneeded medication click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  As Republicans face pressure from some gun owners to pass a bill eliminating the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon, Democrats blasted the idea Thursday as they pushed for other changes to the states gun laws.

Grass Roots North Carolina delivered petitions to Republican Senate leader Phil Bergers office on Wednesday as the legislatures short session began.

The group urged him to support passing a bill thats still pending in the House that would make it optional to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun. There would still be a requirement to complete an approved training and safety course.

Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn cited with crashing into Florida highway patrolman

Republicans want the gun vote in November. Were telling them they better remember to dance with the one that brung you, said Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina. We want to make sure that the Republicans in this state come up to the standards of Republicans in other states. Twenty-nine other states have passed some form of constitutional carry.

Last year, the bill made it through two House committees and was on the calendar for a vote on the House floor. Sen. Berger told CBS 17 that day he questioned whether the timing is right to move forward with it given that the legislature had just repealed the pistol purchase permit requirement earlier in the session.

On Wednesday, Sen. Berger weighed in on the issue again.

I do think constitutional carry is something thats worth talking about. Well talk with our members and see whether or not theres appetite to move forward with it, he said. I think the more important thing is, is that the right policy for us to adopt at this time as opposed to trying to map out what might happen as a result of the upcoming election.

On Thursday, volunteers and organizers with Moms Demand Action came to the legislature, urging lawmakers not to go forward with the constitutional carry bill.

Theres so many people that are able to get guns and people are just misusing them, said Lavern Lucier, whose son Syncere Burrell was shot and killed in Durham in 2020.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead has opposed the bill since it was introduced last year.

We are experiencing an epidemic gun violence like weve never seen before, he said.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

Democrats said theyll push again for a variety of bills theyve backed for the last several sessions. One measure would establish a so-called red flag law, which would allow a judge to temporarily take guns from someone found to be a threat to themselves or others.

Twenty-one states have such a law in place, according to Everytown for Gun Safety.

Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) said she would file a discharge petition next week, which would require a majority of House members to sign in order to bring the bill to the floor, something she does not expect to happen.

Sen. Berger has resisted the idea of passing a red flag law in North Carolina, saying it could impact law-abiding citizens.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A North Carolina registered sex offender who traveled to Fort Mill in 2021 seeking a someone he thought was a child online will spend more than 31 years in prison after being caught in a police sting.

Federal judge Martin Reidinger in Asheville, N.C. sentenced Michael John Worley, 51, of Canton, N.C., Thursday to 382 months in prison, according to prosecutors and court records. There is no parole in the federal system.

Worley pleaded guilty last year to attempting to using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, according to federal court records and a statement from Dena King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

We are committed to actively investigating & prosecuting repeat predators like Worley to combat child exploitation & ensure the safety of our vulnerable young people. Ensuring the safety of our children is paramount. https://t.co/act4qJHzuc  U.S. Attorney Dena King (@USAttyKing) April 25, 2024

When Worley was arrested in Fort Mill in 2021, he had recently finished a five-year federal sentence from North Carolina for possession of child pornography after a 2016 arrest according to prosecutors, deputies, and court documents. He was on supervised release and had to register as a sex offender from that earlier conviction at the time of the Fort Mill arrest, prosecutors said.

We are committed to actively investigating and prosecuting repeat predators like Worley to combat child exploitation and ensure the safety of our vulnerable young people, King said.

Law enforcement from the York County Sheriffs Office, FBI and Homeland Security were conducting an online investigation into internet child sex crimes when Worley was arrested in South Carolina, officials said in 2021 at a news conference in York County. Worley communicated with law enforcement posing as a teenage female child during the investigation, records show.

Let this send a strong message to any child predator, if you hunt our children, you will become the hunted, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement.
Nearly 80 combat clashes across war zone over past 24 hours, Russian forces launch over 20 attacks on Avdiivka front  Ukraine's General Staff

Ukrainian troops have repelled over 20 Russian attacks on the Avdiivka front over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 26 April

Details: The General Staff reported 79 combat engagements over the past 24 hours. "The enemy launched a total of 1 missile strike and 67 airstrikes, bombarded the positions of our troops and populated areas 54 times with multiple launch rocket systems," the statement said.

Ukrainian troops repelled seven attacks on the Kupiansk front, nine on the Lyman front, and eight on the Bakhmut front. The Russians launched airstrikes near the town of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk Oblast).

The largest number of attacks  23  occurred on the Avdiivka front. The Russians attempted to break through Ukrainian defences 12 times on the Novopavlivka front. Three attacks were repelled on the Orikhiv front.

"The enemy has persisted in their intention to push our units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro River on the Kherson front. The enemy, supported by aircraft, mounted three unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our troops near Krynky, Kherson Oblast, over the past 24 hours," the report said.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has refused a request by three sitting lawmakers to renew a criminal investigation of Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos testimony before a Michigan Senate Oversight Committee in December 2020.

Based on a thorough review of all relevant material, it is clear a criminal investigation is not warranted, and I respectfully decline your request, said Nessel in the letter to the three lawmakers.

State Representatives Neil Friske (R-Petosky), James DeSana (R-Carleton), and Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) asked Nessel to re-open a criminal investigation of Poulos in an April 17 letter.

Response to FriskeDownload

Response to DeSanaDownload

Response to CarraDownload

Nessel claimed in a news release the evidence from the trio of lawmakers had provided documents appeared to be a carefully curated snippet of over 2,000 documents publicly shared by criminal defendant Stefanie Lambert in violation of a protective order.

Nessel says she conducted a comprehensive review of relevant materials by her department, including Poulos recorded testimony, the Senate Oversight Committees report on the November 2020 Election, individual letters from the state Representatives, former State Senator Patrick Colbecks letter to the Michigan State Police, and alleged evidence against Poulos.

Nessel added in her letters to the trio of lawmakers that their claims had been debunked by a Senate Oversight Committee report released following the 2020 election. She reminded the lawmakers their claims met the reports definition of suck claims to be misleading and irresponsible, diminishing the overall credibility of those asserting this conclusion.

Senate Committee on Oversight Report on the November 2020 Election in Michigan, adoptedDownload

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
We have never been responsible for protecting combined heat and power, thermal, and hydroelectric power plants  Ukraine's infrastructure minister

Ukraine's Ministry of Infrastructure has never been responsible for protecting energy generation facilities such as combined heat and power plants, thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants. It is impossible to protect static objects of several hectares in size with a dome  it is too time-consuming and expensive. The only possible solution is air defence systems.

Source: Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov during an hour of questions to the government in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukrainian parliament

Quote: "The only possible solution is air defence. We are dependent on steady supplies of weapons from partner countries," Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister said.

Kubrakov added that the ministry is responsible for nearly 4,000 critical infrastructure facilities, ranging from railway traction substations and water utilities to overpasses and port infrastructure.

"At the same time, in September last year, in accordance with the Government's decision, our team began building physical protection at 22 distribution substations of Ukrenergo [Ukraine's national energy company  ed.]. Only 22 of the existing 90 main substations and thousands of smaller ones," he said.

According to Kubrakov, the decision on what kind of protection should be provided was made jointly with engineers from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and military engineers from the US, the UK, Japan and Germany.



The construction of level II protection has been completed or is in the final stages at the 22 facilities for which the ministry's team is responsible, Kubrakov said. In some oblasts, power distribution has been protected thanks to these structures, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister added.



Previously:

The Trypillia Thermal Power Plant (TPP) was completely destroyed in a large-scale Russian missile attack on the early morning of 10-11 April.

Previously, Mustafa Naiiem, Head of Ukraine's State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, reported that the fortifications at all facilities had withstood direct and indirect attacks during the large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine's power grid on 22 March, ensuring full protection of autotransformers and electrical equipment.

As Ekonomichna Pravda previously reported, when it comes to billions for the protection of energy facilities, this does not apply to power plants, as it is impossible to protect them with sarcophagi, as in the case of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

The protections were built at high-voltage substations, which suffered the most from last year's Russian attacks. In addition, according to sources, the structures are not designed to withstand a direct hit from a ballistic missile. It is impossible to build such protective structures at huge generation facilities.

Read more: Russia continues to destroy the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. What should Ukraine expect without thermal power plants?

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Newsom celebrates storage milestone but confirms blackouts are not over yet

California officials on Thursday celebrated a milestone in their quest to achieve a 100-percent clean grid by 2045: the installation of more than 10,000 megawatts of battery storage.

Battery storage is foundational, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said at a press conference next to a battery storage and solar facility in the western Sacramento Valleys rural Yolo County.

In fact, the excess generation has gone to other states and has gone obviously, into more battery storage, the governor added.

At 10,379 megawatts of total battery storage, the state has increased battery capacity by 1,250 percent  up from 770 megawatts  since 2019, according to Newsoms office.

Meanwhile, last week, the discharge of energy from battery storage to the grid surpassed 6,000 megawatts for the first time ever, his office noted. At that point, batteries were the largest source of power to the grid.

When a reporter asked if this accomplishment could spell the end of Californias blackouts, Newsom quickly turned to Texas, describing the Lone Star States blackout issues as severe due to the unpredictable nature of oil and gas and extreme weather.

This is our biggest power source in California  significantly bigger than the last remaining nuclear plant in the state of California, Newsom said.

So no, this is not today announcing that blackouts are part of our past, but we want to do everything we can to mitigate that, the governor added, characterizing every September as a point of anxiety.

But storage saved us last year, he added. It will be a huge part of the solution going forward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Step into the heart of China's "porcelain capital," Jingdezhen City, where a stunning light show and exhibition celebrating China-France friendship awaits
Whats next for Haiti now that its prime minister has resigned?

Haiti opened a new political chapter Thursday with the installation of a transitional council tasked to pick a new prime minister and prepare for eventual presidential elections, in hopes of quelling spiraling gang violence that has killed thousands in the Caribbean country.

Ariel Henry, the prime minister who had been locked out of the country for the past couple of months due to the violence, cleared the way for the transition by presenting his resignation in a letter signed in Los Angeles.

The document was released Thursday in Haiti on the same day as the new transitional council was sworn in to choose a new prime minister and Cabinet. Henrys outgoing Cabinet chose Economy and Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert as interim prime minister in the meantime. It was not immediately clear when the transitional council would name its own choice for interim prime minister.

The council was officially sworn in at the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince early Thursday as the pop of sporadic gunfire erupted nearby, prompting some officials to look around the room. The council had been urged to seek a safer venue because gangs have launched daily attacks in the area.

Read: Florida has helped rescue over 700 Americans from Haiti, officials say

Michel Patrick Boisvert, who was named interim prime minister by the cabinet of outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, toasts during the swearing-in ceremony of the transitional council tasked with selecting Haiti's new prime minister and cabinet, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Boisvert was previously the economy and finance minister. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Addressing a crowded and sweaty room in the prime ministers office hours later in Petion-Ville, Boisvert said that Haitis crisis had gone on too long and that the country now found itself at a crossroads. The members of the transitional council stood behind him, and before him, the countrys top police and military officials as well as ambassadors and well-known politicians.

After long months of debate ... a solution has been found, Boisvert said. Today is an important day in the life of our dear republic.

He called the transitional council a Haitian solution and directing his remarks toward them, Boisvert wished them success, adding, You are to lead the country to peace, to economic and social recovery, to sacred union, to participation.

After the speeches, the soft clink of glasses echoed in the room as attendees served champagne flutes toasted with a somber To Haiti.

The council was installed earlier Thursday, more than a month after Caribbean leaders announced its creation following an emergency meeting to tackle Haitis spiraling crisis. Gunfire heard as the council was sworn in at the National Palace prompted worried looks.

The nine-member council, of which seven have voting powers, is also expected to help set the agenda of a new Cabinet. It will also appoint a provisional electoral commission, a requirement before elections can take place, and establish a national security council.

The councils non-renewable mandate expires Feb. 7, 2026, at which date a new president is scheduled to be sworn in.

The council members are Emmanuel Vertilaire for Petit Desalin, a party led by former senator and presidential candidate Jean-Charles Moise; Smith Augustin for EDE/RED, a party led by former Prime Minister Claude Joseph; Fritz Alphonse Jean for the Montana Accord, a group of civil society leaders, political parties and others; Leslie Voltaire for Fanmi Lavalas, the party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; Louis Gerald Gilles for the Dec. 21 coalition that backs former Prime Minister Ariel Henry; Edgard Leblanc Fils for the Jan. 30 Collective, which represents parties including that of former President Michel Martelly; and Laurent Saint-Cyr for the private sector.

The two non-voting seats were awarded to Frinel Joseph, a pastor, and Regine Abraham, a former World Bank and Haitian government official.

Read: More Floridians arrive in Orlando from Haiti

Augustin, one of the councils voting members, said that it was unclear if the council would decide to keep Boisvert on as interim prime minister or choose another. He said it would be discussed in the coming days. The crisis is unsustainable, he said.

Abraham, a nonvoting member, recalled the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, explaining that that violence had a devastating impact.

Abraham said that gangs now controlled most of Port-au-Prince, tens of thousands of the capitals residents have been displaced by violence and more than 900 schools in the capital have been forced to close.

The population of Port-au-Prince has literally been taken hostage, she said.

Gangs launched coordinated attacks that began on Feb. 29 in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. They burned police stations and hospitals, opened fire on the main international airport that has remained closed since early March and stormed Haitis two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. Gangs also have severed access to Haitis biggest port.

The onslaught began while Prime Minister Henry was on an official visit to Kenya to push for a U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from the East African country.

Read: Nearly 200 Americans rescued from Haiti as gangs take over country

In his resignation letter, Henry said Haiti would be reborn. We served the nation in difficult times, he wrote. I sympathize with the losses and suffering endured by our compatriots during this period.

He remains locked out of Haiti.

Port-au-Prince is now almost completely sealed off because of air, sea and land blockades, Catherine Russell, UNICEFs director, said earlier this week.

The international community has urged the council to prioritize Haitis widespread insecurity. Even before the attacks began, gangs already controlled 80% of Port-au-Prince. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March, up by more than 50% compared with the same period last year, according to a recent U.N. report.

It is impossible to overstate the increase in gang activity across Port-au-Prince and beyond, the deterioration of the human rights situation and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis, Maria Isabel Salvador, the U.N. special envoy for Haiti, said at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday.

On Thursday, some Haitians said they didnt know that the country had a new prime minister and a transitional council in place. Others warily celebrated the new leadership.

We dont ask for much. We just want to move about freely, said Guismet Obaubourg, owner of a dusty convenience story who lamented that his merchandise has been stuck at the port for two months.

As for Boisvert: I dont know him personally, but as long as he does what hes supposed to do, provide security to the country, thats all that matters.

In attendance at Boisverts swearing in Thursday was Dennis Hankins, the newly installed U.S. ambassador. He said Thursdays events were an important step for Haiti.

In crisis, the Haitians are able to do tremendous things, so were here to help them, Hankins said. We wont be the solution, but hopefully we will be part of helping those finding the solution.

SEE: Civil unrest, gang violence in Haiti

As part of that, he said the U.S. government was working to enforce export controls on weapons, many of which have found their way to Haiti, fueling the violence.

The fact that many of the arms that come here are from the United States is indisputable and that has a direct impact, Hankins said. It is something we recognize is a contributing factor to instability.

Nearly 100,000 people have fled the capital in search of safer cities and towns since the attacks began. Tens of thousands of others left homeless after gangs torched their homes are now living in crowded, makeshift shelters across Port-au-Prince that only have one or two toilets for hundreds of residents.

At the United Nations Thursday, World Food Program Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau said Haiti is suffering from a security, political and humanitarian crisis that is causing acute food insecurity for some 5 million people, or about half the population. The U.N. defines that as when a persons inability to consume adequate food puts their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger.

The situation is dramatic, Skau told reporters. Devastating crisis, a massive humanitarian impact, the worst humanitarian situation in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake.

Rachel Pierre, a 39-year-old mother of four children, living in one of the capitals makeshift shelters, said, Although Im physically here, it feels like Im dead.

There is no food or water. Sometimes I have nothing to give the kids, she said as her 14-month-old suckled on her deflated breast.

Many Haitians are angry and exhausted at what their lives have become and blame gangs for their situation.

Theyre the ones who sent us here, said Chesnel Joseph, a 46-year-old math teacher whose school closed because of the violence and who has become the shelters informal director. They mistreat us. They kill us. They burn our homes.

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Texas National Guard place concertina wire near the banks of the Rio Grande that is directly in front of Sunland Park, New Mexico, Monday, October 9, 2023.

The failure of the government to secure our southern border is the number one issue for my constituents.

They want policymakers to stop the tidal wave of illegal immigration and illicit drugs flowing into our country. Most counts have the number of new undocumented arrivals at over 8 million since President Biden took office. While most immigrants are not dangerous; human traffickers, drug cartels and terrorists are clearly taking advantage of our leaders failure to protect the border. We have allowed some of the worlds most dangerous people and 27 tons of fentanyl to come into our communities over the last four years.

Combine the blatant disregard of our federal immigration laws with New Mexicos catch and release criminal justice policies, and we have created a recipe for disaster. When the prevailing view of society is that the rule of law is meaningless, our society will quickly become unraveled. Progressive Democrats soft on crime and open border policies are a dereliction of duty to tax-paying, law-abiding citizens!

More: Hundreds of migrants arrive aboard freight train in Juarez hoping to seek asylum in US

State Rep. Rod Montoya

I often get asked, What can New Mexico do to stop the flood of dangerous drugs and dangerous people into our country? Simple  We must admit that we have a problem and then we need to take bold action to end it.

While the federal government has the primary responsibility of securing our borders, New Mexico isnt free of responsibility when it comes to protecting New Mexicans from the ongoing border crisis. In fact, I believe we have waited long enough for the Biden administration to address this threat and its time for New Mexico to take action.

More: La perdida - The loss: Deadly disaster at El Paso, Juarez border

First, we need to place the National Guard at the border to do the job that Washington continues to neglect. The Democrat governor of Arizona and the Republican governor of Texas have already done this, and its time for Gov. Lujan Grisham to realize our citizens deserve to be protected as well.

Next, we should require law enforcement officials to determine the immigration status of anyone they arrest for criminal activity and mandate law enforcement agencies report the illegal status of criminals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Four New Mexico communities have declared themselves as sanctuary cities. The Legislature needs to pass a law forbidding any state agency, county, or municipality from protecting undocumented people who are arrested for committing a crime from deportation or prosecution. New Mexico has one of the worst crime problems in the nation. Why are mayors and city councilors ignoring public safety even though our citizens are demanding a change?

More: 'It's heartbreaking': Day after day, New Mexico investigator recovers migrant remains

We need to stop issuing drivers licenses to people who are undocumented. The current practice of issuing drivers licenses to people who are in New Mexico illegally only legitimizes the breakdown of our border.

In the upcoming special session, House Republicans will be introducing the above mentioned ideas that finally address border security and public safety. In addition, we will introduce a bill that creates guidelines for the judiciary to limit the scope of catch and release for violent criminals and drug traffickers.

Our children and grandchildren will ultimately bear the brunt of the Legislatures and governors failure to act. We can protect our communities, however, we must be willing to protect our nations borders, eliminate incentives that encourage illegal immigration, and punish criminals when they break the law.

Make no mistake, if we fail to take the steps necessary to end the public safety crisis, we will have no else to blame than ourselves for allowing this problem to go unchecked.

New Mexico State Rep. Rod Montoya. He is a Republican from San Juan County in northwest New Mexico.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NM Legislature, governor need to act on immigration issues: Rod Montoya
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Reports of online sextortion are up by more than 300%, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The crime is one of the greatest risks kids and teens face online, but parents dont always realize its happening until its too late.

It starts with a simple request, but the long game can be criminal.

That happened to my child; that happened to my friend. Its becoming much more common, said Truman Carelli, a Private Investigator with Covert Results. Its as easy as someone going online and checking your DMs and somebody promising you something, or telling you youre pretty and these kids are vulnerable and they believe it; they arent taught to make sure its a real person or make sure what school they go to, or ask somebody about it.

TN sextortion survivor shares story after exs conviction

Carelli explained she will often visit schools and sit with parents, talking about the dangers of sextortion and hear similar stories.

In the age of technology where everything is at your fingertips, criminals are quick to use that same technology against someone.

It can be somebody in California thats preying on somebody here. I think we had a case where someone in Pennsylvania and they were being preyed upon by someone in Illinois. I mean, there is no boundaries with social media, explained Carelli. The white van, the kidnapping, the stranger danger, its all in person, its all local. This has no boundaries.

Sextortion is when someone threatens to distribute sensitive material, like explicit images, unless you give them money or more pictures.

Ill give them $100 and theyll leave me alone and Ill be clear. Theyre not going to do that. Theyre going to persist; theyre going to keep coming back and in our experience, what weve seen on the investigation side, they do not stop, Carelli said.

Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 26,000 reports of financial sextortion. Thats more than 10,000 reports compared to 2022s total.

Instagram begins blurring nudity in messages to fight sexual extortion

Get the attention of parents to get the attention of adults so they recognize this new wave of crime thats facing our kids and they can get involved and try to keep it from happening, explained Michelle Delaune, the president & CEO of the NCMEC, as she described the organizations new campaign.

This month, the NCMEC launched the No Escape Room to give parents the chance to see what a child experiences when theyre extorted online.

The video portrays a teen at home, playing video games. As the video continues, he receives a message from an unknown person, claiming to be another teenager his age. The experience follows him through an entire day, and when the sextortion is obvious, the video allows parents to make choices along with the teen and see where it leads him.

Hes at the dinner table texting, at the same time hes talking to somebody online, and I think there is a tendency to assume something is happening with someone in another room; this is happening throughout the day, the phone in the kids hands, they are in communication with individuals all around the world, all day long, explained Delaune. This campaign is a true life example of how kids can be exploited online, and that honestly should get everybodys attention.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The NCMEC has steps to take if you or a friend has experienced sextortion:

Remember, the blackmailer is to blame, not you. Even if you made a choice you regret, what they are doing is a crime.

Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the blackmailer. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail.

REPORT the account via the platforms safety feature.

BLOCK the suspect but DO NOT DELETE your profile or messages because that can be helpful in stopping the blackmailer.

What do you do if you have already become a victim?

Let NCMEC help get images of you down. Visit MissingKids.org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit cybertipline.org to report to us for help with the process.

Visit Take It Down so NCMEC can help you get your explicit images removed from the internet. Having nudes online is scary, but there is hope to get them taken down.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Nonfatal shootings in KC have jumped 39% this year. Over 40 victims have been kids

Nonfatal shootings have spiked 39% so far this year, despite recent efforts at tackling Kansas Citys gun violence problem.

That uptick is in part attributed to the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally where two dozen people were shot and one bystander was killed on Valentines Day.

But even March saw a drastic increase  42%  with 51 nonfatal shootings, according to Kansas City Police Department data presented at this weeks Board of Police Commissioners meeting. Thats compared to 36 recorded in both 2022 and 2023.

As of April 23, there have been 190 nonfatal shootings compared to 137 in 2023. Last year, the city suffered a record-breaking 185 homicides. That rate is down this year, with 44 homicides compared to 51 at the same time last year.

The alarming rise in non-fatal shooting numbers does not get lost on us, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the police department.

Of particular concern, he said, are the number of children who have become victims of gun violence. Forty-one youths have been shot and survived this year in Kansas City. Four of them were under age 13.

Seven children ranging in age from eight weeks to 17 have died in homicides this year, according to data tracked by The Star. At least one child has died in an accidental shooting.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city is addressing gun violence from all sides, including by providing resources for survivors of shootings, funding violence prevention programs and providing social services to those impacted by or at risk of violence.

We all want our children and future generations of Kansas City to grow up in safe and vibrant neighborhoods, Lucas said in a statement. I have hope and I am committed to making it happen.

Addressing gun violence

The police department says it has deployed three primary strategies: data-informed community engagement, data-driven deployment and focused deterrence. The first two aim to bring resources to areas most affected by violence. Focused deterrence targets high-risk offenders and features both swift sanctions for offenses as well as social services.

Police have also implemented the Teamwork to Evaluate and Analyze Management Strategies concept. TEAMS uses data to help identify root causes of performance issues within the department and guide managerial discussions, DiMartino said.

He also said it was important to note that violent crime goes beyond the departments efforts. Several initiatives have launched in recent years including Partners for Peace and KC 360, a violence prevention strategy modeled off Omaha 360, which saw a 74% drop in shootings.

These numbers occurred over the course of 15 years, DiMartino noted. I make that a point of emphasis not because we should wait 15 years but we wont get out of this cycle of violence right away.

Last May, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves unveiled a citywide plan called the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, described as an aggressive collaboration between police and a host of other groups.

The newer programs are in addition to longstanding organizations like the AdHoc Group Against Crime.

AdHocs president Damon Daniel said the roots of Kansas Citys gun violence problem can be traced back to generational trauma, economic divestment and institutional racism. Getting at these systemic issues is important, he said, but take time and investment. One potential route is a reparations program, which is currently being studied.

Other components include conflict resolution, particularly for youth, and gun legislation, though that has faced resistance at the state level.

More immediately, Daniel said, police need to arrest more suspects in nonfatal shootings and prosecutors need to file harsher charges.

There hasnt been much consequence, he said, when it comes perpetrators of nonfatal shootings.

Daniel also said that he wants to ensure the $30 million allocated in 2023 by the City Council, to be spent over five years, goes to the most effective crime prevention strategies.

At this weeks Board of Police Commissioners meeting, the members approved a $318 million police department budget for the next fiscal year.
Nonprofits in Alachua County benefit from Amazing Give raising more than $1 million

More than 100 hundred local non-profit organizations benefited from the Amazing Give annual fundraiser.

To show their appreciation, some of them participated in the fundraisers Amazing Give Wrap Party at the Celebration Pointe Promenade on Thursday night to display the appreciation their organizations have for the commitment the fundraiser has to impact the lives of the people their organizations serve.

As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, this year's event raised $1,129,648 from 6,273 donations for 116 nonprofits. The deadline to donate is Sunday (April 28).

Hosted by the Junior League of Gainesville, the party was attended by more than 100 local nonprofits that gathered to see the final results of the 12-hour fundraiser Thursday, which is one of the largest fundraisers of the year in Alachua County.

The Amazing Give gives donors an opportunity to make a difference in their community by donating to a wide range of charitable causes.

Its amazing to see the community come together to raise money for nonprofits, said Demetrica Tyson, president of the Junior League of Gainesville.

This year was the first time in the eight-year history of the Amazing Give that it was hosted by the Junior League of Gainesville as it was hosted by the Community Foundation of North Central Florida in the past.

The Junior League of Gainesville was established in 1935 and is an organization of women committed to developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

The organization to raise the most money so far was Operation Catnips raising of $67,304 was the most money raised by an organization as of Thursday night, but donations are open until Sunday, Tyson said.

Guardian Newsletter: Gainesville Guardian will transition to an email newsletter format

Joanne Robertson, treasurer of Ginnas Place, said thanks to the Amazing Give, they were able to raise $25,000.

Children dance during the Amazing Give Wrap Party at the Celebration Pointe Promenade on Thursday. (Credit: Photo provided by Voleer Thomas)

Giannas Place is a Gainesville Maternity Home for single college women facing an unexpected pregnancy.

According to Giannas Pace, 1 in 5 students are affected by an unplanned pregnancy and is one of the most common reasons women drop out of college.

We want to give them an opportunity to finish school and give them the life skills they need to help them, Robertson said.

Dream on Purpose was officially incorporated in 2015 to impact the lives of youth through education and life skills.

The founder of the non-profit, Shareen Baptiste, said the organization has been involved with the Amazing Give since 2019 and looks forward to it every year.

The Junior League of Gainesville hosted the Amazing Give Wrap Party at the Celebration Pointe Promenade on Thursday where over 100 local nonprofits gathered to see the final results of the funds they raised during one of the largest fundraising events of the year. (Credit: Photo provided by Voleer Thomas)

We leverage the fundraising throughout the year to continue serving and teaching our youth at Dream on Purpose, Baptiste said. We appreciate the Community Foundation of North Central Florida for starting this and for the Junior League of Gainesville for continuing its efforts. This is truly a blessing.

Theresa Beachy, executive director of Peaceful Paths, said the fundraising event gives the community an opportunity to learn about and donate to local nonprofits in the area.

Peaceful Paths is a domestic violence center that has served Alachua, Bradford and Union counties for the past 50 years.

Its wonderful to know the range of non-profit organizations our community can support, Beachy said. It gives organizations a chance to raise a lot of money in a short amount of time.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Alachua County nonprofits benefit from Amazing Give fundraiser
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk Police are requesting assistance to identify a man and woman in a larceny at a business in the Wards Corner neighborhood, police said.

It was reported to police that a woman and a man have taken items from the Virginia ABC Store at 7550 Granby Street several times throughout March and April of 2024, police said.

Courtesy: Norfolk Police Department

During their investigation, detectives obtained surveillance footage of the individuals.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A gas flare burns in front of an oil well pump jack near Killdeer, North Dakota, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota and three other states filed suit in federal court this week against the Bureau of Land Management over a new methane regulation the states say will hamper oil and gas production.

The Bureau of Land Management in a March 27 announcement said the rule seeks to rein in pollution caused by oil and gas production on federal and tribal land, and will require producers to pay royalties to public and tribal mineral owners for wasted gas.

Oil field operators routinely dispose of unwanted natural gas  predominantly methane  produced through the oil extraction process. Flaring refers to the practice of burning this gas, while venting is when operators release it into the air. It can also be lost unintentionally through leaks.

The BLMs new rule, expected to take effect in June, will require producers to take additional steps to avoid wasting natural gas  like reducing venting and flaring, and doing more to detect and repair gas leaks.

The regulations also reduce the circumstances under which producers can flare gas without having to pay royalties to the federal government and tribal mineral owners.

This final rule modernizes regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and find and fix leaks, while ensuring that American taxpayers and Tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through royalty payments, the BLM said in the announcement.

The BLM claims the new rule will bring in more than $50 million in royalties to tribes and the federal government annually.

North Dakota, along with Montana, Wyoming and Texas, are asking the court to strike down the rule as unlawful, claiming it would overburden oil and gas producers and that the BLM does not have the power to regulate air pollution. That authority was given to the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act of 1970, the states argued in a complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in North Dakota.

If the regulations are allowed to take effect, energy production in the four states will decrease and their residents will lose out on crucial energy tax revenue, the complaint claims. North Dakota estimated that the rule would cost $38 million per year in state revenue from reduced royalties and oil and gas taxes.

The states allege that the BLM is attempting to resurrect a previous waste management rule that was struck down by a federal court in 2020.

The lawsuit challenging that rule was led by Wyoming, with North Dakota, Montana and Texas also joining.

Other than being less careless with its language this time, very little has been done to change the rule since the last time it was vacated, and none of the key legal infirmities have been fixed, the states argue in the Wednesday filing.

The states also say the BLM is wrongfully attempting to regulate oil and gas that is owned by states or the private sector.

Mark Fox, chair of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, through a spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday, stating he had not yet read the complaint. The Fort Berthold reservation has more than 2,600 active oil and gas wells, with the potential for another 2,000 wells to be drilled in the future, according to the state state Oil and Gas Division.

North Dakota produced an average of nearly 3.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day in February, according to preliminary figures from the state.

Ninety-five percent of that gas was captured, exceeding the North Dakota Industrial Commissions target of 91%. The gas capture percentage on the Fort Berthold reservation also was 95%.

Operators flared, or burned off, 5% of the natural gas produced statewide in February, or more than 183 million cubic feet per day, preliminary figures show.

The post North Dakota sues federal agency over methane regulation appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
North Little Rock defense attorney identified as suspect shot in attempted armored truck robbery at Bank of America

North Little Rock defense attorney identified as suspect shot in attempted armored truck robbery at Bank of America

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  New details are emerging as Little Rock police continue to investigate an armed robbery-turned-shooting that happened Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, a police report from the incident identified Chad Green as the suspect who allegedly tried to rob an armored truck driver at a bank ATM in Little Rock.

Little Rock police identify suspect in Bank of America attempted robbery

According to the report, officers responded to the Bank of America on Geyer Springs Road after receiving reports of a shooting just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The police report says Green maced the driver while he was servicing an ATM at the bank, leading the driver to shoot Green a couple times. It says Green then fled the scene on a bike & later called 911 from his car on 430 saying hed been shot.

My sources who knew Green tell https://t.co/jiaQxFU3MM  Samantha Boyd (@samanthaboyd98) April 25, 2024

After arriving on the scene, officers said a Loomis armored truck driver told them that Green had maced him, leading to him shooting Green a couple of times.

The driver said Green fell to the ground yelling, but within seconds got on his bike and left. Between that point and the next, Green is assumed to have gotten in his vehicle.

Later, LRPD officials said Green called dispatchers while on Interstate 430 near Rodney Parham Road.

Suspect shot during attempted robbery at Bank of America in Little Rock

When Arkansas Game and Fish and Arkansas State Police officers got there, they said Green was in his car, partially blocking traffic at a complete stop and he told them hed been shot.

Police said he was taken to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment and is said to be stable now.

While KARK 4 News was able to confirm who he is and where he works and spoke to some people who knew him, no one wanted to go on camera or provide an interview. Many of those spoken to said this was out of character for Green and noted family and friends had been concerned about his state of mind leading up to this incident.

KARK 4 News also spoke briefly with the driver who is said to have shot Green. He said he was asking for permission to interview, though we still havent heard back.

Community reacts to Tuesday night shooting at Jacksonville park

AGFC officials said they are unable to release the bodycam footage that was requested at this time due to an ongoing undisclosed criminal investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Jerry Don Elders had a fixation with the near-mythological criminals Bonnie and Clyde and was under investigation for a series of catalytic converter thefts in North Texas when he shot a Burleson police officer and then abducted and killed a 60-year-old woman, a witness told jurors in the second day of the trials sentencing phase.

Elders, convicted of capital murder Thursday, faces life in prison without parole or a death sentence. A Johnson County jury began hearing evidence for the sentencing phase of the trial after delivering the guilty verdict.

Elders was indicted on a capital murder charge after authorities said he shot Burleson police Officer Joshua Lott three times during a traffic stop in 2021, fled and then kidnapped Waddell at her home, stole her truck, shot her and pushed her out of her truck outside the Joshua Police Department.

The capital murder conviction is for the death of Waddell. The jury was not asked to determine Elders guilt in the shooting of Lott.

Jurors on Thursday were shown images of Elders tattoos, taken over several years as he was repeatedly booked into the Johnson County Jail, which included the names Bonnie and Clyde in big, bold letters across the top of his back. He also had tattoos of portraits of family members and antagonists from horror movies. One said the words [expletive] the Law.

On Friday, an investigator with Burleson police, B. Wichman, read a handwritten poem found in a container rescued from Elders car after it caught fire following the traffic stop during which the officer was shot. The container also included tax forms, a Social Security card and other information on Elders that police used to identify him after they said he shot Lott.

Jurors also heard that Elders was under investigation in connection to a string of catalytic converter thefts. Because of the precious metals found in catalytic converters, they have in recent years been stolen in increasing numbers. Wichman personally saw Elders steal a catalytic converter from a car in December 2020 when he and other officers were conducting surveillance on him. Three others were stolen by Elders and at least one other person, Wichman said, but he didnt witness the thefts.

Elders was arrested by Wichman for possession of methamphetamine. He described Elders as nonchalant with an attitude of disdain toward officers. In February 2021, he was being followed by officers who saw him stop in a parking lot, walk with his then-girlfriend into a field near a gas station and then walk into the woods. A third person was seen getting out of the vehicle abruptly and running away.

Wichman said he and other officers thought the behavior was odd and followed him into the woods. Wichman was about to tell the jury why Elders was detained when the defense objected to hearsay. Visiting Judge Lee Gabriel told the state that if it would need to call another witness to testify as to why Elders was detained, since Wichman made the decision based on second-hand information.

During that testimony, Wichman said he had the ability to arrest Elders and others involved in the catalytic converter thefts or stop the thefts from happening, even if they werent in his jurisdiction, but could also exercise discretion not to. He didnt say why he and other police did not arrest or stop them.

Wichman also testified that he could call for police in another jurisdiction to join him in following a suspect if he thought there was a reason to conduct a traffic stop and ask the other agency to develop their own probable cause to stop a suspect, such as a headlight or taillight that was out or a traffic violation. He said in response to questions from the defense that he did not do that.

Today's top stories:

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 Murderer had fixation with Bonnie and Clyde when he shot cop: witness

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The jury was presented with photos taken of a bag recovered from the burned vehicle Elders was driving when authorities say he shot Lott. Investigators testified in the guilt-innocence phase of the trial that Elders fled the shooting in the vehicle until it caught fire. In the photos, jurors could see syringes and bags containing what Wichman identified as methamphetamine.

Baggies containing other drugs, including mushrooms, were also found in the vehicle, Wichman testified.

The defense questioned what drugs found in the vehicle were used to charge Jeremy Brewer, a man who in the second day of the trial testified that he was in the vehicle with Elders when he shot Lott. Brewer was charged with possession and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. As a part of the plea bargain, Brewer agreed to testify against Elders.

Wichman told the defense he could not remember which drugs found in the vehicle were used to charge Brewer.

That would be kind of important in the punishment phase where death is an option, correct? defense attorney Miles Brissette asked him.

Yes, sir, Wichman answered.

Family, childhood and drug abuse

Elders grew up with a loving mother and stepfather, his sister testified Friday. Growing up, the family would face financial struggles but he and his sister always had food, water, clothes and a place to call home. Elders sister said he was spoiled by their parents.

They catered to him, she said. If he wanted shoes they would find a way. He would call my mom from the next room and say he wanted pizza and a Coke and she would get it for him.

She told the court Elders has never complained to her about his childhood.

Elders was a good student when he was younger, his sister testified. He was awarded a special sweater by his school in recognition of his academic achievements. He would call it his nerd sweater, she said.

The two had a close relationship growing up, but began drifting apart as they got older. By the time she was an adult, they didnt really keep up with each other, his sister said.

Trouble started when Elders began smoking marijuana when he was 14, his sister told the jury. His mother took him to counseling, but he began using harder drugs. She said he started getting into criminal mischief and was eventually sent to an alternative school.

Elders sister described his lifestyle as reckless, careless, just excessive drug use.  Just not stable. Elders couldnt hold down a job. He would say it was his constitutional right to use whatever drugs he wanted, his sister testified, and his outlook on life was sad, just cold, brooding, no ambition to have a family or anything. It seems like just the prison life is all he knows.

Elders would get clean but always went back to using drugs, his sister said. He was hospitalized at least once. One time, his mother had to call 911 because he was overdosing. Throughout it all, his sister said, the family would try to help and support him.

Elders mother, who died April 27, 2016, would take him to counseling, group meetings and work programs, his sister said. Both she and her mother would give him a place to stay when on multiple occasions he was released from prison after drug convictions, with rules that he couldnt use drugs, had to get a job and had to report to his probation or parole officers.

They would give him money, clothing and food, she said. At one point, his mother gave him a car. They would stay up all night with him when he was experiencing adverse affects of drug use.

Elders wasnt receptive to help from family, though, and there were periods where his family wouldnt pick up his calls because they couldnt handle it, his sister said. She said she knew he was cycling back to drug use when he was living in her house because his behavior would change. He would come and go at odd hours, wake her and her family at night, fail to answer calls and disappear for days at a time.

She also testified, on cross-examination by the defense, that her children prefer to spend time with Elders than with their aunt on their fathers side of the family. She said it didnt make sense to her because Elders has been in and out of prison and hasnt been a consistent presence in their lives, but their aunt has always been there and is only 15 minutes away from where they live.

Her children enjoyed the same movies as Elders. Her daughter liked drawing with him when she was growing up. Her youngest son still wants to call Elders any time he gets a new toy so he can tell his uncle about it.

One time her daughter had a seizure and doctors were having difficulty with her recovery.

He fell to his knees and asked God to take him instead of her, his sister testified, starting to cry as she recounted the story.

Elders wept at the defense table as she talked about that experience and about the death of their grandmother. His breathing was ragged and caused him to jerk as he drew breaths through silent sobs. He had to take off his glasses and use a tissue to wipe his eyes and blow his nose.

But the last time Elders lived with his sister, she said, she had to kick him out. He started using drugs again, which broke the rules shed given him. She didnt feel like it was safe to have her living in the same house as her children.

He asked her for three days to get clean, but she told him he had to leave and couldnt come back.

Since he killed Waddell, Elders sister said, he has blamed her death and the shooting of the Burleson officer on Lott for conducting the traffic stop, police for harassing him, his sister for kicking him out of her house and on the depression he experienced after his mothers death. But she said he has taken responsibility for what hes done in his own way.

It breaks my heart, she said through tears. It just makes me physically sick to my stomach, to see the pain that weve gone through, my kids, and what hes put other people through.
Norway has provided Ukraine with US$902 million worth of military supplies in recent months

Norway has handed over almost US$902.19 million worth of military supplies to Ukraine in recent months.

Source: European Pravda; a press release of the Norwegian government

This aid included artillery shells, anti-tank weapons, a minehunter, and tank maintenance support.

Among the donations are 5,000 M72 anti-tank missiles, artillery shells used in M109 self-propelled howitzers, which Norway previously transferred to Ukraine, and spare parts, the report says.

"This winter's limited scope of donated artillery shells was a critical interim support until deliveries from the Czech initiative commences. Norways contribution there includes up to NOK 1.6 billion (approx. US$110.28 million  ed.)," the press release notes.

The Norwegian government indicated that it has allocated US$10.34 million for the maintenance of Leopard tanks, which Poland transferred to Ukraine, and also sent 8 Leopard 2 A4 tanks and support vehicles.

"Given the need for support, repair, and maintenance of donated materials, Norway will provide up to NOK 150 million (approx. US$10.34 million) for the maintenance of Leopard 2 A4 tanks at a maintenance center in Poland," Norwegian Defene Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said.

Gram added that Norway also participates in the training of Ukrainian bomb disposal experts soldiers in Lithuania, and last winter it handed over three bomb disposal vehicles on a Leopard 1 tank chassis.

The other day, it was reported that the Norwegian parliament is considering the possibility of a significant increase in long-term assistance to Ukraine, which Oslo is now ready to provide.

Earlier, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that the country would financially join the initiative to provide Ukraine with additional air defene systems.

Before that, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that Kyiv and Oslo completed negotiations on the bilateral security agreement and will sign it at Zelenskyy's next meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. Its date has not yet been announced.

At the same time, Eide said that the F-16 fighter jets that his country is providing to Ukraine will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike deeper into Russia's rear.

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JAKARTA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Friday that Indonesia will continue to support Palestine despite that the United States has vetoed to deny Palestine's full membership of the United Nation.

"Although regrettable, it doesn't mean we will give up. We will keep trying," Marsudi noted.

Amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Indonesia has been engaged in intensive communication with partner countries in a bid to promote peace and stability there, in addition to its usual diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause.

Moreover, Indonesia will speak out its support for Palestine and call for an end to the conflict in the Middle East at the Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled to be held on May 4 to 5 in the Gambia.

It is our collective responsibility to de-escalate the tension and keep the Middle East situation from getting worse, Marsudi stressed. 
NTPS board says they need more time after no decision is reached on next superintendent

The North Thurston Public Schools board emerged from executive session late Thursday night and announced they need more time to select the next superintendent of the district.

The five-member board is expected to meet this weekend, district spokeswoman Amy Blondin said.

The board gathered about 8 p.m. Thursday after superintendent-to-be Justin Ainsworth resigned on Tuesday. Ainsworth was one of three finalists for the job. He was offered the superintendent position on April 10, accepted it and signed a contract before turning down the job on April 23.

Since accepting the position, circumstances within my family have shifted significantly, making it clear that I cannot fulfill my duties as superintendent while also prioritizing my familys well-being, Ainsworth wrote in his email, which was shared with The Olympian. This decision has been incredibly difficult, and I apologize for any disruption it may cause to the district and the community.

In light of his resignation, the board decided to re-interview the two remaining finalists during the executive session, but finally emerged from it about 11 p.m. and said they need more time.

The two remaining finalists are Troy Oliver, assistant superintendent of operations for North Thurston Public Schools, and Thu Ament, deputy superintendent for the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.

The search for a new superintendent began in January after current district leader Debra Clemens announced her decision to retire. Her last day is June 30.

The district then worked with an Iowa-based company called Ray and Associates that specializes in the recruitment of education professionals. The position was advertised by the business and 29 people applied. From there, a smaller number of applicants were presented to the board and then three finalists were selected from that group.

Ainsworth, associate superintendent in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District in Palmer, Alaska, plus Oliver and Ament, took part in a district visit on April 10, which included a community meeting with residents. During it, they fielded prepared questions and those submitted by audience members. Ainsworth was offered the job that night.

The next superintendent will earn $330,000 a year, according to a job posting for the position.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  The number of active sex workers employed in Tijuanas tolerance zone has dropped in recent months, going from the normal of about 13,000 to 8,400, officials say.

Ashley Judith Romo Solis, head of Tijuanas Sanitary Control Department, says the number of active workers includes those providing sexual favors for money on the streets, nightclubs and brothels.

All sex workers, men and women, must register with the city.

South Texas cantina owner gets 30 years for sex trafficking young Mexicans

We have 27,385 in our registry, but we consider them inactive after four years if they dont renew their permits, Romo Solis said. Many come here, go through the process and start working only to return home never to be seen again.

Romo Solis said sex workers must be tested for sexually transmitted diseases every four months in order to work legally.

On Jan. 1, however, the city stopped financing health centers where sex workers could seek free medical care and testing

Report: Cartels fighting for control of brothels and strip clubs in Tijuanas tolerance zone

The sites provided sex workers with screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV that are required to get a permit, she said, adding that 200 to 250 workers per day were seeking free lab work at these sites.

Romo Solis said the lack of free testing is not likely the reason for the drop in the number of active sex workers in Tijuana.

The workers have found a way to get tested. So far this year, weve had 150 positive cases for STDs, including 15 for syphilis, she said.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Romo Solis believes the drop in sex workers is seasonal and expects the numbers to go back up again as summer arrives.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Brown has fundraised twice as much as the other 10 Republicans in his primary race combined. (Photo: Sam Brown campaign)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed candidates in all but one of this years competitive U.S. Senate races, leaving an opening for a mostly self-funded dark horse candidate to make a home stretch push to secure the Republican nomination and take on Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen in November.

Nevadas 2024 GOP Senate primary is theoretically crowded with 11 candidates, but retired Army Capt. Sam Brown has been the assumed frontrunner since announcing his intent to run roughly a year ago. Brown has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as well as Americans for Prosperity, which is already running ads supporting him.

Brown has fundraised twice as much as the other 10 Republicans in his primary race combined. He has raised $5.3 million and had $2.3 million cash on hand as of March 31, according to FEC filings. In a distant second is Jeff Gunter, a wealthy dermatologist and former Trump ambassador to Iceland. Gunter has raised $551,000 in contributions but loaned his campaign $2.7 million.

Gunter describes himself as 110% pro-Trump and has the backing of notable MAGA loyalists like U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and far-right activist Laura Loomer. Thanks in large part to his own deep pockets, Gunter appears to be the candidate with the best chance of upsetting Brown.

Virulent election denier Jim Marchant and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Grady have raised $392,000 and $227,000, respectively. The other contenders  Stephanie Phillips, Barry Lindemann, Ronda Kennedy, and William Bryan Conrad  all raised less than $100,000.

Brown has the backing of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, whose popularity is expected to help candidates on the ballot this year.

But what Brown doesnt have  yet, anyway  is a Trump endorsement.

That sets Nevadas race apart from other competitive states. In Arizona, outspoken election denier Kari Lake kicked off her campaign in October with an endorsement announcement from Trump, whod previously backed her during her failed 2022 gubernatorial run. In Montana, Trump endorsed businessman Tim Sheehy hours after Matt Rosendale filed for the race. And in Ohio, a Trump endorsement helped businessman Bernie Moreno win in a highly competitive primary. Trump announced that endorsement on Dec. 20, roughly three months before voters headed to the polls.

Trump has also endorsed Senate candidates in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Its unclear if Trump will endorse anyone in Nevadas GOP Senate primary. If he doesnt, it appears it will not be for a lack of trying. Brown visited Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this month in an attempt to secure an endorsement, according to CNN, which also reported that some in Trumps circle are pushing him to endorse Gunter.

Screenshot of a post on former President Donald Trumps Truth Social account.

Days after that Brown visit, Trump did, on his Truth Social account, share an image that suggests an alignment with Brown. WIN NEVADA, SAVE AMERICA, VICTORY THROUGH A UNITED AMERICA FIRST TICKET reads the top of the image, which also highlights polls showing Trump and Brown with significant polling leads over their competitors.

Voting in Nevadas June 11 primary has already begun in earnest through its remote voting system, which is open to military, overseas, tribal and disabled voters. Election administrators have until May 22 to distribute mail ballots to all voters, though some are likely to receive them ahead of that deadline. The states two-week in-person early voting period runs from May 25 to June 7.

Trump is expected to be in Las Vegas on June 8 for a private fundraiser.

Gunter began airing political ads on April 12, according to AdImpact, which reported his campaign had reserved $654,000 worth of ads across tv, satellite and radio through primary election day. Gunter told Fox News he would launch a $3.3 million ad campaign.

One of Gunters ads highlights his connection to Trump, who in 2019 nominated him to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland.

When the stakes were high, Trump chose Gunter to represent the USA, says the narrator of the ad.

Another Gunter ad, which is posted to his YouTube channel, attacks the GOP Senate primary frontrunner, referring to him as Scam Brown and calling him the newest creature to emerge from the swamp while showing closeup photos of the Purple Heart recipients face, which was scarred by combat injuries received in 2008 in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Browns campaign is almost entirely focused on Rosen and the general election in November. Earlier in the campaign cycle, he declined invites to debates with his Republican competitors.

The New York Times reported that, after the Gunter ads began airing, Brown appeared to acknowledge the attacks, saying there are people who show up from places like California who want to name-call me this or that. Gunter has been criticized for being a registered voter in California as recently as in 2022, though he has said hes owned land and practiced in Nevada since the 1990s and relocated in 2019. (Brown moved to Nevada in 2018 from Texas, where he ran for office but failed.)

Thats going to happen and we expect that out of people who were literally Democrats a year ago, to play that sort of game, the NYT reported Brown as saying. But just keep your head down. You know who I am.

Brown will open his first official campaign office on Saturday, in Reno.

Whoever wins the GOP Senate primary will face an uphill fundraising battle. Rosen, who is not facing a competitive primary, has raised $19.6 million since taking office in 2019 and has $13.2 million cash on hand as of March 31, according to FEC filings.

Millions more are expected to flood into the state on both sides of the aisle. In 2022, Nevadas Senate general election between Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican challenger Adam Laxalt  was the third most expensive in the nation, according to AdImpact. It was decided by roughly 8,000 votes.

The post NV GOP Senate primary: Gunter attacks Brown, Brown woos Trump appeared first on Nevada Current.
Two New York lawmakers are proposing legislation that could condition federal funding for universities to stricter monitoring of on-campus antisemitism.

Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) plan to introduce the College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability (COLUMBIA) Act, in the wake of pro-Palestinian encampments, protests and arrests on college campuses nationwide.

The bill would allow the Department of Education to create a third-party monitor for antisemitic activity on college campuses that receive federal funding. The legislation was first reported by Jewish Insider.

Torres said in a statement announcing the bill that college antisemitism since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 has been at an all-time high and American universities are not capable of handling it when left to their own devices.

Torres said there are blatant violation[s] of Jewish students civil rights happening at schools across the country, and the federal government cannot allow this to continue unchecked.

Protests at Manhattans Columbia University have been underway for more than a week. More than 100 protesters have been arrested for setting up encampments with dozens of tents. The school later moved all of its classes to a hybrid learning style for the remainder of the semester.

Students at many other schools across the country have begun protesting and creating encampments like Columbias. Torres said Columbias protest wont be an isolated incident, saying it instead is the straw that has broken the camels back, and he is prepared to do something about it.

He urged his colleagues in the House to join him, saying Jewish students feel unsafe as a result of their religious and ethnic identity, which is a blatant violation of Title VI.

Jewish students have told my office that they feel completely abandoned by their university administrations and they view Congress as the only avenue for accountability and safety, his statement said.

In the release, Lawler said he is proud to work with Torres on the legislation.

If colleges will not step up to protect their students, Congress must act, Lawlers statement said.

Lawler and other House Republicans from New York this week called on the president of Columbia University to resign.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MORRIS HEIGHTS, the Bronx (PIX11)  Its been nearly five months since a building facade collapse exposed an entire corner line of apartments and forced around 130 tenants at 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx to lose their homes, peace of mind, and any semblance of normalcy.

Very difficult, said Anna in Spanish. She is still not back in her fourth-floor corner unit.

As for her other neighbors in the building, the inconvenience of living through the restoration process grows with each passing day.

We just got gas last Friday. It was very frustrating because I like to cook, said Jacqueline.

Residents of partially collapsed Bronx building sue landlord and NYC

The tenants are hoping new legislation announced Thursday by New York City Council member Pierina Sanchez will create stricter oversight on landlords and the citys inspection protocol and prevent another collapse.

A building like this deserves scrutiny. New Yorkers deserve to have an understanding of what is the structural integrity of our buildings across the city, a very old city with aging infrastructure, said Sanchez.

Sanchezs bill:

Calls for the creation of a new multi-factor risk-based New York City Department of Buildings inspection program that takes into account a buildings age, its violation history, and permit history.

Puts in place a more urgent landlord corrective action plan, which must be submitted within 10 days of a notice of violation.

Mandates timely landlord violation correction, so they must immediately address hazardous violations.

Puts in place escalating civil landlord penalties for a failure to correct violations.

Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo on Thursday testified during a City Council buildings oversight hearing to provide an update on the investigation into the exact cause of the Billingsley Terrace collapse.

I understand the need to get this done, and we are working as quickly as we can to deliver that, said Oddo.

Oddo also expressed concern that Sanchezs newly proposed inspection protocol would strain department resources.

PIX11 News reached out to the building owner at 1915 Billingsley Terrace requesting comment for this story. He did not respond in time for this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
He came in like a wrecking ball.

A New York City construction worker delivered a piercing message to President Biden Thursday morning after his predecessor  and 2024 rival  Donald Trump made a surprise visit to a Manhattan work site.

The unidentified man in a hard hat and yellow reflective vest was being interviewed by a Newsmax reporter following the ex-presidents visit when he was asked: Whats your message to Joe Biden?

Fk you, the worker replied into the journalists microphone without any hesitation before turning and walking off.

Whats your message to Joe Biden? a Newsmax reporter asked. Fk you, the worker quickly replied. Newsmax

He also said he wasnt at all surprised to see so many Trump supporters in Manhattan as the Republicans hush money trial entered its third day.

Its turning now, the worker said in a thick New York accent. Its Trumps turn again.

A 12-second clip of the exchange was shared on X with the caption, This union worker says what much of America is thinking right now.

The construction workers strong feelings resonated with many users.

If I was that guys boss, he would be getting a raise, one quipped.

Its turning now, the worker said in a thick New York accent. Its Trumps turn again. Newsmax

Love this guy for saying what we are all thinking, another replied.

Dude is a fking hero! a third tweeted.

Trump, who hopes to take back the White House in the 2024 race against Biden, shook hands with workers and other supporters at the construction site at 48th Street and Park Avenue around 6:30 a.m. ahead of his court appearance.

The crowd chanted USA! and cheered for the Republican despite the criminal charges for which hes on trial.

It doesnt change my mind on him, Basil Persaud, a sheet metal worker from Hollis, Queens, told The Post.

The union workers said they support Donald Trump, not Joe Biden, contrary to preconceived notions of unions backing Democrats. AP

Persaud, 48, said he felt that theyre always trying to get [Trump].

Workers at the site said theyre all union workers  and MAGA fans.

Trump got a great reception. They say unions arent big for Trump  well, they are, said Darren Gould, a 58-year-old carpenter foreman from Wanaque, New Jersey.

Maybe the top union brass arent, but when you talk to the men on the construction site, theyre all about Trump.

At least one worker, however, had a similar message for Trump as his colleague did for Biden.

The unnamed construction staffer told The Post, Yeah, fk Trump.
NYC mom charged with murder in shocking beating death of 6-year-old who begged for her life: cops

Lynija Eason Kumar being taken to central booking

A Bronx mom was charged with murder in the brutal beating death of her 6-year-old daughter  who neighbors say had begged for her life before her shocking end, cops said.

Lynija Eason-Kumar, 23, was arrested Thursday in connection to the early-morning May 26, 2023 slaying of little Jalayah Eason inside the familys squalid apartment at NYCHAs Forest Houses, according to authorities.

The mother had initially told cops she found the girl cold and not breathing inside a closet in their 12th-floor unit on East 165th Street, sources said at the time.

Eason-Kumar claimed she tried to administer CPR, but Jalayah would not wake up, cops said.

A Bronx mom was charged with murder in the brutal beating death of her 6-year-old daughter  who neighbors say had begged for her life before her shocking end, cops said. Lynija Eason/Instagram

EMS arrived 15 minutes later and rushed the girl  who had obvious bruising and trauma on her wrists and torso  to Lincoln Medical Center, but she couldnt be saved.

Jalayah died of asphyxia and blunt force injuries, police confirmed Thursday.

Upstairs neighbor Dennis Rivera previously told The Post that he heard the 6-year-old girl screaming for her dear life during the early-morning beating.

At 3:42 in the morning that girl was screaming, Rivera said.

She was screaming for dear life . . . She was screaming like hell.

She kept saying stop, stop, stop.  You could hear the thumps, bro.

Lynija Eason-Kumar, 23, was arrested Thursday and faces two manslaughter charges  one related to the death of a child under 11  in connection to the early-morning May 26, 2023 slaying of Jalayah. Tomas E. Gaston

Police sources said at the time that there had been several calls for domestic violence at the familys address.

Eason was previously arrested on charges that shed hurt her other two children, an 8-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl .

The two kids had cuts, scars and rashes when police visited the home May 26, according to a criminal complaint related to that case.

The 8-year old had countless small lacerations in various stages of healing on his back, scalp, arms and legs, Hernandez wrote.

The boy allegedly also had a cut on his forehead and a deep, partially-healed gash on his scalp.

The girl had a long, discolored scar on her waist and a widespread discolored rash to her inner thighs and buttocks, Hernandez wrote.

The complaint also included stomach-churning details on the filthy, insect-infested home.

That case remains open in Bronx Criminal Court.

Her arraignment in connection with the new charges, which also include manslaughter counts, was pending Thursday.

Additional reporting by Tina Moore
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11)  An employee of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is accused of having a forged license plate on his vehicle, sources told PIX11 News on Friday.

Ahmahd Daniels, 25, was arrested in Staten Island on Thursday, according to authorities. He was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, having an unregistered vehicle and failure to signal.

Daniels car allegedly had temporary plates that were considered forged, sources said.

The arrest comes after a task force was made to combat ghost cars. The task forces primary focus is to identify and remove vehicles with fake or modified license plates, or those with no tags at all.

Man hits two boys, both 12, in the face in Brooklyn: NYPD

These vehicles are often unregistered or stolen, officials previously told PIX11 News.

The crackdown comes ahead of congestion pricing, which is expected to take effect in June. Cars entering Manhattans Central Business District, south of 60th Street, during peak hours will pay a $15 toll.

License plate readers will be used to issue tolls.

City employees are not exempt from paying the toll.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The NYPD is investigating two recent Israeli flag thefts in Manhattan as hate crimes amid pro-Palestinian protests over the Gaza conflict continue to grip the city, officials said Friday.

In one of the two incidents, a Columbia University protester set the flag on fire after a rock was thrown at its owner, police said.

The first incident took place in Midtown on April 12 when two people, one described as a woman in a headscarf, snatched a 19-year-old womans Israeli flag as she walked down W. 34th St. near Sixth Ave. around 5 p.m.

The pair ran off with the flag, cops said.

On April 20, during a large protest outside Columbia University that pitted pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators against each other, a 22-year-old man walking with an Israeli flag past Amsterdam Ave. and W. 116th St. was jumped by a stranger in a hooded sweatshirt and a varsity jacket, cops said.

The man ripped the flag from the victim and ran off.

While the victim chased him another protester chucked a rock at the victim, hitting him in the face.

Another protester then set the stolen flag on fire, cops said.

The victim suffered a minor injury after being struck by the rock, but refused medical attention.

Concern about antisemitism at protests sweeping campuses around the nation has grown in recent days, sparking demands for university officials to act more decisively to dismantle the demonstrations.

Protests at Columbia University and New York University have led to the arrests of more than 200. The State University of New Yorks Fashion Institute of Technology saw a small pro-Palestinian encampment pop up Thursday, following a similar demonstration at The New School.

Cops cleared out protesters who formed a tent city on Columbias campus on Monday, but the protesters returned. The university had given protesters until midnight Thursday to leave, but then sent out an email around 11 p.m. saying that the NYPD would not be called in to remove the protesters.

Cops on Friday posted images of the crooks in both flag-stealing incidents in the hopes that someone recognizes them. A $3,500 reward has been posted for information about the flag thief in the varsity jacket, cops said.

Anyone with information regarding their identities is urged to call NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Purchasers are pictured during the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 24, 2024. As of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, a total of 172,901 purchasers from 214 countries and regions have physically attended the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, an increase of 21.6 percent over the same period last year. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Ocean predator missing since 1800s appears in fishers net in Chile. Take a look

Artisanal fishers on the coast of Chile were on the hunt for bony fishes when they dropped their gillnets into the water.

Pulling the nets through the water, something much bigger  and important  landed in the hands of the fishers.

It was a missing species.

In 1887, a researcher published the description of a Chilean angel shark, a small, ray-like shark that lives in shallow coastal waters, but it was incomplete and lacked accuracy, according to an April 25 study published in the European Journal of Taxonomy.

Angel sharks are bottom-dwelling sharks that ambush their prey as they swim overhead.

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The study author in 1887 supplied only a few body measurements, hardly enough to differentiate the specimen from other closely related species, the researchers said.

Then, the holotype, or collected animal, was lost, and the scientific record of Chilean angel sharks was left empty, according to the study.

A few times through history the sharks appeared in bycatch, or accidentally caught, by fisheries, helping to update some of the basic information about the species, the researchers said, but a complete description of the species was missing.

Then the sharks landed  literally  right in their hands.

The angel sharks have small hook-like thorns on the top of their head and bodies, researchers said.

Two full sharks and one head of a third were captured by the fishers and frozen, then brought to the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile, according to the study.

There, the researchers confirmed they were looking at two Squantina armata, or Angelote in Spanish and Chilean angel shark in English.

The sharks are a little more than 3 feet long and have flat bodies that look more like rays than sharks, according to the study.

The sharks also have enlarged dorsal thorns, meaning small, sharp hook-shaped growths on the top of their heads and on their backs, the researchers said.

The thorny species is critically endangered as their habitat dwindles, researchers said.

Very little is known about the Chilean angel shark, and because of a lack of research and sightings, the species is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Other angel sharks, like the common angel shark, are ambush predators who lie in wait for small fish, crustaceans, mollusks and cephalopods to pass overhead before they attack, according to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration.

They are nocturnal bottom-dwellers, NOAA says, and spend most of their life buried in the sand and mud of coastal sediment.

The researchers say understanding and identifying the species is indispensable for their conservation, as they are threatened by coastal development, habitat degradation and fishing, according to the study.

Recent taxonomic studies on angel sharks  with this updated morphological characterization of the Chilean angel shark, questions on geographic range, estimations of abundance, and real incidence in landings can be clarified to ultimately inform better conservation practices of this critically endangered species and other angel sharks on the Pacific coast of America, the researchers said.

The sharks were caught near Playa Seremeno in northern Chile on the Pacific coast.

Apex predator emerges as boaters stare in awe at fishs massive bite marks. See it

Shark species that may be worlds largest predatory fish is a rare sight, NOAA says

Sharks discovered in tidal ponds on popular South Carolina barrier island, town warns

Boaters left with jaws gaping as two titans of the ocean battle, rare video shows
Firefighters have managed to contain a large fire that broke out on the Oceanside Pier on Thursday, according to a statement from the city.

A livestream from KGTV in San Diego showed a massive smoke plume emanating from the end of the pier. The fire began at 3 p.m., and first responders arrived five minutes after the call, the city said. No injuries were reported, and those working on and visiting the pier have been accounted for, officials said.

"Crews are making good progress and the fire is contained to the end of the pier," an update from the city read. "They'll be working through the night to ensure extinguishment."

"We are asking all citizens to please stay away from the immediate area," the Oceanside Fire Department wrote on Facebook. The city has continued to advise people to stay away from the pier due to the smoke.

Jessica Waithe, operator of the Brine Box restaurant at the end of the pier, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that several employees were working when the fire broke out, but all were able to leave safely.

The pier, built in 1887 and rebuilt five times since, stretches for 1,942 feet, making it one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast.

In the late 1970s, a strong winter storm whipped up waves that swept a 560-foot chunk of the pier  including a bait shop and restaurant  out to sea. During the winter of 1982-83, the ocean struck again, damaging the aging structure and leaving a 110-foot-long section standing as an odd-looking island.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  An ODU student pleaded guilty on Wednesday to stealing banking information and forging checks in 2023.

According to officials, in October of 2023, 26-year-old Michiah Kadafi Owens borrowed an acquaintances phone to set up a banking app to transfer his money to Owens bank account.

Michiah Owens (Courtesy: Norfolk City Jail)

After reporting the incident to law enforcement, Old Dominion Police officers searched Owens campus residence. During the search, officers discovered multiple checks and debit cards belonging to a separate victim.

Officers were able to locate the second victim, who told them he had lost his wallet earlier in the year. Owens was able to successfully forge and deposit two checks between the months of August and December.

Owens pleaded guilty to check forgery, using a forged check, credit card theft and attempting to obtain money by false pretenses on Wednesday, April 24.

Fraud costs honest people every day, and for victims it often creates lasting headaches as they try to recover their money and correct their credit reports, Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi said. Whether one steals with a gun, a check, or a phone, we will work to hold accountable the people who commit these crimes.

Owens is scheduled for sentencing on May 24.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
DENVER (KDVR)  Police officers arrested approximately 40 people at a pro-Palestine demonstration at the Auraria Campus in Denver on Friday after telling the demonstrators they needed to disperse.

According to a release from the Auraria Campus, those who were arrested are facing trespassing charges.

The campus has a no-camping policy, which it says was violated during the demonstration. Campus administrators say police and others gave the campers written and verbal notice several times and when they did not comply officers moved in to remove the encampment and make arrests.

The demonstrators gathered to protest the United States support of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and also demanded that the university divest from Israeli companies, refuse to accept grants from corporations that contract with U.S. Armed Forces, and terminate the universitys study abroad programs to Israel, along with a few other demands.

Pro-Palestine rally held at Auraria Campus amid growing national protests

On Friday in Denver, demonstrators reported that Denver police officers used a megaphone to tell a group of demonstrators who had set up tents and remained at the site overnight that if they remained at the camp, they would be considered trespassing and would be arrested and prosecuted. In response, demonstrators locked arms in a makeshift, human barricade around their tents.

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

Police crews responded to an encampment at a pro-Palestine protest at the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado, on April 26, 2024. (KDVR)

SkyFOX was over the scene for several hours Friday afternoon. Starting at about 1 p.m. video showed police detaining a handful of people and putting them on a Denver Sheriffs Department bus. Around 2:30 p.m. the majority of police left the area where about a hundred protesters remained.

However, around 5 p.m., law enforcement returned to the campus after demonstrators set up tents again. The campus asked the public to avoid the Tivoli Quad until further notice.

The Denver Police Department issued a statement about their response to the scene:

We value free speech rights and the right to respectfully demonstrate for all students and Denverites. After numerous requests to remove camping structures that violate campus policy, today the Auraria Campus Police Department performed arrests on some individuals who had violated that policy. Denver Police Department served in a supporting role to the Auraria Campus Police Department and we will continue to monitor the situation. Denver Police Department

The protests had effects beyond the campus community. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network announced it would cancel a walk scheduled for Saturday

We are sorry to share the news that PanCAN has made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person PanCAN PurpleStride Colorado 2024 due to ongoing protests at the event location (Auraria Campus (Tivoli Quad), the organization said in a statement, in part. Though we were looking forward to our event tomorrow, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our participants. As a community that has been affected by pancreatic cancer, this is another curve ball weve been thrown. But like always, we wont stop because pancreatic cancer doesnt slow down and neither do we.

Auraria campus responds

In a message posted to social platform X, the Auraria Campus administration told students that there are several large events on campus Friday, including the Tivoli Quad demonstration.

Please be assured that campus leadership is actively addressing the situation, the school wrote.

Auraria is home to the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Community College of Denver. All faculty and staff have official campus badges, the campus stated.

Auraria Campus is adjacent to and shares parking with Ball Arena, where the Colorado Avalanche will host game three of their playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets at 8 p.m.

WATCH: Pro-Palestine protest broken up by police on Auraria Campus

The campus also issued a statement about the demonstration on Friday afternoon.

Numerous discussions have taken place with the students before yesterdays demonstration, including a session Thursday night involving Dr. Angie Paccione, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a member of the Governors cabinet. These engagements have been aimed at attentively hearing and comprehending the students perspectives. The Auraria Campus and the three higher education institutions continue to be committed to listening to and collaborating with the students and protecting their right to free speech, the education center said in part.

The campus went on to say there are people falsely presenting themselves as a higher education institution representative, including those attempting to present themselves as representatives of the Auraria Campus.

We fully support the right of students to assemble peacefully, the statement continued. Still, its essential to note that Auraria Campus policy prohibits camping on the premises because of health, safety, and security considerations. Participants set up an encampment and were repeatedly notified that they did not comply with the policy.

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In an earlier message posted at about 12:30 p.m., the campus told students that due to civil unrest, please avoid the Tivoli Quad. At about 12:52 p.m., the account reported that all inbound traffic to the campus was closed, but traffic reopened at 3:04 p.m.

The Denver protest is one of many that have sprung up around the nation, including one of the most prominent at Columbia University where professors joined the students. Many of the protests have resulted in arrests of students, citizens and staff.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  On April 18, Greeley police officers responded to a call of a woman who was screaming in her front yard during the early morning hours. Officers came to find out the woman was in labor on the front porch.

Officers arrived at the home during the snow and rain to find the womans water had broken. In a release on Friday, the Greeley Police Department said they believed the woman went into labor while home alone. Her phone had died, so she tried to make it to a neighbors home to call 911.

This was the most popular birthday in Colorado last year

However, she didnt make it to the neighbors before the police arrived. Once the officers found the woman outside, they called the paramedics  which is when they heard the first cry from a baby.

The baby boy was turning blue in the freezing cold.

Officers tied her umbilical cord with bread ties, cut the cord and rushed the baby boy into a patrol car. Once the officer was inside the car, the baby stopped breathing. The officer started infant CPR and chest compressions, according to Greeley police.

During this time, the woman told the other officers that she was expecting triplets.

Soon after, another baby boy came out, and an officer tied and cut the umbilical cord.

Luckily, medics arrived and rushed the two babies to the hospital. The mother was taken into surgery to deliver the last baby.

Theres a new most popular baby name, 2023 report finds

Police were happy to report on Friday that all three babies were in the neonatal intensive care unit with strong heartbeats.

We expect our officers to do great work in our community every day, it is ingrained in our core values. Even with that lofty expectation, I was amazed at the teamwork, ingenuity, and care our officers provided to this mother and her three new baby boys. The success of this call is a success in our officers, our training, and our partnerships with other public safety agencies in the area, Chief Adam Turk said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
How officers train to keep suspects hands off their guns

FENTON, Mich. (WLNS)  One of the biggest fears for law enforcement is losing their weapon during a struggle with a suspect.

Lansing Police say that happened earlier this month. Two detectives had their weapons taken by a suspect during a struggle off Holmes Rd. Two uniformed officers were shot by one of those detectives guns.

That got the attention of other departments in the state, including the Genesee County Sheriffs Department and 6 News was invited to see how hard and often the department trains to make sure suspects dont get their hands on them.

Genesee County Sheriffs Department officials train on techniques to retain their weapons during struggles with suspects. (WLNS)

Wrestling with a suspect whos grappling for a gun on a law enforcement officer is a very serious situation, and it happens often in the field, says Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson.

Most of our confrontations are close quarters, most of them go to the ground, he says. What weve learned from other incidents is me in particular personally, thats when you have to maintain control and weapon retention. And weve experienced that in 1999. We had one of our deputies that was disarmed and that weapon was taken and used to kill two people in Chicago.

Once a month Swansons department conducts rigorous simulations to prepare officers for anything that may happen in the field and come out on top and safe.

Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson. (WLNS)

Its every cops nightmare to lose their weapon, Swanson tells 6 News. Youre responsible for every bullet that leaves that barrel. And when you carry that weapon that can be used for deadly force  you are responsible for that weapon.

Swanson says the trainings are based on the experiences deputies have had on patrol. He says the department  and law enforcement  learn from mistakes and implement those lessons in their training.

Officials from the Genesee County Sheriffs department train on techniques to retain their weapons during struggles with suspects. (WLNS)

Officials from the Genesee County Sheriffs department train on techniques to retain their weapons during struggles with suspects. (WLNS)

Officials from the Genesee County Sheriffs department train on techniques to retain their weapons during struggles with suspects. (WLNS)

Officials from the Genesee County Sheriffs department train on techniques to retain their weapons during struggles with suspects. (WLNS)

We debrief every part of that scene, he says. What we could have done better, what we did well, and what we need to do different. Thats good policing, and thats police evolution.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
It's official: Chick-fil-A announces opening date for Paramus store at old Fireplace site

An official opening date was announced for the new Paramus Chick-fil-A, which replaced the beloved Fireplace restaurant on Route 17.

The fast-food outlet will start serving customers in Paramus on May 2, the same day the new Chick-fil-A in Parsippany is also scheduled to open. The chain has over 3,000 locations across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, including 61 in New Jersey.

Dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out and third-party delivery will be available at the Paramus location from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, according to a statement released Thursday by the company. It will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant will operate as drive-thru only from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich from Chick-fil-A.

It's expected to create 110 jobs in the community, according to the release. The owner of the Paramus location, Ray Cowan, is a local to northern New Jersey and will continue to run the chains Ramsey location as well, Chick-fil-A said.

Paramus has been incredibly welcoming to both Chick-fil-A and, personally, to my family and me, Cowan said in the statement. Its my pleasure to now welcome the community to Chick-fil-A Paramus.

The Parsippany site, located on Route 46 in the Morris County township, will be open for pick-up, dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and drive-thru until 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Dining: Survey reveals NJ's favorite bagels and toppings. Is your order in the results?

Donation to Feeding America

In celebration of the two New Jersey openings, Chick-fil-A has donated a combined $50,000 to Feeding America to support the hunger relief efforts of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the company said. The new North Jersey branches will also participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits.

The chain also plans to recognize 100 local heroes in North Jersey and give them free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year, it said.

The Fireplace, the former restaurant at the Route 17 location, was closed in 2021 after 65 years in business. It was known for its thin-sliced steak sandwiches, juicy burgers and nostalgic '50s atmosphere.

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com

Twitter: @snoda11

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Chick-fil-A announces opening date for Paramus, Parsippany NJ stores
Woman sentenced after trying to burn down competing Ohio salon

A woman who owned a nail salon was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for attempting to set a competing nail salon on fire in Ohio.

Officials said 46-year-old Kim Lien Vu of Liberty Township admitted that shed conspired to cause damage to another business, our news partners at WCPO-TV reported.

According to Federal Prosecutors, Vu developed animosity towards individuals at a competing nail salon and began conspiring with her employee to exact revenge on the other salon as early as December 2022.

Vu, along with 29-year-old Cierra Marie Bishop of Hamilton and 18-year-old Makahla Ann Rennick of Hamilton allegedly planted an incendiary device inside Bora Bora Nail Salon on Hamilton Lebanon Road in Monroe.

On Feb. 5, Bishop and Rennick can be seen on surveillance footage entering the nail salon. Officials said Rennick booked a pedicure under the name Katelynn, allegedly at Vus request.

According to officials, Bu told Rennick to just use another name. Sound White.

In the surveillance footage, Rennick can be seen receiving the pedicure with Bishop sitting next to her. Bishop eventually can be seen walking toward the rear of the salon carrying two white bags.

>> Police asking for help identifying two theft suspects

Officials said Bishop placed one of the bags behind a desk before leaving the salon.

A salon employee found the planted device and reported it smelled like gasoline. The employee allegedly opened the package and saw it looked like an explosive device, they took it outside near the salons dumpsters.

Officials said when the employee went back outside to check on it, it was burning, Monroe responded to the nail salon for a reported dumpster fire.

Text messages found on Bishops and Rennicks phones revealed the three had been planning the device for at least one week, according to Officials.

A preliminary investigation of Bishops iPhone provided evidence that Vu enlisted Bishop, with the help of Rennick to build the incendiary device with a remote ignition and plant the device at the salon on Feb. 5, 2023. Based on the text messages, officials believed the plan was to detonate or ignite the device that evening and destroy the salon.

The text messages seemed to indicate that Vu, Bishop, and Rennick referred to the plan as Job 1, according to court documents obtained by WCPO.

Vu pleaded guilty to the crime in September 2023 and was sentenced to 46 months in prison today.








Oklahoma man sentenced for holding woman at gunpoint, forcing her to drive to Texas

A Perry man was sentenced to 52 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting a woman and forcing her to drive at gunpoint to Texas.

A Perry man was sentenced this week to 52 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting a woman and forcing her to drive at gunpoint to the Texas coast.

In Oklahoma City federal court, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk said the behavior of Zachary Charles Fowler, 24, was horrendous and dehumanizing, and the nature of the case was horrific and terrifying.

About 3 a.m. in March 2022, Fowler showed up at the house of a woman who had ended their relationship. Prosecutors said the woman had evicted Fowler from the house, and since her back door did not work, she had tied it closed with an extension cord. Fowler found shears on the property and cut through the extension cord.

Fowler found the womans bedroom door locked and kicked it several times until it broke down.

They each reached for a gun the woman kept on a bedside table, but Fowler strangled her until she passed out, prosecutors said. When she awoke, Fowler sexually assaulted her.

Prosecutors said Fowler then forced the woman at gunpoint to drive him to Corpus Christi, Texas. Fowler wanted to go to Corpus Christi because he wanted to see the beach before he died, according to court documents.

Along the way, he sexually assaulted the woman at gunpoint. He also forced her to send messages to her family and boss saying she was safe, prosecutors said.

She escaped in Corpus Christi. Fowler was arrested by local authorities in Texas.

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Fowler, charging him with kidnapping, carjacking, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

During a three-day trial in May 2023, a federal jury found Fowler guilty on all counts.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma man sentenced to prison in sexual assault and kidnapping case
An Oklahoma tourist says he faces 12 years in prison in the Caribbean after he mistakenly left 4 bullets from a hunting trip in his carry-on duffel bag

An Oklahoma tourist says he faces 12 years in prison in the Caribbean after he mistakenly left 4 bullets from a hunting trip in his carry-on duffel bag

Ryan Watson was on vacation when he was charged with illegally carrying ammo into Turks and Caicos.

He and his wife, Valerie, say the four bullets in their duffel bag were unknowingly left there from a hunting trip.

Watson now faces 12 years in prison, alongside several US tourists charged for similar offenses.

An Oklahoma man traveling with his wife in the Caribbean territory of Turks and Caicos faces 12 years in prison after four rounds of ammunition were found in his luggage.

Ryan and Valerie Watson arrived in Turks and Caicos earlier this month to celebrate his 40th birthday with several other couples, their families said in a GoFundMe. NBC Boston reported that the Watsons arrived on April 7.

But the pair, who have two young children, were arrested in the self-governed British territory after airport security found the four bullets in their carry-on duffel bag.

Their families' GoFundMe said the ammo had been left in the bag unintentionally, and was from a prior deer hunting trip.

"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for white-tailed deer, and I recognized them, and I thought: 'Oh, what a mistake.' I had no idea that they were in there," Ryan Watson told NBC News.

Valerie Watson was released from the charges on Tuesday and flew back to Oklahoma to reunite with her children.

But her husband remains in Turks and Caicos, and was granted $15,000 bail the day after by the local supreme court, according to a police statement.

He now faces 12 years in prison, which is the minimum custodial sentence for bringing firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos.

Ryan Watson must stay on the islands and report twice a week to a local police station while waiting for his hearing, which is set for June 7.

Meanwhile, his family is trying to raise $300,000 for his legal fees and housing in the Caribbean.

"Isolated from their family, friends, and children, they face mounting legal fees, living expenses, and the overwhelming stress of their situation," their GoFundMe reads. "The emotional and financial toll is immense, and they are at risk of losing everything."

"We were trying to pack board shorts and flip flops," Valerie Watson told CBS News. "Packing ammunition was not at all our intent."

The Watsons did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider through their GoFundMe.

Eight US tourists prosecuted since February

It is illegal to bring firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos, and penalties apply regardless of the offender's status or country of origin, according to the local attorney general's chambers.

Several tourists caught under this law were previously let off with just a fine, while at least one was given a prison sentence under the minimum limit.

But in February, a court of appeal ordered that all offenders be given at least the minimum sentence of 12 years in prison.

At least eight tourists from the US have since been prosecuted under this rule, per the attorney general's chambers.

Another American tourist, 31-year-old Tyler Wenrich, was charged on Tuesday with possessing ammunition after he arrived in Turks and Caicos on a cruise ship, according to local police.

"While going through a security checkpoint, it was discovered Mr Wenrich allegedly had ammunition in his possession," a police statement said.

Amid the recent spate of tourist arrests, the US State Department published a September advisory warning US citizens that it wouldn't be able to secure their release if they brought firearms and ammo into Turks and Caicos.

"We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI," the advisory said.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Tourism is a key revenue for Turks and Caicos, and in 2019 provided about $787 million, or 65% of the island's GDP, to the territory, per a 2023 report by the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce.

The Caribbean archipelago is a popular port of call for US cruise ships, and this year has seen a 127% jump in tourist arrivals  the largest increase in the world  compared to 2019, the United Nations World Tourism Organization said in February.

Read the original article on Business Insider
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing, expressing the hope that the United States will work with China in the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Asia-Pacific region should not become an arena for big power contest.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will make the right choice, work with China to achieve positive interactions in the Asia-Pacific, stop forming exclusive small groupings, refrain from pressuring regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles, stop undermining China's strategic security interests and stop undermining the hard-won peace and stability in the region, he said. 
One in five soldiers see sexual harassment, hardly any report it

A Pentagon report on how the Army deals with harassment found that surveys omitted hazing and bullying questions, commanders failed to compare results in order to spot trends and only a handful of soldiers who experienced or witnessed sexual harassment filed complaints.

The 46-page Department of Defense Inspector Generals report reviewed data from January 2021 to January 2023 for eight brigades at two locations.

Army officials agreed with inspector general recommendations, which include analyzing year-by-year defense organizational climate surveys and command climate assessments for trends, retaining records for at least five years and addressing the wide gap between soldiers who said theyd experienced or seen sexual harassment and the number of complaints reported.

Out of 27,223 responses, 4,674 respondents, or nearly one in five, said they had witnessed or experienced sexual harassment.

For that two-year period, soldiers only filed 73 sexual harassment complaints.

More than half of female soldiers reporting sexual harassment say it is serious and persistent

In one brigade, 2,145 soldiers, nearly a quarter of respondents, had experienced sexually harassing behaviors in 2021. The brigade had two complaints filed during that period.

Brigade commanders interviewed used defense organizational climate surveys and command climate assessments to identify and respond to harassment concerns in their units.

However, commanders did not compare the results of those surveys and assessments with previous years responses to identify any trends or risk factors, despite being required to do so.

Many of the brigade commanders told the inspector general they did not have access to data that predated their time in command.

Army regulations require the brigade command staff to keep five years worth of survey and assessment results.

By not comparing and analyzing multiple-year reports, brigade commanders missed chances to identify systemic issues with harassment within certain units and may miss opportunities to address harassment concerns in their units, according to the report.

The report also revealed soldiers perceptions of whether their complaints would be taken seriously.

Nearly one in 10 survey respondents said they would be discouraged from moving forward with a complaint or would be blamed for causing problems for filing a sexual harassment complaint.

Research supports their suspicions.

The Pentagons Office of People Analytics found in a 2021 report that 45% of women and 44% of men in the military who filed a sexual harassment complaint were encouraged to drop the issue, according to the report.

Among the eight brigades reviewed, three brigade commanders were relieved during the two-year period analyzed by the inspector general.

One commander was court-martialed for an allegation of sexually abusive contact. Another was relieved because the commander engaged in bullying and counterproductive leadership, according to the report.

The following brigades were represented in the Pentagon report:

1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1st Cavalry Division), Fort Cavazos, Texas

3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas

166th Aviation Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas

82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

20th Engineer Brigade (Combat/Airborne), Fort Liberty, North Carolina

95th Civil Affairs Brigade, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

4th Psychological Operations Group, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

Source: Department of Defense Inspector General

By not analyzing the gap between soldiers who said they witnessed or experienced sexual harassment and those who filed complaints, the Army may not be able to identify barriers to reporting harassment, and it could lead to soldiers underreporting sexual harassment complaints based on a fear of reporting or retaliation, reads the report.

None of the eight brigades two years of assessments and surveys included questions involving bullying and hazing.

Instead, brigade command teams engaged with soldiers through counseling, physical training, unannounced visits with soldiers and weekly training meetings. Command teams said these initiatives helped address bullying and hazing.

However, the report authors note that by not including the questions on the surveys and assessments the commander had no formalized method for measuring the presence of bullying and hazing in their unit except from reported complaints.

Under current Defense Department requirements, commanders must create action plans to address problems found in the assessments and surveys. However, the inspector generals report found that 14 of 16 reports provided by brigade commanders did not develop plans to address concerns identified in the surveys with specific periods to follow up.

Also, seven of the 16 reports did not include results from subordinate unit commanders.

Inspector General Recommendations:

Brigade commanders perform historical analysis of surveys and assessments to identify trends and include battalion and company survey results in their assessments and action plans.

Military Equal Opportunity officials maintain all surveys, assessments and action plans for five years.

The Army implements a plan that ensures assessment action plans include initiatives tied to specific objectives, goals and milestones for completion and lists individuals responsible for implementing those initiatives and outlines a follow-up plan to determine if initiatives are addressing soldier-reported issues.

The Army ensures that bullying and hazing questions are included on all defense organizational climate surveys.

The Army analyzes differences in sexual harassment complaints and survey results to determine whether reporting barriers exist or if there is confusion among soldiers reporting such complaints.

The Army compares the results of their analysis to the 2022 Government Accountability Offices assessment to determine if systemic issues with the sexual harassment complaint process are present. If so, then the service should implement a plan to address those issues.

Source: Department of Defense Inspector General

The Pentagon announced that the inspector general would review harassment response and prevention in August, months after an Army Audit Agency report, Research of Soldiers Harmful Behaviors, concluded in January 2023, Army Times previously reported.

That audit followed a May 2022 Government Accountability Office report, noted in the inspector generals recent review, which recommended the Army speed up reforms of its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, or SHARP.

Officials with the Army Deputy Chief of Staff-Installations, which handles quality of life issues, told inspector general personnel that the service is updating Army Regulation 600-20, which covers overall command policy, including sexual harassment and assault response and prevention.

The service is removing the SHARP element from the regulation and will instead create three separate regulations.

Separately, those regulations will cover Army SHARP policies, command policy regulations and military equal opportunity policy, which includes the command climate assessment process.
One man launched some of Fresnos most popular restaurants. Howd he get his start?

Fresno's Restaurant Royalty is a Fresno Bee series that tells the stories of eight of the citys most prominent restaurant families. Have a tip? Email bclough@fresnobee.com.

Some of Fresnos most-well known restaurants were launched by David Fansler: Pismos Coastal Grill, Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse, Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co. and Yosemite Ranch.

While many Fresnans dont tend to know whos behind their restaurants, Fansler is one of the most familiar faces in the Fresnos restaurant world.

He and his restaurants are part of The Bees series focusing on local restaurants with several locations and often multiple generations involved that have shaped the Fresno restaurant scene.

The restaurateur was a CPA by trade, though he grew up cooking and making hamburgers and milkshakes for his aunts concessions business at Airways Golf Course starting at age 14. He also worked at LesterBurger and Chart House restaurant, waiting tables and cooking.

As an adult, Fansler was briefly involved in a deal with owner Bob Farrar to buy The Refectory, a steakhouse at Blackstone and Shaw avenues. At the time, Fanslers father, Paul, was involved in Piccadilly hotels in Fresno, including what is now the Piccadilly Inn Airport.

He said, Since you think youre a restaurant person, why dont you and Bob Farrar do this deal, too? Fansler recalled his dad saying.

So he traded The Refectory shares and launched his first restaurant of his own: The Steak & Anchor, which still exists under different ownership.

Restaurateur David Fansler at his Pismos Coastal Grill location in north Fresnos Villagio shopping center in a 2020 file photo. Fansler owns PIsmos, Westwoods BBQ and Yosemite Ranch. He also founded Tahoe Joes. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA/ezamora@fresnobee.com

Fansler went on to found Wilikers Bar and Grill at Cedar and Shaw avenues in the early 1990s. The booming restaurant and after-hours party spot had issues with law enforcement and had its liquor license suspended.

Fed up with the troubles, he sold it and opened the first Sierra-themed Tahoe Joes in 1995 near Shaw and Marks avenues. It had the same menu as Wilikers, but a different vibe.

He would go on to open eight more Tahoe Joes before selling the chain to the owner of HomeTown Buffet.

In 2003, Fansler pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns and committing bank fraud in connection with failing to report about $270,000 in income from cover charges at Wilikers. He was sentenced to five months in prison and another five months in a halfway house.

Despite that, he would open Yosemite Ranch, Pismos and Westwoods in the following years, all founded with various partners.

A repeat recipient of the California Restaurant Associations restaurateur of the year award, Fansler doesnt shy away from the spotlight.

He publicly moaned about Chick-fil-As long drive-thru lines tangling parking at Westwoods at Blackstone and Nees avenues.

He made headlines during COVID-19 for keeping Pismos open despite state orders to close its dining room, saying its large windows made it an open air restaurant. He later sued the city for selective enforcement of dining rules. The lawsuit was settled confidentially.

Another lawsuit against the city regarding rezoning of an empty property near Pismos was dismissed.

But theres no doubt that Fanslers restaurants have succeeded and shaped the Fresno restaurant scene. His businesses now employ 350 people.

Today, Fansler is investing in his buddys project, Sams Deli, which plans to open a second location in north Fresno.

His next step? Maybe creating a new restaurant and letting someone else run it  particularly at the property he owns just west of Pismos.

Theres always room for a great restaurant, he said. People will flock to great food.

Pismos Coastal Grill is one of Fresnos busiest restaurants. Its owned by restaurateur David Fansler. Fresno Bee file

The Tahoe Joes restaurant at Shaw and Marks in Fresno has closed. CRAIG KOHLRUSS/ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

Tahoe Joes founder David Fansler is pictured in one of the restaurants he opened and later sold, in this picture from 2002. The original Tahoe Joes restaurant on Shaw Avenue has closed. File photo/Fresno Bee

Westwoods BBQ & Spice Company opened in the former Claim Jumper spot in north Fresno. HDO/WESTWOODS BBQ & SPICE CO.
One person dead in Stewart County shooting, investigation underway

LUMPKIN, Ga. (WRBL)  An investigation is underway in a small town south of Columbus.

According to the Lumpkin Police Department, one person died in a shooting on Main Street in Lumpkin, Georgia.

There is no further information at this time. WRBL will keep you updated.

Lumpkin is a Stewart County town about 40 minutes away from Columbus with a population of approximately 900 people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
An Arizona grand jury handed up an indictment Wednesday that accuses 18 people of crimes related to the attempt to throw the 2020 presidential election for former President Donald Trump. The list of defendants includes not only the 11 Arizonans who were appointed as fake electors in that state but also lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Christina Bobb, members of the Trump campaigns inner circle.

Even though Trump isnt directly named in the indictment, appearing only as unindicted co-conspirator 1, the timing couldnt be worse for him. The Arizona charges were unsealed the day before the former presidents lawyers appeared before the Supreme Court to claim that his actions in the aftermath of the election were all official and, thus, are covered by a blanket presidential immunity. But the Arizona indictments serve as an important reminder that Trumps actions after the 2020 election werent a mere byproduct of Trumps serving as president. Instead, Trump was allegedly the head of a criminal enterprise, as the indictment in Georgia calls it, and his efforts cant be handwaved away as just part of the job.

The charges that Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sought and the grand jury handed up focus on one facet of the broader scheme that a Washington grand jury, at the request of special counsel Jack Smith, said existed in a 2023 federal indictment. As part of the attempt to throw the elections results into doubt, according to that federal indictment, Republicans in several swing states that Joe Biden won cast fraudulent Electoral College votes declaring Trump the winner.

Fake electors cast ballots in seven states, and Arizona is the last of the seven to conclude their investigations into the scheme. Three of the states fake electors are co-defendants with Trump in a sprawling conspiracy case in Georgia. State prosecutors in Michigan and Nevada have charged people accused of being fake electors, as well. (The Wisconsin investigation is ongoing, but many of the participants there have admit to their roles to settle a civil suit.) Only prosecutors in Pennsylvania and New Mexico declined to bring charges. Theyve noted that the participants there insisted their certificates included language making it clear that they were truly contingencies and not real Electoral College votes.

At the time, the public claim from the Trump campaign was that those alternate slates of electors were merely backups in case a court ruled Trump had won those states. But as the Arizona grand jury found, there was a clear belief among those charged that the real reason to produce the fake electoral certificates was to turn Trumps false claims of election fraud into a vehicle for him to remain in office.

Thursdays Supreme Court oral arguments took place against that backdrop. Arguing for Trump, D. John Sauer claimed that hidden in the Constitution is total immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents after they leave office for their official acts. His argument depends on an extremely broad interpretation of the Supreme Courts 1982 Nixon v. Fitzgerald ruling, which found that presidents possess immunity from civil suits brought in response to their decisions, even those taken on the outer perimeter of their official capacity.

Its an argument that should carry little weight given how clearly even those of Trumps actions he took as an officeholder, rather than an office seeker, were undertaken for a personal aim. Speaking with the vice president or making calls about election integrity to the Arizona Legislature might be things a president could be expected to do, but not as part of a scheme to overturn the will of American voters. Despite that, conservative justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch appeared extremely willing to entertain Sauers arguments and look beyond the facts of the current case to imagine a hypothetical dystopian future in which all presidents are paralyzed for fear of criminal prosecution once they leave office.

Fortunately, Smith prepared for such a possibility. In his brief, he argued that even if the court does find that some form of immunity exists for official acts, enough unofficial conduct was still built into the indictment that the case should still be able to proceed immediately to trial. When Justice Amy Coney Barrett addressed Smiths brief, Sauer was forced to admit that several of those things that the special counsel listed are, in fact, private acts. Take, for example, Trumps employing private lawyers (Giuliani included) to spread false rumors about the election results and proceed with the fake electors plot.

As Justice Ketanji Jackson Brown pointed out, the hair-splitting about what counts as an official act goes beyond what Trump has requested, which is a ruling on whether an absolute immunity from criminal prosecution exists. Anything more than that question, which should quickly be answered in the negative, is just another way to delay his trial.

It appeared unlikely, though, that the justices will issue a swift decision, despite the clear out that Smith has given them to split the difference and allow the trial to proceed. As eager as some of the conservative justices were to ignore the facts of the case, the unsealing of the charges in Arizona on Wednesday is a reminder to everybody paying attention that there was a real attempt, which involved the president of the United States, to overturn the results of an American election. The Supreme Court would do well to focus on the immediacy of the present rather than hide behind hypotheticals.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Editors Note: Terri Gerstein is the director of the NYU Wagner Labor Initiative at the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

What do a pediatrician, a bartender whos being sexually harassed, a former intern for an electrical engineering firm and an asphalt company salesperson have in common? They are among the members of the public who submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging it to ban noncompete provisions in employment contracts.

These workers are based in widely diverging fields and regions, from Boston and Baltimore to Michigan and Appalachia. But they all found their careers upended because their employers subjected them to noncompete provisions, which prevent workers from getting a job with their current employers rivals for a significant period (usually from six months to two years). According to the FTC, an estimated 18% of US workers (around 30 million people) are restricted by noncompetes.

Terri Gerstein - courtesy Terri Gerstein

In response to these workers stories, as well as to overwhelming economic evidence, the FTC took decisive action earlier this week, voting in favor of a rule to ban nearly all noncompetes scheduled to take effect in August. Unfortunately, business groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce have already filed lawsuits challenging the rule.

The FTC rule will bring powerful benefits to workers and the economy. And given its solid foundation in law and evidence, courts should uphold it: The FTC has statutory authority to regulate unfair methods of competition, and hard data from scholars and countless individual testimonies demonstrate noncompetes damage to fair market competition and to peoples lives. But given the number of Trump-appointed judges in the federal judiciary combined with the anti-worker, anti-regulation stance of the Supreme Court, the rules long term prospects are far from certain.

Nonetheless, the FTCs action is a watershed moment, whatever happens in court. It establishes a clear, incontrovertible record about why noncompetes are so harmful: They prevent workers from moving to a new job in their field and geographic area, leaving workers only bad options  stop working altogether, leave their field, move to a new region or stay stuck. Noncompetes also suppress wages and job mobility and except for the very highest earners, virtually no one has the ability to negotiate over noncompetes; theyre almost always a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.

The FTCs rule also creates a resounding national norm about how workers should be treated: They shouldnt be trapped in a job they want to leave. And the rule creates an understanding about how innovation can flourish, by allowing would-be entrepreneurs to create new products and businesses instead of being obstructed by an existing boss. In light of ongoing litigation against the FTC rule, Congress and state legislatures should take the baton and pass their own prohibitions on noncompete provisions.

My interest in noncompetes began when I led the New York State Attorney Generals Offices labor team. Our focus was on the affected workers, but over time, Ive also come to understand noncompetes negative impact on the broader economy.

A torrent of research over the past decade has shed light on just that. Heres what economists found: Noncompetes thwart innovation and entrepreneurship, preventing the creation of new firms. A worker with a great idea for a new company or product cant just leave to start their own business. One study found that in states where noncompetes are fully allowed, fewer patents are issued. Another found that employers dont even value noncompetes that much: Washington state businesses were not willing to raise workers pay even by a few thousand dollars to be able to impose noncompetes on them. (And there are far less restrictive ways for businesses to protect their trade secrets.)

The FTC considered these studies, along with other extensive economic research, in deciding upon their rule. The agency also reviewed thousands of public comments they received about the rule: Of over 26,000 comments, over 25,000 supported the Commissions proposal. The FTC also responded to valid concerns raised in the comment process. For example, the final rule wisely includes stay-or-pay contract terms, like Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) that require workers to pay their employer money in order to leave a job; these sneaky traps function like noncompetes and would have obviated the new protections for many workers.

The FTC rule provides a model of evidence-based rulemaking in the public interest. Unfortunately, that may not be enough to save it from a 6-3 Supreme Court decision. The current majority has a history of decisions that are fiercely hostile both to workers and to the notion that government agencies should play an active role in regulating corporate conduct.

Regardless of what happens with the Supreme Court, this rule is seismic. The evidence it has amassed provides an unusually strong and extensive basis for legislation. For several years, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana have co-sponsored bi-partisan legislation to ban virtually all noncompetes, and a growing number of states have also taken action. Meanwhile, policies at the state level do not fall out on partisan lines  California, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma all have noncompete bans.

The likelihood of extended litigation about the FTC rule and uncertainty about a final outcome underscore the urgency of federal and state legislation on this issue. Given the evidence about innovation and new firm formation, states that dont curb noncompetes risk not only harming their constituents, but also being left behind.

Finally, enforcement is essential; otherwise, some unscrupulous employers will likely still include banned noncompetes in workers contracts. This would allow them to benefit from a chilling effect: Many employees will assume that lawyerly-looking employment contracts are valid and wont look for new jobs for fear of being sued.

Whether via the FTC rule or through legislation, curbing noncompetes is urgently needed. The drive to pursue new opportunities is deeply embedded in our countrys history and ethic. The pediatrician, bartender, electrical engineering intern and asphalt company salesperson deserve the ability to advance in their careers, and their current employers should have no right to stop them.

A previous version of this article misstated the states that have full noncompete bans.

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On a recent Saturday, a couple of hours before my wife and I took our youngest son on his weekly trip to our public library in Durham, North Carolina  an outing we all love someone threatened to blow up the place. A neighbor told us later that she knew something was wrong when police cars pulled up with flashing lights. Officers entered the front doors, spoke to the manager briefly, then cleared the building, which remained closed for the rest of the weekend. According to news reports, the threat was in response to a planned Rainbow Story Hour, featuring a book by an LGBTQ author. I guess they dont realize its a public library, our neighbor reflected as we stood in her front yard. We serve everybody.

I am a Baptist preacher from the South. For my whole life, a reactionary political movement in the United States has tried to weaponize my Christian faith in the name of traditional values. This movement has been called various things, from the religious right to Christian nationalism, but it has always been a cynical ploy by monied interests to pit neighbors against one another for political gain. Though the movement has never represented a majority of Christians in America, it has targeted for recruitment white Christian communities in the South. Today, its radicalism threatens to blow up our public life.

A new documentary film, Bad Faith, which is being released on multiple streaming platforms Friday and in which I appear, tells the story of how this radical anti-democratic movement took over the Republican Party and aims to undermine the basic structures of government in the United States. I can say with confidence, as someone who has studied and taught the Bible, that the fear of LGBTQ people that leads someone to send a bomb threat to a public library isnt a biblical value. It is a wedge issue cultivated by people who misuse the Bible for political gain. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. This movement tells us we may have to kill some of them.

According to data from the Public Religion Research Institute, white evangelical Christians  the demographic most directly in the cross-hairs of this movement  are notably more likely to agree with the statement that true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country. As my neighbor and I know, a public library, like any public good, is something to be shared by all people, whatever their beliefs. But not so for adherents of this radical movement: If a public good doesnt line up with their personal convictions, however manufactured by mass-produced messaging campaigns those values may be, they would rather shut it down for everyone. In this way, leaders of the far-right Christian movement are not unlike the white people of the South who tried to resist desegregation by closing the public schools, draining the public swimming pools and closing the parks that federal law insisted all people had a right to enjoy. We ought not forget, those people, too, thought God was on their side.

For one Saturday, at least, this movement was successful in shutting down our public library. So my family decided to have our own story-time at home. I told my son the somewhat troubling story from the book of Genesis, when God gets so angry that God decides to blow up the earth  not with a bomb, but with the waters from above and the waters from beneath that God had lovingly held back in order to make space for all life. At the end of that story, after Noah, his family and a small zoo of animals survive the Great Flood in an ark, the Bible says something striking. God makes a covenant with all flesh to never destroy the earth again. The sign of the promise that God will bear with all flesh  not just my people or your people, but all people  is a rainbow.

As someone who believes that we are, all of us, created in Gods image, I told my son that I think that story is in the Bible to remind us that anger can get the best of any of us. I dont know who made the bomb threat that shut down our library, but my guess is that Ive known people like them. People who are afraid. People whove been lied to. People whove lied to themselves. People who think the things they love most depend on taking a stand and fighting for their values. Those people may want to blow everything up in Gods name, but the Bible doesnt give them permission. Instead, it gives us a rainbow sign as a reminder of Gods promise to bear with all flesh until creations breaches are repaired and the wounds that divide us are healed.

Turns out Rainbow Story Time may be something a lot of white Christians in America need to hear.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
In May 2020, Teliah Perkins was sitting on her front porch enjoying the end-of-spring sun in St. Tammany Parish, a suburb across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. She was approached by two deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office who said they were responding to a report that shed been driving a dirt bike recklessly and without a helmet. Their accusation quickly turned into a confrontation. Perkins, a Black woman, was thrown to the ground by the two white officers who forced their body weight on her as she pleaded, Why are you choking me?

When Perkins 14-year-old son came outside and began recording what he saw, officers threatened him with a Taser. When her son said they couldnt use a Taser on a child, one of them responded, Watch me. The officer didnt use the stun gun on the teenager, but he did shove him out of the way and tried to block the boys view.

If conservative lawmakers in Louisiana get their way, then someone in the teenagers situation could no longer legally do what he did four years ago: stand nearby and watch the police arrest a loved one. In the latest example of an alarming trend thats spreading across the country, conservatives have proposed a bill that would make it illegal to stand, film or do anything within 25 feet of a police officer conducting official duties after an officer has ordered so. Alarmingly, three states have already passed such legislation. The Louisiana House approved the measure with a vote of 81-20 this month, and it will soon be heard by a state Senate committee.

Not only did the protests that followed a Minneapolis police officer murdering George Floyd not lead to meaningful police reform, but theres been an awful move in the opposite direction. Were seeing conservatives succeed in making the police officers even less accountable to the public than theyve already been.

According to the ACLU's Louisiana police violence database, between January 1st, 2013, and March 25th, 2024, 119 out of 134 months had at least one police killing. In other words, in 11 years in Louisiana, there have only been 15 months in which someone working in law enforcement didnt kill someone. The courts have long held that the First Amendment ensures our right to witness and record things that happen in public, especially things involving government officials. But with this proposed law, Louisiana is joining the ranks of several states attempting to curtail that First Amendment right by making it more difficult not just to record, but even to witness what the police are doing. Arizona, Indiana and Florida passed bills similar to the one Louisiana lawmakers are now considering.

According to the Arizona Mirror, Arizonas law, which made it illegal to create a video recording of a police within eight feet of law enforcement activity, was blocked permanently through a settlement agreement between media organizations and civil rights advocates and the states attorney general. Indianas law was upheld by a federal judge in January. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Floridas 25-foot bill into law two weeks ago. It takes effect in January.

One of the few defenses we as civilians have against police misconduct is the right to independently witness and record the police in action. If laws such as these had existed in Minnesota in 2020, there might never have been footage from a passerby who saw and recorded Minneapolis police murdering George Floyd. The Minneapolis Police Department could have kept saying Floyd died in a medical incident.

Far too often, everyday people are the ones who help bring about justice and accountability in encounters with police  and if not always accountability, then at least attention. We have the First Amendment right to observe the police, to record them whenever we see fit, but especially when we suspect that someones constitutional rights are being violated.

Perkins ultimately was arrested on two felony charges of resisting an officer and battery against an officer, as well as two misdemeanor traffic violations. All the felony charges and traffic charges were dropped, and she was found guilty of a single misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. After the arrest, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana represented Perkins in a lawsuit against St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office for excessive force and violating her sons First Amendment rights. The court sided with the sheriffs office on finding that excessive force did not happen, but said the First Amendment case could move forward. On Monday, a jury trial to decide whether her sons First Amendment rights were violated will begin.

A troublesome feature of the proposed law is that it gives police yet another excuse to harass innocent people and to escalate their encounters with the public. Theres nothing in the bill that provides standards for when an order to stop observing should be given and how to determine whether a violation has occurred. Leaving those decisions up to the officers arbitrary whims will, inevitably in this state, lead to Black people facing disproportionate enforcement. Its already true, as the ACLU determined in a civil suit, that in St. Tammany Parish, where Perkins lives, Black residents are 250% more likely than white residents to get pulled over by the St. Tammany Parishs Sheriffs Office. That statistic illustrates that the department needs more observation, not less.

There are other problems, too. How will officers enforce a no-standing-withing-25-feet during a protest environment? How will officers know where the 25-foot line is? Will they carry a tape measure? What if an officer moves toward someone observing them, thus shortening the distance themselves? Will that person then be subject to arrest?

Many of the flags decorating the Capitol for @JeffLandry's inauguration are "Back the Blue" flags, which became popular among law enforcement after police brutality cases started getting attention. #lalege #lagov pic.twitter.com/LNLE4NXvQN  Julie O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) January 7, 2024

As its written, this law allows officers to answer these questions for themselves. This law is a blatant rebuke of our First Amendment right to know whats happening on our streets and with our tax dollars. Most dangerously, this law gives officers the justification to use force to stop someone from observing or recording.

More likely than not, this bill will pass in Louisiana. Republicans have a supermajority in the Louisiana Legislature, and dozens of so-called Thin Blue Line flags were used to decorate the grounds of the Louisiana Capitol for the January inauguration of Gov. Jeff Landry, who appears to be against government transparency more generally. Our last hope is that courts will strike it down as unconstitutional. Not even conservative justices should be in favor of giving such power to the police state.

Laws such as these are an indication that conservative lawmakers across the country are took the wrong message from police murdering George Floyd. They should be focused on creating laws that mandate the wearing of body cams, prohibit chokeholds and allow abusive police to be sued. Instead, they seem less concerned with preventing another crime like the one that killed Floyd and more concerned with making sure a passerby cant clearly witness such a crime.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Attendees raise their credentials to vote during the Utah Republican Party Organizing Convention at Utah Valley University in Orem on April 22, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

State party conventions will be held this Saturday. Election dynamics make the Republican gathering historic and impactful, and it will illustrate the positives and negatives of the current nomination process. Since your columnists have been engaged observers of this unique American activity for half a century, we offer our perspectives.

A large percentage of federal and state candidates in competitive contests have secured placement on the primary ballot through the signature gathering option. They do this while still professing affection for delegates and conventions. How is this relatively new avenue of political access (first implemented in 2014) evolving and is it here to stay?

Pignanelli: Gathering signatures is more than an insurance policy. Its definitely a strategy.  Becki Wright, CEO Proximity, Hinckley Report. New telephone area codes, limitations on sharing streaming services and reservations to visit recreation areas are examples of the many lifestyles changes we today endure because of ongoing societal developments. Similarly, signature gathering is now a permanent feature of Utahs elections that reflects such alterations to our daily routines.

Although expensive, collecting signatures guarantees placement on the primary ballot. Equally important, this action has evolved into a multifaceted tool by campaigns to ensure contention in the primary and force lesser financed competitors to expend resources. Contemporarily, convention battles have increased in costs, thereby diminishing any advantages to this process. Thus, to rely solely on the fickle attitudes of delegates is an unreliable tactic.

The inability to share your Netflix password with friends, and the hassle of collecting signatures, are now fixed inconveniences.

Webb: When I was a newspaper reporter decades ago, I attended and wrote about many party caucuses and county, state and national conventions. After leaving journalism, I helped candidates prepare for these critical election milestones, and I also served many times as a county and state delegate.

So I have a fondness for the caucus/convention process. Gathering at a local school with neighbors to discuss politics and important issues is an excellent exercise in grassroots democracy. It remains a valid path to get on the primary election ballot.

I like party activists. I respect people who are passionate about politics and show up at every political event. But I dont think they, alone, should get to decide who appears on the primary ballot. More casual party members also need a voice in the nominating process. Thats why I was involved in the Count My Vote effort that produced the hybrid system we have today, enabling candidates to seek a spot on the primary ballot via the caucus/convention system, or by gathering signatures, or by using both paths.

The fact is that caucuses and conventions are not representative of the voting public. Plenty of old, white, males (like me) participate. But women, minorities and young people are vastly underrepresented, but still want and deserve a role in the process.

Candidates have embraced signature gathering to secure a ballot position. The dual-path system is working well. We need to keep it.

The 2024 election is massively important for Utah Republicans. It features key open state and federal seats and a crucial presidential race. Despite these incentives for involvement, turnout was low at the Super Tuesday March 5 precinct caucuses to select delegates and vote a presidential preference. Is this a message that most Republicans have lost interest in the caucus/convention system?

Pignanelli: A solid rule of our culture is that Americans express their preferences for consumer products, services and community activities through purchases or attendance. Utahns have signaled little interest in spending time, especially on a beautiful Saturday, listening to activists debate minutia. Further, conventions are plagued with inefficiencies caused by longtime problems party officials inherited.

How we interact with our family, health care professionals, work colleagues, etc. changed dramatically in the last 20 years. So, even the most engaged citizens prefer a similar, and easier, route of political involvement. In other words, they choose the comfort of wearing fuzzy slippers and a robe while at home to complete the ballot that has been sitting on the kitchen counter for weeks.

Webb: Precinct caucuses dont fit busy modern lifestyles. I wish more people would attend and vote for convention delegates, but caucus participation, as a percentage of party voters, is going to continue to decline.

As Utahs nomination process changes, is there ever a possibility of a nonpartisan blanket primary (a.k.a. jungle primary) where all candidates filed for the same office compete against each other for the top two spots for the general election?

Pignanelli: Utah leaders are expressing concern for deep primary fields. They are understandably uncomfortable with a candidate representing the party with a victory in the primary of less than 35% of the vote. So various options will be reviewed in the future.

Webb: The California-style jungle primary is not likely to happen in my lifetime. There are pros and cons to that system, but I doubt the Legislature has any interest in such a radical change.

Republican LaVarr Webb is a former journalist and a semi-retired small farmer and political consultant. Email:lwebb@exoro.com. Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser who served as a Democrat in the Utah state Legislature. Email: frankp@xmission.com.
Donald Trump's corruption of the United States has become so deeply rooted that he was controlling puppets on the Supreme Court while facing a criminal jury 200 miles away. (Jeenah Moon / Pool via Getty Images)

I have badly underestimated Donald Trump. Thursday was the day that his justices  it turns out that they are indeed his justices on the Supreme Court, just as he claimed  got it through my thick head: Trump is not just competent but masterful. He is not just capable, he is supreme.

Because Trump is clumsy at his alleged crimes, surrounding himself with flagrant thugs, telling obvious lies, leaving prolific trails of damning evidence, offering ridiculous defenses for indefensible conduct, I had long concluded that he is incompetent at crookery along with his other manifest failings. Thats true as far as it goes. But for all his mad greed and compulsive lawlessness, for all his sleaze and stupidity, crime is ultimately not Trumps game. Trump is nothing like a master criminal. But he is a master of something far more sinister and complex: corruption.

Read more: Litman: Will Trump be tried for Jan. 6? After Supreme Court arguments, it's more uncertain than ever

Crime is a largely private endeavor. Corruption is public. It seeps into the muscle and sinew of democratic society and institutions; it devours from within. The Supreme Court, drunk on arrogated power, cut loose from rudimentary ethics , has been eaten alive by it. But the court is just one plot of a vast terrain that Trump has conquered  not with crime, but corruption.

Crime is when you launch a violent attempt to overthrow the republic. Corruption is when you convince an entire political party to pretend they didnt watch it live on television, or cower from it inside the Capitol while dozens of police officers were being bludgeoned by the mob.

Read more: Opinion: Why Trumps Christian base will bet on him even if he goes wobbly on abortion

Crime is when you make off with top-secret documents. Corruption is when a MAGA judge cant find time to schedule your trial, or process the mountainous evidence of your guilt.

Crime is when a U.S. resident is murdered and dismembered by Saudi hit men. Corruption is when the all but acknowledged killer invests $2 billion in your talentless son-in-laws fund, which other investors shun .

Crime is when you fake business expenses to cover up a payoff to an adult film actress who wants to cash in on your campaign for president. Corruption is when the head of the nations greasiest tabloid, a perpetual fount of lies and nonsense, expresses concern that your deeds are too sleazy for him.

Crime is when your lawyers tell the Senate not to convict you in an impeachment trial because you can be charged in court. Corruption is when your lawyers inform the Supreme Court that you are immune from criminal courts and only the Senate can judge you  but, alas, the senators have missed their window.

Trump has already succeeded at corrupting much of whats corruptible. Government. Elections. Foreign policy. Democracy. Religion. Above all, people, and mostly men. Truckloads, boatloads, tiki-torch-parade-loads, courtloads of weak men all standing in the shadow that Trump casts.

The Republican Party has been corrupted absolutely. House Republicans have combined McCarthyism with Larry, Moe and Curlyism to twist Congress to comically corrupt ends  all to serve the greater degeneracy of Trump. In the Senate, the young hyenas, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), study Trumps demagogy and lick their chops, hoping for a turn at democracys carcass.

The establishment has utterly caved. Former Atty. Gen. William Barrs endorsement of Trump this week, after having called Trump unfit, a psychologically damaged incompetent who cares only about himself, was barely newsworthy. What is Barr but another in the long line of weak men, one more debased Republican offering fealty to the grease king? Trump thanked Barr by humiliating him again.

But it was the Republican Supreme Court  mostly men again  that put the shiv a little deeper in democracys back this week. Originalists or textualists, all sounded more or less Trumpist as they seriously entertained Trumps argument that his assaults on the constitutional order are protected by the Constitution itself. There is no way to make honest sense of such a liars mash. But Larry, Moe and Curly arent just chairing committees in Congress. They wear robes and furrowed brows now, too. And they seem eager to pretend that crimes are just constitutional exercises of power, and that one ex-president is a king.

Richard Nixon, a self-made, and self-corrupted, man who studied geopolitics and government assiduously, never achieved such a broad subjugation of American values and institutions. Trump, the ignorant, ner-do-well heir to his fathers crooked fortune, has achieved so much more. Trump hasnt just captured the trenches of conservative America, he has taken the commanding heights. He owns all of it, from the most racist backwater saloon to the Federalist Society clubhouse. They are his corrupted subjects. He is their corrupt and demented king. If he can somehow get through the next few perilous months, he may yet render corruption sacred, and the republic irredeemable.

Francis Wilkinson is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. @fdwilkinson

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
HANOI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on Friday accepted the resignation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue upon his personal request, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Hue will also leave his position as a member of the Politburo, according to a decision announced at a CPV Central Committee meeting.

Fully aware of his responsibilities towards the party, the state and the people, Hue submitted a request to cease holding all his posts and to stop working, said a statement released after the meeting.

The statement said that recent reports by the CPV Central Committee's Inspection Commission and other relevant authorities showed that Hue has violated party regulations. His violations and shortcomings have sparked negative public opinion and affected the reputation of the party, the state and himself.

Hue, 67, became the chairman of the National Assembly in March 2021. 
Editors Note: Steve Vladeck is a CNN legal analyst and a professor at the University of Texas School of Law. He is the author of the One First Supreme Court newsletter. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN.

Throughout Thursdays marathon oral argument in Trump v. United States, which lasted more than two and a half hours, most of the US Supreme Courts nine justices provided at least some clue as to how theyre likely to rule on whether the January 6 criminal prosecution against former President Donald Trump can go forward. (Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to this case.)

Stephen I. Vladeck - Courtesy of University of Texas School of Law

At its core, the question in the Trump case is relatively straightforward: Can Trump be criminally prosecuted for his alleged role in the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021? Lower courts resoundingly said yeswithout getting into the harder question of whether theres ever a circumstance in which criminal laws cant be applied to actions by a president. The Supreme Court could have ducked that question too, either by not taking up Trumps appeal in the first place, or by holding that, whether or not there is ever a case in which a president is immune from criminal prosecution, the January 6 prosecution against Trump can proceed.

Four of the justices  Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh  expressed support for different arguments that would each pose serious (if not fatal) obstacles to the closely watched criminal case. Four of the justices  Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson  seemed to support a ruling that would allow most, if not all, of the charges in the January 6 case to go forward. If that holds, the fate of the January 6 prosecution likely rests in the hands of the justice who spoke first and last on Thursday, but who did the least to reveal his views: Chief Justice John Roberts. And he has quite a mess in front of him.

It became clear early in Thursdays argument that there was little support across the bench for a narrow ruling that would be good for only this case. As Gorsuch put it at one point, the court needs to articulate a rule for the ages. Never mind that weve never had a criminal indictment of a former president before; the concern seems to be about the need to articulate a forward-looking rule so that future presidents will know when they should be worried about future criminal prosecution, and when they shouldnt. Once the court articulates that rule, presumably, it would send Trumps case back to the district court  where Judge Tanya Chutkan would be expected to apply it before proceeding to trial.

All of this may sound plausible enough in the abstract. But there are two complications, both of which paint the chief justice into a pretty tight corner.

First, where exactly is the line between acts that are immune from prosecution and those that arent? One of the few colloquies during Thursdays argument that featured the chief justice included his effort to underscore this problemand how the same acts might fall on one side of the line or the other depending upon the presidents motive or other idiosyncrasies of a specific case.

Second, even if five or more justices ultimately agree on where the line ought to be, how long will it take them to get there? If the court doesnt hand down a ruling until late June or even early July, that may have the effect of practically immunizing Trump even if the majority holds that he can stand trial. Thats because there may not be enough time for the trial to be held before the election, and theres no way the trial would happen in a world in which Trump wins.

Whatever else might be said about Roberts, he is not oblivious to this maelstrom of legal and political considerations. And he knows, as well as anyone, that many of the Supreme Courts most celebrated decisions historically have come in rulings by chief justices. It was Chief Justice Earl Warren who wrote for a unanimous court in the biggest civil rights cases  not just Brown v. Board of Education, but Cooper v. Aaron, Loving v. Virginia and a host of others. It was Chief Justice Warren Burger who wrote for a unanimous Court in the Watergate tapes cases  in which the court held that President Richard Nixon, who had appointed Burger, had to turn over the Watergate tapes notwithstanding executive privilege, a ruling that led directly to Nixons resignation.

And it was Chief Justice William Rehnquist who wrote for the court in a technical but essential 2000 ruling reaffirming that only the court, and not Congress, could overrule Miranda v. Arizona  even though Rehnquist himself abhorred that ruling, which mandated that a suspect must be advised of their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present in order for that suspects confession to be used in court.

Of course, that could also work out poorly  as in Dred Scott v. Sandford, the infamous 1857 ruling in which Chief Justice Roger B. Taney effectively held that enslaved people were not and never could become citizens, further helping to set the stage for the Civil War. But for better or worse, in all of these cases, the chief justice wasnt just speaking for the court. He was speaking for the country.

For Roberts, the question is whether theres any way to actually do that in this case  whether there is some way to make it possible for Trumps trial to proceed before the election (so that the court isnt accused of effectively taking the former presidents side) in an opinion that sets out a clear, forward-looking standard to govern this and future cases. We may not know the answer to that question for another two months. But the one thing that seems most clear coming out of Thursdays argument is that the answer  and the broader legacy of the Roberts court  will ultimately be up to him.

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Editors Note: Fareed Zakaria is the host of Fareed Zakaria GPS, airing at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Sundays on CNN. Follow Fareed on X and read news, analysis, and insights from Fareed and his team in the daily CNN newsletter Fareeds Global Briefing. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more CNN Opinion.

Its difficult to know what to make of the turmoil on college campuses these days  the protests, polarization, intimidation and general bitterness. In a revealing article in The Wall Street Journal, higher education reporter Douglas Belkin sets these events against a broader backdrop: the disappearance of a sense of community. He points to research demonstrating that College students today are lonelier, less resilient and more disengaged than their predecessors  The university communities they populate are socially fragmented, diminished and less vibrant.

One wonders whether this loss of community has led to more distrust, sharper disagreements and more anger. People are encountering one another at these protests often for the first time, often as strangers.

The college campus I went to decades ago was full of political disagreements. It was the time of Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, the nuclear freeze movement and divestment from South Africa. Tents and a shantytown were built on the plaza outside the presidents office. But we also had long and soul-searching debates about the issues.

In every group I was in, at class or in extracurricular organizations, people disagreed about the issues but did so seriously, listening to others and engaging in what was mostly civil discourse. (Though its easy to romanticize the past. When Reagans defense secretary, Caspar Weinberger, came to speak, student protesters repeatedly tried to disrupt his speech. But the vast majority in the room  most of whom almost certainly disagreed with Weinberger  booed the protesters.)

When I went to Yale, it was a place with overflowing classrooms and meeting halls, keg parties, debates, plays and sporting events always well-attended  which all made for a rich community. Many of my best friends today are people I met in those packed rooms four decades ago.

Ive returned to my campus several times since then, and for many years it felt very much the same place I had been to all those years ago. But over the last decade, campus life has seemed thinner. And then came Covid, which like a neutron bomb decimated community life on campus while leaving all the beautiful buildings intact.

In his essay, Belkin quotes a former residential assistant at another college whose job it was to help socialize the freshmen. Many wouldnt leave their rooms even for dorm meetings, asking over text if they could video chat instead. I was literally across the hall, the bewildered RA said. An official at another university suggested, This may be the new normal, there may be no real return to the past.

While the pandemic might have been the great accelerator, the decline of social capital  the bonds that sustain communities  has been a theme of scholarly work for decades now. The seminal work on this topic was a 1995 essay by Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam (later expanded into a book), Bowling Alone. The title draws on data that showed that more Americans were bowling but fewer and fewer were bowling in leagues.

Putnam follows the decline of social groups and tries to pinpoint causes. The single most consistent predictor, he presciently observed, was television. Technology and the internet have allowed people to make leisure a private rather than communal activity.

It goes beyond college campuses. In my book, Age of Revolutions, I point out that what has really caused alienation in America, even when incomes have stayed steady or risen, has been the collapse of community in small town America: The mom-and-pop store? Gone, unable to compete with Amazon. The corner arcade? Displaced by online gaming. The local movie theater? Run out of town by Netflix. Churches, where so many Americans gathered every Sunday, are increasingly empty.

The big metro centers to which everyone has flocked do have communities, but they are communities largely shaped by our jobs. Journalist Nicholas Lemann once noted that he had lived in five American cities: Washington, New Orleans, Austin, Cambridge and Pelham, New York. According to him, the two most deficient in the Putnam virtues  essentially lacking in social capital  were Cambridge and Washington.

The reason, as he put it, is that these places are the big time. Work absorbs all the energy  Community is defined functionally, not spatially: its a professional peer group rather than a neighborhood. And its natural to wonder whether this sense of community is tenuous  that, if you lose your job, your membership in the community is revoked along with it.

College campuses today are still exciting places. They are full of smart, well-meaning students, extraordinary professors and all kinds of educational and extracurricular opportunities. But they have weakened as actual communities, where people mingle, interact and get to know and trust each other. And in this sense, campuses today are not that different from the broader American society of which they are a reflection.

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Peter Magyar, a former insider within Orban's ruling Fidesz party speaks during a protest outside the Hungarian Interior Ministry building to demand stronger protections for children and Interior minister Sandor Pinter to step down, in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, April 26, 2024. The demonstration was the latest in a series of large anti-government protests that Magyar has mobilized in recent weeks, and comes as the political newcomer is campaigning for EU elections this June with his new party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA). (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  An aspiring challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban renewed his calls for change Friday as he led a protest of several thousand people demanding a more robust child protection system and the resignation of Orban's government.

The demonstrators gathered outside Hungary's Interior Ministry in Budapest and called for its head, Sandor Pinter, to step down over what they see as his failure to prevent the sexual abuse of children in state-run institutions, a crime which has led to political upheaval in Hungary in recent months.

Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer who has emerged as a new voice of opposition to Hungary's right-wing government, took aim at Orban's portrayal of himself as a defender of families and traditional values, and called for genuine reforms to address child welfare.

We have a government that claims to be family friendly. It is a government that pretends to be Christian. A government that lies about being child-friendly. A government that lies about being pro-peace," Magyar told the crowd. The opposite is true. They lie in the morning, they lie at night, they lie everywhere they can.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of large anti-government protests that Magyar has mobilized in recent weeks, and comes as the political newcomer is campaigning for European Union elections this June with his new party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA). He has called for Orban and his government to step down, and vowed to represent a third option for Hungarians disillusioned by both Orban's 14 years of governance and Hungary's fragmented and ineffectual opposition parties.

A one-time insider within Orban's Fidesz party and the ex-husband of former justice minister and Orban ally Judit Varga, Magyar shot to prominence when he publicly accused the government of corruption and cronyism following a child sexual abuse scandal that led to the resignations in February of the president and justice minister.

The scandal erupted after it was revealed that the former president, Katalin Novak, had issued a presidential pardon to a man convicted of trying to cover up child sexual abuse in a rural youth home. The case went to the heart of Orban's image as a Christian conservative who protects families and children from what he calls LGBTQ propaganda.

Magyar on Friday said that Hungary's child protection policies, which have been criticized for conflating homosexuality with pedophilia and abridging the rights of sexual minorities, have allowed abuses to go on unpunished, and demanded that Orban apologize to the survivors of abuse in the orphanage.

Hungary's government has dismissed Magyar as an opportunist seeking a new career after he lost several positions in state companies following his divorce with the former justice minister. But his message has had wide appeal, and opinion polls showed that his new party is likely to gain seats in the European Parliament in June elections.

Laszlo Horvath Etele, one of the demonstrators on Friday, said he sees Magyar as capable not only of mounting a real challenge to Orban, but of disrupting the opposition parties that have been unable to unseat him in 14 years.

"To be able to defeat the currently reigning government, this opposition needs to be changed. The current Hungarian opposition was only able to deliver a two-thirds majority for Fidesz," he said. I think that whoever loses so many times in a row should leave the field and give his place to new challengers who may have a chance.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  President Joe Biden signed a foreign aid package on Wednesday, which includes a provision requiring TikTok to break ties with its parent company ByteDance amid concerns from lawmakers over the social media platforms Chinese ownership. If the company does not sell ownership to a U.S. company within one year, it could be banned in the U.S.

The package  the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, which includes $95 billion in foreign aid to countries such as Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan  passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday in a 360-58 vote, and passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday 79-18, as reported by the Associated Press.

Oregon lawmakers expressed mixed support for the TikTok provision.

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Senator Jeff Merkley (D) voted against the package and raised concerns about TikToks ownership.

Senator Merkley voted against the national security supplemental funding bill that included the TikTok bill. He is concerned about risks that stem from foreign ownership of large social media platforms, including risks to national security, to the protection of users data, to the manipulation of algorithms and data to support foreign propaganda, a spokesperson for Sen. Merkley told KOIN 6 News. He supports requiring TikTok to sell to diminish these risks while allowing the millions of Americans who use TikTok to continue to do so.

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In a press release issued Wednesday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D) lauded the packages passing for foreign aid, but warned the TikTok provision will not protect Americans data.

I have serious concerns about any app that gives unfriendly foreign governments access to Americans private data, and I believe there is a legitimate security risk caused by TikToks relationship to its China-based corporate parent, Wyden said. However, I remain concerned that this bill could have negative effects on free speech around the world, does too little to protect Americans privacy from being sold to China through third parties, and provides broad authority that could be abused by a future administration to violate Americans First Amendment rights. I plan to watchdog how this legislation is implemented, and will blow the whistle if the executive branch oversteps beyond the purpose of the bill.

Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-01) previously voted against the standalone bill in the House, explaining in a March 13 press release that targeting the company is the wrong approach and that more needs to be done to protect personal information, national security, and the electoral system from foreign interference  adding, I also have serious constitutional concerns about this bill. The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution enshrines the protection of free speech and a press free from fear of retribution from the government. Protecting this right is a cornerstone of our democracy, and one that I am committed to upholding. We should return to the table and negotiate a more comprehensive and effective approach to data privacy.

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Bonamici voted for the foreign aid package, telling KOIN 6 News she was disappointed that House Republicans tied the TikTok provision to the foreign aid.

I do not support banning TikTok. When this issue came before me in a standalone bill, I voted no because we need comprehensive data privacy policies, it targets a specific and very popular platform, and I have First Amendment concerns. The bill I voted for recently includes desperately needed provisions to address the fentanyl crisis, including provisions that would crack down on fentanyl traffickers. Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership included the unrelated TikTok provisions in the bill, Bonamici said.

Republican representatives Cliff Bentz (OR-02) and Lori Chavez DeRemer (OR-05) also supported the package.

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It is paramount that we take action to protect Americans from potential surveillance, data breaches, and targeted political messaging orchestrated by apps being controlled by adversarial foreign powers like the Peoples Republic of China, Bentz stated. This bill provides a critical framework to safeguard our national security interests while minimizing disruptions to users and businesses.

Chavez-DeRemer said, Congress has received classified briefings that have made TikToks national security threat clear, and thats reflected in the overwhelming bipartisan support this bill received in both the House and the Senate. To be clear, the bill I voted for does not ban the app  it requires apps controlled by foreign adversaries, which is the case with TikToks parent company ByteDance and China, to divest so they are no longer controlled by countries that pose significant national security risks. This is the right thing to do for our country and Americans security and privacy. To anyone frustrated with this bill: Ask TikTok to do the right thing and sever its ties with the Chinese Communist Party.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-03) also voted in favor of the package. His office could not be immediately reached for comment.

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Congresswoman Val Hoyle (D-04) voted against the package because of the provisions that would result in an effective ban of TikTok.

In an April 20 press release, Hoyle said, in part, I have been clear on this and voted against a similar bill  H.R. 7521, the so-called Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act  earlier this year. This is not just a TikTok problem, its a problem with social media and tech companies across the board. That is exactly why we need to take a broader approach and ensure all social media platforms are held to the same standards of data privacy and ethical user engagement.

Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-06) supported the package, telling KOIN 6 News, I strongly support the right to free speech. I also have deep concerns about the Chinese Communist Party having unfettered access to Americans data. Protecting our privacy and national security has to be a top priority, which is why I voted to force the Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest from TikTok. Doing so would remove China from the equation and allow Americans to continue enjoying an app they love without having to worry about their data being compromised.

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Meanwhile, TikTok said they will challenge the potential ban on the app.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said, This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans. As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Wildfire risk in the West and in Oregon this year is not abnormally higher than in recent years Snowpack across Oregon is about average, and its been an El Nino winter and spring, meaning conditions have been wetter-than-normal..2021 file photo. (Northwest Interagency Coordination Center)

Oregons getting better at preventing and responding to wildfires, experts said Thursday, but much more still needs to be done.

A panel of University of Oregon professors who study climate change, smoke and wildfire discussed the 2024 wildfire season in an online forum with journalists as the West braces for summer fires.

Wildfire risk in the West and in Oregon this year is not abnormally higher than in recent years, said Daniel Gavin, a professor in the geography department who specializes in paleoecology  the study of climate change impacts and fires on ecosystems over time.

Snowpack across Oregon is about average, and its been an El Nino winter and spring, meaning conditions have been wetter-than-normal. Gavin expressed concern that parts of Washington are still abnormally dry, and that snowpack is melting too fast in some parts of the Northern Rocky Mountains. With greater precipitation and snowmelt, grasses and other vegetation in open spaces can grow quickly. A stretch of hot summer months could dry it out just as fast, creating tinder for a wildfire.

It doesnt take many weeks of dry weather to create fire hazards in more open vegetation on the east side (of the Cascades) or in previously burned areas, Gavin said.

Fortunately, the number of cameras monitoring high risk areas around the state have grown from several hundred to roughly 1,200, said geophysicist Doug Toomey, a professor who also leads a regional partnership for wildfire prevention and monitoring called the AlertWildfire camera network.

And communities across Oregon and the West are improving communication systems for evacuations, said Amanda Stasiewicz, a social scientist focusing on policy and human impacts of wildfire, as well as forest and rangeland management.

Stasiewicz said utilities across the West are developing better plans and faster processes for deploying public safety power shutoffs, which allow them to deenergize part of the electric grid during bad weather conditions where theres a high risk electric infrastructure could start or contribute to a wildfire. Fires started by power lines and electrical equipment accounted for more than 59% of the total acres burned in California wildfires during the summers of 2017 and 2019, according to Stasiewicz.

Still, theres more to be done, she said, especially to support rural community preparedness and to prepare for wildfire refugees who will need more support under a future of longer and larger fires, fueled in part by drought and heavy winds that are predicted to increase under climate change.

The increase in wildfires started in or exacerbated by extreme wind events has grown, making electrical power shutoffs more common and making wildfires harder to predict, Stasiewicz said. All of this means its more difficult for state and local agencies to communicate with impacted Oregonians and to know when to order an evacuation.

Even the risk avoided by deenergizing the grid has different impacts to different communities, she said.

Many people get evacuation notices through cell phone messages or apps. In rural communities, where many use Wi-Fi to send and receive messages due to spotty signal coverage, losing electricity could completely cut them off from life-saving alerts.

Heidi Huber-Sterns, a research professor and expert on the public health impacts of wildfire smoke, said power shutoffs can also trap people in unhealthy conditions. Keeping windows closed because of smoke while also losing the electricity needed to run air conditioners and air filtration systems can exacerbate health issues.

Huber-Sterns said theres more to be done regionally to address the threat of wildfire smoke, calling cross-state collaboration a missing piece.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote about smoke being a hazard in more than one place to Heidi Huber-Sterns. That was said by Professor Hollie Smith. The Capital Chronicle regrets the error.

The post Oregon wildfire, smoke experts weigh in on future risks and 2024 season appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Over a dozen unlicensed Manatee County contractors busted in sting, deputies say

The Manatee County Sheriffs Office arrested over a dozen contractors in an unlicensed contractor sting this week, the agency announced in a news release Friday.

In the three-day sting between April 23 and 25, the sheriffs office said 16 contractors face nearly 50 charges of failure to obtain workers compensation coverage and unlicensed contracting.

The sheriffs office also said deputies issued two citations and one summons related to the charges.

The sheriffs office partnered with the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Investigative and Forensic Services and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for the operation, according to the release.

Arrest records show that the operation took place at a house in Bradenton.

In one arrest, a man was contracted to install eight lights in a kitchen and change out a water heater in exchange for $12,750, but he was not registered or certified as a licensed contractor, according to an arrest record.

In another case, a man arrived at the house to move the shower handle for $3,300, in addition to installing kitchen lights for $1,000 and upgrading the water heater size for $600, according to an arrest report.

Manatee County unlicensed contractor sting

The sheriffs office routinely performs these sting operations to catch unlicensed contractors. A similar operation in August 2023 resulted in the arrest of fourteen contractors.

These sixteen men are facing charges:

Brennan Fleet Tanner , 31: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Blaine Michael Benson , 31: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Francis E Jakubajtys , 58: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Andrew Clayton Sampson , 42: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Paul Roy Slaughter III , 39: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Aryam Garcia Bellido De Luna , 25: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Troy Childs , 55: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Pedro Antonio Laureano , 48: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Kerry Curtis Lee , 60: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing.

Oscar Antonio Figueroa Zelaya , 52: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Luis A. Rosario , 42: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Christopher Valentin , 42: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Nicholas Joseph Austine , 54: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing.

Kim Gordon Mcnulty , 40: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage.

Sergio Vargas-Olayo , 50: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical.

Alan Hart, 40: failure to secure workers comp insurance coverage, engage in contractor business w/o certification-plumbing, engage in contractor business w/o certification-electrical, driving while license suspended.
A Commerce Township man who owns and operates a Clinton Township building that exploded in March, killing a teenager and injuring a firefighter, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Noor Noel Kestou, 31, was arraigned on the 15-year felony charge in connection with the explosions March 4 at Goo Smoke Shop/Select Distributors on Groesbeck Highway near 15 Mile, where the incident rocked residents for miles in the county.

Thousands of cans of nitrous oxide and butane were inside the building, the Prosecutor's Office said. Canisters propelled into the air and rained down throughout the area, with various types of debris found more than a mile away.

Inspectors look over debris left from multiple explosions that occurred last night at Select Distributors in Clinton Township on 15 Mile Road on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Turner Salter, 19, of Clinton Township, a bystander, died after he was hit in the head with a projectile about a quarter mile from the business. The Prosecutor's Office stated in a release that the teen was struck by a nitrous oxide canister.

Township firefighter Matt Myers also was injured when debris came through the windshield of a vehicle and glass clipped the side of his face, township officials previously said.

Kestou was ordered held in the county jail on a $500,000 bond during an arraignment in 41B District Court in Clinton Township. A not guilty plea was entered, according to district court records.

If Kestou posts bond, he must wear a GPS tether, surrender his passport, not leave the state and have no weapons, according to the Prosecutor's Office release. A probable cause conference was set for May 7.

Kestou's attorney, James Thomas, said they are not commenting about the particulars of the case. He expected Kestou to make bond Thursday, and said they are going to continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the site.

"It's a terrible tragedy, and we're going to let it work its way through the courts," Thomas said.

Debris from the explosions at Select Distributors can be seen across 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in his release: "Our hearts ache for the family and loved ones of the young man whose life was tragically cut short by this devastating explosion. We are steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice and holding the individual accountable for their actions."

Lucido, Township Supervisor Bob Cannon and Township Police Chief Dina Caringi plan to give an update on the explosions and fire during a news conference Friday at the township's police headquarters. A township news release Thursday stated the explosions and fire were caused by improperly store canisters of butane and nitrous oxide and the update will focus on the results of the ongoing police investigation.

Township officials previously said the site, a former Save-A-Lot retail and warehouse store, wasn't supposed to have butane and nitrous oxide tanks inside. They said butane and nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, vape pens and canisters measuring 12-18 inches and weighing 10-15 pounds exploded during the blaze.

Canisters as well as knives and blades that were inside the building were tossed into the air, raining down on police and fire crews as well as other properties. Cannon previously said the knives were legal, the canisters were not.

Sarah Cooper, 26, of Clinton Township holds what is thought to be knives that were part of the debris left from multiple explosions on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 that occurred last night at the Select Distributors in Clinton Township at 15 Mile Road.

Cannon said two commercial businesses were authorized to be in the building. Township property records listed three owners of parcels at the address. Township officials inspected the property in 2022, "then they brought things in the back door that we didn't know about and that's where the problem came," Cannon said previously.

According to its website, Select Distributors is a wholesale supplier of novelty items, phone accessories and other merchandise to discount stores and other types of retailers and wholesalers.

Paul Brouwer, the township's emergency management coordinator, previously said the debris field from the blaze and explosions was 1 mile across and dozens of canisters were found embedded in yards. Scott Kleinfeld, the township's assistant superintendent of public works, previously said crews gathered debris from a 2-mile radius.

Township officials previously said the owner and employees had been cooperative in the investigation.

In mid-March, a spokesperson for Select Distributors emailed a statement: "Select Distributors is deeply saddened and expresses its sincerest condolences to the victim's family. It is actively cooperating with investigators as they work to determine the cause of the accident. Select Distributors has been a proud employer and member of this community for over a decade and is focused on ensuring safety and support of its team members and community."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Owner of building that exploded in Clinton Twp. charged
Pennsylvania state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) speaks during a House committee hearing. (Pa. House Democrats photo)

The withdrawal of an arrest warrant earlier this week for state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) has not changed the resolve of Republican lawmakers to stop his vote from being counted while he is absent from the House chamber, a GOP spokesman said Friday.

Democrats, who control the House by one vote, say they are powerless under the chambers rules to revoke the letter that Boyle signed to allow his vote to be cast by the majority whip, a common practice among lawmakers that allows them to attend to other matters during routine votes.

Voting by designation is a longstanding practice of the chamber and all members are permitted this option, Democratic spokesperson Beth Rementer told the Capital-Star. The right to rescind a valid designation is not a right of the Majority Leader or even the majority of the chamber  it is a directive of the individual member.

Boyle has been absent from the House following an embarrassing social media incident in February and unrelated legal troubles. His current whereabouts are unclear.

House GOP spokesman Jason Gottesman said Republican leaders remain steadfastly opposed to Boyles vote being counted when the House returns to session Monday.

Our position has not changed, Gottesman told the Capital-Star. The facts are clear that Rep. Boyle needs help and while he is receiving that help he should not be casting a vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Democrats plan to move forward with a resolution introduced by Majority Leader Matt Bradford last week that would amend the House rules to allow the suspension or expulsion of a member who is incapacitated, Rementer said.

The push to remove Boyle from the roll call comes at a sensitive time for House Democrats, who have fought to hang on to their one-vote majority over the last 16 months through a series of resignations as lawmakers moved to higher offices, a death, and a sexual harassment scandal.

Losing Boyles vote would leave the House evenly divided at 101-101 after Jeffrey Olsommer, a Republican who won a special election Tuesday for the 139th Legislative District, is sworn in once election results are certified. The seat was left vacant when Rep. Joseph Adams (R-Pike) resigned due to illness in January.

Boyle, 44, was relieved of his committee assignments and had his Capitol security privileges revoked in February after video of an outburst at a Montgomery County tavern circulated widely on social media. In the video, Boyle is seen threatening to have the bar shut down after he was asked to leave. Police in the Philadelphia suburb of Rockledge said they were investigating the incident.

Earlier this month, the Philadelphia district attorneys office said it had issued a warrant for Boyles arrest on charges he had violated a protection from abuse order obtained against him by his ex-wife. Boyle was arrested in 2021 for violating a protection from abuse order obtained by his then-wife.

Then, on eve of the primary election in which Boyle faced a challenge from a candidate recruited by the Democratic Party to run against him, District Attorney Larry Krasner and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel announced that the arrest warrant had been issued in error.

Krasner said that while there had been a protection from abuse order against Boyle, it was not in effect at the time he was alleged to have violated it. But, Krasner added, the withdrawal of the charge of violating a protection from abuse order did not mean Boyle was out of legal jeopardy.

Its very common in a domestic violence situation that there may be more than one possible offense that is available as a charge. What our announcement means today is that the offense of violating a protective order is not available in this case, Krasner said.

Boyle, who lost the primary to Sean Dougherty, the son of state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and nephew of former labor leader John Dougherty, has not spoken to police or the district attorneys office, Krasner said.

Rementer did not respond to a question about whether Boyles whereabouts are known to Democratic leaders. They remain deeply concerned about Kevins mental wellness and they continue to urge their dear friend to get help, Rementer said.

Messages left with staff for U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District), who is Kevin Boyles older brother, were not returned.

In a statement, House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said he does not believe the resolution on incapacitated members, proposed by Democrats, is necessary.

House Resolution 403 would provide for the creation of a House Rules Committee subcommittee on incapacity inquiries. Consisting of the House speaker, majority leader, majority caucus chair, minority leader and minority caucus chairperson, the subcommittee would conduct an investigation of a members capacity to perform their duties upon a confidential request by the floor leader of either party.

Speaking to reporters April 17, the day after the warrant for Boyles arrest was first reported, Cutler said the appropriate response would be to place Boyle on leave.

I think theyre taking advantage of him simply to maintain a 102 majority and thats wrong, Cutler said. Thats wrong on a purely a personal level and its wrong in terms of the precedent that they are setting because they are literally saying that anybody can vote as long as they have a signed paper until its revoked. If he goes to prison, how will he revoke that? Thats a legitimate question.

Cutler said Democrats should follow the precedent set when Boyle was arrested in 2021 and when former state Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) was arrested for filing fraudulent reimbursement requests, hindering a state prosecution and violating the state Election Code. In those cases, Boyle was placed on leave and Davidson resigned immediately.

We do not need complicated answers to simple problems, Cutler said in a statement Friday. House Democrats must join with us in immediately stopping Rep. Boyles ability to vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives until this issue is finally resolved. Pennsylvania House Democrats continue to use this tragedy to continue the tyranny of their majority and that is shameful.

The post Pa. House Republicans steadfast on blocking embattled state Rep. Boyles votes appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
(Getty Images)

A piece of dried cauliflower, or broccoli or beet in an opaque white bag with a stop sign and a written warning affixed  thats a weed edible in the Canadian province of Quebec, where any marijuana products resembling candy, chocolate, chips or any food that may appeal to children are outlawed.

Lately theres been [cannabis-infused] sausages, said Francois Gagnon, a senior researcher at the Canadian Center on Substance use and Addiction.

Quebec has some of the strictest regulations on cannabis sales and products of anywhere in North America that has legalized the substance. That includes regulations on packaging, dosing and advertising. All dispensaries are operated by the provincial government, not entirely dissimilar from Pennsylvania liquor stores.

At a Pennsylvania House Health subcommittee hearing Thursday, both Canadian and American public health experts praised Quebecs regulation. They said other American states that rushed into legalization saw increases of calls to poison control and ER visits, cannabis related DUIs, upticks of excessive use, and more. In particular, the experts urged lawmakers to consider a state-run dispensary system, much like how liquor is currently sold.

If you do it wrong, it can take as long to untangle as the harms of the tobacco industry, said Dr. Lynn Silver, a senior advisor at the public health institute. If you do it more carefully and do it right, I believe it can help you assure a healthier and more just future for your children.

While its unclear what legalization legislation might look like, cannabis industry groups and lobbyists are already pushing back.

We have an existing network of [medical marijuana] businesses that already have invested a lot of capital, and already have really knowledgeable, highly trained employees, said Meredith Buettner, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition. I think additionally with a private system, you give folks in the equity space the opportunity to enter the market.

Buettner was referring to policies previously probed by the subcommittee exploring legalization that would allow for a limited number of private dispensaries with social equity licenses offered to business owners from minority communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

But the public health experts who testified on Thursday said that confining legal cannabis sales to state-operated stores would help crackdown on unlicensed dispensaries, which have become a major problem in some states that have legalized marijuana and allowed the sale at private retail stores. Moreover, it would allow the state more control over the products dispensaries sell and how theyre displayed.

You can strongly limit aggressive advertising and marketing in a way that is difficult under current commercial speech jurisprudence in the United States, said Silver. You can better shape a safer cannabis supply of less potent products not designed to attract children and youth.

In exploring the potential for state-owned dispensaries, lawmakers brought in Rodrigo Diaz, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which oversees the sale of liquor throughout the commonwealth.

Diaz said that revenue from liquor stores goes to funding law enforcement and addiction services, and a similar tack could be used with cannabis sales. However, Diaz refused to make policy recommendations to lawmakers, and when questioned about the practicality of selling cannabis in the states liquor stores, he deferred to lawmakers.

We will do what the legislature tells us to do, Diaz said when asked for his thoughts on specific policies.

Because marijuana is still federally illegal, selling it can be complicated. As a Schedule I drug, dispensaries selling cannabis require many security features not currently in liquor stores. Credit cards are generally not accepted at dispensaries because of federal banking regulations.

Im not sure where $580 million are going to come to get your stores ready to sell this product, said Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill). It just doesnt seem to fit the stores.

Buettner, who represents a number of cannabis stores, including some of the biggest sellers in the country, said that opening state-run stores would be far more complicated in Pennsylvania than Quebec given the status of federal regulation.

I think its a little peculiar that were spending time looking at another countrys model when our federal laws are so different than the laws in Canada, Buettner said.

To this point, Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) noted that in order to have public stores, the state would have to ask its own employees to sell a product thats still federally illegal.

Public health experts also recommended other policies for Pennsylvania to consider. They turned again to Quebec, which also has laws limiting THC levels in all products to 30%. In many states where its currently legal, recreational products regularly have THC levels of 75% and above. Quebec also bans vapes with artificial flavors and edibles cant have shapes that make them more attractive to children.

Regulations in support of consumers

According to David Hammond, a University Research chair at the University of Waterloo school of public health in Canada, polls have shown a majority of Quebecers approve of the regulations

Some folks consider restrictions as being sort of anti-consumer, said Hammond. In fact, there are some regulations that are very much in support of consumers. And I would suggest that packaging and labeling are one of those.

He noted that Quebec sees fewer accidental marijuana overdoses than other places with legal cannabis, which he attributed to sometimes confusing packaging of American products, and small edibles frequently containing large amounts of THC.

Hammond also noted that Quebec saw one of the smallest rises in reported cannabis use among its population after legalization, which he saw as a sign of success

While discussing Quebecs placement of stores, Hammond said, theres a debate about having enough stores so that youd displace the illegal market. But if you have too many stores, you might start to promote consumption.

Perhaps most importantly to Silver, the public health expert from California, state-operated stores would limit the political influence of the cannabis industry when it comes to crafting regulation down the road. She held California and other states up as examples of places that have struggled to regulate cannabis after passing legalization, in large part because of the industrys lobbying force.

We have many states that have taken one or more positive steps, but most of them are doing that in the context of simultaneously building this increasingly-powerful, for-profit industry that makes it much more difficult, Silver said. I think the only way you can avoid bad outcomes if you are legalizing is to create a very different type of system, right from the beginning, as Quebec did.

Buettner disagreed, and says her organization supports many of the regulations experts have recommended.

As a representative of the industry, I feel very confident in saying that we share those [health] concerns, Buettner said. We support regulations that make sure stuffs not marketed to children. We support childproof containers. Were supportive of all of that. I think there is a way to do it that protects kids, protects public health, but also allows business to flourish.

The post Pa. lawmakers consider government-run weed dispensaries. The cannabis industry isnt happy. appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Youcha, or oil tea, is a popular drink among the Yao people in south China, enjoying a history of over 1,000 years. Join American expat Damien in Gongcheng County as he explores both the traditional and modern production methods of youcha.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
David McCormick addresses an audience in Philadelphia on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 (screen capture).

MEDIA, Pa. The Republican candidates for Pennsylvania statewide office embarked on a two-day statewide bus tour following Tuesdays primary election, making six stops across the commonwealth. David McCormick, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Auditor General Tim DeFoor and York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, the GOP nominee for state attorney general, wrapped the tour with a stop in the Philadelphia suburbs Thursday.

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Lawrence Tabas said political strategy used to typically involve an intense blitz of campaigning in the 72 hours ahead of an election, but that such tactics would not work in the current cycle.

The 72 hour intensity program began yesterday, Tabas said Thursday. We cannot beat Bob Casey, waiting until the fall. We cannot reelect Stacy and Tim and elect Dave Sunday waiting until the fall.

Tabas touted the support of former President Donald Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee. He said they described Pennsylvania as one of the two key states for the 2024 election. He boasted about recent data showing Republicans cutting into the Democratic Partys voter registration advantage in Pennsylvania. Registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans in the commonwealth, but Tabas noted that Republicans were taking advantage of Gov. Josh Shapiros automatic voter registration order.

McCormick, who was the final speaker of the evening at the event at Towne House in Delaware County, said that the Republican Party is unified behind the four candidates for statewide office.

This is a team sport, this is the team, McCormick said. Weve got to win this election.

Echoing his message on the campaign trail, McCormick said that the country is in deep trouble, and pinned the blame on President Joe Bidens administration and Casey.

The McCormick campaign released a digital ad on Wednesday that includes comments Casey made in 2006 criticizing then-incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) for voting with President George W. Bush 98% of the time, while pointing to Caseys current voting record with the Biden administration.

Casey has criticized McCormick throughout the campaign for his recent residency in Connecticut and linked him to Trump, who lost the state in 2020.

Following the speech, the Capital-Star asked McCormick how he would differ from Trump, who he has endorsed for president.

McCormick said he had disagreed with Trump on the outcome of the 2020 election in his book Superpower in Peril: A Battle Plan to Renew America and argued that hes an independent voice.

When pressed about a specific policy issue where he currently disagrees with Trump, McCormick suggested that their positions on Ukraine may differ, saying its in Americas best interest to support Ukraine in defending itself against Russia.

The position Ive taken publicly, which Ive said over and over again, is that I believe we should support Ukraine, McCormick said. Im not sure where President Trump is on that, exactly. Ive heard him say a number of things.

While Trump has been outspoken over various spending bills during the Biden administration, he didnt specifically endorse or condemn the most recent vote to include funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken issue with Trumps previous comments earlier in 2024, when Trump claimed he could stop Ukraines war with Russia in 24 hours.

Ive also said I was very disappointed with the bill that went through because it included $10 billion of economic assistance that was not military. It didnt have any offsets, and it didnt address the border problem, McCormick added Thursday. So Ive tried to be very clear about what I believe, that may be an area thats different. Im not entirely sure.

Sunday, who serves as York Countys District Attorney, will face former Democratic Auditor General Eugene DePasquale for attorney general, the only open statewide seat this year.

I can tell you right now that the attorney general of Pennsylvania is the states chief law enforcement officer, Sunday said. And dont forget that.

When you hear my opponent talk about it being other things, it is the chief law enforcement officer, he added. And if our community is not safe, nothing else matters.

Garrity, who will face Democrat Erin McClelland in November, pointed to her offices work on unclaimed property, returning military medals, and investing more money in Israel bonds as examples of why she deserves a second term in office.

They call us extremists because thats the only thing they have, Garrity said, referencing Democratic attacks. They dont have a leg to stand on.

Democrats have criticized Garrity for participating in a pro-Trump rally on January 5, 2021 in Harrisburg, where she questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election. Garrity was the first statewide candidate in Pennsylvania to endorse Trumps 2024 bid for the White House, calling Trump the only one man I trust to get the job done in the post.

DeFoor will go up against state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) in his bid for a second term. He touted his offices focus on promoting financial literacy in schools and conducting various audits since being elected.

In 2020, I came to you as an unknown, asking for your help, said DeFoor, who was then the Dauphin County Controller. And I explained to you that if elected, there was one thing I was going to do and that was the job of the Auditor General, to follow the Pennsylvania fiscal code.

The Pennsylvania fiscal code doesnt say Republican auditor general do one thing and Democrat auditor general do another thing, he added. It simply states the auditor general shall do that and thats what I did and thats what Im going to continue to do.

The evening also included speeches from down-ballot candidates like Alfe Goodwin, Republican Party nominee for the 5th Congressional District, seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware).

Goodwin didnt mention Scanlon by name during her address. She said our constitutional rights are not negotiable, and blasted Democrats over a number of issues, including education.

I think the Department of Education is way too big, she said. I think we need transparency in our schools. She railed against diversity initiatives in classrooms, saying parents needed to know if your children are exposed to that.

Heck, I said, lets just go for it and put cameras in the classroom, Goodwin added. I mean, why not? Were at the point now where that is what we need.

Goodwin, a former Philadelphia police officer, and former teacher, previously ran for office as a Libertarian candidate for the state House in 2022 and 2023. If she wins the seat, Goodwin would become the second Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress.

All of the Pennsylvania Republican Party-backed candidates won their bids for the party nomination in Tuesdays primary election. However, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley received more than 16% of the GOP vote for president, despite dropping out of the race in March.

While the Biden campaign is actively attempting to persuade Haley voters to support him over Trump, referencing past insults Trump has thrown at Haley, Tabas said hes not at all worried about losing those Haley voters in November.

When asked why he thought Haley received double-digit numbers of votes, mainly in the Philadelphia suburbs, he did not answer directly, instead saying Democrats should be asked why theres a movement to vote uncommitted in some states.

In 2020, Biden racked up big margins in Philadelphia and its collar counties, winning all of them by double digits, with the exception of Bucks County, where Biden bested Trump by 4 points.

Biden has visited the Philadelphia-region on four different occasions during the 2024 cycle, including a speech in Delaware County one day after delivering his State of the Union address in March. Biden emphasized abortion rights during that speech, as Democrats continue to highlight the differences between the two parties on that issue.

On Thursday night, none of the candidates referenced Roe v. Wade, the Dobbs decision, or abortion during their speeches.

In 2022, Democrats John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro all won Philadelphia and its surrounding counties by wide margins over Republicans Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano.

Despite Democratic momentum in the region, Tabas is confident that their ticket will do well.

Were gonna do well in the southeast, very well. Were gonna win Bucks County, Tabas told the Capital-Star. Were going to be very competitive in these other counties as well.

Asked if he thinks all of the statewide candidates will win Bucks County, Tabas reiterated his positive outlook.

Since were not betting money on it, Im gonna say yes, he said.

The post Pa. Republicans wrap up statewide bus tour with visit to Philadelphia suburbs appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
(KRON)  Authorities are looking for a person of interest in connection to an arson that happened earlier this month, the Pacific Police Department (PPD) said in a press release. The arson happened on April 10 around 1:30 p.m. when an unknown person escaped before police arrived at the scene.

The person of interest is described as an Asian man between 20 and 30 years old with long black hair in a ponytail and glasses. He often wears a distinct cloak or robe garment, according to police. A witness was able to take a photo of the subject.

PHOTOS: $326K of stolen goods recovered in Oakland

Authorities are looking for this person of interest in an arson investigation (Pacifica Police Department).

A witness saw a male subject start a fire on a property at Rifle Range Road, the press release said. This male subject has visited SF Archers archery range several times over the past month.

The subject had a Mongolian-style horse bow at the time of the alleged arson. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call PPD at 650-738-7314 or its Silent Witness Tip Line at 650-339-4444. Refer to case 24-0888.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
PALISADE, Colo. (KREX)  The Palisade Historical Society is hosting a special event called Reading Yesterdays News Online Today. This event, led by Leigh Jeremias, will explore how historical newspapers can tell us about the people, places and events of the past. Specifically, it will highlight the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, which contains over 4 million pages of historic news, including 3,753 issues of The Palisade Tribune.

Leigh Jeremias, a digital collections senior consultant at the Colorado State Library, will explain how to navigate the website, share tips for effective searching and discuss the digitization process. The event is open to the public and will take place at The Ordinary Fellow Winery on May 9 at 6 p.m. Attendees can enjoy learning about Palisades history while sipping wine.

For those interested in delving deeper into Palisades history, the Palisade History Museum is open four days a week, offering free admission and exhibits. The Palisade Historical Society has also published booklets on various topics such as coal mining, irrigation, railroads, fruit and wine. These resources are used in local schools and are available at the museum.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Former paramedic Jeremy Cooper, who injected Elijah McClain with ketamine before his death, sits in court for sentencing, Friday, April 26, 2024, in the Brighton, Colo. Cooper was convicted last year of criminally negligent homicide in the Black man's death, which helped fuel the 2020 social justice protests. (ABC News One/Pool via AP)

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP)  A former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with a powerful sedative avoided prison Friday and was sentenced to 14 months in jail with work release and probation in the killing of the Black man that helped fuel the 2020 racial injustice protests.

Jeremy Cooper had faced up to three years in prison after being found guilty in a jury trial last year of criminally negligent homicide. He administered a dose of ketamine to McClain, 23, who had been forcibly restrained after police stopped him as the massage therapist was walking home in a Denver suburb in 2019.

The sentencing cap s a series of trials that stretched over seven months and resulted in the convictions of a police officer and two paramedics. Criminal charges against paramedics and emergency medical technicians involved in police custody cases are rare.

Cooper, who was fired after his conviction, was sentenced to four years of probation including 14 months in jail under a program that will allow him to leave for work and return to jail at night and on weekends, said Lawrence Pacheco with the Colorado Attorney Generals Office.

The other paramedic involved in McClains death received a more severe punishment after being convicted on an additional charge of felony assault.

Judge Mark Warner said evidence showed Cooper did not purposely give McClain a ketamine overdose, rejecting claims by prosecutors that the paramedic had acted with indifference.

McClains mother told the judge prior to Fridays sentencing that she blamed McClains death on everyone who was present that night, not just those who were convicted.

Eternal shame on all of you, Sheneen McClain said.

She said Cooper did nothing to help her son after hed been restrained by police  didnt check his pulse, didnt check his breathing and didnt ask him how he was doing  before injecting him with an overdose of ketamine.

Close to tears, McClain ended by raising her right fist in the air and saying loudly, From my heart to my hands, long live Elijah McClain, always and forever."

She later told reporters that she wasnt expecting much from the trials and wasnt surprised Cooper avoided prison time. We won, Elijah won," she said.

Experts say the convictions would have been unheard of before 2020, when George Floyds murder sparked a nationwide reckoning over racist policing and deaths in police custody.

At least 94 people died after they were given sedatives and restrained by police from 2012 through 2021, according to findings by The Associated Press in collaboration with FRONTLINE (PBS) and the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism.

McClains name became a rallying cry in protests over racial injustice in policing that swept the U.S. in 2020.

Without the reckoning over criminal justice and how people of color suffer at much higher rates from police use of force and violence, its very unlikely that anything would have come of this, that there would have been any charges, let alone convictions, said David Harris, a University of Pittsburgh law professor and expert on racial profiling.

Harris added that juries are often reluctant to second guess the actions of police and other first responders.

It's still very hard to convict, he said.

Cooper said during the hearing that he was sorry he couldnt save McClain.

I want you to know that I would give anything to have a different outcome, Elijah," Cooper said as if he were talking to McClain. I never, ever meant for anyone to hurt you.

He added that he wished he knew more at the time, implying that he could have used that knowledge to help McClain.

Sheneen McClain walked out of the courtroom as Cooper was speaking but later returned.

Prosecutor Jason Slothouber had asked the judge to incarcerate Cooper and argued that the paramedic was singularly most responsible for McClains death because Cooper gave him a massive overdose of ketamine.

Cooper's attorney and wife and fellow firefighters urged the judge to show leniency. They described him saving people from fires, jumping into floodwaters to help an older woman and using CPR to try to save a child who died in a fire.

Cooper was not taken into custody after the hearing. He declined to comment as he walked out of the courthouse with his wife and supporters.

Judge Warner previously sentenced ex-paramedic Peter Cichuniec in March to five years in prison. He faced the most serious of the charges in the case. It was the shortest sentence allowed under the law.

Warner sentenced officer Randy Roedema to 14 months in jail with work release for criminally negligent homicide and misdemeanor assault.

Prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges related to McClain's death when an autopsy did not determine how he died. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis ordered the investigation reopened in 2020.

The second autopsy said McClain died because he was injected with ketamine after being forcibly restrained.

Since the killings of Floyd, McClain and others put a spotlight on police custody deaths, many departments, paramedic units and those that train them have reexamined how they treat suspects.

Medical experts said by the time he received the sedative, McClain already was in a weakened state from forcible restraint that rendered him temporarily unconscious.

McClain was not armed, nor accused of breaking any laws. He went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died three days later.

The Colorado health department has since told paramedics not to give ketamine to people suspected of having excited delirium, described in a since-withdrawn emergency physicians report as manifesting symptoms including increased strength. A doctors group has called it an unscientific definition rooted in racism.

The protests over McClain and Floyd also ushered in a wave of state legislation to curb the use of neck holds. At least 27 states including Colorado have passed some limit on the practices. Only two had bans in place before Floyd was killed.

Sheneen McClain said outside the courthouse Friday that the only closure she got was that the trials and sentencings were over.

It doesnt matter what anybody else does to wipe the blood of my son off their hands, she said. It's already there.

___

AP reporter Thomas Peipert contributed.
ALABAMA (WHNT)  A federal lawsuit alleging the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) kept an inmates heart has been dismissed after both parties agreed to drop the suit.

The family of deceased inmate Brandon Clay Dotson sued the ADOC after he died at Ventress Correctional Facility in Barbour County. The suit said after Dotsons body was returned to his family it was missing a heart. That suit has now been dismissed after both parties agreed to drop the case.

Police investigating after Killen toddler drowns in family pool

The federal judge in the case ordered the case dismissed on Wednesday after both parties requested the case be dropped. Dotsons family and the defendants in the case, which included ADOC, The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, ADOC Commissioner John Hamm along with several others, filed a joint stipulation of dismissal on April 1.

The suit was originally filed in December of 2023 after Dotsons death on November 16, 2023, at the age of 43.

The lawsuit originally said the family spent several days attempting to collect Dotsons body after his death but did not receive his remains until Nov 21, 2023. The suit claimed that the body was severely decomposed by that time and after the family had an autopsy performed, it was discovered Dotsons heart was missing.

The dismissal of the case comes just days after lawsuits were filed representing five families of deceased Alabama inmates that claim UAB Medical Center took and retained inmate organs without consent from their next of kin. Dotson is not one of the inmates mentioned in any of those suits.

That lawsuit also names ADOC and Commissioner Ham as defendants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
In the era of social media and 24 hour news cycles, people expect instant, up to the minute information. However, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez chose to announce a five day pause in his duties via a lengthy four page letter. He will use this time to reflect on whether he will remain at the head of Spains government following a corruption investigation being opened into his wife, Begona Gomez.

In doing so, he has sparked a crisis of government in which he already has the upper hand, controlling both the timing and the agenda of political debate.

As expected, the announcement dominated the front pages of Spanish newspapers, and hit the headlines in many international media outlets. Once again, Sanchez has made himself the epicentre of public opinion.

His missive is not a love letter, nor does it strike the melancholy tone of a person on the verge of quitting. While it does mention his love for his wife, and he did seem genuinely upset in the parliamentary session in which the investigation into his wife was revealed, the letter is filled with epithets directed at the far right and other political adversaries, all of whom have contributed to the current parliamentary scrap.

Spain is living in divided, polarised times. Half the country will most likely see the letter as an act of desperation: with the writing on the wall, Sanchez is choosing to bow out instead of being unceremoniously ousted. The other half will speak of the injustices of lawfare, and of the right wing media getting carried away with itself.

Though Spain has ceased to be a formally two party system, there are still two clearly defined poles in society. This division hampers societys ability to interpret political situations as a whole, and complicates the issue of trust and support for institutional justice systems.

A master of suspense

Sanchez is a risk taker, as proven by his daring move in 2023 of bringing national elections forward by 5 months. Few can match his capacity for suspense and catching his enemies off guard, but his audacity is measured: he is not one for leaps into the unknown.

One possible explanation for his most recent move could be that he knows the newly opened investigation is based on shaky or fabricated information, meaning he can cause a stir, play the victim and mobilise those around him before reemerging, triumphant, on Monday. The alternative is that he plans on resigning, leaving Spain to face the possibility of yet another round of elections.

Either way, these events will take place right at the start of the Catalan election campaigns in May, and only 40 days out from the European elections in June.

Setting the agenda: the medias influence on public opinion

The medias impact on electoral behaviour has been studied for decades. Early on, it was believed that the media controlled public attitudes directly, much like a syringe injecting information and ideas under peoples skin.

People then came to believe that the medias had little effect on electoral behaviour and citizens opinions, as people would limit or filter their own media exposure, or consume media based on pre-existing biases.

We now understand that mass media does not directly dictate the publics attitudes. Instead, it indirectly influences them, defining the boundaries of public discussion by prioritising certain topics. This is known in communication theory as agenda setting.

By influencing what is relevant and what is not, the media can highlight or silence certain topics, giving them control over public discussion, debate and opinion. They do not tell people what to think, but by illuminating certain issues and hiding others, they tell people what to think about.

The media therefore acts as a spotlight: if certain figures are highlighted, people focus on them and think about them. This theory was developed by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw, who identified that in choosing and displaying news, journalists and editors play an important role in shaping political reality. When consuming media, readers and viewers learn more than information about a given topic: they also learn how much attention and priority to give that topic based on the amount of information in a news item, and how many seconds of video or lines of newsprint are dedicated to it.

Agenda setting plays a fundamental role in political campaigns. It influences what the public considers important, the ranking of issues, the visibility of key actors, and thus their perceptions of the candidates and the political issues at stake.

Shaking things up with a view to the next elections

The mark of a successful political leader is the ability to steer media attention towards their own messages and priorities. It is likely, for example, that Sanchezs actions, which are keeping the country (and its institutions) in thrall, will end up drawing attention to Catalan Socialist Party candidate Salvador Illa in the upcoming regional election campaign, though elections in the region have their own set of unique dynamics. Indeed, opinion polls have already shown a sharp uptick in Illas vote share in recent days.

In the same vein, Sanchezs headline-grabbing hiatus may raise his own profile as president of Socialist International in European elections, where the right is poised to make significant gains.

Sanchez has been a prominent leader, and has been widely attacked by his political opponents. However, these attacks have had the unintended effect of making him the centre of attention, allowing him to set the agenda and guide public debate and perceptions. For Sanchez, what people say about him is neither here nor there: the amount that is said about him is far more important.

Campaign managers take great strides to put their candidates centre stage, and a controversial candidate makes this easy. Spain is currently facing two very important sets of elections in Catalonia and the European parliament. Influence over both will depend on candidates abilities to present and manage the elections as a simple dilemma: Pedro Sanchez. Yes or no?

Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos.

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Carmen Beatriz Fernandez no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoria, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiacion de ninguna compania u organizacion que pueda obtener beneficio de este articulo, y ha declarado carecer de vinculos relevantes mas alla del cargo academico citado.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was delivering an address Thursday at the Oxford Union when pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted the speech.

Video from the address shows a student walking to the podium where Pelosi was and holding a Palestinian flag in front of her. The protester stood there silently while Pelosi continued her speech and security approached.

Outside the building, around 250 protesters chanted free Palestine and end the genocide, video highlighted by Mediaite showed.

The group was led by Youth Demand, which had condemned Pelosis Benazir Bhutto Memorial Lecture at the Oxford Union.

Warmongers like Nancy Pelosi are not welcome on University campuses, the group posted online. When children are being murdered, and hospitals are being bombed, we will not sit down and be quiet whilst these people are given platforms. We must stand up and take action, because we arent fing around anymore.

Oxford Unions founding principle is that of freedom of speech and the open exchange of ideas, the organization told The Hill in a statement.

In this spirit, we support the right to peaceful protest. There was an incident inside the chamber which was dealt with by security, the statement said.

Pelosi had no further comment on the disruption.

Benazir Bhutto served as the prime minister of Pakistan in the late 1980s and again in the mid-1990s. The first woman to serve as prime minister of a Muslim nation, Bhutto was assassinated in 2007 when a gunman opened fire and detonated a suicide bomb after a political rally. The Oxford Union hosts a memorial lecture in Bhuttos honor annually.

Pro-Palestinian gatherings have erupted across college campuses in the United States this week. Arrests have been made at Columbia University and University of Texas at Austin, among other campuses, as pro-Palestinians sit-ins continue and schools grapple with free expression while maintaining campus order and addressing accusations of antisemitism.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Chester County man is facing homicide and murder charges after two family members were found shot to death.

The Chester County District Attorneys office says Roger Hanks, 76, of Kennett Square, is facing murder charges for senselessly shooting his wife and 37-year-old daughter on Thursday evening.

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Pennsylvania State Police say they responded to the 200 block of Wiltshire Drive in East Marlborough Township and found Hanks in the garage and the two deceased family members in the home.

District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe said, the Defendant senselessly shot and killed his family because of a basic dispute. It is unfathomable that anyone would react this way. I want to thank the Pennsylvania State Police who acted quickly and arrested the Defendant after being dispatched to the scene.

Central Dauphin School District coach resigns, arrested for institutional sexual assault

Hanks is facing charges including criminal homicide, murder of the fire degree, and murder of the third degree. He remains in the Chester County Prison without bail.

If you have information about this incident, contact the Pennsylvania State Police Avondale at 610-268-2022.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The United States announced a $6 billion weapons package for Ukraine on Friday, its largest military aid package to date for Kyivs forces.

The weapons and equipment will include critical interceptors for Ukraines Patriot and NASAM air defense systems, significant amounts of artillery ammunition, air-to-ground munitions, counterdrone weapons, and maintenance and sustainment support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters.

The aid tranche, which will pull from the $61 billion in Ukraine funding signed into law by President Biden on Wednesday, will be contracted through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This means the U.S. will buy new equipment made by American defense firms for the Ukrainian military rather than pull from its own stocks, a process that could take months or years for the weapons to reach the embattled country.

This is the largest security assistance package that weve committed to date, Austin said after meeting virtually with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries meant to provide Kyivs military with critical weapons, systems and equipment.

Fridays meeting marked the second anniversary of the group, which has provided Ukraine with more than $95 billion worth of ammunition, rocket systems, tanks and fighter jets to help Ukraine defend against an encroaching Russian army.

The $6 billion deal announced Friday adds to a $1 billion lethal assistance package the Pentagon revealed Wednesday  shortly after Biden signed the national security supplemental into law  meant to quickly surge equipment to Ukraine.

That aid, which will be quickly pulled from U.S. stocks, will deliver critical artillery rounds and air defense munitions to Kyiv as its forces struggle with dwindling resources to rebuff Russias invasion.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping for even bigger systems. Earlier Friday, he urged the U.S. for at least seven more Patriot batteries to create a shield around Ukrainian cities to ward off further Russian missile attacks.

We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them, Zelensky said at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. This is what can and should save lives right now.

Washington has already sent one Patriot battery to Ukraine in a previous package, but Zelensky said more would really change the situation on the battlefield.

Austin said that during the meeting, the U.S. pushed especially hard today to rush in more air defense systems and interceptors into Ukraine. He also said that in the last several days, he has spoken one-on-one with several of his European counterparts about how to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot systems.

But he cautioned against making the Patriot the silver bullet for helping Ukraine defeat Russia.

Its going to be a combination of a number of systems. Its going to be dependent upon whether or not Ukraine can effectively employ these systems and sustain those systems, and whether or not Ukraine can mobilize an adequate number of troops to replenish its ranks, Austin said. We continue to work on all those things simultaneously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's producer price index, which measures the price changes of goods at the producer level, increased by 1.6 percent in March as compared to 0.3 percent in February, official data showed Friday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that all sectors registered growth in March, contributing to the rise of the overall index.

According to the DOSM, the mining sector grew 8.3 percent; the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector increased by 5.5 percent; and the manufacturing sector climbed 0.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the electricity and gas supply as well as water supply indices both went up by 0.1 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

On a monthly basis, the producer price index for the local production expanded by 1.6 percent as compared to 0.7 percent in February, contributed by all sectors. 
The US Department of Defense published the list of weapons which will be commissioned from the US defence industry for Ukraine within the framework of the US$ 6 billion military aid package.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the website of the Pentagon

Details: The Pentagon indicated that the US will order US$6 billion worth of additional munitions for Patriot air defence systems, NASAMS and HIMARS systems, 155-mm and 152-mm artillery ammunition, demolition munitions and precision aerial munitions for Ukraine.

Equipment to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defence systems, anti-drone equipment, radar stations, counter-artillery radars, Switchblade drones and components to support Ukrainian production of UAVs and other capabilities are also on the list.

The US also plans to order unmanned aerial systems, tactical vehicles to tow weapons and equipment, small arms and additional small arms ammunition; ancillary items and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

Background:

Following the 21st Ramstein meeting, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US will allocate US$6 billion for military aid for Ukraine within the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) mechanism.

Under the USAI programme, the US government will sign contracts with American defence companies for the production of new armament for Ukraine instead of supplying it with weapons from its storages.

This was made possible after the US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that will provide about US$61 billion in additional military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help to other US allies, on 24 April.

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Philadelphia has a lot more deadly shootings than expected for a big city  and NYC is much safer, new study says

Recent high-profile mass shootings at SEPTA bus stations have left Philadelphia commuters on high alert. Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in the Ogontz neighborhood on March 4, 2024, striking five people and killing 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor. Two days later, a group of teenagers shot eight other teens waiting at a bus stop near Northeast High School after school.

So far in 2024, 86 people have been killed in Philadelphia  the vast majority of them after being shot. And yet, the city is still on track to have the lowest number of homicides since 2016, a sign of just how violent it has been in past years.

A new study by New York University urban science researchers Rayan Succar and Maurizio Porfiri uses a methodology known as urban scaling to understand how violence in Philadelphia and other cities compares with what might be expected in cities based on their size. They answered the following questions for The Conversation.

What is urban scaling?

Big cities  filled with millions of people interacting with each other  are complex systems.

Urban scaling laws are used to explain how certain features of cities  from average salaries to road surface area to COVID infection rates  increase or decrease as population grows. These changes are not in direct relationship to population increases and decreases. In other words, the relationship isnt linear.

As surprising as it sounds, some quantities  the rate of homicides, for example  tend to increase even more than the rate of population growth. Mathematicians call this superlinear growth. So, a larger population leads to a statistical increase not just in the number of homicides but in the rate of homicides relative to the population.

Other quantities, such as gun ownership and access, may grow at a slower rate as city population increases. This is called sublinear growth. Our study shows that the percentage of gun owners and accessibility, measured by the number of licensed gun sellers in a specific metro region, generally decreases as population increases.

To get a more nuanced view, urban scientists like us use a measure called the Scale-Adjusted Metropolitan Indicator. This indicator was originally proposed by Luis Bettencourt, an urban scientist at the University of Chicago and the Santa Fe Institute. It takes into account nonlinear scaling patterns observed in cities, allowing for a more accurate comparison of different urban areas.

For our study, we used the SAMI to rank 833 U.S. metro areas in terms of homicide rates. We collected data on local rates of gun ownership, accessibility and the prevalence of homicides from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The data takes into account all guns owned  whether they were acquired legally or illegally.

National Guard troops were deployed to New York City in March 2024 to address rising crime on the subways. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

How did Philly compare with other big cities?

Philadelphia has far fewer homes with firearms and fewer gun dealers than what its population would predict. And yet, Philadelphia still experiences a higher-than-expected rate of violence.

Among the nine cities with populations over 5 million, the Philadelphia metropolitan area  this includes Camden, New Jersey, and Wilmington, Delaware  had the second-largest deviation from what is expected from its size. Chicago had the largest deviation, meaning it was more violent than its size suggests by the largest amount.

For comparison with other cities of varying size, Detroit also has more violence than expected for its population, while Miami is about average, and Boulder is much safer than expected.

While often perceived as unsafe, New York City is actually significantly more safe than one might expect given its population. In fact, it ranks as the least violent of cities with more than 5 million people.

New Yorks favorable scores suggest that efforts to reduce violence there have been successful, while efforts in Philadelphia arent working as well.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Rayan Succar, New York University and Maurizio Porfiri, New York University

Read more:



Rayan Succar receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

Maurizio Porfiri receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
(KRON)  Law enforcement recovered more than $326,000 worth of stolen goods from a suspected fencing operating in Oakland, according to the San Ramon Police Department. Products from stores like Walmart, TJ Maxx and Sunglass Hut were seized by police.

California Highway Patrol began an investigation into the operation in September after the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office (SMCSO) arrested several people believed to be involved in the theft of these items. Police described this as a fencing operation, which entails reselling stolen goods.

Walmart store in Fremont closing down

San Ramon police linked two females to the retail theft ring after they were arrested on suspicion of stealing $13,000 worth of cosmetics from Sephora at City Center Bishop Ranch in November.

CHP, SMCSO and SRPD collaborated to bust the fencing operation. They obtained search warrants for two homes in Oakland and a storage container.

The stolen goods located by law enforcement were taken from Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Target, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Safeway, Rite Aid and Sunglass Hut. The total estimated value is $326,693. Police also found $12,196 made from selling stolen goods. See images from CHP below:

Octavio Ambriz-Valle, 52, of Oakland was arrested on April 17 on counts of organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime, CHP said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israel counterprotesters squared off on the campus of UCLA this week as student protests over the Israel-Hamas war developed on a number of college campuses.

LOS ANGELES, CA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Pro-Israel demonstrators clash with each other on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Students protesting on campuses across US ask colleges to cut investments supporting Israel. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Pro-Israel demonstrators clash with each other on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Students protesting on campuses across US ask colleges to cut investments supporting Israel. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian students gather at an encampment as they demonstrate at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Students protesting on campuses across US ask colleges to cut investments supporting Israel. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian students gather at an encampment as they demonstrate at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Students protesting on campuses across US ask colleges to cut investments supporting Israel. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

Los Angeles, CA  April 25: Pro-Palestine protestors speak to the crowd while surrounding Royce Hall during a pro-Palestine protest that has students in an encampment outside at UCLA on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Los Angeles, CA  April 25: David Moritz holds a sign stating, Anti-Zionism is Genocidal Anti-Semitism, in front of pro-Palestine protestors during a pro-Palestine protest that has students in an encampment outside outside of Royce Hall at UCLA on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A student encampment protest at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A demonstrator protest during the pro-Palestine student encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: Students encampment protest at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A view of a student-built encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: Students encampment protest at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: Students encampment protest at the University of California, Los Angeles in solidarity with Palestinian people, in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A group of Israeli intervene and try to take a Palestinian flag from pro-Palestinian students as they gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: An Israeli man, holding a flag, argues with a pro-Palestinian student as pro-Palestinian students gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian students gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A group of Israeli, holding flags, face against Pro-Palestinian students as they gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A group of Israeli, holding flags and banners, face against Pro-Palestinian students as they gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: A group of Israeli, holding flags and banners, face against Pro-Palestinian students as they gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  APRIL 25: Pro-Palestinian students gather to protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at University of California (UCLA) in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 25, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

While the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, minor altercations have occurred.

The activists, including students and outside participants, are calling for universities to divest from any interests in Israel in response to Israels offensive against Hamas in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Throughout the past week, college campuses across the U.S. have been filled with protests over the Israel-Hamas war, which has endured for over 200 days.

It started on April 17, when protesters started an encampment at Columbia University to show their support for Palestinians. University president Minouche Shafik asked the New York Police Department to clear the area the next day, leading to the arrests of over 100 people. Since then, protests and encampments have shown up at over 30 other colleges and universities.

The antiwar protests have been unfolding around the country, and law enforcement has had a strong presence at the demonstrations. At Emerson College in Massachusetts, over 100 people were arrested on Thursday. At the University of Southern California, 93 people were arrested and the school canceled its main commencement ceremony due to the unrest. Nearly 60 arrests were made at the University of Texas at Austin.

Many of the universities, such as USC, Harvard University and Columbia University, have been occupied by encampments, rallies and an increased law enforcement presence. Thousands of students have called for the resignation of school presidents, demanded that universities divest from companies with ties to Israel and shown their support for Gaza.

A student is handcuffed by police during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Los Angeles police officers respond to a Pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Southern California. (Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Police personnel stand by during a demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A demonstrator chants during a rally at an encampment at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images via AFP)

Students gather for a protest at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Columbia University students set up an encampment on campus to show solidarity with people in Gaza. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Students at George Washington University pray following a protest in support of Palestinians. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Alumni and students demonstrate in support of Gaza at George Washington University. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A student uses a laptop while sitting in an encampment set up in support of Gaza at George Washington University. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)
French police slice migrant boat with knife and use pepper spray to thwart crossing

One police officer put a hole in the dinghy to prevent the boat from leaving - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP

French police have used a knife to puncture an inflatable boat as it prepared to leave Dunkirk with dozens of migrants attempting to cross the Channel to Britain.

One officer was photographed brandishing a knife after slicing the boat to prevent the group from leaving.

The attempted crossing was thwarted at the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk in northern France, on Friday.

Police also used pepper spray to disperse some of the migrants, who threw off their orange life jackets and were left looking dejected as their boat began deflating.

Five migrants, including a seven-year-old girl, died trying to cross the Channel from France on Tuesday, local authorities said.

Migrants were on the punctured inflatable dinghy as it tried to leave - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP

A Sudanese migrant cries after French police intervened in their crossing - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP

The deadly crossing came just hours after Parliament passed the Rwanda Bill into law, paving the way for asylum seekers who arrive in Britain without permission to be deported to the African country.

The police on Friday charged two men with immigration offences related to the deaths.

A 22-year-old from South Sudan had been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in Britain without valid entry clearance, Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Friday.

Another 22-year-old man from Sudan was charged with attempting to arrive without valid entry clearance.

Police used pepper spray to disperse the migrants - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP

Both men have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear in court in Kent on Friday.

An 18-year-old man from Sudan had been bailed pending further inquiries, the NCA statement added.

About 6,500 people have arrived in England on small boats from France so far this year.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, says the Rwanda policy will deter people from making the journey.

The Rwandan government said on Friday it would take as many migrants as Britain sent its way and urged shouting critics of the deportation plan to now let both nations proceed.

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Photographer John Rollins has visited the site five times to capture the killer whales in action - John Rollins

A pair of sea lion pups had a lucky escape after outsmarting a hunting Orca and leaving the giant whale stranded on a beach in Argentina.

The two pups were being pursued relentlessly by the killer whale - a pregnant female in search of her next meal - and managed to lure her onto the pebbled beach at Punta Norte on Peninsula Valdes.

The incident was captured by wildlife photographer John Rollins, 59, who has travelled to the area five times to photograph the Orcas hunting technique.

The sea lions pups were able to get away from the hunting whale after it became stranded on the beach - John Rollins

The female killer whale was drawn onto the beach when chasing the two sea lion pups - John Rollins

The Orcas of Peninsula Valdes in Patagonian Argentina have a unique hunting strategy of intentionally stranding themselves on the pebble beaches of the peninsula in order to hunt sea lion pups in the very shallow water. Mr Rollins said on his social media account.



The behaviour itself is rare and there are a number of obstacles to photographing it.

The Peninsula Valdes is a small, remote section of Argentinas coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It was made a Unesco World Heritage site in 1999 for its vast nature reserves and marine wildlife.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Friday that China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, and hopes the United States can also look at China's development in a positive light.

"This is a fundamental issue that must be addressed, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, in order for the China-U.S. relationship to truly stabilize, improve and move forward," Xi said when meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through winds and rains, and it has a number of important inspirations to offer.

Xi said China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions, rather than say one thing but do the opposite.

"I proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to be the three overarching principles. They are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future," Xi said.

At present, transformation not seen in a century is unfolding in a profound way, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent. It is the shared desire of both the two peoples and the international community to see China and the United States strengthen dialogue, manage differences and advance cooperation, Xi said.

"I've said many times that the planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the United States," Xi said.

Xi recalled his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in San Francisco last year, when they launched the San Francisco vision that is future-oriented. In the last couple of months, the two teams have acted on the common understandings of the two heads of state, maintained communication in various areas, and made some good progress.

"But there are still issues to be addressed which require further efforts. Your visit this time was agreed upon between President Biden and I in our phone call several weeks ago. I hope you will find it productive," Xi said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
This article was originally published in Nebraska Examiner.

LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday approved a Nebraska lawmakers replacement school choice measure as opponents now weigh how they will fight the new law.

Im very excited for a bunch of low-income kids who couldnt access an education that best fits their needs, and now theyll be able to, Linehan told the Nebraska Examiner on Wednesday.

While opponents successfully placed last years measure on the November 2024 ballot, which would allow voters to decide the fate of the Opportunity Scholarships Act, the status of that referendum remains uncertain because of LB 1402.

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Secretary of State Bob Evnen has not yet announced the fate of that referendum and whether it would remain on the ballot or be removed. A spokesperson said earlier this week the secretary was still consulting with the attorney general.

It would be the first time in state history that a legislative act nullifies an active ballot referendum.

With Pillens signature, LB 1402 will take effect mid-July since it passed 32-14 without an emergency clause, which would have allowed the bill to take effect one day after signing.

The previous law appropriated $25 million for one-to-one tax credits with an escalator clause that could have ballooned the appropriation to $100 million. Linehan at first sought $25 million for LB 1402 but reduced the price tag and removed the escalator clause to help get the bill over the finish line.

Linehan fought for multiple years to bring school choice to Nebraska and end its status as one of just two states without some form of school choice (the final is North Dakota).

Its a civil rights issue because if your family is stuck in a school district that doesnt work for you with no way out, that is not what America is supposed to be about, Linehan said earlier this month.

Opponents to devoting any public funds for private education, such as the Nebraska State Education Association, have vowed to act against LB 1402 and described its passage as a slap in the face to voters.

We will fight back against the cowardly and cynical attempt to deny Nebraskans their right to vote, Jenni Benson, president of the NSEA, said in a weekend statement.

Next steps could include legal action on the bills constitutionality or another referendum, which would require thousands of signatures by this summer.

Instead of sending public dollars to private schools, which are under no obligation to serve all children, state funds should be used to support the public schools that 9 out of 10 Nebraska students attend, Benson said.

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and Twitter.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A retired fire captain is calling for safety improvements in Temple Terrace.

For the past year, hes been fighting the city for a proper crosswalk and lighted signs to protect children in his community. With no results, he turned to 8 On Your Side for help.

Speeding along Ridgedale Road is Fred Morellos biggest concern. Morellos not only an accomplished retired fire captain, hes also a grandfather. He wants to see safety changes not only for his family but for the community.

Along Ridgedale Road there are two schools, a ball field, a playground and a church. Its a hub for kids and their families.

All I really wanted was a proper crosswalk, which they dont have now, said Morello. A raised crosswalk with a button that you could push lights so kids can get back-and-forth safely.

Morello has been living in this area for more than three decades. Hes seen how dangerous this road can be.

A car got totaled, I believe it was last year, he said. Theres been multiple dogs hit along this road, so its just a matter of time.

Morello took his concerns to the police chief, mayor, and councilmembers. Only one councilmember responded.

The response was again, nobody uses the crosswalk, and it would slow down emergency vehicles, said Morello.

But as a first responder with 33 years of experience, Morello says thats not true.

They make raised crosswalks specifically for emergency vehicles to drive through without slowing down, he said. I tried to get the city to do a traffic study for months and I contacted News Channel 8. Lo and behold, the next day they started the traffic study, said Morello.

Temple Terrace police completed a speed data analysis.

68% of the vehicles that travel this road are speeding, said Morello.

Police clocked a driver speeding 74 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone on Ridgedale. Over a five month period, police stopped 123 drivers and cited 49 of them.

The worst thing is seeing a child get hurt, and this to me is an easy fix, he said.

8 On Your Side reached out to city leaders. Vice Mayor Meredith Abel said shes been in contact with Morello.

Our council highly prioritizes increasing the safety of the streets in Temple Terrace, and it is a topic council frequently addresses. As the council liaison for the Temple Terrace Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, this issue is very important to me personally as well. School zones, especially the one on Ridgedale which also has a church, playground, and ball fields, attract a lot of people and therefore need special consideration, Abel wrote in an email.

She said the city has been monitoring the speeding issues on Ridgedale and is in the process of making plans for safety improvements.

She said council has discussed installing speed cameras in school zones, but is waiting to see the outcome of a Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office program first.

Abel said new school zone signs have been ordered and engineers are drafting a school zone signing plan based on new requirements.

The city is also currently reaching out to vendors for quotes on solar school flashing beacons. Were adjusting this project to also include school pavement markings as suggested by our third-party reviewer. In addition, were suggesting to remove and replace the crosswalk markings at the intersection of Ridgedale Road and Woodmont Avenue. Engineering is working on a request for a Ridgedale Road Complete Street design funds for a future budget year, said Abel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A 20-year-old man suspected of killing nearly 18,000 young salmon at an Oregon fish hatchery was charged with burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief, and will be charged with poaching as well.

The suspect faces a huge financial penalty and possibly a lifetime fishing ban.

The chinook salmon died after a gallon of bleach was poured into one of the four rearing tanks at the hatchery, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Joshua Heckathorn was arrested after sheriffs deputies discovered him behind a locked gate at the Gardiner, Reedsport and Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program hatchery in Reedsport.

Heckathorn admitted to trespassing on the property, entering a storage location and handling the chemical bottle on Monday night.

The killing of these fish is a real blow to the STEP Program Volunteers, ODFW, fishermen, and the community as a whole, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Sergeant Levi Harris said. In my 25 years as a game warden, this is one of the most senseless acts I have seen.

The Douglas County Sheriffs Office and the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division are collaborating efforts to address vandalism on the property and the significant poaching incident.

From the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Poaching charges will include Unlawful Taking Chinook Salmon for 17,890 fish, which raised the charge to a Class C felony. In addition, Heckathorn faces charges of Making a Toxic Substance Available to Wildlife, which is a Class A Misdemeanor; and Criminal Mischief 1st Degree (Damaging or destroying property of another in an amount exceeding $1,000). Additional penalties could include a lifetime angling license suspension and damage suits for unlawful killing of wildlife. The maximum civil penalty in Oregon for illegal take of a single Chinook salmon is $750. Courts have the authority to multiply that amount by the number of fish taken, with a judgment in this case potentially raising the amount to over $13 million, according to Sergeant Harris. Although it is unlikely to elevate to that level, the case represents a significant loss to the STEP program The estimated 18,000 fish lost contribute to the lower Umpqua River fall Chinook fishery and would have joined approximately 60,000 other fall Chinook pre-smolts that will be fin clipped and released in June.

You get attached to those fish, said Deborah Yates, president of the STEP program. When nature does something, its crushing. But its nature and it happens. But when someone comes in and does something like this, you cant wrap your head around it. We have so many hours wrapped up in those fish, to have someone come in so cavalier, and kill them, it doesnt make sense.

Photo caption: Hatchery Manager Tim Hooper shovels the dead pre-smolts from the bottom of the rearing pond. The fish will be frozen for future evidence in the criminal case. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Story originally appeared on For The Win
The Polish government will consider Ukraine's decision to suspend consular services for men aged 18-60 years in the general decision to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens, which is at the preparation stage now.

Source: Polish radio station RMF24; Interior Minister Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski on Polish 24-hour commercial news channel TVN24

The minister was asked what Ukrainian men who are currently in Poland should be expecting, given Ukraine's decision to suspend consular services, as for many of them, this may result in problems with documents.

Kierwinski said that all decisions regarding Ukrainian citizens in Poland are included in a special law, and recently, Poland extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until 30 June.

"In a few days, we will submit a new version of this law, where all issues will be resolved," the minister said.

He added that Deputy Minister Matei Duszczyk is in charge of developing a solution to the situation.

Kierwinski added that Poland does not disclose data on refugees who are in Poland, "in particular to the Ukrainian side."

Polish Defene Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz assumed that his government could assist Ukraine with the repatriation of the men liable for military service, but he never specified what it would look like exactly.

Background:

On 23 April, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, confirmed the message on suspending consular services to Ukrainian men abroad who are liable for military service.

Later, the Foreign Ministry indicated that after the mobilisation law takes effect on 18 May 2024, "the process of accepting and reviewing applications for consular actions will continue, taking into account the new requirements arising from the provisions of the law."

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Police: Ann Arbor crash leaves car vertical in the air, driver arrested for DUI

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  An early morning crash in Ann Arbor left a car stuck atop a street sign, police say.

The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. Friday at Lincoln Avenue and Wells Street, the Ann Arbor Police Department said in a social media post. For reference, thats about a mile east if the Michigan Stadium.

An Ann Arbor crash on April 26, 2024 left a car stuck atop a street sign, police say. (Courtesy Ann Arbor Police Department)

An Ann Arbor crash on April 26, 2024 left a car stuck atop a street sign, police say. (Courtesy Ann Arbor Police Department)

Police say a 24-year-old woman from Ypsilanti hit a guy wire attached to a pole, then landed on the street sign. When officers arrived, the car was vertical in the air, with the driver and her three adult passengers outside. No one was hurt.

The driver was arrested for driving with a blood alcohol content of .17% or more, Ann Arbor police say.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

This is another reminder of the dangers of driving drunk. It was very fortunate there were no serious injuries in this incident, the police department said in the social media post. Always plan for a sober ride home  NEVER drive buzzed or drunk.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Police catch man point laser at plane as they investigate 40 incidents, Florida cops say

Dozens of flights were subjected to laser pointer strikes as they approached a Tampa airport over the last five months, and investigators suspected one person was responsible for many of those incidents, Florida authorities said.

Now, a 47-year-old man has been charged.

The Tampa Police Department and the FBI began looking into the laser incidents in April, the police department said in an April 25 news release.

Since January 1st, 2024, TPD has investigated over 40 incidents where lasers were pointed at incoming flights, posing a serious danger to pilots and passengers, the department said. The investigation narrowed the suspect location to a specific area in South Tampa.

They began staking out the home and gathering evidence, until shortly after midnight on April 25, officers on the ground and from the air caught him in the act, police said.

Authorities said he pointed a blue laser at a Jet Blue flight.

And again, 100% confirmed blue light was just shining in the air, someone is heard saying in footage released by the police department.

The pilot confirmed seeing the laser but didnt think it was intentional at the time, according to the footage from that night released by police. The plane landed safely, police said.

As the man returned to his home, law enforcement moved in and searched him. He didnt have a laser on him, but when they searched his home they found two lasers, law enforcement said.

He told police he had pointed a laser at a plane at that time, according to court documents.

In the first three months of 2024, 3,431 incidents of lasers pointed at aircraft have been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. Of those reports, 58 came from the Tampa International Airport.

The man was arrested and charged with misuse of a laser lighting device, which is a felony in Florida. His attorney information is not available in Hillsborough County case records.

These laser strikes are not only illegal but also incredibly reckless behavior that could have resulted in a tragic accident, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said.

Pointing a laser at a pilot can obscure their vision and disorient them, which can increase risk to passengers as well, according to the FAA.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Denver police arrested a man who they say intentionally hit a pedestrian following an altercation.

On Thursday just before 5:30 p.m., Denver Police Department officers were called to a crash between a driver and a pedestrian in the area of 14th Street and Larimer Street near Larimer Square.

On Friday morning, Denver police said 55-year-old Michael Knight was arrested on charges of second-degree assault in relation to the crash.

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According to an affidavit obtained by FOX31, Knight was driving a black BMW eastbound on 14th Street. Officers looked at HALO footage from the area and saw a white male wearing a white shirt use his hand to smash the drivers side mirror of the BMW. Officers said the man was riding on a skateboard.

Denver police did not say what led to the altercation between the skateboarder and Knight.

After that, police said Knight intentionally drove the BMW the wrong way down 14th Street and followed a white man wearing a white colored sweatshirt on a scooter. Knight allegedly hit the victim with his car.

Parents want independent investigation after attempted kidnapping at Aurora elementary school

Currently, the victim is on a breathing tube, police said.

After looking at the footage, police confirmed that the man who hit Knights mirror was a different person than the victim who was hit by the BMW.

The investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A man is suing the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, for body camera footage, saying its release will show his brother was unarmed and running when an officer shot him in the back.

Jon Anderton, a 50-year-old houseless man, was killed by a Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department officer on Feb. 3, 2023.

His brother Eric Anderton filed a lawsuit this month in Wyandotte County District Court seeking public release of body camera recordings from the shooting. The lawsuit was filed against the Unified Government and KCKPD. The UG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The police department said it could not send responses on Friday.

According to the lawsuit, Jon Anderton called 911 when one of his friends overdosed. He waited until EMTs began arriving and then left on his bike.

An officer located him and an exchange of some sort followed, the Kansas City Police Department, which handled the investigation, said at the time. The officer fired at Anderton, who KCPD said had a firearm.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree announced no charges would be filed against the officer in August.

Under Kansas law, family members can view body camera footage.

Eric Anderton watched the recording at the police department in August. According to the lawsuit, the police put out a misleading narrative.

The petition said the officer stopped Jon Anderton, who said he left the scene because he didnt think there was anything he could do to help. When the officer went to arrest him, Anderton began running toward a patch of trees. When he reached down to grab his pants that had fallen below his waist, the officer fired about three times at Andertons back, the lawsuit said. Anderton fell to the ground and the officer continued to shoot several more times.

The lawsuit said no weapon was visible in the video.

This case is about whether the public should be able to know if the police agency tasked with protecting and serving them is telling the truth, the lawsuit said.

Footage and transparency

In late March, Eric Anderton filed a public records request for the videos. The Unified Government denied it on April 8, saying the recordings do not have to be released because they are part of criminal investigation records and would constitute an invasion of privacy.

However, criminal investigation records can be released if a court finds them to be in the publics interest.

Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, which filed the petition, said the community should know what happens when a police officer takes a life.

When theres conflicting narratives about government misconduct, thats enough of a reason to open the information up to the public, she said.

Anderton argues that in this case, the public has an interest in resolving conflicting narratives. The lawsuit also said that the public would be able to evaluate KCKPDs use of force training and leadership, understand their own risk of violence when interacting with the departments officers and evaluate the district attorney.

It went on to say that access to the footage is essential for community trust. The relationship between the police department and the community has been marred by several scandals, including the ongoing federal prosecution of Roger Golubski, a retired KCKPD detective accused of rape and conspiring to sex traffic underage girls.

The lawsuit also said any privacy concerns regarding the officer or Jon Anderton could be addressed by blurring footage.

Bonds told The Star that accountability in this case was about the department as a whole, that theres at least going to be some pressure for them to explain the original statement that they put out, that theres going to be some pressure for them to explain how this (shooting) happened.

A Star investigation published last month found that Kansas discretionary laws on the release of criminal investigation records has created a patchwork of transparency across the state.

In the five years from 2019 to 2023, police officers fatally shot 47 people in Kansas. Officers were cleared of criminal charges in all of the cases. The Star requested videos from all of the shootings under the Kansas Open Records Act. Where recordings existed, officials denied releasing them to the public 67% of the time.

Eight of those fatal police shootings were in Kansas City, Kansas. The department released one video in 2022. The department denied releasing footage from the other seven fatal shootings, which included Andertons.

If its something that we feel is in the best interest of the public, then we would release it, Police Chief Karl Oakman said during an interview last month.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through wind and rain, and the two sides can draw a few important lessons.

China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another.

Xi said he proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the three overarching principles for the relationship, which are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future.

Xi emphasized that in his phone call with President Joe Biden three weeks ago, he shared his thoughts on how to stabilize and develop China-U.S. relations in 2024, and underlined that the two sides should value peace, prioritize stability, and uphold credibility.

"The finer details will fall into place when they are aligned with the bigger picture," Xi said he once stressed. The world today is undergoing transformation not seen in a century. How to respond to it is a question of the times and of the world.

Xi said his answer is to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has become a flag of China's foreign policy and has been welcomed by many countries.

Planet Earth is only this big, and humanity is faced with so many common challenges. As an old Chinese saying goes, "Passengers in the same boat should help each other," he said.

"Today, as I see it, dwellers of the same planet should help each other. We live in an interdependent world and rise and fall together. With their interests deeply intertwined, all countries need to build maximum consensus for win-win and all-win outcomes. This is the basic starting point for China to view the world and the China-U.S. relationship," Xi said.

Xi underlined his view that major countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and act with broad-mindedness and a sense of responsibility.

He said China and the United States should set an example in this regard, undertake responsibilities for world peace, create opportunities for the development of all countries, provide the world with public goods, and play a positive role in promoting global unity.

Xi underscored that in his meeting with President Biden in San Francisco, he proposed five pillars for China-U.S. relations, namely, jointly developing a right perception, jointly managing disagreements effectively, jointly advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries, and jointly promoting people-to-people exchanges.

They should serve as the underpinning for the mansion of China-U.S relations. When the overarching principles are established, specific issues will become easier to address, Xi said.

"China is willing to cooperate, but cooperation should be a two-way street. China is not afraid of competition, but competition should be about progressing together instead of playing a zero-sum game," Xi said.

China is committed to non-alliance, and the United States should not create small blocs. While each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other, he added.

"China welcomes a confident, open, prosperous and thriving United States, and hopes the United States will also look at China's development in a positive light," said the Chinese president.

Xi stressed that as a Chinese saying goes, "No progress means regress," it also applies to China-U.S. relations.

Noting that the stabilizing trend in China-U.S. relations did not come by easily, Xi said it is hoped that the two teams will continue working actively to follow through on the San Francisco vision he and President Biden reached, so as to truly stabilize, improve and move forward the bilateral relations.

Secretary Blinken conveyed President Biden's greetings to President Xi. He noted that since President Biden and President Xi met in San Francisco, the United States and China have made good progress in their cooperation in such areas as bilateral interactions, counter-narcotics, artificial intelligence and people-to-people exchanges.

Blinken said the multiplicity and complexity of the challenges the world faces require the United States and China working together, adding that the Americans from all walks of life that he met during the visit all expressed the hope to see U.S.-China relations improve.

The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to suppress China's development, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, and has no intention to have a conflict with China, said Blinken.

The United States adheres to the one-China policy, Blinken said, adding that the United States hopes to maintain communication with the Chinese side, follow through on what the two presidents agreed in San Francisco, seek more cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, responsibly manage differences, and achieve stable development of U.S.-China relations.

President Xi asked Secretary Blinken to convey his regards to President Biden.

Wang Yi participated in the meeting. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Harrowing Video Shows A Black Mans Last Words As Police Knelt On Him

Frank Tyson, 53, died in the custody of Canton, Ohio, police on April 18. Canton Police Department

Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old Black man, died in police custody in Canton, Ohio, after an officer knelt on his back, causing him to become unresponsive, graphic body camera footage released by the city shows.

On April 18, Canton police responded to an accident after Tyson allegedly sheared an electrical pole off the side of the road and then ran, according to the department. Footage shows Tysons unoccupied car in a grassy area nearby with the drivers-side door left open and the steering wheel airbag deployed.

Canton police, who arrived at the scene just a little before 8:30 p.m., were told Tyson had fled to a veterans club. They walked in and confronted Tyson.

In the body cam footage, as the officers approach, Tyson yells, They are trying to kill me! He pulls away and a scuffle ensues. Someone can be heard in the background saying, They are trying to help you.

The officers grab Tyson, who can be heard telling them to get the sheriff, and force him to the ground. Tyson continues shouting, saying the officers are trying to kill him. One officer can be heard threatening to pepper spray Tyson while they attempt to handcuff him, but another officer tells him not to.

A little over a minute into the struggle, an officer presses his knee into Tysons back while another handcuffs him. Tyson tells the officer to get off of him, but another officer tells him to calm down.

I cant breathe, I cant breathe, Tyson says repeatedly.

Frank Tyson, 53, died after Canton, Ohio police officers tried to handcuff him on April 18, 2024. Canton Police Department

Police finish handcuffing Tyson, who again tells them that he cant breathe, while lying face-down on the floor.

Youre fine. Shut the fuck up, one officer can be heard saying in response.

Tyson appears to become unresponsive.

Roughly six minutes pass before an officer checks to see if he has a pulse, per the video.

Police officers eventually begin CPR, and continue doing compressions until medics arrive some 10 minutes later. Tyson was pronounced dead at 9:18.

A police statement released Thursday made no mention of the length of time between when Tyson was handcuffed and when police began resuscitation attempts.

Shortly after securing him in handcuffs, Officers recognized that Tyson had become unresponsive. CPR and several doses of Narcan were administered prior to the arrival of Canton Fire Department Medics, a statement from Canton police said.

The case was handed over to the Ohio attorney generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation to conduct an independent investigation of the deadly encounter.

Two officers on the call, Beau Schoenegge and Camden Burch, were placed on administrative leave, the department said.

I want to extend my deepest sympathy to those close to Mr. Tyson, Canton Police Department Chief John Gabbard said. Based on experience, I am confident that BCI will conduct a very thorough review.

Last December, the Canton Police Department shot and killed Zachary Fornash, a 24-year-old man armed with a pellet gun, after a foot chase near an apartment complex. Attorneys representing Fornashs family filed a civil lawsuit. No officer was indicted, local Fox affiliate WJW reported.

The citys mayor, William V. Sherer II, released a statement Wednesday following the release of the police footage.

Today we have released the bodycam footage of the arrest incident involving the death of Mr. Frank E. Tyson. I sat down with members of the Tyson family to not only allow them to see what is now being released to the public, but to give them my condolences in person, Sherer said.

As we make it through this challenging time, my goal is to be as transparent with this community as possible, he added.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 53-year-old man living in a transitional housing property in Portlands Buckman neighborhood was arrested for multiple animal abuse charges on April 21 after he allegedly slashed another residents dog with a machete.

An affidavit was filed on April 22, documenting evidence collected by Portland Police Bureau Officer Sean Burns, who responded to the scene of the crime shortly before 2 p.m. The affidavit states multiple witnesses saw Clifford Apartments resident Ricardo Perez-Rodriguez enter the building on Morrison Street and swing a machete at a fellow resident, slicing her dog in the face.

Police: 3 armed robberies within hour on Portlands west side possibly connected

Perez-Rodriquez told officers that he used the machete after the dog tried to attack him. However, apartment employee Yasmin Garrett told the officer that Perez-Rodriquez used the machete after he started an argument with the resident, telling her to shut up.

Officer Burns reported that he reviewed surveillance video of the incident that was consistent with Garrett and [and the victims] statements, the affidavit reads.

Perez-Rodriquez faces charges of first and second-degree animal abuse, two counts of attempting to commit a Class B felony, and two coins of unlawful use of a weapon.

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The Clifford is an affordable housing project that offers 88 studio apartments for people with very high barriers to housing, including people leaving homelessness, transitioning out of prison or jail, and those in recovery, the Portland Housing Bureau website states.

Portland Housing Bureau spokesperson Gabriel Mathews told KOIN 6 News that the Clifford Apartments are owned by Innovative Housing, Inc., and that the PHB is not involved with enforcing any evictions at the property. The property is managed by Pilina Property Management, according to PHB.

While PHB regulates affordability at the Clifford Apartments, our involvement in the building essentially stops there, Mathews said in a statement.

KOIN 6 reached out to Innovative Housing, Inc. and Perez-Rodriquezs attorney for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  South of Broadway also known as SoBro is a neighborhood with condos, bars and restaurants. Soon, it could also have a new skyscraper.

The minute you come over the river in SoBro and you get on Korean Veterans Boulevard, youre looking right at our property, explained Tony Giarranta, the owner and developer of the land sitting at 800 Lea Street.

Its one of the most prime parcels in SoBro, said Giarratana. Right now, its where a parking lot once sat.

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Giarratana bought it several years ago with plans to create a skyscraper that would sit right on the roundabout. We designed a 45-story building, a magnificent building, a really beautiful building, said Giarratana. And I told everybody and we got it approved. We got site plan approval for it, LEED Platinum, all those kinds of good things.

The dramatic structure will be 610 feet tall with large units, some for sale and some for rent. This is a magnificent piece of property. No other property has as much frontage on that roundabout as we do, said Giarratana.

(Courtesy: Giarratana Development)

The plans were poised to advance, but Giarratana was waiting on another project to take the first step. I told everybody, were not going to move forward with this project until the Ritz goes. Because Im 67 years old, I didnt want to pioneer yet another area, so Ill let the Ritz go and and then next to them.

The Ritz Carlton was also all set to go until the first week of April, when the property where the Ritz was planned went into foreclosure. With the Ritz on hold, Giarratana said 800 Lea is following suit, for now. Im glad youre asking about it, because itll cause me to reach out to my neighbors and ask them if they would like to start talking about doing something together, he said.

Origin story behind Nashvilles original skyscraper: the L&C tower

The ripple effect is an unfortunate part of development, but not one Giarratana is worried about.

There is like a domino effect and the first domino needs to fall. And each domino thereafter needs to fall in order for a project to move forward. The Ritz is a perfect example of an interruption in that in those dominos, he said.

(Courtesy: Giarratana Development)

For Giarratana, his dominos are still in place and ready to fall, when the timing is right.

Its a beautiful building, he said. The footprint of the building really maximizes the site.

New Pinnacle building to tower over Nashville Yards

The land is 17,561 square feet or .40 acres, but that could change with nearby spots catching Giarratanas eye. There are two adjoining parcels that are grossly underutilized. So the property could be expanded in size, he said. But were patient.

800 Lea is the working name for the project.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A TCAP testing dilemma has some students, teachers and even the teachers union worried.

Whitehaven High School students were in the heat of TCAP testing April 18 when the school had a power failure. Students were only halfway through the electronic test and were not able to finish.

If the power is out there, that compromises the entire test. So some of the children, none of them had completed the test, but they were at various points, said Keith Williams with the Memphis Education Association.

Williams is with the Teachers Union and represents that area of Whitehaven on the school board. He says he started getting calls immediately.

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Whitehaven High School, it must be noted, scored very well last year. We believe that there may be some conspiracy that is designed to impugn the integrity of that school and their efforts to improve, and that does not pass the smell test, he said.

WREG also got calls from teachers. We are told at Whitehaven, around 100 kids were affected, having only 38 minutes of test time, instead of the normal hour and a half.

They fear low scores could lower the schools and students ranking.

It impacts the teacher because their pay is tied to the students score. They will not get their bonuses they will not get their state pay, their payments from the state for improvement, if the students do not improve, said Williams. So, it impugns a lot of people and most specifically the child. The children could be left with a lower GPA, a lower entrance college thing.

Williams says the testing company doesnt want to allow the students to resume the test.

You could not have a standardized test and not have things in place to substitute for power failures. Thats just an act of God. Youd have no control over that. It happened in Knoxville last year and the students there were allowed to retest. Whats the difference? he said.

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WREG reached out to the State Department of Education. They replied back with the following statement:

Testing disruptions brought about by power loss, internet connectivity issues and other acts of nature are not isolated events and have occurred each year since Tennessee transitioned to online testing (including power outages in other districts besides MSCS during the current administration of state tests).

There are protocols in place to manage these issues that are applied uniformly across all Tennessee schools and districts. In the event that a disruption is brief, students can often resume testing the same day. In events where this is not the case, like the outage at Whitehaven, protocols to ensure test integrity preclude students from being able to start over and take the test again. We have been clear about that with district leadership. That said, there are options open to ensure no districts, schools, or students are negatively impacted.

The department has confirmed with MSCS Director of Schools Dr. Marie Feagins that none of the disrupted or incomplete test records will be factored into accountability determinations for the school if the district chooses to submit an appeal. This would mean that the MSCS has the option of moving forward in such a way as these scores would not, in any way, negatively impact student grades or GPA, something thats critically important for students and their families.

After extensive communications with MSCS informing them of the options available to them, the final decision on how this will be handled and the impact it will have rests with MSCS.

We also asked MSCS what they plan to do. They sent us a statement earlier this week.

The power outage that affected some students at Havenview Middle and Whitehaven High, is an unfortunate situation beyond our control. However, we are actively seeking solutions.

The situation is beyond your control, but not the solution. Because you pay for this test, said Williams in response to the statement from MSCS. It is unfair. It is almost criminal to deprive children in this school system of the right to complete this all important exam.

MSCS still has not told us exactly what it plans to do regarding the testing. Some state lawmakers are also weighing in since next week is the deadline for test scores.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Premature baby girl rescued from her dead mother's womb dies in Gaza after 5 days in an incubator

A Palestinian baby girl, Sabreen Jouda, who was delivered prematurely after her mother was killed in an Israeli strike along with her husband and daughter, lies in an incubator in the Emirati hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammad Jahjouh)

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  A premature Palestinian infant, rescued from her mother's womb shortly after the woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike, has died, her uncle said Friday.

Sabreen Jouda died in a Gaza hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated and medical teams were unable to save her, said her uncle, Rami al-Sheikh.

Sabreen's home in the southern Gaza city of Rafah was hit by an Israeli airstrike shortly before midnight Saturday. Her parents and 4-year-old sister were killed.

First responders took the bodies to a nearby hospital, where medical workers performed an emergency cesarean section on her mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, who was 30 weeks' pregnant. The infant was kept in an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit at another hospital until she died five days later.

Al-Sheikh told The Associated Press that Sabreen was buried next to her father on Thursday.

We were attached to this baby in a crazy way, he said, speaking near Sabreen's grave in a cemetery in Rafah.

God had taken something from us but given us something in return" with the baby surviving after her family died, he said. "But (now) he has taken them all. My brothers family is completely wiped out. It's been deleted from the civil registry. There is no trace of him left behind.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas war, according to local health officials, who say about two-thirds of the dead are women and children. The health officials don't differentiate among combatants and civilians in their count.

Israel declared war on Hamas and unleashed a pulverizing air and ground offensive in Gaza in response to the militants' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took another 250 hostage.

More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for a possible offensive in the city.
In the closing weeks of World War IIs European theatre, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 63. The responsibility of defeating Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan and managing future post-war efforts fell upon his successor, Harry Truman.

Truman took the oath of office that day and, with the weight of nations on his shoulders, set about finishing the war.

Also that day, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who in the past called then-Senator Truman and requested he cease inquiries into a Minneapolis factory that was tied to a secret weapons program, made quick mention to President Truman of a new weapon capable of destroying the entire world.

The Nazis would ultimately capitulate less than a month later. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker on April 30 during the Battle of Berlin. The remaining Nazi high command surrendered shortly thereafter, and Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) was declared on May 8, leaving Japan as the allied powers only remaining foe.

Exactly two weeks after Truman ascended to the presidency, Secretary Stimson sent the Commander-in-Chief a brief, albeit important, note.

Dear Mr. President: I think it is very important that I should have a talk with you as soon as possible on a highly secret matter. I mentioned it to you shortly after you took office but have not urged it since on account of the pressure you have been under. It, however, has such a bearing on our present foreign relations and has such an important effect upon all my thinking in this field that I think you ought to know about it without much further delay. Faithfully yours, Henry L. Stimson

Secretary of War

Truman would not see the note until the following morning, April 25, 1945. Stimson and Army General Leslie Groves were summoned to the White House and informed the president of the top secret research program to develop an atomic superweaponthe Manhattan Project.

Even though Germany had surrendered, Stimson and Groves, who was in charge of the project, imparted to Truman the significance of a weapon as a means of keeping the Soviets in check in the aftermath of the war.

Following the successful Trinity test of the first atomic bomb at Alamogordo on July 16, Truman gave approval to use the weapon against Japan. Prior to the Trinity test, the U.S. military and scientific members of the Manhattan Project discussed potential bombing targets. This Targeting Committee named five potential targets: Kokura, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Niigata, and Kyoto. However, Kyoto was later pulled from the list at Stimsons insistence; Nagasaki was the replacement.

On August 6, the first atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Its estimated that 130,000 to 215,000 peoplemostly civilianswere killed in the bombings.

Japan surrendered on August 15, with the formal declaration taking place on September 2.

Secretary Stimson resigned on September 21. Two years later, he penned an opinion piece in Harpers Magazine explaining the governments rationale for developing and using atomic weapons.

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NEW YORK (AP)  President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall  his most definitive comment yet on the issue.

Trump said he was ready, though he questioned Bidens's willingness.

Biden's comment came during an interview with the Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern, who asked him whether he would participate in debates against Trump.

I am, somewhere. I dont know when, Biden said. But Im happy to debate him.

Until now, Bidens reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

Biden himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behavior. The two men debated twice during the 2020 general election  a campaign year constrained significantly by COVID-19 restrictions  and Biden was notably irritated by Trump's antics in the chaotic first debate that year.

Will you shut up? Biden told Trump at one point during the first debate.

Trump campaign officials have said for some time that the former president is prepared to debate Biden anytime, and Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Bidens remarks on the social media site X: OK lets set it up!

Later Friday, Trump reacted to Biden's new public willingness to debate by saying everyone knows he doesn't really mean it but suggested either next Monday evening, Tuesday evening or Wednesday evening, when Trump will be campaigning in Michigan. The former president is suggesting evenings because he is otherwise attending proceedings for his hush money criminal trial in New York.

Trump is required to be in court every day but Wednesdays. In a statement on his own social media platform, Trump also challenged Biden to debate at the Manhattan courthouse on Friday night, since both men were in New York at the same time. Biden has since returned to Washington.

Yet Friday is also Melania Trump's birthday, and the former president had already said earlier in the day that he was flying back to Florida to spend the day with his wife once his trial had wrapped for the day.

As Trump left court for the day in New York on Friday afternoon, he repeated his challenge and said: Were ready. Just tell me where. I will do it at the White House. That would be very comfortable, actually.

Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates this cycle.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.

A dozen news organizations, including The Associated Press, wrote to the Biden and Trump campaigns earlier this month to urge both candidates to participate in the debates.

Biden engages in relatively fewer press interviews than his predecessors, and his aides tend to choose outlets and media avenues outside the traditional press corps that covers the president in Washington. His interview with Stern on Friday, which ran well over an hour, took on an informal and introspective tone and spanned topics that included Bidens upbringing, family, and his favorite president (Thomas Jefferson, Biden said).

The interview also occurred the day after The New York Times issued a statement criticizing Biden for shunning formal interviews and conducting fewer news conferences than his predecessors. The newspaper said that its publisher, A.G. Sulzberger, has urged senior Biden officials to agree to presidential interviews not just with the Times but with other news outlets.

Still, the timing of the Stern interview was coincidental; a person familiar with the plans said the White House has been working with the Sirius XM host for weeks to arrange the conversation. The person was granted anonymity to discuss internal planning processes.

Less the shock jock of old, Stern still commands a loyal audience. And hes become known for his conversational interviewing skills. He can turn talks with celebrities into revealing discussions, often by asking things others might be afraid to, but not in confrontational ways.

___

Associated Press writers David Bauder and Michelle Price contributed to this report. Kim reported from Washington.
Late morning on the second day of Passover in Stamford Hill, north-east London, the streets are busy with families on their way to synagogue. Women push double buggies  often with at least one too many children for the number of seats spilling out of them  men walk in groups and with purpose. Its a sunny morning and this is a holy day and a happy day for this tight-knit community.

This year, though, there is also a tension in the air. The synagogues have extra security; the community is a little more cautious than usual. Were on guard, says one mother  a 49-year-old orthodox Jewish woman. Do I feel safe to let my children out alone? No, I dont.

A mother of eight (she asked not to be named), she says that previously she has never felt unsafe in London  something she doesnt take for granted. We always thank this country in our prayers, she says. We always thank the King. We are grateful to live in a place where we can be safe. Since Hamass Oct 7 terror attack on Israel, some say a division has begun to be woven into the fabric of the capital.

Stamford Hill is home to the second highest concentration of Jews in the city  visibly so, with orthodox men and boys in particular marked out by their traditional dark clothing, black or fur hats and sidelocks.

Orthodox Jews in traditional dress, seen in Stamford Hill - David Rose

But, in recent months, this mother has felt less and less comfortable going to areas where she is likely to feel more conspicuous. I had to go for an appointment with one of my children recently at the Royal London Hospital. Ive never felt unsafe there before and this time I felt eyes on me.

My son is visibly Jewish. Thats what I worry about  the boys. Its different for them. I worry about them going out on their own.

While much of her daily life (and that of so many others in her community) is contained within the two square miles of Stamford Hill, she is keen to stress that it would be wrong to think that it would be normal for people here to rarely cross the boundaries of their neighbourhood. The thing is yes we live here but we all have lives. Were not here practising religion all day. I travel around London all day. I travel around the world, I travel around Europe for my business. Ive never felt uncomfortable but always wary  definitely wary, looking over my shoulder.

But people get on with their lives here. We are a resilient people.

For many in the Jewish community in Britain  and, indeed, the Muslim community, both of which have experienced spikes in hate crime since Oct 7  that wariness on the streets that she describes will be all too familiar. Many sense the edginess that has been bubbling up amid the continuing conflict. Some say that edginess is being stoked by the weekly pro-Palestine marches.

Last weekend, a video of Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, on the fringes of a march in central London went viral. In the footage, an officer policing the march blocks Falters way, telling him: You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, Im not accusing you of anything but Im worried about the reaction to your presence. Falter was told he would be arrested for breach of peace if he chose to stay alongside the march.

A longer version of the video has since shown police explaining to Falter he was being asked to move on because he appeared to be looking to try to antagonise things. Falter maintains he was victimised for being in the vicinity of a pro-Palestine march, and that the Met has questions to answer about the impact of these protests on Jewish Londoners.

It has become intimidation, he says, speaking two days after the video went viral. Every single week now these marches are happening. Theyre sending a very chilling message to the Jewish community, and I think that the time has come for them to stop.

Something that is disturbing is that the Met has powers to stop these marches. The threshold is that the marches have to be causing serious disruption to the life of the community and they even changed the law last year at the Mets behest so that the Met is allowed to take into account the cumulative effect of march after march.

And they just wont use the powers. So I look on that and I think these marches are becoming intimidatory and the Met is unwilling to use its powers to do anything about them and bring them under control.

Pro-Palestine protesters march to the office of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in Mornington Crescent - Geoff Pugh

The Met told The Telegraph that Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, met the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews on Thursday and had a constructive and positive conversation, with agreement to continue to work more closely with communities going forward.

For some, deepening wells of fear, resentment or discomfort in communities that are living cheek by jowl shouldnt just be seen as an inevitable consequence of a period of global conflict  it should serve as a warning sign, particularly to the police. Britain has a long history of multiculturalism, but it also has, just the other side of the Irish sea, an example of what it looks like when neighbourhoods are truly divided.

In Northern Ireland in the 1980s you were victimised by indifference to your fears, says Northern Irish academic Prof Peter Shirlow, director of the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool and co-author of Belfast: Segregation, Violence and the City. And of course that is, I can imagine, what is happening in the Jewish community. They are starting to feel that type of anxiety.

Tens of thousands of people in Northern Ireland, he says, would claim they were treated differently by the police because they were Catholic.

The history underpinning geographical segregation in Belfast is, hes keen to stress, not comparable with any feelings of division emerging in London, which has long been a city of blended communities. In Ireland, 150 years of violence  people died. If two young lads have a fight at the bus stop, thats two lads having a fight at the bus stop. If a Protestant lad hits a Catholic guy or vice versa, that becomes a community concern. That victim represents my community  thats what they do to us.

What youre getting here with the Jewish community and the issues around Palestine is this self and other. That sociology of self and other is clearly starting to emerge.

The Orange Order walks under heavy police protection in Belfast, 2006 - AFP

Many would say its the responsibility of the police to make sure that sense of self and other doesnt take hold. Stephen Cargin, a former police chief superintendent in Northern Ireland, says the warning signs are already there, and its the Met that needs to step up. I think the police need to be very careful, he says. When people are behaving in ways that theyre openly demonstrating hate speech, [behaviour] thats potentially breaking the law, which a lot of this stuff is, I think the police need to be really careful.

They have to steer a straight line. We either uphold the law in its entirety or we dont, and once youre seen to be saving one side of the community from the other, you start to lose the confidence of those communities. And I think thats one of the lessons from Northern Ireland.

Cargin was a district commander in Londonderry working on developing neighbourhood policing. In his experience, well resourced, trusted community policing is vital. You have to earn trust with people, and I think the police at the moment are losing trust, he says. I watched the footage with the Jewish guy. Thats hugely damaging to policing, not just from a Jewish perspective but from any perspective.

The police themselves need to decide: who are we? And actually how are we going to treat people? What are we going to allow?

People will always, he says, push and push and push. If a community becomes too divided, it grows impossible to enforce [] because youve given up the ground.

The law is there to protect people, he says, and the police have to enforce it, and in a fair way thats fair to everybody.

The police should be mindful, he says, of any signs of no-go areas developing. The police should not allow any no-go areas in the UK  there shouldnt be. And if youre not careful you could fall back to the Northern Ireland scenario.

When Cargin was a serving police officer in Northern Ireland, there were areas that were much more difficult to police than other areas.

Catholic women demonstrate in Belfast, 1975 - Mondadori/Getty

I think thats why the police today need to really take a very serious look at themselves and ensure that there are no no-go areas, that we dont allow that to happen, that we continue to police the areas that are a little bit more difficult and protect people and be the point of contact they want to go to because they know the police will keep them safe.

A lack of policing can leave a vacuum that can then be filled. We do not want to alienate communities, he says. If you create a vacuum other people will fill that vacuum with their own agenda.

Policing marches is especially sensitive, says Cargin, speaking from experience. Ive policed a lot of marches over my career as a district commander and developed a lot of strategies around some very very contentious marches  some of the biggest marches in Northern Ireland. I think it comes down to working with communities, working with the organisers of marches, being very clear about whats acceptable.

He adds: The police need to be very clear from the outset  what will they tolerate? What are the standards they expect march organisers to adhere to?

In London in 2024, it would be wrong to suggest that certain communities are universally curtailing the way they move around their city, but many Jewish Londoners say it certainly feels different, and particularly on a march day.

Akiva Brunner, 35, an orthodox Jewish father of four who lives in Stamford Hill, says he wont go near a protest. As we look Jewish I wouldnt go into those areas at all. I wouldnt feel safe at all. And I dont think it would be sensible to go there because people from the other side, people are obviously angry at this point. I dont believe people on those sides understand the difference between a Jew and a Zionist. For them its a very grey line. So for me, for my safety, I will just stay away.

Akiva Brunner has said that he 'wouldn't feel safe' near a pro-Palestine protest - David Rose

But Brunner doesnt have to go too far from home to feel uneasy. Im in property management  when I go out of the area, in particular Leyton [east London], around the time when the school children go home, I do get shouted at.

What do they shout? Itll be Jew or sometimes itll be Hitler or sometimes Free Palestine. [] It doesnt make me comfortable. But I dont hang around, I do my business and do what I need to do and move on.

He has heard similar reports from others. Everyone has their little [moments] especially when they go out of the area and meet people that dont really understand the conflict. But we just try to stay away from those areas and go on with our daily life.

Jews make up just two per cent of the population in Leyton, while Muslims make up 24 per cent. Jewish Londoners, who account for almost half of the 271,000-strong Jewish population in England and Wales, live in concentrated areas in the city. Nearly 60 per cent live in just 50 of the capitals 1,002 neighbourhoods, with the highest concentration in Golders Green (where 53.1 per cent of the neighbourhood is Jewish), and the second highest in Stamford Hill.

The Muslim population of some 3.9 million nationally is more spread out, both in London and elsewhere in the country.

One of the areas with the highest numbers is Whitechapel, in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, where 55 per cent of the population is Muslim. In February, Paul Scully, a Tory MP, was criticised for singling out Tower Hamlets as one of a number of pockets in Britain which, he said, were fast becoming no-go areas. He later apologised for his comments.

For Falter, there has been a shift in the way the Jewish community views the police. Because of the threats against the Jewish community that have always been there throughout my lifetime, when you go to a synagogue or a Jewish community centre or a Jewish school, you are used to seeing police there. And when you do, you say two words to the police  you grow up saying thank you.

Now, he says, as it begins to feel as if there isnt really anywhere that youre immune to anti-Semitism, that unquestioning thanks for the people whose job it is to keep the peace and protect is slipping. Right at the beginning of this, even in the heart of Golders Green you had all sorts of graffiti appearing, all sorts of incidents taking place, and you realise there is nowhere that is a haven from anti-Semitism in the city.

Somebody asked Falter recently if it was really the end of the world if Jews had to avoid the centre of London on Saturday. I thought about it for a second. And I said yeah. Its the end of the world that has existed since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936 when Jewish Londoners and their allies stood side by side and saw off the British Union of Fascists on their march which was protected by police. If we concede that we must now stay out of the centre of London during these weekends then weve conceded that entire life that weve had. Today, just a stones throw from the mural marking that day 88 years ago, a Palestinian flag flies from the window of a block of flats.

In nearby Stamford Hill, as people spill out of the New Synagogue, one woman sums things up better than many could: No one feels the same, but we try to celebrate holidays as far as we can and carry on our tradition. We just hope everything will go peacefully. Everyone deserves to live in peace, all over the world.

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Pro-Palestine protests seen across the nation this week arrived at Penn State on Thursday, with several groups coming together for a day of events that included a rally in front of Old Main.

Penn State students, faculty and community members walked from the HUB lawn to Old Main for the rally, where they called on the university to divest from their material interests in Israel. Furthermore, they called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

In an Instagram post, groups including Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine and Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, said they will not stand for a university, administrators and boards of trustees who put profit and reputation over the lives of people in Palestine and the will of their students.

The call to cut financial ties with Israel has been a rallying call at protests at college campuses across the country, with activists saying the financial support makes their schools complicit in the war in Gaza.

The group at Penn State around noon Thursday was small in comparison to many of those other campuses nationally that have seen hundreds of people participate. About 40 people were at Old Main for an hour for the rally, and then walked to the HUB lawn. People were invited to stay on the lawn until the evening. Several events were planned throughout the day.

A few speakers took the microphone at Old Main, including Roua Daas of Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine. Daas co-led the rally and chants.

Penn State admin has chosen to remain invested in companies and war profiteers that make money off of the death of our people. They have chosen to continue academic partnerships with Israeli institutions and Israeli companies that continue to further the violence against our people, Daas said. The money that is being invested, the money that is going toward the deaths of our people is our tuition money. This is money that should be going toward our housing, our food, our education.

In response to a request for comment, Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers said All individuals have the right to express viewpoints, as they had the opportunity to do so today.

The crowd often yelled Shame and booed throughout the rally. At one point, they all faced Old Main  where the presidents office is located  and chanted, Penn State admin, you cant hide. You are funding genocide.

Penn State student Roua Daas speaks to the crowd outside of Old Main as they rally in support of Palestine and to call on Penn State to divest from Israel on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com

A press release outlined the groups concern with Penn States Applied Research Laboratory and the technology it researches and produces.

Additionally, pro-Palestine student activism on universities has come under attack by Administrators, from Columbia to Barnard and even to Penn State in recent years, the release states. The coalition of organizations demands that Penn State Administrators divest from their material interests in Israel and stop harassing pro-Palestine students. Students and workers do not want their labor and money going toward the genocide of Palestine.

Aaron Kaufman, Marcus Family Executive Director of Penn State Hillel, said events like Thursdays have an impact on Jewish students at Penn State. Some protests this year have included imagery of swastikas and chants that have since been classified as hate speech, he said.

Since October, he said Jewish students have at times been uncomfortable to outright fearful.

The events that have been happening throughout our country this year since October have a real impact on the Jewish community and ... the Jewish community at Penn State is not immune from that. And that impact is incredibly negative in terms of students feeling singled out, targeted, excluded, Kaufman said.

Penn State is the latest campus to see these types of recent events, joining other protests across the nation including University of Maryland, American University and Purdue University. Other colleges, like Harvard, Brown University and Michigan State University, have seen protesters set up encampments on campus. More than 400 arrests have been made across many campuses, according to the New York Times.

Powers said the university has been monitoring the national landscape and local activities.

Our institution is committed to the security of our campus and the safety or our community and, as needed, enhances safety measures, she said.

One police officer was seen walking around Old Main at noon, and a few others were watching the rally from the windows inside the building. At least one officer was patrolling the HUB lawn in the early afternoon.

A May Day protest is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Allen Street Gates in downtown State College. In a press release, several groups  including the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, Peoples Defense Front, Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine, United Socialists at Penn State and Deep Roots Collective  said theyll be commemorating May Day by uplifting the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation and opposing the US-supported genocide perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people.

Students and community members gathered outside of Old Main to rally in support of Palestine and to call on Penn State to divest from Israel on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com
NANNING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday released the first environmental index for the Lijiang River, a signature scenery in the popular tourist destination of Guilin.

It is the first comprehensive index system in China for evaluating the environment and protection work on a river basin.

Hailed as one of the most beautiful rivers on Earth, the Lijiang River, where clean water flows between the scenic karst hills, winds through several counties of Guilin. Two karst sections of Guilin were on the World Heritage List.

The index report, along with an environmental quality report, was released by the regional ecology and environment department and the Guilin municipal government. The reports showed an improved ecological environment over the past years.

The index rose from 85.86 in 2021 to 86.45 in 2022 and 86.55 in 2023, all above the top-tier level of 85.

In 2023, the percentage of days with good air quality in the river basin reached 98.6 percent, while the surface water at seven cross sections subject to national monitoring was all at or above tier three in the country's five-tier water quality system. The biodiversity there also improved.

Li Chu, mayor of Guilin, said the local government prioritizes protecting the Lijiang River when building a world-class tourist city and will make efforts to maintain the authenticity and integrity of the local landscape.

Chen Liang, director of the regional ecology and environment department, said authorities will work to improve the ecological environment further and promote green and low-carbon development to build the Lijiang River into a model for comprehensive river management and ecological protection. 
Pro-Palestine students have occupied the Paris university attended by Emmanuel Macron.

The students at Sciences Po are calling for the university, attended by the French president and Gabriel Attal, the prime minister, to cut its ties with universities and companies that are complicit in the genocide in Gaza and end the repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.

With keffiyehs on their heads, Palestinian flags hanging from the railings and slogans in support of the Palestinian struggle, students who had spent the night in the school could be seen on Friday morning in the windows of its historic headquarters in the seventh arrondissement.

Rubbish bins and building site equipment blocked the main entrance to Sciences Po Paris, which has a vast campus in the centre of the capital, divided into several locations. A few dozen students were in the street.

Students also called for an end to what they called the repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campus.

The main entrance to the Sciences Po building has been blocked with rubbish bins and site equipment - ANADOLU

The occupation comes a day after police dislodged around 60 other students who had occupied another building and set up tents in a courtyard.

After discussions with management, most of them agreed to leave the premises, university officials said in a statement, saying the protest was adding to tensions at the university.

But a small group of students refused to leave and it was decided that the police would evacuate the site, it went on.

Sciences Po, which counts five other heads of state and 12 prime ministers among its alumni, said it regretted that numerous attempts to have the students leave the premises peacefully had led nowhere.

The schools Student Union said the decision by university officials to call in the police was both shocking and deeply worrying and reflected an unprecedented authoritarian turn and that students would continue to mobilise despite repression.

On Friday, Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif) described the pro-Palestine student protest movement in France as dangerous, while stressing that there was nothing massive at Sciences Po Paris.

Its dangerous because universities have a symbolic function in our societies. What happens in universities doesnt just concern the student world, but affects the whole of our political and intellectual life and has an impact on a generation, he told LCI, the rolling news channel.

Many top US universities have also been rocked by protests in recent weeks.

Mr Arfi pointed out that at Sciences Po, the protest involved only a few dozen students and that he was struck by the fact that the student mobilisation was less massive than in the United States.

But its working, its taking the whole campus hostage, its preventing academic freedom and creating a climate of intellectual terror among some Jewish students, he said.

The students union has criticised the university's decision to call the police when students blockaded another building earlier this week - DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP

Tensions at the school have already sparked comments from Mr Macron and his prime minister in a country home to the worlds largest Jewish population after Israel and the United States, as well as Europes biggest Muslim community.

Last month, prosecutors were urged to investigate anti-Semitism allegations after pro-Palestine activists tried to keep a Jewish student out of a debate on Gaza.

A 20-year-old Sciences Po undergraduate, who is a member of the Union of Jewish Students of France, said she was prevented from attending the event by masked activists. You, you are not going in, she claims she was told. Another member of the union present at the time said they heard organisers say: Dont let her in. Shes a Zionist.

She said she was eventually allowed into the debate but left quickly because the atmosphere was too heavy.

She said anti-Semitism at Sciences Po had become a real problem since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7.

On a daily basis, I hear jokes, even on the Holocaust. I have heard things like: Shes going to be hit by a rocket, or You are going to get a free ticket to Poland, she said.

In a statement, the Sciences Po Palestine Committee said it had been unjustly targeted by baseless allegations of anti-Semitism by the far Right.

It said the woman had been told to stay out of the debate not because she was Jewish but because she had harassed and intimidated  pro-Palestinian students in the past, notably by filming them without their authorisation. The committee said other members of the Union of Jewish Students of France had been in the lecture theatre during the debate.

Mr Macron said Jewish students had faced unspeakable and perfectly intolerable insults. His claims were denied by the Sciences Po Palestine committee, which organised the debate.

On Friday, Raphael Glucksmann, a French Socialist whose list is polling to come third in European Parliament elections and an alumnus, distanced himself from the protesters.

Its only natural that we should show solidarity with the Palestinians and reject the crimes committed in Gaza, its even dignified and noble, Mr Glucksmann told BFM TV.

That said, in what atmosphere do we do it? Are we inclusive? Do we tolerate debate? Are we capable of organising discussions with those who dont share our point of view? And so far, until there is proof to the contrary, this is not the case. So we have a problem. And the management of Sciences Po has the right to decide to evacuate, he added.

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Rep. Summer Lee, the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Congress, has moved one step closer to reelection after winning her districts Democratic primary on Tuesday. For Lee, a prominent progressive in Congress, her race has been framed by her vocal opposition to Israel in its current war in Gaza; her victory gives a potential preview of how the Middle East will impact this years election cycle for Democrats.

First-term congresswoman Summer Lee, a member of the Squad of progressive Democrats in the House of Representatives, easily won her Democratic primary race against challenger Edgewood Councilwoman Bhavini Patel. Lees first term in office has been marked by progressive stances on domestic and foreign issues, including criticism of Israels actions in Gaza. In her victory speech, Lee continued to draw the connection between her support for Palestinians and her emphasis on justice at home. We wont be ashamed and put our heads down when we say that we want no more wars, when we say that people deserve dignity and human rights and self-determination whether they are Jewish or Muslim or Black or white or if theyre in Gaza or in Pakistan or in Haiti. Lee posted a video of her speech with the caption Opposing genocide is good politics and good policy alongside the hashtag #CeasefireNOW.

Opposing genocide is good politics and good policy. #CeasefireNOW https://t.co/A7pnJNskWS  Summer Lee (@SummerForPA) April 24, 2024

Lee was one of the first members of Congress to call for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza. Lee quickly condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that sparked this war but also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for target[ing] densely populated civilian areas. Just over a week after that attack, Lee was one of the first members of Congress to call for a ceasefire. At the time, this view put her at odds with many of her fellow Democrats, but a steadily rising death toll in Gaza and growing criticism of Israel around the country have brought many Democrats to her position. Lee represents Pittsburgh, where a gunman attacked the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The areas Jewish community has been more skeptical of Lees views, though her supporters note that she has led efforts to fund repairs to the synagogue and support for the community impacted by the mass shooting.

In the end, Lees stance on Israel and Gaza did not hurt her in the primary. The pro-Israel lobbying groups, which spent millions of dollars opposing Lee in her 2022 race, decided not to back her primary opponent this time. These groups may oppose other Democrats who are critical of Israel. With other members of the Squad facing primary challenges later this year, Lees victory was seen as a test of whether the progressives stances, including opposition to the war in Gaza, would resonate with voters. Meanwhile, Democrats who support Israels efforts, including President Joe Biden, have been faced with criticisms and protests that could hurt their chances in November.

As events continue to unfold in the Middle East, it remains to be seen if more Democrats will follow the lead of Lee and adopt her calls for a ceasefire and other actions in the current conflict in Gaza. Lees strong performance against a moderate challenger gives evidence to the idea that a progressive stance will perform strongly in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania.
UPDATE at 8:48 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The second arrest of the day has been made as police were seen escorting the arrestee into a Mahomet Police Department vehicle.

UPDATE at 8:01 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Chancellor Robert J. Jones of UIUC sent out a Massmail to students Friday evening asking students, faculty and staff to avoid the area of the demonstration.

Despite our continued efforts throughout the day to ensure those who were participating were fully informed of the policies and rules that they needed to follow to continue their activities, the participants refused to adhere to them, part of the message reads.

The Chancellor added that when University Police attempted to remove the encampment structures, some demonstrators used pieces of lumber and other physical tools and objects to push officers back.

This situation has escalated beyond a peaceful expression of opinion. Those who do not comply with our orders to leave will be subject to consequences, including arrest, when criminal laws are violated, and the possibility of immediate interim suspension for students, Jones added.

U of I sends warning message on unlawful, impermissible conduct during protest

Jones said the university will continue to try and convince the demonstrators to leave voluntarily, ending the protest.

We have worked very hard over the past months to allow all of those in our community to gather in our public spaces and express themselves freely and safely. Our entire community is feeling grief, empathy and compassion at the enormous loss of innocent lives that weve all seen, Jones added.

The full message can be read here.

In addition, one professor at UIUC sent an announcement to her students, stating that the Henry Administration Building  located at the corner of the quad near the demonstration area  will be closed for the rest of the semester. The courses will be relocated to a different building.

UPDATE at 7:53 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  After a rest period while students negotiated with university administration, the UIUC Encampment group is urging participants to prepare for police arrival through their Telegram messaging app.

Students have linked arms again around the encampment, continuing to chant.

UPDATE at 7:31 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  There is a group of students from Act Now for Palestine inside the Illini Union negotiating with an administrator from the university.

Despite the Friday night 5k race being canceled earlier, some participants have decided to run on their own, sporting their number bibs. Around 4,000 runners were scheduled to participate in the race.

UPDATE at 7:09 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Officials are putting up flood lights above the demonstration area.

UPDATE at 7:01 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  When asked if they have a set time to leave, demonstrators said they are keeping it up.

UPDATE at 6:38 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  As a crowd of bystanders continues to grow around the protest, the demonstrators are encouraging them to join in the ranks.

Some police are gathered outside near the crowd, while others are inside the Illini Union.

UPDATE at 6:18 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The University of Illinois Police have released a statement regarding what they call an unlawful assembly near the intersection of Green and Wright Streets in Urbana.

In their release, police say that around 3:30 p.m., additional tents were set up by demonstrators. Officers attempted to remove the tents by entering the assembly, saying they had no intent to make arrests unless demonstrators violated criminal law. They added that demonstrators were combative with officers, causing the officers to retreat.

They then instructed the demonstrators to disperse after informing them that the assembly was unlawful.

We respect the rights of freedom of speech and expression and remain committed to providing a safe environment for all members of our community. However, the university does not allow camping tents to be set up on campus property. When unauthorized items are placed on campus property, we inform those who place them of our policy and instruct them to remove the items pursuant with negotiated timelines. If our request is ignored, university staff will remove the items. University of Illinois Police Department

They added that anyone who interferes with the removal is subject to consequences, such as arrest if criminal laws are violated. Students at UIUC could possibly face immediate interim suspension from the university.

These measures are in place to maintain the physical safety of our campus and so that all campus community members can continue to benefit from the academic experience we are here to provide, they added.

The street has also been shut down at the intersection of Green and Wright.

UPDATE at 6:15 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Urbana Fire Chief Kent Dade said no one has been hurt in the demonstrations, but they are on standby to make sure they are ready to help maintain the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

UPDATE at 6:05 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The doors of the Illini Union have been locked and everyone has been asked to leave the building.

The Urbana Fire Department is on-scene nearby the protests.

WCIA reached out to the department and will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

UPDATE at 5:47 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District has announced there will be some reroutes due to interreferences from the protests on campus.

UPDATE at 5:42 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Race officials with the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend have canceled the Friday night 5k following escalations in the demonstration at UIUC.

UPDATE at 5:24 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  The crowd continues to grow around the pro-Palestine demonstration.

According to the Students for Justice in Palestine Telegram account, University Police are preparing riot gear.

WCIA has reached out for more information from UIPD but has not heard back yet.

UPDATE at 4:51 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Police and demonstrators are in a standoff after protestors pushed back officers attempts to break up the encampment circle.

Protestors are using umbrellas to help create a barrier between them and the police.

Friday Illinois 5K cancelled due to UIUC protest

Other local law enforcement agencies are arriving to assist UIPD, including the Illinois State Police, Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department and the Champaign County Sheriffs office.

WCIA has reached out to Champaign Police, Urbana Police, UIPD and the Illinois State Police for more information and will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

Protestors say they plan on continuing their demonstrations throughout the weekend.

UPDATE at 4:34 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  After pushback from demonstrators, the University of Illinois Police have retreated from the encampment circle.

Champaign-Urbana MTD routes busses away from protest site

How many deaths until we divest, reads one protestors sign.

Champaign Police officers have arrived to assist. No arrests have been made as of yet.

UPDATE at 4:29 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  University Police have now moved in on the demonstration, and have reached the middle of the encampment circle as demonstrators around continue to shout free Palestine.

Some demonstrators continue to link arms, while others attempt to push the police from the circle.

UPDATE at 4 p.m.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Hundreds of demonstrators are continuing a pro-Palestine encampment that started early Friday morning on UIUC campus as they link arms, chanting phrases like free Palestine.

University of Illinois Police are standing nearby.

The protestors are gathered around tents they set up for the encampment earlier.

The universitys Students for Justice in Palestine group posted earlier on social media that they would be meeting at the Alma Mater statue for a prayer at 3 p.m. followed by a rally at 4 p.m. for an urgent call to action.

This is a developing story.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Students at UIUC have resumed protesting Friday morning in efforts to demand the University divests from companies involved with supplying weapons to Israel in the war in Gaza.

Just off of Green Street near the Alma Mater statue, students have gathered for the encampment with tents and a sign pictured below.

The universitys Students for Justice in Palestine organization announced Friday morning that the Popular University Gaza solidarity encampment has reached UIUC! They invited supporters to join the group at the Alma-Mater statue.

The SJP UIUC posted on Facebook a list of their demands from the university:

UIUC must divest from any organizations or corporations that profit from or support the occupation of Palestine UIUC must publicly disclose all financial assets, including investments, endowments, and other holdings, to ensure full transparency and accountability. UIUC must cease collaborations with Israeli institutions as well as all corporations involved in the ongoing oppression of Palestinians, such as Caterpillar UIUC must offer complete amnesty to all student protesters and halt any and all forms of repression against those advocating for justice

The universitys live feeds at both the Alma-Mater statue and Quad were taken down.

In a statement provided to WCIA, the university said early this morning, a group of people set up tents near the corner of Wright and Green Streets. University officials spoke to the group, informing them that they were violating campus policy and that they would have 30 minutes to remove the structures.

Hundreds of UIUC students participate in pro-Palestine rally

They added that after 45 minutes had passed, the group had not removed all of the structures, so university staff attempted to remove them when demonstrators blocked their attempts. One of the demonstrators was arrested. The University of Illinois Police Department later confirmed with WCIA that the person arrested is not a current student.

Below is the rest of the universitys statement:

We respect the rights of freedom of speech and expression and remain committed to providing a safe environment for all members of our community. However, we do not allow camping tents to be set up on campus property. When unauthorized items are placed on campus property, we inform those who place them of our policy and instruct them to remove the items pursuant with negotiated timelines. If our request is ignored, university staff will remove the items. Anyone who interferes with that removal is subject to consequences, including arrest when criminal laws are violated. For university students, immediate interim suspension from the university is also a possible outcome. Demonstrators who do not violate university policies are allowed to remain on public space as long as they continue to abide by university policies and state and federal laws. These measures are in place to maintain the physical safety of our campus and so that all campus community members can continue to benefit from the academic experience we are here to provide. Robin Kaler, Associate Chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing at the U of I

In addition to the statement, WCIA obtained a timeline of the events that was sent out to university staff:

5:59: Initial instructions given.

6:56: Group was told to remove structures by 7:15.

7:28: F&S began removal of tents. Group indicated they would remove the main structure on their own and was given another five minutes.

8:07: Another five-minute warning.

8:23: Removal was completed.

8:26: Arrest made.

Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel of Illini Chabad also released a statement in response to this weeks events. He said that yesterday he engaged in fruitful discussions with the UIPD, university system president, UIUC Chancellor and senior administrators, where the officials underscored their commitment to upholding safety measures on campus.

He added that the university has implemented additional security measures such as heightened patrols.

I have been in constant communication with law enforcement and administrators since the early hours. Their prompt and proactive response has led to the successful clearance of all tents and cessation of the encampment. Keeping our campus a safe place for all, Rabbi Tiechtel said regarding the encampment Friday morning.

Earlier this week, hundreds of UIUC students took to Green Street, where they marched to an administration building in hopes of having a conversation with officials regarding their concerns.

Pro-Palestinian protests have also erupted at other universities across the country this week. Some of the protests, such as at Columbia University, have succeeded in their goals of sparking conversation with university officials. Other protests, such as at Emerson College in Boston, resulted in the arrests of more than 100 students.

This is a developing story. WCIA will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Tuesday, April 23, was the last day of my class for the semester at Barnard College, Columbia Universitys sister college, and I woke up to several emails from my students that morning. I dont want to come to campus, they said. I dont feel safe.

I didnt blame them. Police in riot gear lined up along Broadway. Protesters from outside the university had gathered at the gates, drawn to campus by the hullabaloo. Media narratives swirled about a campus run amuck; no doubt worried parents were texting them to be careful.

Our campus no longer felt like ours.

Days earlier, on April 17, the campus had woken up to dozens of green tents that had sprung up like mushrooms on a campus lawn. Many in the media have blamed the crisis that ensued on the pro-Palestinian students who organized the encampment to protest the war in Gaza and pressure the university to divest from companies doing business in Israel. But as a faculty member watching the conflict unfold, I believe it is not the encampment itself, but the administrations response to it, that has incited our current crisis.

Hours after the tents appeared, Columbia President Minouche Shafik sat down before a congressional hearing entitled Columbia in Crisis: Columbia Universitys Response to Antisemitism. For nearly four hours, members of congress grilled Shafik, alleging Columbia had been overrun by pro-terrorist activists and accusing the University of being a hotbed of antisemitism. Her inquisitors made a variety of false and misleading allegations about the university, its students, and its faculty. In response, Shafik pledged order and discipline.

On Thursday, she made good on that promise. Less than 24 hours after the hearings, dozens of police in riot gear descended on campus, entered the encampment, and carted off over a hundred students in zip ties. The move has ignited a firestorm on our campus, which has now spread to more than a dozen schools across the country.

Faculty have different opinions about the substance of the student protestors demands. They have different positions on the crisis in the Middle East. But the administrations decision to call in the NYPD has provoked widespread outrage. The rapid and overwhelming use of force seems disproportionate to a nonviolent student protest. The resort to force has further inflamed the already difficult dialogues that have animated our campus this yearabout Israel and Palestine, academic freedom, and where one persons right to expression ends and another ones right to be free of harassment begins. Ultimately, too, it has called into question what we, as professors, owe our students.

In response to the arrests, many of my colleagues have jumped in to support our students, especially those from Barnard, who in addition to being arrested and suspended were summarily evicted from their dorms and now have nowhere to sleep. We organized a rally to protest the arrests and suspensions of peaceful student protesters and to affirm the value of free expression.

Read more: Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities

Students too have responded to the moment. The pro-Palestine encampment is gonebut another one materialized within an hour on an adjacent lawn. The organizers wrote a code of conduct governing the space and have organized interfaith services, a teach-in on antisemitism, and a Passover Seder. A member of Columbias Task Force on Antisemitisma campus body formed in the fall and tasked with understanding how antisemitism manifests on campusarrived with a shank bone for the Seder. Together with faculty, students have trained in de-escalation strategies to protect the campus from provocateurs who have arrived seeking conflict. Student journalists from The Columbia Spectator and KCRW Radio have kept campusand the worldinformed about what is happening, even as the administration has limited press access to campus.

Meanwhile, the administrations decision to arrest and suspend has not made any of us safer. In fact, it has provoked disorder. A week after the mass arrests, the campus feels under siegenot from the students in the (second) encampment, but from outside forces hellbent on dividing us. These include hostile members of congress (on April 24, House Speaker Mike Johnson held a press conference in the center of campus and lectured our students to go back to class) and inflammatory media narratives about violence and chaos. Proud Boys co-founder Gavin Mcinnes was spotted on campus yesterday, and there are reports of far-right media figures headed for campus as I write this.

These agents of chaos do not share the universitys values. Yet these are exactly the values we owe our students. We owe them serious discussion, not viral soundbites. We owe them interactions based on reason, not force. We owe them a commitment to free inquiry. We can acknowledge that others expressions may cause us deep discomfort but also help them to understand the difference between discomfort and real harm. We can help them listen respectfully to those with whom they disagree.

Unfortunately, a panicked university administration has genuflected to the outsiders, and in the process, has failed to stand for what we as an academic community must defend: not just issues concerning Israel or Palestine, but what students deserve above allthe conditions that make reasoned teaching, research, and discussion about this and many other issues possible in the first place. Instead of restoring order, the administration has sown chaos and exposed community members to actual danger. If we are to reclaim our university, faculty and students must do it together. We must work to quell tensions, to support one another, and, with helicopters buzzing overhead and worried texts filling our phones, to forge ahead with the important business of teaching and learning.

I think weve done an admirable job.

On Tuesday before class, in response to the emails arriving in my inbox, I sent my students a message: Whether you attend remotely or in person, please show up. Not because Ill be taking attendance, I told them. Not because it matters for your grade. But because well be talking about todays readings, the last readings of the semester, and because gathering in a classroom feels like a small act of resistance on a campus besieged.

A half hour later, I walked into the classroom. Dozens of students sat quietly waiting, laptops open. More than a dozen more appeared on zoom, some from their dorm rooms, some from the encampment. Almost every student in the class was there.

They had shown up.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Gaza Strip as seen from the Israeli side of the border. U.S. Rep Mark Pocan and other progressive members of the House of Representatives are asking President Biden to condition recently passed military aid on a guarantee Israel will call off a ground invasion of Rafah and improve the delivery of humanitarian aid.(Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan is still holding out hope that President Joe Biden will pivot to a tougher stance on Israels war in Gaza.

Pocan was one of 37 House Democrats who voted against aid to Israel this week in the $95 billion foreign aid package that passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly and which Biden immediately signed.

The progressive U.S. representative from Wisconsin has become a nationally prominent critic of the war  at the same time he is campaigning for Bidens reelection. That puts him in an awkward place as antiwar protests sweep college campuses and disrupt Democratic campaign events.

There is no question in Pocans mind that electing former President Donald Trump would be a disaster for human rights, social justice and the future of U.S. democracy. And he is determined to do what he can to prevent that. But at the same time he has become a champion for progressives who are leaning away from Biden because of the war in Gaza.

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan speaks to the press in his district office in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, April 24 | Wisconsin Examiner photo

At a hometown press briefing Wednesday in his Madison office, on the very same day Biden signed the foreign aid package, Pocan said he and a group of House colleagues are asking Biden to put conditions on the aid Congress just approved. Biden could hold back offensive weaponry until Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyu agrees not to invade Rafah and makes measurable progress on increasing the flow of food, water and medicine into Gaza, Pocan suggested.

Pocan, who said he supports Israels Iron Dome missile defense system, just not more offensive weaponry in the midst of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, is worried about recent news reports that Israel is about to press forward with a ground invasion of the city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinian refugees are sheltering. Human rights groups project an attack in Rafah could lead to 10,000 to 15,000 more civilian casualties in a war that has already claimed 34,000 civilian lives. Pocan and other progressives held an emergency meeting this week to push the idea, again, that Biden should hold back military support for Israel.

Hes got so much flexibility on weapons to say none can be used in an invasion of Rafah, Pocan told reporters. Hes been very clear; he told them not to do this.

Of course, Pocan acknowledged, He also said dont go back after Iran, and they didnt listen. He also said we should have a two-state solution and they dont listen. Hes also said theres famine, and they ignore that. I am hoping this is one where maybe we can draw the line.

Earlier in the war, Pocan described Biden as taking a tougher stance with Nentanyahu behind the scenes than he was taking in public. He still describes Biden that way. The hard part to convey is the president doesnt wear his foreign policy on his sleeve, he told reporters Wednesday, suggesting that there is more going on than Biden states publicly.

But lately it seems less like Biden is privately working out a secret plan to end the war and more like, despite his increasingly public frustration with what has become an unsupportable humanitarian disaster, hes not willing to take the steps to stop it. The more he publicly criticizes what Israel is doing, only to be ignored, the more feckless Biden looks. Upon signing the recent aid package, Biden reiterated that Americas commitment to Israel is ironclad and that he would ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists that it supports.

How concerned is Pocan that Gaza is damaging Bidens re-electability in Wisconsin?

Im concerned, Pocan said, citing razor-thin margins of victory in a state that is as purple as you can get.

When Vice President Kamala Harris visited La Crosse on Monday to campaign on health care access and abortion rights, Pocan said he brought her a copy of the latest Marquette University Law School poll, and highlighted the data on independents who are leaning toward Robert Kennedy, Cornel West and Jill Stein. Its more votes than we can afford to be losing, he said.

From his deep blue district, Pocan is one of the few members of Congress who has been a consistent public critic of AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby group that has put millions of dollars into primary challenges against progressives including U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, and Summer Lee.

Pocan regularly calls out AIPAC on social media for its attacks on Democrats, and defends his colleagues who have been accused of antisemitism for criticizing the war. (Pocan does not question Israels right to exist, has repeatedly condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.) The reason Im poking the bear, he told Slate, is because theyve become a Trojan bear. AIPAC at least pretended to be bipartisan when I first got [to Congress]. Now theyre basically a wholly-owned subsidiary of the GOP.

In this and in much of his politics, Pocan is more in tune with young progressives than Biden, whose Israel-right-or-wrong reflexes reflect the views of an older generation. As a Brookings Institution report noted, Even before the Hamas invasion, there were distinct generational differences in Americans attitudes towards Israel. These differences are mirrored by divergences between older and younger Jewish Americans. There are signs that these gaps have widened since the current conflict began.

Police crackdowns on campus are exacerbating the divide. When Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson went to Columbia University this week to suggest it might be time to call in the National Guard, it was a creepy reminder of the massacre of students protesting the Vietnam war by National Guard troops at Kent State. No doubt Republicans, determined to redirect public outrage from the war to the antiwar protests on campus, would love to see a repeat of the disastrous 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago this year, where police beat up protesters and the war created a giant rift. Chaos, violence and division are the perfect medium for Donald Trump.

But Pocan is less worried about the drag on Bidens re-election prospects from the college students who cast uninstructed votes in the Wisconsin primary than he is about his rural constituents who, he says, are equally upset with Biden over the war.

In his town halls in rural areas of Dane County, Pocan says, the No. 1 and 2 things people wanted to keep talking about were Ukraine (and weve got that done: check) and Gaza.

You cant keep seeing the death toll. You cant keep seeing famine, you cant see kids dying with indiscriminate bombing, he said.

Pocan said he hopes to get video of people wearing flannel and caps making this point to share with the Biden campaign. So they dont just hear it from me, but they hear it from people in the rural parts of my district.

I think Wisconsin still has this antiwar sort of populace going back to Fighting Bob La Follette, he says.

I want them to understand, Pocan says of the Biden campaign and Wisconsin independent voters, when you see those numbers bleeding off to the left, I think this is a significant part of it.

At his press briefing, Pocan returned to the talking points Democrats have been putting out since the beginning of the war. On Gaza, he said, while I know the president is doing more than hes saying right now, to that end, people dont know that. And weve got to make sure that that gets translated.

At this point, though, the problem is more than translation. Its action thats needed. And to that end, even as the U.S. prepares to send the military aid he voted against to Israel in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe that is getting even worse, Pocan is pushing as hard as he can to turn the ship.

The post Progressive Dems between a rock and a hard place on Gaza appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Prosecutor's Office: Number of injured in April 25 Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast rises to 13

The number of casualties in the Russian attack on the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast has risen to 13, the local Prosecutor's Office reported on April 26.

Russian troops struck the area near the railway station on April 25, damaging the station building as well as the passenger train, which stopped 15 meters from the place where the missile hit.

Local authorities reported 11 injured, including three Ukrainian railways workers, on the same day. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said the victims were sitting in the train when the strike happened. The injured were hospitalized with blast injuries of varying severity.

At around 1 p.m. local time, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported that two more civilians were confirmed injured due to that attack.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the strike was carried out with Iskander-M ballistic missile.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast, using missiles, glide bombs, and drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

At the end of March, Russia destroyed all the electrical substations in Kharkiv, leaving Ukraine's second-largest city without a stable power supply.

Read also: Russian strikes against Kharkiv Oblast city of Derhachi injures 4, including 3 children

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Putin confirms he will visit China in May

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed he will visit China in May, the state-run media outlet TASS reported on April 25.

This might be Putin's first trip abroad after he secured his fifth term in office in the March presidential election, broadly regarded as rigged and unfair.

While many Western leaders denounced the vote, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the Kremlin leader, promising to "maintain close communication" between the two countries.

Beijing has fostered close ties with Moscow during its full-scale war against Ukraine, increasing economic cooperation and disrupting Western attempts at isolating Russia. China has also weighed in on possible peace negotiations, saying talks must include Moscow.

Speaking on April 25 at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs congress in Moscow, Putin did not give an exact date for his visit nor any further details of the trip.

"I am planning a visit in May," he said.

On March 19, Reuters reported that Putin would likely visit China in the second half of May.

Sources told the news agency that the Russian leader's trip will precede Xi's planned visit to Europe.

The Russian president previously visited China last October to attend the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

China officially declares itself a neutral party to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, but Washington has continued to sound the alarm on Beijing's support of Moscow's defense industry.

Beijing previously reacted to the criticism of its partnership with Moscow, claiming that both countries have a right to carry out "normal cooperation."

Read also: Chinese officials separately met with US, Russian counterparts at Western Pacific Naval Symposium

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane says he expects to be exonerated after a complaint was filed earlier this week with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

According to records, the board is investigating whether Lane used public resources for political purposes, as prohibited by the Iowa code.

Tim Lane registered an entry in the (Oct. 28, 2023) parade to include three Scott County Sheriff patrol vehicles and estimated eight persons to be included in his entry, the complaint says.

Photos attached show Lane in his official uniform, as well as some of the attending Scott County Sheriff Reserves, the complaint says. In addition, Tim Lanes wife and offspring were present wearing Tim Lane for Sheriff T-shirts. This appears to be use of Scott County public resources, by a Scott County official, for personal self promotion, which is a violation of Iowa Code 68.505, the complaint alleges.

Lane released a statement to Our Quad Cities News on Thursday:

The Sheriffs Office and myself were in the Bettendorf Halloween parade handing out candy to kids, he said. The Sheriffs Office has participated in this event for many years and also assists with the uniformed security for the event.

This was not a campaign event. I publicly announced that I was running for reelection in front of the Scott County Republican Central Committee in January of this year and it was later published in February, Lane said. Even though my Republican opponent denies involvement in the ethics complaint, the name of the person who filed the complaint is public and is in fact from his campaign.

(photo from Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane)

The photo above, Lane says, is of all of those who were involved in the parade entry and was taken within about an hour of the start of the parade, including reserve deputies and Lane. Reserve Deputy refers to a non-paid volunteer deputy sheriff from the Scott County Reserve Deputy Program, Lane said.

I expect to be exonerated in this and again be in the Halloween parade this fall, Lane told Our Quad Cities News.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
On April 25, the European Parliament passed a resolution regarding Georgia's draft law on transparency of foreign influence.The resolution asserts that EU accession talks with Georgia cannot advance unless the 'Agents Law' is withdrawn. Moreover, the European Parliament supported amendments calling for sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and the humanitarian release of Mikheil Saakashvili.The European Parliament backed several key amendments:- Urges the Council of the European Union and EU partners to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing him of undermining Georgia's Western trajectory and acting against Georgian people's interests.- Calls on the European Commission to evaluate the impact of the 'Agents Law' on Georgia's compliance with visa liberalization criteria, particularly concerning fundamental rights, a crucial aspect of EU visa policies.- Urges the Georgian Dream party to withdraw proposed constitutional amendments that curtail LGBT rights, labeling it an assault on both the LGBT community and civil liberties.- Calls for the humanitarian release of Mikheil Saakashvili by Georgian authorities, allowing him to seek medical treatment abroad.The resolution garnered support from 425 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), while 25 opposed it. Additionally, 30 MEPs abstained from voting.Kakha Kaladze, the General Secretary of the party, criticized the European Parliament's resolution, labeling it as "wastepaper". During a briefing at the Georgian Dream office, he expressed strong disapproval, condemning the document as "shameful" and accusing European deputies of undermining European institution's integrity."Today, the European Parliament adopted yet another shameful resolution. The MPs who supported this piece of waste paper have once again insulted the European institution and the European idea, which is founded on principles of freedom, equality, transparency, and truth.The Georgian people were told by the MPs involved in lobbying from start to finish that we should release Mikheil Saakashvili, a criminal who instigated a vicious system of torture, murder, business racketeering, oppression, and rape in our country. It turns out that we should release Saakashvili, who deliberately and purposefully severed 20% of Georgia's territory and pushed the country into the depths of poverty," Kaladze said.
KABUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 5,940 Afghan refugees have returned to homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran over recent days, the country's commission on migrants affairs said Friday.

The refugees returned from Pakistan and Iran via the Torkham, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala, Abresham and Angorada border crossing points to Afghanistan, the commission said on social media.

The Pakistani government reportedly started the second phase of sending back Afghan migrants on April 15, and more than 550,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan in the first phase, according to Afghan officials.

Over 2.5 million Afghan refugees have reportedly been living in Pakistan and about the same number are in Iran.

The Afghan caretaker government has been urging Afghan migrants living abroad to return home and contribute to rebuilding their war-ravaged country. 
The only current fruit of a pandemic-era program designated to create affordable housing is entering the next stage of its development in Queens.

The 350-room JFK Hilton is well on its way to becoming perhaps the only byproduct of a program intended to convert hotels into permanent residences for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers, according to Gothamist.

The property  located next to the Belt Parkway, just outside JFK Airport  was one of many to be rendered vacant during COVID-19, and was selected for the first to be repurposed under a 2021 state law called the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA).

The Hiltons $167 million conversion is chugging along, with interior demolition concluding and its transformation into 318 apartments soon set to begin. But advocates are bemoaning the fact that it has been three years since HONDAs passage, and the Hilton remains the only short-term lodging being converted as a result.

HONDA was started with all the good intentions, but lacked sufficient funding, Vijay Dandapani, CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, told Gothamist of the programs $200 million state budget. It was not enough to move the needle.

A rendering of green community space in the completed building. Courtesy New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

The hotel was acquired by private developer Slate Property Group in collaboration with its nonprofit partner RiseBoro Community Partnership, Gothamist reported. Courtesy New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

Common spaces aim to to please with chic style. Courtesy New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

The property was formerly a 350-room hotel. Hilton

As well, many potential hotel candidates lacked sufficiently sized rooms for residential conversion and posed complex zoning regulation issues.

The migrant crisis has also posed a challenge by artificially inflating hotel pricing.

There are at this point some 15,000 odd rooms that are being catered to the migrant, said Dandapani. Its obviously temporary. Nobody knows precisely how long it would last, but that has taken this inventory out of the market and resulted in compression, whereby other hotels that are not catering to the migrants can have better occupancies and better rates.

In the meantime, the Hiltons metamorphosis into the Baisley Pond Park Residences continues, with a reopening date currently slated for October 2025.

The Baisley Pond Park Residences represents what can be achieved when our city and state governments work together with a shared goal of housing New Yorkers, Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams said in a statement in December. While this is the first hotel conversion project facilitated by the Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act (HONDA) program, I am hopeful that it will not be the last.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Answers remain alarmingly scarce following a 2022 raid on the homes of the creator of a popular website based on Area 51.

On Nov. 3, 2022, teams of heavily armed federal agents kicked in the doors of two Nevada homes to serve search warrants. Today, those warrants remain a mystery.

Joerg Arnu, the creator of dreamlandresort.com, owns the locations, a website that focuses on the worlds most enigmatic military base, Area 51. Like most things related to the base itself, the truth behind the warrants in question is elusive and murky.

I hear this banging and a voice, Arnu recounted, adding that the voice called his name, identified themselves as from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI,) and said they had a search warrant.

Arnu, himself barely awake in those early morning hours, remembered all hell breaking loose in his Rachel home, nestled not too far from the outskirts of the worlds best-known secret base.

Joerg Arnu, the creator of dreamlandresort.com, owns the locations, a website that focuses on the worlds most enigmatic military base, Area 51. Like most things related to the base itself, the truth behind the warrants in question is elusive and murky. (KLAS)

The door of my house they kicked in, and Im getting out of bed, and Im faced with [] about six or eight people in my little hallway with riot shields, guns drawn, pointed at me, Arnu remembered. Before I knew it, I was in handcuffs, dragged out of my house.

Agents from the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) spent hours searching the home. They seized every computer, hard drive, and camera before barking questions at Arnu in an intense and lengthy interrogation. For his part, Arnu said he was never told what the raid was about, having not been handed the search warrant until hours after the incident was over.

I still dont know exactly what it is that theyre holding against me, Arnu said.

The warrant, authorized by a federal judge, was nearly entirely redacted and blacked out.

At the same time as the Rachel raid, another team of agents raided Arnus Las Vegas home. Similarly, those doors were bashed in, guns were drawn, and Arnus girlfriend was interrogated, being told that Arnu was a fugitive and on the run somewhere. She was coaxed into revealing the names of Arnus friends and associates.

The busted doors, seized property, and legal fees have cost Arnu a bundle, he said.

Im about $32,000 in the hole, Arnu said.

16 months later, the raid is still shrouded in mystery. No charges have been filed, and neither Arnu nor his attorney have been told what prompted more than 24 federal agents to take action. Arnus attorney, convinced they will never know, agrees that the incident is almost certainly related to Arnus Area 51-based website.

16 months later, the raid is still shrouded in mystery. No charges have been filed, and neither Arnu nor his attorney have been told what prompted more than 24 federal agents to take action. (Joerg Arnu)

Ive been doing this for over 20 years, Arnu said. Im reporting on things that go on at Area 51 that can be observed from public land. I am satisfying peoples curiosity about Area 51.

Arnu said he has always been careful about what photos are published on his site, taking care not to cross lines that stray into restricted areas. He said he would happily remove any image that goes too far. The agents, Arnu said, refused to tell him if a particular photo on his site showed something it shouldnt during his hours-long interrogation.

Whatever justification may exist in the search warrant has been redacted for national security reasons. Since the raid, officials from nearby Nellis Air Force Base have been pummeled with questions from the media about the incident. Theyve declined to comment, perhaps because, according to emails obtained by The Black Vault via the Freedom of Information Act, the public affairs office at Nellis was not notified about the search warrant in advance or told why the action was taken.

Arnu said any foreign spy who wanted to see what goes on inside Area 51 could get clearer images from publicly available satellite platforms than from Dreamland Resorts. He has, for his part, made it clear to his audience that he wont be intimidated, jokingly declaring that Dreamland Resorts is now endorsed by the FBI and OSI. Still, Arnu says the repercussions of the raid are scary.

They can tell something to a judge that you cant know what it isthey can kick in your door, roust you out of bed, take your stuff, he said. They dont have to charge you with anything, and they dont even have to tell you what the crime was.

Arnus attorney said the federal government has up to five years to decide if they will press charges. Until then, Dreamland Resorts and its owner remain in legal limbo.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Fire Hydrant Task Force  operating under the state Public Service Commission  met for the first time Friday. (Leann Ray | West Virginia Watch)

Due to a lack of funding from the Legislature, the costs for upgrading, testing and potentially replacing hundreds of fire hydrants in the state may fall on the backs of utility customers, officials said during a task force meeting on Friday.

The Fire Hydrant Task Force  operating under the state Public Service Commission  met for the first time Friday and will have until June 30 to present recommended rules to the PSC outlining new requirements for maintaining fire hydrants. The new rules come after a general investigation was opened into the states fire hydrants last year when a house burned down on Charlestons West Side after firefighters could not get enough water pressure at three separate hydrants in the area.

During the regular session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring the PSC to create and implement the rules.

Not included in that legislation, however, was funding to help with the testing and potential replacement of the hydrants. Prior to the start of the Legislative session, PSC officials requested approval for $70 million to put toward a hydrant replacement program, but their requests went unanswered.

Now, the costs  which are not final and could change as more information is received about the states hydrants  will be borne by public utilities, likely through rate increases on customers over time.

The [PSC] requested the Legislature to consider funding [to bring all hydrants up to date], but we didnt get the funding. So thats the end of that, said Jonathan Fowler, an engineer with the PSC. The cost to apply these rules will be billed into rates moving forward.

West Virginians, on average, already pay some of the highest water utility rates in the country. As of 2019, residents paid the highest average water bill than any other state, at about $91 per a month, according to data from the National Association of Water Companies.

Those rates  with or without the added costs for hydrant upgrades  will likely increase in coming years as the states water infrastructure continues to age and a majority of funding for upgrades comes through burdensome, often high-interest loans instead of grants.

Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, advocated for the legislation to apply the rules during session and attended Fridays meeting. He told members of the task force that his office was ready to help with the implementation and creation of the rules in any way possible and hinted that money could be made available in the future for the project, but did not offer any specific details.

Anyway you could get us funding? Fowler asked Linville.

Weve actually got some funding possibly, we can chat about that later, Linville responded.

The Legislature is likely to reconvene next month for a special session focused on allocating funding to numerous programs and amend the previously passed state budget for fiscal year 2025. There is a possibility but no guarantee that funding for the PSC could be brought up during that session.

The post Ratepayers to shoulder costs of fire hydrant testing, upgrades appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
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George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s  until the mountain claimed his life.

Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallorys hopes and fears about ascending Everest, leading up to the last days before he disappeared while heading for its peak.

On June 8, 1924, Mallory and fellow climber Andrew Irvine departed from their expedition team in a push for the summit; they were never seen alive again.

Mallorys words, however, are now available to read online in their entirety for the first time. Magdalene College, Cambridge, where Mallory studied as an undergraduate from 1905 to 1908, recently digitized hundreds of pages of correspondence and other documents written and received by him.

Over the past 18 months, archivists scanned the documents in preparation for the centennial of Mallorys disappearance. The college will display a selection of Mallorys letters and possessions in the exhibit George Mallory: Magdalene to the Mountain, opening June 20.

Mallory and Irvine appear at a base camp in Tibet in the last image of the men before they disappeared a century ago. - AP

The Everest letters outline Mallorys meticulous preparations and equipment tests, and his optimism about their prospects. But the letters also show the darker side of mountaineering: bad weather, health issues, setbacks and doubts.

Days before his disappearance, Mallory wrote that the odds were 50 to 1 against us in the last letter to his wife, Ruth, dated May 27, 1924.

This has been a bad time altogether, Mallory wrote. I look back on tremendous efforts & exhaustion & dismal looking out of a tent door and onto a world of snow & vanishing hopes.

He went on to describe a harrowing brush with death during a recent climb, when the ground beneath his feet collapsed, leaving him suspended half-blind & breathless, his weight supported only by his ice axe wedged across a crevasse as he dangled over a very unpleasant black hole.

A digitized letter shows part of the final correspondence that Mallory wrote to his wife, Ruth, dated May 27, 1924, as he revealed looking "onto a world of snow & vanishing hopes." - Magdalene College/AP

Other letters Mallory exchanged with Ruth were written at the time of their courtship, while he was serving in Britains artillery regiment during World War I. Throughout his travels, correspondence from Ruth provided him with much-needed stability during the most challenging times, said project lead Katy Green, a college archivist at Magdalene College.

She was the rock at home, he says himself in his letters, Green said. The archivist recounted one note in which Mallory told Ruth: Im so glad that you never wobble, because I would wobble without you.

Yet while Mallory was clearly devoted to his wife, he nonetheless repeatedly returned to the Himalayas despite her mounting fears for his safety.

Theres something in him that drove him, Green said. It might have been his wartime experience, or it might have just been the sort of person that he was.

Documents of his character

In total, the collection includes around 840 letters spanning from 1914 to 1924; Ruth wrote about 440 of those to Mallory, offering an unprecedented and highly detailed view of daily life for women in the early 20th century, Green told CNN.

Together, the letters offer readers a rare glimpse of the man behind the legend, said Jochen Hemmleb, an author and alpinist who was part of the Everest expedition that found Mallorys body in 1999.

They are really personal. They are documents of his character. They provide unique insights into his life, and especially into the 1924 expedition  his state of mind, his accurate planning, his ambitions, said Hemmleb, who was not involved in the scanning project. Its such a treasure that these are now digitized and available for everyone to read.

During his travels, letters from his wife provided Mallory with much-needed stability during the most challenging times, according to a college archivist at Magdalene College, Cambridge. - Magdalene College/AP

Frozen in place

Three of the digitized letters  written to Mallory by his brother, his sister and a family friend  were recovered from Mallorys body by the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition, which ascended Everest seeking the remains of Mallory and Irvine.

On May 1, 1999, expedition member and mountaineer Conrad Anker found a frozen corpse at an altitude of around 26,700 feet (8,138 meters) and identified it as Mallorys from a name tag that was sewn into his clothes.

Mallorys body was interred where it lay at the familys request, said Anker, who was not involved in the letter digitizing project.

Having done body recoveries in other places, its very laborious, and its very dangerous at that altitude, he told CNN. We collected some of his personal effects that went back to the Royal Geographical Society, including the three letters that were later scanned at Magdalene College.

The collection at Magdalene College includes around 840 letters spanning from 1914 to 1924. - Magdalene College/AP

Mount Everest, the highest peak in the Himalayan mountain range, is also the tallest mountain on Earth, rising 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level on the border between Nepal and Tibet  an autonomous region in China. Its Tibetan name is Chomolungma, meaning Goddess Mother of the World, and its Nepali name is Sagarmatha, meaning Goddess of the Sky.

However, these names were unknown to 19th century British surveyors who mapped the region, and in 1865 the Royal Geographical Society named the peak Mount Everest after British surveyor Sir George Everest, a former surveyor general of India.

Mallory participated in all three of Britains first forays onto Everests slopes: in 1921, 1922 and 1924. When he vanished in 1924, he was less than two weeks shy of his 38th birthday.

Many have speculated about whether Mallory and Irvine managed to reach Everests summit. The climbers were last seen in the early afternoon of June 8 by expedition member and geologist Noel Odell, who was following behind and glimpsed them from a distance. Odell later found some of their equipment at a campsite, but there was no trace of Mallory and Irvine.

(Mallory) risked a lot despite the fact that he had a family back home and three small children, Hemmleb said. We dont know whether it was really irresponsible to make that final attempt, because we dont really know what happened. It could be that in the end, he simply had bad luck.

So close, yet so far

Decades after Mallorys death, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary became the first to reach Everests peak, summiting on May 29, 1953. In the years that followed, thousands attempted to climb Everest, with nearly 4,000 people reaching its summit. More than 330 climbers have died trying since modern records were kept, according to the Himalayan Database, which compiles records of all expeditions in the Himalayas; some of those bodies remain on the mountain, frozen where they fell and visible to climbers who pass them by.

If youre out in this environment, you make peace with your own mortality and the deaths of others, Anker said. Youre above 8,000 meters, and when there are weather changes or your own systems cease to function due to the lack of oxygen, it gets serious really quickly.

When mountaineers are close to a mountains summit, they sometimes proceed even under dangerous conditions due to so-called summit fever, a compulsion to reach the peak even at the cost of their own safety. Its unknown whether Mallory was in the grip of summit fever when he died, but he might have thought that his reputation depended on summiting.

That was going to be the defining moment in his life, Anker said.

By comparison, Mallorys team member Edward Norton had attempted to summit four days earlier but turned back at roughly the same altitude where Mallory and Irvine were seen for the last time.

I had a conversation with one of Edward Nortons sons a couple of years ago, Hemmleb said. When I asked him, do you think it was mere luck that your father survived and Mallory died? He said, No, I think there was one difference: My father, Edward Norton, didnt need the mountain.

As a climber himself, Hemmleb took that message to heart.

That is something I personally learned from Mallory, he said. You need to be very careful not to make yourself dependent on that summit success.

A century has elapsed since Mallorys death, but the digitizing of these letters assures that his story will keep being told, Hemmleb said.

This will continue beyond my own lifetime, Im certain of that, he added. In a sense, its the expedition that never ends.

Mindy Weisberger is a science writer and media producer whose work has appeared in Live Science, Scientific American and How It Works magazine.

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We are ready to fight for this alongside you: Durham school board backs 14% budget hike

The Durham school board voted unanimously Thursday night to ask the county for a 14% budget increase next school year, throwing in at the last minute an additional $200 monthly supplement for hard-to-staff positions.

Thats expected to include teachers of exceptional children and English as a second language, and possibly others.

At an estimated cost near $1 million, that pushed the proposed budget to about $218 million, up $27 million from last year.

I keep calling it a bold ask, but I think its important to note that it does not represent everything that is needed, Interim Superintendent Catty Moore said.

Like many large school districts, Durham County supplements pay provided by the state legislature for school employees.

That leaves the fate of this years proposed schools budget  and a possible tax increase to pay for it  in the hands of the county commissioners.

The legislature is also weighing additional school funding after Gov. Roy Cooper proposed teacher raises this week.

We are ready to fight for this alongside you, said Symone Kiddoo, president of the Durham Association of Educators.

Luna Gomez, a fourth grader at Holt Elementary School, addresses the Durham Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at the Staff Development Center in Durham, N.C.

How ESL, EC supplements made it in

School staff lobbied the school board for more money for ESL and exceptional children teachers last week in a budget hearing.

Occupational therapist Anna Benfield said she watched an energetic and creative first-year teacher run herself ragged last year in a special education classroom when an instructional assistant left and the class size swelled.

My colleague is no longer bright-eyed. She doesnt bring out the paints anymore. This school year has worn her down, she said. Stories like this are all too common, and I wonder darkly how many of my colleagues will not be here next year.

Board of Education member Emily Chavez requested the supplements be added to the budget Thursday night.

About a third of the $27 million budget increase would cover substantial raises for classified staff, among the districts lowest-paid workers, who led protests after budgeting mistakes led their salaries to change twice last year.

It also includes pay raises for teachers and people with masters degrees (also in the governors proposal), plus money for maintenance and repairs.

Everyones getting 3% no matter what, but some will get more, depending on how they fall, Moore said.

Durham Public Schools Board of Education Board Chair Bettina Umstead, left, adjourns a school board meeting after announcing the resignation of Superintendent Pascal Mubenga and releasing the main findings of an investigation that was launched to learn the cause of salary issues Thursday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Durham. Mubenga learned of the problem on Nov. 8 but the board wasnt informed until Jan. 11.

New salary schedules in development will hinge on how much the legislature and county commissioners provide.

These are all proposals, Chair Bettina Umstead noted.

Whats next?

The county manager unveils her proposed budget May 13, and a public hearing will follow May 28.

The county commissioners will pass a budget in June ahead of the new fiscal year starting July 1.

The legislature could act this summer or delay to the fall, as typically happens.
Svenja Schulze, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, gives an interview during her visit to a refugee camp. Schulze approves an employment initiative for Palestinians aimed at ensuring greater stability in the region. Hannes P Albert/dpa

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze has announced plans to support the reconstruction of Ukraine with an international skilled labour initiative.

There is a shortage of doctors, psychologists, roofers and architects, the Social Democrat (SPD) politician said in Berlin on Friday. "The reconstruction of Ukraine is already beginning."

People are particularly needed in the health sector as well as in reconstruction and home building. In the energy sector, 8,000 skilled workers have already been trained since the start of the war.

"These are professional profiles that are urgently needed for reconstruction," Schulze stressed.

The aim of the "SkillsAlliance for Ukraine" is to train young people, women and the internally displaced within the country in particular in the areas of reconstruction. However, refugees from Ukraine are also to benefit from the "training offensive" by being trained abroad, Schulze said.

In addition, the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference is scheduled to take place in Berlin on June 11 and 12.

"Any help for Ukrainian specialists in Ukraine is very welcome," said Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev. The reconstruction of the country cannot wait until the war is over, he added. "This will be a task for decades," he said.

The European Commission has estimated the cost of rebuilding the country at over 150 billion ($161 billion).

Makeiev went on to say that the Ukrainian government was already supporting the reconstruction of destroyed homes with millions of euros.

"The Russians' goal is clearly to destroy Ukraine and create conditions so that people can no longer live there," he said, adding that it is not just about weapons, financing or generators, but about people who "immediately rebuild what has been destroyed by Russia."
Julie Anne Stone Miller of Boone County, W.Va., has been charged with child neglect linked to the death of her teen daughter on April 17, 2024. (West Virginia Regional Jail Authority)

A Boone County mother charged with child neglect linked to the death of her daughter had pulled the girl from public school for homeschooling, according to documents obtained from the local school district.

The 14-year-old girl was found April 17 emaciated to a skeletal state, local deputies said. Her grandmother told WCHS that the child had only been outside the house possibly two times in the last four years.

Documents obtained from Boone County Schools showed that the mother, Julie Anne Stone Miller, submitted documentation in February 2021 to homeschool her daughter.

West Virginia Watch received the documents through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Miller, in an email to former Boone County Schools Superintendent Jeff Huffman, said that her two daughters had elderly grandparents who they were with daily.

We think homeschooling is the best now with the COVID-19 in order to keep our family safe, Miller wrote.

Deputies previously told reporters that they were unsure if the girl was being taught at home or had failed to go to school.

Boone Superintendent Matthew Riggs did not respond to questions for this story, including if Miller had submitted homeschool student assessments that are required under state code.

A call to revisit homeschool legislation

The high-profile case has reignited conversations about legislation known as Raylees Law, which sought to close a loophole where parents could withdraw their children from public school if a teacher reported suspected child abuse.

West Virginia Watch asked Boone County Schools for any records showing if teachers had contacted CPS about the girl prior to her mothers homeschool request. Riggs did not return any records and did not respond to a question verifying no records of that kind existed.

Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, holds up a poster of Raylee Browning, a child who died from abuse and neglect after her parents removed her from public school to homeschool her. The West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 5180 with Raylees Law as an added amendment on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Raylees Law would have prevented parents from removing their child from school to homeschool them if a teacher has reported them for abuse. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Gov. Jim Justice said on Tuesday that CPS wasnt aware of the child prior to her death.

The West Virginia Department of Human Services has not returned FOIA requests for CPS records that would verify that information.

Since 2019, Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, has attempted to pass the legislation in various forms. It is named for Raylee Browning, an eight-year-old girl who died of abuse and neglect in 2018 after her parents withdrew her from school.

I think this situation in Boone has brought new light to the situation, he said. Since Raylees law was introduced, how many children have been abused because of inaction?

Earlier this year, legislation containing Raylees Law passed through the House of Delegates with bipartisan support after tweaks from lawmakers who homeschool their children.

The Senate Education Committee failed to take it up for consideration by deadline. Committee Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, did not respond to a question about why it wasnt considered.

This isnt an attack on people who homeschool. Its an attack on people who abuse children, Fluharty said. Thats called good policy.

Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone

He hopes to see the bill included in the governors call for the upcoming May special session.

Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, said that in light of the childs death, he would like to see legislative action to prevent future tragedies. He voted in support of the bill.

I think weve got to figure out a way to not curtail the rights of homeschool parents and not be intrusive but still have the well-being of children in mind, he said. This is a step in the right direction and something we can do.

He noted that his community is filled with grief about the teens death.

This is a conversation we should have had yesterday, he added.

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The post Records show deceased Boone girl found emaciated was being homeschooled appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A 17-year-old teen from Reedley who is battling testicular cancer has received treatment in Mexico and continues his road to recovery, according to an update from his mother on Thursday.

According to GoFundMe, Malachi Rios is a senior at Reedley High School and has been battling stage four testicular cancer since November 2022.

Help a Reedley 17-year-old facing stage 4 cancer receive treatment

Earlier this month, a GoFundMe was created by family and friends to get him to a treatment center in Mexico. In the GoFundMe it stated that Rios was forced to miss his last two years of school to confront his cancer.

In an update posted on April 25 on Rios condition, his mother detailed the treatment he is receiving. She says that her son is strong-willed and determined to kick cancer out of his body, adding that he is committed and willing to sacrifice whatever it is to be healthy.

Hes making hard decisions that no young man should ever need to make. His endurance amazes me every day! Through it all he gives glory to God for being with him every step of the journey, his mother wrote.

A link to the GoFundMe fundraiser can be found here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Iowa Utilities Board member Josh Byrnes disagreed with the other two board members on how to deal with Summit Carbon Solutions' pipeline expansion plans. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

In a split vote, the Iowa Utilities Board declined to solicit more evidence before it decides whether to issue a pipeline permit to Summit Carbon Solutions, according to a Thursday board order.

In recent months, the company has more than doubled the number of ethanol producers to which its system would connect and added 340 miles of pipe  a roughly 50% increase. It indicated in March it would file 14 new permit requests for that expansion with the IUB while its initial permit application was still pending.

The IUB is poised to make a decision for the first permit, and pipeline opponents seized on the expansion to make an 11th-hour bid to delay the decision. The Sierra Club of Iowa argued that the evidentiary record should be reopened and the permit applications consolidated, which would potentially elongate the process for many months.

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation did not ask for a consolidation but sought to reopen the record to determine how the expansion will affect the initial proposal.

Board member Joshua Byrnes agreed with the Farm Bureau: The board should demand that the route for a project of this size and magnitude be the product of comprehensive planning to ensure the final route is the most efficient to accomplish the projects objectives and to minimize the impact on Iowa landowners.

Some have suggested that the initial route and expansion plans could be revamped to reduce the total miles of pipeline. Sweeping changes could significantly delay the projects approval.

Because the company voluntarily chose to open the door to the expanded ethanol plant partners, I believe it is fair to at least ask about the potential impact the additional trunk and lateral pipelines may have on the proposed pipeline, Byrnes wrote in his dissent Thursday.

Summit objected to the requests, in part, because of the potential delays to its initial permit process that has been ongoing for more than two years. The company said its requests for separate permits for the extensions fit with board procedure despite the fact the board has yet to rule on the initial permit, and that it could seek to amend the conditions of the initial permit if needed to accommodate the extensions.

The two other IUB members  Erik Helland and Sarah Martz  overruled Byrnes and agreed with Summit about reopening the record. Their decision about the initial permit request will be based upon the evidence already presented, Helland and Martz wrote.

All three board members denied the request to consolidate the permit applications.

Summits initial proposal includes about 690 miles of pipe that would connect to a dozen ethanol plants and transport their captured carbon dioxide to North Dakota for underground storage.

The project has been delayed by setbacks in the Dakotas, where Summits first proposals were rejected by state regulators.

The post Regulators deny late requests to delay carbon dioxide pipeline decision appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday voiced deep concern over Israel's continued airstrikes in Syria.

Israel has continued its airstrikes on Syrian territory. China finds this a cause for deep concern, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"Such acts constitute a grave violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. These acts will further push the regional situation to the verge of spiraling out of control," he warned.

The spillover effect of the current Gaza conflict continues. All parties must exercise restraint and refrain from actions that exacerbate tensions. Major powers outside the region should play a constructive role in promoting the de-escalation of the regional situation, he told the Security Council.

On the situation in Syria, Geng said China has been a firm supporter of a political solution.

The international community should continue to promote a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process. China welcomes UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen's extensive engagement with the parties. China hopes the Arab League and relevant regional countries will strengthen communication and cooperation with the Syrian government and play a constructive role in promoting a political solution, he said.

"We support the Syrian government in taking necessary measures to combat terrorism. We call on the international community to observe international law and Security Council resolutions, reject double standards, and combat all terrorism in Syria with zero tolerance," said Geng.

The current humanitarian situation in Syria is dire. The international community should increase its assistance to Syria and ensure that the early-recovery projects throughout Syria receive adequate and non-earmarked funding support, he said.

Cross-line humanitarian relief operations have been stalled for more than six months. Parties that exercise actual control in northwest Syria must show sincerity and work to facilitate positive progress in cross-line relief operations, he said.

Unilateral sanctions and the plundering of resources have long impeded Syria's efforts toward economic recovery, social development, and improvement of people's well-being. China urges the countries concerned to immediately cease their unlawful unilateral measures. Foreign forces must immediately end their illegal military presence in Syria, he said. 
When a former Freeburg High School teacher who had been serving time for nearly strangling a teenager to death in 2006 walked out of a state prison on Monday, it wasnt his first taste of freedom.

Samson Sam Shelton, who told investigators he choked the teenager with a belt and left her barely alive in the woods of a Belleville park, was allowed to live in an Illinois Department of Corrections work release center in Peoria last year for about two weeks, according to the agency.

Sheltons assault on then 17-year-old Ashley Reeves and his subsequent guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder have been featured in multiple nationally televised shows.

Shelton, 44, was allowed to live in the Peoria Adult Transition Center from March 29, 2023, to April 13, 2023, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Corrections said in a statement that the agency cannot provide the reasons why Shelton was allowed to move into the work release center at 607-613 N. Main St. in Peoria or why he was required to return to prison.

The Peoria center has 248 beds in dormitory-style rooms and is located on a bus route near restaurants, the Peoria Civic Center and several hotels that employ residents of the work release center, according to the Department of Corrections website.

When Shelton was released from prison after serving 17 years on Monday, he was at the Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton, which is southwest of Peoria.

Shelton, who taught drivers education and had a side job as a professional wrestler dubbed The Teacher, was given a 20-year prison sentence on the attempted murder charge on June 15, 2007, by then- St. Clair County Circuit Judge Milton Wharton.

Wharton also ordered that Shelton serve at least 85% of the 20-year sentence before he could be released on parole, according to St. Clair County court records.

This court order also gave Shelton credit for 53 days he served in the St. Clair County Jail before he was sent to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The Department of Corrections said Shelton had met the requirements of Whartons order.

Shelton is scheduled to go off parole on April 22, 2027, according to state Department of Corrections records.

Neither Shelton nor Reeves could be reached for comment this week.

The Department of Corrections also said that Sheltons release was not moved up because of a new state law that allows some inmates to get out of prison earlier than originally scheduled. The law, known as House Bill 3026, permitted the early release of 409 inmates between Jan. 1 and March 21, according to an April 16 News-Democrat article based on Illinois Department of Corrections statistics.

House Bill 3026 requires the Department of Corrections to recalculate the credit inmates have earned to reduce their time in prison. It went into effect in January.

Teen found in the woods

St. Clair County sheriffs investigators found Reeves at about 2 a.m. April 29, 2006, in the woods at Citizens Park in Belleville after Shelton led them to her following a 13-hour interrogation, according to Belleville News-Democrat coverage of the crime.

Reeves had been reported missing and detectives later learned that Shelton, who was then 26, had been in a relationship with Reeves. In 2006, Shelton was a teacher at Freeburg High School and Reeves was attending Columbia High School. Officials said the two first met when Reeves was in the seventh grade and Shelton was teaching in Millstadt, the Associated Press has reported.

Reeves suffered brain trauma from the assault and had numerous insect bites that sent her into a high fever, according to News-Democrat coverage of the crime. She was hospitalized and then had to go under rehabilitation where she had to learn how to walk and talk again.

Shelton told investigators in an interview that was recorded on video that he used a belt in the assault against Reeves. Investigators believe Shelton left Reeves for dead in the woods and then he went line dancing at a country bar.
Remains of Man Who Vanished After Asking Brother to Pick Him Up from Work in 2018 Have Been Found

Ty Husted's remains were found by a turkey hunter on private property in northeast Mercer County in Missouri on April 23, according to police

Missing Person Support Center/Facebook Sebastian Ty Husted, who went missing when he was 18 years old

The remains of an Iowa man who went missing in 2018 have been located on private property in Missouri, authorities said

Sebastian Ty Husted was originally reported missing on Jan. 22, 2018, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol

Ty's sister previously said her 18-year-old brother lost contact with family shortly after sending a cryptic message to another sibling

The remains of an Iowa man who went missing in 2018 after sending a cryptic text message to his brother have been located in Missouri, according to authorities.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced Tuesday, April 23, that human remains were found by a turkey hunter on private property in northeast Mercer County.

Two days later, the department revealed that the remains belonged to Sebastian Ty Husted, who was originally reported missing on Jan. 22, 2018. A cause of death has not been revealed.

Related: Body Found in Field Confirmed to Be Trucker Missing for 5 Months: 'Such a Good Father,' Says Wife

It's a day many people have prayed and hoped for. We have found Ty and are bringing him home, said Iesha Husted, Tys sister, in a post on her Facebook page. While this was never the out come we wanted we are relieved our search is over.

Ty was last seen in Mercer County, just over the Iowa-Missouri state line, where he was working at a hog confinement facility, according to the Missing Person Support Center, a Missouri-based nonprofit organization.

Related: Conn. Teacher Who Was Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms Remains Missing After 2 Months

The Iowa man, who was just 18 years old at the time of his disappearance, had just started a job with the facility and was expecting to be a father.

Ieasha said her brother carpooled down to the job site with a coworker, who eventually left Ty in Missouri, according to a 2018 article published by Ottumwa Courier. He never came home, she added.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

At one point, Iesha said, Ty sent her twin brother a concerning text message shortly after he arrived in Lineville, where the hog facility was located. It said, Please, man, just come get me. Please,  she said, per CBS affiliate KCCI.

Mercer County Sheriff Steve Stockman told KCCI in 2018 that authorities scoured the area and even drained the hog pit where Ty worked, but did not find any evidence. Authorities searched the facility several more times afterward, according to KTVO.

Related: Search for Missing 16-Year-Old Child of Billionaire Slack Co-Founder Continues, Foul Play Not Suspected

The circumstances surrounding Ty's death remain unknown at this time.

Family members are still looking for answers. In her Facebook post, Iesha asked members of the public to respect the familys privacy and implored them to be careful about spreading theories about what may have occurred.

She also thanked those who stood by her family in the six years since her brothers disappearance. All the prayers, post shares, kind words, shoulders to cry on, listening ears, embraces, and donations have been appreciated, she added.

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Read the original article on People.
NEW YORK  Legacies for me, but not for thee.

Two years ago, Rep. Jamaal Bowman introduced a bill in Congress seeking to prohibit preferential admissions for legacy applicants at colleges  but a video recently unearthed by the New York Daily News shows two of his own children benefited from a version of that very system.

Bowman revealed his own familys reliance on legacy admissions earlier this year during a talk with students at the Forsyth Satellite Academy, a public school on the Lower East Side.

I worry for my kids in the education system, but Im very privileged, and Im embarrassed to say this to everybody: my kids go to private school, the Democratic lawmaker can be heard saying in the video, which is dated Feb. 27, 2024 and was posted on Forsyths Instagram page.

Bowman, who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester, went on to explain that his second wife had attended private school, which bestowed legacy status upon their two children.

She graduated from private school. So, now that she has kids, those kids get legacy admissions into these private schools, he continued. So now I got two kids with my second wife who goes to these private schools. It was her decision, not mine, but I went with it because I like the school.

Bowman is now locked in a competitive primary fight with Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Voting for that contest is set for June 25.

The race has been dominated by debate over where the two stand on the Israeli conflict with Hamas in Gaza, with Bowman taking a more pro-Palestinian stance and Latimer siding primarily with the Israelis. Bowman has also taken heat for defending a mural depicting Louis Farrakhan and for pulling a fire alarm on Capitol Hill, while Latimer has come under fire for accepting donations from contributors who also gave to former President Donald Trump.

Now, Bowmans position on legacy admissions is being called into question as well.

Former Gov. David Paterson, who endorsed Latimer earlier this month, said it demonstrates the Congressman is failing to lead by example.

Its the height of hypocrisy, Paterson said of Bowmans stance on legacies. It personifies the belief that the public often has that elected officials make up rules for everyone but themselves.

Bowman did not directly address the legacy issue when contacted by The News. Despite the fact that video shows him talking about his kids private school education, he claimed that either my opponents campaign or his supporters are pushing for the publication of a story that would reveal private information about my children.

This is unconscionable. Over the past month, I have received multiple death threats filled with racial slurs and hateful epithets, he said. I will not stand by and let my children face the same hate that I have seen.

In one unhinged email the Bowman campaign provided to The News as an example, the sender repeatedly levels racial epthets at Bowman and wishes for the death of him and his children.

Latimers campaign declined to comment for this story.

In his talk at the Forsyth school, Bowman, a progressive Democrat who describes himself as working class in campaign literature, noted that his oldest son, now an adult, attended public schools throughout the entirety of his academic career.

A New York City private school, which charges more than $63,000 a year in tuition and other costs, referred to Bowman as a parent in a Sept. 2020 social media post. The News is withholding the name of the school in question because Bowmans two other children are minors.

Bowmans recent candor about his own kids legacy admissions is a far cry from earlier rhetoric on the same topic.

The bill he introduced two years ago with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) would prohibit colleges that participate in federal student aid programs from giving preference to school applicants with legacy or donor status.

The legacy admissions practice which disproportionately benefits rich, white, and connected students, and has antisemitic and anti-immigrant roots, creates another systemic barrier to accessing higher education for low-income students, students of color, and first-generation students, Bowman said when the bill was introduced. Exclusionary policies must end and Congress must prohibit these unfair and inequitable practices.

While speaking at Forsyth, where his sister Deanna Bowman serves as the schools respect for all liaison, Bowman went on to say that the situation with legacy admissions is one reason why hes trying to start a revolution in public schools.

Theres no reason why public schools shouldnt be doing what private schools are doing, he said at the time. The main reason is the people in power dont care about kids that go to public school.

His remarks apparently made an impression. The school posted video of his talk on Instagram, along with a #reelectbowman endorsement.

Its unclear who from the school posted that message, but under city law, government officials are prohibited from using municipal resources like social media accounts to promote political causes.

City Education Department spokesman Nathaniel Styer said the message is not permitted.

Well reach out and have them remove the hashtag, he said.
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 31: Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., participates in the House Oversight and Accountability Committee organizing meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., told theGrio, Organized people beat organized money every time.

After pulling out a decisive win against her primary opponent amid a super PACs attempt to unseat her over her stance on the Israel-Hamas war in Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., is empowering the broader pro-Palestine movement to end the more than 200-day-old conflict.

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., told theGrio of Lees overwhelming victory: Organized people beat organized money every time.

The New York congressman, who is facing own primary challenge on June 25 for his stance on the war, said of Lees history: When you govern from the perspective of human rights, people feel that.

Bowman added that voters came out to support Lee because she governs from the perspective of human rights, justice, freedom and equality.

On Tuesday, Lee defeated Democratic challenger Edgewood Borough Councilmember Bhavini Patel. The councilmember was backed by The Moderate Democrats PAC, which aims to support centrist Democrats and is funded by Republican mega-donor Jeffrey Yass. The super PAC donated more than $600,000 to Patels campaign. However, that paled in comparison to the more than $2 million that Lee was able to raise.

Lee is now set to face off with Republican opponent, businessman James Hayes, in November.

In a statement obtained by theGrio, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said far-right billionaires and AIPAC megadonors saw Lee as a threat, however, her constituents see effective leadership and a champion in the fight for justice for all.

The people of Pittsburgh showed our seats cannot and will not be bought, declared Bush.

Rep. Cori Bush / Getty

Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for Justice Democrats, told theGrio that Lee had the support of her constituents because she had one of the most productive years as a freshman member of Congress.

She delivered over $1.2 billion to her district on the exact priorities that she campaigned on, including green jobs, clean air and water, and affordable housing, said Andrabi.

This is the second time Lee was the target of a super PAC. In 2022, leading up to Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District Democratic primary election, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), backed Lees opponent, Pittsburgh attorney Steve Irwin. AIPAC invested more than $2.3 million in Irwins campaign. Despite the super PACs efforts, Lee won the primary race.

Last year, AIPAC announced it would invest $100 million to unseat Lee and other members of the so-called congressional Squad including Reps. Bowman, Bush, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., due to their views on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, the Squad members have repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for not reprimanding Israel for committing war crimes that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of women and children in Gaza.

Although AIPAC fell short of its goal to unseat Lee, the super PAC has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to unseat Bowman in his Democratic primary race.

The super PAC recruited Westchester County Executive George Latimer to challenge Bowman in New Yorks 16th Congressional District Democratic primary election. Latimer received more than $600,000 in AIPAC donations. Latimer also gained the backing of the Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), a super PAC that aims to elect pro-Israel Democrats for Congress.

Bowman, who has held his congressional seat since 2021, believes AIPACs initiative to unseat him will fail.

FILE  Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., listens to fellow speakers before President Joe Biden speaks on the debt limit during an event at SUNY Westchester Community College, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y. Bowman was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for triggering a fire alarm as lawmakers scrambled to pass a funding bill before a government shutdown deadline in September. The alarm prompted an evacuation of a House office building and reopened an hour later after Capitol Police determined it was not a threat. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Bowman told theGrio that over the course of three years, he has done the will of his constituents.

Weve delivered over a billion dollars to the district and invested in areas that people care about like public safety, health care and mental health, said Bowman. Weve shown our constituents time and time again that we govern with and for them.

AIPAC and DMFI have also endorsed prosecutor Wesley Bell, who will go toe to toe with Bush on Aug, 6 in Missouris 1st Congressional District Democratic primary election.

Despite efforts by pro-Israel groups to unseat Bush, she too is confident that she will remain in office.

Bush told theGrio that she believes her constituents are going to show up and mirror what was seen in Lees Democratic primary race.

Andrabi told theGrio that AIPAC and DMFI are using Latimer and Bell as empty vessels to push right-wing policies.

He added that voters should ask themselves if they would like to see more career politicians in office or if they would prefer to elect those who have been closer to the crises that everyday people in this country are facing, like Bowman, who is a former principal and Bush who is a former nurse.

Andrabi told theGrio that despite continued threats from super PACs, he believes members of the Congressional Squad, will remain in Congress and continue to advocate on behalf of their constituents.

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The post Rep. Summer Lees decisive PA primary win signals momentum for pro-Palestine movement appeared first on TheGrio.
Artist Lawrence Lemaoana at an exhibition at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. A selection of artworks which were produced during the country's apartheid era and ended up in foreign art collections are on display to mark 30 years since the country's transition to democracy in 1994. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  A selection of South African artworks produced during the countrys apartheid era which ended up in foreign art collections is on display in Johannesburg to mark 30 years since the country's transition to democracy in 1994.

Most of the artworks were taken out of the country by foreign tourists and diplomats who had viewed them at the Australian Embassy in the capital, Pretoria. The embassy had opened its doors to Black artists from the townships to be recognized and have their artworks on full display to the public.

The artworks, which reflect the daily struggles of the countrys Black majority during the apartheid era and the effects of racial segregation policies, are on display alongside works by some of South Africas exciting contemporary artists.

The exhibition creates a blend of perspectives on South Africa through the eyes of artists who lived during and after the country's most difficult period.

It is a culmination of efforts to repatriate African artworks, artifacts and valuable cultural items to Africa by organizations such as the Ifa Lethu Foundation, which is hosting the exhibition.

The organization has repatriated more than 700 pieces, including works by South African artist Gerard Sekoto, who died in Paris in 1993.

Similar efforts have been made across Africa, including in Benin and Nigeria.

Some of the highlights of the exhibit are an undated piece titled For the Children by renowned South African artist and sculptor Dumile Feni, who died in New York in 1991 before he could return to South Africa to witness the end of apartheid.

A 1987 piece titled Mineworkers by South African artist Mike Khali which addresses the plight of migrant workers in South African gold mines is also part of the exhibition, which is being held at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

Michael Selekane, a contemporary artist whose work is part of the exhibition, pointed out some of the technical hurdles faced by artists who came before him.

The use of material was limited for them. That is why most of their work is black and white, and it is prints. Painting was an expensive medium to work on, their conditions were tough, he said.

Selekane's Rosy Future and Shattered are part of the exhibition.

We need to reflect on the fact that we did not just magically emerge as artists, there were people who laid the way forward regardless of whether their context was difficult, complicated, undoable, they were resilient in what they were doing, said Lawrence Lemaoana, a contemporary artist whose work is also on show.

In this period, art by black artists was not considered worth including in South African museums, galleries or corporate or private collections, notes exhibition curator Carol Brown.

With the exception of a few outliers  including workshops such as Polly Street in Johannesburg and the Evangelical Lutheran Centre at Rorkes Drift, established by foreign missionaries in the former province of Natal  art education for black artists was minimal."

For much of their lives, art materials, books and exhibitions were denied to them, Brown writes in her curators statement.

The works have been grouped thematically, she says: Suffering and Conflict, Dreams of the Future, Leisure and Culture, City of Gold, Whose Land Is It? and The Beginning.

These themes invite contemplation of the socio-political landscape of present-day South Africa, but also allow us to see how the past influences and shapes the present  and how contemporary visions can highlight the modernity in the overlooked and undervalued art produced under the terrible constraints of apartheid, she said.

The exhibition runs until July 31.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
The City of Festivals is adding one more event to the calendar this year  Convention Fest.

With the Republican National Convention coming to Milwaukee July 15-18, Convention Fest is primarily a daytime experience for delegates, officials, media members and other ticketed guests attending the convention. The Convention Fest will likely be inside of the security perimeter, and outside of Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, and the Baird Center.

The Committee on Arrangements for the Republican National Committee and the 2024 Host Committee are looking for local food, beverage, retail and experience-related businesses to participate in Convention Fest. Interested parties should apply online before 5 p.m. on May 22.

It's unclear what the cost, if any, will be for businesses that participate.

The COA said space is limited and participation will be approved on a rolling basis.

Lucy Zukaitis with Dynamic Events by David Caruso seen during the Convention Partner Fair Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Baird Center in Milwaukee. She's been in this business for 10-15 years and her favorite part is "Every day is a little different. We never know what we are walking into but it is always exciting," she said.

"The Host Committee team has forged strong working relationships with the Milwaukee business community over the last two years," said Host Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. "We could not be more excited about the 2024 Convention Fest serving as another opportunity to work with our local partners to highlight the best of what Wisconsin has to offer while maximizing the Convention experience.

Attendees can expect pop-up booths featuring food, drinks and shopping from local Wisconsin companies. And area businesses will be able to pitch their products to guests from all over the country.

"Convention Fest will be a unique and fun opportunity for Convention guests from across the country to experience what makes the state of Wisconsin great," said COA Chairwoman Anne Hathaway. "As the weeks premier daytime event, I am confident that Convention Fest will serve as an unforgettable Milwaukee showcase as we gather to launch our nominee, President Donald J. Trump, to victory in November.

More: Area businesses preparing for RNC await news on contracts for the big event. It's early, most not worried

Businesses have been preparing for RNC

Beyond politics, local businesses have been looking for ways to cash in on the major event.

Last year, before the first Republican Presidential Primary Debate in Milwaukee, dozens of businesses set up booths in the Baird Center to introduce their business to potential clients who may want to use them during the RNC.

Candace Lillunds business in Milwaukee, Proforma ScoutPromotions, was chosen to print merchandise like T-shirts, hats, wine labels and other things for the convention.

RNC 2024 Milwaukee seen on a bottle of wine during the Convention Partner Fair Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Baird Center in Milwaukee.

Its given me a lot of exposure I didnt have before, Lillund said in August 2023, adding the RNC has helped her personally and I hope it helps other businesses in Milwaukee too.

The delegates have their hotel assignments and businesses are expecting to see an increase in requests for services.

"You're going to have about 50,000  I'd call it full-time guests  people who are staying here," Priebus, who served as chairman of the Wisconsin delegation in previous conventions, said earlier this month.

"If you think about it, if you're chairman of one delegation... we're not just going to the Fiserv Forum at night and going to the show that you watch on TV and going back to the hotel," he said.

"What I had to do as chairman of one delegation is I had to build out my entire week's activities."

The economic impact to the city has been estimated to be as high as $200 million.

The RNC has set up a vendor directory for businesses to provide information for delegates and guests coming in from outside of Milwaukee who want to use their services.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC seeking Milwaukee businesses to set up booths
McKenzie Bridge businessman Darin Harbick, left, is challenging state Rep. Charlie Conrad, R-Dexter, in the Republican primary in the 12th House District. (Campaign photos)

A primary in rural Lane County will determine whether the Oregon House Republican caucus will include candidates who differ from the party line on abortion.

First-term Rep. Charlie Conrad, R-Dexter, faces a challenge from Republican business owner Darin Harbick in the 12th House District, which stretches south and east from Eugene to scoop up small rural communities including Creswell, Cottage Grove and Lowell.

Conrad has earned praise from colleagues and some constituents, including Democrats and nonaffiliated voters, for keeping an open mind about legislation and asking careful questions. But his decision to vote with Democrats on a 2023 law to widen access to abortions and protect medical providers from prosecution for providing reproductive health care or gender-affirming care angered some fellow Republicans, including his opponent, and earned him an official censure from the Oregon Republican Party.

Nonaffiliated voters, who cant participate in the May primary, are the largest group in the district, with more than 19,200, compared to 16,800 Republicans and nearly 15,600 Democrats.

Conrad won a four-way Republican primary in 2022 by just 99 votes, then went on to capture 57% of the vote in the general election. No Democrats are running this year.

Charlie Conrad

Conrad, 51, sees serving in the Legislature as a natural continuation of more than 20 years of public service as a police officer and corrections officer. He ran in 2022 when the seat opened  incumbent Rep. Marty Wilde, a Eugene Democrat, opted not to run after redistricting gave Republicans an advantage in the district  and his son graduated from high school. Conrads running for reelection because he feels he was successful in his first term.

Name: Charlie Conrad

Party: Republican

Age: 51

Residency: Dexter

Education: Masters in public administration from the University of Colorado, 2012; bachelors in wildlife science from Oregon State University, 1994

Current occupation: State representative

Prior elected experience: State representative since 2023

Family status: Married, one son

Fundraising: $48,680 as of April 23

Cash on hand: -$785 as of April 23

He succeeded in securing more than $10 million in investments for his district, including more than $4 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Lowell, Creswell and Cottage Grove, $900,000 for emergency communications equipment in Lane County and more than $140,000 for the Row River Fire Response.

They dont have a lot of money, but they still have the same needs, and so to be able to bring in resources to help them out so they can build that infrastructure, so they can be part of the solutions for housing, so that they can be part of the solutions to ensure that their citizens have safe water, that is something that Im really proud of, Conrad said.

It would be easy, he said, to vote no on every budget and policy bill that contains something he doesnt like. Instead, he looks at each bill through the lens of how it could help people in his district and tries to work with other legislators, lobbyists and advocates to help others.

We can either take some radical measures, stomp our feet, do walkouts, do a number of different things to get our point across, or we can do some different things, and my preference is to do those different things, Conrad said. Its to always approach with a pragmatic open mind working on those solutions.

Most voters he talks to arent focused on his vote on House Bill 2002, the controversial abortion and transgender health care law, Conrad said. Theyre more concerned about emergency management, homelessness and housing. But when the issue comes up, he says hes happy to explain his vote, as he did in an interview with the Capital Chronicle last year.

That vote led the Oregon Republican Party to vote last month to censure Conrad and vow never to financially support him in another election. The party called on the House Republican caucus to do the same, but the caucus thus far is standing behind Conrad.

In a statement endorsing Conrad, Deputy House Republican Leader Mark Owens praised him for standing up for conservative values.

He is a thoughtful leader who stands up for the conservative values of his district, Owens said. Charlie works hard to understand the issues and to push back against government overreach. He brings the voices of his district to Salem and is a Republican who deserves to be reelected.

Conrads largest campaign donors are the Oregon State Firefighters Council and the Coquille Indian Tribe, both of which gave $3,000 to Conrads campaign. State campaign finance records show he also received support from an eclectic group of nonaffiliated and Democratic supporters, including 2022 nonaffiliated candidate for governor Betsy Johnson; Patty Buehler, the wife of 2018 Republican gubernatorial nominee Knute Buehler, and Wilde, the districts former Democratic state representative.

Conrad said the state Republican party, as well as the national Republican Party, is divisive and isnt focused on actually doing work. That shows nationally with close to two dozen Republican Congress members, including several committee chairs, choosing to resign or not seek reelection this year. In Oregon, many elected Republicans have little to do with the state or local party apparatus  all House Republicans even publicly disavowed the state partys resolution calling the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol a false flag.

We dont accomplish anything if were angry, yelling and engaging in demagoguery and rhetoric that just pulls people apart, Conrad said. I dont approach this job with anger. I approach this job with focus on the challenges and what are the solutions to them? That keeps me grounded.

Darin Harbick

Harbick, 55, said he was first drawn to politics in 2020 because of COVID-related restrictions on schools, businesses and churches. He announced a run for governor in 2021, then switched to running for the U.S. Senate, placing second in the Republican primary to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden.

Name: Darin Harbick

Party: Republican

Age: 55

Residency: McKenzie Bridge

Education: diploma, McKenzie High School

Current occupation: Owner of Harbicks Inc., Harbick Country Inn and Ark77 Recovery Center

Prior elected experience: None

Family status: Married, three adult children

Fundraising: $101,182 as of April 23

Cash on hand: -$22,039 as of April 23

Since then, Harbick said he has paid more attention to legislative action and hasnt been happy with what hes seen.

One of the laws that came through that piqued my interest was House Bill 2002, and when I found out that my state representative (was) the only Republican in Oregon who voted with the rest of the Democrats on that bill, I was outraged because I do not believe that is what House District 12 represents, he said. That was kind of a catalyst that put me into running a primary against Representative Conrad.

Harbick has spent the past three months knocking on Republican voters doors in the district, and he says he tells everyone he speaks to that Conrad voted for 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds to get transgender surgeries without parental knowledge.

Existing state law passed before Conrad was in office already allowed teenagers 15 or older to consent to medical or dental diagnoses and treatments, including gender-affirming care, without parental consent. Medical standards of care for children and teens who identify as transgender do not include surgeries, though minors have received such surgeries, and doctors who testified before the Legislature said they typically try to include parents in conversations about their childrens care.

Nevertheless, Harbick opposes the law.

Ive talked to people that are not in my party about that House Bill 2002 vote, and parents alike whether youre Republican, Democrat, non-affiliated are not happy that their rights have been taken away of how they can raise their kids and and make parental decisions together, that are life-changing decisions, Harbick said. So regardless of who I talk to  and yes Im going to talk to a few that will not agree with that philosophy  but the bulk and the majority are in agreement.

Harbick said he believed the House will be controlled by Republicans in 2025. When asked where he might be able to find common ground with legislative Democrats or Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, he said that it would be a difficult task because Democrats have been pushing bills through.

He said his experience as a business owner  he owns logging company Harbicks Inc., as well as Harbicks Country Inn and the Ark77 Recovery Center  will be valuable experience in the Legislature. He supports cutting taxes on businesses, including the corporate activity tax on business receipts that critics describe as a hidden sales tax, as well as repealing a law that took effect in 2024 that raised minimum fines for businesses that violate state workplace safety laws.

When the Legislature makes these rules and regulations and imposes them on businesses, they dont understand the cost and what its going to do, Harbick said. I bring that expertise into the field when they start talking about these things, and I can explain how thats going to directly affect me and other business owners.

Harbick has received nearly $7,500 from the Oregon Right to Life PAC in the form of campaign literature. No current state representatives are financially supporting his campaign, though Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Coos Bay, has endorsed him.

The post Republican Oregon Rep. Charlie Conrad faces primary over abortion vote appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
An eruption of campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war has handed Republicans a way to hammer two of their favorite targets: Liberal academia, where pro-Palestinian sentiment has long flourished, and Democratic leaders, who are so far rebuffing calls to roll out the National Guard in response to disruptive demonstrations.

Democratic officials led by the White House on Thursday spurned the politically charged request from House Speaker Mike Johnson to deploy troops to quell the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, turning back the question to governors even as they provided them air cover.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has so far declined to seek federal assistance in the face of the swelling protests, which grew as university officials invited police onto the campus and they made hundreds of arrests.

The intensifying demonstrations have swept across the country, from New York to Texas to California, where administrators at the University of Southern California on Thursday canceled the main commencement ceremony, planned for May 10.

Los Angeles police arrested nearly 100 people protesting on the USC campus late into Wednesday evening, arriving in riot gear to clear an encampment at the center of campus. Former Dodger star Steve Garvey, a U.S. Senate candidate running against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, urged law enforcement and campus leaders to take swift action against protesters, whom he described as terrorists.

What theyre saying is: Theyre pro-Hamas, Garvey, a Republican, said in a rare news conference. Theyre supporting terrorism.

Speaking alongside a rabbi and a veteran of the special forces of Israel, Garvey stressed that he believes in free speech and added the caveat that some young protesters dont really understand the dynamics of the unfolding conflicts in the Middle East.

But he doubled-down on painting campus demonstrators writ large as terrorists: I believe demonstrations that allow people to build encampments that obstruct the pathway to classes and the opportunity to learn is terrorism, he said.

In California, a deep blue state where protests have largely unfolded among members of the same party, the protests have roiled politics for months  disrupting and ultimately shutting down a state Democratic Party convention, canceling the Christmas tree lighting at the Capitol in Sacramento and, in recent days, snarling traffic on the famed Golden Gate Bridge.

Police made hundreds of arrests on college campuses in recent days, with the protests cropping up in Pittsburgh and other parts of Texas like San Antonio. In New York, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have come out in support of Jewish students at Columbia University, while also calling on the schools president, Minouche Shafik, to resign.

Johnson visited the campus Wednesday and was joined by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in urging Biden to deploy the Guard to protect the students.



After the visit to the tumult on the Manhattan campus, Hochul accused Johnson of adding to the division and politicizing the issue. A speaker worth the title should really be trying to heal people and not divide them, so I dont think it adds to anything, said the Democratic governor, who also was a former House member.

It seems to me theres a lot more responsibilities and crises to be dealt with in Washington, she added. Id encourage the speaker to go back and perhaps take up the migrant bill, the bill to deal with closing the borders, so we can deal with the real crisis that New York has.

Campus protests in the nations capital grew steadily throughout the day, with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and beating drums.

In a letter Thursday to the campus community at George Washington University in D.C., President Ellen M. Granberg said officials requested assistance from D.C. Metropolitan Police to relocate an unauthorized protest encampment on the University Yard.

The decision to request MPD assistance came after multiple instructions made by GWPD to relocate to an alternative demonstration site on campus went unheeded by encampment participants, Granberg explained. Occupying campus grounds, establishing outdoor encampments, and blocking access to buildings create safety concerns and can disrupt learning and study, especially during this critical final exam period.

Dayna Bowen Matthew, dean of the law school, released a video message saying that law school finals, which were set to be held in a building next to the protest encampment, would be moved to another building because of the noise, the Associated Press reported.

The university will allow students an appropriate place for their protest within the defined limits of free expression at GW, Granberg said.

USCs main commencement cancellation came a week after officials there called off the address of a pro-Palestinian valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, drawing sharp backlash from across the country as the student sat for round after round of interviews with media outlets.



University leaders said increased security protocols would make it untenable to check in tens of thousands of guests in time for the event next month. Instead, USC students will still have their names called and receive diplomas on stage at events pegged to their academic programs.

The unrest wasnt confined to one of the states most revered  and expensive  private universities. At the University of California, Berkeley, which has been in turmoil for months, protesters entered their fourth day of a sit-in to demand the public university cut ties with Israeli institutions and financially divest from companies that are supporting Israel.

Asked about the demonstration on Thursday at an unrelated event on energy issues, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has met with Michael V. Drake, president of the public University of California system, as well as the states Office of Emergency Services, on the issue.

Were very mindful of whats going on in the campuses and want to maintain peoples rights and protests, at the same time do so peacefully without any hate, said Newsom, a Democrat. I just want to avoid a lot of what were seeing in other parts of the country.

After his White House shot down Johnsons request, Biden qualified his condemnation of antisemitism by criticizing people who dont also empathize with the Palestinians.

Hate speech, violent rhetoric, antisemitic remarks and targeting people for who they are is abhorrent, Robyn Patterson, a White House spokesperson, said Thursday. Peaceful protests of policies are part of our freedom as Americans and we have said many times that people have the right to disagree and disagree strongly with the war.

Adam Cancryn, Wes Venteicher, Lara Korte and Blake Jones contributed to this report.
What the rest of the world knows (but we dont)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky holds an American flag gifted to him by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on December 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. In his first known trip outside of Ukraine since Russia invaded, Zelensky met with U.S. President Joe Biden and outlined Ukraine's request for continued military aid. | Win McNamee/Getty Images

Americans took the bait.

Thats the bad news. The good news is just as simple (more on that in a moment).

Sadly, our online addiction has helped fuel a crisis of confidence in democracy, and thats literally by design. Its as obvious as a sunrise to those who sit beyond the shores of America, and its a fact that was emphasized time and time again when U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam Rana visited Billings this month.

Playing on Americas penchant for conspiracy, nations like Russia and China have used troll farms, or a network full of people posing as Americans online, to spread disinformation and conspiracy theories to cause unrest and division. Certainly, this is not a new concept, but its one we havent fully wrapped our minds around.

The goal is simple and effective: Distract and distort to make it easier for these world bullies to traipse around the globe with less interference from America. And, if authoritarian governments like Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, or China, led by Xi Jinping, can make democracy or America appear dysfunctional and ineffective, that makes their efficient but brutal tyranny look not-so-bad by comparison. Its a fancy of way of saying the old Western phrase: I may be going to hell, but I am taking you with me.

Its not that America is some giant kumbaya exercise. Weve historically had division, tumult, and racial problems. We are, after all, a nation founded by non-conformists, dedicated to doing things their own way, which leads to plenty of disagreement.

United States Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam Rana speaks at a presentation on the campus of Montana State University-Billings on April 10, 2024 | Darrell Ehrlick/Daily Montanan

Yet, Rana seemed to bring back an overseas message that rang clear: We dont see  or even more dangerously, we dont believe  what other nations see clearly about America. Many of the divisions that seem endemic to our politics have been exacerbated by enemies who want to see the United States devolve into chaos and in-fighting. Its in their economic and political interest.

Russians are very, very effective at this, Rana told me in a one-on-one conversation. Thats Putins background with the KGB.

United States Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam Rana speaks at a presentation on the campus of Montana State University-Billings on April 10, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

The problem: A bunch of misinformation and disinformation is easy, but the answer may be equally straightforward (and thats the good news). Rana said that while candidates like Donald Trump may try to convince us that Americas standing in the world has cratered, Ill take my cues from Rana, who has lived in more foreign countries than most of us have visited. America is still seen as a generous ally, and people still want to emulate the type of country we have here.

I am not sure we can hear that often enough.

If we know that the divisions that are being created by political parties and online are, in part, magnified and exacerbated by those who want to create division for the sake of division, then the answer is to look beyond the differences, and instead, focus on the things on which we can agree, even if those topics seem fleeting.

What Rana hinted at is that there is still common ground in America. For example, even though we may disagree about all the solutions at the United States southern border, Congress proved there were programs and solutions that could garner bipartisan support. And racial inequality and unrest is something that is routinely exploited by Xi and Putin, and yet those challenges are well-known in America because there is no other country that has such diverse cultural backgrounds.

The answer isnt to regress into a sort of tribalism that wallows in a pit of grievances, rather it is to recognize our diversity as an inherent strength. The answer, in other words, isnt to become less diverse, its to become more, proving that a more perfect union can be achieved by more than just the brutal force of a dictatorship.

What Rana sees from his vantage point in Bratislava, not so far away from the horrible war in Ukraine, is that America hasnt had this kind of opportunity for world leadership since World War II.

NATO is stronger than its ever been, and I dont think Putin counted on Sweden and Finland joining and I dont think he counted on that, Rana said. I think hes been surprised by the heroism of the Ukrainians. I dont think he counted on that.

And all we have to do is look to why Ukraine is fighting so hard against a nation that country has been historically aligned with for centuries.

Its because of democracy. They have great aspirations, Rana said. People are watching us and asking, Whats going on? And my reply is that weve always had these fluctuations. We fought a horrible Civil War. We get stuck in the now like everyone.

But take a look at the institutions of America  theyre very, very strong.

Even if we doubt ourselves, the rest of the world doesnt.

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.

The post What the rest of the world knows (but we dont) appeared first on Michigan Advance.
NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Botswana, a landlocked nation in southern Africa, has been gearing up to diversify its economy as its gross domestic product (GDP) growth remains relatively resilient.

The fate of this African nation witnessed an upheaval due to the rich diamond discovery in 1967. As the Orapa diamond mine went into operation in 1971, significant structural changes took place in the economy -- the share of agriculture declined rapidly, while the share of diamond revenues increased notably.

From 1966 to 2005, Botswana's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 9 percent. In 2006 when its per capita GDP reached 7,000 U.S. dollars, Botswana transformed itself from being one of the poorest countries upon its independence in 1967 to an upper-middle income country.

Kebapetse Lotshwao, a senior lecturer of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Botswana, said that the discovery, mining and export of diamonds are essential for Botswana to achieve economic independence.

"Besides diamonds, Botswana is blessed with visionary leaders. Without them, diamond proceeds might not benefit the lives of ordinary people," said Lotshwao.

The government of Botswana formed the 50/50 joint venture Debswana in 1969 with De Beers, the world's leading diamond company.

According to the agreement reached between the two, Debswana sells 75 percent of its raw diamond production in Botswana to De Beers, and the output left is distributed to the state-owned Okavango Diamond Company.

Thanks to its booming diamond industry, the Botswanan government has been investing revenues generated by diamonds in people's well-being, such as education and health care for years. Botswanans enjoy free primary and secondary education and free treatment in public hospitals with only a small registration fee.

Last July, a new 10-year sales deal for Debswana was signed on raw diamond production until 2033, as well as a 25-year extension of the mining license through 2054. The new deal is seen as a catalyst for growth and is expected to bring additional value to the industry.

Though successful allocation of its revenues has made Botswana a well-off country in southern Africa, Botswana's economy relies heavily on the mining industry.

According to a report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, mining accounts for about 35 percent of its GDP at present, with diamonds contributing about 94 percent of the total mining share in GDP.

The government has been gearing up to diversify its economy since the late 1980s, which sets an example for the economic development of African countries.

Last November, Finance Minister Peggy Serame outlined eight priorities for non-mining industries' growth, detailed in the second Transitional National Development Plan, to promote non-mining industries' development, particularly youth employment, fiscal sustainability, economic diversification and enhanced livelihoods.

Earlier this month, Botswana launched a 38.5-million-U.S. dollar funding for its small businesses. At least 200,000 small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) are set to benefit from it.

According to Statistics Botswana, the contribution of the informal SMMEs sector in Botswana's economy has averaged around 5 percent for the past decade, while the most recent statistics place its contribution to GDP at 3.2 percent in 2023.

Slumber Tsogwane, vice president of Botswana, said the informal SMMEs sector has been a real alternative for employment and improved livelihoods for many citizens.

If mineral and non-mineral sectors can both grow, Botswana will truly become a prosperous nation, Tsogwane said. 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities are still searching for the suspect responsible for a traffic collision near Balboa Park that sent a pedestrian to the hospital with serious injuries earlier this month.

According to the San Diego Police Department, a 54-year-old man was walking southbound in the 1300 block of Pershing Drive in a bicycle lane on Wednesday, April 3 around 8:15 p.m.

Cliff rescue at Torrey Pines State Beach caught on video

Officers said a vehicle traveling southbound drifted into the bicycle lane and struck the pedestrian before fleeing the scene on Pershing Drive. The man was sent to the hospital with serious injuries.

Authorities said the suspects vehicle is believed to be a black Toyota Camry of an older model between 2007-2012. The car possibly has a missing mirror and damage on the passenger side, they added.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 reward in exchange for more information regarding the incident. Anyone with details regarding the identity or location of the suspect and/or the involved vehicle is asked to contact SDPD at 858-495-7823 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Blinken paid a three-day visit to China. Photo by Shen Hong/EPA-EFE/XINHUA

WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- As Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his trip to China, a human rights group released a report calculating that China currently imprisons more than 449,000 Uyghurs in Xinjiang, about one in 17.

According to the Uyghur Human Rights Project, a Washington-based research and advocacy group, 1 in 26 Uyghurs and non-Han people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China were incarcerated in 2022.

The group's analysis of leaked Chinese data, released Thursday, also estimated that 1 in 17 Uyghur adults in the region were imprisoned for actions that would be protected in a democracy, such as reading the Quran.

While the Uyghur, a minority Muslim group, and non-Han population in Xinjiang made up only 1% of China's overall population, the report indicated, the ethnic minority in the Uyghur Region account for 34% of the country's estimated prison population.

Blinken said Friday he raised concerns about "human rights abuses in Xinjiang" and other cases in his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and China's Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday he raised concerns about "human rights abuses in Xinjiang" and other cases in his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and China's Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong.. File Photo by Al Drago/UPI

However, Beijing criticized Blinken for interfering in China's domestic affairs.

"We ask the U.S. not to put fingers on domestic affairs, including those relevant to Tibet and Xinjiang," an official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday. "Do not use human rights as excuses to interfere."

China's official report on Chinese President Xi's summit with Blinken, which was published by the official Xinhua news agency, did not mention human rights.

Before Blinken's trip to China, the State Department published its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Monday. In the chapter that covers China, the State Department reported that genocide and crimes against humanity occurred in 2023 against Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

The U.S. annual report further indicated that the conditions in penal institutions, including those for political prisoners, generally were harsh and often life-threatening or degrading.

"Prisoners often reported sleeping on the floor because there were no beds or bedding," the report said, "In many cases ventilation, heating, lighting, and access to potable water were inadequate."

Commenting on the State Department's report, Blinken said Monday that it documented "atrocities reminiscent of humanity's darkest moments" and that the United States would continue to raise deep concerns "directly with the governments responsible."

Henryk Szadziewski, the director of research at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, told Medill News Service that "the Uyghur issue has become core to U.S. human rights dialogue with China."

Szadziewski said he expected Blinken to raise human rights in a "performative" way, but he did not expect much discussion of human rights during the visit. "There are issues the China side will bring and there are issues that the U.S. side will bring -- then, there's the business."

He said the prison system benefits the Chinese economy. Some companies constructed factories near prisons to take advantage of prison labor.

"Prisoners work in those factories, and of course, the labor costs are next to none," he said.

Szadziewski said that some imprisoned Uyghurs were coerced into programs in which they are locally sourced to various factories because government incentives exist for businesses to relocate to Xinjiang.

He said as the number of imprisoned minorities had grown, so had China's forced labor pool.

"What we are seeing now is increased imprisonment, China's promotion of a narrative of stability in Xinjiang and we're seeing this continued use of coercive labor," he said.

The report also mentions several cases based on leaked documents of Uyghurs being imprisoned for reading the Quran.

In one case, Aytial Rozi studied the Quran taught it to a group of women from 2009 to 2011 and was sentenced to prison for 20 years. In another case, Ezizgul Memet studied the Quran for three days in 1976, for which she was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2017.

Zhou Fengsuo, the executive director of Human Rights in China, said that Blinken wasn't forceful enough in raising human rights to Chinese officials. Rather than demanding action, he struck a "pleading tone, which is not that strong," Zhou said, "He is definitely not putting human rights as a priority in this trip."

The New York-based organization Human Rights in China was among the 46 groups that urged Blinken to call for the release of all political prisoners, including those in Xinjiang.

Zhou was one of the student leaders imprisoned after the protest in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989. He said that the human rights situation in China became worse since then.

"The U.S. has made mistakes in the past by ignoring the human rights situation for too long," Zhou told Medill News Service.

Ma Ju, a Chinese Muslim community leader in the United States, said that what the country can do is limited. "I appreciate what the U.S. government has done for Uyghurs' human rights, but the U.S. has exhausted its efforts," Ma said.

China's oppression of the minority group has continued.

"What the Chinese regime did was oppress the minority to fulfill the majority, forming a populist rhetoric," Ma said, "Chinese President Xi Jinping used Islamophobia and social Darwinism to concrete the populism regime."

As a Muslim, Ma said that the United States' moral authority is compromised because of the high death toll of Palestinians in Gaza.

"What happened to Uyghurs and Palestinians was similar," Ma said, "I feel indignant about America's double standards between Uyghurs and Palestinians."
From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Friday! And we better not bury the lead on the biggest political story of the day: Babydog, the English bulldog owned by Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia, has endorsed fellow Republican Moore Capito to succeed Justice in Charleston. No word if Babydog is supporting Justices bid for the U.S. Senate.

Up to Speed

Senate Republican leaders are prepared to buck Donald Trump if the partys presumptive nominee urges them to end the filibuster, Axios reported Thursday. Republican leaders such as Sens. John Thune, John Cornyn, John Barasso, and Steve Daines, have said they believe the filibuster should remain in place, either because of its institutional status in the Senate or for fear of what Democrats might do in the majority without it. During his presidency, Trump made unsuccessful overtures to Republican then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in an attempt to change the 60-vote threshold so that senators would have to actually speak to hold the floor to block a bill.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks released an ad Thursday that featured several prominent Democratic Maryland leaders endorsing her campaign for the states Senate seat, where she faces Rep. David Trone in their partys primary. Gov. Wes Moore and Sen. Chris Van Hollen joined other members of the states congressional delegation in saying she was the Democrat who will win. Trone leads Alsobrooks in primary polling. Former Gov. Larry Hogan, the likely Republican nominee, leads them both in polling for the general election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared at Columbia University Wednesday as pro-Palestinian protests continued to tie up activities on the Manhattan campus. Johnson, flanked by multiple Republican members of Congress, called on President Joe Biden to send in the National Guard to quell the protests as members of the nearby encampment on Columbias West Lawn jeered at him. My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense, said Johnson, who also called on Columbias president Minouche Shafik to resign.

A Thursday economic report from the Department of Commerce indicates GDP grew at 1.6 percent in the first quarter of the year, less than half the growth of the previous quarter and 0.8 percent less than what economists had expected. Though President Joe Biden has recently tightened his polling margin with Trump, the report could be bad news for the president, as voters have consistently rated him poorly on the economy.

As Trumps hush-money trial in Manhattan heats up this week, Mike has what you need to know about it in the weekly Collision newsletter from yesterday, plus some developments in the former presidents classified documents case in Florida.

RNC-Trump Campaign Field Program Runs Aground

Michael Whatley and Lara Trump listen as former President Donald Trump speaks during a South Carolina Republican primary night watch party in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 24, 2024. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Republican National Committee was poised to open and staff 40 satellite campaign offices across key battlegrounds when former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive GOP nominee, abruptly replaced RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and her deputies with fresh leadership.

Trumps new RNC team, led by Chairman Michael Whatley, Co-Chair (and Trumps daughter-in-law) Lara Trump, and senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita, killed McDaniels 2024 blueprint. Roughly six weeks later, neither the committee nor the Trump campaign has much infrastructure or personnel in the swing states that will decide the November 5 election, multiple sources in Washington and the crucial battleground states told Dispatch Politics this week.

That means few if any regional and local campaign headquarters; little to no deployed field staff; and little to no traditional voter turnout activities, such as door-knocking, phone banking, or volunteer organizing. Even after the Trump-led RNCs reimagined field program eventually emerges, their strategy is to concentrate almost exclusively on the half-dozen states that will determine Trumps fate. Republicans elsewhere? Theyre on their own.

The RNC was aggressively staffing up in 10-plus states and it was put on hold when Trump started to make the changes at the RNC, a veteran Republican field operative said. The new regime is moving quickly to get the field operation going but I expect it to be narrowly focused on presidential battleground states, as opposed to expanding operations in states like California and New York, where there are a lot of House seats in play.

In early March, the RNCs new leadership sacked more than 60 full-time staff across the communications, data, and political departments. As Dispatch Politics reported soon after, roughly 40 of the 60 let go were field troops.

The majority of all fired employees were immediately invited to reapply for jobs. But weeks later, the field program is lagging, especially compared to the voter turnout operation stood up by President Joe Biden. The incumbent Democrats campaign has opened 30 headquarters alone in Michigan and has multiple such offices in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Florida.

The decision to jettison McDaniels preparations for a robust ground game that was similar in scope and strategy to the RNCs efforts to boost Trump in 2016 and 2020 appears to have originated at the top. Trump repeatedly told McDaniel in conversations before he pushed her out of the chairmanship that he did not need the RNC to focus on get-out-the-vote activities. Rather, knowledgeable Republican sources told us, the former president informed McDaniel he wanted the committee to prioritize election integrity efforts.

He was very clear about thatfor the last six months: Im not worried about turning out the vote, I just want to catch the cheaters. So in a lot of ways, this aligns with his vision, one GOP insider said.

Notice they didnt fire any of the election integrity staff, thats where theyve ramped up, this source added. Indeed, Trump selected Whatley to take over for McDaniel largely because he appears to share the former presidents view that Bidens 2020 victory was illegitimate. Before Trump tapped Whatley for RNC chairman, he served as the committees general counsel chairman of the North Carolina GOP.

Dispatch Politics spoke to more than a dozen veteran GOP operatives, in Washington and key battleground states, most of whom are active this cycle trying to elect Republicans to federal office and are familiar with party efforts (or lack thereof) to win the White House and recapture majorities in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. All demanded anonymity to speak candidly to protect their clients and avoid reprisals from the Trump campaign.

The RNC responded to this story by providing a prepared statement from Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez. Interestingly enough, her comments suggest that the former presidents team acknowledges the 2020 election was not, in fact, stolen. Alvarezs response read:

The RNC is building out its operations with resources concentrated in states with heavy overlap between Presidential, Senate, and House battlegrounds. We are taking advantage of all legal ability to collaborate with external groups because it allows us greater global resource efficiency. Gone are the days of bloated overhead and inflated voter contact numbers. We are committed to ruthlessly executing a highly tactical, highly targeted approach to winning in 2024. If the old system worked, President Trump would be finishing his second term alongside his House and Senate majorities.

Since the March overhaul, the RNC has filled a half-dozen top field positions, and Michigan now has a state director. Some of the Republican insiders we queried say the voter turnout operation is taking shape and predict it will prove effective. But the program might be run differently than it has since 2014. Some party operatives say the Trump campaign could farm out the door knocking, phone banking, and other get-out-the-vote activities to an outside group or vendor.

Confidence in LaCivita and Trumps other senior adviser, Susie Wilesbecause of their reputations for being skilled political tacticians and campaign enforcersis a major reason for the optimism, at least for those who are optimistic. Did they have to go about this in as dramatic a way as they did? Maybe not. But they had to put their system in place, a Republican strategist said. I dont think whats going on is that abnormal.

Not all that surprisingly, some Republicans remain quite anxious.

We checked in with Republican operatives in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They see little evidence, if any, that typical get-out-the-vote activitiesincluding voter registration and volunteer recruitment and trainingare happening. Nor have they seen any signs that there is staff on the ground to conduct such activities. They say they do not expect the RNC to address the problem anytime soon.

Trump can win Wisconsin again, but the infrastructure needs to be on par with the Democrats for him to have a chance, a GOP consultant in the Badger State said. Wisconsin Republicans have lots of work to do and not much time to waste.

This concern is especially acute for Republican strategists working down-ticket races that could determine control of a closely divided Congressnot just in so-called orphan states like California and New York, but in targeted presidential battlegrounds like Pennsylvania. Internally, for all of my races, were assuming party infrastructure broadly will be of no help, a GOP operative in Pennsylvania said.

In Washington State, Bird Snags GOP Endorsement Over Reichert

Then-Rep. Dave Reichert listens during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Dave Reichert looks like the ideal Republican candidate for governor in deep-blue Washington state. Hes a former congressman and sheriff from the Seattle area. Hes handily out-fundraised other Republicans running. Reichert is not only widely perceived as the likeliest Republican to face off against leading Democrat Bob Ferguson, but hes giving the GOP its best shot to win the governors race in Washington in 20 years.

So why did the state party endorse a former local school board member with hardly any electoral experience and very little money?

Thats the question vexing multiple Republican operatives and donors in the Evergreen State after the Washington GOP voted at its convention in Spokane to endorse Semi Bird, a Republican activist from the Yakima Valley in the eastern part of the state. Shortly before the vote on April 19, Reichert himself disavowed the endorsement process and withdrew his name for consideration.

The party has been taken over by a small group of ideologues and a radical group, Reichert told Dispatch Politics this week. If youre not a part of this ideology, youre their enemy, is sort of what I pick up.

The kerfuffle is just the latest example of divisions within state Republican parties that risk hampering the GOPs electoral prospects. Just this year, the Michigan GOP ousted its own chair, Kristina Karamo, for her misuse of party funds but also amid widespread discontent within the states establishment with her management of the party. And in January, Arizonas Republican chairman Jeff DeWit resigned after embarrassing audio of him offering Kari Lake money and a job to drop her bid for the U.S. Senate leakedseemingly coming from Lake herself.

The disarray within the Washington GOP was evident on the floor of the convention. After Bird admitted earlier this month to the Seattle Times that he had a misdemeanor conviction for using his fathers name and Social Security number on a credit application 30 years ago, the partys candidate committee disqualified him on April 19, saying he was not forthcoming about his past. The party tabled its endorsement for governor, but the conventions delegatesa majority of whom were Bird supportersoverturned the disqualification and eventually voted to endorse Bird.

The endorsement did not make Bird the partys nominee. In Washingtons nonpartisan blanket primary system, every candidate eligible for the ballot runs in a single primary electionthis year, on August 6. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, proceed to the general election. Ferguson, the states attorney general, is the frontrunner in both the primary and the general election to succeed retiring Democrat, Gov. Jay Inslee.

Reichert remains the leading Republican candidate and is favored to make it through the primary. His base of support is in the suburbs of Seattle, the states largest population center. And between his 14 years in the House and his reputation in law enforcementhe was one of the leaders on the task force to investigate and find the Green River Killerhe has the credentials and name recognition for a statewide campaign even without the partys endorsement.

But the Washington GOP has thrown a lifeline for Bird. The endorsement could help him get more attention and money, both of which his campaign desperately needs.

His campaign is a mess, Christopher Gergen, a Republican consultant who ran the gubernatorial campaign for 2020 Republican candidate Loren Culp, told Dispatch Politics.

He said Bird, first and foremost, lacks the fundraising and statewide campaign infrastructure to win the general election. Bird ranks fourth in fundraising among candidates who are still in the racethe $440,000 he has brought in pales in comparison to Reicherts $2.5 million and Fergusons $6.5 million. But Gergen added that Birds more conservative messaging also presents a handicap.

His messaging isnt consistent with the voters in Washington State that he needs to win, which is your moderates and your independents, he said. His messaging isnt in keeping with winning those voters.

Bird isnt a professed MAGA candidate, but he does seem to draw support from the wing of the party most aligned with Trump. He was recalled from his position on the school board in Richland in 2023 about a year after he voted, against the states orders, to make his district mask-optional. Now, he is promising, as one pillar of his campaign platform, to support a parents bill of rights that would give parents full access to ALL curriculum and supplementary materials used in their childs classroom.

I have the Republican Party base to win the primary election to get me to the general election, Bird confidently told Dispatch Politics. He added that the significant outreach to minority communities he has done (Bird is black) would also be a driving force in his winning the general election.

Some of Birds supporters expressed dissatisfaction with Reicherts more centrist positions. M.J. Bolt, the chair of the Spokane County GOP, attributed the partys struggles in Washington stateRepublicans have not won the states governorship since 1980to the moderate candidates the party has put forward.

To do the same thing and expect different results is the definition of insanity, and weve got to do something drastically different, Bolt told Dispatch Politics. Theres been a push for these more moderate candidates from the Republican Party for years, and it hasnt worked.

She added that Reicherts CPAC score, cap-and-trade vote in Congress, and COVID-19 comments were major reasons why her county party endorsed Bird, saying he was more inspiring and a better speaker than Culp, the 2020 Republican candidate.

Washington State Republican Party Chairman Jim Walsh told Dispatch Politics that the difference between Bird and Reichert is not so much one of political philosophy but of temperamentBird being more charismatic and kind of flamboyant and Reichert being very laid back and sort of low key. He described each as constitutional conservative but said Washington Republicans should vote for Bird in the primary because he better represents the discontent with the Democratic domination of the state.

Hes an authentic voice for a lot of the frustration and even anger in Washington, Walsh said.

But Reichert has also leaned on his more moderate reputation as an asset in the August blanket primary. You cant win from a far-right position in the state of Washington, he told Dispatch Politics. I just think that people are looking for a calming voice in the storm.

Notable and Quotable

Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud in our Country, has just Endorsed me for President despite the fact that I called him Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy (New York Post!). Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word Lethargic from my statement. Thank you Bill. MAGA2024! Former President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post, April 24, 2024

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)The Virginia Board of Education approved Roanoke Colleges application for a $3.5 million start-up grant to launch a new laboratory school in the fall.

The new lab school, Explore@RC, is set for high-school students enrolled in a dual-enrollment program taking college-level courses on Roanokes campus. The program will serve as a partnership with Salem City Schools and Salem High School students in its first year, but the college plans on expanding to neighboring districts in the future.

Our team is so excited to launch Explore@RC, said Lisa Stoneman, chair of Roanokes Education Department. These initial dual-enrollment courses are just the beginning of our community outreach vision. Growing into our 150-student capacity and extending on-campus learning opportunities to middle and elementary students is part of our dream for a lab school that will positively impact the region as well as the students and faculty at Roanoke.

Roanoke Colleges Center for Civic Engagement receives grant to continue funding student community service

The classes will span multiple school subjects but will focus on specific career pathways such as education and global studies; science, engineering, and technology; and communication and civic leadership. These classes will not only help interested students get a head start in their career path but also help them complete classes for college graduation requirements before some students have even considered higher education.

Students who take dual-enroll courses are more likely to graduate from high school, are better prepared to transition to a college setting, and spend less time  and money  completing a college degree, said Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. This partnership is an investment in our community that will pay great dividends by providing local students with clearly defined pathways to college and careers.

The Board of Education funding, made possible by the College Partnership Laboratory Fund, is believed to be the largest government grant ever awarded to Roanoke College. Roanoke is one of only two private colleges in Virginia that has been approved for a lab school.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
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Because We Destroyed Our Democracy On Our Own

For long moments during yesterdays Supreme Court oral argument on presidential immunity in Trump v. United States, the clock stopped and the outside world ceased to be and all I was left with was the blood rushing in my ears and a sinking feeling in my stomach.

When Justice Samuel Alito, the most villainous political figure in my lifetime, asserted without any irony that prosecuting a president for refusing to relinquish power after losing an election might encourage future presidents to hold on even more firmly to their office, any remaining optimism I could muster about American democracy and its institutional ability to defend itself against tyranny drained away.

I dont say that lightly or for effect, and I dont want to make my personal feelings the point here. But when I woke up this morning and saw the news coverage writ large, it didnt reflect what happened yesterday. We slid over the edge of a cliff, and we wont stop now until we hit bottom.

For the second time this year, the Supreme Court encountered a Jan. 6 case and barely talked about Jan. 6, which would be amazing under any circumstance but is astounding considering the courts own proximity to the riot. The auto-coup attempt happened right across the street from the Supreme Court building. As TPM first reported and was later confirmed by an IG report, the planners of the Jan. 6 Ellipse rally had also planned a second culminating rally for that afternoon on the steps of the Supreme Court itself. The only reason it didnt happen was that the growing riot at the Capitol blocked access to the Supreme Court. As long as the guillotine falls on anothers neck, I suppose?

As Ive said here many times, the legal system cant seem to appreciate the existential threat to itself that Trump and the MAGA movement represent. The hypotheticals batted around yesterday only confirmed that. Whether it was bribery or political assassinations or even another coup, Trump argued that he would be immune from criminal prosecution unless and until he was impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate.

But those and other hypotheticals presupposed for no obvious reason that there would still be a Congress around to impeach him and a court system to try him. Why would he tolerate an insolent Congress and a meddlesome Supreme Court in the first place? And if he had been so short-sighted as to leave the other two branches intact, why would a lawless president immune from criminal prosecution for official acts leave the White House after an impeachment conviction? Whos gonna make him leave? Whos gonna stop him? Certainly not this Supreme Court, we learned yesterday.

While the ultimate ruling in this case may soften some of the worst of what the justices said yesterday, even a compromise decision that allows the Jan. 6 trial of Trump to go forward is likely to lead to considerable delay  setting up the preposterous scenario in which the president who engaged in sedition against the United States gets to run for the office again before he is ever prosecuted for his first coup.

The conservative justices had an opportunity to rally to the defense of democracy, to gird the system against further attack, to righteously defend the rule of law, and to protect its own prerogatives and powers against a wannabe tyrant who is counting on them to be his supplicants. They could have drawn a sharp line. They could have summoned indignation and outrage. They could have overlooked their partisan priors in favor of principle  or more cravenly in favor of self-preservation. With the possible and limited exception of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, they did none of that.

They failed in the worst possible way at the most crucial time.

The Best Of The Best

No one captured my experience of the day yesterday as well as Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern:

For three long years, Supreme Court watchers mollified themselves (and others) with vague promises that when the rubber hit the road, even the ultraconservative Federalist Society justices of the Roberts court would put democracy before party whenever they were finally confronted with the legal effort to hold Donald Trump accountable for Jan. 6.  On Thursday, during oral arguments in Trump v. United States, the Republican-appointed justices shattered those illusions. This was the case we had been waiting for, and all was made clearbrutally so. These justices donned the attitude of cynical partisans, repeatedly lending legitimacy to the former presidents outrageous claims of immunity from criminal prosecution. To at least five of the conservatives, the real threat to democracy wasnt Trumps attempt to overturn the electionbut the Justice Departments efforts to prosecute him for the act

The Irrepressible Ketanji Brown Jackson

So smart, so confident, and so direct. I came out of my seat when she asked Trumps attorney: What was up with the pardon for President Nixon? If everybody thought that presidents couldnt be prosecuted, then what was that about? What was up indeed.

Quote Of The Day

In the end, if it fails completely, its because we destroyed our democracy on our own, isnt it? Justice Sonia Sotomayor, during oral argument in Trump v. United States

Have A Cute Weekend!

Lets not end the week on a glum note:

Quick story: When my first child was born, I had a 100-pound German Shepherd who I was super concerned about bringing a baby home to. So I read all the things about how to socialize a GSD to the new member of the pack: let him smell her a lot, put one of her spit-up rags in his crate, give him time to adjust.

That first week I was pretty on edge, but then my mom came to visit her first grandchild. When she arrived, I was in my study with the baby asleep on my chest. My mom made a beeline for the baby  but when she got to the doorway, the GSD blocked her path.

She tried to sidestep him. He countered. She tried to push by him. He wouldnt budge. He wasnt mean about it, but he wasnt nice either. And then I realized: HE WAS NOT GOING TO LET HER ANYWHERE NEAR THAT BABY. I called him off, and he reluctantly let my mom through.

In that moment, the baby was confirmed as part of the pack (and to my mothers chagrin she was not). From then on, I relaxed about the dog and the baby, and we never had a problem.

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
BUCHAREST (Reuters) -The trial of internet personality Andrew Tate on human trafficking charges can go ahead, a Romanian court ruled on Friday, 10 months after he was first indicted, although his representative said he would challenge that decision.

Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, allegations they have denied.

Under Romanian law, the case then sat with the Bucharest court's preliminary chamber, which needed to inspect the case files and evidence to ensure legality. That process was now completed and the criminal trial can start.

"The court notes the legality of evidence management by ... prosecutors, and rules that the case can go to trial," the Bucharest court said, adding the ruling can be challenged on appeal. No date has been set for the trial.

Eugen Vidineac, the brothers' lead defence lawyer, said he had submitted an appeal against the decision.

"The ruling issued by the preliminary chamber judge lacks legal basis and reasoning," he said in a statement. "We have filed a strong appeal as we believe the ruling to be unlawful."

The Tates' representatives said no date had been set for the trial, adding "the decision is going to be appealed."

In March, a Romanian court approved a request from Britain to extradite the Tate brothers on allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-15, but only after the completion of Romanian trial proceedings.

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual U.S. and British citizenship, are the highest profile suspects facing trial for human trafficking in Romania and their case will be a test for Romania's anti-organized crime prosecuting unit DIICOT.

Trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as does rape.

The Tate brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence.

They were then under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure that enables them to move around freely but not leave the country.

Romanian prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

The victims were then taken to properties outside the capital Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said.

Tate, a self-described misogynist, has gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie, additional reporting by Alan Charlish; editing by William Maclean)
Author and journalist Ronan Farrow says he sees commonality between the legal cases former President Trump faces and that of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

There is a commonality of the legal theories being applied, Farrow said during a Thursday night appearance on CNN. In both cases, prosecutors argued for and judges allowed in evidence of crimes other than the ones being charged.

In the Trump hush money case, Farrow noted, that means all of these AMI payments, he said in reference to the National Inquirers bid to help Trump win the 2016 election.

The judge overseeing Trumps case is allowing evidence of the AMI payments to establish the intent, of Trump to cover up the hush money payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels, Farrow said.

Nevertheless, I think that the Weinstein verdict being overturned because of the letting in of that kind of more attenuated evidence, he continued. Just illustrates how fraught it is any time a court lets that in. And certainly Donald Trump is going to capitalize on any chance he has to say, Hey this was a prejudice prosecution, they let in too much.'

New Yorks highest court overturned Harvey Weinsteins 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction this week, ruling the judge who presided over the case made egregious errors, by allowing women to testify on allegations that were not part of the case he was ultimately convicted in.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said it arrested four people on Thursday who were involved in an armed robbery in Roseville after deputies were led on a pursuit in Sacramento.

The sheriffs office said it also recovered a gun upon arresting the four suspects and the investigation has been handed off to the Roseville Police Department.

The incident began when the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office deputies attempted to stop a vehicle for a violation near Watt Avenue and Interstate 80, according to the sheriffs office.

Homicide victim found under Tower Bridge identified as Sacramento-area teen

Deputies said that the vehicle stop turned into a pursuit, which ended in south Sacramento when the suspects crashed their vehicle.

Bad guys tried running, but deputies got them all detained and recovered a gun, the agency said on social media.

The sheriffs office added that once it detained the suspects, deputies learned of their involvement in an armed robbery that took place in Roseville earlier in the day.

According to Roseville Police, the suspects entered a CVS at Sierra College and Roseville Parkway armed with handguns but fled the scene before police arrived. No injuries and no hostages during the incident, the agency added.

The Roseville Police Department thanked the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, Sacramento Police Department, and California Highway Patrol for their assistance in this incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Rush University System for Health is teaming up with top-ranked University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  a move thats expected to give Rush patients better access to the latest cancer treatments and help Rush compete against other Chicago-area hospitals.

Under the partnership, which was announced Friday, Rush Cancer Center is being renamed Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center. Rush will retain ownership of its program. Neither leaders of Rush nor MD Anderson would discuss the financial details of the arrangement.

As part of the agreement, protocols and cancer treatment plans at Rush will mirror those available at MD Anderson. Rush patients will be able to participate in more clinical trials, and Rush doctors will be able to consult with MD Anderson doctors on treatment decisions, according to Rush.

Rush has a top-rated cancer program  what we dont have is the volume of clinical trials and access to genetic studies that MD Anderson brings, Rush President and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef told the Tribune. What we can do is  offer a broader diversity of treatment options to some patients that may qualify for cutting edge care thats not otherwise available to those patients here in Chicago.

Dr. Amina Ahmed, director of the Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center, said patients will benefit from the expertise of doctors at Rush and MD Anderson. For example, Rush doctors will be able to discuss particularly rare or complex cases with physicians at MD Anderson.

There will be more clinical trials, there will be more novel treatments, there will be more expertise, Ahmed said.

Rush is the seventh hospital in the country to partner with MD Anderson on its cancer program. MD Anderson has also partnered with hospitals and health systems in Louisiana, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Colorado.

Our commitment to eradicating cancer extends to eradicating cancer around the nation, said Dr. Peter WT Pisters, president of MD Anderson, in an interview. This is an ideal partnership that allows us to extend our mission into a very important market in the United States.

The partnership is the latest move by a Chicago-area hospital to differentiate itself amid a competitive local health care landscape.

University of Chicago Medicine is in the process of building a new, more than $800 million cancer hospital in Hyde Park in hopes of giving patients on the South Side greater access to cancer care while attracting patients from across the region. University of Chicago Medical Center is ranked as the 16th best hospital for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report.

Meanwhile, U.S. News ranks Northwestern Memorial Hospital 18th in the nation for cancer care.

Rush is ranked 30th in the nation for cancer care, the third highest ranking in Illinois. U.S. News ranks MD Anderson Cancer Center as No. 1 in the country for cancer.

Our mission is now really just to get the best outcomes for patients, Lateef said. Our relationship with MD Anderson will improve those outcomes by adding to the armamentarium of treatment protocols we can offer patients, primarily in that research and clinical trial area. I think it should enhance our overall rankings.

Rush began talking with MD Anderson years ago, before the pandemic, about pursuing a partnership, and resumed those conversations as we started coming out of the pandemic, Lateef said.

Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center will provide care at multiple locations in the city and suburbs. In Chicago, that will include at Rushs new Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building, and in the suburbs, at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville.
Russian forces attacked 11 communities along the Sumy Oblast border on April 25, causing 188 explosions throughout the day, the regional military administration reported.

Earlier in the day, the authorities also reported that Russian forces targeted infrastructure in the city of Sumy with a KAB guided bomb.

In addition to the regional capital, the border communities of Krasnopillia, Seredyna-Buda, Znob-Novhorodske, Nova Sloboda, Bilopillia, Myropillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Shalyhyne, Esman, Yunakivka, and Vorozhba came under attack.

Throughout the day, Russian forces assailed the Sumy border with various weapons, including drones, artillery, mortar, artillery, grenade launchers, and mines.

No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported.

Attacks are a daily occurrence for the residents of Sumy Oblast's border towns and villages. Nearby Russian forces launch multiple attacks from across the border nearly every day.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

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COLOMBO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- One soldier died and nine others were injured when a lorry truck collided with an army cab in the area called Mankulam in northern Sri Lanka on Friday, police said.

The police said the injured soldiers were rushed to a local hospital.

The deceased is a 39-year-old sergeant of the Sri Lanka Army attached to the Murukkandi Army Camp in the north.

Accidents involving motor vehicles are common in Sri Lanka. There were 2,557 deaths resulting from 2,200 fatal traffic accidents in Sri Lanka in 2023. 
By Andrew Gray

ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER CHARLES DE GAULLE, off southern France (Reuters) - NATO on Friday launched one of its biggest naval deployments since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with French aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle under the command of the alliance for the first time.

The carrier and its accompanying vessels, known as a carrier strike group, are the centrepiece of Neptune Strike, a series of drills that NATO says will help its members learn to work more seamlessly together and deter its enemies.

The French nuclear-powered carrier began its mission in the Mediterranean Sea, close to its home port of Toulon.

Placing the Charles de Gaulle under NATO operational control for the first time is highly symbolic, not least because the warship is named after the former president who took France out of the alliances U.S.-led command structure in 1966.

France returned in 2009 but officials say Paris' interest in NATO exercises and missions increased after Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reflecting a view that a more assertive Moscow made NATO more vital to French security interests.

The decision to put the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier under NATO command drew criticism from the French far left and far right, who said it represented a loss of sovereign power.

French officials say the move is a normal part of being a member of a multinational military alliance.

Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, the strike groups commander, said it was in keeping with France already having some land and air forces under NATO command to deter Russia in eastern Europe.

"Its important because it allows us to remain in the chain of command and to know better the people we could be working with in the case of a crisis," Mallard said on board the Charles de Gaulle as it cruised off the southern French coast.

The deployment will involve some 20 vessels, including carrier strike groups from Italy, Spain and Turkey, he said. Its tasks will include long-range flights to simulate strikes in support of troops in eastern Europe.

On the eve of the mission, ambassadors to NATO from its 32 member countries visited the carrier, watching as grey Rafale fighter jets  catapulted by steam  took off from the flight deck under a pale blue sky.

'ENHANCED VIGILANCE'

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has held various iterations of Neptune Strike  which it calls "enhanced vigilance activity" - over the past two years.

U.S. Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of NATOs Striking and Support Forces, said the latest version - which lasts until May 10 - was among the biggest.

He said it would help allies work more smoothly together and "provide a degree of deterrence that our enemies would  see (as showing) that we do have the capability and the capacity and the cohesion to operate as a large force together".

While Neptune Strike is not explicitly billed as a message to Russia, NATO's strategic concept identifies Moscow as the most significant threat to its members' security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he has no plans to attack NATO countries. This has not reassured NATO members, given that he also said he had no plans to invade Ukraine before sending tens of thousands of Russian troops into that country.

"NATO is not at war with Russia, but we are very concerned with Russia and we are very interested in deterring Russia against aggression," said Ishee.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Russia's Justice Ministry will seek to ban the "anti-Russian separatist movement" as an "extremist" organization, the ministry said on April 26.

The organization is loosely described, but characterized as having the goal of trying to "destroy the multinational unity and territorial integrity of Russia."

Russia has previously banned vaguely defined "extremist" groups, such as the "international LGBT social movement," which was outlawed by Russia's Supreme Court in November 2023.

It was not clear what precisely the court meant by the "international LGBT movement" and if the ban applied to any specific organizations or the entire LGBT community, including those who are not affiliated with any organized group.

The Russian independent outlet OVD-Info similarly reported that it was unable to find a formal organization called the "anti-Russian separatist movement."

Read also: European Parliament condemns Putins election as illegitimate

Laws in Russia, including the label of "extremist," are often enforced arbitrarily or used to target perceived opponents of the regime.

Igor Krasnov, the head of the short-lived presidential campaign of Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin, was arrested in March and sentenced to six days in prison for "propagating extremist LGBT."

The charge reportedly stemmed from a message Krasnov sent on the Telegram messaging app that contained the rainbow flag emoji.

There have been separatist movements in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, namely in Chechnya, which was ultimately crushed by the Russian military after two bloody wars.

While Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has renewed analysis of Russia as an imperial power and caused related calls for decolonization, actual separatist movements on the ground have not gained significant public traction.

The promotion of separatism is a crime in Russia.

Read also: Court in Russia rejects Googles appeal over $50 million fine related to Ukraine content

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If Russia seizes Chasiv Yar, it will be able to attack "defensive belt" of many settlements  ISW report

Russian forces pose a real threat of capturing the settlement of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, although they may not be able to do so quickly. The capture of Chasiv Yar would allow Russian forces to launch further offensives against the towns that form a significant defensive belt of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Military analysts have noted that Russian offensives west of Avdiivka could provide tactical advantages to the occupation troops. And the Russian offensive to capture Chasiv Yar offers Russian troops immediate prospects for an operationally significant advance.

The Russians on the Avdiivka front stand approximately 30 kilometres from their operational goal, which is the town of Pokrovsk, and approximately 17 kilometres from relatively large villages east of Pokrovsk.

Even if Russian tactical successes make Ukrainian forces retreat to positions further west, the current Russian advances northwest of Avdiivka are unlikely to be operationally significant in the short term.

The Russian pressure on Chasiv Yar is growing. Russian troops, currently on the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, have intensified their efforts to capture the town since March 2024.

An offensive to capture Chasiv Yar would likely allow Russian forces to launch further offensives against towns that form a significant defensive belt for Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian troops are likely trying to capture as much territory as possible before US security assistance arrives. These weapons will greatly improve Ukraine's defensive capabilities in the coming weeks, and Russian military commanders may intensify offensive operations northwest of Avdiivka as this area offers more opportunities for rapid tactical gains, despite the relative operational insignificance of these gains.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 25 April:

Russian forces are stabilising their small salient northwest of Avdiivka and may make further tactical gains that could cause Ukrainian forces to withdraw from other tactical positions along the front line west of Avdiivka to a more defensible line.

Russian offensive operations west of Avdiivka aim to exploit opportunities for tactical gains while the Russian offensive operation to seize Chasiv Yar offers Russian forces the most immediate prospects for operationally significant advances.

US officials are reportedly worried that the latest package of US military aid to Ukraine may not be enough for Ukraine to regain all of its territory. US military assistance is only part of what Ukraine currently needs, moreover; but Ukraine is itself working to address other war fighting requirements  primarily manpower challenges and the expansion of its defence industrial base (DIB).

Russian forces are reportedly fielding drones adapted to be more resilient against Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) capabilities on critical sectors of the frontline, likely in an attempt to leverage new technological capabilities to exploit a limited window before US security assistance arrives in Ukraine.

A prominent Kremlin-awarded Russian milblogger channel announced that it opened a "media school" in the Balkans, likely supporting Kremlin efforts to expand its reach in the international information space.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised the importance of Europes self-sufficiency for its defence and sovereignty during a 25 April speech.

Ukrainian forces recently made confirmed advances near Siversk, and Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Avdiivka and the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin justified Russias ongoing efforts to nationalise Russian enterprises, including defence industrial base (DIB) enterprises on 25 April.

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Russian forces shelled the town of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 26 April, injuring a 42-year-old man and a 9-year-old boy.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

A damaged residential building. Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

:  

Quote: "A 9-year-old boy was injured during the shelling of Nikopol. The child is in moderate condition. Doctors provided the necessary medical care. He will recover at home."

A damaged apartment inside that residential building. Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: A 42-year-old man is reported to be injured as well. Also, four five-storey residential buildings and a gas pipeline were damaged in the town.

A damaged residential building. Photo: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

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Russia throws thousands of troops to capture Chasiv Yar. Why is it so important?

As the U.S. took months to approve the next package of much-needed military aid to Kyiv, Russia used the moment to step up its offensive operations in Ukraine. After capturing Avdiivka and multiple villages in the east, Moscow now has its eyes on the next primary target, the town of Chasiv Yar.

Outgunned and outnumbered, Ukrainian troops are fighting against an over 20,000 Russian grouping to defend the strategically important town.



Russia has already reached the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces are set to double down their assaults to seize the town before May 9, a heavily militarized holiday marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Ukrainian soldiers driving past a damaged building in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on March 16, 2024. A front line is a few kilometers from the city, on which Russian troops are dropping aerial bombs and shelling with artillery every day. Despite the danger, civilians remain in Chasiv Yar. (Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images )

The capture of Chasiv Yar would make it easier for Russia to launch a broader offensive in Donetsk Oblast, a Ukrainian region that has been the scene of the heaviest fighting of the war since 2014. About half of Donetsk Oblast, including the regional capital, is currently under Moscow's control.

History of Chasiv Yar

Chasiv Yar lies in the industrial region of Donbas, which comprises Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Its historical roots trace back to 1876, at the time of the Russian Empire, when a Russian nobleman established a factory to produce refractory materials from the abundant clay found in the area.

Originally known as Hruzke or Pleshcheieve, the settlement emerged around the industries of fire clay and other reinforced materials and gained city status in 1938, already under the Soviet regime.

An inscription 'Soviet occupiers" is seen on the World War II memorial in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on Dec. 13, 2023. Chasiv Yar is located about 10 kilometers west of Bakhmut. (Dmytro Larin/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Chasiv Yar stands on hills that serve as natural defensive structures. The town boasts the highest point in the area and is divided in the east by the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal, creating a barrier between the Kanal micro-district and the rest of the town.

"Similar areas are rare in this direction. Keeping the Russians at Chasiv Yar helps Ukraine to limit the damages to various other cities," Emil Kastehelmi, an OSINT analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group and military history expert, told the Kyiv Independent.

Chasiv Yar's beneficial location and terrain explain why Ukraine made it one of its strongholds during Russia's initial invasion of the Donbas in 2014. The town hosted a key military hospital and later served as the headquarters for the Joint Forces Operation (formerly the Anti-Terrorist Operation, as Ukraine initially termed its military campaign against Russian aggression).

Smoke rising near the town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on April 11, 2024. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Russia's short-lived occupation of Bakhmut, less than 10 kilometers to the east, Chasiv Yar remained largely unscathed until the onset of the full-scale invasion.

Chasiv Yar during full-scale war

When Russia started its all-out war against Ukraine in February 2022, Chasiv Yar became a frequent target of devastating attacks. Russias missile strike on Chasiv Yar on July 9, 2022, killed 48 people, including a nine-year-old boy, according to local authorities



Constant danger and destruction of civilian infrastructure forced most locals to leave, with the towns population shrinking from around 12,000 to nearly 700 as of early April, Serhii Chaus, the head of the towns military administration, told BBC Ukraine.

Members of the Ukrainian 42nd Artillery Brigade during an instruction and training session in an unspecified location near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 27, 2024. (Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images)

As the situation deteriorated, all remaining children were evacuated from Chasiv Yar by the Ukrainian authorities last year, leaving behind mostly elderly residents, unwilling or unable to leave. Enduring dire conditions without access to power, water, or gas, they face constant shelling, which has critically damaged 80% of apartment buildings, according to Chaus.



Ukraines military has used Chasiv Yar as a regrouping hub and a fire support base. The town was especially important to support Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut, the city Russia eventually captured in May 2023 after a 10-month-long battle, the bloodiest in the war.

Current situation in Chasiv Yar

As of April 26, Ukraine fully controls Chasiv Yar, but the situation in the area remains increasingly challenging. Russia has recently intensified its assaults east of Chasiv Yar "in an effort to take advantage of the limited window before U.S. security assistance arrives in Ukraine," the DC-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a recent update.



After months of political infighting, the U.S. Congress finally passed the crucial foreign aid package, which includes almost $61 billion for Ukraine. With President Joe Biden signing the bill on April 24, the Pentagon swiftly announced the next package of weapons from U.S. stockpiles.

Ukrainian paratroopers wait for transport along the road in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on Jan. 28, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP via Getty Images)

Russia reportedly fires 10 times more shells than Ukraine and uses its air superiority to level Ukrainian positions with glide bombs. But beyond the scarcity of supplies, Ukraines problems across the front line include delays in fortification construction and the manpower shortage due to the delayed mobilization.

Taking Chasiv Yar is crucial for Russia's larger offensive in the east, anticipated in May or June, with the deployment of elite Russian airborne troops in the area underscoring the town's significance for Moscow's strategic objectives.

They can try to start concentrating an excessive amount of close air support and artillery in the area, try to spend more equipment and men in hopes of achieving success, and they could also try flanking maneuvers. However, the Ukrainian fortifications, terrain, and the canal limit the way how mechanized units can be used, according to Kastehelmi.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 5th brigade prepare for a 4-day rotation to the frontlines early in the morning as the war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for the last two years, outside Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, on March 8, 2024. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

If Russia captures Chasiv Yar, it will gain fire control over key Ukrainian supply routes in the area. This may seriously endanger the cities of Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, the last Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk Oblast, a Ukrainian military spokesperson told Politico on April 16.

"Developments like these would also challenge Ukraine's publicly announced goals of liberating all occupied territories," according to Kastehelmi.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Dinara Khalilova, the author of this article. I hope it brought you more clarity on why Russia has made Chasiv Yar its next major goal on Ukraines battlefield. To continue reporting on the most important developments of the war, we need your support. Please consider becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent community.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

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Russian forces shelled civilian infrastructure of Bilopillia in Sumy Oblast on April 26, killing two women and injuring three others, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported.

The town of Bilopillia, which had a pre-war population of about 15,600 residents, lies just eight kilometers south of the Ukraine-Russia border.

A two-hour Russian attack on Bilopillia reportedly damaged a high-rise building and private residences. Two women aged 77 and 69 were killed, and three other women suffered injuries, the ministry said.

Russian troops also used two guided aerial bombs to strike industrial facilities in the city of Sumy, according to preliminary data. No casualties were reported. Police and first responders are working at the site after the attack.

Russian strikes against the region have become increasingly destructive in recent months.

Residents who live along Sumy Oblast's northeastern border with Russia experience daily attacks from nearby Russian troops. The government announced on April 12 that it had allocated Hr 1.5 billion ($38 million) for constructing additional fortifications in Sumy Oblast.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

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Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day killed five people and wounded another 29, regional authorities reported early on April 26.

Russia targeted a total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts  Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter four regions.

In Ukraines eastern Donetsk Oblast, five civilians were killed and another eight were injured Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said on Facebook.

According to Filashkin, Russian troops launched a total of 15 attacks against Donetsk Oblast settlements, destroying or damaging almost 40 houses, an apartment building, administrative and industrial buildings, a coffee house and a cultural institution.

Russia hit the southern city of Kherson and 20 other settlements in the region overnight and on April 25, wounding six people, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Read also: 5 children killed in single attack: We should never forget what Russia did

The strikes against Kherson Oblast reportedly damaged an apartment building, six houses, a shopping mall, a kindergarten, an agricultural facility and cars.

A Russian April 25 missile attack on the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast injured 11 people, including railway workers, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Two other women aged 73 and 60 were reportedly wounded in a village near Kupiansk.

Russian troops targeted over 20 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast in the past day, damaging homes, a railway station, and an agricultural facility, Syniehubov added.

Four more people aged between 22 and 74 were wounded when Russian troops hit the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast 17 times in the past day, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Four houses and civilian infrastructure were damaged in the attacks, according to Lysak.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack





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BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing, during which Wang said that the Chinese people's right to development is inalienable.

The United States has taken endless measures to suppress China's economy, trade as well as science and technology, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He noted that "this is not fair competition but containment, not de-risking but creating risks."

Wang pointed out that the United States should implement its statement that it does not seek to contain China's economic development, does not seek to "decouple" from China, and is not seeking to halt China's scientific and technological progress; and it should stop hyping up the false narrative of "overcapacity" in China, revoke illegal sanctions on Chinese companies, and stop imposing 301 tariffs that violate WTO rules. 
Russian forces attacked Kharkiv Oblast on April 26, injuring four civilians, the regional police reported.

Russia has recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast, using missiles, glide bombs, and drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

The Russian military launched an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system at the village of Shestakove on the evening of April 26, authorities said. The attack struck an agricultural enterprise, injuring a 42-year-old man.

In the Bohodukhiv district, a Rusisan drone struck a civilian car and wounded three people. A woman, aged 55 years, and her husband, 57, were injured along with their 19-year-old son. The vehicle was also damaged.

The family was delivering humanitarian aid to residents of the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok at the time of the attack, authorities said.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

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A Russian drone hit a car in the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring two local volunteers.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv State Administration

Quote: "Today at 12:30 (Kyiv time), in the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Bohodukhiv district, two local volunteers were wounded as a result of an enemy drone hitting their car: a 56-year-old man and his 54-year-old wife.

Their 18-year-old son also sought medical assistance."

Details: Syniehubov added that the Russians carried out the attack after the village residents received humanitarian aid.

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Five people have been killed and eight more injured in Russian strikes on Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Filashkin: "Pokrovsk district. Three people have been injured in [the town of] Krasnohorivka. One civilian has been killed in [the village of] Ocheretyne. One person has been killed in [the settlement of] Kurakhivka, and one has been injured in [the village of] Hirnyk; eight private houses have been damaged in [the village of] Hostre, [all settlements in] Kurakhove hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories]. Three people were killed and four wounded in [the village of] Udachne, and local authorities building, a cultural institution, a coffee shop, and over 20 private houses have been damaged."

Details: In addition, the official reported that the Russians had targeted the Kramatorsk district: two houses were damaged in the village of Yampil in Lyman hromada, and the Russians dropped a KAB-250 guided aerial bomb on the town of Kostiantynivka, but it did not explode and was defused by bomb disposal experts.

The Russians damaged eight private houses, a multi-storey building and three industrial buildings in Chasiv Yar hromada in the Bakhmut district.

Russian troops also damaged a house in the village of Serebrianka in Siversk hromada.

"The Russians attacked the settlements of Donetsk Oblast 10 times over the past 24 hours. A total of 106 people, including 12 children, have been evacuated from the frontline [settlements]," summed up Filashkin.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the recent cases of espionage in NATO member states in favour of Russia will not prevent the provision of military assistance to Ukraine.

Source: Stoltenberg at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on 26 April, European Pravda reports

Details: Stoltenberg urged NATO Allies to remain vigilant against Russia's covert activities across the Alliance.

Quote: "Last week, Germany arrested individuals accused of espionage and sabotage. And today, in the United Kingdom 5 individuals have been charged in connection with hostile state activity to benefit Russia," he noted.

Stoltenberg emphasised that NATO members are in "full solidarity" with Germany and the United Kingdom.

"Such acts are dangerous and unacceptable. They will not deter us from providing support to Ukraine. And we are coordinating closely in our response to any hostile act against NATO Allies," he stressed.

Background:

Yesterday, during his speech at an event in Berlin, Stoltenberg urged the allies to accelerate the supply of military aid for Ukraine, noting that it is not too late to defeat Russian aggression.

Previously, Stoltenberg said NATO member states should prioritise greater military assistance to Ukraine over meeting their own defence spending targets.

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Russian strikes against the city of Derhachi in Kharkiv Oblast on April 26 injured at least four people, including three children, said Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Settlements in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv Oblast suffer from daily Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line and the border with Russia.

The strikes hit a residential building in the center of the city, the governor said.

The four injured included a 4-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old girl, Syniehubov said. None of those wounded required hospitalization, he added.

Derhachi is located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Kharkiv's city center and about 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of the Russian border.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast, using missiles, glide bombs, and drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

At the end of March, Russia destroyed all the electrical substations in Kharkiv, leaving Ukraine's second-largest city without a stable power supply.

Read also: Sumy Oblast fortifies amid looming threat of Kharkiv attack

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Sad situation: Frantic calls for help when two women, baby shot near Salisbury cemetery

Sad situation: Frantic calls for help when two women, baby shot near Salisbury cemetery

SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Salisbury Police are searching for the person who shot two women and a baby Wednesday night on South Main Street.

Police are not saying whether the victims were targeted but say there is no active threat to the community.

Man arrested in shooting of 1-year-old boy in NE Charlotte: CMPD

Sirens pierced the night on Main Street Wednesday night as a frantic neighbor called for help.

I see them on the tracks, I see them on the tracks, yelled a woman immediately following the shooting that occurred just before 10 p.m.

A neighbor says a baby girl was shot. Hank Newman exercises at the cemetery across the street from the incident.

A baby, a poor baby shot, an innocent child, its just a sad situation, said Newman.

The baby wasnt the only one hit by a bullet. A neighbor says the childs mother and another woman were struck as well.

I cant say it enough, I just cant comprehend somebody going in there and shooting three people, said Newman.

A neighbor says the victims had just come back from a funeral, but police have not confirmed that.

Investigators also wont say if the shooting on South Main is connected to a man shot and killed at a funeral less than two weeks ago in Salisbury.

I think its frustrating, its very frustrating the communitys impact, by this senseless violence and that we need the community members that saw it to step up and tell us, said Major T.J. Crews with the Salisbury Police Department. Its highly frustrating.

Police say the baby shot on Main Street and one of the women were rushed to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem in critical condition and the other woman has been released from the hospital.

Shooter could face 37 years in jail for incident at Shaw University; was upset at victim for walking a dog, court says

Investigators are bringing in federal and state resources to help them find the shooter and to look into whether recent shootings in the city are gang-related.

A neighbor told Queen City News the baby and the mother underwent multiple surgeries.

I just cant fathom it, makes no sense, said Newman.

Police say officers are getting overtime doing extra patrols walking and driving in high crime areas of the city, and theyre bringing in extra resources to track down the shooter.

I hope they catch the person and dont give them a slap on the wrist, said Newman.

There was a separate shooting Wednesday night in Salisbury where a young girl was shot on Old Concord Road near South Shaver Street.

Police say theres no evidence to connect the two shootings Wednesday night.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Sails from iconic Moulin Rouge windmill in Paris collapse to ground: 'It lost his soul'

Sails from iconic Moulin Rouge windmill in Paris collapse to ground: 'It lost his soul'

Paris Moulin Rouge cabaret club in France lost the sails of its historic windmill  a symbol almost as iconic to the City of Lights as the Eiffel Tower  overnight Wednesday.

The sails, or blades, fell from the red windmill that tops the tourist venue, known for its can-can dancers, sometime before 2 a.m., the Moulin Rouges general manager told reporters.

"The Moulin Rouge, in 135 years of history, has experienced many adventures, but it is true that for the wings, this is the first time that this has happened," Jean-Victor Clerico said.

He added, "A little before 2 a.m., the wings of the windmill gave way, fell on the boulevard and fortunately at this time the boulevard was empty of passersby. We are relieved this morning, especially to know that there were no injuries."

MASSIVE POLICING FOR PARIS OLYMPICS TO INCLUDE SECURITY CHECKS FOR SOME OF THE CAPITAL'S RESIDENTS

It's the first time the Moulin Rouge's sails have fallen in its 135-year history, the general manager said.

The Moulin Rouge generally has two 90-minute shows each night, at 9 and 11 p.m.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I heard it on the radio. As I live next door, I wanted to come and see with my own eyes what it was like and it's very sad," resident Laurence Plu told Reuters. "It's not the Moulin anymore, it lost his wings, it lost his soul."

NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN THE RESTORATION PROJECT

Moulin Rouge's windmill without its sails.

The Moulin Rouge was founded in 1889, and its famous can-can dancers have been depicted in paintings by the likes of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who also frequented the place in its early days. It was also depicted in the 2001 musical starring Nicole Kidman of the same name.

Clerico said the club will investigate what caused the sails to fall but said it didnt appear to be intentional.

The Moulin Rouge's broken sails were removed Thursday.

Danish tourist Lise Thygesen told Reuters she hoped the sails would be restored, so it would remain the "old Moulin Rouge" and German tourist Florence Chevalier said that the windmill symbolized Paris for him.

The Moulin Rouge was founded in 1889.

"It's weird to me, it's Paris. It's like the Eiffel Tower, it's Paris. It's weird, you can't say it any other way," he explained.

The incident comes almost exactly five years after a 2019 fire destroyed Notre-Dame cathedrals wooden spire, wooden roof and damaged its walls. Restoration work is still underway.

A new spire was revealed in February.

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Sails from iconic Moulin Rouge windmill in Paris collapse to ground: 'It lost his soul'
People attend the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, Benin, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries.

Noting that the friendship between China and Benin has a long history, Benin's Minister of Industry and Trade Alimatou Shadiya Assouman said that Benin's industrialization is advancing, with abundant commodity resources and great development potential.

Last year, Benin's pineapple made its debut at the Shanghai CIIE, and became a star product, Assouman said, stressing that Chinese enterprises are welcome to continue investing in Benin to further deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

During the CIIE promotion conference, representatives from the two countries countries signed a memorandum of understanding to further strengthen cooperation.

Peng Jingtao, the Chinese ambassador to Benin, said the achievements of China-Benin cooperation are the result of the hard work of several generations, and the cooperation future between the two countries is promising. 

Peng Jingtao, the Chinese ambassador to Benin, delivers a speech at the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People attend the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin and China International Import Expo Bureau sign a memorandum of understanding at the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People attend the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

Benin's Minister of Industry and Trade Shadiya Alimatou Assouman delivers a speech at the 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Cotonou, Benin, on April 25, 2024. The 2nd Benin-China Investment Forum and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference were held in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Thursday, which saw the participation of over 300 government officials and business representatives from both countries. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
On the day Donald Trump took office in January 2017, pondering what he might do to the countrys democratic norms and institutions, I wrote these words: Trump will destroy them, if keeping Trump on top requires it. Or try to. He might not succeed. And that is where we rest our hopeon conservative judges who will choose our institutions over Trump. Mark my words: It will come to this.



That hope seemed not misplaced back in 2020 and 2021, when a number of liberal and conservative judges, some of the latter appointed by Trump himself, handed Trump 60 or so legal defeats as he attempted to unlawfully overturn the election results. But after Thursday at the Supreme Court? That hope is dead. The conservative judges, or at least most of them, on the highest court in the land are very clearly choosing Trump over our institutions. And none more belligerently than Samuel Alito.

His line of questioning to Michael Dreeben, the attorney arguing the special counsels case, was from some perverse Lewis Carroll universe:

Now if an incumbent who loses a very close, hotly contested election knows that a real possibility after leaving office is not that the president is going to be able to go off into a peaceful retirement, but that the president may be criminally prosecuted by a bitter political opponent, will that not lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy?

Lets look to something Id have thought lawyers and judges took seriously: historical evidence. American democracy has existed for nigh on 250 years, and power has been transferred from a president to his successor a grand total of 40 times (not counting deaths in office). On 11 occasions, a challenger has defeated a sitting incumbentthat is, a situation that creates the potential for some particularly bitter and messy post-election shenanigans.

Now, if Alitos question really spoke to a malign condition that had hobbled American democracy throughout history and that loomed as a real problem that we had to take very seriously, it would stand to reason that our history suggested that these power transfers had had a wobbly historythat maybe, say, 12 of 40, and four or five of the 11, had been characterized by violence and unusual threats of retribution against the exiting executive.

But what does the record show? It shows, of course, that there is only one case out of the overall 40, and one case out of the more narrowly defined 11, in all of U.S. history where anything abnormal and non-peaceful happened. That, of course, was 2020.

And there was a lot of bad blood in previous transfers of power. You think John Adams loved the idea of handing power to Thomas Jefferson? John Quincy Adams was popping champagne to turn things over to Andrew Jackson? Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison, who traded wins, werent bitter in defeat? These people couldnt stand each other. But they did what custom requireda custom never questioned by anyone until Trump came along.

So in other words: Alito throws all that democratic history out the window and treats Trump as the new normal, assuming that the American future is ineluctably strewn with a series of lawless Trumps. Alas, with respect to the Republican Party, theres a chance time will prove him right about that (but only a chance; my cynicism about the depths to which this GOP will sink is almost limitless, but even I think that Trump is most likely sui generis in this respect, and that your average Republican, even the neofascist ones like Tom Cotton, should we be cursed with a Cotton presidency someday, would probably yield power peacefully if he lost).

But think about what it says about both where Trump has delivered this country, and about Alitos assumptions about democracy. On the former point: Have we now reached a place where challenges to election results are going to be the norm? Where an opposition party can be counted on to find some legal technicality on which to prosecute a former president, rather than leaving him or her in peace as we have throughout our history?

This is another twisting of reality. Trump, his defenders would protest, is the one former president who has not been left in peace. Well, that is true, I confess. But maybe theres a reason for it! Actually, there are two. Trump has not been left in peace because a) it was always obvious he was not retired, and b) hes the only ex-president who tried to foment a coup against the United States of America and who declassified sensitive national security documents with his beautiful brain.

And on the latter point: When George W. Bush named him to the court in 2005, experts told usof coursethat Alito was conservative, yes, but not an extremist (interestingly, Maryanne Trump Barry, Donalds sister under whom Alito had worked as a prosecutor, was among those recommending Alitos nomination). As The New Yorker reported in a 2022 profile, Alito was asked in 2014 to name a character trait that hadnt served him well. His answer? A tendency to hold his tongue. Well, that problems been solved, eh? As writer Margaret Talbot noted of the justice, who ignored Chief Justice John Robertss importunings to strike a balance in the Dobbs decision, which he wrote: Hes holding his tongue no longer. Indeed, Alito now seems to be saying whatever he wants in public, often with a snide pugnaciousness that suggests his past decorum was suppressing considerable resentment.

And this week, he told us, in essence, that in his view democracy depends on allowing presidents to commit federal crimes, because if ex-presidents were to be prosecuted for such things, the United States would become a banana republic. Thats a Supreme Court justice saying that. And while Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and even Clarence Thomas didnt go that far Thursday, it was obvious that the courts conservatives are maneuvering to make sure that the insurrection trial doesnt see the light of day before the electionin other words, that a sitting president who very clearly wanted Congress to overturn a constitutionally certified election result (about this there is zero dispute) should pay no price for those actions.

When I wrote seven years ago that we rested our hope on conservative judges who will choose our institutions over Trump, trust me, I wasnt saying I was confident that they would. I was terrified that that day would eventually come. It came yesterday. The conservative jurists chose Trump. It will stand as one of the blackest days in Supreme Court history.

This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here.






San Diego is the epicenter for illegal immigration, county supervisor says

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  County Supervisor Jim Desmond says San Diego is the new epicenter for migrants and illegal immigration.

Desmonds office reported that on Tuesday alone, Border Patrol agents apprehended 2,000 unlawful border crossers within the San Diego Sector, including 206 Chinese nationals.

Desmond says the recent surge in unlawful crossings has propelled San Diego to the unfortunate position of leading all nine southern border sectors in April, a trend unseen since the 1990s.

Desmond also said that since the current fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2023, the San Diego Sector has witnessed a staggering 214,855 apprehensions, representing individuals from over 75 countries across the globe.

Border Patrol in San Diego confirms it is now the busiest sector along the southern border.

A CBP spokesperson says we are averaging over 1,000 illegal entries every day, we did have one day this week in which we apprehended over 2,000 subjects.

As for the monthly figures, CBP normally releases those numbers on the following month, so statistics for April wont be made public until the middle of May.

Border Patrol says its ready for new migrant surge in El Paso

In March, according to CBP statistics, there were 33,784 apprehensions in the San Diego Sector. And since Oct. 1, 2023, when current the fiscal year began, there have been 185,469.

By comparison, the Tucson Sector has recorded 342,002 apprehensions this fiscal year.

Moreover, Desmond says there have been more than 30,000 migrant drop-offs in the past two months alone in the San Diego region.

Mexico stops trailer with 131 migrants south of Juarez

Human smugglers have identified California, particularly the San Diego border sector, as

the path of least resistance for illegal immigration, Desmond said in a news release issued by his office Thursday. Border Patrol has inadvertently become the Uber for migrants entering San Diego County, and the County is the travel agent.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Desmond is also critical of Californias status as a sanctuary state, saying it prohibits law

enforcement from cooperating with immigration officials, hindering our ability to address

these issues effectively.

Border Report is seeking comment from CBP officials about Desmonds news release and will update this article when we hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A San Diego official dubbed his city the new epicenter for the border crisis Thursday and criticized California for inflicting this upon ourselves.

San Diego is the new epicenter for migrants and illegal immigration, San Diego District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond posted on the social platform X. The surge in illegal crossings has propelled San Diego to the unfortunate position of leading all nine southern border sectors in April, a trend unseen since the 1990s.

Desmond said Wednesday that in just one day, Border Patrol agents apprehended 2,000 people who were illegally crossing the border, including 206 Chinese nationals. Since October, there have been nearly 215,000 apprehensions from 75 different countries, his post said.

People are just walking across the border. Border Patrol agents are not empowered to stop them, Desmond said in an interview with NewsNation. All theyre doing is processing them once they  walk across the border.

He also took issue with the uptick in migrants arriving to San Diego by boat, saying at least when migrants show up at the U.S.-Mexico border, they are fingerprinted and Border Patrol does minimal vetting.

And whats happening in California, were, you know, inflicting this upon ourselves. You know, we give  migrants free health care. We can even give them free legal advice, not advice, but well pay for their attorneys if theyre deported, Desmond said. Local law enforcement is prohibited, prohibited from enforcing immigration law.

The Hill has reached out to the Border Patrol in San Diego to confirm Desmonds statistics and for further comment.

NewsNation is owned by Nextstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SANDY, Utah (ABC4)  As the weather warms up, you might see little ducklings out on a walk following their mother, but sometimes, the ducklings might come across pathways that are difficult to navigate.

Firefighters work to save ducklings. (Sandy City Fire Department)

Sandy City Fire Department recently stepped in to help in a situation like this, posting about it on Instagram with the caption it is duckling rescue season.

Unused prescriptions? National Take Back Day provides a safe way to dispose of them

The department wrote that between the crew, an off-duty UPD officer and good Samaritans, 14 ducklings were rescued from falling 10 feet down in a storm drain and reunited with their mother.

She was excited to have them rescued, the post said.

Cpt. Joe Spicer with the Sandy City Fire Department said a bicyclist had been riding around Wasatch Boulevard when they noticed the mother duck hanging around the storm drain, prompting them to call for help.

Spicer said hes seen situations like this several times, where the mother duck can walk safely across a storm drain, but her ducklings may fall in.

He said duckling rescues are a common occurrence in early spring, adding there have been two incidents like this in Sandy that he knows of so far this year.

Mama duck reunited with her babies (Sandy City Fire Department)

Mama duck reunited with her babies (Sandy City Fire Department)

Spicer said that while they carry equipment on their fire apparatus, this storm drain was so deep they couldnt quite reach the ducklings with the net they had. Luckily, an off-duty officer nearby jumped into action, running to their house to quickly get a larger and longer net.

Spicer said it was great to see everyone come together for this family of ducks, and once mama got her ducklings back, they helped her cross the street and get to a safe area.

If you see a similar situation, Spicer said do not try to move the storm drain yourself. Instead, give non-emergency a call and they will come and help out.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4)  A pair of reports of attempted kidnappings have put the Saratoga Springs Police Department on alert over the last two weeks.

Saratoga Springs spokesperson AnnElise Harrison told ABC4.com the city received two reports of attempted kidnappings in the Harvest Hills neighborhood of the city and several reports of suspicious activity. However, the parents of the victim in the initial report called the police department and retracted their report.

Still, Harrison said the city and the Saratoga Police Department are taking every report seriously.

At this point, we are still investigating, said Harrison. Were just treating everything weve been told [as] the truth and we are doing what we would normally do.

Harrison said at this point in the investigation, police have not identified any suspect. As police continue their investigation, there will be increased patrols in the Harvest Hills neighborhood. Harrison advised parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of talking to strangers and how to stay safe out in public such as being aware of your surroundings and traveling in groups.

Anyone who notices anything suspicious in the area is asked to report it to the police department via email at policetips@saratogaspringscity.com or by calling the non-emergency line at 801-578-5600. In the case of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A woman who identified herself as an employee of the state of Utah is facing a criminal charge after police say she tugged down another woman's skirt because she believed it was too short. (Photo by Getty Images)

A Utah woman recorded in a viral video showing an ID badge and saying shes a state employee after tugging down a young womans skirt that she said was too short is now facing criminal charges.

Ida Ann Lorenzo, 48, of Santa Clara, was charged Thursday with sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, after calling 911 on Sunday to report that a video of the confrontation was spreading online, and saying she holds a position with the state and was being identified, which she believed posed a threat against her life.

The charge carries a potential sentence of up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.

A spokesperson for the St. George Police Department confirmed to KSL TV Lorenzo is a state employee. KSL TV reported it had received information Lorenzo may work for the Utah Attorney Generals Office; the office did not confirm Lorenzos employment, but told the TV station it is aware of the alleged incident and is addressing the situation.

In the video, which now has more than 200,000 views on TikTok, Lorenzo tells a young woman waiting at a St. George restaurant with friends I happen to work for the state, and if I have to see your a** cheeks hanging out again, I will call CPS, a reference to Utahs Child Protective Services office.

According to a caption on the video, Lorenzo became upset my friend is wearing a mini skirt, so she aggressively yanks it down and says youre probably underage, you probably shouldnt be wearing that then causes a scene in a busy restaurant.

Lorenzo met with a St. George Police officer Sunday after making the call, telling him the young woman was wearing a short skirt, and that a 10-year-old boy seated near her had pointed to the womans clothing and the boys father did not do anything about it, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in support of Lorenzos arrest.

Ida felt that it was her responsibility to address the female by approaching her, and attempted to pull down the females skirt to cover what Ida explained to be exposed genitalia, and threatened to call CPS to report indecent exposure in front of the 10-year-old, the officer wrote in the affidavit.

Lorenzo told the officer she believed the young woman was a minor as well.

I asked her why she thought it was appropriate to touch another person, and how she thought that to protect a minor would mean to touch another assumed minor, the officer wrote.

Lorenzo told the officer she never touched the young woman, only her skirt; the officer explained that touching the other womans clothing was criminal behavior and not appropriate, the affidavit states.

I asked her why she did not call the Police, and she told me that it would have taken the police too long to respond, so she had to take action herself, the officer wrote.

Police were contacted the next day by the young woman in the video, who reported she had been sexually assaulted, the officer wrote. Seven additional witnesses came forward and provided statements to police.

The young woman told the officer Lorenzo approached her while her back was turned to her, and without any notice, or formal warning, she felt cold hands go up her skirt, touching her buttocks before she felt her skirt being pulled on, according to the affidavit.

The officer wrote that he confirmed the woman had been wearing underwear and shorts beneath the skirt, which the woman said would make any inappropriate exposure impossible.

In meeting with the officer again, Lorenzo continued to deny touching the young womans skin, only her skirt. She said that she believed the young woman was a minor and she felt that she needed to intervene, according to the affidavit. Lorenzo continued to state that she believed the female was completely nude underneath her skirt.

I explained to Ida that the belief the victim was a minor, should have been more reason to not touch the victim, the officer wrote.

Lorenzo was booked into Washington County Jail without incident, according to the officers report. She later posted bail and was released with a promise to appear in court, according to court documents. An initial court appearance is scheduled for June 19.

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The post Saying shes a state employee, woman tugs down anothers skirt at restaurant; charges filed appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Following a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for greater respect for human rights in the Central Asian republic.

"The German government is committed to upholding human rights worldwide, and that also applies to Azerbaijan," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Aliyev on Friday in response to a question from journalists.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), human rights defenders and the media must be able to work "freely and without pressure" in the country, he said.

Scholz said he discussed the general situation in Azerbaijan with Aliyev and also raised individual cases.

"Of course, it is also no secret that we see a need for improvement, to put it that way," Scholz said.

Aliyev rejected the criticism, saying that human rights and media freedom are respected in his country, according to an official translation.

"There is no censorship in Azerbaijan. There is free internet in Azerbaijan. There are hundreds of media outlets in Azerbaijan," he said.

Accusing his country of restricting media freedom is unfounded and unfair, Aliyev said.

Aliyev has been the authoritarian leader of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and was last re-elected in a controversial February election in which he officially received more than 90% of the vote.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) has criticized increasing restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression in the country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) welcomes President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in front of the Federal Chancellery. Hannes P. Albert/dpa
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) welcomes President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in front of the Federal Chancellery. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

Following a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for greater respect for human rights in the Central Asian republic.

"The German government is committed to upholding human rights worldwide, and that also applies to Azerbaijan," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Aliyev on Friday in response to a question from journalists.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), human rights defenders and the media must be able to work "freely and without pressure" in the country, he said.

Scholz said he discussed the general situation in Azerbaijan with Aliyev and also raised individual cases.

"Of course, it is also no secret that we see a need for improvement, to put it that way," Scholz said.

Aliyev rejected the criticism, saying that human rights and media freedom are respected in his country, according to an official translation.

"There is no censorship in Azerbaijan. There is free internet in Azerbaijan. There are hundreds of media outlets in Azerbaijan," he said.

Accusing his country of restricting media freedom is unfounded and unfair, Aliyev said.

Aliyev has been the authoritarian leader of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and was last re-elected in a controversial February election in which he officially received more than 90% of the vote.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) has criticized increasing restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression in the country.

Numerous independent journalists are in prison, including Imram Aliyev, a reporter who worked as a freelancer for German public broadcaster ZDF.

Members of the German parliament's human rights committee issued a joint statement demanding the release of more than 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is scheduled to host the next UN Climate Change Conference in November. Aliyev's visit to Berlin was in part to join the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, which is being hosted by the German Foreign Office.

Ilham Aliyev (L), President of Azerbaijan, and Olaf Scholz (R), German Chancellor, hold a joint press conference. Hannes P. Albert/dpa
LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW)  Robeson County school officials are encouraging the districts graduating seniors to fill out their FAFSA applications by the June 30 deadline.

Completing this application is the first step towards unlocking free funding and scholarships to assist students in their college journeys, said Jessica Sealey, a spokesperson for the Public Schools of Robeson County.

As of early April, Sealey said only about 20% of the districts 1,251 seniors set to graduate this spring had started filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms. Thats according to the according to the FAFSA Tracker by the College Foundation of North Carolina.

The state completion rate is low and our district mirrors it, Sealey said. With the skyrocketing costs of everything, scholarship monies are more valuable than ever.

While the deadline to complete FAFSA applications is June 30, Sealey said students should check with colleges they are interested in applying to attend to see if there are any additional deadlines.

FAFSA is the first stop for all college financial aid, Sealey said. In North Carolina, students can also apply for the Next NC Scholarship. There are also several other scholarships available for students across the nation.

With the Next NC Scholarship, Sealey said most students from households with incomes of $80,000 or less will qualify for at least $3,000 a year to pay for tuition and fees at a state community college. Students planning to attend a University of North Carolina institution can get $5,000 a year, which covers more than half, and possibly all, of the tuition and fees.

In addition, there is a state need-based scholarship available to students who are going to a private college in North Carolina, according to Jessica Swencki, deputy director of myFutureNC.

Sealey said the FAFSA applications are simple and require only a few documents and some planning. She said students can get help from their school counseling department or the institution they plan to attend.

The Public Schools of Robeson County also plans to host a final workshop at the end of May to help families that might still need assistance.

We encourage our students to embrace the opportunities provided by scholarships and grants by completing the FAFSA, Superintendent Freddie Williamson said. By doing so, students can unlock a world of new possibilities and opportunities as they pursue their dream career by attending college.

Students should visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to complete their FAFSA forms.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A school principal faced threats after being accused of offensive language on a recording. Now police say it was a deepfake

The recording went viral in January, provoking rage in suburban Baltimore. It seemed that Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert had been caught making racist and antisemitic comments. Angry phone calls overwhelmed the front desk. Employees felt afraid. Security was tightened.

Eiswert was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. He received various threats of violence. A police report said one person told him the world would be a better place if you were on the other side of the dirt.

All along, Eiswert denied making the offensive remarks. He said that wasnt his voice on the recording. He believed it was an AI deepfake. And on Thursday, law-enforcement authorities announced they believe he was right.

The recording was indeed a fake, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. And the man accused of making it  a school employee who had clashed with the principal  was arrested on charges that included disturbing the operation of a school.

Today, we are relieved to have some closure on the origins of this audio, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference on Thursday that hinted at the disturbing possibilities of artificial intelligence. However, it is clear that we are also entering a new, deeply concerning frontier.

The athletic directors job was in jeopardy. Then the recording surfaced

Heres how it all unfolded, according to county officials and a sworn police statement:

Last December at Pikesville High, about 10 miles northwest of Baltimore, Principal Eiswert was investigating a potential theft involving the high schools athletic director, Dazhon Darien. An unauthorized payment for almost $2,000 had been made to Dariens roommate, a basketball coach for the school, under the pretense that the roommate had also worked as an assistant girls soccer coach, a police report said.

But when the principal and a colleague looked into it, they found that the purported assistant coach had never assisted during the soccer season. Eiswert confronted Darien about the payment, the report said, and Darien said it was a mistake.

This was not the first confrontation between Eiswert and Darien. The report said Darien had previously fired a coach without approval, after which Eiswert asked other administrators to monitor Darien more closely. Eiswert had spoken to Darien about the non-renewal of his contract, the report said, due to frequent work performance challenges.

Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert, in a screenshot from a Baltimore County Public Schools video posted in 2019. - From Baltimore County Public Schools

On January 16, a Gmail user known as TJFOUST9 sent an email to three teachers, including Darien, at their school email addresses. The subject line said, Pikesville Principal  Disturbing Recording. A sound file was attached. A man could be heard speaking. Among other disparaging comments, including one about two teachers and another about Jewish people, the man said Black students couldnt test their way out of a paper bag.

The recording proliferated. A teacher who didnt get along well with Eiswert admitted to sharing it with a student who she knew would rapidly spread the message around various social media outlets and throughout the school, the report said. The teacher also sent the recording to media outlets and the NAACP.

As the outrage intensified, teachers wondered if secret recording devices had been planted at the school. One employee started taking sensitive phone calls in their car in the parking lot.

Billy Burke, the school administrators union rep, was among the officials who immediately doubted the authenticity of the recording.

The audio seems to be a dialogue, yet no other voices can be heard and there is no ambient noise, he said in a statement to CNN. Schools and offices are busy, loud places, but none of that is evident in the audio. This was suspicious to me. The content of the audio seemed scripted in that the statements if released would defame the speaker, somehow protect those mentioned, and insult the community.

Burke said he met with Eiswert and school administrators, and I could hear in their voices and story that this tape was not real.

Nevertheless, Eiswert was temporarily replaced by two other administrators. In interviews about the recording, he denied that it was his voice. He thought Darien was behind it, the report said, explaining that Darien was technologically savvy and apparently familiar with AI.

An investigation led to a mysterious Gmail user  and an arrest warrant

Investigators searched for the origins of the recording. Through a subpoena to Google, a detective found the IP address where the email address TJFOUST9 was created. The detective traced that IP address to a relative of Darien. The Gmail account had a recovery phone number. A detective traced that number to Dazhon Darien.

Investigators shared the audio file with two forensic experts, including an FBI contractor. One said it appeared the recording contained traces of AI-generated content with human editing after the fact, which added background noises for realism. Another expert said it seemed the recording was manipulated, and multiple recordings were spliced together using unknown software.

Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools Myriam Rogers speaks during a press conference in Pikesville on April 25. "As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult time for the Pikesville High School community," she said. - WJZ

On Wednesday, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Darien on charges of theft, stalking, retaliating against a witness, and disturbing the operation of a school.

On Thursday, according to the police chief, Darien went to Baltimore/Washington International Airport and tried to board a flight to Houston. He had a gun with him, and security officials stopped him because of questions about how it was packaged. Thats when they found out about the arrest warrant. Police said they were unsure if Darien was trying to flee.

Darien was held Thursday in lieu of $5,000 bail. On Friday morning, an official at the Baltimore County jail said Darien wasnt there. CNN could not determine whether he has an attorney, and calls to his cell phone were not immediately returned.

Eiswert was unavailable for an interview Thursday. At the news conference, school superintendent Myriam Rogers said that Mr. Eiswert absolutely remains employed with Baltimore County Public Schools, but two other administrators remain in charge of Pikesville High. The superintendent said there would soon be a meeting with Eiswert to determine what will happen next.

Near the end of the news conference, a reporter asked the superintendent why school officials waited three months to publicly vindicate the principal.

We made it clear that we couldnt attest to the veracity of the recording, Rogers said. We asked everyone not to rush to judgment, but our role and our responsibility is to the students and the community and the truth.

The case suggests that the truth is not always what it seems, officials said  and that new technology can make it hard to separate fact and fiction.

I hope we can find the lessons amid the damage that this has caused, said Burke, the union representative. I hope we learn people are innocent until proven guilty.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
GAZA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed during an Israeli attack targeting a facility belonging to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said on Friday.

The medical sources told Xinhua that "at least three bodies of people were transferred to a local hospital as an Israeli warplane attacked them while they were in a refuge facility belonging to the ICRC."

So far, the ICRC has no comment on the incident.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. 
The ole college try: Occupy Wall Streetstyle campus protests of Israel's war in Gaza are officially a thing. Tent encampments that went up at Columbia University have now been copied by student protestors from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., to Emory University in Atlanta, all the way to Indiana University in Bloomington.

Demonstrators even stormed the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. This is no longer just an elite Ivy University thing. Because Israel/Palestine is a divisive issue even amongst mostly liberal and left-wing college students, we're seeing lots of pro-Israel counter-demonstrations as well.

School administrators have dusted off their "abundance of caution" COVID-era playbooks; canceling in-person classes and exams, moving instruction online, and shutting down graduation events.

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles earned bipartisan condemnation a few weeks ago for canceling the commencement speech of a pro-Palestinian valedictorian. Widespread student protests have now prompted the university to shut down the entire commencement event.

A few universities, with the eager support of some conservative commentators and Republican politicians, have called in the cops to dismantle encampments and arrest demonstrating students and faculty. Even where students are violating university policy and "time, place, and manner restrictions," the scenes from these crackdowns do not look particularly proportional or First Amendment-friendly.

Given the immediate concerns of protestors, the easiest historical parallel people have drawn is to the anti-Vietnam campus protests of half a century ago. Fortunately, no one has burned down an ROTC building or waylaid Robert McNamara's car. Yet.

Occupy 2.0: The more apt comparison is to the Occupy Wall Street protests of the last decade. Left-wing demonstrators mad about the issue of the day (inequality then, Israel now) and disappointed with the insufficient radicalism of the Democrat in the White House are pitching tents and demanding change.

The awkwardness of progressives protesting the policies of a progressive administration has seen demonstrators focus most of their ire on institutions that are a little easier to criticize. For Occupy Wall Street, it was the banks. For today's students, its university administrations and the Israeli government.

Like Occupy Wall Street, a single-issue protest is quickly devolving into a general criticism of society. Stopping the war in Gaza is now being linked to stopping gentrification in Los Angeles, "Cop City" in Atlanta, and climate change everywhere.

Odds are this protest movement will stick around for a while, both on the ground and in the discourse. It's an election year after all, so emotions are running high. A re-do of the 2020 presidential election with the same unpopular, uninspiring candidates who can't seem to talk about actual issues makes protesting a foreign war all the more enticing. The nice weather makes street politics all the more enjoyable.

The awful comments of some student demonstrators make easy fodder for Republicans sensing a wedge issue, particularly when the conservative election season critique of President Joe Biden is that he's a non-entity unable, or unwilling, to maintain public order.

For people whose primary political interest is individual freedom, the best thing to do is keep a level head as we head into an early "summer of rage."

One can dislike the rhetoric of campus protestors while still supporting their First Amendment rights. A commitment to free speech doesn't require treating every protestor's disruptive or violent actions as protected speech. A proportional response from law enforcement is always a must.

It's OK to call balls and strikes without picking "a side."

Presidential impunity? Away from the heated scenes on campus yesterday, in the slightly more tranquil U.S. Supreme Court chambers, justices heard oral arguments in the case of Trump v. United States.

The immediate issue here is whether the election interference case being brought against former President Donald Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith is legitimate. To argue that it isn't, the ex-president's lawyers are making the audacious claim that the president has absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts that he takes while in office.

Justice Elena Kagan probed the limits of this theory by asking whether the president could be prosecuted for ordering the military to assassinate his political opponents. Trump's lawyers argued he'd have to be impeached and removed before any criminal prosecution could happen.

On the flip side, Justices Neal Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh expressed concern that a president without some legal immunity could be prevented from governing by frivolous, politically motivated criminal prosecutions. Read a more comprehensive breakdown of the oral arguments from Reason's Jacob Sullum.

Scenes from D.C.: When jogging by the White House on Wednesday, I came across a relatively orderly anti-genocide protest that didn't manage to make many headlines. The demonstrators didn't have much to say about Gaza. Instead, they were Armenians observing Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which commemorates the 1915 genocide carried out against their people by the Ottoman Empire. We could all learn a thing or two from their earnest, orderly demonstration about such a painful, weighty topic.

QUICK HITS

Trump's allies are busy drafting plans to pare back the Federal Reserve's independence, reports The Wall Street Journal. Probably the only thing worse than having an independent central bank would be having a non-independent central bank.

White-collar hirings are stalling.

California's state insurer of last resort is considering steep rate hikes to reflect the increasing threats of wildfires.

I'm sorry, did you say both presidential candidates? Joe Rogan says he's all in on RFK Jrprovided he makes it onto the ballot.

Who says the left-right political spectrum doesn't exist?

I will now show you the worst image ever made by man pic.twitter.com/g435OnfaU5  Italian ???????????????????? (@Italian347) April 24, 2024

Matt Yglesias on why driverless cars are underhyped.

Brian Potter on why homes are so expensive to build.

Is there no artistic convention she won't break? Taylor Swift shares the same side of the booth with boyfriend Travis Kelce during a "cozy" Los Angeles dinner date.

The post School's Out appeared first on Reason.com.
The world is currently experiencing a global bleaching event only eight years removed from the last one, and scientists are rushing to save numerous species.

One effort includes a Noahs Ark for coralsexecuted by placing rare, threatened species in aquariums in Europe as part of the World Coral Conservatory Project.

While these efforts, along with things like cryopreservation and selective breeding, will help corals around the world, the only real solution is a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists around the world are preparing for the worst-case scenario. Tucked away in the northern Norwegian island is the Svalbard Seed Vault, dedicated to backing up seeds stored in global genebanks. In San Diego, the citys world-famous zoo has more than 10,000 cell cultures from 1,000 taxa cryopreserved in its Frozen Zoo. And now, aquariums throughout Europe are working together to preserve another vulnerable lifeformcorals.

On Monday, the Royal Burgers Zoo (burger is civilian in Dutch) in Arnhem, Netherlands placed its first rare corals in its aquarium known as the Burgers Ocean , which holds 2.1 million gallons of water and is home to the largest living coral reef in Europe. These rare corals are part of the World Coral Conservatory project, an international pilot project working alongside other museums and aquariums in France and Monaco.

Founded in 2022, the World Coral Conservatory isnt locking these animals behind glass for good, but hopes to keep them safe in an effort to restore them to their natural habitats in the future. Because the participating aquariums know the location of these coralsa coral atoll known as Aldabra in Seychelles ( a UNESCO World Heritage Site )these specimines can hopefully return to their environment in the coming years. This extreme measure to preserve corals is necessary, as they face many environmental and anthropogenic pressures that threaten their survival, including pollution, coastal development, dredging, and blast fishing ( which is exactly what it sounds like ).

This project is making a kind of back-up of corals so in case they die out in the wild, well still have them in aquaria, Nienke Klerks, a biologist at the Royal Burgers Zoo, said in an interview with Reuters . The zoo is comparing its aquarium to a kind of Noahs Ark, designed to protect species in the face of potential calamity.

However, the most insidious of these 21st century dangers is global warming, which causes temperatures in the oceans to rise. Because greenhouse gasses are trapping heat radiated off the planets surface, the worlds oceans are absorbing more heat. This is especially true of the oceans euphotic zone, where light can still penetrate water. Because corals needs a lot of light, theyre restricted to this heavily climate change-impacted zone, which is causing them to bleach. Corals form a symbiotic relationship with algae, but when stressed by warm temperatures, algae leave the coral behind. Without its major food source, corals turn white, or bleach, and become more prone to disease.

The world is currently experiencing the fourth global bleaching event in recorded history , and the second such event in the past decade. It takes corals many years to recover from bleaching, so having two global bleaching events so close together spells doom for this incredible underwater realm going forward.

While storing corals in various aquariumsand employing other methods for protecting these organisms, including cryopreservation and selective breedingwill help habitats in various locations, there is only one clear solution for saving the worlds coral reefs.

That is a triage-type of responsea last-ditch response, Julia Baum, a biologist and coral reef researcher at the University of Victoria in Canada told PBS Newshour last week. Undoubtedly, the only thing that is going to save the world's coral reefs at this point is a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. That is absolutely certain.

While Noahs Arks will help preserve diversity in the short term, the species will eventually want to get off the ark, and its up to us to make a world where thats possible.

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Yesterdays message from the rightwing justices of the Supreme Court, particularly the male justices, was shocking to any believer in true, conservative jurisprudence and the rule of law. Their questions at the oral argument in the Donald Trump immunity case signaled strongly that they really care more about enhancing presidential power than preserving democracy, and to that end, lean toward giving Trump the gift of even more delay.

Trump, the former president and Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, is accused of trying to overturn an election in the weeks before January 6. He has said the constitution should be terminated and that he will be a dictator on Day One.

In that context, Americans want to know before they vote if Trump is innocent or guilty of using unlawful means to interfere with the 2020 certification of President Bidens election. We deserve that knowledge.

The Supreme Court, however, has no such care. In the stunning words of Trump appointee Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Im not concerned about the here and now, Im more concerned about the future. Justice Samuel Alito said he didnt want to talk about the particular facts but rather to talk in the abstract. To the same effect was the statement of Trump appointee Justice Neil Gorsuch: Were writing a decision for the ages.

Gorsuch, you may recall, is the occupant of the seat that Mitch McConnell stole from President Obama and his appointee, then-Judge Merrick Garland. Then, of course, theres Justice Clarence Thomas, who declined to disqualify himself from hearing the case even though the emails of his wife, Ginni, show that she was an inside operative trying to help Trump get the election overturned four years ago.

Heres why the statements from Kavanaugh and Gorsuch are offensive to those committed to honest, conservative jurisprudence. The Constitution limits federal courts to deciding the Cases or Controversies presented to them based on case-specific facts.

Hence, federal jurists are duty-bound to focus their attention on what Kavanaugh said he didnt care about: the facts of the here and now.

To be sure, the implications of any decision for future situations are always to be taken into account. But when the facts of a case are so exceptional, so confined, so clear, two things matter above everything else: First, that the case be disposed of purely on those facts; second, that courts are well practiced in how to limit their decisions future application.

Indeed, all the justices need to say, even repeat, is, This case is unique in all of American history. The allegations of the indictment, which we must take as true for now, shock the conscience. We limit our holding today to its facts and only these facts. As the Supreme Courts own website states:

The Constitution limits the Court to dealing with "Cases" and "Controversies." John Jay, the first Chief Justice, clarified this restraint early in the Courts history by declining to advise President George Washington on the constitutional implications of a proposed foreign policy decision. The Court[s] . . . function is limited only to deciding specific cases.

Indeed, in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Chief Justice John Roberts chided the majority for going outside the boundaries of the case or controversy presented  a Mississippi statute permitting abortions up to 15 weeks after inception. But now we are faced with the prospect that the Court may send the case back to the lower courts to decide a controversy not presented, giving Trump the delay he wants by asking a lower court to analyze a bogus constitutional theory  that a president is criminally immune when he acts as president.

President Nixon did not object to a pardon for his crimes in Watergate. Notably, no prior president or court has ever suggested presidential immunity from prosecution after leaving office. Under the argument of John Sauer, Trumps lawyer, President Biden might initiate a coup to avoid the coming election, or order his rival assassinated, and be immune from prosecution.

The notion simply cannot be reconciled with the text of the Constitution. It includes no immunity provision for presidents. It expressly recognizes that a president is subject to criminal prosecution, even if impeached and convicted for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Contrary to the nonsensical argument made up by Trumps lawyers  that a president must be impeached and convicted in the Senate before he can be prosecuted  high crimes and misdemeanors may include misconduct not even criminalized in federal statutes. In no rational universe would the choice by a House of Representatives as to which abuses of political power to allege in impeaching a President determine whether he has committed statutory offenses.

The problem is that many of the conservative justices, including Roberts, served in the White House for Republicans and came up under the constitutional theory of presidential supremacy created by neo-conservatives in the 1970s, encapsulated by the label unitary Executive. This pernicious notion purportedly justifies giving presidents virtually unlimited power and autonomy. The concept that a president must be able to commit federal crimes in order to function would have been considered incredible and absurd by the framers who rebelled against royal prerogative. Do you know what they would have said about the horribles of future political prosecutions the right-wing paraded out yesterday? Thats what we created courts to stop. Just as they stopped Trumps 60 or so court filings to reverse the election results based on ballot fraud.

I watched Andrew Weissman, the accomplished former FBI legal counsel and former Mueller team special counsel, try to make bittersweet lemonade from lemons. He said that if the case is sent back to consider issues beyond the scope of the narrow facts, there could well be a hearing this summer in which the parties litigated Trumps role in the lead up to January 6. Like the January 6 Committee hearings last summer, that could be educational. But how likely is it that Americas voters, with so many other priorities and such stratified media, will be educated with clarity by anything other than a black-and-white verdict of innocence or guilt?

Here is what is crystal clear. If the Court waits until the end of its session in June to decide the case, there is little chance for a trial to complete before the election. If the Court sends the case back to the lower courts, there is no chance. We will know that we have a Supreme Court majority who think that preserving the power of a future president who aims to be a dictator is more important than giving the people the information we need to make an existential choice as voters.

You may have heard wise commentators like Robert Hubbell say that the courts are not coming to save us. Unfortunately, we may have a Supreme Court bent on the opposite  enabling a Presidency committed to destroying the freedoms that the Constitution has guaranteed us.

If so, we have but one solution. Elect a president and a congress that are committed to changing the Court before its too late.
Sea creature spotted surfing the waves in special encounter off Iceland, photo shows

Conservationists got a special treat when they spotted a familiar sea creature near the coast of Iceland.

While navigating in the bay of Breidafjordur, located on the west coast of the island nation, conservationists observed Captain Hook, a male orca, surfing the waves.

Among all the recent beautiful orca sightings, we had a special one today, Orca Guardians, a nonprofit dedicated to orca protection, said in an April 25 news release.

A photo released by the organization depicts the black-and-white apex predator breaching the surface.

Captain Hook is at least 18 years old, as he has been visiting the waters near western Iceland since 2006 or earlier, the group said.

The killer whale, the only male in a pod of females, returns to the area in the summer months.

He can regularly be spotted going his own ways, exploring territory and having new experiences, the group said.

The largest members of the dolphin family, killer whales are found throughout every ocean on Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

They often use a coordinated hunting strategy, working as a team like a pack of wolves, according to NOAA.

Today, some of their populations throughout the world are threatened by overfishing, chemicals and ship traffic, the organization reports.

In recent years, populations of killer whales around Europe have attacked sailboats, sinking them on several occasions, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News.

Orca experts said the bizarre phenomenon is likely the result of a game-like behavior thats gotten way out of hand.

Scaly clawed creature found resting in rotten log at India forest. See the new species

Apex predator emerges as boaters stare in awe at fishs massive bite marks. See it

Workers unearth steelworks at medieval castle in UK  and find someones hidey-hole
According to the Marin County Sheriff's Office, Mint Butterfield was last seen on Sunday, April 21 at approximately 10 p.m. in Bolinas, California

Marin County Sheriff's Office; Dia Dipasupil/Getty L-R: Mint Butterfield, Stewart Butterfield

The search for the missing 16-year-old child of the billionaire co-founder of Slack continues.

Mint Butterfield, who uses they/them pronouns, was last seen on Sunday, April 21, at approximately 10 p.m. in Bolinas, California.

Adam Schermerhorn, a public information officer with the Marin County Sheriff's Office, told PEOPLE on Thursday, April 25, that authorities are "still actively investigating leads and working with the juvenile's mother to try and acquire digital devices and other items that could have information."

Schermerhorn said authorities hope that Mint's personal belongings help provide information about their location or why they went missing.

He added that authorities "do not have any reason to believe there is foul play" or "anything criminal" in connection to Mint's disappearance.

Marin County Sheriff's Office; Dia Dipasupil/Getty L-R: Mint Butterfield, Stewart Butterfield

According to a press release issued by the Marin County Sheriff's Office Thursday night, Mint is a "voluntary missing person."

Mint's mother, Caterina Fake, reported the teen missing after she discovered a note Monday morning indicating Mint had left.

"It is unclear how Mint left the area, as they did not have access to a vehicle, or phone," the sheriff's press release stated. "At this time, we have no information to believe that Mint was taken against their will. The Sheriffs Office is considering Mint a voluntary-missing juvenile, who is At- Risk due to a reported previous threat of suicide."

Based on statements from Fake, authorities believe Mint may have traveled to the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Officials told the San Francisco Standard that Mint "has a history of substance abuse and is known to frequent the Tenderloin." The neighborhood is located about 30 miles from where Mint was last seen in Bolinas.

Fake and Mint also have a residence in San Francisco, but the sheriff's press release did not specify where.

As of Thursday night, the combined efforts of Marin County Sheriffs and the San Francisco Police Department to locate Mint have not been successful, per the press release.



Leon Neal/Getty Caterina Fake

Related: Connecticut Barbers Save Toddler from Oncoming Traffic: 'The Only Thought in My Head was Run After Her'

According to the San Francisco Standard, Fake and her ex-husband, Stewart Butterfield, co-founded Flickr in 2004 before selling it to Yahoo in 2005. Following their 2008 divorce, Stewart co-founded Slack, which Forbes reports was acquired in July 2021 for $27.7 billion.

Although he left Slack in 2022, the business magazine estimates Stewart's personal wealth to be $1.6 billion.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Stewart Butterfield

Related: School Board Reverses Decision to Cancel Gay 30 Rock Actors Anti-Bullying Speech: 'Im Deeply Grateful'

According to the Marin County Sheriff's Office, Mint is approximately 5'0" tall, has "brown/reddish curly hair," is 100 lbs, and has their eyebrows pierced. They were last seen wearing a "black sweatshirt, flannel pajama pants, and black boots."

Authorities ask that any information related to the whereabouts of Mint are directed to the Marin County Sheriffs Office at (415) 479-2311 or email tips@marinsheriff.org



If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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Read the original article on People.
(The Hill)  A member of Vice President Harriss security detail was removed over a behavioral issue, the Secret Service confirmed to The Hill.

The Secret Service special agent, who was working on the vice presidents departure from Joint Base Andrews on Monday morning, began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing, Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned. The Vice President was at the Naval Observatory when this incident occurred and there was no impact on her departure from Joint Base Andrews, he added.

Harris on Monday traveled to Wisconsin from Joint Base Andrews, outside of Washington, D.C., but hadnt left her home, which is the Naval Observatory, at the time of the incident.

The Washington Examiner first reported on the incident, calling it a fight with other agents before the vice presidents flight on Monday. The outlet reported that the agent become aggressive, and when a supervisor attempted to calm the agent, a physical alternation started that led to the agent being handcuffed.

Guglielmi added in his statement that Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously and did not reveal any more information about the incident or the agent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
WASHINGTON  A Secret Service special agent was removed from Vice President Kamala Harris' detail after having exhibited "distressing" behavior this week, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

The agent, whose identity has not been disclosed, had been involved with the Harris' departure from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Monday morning, when Harris was headed to Wisconsin.

The agent "began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing," Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, said in a statement Thursday. "The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned."

Harris was not present when the incident took place. She was at the Naval Observatory, the vice president's residence, and Guglielmi said her departure was not affected.

The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously, Guglielmi said. As this was a medical matter, we will not disclose any further details.

Additional information about the incident, which was first reported by the Washington Examiner, was not released. The vice president's office did not comment Thursday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) has strongly condemned the media for leaking Chinese swimmers' private information in a no-fault contamination case in 2021.

"We strongly condemn the unauthorized disclosure of the names and other detailed private information (which should have been confidential) of athletes (including some minors) by ARD, the New York Times, and any other media, organizations and persons, which, in disregard of relevant laws and regulations, is a violation of the media ethics and morals and a serious infringement on the legitimate rights and interests of these athletes," CHINADA said in a statement on Friday.

"CHINADA calls on WADA to investigate into the leaks of private information and reserves its right to take legal action as appropriate," it said.

"We hereby reiterate that CHINADA, as always, will work for the rights and interests of clean athletes and the integrity in sport with a firm work philosophy and principle of independence, impartiality, professionalism and authority," it added.

A total of 23 Chinese swimmers were tested positive for "extremely low concentration" of trimetazidine (TMZ) at a national swimming event in 2021. Through thorough and comprehensive investigation with scientific methods, CHINADA made a conclusion that it was "an isolated mass incident caused by athletes' unknowing consumption of food contaminated with TMZ" and "the athletes involved would be held to have no fault or negligence."

"In the whole investigation process, CHINADA kept WADA and the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA, now known as World Aquatics) informed of relevant progress, and submitted the evidence from investigation, decisions made by CHINADA and the full case files. Conclusions from the investigation and the decision were accepted by both WADA and FINA," it said in the statement. 
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday joined Black mayors from across the nation to preview the work his department is doing to bring transportation projects to their communities to correct historic wrongs.

The projects, made possible through the Biden administrations $3.3 billion Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program, were among the issues discussed at the annual African American Mayors Association Conference in Atlanta.

More than 130 grants have been awarded across 41 states to improve the lives of residents negatively impacted by decades-old transportation structures, according to Buttigieg. That includes addressing highways built several decades ago that have cut off access to schools, career opportunities and even medical services.

In an interview with CNN, Buttigieg said the investment aims to strengthen communities across the nation and create opportunity through better connectivity.

This is about making sure that federal dollars are part of the solution in communities where sometimes federal dollars have caused harm in the past, he said. Just about every place Ive been to has some story of some piece of infrastructure that went through some part of town, often a community of color, that did not have the political power to reshape or resist it.

Some of the grants, including one in Atlanta, Georgia, involve capping highways.

In many cases where theres a depressed highway that cuts like a gash through a community, the answer is to put a deck or a roof over it, said Buttigieg. And that has the added benefit of creating new land, which is the rarest thing in a downtown area.

A $16 million grant in New Rochelle, New York, is set to transform three highway lanes into an eight-acre linear park, which Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert says will connect the heart of the citys African American community to downtown.

[It] allows New Rochelle the opportunity to heal a wound that was caused by antiquated and racist urban planning policies, Ramos-Herbert said at a news conference today.

Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin said he hopes $14.5 million earmarked to convert a one-way street into two lanes in his citys Black business district will lead to thriving small businesses once again.

Its not just at the intersection of infrastructure investment, but its also economic development wrapped in an equity piece. And thats a game changer for us. Quality of life, Woodfin told CNN.

And in Tacoma, Washington, a $1.3 million grant will study what Mayor Victoria Woodards calls the I-5 divide. Interstate 5, which opened in the 1960s and runs north to south, cut much of the city in two. Woodards told CNN that, along with other factors, the route has been linked to a drop in life expectancy by around 17 years, according to local health department data.

This study will develop community-supported solutions that will guide the design and building of projects that will address the significant safety and accessibility challenges created by I-5 for people walking, biking and rolling, said Woodards.

Buttigieg said some of the projects are already underway, while others will take the better part of a decade to come to fruition.

Different communities, different projects, but the same theme of, These harms from the past that are going to be addressed today in a way thats going to make everybody better off and nobody worse off.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday even as tensions between the two powers continue to simmer.

Secretary Blinken says the U.S.-China relationship must be responsibly managed even as he admitted the challenges that China poses to the U.S.

I returned to China this week to take stock of where weve made progress and where more needs to be done so that we can deliver tangible results for the American people, said Blinken.

Among the issues Blinken says they discussed: greater cooperation on trade and stopping fentanyl.

The U.S. and China have set up a joint counter-narcotics working group to collaborate on policy making and on law enforcement and to share technical expertise, he added.

Blinken warned President Xi about Chinas continued support of Russia which China appears to have no interest in stopping.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, he said.

Blinkens visit is part of a greater White House strategy addressing the ongoing challenges posed by China.

Tensions have simmered for years but there are some signs of progress, like the re-opening of direct military lines between the two countries.

Direct, open, clear lines of communication like these are critical to avoiding miscalculations, Blinken said.

One topic Secretary Blinken did not address with President Xi is the ongoing issue of TikTok whose Chinese parent company must now sell off to keep the app running in the U.S.

Blinken telling reporters the U.S. will always put its own interests first.

Even as we seek to deepen cooperation where our interests align, the United States is very clear eyed about the challenges posed by the PRC and about our competing visions for the future. America will always defend our core interests and values, he said.

Blinken says they also discussed what the White House considers unfair trade practices and responsible use of AI.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi of China on Friday following a meeting with Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the U.S. State Department.

Blinken, in his remarks, described the first meeting with Wang Yi as "extensive and constructive."

"The two sides had in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions about areas of difference as well as areas of cooperation as part of responsibly managing competition between the United States and the PRC," according to Spokesperson Matthew Miller of the U.S. State Department. "The Secretary discussed concerns about PRC support to the Russian defense industrial base, the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, PRC activities in the South China Sea, and the need to avoid further escalation in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula."

PHOTO: US China Blinken (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Following up on the Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi last November, Blinken and Wang Yi discussed "next steps on a range of commitments made by the two leaders on advancing cooperation on counternarcotics, military-to-military communication, talks on artificial intelligence risks and safety, and facilitating people-to-people exchanges," officials said.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. will continue to stand up for our interests and values and those of America's allies and partners, including on human rights and economic issues.

ABC News' Lauren Minore and Karson Yiu contributed to this report.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with President Xi of China originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
See inside a Boeing 727 salvaged from an aircraft 'graveyard' and converted into a lavish Airbnb that starts at $438 a night

An entrepreneur has converted a 56-year-old Boeing 727 into an Airbnb in Bristol, England.

Named PYTCHAir, the jet was bought without wings, engines, or a tail  but kept its lavish interior.

The Airbnb can host at least four people and is about $438 a night with a minimum two-night stay.

Most commercial airplanes end their life in aircraft "graveyards," where they are disassembled and discarded or recycled.

Some, however, are rescued by entrepreneurs and repurposed into everything from hotels and restaurants to dive sites and art installations.

The latest converted airplane is a 56-year-old Boeing 727 in Bristol, England, that's been repurposed as an Airbnb and is now owned by British-Australian businessman Johnny Palmer.

Known as PYTCHAir, the luxe jet is already getting bookings into May and June.

Palmer declined to share with BI the cost of the now colorfully painted aircraft but said he got a discount because the 727 didn't have wings, engines, or a tail.

With or without wings, the magic lives inside the plane, Palmer said. It has a lavish interior previously outfitted by an ultrawealthy owner. Palmer said he has since restored PYTCHAir into a livable space with a kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

"We've treated this as a restoration project rather than ripping everything out and changing it  and why would you?" he said. "It's beautiful; it's totally raw 1980s billionaire kitsch."

The Airbnb requires a minimum two-night stay and starts at 350 British pounds  or about $438  a night, so at least $876 for a two-night stay.

PYTCHAir started life as a commercial jet flying for Japan Airlines and defunct German leisure carrier Hapag-Lloyd Flug between 1968 and 1981.

People gather for the first view of the new Boeing 727 in Washington, which was developed for the short-to-medium haul market. -AFP/Getty Images

The Boeing 727 tri-jet is a rarity in the skies these days and is mostly used only by world militaries and cargo companies.

Iran Aseman Airlines was the last passenger carrier to operate a 727 when it flew two hours between the domestic cities of Zahedan and Tehran in 2019.

The plane was converted into a private jet in 1981 by an unknown owner. Palmer told BI the original cabin has an Arabian flare.

The original design as it was before Palmer purchased the plane. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said the interior design, including some of the shapes used, suggested that a Saudi family might have originally outfitted the plane.

The Airbnb listing described the interior as having "walnut paneling, gold details, and crystals" that "adorn this exquisite space ideal for nights away."

The plane jumped to a few more ultrawealthy owners before ending up wingless in a scrapyard in England, where Palmer bought it.

Johnny Palmer with the 727 in 2021. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The aircraft, which was just a fuselage, was acquired from Cotswold Airport in Kemble, England. The on-site "boneyard" breaks down old airliners and sells off the avionics and engines.

The airport is also home to a retired British Airways Boeing 747 that has been converted into a "party plane" for birthdays and other private events.

He was then faced with the task of moving the plane from Cotswold to its home in Bristol.

The aircraft was transported via motorway to Bristol. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said the plane was transported via the M5 motorway and required a police escort.

"They closed the motorway for us to go down," he said. "That was fine for us but not so good for the motorists stacked up behind."

Palmer said the high-class interior was left in its original configuration and that he brought in a car detailer to wash, polish, and vacuum.

This is the same living space previously pictured but after the sprucing up and renovations. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He said he spent "tens of thousands" of dollars to restore the interior, on top of the cost of the jet itself.

Palmer said if the aircraft-to-Airbnb conversion proves financially viable, he'd consider adding another converted airplane to his fleet.

But the lighting, sound, and plumbing needed work, he said.

Palmer said that a modern Boeing Business Jet of similar stature would cost at least $50 million. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

To get the jet up and running, Palmer said he repaired the lights, fitted the aircraft with a new sound system and high-speed internet, and replaced its 110-volt electrical system with a 240-volt one.

And he had to create a structure from shipping containers to hold the jet in place.

PYTCHAir is located at a multi-use facility called Skyline Park, which hosts the Airbnb and other spaces like a film set. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

According to PYTCHAir's website, the containers are stacked high to give the aircraft a sense of flying above the clouds. The company said the structure is "vastly over-engineered" and gets regular safety checks.

"Taking inspiration from the world of aviation, the tops of the shipping containers have been turned into a runway, and the rear air stairs open out onto a landing pad," PYTCHAir said.

Once fixed up, the plane operated as a multi-use space for things like parties and meetings before becoming a full-time Airbnb.

The bedroom inside the 727. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

Palmer said that PYTCHAir has been in operation for three years. Before it was turned into an Airbnb, it was previously used as a film set, a meeting space, and even for sleepovers with his wife and kids.

Palmer converted the 727 into an Airbnb earlier this year. It has a minimum two-night stay at about $438 per night  or around $876 for a two-night booking.

The nightly rate in British pounds is 350, with a two-night minimum. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He said he wanted to put the plane on Airbnb to share it with the world.

"The initial novel and weirdness of the aircraft has kind of worn off a little bit for me," Palmer said. "So, I thought now I can share it with more people and maybe get a few quid in for its running costs, maintenance, and ongoing improvements," he said, using British slang for money.

According to Palmer, the 727 can comfortably accommodate up to four people, but he said more can hypothetically fit.

Part of the kitchen area in the 727. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

He suggested people max their parties at four people to have the best experience in the space.

"I'm still refining the offering and getting the experience really, really good," Palmer said, noting that he may tweak the pricing. "This is something I'm passionate about."

The sleeping options include a separate bedroom with a king bed, a bunk bed, a pull-out couch, and a few sofas.

The main four sleeping areas. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The main four sleeping options are the king bed, the sofa, and the lower bunk in the crew rest area.

Aside from those, there's also a pull-out couch in one of the two lounges that's another sleeping option. And there's another couch in the main bedroom that could be slept on, he said.

However, the upper twin bed is particularly cramped due to the shape of the ceiling.

The curved ceiling obstructs the upper berth. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The cramped berth, which Palmer said is rarely ever used, is where the crew could sleep during flights when the 727 was still flying commercially.

The jet also features two main living spaces that can be used for lounging, working, or dining.

The couch doubles as a twin bed. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The living rooms have couches, tables, chairs, sound equipment, and televisions.

Palmer said he designed the televisions in the main lounge to double as mirrors.

There is no shortage of comfortable work and living space.

The main lounge inside the 727 Airbnb. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The 727 narrowbody offers some 70 feet of cabin length and 12 feet of width to work with, per Boeing specs.

There's also a kitchen on board, complete with a dishwasher, two ovens, and a small refrigerator.

The small kitchen comes nearly fully equipped. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

The kitchen is located toward the front of the plane, across from the crew rest beds, and behind the cockpit.

An ensuite bathroom and two half-baths make for a total of three toilets and one shower.

The shower and sink in the main bedroom. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

One communal bathroom is at the front of the aircraft next to the cockpit, one is mid-plane, and the more private third is attached to the bedroom and has a shower.

There are sinks and mirrors throughout the cabin.

Among the coolest spaces on the 727 is the cockpit, which Palmer said has some of the original lighting restored.

The cockpit has been left unchanged other than the restoration done on the lighting and systems. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

PYTCHAir wants to restore as much of the jet as possible, including its systems, avionics, and lights.

For those who don't want to stay overnight at PYTCHAir, Palmer said he welcomes visitors to see the plane during the day.

The plane is perched on storage containers to make it "fly." The fuselage was painted by artists Hasan Kamil, HazardOne, and Curtis Hylton. Courtesy of PYTCHAir

"I want to make it accessible, so anyone interested in seeing planes, especially little kids, can just send us a message, then we'll show them around and let them play and get selfies," he said.

Palmer's decked-out Boeing jet isn't the world's only scrapped plane given a second life. One 727-turned hotel lives in a jungle in Costa Rica.

Another 727 turned into a hotel is in Costa Rica. Courtesy of Hotel Costa Verde

A 727 in Quepos, Costa Rica, has been converted into the Hotel Costa Verde and features bedrooms, a kitchenette, a deck, and plenty of sitting space.

A giant Boeing 747 hostel-hotel complete with four engine rooms sits in Sweden.

The cockpit room at the JumboStay Hotel in Sweden. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

JumboStay sits next door to Arlanda Airport in Stockholm and features both dorm-style rooms and private rooms in the main cabin, the stairwell, and the engines.

Meanwhile, at least half a dozen old commercial planes have ended up in a deep grave as man-made diving sites.

A Boeing 737 sunken off the coast of Canada. Sea Proof TV

The sunken planes off the coast of countries including Bahrain, Canada, and Turkey promote diving tourism and include aircraft like an Airbus A300, a Boeing 737-200, and a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
DENVER (KDVR)  Gravel covered the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a tractor-trailer crashed near Kipling Street.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department said three lanes of eastbound I-70 were closed due to gravel spilled across the highway from the crash. The roadway has since been cleaned up and all lanes are open.

Police said two pickup trucks were also involved in the crash, but there were no major injuries reported.

Police: Driver hits person mistaken in prior altercation

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Arvada Fire Protection District)

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Wheat Ridge Police Department)

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Wheat Ridge Police Department)

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Arvada Fire Protection District)

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Wheat Ridge Police Department)

Gravel covered Interstate 70 Friday afternoon after a semi-truck crashed near Kipling Street. (Photo: Wheat Ridge Police Department)

According to WRPD, one pickup truck cut off the other pickup truck, causing it to spin out in front of the semi-trailer and causing the crash. The driver of the first pickup truck left the scene, according to police.

The semi-truck ended up overturned, which is when gravel spilled across the highway.

The Colorado Department of Transportation and Arvada Fire Protection District were on the scene working to clean up debris. WRPD said CDOT brought in bulldozers for the clean up effort.

It took nearly three hours for crews to clear the roadway of 45,000 pounds of gravel, according to police.

WRPD said an investigation is underway.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Editors Note: Rev. Dr. Serene Jones is president at Union Theological Seminary, a globally recognized seminary and graduate school of theology where faith, spirituality and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. The views expressed here are her own. Read more opinion on CNN.

Last Thursday, I listened in horror as sirens blared outside my office window at Union Theological Seminary. Hundreds of officers from the New York City Police Department flooded onto the campus of our neighbor, Columbia University, to forcibly remove more than 100 peaceful student protestors from an encampment. Students were gathered there calling for action in the ongoing war in Gaza, including demanding the university sever any ties with Israel.

Serene Jones - Union Theological Seminary

As the president of an institution with a 187-year legacy of leading on issues of justice and peace  where protesting is in our DNA  these events have shaken me to my core. I felt compelled to reach out to the community not just due to deeply held moral convictions, but due to strong principles of faith and spirituality.

In a community letter, I let our students, faculty and staff know that Union is an institution committed to being a safe haven for all  but especially our most vulnerable communities. And as an institution committed to academic freedom for deeply moral and spiritual reasons, we never silence voices of protest. We value these voices, even at times when that protest is against us.

Most importantly, I reminded our students that the aggressive police action being taken on other campuses across the country will not be taken here. As their president, I have their back.

In writing to our community, I had no intention of being radical or self-righteous. I was simply reminding the community of who we are  not only on days like last Thursday, but every day.

As the president of a higher education graduate school, the actions of my sister institutions tore me apart. Some of our students were also arrested while protesting. Instead of suspending or expelling them, we offered them care  as is our practice every day. We dont do everything perfectly, but we are committed to trying our best to engage in the messy work of justice and peace.

In the days that followed, we received several requests from the Columbia community. Faculty asked if they could teach suspended students (who were no longer allowed on their campus) at Union. Suspended Jewish students also asked if they could host a Passover seder on our campus on Monday evening this week.

Our response to all these requests was a resounding yes.

Unions small but mighty staff put tremendous effort into working out all the logistics so we could make this happen, and our wonderful students worked hard to set up our courtyard on Monday evening for a meaningful Passover seder. The service  led by Columbias Jewish students  restored for those of us present our sense of community. It was wonderful to see Unions diverse community of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and spiritual but not religious students congregate and share a meal with Columbias Jewish students. Together, they held a seder like those happening all over the world. There was prayer. There was quiet contemplation. There was laughter.

I, like so much of the rest of the world in this moment, yearn for more Mondays instead of Thursdays.

These experiences illuminate the core of the tragedy gripping so many corners of our country. The war has caused immense pain and turmoil among myriad groups for a host of different reasons. People are mourning the victims of Hamas attacks on Israel. People are agonizing over the death of tens of thousands of people in Gaza. People are grieving the loss of friends and family members overseas. People are grappling with antisemitism and Islamophobia.

But amidst all of that, people are just looking for a common humanity  a way to stop the pain and make a difference. A way to find solace, together.

Unfortunately, rather than seeking to understand one anothers perspectives and show empathy, many have claimed the moral high ground and attempted to quash any contrary opinions. University campuses have become battlegrounds.

Since the horrifying events of October 7 in Israel, our world has seemingly descended into chaos. As a faith leader, I, along with my Jewish siblings, am grieving all the lives lost that day to violence and those who have terrifyingly been taken hostage. Along with my Muslim siblings, I am also mourning the more than 32,000 Palestinian lives lost, according to health officials in Gaza, to this crushing war and an unfolding humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

I am deeply grieved that as a nation, our American community has become so divided by this war. It is ripping communities, campuses and even families apart.

We at Union struggle with it as well. Our community has diverse perspectives on the war. As an institution committed to the hard and messy work of advancing justice and peace, we have engaged in difficult community conversations led by our faculty. Our goal has not been to build consensus, but rather to create safe community spaces where we can center our shared values.

We are far from perfect. Were a historically Christian seminary  and Christians have been and continue to be the source of some of the most virulent forms of hatred and violence. We stand against this, with humility.

Whatever our differences, I firmly believe campuses must be places for lively, rigorous debate, where we struggle collectively to find better ways to live together on this planet, and where students have the chance to find and strengthen their voices. Education is to experience the power of collective action, to become a passionate, engaged citizen. These precious values do not flourish when protests are squashed. Democracy itself cannot flourish.

With the events that unfolded at Columbia last Thursday, we are seeing encampments of peaceful student protestors rise up on campuses across the country. While university leaders are under tremendous pressure to respond with full force, I hope this tide of intolerance can be turned towards our highest values  including a commitment to freedom of speech. Campuses should be spaces where we learn to build a better world, not a more destructive one.

In these precarious times, it is all the more important that these values be upheld. Please join us in the struggle to manifest these values. That, at its core, is what it means to be true educators.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
House Bill 1678 would create a two-year pilot program to reimburse 10 public schools that purchase food from New Hampshire farms. Here, an apple grows in an orchard in Unity. (Scott W. Baker | Getty Images)

Senators are considering creating a state-run farm to schools program to increase the amount of local produce that goes to school meals.

House Bill 1678 would create a two-year pilot program to reimburse 10 public schools that purchase food from New Hampshire farms. The program would cover purchases of dairy, fish, pork, beef poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, cider, and maple syrup, and would allow schools to buy from food hubs, distributors, or directly from farms.

Under the bill, schools would be reimbursed for 33 percent of what they spent. The state would spend $241,000 of general funds to fund the program.

The legislation passed the House earlier this month, 191-182, and is being considered now by the Senate Finance Committee.

Supporters of the bill say it would help support farms and local food systems while also boosting nutrition in New Hampshire schools. But opponents, who include many Republicans, say the state should not be spending its own dollars on the effort, pointing to a $559,000 federally funded program the state approved last year that serves more schools.

The bill would create a selection committee of people with knowledge of New Hampshire agriculture and school meal services, and would require that school districts apply to participate. Ten schools would qualify for the pilot program; the bill specifies there must be one from each county.

The committee would be required to select a group of schools with a diversity in size, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food to track the overall number of farms participating, the number of organic and sustainable farms that participate, and other metrics determined by the committee, and to provide a report every year to the Legislature.

Nikki Kolb, operations director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire, argued the bill would help farms and the rest of the state by strengthening local food production. And she said it would assist New England Feeding New England, a cross-state coalition of farms that is striving to get local farmers producing 30 percent of the regions food by 2030.

Over the last four years, weve seen how a largely import-based food economy can be affected by external conditions, leading to food insecurity, Kolb said in testimony to the House earlier this year.  If the pilot program goes well, it will set the stage for broader institutional purchasing in future years.

Rep. Dan McGuire, an Epsom Republican, countered that the state should not be spending so much money for just 10 school districts. He said the federally funded approach last year was more sustainable.

Theres better uses of general funds, he said at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

The post Senate weighs farm-to-school pilot program appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
An Oregon man faces a litany of criminal charges, potentially $13 million in fines, and the wrath of the states salmon advocates after a deplorable act of vandalism that left roughly 18,000 hatchery fish dead. On Tuesday, Joshua Heckathorn, of Gardiner, was arrested by deputies with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, who found him behind a locked gate at the Reedsport fish hatchery. Officials say Heckathorn broke into the hatchery, where he poured liquid bleach into one of four rearing ponds that held thousands of young salmon destined for local rivers. When hatchery workers arrived to assess the damages, they counted 17,890 dead Chinook salmon fry, according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency says the mass poaching event represents a significant loss to the states Salmon Trout Enhancement Program, which helps improve the fisheries in Oregons rivers by rearing and stocking hatchery salmon to offset declines in wild fish returns. The fish that Heckathorn poisoned earlier this week would have contributed to the Umpqua Rivers fall Chinook run, according to ODFW. A hatchery volunteer pours a pile of dead salmon fry into a tote. Photograph courtesy Gardiner Reedsport Winchester Bay STEP The loss is a blow to Oregons salmon fishermen. Its also devastating for the hard-working volunteers and fisheries biologists who helped raise the fish. These salmon advocates have witnessed other hatchery catastrophes wrought by floods, power outages, and the like, but they have a hard time understanding the reasoning behind Heckathorns actions. When nature does something [like this], its crushing. But its nature and it happens, local STEP president Deborah Yates said on Thursday. But when someone comes in and does something like this, you cant wrap your head around it. We have so many hours wrapped up in those fish. To have someone come in so cavalier, and kill them, it doesnt make sense. The CCSO says Heckathorn admitted to trespassing on the property and handling the chemical bottle when confronted by deputies. He was taken to the Douglas County Jail and booked on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief. The sheriffs office is now collaborating with ODFW and the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division. Read Next: Poachers Caught with 71 Fish Stuffed in Their Backpacks, Including Trophy Bass Because of the sheer number of fish that died, the poaching charge of unlawful take of Chinook salmon was elevated to a felony. Heckathorn also faces misdemeanor charges of making a toxic substance available to wildlife and criminal mischief. Additional damage suits could be filed as well, ODFW explains, and Heckathorn could have his fishing privileges suspended for life. The real kicker is the fines and restitution costs, as Oregon imposes a maximum civil penalty of $750 for the illegal take of a single Chinook salmon. If courts multiply that amount by the number of fish Heckathorn poisoned  which they are authorized to do  the total fines could amount to more than $13 million. OSP sergeant Levi Harris says this is unlikely, but that doesnt mean the vandal will get off easy. The killing of these fish is a real blow to the STEP Program volunteers, ODFW, fishermen, and the community as a whole, Harris said. In my 25 years as a game warden, this is one of the most senseless acts I have ever seen.

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If you have noticed a lingering spot somewhere on your skin, it would be wise not to dismiss it, especially if theres something unusual about its appearance. Over the past three decades, rates of melanoma skin cancer have more than doubled in the UK, a trend that looks set to continue.

With baking summers starting to become the norm, UK cancer specialists predict there could be 26,500 new cases of melanoma every year by 2038. At present, Cancer Research UK estimates that around 16,700 Brits are diagnosed with melanoma on an annual basis, which works out at around 46 cases per day.

Were seeing more cases because people are just travelling a lot more to warmer climates, says Susanna Daniels, the CEO of UK-based charity Melanoma Focus. And in recent years weve been having these hotter spells in this country.

Its the short, sharp shock of sunburn, which is the highest risk factor, especially in fair-skinned people, says Dr Rowland Payne, consultant dermatologist at Devonshire Dermatology, who has had many crowned heads in his consultant rooms.

Particularly in people who have a little bit of red colouring, for example, if you have red or auburn hair, then thats a particularly susceptible colouring for melanoma.

A friend of the Duchess of Yorks commented that this is close to home, as her father had a melanoma when he died, but added: Sarah is very resilient.

There is a slight genetic susceptibility between breast cancer, melanoma and colon cancer. Some patients can have all three conditions in the same family, says Dr Rowland Payne.

It makes sense in such patients to have a colonoscopy, and, in the right age group, mammograms, and to have a total skin examination from time to time.

According to Cancer Research UK, 86 per cent of all melanoma cases are preventable. Experts like Daniels say that they could be entirely avoided by following sensible precautions such as staying in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and wearing a broad-rimmed sunhat and UV-protected sunglasses.

Suncream needs to be at least factor 30, with a four- or five-star rating. This rating is a measure of how much UVA  ultraviolet rays from the sun, which are capable of penetrating deep into the skin and damaging cells  the suncream is blocking.

Its important to reapply suncream, particularly if youve been swimming or youve been out, because your clothes can rub it off, says Daniels. So we recommend that you reapply every couple of hours.

The primary thing is prevention of sunburn, agrees Dr Rowland Payne, and reporting anything that changes. If your child has many moles, and theres a family history of melanoma, it might be worth a visit to the dermatologist in the teenage years.

So what exactly does a melanoma look like, and how does it develop? Read on.

Spotting melanoma

What are the subtypes of melanoma?

There are four main subtypes of melanoma, with superficial spreading melanoma  which starts off by growing along the top layer of the skin  being the most common. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, this accounts for 70 per cent of all cases.

The second most common is nodular melanoma, which represents around 15 per cent of cases, and is often described as the most aggressive form of the disease as it grows faster than the other melanoma subtypes. It is more common in over 65s and people of a light complexion and tends to look like a bump or flat lesion which rises above the skins surface and is firm to the touch.

Lentigo maligna melanomas accounts for somewhere between 4 and 15 per cent of cases. They usually form on the face, ears or neck of people with sun-damaged skin, often causing a blotchy appearance, and sometimes tend to be confused with more benign skin damage. They evolve much more slowly than other forms of melanoma, says Christian Aldridge, a consultant dermatologist, and medical advisor for the charity Melanoma UK. This presents as an enlarging, asymmetrical lesion with areas of black pigment within brown patches.

Acral melanoma is the most common melanoma in people of black or Asian ethnicities. It appears on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or under fingernails or toenails. As a result it is often not spotted until a much later stage. Its not easy to see from a patients perspective, and due to the delay, it has the worst prognosis of them all, says Aldridge. It is characterised by a distinct difference in colour to the surrounding skin, and can often be confused for a stain or bruise.

The most common non-melanoma skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing skin cancer that does not tend to spread. Other non-melanoma skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas and Merkel cell carcinomas are more serious than basal cell carcinoma because they have the ability to spread to the lymph nodes and other organs.

Non-melanoma skin cancers can appear as non-healing scabs or pinkish skin growths, says Dr Jenny Nobes, a clinician at private healthcare provider GenesisCare. While basal cell carcinoma does not tend to be lethal, it does need treatment at an early stage to increase the chances of cure and minimise the cosmetic and functional impact of treatment.

The treatment for most non-melanoma skin cancers tends to be relatively straightforward. Just a simple surgery will take care of them, says Adil Daud, director of melanoma clinical research at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Francisco. You dont often need to go to systemic treatment with immunotherapy to take care of a basal or squamous cell cancer.

How does melanoma develop?

Melanoma develops when cells called melanocytes  which produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its colour  mutate and start to multiply uncontrollably. In the vast majority of cases, these mutations occur as a consequence of damage from ultraviolet light radiation, but in 1-2 per cent of cases, these mutations have been directly inherited from the individuals parents at birth.

Melanoma is more common in women under 50 than men, and it remains one of the most common cancer for women of that age group, alongside breast cervix and thyroid. However in later life, the prevalence switches. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, men aged 65 are twice as likely to get melanoma, while men aged 80 are three times as likely to develop the cancer.

Detecting it early before the cancer has spread deeper into the skin is crucial. According to the Cleveland Clinic, melanomas have a 99 per cent cure rate if caught in the earliest stages.

If primary melanomas are caught early, then patients tend to have very good outcomes, says Professor Chris Bakal of the Institute of Cancer Research in London. If it hasnt spread, and its caught at the earliest stage, then cure rates lie between 80 and 100 per cent, usually just by surgery without the need for chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

What does a melanoma look like?

Jenny Nobes points out that they can range greatly in size, shape, thickness, colour and location on the body, although there are some general trends.

Classically, melanomas would appear as a dark or pigmented spot on the skin, says Nobes. However they can sometimes present as pink, flat areas where the diagnosis is not immediately obvious. They usually occur in sun-exposed skin but can also occur in parts of the body which are usually covered up, as well as under fingernails or toenails and in the eye.

Susanna Daniels says that overall, men and women tend to get melanomas in different areas. For men theyre more likely to get them on their trunk, perhaps due to sun damage from walking around with no top on, she says. And for women its more likely on their legs.

Melanoma experts refer to what is known as the ABCD rule  where A stands for Asymmetry, B for Border Irregularity, C for Colour and D for Diameter  when it comes to identifying whether a spot or discoloration on the skin might be cancerous.

If one side is much bigger than the other then thats asymmetry, says Daud. If the border is broken in some places or the colour is very different  either a lot lighter or darker  than the other moles you have on your body, then those are warning signs. Finally when it comes to the size, most moles should not be larger than half a centimetre, like the size of a pencil eraser. If its bigger than that, you should probably have it seen by a dermatologist.

Because early detection is so critical, doctors urge patients to seek medical attention for anything they might be concerned about. Melanomas normally present as a pigmented brown or black lesion, says Christian Aldridge. They start off small and round but with time there is uneven, cancerous growth leading to these ABCD changes. The advice to patients is to report any change. 90 per cent of the time its something benign, but we have to cast the net wide in order to catch those melanomas.

How to tell a mole from melanoma?

According to Aldridge, people should not get too concerned about existing moles on their body turning into something cancerous, as this happens relatively rarely.

75 per cent of melanomas arise from normal-looking skin, and only 25 per cent arise from a pre-existing mole, he says.

Harmless moles also stay largely the same in appearance over time and blend in with your normal skin pigmentation. Adil Daud says that whether something is rapidly changing in size is another indication that it might be malignant.

Moles tend to have a fairly uniform colour and if you look at the ones you have on your body or face, many might have increased over the years, but you shouldnt see a mole thats growing month on month, he says. If you see something thats changing over the course of a few months, its a sign that it needs to come out.

You can read more about how to spot dangerous moles in our how-to guide.

What are the symptoms of skin cancer that has spread?

As melanoma invades deeper into the skin, it begins to ulcerate and bleed. If a lesion or spot on the skin is becoming painful and bleeding, this is one of the warning signs that a melanoma is becoming more advanced.

The bleeding allows tumour cells to seed into the blood and the skin drainage system known as the lymphatic system, says Aldridge. This is serious because melanoma can then spread via two mechanisms  to local lymph nodes or via the blood to any other organ of the body, for example the liver, lungs and the brain.

Nobes explains that patients who have been diagnosed with skin cancer will receive an examination, sometimes accompanied by scans. Patients with very thin melanomas  a thickness of less than 1mm  usually have excellent long-term survival with surgery alone, she says. The survival rate worsens for patients with very thick melanomas which have spread to local lymph glands.

Patients with thicker melanomas, often referred to as Stage 2 melanoma, will receive a small operation known as a sentinel lymph node biopsy, where a lymph node is removed for analysis to help assess the spread.

Aldridge explains that melanoma treatments have improved markedly over the past 15 years, with molecular testing enabling doctors to identify genetic mutations in the melanoma which make it susceptible for targeted therapies. As a result, immunotherapies are now being used to treat Stage 2 melanomas which have not yet metastasised or spread to other organs.

Stage 3 and 4 melanomas are cases where the cancer has spread to multiple organs. Bakal explains that the symptoms will depend heavily on where the melanoma has ended up. When metastatic cells move to other parts of the body, theyre invading those tissues and shutting down their function, he says. So if they reach the liver, it will stop working, or if they reach the brain, the patient will have neurological symptoms.

The current five-year survival rates for stage 3 melanoma are 70 per cent, and 30 per cent for stage 4 melanoma, although both are improving all the time with advances in treatments. The drugs which have made the biggest differences are forms of immunotherapy called checkpoint inhibitors, as well as BRAF and MEK inhibitors which target particular genetic forms of the disease. These drugs all act to shrink the tumours and can keep them under control for long periods of time.

In years to come, further improvements are likely, trials are already underway on the worlds first personalised cancer vaccines which use a technology called messenger RNA. This can be used to deliver a treatment which has been cultivated based on the exact genetic code of that patients tumour. Moderna and Merck currently have a personalised cancer vaccine in clinical trials for advanced melanoma patients.

Ive been working in this field for 15 years and weve gone from a time when somebody with metastatic melanoma had maybe six to nine months of survival time, to an average of six to seven years, says Adil Daud. Thats an enormous difference.

Can I cut my risk?

As well as staying out of the sun, there is also some emerging evidence that taking vitamin D supplements may help reduce your risk of melanoma. Earlier this year, a Finnish study showed that adults at a higher risk of skin cancer who took vitamin D tablets, were less likely to get the disease.

Being deficient in vitamin D has been associated with thicker melanomas at diagnosis, and people are also more likely to suffer a recurrence of their cancer, says Susanna Daniels. We suggest taking the recommended dose, which is 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements a day.

For people with either a family history of melanoma, a fair skin tone or past use of indoor sunbeds, it is especially important to be vigilant.

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DHAKA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A Bangladeshi foreign ministry spokesperson Thursday denounced the U.S. State Department's 2023 Human Rights Report released recently, saying the report mostly relied on assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations.

"Some of the inherent and evident biases in the reporting pattern are quite evident," spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said at a press briefing at the foreign ministry here.

She said the allegations were drawn from local and international non-government organizations (including anonymous sources), many of which are supported by the U.S. government or related entities, the national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.

"On the other hand, isolated and unfounded allegations continue to be flagged as part of a systematic trend," she added.

The Bangladeshi government has been doing its best to uphold human rights of its citizens, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, human rights situation has significantly improved in Bangladesh, she continued.

As usual, the U.S. report wrongfully characterized lawful actions taken by the law enforcement authorities in the country to restore social order, the spokesperson said. 
Residents at a Fort Worth nursing home suffered multiple abuses last year, including two residents who were sexually assaulted by their peers, one resident who left the nursing home and whose whereabouts were unknown for four days, and one woman whose fall at the nursing home later led to her death, according to reports from state inspectors.

These incidents and others moved the federal government to add the home  Trail Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation  to the Special Focus Facility list. The designation makes the Fort Worth facility, at 7100 Trail Lake Drive, one of 88 in the nation singled out for additional scrutiny because of a history of serious quality issues, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The nursing home is managed by Trinity Healthcare, a Fort Worth-based company that operates 25 nursing homes in Texas, according to its website.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the nursing home said although the facility had been added to the Special Focus Facility list, it maintains a commendable four-star quality measure rating based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services five-star quality rating.

This rating underlines our commitment to resident care and quality outcomes. Our inclusion on the Special Focus Facility list is due to not meeting specific criteria in the past, the statement read. We are fully committed to promptly and comprehensively addressing these issues.

The nursing homes overall rating is one star out of five, according to the ratings program.

In the last three years, the nursing home has been fined more than $177,000. The home, which has 120 beds, averages about 61 residents per day, according to the federal government.

A string of inspections in 2023 identified serious safety issues for residents.

 In August, a man with ALS was assaulted after he was temporarily moved to new room for a wound care exam. The man was supposed to have a communication device with him at all times to communicate effectively with staff and others, according to an investigation completed later. After the mans wound exam was completed, he was left alone in the room with his new roommate, who molested him. Without his communication device, the patient couldnt alert anyone as he was being touched. A certified nursing assistant even interrupted the assault by walking into the room, according to the report, but the patient was unable to tell her what had just happened without his communication device.

 Two months later, in October, a different patient was assaulted by her roommate. The two were in a consensual romantic relationship at the time, according to the states report. The woman yelled for help and told her roommate that he was hurting her leg as he assaulted her, according to the report. Trail Lakes spokesperson said in an email that the nursing home had developed a plan to improve our response in any future situations, which was reviewed and accepted by the state regulators.

 In June, a resident fell while at the nursing home, and the facility failed to immediately inform the physician and the residents representative. The womans injury resulted in her developing a subdural hematoma which ultimately resulted in her death.

 And in February, a resident left the facility during freezing cold temperatures, and his whereabouts were unknown for four days. The resident was found in stable health and chose not to return to the facility, Trail Lakes spokesperson said.

Nursing homes across the nation are facing additional scrutiny over their health and safety standards in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shoigu says Russia and allies should step up military exercises in Asia

ASTANA (Reuters) - Russia and its allies in Asia should expand joint military exercises as they face a direct threat from attempts by the United States to expand its security influence in the region, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security grouping that includes Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

"I believe that everyone present shares the opinion that the deployment of military infrastructure in the region by the United States and its allies is unacceptable," Shoigu said.

"Such intentions must be regarded as a direct threat to stability in the SCO space."

SCO member states should expand the scope and geography of their military exercises, he told the meeting in the Kazakh capital Astana.

His speech highlighted Russia's intention to strengthen military ties with partners in Asia and resist any erosion of its influence there despite the intense demands on its army of the war it has been fighting for more than two years in Ukraine.

At home, Shoigu's position is under greater-than-usual scrutiny after the arrest of one of his deputies this week in a bribery scandal, a development that threatens to weaken him politically.

In his speech, he accused the US-led QUAD and AUKUS blocs of trying to reshape the security structure in the Pacific to suit themselves, and said that increasing pressure was being exerted on China over Taiwan.

Shoigu said the main threat in Central Asia came from "radical terrorist groups located in Afghanistan". He said the United States was working to restore influence in the region that it lost after the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for killing more than 140 people at a concert hall near Moscow last month, and the United States said it was the group's Afghan network that planned the attack. Shoigu repeated Russia's assertion that Ukraine was behind it, an allegation that Kyiv has denied and Washington says is nonsense.

In Ukraine, Shoigu said foreign advisers were helping Kyiv prepare acts of sabotage on Russian territory, and that Ukraine was using Western weapons to attack Russian civilian infrastructure. He did not provide evidence to back up his assertions.

(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Whats happening

A wave of pro-Palestinian protests has spread to college campuses across the country, prompting some schools to call in the police to break up the demonstrations and adding more fuel to a heated debate over free speech rights in higher education.

Tensions over how universities have handled protests against Israels ongoing assault on Gaza have simmered for months, but they've reached a boiling point in the past week as student demonstrators have leaned into a new, more disruptive tactic: Setting up encampments on college campuses.

The first encampment to draw national attention was at Columbia University in New York City, where more than 100 protesters were arrested last week after administrators called in police to break up a Gaza Solidarity Encampment that had emerged on the schools South Lawn. The camp was quickly reassembled and is still in place. Columbia has since closed its campus to all non-students and switched to hybrid instruction for the remainder of the semester.

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Similar encampments have been established at dozens of colleges from coast to coast. Officers in riot gear moved in to disband camps on a number of campuses over the past few days, making hundreds of arrests and in some cases clashing with protesters.

On top of protesting the Israel-Hamas war, which has led to the deaths of an estimated 34,000 people in Gaza, some of the student groups behind these encampments say the protests are specifically aimed at convincing their universities to end their financial relationships that support Israel. While the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, there have been some isolated reports of intimidation, physical confrontations and open antisemitism within the camps.

Why theres debate

While its impossible to separate the debate over these encampments from broader disagreements about the war itself, universities are still stuck with the much more specific question of what to do when a group of students sets up camp on their campuses.

Many activists, left-leaning politicians and political commentators have condemned the use of law enforcement to break up largely peaceful protests, arguing that it violates the students free speech rights and will only serve to heighten the risk of serious clashes. Calling in police enforcement on nonviolent demonstrations of young students on campus is an escalatory, reckless, and dangerous act, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on social media.

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In their eyes, universities should give students ample space to express their discontent while reserving any punishments for individuals who engage in actual violence or overt hate speech.

But others say colleges have a duty to prevent a small subset of their student bodies from disrupting campus activities for everyone else. They argue that administrators must take firm action to stamp out protests that interfere with classes, activities or make others  particularly Jewish students  feel unsafe.

This view is especially prominent among conservatives, who widely view any criticism of Israel as inherently antisemitic and often mischaracterize all pro-Palestinian demonstrators as supporters of Hamas. Some Republicans have even called for schools to call in the National Guard to squash the encampments, despite the deadly history that proposal invokes.

Whats next

With encampments being established at more colleges every day, there are open questions at numerous schools over whether theyll be able to hold their upcoming commencement ceremonies or  like the University of Southern California  be compelled to cancel the events.

Perspectives

Harsh crackdowns will only lead to bigger, more contentious protests

Its becoming increasingly clear that Columbia Universitys attempt to shut down protests has only brought them more attention  and spread the movement to different universities. If police crackdowns continue, the pictures and heavy-handed actions could echo protests over the Vietnam War decades ago, including at Columbia.  Hafiz Rashid, New Republic

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Administrators should shut the camps down or schools should find new leaders who will

The liberal elites who run these institutions seem to lack the moral self-confidence to stand up to these student bullies. College presidents have to take charge, restore order and protect Jewish students, or the trustees should fire them and find someone who will.  Editorial, Wall Street Journal

Protesters cant be allowed to stop a college from functioning

This isnt an act of God  another pandemic  thats impeding Columbias mission. Columbia and others have kneecapped themselves by failing to do their most important job  provide a stable, nurturing learning environment.  Editorial, Chicago Tribune

Schools should root out the bad actors, but let everyone else express themselves freely

There is a simple solution to the student protests at Columbia University and a growing number of other campuses over the Israel-Hamas war: universities should enforce their own student conduct codes and only ask for police help when a crime has been committed.  Shan Wu, Daily Beast

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Whether you agree with the protesters view or not, they have every right to express them

The right to criticize government  is not a mere aspect of the First Amendment, it is its very reason for being. The freedom to protest American foreign policy decisions is exactly what the First Amendment is all about.  Juan P. Villasmil, The Hill

Camps need to be snuffed out before they can grow too big to handle

From the moment that students invade a space for an unauthorized protest  from the instant the first stake is planted  security should be sent in and the students should face arrest and expulsion. A functional university cannot allow a tent city to be a permanent fixture on campus. This means that, at some point, any encampment will have to be cleared out. But clearing it out at the beginning is much easier and requires much less force.  Philip Klein, National Review

Universities are where Americans express their discontent with those in power

From the Vietnam War to apartheid South Africa, universities have been important places for open discussion and disagreement about government policies, the historical record, structural racism and settler colonialism. They have also long served as sites of protest.  Paula Chakravartty and Vasuki Nesiah, New York Times

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Acts of violence cant be the only thing that prompts a strong response

It is a frequent category error to imagine that such protests should be tolerated so long as they are nonviolent.  Protests need to be stopped not only when they become violent but also when they interfere with the ability of others to use the campus for their own purposes.  Keith E. Whittington, Chronicle of Higher Education

Its naive to pretend that theres no harm being done by these demonstrations

To allow such protests to go on  under the guise of the First Amendment is to gaslight observers about the seriousness of these events and to callously ignore rampant antisemitism, which obviously had been festering even before the awful attacks on Israel in October.  Nicole Russell, USA Today
Shut down the asylum system until we figure out what the hell is going on

How incredibly tolerant weve been, led to believe our security measures are robust, yet the mainstream media remains silent, they wont speak about it and the political class are seemingly indifferent.

But the truth is laid bare day by day. Indeed, just yesterday we heard that Ahmed Alid, a Moroccan migrant who had been in the asylum system for more than three years was found guilty of murdering a pensioner in Hartlepool in revenge for Israels actions in Gaza. And this is not the only case of violence.

Take, for example, Abdul Ezedi, the asylum seeker who earlier this year attacked a woman and her two daughters with alkaline in Clapham. Or the Liverpool Womens Hospital bomber in 2021, whod had his asylum claim rejected. Or Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, who posed as a teenager to enter the UK in 2019, claimed asylum and was sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing 21-year-old Thomas Roberts to death in March 2022.

So many cases, its odd that nobody seems willing to speak out. The establishment would rather discuss anything else than confront the reality that we are allowing into our country not only individuals from different cultures but also those with identities that make it difficult to verify their claims. It is as if some of these individuals toss their records into the English Channel as soon as they are within 12 miles of our shore.

Despite the cases, however, anyone who dares to point out these issues is immediately branded as racist. But it is time we prioritised the interests of our own citizens above those who abuse our system  a system that now seems wide open to anyone from around the world.

Our leaders have lost any sense of moral courage, any notion of standing up for what is right, and any adherence to British values. I doubt they, or any of their allies in the establishment will acknowledge this. They are more separated, more divided from the general public opinion on this issue than on anything else in my lifetime. People across the country are furious; they are worried and concerned. They feel they cannot even express their opinions without being condemned.

The case of Ahmed Alid is just one in a very long list of individuals who should have been deported long ago. Let us hope that in the upcoming general election, issues like this can be discussed openly, clearly, and plainly. After all, who in their right mind would not prioritise the safety of their own citizens?

If necessary, that means shutting down the process until we can accurately vet these people, and properly deter those who wish to come here illegally.

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People sit as they wait at the Incheon Medical Center in Incheon

People sit as they wait at the Incheon Medical Center in Incheon

By Hyunsu Yim and Daewoung Kim

INCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - Hospitals in South Korea's smaller cities are struggling with a lack of physicians, as a nationwide strike of trainee doctors

enters its third month in protest against plans to tackle the shortage by boosting medical school admissions.

Seoul, the capital, boasts top-level hospitals, but smaller cities are starved of doctors in a trend experts say will only get worse as the population ages at one of the world's fastest rates, while birthrates are the lowest in the world.

"Our artificial kidney room was closed for almost two years because we didn't have a doctor and we couldn't find one  but this is a national phenomenon," said Cho Seung-yeon, director of the Incheon Medical Center in the port city.

The shortage is at the heart of government plans to add thousands of medical school students from next year that face stiff opposition from trainee doctors and some medical groups who doubt it will improve poor working conditions.

South Korea has 2.6 doctors for every 1,000 people, one of the lowest rates among developed countries, according to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In contrast, top-ranked Austria has 5.5 for every 1,000 people.

"I hope the number of doctors will increase in the future, due to our rapidly ageing society which means more and more people will visit hospitals," said Yoo Byung-seon, 66, one of those being treated in the Incheon hospital.

Because it cannot find staff, the hospital's cardiology department has resorted to using roving doctors from a nearby university hospital, Cho added.

In a complaint this week the Korea Medical Association, a leading critic of the government's reforms, accused Cho and another staffer of breaking the law by using unlicensed personnel for some medical procedures.

Cho denies those claims, a hospital spokesperson told Reuters.

Medical interns and resident doctors who began their strike late in February say they are underpaid and overworked, conditions the government must tackle before adding more physicians.

Cho acknowledged that policies must also change to ensure the new doctors work in underserved areas and dont just gravitate back to Seoul, but adding practitioners was a necessary first step.

The prolonged strike will only hurt physician assistants who often perform some of a doctor's duties though without the same protection, said Choi Hee-sun, president of the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union.

"It's only doctors who say there is no shortage of doctors," she said, faulting both the government and the striking doctors for early failures to strike up dialogue, where stalemate persists.

Medical outcomes can vary widely outside the capital, where government figures show there were 4.82 active doctors for every 1,000 people in 2022, compared to Incheon's equivalent of 2.65.

The city racked up South Korea's highest rate of avoidable deaths, an indicator of healthcare quality, at 51.49 per 100,000 people in 2021, while the corresponding rate for Seoul was 38.56, health ministry figures show.

One 82-year-old woman who spent a month in hospital Incheon, Yoon Geum-ja, said she was satisfied with the healthcare system now, but added, "I'm worried there wont be many doctors around in future."

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Josh Smith and Clarence Fernandez)
The Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue (SCVSAR) is a non-profit organization that typically has 500 volunteers on hand. But as we head into the organizations busy season, it is down 60 people, which means added work on the present volunteers.

Theres more missions and less volunteers, Board President Mike Loney told KIRO Newsradio.

Why are volunteer numbers down?

I dont know specifically, other than this day and age theres a lot of things that people can be into, and are interested in that compete for their attention. And the other reason is, we are bound by state laws about training thats required by volunteers to be in search and rescue, he responded.

Lets talk about that. If someone wants to reach out and volunteer, what do they have to go through before they can go out in the field and begin missions?

The first thing we expect them to do is come to one of our unit meetings, were divided into sub-units. And there they will meet some of the current members. They have to attend a meeting with the sheriffs office who oversees our search and rescue missions. And they give them an orientation of what they expect of volunteers, Loney answered.

And then once youve done those two things, you would then have a background check by the sheriffs department, cant have convicted felons. And when you pass that, then you are a member of the search and rescue. But at that point, youre not able to go out in the field yet. Because theres quite a bit of training mandated that you have to have and before we will let you go out on a mission, he continued.

Loney added that people start and then drop off.

I do know we have a significant amount of people who start the process, and then they dont follow through when they realize just how much training is required, he said. The good news is we provide all the training thats required through the organization to the new members at no fee.

Whats the timeline for getting all of this done?

Its probably closer to two months, thats because the unit meetings are once a month, and then a sheriff meeting is once a month. Theres a real urgency here because as were stepping into spring already, you want to have these folks ready to go, he said.

What do you think is driving the increase in missions lately?

I think a lot is driven by the social media craze. Theres several Facebook hiking groups that have several 100,000 members now. But the other driver thats not so well known is the population is aging. And theres significantly more calls in suburban settings where were looking for dementia, Alzheimers, that sort of person who wanders away and doesnt have the mental capacity to know where they are and what theyre doing and be safe, Loney explained.

With the aging population, more people are living longer. So theres more people drifting into Alzheimers and dementia. And financially a lot of people cant afford to put them in care facilities. A lot of these people are caring for them at home, and its hard on them to be aware of them 24/7, he continued.

What is the hot spot, or busiest area in Snohomish County?

Heather Lake, Lake 22 area definitely gets a lot of calls. Theres a lot of people in those places. Thats another great contrast for me. When I first moved here in 2000, and you go to Lake 22, there would be 15-20-30 cars, and now on a weekend, there could be a couple 100 cars parked up and down the highway. And the sheriffs out there writing tickets, Loney said.

Anything else?

Theres a number of volunteer positions you can do, like we have a food truck. So you never go in the field in some of these positions, because some people cant or dont want to be bushwhacking through swamps and mountainsides. So there are plenty of jobs for volunteers, like running the radios in the command posts, running the maps and making plans, cooking food and things like that. So there are other things for people to do within SAR that dont necessarily have to be super fit and ready to go out in the woods, he added.

If you would like to volunteer, head to SCVSRs website.

This story originally appeared at mynorthwest.com.
The collapse of the Scottish coalition government was inevitable from the moment the Greens threatened to withdraw in protest at a watering down of net-zero targets. The SNP First Minister Humza Yousaf pulled the plug on the pact ahead of an expected vote by his partners to do the same. He now proposes to run Scotland with a minority government but might not even be able to do that. The Conservatives have tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf and he will need to rely on his opponents  including, crucially, Alex Salmonds Alba Party  to stay in office.

While it has said that it will back the Tory motion, Labour may be disappointed to see his departure, since disarray in the SNP is its best chance of picking up seats at the general election. A revival in Scotland will be critical to the size of Sir Keir Starmers overall Commons majority and his party may not wish to see Mr Yousaf replaced by a more effective leader like Kate Forbes. The Conservatives, on the other hand, want to stop Labour winning Westminster seats, so it suits them for the SNP to be the main bulwark against an improvement of the partys fortunes in Scotland.

They would like to see Mr Yousaf replaced before the election by a more capable SNP leader able to counter Labour.

The SNP has long experience running minority governments, both under Mr Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. But they were infinitely more sure-footed than the current leader. Beyond the political machinations are serious policy issues that have led to the breach with the Greens. It should be remembered that, when it comes to choosing a new government both in Scotland and the UK, Labour is also wedded to many similar Left-wing ideas.

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RIGA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The vessel Le Bellot from French cruise company Ponant called at the Port of Riga Thursday, marking the beginning of this year's cruise season in Latvia.

During the cruise season from April to December, a total of 67 cruise ship calls are scheduled for the Port of Riga, five more than the number last year, the Freeport of Riga Authority said on its website Friday.

German cruise company Aida, which suspended its trips to Riga when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, is returning to the Latvian capital this year, the port authority said.

"We are among the most highly rated destinations in the Baltic Sea region. Many cruise lines note a high level of passenger satisfaction after visiting Riga, which is reflected in guest surveys," said Jelena Burdastova, the representative of the Freeport of Riga Authority.

"Cruise passengers appreciate Riga's tourism products, including UNESCO heritage, cultural and historical gems, local food and beverages, as well as the port's excellent location close to the Old Town," Burdastova added.

In 2023, the Port of Riga welcomed 81,681 cruise passengers, up 7.9 percent from the previous season. Most of the tourists arriving on cruise ships were from Germany, the United States and the United Kindom.


Former first lady Melania Trump turned 54 on Friday and her husband, Donald Trump, shared a birthday greeting from the New York courthouse where his hush money trial is currently taking place.

His statement was chock-full of the love, warmth and romance that people naturally associate with the ex-president.

I want to start by wishing my wife, Melania, a very happy birthday, Donald Trump told reporters outside the courtroom.

It would be nice to be with her, but Im at a courthouse for a rigged trial. Its a rigged trial. Terrible. But were doing very well in this rigged trial.

Trump claims he would be with Melania for her birthday but he has to be in court pic.twitter.com/fZqmEK166G  Acyn (@Acyn) April 26, 2024

The 2024 presidential candidates message to his wife touched the hearts of many people on X, formerly Twitter, who were obviously jealous of the love shared between the couple.

BREAKING: Trump gives Melania the best gift she has ever received https://t.co/uS3tQsoyls  Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) April 26, 2024

Trump truth socialed saying he would debate President Biden tonight. Hes already forgotten hes supposed to be heading back to Florida after court for his wifes birthday. #NotFitForOfficehttps://t.co/Cq7llVsUet  MY BODY, MY CHOICE (@votebluu) April 26, 2024

Some noted the irony of his birthday greeting to Melania Trump given that Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, two women at the center of the trial, have said that they had affairs with Trump  claims that he has denied.

She could join him in the courtroom. Or he could have avoided other women. There were and are other options. https://t.co/4EHpe8Slie  Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) April 26, 2024

Someone should ask him who he was married to when he paid the hush money at the heart of this trial to 2 women with whom he had affairs. https://t.co/9Mn4QrkbS4  Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) April 26, 2024

Trump also claims he never met Stormy Daniels and he got more votes than Biden in 2020. This claim has no more validity than those. https://t.co/0fZSilhQ8h  Rebekah, Caffeinated Crone  (@RebekahWriter) April 26, 2024

Related...
The lower house of the German parliament has passed a legislative package aimed at promoting solar energy through a wide range of measures.

The package was passed by the Bundestag on Friday and now goes to the state-based upper house, the Bundesrat.

Julia Verlinden, parliamentary leader for the Greens, one of three parties in the ruling coalition, described the measures as a "booster" for renewables. They include easing restrictions on solar panels designed for installation on balconies.

A measure to promote German-produced solar technology was blocked by the liberal FDP, the third party in the coalition. The aim was to undercut considerably cheaper solar modules imported from China.

Nina Scheer, a member of the Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the largest coalition partner, said she regretted that this measure had not been included. Germany should not be dependent on China, she said.

The German government is aiming for 80% of electricity to be generated by renewables by 2030, by contrast with the current figure of more than 50%. The country has shut down its nuclear power station fleet and coal is rapidly being phased out.
A Massachusetts man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Thursday in the drowning death of his father, who died during an attempted exorcism in 2021.

Jack Callahan, 22, was found guilty on one count of involuntary manslaughter after an eight-day trial and about 25 hours of jury deliberations, Plymouth County prosecutor Timothy Cruz said.

On June 28, 2021, then-19-year-old Jack Callahan allegedly went to Boston to pick up his father, Scott, who had noted substance abuse issues, from a bar. The two men had then taken a rideshare home together, which dropped them off at a park. After some time, the two of them got in a fight, and it was then that things turned ugly.

Jack Callahan allegedly began submerging his father under the water several times claiming he was baptizing his father because he saw the demon in his eyes. Jack continued to submerge his fathers head until Scott Callahan no longer fought back or floated, a spokesperson for the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office said in a release.

Responding police officers found the younger Callahan distraught and hyperventilating around 2 a.m. His father was submerged in the pond and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The chief medical examiner ruled 57-year-old Scott Callahans death a homicide by drowning in 2021, and Jack Callahan was arraigned on a murder charge. The Boston Globe reported that Callahan had told police he was giving his father a chance to choose between heaven and hell.

I believe he chose hell, Callahan reportedly told officers.

His sentencing is set for May 3.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Four Rhode Island men have been arrested in connection with an organized theft ring that targeted people of South Asian descent in some of the most affluent communities in Massachusetts, authorities said Friday.

The four men, some of whom are related, are responsible for 43 burglaries totaling thefts of more than $4 million in valuables occurring across 25 towns in Massachusetts between 2018 and 2024, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told reporters during a press conference on Friday morning.

Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island; Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Rhode Island; Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence, Rhode Island; and Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, who were arrested at their homes on Friday morning, are connected to a gang based in Providence, Rhode Island and well-known to law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island, Ryan said.

Paul Miller is the father of Jovan Lemon and Paul Lemon, who are brothers, Ryan said.

All four men were indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on April 18 for a total of 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony, Ryan said.

Samir Desai is one of 43 Indian and South Asian families robbed in the large-scale crime ring.

When we came back everything upstairs was topsy turvy, said Deasi, whose home was broken into last July.

They robbed Samir and his wife last summer while the couple was on vacation stealing a precious diamond ring and a lot more.

They went through every bedroom and got the most precious stuff they could find, said Desai.

The crooks captured only once on surveillance carried shovels and a ladder to get into second-floor windows.

Desai says they took valuables attacking Indians and South Asians in particular.

We lose the sense of belonging and safety and security. We should be pressing some kind of a hate crime on this, he said. My hope is that we continue our alertness, our vigilance so it doesnt happen to us again.

Desai and his wife did get their diamond back. Hes not sure hell get anything else.

They were sophisticated both in avoiding cameras and other surveillance devices. We believe they were also using Wi-Fi jammers, Ryan said. She added that the accused robbers did not use cell phones during the thefts.

These individuals were also very disciplined in terms of there being essentially no cell phone use during the period of time when they were going to, executing and leaving the robberies that took place, Ryan said.

The victims, who were not home at the time of the robberies, were truly traumatized, and in some cases, really robbed of pieces of their heritage, Ryan said.

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

Four men arrested after break-in string targeting South Asians in 25 Mass. towns

The break-ins occurred in the communities of Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham, and Westwood between July 21, 2018 and March 30, 2024, Ryan said.

The targeted homes were almost uniformly inhabited by families who were either Indian of South Asian heritage, Ryan said.

The homes were being targeted because of the victims cultural observances and heritages, those homes would have a lot of gems, they would have a lot of jewelry and a lot of cash, Ryan said.

Property reported stolen in the breaks included many pieces of diamonds and other gems and studded jewelry with values of individual pieces up to approximately $75,000; gold bracelets, necklaces and earrings and large quantities of cash.

In many cases, the stolen property had been secured in locked safes, weighing up to 400 pounds, which thieves removed from the residence along with the stolen valuables, Ryan said.

The defendants in this case were very sophisticated, Ryan said. They targeted victims based on their ethnicity and then gathered information about their targets in order to strike when families were not at home.

The thieves were disciplined in concealing their identity, avoiding alarms and minimizing cell phone use before, during and after the breaks and using Wi-Fi jammers, Ryan said. Despite these challenges and the complicated nature and breadth of this investigation, law enforcement collaboratively and persistently worked to today begin the process of holding these four defendants accountable.

Middlesex DA and MSP announced arrests related to break-ins across 25 towns in Massachusetts. The defendants are part of an organized burglary ring.



The targeted homes belonged to persons of Indian and South Asian heritage. It is believed they were targeted based on ethnicity. pic.twitter.com/auejnHKYo2  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) April 26, 2024

Authorities decried the burglaries, saying the victims were targeted.

The theft crew we arrested today stole countless items of great monetary, emotional, and cultural value from families in multiple states, and did so by violating the sanctity of their homes, Massachusetts State Police Lt. Col. Mark Cyr said. Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities.

The arrests occurred following a nine-month investigation, officials said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Russian multirole helicopter Ka-32 was destroyed at the Ostafyevo airfield in Moscow overnight on April 26, Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR) reported.

An intelligence source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the helicopter was destroyed as a result of a HUR operation.

Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities. Kyiv usually doesnt officially comment on attacks inside Russia.

Russia's Kamov Ka-32 helicopter can be used as passenger and cargo transport, to aid search and rescue operations, building construction, loading and unloading ships, and emergency evacuations.

"The destroyed unit of aviation equipment was used by the aggressor state in the interests of the Moscow aviation center, in particular, to support the operations of the Russian invading army," HUR said on Telegram.

The Ostafyevo airfield, located in Moscow's southern suburbs, is owned by Russia's Defense Ministry and operated jointly with Gazpromavia, which is part of the country's state-run energy giant Gazprom, according to HUR.

HUR said that the helicopter was burnt down and shared video showing a fire that purportedly engulfed the aircraft.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims.

Ukraine has intensified strikes against military and industrial targets in Russia in recent weeks. A joint operation of military intelligence and the Armed Forces reportedly hit the Yeysk, Engels-2, and Kursk airfields on April 5.

Russia allegedly lost seven military aircraft during the drone attack on the Yeysk airbase in Krasnodar Krai in Russia, a source at Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military allegedly carried out an attack against the Russian Morozovsk airbase overnight on April 5, sources familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Su-34 fighter-bombers and Su-27 fighters were reportedly based at the airfield.

At least six military aircraft were destroyed, and another eight were damaged, according to the source. Furthermore, about 20 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded.

Read also: Military intelligence: Russian Mi-8 helicopter destroyed at Samaras air base

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Madrid will provide Ukraine with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on April 26 at the Ramstein-format summit.

Her confirmation follows media reports emerged saying Spain would send "a limited number" of such missiles, as the country only has around 50 total in reserve. Robles did not say how many of the systems Madrid will deliver.

The move is among the latest from Western nations responding to calls from Kyiv for more air defenses in the face of escalating Russian missile and drone attacks on cities across Ukraine.

The minister said that "a set" of Patriot anti-aircraft interceptor missiles will arrive at the logistics base in four days.

Along with the Patriot missiles, Spain pledged to send Ukraine additional equipment in the coming months, including machine guns, vehicles, field artillery howitzers, 155 mm and 120 mm shells, anti-drone equipment, and Leopard tanks, according to the ministry.

Read also: Yermak: I can tell you for sure  there will be more Patriots

U.S.-made Patriots are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks, but Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he is for now focused on securing seven to protect Ukraine's largest cities.

Germany said on April 13 that it would provide Ukraine with one more Patriot air defense system, bringing the total number of Patriots supplied by Germany to three.

But hopes that Greece would follow suit were dashed on April 25 when Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country would not supply Ukraine with Patriots or S-300 missiles.

Kyiv is also pushing Washington for the joint production of Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said in an interview with European Pravda on April 23.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine amid mounting pressure from EU and NATO allies, report says

Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine amid mounting pressure from EU and NATO allies, report says

Spain is sending a limited number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El Pais reported.

It will stop short of sending launchers for the system, however.

It follows Ukraine's urgent plea to NATO for more air defense systems.

Spain will send a small number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine as pressure builds from NATO and EU allies to increase aid to the country, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported, citing unnamed government sources.

"The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defense ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border," the report said.

"It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units, and interceptors are very expensive," it added.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

It comes after German defense minister Boris Pistorius hit out at Spain and Greece for not having sent their Patriot systems to Ukraine.

"Let's say if a country has, for instance, six Patriot systems or four and is not in the front line to the east, it can easily hand over a Patriot system," he said in a TV appearance earlier this week, The Telegraph reported.

When pressed as to whether this was aimed at Spain and Greece, he added: "We're talking to them right now. I honestly can't understand."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an urgent plea to NATO states earlier this month, saying that Ukraine needed "seven more Patriots or similar air defense systems" to defend its cities from Russian strikes.

"Putin must be brought down to earth, and our sky must become safe again," Zelenskyy said. "It depends fully on your choice... (the) choice whether we are indeed allies."

On April 21, Zelenskyy added on X: "'Patriots' can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases."

Spain has decided not to send any of its launchers for the Patriot system to Ukraine, however, the El Pais report said.

It currently has three Patriot systems, all purchased from Germany in 2004 and 2014, the report added.

The news comes as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Greece would not be able to offer air defense systems such as the Patriot or the Soviet-developed S-300 to Ukraine.

"Greece has supported Ukraine in various ways, including defense means," he said.

"However, from the very beginning, we stated that we cannot give out defense systems that are crucial for our deterrence capabilities," he added.

Germany pledged to deliver one of its Patriot systems to Ukraine following a phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Zelenskyy in April in which the Ukrainian President described "the massive Russian air attacks on the civilian energy infrastructure."

"We stand unwaveringly by Ukraine's side," Scholz wrote in a post on X announcing the move.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Spain has agreed to supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles amid pressure from NATO and the EU for European countries that have this American-made system to deliver them to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing a Spanish newspaper El Pais

Details: The delivery of a few missiles  each piece costing over a million euros and with a maximum range of 24 kilometres  will take place after the Spanish Defence Ministry refused to send a battery to Ukraine. The battery has been deployed on the border between Turkiye and Syria since 2013.

Currently, the Spanish army has three batteries, each with its missile launchers, radar, and control station, purchased second-hand from Germany in 2004 and 2014. One of these batteries is located in Adana (Turkiye), and the other two are based on the marine infantry (Valencia). One is already being used to train Ukrainian and Spanish military personnel to operate this system.

The Spanish Ministry of Defence refused to deliver a Patriot battery to Ukraine. Their arguments revolve around the claim that these systems are the only effective defence against missile attacks, as demonstrated in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and that Spain's armed forces are small in number. Ultimately, the department agreed, but only regarding a "very limited quantity" of missiles, as Spain's military reserve consists of about fifty pieces and interceptors are very expensive.

Under Margarita Robles's leadership, the Ministry plans to invest more in upgrading the Patriot system. The department intends to acquire four batteries of the 3+ configuration, "much more advanced than what it currently has," giving it "real potential for missile defence." The US Department of Defense authorised this sale in October for 2.6 billion. The Spanish government has not yet approved either the programme's spending ceiling or the contract's signing.

"Although procedures have been expedited, the forecast is that the new batteries will not arrive before 2028 or 2029. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces must provide Spain's air defence with their current limited means," El Pais summarises.

Background:

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Greece and Spain were under strong pressure from their allies in the EU and NATO regarding providing additional air defence systems to Ukraine.

Asked on Monday whether Madrid is considering the possibility of supplying Patriot to Kyiv, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs avoided giving a direct answer, stating that Spain will "continue to do everything in its power" to help Ukraine in the war against Russia.

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SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4)  A 27-year-old man from Springville, Utah has died after being involved in a road rage incident near Highway 6 in Spanish Fork, police said.

The man, who has not been identified, reportedly died after fleeing from responding police and crashing into a large tree in the front yard of a home.

Lt. Cory Slaymaker with the Spanish Fork Police Department said the incident started just after 2 a.m. on Friday, April 26 near 800 North and Highway 6. The victim called the police saying they were stopped at a traffic light when another driver pulled up alongside him and was staring at him.

The victim reportedly continued to drive eastbound on Highway 6 toward 2550 East when the suspect allegedly began following him and ramming into his car. Slaymaker said the victim attempted to evade the suspect by turning off Highway 6 toward Canyon Road but the suspect continued to follow and ram the victim.

VIDEO: Tornado-like funnel appears over Salt Lake County

When first responders arrived, Slaymaker said they attempted to pull the suspect over to no avail.

The suspect vehicle fled northbound on 400 East at a high rate of speed, Slaymaker said in a press release. The Spanish Fork Officer could not keep up with the suspect and lost sight.

The officer reportedly continued down the path where he last saw the suspect, finding his car where it had collided with the large tree. First responders, including EMS personnel, performed life-saving measures on the driver but he was declared dead on the scene.

Slaymaker said the Spanish Fork Police Department activated the Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol as a result of the incident. The Utah County Sheriffs Office is conducting an investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.




At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina Diana Mondino will visit China from April 27 to May 1.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia Celinda Sosa Lunda will visit China from April 28 to 30.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco will visit China from April 28 to 30.

Dragon TV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this morning. Can you share more details?

Wang Wenbin: This morning, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the overall China-US relations have been stabilized from further deterioration, but negative factors continue to rise and build. Our approach, position and expectations when it comes to China-US relations have been consistent. We always view and develop this relationship in light of the need for a community with a shared future for humanity, and follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping with an emphasis on respecting each others core interests.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that last November, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a successful meeting in San Francisco and charted the San Francisco vision for a stable, sound and sustainable bilateral relationship. It is the job for both sides to deliver on that vision. In a volatile and transforming world, the first question we should answer to make this relationship work is: do we want China and the US to be partners or rivals? Get this wrong, and steady development of China-US relations will hang in the balance. If the US keeps seeing China as its primary rival, the relationship will keep running into difficulties and challenges.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the Taiwan question is the number one red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. China asked the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and not to send any form of wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatists. The US needs to act on President Bidens commitment of not supporting Taiwan independence, two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan and not using Taiwan as a tool to contain China. The US should stop arming Taiwan and support Chinas peaceful reunification.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that no one shall deprive the Chinese people of their right to development. The US has employed all kinds of measures to hit China on trade, economy and technology. This is not fair competition, but steps to contain and block China. It is not de-risking but risk-building. The US said it does not seek to contain Chinas economy, decouple or bar Chinas progress in science and technology. It should honor those words. The US needs to stop spreading the false narrative of Chinese overcapacity, lift illicit sanctions on Chinese businesses and halt the Section 301 tariffs which are against WTO rules.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the Asia-Pacific should not become a wrestling ground for major countries. We hope the US will make the right choice, work with China, engage in sound interactions in the Asia-Pacific, stop forming groupings exclusive to one another, stop coercing regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based medium-range missiles, stop harming Chinas strategic security interests, and stop undermining the hard-won peace and stability in the region.

Secretary Blinken noted that the US and China have the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. It is important for both sides to responsibly manage this relationship. The US continues to follow its one-China policy and does not support Taiwan independence. The US does not seek to change Chinas system, has no intention to have conflict with China, and does not seek to decouple from China or hold back Chinas development. A growing and successful China is good for the world. The US is ready to work with China to build on the common understandings of the two presidents in San Francisco, step up dialogue and communication, effectively manage differences, avoid misperception and miscalculation, and work for a stable and growing US-China relationship.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the DPRK, Myanmar and other issues.

The two sides agreed that the meeting was candid, substantive and constructive. The two sides agreed to continue following the guidance of the two presidents and work to stabilize and advance China-US relations. They recognized the progress in dialogue and cooperation in various fields since the San Francisco meeting and agreed to speed up implementing the important common understandings reached by the two presidents in San Francisco, maintain high-level exchanges and interactions at various levels, continue mil-to-mil communication and consultations in various fields, further cooperation in counternarcotics, climate change and AI, and take measures to expand people-to-people exchanges. The two sides stand ready to strengthen communication in international and regional hotspots.

The Wall Street Journal: I have two questions. The first is on the meeting today between Hamas and Fatah in Beijing. I just want to ask about what role China played in facilitating that meeting? What was the outcome of that meeting and the goal of that meeting? Secondly, Russian President Putin says he is going to come to Beijing for a visit in May. Could you confirm that?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, we support strengthening the authority of the Palestinian National Authority, and support all Palestinian factions in achieving reconciliation and increasing solidarity through dialogue and consultation.

On your second question, this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties. The presidents of the two countries agreed to maintain close interactions and ensure the smooth and steady growth of China-Russia relations. On the specific visit that you mentioned, I dont have information to share for the moment.

Anadolu Agency: Germanys Ambassador to China announced yesterday on a social media platform that she was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in relation to four German citizens being arrested this week in Germany for allegedly spying for Chinese secret services. Can you give any information about why was she summoned and what was she talked about in the meeting?

Wang Wenbin: The so-called Chinese spy cases are baseless. China has lodged serious representations to Germany for its unwarranted accusations. China firmly rejects the vilification of China and urges Germany to watch out for attempts to damage bilateral relations and restrain such attempts, stop the malicious hypes and political theatrics against China at once, and take concrete actions to keep bilateral relations on a steady and sound course.

TRT: Some Arab news outlets are reporting that China invited Palestinian groups, including Hamas, to Beijing for national reconciliation meetings. Can you confirm the report and do you have more details to share?

Wang Wenbin: I answered this question just now. Let me repeat that we support strengthening the authority of the Palestinian National Authority, and support all Palestinian factions in achieving reconciliation and increasing solidarity through dialogue and consultation.

Bloomberg: I have a follow-up question about the German Ambassador being summoned. On March 31, 2022, the Australian Ambassador to China complained that he couldnt enter the courtroom for the court case of Cheng Lei who was charged with spying in China. You personally at that time said that China is a country under the rule of law. The Chinese judicial authorities try cases in strict accordance with law and fully protect the litigation rights of relevant individuals. Relevant sides should earnestly respect Chinas judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the law-based handling of the case by Chinese judicial authorities in any form. So my question is, why was it inappropriate for Ambassador Fletcher to comment on the Chinese legal system two years ago, but its now appropriate for the Chinese authorities to summon the German ambassador and to complain about Germanys legal system in these cases?

Wang Wenbin: I dont think this is a fair comparison.

About Cheng Leis case, the Chinese authorities released information on it, which you may refer to. Chinas judicial authorities tried the case and delivered the sentence in accordance with the law. The rights enjoyed by the individual concerned under the law were fully protected, and Australias consular rights including the right to visit and the right to be notified were respected and implemented. China is a country that upholds the rule of law and handles matters fully in accordance with the law.

As for the so-called Chinese spy cases, weve stressed multiple times that the so-called threat of Chinese spies is purely baseless. We firmly oppose groundless accusations and vilification against China. China builds its ties with Germany on the basis of mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality and non-interference in each others internal affairs. This is good for both sides and the world at large. We hope that Germany will guard against attempts to damage its relations with China, stand against political manipulation and seriously look after this bilateral relationship. I think you know very well that this is not an issue about judicial systems.

CCTV: I want to follow up on the visits of the foreign ministers from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru to China. Could you share with us Chinas arrangements and expectations?

Wang Wenbin: During the visits of the foreign ministers from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks and exchange views with them respectively on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Argentina is an important emerging market, major developing country, and Chinas important cooperation partner in Latin America. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties over half a century ago, China and Argentina have been committed to mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation. This is Foreign Minister Mondinos first visit to China since she took office. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership. China hopes that through this visit, the two countries will further enhance political mutual trust, offer broader prospects for our mutually beneficial cooperation, enrich the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership, and achieve common development and prosperity.

Bolivia is an important country in Latin America. In recent years, the two countries have grown China-Bolivia strategic partnership, consolidated political mutual trust, conducted fruitful practical cooperation in various fields and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. This is Foreign Minister Sosas first visit to China since she took office. We believe this visit will inject new impetus into the bilateral relations.

Peru is an important country in Latin America. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties over half a century ago, China and Peru have grown China-Peru relations steadily and conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields. Last November, President Xi Jinping met with Perus President Dina Boluarte in San Francisco, which provided guidance for the China-Peru relations. This is Foreign Minister Gonzalez-Olaecheas first visit to China since he took office. We believe that this visit will help the two countries implement the important common understandings reached by the presidents of the two countries and give a boost to bilateral relations.

Bloomberg: The South China Morning Post reported earlier today that the EU has told China it plans to sanction some Chinese and Hong Kong companies as part of the next round of Russia sanctions. Whats Chinas response?

Wang Wenbin: Normal trade and economic interactions between China and Russia are in line with WTO rules and market principles. They do not target any third party and should not come under interference or coercion from any third party. We will uphold the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

The Wall Street Journal: I just wanted to follow up on the question that was just asked. Secretary Blinken while in Beijing has made a point to say that a key focus of his is stressing to China the USs opposition to Chinas support through trade of the Russian economy and its defense industrial base. Could you comment on that specifically? How did Foreign Minister Wang respond to that today when Secretary Blinken brought it up? And is China willing to take any steps at all to limit its trade with Russia in response to concerns by not only the United States but also by Europe as well?

Wang Wenbin: I gave a detailed response on the two foreign ministers meeting just now. I can add some broad responses to the questions you raised.

It is hypocritical and highly irresponsible for the United States to falsely accuse China of our normal trade and economic exchanges with Russia, while passing legislation to provide massive aid to Ukraine.

The root cause of the Ukraine crisis lies in regional security tensions that have built up in Europe over the years. Only by accommodating the legitimate security concerns of all parties and creating a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture through dialogue and negotiation can the issue be properly addressed. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor are we a party to it. Chinas position on Ukraine has been just and objective. We have actively promoted talks for peace. Shifting the blame to China will not end the crisis, nor will it help those who find themselves in a difficult position on Ukraine.

As a Chinese saying goes, Let the person who tied the bell on the tiger take it off. We urge the US to stop scapegoating China and make real efforts to find a political end to the Ukraine crisis.

We never fan the flames or seek selfish gains, and we will certainly not accept being the scapegoat. China will continue to stand on the side of peace, dialogue, and justice, and play a constructive and responsible role to put an early end to the crisis. In the meantime, we will firmly uphold our legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

Bloomberg: Yesterday the Press Trust of India reported that the Tibetan government-in-exile is holding back-channel talks with the Chinese government. Can you confirm any of his comments?

Wang Wenbin: The so-called Tibetan government-in-exile is entirely an organized separatist political group with a political platform and an agenda for Tibetan independence. It is an illicit organization that violates Chinas Constitution and laws. No country in the world recognizes it.

The Chinese government has two basic principles when it comes to contact and talks. First, we would only have contact and talks with the personal representative of the 14th Dalai Lama, not the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile or Central Tibetan Administration. The Chinese government will not be dealing with it. Second, any contact or talks will only be about the personal future of the 14th Dalai Lama himself, or at most, a handful of people close to him, not the so-called high degree of autonomy for Tibet. We hope the 14th Dalai Lama will have a right understanding of the central governments policy, seriously reflect on and thoroughly correct its political propositions and actions, give up any activity aimed at disrupting the social order in Xizang, and return to the right path. Only then can future contact and talks be considered.

CCTV: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reportedly said on April 25 that last year, Russia imported 90 percent of its microelectronics from China; China is also working to provide Russia with improved satellite capabilities and imaging; China says it wants good relations with the West; At the same time, Beijing continues to fuel the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War Two; They cannot have it both ways. What is Chinas comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: Those comments lack factual basis. Theyre aimed at shifting blame and diverting peoples attention from the real problem.

China is not a creator of or a party to the Ukraine crisis. We are committed to promoting talks for peace. China does not provide weapons to the parties to conflicts and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, including drones for civilian use. There are statistics, however, which show that over 60 percent of Russias imports of weapon components and dual-use articles come from the US and other Western countries. Our normal trade with Russia is done aboveboard. Its consistent with WTO rules and market principles. It does not target any third party and should not be interfered with or come under coercion by anyone. NATO bears unshirkable responsibility for the crisis. It should reflect on the role it has played, stop the blame game, and truly do something to enable the political settlement of the crisis.

China News Service: Its reported that at the opening ceremony of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue held recently in Berlin, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock strongly urged those who can to join our effort, and particularly the strongest polluters of today, particularly looking at the G20. It is also reported that at the meeting, countries are negotiating for a new global climate finance target. The German Foreign Minister called on China and other countries to provide more funding for developing countries to deal with climate change. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the reports and German Foreign Minister Baerbocks remarks that Germany and Europe need to work with China on climate change and competition in clean technology is positive for green transition.

Climate change, a global challenge, requires a global response. Global climate governance should follow the widely agreed principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Developed countries have the historical responsibility and capability to take the lead in climate response and fulfill their obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

As the largest developing country, China is a doer in fighting climate change. We have not only exceeded the climate action goals committed for the year 2020 ahead of schedule, promised to make the biggest reduction in carbon emission intensity in the shortest time span in world history, but also actively contributed to the global climate response. In 2022, the wind and photovoltaic products exported by China helped other countries cut around 573 million tonnes of CO2 and cut 2.83 billion tonnes of carbon emissions in total, accounting for around 41 percent of the worlds total carbon emissions reduction converted from renewable energy from the same period.

Regrettably, however, the EU has recently launched a couple of anti-subsidy investigations and other trade remedies on Chinas new energy vehicles and wind power equipment, which sends a negative signal of protectionism. The EU cannot ask China to contribute to climate response while going after Chinas new energy sector. This self-contradictory move will not only harm the EU itself, but also disrupt the global response to climate change.

China and the EU have enormous space for cooperation on both climate response and in the new energy sector. The two sides should and can be partners. Both sides and the world stand to benefit. We hope the EU will not adopt discriminatory policy against Chinas new energy products, which could make everyone lose.

O Globo: The tensions in the Middle East were one of the topics on the discussion today between Secretary Blinken and Mr. Wang Yi, as you mentioned. Can you give more details? What were the discussions?

Wang Wenbin: I shared details on the meeting between the two foreign ministers. On the Middle East situation, we made clear Chinas positions many times, which you may refer to.
John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), addresses an investment promotion campaign in Hong Kong, south China, April 26, 2024. The sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference was held here Friday, where 20 cooperation documents were signed in legal services, trade, finance, science and technology, urban development, culture and other fields. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference was held here Friday, where 20 cooperation documents were signed in legal services, trade, finance, science and technology, urban development, culture and other fields.

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Gong Zheng, Shanghai mayor and deputy Party chief, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the conference.

Lee said that the conference was another important milestone in the cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems," and work with Shanghai to develop new quality productive forces, and jointly make greater contributions to the high-quality development of the country.

Gong said that Shanghai and Hong Kong will take this cooperation conference as an opportunity to complement each other's strengths to achieve mutual benefit, and carry out diversified and practical cooperation, so as to make greater contributions in advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation.

To further consolidate the results of the cooperation conference and deepen economic and trade exchanges between Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government also held an investment promotion campaign here on Friday, where 18 enterprises and institutions signed eight key cooperation agreements, involving cooperation in financial services, energy investment, exhibition, industry, and research. 

John Lee (R), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Gong Zheng, Shanghai mayor and deputy Party chief, sign a Memorandum of Understanding at the sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference in Hong Kong, south China, April 26, 2024. The sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference was held here Friday, where 20 cooperation documents were signed in legal services, trade, finance, science and technology, urban development, culture and other fields. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua)

The sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference is held in Hong Kong, south China, April 26, 2024. The sixth session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Cooperation Conference was held here Friday, where 20 cooperation documents were signed in legal services, trade, finance, science and technology, urban development, culture and other fields. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
A St. Paul woman feared she was going to die when a stranger broke into her home, held a gun to her head and sexually assaulted her, according to charges filed Friday.

Police reviewed residential security videos and one showed a pickup in the alley near the victims Macalester-Groveland residence at the time of the attack, and five of six license plate characters were visible. Police traced the license plate to a pickup registered to Deonte Marquon Thomas, 34, according to a criminal complaint.

St. Paul police announced Thursday theyd arrested Thomas, of Maplewood, that morning at his workplace in Blaine.

The Ramsey County attorneys office charged Thomas with first-degree criminal sexual conduct while armed with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited due to a felony conviction.

Each of us should expect to be safe in our own homes, free from the violence that transpired in our community this past week, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a Friday statement. I want to thank the sexual assault investigators from the St. Paul Police Department for their tireless and quick work. We will do everything in our power to bring justice to the victim and our community in this case.

Sexual assaults by strangers are rare; eight out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

She tried to get his gun, bit his arm

The criminal complaint gave the following information from prosecutors:

The woman called 911 on April 15 and officers were dispatched to the 300 block of South Snelling Avenue about 4:20 a.m.

She provided a detailed description of the suspect, including that he had vertical scar extending from his sternum to his belt line and she said he smelled strongly of body odor and alcohol.

Police searched for the man, including using a canine and drones, but didnt find him in the area.

The woman said shed been sleeping when she heard pounding on the side door of her home. She then saw a man break the doors glass, reach inside and unlock it. He went in her home and she asked, What do you want? He wanted to know where her money was.

The woman handed the man her purse and he took cash, but then said, Im not looking for money and physically attacked her. She screamed for her neighbors, but the man told her not to yell and choked her, causing her to pass out.

When she regained consciousness, she found the man had removed some of her clothes and he threatened her with a gun.

She reported she felt like she was in hell during the assault and was afraid the man was going to slit her throat with glass or shoot her. She tried to grab the mans gun, but he got the weapon and she said she bit the mans arm as hard as she could.

After he left, she called 911.

RELATED: New program gives St. Paul-Ramsey County sex assault victims more options  and control

The investigation

Police obtained residential security videos and found one that showed the pickup and most of its license plate. A search of Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services led police to a 2003 gray Chevrolet Silverado registered to Thomas.

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A license plate reader captured the same truck heading away from the area two minutes after the woman called 911.

Another security video showed a man walking on the womans property near the time of the crime. Police showed the woman a still frame from the video and she said she identified him as her assailant with 100% certainty.

Police also showed Thomas girlfriend the photo and she identified the man as him. She said he has a large scar on his stomach, which matched the victims initial description.

Thomas girlfriend said shed recently found a handgun in his vehicle and took it because he wasnt supposed to have it. She then told Thomas and gave it back to him.

The arrest

After Thomas arrest at his workplace, at an address thats listed as a recycling company, he agreed to speak with police.

He said he (expletive) up, was frustrated and angry over life circumstances and violated someones personal space,' the complaint said.

Thomas said hed been driving around in the early morning hours and randomly selected a house to break into, the complaint continued. He used a rock or brick to break the doors window.

He denied an aspect of the sex assault, and also said he had not choked the woman and not used a gun, though he said police would find a gun in his truck.

Police had a search warrant for Thomas vehicle and located a handgun in the glove box. Police also found a handgun in a safe in Thomas girlfriends home, where he was known to stay, and another handgun was in her vehicle. She couldnt find the primary key for the safe and believed Thomas may have had it.

Forensic swabs were collected during the victims sexual assault exam and, after police arrested Thomas, they had a search warrant to collect his DNA. Test results are pending.

Previous convictions

Thomas mugshot shows he has a neck tattoo that says, Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

He made his first court appearance in the case on Friday, where bail was set at $250,000. He remained in custody as of late Friday afternoon.

His request for a public defender was denied, and an attorney wasnt listed for him in the court file.

Minnesota court records show Thomas most recent convictions include disorderly conduct in Dakota County in 2020, domestic assault in a 2019 Maplewood case, disorderly conduct in a 2019 North St. Paul case and violating a domestic abuse no-contact order in a 2013 St. Paul case.

He was charged with felony burglary and robbery counts in 2008 Eagan and St. Paul cases and pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property in one case and aiding and abetting theft in the other.

Sexual violence resources

Free services for victims of sexual violence, and for their family and friends, are available through St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Healths SOS Sexual Violence Services 24-hour resource line at 651-266-1000 or asksos@co.ramsey.mn.us.

For more information on reporting sexual violence in Ramsey County, visit ramseycounty.us/OnMyTerms.

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network has more information and a national directory of programs at rainn.org.

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The Labour leader has said he plans to make coffee and work in a bookshop, should he lose his seat in the election - Danny Lawson/PA

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed that he will go and work in a bookshop if he loses his seat at the next general election.

The Labour leader says he has got life planned in the unlikely event he gets defeated in his constituency.

His plan for life after politics involves working at a little bookshop and making cups of coffee; but his dream might have to wait a little while yet with polls consistently giving Labour a sizable lead over the Tories.

Speaking on the Rosebud podcast, the leader of the opposition  who won his London seat with a majority of almost 28,000 in the 2019 election  revealed what he would do if he lost.

Sir Keir, 61, said: Oh, Ive already got that planned. Theres a little bookshop on Kentish Town High Street and Ive always fancied working there. So if all goes badly you can come and see me in my bookshop and bring your book and Ill make you a cup of coffee.

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken of his desire to work at a bookshop on Kentish Town High Street, should he lose his seat in the election

A general election is expected to take place later this year with Rishi Sunak repeatedly being pushed to name a date by opposition parties.

Nadine Dorries, the Boris Johnson loyalist and former Cabinet minister, has said she expects a general election to be called next week and described doing so as 250 (Conservative) MPs thrown to the wolves.

The Holborn and St Pancras MP also candidly admitted that he can cope without making friends during his time in politics.

He said he wanted to be liked but that, actually, his most important friends stem from before he was even a politician.

Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions, said: I think on being liked: I have very, very strong friendships, which have been life enduring.

And so in that sense, I still want to be liked. I want to be in those deep, deep friendships. The sort of people I can talk to about anything, not particularly political, actually.

A lot of people I knock around with are not particularly political and I have that safe space away from politics. Politics can be an isolating, brutal place where lots of people dont only not like you, but they revel in not liking you.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Minnesota Capitol. Photo courtesy House Information Services.

A state audit found the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division did not comply with certain grants management policies, matching similar findings of a 2021 audit.

The audit, released Thursday, found the agency didnt follow procedures for avoiding conflicts of interest and gauging whether nonprofits were financially stable enough before awarding grants.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor conducted the audit at the request of the bipartisan Legislative Audit Commission after lawmakers, state employees and others expressed concerns about how state grants are awarded.

The Minnesota State Arts Board was also audited, but auditors found fewer problems.

From 2018 to 2022, DHS and the Arts Board awarded more grants to nonprofit groups than all state agencies. And they were both among the top 10 agencies in total grant dollars sent to nonprofits.

The audit found the DHS Behavioral Health Division failed to complete financial assessments for more than 40% of grants reviewed. The grants ranged from $49,000 to nearly $1 million, and totaled $11.5 million. A 2021 audit had a similar finding.

The audit said by failing to check nonprofits financial standing, the agency may inadvertently award grants to entities that may not be financially healthy or capable stewards of state funds.

The Legislature also has been accused of failing to properly vet nonprofits before giving them millions in direct appropriations  which were not part of this audit.

DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead told auditors the department is committed to upholding the integrity of the grant pre-award process and said it has developed systems to standardize processes and improve policies and practices.

The state Office of Grants Management  part of the Department of Administration  has issued 13 policies state agencies must follow to manage grants.

Chuck Johnson, former DHS deputy commissioner, has argued the oversight is unnecessarily complex, with about 50 procedures embedded within those 13 policies, with 86 steps to manage a grant from start to finish.

It is basically impossible to effectively manage over 2,000 grant contracts through 86 bureaucratic steps, he wrote in a Reformer column last year. If DHS continues to manage over 2,000 grants through 86 steps, the chances they will ever have a clean audit are slim to none.

State agencies spent a half billion dollars annually, on average, on grants to nonprofits from 2018 to 2022. DHS alone spent about $436 million on grants to nonprofits during those years for things like substance use disorder services and mental health services.

Last year, recovery community organizations, which help people recover from addiction, received the most money, at $10 million, followed by nonprofits that help the agency provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services to immigrant communities, at $4.9 million.

The DHS division also failed to make grant reviewers complete a conflict-of-interest form  a failing auditors also found in 2021.

Last year, lawmakers beefed up the Office of Grants Managements authority and oversight of agencies administration of grants.

Tamar Gronvall, commissioner of the state Department of Administration, responded to the audit in a letter saying the report highlights the complexities inherent in setting minimum requirements to limit the potential for fraud, waste and abuse while also allowing for necessary flexibilities in agencies administration of grants.

Harpstead said DHS created a Central Grants Office last year to improve its grantmaking process, and put a new leadership structure in place in the behavioral health division to better support business needs, including improving the management of contracts and grants.

The post State audit finds problems in DHS grant management  again appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
A row of four bottles of 1-single dose measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine bottles with a white and blue labels and blue lids.

Children who are not vaccinated are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough, the CDC points out on its website. Outbreaks of these diseases have occurred recently, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. (Getty Images)

State health officials say theyre continuing to monitor for disease transmission after West Virginias first measles case in 15 years was confirmed earlier this week in Monongalia County.

The West Virginia Department of Health said Friday it has learned of an additional 152 people  128 West Virginia residents from 30 counties and 24 people from out of state  who were potentially exposed to measles in relation to the Monongalia County case.

The patient, an adult in Monongalia County who was undervaccinated and had recently traveled internationally, developed symptoms of the disease and sought treatment at an outpatient clinic of WVU Hospitals last week. Lab work confirmed the case Sunday. The patient did not require hospitalization and was recovering at home.

No additional information has been released about the patient.

Of the 152 people potentially exposed to the virus, 62 lack documentation of protection against measles and are considered high risk, state health officials said Friday. The state Bureau for Public Health said it is strongly recommending that people exposed to the virus with no evidence of immunity quarantine until May 9 or 10, 2024, depending on their last date of exposure.

A spokesperson for the Monongalia County Health Department said Friday the health department has reached out to all potential contacts of the case and has spoken with most of them. So far, no additional cases of the disease have been found.

Before Sunday, the states last documented case of measles was in 2009.

Measles is highly contagious and can especially be dangerous for children under 5, adults over age 20, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, according to health officials. Common complications of the disease are ear infections and diarrhea. It can also cause serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.

Vaccines for measles are typically given in two doses.

West Virginia school children have a high rate of vaccination coverage for measles, partly because of the states strict school vaccination laws. The state is among five that allow only medical exemptions to school vaccine mandates.

For the 2022-2023 school year, 95.6% of West Virginia kindergarten students had been vaccinated against measles, according to the state Department of Health. Vaccination coverage among adults is more challenging to determine, state health officials said. U.S states do not track vaccination coverage among adults for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

People born before 1957 and those who have laboratory evidence of immunity or disease are considered to have presumptive immunity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before vaccines were available for measles, mumps and rubella, nearly everyone was infected with them during childhood.

In a release, state health officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen urged West Virginians with questions about their immunity to get tested.

Measles is a serious disease that can cause severe symptoms especially in the most vulnerable kids and adults who are immunocompromised, Christiansen said. The MMR vaccine is the best line of defense against measles. If you are unsure about your vaccination history, you can either get vaccinated or a blood test can be ordered through your local healthcare provider to determine your level of immunity.

Vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are available through health care providers and local health departments throughout the state.

The post State health officials: 152 potentially exposed to measles after Monongalia County case appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
On April 1, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture reported its first case of the bird flu in cattle in Cassia County. And on Monday, the department confirmed a second herd in Cassia County is positive for the bird flu. Pictured in this file photo are uninfected dairy cows drinking water from a trough in Fruitland, Idaho. (Kirsten Strough/U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that the sick cattle in Cassia County were resident cattle in the Idaho facility, not the cattle imported from Texas.

As cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza spread across U.S. cattle, Idaho officials say their biggest concern is the virus impact on Idahos economy.

The illness, also coined the bird flu, has sickened cattle across at least eight states, with the first case detected in Texas cattle in late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On April 1, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture reported its first case of the bird flu in cattle in Cassia County. The facility had recently imported cattle from Texas, Sydney Kennedy, the spokesperson for the department of agriculture told the Idaho Capital Sun. The sick cattle, however, were resident cattle on the Cassia County facility.

And on Monday, the department confirmed a second herd in Cassia County is positive for the bird flu.

Kennedy said the state is well-prepared with financial resources and trained staff to respond to animal diseases. The Idaho facilities with infected cattle have been placed under a quarantine to limit the movement of cattle, she said.

Bird flu cattle states

The bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, has spread among cattle in eight states. (Screenshot of U.S. Department of Agriculture website)

Idaho is a major livestock state, and we cannot forget about what this truly means to the dairymen, she said. The outbreak in dairy herds primarily affects lactating cows, reducing milk production, this leaves the greatest amount of financial impact on the dairymen. Idahos dairy industry contributes significant economic value ($3.5 billion) to our state.

What is the highly pathogenic avian influenza  a.k.a. bird flu?

The bird flu spreads naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide, and it can infect domestic poultry and other species, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lauren Christensen is an assistant professor in mixed practice production medicine at the University of Idaho. (Courtesy of the University of Idaho)

While the virus emerged through birds, it has been detected in cattle, which is unusual, according to University of Idaho veterinary medicine assistant professor Lauren Christensen.

This is not something that were typically looking for in mammals because the virus typically is only able to infect other poultry or other birds, she told the Idaho Capital Sun. We usually dont see the virus able to switch over to mammals.

The virus is mostly seen in wild flocks of geese or ducks that are migrating, Christensen said. Like with the flu, she said its virus particles coming from one infected animal or person going to another  usually in close contact.

Christensen said the virus causes significant disease and even death among chickens. But so far, no cows across the country have died from it.

Christensen said the main symptoms of the virus in cows include decrease in milk production and loss in appetite. Other symptoms may include a low grade fever, color changes in milk or thickened milk.

Pasteurized dairy products are safe, experts say

Christensen said milk bought at the grocery store is safe for human consumption because its been pasteurized, or heated to a high temperature to kill harmful bacteria.

Wash your hands, drink pasteurized milk, and youll be fine, Christensen said.

Rick Naerebout is the CEO of the Idaho Dairymens Association. (Courtesy of Rick Naerebout)

While the bird flu does not normally infect humans, some human infections have occurred, according to the CDC. Earlier this month, federal officials identified the first human case of the illness in a Texas dairy worker, Politico reported. The symptoms are mild and the worker is expected to recover.

Rick Naerebout, the CEO of the Idaho Dairymens Association, told the Sun the biggest concern for Idaho is its financial impact on the dairy industry.

Naerebout said Idaho dairy workers are encouraged to follow biosecurity measures such as wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, aprons and glasses. Dairy workers are also encouraged to separate their work clothes and everyday clothes, he said.

What were hearing coming out of the Southwest is you can lose up to 20% of your milk production, and our dairymen are coming off over a year of negative margin, he said. Thats just really stressful on the finances and trying to be able to continue to wander through the storm that were in.

To learn more about detections of the virus, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. For updates about detected reports in Idaho, visit the Idaho State Department of Agriculture website. To learn more about the virus and how to prevent it, visit the CDC website.

The department recommends dairy producers contact their local veterinarian immediately if their cattle are showing the following symptoms:

Drop in milk production

Loss of appetite

Changes in manure consistency

Thickened or colostrum-like milk

Low-grade fever

The post State officials worry about financial impact after bird flu cases detected in Idaho cattle appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
WORCESTER  State police Lt. Daniel J. Griffin was sentenced to five years in prison for habitual overtime thefts in U.S. District Court Friday.

Griffin, who was convicted of multiple felonies including overtime theft in December, allegedly orchestrated the theft of more than $130,000 in federal grant funds, hid $700,000 in income from the IRS and fraudulently obtained $170,000 in financial aid from his children's private school.

Jurors found that Griffin and a handful of troopers under his command in a special traffic unit stole federal overtime funds by not working many of the hours they said they did on safety campaigns, notably distracted driving and sobriety checkpoints.

Griffin coordinated with troopers so all of their timesheets aligned, prosecutors said, despite often starting shifts during regular work time and ending hours earlier than they claimed. The fraud collectively amounted to more than $130,000 between 2015 and 2017.

State police last year said internal affairs probes were ongoing into department members potentially implicated in the fraud. One of those troopers, who testified for the prosecution pursuant to an immunity grant, had received nearly $300,000 as of last December while on paid leave since November 2020, state records show.

Federal prosecutors sought a 71-month prison sentence for Griffin, while the defense sought a fraction of that.

Thomas M. Hoopes, lawyer for the defense, argued that the sentence should be no greater than necessary and called the situation catastrophic for his client.

Insisting that Griffin has done a lot of good, Hoopes asked for leniency, noting that most Troop E defendants escaped jail time, with the longest sentence imposed being only several months.

Hoopes also expressed concern of his client, by virtue of being a former police officer with a knee problem, that he would be in harms way in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao said Griffin is a man who had the love and support of the community and his family. He had all the advantages and support that life can give someone and, despite all this, he stole and lied over and over again, Chao said.

This wasnt the defendant on his worst day. This was almost every day, stealing and lying as part of his everyday life, Chao said. He didnt have to do it and he did it and he did it again and again.

Chao said he showed utter and total abuse of his badge and his authority as a state trooper, believing that police are allowed to collect overtime for hours he was credited but clearly didnt work.

He took advantage of the badge every single time and hes trying to do it again for sentencing, Chao said. This is the height of arroganceHe shouldnt be getting credit for stealing so long and so late in life.

Calling it the most complicated case she has ruled over in recent memory, federal Judge Margaret R. Guzman said a state trooper should be held to the oath that they took.

Calling the sentence appropriate and necessary, Guzman sentenced Griffin to five years in prison.

In addition, Griffin was also ordered to pay $176,700 is fine and nearly $330,000 in restitution. A recommendation from federal prosecutors that the defendant pay an estimated $500,000 in forfeiture was denied by Guzman.

After he serves his prison sentence, Griffin will face 36 months of supervised release.

Griffin is ordered to self-surrender on June 6 unless he is still mending after an impending surgery, which might alter the surrender date.

In a statement Friday, state police spokesman David Procopio wrote the department "condemns the actions of Daniel Griffin," calling them the "antithesis of the integrity, work ethic and honor displayed every day by the overwhelming majority of the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police."

Procopio said an internal affairs investigation into Griffin would be finalized soon, and that, upon finalization of that process, his discharge status will be changed to "dishonorable."

The only other trooper prosecutors charged in the case, Sgt. William Robertson, who was also convicted in December, is slated to be sentenced after Tuesday. Robertson, prosecutors alleged, ordered another trooper from the unit to destroy records pertaining to the fraud.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: State police lieutenant Daniel Griffin sentenced to 5 years in prison
Pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses are getting very different responses from elected officials in red and blue states.

Texas is seeing pushback after immediately responding to a peaceful demonstration with arrests, and Floridas Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has threatened expulsion for students who engage in unsanctioned activism, while New York has made clear the National Guard will not be called in as authorities negotiate with the flagship Columbia University encampment.

In general, officials are dispersing these camps before they can form more forcefully in red states than in blue states, but I think its a reflection of the political climate on these campuses and decisions of the leaders of those universities, said Jay Greene, senior research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation.

Political pressure is high as the governors want to appear in control of the anti-war in Gaza protests that have rocked universities across the country since last week and seen bipartisan condemnation due to some antisemitic incidents.

At places like Columbia and Yale, Hamas protesters rule the roost, and the universities are too weak and scared to do anything  even as these mobs harass Jewish students and faculty, DeSantis said in a post on the social platform X. If you try that at a Florida university, you are going to be expelled.

The University of Florida told students they could be suspended and banished from campus for three years for violating rules regarding protest conduct, local outlet CL Tampa reported Friday.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) sent state police to the University of Texas at Austin to arrest more than 50 students Wednesday, saying on X, These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.

A Texas prosecutor, however, said the day after the arrests that she would not be moving forward with any charges as there were deficiencies in the probable cause affidavits.

While governors have no direct authority to hand down punishments to students on campus, the political leverage they have over schools is significant.

Governor Abbott and Governor DeSantis are saying some very tough things, and they cant directly do them, but they can influence the decisions of campus leaders  at public universities in particular, Greene said.

If schools dont respond in ways deemed appropriate by state lawmakers, the politicians have tools to punish them.

There are long-term ways of influencing public universities including the appointment of the Board of Trustees, who then in turn hire the leadership of the of these universities, Greene said.

He pointed out how DeSantis already used this option against New College of Florida to ensure that the universities are in sync with the political priorities of the state.

And of course states can also cut funding for public colleges.

And if [the schools] thought that there was any danger of that happening, they might take action, Greene said.

The gulf in response between blue and red states comes from differing political priorities, experts say. Republicans, who are less sympathetic to the Palestinian cause in general, want to appear firmly in control of the situation.

That is a concerning difference. I think that there is a much more sort of set of standards for protecting free speech and basic human rights in the blue states, said Kaivan Shroff, senior adviser to the Institute for Education and a Democratic political strategist.

The encampments began in blue states New York and Massachusetts, where Columbia, New York University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology first saw students protesting for Palestine.

While Columbia originally brought in the police to respond to the protests, officials have since been in negotiations with student leaders to try to resolve the demonstration without the use of force.

I dont think its necessary at this time, but if the NYPD calls and says they need help, were always there for them, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) told reporters when asked about Republican calls for Columbia to see a National Guard reponse, local outlet City & State New York reported.

After more than 90 people were arrested at the University of Southern California (USC), Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he wants to maintain peoples right to protest and, at the same time, do that peacefully, without any hate.

I just want to avoid a lot of what we are seeing in other parts of the country and so were very mindful and diligent in terms of how to approach this in an appropriate way, Newsom said.

In an attempt to avoid further conflict, USC has canceled its main graduation ceremony due to safety concerns after first nixing the planned speech of its pro-Palestinian valedictorian.

In Texas, Abbott has faced backlash for his response, with opponents and some free speech advocates calling him a hypocrite for cracking down on the protesters.

The governor signed a law back in 2019 to protect free speech on campus, but in March he issued an executive order telling schools to revise their free speech policies to put in harsher punishments against antisemitism.

I do think that were seeing even less tolerance from more conservative folks on this issue, which is somewhat ironic, especially I mean, obviously, Governor Abbott specifically signed a bill allowing for student protests on campus, and is now cracking down in this incredibly aggressive, over-reactive way, Shroff said. And its very clear that what the speech is is what matters to him. And so thats not free speech, and thats obviously a double standard.

Republicans have justified a more aggressive approache by saying it is an appropriate reaction to the antisemitism that has risen on college campuses since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

Sohali Vaddula, communications director for College Democrats of America, said club presidents around the country have told her much of the violence and antisemitism in the demonstrations have come from groups not affiliated with the students.

But there have been a few instances with students, including a protest leader at Columbia previously saying in January that Zionists dont deserve to live. He has since walked back those remarks.

While Vaddula said schools should not tolerate any hate speech and have sent clear messages against antisemitism, they have not shown the same support for those facing Islamophobia.

And some claim Republicans are only putting the pressure on colleges to address antisemitism because it can help advance other goals.

I think its some of these red states theyd love to see this crisis escalate because they see it as a problem for Biden or they view it as a political win, Shroff said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson and University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook. from left, speak to the Iowa Board of Regents April 25, 2024. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

AMES  Presidents of the states public universities told the Iowa Board of Regents Thursday they are eliminating departments and positions related to diversity, equity and inclusion and looking to support students on a more individualized basis.

Iowa State University, University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa have been working since the fall to adopt board directives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. That includes eliminating any unnecessary DEI offices and positions, ensuring all services are open to all students on campus and exploring ways to encourage diversity of thought and perspective.

The presidents of each institution gave updates to the board on their progress toward completing the directives, including future actions to ensure compliance. However, Regent David Barker pointed out that some of these changes might be moot with the signing of legislation by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

University of Iowa

UI President Barbara Wilson told the board the university must foster a sense of belonging and provide a free environment for people to speak their minds. While this may seem difficult to pull off, she said, the two principles can coexist if university staff, faculty and leaders work together to not lean too hard in one direction at the expense of the other.

I think this is an opportunity for us, as we think about what were supposed to be doing at a university, Wilson said. We are supposed to be bringing students from all backgrounds, all walks of life together and help them coexist and work together, not avoid each other, when they encounter differences.

The UIs 20-member task force met with several stakeholder groups on campus throughout the past four months in order to craft recommendations relating to the DEI directives, Wilson said, and conducted a survey in order to receive more feedback.

The university is almost finished reworking the universitys central DEI office, Wilson said. The office will shift to two departments under the renamed Division of Access, Opportunity and Diversity, handling accreditation requirements and compliance with state and federal laws. Five open positions will be eliminated, opening up around $360,000 in salaries and benefits to go to student success initiatives.

Most, if not all, of the 43 employees with DEI in their titles are necessary for accreditation or compliance, Wilson said, but the UI is working to review each one. Review of the colleges general education courses is also nearly complete, and the Diversity and Inclusion general education requirement will be renamed to Understanding Cultural Perspectives.

The UI has completed board directives to prohibit the requirement for anyone on campus to share their pronouns, with the university adding a statement to that effect to all syllabi. A performance evaluation metric for employee evaluations was also changed from asking someone about their engagement relating to diversity, equity and inclusion to their participation in activities that foster a welcoming and respectful environment.

The taskforce also reviewed recruiting practices for faculty and staff and updated resources and advertising areas in order to try and reach a more intellectually diverse hiring pool.

In order to ensure that everyone knows that all events are open to all, which Wilson said the UI was already doing, a policy has been added to the universitys code that states all student groups and other university organizations must include a statement that whatever event they are holding is open to everyone.

After the board of regents directed the universities to explore options for expanding education and research into civic education and free speech, Wilson said staff at the UI developed a pilot project that will be introduced to residence halls to teach students skills in communication and working with people who differ from them.

Led by resident assistants who will receive training from the university, the project will begin the upcoming fall semester with some residence hall floors receiving the education and others not in order to measure outcomes, Wilson said. A first-year seminar will also be available for new students.

Wilson said there were a few things she and others at the UI have learned throughout this process, including the necessity of gathering metrics on programs to measure their success and just how important it is that the college and others like it foster cultural and global competency. The university needs to teach students every day about how to work with each other, even if they have differences, and to instill in them the will to stick around when things get tough.

Diversity also goes far beyond what can be gleaned in a glance, Wilson said, and in order to best serve its community, the UI needs to expand its programs to reach those in need beyond what is currently offered.

The university president gave the example of her own two daughters, who were adopted from China. While people would be able to easily see that they are Chinese, they wouldnt know at a look that one of them has a learning disability, or that they come from a biracial family and do not know their birth parents.

I want our universities to support what they do, and to make them feel welcome, and to ensure that their visible and invisible aspects of diversity are cherished, and brought to the center of all of what we do, Wilson said.

Iowa State University

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said that in order to comply with the directives from the board of regents, the university will close its Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office in July. Two filled and three open positions will be eliminated with this closure, and the impacted staff have received a 90-day notice of their termination.

The office closure will leave behind $789,000 in salaries and benefits, Wintersteen said, which has been allocated to university priorities.

Like the UI, Wintersteen said ISU will place a statement on all syllabi that no one be required to disclose their pronouns, and digital and promotional materials for programs will convey that they are open to all students.

After a review of DEI positions in university departments, Wintersteen said there are a number of units within the universitys colleges and division for student affairs that are critical for accreditation and support for students and staff. The work under this directive is nearly complete, she said, with updates being made where needed. A review of the universitys diversity, equity and inclusion general education category has led to it being renamed U.S. Cultures and Communication.

The university has also broadened its advertising efforts for open positions in order to reach different groups. Wintersteen said advertisements for its provost position went into the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

A working group is also developing proposals for initiatives relating to free speech and civic education in the universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wintersteen said.

Wintersteen said the task force conducted its work in meeting the boards directives within the context of a quote from early ISU Board of Trustees president Benjamin Gue: Everyone would be welcome, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.

It was really important for us to focus on how we could maintain support for students educational success, and also how we can maintain a welcoming campus, Wintersteen said.

University of Northern Iowa

UNI developed two groups to focus on the different directives  the DEI Advisory Task Force and Civic Education at UNI Task Force. President Mark Nook said the groups and the administration took these directives as a chance to reimagine how the university supports its students and employees, and found that in order to meet them, current structures, communication, and other parts of forming the UNI community must change.

The university will reorganize the Division of Student Life under the directives, including eliminating the Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice Office and creating new positions to offer direct-to-student services to all UNI students, Nook said. More services will go to the Office of Student Involvement and Office of the Dean of Students to offer more supports to student organizations, programming, and individual student needs.

UNI will also eliminate the position of Chief Diversity Officer, Nook said, and create an outreach position in the universitys Center for Urban Education. Five positions in the Academic Affairs office will be realigned to offer more students access to resources for enrollment, academic needs and graduation preparedness.

The university also developed a proposal for a civics education center, which would work with primary and secondary education students with a vision to be nationally recognized leaders in research, teaching and public outreach in free speech and civic education, Nook said. It would encourage respectful dialogue while instilling civic education and the values of free speech and public service, among others.

The center is built on UNIs strong foundation as a leader in the training of teachers established strengths and civic education, rich community partnerships, a proven record of community engagement and unique research capacities in Iowa history and politics, Nook said.

The goal of these efforts is to offer a more holistic approach to student support, Nook said, and to give students as much personalized attention as possible to ensure their success at UNI.

We are confident that by making these structural and organizational changes, we will be able to provide personal attention and services that each UNI student needs and deserves, Nook said. And we will continue to create a strong sense of community built on a commitment to the success of every member of the UNI community.

Legislation could impact DEI changes

Barker said during the meeting that since the board knew nothing of the universities progress in meeting the directives between November and April, no one was able to convey information to the Iowa Legislature. He believed this is why legislation restricting DEI offices and spending at the state universities was passed.

Senate File 2435 would, using what Barker called a broader definition of DEI, bar universities from starting, maintaining or funding DEI offices or positions unless required by law or for accreditation. The Attorney General will handle complaints filed against universities claiming violations.

This bill, if signed into law, would make many of the board of regents directives irrelevant, Barker said. He suggested that the board and universities work together to become compliant under the new rules.

Regent Robert Cramer said he believed what theyve been doing under the directives is now moot, and expressed disappointment at the legislation being passed without lawmakers knowing what the regents know now.

Wilson said she believes much of the work currently being conducted in the universities is in the spirit of the law, and the most important thing to know is that the end goal is to support all students.

So while I wish too that we didnt have laws in front of us, and that the board directives would have been given more opportunity to unfold, I think we shouldnt jump to conclude anything about whether were in compliance with the law, Wilson said. My read is different than yours on that front.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt said Friday that a recent audit's criticisms of pandemic spending and contracting practices are "frustrating" and "unfair." (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday called a recent state audit and demands for a member of his administration to resign a frustrating political attack from state leaders preparing to run for higher office.

I think what Oklahomans need to understand is youve got an AG whos already said hes running for governor (and) youve got an auditor whos running for lieutenant governor, Stitt said during his weekly media briefing. Within an hour, they coordinated press statements on this 200-page report. So what Im trying to say is when you politicize, you try to attack other political opponents, its just very frustrating for for Oklahomans

State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released a scathing report on Tuesday that questioned how Oklahoma spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds and scrutinized a practice by state officials to give contracts without competitive bidding.

The audit reviewed how the state spent COVID-19 relief funds in the 2022 fiscal year. Byrds office conducted a similar audit for fiscal year 2021 and uncovered similar issues but the numbers in question are now larger.

Two agencies have previously reported these deficiencies so these findings are no surprise to anyone, Byrd said in a statement Friday. The audit report is accurate and the concerns are real. I am hopeful the Governor will take time to read the report and take measures to correct these deficiencies that have resulted in the abuse of Oklahomans tax dollars.

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd questioned no-bid contracts and millions of dollars in pandemic relief spending in an audit this week. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Byrd also raised conflict of interest concerns over former Oklahoma Employment Security Commission executive director Shelley Zumwalt, who approved $8.5 million in change order payments and extensions on a no-bid contract for a software company where her husband is vice president.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for Zumwalt to resign, saying the audit findings show wholly inappropriate and potentially unlawful actions. Zumwalt is now the executive director of the state Department of Tourism and Recreation and is Stitts Cabinet secretary of tourism.

Attorney General Drummond stands by his statement about the audit findings and will continue to work for accountability on behalf of Oklahoma taxpayers, Drummonds communications director, Phil Bacharach, said on Friday.

Zumwalt said she will not resign because there never was a conflict of interest issue. She said she disclosed her connection to the software vendor before she was hired at OESC and her husband, who isnt an owner of the company, never did any work with the state.

Stitt said it was unfair to criticize use of no-bid contracts during the early months of the pandemic, a time when emergency declarations were issued and OESC had to process exponentially more unemployment claims.

The governor voiced his support for Zumwalt to continue as a state agency head.

I think she should stay as the director of tourism, Stitt said. All this stuff was known a year ago by the Senate during her (confirmation) hearings, and shes already been confirmed.

Shelley Zumwalt, director of tourism and recreation, came under fire after a state audit was released Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

But her tenure as a Cabinet secretary might come to an end, the governor said.

In a separate dispute between the attorney general and the governor, Drummond issued a legally binding opinion in February on dual office-holding that threw Zumwalts status and that of other Cabinet secretaries into doubt.

The opinion focused on Department of Transportation head Tim Gatz, who also led the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and sat on the governors Cabinet. The governor said the opinion also threatened other secretaries ability to sit on the Cabinet and lead a state agency at the same time.

Stitt, Zumwalt and two other secretaries have sued Drummond to challenge the opinion.

The governor said Zumwalt has offered to resign from his Cabinet.

She said, Hey, I dont need to be in the limelight here. If Im causing this administration any problems, Ill just step down as secretary and focus on tourism. And so that may be what happens.

State lawmakers appeared to share the state auditors concerns over the Office of Management and Enterprise Services use of no-bid contracts. The Legislature sent a bill to the governors desk on Wednesday that would require all purchases of equipment, products and services to be competitively bid.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to add a statement from State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd.

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Gov. Bill Lee is pictured here with Republican legislative leaders but continues to strike out on big legislative initiatives. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Gov. Bill Lee is pictured here with Republican legislative leaders but continues to strike out on big legislative initiatives. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Gov. Bill Lee entered the fray as a political outsider six years ago. Based on his performance toward the end of the 113th General Assembly, hes still standing on the other side of the fence  almost invisible.

The Legislature ignored his pleas to pass a private-school voucher bill for every student in the state, and Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga balked at his opposition to the United Auto Workers vote by opting to unionize by 3-to-1.

That made him 0-for-2 heading into the final week of the Legislatures Nashville occupation when he managed to squeak out at least a partial victory as lawmakers reached an agreement for passing the administrations $1.9 billion franchise tax break. What a legacy: a massive tax break for Lee Co., the HVAC and plumbing giant.

Lees folks started pushing repeal of the property tax portion of the franchise and excise tax this year after more than 80 companies challenged it. The claim was that it caused significant legal risk, although nobody has seen a lawsuit, leaving many lawmakers perplexed about giving away a big chunk of state revenue, most of which will go back to out-of-staters.

Gov. Bill Lees legacy may be not education reform but a $1.9 billion tax break for businesses, that the Lee Co.  the HVAC and plumbing giant his family founded  could benefit from.

Lee, whose connection to the Lee Co. was placed in a blind trust (with plantation shutters?) at the start of his administration, lobbied against House efforts to put tax dodgers names and rebate amounts on the states website. He called it unprecedented.

But following a Last Supper gathering in the Senate meeting room Thursday morning, lawmakers approved a three-year $1.55 billion rebate, repeal of the property tax provision that will cost $400 million annually in perpetuity, a transparency deal to name the companies seeking rebates and a range showing how much theyll get back.

The upper range is $10,000 and above, laughable as one onlooker said, meaning the biggest companies CEOs would have to decide whether they want to list their business on the Department of Revenue site or, for example, take a $5 million kickback, excuse me, I mean rebate.

While Republicans argued that the state had erroneously taken the money from businesses, Democrats countered that there is nothing fiscally conservative about a $1.7 billion handout.

Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell of Nashville contended, The House does not roll over the Senate and bow down to the Senate.

Well, maybe it does.

And, yes, Virginia, corporations are people, too. You know all that refund money will go straight into workers pockets.

(It must be noted here that Democratic Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar voted for the franchise tax deal while Republican Reps. Gino Bulso of Brentwood and Jody Barrett of Dickson voted no.)

In the case of Lee Co., its unclear how much it could get back, though its 2022 revenue was reported at $340 million. But since Lee has nothing to do with the companys operations while hes in office, he could be immune from criticism for pushing a massive tax break that benefits the HVAC and plumbing company. Id hate to be the CEO who doesnt file for the break.

Lee wanted to be known as an education reformer, if that means doling out millions to private schools.

Instead, two years from now, hell be landing with a golden parachute while the states unwashed masses beg for a grocery tax break thatll net them a few bucks a month.

Since were talking about batting averages, we wont give Lee credit for 1-for-3, because batting .300 will put you in the Hall of Fame. No, well give him half a hit and let him hit about .250 with warning track power, not quite legendary status, but at least good enough for lame duck standing.

House Minority Leader Karen Camper gestures as Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, at left, exchanges words with House Majority Leader William Lamberth, not pictured. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The 113th General Assembly ends.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton kicks back on Wednesday, April 24. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, sponsor of a bill to arm teachers, reads a report from the safety commission at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, site of a 2018 mass shooting. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Rep. John Ray Clemmons expresses relief as the House passes a motion to 'sine die': to end the legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Amid a House vote that will allow teachers to carry concealed firearms in public school, lawmakers enjoyed catered Chik-fil-A lunches. (Photo: John Partipilo)

House Minority Leader Karen Camper gestures as Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, at left, exchanges words with House Majority Leader William Lamberth, not pictured. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The Reynolds effect

Speaking of losses, Gov. Lees decision to stand behind Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds, despite her shortcomings, is proving to be yet another horrible move.

On the one hand, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti opined this week that the education commissioner has to be qualified to teach in the school of the highest standing of which the commissioner has authority, as required by state law. The Tennessee Journal first reported the opinion.

But then he went through a lengthy effort to explain how teacher certification isnt the same thing as being qualified to teach, pulling from a 100-year-old law and practices by local school districts.

Reynolds and Lee apparently thought she needed to get up to snuff or she wouldnt have enrolled in a teaching course at UT-Martin and signed for a tuition waiver  possibly committing perjury, since she hadnt been a Tennessee resident for six months, as required.

A Rube Goldberg maze of words: In a legal opinion about Education Commissioner Lizette Reynoldss fitness for office, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti wrote the the commissioner must be qualified to teach, but not necessarily certified to teach.

Based on nearly a century of changes in requirements for county schools superintendents and the general need for literary and scientific attainments, Skrmetti found that the General Assembly chose to grant the Governor unchecked authority to appoint the Commissioner of Education.

Of course, Skrmetti also said the General Assembly doesnt have standing to file a lawsuit if it wants to remove the education commissioner.

Critics say she moved here from Texas to carry the governors private-voucher bill to passage. If thats the case, she failed miserably because the bill never could gain traction, and some wonder how long it will take for her to move back to the Lone Star State.

Skrmetti also said in his opinion he would be the only one who could sue to remove the commissioner.

Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer of Nashville responded that the attorney generals opinion is unclear and raises more questions because it says the act clearly states they have to have a teacher license, but then says they likely dont need the license.

Regardless, Commissioner Reynolds has shown through her actions, words and lack of general understanding of Tennessee education policy she is not qualified to be in the role.

Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons of Nashville accused Skrmetti of tap dancing around the language in the 100-year-old law in an attempt to protect the governors clearly unqualified appointee who is being paid over $255,000 per year. Clemmons contends the opinion confirms Reynolds is unqualified.

Whether unqualified or not certified to teach, whatever term you choose, and still registered to vote in Texas at the start of the year, Reynolds is hanging in by the skin of her teeth. The governors office sends out the same tired response each time reporters check on her status: Shes the greatest thing since sliced bread.

But while she couldnt answer most questions lawmakers had about vouchers this session, she at least told the truth about one thing: Test scores for students in the education savings account program were nothing to write home about.

And one more thing: If some other prospective teacher lied on a tuition waiver form, they would probably face prosecution, instead of being given the excuse of an administrative error.

Yet another failure

Gov. Lee floated the idea for an extreme risk protection order law last year in the wake of the Covenant School shooting but couldnt persuade lawmakers to adopt it. He refused to bring it up in a special session on public safety.

Not only did lawmakers refuse to consider the plan in 2023, they voted this session to prevent local governments and the federal government from passing red flag laws to allow police from confiscating the guns of people deemed a risk to themselves and others.

Democratic Rep. Justin J. Pearson argued that instead of preempting local governments that might have a modicum of courage, the House should be enacting gun laws to protect people.

Republican Rep. Barrett of Dickson, though, said he swore an oath to uphold the Second Amendment and later pointed out, if left to their own devices, local governments would adopt different laws and leave people uncertain about the rules each time they crossed a county line.

They then put another nail in the coffin of so-called local control.

Genesis of child rape bill

Aaron Gulbransen, a lobbyist with the Faith & Freedom Coalition and a former writer with the conservative Tennessee Star, brought the legislation this year that will allow child rape offenders to be given the death penalty.

Both houses passed the measure amid quite a bit of grumbling. Nobody wants to be seen as coddling child rapists, but several Democrats contended that execution is not a deterrent and that putting child rape convicts on death row will force victims to relive the trauma for decades.

Predictably, House Majority Leader William Lamberth clashed with Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn during floor debate this week, reading from testimonies of people purportedly supporting the death penalty for child rapists.

As usual, the Republican-controlled chamber passed the measure with ease. Who wants to go home and face an election challenger who could say you like child rapists?

Gulbransen, who apparently made the shift from reporter to lobbyist with ease, acknowledged the plan is to bring a case to the U.S. Supreme Court that will overturn settled law, which allows the death penalty only for first-degree.

In our quest to fight child and human trafficking and defend children, as an organization we were exploring with various members of the General Assembly for about a year how to add penalties to these offenses, whether its child rape and obviously there is a trafficking component because if youre facilitating the rape of a child, I could see there being application there.

I hope the DAs, when they get their discretion, will consider that, Gulbransen said.

Lamberth took the lead, and the rest is history.

Expect to hear more on this in a couple of years because even though its unconstitutional now, this Supreme Court full of Donald Trump appointees could turn it back.

Just as the justices allowed states to ban abortion, they could let states kill more people for a heinous crime, even when the states system for execution is on hold because people dont know how to mix the chemicals properly.

Flag bill dies

The bill designed to stop Pride rainbow flags from being flown in schools  championed by Rep. Bulso and Sen. Joey Hensley, both supporters of cousinly love  died in the Senate this week when Lt. Gov. Randy McNally voted against it in a 13-6 outcome that sent the bill packing. It was a rare loss for a Republican bill in the Senate.

A measure by Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, to ban LGBTQ Pride flags from schools, failed. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A measure by Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, to ban LGBTQ Pride flags from schools, failed. (Photo: John Partipilo)

McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, said it had constitutional problems two months ago and stuck with his first intuition.

The comment made for strange partners. McNally also said he was tired of paying the ACLU, the same thing Behn noted when she argued against a bill prohibiting people other than parents or guardians to take children out of state for transgender or abortion treatment, which are now illegal in Tennessee. (Sorry, but I might be confusing my culture war bills here.)

Either way, weve been led to believe the state has a new underground railroad for teens seeking abortions and transgender treatment, and we need a new law even though kidnapping is illegal already.

Last-minute shenanigans

The House and Senate were caught up Thursday in a move to make transporting a minor out of state for transgender treatment a felony.

The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Bryan Richey of Maryville passed the House initially without the felony charge. But then lawmakers tried to re-establish a felony with a deal that would allow it to be voted on without going through finance committees.

Eventually, the felony charge was removed, according to Richey, but a civil action could be taken against anyone accused of taking a child out of state. The amended bill also removes a provision saying a medical diagnosis is not a form of recruitment.

Another clash

Reps. Justin Jones and Pearson are accustomed to being silenced for breaking House rules.

But Behn found herself on the wrong side of the law this week when she accused Rep. Jason Zachary of laughing when she spoke against his bill to stop children from being transported out of state for abortions.

Its not funny. And every time youve presented this bill youve been smug, and I dont appreciate it, Behn said.

Another Republican immediately accused her of disparaging Zachary.

Does this man look smug to you? After Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, called Knoxville Republican Jason Zachary, pictured here, GOP lawmakers accused her of disparaging him. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Does this man look smug to you? After Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, called Knoxville Republican Jason Zachary, pictured here, GOP lawmakers accused her of disparaging him. (Photo: John Partipilo)

What? We thought that was a compliment for Zachary, a Knoxville Republican who said he called Gov. Lees office and asked him to intervene in a purported case of transporting a minor out of state for abortion care.

Ultimately, Zachary apologized to Behn (maybe), saying he laughed because the ever-present Lamberth offered him a drink of water from a cup hed used.

The attempt at humor is not lost on those who live with a BS meter.

And it came after Democratic leaders asked the parliamentary question: Can it be a violation of House Rule 19 if its fact?

They silenced Behn temporarily, nevertheless. But if looks could kill, Zachary would be another zombie.

In your head, in your head, they are fighting. *

(Zombie, The Cranberries)







The post Stockard on the Stump: Gov stumbles to end of Tennessee session appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
Staff members inspect electricity at the Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2024.

The Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project is an important engineering project, designed for multiple purposes including flood control, navigation and power generation. Regular inspections have been carried out to eliminate safety hazards during the flood season. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

A staff member inspects a hoist room at the Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2024.

The Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project is an important engineering project, designed for multiple purposes including flood control, navigation and power generation. Regular inspections have been carried out to eliminate safety hazards during the flood season. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 26, 2024 shows a flood control warehouse at the Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project is an important engineering project, designed for multiple purposes including flood control, navigation and power generation. Regular inspections have been carried out to eliminate safety hazards during the flood season. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 26, 2024 shows the Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project is an important engineering project, designed for multiple purposes including flood control, navigation and power generation. Regular inspections have been carried out to eliminate safety hazards during the flood season. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)

Staff members inspect a sluice at the Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project in Guiping, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2024.

The Datengxia Gorge water conservancy project is an important engineering project, designed for multiple purposes including flood control, navigation and power generation. Regular inspections have been carried out to eliminate safety hazards during the flood season. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
Stoltenberg: 'It is not too late for Ukraine to prevail'

Ukraine can still win the war against Russia, but allies have more to do to ensure Kyiv receives "the support we have promised," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on April 25.

Speaking at the Atlantik-Brucke event in Berlin, Stoltenberg said members of the bloc now had to "turn these commitments into real deliveries of weapons and ammunition  and to do so quickly."

A months-long delay in U.S. aid has meant the situation on the battlefield has deteriorated for Ukraine, and cities across the country have suffered under Russian drone and missile attacks due to a lack of air defenses.

Congress finally passed the bill this week, and European countries, including the U.K., Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, have all recently made further pledges of military aid.

"In recent months, NATO allies have not provided the support we have promised," he said, adding: "But it is not too late for Ukraine to prevail because more support is on the way."

Read also: When and how will US aid impact the front lines in Ukraine?

After months of political wrangling, the Pentagon announced on April 24 that it is ready to move forward with sending $1 billion of weapons from U.S. stockpiles to Kyiv now that President Joe Biden has signed a $95 billion aid package that includes more aid for Ukraine.

The new package will include RIM-7 and AIM-9M missiles for air defense, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, TOW missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

It will also include additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), precision aerial munitions artillery shells, including high explosive and dual-purpose improved conventional munitions rounds (DPICM), and various other support equipment.

"This package will surge munitions, weapons, and equipment forward to support Ukraine's ability to defend its frontlines, protect its cities, and counter Russia's continued attacks," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Some of the U.S. military aid for Kyiv is already reportedly in Germany and Poland, cutting down the time needed for the weapons and equipment to reach the front line.

Other pieces derived from the $61 billion package may take more time, as they may need to be sent from the U.S. or other locations. Some potential items of military aid will also need to be purchased or even manufactured, which will take even longer.

Read also: Explaining Washingtons REPO Act that could kick-start the confiscation of frozen Russian assets

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Thursday afternoon, about 50 people had joined the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

While student encampments at New York and Texas colleges protesting Israeli military action in Gaza have generated confrontations with police, similar protests at Michigan universities have so far remained peaceful.

At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, more than 120 students are camped out on the Diag, the open space at the heart of the main campus. That has grown from about 50 students who turned out on early Monday morning to set up the encampment directly in front of the Hatcher Graduate Library.

Amid Palestinian flags and banners that call on the university to Divest Now!, sit more than 40 tents, most facing toward the center of the encampment where food tables and information boards sit, as well as a small staging area for organizers to address fellow students.

The Friday morning announcements began with an update on similar protest encampments across the country, reminders to not engage with any counter-protestors and Shabbat services and dinner planned for the encampment later Friday night.

Alifa Chowdhury, a junior studying political science and one of the student organizers, told the Michigan Advance that they have one demand for the universitys board of regents.

Our only demand is divestment, and were here to stay until divestment demands are met, said Chowdhury, who is also a member of the TAHRIR Coalition, a student-led alliance of more than 80 organizations fighting for divestment from Israel and the military-industrial complex and reinvestment in our education and our community.

Specifically, Chowdhury said weapons manufacturing and war profiteering companies are connected to about a third of the University of Michigans $18 billion endowment.

The student encampment on the University of Michigan campus. April 26, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

A Star of David painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag at the student encampment on the University of Michigan campus. April 26, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

Banner at the student encampment on the University of Michigan campus. April 26, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

The student encampment on the University of Michigan campus. April 26, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

Palestinian flag at the student encampment on the University of Michigan campus. April 26, 2024. Photo by Jon King.

During times of war, like right now, they make more money because obviously people are buying more weapons, she said. And that just doesnt make sense to us as students because thats just not ethical because were making more money off the blood of people overseas. So the ask really is to take that $6 billion out and reinvest it into communities and really ethical things.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on Oct. 7, after a surprise Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of more than 250 hostages. The resulting Israeli retaliation has killed more than than 34,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry.

In a news release issued Monday by the TAHRIR Coalition announcing the encampment, the group said, We are not leaving the Diag until we achieve full divestment. Power to our freedom fighters, glory to our martyrs. All eyes on Gaza, the Thawabit is our compass.

Colleen Mastony, the universitys assistant vice president for public affairs, told the Advance that their investment policy has been in place for nearly 20 years and shields the universitys investments from political pressures.

Much of the money invested through the universitys endowment, for example, is donor funding given to provide long-term financial support for designated purposes, she said. The Board of Regents reaffirmed its position on this issue earlier this year.

A March 28 statement by Regent Michael Behm said the universitys endowment had no direct investment in any Israeli company.

What we do have are funds that one of those companies may be part of a fund, Behm said. Another statement that was made was that $6 billion dollars or roughly one third of our endowment is invested in these Israeli companies. I asked the endowment team about that and, in actuality, less than one-tenth of 1% of the endowment is invested indirectly in such companies.

Chowdhury, however, says the regents and university are hiding behind a policy that has been flexible in the past.

The university has made it known that they will not divest because they dont make investment decisions and financial decisions based on political pressure, but we know thats not true, she said. They divested from Russia in a week, they divested from South African apartheid, they divested from fossil fuels, and those are inherently political decisions they had to make. So were here when were going to push for it and we know its going to happen.

The protestors have also demanded that University President Santa Ono meet with them by at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Michigan on a march toward President Santa Onos house, Dec. 1, 2023 | Jon King

Many of you have expressed interest in meeting with the TAHRIR coalition; here is your opportunity to do so, stated an email sent by the group to the university and its board of regents.

We stand in solidarity with our brave students occupying campus until our demand for divestment is met in full, the email continued. We reject any attempt to surveil, criminalize, or otherwise punish them for their activism. As members of the University of Michigan community, we firmly and proudly demand divestment now.

Earlier in the week, the Anti Defamation League (ADL) of Michigan, posted a picture from the encampment of a banner that read Long Live The Intifada, a reference to the Arabic word for uprising and a term often used to describe Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation.

We are dismayed to see anti-Israel protests at colleges and Universities like this one at the University of Michigan, using terms like Intifada, which refers to two periods of indiscriminate violence directed at Jews in Israel, resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives  Palestinian & Israeli. Simply put, Intifada is a call for violence that only stokes fear, anger and division, stated the ADL. Protests that use these terms dont alleviate suffering nor bring about lasting peace in a global or local setting.

The banner was not visible on Friday. As to claims that their protest is antisemitic, Chowdhury insists that is a false accusation that seeks to undermine legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and its policies, and has nothing to do with the Jewish religion.

I think if people spent more than ten minutes at this encampment, theres so much community and love and joy, music and art builds and open poetry and open mics, she said. This is also co-led by the Jewish Voices for Peace students, and so no, we dont foster antisemitism here. It really is a place of love. Anti-Zionism and anti-Zionist rhetoric should not be conflated with antisemitism. Theyre not the same thing. Theyre not interchangeable.

The pro-Palestinian encampment at The Peoples Park at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Meanwhile, Michigan State University students set up their Gaza Solidarity Encampment early on Thursday morning in The Peoples Park  the site of a similar protest against the Vietnam War decades ago.

By 1:30 p.m. Thursday, about 50 students were gathered at the site in back of Wells Hall along the Red Cedar River, where roughly two dozen tents were set up amid Palestinian flags, a Free Palestine chalk drawing on the sidewalk and banners that read, Stop Funding Genocide and Trustees: Divest Now.

The protest also featured a well-stocked snack table with cookies, fruit snacks, drinks and more, with students periodically trekking in more supplies, like green foam sleeping pads.

The protest was still going strong on Friday after protesters spent their first night camping out. MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant told the Advance that the protesters applied for a permit Thursday afternoon, requesting to camp/tent on campus through Sunday. The Board of Trustees Office approved the permit around 5 p.m. Thursday.

Fliers posted at the camp for Encampment Norms/Expectations included the following:

Practice kindness and treat others with respect.

Keep alert for marshalls instructions. Marshalls are wearing high-vis orange vests and are here to keep us safe.

Avoid interacting with police. If you see police, inform a marshall.

There was no sign of a police presence at that time, although students said MSU police had made several stops earlier in the day telling them to disperse.

Just a couple blocks away, dozens of MSU students donning green caps and gowns were busy taking photos outside Spartan Stadium and the Sparty Statue, the day before the start of spring graduation ceremonies.

Guerrant told the Advance on Friday that graduation has gone extremely smooth today.

Most students, many who wore masks, deferred to student leaders to talk to reporters on Thursday.

One of those who did speak was Camille Duvernois, a third-year student in world politics and journalism, who told the Advance the MSU students also seek divestment. The encampment was a joint effort by about 20 campus groups, she said.

We are here to get the university to divest from weapons manufacturers, to divest from Israeli aid. They have millions of dollars vested in weapons manufacturers, she said. Students and community members are uncomfortable with our tuition money going to not only profiting off of genocide, but also funding it. We are paying our tuition and then that tuition money is going back into investments that kill children, that are bombing children senselessly, that are bombing innocent civilians in a land that has been occupied for decades illegally by settler-colonialist forces.

Duvernois said the protestors would also like to see a ceasefire in Gaza that allows Palestinians displaced recklessly by Israel to return to their homes.

But the attempts for a ceasefire have been continuously rejected by the Israeli Knesset [Parliament]. Theyve been repeatedly rejected by [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu. He has repeatedly refused any sort of peace attempts from Palestinians, Duvernois said. Israel has refused for decades to allow Palestinians to exist in peace. And whenever theres retaliation of any sort, people resisting their occupiers, it turns into genocide and it turns into senseless murder, and we dont want our tuition money going to that.

When asked whether the remaining hostages taken by Hamas should be returned as part of a ceasefire, Duvernois said it was absolutely a concern, although she continued to place blame on Israel.

Of course. We dont think that there should be any sort of violence or loss of life, she said But ultimately this violence is caused by the settler colonial ethnostate that is Israel. I mean, they are the reason that there are hostages. Theres the reason that there is violence.

Duvernois said their protest would last as long as it took to achieve success.

A banner with "Trustees: Divest Now" hangs at the entry to the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Michigan State University protesters wrote in chalk, "Free Palestine" alongside the Palestinian flag by the encampment, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment posted a flier with norms and expectations at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Students at the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

One of the tents at the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University had a "Stop Funding Genocide" sign, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Michigan State University protesters wrote in chalk, "Divest Now" by the encampment, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Michigan State University students take graduation photos along the Red Cedar River across from Spartan Stadium, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

One of the tents at the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University had a "Stop Funding Genocide" sign, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

People bring in supplies for the pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

The pro-Palestinian encampment at "The People's Park" at Michigan State University, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

Michigan State University students take graduation photos along the Red Cedar River across from Spartan Stadium, April 25, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

We will not end this stuff until the university decides to stop using our money for this sort of violence. They said in their last board trustees meetings that they would not be reconsidering their investments, that they would not be considering divestment. And when [new University President Kevin] Guskiewicz just talked to us, he said they were considering it. So thats progress in some manner. I mean, they said it would be too chaotic to divest, but this is chaotic.

However, Guerrant relayed a different version of the meeting with Guskiewicz on Thursday.

The president did stop by the encampment yesterday around noon, but he did not say the university would divest, Guerrant said in an email on Friday afternoon. Rather, he reiterated what was said at the April board meeting  that MSU will not be divesting. The university is committed to safeguarding its investment portfolio from political influence. We currently have no direct or indirect investments in gun manufacturers nor in the three publicly traded civilian firearm manufacturers. MSU does not own an Israeli-issued security bond.

Eli Folts, who just finished his junior year at MSU, is a member of the Young Communist League on campus part of the encampment. He said on Thursday that divestment was not an impossible goal.

We need divestment. Weve done it in the past and we were a leader then, he said referencing divestment in the 1980s from the then apartheid-nation of South Africa.

I mean, if you think about it, look at the timeline, he said. It took eight to 10 years. It took a long time, but once it kind of hit that critical mass where we had that cooperation between faculty and students, it was very powerful. And I think thats far from impossible. We can do it. We have the people; we have faculty support. We just really need to push this and we need to engage community members. We need to engage alum.

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The post Student encampments at U of M and MSU seek divestment from Israel appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Student protesters critical of the Israeli government's military actions in Gaza have continued to face accusations of antisemitism, as politicians from across the ideological spectrum react to the widening demonstrations on college campuses.

But many of the student groups behind the protests  including Jewish activists voicing their support for a cease-fire in Gaza  said that individuals making inflammatory remarks do not represent their groups or their values concerning the war in Gaza.

"At universities across the nation, our movement is united in valuing every human life," read a statement from Columbia University Apartheid Divest, one of the groups involved in the protests. "As a diverse group united by love and justice, we demand our voices be heard against the mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza."

Some Jewish students have long warned against conflating antisemitism with views critical of Israel's government and blanket portrayals of all protesters as antisemitic.

"It is unacceptable for school administration and politicians ... to co-opt our shared identity to silence Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and Jewish students," said MIT Jews for Ceasefire, Harvard Jews for Palestine, and University of Pennsylvania Chavurah in a December 2023 statement to Congress. "These actions only serve to obfuscate real cases of antisemitism and put Jewish students at even greater risk."

College students tackle the debate

Tensions have been high on college campuses since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel in an unprecedented surprise attack. The Israeli military then began its ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Since Oct. 7, Israeli forces have killed at least 34,183 people and injured 77,143 others in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

In Israel, at least 1,700 people have been killed and 8,700 others injured by Hamas or other Palestinian militants, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Students nationwide have been camping out on their college and university campuses, calling for their schools to divest funding from Israeli military operations amid the humanitarian crisis and rising death toll in Gaza.

The college protests have been largely peaceful, officials say, though hundreds of students and faculty have been arrested at campuses across the country, primarily for trespassing. School administrators across the country have also said that some instances of violence have largely been connected to unaffiliated non-students.

Incidents go viral

Several antisemitic incidents in or near protests have trended online  including a photo that appears to show an individual holding up a sign that states "Al-Qassam's Next Target," referring to a military wing of Hamas, pointing toward people holding Israeli flags on Columbia University's campus on April 20. It remains unclear who the person is and whether they are a student.

PHOTO: At the Columbia University protest on April 20, 2024, a person holds up an Al-Qassam sign. It is not known whether that person is affiliated with Columbia University. Al-Qassam is the armed wing of Hamas. (Obtained by ABC News)

Another video trending on social media appears to show another person shouting "We are Hamas" as a man draped in an Israeli flag walks outside the Columbia University campus on April 17.

"We will not be a city of lawlessness, and those professional agitators seeking to seize the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow chaos and division in our city will not succeed," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

At Cal Poly Tech, administrators say that "hateful graffiti" has been painted on university property, but did not elaborate in their statement on what the graffiti entailed.

"The University condemns in the strongest terms all forms of hatred, bigotry, and violence," the school's April 24 statement read. "Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, hatred, and bigotry in all forms have no place at Cal Poly Humboldt. The University is actively offering support to all students and has been in touch with local Jewish community leaders.

President Joe Biden, House Speaker Mike Johnson and others have denounced alleged instances of hate amid ongoing debate around the Israel-Hamas war.

"Even in recent days, we've seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews," Biden said earlier this week in a statement. "This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous  and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, on April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Students share concerns

In a March U.S. House committee hearing, other Jewish students and groups said that the intensifying debate regarding the Israel-Hamas war has created a "climate of hatred and fear," and highlighted alleged antisemitic harassment and intimidation since the start of the war.

One student told the committee that she has had slurs like "F--- you, Jew," shouted at her since the war began on Oct. 7.

"This is the reality as a Jewish student who wears the Star of David," Yasmeen Ohebsion, of Tulane University, said at the hearing.

Jewish students in support of pro-Palestinian efforts have said they've also experienced antisemitism from those who disagree with their position.

"Jewish supporters of Israel at MIT have called me an antisemite, Hamas, a self-hating Jew, and have told me that I am 'not a real Jew' and that 'God made a mistake by having you born a Jew'," read one testimonial submitted to Congress.

Higher education institutions have come under scrutiny for how they've handled the unrest from all sides -- with Jewish, Muslim and Arab students alike calling out their respective administrations for allegedly failing to protect students with identities tied to the conflict overseas.

PHOTO: Pro-Palestinian students and activsts gather at a protest encampment on the campus of Columbia University, in New York, on April 25, 2024. (Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)

"I also want to be clear that we will not tolerate intimidating, harassing, or discriminatory behavior," said Columbia President Minouch Shafik, who has been the center of criticism for some students and politicians alike, in an April 23 statement.

She said her administration is working to identify protesters who have violated policies against discrimination and harassment: "The right to protest is essential and protected at Columbia, but harassment and discrimination is antithetical to our values and an affront to our commitment to be a community of mutual respect and kindness."

MORE: Jewish student protesters celebrate Passover Seder in pro-Palestinian encampments

Authorities and civil rights groups across the country have noted a rise in incidents targeting Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities.

"The situation on campus has become utterly and categorically untenable for an educational institution that has the responsibility of ensuring its students have a productive academic environment conducive to continued learning," said Students Supporting Israel's Columbia University chapter in an online statement about recent protests.

Amid the intensifying debate, some Jewish students say there should also be room for a conscious effort to reject and unlearn normalized antisemitism across the political spectrum.

"There have been both beautiful moments of solidarity for Palestinian liberation and moments of real distress for Jewish students," said Columbia Jews for Ceasefire in an online statement.

The student group said it is the "utmost importance" for the focus to be on the crisis in Gaza, but the group will "continue to call out and condemn antisemitism where we see it because all identity-based hatred is at odds with liberation."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week condemned protesters critical of Israeli policy. "What's happening in America's college campuses is horrific. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities," Netanyahu said. "They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty."

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is Jewish, responded to Netanyahu in a statement Thursday night, saying, in part, "It is not antisemitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,000  seventy percent of whom are women and children. It is not antisemitic to point out that your bombing has completely destroyed more than 221,000 housing units in Gaza, leaving more than a million people homeless  almost half the population."

Student protesters denounce antisemitism amid criticism over pro-Palestinian encampments at college campuses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Weve missed out on enough, said one senior, who also acknowledged it seems trivial "to complain about graduation when peoples lives are on the line"

Unique Nicole/Getty Graduates celebrate during the procession at USC's 140th commencement ceremony on May 12, 2023

Amid the recent wave of college protests over the Israel-Hamas war, some graduating students who didnt experience a traditional high school graduation in 2020 due to the pandemic are experiencing mixed emotions knowing that they might miss out on the experience again.

On Thursday, April 25, the University of Southern California (USC), which has seen protests as well as 93 arrests at its campus on the heels of the decision to cancel Muslim student Asna Tabassum's valedictorian speech, announced that it will not hold its main graduation commencement ceremony scheduled for May 10. Instead, the university will be hosting dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school commencement ceremonies where students cross the stage, have their names announced, are photographed, and receive their diplomas.

With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially, USCs statement added. As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The last time USC canceled its main commencement ceremony was in 2020 shortly after the COVID pandemic started, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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Divya Jakatdar, a senior and student body president at USC, told The New York Times that the decision was a "very big hit to morale." Like many others, Jakatdar's high school had a "drive-through" ceremony, and the senior had been hoping senior year at USC would be a kind of do-over.

Weve missed out on enough, Jakatdar told the newspaper, going on to add that at the same time, It seems sort of ridiculous for us to complain about graduation when peoples lives are on the line.

Related: Hundreds of Students Protest Texas Schools New Cellphone Ban: 'This Is Not Right'

Another USC senior, who had a similar high school graduation, told Fox affiliate KTTV that his relatives were planning to visit Los Angeles to help him celebrate. "It was going to be a wonderful moment," he said.

Speaking with ABC affiliate KGO-TV, fellow senior Meera Popli said the decision to cancel graduation was "disheartening"  and that she "would've liked to see USC protect their students and protect their voices more."

Similar mixed emotions have also beeb on display from students at Columbia University, where over 100 students were arrested last week, per the Associated Press.



Senior Henry Sears told NBC News that "the top concern that Ive been thinking about is what will happen with commencement, especially since our first year of college was online."

Related: Texas Judge Sets Trial Date After Black Student Suspended Over His Locs

Rachel Burns, a graduating Columbia student, experienced her high school graduation in Maine from a car in a school parking lot in 2020.

However, she is in solidarity with other Columbia student protesters, telling The New York Times, I think that whats most important right now is that we stick together and put up a united front against the administration and if that means sacrificing my graduation, then Im willing to do that.

Related: Christian University Grads Hand School President Pride Flags in Protest of Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, April 26, a Columbia University spokesperson said that commencement planning remains underway.

We continue to assess the situation on campus. We are focused on the events at hand and keeping the campus community safe and secure," the spokesperson said. "Planning is underway for commencement, as well, with the same goals in mind for this cherished annual celebration.

In addition to Columbia and USC, recent student protests have occurred at New York University, Ohio State University, Harvard University and other institutions in the U.S., per the AP.

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Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden has agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty for violating conflict of interest law by allowing his office to issue an official press statement aimed at discrediting his primary opponent days before the 2022 Democratic primary election.

The State Ethics Commission said Thursday that Hayden was aware of, and took no action to prevent, his office staff from releasing a statement contrary to the claims former City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo had made about decades-old sexual assault allegations against him being unfounded.

The authority and prestige of a District Attorneys office and the work time of its staff are valuable public resources to be used for the public good, Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson said in a statement. Their use to discredit a political opponent to gain advantage in an election or for any other private purpose is prohibited by the conflict of interest law.

The investigations into alleged sexual assaults dated back to 2005 and 2007 when Arroyo was a teenager. Those allegations, first published by the Boston Globe, became a focal point of the 2022 race.

Arroyo had sued the City of Boston for the release of Boston police investigation files that he claimed would show the allegations were unfounded.

Four days before the primary election and ninety minutes before the court-ordered deadline for the release of the records, Haydens office sent out a mass press statement, which contradicted Arroyos public claims of innocence and was widely reported, the Ethics Commission said.

The DA statement read, We have thoroughly reviewed our entire unredacted file regarding the sexual assault allegations against Ricardo Arroyo. Nothing in the file suggests or indicates that the allegations were unfounded. Also, nothing in the file questions the validity of the victims statements. The campaign to sabotage the victims credibility is shameful.

According to the Ethics Commission, Haydens failure to act knowingly was an unethical use of his official position as Suffolk District Attorney.

To secure for himself the unwarranted privilege of using valuable public resources for his political advantage and violated the conflict of interest law, e Ethics Commission said.

In response to the penalty the Suffolk County District Attorneys office released the following statement:

The statement in question was written and released by me with no participation or coordination from the DA. Our offices communications on this matter were above board, limited, and cautious. Out of great concern for the alleged victims involved, we responded to voluminous media questions with extreme care and without revealing any case details. However, District Attorney Hayden takes responsibility for his office and he wants no distractions from his vital mission of ensuring justice and public safety for the residents of Suffolk County.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday urged Israel against a pending invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza and stressed the need for defense contractors to increase munitions production as the Biden administration readies an influx of new aid for Ukraine.

His remarks came after Congress passed a multi-billion-dollar aid package for both countries earlier this week and subsequent Israeli press reports that the Israel Defense Forces are preparing to move into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have fled.

We have been absolutely clear about our grave concerns about an invasion of Rafah, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told Defense News. We believe there are other ways to do it than an invasion. That is what weve talked to the Israelis about.

Sullivan also stressed the $95 billion foreign aid package that President Joe Biden signed into law on Wednesday will help put the U.S. grow its munitions industrial base to help Ukraine counter Russia.

That doesnt mean there arent limitations on what we can do because it does take time to crank up the industrial base, he told Defense News at White House briefing to discuss the bill. If you think about the picture of something like 155mm ammunition, weve doubled our national production of 155. By the end of this year well have doubled it again and then be on track to go even beyond that.

There are other areas where the timelines for ramp up are longer, but the arrows are all pointing in the direction of the collective west ramping up its defense industrial base.

Sullivan said he expects the Ukraine funding at least through the end of this year and likely into next year.

The package includes $48 billion in Ukraine-related funding for the Pentagon, $14 billion in Israel military assistance and nearly $4 billion to arm Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies. Biden initially asked Congress for the supplemental spending package more than six months ago following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Growing Republican resistance to a fifth round of Ukraine assistance and initial opposition from former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, significantly delayed the bill. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., opted to hold votes on the package earlier this month in the wake of a meeting with Trump and Irans attack on Israel.

After months of pressure from some congressional Democrats, Biden signed an executive memorandum in February requiring all military aid recipients  including Ukraine and Israel to submit assurances that they will comply with international humanitarian law and U.S. human rights laws.

Under Bidens memorandum, the Pentagon and State Department must assess Israels compliance with its human rights assurances in a report to Congress due May 8, with noncompliance possibly resulting in the suspension of military aid as stipulated by existing U.S. laws.

Well give an updated assessment on both the question of humanitarian assistance and civilian protection and conduct of military operations, said Sullivan. The president has been clear and has said publicly that our policy in Gaza will be determined by Israeli conduct in Gaza and well make our decisions accordingly.

The memorandum exempts air defense systems and other defensive equipment from restrictions. The Israel military aid in Congress recent package includes $4 billion to replenish air defense interceptors, $4.4 billion to replenish things like air-to-ground munitions and artillery shells and $3.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing.

The Ukraine portion of the bill includes $23 billion to replenish U.S. weapons sent to Kyiv. Additionally, theres another $13.8 billion in the bill to procure weapons contracts for Kyiv under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

The Pentagon is putting together a $1 billion package for Ukraine to transfer air defense interceptors, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons and artillery rounds from U.S. stockpiles.

Politico also reported Thursday that the Pentagon will soon announce a $6 billion package through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, including artillery ammunition, drones, air-to-air missiles and Patriot air defense munitions.

There is such a gap between where the collective west is and where it needs to be in terms of munitions stockpiles, said Sullivan. There is a need for replenishment on all of these systems that extends out years.

If anything, I believe that our defense industry is still underestimating, rather than overestimating, the need regardless of the precise duration or course of the war in Ukraine. And Patriot missile batteries are a great example.

Correction: A typographical error in an earlier version of this story mislabeled the type of ammunition Sullivan referenced. He was referring to 155mm rounds.
It is notoriously hard to predict a war. This week, in Warsaw (the right location), Rishi Sunak said we must put our defences on a war footing.

When he spoke, I happened to be reading the essays of Dean Inge, one of the most brilliant columnists and thinkers between the wars. In his preface, composed in January 1937, Inge wrote, The opinion on the Continent is that we are approaching a new and terrible European war  I do not believe it  Germany is in such a plight financially that I have grave doubts whether the Hitler regime can last the year. The Second World War began in September 1939. Warsaw fell that same month.

Poor Inge was making a mistake common among rational, intelligent people. He thought that, because a course of action cannot ultimately work, it will not happen. He added that Germany could never win a war against Russia. He was right about that, but drew the rational, wrong conclusion that Hitler would never attack.

I have Mr Sunak down as a hyper-rational, hyper-intelligent man and, for that very reason, liable to underrate the risk of human evil and madness. He prefers the careful deliberations of the counting house to the clash of human passions.

So his Warsaw speech is particularly welcome. He has, belatedly, noticed just how serious the danger is. He may have cast aside hesitation partly because Labours defence spokesman, John Healey, was chasing similar thoughts.

The Prime Minister is not the first to announce an increase in British defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. The person who gave me Inges book is Mr Sunaks old boss, Boris Johnson, who now lives in The Gloomy Deans former country house in Oxfordshire. At the Nato summit in Madrid, not long after Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Boris made a similar commitment to 2.5 per cent, for a similar reason.

Some say that the target is pretty much inevitable anyway because of existing defence commitments. Others point out that percentages are useless in themselves: what matters is how the money is spent.

They are right, but they should not forget that, for Mr Sunak, like Boris, the context is the current 2 per cent spending commitment made by all Nato members but fulfilled by so few. The point of announcing 2.5 per cent is to lead a European response to the famous Trump challenge to pay our defence dues.

Mr Sunak wants to show Putin that Europe and Britain wont let him win. Germany, Britain, and France each has a higher GDP than Russia, four times higher when combined. Although Nato, 75 years old this month, desperately needs continuing US support, the idea that it cannot resist Russian military threats is untrue. It is a question of will.

Not long after our Prime Minister, President Macron of France spoke in the Sorbonne for a couple of grandiloquent hours. This being France and he being Macron, the speech had an anti-American tinge and unrealistically high-flown rhetoric about an EU defence dimension.

Its underlying message, however, complemented that of Mr Sunak. The frenetic Macron who, in early 2022, was chasing last-minute deals with Putin, now aspires to lead the fightback of Western civilisation against him. Good: it shows the way the wind is blowing.

It had come so close to blowing the other way. For six months, we heard that the Congressional package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that the Republicans were blocking would come through in the end, but the end seemed never to arrive. Russia slowly advanced and many brave Ukrainians died deaths that could have been avoided if US supplies had kept flowing.

The one benefit of the delay is how clear and deliberate the US decision now is. Instead of waving any package through, as happened in the past, America, as Air Marshal Edward Stringer of Policy Exchange puts it, teetered on the banks of the Rubicon and then decided to cross.

US Republican isolationists were, to their annoyance, isolated. Is it even possible that Donald Trump will now see electoral virtue in helping Ukraine?

In his Warsaw words, Mr Sunak was careful to emphasise that a war footing does not mean on the brink of war: it is designed to mean the opposite, to act soon enough to prevent. He therefore quotes Churchill from an early date  1934  when rearming might have deterred Germany.

He is trying to develop a defence and security strategy arising from his analysis of the state of the world. President George W Bush famously referred to Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an axis of evil. Evil they were; an axis they werent. Mr Sunak has identified an axis of authoritarian states with different values to ours  Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

This axis genuinely exists, although Mr Sunak is a bit coy about how far to take this. It goes beyond different values. It is hostile not only to our beliefs but to our economic, military and cultural power.

China wants to become the top nation and is upping its threats to Taiwan. Russia wants to crush central European freedom and regain its imperial/Soviet grandeur. Iran wants to lead the Muslim world via the destruction of Israel. And little rocket man would like to blow up as many of us as possible. These tyrannies privately dislike one another, but their sense of their common enemy  us  is strong.

The axis gets bolder. China smashed our agreement for the special status of Hong Kong and exported Covid worldwide. Putin invaded Ukraine. Iran broke its habit of 45 years of indirect attack and flagrantly (though unsuccessfully) bombed Israel full-on, emboldened, not chastened by the disgusting massacre of Jews on October 7. You might say a war is already going on, on two fronts  one in Europe, the other in the Middle East.

For our part, the West pursued policies that were blind to danger  letting China into the World Trade Organisation; letting Russia grab South Ossetia, then Crimea and then build up against the rest of Ukraine; wooing Iran with the promise of a nuclear deal. The locusts began to eat those years faster and faster.

In Warsaw, Mr Sunak sketched out ideas of what moving to a war footing means. It involves war stocks, reserve forces, drone technology, a recognition that stuff for Ukraine is not charity but policy, and a domestic defence industry that aligns with our declared aims.

It requires what the PM calls a fully functioning strategic HQ through which the defence chiefs can be held accountable for delivering the war preparations. At present, there are no real aims and therefore no real accountability for achieving them.

One thing Mr Sunak did not discuss is that preparing a war footing is not only a matter for the Ministry of Defence. It governs our alliances and diplomacy, how we trade and which immigrants we admit. It affects how we deal with issues like the Chinese Communist Partys penetration of most British universities.

It also puts a security lens on policies that already exist. Of these, perhaps the most important is net zero, whose effect is to weaken Western energy security and prosperity, while making us ever more dependent on China for batteries, electric vehicles and so much more.

If he means what he says, Mr Sunak has started something big.

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Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, while justices hear oral arguments about whether federal law protects emergency abortion care. (Sofia Resnick | States Newsroom)

The U.S. Supreme Court debated this week whether a federal law applying to emergency medical treatment encompasses abortion care, even in states with strict abortion bans. But during the two hours of oral arguments, justices gave no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule.

A decision could come as soon as the end of June whether Idahos near-total abortion ban means doctors who might need to terminate a pregnancy during a health emergency would be protected from prosecution under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, a federal law that requires hospitals to treat patients who come to an emergency room regardless of their ability to pay. That includes treatment to prevent serious damage to bodily functions.

If the court decides the law does not provide that protection, then hospitals and doctors in Idaho have said they will have to continue transferring patients out of state for that treatment. Since January, when the court decided to take the case and struck down an injunction that provided protection under EMTALA, transfers out of state for pregnancy complications that may require termination increased from one in 2023 to six over the course of four months.

Oral arguments before the court took place Wednesday morning. The courts liberal wing  Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson  questioned Idaho Deputy Attorney General Josh Turner about what EMTALA explicitly says about stabilizing treatment and whether abortion procedures fall into that definition when complications occur before a fetus can survive outside of the womb.

Turner argued that Idahos law should supersede federal law in the case of abortion procedures, even if it goes against commonly accepted medical care standards.

Sotomayor rejected that argument.

There is no state licensing law that would permit the state to say, Dont treat diabetics with insulin. Treat them only with pills, Sotomayor said. Federal law would say you cant do that.

She said federal law requires treatment of a person who is at risk of serious medical complications without that treatment, but Idahos law does not provide that much leeway.

Idaho law says the doctor has to determine not that theres really a serious medical condition, but that the person will die. Thats a huge difference, counsel, she said.

Idahos abortion ban went into effect in August 2022, a few months after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal protection for abortion access and allowing states to regulate it instead. Providers who are prosecuted for performing an abortion are subject to two to five years in prison plus the loss of their medical license, and they are also subject to civil enforcement laws by any family members related to the person who had the abortion.

Doctors are subject to prosecutorial discretion in Idaho, deputy AG says

The justices repeatedly asked Turner to identify situations where a doctor might provide an abortion as part of stabilizing care and it would not be allowed under Idaho law. He continued to point to the states exception to save a patients life and referred to a doctors good faith medical judgment being enough to avoid prosecution.

The government listed nine emergency medical conditions where termination of the pregnancy may be the recommended treatment to stabilize a patients condition, including when the water breaks before a fetus is viable or when a patient experiences uncontrolled high blood pressure or bleeding. Idaho doctors identified one recent traumatic case when a patient had to wait until advanced infection set in before the doctor felt secure enough to end the pregnancy. Others are sending patients out of state as soon as termination might be needed to avoid having to wait until they meet qualifications under Idahos exception to prevent death.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, considered one of the courts more conservative members, said Turner was hedging in his answers and asked what happens if another doctor or prosecutor reaches a contrary conclusion about what the appropriate medical treatment should have been.

That, your honor, is the nature of prosecutorial discretion, Turner said.

Barrett also asked if Idaho had released any legal guidance about its abortion laws, the way a federal health agency might issue guidance. Turner said the guiding star is the Idaho Supreme Courts opinion from August 2022 interpreting the abortion statute, where it said the law does not require imminence of death or medical certainty for a physician to intervene. The Idaho court also said another doctors opinion would only be considered if they accused the doctor who performed the abortion of acting in bad faith.

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said for those reasons, women in Idaho are not getting the treatment they need, often in already-tragic situations where a wanted pregnancy is lost because of complications.

They are getting airlifted to Salt Lake City and to neighboring states where there are health exceptions in their laws, she said. The doctors cant provide the care until they can conclude that a prosecutor looking over their shoulder wont second guess that maybe it wasnt really necessary to prevent death.

Conservatives ask about conscience objections, expansion of emergency definition

The more conservative justices offered mixed questions to Prelogar, who argued on behalf of the government. Justice Neil Gorsuch posed questions related to the federal Supremacy Clause about when federal law can override state law in the context of medicine, while Barrett asked whether conscience exceptions exist for doctors who dont feel comfortable terminating a pregnancy even in emergency situations. Or if a hospital did not want to provide the procedure, such as a Catholic hospital, would be exempt under EMTALA for conscience reasons. One of Idahos largest hospital systems, Saint Alphonsus, is a Catholic hospital.

Prelogar confirmed that yes, individual doctors and entire medical entities qualify for those conscience objections and are therefore not required to perform an abortion under EMTALA. But at a hospital that did not have a blanket objection, they would take individual objections into consideration for appropriate staffing so that there is always someone available to provide that care if necessary.

If the question is, could you force an individual doctor to step in over a conscience objection, the answer is no, and I want to be really clear about that, Prelogar said.

Justice Sam Alito also asked Prelogar if EMTALA could be understood to apply to other emergency situations such as a mental health emergency, if someone was expressing suicidal thoughts and wanted to end their pregnancy to resolve those thoughts. Idahos legal representation, conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, argued in its brief to the court that a ruling in favor of EMTALA protection would allow such situations to occur. Prelogar said no, the proper treatment would be to administer medications to alleviate the suicidal thoughts.

There can be grave mental health emergencies, but EMTALA could never require pregnancy termination as the stabilizing care  because that wouldnt do anything to address the underlying brain chemistry issue thats causing the mental health emergency in the first place, Prelogar said. If she happens to be pregnant, it would be incredibly unethical to terminate her pregnancy. She might not be in a position to give any informed consent.

Demonstrators, legislators from Idaho comment on court case

Hundreds of abortion rights advocates, medical professionals and two Idaho legislators gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning before the arguments advocating for the court to uphold EMTALA as a guiding principle regardless of state abortion laws. On the anti-abortion rights side, Idaho-based crisis pregnancy center Stanton Healthcare argued the case was about forcing states with abortion bans to perform them. Danielle Versluys, the organizations chief operating officer, said women with complications should deliver a baby naturally, regardless of the circumstances.

The outcome is the same  a dead baby  but the difference is one is natural, and the other is not, she said. And one allows the woman the natural process to give birth and to grieve, and the other one is unnatural.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, a Democrat and the legislatures minority leader, told States Newsroom the case is a waste of state taxpayer dollars.

It is, frankly, stunning that leaders in our state think that this is something they want so badly they were willing to take it to the Supreme Court to deprive women of appropriate care in medical emergencies, Rubel said. And with the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year, she added, If the Supreme Court does not give us EMTALA back, there will be no lifeline for women at least until 2025.

States Newsroom reproductive rights reporter Sofia Resnick contributed to this report.

The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The Supreme Court heard arguments in a historic case focusing on presidential immunity.

At issue is whether former president Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for what he claims were official acts while in office.

This decision will likely have implications on the special counsels election interference case against Trump as well as this years presidential race.

Attorneys representing Trump argued the former president is immune to federal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 election.

The justices appeared skeptical of Trumps attorneys arguments of broad immunity.

If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military or orders someone to assassinate him, is that within his official acts for which he can get immunity? asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

An attorney representing the Department of Justice says Trumps claim has no foundation in the constitution.

The former president was in New York attending his criminal hush money trial, but he shared his thoughts about the Supreme Court case.

A president has to have immunity. You dont have a president immunity, or you dont have a president. At most you could say it is a ceremonial president, Trump said.

The justices acknowledge their ruling will impact the future of the presidency.

A ruling in yesterdays cases could come between now and mid-summer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A guard of honor takes part in a ceremony marking Italy's Liberation Day in Rome, Italy, April 25, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

A visitor takes photos of a cultural relic from Tang Dynasty (618-907) called "Chijinzoulong", or pure gold running Chinese dragon, at the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

People visit the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Shunyi District, Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2024. The exhibition opened here on Thursday and will last till May 4. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows the Moulin Rouge windmill after its blades collapsed in Paris, France.

The blades of France's legendary Moulin Rouge in the Pigalle district of Paris has collapsed for unknown reasons, local media reported Thursday. The blades fell off between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. local time (0400-0500 GMT) on Thursday, French media reported, adding that no casualties were reported. (photo by Julien Mattia/ Xinhua)

Models present the Fall/Winter 2024 collections created by Atira x EWMA during Vancouver Fashion Week in Vancouver, Canada, April 24, 2024. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on April 26, 2024 shows the astronauts of the Shenzhou-17 mission greeting the Shenzhou-18 crew at China's space station.

The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou-18 spaceship have entered the country's space station and met with another astronaut trio on Friday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Giant panda Jia Bao takes a rest at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, April 25, 2024. Four giant pandas that have moved to their new home in Lanzhou made their public debut there on Thursday.

The pandas, three males and one female, arrived at Lanzhou Wild Animal Park on April 2 from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 14, 2024 shows the main entrance to the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The expo will run from April 26 to Oct. 28, during which more than 2,000 events and cultural activities will be held. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

The Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, is launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 25, 2024.

China on Thursday launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship to send three taikonauts to its orbiting Tiangong space station for a six-month mission. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

This photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows a scene at the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) Annual Conference in Beijing, capital of China. The forum kicked off on Thursday in Beijing and will focus on cutting-edge fields from artificial intelligence to life sciences and new materials during the five-day session ending next Monday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Purchasers are pictured during the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 24, 2024. As of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, a total of 172,901 purchasers from 214 countries and regions have physically attended the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, an increase of 21.6 percent over the same period last year. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
CHESHIRE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Allegan County Health Department is telling residents to avoid any water-related activities on Duck Lake after a suspected bloom of blue-green algae was spotted.

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Samples have been sent to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to confirm the presence of blue-green algae.

Algal blooms typically occur in the summer when warm temperatures and sunshine combine with nutrients in the water to feed the algae.

It is not possible to determine whether algal blooms contain harmful toxins by looking at them, so it is best to avoid contact with any body of water covered with algal mats or significant rafts of algae on the surface, the Allegan County Health Department said in a statement Friday.

State launches map to track harmful algal blooms

Harmful algal blooms can last for several days and sometimes even months. The water will look scummy or like spilled paint or pea soup.

If a person has contact or swallows water containing cyanotoxins, they may experience a variety of symptoms, including stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, headaches, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

Pets can also react to toxins and typically show symptoms before humans. If your pet has had contact with contaminated water and shows similar symptoms along with excessive drooling or staggered walking, residents are encouraged to contact a local veterinarian.

If you or a pet have been exposed to a harmful algal bloom, the health department recommends you shower or bathe immediately. You should also reach out to your local medical provider or poison control.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Suspected DUI driver arrested after police say they were 3 times over BAC legal limit

(FOX40.COM)  A suspected DUI driver from Lathrop was arrested Thursday night after their blood-alcohol content was allegedly more than three times the legal limit.

The Lathrop Police Department said an officer was patrolling around 11:45 p.m. on Harlan Road when he saw a vehicle crashed into a light pole.

2 dead, 1 injured in suspected DUI-related crash in Tracy

Police said the driver allegedly showed signs of being under the influence. The driver took a breathalyzer test, which resulted in a BAC of 0.259, according to a photo shared by police.

The breathalyzer results were over 3 times the legal limit of .08.

No one else was injured in the crash and the driver was arrested and booked into jail, police said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
(KRON)  Two San Francisco residents were arrested for committing robbery at a shopping center, according to the Daly City Police Department.

Daly City police officers were dispatched to Gold Center at Serramonte Shopping Center around 7:10 p.m. on April 20.

PHOTOS: $326K of stolen goods recovered in Oakland

According to police, two Gold Center employees were approached by two subjects at their kiosk. The subject requested to see pendants and a rope chain. According to police, the subject gave the employee $200 for the pendant which was valued at $500. Police said the employees were distracted prior to speaking with the suspects. Once the two diverted their attention to the suspects, a pendant and a rope chain were missing. The two jewelry pieces were worth $2,500 combined.

The subject reportedly slammed his fists against the glass and raised his voice after the employees confronted them. According to police, one of the suspects grabbed the $200 from the second employees hand. The employee then moved the suspects wallet from the counter to the center island and explained that the suspects wallet would not be returned if the jewelry they didnt receive the jewelry.

According to police, the suspect jumped over the glass and retrieved his wallet from the employees hand. The suspects fled the shopping center in a vehicle.

Daly City officers conducted a stop on the car. The suspects were identified as San Francisco residents, a 22-year-old and a 31-year-old. Both suspects were arrested and booked for robbery and conspiracy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police found screenshots of news articles about a double-murder on the phones of several suspects arrested earlier this month, according to documents 8 News Now obtained.

One suspect even messaged a group chat the day after the murder to ask how much prison time people could face if they were caught, police said.

Emerson Hewitt, 18; Damion Mixon,18; Larry Young; 18, Mark Burton, 20; and Nasir Leggroan, 20, all face charges including open murder for the July 2022 deaths of Samiir Smith, 19, and Deanna Maria Diaz, 24.

Emerson Hewitt, 18, Damion Mixon,18, Larry Young, 18, Mark Burton, 20, and Nasir Leggroan, 20, were all identified as suspects in the deaths of Deanna Marie Diaz, 24, and Samiir Smith, 19. (LVMPD)

The murders

The shooting happened on July 29, 2022, at around 10:15 p.m. in an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Cindysue Street, near Vegas and Rancho drives.

When police arrived, they found both Smith and Diaz suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Medical personnel pronounced both victims dead at the scene.

Diazs roommate, who was in the apartment with her 2-year-old son at the time of the shooting, told police that Smith was their neighbor. She said the shooting happened when the suspects knocked on the door and Smith opened the door to greet them, the report stated.

She told police the suspects attempted to pull Smith out of the apartment and shots were fired during a struggle.

The plan

The day before the shooting, Young reached out to Leggroan on Instagram to plan a robbery of Smith, documents said. During the conversation, the two planned the robbery in detail, the report stated.

Using a middleman, Leggroan messaged Smith on Instagram to ask about buying firearms, who then sent Leggroan a photo of several guns, which Leggroan then shared with Young, according to the report.

In their private messages, Leggroan and Young planned to bring people with them on the robbery, saying they wanted to bring more people than would be in the apartment. The two asked Hewitt, Burton, Mixon, and an unnamed sixth person in the plan.

In a later interview with police, Burton said Hewitt told him he had called a marijuana dealer and arranged a deal shortly after 4:30 p.m. on the day of the shooting. Burton identified the dealer as Smith.

The group decided to not commit the robbery at 4:30 p.m. because it was broad daylight and there were other people around, the report stated. They made the drug deal before deciding to go elsewhere and come back later.

A video detectives located on Hewitts phone showed the group, along with an unknown sixth person, in the minivan shortly after 4:30 p.m. In the video, Mixon and Young flaunted handguns to the camera, according to the report.

After the murders, the group drove to Mixons home, where they all called their own rides home, the report stated.

The aftermath

A witness told police that at around 4:30 p.m. she saw a white minivan in the alley near the apartment complex and saw several men armed with handguns around the minivan. Later in the night, she saw the same minivan driving toward the apartments with its headlights off, according to the report.

A few minutes later, she heard several gunshots, she told police.

Using a photo of the minivan shared by the witness, police ran a records check and discovered it belonged to Hewitt. At 1 a.m. on July 30, the day after the shooting, officers took Hewitt into custody.

Hewitt

Hewitt told several different versions of what happened the night before, changing his story numerous times, switching names of people he was with and lying about who owned a phone number that texted him asking to be picked up shortly after the shooting, the report stated.

Police later confirmed that number to belong to Burton, who later called police directly after being told they already knew his name and number. Hewitt claimed to not know anyone by that name and insisted the number belonged to his cousin, according to the report.

Burton

Burton originally told police he was not with the Hewitt and the other suspects at the time of the shooting. However, a witness told police she saw two men hiding under a parked vehicle while officers arrived at the scene after the shooting.

Surveillance video from the area showed one of the men matched the description of Burton.

On Burtons phone, police found several screenshots of news articles about the murders, which he sent to several people.

Young

After the shooting, Young was in a group chat discussing the murders, asking how much prison time people could face if they were caught. Several people in the group chat sent screenshots of news articles about the murders, the report stated.

Young later messaged a group chat asking what they should do about Hewitt being questioned by the police, saying Hewitt snitched because everybody was saying it. Larry appeared to ask the group if they should disassociate themselves from Hewitt or kill him, according to the report.

It was unclear who was in either group chat with Young.

Mixon

On Mixons phone, police found several rap songs written before the shooting, which appeared to idolize buying drugs from a person before robbing and shooting them. Police noted the lyrics, written in May 2022, were almost the exact scenario for the July 2022 murders.

Additionally, on August 23, 3022, Mixon messaged someone asking them to come get his gun, stating that if the police raid this house n find that gun im doin life [sic], according to the report.

According to LVMPD officials, Hewitt was arrested on April 8, while Mixon, Young, Burton, and Leggroan were arrested on April 17.

All five are being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. They each face the following charges:

Two counts of open murder with use of a deadly weapon

Two counts of attempted robbery with use of a deadly weapon

Conspiracy to commit robbery

Attempted burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon

Mixon and Leggroan each face an additional charge of violation of probation.

Their next court appearance was scheduled for May 30.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Suspects tried to carjack person delivering food in DC, police say

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was looking for three suspects accused of carjacking a food delivery worker on Wednesday.

MPD said that around 11:50 p.m., the victim was delivering food in the 1100 block of 4th St. SW. While he was returning to his car, the suspects approached him. One of them pointed a gun at the victim and demanded his keys. The victim escaped and ran away.

Officer shoots, kills 2 dogs in Northwest DC

One of the suspects broke a car window, but they all ran away, leaving the car behind.

(Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department)

MPD released the following pictures of the suspects from a surveillance camera.

Police asked that anyone with any information call (202) 720-9099 or text 50411.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A London Labour MP suspended from the party for suggesting that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza is expected to get the whip back imminently.

Kate Osamor issued an apology for any offence caused by a message she wrote on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day in January.

The Edmonton MP had appeared to say that the war in the Palestinian territory should be remembered as a genocide, alongside atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II as well as other mass slaughters in Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia.She was denounced by Labour shadow ministers for the remarks and the party said it was generally accepted across the board as offensive to use the Holocaust to criticise Israel.

Labour sources on Thursday told the Standard that Ms Osamor would be reinstated as a Labour MP imminently following an investigation.

Some 35,000 people are believed to have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its counter attack after the brutal October 7 assault by Hamas.

Ms Osamor, who served in Jeremy Corbyns front bench, has apologised for her comments.

She said: Holocaust Memorial Day is a day to remember the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and the genocides that have occurred since.

I apologise for any offence caused by my reference to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza as part of that period of remembrance.

But the move to reinstate her has put pressure on the party to come to a decision over Diane Abbott, one Labour staffer said on Thursday.

The Hackney North MP had the whip suspended in April last year after comments she made suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism all their lives.

Ms Abbott, a former shadow home secretary, wrote a letter to the The Observer where she said that although white people with points of difference suffer prejudice, they have not suffered the same racism as black people.

Following a backlash she apologised for any anguish caused, suggesting errors arose in her initial draft letter to the newspaper.

She has described the ongoing investigation into her conduct as a sham.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, pictured here at the 2024 State of the State address, has spent three decades in various elected roles and is campaigning to succeed Gov. Eric Holcomb. (Monroe Bush for the Indiana Capital Chronicle)

With three decades of political experience under her belt, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch is not only proud of her public service but ready to take on a new challenge in a campaign to succeed Gov. Eric Holcomb.

That time spent in elected office  from the county level to state legislative and executive branches  has given her the tools, she said, to not only dream up a vision for Indianas future but also to execute it.

I really believe God puts us in places for a reason, Crouch said. (The governorship) is nothing I really ever thought about when I was in local government  (I) didnt even think that when I was a state representative or auditor of the state.

But theres a reason my life has taken this direction, she continued. All I can do is what I can do. And I may be outspent three to one but I aint going to be outworked.

Crouch is one of six Republican candidates for governor, including: U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, businessmen Brad Chambers and Eric Doden, former Attorney General Curtis Hill and Jamie Reitenour.

The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Jennifer McCormick, who doesnt have a primary challenger, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater, who was nominated in a private convention.

Early voting started earlier this month and continues until Election Day on May 7.

Helping the less fortunate

Crouch described a childhood and early adulthood more focused on helping the voiceless rather than politics.

I used to be kind of an independent voter or Id go in and vote for all the women, Crouch said. Maybe it was the way I was raised. I always have believed that we have a responsibility to help those less fortunate.

She said that disconnect changed during Ronald Reagans campaign and presidency, when she started to see politics and government as a way to make a difference. After winning her first elected office as Vanderburgh County Auditor in 1994, Crouch went on to become county commissioner in 2002 and won a House race in 2005.

In 2014, she was appointed auditor by former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and, under Gov. Eric Holcomb, became the states lieutenant governor.

I will say local government is more about the meat and potatoes. Very important issues that affect everyday Hoosiers. When you get into the legislature, youre dealing more with policy, Crouch said.

But policy was where she said she could improve the livelihoods of disabled or elderly Hoosiers and their loved ones. For example, when the state moved to online applications for benefits she said she pushed to preserve hard copy systems to help those who didnt yet have access to computers.

Crouch has repeatedly identified poor mental health  and an accompanying lack of resources  as one of the states biggest challenges, prompting her to be open about her own familys struggles with suicide and addiction.

There were bad things that came from COVID but there were some good things. One of the bad things is we all suffered a mental health crisis. One of the good things is we all suffered a mental health crisis, Crouch said. So there became more of an awareness and a sense of urgency to do something.

Though she serves as Senate President, she rarely advocates on behalf of specific bills  with the notable exception of a 2023 proposal to lay the groundwork for the states 988 system, designed to be a mental health call center for Hoosiers.

In her role, Crouch spearheads a disabilities task force and co-chairs the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable. When the Family and Social Services Administration announced changes to the states attendant care program for parents of disabled children, Crouch repeatedly urged the department to reconsider and criticized leaders for not releasing key details about the number affected.

But Crouchs advocacy has put her at odds with the Holcomb administration, under which she serves. Recently, the gubernatorial candidate released an advertisement calling for an audit of the Family and Social Services Administration and criticizing the agency  an awkward position for a sitting lieutenant governor.

It is awkward but at the end of the day you have to do whats right, Crouch said. Ive always wanted to be a voice for the voiceless, for people that have no one standing up for them and people that cant afford the high-power, highly paid lobbyists that roam the hallways at the Statehouse.

To learn more about Crouchs stances on various issues, read the Indiana Capital Chronicles Q+As with the six Republican candidates for governor, which include: the economy, education, taxes and the environment.

The first major challenge for Indianas next governor will be crafting a two-year budget during the 2025 legislative session. By law, Indianas budget must be balanced and Crouch noted that the states Medicaid problems arent just limited to disabled children.

By 2030, an estimated 20% of Indianas population will be at retirement age and this summer the state will unveil a mammoth transition to managed care. Medicaid alone is the fastest-growing portion of the budget and Crouch said the population served is growing.

We have to look at how we adjust and how we are sure that we have monies to be able  to meet these growing needs and these growing populations. Thats kind of our responsibility, Crouch said.

She said savings could be identified through modernizing state agencies accompanied with independent audits of major agencies, noting that Iowa had undergone a similar process a few years ago.

Working with local elected officials

One of Crouchs campaign tactics has been to seek endorsements from local officeholders  both past and present  reporting more than 175 such endorsements as of Thursday. That group includes more than two dozen sheriffs, at least 32 state legislators and even Indianas oldest World War II veteran.

I cant get out and meet every single Hoosier in the state of Indiana and every single Republican primary voter  I cant meet everyone in Howard County but people in Howard County know Rep. Mike Karickhoff, she said, knowing one recent endorsement as an example.

She said that as a visible politician in her hometown in Vanderburgh County, people would ask her about other elections because she was accessible.

People gravitate to the people that are in the know, the people that are in the trenches, Crouch said. So when one of these local experts say, Suzanne Crouch is the one thats important to me, that means something to those people. We hope that translates into votes and I believe it will.

Going into the final weeks, Crouch has the most money reserved but has spent her campaign funds at a slower pace than other contenders.

She urged future state projects to better engage local officials, who often bear the brunt of criticism for state decisions and are held accountable by their constituents  whether at church and in the grocery store.

The $225 million program to bolster the states public health system was the right approach, she said, because it was voluntary but incentivized localities to improve their own health metrics.

I think if we can do as much of that as possible, everyone will benefit more People dont respond well when government dictates. And they shouldnt. Because its their government, Crouch said.

For decades, the lieutenant governor position was seen as sort of an heir apparent to the governorship  a position Holcomb himself held under former Gov. Mike Pence.

But that seems to have skipped over Crouch, with several polls instead favoring Braun and a large sect of voters still undecided. She dismissed the polling, saying it was something that central Indianas politicos followed closely.

Part of the attraction of the governors office, she said, is because our state is thriving.

We have challenges but we have a sound economic foundation to be able to start addressing those challenges. When I was in local government from 95 to 2005  the state was not in a good position, Crouch said.

Now, the state consistently ranks high as a place to start a new business for its friendly tax structure.

People want to be a part of that and they want to lead that forward into the future and thats why we have so many people running for governor, Crouch said. So Im not so sure its as much of an heir apparent  as much as (that) we are in good shape and people know there are real opportunities to move Indiana forward.

People want to be leading that effort, she concluded.

The post Suzanne Crouch seeks governorship for the voiceless appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Swiss parliamentary committee backs proposal to send $5.5 billion in aid to Ukraine

A Swiss parliamentary committee supported a proposal on April 25 to provide 5 billion Swiss francs ($5.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine, moving the funding closer to being fully passed by the government.

Switzerland's Federal Council announced the plans earlier in April, saying the funds would be allocated to support Ukraine's economic development and reconstruction.

While the proposal must still get through more legislative steps before becoming law, it was supported by lawmakers from both center-right and center-left parties.

The funding for Ukraine was part of a larger package to improve Switzerland's defense capabilities, and it earmarked an additional 10.1 billion Swiss francs (~$11 billion) for the military.

While refusing to supply Kyiv with military aid on account of its long-term neutrality policy, Switzerland has provided economic and humanitarian support worth over $3 billion.

Switzerland also hosted the 2022 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, which laid down principles for Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery.

Switzerland is also set to host a global peace summit on Russia's war against Ukraine, with 80-100 countries invited to attend.

The conference is scheduled to place on June 16-17 in Lucerne, unnamed sources told Bloomberg.

The country is also reportedly ramping up efforts to prevent companies and individuals from using the country to circumvent sanctions imposed against Russia.

Read also: Denmark to allocate around $450 million for Ukraines reconstruction, energy sector

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(Bloomberg) -- Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker told a New York jury that he promoted Donald Trump and shielded him from unflattering stories long before the 2016 presidential campaign.

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Under cross-examination, Pecker said that Trump, a television personality and real estate developer before running for the White House, was good for business at the tabloid newspaper. In addition, Pecker said he gave similar favorable treatment to a range of other prominent figures in and out of politics.

The testimony came Thursday at the hush-money trial of Trump, where prosecutors claim Pecker conspired to boost his candidacy by lauding him in print, punishing his rivals, and buying and burying accounts of his extramarital affairs. But defense attorney Emil Bove suggested that the arrangement was hardly sinister and had nothing to do with politics.

Trump was someone who could help the National Enquirer make money, right? Bove asked. Pecker, the former chief executive officer of American Media Inc., agreed.

Pecker, 72, was the first witness at the first of four criminal trials for Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee seeking the White House. In Washington on Thursday, the US Supreme Court heard arguments on whether he is immune from prosecution on charges that he tried to overturn the 2020 election results.

Before Boves questions, Pecker bolstered allegations by Manhattan state prosecutors that Trump falsified records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors say former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid her to keep quiet about her claims of a sexual relationship with Trump.

Pecker testified that he agreed to pay $150,000 in 2016 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to buy and bury her claims that she had an affair for nearly a year with Trump.

Trump, who denies he had affairs with Daniels and McDougal, argues he didnt falsify records to boost his 2016 campaign. During his opening statement earlier this week, another Trump lawyer said that Cohen was a liar and was acting on his own.

Breathtaking Testimony

The former president listened intently to the proceedings, telling reporters afterward that the testimony was breathtaking.

At the end of his questioning by prosecutors, Pecker made clear that hes always admired Trump.

I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor, Pecker said. Even though we havent spoken, and I havent seen him, I still consider him a good friend.

Bove questioned Pecker about his previous relationships with celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tiger Woods in which he bought the rights to stories to protect them.

The defense lawyer also sought to suggest that Pecker tailored his testimony about events nearly a decade ago to please Manhattan prosecutors who gave him an immunity agreement. He suggested Peckers interactions with Trump were standard operating procedure in the business of checkbook journalism.

After hearing about McDouglals claims, Pecker said, he dispatched the tabloids editor to interview her. After discussing the story with Cohen, who has since had a spectacular falling out with the former president, the candidate himself called to ask about McDougals demands.

When Mr. Trump said on the phone that she was a nice girl I believed he knew who she was, said Pecker. I believed the story was true and it would have been embarrassing to himself and also to his campaign.

Go Ahead

Pecker said he advised Trump to buy the story and take it off the market. Pecker said Cohen called back and told him to go ahead and buy this story.

When Pecker asked who would pay, he said Cohen said: Dont worry, Im your friend, the boss would take care of it.

AMI bought the rights to McDougals relationship with any then-married man, a reference to Trump, Pecker said. The firm promised that McDougal would appear on magazine covers and would run articles under her name in AMI magazines.

In testimony earlier this week, Pecker also recounted that AMI paid $30,000 to a former Trump Tower doorman to catch and kill another story involving Trump. Pecker said his concerns about getting repaid for the McDougal and the doorman stories colored his reaction to the Daniels story.

Pecker said he resisted pressure by Cohen to buy the porn stars story after the release of the now famous Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women.

I said, I am not purchasing the story, Pecker said. I am not going to be involved with a porn star. I am not a bank, and after paying out the doorman and paying out Karen McDougal, were not paying anymore.

Pecker said he was alarmed by a Wall Street Journal story published just before the election that said the National Enquirer bought McDougals story and didnt publish it. AMI then put out a false statement denying the account, he said.

I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself and I also wanted to protect Donald Trump, Pecker said.

Pecker also recounted a discussion he had with Trump at Trump Tower in January 2017, after he had won the presidency. Trump introduced Pecker to several people who would be part of his administration including Sean Spicer, Reince Priebus and Mike Pompeo.

They were finishing up their meeting and Mr. Trump introduced me to each of them. He said, Heres Mr. Pecker, publisher of the National Enquirer, probably knows more than anybody else in this room.

None of them laughed, Pecker said.

(Updates with cross-examination of Pecker)

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From the The Collision on The Dispatch

Editors Note: There was too much legal news this week to fit into just one newsletter, so we hope you enjoy this bonus edition of The Collision.

Donald Trump had some wins and losses at the Supreme Court on Thursday. And thats before we even see an opinion.

First, when the D.C. Circuit held categorically that former presidents enjoy no immunity from criminal prosecution for any official acts taken while in office, the Supreme Court had no option but to take the case and further delay Trumps federal election interference criminal trial. Frankly, the question is just too importantthis is what the Supreme Court does, after alland the lower courts reasoning flew in the face of the Supreme Courts decades-old precedent that former presidents have absolute immunity at least from civil lawsuits for official acts. The two-month delay between the lower courts ruling and Thursdays arguments put Donald Trump that much closer to Election Day without a federal criminal trial.

In another victory, its important to remember that the Supreme Court decides questions, not cases. No matter what the opinion says, the decision will send the case back to the lower court to apply the Supreme Courts rule to the facts of this case. Another delay. Another win for Trump.

But it wasnt all good news for Trump. In the nearly three hours that the justices discussed whether and if so to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office, it was clear that nobody thinks Donald Trump is immune from federal prosecution for his actions in the run-up to January 6. Not even his own lawyer.

At the same time, it also seemed almost certain that all of the justices are going to agree that at least some official acts of a former president are immune from prosecution. The question isnt whether the president is above the law. Everyone agreedfrom both sidesthat the president is subject to prosecution for all personal actsjust like every other American can be prosecuted for their personal acts. The question is what to do about acts the president takes in his official capacity.

But what are official acts, how do we define them, and what should be the test moving forward?

Should judges try to determine whether the president was invoking a core presidential authoritysomething only a president could do? If the president orders the military to stage a coup or sells our nuclear secrets, those are things only a president could do and they seem like things we might want to prosecute someone for.

Perhaps trial courts could try to determine whether the presidents actions were for the public good (like killing terrorists who turned out to be American citizens) or private gain (like trying to help ones own chances of reelection by lying about the true effects of a policy)? But if political advantage is evidence of an improper purpose, doesnt the exception swallow the rule and every president is back to being charged with crimes after leaving office?

Should presidents be immune if their attorneys general told them it was legal and they relied on that advice? That would just incentivize presidents to appoint unscrupulous attorneys general or fill their AGs time with perfunctory sign-offs for every single thing the president ever does.

If presidents pardon themselves before they leave office, are they immune? But if self-pardons are constitutional, then wont every president sign one the day before they leave office and Trump is just the last chump who didnt?

If its so clear that presidents can be charged for crimes in office, why wasnt FDR charged for interning Japanese Americans during World War IIa clear violation of 18 U.S.C.  242, which makes it a crime for an official to deprive someone of their civil rights?

But if the Founders intended presidents to be immune from prosecution, why didnt they just say so, as several states did and as some of the constitutional debates even mention? Isnt that evidence that they had every intention of allowing presidents to be charged?

If the Constitution says that a person who is impeached and convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law, clearly presidents can be charged with some crimes. But does that mean that a former president can be charged only if hes first impeached and convicted?

As several of the justices pointed out, they arent making a rule for Donald Trump. Theyre making a rule for the ages, as Justice Neil Gorsuch put itone that has to apply to good presidents and bad ones, Republicans and Democrats, high-minded prosecutors and partisan ones. It can be easy to focus on the needs of the moment, as Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.

And heres the fear. If the high court gives presidents too much immunity, the White House could turn into a crime center, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said. Too little immunity, and theres an endless cycle of prosecutions. The ability to find some vague statute will be used against the current president or the next president, Kavanaugh said, and the next president and the next president after that.

So how will this all shake out? I cant say for sure, of course. And oral argumentseven a two-hour and 40-minute sessioncan tell you only so much. But I predict this will be a unanimous ruling instructing the district court to determine which of the charged acts were clearly outside the authority of the president, whether it was an official act or not.

So if it was personal conduct (signing false election fraud allegations in a lawsuit against the Georgia governor), the charge can move forward. If it was official conduct that was plausibly lawful (considering whether to replace the attorney general), then it has to get tossed out.

But if a president orders SEAL Team Six to assassinate a rival, that is official conductanytime the president gives a military order he is acting as commander in chief. At the same time, it is so clearly not something a president has the authority to doany reasonable person holding the office would know it wasnt legalthat he would not be immune from criminal prosecution.

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TOKYO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's ANA Holdings Inc. saw its net profit rose 75.6 percent to a record 157.10 billion yen (about 1 billion U.S. dollars) in the fiscal year of 2023 led by strong air travel demand, the company said on Friday.

The parent company of All Nippon Airways reported a record operating income of 207.9 billion yen, with the operating profit margin exceeding 10 percent for the first time, according to the financial results released on Friday.

For the fiscal year ending in March, revenue for international passenger service rose 68 percent to a record high of 728.1 billion yen, surpassing that of domestic passenger service for the first time, said the company.

On top of robust inbound travel demand, analysts pointed out that the recent depreciation of the Japanese yen has also lured more foreign tourists to Japan.

Due to fierce competition and increased investment in human resource, the company expected its net profit to fall 30 percent to 110 billion yen for the current year ending March next year. (1 U.S. dollar equals 156.84 Japanese yen) 
Tampa man looking for answers after 14-year-old grandson shot to death

Tampa man looking for answers after 14-year-old grandson shot to death

The grandfather of a 14-year-old boy shot to death in Tampa last week believes his grandson was set up.

Jevario Buie was found dead near railroad tracks between West Busch Boulevard and Rome Avenue on April 17. Police say he died from a gunshot wound, and they are still working to determine who killed him.

Jevarios grandfather, Michael Baldwin Sr., said he believes the teen was told by friends to meet by the tracks to hang out and possibly stand up to a bully who had been challenging him to fight.

Instead, Baldwin suspects Jevario was confronted by several kids.

Vario wasnt a gang member; he wasnt a part of their crew. He was an outsider, Baldwin said. He was someone who was easy to pick on because he didnt have a group of people who was going to ride with him.

The Tampa Police Department declined to answer questions about the case, citing the active investigation. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

We are asking the community to come forward with any information they may have, Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a news release. Even the smallest detail could be crucial in solving this case and finding justice for Jevarios family.

Baldwin is offering an additional $1,000 reward for information that leads to arrests.

The boys whove done this have already had their last restful nights sleep, Baldwin said. If they close their eyes at night, without being drunk or high, theyre going to see Jevarios face.

Baldwin is a paralegal who advocates for formerly incarcerated people. He spent nearly 27 years in prison in California, and he said his time there inspired him to help others.

When Baldwin got out of prison, he made a point to develop a close relationship with his grandson.

Instead of his graduation (from middle school), now weve got to prepare a funeral, he said.

Baldwin said the loss is especially hard on his daughter, a single working mother of four.

Its devastating. I mean, who prepares for a 14-year-olds funeral? Baldwin said.

At a news conference Friday, Baldwin offered to stand by the families of the children who might be involved.

When you own up to this, my commitment is to not hate you, Baldwin said.

Were not going to stand for you to get forever in prison. Were going to help you heal. I know this crime happened as a result of some hurting boys who hurt other people. They arent bad boys, its just no one has addressed their pain, he said.

On Friday, Baldwin and his family viewed Jevarios body for the first time since his death. He said police told them they initially were only able to identify Jevario through dental records.

He was a happy, goofy, good person, Jevarios grandmother, JoQuetta Winters, said. I just cant believe hes gone, that they took him away. He had so much to offer.

Baldwin said detectives have not returned his familys calls, and he plans to do his own investigation to try to figure out who killed his grandson.

Jevarios family is raising money for funeral expenses through GoFundMe. His memorial service is planned for May 4.

Vario wasnt a bad kid. He wasnt a gang member. He wasnt someone hanging out with a bad crowd; he just wasnt like that, Baldwin said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130 or call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-8477.
A Murrysville business is facing a hefty cleanup after a large tanker truck slammed into the side of its building Friday afternoon.

I was pretty shocked. You dont see it every day, said Brian Bour, who was biking nearby when it happened.

The tanker truck crashed into the Bowser Collision Center on William Penn Highway around 3 p.m.

That is very ironic. Very ironic that a tanker crashed into a collision center, said another biker, Mason Lisovich.

The tanker, meant for carrying water, was empty.

Emergency officials say the driver was heading east on Route 22 when he lost control, barreling through the auto body shop parking lot and into the building.

He was taken to the hospital by medics but is expected to be okay.

He had some difficulties coming off the highway, lost control, ended up going approximately 30 feet into the building, said Murrysville Fire Chief Pat OMahony.

The truck plowed into the shops office space.

Manager Derek Severns was in his office about 10 feet away.

Another employee was even closer to the impact.

Luckily none of the workers were hurt.

It was just kind of shock[ing]. It didnt even really register what happened. You knew what happened but it just kind of didnt really register, said Severns.

For Bowser Collision, the cleanup will be extensive, but thats not stopping the company from carrying on business and serving customers.

We have a Chevy dealership on route 286, Bowser Chevy, so were going to set up an office over there, have all the office workers go over there next week, call customers, explain what happened, move our appointments to there, said Severns.

In addition to the damage to the building, owner Gary Bowser says there were two or three cars that were also damaged by the out-of-control tanker truck.

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Police launched an investigation into the teacher after the boy's parents heard rumors about the abuse, according to one report

Butte County Superior Court Michelle Solis

A former Northern California teacher pleaded guilty this week to charges that she sexually abused one of her 14-year-old students on the day of his 8th grade graduation.

The Butte County District Attorneys Office said in a press release that Michelle Christine Solis appeared in Butte County Superior Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded no-contest.

Solis, 46, was not expected to plead no-contest, according to the district attorneys office, but she changed her plea and ultimately admitted her guilt.



According to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, the incident occurred in June 2021 while Solis was the boys teacher at Sycamore Junior High School in Gridley, Calif.

She friended him on Instagram and began messaging him in the weeks leading up to his graduation, the district attorneys office said in a news release this week. Evidence showed that Solis sent the boy four explicit photos of herself before having sexual intercourse with him in a locked classroom on the day of the students 8th grade graduation.



Rumors about the photos began to circulate around the Gridley community in Oct. 2023, as well as copies of the photos she sent to the boy on social media.

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Gridley police then began to investigate the rumors and obtained the boys cellphone after his parents heard about the incident, The Sacramento Bee reported. When investigators reviewed the boys cellphone, they found two explicit photographs of Solis on it, the district attorneys office said.



Solis was arrested in November last year and immediately posted a $15,000 bond. She will remain out on bond until her sentencing on June 6, according to the district attorneys office.



As part of her plea today, Solis stipulated that she would be registered as a sex offender and could face up to four years in state prison, the office said.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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Teen took dads car without permission in Wisconsin, got caught in Florida, cops say

A 17-year-old driving his dads car without permission took things to extremes when he traveled more than 1,330 miles from Wisconsin to Florida, investigators say.

Flagler County sheriffs deputies arrested the teen Wednesday, April 24, at a gas station in Palm Coast, after his dad reported his car and his son went missing while he was out of town, officials said. Palm Coast is about a 60-mile drive south of Jacksonville.

Deputies determined (the teen) had stolen the vehicle from his father while he was away on business, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

He was restricted from driving his fathers car after being stopped by local law enforcement in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a few weeks prior for driving recklessly, according to deputies. He had stolen the keys and left Wisconsin two or three days prior.

The teen was arrested and charged with grand theft auto, officials said.

Investigators have not reported his intended destination in Florida.

By coincidence, he had been stopped for speeding in a Flagler County school zone the day before his arrest, but the vehicle had not yet been reported stolen, officials said. He was given a written warning for driving 31 mph in a 20 mph zone, officials said.

An 18-year-old woman from Wisconsin was found in the drivers seat of the vehicle when it was stopped, and she was also arrested and charged with grand theft auto and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, officials said.

A runaway in a stolen car is a recipe for disaster, but due to our teams efforts a stolen car was safely recovered, a missing juvenile was found and arrested before anyone could get hurt, and his adult accomplice gets to spend the remainder of her Florida vacation in (jail), Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the release.

Drivers racing on Florida bridge get unpleasant surprise as 3rd vehicle joins, cops say

Agitated man flashed gun at driver, not realizing it was Florida trooper, cops say

13-year-old driver pulled over at 2 am was carrying loaded pistol, Florida cops say
Update at 2:20 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign County Coroners Office has released the name of a 19-year-old from Indiana who was killed in a Champaign motorcycle crash on Thursday.

In a press release, Interim Coroner Stephen Thuney identified the teen as Andrew Wade Thomas of Avon, Ind. He was pronounced dead at Carle Hospital in Urbana at 10:38 p.m. about half an hour after the deadly accident happened at University Avenue and Fourth Street in Champaign.

Champaign Police make arrest in Feb. shooting investigation

Thuney said Thomas died from multiple traumatic injuries. An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Friday.

The crash and Thomas death remain under investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Coroners Office.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  A 19-year-old from Indiana has died following a car vs. motorcycle crash in Champaign late Thursday night.

The crash happened just after 10 p.m. at the intersection of University Avenue and Fourth Street. Champaign Police officials said their investigation revealed the motorcycle was driving east on University when a car driving the opposite direction tried to make a left turn onto Fourth, directly in front of the motorcycle driver.

The motorcycle collided with the car and the teenage motorcycle driver was ejected. He sustained multiped injuries and, despite being given medical aid at the scene and at an area hospital, the teen succumbed to his injuries.

Two dead after RV struck by train in Christian County

The driver of the car was given a ticket the scene for failing to yield to an oncoming vehicle.

Police are still searching the area for any witnesses or video cameras that may have seen the crash. Anyone with either an eyewitness account or who has video cameras on their home or business in the area is asked to contact that Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545.

The investigation is ongoing with assistance from the Illinois State Police.

This is the third crash involving a motorcycle to happen in Champaign in the last two months. The drivers in the other two crashes were hurt but survived.

May is designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month, coinciding with a rise in temperatures that will bring more motorcycles out of winter garages.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A contracted Susquehanna Township School District school lunch aide was arrested for allegedly showing an inappropriate video to students.

Susquehanna Township School District officials said the incident happened at the Thomas Holtzman Elementary School, located at 1910 Linglestown Rd. The district says the individual was employed by an external employment agency and not by the district.

According to an affidavit filed by a school resource officer from Susquehanna Township Police, Patrice Thompson allegedly showed three students a video of a woman performing a sexual act.

Police say Thompson was taken into custody when he arrived at the school and allegedly admitted to sharing the material with the students.

Thompson is facing two charges each of disseminating explicit sexual material to minors and corruption of minors. His bail was set at $25,000 and hes set for a preliminary hearing on May 30.

The district says they have since severed ties with the external agency that employed Thompson.

The safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance, and we are committed to collaborating with law enforcement and relevant authorities to uphold a secure learning environment for both students and staff, the district said. Please continue to encourage your learner to always report their concerns to a trusted adult.

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Thomas Holtzman Elementary School in the Harrisburg area has over 760 kids who attend it in grades third through fifth.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Procuratorates across China approved the arrest of 168,000 people suspected of committing various crimes in the first quarter of this year, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) announced Friday.

Prosecutorial organs initiated prosecutions against 347,000 individuals involved in criminal activities in the first quarter, the SPP said.

During the first three months, prosecutorial authorities nationwide accepted over 31,000 public interest litigation cases and initiated actions in more than 1,600 of them.

They granted approval for the arrest of more than 7,100 juvenile crime suspects and prosecuted 12,000 juveniles involved in criminal activities in the first quarter. During the same period, prosecutorial authorities also approved the arrest of 7,800 individuals involved in crimes against minors.

Between January and March, prosecutorial organs indicted a total of 53,000 individuals for telecom and internet-related frauds in order to safeguard public interests, according to the SPP.

To crack down on crimes involving unfair competition, procuratorial organs prosecuted more than 8,900 people for disrupting market order in the first quarter, up 47.4 percent year on year. 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Now that lawmakers have officially concluded their business and the 113th General Assembly has adjourned sine die, here are some of the things lawmakers could and couldnt get passed this term.

Education Freedom Scholarship Act

Months of lobbying and public support from Gov. Bill Lee wasnt enough for lawmakers to pass the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, also known as school vouchers, through the general assembly this year.

After the governor announced the plan in November 2023, the measure saw immediate resistance from lawmakers across the aisle. Between allowing government money into private schools, testing requirements and the lack of accountability measures proposed in the bill, lawmakers in both chambers were unable to work out a compromise that everyone felt comfortable enough to pass, and the bill never made it out of committee, even after lawmakers postponed discussion on it for several weeks.

RELATED: School voucher bill dead for the year

The governor said he was disappointed the bill died in the legislature.

Franchise and Excise Tax Cut

In contrast to the school voucher bill, the governor logged a win when the general assembly passed a $1.57 billion tax cut and refund for businesses in the form of the states franchise and excise (F&E) tax.

Lawmakers had to go to a conference committee to hash out differences between the chambers respective versions of the bill, but they were able to give businesses in Tennessee their biggest tax cut in state history.

The proposal will cut an estimated $400 million in tax revenues from the state budget annually as well as allow businesses to claim a refund of three-and-a-half years worth of F&E taxes collected. In order to take the refund, businesses will have to sign a waiver forgoing their right to sue the state over the taxes. They will also have to have their business name listed if they claim the refund.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

Democrats slammed the measure as a corporate handout that was done unnecessarily after some 80-odd businesses allegedly threatened to sue over the property component of the states F&E tax. No such lawsuit has been filed, however, and Republicans said the measure was simply good policy for Tennessee.

Abortion

Lawmakers took on abortion in a couple of different ways over the last two years, blocking one bill that would add more exceptions to the states abortion ban and passing another that would criminalize people who transport minors across state lines to get an abortion if they need one.

An effort to allow children 12 and under to receive an abortion failed to make it out of committee after Republicans accused the bill of allowing late-term abortions. The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) said the bill would align with statutes prohibiting rape of a child and the state should not further traumatize children who are raped and end up pregnant.

Im tired of giving money to the ACLU: TN Senate batting away bills expected to end in lawsuits

A bill that did pass was one that created the offense of abortion trafficking, brought by Rep. Jason Zachary (D-Knoxville). It creates both criminal and civil penalties if someone intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant unemancipated minor anywhere within the state for the purpose of obtaining a criminal abortion or for obtaining an abortion-inducing drug for that minor.

LGBTQ

The 113th General Assembly passed a number of bills deemed anti-LGBTQ by advocacy groups like the Tennessee Equality Project. They published a list in January of 2024 dubbed the slate of hate that enumerated bills they said attacked LGBTQ individuals. Many of them failed, but some were able to make it through the chambers on Capitol Hill.

The drag ban bill was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2023, but a federal judge struck it down last year as unconstitutional. The legislature also banned doctors from giving minors gender-affirming care through surgery or puberty blockers last year, which has also been challenged in court.

TN lawmakers OK bill criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care

Relatedly, the general assembly passed a measure allowing for civil penalties against people who transport minors across state lines to receive gender-affirming care.

This year lawmakers also attempted a prohibition on any flags other than the U.S. and state flag being displayed in all Tennessee public schools. It passed in the House, but the Senate was where it died, failing to receive the constitutionally-required number of votes to become law in Tennessee.

Firearms

Even after the Covenant School shooting in 2023, Tennessee lawmakers showed they had no interest in enacting more restrictions on firearms in the state.

Lawmakers tanked efforts to pass red flag laws during a public safety special session in August, opting instead to preempt any legislation on the subject and prohibiting local governments from enacting their own versions of extreme risk protection orders.

Additionally, one of the more controversial bills taken up in 2024 is a measure that passed at nearly the last minute: allowing teachers to conceal carry on school grounds under specific conditions. The bill states a school principal, district director of schools and local law enforcement agency can enter into a memorandum of understanding that would allow the schools teachers to carry.

Gov. Bill Lee signs bill allowing armed teachers in schools

If the MOU is signed by all three entities, teachers who wish to carry would be required to pass a background check and psychological evaluation, submit to fingerprinting, and take 40 hours of school safety-specific firearms training. Multiple Middle Tennessee school districts have already said they will not opt for that MOU and instead rely on SROs already employed.

Gov. Bill Lee signed the measure Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Tennessee lawmakers agree to a second billion-dollar tax break for businesses in as many years

Members of Tennessee House listening to a bill presentation during the 2024 legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee lawmakers have officially agreed to eliminate a portion of the states business tax one year after making several costly changes to the same tax.

Estimates from the general assemblys fiscal review committee show that the two cuts and an additional refund approved this year will cost the state at least $7.4 billion in the future.

Tennessee traditionally has had one of the most regressive tax systems because it generates more than 60% of its $25 billion in revenue from sales taxes.

A report from the nonpartisan group ThinkTennessee, released before the latest tax break, found the state has one of the lowest tax burdens in the United States but that low-income families face a higher effective tax rate than wealthier families and businesses.

This years tax break eliminates the states property portion of the franchise tax, also known as Tennessees primary tax on businesses, which will cost an estimated $4 billion in revenue over the next 10 years. It also included a refund for those who paid this tax over the past three years, costing $1.55 billion.

Last year, lawmakers changed the business deductions allowed for the same business tax, resulting in around $1.87 billion in lost revenue over the next decade, according to the general assemblys fiscal review committee.

A report from the nonpartisan organization ThinkTennessee, released before the latest tax break, found that low-income families face a higher effective tax rate than wealthier families and businesses in the state.

But unlike last years tax cut, which included a temporary three-month sales tax holiday on groceries, this years reduction does not.

Gov. Bill Lee, owner of an HVAC and plumbing company that reported $340 million in revenue in 2022 to the Nashville Business Journal, pushed for both tax cuts. Lee placed his company assets in a blind trust when he became governor, a move meant to shield him from knowledge of how his holdings are being managed.

Last year, officials touted the benefits of the states tax structure changes, especially for smaller businesses. But this year, the outlook was less sunny, as officials in the administration claimed the property portion of the franchise tax, which has existed for decades, needed to be eliminated because it faced a potential legal challenge.

No company has sued the state, but more than 80 have requested refunds, according to the Department of Revenue, which has said it will not release the names of those seeking the money.

The revenue department did release a document, first reported by The Tennessean, showing that 53% of the potential refunds would go to companies with out-of-state headquarters.

County property records examined by the Lookout also showed that the biggest beneficiaries of the refunds would be companies such as Eastman Chemical, FedEx, HCA Healthcare, Jack Daniels, Nissan and Volkswagen, due to their substantial assets in the state.

Based on those records, a company such as Memphis-based FedEx could be in line for a refund of around $7 million.

Transparency? Not really

Lawmakers waited until the end of the 2024 legislative session to pass the tax cut.

Part of the reason was a split between House and Senate lawmakers over how many years of refunds to give and whether the state should release information about those refunds.

Senate Republican leaders and Lee opposed transparency in the legislation and wanted to issue around three years of refunds. House Republicans took the opposite stand on transparency and advocated for only one year of refunds.

It's clear businesses wanted a secret payout. They tried to frame this as a refund, but if the state had been sued and agreed to pay out the refunds through a pre-litigation settlement, then the public would know how much companies would be getting.

 Deborah Fisher, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

Ultimately, the House sided with its Senate colleagues on the amount of refunds in return for some transparency. The revenue department will release the names of those receiving money and ranges of refunds.

$0 to $750

$750 to $10,000

$10,001 or more

Deborah Fisher, the executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, said the final bill was not really transparent because companies will likely receive hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars, meaning a $10,000 range doesnt provide much information.

Its clear businesses wanted a secret payout, Fisher said. They tried to frame this as a refund, but if the state had been sued and agreed to pay out the refunds through a pre-litigation settlement, then the public would know how much companies would be getting.

Governor made a last-minute push against transparency

During a news conference earlier in the week, Lee made a rare public statement as lawmakers negotiated, stating he was adamantly against releasing the names and amounts of money companies received in refunds.

I just dont think it should be in there, Lee said. I think we shouldnt be taking private tax information that the government has and making it public. Thats something we havent done in the past. I dont think we should be doing it in the future.

The Republican governor has declined to say whether his company, The Lee Company, would benefit from the refund or future elimination of the franchise taxs property element.

When the Senate voted on the tax cut, 13 Senators declared a conflict of interest, indicating they would benefit from the plan.

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, sponsored measures to tax corporations at a higher rate, enabling the state to cut Tennessee's grocery tax. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, sponsored measures to tax corporations at a higher rate, enabling the state to cut Tennessees grocery tax. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A business tax expert told the Lookout that if the state allowed a property tax deduction, it would satisfy the legal requirements and result in no lost revenue.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville referred to the disclosure portion of the bill as a transparent attempt by the Legislature to shield itself from criticism.

Democrats unanimously opposed the tax cuts, offering an amendment to the plan that would allow the property portion of the franchise tax to remain intact while resulting in no lost revenue.

Rep. Afytn Behn and Sen. Charlane Oliver, both Democrats from Nashville, tried to pass several pieces of tax legislation that would increase taxes on businesses to pay for universal pre-K and allow the state to eliminate its sales tax on groceries.

The combination of the two years of tax breaks hung over this years legislative session as the state faced a tighter budget than in previous years.

Initial estimates showed the business portions of last years tax cut would result in $237.5 million in lost revenue for the state, but those estimates were off. Business tax collections, including the anticipated losses, have already decreased by $495.8 million, with several months left in the fiscal year.

The post Tennessee lawmakers agree to a second billion-dollar tax break for businesses in as many years appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
Tennessee lawmakers in the GOP-dominated Statehouse on Thursday passed legislation making it illegal for adults to help minors find and receive sex reassignment care without permission from the childs parents. The bill is now heading to Gov. Bill Lees desk, where it could be signed into law.

Last week, the states senate passed its version of the bill before sending it to the House for approval.

The law would penalize any "adult who recruits, harbors, or transports an unemancipated minor" in Tennessee "for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure for the purpose of enabling the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minors sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minors sex and asserted identity, regardless of where the medical procedure is to be procured," and classify the crime as a felony.

TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS PASS BILL CRIMINALIZING ADULTS WHO HELP MINORS GET TRANSGENDER PROCEDURES

A new wrinkle has been added to the ongoing battle regarding gender transitions for minors, as a group "dedicated to the health of all children" declared anyone under 18 doesnt have the agency to decide they want a tattoo but approves of "gender-affirming care."

On Wednesday, Tennessee Republican lawmakers passed the so-called "anti-abortion trafficking" proposal, which has almost identical language but geared toward stopping adults from helping young people obtain abortions without parental consent.

Lee, also a Republican, has not commented on either bill. He also did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital on the matter.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Still, supporters of the bill are confident the governor will sign both bills into law.

MAINE CONSIDERS BILL THAT WOULD ESTABLISH 'LEGAL RIGHT' TO ABORTION, TRANSGENDER SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Lee has yet to issue a veto as governor, and he approved the states ban on abortion and sex reassignment care for minors.

Tennessee Democrats opposed both bills and critics worried about the bills possible broad application.

GOP AGS WARN MAINE TO KILL TOTALITARIAN BILL MAKING SANCTUARY STATE

EDMONTON, CANADA - FEBRUARY 11: Protestors during a rally at Churchill Square in support of trans youth in Alberta following the 'Sing With Love' concert at McDougall United Church, on February 11, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The concert and rally, held in downtown Edmonton on Sunday afternoon, aimed to demonstrate solidarity with the trans community in response to recent government policies impacting trans children. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Charges could stem from talking to a minor about a website on where to find care, to helping a minor travel to another state with looser restrictions on sex reassignment services.

Currently, Idaho is the only other state in the U.S. that has a law to crack down on adults who help facilitate abortions for minors. But Tennessee could become the first that applies penalties to adults relating specifically to gender-transition procedures and treatments.

Recently, Maine drew the attention of more than a dozen Republican attorneys general for a bill under consideration that would effectively establish Maine as a sanctuary state for both abortions and procedures like sex-change surgeries for minors  a move the AGs say is "totalitarian." Providers would be shielded from so-called "hostile" lawsuits if the bill passes.

Fox News Digitals Brianna Herlihy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Tennessee nears law banning adults from helping minors find, receive sex reassignment care
Tesla that fatally hit Washington motorcyclist may have been in autopilot; driver arrested

A Tesla that fatally hit a motorcyclist in Washington state was on the company's autopilot driving system, the surviving driver told authorities, who have not yet verified the claim.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jeffrey Nissen of Stanwood, Washington, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash Friday after he was hit by a Tesla Model-S and thrown from his bike on State Route 522 in Maltby, Washington, about 25 miles northeast of Seattle.

Nissen had slowed for traffic while the Tesla diver did not, police said.

The Tesla's 56-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide and told police that he had been using the car's autopilot program at the time of the crash.

Here's what we know.

A Tesla sedan sits at a charging location in St. Louis, Missouri, among other charging Teslas.

Driver arrested after police say he was distracted

In a probable-cause document obtained by the Seattle Times, an officer wrote that the driver was arrested for "inattention to driving, while on autopilot mode, and the distraction of the cell phone while moving forward." The driver trusted "the machine to drive for him," the document said.

The driver also told police that the car became stuck on top of the motorcyclist and couldn't be moved in time to save him, according to the document, the Times reported.

Investigators have not verified that the driver was using autopilot at the time of the crash, according to Washington State Patrol Capt. Deion Glover.

"Its still in the early stages of investigation as a lot of unknowns are still out there," Glover said in an email.

USA TODAY reached out to Nissen's family through a GoFundMe page for his funeral costs.

Autopilot has had safety problems in past

In December, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall of more than two million Teslas over issues with the cars' autopilot feature.

"In certain circumstances when the Autosteer feature is engaged, and the driver does not maintain personal responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash," according to the recall notice from the agency.

The recall affected the following Tesla vehicles: the 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer.

Tesla sent an over-the-air software update to all cars to comply with the recall after the Washington Post published an investigation into crashes, including some fatal, that occurred while autopilot was engaged in situations where it should not have been.

In January, a similar recall occurred in China, affecting over 1.6 million cars.

Earlier this month, Tesla settled a wrongful death lawsuit involving a crash that killed Apple engineer Wei Lun "Walter" Huang after the Model X he was in veered off a highway and crashed in 2018. An investigative report found fault with both the Tesla and the driver, saying he was likely distracted and that the Tesla's autopilot failed to keep the vehicle in its lane, and that its collision-avoidance software failed to detect a highway barrier.

Elon Musk addresses autopilot's future with Tesla

In the company's first quarter earnings call Tesla CEO Elon Musk doubled down on the role of autopilot in the company's future.

"If someone does not believe that Tesla can solve autonomy, I don't think they should be an investor in the company," Musk said.

USA TODAY reached out to Tesla for comment on the latest crash and did not receive a response.

Contribution: Emily DeLetter, Natalie Neysa Alund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tesla may have been in autopilot when it hit Washington motorcyclist
A Texas county prosecutor is seeking to reinstate the conviction of Crystal Mason, a Black woman whose five-year sentence for voter fraud put the sweeping nature of Texas strict voting laws under heavy scrutiny.

Phil Sorrells, Tarrant Countys criminal district attorney, said in a statement on Thursday that his office has asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reinstate Masons guilty verdict.

Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, Sorrells said. This office will protect the ballot box from fraudsters who think our laws dont apply to them.

Appealing the Crystal Mason Ruling. pic.twitter.com/9d2oH4PotP  Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) April 25, 2024

Mason was sentenced in 2018 for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election with a poll workers help. She was on supervised release at the time and has said she did not realize she could not vote. (People on parole, probation or supervised release are ineligible to vote under Texas law.) Her ballot was rejected, and Tarrant County prosecutors pursued a case against her, which resulted in her conviction.

The Second Court of Appeals initially upheld that conviction but later revisited her case on instruction from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The appeals court then overturned her conviction in March, finding no evidence that she knew she was ineligible to vote when she cast her ballot.

That decision was meant to close the chapter on a case that illustrated how formerly incarcerated people have been disenfranchised at the ballot box and the inconsistency of voting laws across the country. As my colleague Steve Benen has pointed out, a number of white voters in other states have also been caught voting illegally, none of whom received as heavy a sentence as Mason.

Beyond his assertion that the appeals court applied the wrong standard of review to the case, its unclear why the Tarrant County prosecutor is renewing his effort to put Mason behind bars. Tommy Buser-Clancy, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, told The Texas Tribune that it was disappointing, but they were confident that justice will ultimately prevail.

It is time to give Ms. Mason peace with her family, Clancy said.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
(The Hill)  University of Texas (UT) at Austin, demonstrators arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on Wednesday will not be charged, Travis County Attorney Delia Garzas office confirmed Thursday.

The prosecutors office said it has decided not to move forward with the 46 trespassing cases it has reviewed from the protest, citing a lack of probable cause.

Legal concerns were raised by defense counsel, Garzas office said in a statement to The Hill. We individually reviewed each case that was presented and agreed there were deficiencies in the probable cause affidavits.

Texas state police arrested more than 50 people on Wednesday as pro-Palestine protests spread across the country after Columbia University students began a Gaza Solidarity Encampment last week.

Dozens of college campuses have now become centers of protest against the Biden administrations response to the Israel-Hamas war, with students calling on their universities to divest from Israeli interests and urging the U.S. government to cease Israeli military aid.

The charges against UT protesters were dropped and the students released, Garzas office said.

We will continue to individually review all cases presented to our office to determine whether prosecution is factually and legally appropriate, the office said.

Hundreds of students and faculty have been arrested nationwide as some universities call on local and state police to violently disperse demonstrations.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) lauded the arrests, labeling the demonstrations antisemitic. Jewish communities on campus were divided, with some criticizing the protests and others backing it.

Texas Hillel, the Jewish student union, called the protests hateful, noting they took place on the second day of Passover.

Others disagreed. Theyre not shouting anything antisemitic, theyre not harassing anyone, theyre standing on the green lawn, expressing themselves, Jeremi Suri, a Jewish UT history professor, told The Texas Tribune.

The appropriate response would be to ask them to be contained in an area, let them stay on the grass and let them shout until they have no voices left, Suri added.

A group of UT professors issued a statement condemning university President Jay Hartzells decision to call in the police.

The administrators noted the event was to have included teach-ins, study sessions, pizza, and an art workshop. There was no threat of violence, no plan to disrupt classes, no intimidation of the campus community.

In response, they wrote, we have witnessed police punching a female student, knocking over a legal observer, dragging a student over a chain link fence, and violently arresting students simply for standing at the front of the crowd.

Saul Elbein contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
His legacy of love and kindness will forever endure in the hearts of those who knew him," read an obituary for Hector Manuel Martinez-Olivas

Legacy.com (L-R), Hector Manuel Martinez-Olivas, son Ernesto and Norma Estela Marquez-Gonzales

A Texas community is mourning the loss of a local radio DJ and his family, who were pronounced dead at the scene of a head-on collision in Odessa.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said that Hector Manuel Martinez-Olivas, 46, wife Norma Estela Marquez-Gonzales, 45, and their 14-year-old son were killed in a crash that occurred on the afternoon of April 20 in Ector County, according to KWES-TV and the Midland Reporter-Telegram. The sad news was confirmed by the City of Odessa on social media.

Texas DPS said that two vehicles were involved in the crash, a Chevy truck driven by Martinez-Olivas and a Dodge Ram, according to the outlets.

The driver of the Ram, who was traveling on the wrong side of the road, was pronounced dead after being transported to the Medical Center Hospital, per KWES-TV.

The Texas Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Related: 'They're All Gone:' Car Crash Kills New Jersey Father and 4 Daughters, Leaving Mother Behind

Going by the radio moniker DJ Jony, Martinez-Olivas hosted a weekday Spanish-speaking radio show in the afternoons on Q108 FM, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

"He never came in alone, he was always with his wife and their son," fellow DJ Tania Carmona told KEWS-TV. "He would DJ at events to play and his son would help him bring down the speakers and cables and so would his wife. They were a beautiful example of what it means to be a united family."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Martinez-Olivas brother, Guillermo Martinez, set up a GoFundMe following the tragic deaths for support for funeral services, which has raised over $18,000 as of Friday, April 26.

Related: 3 University of Wyoming Swimmers Killed in Car Crash

Funeral services will be held for Martinez-Olivas and his family at th the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Chapel, according to his obituary.

While Hector's physical presence may be gone, his legacy of love and kindness will forever endure in the hearts of those who knew him," his obituary read. "Rest in peace, dear Hector, as you continue your eternal voyage alongside your beloved wife and son. Your light will never fade, and your memory will live on in the countless lives you touched with your boundless love and grace."

An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
In 1973, the Texas Legislature made "misuse of official information" a misdemeanor. The law, part of a chapter dealing with "abuse of office," applied to "a public servant" who "acquires or aids another to acquire a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that may be affected by" information that "has not been made public" but to which "he has access in his official capacity." The statute also covered "a public servant" who "speculates or aids another to speculate on the basis of the information."

Forty-four years later, police and prosecutors in Laredo deployed an amended and expanded version of that anti-corruption law against Priscilla Villarreal, a local journalist whose freewheeling news coverage and criticism of law enforcement officials had irked them. By asking police questions about a public suicide and a fatal car crash for stories on her locally popular Facebook page, they claimed, she had committed felonies punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said there was nothing "obviously unconstitutional" about arresting Villarreal for engaging in basic journalism. Now she is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review that decision, which is blatantly at odds with freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

In a petition that it filed on Villarreal's behalf this week, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) urges the justices to uphold well-established First Amendment rights by reviewing the 5th Circuit's ruling. "If they can throw me in jail for asking a question, none of our free speech rights are safe," Villarreal says. "Our First Amendment rights don't depend on our popularity with local politicians. My case is not just about me, but also the rights of every American."

Along with several other journalists, I am participating in a brief supporting Villarreal's appeal. The brief will highlight this case's alarming implications for quotidian journalism. Those implications stem from the abuse of a vague, inartfully worded state law that was aimed at preventing public officials and their cronies from taking financial advantage of inside information.

The 1973 law against "misuse of official information," now Section 39.06 of the Texas Penal Code, was repeatedly amended over the years. Legislators broadened the definition of the offense, reclassified it as a felony, and expanded the law beyond government officials. Under Section 39.06(c), "a person commits an offense if, with intent to obtain a benefit or with intent to harm or defraud another, he solicits or receives from a public servant information" that "has not been made public."

The Texas Penal Code defines "benefit" as "anything reasonably regarded as economic gain or advantage." According to the police affidavits that supposedly justified Villarreal's 2017 arrest, the "benefit" that she sought was a boost in Facebook traffic. According to the 5th Circuit, the "benefit" that Villarreal derived by maintaining "her first-to-report reputation" included ad revenue and "free meals from appreciative readers." This commodious understanding of "economic gain or advantage" is a far cry from the corruption that Section 39.06 was designed to curtail, and it would apply to any journalist who receives any sort of compensation for his work, including salaried employees of news organizations as well independent practitioners like Villarreal.

Section 39.06 defines "information that has not been made public" as "any information to which the public does not generally have access" and that "is prohibited from disclosure" under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). Although the arrest affidavits did not address that element, the most likely candidate for a TPIA exception in this context is Section 108(a)(1), which applies to information that might compromise an ongoing investigationa vague, subjective, and potentially very broad category frequently invoked by law enforcement agencies.

Villarreal initially obtained information about the suicide and the crash from private sources, and she confirmed those leads with Laredo police officer Barbara Goodman. Even if Goodman's superiors thought that information was covered by a TPIA exception, it was not Villarreal's job to anticipate that judgment or restrain herself accordingly. Like any good reporter, she sought to uncover information of public interest by asking for it.

Under the Laredo Police Department's reading of Section 39.06(c), any reporter who "solicits" information deemed to be exempt from disclosure under the TPIAeven if he never receives it, let alone publishes itis committing a felony. The implications are sweeping. Thousands of times every year, government agencies in Texas invoke Section 108(a)(1) of the TPIA (just one of several possible rationales) as grounds for denying information requests. According to the legal theory underlying Villarreal's arrest, all of those requesters are guilty of felonies.

So are journalists who engage in less formal interactions with government agencies. Every time a police spokesman says he can't answer a reporter's question because doing so might compromise an ongoing investigation, for example, that reporter has violated Section 39.06(c) as the cops who arrested Villarreal interpreted it.

How many of those myriad potential defendants have been arrested for this purported crime? As far as anyone can tell, zeroaside from Villarreal. As dissenting 5th Circuit Judge James C. Ho noted, "no one has been able to identify a single successful prosecution" under Section 39.06(c), "and certainly never against a citizen for asking a government official for basic information of public interest so that she can accurately report to her fellow citizens."

Laredo Police Chief Claudio Trevino and the local district attorney, Isidro R. Alaniz, nevertheless claimed to think Villarreal had committed felonies by asking questions. So did Chief Assistant District Attorney Marisela Jacaman, Laredo police officers Juan Ruiz and Deyanira Villarreal (no relation to Priscilla), and the local magistrate who approved the arrest warrants. A Webb County district court judge showed more sense (or less animus), dismissing the charges after concluding that Section 39.06(c) is unconstitutionally vague.

"When Villarreal turned herself in," according to her Supreme Court petition, "Laredo police officers took cell phone pictures of the reporter in handcuffs while mocking and laughing at her." Even without details like those, the unprecedented nature of the charges against Villarreal reinforced her claim that she was a victim of unconstitutional retaliation.

According to the 5th Circuit, however, police had probable cause to arrest Villarreal, and the law was not so blatantly unconstitutional that they should have recognized it was inconsistent with the First Amendment. The nine judges in the majority therefore ruled that all of the officials Villarreal had sued were entitled to qualified immunity, which bars federal civil rights claims unless they allege violations of "clearly established" law.

That conclusion provoked four dissenting opinions authored or joined by seven judges. It is not hard to see why.

"If the First Amendment means anything," Ho wrote in a dissent joined by five of his colleagues, "surely it means that citizens have the right to question or criticize public officials without fear of imprisonment." Yet the majority opinion "opens by claiming that Defendants don't have to comply with the First Amendment at all," saying it is not necessary to consider Section 30.06(c)'s "constitutionality as applied to this citizen-journalist" as long as the arrest was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

Judge James E. Graves Jr. likewise complained that "the majority opinion will permit government officials to retaliate against speech while hiding behind cherry-picked state statutes." He said Villarreal's arrest was "obviously unconstitutional" given the "well-established right of journalists to engage in routine newsgathering."

Judge Don Willett noted that the arrest, which resulted from months of investigation, was not the sort of "fast-moving, high-pressure, life-and-death situation" for which qualified immunity is designed. "Just as officers can be liable for enforcing an obviously unconstitutional statute," Willett said, "they can also be liable for enforcing a statute in an obviously unconstitutional way." Otherwise, he said, "government officials can wield facially constitutional statutes as blunt cudgels to silence speech (and to punish speakers) they dislike." He also noted that 42 USC 1983, the law under which Villarreal sued Alaniz et al., "declares that government officials 'shall be liable' for violating the Constitution if they were acting 'under color of any state statute'"precisely what the defendants did in this case.

"This Court's long-settled precedent leaves no doubt that arresting Villarreal for asking the government for information and publishing the response violated the First Amendmentand every reasonable official would have known that," the petition in Villarreal v. Alaniz says. "Time and again, this Court has upheld the right to publish when government officials shared information only for the government to turn around and try to punish those who gathered and published the information."

In addition to contradicting those precedents, FIRE says, the 5th Circuit's ruling "entitles law enforcement to qualified immunity when they launder obvious First Amendment violations, like the one here, through state statutes. Not only does that decision defy the Constitution and the text of Section 1983, but it also conflicts with rulings in the Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits. Those circuits framed the question as whether a reasonable official could believe turning plainly protected speech into a crime was constitutional, not whether the official could squeeze the speech into some provision of the penal code. Without reversal, the chill from the decision below will only spread wider, as evergrowing criminal codes provide a grab bag of statutes officials can wield against disfavored speech."

The post A Texas Reporter Busted for Asking Questions Asks SCOTUS To Reject the Criminalization of Journalism appeared first on Reason.com.
Cloe Bell Hayes was too scared to travel.

Except the little old lady was obsessively curious of the great big world around her. So, she would ask anyone whod listen to give her a rock from other parts of the country.

She never had the opportunity to go outside of Oklahoma and Texarkana. She just loved all kinds of rocks and she decided that she wanted [a] rock from every state, her grandson, Steven Hayes, told the Star-Telegram. And so, she would often ask somebody if theyd vacation in Colorado, would pick me up a rock?

Many obliged. Mama Hayes soon had a collection of rocks from all 48 states  enough stones to build a concrete sculpture of a Texas star. Nearly a century later, her family wants the 800-pound heirloom to travel to the places she couldnt visit. The hope is that their piece of family history will ultimately find a home on the grounds of the Texas Capitol.

I asked Governor [Greg] Abbott the last time I saw him, Hayes said. Its going to happen.

The Star-Telegram reached out to the governors office for comment and have not received a response.

Gov. Greg Abbott, left, and Steven Hayes. Photo taken Feb. 22, 2024. Courtesy photo from Steven Hayes

A page from a Star Telegram article in 1986, Rocks from every state in union form star on porch in local home highlighting Cloe Bell Hays (spelled Hays at the time). Ella Gonzales/egonzales@star-telegram.com

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In the younger Hayes telling, the star is just one of the tales in his familys storied past. He claims some of his ancestors were wagoners for George Washington. What is known for sure is that seven generations of the Hayes have called Texas home  that practically takes things back to the late 1880s.

This month Hayes and a band of helpers are taking the family star on a nationwide tour starting in Oklahoma. Whether they are able to complete the tour is still in doubt. But that has not stopped the 67-year-old from saying that the display of the heirloom in states Mama Hayes collected mementos from is to raise money to help defray the burgeoning national debt.

If his quest seems quixotic, Hayes said minds will be changed once people hear of his familys patriotic past. He expects donations to flood a charitable group the family will form called the Cloe Bell Star Foundation, he said. Every cent the foundation collects will go directly to the federal government, he said.

Every American owes $80,000 to $85,000 per citizen [towards the national debt]. And this is impossible for America to pay off that debt, an emotional Hayes said, tears welling up in his eyes.

James Hayes (right), was fought in World War II with the 26th bomber group for the U.S. Air Force. Courtesy of Steven Hayes

Letters from Steven Hayes and his siblings writing to their sick grandmother, Cloe Bell Hayes, while she was in the hospital shortly before she died. Ella Gonzales/egonzales@star-telegram.com

His father, James, fought in the European theater during World War II. Two of his uncles also fought in the war.

Because of my dads wise leadership to save every penny during World War II, he was able to buy 27 acres in the heart of Colleyville. Hayes said.

It was on that property that the idea of the Colleyville star got its inspiration. Hayes father, James, built a little wood house for his family to live in, and it is where the initial star began to take shape. It was while the family lived in this house that Hayes and a sister, Elizabeth, were born. Four years later, Mama Hayes died of an aneurysm in 1960.

When the family later moved to Fort Worth, they donated the Colleyville property to Cross Creek Baptist church. A facility was built across from the old family homestead which now houses the church office.

For years the star was proudly left in place in the old family homestead. Forgotten for more than two decades. Then Hayes got a call from the Colleyville Historical Preservation Committee in 1985.

The group was running low on money and needed someone to take the star.

They contacted my family, they knew about the history of the star. And so they said, Would you like to have [the star back]?, Hayes said.

Of course they did. Hayes had the star removed from the old house and moved to his Fort Worth home where, days ago, he took it off one side of his house and loaded it on the bed of a pickup. The plan, according to Hayes, is to hoist the heavy heirloom into a covered wagon and set it on its national tour.

She hardly ever traveled hardly out of Texas. And thats one of the reasons why this can be kind of a fun thing, Hayes said. This star is gonna go to places that she never got to go.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

Text K to Kill delves into the murder of Brendan Creato, 3, who was reported missing in October 2015 but was later found dead. The documentary special will be aired on ID on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET.

On October 13, 2015, David Creato Jr. reported to authorities that his toddler son, Brendan Creato, had disappeared from their home in Haddon Township, Camden County, after he strolled away from the place. After a search ensued, Brendans body was found in a creek near the Cooper River. Although the path to the creek and river back were muddy, Brendans socks were all clean. This raised suspicions that the boy didnt wander from his home but was laid there, reported Independent.

Per ABC 7, police charged David Creato Jr. with first-degree murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. When the indictment was first announced, authorities emphasized that the father of the victim lied about Brendan Creato wandering away from home. Moreover, he insisted that a stranger may have killed Brendan. His attorney argued that the accused did not kill his son and that he would plead not guilty.

However, during the trial, prosecutors argued that David killed his son to continue dating his then-17-year-old girlfriend, Julia Stensky. She reportedly didnt like visiting his home on weekends when he was responsible for looking after his son. According to CBS News, the jury was also presented with text messages between the couple. The messages revealed that she had asked David to pick who was more important to him.

What did Brendan Creatos autopsy reveal?

Per CBS News, an autopsy made it evident that Brendan Creato died from homicidal violence of undetermined ideology. However, the exact cause of death could not be identified. During the trial, experts noted that they didnt think it was essential to conduct a toxicology test on the child. However, they did detect a swollen brain, which suggested that his brain might have been deprived of oxygen. This made suffocation a probable cause of death.

From March 2015, Brendan Creato was reportedly being treated for asthma despite an otherwise clean health record. As the cause of death remained a mystery, multiple medical examinations were allegedly conducted. As per another report by CBS News, one of them revealed a bite mark inside Brendans mouth. A total of three medical examiners worked on the case, but the cause of death still remains undetermined.

In August 2017, David Creato Jr. pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of his toddler son, 6 ABC noted. He admitted to depriving Brendan of oxygen. He allegedly feared that his girlfriend, who was in New York City for college, would leave him if he did not give up custody. However, the couple separated following the incident. NBC Philadelphia reported that David was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 8 1/2 years in prison.

Text K to Kill will air on Investigation Discovery on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET. The episode will revolve around the details of Brendan Creatos murder and the evidence that led to David Creato Jr.s conviction.

The post Text K to Kill on ID: What Happened to Brendan Creato? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
MUNICH, Germany, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The interdependence between China and European automakers plays a crucial role as the industry gears up to transition towards sustainable mobility, industry insiders from the two sides said here on Thursday.

Approximately 120 government officials, researchers, and executives from the auto industry in China and Europe gathered at the 2024 China-Europe Automobile Industry Development Forum in Munich to discuss the latest development and the industry's green transition.

Chinese consul general in Munich Tong Defa noted that given the new-energy industry is still in its early stage, the current aggregate capacity falls short of meeting the growing demand for new-energy products.

Highlighting the growth of the new energy industry in China, Tong extended welcome to foreign companies to participate in China's technological advancements and foster collaboration for climate action and green transformation.

Lu Mei, general manager of China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC), noted over 40 years of cooperation between China and Europe in the auto industry, highlighting European automakers' active involvement in China's auto sector.

Lu stressed the complementary nature of the auto industries in China and Europe, highlighting mutual benefits and a long-standing interdependence.

Marcus Bollig, managing director of the products and value creation division at Germany's car association VDA, pointed out China's significance as an important market and an innovation hub for German automakers.

Emphasizing VDA's advocacy for open markets and fair competition, Bollig stressed the role of Chinese-European interdependence in steering the automotive industry toward sustainable mobility.

The forum was sponsored by Chinese Automakers International Development and Innovation Alliance, which has over 200 members including original equipment manufacturers, parts and components suppliers, research institutes, logistics companies and financial service providers. 
Soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) patrol , next to an area destroyed by Myanmar's airstrike in Myawaddy, the Thailand-Myanmar border town under the control of a coalition of rebel forces led by the Karen National Union

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand called on Friday for the regional bloc ASEAN to take a more proactive role in trying to resolve the crisis in military-ruled Myanmar, after weeks of fighting near its border that halted trade and led to a brief influx of refugees.

Myanmar is locked in a civil war between the military on one side and, on the other, a loose alliance of established ethnic minority armies and a resistance movement formed after the junta's bloody crackdown on dissent following its 2021 coup.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came up with a peace plan in 2021 that Myanmar's generals agreed to, but it has only been partially implemented, causing fissures in the bloc and frustration from its most prominent members.

"We would like to see a more proactive ASEAN," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said.

"We have discussed with Laos, as the chair of ASEAN and Myanmar about the situation."

Myanmar resistance fighters and ethnic minority rebels seized the key trading town of Myawaddy on the Myanmar side of the frontier with Thailand on April 11, a blow to a well-equipped military struggling to govern and facing a test of battlefield credibility.

The rebels have since withdrawn troops following a counteroffensive by government soldiers and fighting has since died down. On April 20, 3,000 people fled over the border and all but 100 have since returned, Thailand said.

"The fight between the opposition and the (military) has moved to Myawaddy ... it's very close to Thailand and more needs to be done from the ASEAN side," Nikorndej added.

Thailand this week proposed an ASEAN meeting on the issue that would include previous chair Indonesia, which had sought to engage the junta's rivals, plus Laos, and next year's chair, Malaysia.

Under the 2021 Myanmar peace plan, the ASEAN chair appoints a special envoy tasked with advancing the process. Current chair Laos has made little public mention of its envoy's activities.

Myanmar's military, facing its biggest challenge since first taking control of Myanmar in 1962, is caught up multiple low-intensity conflicts and has refused to engage with opponents, calling them "terrorists".

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)
According to a court document viewed by Engadget, the Federal Trade Commission accused Amazon of using Signals disappearing messages feature to conceal communications as part of its antitrust suit against the company. The FTC says the retailer continued to auto-delete its communications even after the agency notified it that it was under investigation and asked it to preserve them. Founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos and current CEO Andy Jassy are among the accused.

For years, Amazons top executives, including founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos, discuss[ed] sensitive business matters, including antitrust, over the Signal encrypted-messaging app instead of email, the FTC wrote in the full document, acquired by (Bezos-owned) The Washington Post. These executives turned on Signals disappearing message feature, which irrevocably destroys messages, even after Amazon was on notice that Plaintiffs were investigating its conduct.

The FTC wants a federal judge to compel Amazon to provide documents related to its data handling. The government agency says the retailer didnt disclose its Signal use until March 2022, ahead of a Wall Street Journal article highlighting the covert practice.

Although the contents of deleted messages are impossible to recover, the app shows when a user turns the disappearing message feature on, off, or changes the timer for deletions, leaving breadcrumbs showing that Amazon executives deletions were widespread, the document reads. From the messages that were not deleted, it is apparent that Amazon executives used Signal to talk about competition-related business issues.

The issue appears to be an increasingly common business practice in Silicon Valley. Last year, the DOJ accused Google of routinely destroying its internal chat histories, which it was required to preserve under federal law. In addition, before Elon Musk bought Twitter and changed its name to X, the company asked a judge to sanction the Tesla founder for using Signals auto-deletion to withhold messages sent through the app.

In addition to Bezos and Jassy, The Washington Post reports that the full document names General Counsel David Zapolsky, former CEO of Worldwide Consumer Jeff Wilke and former CEO of Worldwide Operations Dave Clark as participating in the practice.
Three booked into St. Tammany Parish jail following parish-wide drug investigation

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WGNO)  The St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office announced several arrests were made across the parish as a result of drug-related activity.

According to deputies, on Tuesday, April 23, STPSO Narcotics Division deputies conducted traffic stops in several areas around the parish that are reportedly recognized as a frequent location for alleged drug dealers.

St. Tammany Parish deputies lure escaped horse out of neighborhood with apples

The first arrest, according to deputies, happened after a stop in Lacombe where they pulled over 31-year-old Darryl Stoke in the 20000 block of West Spruce Street. During a search of the vehicle, deputies report finding 2.5 grams of marijuana, more than 66 grams of crack cocaine and $3,902 in cash.

An investigation into Stokes background led detectives to discover that he is on parol in Louisiana until 2031 for previous drug charges.

He was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of:

Possession with the Intent to distribute a schedule II controlled dangerous substance (>28 grams of cocaine)

Transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses

Possession of marijuana without a prescription

No turn signal

The second arrest happened during a stop in the Slidell area. Deputies pulled over 45-year-old Charles Stiglet in the 500 block of Sunset Drive.

Nungesser offers reward for information on coward who vandalized New Orleans museum

Deputies searched Stiglets vehicle and said they found 4.5 grams of methamphetamine, one gram of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

(Courtesy: St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office)

(Courtesy: St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office)

(Courtesy: St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office)

Stiglet was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of:

Possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine)

Possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance (cocaine)

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Failure to stop

Driving under suspension

The final arrest happened in the Pearl River area. According to deputies, they were called to help the First District Criminal Patrol Division in the 37000 block of Buck Provost Road.

During the investigation, detectives were issued a warrant to search the home of 63-year-old Rodney Allen Ridenour. They reported finding more than 18 grams of methamphetamine.

Following Ridenours arrest, deputies said they discovered he was on parole in Louisiana until 2029 for a previous conviction of possession.

He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of:

Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (methamphetamine)

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

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As much as I detest the Iranian regime and their global aggression against our interests and Israels existence, I felt a visceral twitch when I heard of the April 1 Israeli attack which destroyed Irans Damascus consulate. Even though the attack eliminated a number of Iranian Quds force members  a group dedicated to Israels extinction - including a Senior Commander, I suspect every one of my diplomatic colleagues around the world, immaterial of their nationality or views on Iran, felt the same qualms. A few days later, on April 5, a similar but less fatal incident occurred when Ecuadorian security forces stormed the Mexican Embassy in Quito and arrested former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas who had been convicted of corruption and sought asylum in Mexicos Embassy.

Demonstrators wave Iran's flag as they gather at Palestine Square in Tehran on April 14, 2024, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early April 14, 2024 that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 drone strike on its Damascus consulate.

These aggressive actions should not happen  immaterial of how hostile the relations between the attacking party and the country the diplomatic premises represents, or the country hosting it. Immunity of diplomats and diplomatic establishments is one of the oldest principles in relations between nations, going back to antiquity and based on reciprocity. In addition to the people conducting diplomacy, where they do it from, and where they live in the host country, all expect and deserve inviolability. This benefits both the sending and receiving state, since each wants their diplomats and diplomatic premises protected. But this concept of inviolability of people and premises has also made diplomatic establishments attractive to prominent persons on the run from the law or mobs to seek protection in foreign embassies. In past centuries, with its recurring coups resulting in a revolving door of presidents coming and going, Latin America was a hotbed of leaders seeking asylum in foreign embassies. And it was in the new rulers interest to respect the sanctity of embassies offering refuge because they could very well be the ones seeking asylum down the line.

The most recent international agreements formalizing rules related to diplomatic immunity and the inviolability of diplomatic premises are contained in two treaties: The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (193 parties) and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (183 parties). One of the bedrock principles is that the receiving state is obligated to protect the diplomats and diplomatic establishments of the sending state. So, there is no question that Ecuadorian security forces had no right to invade the Mexican Embassy, and it is also perfectly understandable why Mexico cut relations with Ecuador. The international response was universal condemnation of Ecuadors aggression.

But the Israeli action is murkier under the conventions  since it was a third state (Israel) attacking a diplomatic establishment (Irans) in Syria. Technically, the Syrian Government had an obligation to protect Irans diplomatic premises from all attacks, but realistically it could not do so given Israels capabilities. But even if international law experts hold that

Israel did not contravene the letter of the Conventions, is there any doubt that it broke the spirit that diplomatic establishments are inviolable? I recall the international uproar the US caused in 1999 when it bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three Chinese journalists  at a time when US-Chinese relations were still friendly. The Clinton Administration explained that it was a mistake caused by faulty maps, but the Chinese didnt believe us. I was Deputy Ambassador in Togo at the time and my own personal relations with Chinese colleagues went from warm to ice cold in a day.

My angst over Israels bombing was of course complicated by the deep irony that in 1979 the Iranian Government stood by when students overran our Embassy in Tehran and held our entire diplomatic staff  including some of my friends - as hostages under the harshest of conditions for 444 days. So, Irans loud protests over Israels attack breaking international law do contain a large dose of hypocrisy.

But, in my view, the principle that diplomats and their premises must not be attacked is sacrosanct. The US has 271 embassies and consulates in 173 countries with which our relations range from warm and friendly to frigid and hostile. For our own people to be able to do their work advancing and protecting American interests, they need to be assured that they, their families, and their premises are safe and protected  no matter how hostile the environment in which they operate.

On this issue, at least, I have no doubt that even our bitterest adversaries agree. China, for example, has even more diplomatic facilities than the US and their diplomats deserve the same protections as ours. There are good reasons why this principle has existed since diplomats, perhaps the second oldest profession, took the field, and its in everyones interest to keep it. Our world is dangerous enough  imagine how much worse it would be if diplomats were unable to practice their craft because of constant fears over their own safety. As Prussian General Carl Von Clausewitz said, war is a continuation of politics by other means. Diplomacy is one of the means to prevent war and other bad things from happening.

Nagy

Ambassador Tibor Nagy was most recently Assistant Secretary of State for Africa after serving as Texas Techs Vice Provost for International Affairs and a 30-year career as a US Diplomat. Follow him on Twitter @TiborPNagyJr

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tibor Nagy argues against attacking diplomatic missions after attacks
As ticks spread, the US is getting smart about reporting infections and seeing the true extent of Lyme disease

ROANOKE, Va. (STACKER/WFXR)  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  the federal agency that monitors diseases and establishes guidelines to protect human health  published a paper in February that shows cases of Lyme disease jumped nearly 70 percent nationwide in 2022. But what looked like an alarming spike in disease was actually the result of smarter disease surveillance that better reflects whats happening on the ground.

The CDC revised its Lyme reporting requirements in 2022, making it easier for states with high infection rates to report those cases. The report, the first published analysis of the new data collection guidelines, demonstrates the crucial role efficient surveillance plays in better understanding the scope of infectious disease in the U.S.  and what more must be done to safeguard public health as climate change fosters the proliferation of ticks.

Tick Time in Virginia: How you can protect yourself and your family

Disease surveillance that is interpretable and is standardized is integral to being able to understand how disease frequency is changing, and if its changing, said Kiersten Kugeler, a CDC epidemiologist and lead author of the paper. She noted that climate change will complicate the already difficult task of monitoring and controlling diseases such as Lyme. Cases in some areas will continue rising, and theyll decline in others, as parts of the U.S. become more amenable, or hostile, to ticks.

Its not going to be straightforward, Kugeler said. Its going to be incredibly important to have good surveillance to be able to understand how climate is affecting risk of disease.

Studies have documented significant shifts in Lyme trends across the country. The bite of a black-legged tick causes the illness and causes symptoms that range from flu-like and mild to neurological and debilitating, depending on how quickly the disease is diagnosed. Cases doubled in the three decades between 1990 and 2020.

Many researchers, including CDC employees, say climate change is one factor behind that steep rise. Environmental changes such as urban sprawl and swelling populations of white-tailed deer, among other drivers, also play a role.

In warmer winter temperatures black-legged ticks maneuvered into regions that have historically been too harsh for the blood-sucking arachnids. Meanwhile, milder spring and fall seasons have given the pests more time to breed. Lyme is a portent of climate-driven diseases to come. But, as it has spread into new areas and infected more people, the CDC has struggled to capture the full impact.

In 2022, the agency redoubled its disease surveillance efforts, with a special emphasis on vector-borne disease. As part of that push, the CDC loosened its Lyme disease reporting requirements in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest, where cases are high. Public health departments in those areas no longer have to track down the clinical details of each positive Lyme test, such as a patients symptoms and when they began, and doctors can skip the labor-intensive process of recording and reporting them.

Get ready to stomp! Spotted lanternflies are about to reappear in Virginia

Now, a positive laboratory test is sufficient. Eliminating these steps takes the onus off doctors and local public health authorities and puts it on state health departments, which are typically better equipped to handle it.

We have a lot of behind-the-scenes data management thats new with this Lyme disease surveillance system, said Rebecca Osborn, a vector-borne disease epidemiologist at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. But overall, she said, It has gotten quite a bit less burdensome.

The new system runs the risk of including information on people who no longer show symptoms but are still testing positive for the bacteria, which can linger in the blood for years after the infection has gone. But those cases likely comprise a small fraction of the overall data, the CDC said. In areas where Lyme remains rare, providers must continue reporting clinical information for each case.

These relatively modest changes to the case definition requirements unearthed 62,551 cases of Lyme nationwide. Thats 1.7 times the annual average reported from 2017 to 2019.

More Outdoors Bound Stories on WFXRtv.com

Still, most cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. go unreported. Studies based on health insurance records estimate that roughly 500,000 cases are diagnosed every year. Those reported by states to the CDC in 2022 comprise less than one-fifth of that. Elizabeth Schiffman, an epidemiologist with the Vector-Borne Diseases Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, said figuring out how to capture every case is nearly impossible and perhaps beside the point.

No system is ever perfect, Schiffman said. Were always going to miss something, were always going to count something that probably shouldnt be counted.

If the CDC could use the data it collects every year under its new system to measure the overall impact of Lyme, Schiffman said, then the number of cases it already knows about may be enough. If what we are able to capture is able to give us an idea of where things are happening, how things are changing, and inform good public health actions, then it could be argued that we dont need to count every case.

The data deficit and lack of standardization among states become more of a problem when researchers try to tease out the impacts of climate change on the disease. The CDC argues that in regions where Lyme incidence is still relatively rare, the updated surveillance system doesnt make sense. Doctors and local health departments in those areas still need to collect clinical information on every potential Lyme patient, because each case is a revealing data point rather than a statistic in a larger trend.

But the burdensome requirements in low-incidence areas muddy efforts to detect the role of climate change in how black-legged ticks may be migrating, said Richard Ostfeld, a senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies who researches tick-borne illnesses.

LIVE CAM: Ospreys return to nest at Radford Universitys campus

The prevalence of Lyme disease typically falls along geographic lines. Counties in the upper Midwest and Northeast report tens of thousands of cases each year, while those in the Southeast and South report hundreds. Although the CDCs revised reporting guidelines more accurately revealed the extent of Lyme disease in areas with a high prevalence, the implementation of the system over time may obscure the growth of the disease elsewhere.

The new guidelines would tend to bias your estimate of geographic trends toward more growth in incidence in northern parts of the country as opposed to southern parts of the country where youre still being very conservative, Ostfeld said. It complicates matters for those trying to understand the role of climate change.

North Carolina, for example, a state long classified as low-incidence, was among five states with the highest number of Lyme disease-related insurance claims in 2016, according to one analysis. But the disease reporting there said Noah Johnston, director of the Lyme awareness group Project Lyme, still isnt where it needs to be. Theres an expectation that tick populations in North Carolina are not as high as they are in the Northeast, he said.

The benefits and drawbacks of the CDCs updated surveillance highlight the difficulties of tracking and controlling infectious diseases under climatic conditions that are rapidly shifting the distribution of disease carriers. Incremental adjustments to the status quo might not be enough to keep up with the growing scale of disease risk.

Were likely going to see more and more cases of these diseases and more and more diseases that are going to affect not just our population in the U.S., but globally, said Osborn. Public health in general needs to become a little more proactive in our responses. Were still working on that as a field.

This article has been re-published under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  State prosecutors have recorded more than 600 homicides so far this year in Tijuana, or about five per day.

Miguel Angel Gaxiola Rodriguez, head of the homicides division for the Baja California Attorney Generals Office, said the Otay neighborhood, on the east side of the city where the airport is located, has seen a jump in the number of homicides when compared to previous years.

But the most dangerous area continues to be the Zona Norte, located a short distance from the San Ysidro Port of Entry, where many bars, brothels and strip joints are located.

Gaxiola Rodriguez also stated areas where drugs are sold and used continue to be a hotbed for murders, and that the homeless population is being targeted more than ever.

Were seeing a lot more homeless people murdered  its the ongoing battle between groups who kill and leave bodies behind to send a message.

Criminals in Baja have total disrespect for police, operate without fear, activist says

As the lead homicide investigator in the state, Gaxiola Rodriguez admitted they are having a hard time keeping up with the number of murders in the city.

Were working hard to reduce the number of homicides, some days you have seven, some only one, theres no consistent number, he said. We continue to make arrests, investigate crimes, we are going after all sorts of groups involved in these homicides.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

But Gaxiola Rodriguez pointed out it would be a mistake to assume they are overwhelmed by the number of homicides and the ensuing investigations.

We are not overrun, simply put, we have to keep working hard, youre never going to have enough personnel to investigate, he said. We wish there were fewer homicides, well look into every single case as well as possible and follow up by arresting those involved, and hopefully this will lead to more convictions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
TIMELINE: What happened in the 8 years since the murder of Ron Horaney?

LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  New documents identify two men allegedly involved in the 2016 murder of a prominent Longview businessman, Ron Horaney.

Smith County Sheriff IDs victim in 39 year-old cold case

On Memorial Day of 2016, Horaney was found dead in his home from multiple gunshot wounds. Horaney worked with his mother Betty at Horaneys Feed Store that had locations in Longview and Marshall. The feed store is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the area founded by Horaneys grandfather in 1940.

Lee Berger, a Longview resident, remembered Horaney as a hard worker who always put his family first.

I hope no parent ever has to go through this: Ron Horaneys mother reacts to arrests made in case

He spent his life up here with the store, with his mom and his family. You know this is a tradition of Longview. A classic tradition, and I hope it continues, Berger said.

KETK has compiled a timeline depicting the case since Horaneys murder to the recent arrests made below:

2016

MAY 30, 2016: On Memorial Day, Horaney answered the door of his Tryon Road residence in Longview at around 7 p.m.

According to Allison Thomas, a family member, Horaney and his family were enjoying the holiday until he was gunned down after answering the door.

Original crime scene of Ron Horaneys murder

Original crime scene of Ron Horaneys murder

His kids were at the house when it happened and saw it happened, Thomas said. My cousin Philip, he saw it happen as well and he was the one who called 911.

Woman pleads guilty after student brings meth to East Texas school as candy

According to an arrest warrant, the Gregg County Sheriffs Office (GCSO) received a call of a reported shooting. The sheriffs office located Horaney who later died at a local hospital.

You can watch our 2016 coverage of Horaneys death below:

JUNE 1, 2016: An autopsy report ruled Horaneys death as homicide and that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest and into the abdomen.

JUNE 2, 2016: The GCSO released a sketch of the suspect involved in Horaneys death.

Sketch of the suspect. Courtesy of the Gregg County Sheriffs Office

JUNE 9, 2016: The GCSO held a press conference where Sheriff Maxey Cerliano announced a $20,000 reward for the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for Horaneys death.

JUNE 10, 2016: According to an affidavit, at around 8:30 p.m. officials investigating the case received a call from a cooperating individual that a Ray Kamali had solicited them to murder Horaney two years prior.

Mugshot of Reza Kamali. Courtesy of the Gregg County Jail

The individual also said that Kamali wanted the victim killed up close and personal because of a family dispute. Investigators were able to identify Ray as Reza Kamali.

The individual also reportedly said Kamali offered a large amount of money for the murder.

The individual also told investigators that Kamalis son was a rheumatologist.

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JUNE 22, 2016: The GCSO, Longview Police Department and Texas Rangers were surveilling Kamali at a rheumatology center in Longview, observed Kamali leaving the area in a Toyota passenger car and followed him to an In-N-Out in Dallas.

Investigators reportedly saw Kamali meet with a Hispanic male who was driving a Dodge Challenger. Officials said the Hispanic man got in the Toyota with Kamali and shortly exited the vehicle with what appeared to be a plastic shopping bag.

Mugshot of Alfredo Lizcano.

Courtesy of the Gregg County Jail

Lufkin man arrested for capital murder in death of 4-month-old son

Investigators followed the Hispanic man driving the Dodge to a Dallas apartment. A short time later, police observed the Dodge Challenger leave the apartment and was stopped on a traffic violation by the Texas Highway Patrol.

Police identified the driver as Alfredo Lizcano, 38, and the front passenger as Lizcanos relative. A search for the vehicle registration indicated that the Challenger belonged to an individual who was unnamed.

2019

The lead investigator said the case had gone cold. A former Texas Ranger was investigated by the inspector generals office due to accusations of sleeping with Ron Horaneys widow.

K9 competition in East Texas helps locate man evading arrest nearby, police say

The Ranger admitted to the affair during the interview, claiming to have built a friendship with the family after the murder. At the time, he was aiding in the investigation by chasing leads.

A few months later, the Ranger admitted that the relationship with Horaneys widow had turned intimate.

Grand jury indicts man accused of killing Audrii Cunningham

The Ranger said Horaneys children found out about the affair and the children confronted her about it. The widow and the Ranger then stopped their relationship as he feared losing his job.

The Ranger was demoted to highway patrol because of the affair and said he did not believe it compromised the investigation.

2020

NOVEMBER 20, 2020: Investigators talked with the owner of the Dodge Challenger, who confirmed that they introduced Lizcano to Kamali in August 2012 and that the Dodge owner had a personal relationship with Lizcano.

The case would not see any significant progress until four years later.

2024

APRIL 18, 2024: Investigators met with Lizcanos relative to discuss his knowledge on Horaneys murder.

Henderson County man arrested for possession of child porn

Investigators showed Lizcanos relative a photo lineup containing a picture of Kamali. The relative reportedly identified the photo of Kamali and said Yeah, that Tony right there. Thats the man that hired [Lizcano].

Lizcanos relative explained that Kamali was known to him as Tony. He also explained that Lizcano had lived in Longview at or around the time of the murder.

The relative allegedly told investigators that around the time of the murder, Lizcano called [Lizcanos relative] and told [him] that Lizcano was going to do a job and murder someone.

Former East Texas athlete arrested in San Antonio for alleged improper relationship with student

Lizcanos relative claimed that Lizcano sent him to meet with Kamali to pick up a box which he believed to be payment for the murder. He told investigators that Lizcano allegedly called him the day of the murder and said he did it.

Investigators obtained call records from cellular telephone providers which reportedly showed communication between Kamali, Lizcano and his relative before and after the murder of Horaney.

APRIL 21, 2024: Court documents showed that investigators met with the initial cooperating individual that called the sheriffs office on June 10, 2016 to do a photo lineup, where the individual identified Kamali as the person who solicited the individual to kill the victim.

22 year old Titus County fugitive apprehended in Missouri

APRIL 23, 2024: The sheriffs office arrested Kamali and charged him with murder. His bond was set at $7.5 million during his arraignment on April 24.

APRIL 24, 2024: Alfredo Lizcano was arrested for murder in Dallas County and held on a $10 million bond.

The Gregg County Sheriffs Office said they will hold a press conference on April 29 at 2 p.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Gregg County Courthouse where they will release more information on Horaneys murder.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A timeline of King Charles' health struggles, from his cancer diagnosis to his return to public duties

Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer in January.

The announcement came after the British monarch sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Charles has returned to public duties and discussed experiencing side effects from cancer treatment.

It looks like King Charles III is back in business.

The king returned to public duties in April, over two months after Buckingham Palace announced he was diagnosed with cancer following a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.

At the time of the announcement, the palace said the king would be stepping back from public-facing duties to undergo a "schedule of regular treatments." When Charles was out of the spotlight  and his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton was also undergoing cancer treatment  other members of the royal inner circle, like Prince William, faced pressure to step up.

Here's a timeline of Charles' health struggles, from his diagnosis to his return to the public eye.

Buckingham Palace announced Charles was undergoing a "corrective procedure" on his prostate in January.

King Charles III with Queen Camilla after he received treatment for an enlarged prostate at The London Clinic on January 29, 2024. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

On January 17, the palace shared in a statement with Business Insider that Charles would be heading to the hospital to receive treatment for an enlarged prostate.

At the time, the palace described Charles' condition as "benign" and said the procedure he was having was "common with thousands of men each year."

When asked to provide further details about the condition and the procedure, the palace said it would not "for privacy reasons" and that more information about his upcoming engagements would be confirmed "in due course."

The announcement came the same day Kensington Palace announced Kate was in recovery after a "planned abdominal surgery."

Weeks later, Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

Buckingham Palace announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer on February 5, 2024. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

On February 5, less than a month after the king's prostate procedure, the palace made yet another unprecedented announcement: Charles has cancer.

The palace didn't specify the form of cancer Charles was diagnosed with in the statement shared with BI. However, it said the monarch's medical team discovered the cancer while he was undergoing his prostate procedure.

It added that Charles had already begun a "schedule of regular treatments" and was under advice to step back from "public-facing duties," though he would also be continuing "State business and official paperwork as usual."

The statement concluded with the palace saying Charles was "grateful" for his medical team's "swift intervention" and was looking forward to returning to "full public duty as soon as possible."

"His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer," it added.

Charles kept working behind the scenes, praised the public for its well-wishes, and received support from his royal relatives  near and far.

King Charles III reading cards and messages sent by well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis in Buckingham Palace on February 21, 2024. Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

In the months after Charles' diagnosis, the royal kept busy behind the scenes. Shortly after his condition was made public, a representative of Prince Harry told BI that he was scheduled to fly to the UK from California to see his father.

Weeks later, he was pictured meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opening get-well-soon cards sent to the palace by members of the public.

In the interim, Charles also received treatment at the same clinic as Kate, whom he remained in the "closest contact with," a palace spokesperson told the BBC.

On March 28, Charles made his first public remarks post-diagnosis. Before Easter Sunday, in a pre-recorded audio clip shared at the Royal Maundy Service, he said it was "a great sadness" that he was unable to attend in person due to his condition and stressed the importance of extending "friendship" in times of need, Royal Central reported.

On Easter Sunday, Charles was spotted alongside Camilla attending a service at St George's Chapel in Windsor. The service was smaller to reduce Charles' contact with others while undergoing treatment.

On April 26, the palace said Charles would return to public-facing duties and is gearing up to host Japanese royals in June.

King Charles III attends the Easter Service at Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024. Samir Hussein/WireImage

After a "period of treatment and recuperation" following his cancer diagnosis, the palace said on April 26 that Charles is gearing up to return to public-facing duties "shortly."

The statement added that one of the first of several public events he's set to appear at in the next few weeks is a visit to a cancer treatment center with Queen Camilla on April 30.

"In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June," the statement read.

As Charles approached the one-year mark following his coronation on May 6, 2023, the statement concluded by saying he and Camilla are "deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year."

Charles opened up about experiencing side effects from cancer treatment while speaking to a British army veteran on Monday.

King Charles III during a visit to the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

On May 13, the king visited the Army Flying Museum in Hampshire, where LBC reported he spoke with a British military veteran who had undergone chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

During the interaction, the individual, whom the UK news outlet identified as Aaron Mapplebeck, told Charles he lost his ability to taste as a result of the cancer treatment, a side effect that the king said he'd also experienced.

On the same day, Charles took part in a ceremony handing over his title as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps  a role he has held for over 30 years  to William.

The BBC reported it was "unusual" for both the king and William to be present for the occasion, but said that Charles told attendees that they were in good hands with his eldest son, who used to be a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

"I do hope you'll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new colonel-in-chief," Charles said. "The great thing is he's a very good pilot indeed. So that's encouraging."

Read the original article on Business Insider
People pose for photos at a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors.

Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy.

PHNOM PENH, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors.

Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy.

Speaking at the event, Sok Touch, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the exhibition was part of the joint activities organized to celebrate the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024.

"Through this painting exhibition, I believe that people will gain a better understanding of the culture and tradition of Cambodia and China," he said.

Touch said the event will contribute further to promoting mutual understanding and deepening the traditional bond of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

"This joint painting exhibition will surely inject fresh impetus into the cultural cooperation between the two countries," he said.

Phal Sreymean, a 30-year-old visitor, said the exhibition would contribute further to promoting cultural ties and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

"I like this Cambodia-China painting exhibition very much because it can further enhance the Cambodia-China ties and promote cultural understanding among Cambodian and Chinese peoples," she told Xinhua.

"It will also allow Cambodian students and people to know more about the Chinese culture," she added, and expressed hope that there will be more such painting exhibitions in the future.

Bo Sreynich, a 28-year-old visitor, said it was her first time to see a joint Cambodia-China painting exhibition.

"I like it because the artists are very talented and the paintings are beautiful and vivid," she told Xinhua. "These paintings have brought us to ancient times, telling us about their beautiful culture and tradition." 

Sok Touch (2nd R), president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, looks at a Chinese painting at a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors.

Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

People visit a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors.

Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

People visit a Cambodia-China paintings exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on April 26, 2024. A Cambodia-China paintings exhibition opened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Friday, attracting scores of visitors.

Jointly organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China's Jiujiang University, the half-day event displayed dozens of paintings featuring scenery, culture and tradition of both countries as well as Chinese calligraphy. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)
Many users are tired of the swiping, matching, ghosting cycle and are looking to meet cute in person.

Many people are experiencing dating app fatigue and are looking for options beyond the screen. (Tatiana Lavrova via Getty Images)

For Maxine Williams, 27, dating apps felt exhausting.

Not only was the New Yorker feeling screen fatigue coming out of the pandemic, but she was also noticing a frustrating cycle of swiping, matching, ghosting, and fewer guys who were interested in more than just hooking up.

Its really difficult to find someone genuine, Williams told Yahoo News.

Shes not alone. While options like Bumble, Hinge and Tinder saw years of steady growth, by offering virtual places for people to connect, many users have started to notice their shortcomings  endless in-app conversations that dont lead to dates, fake profiles, limited free options and an increased cringe factor when it comes to paying for supposedly better choices. And while some users might not be breaking up with apps altogether, their eyes are definitely wandering to other options.

The apps have noticed, with many shedding employees and rethinking their strategies. According to the New York Times, Match Group and Bumble have lost more than $40 billion in market value since 2021.

But whats the alternative? Turns out, many people are opting for something a little retro. Whether Gen Z or Gen X, some users are ready to trade in virtual experiences for IRL  that is, in real life  ones.

So, what else is out there?

Enter companies like Equanimity Equation, which has hosted IRL singles event the Feels in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Founder Allie Hoffman, 40, used her studies at Columbia Universitys Spirituality Mind Body Institute to create a multisensory approach to connecting with others.

People who buy a ticket for the Feels dating experience, which also includes polyamorous and sapphic editions and can range from about $70-$95 per event, pair up on activities like hugging another person for a period of time or even giving your partner a series of compliments. Hoffman launched the event in New York in 2022, in part to combat the bad behavior of ghosting and breadcrumbing (basically stringing someone along) that she was seeing on dating apps.

While the average age of attendees is mid-30s, Hoffman said shes seen participants as young as early 20s (21 is the minimum age since alcohol is served) to people in their 60s. Ticket prices are set with intention, she said, to ensure that people who join are really invested in the experience.

This is about learning a tool kit for more meaningful interactions, she said.

While 30% of U.S. adults say theyve used a dating app, according to a 2023 study from the Pew Research Center, that number hasnt changed  much less grown  from a similar survey by the organization in 2019.

That said, its not apps that are the problem, argues Sabrina Zohar, a San Diego-based dating coach and podcast host who met her partner on a dating app.

The issue is that people are noncommittal, and that people have options, and they know it, Zohar told Yahoo News.

A twist on a dating classic

Tired of the dating app scene, which seemed to rely too heavily on filters that could negatively affect women of color, Williams became enamored of something a little more old-fashioned: speed dating.

Dating apps have always been the norm for my generation. Literally since college, Ive been on dating apps, Williams said. So we really heavily romanticize meet-cutes in a different way than I think older generations have, because theyve always had that as an option, whereas us, its like, Oh, you're single? Get on a dating app.

So in 2022, she launched We Met IRL, giving speed dating a 21st century makeover by hosting events in New York, New Jersey and D.C. that capitalize on social media and celebrate diversity.

I feel like women, especially women of color, theres been so much data over the years saying were like the least desirable or the least swiped on, Williams told Yahoo News.

So I created my events, not just for people of color, just for the events to be diverse, added Williams.

Tickets are $30 per person, and each event is limited to 44 people because, as Williams said, talking to 15-20 people takes a lot of energy.

Williams does caution that attendees shouldnt come with the sole idea of finding a lifelong partner but rather to meet people and have fun.

You probably wont meet your husband here, but its OK. Youre gonna talk to men, she said. And when was the last time you talked to more than two single men in person face-to-face?

Zohar agrees and suggests reframing expectations even off the apps.

What I suggest is just interject yourself into the community and into doing things that you genuinely enjoy so that you can meet people that are like-minded, she said.

Finding friendship  and maybe love too

Flash Pack organizes trips to places like Morocco for singles in their 30s and 40s. (Flash Pack)

Flash Pack, a travel company that organizes group adventures for solo travelers in their 30s and 40s, offers exactly that.

Created by co-founders Lee Thompson and Radha Vyas to combat the worsening loneliness epidemic, the company aims to create meaningful friendships through travel.

Solo adventurers can book trips to places like Tanzania, Finland or Sri Lanka, where they will meet others who might share similar interests. In fact, according to Flash Pack, 80% of attendees keep in touch after their experience.

Of course, sometimes these friendships may develop into something further  leading to long-term relationships or even marriages  but if that happens, it tends to be more impromptu, Thompson told Yahoo News via email.

What are apps doing in response?

Dating apps including Tinder have also ventured into IRL experiences. (Tinder)

Companies like Match Group, which owns apps including Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish and Match.com, have been investing in their own IRL experiences. Match, in particular, has been hosting about 100 monthly events across the U.S. and Canada since 2011. Tinder has also hosted a variety of singles events.

Bumble also created its own IRL events, focused mainly on a return to real-life and in-person dating after the cooped-up pandemic years, but the calendar is currently empty. A Bumble representative did not return Yahoo News request for comment.

At the end of the day, while dating apps have dominated the coupling scene for more than a decade, more and more people are exploring life beyond the screen. With a changing landscape and fresh ideas for meeting cute, a path to romance has emerged beyond the swipe.

You might not meet the love of your life, Williams said, but I think its a great opportunity to just put yourself out there in a different way.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A 42-year-old fugitive from Gibson County, Tennessee is wanted for alleged aggravated sexual battery of a child under the age of 13.

Albert Pirtle Jr., whose last known address was in Humboldt, bonded out in 2021 and failed to appear in court last December, according to District Attorney General Frederick Agees office.

7-year-old caught at school with loaded gun in backpack

Victim shot in face after caught in crossfire at Exxon

The DAs office asks anyone with information on his whereabouts to encourage him to safely surrender himself to the Gibson County Sheriffs Department or Humboldt Police Department.

You are also urged to contact Criminal Investigator Jimmy Wilson at jdwilson@tndagc.org, 731-855-7813, or reach out to any of the local law enforcement agencies in Gibson County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The implosion of the Scottish National Party (SNP) is fast becoming more of a popcorn fest than binge-watching Taggart. Last April, we stared open-mouthed as the police seized a 110,000 Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome from a house in Fife following the arrest of Nicola Sturgeons husband Peter Murrell, who was last week charged in connection with the embezzlement of party funds (he denies the allegations).

Next week, well be breaking open the Butterkist once more to see Humza Yousaf, Sturgeons successor as Scotlands First Minister, face a vote of no confidence at Holyrood. The potentially career-ending ballot comes after Yousaf suddenly axed the SNPs power-sharing arrangement with the Greens in a spectacular own goal that has left him teetering on the brink after just a year in office.

Even more hilariously, the deciding vote is set to be held by Ash Regan, whose defection to Alex Salmonds Alba Party last October was labelled by Yousaf as no great loss to the SNP. If there has been a more hapless politician in Holyroods kilt-clad history, then Im struggling to think of one.

Yet Yousaf  dubbed Humza Useless by his critics  is hardly the only inadequate politician to have won power under devolution. Sturgeon, Mark Drakeford, Sadiq Khan, Vaughan Gething  is this really the best our political system can do?

Devolution was meant to bring power closer to the people, resulting in more effective decision-making. Instead, all it seems to have achieved is the propelling to power of complete non-entities who think their role is to beg for money from Westminster  only to spend it on insane policies and their own incompetent governance.

It is not just in Scotland, although the SNPs record has been particularly shocking. The Saltire-draped party has done so much so badly, its hard to think of anything it has done well.

It mishandled the pandemic, enduring a similar Covid fatality rate to England despite harsher restrictions. Thanks to its so-called progressive tax rate system, people earning more than 28,000 in Scotland are taxed more than they would be in England. Yet still, there is an enormous black hole in the public finances, while Scotlands deficit as a percentage of GDP remains substantially bigger than the UKs as a whole.

Other SNP failures include its dangerous and unwanted gender reforms, the ferry fiasco, a finding by Scotlands childrens commissioner that Sturgeon had absolutely failed to deliver for young people, with Scotland having slipped down the education rankings, and a staggeringly bleak Audit Scotland report painting a picture of a health service in crisis according to the British Medical Association. The SNP is so useless it hasnt even been able to deliver independence, for pitys sake.

Wales is no better, with new First Minister Gething now having to partially row back on his predecessor Drakefords nanny state 20mph zones after a call for the limit to be scrapped broke Senedd records for the most-signed petition on its website. Other bonkers ideas dreamt up by Welsh Labour include a four-day week and a universal basic income pilot that pays you a salary regardless of whether youre working or not.

During his remarkably unimpressive tenure, virtue signalling Drakeford spent much of his time piggybacking on every progressive cause he could find, splashing nearly 9 million of Welsh taxpayers cash a year on woke jobs. Having aped even Sturgeons draconian approach to lockdown, Drakeford also adopted her minimum alcohol pricing policy, only for alcohol-related deaths in Wales to reach record levels. At one point, his government even considered banning energy drinks, ludicrously suggesting they were a gateway to smoking and drinking.

In December, we learnt that Welsh pupils were performing the worst out of the UK in maths, reading and science, according to the latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment, which is based on tests taken by 15-year-olds from around the world. Yet Drakefords record on health was perhaps even worse, with hospital waiting lists recently reaching the highest ever recorded.

London has become a similar sort of basket case under Khan, a mayor accused this week by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly of saying more about Gaza than black kids getting murdered in south-east London. Such is the arrogance of the former Labour MP for Tooting that his spokesman dismissed the vile comment as not deserving the dignity of a response rather than addressing the fact that there were 14,626 knife offences in London in the 12 months to the end of December last year  thousands more than the total for 2022.

Seemingly a mayor in denial, last December he was rebuked by the official statistics regulator for claiming knife crime had fallen under his watch when, according to the Office for Statistics Regulation, it had significantly increased.

The mayors record on housing has been described as uniquely poor. Research revealed that, as of November last year, none of the 23,900 to 27,200 affordable homes that the mayor had promised between 2021 and 2026, under the second phase of the capitals Government-funded housing programme, have been started.

Yet earlier last year, he announced that he had hit a target of starting 116,000 homes between 2016-23  studiously ignoring the fact that this figure included 7,189 started when Boris Johnson was still mayor.

This week Khan  along with his Tory rival Susan Hall  apparently shunned a housing hustings hosted by Shelter. Presumably, he would rather spend his time talking about how much he dislikes Donald Trump than his failures on crime, housing, the rail strikes and Londons flagging night-time economy. I suppose its also easier than addressing the outrage over his Ulez scheme, one of many green vanity projects designed to make Khan look down with the Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion kids, who have been busily wreaking havoc on Londons roads and inside its galleries and sporting events.

The truth is that Tony Blairs devolution experiment has not worked. In the US, bad state governments are punished by people choosing to move elsewhere, with thousands fleeing the likes of California for Florida to enjoy lower taxes. Here, were just left with this over-promoted collection of inadequates.

A no confidence vote in Yousaf would only appear to tell half the story of how disastrous devolution has actually been for Britain.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The top Biden administration official overseeing federal college financial aid will depart his role this summer, the Education Department said Friday, capping off a year of turmoil for students and universities.

Richard Cordray, the chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, will step down at the end of June, officials said. The former head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Cordray faced mounting criticism from congressional Republicans to leave his post amid calamitous delays in the college financial aid process.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Cordray did not comment on the FAFSA problems. He said his office has achieved key milestones in his three-year term. He has agreed to stay on during an interim transition period.

"Over my tenure, we provided student loan forgiveness to more than 4,000,000 borrowers and their families; made it easier for people to apply for and manage federal student aid; and took strong actions to hold schools accountable for defrauding students," Cordray said.

Cordray's departure comes as scores of high school seniors across the country await aid offers they typically would have received by now. Repeated glitches and errors in the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, truncated the decision-making timelines for hundreds of thousands of students. College officials have scrambled to get aid offers out the door, sometimes using inaccurate information to make crucial calculations about how much families should expect to pay for college in the fall.

"This is the worst time for a change in management and leadership to happen," said Brittani Williams, a former financial aid counselor and outreach coordinator for Louisiana. Williams, who oversees advocacy, policy and research for the organization Generation Hope, said the change could exacerbate the turmoil and students' distrust in the financial aid system. "This crisis will turn away students from matriculating."

Richard Cordray, photographed during his time as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks with the USA TODAY Editorial Board in McLean, Va, in 2013.

The FAFSA blunders havent let up. Now the Education Department has a credibility issue.

At a congressional hearing this month, a panel of experts said the problem with the FAFSA had reached crisis levels and could trigger a drop in college enrollment.

If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep, Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said during the hearing.

Congress mandated that the form be simplified, a bipartisan effort that Republicans and Democrats agreed was long overdue. But the Education Department's implementation of the new FAFSA this year was beset with problems, eroding trust between the federal government, higher education institutions, students and their families.

Cordray was at the forefront. His most recent publicly available performance contract indicated that his top priority on the job was implementing the new FAFSA. Republicans, and some former Education Department officials, say he lost sight of that goal and focused too much on student loan relief efforts instead.

Officials in jobs like Cordray's are appointed to fixed terms, and his tenure was slated to come to an end soon if it wasn't renewed. Arthur Wayne Johnson, who served in the gig during the Trump administration and is now running for Congress, said he was glad to see a change at the top, given the recent turmoil.

"Theyve got a serious leadership question now," he said.

Michelle Dimino, director of education at the moderate think tank Third Way, noted the scrutiny the Education Department has faced from Congress. "Congress has made no secret of the fact that they are furious, and the Department also needs Congress to fund them adequately," she said. "A major personnel change like this can be a natural step to reset that dynamic."

Clare McCann, the higher education director at the research philanthropy group Arnold Ventures and a former Education Department adviser, said the agency has struggled with turnover. She's concerned about the implications of another transition and appreciates that Cordray will remain in his post while the administration looks for a replacement with "the skills and background to do what is an incredibly complicated job."

In a statement Friday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona praised Cordray for "fixing the broken student loan system." He did not specifically mention Cordray's role in the FAFSA rollout.

"It's no exaggeration to say that Rich helped change millions of lives for the better," Cardona said.

Laura Perna, an expert in college access and affordability at the University of Pennsylvania, said Cordray's departure shows how problematic the FAFSA delays have been. "This, clearly, is a big failure, and from the perspective of the individual student, the counselor, the parent, the college access organizations ... the system broke," she said.

But Perna is not sure a new COO would rectify the situation.

"For individual students, I don't know that a change in leadership is going to mean anything," she said. "People need results. They need to get their financial aid offers. They need to have the information so they can make one of the most important decisions they'll ever make."

Contributing: Swapna Venugopal, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amid FAFSA crisis, Federal Student Aid chief Richard Cordray steps down
Supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrate at a Stop the Steal rally in front of the Maricopa County Elections Department office on Nov. 7, 2020. Arizonas attorney general announced the indictments on April 24 against 18 people, seven of whose names are redacted. Multiple news organizations have used details in the indictment to identify RNC senior counsel for election integrity Christina Bobb, as well as the other six. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Less than a week after the Republican National Committee unveiled a historic new program to monitor the polls for fraud, a top lawyer with the committee was among those indicted for an alleged scheme to use false fraud claims to overturn the results of Arizonas presidential election.

Indeed, the lawyer, RNC senior counsel for election integrity Christina Bobb, was scheduled to appear April 25 at an online meeting to recruit activists for the GOPs vote-watching effort, though she didnt show up. The meeting was organized by fringe conspiracy theorists who, like Bobb, have helped spread lies about illegal voting.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the indictments on April 24 against 18 people, seven of whose names are redacted. Multiple news organizations have used details in the indictment to identify Bobb and the other six. Mayes on Friday confirmed Bobbs indictment.

The confluence of events involving Bobb, the RNC and a loose network of anti-fraud activists underscores how the Trump-controlled GOP appears to be laying the groundwork to contest this years election using the same false claims about illegal voting  and even some of the same key figures  as it did in 2020.

Asked for comment on Bobbs reported indictment and whether she remained employed by the RNC, an RNC spokesperson declined to answer on the record.

Bobb did not respond to an inquiry about her failure to appear at the April 25 event.

GOPs historic vote-monitoring program

The Arizona indictments came less than a week after the Trump campaign and the RNC announced a historic, 100,000 person strong effort to closely monitor the voting process, calling it, the most extensive and monumental election integrity program in the nations history.

Whenever a ballot is being cast or counted, Republican poll watchers will be observing the process and reporting any irregularity, the RNC declared in a press release.

The committee called the initiative an historic collaboration between the RNC, the Trump Campaign, and passionate grassroots coalitions who are deeply invested in fighting voter fraud. That appeared to be a reference to the partys outreach to anti-fraud activists like those at Thursdays meeting  many of whom have bought in to lies about the 2020 election.

Multiple lawsuits found no evidence of systematic or widespread fraud in 2020.

The RNCs vote-monitoring effort has been championed by Lara Trump, former President Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, who took over as RNC co-chair in late February. Bobb was announced as an election integrity lawyer at the RNC soon afterward.

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024.

Lara Trump warned in an April 23 interview that the vote-monitoring program will include people who can physically handle ballots at polling places on Election Day. The rules for partisan poll watchers differ from state to state.

17 charged in fake electors plot

Bobbs failure to attend Thursdays online meeting, after organizers had promoted her appearance in advance, may have been because she has more urgent matters on her mind.

The indictments filed in Arizona allege a plot to use fake electors to overturn the states 2020 presidential vote.

The 11 people named in the indictment are the Arizona fake electors themselves, all Trump allies. The other seven people, whose names are redacted, have been identified by news outlets, including CNN and the New York Times, as Bobb, as well as Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Mike Roman and Boris Epshteyn.

One of the seven, the indictment says, was an attorney for the Trump Campaign and made false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states. That person also encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election, and encouraged (Vice President Mike) Pence to accept the false Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6, 2021, according to the indictment.

Bobb joined the Trump campaign as a lawyer in the aftermath of the 2020 vote, and was among the campaign officials, led by Giuliani, who organized a scheme to use false fraud claims as justification for submitting fake electors in seven states Trump lost, including Arizona, CNN has reported.

Bobb also tweeted on January 6, 2021: @VP @Mike_Pence can solve this now by sending it back to the legislators.

The indictment lists Trump  unnamed but described as a former president of the United States who spread false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election  as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The indictment alleges that as part of the scheme, the fake electors voted for Trump to receive Arizonas electoral votes, falsely claiming to be the duly elected and qualified Electors for President and Vice President of the United States from the State of Arizona.

Defendants deceived the citizens of Arizona by falsely claiming that those votes were contingent only on a legal challenge that would change the outcome of the election, the indictment continues. In reality, Defendants intended that their false votes for Trump-Pence would encourage Pence to reject the Biden-Harris votes on January 6, 2021, regardless of the outcome of the legal challenge.

RNC courts conspiracy theorists, election deniers

The meeting at which Bobb was scheduled to appear Thursday was organized by two Florida activists with ties to leading election deniers, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and included hundreds of grassroots anti-fraud activists from across the country.

It follows a similar April 4 event, at which the director of the RNCs election integrity program, Christina Norton, told activists how to get involved with the partys vote-monitoring program. States Newsroom attended both virtual meetings.

The April 25 meeting featured a parade of speakers, including the former Democratic consultant Naomi Wolf, making claims about illegal voting in 2020 and 2022, predicting that this years vote will be similarly rigged, and rallying supporters to take action.

The current situation is that President Trump will once again win the presidential election just as he did in 2020, said one speaker, Greg Stenstrom, a Pennsylvania-based conspiracy theorist who co-authored the book The Parallel Election: A Blueprint for Deception, which alleged massive fraud in that states 2020 vote.

But it will be taken from him, and all of us, again, unless we restore fair and honest elections in the short time we have remaining before November. He cannot hold onto the presidency unless we act.

In place of a live appearance by Bobb, Steve Stern, an organizer of the call, played an interview hed conducted recently with her for his podcast.

In the interview, Stern asked Bobb what could be done about President Joe Bidens plan to add a million illegal aliens to the voter rolls. (There is no evidence that Biden has such a plan, despite frequent similar claims by the far right.)

Bobb agreed there is a concerted effort to empower the illegals to cast ballots, adding: Its a very, very, serious issue this time around, and its something that were looking into  Is it something that law enforcement needs to handle, because there could potentially be a criminal component to it?

As far as illegals voting, Bobb continued, once they have registered, its very hard to undo that process. Because the registration is presumed valid.

Studies have consistently shown that the amount of voting by non-citizens is minuscule. A 2017 Brennan Center analysis found that suspected  not proven  votes by non-citizens accounted for just 0.0001 percent of all votes cast in the 2016 election.

Other connections

In addition to these two meetings, there have been other recent instances of RNC staff courting right-wing activists who have spread election disinformation.

Bobb spoke last month with the far-right podcaster Breanna Morello. And she joined a recent conference call with several Trump-allied groups that have promoted lies about 2020, the Guardian reported.

Both the April 25 and April 4 meetings were organized by Stern and Raj Doraisamy, two far-right Florida activists and Lindell allies who have helped spread false claims about illegal voting.

Last month, Stern spoke with Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser, to promote the April 4 meeting. We have so many illegal aliens in this country, Stern said. They want to vote. We gotta stop them.

Doraisamy was reportedly outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to found a group, Defend Florida, that went door to door to gather thousands of affidavits from Floridians in an effort to show that the states 2020 election was corrupted by massive fraud.

At a 2022 event organized by the group, Doraisamy thanked Lindell for his help with the door-to-door effort.

Also speaking at the April 25 meeting call was Joe Hoft, whose Gateway Pundit website, co-founded with Hofts brother Jim, has been a key vector for the spread of false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, the covid vaccine, and more.

Joe Hofts self-published book, The Steal, is described this way on its Google Books page: Its early in the morning of November 4th, President Trump was way ahead in the swing states, but he warned of 4am ballot drops. He was right again. When Americans woke up later that morning, the election had been stolen.

Another speaker at the meeting, Jay Valentine, used initial funding from Lindell to create voter data monitoring software.

According to documents obtained by the progressive group American Oversight, Valentine has worked closely with Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, a key figure in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, to convince lawmakers in Wisconsin and other states to use his fractal programming technology to uncover mass fraud.

Voter fraud is a nationwide crime perpetrated locally, mostly by Democrats, Valentine has written separately, promoting the idea of a national election fraud database. We cannot fight industrial, sovereign, large-scale, election fraud with reports, press releases, and webinars.

Note: This report was updated after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes on Friday announced the names of those whose names initially were redacted when indictments were announced earlier this week.

The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Christina Bobb interviews Kari Lake at a 2022 Arizona rally for Donald Trump. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Less than a week after the Republican National Committee unveiled a historic new program to monitor the polls for fraud, a top lawyer with the committee was among those indicted for an alleged scheme to use false fraud claims to overturn the results of Arizonas presidential election.

Indeed, the lawyer, RNC senior counsel for election integrity Christina Bobb, was scheduled to appear April 25 at an online meeting to recruit activists for the GOPs vote-watching effort, though she didnt show up. The meeting was organized by fringe conspiracy theorists who, like Bobb, have helped spread lies about illegal voting.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the indictments on April 24 against 18 people, seven of whose names are redacted. Multiple news organizations have used details in the indictment to identify Bobb and the other six. Mayes on Friday confirmed Bobbs indictment.

The confluence of events involving Bobb, the RNC and a loose network of anti-fraud activists underscores how the Trump-controlled GOP appears to be laying the groundwork to contest this years election using the same false claims about illegal voting  and even some of the same key figures  as it did in 2020.

Asked for comment on Bobbs reported indictment and whether she remained employed by the RNC, an RNC spokesperson declined to answer on the record.

Bobb did not respond to an inquiry about her failure to appear at the April 25 event.

GOPs historic vote-monitoring program

The Arizona indictments came less than a week after the Trump campaign and the RNC announced a historic, 100,000 person strong effort to closely monitor the voting process, calling it, the most extensive and monumental election integrity program in the nations history.

Whenever a ballot is being cast or counted, Republican poll watchers will be observing the process and reporting any irregularity, the RNC declared in a press release.

The committee called the initiative an historic collaboration between the RNC, the Trump Campaign, and passionate grassroots coalitions who are deeply invested in fighting voter fraud. That appeared to be a reference to the partys outreach to anti-fraud activists like those at Thursdays meeting  many of whom have bought in to lies about the 2020 election.

Multiple lawsuits found no evidence of systematic or widespread fraud in 2020.

The RNCs vote-monitoring effort has been championed by Lara Trump, former President Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, who took over as RNC co-chair in late February. Bobb was announced as an election integrity lawyer at the RNC soon afterward.

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024.

Lara Trump warned in an April 23 interview that the vote-monitoring program will include people who can physically handle ballots at polling places on Election Day. The rules for partisan poll watchers differ from state to state.

17 charged in fake electors plot

Bobbs failure to attend Thursdays online meeting, after organizers had promoted her appearance in advance, may have been because she has more urgent matters on her mind.

The indictments filed in Arizona allege a plot to use fake electors to overturn the states 2020 presidential vote.

The 11 people named in the indictment are the Arizona fake electors themselves, all Trump allies. The other seven people, whose names are redacted, have been identified by news outlets, including CNN and the New York Times, as Bobb, as well as Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Mike Roman and Boris Epshteyn.

One of the seven, the indictment says, was an attorney for the Trump Campaign and made false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states. That person also encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election, and encouraged (Vice President Mike) Pence to accept the false Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6, 2021, according to the indictment.

Bobb joined the Trump campaign as a lawyer in the aftermath of the 2020 vote, and was among the campaign officials, led by Giuliani, who organized a scheme to use false fraud claims as justification for submitting fake electors in seven states Trump lost, including Arizona, CNN has reported.

Bobb also tweeted on January 6, 2021: @VP @Mike_Pence can solve this now by sending it back to the legislators.

The indictment lists Trump  unnamed but described as a former president of the United States who spread false claims of election fraud following the 2020 election  as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The indictment alleges that as part of the scheme, the fake electors voted for Trump to receive Arizonas electoral votes, falsely claiming to be the duly elected and qualified Electors for President and Vice President of the United States from the State of Arizona.

Defendants deceived the citizens of Arizona by falsely claiming that those votes were contingent only on a legal challenge that would change the outcome of the election, the indictment continues. In reality, Defendants intended that their false votes for Trump-Pence would encourage Pence to reject the Biden-Harris votes on January 6, 2021, regardless of the outcome of the legal challenge.

After the fake elector plot failed, Christina Bobb was integral in the AZ Senates audit of Bidens win

By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy

The Republican National Committees senior counsel for election integrity, Christina Bobb, was confirmed by the Arizona Attorney Generals Office to be included in a recent indictment Friday, but the former newscasters role in trying to overturn the 2020 election goes beyond her work for the Trump campaign in the immediate weeks following the vote.

The indictment describes Bobb as a former attorney for the Trump campaign who made false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona and in six other states. It goes on to say that the person encouraged the Arizona Legislature to change the outcome of the election and encouraged (Vice President Mike) Pence to accept the false Arizona Republican electors votes on January 6.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Bobb joined the Trump campaign as a lawyer and worked alongside former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. It was in that role that Bobb first interacted with Arizona lawmakers.

Bobb built a relationship with then-Arizona Senate President Karen Fann and encouraged her to spearhead an effort to do a partisan audit of Maricopa Countys election. She also helped provide documents with false election claims to Fann that were spread at an unofficial hearing led by election conspiracy theorist and former lawmaker Mark Finchem, who is an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

During the partisan audit of the Maricopa County presidential election results, Bobb was omnipresent as a correspondent for the conservative news outlet One America News. During her tenure covering the audit, she changed her title from political correspondent to Host of Weekly Briefing.

While reporting on the audit for OAN, Bobb regularly solicited donations to a 501(c)(4) organization created by her and another OAN anchor that aimed to help fund the audit. She never disclosed her connections to the Trump campaign during these solicitations, nor did she mention the role she played in either trying to get lawmakers to overturn the election or launch the ballot review.

That organization raised over $600,000 for the Senates partisan audit, and Bobb was also given exclusive access to the audit site. The organization also claimed to be raising funds for other audit efforts in other states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Bobbs nonprofit helped find volunteers for the audit and aided Doug Logan, the CEO of the Florida-based company hired by the Arizona Senate to do the audit, with finding ways to curtail media coverage.

Public records revealed that Logan had mastermind an idea that would have required reporters to agree to work 30 hours as volunteer observers in order to cover the audit, but Bobb had another plan in place that she had emailed Logan about just days before.

Ive attached a draft of the NDA youll need to have the media sign, Bob said in an email dated April 20, three days before a heated press conference that stands as the only time Logan appeared before reporters and answered questions.

Ive also attached the NDA that I signed and used as a template when I visited a government facility. The governments NDA is a lot more complex, but I dont think all of those terms are needed, Bobb said, including a non-disclosure agreement from Customs and Border Protection.

During her time covering the partisan ballot review, she spread falsehoods about how the election was conducted and was given special access along with other far-right media.

Bobb also has been part of the legal team directly involved with the efforts to overturn the election results and made baseless claims on air during the audit effort not just about the election, but about the Jan. 6 insurrection, as well. Bobb was present in the war room of other Trump campaign members during the events of Jan. 6.

RNC courts conspiracy theorists, election deniers

The meeting at which Bobb was scheduled to appear Thursday was organized by two Florida activists with ties to leading election deniers, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and included hundreds of grassroots anti-fraud activists from across the country.

It follows a similar April 4 event, at which the director of the RNCs election integrity program, Christina Norton, told activists how to get involved with the partys vote-monitoring program. States Newsroom attended both virtual meetings.

The April 25 meeting featured a parade of speakers, including the former Democratic consultant Naomi Wolf, making claims about illegal voting in 2020 and 2022, predicting that this years vote will be similarly rigged, and rallying supporters to take action.

The current situation is that President Trump will once again win the presidential election just as he did in 2020, said one speaker, Greg Stenstrom, a Pennsylvania-based conspiracy theorist who co-authored the book The Parallel Election: A Blueprint for Deception, which alleged massive fraud in that states 2020 vote.

But it will be taken from him, and all of us, again, unless we restore fair and honest elections in the short time we have remaining before November. He cannot hold onto the presidency unless we act.

In place of a live appearance by Bobb, Steve Stern, an organizer of the call, played an interview hed conducted recently with her for his podcast.

In the interview, Stern asked Bobb what could be done about President Joe Bidens plan to add a million illegal aliens to the voter rolls. (There is no evidence that Biden has such a plan, despite frequent similar claims by the far right.)

Bobb agreed there is a concerted effort to empower the illegals to cast ballots, adding: Its a very, very, serious issue this time around, and its something that were looking into  Is it something that law enforcement needs to handle, because there could potentially be a criminal component to it?

As far as illegals voting, Bobb continued, once they have registered, its very hard to undo that process. Because the registration is presumed valid.

Studies have consistently shown that the amount of voting by non-citizens is minuscule. A 2017 Brennan Center analysis found that suspected  not proven  votes by non-citizens accounted for just 0.0001 percent of all votes cast in the 2016 election.

Other connections

In addition to these two meetings, there have been other recent instances of RNC staff courting right-wing activists who have spread election disinformation.

Bobb spoke last month with the far-right podcaster Breanna Morello. And she joined a recent conference call with several Trump-allied groups that have promoted lies about 2020, the Guardian reported.

Both the April 25 and April 4 meetings were organized by Stern and Raj Doraisamy, two far-right Florida activists and Lindell allies who have helped spread false claims about illegal voting.

Last month, Stern spoke with Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser, to promote the April 4 meeting. We have so many illegal aliens in this country, Stern said. They want to vote. We gotta stop them.

Doraisamy was reportedly outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to found a group, Defend Florida, that went door to door to gather thousands of affidavits from Floridians in an effort to show that the states 2020 election was corrupted by massive fraud.

At a 2022 event organized by the group, Doraisamy thanked Lindell for his help with the door-to-door effort.

Also speaking at the April 25 meeting call was Joe Hoft, whose Gateway Pundit website, co-founded with Hofts brother Jim, has been a key vector for the spread of false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, the covid vaccine, and more.

Joe Hofts self-published book, The Steal, is described this way on its Google Books page: Its early in the morning of November 4th, President Trump was way ahead in the swing states, but he warned of 4am ballot drops. He was right again. When Americans woke up later that morning, the election had been stolen.

Another speaker at the meeting, Jay Valentine, used initial funding from Lindell to create voter data monitoring software.

According to documents obtained by the progressive group American Oversight, Valentine has worked closely with Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, a key figure in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, to convince lawmakers in Wisconsin and other states to use his fractal programming technology to uncover mass fraud.

Voter fraud is a nationwide crime perpetrated locally, mostly by Democrats, Valentine has written separately, promoting the idea of a national election fraud database. We cannot fight industrial, sovereign, large-scale, election fraud with reports, press releases, and webinars.

***UPDATE: This report was updated after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes on Friday announced the names of those whose names initially were redacted when indictments were announced earlier this week.

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The post Top GOP election integrity lawyer charged in Arizona fake elector scheme appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Top U.S. leaders are sounding the alarm about foreign interference in the 2024 election. There are concerns that our government isnt doing enough to safeguard the election system from bad actors.

Senate Intelligence Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) says hes worried the 2024 election is vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda from other countries.

Whether its Russia or China or Iran, to try to interfere in our elections its cheaper than trying to attack our country outright, Warner said. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans now believe a lot more conspiracy theories than they did a few years ago.

This week Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinas President Xi Jinping. He told CNN during their private discussion he warned Xi not to interfere with U.S. elections.

The United States is very clear eyed about the challenges posed by the PRC, Blinken said at a press conference on Friday.

Saurav Ghosh is a campaign finance expert with the Campaign Legal Center. He has concerns that efforts to safeguard U.S. elections are coming up short.

We havent done enough to address it, despite some of the clear threats that we saw in 2016, Ghosh said.

He says a key issue is dark money, or campaign spending where the donor is secret. Federal law prohibits foreign campaign contributions, but he argues thats tough to actually enforce.

Its tricky to even say that we have a clear idea where the money influencing elections is coming from. We often dont, Ghosh said.

Plus, the rise of artificial intelligence makes election meddling cheaper and easier than ever.

Foreign actors will see that we not only can spend money in secret, but we can spend really small amounts and have a devastating impact, Ghosh said.

That can happen at a scale and speed that I think we need to be careful about. I think the tech companies need to do more, Warner said.

While Sen. Warner wants tech companies to do more to identify and take down information, Ghosh says its on Congress to reign in A.I. and reform campaign finance laws.

Protecting our elections uniformly requires laws, it requires Congress to take the lead, Ghosh said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Shawnee County District Attorneys Office says a Topeka man is being sentenced after he was accused of holding three women captive several years ago.

Katie Garceran, a spokeswoman for the Shawnee County DAs Office, says Paul G. Mendez is sentenced to 20.5 years. Of the 19 charges Mendez was on trial for, he was found guilty and sentenced to the following:

Two counts of attempted rape; sexual intercourse without consent and use of force.

Breach of privacy; install/use concealed camcorder without consent.

Mendez was arrested in early 2021 following a reported rape of a woman in her southwest Topeka apartment in 2019. The Shawnee County DA later charged him with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

Sheriff arrests official with the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas on aggravated domestic battery charge

Mendez was later accused of holding three women captive and sexually assaulting them between August 2019 and January 2021. Each of the victims was known to Mendez.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Traces Of Bird Flu Have Been Found In Milk. Here's Why Experts Say You Shouldn't Worry



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Bird flu has been popping up in headlines for months. And you may have heard that the virus has been detected in dairy cows in eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas.

Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is sharing that traces of bird flu have been detected in commercially-available milk.

The FDA made the announcement in an update on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, aka bird flu or H5N1). In the update, officials shared that there was inactivated genetic material from the virus detected in milk thats sold in stores. Meaning, the virus is there, but its dead.

The news comes just weeks after public health authorities revealed that a person in Texas contracted bird flu from a cow. Bird flu is not common in people and has only been detected twice in the U.S., but it can be deadly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the U.S., cases have always been mild.

Meet the Experts: Darin Detwiler, LPD, is an associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. William Schaffner, MD, is an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Mohamed Zeyada Satti, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University.

If youre suddenly giving that container of milk in your fridge the side-eye, experts say theres no need to panic. Heres why.

Is pasteurized milk safe to drink?

Pasteurization is a process of heating milk to a high-enough temperature for a long-enough time to kill harmful germs, the CDC explains. Milk thats sold in stores is required to be pasteurized, according to FDA regulations. So, the milk you buy is highly likely to be pasteurized.

Pasteurized milk is indeed safe to drink, says Darin Detwiler, LPD, an associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. At this time, there is no evidence that H5N1 bird flu virus can survive the pasteurization process. Therefore, consumers can feel confident about the safety of pasteurized milk.

Milk from cows that have been found to be infected is also destroyed, and herds are regularly being tested over bird flu concerns, points out William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

If you live in a state where bird flu has been detected in cows, don't worry. "There is no risk in consuming dairy product in these states," says Mohamed Zeyada Satti, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University.

Is unpasteurized milk safe to drink?

Unpasteurized milk, aka raw milk, is a different story. This milk doesnt go through the pasteurization process. Therefore, it can pose a higher risk of containing various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, Detwiler says. While there is no current evidence directly linking raw milk with H5N1 transmission, the general lack of pasteurization increases the risk of harboring infectious agents.

FWIW, raw milk is labeled as a public health concern by the CDC.

Which states have bird flu in milk?

So far, bird flu has been detected in dairy cows in eight states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Idaho

Kansas

Michigan

New Mexico

North Carolina

South Dakota

Ohio

Texas

As a result, the USDA is ordering dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before they can be moved between state lines.



Are eggs safe from bird flu?

In general, yes. Eggs are considered safe from bird flu as long as they are properly handled and cooked, Detwiler says. H5N1, like other viruses, is sensitive to heat.

Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm to make sure that any viruses that could be in the eggs are inactivated, he says. Consumers should also practice good kitchen hygiene, such as washing hands and surfaces that have come into contact with raw eggs, Detwiler says.

What else should I know about bird flu?

Detwiler stresses that its unlikely youll get bird flu from eggs or milk. Bird flu is primarily spread through direct contact with infected birds, and it is not typically transmitted through the consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs, he says.

Schaffner agrees. Theres no need to panic or avoid milk, dairy products, and eggs, he says. Still, he adds that its good to be informed and, as new information develops, be open to new messages from public health.

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In our Reality Check stories, journalists at McClatchy's four Washington state publications seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more: The Bellingham Herald, The News Tribune, The Olympian, Tri-City Herald.

After another failed attempt to cut Ben Franklin Transits sales tax collection, Franklin County leaders are talking about breaking away from the bi-county transit system altogether.

For his entire time serving on the transit board, Commissioner Clint Didier has said cutting the voter-approved transit sales tax was a top priority. Hes not likely to get another chance for at least two years, so now Didier wants to pull Franklin County out of the joint agency.

Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier

His proposal to fellow Franklin County commissioners after the recent BFT budget fight is to cut the county out of the partnership and privatize the transit service on their side of the river.

He said they could use half of the current sales tax collection in Franklin County, or 0.3 cents. He estimates that could give them about $9 million a year from BFTs $63 million budget to contract with their own service. He wants to create a service centered on Via offering Uber-like rides.

But Ben Franklin Transits financial reports show that his preferred contractor, Via, currently far exceeds the cost of running buses when it comes to the level of service they would need to replace.

While Didier is upset about the outcome of the recent transit board meeting, he went beyond just speculation when he asked the countys legal advisors to look into the feasibility of making the split happen.

A week later, Didier reported at Wednesdays commission meetings that the legal analysis points to several ways the transit partnership could be dissolved. He now wants a workshop to discuss it more, potentially setting the matter up for a November vote.

Its unclear if Franklin County has talked with the city of Pasco about what would amount to a major change in city bus service. The city accounts for a third of BFTs ridership.

So while Franklin County could put the issue before voters, it would have an out-sized impact on the city of Pasco, students and city-to-city commuters. The decision also could affect decisions by some businesses considering locating in the county.

Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano declined to comment on the Didiers proposal.

Its a decision that could have wide-ranging economic impacts, making Pasco and Franklin county less attractive to businesses, and making travel across the Tri-Cities more complicated.

Kirk Williamson, a retired member of the Community Health Needs Assessment/Improvements Steering Committee, told the Tri-City Herald that the political grandstanding has been going on for as long as BFT has been around, and it doesnt serve the community.

Are we going to act like a real community of 300,000 people or are we going to continue to act like three little towns? he said.

He believes fights like these are ignoring the toll such a decision will have on the people who rely on the transit agency.

Ben Franklin Transit budget cutting

Didiers concern has been about getting the transit systems growing budget under control. Even as sales tax collections have increased, the transit systems expenses have risen at the same pace.

The transit system isnt alone in seeing costs skyrocket though. Nearly every municipal government in the Tri-Cities is facing similar pressures to trim expenses because of rising costs.

We are dealing with a top down agency and honestly I think we have the best chance that weve got right now with this board (to cut sales tax), Didier said.  But Im going to ask my other commissioners to start looking into what Ive started looking into. We are the Ben Franklin Transit and Im thinking that maybe Franklin county needs to go our own way.

Didier pointed to other joint county agencies that had been dissolved, such as a former Benton and Franklin clean air authority that Franklin County withdrew from in 1995.

I figure that out of 6/10s of 1 percent in Franklin County would approximately be about $18 million, I think we could hire Via to transport all the Franklin County people and save a lot of money, he continued.

I think we could lower our taxes to 0.03 percent. Take it down to $9 million. Theres no reason we couldnt move the people of Franklin County efficiently to Benton County where they can get a ride on the Benton County Transit, Didier said at a recent commission or transit meeting.

Board chairman Rocky Mullen said he agreed with Didier and that the board should have cut the transit tax in order to convince Franklin County voters to approve a needed 0.1 cents sales tax for its failing 911 infrastructure.

A withdrawal would have massive impacts for Pasco, which is the majority of Franklins population at an estimated 83,000 of the countys 96,000 residents.

The transit agencys service and sales tax collection area in Franklin County is almost entirely within Pasco and its urban growth area.

The attempt to put a sales tax on the ballot failed on April 11 because the BFT board agreed to wait to see if the states controversial carbon tax was going to be repealed by voters, triggering a potential $6 million annual loss for the transit agency.

Cutting the sales tax by 0.1 cents would have caused them to lose the carbon funding, whether or not its repealed, and cost an additional estimated $130 million over 13 years.

Can Franklin County make transit decision for Pasco?

There are three methods of dissolving a transit system in Washington, according to Franklin Countys legal analysis.

The most common is a majority approval from voters within the service area. In this case, it would likely be their service area in Franklin County, leaving a vote of mostly Pasco residents.

The system could be broken up by a joint resolution of the participating municipalities or through terminating key interlocal agreements.

By joint resolution of the county and its participating city components.

Areas like Kahlotus, Connell and Mesa do not collect the 0.6 cents sales tax to pay for transit service, according to the state auditors office. But those residents do pay sales tax if they shop in Pasco, Kennewick or Richland.

Pasco riders account for about one-third of all BFT bus rides each day. Thats an average of 2,700 rides per day or more than 815,000 a year, according to the most recent BFT rider data.

The transit agencys fixed-route ridership recovered and exceeded pre-COVID boardings last year, with a peak of nearly 315,000 fixed-route boardings across the Tri-Cities in October and a total of 2.45 million boardings in 2023.

Their total boardings across all services reached nearly 3.2 million.

More than 70% of fixed-route bus riders said they use the service daily, according to a BFT survey presented to the board last year.

Who will it impact?

While Franklin County could put the issue before voters, the biggest impact would be on Pasco riders and city-to-city commuters.

It would also have a major impact on public school students, who accounted for about 1 million rides last year.

Raul Sital, Pasco School Districts assistant superintendent for operations, recently told the transit board that their students rely on BFT to get home from after school activities, to get to and from recreational activities and help working parents know their children are getting home safely.

It also ensures students can get to choice schools that do not have fixed boundaries, such as the districts upcoming career and technology high school.

Many families rely on Ben Franklin Transit out of necessity, not convenience, Sital said. Sustaining funding for BFT isnt about maintaining bus routes, its about upholding values of equity and access, ensuring everyone in our community has the means to thrive.

Williamson said hes concerned that Franklin county isnt looking at the impact a decision like this will have on the lives of the people who use the service.

Having a good, solid public transportation system as we continue to grow will be more and more advantageous for this community.

Hes concerned that these drastic cuts would have a huge impact on the health and well being of the people who rely on public transit for every day needs such as getting across the Tri-Cities to various medical appointments or even just going grocery shopping.

I think it will be a disaster if we dont have public transit, Williamson said. I think well lose medical practices who just sometimes have a terrible time with no shows and people who cant get there at the last minute.

Pasco could choose a different path

While the Franklin County Auditors Office is typically the taxing authority, Washington law is clear that they dont have to be. State law recommends the larger county manage sales tax collection and disbursement when it comes to inter-county agreements.

A city can also participate in a public transit district with a county it isnt part of, according to Washington law.

That means if Franklin County were to call for a vote and break up BFT, Pasco could potentially create an interlocal agreement with a Benton County transit agency to manage services.

Its unclear whether that would need to go to a public vote.

It typically just takes a petition and approval from city leaders when adding to the service area within a single county. Thats what happened when Prosser and Benton City were added to the transit service area.

A Ben Franklin Transit bus between boardings.

What would it look like?

Franklin County pulling out of Ben Franklin Transit would have a number of cascading effects on the Tri-Cities.

Under Didiers proposal to shift to Vias on-demand services rather than regular buses, riders coming across the river would have get off and use the Via app to get picked up on the Pasco side of the river.

That would cost significantly more, according to BFTs data comparing service types by cost per boarding.

Right now, Via is the least cost-efficient option in their fleet, at a cost per boarding of about $23, compared to fixed-route at just over $11 and vanpool at about $7, according to BFTs most recent financial performance data.

Via has a more efficient cost per mile, but as you add more passengers, it does not get more efficient because buses fit more riders.

Cost per boardings for Dial-A-Ride are much higher, because they are focused on disabled riders and are subject to far more federal regulations.

Vias services also are the only area where BFT didnt come in under budget last year.

Despite Via only picking up about 60% of their budgeted rides, they overran what was budgeted at about $13.50 per boarding.

The transit agency budgeted $2.75 million for 205,000 Via boardings. They ended up paying $2.9 million for 127,000 boardings.

At the actual cost per boarding of nearly $23, a Franklin County only transit agency would be looking at more than $18.6 million for Pascos share of rides at an estimated 815,000 boardings last year.

Almost twice as much as Didiers proposed estimated sales tax collection.

The contract update BFT recently approved for Via to take on overflow Dial-A-Ride calls was structured to bill at $57.50 per vehicle hour.

That doesnt include any administrative fees, overhead or costs associated with facilities or property.





Its also likely to have a huge impact on financial decisions made by businesses considering what city to locate in.

Amazon, which is hiring 1,650 new workers in Pasco, just donated two-acres of land on Sacajawea Road near its new warehouses to BFT for a transit pickup site.

The company expects significant use of bus services, to the point they not only gave the transit agency the land, but they paved a bus turn around and waiting area before deeding the property in February.

The resolution to accept the donated land notes that the company hopes it can eventually be expanded to a park-and-ride lot.

A Ben Franklin Transit bus uses a new pickup and turnaround loop on 2-acres of land donated by Amazon. The online mega retailer donated the property with improvements already completed near its new warehouses in Pasco. One of the warehouses is pictured in the distance.

Franklin County has not been shy about the financial crisis it is facing. That crisis has been driven in large part by losing sales tax and property tax revenue to Benton County, according to a study commissioned by the county earlier this year.

Access to public transit also factors heavily into Pascos growth plan. According to projections, Pasco will soon be the largest municipality in the Tri-Cities, according to projections by city leaders.

Pasco expects to see about 60,000 new residents move into the city over the next 20 years as the Broadmoor development and new housing is added north of Burns Roads. Pascos comprehensive plan highlights Ben Franklin Transit as a key part of managing that growth and development.

Without reliable access to inter-city transportation, large employers could choose to move to Kennewick or Richland. And their potential employees may choose to stay on the same side of the river, where they wouldnt have to switch transit agencies halfway through their trip to work.

Franklin County Commission chairman Rocky Mullen released the following letter Friday.

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UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Two UN officials are calling for more international engagement to combat sexual violence against women and girls in the Sudan conflict, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya joined Pramila Patten, the special representative of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on sexual violence in conflict, to deliver the plea, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

"Their appeal comes as allegations of rape, forced marriage, sexual slavery, and the trafficking of women and girls continue to be recorded, especially in Khartoum, as well as Darfur and Kordofan," Dujarric said.

The spokesman said the officials timed the release of their joint statement for the eve of Friday's Security Council session on conflict-related sexual violence.

"Ms. Msuya and Ms. Patten are urging members to send an unequivocal message, which is that under international humanitarian law, civilians in Sudan -- and as a matter of fact anywhere around the world -- must be protected and must never be subjected to acts of sexual violence, which could constitute war crimes," Dujarric said.

"Reports of sexual violence reveal the war's disproportionate impact on women and girls," the statement said. "Millions of civilians are especially at risk as they flee conflict areas in search of shelter inside Sudan and in neighboring countries."

However, the statement said the true scale of the crisis in Sudan is unseen, a result of severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisals, and a lack of confidence in national institutions. 
Kansans rally in support of transgender rights May 5, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

In 2020, my 14-year-old daughter fell into a deep depression. She had always been a straight A student at the top of her class, yet her grades plummeted. She became isolated and withdrawn. She began self-harming to escape the pain. We sought professional help. She saw numerous psychologists, physicians and therapists.

At the heart of the matter, she realized her biological sex did not align with her gender identity.

Although her father and I both hold advanced degrees, we were dumbfounded when our daughter presented her feelings to us. It defied everything we had heard about being transgender. Although we always had choices in our home of boy toys and girl toys, she always migrated toward cars and superheroes. Our kids did not have social media, where the news media told us fads about gender were taking over. We had strict controls on internet usage.

Yet, we could not deny what was right in front of us. Our child had lost all joy and was struggling to survive.

We continued to meet with professionals for 18 months before medical interventions were considered. I learned at those appointments that my daughter took showers in the dark and couldnt look in the mirror because the body she saw was a monster. It wasnt until we all were in agreement that she started her medical transition, first with just a puberty blocker to stop the massive amounts of testosterone running through her body that conflicted with her identity as a young woman.

This was not a rash decision. We went through extensive informed consent. My daughter underwent rigorous psychological testing to affirm that she was indeed a girl. Her endocrinologist discussed side effects of every medication and treatment option in more detail than I have gotten from my own doctors for more risky medications and treatments.

After six months on the blocker, her doctor prescribed a tiny amount of estrogen. We slowly started seeing changes. We saw glimpses of the child we once knew.

These medications are life saving for my daughter. So much so that when the laws changed in Missouri last year preventing her from continuing to receive these medications (although we are Kansas residents, her endocrinologist was in Missouri) and with the passing of several bills targeting transgender individuals in Kansas, we made plans for her to move to a sanctuary state.

She finished her required high school classes in summer school, all while working full-time at a data science internship at a major hospital. She applied to colleges in June, was accepted, received scholarships, and began college in August at age 17.

She is in a much healthier place, both mentally and physically. She has flourished at a school and in a state that affirms her identity. When I pick her up from the airport, she talks nonstop, sharing the latest philosophy text shes reading and the research shes doing in biology and chemistry.

If laws like Senate Bill 233 were in place when my daughter was struggling, I do not believe she would be here today. Since starting hormones, the only two times there has been a setback in self harm was when our elected government officials tried to stand in the way of medical care or there was a hate crime against the transgender community.

She had wonderful, supportive teachers and administrators at her high school. They used her correct pronouns and chosen name. This was extremely helpful for her mental health and self-esteem. She did, however, have one teacher who refused. That teacher misgendered her and other transgender individuals on a daily basis. If SB 233 is overridden, it would give teachers like this the permission to continue to discriminate and use hateful speech among some of our most vulnerable youth.

Our family had to make the difficult decision of moving our daughter out of Kansas. This is a decision that no family should have to make, but the current laws being passed by our Kansas lawmakers are bound to force more Kansans to leave.

Kansans should be allowed to continue to make health care decisions together with our team of professionals. Professionals should be allowed to continue to practice the medicine they have been trained to do. They are saving lives. And finally, teachers should not be given permission to use hate speech in the classroom.

Jill Clements is a Kansas native and mom of three. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

The post Transitioning saved my daughters life. Other Kansas kids should have that opportunity. appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Troy University gets tree that flew around the moon

TROY, Ala (WDHN)  Troy University has received an out-of-this-world gift from NASA.

NASA selected Troy University to receive a Moon Tree seedling that flew around the moon in late 2022 during the Artemis I mission.

Troy received its loblolly pine tree seedling on Friday, April 26. The university plans to plant it on the Meadowloop Trail at the campuss Arboretum.

Troy was among 50 institutions nationwide that NASA chose to receive the trees.

In a release from the university, Dr. Alvin Diamond, biology professor and Director of the Arboretum, said he plans to use the tree in different interactions tailored to the varying age groups Troy and the Arboretum service.

Dr. Alvin Diamond with the Moon Tree (Courtesy of Troy University)



For the younger kids, to actually have something thats been to outer space that they can see and touch will hopefully inspire them to look into STEM careers, Dr. Diamond said. With the older students, we can look at things about how space travel affects the human body and other living things and what we can do to protect people in space. Hopefully having something hands-on will inspire the students more than just reading from a book.

The Artimes I trees included sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias. From November 16, 2022, to December 11, 2022, they were flown around the moons surface 270,000 miles from Earth aboard the Orion.

Since returning to the earths surface, the trees have been under the care of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

A new era of moon trees will one day stand tall in communities across America, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a NASA-issued press release on April 24. NASA is bringing the spirit of exploration back down to Earth because space belongs to everyone. The Artemis Generation will carry forth these seedlings that will be fertile ground for creativity, inspiration, and discovery for years to come.

Additional trees will be sent to various organizations in the fall of 2024, spring 2025, and fall 2025.

The university is in the process of scheduling a day for the tree-planting ceremony.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
MEADE, Kan. (KSNW)  A truck lost its milk tank north of Meade on Friday.

The Meade County Emergency Management Office says it happened on Kansas Highway 23 north of the Kansas Highway 98 Junction.

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The truck was hauling a full tanker of milk when the somehow detached from the semi.

The department says the driver was able to maintain control of the truck and trailer and safely pull both off of the road and onto the shoulder. However, a small fire ignited in the grass.

Firefighting crews from Meade and Fowler responded to the scene, along with Meade County Sheriffs deputies. The fire was brought quickly under control.

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

Courtesy: Meade County Emergency Management

No injuries were reported. Meade County Emergency Management did not say what caused the trailer to detach.

According to the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas ranks 16th in the nation for dairy production. In 2022 alone, Kansas dairies produced over 4 billion pounds (463,097,522 gallons) of milk.

Bird flu virus traces found in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurized milk: FDA

According to figures from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, dairy production in Meade County contributes $47,340,000 to the state economy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Former U.S. President Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records continues in New York

(Reuters) -The allies of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are drafting proposals that would attempt to erode the Federal Reserve's independence if he wins, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A small group of the former president's allies has produced a nearly 10-page document outlining a policy vision for the central bank, according to the report.

The group argues that Trump should be consulted on rate decisions and would have the authority to remove Jerome Powell as Fed Chair before his term ends in 2026, the report added.

Trump had picked Powell in 2017 to lead the U.S. central bank but turned against him soon after. He said in February that he would not reappoint Powell and believed the Fed chief would lower interest rates to help President Joe Biden's prospects for re-election.

The Journal said it could not determine if the former president was aware of or signed off on the effort, but some people close to the discussions believe the work has received his blessing.

The former president has had informal discussions with advisers about possible candidates to lead the Fed and has asked associates whether they would be interested in the job, the report said.

The Trump campaign played down the report on Friday, sharing an earlier statement with Reuters in response.

"Let us be very specific here: unless a message is coming directly from President Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team, no aspect of future presidential staffing or policy announcements should be deemed official," the statement from campaign co-chairs Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said.

However remote the likelihood of such a plan becoming reality in its entirety or in part, the prospect of Trump having extensive sway over Fed policy decisions that wield tremendous influence over the direction of the world's largest economy and global asset markets was already resonating.

Among the pegs supporting the U.S. dollar's stature as the world's reserve currency, for instance, is the Fed's ability to set monetary policy on its own without political oversight. That status in turn is key to granting the U.S. government a nearly unchecked ability to borrow on global bond markets at relatively low interest rates despite having a $26 trillion debt load, dubbed the "exorbitant privilege."

"If Fed independence is eroded it would be absolutely disastrous," said Citigroup Global Chief Economist Nathan Sheets, who served as under secretary for international affairs for the U.S. Treasury under Trump's predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama.

When I think about the risk for markets and the dollar, any policy change that eroded Fed independence in an appreciable way would be greeted by the market very vigorously and adversely and be a source of great pressure and volatility," he said. "Any gains a political actor might think they glean would be so small compared to the potential cost that they might have ... it leaves me optimistic it is not a game worth playing."

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Howard Schneider in Washington; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci)
Donald Trumps Longtime Assistant Rhona Graff Testifies About Seeing Stormy Daniels At Office, Assuming It Was For Celebrity Apprentice  Update

UPDATED: After David Pecker finished his fourth day of testimony, the next prosecution witness in Donald Trumps hush money trial Friday was Rhona Graff, Trumps longtime assistant.

Graff was a Trump Organization employee who, while there, kept contacts for both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in the companys computer system. She testified today that she had a vague recollection of once seeing Daniels in an office reception area of Trump Tower, and assumed it was because Trump was considering her as a contestant on his Celebrity Apprentice reality TV show.

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He thought that she would be an interesting addition, she testified, citing office chatter as the basis for her opinion. Graff said she was aware that Daniels was an adult film performer.

Graff worked for Trump for 34 years, rising from his executive assistant beginning in 1987 to senior vice president until her departure in 2021. She testified under subpoena on Friday, with two lawyers for the Trump Organization watching from the gallery and Trump looking on from the defense table. After four days of testimony from tabloid publisher Pecker, Graffs turn on the stand lasted less than 40 minutes.

During questioning by Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger, jurors saw screen grabs of computer contact pages for McDougal and Daniels. The Daniels contact read Stormy, no last name, and contained a single mobile phone number.

On re-direct by Trump lawyer Susan Necheles, Graff said that The Apprentice brought a lot of people to Trump Tower offices and elevated Trump to a whole other platform  rock star status.

PREVIOUSLY: A defense lawyer for Donald Trump on Friday continued his attempt to chip away at the idea that his client led an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election with help from National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.

Pecker, on the witness stand again today, bought and buried two scandalous stories about then-candidate Trump, but refused to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels for her claim of a sexual encounter with Trump.

A hush-money payment of $130,000 to Daniels by Michael Cohen, then Trumps personal lawyer, is at the heart of the Manhattan District Attorneys case. Trumps lawyers contend that such nondisclosure payments are a routine part of business.

Trump attorney Emil Bove, cross-examining Pecker, the former CEO of Enquirer parent company American Media (AMI), got him to admit that he paid $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock because the story, if true, could be the biggest-seller in the tabloids history  bigger than the 6.5 million copies sold after Elvis Presleys death.

Because you could not have him taking his story to another publication, Bove said to Pecker, adding, It would be too great a loss to AMI to lose control of such a story, if true, right?

Yes, Pecker replied.

And you could not walk away from that possibility, however small it might be, right? Bove asked. Pecker agreed he could not.

Bove is challenging the prosecutions central argument that purchasing exclusive story rights involving Trump had a darker, illegal purpose. He also attacked the premise that Peckers company paid former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 to protect Trump from political fallout arising from her claim of a yearlong romantic affair with the GOP presidential candidate.

She was looking to restart her career, right? Bove asked, noting that McDougal did start appearing regularly in American Media-owned magazines as a health and fitness columnist.

And you at that point viewed AMI as a good relaunching point for Ms. McDougal, correct? Bove asked.

Pecker paused for several seconds and finally said, Well, it was all part of the agreement.

On redirect, Assisant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass pushed back at the idea that buying and burying McDougals story was a business decision. If AMI had published McDougals account, Would that have sold magazines? Steinglass asked. Pecker said it would.

That would be kind of like National Enquirer gold, Steinglass said.

Yes, Pecker replied.

Despite the fact that the story would have helped your bottom line, you killed the story because it helped the candidate Donald Trump? Steinglass said.

Yes, Pecker replied.

Bove, during cross-examination, also asked Pecker about his recall of a January 2017 meeting with then-President-elect Trump in which he testified that Trump thanked him for killing off the doorman and McDougal stories. Bove confronted Pecker with FBI notes from a subsequent meeting with federal law enforcement that said Trump did not express any gratitude to Pecker or AMI.

Pecker said he cant reconcile the FBI account of what he told them with his own memory of the conversation.

Bove and Steinglass took turns asking Pecker whether he thought he had done anything illegal in his agreement with McDougal, which he submitted to an election lawyer in order to make sure it was legally bulletproof.

Is it your testimony that you withheld information from the attorneys providing advice about the agreement? Bove asked.

No, Pecker replied, adding that he did not feel he had done anything inappropriate.

Questioned again by Steinglass, Pecker said the clauses that called for McDougal to appear in American Media publications were a disguise to keep her story of an affair secret. Steinglass asked Pecker if he ever informed American Medias in-house counsel of this fact before the company lawyer took the agreement to an election lawyer. Pecker said he did not.

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As pro-Palestinian student protests spread across college campuses, Donald Trump said that the deadly 2017 Unite the Right white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was like a peanut in comparison.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, the former president described the growing student protests as riots and used it as a line of attack against President Joe Biden, writing in part:

Trump doubled down Thursday, telling reporters at his New York trial that Charlottesville was a little peanut.

Former President Trump says the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally was a little peanut compared to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests.https://t.co/Nzvx6e8ktX pic.twitter.com/5XVrebt8Q0  NBC News (@NBCNews) April 25, 2024

Lets be clear about what Trump is saying: that the armed neo-Nazis who rallied in 2017 under the banner of upholding white supremacy  one of whom killed a person and injured dozens of others by ramming his car into counterprotesters  was nothing in comparison with the college students and faculty members who are protesting the destruction in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.

Trump is not the only politician who has made the outrageous comparison between Charlottesville and the current protests. But its especially striking coming from Trump; his handling of the 2017 rally  in which he insisted that there was blame on both sides  is widely considered one of the lowest points of his presidency. Biden has said that Trumps response inspired him to run for president in 2020.

In the years since, Trump has continued to downplay the blatant hatred that was on display at the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. In 2019, he told reporters that hed answered perfectly when he said there were very fine people on both sides, and spoke admiringly of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Former President Donald Trumps campaign is inviting prominent outside groups to a private meeting next week in Palm Beach, Florida, to talk about working together and planning for the election.

On Tuesday, the Trump campaign sent a letter to pro-Trump, external organizations asking them to attend an entirely off-the-record, private, and invite-only meeting with senior campaign officials, according to a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO. The sit-down, which the letter describes as a meeting of the political minds, is aimed at discussing collaborat[ion] and priorities and plans for the general election.

Please know that your attendance is considered critical, and your effort to be there would be greatly appreciated, reads the letter, which was written by James Blair, the Trump campaigns political director.

By holding the meeting, the Trump operation and the third-party entities could conceivably get on the same page about their plans. Two people familiar with the planning for the event said Heritage Action and Turning Point Action were among the pro-Trump groups invited.

A Trump campaign representative declined to comment on the letter.

The decision to hold the meeting, which is set for the afternoon of May 3, illustrates how the campaign plans to utilize the support of outside organizations. With President Joe Bidens campaign having a four-year head start in field deployment and voter contact efforts, the Trump campaign is racing to play catch-up.

Trump is also at a substantial cash disadvantage: According to the most recent campaign finance reports, he has $93 million on hand, less than half as much as Biden.

The former presidents campaign the same weekend is also hosting a three-day donor retreat in Palm Beach. Trump and more than a dozen other prominent Republican officeholders, including several possible vice presidential contenders, are expected to attend.

There have long been tight restrictions on how federal campaigns and political committees can coordinate. But a recent Federal Election Commission advisory opinion, dated March 20, relaxed limitations on how they can collaborate on paid door-knocking efforts.

We will share our macro view of the electorate with you and discuss new opportunities (in light of a recent FEC ruling) for our organizations to collaborate more effectively than we have been able to in the past, according to the invitation. We also ask you to come prepared to share any information you legally can about your priorities and plans with us.

The letter indicates that Trump campaign officials and outside groups will be treading carefully legally during the meeting. It notes that Republican National Committee chief counsel Charlie Spies and Trump campaign counsel Dave Warrington will oversee this meeting to ensure legal compliance.

Trump officials appear to be placing a premium on the new FEC decision. Last week, Blair spoke before a meeting of the Rockbridge Network, a secretive gathering of conservative donors. During his remarks, Blair alluded to the advisory opinion, which he described as a game-changer, according to two people familiar with the remarks who were granted anonymity to discuss the matter.
Trump could be held in contempt of court  a punishment only one other president faced

Former President Donald Trump could soon again be held in contempt of court, this time in his New York City hush money trial. But he is not be the first president to face this punishment.

On April 16, prosecutors on the case  the first-ever criminal trial of a former American president  asked presiding Judge Juan Merchan to hold Trump in contempt, a legal term signifying disobedience toward the court that can result in fines or even imprisonment.

They argued the former president violated a gag order, which prohibits him from making public statements about witnesses and jurors, according to the Associated Press.

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Specifically, ten of Trumps posts on Truth Social broke the gag order, prosecutors contended.

In one of the posts, made on April 10, Trump singled out potential witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, calling them lying sleaze bags.

As punishment, prosecutors have requested that he be fined $1,000 for each of the posts, per the outlet.

Trumps attorney Todd Blanche argued the posts did not violate the gag order because they were responses to political attacks and not forms of witness intimidation, according to Reuters. Trump has called the trial rigged and a political witch hunt.

Merchan is expected to make a decision on the request in the coming days, according to Politico.

Trump was previously held in contempt by a New York court in April 2022 for failing to comply with a subpoena, according to the Associated Press. As a result, he was fined $10,000 per day until the terms of the subpoena were met.

Besides Trump, only one other president has ever been subjected to this type of legal sanction, according to historians.

Clinton held in contempt

President Bill Clinton became the first-ever president to be held in contempt of court near the end of his second term, Lindsay Chervinsky, a presidential historian at the Southern Methodist University, told McClatchy News.

The ruling occurred during a civil lawsuit filed in Arkansas by Paula Jones, a former state employee who claimed Clinton sexually harassed her during his tenure as governor, according to The Washington Post.

The presiding district judge held Clinton in contempt of court on April 13, 1999, for providing intentionally false testimony concerning his relationship with one-time White House intern Monica Lewinsky, according to the outlet.

During a deposition in 1998, Clinton said he had not had sexual relations with Lewinsky  a claim he later contradicted before a grand jury.

The court takes no pleasure whatsoever in holding this nations President in contempt of court, the judge wrote, according to The New York Times. But, she added, the record demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the President responded to plaintiffs questions by giving false, misleading and evasive answers that were designed to obstruct the judicial process.

Numerous penalties came in addition to  and following  the ruling, Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, told McClatchy News.

Firstly, Clinton was ordered by the judge to pay various fees, including for attorneys and travel costs, according to The Washington Post.

The judge also referred the case to Arkansas state authorities, who held the power to disbar Clinton  himself an attorney  for flying afoul of the professions code of conduct.

He was ultimately suspended from practicing law in the state and faced disbarment before the Supreme Court, Balcerski said.

Given that he was not an active lawyer, these penalties were more in the realm of symbolic punishment, Balcerski said.

His Arkansas law license suspension, which had a five-year timespan, ended in 2006, according to NBC News.

How is the jury chosen for Trumps NY criminal trial? Experts explain the challenges

How serious are charges in Trumps NY criminal trial? What Americans say in new poll

How serious are charges in Trumps NY criminal trial? What Americans say in new poll
Trump is having a bad week. Will it matter in the election?

Former President Trump at Manhattan criminal court in New York on Thursday. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Former President Trumps tough week showed as well as any to date why he is facing a new and unprecedented reality as a presidential candidate  as he ping-ponged among a dizzying array of court appearances, judicial rulings, competing allegations and subsequent grievances.

By Thursday, he was complaining about the overlap in his busy legal schedule, railing that Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is presiding over his hush-money case in New York, wouldnt let him leave that trial to attend a Supreme Court hearing in Washington, D.C., over whether he can face criminal prosecution for trying to overturn the 2020 election. That decision also could affect Trump's classified-documents case in Florida.

I should be there! Trump fumed about the Supreme Court. He wouldnt allow it to happen. He puts himself above the Supreme Court.

Read more: Former tabloid publisher testifies about scheme to shield Trump from damaging stories

Most of the week, Trump sat in Merchans Manhattan courtroom as former National Enquirer Publisher David Pecker testified. Pecker, a key witness in the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, helped prosecutors outline the alleged conspiracy that involved using the tabloid to kill negative stories about Trump and covering up payments during the 2016 campaign.

A trial break Wednesday might have offered a reprieve for Trump. Instead, it was full of more action against the former president. Trump was identified as a co-conspirator in two states: Michigan, during a pretrial hearing involving a group of fake electors who were charged as part of an election subversion scheme; and Arizona, where some of Trumps closest allies were charged in yet another plot to overturn the election using fake electors.

That indictment hit close to Trump because it included Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who became Trumps political fixer and confidant.

It didnt end there. By the time Trump got back to court on Thursday, prosecutors alleged that his attempts to spin perceptions about his Manhattan case  including calling Pecker a nice guy  violated the gag order because he was trying to sway a potentially harmful witness.

To cap it off, a federal judge in New York rejected Trump's attempt to throw out an $83.3-million civil defamation judgment for E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist who accused Trump of raping her in a department store in the 1990s. A jury ruled Trump defamed Carroll by denying her sexual-abuse allegations.

Will it matter in the election? Trump appeared unharmed during the presidential primary, with many Republican voters either dismissing the charges as a distraction or agreeing with Trump that he was being persecuted for upending the establishment.

In interviews last week with voters in Arizona, a key swing state, one supporter dismissed the fury around Trumps actions on Jan. 6, 2021, as overblown. Other supporters and potential supporters said their concerns about the economy and immigration and frustration with President Biden were more important than anything else.

But a poll released Wednesday had some data that might concern Trump's campaign. Six in 10 voters said the charges in the Manhattan case  considered the weakest of the four indictments against the former president  were either very serious or somewhat serious, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters.

Read more: Homeless encampments are on the ballot in Arizona. Could California, other states follow?

Just under half of those polled said Trump did something illegal, while more than a quarter said it was unethical but not illegal.

Most voters said a conviction would not influence their vote. But a sizable minority  including 5% of Trump voters  said they would be less likely to vote for Trump if he is found guilty.

That may not seem like much, and some of those voters could change their minds. But in an election that both sides expect to be close, even a relatively small number of lost votes could matter.

Any slice of 2% to 3% of people who will be persuaded matters," said David Paleologos, a pollster and director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston.

There's also an opportunity cost, as Trump is losing time to get out in front of swing-state voters.

The only way a week like this is reversed is if he has a positive outcome in one of his trials," Paleologos said.

For Trump, a positive result could include not only an outright win but also a ruling by the Supreme Court that delays one or more of his trials until after the election, allowing him to further scuttle or quash the proceedings if he becomes president again.

"It's one thing to be tied up in court a week and then win," Paleologos said. "And it's another to have lost all of that time and lose.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GAZA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) denied renting or using a refuge facility targeted by a fresh Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip earlier on Friday.

At least three people were killed in the attack in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources revealed early in the day, saying the "facility belongs to the ICRC."

The ICRC later told Xinhua that the facility is not "owned or occupied" by its branch in Gaza. "The ICRC previously rented it as a staff residence, but this arrangement ended in 2022," it said in a statement.

"We take the opportunity to remind all those fighting of the necessity to follow the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law: distinction, proportionality, and precaution," the statement added.

At least three people were killed during an Israeli attack targeting a facility belonging to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said on Friday.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,356, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Friday.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. 
NEW YORK  Donald Trump walked into his hush money trial Friday and wished his wife Melania a happy birthday  the day after former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Trump never mentioned worrying about what she thought about his alleged affairs at the heart of the states case against him.

I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday, Trump told reporters on his way into the courtroom. Itd be nice to be with her but Im at a courthouse for a rigged trial.

Trump said hed be jetting off to Florida on Friday evening to join Melania, who is celebrating her 54th birthday.

Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer and other supermarket tabloids, was the prosecutions first witness and was on his fourth day on the stand Friday facing cross-examination from Trump lawyer Emil Bove.

The longtime publisher told the courtroom that after Trump announced his candidacy, he never heard him voice concerns for his family when working to cover up unfavorable stories  only for his campaign.

Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a conspiracy to influence the results of the 2016 election. The crimes, prosecutors say, revolve around a reimbursement to Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Pecker told the court he paid $30,000 to silence a Trump Tower doormans story of a child Trump allegedly fathered out of wedlock, and $150,000 for Playboy model Karen McDougals silence on a nearly yearlong affair she says she had with Trump, which he denies.

We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, Pecker said Thursday on his motivation for the catch and kill scheme.

Trump is accused of cooking up the plan to influence the election at a 2015 meeting with Cohen and Pecker.

Pecker earlier revealed how during a visit to the White House in 2017, Trump remained concerned McDougal would talk about the relationship.

As we walked out, President Trump asked me, How is, eh, how is Karen doing? Pecker said on Thursday. So I said, Shes doing well. Shes quiet. Everythings going good.'

The defense has argued that Trump did nothing illegal and that his interactions with Pecker both fell within legal lines and were standard practice for political candidates.

Since the start of the trial, prosecutors say Trump has racked up more than a dozen violations of his gag order, which prohibits him from speaking on trial participants outside the courtroom. The DAs office requested thousands of dollars in fines for the violations, made, they say, on television appearances, in the halls of the courthouse and at press conferences, and asked that the former president be held in contempt of court.
NEW YORK  Donald Trump wished his wife Melania a happy birthday walking into his hush money trial Friday  a day after former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker said the former president never mentioned worrying about what she thought about his alleged affairs at the heart of the states case against him.

I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday, Trump said on his way into the courtroom. Itd be nice to be with her but Im at a courthouse for a rigged trial.

Trump initially told reporters he planned to fly to meet his wife in Florida once proceedings wrapped.

Later, he challenged President Biden to participate in a nationally televised debate at the courthouse Friday night, responding to Biden telling Howard Stern during an interview on Sirius XM Radio that hed be willing to debate Trump.

Ill wait around!

The defense grills Pecker

Pecker, the former CEO of American Media, or AMI, which published the National Enquirer and other supermarket tabloids, finished on the stand Friday after four days of testimony.

In Team Trumps cross-examination of Pecker, lawyer Emil Bove grilled Pecker about inconsistencies in what he testified about earlier this week and told the FBI in 2018 regarding a conversation with Trump in the weeks before his inauguration. The defense challenged Peckers testimony that Trump had thanked him for his role.

Pecker, who received immunity in exchange for testifying truthfully, as he did in Michael Cohens 2018 case related to the hush money scheme, on Thursday told jurors the president-elect thanked him for handling the situation with playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump Tower doorman.

Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a conspiracy to influence the results of the 2016 election. The crimes, prosecutors say, revolve around a reimbursement to Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

I know what the truth is, Pecker told Trumps lawyer, adding he couldnt say why the feds didnt jot it down but was confident of his memory.

The exec remained calm on the stand, stopping and thinking for a few beats before responding to Boves questions. He conceded the words catch and kill werent uttered at the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting between him, Trump, and Cohen, where prosecutors say the hush money scheme was born, nor was a financial dimension discussed.

Peppering Pecker with rapid-fire questions that mainly elicited one-word answers, Bove sought to portray his publications catch and kill arrangement with Trump as a mere continuation of something he had been doing  and personally benefiting from  for decades, not a scheme to defraud the 2016 electorate.

The lawyer ran through multiple celebrities the media exec sought to protect from unflattering stories.

Later, on Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglasss redirect examination, the prosecutor asked Pecker if any of the hundreds of thousands of nondisclosure agreements he was involved in over the years, except those with Trump, aided a presidential campaign.

Pecker said no.

Is it standard operating procedure to have a presidential campaign person weighing in on what terms of a contract ought to be amended? Steinglass asked during another line of questioning.

Uh, no, Pecker said.

Pecker: Trumps concern was his brand

On Thursday, the longtime publisher told the courtroom that after Trump announced his candidacy, he never heard him voice concerns for his family when working to cover up unfavorable stories only for his campaign.

Pecker told the court he paid $30,000 to silence a Trump Tower doormans story of a child Trump allegedly fathered out of wedlock and $150,000 for Playboy model Karen McDougals silence on a nearly year-long affair she says she had with Trump, which he denies.

We didnt want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign, Pecker said Thursday on his motivation for thecatch and kill scheme.

Detailing his visit to the White House in early 2017 on Thursday, Pecker said Trump remained concerned McDougal would talk about the relationship.

As we walked out, President Trump asked me, How is, eh, how is Karen doing? Pecker said on Thursday. So I said, Shes doing well. Shes quiet. Everythings going good.

The defense has countered that Trump did nothing illegal and that his interactions with Pecker both fell within legal lines and were standard practice for political candidates.

Since the start of the trial, prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order more than a dozen times, which prohibits him from commenting on trial participants. Merchan is expected to hear further arguments on their request to hold Trump in criminal contempt and fine him thousands of dollars next week.
Trump laments missing Melanias birthday for hush money trial: It would be nice to be with her

(The Hill)  Former President Donald Trump is sending a long-distance birthday message to his wife, Melania, straight from the New York City courthouse where hes on trial in his hush money case.

I want to start by wishing my wife, Melania, a very happy birthday, Trump said in brief remarks to the press on Friday outside the lower Manhattan courthouse.

The former first lady turned 54 on Friday.

It would be nice to be with her, Trump said before entering court for the fourth day of proceedings, the first criminal trial of a former American president.

But Im in a courthouse for a rigged trial. Its a rigged trial  terrible, Trump, whos repeatedly claimed without evidence that the judge in the case is corrupt, told reporters.

Trump hush money trial live updates: David Pecker returns for cross-examination

The 45th commander-in-chief faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursements for his former fixer, Michael Cohen, in order to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 just ahead of the 2016 presidential election to stay quiet about an alleged sexual encounter years earlier with Trump. The ex-president has denied all charges.

I do have to begin by wishing Melania a happy birthday, Trump repeated on Friday. The pair married in 2005.

Shes in Florida, he said of his wife, who has not joined him at the courthouse during any of the hush money trial.

Ill be going there this evening after this case finishes up, Trump said, adding, This horrible, unconstitutional case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
What Trumps lawyer conceded at the Supreme Court: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In todays edition, reporters Lawrence Hurley and Ryan J. Reilly break down what happened in the Supreme Court arguments over Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity from prosecution for things that happened during his presidency. Plus, reporters Alexandra Marquez and Bridget Bowman walk through Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's moment after the passage of Ukraine aid.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

What Trumps lawyer conceded at the Supreme Court

By Lawrence Hurley and Ryan J. Reilly

Former President Donald Trump has long argued for absolute immunity in his federal election interference case, but on Thursday his lawyer struck a different tone during arguments at the Supreme Court. Indeed, attorney D. John Sauer did something his client rarely does: He made some concessions.

Sauer appeared to agree with special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, that there are some allegations in the indictment that do not involve official acts of the president.

Do you have a news tip? Let us know

Sauers main argument was that the entire indictment is premised on official acts, which should be protected by immunity in part to ensure that presidents do not have their hands tied over fear of prosecution after leaving office.

But Sauer accepted that Trump can be prosecuted for private acts that were not tied to his official duties as president.

During oral arguments, the justices zeroed in on the public-private distinction. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett and liberal Justice Elena Kagan both peppered Sauer with questions concerning whether specific allegations in the indictment constituted official acts.

Sauer said that Trumps conduct in three of the five situations he was asked about involved private actions, meaning they could be prosecuted. Read more here going through those situations.

The concessions came as the Supreme Court indicated that any trial in Trumps election interference case is unlikely to take place soon, with justices expressing concerns about whether certain presidential acts should be off-limits.

The justices appeared likely to reject Trumps expansive claim of absolute immunity as they probed each sides arguments. But the court could remand the case for further proceedings, making it less likely that a trial would take place before the 2024 election.

In other words, Sauers backtracking might have little consequence from an electoral perspective. Further delay in a Trump trial, which Sauer is close to achieving, is a form of victory in itself.

Read more from Day 7 of Trumps hush money trial on the NBC News live blog.

McConnell takes a victory lap  and a phone call from Ukraine

By Alexandra Marquez and Bridget Bowman

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is taking a victory lap after a bipartisan group of senators passed a foreign aid package that included more than $60 billion for Ukraine. He also took a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

McConnell told NBC News Meet the Press that Zelenskyy acknowledged the GOP leaders struggles with his own party in the push for additional aid when the pair spoke Thursday morning.

Well, he was grateful, because he knew that the big challenge was on my party, McConnell told moderator Kristen Welker in an interview taped Thursday. McConnell said Zelenskyy also noted that more Republicans supported the sweeping aid package Tuesday than when the Senate passed a similar measure in February, which ultimately stalled in the House.

I think theres a growing feeling in the Republican conference in the Senate that the isolationist path is not a good idea, McConnell said.

In a separate interview Wednesday with NBC News Frank Thorp and Ryan Nobles, McConnell said this foreign aid package was one of the most significant wins of his nearly 40-year career, calling it certainly one of the most important issues Ive been involved in over all these years.

And if you look at it from a worldwide point of view, you could argue that it is the most important, McConnell added.

McConnells victory comes as he plans to step down as GOP leader at the end of this year. And while this package will pad his list of accomplishments, his legacy will also include shaping the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court after deciding in 2016 that the Senate would not consider then-President Barack Obamas nominee.

McConnell weighed in on the case currently before the court, telling Meet the Press that he did not think presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for actions they took while in office.

The Republican leader stood by his comments from 2021 after voting to acquit Trump during the former presidents second impeachment over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. At the time McConnell said, We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being [held] accountable by either one.

Thats my view, McConnell reiterated Thursday. But my view is only my view. I mean, the court is going to decide.

Read more about McConnells Meet the Press interview, and watch the interview Sunday. 

Thats all from The Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback  likes or dislikes  email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps longtime personal assistant, who worked for his real estate empire for decades, told a jury that she has a vague recollection of seeing Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower sometime before 2015.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Rhona Graff, who served as Trumps gatekeeper at the Trump Organization until 2021, testified on Friday under a subpoena that required her to take the witness stand. Her questioning was brief, but it tied her ex-boss to the woman at the center of the trial the trial over alleged hush-money payments before the 2016 election.

At the time when you saw her, did you know she was an adult film actress? prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Graff. Yes, I did, said Graff, the second witness at the first criminal trial of a former president.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case last year, alleges Trump falsified dozens of business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 presidential election about an alleged affair. The payment was allegedly part of a broader criminal conspiracy to keep voters in the dark about Trumps conduct with women before they cast their ballots.

After Graff took the stand, prosecutors entered into evidence a thumbdrive of data from Graffs computer at the Trump Organization to further connect Daniels to Trump. The information indicated Graff had entered contact details for Daniels as well as former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who received a similar payment before the 2016 election.

During Graffs cross-examination by Trump attorney Susan Necheles, Graff filled in some details about Danielss visit. Graff said that she believed Daniels was in the office to discuss a potential appearance as a controversial candidate for Trumps The Celebrity Apprentice.

Graff, whose legal bills were being paid by the Trump Organization, praised her former boss and provided other testimony indicating her appreciation for the career his company afforded her. When Graff left the witness stand, Trump stood up in an apparent effort to shake her hand, but she smiled and didnt stop. Another Trump lawyer, Todd Blanche, was smiling broadly.

Earlier in the day, Trumps lawyers sought to cast doubt on claims that the $150,000 hush payment to McDougal was an attempt to influence the 2016 election. Former National Enquirer publisher David Peckers cross-examination, which started Thursday, continued with questions suggesting the August 2016 contract with McDougal was an innocent effort to recharge her career rather than buy her silence to help Trump win the White House.

Pecker agreed that the publisher, then known as American Media Inc., prepared a presentation for McDougal in June 2016 highlighting all the ways its magazines could promote work under her name. AMI agreed to run 96 columns written by a ghostwriter for her over two years, and ended up publishing 65, Pecker said.

She was looking to restart her career? Trumps lawyer, Emil Bove, asked.

Oh, yes, said Pecker, AMIs former chief executive officer.

Bove sought to raise doubts about Peckers credibility, but failed to undermine prosecutors key allegation that Pecker, Trump and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen struck a deal in 2015 in which Pecker would assist Trumps campaign by identifying negative stories about the candidate and keeping them from being published.

Pecker, the first witness in a trial expected to last up to eight weeks, also testified that McDougal didnt want to run a story about the alleged affair with Trump, even though the agreement gave AMI the rights to any stories about the former models liaisons with then-married men.

You understood that Ms. McDougal did not want to publish it? Bove asked Pecker.

She did not want to, Pecker said.

Not Standard Procedure

After the cross examination was complete, a prosecutor asked Pecker fresh questions designed to refocus the jurys attention on the McDougal payment, suggesting it was intended to influence the election  not help her career.

In this case, did you suppress stories to help a presidential candidate? prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Pecker.

Yes, Pecker said.

Steinglass also sought to undermine Boves suggestion that the agreement was a standard operating procedure for the tabloid, by connecting it directly to Trumps campaign. The prosecutor pointed to AMIs contact with Trump about an amendment to the McDougal agreement.

Is it standard operating procedure for AMI to be consulting with a presidential candidates fixer about amendments to a source agreement? Steinglass asked.

No, Pecker said.

During his cross-examination on Thursday, Pecker testified that Trump was good for business at the tabloid newspaper and that the publisher gave similar favorable treatment to a range of other prominent figures in and out of politics.

Pecker also said Thursday that when he first learned about McDougals account of the affair, he believed it was true and that it would be embarrassing to Trump and the campaign if published.

On Friday, Steinglass brought up the non-prosecution agreement that AMI signed with the federal government in 2018. He referred to a provision that said AMIs principal purpose in signing the deal with McDougal was to suppress her story and prevent it from influencing the election.

At no time during the negotiation or acquisition of the models story did AMI intend to publish the story or disseminate information about it publicly, it said.

--With assistance from David Voreacos.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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As the first week of testimony in Donald Trumps criminal trial wrapped up Friday, former tabloid king David Pecker was on the defensive.

Trump defense attorney Emil Bove already faced a tongue-lashing on Thursday from the judgeNew York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchanover the way Bove was misleading the jury as he cross-examined Pecker about the hush-money payments that went to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

But Bove picked up right where he left off on Friday, asking Pecker detailed questions about specific aspects of Peckers previous testimony, looking for any inconsistencies in the publishing magnates recollections to plant a seed of reasonable doubt in jurors minds.

Trump Trial Today: Defense Team Takes Another Crack at David Pecker

Pecker at one point pushed back when Bove cited a set of FBI meeting notes that quoted Pecker as saying Trump never showed any gratitude for his efforts to kill bad stories about him, which runs contrary to Peckers testimony on Thursday that Trump had in fact been been extremely appreciative. Perhaps the FBI employee taking notes during the meeting mistranscribed his words, Pecker suggested.

In one notable moment, Bove also elicited a tale from Pecker about Michael Cohen asking him to send paparazzi to a 2017 breakfast meeting the ex-presidents onetime personal lawyer and fixer was having with billionaire Mark Cuban, which Cohen apparently thought might elevate him in Trumps eyes. (The pictures were subsequently published by Radar, one of Peckers titles.)

Fridays proceedings began at 9:30 a.m., shortly after the former president lumbered into the courtroom sporting his usual blue suit, accompanied as usual by a sizable retinue of lawyers and Secret Service agents. The former president took his seat at the defense table, glowering into the lenses of the pool photographers who entered briefly for their daily shots.

Merchan began by instructing the jury that, contrary to Boves implications that something untoward had occurred between Pecker and the prosecution, it is standard practice for witnesses to meet with government lawyers prior to their appearances in court so they can go over their testimony. Peckerthe ex-president, CEO, and chairman of American Media Inc. (AMI), the parent company of the National Enquirerwas granted immunity by District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. in exchange for his cooperation in the case.

During his previous session in the witness box, Pecker described buying the rights to damaging stories about Trumpwho he described on the stand as my mentorin order to prevent them from ever seeing the light of day. Pecker said he bought the story at the behest of Trump, via Cohen, who warned Pecker that the boss would be very angry if he didnt shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to suppress allegations of extramarital relationships with at least three different women.

Pecker explained to the jury that he used this so-called catch-and-kill scheme to protect Trump personally, as well as his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election.

According to Pecker, Trump wasnt concerned about his family or his wife Melania finding out about his affairs. Rather, he was concerned about how the news would impact his campaign.

Trump is being tried on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for hiding the payoffs as run-of-the-mill legal expenses. Prosecutors say the payoffs amounted to nothing short of election interference.

Trump Trial Reveals Other Stars Who Paid to Have Unsavory Stories Killed

On Friday, Bove continued trying to poke holes in Peckers story, suggesting that Peckers payments for information were not necessarily made solely to protect Trump, but that Pecker didnt want to risk losing potential bombshell stories to another publication. This, Bove argued, just made business sense for AMI, and it was, in fact, standard operating procedure.

Bove also asked Pecker about paying $150,000 for the life rights of former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had a yearlong sexual relationship with Trump beginning in 2006, the year after he married Melania.

Pecker said on the stand Tuesday that McDougal didnt want to be the next Monica Lewinsky, and didnt want to see her story published. Bove brought this up again during cross-examination, seemingly attempting to call into question the idea that McDougals story was killed only to protect Trump.

AMIs contract with McDougal also reflected, for example, her wish to pen monthly articles for several of the companys health-and-fitness titles, and to appear on magazine covers, Bove said. He asked, did Pecker view the contract as a legitimate business arrangement when he signed it in 2016?

Yes, Pecker said, without including some important context he brought up in his previous testimonythat McDougal was not much of an asset to Pecker, who said he had to hire ghostwriters to cobble together her columns for her.

Pecker testified that he valued her overall services at $25,000, not the $150,000 he paid her, but he said he wanted to keep her happyand silent about her alleged affair with Trump.

Any business language in the contract, Pecker said, was only there to make the paperwork look less suspicious.

How Trump Screwed Up His Lawyers Ability to Do Their Jobs

The feds started probing Pecker in 2018 over the catch-and-kill payments, and Bove prompted him to recall three FBI agents showing up at his home early in the morning of Apr. 9, 2018 and seizing his phone. Pecker then entered into a non-prosecution agreement on Sept. 20, 2018 with the feds, which Bove walked him through step-by-step.

Bove asked Pecker about $100 million that was in escrow at the time, pursuant to a deal in the works to sell the Enquirer to the Hudson News Group.

Bove asked if the immunity deal had to be finalized before the sale could be completed and the funds released?

Correct, Pecker replied.

AMIs assets are worth less to the Hudson News Group if AMI is the subject of a federal investigation, correct? Bove went on.

To Hudson News, a federal investigation is not going to reduce the earnings of those magazines. Pecker said.

However, Bove asked, if AMI were to be indicted, would that reduce its value to Hudson News?

Uh, yes, Pecker replied.

Before he finished his cross-examination, Bove got Pecker to restate a bit of previous testimony in which he said an election law attorney he hired to review the McDougal contract determined it did not constitute a campaign finance violation.

However, on his redirect, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that Pecker never told the lawyer about the secret, unspoken agreements to help the Trump campaign that were attached to the deal. The contract did not include any language about Trump, Cohen, or even the word campaign, Steinglass said. And the only other people besides Pecker who knew about the true arrangement were Cohen and Trump.

To this, Pecker echoed previous testimony in which he admitted the parts about McDougal writing for, and appearing in magazines, were in actuality included as a disguise.

Still, Pecker said the tabloid audience loved reading positive stories about Donald Trump. And when he announced his presidency, going from The Apprentice to running for president of the United States, sales increased, newsstand sales increased. Any negative comments about his opponents, when we published them, sales also increased.

But wouldnt a story about a Playboy model having a year-long sexual relationship with a presidential candidate, wouldnt that also sell magazines? Steinglass asked. That would be like National Enquirer gold, right?

Yes, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Donald Trump has yet another complaint in his hush-money trial: the courtroom is too cold, and he thinks its deliberate.

Trump made the claim Friday in the hallway of Manhattan District Court just before the start of proceedings, according to The Hill.

We have another day in court in a freezing courthouse, Trump said. Its very cold in there, on purpose, I believe. They dont seem to be able to get the temperature up. It shouldnt be that complicated.

Hes not the only one to point out the less-than-ideal temperatures. Journalists, his defense team, and prospective jurors all complained about the cold during jury selection last week, with some people reportedly even shivering. One of Trumps attorneys, Todd Blanche, asked Judge Juan Merchan last Thursday if it were possible just to warm it up a degree or two? It is so freezing in here.

Honest answer to that question is if I did that, it would probably go about up about 30 degrees, Merchan said.

Its not surprising that the courtroom would have temperature issues, considering that the building is more than 80 years old. Trump, though, has been complaining constantly about his trial, particularly that he is legally required to attend the proceedings, and cant attend his other legal cases, such as his presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court.

But at least the current courtroom temperatures will make it harder for Trump to nod off during the trial.

Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly falsifying business records with the intent to further an underlying crime by having his fixer and former attorney, Michael Cohen, pay off adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair before the 2016 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty on all counts. Several of his former employees, including Cohen and White House aide Hope Hicks, are expected to testify against him. Daniels will also take the stand, which means Donald Trump is going to be spending many more uncomfortable days in court.
Trump prosecutor quit top DOJ post for lowly NY job in likely bid to get former president, expert says

Trump prosecutor quit top DOJ post for lowly NY job in likely bid to get former president, expert says

The prosecutor whose opening statement kicked off the historic trial of Former President Donald Trump left a lofty perch in the Biden administration Justice Department for his current comparatively modest New York City job  a career move that legal analysts describe as puzzling and one that's prompted questions regarding motivation.

Even though Matthew Colangelo is only now sitting in a courtroom formally opposing the former president, his work has for years involved investigating Trump and his businesses, despite working for different prosecutorial offices at varying levels of government. Colangelo's sudden switch from top DOJ official to a role with the DA's office in the Big Apple has particularly raised eyebrows.

"It's very odd. Its usually the other way around. . . . And frankly, that sounds to me like somebody who thought, 'Ah, here's an opportunity to go and get Donald Trump,'" attorney and former member of the Federal Election Commission, Hans von Spakovsky, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview this month.

It's rare to see successful, ambitious attorneys willingly climb several steps down the career ladder, experts note.

"It is a little unusual," Heritage Foundation senior legal fellow Zack Smith said of Colangelos career moves. "Particularly, the position he had at the Justice Department was a fairly high ranking one . . . he spent some time in the New York Attorney General's office, he also spent some time as a career staffer in the DOJ Civil Rights Division. He was in leadership in the Justice Department, and then immediately from that leadership position - an acting leadership position - went to the DAs office."

NY PROSECUTORS REVEAL 'ANOTHER CRIME' TRUMP ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO CONCEAL WITH FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS

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Colangelo's current case marks the first time a former president has stood trial on criminal charges. It stems from payments made by Trumps former personal attorney to a former pornographic actress ahead of the 2016 election and was brought forth last year by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The trial began in earnest this week - after a week of jury selection - as Colangelo delivered his opening on Monday, seeking to make the prosecution's case that Trump had illegally falsified business records to conceal another crime.

Trump is no fan of Colangelos. He has slammed the attorney as a "radical left [prosecutor] who was put into the state working for Letitia James and was then put into the District Attorneys office to run the trial against Trump." That comment came before the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, imposed a gag order that prevents Trump from speaking publicly about witnesses or the prosecution team.

Colangelo has a lengthy government resume, working in a variety of legal roles that date to the Obama administration. He most recently served nearly two years in Biden's DOJ, including as acting associate attorney general and overseeing the Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax Divisions.

Colangelo's background includes time spent clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor when she served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and seven years at the NAACPs legal defense and educational fund. Afterward, Colangelo worked for three years in the DOJs civil rights division during the Obama administration. He also served as deputy director of the Obama-Biden Administrations National Economic Council and as chief of staff at the Labor Department under the Obama administration, the DA's office detailed in a press release.

Colangelo's decision in 2017 to take a job in the New York Attorney Generals Office  filling a role left vacant by the departure of his future boss, Bragg  led to the first in a series of cases against Trump.

Colangelo assisted a case in 2018 that dissolved Trumps former NY-based charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, after prosecutors alleged that it had illegally coordinated with Trumps 2016 campaign. The charity was dissolved after a judge found that Trump had "breached his fiduciary duty."

Todd Blanche, lawyer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks from a podium at a hearing next to prosecutor Matthew Colangelo at the Manhattan Federal Court over Trump's push to move his criminal case to federal court, in New York City, U.S. June 27, 2023, in a courtroom sketch. Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

That same year, Colangelo worked as lead prosecutor in a case involving the Trump administrations push to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census. The Justice Department ultimately decided to print the 2020 Census without the citizenship question due to lengthy court battles that included having the Supreme Court weigh in that the question could not be added for the time being.

"I think given his time at the AG's office, in the Justice Department, and now at the district attorney's office, it certainly appears like his career path in the past several years has been designed to target and essentially try to bring charges against Donald Trump in whatever form or fashion he can do so," Smith said.

TRUMP URGED TO IGNORE SUPREME COURT, PRINT CENSUS QUESTION: 'BECAUSE WE SHOULD,' GOP LAWMAKER SAYS

Von Spakovsky cited Colangelo's previous employment with the DOJ's Civil Rights Division as a potential concern, calling the DOJ department a home for "some of the most unethical lawyers" hes ever met. Von Spakovsky worked in the Civil Rights Division from 2001 to 2005 but did not overlap with Colangelo. He spoke to Fox Digital about what he had personally experienced in the office and how he viewed the operation of the office in the years that followed.

"I've now been a lawyer for four decades. I work at Heritage. I've worked in the federal government. I was in private practice. I was in-house corporate counsel," he said. "I have never in my entire career met lawyers more partisan, more far-left radical ideologues than I met in the Civil Rights Division in the career ranks.

"I was in the voting section to start with . . . they had about 100 people  half lawyers, about half support staff. I have never in my life been met with the kinds of hostility I was met with when I started my job there."

Von Spakovsky said he believes the reason for his chilly reception was "because they knew that politically I was a conservative," though noting he was a career employee, and not a political appointee.

He pointed to an IG report published in 2013 that detailed concern that the office predominantly hired from "liberal" civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, NAACP and Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Law, and noted that the report showed "political and ideological hiring going on into the career ranks, which is not supposed to happen."

An American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago

"Because they're all hired from these liberal advocacy organizations, they never make the transition to understanding that they now are a government lawyer and that their client is the public," he said. "What they all think is, Oh, I used to work for the ACLU. Well, now I can continue doing that work for the ACLU, but I have the power of the government behind me.'"

After moving from the New York AGs office to the DOJ and then finally to Braggs office, Colangelo now finds himself at the heart of the New York v. Trump case unfolding in Manhattan criminal court.

TRUMP TRIAL: FORMER PRESIDENT 'INNOCENT,' DEFENSE SAYS AS DA ALLEGES 'CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY'

The trials origins reach back to October of 2016, when Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, paid former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly stop her claims about an alleged extramarital affair she had with the then-real estate tycoon in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen, and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Manhattan, New York.

"During the election, TRUMP and others employed a catch and kill scheme to identify, purchase and bury negative information about him and boost his electoral prospects," Bragg said last year. "TRUMP then went to great lengths to hide this conduct, causing dozens of false entries in business records to conceal criminal activity, including attempts to violate state and federal election laws."

"Catch-and-kill" schemes are understood as tactics used by media and publishing companies to buy the rights to a persons story with the intention of burying the information.

BRAGG SAYS HE WILL TRY TO 'DISCREDIT' TRUMP IF HE TESTIFIES IN HIS DEFENSE DURING CRIMINAL TRIAL

Bragg was elected district attorney in 2021, succeeding Cyrus Vance, who did not run for re-election. Vance left the office with the massive case hanging in the air despite saying he was "committed to moving the case as far along in the decision-making as I can while Im here."

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024.

Bragg officially took office in January 2022, with the nation wondering whether he would indict Trump.

By March of that year, however, two prosecutors in the office who were investigating Trump's net worth, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, resigned. Pomerantz charged that Bragg had stopped pursuing the case against Trump and suspended the investigation "indefinitely."

"You have reached the decision not to go forward with the grand jury presentation and not to seek criminal charges at the present time," Pomerantz wrote in his resignation letter, Fox Digital previously reported. "The investigation has been suspended indefinitely."

MANHATTAN DA BRAGG SUSPENDED TRUMP INVESTIGATION 'INDEFINITELY,' STOPPED PURSUING CHARGES

His letter continued: "Of course, that is your decision to make. I do not question your authority to make it, and I accept that you have made it sincerely."

He added, however, that "a decision made in good faith may nevertheless be wrong."

Months later, in December, Bragg announced a new hire: Colangelo.

Prosecutors Matthew Colangelo, Steven Wu and Rebecca Grace Mangold attend a hearing at the Manhattan Federal Court over former U.S. President Donald Trump's push to move his criminal case to federal court, in New York City, U.S. June 27, 2023, in a courtroom sketch. Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

"Matthew Colangelo brings a wealth of economic justice experience combined with complex white-collar investigations, and he has the sound judgment and integrity needed to pursue justice against powerful people and institutions when they abuse their power," Bragg said at the time. "Those who would harass tenants, steal wages, endanger workers or defraud the public should know that the Manhattan D.A.s Office has never had a stronger, more dedicated team in place to enforce our laws and hold them accountable."

Four months after Colangelo left the DOJ for the DAs office, Trump was indicted on 34 counts of "falsifying New York business records in order to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election."

NY VS TRUMP: THE EVIDENCE PROSECUTORS CAN PRESENT IF FORMER PRESIDENT TESTIFIES

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which would be a felony. This week, prosecutors revealed that the other crime in the case is "conspiracy to promote or prevent election," a violation of New York election law.

Former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower in New York City, Monday, April 15, 2024. Jury selection begins today in the so-called hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court this morning.

Colangelo said during his opening argument on Monday that the case against Trump "is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up." He argued that Trump, Cohen and the then-CEO of American Media Inc., David Pecker, had "conspired to influence the 2016 presidential election." Prosecutors say that Pecker had helped to facilitate "catch-and-kill schemes" by purchasing exclusive rights to stories that could have damaged Trumps run for the White House and then not publishing the stories.

TRUMP TRIAL: OPENING ARGUMENTS TO BEGIN AS TRUMP FLOUTS GAG ORDER AND ATTORNEY PREVIEWS DEFENSE

"Some of the charges he's trying to bring are false-records charges against Donald Trump, which are ordinarily misdemeanors, unless they were done in furtherance of another felony, simply to cover up another felony," Smith told Fox News Digital.

Prosecutors say that Trump violated a New York election law, though he had already been examined by federal bodies that oversee elections. The Justice Department in 2019, for example, "effectively concluded" its investigation into Trumps payments. In 2021, the Federal Elections Commission, the agency dedicated to enforcing campaign finance laws, announced that it had dropped a case looking into whether Trump had violated election laws with the payment to Daniels.

Von Spakovsky also underscored to Fox News Digital that both the FEC and DOJ had declined to pursue the case.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump watches with his attorney Todd Blanche as prosecutor Matthew Colangelo makes opening statements during Trump's criminal trial on charges that he had falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, April 22, 2024, in this courtroom sketch.

"The [FEC] looked at this and said that this settlement was not a violation of federal law. The Justice Department also has criminal enforcement authority over federal campaign finance laws, and the Justice Department has also not considered this a crime," he said.

Von Spakovsky added that he couldn't speculate whether Colangelo had been hired by the DAs office for the purpose of prosecuting Trump, but argued that he believed no "objective lawyer" would have carried through with the case.

"I think any objective lawyer, without any kind of partisan goals, would have taken a look at the facts and the law in this case and would not have decided to go forward," he said.

Trumps trial is ongoing and anticipated to last at least six weeks.

Fox News Digital reached out to the district attorney's office, the White House and the DOJ's Civil Rights Division for comment but did not receive responses.

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report.





Original article source: Trump prosecutor quit top DOJ post for lowly NY job in likely bid to get former president, expert says
Donald Trump needs a good grudge like the rest of us need air. But from time to time, those who wrong him debase themselves and shred their own dignity so thoroughly to get back in his good graces that he makes an exception. Lindsey Graham is a good example. So is Ted Cruz.

Not so with his former Attorney General Bill Barr, one of the handful of his former allies who made the unforgivable mistake of questioning the premise of his election-overturning efforts  and has had to pay the price within the MAGAfied Republican Party. While Barr spent the entirety of his tenure letting Trump hijack the Justice Department for his various whims and grievances, he did ultimately refuse to pursue baseless investigations into Trumps mass voter fraud claims.

That, much like then-VP Mike Pences refusal to go along with Trumps pressure campaign to not certify the election results, crossed a line. Its one thing to not like Trumps style. Its another entirely to stand in the way of his couping.

Since then Trump has treated Barr like a punching bag, regularly calling him a liar and even mocking his testimony before the Jan. 6 committee. Barr, for his part, hasnt done much to suck up to the former president in the years since either. Until last week. During an interview on Fox News, Barr was asked if he would support Trump in the fall, despite their history.

Ive said all along, given two bad choices, I think its my duty to pick the person I think would do the least harm to the country. And in my mind, I will vote the Republican ticket, he said, adding, Trump may be playing Russian roulette, but a continuation of the Biden administration is national suicide in my opinion.

(What, exactly, is the issue that makes him willing to endorse the man who he witnessed attempt to overthrow American democracy? Why, its the thugs on the far-left and the drift thats been occurring toward really a socialistic system. Of course.)

Trump caught wind of the supposed endorsement last night and posted on Truth Social relentlessly mocking his former toadie for doing it.

Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud in our Country, has just Endorsed me for President despite the fact that I called him Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy (New York Post!), he wrote on Truth Social Wednesday.

Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word Lethargic from my statement. Thank you Bill. MAGA2024!

Only a few more adjectives to go.

The Best Of TPM Today

We published a lot of great stuff today. This morning from Josh Kovensky: Meet The Never-Christian-Nationalist Evangelicals

And Hunter Walker: The Man Behind The Jan. 6 Pence Card Memo Is Now Pushing The Mother Of All Twitter Files

Josh was also back in court this morning: Pecker Expected Back On The Stand As Trump Trial Resumes

Catch up on Kate Rigas live coverage of todays grim Supreme Court immunity oral arguments: Conservative Justices Appear Poised To At Least Limit Scope Of Jan. 6 Case Against Trump

More on that here: Trump Will Be Happy With Supreme Court Arguments On Immunity

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Amid his ongoing criminal hush-money trial, former President Donald Trump called the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which led to the death of a woman, a peanut in comparison to anti-war protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Were having protests all over, Trump told reporters outside of the courtroom on Thursday, referring to the pro-Palestine demonstrations taking place across the country. He added, [Biden] was talking about Charlottesville. Charlottesville was a little peanut! And it was nothing compared  and the hate wasnt the kind of hate that you have here.

Trump compares a deadly neo-Nazi rally to anti-war protests on college campuses:



"[Biden] was talking about Charlottesville. Charlottesville was a little peanut! And it was nothing compared to the hate  wasn't the kind of hate that you have here." pic.twitter.com/7l1rw6sDAo  Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 25, 2024

This is the second time this week Trump has downplayed the deadly Charlottesville rally, where clashes broke out between the white nationalists and counter-protesters during a Unite the Right rally, and a white supremacist killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer when he rammed his car through a crowd of counter-protesters. Two days after the tragedy, then-President Trump argued that both sides were to blame for the violence and declared that there was very fine people on both sides. His remarks at the time drew backlash.

Crooked Joe Biden would say, constantly, that he ran because of Charlottesville. Well, if thats the case, hes done a really terrible job because Charlottesville is like a peanut compared to the riots and anti-Israel protests that are happening all over our Country, RIGHT NOW, wrote Trump Wednesday on his social media platform.

Ammar Moussa, the Biden campaigns rapid response director, said in a statement that the American people are not going to be lectured to by the guy who called white supremacists very fine people after they chanted Jews will not replace us and killed a woman. He added that Trump was never in touch with the vast majority of the American people, but his years down in Mar-a-Lago have him even more unhinged heading into 2024.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
LA PAZ, April 25 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and more than a dozen injured after a multiple collision of vehicles on the highway in southwestern Bolivia on Thursday, according to a preliminary police report.

The collision occurred near the community of Jachayapu in Oruro on the Panamerican Highway linking the Bolivian departments of Potosi and Oruro. It involved a passenger bus, a dump truck loaded with minerals, and a freight truck loaded with agricultural products.

According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred when the dump truck collided with the left side of the passenger bus.

The dump truck was heading from Potosi to Oruro, while the passenger bus and freight truck were traveling in the opposite direction, according to preliminary reports.

Emergency teams rushed to the site to treat the wounded and move them to hospitals in Challapata and Oruro. 
Donald Trump wished his wife, Melania Trump, a very happy birthday.

He gave the message to the cameras moments before entering the courtroom for his hush-money trial.

He did not address why Melania hasn't attended the trial to show support.

It's better than a Hallmark greeting card.

In front of television cameras and a gaggle of journalists, former President Donald Trump wished his wife, Melania Trump, a very happy birthday Friday morning, moments before he entered the courtroom for his criminal hush-money trial.

"I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday," he told reporters in the downtown Manhattan courthouse hallway. "It'd be nice to be with her, but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial."

Trump is spending the day in Manhattan's criminal court, where he's on trial for charges alleging that he falsified business documents to disguise a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The purpose of the cover-up, according to prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney's office, was to keep the adult film actress quiet ahead of the 2016 presidential election about an affair she says she had with him years earlier.

"She's in Florida," Trump said of his wife, who turned 54.

"I'll be going there this evening after this case finishes up. This horrible, unconstitutional case, when it finishes up."

Former President Donald Trump, right, stands with Melania Trump as they arrive for a GOP fundraiser this month. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Melania Trump had been a no-show on the campaign trail as well, until Saturday, when she appeared at her husband's side at a Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser held at Mar-a-Lago.



The former president spoke to the press Friday morning surrounded by his lawyers and a mix of aides, including Jason Miller, Boris Epshteyn, and Waltine Nauta.

(Epshteyn was indicted in Arizona this week over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and Nauta is a codefendant in Trump's Florida criminal case stemming from the taking of government documents.)

Trump did not address why Melania Trump, or any of his other family members, have not attended the trial to support him. Experts previously told Business Insider that her appearance at the trial may help the jury view him sympathetically.

This week, jurors have been hearing testimony from David Pecker, former CEO at the media company that owned the National Enquirer.

Prosecutors for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have portrayed Pecker and his supermarket tabloid as an arm of Trump's 2016 campaign, through "catch and kill" deals that kept Daniels  as well as Karen McDougal, another woman who says she had an affair with Trump  from going public with their stories.



Pecker spent Friday on cross-examination by Trump attorney Emil Bove, who is trying to establish distance between the 2016 campaign and the tabloid.



Throughout the morning, the former magazine magnate agreed repeatedly as Bove asked a series of questions where "Yes" answers help Trump's defense.

Pecker conceded that at least some of his rationale for running negative stories about Trump's opponents, particularly Hillary Clinton, was that they sold well.

He also agreed that one reason McDougal's story never ran was that she had cold feet about publicity.

In direct testimony on Thursday, Pecker said McDougal told him she didn't want to become "another Monica Lewinsky."

A court artist's sketch of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

And as for Daniels, under Bove's cross-examination, Pecker repeated what he'd said Thursday, that he wanted nothing to do with handling the hush-money payments.

"I am not going to be associated with a porn star," Pecker had testified Thursday that he told then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

Before stepping into court Friday morning, Trump also commented on Thursday's Supreme Court hearing, where the justices appeared poised to formally recognize that presidents have some form of criminal immunity  though not necessarily in a way that would scuttle some of the charges against him.

Trump said he listened to the arguments Thursday night, after his court day in Manhattan, and "thought it was really great."

"I thought the judges' questions were great," Trump said. "All presidents have to have immunity. This has nothing to do with me, absolutely nothing. All presidents have to have immunity, or you don't have a president."

He also complained about the chill in the 15th-floor Manhattan courtroom.

"We have another day in court in a freezing courthouse. It's very cold in there for one purpose, I believe," Trump said, without revealing what he believed that purpose to be.



"They don't seem to be able to get the temperature up. It shouldn't be that complicated. But we have a freezing courthouse, and that's fine  that's just fine."

The trial is expected to last another month.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Because Donald Trump himself wasn't indicted, there was a surprisingly muted response to the announcement, late on Wednesday, that Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes had indicted a school bus full of Republican activists and operatives on felony charges related to Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election. There's a real "Trump himself or it doesn't count" bar regarding interest levels in coup-related cases. The previous indictment for the same scheme in Georgia did include the former president, leading to his infamous mug shot from the Fulton County Jail. Plus, Trump himself is on trial in New York on charges of cheating in the 2016 election, leading to a stream of images of him looking bedraggled as he goes in and out of court. Hearing that Rudy Giuliani is getting arrested again just can't compete.

But it's time to take a longer look at these Arizona charges because they will have a major impact on Trump personally, even if he is not indicted (yet) for his role. These charges further erode his already-collapsing support system. Trump goes to court most days without family or friends, just his lawyers and security, people who are paid to be there. Despite his endless pleading, he can't get his followers to show up to demonstrate outside the courthouse. The people who were willing to commit crimes to keep him in office in 2020 now have to face the real possibility that sticking by Trump's side raises their chances of going to prison. Even those foolish enough to take that risk, I suspect, are going to be too busy trying to fend off criminal charges from the last attempted coup to have much time to help Trump with planning the next one.

As I wrote earlier this week, Trump was only able to pull off the Jan. 6 coup attempt because he had scores of people handling the logistical work for him. Lawyers like Giuliani, John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro hatched the plan to create slates of fake electors, with an eye towards pressuring Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress into accepting them instead of the real electors chosen by voters. Trump's co-conspirators set up an actual "war room" at Willard Hotel, where the people behind the legal scheme regularly communicated with propagandists like Steve Bannon, whose role was to get ordinary MAGA folks to show up at the Capitol on Jan. 6 to heed Trump's call to "fight like hell." Groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were in near-daily contact with Trump ally Roger Stone, took on the planning when it came to leading the charge to the Capitol. Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, took on the role of traffic cop, managing many of the various conspirators as they worked their own angles.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Now many, if not most, of these people are alienated from Trump to some degree, in no small part because of all the legal jeopardy their schemes have put them in. Experts have noted that Chesebro is not listed in the Arizona indictments, suggesting that he's cooperating with the prosecution, as he is in Michigan. But even some of the usual names that crop up in the various legal maneuvers post-Jan. 6 belong to people who just don't seem that involved with Trump anymore.

Not everyone involved in the coup conspiracy has scootched away from Trump. Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump stooge, traveled with him Thursday to court in Manhattan, although he didn't go into the building. Epshsteyn was among the 18 people indicted in Arizona on Wednesday. Notably, this is the first time Epshteyn has been in legal trouble  for his role in the coup, at least. He's been arrested twice before, once for bar-fighting in 2014 and again for groping women in a bar in 2021. The latter is a well-known way to impress Trump. Sure enough, shortly thereafter, Epshteyn's star began to rise in Trump world, even though the charges were later reduced to disorderly conduct. But Epshteyn is learning the lesson that eventually comes for most Trump cronies: Stick with Trump and, sooner or later, you'll either be under arrest or striking a cooperation deal with the prosecution.

Only Giuliani seems totally incapable of learning. He took a moment out of his busy legal calendar to release a statement complaining, "Its not a coincidence that this is happening as we approach the summer before the election." He repeated Trump's election lies and even name-checked Trump, claiming he's "the biggest threat to their grasp on power." But it speaks volumes about how far Giuliani has fallen that he has to beg for Trump's attention like this. Hey, maybe if Trump keeps losing people, he'll cave and give ol' Rudy a ring.

Most former Trump cronies seem to get it, though. Certainly, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is living through that morality tale. During his lengthy court testimony against Trump in the Manhattan case, Pecker walked through many stories in which he was used and abused by Trump. Pecker's actions in 2015 and 2016 to help Trump at the Enquirer put him in serious legal jeopardy, but throughout his testimony, he described how Trump repaid him: By screwing him over at every turn. Pecker described paying hush money to women on Trump's behalf, only to have Trump renege on the deal to pay him back. When reporters at the Wall Street Journal uncovered the hush money conspiracy, the leak apparently didn't come from Pecker, but that didn't stop Trump calling up to scream at him over it. When Pecker expressed anxiety about committing possible crimes, Trump had his fixer, Michael Cohen, call and threaten him.

Hopefully, people who may consider joining up with one of Trump's future criminal conspiracies are paying attention to all this and realizing it's not worth it. The fates of people who agreed to be fake electors should give would-be conspirators pause. Many of the people recruited by Giuliani, Chesebro and company never even met Trump before they agreed to commit crimes for him. As both the House committee investigating Jan. 6 and the indictment by special prosecutor Jack Smith detail, a number of the fake electors raised concerns that they could be arrested for their part in the scheme. Giuliani reassured them, falsely, that they were safe from prosecution. Now people who stepped into that role in at least three states  Michigan, Arizona and Georgia  are facing serious legal consequences for doing so.

Are Republicans finally starting to learn that Trump will never return the loyalty he's shown? His loneliness at trial is a promising hint that they may, finally, be starting to get it. Sure, Republican politicians like Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana still know they have to make a big public display of kissing Trump's ring. (Notably, Johnson did so and then turned around and passed the Ukraine aid bill Trump wanted him to kill.) But even the biggest Trump bootlickers in Congress just keep not showing up in New York, though his miserable expressions suggest he could use a little cheering up these days. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., knows the trial is right in her backyard, but somehow couldn't take a day off from demagoguing about Ivy League universities to hold Trump's hand for a day. Maybe she's worried about the smell? It is hard to wash it out of those ugly blazers she loves wearing. Or maybe, like an increasing number of Republicans, Stefanik is finally starting to get it: Getting close to Trump and his various criminal schemes, even just to sit through a trial, is dangerous business. It's best to leave him to hang out and dry.
Are Tubes on strike today? April dates for last minute walkout

Commuters have been wrongfooted by last-minute strikes announced on the London Underground.

The TSSA rail union announced the sudden strike action on Wednesday, which is expected to cause disruption into the weekend.

The walkouts by customer service managers will mean some stations may need to close at short notice, according to Transport for London.

Here is what you need to know:

When are the strikes happening?

The walkouts will take place today and will mean that TSSA members will not commence work on any shift starting between 00:01 to 23:59.

That means that strike action will run over into Saturday, as any staff will not be carrying out overnight shifts due to have started before midnight on Friday.

TSSA took strike action on April 10 which closed stations at short notice.

The strikes today are also likely to cause stations to close at the last minute.

Customer Service Managers at TSSA will also take part in an overtime ban from April 29 to May 5.

This overtime ban will again lead to station closures at very short notice, said TSSA

At present it is not thought to be causing major disruption.

Recommended

April train strikes: Dates and the services affected

Read more

Why are union members going on strike?

Customer service managers at the TSSA are going on strike over proposed changes to their working conditions.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: Its clear that our Customer Service Managers strike on April 10 made a real impact, many stations shut at short notice, and we had overwhelming support from the public.

Because of London Undergrounds refusal to get back round the negotiating table, we have been forced to take further strike action this week.

London Underground must now come clean with the public  their refusal to negotiate seriously and fairly with our union will lead to stations closing at the last minute and other stations being understaffed.

We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged. We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith.

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18-year-old vanished before birth of his son, cops say. Hes found dead 6 years later

Human remains discovered by a turkey hunter have been identified as an 18-year-old who had been missing for more than six years, Missouri authorities say.

The remains were discovered Tuesday, April 23, by a turkey hunter on private property in Mercer County, McClatchy News reported.

Authorities said April 25 the remains were identified as Sebastian Tyrese Husted, of Centerville, Iowa. He was reported missing Jan. 22, 2018.

A cause of death has not been confirmed.

Its a day many people have prayed and hoped for. We have found Ty and are bringing him home, his sister, Iesha Husted, said in a Facebook post. While this was never the outcome we wanted, we are relieved our search is over. The question of where is answered, the who, what, when, and why remain.

Sebastian Husted was last seen working at a hog confinement in Mercer County  a job he had for about two weeks, according to The Charley Project. He texted his brother to be picked up, but when his brother asked for an address, he never received a response.

The 18-year-old was never heard from again, The Charley Project said, noting that everything but his phone was left behind.

Weve had missing persons before, but nothing to this level or magnitude, Mercer County Sheriff Steve Stockman told KCCI in 2018 after Husted had been missing for nine months. Generally, they usually turn up after a period of time.

Stockman, at the time, said authorities had followed up on about 50 leads without any results.

In the months that followed Sebastian Husteds disappearance, he became a father to his first child, named Kendrick, according to to Ottumwa Courier.

I actually let him feel Kendrick kick, so he at least got to feel that part before he went missing, Carol Rouse, the mother of Sebastian Husteds child, told KTVO.

Interviewed by the News-Press Now seven months after her brother went missing, Iesha Husted said she believed his case had been overlooked.

Tys really family-orientated. He just wouldnt have disappeared, he would have at least told one person, she told the publication.

Mercer County is about a 120-mile drive northeast of Kansas City.

Trucker went missing with hogs still loaded in semi, cops say. Body found months later

17-year-old vanished a year ago, Oklahoma cops say. Now, man charged in his killing

Missing mans body found after arrest of friend accused of killing him, Maine cops say
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -A Turkish court sentenced Ahlam Albashir, a Syrian national, to life in prison on Friday over a 2022 bombing that killed six people in Istanbul's main shopping street, a copy of the verdict obtained by Reuters showed.

Six Turkish citizens, two members each of three families, were killed in the attack on Nov. 13, 2022. The explosion also wounded about 100 people in the busy street packed with shoppers and tourists.

The court imposed a total of seven life sentences on Albashir, who was previously identified by police as the person who planted the bomb.

The case also involved more than 30 other defendants. Four of them were released from prison on Friday, while the court ordered 10 defendants to be tried separately as the individuals could not be found.

Twenty other defendants were handed prison sentences ranging from 4 years to life. Of those 20, six people were given aggravated life imprisonment sentences for "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state" and "intentional murder."

Turkey blamed Kurdish militants for the explosion, saying the order for the attack on Istiklal Avenue was given in Kobani in northern Syria, where Turkish forces have conducted operations against a Syrian Kurdish militia in recent years.

That militia and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has fought a decades-old insurgency against the Turkish state, denied involvement in the attack. No group claimed responsibility.

Istanbul has been attacked in the past by Kurdish, Islamist and leftist militants. A wave of bombings and other attacks began nationwide when a ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK broke down in mid-2015.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in the PKK's conflict with Turkey since the militant group took up arms in 1984. It is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

(Reporting by Daren Butler and Ece Toksabay;Editing by Ezgi Erkoyun, William Maclean)
GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Several children were injured in a wreck on I-85 in Gastonia involving two South Carolina school charter buses late Friday morning.

South Carolinas Pickens County School District confirmed the buses were from its district and were occupied by 85 students from Gettys Middle School and included 6th-grade band students with 21 chaperones who were headed to Carowinds on a field trip.

Gaston Emergency Medical Services reported that two charter buses collided near Exit 19 and one bus had 50 kids on it with five injured and the other had 51 kids with three injured, all with minor injuries.

Police said the driver of one of the buses that crashed into the woods was transported to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The district later said the driver was not a school employee. The District later said the five students were complaining of soreness and were transported to an area medical center alongside a teacher.

One lane was closed and Gaston Emergency Medical Services and fire trucks were at the scene.

District officials said more buses were headed to the scene to pick up the rest of the students.

Queen City News has a crew on scene and is working to learn more details.

The district also sent us the following statement.

The accident involved one charter bus colliding with the second bus. The accident occurred at approximately 9:45 a.m. There were 85 students and 21 chaperones on the buses. 106 total riders.

Emergency medical teams arrived and assisted individuals as needed. After assessing all the individuals, five students and one driver were transported for further medical attention or to be assessed for minor injuries.

We have notified parents and guardians of students involved in the accident.

We are relieved that there were no serious injuries and we are thankful for the prompt response of the Gaston County Emergency Services and law enforcement.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo.  A fugitive on the run for more than two years in connection with child sex crimes was recently arrested in Franklin County.

Paul Edward Burks II, 41, of Catawissa, Missouri, was charged with two counts of statutory rape of a child in November 2021.

According to the Crawford County Sheriffs Office, Burks was evading arrest as authorities followed up on several leads over the last few years. Crawford County authorities collaborated with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office to arrest Burks.

Contractor makes a million-dollar mistake on I-55 project: whos paying the bill?

I would like to announce the capture of one of Crawford Countys Most Wanted persons, said Sheriff Darin Layman. Burks is in custody and the judicial process can proceed. Hopefully, some closure for the persons involved with these crimes can begin.

Burks is jailed in Crawford County on a $100,000 bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A former Parliamentary aid has been ordered not to contact MPs after being charged with spying for China.

Christopher Cash, 29, appeared alongside Christopher Berry, 32, in court for the first time on Friday, with each facing one charge under the Official Secrets Act.

During a five-minute hearing at Westminster magistrates court, the pair spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address.

They were granted conditional bail to appear at the Old Bailey on May 10.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Mr Cash, from Whitechapel in East London, not to contact any MPs or Parliamentarians, apart from his local MP.

Mr Cash formerly worked as a parliamentary researcher and previously worked with senior Tories including Tom Tugendhat  now security minister  and Alicia Kearns, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

He was director of the China Research Group, which was initially chaired by Mr Tugendhat and then Ms Kearns.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle previously told MPs two people had been charged on a matter relating to national security, one of whom was a parliamentary pass holder.

Judge Goldspring told Mr Cash: You must not enter any part of the Parliamentary estate, not contact any MP or Parliamentarian, save for your MP on constituency matters.

He added: You must have no contact with any employee of the Houses of Parliament or the staff of Parliamentarians.

The charge alleges that between January 2022 and February 2023, Mr Cash, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information which were calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy.

Mr Berry is accused of the same offence between December 2021 and February 2023.

Christopher Berry is also accused of providing prejudicial information to China - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP

China has dismissed the charges as self-staged political farce.

Mr Berry was ordered to sleep each night at his home in Whitney, Oxfordshire, and report once weekly to St Aldates police station in Oxford.

Meanwhile Mr Cash was ordered to sleep at his home in Shoreditch, except for a maximum of three consecutive nights with 72 hours notice, and report once a week to Bethnal Green police station in East London.

Mr Berry, who does not have a passport, was ordered not to apply for a new one or any other travel documents, while Mr Cashs passport is already in the polices possession.

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Two Russian soldiers kill five people in occupied Kherson Oblast, including collaborator head of village

Two Russian soldiers have killed five people in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

Source: Astra, a Russian news outlet, with reference to its sources

Details: Among those killed were civilians, the so-called head of the village who was a collaborator and soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces.

Astra noted that 65-year-old Valentyna S. was found in a residential building in the occupied village of Podo-Kalynivka, Kherson Oblast, on 23 April. The Russians shot the woman in the stomach, set the house on fire and fled.

In the village of Abrykosivka, unidentified persons killed 54-year-old Liubov Tymchak, a collaborator and also the head of the village of Abrykosivka, and 40-year-old Alexei Glinin, a Russian soldier. The house with the bodies inside was also set on fire.

Two more people were shot dead in Abrykosivka  a 32-year-old local resident Serhii Sh. and a serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces, whose identity has not been established. In this case, the bodies were also set on fire.

On 24 April, two soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces were detained on suspicion of all these murders: 34-year-old Alexander Osipov and 36-year-old Alexander Kaygorodtsev, who had been previously convicted several times. Their motives are unknown.

As Astra found out, no criminal cases have been opened.

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By Azernews

Qabil Ashirov

There is a new vision on the horizon in the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As is known, Armenia returned four villages of the Qazakh district, and the delimitation and demarcation process started between the two countries.

Right after this news, Yerevan voiced its interest in purchasing natural gas from Azerbaijan. In a comment to the local media outlets, Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan said that Armenia should consider importing natural gas from Azerbaijan. He noted that laying a natural gas pipeline from Azerbaijan and Iran and buying natural gas from those countries is a very good option. However Simonyan added that there were no such discussion between the sides. To the question whether Armenia can buy natural gas from Azerbaijan, he responded that he is very positive about it and the sides need to discuss this matter.

It is worth noting that the Azerbaijani sides reportedly did not rule out the possibility of gas supplies to Armenia after securing peace with Armenia.

Speaking to Azernews on the issue, political analyst Samir Humbatov noted that there is no problem with Azerbaijan selling gas to Armenia, if there is an agreement between the parties and come to peace. He underscored that Azerbaijan has already exported its gas to the world market and neighboring countries.

"There is nothing unusual or problematic here. It is even more convenient to sell the gas to neighboring countries, because there is an issue of communication lines here. Of course, trade can influence the consolidation of peace and the formation of peace. I think that if Azerbaijan sells gas to Armenia and Armenia really wants to buy gas from Azerbaijan, it can give impetus to the strengthening of trade relations between the sides. I think this can be considered as a rather positive trend," Humbatov said.

He added that if such cooperation takes place between the sides and if the sides can strengthen trade relations, this can have a positive effect not only on bilateral relations, but also on regional relations. He recalled that Azerbaijan already sells gas to Georgia, and Azerbaijan can sell gas to Armenia in the same form. In any case, this will be a successful option for Armenia, and in turn, it can affect the development of the region.

"It should be noted that both Azerbaijan and Armenia benefit from this business. All these are important conditions. One can think about it, but again, a lot depends on the position of the political authorities here. I think that Azerbaijan is a country that is always ready to cooperate in this matter. If Armenia takes a right step in this regard, the result will be clear for both Armenia and Azerbaijan," Samir Humbatov concluded.
The screenshot captured from a video on April 27, 2024 shows Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea making a statement in Sanaa, Yemen. Yemen's Houthi group said early Saturday that they had shot down a U.S. drone in northern Yemen. (Xinhua)

SANAA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said early Saturday that they had launched a missile attack and hit a British oil tanker in the Red Sea and shot down a U.S. drone in northern Yemen.

"Our naval forces (on Friday) targeted a British oil ship, Andromeda Star, in the Red Sea with a number of appropriate naval missiles and hit it directly," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea read a statement in the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV channel.

"On Thursday, our air defense forces succeeded in shooting down an American MQ9 aircraft in the airspace of Saada Governorate (northern Yemen), while it was carrying out hostile missions and it was targeted by a suitable missile," he said.

"We confirm that we will continue to carry out more military operations in support of the Palestinian people until the Israeli siege and aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip stop," the spokesman said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Agency reported on its website that a ship was damaged off Yemen after a missile attack on Friday. It didn't identify the ship nor gave further details.

The Houthis have been targeting Israeli-linked ships or ships heading to Israeli ports in the Red Sea since November last year in solidarity with Palestinians engaged in conflict with Israel.

A coalition of U.S. and British naval forces in the Red Sea has been launching airstrikes on Houthi military targets since January, which were responded to by the Houthis with more intensified attacks that targeted the coalition's warships. 
Two-vehicle head-on crash kills Roseville man and leaves 1 with major injuries, CHP says

A Roseville man died in a head-on collision Thursday in Sutter County that left another man with major injuries, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol was altered about 3 p.m. to the incident on West Riego Road, east of Pacific Avenue.

For unknown reasons, the 24-year-old Roseville man crossed into oncoming westbound lanes and collided into a Chevrolet truck driven by a Sacramento man, said Officer Brian Danielson, a spokesman for the CHPs Yuba-Sutter office.

The Roseville man died at the scene. The Sutter County Coroners Office is expected to identify him after family are notified.

The Chevrolet driver, age 55, was taken to a hospital with major injuries while his passenger, a 27-year-old Sacramento man, complained of pain, the CHP said.

The collisions cause is under investigation, but drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the crash, the CHP said.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The family of Tyre Nichols wants to hear from you on how to best design a skate park here in Memphis in his honor.

Friday, Nichols family, as well as the Tyre Nichols Foundation and The Skatepark Project, are holding a meeting to work out the best design for the park.

It will take place at the National Civil Rights Museum from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

As you will remember, Nichols was a devout skateboarder. His family says he fell in love with the sport at a young age and it wasnt long before it became his lifestyle.

A location for this new park hasnt yet been approved here in Memphis, but in California, where Nichols is originally from, opened in June of last year.

It is actually the same park Nichols skated at when he was a kid.

Skate park in California named after Tyre Nichols

As far as the former Memphis Police officers charged in Nichols death, the federal trial against four of them will be held here in Memphis.

The decision comes after several pending motions to move the trial following concerns about whether or not the four men will be able to have a fair trial here in Shelby County.

It was back in January of last year that the four defendants, along with a fifth former officer Desmond Mills, were caught on video pepper spraying and beating Nichols following a traffic stop down the street from his mothers house.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A U.S. Border Patrol agent was allegedly fired from the Mexican side of the border on Thursday, April 25, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

CBP released the following statement:

On April 25, 2024, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the El Paso Sector was involved in a use of force incident near the border. The incident is under review by Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. U.S. Customs and Border Protection

It is unknown if there were any injuries or if any arrests have been made.

This is a developing story and we will update once we learn more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, speaks during a press conference at Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. Johnson visited the campus as school administrators and pro-Palestinian student protesters made progress on negotiations after the school set a midnight deadline for students to disband the encampment, and agreed on a 48-hour extension. Johnson has called for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson decried antisemitism and raised the possibility of calling in the National Guard to disperse student protesters during a trip to Columbia University in New York City on Wednesday.

Students on that campus, as well as others throughout the country in recent days, have hosted large anti-war rallies calling on the Israeli government to implement a permanent ceasefire in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, and a handful of other House GOP lawmakers gave a press conference after meeting with university President Minouche Shafik, calling on her to resign.

We just cant allow this kind of hatred and antisemitism to flourish on our campuses, Johnson said. And it must be stopped in its tracks.

Protesters watching the press conference repeatedly chanted over the GOP lawmakers as they spoke and booed Johnson several times as he criticized their actions. At one point, Johnson broke from his remarks to tell them to enjoy their First Amendment rights.

Protesters earlier Wednesday agreed to remove tents from the universitys West Lawn and limit participation to students, according to NBC New York.

Johnson said he planned to call President Joe Biden after leaving the campus to relay what Jewish students told him during a private meeting and what he saw on the campus.

There is executive authority that would be appropriate, Johnson said. If this is not contained quickly, and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard. We have to bring order to these campuses. We cannot allow this to happen around the country.

Echoes of 1970s

Johnson calling for the U.S. National Guard to thwart anti-war protests is reminiscent of the1970s, when officials believed that was the best way to deal with students calling for an end to the Vietnam War.

That ultimately led to the deaths of four students and wounding of nine at Kent State University in Ohio after National Guard troops opened fire on peaceful protesters.

The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close, according to Kent States webpage on the event.

The shooting led to one of the more haunting photos of the Vietnam War protest movement, showing Mary Ann Vecchio screaming as she mourned the death of Kent State University student Jeffrey Miller.

Johnson threatens congressional action

In addition to calling for the National Guard to possibly be deployed, Johnson said during the press conference the House of Representatives would be taking steps to tamp down antisemitism.

The House has been investigating a number of these campuses, Johnson said. There is a nexus to federal funding. If these campuses cannot get control of this problem, they do not deserve taxpayer dollars. Thats a very serious issue.

Congress approved the dozen annual government funding bills in March for the fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30 and will likely use a stopgap spending bill to keep funding on autopilot past the elections.

Any changes to federal funding will need to move through the Democratic- controlled U.S. Senate and garner Bidens support. House Republicans cannot act unilaterally to cut off funding for campuses that allow the anti-war protests to continue.

Take back control, Foxx says

North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said during the press conference that her panel had been investigating the protests on campus.

Take back control of this once great institution, Foxx said, speaking directly to Columbia Universitys president. You took action last week, its time to act again. If not, the committee will pursue every possible avenue to create a safe learning environment for Jewish students.

New York Republican Rep. Michael Lawler, who represents the states 17th Congressional District north of the city, said that if protesters wanted a cease fire they should call on Hamas to surrender to the Israeli military.

If you want a ceasefire, the fastest way for a ceasefire to occur is for Hamas to surrender and to release the hostages, Lawler said. And if you cant call for that, you are a pathetic embarrassment to this institution and to students everywhere.

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The post U.S. House speaker confronts anti-war protesters at Columbia University appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
London  A 20-year-old British man has been charged with masterminding an arson plot against a Ukrainian-linked target in London for the benefit of the Russian state, prosecutors said on Friday.



"Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024," the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement.



Court documents allege that suspect Dylan Earl, from Leicestershire in central England, was connected to the proscribed terrorist group the Wagner Group, the U.K.'s domestic Press Association news agency reported.



He is accused of organizing and paying for an arson attack on two units on an industrial estate in Leyton, east London, on March 20, which required 60 firefighters to bring under control. A photo posted on social media by the London Fire Brigade on the day showed several storage or warehouse units with fire damage.

Crews are making steady progress at the fire at an industrial estate in #Leyton.



We are expected to be on scene throughout the night https://t.co/UGXaPZVSJX pic.twitter.com/atFnffVR7x  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 21, 2024

The fire service said in a statement that three units sustained damage in the blaze, which was reported just before midnight and took more than four hours to get under control. It added that the cause of the fire was being investigated at the time by both the fire brigade and the London police.

The alleged target of the plot is referred to as "Mr X" in the charges.



The CPS, which brings prosecutions in England and Wales, said two other men  Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21  were also charged with aggravated arson in connection with the case.



A third, Jake Reeves, 22, had been charged with agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service as well as aggravated arson.



A fifth man, Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, has been charged with having information about terrorist acts, the CPS added.



U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: "While we must let the judicial process run its course, I am deeply concerned by allegations of British nationals carrying out criminal activity on U.K. soil to benefit the Russian state.



"We will use the full weight of the criminal justice system to hold anyone found guilty of crimes linked to foreign interference to account," he wrote on the social media platform X.



Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police in London's Counter Terrorism Command which is leading the investigation, said: "This is a highly significant moment and investigation for us.



"Not only are the charges that have been authorized by the CPS extremely serious, but it is also the first time that we have arrested, and now charged anyone using the powers and legislation brought in under the National Security Act."



The National Security Act 2023 came into effect in December last year, and was designed to respond to "the threat of hostile activity from states targeting the U.K.'s democracy, economy, and values," the government said at the time.



All five suspects are due to appear at the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, London, on May 10.

The charges come amid high tension between Russia and the West more than two years after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

German authorities said a week earlier that they had arrested two people suspected of spying for Russia, both of them identified as German-Russian nationals. They stand accused of scouting targets for potential attacks in Germany  including U.S. military facilities in the country.

A photo provided by the London Metropolitan Police on Sept. 5, 2018, shows two Russian nationals, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who were charged with the attempted murder of ex-spy Sergei Skripal using the deadly nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England. / Credit: Handout

Relations between Britain and Russia have been sour for years, having dipped precipitously in 2018 when two Russian spies attempted to assassinate former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English town of Salisbury in a high-profile assassination attempt using the extremely deadly nerve agent Novichok. While the attempt was unsuccessful, one local woman who happened to come into contact with the bottle holding the nerve agent was killed.

Both of the men accused in that attack managed to flee Britain before the charges were filed.

Pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. colleges intensify

New York's highest court overturns Harvey Weinstein verdict

U.S. Catholics and their relationship to the church
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has received new information from the Israeli authorities about a specific Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) unit that Washington was reportedly going to designate for human rights allegations in the West Bank, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

In light of the new information, Washington is looking into whether the unit is on a path to remediation, the source said. "If they aren't, there will be restrictions on the provision of U.S. assistance," the source added.

No final decision has been made, the source stressed.

The new information appears to have put on the breaks on any imminent decision involving the unit's alleged involvement in the death of a Palestinian-American.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week said he has made determinations regarding accusations that an Israeli military unit violated U.S. laws that prohibit the U.S. from providing military assistance to individuals or security force units that commit gross violations of human rights.

"You'll see the results very soon. I made determinations. You can expect to see them in the days ahead," Blinken said last week, raising expectations of an imminent punitive action.

The statement drew an immediate rebuke from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would fight against any sanctions being imposed on IDF units. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and minister Benny Gantz called Blinken on Sunday, urging him not to go ahead with the move.

When asked at a Monday news conference whether those calls had changed his mind and when the announcement on any action would take place, Blinken did not directly respond.

"I dont have more to say about it today, but I think youll see in the days ahead that we will have more to say, so please stay tuned on that," Blinken said.

The Leahy Laws, authored by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy in the late 1990s, prohibit providing military assistance to individuals or security force units that commit gross violations of human rights and have not been brought to justice.

The specific IDF unit involved, the Netzah Yehuda battalion, was set up in 1999 to accommodate the religious beliefs of ultra-Orthodox Jews and other religious nationalist recruits in the army.

The United States called for a criminal investigation after Netzah Yehuda soldiers were accused of being involved in the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American, Omar Assad, who died of a heart attack in 2022 after he was detained and was later found abandoned at a building site.

Israel's military conduct has come under increasing scrutiny as its forces have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the enclave's health authorities, many of them women and children. The Gaza Strip has been reduced to a wasteland, and extreme food shortages have prompted fears of famine.

The Israeli assault was launched in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and scores of hostages taken.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A group of Stanford students took over the university's White Memorial Plaza in San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. state of California, Thursday evening to erect a "People's University For Palestine" encampment to protest Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza.

"After over 200 days of the ongoing genocide in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli apartheid government with a minimum of over 34,000 Palestinians dead in the Gaza strip, a coalition of Stanford students and organizations working as Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine have launched The People's University for Palestine at Stanford," the group said.

"The People's University for Palestine at Stanford stands in firm solidarity first and foremost with the Palestinian people, whose resistance lies at the heart of our student-led efforts," said a statement from Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine.

"Additionally, we stand with the numerous pro-Palestine movements at universities across the country and around the globe," it said.

Demonstrators did not specify how long the demonstration would last, only saying it will be "multi-day."

"Our focus continues to be on providing for the safety of our community," spokesperson for Stanford Luisa Rapport said in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle. "We support the peaceful expression of free speech, but for those who violate university policies, the university will be enforcing its time, place, and manner rules through Stanford's student disciplinary process."

"White Plaza is a designated free-speech area reservable by Stanford-recognized student organizations," Stanford's interim provost for student affairs C. Matthew Snipp told the Stanford Daily, adding that overnight camping, unapproved structures and other violations of policy would result in referrals to the university's Office of Community Standards and could also lead to arrests if laws are violated.

On Tuesday, students at UC Berkeley placed tents atop the steps of Sprout Hall, vowing to remain outside the administrative building until the university pledges to establish a Palestinian studies program and divest from companies doing business with the Israeli government, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. 
An anti-Trump "kangaroo court" posed outside the Supreme Court while Trump v. United States was argued inside. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trumps argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trumps prosecution beyond the November election  and essentially assisting the former president as he fights legal challenges on multiple fronts.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has argued in a federal trial court and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that his actions following the 2020 election and leading up to the violent Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, were official acts conducted while still in office and therefore are not subject to criminal prosecution.

While court precedent establishes that U.S. presidents are immune to civil damages for their official acts, and to criminal prosecution while in office, the justices now must decide the unanswered question of whether former presidents are absolutely immune from criminal law.

At oral arguments Thursday in Trump v. United States, much of the discussion centered on what should be considered an official presidential act.

Several conservative justices suggested that lower courts work to determine what aspects of the charges against Trump arose solely from his private conduct.

Such a detour could eat up additional weeks or months as the trial calendar converges with Election Day.

A decision from the court may not arrive until late June or early July. If a ruling calls for additional fact-finding at the trial court level, Trumps election interference trial likely would not happen prior to the November election.

Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, of St. Louis, argued that nearly everything a president does in office  including hypotheticals about ordering a military coup or assassinating a political rival  could be considered official acts.

While much of the court appeared skeptical of that broad view of official acts, several justices on the conservative wing asked about having the trial court determine what acts should be considered official. They also suggested prosecutors could drop sections of the four-count indictment against Trump that dealt with official acts.

The courts three liberal justices voiced serious concerns about Trumps immunity argument, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wondering aloud if the court accepting a broad view of criminal immunity for the president would make the Oval Office the seat of criminal activity.

The case is one of four in state and federal courts in which criminal charges have been made against Trump. On Thursday, he was in a New York state courtroom where he faces charges in an ongoing hush-money trial; the judge there did not allow him to attend the Supreme Court arguments.

Trial court determination

Conservative justices asked if they could avoid the constitutional question by having the trial court, presided over by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, determine which parts of the allegations could be considered official or unofficial acts.

Special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors have indicated that prosecuting only Trumps private conduct would be sufficient, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

The normal process, what Mr. Sauer asked, would be for us to remand if we decided that there were some official acts immunity, and to let that be sorted out below, Barrett said, referring to a process in which a case is sent back to a lower court. It is another option for the special counsel to just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.

Absolute immunity



Sauer argued, as he has for months, for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents acting in their official capacity.

No president who has not been impeached and removed from office can be prosecuted for official actions, Sauer said, broadly interpreting the meaning of official acts.

Liberal justices questioned Sauer about how far his definition of official acts would stretch. Trumps attorney was reluctant to list any exceptions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked a hypothetical that arose in a lower court: Would it be an official act for the president to order the assassination of a political rival?

That could well be an official act, Sauer answered.

He also answered Justice Elena Kagan that it could be an official act for a president to order a military coup, though Sauer said it would depend on the circumstances.

Michael R. Dreeben, representing the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that Trumps broad view of presidential immunity would break a fundamental element of U.S. democracy, that no one is above the law.

His novel theory would immunize former presidents for criminal liability for bribery, treason, sedition, murder, and here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power, Dreeben said.

Jackson, questioning Sauer, appeared to agree with that argument.

She said Sauer appeared worried that the president would be chilled by potential criminal prosecution, but she said there would be a really significant opposite problem if the president wasnt chilled.

Once we say, No criminal liability, Mr. President, you can do whatever you want, Im worried that we would have a worse problem than the problem of the president feeling constrained to follow the law while hes in office, Jackson said.

A special, peculiarly precarious position

But other members of the court appeared more amenable to Sauers argument that subjecting presidents to criminal prosecution would constrain them.

Justice Samuel Alito, one of the courts conservatives, asked Dreeben about Trumps argument that a presidents duties require a broad view of immunity.

The president has to make difficult decisions, sometimes in areas of law that are unsettled, Alito said.

I understand you to say, If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake, hes subject to the criminal laws just like anybody else, Alito said. You dont think hes in a special, peculiarly precarious position?

Dreeben answered that the president has access to highly qualified legal advice and that making a mistake is not what generally leads to criminal prosecution.

He also noted that the allegations against Trump involve him going beyond his powers as president to interfere with the certification of an election, which is not a presidential power in the Constitution.

Incumbents leaving office

Alito, who seemed to be the justice most sympathetic to Trumps argument that allowing a president to be prosecuted would undermine the powers of the office, also raised the prospect that incumbents who lose elections may seek to illegally stay in power precisely because prosecution would await after they leave office.

A stable democratic society requires that a candidate who loses an election, even a close one, even a hotly contested one, leave office peacefully, he said.

If an incumbent who loses a very close, hotly contested election, knows that a real possibility after leaving office is  the president may be criminally prosecuted by a bitter political opponent, will that not lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy?

Dreeben answered that its exactly the opposite, because there are well-established lawful options, including court challenges, available to challenge election results.

Trump posted several times Thursday morning on his social media platform Truth Social that the president would have no power at all without absolute immunity.

That would be the end of the Presidency, and our Country, as we know it, and is just one of the many Traps there would be for a President without Presidential Immunity. Obama, Bush, and soon, Crooked Joe Biden, would all be in BIG TROUBLE, he wrote.

Writing a rule for the ages

Some justices indicated they will be thinking beyond the question as it relates to Trumps election interference charges, possibly hinting at a drawn-out process in issuing an opinion.

Criminally prosecuting a former president could open the door to prosecution based on motives, including the motive to get reelected or for other personal gain, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.

Im not concerned about this case, but I am concerned about future uses of the criminal law to target political opponents based on accusations about their motives, Gorsuch said in a lengthy back-and-forth with Dreeben.

Im going to say something that I dont normally say, which is: Thats really not involved in this case, Dreeben said, eliciting a laugh from Gorsuch.

I understand that. I appreciate that. But you also appreciate that were writing a rule for the ages, Gorsuch responded.

At another point, Dreeben tried to redirect the justices to specific details of the Trump case, including his point that the judicial system has safeguards against purely politically motivated and retaliatory legal action.

Dreeben attempted to detail for Alito that the Justice Department functioned in the way that it is supposed to when Trumps alleged plan to ask officials to send fraudulent letters to states regarding election results failed.

Alito pushed back, saying he wanted to discuss the case in the abstract.

I understand that Mr. Dreeben. But as I said, this case will have effects that go far beyond this particular prosecution, Alito said.

Alan Morrison, a law professor at George Washington University who has argued 20 cases before the Supreme Court, said in a phone interview after oral arguments that the court will not reach a fast decision as the justices wrestle with the extent of what is considered a presidents official acts.

Neither side is going to get everything they want, Morrison said. And the hardest questions to answer are going to be what are official and what are not official acts.

Reacting against a monarch

Sticking to the specifics of the indictment against Trump, Kagan ran through a list of the allegations and asked Sauer to discern what constituted an official act.

The defendant asked the Arizona House Speaker to call the legislature into session to hold a hearing based on their claims of election fraud, Kagan said, citing the indictment.

Absolutely an official act for the president to communicate with state officials on a matter of enormous federal interest and concern, Sauer answered, attempting to defend the integrity of a federal election to communicate with state officials and urge them to view what he views as their job under state law and federal law.

Kagan moved to hypotheticals and asked if a president who ordered a military coup, but was never impeached and convicted by Congress, could not be held to U.S. criminal law.

He was the president. He is the commander in chief. He talks to his generals all the time, and he told the generals, I dont feel like leaving office. I want to stage a coup. Is that immune?

If its an official act, there needs to be impeachment and conviction beforehand, Sauer said, citing the defenses reliance on the Constitutions Impeachment Clause argument.

That is the wisdom of the (Constitutions) framers, he added.

The framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution, she quickly responded.  They didnt provide immunity to the president, and you know, not so surprising. They were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law.

Wasnt the whole point that the president was not a monarch and the president was not supposed to be above the law? she said.

Federal election interference charges

A federal grand jury charged Trump with four felony counts in August 2023 for working with several co-conspirators to overturn election results in seven states.

The indictment charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding, among other charges.

Trump allegedly worked with several others to replace legitimate electors with fraudulent ones in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to the indictment.

The prosecution also alleges that he tried to leverage the Justice Department to pressure the states to replace their slates of electors, and pressure Vice President Mike Pence into altering results during Congresss joint session to certify the results on Jan. 6, 2021.

The post U.S. Supreme Court floats return to trial court for Trump in presidential immunity case appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Dozens of anti-Trump protesters gather April 25, 2024, outside the U.S. Supreme Court while the justices hear arguments about whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution on criminal charges related to his actions while in office.

Dozens of anti-Trump protesters gather April 25, 2024, outside the U.S. Supreme Court while the justices hear arguments about whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution on criminal charges related to his actions while in office. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trumps argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trumps prosecution beyond the November election  and essentially assisting the former president as he fights legal challenges on multiple fronts.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has argued in a federal trial court and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that his actions following the 2020 election and leading up to the violent Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, were official acts conducted while still in office and therefore are not subject to criminal prosecution.

While court precedent establishes that U.S. presidents are immune to civil damages for their official acts, and to criminal prosecution while in office, the justices now must decide the unanswered question of whether former presidents are absolutely immune from criminal law.

At oral arguments Thursday in Trump v. United States, much of the discussion centered on what should be considered an official presidential act.

Several conservative justices suggested that lower courts work to determine what aspects of the charges against Trump arose solely from his private conduct.

Such a detour could eat up additional weeks or months as the trial calendar converges with Election Day.

A decision from the court may not arrive until late June or early July. If a ruling calls for additional fact-finding at the trial court level, Trumps election interference trial likely would not happen prior to the November election.

Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, of St. Louis, argued that nearly everything a president does in office  including hypotheticals about ordering a military coup or assassinating a political rival  could be considered official acts.

While much of the court appeared skeptical of that broad view of official acts, several justices on the conservative wing asked about having the trial court determine what acts should be considered official. They also suggested prosecutors could drop sections of the four-count indictment against Trump that dealt with official acts.

The courts three liberal justices voiced serious concerns about Trumps immunity argument, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wondering aloud if the court accepting a broad view of criminal immunity for the president would make the Oval Office the seat of criminal activity.

The case is one of four in state and federal courts in which criminal charges have been made against Trump. On Thursday, he was in a New York state courtroom where he faces charges in an ongoing hush-money trial; the judge there did not allow him to attend the Supreme Court arguments.

Anti-Trump protester Richard Zipper, of suburban Maryland, said he had his sign made especially for this occasion.

Anti-Trump protester Richard Zipper, of suburban Maryland, said he had his sign made especially for this occasion. Im just concerned about our democracy, he said. Our Supreme Court seems to be enabling Trump by agreeing to hear the presidential immunity arguments and delaying Trumps district court trial, Zipper said. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Trial court determination

Conservative justices asked if they could avoid the constitutional question by having the trial court, presided over by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, determine which parts of the allegations could be considered official or unofficial acts.

Special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors have indicated that prosecuting only Trumps private conduct would be sufficient, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

The normal process, what Mr. Sauer asked, would be for us to remand if we decided that there were some official acts immunity, and to let that be sorted out below, Barrett said, referring to a process in which a case is sent back to a lower court. It is another option for the special counsel to just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.

Absolute immunity

Sauer argued, as he has for months, for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents acting in their official capacity.

No president who has not been impeached and removed from office can be prosecuted for official actions, Sauer said, broadly interpreting the meaning of official acts.

Liberal justices questioned Sauer about how far his definition of official acts would stretch. Trumps attorney was reluctant to list any exceptions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked a hypothetical that arose in a lower court: Would it be an official act for the president to order the assassination of a political rival?

That could well be an official act, Sauer answered.

He also answered Justice Elena Kagan that it could be an official act for a president to order a military coup, though Sauer said it would depend on the circumstances.

Michael R. Dreeben, representing the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that Trumps broad view of presidential immunity would break a fundamental element of U.S. democracy, that no one is above the law.

His novel theory would immunize former presidents for criminal liability for bribery, treason, sedition, murder, and here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power, Dreeben said.

Jackson, questioning Sauer, appeared to agree with that argument.

She said Sauer appeared worried that the president would be chilled by potential criminal prosecution, but she said there would be a really significant opposite problem if the president wasnt chilled.

Once we say, No criminal liability, Mr. President, you can do whatever you want, Im worried that we would have a worse problem than the problem of the president feeling constrained to follow the law while hes in office, Jackson said.

A special, peculiarly precarious position

But other members of the court appeared more amenable to Sauers argument that subjecting presidents to criminal prosecution would constrain them.

Justice Samuel Alito, one of the courts conservatives, asked Dreeben about Trumps argument that a presidents duties require a broad view of immunity.

The president has to make difficult decisions, sometimes in areas of law that are unsettled, Alito said.

I understand you to say, If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake, hes subject to the criminal laws just like anybody else, Alito said. You dont think hes in a special, peculiarly precarious position?

Dreeben answered that the president has access to highly qualified legal advice and that making a mistake is not what generally leads to criminal prosecution.

He also noted that the allegations against Trump involve him going beyond his powers as president to interfere with the certification of an election, which is not a presidential power in the Constitution.

Anti-Trump protesters April 25, 2024, outside the Supreme Court sing and chant.

Anti-Trump protesters April 25, 2024, outside the Supreme Court sing and chant. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Incumbents leaving office

Alito, who seemed to be the justice most sympathetic to Trumps argument that allowing a president to be prosecuted would undermine the powers of the office, also raised the prospect that incumbents who lose elections may seek to illegally stay in power precisely because prosecution would await after they leave office.

A stable democratic society requires that a candidate who loses an election, even a close one, even a hotly contested one, leave office peacefully, he said.

If an incumbent who loses a very close, hotly contested election, knows that a real possibility after leaving office is  the president may be criminally prosecuted by a bitter political opponent, will that not lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy?

Dreeben answered that its exactly the opposite, because there are well-established lawful options, including court challenges, available to challenge election results.

Trump posted several times Thursday morning on his social media platform Truth Social that the president would have no power at all without absolute immunity.

That would be the end of the Presidency, and our Country, as we know it, and is just one of the many Traps there would be for a President without Presidential Immunity. Obama, Bush, and soon, Crooked Joe Biden, would all be in BIG TROUBLE, he wrote.

Writing a rule for the ages

Some justices indicated they will be thinking beyond the question as it relates to Trumps election interference charges, possibly hinting at a drawn-out process in issuing an opinion.

Criminally prosecuting a former president could open the door to prosecution based on motives, including the motive to get reelected or for other personal gain, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested.

Im not concerned about this case, but I am concerned about future uses of the criminal law to target political opponents based on accusations about their motives, Gorsuch said in a lengthy back-and-forth with Dreeben.

Im going to say something that I dont normally say, which is: Thats really not involved in this case, Dreeben said, eliciting a laugh from Gorsuch.

I understand that. I appreciate that. But you also appreciate that were writing a rule for the ages, Gorsuch responded.

At another point, Dreeben tried to redirect the justices to specific details of the Trump case, including his point that the judicial system has safeguards against purely politically motivated and retaliatory legal action.

Dreeben attempted to detail for Alito that the Justice Department functioned in the way that it is supposed to when Trumps alleged plan to ask officials to send fraudulent letters to states regarding election results failed.

Alito pushed back, saying he wanted to discuss the case in the abstract.

I understand that Mr. Dreeben. But as I said, this case will have effects that go far beyond this particular prosecution, Alito said.

Alan Morrison, a law professor at George Washington University who has argued 20 cases before the Supreme Court, said in a phone interview after oral arguments that the court will not reach a fast decision as the justices wrestle with the extent of what is considered a presidents official acts.

Neither side is going to get everything they want, Morrison said. And the hardest questions to answer are going to be what are official and what are not official acts.

An anti-Trump "kangaroo court" pose outside the Supreme Court while Trump v. United States is argued inside.

An anti-Trump kangaroo court pose outside the Supreme Court while Trump v. United States is argued inside. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Reacting against a monarch

Sticking to the specifics of the indictment against Trump, Kagan ran through a list of the allegations and asked Sauer to discern what constituted an official act.

The defendant asked the Arizona House Speaker to call the legislature into session to hold a hearing based on their claims of election fraud, Kagan said, citing the indictment.

Absolutely an official act for the president to communicate with state officials on a matter of enormous federal interest and concern, Sauer answered, attempting to defend the integrity of a federal election to communicate with state officials and urge them to view what he views as their job under state law and federal law.

Kagan moved to hypotheticals and asked if a president who ordered a military coup, but was never impeached and convicted by Congress, could not be held to U.S. criminal law.

He was the president. He is the commander in chief. He talks to his generals all the time, and he told the generals, I dont feel like leaving office. I want to stage a coup. Is that immune?

If its an official act, there needs to be impeachment and conviction beforehand, Sauer said, citing the defenses reliance on the Constitutions Impeachment Clause argument.

That is the wisdom of the (Constitutions) framers, he added.

The framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution, she quickly responded.  They didnt provide immunity to the president, and you know, not so surprising. They were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law.

Wasnt the whole point that the president was not a monarch and the president was not supposed to be above the law? she said.

This Trump supporter, clad in colonial garb, led chants of "Vote for Trump," sang and argued with anti-Trump protesters

This Trump supporter, clad in colonial garb, led chants of Vote for Trump, sang and argued with anti-Trump protesters. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Federal election interference charges

A federal grand jury charged Trump with four felony counts in August 2023 for working with several co-conspirators to overturn election results in seven states.

The indictment charged the former president with conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding, among other charges.

Trump allegedly worked with several others to replace legitimate electors with fraudulent ones in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to the indictment.

The prosecution also alleges that he tried to leverage the Justice Department to pressure the states to replace their slates of electors, and pressure Vice President Mike Pence into altering results during Congresss joint session to certify the results on Jan. 6, 2021.

The post U.S. Supreme Court floats return to trial court for Trump in presidential immunity case appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Dozens of anti-Trump protesters gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court on April 25, 2024, while the justices heard arguments about whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution on criminal charges related to his actions while in office. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trumps argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trumps prosecution beyond the November election  and essentially assisting the former president as he fights legal challenges on multiple fronts.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has argued in a federal trial court and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that his actions following the 2020 election and leading up to the violent Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, were official acts conducted while still in office and therefore are not subject to criminal prosecution.

While court precedent establishes that U.S. presidents are immune to civil damages for their official acts, and to criminal prosecution while in office, the justices now must decide the unanswered question of whether former presidents are absolutely immune from criminal law.

At oral arguments Thursday in Trump v. United States, much of the discussion centered on what should be considered an official presidential act.

Trumps lawyer, D. John Sauer, of St. Louis, argued that nearly everything a president does in office  including hypotheticals about ordering a military coup or assassinating a political rival  could be considered official acts.

While much of the court appeared skeptical of that broad view of official acts, several justices on the conservative wing asked about having the trial court determine what acts should be considered official. They also suggested prosecutors could drop sections of the four-count indictment against Trump that dealt with official acts.

The courts three liberal justices voiced serious concerns about Trumps immunity argument, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wondering aloud if the court accepting a broad view of criminal immunity for the president would make the Oval Office the seat of criminal activity.

The case is one of four in state and federal courts in which criminal charges have been made against Trump. On Thursday, he was in a New York state courtroom where he faces charges in an ongoing hush-money trial; the judge there did not allow him to attend the Supreme Court arguments.

Trial court determination

Conservative justices asked if they could avoid the constitutional question by having the trial court, presided over by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, determine which parts of the allegations could be considered official or unofficial acts.

Special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors have indicated that prosecuting only Trumps private conduct would be sufficient, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

The normal process, what Mr. Sauer asked, would be for us to remand if we decided that there were some official acts immunity, and to let that be sorted out below, Barrett said, referring to a process in which a case is sent back to a lower court. It is another option for the special counsel to just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.

Absolute immunity

Sauer argued, as he has for months, for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents acting in their official capacity.

No president who has not been impeached and removed from office can be prosecuted for official actions, Sauer said, broadly interpreting the meaning of official acts.

Liberal justices questioned Sauer about how far his definition of official acts would stretch. Trumps attorney was reluctant to list any exceptions.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked a hypothetical that arose in a lower court: Would it be an official act for the president to order the assassination of a political rival?

That could well be an official act, Sauer answered.

He also answered Justice Elena Kagan that it could be an official act for a president to order a military coup, though Sauer said it would depend on the circumstances.

Michael R. Dreeben, representing the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that Trumps broad view of presidential immunity would break a fundamental element of U.S. democracy, that no one is above the law.

His novel theory would immunize former presidents for criminal liability for bribery, treason, sedition, murder, and here, conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power, Dreeben said.

Jackson, questioning Sauer, appeared to agree with that argument.

She said Sauer appeared worried that the president would be chilled by potential criminal prosecution, but she said there would be a really significant opposite problem if the president wasnt chilled.

Once we say, No criminal liability, Mr. President, you can do whatever you want, Im worried that we would have a worse problem than the problem of the president feeling constrained to follow the law while hes in office, Jackson said.

A special, peculiarly precarious position

But other members of the court appeared more amenable to Sauers argument that subjecting presidents to criminal prosecution would constrain them.

Justice Samuel Alito, one of the courts conservatives, asked Dreeben about Trumps argument that a presidents duties require a broad view of immunity.

The president has to make difficult decisions, sometimes in areas of law that are unsettled, Alito said.

I understand you to say, If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake, hes subject to the criminal laws just like anybody else, Alito said. You dont think hes in a special, peculiarly precarious position?

Dreeben answered that the president has access to highly qualified legal advice and that making a mistake is not what generally leads to criminal prosecution.

He also noted that the allegations against Trump involve him going beyond his powers as president to interfere with the certification of an election, which is not a presidential power in the Constitution.

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FILE PHOTO: Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. and Taiwan will hold another round of negotiations toward their "21st Century" trade agreement starting on Monday in Taipei, the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Friday.

The talks, led by USTR and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, are expected to discuss more complicated areas in their negotiating mandate that were not already agreed on previous negotiating rounds, including agriculture, labor, digital trade, environment, and state-owned enterprises.

The trade talks are not expected to alter goods tariffs, but proponents say a pact would strengthen economic bonds between the U.S. and Taiwan, open the island to more American exports, and increase Taiwan's ability to resist economic coercion from China.

Beijing has denounced the trade talks as it does with all forms of high level engagement between the United States and Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Taiwan strongly rejects China's sovereignty claims, which Beijing has been trying to push on Taipei through stepped-up military activities around the island.

USTR said that the negotiations "are being conducted consistent with the United States' one-China policy" and the Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates Washington to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

The trade talks also take place amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait ahead of the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan's president-elect, Lai Ching-te, who Beijing views as a dangerous separatist.

In June 2023, the U.S. and Taiwan signed an agreement on the first part of the "U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade," covering customs and border procedures, regulatory practices anti-corruption and small businesses. USTR said the customs agreement, which allows for electronic filing of Taiwan's customs forms and duty payments, is aimed at reducing red tape for U.S. exports to Taiwan.

The U.S. negotiating team will be led by Terry McCartin, the assistant U.S. trade representative for China, Mongolia and Taiwan affairs, and will include representatives from other U.S. government agencies, USTR said.

(Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Diane Craft)
AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB)  Happening right now on college campuses across the country, pro-Palestinian students are setting up encampments in response to the war in Gaza, and some of those demonstrations have become violent.

Its all an effort to meet specific demands from protesters such as a ceasefire.

On the campus of UB North, theres a bull statue that is oftentimes painted by students. Right now, the message says I love being Jewish, but according to students on campus the heart in the middle of that bull was actually broken and it happened within the last few days.

This has been a tense situation on the campus of UB North in terms of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas; there was a rally that was held two days ago on the campus by a student group that is pro-Palestinian calling for a ceasefire and for SUNY to divest any interest that they may have with Israel.

Since the war began in October, demonstrations have broken out on both sides of the conflict here on campus. News 4 heard from some students that theres also been acts of intimidation, prejudice and misinformation.

The latest rally on the campus of UB North was Wednesday. Pro-Palestinian students say this is their final protest of the semester and theyre calling for a resolution and the continued efforts of trying to get a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They are also calling for SUNY schools to divest any interests that they may have in Israel.

I think on campuses overall across America, its changed for the worse and here its been comparably less so, there havent been encampments opened up there hasnt been overt, physical actions, but there is hate, Jacob Landerer, a UB senior said.

Across the country, pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have broken out at campuses from the University of Southern California to Columbia University, some of those protests also getting violent and arrests being made nothing like what has played out here on the campus of UB North.

News 4 heard from some students what theyre worried about as the school semester comes to an end, worried about emotions boiling over into the summer months and perhaps into next school year.

A Jewish student group plans on having a rally here on May 6 to protest for a ceasefire and calling for peace in the Gaza Strip.

Statement from the University at Buffalo:

The university recognizes and respects students right to peacefully protest. It is our expectation that protests occur lawfully in public spaces, and that protestors must not violate the rules for maintenance of public order.

As members of the UB community respond and react to the turmoil in the Middle East, it is important to reiterate that the university is committed to always ensuring a safe, welcoming, inclusive and respectful environment where all students, faculty, staff and visitors are free to discuss issues related to the war without fear of violence, harassment or intimidation.

UB stands ready to assist any member of the university who feels threatened, unsafe or impacted by discriminatory actions.

We have met regularly with individual students and student groups impacted by the war and the protests. We will continue to be available to any students who need support.

We state in the strongest possible manner that UB condemns and stands firmly against antisemitism, Islamophobia and discrimination of any form. Anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim harassment, or other harassing conduct targeting any individuals or groups, have no place in our community. UB strongly denounces this kind of harmful behavior.

Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
No bomb found after threat called in to UC San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  UC San Diego sent out an emergency alert to students Thursday night reporting a possible bomb threat on campus. After a thorough search, no threats to safety were found.

The Triton Alert was sent out around 8:20 p.m. According to the alert, the bomb threat was reportedly impacting Atkinson Hall, a classroom and event space in the Warren Mall area of campus.

In a statement, a spokesperson for UCSD said Atkinson Hall was evacuated and the area surrounding it has been cleared of people. The building was cleared of any safety hazards around 11 p.m.

No additional details were immediately available about who called in the threat. The university said they are investigating and requested support from other agencies, including San Diego Fire-Rescue.

In a post on Instagram earlier in the night, UCSD law enforcement asked students and the public to stay away from the Atkinson Hall area until further notice. A road closure also appeared to be in place on Voigt Drive from Hopkins Drive to Equality Lane while crews were on scene.

All closures have since been lifted.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The University of Florida threatened pro-Palestinian student demonstrators with suspension and banishment from campus for three years if they violate a host of rules of behavior over protests that continued for a third day Friday.

The university said employees or professors caught breaking its rules would be fired.

Some of the rules were specific, such as prohibiting protesters from using bullhorns or speakers to amplify their voices, possessing weapons or protesting inside buildings on campus. Other rules were far more vague, such as one that said no disruption, or another that said signs must be carried in hands at all times.

Campus police circulated the list of prohibited activities late Thursday as about 50 protesters gathered for a second day of demonstrations. A university spokeswoman early Friday confirmed the authenticity of the document. It said permitted activities included speech, expressing viewpoints and holding signs in hands. It wasnt clear whether temporarily dropping a sign during hours-long protests would end in an arrest or trespass order.

Other prohibited activities included littering; camping or use of tents, sleeping bags or pillows; blocking anyones path. They also included no sleeping on a campus where students often doze in the sun between classes.

The letter was not signed or dated but indicated it was sent from the universitys Division of Student Life. The university is a public institution and its campus is generally not restricted.

Several influential Republicans on Friday publicly praised UFs handling of the demonstrations on social media, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, who referred to UFs distribution of the flier as a matter of will in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The governor was responding to another post praising UF that said all universities need to do is enforce their code of conduct.

Republican U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, who represents Gainesville, also applauded the school.

Well done @BenSasse and @UF! This is how you protect free speech and the peace. The violence and threats we have seen on campuses around the country is unacceptable. #FAFO, she wrote on X.

Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, the state Legislatures only Jewish Republican, commended UF along with other universities for their efforts to shut down on-campus encampments.

As far as these Muslim terror campus takeovers go, this is perfect. It preserves 1A while preventing disruption, and provides severe consequences for those Muslim terror supporters who refuse to comply. Every University in Florida - and the country - should copy and paste it; any that dont (or havent taken similar action, like we see at Emory or UT), are no more than madrasas, he posted on X.

The protesters late Thursday urged the university administration to end investments with publicly traded companies that sell weapons or military technology to Israel. A significant number of campus police officers watched nearby but did not immediately intervene. A large sign erected on two tall poles that read, Its not a war, its a genocide, had been removed late Thursday.

Campus police did not conduct any arrests Thursday or early Friday, according to county jail records. A police spokesman, Capt. Latrell Simmons, said the demonstrators were cooperating with law enforcement.

The scene at UF, home to the largest number of Jewish public college students in America, was so far a peaceful contrast to demonstrations at some U.S. universities this week, where police arrested demonstrators, put some in zip ties and used an electrical device to stun at least one at Emory University in Atlanta.

At Florida State University, sprinklers disrupted a group of student protestors on campus on Thursday. However, a university spokesperson denied that the sprinklers were turned on to shut down the demonstration.

UF is home to about 55,000 students, including about 6,500 Jewish students. There were no classes Thursday or Friday this week, so that students can prepare for final exams starting next week.

The two days of relatively mild protests at UF also have occurred in a different political environment than at other schools. Staunch allies of Israel, DeSantis, and UFs new university president, Ben Sasse, have openly warned they would not tolerate violent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.

Last year, DeSantis tried unsuccessfully to ban two pro-Palestinian student groups at UF and the University of South Florida in Tampa, Students for Justice in Palestine, after accusing them of providing material support to Hamas. Citing First Amendment protections, the universities have allowed the groups to continue operating on their campuses.

DeSantis this week said pro-Palestinian student protesters should be expelled from their universities, and that those who are international students should have their visas canceled. Sasse, the former Republican senator from Nebraska, has said, we will absolutely be ready to act if anyone dares to escalate beyond peaceful protest.

The protesters this week demanded that the university prohibit speakers affiliated with Israels military and promise not to suspend or arrest students engaged in peaceful protests. The former demand is a hot-button among conservatives who control Floridas Legislature, who have imposed new rules requiring that colleges and universities host guest speakers with a range of political viewpoints.

The protesters also said a student oversight committee should approve future investments by the university. UFs endowment is worth more than $2.5 billion. The university said the money supports faculty and students, including professorships and financial aid for undergraduates, graduate fellowships, and student life and activities.

A similar protest on the campus on Wednesday drew some Jewish counter protesters. Campus police kept the groups apart. There was no counterprotest Thursday.

Carlos Alemany, 21, a political science major from Windemere near Orlando, said he hoped the protest would educate others about the brutality of what is happening in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel last October.

Alemany compared the killings in Gaza to a holocaust, a destruction or slaughter on a mass scale. The term has a particular meaning among Jews, who suffered the murder of 6 million people by Nazis during the Holocaust of World War II.

There is a technical term for the word holocaust, Alemany said. And this is exactly what it is.

Kenise Jackson, 20, a marketing sophomore, attended the demonstrations in solidarity with hundreds of college students who have recently been arrested at Pro-Palestinian rallies across the U.S and call for a ceasefire to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Thats ultimately what I want a for people to stop dying, she said.

UF Faculty Senate did not respond to emails or phone calls asking for comment.

_

This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporters can be reached at afriedman1@ufl.edu and vivienneserret@ufl.edu. You can donate to support our students here.
There won't be another leadership challenge in Britain's Conservative Party, even if the upcoming local elections on May 2 prove disastrous, according to former British defence secretary Ben Wallace.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's governing Conservatives have been trailing behind the Labour party in polls for months, ahead of the next general election.

"You know, sometimes you have to get on with it. Right? You have to set your case, set out your best case, say to the public, this is us. This is me, and get on with that," Wallace said.

"There are some serial agitators," he added, saying he used to joke that one of his colleagues had laminated his confidence letter.

He flatly ruled out a challenge. "There isn't going to be a leadership challenge. I don't think so and 14 years in, local elections isn't going to be pleasant anyhow," he added.

He refused to speculate about what a defeat might mean for the Conservative party at the next general elections which must be held by the end of January 2025.

"What usually happens for all big parties is, they run to mummy, you know, they run to their comfort blanket. And they go to the right or the left as Labour did with Corbyn, right?" He was referring to Jeremy Corbyn, who became leader of the Labour Party in 2015.

"Then they get whacked again at the polls and they realise that actually the best solution is not the harder left or the harder right but Britain is predominantly run by the centre," Wallace said.

Ben Wallace, former British Defence Minister, speaks during an interview with German Press Agency dpa. Christoph Meyer/dpa
Dylan Earl, a 20-year-old U.K. man with alleged ties to the Wagner mercenary group, has been charged with organizing an arson plot after being recruited as a Russian spy.

The case marks the first time the U.K. has brought charges against a citizen under the National Security Act, new legislation passed in 2023 to address hostile activity from foreign states.

Earl has been charged with planning an attack against London businesses connected to Ukraine. He is also accused with fraud, carrying out research and reconnaissance activities, and attempting to recruit individuals to aid a foreign intelligence service.

Court documents also indicate that Earl has alleged connections to the Wagner Group, designated a terrorist organization in the U.K.

"Included in the alleged activity was involvement in the planning of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in March 2024," the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.

Four other men, Paul English, Nil Mensah, Jake Reeves, and Dmitrijus Paulauska, have also been charged in connection to the case.

The five suspects will be tried at London's Central Criminal Court at a date to be determined.

Read also: UK charges another suspected Russian spy

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ADEN, Yemen, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi group, vowed on Friday to continue its naval operations in the Red Sea, rejecting media reports suggesting a decrease in Houthi maritime attacks, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

In a televised speech addressing a large rally in Sanaa, the Houthi leader said their maritime operations had expanded into the Indian Ocean, calling it "a new theater of confrontation."

Al-Houthi also claimed that his group had attacked 102 vessels linked to Israel since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, adding that "successful strikes against Israeli-affiliated ships, occurring at a rate of approximately one every two days," underscore the group's naval capabilities.

He added that the U.S. and British forces had failed to ensure safe passage for these vessels despite the two countries' intensive military operations.

Al-Houthi also refuted media reports indicating a decline in maritime attacks, insisting that their operations continue unabated, contradicting claims made by American officials.

Large-scale protests were held on Friday across provinces controlled by the Houthi group, where millions of protestors voiced their support for the Houthi attacks on the maritime trade routes and condemned Israel for its relentless attacks in Gaza. 
Latvia will work with Ukraine to increase the production of drones within the framework of the drone coalition.

Source: European Pravda; Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, at a joint briefing with his newly appointed Latvian counterpart, Baiba Braze, in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister thanked Riga for its leadership in the drone coalition and noted that Ukrainian and Latvian companies can do a lot in this area together.

"We are currently working together to increase this production. We need more drones," Kuleba said.

Recently, the Latvian government decided to send Ukraine the first batch of drones as part of the drone coalition Latvia initiated.

It was reported that Latvia will allocate at least 10 million annually to build up the drone coalition. The ambition of the coalition countries is to provide a million drones to meet the needs of Ukraine.

Background:

The UK, together with Latvia, heads the International drone coalition established within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group framework.

In January, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK would allocate 200 million for the manufacture of various types of drones for the Ukrainian military.

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Ukraine pushes to get military-age men to come home. Some neighboring countries say they will help

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, left, leads his Latvia counterpart Baiba Braze after placing flowers at a memorial wall of Ukrainian soldiers killed during the war at Saint Michael cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 26, 2024. Braze visited Kyiv on her first foreign trip to discuss aid for Ukraine, including a plan to build drones. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraines foreign minister doubled down Friday on the governments move to bolster the pool of fighting forces by cutting off consular services to conscription-age men outside the country, saying it was a question of "justice.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the policy would ensure men in Ukraine and those who have left were both treated fairly.

Its about justice -- justice in the relationship between Ukrainian men abroad and Ukrainian men inside of Ukraine, he said.

Ukraine secured a much-needed package of military aid from the U.S. this week after months of wrangling in Congress. But as well as weapons, Ukraine needs troops. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in more than two years of fighting. Russia has also suffered heavy losses, but has vastly more conscripts to throw into the fight.

Earlier this month, Ukraine lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to bolster the size of its military.

The latest government decision means men aged 18-60 cant renew their passports unless they return to Ukraine. Some opposition politicians and human rights activists have criticized the move, saying it could deprive Ukrainians of access to services and benefits in other countries, and might backfire by prompting men to seek refugee status elsewhere.

Kuleba gave that argument short shrift, noting that Ukrainians fleeing the war were treated better in their host countries than refugees from many other parts of the world.

They owe everything they have now in these countries to this fact, their Ukrainian citizenship, Kuleba said at a news conference alongside his Latvian counterpart, Baiba Braze. And these men should not forget about this when they argue that the state of Ukraine owes them something. They should not forget that they owe much more to the state of Ukraine.

The announcement on passports has been welcomed by many people in Ukraine who agree with Kuleba's argument about fairness.

Why should some have to fight while others evade and hide abroad? said bank worker Yuliia Lystopad in Kyiv.

Though Ukraine repulsed an all-out Russian invasion in the weeks after President Vladimir Putin sent troops in in February 2022, Moscows forces occupy about a fifth of Ukraines territory and strike all over the country with drones, bombs and missiles.

On the frontline in eastern and southern Ukraine, Russia is slowly taking ground from outnumbered and outgunned troops.

A soldier who only gave his first name, Oleh, for security reasons, said getting more troops into the field was essential.

Someone has to fight, he said. The front line is getting closer, and there are fewer guys on the front.

But for now, we stand and fight, he added. All the guys understand that if they (Russians) go further, it will just be tough for everyone here.

Kuleba said he hoped countries that are home to displaced Ukrainians would share the Ukrainian government's logic and approach.

Poland, home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Ukrainians, has indicated its willing to help ensure military-age men go home. The defense ministry said in a statement that Poland is ready to assist Ukraine due to the needs of the Ukrainian army, and that bilateral talks would be needed to agree on the arrangements.

Braze said Latvia supported the Ukrainian governments aims of ensuring it has the people it needs, but did not commit to specific action. She said Latvian authorities would be in dialogue with our Ukrainian counterparts to ensure that everything will be done that is necessary.

Ukraine is fighting for all of us, she said. Its our security too.

___

Associated Press writers Anton Shtuka in Kyiv and and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed to this story.
Ukraine to receive first weapons from announced aid package in few days

The US has stated that the first weapons under the recently announced military aid package will be delivered to Ukraine within a few days.

Source: White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby during a briefing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kirby pointed out that the United States has large weapon stocks in Poland.

"There are some things on that list that can get there [to Ukraine] in very short order, in a matter of days... Other things will take longer," he noted.

Meanwhile, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder refused to provide detailed information on the timing of the arrival of US weapons in Ukraine, but added that the delivery process has begun.

"We've already started the process to move some of the weapons, ammunition and equipment which will be, you know, as I mentioned earlier there within days, if not sooner," he said.

Ryder said the United States, in particular, has begun delivering artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

Background:

On 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed a legislative package passed by Congress that allocates nearly US$61 billion in supplemental military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as assistance to other US allies.

Immediately afterwards, the US announced a US$1 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the US President, confirmed that Ukraine had received ATACMS long-range missiles and that the deliveries would continue in the future.

Read also: The Uncertain States of America. What challenges to backing Ukraine are not addressed by the aid bill adopted by Congress?

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Sudan has received another batch of Ukrainian grain within the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the X social media platform

Quote: "This week, the Grain from Ukraine initiative, our Sudanese partners and the UN World Food Programme have delivered another batch of Ukrainian grain to Sudan, which will help 2 million people struggling with acute famine and absence of trade safety each month.

This week, the Grain From Ukraine @grainfromua, our Sudanese partners, and the UN's @WFP delivered another shipment of Ukrainian grain to Sudan, which will provide monthly assistance to two million people facing severe hunger and food insecurity.



Ukraine continues to support the pic.twitter.com/I7Sd3iyk1s  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2024

Ukraine continues to support the people of Sudan even while resisting Russian aggression itself. This is our main principle: we do not only seek aid from the world but also help others in this world."

Previously, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 80 million (US$ 2 million) to 11,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain for the Republic of Sudan in order to hand it over to UN food programmes.

"Food security is an important component of Ukraines Peace Formula since we consider it one of the main principles of global stability. We urge all countries to join the process of implementation of the Peace Formula and participate in the future Peace Summit in Switzerland.

We also call on all countries to condemn Russias terrorist attacks on Ukrainian agriculture, port infrastructure and the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea," Zelenskyy stressed.

He added that Russian strikes have damaged or destroyed 215 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa Oblast.

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Key developments on April 26:

US to allocate additional $6 billion in military aid to Ukraine

Source: Ukraine destroys Russian Ka-32 helicopter at Moscow airfield

Ukraine retrieves bodies of 140 fallen soldiers

El Pais: Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine

US envoy to OSCE: Russian 'double-tap' attacks have killed at least 90 first responders since April 2022

The U.S. will allocate $6 billion for military assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on April 26 after the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, also known as the Ramstein format.

"This is the largest security assistance package that we have committed today," Austin said during the press conference, adding that it will allow the U.S. "to procure new capabilities for Ukraine" from its own industry.

The newly announced military aid package includes interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, anti-drone systems, and support equipment, according to Austin.

The U.S. Defense Secretary also said that the package contains a "significant amount" of artillery ammunition, as well as air-to-ground weaponry, without specifying the numbers.

After the press conference, the U.S. Defense Department also published the extended list of military aid to be provided to Kyiv through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Apart from those items Austin unveiled, the package also includes munitions for laser-guided rocket systems, rockets for HIMARS launchers, multi-mission and counter-artillery radars, precision aerial and demolition munitions, Switchblade and Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), 155 mm and 152 mm artillery rounds, among others.

Politico previously reported on April 25 that the U.S. was preparing to announce a new weapons contract worth around $6 billion in military aid to Kyiv. The weapon supplies are not expected to reach Ukraine for "several years" since the funding is allocated under the USAI.

Instead of sending Ukraine weapons from current U.S. stocks, the USAI requires the Pentagon to send contracts to U.S. defense companies to produce new supplies.

Read also: When and how will US aid impact the front lines in Ukraine?

Source: Ukraine destroys Russian Ka-32 helicopter at Moscow airfield

A Russian multirole helicopter Ka-32 was destroyed at the Ostafyevo airfield in Moscow overnight on April 26, Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR) reported.

An intelligence source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the helicopter was destroyed as a result of a HUR operation.

Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities. Kyiv usually doesnt officially comment on attacks inside Russia.

Russia's Kamov Ka-32 helicopter can be used as passenger and cargo transport, to aid search and rescue operations, building construction, loading and unloading ships, and emergency evacuations.

"The destroyed unit of aviation equipment was used by the aggressor state in the interests of the Moscow aviation center, in particular, to support the operations of the Russian invading army," HUR said on Telegram.

The Ostafyevo airfield, located in Moscow's southern suburbs, is owned by Russia's Defense Ministry and operated jointly with Gazpromavia, which is part of the country's state-run energy giant Gazprom, according to HUR.

HUR said that the helicopter was burnt down and shared video showing a fire that purportedly engulfed the aircraft.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims.

Read also: Source: Ukraine hits Russias Engels air base. Can it change how Russia attacks?

Ukraine retrieves bodies of 140 fallen soldiers

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 140 soldiers who died fighting against Russia, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War reported on April 26.

In a post on Telegram, the headquarters said 112 had fought in the Donetsk direction, 20 in the Luhansk direction, five in the Sumy direction, two in the Zaporizhia direction, and one in the Kherson direction.

"After identification, the bodies of our defenders will be handed over to their families for a dignified burial," it added.

The effort to retrieve the fallen defenders was conducted in collaboration with several government and military agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Interior Ministry, the State Emergency Service, and the Armed Forces.

The headquarters also thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for their assistance.

The Geneva Conventions dictate that people who lost their lives during war are entitled to a dignified burial.

In a previous transfer on March 29, the headquarters reported that the bodies of 121 fallen Ukrainian soldiers had been returned for burial.

Kyiv has only recently released information about the total number of Ukrainian soldiers killed during the full-scale invasion, with President Volodymyr Zelensky in February saying the number was around 31,000.

"Each person is a very big loss for us. 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war," the president said, adding: "It is very painful for us."

Read also: PTSD crisis looms as troop shortages take toll on Ukrainian soldiers mental health

El Pais: Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Spain will send a small number of critically needed Patriot missiles to Ukraine, the El Pais newspaper reported on April 26, citing unnamed government sources, but has ruled out sending the system's anti-aircraft launchers.

The move is the latest from Western nations responding to calls from Kyiv for more air defenses in the face of escalating Russian missile and drone attacks on cities across the country.

The exact number of Patriot missiles Spain is sending has not been reported, but El Pais said the number would be small as the country only has around 50 in total in reserve.

"The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defense ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border," El Pais said.

"It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units, and interceptors are very expensive," it added.

U.S.-made Patriots are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks.

"We need to step up our commitment to Ukraine," a Spanish diplomatic source told Reuters on April 25.

Germany said on April 13 that it would provide Ukraine with one more Patriot air defense system, bringing the total number of Patriots supplied by Germany to three.

But hopes that Greece would follow suit were dashed on April 25 when Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country would not supply Ukraine with Patriots or S-300 missiles.

Kyiv is also pushing Washington for the joint production of Patriot air defense systems, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said in an interview with European Pravda on April 23.

"This is a major global strategic task and an element of economic cooperation. But it is also an increase in combat capability and production of the capabilities that Ukraine needs immediately," the ambassador said.

Representatives of Ukrainian and U.S. businesses have already reportedly met to discuss investment and cooperation not only in weapons, but also in materials needed to launch the production.

"We should start producing a lot of products ourselves, at least components, and at most already completed products," Markarova added.

Read also: Greece wont send Patriots to Ukraine

US envoy to OSCE: Russian 'double-tap' attacks have killed at least 90 first responders since April 2022

Russian "double-tap" strikes have killed more than 90 Ukrainian first responders and injured close to 350 civilians since April 2022, said Timothy Hanway, the acting U.S. envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in an address on April 25.

A "double-tap" attack is a military tactic in which an initial strike is followed by a delayed second strike intended to kill or injure first responders who arrived at the scene. It is a war crime.

Since a report issued shortly after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Hanway said that Russia's usage of this illegal tactic has been increasing.

"In March and April (of 2024) alone, Russias iterative attacks hitting first responders killed nearly 30 rescue workers in Odesa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia and wounded more than 20," Hanway said, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine's State Emergency Service, previously told the Kyiv Independent that as of April 16, a total of 91 of the service's employees had been killed and another 351 wounded since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Khorunzhyi said some of these casualties were the result of "double-tap" strikes but said the precise figure was still being calculated.

Russia's usage of "double-tap" strikes preceded its full-scale war in Ukraine, having been employed extensively in Syria and as far back as the wars in Chechnya.

"The Russian government is following its own example from Syria (in Ukraine)," said Hanway.

Read also: Double-tap attack. Understanding one of Russias cruelest tactics in Ukraine

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The Associated Press has learned that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have withdrawn US-supplied Abrams tanks from the front line because of the threat of attacks by Russian drones, while the Americans complain that the Ukrainians are not using the equipment more effectively.

Source: Associated Press with reference to US military officials

Quote: "Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack."

Details: The Associated Press reiterated that Kyiv persuaded the US to provide 31 tanks in January 2023 at a cost of US$10 million each, as they were "vital to its ability to breach Russian lines." But since then, five Abrams tanks have already been lost in the war.

The Associated Press noted that the use of drones has changed the situation on the battlefield, making it more difficult for Ukraine to defend tanks that are quickly detected and hunted by drones.

"The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means there isnt open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection, a senior defence official told reporters Thursday," AP stressed.

Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and another defence official said that tanks had now been withdrawn from the front line and the US would work with the Ukrainians to rethink tactics.

Grady said that with unmanned aerial vehicles everywhere, the threat to the use of armoured vehicles is obvious. But he said that "well work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground" to help Ukraine think through how armoured vehicles could be used "in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately."

AP also noted that US defence officials said that "while drones are a significant threat, the Ukrainians also have not adopted tactics that could have made the tanks more effective."

Background:

The first Abrams tanks were delivered to Ukraine in September 2023.

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, said that Ukraine would use the Abrams tanks for well-planned, breakthrough operations.

Before that, The New York Times reported that Russian forces had taken out five M1 Abrams main battle tanks out of 31 that were sent to Ukraine from the US last autumn. The NYT said that drones can be used to take out tanks. "The drone combat in Ukraine that is transforming modern warfare has begun taking a deadly toll on one of the most powerful symbols of American military might  the tank  and threatening to rewrite how it will be used in future conflicts," the NYT wrote.

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Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke with Jose Manuel Albares, his Spanish counterpart.

Source: Kuleba on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Kuleba, the ministers discussed further military assistance and steps to strengthen Ukraines air defence.

Quote: "I thanked Jose Manuel for all of his efforts to rally international support for Ukraines Peace Formula," Kuleba added.

I spoke with my Spanish friend @JMAlbares to thank Spain for its consistent assistance to Ukraine.



We discussed further military aid and steps to strengthen Ukraines air defense.



I thanked Jose Manuel for all of his efforts to rally international support for Ukraines Peace  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 26, 2024

Earlier, it was stated that Spain refused to provide Ukraine with Patriot missiles, but under pressure from NATO and the EU, agreed to supply Kyiv with missiles to systems already used against Russian strikes.

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Greece and Spain are under intense pressure from their EU and NATO allies to provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems.

Asked on Monday whether Madrid is considering the possibility of supplying Patriot to Kyiv, Spanish Foreign Minister Albares avoided a direct answer, stating that Spain will "continue to do everything in its power" to help Ukraine in its war against Russia.

On 13 April, the German government said that it will send another Patriot air defence system to Ukraine as soon as possible.

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UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for a UN-led international investigation of the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions.

It has been more than 18 months since the Nord Stream incident. It is simply regretful that no conclusion has been drawn, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

China notes that Sweden and Denmark, two major parties to the incident, announced in February 2024 the termination of their country-specific investigations. The two countries' investigations did not disclose substantive information, did not reveal concrete progress, and did not draw clear conclusions, sparking even more speculations and misgivings in the international community, he told the Security Council.

The Nord Stream pipeline explosions were a serious incident that sabotaged transnational energy infrastructure. Since the explosions, the Security Council has considered the issue on many occasions, and many council members, including China, have been calling for an objective, impartial, and professional investigation to find out the truth as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice in order to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents. he said.

In the wake of the incident, members of the council debated whether to conduct international or country-specific investigations. At that time, certain members strongly advocated that Sweden, Denmark, and Germany be given the trust and the time to conduct their own country-specific investigations. However, after more than a year of investigations, no truth has been established, with only scant information offered, he noted.

"With the situation standing where it is, one cannot help but suspect a hidden agenda behind the opposition to an international investigation, while lamenting the potential cover-up and loss of quantities of compelling evidence," said Geng. "We reiterate our call for the early launch of a UN-led international investigation to bring the truth to light for the international community."

Russia is a main party to the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. China calls on the countries concerned to actively communicate and cooperate with Russia and jointly investigate the incident. On the Nord Stream issue, it is important to avoid double standards within the international community, and especially within the Security Council, he said.

Russia has circulated a draft Security Council presidential statement on the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. The draft objectively describes the situation and calls on the parties concerned to cooperate in investigation. These elements, clear and concise, meet the expectations of the international community and should be the consensus of the council. China hopes that an early agreement can be reached on the draft so that the council can speak out on this issue as soon as possible. 
The Ukrainian Security Service urged people to interpret Belarusian officials' remarks about the imaginary terrorists in Kyiv hospitals as a manifestation of information and psychological special operations.

Source: comment of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU)

Quote: "The SSU urges the public to interpret any statements by Belarusian officials regarding the alleged terrorists in Ukrainian hospitals as evidence of information and psychological special operations that benefit the Russian Federation.

At the same time, our country is fighting the enemy in the full-scale war for going on three years, and all residents realise the need to follow security protocols.

As a result, both security services and municipal authorities respond to each potential threat in accordance with the established protocols of action. Currently, all required precautions are being taken to mitigate the destructive consequences of even a potential threat."

Details: The SSU stated that Belarusian authorities should not scare Ukrainians with false claims, but rather consider "how not to end up on trial in The Hague next to the Kremlin dictator [Putin]."

Background:

On Friday 26 April, the Kyiv City State Administration reported that it is urgently evacuating two Kyiv hospitals, one of them being a childrens hospital on Bohatyrska Street, due to the information about a possible Russian strike on these hospitals. This decision was made in Kyiv following a statement by the head of the Belarusian KGB.

In particular, the head of the Belarusian KGB, Ivan Tertel, said on stage that "terrorists are hiding" in Kyiv hospitals, on 30 and 32 Bohatyrska St.

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The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) has imposed a preventive measure of detention on Agricultural Minister Mykola Solskyi.

Source: court hearing on Friday

Details: The HACC judge granted the motion of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and imposed a preventive measure against Solskyi in the form of detention for 60 days (until 24 June 2024), but within the pre-trial investigation.

As an alternative to custody, the court set a bail of 75.7 million hryvnias (about US$1.9 million).

During the hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor initially asked the court to impose on Solskyi a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with an alternative bail of 200 million hryvnias (US$5 million). The prosecution insisted on custody, arguing that 1) there is a risk of obstructing the investigation; 2) there is a risk of influencing witnesses; and 3) there is a risk of hiding from the investigation.

In the prosecutor's opinion, the severity of the offence is a reason to restrict the freedom of a person accused of such a crime. In addition, the prosecutor appeals to the fact that Solskyi repeatedly crossed the border during the martial law. As his lawyer later clarified, all of the border crossings were due to a working trip, and one was due to an officially agreed-upon leave.

Solskyi's lawyer pointed out that the prosecution did not explain why another type of preventive measure could not be applied to prevent the above risks. In particular, he appeals to the fact that Solskyi is an official who can travel abroad only with the consent of the prime minister, and the facts of his crossing the state border during martial law cannot in itself be a ground for restricting his freedom. Also, the practice of the European Court of Human Rights is that the severity of the charges cannot in itself be a ground for restricting liberty.

Moreover, according to the defence, there is no evidence that Solskyi could have obstructed the investigation or influenced witnesses. Regarding the amount of bail, the lawyer also asked the court to reduce it, as the amount of 200 million hryvnias is unaffordable given the taxes paid on the client's assets.

Background:

On 25 April, Mykola Solskyi, Minister of Agrarian Policy, submitted his resignation. He is suspected of illegal transactions involving land worth 500 million hryvnias (US$12.5 million).

Solskyi is also the former head of the Verkhovna Rada's Agricultural Committee, and he was caught in possession of state land worth 291 million hryvnias (US$7.3 million) and an attempt to seize land worth another 190 million hryvnias (US$4.8 million).

In addition to Solskyi, his deputy, Markiian Dmytrasevych, who is currently on a working trip abroad in connection with Ukraine's negotiations on accession to the EU as part of the agricultural bloc, was also served with a notice of suspicion.

Ekonomichna Pravdas source who is close to Solskyi noted that Solskyi is a suspect in the episodes of 2017-2018, when he was practicing law.

Solskyi commented on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine's announcement of suspicion and confirmed that the case against him relates to the period 2017-2018.

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The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has reported the destruction of a Ka-32 Russian military helicopter at the Ostafyevo airfield in Moscow.

Source: DIU

Quote: "A multipurpose enemy helicopter Ka-32 was destroyed at the Ostafyevo airfield of the Russian Ministry of Defence in Moscow on the night of 26 April 2024."

Details: The intelligence reported that the airfield is owned by the Ministry of Defence of Russia and operated jointly with the Gazpromavia company, which is part of the structure of Gazprom PJSC.

"The destroyed aircraft was used by the aggressor state in the interests of the Moscow Aviation Institute, in particular, for supporting operations of the Russian occupation army," explained the intelligence.

For reference: The Ka-32 is a Soviet and Russian medium coaxial-rotor transport helicopter with two turbofan engines and non-retractable landing gear. It is a civilian development of the Ka-27 search and rescue helicopter developed by the Russian rotorcraft manufacturing company JSC Kamov, the one based on the successful operation of the Ka-25 and Ka-27 helicopters from the deck.

Background:

On 17 April, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that a Mi-8 helicopter was wrecked at the Kryazh airfield in the Russian city of Samara.

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Ukrainian journalist and soldier Alla Pushkarchuk, call sign "Ruta," was killed in action in Donetsk Oblast on April 25.

Her death was reported by her former colleague, Dmytro Krapyvenko, a soldier and chief editor of the Ukrainian news outlet the Weekly.

Krapyvenko said that Pushkarchuk was hired at the Weekly in 2018. She was already a veteran at that time, having joined the Armed Forces in 2014. At the Weekly, Pushkarchuk grew from a news reporter to a cultural columnist.

Pushkarchuk also worked for the publication Chytomo, where she coordinated the Empty Chair People project, focused on authors suffering political imprisonment.

Pushkarchuk's background was in theater studies and her dream was to become a theater critic, Krapyvenko said.

According to the Institute for Mass Information (IMI), Pushkarchuk is the 77th media worker killed as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have committed 567 crimes against journalists and media in Ukraine, IMI reports.

Krapyvenko shared an excerpt from a Facebook post Pushkarchuk wrote in June 2023, expressing frustration with Ukrainians who evade military service.

"By the way, I'm a theater scholar by profession, but for more than a year I've been working in a mortar crew, dealing with the relevant software, with a bullhorn, with an endless stream of numbers accompanied by explosions, sleepless nights, and exacerbation of certain chronic sores," Pushkarchuk wrote.

"I also don't understand and don't tolerate why young, capable women who don't have children went abroad as refugees."

Read also: PTSD crisis looms as troop shortages take toll on Ukrainian soldiers mental health

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's highest anti-corruption court has ordered the pre-trial detention of Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi on suspicion of misappropriation of state land worth millions.

The preventive measure is initially set to run until June 24, media in Kiev reported on Friday, citing the court. There is a possibility that Solskyi will be released on bail, the reports said. The minister had previously submitted his resignation, but continued to deny any guilt.

Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk published the handwritten letter of resignation on Facebook on Thursday. Parliament will decide on the dismissal soon, Stefanchuk wrote.

Investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau had handed Solskyi a notice of suspicion on Tuesday. The minister is alleged to have brought a total of 1,250 plots of land totalling almost 2,500 hectares into the possession of his agricultural holding between 2017 and 2021.

According to the investigators, this involved a value of 291 million hryvnia ($7.34 million). The law enforcement authorities said they also thwarted the attempt, which is said to have involved further plots of land worth 190 million hryvnia.

The minister denies the allegations. "There was no corruption. Nobody took any money," Solskyi wrote in a statement broadcast by public television. Furthermore, none of the suspects had signed over land to themselves or relatives, he added.

Solskyi, a lawyer by profession, had previously admitted that in 2017 he had represented several private individuals in a dispute over land against state-owned companies in the Sumy region in question.

In 2019, Solskyi was elected to the unicameral parliament, the Supreme Council or Rada, via the presidential party list in the early elections initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He chaired the agriculture committee from 2019 until his appointment as minister of agriculture in March 2022.
Ukrainians can now be dismissed for failing to inform employers about relatives in Russia or occupied territories

The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) has adopted Law No. 7731, which gives employers further grounds to dismiss employees for failing to comply with the company's rules of conduct  in particular for failing to inform their employers that they have relatives in Russia.

Source: press service of the Verkhovna Rada

Details: Under the new law, businesses may introduce rules of conduct envisaging the following:

employees must inform them of any relatives in Russia or the occupied territories;

employees may not disseminate confidential information of commercial or state importance.

Such rules are mandatory for companies of state or strategic importance.

An employer now has the right to dismiss an employee, subject to the mandatory consent of the trade union, if:

the employee has been convicted of a crime against the national security of Ukraine and the verdict has entered into effect;

the employee fails to comply with the rules of conduct.

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ADDIS ABABA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has expressed "deep concern" over the escalating tensions in northern Ethiopia.

The AU Commission chief, in a statement issued late Thursday regarding the situation in the East African country, said he is following with deep concern the escalating tensions between local communities in the contested areas of northern Ethiopia, including Raya Alamata, Zata and Ofla areas.

Faki called on both sides "to urgently halt hostilities and ensure the safety of civilians to end the renewed displacement of the local population."

The AU Commission chairperson's call followed recent armed clashes that occurred in Alamata town in northern Ethiopia. An undetermined number of casualties were reported, while many civilians reportedly fled toward neighboring towns.

On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the number of people displaced by armed clashes from rural areas in northern Ethiopia has increased to more than 50,000 since April 13. It warned that the humanitarian situation in the affected area is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad humanitarian support to survive.

Faki further appealed for the respect and full implementation of the permanent cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front back in November 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Reiterating the continued commitment of the 55-member continental organization to accompany the government and people of Ethiopia in ensuring lasting peace, Faki called on the relevant departments of the AU Commission to undertake all appropriate measures in this regard. 
People walk between damaged buildings and streets as debris removal and cleaning works continue after the withdrawal of Israel from Khan Yunis. Palestinians started returning to the city and trying to live their lives despite the heavily damaged infrastructure system. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The United Nations has estimated that it would take 100 lorries some 14 years to remove the 300 kilograms of scrap metal per square metre covering the heavily destroyed Gaza Strip.

And it is unlikely that the work could be done quickly, Peh Lodhammar from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Geneva said on Friday, due to unexploded ordnances.

There are no concrete estimates of how much live ammunition that did not explode on impact is lying in the ground, Lodhammar said.

Typically, 10% of munitions fired do not explode and are left behind.

A view of the destruction of buildings and streets as debris removal and cleaning works continue after the withdrawal of Israel from Khan Yunis. Palestinians started returning to the city and trying to live their lives despite the heavily damaged infrastructure system. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A group of protesters sat in on the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees meeting Thursday asking university officials to pass a resolution to be transparent about money flowing from UNC Charlotte to Israel.

The Mount Zion Archaeological Project has been in Jerusalem since 2008, and UNC Charlotte is the only non-Israeli university with a license to dig at the site.

USCs move to cancel commencement amid protests draws criticism from students, alumni

After five months of war between Palestine and Israel protestors in support of Palestine are questioning the project. The conflict in the Middle East erupted when Palestinian Sunni Islam group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people. Since then, Israel has hit back, taking the lives of more than 34,000 themselves.

There are protests on college campuses across the country, including at UNC Charlotte where student protestors supporting Palestine are digging deeper into the universitys presence in Israel.

They fund the economy of Israel by doing research projects and buying permits, which in hand and hand works to displace Palestinians from areas of archeological research, a junior student supporting Palestine said.

The Mount Zion Archaeological Project uses UNC Charlotte staff and resources. Protesters want the Board of Trustees to pass a resolution to be transparent about the money spent in Israel. The group sat in the board meeting Thursday afternoon with signs for their cause.

Protesters filled the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, April 25.

A small group of Israel supporters also showed up to the protest Thursday. At one point, one Palestinian protestor threw the Israel flag on the ground before other protestors stopped him. Freshman Matthew Kingsley, an Israel supporter, says some of the demands are misdirected.

Their entire base is about UNCC divesting from the research project in the mountains of Israel, Kingsley said. So that has nothing to do with the Board of Trustees. If you actually look into it, that comes from the North Carolina government, the government is the one responsible for funding these projects.

In a statement a UNC Charlotte spokesperson said, As a public institution, UNC Charlotte is committed to upholding the right of individuals to engage in free speech on campus. We are grateful to all members of our campus community for respectfully exercising their first amendment rights.

Protestors for Palestine say they plan to keep asking university leadership to disclose its dealings with Israel.

Harvey Weinsteins rape conviction is overturned by New Yorks top court

Were not killing anyone. Were not hurting anyone. Were not promoting violence, the junior student said. We are merely sitting, celebrating the life of Palestinians, celebrating the culture of Palestinians and demanding our voices to be heard because these institutions are not listening to their students.

A university spokesman said theres minimal work left at the Israel said. He said crews will work to clean the site, conserve ancient walls and remove Iron Age floors. This work will not involve UNC Charlotte students or volunteers, and there will only be a limited presence of staff in the field.

Following that work, the project will focus on recording and researching the artifacts derived from the dig.

The spokesman said All funds from this project were raised from private donors; no state or University funds were used. The donated funds were used to cover the logistical costs of managing the project in the field, undertaking scientific research on the artifacts, and preparing publications.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Under the Dome: Lawmakers to quickly take up mandate for sheriffs to help ICE

Good morning!  Heres what you need to know in North Carolina politics today.

It looks like the first major piece of legislation Republicans will take up during the short session is the bill that would require all North Carolina sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This is a bill that Republicans have been trying to enact since 2018, when new sheriffs elected in Democratic counties like Wake and Mecklenburg promised to limit or end their cooperation with ICE.

Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed two similar bills in the past, and it was expected that a new bill that cleared the House last spring would also pass the Senate, and be sent to his desk, but the upper chamber didnt take up House Bill 10 at all last year.

Now, it appears the Senate is ready to move forward with the bill, with the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduling a hearing on it for Tuesday. Catch up on the battle between Democratic sheriffs and the General Assembly with this story we published last month previewing the bills expected movement this session.  Avi Bajpai

Nikki Marin Baena of Greensboro helps lead a chant during a rally and march from the Sheriffs Association Office to the Governors Mansion in downtown Raleigh to protest House Bill 135 and House Bill 370, which would, according the News and Observer, require law enforcement agencies to cooperate with immigration authorities 

Heres more, from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, correspondent Stephanie Loder, and me.

Medicare Advantage costs going up

Potential premium increases are on the table for the State Health Plan.

The plans Board of Trustees discussed the state of the plans finances Thursday.

One sticking point in those talks was an unexpected increase in Medicare Advantage payments the plan needs to make. This is projected to lead to a hefty financial loss for the plan in 2025, about $163 million compared to the prior year, according to data presented by staff during the meeting.

Humana currently holds the Medicare Advantage contract.

This increase in costs to the plan comes despite cutting access to popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda.

Staff members proposed ideas on how to tackle the increase, including an increase in premiums. Under this plan, premiums would not increase for retired state employees. But they would increase for dependents of those retirees  children, spouses and other family members  on Humanas Medicare Base Plan (70/30).

The premium would increase by $33 per month in 2025 for children and spouses, from just $4 now to $37. It would increase to $74 per month under a family coverage plan, up from just $8.

The increase in premiums would impact about 4,200 retirees and 22,000 dependents, staff reported.

The board had originally planned to vote on the changes on Thursday, but Treasurer Dale Folwell called to postpone the vote to allow more time to analyze the projected shortfall.  Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

DEMOCRATS RENEW PUSH FOR COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY MEASURES

Volunteers from Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety filled the halls of the Legislative Building on Thursday to make another push for what they called common sense gun safety measures.

At a press conference, Democratic lawmakers who file gun safety bills each session said that although theyve tried everything possible to force hearings and votes on legislation including red flag laws and universal background checks, they plan to continue putting a spotlight on the issue and pushing for action.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action, said that with gun rights groups urging Republican lawmakers to build on action they took last year and pass legislation this session that would allow concealed carry without a permit, North Carolina is at a crossroads.

We need our elected leaders to show some courage and prioritize popular, effective common sense gun safety bills instead of rolling back existing laws, and exacerbating this crisis, she said. The facts are on our side; history and research have proven that states with weak gun laws have higher rates of gun violence. And we know we deserve action from our lawmakers because our lives are worth more than the gun industrys profits.

Democrats introduced several gun safety bills last year, including legislation to enact a red flag law in the state that would allow a judge to temporarily confiscate guns from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others, require permits for the purchase of long guns, and penalize leaving unsecured guns in unattended vehicles.

Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat who has introduced many of those bills, said she and her colleagues would file discharge petitions once again this year, to try to force a vote on bills that havent been heard by committees for months.

Discharge petitions require the support of 61 members of the House to move a bill directly to the floor for a vote.  Avi Bajpai

DEMOCRAT MAY TURN AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

North Carolina remains one of few states that has failed to pass a medical marijuana legalization bill, despite a push from Republican Sen. Bill Rabon.

Rabon, the primary sponsor of the medical marijuana legalization bill, last year shared with the House health committee his experience using marijuana illegally during his chemotherapy treatments for cancer

The bill, also known as the NC Compassionate Care Act, passed the Senate by a vote of 36-10, with all the votes against it coming from Republicans. But opposition from House Republicans has kept it from becoming law.

Now Sen. Graig Meyer, an Orange County Democrat who previously voted in favor of the bill, wants amendments before moving forward.

Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.

NC LAWMAKER SANCTIONED OVER FRANKED NEWSLETTERS

The bipartisan House Communication Standards Commission on Wednesday unanimously sanctioned U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards after finding he violated the rules regarding franked mail to send out newsletters to constituents attacking President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

Franked mail can only be used for congressional business, not to target political parties or individuals.

Edwards, a Flat Rock Republican, called the sanction a way for Democrats to put a gag order on him. He said he would follow the rules going forward.

Get the full story from Danielle Battaglia here.

GRAND JURY INDICTS NCS MARK MEADOWS

Former North Carolina congressman Mark Meadows, who served as chief of staff for former President Donald Trump, was indicted by an Arizona grand jury this week for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

While Meadows name does not appear in the indictment, he is among 18 people charged.

Prosecutors provided details in the indictment that revealed Meadows as one of the defendants whose names are redacted.

Individual charges werent immediately clear, but charges for the group include:

Conspiracy.

Fraudulent schemes and artifices.

Fraudulent schemes and practices.

Forgery.

Trump is not charged in the indictment.

Get the full story from Danielle Battaglia here.

TIME TO RSVP FOR UNDER THE DOME: LIVE!

Join The N&O on April 30 for a special live recording of the Under the Dome politics podcast featuring Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-20) and Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-37).

Heres what you need to know to join in:

Register at underthedomelive.eventbrite.com

The event starts at 5 p.m.

The podcast begins at 5:30 p.m.

Join us in the Daniels Auditorium at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh.

Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.

You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters . Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up here .

We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter . Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com

Dont forget to follow our tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments.
Undercover law enforcement officers posing as potential sex-trafficking customers arranged a meeting at an undisclosed Whatcom County hotel last week after spotting advertisements placed by potential human traffickers. The April 20 meeting led to the rescue of seven potential trafficking victims and the arrest of a Whatcom County man.

Representatives of the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office made the arrest, which was part of a multi-agency operation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Matthew Murphy, assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Blaine, said the meeting at the hotel was part of one of two recent local HSI operations to rescue victims of human trafficking and arrest those attempting to engage in sex with minors.

The meeting led to the arrest of Kody Allan Schwiger, 31, whose last known residence is Clinton, Wash., on Whidbey Island, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office. Schwiger is detained in the county jail on an unrelated 2023 burglary charge pending potential charges stemming from the HSI operation. No charges related to his recent arrest had been filed as of Friday, April 26.

All the rescued women are adults and include a mix of locals and women from out of state. All are U.S. citizens, according to Murphy, who added that the investigation is ongoing and no other known victims have been identified.

Thats our job, to constantly be trying to identify and rescue other victims, Murphy said. We put as much emphasis on rescuing and providing services to victims as we do about trying to go after and prosecute the people that are trafficking them.

None of the seven women had been reported as missing to law enforcement. Murphy said thats not uncommon, as there are many ways people can end up as victims of human trafficking, such as being forced or coerced.

Non-government organizations worked with HSI to provide food, clothing and shelter as the women were rescued.

The second operation led to the arrest of Noone Danger Marshall, 43, of Ferndale, who is suspected of arranging commercial sex services with a subject he believed to be 16. The 16-year-old was fictional, and Marshall was actually speaking with an undercover HSI agent, according to Murphy.

Marshalls arrest had no direct connection with the seven rescued women, other than it was part of another HSI operation in Whatcom County around the same time, Murphy said.

Marshall was arrested on suspicion of arranging commercial sex services with a minor in exchange for cash and marijuana, according to Slater.

Marshall was charged April 23 in Whatcom County Superior Court with one count of attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and one count of attempted violation of the uniform controlled substances act, all felonies.

He was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on April 19 and was released April 22 on a $500 cash alternative bond, according to court and jail records.

The operations were conducted with participation from the Homeland Security Investigations, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Bellingham Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, King County Sheriffs Office, Bellevue Police Department and the Whatcom County Prosecutors Office.

To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material, immediately call the HSI Tipline at 877-4-HSI TIP or 877-447-4847.

Bellingham Herald criminal justice reporter Denver Pratt contributed to this article.
President Eli Capilouto speaks to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees voted Friday unanimously in favor of acquiring St. Claire Healthcare in Morehead.

UK hopes to finalize the deal on July 1, President Eli Capilouto said during a Friday board meeting on campus in Lexington. St. Claire employs 1,300 people, UK said, and has 20 medical specialties. The 139-bed facility is in Northeastern Kentucky, about 65 miles from Lexington and 136 miles from Louisville.

This merge is a not for profit legal transaction called member substitution, a UK spokesperson told the Lantern. UK will become the sole member of St. Claire. In return, UK has made a number of commitments.

Those commitments include, the spokesperson said, building health education programs, investing in facilities and upgrading information technology.

For some seven decades, we have been a partner for progress and a collaborator in compassionate care with St. Claire Healthcare, Capilouto told the board. For decades, weve had formal partnerships and alliances with St. Claire in specialty and advanced care such as pathology, oncology, OBGYN, pediatric services, among others. Such services and the sense of partnership are hardwired into our soul, and their soul as well.



St. Claire President and CEO Donald H. Lloyd II, who will stay on in that position, said in a statement that UK is a natural partner that could carry forward the previous work and ongoing investment while growing the healthcare workforce.

In an ever-changing health care landscape, both St. Claire and UK are deeply committed to accessible and high-quality patient care and strategic collaborations that will enhance services to benefit Kentuckians throughout northeastern Kentucky for many decades to come, said Lloyd. This is a win for the people in our community and the region and a transformative investment in clinical services, for medical education and state-of-the-art facilities, and investment in the local economy.

Dr. Eric Monday, UKs co-executive vice president for health affairs, told the board the move will improve access for Kentuckians.

When we think about advanced care, were talking about patients being able to stay closer to home, Monday said. Its going to provide opportunities for quality outcomes.

Several state lawmakers praised the move, including Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, who in December had to undergo emergency surgery after being kicked in the face by a horse.

As someone who recently needed emergency, lifesaving medical care following a serious equine accident, I can personally attest to the world-class care (UK) staff are able to provide to patients in their most urgent time of need, Bledsoe said in a statement. St. Claire HealthCare and UK HealthCare have enjoyed a working partnership that spans more than six decades, providing medical services that are second to none to countless patients across the region. I am truly excited to see the new possibilities that will come from extending this existing partnership.

Rep. Richard White, R-Morehead, said St. Claire has served our region with distinction for more than six decades with a legacy that goes back even further.

Im proud to see this new chapter, White said, and excited to see how the resources available through UK HealthCare will increase access to innovative, world-class medical care.

The post University of Kentucky to acquire eastern Kentucky hospital appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
President Eli Capilouto speaks to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

LEXINGTON  The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees voted Friday in favor of changing how the institution is governed, paving the way for faculty to lose decision-making power over academic decisions.

The 19-1 vote in favor of a proposal from President Eli Capilouto means Kentuckys flagship university will transition its University Senate  a group made up of faculty, staff and student representatives  into a faculty senate. Capilouto has called the changes a way to streamline UKs governance processes.

This vote came despite a failed attempt by faculty trustee Hollie Swanson to table the proposal. No one seconded her motion, and it therefore failed without reaching a vote.

The board will take feedback from various campus stakeholders before giving final review to the proposal at its June meeting. Under the new shared governance model, faculty, staff and student representatives would largely have an advisory role. Now, the University Senate determines broad academic policies for UK.

Ahead of Fridays meeting, the University Senate passed a resolution saying the Senate had no confidence that Capiloutos proposals are in the best long-term interests of the University or the Commonwealth. However, the Student Government Association and the Staff Senate passed their own resolutions backing the changes.

Capilouto told the board Friday that staff members sometimes feel like second class citizens. They are often made to feel less than  faculty, he said.

It shouldnt be that way, particularly when so many of our people have so much to offer, he said. We must do better; we can do better.

Several people who spoke against his proposal specifically questioned the timing of the change.

Capilouto addressed that, saying: Why not now? I believe this is the right time to make a sustainable change.

I know change is uncomfortable, Capilouto said. Its why we call it growing pains.

Who testified for and against the proposal?

During Fridays trustees meeting, more than a dozen people came forward to speak both in favor and against the move. Fourteen requested to speak, and all were approved. An additional two people requested to speak after the deadline passed, a UK spokesman said.

The audience for the board meeting was packed into the Harris ballroom in UKs Gatton Student Center. An estimated 190 were in attendance.

Karen Petrone, a College of Arts professor, said the move threatens the national reputation UK holds. She slammed the final details of the proposal becoming public a week before the vote and said the board is rushing  radical change that is undemocratic and a catastrophic mistake.

Acceleration without clear direction can lead to serious and costly missteps, said Petrone. Whats being proposed, she said, is the opposite of shared governance.

Why, she asked, is the university in such a rush?

Petrone also said shes very glad to see the gesture toward inclusion of all parts of the university in deliberations of important matters.

But, she said, the gesture is an empty one.

Too much power is concentrated in the hands of the president, she said. A future leader could abuse the power.

Ben Braun, a math professor and member of the United Campus Workers, said the move will weaken the bonds of collaboration and engagement that have allowed UK to flourish and thrive. It will also, he said, cause lasting harm, both of the reputation and the quality of our university.

Lauren Cagle, a College of Arts associate professor, also criticized what she said was a rushed vote that left her horrified.

Bob Grossman, a chemistry professor, said the move was bad for UK and bad for Kentucky. He further called the move a power grab.

Several spoke in favor of the move, including Chipper Griffith. The professor and College of Medicine Dean said the move will elevate the voices of students as well as the voices of staff.

Rudy Buchheit, the college of Engineering Dean, also spoke in favor.

The power of the faculty must be directed with great intentionality, he said. It should not be overly burdened with routine matters or those of narrow or local interest.

The board discussion

Trustee Swanson, the lone no vote Friday, called the proposal ill-conceived, poorly justified and rushed.

I asked my board members (if) the silencing the voices of paradigm shifters, creators, thought leaders and innovators is the best approach for shaping our future citizens of the Commonwealth? My answer is no.

Faculty trustee Hubie Ballard said its important for students and staff to have appropriate input to all matters important to the university.

Going forward, said Ballard, its important that there is more collaboration from all sides in terms of moving this forward so that everyone has an equal voice.

Chairman Britt Brockman praised the presidents proposal and the process of bringing it to the board.

The bottom line is that  too many members of our community, particularly students and staff and those at the local unit level, dont feel as though they have a voice, said Brockman. They dont see themselves as having a seat at the table and the decisions that are made about the university.

We cant turn a blind eye to what weve learned, he said. We cant ignore what we have heard so many committed members of our community, students, staff, college leaders, and yes, many faculty.

The post University of Kentucky board of trustees votes to change governance model appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Unused prescriptions? National Take Back Day provides a safe way to dispose of them

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  If you have some old prescriptions you wont want to miss out on this weekends National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

On Saturday, April 27, various police agencies will be setting up convenient locations for Utahns to drop off their old, unused and unneeded prescription drugs. From Logan to Lehi, police agencies will welcome prescription drug-drop offs at their departments, grocery stores, pharmacies and city halls.

To find a drop-off location near you, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website and search for your city.

Karen in viral video facing sexual battery charge for pulling down teens skirt in Utah restaurant

National Drug Take Back Day is a biannual federal initiative that aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way to get rid of prescription drugs. The takeback has helped prevent prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands and furthering opioid abuse and addiction.

In 2023, Utahns dropped off nearly 20,000 pounds of prescription drugs, according to the DEA. Since the initiative started in 2010, Utahs have safely returned nearly 250,000 pounds of prescription medication.

If youre unable to make it to this Saturdays event, dont worry. There are authorized drop-off locations throughout Utah such as certain pharmacies and medical centers where you can drop off your unneeded prescriptions year-round. To find a location near you, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Wichita Democratic Rep. Ford Carr, right, pointedly questioned the decision by House and Senate budget negotiators to earmark $500,000 to compensate two Butler County homeowners with polluted drinking water and the decision to challenge a request for $3.5 million to test drinking water at 1,700 homes in Wichita suspected of being tainted by chemical spills decades ago. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Jenna Krob and Dan Prohaska are the unfortunate owners of homes on Thunder Road in Butler County with underground water supplies fouled by crude oil leaching from abandoned or malfunctioning production wells.

Their residential properties became more or less uninhabitable and it was unlikely anyone would be foolish enough to buy the homes at a reasonable price. But a legislative maneuver initiated at the request of a Kansas House member convinced budget negotiators to include a last-minute proviso directing $500,000 be drawn from a state abandoned well remediation fund to compensate Krob and Prohaska for their private property misfortune.

When they turn on the water, they get oil, said Sen. Rick Billinger, a Republican from Goodland and chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

The pork-barrel budget item didnt go unnoticed in the House or Senate, but it was Rep. Ford Carr, D-Wichita, who sounded the loudest alarm. He was concerned drinking water problems experienced by residents of the two rural Augusta homes were sufficient to compel legislators to act, while a proposal to dedicate $3.5 million to test for chemical contamination of groundwater supplies serving 1,700 homes in Wichita was viewed as too expensive.

I understand that many of us arent mathematicians, but I dont think we have to be to understand theres a little something wrong with that, Carr said. I do appreciate that the state of Kansas has now set a floor for home values with groundwater contamination. Two homes in Butler County are being condemned and reimbursed at $250,000 apiece.

Carr, who is Black, said the earmark illustrated an appropriations inequity attached to Kansans who look like me and the communities that look like mine.

I look forward to my bill being heard next session that will apply this same formula for groundwater contamination and ask the state to appropriate $425 million to allow the homeowners of the 29th and Grove area in Wichita to be able to find new housing that will not poison them, he said.

Gov. Laura Kelly, while reviewing the $25 billion state budget bill packed with special-interest goodies, vetoed the line-item appropriation from the abandoned oil well fund. She said the earmark was squarely outside the statutory scope of the program and risks setting an untenable financial precedent where the state could be required to pay for the demolition of property in all areas where historic oil contamination exists regardless of source, culprit or disclosure to the home buyer.

Her veto frustrated Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, who demanded to know Thursday during a legislative budget committee meeting what the governor planned to do about rural Kansans struggling with tainted water supplies not connected to municipal or rural water systems. She posed the question to the states budget director without mentioning Krob and Prohaska.

Where is the governor, in the budget, helping rural Kansans with very polluted water? Williams said.

Of course, the Legislature is in session and could vote to override Kellys veto if two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate rallied to that cause.

Mystery winner

The state budget bill  signed by Kelly after she issued two-dozen line-item vetoes  included a $2.5 million provision for an industrial park in a city in Kansas that had to have more than 6,000 residents but less than 6,500 residents and be located in a county with more than 18,000 people but less than 18,500 people. The mystery winner? Abilene.

Senate Bill 28 included a no-bid award of $1 million to support renovation of Wareham Opera House in Manhattan. That earmark came as a surprise to some lawmakers representing Riley County.

How did that get put in there? Weve got $1 million for an opera house? said Olathe Republican Sen. Rob Olson. Everybody is getting their pet project done.

The budget bill featured $600,000 for ongoing operations at the Wichita-based Envision organization serving blind and low-vision Kansans. Envision seeks to broaden employment opportunities for people with vision challenges.

Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, said the one-time boost to Envisions bottom line was an improper use of tax dollars given the $650,000 annual salary of Envisions top executive.

That might be part of their operational deficiency, Probst said. Theres a lot of stuff in this budget that is pretty specific to individual people or communities and we should probably keep a better eye on this.

The budget bill included $185,000 for the Kansas City Full Circle drug and alcohol rehabilitation program and $2.5 million to expand infrastructure at the Valley Hope treatment facility in Atchison. DCCCA Family Preservation Services, a nonprofit based in Lawrence, was recipient of a $1 million earmark. Woven into the package was $350,000 for Youth Core Ministries.

Uneven playing field

The bill had an appropriation of $250,000 to Keys for Networking to deliver the iGRAD financial education program to children in foster care. The governor line-item vetoed that proviso, complaining legislators sought to hand funding to one specific entity rather than open the initiative to bidding by service providers.

By doing so, Kelly said, the Legislature is creating an uneven playing field for those interested in providing services, supports and capabilities for children in need of care. This funding should be available to all potential providers through a competitive bidding process.

The budget also contained $500,000 to improve security at Jewish centers with bullet-resistant film on windows, license plate readers and anti-vehicle limestone blocking. It included $50,000 for the Kansas National Guards marksmanship competition teams. That appropriation wasnt sought by the adjutant general through the normal budget review process, the governor said.

There was $1.2 million to support acquisition by Kansas State University of student-trainer aircraft, a proposal not endorsed by the Kansas Board of Regents. Its another piece of the budget that didnt go through the regular legislative process.

Neither did the state Board of Regents ask for $750,000 for a medical residency program at the University of Kansas medical school in Wichita nor the $2.2 million allocation for an osteopathic school scholarship.

Kellys line-item vetoes included the National Guard, KSU aircraft, medical residency and osteopathic scholarship earmarks.

Bipartisan objections

Sen. Kristen OShea, a Republican from Topeka who isnt seeking reelection in 2024, said she didnt vote for SB 28 because the measure recklessly burned through of the states budget surplus and sidestepped the standard process of bill introduction, House and Senate committee hearings and debate in both chambers of the Legislature. Instead, House and Senate negotiators presented the bill for an up-or-down vote  without opportunity to consider amendments  by the Legislature.

The true test of fiscal responsibility is not how the Legislature manages the peoples budget in a deficit, but how the budget is managed when there is a surplus, OShea said. Times of surplus require added restraint, the ability to not frivolously spend surplus dollars on pet projects for the chosen few, but to instead wisely invest the taxpayers dollars in needs that have been fully vetted by this chamber, savings for a rainy day and meaningful tax relief.

She said it was egregious last-minute budget favors were granted to well-connected organizations or individuals while those resources could have been devoted to foster care children or other priorities.

Our constituents deserve to know that their taxes are being squandered, and they deserve better than this. I hope this body can continue to refine the budget process to be just, OShea said.

Despite her objections, and bipartisan protests by other lawmakers, SB 28 passed the Senate 26-12 and cleared the House on a vote of 78-44.

Rep. Henry Helgerson, a Wichita Democrat who serves on the six-person House and Senate budget negotiation committee, said it was disturbing the spending bill ended up looking like a holiday tree decorated with special-interest gifts. He said the process of manipulating budget bills during these negotiations fed an appetite for spending in excess of revenues.

There is a shadow appropriation process that lurks in this building, he said. The second floor (Democratic governors office) is guilty. Leadership of the Republican Party is guilty. Nobody wants to control that spending.

Criticism of unchecked expenditures and a broken budget process was shared by Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from Reno County who has indicated he wouldnt run for reelection. He voted against SB 28 and accused the Republican-led Legislature of allowing the budget process to go sideways.

I believe and live the Republican Party platform tenet of small government, Steffen said. Disappointingly, from 2020 to 2024 this supermajority Republican Legislature has grown the state general fund expenditures by 25%. Our promotion of a tax system full of tax credits and abatements, preventing a level playing field fair to all Kansans, is very disappointing as well. We are better than this.

The post Unusual $500,000 earmark for two Butler County homeowners illustrates pork-barrel spending appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Harvey Weinsteins accusers are waiting to see what will happen next now that a New York Appeals Court overturned his 2020 conviction.

Its upsetting and Im afraid it will have a chilling effect on more victims coming forward, Lauren Sivan, a reporter, and Long Island native, tells PIX11 News.

NYU Hospital on Long Island performs miraculous surgery

Sivan, who accused Weinstein of cornering her and masturbating in front of her in 2007.

The idea that they did all this and now it is overturned, it really shows that we may have come a long way as far as social awareness, but I dont think the legal system has caught up, she said.

New Yorks Court of Appeals found the trial judge in the rape case prejudiced Weinstein with egregious improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that Weinstein wasnt charged with.

In its 4-3 decision, the courts majority said it was an abuse of judicial discretion for Judge James Burke to allow testimony from these other women about loathsome alleged bad acts and despicable behavior.

Judge Madeline Singas, the former Nassau District Attorney, issued a scathing dissent.

Singas wrote the ruling comes at the expense and safety of women and represents a disturbing trend of overturning juries guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence.

The court of appeals deserves a tremendous amount of credit for doing this based on the law, not based on opinion polls, not based on popularity, Weinsteins attorney, Arthur Aidala said.

Weinstein has been serving time in update New York but will now be sent to Los Angeles to serve his sentence on a separate rape conviction. Its not clear when that will happen.

We will do everything in our power to retry this case, a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorneys Office said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company, on Friday launched enhanced networking solutions for its Kenyan clients, including state agencies, listed firms, small and medium sized enterprises, in order to boost the growth of the local digital economy.

Kevin Wenkai, managing director of Huawei East Africa Enterprise, said the launch of the new features of the company's Internet Protocol (IP) and OptiX products and solutions in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, will boost the country's quest to become a digital economy hub that promises jobs and prosperity to all citizens.

"The enhanced networking solutions designed for our Kenyan clients will boost the quality of digital services. We are committed to improved and secure connectivity for homes, businesses and public institutions," Wenkai said.

He said that enhanced networking solutions will guarantee data privacy among clients, boost the speed and reliability of internet connections, and unlock the growth of local technology start-ups.

Loyford Muriithi, information and communications technology (ICT) director in Kenya's Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, said the government is committed to partnerships with industry players like Huawei in its bid to expand connectivity, improve the digital skills of the youth and automate key sectors like manufacturing, finance, health and education.

Muriithi said that Huawei has aided in the implementation of a digital superhighway anchored on establishing 100,000 kilometers of fiber optics alongside digital villages and public WiFi hotspots.

In addition, Muriithi said that private sector investment in both hardware and software has promoted digital literacy and innovations, unlocking sustainable incomes for the youth.

Zhang Liang, the chief expert of Data Communication Artificial Intelligence (AI) Algorithms at Huawei, said that the deployment of AI-enabled networking solutions is expected to inject vitality into Kenya's digital economy.

According to Zhang, the launch of advanced Internet protocols will improve the network's speed, stability and security, enabling businesses and state agencies to scale up and sustain online transactions.

Martin Mirero, director of ICT at Communications Authority of Kenya, a state-owned ICT regulatory agency, said that the enactment of sound policies and regulations has spurred private sector investments in digital infrastructure.

Mirero said that Huawei's advanced networking solutions that guarantee better user experience and productivity will boost Kenya's efforts to establish a sustainable digital society. 
Upwards of 16,000 immigrants on track to enroll in WA Medicaid expansion

Immigrants, refugees and advocates rally at the Washington state Capitol, Feb. 7, 2024. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Washingtons immigrant population is jumping at the chance to apply for health insurance as coverage expands for those without a federally-recognized immigration status.

Thats according to a new report from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which looks at the number of uninsured and undocumented people who have applied for insurance through the states Health Plan Finder website. The findings show that at least 16,000 people are on track to be covered by the states upcoming Medicaid expansion for immigrants.

Beginning Nov. 1, 2023, people without legal immigration status have been allowed to start shopping for private health and dental insurance under a federally approved waiver, which waived the federal definition of lawfully present under the Affordable Care Act.

The report found that, through Jan. 18, an estimated 24% of those uninsured and undocumented in Washington have applied for health coverage  about 24,000 applicants of the states approximately 100,000 total undocumented individuals.

Im kind of blown away by those numbers, said Wynne McHale, chief of staff at the Health Benefit Exchange.

McHale said that the agency knew there were many barriers to getting people without legal immigration status on board, including having to go to what is essentially a website operated by a government entity and fill out an application that requires a lot of personal information.

They credited work with community organizations with helping the Health Benefit Exchange reach as many people as it has.

About 68% of the 24,000 people who applied have an income under 139% of the federal poverty level, or about $20,784 for a single-person household.

Those roughly 16,200 people will be eligible for Washingtons upcoming Apple Health Expansion on July 24, which will cover adults 19 and older who dont qualify for other health insurance programs due to their immigration status. Apple Health is the states name for Medicaid.

State lawmakers poured $28.4 million dollars into expanding Apple Health for people without legal immigration status this year. But McHale said more funding is needed, as enrollment will be capped to the funds available.

Applicants eligible under the Apple Health Expansion come from 35 of Washingtons 39 counties and over 90% are Hispanic. King, Yakima and Snohomish counties saw the highest number of applicants.

Yakima, for years, has had one of the lowest rates of health insurance coverage, said Alex Cordova of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, one of the Health Benefit Exchanges partners.

This is going to help a lot of people get insurance and hopefully, those numbers keep rising, Cordova said. Its gonna be good for the community, the county, the state.

Cordova said the biggest barrier he hears about preventing people from getting health insurance is affordability, and hes hoping the Apple Health Expansion will help with that.

People are getting excited, Cordova said, adding: The state is moving in the right direction.

The post Upwards of 16,000 immigrants on track to enroll in WA Medicaid expansion appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Companies make phones now that come with parental controls that restrict access to social media, prevent the ability to text, block spam and only accept calls from pre-programmed numbers.

We need to buy a bunch of those  immediately  for members of the Arizona Legislature.

Before I tell you why, however, I must to offer my heartfelt apologies to our states children:

Kids, we grown-ups insult you every day when we refer to the behavior of rude, silly, misbehaving adults as juvenile. Were sorry.

Kern used his indictment to ask for money

Sen. Anthony Kern instructs people gathered in the gallery not to leave during a recess at the Arizona House of Representatives on April 17, 2024.

Im going to keep this short because, as a grown-up, Im embarrassed for my tribe.

It started with a donation solicitation from Republican Arizona state Sen. Anthony Kern.

He is one of the 11 fake electors who was indicted by a grand jury on nine felony counts related to his participation in the attempt to invalidate the 2020 election and, essentially, stage a coup for Donald Trump.

In response to this, Kern tried to portray himself as a victim in a contribution appeal he posted on the internet.

Under a headline reading, When President Trump called for my aid, I answered, Kern wrote, My reward, a crooked democrat Attorney General prosecuting with 9 fabricated felonies.

Hernandez touched off a name-calling war

Rep. Alma Hernandez speaks in support of a procedural vote to fast-track the repeal of the 1864 abortion ban during a legislative session at the Arizona House of Representatives.

Democratic state Sen. Alma Hernandez, reading this, responded with a post on X, formerly Twitter, LOL, yes, please donate help fund @anthonykernAZs legal team because hes a crook and a liar who was just indicted on 9 felonies for thinking he was being cute for Trump. Wheres @realDonaldTrump now? Will he come to the rescue, or will you end up in jail together?

To which Kern responded, Hey Alma, your fellow democrat was right  you really should lose weight.

Then, as if such a thing is possible (because these days, it is) the exchange and its responses went downhill from there.

Id provide you with examples, but feeling gross from having traveled this far on that dark, slippery slope, Ill stop here.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Republican and Democrat trade insults, not ideas
US to allocate additional $6 billion in military aid to Ukraine

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

The U.S. will allocate $6 billion for military assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on April 26 after the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, also known as the Ramstein format.

"This is the largest security assistance package that we have committed today," Austin said during the press conference, adding that it will allow the U.S. "to procure new capabilities for Ukraine" from its own industry.

The newly announced military aid package includes interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, anti-drone systems, and support equipment, according to Austin.

The U.S. Defense Secretary also said that the package contains a "significant amount" of artillery ammunition, as well as air-to-ground weaponry, without specifying the numbers.

After the press conference, the U.S. Defense Department also published the extended list of military aid to be provided to Kyiv through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Apart from those items Austin unveiled, the package also includes munitions for laser-guided rocket systems, rockets for HIMARS launchers, multi-mission and counter-artillery radars, precision aerial and demolition munitions, Switchblade and Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), 155 mm and 152 mm artillery rounds, among others.

Politico previously reported on April 25 that the U.S. was preparing to announce a new weapons contract worth around $6 billion in military aid to Kyiv. The weapon supplies are not expected to reach Ukraine for "several years" since the funding is allocated under the USAI.

Instead of sending Ukraine weapons from current U.S. stocks, the USAI requires the Pentagon to send contracts to U.S. defense companies to produce new supplies.

Austin also announced on April 26 that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with a $1 billion military aid package containing ammunition for HIMARS, 155 mm ammunition, air defense interceptors, and armored vehicles.

The Pentagon previously said it was ready to send $1 billion of weapons from U.S. stockpiles to Kyiv after U.S. President Joe Biden on April 20 signed the long-delayed foreign aid bill, which includes $60.84 billion for Ukraine.

While aid stalled amid months of political infighting, Russia took advantage of Ukraine's growing battlefield ammunition shortages, capturing the city of Avdiivka in February.

The lack of air defense systems has also become urgent for Kyiv as Russian troops continue to intensify attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In March, Russian strikes reportedly damaged or completely destroyed 80% of the thermal generating capacity of DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company.

Read also: What Ukraine lost while waiting for the US aid bill to pass

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed that the US is allocating US$6 billion in military aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, through which weapons are ordered from American manufacturers.

Source: Austin at a press conference following the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein format) on 26 April, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Austin also mentioned the recently allocated US$1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, under which the US will supply weapons from its military stockpiles.

Quote: "I am also pleased to announce today an additional commitment of US$6 billion through our Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. That will allow us to procure new capabilities for Ukraine from US industry."

Austin stressed that this is the largest military aid package announced to date. He specified that the package will include interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS systems, counter-drone systems, and "significant amounts" of artillery ammunition and anti-aircraft ammunition.

Background:

Politico was the first to report on the USs intention to announce the US$6 billion aid package.

On 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that will provide about US$61 billion in additional military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as support to other US allies.

Immediately afterwards, the US Department of Defense announced a US$1 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, the first since Congress approved supplementary funding to assist foreign allies.

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the US President, then confirmed that Ukraine has received ATACMS long-range missiles and that deliveries will continue in the future.

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The flags of USA (L) and Ukraine are pictured ahead of the conference on the Ukraine war at the US Ramstein Air Base. Boris Roessler/dpa

The US government is providing another $6 billion in military aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Friday.

The latest tranche of weapons will include artillery ammunition as well as missiles for the US-made Patriot air defence systems, Austin said following an online meeting of the Washington-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The announcement comes after the US Senate approved new aid totalling around $61 billion for Kiev late on Tuesday evening - thus paving the way for new arms deliveries after months of domestic political deadlock.

On Wednesday US President Joe Biden announced an immediate new military package totalling $1 billion. This primarily involved equipment for air defence, artillery, missile systems and armoured vehicles from the US military's stocks.
The flags of USA (L) and Ukraine are pictured ahead of the conference on the Ukraine war at the US Ramstein Air Base. Boris Roessler/dpa

The US government is providing another $6 billion in military aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Friday.

The latest tranche of weapons will include artillery ammunition, anti-drone systems as well as missiles for the US-made Patriot air defence systems, Austin said following a virtual meeting of the Washington-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The announcement comes after the US Senate approved new aid totalling around $61 billion for Kiev late on Tuesday evening - thus paving the way for new arms deliveries after months of domestic political deadlock in the US, which is Ukraine's most important backer.

"If Putin prevails in Ukraine, the security consequences would be grave and global," Austin said. "We will not falter, we will not flinch and we will not fail," he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously insisted on the delivery of longer-range missiles and air defence systems at the meeting.

The new contracts are to be awarded to American defence companies to build new equipment for Ukraine as part of a US funding programme for Ukraine. This means that it could take several months to years before the weapons are delivered.

Ukraine has faced a serious shortage of ammunition in recent weeks, with Russia overwhelming its air defence systems and making significant gains on the front line.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a military package totalling $1 billion just hours after the bill was passed.

This primarily involved equipment for air defence, artillery, missile systems and armoured vehicles from the US military's stocks, which will be used to supply Ukraine immediately.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Just days after President Joe Biden signed off on a more than $60 billion package, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional $6 billion for long-term military resources.

This is the largest security assistance package that weve committed to date, Austin said.

The money will help secure artillery, like Patriot missiles, drones, and more ammunition. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General C.Q Brown Jr. says these are necessary investments.

Russias war in Ukraine endangers the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law, reminding us that unchecked aggression against one nation threatens the sovereignty of all, Brown said.

U.S officials also warned Russias allies against continued support.

I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC providing components that are powering Russias brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Blinken raised concerns during his meeting overseas with Chinese President Xi Jingping about Beijings supply of materials to Moscow.

Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support, Blinken said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the aid from the U.S, that is intended to help Ukraine gain back some ground they lost over the past few months.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
US envoy to OSCE: Russian 'double-tap' attacks have killed at least 90 first responders since April 2022

Russian "double-tap" strikes have killed more than 90 Ukrainian first responders and injured close to 350 civilians since April 2022, said Timothy Hanway, the acting U.S. envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in an address on April 25.

A "double-tap" attack is a military tactic in which an initial strike is followed by a delayed second strike intended to kill or injure first responders who arrived at the scene. It is a war crime.

Since a report issued shortly after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Hanway said that Russia's usage of this illegal tactic has been increasing.

"In March and April (of 2024) alone, Russias iterative attacks hitting first responders killed nearly 30 rescue workers in Odesa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia and wounded more than 20," Hanway said, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine's State Emergency Service, previously told the Kyiv Independent that as of April 16, a total of 91 of the service's employees had been killed and another 351 wounded since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Khorunzhyi said some of these casualties were the result of "double-tap" strikes but said the precise figure was still being calculated.

Russia's usage of "double-tap" strikes preceded its full-scale war in Ukraine, having been employed extensively in Syria and as far back as the wars in Chechnya.

"The Russian government is following its own example from Syria (in Ukraine)," said Hanway.

Read also: Double-tap attack. Understanding one of Russias cruelest tactics in Ukraine

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FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of FDA headquarters in White Oak, Maryland

By Sriparna Roy

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer's gene therapy for hemophilia B on Friday, the second such therapy for the rare bleeding disorder that typically requires regular infusions of a blood-clotting protein.

People with hemophilia have a fault in a gene that regulates production of proteins called clotting factors, which can cause spontaneous as well as severe bleeding following injuries or surgery. It predominately affects males.

Pfizer's one-time therapy, branded as Beqvez, is designed to stimulate production of the protein, called factor IX (FIX), by the patient's own body instead of intravenous infusions of FIX multiple times a week or a month.

The therapy will be available by prescription to eligible patients this quarter, a company spokesperson said.

Pfizer has set a list price for Beqvez at $3.5 million in the U.S. - the same price tag as Australian drugmaker CSL Ltd's rival gene therapy Hemgenix.

Gene therapies are often pricey, and the durability of a single-dose treatment remains an open question.

High cost, logistical issues and the prospect of potential treatment advances have so far held back adoption of the first gene therapies for hemophilia.

Nigel Key, director of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center at the University of North Carolina said the demand for gene therapies is limited by "how satisfied they (patients) are with their current treatment...and whether they want to dive right in, which not many do".

A single dose of Pfizer's therapy was shown to work as well as standard-of-care protein infusions after a year, with bleeding completely eliminated in 60% of patients versus 29% who received infusions.

Pfizer said it will continue to monitor for long-term durability and safety of the treatment over the course of 15 years.

Hemophilia B is estimated to affect nearly 4 in every 100,000 U.S. males, while related disorder hemophilia A is estimated to affect 12 in every 100,000 U.S. males, according to government data.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Krishna Chandra Eluri)
TUNIS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia and Italy stressed the need to intensify efforts to deal with the increase of illegal immigration attempts towards European coasts, Italy in particular, the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported on Friday.

This issue was discussed during a meeting between the Tunisian Parliamentary Speaker Ibrahim Bouderbala and the Italian Ambassador to Tunisia Alessandro Prunas in the Tunisian capital Tunis.

"The illegal immigration issue requires boosting joint action at the bilateral and multilateral level in order to strengthen peace and security in the Mediterranean," TAP quoted Bouderbala as saying.

He also highlighted the role of parliaments in strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation, notably through the exchange of visits by parliamentarians.

The Italian ambassador highlighted the fruitful cooperation and the conclusion of agreements in several areas including education, culture, higher education and vocational training.

Prunas affirmed his country's commitment to providing support for Tunisia and to defending its position both within the region and at the level of the European Union.

During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Tunis on April 17, Tunisian President Kais Saied reiterated his country's refusal to be a destination or transit point for illegal immigrants, calling for joint efforts to tackle the issue. 
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The US military began construction of a temporary pier off the Gaza coast that aims to facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.

Officials said the pier should be operational by May, with plans to move 90 truckloads of aid daily at first, with up to 150 expected later on, Semafor Principals reported.

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Israeli military and UN came under mortar fire near pier site

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Sources: Al-Monitor, The Times of Israel

Israeli soldiers and United Nations officials who visited the site on Thursday came under mortar fire from Palestinian militants and had to take cover, Israeli media reported. No US service members are expected to go ashore in Gaza during the floating piers construction, and the IDF has said they would offer security  but the shelling has raised concerns about the safety of those constructing the facility. The Pentagon downplayed concerns, with one senior military official telling reporters: We dont assess that the attack had anything to do with the  mission, or delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea.

Hundreds of aids workers killed in conflict

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Source: New York Magazine

More than 224 humanitarian aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Among the most high-profile deaths were those of seven World Central Kitchen workers in early April, whose vehicles were targeted by an Israel Defense Forces airstrike after the military misidentified their convoy vehicles, which were labeled with the WCK logo, as a threat. Aid operations coordinate their deliveries with the IDF in an attempt to avoid being caught in the crossfire  but many workers have described coming under fire despite their negotiations. These coordination systems are not protecting humanitarian workers in Gaza because theyre not being respected, UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram told New York Magazine in a recent interview.

Aid deliveries still far below pre-war averages

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Source: NBC News

About 200 truckloads of aid are entering Gaza daily  a far cry from the 500 trucks that were able to access the enclave before the war. Aid organizations have been struggling to get assistance over the border: In some cases, trucks that queue for hours to enter Gaza are turned away over a single restricted item, NBC News reported, and the poor condition of roads has made deliveries difficult. The process is still quite sloppy and a little bit willy-nilly, a humanitarian affairs officer with the UNs OCHA told NBC.

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US no longer viewed as most influential global power in Africa: Survey

The United States is no longer viewed as the most influential global power in Africa, having been surpassed by China in a new survey from Gallup.

The survey found that median approval ratings of the U.S. slipped from 59 percent in 2022 to 56 percent in 2023, while China rose from 52 percent to 58 percent in that same period.

The survey asked people in 36 African countries about four global superpowers: the U.S., China, Russia and Germany. The U.S. was the only one that didnt see its approval increase.

The highest approval rating of the U.S. in Africa was held in 2009, when 85 percent of Africans approved of the countrys leadership. It dipped to its lowest point, 51 percent, in 2017.

Chinas highest approval rating was at 72 percent in 2011 but has hovered around 50 percent in recent years until it jumped 6 percentage points last year. The largest increase in approval came from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, the survey found.

Gallup noted that Chinas improved rating may come from its increased investment on the continent. Its now Africas biggest trading partner.

The U.S. saw some of its biggest approval increases from Ghana and Ivory Coast as well, but saw major decreases in Gambia, Uganda and Kenya.

The survey also found that Germanys leadership image sits at 54 percent, and Russias is at 42 percent after dipping to 34 percent in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

The 2023 approval ratings survey was conducted among people 15 years or older in more than 130 countries around the world. The margin of error ranges from 1.2 to 5.6 percentage points, Gallup said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. is expected to begin pulling troops out of Chad and Niger following deteriorating relations with both of the African countries, including demands for American forces to leave.

A U.S. exit or large drawdown from both countries is expected to have a wide impact on Washingtons efforts to conduct counterterrorism operations in Africa, where Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and other extremist groups remain at large.

There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger and about 100 in Chad. The potential withdrawal of those troops also comes as Russia is increasing its influence in Africa.

A U.S. delegation met this week with officials in Niamey, Niger, to discuss a safe withdrawal of American troops from the country, according to the Pentagon.

The delegation includes U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, the director of strategy, engagement and programs at U.S. Africa Command.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Thursday there will be a follow-up meeting involving other Defense Department officials next week to coordinate the withdrawal process in a transparent manner and with mutual respect.

Ryder said the assumption is that all U.S. troops will soon leave Niger, but stressed the Pentagon remains committed to countering violent extremist organizations in West Africa.

The department will continue to support whole of government approaches to work with African leaders to maintain stability and address terrorist threats in the region, including addressing core issues that drive insecurity, Ryder said.

Niger was rocked by a military coup in July of last year, and junta leaders have pushed for a U.S. exit. The military junta allegedly has close ties with Russias private paramilitary company the Wagner Group, which has a sizable presence in Africa, benefiting Moscow.

The military in Chad also seized power there three years ago, though there are upcoming elections in May that could return authority back to elected officials.

Ryder said U.S. Africa Command is also talking with Chadian officials and plan to reposition some troops out of the country, though he said some had already planned to depart.

This is a temporary step, he said of the repositioning in Chad, as part of a ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chads May 6 presidential election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. currently has no position on Ukraine's decision to suspend consular services for military-age men abroad or the larger attempt to bring such men back to the country, said Dan Cisek, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, in comments to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on April 25.

Ukraine's government recently introduced a ban on sending identification documents and passports to Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 living abroad. The new provision came into effect shortly after Ukraine announced the temporary suspension of new applications for consular support for military-age men abroad as part of a new mobilization law.

Cisek said it is a "difficult question" but that the "government of Ukraine has the right to define its policy" on this issue.

"There is no decision or position so far from the U.S. governmentto help or not to help Ukraine in this area."

Cisek acknowledged that "It is clear that people are needed for the Armed Forces (of Ukraine) to defend the country," but it was and continues to be an important part of the West's support for Ukraine to welcome those who have left.

"At the same time, it is correct that the government of Ukraine needs to intensively and seriously study the situation," Cisek said.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on April 24 that Poland would help Ukraine bring its military-aged men back.

"I think many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we have to make to help Ukraine," Kosiniak-Kamysz said. "However, the form of assistance (Poland provides) depends on the Ukrainian side."

With some exceptions, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine during the war while martial law is in effect. At the same time, the BBC estimated in November 2023 that some 650,000 military-age Ukrainian men had left the country for the EU since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Ukraine passed its hotly debated bill on mobilization this month following months of deliberation and rewrites. The bill was a key component of political and military leadership's efforts to ramp up mobilization in 2024 amidst an increasingly critical manpower shortage.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Students at the University of Southern California have supported the pro-Palestinian cause on campus, leading to safety concerns about the university's graduation ceremony - Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu/Getty

The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles has cancelled its main graduation ceremony, citing new safety measures following student protests over the Israel-Gaza war.

Students leading pro-Palestine protests have set up camps at more than 20 US universities across the US in the last week, in defiance of police warnings, as they attempt to convince their institutions to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and cut off funding ties to Israel.

USC is one of the many campuses that has become a hub for student demonstrations against the war, resulting in the arrest of more than 90 people on the campus.

With two weeks to go before the graduation ceremony on May 10, graduating seniors have called the move cowardly and a violation.

One student wrote: We are bearing witness to some of the most extreme displays of cowardice and censorship by USC and their fellow institutions.

A student is led away by police officers after a pro-Palestinian protest was staged at the University of Southern California - Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu/Getty

Skirmishes broke out between the university's public safety officers and the protesting students as officers attempted to remove tents from the campus - Richard Vogel/AP

Many students in the graduating class of 2024 also forfeited a high school graduation in 2020 due to Covid-19.

While USC will still host a series of commencement activities in line with the new safety measures, they said that the time it would take to process the roughly 65,000 students and guests that usually attend the main stage graduation ceremony meant that it couldnt go ahead in line with the measures.

The university had previously sparked controversy at the beginning of April when it cancelled a planned commencement speech by the schools pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.

USC is the first university to cancel its graduation following the growing deonstatons on campuses which administrations have struggled to contain. Other schools have seen cancelled classes, faculty walkouts and administrations calling the police on their own students.

Since the first encampment on the lawns of New Yorks Columbia University last week, more tents have been erected at some of the leading institutions in the country, including Harvard, Yale and the University of Michigan.

Columbias decision to send the New York police department onto the campus to arrest protesters and tear down the camp was widely criticised and prompted some of the other university encampments to pop up in solidarity.

Columbia initially gave the encampment a midnight deadline on Tuesday to pack up which was later extended for another 48 hours early on Wednesday.

With time almost up, Columbia said if no agreement has been reached it would consider alternative options to remove the protesters. However, negotiations have shown progress and are continuing as planned the university said in a statement late on Thursday.

Officers wrestle with pro-Palestine protesters

On Thursday, Georgia police officers fired rubber bullets and tasers at protesters who gathered at Emory University in Atlanta. Photographs and video showed police wrestling with protesters on lawns.

Among those arrested was Prof Noelle McAfee, the chairman of the universitys philosophy department, who was filmed being led away by a balaclava-clad police officer.

Prof Noelle McAfee, of Emory University in Atlanta, is led away by a balaclava-clad police officer after a pro-Palestine protest

As police officers in riot gear attempted to clear a gathering at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday, there were clashes leading to 57 arrests.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, described the protests as horrific.

He said: Anti-Semitism on campuses in the United States is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s.

The world cannot stand idly by. It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally.

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The University of California has rolled back its commencement celebrations amid protests over Gaza that continue to develop on college campuses across the United States.

The university said that they will not be hosting a main stage ceremony this year due to new safety measures substantially increasing the time it will take to process large numbers of guests at the campus.

We will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time, USC wrote in an update on Thursday.

Dozens of individual school commencement ceremonies will still take place, as well as departmental activities and receptions, the university said.

The announcement comes days after a decision by the university to cancel the valedictorian address at the commencement ceremony due to security concerns amid the intensity of feelings of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the university wrote in another update.

The university is one of many campuses across the country that are staging pro-Palestine protests across the country.

Peaceful protesters at USC were dispersed by armed police in riot gear on Wednesday with rubber bullets, which escalated to the point of police being seen dragging away students tents and making several arrests.

The Los Angeles Police Department said they made 93 arrests as a result, adding that no injuries were reported.

A day after the protest disbursement, the USC made its announcement that the main stage ceremony would be cancelled and additional security measures would be in place to celebrate our graduates safely.

A protester at USC during a pro-Palestinian occupation on Wednesday (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, the university wrote.

The commencement events, happening in May, will include tickets for students and their guests to access the campus, and the events, as well as people and bag screening, will be implemented.

In the aftermath of the protests, Alan, a USC senior who is due to graduate next month, told The Independent that the campus now feels military-like, with student IDs being checked at all entrances on Thursday.

Video from the protests showed dozens of helmeted officers arriving at campus and arguing with the gathered people about the removal of tents.

Its not an atmosphere of celebration. Its an atmosphere of grief in a way. I think people were just really reconsidering what it means to graduate from USC, Alan told The Independent.

Protesters and officers confront each other during the dispersing of the USC protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Im a graduating senior. This is my graduating class. And it feels wrong to even come back to campus or to even celebrate this final week like this.

Other students have said that the universitys decision to cancel the main ceremony was truly heartbreaking and a mess that could have been avoided by USC.

The weeks leading up to this day was supposed to be exciting and fun but unfortunately it is now filled with dread. Us Jewish seniors graduating feel unwelcome and unprotected, senior student Melina Feradouni told The Independent, adding that she stayed home on Wednesday out of fear.

Across the country, universities have reacted in differing ways to the spread of pro-Palestine protests, such as the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, closing its campus on Thursday until at least the end of the weekend after people occupied buildings on campus and resisting arrest.

Hundreds of arrests have been carried out as a result of the demonstrations, including more than 100 people at Columbia amid protest encampments, which are demanding the school to divest their financial ties to Israel over the war in Gaza.

A University of Southern California protester being detained by USC Department of Public Safety officers during the protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Among those arrested across the country, professors are also being detained, such as two Emory University professors in Georgia, as officers continue to try and extinguish the protests.

A crew member from CNN witnessed economics professor Caroline Fohlin and Noelle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department, being detained by Atlanta police.

Footage also captured police appearing to use tasers on restrained students and shooting pepper balls at protesters at the same university campus.

Protests have sparked up in the US and across the world ever since the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, which was followed by the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, which has now killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Protesters gathered on the University of Texas Austin campus again on Friday, but the gathering was not put on by the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC).

One member of the PSC, the group that has now been suspended, said other UT groups stepped in to host Fridays gathering.

Those in attendance could be seen playing music, making posters and listening to speakers. Protesters KXAN spoke with tell us they were once again out today to raise awareness about the innocent people being killed in Gaza.

Not enough probable cause to charge all 57 arrested protesters with criminal trespass, Travis County Attorney says

The PSC was named multiple times in an internal Memo KXAN obtained:

Throughout the year, the Office of the Dean of Students has continually worked

with student organizations, including multiple attempts for outreach to our local

group, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, to ensure their right to demonstrate in

ways that are within the boundaries of our Institutional Rules. And student

organizations have held such allowed demonstrations, on many occasions, without

incident.

The Memo went on to say: The organizing student organization, PSC, has received an interim suspension; individuals who were arrested for criminal trespassing will be removed from campus

and arrested if they return to protest.

Their message to us was they did not want us to protest anymore and if we did we would have to do it in a different way, said Abdelmajid whos with PSC. I think the University is making conceited effort, especially the president of our university and Governor Greg Abbott who also released a tweet saying all of these students should be in jail, that free speech is not welcome on this campus, one. And two, they will do anything in their power to intimidate and bully us in getting our message across.

Abdelmajid said PSC is not the only group showing support for the people of Palestine. He said other organizations organized Fridays events.

Leaked memo reveals inside details of UTs protest response

They can ban or suspend our organization, but they cant suspend or ban the beliefs that we hold and the fervor that we hold in upholding and uplifting these beliefs and speaking for the people of Gaza, affiliated to UT or not, our message has always stayed the same and it has always been very clear, said Abdelmajid.

A UT spokesperson tells us PSC has been placed on interim suspension due to alleged violation of institutional rules. The spokesperson went on to say: the group is on interim suspension. Not the individuals.

Some protesters are now calling for UT President Jay Hartzell to step down from his position.

We also want now, especially after the incident that took place a couple of days ago, the resignation of Jay Hartzell, said Abdelmajid.

Hartzell released this comment following the protests:

Dear Campus Community,

Yesterday was clearly a rough, divisive day for our campus. As the push to disrupt top universities spreads across the country, many campuses such as ours are facing similarly difficult challenges. We are all wrestling with how to juggle broad, important goals, including student safety, continuity and excellence in teaching and research, and the right to express ones views and call for change. I imagine that virtually all of us support each of those goals, even though we might disagree to some extent about how to weigh them in a particular situation. The Universitys decision to not allow yesterdays event to go as planned was made because we had credible indications that the events organizers, whether national or local, were trying to follow the pattern we see elsewhere, using the apparatus of free speech and expression to severely disrupt a campus for a long period. Consistent with this broader movement that is impacting so many, problematic aspects of the planned protest were modeled after a national organizations protest playbook. And notably, 26 of the 55 individuals arrested yesterday had no UT affiliation.

Against this backdrop, I am reminded today that we have much to be thankful for. Im thankful we live in a country where free expression is a fiercely protected Constitutional right. Im grateful that our campus has seen 13 pro-Palestinian events take place during the past several months largely without incident  plus another one today. I am grateful that everyone is safe after yesterday, we continue to hold in-person classes, and that todays events followed our long-standing campus standards for allowed demonstrations. And Im grateful to work in a place where people with different points of view come together to try to solve hard problems. Some days, those problems seem especially daunting, but changing the world for the better isnt easy.

Thank you for showing your fellow Longhorns grace and empathy, and for remembering that were all trying to support and educate an incredibly talented group of students. I encourage us all to continue to communicate and work together, and to help our students finish this school year in positive, safe and celebratory ways. -President Jay Hartzell

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters were back on the University of Texas Campus on Thursday, but the mood was much different with much fewer law enforcement present.

KXAN spoke with both pro-Palestine students who were at the protest and pro-Israel students.

I am protesting what is happening in Gaza, a lot of people are dying, said Sarah, a pro-Palestine UT student.

The sentiment towards Israel and Jews, it is really negative, said Jeremy, a Jewish student at UT.

Jeremy said he was concerned by some of the things he heard as we walked around the protest Wednesday.

I was walking around the protest [Wednesday] with an Israeli flag being called a Nazi and to me I think that is absurd, I think that is crazy, said Jeremy.

Gov. Greg Abbott sent this message out on X, formerly Twitter, during the protest.

Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.

Kudos to Governor Abbott for really doing a great job to stop this antisemitisim, said Tyler, a Jewish student at UT. Of course I think there is antisemitsim, they are saying it to our faces they are putting it on signs.

Colleges nationwide turn to police to quell pro-Palestine protests as commencement ceremonies near

A group of pro-Palestine protesters KXAN spoke to said they showed up to protest the war in Palestine and to raise awareness about all the civilians being killed.

In terms of Hamas we have no control over that, most of the pro Palestinian people I have ever talked to, all of them I have ever talked to, do not condone killings of any sorts, said Yasemin, a UT student who is pro-Palestine.

I dont like the people saying this is antisemitic because it is not, said Sarah, a pro-Palestine UT student. There is nothing to do with religion here. It is just about supporting humans and this is a war crime and this is not something we should just glance over.

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance the working definition of antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

I am concerned, continuing, about some of the antisemitic slurs that have occurred and some of the similar fears Muslim students have had, said Congressman Lloyd Doggett. I dont tolerate antisemitism either. I have a long record of that, nor do I tolerate Islamophobia, both are as wrong as racism, but its wrong for Governor Abbott to attack these students as being Hamas supporters as he did.

Doggett said he hopes to continue conversations with both sides moving forward.

It is possible to disagree and disagree strongly, as I certainly do with the right wing Netanyahu government and its policies without being antisemitic, Doggett said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
DAR ES SALAAM, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday pardoned 1,082 prisoners to mark the 60th anniversary of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar that formed the United Republic of Tanzania on April 26, 1964.

A statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs issued late Friday said the presidential amnesty benefitted sick prisoners in terminal stages certified by qualified medical doctors and prisoners aged above 70 years.

According to the statement signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Daniel Sillo, other beneficiaries included female prisoners who were jailed while pregnant, lactating mothers, and prisoners with disabilities who could not work.

The statement added that prisoners who were jailed after they were convicted of economic sabotage, public office abuse, money laundering, corruption, and drug trafficking were not candidates for the presidential amnesty.

The union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was forged between founding presidents Julius Nyerere and Abeid Amani Karume, respectively. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff led the charge during Thursdays pro-Palestine protest on campus. Organizers called themselves the UT Austin Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine.

They held this protest in response to Wednesdays, which ended in dozens of arrests.

LIVE UPDATES: Day 2 of protests begins, 57 people arrested day 1

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Palestine protest at University of Texas at Austin (KXAN viewer photo)

Im a little disappointed to see that DPS showed up in riot gear. I think but for their presence, we would have had a completely peaceful demonstration, said UT School of Journalism and Media Professor Amy Kristin Sanders.

Thursday, faculty spoke out against UT President Jay Hartzell for the heavy law enforcement presence.

We demand that the students not face disciplinary action, one faculty member said.

Calling for Hartzells resignation

Protestors even asked for Hartzell to resign as a result of Wednesdays law enforcement response.

Jay Hartzell has lost all trust, protestors chanted.

Faculty with the American Association of University Professors passed out petitions asking for support to hold a vote of no-confidence in Hartzell.

In a statement released following the protest on Wednesday, Hartzell said, The protesters tried to deliver on their stated intent to occupy campus. People not affiliated with UT joined them, and many ignored University officials continual pleas for restraint and to immediately disperse.

Hartzell said the university was prepared, with the necessary support to maintain campus operations and ensure the safety, well-being and learning environment for our more than 50,000 students.

Will charges be dropped against UT Austin protesters?

Day 2 of protests at UT (Frank Martinez/KXAN photo)

Day 2 of protests at UT (Frank Martinez/KXAN photo)

Day 2 of protests at UT (Frank Martinez/KXAN photo)

Day 2 of protests at UT (Frank Martinez/KXAN photo)

Day 2 of protests at UT (Frank Martinez/KXAN photo)

The UT Faculty Council posted a message Thursday morning expressing disagreement with what they said was President Hartzells decision to invite DPS officers, armed and in riot gear, onto the Forty Acres to disrupt a non-violent protest.

The letter continued to say the council has been in touch with Hartzell and other members of the administration to express their concern over the Universitys decision to escalate matters by inviting DPS onto campus during yesterdays protests.

The council also said it asked Hartzell to lay out specific reasoning for that decision.

UT said in a statement Thursday that the university has had 13 pro-Palestinian free speech events since October that happened largely without incident. It said the difference was that organizers sought to follow the playbook of the national campaign to paralyze the operations of universities across the country, including breaking Institutional Rules and occupying the university.

KXAN crews at Thursdays protest noted it was much calmer than the day before.

Ultimately, faculty said they wanted to show their support during a time when many students said they didnt feel that from the universitys administration.

I think its so important that on a university campus, particularly a public university campus, that our students have the right to make their voices heard, without fearing that the university or law enforcement will take action if theyre peaceably exercising those first amendment rights, Sanders said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Universities of Wisconsin Vice President for University Relations Jeff Buhrandt wrote in a letter to the Richland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that despite tremendous efforts, UW-Platteville will completely vacate the Richland County campus by July 1, 2024. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The University of Wisconsin system announced this week that UW-Platteville will vacate its Richland campus by July  a decision that local officials said will cause adverse effects for the local economy and that Senate Democrats blame on ongoing underfunding of the states public universities by Republican lawmakers.

UW-Platteville eliminated in-person classes at its two-year Richland campus about a year ago due to low enrollment, which fell to a low of about 60 students, and financial pressures. Since the initial announcement, community members and local leaders worked for months on trying to save the campus.

Universities of Wisconsin Vice President for University Relations Jeff Buhrandt wrote in a letter to the Richland County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that despite tremendous efforts, UW-Platteville will completely vacate the Richland County campus by July 1, 2024.

While we are disappointed that we were unable to find a path forward, we also know this change can provide significant new opportunities in Richland County, Buhrandt wrote.

Buhrandt said Richland County would be eligible for $2 million in funding under a law recently passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Tony Evers.

This potential investment by the State of Wisconsin represents the full consideration of the costs expressed by Richland County, Buhrandt wrote. Once UW-Platteville vacates, the land and associated improvements including utilities, water will become the responsibility of the county.

County Administrator Candace Pesch said in a statement that the UW system was shirking their responsibilities by vacating the campus.

At no time, under any circumstance, did the Legislature indicate that receipt of the $2 million grant would absolve the UW Universities System of their obligations to affected counties, Pesch said. Richland County, which had previously relied on the contractual relationship between the parties, is now facing a potential economic crisis due to the Universities decision.

Lawmakers passed the law that will allow $2 million grants, which can be used for economic development, housing and other redevelopment opportunities, to be distributed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation as several UW campuses have made tough decisions to close their two-year branch campuses.

The end of in-person classes at UW-Milwaukees Washington County and UW-Oshkoshs Fond du Lac campuses were announced last fall. In January, UW-Milwaukee announced that its Waukesha County campus will also close after the spring of 2025.

The grants are targeted at helping a county where a UW branch campus has been closed transition and redevelop underutilized campus buildings.

Senate Democrats chastised Republican lawmakers for inadequately funding the UW during a Thursday press conference held outside the state Capitol.

It will hurt our students and their education and the University system as a whole and the Richland County local economy, where local officials have already warned of the pending economic crisis when this happens, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) said.

Hesselbein added that there is a direct line between the fate of the Richland campus and a lack of state funding. The state of Wisconsins contributions to UW campuses have been in steady decline for years due in part to Republican lawmakers state budget decisions.

Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein chastised Republican lawmakers for inadequately funding the UW during a Thursday press conference held outside the state Capitol. (Baylor Spears | Wisconsin Examiner)

[Republicans] have cut the University system significantly in 2011 and in 2013 and by $250 million in 2015, and were still seeing the effects of those devastating cuts, Hesselbein said.

The lawmakers, who specifically pointed to Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) who is running for reelection in the new 14th Senate district that includes Richland Center, were seeking to call attention to the issue as a part of their goal of flipping the 14th district. Sens. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), Kelda Roys (D-Madison) and Sarah Keyeski, the Democratic candidate who is challenging Ballweg in the 14th district, also spoke at the press conference.

Keyeski also said the Richland closure is the result of Republican decisions to cut funding and hold up essential funds over petty, political squabbles.

We need legislators who will stick up for our rural students and keep these essential educational institutions afloat, she said.

Ballweg said in a statement that the Legislature took notice when it was announced classes would end, and that she greatly sympathizes with the county. She said the concerns about the campus closure were why the Legislature passed SB-518, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 250, allocating the redevelopment money this year.

Im in conversation with members of the Richland County Board to be a resource and advocate for their community, Ballweg said. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, I was happy to support the branch campus redevelopment grant legislation and will continue to do everything I can to fight for rural Wisconsin.

The post UW-Platteville vacating Richland campus, Senate Democrats blame Republicans appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms at a medical center in Georgia. Hospitals increasingly are tacking on facility fees for routine services at the smaller clinics and outpatient centers that they own, even when those facilities arent anywhere near the hospitals campus. (David Goldman/The Associated Press)

Even if you have health insurance, you might expect to be charged a copayment for some routine care, like office-based exams and consultations. But you probably dont expect to receive a bill a few weeks later charging you an extra $100 or more.

Thats the situation an increasing number of state lawmakers are looking to change. In most states, a hospital facility fee can legally appear on your bill if your doctor is affiliated with a large hospital system  even if you never set foot on the hospitals campus.

Traditionally, hospitals and health systems add facility fees to help cover the higher costs of operating a full-service, 24/7 hospital  which include expenses such as equipment, support staff, utilities, maintenance and security. They argue the fees help them provide critical services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

But increasingly, hospitals are tacking on facility fees for routine services at the smaller clinics and outpatient centers they own, even when those facilities arent anywhere near the hospitals campus. The fees can add anywhere from $15 to $100 or more to a medical bill. Patients have reported being charged out-of-hospital facility fees of $503 for a pediatric visit, $488 for an appointment to get ADHD medication, and $355 for steroid injections for arthritis.

Patients arent the only ones upset. Employers, aghast at the soaring costs of their employees health insurance, have banded together in states such as Indiana and Texas to push lawmakers to do something.

Everything else at the providers office looks and feels the same, said Maureen Hensley-Quinn, senior director of the coverage, cost and value team at the nonprofit National Academy for State Health Policy.

But [patients] end up with a larger bill for a service they had previously gotten for a lesser amount because the hospital is now treating the provider office as a hospital outpatient department, she said.

Hensley-Quinn said state lawmakers began relaying their constituents complaints to her organization about five years ago, and since then at least 15 states have taken action to address facility fees. Some, including Colorado, Connecticut and New York, have banned facility fees for certain outpatient services at non-hospital locations or for telehealth visits. Those states, as well as others, including Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, now require hospitals to notify patients about facility fees ahead of time.

In the most recent legislative sessions, at least 16 bills were introduced in 10 states to address the fees, said Hensley-Quinn.

Its big states, small states, its very red states, very blue states, she said. Legislators across the country are raising these issues and asking questions about what increased consolidation means.

More chains, fewer independents

A rise in fees and other patient costs springs from the growing consolidation of the American health care system, researchers and lawmakers say. Large hospital systems are gobbling up clinics, physician groups, and urgent care and imaging centers. Those facilities can then become outpatient departments of the hospitals.

A study published last year illustrates why hospital systems are motivated to make those moves: In the early 2000s, the federal government began cutting Medicare payments to doctors for noninvasive cardiac tests performed in a cardiologists office, but kept its payments flat or increased them for the same tests if they were performed in a hospital-based outpatient facility.

That dollar gap incentivized hospitals to acquire cardiology practices so that they could move cardiac tests to the outpatient facilities that could charge higher fees, researchers found.

More than a dozen states have passed facility fee laws just in the past few years, according to a recent report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, an advocacy nonprofit focused on consumer protection issues.

The efforts have been largely bipartisan. Indianas 2023 package of health care bills, which increased reporting requirements for hospitals charging facility fees, was authored by Republicans but passed with bipartisan support. That same year, Democratic lawmakers in Colorado passed a measure, with some Republican support, that prevents larger hospital systems from charging facility fees for preventive outpatient services.

Fees on the rise

Connecticut has the nations most robust facility fee laws. Last year, lawmakers expanded existing law to ban the fees for some routine outpatient services even if theyre performed on a hospital campus. The new law also beefed up state enforcement and created new reporting requirements for hospital systems.

These fees are part of the increased cost of health care, said Connecticut state Sen. Saud Anwar, a Democrat and a practicing physician who supported the new requirements. Facility fees, depending on location, are a very fast-growing segment of that health care cost. We are looking for ways to control that.

Hospital leaders say the fees help them cover overhead costs. That makes it possible for them to maintain all the essential services they provide to their patients and communities, especially as Medicare and Medicaid continue to chronically underpay hospitals for the costs of delivering that care, the American Hospital Association, a trade group, wrote in a statement to Stateline.

But prices for common outpatient services are significantly higher when theyre delivered in a hospital-owned outpatient department versus in a physicians office or ambulatory surgery center, according to a 2023 analysis by Blue Health Intelligence, a division of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For example, a mammogram performed in an office setting might bill insurance for $232, but in a hospital-owned outpatient department, facility fees bring the total to $357.50, according to the report.

These fees are part of the increased cost of health care. Facility fees  are a very fast-growing segment of that health care cost. We are looking for ways to control that.

 Connecticut state Sen. Saud Anwar, a Democrat and a practicing physician

And facility fees appear to be rising.

Last year, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found that the greatest increase in medical spending in Massachusetts commercial health care market was for hospital outpatient departments. Facility fees grew more than four times faster from 2019-2021 than physician/professional fees. The commission recommended lawmakers prohibit facility fees for common services such as lab tests, basic imaging and diagnostic services, as well as physician office visits.

In a 2020 study published in the journal Annals of Surgery, researchers found that facility fees for common outpatient procedures in the United States rose by 53% from 2011-2017, while physicians professional fees remained steady. The increases were primarily driven by facility fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

Back and forth

Not everyones convinced that banning or restricting facility fees will curb rising health care costs.

Last year, Maine lawmakers considered a bill that would have outlawed facility fees for services not located on hospital campuses. They ultimately chose instead to create a task force to study facility fees.

The hospital association and other hospitals in the state came out pretty strongly against the bill, essentially saying facility fees are a billing mechanism to cover their costs  that all of their costs are essentially rolled up into their facility fees and theyd go bankrupt if they couldnt bill for them, said Lisa Nolan, director of legislative affairs at the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, one of the stakeholder organizations involved with the task force.

Many rural hospitals and those that serve low-income communities are struggling financially, in part because of inadequate payments from insurers, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, a national policy organization.

More than 100 rural hospitals have closed nationwide in the past decade, and nearly 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closing in the near future. Some hospital leaders argue that removing the ability to charge facility fees could tip struggling hospitals into bankruptcy.

Maines task force recommended the legislature consider restricting facility fees for certain services, including telehealth. Yet many state lawmakers on the committee considering a new bill this year remained unconvinced. After some political wrangling, they passed a bill last month  now awaiting the governors signature  that requires health systems to notify patients about facility fees.

Nolan is skeptical that the laws banning facility fees would meaningfully reduce costs for consumers or insurance companies.

Providers would find other ways to incorporate them into their bills, she said. There needs to be discussions about what are appropriate rates, how can providers be more efficient, and how can we reduce administrative costs for carriers and providers.

Are some of those costs higher than they should be? Thats a different discussion than just wiping away facility fees.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Youve covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the facility fee appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
A radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms at a medical center in Georgia. Hospitals increasingly are tacking on facility fees for routine services at the smaller clinics and outpatient centers that they own, even when those facilities arent anywhere near the hospitals campus. David Goldman/The Associated Press

Even if you have health insurance, you might expect to be charged a copayment for some routine care, like office-based exams and consultations. But you probably dont expect to receive a bill a few weeks later charging you an extra $100 or more.

Thats the situation an increasing number of state lawmakers are looking to change. In most states, a hospital facility fee can legally appear on your bill if your doctor is affiliated with a large hospital system  even if you never set foot on the hospitals campus.

Traditionally, hospitals and health systems add facility fees to help cover the higher costs of operating a full-service, 24/7 hospital  which include expenses such as equipment, support staff, utilities, maintenance and security. They argue the fees help them provide critical services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

But increasingly, hospitals are tacking on facility fees for routine services at the smaller clinics and outpatient centers they own, even when those facilities arent anywhere near the hospitals campus. The fees can add anywhere from $15 to $100 or more to a medical bill. Patients have reported being charged out-of-hospital facility fees of $503 for a pediatric visit, $488 for an appointment to get ADHD medication, and $355 for steroid injections for arthritis.

Patients arent the only ones upset. Employers, aghast at the soaring costs of their employees health insurance, have banded together in states such as Indiana and Texas to push lawmakers to do something.

Everything else at the providers office looks and feels the same, said Maureen Hensley-Quinn, senior director of the coverage, cost and value team at the nonprofit National Academy for State Health Policy.

But [patients] end up with a larger bill for a service they had previously gotten for a lesser amount because the hospital is now treating the provider office as a hospital outpatient department, she said.

Hensley-Quinn said state lawmakers began relaying their constituents complaints to her organization about five years ago, and since then at least 15 states have taken action to address facility fees. Some, including Colorado, Connecticut and New York, have banned facility fees for certain outpatient services at non-hospital locations or for telehealth visits. Those states, as well as others, including Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, now require hospitals to notify patients about facility fees ahead of time.

In the most recent legislative sessions, at least 16 bills were introduced in 10 states to address the fees, said Hensley-Quinn.

Its big states, small states, its very red states, very blue states, she said. Legislators across the country are raising these issues and asking questions about what increased consolidation means.

More chains, fewer independents

A rise in fees and other patient costs springs from the growing consolidation of the American health care system, researchers and lawmakers say. Large hospital systems are gobbling up clinics, physician groups, and urgent care and imaging centers. Those facilities can then become outpatient departments of the hospitals.

A study published last year illustrates why hospital systems are motivated to make those moves: In the early 2000s, the federal government began cutting Medicare payments to doctors for noninvasive cardiac tests performed in a cardiologists office, but kept its payments flat or increased them for the same tests if they were performed in a hospital-based outpatient facility.

That dollar gap incentivized hospitals to acquire cardiology practices so that they could move cardiac tests to the outpatient facilities that could charge higher fees, researchers found.

More than a dozen states have passed facility fee laws just in the past few years, according to a recent report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, an advocacy nonprofit focused on consumer protection issues.

The efforts have been largely bipartisan. Indianas 2023 package of health care bills, which increased reporting requirements for hospitals charging facility fees, was authored by Republicans but passed with bipartisan support. That same year, Democratic lawmakers in Colorado passed a measure, with some Republican support, that prevents larger hospital systems from charging facility fees for preventive outpatient services.

Fees on the rise

Connecticut has the nations most robust facility fee laws. Last year, lawmakers expanded existing law to ban the fees for some routine outpatient services even if theyre performed on a hospital campus. The new law also beefed up state enforcement and created new reporting requirements for hospital systems.

These fees are part of the increased cost of health care, said Connecticut state Sen. Saud Anwar, a Democrat and a practicing physician who supported the new requirements. Facility fees, depending on location, are a very fast-growing segment of that health care cost. We are looking for ways to control that.

Hospital leaders say the fees help them cover overhead costs. That makes it possible for them to maintain all the essential services they provide to their patients and communities, especially as Medicare and Medicaid continue to chronically underpay hospitals for the costs of delivering that care, the American Hospital Association, a trade group, wrote in a statement to Stateline.

But prices for common outpatient services are significantly higher when theyre delivered in a hospital-owned outpatient department versus in a physicians office or ambulatory surgery center, according to a 2023 analysis by Blue Health Intelligence, a division of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For example, a mammogram performed in an office setting might bill insurance for $232, but in a hospital-owned outpatient department, facility fees bring the total to $357.50, according to the report.

And facility fees appear to be rising.

Last year, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found that the greatest increase in medical spending in Massachusetts commercial health care market was for hospital outpatient departments. Facility fees grew more than four times faster from 2019-2021 than physician/professional fees. The commission recommended lawmakers prohibit facility fees for common services such as lab tests, basic imaging and diagnostic services, as well as physician office visits.

In a 2020 study published in the journal Annals of Surgery, researchers found that facility fees for common outpatient procedures in the United States rose by 53% from 2011-2017, while physicians professional fees remained steady. The increases were primarily driven by facility fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

Back and forth

Not everyones convinced that banning or restricting facility fees will curb rising health care costs.

Last year, Maine lawmakers considered a bill that would have outlawed facility fees for services not located on hospital campuses. They ultimately chose instead to create a task force to study facility fees.

The hospital association and other hospitals in the state came out pretty strongly against the bill, essentially saying facility fees are a billing mechanism to cover their costs  that all of their costs are essentially rolled up into their facility fees and theyd go bankrupt if they couldnt bill for them, said Lisa Nolan, director of legislative affairs at the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, one of the stakeholder organizations involved with the task force.

Many rural hospitals and those that serve low-income communities are struggling financially, in part because of inadequate payments from insurers, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, a national policy organization.

More than 100 rural hospitals have closed nationwide in the past decade, and nearly 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closing in the near future. Some hospital leaders argue that removing the ability to charge facility fees could tip struggling hospitals into bankruptcy.

Maines task force recommended the legislature consider restricting facility fees for certain services, including telehealth. Yet many state lawmakers on the committee considering a new bill this year remained unconvinced. After some political wrangling, they passed a bill last month  now awaiting the governors signature  that requires health systems to notify patients about facility fees.

Nolan is skeptical that the laws banning facility fees would meaningfully reduce costs for consumers or insurance companies.

Providers would find other ways to incorporate them into their bills, she said. There needs to be discussions about what are appropriate rates, how can providers be more efficient, and how can we reduce administrative costs for carriers and providers.

Are some of those costs higher than they should be? Thats a different discussion than just wiping away facility fees.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Youve covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the facility fee appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
For three long years, Supreme Court watchers mollified themselves (and others) with vague promises that when the rubber hit the road, even the ultraconservative Federalist Society justices of the Roberts court would put democracy before party whenever they were finally confronted with the legal effort to hold Donald Trump accountable for Jan. 6. There were promising signs: They had, after all, refused to wade into the Trumpian efforts to set aside the election results in 2020. They had, after all, hewed to a kind of sanity in batting away Trumpist claims about presidential records (with the lone exception of Clarence Thomas, too long marinated in the Ginni-scented Kool-Aid to be capable of surprising us, but he was just one vote). We promised ourselves that there would be cool heads and grand bargains and that even though the court might sometimes help Trump in small ways, it would privilege the country in the end. We kept thinking that at least for Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts, the voice of reasoned never-Trumpers might still penetrate the Fox News fog. We told ourselves that at least six justices, and maybe even seven, of the most MAGA-friendly court in history would still want to ensure that this Novembers elections would not be the last in history. Political hacks they may be, but they were not lawless ones.

On Thursday, during oral arguments in Trump v. United States, the Republican-appointed justices shattered those illusions. This was the case we had been waiting for, and all was made clearbrutally so. These justices donned the attitude of cynical partisans, repeatedly lending legitimacy to the former presidents outrageous claims of immunity from criminal prosecution. To at least five of the conservatives, the real threat to democracy wasnt Trumps attempt to overturn the electionbut the Justice Departments efforts to prosecute him for the act. These justices fear that it is Trumps prosecution for election subversion that will destabilize democracy, requiring them to read a brand-new principle of presidential immunity into a Constitution that guarantees nothing of the sort. They evinced virtually no concern for our ability to continue holding free and fair elections that culminate in a peaceful transfer of power. They instead offered endless solicitude for the former president who fought that transfer of power.

However the court disposes of Trump v. U.S., the result will almost certainly be precisely what the former president craves: more delays, more hearings, more appealsmore of everything but justice. This was not a legitimate claim from the start, but a wild attempt by Trumps attorneys to use his former role as chief executive of the United States to shield himself from the consequences of trying to turn the presidency into a dictatorship. After so much speculation that these reasonable, rational jurists would surely dispose of this ridiculous case quickly and easily, Thursday delivered a morass of bad-faith hand-wringing on the right about the apparently unbearable possibility that a president might no longer be allowed to wield his powers of office in pursuit of illegal ends. Just as bad, we heard a constant minimization of Jan. 6, for the second week in a row, as if the insurrection were ancient history, and history that has since been dramatically overblown, presumably for Democrats partisan aims.

We got an early taste of this minimization in Trump v. Anderson, the Colorado case about removing Trump from the ballot. The court didnt have the stomach to discuss the violence at the Capitol in its sharply divided decision, which found for Trump; indeed, the majority barely mentioned the events of Jan. 6 at all when rejecting Colorados effort to bar from the ballot an insurrectionist who tried to steal our democracy. But we let that one be, because we figured special counsel Jack Smith would ride to the rescue. Smith has indicted Trump on election subversion charges related to Jan. 6, and the biggest obstacle standing between the special counsel and a trial has been the former presidents outlandish claim that he has absolute immunity from criminal charges as a result of his having been president at the time. Specifically, Trump alleges that his crusade to overturn the election constituted official acts that are immune from criminal liability under a heretofore unknown constitutional principle that the chief executive is quite literally above the law.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held in February that the president does not have blanket or absolute immunity for all actions taken in office, including official acts performed under the guise of executing the law (for example, Trumps attempt to weaponize the DOJ against election results under the pretense of investigating fraud). The D.C. Circuits emphatic, cross-ideological decision should have been summarily affirmed by SCOTUS within days. Instead, the justices set it for arguments two months down the roada bad omen, to put it mildly. Even then, many court watchers held out hope that Thursday mornings oral arguments were to be the moment for the nine justices of the Supreme Court to finally indicate their readiness to take on Trump, Trumpism, illiberalism, and slouching fascism.

It was not to be. Justice Samuel Alito best captured the spirit of arguments when he asked gravely what is required for the functioning of a stable democratic society (good start!), then answered his own question: total immunity for criminal presidents (oh, dear). Indeed, anything but immunity would, he suggested, encourage presidents to commit more crimes to stay in office: Now, if an incumbent who loses a very close, hotly contested election knows that a real possibility after leaving office is not that the president is going to be able to go off into a peaceful retirement but that the president may be criminally prosecuted by a bitter political opponent, will that not lead us into a cycle that destabilizes the functioning of our country as a democracy? Never mind that the president in question did not leave office peacefully and is not sitting quietly in retirement but is instead running for presidential office once again. No, if we want criminal presidents to leave office when they lose, we have to let them commit crimes scot-free. If ever a better articulation of the legal principle Dont make me hit you again has been proffered at an oral argument, its hard to imagine it.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to this absurdity when she responded in what could only be heard as a cri de coeur: Stable democratic society needs good faith of public officials, she said. That good faith assumes that they will follow the law. The justice noted that despite all the protections in place, a democracy can sometimes potentially fail. She concluded: In the end, if it fails completely, its because we destroyed our democracy on our own, isnt it?

But it was probably too late to make this plea, because by that point we had heard both Alito and Gorsuch opine that presidents must be protected at all costs from the whims of overzealous deep state prosecutors brandishing vague criminal statutes. We heard Kavanaugh opine mindlessly on the independent counsel statute and how mean it is to presidents, reading extensively from Justice Antonin Scalias dissent in a case arguing that independent counsels are unconstitutional. (Yes, Kavanaugh worked for Ken Starr, the independent counsel.) If youre clocking a trend here, its gender. Just as was the case in Anderson, its the women justices doing the second-shift work here: both probing the thorny constitutional and criminal questions and signaling a refusal to tank democracy over abstractions and deflections. As was the case in the EMTALA arguments, its the women who understand what it looks like to cheat death.

Is the president, Sotomayor asked, immune from prosecution if he orders the military to assassinate a political rival? Yes, said John Sauer, who represented Trumpthough it depends on the circumstances. Could the president, Justice Elena Kagan asked, order the military to stage a coup? Yes, Sauer said again, depending on the circumstances. To which Kagan tartly replied that Sauers insistence on specifying the circumstances boiled down to Under my test, its an official act, but that sure sounds bad, doesnt it? (Cue polite laughter in the chamber.)

This shameless, maximalist approach should have drawn anger from the conservative justicesindignation, at least, that Sauer took them for such easy marks. But it turns out that he calibrated his terrible arguments just right. The cynicism on display was truly breathtaking: Alito winkingly implied to Michael Dreeben, representing Smith, that we all know that Justice Department lawyers are political hacks, right? Roberts mocked Dreeben for saying Theres no reason to worry because the prosecutor will act in good faith.

The conservative justices are so in love with their own voices and so convinced of their own rectitude that they monologued about how improper it was for Dreeben to keep talking about the facts of this case, as opposed to the abstract principles at play. Im talking about the future! Kavanaugh declared at one point to Dreeben, pitching himself not as Trumps human shield but as a principled defender of the treasured constitutional right of all presidents to do crime. (Were sure whatever rule he cooks up will apply equally to Democratic presidents, right?) Kavanaugh eventually landed on the proposition that prosecutors may charge presidents only under criminal statutes that explicitly state they can be applied to the president. Which, as Sotomayor pointed out, would mean no charges everywhere, because just a tiny handful of statutes are stamped with the label CAN BE APPLIED TO PRESIDENT.

The words bold and fearless action were repeated on a loop today, as a kind of mantra of how effective presidents must be free to act quickly and decisively to save democracy from the many unanticipated threats it faces. And yet the courtwhich has been asked to take bold and fearless action to deter the person who called Georgias secretary of state to demand that he alter the vote count, and threatened to fire DOJ officials who would not help steal an electionis backing away from its own duty. The prospect of a criminal trial for a criminal president shocked and appalled five men: Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch suggested that Smiths entire prosecution is unconstitutional; meanwhile, Roberts sounded eager at times to handle the case just a hair more gracefully: by cutting out its heart by preventing the jury from hearing about official acts (which lie at the center of the alleged conspiracy). Justice Amy Coney Barrett was far more measured, teasing out a compromise with Dreeben that would compel the trial court to tell the jury it could not impose criminal liability for these official acts, only private ones. Remember, drawing that line would require months of hearings and appeals, pushing any trial into 2025 or beyond. The president who tried to steal the most recent election is running in the next one, which is happening in mere months.

The liberal justices tried their best to make the case that justice required denying Trumps sweeping immunity claim, permitting the trial to move forward, and sorting out lingering constitutional issues afterward, as virtually all other criminal defendants must do. They got little traction. Everyone on that bench was well aware that the entire nation was listening to arguments; that the whole nation wants to understand whether Trumps refusal to concede the 2020 election was an existential threat to democracy or a lark. Five justices sent the message, loud and clear, that they are far more worried about Trumps prosecution at the hands of the deep-state DOJ than about his alleged crimes, which were barely mentioned. This trial will almost certainly face yet more delays. These delays might mean that its subject could win back the presidency in the meantime and render the trial moot. But the court has now signaled that nothing he did was all that serious and that the danger he may pose is not worth reining in. The real threats they see are the ones Trump himself shouts from the rooftops: witch hunts and partisan Biden prosecutors. These men have picked their team. The rest hardly matters.
CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A vehicle caught fire early Friday morning on I-65 in Conecuh County, according to a news release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Man in critical condition after crash with Escambia County deputy: FHP

The vehicle fire occurred around 2:45 a.m. Friday, according to the release, and caused a lane to be closed.

The southbound lanes of I-65 near Exit 93 were closed until around 9:45 a.m., leading to traffic being diverted at Exit 114.

A photo shows a vehicle engulfed in flames on I-65. (Photo courtesy: David Lankford)

A photo sent to News 5 shows a vehicle engulfed in flames with heavy smoke protruding from the flames.

ALEA is investigating the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
The conventional wisdom is that Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, who has banned all major opposition candidates from running for office, will proclaim himself reelected in his sham July 28 elections. But things are not going well for Maduro, and the latest events make me wonder whether he will get away with his plans.

Granted, the Venezuelan ruler is determined to stay in power. He is likely to place new restrictions on opposition candidates, so that he can reelect himself for a new term in a rigged electoral process that would be accepted by Russia, Iran, and Cuba, and perhaps some other Latin American countries.

But Maduro probably didnt count with the level of internal opposition hes facing in Venezuela, nor with the skillful reaction from his political rivals to circumvent his electoral schemes, nor with the waning support from some of his key leftist allies in Latin America.

First, Maduro is widely unpopular in Venezuela, and his recent moves to ban one top opposition candidate after another may have boomeranged against him. His efforts to rig the electoral process are so obvious that they have become laughable and triggered a growing rejection at home and abroad.

Dwindling support

A survey by Venezuelas Delphos polling firm in December found that only 25% of Venezuelans support Maduros ruling party, down from 30% a year earlier. Another poll released by More Consulting released this month shows that only 22% of Venezuelans intend to vote for Maduro, while 46% plan to vote for the strongest opposition candidate.

Maduros vulnerability had already become apparent at the opposition-organized primary elections in October, when  unexpectedly  more than 2.4 million people showed up to vote despite government intimidation efforts. Maria Corina Machado, the most vocal of Maduros critics, won with 93% of the vote.

After the Maduro-controlled justice system reacted by enacting a ban on Machado from running for office, Machado appointed Corina Yoris, a politically unknown 80-year-old university professor, to run in her place. Predictably, shortly thereafter, the Maduro regime banned Yoris from running, citing a technicality.

Earlier this month, however, something extraordinary happened: Manuel Rosales, a governor who criticizes Maduro but whom Venezuelas opposition leaders had long suspected to be a behind-the-scenes Maduro ally, announced that he was not running for president as an alternative opposition candidate.

Instead, Rosales teamed up with Machado to support a united opposition candidate, little-known 74-year-old diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urritia. His candidacy complicates Maduros plan to split the opposition in various parties, and declare himself the winner even if he can only win a third of the vote.

Of course, there is a good chance that Maduro will ban Gonzalez Urrutia  or the entire opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition party that appointed him  perhaps even before you get to read these lines.

But Gonzalez Urrutia took the precaution to also present himself as another partys candidate. In addition, the MUD may pick yet another unknown candidate. The bottom line is that whoever gets the support of Machado and the MUD may have a majority of the vote.

Pushback in Latin America

Second, Maduros key democratically-elected leftist allies in Latin America  Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian president Gustavo Petro  have started to publicly urge the Venezuelan ruler to allow a fair electoral process. They clearly fear that a further radicalization of Venezuelas dictatorship would hurt their own standing with moderate voters in their home countries.

Lula recently welcomed the decision by Venezuelas opposition to unite behind a single candidate as an extraordinary event. Petro, who was once banned himself from running for president, has said that the decision to ban Machado was an anti-democratic coup.

Third, the Biden Administration may decide to put more economic and diplomatic pressure on Maduro to allow Gonzalez Urrutia to run. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been urged by Venezuelan opposition leaders to step up U.S. diplomatic efforts to get Brazil and Colombia to press Maduro into allowing a competitive election, people familiar with the talks told me.

To be sure, Maduro will not leave power voluntarily. He may decide to suspend the elections altogether, and turn Venezuela into an unabashed tyranny like Cuba or Nicaragua. But Venezuela has a much better-organized opposition than Cuba, and has a less diversified economy than Nicaragua, which makes it more vulnerable to U.S. oil sanctions.

Venezuelas opposition faces an uphill battle to win the July elections. But Maduro is finding himself in a much tougher spot than many of us thought six months ago. Im not ruling anything out.

Dont miss the Oppenheimer Presenta TV show on Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on CNN en Espanol. Blog: andresoppenheimer.com
(FOX40.COM)  On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their brand new community-based outpatient clinic just outside of Stockton.

The officially named Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic spans 150,000 square feet and will offer a number of services including:

 Addiction and substance use care

 Advice nurse

 Audiology and speech treatment

 Chiropractic care

 Homeless veteran care

 Mental health care

 And more

Folsom Police welcome Teslas to vehicle fleet

The clinic is located at 6505 South Manthey Road, French Camp, and is about a 55-minute drive from Sacramento and an eight-minute drive from central Stockton.

The $505 million project will also be accompanied by a 140,000-square-foot community living center and a 20,000-square-foot engineering logistics building once contracts are awarded later this year, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District.

The newly opened clinic will be responsible for providing patient care for about 50% of the Sacramento/Northern California area.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Three Chinese taikonauts blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Thursday and set off after the the Tiangong space station to replace three long-duration crew members who are closing out a six-month stay in space.

With veteran Ye Guangfu, 43, at the controls of the Shenzhou 18 spacecraft, flanked by rookies Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, the Long March 2F rocket roared to life at 8:59 a.m. EDT (8:59 p.m. Beijing time) and smoothly climbed away on a southwesterly trajectory matching the station's orbit.

A Long March 2F rocket blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China carrying three Taikonauts on a flight to the Tiangong space station. / Credit: CCTV

Ye and his crewmates then monitored an automated 6.5-hour rendezvous with the Tiangong station and docked at 3:32 p.m. EDT, joining Shenzhou-17 commander Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin aboard the orbital outpost.

"My two crew members and I, as well as the entire space mission team, are fully prepared and confident (in our ability) to complete this space flight mission," Ye said in translated remarks during a news conference Wednesday.

Tang and his crewmates plan to depart and return to Earth with landing in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 30, closing out a six-month stay in orbit that began with launch on Oct. 25.

The Shenzhou 18 flight is China's seventh piloted mission to the space station and its fifth since around-the-clock staffing began in June 2022. The launching was carried live on Chinese television, providing spectacular shots of the rocket's climb to space and interior views of the taikonauts as they monitored cockpit displays.

Ye is the only space veteran on the crew, completing a 182-day tour of duty in 2021-22 as part of the Shenzhou 13 mission. Li Cong and Li Guangsu are rookies making their first flight.

As a first-time flyer, Li Guangsu said he was looking forward to traveling 7.9 meters per second  roughly 17,500 mph  and "cannot wait" to experience weightlessness.

The Shenzhou 18 crew greeting journalists at a pre-launch news conference Wednesday. Left to right: Li Cong, commander Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu. Guangfu is a space veteran, logging 182 days in orbit during a stay aboard the Tiangong space station in 2021-22. His two crewmates are making their first flight. / Credit: China Manned Space Agency

"There are no wings, but I still can fly!" he said at the traditional pre-flight news conference. "What a great experience for me. I also would like to take this opportunity to see the blue planet, to have a good look at the marvelous landscape of our motherland."

During their stay in space, Ye and company will carry out a full slate of more than 90 scientific research projects along with two to three spacewalks to install external experiments, micrometeoroid shielding and other equipment.

Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, said the crew also will participate in ongoing science education outreach and unload the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship before their Shenzhou 19 replacements arrive in October.

The Chinese space station is made up of three large modules connected in a T-shaped configuration. The Tianhe core module, launched in April 2021, is the centerpiece of the complex, providing crew quarters, life support systems, communications, spacecraft controls, an airlock and multiple docking ports.

Two other large modules  Wentian and Mengtian  were attached to Tianhe in 2022. The station has a mass of about 100 tons.

The 450-ton International Space Station is made up of more than a dozen pressurized modules provided by the United States, Russia, the European Space Agency and Japan. Construction began in 1998 and the lab has been permanently staffed by rotating astronaut-cosmonaut crews since 2000.

The Shenzhou 18 crew (left) monitors cockpit displays during the climb to space while the Shenzhou 17 crew they are replacing watches the ascent from the Tiangong space station. / Credit: CCTV

The Tiangong station has been permanently staffed since June 2022 with the arrival of the Shenzhou 14 crew. While smaller than the ISS, the Chinese lab is newer and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, computers and instrumentation.

NASA and its partners plan to retire the ISS in 2030, remotely driving it to a destructive re-entry in the atmosphere above the south Pacific Ocean, well away from shipping lanes and populated areas. That will leave Tiangong as the only government-operated space station in low-Earth orbit.

NASA is counting on commercial space stations operated by private companies to provide research opportunities in Earth orbit in the 2030s while the U.S. agency pursues a return to the moon later this decade with the agency's Artemis program.

China plans to launch its own taikonauts to the moon starting in 2030, fueling what NASA Administrator Bill Nelson calls a new superpower space race.

"It is a fact: We're in a space race," he told Politico in an interview published last year. "And it is true that we better watch out that they don't get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, 'keep out, we're here, this is our territory.'"

The CGTN news agency, quoting Lin, said the Long March-10 moon rocket, the Mengzhou (Dream Vessel) crew transport spacecraft and the Lanyue (Embracing the Moon) lunar lander have completed design reviews and prototypes are currently being tested.

NASA plans its first piloted Artemis mission late next year, launching three NASA astronauts and a Canadian flyer on a looping voyage around the moon and back to test the agency's Orion crew transport ship.

The Long March 2F rocket and Shenzhou 18 spacecraft awaiting launch at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. / Credit: CCTV

If all goes well, NASA plans to land astronauts near the moon's south pole in the 2026-27 timeframe. But that will depend on SpaceX perfecting its Starship moon lander and Super Heavy booster.

China is in the process of selecting a fourth batch of taikonauts that Lin said will participate in space station activities as well as upcoming moon missions.

He repeated comments he made before the Shenzhou 17 launch, saying China, like the United States and its ISS partners, plans to begin launch fliers from other nations, including space tourists.

"We will accelerate the research and promotion of the participation of foreign astronauts and space tourists in flights with China's space station," he said in translated remarks published by The Washington Post. "We definitely expect to see astronauts of different identities on China's space station."

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  Veterans from the William F Green Veterans Home received a warm welcome Thursday, as they arrived at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola for a Tour of Honor.

Pensacola police seek driver in hit-and-run

I feel honored. You know the Korean War veterans have mostly been overlooked. Its called the Forgotten War. But Ill never forget it, said Wilburn Sanders, a Korean War veteran said.

Community Hospice puts on the yearly event, where veterans are given a guided tour of the museum, tailored to the conflicts they served.

But perhaps the most special part of the day was when the veterans from all lines of service sat with the newest generation of service men and women, passing words of wisdom.

Veteran Mary Bennetts advice, Just hang in there. Sometimes its hard, just hang in there. Theyve got good training, you can get a good education. Sometimes you dont get stationed exactly where you want to be but usually its for the best, Bennett said.

I look at them today and say I was 20 years old when they got me in the military. But this countrys worth fighting for, James Emanual a Korean War veteran said.

Community Hospice said Thursdays events were a small thank you for a big sacrifice.

And its a day that means just as much to the old and young alike.

They look forward to this event every year. As soon as they pull up on the tour bus they see the sailors man the rails. And then they come out and theyre met with so many sailors and so many staff to welcome them to the museum. They are delighted to be here, Tim Buttell, Vice President of Community Hospice said.

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It makes me feel pretty good knowing that this older generation is kind of passing the torch to us and seeing us off and giving us a little insight, Evan Feagin an Airman Apprentice said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
SINGAPORE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said Friday it arrested 67 suspected drug offenders, including a 16-year-old female, in an island-wide anti-drug operation from April 21 to 26.

The CNB seized 572 grams of cannabis, 222 grams of heroin, and 55 grams of Ice, among other drugs, with an estimated value of 62,000 Singapore dollars (45,500 U.S. dollars).

Investigations into the cases were ongoing. 
Advocates for transgender people fear that a bill to ban gender-affirming care for youths would also effectively ban social transitioning.

As the Republican-led Legislature reconvened for veto session on Thursday, advocates held a Statehouse news conference addressing concerns with Senate Bill 233. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but Republican lawmakers appear to have the supermajorities necessary to override her.

Most of the discourse over SB 233 has focused on its ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths, including hormone therapy and surgery.

But vague wording in other provisions restrict government employees, which could include teachers and social workers, from promoting social transitioning.

"Social transitioning includes things like using a different name, using different pronouns or changing the way you dress," said Isaac Johnson, a social work intern in Topeka Public Schools. "The exact consequences of SB 233 are unclear, as it provides no real definition on who is a employee, or what counts as promoting or advocating for social transition. I am frightened of what this bill could mean for both Kansas children and those of us who serve them."

He fears that SB 233, if it becomes law, "could criminalize any affirming interaction I have with a child who expresses curiosity or confusion about their gender," such as using their preferred name and pronouns.

Isaac Johnson, a social work intern for Topeka Public Schools USD 501, shares his thoughts on social transitioning during a rally Thursday afternoon at the Statehouse.

Teachers and social workers say they don't indoctrinate kids to be LGBTQ

Johnson started identifying as trans a month before his 15th birthday

"Then I had to hide for a very long time because I was in an environment that wasn't safe," he said. "I couldn't tell people about it. I was in a lot of mental agony. ... When I finally started taking testosterone  at this point in time I was 23 years old  my mental health problems, they just disappeared. I felt so much better."

He said hiding being trans didn't change that he was trans.

"There's no one causing kids to be trans," Johnson said. "Kids just are what they are."

As a social worker, he said, "It is not my job nor my place to tell the students I work with if they are or are not transgender and what they should do about it. I am simply there to listen to them and help them process their emotions in a healthy, productive way."

Emerson Hoffzales, a teacher in Lawrence, shares their thoughts on social transitioning during a rally Thursday afternoon at the Kansas Statehouse.

Emerson Hoffzales, an English teacher in Lawrence, said educators and social workers aren't encouraging children to identify as LGBTQ.

"I'm not here to indoctrinate, that's not my job," they said. "But also, the joke that you hear is if I'm going to indoctrinate them, I want to have them bring their pencils to class, turn in assignments, read the chapter of whatever novel we're reading that week.

Parent says professionals should be able to work with children

Rev. Annie Ricker is a pastor of two United Methodist churches in the Topeka area and the board chair of Kansas Interfaith Action. She is also the parent of a 12-year-old daughter attending Shawnee Heights Middle School who questions her gender identity.

"Educators and medical personnel who work with kids like my daughter need to be able to provide the encouragement and affirmation that all our students need," Ricker said, "not only for things like gender or sexuality, but because kids who are figuring out who they are need encouragement and affirmation and a safe environment in which to figure those things out."

Rev. Annie Ricker said youths who are figuring out where they are need encouragement and a safe environment. Ricker spoke during a Thursday rally at the Statehouse.

Ricker also worries that her daughter's school's gay-straight alliance group could be forced underground because it could no longer have a teacher sponsoring it.

Hoffzales said the bill "potentially threatens the very educators who care for these students day in and day out by scaring them out of the profession."

Social worker thinks bill will 'do more harm than good'

While Johnson said people have called him "mutilated" and "disgusting," he said "I'm so happy, I love being trans, I am not ashamed of myself."

He added that he understands the fear that people may have.

"I get it, it's scary, it's a lot of change," Johnson said. "But I don't think a bill that says you can't talk about it with your teachers is going to help anyone. It'll do more harm than good."

Johnson said he has worked with children who are exploring their gender identity but ultimately realize they aren't trans after talking about it or trying out social transitioning.

"It's kind of ironic that they're trying to push for this ban on social transitioning," Johnson said, "because letting kids socially transition is the first step to letting them explore whether that's right or not for them. I've had kids who said, 'I'm going to go by this name and pronoun,' they do for a bit, and they say, 'Actually, that's not for me.'"

Johnson said he is motivated by his own experiences.

"The difference in my quality of life before and after I transitioned is night and day," he said. "Having to keep my transness a secret made me feel incredibly alienated, lonely and unsafe. When I came out, the weight of the world fell off my shoulders. Being able to both socially and medically transition made me far happier, more stable, more outgoing and more confident."

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas bill to ban gender-affirming care may ban social transitioning
Victim shot in face after caught in crossfire at Exxon

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man is now in jail after police say video surveillance caught him shooting a man in the face at an Exxon gas station in Parkway Village Thursday afternoon.

Vidarius Maggit, 26, is charged with criminal attempt second-degree murder, employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

ORIGINAL STORY: 2 critically injured in shooting on Getwell Road

On April 25, officers say they responded to an Exxon gas station at 2675 Getwell Road around 1:18 p.m. regarding a shooting.

One male victim was found next door at the Mata Bus Station on American Way. Police say he was suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his jaw.

VIDEO: Frayser business owner ambushed in fatal shooting; Muslim community says they feel unsafe

The victim stated he was at Exxon talking to a man in all blue when they were approached by a male suspect, later identified as Vidarius Maggit.

Maggit reportedly got out of the rear passenger seat of a vehicle that was parked at a gas pump before asking them about a gun.

That is when the Maggit and the man in all blue began to shoot at each other, according to reports. The victim was hit in the crossfire.

The victim stated he ran to the Mata Bus Station for help. He was then taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

1 critically injured after shots fired from Tesla

Police say moments later, Maggit arrived at Baptist East Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh.

During the investigation, the victim gave a statement and was able to positively identify Maggit in a six-person photo spread.

Reports state Maggit was taken to the Violent Crime Unit from the hospital after being treated. He told investigators that he went to the store and asked the man for a cigarette and that the man pulled out a gun and shot him in the right thigh.

Im going to make your mother cry: Man charged in Frayser shooting

Maggit told police he then fired shots from his gun.

MPD says surveillance footage shows a white Ford Fusion pulling up to the gas station and stopping at the gas pump. Maggit gets out of the car and walks toward two males standing beside each other. Maggit is then seen pulling out a gun and shooting before getting back into the Ford Fusion and leaving the scene.

Vidarius Maggit is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Vietnams National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue resigned days after his assistant was detained in relation to a corruption probe.

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The Communist Party Central Committee accepted the resignation of Hue during a special meeting in Hanoi Friday afternoon, according to a statement on the governments website. Hue also resigned from the Politburo. Bloomberg News reported his resignation earlier Friday.

Hue violated regulations governing the behavior of party members and took responsibility as a leader in accordance with the partys rules and the states laws, according to the statement. Hues violations caused negative comments among the public, hurting the reputation of the party and state, it said.

Hue is the fourth most important leader in the party hierarchy in Vietnams four pillar leadership structure, with the Communist Party general secretary, president and prime minister completing the structure. The leaders govern in consultation with the Politburo.

His departure comes amid an anti-graft crackdown that saw the police detain his assistant earlier this week over a probe into a builder accused of bribing his way into winning deals.

The dong was little changed at 25,348 per dollar, hovering near a record low. The benchmark VN Index rose as much as 1% in Ho Chi Minh City trading Friday.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong launched a sweeping purge on corruption thats snared at least 459 Communist Party members last year, and business executives. Earlier this month, a property tycoon was sentenced to death over corruption  turning the spotlight on the Southeast Asian nation better known for being home to an economy growing at one of the regions quickest pace.

Read: Vietnam Tycoon Lan Sentenced to Death Over $12 Billion Fraud

The anti-corruption campaign has claimed two deputy prime ministers and at least one president so far.

Last month, Vo Van Thuong resigned as president  the second to do so in 14 months, over unspecified violations. Now with Hues decision to leave, only two of four pillars remain  the general secretary and the prime minister. Still, the development isnt expected to dent the countrys economic prospects or alter government policies.

--With assistance from Nguyen Xuan Quynh, Nguyen Kieu Giang, Cecilia Yap and Philip J. Heijmans.

(Updates with new details in the first three paragraphs. Earlier version corrected dong price in fifth paragraph.)

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By Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen

HANOI (Reuters) - The chairman of Vietnam's parliament Vuong Dinh Hue resigned over unspecified "violations and shortcomings", the ruling Communist Party said on Friday, a new sign of political turbulence weeks after the dismissal of the country's president.

The latest change among Vietnam's top leadership amid a widespread campaign against corruption could raise new concerns about political stability in the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub, which is highly reliant on foreign investment and trade.

Hue, 67, had been touted as a possible candidate for the Communist Party secretary position, Vietnam's most powerful job. His position as head of the assembly was one of four posts described as "pillars" of the state leadership.

"Comrade Vuong Dinh Hue's violations and shortcomings have caused negative public opinion, affecting the reputation of the party, state and him personally," the Communist Party's Central Committee said in a statement.

Hue's resignation came just days after the announcement that his assistant had been arrested over alleged bribery involving an infrastructure company.

It also came less than three weeks after Hue met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, timing viewed as notable by diplomats given the sensitivity in Vietnam of relations with its huge neighbour.

The party statement on Friday said Hue's resignation had been accepted and he would be removed from the Central Committee and the powerful Politburo.

No announcement was made about a replacement. The party also needs to find a permanent successor to the president. The appointments are expected to be approved by the parliament, either when it meets in mid-May for a regular session or earlier at an extraordinary sitting.

The major reshuffle is seen by diplomats, officials and commentators as part of the campaign to succeed ageing Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, whose third mandate ends in 2026 unless he quits earlier.

A key contender for the top job is the general in charge of the public security ministry, To Lam, 66, who has also been a central figure in the country's anti-corruption drive.

WARNINGS OVER INVESTMENT

Under the years-long anti-graft campaign, called "blazing furnace", hundreds of senior state officials and high-profile business executives have been prosecuted or forced to step down.

The departure of Hue, a trained economist and former deputy prime minister who previously served as chief state auditor, follows the dismissal in March of President Vo Van Thuong after the Communist Party said he had violated party rules.

Thuong was the second president to exit in just over a year, prompting multiple commentators to warn that the country's appeal as an investment destination may be affected by prolonged infighting.

A survey of over 650 business leaders conducted by foreign chambers of commerce in Vietnam and published in March said foreign firms were attracted to the country mostly for its political stability.

Earlier in April, real estate tycoon Truong My Lan was sentenced to death for her role in a multi-billion-dollar financial fraud, which caused a run on the deposits of a top private bank that forced the central bank to mount an unprecedented $24-billion rescue.

(Reporting by Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Martin Petty and Peter Graff)
For years, parents, teachers, clinicians, womens-rights groups and others across the UK challenged, quite reasonably, the assumptions behind diagnoses of gender dysphoria in the young  and the evidence base for the treatment being prescribed.

In Wales, and across the UK, they were met with an institutional wall of silence. In person and online, parents and professionals alike were told their fears were baseless, bigoted and even hateful. The Welsh government went further: brushing aside any concerns, many Cardiff based politicians eagerly approved embedding these principles in their official plans, policies and even the school curriculum.

NHS England did commission Dr Hilary Cass to review the medical treatment of gender-questioning children in England and Wales. Her final report has been published  and now policymakers in Wales must face its findings and stark conclusions.

From 2014, puberty blocking drugs moved from a research-only protocol to being available in routine clinical practice  despite a large body of evidence to suggest that there was a lack of any positive measurable outcomes when used. This adoption of a treatment with uncertain benefits without further scrutiny was also found to have played a role in increasing the demand among patients for treatment.

The response of some clinicians was to prescribe an irreversible path of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and even surgery. Instead of asking their own questions, healthcare professionals propagated a dangerous political ideology, in the absence of evidence and at the cost of safeguarding. Teachers also have made ill-advised and premature decisions about social transitioning.

The report is clear on these points. Yet in Wales, referrals to GID services in England have continued to grow. In schools, an affirmative approach to gender dysphoria has been woven into the Welsh Governments compulsory Relationships and Sexuality Education Code and guidance. Right now, children are being socially transitioned in schools  often without reference to their parents.

Worse, while NHS England has already made the landmark decision to stop the routine prescription of puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria, and Scotland followed suit in the days following publication of the report, NHS Wales has not carried out a review of its own policies and care pathways. It is unthinkable that it should continue to prescribe or offer access to untested, irreversible drugs for the young and the vulnerable.

The Welsh government must now withdraw its compulsory RSE curriculum from schools, including supporting materials, which includes contested ideas such as gender identity. It should also carry out an urgent review of all activities, policy, guidance and materials, especially those relevant to pupils exhibiting gender-related distress.

And it should resile from its commitment in its LGBTQ+ Action Plan to consider options for the development of a gender service for young people in Wales. For almost two years, we have heard from colleagues, professionals and parents across Wales who are deeply concerned this service will be extended to under 18s. To do so now, in light of Dr Casss findings, would be irresponsible and dangerous.

This is a national scandal, and a full inquiry is needed. We need to know how public services, devolved to and under the control of Welsh politicians and professionals, entrusted with the care, safeguarding and wellbeing of the most vulnerable, were able to just dismiss concerns and adopt policy and practices based on ideology rather than evidence.

In recent weeks there has been too much focus on changes to 20mph speed limits and cuts to the National Museum of Waless budget, instead of on this scandal. Why hasnt Welsh media given more attention to the concerns for childrens safeguarding, voiced so loudly by many parents across Wales for so long? Teachers, parents and clinicians want to know now what will be done to rectify and bring the significant failings which have been identified to an end, once and for all.

In her statement to Parliament in Westminster, on the first day back after recess, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins pledged urgent and effective action. She said she will be working closely with NHS England to root out the ideology that has caused so much unnecessary harm. Our question now is: will the Welsh government do the same?

Robin Millar is MP for Aberconwy. Laura Jones MS is shadow minister for Culture and Tourism

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Want to have dinner with Donald Trump in KY? It will cost you at least $25,000

Presumptive GOP nominee and former president Donald Trump will make a stop in Lexington to fill his campaign coffers next month. Want to see him? It will cost you at least $25,000 per couple.

The May 15 dinner event will be hosted by Joe and Kelly Craft, GOP mega-donors based in Lexington, alongside Barbara Banke, the owner of Kendall-Jackson Wine in Californias Sonoma County and head of Central Kentuckys Stonestreet Horse Farm.

According to fine print at the bottom of the invitation, all paying attendees will be funding an account that spent more than $50 million last year footing Trumps various legal bills.

A donation of $100,000 per couple is required to co-host the event, which includes one roundtable opportunity. Host committee members who pay $250,000 per couple get two such roundtable opportunities and VIP seating; same goes for chairs, a designation that would cost $844,600 per couple.

Kelly Craft is the former Trump-appointed U.S. ambassador to Canada and later to the United Nations during Trumps presidency. Her husband, Joe, is a billionaire coal magnate and philanthropist. The Crafts have become nationally known GOP mega-donors in recent years, contributing heavily to all of Trumps presidential efforts as well as other primary candidates.

Money raised at the event will sequentially go toward his own campaign, his Save America PAC (political action committee), the Republican National Committee, and most of the state Republican parties in the country.

According to campaign disclosures, Save America PAC spent more than $50 million in legal and investigation-related bills for Trump in 2023. Some of those cases have been related to Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election based on the falsehood that he beat President Joe Biden.

Per a disclosure at the bottom of the invitation, out of a maximum $844,600 donation, the first $6,600 will go to his campaign accounts, the next $5,000 to Save America PAC and then the next $413,000  the largest chunk of money by far  will go to the RNC. The rest is allocated sequentially to various state Republican parties.

Under federal rules, $5,000 is the maximum amount an individual can donate to a PAC like Save America.

The New York Times last month reported that the prioritization of Save America PAC reflects a new fundraising agreement between Trump and the RNC.

Recently, Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump was named co-chair of the RNC.

At the start of this year, the Crafts were named co-chairs of the RNCs Presidential Trust, a project the group organizes each election year in an effort to raise money to support the Republican presidential nominee.

While polling neck-and-neck with current Democratic President Joe Biden in a presumptive rematch this November, Trump has had to fend off several criminal cases. Hes been indicted in four cases across the country for a range of crimes.

In Georgia, Trump is being charged for his attempts to overturn the election result there, including urging the secretary of state to find the votes to reverse his loss. Federal prosecutors have indicted Trump with seeking to sabotage the peaceful transfer of power in 2020 and illegally holding onto classified documents.

In Manhattan, hes been charged with falsifying business records related to hush money payments for an adult-film actress during his 2016 election.

Trumps legal team has fought the indictments at every turn, and his campaign and PAC has often used them to fundraise.

A year ago, event co-host Kelly Craft came in third in a GOP gubernatorial primary that ended up with former attorney general Daniel Cameron as the Republican candidate against Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears successful re-election. Crafts run was largely self-funded, with the candidate loaning herself more than $10 million and Joe Craft supporting a political action committee backing her with $1.5 million.

The flyer makes no mention of where the event will take place.

The event was first reported by the National Review. Multiple Fayette County Republicans with knowledge of the event confirmed its authenticity to the Herald-Leader.
The search for an accused boat thief came to an odd conclusion in Florida when deputies noticed a blonde in a blue sundress bore a striking resemblance to the guy they were hunting.

Turns out it wasnt a woman but a he in disguise, and he was wanted in multiple counties, the Glades County Sheriffs Office said in an April 25 news release.

The discovery, which has become a hot topic on social media, was made around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, near Lakeport, about a 125-mile drive northwest from Miami.

Deputies were investigating a recovered stolen boat located at the Old Caloosa Lodge area, the sheriffs office said.

During this time the alleged suspect of the theft was identified. ... When the deputies began canvassing the area in search of the alleged suspect, they observed (him) exiting a residence dressed as a woman in an attempt to disguise himself.

The 33-year-old man was arrested on two outstanding warrants along with the theft of a John Deere Gator and the stolen boat, officials said.

A photo shows the suspects feather-patterned dress was complemented with a light sweater and he wore stylish gold-rimmed sunglasses

Deputies did not reveal what part of the disguise proved to be unconvincing, but the mans effort brought in hundreds of reactions on social media.

Jail records show the suspect lives about a 12-mile drive south of the arrest scene in Moore Haven.

Teen took dads car without permission in Wisconsin, got caught in Florida, cops say

Walmart patron says she shoplifts as part of game, Florida cops say. Its really fun

Speeding driver was recording himself standing through cars sunroof, Florida cops say
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The Scene

The first thing Rep. Ilhan Omar did on the University of Minnesota campus this week: Thank Gaza ceasefire protesters for their bravery. The next thing: Ask why people in her world were so obsessed with these protests.

I have to tell you, its been incredibly painful, for the last five days, Omar told students on Tuesday. While there is a discovery of a mass grave of more than 200 Palestinians in Khan Younis our media, our elected politicians, our president, every single leader, is spending their time and energy talking about the protests.

Elected Democrats, who embraced social justice and civil rights protests throughout Donald Trumps presidency, are treading more cautiously around the student movement to end Israels war in Gaza.

The protests, and even the crackdowns ordered by university presidents and Republican governors, have divided their party, with two members of Congress coming to campus to support activists and far more speaking out to denounce individual antisemitic statements by some protesters. The demonstrations have unified Republicans, many of whom were calling for crackdowns, expulsions, and the shutting down of anti-Israel groups during the first, brief wave of protests six months ago.

Omars pro-Hamas rhetoric solidifies the Democrat party as the pro-terrorist party, said House GOP Whip Tom Emmer after the congresswomans first campus stop. She joined the encampment at Columbia on Thursday, shortly after Speaker Mike Johnson came to condemn it.

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The View From Some Democrats

Two weeks in, the Biden campaign and Democratic leaders are treating the protests like short-term events that are being inflated by their enemies to hurt their party. One big point of agreement, between them and Omar: Every day they discuss this, it would be better to discuss something else.

Its in Putins interest for Whats His Name to win, and therefore I see some encouragement on the part of the Russians of some of whats going on, House Speaker emeritus Nancy Pelosi told the Irish news station RTE, during a trip to the country this week. I trust the sincerity of many of the demonstrators. Its spontaneous, its organic, its real. But some of it, I think, has a Russian tinge to it.

In the same interview, Pelosi called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. The White House has dodged that topic and other micro-questions about the protests, like whether the National Guard should disperse them and whether college presidents should resign. The president himself denounced antisemitism at protests, as well as anyone who didnt get whats going on with the Palestinians, while leaving other questions to his press shop.

The President put out a statement, as you know  Ive mentioned this a couple times this week, when he talked about Passover, as Jewish Americans were celebrating Passover, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in an Air Force One gaggle yesterday. And he said that antisemitism basically is wrong and that we should call out.

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The View From Other Democrats

The clearest Democratic endorsements of the protests have come after police crackdowns  sweeps of student camps by city and campus police, and calls by Republicans for governors to mobilize the National Guard.

On Thursday, Texas Rep. Greg Casar became just the second Democrat to join protesters, spurred by the arrest of 57 students and supporters after Austin police cleared a camp at the University of Texas.

No matter what Greg Abbott says, our movement is rooted in love, Casar told protesters, celebrating that they lived in the largest city in this country where your entire Democratic delegation voted no on further aid to Israel this month.

There are millions more lives at stake, he added. and your continued organizing is the only way we can stop being complicit in this killing and instead get to saving our shared humanity.

Progressives, who opposed new Israel aid without conditions, are trying to elevate the protesters most popular demands over the antisemitic comments made by some people at or around the camps. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders did that on Thursday, after Netanyahu released an English-language video about the antisemitic mobs on campuses. This, said Sanders, was a diversion from a PR war that Netanyahu was losing.

Mr. Netanyahu, antisemitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to many millions of people, said Sanders. But, please, do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government.

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The View From Republicans

The only real disagreement between Republicans this week is over who deserves blame for the protests  which they uniformly call antisemitic. Before the tents went up, theyd passed a resolution classifying anti-Zionism as antisemitism; Emmer was one of many Republicans classifying any anti-Israel protest as objectively pro-Hamas, and objectively pro-terrorism. Their new debate was whether the campus actions were an outgrowth of the academys postmodern slide, or whether foreign donors were exploiting them to divide America.

Dont be surprised, if you look really deep into whos funding [this], that the CCP is involved  that the Chinese Communist Party is involved, Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez told Fox News on Thursday.

As Gimenez gave that interview, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee were asking the IRS whether it was doing anything to probe organizations that receive foreign funding from Americas adversaries. At least one China-based philanthropist, Neville Roy Singham, had been donating to Code Pink and The Peoples Forum; it was important know, they wrote, whether the IRS has a definition of antisemitism in place within the agency that it considers when evaluating the claimed exempt purpose of a tax-exempt organization.

Trump, whos said little about the war since it started, has spoken on the protests only to blame President Joe Biden for letting antisemitism flourish. Charlottesville was a little peanut, he told reporters in New York on Thursday, arguing that the scenes on campuses were worse than the 2017 Unite the Right rally where a white supremacist killed a left-wing protester. And the hate wasnt the kind of hate that you have here.

Title icon

Davids view

The White Houses studious non-response to developments on campus has been denounced on the left; the president could defend protesters free speech or decry the use of police to stop it, and he hasnt. Thats a contrast with how Biden campaigned four years ago, when Trumps support for crackdowns on protests led to weeks-long standoffs between activists and members of the National Guard.

I promise you, as president, Ill never put you in the middle of politics, or personal vendettas, Biden told the National Guard Association in August 2020. Ill never use the military as a prop or as a private militia to violate rights of fellow citizens.

Republicans know this. When they call for Biden to endorse police crackdowns on campus, they know he wont, and they know that doing so would shatter his coalition  elected Democrats squabbling about Israel, and Democratic voters who increasingly want to stop aiding Israel. In CBS News/YouGov polling this month, just 32% of Democrats favored additional funding for the countrys war against Hamas, a 15-point drop since it started six months ago.

And Republicans have allies that they lacked in 2020. Long before Mike Johnson walked onto Columbias campus, Canary Mission, a pro-Israel group that identifies and profiles anti-Israel activists, had been building dossiers on Israel critics in the faculty. What usually happens in these situations  the intermingling of elected officials and protesters outside the electoral system  is that the electeds will be asked to answer for the most alienating comments and events in the protests. Thats well underway.

Title icon

Notable

In Jewish Insider, Marc Rod reports on legislation from New York Reps. Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler that would condition federal funding for universities as part of a push for more stringent federal oversight and monitoring of campus antisemitism.

In Forever Wars, Spencer Ackerman looks at how protesting students are getting labeled as the handmaidens of terrorists, and treated as such.

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Newly released body camera footage from the Boston Police Department shed light on a police officer's interaction with anti-Israel demonstrators as protests continue to rage across America's college campuses.

The body camera footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows an unidentified police officer approaching a group of demonstrators from Emerson College huddled on a street corner in front of a public alley entryway in the Massachusetts city at 1:30 on Thursday morning.

The officer is heard attempting in vain to reason with the agitators.

"We don't want to arrest anybody. We support your right to protest. I'm indifferent. I don't have a side either way. I want you to be able to peacefully do this," the officer said. "However, with the blocking the street  I cannot have that."

"I need to have this open," the officer is heard calmly saying to the protesters who were blocking the Boston street. "I have to remove you from there. I do not want to arrest anyone."

EMERSON COLLEGE ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CLASH WITH BOSTON POLICE; 4 OFFICERS INJURED, OVER 100 ARRESTED

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Body camera video released Thursday by the Boston Police Department showed officers talking with Emerson College anti-Israel protesters.

The officer is heard telling the protesters that he did not want their continued protest to "screw up" the end of their college semester.

"I want you to be able to protest. Again, I'm indifferent. We're not trying to prevent you from protesting. I don't sympathize either way, however, there is a fire code that has been broken and a lot of things going on here that we cannot allow," he said. "There's a building here that people are employed and that need emergency access.

"With that being said, I think you can tell, that we don't want to arrest anyone, we don't want anyone to get hurt, we don't want anyone to get screwed up at school with grades or whatever," the officer continued. "I'm trying to work with you all. Trust me, I'm not the enemy on this."

Boston police officers observe a large group of anti-Israel demonstrators.

The Boston police officer said that he had been reasonable with the anti-Israel protesters, but that they needed to disperse.

"You guys have been protesting all day. I get it and I support what you are trying to do. However, at this point it is late. People live here. We've been getting a lot of complaints," he said.

ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS CONTINUE NATIONWIDE DISRUPTIONS WITH ESCALATIONS AT USC, HARVARD AND COLUMBIA

"We let it go for a while. We were supposed to come down at 10 p.m., we're looking to give you space to let you all do this, but at a certain point, they have to go to work in the morning as well," he said. "We're trying to be reasonable with you all."

The demonstrators were asked to disperse at 1:30 a.m. by police officers.

"So again, I'm not trying to be unreasonable. I've given you several extra hours. I do not want to arrest anyone. I want you all to go back to school tomorrow and finish your finals," the officer said. "You can protest, but you have to do it the right way."

"We don't want to escalate this," he added.

TRUMP SAYS HE'LL FIRE THE RADICAL LEFT FROM COLLEGES, FOCUS ON DEFENDING AMERICAN TRADITION IF ELECTED

As the officer came to the end of his plea to the students, they suddenly interrupted the officer, loudly chanting, "Free, free Palestine! Free, free Palestine! Free, free Palestine!"

Boston police officers are interrupted by "free, free Palestine" chants.

WATCH:

Following the officer's attempt, the Emerson University protest spiraled and resulted in four officers being injured and 108 people arrested.

Dramatic footage showed protesters clashing with police officers in the late-night chaos.

Emerson canceled classes Thursday in the wake of the arrests.

Emerson College did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.





Original article source: WATCH: Boston police officer attempts to reason with anti-Israel college students, interrupted by chants
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  One person was injured in an overnight house fire in southeast Fresno, according to the Fresno Fire Department.

Fire crews say they responded to a home near Willow and White Avenues just before midnight on Thursday after the occupants called to report a fire. When crews arrived, they found a fire in one of the rooms in the house that extended to the attic.

Officials say three people were home at the time of the fire. One person was transported to the hospital for a minor burn injury.

Bodycam video from the fire can be seen in the video player above.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
TOKYO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Three teenagers died after a mini car fell into a paddy field in the western Japanese prefecture of Tokushima, local authorities reported on Friday.

Around 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, a report was made to emergency services that a mini car fell from prefectural road Route 24 in the town of Chosei in Anan City.

Four teenagers, all aged 18, were in the car and were rushed to the hospital, with three of them later confirmed dead, according to local police. The survivor suffered minor injuries.

The car was found with the driver's side down, and police suspect that the light car, traveling southbound on the prefectural road, for some reason veered off into the nearby paddy field.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation, but local authorities have said the possibility of drunk driving or driving without a license is low. 
A massive fire broke out at a vacant restaurant at the end of the Oceanside Pier in North County San Diego on Thursday afternoon, the Oceanside Fire Department confirmed.

The nearly 2,000-foot-long wooden pier was built in 1888, and is a focal point of the beachside Southern California city not far from Camp Pendleton.

"The Oceanside Fire Department is currently engaged in fighting a fire on the Oceanside Pier," the department wrote on social media Thursday. "We are asking all citizens to please stay away from the immediate area."

PILOT REPORTED THAT PLANE CARRYING FUEL CAUGHT ON FIRE BEFORE FATAL ALASKA CRASH

The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon with flames coming from a vacant restaurant at the end of the pier.

Video of the fire showed smoke billowing up over the pier, which could be seen from as far as Vista, 10 miles east, and Del Mar, 20 miles south, according to FOX 5 San Diego.

The fire also appeared to have spread to Brine Box, a fish shack at the end of the pier.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

6 DEAD, 20 INJURED AFTER EXPLOSION CAUSES RESTAURANT FIRE IN EASTERN INDIA

Aerial view of the fire

The restaurant posted an update on social media, writing, "Whats happening on the pier is sad and scary. We want you to know that our team is safe. From what we have heard the fire started under the pier, and everyone made it off ok. We will keep you updated as we learn more. Thank you for all of your kind words of support. We appreciate you all so much."

The U.S. Coast Guard battled the blaze from the water while helicopter drops were made by the Diego County Sheriffs Department and San Diego Gas & Electric, the station reported.

There has been no official word on potential injuries or what may have sparked the blaze.





Original article source: WATCH: Massive fire breaks out on historic Southern California pier
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Dreary weather has delayed the annual tree planting event for Arbor Day at the Kansas Statehouse.

On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly was in attendance for the City of Topekas Forestry Division Arbor Day event. While at the event, Kelly signed a proclamation declaring Friday, April 26 as Kansas Arbor Day, according to an announcement made by the city on Facebook.

The city didnt say when the tree planting would be rescheduled. A 5th-grade Arbor Day Poster Contest winner from Osage City was also in attendance.

This marks the 38th year the City of Topeka has been a member of Tree City USA.

The membership demonstrates the citys commitment to urban forestry, and recognizing the important role trees play in our community, the City of Topeka said on Facebook.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Palestinian health workers unearth bodies of Palestinians buried in Nasser Hospital compound, after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from the area in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip. Omar Naaman/dpa

From the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and pro-Palestinian protests inside US universities to UK Prime Minister Richi Sunak's visit to Germany and North Korea firing rockets near the Yellow Sea, dpa International presents its Pictures of the Week.

Palestinians bid farewell to their killed relatives at Al-Najjar Hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Palestinians inspect the damage to a building in the Nuseirat refugee Camp after withdrawal of Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Omar Naaman/dpa

A Palestinian embraces the body of a child, where nine members of the Abu Radwan family were killed following an Israeli air strike. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

An Israeli right-wing activist is sleeping ahead of a march into the Gaza Strip by activists and some relatives of hostages held by Hamas. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Members of military personnel in civilian clothing inspect apparent remains of a ballistic missile lying in the desert, following a massive missile and drone attack by Iran on Israel, near the southern city of Arad Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, prepares to fly in a Eurofighter during his visit to Tactical Air Wing 73 "Steinhoff". During his visit, Stoltenberg wants to get a personal impression of the capabilities of the air force's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). Bernd Wustneck/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) welcomes UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with military honours in front of the Federal Chancellery during his official visit. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Erbil International Airport (EIA). Ismael Adnan/dpa

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) cuts a kebab, which Steinmeier had previously cut from the spit under Keles' guidance, next to Berlin restaurateur Arif Keles at a reception hosted by the President in the garden of the German ambassador's historic summer residence. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

(L-R) Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store interacte with a robotic arm at the Hannover Fair 2024. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine participates vitually in the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Allied Defence Ministers with chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. -/NATO/dpa

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron (L) arrives at Nur Sultan/Astana Airport, in Kazakhstan. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/dpa

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the reform bills on health, retirement, employment and prison sectors, in Bogota. Sebastian Barros/LongVisual via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Law enforcement officers confront a protester during a pro-Palestinian protest by the University of Texas Students. Sandra Dahdah/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Rescue workers upright a truck that fell into the water in the Khyber district after a heavy rains. Hussain Ali/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 20 April 2024 shows a "super-large warhead" power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft rocket near the Yellow Sea. -/YNA/dpa

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, in conversation with students from the Matrix Project during a visit to St Michael's Church of England High School, where he learned about the award-winning student-led initiatives to promote their mental health and wellbeing. Oli Scarff/PA Wire/dpa

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels attempts to save a shot from Everton's Dwight McNeil during the English Premier League soccer match Everton and Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park. Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United's Harry Maguire celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English FA Cup semi-final soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpa

Inter Milan players celebrate winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium. Spada/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz (L) and Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United's Amad Diallo (Up) and Sheffield United's James McAtee battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Sheffield United at Old Trafford. Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa

Liverpool's Curtis Jones (L) and Everton's James Garner battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park. Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca scores his side's second goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Atalanta BC and ACF Fiorentina at Gewiss stadium. Spada/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa

Augsburg's Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (L) and Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Augsburg at Deutsche Bank Park. Arne Dedert/dpa

Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina celebrates with the trophy during the award ceremony after defeating Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk during their Women's singles final tennis match at the Stuttgart Open Tennis tournament. Marijan Murat/dpa

Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud celebrates with the trophy after defeating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their men's singles final match of the Barcelona Open tennis tournament. Marti Segura Ramoneda/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Masses cross Tower Bridge during the TCS London Marathon. Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa

Pope Francis arrives to lead the audience with pilgrims from the Dioceses of Cesena-Sarsina, Savona and Imola in Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. Evandro Inetti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Ultra-Orthodox Jews perform the Biur Chametz ritual, during which they Burn leavened products ahead of the Passover holiday, which celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Israeli settlers swim in a mountain spring overlooking the Jordan valley near the Palestinian village of Duma during high heat in the region. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Britain's Queen Camilla poses for a group photograph with The Royal Lancers during her to visit to the Royal Lancers regiment, her first visit to the regiment since being appointed as their Colonel-in-Chief, at Munster Barracks. Chris Jackson/PA Wire/dpa

Performers take part in the re-enactments of ancient Roman rituals during the celebrations of the 2777th birthday of the Eternal City of Rome. Marco Di Gianvito/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Albino kangaroo baby Abigail, can be seen in her mother's pouch in the Bennett kangaroo enclosure at Marlow Bird Park. Albino kangaroos are a rarity, occurring in only one in 10,000 births in the wild. The last albino kangaroo in the bird park was born in 2011. Bernd Wustneck/dpa
Weinstein Reversal May Make It Harder for Other #MeToo Convictions, but It Wont Affect California | Analysis

The Harvey Weinstein conviction reversal on Thursday may affect future #MeToo cases in New York, but it probably wont upset the former movie moguls conviction in California, legal experts told TheWrap.

Four out of seven New York State Court of Appeals judges voted on Thursday to overturn Weinsteins 2020 convictions on the rape of an actress in 2013 and criminal sexual behavior against a production assistant in 2006, based on the inclusion of what are called Molineux witnesses  alleged victims who testified against Weinstein despite their cases not being included in his trial.

This means that future #MeToo cases are unlikely to use witnesses who establish the context of prior alleged bad acts in cases of sexual misconduct.

If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain, said Nicole Page, partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP. The Court decided that their testimony about Weinsteins prior sexual assaults was prejudicial and should not have been admitted at trial.

The reversal doesnt determine Weinsteins innocence or guilt, said attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who represented 10 alleged victims of sexual abuse by Weinstein, including two women who testified at his criminal rape trial in New York. It really is just about whether he, in the majority opinion, had a fair trial.

The Appeals court decision in New York probably will not affect Weinsteins December 2022 conviction in Los Angeles because California doesnt have the same restrictions on Molineux witnesses, he and other attorneys told TheWrap.

New Yorks a bit of an anomaly, said Wigdor. California and the federal rule have it right. that testimony of other victims should be admitted at the discretion of the court because the issue of intent is one thats so difficult to prove in a he-said/she-said situation, where there are no other witnesses.

Still, after the New York reversal Weinstein and his attorneys are expected to make similar arguments in California about the admissibility of testimony from other alleged victims.

Theyll have to find a judge who buys it, said Lisa Banks, a founding partner at Katz Banks Kumin LLP who concentrates her practice on sexual harassment and whistleblower retaliation. The dissents [in the New York case] show that there are a number of judges who totally understand the nuance and the difficulties when youre dealing with sexual assault cases, particularly among people who know each other.

Wigdor explained that the nuance comes down to the legal difference between intent and predisposition. The appeals court ruled that the conviction was improper because it was going to show his predisposition to commit these crimes, not show his intent.

Weinstein at his criminal trial in New York. (Stephanie Keith / Getty Images)

Actress Rose McGowan at the Weinstein New York trial. (Spencer Platt /Getty Images)

New York State Court of Appeals Judge Madeline Singas, in a scathing dissent to the full courts decision on Thursday, argued that it failed to understand the nuances of the sexual assault case. Ignoring Weinsteins previous sexual assault violations deprives juries of the context necessary to do their work and demonstrates the majoritys utter lack of understanding of the dynamics of sexual assault, she wrote.

New Yorks women, Singas wrote, deserve better.

Page agreed that this kind of legal hairsplitting can make or break litigation against a sexual abuser. Women have a hard enough time being believed and juries may struggle to understand the nuances around manipulation and lack of consent that are omnipresent in these types of cases, she told TheWrap. If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain.

Jessica Mann, center, arrives in court to testify in Weinsteins NY criminal trial. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Weinstein could be re-tried in New York

Will Weinstein get a new trial?

We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said on Thursday.

In the February 2020 New York conviction, a jury found Weinstein, now 72, guilty of third-degree rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and a criminal sexual act against actress Miriam Haley in 2006. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Then in 2022, a Los Angeles jury found him of guilty of rape and sexual assault and he was sentenced to an additional 16 years on top of his 23-year New York sentence.

Despite Thursdays appeals court reversal, Weinstein remains incarcerated at Mohawk Correction Facility in Rome, New York.

If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain. Nicole Page, a partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP

Wigdor considered the 2020 verdict a great moment, frankly, where someone was held accountable for his actions. And todays ruling caught Banks, who represented Christine Blasey Ford in her allegations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, by surprise.

However, Ann Olivarius, whose transatlantic law firm handles civil litigation as well as sexual harassment, assault and abuse, told TheWrap she had expected the conviction to be overturned. The judge made a mistake, you go back into court, you retry, thats life, said Olivarius.

[This] doesnt mean that Harvey Weinstein is an innocent man, added Wigdor. To the contrary. The District Attorney can now retry the case and hes already said that he will. So I expect that criminal trial will happen and ultimately, Harvey Weinstein will be held again accountable for his actions.

In Thursdays ruling, the Appeals court found that the trial judge in the original case erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts, allowing information to be presented that prejudiced the jury. Judge Jenny Rivera, writing the majority opinion, said that the accused has a right to be held account only for the crime charged, and thus, allegations of prior bad acts may not be admitted against them for the sole purpose of establishing their propensity for criminality.

The court ruled that evidence admitted into the court regarding Weinsteins prior alleged sexual assault violations was an abuse of judicial discretion, which could have been used by the jurors to impeach the accuseds credibility. Rivera described it as nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendants character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges.

Olivarius asked if the system should be changed to make it easier for women to bring claims and for perpetrators to be found guilty. Maybe you should put in [the accuseds] past behaviors, she said. We should think about changing those rules. But as it stands now, the judge was wrong, and they just have to do a retrial.

Wigdor agreed, adding, In New York the law is dated and ought to be changed. It was still relevant not to show propensity, but to show Weinsteins intent. Courts routinely do admit this even in New York.

What happened today was obviously devastating and unfortunate, and I think wrong. But I think its a minor setback for now, said Banks. The appellate court got this one wrong, and I dont think its going to result in Harvey Weinstein walking free and I dont think its going to set back the #MeToo movement.

A previous version of this story misidentified attorney Nicole Page as Lisa Page. TheWrap regrets the error.

The post Weinstein Reversal May Make It Harder for Other #MeToo Convictions, but It Wont Affect California | Analysis appeared first on TheWrap.
Miriam Mimi Haleyi, whose testimony about her former boss Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulting her was key to his 2020 conviction in New York, said on Friday that she is considering taking the stand again if the Miramax cofounder is retried.

During a press conference with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, Haleyi made her first comments about the New York Court of Appeals Thursday decision to overturn that conviction.

We made progress of historic proportion when justice was served, and myself and the other women who trust testified were truly seen and heard by the judge and jury in this very public case, she said, reading from a prepared statement.

The verdict undeniably had a ripple effect across the globe, which gave hope and courage to women and men everywhere and set a precedent for similar cases. Yesterdays devastating reversal of this conviction will no doubt also have its ripple effect, Haleyi said. She called the ruling a terrible decisionthat sends an extremely disheartening message to victims of sexual assault everywhere.

When asked if she plans to testify if Weinstein is tried again, Haleyi said the experience was traumatizing, exhausting and terrifying and noted that the public might not realize that the first trial took two years of preparation.

I will consider testifying again should there be another trial, while the Molineux witnesses would not be allowed to testify in a retrial, Haleyi added. Im glad that they two got their day in court, which I feel provided crucial information about the predatory pattern and character of Mr. Weinstein.

Haleyi shared her first reaction to Thursdays news: I felt sick to my stomach. And my heart sank. But you know, theres a lot in the world thats happening right now thats making me feel sick to my stomach. So it was just another kind of insane-feeling day, when you cant believe its real.

When reporters pressed harder about the likelihood of her taking the stand again, Haleyi said, It was a very, very lengthy process and I dont particularly want to. I mean, I definitely dont actually want to go through that again.

Weinsteins conviction for sexual assault in California stands.

Allred has represented Haleyi since she first went public with her allegations against Weinstein in a 2017 press conference.

The attorney said, I call on victims rights advocates and plaintiffs attorneys to join me in proposing a law in New York that is similar to what we have in California, referring to the Golden States laws that permit prior bad acts into evidence.

Added Allred, There is a bill pending in the New York State Legislature that would do just that. I have not seen that bill. I do think that that should be permitted  prior sexual abuse evidence in sexual assault prosecutions  but I would want to review the bill before I fully support and endorse it.

The post Weinstein Victim Mimi Haleyi Felt Sick to Her Stomach After New York Conviction Was Overturned appeared first on TheWrap.
We were so close: Nebraska mother responds to veto of child sexual assault and abuse bill

Loree Woods (center left, in blue) embraces her daughter, Taylor, following the final vote in favor of LB 25, which would have expanded certain lawsuits in cases of child sexual assault and abuse within political subdivisions. April 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)

LINCOLN  A Nebraska mother whose daughter was sexually assaulted while in the care of Lincoln Public Schools said Thursday a veto of legislation meant for more accountability came as a gut punch.

Taylor Woods of Lincoln, center, awaits the final vote on LB 25 in the 2024 legislative session. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)

For five years, Loree Woods has advocated on behalf of her daughter Taylor, who is now 27, after she was sexually assaulted on Oct. 10, 2016, by another student in LPSs Vocational Opportunity in Community Experience program. VOICE is designed to prepare students with disabilities, primarily those ages 18 to 21, gain skills for a positive transition into adulthood.

Woods said Thursday that as a parent of a child with special needs  severe speech impairment and mild to moderate intellectual disability  she knows to plan for years ahead, but she couldnt prepare for when Taylor Woods future would be completely shattered.

That day in 2016, the LPS program was down one para educator who was taking vacation time, Loree Woods explained, leaving one of three groups of students without supervision.

Four students went up to the 13th floor of Abel Hall on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including Taylor and a male student who Loree Woods said had a history of inappropriate touching.

She said that the LPS program was supposed to bring her daughter independence but that Taylors life is now defined by trauma and fear since the assault.

If you could live in her head for one day, you would not want to be a part of that, Loree Woods said.

We were so close

Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday vetoed Legislative Bill 25, brought by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. The legislation was originally sponsored by State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings last year in the form of LB 341. The law would have allowed families, such as Loree and Taylor Woods, to sue political subdivisions, such as school districts, if employees failed to protect children in their care.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln (right) embraces Taylor Woods of Lincoln. April 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)

The sexual assault or abuse would have needed to be a proximate result of the subdivisions failure or an employees failure to exercise reasonable care for a child in its custody. Such lawsuits are already allowed for private businesses and schools, and remedies against public entities would have been capped at up to $1 million under LB 25.

Former State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha introduced the first form of such legislation in 2021 with the Woods family, following the Nebraska Supreme Courts decision in Moser v. State of Nebraska that limited certain lawsuits in cases of alleged negligence.

The Woods family was scheduled for a court date just weeks after that court decision came.

We were so close, Loree Woods said, noting her daughter would not have benefited from LB 25 due to her age.

A cost to taxpayers

Pillen in a Wednesday letter said that LB 25 was overly broad because it applied to various subdivisions and that it would pass off costs to taxpayers.

We must hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from abuse by enforcing the criminal laws that exist and by targeting the wrongdoer, Pillen said. Taxpayers should not bear this burden.

Taylor Woods (center) smiles after the final passage of LB 25. April 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)

Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, said Thursday that the governor is dedicated to holding perpetrators against children accountable to the greatest extent possible. She said that several criminal and civil remedies are available and that Pillen will fight soft-on-crime efforts to water down those protections.

The bill does nothing to protect kids and instead opens the floodgates to trial lawyers and potentially frivolous lawsuits, Strimple said in an email.

Wayne and Conrad, both lawyers, have said attorneys have an ethical duty against frivolous lawsuits and that lawsuit rewards would support therapy or other survivors needs.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who hosted an informal news conference in her office Thursday with Loree Woods and reporters, said LB 25 sought to strike a new balance in favor of families and children who have faced government harm yet they continued to face an uphill battle.

She said Pillen and other opponents should open their hearts and minds and realize the legislation isnt political but common sense for Nebraskans such as the Woods family.

Theyre doing everything right, Conrad said. Theyre playing by the rules. Theyre raising their families. Theyre working hard. All of a sudden something terrible happens to their family and because there was a government entity involved, they cant get access to justice.

Wayne similarly said Pillen chose the shadow of bureaucracy over justice for children.

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Feb. 23, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Strimple said Pillen has received an outpouring of support and gratitude since his veto for protecting taxpayers, such as from local officials, business leaders and conservative senators.

She did not answer whether Pillen would be willing to meet with survivors or other advocates behind LB 25 and similar legislation, including the Woods family.

Responsibility of red flags

The Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, which includes attorneys statewide who have represented children and families in such cases, said in a statement that it is often too easy for school administrators to ignore red flags.

Instead, the association continued, the proposal would have protected children on the front end, by incentivizing school administrators to avoid liability on the back end.

As long as the government has no accountability for Nebraska children in its care, we, as Nebraskans, will fail to live up to our own proclaimed values, the association said. Governor Pillens veto of LB 25 makes Nebraska less safe for our children.

Loree Woods (left) joined with State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln for an informal news conference in Conrads legislative office. April 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Loree Woods said it hurts her heart to hear Pillens argument about taxes, saying that viewpoint values taxation over a persons life. In the ideal world, she added, the lawsuits would also never come because there wouldnt be negligence, she added.

When the veto was announced, Loree Woods said she and her husband were in disbelief.

This cant continue to happen, and our kids deserve a voice, she said.

Veto will not be the last word

LB 25 passed 28-17 on the final legislative day of the session, April 18. Because lawmakers have adjourned, they have no chance to override Pillens veto.

Conrad said that adds salt to the wound but said one thing is clear: The fight isnt over.

The governors exercise with his veto pen will not be the last word on this topic, Conrad said.

Loree Woods said she and Taylor thought they could stop fighting and heal, and while they found the veto timing soul crushing, she said the family will return in 2025.

Well just continue to have the sleepless nights and well work through our problems until we have an opportunity to meet the governor, which I know she would be all in for as well, Loree Woods said of Taylor. We can talk about what its really like to be a victim and how we need to do better.

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The post We were so close: Nebraska mother responds to veto of child sexual assault and abuse bill appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
West must avoid becoming as dependent on China as it was on Russia  Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that China should stop supporting the Russian Federation in its war against Ukraine if it wants to have good relations with the West, and has also warned the allies against becoming dependent on Chinese resources.

Source: Stoltenberg during a visit to Berlin, as reported by European Pravda with reference to Reuters

Details: Stoltenberg said the Russian Federation desperately needs the support of China, which supports its military-industrial complex by providing high-tech goods, particularly semiconductors.

Quote: "Last year, Russia imported 90% of its microelectronics from China, used to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with improved satellite capabilities and imaging."

The NATO Secretary General recalled that China says it wants to have good relations with the West.

"At the same time, Beijing continues to fuel the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War Two. They cannot have it both ways," he warned.

Stoltenberg warned Western allies against becoming as dependent on China as they were on Russia.

"In the past, we made the mistake of becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas. We must not repeat that mistake with China. Depending on its money, its raw materials, its technologies - dependencies make us vulnerable," he emphasised.

Background:

US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith recently accused China of helping Russia achieve its military goals in Ukraine by continuing to sell goods such as drone technology or gunpowder components.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised China for supporting Russia's defence industry, saying Beijing is currently the leading supplier of critical components for the war of aggression that Russia is waging against Ukraine.

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Milly Gonzales, 31, who works with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors, supports abortion rights. She said the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was devastating. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Can a group of strangers find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America?



Editors note: This story is the second in a series about a group of people from Wisconsin trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. Their larger goal is to find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America.

MADISON, Wis.  For the 14 abortion-rights opponents and supporters recently recruited to find consensus solutions on abortion and family well-being, their first major agreement was that Wisconsin has some of the best cheese in the nation.

Their second was that even where abortion is outlawed (currently in Wisconsin thats after 20 weeks gestation), life-saving treatment for the pregnant person should not be.

If the mothers having to make a choice between do I live or does my child live, she gets to make that choice, said Bria Halama, a 31-year-old white, Catholic clinical mental health counselor in Milwaukee. In the past, she said she struggled with her stance on bodily autonomy and faith, but now opposes abortion and seeks to honor both the mother and child.

Five of the participants in the Wisconsin Citizen Solutions on Abortion and Family Well-Being defend the concept of consistent life ethic, which opposes the intentional ending of human life from conception until natural death. One exception they account for is called the doctrine of double effect, a principle that says that sometimes doing something morally good (for example, saving a pregnant womans life) will have a morally bad side effect (ending the unborns life, for example), and that this is morally permissible as long as the bad effect was not intended.

All 14 Wisconsinites agreed that situations like ectopic pregnancies are medical emergencies that need to be treated regardless of any abortion ban. But theres an ultimately unresolvable dispute over how to determine life-threatening, something that OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly told the group is rarely black and white and always unique to a particular pregnancy. (Lyerly has since stepped away from the Starts With Us project because her recently launched congressional campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status.)

However, there is a slight shift in some of the abortion opponents thinking on medical interventions to save the fetus when a pregnancy is terminated to preserve maternal life. When Halama suggested that within the exception for maternal health emergencies they include a caveat that all efforts should be made to save the baby, Lyerly pushed back.

I really struggle with that, because there are babies that are born as a result of an abortion that are alive but are not likely to live, Lyerly said. And the parents  will wrap their babies and hold them until they die instead of taking them away and poking them with needles and putting a breathing tube down their throats and making them suffer and experience pain until they die. And I think that some people would choose one and other people would choose the other, and I cant make that decision for my patients.

Halama agreed with Lyerly that efforts to save fetal life may not always be the best option in all circumstances. And so did Thomas Lang, a Catholic from Janesville who opposes abortion.

I really appreciate that, Lang said. Because we can bring that to end-of-life-care, too, where you know, the breaking of the ribcage, enough already. Youre prolonging death, youre not prolonging life here.

Another place of early agreement in the same realm involved miscarriage management. Stories of women being turned away from hospitals with non-viable pregnancies persist around the country and are the subject of the second major U.S. Supreme Court case since Roe v. Wade was overturned, which justices heard Wednesday. But theres also a story around this table.

Participant Heather Martell shared with the group that her first pregnancy, at 19, ended in a miscarriage. She alleged that her doctor would not evacuate the pregnancy because of the doctors anti-abortion beliefs and that she bled for months before seeking treatment at a Planned Parenthood clinic.

I almost died because of a pro-life agenda, Martell told the group.

The participants initially agree on a proposal that says that receiving medical care for miscarriages should not be subject to a states abortion laws.

Dispute resolution on steroids

Facilitating these sessions were Mariah Levison and Kelly Wilder from Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that for about a decade and a half has helped opposing groups in the public and private sectors find consensus on a range of policy issues like education, poverty, and health care. But what typically takes Convergence at least a year for each project, Starts With Us has asked them to do in three days (they will eventually add a fourth day in early April).

This is the same methodology like on steroids, Levison, Convergences CEO and president, told States Newsroom. The Minnesotan said she has worked in dispute resolution her whole career, but abortion is a new topic for both her and Convergence, which facilitated Starts With Uss inaugural session, about gun rights and safety in Tennessee; a third session on immigration is being planned for later this year.

Beyond agreements on policy proposals, Levison said the larger goal is to help people build trust and understand each other.

And its the role of Starts With Us as a civic engagement nonprofit to elevate these examples of understanding and agreement and try to change the narrative that issues like abortion and guns and immigration are intractable. For the first three days of the session last December, camera operators filmed the participants, while the rest of the team watched in a makeshift video village in a drafty hallway space. In the months since, theyve used the footage to help tell the groups story and to give Wisconsin residents (and those in other states) a different option on abortion policy that isnt just relegated to ban vs. no ban. They invited States Newsroom to observe the December sessions, though everything said was initially off the record unless participants gave permission to be quoted.

Levison told the participants they must find OPTIONS: Only proposals that include others needs succeed. She had them consider the example of a neighbor complaining about the others constantly barking dog. A real consensus solution, she explained, goes beyond keeping vs. getting rid of the dog. And she instructed them not to compromise; if a proposal would cause anyone heartburn, it didnt go on the final list. As in a jury, even one dissenting vote can tank a proposal.

In the group, the biggest sticking points are: fetal health; maternal health that might not be immediately life-threatening; and sexual and domestic violence and whether someone should be forced to procreate with an abuser.

The teams are broken into two groups to facilitate better discussion. By the end, participants will raise their voices, burst into tears, slam a folder. Kai Gardner Mishlove, the executive director at Jewish Social Services, quickly becomes the groups emotional stabilizer, guiding them through deep breathing during tense moments. But they keep showing up, and listening.

Walls coming down

Heading into the cold December night after the second day of heavy discussions, Thomas Lang told States Newsroom that his wife knows the very night their eldest of three was conceived. The 61-year-old property manager grinned as he remembered her reciting a prayer before being intimate on their honeymoon.

There is a purpose and meaning of sexual intimacy, said Lang, who supports the teaching of natural family planning as opposed to artificial birth control. Hes very much in love with Amy, whos 11 years younger and whom he met on the dating site Ave Maria Singles 15 years after a divorce and annulment from a relationship with which he shares three adult children. One of the basic principles behind the proper use of NFP is that married couples should always have an openness to life.

Of the 14, Lang is among those on the most restrictive end of the spectrum, a stance informed by his deep Catholic faith, his mothers abortion regret, his six living children, as well as two miscarriages and a stillbirth. To support his position, he repeatedly cites the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae and the legislative director of Pro-Life Wisconsin.

And unlike some of the other abortion opponents in the group, Lang is comfortable using the word murder to describe what Lyerly does for a living. He doesnt expect to connect with her.

Throughout the initial three-day session, the OB-GYN from Green Bay patiently answered medical questions, described abortion procedures, and explained how she views abortion morally.

My obligation to my patients is to make sure that Im helping them with the right thing for them, Lyerly said. If Im taking care of a woman from the Jewish faith, they have a very different perspective than my Catholic patients than my agnostic or atheist patients. So my job is to understand where theyre coming from and to make sure that they feel fulfilled and well taken care of and have what they need to be able to live their lives according to their morals.

At one point Lyerly obliged Lang when he asked her to switch from clinical language (fertilization, products of conception) to his preferred terms (conception, baby), a move that frustrated several of the abortion-access participants but endeared her to him.

I would have been repulsed to have met an abortionist before this meeting, Lang told Lyerly on the second day of the session, but I cant tell you how much you enamor me with regards to the way you put yourself in your patients shoes. I would love you to be my wifes doctor. (He later acknowledged to States Newsroom that this could never happen because Lyerlys compassion is incoherent without principled procreative and life ethics.)

With Lang and Lyerly at opposite ends of the spectrum, the 14 were able to come to only small agreements about when abortion should be legal and accessible, but found more common ground on how to mitigate some of abortions root causes, which many of the participants have experienced.

Kateri Klingele, 25, a white mental health professional and co-founder of Wisconsin Student Parents Organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has two children. Not only was Klingele navigating poverty and school during her two unplanned pregnancies, but she was also incredibly sick. She was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which resulted in her being fed intravenously during both pregnancies and delivering both her children early due to malnutrition. She said she also experienced partner abuse and was on every social support available, living in constant terror of falling off the so-called benefits cliff.

But shes firm that abortion should rarely ever be an option because she believes that ending the life of a child is wrong and does not end other issues, like abuse and poverty.

I am deeply troubled by this idea that providing an abortion and ending the life of a child is a way to stop domestic violence, Klingele told the group. As someone whos experienced that, whats harmful is the treatment of being abused. Whats harmful is that theres insane wait lists for domestic abuse survivors housing. But my sons were not the problem here.

Her life experience has brought her to the opposite conclusion to other participants who work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, like Monique Minkens and Milly Gonzales.

In 2022 I could see both perspectives, especially as a person of faith, Gonzales told the group. But it scared me when Roe v. Wade was repealed. It was devastating, especially in my work, seeing how it affected women and all persons that are able to have children. Sometimes we dont think through decisions that people have to make and how those decisions impact the babies that are being born.

Meanwhile, Halama, who said she has counseled patients facing crisis pregnancies, began to grapple with the idea that maybe the hardline anti-abortion stance doesnt reduce the most amount of harm.

Am I coming from a place of pride? Am I coming from a place of rigidity and not loving compassion? Halama told the group on the third day. This is just like to challenge maybe us pro-lifers, but I dont know, are we working so hard to eliminate this harm, and harming women who are in these positions of domestic violence, and in these positions of discrimination, when we know that we have a merciful God?  I dont know what to do with that because its so hard for me to concede on something that in my mind is harming, [but] I dont know if having this harsh black-and-white stance on [abortion] is the right way to do it.

Back in video village, the sometimes chatty or snacking Starts With Us staff are rapt looking at the screens. Someone whispers: Wow.

Theres also an understanding reached between Klingele and Ali Muldrow, a Black abortion fund director, where Muldrow agrees with Klingele about treating people with disabilities with compassion and not suggesting that they should not be born. I want you to know with my whole heart and soul that I dont think we should be universally killing people with Down syndrome, Muldrow told Klingele.

A variety of health factors inform why people terminate pregnancies, and to suggest that people simply dont want children with disabilities is insensitive to the complexity of information people obtain about the health and quality of life that factor into peoples decisions around pregnancy, Muldrow later clarified to States Newsroom. I think folks who are anti-abortion access take disability into consideration when youre talking about the fetus, but they dont seem as willing to acknowledge disability as a factor for the pregnant person.

Unlikely partnership

On the second day, during breakouts, Klingele smiles kindly at Lyerly and explains that the intentional ending of a pregnancy should not be legal.

I think there should be no criminal charges on women for seeking that, Klingele said. But with regard to providers, I think there should be penalties. So, I want to look at you when I say this because I value you and I care about you and I know you care about your patients and about their children. But poisoning them and pulling them out of the womb and vacuuming, whatever terms you want to use, destroys their dignity.

I appreciate your perspective, Lyerly replied. The next day she addressed some of the participants notions of her work. I sit here with people who might be shouting at me as a doctor entering an abortion clinic. Someone who yesterday essentially said I should be in jail. Im a murderer, right? But every time that I trust women and understand that they know whats best for them, every time I perform an abortion for someone, we acknowledge that theres a life there. And we honor that life. And I know that that sounds crazy. But we do the best that we can under every circumstance. And these are hard, hard decisions and everybody is different. But I would offer to you that we do love them both.

And thats the next point of common ground: Klingele clarifies that she doesnt believe abortion providers should be incarcerated, which as Lyerly points out, they could have been under Wisconsins temporary abortion ban that went into effect after the Dobbs decision. Klingele ultimately cant answer what it means for abortion providers if termination is illegal; she said shes more concerned about making it easier for people to give birth and parent safely.

I dont have all the laws or regulations, she told Lyerly. But I see ending a life as wrong and there are consequences for doing something thats wrong.

But the two found that they agree on a lot more outside of abortion. Lyerly told States Newsroom that the two have agreed to work together in some capacity.

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips told States Newsroom she was heartened but not surprised to see participants agree and connect.

Its hard to hate up close, Phillips said. And when you have the opportunity to sit for three days across the table from one another and have nuanced discussions about both your lived experience and the issue at hand, its not surprising that youre able to humanize and learn and grow. And its still beautiful to see.

The post Where is the common ground for abortion-rights opponents and supporters? appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Leaders in politics, technology and media celebrated the beginning of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner weekend with the ninth annual Bytes & Bylines reception Thursday evening in Washington.

The event, held at the Irish ambassadors residence, recognizes strides made in advancing LGBTQ rights in the U.S. This years celebration was co-hosted by Susanna Quinn, Eric Kuhn, Stephanie Cutler, Sarah Kate Ellis, Adrienne Elrod, Karen Finney and Adam Rathe.

Sponsored by GLAAD, Precision Strategies and Town & Country, the evening welcomed several notable guests, including actor Wilson Cruz and former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci and his wife, Christine Grady.

Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Geraldine Byrne Nason said she was glad to open her doors to attendees in the spirit of accelerating acceptance for LGBTQ people and issues. In 2015, Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote.

Guests spent the evening mingling on the residences grounds, which were lit with the colors of the rainbow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ulviyya Shahin

"Construction activities in Garabagh are expected to increase the influx of construction materials into the country," Azernews reports that this was stated by Vuqar Oruj, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers (ASA).

He noted that infrastructure restoration efforts in Garabagh, along with plans for large-scale constructions, necessitate a significant supply of construction materials.

He emphasized that this increased demand will likely impact the prices of construction materials:

"As restoration efforts intensify, the cost of construction materials is expected to rise. This is a natural consequence of the expanding real estate market. A decrease in the value of construction materials is not typical and may indicate external market interventions or temporary fluctuations. With our lands liberated from occupation and infrastructure restoration underway, there has been a surge in investment and interest in the country.

Azerbaijan is experiencing a transformation in its economic landscape, leading to changes in citizen preferences and lifestyles. The development of the Baku Master Plan and government initiatives are contributing to this shift. The current developments should be viewed as the result of economic changes shaping the lives of our citizens," V. Oruj added."
YANGON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed with 10 others injured in a three-vehicle collision in southern Myanmar, a local police officer told Xinhua on Friday.

The crash occurred in Nyaunglebin Township of the Bago Region at around 12:00 p.m. local time on Friday.

The accident was triggered by a head-on collision between a canter truck and a light truck. Subsequently, the light truck collided with a 22-wheeler truck traveling behind it, he said.

The light truck was caught between the two larger vehicles, resulting in its complete destruction, he added.

Two men and one woman aboard the canter truck were killed on the spot. Of the injured, two men on the light truck were seriously injured, along with one man and one woman on the 22-wheeler truck.

The injured were rushed to the local hospital, the police officer said. 
Donald Trumps claim that the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 was less hateful than pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses lately was repugnant and divisive, the White House shot back Thursday night.

After proceedings in his criminal trial in New York concluded for the day, Trump said the torch-lit rally on the campus of the University of Virginiain which participants chanted Jews will not replace us and a Neo-Nazi murdered a counter-protester with his car and injured thirty otherswas a little peanut compared to the largely peaceful encampments springing up on college campuses in recent weeks.

It was nothing compared, and the hate wasnt the kind of hate you have here. This is tremendous hate, Trump claimed.

In response, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates called attention to how the Charlottesville rally spurred Bidens 2020 presidential bid, because he has fought Antisemitism and hate his entire life.

Joe Biden is the only President to have created and deployed a National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, Bates said in a statement to The Daily Beast. In recent days youve heard President Biden forcefully and repeatedly condemn horrifying Antisemitic comments captured on video. Tellingly, yesterday Hamas itself blasted President Biden for showing leadership and speaking out against those Antisemitic remarks.

Bates also alluded to Trump dining at Mar-a-Lago in 2022 with embattled rapper Kanye West, who lost a lucrative deal with Adidas after a series of antisemitic remarks, and Nick Fuentes, a far-right internet personality and Holocaust denier.

Unlike some figures on the right, President Biden has never invited Neo Nazis and Holocaust deniers over for lunch, Bates said.

Shortly after the deadly Charlottesville rally, which was met by counter-protesters, Trump said in a series of now-infamous remarks that it had been attended by very fine people on both sides.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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White House shares what kind of weapons Ukraine needs most now

The White House has stated that air defence equipment is currently a priority for Ukraine.

Source: John Kirby, US National Security Communications Advisor, during a briefing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The White House representative was asked whether the US is considering the possibility of sending another Patriot battery to Ukraine, to which he replied: "When we send additional items, and we can speak to it, well certainly let you know."

Kirby noted that the recently announced package of military aid to Ukraine contains critical equipment.

Quote: "But clearly, air defence is going to remain something thats a high priority for  for the Ukrainians. And as we can contribute to that air defence across a range of different capabilities  long, medium, and short-range  well do that," he added.

Background:

As reported on 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that provides for about US$61 billion in additional military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help for other US allies.

Immediately after that, the US announced a package of military aid to Ukraine worth US$1 billion.

Earlier, Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the US President, confirmed that Ukraine had received ATACMS long-range missiles and that the deliveries would continue in the future.

Read more: The Uncertain States of America. What challenges to backing Ukraine are not addressed by aid bill adopted by Congress?

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White House shuts down GOP calls to bring in National Guard for college protests

The White House punted on Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) demand for President Biden to call in the National Guard to college campuses amid mass protests over the Israel-Hamas war on Thursday.

Johnson visited Columbia University on Wednesday, the first of major pro-Palestine protests that have spread to dozens of college campuses around the country, and said that Biden should call in the National Guard to quell the peaceful demonstrations.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the issue is not up to the president.

That is something for the governors to decide, she told reporters, noting that Biden has previously criticized the protests as antisemitic.

Johnson went a step further Wednesday, calling the protests dangerous.

If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard, he said.

Student and faculty protests have urged the Biden administration to back a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and to stop supplying military aid to Israel, and they have advocated for their universities to divest from Israeli interests.

Hundreds of students and faculty have been arrested nationwide as some universities call on local and state police to violently disperse demonstrations.

Six months since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, a majority of Democrats say they believe the U.S. should limit military aid to Israel, according to polls, citing concerns about mass civilian casualties in Gaza and accusations of war crimes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg finishes his trial with Donald Trump, hell have to turn to Harvey Weinstein.

The disgraced former Hollywood mogul saw his 2020 conviction on sex crimes charges overturned Thursday by New Yorks top court in a 4-3 decision that shocked the public.

But Catherine A. Christian, a former prosecutor who spent more than 30 years in the Manhattan DAs Office, wasnt surprised.

A number of us were expecting that it probably would be reversed if there was some sort of intellectual honesty, because you dont want to make bad law for bad defendants, Christian told POLITICO Magazine.

The state Court of Appeals determined Weinstein ultimately did not receive a fair trial because it included testimony from witnesses who accused him of sexual abuse and harassment, but were not part of the criminal charges directly at issue.

Weinstein has been serving a 23-year sentence at an upstate New York prison for a conviction that helped fuel the #MeToo movement and a societal reckoning over sexual misconduct. But hes not about to be set free. Not only did the top New York court order a new trial, but he also faces a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted by a California jury in 2022 of raping a woman at a hotel in Beverly Hills.

The decision by the New York court was decried by victims advocates, who worry it could chill future sexual assault cases. But Christian said the case  which was initially led by Braggs predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr.  can be retried successfully. And she offered some advice on how to do it.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The courts decision to overturn Harvey Weinsteins conviction came as much of a shock to the public. Were you surprised by the ruling?

What I think the four judges said: I know this was a very high-profile case, this may be a despicable man, but the law is the law. And in this case, we have to follow the law, not how we feel about how despicable this particular defendant is.

Im not surprised. That they did overturn it shows that they just stuck to the facts and the law and not the celebrity, not how they may personally find him offensive. They looked at that transcript, and then just followed what they believe is the right take on the law.

At the time of the original trial, did you think it was a mistake to have other women testify in this case as witnesses to Weinsteins misconduct but who were otherwise not part of the criminal charges?

The law allows you, if it's not too prejudicial, in certain instances to bring out prior uncharged crimes if it goes to notice, intent, common plan or scheme. So, there's a number of exceptions.

It's a legitimate decision that the prosecutors made. Yes, now that it's overturned, you know, hindsight is 20/20. And let me say this, I know the two prosecutors who tried it, and they're excellent. It was still up to the [lower court] judge, the judge could have said no. And the judge said, You can do this, and the Court of Appeals said, Actually, you shouldn't have.

I wouldn't be overly critical of the trial prosecutors. There were a lot of legal minds in the office that went into the prosecution of this case. You always hope that if you get a conviction as a prosecutor, it will stick. But in a case like this, there were strategic decisions that now have turned out, according to the Court of Appeals, to have been a mistake.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office has already pledged to retry the case. Do you think there was any hesitation there? Are there risks to doing so?

To me, you have to retry assuming all of the witnesses are available. Harvey Weinstein has been convicted in Los Angeles, so he's not going anywhere.

Theyll retry it and this time, they'll do it the way the Court of Appeals says it should be done.

The negative now in retrying it means these women have to come back and do it all over again, and be cross-examined all over again. So that's the negative of a retrial for the prosecution.



How will this shape sexual assault cases going forward? What about the trajectory of the #MeToo movement?

First of all, the Court of Appeals didn't say he can't be retried because it's so clear that he's factually innocent. That's not what this decision was. I don't even want to call it a technicality.

There was evidence that should not have been admitted, or should not have been allowed to be admitted, because it was too prejudicial. That's really the gist. I don't think it should be spread to all sexual assault cases. Its limited to the facts of this specific case, and how this specific case was tried.

It will affect the law, not just on sexual assault cases, but all criminal cases in New York about what a prosecutor is allowed to bring as evidence, of what uncharged crimes, can they put on their direct case, what prior, vicious, immoral criminal acts can they cross examine the defendant about. That's in all cases.

But I don't think this is going to affect prosecutors from going after people who are charged with sexual assault if they can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't think, and I'm hoping, it won't deter victims from reporting it, particularly against high-profile men, because this case happened to be reversed.

Bill Cosby's case at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court  he had his conviction reversed because of an error made by the prosecutor. It wasn't like saying either of these men didn't do it. That's usually not what the appeals courts do. They just determine whether or not what was done at the trial was legally correct.

DA Alvin Bragg is currently focused on the Trump trial in Manhattan. Could that have any impact on a new Weinstein trial? If not legally, then politically?

No, because remember the Manhattan DAs office is huge. The Trump trial is being tried by the investigations division.

The Harvey Weinstein case will be done by the Special Victims division, it'll be their sex crimes division. It's very, very different. Different set of assistants, whole different thing. I always say about this Trump trial, there are assistants in that office who have their own trials that have nothing to do with this Trump trial.

They probably were anticipating the decision, and it could have gone either way. They probably prepared themselves  suppose the conviction is overturned, what will our response be? I don't think it was shocking to them.


CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand  Chinese President Xi Jinping instigated a significant restructuring of the Peoples Liberation Army on April 19 by axing the Strategic Support Force and replacing it with a new Information Support Force.

While its unclear exactly why Xi enacted this major reshuffle, analysts suspect both military capability and political control contributed to his decision.

Joel Wuthnow, a Chinese military expert with the Washington-based National Defense University, believes Xi wanted greater oversight of support forces with the Peoples Liberation Army.

PLA observations of the war in Ukraine have made very clear that an effective structure for support forces, including in the logistics and information domains, is essential for modern warfighting. My sense is that the SSF [Strategic Support Force] proved to be an unnecessary management layer that obscured Xis visibility into what the PLA was doing in space, cyberspace and other information disciplines, Wuthnow told Defense News.

China created the SSF on Dec. 31, 2015. Its successor, the Information Support Force, will now handle network information systems and communications support, and possibly network defense.

The new organization operates alongside two other newly announced military arms  the Cyberspace Force and the Aerospace Force  plus the preexisting Joint Logistics Support Force. This leaves the PLA with a structure of four arms and four services, the latter comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force.

The four arms are directly subordinate to the Central Military Commission, which is the top political party organ that oversees Chinas armed forces. This means the commissions leaders can directly deal with individual support forces rather than having to go through the SSF headquarters.

The latest move came as a surprise to observers, said Brendan Mulvaney, the director of the U.S. Air Forces China Aerospace Studies Institute.

Obviously it takes quite a bit of planning and groundwork to create a new force, much less disband another, but it appears the PLA kept these plans pretty well hidden from public view, Mulvaney told Defense News.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, attends a ceremony for the People's Liberation Armys newly established Information Support Force on April 19, 2024. (Chinese Defense Ministry)

Indeed, China is known for its lack of transparency. Gen. Ju Qiansheng, a former SSF commander, disappeared last year before reappearing briefly in February. Jus current status is unclear.

Mulvaney said corruption might have played a part in Xis decision. However, the SSF has not experienced corruption scandals at the level of the Rocket Force, whose leadership was detained by the authorities last year.

From an operational standpoint, the new structure is advantageous to Chinas military, Wuthnow said, noting the SSF was as powerful as the PLAs five theater commands, whereas the current four support forces are now one level lower. This means theater commanders can now more easily tap the support forces assets without the complication of dealing with higher headquarters.

This should help break down silos in the PLA and improve the functioning of the joint operations systems, Wuthnow said. The four support forces are all functionally specialized and can focus on improving their trade without an unnecessary management layer.

Overall, disruption to the PLA would not be massive, Mulvaney said.

The new headquarters will take time to get up and running; stake out positions and roles; establish command and control as well as organizational relationships with the other services, forces and theater commands, he explained. But it wont be as big of a shift as the 2015/2016 reforms, and really only affects a pretty small portion of the PLA as a whole.

The Cyberspace and Aerospace forces will presumably continue as normal from their same locations. The Cyberspace Force succeeds the SSFs former Network Systems Department, while the Aerospace Force supplants the Space Systems Department. In essence, these departments have been elevated, with their overarching SSF structure removed.

Senior Col. Wu Qian, a Defense Ministry spokesperson, described the Cyberspace Forces mission as reinforcing national cyber border defense, promptly detecting and countering network intrusions and maintaining national cyber sovereignty and information security.

The force is also charged with carrying out offensive cyber operations. The U.S., the U.K. and New Zealand accused China last month of sponsoring malicious cyber activity.

Wu also said the Aerospace Force will strengthen the capacity to safely enter, exit and openly use space. Although China emphasizes the peaceful use of space, the Pentagon said in its latest annual report on Chinas military that the PLA views space superiority, the ability to control the space-enabled information sphere and to deny adversaries their own space-based information gathering and communication capabilities, as critical components to conduct modern informatized warfare. 

Xi has said the Information Support Force plays a crucial role in advancing the Chinese militarys high-quality development and competitiveness in modern warfare.

While the new structure means the four forces plug into the PLAs joint operations system more easily because there are now fewer management layers, Mulvaney noted its likely a result of Xi wanting more direct control of the information domain forces  and felt like the SSF wasnt getting the job done.
David Pecker resumes testifying on Friday, the fourth day of testimony in Donald Trumps first criminal trial on 34 felony counts of falsifying documents in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

Peckers weeklong testimony has offered jurors a panoramic view of the alleged conspiracy to illegally influence the election involving Trump, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, and Peckera conspiracy that is the centerpiece of the prosecutions case. Thursdays testimony included explosive revelations about Trumps alleged direct involvement in the scheme, the most captivating day of testimony yet.

In the back of the courtroom to witness events unfold on Thursday sat at least half a dozen members of the general public, some of whom had waited in line since 6 a.m. to join the assembled press in the gallery and experience Americas first presidential criminal trial firsthand. Two of the early birds were tourists from Alaska who had taken a day from their weeklong visit to the Big Apple to see Trump on trial. Its the most interesting thing going on right now, one, a commercial fisherwoman, said. Well have to try very hard not to heckle, her friend added. (The pairs other big New York show was to see Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli perform in a Broadway play called An Enemy of the People, so perhaps there was a theme to the trip.) Another of the public viewers was a criminal lawyer who had previously attended Richard Nixons funeral just to hang around and wanted to be here for this piece of history surrounding a similar colorful crook.

Aside from the cost of an early-morning wake-up, the show for these lucky few on the third day of testimony was free. Based on Peckers performance, which seemed to captivate the jury and will likely prove critical to the prosecutions final case, they got their moneys worth.

Pecker testified about Cohen hounding him over multiple hush money payments to both Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougalrespectively an adult film performer and Playboy Playmate who said they had sexual relationships with Trumpmentioning how Cohen would casually refer to Trump as the boss in a strikingly mob-like fashion. As in, Dont worry, Im your friend, the boss will take care of reimbursements for payments to McDougal. Or, The boss is going to be very angry with you, once Pecker started to get cold feet about taking part in the hush money schemes.

Mafia-speak aside, Pecker also described in detail personal meetings he had with candidate Trump prior to the election, then President Trump in the White House itself. Per Peckers telling, Trump personally invited the tabloid publisher to a thank-you dinner that Trump described to him as your dinner at the White House to offer his gratitude for Peckers help during the campaign.

After Trump took photos with Peckers associates, Pecker says that Trump took him aside to walk together privately from the Oval Office to the White House dining room. As we walked up, President Trump asked me, Hows Karen doing?  Pecker testified, in reference to their McDougal hush money scheme. I said, Shes doing well, shes quiet, everythings going good.  Prosecutors followed this testimony up by offering the jury a photo of Trump and Pecker walking and talking together at the White House, with Pecker corroborating that this was the moment Trump checked in with him about their scheme.

The purpose of this testimony is to tie Trump directly to the conspiracy to influence the electiona crucial element of the case that elevated the record-keeping offense to a felonyby offering a witness more credible than Cohen who can describe Trumps words and actions firsthand. It was one of the many reasons why Pecker was an ideal opening witness for the prosecution.

There are others. Notably, unlike Daniels and Cohen, who clearly have deep personal animus toward Trump, Pecker has no ax to grind. The former National Enquirer boss says he still considers Trump a friend and a mentor. Even Trump referred to Pecker as very nice in interviews midweek (for which he could be cited with contempt for attempting to influence Peckers testimony).

Despite describing openly and unabashedly the seedy business of tabloid publishingor perhaps because of this unguarded descriptionPecker came off as credible, a man who was unashamed of his profession even when it involved extorting celebrities or paying off porn stars. This read as forthrightness and jurors were visibly engaged throughout his testimony.

Pecker was also able to preemptively rebut what will be a key defense argument, testifying that before Trump ran for office, he was concerned about negative stories chiefly for the protection of his wife, Melania Trump, or daughter, Ivanka Trump. After Trump launched his bid for office, Pecker testified, the candidates family never came up. It was basically what the impact would be to the campaign and the election, Pecker testified. Notably, John Edwards was acquitted in a similar campaign finance case because he was able to convince jurors that he was trying to protect his family by covering up an affair, and not win office. Peckers testimony implies that this is not what Trump was concerned about, bolstering the prosecutions allegation that he sought to unlawfully influence the election.

Emil Bove, the Trump defense attorney whos leading the cross-examination of Pecker, has tried to portray Peckers currying of favors with celebrities as standard operating procedure for tabloid publishers, including in Trumps case. Hes also attempted to poke holes in Peckers story by challenging his recollection on key points and implying that he was filling in holes to tell a better story to federal and Manhattan prosecutors in order to win a pair of immunity agreements.

When Bove challenged Pecker that he might be adding in details where his memory had failed to embellish what had happened and give prosecutors a better story, Pecker responded strongly and convincingly. What I said under oath was the truth, Pecker said. Thats all I planned on doing today.

It was also riveting. By days end Thursday, despite the ability to leave during lunch after an incredibly long day, the Alaska tourists were still in the back of the room taking it all in.
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, suspended an account owned by the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela on Friday.

It is currently unclear why the social media platform, owned by Elon Musk, banned Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa. The company has issued no statement regarding its decision to restrict the South African politicians speech, but the timing is questionable.

Mandela has spent the last week making multiple public appearances in support of Palestinian liberation, quoting his grandfather ahead of his voyage aboard a Freedom Flotilla trip sailing to Gaza from Turkey with the intention to provide more than 5,000 tons of aid to the war-torn enclave.

He regarded the Palestinian struggle as the greatest moral issue of our time, Mandela said in a speech posted on social media Friday, referring to his grandfather while donning a keffiyeh. He made a commitment to the Palestinian people by saying that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people.

Nelson Mandelas grandson talks about his grandfathers fight for a free South Africa  and why hes supporting Palestinians facing genocide by Israeli forces.



Hes joining the Freedom Flotilla ships as they attempt to break through the Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Ts7rF5aBW6  AJ+ (@ajplus) April 26, 2024

In a separate statement issued on Thursday, Mandela explained that the Freedom Flotilla for Gaza aims to draw the attention of the international public to the atrocities, genocide and war crimes being committed against the people of Gaza.



So far, the departure of the flotilla of ships has been waylaid due to a bevy of ship inspections triggered by an Israeli pressure campaign, reported Al Jazeera, even though a retired U.S. Army colonel and State Department official organizing the flotilla said the ships had already passed all of their inspections and were ready to set sail.

In order to reach Gaza, the flotilla will need to break through an Israeli blockade originally set in place in 2007. Previous efforts to break the blockade by humanitarian missions have ended in death. In 2010, the six-vessel Freedom Flotilla I was intercepted by Israeli forces, who boarded the ships via helicopters and speedboats on international waters, shooting and killing nine activists.

Having eyes on the flotillas is critical for their safety, according to one of the aid shipments organizers.

Were trying to get all eyes on the Flotilla to make sure the world knows and Israel knows were coming so that they cant fire a missile on us and say it was unintentional, Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American attorney and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, told Al Jazeera.
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Nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to Europes Schengen area are rejected  the highest refusal rate of any region, according to a new report by migration consultancy firm Henley & Partners. Thats despite the continent submitting the lowest number of applications per capita.

Africas applicants had a 30% visa refusal rate. The rejection rates for African applicants for Schengen visas are generally 10% higher than the global average, three times higher than the highest rejection rate, Mehari Taddele Maru, professor at the European University Institute, observed in the report.

Algeria saw the highest rate of refusals, with 46% of its more than 390,000 Schengen visa applications in 2022 rejected. Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Senegal and Mali all had between 40% and 45% of applications denied.

European states primarily cited reasonable doubts about the visa applicants intention to return home in their rejections, the report found. The researchers argued the European visa system clearly demonstrates apparent bias against African applicants, despite justifications based on security or economic concerns.

The researchers said that with limited visa-free access to wealthy countries and high visa refusal rates, Africans were locked out of numerous opportunities as their ability to engage in multinational trade, network, and explore international business ventures is severely limited.

Consequently, African entrepreneurs and investors are often left out of lucrative global markets, impeding their potential for economic growth and financial prosperity, the report notes.

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Researchers said visa rejection was also being used as a condition for the return and readmission of illegal migrants in Europe, impacting African countries whose citizens are found to be illegally residing on the continent and those with the lowest rate of return and readmission.

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Martins view

The influx of illegal migrants in Europe and the resulting political pressure on governments across the continent is bound to make visa regimes more restrictive to Africans.

The high rate of visa refusals for Africans is unlikely to change significantly in the next few years, particularly as more right wing parties have gained power across Europe with immigration a key rallying call for many of them.

However, this means that countless more Africans who would benefit from traveling abroad for business, education or tourism will be unable to do so. This will not only deny them opportunities for economic advancement, but also deny companies in Europe access to African talent.

Africans would benefit from their governments prioritizing the opening up of visa access within the continent to boost international connectivity and unlock more opportunities for citizens across African countries. That approach would also help to drive intra-continental trade as envisioned in the African Continental Free Trade Area. Only Rwanda, Benin, Kenya, The Gambia, and Seychelles currently offer visa-free access for citizens of African countries.

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Africans applying to study in the United States face higher rates of visa refusal than people from other regions, based on data from the U.S. government, UN and World Bank.

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Its been another big legal week for Donald Trump. His first criminal trial kicked off in New York, and his Supreme Court immunity hearing just took place in Washington. He also made a legal cameo in Arizona, as an unindicted alleged co-conspirator in a new indictment stemming from efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

Major figures in Trump world, such as Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, are charged in the state indictment, along with so-called fake electors.

But why isnt Trump charged?

As we know, the former president has been charged over the 2020 election in two of his four criminal cases, in Washington, D.C., and Georgia. He has pleaded not guilty in all of his criminal cases and denied wrongdoing.

There are multiple possible reasons that Trump isnt charged in Arizona. (Incredibly, as my MSNBC colleague Steve Benen pointed out, we also just learned that Trump, along with Giuliani and Meadows, is considered an unindicted co-conspirator in Michigans fake elector case.)

One thing to keep in mind is that prosecutors arent all the same; the ones who brought the Arizona case may simply have a different strategy and view of the alleged plot and attendant proof required than, say, the prosecutors who charged Trump in Georgia. Relatedly, we dont know exactly what happened in the grand jury and what grand jurors thought of any potential charges against the former president.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Arizona prosecutors may very well want to charge Trump but chose not to at this time for tactical reasons. Among such possibilities is that they are trying to get existing defendants to flip on the former president. Or, given the nearing presidential election, state prosecutors may first want to see whether Trump takes office again, given the possibility that his victory could jam up his prosecution on the state level, even if he couldnt pardon the case like he could his federal ones.

Relatedly, the prosecutors may want to see what the Supreme Court says in its forthcoming immunity ruling in the appeal that also stems from 2020-related charges.

Of course, this thought exercise assumes a good reason for Trumps escaping charges in the Arizona indictment. If Trumps political ascendancy has taught us nothing else, its that there may not be logic to find behind every corner. But we may learn more in the fullness of time.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for weekly updates on the top legal stories, including news from the Supreme Court, the Donald Trump cases and more.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Early Thursday morning, police arrested 108 protesters at Emerson College in Boston. At the University of Texas in Austin, state troopers in riot gear, urged on by Gov. Greg Abbott, arrested almost 60 protesters Wednesday. That same day, officers took 93 people into custody at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Smaller numbers of arrests have been made at the Ohio State University, Princeton University, and at Emory University, in Atlanta.

The wave of campus actions and police responses followed Columbia Universitys decision last week to call in the New York Police Department to clear protesters from campus. That call led to 108 arrests, infuriating students and supporters of Palestine across the country. Students have now established encampments on at least 20 college campuses across the U.S., including Harvard University, Brown University, the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and George Washington University. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have harshly criticized university administrations for failing to suppress the demonstrations.

Its hard to know what would have happened had Columbia not made the decision to call in the police, but theres no denying that the drama from those arrests fueled this protest movement. While college students have organized in opposition to Israels actionsand, in this case, their own schools investments in defense companies with ties to Israelbefore, and have even done so since Hamas attack on Oct. 7, we have not, until now, seen universities crack down so strongly on dissent related to the war in Gaza. For institutions with long histories of encouraging debate and activism as part of free expressionat least in theoryits been a remarkable turn.

To understand how universities got to a place of such open conflict with their students, Slate spoke with Katherine S. Cho, a professor of higher education at Loyola University in Chicago who studies university administrations relationship to social justice activism. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Slate: Over the past week, schools responses to student activism have suddenly become quite dramatic. Should we have seen this crackdown coming? Or did this come out of the blue?

Katherine S. Cho: Colleges and universities, including Columbia, have histories of making mass arrests of students, particularly in the 1960s. So its not uncommon as a response, especially when its about students protesting specifically the universitys actions. And that type of distinction is important, because for the students fighting for Palestinian freedom, a lot of them are specifically in opposition to the university. And thats where you see more of these aggressive forms of responses from universities.

But there havent been these kinds of arrests since the war started. If arresting students is a standard response to protest activity, why is this recent wave so different?

We could argue that we havent seen as large numbers of students getting arrested because in reality, a lot of this fight is happening before students can even protest. Following a lot of the student protests from 2015 to 2016 [held in response to incidents of racism on campus at the University of Missouri], weve seen student conduct codes, handbooks, and campus policies changing so that it makes it much more difficult for students to protest in the first place. For example, for some schools, if students have more than 50 or 60 students participating, they have to get permission. Universities already created and have been enforcing policies to make sure that you never escalate that much.

What are the consequences of these new policies?

Senior administrators and crisis response teams have documentation that students demonstrating are going against their own student conduct code that theyve agreed to. So for students protesting right now, were going to start seeing language about how they were in violation of campus policies or student conduct codes, etc. But students dont have any power to fight those codes, because there arent any channels for that.

Why did those new policies come about?

A bunch of these policies came about because of the protests of 2015 and 2016, and 2020. But a lot of this is especially in response to 2017 and 2018. With [the Unite the Right march in] Charlottesville, campuses freaked out, in the sense of, OK, what do we do about the surrounding community coming onto the college campus? UNC had a similar thing [with the Silent Sam protests]. The concern then was, OK, who is allowed to be on campus? When are they allowed to be on campus? And so a lot of that is now much more rigid, including for students.

So youre saying that the universities tightened the rules out of fear of what unpredictable outside agitators might dobut that ended up making it hard for everyone, including students, to protest?

Yeah. In 2017, if you remember, conservative pundits were coming to college campuses, and there were a lot of fights on college campuses about First Amendment rights. Nonaffiliated people were coming onto campus, either to support the students protesting or trying to egg them on, or goad them, or create clashes.

[Creating an event] doesnt take three weeks of showing flyers to people anymore. Somebody can post on Twitter and be like, Hey, everybody meet us here on this campus, we need to support students, or Hey, theres a protest happening, we need to fight students. And then they can get big crowds to come. And so I imagine that that is a lot of the fear, and why colleges are using the language of safety. Theyre saying: We need to cancel classes because were afraid for student safety; we need to shut down this protest because were afraid for students safety. There you see the weaponization of safety as a way to criminalize students.

What do you mean by the weaponization of safety?

The language is about wanting to make Jewish students feel safe. But there isnt that other side of the conversation, which is: Are Palestinian students feeling safe? Some students are afraid of doxing, and there arent conversations about that.

OK, so the school policies have changed. Are there any other ways things have changed in recent years for student activists?

I do think that one of the things that has changed is that there are ways universities are, for example, deactivating access cards, taking students out of dorms, and rapidly creating material consequencesconsequences relating to housing, tuition, fees, expulsion, etc.

Those move much faster, in large part because of technology. You can, by a click of a button, deactivate students cards. Its increased the speed at which universities can respond.

And then, for example, with things like Twitter or TikTok now, theres the difference between a university president making a statement thats posted online, versus in the past, when that might have just been an email or in a student newspaper.

What does that conversation occurring publicly mean for this whole dynamic?

It allows for more scrutiny. So when colleges and universities, for example, created statements in 2015 and 2016 about anti-Blackness and police brutality, a lot of those statements were about standing against hate, etc. And then in 2020, as colleges and universities were once again creating the statements, there were student groups that brought up the 2015, 2016 statements being like, What have you done since then? Students are able to say, You posted about this, and were trying to hold you accountable to that.

What do you think drove schools like Columbia to take such a dramatic disciplinary step in these cases? Do you think this situation was specific to the Israel-Palestine conflict, or standard for any kind of protest?

I think colleges and universities feel like this is very complicated. Theres less of a desire to make a stance, and colleges and universities are wary of making statements; often, statements are 500 words or less, and there needs to be, like, a book. So, I think that thats part of what makes universities nervous.

Looking at Columbia, as an example, this is a PR nightmare for them. To arrest students now, when theres so much scrutiny, and then to do it in such a cruel waystudents have been talking about only having 15 minutes to collect their belongings, that their belongings were thrown in the trash immediately. And to do that on a scale of 100 students, and then to double down on that, and then say that theyre doing it for safety, doesnt make a lot of sense. So what that tells you is that Columbia is likely facing a lot of pressure from people who do not want students to be protesting. To the point where theyre making what seems like a very irrational decision.
ULAN BATOR, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Friday launched a national program to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on nomadic livestock husbandry, the government's press office said in a statement.

Within the framework of the program, titled "New Cooperative-Wealthy Herder," the government is expected to take measures to improve the livelihoods of herder families through cooperatives and increase the value of livestock and livestock-derived raw materials and products.

More than 3,100 people representing herders and cooperatives across Mongolia attended the launching ceremony of the program to exchange their views on the current and future state of the nomadic livestock husbandry and measures to be taken under the program.

Extreme wintry weather, known as "dzud," has killed more than 7.1 million head of livestock across Mongolia last winter and this spring.

Dzud is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow. The frequency of droughts and dzud caused by climate change has been increasing in Mongolia, according to experts. 
The United Methodist Church opened its General Conference Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., and one of the key issues delegates are expected to vote on is whether to reverse anti-LGBTQ+ positions the denomination has taken over the years  and which many congregations are ignoring and church leaders are largely not enforcing.

Why have LGBTQ+ issues become a focus of the meeting?

Supporters of LGBTQ+ equality have been trying for years to get the church to rescind its homophobic policies, without success. Since 1972, the churchs Book of Discipline has included this language: The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. It was added as the gay rights movement gathered steam.

The church also does not officially condone same-sex marriages or ordain out LGBTQ+ clergy members  but such marriages have taken place in United Methodist congregations, and there are numerous LGBTQ+ people among Methodist ministers. Some LGBTQ+ clergy have been expelled when they came out, but many remain.

The denomination failed to formally lift the anti-LGBTQ+ policies at its previous General Conference, held in 2016, at any earlier ones, or at a special conference called in 2019 specifically to address LGBTQ+ issues. The General Conference is usually held every four years, but the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving it to the 2024 conference to deal with these matters.

It will be deeply meaningful for me personally to vote for those changes, Pittsburgh delegate Tracy Merrick, a supporter of pro-LGBTQ+ policies, said recently, according to PBS NewsHour.

What is the likelihood that these changes will be approved?

There has been resistance from conservative congregations, to the point that United Methodist leaders decided the differences were irreconcilable. In 2020, the church hierarchy unveiled a plan for disaffiliation from the denomination, and more than 7,600 of the churchs congregations around the world have left, either becoming independent or affiliating with the conservative Global Methodist Church. They represent about one-quarter of the churchs total.

Given that many conservative congregations have left the denomination, it's likely that the church will move in a pro-LGBTQ+ direction is strong. But some observers warn that resistance remains. The Religion and Social Change Lab at Duke University in North Carolina recently surveyed clergy and congregations in the state and found that one-fourth of the remaining clergy did not want to allow LGBTQ+ ministers and a third were against same-sex marriage, NPR reports.



Id also been left with the impression that this split would make the United Methodist Church a more progressive denomination, and in some ways, amongst the clergy, that has happened, David Eagle, who runs the lab, told NPR. But amongst congregations, congregations still remain very evenly divided both theologically and politically.

What are the other options?

Another possibility is that delegates will simply agree to disagree on LGBTQ+ issues. That would essentially codify whats already happening within the church: more liberal conferences such as those in southern California would continue to ordain LGBTQ clergy and allow ministers to perform same-sex weddings while more conservative conferences such as those in the southern U.S. or parts of Africa would not allow such ordinations or weddings, according to NPR.

Conference delegates took a step in this direction Thursday. They approved five of eight proposals to change the structure of the church, giving regional bodies greater control over policies. "The most critical of those five petitions was a constitutional amendment that effectively creates an entirely new system of regional authority worldwide, thereby putting regional bodies in both the U.S. and in other countries on equal footing," The Tennessean reports. U.S. regional bodies have usually had more power than those overseas.

In this new structure, more progressive regions would likely be LGBTQ-affirming, while those in conservative areas would keep restrictions in place. Conservative delegates, however, tended to oppose regionalization largely because it would pave the way for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.

The conference continues through May 3, and delegates are expected to vote on the remaining regionalization proposals and the LGBTQ+ policies next week.

The United Methodist Church is the second-largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.; only the Southern Baptist Convention is larger. As of 2022, it had 5.4 million members in the U.S., but that doesnt count all the recent disaffiliations. Figures for overseas membership, somewhat more recent, show 4.6 million in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR)  April 25 marks five years since a truck driver lost control of his semitrailer on Interstate 70, causing a fiery explosion and crash that killed four people and injured many others.

Loved ones of the victims sat down with FOX31 to reflect on their efforts to make trucking safer. Currently, the Colorado Department of Transportation is wrapping up a safety project surrounding the emergency escape ramp the trucker passed before the deadly crash.

Reckless driving citations to commercial drivers in Colorado increased in 2023

In the house Gage Evans and Bill Bailey made together, pictures and projects serve as daily reminders of the partner shes been missing for five years now.

He was my guy, he made me laugh every day, Evans said. He was heading home and he had just finished a morning of flying his RC planes.

William Bill Bailey was killed at 67 years old: the age Evans is now.

Whats hard for people to understand is the violence and the trauma that happens with a truck crash, Evans said.

William Bill Bailey was killed at 67 years old in a truck crash on Interstate 70.

William Bill Bailey was killed at 67 years old in a truck crash on Interstate 70. He is pictured here with his partner, Gage Evans.

Widow turns pain into action and lobbies for change

When Evans reflects on that fateful day, she thinks about the truck drivers path and decisions, details she learned much more about years later during the trial in 2021.

His driving was faulty, he didnt know how to drive in the mountains and he burned out his brakes and he did not use the runaway truck ramp, Evans said, adding: I want people to remember that this crash was not an accident.

Evans is turning her pain into purpose, serving as an advocate with the Truck Safety Coalition in hopes of saving other families.

Interstate 70 reopened near Glenwood Springs after semi crash, diesel spill

Twice Ive been to D.C. to talk to legislators about truck safety issues, she said. We have found that the best thing we can do is tell our personal stories. That has moved the needle in a couple of different ways. Underride guards is one example.

CDOT is currently finishing up a safety project with the Mount Vernon truck escape ramp on I-70 eastbound near Genesee.

We have much higher barriers, concrete barriers that separate the edge of the ramp from the adjacent embankment, which gives truckers a little more security when theyre using that, CDOT spokesperson Tamara Rollison said. If they miss the entry point, lets say theyre going down really fast, theyve lost control of their brakes and they missed the initial entry point, there is another entry point that they can get in to use this ramp.

Plus, we will have better signage, well have cameras, and well just have better direction for them to let them know the ramp is available should they need to use it, Rollinson said.

Work started last November and should finish by Memorial Day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Wild horses to stay in national park; management plan needed, advocate says

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWild horses graze on Sept. 23, 2023, at the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor)

Horses will continue to run wild in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, the National Park Service announced Thursday.

The future of the wild horse herd had been in question during an environmental assessment process by the National Park Service that began in 2021. The agency said it has ended that process.

We had a good day for the horses today, said Chris Kman of the Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates group dedicated to keeping horses in the park.

But Kman said the groups work is far from over.

We still have no management plan, Kman said of the wild herd.

The National Park Service estimated that there are about 200 wild horses in the parks South Unit.

She said the group will push for federal protections for the horses.

History shows us that every five, 10, 20 years, they come through and try to eliminate all the horses from the park. So the only way to stop that is to have federal protection, she said.

The National Park Service environmental assessment was released in September and there were three rounds of comments taken.

Kman said the public comments were influential in the agencys decision and there should continue to be public input as a management plan is developed.

Kman lives in Dickinson and operates a small business in Medora, a tourist town that is the primary gateway to the national park.

A lot of the small businesses here were very concerned, Kman said.

Horses have been allowed to roam in the park even though they are a nonnative species. There also is a small herd of nonnative longhorn cattle in the parks North Unit.

The National Park Service says the history of horses in the area stems back to their use by Native American tribes and later by homesteaders to the Dakotas.

Ranchers used land that would become Theodore Roosevelt Park for open-range grazing of both horses and cattle. Before becoming president, Roosevelt operated Elkhorn Ranch near Medora.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is under construction in the town.

This article first appeared in the North Dakota Monitor, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post Wild horses to stay in national park; management plan needed, advocate says appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Wild animals show up in areas populated by humans all the time, but it's not every day that they end up stuck in a concrete spillway and at risk of drowning.

That's what rescuers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife had to deal with last week. On April 19, district wildlife manager Ty Smith was preparing to let water out of the Vallecito Reservoir in southwest Colorado and into the reservoir's spillway when he noticed two mountain lions trapped in the deep concrete river. With high walls on both sides, "a release of water likely would have drowned the two lions," CPW stated plainly.

Pine River Irrigation District Dam Tender Mike Canterbury was about to release water from

Vallecito Reservoir down the spillway when he noticed the two young mountain lions. He quickly called CPW, and wildlife officer Ty Smith responded.



Note the high walls of the spillway. pic.twitter.com/KP9DBoNdHZ  CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) April 22, 2024

A release of water likely would have drowned the two lions. PRID Superintendent Ken Beck and Canterbury spotting them and holding off on the release gave them a second chance, and PRID opened the hydroelectric plant property to allow CPW a chance to rescue the lions. pic.twitter.com/9PoLVpz9uD  CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) April 22, 2024

CPW district wildlife manager Ty Smith and his team jumped into action to save the stranded felines. "Smith wasnt sure if he would have to dart the mountain lions or if they would come out another way. He was provided a rope and dangled it in front of the kittens to see if by chance theyd grab onto it and he could lift it out. One of them did!" an X post recounted.

District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith wasnt sure if he would have to dart the mountain lions or if they would come out another way. He was provided a rope and dangled it in front of the kittens to see if by chance theyd grab onto it and he could lift it out. One of them did! pic.twitter.com/S3hJdDLHrk  CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) April 22, 2024

"The first mountain lion held onto the rope all the way to the top of the spillway barrier and quickly ran off into the woods," CPW described on social media. "The second lion, however, wouldnt hold onto the rope and ran down the spillway all the way to where the Los Pinos River continues below the dam."

The first mountain lion held onto the rope all the way to the top of the spillway barrier and quickly ran off into the woods. The second lion, however, wouldnt hold onto the rope and ran down the spillway all the way to where the Los Pinos River continues below the dam. pic.twitter.com/eKPnQWzjU3  CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) April 22, 2024

The second lion proved a little harder to catch, as the rescuers had to chase it down the spillway before wrangling it with a catch pole. The cat took a moment to get its bearings before following its sibling into the nearby woods.

Here are some better videos of the rope work wildlife officer Ty Smith used to move these lions around and get them free of the spillway and in better positions for rescue. pic.twitter.com/REDGeRRCXb  CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) April 22, 2024

With the possibility of a deluge just moments away, these big cats are proof they have nine lives.
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  It was a day to learn about journalism and the media on Friday at Wilkes University.

The 23rd annual Tom Bigler Journalism and Media Conference was held on campus.

Luzerne County homeless shelter opening seven days a week

Students from high schools across the region were able to talk with media professionals including 28/22 News I-Team reporter Andy Mehalshick, who was once again a featured speaker.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Wind turbines, discovery at archaeological site, housing market on decline | Top WAVY stories this week

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY)  Take a look at some of the top stories on WAVY.com from the week of April 22. Click here for more local news.

WAVY Local News

Some say they felt misled after it was revealed Dominions wind turbines could be seen from Virginia Beach

For nearly four years now, two wind turbines standing more than 600-foot-tall have generated electricity 27 miles off the Virginia Beach coast.

Archaeological site found while building new archaeology center in Williamsburg

Archaeologists discovered the foundation of a 1600s house during the construction of the new Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center in Colonial Williamsburg.

Norfolk woman recalls terrifying attack during walk home

A short walk home from work has turned into a long nightmare for a Norfolk woman after she was violently attacked last week.

All Virginia drivers must have insurance by July 1; uninsured driver program ending

All Virginia drivers will be required to have vehicle insurance starting on July 1, ending the Uninsured Motorists Fund.

USS George Washington departs Norfolk, heads to Japan

USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed from Naval Station Norfolk Thursday morning.

Housing market on decline across Virginia

If youre trying to buy a home for the first time, its not getting any easier. Virginia Realtors March home sales report showed a decline in the states housing market.

Best She-Crab Soup in Hampton Roads

Do you have a favorite she-crab soup? The critics and people have voted and declared winners for the 14th year of the East Coast She-Crab Soup Classic.

VB man sentenced in major coupon fraud scheme denied early release

A Virginia Beach man sentenced for his involvement in his wifes $31 million-plus counterfeit coupon fraud scheme has been denied an early release from prison.

Find the latest updates and information on WAVY.com and WAVY-TV 10.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Glen Hills Middle School principal praised student Acie Holland III for his heroics after preventing a moving school bus from disaster

Glendale-River Hills School District Acie Holland III

Acie Holland III took over the bus' steering wheel after the driver temporarily lost consciousness, preventing a potential tragedy

In a letter to parents, the school principal praised the eighth-grader for his "compassion and leadership" during the incident

"He's capable of almost anything," father Acie Holland II said of his son

An eighth-grade student in Wisconsin stopped a school bus from veering into an oncoming lane after the bus driver experienced a medical emergency on April 24, said officials.

In a letter sent to school district parents, Glen Hills Middle School principal Anna Young praised 14-year-old Acie Holland IIIs quick thinking in averting a potential tragedy for the students and the driver.

She said that the bus driver experienced a temporary loss of consciousness while on her school bus route.

Related: 'Hero' 7th Grader Grabs Steering Wheel and Stops School Bus After Driver Passes Out

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Acie recognized that the driver was not responsive so he rushed to move her foot off the gas, applied the brake, and securely parked the bus, Young wrote. He contacted 911 and ensured younger students were okay and instructed them to contact their parents.

He also sought out his grandmother, who is a nurse, to support the situation, the principal's letter continued. The driver regained consciousness and called Riteway dispatch, who sent their safety team and an alternate bus driver to complete the route.



In an interview with NBC affiliate WTMJ, Holland said that at the time of the incident, he was looking at his phone when he felt the bus accelerating.

Glendale-River Hills School District Acie Holland III was recognized by the Glendale-River Hills School District

Related: Driver Speaks Out After She Flew Through Windshield When Bus Full of Students Blew Tire

"And I looked at the bus driver because she went past my stop and I looked and I seen her head just go down, he recalled to the outlet.

Per ABC affiliate WISN, Holland grabbed the steering wheel before calling 911 for help. Then I get us to the curb, he added, and I hit the brakes close and then when we hit the curb, I turned the wheel all the way because I didn't know where the parking brake was.

Holland's father, Acie Holland II, expressed pride in his sons heroics, telling WTMJ, It didn't [faze] me because I know that he's capable of almost anything."



Related: New Orleans Bus Driver Saves 8 Students from Explosion: Nothing Short of Heroic, Says Boss

In an April 25 Facebook post, the Glendale-River Hills School District hailed the student as a hero, writing, The District would like to recognize eighth grader, Acie Holland III for his extreme bravery during an alarming bus incident this past Wednesday. Thank you for your quick thinking and calm response, Acie! We are so proud of you! 

The student also told WISN that the experience has boosted him on a personal level. "[It] made me feel good that I know that I saved people, Holland said, and I know I feel more confident now and brave."

Young concluded her letter by saying that the Glen Hills school community could not be any prouder of Holland. The compassion and leadership that we see him exhibit daily was taken to the next level on his bus ride home yesterday, she wrote. We are grateful that all of our Glen Hills students are safe and are wishing their driver a healthy recovery."



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Wisconsin man driving 5-10mph and deviating from lanes arrested for 4th OWI

ELM GROVE, Wis. (WFRV)  A southeastern Wisconsin man was arrested for his fourth OWI offense in a local schools parking lot after he was allegedly driving 5-10mph and deviating from lanes.

A Facebook post from the Elm Grove Police Department states that just before noon on April 23, a citizen flagged down officers after reportedly witnessing a vehicle altering speeds and unable to maintain its lane of traffic.

Police officer in Wisconsin pulls over three different drivers going 90+ mph, all within 90 minutes

After officers allegedly spotted the driver, later identified as a 32-year-old man from Lannon, going roughly 5-10mph on Watertown Plank Road, he was arrested for OWI in the parking lot of St. Marys Visitation School on Juneau Boulevard.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

After the vehicle was stopped, officers say the driver reportedly failed Standardized Field Sobriety exercises and was arrested and taken to a local hospital for a blood draw.

Known drug dealer in Wisconsin arrested after fleeing traffic stop, discarding bag of drugs and stolen firearm

It was noted in the release that the 32-year-old was charged on Thursday in Waukesha County Court for 4th Offense OWI, Operating while Revoked, and Failure to Install Ignition Interlock Device (IID).

No other details were provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Charges have been filed in connection to a shooting that killed Norman E. Carter III on Tuesday.

Amunique Cavitt was charged by a judge with first-degree murder; intentional and premeditated, on Friday.

Storm reports: Tornado warning, watch issued for parts of Kansas

The shooting happened in the 1400 block of N. Minnesota St. around 12:11 p.m. on April 23. The Wichita Police Department said officers arrived and found Carter with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.

Lifesaving measures were attempted by officers until EMS arrived and transported Carter to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cavitts next court date is scheduled for May 10. Her bond is currently set at $1 million.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
by Xinhua writer Chu Yi

HANNOVER, Germany, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Artificial Intelligence (AI) can become man's best friend in the industrial world in the new era of human-machine collaboration, a senior official at Siemens has said.

In an interview with Xinhua at the Hannover Messe 2024, Germany's leading annual industrial trade fair that concluded on Friday, Cedrik Neike, a member of the managing board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries, shared his views on AI while commending China's important role as one of Siemens' key markets.

"AI helps us relieve ourselves from monotonous tasks so that we can concentrate on what is important. It helps us discover errors and find better solutions much faster," he said. "AI has the potential to give people without technical know-how the chance to bring up their ideas. It's about building smarter applications with just a few clicks."

As to concerns regarding AI's potential to replace human jobs, Neike struck an optimistic note. "The fact is that due to demographic changes, we have fewer and fewer workers in our factories. AI can help us release productive forces," he said.

Neike also highlighted AI's role in creating employment opportunities. "If you visit our job portal today, you will find job titles like 'AI Engineer.' These jobs didn't exist 15 years ago."

Envisioning a future where AI can amplify human potential, Neike is convinced that thanks to AI, people will be able to concentrate much more on developing ideas, thus improving products and productivity. "This will accelerate in the coming years."

During the interview, Neike underscored the significance of the Chinese market, saying China remains one of Siemens' "key markets and crucial production and research hubs."

Aimed at "boosting capacity to meet China's growing demand for digitalization technology," Siemens' recent investment of 1.1 billion yuan (151.9 million U.S. dollars) in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu marks the establishment of Siemens' premier digital factory outside Germany. "We are ramping up local R&D to address China's digital and green initiatives," he said.

Neike told Xinhua that China is an innovation incubator for Siemens. "As the digital economy drives global growth, China's position is critical and presents opportunities for multinational companies like Siemens," he added. 
Ive been struggling with this my whole life, said Jolanda Fun, whose life ended on April 25

Getty

A 33-year-old woman in the Netherlands opened up about her decision to end her life with euthanasia on April 25, her 34th birthday, rather than living with her mental health struggles.

Jolanda Fun, from North Brabant, spoke to The Times about being diagnosed with an eating disorder, recurrent depression, autism and mild learning difficulties. She said shes tried countless therapies but has struggled her entire life.

Dark, overstimulation, chaos in my head, loneliness, she told the outlet. Most of the time I just feel really shitty. Sad, down, gloomy. People dont see it, because thats the mask I put on and thats what you learn to do in life.

Although she has parents, a brother, a few friends, and a dog, Fun said shes been living in constant pain. So when a counselor told her two years ago that euthanasia for psychiatric reasons was legal, she made it her goal ever since, admitting that shes always thought about death.

My father is sick, my mother is sick, my parents are fighting to stay alive, and I want to step out of life, Fun explained. Thats a bit strange. But even when I was seven, I asked my mother whether, if I jumped from a viaduct, I would be dead. Ive been struggling with this my whole life.

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Getty

Related: Woman, 28, Opts for Euthanasia Rather Than Living with Mental Illness: 'Im a Little Afraid of Dying'

The procedure became legal in the Netherlands when the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act was passed in April 2001, taking into effect in April 2002. With its passing, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to make euthanasia legal, per BBC News. The country's official government website states that the procedure is performed by a physician who administers "a fatal dose of a suitable drug to the patient on his or her express request."

"Requests for euthanasia often come from patients experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement, the website states. Their request must be made earnestly and with full conviction. They see euthanasia as the only escape from the situation. However, patients have no absolute right to euthanasia and doctors no absolute duty to perform it.

Getty Woman Lying Sick in Hospital.

Fun told the outlet that her case was initially turned down by the Expertisecentrum Euthanasie, the institution that typically handles complex cases. However, she found a psychiatrist who was willing to carry it out. Following Dutch requirements, she also found two other doctors to agree.

The rules are very strict, she said. You dont just get euthanasia, theres a whole journey But it is death in a dignified way: painless, done by a doctor. Your loved ones can be there. And nobody discovers you in an appalling state  or you dont end up unlucky and even worse off than before [after attempting suicide].

Fun ultimately opted for euthanasia on her 34th birthday, April 25, preparing her own funeral invitations beforehand that read: Born from love, let go in love. After a hard-fought life, she chose the peace she so longed for.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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Read the original article on People.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman was taken into police custody after officers attempted to stop the driver of a stolen vehicle near the Las Vegas Strip.

It happened on Thursday shortly before 2 p.m. when officers said they located the stolen car near Mel Torme Way and Spring Mountain Road. When officers initially attempted to stop the car the driver fled from police. Officers decided against pursuing the driver any further.

A short time later the car was found in the 800 block of East Twain Avenue where the woman was taken into custody.

No other information was released regarding the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Woman sentenced after ramming police cruisers during chase in Kettering

The woman accused of hitting two Kettering police cruisers with her car has been sentenced.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Grand jury indicts woman accused of ramming cruisers during police chase

Angela Hendricks, 36, was sentenced last week to 15 months in prison in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to felony charges of vandalism and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, according to court documents.

She also lost her drivers license for life.

Hendricks pled guilty back in February and as part of her plea, a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia offense was dismissed.

>>RELATED: WATCH: Cruiser cam shows woman ram cruisers, lead police on chase in Kettering

News Center 7 previously reported that she was formally charged back in January after being taken into custody last December after a pursuit with Kettering officers.

The pursuit began near Lamme Road and Lehigh Place. Officers had originally received information from Flock cameras that a driver with multiple warrants was passing through Kettering.

The driver, identified as Hendricks, was wanted for numerous failure to comply with incidents. Hendricks has fled from police multiple times in the past when officers have attempted to stop her, a Kettering police spokesperson said.

Officers located the vehicle near West Stroop Road and Lamme Road and attempted a vehicle intercept, a maneuver to keep Hendricks from being able to flee again.

>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Woman taken into custody after ramming cruisers during police chase

Hendricks proceeded to ram two KPD cruisers and continued to flee in her vehicle, according to the spokesperson. Two other officers not in the intercept continued in pursuit.

Stop sticks were deployed by Miami Township police near the intersection of Mad River Road and Fox Run.

As the vehicle slowed due to the stop-sticks, an officer conducted a successful PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver to terminate the pursuit, the spokesperson said.
HOLLADAY, Utah (ABC4)  After a large amount of dynamite was found in a Holladay home, officials detonated it  shaking the neighboring area and destroying one neighbors home.

We lost all our windows, our doors were exploded, the roof was lifted up  all our siding melted  it melted our sheds and blew up one of the sheds and theres just debris everywhere, said Keeva Juarez, the next-door neighbor.

WATCH: Loud boom heard as officials detonate Holladay home with stash of dynamite

According to Juarez, a neighbor came to her children Monday afternoon and said she smelled chemicals in her house, and that a hazmat team was coming on Tuesday.

And thats all we thought, Juarez said.

Juarez said one truck pulled in at about 6:30 a.m., and then more and more as the morning went on.

By 10 a.m. Juarez was asked to shelter in place and by 11:30 a.m., she was asked to shelter in her basement, as they found dynamite in the neighboring shed.

At 1 p.m., she was asked to evacuate as they also found dynamite in the basement and attic.

Juarez relocated to Oakwood Elementary  the evacuation site  which Juarez said shook as the first explosion went off at 3 a.m. At 4 a.m., the second explosion went off.

I was actually outside Oakwood when that one went off and I saw the big red explosion, Juarez said. You could feel it.

After that, Juarez was told that people in the neighborhood could return to their homes  except for the people who lived near. And yesterday, when she went in her home for the first time, she said it looked like a bomb went off inside.

Juarez was renting that house for about a year and said it was typically a quiet street.

We dont want to leave so its really sad that we lost the house, she said. Were just trying to keep positive and keep going.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A Pasco-area dairy worker has filed a lawsuit after her legs were ripped off by an auger in a farm accident nearly three years ago.

Teresa Rodas Aguirre is suing Easy Automation, which made and installed the automated auger system at Ruby Ridge Dairy, which is between Pasco and Eltopia, according to her suit.

The case was originally filed in Franklin County Superior Court by her attorneys at Lopez and Fantel in Seattle and then moved last week to U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington.

On Sept. 21, 2021, Aguirre was working in an area of the dairy that had an auger in the floor to move cattle feed to a conveyor.

She did not realize the auger, shaped like a corkscrew, was running beneath the pile of feed or that a guard protecting the auger had become dislodged, according to a court document.

She was trapped in the equipment but there was no way to shut it down in the area where she was working, according to a court document.

The only way to shut it down was to get to a control center some distance away, the lawsuit said. By the time other employees stopped the auger from churning, both of her legs were entangled, the Tri-City Herald previously reported.

The automated system was unreasonably dangerous and failed to protect from controllable hazards likely to cause serious injury or death, the lawsuit said.

Franklin County Fire District 3 Chief Mike Harris told the Herald in 2021 that it was one of the most complex industrial rescues his team had to perform.

A rescue crew arrived to find her sitting at the edge of the auger pit, trapped from the knees down.

The hole was slightly wider than the metal auger so rescuers couldnt simply reverse the direction of the machine without injuring her more.

Instead, they pulled out the entire piece of equipment from the hole by cutting through the bottom of the auger to remove it while also not igniting the dry, powdery feed.

The rescue was hampered by the remoteness of the farm and their need to work quickly to free her, Harris said. Had the accident not happened about 20 miles north of Pasco, they could have waited for a vacuum truck to help clear the feed.

We improvised and used manpower and shovels, Harris said in 2021.

Aguirre was taken by medical helicopter to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

Teresa is a great girl that deserves to have a happy life, according to a GoFundMe at the time that raised about $26,000 for her.

Her lawsuit is asking for medical costs and expenses, financial loss and general damages. No specific amount was listed in the suit.

In a document filed while the case was in Franklin County Superior Court, the defendant Easy Automation said that it generally denies allegations of negligence.

Washington state Department of Labor and Industries investigated the accident and cited Ruby Ridge Dairy in 2022 for a serious safety violation, which the dairy could appeal. It fined the dairy $1,200.

Its investigation concluded that the dairy did not ensure the pit augers guard plates were secure from being displaced by farm equipment.
CHICAGO  Chicago police have issued a community alert after an attempted sexual assault on the citys Near West Side.

On April 14, a 35-year-old woman was walking northbound on Carpenter Street from Randolph Street in the Fulton Market neighborhood, when she was approached from behind by the man, according to police.

The suspect grabbed the woman by the waist and put his hands over her mouth. The man then dragged the woman to an alley and she was able to bite his index finger, causing him to throw her to the ground.

Police said the suspect ran southbound on Carpenter Street and eastbound on Randolph Street.

CPD: Man shot 20 times, killed in Greater Grand Crossing

The victim described her attacker as male, approximately 30-35 years old with short hair and wearing a white and green windbreaker.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call Area 3 Detectives at (312) 744-8200.

Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said a man was killed in a crash in the early hours of Friday in Woodbridge.

Officers responded to the single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Redwing Drive and Swallow Court at 2:30 a.m. Investigators said 33-year-old Donnell Tyquan Epps was speeding on Redwing Drive when he lost control of the car.

Police said he was not wearing a seatbelt when he drove into a ravine, causing the car to roll over. Epps was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver crashes into tree, dies in Montgomery County

Speed and alcohol were believed to be factors in the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call PWCPD.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

President Joe Biden may have just had one of the most productive weeks of his presidency, although its not clear how many Americans noticed  or how many grasp what it says about the stakes of the November election.

In the span of less than five days, the Biden administration issued more than a half-dozen major regulations with the potential to affect many millions of Americans  and, arguably, the future of the planet as well.

None of these announcements came as a surprise. All of the new regulations are final versions of rules that have been in the works for years. The impetus for rolling them out this week is the calendar and a law called the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress a few months time to rescind new rules the White House implements.

By issuing these new rules now, the Biden administration is protecting them from the Congress that takes office in January 2025  i.e., after the next election, when Republicans hostile to these regulations might gain control of both chambers.

But finalizing the rules now is still no guarantee they will stay on the books. If Donald Trump becomes president, he could issue new regulations that reverse Bidens. The process would take some time, but it would be well within his powers. Biden did the same to many of Trumps regulations upon taking office, just as Trump once did to Barack Obamas.

Trump could also resume his project of packing the courts with conservatives on a mission to shrink the regulatory state. As it is, several of Bidens new rules might not survive scrutiny from the Supreme Court, where a (now) 6-to-3 conservative majority has been hacking away at the executive branchs leeway to make rules on everything from pollution to consumer safety. In a federal judiciary with even more Trump appointees, the rules would face even steeper odds.

All of which means the future of these new regulations depends on who wins the presidential election. But thats not the only reason they should be part of voters calculus come November.

The new rules also say a lot about Bidens priorities  about the problems facing the American public, and how he thinks the federal government can help solve them. A second Biden term would presumably mean still more rules like the ones the administration announced this week.

Is that a good thing? A bad thing? Somewhere in between?

The answer depends on what you think about regulation in general, as well these new rules in particular. And its quite a list:

On Monday, the administration required nursing homes to meet new staffing standards. It also expanded health record privacy rules so they protect information about abortion.

On Tuesday, the administration made millions of new workers eligible for overtime pay and, separately, gave retirees new protections from predatory investment advice.

On Wednesday, the administration forced airlines to start issuing refunds for flight cancellations and long delays.

On Thursday, the administration announced new limits on power plant emissions and raised the energy efficiency standards for new homes. It also issued stronger nutrition requirements for the meals kids get at public schools.

And then on Friday, the administration prohibited health care providers from discriminating against LGBTQ+ patients, effectively reinstating a rule Trump had rescinded.

Energys impact on the planet  and your bills at home

The power plant emission rules are among the most far-reaching, because they could play such a crucial role in efforts to slow global warming. As HuffPosts Alexander Kaufman explains in his analysis, the new rules are designed to work in tandem with green energy subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, the sweeping climate law that Democrats passed and Biden signed in 2022:

Paired with the billions of dollars in carrots for manufacturing, building and buying modern energy equipment that came with President Joe Bidens landmark climate-spending laws, the rules chart a path for the U.S. to avoid nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047. Thats equal to taking 328 million gasoline-fueled cars off the road or a full year of emissions from the U.S. electric power sector today.

The emission limits are part of a broader package that include rules streamlining the permitting process for transmission lines, reducing some of the red tape thats made it difficult to build the grid infrastructure to increase the use of renewable energy.

The final version includes some concessions to utilities and other traditional opponents of emission regulations. Among other things, the emission rules apply to new natural gas plants but not to existing ones, following objections from utilities. But that doesnt mean the critics are happy. Republicans and their allies have denounced the rules as job-killers, with officials from West Virginia, one of the nations top coal-producing states, leading the charge  and promising lawsuits too.

We will be challenging this rule, vowed West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on Earth Day at Prince William Forest Park on April 22, 2024 in Triangle, Virginia. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

As Alex notes in his article, administration officials think theyve written the new rules in ways that can survive even the new, stricter tests for regulations the Supreme Court has laid out.

The same goes for another big new climate rule: a plan to raise the construction standards for new homes that qualify for federal housing loans. It sounds wonky, but as Alex details in a separate article, theres huge amounts of money at stake. Every time extreme heat waves hit, demand for air conditioning spikes  and with energy prices have roller-coastered ever since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Americans outstanding debt to utility surged to a record of over $20 billion last year.

Like the power plant rule, the housing requirements have already drawn blowback from Republicans in Congress and could easily draw Trumps attention in a second term, given his frequent attacks on anything associated with green energy.

When more work doesnt mean more pay

Similar threats loom for the new overtime rules  which, as HuffPosts Dave Jamieson explained this week, are designed to help low-income workers who havent been able to collect overtime pay because theyre salaried.

Most hourly workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay when they log over 40 hours, which discourages employers from working them too much. But whether salaried workers can get overtime pay depends on how much they earn and what their job duties are. Employers have an incentive to pile work onto those without overtime protections, since the extra work is done essentially for free. The current overtime salary threshold is just $35,568 ... Salaried workers, such as retail store managers, must earn less than that amount to automatically be entitled to any additional pay when they work more than 40 hours.

This rule will restore the promise to workers that if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you should be paid more for that time, Julie Su, acting Labor Secretary, said in a statement.

The new rules represent the second recent attempt by a Democratic administration to make more salaried workers eligible for overtime pay. Obama tried to do the same thing in 2016. Then a federal judge blocked the rule, and Trump later put in place the current, weaker standard.

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su speaks on April 10, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Shannon Finney via Getty Images

Republicans havent jumped to oppose the overtime rules like they have the emission limits, perhaps because better pay for more workers sounds appealing even to many Republican voters.

But business groups to whom Republicans frequently listen have made clear they oppose these requirements, warning that they will force companies to raise prices, fire workers or shutter altogether  and that small businesses in particular will be vulnerable, because they are least able to absorb new costs.

Sean Kennedy, a spokesman for the National Restaurant Association, told CNN the new rules would exponentially increase costs for small establishments.

A Start On Nursing Home Reform

Critics of the Biden administration are also raising the specter of higher prices, layoffs and closures in response to the new nursing home regulations.

The rules set a minimum for the number of direct care staffers relative to the number of residents. Although the federal government has long required nursing homes to maintain adequate staff, this is the first time it has established a numerical standard.

The rule follows through on a promise Biden made in the 2022 State of the Union in response to media reports about poor conditions in nursing homes, especially during the pandemic, along with research linking staffing levels to patient well-being.

More than 80% of nursing homes do not meet the new standard, according to an analysis from KFF, a nonpartisan health care research organization. Nursing home industry officials say the cost of adding staff will push some facilities past the brink of failure.

While it may be well intentioned, the federal staffing mandate is an unreasonable standard that only threatens to shut down more nursing homes, displace hundreds of thousands of residents, and restrict seniors access to care, the American Health Care Association, a nursing home trade group, said in a press release.

But advocates for senior citizens and other longtime proponents of nursing home care reform are skeptical of these arguments, citing evidence that owners of long-term care facilities frequently use creative accounting to hide profits.

When states have adopted minimum staffing standards  and many states have them, Massachusetts has one, California too  it hasnt put nursing homes out of business, David Grabowski, a Harvard health policy expert and longtime champion for nursing home care reform, said in a phone interview. I do think theres money in the system here.

A Contrast In Priorities  And On The Ballot

Not that these advocates for reform are content. Most had pushed for even higher standards than the administration ultimately endorsed. And some, like Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, said he worries nursing homes will interpret the new minimum as a maximum, creating a race to the bottom as better-staffed institutions lay off workers.

Others have questioned some of the regulations specifics, including the way it allocates hours among different types of direct care workers.

Still, among the longtime promoters of stronger nursing home regulation, even those concerned about the Biden rules rememberwhat happened back when Trump was in charge. The agenda was very different.

They cut back on enforcement [of existing nursing home standards], anything that Obama did, they pulled back, Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, told me .

And while theres no way to know how aggressively the federal government would enforce these new rules if Biden gets a second term, Edelman said his focus on nursing home quality suggests these reforms are a big deal to him. They are trying, the administration is trying, she said.

You could say the same thing about Bidens attention to workers ineligible for overtime, or to the climate dangers of dirty energy, or even to something as quotidian as the disruptions from canceled airline flights. Whatever the ultimate merits of these moves, as policy or law, they show Biden believes these are problems are worth addressing. Its one more thing voters might want to consider in November.

Related...
New York police search of Long Island forest could be linked to Gilgo Beach murders

New York police search of Long Island forest could be linked to Gilgo Beach murders

Law enforcement sources say a search conducted in the eastern Long Island community of Manorville, New York, where partial remains of two of the 11 Gilgo Beach victims were discovered, is connected to the ongoing investigation in the case.

Suffolk County police deferred comment to the district attorneys office. District Attorney Ray Tierney's office declined to confirm a connection to the Gilgo victims but acknowledged a search was underway in the area this week.

"The Suffolk County Police Department, the New York Police Department and the New York State Police are working with the District Attorney's Office on an ongoing investigation," his office said in a statement. "We do not comment on investigative steps while they are underway. We will make further statements when appropriate."

SUSPECTED GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER REX HEUERMANN NOT CAPABLE OF MURDERS, WIFE SAYS AFTER JAIL VISITS

A Suffolk County police officer and K-9 unit searches a wooded area in Manorville, New York, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The search reportedly pertains to the ongoing investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders. Of the 11 bodies found near the beach in 2010 and 2011, only four have resulted in charges, all against suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann.

Suffolk police found 11 sets of remains along a remote stretch of Ocean Parkway in 2010 and 2011 after a woman named Shannan Gilbert called 911 for help and vanished from the gated community of Oak Beach.

Among them were the Gilgo Four, Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; Amber Costello, 27; and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Police arrested New York City architect Rex Heurmann in connection with those slayings in July. He lived a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach in Massapequa Park.

After Heuermann's arraignment, Tierney vowed to continue using the grand jury process to investigate the other deaths.

"It could be [grand jury related[, but I dont think it is," Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD sergeant and cold case expert who teaches at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said of the new Manorville search effort. "I think it comes in as a tip that mustve had some corroboration."

SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER REX HEUERMANN'S LAWYER DEFENDS SADISTIC INTERNET SEARCHES IN GILGO BEACH CASE

He praised the county's handling of the investigation and willingness to consider whether there may be additional victims.

Gilberts remains were the last ones found, and police years later said she had died accidentally, although her official cause of death was ruled undetermined.

However, they still have six unsolved cases, and two of those victims, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack, were dismembered and dumped in separate locations. Police first discovered their partial remains in Manorville in 2000 and 2003. Additional remains of both victims were uncovered in the search for Gilbert in 2011.

Jessica Taylor, left, and Valerie Mack were both murdered and dismembered. Suffolk County police discovered partial remains of each victim in both Manorville, New York, and along a stretch of Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER: WHY DNA FROM SUSPECT REX HEUERMANN'S DAUGHTER MATTERS

Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the Gilgo Four murders and has not been named a suspect in the other deaths.

Tierney, the district attorney who is also the lead prosecutor against Heuermann, has vowed that a grand jury investigation will continue to dig into the other cases.

"John Bittrolff lived not far," Giacalone said, referring to another Long Island serial killer who prowled the area in the 1990s. "Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were found not far from there, and the rest in Gilgo."

The "Gilgo Four" clockwise from top left: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. The background shows a wooden cross in the marsh next to Gilgo Beach, New York, where their remains were found in the brush just yards from Ocean Parkway.

GO HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS DIGITAL

John Bittrolff, another Long Island serial killer, is currently serving two consecutive 25-year to life sentences in prison for the murders of Rita Tangredi, 31 and and Colleen McNamee, 20, whose remains were found stripped naked in Manorville in 1993 and 1994. Both had been strangled and showed signs of severe head trauma.

His victims were last seen in nearby communities  but he also lived in Manorville and was at one point considered a suspect in the Gilgo murders.

Former Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Robert Biancavilla, who prosecuted Bittrolff for the Tangredi and McNamee murders, said after sentencing that the killer may have been involved in at least one of the Gilgo cases.

Bittrolff's attorney, Jonathan Manley, denied the claim and said it was a "laughable" attempt to get media attention on the unsolved cases.

However, John Kelly, a criminal profiler who has been following the case for more than a decade, said there may be something to Biancavilla's prediction.

"I think body parts is really not something we can connect right now to Rex," he said, noting Hueurmann's alleged victims were found intact and concealed in camouflaged burlap used by duck hunters.

A road sign directing drivers to Gilgo Beach off Ocean Parkway, about 45 miles east of New York City.

"Bittrolff was a poser and a cutter," Kelly told Fox News Digital. "He wanted his last victims, that we know of, to be found."

He believes the convicted killer likely has additional victims and that investigators likely would know if the case is connected if they do find additional remains in Manorville.

Although both men were accused of killing prostitutes, Kelly said Bittrolff differed from Heuermann in two key ways. Bittrolff met his victims in person rather than online, and both Mack and Taylor vanished when internet use was not as widespread as when police alleged Hueurmann was meeting victims on Craigslist and dating apps.

Additionally, the Gilgo Four were concealed in brush and camouflaged burlap, while Bittrolff's victims were left to be found.

"He liked to pose them as a way of shock value for investigators," Kelly said.

The former carpenter was also a hunter who allegedly ate a deer's heart raw in a bizarre ritual.

Bittrolff has also been suspected but not charged in another homicide, the murder of Sandra Costilla.

"He knew those woods like the back of his hand in Manorville," Kelly said. "He was always out there hunting."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: New York police search of Long Island forest could be linked to Gilgo Beach murders
MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Europe will no longer be able to resume their past relations under the current circumstances, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

There is a lack of willingness to build such relations, especially on Russia's part, said Peskov, adding that Moscow will take into account past experiences when forging new ties with European countries.

He said Russia and Europe, being geographic neighbors, "will still have to agree on how we will live."

Russia does not pose a threat to Europe and expects that no one in Europe will pose a threat to it, said Peskov. 
The destructive Category 5 Hurricane Dorian was photographed from the International Space Station as it churned over the Atlantic Ocean in August 2019. (NASA via Associated Press)

In 1973, the National Hurricane Center introduced the Saffir-Simpson scale, a five-category rating system that classified hurricanes by wind intensity.

At the bottom of the scale was Category 1, for storms with sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph. At the top was Category 5, for disasters with winds of 157 mph or more.

In the half-century since the scales debut, land and ocean temperatures have steadily risen as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. Hurricanes have become more intense, with stronger winds and heavier rainfall. This week a research team at the University of Pennsylvania led by climate scientist Michael Mann predicted that the North Atlantic will see an unprecedented 33 named tropical cyclones from June 1 to Nov. 30.

With catastrophic storms regularly blowing past the 157-mph threshold, some scientists argue, the Saffir-Simpson scale no longer adequately conveys the threat the biggest hurricanes present.

Read more: 'Rivers in the sky' have drenched California, yet even more extreme rains are possible

Earlier this year, two climate scientists published a paper that compared historical storm activity to a hypothetical version of the Saffir-Simpson scale that included a Category 6, for storms with sustained winds of 192 mph or more.

Of the 197 hurricanes classified as Category 5 from 1980 to 2021, five fit the description of a hypothetical Category 6 hurricane: Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, Hurricane Patricia in 2015, Typhoon Meranti in 2016, Typhoon Goni in 2020 and Typhoon Surigae in 2021.

Patricia, which made landfall near Jalisco, Mexico, in October 2015, is the most powerful tropical cyclone ever recorded in terms of maximum sustained winds. (While the paper looked at global storms, only storms in the Atlantic Ocean and the northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line are officially ranked on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Other parts of the world use different classification systems.)

Though the storm had weakened to a Category 4 by the time it made landfall, its sustained winds over the Pacific Ocean hit 215 mph.

Thats kind of incomprehensible, said Michael F. Wehner , a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and co-author of the Category 6 paper. That's faster than a racing car in a straightaway. Its a new and dangerous world.

In their paper, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Wehner and co-author James P. Kossin of the University of WisconsinMadison did not explicitly call for the adoption of a Category 6, primarily because the scale is quickly being supplanted by other measurement tools that more accurately gauge the hazard of a specific storm.

The Saffir-Simpson scale is not all that good for warning the public of the impending danger of a storm, Wehner said.

Read more: After months of silence, Voyager 1 has returned NASA's calls

The category scale measures only sustained wind speeds, which is just one of the threats a major storm presents. Of the 455 direct fatalities in the U.S. due to hurricanes from 2013 to 2023  a figure that excludes deaths from 2017s Hurricane Maria  less than 15% were caused by wind, National Hurricane Center director Mike Brennan said during a recent public meeting. The rest were caused by storm surges, flooding and rip tides.

The Saffir-Simpson scale is a relic of an earlier age in forecasting, Brennan said.

Thirty years ago, that's basically all we could tell you about a hurricane, is how strong it was right now. We couldn't really tell you much about where it was going to go, or how strong it was going to be, or what the hazards were going to look like, Brennan said during the meeting, which was organized by the American Meteorological Society. We can tell people a lot more than that now.

He confirmed the National Hurricane Center has no plans to introduce a Category 6, primarily because it is already trying to not emphasize the scale very much, Brennan said. Other meteorologists said that's the right call.

I don't see the value in it at this time, said Mark Bourassa , a meteorologist at Florida State Universitys Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies. There are other issues that could be better addressed, like the spatial extent of the storm and storm surge, that would convey more useful information [and] help with emergency management as well as individual people's decisions.

Simplistic as they are, Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpsons categories are the first thing many people think of when they try to grasp the scale of a storm. In that sense, the scales persistence over the years helps people understand how much the climate has changed since its introduction.

What the Saffir-Simpson scale is good for is quantifying, showing, that the most intense storms are becoming more intense because of climate change, Wehner said. It's not like it used to be.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 26 dismissed Oleksandr Yakovets as the commander of the Support Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces, according to the decree published on the Presidential Office's website.

Yakovets was appointed the Support Forces commander on March 4, replacing Dmytro Hereha. Yakovets previously held an administrative position in the Support Forces.

Zelensky signed another decree on Yakovets on April 26, appointing him the head of Ukraine's Special Transport Service. The president also dismissed Bohdan Bondar, who had led the unit since March 2022.

The State Special Transport Service is a unit of the Defense Ministry. Its responsibilities include building, repairing, and protecting the national transportation system's facilities.

Yakovets started his military career in 1992, took part in Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Operation against Russian-backed militants in the Donbas, and received several state awards.

Zelensky began to reshuffle Ukraine's military command in February, dismissing Ukraine's top military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

In April, more changes in high-level military command were announced, including the new appointments in the Southern, Eastern, and Western Operational Commands.

Read also: Zelensky appoints Volodymyr Hordiychuk as new deputy commander of National Guard

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has used the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster on April 26 to highlight the continuing threat Russia poses while the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is "held hostage" by Moscow's forces.

The Zaporizhzhia plant  the largest nuclear plant in Europe  has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. The Chornobyl plant was also occupied by Moscow's forces for 35 days at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Throughout its occupation, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

In a post on social media, Zelensky said the Chornobyl disaster "showed the world how quickly deadly threats can appear," adding: "Radiation does not recognize borders and does not distinguish national flags."

"For 785 days, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has been held hostage by Russian terrorists," he said.

"And it is the duty of the whole world to put pressure on Russia so that the nuclear power plant is released and returned to the full control of Ukraine and that all nuclear facilities in Ukraine are protected from Russian strikes."

Radiation sees no borders or national flags. The Chornobyl disaster demonstrated how rapidly deadly threats can emerge. Tens of thousands of people mitigated the Chornobyl disaster at the cost of their own health and lives, eliminating its terrible consequences in 1986 and the pic.twitter.com/ezclAdytag  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2024

The Chornobyl nuclear accident occurred on April 26, 1986, when one of the plants nuclear reactors exploded during a planned test.

The explosion spewed nuclear material across Europe and heavily contaminated a 150,000-square-kilometer area of land covering Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

A massive rescue and clean-up operation narrowly averted an even bigger cataclysm, but the accident remains the most devastating nuclear disaster in history and played a significant role in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

While the official death toll stands at just 31, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 4,000 people have died since the disaster due to acute radiation symptoms, thyroid cancer, or radiation-induced leukemia.

Over 55,400 square kilometers, or 9% of Ukraines territory, is contaminated because of the accident.

"We remember the strength and dedication of people who saved lives in 1986. We appreciate everyone who is helping to protect lives now," Zelensky said.

Read also: Chornobyl nuclear disaster

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting during his visit to the Kharkiv region following the devastating Russian attacks. -/Ukrainian presidency/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against a repeat of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as the country marked the anniversary of the 1986 disaster at the power plant.

"Europe's largest nuclear power plant near Zaporizhzhya has already been in the hands of Russian terrorists for 785 days," the head of state wrote on Telegram on Friday.

He urged the international community to exert pressure on Russia to bring the power plant back under Ukrainian control.

"And that all nuclear objects in Ukraine are safe from Russian attacks," Zelensky wrote, adding that alone would save the world from a new nuclear catastrophe.

At the same time, Zelensky recalled the people who were involved in the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant 38 years ago. "Tens of thousands of people, at the cost of their health and their lives, stopped the Chernobyl disaster from spreading and helped to eliminate its terrible consequences in 1986 and in the years that followed."

Zelensky also recalled that the decommissioned power plant was under Russian control for 35 days after the Russian invasion. "Russian soldiers robbed the laboratories, took the guards prisoner and humiliated the staff," the head of state wrote.

On April 26, 1986, reactor four of the then-Soviet nuclear power plant Chernobyl in northern Ukraine exploded.

The accident is considered the largest nuclear disaster in the civilian use of nuclear power.

Due to the radioactivity, large areas of land around the nuclear power plant in what is now Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus were closed off and tens of thousands of people were forcibly relocated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting during his visit to the Kharkiv region following the devastating Russian attacks. -/Ukrainian presidency/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against a repeat of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as the country marked the anniversary of the 1986 disaster at the power plant.

"Europe's largest nuclear power plant near Zaporizhzhya has already been in the hands of Russian terrorists for 785 days," the head of state wrote on Telegram on Friday.

He urged the international community to exert pressure on Russia to bring the power plant back under Ukrainian control.

"And that all nuclear objects in Ukraine are safe from Russian attacks," Zelensky wrote, adding that alone would save the world from a new nuclear catastrophe.

At the same time, Zelensky recalled the people who were involved in the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant 38 years ago. "Tens of thousands of people, at the cost of their health and their lives, stopped the Chernobyl disaster from spreading and helped to eliminate its terrible consequences in 1986 and in the years that followed."

Zelensky also recalled that the decommissioned power plant was under Russian control for 35 days after the Russian invasion. "Russian soldiers robbed the laboratories, took the guards prisoner and humiliated the staff," the head of state wrote.

On April 26, 1986, reactor four of the then-Soviet nuclear power plant Chernobyl in northern Ukraine exploded.

The accident is considered the largest nuclear disaster in the civilian use of nuclear power.

Due to the radioactivity, large areas of land around the nuclear power plant in what is now Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus were closed off and tens of thousands of people were forcibly relocated.

Thousands of people died as a result of the radioactive contamination. The power plant site is located just over 90 kilometres north of the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Following the Russian invasion over two years ago, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with a rated output of 6,000 megawatts near Zaporizhzhya in southern Ukraine came under Russian control at the beginning of March 2022.

Due to repeated attacks with artillery and drones, the Russian power plant management shut down all six reactors.
(Bloomberg) -- Former South African President Jacob Zuma made his first public appearance in a week as his party sought to dispel speculation that hes ill.

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Zuma, who has spearheaded the election campaign of the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe Party since it launched in December, failed to attend a series of party events this month. South African media including News24 have reported that Zuma has had a series of falls that have raised concerns among his medical and security teams.

Bloomberg Terminal clients can click on ELEC ZA for more on South Africas elections

The 82-year-old former leader danced and sang on a stage at a party rally at his homestead in Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday evening as scores of supporters chanted his name. Zuma had visible stitches above his left eye and while he didnt address the reports about his health, his party derided them as attempts to undermine the partys growth.

The falsehoods about President Zumas health are a desperate attempt to disrupt our progress and weaken our resolve, the MKP said in a statement.

Zuma led South Africa for nine scandal-marred years that included allegations of large-scale corruption and the looting of billions of dollars of government funds. Hes denied wrongdoing and hasnt been indicted on the accusations.

His popularity, particularly in the second-most populous province of KwaZulu-Natal, is one of the key reasons the party is garnering support that threatens the ruling African National Congresss ability to maintain the national majority its had since coming to power in 1994.

The MKPs policies include the expansion of the social security net, the expropriation of land without compensation and the nationalization of all major banks  including the central bank  and mines.

Zuma told the crowd that the party aims to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament, a feat the ANC last held under his predecessor Thabo Mbeki  in order to change laws that hinder the wellbeing of black people who are the rightful owners of the country.

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For Amazon customers in the West Valley of Phoenix, orders will soon be flying off the shelvesliterally.

The e-commerce giant announced earlier this week it would launch drone deliveries in the Tolleson, Ariz., area starting later this year.

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In a blog post, the company noted that it has begun working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain the permits for flying drones in Tolleson. All of the drones will launch directly from facilities next to the same-day delivery site Amazon owns there.

According to Amazon, the facility serves a dual purpose: its part delivery station and part fulfillment center, which means it can deliver packages to its customers even faster in large metro areas.

While smaller, split-function, same-day facilities inevitably hold less inventory than a standard fulfillment center, the sites are located nearby Amazons larger hubs for convenient access to a slew of other goods. The company noted in its blog that it can offer same-day delivery on millions of items.

Kate Gallego, Phoenixs mayor, said the Prime purveyors plans to bring drones to the Phoenix area could have positive sustainability impacts.

This kind of delivery is the future, and its exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area, Gallego said in a statement. The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow.

But as Amazon pursues the action in Arizona, it will also look to sunset its drone operations in Lockeford, Calif., one of two locations it launched Prime Air through in 2022. Though it will close the delivery site in Lockewood, it plans to offer the employees supporting that location jobs at other Amazon sites.

Amazon did not explain its decision to close the Lockeford facility, but it could be due to multiple factors. In 2020, Lockeford had just over 3,000 residents, per U.S. Census data. While Lodi City, nearer to Lockeford, had a 2020 population of over 65,000, the median income in Lockeford, Lodi City and other surrounding areas comes in lower than Californias at-large median income, which may mean the households have less disposable cash.

And while the town is situated near three of Californias citiesSacramento, San Jose and San Francisconone of those cities are near enough to allow for adequate drone deliveries on a regular basis.

Most drones can only deliver to locations up to 10 miles away from their starting point. Sacramento is the closest city of the three to Lockeford, and even still, its situated over 35 miles away. Even if Prime Air operations had been placed closer to Sacramento, some drone models struggle to navigate urban areasor densely packed suburban ones.

Though Lockefords Prime Air operations wont be long for the world, Amazon currently has not announced any changes to its drone delivery operations in College Station, Tex. It said it has plans to expand drone operations into other cities in 2025, but it did not specify which cities would come next.

While it has not announced the scope of the project or the cities that will be added, Amazon also has plans to expand its Prime Air operations into the United Kingdom and Italy later this year.

Amazon isnt the only mega retailer testing out drones viability. Direct competitor Walmart has also gotten in on the fun, albeit by leveraging strategic partners like DroneUp, Wing and Zipline. In January, it announced it would enable drone delivery to 75 percent of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, which encompasses 1.8 million households.

That adds to its existing presence in parts of Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia, where it has already been delivering by drone. The service allows customers to order an array of items, from birthday gifts, to groceries and more.

Grand View Research expects the U.S. drone markets growth to continue steadily increasing, predicting a compound annual growth rate of 39.4 percent between 2024 and 2030. And according to the FAA, it has issued over 375,000 commercial drone registrations to date.

Though its specific plans for future expansion remain to be unveiled, Amazon has been doing work behind the scenes to make the possibility of rapid expansionboth domestically and internationallya reality.

Earlier this month, Amazons Prime Air unit inked a partnership with Embention. According to a press release from the aerospace manufacturing company, it will provide Amazon with safety-related hardware and software components for future development.

The e-commerce giant has also begun testing its latest drone model, the MK30, which will allow for better precision in densely-packed suburban areas. According to the companys blog, the safer, quieter drones will officially take flight for customer deliveries in the latter half of this year.
Two veteran astronauts flew to the Kennedy Space Center Thursday afternoon to prepare for the first piloted launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, a long-awaited flight running years behind schedule after two uncrewed test flights and extensive work to resolve a variety of technical problems.

Astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, two of NASA's most seasoned astronauts with four previous spaceflights, 11 spacewalks and 500 days in orbit between then, landed at the spaceport's 3-mile-long runway in T-38 jet trainers after a flight from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Starliner commander Barry

"We love Florida. We love the Kennedy Space Center, because this is where you launch humans into space," an ebullient Wilmore told reporters on the runway. "In less than two weeks, the next flight we take we'll be laying on our backs and (launching) into the heavens."

Completing the Starliner's Crew Flight Test, or CFT, will "broaden (NASA's) capability to and from space station, and that's vitally important," he said. "We're excited to be here."

Said Williams: "This is where the rubber meets the road, where we are going to leave this planet, and that is pretty darn cool!"

A few hours after the crew arrived, and shortly after two Russian cosmonauts completed a four-hour 36-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station, mission managers completed a two-day flight readiness review, tentatively clearing the Starliner for launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at 10:34 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 6.

If all goes well, Wilmore and Williams, both former Navy test pilots, will dock at the space station on May 8 and return to Earth May 15 or shortly thereafter. If the mission goes well, NASA plans to begin operational Starliner crew rotation flights in 2025, alternating crew launches with SpaceX.

"Today was a was a huge day for our Commercial Crew Program," said Steve Stich, manager of the CCP for NASA. "All the (international) partners and then our whole team polled 'go' to proceed to the launch on May 6. Not only that, but we (signed) what we call an interim human rating for Starliner for this crewed flight test. ... It was a was a huge deal for NASA and our entire team."

The Starliner spacecraft being lowered into place atop its United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. / Credit: ULA

NASA awarded two Commercial Crew Program contracts in 2014, one to SpaceX valued at $2.6 billion and the other to Boeing for $4.2 billion, to spur development of independent spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The goal was to end reliance on Russia's Soyuz in the wake of the space shuttle's retirement and to resume launching American astronauts from U.S. soil aboard American rockets and spacecraft. Equally important to NASA is having two independent spacecraft for crew flights to the ISS in case one company's ferry ship is grounded for any reason.

SpaceX kicked off piloted flights in May 2020, successfully launching two NASA astronauts on a Crew Dragon test flight to the space station. Since then, SpaceX has launched 50 astronauts, cosmonauts and civilians to orbit in eight operational flights to the lab complex, three commercial visits and one privately-funded flight to low-Earth orbit.

Boeing launched its Starliner on an unpiloted test flight in December 2019, but the spacecraft experienced major software and communications problems that combined to derail an attempt to dock with the space station and almost led to the crew ship's destruction.

A second unpiloted flight was ordered (and paid for by Boeing), but during an August 2021 launch window engineers discovered corroded valves in the spacecraft's propulsion system. Fixing that problem delayed the second test flight to May 2022.

While the mission was successful, additional problems were discovered, including parachute issues and concern about possibly flammable protective tape wrapped around internal wiring. Correcting those problems, and finding room for a visit in the space station's complex flight schedule, eventually delayed the Crew Flight Test to May 6.

Given recent problems with Boeing aircraft that have raised questions about the company's safety culture, a successful Crew Flight Test is seen by many as a critical milestone, both for Boeing and for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

For his part, Wilmore said he didn't view the Starliner launch in the context of Boeing's widely reported aircraft issues.

An artist's impression of a Starliner on final approach to the International Space Station. / Credit: NASA

"I don't think it has necessarily anything to do with Boeing and a flight going off," he said. "They're all vitally important. This is human spaceflight. That adage you've heard since Apollo 13, failure is not an option? That has nothing specifically to do with Boeing or this program. That's all the things that we do in human spaceflight.

"So, this one is no more or less important than anything else we're doing," he said. "It just happens to be the most important one we're doing right now."

Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, agreed, saying "the success of this mission has always been very important for us as a program for a lot of reasons."

"Number one, we have humans flying on this vehicle," he said. "We take that so seriously in human spaceflight. I've spent my career in this business, and it always has been the top of the list.

"Second is, this is an important capability for us, for NASA, and so we signed up to go do this, and we're going to go do it and be successful at it. So I don't think of it in terms of what's important for Boeing as much as I think of it as in terms of what's important for this program, what's important to follow through with, the commitments that we made to our customer."

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HANNOVER, Germany, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies "are more and more innovative," the organizer of this year's Hannover Messe told Xinhua, expressing his hope of expanding trade with China in the future.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua during the leading annual industrial trade fair in Germany, Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the Managing Board of the organizer Deutsche Messe AG, said he was "very happy to have many exhibitors from China."

Established in 1947, the Hannover Messe this year runs from Monday to Friday, with Chinese exhibitors accounting for 30 percent of almost 4,000 exhibitors from around 60 countries and regions, second only to Germany.

This year's theme -- "Energizing A Sustainable Industry" -- just reflects the proactive role of Chinese companies in the global innovation arena, according to Koeckler.

He recalled that 20 years ago, Hannover Messe was more of "a trade show only for components" where exhibitors sought buyers, while today, visitors have problems that need exhibitors to solve. "Chinese exhibitors, like all exhibitors, are more and more in solution-orientated topics for automation."

As climate change has worried more in recent years, energy transformation is a key topic of Hannover Messe 2024, where more than 500 exhibitors from the hydrogen and fuel cell industry present energy solution innovations.

An advocate for the transition towards fully renewable energy production, Koeckler noted China's strides in green transformation.

"I visit China every year, and I am really impressed that you have a clear plan to reduce CO2 emission," he said.

During his recent visit, he stayed in Shanghai for a week and was impressed by a noticeable reduction in air pollution and the prevalence of electric vehicles.

"Yes, you see it's less pollution of the air. Then, there I see a very good progress," he said.

China represents a colossal market and Hannover Messe can serve as a pivotal platform for Chinese exhibitors to cultivate partnerships and expand their global reach, Koeckler said.

For eight consecutive years, China has been Germany's largest trading partner, with two-way trade soaring to over 200 billion euros (214 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

"From our point of view, we would love it that the Chinese participation would enlarge in the size of the booths and then that we have this global marketplace for supply and demand," he said.

Referring to China as "a huge economy with a good development looking on prosperity," Koeckler emphasized win-win cooperation between Germany and China, and the importance of fair and free exchange of ideas and goods.

"That is what happened on exhibition," he told Xinhua. 
You have to respect anybody willing to tell powerful government officials to get stuffed, and tech titan Elon Musk is pretty good at doing exactly that. While sometimes thin-skinned himself and not always consistent in his free speech principles, the head of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is the best of the bunch among his peers when it comes to facing down censors. His latest battle is with Australian officials who want to restrict the entire world's access to recordings of a crime.

The dispute involves video of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at Good Shepherd Church in Wakely (warning: graphic images).

A Takedown Order With Global Reach

"The Federal Court today granted a further interim injunction requiring X Corp to immediately hide Class 1 material on X that was subject to eSafety's removal notice of 16 April, 2024," the office of Australia's eSafety Commissioner announced April 24. "In summary, eSafety's removal notice to X Corp required it to take all reasonable steps to ensure the removal of the extreme violent video material of the alleged terrorist act at Wakeley in Sydney on 15 April."

The order, threatening daily fines of $782,500 ($510,178 U.S.) for non-compliance, isn't limited to the country.

"An Australian judge on Monday ruled that social media platform X must block every user in the world from accessing video of a bishop being stabbed in a Sydney church, extending the prohibition beyond users in Australia," noted the AP.

"Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian 'eSafety Commissar' is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire Internet?" responded X owner Elon Musk. "We have already censored the content in question for Australia, pending legal appeal, and it is stored only on servers in the USA."

Anger at Musk for refusing to let the Australian government censor the planet has unified much of the country's political class. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of the Australian Labor Party, denounced him as an "arrogant billionaire." Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, from the Greens, called him a "narcissistic cowboy." Liberal lawmaker Simon Birmingham said Musk's censorship accusations are "insulting and offensive." Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie raised the hysterical reaction meter to 11 by insisting "someone like that should be in jail and the key be thrown away."

"It takes a special kind of person to attract universal criticism across Australia's federal political landscape," snarked Brett Worthington from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He added that the battle between Musk and Australian politicians is really about power and "it is the law of the land, not his commercial interest, that determines what is legal and what isn't."

The Race To Be World Censor

But that's just it: the law of which land? Despite disagreeing with the eSafety takedown order, X's Global Government Affairs team emphasizes that the company "complied with the directive pending a legal challenge." Follow-up orders are about controlling what can be seen by people in the U.S., the U.K., Nigeria, Thailand, and every place on the globe outside Australia's borders. If Canberra can impose its rules across the world on any online platform that happens to do business in Australia, why can't China, or Russia, or Saudi Arabia do the same? The result would be a standard for global speech set by the most restrictive jurisdiction.

There's already precedent for businesses defaulting to tight regulations set by the European Union rather than abide by different rules in different places with the resulting complexity and cost.

"The Brussels Effect refers to the EU's unilateral power to regulate global markets," wrote Columbia Law School's Anu Bradford, author of The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World (2019). "The EU does not need to impose its standards coercively on anyonemarket forces alone are often sufficient to convert the EU standard into the global standard as multinational companies voluntarily extend the EU rule to govern their global operations."

Aggressive enforcement of the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) against international media companies has "sparked accusations of overreach and violation of international human rights standards," Jacob Mchangama, CEO of The Future of Free Speech, warned in December. Amidst a "clear trend against freedom of expression in the world's democraciesmany democracies see the DSA as a global blueprint for online regulation," he added.

Australia wants the pervasive global regulatory clout wielded by the European Union for itself. If successful, the same reach would be available to every government everywhere, including those even more authoritarian than the notoriously illiberal democracy.

A Bigger Agenda Than One Crime Video

Australia's censorious officials, it should be noted, may be exploiting the conflict for with X for domestic ends. They appear to be weaponizing the spat to promote legislation restricting "misinformation."

"Blaming Musk for refusing to take down vision of the attack  which Albanese mischievously suggested was 'misinformation,' as if it never happened  was absolutely in keeping with the vibe politics that has come to characterise this government," commented James Morrow at The Daily Telegraph.

"The federal government is blatantly misleading the public in linking the terrible attacks in Sydney to its proposed misinformation laws, which are designed to do nothing more than censor the opinion of mainstream Australians online," charges John Storey of the free-market Institute of Public Affairs.

For her part, the country's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, was an executive at X when it was known as Twitter in pre-Musk days and clearly disagrees with the platform's shift in a less-controlling direction. In 2022 she called for a "recalibration of a whole range of human rights that are playing out online, from freedom of speech to the freedom to be free from online violence."

The battle over graphic video images of a terrorist attack likely has less to do with that specific content than it does with official hostility to uncontrolled speech at home and abroad. That's unfortunate for Australians, who already suffer fewer protections for their rights than do the citizens of many other countries, especially the U.S. But it's also bad news for the citizens of other countries if Australia's grasping politicians get their way and make local censorship a global problem.

The post Australia Tries To Censor the World appeared first on Reason.com.
On Wednesday, the president signed into law the $95 billion aid package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. It had passed the Senate the previous day, and the House on Saturday. Its a momentous piece of legislationthe most important Congress will pass this yearto reaffirm that Americas still got it after allies and adversaries alike had begun to doubt.

But the package also included another bill thats arguably earned more attention: the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This legislation has been popularized in shorthand as the TikTok ban. Many of the apps 100 millionplus users in the United States are concerned that their treasured app for sharing dance videos, cooking tips, and recitations of Osama bin Laden manifestos could be gone any second now. As cool as such a significant step toward getting human beings to look one another in the eye again would be, though, no such ban is imminent, and a ban isnt the purpose of the legislation. Theres a lot of misinformation out there about what this legislation will do and how it came to pass, mostly from the social media accounts of TikTok lobbyists. In the spirit of clearing up the confusion, I will now take questions from myself.

What is Congress problem with TikTok?

TikToks parent company is ByteDance Ltd., a Chinese technology company. The crux of the security issue among legislators is that the government of the Peoples Republic of China, deemed a foreign adversary country, has the legal ability to meddle with ByteDances affairs. The concerns, then, are that the Chinese government has access to Americans private data, and that the Chinese government could be meddling with TikToks algorithms to push propaganda, disinformation, and politically disruptive content on American users, while downplaying content that reflects poorly on the Chinese government.

You may have heard politicians over the past few years saying things like TikTok algorithms show Chinese teens content about engineering and science but American teens content about new dances to do atop burning American flags. Thats the root of it. This was once more of a right-wing concern, but many Democrats have come around after years of intelligence briefings supposedly offering proof. After one such briefing in March, for example, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal described the situation as a gun aimed at Americans heads. Much of that intelligence remains classified, though some lawmakers would like to see that changed.

Got it. So how did this particular legislative ball get rolling?

You may remember hearings from the past couple of years in which the hapless TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has gotten absolutely ripped by members of both parties. The appetite to address this alleged threat was powerful.

After months of work behind the scenes with the White House and Justice Department, Reps. Mike Gallagher (a Republican) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (a Democrat)the leading members of the Houses select China competition committeereleased the first version of the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act on March 5. It prohibited apps controlled by foreign adversary countriesspelled out as Russia, North Korea, China, and Iranfrom app stores in the United States. However, it would give parent companies of certain appslike, I dont know, ByteDance and its app TikTok?180 days to sell off those properties to buyers in non-adversary countries.

Legislators organized this effort smartly. Knowing that TikTok had oodles of money and half of K Street locked down to lobby on its behalf, they horse-traded and organized much of the coalition for this bill together in private, rather than letting the text sit exposed and vulnerable for months at a time before it was ready. Within a couple of days, the bill had passed unanimously out of committee, and on March 13, in spite (or because) of a flood of TikTok users calling Congress warning them away, it passed the House by a 35265 vote.

Does legislation in Congress usually move that quickly?

The answer is no. Most legislation in Congress doesnt move, period. This was most unusual. Expect to see the many TikTok lobbyists taking a total L here get fired.

Do the lawmakers who support it call it a TikTok ban in shorthand as well?

NO! Lawmakers go to great pains to insist that its not a ban, and that they would never want to ban anything beloved by hundreds of millions of eligible voters in an election year. The threat of a prohibition in the United States, and that ByteDance could lose out on a lot of money, is merely the laws way to force a sale of the propaganda dance app and put it in the hands of a patriotic American company, such as McDonalds or Slate.

Wait, though: Didnt the Senate think the House TikTok bill was kind of lousy?

The Senate thinks all House bills are lousy, and that theyre written by illiterate kindergartners playing out their frustrations with crayons. In this case, it was the Senate Democratic majority that seemed particularly torn about whether to take up the Houses bill, draft its own competing proposal, or do nothing. Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, who was the chairwoman of jurisdiction on this particular matter, called for the Senate to take its time to develop a more mature approach beyond T-minus 180 days, suckers.

What changed?

When House Speaker Mike Johnson made the decision to put Ukraine aid up for a vote, he wanted to offer a sweetener for the right-wing members of his conference whod be furious. So in addition to separate votes on Ukraine aid, Israel aid, and Taiwan aid, he had Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul put together the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, a grab bag of other popular national security measures. It included bills to seize frozen Russian assets, impose sanctions on fentanyl traffickers, and much moreincluding the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

The House process was structured so that House members could vote on each of these four billsthe three aid bills, and the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Actseparately. When they all passed, the four would be merged together and sent to the Senate as one bill. This is important. In order to get aid for any of these countries, senators had to vote for the entire package, which included the TikTok bill. The package passed the Senate on Tuesday by a 7918 vote, and Biden signed it into law on Wednesday.

So Joe Biden didnt sign the TikTok bill as a stand-alone piece of legislation? It was part of a package?

Correct.

But would Biden have signed the TikTok bill as a stand-alone piece of legislation?

Yes.

Is it a killer own to say, Ooh, Joe Biden, you just signed a bill that could ban TikTok, but you still use TikTok, ooh, ooh, hypocrite much?

I dont think so, no.

Did anything change between the original House TikTok bill and the one thats now law?

Yes: The time to execute a sale was increased from 180 days to 270 days with the possibility of a one-time extension to complete the sale. That one change, announced in the days leading up to the House vote, was enough for the legislation to earn the endorsement of Cantwell and allow senators to argue that they amended it into an adult piece of legislation.

So Senate egos were successfully managed. But what is ByteDance gonna do?

What does anyone do when Capitol Hill does anything? They sue! A lawsuit should be filed any minute now arguing that the ban violates First Amendment rights. All court cases take one billion years, giving TikTok more time to teach American tweens what quirky memes to perform atop the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while dressed like 9/11.

Should the court-y things not go in ByteDances favor, then? They could always push the next Congress, and the next president, to repeal the law. Or they could simply abide by the legislation and sell this popular asset for scads and scads of cash. The other way to abide by the law would be to shut down TikTok in the United States, which Reuters reported ByteDance prefers should legal challenges not go their way.

You shouldnt take ByteDances mutterings too seriously this early in the process, though. (And by the way, if they would rather shut er down than make billions of dollars in a sale, wouldnt that suggest that this enterprise isnt strictly a rational market actor?)

If TikToks possible American exit upsets you, just remember: Therell always be another app.
The cost, the technology and now the styling of the cars and branding of the companies: the latter stages in the development of the Chinese industry was on full show at the Beijing motor show, which ran this week for the first time since 2018.

When the Chinese car makers cracked brands and branding, these were always going to be the things that could really take them global and into the mainstream, rather than simply known for cost. The 2024 Beijing show could turn out to be the springboard for that.

Indeed, western car makers at Beijing were in turn talking up the strength of their own brands as for how they can continue to have an edge and stay ahead.

The show was squeezed into eight halls at a convention centre in the north east of Beijings still-expanding metropolis (I swear that tower block has an extra storey on two on it than when we drove past yesterday) and provided a striking insight into just how far Chinas domestic industry has developed and the obvious export appeal of several of its latest models.

Wednesday, 19:00 The main pre-show event was a BMW Group night, which unusually included Rolls-Royce co-branding - although not any Rolls-Royce cars. There was the unveiling of a revised BMW i4, but the big news was the new Mini Aceman, a Chinese-built electric supermini that has the potential to be the Mini brands best seller.

The Aceman looks very literally styled to be between the Cooper and Countryman, looking half like an expanded version of the former and shrunken version of the latter. It's tipped to be the best-seller not least because it finally opens up real volume in the Chinese market, where local production is key.

Mini will look to mirror the success of BMW, one of few western brands to enjoy a successful 2023 in China. BMW Group sales boss (and ex-China boss) Jochen Goller told me the brand is as resilient as it can be against any external geopolitical forces, as its production in China is focused on China, without any export threats. The product follows the market and we localise as much as possible, he said.

Thursday, 08:30 Beijing traffic survived and straight to the show halls. I can remember my first trip to a Chinese show in Shanghai in 2013 and being shown around a hall by the design chief of a western car maker.

2024 Beijing motor show entrance

They pointed out in horror (yet not sneeriness) some of the fit and finish of many of the models on display  memorably a foglight where it seemed they had to run out of glassfibre to trim it.

Oh what a difference a decade makes. Many cars had the look of an AI-generated Tesla about them, but they were still largely clean and modern, with simple faces, lines and designs. In little over a decade, Chinese cars have gone from looking like old 1990s Hondas and Toyotas to blatant western copycats, then to shouty and showy, and now refinement has taken over, and the stands and logos adorning them are often as smart as many cars themselves.

09:00 In contrast, the stands of the likes of Lincoln, Genesis and Lexus I pass en route to my first interview look a bit dark, dingy and tired  and have far less foot traffic. Given the constant desire for new in China and the pace of progress and development, you can see why interest in brands like these are waning among far less loyal consumers for whom the latest technology and design is king.

09:15 I also pass JLRs House of Brands on its show stand, where Defender, Discovery, Jaguar and Range Rover each get their own branding. All this did was to show how its only really a two-bedroom house, with the Defender and in particular Range Rover models dwarfing the other duo. The JLR logo was also given a rare consumer outing, itself rather apologetically placed on a back wall. I'm not sure what relevance this has with car buyers.

JLR branding at 2024 Beijing motor show

10:15 BMW product boss Bernd Koerber is in buoyant mode, not only for thinking the company has all bases covered with its mixed energy platforms that cover combustion engines, hybrid systems and electric powertrains, insulating it from slow demand for the latter, but also because he has answer to that question of brands amid Chinas catch-up here.

He believes the strength of the BMW brand is the best protection from interest waning from Chinese buyers. Individual brands and branding must be strong to survive and thive; simply being a western brand in China is no longer a guarantee of success.

I dont think Ive ever seen a larger crowd around a car at a motor show than the Xiaomi SU7, so much so that I had to Google it to find out what it looked like without elbows sharp enough to get near it.

The smartphone maker has done what Apple and Google have so far failed to do and launched a car, one its maker claims to have had 75,000 orders for already and plans to deliver the first 10,000 units in June, which it believes to be record for a start-up.

Xiaomi founder Lei Jun called on talent from other car makers to come join his 6000-strong team, which for the next three years at least only has desires to build cars for China, perhaps to the mercy of some western car makers.

Xiaomi SU7 at Beijing motor show

12:30 One thing Chinese car companies also seem to have licked is rapid development times. In response, Mercedes-Benz development boss Markus Schafer tells me their own development times have been cut from 58 months to around 40 now, with more to come. Volkswagen revealed something similar last year at the Munich show, with development chief Kai Grunitz saying the goal was to come down to 30 months.

Schafer also says he expects big facelifts and updates in the middle of a cars life cycle to be far less prevalent in the future, due to the rise of over-the-air software updates, which will allow for far more features to be added constantly over a cars life. Again, China is leading the way here, due to the need to always be new and up to date.

13:00 Scratch beneath the surface of all the shiny newness of the local brands and you do notice some of the plainer models are still there. One such is Roewe, whose range of saloons and crossovers looked tired next to newer brands and models, including those of its own nearby sibling brand Rising.

Another Roewe sibling brand, MG, is better far known on our shores, yet it was surprising how little interest there seemed to be in the EXE181 electric hypercar concept, which was probably the easiest major new launch of the day to get up close and photograph.

A phrase of Schafer's was ringing in my ears still after visiting Roewe and MG: In China, the disruptors get disrupted.

13:30 If a show star can be a person, for me at Beijing it was Mini boss Stefanie Wurst. An extended chat with her allowed brief respite from fishing for the latest scoop. She told me about her fathers role later in his career as a BMW engineer working on early prototypes of the first-generation BMW Mini and establishing BMW production processes for Rover and Mini models. Front-wheel drive proved to be a novelty for her father, after a career spent on rear-wheel-drive models.

15:00 The Chinese copycats havent completely gone away. The Ford Bronco inspired the front end and the Mercedes G-Class the rear of the Jetour Shanhai T2, and the G-Class and Land Rover Defender were clearly inspirations for the designers of iCar on a couple of the models on its stand.

iCar V23 at Beijing motor show

15:15 After successfully developing the Rolls-Royce Spectre, Mihiar Ayoubi is now tasked with developing the next generation of BMWs in its upcoming Neue Klasse range of EVs. Already as cheery as they come, Ayoubi was further buoyed by a meeting with Chinese journalists that morning in which they had looked for reassurance that BMW wouldn't introduce too many distracting automated driving systems and continue to focus on simply making cars that were good to drive.

And there was us thinking that Chinese consumers were the ones looking for such technology. Who really does want it, then?

16:30 After a career spent largely in large German car groups including Volkswagen and Mercedes, Stefan Sielaff is enjoying a career swansong as head of Geely Group design. In a striking chat about just how quickly Chinese car companies get things done, Sielaff said the typical development time for a car was just two years  still some 18 months faster than Mercedes reduced development window.

17:00 Back to the traffic jam. The Beijing show didnt quite provide the great leap and demonstration of development as the Shanghai show did last year, simply because there was such a gap between the international medias last visit to a Chinese motor show in 2019 due to the pandemic.

Beijing was a refined and edited version of Shanghai 2023, with fewer has-beens and never-will-bes from local car makers and instead a series of refined and quality designs that look to have true export appeal, and at the very least the biggest share of interest from the local media.

With some exceptions (Mercedes, BMW and Hyundai among them), the western brands generally felt overlooked and less significant at the show not only in terms of the size of crowds on their show stands but also in their wow factor and any discernible edge over their Chinese rivals.

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After years of delays and a dizzying array of setbacks during test flights, Boeings Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crewed launch.

The mission is at last closing in on its historic astronaut launch attempt, with NASA officials giving the green light for liftoff at 10:34 p.m. ET Monday. Starliner will carry NASAs Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station, marking what could be a momentous and long-awaited victory for the beleaguered Boeing program.

Design and development is hard  particularly with a human space vehicle, said Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager at Boeing, during a Thursday news briefing. Theres a number of things that were surprises along the way that we had to overcome.  It certainly made the team very, very strong. Im very proud of how theyve overcome every single issue that weve encountered and gotten us to this point.

If successful, the Starliner will join SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft in making routine trips to the space station, keeping the orbiting outpost fully staffed with astronauts from NASA and its partner space agencies.

Such a scenario  with both Crew Dragon and Starliner flying regularly  is one for which the US space agency has long waited.

This is history in the making, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a March 22 news conference. Were now in the golden era of space exploration.

SpaceX and Boeing developed their respective vehicles under NASAs Commercial Crew Program, a partnership with private industry contractors. From the outset, the space agency aimed to have both companies operating at once. The Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft would each serve as a backup to the other, giving astronauts the option to keep flying, even if technical issues or other setbacks grounded one spacecraft.

NASA did not initially envision, however, that SpaceXs Crew Dragon would operate on its own for nearly four years before Boeings Starliner reached its first crewed test flight.

In the earliest days of the program, which awarded SpaceX and Boeing contracts in 2014, NASA had favored Boeing  a close partner dating back to the mid-20th century  over SpaceX, which the federal agency saw as a relatively young and capricious upstart.

Boeing, SpaceX and NASAs vision

As recently as 2016, NASA was planning its schedule with the view that the Starliner would beat the Crew Dragon to the launchpad.

But the race between Boeing and SpaceX took a clear turn by 2020. Missteps riddled a Starliner test flight the prior year, leaving NASA and Boeing officials scrambling to figure out what went wrong. The Starliner did not dock with the space station on that mission due to software problems, including an issue with the spacecrafts internal clock, which was off by 11 hours.

Meanwhile, SpaceX made history in May 2020 with the launch of its Demo-2 test flight, carrying astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on a two-month mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceXs Crew Dragon has been flying routine trips ever since, carrying NASA astronauts and even paying customers and tourists. The spacecraft has now flown 13 crewed missions to orbit.

Boeing, however, has spent several years contending with a string of challenges, including a list of issues that were uncovered in 2022 during the spacecrafts second uncrewed test flight. Boeings commercial airplane division also has faced a series of scandals  including the 737 Max crisis and the recent quality control issues highlighted after a door plug blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight in January  that have damaged the companys brand.

NASA officials at one point in 2020 even admitted that they had turned more scrutiny toward SpaceX and its unorthodox ways, while issues with Boeings Starliner slipped through the cracks.

Perhaps we didnt have as many people embedded in that process as we should have, Steve Stich, NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager, said at a July 2020 news conference.

When one provider (SpaceX) has a newer approach than another, its often natural for a human being to spend more time on that newer approach, and maybe we didnt quite take the time we needed with (Boeings) more traditional approach.

Starliners setbacks

Boeings space division operates separately from its commercial airline team, and officials at NASA and the US aerospace giant have routinely sought to make that distinction.

NASA officials have also made clear they are working more closely with Boeing than ever, with personnel on the ground at Boeing facilities overseeing some of the fixes the company has put in place ahead of the upcoming Starliner flight.

This is an important capability for NASA. We signed up to go do this, and were gonna go do it and be successful at it, Nappi said Thursday. I dont think of it in terms of whats important for Boeing as much as I think of it as in terms of whats important for this program.

Still, Boeing and NASA have had a long list of issues to address.

During the last flight test in 2022, for example, engineers found that the suspension lines on the Starliners parachute had a lower threshold for failure than initially expected.

NASA and Boeing engineers tested a fix for that issue earlier this year, but parachutes will remain top of mind as they work through some last-minute checkouts before liftoff, Stich said Thursday.

Some tape that was also used to protect wiring harnesses was found to be flammable, and Boeing had to remove and replace about a miles worth of the material, according to Nappi.

Boeing may even need to implement a redesign of some of the spacecrafts valves because of corrosion issues. That upgrade, however, is not expected to be in place until the second crewed flight, slated for 2025, at the earliest.

On Mays inaugural crewed flight, Boeing will instead use a perfectly acceptable mitigation that should prevent the valves from sticking, Nappi said in March.

Starliner and safety

Despite the long path to the launchpad, the two people at the center of the Starliners first crewed mission  Williams and Wilmore, two longtime NASA astronauts  said as they arrived at the launch site that they are as confident as ever.

We want the general public to think its easy, but its not  its way hard, Wilmore said after arriving at Starliners launch site in Florida on Thursday. We wouldnt be here if we werent ready. We are ready. The spacecrafts ready, and the teams are ready.

Wilmore mentioned at a March news conference that he is not expecting the Starliner spacecraft to enter any failure modes.

But if something were to occur  because were all humans, we cant build things perfectly  if something were to occur, we have several downgrade modes, he said during the news conference, referring to modes that give the astronauts the ability to take more manual control over the spacecraft if something doesnt go to plan.

Williams said during a March news event, We wouldnt be sitting here if we didnt feel  and tell our families that we feel  confident in this spacecraft and our capabilities to control it.

She added during the Thursday news briefing in Florida, I have all the confidence in not only our capabilities and the spacecrafts capabilities, but also our mission control team, whos ready for the challenge.

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Credit: NASA TV

Boeing first-ever Starliner astronaut mission for NASA landed early on Sept. 7 at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico to end a mission that ultimately left its two-astronaut crew in orbit on the International Space Station after delays.

The Starliner Crew Flight Test launched from Space Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5. It landed without a crew at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico due to concerns over thruster issues seen during the flight. Follow our live updates of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission here from launch to landing!

Starliner Landing Video | Meet the Crew | All about Starliner | Boeing

Starliner astronauts arrive at launch site

Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore (left) and Suni Williams, both of NASA, arrive at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida April 25 in a T-38 jet ahead of their launch.

The two NASA astronauts who will fly on Boeing's first crewed Starliner spacecraft have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for their historic launch to the International Space Station on June 1.

Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams landed their NASA T-38 supersonic jet at the space center's Launch and Landing Facility after a short flight from Houston's Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center.

The astronauts will launch to the ISS on Boeing's Starliner and an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station near KSC. Their one-week mission to the ISS is a final shakedown cruise for Boeing's Starliner to prove it is ready for operational NASA crew flights. At the end of the mission, Starliner will parachute to Earth and make a land-based landing in the southwestern United States.

1st Starliner astronauts finish dress rehearsal before May 6 launch

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finished a big dress rehearsal before their historic launch upon Boeing Starliner no earlier than May 6, agency officials said Friday (April 26) hours after the rehearsal finished.

"Wilmore and Williams completed a series of launch day milestones including suiting up, working in a flight deck simulator, and operating the same software that will be used during the launch," NASA officials wrote in a blog post on Friday (April 26).

The rehearsal took place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida and included a countdown procedure with the Starliner spacecraft, which is on top of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will carry it to the International Space Station (ISS).

The one-week Crew Flight Test passed its latest flight readiness review with NASA on Thursday (April 25). CFT, the first Starliner mission with astronauts, aims to certify the spacecraft for six-month missions to the ISS that may start as soon as 2025. Read more about Starliner being "go for launch" here at Space.com.

Boeing Starliner astronauts 1 week away from launch

an astronaut smiling beside a cone-shaped spacecraft. the spacecraft is inside a launch gantry and surrounded by stairs. a scorch mark marks the side of the spacecraft

Butch Wilmore, commander for Crew Flight Test, outside the Boeing Starliner spacecraft during a dress rehearsal on April 26, 2024. The scorch mark on the side of the spacecraft is a harmless souvenir from re-entry during an uncrewed mission known as Orbital Flight Test, in 2019. (Image credit: Mike Fincke/NASA/X)

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams finished a big dress rehearsal for their Boeing Starliner mission on Friday (April 26) near their launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their quarantined training continues for a scheduled May 6 liftoff to the International Space Station, one week from today.

Williams and Wilmore also recently performed a video tour of one of their simulators, called the Boeing Mission Trainer, to demonstrate procedures for launch and landing. The simulator is housed at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Their mission, Crew Flight Test, passed its latest flight readiness review on Thursday (April 25), although as with all launches, safety and weather checks will continue all the way through the time it lifts off. The mission is expected to last about a week to certify future half-year operational excursions, starting with Starliner-1 in 2025.

Read more: Boeing Starliner astronauts conduct dress rehearsal ahead of May 6 launch (photos, video)

Starliner launch schedule released for May 6 launch

NASA has released its launch schedule for Boeing Starliner's historic first flight with astronauts, which will take place no earlier than Monday (May 6) at 10:34 p.m. EDT.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots, will fly their mission to the International Space Station for approximately a week to certify Starliner for future half-year missions. They will also be the first astronauts to ride aboard United Launch Alliance (ULA)'s Atlas V rocket. Liftoff will take place from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Florida.

Coverage will run live here at Space.com, via NASA Television. All major events for Starliner's flight are listed below. Timings for events below are in EDT.

Wednesday, May 1

1:30 p.m.  Virtual news conference at Kennedy with the flight test astronauts:

Friday, May 3

12:30 p.m.  Prelaunch news conference at Kennedy (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:

3:30 p.m.  NASA Social panel live stream event at Kennedy with the following participants:

Monday, May 6

6:30 p.m.  Launch coverage begins.

10:34 p.m.  Launch.

Tuesday, May 7

12 a.m.  Postlaunch news conference with the following participants:

Starliner astronauts hold last press conference before May 6 launch

The first two NASA astronauts to fly aboard Boeing Starliner, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams, will have a press conference with reporters from their quarantine at the agency's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) near Orlando, Florida.

The virtual news conference will run live on NASA Television at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) and will be streamed here at Space.com if possible.

The astronauts' mission, Crew Flight Test or CFT, will also see Wilmore and Williams (both former U.S. Navy test pilots) become the first humans to fly on board the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. Launch is scheduled for May 6 at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT May 7).

CFT is expected to last a bit over a week and will include a stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Alongside ground controllers, Williams and Wilmore will perform a check of all major spacecraft systems ahead of certifying Starliner for six-month excursions to space.

Boeing will then join SpaceX as a provider of astronaut spacecraft for ISS missions. Read more about why NASA wants two companies sending astronauts to space in this Space.com story.

What to expect during Boeing Starliner's May 6 astronaut flight

a grey-and-blue conical spacecraft floats above Earth with a hatch open on its small end

After years of delays, it's finally here: The first crewed flight test of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Starliner is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 16 at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT May 7). The event will be livestreamed here at Space.com, via NASA Television.

But what exactly will happen before, during and after the launch? Space.com's Elizabeth Howell, who will be on location for Starliner's first astronaut launch, breaks down the key milestones in terms of what to expect during Boeing Starliner's test flight on May 6.

Related: Here's what to expect during Boeing Starliner's 1st astronaut test flight on May 6

Boeing Starliner was delayed years. Here's why

a grey and blue cone-shaped spacecraft sits with its small end up in a white hangar beneath a large American flag

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is finally on the verge of making its first crewed flight.

Starliner has had a hard road to get rated for crewed flight, including years of delays and an unsuccessful first uncrewed flight test in 2019 in which the spacecraft did not reach the ISS as planned.

So how did Starliner get here, despite its numerous setbacks? Read our full coverage to get up to speed with what makes Starliner's Crew Flight Test mission currently scheduled for Monday (May 6) at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT on May 7) such a historic moment.

Related: Boeing's Starliner is ready to fly astronauts after years of delay. Here's what took so long.

What's next for Boeing Starliner after 1st crew flight test?

a grey-and-blue cone-shaped spacecraft floats above a sliver of earth as seen from space

The first crew flight test of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is just days away.

After years of development, NASA and Boeing are set to introduce another option for accessing low Earth orbit with Starliner. But what exactly will the Starliner program look like after the crew flight test on May 6?

Read our full coverage where we break down what's next for Starliner, including its first operational mission to the International Space Station in 2025.

Related: What's next for Boeing Starliner after its 1st crew flight test?

Read more: Their other vehicle is the Starliner: Boeing's 1st crew to ride Astrovan II to the launch pad

1 day until historic Boeing Starliner launch with astronauts

Launch day for the debut Boeing Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to be no earlier than tomorrow (May 6). The instantaneous launch window opens at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT on Tuesday, May 7) and you can watch the historic International Space Station (ISS) mission live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.

An Atlas V rocket rolled out to its launch pad on Saturday (May 4), also Star Wars Day, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The stack includes both the United Launch Alliance booster and Starliner.

The mission, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), will send two veteran NASA astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots aloft: Butch Wilmore will command the mission and Suni Williams will be the pilot. The duo are quarantining at the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

Read more: Boeing Starliner rolls out to launch pad for 1st astronaut flight on May 6 (photos)

Starliner launch on track for tonight

The long awaited liftoff of Boeing's Starliner will launch this evening (May 6), carrying NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Willmore and Sunita "Sunni" Williams, on the spacecraft's first crewed flight.

Liftoff for Starliner's crewed flight test (CFT) is set for an instantaneous launch window at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT on Tuesday, May 7), from Launch Complex-41 (LC-41), at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida. The spacecraft will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, and will rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) May 8, at 12:48 a.m. EDT (0648 GMT).

The mission, designed as a final shake-down cruise for Starliner, will remain docked with the ISS for about 10 days while Wilmore and Williams test the spacecraft's systems, before returning to Earth.

You can watch the historic mission from launch, ISS rendezvous, and return live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.

Where will Boeing's Starliner launch will be visible from?

a map showing concentric rings radiating out from eastern central florida

Even if you can't make it out to Florida's space coast to see the first astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the rocket in flight.

United Launch Alliance (ULA), whose mighty Atlas V rocket will launch NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the first crew flight test of Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft, released a visibility map on X showing the locations in Florida from where the launch might be visible.

ULA's Atlas V rocket is scheduled to lift off on Monday (May 6) at 10:34 p.m. (0234 GMT on May 7) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Watch it live here courtesy of NASA starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT).

Related: How to watch Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch tonight live online

Read more: Boeing Starliner 1st astronaut flight: Live updates

NASA Television coverage begins

NASA's coverage of Boeing Starliner is live! You can follow all updates via our home page at Space.com. Launch is scheduled for 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT May 7).

This mission, known as Crew Flight Test, aims to be the first to send astronauts to the International Space Station. On board are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Crew Flight Test astronauts walk out to Astrovan II

Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both of NASA and both former U.S. Navy test pilots, are about to do their walk out to the Airstream Astrovan II for their ride to Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Launch of the first Boeing Starliner mission with astronauts is scheduled for tonight (May 6) at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT Tuesday, May 7) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Crew Flight Test astronauts finish walkout

Crew Flight Test NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now out of their quarantine facility, fully ready in their spacesuits, and doing crew walkout. They will soon be on their way to the launch pad shortly via the Airstream Astrovan II for their ride to Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Launch of the first Boeing Starliner mission with astronauts is scheduled for tonight (May 6) at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT Tuesday, May 7) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Crew Flight Test astronauts enter spacecraft

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, of Crew Flight Test, have started ingress of their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Launch is scheduled for 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT May 7) and is set to be the first Starliner mission with astronauts on board.

Launch scrubbed

Crew Flight Test is scrubbed for tonight, United Launch Alliance announced on its Twitter feed.

"ULA Launch Director Tom Heter III has made the decision to the launch team that launch operations will not continue tonight for #AtlasV and #Starliner."

More information to come.

Boeing Starliner scrubbed due to rocket valve issue

Boeing's new commercial spacecraft, Starliner, waved off its first launch attempt late tonight (May 6) due to a problem with an "oxygen relief valve on the Centaur Stage on the Atlas V," NASA posted on X. Atlas V, the flight's rocket manufactured by United Launch Alliance, has flown missions since 2002 with a 100 percent success rate, but this is its first mission with astronauts.

"The engineering team has evaluated the vehicle is not in a configuration where we can proceed with flight today," an official in Mission Control said in a callout broadcast on NASA Television roughly two hours and one minute before the scheduled launch at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0024 GMT May 7).

Read more: Boeing Starliner team delays 1st historic astronaut launch due to rocket issue

NASA briefing on Starliner launch scrub

NASA will hold a press conference on tonight's Boeing Starliner astronaut launch scrub at 10:30 p.m. EDT (0230 May 7 GMT). You'll be able to watch it live at the top of this page at start time.

"NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance will host a news conference at 10:30 p.m. EDT to discuss Mondays scrubbed launch attempt of the agencys Crew Flight Test due to a faulty oxygen relief valve observation on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket Centaur second stage," NASA officials wrote in an update. "NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams exited the Starliner spacecraft at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and returned to astronaut crew quarters."

ULA eyes 'buzzing' valve swap for 2nd Starliner launch try

Untied Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno told reporters late Monday that ULA engineers are studying a "buzzing" liquid oxygen pressure relief valve on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage to determine if it needs to be replaced -- a finding that will determine when the next launch try of Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut mission could fly.

During tonight's scrubbed launch, ULA engineers detected that the valve was "buzzing" - rapidly opening and closing repeatedly - and ultimately called off the launch. While ULA has seen the valve issue on previous uncrewed satellite launches, the flight rules for Starliner's crewed test forbid cycling the valve to fix it with astronauts aboard.

If the wonky valve needs to be replaced, the earliest Starliner could launch its Crew Flight Test mission would be Sunday, May 12, Bruno said. If not, the mission could potentially aim for Tuesday, May 7, at 10:11 p.m. ET or Friday, May 10, at 9 pm ET.

Engineers are expected to know more on the road ahead for Starliner and the Atlas V early Tuesday.

Starliner's first crewed launch delayed to no earlier than Friday (May 10)

It will take a few days to work through the valve issue that scrubbed the first astronaut mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule, a test mission to the International Space Station called Crew Flight Test (CFT).

CFT was supposed to launch on Monday night (May 6). That attempt was called off about two hours before the planned liftoff, however, due to an issue with a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank in the upper stage of Starliner's rocket ride, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V. Early on Tuesday morning (May 7), NASA announced that launch teams need more time to troubleshoot the issue. The earliest that CFT could launch is now Friday night (May 10), at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on May 11).

Crewed Starliner launch delayed to no earlier than May 17, rocket rolling back for repairs

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will have to wait another 10 days for their launch to the International Space Station (ISS). United Launch Alliance (ULA) is moving forward with the replacement of a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank in the Atlas V rockets Centaur upper stage, which caused a scrub of Monday night's (May 6) Starliner launch. Monday's attempt to launch Starliner's crewed flight test (CFT) was called off about two ours before the scheduled liftoff, and initially retargeted a new launch date of May 10.

Now, ULA will roll Starliner and its Atlas V launch vehicle back to the company's vertical integration facility tomorrow (May 8), where the second stage valve will be replaced, NASA announced in a blog post. The May 17 launch attempt is scheduled for an instantaneous launch window at 6:16 p.m. EDT (1016 GMT).

1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft just 3 days away

a large grey-and-white rocket stands upright on a launch pad, lit up by spotlights at night

The first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is just three days away, if current timelines hold.

Starliner's first launch attempt on May 6 was delayed due to a valve issue on its rocket ride. United Launch Alliance rolled its Atlas V rocket back to an assembly building at Cape Canaveral Space Force to replace the valve on May 8.

The next launch attempt is now scheduled for 6:16 p.m. EDT (2216 GMT) on Friday (May 17). You can watch the launch live here at Space.com.

Related: Boeing's Starliner rolled off launch pad to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve (photo)

Boeing Starliner crew flight test delayed to May 21

We'll have to wait a little longer for the first crew flight test of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

After the first launch attempt on May 8 was scrubbed due to a valve issue on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket that will launch Starliner, Boeing announced today that teams are now "targeting a launch date of no earlier than 4:43 p.m. EDT (2043 GMT) on Tuesday, May 21, to complete additional testing."

When it launches, Starliner will carry NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams to the International Space Station for a seven-day test flight. You can watch the launch live here when the time comes.

Related: Boeing's Starliner rolled off launch pad to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve (photo)

NASA, Boeing provide update on June 1 Starliner launch target

NASA and Boeing are providing an update to reporters at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) about the new target launch date of June 1 for Starliner, along with information on how fixes are proceeding on the spacecraft. You can tune in live on our website, and keep following for updates on the situation.

Boeing and ULA on track for June 1 launch for NASA

Boeing and ULA are moving progressing toward a June 1 launch of the first crewed flight test (CFT) of the Starliner spacecraft. Liftoff atop an Atlas V rocket, from ULA's Launch Complex-41, at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is scheduled for this Saturday, at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT). According to a May 28 update from Boeing and ULA, Saturday's forecast currently shows a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions Starliner's upcoming launch window.

Weather looks 90% favorable for 1st Starliner launch on June 1

a large white-and-grey rocket stands upright on a launch pad

According to the most recent forecast on May 31, there is still a 90% chance of favorable weather for the first Crew Flight Test of Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft.

Starliner will liftoff atop an Atlas V rocket from ULA's Launch Complex-41, at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams will ride Starliner to the International Space Station.

"High pressure dominates the Central Florida weather, bringing breezy, easterly winds and dry, stable air to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the launch opportunity," United Launch Alliance (ULA) wrote on its website on Friday (May 31).

Launch is scheduled for this Saturday, June 1, at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT). Watch it live here courtesy of ULA.

Related: Boeing's Starliner rolls out to pad for June 1 astronaut launch (photos)

Fueling is underway ahead of Starliner's first crewed launch

a clear blue sky stands behind a rocket launchpad with a tower and rocket standing above a slope of grass.

Fueling is nearly complete for the Atlas V rocket poised to launch the first crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Atlas V's engines are powered with 48,800 gallons (184,730 liters) of super-chilled liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene, and 12,300 gallons (46,560 liters) of liquid hydrogen for the Dual Engine Centaur upper stage.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will soon depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, and make the short drive to LC-41 to board Starliner ahead of this afternoon's 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT) liftoff.

Related: The ISS has a urine pump problem. Boeing's Starliner astronaut launch will flush it out.

Starliner astronauts headed to the launchpad

two astronauts in blue spacesuits stand before two pillars with central NASA logos.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, where the duo performed suit leak checks ahead of this afternoon's crewed Starliner launch. They will make the short drive to United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Launch Copmlex-41(LC-41) to board Starliner ahead of the12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT) instantaneous launch window. The trip to orbit will take approximately 31 minutes, with Starliner's service module executing the spacecraft's final orbital insertion burn. NASA is livestreaming today's launch activities, which you can watch here, at Space.com

Starliner crew strapped in and ready to launch

a man in a blue spacesuit sits scrunched inside a spacecraft. A pair of black-clad individuals assist him.

Now less than three hours before liftoff, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are strapped into Boeing's Starliner spacecraft ahead of the scheduled launch for the Crewed Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The pair will continue their prelaunch checklist before the hatch to Starliner will be shut and sealed as the countdown to liftoff ticks away.

Valve issues with the Atlas Centaur upper stage

Two valves associated with propellant loading ground support systems, responsible in part for topping off propellant in the liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks in the Atlas Centaur second stage, are experiencing an apparent communications issue between with launch control, causing mission operators to begin assessment for a corrective action. With two hours before liftoff, the decision was made to cease topping off the tanks in the rocket's second stage as the problem is worked out. Mission operators are testing a redundancy system in order to circumvent the problem.

Today's launch is scheduled for an instantaneous liftoff window at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT). Should the valve problem persist to the point that window becomes unviable, backup attempts are scheduled for tomorrow, June 5 and June 6.

Valve issue circumvented

Propellant topping has resumed for the liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks inside the Atlas Centaur upper stage. After testing a fix, engineers determined the issue was with the primary telemetry stream, not the valves themselves, and decided to switch the valve data stream to a redundant system. Now, as the countdown clock continues, mission operators are working to close the Starliner hatch ahead of launch.

Boeing Starliner hatch closed, access arm cleared

An Atlas V rocket and white Starliner capsule on the launch pad as its crew access arm moves clear

The closeout crew for Boeing's first crewed Starliner launch on an Atlas V rocket is leaving the launch pad after closing the Starliner hatch and moving its Crew Access Arm clear of the capsule.

Starliner and its Atlas V rocket sit atop Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida with liftoff still targeted for 12:25 p.m. EDT. We are just over 30 minutes away from launch, with the weather forecast to be 90% GO at launch time.

Starliner CFT astronauts close helmets for launch

Two astronauts in blue Starliner spacesuits close their helmets for launch

Starliner CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have closed their Boeing spacesuit helmets for launch as they entire their final 20 minutes before liftoff.

United Launch Alliance flight controllers reported an errant temperature sensor reading in a sensor that won't be needed for launch, so it's been deactivated a bit earlier than planned and poses no issue for liftoff. The launch remains on track for 12:25 pm ET (1625 GMT).

ULA, Boeing work through Starliner suit fan glitch

Starliner CFT commander Butch Wilmore has reported a suit fan warning light and launch controllers are now working to swap suit fan systems to a backup, with the crew told to open their helmet visors, even as they are less than 11 minutes to launch.

Starliner Access Arm retracted, suit fan glitch fixed

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule on the launch pad atop an Atlas V rocket

The Starliner Crew Access Arm has been moved clear of the Starliner capsule. Meanwhile, the flight control team appears to have cleared the spacesuit fan glitch and CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have closed their visors for launch once more.

HOLD! Starliner launch countdown halted

Starliner's launch director has called a hold at the T-3 minutes, 50 seconds mark, likely scrubbing today's launch attempt due to its instantaneous window.

We're awaiting word on the exact nature of the hold, although audio from Launch Control did state that a launch control switch was not ready. Awaiting details

Starliner back on external power after launch hold

Boeing Starliner

Starliner CFT launch control reports that the Starliner spacecraft is back on external power while the countdown is halted at T-3 minutes, 50 seconds.

The Crew Access Arm has been swiveled back to the Starliner capsule.

If Starliner is unable to launch today, Boeing does have a backup day on Sunday, June 2, at 12:03 p.m. EDT (1603 GMT) if ULA and Boeing are able to clear the issue in time.

SCRUB! Starliner launch attempt called off

United Launch Alliance has called an official scrub while engineers work to understand why a Ground Launch Sequencer called an automatic hold 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff.

There will be no Starliner launch today.

Boeing and ULA may attempt another launch try on Sunday, June 2, if they can clear the issue in time.

Starliner astronauts egress spacecraft after scrub

a big van with a picture of a spaceship on the side.

Following today's scrub of Boeing's first crewed Starliner launch, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now exited their spacecraft. After safing the launch vehicle and ground infrastructure, mission operators configured the launch tower at LC-41 to reopen Starliner's hatch and assist the astronauts' egress from the space capsule. They have now been transported back to their quarters at the Kennedy Space Center's Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, remaining in quarantine as they await Starliner's next launch attempt.

Related: Launch of Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut test flight aborted minutes before liftoff (video)

Faulty computer card suspected in Starliner abort

Tory Bruno, CEO of the United Launch Alliance, told reporters that a faulty computer card appears to have led to today's Starliner launch abort minutes before liftoff. The card is in one of several computers that form the ground launch sequencer system that governs the final phase of its Atlas V rocket countdown. Solving the problem may be as simple as just replacing the computer card, which can be done once pad crews can safely approach the pad after the Atlas V has been emptied of propellant and made safe, a process that will take several hours.

If the fix is that simple, then Starliner's next launch will be set for Sunday, July 2, at 12:03 p.m. EDT (1603 GMT), with NASA's livestream of the launch beginning around 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). NASA's Steve Stitch said the agency will make an announcement later Saturday afternoon or evening on the launch plan.

Meanwhile, the team is working hard despite the setback of a launch abort today, Stitch added.

"It's disappointing. Everybody's a little disappointed but you kind of roll your sleeves up and get right back to work."

NASA says Starliner launch delayed to June 5

Boeing's next attempt to launch its first Starliner astronaut mission will occur no earlier than June 5, NASA officials said this afternoon.

In an emailed statement to reporters, NASA said that the agency, Boeing and the United Launch Alliance will skip a launch opportunity on June 2 and await the next window on June 5. Liftoff is now set for Wednesday, June 5, at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

"Saturday's launch was to carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station scrubbed due to an observation of a ground launch sequencer. The system was unsuccessful in verifying the sequencers necessary redundancy," NASA officials wrote in an update.

"NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) are forgoing a Crew Flight Test launch attempt Sunday, June 2, to give the team additional time to assess a ground support equipment issue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida," NASA added. "ULA will assess the ground support equipment overnight, and NASA will provide an update June 2 on next steps for the flight. The next available launch opportunities are Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6."

Starliner go for launch on June 5

a grey-and-blue conical spacecraft sits atop a white rocket. a metal gantry extends to a hatch on the spacecraft

The first crewed mission aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is proceeding towards launch on Wednesday (June 5) after a computer issue in the ground launch sequencer system scrubbed the previous launch attempt with just minutes left in the countdown.

"Teams at NASA and Boeing Space confirmed on Monday that the Starliner spacecraft, ULA Atlas V rocket, and ground support equipment are healthy and ready for the 10:52 a.m. ET June 5 launch of the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test," NASA's Commercial Crew program wrote on X on Monday (June 3).

The U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45 has predicted a 90% chance of favorable weather at launch, which occurs at 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT). Watch it live here courtesy of NASA.

Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch aborted minutes before liftoff (video)

Fueling has begun!

The ULA team has begun filing the Centaur upper stage with liquid oxygen. About 4,150 gallons of liquid oxygen will be loaded into the Dual Engine Centaur for its mission to accelerate Starliner to space.

Starliner is scheduled to launch today at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). You can watch it here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA.

Starliner astronauts suit up for launch, rocket fueled

Two astronauts suit up in blue spacesuits for Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test launch.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are suiting up for their launch on Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test mission today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). Wilmore (commander) and Williams (pilot) are donning their blue Boeing-issue spacesuits in NASA's checkout buidling.

Meanwhile, United Launch Alliance has completed the fueling operations for the Starliner crew's Atlas V rocket. Currently, all systems are operating as expected with a 90% chance of good weather, with cumulus clouds posing the only potential threat to launch.

Starliner astronauts head to launch pad

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams head to the launch pad for their Starliner Crewed Test Flight mission on Boeing's first Starliner astronaut flight on June 5, 2024.

Starliner Crewed Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are headed to their Starliner Atlas V rocket launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two astronauts walked out of NASA's Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center with broad smiles, waves and roses as they bid farewell to friends and loved ones ahead of their flight.

Before leaving for the pad, Wilmore (Starliner's commander) and Williams (the pilot) did battle with NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba (a teacher-turned-spaceflyer) in a series of games. By tradition, astronaut crews have to beat the chief astronaut at those games before leaving for the pad. They appeared to tackle trials of arm wrestling and Rock, Paper, Scissors for this go around.

Starliner's CFT mission will be the third career spaceflight for both Williams and Wilmore.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams head to the launch pad for their Starliner Crewed Test Flight mission on Boeing's first Starliner astronaut flight on June 5, 2024.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams head to the launch pad for their Starliner Crewed Test Flight mission on Boeing's first Starliner astronaut flight on June 5, 2024.

Starliner astronauts board capsule

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore is strapped inside Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test capsule ahead of launch on June 5, 2024.

Boeing's Starliner close-out crew is strapping NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore into the commander's seat of the Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule as the countdown continues for today's 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) launch. Pilot Sunita Williams will follow Wilmore into the capsule from the White Room connected to the Starliner hatch shortly.

Starliner astronauts settle into capsule

Two astronauts in blue spacesuits wait for launch inside their Boeing Starliner spacecraft

Boeing's Starliner close-out crew has fully strapped in NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams for today's launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

A weather briefing is under way ahead of hatch closure for the Starliner spacecraft. So far, weather has looked promising, with a pristine 90% chance of good conditions to launch.

Starliner hatch closed for launch

A Starliner spacecraft and Atlas V rocket stand atop the launch pad ahead of the Crewed Flight Test launch on June 5, 2024

The hatch to Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test capsule has been closed for launch as the countdown continues for Boeing's historic first astronaut launch for NASA at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

Cabin pressurization is under way.

One hour to Starliner astronaut Launch

Boeing is now T-1 hour away and counting toward the launch of its first Starliner astronaut test flight for NASA at 10:52 am. EDT (1452 GMT).

The countdown has been smooth so far, with the weather continuing to look good for launch.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will spend 25 hours aboard Starliner after launch to reach the International Space Station. Once at the ISS, they'll spend about a week docked at the station performing tests on the spacecraft before returning to Earth for a land landing in the American Southwest. Check out this mission overview below.

30 minutes to Starliner astronaut launch

NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance are now less than 30 minutes to Boeing's first Starliner astronaut launch and all systems continue to perform well for today's launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

In Houston, NASA's Crew Flight Test director Mike Lamers is preparing to call for a Go-No Go poll to ensure Mission Control is ready for the flight. In Florida, ULA and Boeing's launch director are preparing for their own final poll in the remaining minutes before launch.

Can you see Starliner's launch on Atlas V?

Boeing's 1st Starliner launch is now just over 10 minutes away. If you're along the U.S. souteastern coast of Florida's East Coast, you may be able to see the launch.

Here's a map of visibility for the Starliner Crew Flight Test launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

A visibility map showing circles of visibility for when Boeing's Starliner astronaut flight may be visible from the southeastern US and eastern Florida.

Starliner Crew Access Arm retracted, Starliner on internal power

A white Atlas V rocket with Boeing Starliner capsule as its Crew Access Arm is pulled free of the rocket on June 5, 2024.

The Crew Access Arm has been retracted clear of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket as the countdown progresses for today's Starliner astronaut launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

Starliner is now on internal power for the mission. So far, no issues have affected the launch countdown.

Starliner GO for launch!

The Launch Director for today's Boeing Starliner astronaut launch has conducted final GO-NO GO poll for today's launch and it is GO across the board. Starliner is again ready for launch. Just minutes remain before launch.

"Starliner, Go," Crew Flight Test commander Butch Wilmore said from inside the capsule during the test.



"We all know that when the going gets tough, as it often does, the tough get going, and you all have," Wilmore said. "Let's get going, let's put some fire in this rocket. "



"Let's go Calyspo, take us to space and back," pilot Sunita Williams said, referring to the name of the Starliner capsule.

LIFTOFF! Boeing Starliner launches 1st astronauts

STARLINER AWAY! Boeing's first Starliner spacecraft to carry astronauts has lifted off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and is headed to space.

Liftoff occurred on time at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

Starliner Atlas V SRB separation

The Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's first crewed Starliner spacecraft to orbit has jettisoned its twin solid rocket boosters as the rocket continues its uphill flight toward orbit.



Coming up next is main engine shutdown and first stage separation.

Starliner Atlas V stage separation

ULA's Atlas V rocket has jettisoned its first stage and is now flying under the power of two Centaur upper stage engines as it continues toward orbit.



The protective aeroskirt and docking port cover on the Starliner spacecraft have also been jettisoned. The rocket continues to perform as planned on the trip to space.

Here's more photos of the launch.

Starliner launch June 5, 2024.

Starliner launch June 5, 2024.

a rocket booster flies away from a rocket core stage, with earth visible below

Spacecraft Separation! Starliner in Space

The Starliner spacecraft has successfully separated from the Centaur upper stage o its Atlas V rocket, a critical milestone for this Crew Flight Test mission.

The spacecraft is technically not in orbit yet. That milestone will come after an orbital insertion burn scheduled for about 30 minutes after liftoff, or about 11:22 a.m. ET

Starliner in orbit!

Starliner has completed its orbital insertion burn, placing the spacecraft in a stable low-Earth orbit (LEO). Aboard, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now on a coarse to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), pending minor trajectory burns. Starliner is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Thursday (June 6) around 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT).

Track Boeing's Starliner mission online

NASA is holding a live press conference now about Boeing's Starliner astronaut mission. You can watch it live on NASA TV here.

Also, NASA's Media Channel is showing a live mission coverage of Starliner's progress to the International Space Station. You can follow that live here.

NASA astronauts begin Starliner tests

This NASA map shows the position of the Starliner Crew Flight Test spacecraft en route to the International Space Station after launch on June 5, 2024.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are hard at work performing initial tests on the Starliner spacecraft in orbit as they head to the International Space Station.

Butch Wilmore is performing a series of manual flight control tests to see how Starliner handles under astronaut control. Boeing and NASA have about 85 different demonstrations and test to perform over the course of their one-week flight.

"It's really a big checkout day," Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said in a statement. "And really ,the purpose of this is to learn we can about Starliner."

NASA chief Bill Nelson told reporters that Wilmore and Williams will test Starliner "from izzard to gizzard" during their mission. Space.com Spaceflight editor has the full story in our Starliner post-launch wrap up.

Starliner astronauts prep for ISS docking amid helium leak

It's docking day for Boeing's first Starliner astronaut mission with the spacecraft due to arrive at the International Space Station at 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT) with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard.

The astronauts awoke from their first night in space at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT), with Wilmore asking Mission Control for a status on two new helium leaks detected overnight in Starliner's propulsion system.



"We're kind of curious where we stand as far as our leaks. And if we could get a summary on that, that'd be wonderful," Wilmore radioed to the Mission Control

"The big picture that it currently creates is that are we are going to be able to support a rendezvous today," Mission Control's Capcom radioed back.

Flight controllers detected two additional helium leaks to one already known about in Starliner's propulsion system overnight and closed manifolds associated with them. Mission Control reports that all three manifolds should be reopened in time for docking.

Starliner approaches ISS

Flying autonomously, Starliner is completing a series of burns to reach the ellipsoid of the International Space Station (ISS) for proximity operations. This boundary is a four kilometer by two kilometer by a two kilometer invisible sphere around the ISS, which acts as a safety buffer for all incoming and departing spacecraft.

Once the spacecraft has executed an approach corridor initiation burn, it will hold at around 850 feet (260 meters) away from the space station for manual piloting demo. Following, docking is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT), at the station's forward-facing node-2 docking port.

Starliner docking on hold

Starliner is currently station-keeping with the ISS at a distance of about 200 meters away. They do not currently have the 'go' to enter the space station's 'keep-out sphere' and proceed with the docking process, as they troubleshoot an issue with the spacecraft's reaction control system thrusters on the service module, which experienced an anomaly during the manual fly-around maneuver.

Starliner astronauts wave first docking attempt

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have waved off the first docking attempt of their Starliner spacecraft with the Internationals Space Station, due to an anomaly with at least two of the spacecraft service module's reaction control thrusters. The earliest scheduled docking was set for 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT), but that window is no longer available. The next available window begins at 1:33 EDT (1733 GMT). As Starliner remains in a 'hold' position, station-keeping with the ISS at about 200 meters distance, the astronauts continue to fly the spacecraft in manual mode, before switching to an automated maneuvering system ahead of docking procedures.

Related: Boeing Starliner astronauts wave off 1st ISS docking attempt amid thruster issues

Starliner moving ahead to dock

After a test fire of some of Starliner's reaction control system thrusters (RCS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now moving toward the forward docking port of the space station's Harmony module. The spacecraft's original docking attempt was waved off after an anomaly in those thrusters was detected, and after troubleshooting, it was determined to be safe to proceed with docking. Starliner is currently being operated autonomously, and will remain in that configuration through docking.

Starliner docks with International Space Station

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has docked to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Soft capture occurred at 1:34 p.m. EDT (1734 GMT) with the forward docking port of space station's Harmony module. Starliner performed the docking autonomously. "At 12:34pm, Central time above the Indian Ocean, we have confirmation of contact and capture of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test and Starliner aboard the International Space Station. Butch and Suni, have made their arrival," NASA commentators said on the space agency's live stream. A series of docking procedures will now take place as movement between Starliner and the space station dissipates. Starliner's hatch is expected to occur in about an hour, with a short welcome ceremony from the current ISS crew.

Starliner hatch opens, crew welcomed aboard ISS

About two hours following their successful docking, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were given the 'go' to open Starliner's hatch and enter the International Space Station. Wilmore and Suni opened the hatch from inside Starliner, and after some work to stow the spacecraft's hatch for egress, entered the ISS and were greeted by the ringing of a bell by the station's current crew as all seven members of Expedition 71 at 3:45 p.m. EDT (1945 GMT).

Starliner astronauts spend 1st day aboard ISS

nine astronauts post for a picture while floating in zero gravity in a cramped room filed with computer screens and white boxes

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are starting their first full docked day at the International Space Station.

Among their tasks today is to unpack a new urine processing pump for a replacement, NASA officials said. The urine processor was a late addition to Starliner's cargo manifest after the unit on the space station failed earlier this month.

Wilmore and Williams will spend about eight days putting Starliner through a series of tests to help certify it for operational crew missions. "We're looking forward to staying here for a couple of weeks and getting all the things that we need to get done," Wilmore said during a welcome ceremony after Starliner's arrival on June 6.

Related: The ISS has a urine pump problem. Boeing's Starliner astronaut launch will flush it out.

Starliner's 1st flight extended to June 18

a grey cone-shaped spacecraft floats above Earth

The first crew flight test of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will last a little longer than planned.

Starliner is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS) while its crew, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are spending a week aboard the orbital lab testing out the new spacecraft and conducting scientific research in microgravity. A spacewalk planned for June 13 being performed by a different crew aboard the ISS would have overlapped with Starliner's originally scheduled departure time, so NASA has decided to push the mission's ISS departure to June 18.

"The additional time in orbit will allow the crew to perform a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, while engineers complete #Starliner systems checkouts," NASA ISS officials said on Sunday (June 9) via X.

Read more: Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut mission extended through June 18

NASA keeping an eye on Starliner's helium leaks

As NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams continue to run through planned systems checks of their Starliner spacecraft, the space agency is keeping a watchful eye on the capsule's helium leaks. One leak was detected before launch, but deemed minor enough to proceed with the mission. Now, since its time in space, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has sprung four more helium leaks, though they have also been deemed not to pose a risk to the crew or spacecraft through its return window June 18. "Engineers evaluated the helium supply based on current leak rates and determined that Starliner has plenty of margin to support the return trip from station," NASA officials wrote in a CFT update on Monday (June 10).

Related: NASA weighs potential impacts of helium leaks and more on Boeing's Starliner astronaut test flight

Starliner CFT return now NET June 22

The departure of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft from the space station, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard, has been pushed back four more days, NASA announced Friday morning (June 14), in a blog post. Starliner's Crew Flight Test (CFT) is now set to return no earlier than (NET) June 22. The extra time, according to NASA, will allow mission teams to finalize departure details and continue to test the on-orbit capabilities of the spacecraft.

In the interim, CFT crew members Wilmore and Williams will perform additional checks on Starliner, including a "hot-fire" test of seven of the spacecraft's eight aft thrusters, hatch operations and "safe haven" drills to utilize Starliner in an emergency. NASA will hold a briefing Tuesday, June 18, to elaborate on Starliner's delay, flight status and landing details.

Starliner's delayed departure will be discussed in livestream today

NASA will talk about the delayed return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule during a press conference today (June 18), and you can listen to it live.

NASA and Boeing representatives will discuss the progress of Starliner's mission at the International Space Station (ISS), which docked June 6 after experiencing several helium leaks and issues with five onboard reaction control system (RCS) thrusters.

The press conference begins at 12 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) and you can listen to it live here at Space.com, via NASA Television.

Read more: NASA and Boeing will discuss Starliner's delayed ISS departure today, and you can listen live

Starliner landing delayed to June 26

Boeing and NASA have decided to delay the planned landing of its first Starliner astronaut test flight to no earlier than Wednesday, June 26, to allow "a little more time to look at the data" due to helium leaks and thruster issues on the spacecraft.

Starliner is now targeted to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 4:51 a.m. EDT (0951 GMT) on June 26, NASA officials said.

NASA and Boeing are holding a press conference now on Boeing's Starliner mission. You can listen live here:

Will 1st 6-month Starliner ISS mission be delayed after Crew Flight Test finishes?

Boeing's Starliner capsule was delayed again Friday (June 21) in finishing its first International Space Station (ISS) mission with astronauts, with crew including NASA's Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

Extra testing still remains ahead of undocking, team officials emphasized; Starliner experienced helium leaks and thruster issues that extended its Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission from an originally planned 10 days after launching June 5. NASA and Boeing have not yet announced a return date for Starliner, saying only it will happen after a July 2 spacewalk.

As a test flight, the unexpected on CFT was in a sense, expected. But there's a key milestone coming up fast: Starliner was expected to start its first operational mission to the ISS in early 2025. Known as Starliner-1, it is manifested to carry at least three astronauts to the ISS for a normal six-month mission.

Related: Will Boeing Starliner issues delay its 1st long-duration astronaut flight? Its too soon to tell.

NASA, Boeing to talk to reporters at 2 p.m. EDT about Starliner

NASA and Boeing will discuss their next plans and a possible landing schedule for the first Starliner spacecraft mission with astronauts later today (June 28), and you can listen in live.

Boeing Starliner launched on June 5 for what was supposed to be a 10-day mission, but the test effort with astronauts needed extra time to address helium leaks and thruster issues uncovered during the June 6 docking with the International Space Station (ISS). The team will provide an update to reporters at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT), which you can listen to here on Space.com via NASA Television.

NASA will also provide an update on an unexpectedly busy week at ISS. One astronaut had a spacesuit coolant leak during a spacewalk on June 24 that required halting the planned 6.5-hour excursion after only 31 minutes. (The crew was never in any major danger, NASA said at the time.) The Expedition 71 crew also temporarily took shelter in their return spacecraft June 26 after a satellite broke up in low Earth orbit, although the precautionary procedure lasted only an hour.

Read more: Listen live today as NASA, Boeing discuss Starliner return, spacewalk issues

No landing date for Starliner, more tests required

NASA says Boeing Starliner will extend its first astronaut mission well into the summer, after launching June 5 for what was supposed to be a 10-day flight.

Starliner experienced both helium leaks and thruster issues during a June 6 docking with the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft is stable and rated to leave the ISS in case of emergency, Boeing and NASA leadership stress. But after testing the thrusters in space, NASA and Boeing said they want to take more time to understand the root cause.

A test campaign will start as soon as July 2 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico to replicate how the thrusters were used during the flight, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said during a livestreamed update today (June 28) with reporters. The testing will take approximately two weeks, but that depends on what is found  and more analysis will be required afterwards. As such, NASA and Boeing do not yet have a landing date for Starliner.

"We're not going to target a specific date until we get that testing completed, and we look at the fault tree, and then we understand the path for it," Stich said.

Read more: Boeing's Starliner spacecraft still doesn't have a landing date, NASA says

NASA still has no return date for Starliner

NASA still does not know when astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be able to return home on Boeing Starliner.

The space agency and Boeing held a press conference on Wednesday (July 10) to discuss Starliner's ongoing Crew Flight Test, which has been in orbit for more than a month now. Before they decide on a return date, NASA and Boeing want to perform more ground testing to analyze data and replicate the spacecraft's thruster issues during testing at the agency's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.

"We're taking our time on the ground to go through all the data before we decide on the return opportunity," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said during the press conference.

The absolute latest Starliner could return with Wilmore and Williams would be mid-August, Stich added.

Read more: When will Starliner come home? Boeing and NASA still don't know

Starliner teams await results of thruster tests as mission stays docked to ISS

NASA and Boeing promise a livestreamed update next week on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission, which is now 43 days into what was supposed to be a 10-day mission. Teams also plan a flight test readiness review at some point in the future, not yet set. The review is a key moment to review the propulsion system causing issues with CFT since a tiny helium leak was uncovered in early May, prior to the June 5 launch.

The media update is pending results from NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, NASA wrote in a blog post today (July 18). Engineers did engine tests last week to seek to learn why five thrusters misbehaved during CFT's docking with the International Space Station on June 6. (The docking was accomplished, but after the first attempt was waved off.)

"Working with a reaction control system thruster built for a future Starliner spacecraft, ground teams fired the engine through similar in-flight conditions the spacecraft experienced on the way to the space station," NASA officials wrote in the new update. Tests also included items like trying to recreate how Starliner's thrusters will be used as it leaves the ISS and turns on the engines to come back to Earth.

CFT is a test mission and teams have emphasized throughout that the unexpected could happen. As such, both ISS and crew schedules were left flexible in case Starliner remained on orbit for longer. CFT's goal is to pave the way for certification of six-month ISS missions by Starliner that could happen as soon as early 2025. CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are retasked to maintenance tasks on ISS, and Starliner is rated to leave in case of emergency evacuation.

Watch live as NASA, Boeing discuss Starliner at 11:30 a.m. EDT

NASA and Boeing will provide an update about the Starliner capsule's ongoing astronaut mission today (July 25), and you can watch it live.

We'll get the latest information during today's press conference, which starts at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA.

The mission, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), launched on June 5, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams toward the International Space Station (ISS) for a planned weeklong stay.

Starliner suffered thruster problems and helium leaks during its journey to the orbiting lab, however, and the capsule remains docked to the ISS while mission team members look into the issues.

Read more: NASA, Boeing discussing Starliner astronaut mission today: Watch it live

Starliner plans 'hot fire' on ISS soon, but no landing date yet

Boeing's Starliner will do a "hot fire" test in orbit soon, as NASA and the company continue to probe the cause of thruster failures and a helium leak in space.

"We're going to fire all those thrusters to a number of pulses, just to make sure before we undock, that whole system performs the way we expected and the way it did last time we checked it," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, told reporters in a livestreamed press conference.

"We'll also get a chance to look at the helium system," he added. "It's been six weeks since we last checked that helium system; that was on June 15. So we'll pressurize manifold by manifold, and then hot-fire the thrusters, and then we'll get a chance to look at the helium leak rates and verify that the system is stable."

Read more: 50 days after launch to ISS, Boeing's Starliner still has no landing date

Boeing's Starliner tests thrusters at ISS

The first Boeing Starliner to fly astronauts to space performed a crucial in-space test Saturday (July 27) as the next mission faces a months-long delay.

Engineers tested Starliner's reaction control system (RCS) thrusters at the International Space Station to prepare for a wider agency review that will evaluate the spacecraft's readiness for landing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams sometime in August, if all goes to plan.

"Teams will evaluate the results of the test firings over the next few days as they work through overall studies, ahead of an agency readiness review," NASA officials wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

Related: 50 days after launch to ISS, Boeing Starliner astronauts still have no landing date

Boeing Starliner's NASA astronauts are not stranded in space

Boeing Starliner's two astronauts knew to expect the unexpected when they took off on the spacecraft's first crewed mission on June 5.

I learned this back in March, when NASA hosted reporters at the agency's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston for two days. We used four Starliner simulators, spoke at length with senior agency and Boeing leadership, and sat down with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

The duo  career astronauts and veterans of long International Space Station (ISS) missions  were both U.S. Navy test pilots when they started out and knew how to build aerospace programs with big teams decades ago. This is why they were selected to put Starliner through its crewed paces for the first time.

Read more: No, Boeing Starliner's NASA astronauts are not stranded in space. Here's why.

No landing date yet for Starliner as SpaceX targets ISS launch

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, on its first historic mission with astronauts, will remain docked at the International Space Station as NASA and the company evaluate data from ground and in-space thruster testing, the agency stated on Thursday (Aug. 1)

"Teams are taking their time to analyze the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalize flight rationale for the spacecrafts integrated propulsion system, and confirm system reliability ahead of Starliner's return to Earth," NASA officials wrote in a blog post.

Starliner's location at the forward port of the ISS Harmony module is supposed to be cleared to make way for SpaceX Crew-9, which is launching no earlier than Aug. 18. Starliner originally was expected to spend about 10 days in space after launching June 5, but remained for what has now been two months.

While the two NASA astronauts with Starliner are cleared to return anytime and are not stranded in space, they are staying at ISS to allow the root causes of helium leaks and thruster misfirings to be determined. Boeing wants to send the first operational mission to the ISS, which would last six months, in 2025 and may require changes to the design or how the propulsion system is used to achieve that.

NASA may send Boeing Starliner astronauts home on SpaceX Dragon

Boeing Starliner may not bring its first astronauts home after all.

NASA officials, absent a representative from Boeing, updated reporters today (Aug. 7) about how troubleshooting Starliner's undocking and landing may affect the next SpaceX astronaut flight to the International Space Station.

Starliner has faced a lot of difficulties since launching its first astronaut mission, most especially after 5 of its 28 reaction control thrusters (RCS) misfired during docking with the ISS on June 6. Work on the matter is ongoing, and as NASA revealed yesterday (Aug. 6), it will require the next launch to the ISS to wait.

Crew-9, SpaceX's ninth operational flight to the ISS designed for four astronauts, will now launch Sept. 24 instead of Aug. 18. That's because NASA may send only two astronauts up on Crew-9, and bring the Starliner astronauts with the two returning crew sometime around February 2025.

Read more: NASA considers sending Boeing Starliner astronauts home on SpaceX Dragon

Boeing Starliner astronauts to return on SpaceX Dragon

NASA announced Saturday (Aug. 24) that its two Boeing Starliner astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, will not be returning on their Starliner spacecraft as planned.

Instead, they'll ride SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft and return to Earth no earlier than February 2025. The Starliner spacecraft, meanwhile, will be returned empty for a landing in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico sometime in mid- to late-September.

"The bottom line with respect to bring Starliner back was that there was just too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters," NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stitch said in a NASA press conference. "It was just too much risk with a crew and so we decided to pursue the uncrewed testing."

Starliner experienced helium leaks and thruster problems during its flight to the International Space Station after launching on June 5. Those problems led to testing on the ground and in space, with NASA ultimately deciding to return the Starliner astronauts home on SpaceX's Dragon to be on the safe side.

"I think everybody is professional and did their jobs, but there is a sense of not accomplishing the mission that we set out to do," Stitch added. "And even for myself personally, that is a hard thing to go through."

The decision effective turns what was supposed to be an 8-day mission into an 8-month mission for Wilmore and Williams.

SpaceX will now launch the Crew-9 mission to the ISS for NASA with only two astronauts aboard in late September, with the remaining two seats reserved for Williams and Wilmore's return.

Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told reporters. "The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeings Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star."

Strange noises are coming from Boeing Starliner spacecraft

Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station's Harmony Module.

On Saturday (Aug. 31) NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore noticed something weird inside the Starliner spacecraft.

Wilmore radioed down to Mission Control to ask about the bizarre noises heard emanating from Starliner's speakers while the spacecraft is currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS).

"There's a strange noise coming through the speaker," Wilmore tells Mission Control "I don't know what's making it."

Read more: NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore reports 'strange noise' coming from Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, 'I don't know what's making it'

Boeing, NASA to preview Starliner landing today

UPDATE: NASA's Boeing departure press conference on YouTube is experiencing technical difficulties. You can watch it on NASA+ for now.



NASA and Boeing will preview the planned Sept. 6 undocking and Sept. 7 landing of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule today in a live press conference at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT). You can watch it live in the video feed above. You can also watch it on NASA+.

"Starliner is scheduled to autonomously undock from the space station at approximately 6:04 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 6, to begin the journey home, weather conditions permitting. NASA and Boeing are targeting approximately 12:03 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, for the landing and conclusion of the flight test," NASA officials wrote in a statement.

Boeing Starliner undocks tonight!

It's undocking day for Boeing's crewless Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule today as the spacecraft prepares to return to Earth overnight tonight, without its astronaut crew.

The Starliner spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station at 6:04 p.m. EDT (2204 GMT) today, Sept. 6, to prepare for a midnight landing in New Mexico. You can watch the undocking live in the window above, courtesy of NASA, at 5:45 p.m. EDT (2145 GMT).

Starliner is due to land at about 12:03 a.m. EDT (0403 Sept. 7 GMT) on Saturday at White Sands Space Harbor in the New Mexico desert. The landing site was also the destination for Boeing's two previous uncrewed test flights. NASA's landing webcast will begin at 10:50 p.m. EDT (0250 GMT), with the deorbit burn scheduled for 11:17 p.m. EDT (0317 GMT).

The two NASA astronauts who launched on Starliner to the ISS on June 5, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, are staying behind on the space station due to concerns with the spacecraft's thrusters. They will return to Earth in February on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

NASA livestream for Boeing undocking begins

NASA's livestream of today's uncrewed Boeing Starliner undocking from the International Space Station is underway.

Undocking is on schedule for 6:04 p.m. EDT (2204 GMT). Once undocked, it will take about 6 hours for Starliner to return to Earth. It is scheduled to land at White Sands Space Harbor at 12 a.m. EDT (0400 Sept. 7 GMT).

NASA and Boeing mission managers have completed a final poll for undocking. All systems are GO, NASA officials said.

'You guys got this,' Starliner astronaut says to Mission Control

The two NASA astronauts sent some encouraging words to the Mission Control team watching over Boeing's Starliner spacecraft undocking at the ISS.

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are staying aboard the ISS as the Starliner returns to Earth uncrewed, said they have full confidence in the flight control team watching over the capsule's undocking and landing.

"It is time to bring Calypso home. You guys got this," Williams said of the Starliner capsule. "We have your back and you've got this. Bring her back to Earth."

Undocking! Boeing Starliner departs space station

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft with blue Earth horizon in background

Boeing's first Starliner to fly astronauts to the International Space Station has left the orbiting lab, leaving its crew behind as it begins its return to Earth.

The Starliner spacecraft autonomously undocked at 6:04 p.m. EDT (2204 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed 260 miles above central China.

The spacecraft was expected to perform 12 thruster burns firing its forward thrusters to back away from the station. The spacecraft successfully left the "keep out sphere" around the station, a 200-meter caution zone around the ISS.

Boeing Starliner begins trip to Earth

Boeing's Crew Flight Test Starliner is on its way back to Earth, without its crew, as it makes an automated landing to end its three-month mission.

"She's on her way home. Congratulations to the undocking team," NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who launched on the Starliner capsule with crewmate Butch Wilmore, radioed Mission Control as her spacecraft drifted away without her.

The spacecraft will spend the next six hours preparing for a deorbit maneuver at 11:17 p.m. EDT (0317 GMT), after which it is expected to make a land landing on the desert floor of White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. You'll be able to watch that live online via NASA on YouTube and NASA+.

A white capsule is seen in space.

Boeing Starliner landing livestream resumes

NASA's livestream for tonight's Boeing Starliner landing in New Mexico has resumed. Currently, the spacecraft is about 30 minutes away from its deorbit burn, scheduled for 11:17 p.m. EDT (0317 GMT).

The burn will set the spacecraft on a path to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Starliner is equipped with parachutes and airbags to make land landings on the desert floor there.

Starliner GO for deorbit, landing

NASA and Boeing Starliner mission managers have given the final GO for deorbit and landing. That's the final approval needed to proceed with tonight's landing.

During the preparations for deorbit, Starliner performed a series of thruster tests of 12 thrusters on its service module. One of the thrusters did not fire when commanded, but NASA and Boeing says that one thruster will not affect Starliner's ability to leave orbit for tonight's landing.

The deorbit burn remains on track for 11:17 p.m. EDT (0317 a.m. EDT) with landing still set for 12 a.m. EDT (0400 GMT).

Starliner deorbit burn complete, service module jettison

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule fires four thrusters in a deorbit burn to leave orbit ahead of landing on Sept. 6, 2024.

NASA reports Starliner's deorbit burn went as planned. Starliner is on its way to White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. Landing at 12 am ET (0400 GMT).

The spacecraft has also successfully jettisoned its cylindrical service module on schedule, exposing its vital heat shield ahead of reentry and landing.

Recovery teams await Starliner landing

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule recovery teams await landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Sept. 6, 2024.

As Boeing's Crew Flight Test Starliner spacecraft descends back to Earth, a fleet of aircraft and other vehicles are standing by waiting to recover the capsule.

A minifleet of helicopters and a convoy of trucks and other vehicles and their recovery teams are waiting to spot Starliner light up the night sky as it streaks through the atmosphere. NASA and Boeing have just under 3,000 vehicles ready to spring into action to recover and safeguard the spacecraft.

Starliner will deploy parachutes to slow its descent and then land with an airbag cushion when it touches down.

Starliner hits Earth's atmosphere

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule landing stages

Entry interface! Boeing's Starliner has hit the Earth's atmosphere at a speed near 17,500 mph and is protected from the searing heat of reentry by its heat shield.

Soon, the spacecraft will enter a radio blackout period as it is enveloped in super-hot plasma from reentry. That blackout period should last about 4.5 minutes and end at 11:52 p.m. EDT (0352 GMT), NASA officials said.

Above, you can see a look at the final stages of landing from Boeing.

ISS astronauts see Starliner reentry

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Views of a Starliner spaceraft streaking through the atmosphere during landing on Sept. 6-7, 2024

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Views of a Starliner spaceraft streaking through the atmosphere during landing on Sept. 6-7, 2024

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Views of a Starliner spaceraft streaking through the atmosphere during landing on Sept. 6-7, 2024

Live cameras on the International Space Station, in the air and on Earth have spotted the bright streak of Starliner as it reenters Earth's atmosphere. Here's a look at them.

Starliner has exited its radio blackout period and is approaching heat shield jettison.

Starliner deploys parachutes for landing

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule landing

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule landing

Parachute deploy!

Starliner has deployed its 3 main parachutes to slow its descent to Earth ahead of landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.



It also jettisoned its heat shield, which is no longer needed, allowing the capsule's large airbacks to deploy and inflate to cushion its landing.

Touchdown! Starliner has landed

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule landing

Touchdown! Starliner has landed.

The spacecraft landed at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico on target at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT), NASA officials said.

"Really just a flawless and beautiful descent of Starliner today," a Boeing representative said after touchdown.



Recovery teams will soon head to the capsule to safe the vehicle and prepare it for retrieval.

Boeing back on Earth, press conference @ 1:30 am ET

Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule after landing

Boeing's Starliner space capsule Calypso is safely back on Earth after a near-flawless landing, even though it did not bring its astronaut crew home.

""Great landing of Calypso, I don't think that could have gone better," NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who launched aboard the Starliner spacecraft on June 5, radioed to Mission Control from the International Space Station where she and crewmate Butch Wilmore remained behind.

NASA decided to keep the astronauts off Starliner due to concerns over thruster issues, but the capsule appeared to land as planned. Recovery teams are now working to retrieve the capsule, and NASA's livestream has ended.

NASA and Boeing officials will hold live press conference at 1:30 a.m. EDT (0530 GMT) to discuss the successful landing. You'll be able to watch that live on this page at start time.
Boeing's new spaceship has been cleared for its first-ever crewed liftoff.

Over the past two days, NASA and Boeing held a flight readiness review (FRR) for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, which will send agency astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to and from the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule.

The FRR found no serious issues, meaning CFT is go for launch on May 6 as previously planned, NASA announced today (April 25).

"I can say with confidence that the teams have absolutely done their due diligence," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said during a call with reporters this afternoon. "There's still a little bit of closeout work to do, but we are on track for launch at 10:34 [p.m.] Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, May 6."

Related: Facts about Starliner, Boeing's next-generation spaceship for astronauts

Starliner will lift off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending Starliner  and Williams and Wilmore  to the ISS for a roughly 10-day stay.

It will be the first-ever crewed launch on an Atlas V, and the first astronaut mission for a rocket in the Atlas family since the Mercury program in the early 1960s.

Starliner doesn't have any crewed flights under its belt, either, but the capsule has flown twice before. The spacecraft first launched in December 2019, on an uncrewed test mission to the ISS. Things didn't go well, however; Starliner suffered a series of problems shortly after liftoff, which caused it to get stranded in an orbit too low for a rendezvous with the station. Starliner succeeded on its second attempt at an uncrewed ISS mission, meeting up with the orbiting lab in May 2022, but the road to the pad for its first astronaut flight has been bumpy.

NASA and Boeing had planned to launch CFT in July 2023, but engineers discovered several issues with Starliner in the leadup to liftoff  a problem with the suspension lines on Starliner's main parachutes, for example, and the fact that much of the capsule's wiring was wrapped in flammable tape.

Addressing those problems and testing the fixes pushed CFT's launch date to mid-April. Relatively heavy traffic at the ISS caused a further slip, bringing Starliner to its current launch target of May 6.

The launch teams are still working a couple of issues at the moment, according to Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). They're replacing a valve at the launch pad, for example, and analyzing contingency scenarios for the jettisoning of Starliner's forward heat shield during reentry to Earth's atmosphere.

However, neither issue is expected to cause another delay, Stich said during today's media call.

RELATED STORIES:

 Boeing faces 'emerging issues' ahead of Starliner capsule's 1st crewed flight, NASA says

 Boeing's 1st Starliner flight with astronauts delayed to April 2024

 International Space Station  Everything you need to know

Starliner won't be the first private spacecraft to carry astronauts to the ISS, of course; SpaceX's Dragon capsule has done so a dozen times to date.

Eight of those crewed SpaceX ISS missions have been operational flights conducted via the CCP. Boeing and SpaceX both signed multibillion-dollar CCP deals back in September 2014 to get their private astronaut taxis up running.

SpaceX launched its version of CFT, the Demo-2 test flight to the ISS, on May 30, 2020. Demo-2 sent NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurly to the orbiting lab for about two months; the duo returned to Earth on Aug. 2, 2020.

Getting a second U.S. astronaut taxi up and running is a big deal for NASA and the nation, agency officials said.

"Having redundant crew vehicle capability from the U.S. to transport our crew to ISS is really important and helps us with any number of different contingency scenarios that we can encounter, whether that's launching crew on board to keep us continually crewed or issues we could face on board with other spacecraft that require redundant capability for crew rescue purposes," Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's International Space Station Program, said during today's teleconference.

SpaceX also flies robotic resupply missions to the ISS with the cargo version of Dragon, under a separate NASA deal. Elon Musk's company is currently preparing to wrap up its 30th such flight; the latest Dragon cargo capsule is set to return from the ISS on Sunday (April 28).
China has launched its seventh crew to the Tiangong space station.

A Long March 2F rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert today (April 25) at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT or 8:59 p.m. Beijing Time). The rocket carried the Shenzhou 18 spacecraft and its three-person crew into orbit.

The Shenzhou spacecraft separated from its launch vehicle 10 minutes into the flight, prompting the China National Space Administration to declare the launch successful.

Related: China's space station, Tiangong: A complete guide

a rocket launches in the early morning hours above a plume of fire

Shenzhou 18 is commanded by Ye Guangfu, 43, who was part of the Shenzhou 13 mission in 2021-2022. Fighter pilots Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, both spaceflight rookies, make up the rest of the crew. The three will spend around six months in space.

"The first spaceflight for me was full of excitement as I fulfilled my dream, along with curiosity and expectation, while this spaceflight is more like a mission  responsibility, test and duty," Ye said ahead of launch.

three astronauts in white spacesuits wave to a smiling crowd holding red flags

The spacecraft is scheduled to reach the Tiangong space station 6.5 hours after launch. The trio will be greeted aboard the orbital outpost by Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, who make up the Shenzhou 17 crew. The latter three will soon complete their six months in orbit, handing over control of Tiangong and returning to Earth .

The incoming Shenzhou 18 crew will engage in a range of activities, including extravehicular activities (EVAs), or spacewalks , live science lectures to school children watching back in China, and a series of cargo and science experiments.

"The Shenzhou 18 astronauts will carry out six cargo outbound deliveries via the station's cargo airlock module and implement two to three extravehicular activities," Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, said during an April 24 press conference that unveiled the Shenzhou 18 crew.

Supplies for the mission were delivered by the robotic Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft in January. The crew will welcome Tianzhou 8 to Tiangong around August, with the new spacecraft bringing fresh supplies, equipment and experiments.

RELATED STORIES:

 China's Long March rocket family: History and photos

 China plans to put astronauts on the moon before 2030

 China will launch giant, reusable rockets next year to prep for human missions to the moon

Meanwhile, back at Jiuquan, a new Long March 2F  intended to launch the Shenzhou 19 mission late this year  will be kept in a state of near readiness, so it could be prepared for liftoff on short notice as a lifeboat in the event of an emergency.

China began constructing its Tiangong space station in 2021, completing the T-shaped, three-module facility in late 2022. It has been hosting crews of three astronauts for periods of six months at a time ever since.

China intends to keep Tiangong, which is roughly 20% as massive as the International Space Station , permanently occupied for at least a decade. It is considering expanding the space station with new modules and even opening the outpost to commercial activities .
The European Commission on Thursday designated Chinese fashion app Shein as a Very Large Online Platform Under the Digital Services Act, subjecting it to more stringent regulations. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

April 26 (UPI) -- Chinese-owned fashion app Shein must follow new stricter rules under the European Commission's Digital Services Act after determining the app was large enough to fall under the legislation's measures.

Shein, which serves as an online marketplace as well as a fashion app, has millions of visitors per month from Europe alone, comfortably qualifying it to abide by the more stringent DSA rules. Shein will have to provide external audits and risk assessments about illegal content.

"Shein is a fashion online retailer with an average of more than 45 million monthly users in the European Union," the European Commission said in a statement. "This user number, which Shein has communicated to the commission, is above the DSA threshold for designation as a [Very Large Online Platform]."

The online retailer had sold its own products until 2023 when it started offering products from third-party manufacturers from its newly created marketplace, leading to its growth. It moved its main offices to Singapore from China in 2021.

Some retailers, like Amazon and the European digital marketplace Zalando, are fighting the DSA's tight regulations in court. opened

Earlier this week, the European Commission opened up an investigation into another Chinese-owned company, TikTok, for possible violations to the DSA. Regulators said TikTok did not provide research on risk assessment and mitigation efforts on TikTok Lite until after it was launched in France and Spain.
Most phones nowadays are equipped with dual lens or triple lens camera systems and have powerful photo-editing tools baked natively into the software. This means most people have a compact photo-editing suite in their pocket every day.

Aside from making basic adjustments to a photo, one of the most popular edits is to get rid of unwanted objects in photos. Think people in the background, trash on the floor, a mess on a surface, and whatever else that might distract from your photo. Such an edit can really tidy up a picture and make it look better in the end.

Right now, there are two main tools for such an edit: Google Magic Eraser and Samsung Object Eraser, depending on which phone you have. While Googles Magic Eraser was originally exclusive to Google Pixel phones, like the Google Pixel 8, Google made it available to everyone who uses Google Photos. Samsungs Object Eraser is available only through its own Gallery app on its devices.

Eraser tools are definitely one of my favorite ways to clean up my photos, but I was curious as to which one actually does the job better. So lets take a look at how Google Magic Eraser and Samsung Object Eraser do side by side.

The limitations of erasing objects

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Lets first start by getting the facts out of the way  erasing objects wont be perfect. In this comparison, we arent using the more advanced AI editing tools (Magic Editor for Google phones and Generative Edit for Samsung phones), just the basic object erasers. These tools work best on smaller objects rather than people right next to you or larger objects.

Its a relatively simple edit, but in certain circumstances, it can be exactly what the doctor ordered. With that out of the way, lets dive in.

Basic object removal

Hot pink Subaru.

Hot pink Subaru.

Hot pink Subaru.

Lets first start with this photo of a hot pink Subaru at a car show. The original image shows the heads of two people standing behind the car who are checking it our, and there is also a lamppost with a lot of signage on it. I opted to remove the people and the lamp post with signage entirely.

With Google Magic Eraser, its very obvious that the image was modified. There are missing blotches of the tree behind the original lamppost, leaving behind solid gray patches. Even a chunk of the parking sign is moved down and incomplete. And where the two people were is a blotchy mess, which makes it obvious there was something there.

The Samsung Object Eraser did better, but its also not 100% ideal. It at least filled in the background behind the lamppost and signs with some greenery and beige fencing that blends into the building. Its less obvious that there were people behind the car because Samsung has that area blend in more naturally with the windows of the building and the top of the car.

Oversized green ornament.

Oversized green ornament.

Oversized green ornament.

Next is a photo of an oversized green Christmas ornament from last holiday season. As you can see in the original photo, there is a scuff mark on the ornament, plus a patch of dirt and a bench to the side of it, and a car driving by in the background. Ive opted to fix the scuff, remove the bench and dirt, and get rid of the car.

For the scuff mark on the ornament, Google handled it better than Samsung. With the Samsung Object Eraser, it is very apparent there is a blurry mark on the ornament, which indicates that it was modified in some manner. With Google Magic Eraser, its less blurry and more textured like the rest of the ornament, so its not as obvious.

While the Samsung Object Eraser does make the edge of the ornament a little jagged from where the dirt met the edge, it handled the removal better. It looks more natural on the sidewalk, where you could just think it was some dirt on the ground. The Google Magic Eraser once again made it blotchy and digitized  its very obvious that something was there. Lastly, you could barely tell that the spot where the car was eliminated in the Samsung version, while the Google image is botched in that area.

Its time to declutter

Couple in front of castle at Disneyland on Valentine's Day.

Couple in front of castle at Disneyland on Valentine's Day.

Couple in front of castle at Disneyland on Valentine's Day.

When you go to Disneyland, its rare to ever get a photo without some people in the background, especially at the castle  its just the nature of the beast. This is a photo I had taken with the PhotoPass photographers on Valentines Day. As you can see, there are people in the background in front of the castle and our backpack is showing in the bottom-left corner.

Google Magic Eraser is pretty good at automatically detecting removable objects, and it already had the people in the background preselected, whereas I had to do it manually with the Samsung Object Eraser. However, both Google and Samsung struggled a bit with the removal of multiple background people, as you can see remnants of someones belongings through the railing and either a big blur or jagged patches. I think Google handled the background a little better than Samsung here, but only very slightly.

On the other hand, Samsungs Object Eraser handled the removal of the backpack better. The colors of the blue block under the bench blends in better, whereas Google Magic Eraser made some awful discoloration there. The bench does look better with Google though, but again, only so slightly. In the end, both images here have imperfections since its a more complex edit, so its just a matter of which one you prefer.

Person holding Millennium Falcon in front of the Millennium Falcon.

Person holding Millennium Falcon in front of the Millennium Falcon.

Person holding Millennium Falcon in front of the Millennium Falcon.

Heres me showing off my Millennium Falcon popcorn bucket in front of the Millennium Falcon at Disneylands Galaxys Edge attraction. Like the castle, its hard to get a clean shot in front of the Millennium Falcon, so an object-removing tool can be very helpful here.

The Google Magic Eraser once again automatically detected the people in the background, so I didnt have to select them myself. However, its pretty bad with the removal, as you can still see remnants of the persons red backpack now just floating in midair. There are also very jagged digitized artifacts where the people were.

The Samsung Object Eraser handled this one almost flawlessly. It removed the people and the backpack and filled in the background seamlessly to blend in with the fence. Aside from missing the yellow and black paint to indicate the door, its hard to tell its been edited unless you know what to look for (e.g., the shadows).

Cat in wood chips.

Cat in wood chips.

Cat in wood chips.

This is a photo of my outdoor cat who followed us into the park across the street. She was looking majestic while sitting in the wood chips, but there was a clutter of various debris from the nearby trees since its been windy.

Once again, Google Magic Eraser erased the debris, but it left a noticeably darker, digitized patch in the background. I also used it on a leaf poking through behind her left ear, and its less noticeable than the large blotch, but it messes with her ear fur a bit.

The Samsung Object Eraser handled the image much better, as the blurred-out space where the debris was blended in well with the wood chips. It also did better with the ear fur once I got rid of the leaf. In fact, if you didnt know that it was touched-up, youd probably think that was just the original image.

Carpaccio dish.

Carpaccio dish.

Carpaccio dish.

Lastly, heres a photo of some delicious carpaccio from an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. As you can see, the table was a little cluttered with a straw wrapper, part of a drink glass, some paper, and some crumbs from a roll on another plate. Theres a lot going on here!

I believe that, once again, Samsung Object Eraser handled the edit better. I erased the straw wrapper, glass, paper, and the crumbs. With Samsung, while there are still traces of what was erased, its very faint due to the natural blurring that blends in with the wood grain of the table well. Aside from the dark line and the blurry edge of the plate, it doesnt look too bad. It didnt clean up the crumbs as well as Id like, though.

The Google Magic Eraser didnt do as well, as you can clearly see an out of place blur and smoothness going on where I erased items. It looks far less natural. But it did handle the paper erasure better as the edge of the plate looks less blurry, and there are no crumbs left.

Winner: Samsung

One is definitely better than the other

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When Google debuted Magic Eraser with the Google Pixel 6 lineup, I was quite impressed with it. One of the reasons why I liked getting a Google Pixel phone was because of the Magic Eraser feature. But now its no longer just a Pixel exclusive, and anyone who uses Google Photos can access it.

If you need quick and basic object removal edits, Magic Eraser remains a solid tool. But as you can see, at least with this selection of photos, Samsungs Object Eraser is better  considerably so in some instances. Unfortunately, its more limited in terms of devices that it is available on, as youll need a Samsung device to access it. But if you have a Samsung phone, such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, then you should be using Samsungs Object Eraser over the Google Magic Eraser.
Elon Musk's Starlink system could offer coverage in Hampshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Man - Angela Weiss / AFP

Elon Musks SpaceX is laying the groundwork to connect his Starlink satellite service to the UKs mobile phone network as rural households struggle with poor signal coverage.

In a filing with telecoms regulator Ofcom, the billionaires space business asked for permission to expand its network of ground terminals, which would pave the way for it launching a mobile service.

The upgrades to its network would allow Starlink to do deals with British telecoms companies to boost their coverage, while it will also help with supporting SpaceXs new direct-to-cell service (pending regulatory approval).

Starlink is already testing a service in the US that would allow text messages to be sent from unmodified mobile phones via satellite, potentially ridding the country of mobile black spots.

In December, the business said: This year, we look forward to expanding our testing to include greater coverage; launching hundreds of satellites to enable our text constellation... and expanding our global footprint.

Currently, satellite-to-mobile services are not authorised in the UK, but it is understood Ofcom plans launch a call for evidence on the technology in the coming months. It is understood the new application is designed to provide capacity for its broadband service.

The billionaires satellite network currently consists of nearly 6,000 spacecraft, orbiting roughly 350 miles above the earth, which beam down broadband signals to satellite dishes for homes and businesses.

But Mr Musks company is also launching thousands of new satellites that can connect to mobile networks. It already has deals in America with T-Mobile and partnerships with telecoms companies in Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Chile and Peru to expand its coverage.

The amount of data Starlinks present network can pass to a normal smartphone is small and only capable of text messaging. Apple has launched a similar service for sending SOS messages via space.

However, the billionaire has claimed upgrades to Starlinks satellites will ultimately allow voice calls and internet data to reach phones.

In its filing with Ofcom, SpaceX asked to expand its ground infrastructure with a number of gateway antennas at sites in Hampshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and on the Isle of Man. In a consultation form, Ofcom said it did not believe the expansion would interfere with rival services.

Starlink has already signed a deal with Virgin Media O2 to provide mobile backhaul, essentially providing extra capacity for the telecoms companys mobile network.

But in its Ofcom submission, Starlink said further expansion would grow the businesses of, and services provided by, local UK operators by enhancing Starlinks cellular backhaul capabilities and supporting SpaceXs new direct-to-cell service (pending regulatory approval).

SpaceX added its backhaul expansion and potential new mobile phone coverage could allow customers to access an unprecedented level of connectivity.

They will also facilitate partnerships with local operators, allowing existing operators to boost their connectivity options. More connectivity options will lead to more competitive prices for consumers.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.

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ULAN BATOR, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia and Britain have agreed to expand bilateral ties and cooperation in various areas, local media reported on Friday, citing Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement was reached here during talks between Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg and her visiting British counterpart, David Cameron, the ministry said in a statement.

The two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in trade, economy, culture, education, tourism, e-government and geology, among others, said the ministry.

After the talks, they signed a roadmap for lifting the bilateral cooperation to a comprehensive partnership, it said.

Cameron arrived on Thursday for a two-day official visit, the first by a British foreign secretary to the Asian country in 11 years.

Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 
The specter of a U.S. market ban is once again looming over DJI, the biggest drone camera maker in the world. DJI is on a Defense Department list of Chinese military companies whose products the U.S. armed forces will be prohibited from purchasing in the future, reports The New York Times.

The defense budget for 2024 mentions a possible ban on importing DJI camera gear for federal agencies and government-funded programs. In 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department put DJI on a list of companies suspected of having ties to the Chinese military and alleged complicity in the surveillance of a minority group, culminating in investment and export restrictions.

In 2024, Congress is aiming to put DJI on the Federal Communications Commission Covered List, which would ensure that the company can no longer operate on the countrys communication infrastructure. Inclusion on this list effectively banned Huawei and ZTE telecom gear from the U.S.

The bill  which goes by the name Countering CCP Drones Act  has already received bipartisan support and stresses the national security risk posed by the company. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and also points out security vulnerabilities uncovered by researchers.

DJIs Mini 4K drone DJI

Our legislation will further protect our communications equipment while strengthening American supply chains by ensuring foreign-manufactured technologies that pose serious security threats, such as DJIs, cannot operate in American networks, notes Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).

DJI, on the other hand, continues to refute the allegations. The lawmakers driving this legislation continue to reference inaccurate and unsubstantiated allegations regarding DJIs operations, the company wrote in a clarification shared earlier this year. The company has also categorically denied that it is a Chinese military company.

The DJI trajectory, interestingly, mirrors that of TikTok. The social media app has been banned in multiple states, where government employees are prohibited from using it. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok unless it is sold to an American company.

The remedies are conflicting. Reuters reports that parent company ByteDance would rather shut down the app entirely for the U.S. market instead of selling the assets to a local entity. According to The Information, ByteDance is exploring a potential sale of TikTok, but without the underlying algorithm that makes it appealing to users.

Experts, as well as enthusiasts, have flagged serious concerns about a potential blacklisting that would essentially render DJI drones useless in the U.S. The major contention is that theres no other company that makes drones of the same quality and with the kind of advanced features
Health insurance giant Kaiser Permanente apologized to 13.4 million of its members, telling them that some of their search information may have been inadvertently transmitted to Google, other search engines and media platforms.

The Oakland-based company reported that "certain online technologies" that were previously installed on Kaiser Permanente websites and apps were transmitting information such as medical terms that members searched on the company website to Google, Microsoft Bing, and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the company said in a statement to its members on April 12 and shared with The Times on Friday.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's largest private nonprofit healthcare organizations with 40 hospitals, 618 medical offices, more than 24,000 physicians and 73,000 nurses, according to the company's website.

There were no usernames, passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account information, or credit card numbers shared with those platforms, the company said.

Information that may have been shared includes the unique internet address that identifies a person's computer on a network, commonly referred to as an IP address. Users names could also have been transmitted and "information that could indicate a member or patient was signed into a Kaiser Permanente account or service, information showing how a member or patient interacted with and navigated through the website and mobile applications, and search terms used in the health encyclopedia," according to the statement.

The company said the "online technologies" that caused the unauthorized transmission were removed from their websites and mobile apps.

"Kaiser Permanente is not aware of any misuse of any members or patients personal information," the company said in its statement. "Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, we are informing approximately 13.4 million current and former members and patients who accessed our websites and mobile applications. We apologize that this incident occurred."

Read more: Blue Shield of California customer data stolen in cyberattack

The company said it has "implemented additional measures with the guidance of experts designed to safeguard against recurrence of this type of incident."

Another healthcare provider also notified its members this month about a data breach.

City of Hope, which includes medical facilities in California, Arizona, Illinois and Georgia, informed its members that somebody accessed their information and obtained copies of some files between Sept. 19 and Oct. 12 in 2023, the company announced in an advisory on April 2.

The type of information stolen from City of Hope varies among members, but includes email addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, Social Security and driver's license numbers along with other government identification and financial details, like bank account numbers and credit card details, according to City of Hope. Health insurance information, medical records and information about medical history and associated conditions, could also have been stolen, along with unique identifiers to associate individuals with City of Hope, like their medical record numbers, the company said.

"Upon discovery of this incident, City of Hope immediately instituted mitigation measures," the company said. "We then promptly implemented additional and enhanced safeguards and enlisted the support of a leading cybersecurity firm to enhance the security of our network, systems, and data."

The company is offering free identity monitoring services for two years for its members. They also notified law enforcement and regulatory bodies about the data breach while also launching their own internal investigation, the company said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
This Manatee County test pilot is on a mission to take electric planes to new heights

Miguel Iturmendi is taking an electric plane to new heights.

Last June, he flew the Helios Horizon plane 16,300 feet over Lake Tahoe, breaking the world altitude record for an electric plane weighing less than 500 kilograms, or about 1,100 pounds. He looked out the cockpit window, admired the magnificent lakes and mountain peaks and tried not to get too excited.

Iturmendi and the rest of the Helios Horizon team, which is based in Manatee County, are still making progress. In a test flight last week, the electric plane reached 22,000 feet.

Helios Horizon wants to prove electric planes can rival traditional planes. Their goal is to make it possible for more U.S. companies to build electric planes for travel. According to Iturmendo, most projects like this are happening overseas, in countries like France, Germany and Switzerland.

Helios Horizons test plane has a small cockpit and long wings like a U-2 spy plane. It offers an incredible view from two bare and somewhat uncomfortable seats. Unlike a traditional plane that runs on fuel, this plane runs on an electric motor and rechargeable batteries.

We believe that this is the way of the future, said Iturmendi, Helios Horizons chief engineer and test pilot.

Miguel Iturmendi with the Helios Horizon electric aircraft.

Helios Horizons sustainable flights

Javier Merino, the project manager for Helios Horizon, said he expects Helios Horizon to play an important role in reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

I have kids and I want to leave a better world for them, Merino said. ...If you consider how much an airplane pollutes versus an electric plane, were leaving a mark on the future.

The Helios Horizon team already holds a world record, but their sights are set even higher. Iturmendi will conduct additional test flights this summer near Lake Tahoe in Nevada, where drier air, colder temperatures and higher elevation make for better flying conditions.

Iturmendi will attempt to break the absolute world record of 30,000 for an electric-powered flight in Bishop, California.

High-altitude flying is a little bit like climbing, said Iturmendi, who first began test-flying the plane last year. If youve seen any documentaries about climbing Everest or K2, a lot of the danger is on the way down. You cant celebrate too much on the top, maybe take a couple of pictures, soak it all in for 30 seconds or so and go back to being focused. You can celebrate on the ground when you get off the plane.

Miguel Iturmendi with the Helios Horizon electric aircraft.

Electric plane aims for world record

After testing, Iturmendi will put the experimental plane in a trailer and make the four-day drive back to the Helios Horizon warehouse on Whitfield Avenue near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Starting in July, he will modify the plane to go even higher.

In March 2025, Helios Horizon is aiming to become the world record holder for the first electric plane to fly at 44,000 feet  the lowest part of the stratosphere.

The Helios Horizon team has engineers from California, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries around the world.

Iturmendi also hopes to inspire students to go into jobs in science, technology, engineering and math.

Miguel Iturmendi, test pilot and founder of Helios Horizon in Manatee County, FL, hopes to be the first person to fly a small electric plane into the stratosphere.

Miguel Iturmendi with the Helios Horizon electric aircraft.
FILE - Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right, are shown in this photo, in New York, Friday, June 23, 2023. Online fast-fashion retailer Shein must face the European Union's strictest level of digital regulations, the bloc said on Friday, April 26, 2024 as it added the company to its list of big platforms that need extra scrutiny. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

LONDON (AP)  Online fast-fashion retailer Shein must face the European Union's strictest level of digital regulations, the bloc said on Friday as it added the company to its list of big platforms that need extra scrutiny.

The EU's Executive Commission said it formally classed Shein as a very large online platform under the 27-nation bloc's Digital Services Act, an expansive rulebook designed to clean up online platforms and keep internet users safe.

Shein is a low-cost online retailer that was founded in China but is now based in Singapore. It reaches customers mainly through its app. The company said it will work constructively to "deliver a safe and compliant environment for our online community.

We share the Commissions ambition to ensure consumers in the EU can shop online with peace of mind, and we are committed to playing our part," Leonard Lin, Shein's global head of public affairs, said in a statement. We also share a commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability that are at the core of the DSA."

Shein has had a meteoric rise in the West by offering low-cost apparel and household items, primarily targeting younger women through social media partnerships with online influencers and celebrities.

Because it has more than 45 million European users, Shein has to start obeying the most stringent requirements by August. They include taking specific measures to protect online users and assessing and mitigating any systemic risks from its services, such as limiting the sale of illegal or counterfeit products.

Shein's obligations also include adjusting its user interfaces and recommendation algorithms to prevent risks to consumer safety and well-being, and filing annual risk assessment reports evaluating potential harm to consumers, especially children, the commission said.

The EU already has 22 tech names including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Amazon and Google Search on its list of the biggest online services that need the toughest tier of supervision since the DSA took effect last year. Other online services operating in the EU aren't exempt - they still have to comply with the law's general requirements. Violations are punishable by fines of up to 6% of a company's annual worldwide revenue.
Over the last several years, Saudi Arabia has been working on a massive infrastructure project that its leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (or MBS) hopes will transform the Kingdom and its relationship with the outside world. The Neom project is a series of developments that are currently under construction in the nations Tabuk region. Saudi leaders hope the project will attract foreign visitors while also helping to modernize the country through innovative technological development and applications.



Chief among the development projects associated with Neom is The Line, a proposed 105-mile-long city that will run along the coast of the Red Sea. The city, which developers had initially projected could house as many as 9 million people by the year 2030, is currently under construction. Ground was officially broken on the project two years ago, and ever since then, the Saudis have been racing to erect their massive metropolis, which is projected to cost as much as $500 billion.

The designs for this city are intense, enormous, and seem almost impossible to achieve. The Line itself is expected to be elevated above the desert at a height taller than the Empire State Building. At the same time, the entire length of this construction will be supported by a gigantic mirrored facade that will stretch its entire length. The city is also supposed to have no cars or streets, instead relying on a comprehensive rail system, so that residents may live in an environmentally friendly environment.

The designs revealed today for the citys vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities and create a model for nature preservation and enhanced human livability, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2022 when the project was originally announced.

While developers have said they hope much of the Neom project will be completed by 2039, lately, things havent been going so smoothly. The hugely ambitious sci-fi-tinged dreams that have animated the project seem to be dying while being replaced with more realistic plans. Heres whats been happening with the project over the last several months, as the Saudis have struggled to advance their floundering new desert metropolis.

Click through to get the latest on the brewing disaster in the desert or just keep scrolling if youre on mobile.

The Saudis are hunting for new revenue streams

To realize a project as huge as Neom, you need a lot of cashand, currently, Saudi Arabia is a little bit light in that department. As such, the Kingdoms developers have been on the hunt for new revenue sources to support the citys continued development. This week, Bloomberg reports that the country is hosting hundreds of bankers and investors in Neom, in the hopes of inspiring them to take out their wallets and write some checks. The visits, which are being managed by Neoms Chief Executive Officer Nadhmi Al-Nasr, are designed to inspire interest in the project by displaying the actual work happening inside Neom rather than relying on the virtual reality videos that developers have previously trodded out when meeting with potential investors in foreign cities.



Plans for Neom were recently scaled back

As the Saudis hunt for cash, the citys planners were recently forced to drastically scale back the original size and scope of the development. Bloomberg reported in early April that the city, which developers have said is expected to stretch 170 kilometers, will not be finished anytime soon. A source close to the project told Bloomberg that officials only expect to build about 2.4 kilometers of the city by 2030. As The Guardian notes, thats a shocking reduction of 98 percent. Presumably, Saudi officials still hope to build the entire city, although theyll have to pick up the pace if they dont want to be under construction for the next century. Developers also originally had much more ambitious population growth projections. Initially, the projects backers hoped that there would be 1.5 million people living in the city by the year 2030. Now, they are expecting less than 300,000 people by that time, Bloomberg writes.



Plans for the city are diverse (and weird)

A number of new projects have been announced related to Neom this year alone. Fast Company notes the increasingly unhinged creative iterations of the city, including Trojena, a $500 billion luxury mountain resort, Zardun, a Luxury ecotourism destination located in an oasis, Treyam, a resort destination located on a futuristic bridge erected over a desert lagoon, and many, many other promised installations that seem like something straight out of Star Wars. If you want a full accounting of all of the unhinged developments that have been announced in the name of the Neom project, you can head to the projects website, where youll find press release after press release that promise visitors visually astounding, currently hypothetical, locales.

The Saudis want China to help fund the new development

China is among the potential revenue providers who could help the Kingdom realize its bold urban project. About a week ago, Saudi developers traveled to several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, as they sought to court Chinese investors for assistance in realizing the project, Business Insider reported.



Its unclear whether China is actually interested in helping out, however. No deals have been announced as a result of the Saudi visits and Leonard Chan, the chair of the Hong Kong Innovative Technology Development Association, told a French news agency that responses to the Saudis presentations were mostly neutral. Chan proceeded to further dunk on the development, saying: Ill visit for fun, but I wont live there. Its like something out of SimCity.

Vision 2030 is also seeing more changes

The plans for Neom are part of the much broader state project, dubbed Saudi Vision 2030, which is a master plan for the modernization and future-looking development of the Kingdom. However, it was recently reported that Saudi officials are concerned about the sheer costs of the Vision 2030 project. Earlier this month, Business Insider wrote that the costs of MBSs vision were starting to cause alarm at the highest level of the countrys government. It seems likely, then, that broader changes to the Crown Princes agendanot just those related to The Linemay have to be made in the coming years.

Its unclear when, if ever, people will actually live in Neom

When will people actually get to live in Neom? No one really knows. City developers had hoped to flood the desert with futuristic fun-seekers at some point in the next few years. It increasingly looks like thats more or less a pipe dream. There are small sub-projects that are expected to be ready for human visitation relatively soon but, for the most part, its hard to see when people will be able to live in this sprawling desert metropolis.



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Young chef Asher Niles, 9, of Yakima, has made it to the top five in the current season of the television show MasterChef Junior.

Niles, is one of 16 contestants on the ninth season of FOXs culinary competition show, hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

MasterChef Junior airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on FOX, and on Hulu the following day. The competitors are between the ages of 8 and 13.

Niles won episode two, Under the Sea. The challenge included making a dish with a mystery seafood item and seaweed. Niles impressed the judges with his halibut in a Thai coconut curry with jasmine rice and a Velvet Horn seaweed dish, which Ramsay called genius.

In episode three, Globetrotters, Niles was placed on the blue team with chefs Lilo Tsai, Michael Seegobin, Miles Platt and Remy Powell. They had to prepare nine portions of a healthy meal with a protein, two sides, a starch and sauce and one vegan dish. Members of the Harlem Globetrotters chose their team as the winner.

To advance to the top five, Niles was saved by the judges in episode six, Pancakes and Ice Cream. He created a campfire inspired dessert, roasted marshmallow vanilla ice cream with chocolate ganache, roasted strawberries, chocolate cake and graham cracker crumble. Judge Daphne Oz said it was one of the best desserts shed ever tasted, and Ramsay said he couldn't believe an 8-year-old came up with it.

The winner of MasterChef Junior takes home the title of Americas Next MasterChef Junior, a trophy and a cash prize of $100,000.

Niles is a third grader in the West Valley.

His television appearance has inspired other big activities  he threw the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 17.
Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) accomplished a great deal in the past two decades. The chipmaker solidified its status as the gold standard in graphics processors for video games and other multimedia. Moreover, its accelerated computing platform has become the premier solution for demanding data center workloads like analytics, artificial intelligence, and scientific simulation.

During that period, Nvidia saw its share price soar 45,900% as it transitioned from computer graphics trailblazer to data center powerhouse. To contextualize that figure, $10,000 invested in Nvidia in April 2004 would now be worth about $4.6 million.

The stock has been especially hot lately, with shares tripling in the past year alone. Even so, Wall Street is still overwhelmingly bullish on Nvidia. The stock carries a consensus rating of "buy" and its median one-year price target of $1,000 per share implies 22% upside from its current price. Even more compelling, among the 60 analysts that follow Nvidia, not a single one recommends selling right now.

Here's what investors should know.

Nvidia dominates the market for accelerated computing solutions

Nvidia is best known for inventing the graphics processing unit (GPU), a chip now synonymous with ultra-realistic 3D graphics and accelerated computing, a discipline that uses specialized hardware to speed-up demanding data center workloads like artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. To quantify its success, Nvidia holds more than 95% market in workstation GPUs, 94% market share in data center GPUs, and more than 80% market share in AI processors, according to analysts.

However, Nvidia is more than a GPU company. Its data center hardware portfolio also includes the Grace central processing unit (CPU) and high-performance networking platforms purpose-built for AI. Additionally, Nvidia has broadened its ability to monetize 3D graphics and AI by delving into subscription software and cloud services.

Nvidia AI Enterprise is a suite of development tools, software frameworks, and pretrained models that help businesses build all manner of AI applications, including computer vision, conversational intelligence, and recommender systems. Additionally, DGX Cloud pairs Nvidia AI Enterprise software with supercomputing infrastructure to create a comprehensive AI-as-a-service offering.

Similarly, Nvidia Omniverse Cloud comprises hardware, software, and services for 3D application development. It also serves as a simulation engine capable of training and evaluating machine learning models for autonomous robots and self-driving cars. Additionally, Omniverse includes tools for developing interactive avatars that address use cases like non-playable video game characters and digital customer service agents.

Story continues

In short, Nvidia's robust accelerated computing platform comprises hardware, software, and services that position the company as a one-stop shop for 3D graphics and artificial intelligence. CFRA analyst Angelo Zino says that full-stack strategy affords Nvidia an "incredible competitive moat."

Nvidia followed a strong fourth quarter with a wave of product announcements

Nvidia reported impressive financial results in the fourth quarter, crushing estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue climbed 265% to $22.1 billion, gross profit margin expanded 10 percentage points, and non-GAAP net income soared 486% to $5.16 per diluted share.

The impetus behind that stellar performance was strength in the data center category, something CEO Jensen Huang attributed to two tailwinds. First, data centers are transitioning from general purpose to accelerated computing. Second, data centers are investing aggressively in the computing infrastructure required to support generative AI.

The chart below provides more detail on Nvidia's fourth-quarter revenue across its four primary product categories.

The chart shows revenue growth across Nvidia's four largest product categories in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 (ended Jan. 28, 2024). OEM & Other revenue has been excluded because it accounted for less than 1% of total revenue.

Nvidia announced several noteworthy products at its annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in March. The headline announcement was its latest GPU architecture, Blackwell. "Generative AI is the defining technology of our time. Blackwell is the engine to power this new industrial revolution," said CEO Jensen Huang.

Additionally, Nvidia announced a new superchip that pairs Blackwell GPUs and Grace CPUs, new high-performance networking platforms, and its next-generation supercomputer for autonomous vehicles. The company also announced Project Groot, which comprises a machine learning model and supercomputer purpose-built for humanoid robots.

Wall Street expects strong earnings growth, but Nvidia stock is far from cheap

Going forward, the graphics processor market is forecasted to grow at 28% annually through 2030, and AI spending across hardware, software, and services is projected to increase at 37% annually during the same period. That gives Nvidia a good shot at 30%-plus annual sales growth through the end of the decade, which implies similar earnings growth.

Indeed, Wall Street analysts expect the company to grow earnings per share at 35% annually over the next five years. In that context, its current valuation of 69 times earnings sits somewhere between reasonable and expensive. In other words, patient investors can buy a very small position in this stock right now, but it may be more prudent to wait for a slightly cheaper valuation.

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1 Monster Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Stock Up 45,900% in 20 Years to Buy Now, According to Wall Street was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Northwest ICE Processing Center where 61-year-old Charles Leo Daniel, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, died March 7. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)
This article takes a look at the 15 best states to retire in the US financially. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on navigating retirement in turbulent times, you may go to the 5 Best States to Retire in the US Financially.

Navigating Retirement in Turbulent Times: Insights, Challenges and the Quest for Financial Stability

Putting money away for retirement has always been kind of hard. Caught in a financial vortex, US employee retiree savings are getting reduced by as much as 37%, reports The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS). While savers have been struggling to save the most that they can, those who were lucky enough to have $1 million or more in their 401(k) accounts at the end of 2023 witnessed a sweet jump of 20% from September to the end of December, reports Fidelity Investments.

There were a total of 422,000 retirement savers in Fidelity 401(k) plans that had a balance of seven figures and even beyond.

"We are encouraged to see retirement balances increase so dramatically this quarter, reflecting the improving market conditions and enabling retirement savers to see significant gains in their account balances and retirement preparedness," Michael Shamrell, Vice President of thought leadership for Fidelity Workplace Investing, told Yahoo Finance.

This is why its important to have a retirement account in place. Sadly, an analysis of 2021 census data by the Economic Innovation Group reveals that an estimated 69 million workers, or 56% of the workforce, do not have access to a retirement plan through their workplace. How ready an individual is for retirement is impacted by their income and profession anyway, with those with higher incomes having a higher chance of larger nest eggs.

To make things worse, a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revealed that consumer prices are 3.2% higher than a year ago. Due to the higher cost of living, 7 in 10 Americans have revealed that they have cut contributions to their retirement savings, notes a 2024 first quarter study from Allianz Life Insurance Company. Even worse, rising inflation is leading Americans to dip into their savings instead.

While the market outlook may not seem favorable, the truth is that many financial institutions are reporting positive findings regarding their clients retirement savings. For instance, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW), in its SDBA Indicators Report, an industry-leading benchmark on retirement plan participant investment activity within self-directed brokerage accounts (SDBAs), has revealed that average account balances across all participant accounts were $310,400 in Q4,2023, up 10.8% year-over-year, and 7.9% from the previous quarter.

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Similarly, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)'s full-year participant research study found out that 401(k) account balances were up 15% to $86,280 in 2023. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)s Retirement and Personal Wealth Solutions conducted this study along with its Bank of America Institute.

We were encouraged to see more plan participants taking positive actions in their accounts in the fourth quarter. These insights offer signs that people are prioritizing their retirement savings, with more employees increasing their contribution rates and fewer taking hardship distributions. - Lorna Sabbia, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) head of retirement and personal wealth solutions.

While this may be good news, it is also true that a large majority of Americans dont have enough money for retirement. An AARP survey has highlighted how one in five older Americans reported having no retirement savings at all. The survey further reveals that 37% of respondents aged 50 and above were also concerned about affording basic expenses such as groceries. Consequently, 26% of older people state that they dont think theyll be able to retire at all.

Nevertheless, retirement is an undeniable reality. Anything from deteriorating health to layoffs can put an end to one's career, which means older people would have Social Security checks to fall back on. While this is not the most ideal retirement scenario, for many retirees, it is a sad reality. So what is the best state to retire financially for these retirees? We at Insider Monkey have conducted a detailed analysis. Read on to find out.

15 Best States to Retire in The US Financially

Copyright: digidreamgrafix / 123RF Stock Photo

Methodology

To compile the list of best states to retire in the US financially, we have assumed a scenario where a single retiree works part-time, putting in 10 hours a week, relying primarily on their Social Security benefits. We began by sourcing the average hourly rates for each state from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Next, we calculated the after-tax monthly income a retiree can get in each state based on the average hourly rates. Additionally, we factored in the average Social Security benefits for each state, adjusting for the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to reflect 2024 figures. Given that most states do not tax Social Security, with exceptions for incomes above specific thresholds, we added the Social Security checks to the after-tax income to derive the total after-tax income that a retiree could anticipate in each state on average.

Next, we calculated the adjusted cost of living in each state based on the COL index, assuming that the average cost of living for a retiree in the US is $3,000. Finally, we calculated the IM Retiree Affordability Ratio by calculating the after-tax income by the adjusted cost of living in each state. A ratio of 0.75 denotes that the after-tax monthly income is 0.75 times the adjusted higher cost of living. A ratio of 1 indicates that the after-tax income is equal to the adjusted cost of living. Similarly, a ratio of 1.5 denotes after-tax income is 1.5 times higher than the adjusted cost of living.

The following methodology provides estimated figures to offer an approximate idea of the financial state of each state for retirees. It's important to note that individual circumstances may vary, and retirees may be subject to additional taxes or expenses not accounted for in this analysis.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Here are the best states to retire in the US financially:

15. Georgia

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.06

Average Hourly Earnings: $30.54

Average Social Security Payout: $1,771.97

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,876

Cost of Living Index: 90.8

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,724

Georgia, one of the best states to retire in for the cost of living and taxes, makes it to our list because of its obvious advantages. A part-time retiree will be able to make an estimated $2,876 if they puts in 10 hours of work each week and rely on the average Social Security check. This will be enough to cover living expenses in the state.

14. Tennessee

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $29.83

Average Social Security Payout: $1,803.39

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,886

Cost of Living Index: 90.3

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,709

Tennessee is one of those states that wont tax your Social Security, which is why retiring here is a no-brainer. The low cost of living is another advantage of this state, and retiring here can mean that an average retiree will have a surplus of 6% to cover living expenses.

13. West Virginia

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $28.05

Average Social Security Payout: 1801.77

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,815

Cost of Living Index: 87.7

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,631

Next on our list of best states to retire in the US financially is West Virginia. The cost of living in this state is 12.3% lower than the national average. Based on our calculations, an average retiree in the state will have a surplus of 7% even after covering living costs in the state.

12. Alabama

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $29.80

Average Social Security Payout: $1,780.39

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,837

Cost of Living Index: 88.3

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,649

A retiree who lives in Alabama is likely to receive and spend more or less the same that they do in states like Tennessee and West Virginia. Even after covering basic expenses, a retiree who works part-time would have some left to save in this state.

11. Texas

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $32.54

Average Social Security Payout: $1,791.91

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,979

Cost of Living Index: 92.7

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,781

Texas doesn't have a state income tax, but our IM Retiree Affordability Ratio states that it is similar to states like Tennessee and Alabama when it comes to affordability. A part-time working retiree would be able to come home with $2,979 on average and spend an estimated $2,781 on living expenses.

10. Wisconsin

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $33.45

Average Social Security Payout: $1,853.47

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $3,064

Cost of Living Index: 95.1

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,853

Next on our list of states that are best to retire in financially is Wisconsin. The cost of living in this state is 4.9% lower than the national average. A retiree can save an estimated 7% even after covering living expenses.

9. Indiana

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.07

Average Hourly Earnings: $30.03

Average Social Security Payout: $1,880.99

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,934

Cost of Living Index: 91

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,730

In Indiana, retirees experience an IM Retiree Affordability Ratio of 1.07, suggesting their after-tax income slightly surpasses the adjusted cost of living by 7%.

8. Wyoming

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.08

Average Hourly Earnings: $30.84

Average Social Security Payout: $1,850.17

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,981

Cost of Living Index: 92.4

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,772

In Wyoming, retirees enjoy a favorable IM Retiree Affordability Ratio of 1.08, indicating their after-tax income exceeds the adjusted cost of living by 8%. With average hourly earnings of $30.84 and a total estimated after-tax income of $2,981, retirees benefit from a relatively comfortable financial position.

7. Nebraska

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.09

Average Hourly Earnings: $31

Average Social Security Payout: $1,836.28

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $2,962

Cost of Living Index: 90.9

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,727

Alongside Missouri, Nebraska is another state that stopped taxing social security in 2024. The cost of living in the state is 9.1% lower than the national average, making it one of the best states to retire in the US financially.

6. Illinois

IM Retiree Affordability Ratio: 1.09

Average Hourly Earnings: $33.14

Average Social Security Payout: $1,857.10

Estimated After Tax Total Income: $3,008

Cost of Living Index: 92.1

Adjusted Cost of Living: $2,763

One of the best states to retire on a fixed income is Illinois. The cost of living in the state is 7.9% lower than the state average. The IM Retiree Affordability Ratio is 1.09, which means retirees have an estimated 9% income left after covering living expenses.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best States to Retire in The US Financially. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: none. 15 Best States to Retire in The US Financially is originally published on Insider Monkey
In this article, we will take a look at the 15 fastest aging countries in the world. If you want to skip our discussion on the aging trends, you can go directly to the 5 Fastest Aging Countries in the World.

According to projections by the United Nations (UN), the world's population will reach 10 billion by 2050. This growth is accompanied by increasing longevity. As a result, the ratio of elderly people to working-age adults is expected to nearly triple, from 20 per 100 people in 1980 to 58 per 100 people by 2060. This trend of population aging is affecting all developed economies (OECD countries) but at varying rates. The global working-age population is expected to decline by 10% by 2060.

This trend will be most pronounced in certain countries. Countries with aging population problems include Greece, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. These countries are experiencing a decline of 35% or more in their working-age populations. This trend will place a strain on government pension plans worldwide. Hence, due to the aging population, countries worldwide are taking steps to make their pension systems more sustainable. Some of these steps include encouraging people to save, increasing retirement age, and limiting access to retirement funds beforehand.

With an aging population, the market for pension funds is also growing globally. In 2022, the global pension fund industry had a value of $64.1 trillion. Projections estimate it will reach $109.1 trillion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% between the years 2023 and 2032. Defined benefit pension plans dominated the market in 2022, holding roughly 75% of the global share. This dominance is expected to continue throughout the forecast period.

However, the defined contribution segment is projected to see the fastest growth, with a 9.0% CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Even though the largest market is North America at the moment, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the most rapid growth during the forecast period. This is because rapid economic development and urbanization across Asia are leading to wealthier populations with a growing middle class. This segment is increasingly interested in retirement savings and investment plans. Major players in this market include Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is a global leader in financial services. It caters to a wide range of clients, from individuals and families to small businesses and major corporations. Recently, Bank of America's wealth management division, Merrill, announced the launch of new investment options specifically designed for retirees. These options aim to provide a steady stream of income throughout retirement. Merrill utilizes strategies like "stable income" investments to achieve this goal. These investments prioritize consistent returns over high growth potential. Additionally, this product ensures retirees receive regular income payments by providing recurring distribution.

UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) offers various pension plan options for companies that then establish and manage their employee pension plans. Recently, Credit Suisse announced that it will integrate its pension plans with the UBS pension fund. Through this integration, both entities strengths will be combined, enabling them to expand the services they provide.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a global financial giant. It is the largest bank in the United States by assets and a leader in investment banking worldwide. JPMorgan Asset Management, which is a division of JPMorgan Chase, manages investments for a variety of clients, including pension funds. They offer investment solutions specifically designed to help pension funds grow their assets and meet their long-term obligations to retirees.

Recently, DBS Bank (DBS) has partnered with JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) to launch a unique retirement planning tool in Singapore: DBS Retirement digiPortfolio. This innovative service goes beyond traditional investment options by offering two key features, namely automatic adjustment of risk based on age and automation of retirement income withdrawals based on needs.

15 Fastest Aging Countries in The World

racorn/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

To shortlist the 15 fastest aging countries in the world, we referred to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This data includes estimates of the old-age to working-age ratio projected for the year 2052. The old-age to working-age ratio tracks the changing balance between generations. It's calculated by dividing the number of people aged 65 and over by the number of working-age adults (typically between 20 and 64 years old), expressed as a ratio per 100. It is influenced by lifespan, birth rates, and migration. The countries are ranked in ascending order on the basis of this ratio, providing insight into how rapidly their populations will age in the coming years.

Note: We used OECD figures because its safe to assume that population is aging the fastest in developed countries. However, this OECD research also comprised countries like China. You can also check out the 15 Countries with the Negative Population Growth in the World here.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

15 Fastest Aging Countries in The World

15. Lithuania

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 56.8

Lithuania is one of Europe's fastest aging countries. This trend presents a number of challenges, including a shrinking workforce and potential strains on social services and public governance. Currently, over 20% of Lithuania's population is 60 years or older, with 15% exceeding 65 years. Data indicates a steady increase in the elderly population; in 2014, 18.4% of residents were over 65, compared to just 15% a decade earlier. While the elderly population grows, the overall population is shrinking. Projections for 2050 show a total population of around two million, with over half a million, or 28.5%, classified as elderly.

14. Slovakia

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 56.8

Slovakias working population is expected to be reduced by about 20% in the next 30 years. This trend is projected to have a more significant impact on Slovakia's economy compared to other EU countries, potentially hindering growth and living standards. In just a decade, the elderly population has grown dramatically, from 12.78% to a projected 17.05% by 2034. This translates to an expected increase in the number of people over 65 to 1.77 million. A European Commission report identifies Slovakia as one of the fastest aging countries in the European Union.

13. France

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 57.1

France is currently facing a rapidly aging population, fueled by rising life expectancy and the arrival of the baby boomer generation at retirement age. This trend is particularly stark when considering the country's post-WWII baby boom. Between 1946 and 1950, France witnessed an increase in births, exceeding 850,000 annually, with a peak of nearly 900,000 in 1949. Today, the demographic landscape has shifted dramatically. In 2023, over 26% of the French population, or one in four residents, are over 60 years old. Projections indicate a further increase to nearly one in three by 2040. This rapid aging presents significant economic and social challenges for France in the coming decades.

12. Estonia

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 57.9

Estonia is a country by the Baltic Sea in Europe. Estonia deals with the issue of a shrinking and aging population, posing significant challenges for public services. Since gaining independence in 1991, Estonia's total population has shrunk by 15%, reaching 1.32 million in 2019. This decline is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where a growing percentage of residents are elderly. This trend creates a double burden: a smaller workforce to contribute to public services and a rising demand for elder care and other social services. Estonia is at the twelfth position on our list of the fastest aging countries in the world.

11. China

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 58.8

China has observed declining birth rates for decades and a corresponding rise in life expectancy. While China currently has a younger population than the United States and many other countries, projections suggest a significant shift in the coming decades. China's aging is expected to surpass that of many Western European nations and the United States. The countrys elderly population (those 65 and above) is growing rapidly, currently at 15.4% and projected to reach 39% by 2050. This indicates that China's aging process is outpacing most countries in modern history

10. Austria

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 59.0

Austria is a small Central European country with a population of nearly 9 million people. In the past 20 years, Austrias population has only gradually increased, which, along with a rise in the average lifespan, has caused an increase in Austrias elderly population. Older individuals now make up a substantial portion of the population. Official statistics reveal that 19% of Austria's 8.89 million residents are 65 years or older, placing it among the top five countries globally with this age demographic.

9. Germany

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 59.1

Germany, Europe's largest economy, also faces a rapidly aging population. This trend is driven by two main factors: low birth rates and increasing life expectancy. Since 2006, the percentage of Germans over 65 has steadily grown, reaching over 25% today. By 2050, this number is projected to increase by more than a third. This demographic shift has significant consequences. Eurostat predicts a critical strain on the workforce by 2040, with a ratio of less than two working-age people for every retiree.

8. Poland

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 59.9

Polands population is aging rapidly. In 1950, the country's median age was a youthful 25.8 years. However, this figure has since increased to 38.2 years and is projected to reach 51 by 2050. Every fourth person in Poland in 2022 was 60 years old or older. This old age populations share is expected to increase in the near future.

7. Slovenia

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 65.7

Slovenia, situated in Central Europe, faces a demographic challenge of a rapidly aging population, outpacing the European Union average. Between 1991 and 2023, the elderly population in the country has risen by 10.6 percentage points, rising from 10.8% in 1991 to 21.4% in 2023.

6. Portugal

Demographic Old Age to Working Age Ratio: 69.7

Portugal is a Southwestern European country situated on the Iberian Peninsula. Recent projections rank Portugal as the sixth fastest aging country globally. This demographic shift is driven by both increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates. Portugal has 182 individuals aged 65 and over for every 100 young people under 15, making it one of the fastest aging countries within the European Union.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Fastest Aging Countries in the World. Suggested articles:

Disclosure: None. 15 Fastest Aging Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
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In this article, we take a look at 20 countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the economic cost of youth unemployment, you can go to 5 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET).

The Concept of NEETs and its Development Relevance

In 2020, the ILO reported that globally, 22.4% of individuals aged 15 to 24 could be identified as NEETs. Within this category, 67.5% were women. NEETs refer to young individuals not in education, employment, or training, generally aged 15 to 29. However, some countries may vary the age groups in their operational definitions, depending on the average age to finish school. The goal behind calculating NEETs is to capture the untapped potential of the youth, as stated by the World Bank. It consists of unemployed youth who are actively seeking work, as well as those who are unemployed but not actively looking for work.

The latter category may have reasons such as limited labor mobility, discrimination, or other societal barriers. They might also view the available job opportunities as limited. Additionally, people may be involuntarily out of work due to family responsibilities, health issues, or disabilities. According to the World Bank, those who are a part of the NEET population are at a severe risk of labor market and social exclusion because they are neither investing in their skills nor gaining experience through employment. In addition to the youth unemployment rate, the NEET rate helps add essential context to the economic conditions of the youth within a particular country, as it also includes youth who may be economically inactive due to discouragement.

The Economic Cost of NEETs

While being a NEET has economic consequences for the individuals life, it also has broader effects on the wider economy. In 2022, the OECD reported that the NEET rate for 20-24-year-old individuals in the United Kingdom was 12.47%, whereas in Germany, it was 8.88%. PwC analyzed the OECD data on NEET rates for their Youth Employment Index 2022. Their study found that if the UK managed to reduce its NEET rate to German levels, the economy could potentially see a GDP boost of 38 billion. Another study published in January 2024, conducted by Mariem Liouaeddine, evaluated the economic cost of NEETs in Morocco. The researcher concluded that in 2019, the total cost of young NEETs to Moroccan public finance was around 60 billion Moroccan Dirhams, equivalent to almost $6 billion today. According to a report by Morocco World News, the country had a NEET rate of 28.5% in 2021. You can also look at 17 European Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rates.

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The COVID-19 Impact

In 2022, the ILO published a report on the youth NEETs in the Asia-Pacific region. Before COVID-19, the area had 155 million NEETs in the age bracket of 15 to 24. Between 2010 and 2019, the average youth NEET rate in the region was 23.6%, but there was significant variation between the sub-regions. For example, South Asia had the highest rate at 29.2%, and the Pacific Islands had the lowest at 16.2%. Out of the total NEETs, 72% were women. However, the situation worsened when the COVID-19 crisis struck. The pandemic pushed an additional 9.5 million youth into NEET status, bringing the total NEET count in the region to 165 million. Of these 9.5 million individuals, 7.5 million were young men. However, women still made up 69% of the total NEET count.

Furthermore, 7 million of the total were South Asian, but overall, all regions in the Asia-Pacific saw an increase in NEET numbers. Most of the new NEETs were inactive individuals who stopped actively looking for jobs as the labor market began worsening due to the lockdowns. You can also view the 15 States With the Worst Unemployment Benefits in 2024.

NEETs Vs. Hikikomori

In 2018, O'Reilly et al. published a book covering the origins of the concept of NEETs in European policymaking. According to the authors research, the idea originated in the United Kingdom during the 1980s and was formally adopted by the European Commission Employment Committee in 2010 with an agreed-upon definition and methodology. However, as the idea spread to other developed countries in the 1990s, the indicator changed to attach a level of negative stigma. In Japan, the term Hikikomori refers to young NEETs, often men, who live with their parents and spend all their time in isolation without engaging with other people or friends. The term itself means withdrawal, referring to those living in complete social exclusion. Similar terms were also seen in Italy (Bamboccioni) and Germany (Nesthocker).

According to a CNN report from April 7, 2023, nearly 1.46 million individuals in Japan can be identified as Hikikomori. However, the difference in the calculation of this value is that it considers all individuals aged 15 to 64 rather than just being limited to the youth. One of the reasons behind that is Japans booming elderly population and declining birthrate. The term 8050 problem refers to Hikikomori individuals in their 50s who rely on their parents in the 80s. The problem has risen enough that in 2018, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare established a Hikikomori support body to improve living conditions for these individuals.

South Korea is another country experiencing a similar effect. A BBC report from May 27, 2023, reported that between the ages of 19 and 39, 340,000 people could be identified as Hikikomori. This makes up around 3% of this age group. In order to bring these people out of their homes, the government is now offering monthly stipends. Young individuals between the ages of 9 and 24 can receive up to $490 a month (650,000 won), as well as subsidies for services such as health, legal services, cultural activities, and counseling. Through this policy, the government hopes these individuals can leave their homes and reintegrate into society. While not all NEETs fall into the Hikikomori category, almost all Hikikomori can be classified as NEETs as they do not participate in any economic activities.

Corporate Support

In order to aid the youth NEETs, private sector companies can provide massive support by offering training and employment opportunities specifically geared towards such individuals. In particular, ed-tech companies play a considerable role in skill building. A significant example of this is Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR). The online platform offers courses from over 350 universities and companies, aimed at building all kinds of hard and soft skills. In its 2023 Learner Outcomes Report, Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR) reported that 77% of learners mentioned learning from Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR) helps their careers.

Furthermore, one in four people who completed an Entry-Level Professional Certificate were able to get a job. In developing countries, 91% of low-income learners reported career benefits of learning through the platform. The learning also offered personal benefits, with 62% of learners feeling more confident and 50% feeling they now had more growth opportunities. 30% of unemployed learners were employed after completing their most recent program or course on the platform. The survey covered over 55,000 learners from 190 countries.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is another company providing skills training to unemployed individuals. In October 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced a partnership with AWS, Amazon.com, Inc.s (NASDAQ:AMZN) cloud services business. Under this venture, AWS collaborated with the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) to train unemployed individuals in cloud computing. The partnership is expected to offer technical skills training to 2,000 Connecticut residents by 2024. Since then, all CSCU colleges and universities have provided courses and certificates that help students acquire these skills.

Previously, the AWS Academy by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has showcased success in a similar program implemented by Staffordshire University in the UK. In 2019, the University partnered with AWS to provide six courses in cloud computing. In 2022, AWS reported that 93% of course participants were able to find employment within six months of graduating. You can also look at 25 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates in the World.

Offerings by companies such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR) can help young individuals upskill themselves while also improving their career prospects. These courses can be highly convenient because many can be acquired remotely. In this context, here are 20 countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training, where the youth may benefit from such services.

20 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

20 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

Our Methodology

To compile this list, we have reviewed the ILO dataset on the proportion of youth (15-24 years) not in education, employment, or training. The countries are organized in ascending order of the percentage of youth NEETs. Further information for the countries has been sourced from the World Bank and ILO. Wherever tiebreaking was required, it was done on the basis of the latest reported year for the data. Based on this methodology, here are 20 countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training.

Notes:

Inactive students refer to those who are not actively seeking jobs.

For countries, especially the ones that had data older than 2015, we searched for government reports and media reports for the latest available statistics on youth NEETs.

20 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET)

20. Lesotho

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2019): 35.2%

In Lesotho, people aged 15 to 35 make up 60% of the working-age population, which makes the high NEET rate quite concerning. According to the World Bank, 60% of the countrys youth fail to achieve their education aspiration, mainly due to poverty.

19. Papua New Guinea

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2010): 35.5%

In 2010, inactive non-students comprised 96.6% of the total NEET population. There were 437,739 such individuals, whereas the active non-students amounted to 15,456.

18. Iraq

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2021): 36.9%

Iraq is one of the countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training. In 2021, 36.9% of individuals aged 15-24 were involved in neither education or training, nor employment.

17. Chad

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2018): 37%

Chad ranks 17th on our list of countries with the highest share of youth NEETs. In 2018, Chad had a youth NEET rate of 37%.

16. Botswana

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2022): 37%

According to data by UN Women, Botswana has a high school completion rate but very few employment opportunities. Of all the 15-19 year olds who complete schooling, only 5% are employed.

15. Venezuela

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2020): 37.1%

Venezuela is one of the countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training. In 2020, around 37.1% of the youth population was not engaged in any educational or employment activities.

14. Gambia

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2023): 39.8%

60% of Gambias population is under the age of twenty-five, which makes a high NEET rate quite concerning. Other than issues of poverty and lack of employment opportunities, child marriage is one of the reasons for female NEETs.

13. Marshall Islands

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2021): 40%

In 2021, 40% of the youth population in the Marshall Islands was neither working nor studying. This is why the Islands rank 13th on our list of countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training.

12. Liberia

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2017): 40.8%

Liberia ranks 12th on our list of countries with the highest share of youth NEETs. In 2017, 40.8% of the countrys youth aged 15-24 were not working, studying, or upskilling.

11. Burkina Faso

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2018): 41%

Burkina Faso is a West African country that ranks 11th on our list of countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training. In 2018, the NEET rate in the country was 41%.

10. Nauru

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2021): 41%

According to the ILO, the gender gap in the youth NEET rates in Nauru is almost 29 percentage points, which showcases considerable gender discrimination between young men and women.

9. Tajikistan

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2009): 42.2%

The ILO reported a NEET rate of 42.2% for Tajikistan in 2009. However, according to a UNICEF report, the rate had fallen to 30% by 2016. This means that in 2016, the country had 504,799 youth out of education and employment. Furthermore, the NEET rate for women is nine times higher than men.

8. Somalia

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2019): 43.7%

Somalia ranks 8th on our list of countries with the highest share of youth NEETs. In 2019, 43.7% of the countrys youth were not working, studying, or receiving training.

7. Afghanistan

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2021): 43.7%

According to the ILO, Afghanistan had the highest gender gap in NEET rates in the Asia-Pacific region. There was a difference of 49 percentage points between the youth NEET rate for men and women.

6. Mauritania

Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (2019): 44.1%

Mauritania ranks sixth on our list of countries with the highest share of youth not in education, employment, or training. In 2019, the country had a youth NEET rate of 44.1%.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET).

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Disclaimer: None. 20 Countries with the Highest Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) is originally published on Insider Monkey.
President Tamas Sulyok had an audience with Pope Francis in Vatican City. Sulyok told Hungarian reporters after his meeting with the pontiff that they had discussed the future of our communities.

He said the meeting had also covered a personal topic concerning one of the messages in the speech delivered by Francis during his visit to Budapest last year.



Sulyok noted that the pope had mentioned King Saint Stephens instruction to his son to never fight against justice. Sulyok said he had asked Francis if he would gift this instruction to him to use as a motto, and the pontiff gladly did so.



He said he had gifted the pontiff an ornamental copy of the Chronicon Pictum, a table cloth with Matyo embroidery, painted eggs in a decorative box and had shared with him the legend of the history of Matyo embroidery.



The president said he had also given the pope a volume of Saint Stephens instructions to his son, Saint Emeric.



Sulyok on Thursday was also at the popes private audience with the participants of the Hungarian National Pilgrimage before attending the holy mass to close out the pilgrimage at St. Peters Basilica.



Some 1,500 Hungarians from Hungary and beyond the border as well as those from Hungarian communities from the West took part in the Hungarian National Pilgrimage organised by the Hungarian Catholic Bishops Conference (MKPK).



On Friday, Sulyok is scheduled to meet Fra John Dunlap, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malt.



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An independent political observer has reservations about the latest opinion poll which suggests that Fidesz lost 10 percentage points from its voting base, while a pro-government pundit calls these data manipulated.

Zavecz polling company reports that Fidesz is still by far the strongest party with 25 percent of all eligible voters behind it and 33 percent of the decided voters, if an election were held this Sunday. DK ranks second with 18 and 28 percent respectively.



Peter Magyars brand-new TISZA party is supported by 11 percent of the total electorate which would yield it 14 percent of the popular vote. CEO Tibor Zavecz told Nepszava that if Fidesz won less than 10 seats (as his data suggests) in the European Parliament in June (instead of the current 13), that would be tantamount to a political landslide.



Index quotes independent political analyst Gabor Torok who admits finding it difficult to believe these numbers. He concedes that political life has been in turmoil for the past two months but recalls that Fidesz has never gained less than 50 percent of the vote in European elections for the past 15 years. We have no choice but to wait and see, he said.



Mandiner features a Facebook post by pro-government analyst Daniel Deak who remarks that left-leaning pollsters have regularly overstated the influence of the opposition since 2010.



They systematically reported a virtual draw in support for the two sides in the run-up to the elections  and Fidesz won a landslide victory each time. Elections must be approaching, he writes, if Zavecz comes forward with such figures.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

Click here to Share Your Story



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For the first time in history, natural gas deliveries have started from Azerbaijan to Hungary, which greatly contributes to Hungarys diversification efforts in energy supply, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Baku.

Speaking after a meeting of the Hungarian-Azeri mixed economic committee, Peter Szijjarto said both countries were hit hard by the effects of the war in Ukraine, but countries that can maintain good cooperation with the Caucasus region can adapt more successfully to the new conditions in energy supply, the ministry said in a statement.



He noted that, by diversification, Hungary means securing new resources of energy supply, and this is mostly possible from the southeast, rather than excluding well-functioning agreements.



This is why the European Union has been asked to participate in the necessary infrastructure development, but they declined to provide support, he added. Therefore, from here on, Brussels has no say in where we fulfil our energy needs from; we will not accept any guidance or instructions on the matter, Szijjarto said.



Following his talks with Azeri Minister of Labour Sahil Babayev, he said that a solution has nevertheless been found to the problem of diversification, partly thanks to Azerbaijan, as natural gas deliveries from that country have been started, in the amount of 55 million cubic metres in the first phase.



And we will continue this cooperation,  we will take an increased amount from Azerbaijan in order to ensure the security of our natural gas supply, Szijjarto said.



He noted that Hungarian oil and gas company MOL was already active in Azerbaijan, but its role will be further increased in the modernisation of extraction technologies and in the chemical industry.



In a few years, Azeri renewable energy could also become part of Hungarys energy mix, Szijjarto said, with the construction of the worlds longest submarine cable, for which there is already a joint commitment from Hungary, Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan.



Szijjarto: All Conditions Set to Develop Hungary-Azeri Cooperation

There are no open political issues between Hungary and Azerbaijan, so all the conditions are set for developing economic relations, with both governments determined to do so, the foreign minister said.



The ministry cited Peter Szijjarto telling a Hungarian-Azeri business forum in Baku that the crisis-ridden years of the recent period proved that it was the correct government decision to develop strategic cooperation between the two countries.



Despite all the criticism Hungary received, it was ten years ahead with this compared to others. Recent years also showed that both the Hungarian and the Azeri governments were giving positive treatment to companies from each others country, he said.



The 120 million euro record high trade turnover of last year has proven this, as well as the fact that both MVM and Mol are present in Azerbaijan and Richter has already signed the documents for contract manufacturing of ninety drugs, he said.



Hunland is supplying cattle to the country and Hell will soon start building a factory there, he added. Serious preparations are under way to ensure Hungarian participation in railway, public road and hospital development projects, in water management, and Hungarian companies will be involved in rebuilding a settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, he said.



He also said that two hundred Azeri students get scholarships to study at Hungarian universities each year, which offers an excellent opportunity for strengthening relations.



Commenting on the financial background of cooperation, he said the government had set up a central Asian investment fund and Eximbank launched a 50 million euro credit line which can be increased three-fold if necessary.



Our presence here in Azerbaijan is increasingly robust and therefore everything is given for further Hungarian business successes here, he said.



We have with us here, among others, the best Hungarian agricultural, food industry, health industry, info-communications and water management companies that are ready for cooperation, he added.



Szijjarto: Hungary, Azerbaijan Friendship Based on Mutual Respect

The friendship and strategic partnership between Hungary and Azerbaijan is based on mutual respect and values as well as shared interests, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Baku.



Speaking at a meeting of the Hungarian-Azeri mixed economic committee, Peter Szijjarto said the 14-year ties between the two countries had been mutually beneficial, the ministry said in a statement.



Those who condemned us for it then are now jostling for a photo with your president, he said. Bilateral trade hit a record 120 million dollars last year, Szijjarto said.



He noted that the Hungarian delegation to the meeting comprised of 34 company leaders from 23 Hungarian firms, scheduled to conduct 152 meetings with Azeri companies.



Hungary is also contributing to rebuild the village of Soltanli in Nagorno Karabakh, a region Azerbaijan re-occupied last year, he said. The reconstruction is slated to end by end-2025, he said.

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Opposition party stands and activists collecting signatures for the Democratic Coalition, Socialist and Dialogue party alliance were attacked in Budapest yesterday, Dialogue MP Timea Szabo reported in a Facebook post.

Fidesz is so desperate that it is now resorting to violence, she declared.



Szabo reported simultaneous attacks in Bekasmegyer, in the Second District, where she was present, and others on Deak ter and Blaha Lujza ter.



According to Szabo, "people who looked like alcoholics or were alcoholics" were approached by middle-aged men in black jackets, who handed them money.



Those accepting the money then reportedly suddenly started shouting abuse about Gergely Karacsony, Klara Dobrev and the opposition.



The verbal assault turned into physical violence on Deak ter, where we had to close our tent because all of our activists were beaten up, Szabo stated.



She said that she took photographs of those in black jackets in Bekasmegyer, and informed the police, who went to the scene and arrested the troublemakers.



Democratic Coalition leader Klara Dobrev also condemned the attacks.



"Until now, they have only lied about us, discredited us and threatened us. Today they resorted to physical violence against us. Today, the ruling power has crossed a line that only dictatorships are used to. Thus far and no further. We will not tolerate this! Whoever attacks one of us attacks all of us.



Fifth District police arrested a 29-year-old man on the spot who insulted two activists.



Police told website 24 that the suspect could not be questioned for the time being due to his heavily intoxicated state".



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YORK  Candidates for the York County Board of Commissioners spoke at another forum on Wednesday evening. This one was hosted by KOOL Radio at the Kilgore Memorial Library in York.

This is the second forum where the candidates were able to speak about their views on various local issues. The York County Republican party held a similar forum earlier this month.

Five candidates were invited to the event, but Nick Wollenburg, who is running against the current District 5 commissioner, LeRoy Ott, could not attend after being temporarily deployed with the Air National Guard. In addition to Ott, Joe Burgess, Dean Heine and Erick Brekke were in attendance. Burgess, Heine and Brekke are all running to be District 5 commissioner, a position currently held by Jack Sikes, who is retiring.

On top of an opening and closing statement, each of the four candidates in attendance answered four different questions about their views, which were randomly selected out of a pool of 18 possible questions that had been submitted ahead of time.

Towards the beginning Curtis read aloud a message from Wollenburg telling people that they could send him questions over email if they wanted to hear his perspective. He said he would be back in York next week.

In their statements as well as in answer to questions, candidates spoke about how they would draw on their personal experiences in the position.

Ott said his experience working in the insurance business in York has allowed him to get to know the people of York County. Brekke, who is a career firefighter with the York Fire Department, said that being a firefighter, as well as having served in the military, would help him deal with high stress scenarios.

Burgess, who is a high school senior, said he was a fast learner and that he would bring youth and his experience at Boys State to the position, while Heine, who is 79 and retired, said he that having lived in York County for nearly his whole life would inform his views.

In their answers to specific questions both Ott and Brekke, who are running for two different seats, emphasized the importance of the county board staying ahead of local issues.

Brekke suggested the board should start looking into zoning regulations for wind energy so that if a developer is interested, York will have clear regulations. About wind power in York County, he said he would have concerns about taking away farmable land and would concentrate on not taking land out of circulation for crops.

With a similar eye to the future, Ott suggested that the board should think about asking more departments to come up with one and six year-plans, as the Roads Department currently does. On zoning regulations, Ott emphasized his belief in landowner rights, saying that they exist up until the point that those rights may harm or hurt their neighbor.

In response to a question about the countys budget, Burgess, meanwhile, drew on his belief that government should be kept as small as possible. He said that the most important parts of the county budget were roads, the sheriffs department and schools.

Heine discussed his experience as a longtime York resident, saying that he hopes to bring integrity and honesty to the position of commissioner. In response to a question about wind regulations, Heine emphasized that he is looking forward to nuclear energy.

Candidates also answered questions about the county jail, road maintenance and government transparency.

At least 15 people attended the event live at the library on Wednesday. The forum was broadcast live on the radio and a video of the event is available on the radios website. Towards the end of the event Curtis gave a shout-out to Melanie Wilkinson of Justmelaniew.com, who assisted in organizing the forum.

Since all five of the candidates for the two county commissioner positions are Republicans, the outcome of the election will likely be determined at the state primary, which is on May 14.
Hyundai is gearing up for the launch of the highly anticipated Hyundai Creta Electric. According to some media reports, the Production of the Hyundai Creta Electric is expected to commence in December 2024 at Hyundai's manufacturing plant in Chennai. While the official launch date has not been disclosed, some industry insiders are speculating the debut of this Hyundai EV in the first quarter of 2025.

Features Expectations

The Creta Electric is expected to inherit design elements from the recently launched Creta facelift. Reports suggest that this ev will feature a 45kWh battery pack sourced from LG Chem. However, it's worth noting that this battery capacity may be surpassed by competitors like the Maruti Suzuki eVX and MG ZS EV, which boast larger battery options.

Rumours suggest that the electric motor from Hyundai's global Kona EV might be featured in the Creta Electric. The Kona EV's single motor delivers 138bhp power and 255Nm torque.

Updates on Hyundai Alcazar

In addition to the Creta Electric, Hyundai enthusiasts can look forward to the updated version of the Alcazar SUV in the coming months. In this upcoming SUV, minimal changes on the exterior are expected. The new Alcazar is likely to feature advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, and a dual-screen setup.
Laman Ismayilova

Milena Nabiyeva's personal exhibition will open at Fairmont Baku Flame Towers on April 26, Azernews reports.

Milena Nabiyeva's is a member of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union and UNESCO, deputy chairman of the Society for Conservation of Nature, head of the Hope for Life (H?yata umid) Charitable Foundation.

A participant of many international exhibitions, this time she offers to hear, among the usual images, a unique melody that is hidden in every ornament that accompanies the artist's art works.

They became her original artistic style and have already won recognition from the audience.

The artist seems to be reinterpreting ancient symbols, weaving modern reflection into them.

A stylistically verified ornamental palette in non-verbal communication slowly tells the story of bygone times, when people gathered around fires and in the dance of an open flame, legends and folk tales were embodied, which have survived to this day in a variety of patterned vocabulary. Each curl is a separate "musical phrase"... Here are dragons and phoenixes, the tree of life and the scarlet spirit, lotus and traditional buta... And each is unthinkable without a fiery presence...

The location of the exhibition has not chosen by chance.

"Flame Towers are not just skyscrapers as a symbol of modern Baku. They are the same flames that are directly associated with fire, which is forever inscribed in the coat of arms of our city. They echo the pomegranate fruit , which I simply love to include in my works. And not only it... The nature of Azerbaijan generously endowed its people. In my opinion, one of the embodiments of fire is the sun, which is so favorable to this earth that everything that it gives birth to carries a piece of it. his taste," said Milena Nabiyeva.

The artist`s beliefs seem to receive undeniable confirmation in her works. Each canvas seems to be permeated with a delicate goldenness, which is inherent in sunlight. And in flower scenes one can read thin lines of fiery flames in the petals...

The 20 works of art presented in the exhibition are different in theme and plot content. They are like separate musical works that, merging into a common visual sound, make up a single score of "Melody of Fire", which undeniably confirms "Everything in the world is made of fire"... We just need to be able to feel and see it in any manifestation on our life path...

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az.
In this article, we take a look at the 20 countries with the lowest slum population in the world. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of slum populations, you can directly go to 5 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World.

We have previously covered the definition of slums when discussing countries with the largest slum populations. In a nutshell, slums are impoverished urban areas that are densely populated and tightly packed. They are characterized by a lack of adequate fundamental services such as water and sanitation. For a more in-depth definition and analysis, you can take a look at our earlier article. According to UN-Habitat's data, 24% of the worlds population lived in slums in 2018, which amounted to more than one billion people.

Why Do Slums Develop?

According to the World Bank, rising conflicts can contribute to excessive pressure on cities, as 50% of forcibly displaced individuals find refuge in urban areas, often in slums and informal settlements. According to the Cities Alliance, slums develop due to two main reasons: rapid rural-to-urban migration and bad governance. The United Nations estimated that in 2022, 55% of the worlds population lived in urban areas. This accounts for over 4 billion people, which will double by 2050, by which time nearly seven in ten people will be living in cities (70% of the worlds total population).

However, the UN also estimates that at the same time, the slum population will increase to two billion as well, because rapid urbanization does contribute to growing slums and informal settlements. While the proportion of the slum population may decrease slightly as the population grows, the absolute number of slum dwellers will continue to rise. Today, 85% of the worlds slum-dwelling population is concentrated in Asia and Africa, leading many to believe that countries in the developed world have no slums. Even though slums may be less frequent and not as populated in the developed world, they still exist. In Europe and Northern America, over a million people live in slums, according to UN-Habitat. You can take a look at some of the countries with the largest slum population in Europe for more insights.

The Worlds Largest Slums - Orangi Town, Pakistan

In 2016, a report by the World Economic Forum reported that Dharavi in India was one of the largest slums in the world. Another major covered in the report is Orangi Town in Karachi, Pakistan, housing 2.4 million individuals. On October 13, 2016, Reuters published a report on the slums of Orangi Town. According to the report, Orangi is the largest slum in Asia, spread over almost 8,000 acres. The population started increasing exponentially when people migrated from East Pakistan after the 1971 war that turned East Pakistan into Bangladesh. Most houses have been built by the residents using locally manufactured concrete blocks. On average, a house has two to three rooms and is inhabited by eight to ten individuals.

Story continues

Akhtar Hameed Khan, a Pakistani development expert and entrepreneur, launched the Orangi Pilot Project in 1980. The OPP aims to improve living conditions in the region through collaboration between local residents and experts from various organizations. In its first decade, the OPP had five successful basic programs: low-cost sanitation, housing, health, education, and credit for micro-enterprises. Within three decades, the program ensured that 90% of Orangis lanes and streets were fitted with sewer pipes, all of which were installed by residents.

OPPs annual report from 2022 revealed that so far, the organization has replicated its low-cost sanitation model in 795 informal settlements around the country. From July 2021 to June 2022, OPP constructed 37 sewage lines in Orangi Town alone. The NGO has also installed eight waterlines in Gadap Town, another slum in Karachi. The organization is also running a food security program that offers training on kitchen gardening, which concerns growing vegetables at home. In 2022, the program trained 274 school children and 38 teachers under this program. Even though Pakistan continues to be one of the countries with the largest slum populations, OPPs success is proof slum populations can improve through the commitment and efforts of local populations and dedicated experts.

Slum Upgrading and Corporate Partners

Habitat for Humanity is an NGO working to provide affordable housing options to people living without homes or in inadequate housing, including slums. According to Habitats 2019 issue brief on slum upgrading, the organization has helped improve the living conditions of slum dwellers in Bangladesh, Brazil, and South Africa, impacting over 140,000 individuals. This work of slum upgrading cannot occur without the effort of corporate partners and their donations. Two organizations that have provided long-term considerable support to Habitat as legacy partners include Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC).

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) has been a Habitat for Humanity partner for thirty years. In the fiscal year 2022, the company provided $7.75 million to the organization, helping more than 350 families repair or build affordable homes. Since 2010, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) and its Foundation have contributed $119 million to the NGO, which has gone to home construction and neighborhood revitalization efforts. More than 104,000 volunteers from Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) have worked with the Habitat in their homebuilding projects.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) has been partnering with the Habitat since 2003. Since then, the corporation has contributed $85 million to the NGO, helping 17,000 families improve their living conditions. On June 6, 2023, Habitat announced that Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) had pledged $6 million for home repairs and rehabilitation across the US. The money will fund projects for the next two years. It will be distributed to 75 local chapters, which will utilize it to complete more than 400 projects across the country. During 2022, support from the company helped Habitat complete 680 projects in total.

While some countries have reduced their slum population through help from corporate partners, others have built strong policies to ensure that slums remain minimal. In this context, we have compiled a list of 20 countries with the largest slum populations in the world. You can also check out some of the countries with the largest rural populations.

20 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World

20 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World

Our Methodology

In order to compile this list, we have reviewed the 2018 UN-Habitat dataset for the proportion of slum populations as well as the dataset for the absolute population living in slums. The countries are ranked in descending order based on the proportion of the urban population living in slums. In order to tiebreak, we have utilized the absolute number of people living in slums. Further information has been added from Habitat for Humanity for the countries in which it has had a presence. Urban population, wherever mentioned, has been reported by the World Bank. Based on this methodology, here are 20 countries with the lowest slum population in the world.

20 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World

20. Kyrgyzstan

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 189,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 8.5%

Most slums in Kyrgyzstan were formed by people fleeing from other regions due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. A Habitat for Humanity chapter was established in the country in 1999, after which the chapter reported that 70% of the total population was either homeless or living in substandard homes. By 2018, the number had dropped to 8.5% of the urban population, making Kyrgyzstan one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world.

19. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 140,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 8.3%

Bosnia and Herzegovina has also been at the center of conflict during the 1990s, which is one of the elements that contribute to a buildup of slum populations. However, three decades down the line, the country ranks as one of the regions with the lowest slum populations in the world.

18. Armenia

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 152,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 8.2%

Habitat for Humanity has been in Armenia since 2000, during which time the NGO has helped 6,000 low and middle-income families find affordable housing options. In the municipalities of Vayk and Spitak, Habitat has also provided renewable and efficient energy.

17. Tunisia

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 643,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 8%

The Tunisian revolution of 2011 led to an expansion of slum areas after much of the middle class became unable to afford decent housing. Despite its past, Tunisia has recovered to become one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world, with just 8% of its urban population living in slums.

16. Spain

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 2,907,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 7.8%

Even though Canada Real in Spain is one of the largest slums in Europe, housing around 8,500 people, Spain is still one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world. This is a look into how much worse some dwellings are in some other countries.

15. Italy

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 3,007,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 7.2%

In 2021, the New York Times reported that the worsening conditions of the pandemic had caused the Italian government to take action to develop the slums in Sicily. Governmental policies are one of the reasons why Italy has managed to keep its slum population at a minimum.

14. Turkiye

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 4,320,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 7%

Turkiye has implemented several slum-upgrading projects over the years, which is why it ranks 14th on our list of countries with the lowest slum populations. In 2005, slums accounted for 25% of Turkiyes urban population, but the number had decreased to 7% by 2018.

13. Cuba

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 584,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 6.6%

Old Havana and Centro Havana are the two municipalities where most Cuban slums are present. In 2018, 6.6% of Cubas urban population lived in slums, making up around 584,000 people.

12. Macedonia

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 77,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 6.4%

As reported by the World Bank, Macedonia is a small country with an urban population of only 1.2 million. It has only 77,000 people living in slums, which makes it one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world.

11. Austria

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 311,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 6.1%

Austria has kept its slum population at a minimum through social housing policies, especially in the capital city of Vienna. In 2018, only 311,000 Austrian citizens had been living in slums, a number constant since 2016.

10. Suriname

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 21,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 5.5%

In 2018, Suriname had an urban population of only 392,000, which is why only 21,000 people lived in urban slums. Suriname has one of the worlds smallest slum-dwelling populations, both in absolute numbers and in proportion.

9. Slovenia

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 42,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 3.7%

Slovenia ranks ninth on our list of countries with the lowest slum populations. It is also one of the countries with the worlds lowest poverty rates, which showcases that most of the citizens in the country are living reasonably well.

8. Portugal

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 242,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 3.6%

Habitat for Humanity has been present in Portugal since 1996. In 2019, the chapter helped 340 individuals and hosted 519 volunteers. Portugal is one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world due to such efforts.

7. Serbia

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 177,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 3.6%

Serbia is one of the countries with the lowest slum populations in the world. 3.6% of its urban population lives in slums, which makes up around 177,000 people.

6. Costa Rica

Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 141,000

Proportion of Urban Population Living in Slums (2018): 3.6%

In 2005, Costa Rica had a slum population of 10.9. By 2014, it had dropped to 5.5, showing almost a 50% decrease in one decade. As per the latest reports from 2018, Costa Rica has 3.6% of its urban population living in slums, making it one of the countries with the lowest slum populations globally.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World.

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Disclaimer: None. 20 Countries with the Lowest Slum Population in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme was launched in March 2019 (scaled up last in September 2023) to provide affordable and accessible power to the farmers throughout the country.

Here Are 10 Things About PM-KUSUM Scheme And How It Is Empowering Indian Farmers

1. The main objectives of the PM KUSUM Scheme include to de-dieselize the farm sector, to provide energy and water security to farmers and enhance their income, and reduce environmental pollution.

2. The PM-KUSUM Scheme scheme has the following Components:

(i) Component A: Setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground/ Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based Power Plants by the farmers on their land;

(ii) Component B: Installation of 14 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps; and

(iii) Component C: Solarization of 35 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps and through feeder level solarization (FLS).

3. The beneficiaries under Component-B and Component-C could be individual farmer, Water User Associations, Primary Agriculture Credit Societies and Communities/Cluster Based Irrigation Systems.

4. Financial Assistance Is available under the PM-KUSUM Scheme scheme

5. Procurement Based Incentive (PBI) to the DISCOMs @ 40 paise/kWh or Rs.6.60 lakhs/MW/year, whichever is lower, for buying solar/ other renewable power under this scheme.

6. The PBI is given to the DISCOMs for a period of five years from the Commercial Operation Date of the plant. Therefore, the total PBI payable to DISCOMs is Rs. 33 Lakh per MW.

7. For Component-B and individual pump solarisation under Component-C: CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost issued by MNRE or the prices of the systems discovered in the tender, whichever is lower is provided. However, in North Eastern States including Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, CFA of 50% of the benchmark cost issued by MNRE or the prices of the systems discovered in the tender, whichever is lower, is provided.

8. In addition, the respective state/UT has to provide at least 30% financial support. Balance cost is to be contributed by beneficiary. Component B and Component C (IPS) of PM KUSUM scheme can also be implemented without State share of 30%. The Central Financial Assistance will continue to remain 30% and rest 70% will be borne by the farmer.

9. For agriculture feeder solarization, CFA of Rs 1.05 Crore per MW is provided. There is no mandatory requirement of financial support from participating State/UT. The feeder solarisation can be implemented in CAPEX or RESCO mode.

10. As of 8 February 2024, more than 2.95 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps were installed under PM-KUSUM Scheme, Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister had informed in a written reply to a question, in Lok Sabha
NBSE Results 2024: The NBSE results 2024 for HSSLC and HSLC exams are set to be released today. According to the official announcement, the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) would release the HSLC (Class 10) and HSSLC (Class 12) at 2 pm. Over 60,000 students are awaiting the Nagaland Board results in 2024. Once the results are announced, students can download their Nagaland Board provisional marksheet from the official website, nbsenl.edu.in. According to the NBSE test schedule, the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Class 10 Examination 2024 was held from February 1323, 2024, while the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) Class 12 Exams 2024 were held from February 12, 2024 to March 6, 2024. The results will be made available both online and offline.

NBSE Result 2024: Heres how to download

1. Visit the official website, nbsenl.edu.in.

2. On the appearing homepage, click on the NBSE Board 10th and 12th result link

3. A new login page will open.

4. Enter your roll number to access the results.

5. Take a printout for future reference.

Along with the official website, the Nagaland Board results link will be available on third-party websites such as indiaresults.com. Candidates are encouraged to get the provisional marksheet only from the official website.
Former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir - Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah today urged the Election Commission of India to not postpone the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha polls. The two leaders' remarks came after the Election Commission of India wrote to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and the Chief Electoral Officer of the region seeking a report about the constituency and the need for postponing the polls. The ECI wrote to the state election officer after several political parties including the BJP, Apni Party, and J&K Peoples Conference wrote to the ECI demanding the postponement of the polls citing adverse road conditions and inclement weather.

Responding to this, both Omar and Mehbooba wrote to the ECI, alleging that the BJP and its A, B, C teams are sensing defeat and thus making excuses regarding weather conditions. PDP chief and Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency candidate Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP of attempting to sabotage the electoral process in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency.

Mufti stated, "The BJP and other parties who have ganged up against me want to prevent me from reaching Parliament. The support I'm receiving from people across party lines in both the Kashmir and Jammu regions is making these parties fearful of my influence among the people, prompting them to write to the ECI to defer the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat."

Mufti further asserted that the demand is entirely illogical as only a few days remain until the polls. She appealed to the ECI not to postpone the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency under any circumstances, stating, "This action would convey the wrong message, eroding trust in the electoral process and resulting in serious consequences." Mehbooba Mufti wrote a detailed letter to the ECI demanding that the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency not be deferred.

NC Vice President Omar Abdullah addressed a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar over the issue opposing the postponement of the polls. "When they sense that the NC has the upper hand and the establishment-backed candidate is losing, they resort to these tactics. We have witnessed this in the past as well; when the former CMs brother was on the verge of losing and the Anantnag elections were postponed, then no elections happened. The BJP and partner parties, along with the ECI, are attempting to do the same, citing the Mughal road problem."

Abdullah added, "Some parties among those who have written this letter have nothing to do with these elections since they havent fielded a candidate, such as the Peoples Conference and the BJP. Should I write a letter tomorrow for some seat in South India to have it deferred?"

Abdullah further said that if the polls are deferred, the NC will take the matter to court. "The ECI must instruct the administration to keep the roads open. I've been CM, and I know that machinery and manpower can keep the Mughal road open," he stated.

Inclement weather conditions have led to frequent closure of the Mughal Road, which connects the Anantnag and Rajouri areas of J&K. Mufti also held a roadshow through the Mughal Road yesterday. In the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, all paperwork is complete, with 21 candidates contesting the polls while voting is slated to take place on May 7th, in the third phase.
New Delhi: As Lok Sabha polls are taking place across the country, today the word 'Sharia' holds the number one place in the debates during the campaign. Sharia in Arabic means 'Rashta', which emphasises the style of Islamic living. It is not Islamic law, but doctrine and is considered as the code of conduct of Islamic life. This term sparked out especially when Union Minister Amit Shah slammed Congress for the manifesto and alleged that no law can be made in the country based on religion.

In today's DNA, Sourabh Raaj Jain analysed how 'Sharia' has entered the poll campaign this year.

Watch Full DNA Episode Here:

Union Minister Amit Shah held a rally in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the third phase of elections. While addressing the people, Shah showed his anger at Congress on their manifesto. He asked questions to Congress on their promise to take forward personal law. He said that Congress wanted to run the country according to Sharia law.

While Congress often accused the BJP of trying to make India a 'Hindu Rashtra', now the saffron party has hit back saying that the grand old party wants to run India through Sharia law. This comes after the BJP sharpened its barb on the Congress over former PM Manmohan Singh's statement that minorities, particularly Muslims, have the first right to resources.
Two terrorists were killed during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Nowpora Sopore area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district. A senior police officer told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that security forces killed two terrorists in Nowpora Sopore, whose identities have yet to be revealed. Throughout the night, security forces kept a close watch over the area. Entry and exit points were sealed, and mobile checkpoints were established. Powerful lights illuminated the area, preventing the terrorists from fleeing.

At dawn, the camcorder captured the two terrorists' movements through the orchard. In response, the cordon was tightened. However, the safety of local residents is still a priority. Clearing the surrounding area is critical to preventing civilian casualties during any potential exchange of fire.

Yesterday evening, a massive exchange of fire occurred. Three people were injured: one civilian and two soldiers.

Based on intelligence about terrorists' presence in Nowpora village, the SOG of Sopore police, 22 RR, and CRPF launched a joint search operation. The encounter is still ongoing, and new details are emerging.
NEW DELHI: Over 63 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise.

Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. Several states experienced intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 8 pm of voter turnout was 63.50 per cent. It is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, the EC said, adding voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote.

The National Democratic alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Election Commission data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.46 per cent polling, followed by Manipur at 77.32 while the turnout was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85 per cent and Bihar 55.08 per cent.

Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election.

After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, "Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support." In Kerala, the turnout was 65.91 per cent. The election process, held amid tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for instances of bogus voting and breakdowns of electronic voting machines (EVMs) being reported in some booths of the state. Such incidents resulted in delaying the polling process in the affected booths.

One person each reportedly died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a turnout of 79.46 per cent. Election officials said there were some complaints from a few booths but those were "promptly addressed".

A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat in Chhattisgarh, where a voter turnout of 73.62 per cent was recorded.

A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding 'mandap', with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Several brides and grooms, dressed in their wedding finery, cast their votes at several polling booths. The EC said people from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker seats cast their votes in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, there was a turnout of 57.88 per cent.

An estimated 71.11 per cent of the 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam that went to polls in this phase. In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a significantly high 77.32 per cent.

There were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercation between Congress workers and NPF supporters and damage of EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district. At KK Leishi Phanit polling station in Ukhrul, irate voters destroyed an EVM and other items after alleged disturbances by armed miscreants. The overall voting percentage in Karnataka was 68.30.

A case was booked against BJP MP and Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on a social media platform and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Election Commission said. Another BJP leader CT Ravi was booked for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between citizens through his social media post.

Various restaurants in Bangalore were offering free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote.

A private hospital assisted 41 inpatients cast their vote with the help of city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Green corridors were created for the ambulances across constituencies to ensure easy, hassle-free voting.

Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed the Election Commission will take a call after getting a detailed report. A voter turnout of 57.83 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies in Maharashtra, while in Rajasthan, the turnout was 64.07 per cent. Incidents of confrontation between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an independent candidate were reported at a couple of places during polling in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency of Rajasthan.

Police said they were looking into the complaints besides some about fake voting from some places. The by-election for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district was also held simultaneously on Friday and 76.66 per cent voting took place. A voter turnout of 54.85 per cent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency. Some residents' welfare associations made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booths.

In Bihar, the turnout was 55.08 per cent, 71.84 per cent in in West Bengal and 71.91 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019.

The Election Commission registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning. After Friday's phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).

The third phase of elections for 94 seats across 12 states and Union territories will be held on May 7. Counting will be done on June 4.
New Delhi: The inaugural session of the People's Forum for the Rise of South Asia (PFFROSA) summit was held today at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi, marking a step towards regional unity and cooperation. The event aimed to address key issues facing South Asia through a unified approach. The event was organized by ARSP Foundation in collaboration with Yuvsatta (Youth for Peace), Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

During the opening remarks, Mr. Sanjay Bhalla, General Secretary of ARSP Foundation, highlighted the pivotal role India is expected to play in fostering global peace and harmony. He said, This century belongs to Asia, and India, with its principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), is poised to lead the way in creating a peaceful and progressive South Asia."

Mr. Pratap Singh, President of the ARSP Foundation, elaborated on the summits objectives, focusing on four main areas: trade, tourism, technology, and the optimization of demographic dividends. He emphasized the importance of gender equality and sustainable management of water resources to ensure holistic development in the region.

The summit also featured a debate where Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, IFS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, drew parallels between the European integration post-war and the potential for similar cooperation in South Asia. The European model of overcoming historical rivalries through integration and cooperation offers valuable lessons for us in the global south, he remarked.

Distinguished guests, including Dr. Jwala Prasad, Director of Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, and Shailendra Kumar, Chairman of TIOL Knowledge Foundation, among others, contributed their insights on various aspects of regional challenges and opportunities.

The occasion provided a forum for the PFFROSA Youth Leadership Awards, which honor outstanding social leaders. Honorees were Mr. Vishal Sehgal, Co-founder & Director of LAVA Mobiles, and Dr. Anil Jaggi, creator of Conscious Ventures & Japan-India Sustainability Alliance, demonstrating the variety of contributions to societal growth.

The two-day summit will come to an end with a prayer session at Mahatma Gandhi's resting place, Rajghat, signifying the unity and common goals of the countries of South Asia. The next PFFROSA Summit will be held in Sri Lanka in six months, as announced by the organizers, Mr. Sanjay Bhalla and Mr. Pramod Sharma, demonstrating their dedication to ongoing collaboration and involvement around the region.
The Central Bureau of Investigation today recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition including foreign-med pistols and a police revolver from Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, where the Enforcement Directorate team was attacked. The CBI made the seizures during searches in the area. As per reports, the CBI recovered 3 foreign-made revolvers, one Indian revolver, one Colt Official Police revolver, one foreign-made pistol, 1 country-made pistol, 120 bullets of 9 mm, 50 cartridges of .45 calibre, 50 cartridges of .38 calibre and eight cartridges of .32 calibre.

Teams of the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI), the bomb detection squad, the National Security Guard (NSG), the central paramilitary forces and the West Bengal Police were part of the searches at the village. "Many incriminating documents related to Former TMC leader SK Shahjahan have also been recovered. Some items suspected to be country-made bombs have also been recovered which are being handled and disposed of by the teams from NSG," said the CBI.

Earlier, a bomb squad of the National Security Guard (NSG) arrived at Agarhati village in Sandeshkhali with its robotic equipment to diffuse the country-made bombs recovered from the site. Since this morning, the CBI has been conducting multiple raids in West Bengal in connection with the Sandeshkhali case.

The attack on an ED team in January this year was allegedly instigated by now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh.

The recoveries were made from a house belonging to Abu Taleb Mollah, a relative of Sheikh. The house, which was cordoned off by security forces, was built amid water bodies used for fish farming. Central forces used metal detectors outside the house to check whether more arms and ammunition were buried. A robotic device was also deployed for the purpose.

The searches were initiated in relation to three FIRs filed by the CBI concerning the assault on a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5. This incident occurred during a raid on the premises of Sheikh, allegedly involved in a ration scam. The Calcutta High Court's directive prompted the central agency to register three FIRs regarding the events of January 5. Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has moved to the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's April 10 order for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali. The matter will be heard on April 29.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court finds itself at the center of a pivotal legal battle between tech giants WhatsApp and Meta (formerly Facebook) and the Indian Government. The dispute revolved around a new law which mandates social media platforms to disclose the originators of messages upon court order.

WhatsApp has said to Delhi High Court that if forced to breach message encryption the platform's existence in India would be at stake. According to the company, its end-to-end encryption is crucial for safeguarding user privacy which cannot be compromised. With over 900 million users India stands as one of WhatsApp's largest markets. (Also Read: Read The Inspiring Journey Of Rohini Nilekani Who Mastered The Balancing Act Of Motherhood And Career)

Advocate Tejas Karia who represented WhatsApp highlighted that people are drawn to the platform due to the privacy it guarantees, particularly for its end-to-end encryption of messages. As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes, Tejas Karia, the lawyer representing WhatsApp, stated. (Also Read: Blinkit Now More Valuable Than Zomatos Core Food Business: Report)

However, the Indian government has emphasized the critical need to trace message originators in order to combat harmful content and uphold online safety standards. They assert that social media platforms have a responsibility to assist in identifying individuals who spread misinformation or instigate violence.

The court has emphasized the need for a balanced approach and postponed the proceedings to August 14. It announced that these two cases would be heard alongside a group of cases transferred to the High Court by the Supreme Court.
Sachin Sahoo, a 42-year-old Indian man, was shot and killed by police in San Antonio after striking two officers with his vehicle while they were attempting to apprehend him in connection with an aggravated assault case. Sahoo was pronounced dead at the scene after police officer Tyler Turner shot him. Sahoo, originally from Uttar Pradesh, India, may have been a naturalised US citizen. The incident occurred just before 6:30 pm on April 21, when officers were dispatched to a home in Cheviot Heights in San Antonio for a report about Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, according to a statement from the San Antonio Police Department.

When officers arrived, they discovered a 51-year-old female who had been intentionally struck by a vehicle. The suspect, Sahoo, had fled the scene. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Detectives from San Antonio Police Department issued a felony arrest warrant for Sahoo in connection with that incident.

Several hours later, neighbours called the police to report that Sahoo had returned to his original location. Officers arrived and attempted to contact him, but he struck two officers with his vehicle. One officer fired his weapon, hitting Sahoo, who was "pronounced deceased on the scene." One officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, while the other was treated on the scene. No one else was injured in the incident.

Police said the investigation is still ongoing. Police Chief Bill McManus stated that Sahoo ran over his flatmate with his vehicle. The woman was in critical condition after having several surgeries. The police had issued an arrest warrant for Sahoo, and on April 21, two officers went to his known location to see if they could find and arrest him.

"They found him, and he jumped into his car. He pulled out of his driveway, and the police officers blocked him with their vehicles, but he was able to squeeze through. Sahoo struck the officers with his vehicle. "The other officer that was with him fired to stop him and struck him," McManus went on to say.

He stated that the police have yet to review the bodycam footage to determine additional facts. According to a report on Kens5.com, Sahoo's ex-wife Leah Goldstein said he had bipolar disorder. "He had bipolar disorder for the past ten years," Goldstein explained.

"He also had symptoms of schizophrenia." "He couldn't understand what was wrong with him," she stated in the news report. "He'd hear voices. And hallucinate, hear voices, and get lost in his own thoughts." Goldstein described Sahoo as a wonderful father. "I was a stay-at-home mom for many years," she explained. "He provided for us."
In this article, we will list the 25 most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. If you want to skip our discussion about tourism rebound, over-tourism, and the global tourism industry, go to the 10 Most Underrated Cities in Europe to Visit in 2024.

Over-tourism is creating a problem for European locals in many tourist destinations. While Europe is on everyone's travel bucket list, most people opt for similar destinations. For instance, 80% of visits in France are concentrated in 20% of the country.

This imbalance has made lives difficult for many locals. Landlords in touristy places have started evicting their tenants for short-term rentals, creating a shortage of housing. The Guardian reports that Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB), one of the largest short-term rental companies, has seen triple-digit growth in some European cities since 2014. As a result of this, some popular city destinations in Europe host 20 or more visitors for each local. Venice, Italy gets so many visitors that it has more tourist beds than the residents, as reported by Daily Mail.

The over-tourism dilemma is making traveling to touristy places increasingly costly. Authorities in such places are introducing visitor fees to discourage people from visiting and help with the upkeep. Venice, for example, has introduced an entrance fee for the entire city ranging from 3 to 10. Tourist tax rates in Paris have increased by almost three times recently. Spain has introduced fees to visit Plaza de Espana to ensure its safety and upkeep. So, it makes more sense now than ever to visit some of the most underrated cities in Europe.

Visiting cities where few people go will also help those who are struggling with the impact of over-tourism. Ecologists in Action reported that nearly 800,000 people or 35% of the population of the Canary Islands are at risk of poverty or social exclusion because of rising housing and living expenses. Residents of the Canary Islands recently called for a hunger strike against over-tourism. Activists are also putting up false warning signs at beaches across Mallorca to deter English-speaking tourists. It is worth noting that the Canary Islands are located in Africa but they are a Spanish-autonomous community and are considered European from a political and socio-cultural point of view.

The tourism industry has seen massive growth in the last few decades. An astounding 1.9 billion people took foreign trips in 2019 compared to only 25 million in 1950. The global travel and tourism industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. At the end of this forecast period, it is expected to be worth $8.9 trillion. It also has a significant footprint in the world economy, as according to the World Tourism and Travel Council, it contributed to 7.6% of the global GDP.

While European countries serve as a hotspot for tourism, the United States is the country where international travelers spend the most.

American companies, as a result, are at the forefront of the tourism industry. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) is one of the largest short-term rental companies in the world. In 2022, hosts using the Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) platform in the United States facilitated over 44 million guest arrivals in regions without hotels.

One of the key attractions for tourists across the world is Disney theme parks owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). The company is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate with a significant economic footprint in several states across the United States. A recent study by Oxford estimated that the Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) was the source of 263,000 direct and indirect jobs in Florida in 2022. It also generated $6.6 billion in tax revenue during the same year. Overall, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) had an economic impact of $40.3 billion in Florida in 2022.

Circling back to tourism in Europe, it is rebounding from the downturn during the pandemic. For the January to September period in 2023, international tourist arrivals in Europe were only 3.2% below 2019 levels. According to the European Travel Commission, the rebound is driven by intra-European travel and the influx of US tourists benefitting from favorable exchange rates. However, the European Travel Commission reports that the recovery remains uneven with 65% of reporting destinations still having pre-pandemic levels of foreign arrivals.

With that backdrop, let's look at the 25 most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024.

25 Most Underrated Cities in Europe to Visit in 2024

Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash

Methodology

Since 'underrated' is a subjective concept, we relied on a consensus method of frequent travelers to curate our list of the 25 most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. We used a popular thread on Reddit to come up with these 25 cities. The thread asked people to mention the most underrated destinations in Europe. We noted down each city till we got 100 entries.

For each comment that we considered, we also noted the upvotes. If a comment mentioned more than one city, we awarded the number of upvotes to all the cities mentioned. For our list, we considered all the comments that were a direct reply to the thread.

Here is how we calculated our Insider monkey score: number of times the city appears on sampled responses + (total number of upvotes divided by 100). The higher this Insider Monkey Score, the higher the country ranks on our list. As a tiebreaker, we used our list of the countries with the most beautiful nature in Europe and gave preference to the city belonging to the country ranking higher on this list. For example, if city A and city B have the same Insider Monkey Score but the country of city B ranks higher than city A's country on our most beautiful nature in Europe's list, we ranked city B higher.

It is important to note that even with a tie-breaking system, some cities were tied, which is why we have 14 ranks in our list. If two destinations have the same rank, they are equally underrated regardless of their position on our list.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders

25 - Cluj, Romania

Insider Monkey Score - 1.16

Rank - 14

Cluj is located in northwestern Romania. The city boasts landmarks dating to Saxon and Hungarian rule in the region. In addition, it also has gothic-style structures such as the St. Michael's Church surrounding the central square of the city.

24 - Bilbao, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.16

Rank - 13

Located in Northern Spain, Bilbao is an industrial port city that has tons to offer for tourists. It is surrounded by green mountains and has a downtown full of skyscrapers. The city is famous for its Guggenheim Museum, which is known for its architecture and contemporary art collection.

23 - San Sebastian, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.16

Rank - 13

While Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world, it has no shortage of underrated cities. Located at the Bay of Biscay, San Sebastian boasts world-class cuisine, theatres, a Museum, and beaches.

22 - Brno, Czech Republic

Insider Monkey Score - 1.18

Rank - 12

Brno ranks happens to be among the most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. The city features Roman catholic churches, bars, and restaurants, making it perfect for a getaway.

21 - Groningen, Netherlands

Insider Monkey Score - 1.2

Rank - 11

Groningen is one of the most underrated cities to visit in the Netherlands. It is a vibrant University city in the northern part of the country with a lively cultural scene.

20 - Besancon, France

Insider Monkey Score - 1.2

Rank - 10

Besancon is one of the most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. It is located near the border of France and Switzerland in eastern France. It is the historical capital of watchmaking in France, with attractions like museums.

19 - Cabo de Gata, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.2

Rank - 9

While not a city, Cabo de Gata is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Europe. It is a cape located in Southern Spain with dramatic hikes along a protected coastline.

18 - Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.2

Rank - 9

Vitoria-Gasteiz boasts attractions like the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria. It is one of the most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024.

17 - Genoa, Italy

Insider Monkey Score - 1.2

Rank - 8

The port city of Genoa is one of the most underrated destinations to visit in Italy. The city features narrow alleyways, a main square with a beautiful fountain, and seaside neighborhoods that Italy is famous for.

16 - Coimbra, Portugal

Insider Monkey Score - 1.48

Rank - 7

Coimbra, Portugal, is a riverfront city with a preserved medieval old town. It is famous for its university, which is one of the oldest in Europe.

15 - Evora, Portugal

Insider Monkey Score -1 .48

Rank - 7

Evora, Portugal ranks 7th on our list of the 25 most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. The city is famous for the ancient Roman Temple Of Evora.

14 - Figueres, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.48

Rank - 6

The birthplace of artist Salvador Dali, Figueres, Spain, ranks on our list of most underrated cities in Europe to visit in 2024. Its Dali Museum is one of the most visited museums in Spain. The city is close to the border of France and boasts some excellent food and beaches.

13 - Girona, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.48

Rank - 6

Girona is located beside the river Onyar. The city was founded by Romans and to this day has remnants of its Roman past. It boasts medieval architecture and the remains of the Forca Vella fortress.

12 - Leon, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.48

Rank - 6

Located on the Bernesga River, Leon boasts several churches and cathedrals, including the Gothic Catedral de Leon. The city also features several structures with Spanish Romanesque architecture.

11 - Salamanca, Spain

Insider Monkey Score - 1.48

Rank - 6

Salamanca, Spain, has a history dating back to the Celtic era. The city is known for Universidad de Salamanca, which was founded in the 1100s. It is also famous for its food and architecture.

Click to continue reading and see the 10 Most Underrated Cities in Europe to Visit in 2024.

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Disclosure: none. 25 Most Underrated Cities in Europe to Visit in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Amid the Israel-Hamas war continuing for seven months, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's car met with an accident and a video of the dramatic footage has since gone viral on social media. Gvir received minor injuries as his car turned turtle in the accident that took place in the central city of Ramle. Gvir was returning from a terror-stabbing scene in Ramle.

According to reports, the accident happened when Gvir's car jumped a red light. According to police, two vehicles were engaged in the collision, resulting in three individuals being taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The moment Ben Gvir got into the accident pic.twitter.com/uxF3OVgzhn  War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 26, 2024

Ben Gvir's office has reported that the minister is in stable condition and conscious. However, he is being transferred to the nearby Shamir Medical Center for additional treatment.

          ,  



( ) @OferHalfonKan pic.twitter.com/iDT6Aq0OIo April 26, 2024

Images from the scene depict his official vehicle overturned, with another car displaying front-end damage. Authorities have stated that they are conducting an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Last August, Ben Gvir was implicated in another accident when his vehicle ran a red light en route to an interview. Reports from Hebrew media suggest that he habitually directs his driver to disregard traffic regulations, said reports.
It looks like HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (ETR:HLE) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 2 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Meaning, you will need to purchase HELLA GmbH KGaA's shares before the 29th of April to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 2nd of May.

The company's upcoming dividend is 0.71 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of 0.71 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, HELLA GmbH KGaA has a trailing yield of 0.9% on the current stock price of 82.60. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

Check out our latest analysis for HELLA GmbH KGaA

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. HELLA GmbH KGaA paid out a comfortable 30% of its profit last year. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. HELLA GmbH KGaA paid out more free cash flow than it generated - 168%, to be precise - last year, which we think is concerningly high. We're curious about why the company paid out more cash than it generated last year, since this can be one of the early signs that a dividend may be unsustainable.

While HELLA GmbH KGaA's dividends were covered by the company's reported profits, cash is somewhat more important, so it's not great to see that the company didn't generate enough cash to pay its dividend. Were this to happen repeatedly, this would be a risk to HELLA GmbH KGaA's ability to maintain its dividend.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. Readers will understand then, why we're concerned to see HELLA GmbH KGaA's earnings per share have dropped 16% a year over the past five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. HELLA GmbH KGaA has seen its dividend decline 0.9% per annum on average over the past nine years, which is not great to see.

The Bottom Line

Is HELLA GmbH KGaA an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? It's disappointing to see earnings per share declining, and this would ordinarily be enough to discourage us from most dividend stocks, even though HELLA GmbH KGaA is paying out less than half its income as dividends. However, it's also paying out an uncomfortably high percentage of its cash flow, which makes us wonder just how sustainable the dividend really is. It's not the most attractive proposition from a dividend perspective, and we'd probably give this one a miss for now.

Although, if you're still interested in HELLA GmbH KGaA and want to know more, you'll find it very useful to know what risks this stock faces. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with HELLA GmbH KGaA and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
As the United States market navigates through fluctuations, with recent focus on first-quarter GDP data and a mixed bag of corporate earnings, investors are keenly observing economic indicators and their implications on Federal Reserve policies. In this context, identifying dividend stocks that offer substantial yields becomes crucial for those looking to potentially enhance their investment portfolio's resilience against market volatility.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United States

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Columbia Banking System (NasdaqGS:COLB) 7.58%  Financial Institutions (NasdaqGS:FISI) 6.89%  Arrow Financial (NasdaqGS:AROW) 4.76%  Evans Bancorp (NYSEAM:EVBN) 5.07%  Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) 4.90%  Dillard's (NYSE:DDS) 4.71%  Bank of Marin Bancorp (NasdaqCM:BMRC) 6.48%  LCNB (NasdaqCM:LCNB) 5.80%  National Bankshares (NasdaqCM:NKSH) 5.41%  Citizens & Northern (NasdaqCM:CZNC) 6.35% 

Click here to see the full list of 210 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: LCNB Corp., with a market cap of approximately $200.61 million, operates as the financial holding company for LCNB National Bank, offering banking services throughout Ohio.

Operations: LCNB Corp. generates revenue primarily through its commercial banking and insurance agency segments, totaling $69.68 million.

Dividend Yield: 5.8%

LCNB's dividend yield at 5.8% ranks in the top quartile of US dividend payers, supported by a stable payout ratio of 77.4%. Despite trading at a significant 51.1% below its estimated fair value, concerns arise from a recent net profit margin decline to 18% from last year's 29.3%, influenced by substantial one-off items. However, dividends are expected to remain sustainable with forecasted earnings coverage increasing in three years, alongside an anticipated annual earnings growth of 26.23%.

NasdaqCM:LCNB Dividend History as at Apr 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Dillard's, Inc. operates retail department stores in the southeastern, southwestern, and midwestern United States, with a market capitalization of approximately $7.23 billion.

Operations: Dillard's, Inc. generates revenue primarily through its retail operations segment, which amounted to $6.48 billion.

Dividend Yield: 4.7%

Dillard's recent dividend declaration of US$0.25 per share reflects a stable payout, underpinned by a low payout ratio of 2% and cash payout ratio of 45.4%, ensuring dividends are well-covered by both earnings and cash flows. Despite this, the company faces challenges with a forecasted average earnings decline of 31.1% over the next three years. Recent collaborations in fashion lines indicate efforts to boost brand appeal and potentially sales, aligning with its strategic market positioning initiatives.

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NYSE:DDS Dividend History as at Apr 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Central Pacific Financial Corp., with a market cap of approximately $561.48 million, serves as the bank holding company for Central Pacific Bank, offering a variety of commercial banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and individuals in the United States.

Operations: Central Pacific Financial Corp. generates its revenue primarily through banking activities, totaling $235.09 million.

Dividend Yield: 5%

Central Pacific Financial Corp. reported a decrease in net interest income and net income for Q1 2024, with earnings per share dropping from US$0.6 to US$0.48 year-over-year. Despite this downturn, the company maintains a robust dividend policy, declaring a quarterly dividend of US$0.26 per share, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders. The firm's dividend yield stands at 5.01%, placing it in the top tier of US dividend payers, supported by a sustainable payout ratio of 50.7%.

NYSE:CPF Dividend History as at Apr 2024

Make It Happen

Investigate our full lineup of 210 Top Dividend Stocks right here.

Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks.

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Searching for a Fresh Perspective?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqCM:LCNB NYSE:DDS and NYSE:CPF.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Billy Bennight / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock.com

Elon Musk is the third richest man on the planet, with a net worth standing at a whopping $179 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index (though that net worth dropped by $50.4 billion year-to-date).

Check Out: 9 Bills Frugal People Dont Pay

Read More: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024

Musk is deep breath  the founder, chairman, CEO and chief technology officer of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla, Inc., owner, chairman and CTO of X Corp., founder of the Boring Company and xAI, co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI, and president of the Musk Foundation. Last but not least, Musk bought X  formerly Twitter  for an eye-popping $44 billion in 2022.

Musk, who is known for not being afraid of speaking his mind and has sparked several controversies, has made several moves in his career that worked well, and which could also resonate with a larger audience:

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1. Getting in Early on Trends

Musk tends to get in early on trends, especially when it comes to technology shifts.

He basically took a start-up type of attitude (innovative, high chance of failure) to cars and rockets, which had both become stagnant industries dominated by aversion to risk andc hange, and run by bean counters instead of engineers, according to a Quora user.

This was once again demonstrated most recently with his foray into artificial intelligence (AI), with the newest company, xAI, which is working on building artificial intelligence to accelerate human scientific discovery, according to its website.

2. Focusing on Costs

The Wall Street Journal reported that Walter Isaacsons biography of Elon Musk (Elon Musk), shows the extreme attention Musk has had on costs  especially at SpaceX.

Musk once ordered engineers to develop an in-house valve after a supplier quoted a price he deemed too high. Another time, he ordered the company to make an actuator for $5,000 after SpaceX was quoted an outside price of $120,000, according to The Wall Street Journal.

3. Diversifying

Musk, unlike many of his fellow billionaires, took a very different approach to amass his extraordinary wealth thanks to several and diversified business operations instead of a single success path, according to History Computer.

From electric vehicles, to rockets and from social media to AI, Musk seemingly has a hand in several sectors, which might be helping him protect against risk  and potential losses.

Learn More: Warren Buffett: 6 Best Pieces of Money Advice for the Middle Class

In turn, he has also been able to re-invest some of his profits. Most recently for instance, he had pledged 58% of his Tesla shares as collateral to secure personal indebtedness for the 2022 $44 billion Twitter acquisition, according to Bloomberg.

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More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Surprising Moves Elon Musk Made in His Career That Worked  And Why You Should Start Making Them Today
Cybersecurity companies are generally resistant to economic downturns, because their clients won't shut off their digital defenses to save a few dollars. Increasingly complex cyberattacks will also drive more companies to upgrade those defenses.

However, it can also be tough for investors to spot the best long-term plays in the fragmented cybersecurity sector. So today, I'll review three straightforward plays on this growing market -- Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Cloudflare (NYSE: NET), and Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) -- and explain why they're still reliable investments.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Microsoft

Most investors might not consider Microsoft to be a cybersecurity company, since it generates most of its revenue from its cloud-based services, Windows OS, and Xbox gaming products. However, that sprawling ecosystem also serves as a launchpad for Microsoft's growing portfolio of first-party cybersecurity tools.

Microsoft's software was circumvented by a series of hacks in recent years, but it's been plugging up those holes by acquiring a long list of cybersecurity companies, upgrading its own Defender antivirus software for Windows, and setting aside $20 billion for cybersecurity investments three years ago. It subsequently entered the network security market with its own Entra identity management, edge networking, and network access services for its Azure cloud infrastructure platform.

If Microsoft addresses its recent hacks, continues to acquire smaller cybersecurity companies, and upgrades its tools with OpenAI's integrated generative AI tools, it could gradually reduce the need for third-party cybersecurity services. If that happens, Microsoft could represent a well-balanced way to invest in the secular growth of the cloud, enterprise software, AI, gaming, and cybersecurity markets. Analysts expect its earnings to grow 11% in fiscal 2024 (which ends this June) and 15% in fiscal 2025 -- and its stock still looks reasonably valued relative to its industry peers at 31 times forward earnings.

2. Cloudflare

Cloudflare's cloud-based content delivery network (CDN) accelerates the delivery of digital photos, videos, and other content for websites and apps. It accomplishes that by storing cached copies of the digital content on edge servers, which are physically located closer to its users than the origin servers.

Cloudflare might not sound like a cybersecurity company, but its CDN also blocks websites from bot-based attacks. If you've ever been asked to prove that you're a human before visiting a website, you've likely encountered its defenses. Cloudflare claims that approach, which it often compares to a "water filtration" system for the internet, will gradually reduce the need for traditional cybersecurity services.

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From 2019 to 2023, Cloudflare's revenue grew at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46%. Analysts expect its revenue to continue growing at a CAGR of 28% from 2023 to 2026 as it continues to tether more websites to its platform.

Cloudflare's stock isn't cheap at 18 times this year's sales, and it isn't profitable on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis yet. Nevertheless, the rise of more media-intensive websites, higher internet speeds, and more disruptive bot-based attacks could all drive more companies to adopt its CDN services and boost its long-term revenue growth.

3. Zscaler

Zscaler provides "zero trust" services, which tag everyone -- including a company's top executives -- as potential threats. But unlike many of its peers that install those tools through on-site appliances, Zscaler only provides its services through cloud-native subscriptions that don't require any hardware installation.

That streamlined approach is stickier, cheaper, and easier to scale as an organization expands. From fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023 (which ended last July), its revenue grew at a CAGR of 52%. Analysts expect its revenue to rise at a CAGR of 27% from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2026, even as the near-term macro headwinds make it tougher to gain new customers.

During the company's latest conference call, CEO Jay Chaudhry said it wasn't experiencing any "significant pressure" on its big deals, and that zero trust remained a "top priority" for many companies. But like Cloudflare, Zscaler isn't profitable on a GAAP basis yet -- and its stock also isn't a screaming bargain at nearly 13 times this year's sales.

Yet Zscaler could still have plenty of room to grow. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global zero trust market could expand at a CAGR of 17% from 2023 to 2030 -- and Zscaler could continue to grow at an even faster clip than most of its peers as it locks more customers into its cloud-native subscriptions.

Where to invest $1,000 right now

When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for two decades, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has more than tripled the market.*

They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now and Microsoft made the list -- but there are 9 other stocks you may be overlooking.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cloudflare, Microsoft, and Zscaler. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Top Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy in April was originally published by The Motley Fool




Image source: The Motley Fool/Unsplash

Costco charges $60 annually for a basic membership and $120 for an Executive membership, the latter of which lets you earn 2% cash back on most purchases. And while it might seem like the scam of the century to pay money to shop at a store (where you're going to pay more money to buy the things you want), most members find the dues are low in comparison to how much money they're saving.

In fact, you could save as much as your Costco membership costs ($60 or $120) in a single purchase. Yes, just one purchase. While plenty of single Costco purchases could accomplish this, here are four that frequently offer great savings.

1. Car insurance

Buying car insurance through Costco could easily pay for your membership, possibly 10 times over. While Costco doesn't sell car insurance itself, it gives members an exclusive discount through its partner CONNECT, which is backed by American Family Auto.

According to Costco, members save on average about $595.86 in the first year they switched to CONNECT. Saving nearly $600 in car insurance basically pays for a basic Costco membership for the next 10 years. Better yet, this can be combined with other traditional insurance discounts, like safe driving, paperless billing, and multiple policies, to help you save more on your annual premiums.

2. Mattresses

Costco frequently sells mattress brands at good prices. Not only is the sticker price competitive, but Costco often sweetens the deal by offering promotions that can help you save double what a basic membership costs. For example, Costco is currently offering $80 to $120 off its Novaform 14" ComfortGrande Memory Foam Mattress, one of its best deals overall. The online price of this mattress is $319.99 after the discount.

Oh, but it gets better. Costco will also manage delivery of your mattress, help you set it up, and haul away your old mattress. These services are all included in your price, so there's no extra charge. Finally, mattresses are covered under Costco's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so if you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund at any time.

3. Tires

If you need to replace your tires, Costco could help you save. The warehouse club gives its members free tire installation when they buy a set of four. This could automatically save you about $80, as some tire shops charge around $20 per tire for installation. You also get free five-year roadside hazard warranty and lifetime maintenance service for each tire.

Additionally, Costco frequently runs promotions when you buy certain brands of tires. For example, you can currently get $80 off a set of four Michelin tires that total $900 or more or $60 for Michelin tires that total less than $899.99. Better yet, these savings are taken off the price of your tires. This differs from most tire shops, which typically give you a charge card or gift card worth your savings.

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4. Electronics

Costco frequently runs deals on its electronics, including PCs, laptops, printers, cameras, and televisions. For example, Costco is currently selling a 14-inch MacBook Pro (14-core GPU, 512 GB SSD) with AppleCare+ for $2,019.98. You can buy the same laptop with AppleCare+ through Apple for $2,278 or $2,128 through Best Buy.

That said, you don't always need a Costco membership to save on electronics. For example, Costco currently has a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for $499.99 after a $50 discount. Meanwhile, you can buy the same device through Samsung and Best Buy for the same price.

All in all, if you're in the market for these items or services, buying them through Costco could mean savings as much as your membership costs. Combine them with your regular Costco shopping to help you streamline your monthly budget.

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If youre shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, youll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Best Buy, Costco Wholesale, and Gala. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

4 Ways Your Costco Membership Can Pay for Itself in One Trip was originally published by The Motley Fool
Southwest Airlines is cutting service to four airports after citing issues with aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The announcement comes after disappointing profits in the first quarter of 2024, according to Bob Jordan, president and CEO of Southwest Airlines. In a statement to investors, Mr Jordan cited ongoing delivery delays by Boeing.

The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025, Mr Jordan said. Soon after that statement, the CEO appeared on CNBC to clarify, the network actions really have nothing to do with the Boeing delay.

Southwest Airlines is cutting service to four airports after aircraft delivery delays from Boeing (AFP via Getty Images)

The impacted airports are George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas, Syracuse Hancock International Airport in New York, Bellingham International Airport in Washington and Cozumel International Airport in Mexico.

These delays come as Boeing reduces production to address safety and manufacturing concerns.

These concerns found a national spotlight in January when a door plug fell off a Boeing plane mid-flight. While there were no major injuries, passengers were left shaken up. Three of those on board even sued the airline.

A Boeing whistleblower then testified to Congress about several safety concerns earlier this month.

Sam Salehpour, a current quality engineer for the manufacturer, told a congressional committee that Boeing has a culture of retaliation when employees speak up about their concerns.

When asked if the planes are safe, Mr Salehpour testified: Its like an earthquake. When that hits the building ... [it has] to be prepared to accommodate that type of shake-up... Right now, from what Ive seen, the airplanes are not being billed per spec, and per requirements.

Boeing CFO Brian West addressed the manufacturing delays last month at the Bank of America Industrials Conference.

We are in regular, very transparent communications and they know precisely where we stand and the progress that were making and we, at the same time, have to understand what their needs are as they think about their flight schedules and their passengers, Mr West said.

On top of cutting service, Southwest Airlines also plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs by the end of the year, Mr Jordan told investors.

At the same time, the airlines flight attendants ratified a new contract, securing a one-third pay increase over four years. The agreement marks a win for airline employees as the industry continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ulviyya Shahin

The leadership delegation of COP29 convened a crucial meeting with Teresa Ribera, the Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of Spain, amidst the bustling atmosphere of Berlin, Azernews reports.

This encounter unfolded against the backdrop of the second day of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, setting the stage for pivotal discussions on climate action.

Amidst the charged atmosphere of the climate dialogue, COP29's leadership team seized the opportunity to engage with Minister Ribera. Their focus was to delve into the intricate details of the Presidencys Plan for COP29, slated to take place in Baku. This meeting represented a significant milestone in shaping the agenda and objectives of COP29, underscoring the collaborative spirit and determination of global leaders to address pressing environmental challenges.

With the world's attention increasingly turning towards sustainable development and climate resilience, the discussions between COP29's leadership and Minister Ribera underscored the urgency of international cooperation and concerted efforts in combating climate change. The outcome of this meeting is expected to chart a course for COP29, laying the groundwork for meaningful initiatives and partnerships aimed at advancing the global climate agenda.
ASM International (AMS:ASM) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: 639.0m (down 10.0% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: 173.1m (down 55% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 27% (down from 54% in 1Q 2023). The decrease in margin was primarily driven by higher expenses.

EPS: 3.52 (down from 7.71 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

ASM International Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 1.1%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 29%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 15% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 13% growth forecast for the Semiconductor industry in Europe.

Performance of the market in the Netherlands.

The company's shares are up 6.8% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with ASM International.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) recently presented first-quarter results that exceeded expectations on the top and bottom lines. Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook outperformed expectations, but shares of their parent company still fell hard in after-hours trading.

Meta stock was down about 15% when the market opened on Thursday, April 25. Here's a look at why it fell and reasons it could be a good stock to buy on the dip.

Why Meta Platforms stock fell after announcing first-quarter results

Meta stock is down partly because its revenue projection for Q2 was a little lighter than expected. The average analyst on Wall Street expects $38.29 billion in total revenue, but management guided to a range between $36.5 billion and $39 billion.

In addition to a soft revenue projection, the market is reacting negatively to what many investors see as another of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's enormously expensive pet projects. This year Meta expects capital expenditures to land in a range between $35 billion and $40 billion as it hurls money at a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. A few months ago management told investors to expect between $30 billion and $37 billion.

A new AI chatbot that can compete with Microsoft and OpenAI's popular ChatGPT service could be extremely valuable. Unfortunately, Zuckerberg's metaverse blunder is making investors justifiably nervous. Over the past decade, Meta Platforms has spent more than $50 billion trying to build interest in the metaverse with dismal results.

Operating losses from Reality Labs, the segment that houses metaverse operations, grew to $16 billion over the last 12 months, which was $2.3 billion more than the division lost in 2022. The company can't even keep total metaverse-related sales from shrinking. Revenue from Reality Labs over the trailing-12-month period fell to $2 billion from $2.2 billion in 2022.

Reasons to buy Meta Platforms on the dip

Unlike the metaverse, there's already plenty of demand for chatbots. Getting folks to use a free one should be a lot easier than asking them to strap a smartphone to their face.

The sums that Meta intends to spend on new products that might never pay off are staggering. The stock is still a buy because its well-established advertising business is profitable enough to overcome the losses.

Last year was a generally lousy one for the cyclical advertising industry. Despite a cyclical challenge and metaverse losses, Meta Platforms' return on assets never fell below 12% in 2023.

META Return on Assets Chart

META Return on Assets data by YCharts.

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It's been more than 8 years since the company reported a return on assets below 10%. That's heaps better than peers like Pinterest and Snap, both of which have been reporting negative returns.

With reported returns that are much better than its social media industry peers, it's clear that Meta benefits from a strong competitive advantage, in this case, a network effect. Meta's profits aren't the only sign of a strong network effect either. In Q1, the company averaged a stunning 3.24 billion daily active users across its family of applications.

The rapid rise of TikTok proves that this industry can turn on a dime. That said, Meta's network effect appears durable. For example, you might find Facebook's incessant recommendations and advertisements off-putting, but you probably keep the app on your phone for access to local groups and events.

A fair price

Meta Platforms is going to spend heaps on AI and metaverse initiatives, but it's returning even more to investors. The company declared a dividend earlier this year that currently offers a 0.5% yield. Plus, it returned $14.6 billion to shareholders in Q1 in the form of share repurchases.

Trailing-12-month earnings per share are up by 153% over the past five years, and the next five could be just as successful. Despite Meta's proven track record, the market isn't expecting much growth from Meta Platforms. At recent prices, you can buy the stock for just 21.6 times forward-looking earnings expectations. Scooping up some shares on the recent dip to hold over the long run looks like a smart move.

Should you invest $1,000 in Meta Platforms right now?

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Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Pinterest. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Is Beaten-Down Meta Platforms Stock a Buy on the Dip? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Ron Baron once told Elon Musk to stop tweeting. Associated Press via Business Wire

Billionaire investor Ron Baron told CNBC that Tesla is "going to go up huge."

The stock has reached bottom after investors were unsure if the firm was scrapping plans for a low-cost model.

Baron sees all cars being EVs in 10 to 15 years, and cited Tesla's cost efficiency compared to rivals.

Tesla's stock has reached a positive inflection point and will leave recent lows in the dust now that the company is giving investors what they want, according to billionaire investor Ron Baron.

"Oh, it's going to go up huge," he told CNBC on Wednesday. "Now is the bottom."

So far this year, Tesla shares have crashed more than 34%, driven downwards by a first-quarter delivery slag, reports of a pivot towards robotaxis, and a string of leadership controversies.

But to the Baron Capital founder, eroding sentiment had less to do with how the electric vehicle maker performed, but whether CEO Elon Musk was still committed to coming through on promised projects.

"When I think about the reasons the stock is down, it's because people were concerned that he was going to abandon the idea of having a low-cost car and go all into robotaxis," Baron said.

Doubts first crept in after a Reuters article announced that Tesla was scrapping such plans, a report Musk then went on to deny.

But now, the company's recent earnings call made clear that it would accelerate production of a more affordable model, and would also unveil its robotaxi later this year. Baron expects the firm to make 5 million of the new low-cost vehicle.

He also cited that Tesla could make a profit by eventually selling its full-self driving technology to other carmakers.

While Tesla's earnings also showed a 9% slump in first-quarter revenue, its stock has jumped close to 18% since then.

Before Tuesday's results were published, some analysts have cited long-term burdens that will continue weighing on the company, including an EV recession and rising competition, whether domestically or in offshore markets.

But Baron doubled down that Tesla continues to have a lead, pointing out the firm's cost efficiency. In his view, all cars will also be electric in 10 to 15 years, and hybrids  popular among rivals  won't last.

Meanwhile, China's rising BYD competitor is the only profitable firm in the country, he said, and still does not make as much as Tesla.

Tesla is the biggest holding in the Baron Partners Fund, CNBC said. Previously, Baron disclosed that he has made nearly 20 times its Tesla investment since buying the stock a decade prior.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The State of Ohio is safeguarding approximately $4 billion in unclaimed funds, some of which may be yours, according to a spokesperson from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds.

Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that banks and businesses report to the Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive.

>>RELATED: You could be in line to get unclaimed funds -- Heres why and how to check

In 2023, Ohioans reclaimed $139 million.

These funds can come from inactive checking and savings accounts, refund/credit balances, uncashed cashiers checks, forgotten utility deposits, and more, the spokesperson said.

While unclaimed funds can be reclaimed in three steps, some common misconceptions have developed over time.

The Division has dispelled the following myths and hopes these clarifications will encourage more Ohioans to claim their funds:

You must pay to file a claim: False -- It is 100% free to claim your unclaimed funds. Finders registered with the state may charge fees for helping you recover your funds, but you can easily claim them on your own. If you need help, the Division can walk you through the process.

Unclaimed Funds expire over time: False -- These funds never expire. The Divison will safeguard unclaimed funds until the rightful owner or heir claims it.

Youre careful with your finances so you dont have unclaimed funds: False -- 1/7 Americans currently have unclaimed funds in their name. This money can come from a wide range of places, so even if youre on top of your finances, there could be some missing.

Youve claimed Unclaimed Funds in the past, so you dont need to check again: False -- Ohio businesses are required to report Unclaimed Funds on an annual basis, so even if youve claimed money in the past, additional funds may have been reported.

You should only search for your unclaimed funds: False -- The Division encourages you to search for unclaimed funds for you, your friends, and your family. That way, if you discover they have missing money, you can let them know. Its also important to search for unclaimed funds that may belong to deceased family members so the proper steps can be taken to get those funds.

How to secure unclaimed funds in three easy steps:

Search for Monday at unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov. Gather the required support documents. Send the information to the Division online or by mail.




For the quarter ended March 2024, Boyd Gaming (BYD) reported revenue of $960.52 million, down 0.4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.51, compared to $1.71 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.40% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $947.26 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.57, the EPS surprise was -3.82%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Boyd performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Revenues- Online : $146.17 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $124.04 million.

Revenues by Segment- Managed & Other : $34.43 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $31.76 million.

Revenues by Segment- Midwest and South Region : $500.77 million compared to the $500.44 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.2% year over year.

Revenues by Segment- Las Vegas Locals : $225.62 million versus $232.11 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -6.1% change.

Revenues by Segment- Downtown Las Vegas : $53.53 million versus $58.54 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -5.4% change.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Online : $20.48 million versus $20.73 million estimated by five analysts on average.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Managed & Other : $24.78 million versus $21.15 million estimated by five analysts on average.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Las Vegas Locals : $110.44 million compared to the $117.17 million average estimate based on five analysts.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Downtown Las Vegas : $17.82 million compared to the $23.61 million average estimate based on five analysts.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Midwest and South : $180.99 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $188.17 million.

Adjusted EBITDAR- Corporate expense: -$24.02 million compared to the -$23.23 million average estimate based on four analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Boyd here>>>



Shares of Boyd have returned -4.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Boyd Gaming Corporation (BYD) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research
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While going from being broke to having millions might sound unrealistic, the businessman, author and investor Grant Cardone did just that. He now brings in around $100 million annually through seven businesses and manages $4 billion in assets. In The Millionaire Booklet: How To Get Super Rich, Cardone revealed the path to his success. Here are six things he explained you should do to become rich.

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1. Believe That Getting Rich Is Achievable

Like with any financial goal, your mindset can make or break your success. If you think that only the famous or highly advantaged can build wealth, youll likely fail to become a millionaire. Gardone emphasized that you need to stop seeing the millionaire life as some fantasy and instead consciously commit to achieving that goal.

2. Look at the Numbers

To better see how your millionaire goal is realistic, get a spreadsheet or pen and paper to look at some options for making that amount. In a blog post attributed to Cardone and posted on The Tradeshow Network website, he provided an example that you could make $1 million through 2,000 sales of a $500 product. You could also make the same amount over a year if you charge 5,000 customers for $17 monthly subscriptions.

3. Build Up Your Income

Cardone instructed readers to find multiple income sources to start working toward a millionaire goal. This includes several side gigs, including making podcasts, writing materials and teaching online. You can also purchase investments or start businesses to generate money.

4. Be Around Those With Money

Youll have a much better chance of becoming a millionaire if you seek out the right people. Cardone wrote in his book, You dont need to make money, you need to connect with those whove already collected money, who have money and exchange what you have (skills and knowledge) with what they have (money). Find people who would buy your products and investors who can commit funds to your business ideas.

5. Stay Broke

Cardone emphasized the importance of immediately stashing away extra money you have into special accounts. Along with preventing potentially wasteful spending, this move can encourage you to seek more ways to generate cash. Youll also be able to use that money for investments that help you build wealth.

6. Focus on Investing Rather Than Saving

The only reason to save money is to one day invest money, wrote Cardone. Leaving your money in savings accounts, which usually earn low returns, will make you miss out on opportunities to build lucrative income streams. Instead, you could put that cash to work to create businesses, become a passive real estate investor or invest in others business ideas.

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More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Was Broke, Now Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Ways I Got Rich (and Only One Involves Math)
The company behind one of the nations leading gas station and convenience store chains has leased property in the Irmo area where a Wells Fargo Bank once was.

Murphy Oil Corporation, which operates more than 1,700 gas stations and convenience stores nationwide, has signed a ground lease for the property at 6119 St. Andrews Road in Irmo, real estate firm Colliers South Carolina announced in a release. Thats at the busy intersection of St. Andrews Road and Irmos Bush River Road. The property in question is one acre.

As one of the largest independent retailers of gasoline products and convenience store merchandise, Murphy Oil Corporation boasts more than 1,700 locations in 27 states across the U.S., the Colliers release noted. The company opened 28 new locations in 2023 and plans to open 30 to 35 additional locations in 2024.

About 17,000 cars per day travel down St. Andrews Road near the property, with about 10,000 cars per day traversing nearby Bush River Road, per state traffic count data.

The leased site provides great visibility with close proximity to the Harbison shopping district, making it an ideal location for Murphy Oil Corporations growth objectives, Colliers noted in its release.

There are a host of Murphy gas stations across the Midlands, including one that recently opened along Bluff Road near Williams-Brice Stadium.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Galilee Energy is AU$0.053 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With AU$0.047 share price, Galilee Energy appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

Peers of Galilee Energy are currently trading on average at a 38% premium

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Galilee Energy Limited (ASX:GLL) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Galilee Energy

Crunching The Numbers

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$406.5k AU$544.9k AU$678.4k AU$799.2k AU$903.9k AU$992.7k AU$1.07m AU$1.13m AU$1.18m AU$1.23m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 47.75% Est @ 34.07% Est @ 24.50% Est @ 17.80% Est @ 13.11% Est @ 9.82% Est @ 7.52% Est @ 5.91% Est @ 4.79% Est @ 4.00% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.3% AU$0.4 AU$0.5 AU$0.5 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.7 AU$0.7 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$5.8m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.3%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$1.2m (1 + 2.2%)  (7.3% 2.2%) = AU$24m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$24m ( 1 + 7.3%)10= AU$12m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$18m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$0.05, the company appears about fair value at a 11% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Galilee Energy as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.119. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Galilee Energy, we've put together three pertinent factors you should assess:

Risks: You should be aware of the 3 warning signs for Galilee Energy (1 is a bit unpleasant!) we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Fatime Letifova

Wave-2024 joint tactical exercise, conducted with the involvement of servicemen and equipment of the Naval Forces and the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the territorial waters of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, have been successfully ended, Azernews reports.

The ships left the deployment point to eliminate the accident on the imaginary platform at sea, the tasks were coordinated with helicopters, ships and boats at the joint command post, and other tasks on provision of necessary aid in accident area were accomplished.

Moreover, the localization of the fire, search and rescue operations, diving inspection of underwater platform, organization of emergency duty, as well as other activities were implemented.

During the exercise, the Naval and MES ship and personnel accomplished the tasks with high professionalism.
Last week, you might have seen that Canadian National Railway Company (TSE:CNR) released its first-quarter result to the market. The early response was not positive, with shares down 2.7% to CA$170 in the past week. Results were roughly in line with estimates, with revenues of CA$4.2b and statutory earnings per share of CA$1.72. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Canadian National Railway after the latest results.

View our latest analysis for Canadian National Railway

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus from Canadian National Railway's 29 analysts is for revenues of CA$17.8b in 2024. This would reflect an okay 6.3% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to decrease 7.6% to CA$8.00 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of CA$17.8b and earnings per share (EPS) of CA$8.00 in 2024. So it's pretty clear that, although the analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results.

The analysts reconfirmed their price target of CA$182, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic Canadian National Railway analyst has a price target of CA$210 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at CA$155. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's clear from the latest estimates that Canadian National Railway's rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 8.5% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2024 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 4.0% p.a. over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 7.7% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Canadian National Railway is expected to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry.

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The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. Happily, there were no real changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow in line with the overall industry. The consensus price target held steady at CA$182, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have forecasts for Canadian National Railway going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

It is also worth noting that we have found 2 warning signs for Canadian National Railway that you need to take into consideration.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Ottawas corporate ethics watchdog has dropped its review of Hugo Bosss Canadian arm following the withdrawal of a complaint alleging its supply chain used and benefited from Uyghur forced labor.

The move comes nearly two years after a coalition of 28 organizations, including Stop Uyghur Genocide Canada, the Uyghur Refugee Relief Fund and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, accused the luxury purveyor of conducting business with Changji Esquel Textile Co., a yarn manufacturer that an Australian Strategic Policy Institute investigation linked to mass labor transfers, and Texhong Textile Group, which a Sheffield Hallam University report connected with the exploitation of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Changji Esquel Textile Co. was later placed on both the U.S. Department of Commerces Entity List and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

More from Sourcing Journal

The complainants said they had asked Hugo Boss Canada in December 2021 to cut off relations with Esquel and take reasonable steps to ensure that none of its materials are sourced in the controversial province. When the company reportedly didnt respond, they turned to the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, better known as the CORE, with a formal complaint.

In August, the CORE opened a fact-finding probe, noting that Hugo Boss Canada did not provide a substantive response to the complaint. The information raised by the two reports, together with bills of lading that tied Hugo Boss with overseas subsidiaries of Esquel Group, Changi Esquel Textile Co.s parent firm, also suggested that there may be grounds to warrant an investigation, it said at the time.

A spokesperson from Hugo Boss told Sourcing Journal following the COREs announcement that it does not source any goods that originate from Xinjiang and that the agency based its decision to investigate Hugo Boss Canada on the incorrect fact that it might still be ordering products from other Esquel entities outside of China. The representative also said that Hugo Boss was already winding down its relationship with Esquel in 2020 and 2021 and no longer traded with the company as of 2022.

The CORE said that executives from Hugo Boss Canada ultimately engaged in good faith and expressed an interest in resolving the complaint through its informal mediation services. Between November and March, all parties, including the complainants, executed a non-disclosure agreement and engaged in direct discussions.

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On March 4, the complainants told the CORE that Hugo Boss Canada had provided a satisfactory response or remedy to the allegations in the complaint and wished to rescind their filing. By May 7, the CORE had closed the dispute without a formal investigation and a recommendation that Hugo Boss continue to maintain a comprehensive approach to fulfill its responsibility to respect human rights per the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Conduct.

We are very pleased that the complaint was withdrawn as a result of our due diligence efforts, a Hugo Boss spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. Through an open dialogue with the complainants, we were able to showcase that Hugo Boss has implemented a comprehensive risk management system to monitor compliance with human rights throughout our value chain.

Complaints against the Canadian branches of Guess, Levi Strauss & Co., Ralph Lauren, Nike, Diesel, Walmart and Zara, filed by the same consortium of nonprofits, remain open.

Problem-solving through dialogue and information sharing by parties who make reasonable efforts to engage in good faith can also produce tangible results in advancing and protecting human rights, said ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer, who has spearheaded the CORE since its inception in 2019. The CORE looks forward to helping resolve more complaints through this mutually beneficial process.
In case you didn't know, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is back. The granddaddy of cryptocurrencies lost more than 70% of its value between November 2021 and November 2022. However, it's nearly quadrupled since then.

Could Bitcoin keep this momentum going? Ark Invest founder Cathie Wood thinks so. She expects the red-hot cryptocurrency to soar by more than 5,600%. However, not everyone agrees with her -- including one active trader on Capitol Hill.

Why Wood is so bullish on Bitcoin

Eleven investment firms won approval earlier in 2024 from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Wood's Ark Invest was one of them. It now markets several Bitcoin-focused ETFs.

The inflow of money into these new ETFs offered by Ark Invest and others has boosted the demand for Bitcoin. Wood said at the Bitcoin Investor Day conference in March that the SEC's approval served as an "institutional green light." She added that Ark Invest believes that institutional investors will allocate a little over 5% of their portfolios to Bitcoin in the future. This could push Bitcoin's price to $3.8 million, according to Ark Invest's analysis.

There's also another reason why Wood likes Bitcoin over the short term: the cryptocurrency's halving. This halving occurs every four years or so. The most recent one took place on April 19.

Bitcoin skyrocketed after the previous halvings in 2012, 2016, and 2020. Wood predicted at the Bitcoin Investor Conference that this year's halving should provide a big catalyst too.

A Michigan congressman who's negative about crypto

Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., doesn't share Wood's rosy outlook about Bitcoin. The congressman recently dumped his Bitcoin stake. Thanedar didn't even wait for the halving event; he sold on Feb. 5, 2024.

The Michigan Democrat isn't only negative about Bitcoin. On the same day he sold Bitcoin, he also slashed his stakes in Ethereum and LiteCoin.

Has Rep. Thanedar become a crypto bear? Maybe. But even if so, his bearish perspective isn't limited to cryptocurrencies. Thanedar has also aggressively sold several stocks in recent months, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft.

His selling extended beyond the so-called "Magnificent Seven" stocks as well. In January, Thanedar reduced his stake in Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway too.

Bitcoin: Buy or sell?

Is Bitcoin a screaming buy or a sell? I'm somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

I doubt that Wood's prediction of institutional investors parking over 5% of their portfolios in Bitcoin will happen. So far, the recent halving hasn't sparked a big rally for the cryptocurrency.

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On the other hand, I don't think investors should necessarily dump their positions in Bitcoin as Rep. Thanedar did recently. For the record, I suspect his selling of all the stocks mentioned previously will prove to be shortsighted over the long term.

Buffett once referred to Bitcoin as "rat poison squared." The legendary investor is right that the cryptocurrency doesn't have intrinsic value in the same way that stocks do. However, a similar argument could be made about gold -- and investors have bought it for a long time. Because Bitcoin is only worth what people believe it's worth, though, it's easy to envision how it could be worth a lot more -- or a lot less -- in the future.

Should you invest $1,000 in Bitcoin right now?

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Cathie Wood Expects This Red-Hot Cryptocurrency to Soar by 5,600%, but 1 Member of Congress Has Been Dumping His Stake in Crypto was originally published by The Motley Fool
Even if it's not a huge purchase, we think it was good to see that Mui Kee Yap, the Chairman of LHT Holdings Limited (SGX:BEI) recently shelled out S$78k to buy stock, at S$1.16 per share. Nevertheless, it only increased their shareholding by a minuscule percentage, and it wasn't a massive purchase by absolute value, either.

See our latest analysis for LHT Holdings

LHT Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Notably, that recent purchase by Chairman Mui Kee Yap was not the only time they bought LHT Holdings shares this year. Earlier in the year, they paid S$0.82 per share in a S$82k purchase. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of S$1.22. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

Mui Kee Yap bought 515.60k shares over the last 12 months at an average price of S$0.97. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Does LHT Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. LHT Holdings insiders own about S$36m worth of shares (which is 56% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Do The LHT Holdings Insider Transactions Indicate?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about LHT Holdings. Looks promising! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing LHT Holdings. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for LHT Holdings that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported at $2.97, slightly above the estimated $2.87.

Net Income: Reported at $5.5 billion, surpassing the estimate of $5.35 billion.

Revenue: Details not provided in the text, comparison with the estimated $50.66 billion cannot be made.

Production: Worldwide production increased by 12% compared to the same period last year.

Dividend: Increased dividend payout by 8% from the previous quarter, with a quarterly dividend declared at $1.63 per share.

Share Repurchases: Nearly $3 billion in shares repurchased during the quarter.

Capital Expenditures: Increased to $4.1 billion in the first quarter, up from $3.0 billion in the same period last year.

Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) released its 8-K filing on April 26, 2024, disclosing its financial results for the first quarter of 2024. The company reported earnings of $5.5 billion, translating to $2.97 per share on a diluted basis, closely aligning with analyst estimates of $2.87 per share. This performance marks a slight decrease from the previous year's $6.6 billion, or $3.46 per share. Adjusted earnings were slightly lower at $5.4 billion or $2.93 per share, compared to last year's $6.7 billion or $3.55 per share.

Chevron Corp (CVX) Reports Q1 2024 Earnings: A Close Call with Analyst Projections

Company Overview

Chevron is an integrated energy company engaged globally in oil and gas exploration, production, and refining. As the second-largest oil company in the United States, Chevron boasts a daily production of 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent, including significant natural gas outputs. The company operates across multiple continents including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, with a refining capacity of 1.8 million barrels of oil per day. At the end of 2023, Chevron's proven reserves stood at 11.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Operational Highlights and Strategic Achievements

Chevron's operational performance saw a significant boost with a 12% increase in worldwide production, largely attributed to the acquisition of PDC Energy, Inc. and robust activities in the Permian and Denver-Julesburg basins. Notably, the U.S. net oil-equivalent production surged by 35% compared to the previous year. Strategic milestones included the advancement of the Wellhead Pressure Management Project in Kazakhstan and initiatives in hydrogen and renewable fuels.

Financially, Chevron demonstrated strong cash management, returning $6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of substantial cash returns. The company's capital employed returned a robust 12.4%, with capital expenditures amounting to $4.1 billion, reflecting heightened investments in upstream assets.

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Financial Performance Analysis

Despite the promising production increases, Chevron faced challenges with lower margins on refined product sales and decreased natural gas realizations, which contributed to the year-over-year earnings decline. However, these were partly offset by higher upstream sales volumes in the U.S. The company's downstream operations, particularly in the U.S., were impacted by lower margins and higher operating expenses, while international downstream earnings also declined due to similar pressures.

The company's balance sheet remains strong with a net debt ratio of 8.8%, showcasing effective leverage management. Cash flow from operations stood at $6.8 billion, although this was a decrease from the previous year's $7.2 billion, primarily due to lower earnings and increased capital outlays.

Looking Forward

Chevron's strategic initiatives, particularly in renewable energy and carbon management, align with its long-term vision of reducing carbon intensity and enhancing energy efficiency. The company's ongoing projects and new ventures, such as the solar-to-hydrogen production and oilseed processing plant, highlight its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the energy sector.

As Chevron continues to navigate the complexities of the global energy market, its focus on expanding its lower carbon businesses and robust cash flow management positions it well to meet future challenges and shareholder expectations.

For more detailed information, including investor presentations and future outlooks, visit Chevrons Investor Relations page at Chevrons IR.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Chevron Corp for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Long term investing can be life changing when you buy and hold the truly great businesses. While the best companies are hard to find, but they can generate massive returns over long periods. For example, the China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (TSE:CGG) share price is up a whopping 374% in the last half decade, a handsome return for long term holders. If that doesn't get you thinking about long term investing, we don't know what will. On top of that, the share price is up 40% in about a quarter.

Although China Gold International Resources has shed CA$115m from its market cap this week, let's take a look at its longer term fundamental trends and see if they've driven returns.

View our latest analysis for China Gold International Resources

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

We know that China Gold International Resources has been profitable in the past. However, it made a loss in the last twelve months, suggesting profit may be an unreliable metric at this stage. So it might be better to look at other metrics to try to understand the share price.

In contrast revenue growth of 7.6% per year is probably viewed as evidence that China Gold International Resources is growing, a real positive. It's quite possible that management are prioritizing revenue growth over EPS growth at the moment.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

Investors should note that there's a difference between China Gold International Resources' total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Dividends have been really beneficial for China Gold International Resources shareholders, and that cash payout contributed to why its TSR of 462%, over the last 5 years, is better than the share price return.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that China Gold International Resources shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 18% over the last year. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 41% a year, is even better. Potential buyers might understandably feel they've missed the opportunity, but it's always possible business is still firing on all cylinders. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with China Gold International Resources , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
About six weeks after filing for bankruptcy, Joann Inc. Thursday afternoon said a federal judge has approved its plan to reorganize, remain in business and operate as a private company.

"Joann expects to successfully complete its financial restructuring and emerge from the court-supervised process in the coming days," the company said in a press release issued from its Hudson, Ohio headquarters.

The company has said all along it hoped the bankruptcy would allow it to reduce its debt by over half a billion dollars while keeping its more than 800 stores open and fully operational.

Joann's operates several stores in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Joann Inc, the national fabric and craft story chain based in Hudson, announced Thursday it is already emerging from bankruptcy just more than a month after filing Chapter 11.

Thursday's announcement said the company will "preserve the jobs of its more than 18,000 Team Members" as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.

Chris DiTullio, chief customer officer and co-lead of the interim office of the CEO, called the restructuring a "significant milestone."

"We could not have reached this point without the unwavering dedication of our Team Members, the continued support of our industry partners and landlords, and the tremendous loyalty and enthusiasm of our customers," he said in a release.

Scott Sekella, the company's CFO and other co-lead of the interim office of the CEO, added that the company was grateful to financial and industry stakeholders who enabled Joann to keep operating in recent weeks.

Those stakeholders, which Joann did not name, will now own and operate the company as a private entity.

"With a strengthened balance sheet and improved liquidity, we are better positioned to work collaboratively with our vendors, business partners and landlords, and ultimately to inspire the creativity in our customers that helps them find their happy place," Sekella said in a release.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cincinnati Joann stores will remain open as company goes private
NBCUniversal owner Comcast has disclosed higher 2023 compensation packages for chairman and CEO Brian Roberts and president Michael Cavanagh, along with pay details for other top executives.

Comcasts proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, a day after the companys first-quarter 2024 earnings report, showed that Roberts pay hit $35.5 million in 2023, up 11 percent compared with $32.1 million in 2022. He had made $34 million in 2021, $32.7 million in 2020 and $36.4 million in 2019.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Cavanaghs compensation package was worth $29.6 million last year, down 27 percent from $40.5 million in 2022 when he had served as chief financial officer until being promoted to president in October 2022, which brought him a pay boost. Jason Armstrong then took over as CFO in early 2023.

Cavanagh saw increases across most compensation categories, but his options awards for 2023 amounted to $7.0 million, compared with $21.1 million in 2022 when he was elevated.

Roberts salary remained at $2.5 million in 2023, but his stock awards rose from $13.4 million in 2022 to $15.0 million, his option awards from $8.5 million to $9.2 million, and his non-equity incentive plan compensation from $7.5 million to $8.6 million.

In its regulatory filing, Comcast touted Roberts invaluable long-term vision and stability. It added that the CEO sets the tone for our businesses to execute at the highest level and to continue their strong collaboration and has thoughtfully developed key senior leadership talent. Concluded the filing about Roberts: He also has continued our companys commitment to advancing digital equity, a culture of integrity and respect and environmental sustainability.

Armstrongs pay package hit $11.6 million.

The compensation unveiled for Comcast top brass on Friday was for what was a strong 2023 for the conglomerate. Comcasts stock jumped 26 percent last year. The companys revenue also climbed slightly in 2023 to $121.6 billion, adjusted net income rose 2 percent to $16.5 billion, while Comcasts free cash flow increased 2.5 percent to nearly $13.0 billion.

Comcast previously also touted the highest-ever fourth-quarter and full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for its theme parks unit. And its streamer Peacock surpassed $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. In January, Cavanagh called Peacock the fastest-growing streamer in the U.S., while CFO Armstrong highlighted: 2023 marked the peak in annual losses at Peacock and for 2024 we expect to show meaningful improvements in losses, versus 2023.

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Fridays Comcast proxy statement included a message from Roberts and lead independent director Edward Breen. We are pleased to report that 2023 was another record year for Comcast. We delivered some of our best financial results in history, returned $16 billion of capital to shareholders and raised our dividend for the 16th consecutive time, they wrote. Our strong performance was fueled by meaningful investments and execution across our six key growth areas.

They also touted that Comcast is providing unparalleled entertainment experiences that delight viewers and guests, highlighting: Our film business ranked #1 by worldwide box office in 2023, buoyed by blockbuster hits such as Oppenheimer, which earned seven Academy Awards, including best picture. Peacock remained the fastest-growing streaming service in America in 2023, increasing paid subscribers by nearly 50 percent to 31 million. And, at theme parks, we achieved record-high revenue and adjusted EBITDA and have a pipeline of exciting new attractions and experiences coming soon, including the much-anticipated opening of Epic Universe in 2025.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Consensys, an Ethereum development firm, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, challenging the agencys stance on Ethereums Ether (ETH).

The legal action, taken in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, aims to block the SEC from labeling ETH as a security, a move Consensys argues could disrupt the Ethereum network and its operations.

The company asserts that such a classification by the SEC would hinder the functionality of Ethereums decentralized applications and services, potentially damaging the blockchains utility in the United States.

The lawsuit highlights the potential adverse effects of the SECs approach on Consensys MetaMask wallet, which allows users to manage ETH and other digital currencies.

Consensys said that it has received a Wells notice and three subpoenas from the SEC, indicating the agencys intention to possibly pursue enforcement actions related to MetaMasks Swaps and Staking features, and suggesting that Consensys acted as an unregistered broker-dealer.

The firm is requesting a judicial declaration that ETH is not a security and that its ETH sales are not securities transactions.

Consensys legal battle with the SEC comes at a time when the regulatory body faces criticism for its unclear enforcement policies in the digital asset space.

The lack of formal rulemaking has left companies like Consensys in a regulatory gray area, prompting calls for more definitive guidelines. This lawsuit echoes a similar action taken by Coinbase, which also demands clearer regulations for the cryptocurrency sector.

SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda have publicly denounced the agencys vague enforcement strategies, underscoring the necessity for more transparent regulatory frameworks.
LONDON (AP)  TikTok is in the crosshairs of authorities in the U.S., where new law threatens a nationwide ban unless its China-based parent ByteDance divests. It would be the biggest blow yet to the popular video-sharing app, which has faced various restrictions around the world.

TikTok is already banned in a handful of countries and from government-issued devices in a number of others, due to official worries that the app poses privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

Those fears are reflected in the U.S. law, which is the culmination of long-held bipartisan fears in Washington that Chinas communist leaders could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data, or influence Americans by suppressing or promoting certain content. TikTok has long maintained that it doesnt share data with the Chinese government and its CEO has taken a defiant stance, vowing to fight back.

Here are the places that have partial or total bans on TikTok:

AFGHANISTAN

TikTok has been banned since 2022, along with videogame PUBG, after the country's Taliban leadership decided to forbid access on the grounds of protecting young people from being misled.

AUSTRALIA

TikTok is not allowed on devices issued by the Australian federal government. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said he made the decision after getting advice from the countrys intelligence and security agencies.

BELGIUM

The National Security Council decided last month to indefinitely ban TikTok from devices owned or paid for by the federal government. The ban was issued on a temporary basis last year on worries about cybersecurity, privacy and misinformation. Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said it was based on warnings from the countrys state security service and cybersecurity center.

CANADA

Devices issued by the federal government are forbidden from using TikTok. Officials cited an unacceptable risk to privacy and security and said the app would be removed from devices and employees blocked from downloading it.

CHINA

TikTok has never been available in mainland China, a fact that CEO Shou Chew has mentioned in testimony to U.S. lawmakers. ByteDance instead offers Chinese users Douyin, a similar video-sharing app that follows Beijings strict censorship rules. TikTok also ceased operations in Hong Kong after a sweeping Chinese national security law took effect.

DENMARK

Denmarks Defense Ministry banned its employees from having TikTok on their work phones, ordering staffers who have installed it to remove the app from devices as soon as possible. The ministry said the reasons for the ban included both weighty security considerations as well as very limited work-related need to use the app.

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EUROPEAN UNION

The European Parliament, European Commission and the EU Council, the 27-member blocs three main institutions, have imposed bans on TikTok on staff devices. Under the European Parliaments ban, lawmakers and staff were also advised to remove the TikTok app from their personal devices.

FRANCE

Recreational use of TikTok and other social media apps like Twitter and Instagram on government employees phones has been banned because of worries about insufficient data security measures. The French government didnt name specific apps but noted the decision came after other governments took measures targeting TikTok.

INDIA

India imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps like messaging app WeChat in 2020 over privacy and security concerns. The ban came shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at a disputed Himalayan border killed 20 Indian soldiers and injured dozens. The companies were given a chance to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the ban was made permanent in 2021.

INDONESIA

TikTok isn't entirely banned in the sprawling, populous Southeast Asian nation, only its online retail function, after the authorities clamped down on e-commerce transactions carried out on social media platforms in a bid to protect small businesses.

LATVIA

Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted that he deleted his TikTok account and that the app is also prohibited from official foreign ministry smartphones.

NETHERLANDS

The Dutch central government banned apps including TikTok from employee work phones citing data security concerns. A government statement did not name TikTok specifically but said civil servants are discouraged from having apps from countries with an offensive cyber program against the Netherlands and/or Dutch interests installed and used on their mobile work devices.

NEPAL

The Himalayan country imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok, saying it was disrupting social harmony and goodwill and blaming it for a flow of indecent materials. Authorities ordered the telecom company to block access to the app.

NEW ZEALAND

Lawmakers in New Zealand and staff at the nations Parliament are prohibited from having the TikTok app on their work phones, following advice from government cybersecurity experts. The app was removed from all devices with access to the parliamentary network, although officials can make special arrangements for anybody who needs TikTok to perform their democratic duties.

NORWAY

The Norwegian parliament banned Tiktok on work devices after the countrys Justice Ministry warned the app shouldnt be installed on phones issued to government employees. The Parliaments speaker said TikTok shouldnt be on devices that have access to the assemblys systems and should be removed as quickly as possible. The countrys capital Oslo and second largest city Bergen also urged municipal employees to remove TikTok from their work phones.

PAKISTAN

Pakistani authorities have temporarily banned TikTok at least four times since 2020, citing concerns that the app promotes immoral content.

SOMALIA

The government ordered telecom companies to block access to TikTok, along with messaging app Telegram and gambling platform 1XBET. Officials said they were concerned that the platforms could spread extremist content, nude images and other material seen as offensive to Somali culture and Islam.

TAIWAN

Taiwan imposed a public sector ban on TikTok after the FBI warned that the app posed a national security risk. Government devices, including mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers, are not allowed to use Chinese-made software, which includes apps like TikTok, its Chinese equivalent Douyin, or Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle content app.

UNITED KINGDOM

British authorities banned TikTok from mobile phones used by government ministers and civil servants. Officials said the ban was a precautionary move on security grounds and doesnt apply to personal devices. The British Parliament followed up by banning TikTok from all official devices and the wider parliamentary network. The semi-autonomous Scottish government and London City Hall also banned TikTok from staff devices. The BBC urged staff to delete TikTok from corporate devices unless theyre using it for editorial and marketing reasons.

UNITED STATES

U.S. authorities ordered government agencies to delete TikTok from federal devices and systems over data security concerns. More than half of the 50 U.S. states also have banned the app from official devices, as have Congress and the U.S. armed forces. Montana's efforts to bring in a state-wide ban failed, as did a proposal in Virginia to block kids from using it.
Ulviyya Shahin

Azerbaijan, thanks to local talent, enjoys a more advantageous position than many leading global economies in terms of talent availability, reads a study Decoding Global Talent 2024 by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Azernews reports.

The study, titled "Decoding Global Talent 2024," draws on survey data from over 150,000 respondents in 188 countries. It marks the fourth edition in a series, with previous editions released in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

BCG experts attribute the looming gap in the global labor market to declining birth rates and mismatches between job supply and demand.

Kirill Tuishev, head of BCG's Baku office, managing director, and senior partner, emphasized the growth potential enabled by the local talent pool. He highlighted the doubling in size of their Baku office within two years, crediting it to the availability of local talent.

Azerbaijan holds notable competitive advantages, including a youthful average population age of 31-32 and a strong historical emphasis on education.

However, Tuishev noted challenges faced by Azerbaijan, such as retaining local talent. He stressed the need to capitalize on competitive advantages and create opportunities for professional development that surpass those available abroad.

Survey results indicate that global talent relocates primarily for professional advancement, citing financial incentives (64%) and career prospects (56%) as key motivators. Quality job opportunities (65%) are the primary factor in choosing a destination, followed by quality of life and climate (54%).

English-speaking regions with robust economies, such as Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK, are among the top destinations. London ranks highest among cities, with New York also in the top five.

Younger individuals and those from regions with growing populations are more likely to relocate. Regions with labor surpluses, like the Middle East and Africa, exhibit higher mobility rates, while those with shrinking labor forces, such as North America and Europe, have lower rates of willingness to relocate.
CREDICORP LTD. C/O BANCO DE CREDITO

Lima, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lima, PERU, April 25th, 2024 -- Credicorp Ltd. (Credicorp or the Company) (NYSE: BAP | BVL: BAP), the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia and Panama today announces to its shareholders and the market that the Board of Directors declared a dividend of S/35.0 per share on the issued shares of the common stock of Credicorp, an increase from the prior annual dividend of S/25.0 per share. The cash dividend will be paid out on June 14th, 2024, without withholding tax at source, to shareholders of record on May 20th, 2024.

Dividends continue to be an integral part of our approach to shareholder value creation. We're proud to be increasing our annual dividend. This years 40% increase reflects the resiliency of our results and our confidence in both our growth potential and cash flow generation capacity. commented Gianfranco Ferrari, CEO of Credicorp.

In its session held on April 25th, 2024, the Board agreed unanimously to the distribution of a total dividend of S/3,303,381,095.00 for a total of 94,382,317 issued shares in accordance with the Byelaws of the Company and in consideration of a total net income attained in the 2023 financial year of S/4,865,540,233.17. The dividend will be paid in US Dollars using the weighted exchange rate registered by the Peruvian Superintendency of Banks, Insurance and Pension Funds (Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP) for the transactions at the close of business on June 12th, 2024. The US Dollar dividend amount will be rounded up to four decimals.

About Credicorp

Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Credito del Peru  BCP and Banco de Credito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Banking & Wealth Management, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and ASB Bank Corp.

For further information please contact the IR team:

investorrelations@credicorpperu.com

Investor Relations

Credicorp Ltd.




By Nathan Gomes and Ben Klayman

(Reuters) -Daimler Truck agreed to a new labor contract on Friday with over 7,300 hourly workers represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) at six facilities in the U.S. South, averting a strike at the 11th hour.

"For months, we said that record profits should mean a record contract with no concessions," UAW President Shawn Fain said in a late-night appearance on YouTube from Charlotte, North Carolina, near where the company has plants.

"Our determination and solidarity has delivered," he said of the tentative deal, which workers still must ratify.

Daimler Truck, which makes Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built buses, had faced the possibility of a strike beginning at midnight ET (0400 GMT on Saturday).

Daimler Truck said in a statement: "The UAW members... will now be asked to vote on the new contracts, and we hope to finalize them soon, for the mutual benefit of all parties."

The deal at the German truck maker, which was spun off from what is now automaker Mercedes, comes just three weeks before votes on whether to join the UAW will be tallied at a Mercedes assembly plant in Alabama.

Fain's speech on Friday started almost an hour later than scheduled as Daimler Truck made late concessions, Fain explained. Several times during the talks last fall with the Detroit Three automakers - General Motors, Ford and Stellantis - the threat of a deadline led the companies to make concessions to avoid the strike's expansion.

Under Friday's deal, Daimler Truck workers will receive a minimum 25% general wage increase over the four-year contract, Fain said. That would match what workers at the Detroit Three received.

When the deal is ratified, Fain said members will receive an immediate 10% pay raise, followed by 3% increases six months and 12 months later.

They also will receive cost-of-living adjustments to offset inflation and profit-sharing, both for the first time at Daimler Truck, as well as the end of wage tiers that paid those building buses less than those building heavy trucks, he said.

The lowest paid workers at Thomas Built will see raises of more than $8 an hour and some skilled trades workers at that unit will see increases of more than $17 an hour, Fain said.

The deal also includes increased job security and improved health and safety benefits, he said.

About 96% of the Daimler Truck workers at four factories in North Carolina, and parts warehouses in Georgia and Tennessee had voted in March to authorize a strike.

The union had also filed unfair labor practice charges with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board against the company, citing violation of workers' rights and federal labor laws, and for failing to bargain in good faith.

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Since the deals last fall with the Detroit Three, the UAW has turned its efforts to organizing non-union U.S. plants of more than a dozen automakers.

The UAW clinched a historic victory at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week, and workers at a Mercedes factory in Vance, Alabama, are going to vote on whether to join the union during the week of May 13.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and William Mallard)
CoStar Group Inc showcases robust revenue growth amidst challenging market conditions.

Strategic acquisitions and expansion into international markets bolster CoStar's competitive edge.

Increased operating expenses highlight areas for efficiency improvements.

CoStar's forward-looking strategies focus on leveraging strengths and mitigating industry threats.

On April 24, 2024, CoStar Group Inc, a leader in commercial real estate data and marketplace platforms, filed its 10-Q report with the SEC, revealing key financial figures and strategic insights. The company reported a revenue increase to $656.4 million for the first quarter of 2024, up from $584.4 million in the same period last year. Despite this growth, CoStar experienced a net income drop to $6.7 million, a stark contrast to the previous year's $87.1 million, largely due to heightened selling and marketing expenses and software development costs. This financial snapshot sets the stage for a comprehensive SWOT analysis, providing investors with a deeper understanding of CoStar Group Inc's operational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Decoding CoStar Group Inc (CSGP): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Market Leadership and Brand Portfolio: CoStar Group Inc's strength lies in its market-leading position and diverse portfolio of flagship brands such as CoStar Suite, LoopNet, and Apartments.com. The company's revenue model is predominantly subscription-based, contributing to over 80% of its revenue, which underscores the strength of its recurring income streams. CoStar's comprehensive database, covering over 5 million commercial real estate properties, provides a competitive edge by offering in-depth analytical information across various subsectors. The brand's reputation for quality and reliability attracts a loyal customer base, which is evident from the company's robust revenue growth despite market challenges.

International Expansion: CoStar's recent expansion into Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France represents a strategic move to diversify its market presence and reduce reliance on the domestic market. This international growth not only broadens the company's revenue base but also enhances its global brand recognition. The acquisition of OnTheMarket and the integration of its operations into CoStar's portfolio further solidify the company's international footprint, providing a platform for future growth in the residential real estate sector.

Weaknesses

Rising Operating Expenses: A notable weakness for CoStar Group Inc is the significant increase in operating expenses, particularly in selling and marketing, which surged to $366.1 million from $226.3 million year-over-year. This rise indicates a potential inefficiency in cost management that could impact profitability if not addressed. Additionally, the company's software development costs have escalated to $82.4 million, reflecting the intensive investment required to maintain and enhance its technological edge. While these investments are crucial for long-term growth, they currently strain the company's financial performance, as evidenced by the reduced net income.

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Market Sensitivity: CoStar's business model, while robust, is sensitive to economic cycles, particularly in the commercial real estate sector. The company's performance is closely tied to the health of the real estate market, which can be volatile and subject to macroeconomic factors. This sensitivity is a weakness that requires strategic management to navigate through periods of market downturns.

Opportunities

Technological Advancements: The ongoing digital transformation in the real estate industry presents significant opportunities for CoStar Group Inc. By leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics, CoStar can enhance its product offerings, improve user experience, and drive efficiency in its operations. The company's investment in software development positions it well to capitalize on these technological trends and meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Strategic Acquisitions: CoStar's history of strategic acquisitions, including the recent OnTheMarket deal, demonstrates its ability to identify and integrate valuable assets that complement its core business. The company has the opportunity to continue this approach, targeting acquisitions that can expand its service offerings, enter new markets, or consolidate its position in existing ones. Such acquisitions can drive revenue growth and diversify CoStar's income sources.

Threats

Competitive Pressure: The commercial real estate data and marketplace industry is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. CoStar Group Inc faces the threat of emerging competitors that may offer innovative solutions or more aggressive pricing strategies. To maintain its leadership position, CoStar must continuously invest in product development and marketing, which could further strain its financial resources.

Regulatory Changes: CoStar operates in a regulatory environment that can be subject to changes, particularly in the areas of data privacy and antitrust laws. Any significant regulatory shifts could impact the company's operations, compliance costs, and competitive landscape. CoStar must remain vigilant and adaptable to navigate these potential regulatory challenges.

In conclusion, CoStar Group Inc's SWOT analysis reveals a company with strong market leadership and a strategic approach to international expansion. However, it must address the challenges posed by rising operating expenses and market sensitivity. Opportunities in technological advancements and strategic acquisitions are promising, but competitive pressures and regulatory changes pose threats that require careful management. Overall, CoStar's forward-looking strategies and robust brand portfolio position it well to leverage its strengths and capitalize on market opportunities while mitigating inherent risks.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


General Dynamics Corp showcases robust revenue growth and solid earnings performance.

Strategic defense contracts and advanced technology segments bolster the company's market position.

Global aerospace and defense landscapes present both opportunities and challenges for GD.

GD's financial strategy and market adaptability remain key to navigating geopolitical uncertainties.

General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:GD), a leading defense contractor and business jet manufacturer, reported its latest financial results on April 24, 2024, through a 10-Q filing. The company's diverse portfolio spans across aerospace, marine, combat systems, and technology segments, each contributing to its robust market presence. The recent filing indicates a financial uptick, with product revenue climbing from $5,513 million to $6,134 million and service revenue increasing from $4,368 million to $4,597 million year-over-year. Operating earnings also saw a rise from $938 million to $1,036 million, showcasing the company's operational efficiency and strategic execution. With net earnings escalating from $730 million to $799 million, GD demonstrates a strong financial foundation and growth trajectory. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as revealed by the latest financial data and market trends.

Decoding General Dynamics Corp (GD): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Robust Financial Performance: General Dynamics Corp's financial health is a testament to its operational excellence. The company's revenue has seen a significant increase, with product and service revenues rising year-over-year. This growth is supported by a strong balance sheet, with net earnings escalating from $730 million to $799 million. The company's ability to maintain and grow its earnings amidst a complex global market is indicative of its strong financial management and strategic planning.

Market Leadership in Defense and Aerospace: GD's market position is fortified by its leading role in the defense and aerospace sectors. The company's combat systems, including the M1 Abrams tank and Stryker armored personnel carrier, are cornerstones of its product line, contributing to its revenue growth. Additionally, the successful certification of the Gulfstream G700 aircraft and the anticipated delivery of 50 G700 aircraft within the year highlight GD's innovation and market responsiveness in the aerospace industry.

Diversified Product Portfolio: The company's diversified portfolio across aerospace, marine, combat systems, and technology segments provides a competitive edge. This diversification not only spreads risk but also allows GD to capitalize on various market opportunities. The increase in revenue from the Columbia-class submarine program and heightened demand for artillery products further illustrate the strength of GD's product mix.

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Weaknesses

Supply Chain and Production Challenges: Despite its financial success, General Dynamics Corp faces supply chain challenges that have paced its ability to ramp up production, particularly in the Aerospace segment. These challenges have led to out-of-sequence manufacturing, which can increase costs and reduce operational efficiency. The impact of these challenges is a critical area for improvement to ensure sustained growth and profitability.

Dependence on Government Spending: With approximately 70% of GD's revenue stemming from U.S. government contracts, fluctuations in defense spending and government budget allocations pose a significant risk. The company's reliance on government contracts makes it susceptible to changes in political priorities and defense budgets, which could impact its financial performance.

Geopolitical Sensitivities: General Dynamics Corp's operations are sensitive to global political and economic conditions. The ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas war, could affect the company's international operations and supply chain, necessitating a vigilant approach to risk management.

Opportunities

Increasing Global Defense Spending: The current geopolitical landscape, characterized by heightened security concerns and military engagements, presents an opportunity for GD to expand its defense contracts. The recent U.S. government defense appropriations bill, which provides a spending increase, supports key programs that are likely to benefit GD's financial outlook for 2024.

Technological Advancements: General Dynamics Corp's technology segment, with its focus on command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, positions the company to capitalize on the growing demand for advanced technological solutions in defense and aerospace. Continued investment in R&D and product development can drive future growth and market share.

International Market Expansion: GD's strong brand and reputation in the defense and aerospace sectors open avenues for international market expansion. The company's ability to secure contracts for the sale of Abrams tanks to U.S. allies and partners, as well as wheeled vehicle sales in Europe, indicates the potential for further growth in global markets.

Threats

Economic and Trade Sanctions: The imposition of economic and trade sanctions, particularly in response to global conflicts, can disrupt General Dynamics Corp's international operations and supply chain. The company must navigate these sanctions carefully to avoid adverse impacts on its business activities and financial results.

Competitive Pressures: The defense and aerospace industries are highly competitive, with numerous players vying for government contracts and market share. GD must continuously innovate and offer competitive pricing to maintain its position against rivals in the industry.

Regulatory and Legal Risks: General Dynamics Corp operates in a heavily regulated environment, and compliance with government regulations is critical. Legal proceedings and government audits can pose significant risks, requiring the company to maintain stringent quality control and compliance measures.

In conclusion, General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:GD) exhibits a strong financial performance with a diversified portfolio that positions it well in the defense and aerospace markets. However, supply chain challenges, dependence on government spending, and geopolitical sensitivities are areas that require strategic attention. Opportunities for growth are abundant, with increasing defense spending and technological advancements paving the way

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Comprehensive SWOT analysis based on the latest 10-Q SEC filing.

Financial performance highlights and strategic positioning of Molina Healthcare Inc.

Detailed examination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats influencing MOH's market outlook.

On April 25, 2024, Molina Healthcare Inc (NYSE:MOH) filed its 10-Q report with the SEC, providing a detailed account of its financial performance for the first quarter of the year. As a premier provider of Medicaid-related healthcare plans, MOH has demonstrated a robust financial trajectory with total revenue reaching $9,931 million, a significant increase from $8,149 million in the previous year. This financial overview sets the stage for a SWOT analysis that will delve into the company's competitive advantages, areas for improvement, market prospects, and potential challenges.

Decoding Molina Healthcare Inc (MOH): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Expansive Membership Growth and Revenue Increase: MOH's membership has seen a substantial uptick, growing to approximately 5.7 million members, a 9% increase from the previous year. This growth is reflected in the 21% increase in premium revenue, which soared to $9.5 billion. The company's strategic expansions, such as the commencement of the Iowa Medicaid contract and acquisitions like My Choice Wisconsin and Bright Health Medicare, have significantly contributed to this growth. The diversified membership base across Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace segments solidifies MOH's position in the healthcare market.

Robust Financial Performance: MOH's financial health is a testament to its operational efficiency. The company reported a net income of $301 million, with a diluted net income per share of $5.17. Investment income also saw a 52% increase, contributing to the company's strong bottom line. MOH's ability to manage its medical care costs effectively is evident in its consolidated medical care ratio (MCR) of 88.5%, which, despite a slight increase from the previous year, remains within a competitive range.

Strategic Acquisitions and Contract Wins: MOH's proactive approach to growth through strategic acquisitions and contract wins has been a driving force behind its expanding market share. The acquisition of Bright Health Medicare and the new contracts in Nebraska and California have allowed MOH to bolster its service offerings and reach. The company's success in securing a contract in six service regions in Michigan further demonstrates its competitive edge in winning significant state bids.

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Weaknesses

Impact of Medicaid Redeterminations: MOH's performance is not without its challenges. The company has faced headwinds due to Medicaid redeterminations, which have impacted membership numbers and, consequently, premium revenues. This underscores the inherent volatility in government-sponsored healthcare programs, where policy changes can significantly affect the company's financials.

Dependence on Government Contracts: MOH's reliance on state and federal contracts for a substantial portion of its revenue stream introduces a degree of risk. Changes in government policies, budget constraints, or loss of contracts through competitive bidding processes can pose significant threats to the company's revenue and growth prospects.

Legal and Regulatory Challenges: The company is currently engaged in legal actions, such as the protest over the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services' decision not to award MOH a contract. These legal battles not only incur costs but also create uncertainty around future revenue streams and market presence.

Opportunities

Expansion into New Markets: MOH's recent contract wins and acquisitions have opened doors to new markets, presenting opportunities for further growth. The company's entry into the Nebraska Medicaid market and expansion in California and Michigan positions it to capture a larger share of the Medicaid and Medicare segments.

Demographic Trends Favoring Healthcare Services: The aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases are likely to drive demand for Medicaid and Medicare services. MOH's established presence in these segments positions it well to capitalize on these demographic trends.

Technological Advancements and Innovation: MOH's investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological initiatives offer opportunities to enhance operational efficiencies, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs. Embracing innovation can also help MOH differentiate itself from competitors and offer value-added services to its members.

Threats

Competitive Pressure and Industry Consolidation: The healthcare industry is witnessing increasing competition and consolidation, which could threaten MOH's market position. Larger players with more resources could potentially outbid MOH for contracts or offer more competitive services.

Regulatory and Policy Changes: The healthcare sector is highly regulated, and changes in laws or regulations can have far-reaching impacts on MOH's operations. The end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and related policy shifts could affect coverage and reimbursement rates, posing financial risks.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Concerns: MOH, like other healthcare providers, faces the threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches. The recent incident involving a vendor, Change Healthcare, highlights the potential risks to member data and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

In conclusion, Molina Healthcare Inc (NYSE:MOH) exhibits a strong financial foundation and strategic market positioning, with significant strengths in membership growth, revenue generation, and contract acquisition. However, the company must navigate the challenges posed by Medicaid redeterminations, dependence on government contracts, and legal hurdles. Looking ahead, MOH has the opportunity to expand its market presence, leverage demographic trends, and innovate through technology. Yet, it must remain vigilant against competitive pressures, regulatory changes, and cybersecurity threats. The company's ability to capitalize on its strengths and opportunities while effectively managing its weaknesses and threats will be crucial in maintaining its competitive edge and ensuring long

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Union Pacific Corp (NYSE:UNP) maintains a robust position in the North American rail industry with significant revenue from diverse commodity transport.

Despite facing industry-wide challenges, UNP's strategic investments and operational efficiency underscore its competitive edge.

Opportunities for growth are present in intermodal transport and expansion into new markets, balanced against economic and regulatory threats.

UNP's forward-looking strategies focus on leveraging strengths and opportunities while addressing weaknesses and threats.

Union Pacific Corp (NYSE:UNP), headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is a titan in the North American rail industry, as reflected in its latest SEC 10-Q filing dated April 25, 2024. The company operates over 30,000 miles of track, primarily in the western two-thirds of the United States, and has a significant presence in Mexico. In 2023, UNP generated $24 billion in revenue, showcasing its financial prowess. This SWOT analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as presented in the recent financial filings, providing investors with a comprehensive understanding of UNP's market position and future prospects.

Decoding Union Pacific Corp (UNP): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Diversified Commodity Transport: Union Pacific Corp's strength lies in its diversified commodity transport services, which include coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, fertilizers, and automotive goods. This diversification allows for a robust revenue stream that is less susceptible to fluctuations in any single market sector. For instance, the company's Mexico business alone contributed $790 million in revenue for the first quarter of 2024, a notable increase from $712 million in the same period of 2023.

Operational Efficiency: UNP's operational efficiency is a key strength, as evidenced by its improved network fluidity and resource utilization. The company has focused on service improvements and operational excellence, leading to a 10% improvement in locomotive productivity and a 1% increase in workforce productivity despite a 4% rise in train, engine, and yard employees. These efficiencies have contributed to a competitive operating ratio of 60.7% in the first quarter of 2024, an improvement from 62.1% in the first quarter of 2023.

Weaknesses

Volume Sensitivity to Economic Cycles: Union Pacific Corp's volume is sensitive to economic cycles, as seen in the 1% decline in volume in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This decline was driven by weaker demand for coal, domestic intermodal, and rock shipments, indicating a potential vulnerability to economic downturns that could impact freight demand across various commodity groups.

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Capital Intensive Operations: The rail industry is capital intensive, requiring continuous investment in infrastructure, rolling stock, and technology. UNP's capital expenditures are necessary to maintain and enhance its extensive rail network, which can strain financial resources and impact profitability, especially during periods of economic uncertainty or when facing unexpected operational challenges.

Opportunities

Intermodal Expansion: Union Pacific Corp has opportunities to expand its intermodal services, capitalizing on the growing demand for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. Intermodal transport offers a competitive alternative to trucking, particularly for long-haul shipments, and UNP's extensive rail network positions it well to capture a larger share of this market.

Market Expansion: UNP can leverage its existing infrastructure and expertise to expand into new markets and commodities. With a strategic focus on innovation and customer service, the company can explore untapped revenue streams, such as renewable energy transport or increased cross-border trade with Mexico, further solidifying its market position.

Threats

Economic Uncertainty: Economic uncertainty poses a significant threat to Union Pacific Corp's operations. Fluctuations in global trade, commodity prices, and consumer demand can adversely affect freight volumes and revenue. The company must navigate these economic headwinds while maintaining operational efficiency and profitability.

Regulatory Challenges: The rail industry is subject to stringent regulatory oversight, which can impact Union Pacific Corp's operations and cost structure. Changes in environmental regulations, safety standards, and labor laws could lead to increased compliance costs and operational constraints, potentially affecting the company's competitive edge.

In conclusion, Union Pacific Corp (NYSE:UNP) exhibits a strong market position with a diversified commodity transport portfolio and operational efficiency that drives profitability. However, the company must address its sensitivity to economic cycles and the capital-intensive nature of its operations. Opportunities for growth in intermodal transport and market expansion are promising, but UNP must remain vigilant against economic uncertainty and regulatory challenges. By leveraging its strengths and opportunities while strategically addressing its weaknesses and threats, Union Pacific Corp is well-positioned to navigate the dynamic rail industry landscape.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Accrue Savings, a platform that enables retailers to create dedicated FDIC-insured wallets for their customers, has partnered with online travel agency JustFly.com. The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind integration for the justfly.com app.

Accrue says that its unique payment solution incentivises customers to save for their trips by offering cash rewards along the way. In addition, travellers can expedite their savings goal by inviting friends and family to contribute to their Accrue Savings account.

"At Accrue, we've witnessed a growing number of Americans saving for travel. Recognising the significance of loyalty, we firmly believe that the future lies in wallet deposits," said Accrue Founder & CEO Michael Hershfield.

"With justfly.com, we are excited to continue making travel more accessible without sacrificing financial well-being."

Travellers are split on how they will fund their travel expenditures according to a recent justfly.com survey. 24% of Gen Z respondents reported taking on a second job to finance their trips. Meanwhile, 46% of Millennials respondents reported they were more likely to have used their credit cards. Meantime, 12% said they would take out a loan to cover travel expenses and 50% shared they would work more hours to pay for a trip.

"In the ultra-competitive online travel agency industry, justfly.com is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of travellers worldwide through customer-centricity and adaptability," said Ramzi Rahbani, justfly.com's VP of Product and Customer Platforms.

"By partnering with Accrue, we have the opportunity to engage with our customers in a new way. It goes beyond traditional marketing and loyalty programmes, making travel more accessible and unleashing its power."

"Digital wallet platform Accrue Savings agrees partnership with justfly.com" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
By Marie Mannes

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Electrolux's operating loss nearly tripled in the first quarter on weak demand and poor performance in North America, but the loss was smaller than expected as raw material costs eased, sending shares up 6%.

The world's second-biggest appliances maker reported on Friday an operating loss of 720 million crowns ($66.2 million) against a year-earlier of 256 million loss and a 761 million loss expected on average by analysts polled by LSEG.

Electrolux, which prices its products in many regions at the premium end of the market, has seen consumers opt for cheaper alternatives, but said on Friday that is saw consumer confidence indicators to be bottoming out.

The company has been struggling to compete with lower-price rivals such as China's Midea as cash-strapped households turn to cheaper alternatives.

"The price pressure in North America and high promotional activity in other markets characterizing the latter part of 2023 continued in the first quarter." CEO Jonas Samuelson said on Friday.

Martin Persson, fund manager at insurance group Lansforsakringar, an Electrolux shareholder, said that while losses slightly lagged consensus estimates, markets had probably braced for even worse.

"I think the expectations were extremely low," he said.

The company has struggled particularly in North America over the years, where targeted cost cuts, production efficiencies has so far not borne any fruit.

The region, which is one of Electrolux's biggest markets, also have been difficult for its peers, with biggest rival Whirlpool this week said it was laying off around 1,000 salaried employees.

Electrolux repeated a "neutral" full-year market outlook for Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, but raised the outlook for Latin America to "neutral/positive".

The group late on Thursday announced that Samuelson, who has had the position for eight years, would step down next year, and that its board was launching a search for his successor.

"They elected a new chairman a month ago and now the CEO has decided to resign. So I think there are some exciting times ahead for Electrolux probably, with strategic options on the table," Kepler Chevreux analyst Johan Eliason said.

Portfolio manager Persson said the new CEO could be slightly positive if they find the right person to take over.

(Reporting by Marie Mannes, editing by Anna Ringstrom, Miral Fahmy and David Evans)
Elixirr International (LON:ELIX) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: UK85.9m (up 22% from FY 2022).

Net income: UK17.2m (up 34% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 20% (up from 18% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue.

EPS: UK0.38 (up from UK0.28 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Elixirr International EPS Beats Expectations, Revenues Fall Short

Revenue missed analyst estimates by 1.8%. Earnings per share (EPS) exceeded analyst estimates by 19%.

The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the USA segment contributing a total revenue of UK37.5m (44% of total revenue). Notably, cost of sales worth UK56.6m amounted to 66% of total revenue thereby underscoring the impact on earnings. The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to UK8.61m (72% of total expenses). Explore how ELIX's revenue and expenses shape its earnings.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 11% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 6.0% growth forecast for the Professional Services industry in the United Kingdom.

Performance of the British Professional Services industry.

The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Elixirr International that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
EnVVeno Medical has announced positive topline efficacy data from its SAVVE clinical trial examining its VenoValve, demonstrating that 94% of patients using the valve showed clinical improvement.

The VenoValve is a first-in-class surgical replacement venous valve being developed for the treatment of deep venous chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). It is designed to act as a one-way valve, to help assist in propelling blood up the leg and back to the heart and lungs.

CVI is a condition where the valves in the deep veins of the legs fail to function properly, leading to impaired blood flow back to the heart and resulting in symptoms such as swelling, pain, and skin changes in the affected area.

Data presented at the 2024 Charing Cross International Symposium in London, UK, showed that 94% of patients using the VenoValve showed clinical improvement, with 72% experiencing a meaningful benefit, based on a weighted average follow-up of 11.04 and 11.64 months respectively. This was measured using the revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS), using symptoms and signs such as pain, swelling, and skin changes to determine the severity of the condition.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested the company to gather at least one year of data on all 75 patients in the SAVVE trial before submitting its premarket approval (PMA) application for FDA approval. The company said in its statement that this is expected to be completed by September 2024.

In the announcement accompanying the data, enVVeno Medical's CEO Robert Berman said: It is so exciting to be achieving what was previously thought to be impossible, and to be continually raising the bar for the potential of the VenoValve. We are hopeful and determined to bring relief with the VenoValve to the millions of patients suffering from severe deep venous CVI, who have no effective treatment options."

At the same time, enVVeno also has another transcatheter-based replacement venous valve in its portfolio known as enVVe. In October 2023, the company revealed its plan to help lower the development cycle of the valve by roughly six months. Currently being investigated in clinical trials, enVVeno plans to be ready to seek investigational device exemption (IDE) approval for the pivotal trial at the end of 2024.

"enVVeno Medicals VenoValve proves effective in study" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, arrived in Germany from the city of Fuzuli on a working visit on April 25 at the invitation of the Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to participate in the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Azernews reports.

A guard of honor was lined up in honor of the head of state at Airport Berlin Brandenburg "Willy Brandt".


























A general view of the logo of the Engineering company thyssenkrupp. Roland Weihrauch/dpa

The German steel and engineering company, ThyssenKrupp AG, said it has reached an agreement with EP Corporate Group or EPCG for the sale of 20% of ThyssenKrupp's steel business.

The closing of the transaction is scheduled for this financial year, the companies said. In addition, the two companies are in talks for an additional 30% acquisition of the steel business by EPCG to form a 50:50 joint venture.
Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript April 25, 2024

Equinor ASA beats earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $0.96, expectations were $0.78. Equinor ASA isnt one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here).

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome, everyone, to the Equinor Analyst Call for Q1. At this time, all lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. I would now like to hand the call over to Mr. Bard Glad Pedersen, Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations. You may begin your conference.

Bard Pedersen : Thank you, operator, and good morning to you all. My name is Bard Glad Pedersen, and I'm heading up Investor Relations in Equinor. As usual, I'm here together with Torgrim Reitan, our CFO. Torgrim will take you through our results first before we open for the Q&A, and we will keep this within one hour. So with that, I hand it to you, Torgrim.

A worker in a hard hat standing in front of a giant oil refinery, the stark blue sky and grey refinery in the background.

Torgrim Reitan : Okay, so thank you very much, Bard, and good morning. And thank you all for joining us. I hope you all are doing well and are being well since we last met in February. So let's dive straight into the results. Today, we delivered solid financial results driven by strong operational performance and production in a quarter with increasing liquids prices, but lower gas prices than we saw last year. The solid results are also supported by MMP coming in above the guided range. From this quarter, we have introduced adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share as new performance measures. We also renamed some measures to better align with industry practice, and we no longer adjust for over and under lift. In the quarter, we report adjusted operating income of $7.5 billion before tax and a net income of $2.7 billion.

We deliver solid cash flow from operations of $9.7 billion and $5.8 billion after-tax, and earnings per share were 96 cents. We continue to make strategic progress across the portfolio. Earlier this year, we were awarded 39 new production licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf. We know that area well, and we are confident that we will make new discoveries. We are cutting emissions while we invest, and recently the Sleipner and Gudrun fields on the NCS were connected to power from shore. We reduced CO2 by 160,000 tons per year, and that will lead to around $27 million in reduced OpEx on an annual basis. We recently announced high grading of a U.S. onshore gas position through a transaction with EQT. We will swap our operatorship and interest in Ohio for non-operated interests in the Northern Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania with lower breakeven and lower emissions, and also leading to increased production and profitability.

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Within renewables, we remain value-focused and disciplined. As you have seen in the recent Norwegian offshore wind auction Sorlige Nordsjo II, in that auction we participated, but we stopped at a bid level that would have created value. And we were okay not to win. Value creation is and will be our top priority. 2024 is the year of de-risking for Empire Wind 1 project in New York, and we are progressing. After CMU, we were awarded a new off-take agreement with significantly better terms. Next, we aim to take an investment decision and secure project financing later this year. And with a new contract and project financing, we expect a nominal equity return between 12% and 16% for our U.S. East Coast offshore wind portfolio. From there, we also aim to farm down and bring in a new partner, which will significantly reduce our CapEx. We continue with strong capital distribution, in line with what we communicated at our Capital Markets Update in February.

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To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
By Abigail Summerville

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Mills, the maker of Cocoa Puffs and Cheerios breakfast cereals, is exploring a sale of its North America yogurt business including its popular Yoplait brand in a deal that could be worth more than $2 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

The Minneapolis-based food conglomerate is working with investment bank JPMorgan Chase to gauge interest from potential buyers that could include rival snack food makers and private equity firms, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential.

General Mills is hoping to fetch a valuation for the yogurt portfolio of nearly 10 times the unit's 12-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $250 million, the sources said.

General Mills and JPMorgan declined to comment.

Shares of General Mills have fallen about 19% over the past year to $71.04 on Friday, valuing the company at about $40 billion.

In March, General Mills topped market expectations for third-quarter sales and profit, boosted by higher prices for its breakfast cereals, snack bars and pet food products that helped cushion a blow from slowing consumer demand.

A group of French dairy farmers started Yoplait in 1964 and the company partnered with General Mills in 1977 through a franchise agreement giving the maker of Bisquick pancake mix the exclusive rights to market the brand in the U.S.

In 2011, General Mills acquired a 51% stake worth $1.2 billion in Yoplait from private equity firm PAI Partners and French dairy cooperative Sodiaal. Sodiaal retained the remaining stake.

In 2021, General Mills sold the European operations of Yoplait to Sodiaal. At the time, the company said its U.S. and Canada yogurt operations generated a combined $1.4 billion in net sales for fiscal 2020.

Having already shed the European unit of Yoplait, General Mills sees the remaining yogurt assets as non-core in its current strategy as it faces tough competition from market leaders Chobani and Danone's Dannon brand, the sources said.

Yogurt manufacturers have been actively making deals over the past year. Campbell Soup is looking to divest the Noosa Yogurt unit, which it acquired as part of its $2.7 billion deal for Sovos Brands last year.

Danone sold its Wallaby yogurt and Horizon milk brands to Platinum Equity last year for an undisclosed amount.

(Reporting by Abigail Summerville in New York, additional reporting by Jessica DiNapoli; Editing by Anirban Sen and Richard Chang)
By Alexander Cornwell and Maha El Dahan

DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates will tender shortly for the construction of a new nuclear power plant that would double the number of the small Gulf state's nuclear reactors, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The UAE, a U.S. security partner, became the first Arab state to operate a nuclear power plant when in 2021 it opened in the South Korean-built Barakah facility in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE plans to seek bids this year, potentially within the next few months, to build four new reactors, the sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss details that are still private.

The sources said the UAE aims to award the tender and start construction as soon as this year so that the new plant would be operational by 2032 in order to meet projected energy needs.

The tender would be open to any potential bidders, including U.S., Chinese and Russian firms, the sources said, adding that South Korea would not be treated as a preferred bidder.

Asked about plans for a second plant, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) said it was ready to review and issue the necessary licences and regulations that would be needed when and if the government decides to build new plants.

The UAE energy ministry referred Reuters to FANR for comment.

State-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Co (ENEC), which owns the Barakah nuclear power plant, referred Reuters to a public statement it ran in January stating that it was,"focused on exploring opportunities in the UAE and overseas to maximize the full value of the expertise developed in nuclear mega project program delivery and technology deployment, subject to confirmed demand, and approvals from the relevant UAE authorities."

The UAE government media office did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Russia is a big player in nuclear reactor construction, along with China which is rapidly scaling up its global nuclear energy ambitions.

If Russia or China were selected as bidders for the UAE plant this could potentially create tensions with the U.S., which has sought to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine invasion and has become increasingly concerned over the Gulf states' deepening ties with Beijing.

The UAE, which signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with the U.S. in 2009, says its nuclear programme is peaceful and solely for energy purposes to decrease its reliance on oil.

It was one of the countries that signed an agreement at the United Nations climate conference held in Dubai late last year to triple global nuclear energy output over the next three decades.

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Elsewhere in the Middle East, Egypt is developing its first nuclear plant, built by Russia. Saudi Arabia has ambitions for a civilian nuclear programme but has refused so far to sign a cooperation agreement with the U.S. that would block the Gulf state from enriching uranium.

The South Korean-built Barakah nuclear power plant, located in Abu Dhabi on the coast towards Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is expected to provide a quarter of the country's electricity.

The fourth and final reactor of the Barakah plant is due to start commercial operations this year, bringing the nuclear power plant to full operating capacity.

Locations under consideration for the new nuclear plant include a coastal site nearer to the border with Saudi Arabia, sources said.

It could also be built closer to the existing plant at Barakah, they said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell and Maha El Dahan. Editing by Jane Merriman)
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HCM City Export will take place from May 08 - 11, 2024, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center - SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The HCM City Export Fair is where leading Vietnamese export enterprises converge, ready to meet the diverse purchasing needs of international buyers and fulfil domestic consumption with quality export products, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly exports.

Experience the Best of Vietnams Export Offerings at HCM City Export 2024

With over 450 booths, the fair brings together top Vietnamese manufacturing and export enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam, trade promotion centres of provinces and cities, and industry associations in key export sectors of Ho Chi Minh City. Among these sectors are agriculture, textiles, leather goods, wooden furniture and handicrafts, food and beverages, aquatic products, electronics, mechanical engineering, rubber-plastics, and other export groups and supporting services.

HCM CITY EXPORT 2024 expects to attract around 20,000 visitors, with over 80% being industry professionals such as importers, traders, supermarket chains, retail chains in major markets like the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and South Korea, along with buying offices and supply-seeking delegations in Vietnam, retail supermarkets, importers, and e-commerce platforms. The last two days of the fair will be open to domestic consumers for visits and shopping.

Moreover, by unlocking exclusive benefits for buyers registered via Commercial Counselors, Trade Offices of Vietnam abroad, and esteemed key association partners, the organizer aims to enhance buyers' experience and maximize opportunities at the fair. Here's what you can look forward to:

Shuttle Services : We provide free shuttle bus support from your hotel to the fair and back, ensuring hassle-free transportation throughout the fair.

Airport Support: For buyers travelling in groups, we offer dedicated airport shuttle support, ensuring a smooth transition from the airport to your accommodation and vice versa.

Lunch Voucher: Refuel and recharge during your busy fair schedule with our support for lunch vouchers redeemable at the fair's restaurant.

Welcome Gala Dinner: Elevate your networking opportunities by joining our exclusive Welcome Gala Dinner. Connect and interact with esteemed representatives from state agencies and potential suppliers across key export industries.

B2B Matching: Connect with potential suppliers tailored to your interests and needs, fostering meaningful collaborations and facilitating productive business interactions.

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Don't miss the chance to meet hundreds of Vietnam's most reputable manufacturers and exporters at the HCM City Export Fair 2024.

Free registration at https://hochiminhexport.com/

PR Newswire is the official news distribution partner of Ho Chi Minh City Export 2024

Media contact: Ms. Van Nguyen - vannk@hawa.org.vn

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Follow us:

Website: https://hochiminhexport.com/

Facebook: HCM City Export - Hoi cho xuat khau TP.HCM

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SOURCE HCMC Department of Industry and Trade
HOUSTON, April 26 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp on Friday missed analysts' estimates with a 28% year-on-year drop in first quarter profits as weaker refining margins and lower natural gas prices offset volume gains.

The largest U.S. oil company, which is in the process of closing a $60 billion deal for top shale oil producer Pioneer Natural Resources, posted first-quarter earnings of $8.22 billion, or $2.06 per share, compared to an $11.43 billion net profit a year ago.

Profit per share fell 6% shy of Wall Street analysts' consensus, according to LSEG estimates.

The results were the second highest for a first quarter in the past decade, behind the year-ago period, said Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Mikells. The miss was due in part to tax and inventory balance sheet adjustments, she said.

"Every quarter, we have some pluses and minuses associated with these one-off items", she said. "Sometimes they are favorable, this time they were unfavorable."

Weaker energy margins cut operating profit by about $2.6 billion compared with a year ago. Global oil prices were largely flat against a year ago while natural gas prices fell sharply. U.S. gas futures traded 20% lower at the end of the quarter compared to a year-earlier.

Guyana's president Irfaan Ali and Exxon's Guyana country chief Alistair Routledge near an Exxon stand at Guyana's International Energy Conference in 2023. (REUTERS/Sabrina Valle) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Results were boosted by lower costs and higher volumes from Exxon's Guyana operations. Hess a day earlier flagged the increase in output in the South American country with a 70% year-over-year output gain.

Exxon's capital spending last quarter was the lowest in seven quarters and its streamlining of operations expanded what it calls structural cost savings by $400 million.

It added $1.7 billion in cash last quarter to end the period with $33.3 billion.

Deal closing

Exxons acquisition of Pioneer is expected to wrap up in coming weeks. Exxon has started the integration process with a team working separately from the business, Mikells said.

"We are feeling really good about our interactions with the Pioneer people and making sure that we put our best foot forward as we close this transaction," she said.

The all-stock deal for Pioneer would make Exxon the largest oil and gas producer in the top U.S. shale field, doubling output there to more than 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. Exxon forecasts the combination will allow it to reach 2 million barrels per day in 2027.

That deal was the largest among a series of blockbuster combinations in recent years, as wildcatters including Pioneer, Endeavor Energy and CrownRock were acquired by bigger companies which sought to lock in years of future production and achieve economies of scale from expanded operations.

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Pioneers shares this week traded at $275 apiece, a 9% increase to their October deal value.

Hess arbitration

Exxon is in a dispute with Chevron and Hess over assets in Guyana, home to the biggest oil finds in the past two decades. In face of Chevron's $53 billion offer for Hess, Exxon has claimed preemption rights over Hess' Guyana assets. That claim is being considered by an international arbitration panel.

Hess' 30% stake in the Guyana joint venture is the prize in Chevron's proposed takeover.

Mikells said Exxon and partner CNOOC Ltd will "evaluate our options" if the arbitration panel agrees that they have the first of first refusal to a sale.

"It is all about clarifying our contractual rights, period," she said. (Reporting by Sabrina Valle; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Exxon Mobil's profit declined in its first quarter as natural gas prices fell and industry refining margins dropped.

The energy company earned $8.22 billion, or $2.06 per share, for the three months ended March 31. A year earlier it earned $11.43 billion, or $2.79 per share.

The results didn't meet Wall Street expectations, but Exxon does not adjust its reported results based on one-time events such as assets sales. Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research were expecting earnings of $2.19 per share.

Shares declined slightly before the market open on Friday.

The Spring, Texas-based company's revenue totaled $83.08 billion, down from $86.56 billion a year earlier. Wall Street forecast revenue of $86.6 billion.

Production in Guyana reached more than 600,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day, a higher-than-expected level, the company said.

Exxon went on a bit of a shopping spree last year when oil prices were surging.

In July, the company said it would pay $4.9 billion for Denbury Resources, an oil and gas producer that has entered the business of capturing and storing carbon and stands to benefit from changes in U.S. climate policy.

In October Exxon topped that deal by announcing that it would buy shale operator Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion. Two months later, the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces federal antitrust law, asked for additional information from the companies about the proposed deal. The request is a step the agency takes when reviewing whether a merger could be anticompetitive under U.S. law. Pioneer disclosed the request in a filing in January.

Elevated levels of cash for all big producers drove a massive consolidation in the energy sector. In October Chevron said it would buy Hess Corp. for $53 billion.

Oil markets are being stretched by cutbacks in oil production from Saudi Arabia and Russia, and the war between Israel and Hamas still potentially runs the risk of igniting a broader conflict in the Middle East. While attacks on Israel do not disrupt global oil supply, according to an analysis by the U.S Energy Information Administration, they raise the potential for oil supply disruptions and higher oil prices.

Elsewhere in the sector, Chevron Corp. reported a first-quarter profit of $5.5 billion, or $2.97 per share. Its adjusted profit was $2.93 per share.

The results surpassed Wall Street expectations, but Chevron also does not adjust its reported results based on one-time events such as asset sales. Analysts surveyed by Zacks predicted earnings of $2.84 per share.

The oil company posted revenue of $48.72 billion, which fell short of Wall Street's estimate of $49.94 billion.

Chevron's stock dipped in premarket trading.
The Federal Highway Administration announced $148 million in grants to combat pollution at the nations ports caused by idling trucks. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The Federal Highway Administration has announced $148 million in grants to combat pollution at the nations ports caused by idling trucks.

The funding is part of a $400 million program to improve air quality under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The first round of grants provides funding to 11 states and Puerto Rico under the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program.

Communities located close to ports feel the brunt of more polluted air because of idling trucks spewing pollution, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in the announcement. The investments we are announcing today will save truck drivers time and money and help ports reduce congestion and emissions, while making the air more breathable for workers and communities.

The 16 projects, which aim to reduce pollution in communities near ports, include replacing diesel-powered trucks serving ports with zero- or low-emission electric or alternative fuel-powered trucks, constructing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, improving port roadway access, and studying technology enhancements to reduce truck emissions.





These are some of the projects funded:

California will receive $49.7 million for the Ports of Long Beach, Oakland and Los Angeles to replace diesel trucks with electric trucks and EV chargers.

Texas will receive $26.9 million for the Port of Houston for 30 zero-emission trucks and portable electric chargers.

Georgia will receive $15.3 million for the Port of Savannah to build a charging project and replace diesel trucks.

Florida will receive $10 million for the Talleyrand Marine Terminal in Jacksonville and the Port Everglades Terminal in Fort Lauderdale to replace diesel trucks, while improvements in Miami will reduce truck idling times.

Louisiana will receive $7.1 million to buy 14 electric trucks and five pickup trucks to replace diesel vehicles.

New Jersey will receive $2.2 million to replace 20 diesel trucks with environmentally friendly vehicles.

The projects funded under this program will improve the quality of life for workers and families impacted by pollution from idling trucks while building a clean-energy economy that combats climate change and makes our communities more resilient, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in the announcement.

The post FHWA awards $148M in grants to fight pollution from trucks at US ports appeared first on FreightWaves.
iStock.com

A recent poll found that 22% of U.S. adults have zero emergency savings. This is one of the highest percentages of non-savers in the polls history.

Check Out: Mark Cuban Reveals Why He Keeps a Strict Budget Everyday

Read More: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Whether you have no savings or just wish you had a little more, there are steps you can take in 2024 to make it happen. YouTuber Kate Kaden is an expert on frugal living who regularly publishes videos designed to help the average person improve their financial wellness.

Here are her five tips for accumulating more savings in 2024.

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Save 10% of Take-Home Pay

Kaden says your first step should be to save 10% of your take-home pay. But dont only save when you feel good financially. Make your 10% savings goal non-negotiable.

Warren Buffet says the same thing. He advises that you pay yourself first, saying: Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.

As of 2024, the average U.S. salary is $63,795. After taxes, you should take home over $4,000 per month  and potentially more, depending on how heavily your state taxes income. That means the average U.S. adult should aim to save around $400 monthly based on Kadens recommendation. If you can do that for a year, youll end up with $4,800 in savings.

If you want to save more than that in the next 12 months, Kaden says youll need a personalized plan to get there. This may mean cutting some expenses or looking for a new side hustle, such as driving for Uber or turning a hobby into a business.

Be Aware: 5 Unnecessary Bills You Should Stop Paying in 2024

Stockpile One Month of Expenses

As you begin to save 10% of your take-home pay, Kaden says your first goal should be to stockpile one month of expenses in your checking account. Doing so will help you deal with unexpected expenses without interrupting your savings plan.

The average U.S. household spends around $5,111 per month. That can feel like a lot if youre just starting to save.

Dave Ramsey has a solution. He advises beginning this process by creating a $1,000 starter emergency fund. Once you reach that milestone, you can then start working toward Kadens recommended stockpile of one months expenses.

Note that some experts, including Ramsey, say you should eventually try to have three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund. However, every financial situation is unique. Its OK if it takes some time to get there, as financial wellness is a lifelong pursuit.

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Curate a Supportive Network

Kadens next tip is to surround yourself with the right kind of people. If you only spend time with friends who go out and waste money every weekend, youll be much likelier to do the same.

Instead, focus on relationships with people who share your financial goals. Eventually, youll create a social network that reinforces your savings goals, instead of detracting from them.

Research suggests the average American person spends $18,000 per year on nonessential goods and services. Its really hard to do that while making progress toward your savings goals unless you have an above-average income.

Some nonessential spending is fine. You dont want to live like a pauper to reach your financial goals. But keep it in check and always remember to pay yourself first. The right social network can make putting your financial health first much easier.

Focus On Solutions

Kadens next piece of advice is to start focusing on solutions  not problems. In other words, you need a healthy mindset to stay on track with your financial goals.

Sure, its easy to get discouraged when things arent going your way financially. But you cant let bad breaks make you throw in the towel and give up on saving. We all have bad months. If you allow them to change your financial philosophy, itll be tough to build wealth.

Kaden recommends reading a book on this subject called Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo. She says it can help you retrain your brain to think more creatively and positively in the face of setbacks. That way, you can continue making progress toward your financial goals no matter what the future brings.

Avoid Debt at All Costs

Kadens last tip is to avoid debt at all costs. She shares that opinion with other popular financial experts, including Dave Ramsey.

Debt payments eat into your budget without giving you any present-day value. Theyre sort of like monthly payments for past spending that exceeded your means. Theres rarely a good reason to take on that burden.

Despite that, the average American now has $23,317 in non-mortgage debt. This debt comes from various sources, including credit cards, various types of student and auto loans, and personal debt.

Some financial experts recommend paying off all consumer debt before investing or creating a full emergency fund. Doing so will ensure you pay as little interest on the amount you owe as possible, decreasing the overall amount you have to pay off. If youre looking for more guidance in this area, Kaden recommends reading a book called The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins.

As you research, note that some financial experts believe certain types of debt are OK. For example, Rich Dads Robert Kiyosaki uses debt to finance real estate purchases, which provide him with rental income. However, this is a specific case and doesnt equate to taking on consumer debt for unnecessary purchases that provide you with no future value.

Saving money is one of the foundations of financial wellness. Do it consistently, and youll build wealth over time while also protecting yourself from unexpected expenses that could otherwise disrupt your life.

Kadens recommendations for saving more in 2024 are a great place to start your savings journey. But remember, every financial situation is different. Your ideal savings plan may not fit perfectly with Kadens advice.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Frugal Living YouTuber Kate Kaden: 5 Money-Saving Tips for 2024
Germany is one of the most important political and economic partners of Azerbaijan in Europe. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of relations with this country. The results of the first official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Germany in 2004 once again confirmed the greater potential for cooperation between the two countries. A number of agreements signed within the framework of the visit opened great opportunities in terms of economic cooperation.

For example, the supply of Azerbaijani oil to Germany is one of the main pillars of the total trade volume. Thus, in 2022, Germany entered the list of 10 main importers of Azerbaijani oil. It is worth noting that there are currently 239 registered German companies in Azerbaijan. Approximately 170 of those organizations operating in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, transport, communication, construction, banking, insurance, trade and service, are members of the Azerbaijan-Germany Chamber of Commerce.

Germany is also a reliable partner within the framework of the Western Platforms and the host country for the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Thus, the Munich Security Conference held in Germany is the leading international conference on security policy. Conferences are traditionally held in February of each year. At the conference, heads of state, foreign ministers, defense ministers, government officials, military leaders, members of parliament, heads of international and non-governmental organizations, academicians, and experts gather from all over the world.

In 2020, when Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty were ensured, President Ilham Aliyev participated in this conference and demonstrated that Azerbaijan attaches importance to security, including the issues on the world's agenda. During the meeting, Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Garabagh is the eternal land of Azerbaijan, based on historical facts. In terms of knowledge of foreign languages, knowledge of history, and political argumentation, the president of Azerbaijan was significantly different from his opponent in the best sense of the word. President Ilham Aliyev held a bilateral meeting with Olaf Scholtz within the framework of the conference and conducted very effective negotiations on advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan is developing in the political and economic spheres, as well as on the topic of Climate Change.

Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 1122, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year.

Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organisations, business, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals.

COP29 and other global events that Azerbaijan has hosted and will hold show that this country's reputation in the world has increased to a great extent. As President Ilham Aliyev noted at the swearing-in ceremony, Azerbaijan is no longer a state operating at the local level, but is recognized as a country that promotes active partnership in various regions of the world and as a reliable partner, that actively participates in solving global problems in the world, and makes practical contributions to it.

As the issue of climate change is one of the topics on Germany's agenda, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany in the field of COP29 was also expected. Thus, COP29 is a global event dedicated to solving the world's most important problem. The climate dialogue has been held under the auspices of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2022, and it has become particularly important to the topic of negotiations on the fight against climate change.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is a large-scale event that will set clear directions for COP29, and the official invitation of Baku to the event as this year's host of COP29 testifies to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan as well as the strength of its relations with Germany.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan.




Galp Energia SGPS SA GLPEY, the Portuguese multinational energy company, has made significant oil discoveries in Namibias Orange Basin. It has completed the first phase of exploration of the Mopane field in the Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 83 and estimated that the field could contain nearly 10 billion barrels of oil.

PEL 83 is operated by Galp Energia, which owns an 80% stake along with its partners, National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and Custos Energy, who hold 10% each. Sintana owns an indirect stake in PEL 83 through Custos Energy.

The company conducted testing operations in the Mopane 1X well in January and the Mopane 2X well in March. For the Mopane 1X well, oil columns were discovered on two levels, AVO-1 and AVO-2. For the Mopane 2X well, oil columns were found in AVO-3, AVO-1 and a deeper target.

Notably, during the Mopane 2X well discovery, it was found that AVO-1 had the same pressure regime as in the Mopane-1X discovery well, around 8 km to the east. This confirmed the lateral extension of the well.

Sintana stated that the reservoirs log measures indicate favorable porosity levels, high pressures and significant permeabilities within large hydrocarbon columns. Fluid samples from the site show very low oil viscosity. Moreover, it contains minimal CO2 and no H2S concentration.

The test conducted at the Mopane exploration well has shown that flows (achieved during the process) reached the maximum permitted limit of approximately 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), which positioned Mopane as a significant commercial discovery.

As mentioned previously, the Mopane complex is believed to contain at least 10 billion boe in hydrocarbon reserves. The company noted that this estimate does not consider any additional exploration and appraisal wells.

The data obtained from the Mopane drilling campaign will undergo rigorous analysis and then be integrated into an updated reservoir model. The reservoir model will serve as the foundation to refine the operators short-term drilling plan.

Namibia has the potential to emerge as a new revenue source for Galp Energia. The company currently has substantial investments off the coast of Brazil. Additionally, it is also involved in a natural gas project in Mozambique's Rovuma basin. GLPEY had previously demonstrated its interest in initiating a process to attract additional investors to its projects in Namibia, as it believes that these projects could reach a large scale.

Zacks Rank and Key Picks

Currently, GLPEY has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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Some better-ranked stocks in the energysector are SM Energy SM, Hess Corporation HES and Sunoco LP SUN. SM Energy and Hess presently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, while Sunoco carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

SM Energy is an upstream energy firm operating in the prolific Midland Basin region and the South Texas region. For 2024, the company expects its production to increase from the prior- year reported figure, signaling a bright production outlook.

Hess is a leading upstream energy company with its operations focused on the prolific resources offshore Guyana. The company has made significant oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block, off the coast of Guyana. These discoveries have totaled more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent in gross recoverable resources, adding to Hess production potential.

Sunoco LP is one of the largest distributors of motor fuel in the United States. The partnership distributes fuel to independent dealers, commercial customers, convenience stores as well as distributors. Its current distribution yield is greater than that of the composite stocks in the industry, providing unitholders with consistent returns.

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When you buy a stock there is always a possibility that it could drop 100%. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. For instance, the price of Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) stock is up an impressive 113% over the last five years. It's also good to see the share price up 19% over the last quarter.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Genco Shipping & Trading

Given that Genco Shipping & Trading didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually desire strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

For the last half decade, Genco Shipping & Trading can boast revenue growth at a rate of 6.5% per year. That's a pretty good long term growth rate. Broadly speaking, this solid progress may well be reflected by the healthy share price gain of 16% per year over five years. Given that the business has made good progress on the top line, it would be worth taking a look at the growth trend. When a growth trend accelerates, be it in revenue or earnings, it can indicate an inflection point for the business, which is can often be an opportunity for investors.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Genco Shipping & Trading's TSR for the last 5 years was 197%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Genco Shipping & Trading shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 45% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 24%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Genco Shipping & Trading (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about.

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Genco Shipping & Trading is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
BOGOTA (Reuters) -U.S. car maker General Motors will close its manufacturing operations in Colombia and Ecuador, the company said in a statement on Friday, as part of its shift towards producing next-generation vehicles.

Manufacturing will cease at company's Colmotores plant in Colombia from Friday, it said, while operations will halt at its factory in Ecuador at the end of August.

In Colombia, the company is seeking permission from the labor ministry to lay off 850 workers, a spokesperson said.

Its Colombia manufacturing plant was operating at 9% capacity, General Motors said, while its Ecuadorean operation was at 13% capacity.

Colombia's labor ministry will inspect the manufacturing plant in a series of visits, it said in a statement, as part of its role in protecting workers' rights.

The plant's closure comes amid a 14-year low of sales of new vehicles in 2023 versus 2022 in Colombia, according to a report released by two industry groups in January.

Despite closing its manufacturing operations, General Motors will not exit either country, the company said, but will maintain dealerships in both Colombia and Ecuador.

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra and Luis Jaime AcostaWriting by Oliver Griffin and Julia Symmes CobbEditing by Sandra Maler)
Governments around the world hold a combined 567,000 Bitcoins according to BitcoinTreasuries, worth over $36bn as of April 2024. However, the cryptocurrency isnt being adopted by central banks just yet.

Which governments own bitcoin?

BitcoinTreasuries tracks the amount of Bitcoin on the balance sheets of companies and other large entities, including governments. The website is built and maintained by Coinkite, a leading Bitcoin security hardware manufacturer, and aggregates data from available sources such as SEC filings, quarterly reports, and press releases.

Known Bitcoin reserves held by governments account for 2.7% of the total 21 million supply of bitcoins, with the largest being the US Government with over 210,000 bitcoins worth more than $13bn at the time of writing.

For scale, public companies hold a combined 305,000 bitcoins, the majority of which is held by MicroStrategy, which has been accumulating bitcoin fervently since adopting the cryptocurrency as its primary treasury reserve asset in 2020. They even went so far as to rebrand as a Bitcoin Development Company. Yet despite all its efforts, MicroStrategys Bitcoin holdings have only recently surpassed the US Governmentsreaching 214,000 bitcoins in March 2024 with the purchase of an additional 9,000 bitcoins.

Are governments adopting Bitcoin as a reserve currency?

Only El Salvador is actively adopting Bitcoin, buying their first 200 Bitcoins, and making the cryptocurrency legal tender in 2021. El Salvador has managed to accumulate over 5,700 bitcoins through mining Bitcoin with Volcano Energy, selling passports, and buying one bitcoin per day.

Sometimes it really pays to fight crime

Neither the US, China, the UK, or Germany purchased their Bitcoins, instead, these vast fortunes were all seized from criminals. The US has the Silk Road to thank for its leading Bitcoin position, the infamous dark web marketplace was among the first use cases of the digital currency. The Silk Road was shut down by the FBI in 2013 when Bitcoin traded at around $100. Chinas 190 thousand bitcoins were seized from the Ponzi scheme PlusToken in 2019. The UK came into possession of 61,000 Bitcoins after an ex-takeaway worker tried to buy a 23m mansion. In January 2024, Germany acquired 50,000 Bitcoins from the operators of a website called movie2k, suspected of unauthorised commercial exploitation of copyrighted works.

We can expect all these confiscated Bitcoins to eventually be auctioned off. Indeed, the US has already sold 195,000 Bitcoins, receiving a total of $366m. Today, those Bitcoin would be worth $12.6bn. If Bitcoin were to continue to perform as it has done in the past, by 2030 the US stash of 210,000 bitcoins would start to rival their central banks holdings of gold, currently worth over $600bn.

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Tracking bitcoins, from the dark web to government pockets

Despite Bitcoins association with cybercrime and a reputation for anonymity, the transactions are in fact not anonymous but instead pseudonymous, with identities represented by unique cryptographic addresses. Details of every Bitcoin transaction are publicly available and can be perused through sites such as mempool.space. By analysing the blockchain, the real identity behind a Bitcoin address can be inferred. This level of transparency has aided in the catching of criminals but can also bring transparency to legitimate institutions. President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, shared the nations bitcoin address to X (formerly Twitter), so now anyone can check that they are sticking to their target of one Bitcoin per day.

"Governments hold a surprising amount of Bitcoin" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Grant Cardone Slams Biden For Copying Canada's High Proposed Capital Gains Tax Noting 'Red' Shift: 'Can't Even Come Up With His Own Ideas'

In an expression of disapproval on social media, prominent real estate investor Grant Cardone scrutinized President Joe Biden's proposed hike in capital gains tax in a recent X post.

"Biden proposes 44.6% capital gains tax, from current 19%," Cardone posted. "Can't even come up with his own ideas taking a page out of Trudeau playbook who raised Canada to 66%."

Cardone then invoked historical political outcomes, writing, "And he ignored how that played out for the last guy who tried it  the entire country went red" and included a map from a past U.S. election to illustrate his point.

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Cardone's critique reflects apprehensions in the investment community, particularly among those like himself for whom capital gains taxes are a significant consideration. In a separate X post, he outlined how taxes impact personal finances at multiple stages, from earning and spending to investing and passing on wealth, highlighting the government's role in individual financial activities.

The Biden administration's proposed capital gains tax rate is a significant topic of discussion, as it represents the highest proposed federal rate since its inception. The particulars of the proposal reveal a tiered approach, aiming to increase rates to 37% for taxpayers with taxable income exceeding $1 million and further adjustments pushing the rate to 44.6% for those meeting specific income and investment thresholds.

These changes are documented in the general explanations of the administration's fiscal 2025 revenue proposal, which details the combined effect of raising the top ordinary rate and the net investment income tax rate, potentially culminating in the 44.6% figure. The higher rate would impact only a select group of high earners, countering the narrative of an across-the-board tax rate hike.

The dialogue around the proposal is intensified by the sentiments and concerns of taxpayers, especially small-business owners. By focusing on the wealthy, who according to a White House release pay an average tax rate significantly lower than the proposed capital gains rate, the policy aims to equalize the tax obligations of high earners to their financial capabilities.

The proposal may have been overshadowed by broader public reactions to the headline figure of 44.6%, stirring debate over the appropriate contribution of the wealthy to the nation's coffers versus the potential risks of stifling economic growth.

Story continues

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This article Grant Cardone Slams Biden For Copying Canada's High Proposed Capital Gains Tax Noting 'Red' Shift: 'Can't Even Come Up With His Own Ideas' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Grant Cardone Sounds Off: Government Guilty Of Pocketing People's Hard-Earned Cash

Renowned entrepreneur and real estate mogul Grant Cardone accused the government of pilfering people's hard-earned money in a post on social media platform X, where he highlighted the contentious issue of wealth redistribution and governmental fiscal policies.

Cardone's April 25 post on X outlined how the government "steals" your money by taking 40% of your earnings; taxing you between 8% and 12% on the purchases you make; imposing a 20% corporate tax for starting a business; and  for the few estates larger than $13.61 million per individual or a combined $27.22 million for a married couple  charging an inheritance tax when you die.

But Cardone said he offers a solution through his real estate investment firm Cardone Capital. For example, if you invest $1 million for 10 years, you would have cash flow of $800,000 and a profit assumption of $1 million for a total return of $2.8 million and depreciation of $500,000.

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Cardone, author of the recently released book "The Wealth Creation Formula," said professional real estate investors can use the $500,000 depreciation to reduce tax on earned income from other businesses or can exchange the entire gain and buy another asset.

That would give you a $1.8 million asset that pays your estate $108,000 per year or $9,000 per month in passive income.

"Most of this is not taxed in the first four or five years as you achieve another $900,000 in depreciation to offset taxes from [the] new purchase," Cardone posted. "This is why so many rich people invest in real estate."

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Despite encouraging professional real estate investors to purchase properties, Cardone has said that homeownership is a trap because you are physically stuck in the same place and that renting is a better choice because it provides flexibility.

"The house, for most people, is a nightmare  not a dream," he said.

Cardone has been an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's fiscal policies. In an April 24 post on X, he wrote, "Joe Biden just stated, We are investing in Ukraine, in Europe  $905,000,000,000 and won't take one question. Where is the investment in America?"

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And on April 22, he wrote, "Can someone tell me, why we are sending ANOTHER $100B we don't have to Ukraine?"

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This article Grant Cardone Sounds Off: Government Guilty Of Pocketing People's Hard-Earned Cash originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Key Insights

Brunswick will host its Annual General Meeting on 1st of May

CEO Dave Foulkes' total compensation includes salary of US$1.16m

Total compensation is similar to the industry average

Brunswick's three-year loss to shareholders was 20% while its EPS was down 1.6% over the past three years

The results at Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) have been quite disappointing recently and CEO Dave Foulkes bears some responsibility for this. At the upcoming AGM on 1st of May, shareholders can hear from the board including their plans for turning around performance. It would also be an opportunity for shareholders to influence management through voting on company resolutions such as executive remuneration, which could impact the firm significantly. The data we present below explains why we think CEO compensation is not consistent with recent performance.

View our latest analysis for Brunswick

How Does Total Compensation For Dave Foulkes Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

Our data indicates that Brunswick Corporation has a market capitalization of US$5.4b, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as US$11m for the year to December 2023. We note that's an increase of 14% above last year. We think total compensation is more important but our data shows that the CEO salary is lower, at US$1.2m.

On comparing similar companies from the American Leisure industry with market caps ranging from US$4.0b to US$12b, we found that the median CEO total compensation was US$11m. So it looks like Brunswick compensates Dave Foulkes in line with the median for the industry. Furthermore, Dave Foulkes directly owns US$10m worth of shares in the company, implying that they are deeply invested in the company's success.

Component 2023 2022 Proportion (2023) Salary US$1.2m US$1.1m 11% Other US$9.7m US$8.4m 89% Total Compensation US$11m US$9.5m 100%

Talking in terms of the industry, salary represented approximately 26% of total compensation out of all the companies we analyzed, while other remuneration made up 74% of the pie. Brunswick sets aside a smaller share of compensation for salary, in comparison to the overall industry. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance.

A Look at Brunswick Corporation's Growth Numbers

Brunswick Corporation has reduced its earnings per share by 1.6% a year over the last three years. In the last year, its revenue is down 12%.

A lack of EPS improvement is not good to see. This is compounded by the fact revenue is actually down on last year. So given this relatively weak performance, shareholders would probably not want to see high compensation for the CEO. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

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Has Brunswick Corporation Been A Good Investment?

Given the total shareholder loss of 20% over three years, many shareholders in Brunswick Corporation are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. Therefore, it might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously.

In Summary...

Not only have shareholders not seen a favorable return on their investment, but the business hasn't performed well either. Few shareholders would be willing to award the CEO with a pay raise. At the upcoming AGM, they can question the management's plans and strategies to turn performance around and reassess their investment thesis in regards to the company.

While CEO pay is an important factor to be aware of, there are other areas that investors should be mindful of as well. We've identified 2 warning signs for Brunswick that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment.

Switching gears from Brunswick, if you're hunting for a pristine balance sheet and premium returns, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
HomeServices, Hanna Holdings have highest number of core services transactions in RealTrends Verified

HomeServices of America, the last remaining brokerage defendant in the landmark Sitzer/Burnett antitrust commission case, has agreed to pay $250 million in damages to settle lawsuits that will change agent compensation across America.

The New York Times first reported news of the settlement.

The deal comes just days after the federal judge overseeing the commission case in Missouri approved a preliminary settlement that will see the National Association of Realtors and multiple other residential brokerages collectively pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and make large-scale changes to longstanding commission policies.

NAR, the industrys de facto trade association, earlier this month agreed to pay $418 million over five years to settle the claims. HomeServices, owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, resisted settling the case and will pay far more than its large brokerage contemporaries, most of which are paying between $50 million and $90 million to settle claims.

The proposed agreement with HomeServices brings the total pending settlements north of $940 million. Other defendants in the Sitzer/Burnett case, Anywhere Real Estate, RE/MAX and Keller Williams, settled for a combined $209 million.

This is another significant settlement for American home sellers who have been saddled with paying billions in unnecessary commission costs. This brings us a step closer to resolving this long-running case involving the industry-wide brokers commission scheme, said Benjamin Brown, managing partner of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, which was among the law firms that represented the plaintiffs.

In a statement sent to HousingWire on Friday, Chris Kelly, HomeServices EVP said that the settlement, which is subject to court approval, will protect our nearly 70,000 agents, 51 brands and over 300 franchisees and licensees from related lawsuits.

The financial terms of the settlement represent a sole obligation of HomeServices, with no participation by any parent entity, to effectively conclude the antitrust litigation. (HomeServices parent company was named as a defendant in a separate commission lawsuit known as Gibson, and plaintiff lawyers said they would continue to pursue that case.)

While we have always been confident in the legality and ethics of our business practices, the decision to settle was driven by a desire to eliminate the uncertainty brought by the protracted appellate and litigation process, Kelly said. This resolution allows us to concentrate on our primary goal: delivering unparalleled value in the real estate market and serving home buyers and sellers with the highest standards of service.

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In October, a jury in Kansas City, Missouri determined that NAR and the brokerages conspired to inflate or stabilize commissions via NARs Participation Rule, which required listing agents to make an offer of compensation to a buyers agent. The jury verdict came to $1.76 billion, which would have been trebled to $5.4 billion in damages. It spurred dozens of copycat cases filed in other states and resulted in a series of settlements in the winter and spring.

Earlier this week, Judge Stephen Bough, who is overseeing Sitzer/Burnett and several other related commission cases, preliminarily approved the settlements, which are expected to go into effect in mid-July.

The settlement agreement no longer requires agent participants be members of the NAR. It also stipulates that listings agents can no longer display buyer agent commissions in the MLS but can put it on their brokerages website or elsewhere, a major change in policy.

The NAR settlement protects brokerages that had $2 billion or less in sales volume in 2022; it did not include roughly 85 brokerages that did more than $2 billion that year, and theyll have to reach separate settlements with the plaintiffs attorneys.

The Department of Justice has also taken an interest in the Sitzer/Burnett case and may attempt to convince Judge Bough to change the terms of the settlement. The DOJ may also file charges separately to prevent any display of buyer agent commissions on any platform.

HomeServices of America is the third-largest brokerage in the country by transaction sides at 235,861 in 2023, according to the latest RealTrends rankings. The Minnesota-headquartered firm had $133.8 billion in sales volume in 2023, behind only Compass, Anywhere Advisors and eXp Realty.
Specialists from the Uzeltekhsanoat association held an online meeting with the management of the large Egyptian company ElAraby, a manufacturer of household electrical appliances, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

From the Egyptian side, the event was attended by the companys marketing manager Marwan Elcott and sales manager Khasan Askar, from the Uzbek side  the general manager of the foreign investment department of the Uzeltekhsanoat association Bakhodir Gulyamov, the investment manager of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade Javokhir Mukhammadjonov, as well as representatives of our countrys embassy in Egypt.

At the meeting, the status of the implementation of the project for the production of household electrical appliances worth $10 million by ElAraby in Uzbekistan, as well as its prospects, was discussed.

The Egyptian side expressed the companys interest in cooperation with similar enterprises and firms of Uzbekistan in the field of production of electrical products. It was noted that the above-mentioned project is promising for the Egyptian side, and there is great interest in its implementation.

Representatives of the company will take part in the III Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2-3.
With its plans already foreshadowed by supplier announcements such as this, Honda Motor last night finally formally announced it planned to build a battery electric vehicle (BEV) plant in Alliston in Ontario with annual capacity for 240,000 units, along with a battery plant with capacity for 36 GWh per year.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Ontario attended by Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario premier Doug Ford, along with other company and government officials.

The investment, totalling C$15bn (US$11bn), was described as the largest automotive investment in Canadian history.

The new factories would be built next to Hondas existing plant in Alliston, just north of Toronto, which produces Civic and CR-V for North America.

The investment also included a battery cathode materials joint venture with South Koreas Posco Future M Company and a battery separator plant with Japans Asahi Kasei Corporation. The location of these plants had yet to be decided.

BEV production was scheduled to begin in 2028.

Honda said it expected the new investment would directly create 1,000 new jobs, in addition to the 2,400 workers currently employed by Honda in Alliston.

The Canadian federal government was understood to have offered Honda tax credits worth C$2.5bn to make the investment, with the Ontario provincial government offering an additional C$2.5bn in incentives.

In the federal budget last week, the government introduced a new business tax credit which provides a 10% rebate on the construction costs of new facilities used in key industry segments such as the EV supply chain.

As a first step in its North American electrification strategy Honda had invested US$700m to retool existing US facilities in Ohio to build BEVs and established a joint venture with South Koreas LG Energy Solution to build a US$4.4bn EV battery plant also in Ohio.

At the Ontario press conference, Mibe said in a statement: Honda is making progress in our global initiatives towards the realisation of our 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

"In North America, following the initiative to establish our EV production system capability in the US, we will now begin formal discussions toward the establishment of a comprehensive EV value chain here in Canada, with the support of the governments of Canada and Ontario.

"We will strengthen our EV supply system and capability with an eye toward a future increase in EV demand in North America.

Trudeau pointed to Canadas efforts to establish a whole ecosystem built around the production of EV batteries which, along with generous tax incentives, availability of renewable energy and abundance of mineral deposits, positioned the country as an attractive investment destination for BEV production.

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"Honda (finally) announces CAD15bn BEV investment in Canada" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The board of Hong Leong Finance Limited (SGX:S41) has announced that it will pay a dividend of SGD0.09 per share on the 24th of May. The dividend yield of 5.0% is still a nice boost to shareholder returns, despite the cut.

View our latest analysis for Hong Leong Finance

Hong Leong Finance's Payment Expected To Have Solid Earnings Coverage

While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable.

Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, Hong Leong Finance has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Based on Hong Leong Finance's last earnings report, the payout ratio is at a decent 60%, meaning that the company is able to pay out its dividend with a bit of room to spare.

Looking forward, EPS could fall by 4.8% if the company can't turn things around from the last few years. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the future payout ratio could be 65%, which we are pretty comfortable with and we think is feasible on an earnings basis.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The dividend has gone from an annual total of SGD0.12 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of SGD0.125. Dividend payments have been growing, but very slowly over the period. Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent.

The Dividend's Growth Prospects Are Limited

Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. In the last five years, Hong Leong Finance's earnings per share has shrunk at approximately 4.8% per annum. If earnings continue declining, the company may have to make the difficult choice of reducing the dividend or even stopping it completely - the opposite of dividend growth.

Our Thoughts On Hong Leong Finance's Dividend

In summary, dividends being cut isn't ideal, however it can bring the payment into a more sustainable range. The company hasn't been paying a very consistent dividend over time, despite only paying out a small portion of earnings. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Hong Leong Finance that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is Hong Leong Finance not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A trio of developers has sued the state of Idaho after the Legislature canceled a $51.8 million sale of the 44-acre Idaho Transportation Department campus on State Street.

In September, the Department of Administration selected a winning bid from three companies  Boise-based Hawkins Cos. and The Pacific Cos, and Utah-based FJ Management  to redevelop the state-owned property. Plans for the mostly vacant site at 3311 W. State St. included building over 2,000 homes and developing around 150,000 square feet of commercial space, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting.

The group believed it was a done deal when the state selected the offer, but some legislators took offense, arguing that the state was shortchanged on the deal. Others argued that it would send money to the citys urban renewal agency, the Capital City Development Corp., if it switched to private ownership, because the site falls within its newest district along a well-traveled city corridor.

The House and Senate voted to scrap the sale after months of back-and-forth arguments by passing two budget bills that revoked the Department of Administrations ability to sell the property. Gov. Brad Little said overturning the deal was unfair and could hurt the state, but allowed the bills to become law by choosing to neither sign nor veto them.

It unfairly cancels an agreed-upon sales process, causing future reputational risk for the state of Idaho, Little wrote in a letter to the Idaho House, led by Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, who championed voiding the sale.

Earlier this month, Brian Huffaker, CEO of Hawkins Cos., said the developers would be exploring legal action.

While disappointed we must turn to the courts to enforce fair business practices in the state, we believe it is necessary to challenge the Legislatures heavy-handed and plainly unconstitutional interference into a competitively bid land sale, Huffaker said in an emailed statement Friday.

We are confident the outcome of this litigation will be a win for small government and free-market advocates across Idaho.

The developers submitted a petition for a writ of prohibition and writ of mandate to the Idaho Supreme Court, which would prevent a lower court from interfering with the higher courts determination of a case pending an appeal, according to the Cornell Law Schools Legal Information Institute.

According to the plaintiffs brief, the developers bid for the property was $13 million over the states appraisal of the campus.

Up until the 2024 session, the Legislature had spent millions funding the relocation of ITD to the former Hewlett Packard Campus on W. Chinden Blvd., according to the brief. However, as the 2024 legislative session approached, certain lawmakers determined that the accepted price for the ITD campus was, in their minds, inadequate and that ITD should not relocate.

Story continues

The lawsuit alleges that the two budget bills violated the Idaho Constitution and case law that has existed for over 100 years stating that appropriations  or budget  bills are not allowed to modify general law.

Because the budget bills violate the constitutional test of unity of subject matter, the offending provisions of the budget bills should be declared void and ineffective, the petition states.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Raul Labrador told the Statesman that the AGs office would not comment on pending litigation.

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Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL), a major American airline, with its headquarters and largest hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, has seen a recent insider transaction. On April 24, 2024, Executive Vice President - Global Sales Steven Sear sold 15,806 shares of the company at an average price of $47.9 per share. The transaction resulted in a total value of $757,007.4. This sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.Over the past year, the insider has sold a total of 27,935 shares of Delta Air Lines Inc and has not made any purchases of the stock. The company's insider transaction history over the past year indicates a total of 3 insider buys and 12 insider sells.

Insider Sell: EVP - Global Sales Steven Sear Sells 15,806 Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)

The market capitalization of Delta Air Lines Inc stands at $32.188 billion, with the stock trading at $47.9 on the day of the insider's recent sale. The price-earnings ratio of the company is 6.41, which is lower than the industry median of 13.815 and also below the company's historical median price-earnings ratio.

Insider Sell: EVP - Global Sales Steven Sear Sells 15,806 Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)

According to the GuruFocus Value, the stock has a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 0.99, indicating that it is Fairly Valued. The GF Value is calculated based on historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor, and future business performance estimates from Morningstar analysts. Delta Air Lines Inc's GF Value is currently estimated at $48.55, slightly above the trading price of the insider's recent sell.The sale by Executive Vice President - Global Sales Steven Sear is a notable insider transaction for investors following Delta Air Lines Inc. As always, insider transactions are only one factor to consider when evaluating potential investments, and investors should conduct their own research and analysis.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Invesco Ltd.'s (NYSE:IVZ) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to $0.205 on 4th of June. This will take the dividend yield to an attractive 5.7%, providing a nice boost to shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Invesco

Invesco Doesn't Earn Enough To Cover Its Payments

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. While Invesco is not profitable, it is paying out less than 75% of its free cash flow, which means that there is plenty left over for reinvestment into the business. In general, cash flows are more important than the more traditional measures of profit so we feel pretty comfortable with the dividend at this level.

The next 12 months is set to see EPS grow by 142.3%. If the dividend continues on its recent course, the company could be paying out several times what it earns in the next 12 months, which could start applying pressure to the balance sheet.

Invesco Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from $0.90 total annually to $0.82. Payments have been decreasing at a very slow pace in this time period. Generally, we don't like to see a dividend that has been declining over time as this can degrade shareholders' returns and indicate that the company may be running into problems.

Dividend Growth Is Doubtful

Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. However, initial appearances might be deceiving. It's not great to see that Invesco's earnings per share has fallen at approximately 9.6% per year over the past five years. A modest decline in earnings isn't great, and it makes it quite unlikely that the dividend will grow in the future unless that trend can be reversed. However, the next year is actually looking up, with earnings set to rise. We would just wait until it becomes a pattern before getting too excited.

Our Thoughts On Invesco's Dividend

In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Invesco's payments are rock solid. The company has been bring in plenty of cash to cover the dividend, but we don't necessarily think that makes it a great dividend stock. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Invesco that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But every investor is virtually certain to have both over-performing and under-performing stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in AirAsia X Berhad (KLSE:AAX), since the last five years saw the share price fall 49%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 31% in the last 90 days.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for AirAsia X Berhad

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During five years of share price growth, AirAsia X Berhad moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics may better explain the share price move.

It could be that the revenue decline of 27% per year is viewed as evidence that AirAsia X Berhad is shrinking. This has probably encouraged some shareholders to sell down the stock.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 16% in the last year, AirAsia X Berhad shareholders lost 9.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 8% doled out over the last five years. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand AirAsia X Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for AirAsia X Berhad (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Story continues

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government has given a conditional green light to Vitol's plan to take over oil refiner Saras, the global commodity trader said in a statement on Friday.

Saras's controlling shareholder - the Moratti family - said in February it had agreed to sell its stake to Vitol, in a deal valuing Saras at 1.7 billion euros ($1.83 billion).

However, the accord was being reviewed by Rome under its so-called "golden power" rules which the government can apply to block deals involving companies deemed of strategic importance.

"The Italian Prime Minister's Office issued a decree on the exercise of special powers containing prescriptions that are no obstacle to the completion of the transaction," Vitol said in a statement.

Italy was seeking commitments from Vitol on jobs, investments and continuity of supplies.

Italy uses its golden powers in most cases to approve deals with binding conditions to protect the national interest.

Saras is the owner of the Sarroch plant in Sardinia, which is the single biggest refinery in the Mediterranean with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

Italy's market watchdog said in March that Vitol held a stake of 10.4% in Saras.

The Moratti family's entire stake in the refiner will be transferred to Vitol, triggering a mandatory tender offer for the outstanding share capital of the group, with the aim of delisting it.

($1 = 0.9314 euros)

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gavin Jones)
(Bloomberg) -- Japan said it plans to expand restrictions on exports of four technologies related to semiconductors or quantum computing, the latest in a global push to control the flow of strategic tech.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Tokyos new measures will affect scanning electron microscopes, used to analyze nanoparticle images, and gate-all-around transistors, a technology embraced by Samsung Electronics Co. to improve semiconductor design. Japan will also require licenses for shipments of cryogenic CMOS circuits used in quantum computers, as well as for quantum computers themselves.

Such shipments to all countries, including most-favored trading partners South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, will require sign-offs by export control officials.

The move is designed to better oversee exports of components with military applications, and is in step with similar moves around the world, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday. The change will take effect as early as July, after a period of public comment through May 25, METI said.

Last year, Japan expanded restrictions on exports of 23 types of leading-edge chipmaking technology. That measure came on the heels of US efforts to limit Chinas access to key semiconductor processes. Washington officials have lobbied international partners like Japan and the Netherlands to match its trade sanctions on China, which the US sees as a geopolitical and potentially military rival.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A federal judge gave a green light to the National Association of Realtors settlement, paving the way for an overhaul of the way people buy and sell their homes in the United States.

On Tuesday, Judge Stephen Bough granted preliminary approval to the $418 million antitrust settlement in a Missouri court. A final approval hearing is set for November 26.

Housing experts say the settlement may effectively demolish the current real estate business model. Under the current system, home sellers pay the full commission, usually 5% or 6%, which is generally shared between the agent representing the seller and an agent representing the buyer. Critics say this practice inflates housing prices.

In a statement to CNN, an NAR spokesperson said it was pleased that the Court has preliminarily approved the settlement because it is in the best interests of all parties and class members.

It has always been NARs goal to resolve this litigation in a way that preserves consumer choice and protects our members to the greatest extent possible, the spokesperson said. This proposed settlement achieves both of those goals and provides a path for us to move forward and continue our work to preserve, protect, and advance the right to real property for all.

Groups of home sellers brought lawsuits against the NAR for its standard commission structure, saying it was a violation of antitrust laws.

Under the terms of settlement, which was announced in March, sellers agents will no longer be required to offer commissions to buyers agents.

While the settlement does not explicitly spell the end of the traditional 6% commission, split between the sellers agent and the buyers agent, commissions are expected to fall because they will become competitive and negotiable.

However, some in the real estate field warn that the change could raise costs for homebuyers, who are already shelling out a large chunk of money for what is often the largest purchase of their lives. If sellers are no longer paying buyers agents, homebuyers may be on the hook to pay their broker directly.

The NAR said changes are slated to take effect in late July, but the mere prospect of the rule change has already caused some Americans to change the way they buy and sell homes. One home seller in Minnesota, Matt Hanley, told CNN last month that when he lists his home this spring, he plans to offer a 0% commission to the buyers agent, effectively forcing a potential buyer to negotiate their agents commission on their own.

Why wait for the settlement? This is common knowledge now, Hanley said. Im going to try to be at the start of this bell curve.

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The Kansas House on Friday voted to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto of a sweeping tax package, which would eliminate one of the states income tax brackets, that she called too expensive.

Numerous Democrats joined Republicans to overturn the veto in a 104-15 vote. The override now heads to the Senate, where the legislation originally fell three votes shy of a veto-proof majority.

The annual cost to state revenues under the vetoed plan is estimated at $635 million the first year and roughly $460 million each year after. Kelly has generally held that the annual ongoing cost of tax cuts shouldnt exceed $425 million.

Kansans need tax relief and revenue estimates tell us its time to make that happen. With this significant vote of 104 to 15 to override the Governors misguided veto, were closer than ever to delivering broad and sustainable property, income, Social Security, and food sales tax relief to all Kansans, House Republican leaders said in a statement that also thanked Democratic lawmakers.

State officials last week released revenue projections that show Kansas is expected to collect $146 million  or 1.4%  more than previously anticipated during the next fiscal year, which begins in July. While officials now expect the state to collect about $100 million less during the current fiscal year than previously projected, collections are still expected to surpass the previous year by nearly 10%.

Legislative researchers estimate that with the tax package, Kansas will end the next fiscal year with a $1.9 billion ending balance and an additional $1.7 billion in a rainy day fund. Still, the state would run a $705 million deficit for the year, according to estimates.

When Kelly vetoed the bill earlier this week, she said should couldnt sign into law a bill that jeopardizes our states future fiscal stability.

The legislation vetoed by Kelly would tax the top bracket at 5.55% and 5.15% for the bottom bracket, with $23,000 taxable annual income serving as the dividing line between the two rates. For married couples, that dividing line would be $46,000.

The proposal would raise the personal exemption allowance amount so that each dependent would qualify for an additional $2,320, while raising the allowance from $2,250 for all taxpayers to $18,320 for married couples and $9,160 for all other taxpayers.

The measure also eliminates taxes on Social Security income, lowers the statewide mill levy for schools from 20 mills to 19.5 mills and accelerates the elimination of the state sales tax on food to July 1, six months ahead of current law.

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The House originally passed the tax package unanimously. Fridays vote represented a rare instance of Democrats largely breaking with Kelly.

My constituents have been waiting on tax cuts for years. I owe them honesty and consistency, and I am willing to be accountable for my support of this bill at the doors and the ballot box, Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat, wrote on social media.

Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, a Leawood Democrat, urged lawmakers to oppose the override. We have room to trim this overall package and deliver on the most-demanded tax cuts, Poskin said.

Kelly has called on lawmakers to adopt an alternative tax plan. Her plan would maintain the states current three income tax brackets but lower each rate. It would also raise the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit for dependent care expenses.

It also includes eliminating state taxes on Social Security income and exempting the first $125,000 of all homes from the statewide property tax levy.
The president's decree On measures to improve the regulation of the organization and conduct of lotteries and risk-based games has been adopted, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news.

According to the decree, from January 1, 2025:

 the organization of risk-based games on the internet and bookmaking activities will be permitted;

 the activities of organizing lotteries, internet games, and bookmaking will be conducted based on licenses granted in accordance with the legislation by the Prospective Projects National Agency.

Residents and non-residents of Uzbekistan who have reached the age of 18 can participate in a lottery, internet games, and bookmaking bets organized based on licenses.

From January 1, 2025, for a period of 5 years, the following order will be set for taxing the activities of organizing lotteries as well as games on the internet and bookmaking activities:

 legal entities organizing lotteries, risk-based games on the internet, or bookmaking will be taxed at a rate of 4 percent after deducting the winnings paid out and the stakes refunded from their total revenue obtained from these activities;

 incomes of individuals in the form of winnings obtained from lotteries and internet games conducted based on licenses granted by the Agency and from bookmaking bets are exempt from income tax.

The monitoring and control functions of compliance with the legislation on combating the legalization of proceeds from criminal activities, financing terrorism, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the organizers of lotteries, internet games, and bookmaking activities will be carried out by the Agency and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office.




Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: UK4.33b (down 5.1% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: UK1.07b (down 29% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 25% (down from 33% in 1Q 2023). The decrease in margin was primarily driven by higher expenses.

EPS: UK0.017 (down from UK0.023 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Lloyds Banking Group Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.0% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 3.6% growth forecast for the Banks industry in the United Kingdom.

Performance of the British Banks industry.

The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Lloyds Banking Group you should know about.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The average home value in the U.S. is now over $350,000, but there are still desirable places where you can find homes for less. GOBankingRates spoke with Colten Claus, an associate broker with 8z Real Estate in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about where he would buy property with a budget of $250,000.

Find Out: Im a Real Estate Agent: 5 Places Id Buy a Vacation Home If I Had $500,000

Read More: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

With a budget of $250,000, finding the right place to move for both lifestyle and investment purposes can be challenging, especially in todays real estate market, he said. However, there are several areas across the U.S. where this budget can still go far, offering both a desirable quality of life and potential for good investment returns.

Here are a few areas Claus would consider.

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San Antonio, Texas

Average home value: $257,711

San Antonio offers a rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene and lower cost of living compared to other large Texas cities, Claus said. Its also known for its friendly community and mild winters.

In addition to being a desirable place to live, its a smart place to buy an investment property.

The city has a growing job market, particularly in the tech and healthcare sectors, driving demand for housing, Claus said.

Discover More: 8 Places Where Houses Are Suddenly Major Bargains

Pittsburgh

Average home value: $227,329

Known for its strong sense of community, Pittsburgh boasts a wealth of cultural amenities, including museums, theaters and parks, Claus said. It has also been cited for its high livability due to affordable living costs.

Homes are affordable now, but values are likely to rise in the coming years.

With several top universities and a burgeoning tech scene, Pittsburghs real estate market presents a good investment opportunity, especially in up-and-coming neighborhoods, Claus said.

Omaha, Nebraska

Average home value: $278,352

Omaha offers a blend of urban and rural charm with a strong job market, good schools and a family-friendly environment, Claus said. Its also noted for its arts and culinary scenes. The citys consistent economic growth and stable real estate market also make it an attractive option for investors.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Average home value: $350,151

Although the average home value in Knoxville is $350,000, you can still find appealing properties with a $250,000 budget.

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Knoxville is appealing due to its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains, vibrant arts scene and overall low cost of living, Claus said. Its also home to the University of Tennessee, which adds a youthful energy to the city.

Knoxville has become a hot market, so its a great place to buy now if you want to sell for a profit down the line.

The real estate market in Knoxville has been steadily growing, making it a promising area for property investments, Claus said.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Average home value: $200,036

Tulsa is becoming increasingly popular for its downtown revitalization, cultural attractions and friendly community, Claus said. The city also offers a generous incentive program for new residents under its Tulsa Remote initiative. With affordable housing and incentives for new residents and businesses, Tulsa presents a unique opportunity for real estate investment.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Real Estate Agent: 5 Places Id Relocate To With a Budget of $250,000
ETF Investing Tools

An eventful week for megacap stocks ended on a high note.

Four of the seven Magnificent Seven stocks announced earnings this week, and investors reacted positively to three of the reports.

Tesla shares shot up 18% on the two days following its earnings call after the worlds largest electric vehicle maker painted an exciting, futuristic vision in which the company was a leader in autonomous cars and robots.

The Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares (TSLL) jumped 36% over two days, pushing its assets under management to nearly $850 million.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which has a 13% weighting in Tesla stock, jumped almost 4% this week, beating the 2.8% gain for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).

Meta Disappoints

The one big road bump for the Mag 7 came on Thursday following the release of Metas earnings report.

Despite beating analyst estimates on the top and bottom line, the social media giant unveiled guidance for the second quarter that was underwhelming.

The firm also announced plans to accelerate its investments in artificial intelligence, which prompted some investors to worry about profit margins.

Meta tumbled almost 11% on Thursday, dragging the GraniteShares 2x Long META Daily ETF (FBL) lower by 22%.

The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC), which has a 22% weighting in the stock, sharply lagged the broader market this week with a fractional gain.

Alphabets First Dividend

But things could have been worse for the ETF were it not for a blowout earnings report from Alphabet later in the week.

The search giant reported earnings and revenues that surpassed analyst estimates, neutralizing worries that its core business would struggle due to competition from chatbots like ChatGPT.

The company also announced its intention to pay a dividend for the first time and said that it would be able to balance growth and investments in AI while expanding its profit margins.

Investors loved the news, sending shares of Alphabet up by 12% midday Friday. The T-Rex 2X Long Alphabet Daily Target ETF (GOOX) soared 24%.

Alphabets surge also boosted XLC, which has around a quarter of its portfolio allocated to the stock. The ETF gained 2.3% on Friday, clawing back some of its Meta-fueled losses from the previous day.

AI Benefits Microsoft

The largest of the Mag 7, Microsoft, also supported markets on Friday.

The companys revenues and profits for Q1 sailed past analyst estimates, but investors were particularly excited to hear that A.I. was already having a material impact on Microsofts business.

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Year-over-year sales growth in the companys key Azure cloud business accelerated from 28% in Q4 to 31% in Q1, with 7 percentage points of that growth coming from AI services.

Investors sent shares of Microsoft up by 3% midday on Friday, helping to lift the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK)which has a 23% allocation to the stockup by 1.5%.





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Manhattan Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:MANH) just released its latest first-quarter results and things are looking bullish. The company beat forecasts, with revenue of US$255m, some 4.6% above estimates, and statutory earnings per share (EPS) coming in at US$0.86, 30% ahead of expectations. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

See our latest analysis for Manhattan Associates

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Manhattan Associates' ten analysts is for revenues of US$1.03b in 2024. This reflects a modest 7.1% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to dip 8.4% to US$2.85 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$1.02b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.80 in 2024. The consensus analysts don't seem to have seen anything in these results that would have changed their view on the business, given there's been no major change to their estimates.

The analysts reconfirmed their price target of US$238, showing that the business is executing well and in line with expectations. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Manhattan Associates at US$275 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$195. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We can infer from the latest estimates that forecasts expect a continuation of Manhattan Associates'historical trends, as the 9.6% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2024 is roughly in line with the 10% annual growth over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenues grow 12% per year. So it's pretty clear that Manhattan Associates is expected to grow slower than similar companies in the same industry.

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The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Manhattan Associates. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Manhattan Associates going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here..

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Manhattan Associates that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Meituan is planning to launch its international food-delivery platform in Saudi Arabias capital, making its first move outside of greater China as growth slows in its home market.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Beijing-based firm is working to debut its KeeTa app in the Middle East with Riyadh as the first stop, according to people familiar with the matter. Meituan has explored an expansion into the Middle East for months, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. That launch could come as early as in coming months, one of the people said.

Meituans global expansion is emblematic of a push by Chinese companies abroad, seeking growth as local competition intensifies even while consumption wanes. The move into Riyadh, one of the wealthiest cities in the region, follows a successful Hong Kong foray in 2023.

It will pit Meituan against local rivals including Jahez International Co., Delivery Hero SEs Talabat and HungerStation and Uber Technologies Inc.-backed Careem. Delivery Heros shares fell more than 9% on Friday in their biggest single-day decline in about two months.

Meituans move comes as Saudi Arabia, already the regions biggest economy, devises plans to invest trillions of dollars to become a tourism and commercial hub. A Riyadh debut could mark a broader foray into a friendlier region that Chinese companies have warmed towards as their home economy buckles.

Read More: Meituan Revenue Beats Estimates After Staving Off ByteDance

The arrival of KeeTa will put pressure on incumbents like Delivery Hero, which counts Saudi Arabia as one of its largest markets by revenue, according to Marcus Diebel, an analyst at JP Morgan. Bernstein on Friday estimated the country yielded more than 3 billion ($3.2 billion) of GMV for the company.

It also underlines that the industry remains competitive with new, well funded players entering at a relatively late stage, Diebel wrote.

Meituans Middle Eastern approach will likely rely on a familiar subsidy-heavy strategy to draw in users and delivery workers at the outset. As with Hong Kong, Its likely to roll KeeTa out in phases and target certain districts to begin with. The companys already posted at least a dozen KeeTa job openings for Riyadh on LinkedIn and its own website, including for user acquisition and business development.

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While Meituan has spent months devising a blueprint for entry, plans could still change and the company could decide to hit pause on any expansion. The company has explored other Middle Eastern markets in the meantime. Representatives for Meituan didnt respond to an email seeking comment.

KeeTa  a nod to the fast-moving cheetah  launched in May and took just months to vault to the No. 2 spot in Hong Kong ahead of Deliveroo, according to independent research. That business was regarded as a trial run for a broader global expansion over the long run, as Meituan seeks growth at a time rivals like ByteDance Ltd.s Douyin are undercutting its margins.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says

Meituans maiden foray into Saudi Arabia  its first market outside greater China  where GDP per capita was 85% and 15% above the mainlands and Hong Kongs in 2023, may help lift average order value even after steep fee cuts to lure users. Local rivals such as Hungerstation, which has 3x Jahezs users and 19x Uber Eats, may retaliate to retain customers, hurting Meituans profit this year.

- Catherine Lim and Trini Tan, analysts

Click here for the research.

The companys latest expansion comes as Chief Executive Officer Wang Xing from February took direct control of its overseas businesses, a decision that elevates the importance of its international ambitions.

Wang said during the companys earnings call in March that Meituan was actively exploring international expansion, and that the firms cash reserves and cash flow from its domestic business would help it break into new markets.

Like its peers, the company has been looking outside its home turf for growth during Chinas severe economic downturn, including at one point considering an acquisition of Delivery Heros business in Southeast Asia.

A growing number of Chinese tech firms have explored a deeper presence in the Middle East in particular, anticipating less political scrutiny compared to places like the US and Europe. Apart from global sensations TikTok and Shein, Chinese-origin social apps like Yalla Group Ltd. and Joyy Inc.s Bigo Live have also built a strong following in the region.

--With assistance from Henry Ren, Pei Li and Zheping Huang.

(Updates with Delivery Hero share price and analyst from the fourth paragraph)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Research and education help people know warning signs and what to do to help save lives

CHICAGO, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Efforts are underway to reach more people with suicide prevention information and interventions across Illinois during Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The Illinois chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is hosting numerous free prevention programs throughout the month.

AFSP IL Chapter (PRNewsfoto/American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

Free Virtual Trainings in May:

May 1st  Talk Away the Dark with #RealConvos, Lunch & Learn at 12:00 pm

May 4th - Finding Hope, 10 am

May 8th - It's Real: High School (Week for Children's Mental Health Awareness), 6 pm

May 15th  Talk Saves Lives Latinx, 6 pm

May 22nd  Let's Save Lives, Lunch & Learn at 12:00 pm

May 29th  Talk Saves Lives LGBTQ (Kickoff Pride Month), Lunch & Learn at 12:00 pm

To Register go to https://afsp.org/chapter/illinois#events and scroll to find the event(s) you wish to attend.

Unplugged with AFSPIL - The Battle at Home: Preventing Suicide in Women Veterans

Tuesday, May 21st  7 pm  8 pm CST.

Join us for a free virtual panel discussion to help support our women veterans in their fight against the rise in female veteran suicides. Our panel of experts will provide awareness, education, and resources through this engaging conversation followed by Q&A.

Register at: https://deipanel052124.attendease.com/

2024 Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk Open House

Thursday, May 30, 2024 -- 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Pompei

1531 W. Taylor Street

Chicago, IL 60607

Learn more about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Illinois Chapter and the 2024 Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk. Join us as we celebrate our walk sponsors and volunteers and learn how you can bring AFSP programming to your community.

RSVP: chicagowalk.org/OpenHouse

"Suicide continues to this day to be a national health issue," said Phil Martinez, Board Chairman of AFSP-IL. "Increases in the suicide rate cannot be attributed to any single factor. Any number of factors, including mental and physical health conditions, family mental illness or family history of suicide, childhood trauma, abuse or neglect, and genetics, could play a role. That makes public education, research and advocacy to crucial in suicide prevention."

Latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show suicide is a leading cause of death. In 2021, after unintentional injury, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-24 and 25-34; and the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 25-34 (after unintentional injury and homocide). Almost 53% (52.9%) of all suicide deaths in the US are by firearm. In Illinois, 45% of all suicides were by firearms.

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There is reason for hope: in a recent Harris Poll conducted by AFSP, three of four people believe there are warning signs for those at risk of suicide and the majority of adults in the U.S. (78%) believe that training and education for professionals (first responders, health care providers, community leaders, faith leaders, the media, etc.) would be most helpful for reducing the number of people who die by suicide.

In its advocacy efforts, AFSP can point to work with partnering organizations that has resulted in unprecedented increases in federal mental health fundingfrom $21 million in 2021 to $102 million in 2022, which included the creation of the new 988 numbera watershed moment in crisis mental health response.

"Two years later, 988 continues to be a game changer in the crisis mental health support response world," said Angela Cummings, executive director of AFSP-IL. "Following our State Capitol Day in Springfield on April 16, it is our hope that funding for the full 988 continuum of care will be available through the State of Illinois. This includes not only the 988 call centers, but also mobile crisis response units and stabilization centers to keep people safe during a mental health crisis."

Individuals can help prevent suicide by knowing the warning signs and getting help when warranted.

Learn the signs of someone who may be at risk for suicide. Often there are changes in behavior such as mood swings, angry outbursts, or loss of interest in activities they love.

Reach out to someone who you think may be struggling . Trust your gut if you are concerned. Ask directly if they have thoughts of ending their life  research shows this is helpful and does not put the thought in their mind.

Connect those who are struggling to help. Share the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as well as general and other resources for minority communities.

Help is available. In a recent Harris Poll conducted by AFSP, more than half of adults in the U.S. (56%) believe not knowing how to get help keeps people who are thinking about suicide from seeking help, along with feelings of hopelessness (66%) and embarrassment (59%). With more than half of respondents not knowing HOW to get help, AFSP will continue educating on the resources Help is available by calling or texting 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

AFSP and its Illinois chapter are dedicated to improved research, education, and advocacy. Through its statewide network of volunteers, AFSP Illinois offers prevention education programs that emphasize the importance of research-proven self-care techniques as well as the value of engaging professional support.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Or text TALK to 741741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org / .

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

Ame rican Foundation for Suicide P revention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal to greatly reduce the national suicide rate. For more: https://afsp.org/chapter/illinois

Suicide Prevention Resources: https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources

Suicide Warning Signs: afsp.org/signs

Media: Reporting on Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/reporting-on-suicide-prevention

PSAs: https://talkawaythedark.afsp.org

Cision

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SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. and Google owner Alphabet Inc. sent a clear message to investors on Thursday: Our spending on artificial intelligence and cloud computing is paying off.

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The companies trounced Wall Street estimates with their latest quarterly results, lifted by a surge in cloud revenue  fueled in part by booming use of AI services. Alphabet shares surged as much as 12%, the biggest gain since July 2015, to their highest level ever. The rally pushed Alphabets valuation past $2 trillion. Microsoft rose as much as 3.5%.

The tech titans have been locked in a fierce battle for dominance in the field of artificial intelligence, with Microsoft joining forces with startup OpenAI to challenge Googles two-decade stranglehold on internet search. But Thursdays results showed theres ample room for both companies to grow.

Silicon Valley has hailed 2024 as the year that companies will begin to deploy generative AI  technology that can create text, images and videos from simple prompts. In back-to-back earnings calls, Alphabet and Microsoft executives said the programs are driving more business for their cloud computing units.

Corporate customers are more open to making long-term investments in their cloud infrastructure, said Tejas Dessai, research analyst at Global X ETFs. Thats helped make the sometimes-volatile industry more reliable.

Its quite clear from these earnings from Microsoft and Google that cloud infrastructure demand is starting to normalize, Dessai said. Foundational cloud infrastructure is showing healthy growth.

Rising cloud computing demand comes as a welcome turn for Google, which has long trailed Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft in the market. After breaking even for the first time last year, Googles cloud operation posted first-quarter profit of $900 million  well ahead of analysts projections of $672.4 million. The unit is viewed as one of Googles best bets for growth as its core search advertising business matures.

For years, Google Cloud was usually a weak spot during Alphabets earnings calls, said Lee Sustar, a principal analyst with Forrester Research Inc. These latest results show that Google Clouds AI offerings not only got enterprise customers to take another look, but spend some serious money.

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Googles success with corporate clients follows some embarrassing setbacks in the consumer market. In February, its flagship AI model Gemini was roundly criticized after it spit out historically inaccurate images, prompting the company to stop generating depictions of people.

The enterprise side of the market has been a very different story, according to Google Cloud Chief Executive Officer Thomas Kurian. The professional version of Gemini comes with various controls to help marketers ensure that the content is staying consistent with their brands. The service can be used to produce ads, ward off cyber threats, and even create videos and podcasts.

We are really excited about the benefit from AI for our cloud customers, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said on Thursday. We saw an increasing contribution from our AI solutions.

For Microsoft, generative AI is letting the company wring more spending from its core enterprise clients. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella has been infusing Microsofts entire product line with AI technology from partner OpenAI. The bet is starting to pay off, with some customers adding AI tools that summarize documents and generate content. Theyre also signing up for Azure cloud subscriptions featuring OpenAI products.

Microsoft said sales of its Azure cloud computing platform climbed 31% in the quarter, beating analysts expectations. About 7% of that increase was attributable to AI, compared with 6% in the previous quarter, and Microsoft is pleased with customer adoption so far, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said in an interview.

Youre seeing healthy growth really across Azure, in the non-AI and AI services, which is important, Hood said. While of course its still early in the long-term AI monetization opportunity, we feel good about where we are.

Microsofts GitHub coding platform is also gaining traction, recording 1.8 million customers during the period, up from 1.3 million last quarter. The AI-coding assistant is powered by OpenAIs large language model and helps streamline developers work by predicting lines of code, answering questions and converting code from one programming language to another. Corporate subscribers range from small startups to large businesses like Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Ford Motor Co. and Ernst & Young.

The company is also seeing promising initial uptake for an AI assistant meant to work with its Office software. The new tools cost companies an extra $30 a month on top of existing subscriptions. Nadella told analysts almost 60% of Fortune 500 customers are using the Copilot.

Not everyone reporting earnings on Thursday had good news to share. Intel Corp. gave a lackluster forecast for sales and profit in the current quarter, sending its shares tumbling in extended trading. The chipmaker said it expects business to pick up again in the second half of the year.

Microsoft and Alphabet needed to deliver a strong performance to avoid spooking investors, who sent shares of Meta Platforms Inc. down Thursday after the Facebook parent said during its Wednesdays earnings that it would invest billions of dollars more than expected on AI. Alphabet spent $12 billion on capital expenditures in the quarter, roughly twice its total from the year-ago quarter, and Porat told investors to expect similar spending for the rest of the year. After investing $14 billion in capital expenditures during the quarter, Microsoft said its spending will continue to rise.

Were seeing the AI demand continue to grow, and so well continue to work to match that, Hood said.

--With assistance from Dina Bass and Davey Alba.

(Updates shares in second paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.s quarterly sales and profit climbed more than projected, lifted by corporate demand for the software makers cloud and artificial intelligence offerings.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Revenue in the third quarter, which ended March 31, rose 17% to $61.9 billion, while profit was $2.94 a share, the company said in a statement Thursday. Analysts on average estimated per-share earnings of $2.83 on sales of $60.9 billion. The shares jumped in late trading.

Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella has been infusing Microsofts entire product line with AI technology from partner OpenAI. The bet is starting to pay off, with some customers adding AI tools that summarize documents and generate content or signing up for Azure cloud subscriptions featuring OpenAI products.

Microsofts generative AI-specific revenue has already become a key stock driver, said Dan Morgan, a senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust Co. Microsoft appears to be in an excellent position to thrive.

Azure revenue gained 31% in the quarter, above an average prediction of 29% and picking up slightly from the 30% growth in the previous period. About 7% of that increase was attributable to AI, compared with 6% in the prior quarter.

The company forecast Azure growth in the current period, ending June 30, of 30% to 31%, above the 29% expectation of analysts polled by Bloomberg. For the fiscal year that begins July 1, Microsoft projected growth of more than 10% in sales and operating income.

Youre seeing healthy growth really across Azure, in the non-AI and AI services, which is important, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said in an interview. While of course its still early in the long-term AI monetization opportunity, we feel good about where we are. The company is pleased with what its seen so far in terms of customer adoption, she said.

Nadella told analysts on a conference call that Azure took market share from rivals, without specifying. More than 65% of Fortune 500 companies are using Azure OpenAI, the cloud service that lets customers access OpenAIs latest technology.

Commercial cloud product revenue increased 23% to $35.1 billion, Microsoft said. Commercial bookings, a measure of future revenue, rose 29%, quite a bit ahead of where we expected, Hood said.

Story continues

Microsofts shares gained about 5% in late trading. They had closed at $399.04 in New York. The stock climbed 12% in the March quarter on optimism that the companys early lead in releasing generative AI products would boost sales.

AI Assistants

Microsoft has leveraged its $13 billion investment in research pioneer OpenAI to create a series of AI assistants and other features. Its weaving those capabilities into products ranging from Windows to Office, security software to search engine Bing, many of which carry additional fees for customers to use.

The company is spending heavily to expand its global network of data centers to meet rising demand for AI services  with capital expenses reaching $14 billion during the quarter. Were seeing the AI demand continue to grow, and so well continue to work to match that, Hood said.

On the call with analysts, she forecast capital spending would increase materially from the $14 billion last quarter. Capital expenditures in the fiscal year starting July 1 will also be higher than the previous year, Hood said. Right now, initial demand for AI services is running slightly ahead of the data center capacity Microsoft has available to provide them, requiring an increase in data center outlay.

On Nov. 1, the software giant widely released the corporate version of Microsoft 365 Copilot  an AI assistant for Office programs like Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Teams  to large customers. The new tools cost companies an extra $30 a month on top of existing subscriptions, and could one day become a meaningful source of recurrent revenue. This year, Microsoft expanded access to smaller firms and debuted a $20 consumer version of the AI assistant. Nadella told analysts almost 60% of Fortune 500 customers are using the Copilot.

Microsoft is seeking to push AI outside the corporate market as well. Nadella last month hired Google DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to oversee the companys consumer AI operation, a move reflecting the CEOs dissatisfaction with the companys efforts to create and deploy AI products for home users, Bloomberg reported earlier.

The Redmond, Washington-based company is also baking AI into its fast-growing cybersecurity business. The company recently released tools that can generate summaries of suspicious incidents and ferret out methods hackers use to obscure their intentions. The cybersecurity operation, the worlds largest, is showing relative strength, according to a Bank of America Securities note.

Security Overhaul

Yet, earlier this month, the US Cyber Safety Review Board issued a scathing report documenting the companys inability to stop hackers from breaching the email boxes of US officials. The company has announced its biggest security overhaul in more than two decades, but its unclear whether the effort will adequately address the challenges  or mollify critics.

Microsofts desktop software business benefited from stabilizing demand for personal computers. Global PC sales returned to growth with a 1.5% gain in the quarter, according to market research firm IDC, driven by a recovery in most regions. Windows revenue rose 11% in the quarter, the company said.

Sales of Xbox content and services jumped 62%, thanks almost entirely to a revenue boost from the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, completed last year. But Microsoft and rivals are still struggling to restore growth to the overall gaming industry, which is mired in a post-pandemic slump.

In an effort to rekindle sales, Microsoft is making four exclusive Xbox games available for Nintendo Co.s Switch and Sony Group Corp.s PlayStation.

(Updates with forecasts, AI demand beginning in sixth paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
My grandmother told me about the missing notebook.

It had a blue cover, she said, and was unmarked except for cuaderno de trabajo" written in the italicized superscript taught in elementary schools around Mexico. Kept by my grandfather when he labored on farms and orchards in the United States, the notebook recorded where he had worked, how much money he earned and  most important  where that money went.

The problem, my grandmother said, was that the notebook of work probably had been destroyed or thrown out. My grandfather, a man of few words, didn't know where it was either.

But what if that notebook wasnt gone?

Pedro Martinez, who meticulously recorded his earnings when he was a farmworker in the United States, relaxes at his home in Huajuapan de Leon, Mexico. (Xavier Martinez / For The Times)

After graduating from college in 2023, I traveled to the Mexican state of Oaxaca to visit relatives and to report on the effects of remittances sent back to Mexico. I was unable to find old bank records or receipts, but my grandmother mentioned the missing notebook one night after dinner.

I knew I had to see it to learn more about my familys history, so I went to the last place Herminia Rodriguez Andrade remembered having seen it: the village where she and my grandfather, Pedro Martinez, were born in the 1940s and started a family.

Inside the two-room adobe house where the couple and their eight children once lived as subsistence farmers, I sifted through photographs and utility receipts filling a cardboard box that sat next to the only bed. At the bottom, I found it: a Mead brand spiral-bound notebook. The front cover nearly fell off when I opened it, revealing page after page of entries that were dry, even monotonous.

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes and drawings

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes

"October 3, Friday. Eight hours laying wire with Enriquez."

"November 21. Friday. Eight hours pruning pears. Pruning started today."

"December 5, Friday. Eight hours pruning apples with Eri."

Page after page, line by line, I saw how Pedro lived and worked in 2008 and 2009 in the orchards of central Washington. They traced every job he had and even indicated the days rain cut a workday short.

The notebook was the first of about a dozen ledgers that I would find in the adobe house and at the family's current home in Huajuapan de Leon, a Oaxacan city of 80,000.

Pedro often recorded what he earned, as in this entry from 1999: "July 22, Thursday. 18 boxes of cherries. $4 per box."

He also recorded the day he made nothing at all. Using an X to indicate zero, on July 26, 1990, Pedro wrote, "X because there was no work." Some weeks had lots of Xs. The last entry from that year, in November, reads, "On Thursday I left for Mexico at 5 a.m."

Story continues

Pedro Martinez practiced English using a notebook.

With entries from California, Oregon and Washington state, the books were kept to document the transfer of money. Now, in a larger sense, they tell the story of how remittances sustain life in Mexico. Over time, remittances provided a source of modest generational wealth for my Mexican grandparents, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews  to the point where my American family no longer feels the need to send money, except in times of emergency.

The notebooks capture pieces of Pedro's life, work and aspirations from 1981 to 2010, when he returned to Mexico for good. They are far richer than any bank records.

Pedro Martinez wrote reminders for himself while working as a farmworker in Washington state.

Sometimes, Pedro drew sketches of the house he planned to build in Huajuapan someday. It would have six rooms across two floors, with windows along the north side.

Other times, he wrote English phrases that he copied from paperwork or learned from classes in the United States: "Your employee number with Wyckoff Farms is 46450. Please put it on the card." He also wrote down "cherry," as in "18 cajas de cherry," instead of the Spanish "cereza."

Pedros notations, though repetitious and even tedious, opened my eyes to his meticulous nature, the way he viewed each dollar as one that couldn't fall through the cracks.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Money sent from the United States plays an oversized role in the economy of rural Mexican states. In Oaxaca, home to more than 4 million people, residents collectively received $2.9 billion in remittances in 2022  equal to about 12% of the states gross domestic product, according to the Bank of Mexico and government figures.

For many recipients of remittances, the funds are used to fill gaps in social services and to supplement a minimum daily wage of 207 pesos, or roughly $10.

More than 80% use the transfers for basic needs such as food and clothing, according to the bank BBVA , while fewer than 15% use the money for education. Even fewer use it to buy land, another way in which my family is an exception.

A street in Huajuapan de Leon, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, to which the Martinez family was able to move, thanks to remittances from family members working in the United States. (Xavier Martinez / For The Times)

Since the money is often not invested in something that could ultimately generate income or promote development, like starting a business, its long-term impact is limited, said Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez, a research scholar at Rice Universitys Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico.

Generally, he said, people stay poor.

But in my family, remittances have been used for decades as a pathway to upward mobility.

And it all began, as with the notebooks, with envelopes always bearing three stamps.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "$200 dolares que mando Sergio importo dinero mexicano $600,000"

March 12, 1992: Sergio Martinez sent $200, worth 600,000 pesos

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Growing up in Wenatchee, a small city in Washington state known as the Apple Capital of the World, I knew the importance of remittances from weekly trips to the tienda mexicana. There, my dad, Sergio, would buy telephone cards and call his parents, Pedro and Herminia, to check on the family or confirm they received the money hed sent.

Pedro Martinez, who performed all kinds of farmwork, prunes a tree in Wenatchee, Wash. (Martinez family)

I knew that my grandparents grew up the way most rural Mexicans did in the 20th century: extremely poor. I knew that poverty led Pedro to follow a gushing stream of laborers from Mexico to chase farmwork in the western U.S. Pedro drifted from San Diego County to Oregon's Willamette Valley, until he found a job he liked picking fruit in arid central Washington.

But theres a difference between stories passed down and truths I could learn as a journalist. It was only while reporting in Huajuapan that I understood the coordination it took to save my relatives from food insecurity and the discipline it took to avoid using newfound wealth for unnecessary purchases.

When Pedro first crossed the border without documentation in 1978 to pick strawberries in Escondido, he lived in a tent on a patch of flat dirt near the farm where he was working. Intent on saving almost every dollar of his pay for his return to Oaxaca, he ate wild cactus he harvested from the hills, recalling that they were "different  no, worse  than the cactus at home."

On his first trip home, Pedro brought an envelope thick with cash. It was the largest sum of money the family had ever deposited in a bank at one time: $3,600.

Pedro Martinez, left, and two other farmworkers take a break in Wenatchee, Wash., in the 1980s. (Martinez family)

As detailed in the notebooks, that sum was the result of months of modest accumulation: $100 on a good day, when his wages were above $4 per box of fruit picked and he could fill more than a dozen boxes; less than $50 on others, when the dry summer heat made it unsafe to continue work in the afternoon.

After returning to the United States, he began to send home cash in monthly envelopes  always using three stamps to ensure prompt delivery. Herminia and her young children would pick up the mail and hold these envelopes up to the sun, estimating their value by the silhouette of the bills inside.

In 1985, the couple purchased land in Huajuapan, down the street from the central produce market. They built a small house where seven of their children grew up. Each time Pedro returned, he would build a wall to expand it.

A page from a spiral-bound notebook with handwritten notes from 1981

When my father and two of his brothers, Jorge and Saturnino, joined Pedro in Washington in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with remittances paying the coyotes who got them across the border, they shared a room in a house and didn't get to keep most of the money they earned picking cherries at $4 per seven-gallon crate. They let Pedro allocate part of their paychecks for their living essentials.

The remainder was sent to Huajuapan, where their sisters logged each remittance payment in yet another notebook for Pedro to review each time he returned for visits.

The girls bought new shoes and ate more meat, but along with Pedros financial savvy came a stinginess that extended to his family. He refused to pay for any education not provided by the government.

A page from a spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes "15 de Disiembre 1984  y de 1985"

My grandfather never saw the point of using remittances for educational purposes  or for any expense beyond what he deemed immediately essential. This view is common among many Mexican recipients of remittances, either because their finances are so limited that extra money is spent on necessities or because they undervalue education as a key to advancement, according to Tania Castillo Villegas, who studies the effects of remittances at University of the Isthmus in southern Oaxaca.

By the mid-1990s, my father was in his early 20s and starting to become disillusioned with life in the U.S. He had left Huajuapan to avoid becoming a laborer like his father, and yet the only jobs he could find were in Wenatchees orchards.

Soon, he stopped taking agricultural jobs, enrolled in English classes at a community college and began to work in restaurants. Using the same method of accounting pioneered by their father in the blue notebooks, he and his brothers directed their remittances to go toward their sisters education.

My dad paid for his sister Nubia's accounting school. Daifa Norma went to a teachers' college in Mexico City, and Maribel went to Oaxaca City for nursing school.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "25 domingo lupe y Her. 21 cajas de cheerry"

July 25, 1999. Lupe and Herminia picked 21 boxes of cherries.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Eventually, Pedro, now 80, settled permanently in Huajuapan, his spine bent by years of climbing ladders with 40-pound bags of apples on his back. Macular degeneration slowly took over his vision until he was blind. And in July 2023, after coughing up blood for several days, he stopped eating altogether.

His gallbladder might burst at any time, a doctor warned, and the family had to decide whether Pedro was strong enough for surgery. Although an operation was risky, and the doctor gave a 20% probability of a full recovery, the chances of survival appeared lower without an operation.

The family opted for surgery at a private hospital in Huajuapan rather than at the nearest public hospital in Oaxaca City, which would have required a bumpy three-hour ambulance ride.

Sergio, my father, arrived a day after the surgery, using the frequent flier points he had stockpiled for years to secure a last-minute flight from Seattle to Mexico City. When he arrived in Huajuapan, he was still unsure of his father's fate. At the hospital, he walked into Pedros room and found him awake and responsive. The toxic gallbladder floated in a dark liquid inside a plastic jar on the bedside table.

The decision to take Pedro to a private hospital rather than a subsidized public institution, despite the uncertainty of what the final bill would total, exemplifies the family's financial stability. The hospital bill exceeded 100,000 pesos (roughly $6,000), an astronomical price for many in the region but a cost that the family could afford with contributions from Pedro's children.

Remittances did not pay for Pedro's potentially lifesaving surgery, at least not directly. But they did facilitate the generation of wealth that allowed my father and his siblings to save money for unexpected medical expenses. My aunt Maribel, the family nurse who tended to Pedro's wounds after his surgery, gained the skills she had from the investment of remittances.

Sergio Martinez looks through a family photo album with his mother, Herminia Rodriguez Andrade, in Huajuapan de Leon, Mexico. (Xavier Martinez / For The Times)

It has been years since the family has been concerned about having enough to eat. Though the family once relied on a field they planted with crops, that field has essentially been allowed to go wild, with corn and cactus growing on their own, along with avocado and mango trees. Herminia and Pedro now harvest whatever the field yields  something to supplement the pounds of meat and masa that are purchased each week to feed the home's eight permanent residents: an assortment of children and grandchildren, and a handful of regular visitors.

The family has, in a way, grown out of its dependence on remittances.

My father, who got his green card in 2000, no longer pools money or sends set amounts each month. The investments he and his brothers made in education have paid dividends for those still living in Mexico. Norma is a teacher in Mexico City, Maribel a nurse in Huajuapan. The third generation, my cousins, are able to take private English classes and participate in enrichment programs that my father and his siblings could only have dreamed of.

Other Mexican families have not been as fortunate as mine. Sometimes, accidents or injuries prevent migrant workers from making enough to send money that can accumulate as wealth. In some households, remittance money is spent on something without any benefit for the family," said Castillo Villegas.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Handwritten notes in Spanish. "28 cajas de cherry. Satur y Jorje returon pora Mexico"

July 23, 1991: Pedro and Herminia picked 28 boxes of cherries. Saturnino and Jorge left for Mexico.

Section divider: A handwritten green line

Shortly after my grandfathers surgery, on a rainy evening in Huajuapan, my cousin Carmen Mendez Martinez sprinted across the concrete driveway to where the family was seated at a table.

"Me aceptaron en la UNAM!" she said, panting. She had been accepted to attend the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the country's most prestigious public university.

The adults congratulated her, but their tone was somber. It meant that Carmen would be leaving Huajuapan and, if her aspirations of exploring the world as a doctor were fulfilled, she would not be returning. For Nubia, her mother, it brought to light concerns of the family's closeness. Would her daughter visit? Would she still feel a duty to help her family?

Carmen is one of 16 grandchildren under the age of 21; the return on my familys educational investment is just beginning. One cousin wants to be a dentist, another wants to join the U.S. military. Inevitably, they will continue to spread out. And to think those ambitions can be traced back to ledger entries such as "December 5, Friday. Eight hours pruning apples with Eri."

Three weeks after Carmen was accepted to UNAM, she was on her way to Mexico City. She said her goodbyes to her stoic aunts and siblings, tears in their eyes. When she got to Herminia, her grandmother, Carmen bowed her head for a blessing.

Xavier Martinez is a special correspondent.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Emirates Islamic net profit surged to a record AED811 million ($221 million) in the first quarter of 2024, up 35% year-on-year, underpinned by a robust 19% growth in total income, propelled by higher funded and non-funded income streams. Net profit margin was at 4.7%.

Furthermore, the noteworthy 28% increase in operating profit not only underscores the bank's operational efficiency but also mirrors the positive economic outlook within the buoyant regional economy.

Operating expenses increased by 1% y-o-y as the bank invests for future growth. Cost to income ratio at 28.4%. Impairment Allowances decreased by 56% y-o-y and Operating profit showed an impressive growth of 28% y-o-y.

Strong capital and liquidity

Strong capital and liquidity combined with a healthy deposit mix enabled the bank to continue supporting customers. Total assets at AED95.0 billion, increased 8% from end 2023 and customer financing at AED57.0 billion, increased 6% from end 2023.

Customer deposits at AED66.7 billion, increased 9% from end 2023 with Current Account and Savings Account balances at 77% of total deposits

Non-performing financing ratio improved to 5.8% with strong coverage ratio at 133%. Tier 1 ratio of 18.8% and 19.9% Capital adequacy ratio reflects banks strong capital position.

The banks Headline Financing to Deposit ratio at 85.5%, reflects continued healthy liquidity in the UAE.

Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Chairman, Emirates Islamic said: The banks total income grew 19% compared to the first quarter of 2023, with customer deposits increasing by 9% from end 2023, with Current Account and Savings Account balances at 77% of total deposits.

Innovative financial solutions

Our strong results are a reflection of our focus on providing innovative financial solutions to our customers while enhancing the overall customer experience. Emirates Islamic marks a significant milestone this year, celebrating 20 years of collective progress, affirming our position as one of the leading Shariah-compliant banks in the UAE. The bank has made significant strides over the past two decades, across areas such as Emiratisation, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability, among others.

As a prominent local Islamic bank, Emirates Islamic remains committed to contributing to the UAEs progress by spearheading innovations in the Islamic banking sector. The bank recently announced the successful conclusion of its debut $500 million syndicated Financing Facility. The landmark three-year term financing facility is the first of its kind raised by a Shariah-compliant financial institution.

Farid AlMulla, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Islamic said: A strong capital and liquidity, combined with a healthy deposit mix, enabled the bank to continue supporting customers. Further, operating profit showed an impressive growth of 28% year-on-year, underlying the success of Emirates Islamics strategy.

Shariah products

The bank's commitment to innovation and digital excellence remains unwavering and Emirates Islamic continues to invest strategically in technology. Recognised as one of the UAE's leading Islamic banks, Emirates Islamic plays a crucial role in the country's progress. We are dedicated to pioneering Shariah-compliant products and services, in order to service the growing demand for ethical banking solutions.

Emirates Islamic continues to be at the forefront of driving digital banking innovation in the Islamic financial services sector, providing our customers with best-in-class solutions through our digital banking channels. Earlier this year, in line with our digital-first approach, Emirates Islamic launched a Shariah-compliant digital wealth and equity trading platform on our EI + mobile banking App, becoming the first Islamic bank in the UAE to offer this feature to customers.

In line with our vision to be the most innovative Shariah-compliant bank for our customers, people, and communities, Emirates Islamic became the first Islamic bank to sign a Shariah-compliant agreement with The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) to facilitate trade and foreign capital inflows within the Pan-Arab region."--TradeArabia News Service
cherdchai chawienghong / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Money expert Graham Stephan previously explored the claims that people are using ChatGPT to make millions of dollars. Is it possible? He detailed one avenue where AI has recently outperformed human professionals: investing in the stock market.

Check Out: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon

Read Next: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

He showed viewers three ways ChatGPT can help  and pointed out some of the shortcomings of using artificial intelligence for investing.

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Asking ChatGPT for Top Stock Picks Based on Specific Parameters

One group in the United Kingdom asked ChatGPT to create a portfolio of stocks from high-quality businesses, with criteria taken from 10 leading funds. Between March 6 and April 28 of 2023, Stephan said, the portfolio of 38 stocks gained 4.9%, while 10 leading investment funds lost an average of 0.8%, according to Finder.com.

However, Stephan pointed out, Fund managers arent exactly the creme de la creme to be competing against. In past examples, monkeys and cats were shown to pick stocks that outperformed investment funds (though outliers dont always disprove the rule).

In a project called The ChatGPT Challenge, however, the AI platform selected 20 stocks  including blue chip names like Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Amazon, and Apple  and tracked their performance. On the first day, it was already beating the S&P 500, Stephan told viewers. Its too early to tell how this is going to pan out.

Learn More: Im a Self-Made Millionaire  5 Stocks You Shouldnt Sell

Using ChatGPT To Choose Stocks To Short

In another experiment, someone created a ChatGPT prompt to analyze news reports for negative, positive and neutral sentiments surrounding top companies. What it found was that ChatGPT was actually good at predicting what stock prices were actually going to fall the most, Stephan said.

Negative articles yielded the largest immediate downward movement in stock prices. This information provided a selection of stocks that you could short, or bet against, for potential profit.

Shorting stocks carries substantial market risk, however, and is mostly a tactic used by institutional investors, according to GOBankingRates.

Using AI-Powered Investment Platforms

If you arent ready to rely on an AI model to build your portfolio, you can consider using an AI-powered investment platform like Magnifi, which claims to provide personalized, data-driven investment advice. These platforms can take the emotion out of stock picks, which can lead to smarter investment decisions.

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However, as Stephan pointed out in the video: Its the human factor that makes investing what it is.

Can You Use ChatGPT To Make Millions on the Stock Market?

Stephan closed the video with a dose of common sense, recommending an S&P 500 index fund for most investors. Its boring, unsexy, and basic, but so far its worked for those who have held long-term.

However, ChatGPT does have its place in the world of finance, according to Stephan. I do believe ChatGPT will be incredibly useful for simplifying information and making it much more digestible for the average investor who doesnt have time to read earning reports, charts, and graphs, he said.

Whether that translates to increased profits depends on what you choose to do with that information.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Money Expert Graham Stephan: How You Can Use ChatGPT To Make Millions
Norfolk City Council gave the go ahead to the development of a large-scale retail and grocery store off East Little Creek Road in Wards Corner, a site where developers have sought to bring a Target.

Neither the retail giant nor the city have confirmed Target will fill the space formerly occupied by a Kroger, Work Force Development Center and Virginia Ham store.

However, the councils Tuesday vote follows years of negotiations between Virginia Beach developer Kotarides Cos. and Target to bring a store to the Wards Corner location. Civic league officials previously confirmed Target was being considered for the location, and the colors and designs submitted to council are consistent with Targets branding.

Council member Tommy Smigiel said he (and his family) were especially excited for his vote to approve the plans Tuesday night.

I think its a great economic development project for Wards Corner, Smigiel said.

Kotarides Cos. described the business in its development application as a large, high-quality general merchandise retail store that will include a grocery. The proposed retailer has a national footprint with stores in all 50 states and over $1 billion in sales for 2022. The store will employ about 150 people and will be roughly 130,000 square feet.

The unanimous council vote Tuesday grants a conditional use permit authorizing the operation of a retail goods establishment larger than 50,000 square feet. A city planning memo states that the current buildings would be demolished. It is unclear when the former Kroger and other buildings on the site will be demolished, when construction on the new store will begin or when it will open.

Norfolk has one Target store about five miles away on North Military Highway. Hampton Roads has 12 Targets.

Cianna Morales, 757-957-1304, cianna.morales@virginiamedia.com
Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported GAAP diluted EPS of $1.06 for Q1 2024, slightly below the estimated $1.13.

Net Income: Achieved $65.1 million, falling short of the estimated $69.00 million.

Revenue: Recorded $475.3 million, surpassing the estimated $471.60 million.

Dividend: Announced a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable on June 28, 2024.

Capital Investment: Reaffirmed commitment to a $500 million capital plan, including the completion of the Yellowstone County Generating Station.

Annual Guidance: Affirmed 2024 diluted earnings guidance of $3.42 - $3.62 per diluted share.

Regulatory Updates: Highlighted the impact of new base rates from Montana and South Dakota rate reviews on financial performance.

On April 25, 2024, NorthWestern Energy Group Inc (NASDAQ:NWE) disclosed its financial achievements for the first quarter of 2024 through an 8-K filing. The company reported a net income of $65.1 million, translating to a GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.06, which aligns closely with the analyst estimated EPS of $1.13. This performance represents a slight increase from the previous year's $1.05 EPS. The company has affirmed its 2024 earnings guidance and continues to progress on its $500 million capital investment plan.

NorthWestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) Q1 2024 Earnings: Aligns with Analyst EPS Projections

NorthWestern Energy, serving the Upper Midwest and Northwest regions of the U.S., including Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park, operates primarily through its Electric and Natural Gas utility segments. The company's revenue for the quarter stood at $475.3 million, an increase from $454.5 million in the previous year, surpassing the estimated revenue of $471.60 million.

Operational Highlights and Financial Performance

The increase in net income primarily stemmed from new base rates following rate reviews in Montana and South Dakota, alongside higher transmission revenues and Montana property tax tracker collections. However, these gains were partly offset by lower retail volumes in both electric and natural gas segments, higher non-recoverable electric supply costs in Montana, and increased expenses across depreciation, operations, and interest.

NorthWestern Energy's strategic initiatives, including the ongoing construction of the 175 megawatt Yellowstone County Generating Station, are on track, with the facility expected to be operational by the end of the third quarter of 2024. The company also plans to update its Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which will introduce a new Public Safety Power Shutoff process, addressing the specific needs of the communities it serves.

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Challenges and Regulatory Developments

Despite the positive financial outcomes, NorthWestern faces challenges such as regulatory hurdles and weather impacts on service demand. The company noted an under-collection of Montana electric supply costs, attributed to a cold weather event, and ongoing legal and construction challenges related to the Yellowstone County Generating Station project.

Furthermore, NorthWestern anticipates filing a rate review with the Montana Public Service Commission in the third quarter of 2024, which will include a prudence review of the new generating station. These regulatory activities are crucial as they directly impact the companys pricing strategies and operational flexibility.

Investor and Shareholder Returns

In alignment with its financial strategies, NorthWestern declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable on June 28, 2024, maintaining a dividend payout ratio within the targeted 60-70% range. This consistent return to shareholders underscores the company's stable financial management and commitment to delivering shareholder value.

As NorthWestern Energy continues to navigate regulatory landscapes and operational challenges, its steady financial performance and strategic investments are pivotal in sustaining growth and stability. The companys focus on enhancing infrastructure and regulatory compliance is expected to support long-term profitability and reliability in service delivery.

For detailed insights and further information, investors and interested parties are encouraged to view the full earnings presentation available on NorthWestern Energy's investor relations page.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from NorthWestern Energy Group Inc for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina.

Believe me, it was a frustrating year of my life.

In 2022, the Raleigh-based software company Prometheus Group sued three former employees in North Carolina Business Court, alleging they had violated the companys noncompete agreement. One of these workers was Randy Gibson, a sales engineer in his late 50s, who left Prometheus to take a job at an Australia-based software development firm.

Prometheus accused Gibson of violating his noncompete, which barred him from working for two years at any business related to the creation, development, distribution, or services of enterprise application software designed to improve enterprise asset management capabilities. The company applied this restriction to the entire world.

North Carolina allows blue-penciling, which some argue encourages employers to write very broad restrictive terms  terms judges might then cross out while leaving less restrictive terms in place.

In March 2023, Judge Julianna Earp ruled against Prometheus, finding the software company had overreached in its noncompete agreement with Gibson. Specifically, the companys restriction against joining companies who directly or indirectly competed with Prometheus was found to be unenforceable, as was its global geographic scope.

To be enforceable, non-competition covenants must be narrowly tailored to protect a legitimate business interest of the employer, Earp noted. She added, North Carolinas blue pencil rule cannot be used to salvage this far-reaching non-compete.

In Gibsons opinion, Prometheus viewed its noncompete more as a cudgel than as a valid mechanism to protect trade secrets.

I dont really believe that they were concerned with winning the lawsuit, he said. The idea was first of all to make my life miserable because I left, and second, to scare every other employee not to leave.

Prometheus did not respond to requests for comment.

Gibson says he spent more than $70,000 fighting the lawsuit. The company terminated its other two noncompete lawsuits in 2023 as well. A silver lining is I believe my verdict prevented Prometheus from bringing similar noncompete lawsuits against other former employees, he said.

Open Source

Noncompetes are common, affecting roughly 30 million Americans, including former employees at Triangle companies Bandwidth, IQVIA and Wolfspeed, and major area health care systems like UNC Health. But their end could be near. This week, the Federal Trade Commission adopted a rule that effectively bans noncompete clauses for almost all workers. Groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have already filed lawsuits to block the rule, and experts say the matter is far from settled.

UNC Health spokesperson Alan Wolf said the health system is reviewing the new rule, which wont go into effect until late August at the earliest, and monitoring the legal challenges.

Dont rip up your agreement just yet.

I think its very, very premature to assume (noncompetes are finished), said Zeb Anderson, a partner at Smith Anderson in Raleigh. Its very much we need to wait and see.

Activist investor stirs up Wolfspeed

The company is growing. The company is constructing a new manufacturing factory in Chatham County very quickly. But the share price of Wolfspeed, the Durham semiconductor chipmaker, has floundered over the past two years.

Its been one hit after another, said George Gianarikas, an analyst who covers the company for the Boston-based Sustainability Research. In September 2022, a share of Wolfspeed sold for $120. Today, it hovers around $25. This week, the prominent activist investment firm Jana Partners sent a letter to the companys board advocating for a change in corporate direction, including a potential sale.

I would say when there are incredibly valuable assets, like Wolfspeed, with a stock thats underperformed, this happens, Gianarikas said. Because smart enough people know this is a very, very important company that has high asset value and there is potential interest in it being acquired by other companies.

After taking stakes in companies, activist investors rally support from larger shareholders like pension funds, endowment funds or big asset managers to achieve their aims. Goals may vary, from seeking executive shakeups to adjusting dividend payouts to selling off parts of the company.

Analysts say Wolfspeeds share price has suffered from a confluence of supply shortages and demand concerns. The chipmaker is pioneering production of a larger 200-millimeter semiconductor wafer made from silicon carbide, but production has scaled at a slower pace than the market had desired. And now that supply is poised to increase from the incoming Chatham facility, some worry demand for these chips could falter as sales of electric vehicles waver.

We call it investor exhaustion, said Jack Egan, who covers Wolfspeed as a research analyst at Charter Equity Research in Colorado. It kind of sets in when its just quarter after quarter of something goes wrong.

The N&O reached out to Jana Partners multiple times to review its letter to Wolfspeed but did not hear back. In response to the letter, Wolfspeed released a statement saying its leaders maintain an open dialogue with, and value constructive input from, our shareholders.

The company continually evaluates options to enhance long-term value and is committed to acting in the best interests of all our shareholders, the statement continued.

What stake Jana Partners has in Wolfspeed is not yet public but should become clearer through public finance disclosures in the coming weeks. And Wolfspeed is releasing earnings next Wednesday. Lets see how investors respond.

Clearing the cache: First Citizens soars, Amazon hires

Amazon tells The News & Observer it has already hired more than 1,000 workers at its new inbound cross dock facility in the Johnston County seat of Smithfield. The 620,000-square-foot plant, which opened in late February, will receive inventory before its shipped to fulfillment centers. It is the second inbound cross dock in North Carolina, and the first in the greater Triangle-area. Wages start at $17 an hour.

More jobs news: On Tuesday, the state approved a $1.75 million incentive package for the firm Innovative Construction Group to hire 157 people over the next five years in western Chatham County. Innovatives parent company, PulteGroup, primarily sells single-family detached homes. Chatham and Siler City are pitching in around $1.1 million in local incentives.

No one would mistake North Carolina as a union hotbed, but the state with the second-lowest labor organization rate saw two union campaigns file in the past week or so: 62 full-time workers at Transcontinental Matthews near Charlotte and 90 workers at 10 Roads Express in Greensboro.

An Amazon employee working at the new inbound cross dock in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Earnings reports brought mixed news for two companies with Triangle ties. IBM , which owns Raleighs Red Hat and employs thousands locally on its own, saw its stock slip 8% Thursday after posting disappointing revenue. On the positive side, Raleighs First Citizens Bank beat profit expectations, and its share price jumped 8% the same day, reaching an all-time high. First Citizens purchase of Silicon Valley Bank last year appears to be going quite well. Not bad for a boring bank.

Microsoft has terminated an office lease for 40,000 square feet in Morrisville, the Triangle Business Journal reports.

VinFast CEO Pham Nhat Vuong said hell commit $1 billion to the high-spending, North Carolina-bound electric vehicle maker. Vuong is the wealthiest person in Vietnam. VinFast is a new EV company that you can read more about in the roughly 15,500 stories Ive written about them over the past two years.

State law required NCInnovation, the new nonprofit seeking to commercialize university research, to receive at least $25 million in private funding. The organization says it has exceeded this target.

First Citizens Bank headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. The family-owned bank was founded in 1898 in Johnston County.

National Tech Happenings

By a vote of 2,628 to 985, a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee became the first foreign-owned auto facility in the South to unionize.

TikTok will be banned in the U.S., unless its sold, after President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation.

The New Yorker wrote about Unreal Engine, the visualization tool from Carys Epic Games. The magazine spoke to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and other company executives about their hopes for the metaverse and extending Fortnite as an immersive platform. Can Unreal cross the uncanny valley  and what would that mean for our non-virtual world?

Thanks for reading!
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP)  The owner of a suburban Detroit business that caught fire and exploded, killing a man, was arrested at a New York airport as he was preparing to depart for Hong Kong on a one-way ticket, authorities said Friday.

U.S. Customs and New York Port Authority personnel arrested Noor Noel Kestou, 31, on Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. He was brought back to Michigan on Wednesday.

Kestou, of Commerce Township, was arraigned Thursday on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

The March 4 fire and explosion occurred in a Clinton Township building that housed a distributor for the vaping industry called Goo. More than 100,000 vape pens were stored on-site. Authorities have said a truckload of butane canisters had arrived at the building within a week of the explosion that sent cannisters soaring up to 2 miles (3.2 kilometers), and more than half of that stock was still there when the fire began.

Turner Lee Salter, 19, was about a quarter of a mile (0.40 kilometers) away when he was struck by a nitrous oxide cannister that was propelled through the air by the explosion. Salter later died.

Authorities said they were given information on April 20 that Kestou was trying to fly to Hong Kong.

We don't know what his ultimate goal was, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido told reporters Friday. Was it to stay out of the country with a wife and child here? Nobody has a crystal ball to determine who is a flight risk.

He was a suspect from the beginning, being the owner of this business, Lucido added. Anyone that owns a business and something like this happens has to be considered a suspect.

Lucido said involuntary manslaughter is the highest charge his office could bring, at this time, based on information and evidence in the case.

Goo had received a township occupancy permit in September 2022 for the 26,700-square-foot (2,480-square-meter) building as a retail location for a smoke shop/vape store that would sell paraphernalia for vape products, Clinton Townships Building Department has said.

Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan said Friday that a cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators believe the blaze started in the southwest corner of the building.

Kestou has been released from jail after posting a $500,000 bond. Lucido said authorities have his passport and that a condition of bond is that Kestou has to wear a GPS tether. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 7 in Clinton Township District Court.

The Associated Press left messages Friday seeking comment from Kestous attorney.
By Sourasis Bose and Nicole Jao

(Reuters) -Oil refiner Phillips 66 reported a first-quarter earnings miss on Friday, as seasonal maintenance and a renewable fuels conversion project at its Rodeo, California, refinery weighed on profits.

Phillips' market capture, a measure of refining profit compared with industry benchmarks, fell to 69% in the quarter from 93%, even as its crude capacity utilization was above last year at 92%.

The company said its realized margins slumped about 47% to $10.91 per barrel in the first quarter from a year earlier, led by nearly a 50% decline in Gulf Coast margins

Seasonal maintenance activities, primarily at its downstream catalytic units in the Gulf Coast, limited the refiner's ability to make higher-value products, Mark Lashier, CEO of Phillips 66, said during the company's earnings call on Friday.

"We're still maximizing our crude utilization throughput, but that crude turned into intermediates instead of clean products by design because of the turnaround work we had underway," he said.

Shares of the refiner were down nearly 3% on Friday.

On the West Coast, its renewables conversion project at its Rodeo refinery incurred a $180 million loss during the quarter, also weighing on its quarterly earnings.

The market had expected a noisy West Coast refining result given Rodeo startup, but margins were also weaker than forecast in other regions, TD Cowen analyst Jason Gabelman said in a note.

The Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex produces 30,000 barrels per day of renewable fuels. The facility is on track to produce approximately 50,000 barrels per day of renewable fuels by the end of the second quarter, according to its earnings report.

Activist investor Elliott, which revealed a $1 billion stake in Phillips last year, has been pushing the company to address underperformance in refining and speed up cost cuts.

Refiner margins have scaled back from the peaks achieved after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, amid a rise in global refining capacity that has led to a drop in fuel prices.

Rival Valero topped profit estimates on Thursday despite routine maintenance work at its refineries.

Phillips 66 said it has launched a sales process of its retail marketing business in Germany and Austria as part of its plan to divest non-core assets of about $3 billion.

The Houston-based company reported adjusted earnings of $1.90 per share for the three months ended March 31, compared with analysts' estimates of $2.17 per share, according to LSEG data.

(Reporting by Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Shinjini Ganguli and Diane Craft)
Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported at $1.73, falling short of the estimated $2.17.

Adjusted EPS: Reached $1.90, still below the estimated $2.17.

Net Income: Reported at $748 million, falling short of the estimated $930.01 million.

Adjusted Net Income: Totaled $822 million, also below the estimated $930.01 million.

Dividend: Announced a 10% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.15 per share.

Shareholder Returns: $1.6 billion returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the first quarter.

Strategic Initiatives: On track to achieve $1.4 billion in business transformation cost and sustaining capital savings by year-end 2024.

On April 26, 2024, Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) disclosed its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 through its 8-K filing. The company reported earnings of $748 million, or $1.73 per share, falling short of analyst expectations of $2.17 per share. Adjusted for special items, earnings were $822 million, or $1.90 per share. This period also saw Phillips 66 returning $1.6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, alongside a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.15 per share.

Phillips 66 (PSX) Q1 2024 Earnings: Misses Analyst EPS Estimates, Highlights Strategic Initiatives

About Phillips 66

Phillips 66 is an independent refiner with a significant presence in the energy sector, operating 12 refineries with a crude throughput capacity of 1.8 million barrels per day. The company's Midstream segment includes extensive transportation assets and NGL processing capabilities, alongside its CPChem chemical joint venture which produces olefins and polyolefins in the United States and the Middle East.

Strategic and Operational Highlights

The first quarter saw Phillips 66 making notable progress in its strategic priorities, including the commencement of operations at the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex and the initiation of a divestiture process for its retail marketing assets in Germany and Austria. The company's refining operations maintained a robust crude utilization rate of 92%, although maintenance activities impacted the production of higher-value products.

Phillips 66's Midstream segment reported a pre-tax income of $554 million, a decrease from $756 million in the previous quarter, primarily due to asset impairments and lower throughput revenues. The Chemicals segment, however, saw an increase in pre-tax income to $205 million, up from $106 million, driven by improved polyethylene margins and reduced feedstock costs.

Financial Position and Liquidity

Phillips 66 ended the quarter with $1.6 billion in cash and equivalents, and a consolidated debt-to-capital ratio of 40%. The company used $236 million in operations, mainly due to inventory builds, but managed to fund significant shareholder returns including $1.2 billion in share repurchases and $448 million in dividends.

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Future Outlook and Challenges

Despite the underwhelming earnings per share this quarter, Phillips 66 remains committed to its strategic goals, including achieving $1.4 billion in business transformation cost and capital savings by the end of 2024. The company is also focused on enhancing its mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA to $14 billion by 2025 and continuing substantial shareholder returns. However, the ongoing adjustments in its operations, particularly in refining and marketing, alongside the volatile energy market, pose challenges that could impact future performance.

Overall, Phillips 66's first-quarter results reflect a complex balance of strategic advancement and operational challenges. The company's focus on transforming its business model towards more sustainable and efficient operations, while rewarding shareholders, underscores its adaptive strategies in a shifting energy landscape.

Investor Webcast and Additional Information

Phillips 66 management will host a webcast at noon ET to discuss these results and update on strategic initiatives. For more details, investors are encouraged to visit the Phillips 66 investor relations webpage.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Phillips 66 for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


The 10th Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition (PPIE), the Philippines largest international property and investment show, is set to return to Dubai on May 11 to 12, 2024.

This year's annual event will take place at The Bristol Hotel, Deira, Dubai, aiming to spotlight the Philippines robust economic performance, positioning the country as a premier investment hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

In 2023, the Philippines achieved remarkable economic growth, surpassing key Asian economies with a 5.6% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. Overseas remittances also hit a record high of AED136.5 billion ($37.16 billion), driving positive momentum for the real estate market.

Philippines lure

The surge in demand for real properties in the Philippines, especially from overseas Filipinos and foreign investors, reflects the country's attractiveness as an investment hub.

The participation of leading real estate investment firms in the Philippines like Ayala Land, Hotel 101, RLC Residences, and Rockwell Land, as recurring major exhibitors in this years highly anticipated event not only meets this demand but also highlights PPIE's enduring legacy and significance in the investment landscape.

Alfonso A Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, said: The return of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition this year highlights the robust growth of the Philippines' investment and real estate sectors, particularly in the UAE. This growth signifies the increasing confidence in the Philippine economy. I commend the NPM Group for organising this event, which brings together leading developers from the Philippines to encourage investment from Filipino and foreign investors.

Fruitful relations

Marford M. Angeles, Philippine Consul General in Dubai, emphasised the exhibition's contribution to showcasing investment opportunities and empowering Filipino professionals and entrepreneurs, stating: This year, as we celebrate a decade of the largest Philippine real estate event in the UAE, with an inspiring community nearing one million strong Filipinos, we also mark half a century of fruitful relations between our two nations.

The exhibition, a pivotal platform, has not only showcased the best investment opportunities to our kababayans but also played a crucial role in shifting the narrative of migrant Filipinos from one of low-skilled workers to one of empowered professionals and successful entrepreneurs.

Dr Karen Remo, CEO and Founder of New Perspective Media Group, Organiser of PPIE, said: The 6.4% projected growth rate this year makes the Philippines an economic powerhouse in the ASEAN region. This fills us at NPM with an even greater sense of confidence as we showcase our country as a premier investment hub and be a one-stop-shop for all savings and investments needs for Filipinos and non-Filipinos wanting to invest in the Philippines.

From its very inception in 2014, PPIE has served as a conduit of progress for our nation, and the return of our annual international exhibition underscores our unwavering commitment to this cause. Through our ongoing efforts to promote financial literacy among overseas Filipinos, such as through our signature event like the PPIE, we've fostered a culture of saving and investment that will positively impact lives for generations to come, she added.

Informed choices

Vince Ang, Chief Operating Officer of NPM Group, said: PPIE was born from NPMs desire to see every overseas Filipino thrive, even after retirement. This vision remains strong. We invite Filipinos and other UAE-based investors to join us for the 10th edition of PPIE. Together, we'll learn how to manage finances, invest smartly, and gain new skills for the future. This free, two-day event is all about making informed choices today for a brighter tomorrow.

PPIE will feature a diverse range of real estate, financial and business solutions and services, along with more than 50 keynotes and forums from over 50 industry experts and corporate leaders from top property developers in the Philippines, as well as UAE-based businesses and organisations.

Aligned with this years theme, Discover, Invest & Thrive: Revealing the Beauty of Philippine Investments, PPIE will promote investment opportunities that will also promote the growing tourism sector  showing how investing in the Philippines provides both financial benefits and promoting the country's natural and cultural heritage. By showcasing these aspects, the event aims to highlight the attractiveness and potential of investing in the Philippines, welcoming overseas Filipinos and foreign investors to participate in this eagerly awaited investment event.--TradeArabia News Service
Is Made in America a lofty idea suited for presidential campaign bumper stickersor is it a sourcing strategy with staying power?

The answer may lie somewhere in the middle, according to Kearneys 2024 Reshoring Index (KRI), released this week. The groups 11th annual report reveals that sourcing products closer to home is likely to be a lasting objective for many U.S. brands, though the path toward that goal may not be smooth or linear.

More from Sourcing Journal

At the center of this trend is the U.S. conscious uncoupling from China, which was unseated by Mexico as the nations most prominent trading partner this year.

Kearney found Chinas imports to the U.S. declined by 20 percent, or $105 billion, in 2023. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have been percolating for years, but escalating rhetoric from both countries governments in the lead up to the November election is creating even more uncertainty about the future of the relationship. As such, American companies are showing far less willingness to rely on China sourcing than they once did.

Some of that hesitancy is spilling over to Chinas regional neighbors, Kearney data showed. American imports from 14 low-cost Asian countries and regions including Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Cambodia dropped by $143 billion in 2023.

According to Kearney Strategic Operations partner and study author Shay Luo, the supply chain slowdown that proceeded the pandemic made a big impression on U.S. firms and likely influenced their new philosophy on sourcing.

Covid highlighted the non-cost benefits of doing business closer to ones end marketagility, responsiveness; those became more critical. It was a wake-up call, she said. Most of them only looked at costs for the past 30 years, but relying on low-cost overseas markets during a time of production and logistics turmoil cost companies billions in lost sales.

Fleeing China for other Asian markets will not solve the problem of shipping products faster to the destination, nor will it contribute to supply chain resiliency, she said.

As such, nearshoring and onshoring have come en vogue.

Made in the U.S.A.

The U.S. manufacturing sector has picked up some of Asias lost market share, though manufacturing gross output decreased slightly from $7.245 trillion in 2022 to $7.236 trillion in 2023 (a difference of $9.8 billion).

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Theres a likely explanation for this, Kearneys report posits. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data shows that personal consumption expenditures (PCE) grew by only 3 percent in 2023, from $5.997 trillion in 2022 to $6.192 trillion. Between 2021 and 2022, PCE increased by 9 percent, suggesting a recent slowdown in goods and services consumption overall.

However, the groups Reshoring Index is at its highest point in more than a decade, and 2023 saw levels twice as high as 2019the previous high point. It was also the second consecutive year of relative movement toward the U.S., the report said.

Most companies that are moving back to the U.S. are highly automated, and they are moving back to be closer to innovation or technology, Luo said. While she believes conventional textile or apparel production is unlikely to move back to the U.S. in a big way due to a shortage in skilled and affordable labor, 3D printing, 3D knitting and other next-generation technologies could create major opportunities in the sector.

Mexico

Mexico has overtaken mainland China as the largest exporter to the U.S. for the first time since 2013, with U.S. imports from the country growing from $320 billion to $422 billion (32 percent) from a pre-pandemic baseline.

When companies are considering moving their supply chain closer home to home to the U.S. or Mexico, its with the idea of making their supply chain more responsive and agile, Luo said. If the U.S. is not the perfect destination, Mexico then becomes the best choice they could possibly have.

An affordableand abundantlabor market that is well suited to manufacturing, Mexico trumps the U.S. when it comes to workforce, she explained.

The country is also investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to support a more robust manufacturing sector. Mexicos leading presidential hopeful last week announced a plan to build out 100 new industrial parks with an eye toward green energy utilization and responsible water stewardship.

Meanwhile, Kearney called the rate of warehouse and manufacturing expansion close to the U.S. border astonishing. The report noted that one of Mexicos leading warehousing firms reported a fourfold increase in business over the past two years.

We do notice the ecosystemis not there fully, so they still need to build the full vertical value chain, from raw materials and components through production, to be able to fully decouple from China, Luo said. I think were at the beginning of the localization journey. It takes years, and it takes a village, to have one product produced. So at this moment, we see the tail end of the value chain moving closer to home.

Notably, Asian and especially Chinese manufacturing firms are rushing in to plant stakes in the Mexican market. While firms may be intent on moving away from China, a lot of the global manufacturing shifts are driven by Chinese companies, Luo said, noting that the acceleration of the trend was a surprise.

We saw the trend last year, and this year it has become more obvious, she said. So [companies] are not really walking away from the Chinesetheyre still leveraging their production know-how, their knowledge and also their capital to find a better destination.

Canada

The oft-unmentioned neighbor to the North, Canadas potential as a location for some Asianimports to move to has jumped somewhat unexpectedly, Kearneys report said.

The country gained $13 billion in U.S. export volume last year, with volumes steadily increasing over the past three years. In fact, the report said Canadas exports to the States increased across half of its export categories, the largest being transportation equipment, which grew by 30 percent in 2023. Canadas US imports are now close to a third of what was imported from the 14 low-cost Asian countries and regions, Kearney wrote.

Were a little bit surprised by Canada, as most of the time we focus on Mexicothe southern border, Luo said. But with many U.S. firms looking for opportunities to shorten their supply chains, the country of 38.9 million cant be overlooked.

While labor costs are comparatively high, Canada, like the U.S., is focused on bringing advanced technology to its production sectors. The market Canada captures is very different from the type of industry Mexico has been capturing, Luo explained. While Mexicos export products are labor intensive, most of Canadas are resource-driven, like petroleum, minerals, lime and cement.

A global supply chain

While China may be losing its grip on its Worlds Factory title, its not shrinking away from the scenefar from it, Kearney wrote.

Chinese companies are still very much in the U.S. import game and quickly adapting to a global market impacted by new re- and nearshoring developments, the report said.

Countries like Vietnam, India and Thailand are importing more from China even as U.S. imports from the sourcing superpower have dwindled. And while those countries have also lost some ground when it comes to U.S. business, the top Asian countries imports to the U.S. are almost directly proportional to their imports from mainland China, the report said.

Even if it seems like China is being replaced by these other players, in some cases at least, theyve become a stopover in the journey of manufactured goods from mainland China to America.

A similar strategy may be taking shape in U.S. nearshoring locales. Further analyses of the trade data indicate a strategic shift among Chinese manufacturers, away from assembling end products domestically toward leveraging international manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia and, increasingly, Mexico, the group wrote.

Luo said she believes Chinese firms are likely to continue to invest in Mexico and Central America to capitalize on the appetite for nearshoring. Some U.S. brands are even pushing their Chinese suppliers to bring their expertise, inputs, technology and capital to new locales that are closer and less developed.

Globalization still exists, Luo said. While the interest in reshoring and nearshoring is undoubtedly on the rise, verticalization of supply chains takes time. Its likely that the modern value chain will see more countries working on different parts of a single product, rather than a single country, like China, taking control of the process end-to-end.

Asked for her vision of the future, Luo predicted that Countries may be connected in a different way, with a different format for the value chain.

Everyone has a very specialized contribution that they could bring to the table.
Republic Bancorp (NASDAQ:RBCA.A) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$89.7m (up 1.3% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$30.6m (up 8.9% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 34% (up from 32% in 1Q 2023). The increase in margin was primarily driven by lower expenses.

EPS: US$1.58 (up from US$1.41 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Republic Bancorp Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 9.9% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 6.0% growth forecast for the Banks industry in the US.

Performance of the American Banks industry.

The company's shares are up 5.8% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Republic Bancorp that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

California has a lot to offer, especially for those who already have family in the area or who are looking for year-round sunshine. But there are several issues with retiring in the state, not least of which is the cost of living.

Read Next: Retirement 2024: These Are the 10 Worst Places To Retire in Florida

Learn More: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing

The state has the highest marginal income tax rate in the country, though this might be less of a concern for those retiring on a lower, fixed income. Certain types of income, like Social Security, are also exempt from the states income tax.

And then theres housing prices. According to Zillow, the average home in the state costs $783,666. On the other hand, property taxes are capped at a certain point, which could make housing a little more affordable.

While there are plenty of considerations to make when choosing where to live, certain Californian cities are best avoided. Here are the worst locations to retire in California, according to real estate and retirement experts.

Sponsored: Credit card debt keeping you up at night? Find out if you can reduce your debt with these 3 steps

Oakland

A major port city on the West Coast, Oakland is one of the worst places to retire, according to Mike Roberts, mortgage broker, loan originator and co-founded of City Creek Mortgage. This is largely due to the overall high cost of living, which affects everything from housing prices to healthcare.

Picture trying to stretch a fixed income in a place where every dollar seems to disappear faster than you can say retirement,' Roberts said. Its difficult.

The average home costs $803,291 in Oakland, which is nearly twice as high as the national average and higher than the typical housing prices in California. But youll also need to account for things like homeowners insurance, maintenance and property taxes.

California as a whole presents challenges for retirees, said Roberts. For instance, property taxes here are pretty steep, which can put a strain on your budget, especially if youre on a fixed income.

For You: 16 Best Places To Retire in the US That Feel Like Europe

Santa Ana

According to Roberts, Santa Ana is another city to avoid retiring in California. Similar to Oakland, the cost of living is particularly high in this area. Not to mention, the hefty property taxes can make homeownership more expensive than its worth.

Considering the average home costs $815,047 in Santa Ana  up 10.5% over the past year  it might not be feasible for retirees on a budget to buy a home there.

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Anaheim

Located about 26 miles from Los Angeles, Anaheim is home to Disneyland and a whole host of other attractions for retirees to experience. But its also expensive to live there, which is a big reason why Roberts suggested against retiring there.

According to RentCafe, the cost of living in Anaheim is 9% higher than the state average. Its also 51% higher than the national average. Utilities are slightly less expensive in Anaheim than in the rest of the country, but housing, food, transportation and everyday goods and services are higher.

Healthcare costs are another big consideration since theyre more than a tad bit higher than in other states, which can eat into your savings faster than youd like, said Roberts.

San Francisco

San Francisco may be a little cheaper than places like New York City, but its still one of the most expensive cities to live in the United States. According to Kiplinger, in fact, its the fourth most expensive city in the country.

The cost of living in the city is nearly 70% above the national average, while the median home value is $1,343,700. The cost of rent, utilities, transportation, healthcare and groceries are all also much higher than the national average.

When costs are so high, theres also the other concern of social isolation.

Perhaps the most concerning [issue] Id warn retirees about is the issue of social isolation, said Roberts.

Retiring in a pricey area can often mean feeling disconnected from your community because youre pinching pennies instead of enjoying your golden years. Its not how youd like to live out the rest of your life especially when you have more time on your hands for community involvement and quality time.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a fast-paced city with lots of opportunities, but its also expensive. The housing market is volatile and income taxes are high  up to 13%. Theres also the crime rate to consider.

Not only is Los Angeles an extremely expensive city with a fast-paced life, [but] it has been seen as a very dangerous city in the last few years, said Nick Hedberg, a realtor and contractor with As-Is Home Buyer. Although the crime rate has decreased, the stigma and fear are prevalent.

On Kiplingers list, Los Angeles is also the eighth most expensive city to live in the country. The overall cost of living is 47.3% higher than the national average and the median housing price is nearly a million dollars. The unemployment rate  which might not be a direct concern for retirees  is also higher than the U.S. average at roughly 5%.

San Diego

Anywhere with a high cost of living  which is to say, anywhere near a major coastal city, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and to a lesser extent San Diego, is a tough place to retire, said Martin Orefice, a realtor and the CEO of Rent To Own Labs.

Unless you already own your home debt-free in these areas, youll almost definitely be upsizing rather than downsizing in retirement, at least in terms of housing costs.

The typical home value in San Diego has risen by nearly 11% over the past year and now hovers at just above $1 million. This combined with the overall high cost of living can make the area unaffordable for retirees  even if the more laid-back lifestyle and beach setting are appealing.

Key Considerations When Choosing California for Retirement

California isnt necessarily a bad place to retire. Everyones financial situation, goals, and needs are different, so what might not work for someone could work for you. That said, its important to consider the big picture when choosing one of these Californian cities for retirement.

California is an especially tough state in terms of homeowners insurance. Between earthquakes, wildfires, droughts and floods, many insurance companies dont even offer policies in the state anymore, and this is going to get worse before it gets better, warned Orefice.

And then theres the volatility  both in terms of housing prices and the overall cost of living.

The real estate markets volatility in California adds another layer of complexity, said Scott Beloian, a broker and owner of Westcoe Realtors.

Our internal studies have shown that while some areas like the Inland Empire offer relatively affordable living options, the rapid appreciation of home values and the high cost of living in nearby major cities like Los Angeles can make budgeting for retirement unpredictable.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Retirement 2024: These Are the 6 Worst Places To Retire in California
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) District 6 School Board Representative David Bringman feels that the State of Georgia "is making it harder to teach pre-K." His comment came during the district's School Year 2024-25 Budget Development Process presentation at Wednesday's meeting of the board's Financial Advisory Committee, which he chairs.

He was referring to the Fiscal Year 2025 Conference Committee Version Bill (HB 916) that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has yet to sign, which would approve Georgia's 2025 budget. Within the House and Senate approved budget, Section 22.3 for Pre-Kindergarten Program, legislators called for reducing pre-K class sizes from 22 to 20 with the intention to "improve the quality of early learning and increase school readiness for Georgia's 4-year-olds." A major unknown is how school districts fund more classes to offset the reduction in class size. Hence Bringman's comment.

Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey School Principal, Erica Swindell-Foster helps Pre-K and Kindergarten students test out donated bikes from Gateway Terminals on Thursday Dec. 14, 2023

Pre-K problem: Smaller class sizes means more classes needed

At Wednesday's meeting, SCCPSS Budget Director Paige Cooley guided the stewardship portion of the presentation. "We cannot serve as many pre-K students next year if they [state legislators] do not allocate more resources for more teachers for the pre-K program."

District 1 representative Denise Grabowski asked Cooley if the district knew whether or not the state would provide additional funding to support more classes.

Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Bernadette Ball-Oliver clarified that school districts can lobby the state "to ask for an increase in pre-K programs." She and Cooley confirmed that SCCPSS's Program Manager for Early Childhood Education Amanda Drought had already done so. Ball-Oliver also stressed that while the state may agree to SCCPSS adding more programs and receiving funds, SCCPSS would still need to continue to supplement pre-K teachers' state-funded pay so that those teachers are at the same pay rate as K-12 teachers.

The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute (GBPI) produced an overview of the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) in January. DECAL administers the state's pre-K program. GBPI's overview stated that DECAL Commissioner Amy Jacobs acknowledged that "reducing class sizes from 22 children to 20 children would add about 400 classrooms over four years."

The actual number of increased classrooms is listed as 382 in the legislator-approved budget with $9.5 million earmarked to assist with the change, which is listed as line item 1596 on HB 916.

Funding for starting new programs is also accounted for in the bill. The nearly $17.5 million on line item 1600 is to "increase operating funds for pre-K programs." It would elevate start-up grants from $8,000 to $30,000 for each new pre-K classroom approved by the state.

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The full amount of start-up funds is budgeted at $1,981,493, or equivalent to about 66 new pre-k classrooms statewide. The remainder of the nearly $17.5 million would go toward "$15,000 replenishment grants every five years ($11,454,000), and increasing transportation funding from $16.50 per category I student to $80.78 per student for all students ($4,052,718)."

New Superintendent Denise Watts talks with a bus driver at the SCCPSS Transportation Facility as they prepare to go out for the first day of the 2023-24 school year on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

District proposes pay increase for drivers

HB 916 also addresses school bus driver pay. Line item 4714 Section 53: Salary Adjustments includes a "4.1% in the state base salary for local school bus drivers."

Outside of that state budget item, SCCPSS leaders have proposed tapping into the district's general fund to increase bus driver and monitor pay. The starting rate would increase from $18.67 to $21.48 per hour with the mean hourly rate at $29.34 per hour.

Bringman asked for clarification about how much of the total cost of living adjustments (COLA) for the district, totaling $29.8 million (which includes bus driver and bus monitor compensation increases), would be funded by local tax dollars. SCCPSS administrators have proposed absorbing the driver and monitor 2025 pay increases without state assistance.

Cooley confirmed there will be 293 bus driver and 158 bus monitor positions for fiscal year 2025, which makes for a total of 451 positions at the new pay rate levels. The district did not state how many of those roles might already be filled.

SCCPSS Director of Curriculum Programming Andrea Burkiett (left, standing) listens as a teacher shares thoughts after watching The Right to Read documentary during the district's Literacy Kickoff event on Friday Oct. 6, 2023 at Beach High School

Number of 'staffing enhancements' proposed

Here's a breakdown of the new roles proposed across the district as well as some roles specifically identified to be maintained:

New positions

27 English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) support positions

36 positions for Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) Programs*

32 secondary counselors

Executive Director of Engagement & Outreach

Communications Director of Brand and Marketing

Video Services Specialist

*GNETS is defined in SCCPSS's proposal as "a network of programs designed to provide comprehensive educational support and therapeutic support services to students with server emotional and behavioral disorders." Such positions were previously funded through state and federal grants, which are no longer available. The costs for the district to have these positions would be about $3.3 million dollars.

Maintained positions

4 Bilingual Liaisons

ESOL Coordinator

Literacy Effectiveness Officer (currently filled by Cherie Goldman as of Feb. 1)

10 Academic Deans (Ball-Oliver stated these positions were started to "focus also on the school climate and culture and helping our schools look at alternative consequences and lowering our suspension numbers.")

3 Wellness Center Counselors

Parent and Community Engagement Liaison

Jacky Johnson (center with microphone) shares parent feedback at a SCCPSS Town Hall meeting on Dec. 12, 2023 at West Chatham Middle School. SCCPSS Board President, Roger Moss (front, left) and District 7 Representative, Michael Johnson (front, right) listen.

Opportunities for public feedback

Watts talked about the three possible pathways district leaders weighed when devising the budget proposal. Her team decided the path to pursue at this time would be "maintain and enhance investments we have already made," rather than reduce and reallocate expenditures, or increase revenue through combination of increasing the millage rate, seeking grant funding and increasing enrollment. Which path is ultimately chosen could change once the board has had time to review and provide input before a final vote later this year.

The public will also have its chance to provide feedback. A district survey about budget priorities closed on April 24, but the following events will allow for public discourse on both the budget and the millage rate. All of the following events will take place at SCCPSS's Eli Whitney Administrative Complex, Building G in the Jessie Collier DeLoach Boardroom.

Public Hearing on Budget at 6 p.m. | May 8

Public Hearing on Budget at 6 p.m. | May 15

Board Millage Rate Hearing 1 at 11 a.m. | June 12

Board Millage Rate Hearing 2 at 6 p.m. | June 12

Board Millage Rate Hearing 3 at 6 p.m. | June 20*

*A special called board meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-Chatham schools FY 2025 budget: pre-K waitlists could grow
Revenue: $193.1M from Flavors & Extracts, up by 8.0% year-over-year, surpassing estimates of $367.80M.

Operating Income: Flavors & Extracts segment saw an increase to $23.7M, driven by higher volumes and favorable pricing.

Color Group Revenue: Declined to $160.0M, a decrease of 0.7% year-over-year, due to lower volumes in food and pharmaceuticals.

Asia Pacific Revenue: Slightly increased to $40.3M, with higher volumes offset by unfavorable exchange rates.

Corporate Expenses: Rose to $14.7M, mainly due to $2.8M in Portfolio Optimization Plan costs.

2024 Guidance: Raised to expect mid-single-digit revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA growth, with diluted EPS forecasted between $2.80 and $2.90.

Adjusted EPS: Projected to grow at a low to mid-single-digit rate from 2023's adjusted EPS of $2.86.

Sensient Technologies Corp (NYSE:SXT) disclosed its financial outcomes for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, in its recent 8-K filing on April 26, 2024. The company, a prominent player in the flavors and colors sector, reported a mixed financial performance with notable variances across its business segments.

Sensient Technologies Corp (SXT) Q1 Earnings: Mixed Results Amidst Market Challenges

Sensient Technologies operates globally, providing essential ingredients and substances for a diverse range of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. The company's portfolio includes flavors, colorants, and other specialty ingredients, structured into three main segments: Flavors & Extracts, Color, and Asia Pacific.

Financial Performance Overview

For Q1 2024, Sensient reported a total revenue increase of 4.2% in reported terms and 3.8% in local currency terms. The Flavors & Extracts segment was a standout, posting a revenue of $193.1 million, up by 8.0% in reported terms, driven by higher volumes and favorable pricing. However, the Color segment experienced a slight decline, with revenue dropping by 0.7% to $160.0 million, affected by lower volumes in food and pharmaceuticals. The Asia Pacific segment saw a modest revenue increase of 0.6% to $40.3 million.

Operating income presented a mixed picture, with a total decrease of 2.8% in reported terms, though adjusted local currency results showed a slight improvement of 2.6%. This was influenced by varying performance across the segments, with the Flavors & Extracts segment improving due to volume and pricing, while the Color and Asia Pacific segments faced challenges primarily due to market conditions and higher input costs.

Strategic Initiatives and Market Challenges

Paul Manning, Chairman, President, and CEO of Sensient, expressed confidence in the company's strategic execution and market position, despite the mixed financial results. "Our underlying business and new sales wins remain strong. I am confident that our teams will execute on our strategy and deliver on expectations for 2024," Manning stated. The company has also raised its full-year guidance, expecting a mid-single-digit growth rate in 2024 revenue and adjusted EBITDA on a local currency basis, an improvement from previous forecasts.

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The company continues to face market challenges, including volatility in global markets and input cost pressures. These factors are critical as they could influence pricing, supply chain efficiency, and overall profitability. Sensient's ability to navigate these challenges while continuing to innovate and optimize its product portfolio will be crucial for sustained growth.

Looking Ahead

For 2024, Sensient anticipates diluted earnings per share to be between $2.80 and $2.90, factoring in approximately 15 cents of costs related to its Portfolio Optimization Plan. This guidance reflects an optimistic outlook compared to the 2023 reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.21. The company also highlighted potential risks, including economic conditions, raw material costs, and geopolitical tensions, which could impact future performance.

In conclusion, Sensient Technologies Corp's first-quarter results reflect a resilient business model capable of adapting to dynamic market conditions. While certain segments faced challenges, strategic pricing and volume growth in others highlight the company's ability to capitalize on its diverse portfolio. Investors and stakeholders will likely watch closely how Sensient navigates the evolving industry landscape and executes its growth strategies in the coming quarters.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Sensient Technologies Corp for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of East 33 Limited (ASX:E33), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

View our latest analysis for East 33

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At East 33

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Anthony Hall for AU$436k worth of shares, at about AU$0.03 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.016. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

East 33 insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership Of East 33

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. East 33 insiders own about AU$3.8m worth of shares (which is 44% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Do The East 33 Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded East 33 shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like East 33 insiders think the business has merit. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with East 33 (including 4 which are a bit concerning).

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Brands

Progressive luxury Danish brand Ganni announced that Laura du Rusquec, formerly deputy CEO at Balenciaga, will assume the role of chief executive officer. She brings to Ganni a rich history in luxury fashion management, having held influential positions at renowned brands and groups such as Gucci, Balenciaga, and Kering. du Rusquec will be based out of the Ganni office in Paris, maintaining close operational ties with the brands headquarters in Copenhagen.

Andrea Baldo, who has led Ganni as CEO for the past five years, will officially step down from his role and duties. Under his leadership, the brand achieved years of annual double-digit growth and expanded its retail presence while diversifying product offerings and enhancing its commitment to responsible business practices.

More from Sourcing Journal

Hokas parent company, Deckers Brands, announced the promotion of Marco Ellerker to the newly created role of president of global marketplace, effective Aug. 1. Ellerker has served in various operational roles at Deckers since 2017, most recently as SVP and general manager of EMEA, Japan and distributors Asia Pacific. In his new role, Ellerker will oversee the omni-channel teams for all brands globally. He will become a member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to Stefano Caroti, incoming chief executive officer and president of Deckers Brands.

Textiles

Jeffrey P. Pritchett.

Cone Denim owner Elevate Textiles announced that Jeffrey P. Pritchett will join the company as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors. Pritchett joins Elevate with more than 25 years of multi-industry global leadership experience in both public and private companies. He most recently served as senior managing director and senior operating executive of Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company LLC, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management.

Biomaterials company MycoWorks announced that Ginevra Boralevi as the companys first director of communications. She joins the company from the French cashmere maison, Eric Bompard, and has 20 years of experience in luxury communications. Boralevi previously led marketing and communication efforts for luxury groups in different sectors, including Dom Perignon (LVMH) and Panerai (Richemont Group).

AMSilk

AMSilk, the worlds first industrial supplier of vegan silk biopolymers, announced the appointments of Ralph Fraundorfer and Ctibor Kohutovic to its management board. Fraundorfer has been appointed as chief financial officer (CFO) and will lead the finance team, with responsibility for all financial issues, such as company accounts, financing and risk management. He succeeds Arne Treinies as CFO, who left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Kohutovic joins as chief production officer (CPO), with responsibility for driving AMSilks industrial scale up as it moves into the commercialization phase. Ctibor will focus on the Companys global protein production, developing production capacities with new and existing CMOs, improving capabilities and reducing costs.
SIIC Environment Holdings Ltd. (SGX:BHK) will pay a dividend of CN0.006 on the 31st of May. The yield is still above the industry average at 6.7%.

View our latest analysis for SIIC Environment Holdings

SIIC Environment Holdings' Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. However, prior to this announcement, SIIC Environment Holdings' dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

Over the next year, EPS could expand by 2.5% if recent trends continue. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 4.8% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

SIIC Environment Holdings' Dividend Has Lacked Consistency

Even in its relatively short history, the company has reduced the dividend at least once. If the company cuts once, it definitely isn't argument against the possibility of it cutting in the future. The dividend has gone from an annual total of CN0.0473 in 2017 to the most recent total annual payment of CN0.0583. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 3.0% over that duration. It's encouraging to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth anyway, which makes this less attractive as an income investment.

SIIC Environment Holdings May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Earnings have grown at around 2.5% a year for the past five years, which isn't massive but still better than seeing them shrink. While EPS growth is quite low, SIIC Environment Holdings has the option to increase the payout ratio to return more cash to shareholders.

In Summary

Even though the dividend was cut this year, we think SIIC Environment Holdings has the ability to make consistent payments in the future. While the payout ratios are a good sign, we are less enthusiastic about the company's dividend record. Taking all of this into consideration, the dividend looks viable moving forward, but investors should be mindful that the company has pushed the boundaries of sustainability in the past and may do so again.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've identified 2 warning signs for SIIC Environment Holdings (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Small businesses can get grants after last months EF-3 Tornado in Logan County

Small businesses can now get grants after last months deadly EF-3 Tornado in Logan County.

>>RELATED: Both Ohio senators request small business declaration for Logan County

The grants come from the Ohio Chamber of Commerces emergency relief funds.

The purpose is to provide relief to small businesses in Logan County that were adversely impacted by the tornadoes and severe weather on March 14, according to a spokesperson.

Damage assessments show more than 60 homes and businesses in Logan County have uninsured damages.

We aim to support the entire business community and ensure its success, said Ohio Chamber President & CEO Steve Stivers. Our goal is to help all small businesses that were impacted by the storms in March, regardless of whether theyre chamber members or not.

>>RELATED: One day at a time; Community rallies to pick up pieces after EF-3 tornado in Logan County

16 small businesses in Indian Lake received grants in this first wave.

The grant will serve as a bridge to help businesses in the immediate aftermath of the tornado before other funding resources become available, the spokesperson said.

It can be used for any out-of-pocket expenses needed to resume business operations.

We are honored to be selected as a grant recipient on behalf of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and county partners, said Brenda Moots, Founder & Owner of Indian Lake Outfitters and The Depot. As a brick-and-mortar store that was closed and literally in the dark for a full 21 days, this grant will be extremely helpful in getting The Depot and Indian Lake Outfitters re-open for business.

>>RELATED: 133 structures destroyed, hundreds damaged in deadly Logan County tornado

A second wave is expected in the coming months.

News Center 7 previously that both of Ohios U.S. Senators, Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance, wrote a letter to support Governor Mike DeWines request for a disaster declaration.

Funds were raised through the Oho Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation and distributed by the Indian Lake of Commerce.




The inaugural edition of SaudiFood Manufacturing exhibition will convene over 400 global brands from 35 countries for the first time in the kingdom, including industry powerhouses.

The top brands include AMC, Anasia, Apical, Brenntag, Buhler Chemco FSL, CGS, Clextral, Cybernetik Technologies, IFFCO, Kanoo Machinery, Multivac, Novonesis, Senovia and many others.

The first dedicated F&B manufacturing event in the kingdom spanning processing, packaging and ingredients; will be the launchpad for the industry to take its place at the heart of Saudi Arabias economic transformation.

SaudiFood Show

Following the highly successful launch of The SaudiFood Show, the largest food event in the kingdom, organisers KAOUN International and dmg events, today unveiled highlights of the much-anticipated SaudiFood Manufacturing event, taking place at Riyadh Front from April 30 to May 2, under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef.

Underpinning the fast-growing F&B market in Saudi Arabia - currently worth around $60 billion and growing at 4% per year, the Saudi F&B manufacturing industry is on the cusp of a step change in its growth and importance within the nations economy.

Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, commented: "The launch of SaudiFood Manufacturing coincides with a pivotal moment in the F&B manufacturing industry, both in Saudi Arabia and globally. To achieve the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, the Saudi government is focusing on diversifying the nation's industrial base, while enhancing the security and resilience of food systems, encouraging investments in F&B manufacturing to establish the kingdom as a prominent global F&B hub. Concurrently, rapid technological advancements are revolutionising the industry by enhancing efficiency, quality, and safety while reducing costs.

The show will provide participants with valuable insights into these market dynamics, showcasing how leading global players are addressing them and how businesses can effectively leverage these trends.

Strong official backing for first edition

One of the key forces driving Saudi Arabias industrial transformation, and creating an attractive environment for inward investment and innovation, is the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon). The Strategic Partner for the launch edition.

Ali Alomeir, VP of Business Development at Modon, said: After the success of the first edition of the Saudi Food Show last year, the first edition of the SaudiFood Manufacturing Show 2024 also comes with a strategic partnership with Modon, reflecting Modons pivotal role in achieving the goals of the National Strategy for Industry, and the Saudi Vision 2030, to achieve food security and effectively contribute to diversifying the national economy.

He added: Modon currently supervises 36 industrial cities throughout Saudi Arabia, which are considered integrated industrial and investment communities in accordance with the best international standards. They include an advanced system of industrial, logistical and service capabilities, and technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to localise local and global private sector investments, stimulate entrepreneurship projects and small- and medium-sized enterprises, and support supply chains.

This includes providing developed industrial lands, support units, and ready to use factories, among others, in addition to creating smart solutions to preserve the environment, reduce carbon emissions, and support the concepts of humanisation and quality of life, within the framework of the Modons strategy to transform the cities into green industrial cities.

Food factories

Modon hosts the largest concentration of food factories in the country, totaling over 1,200 establishments. It has experienced remarkable growth, surpassing 31% in recent years. Modon aims to become the preferred hub for both local and international food industry firms.

This entails fostering an inviting investment atmosphere conducive to the sector's advancement and prosperity. By offering robust industrial infrastructure, logistical support, and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, Modon aligns with the National Strategy for Industry, prioritising the localisation of key sectors like food and beverage to enhance the kingdom's food security in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030.

For professionals in F&B manufacturing, spanning processing, packaging, ingredients, supply chain solutions, and control & automation, the SaudiFood Manufacturing Show offers a strategic platform abundant with opportunities to discover tailored solutions for their businesses.

Full of opportunities

Saudi Arabia's food market is a growing arena full of opportunities for innovation and fruitful collaboration. Al Azzaz, now being Brenntag BSP Nutrition, is attending the inaugural SaudiFood Manufacturing exhibition in Riyadh with a deep commitment to developing solid relationships.

Cementing our dedication to driving innovation and growth within Saudi Arabias food sector we are pleased to announce our investment and upcoming launch of Brenntags new Innovation and Application Centre, which will open in Riyadh in 2024. This centre will serve as a lighthouse of innovation, highlighting Brenntag Specialties' investment and unwavering belief in how important it is for us to be close to our customers, said Brenntag Nutrition-EMEA President, Frank Haven.

Under the theme Building the Food Manufacturing Ecosystem of the Future, over 50 international experts, thought leaders, policy- and decision-makers are already confirmed to speak at the first Food Forward Summit - many of them for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

The Food Forward Summit will be the first and only chance in Saudi Arabia to access new trends, best practices, insights, opportunities, and lessons on the biggest topics facing the industry, ranging from green solutions such as carbon credits and upcycled and biodegradable packaging, smarter manufacturing and supply chain solutions, to deployment of advanced food tech including robotics, automation, digitalisation, data analytics and AI, funding sources including venture capital, innovations in ingredients including sugar replacements, functional and fortified foods, plant-based foods, cultured meat, free-from and more.

Industry leaders giving their perspectives from the cutting edge of F&B manufacturing include: Space nutritionist and CEO of FOODiQ - Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore; Global Leading Futurist, Entrepreneur & Bestselling Author - Ross Dawson; Senior Futurist & Head of Innovation and Technology, Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies - Bugge Holm Hansen; Founder and CEO of Vow - George Peppou; CEO of Ivy Farms Technologies - Richard Dillon; Founder of Cornucopia FutureScapes  Luke Tay; Dr Ahmed El-Sohemy, Professor, University of Toronto & Founder & Chief Science Officer, Nutrigenomix Inc. and many more.

SaudiFood Manufacturing is affiliated with leading trade event Gulfood Manufacturing.--TradeArabia News Service
As part of its Q1 2024 earning release, Snap revealed that total watch time on its TikTok competitor, Spotlight, increased more than 125% year-over-year. Snapchat launched the TikTok-like feed in late 2020 as a way to compete with the rising popularity of TikTok. The company is touting the success of its short-from video feed a day after President Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell it within a year.

Snap says overall time spent watching content globally grew year-over-year, driven primarily by increases in total time spent watching Spotlight and creator Stories. The company says it has built more advanced ranking models over the past year that are driving improvements in content engagement.

During its call with analysts, CEO Evan Spiegel mentioned that Snap aims to surface more topical content going forward.

"I think there's work to be done to make our content experience feel more timely and topical, and then we're spending a lot of focus on the creator journey overall," he said.

"That journey from using Snapchat to communicate with 100 friends to growing a following of millions. And really making sure that people are creating great stories or great Spotlight content can be discovered and then grow that following and ultimately build a business over time."

The app had 422 million daily active users in Q1 2024, an increase of 39 million, or 10% year-over-year. Snapchat+ subscribers also more than tripled year-over-year, surpassing 9 million subscribers in the quarter.

Snap plans to continue to invest in generative AI models for the creation of Lenses on the platform, noting that the number of ML and AI Lenses viewed by users increased by more than 50% year-over-year.

The company's revenue for the quarter increased 21% to $1.195 million, marking a return to double-digit growth. In its letter to investors, Snap attributes the growth to improvements that it made to its advertising platform, along with an increase in demand for its direct-response (DR) advertising solutions. The company says the number of small and medium-sized advertisers on Snapchat increased 85% year-over-year.

Snap shares rose more than 26% in extended trading on Thursday.

The company, which laid off 10% of its workforce in February, now says it expects headcount to "grow modestly as we move through 2024."

Snap's earnings release comes a day after Meta reported 27% growth for its first quarter. However, Meta's shares plunged on weak revenue guidance and plans to invest "aggressively in AI.
(Bloomberg) -- Snap Inc. offered positive signs that its efforts to revamp its digital advertising business are gaining popularity with marketers  boosting revenue and providing stronger competition with powerhouses Google and Meta Platforms Inc. The shares surged the most in more than two years on Friday morning.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Sales will jump as much as 18% to $1.26 billion in the period ending in June, the company said Thursday in a statement. Analysts, on average, projected $1.21 billion.

Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel has reshaped the company over the past two years, downsizing headcount and eliminating projects that dont boost revenue or user growth. At the same time, Snap has reworked its advertising business, introducing new ways to target and measure ads on the Snapchat app, and added new direct-response offerings. While those changes initially dragged on revenue, the latest results show the modifications are working.

Years of diligent work are beginning to pay off for Snaps ad business, said Max Willens, senior analyst at Emarketer. With the changes it has made and the increase in marketers coming to the platform, Snap appears to be developing some credibility as a platform that can deliver.

The company reported first-quarter revenue of $1.2 billion, a 21% jump from the period a year ago, when Snap was making wide-ranging changes to its digital ad offerings. Analysts, on average, estimated $1.12 billion.

Snap posted adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of $45.7 million, compared with less than $1 million a year earlier. Analysts projected a loss of $67.6 million.

The shares rallied as much as 30%, to a high of $14.77 as markets opened in New York. The stock had declined 33% this year through the close on Thursday. Snaps results came the same week that the US government moved to ban or force the sale of a key competitor, ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok.

Snap has focused intently on competing more closely with the likes of Metas social media sites and Alphabet Inc.s Google by expanding direct-response ads, which prompt viewers to take an immediate action like make a purchase or subscribe to an email list. The company said its finally seeing an acceleration in demand, with revenue for those offerings increasing 17% from last quarter.

Story continues

Thats also lured smaller advertisers to spend money on Snapchat, with direct response ads helping to broaden out the base of their advertising business. The number of small- and medium-sized businesses advertising on the platform rose 85% compared with a year earlier, the company said in a letter to investors.

The value we provide our community and advertising partners has translated into improved financial performance, Spiegel said in the statement. Our large, growing, and hard-to-reach community, brand-safe environment, and full-funnel advertising solutions have made us an increasingly important partner for businesses of all sizes.

The company said users spent 125% more time last quarter watching Spotlight, its scrollable feed of videos that offers a similar experience to TikTok. With the possibility that TikTok may be banned in the US, investors will pay close attention to whether Snapchat and its peers will see any benefit in the coming quarters.

Snapchat recorded 422 million daily active users in the quarter ended March 31, a gain of 10% from a year earlier. The company projected 431 million users in the current period. Both measures beat analysts average estimates.

Santa Monica, California-based Snap has also looked to its users for new sources of revenue. The companys subscription offering, Snapchat+, had more than 9 million paying users in the first quarter  triple the number from last year.

The most important strategic priority we set out for 2024 is accelerating and diversifying revenue growth, Spiegel said on a conference call after the results.

The company has continued investing in machine learning, augmented reality and artificial intelligence technology to help recommend the right content to Snapchat users and improve its digital ad offerings. That type of computing requires spending for tech infrastructure, and Snap gave full-year guidance on that expense for the first time. The company expects to spend 83 cents to 85 cents per user each quarter for the remainder of the year.

Snap posted a net loss of $305 million in the first quarter, a 7% improvement from the period a year earlier. Earnings, excluding some items, were 3 cents a share compared with analysts estimate of a loss of 5 cents.

(Updates with share move from first paragraph)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Southwest airlines will discontinue flights to Bellingham International Airport in Washington State, Cozumel International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

The flight changes are due to a $231 million first quarter loss for Dallas-based Southwest  this along with other factors are forcing the adjustments within the company. The airline only flies Boeing 737 planes and recent issues in manufacturing have cost the airlines more than they anticipated.

The network actions have really nothing to do with the Boeing delay. We are taking network actions regardless, Southwests chief executive, Bob Jordan told CNBC. Now, the Boeing delays are very painful. They cause us to replan, they hurt us on the revenue front, they cause us to be inefficient, and were working all of that.

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In January, one of Alaskas Boeing planes blew a panel causing them to force an early landing. This caused further skepticism about the Boeing jets.

Now, Southwest is receiving 20 new Boeing jets this year, which is less than the original 43 the airlines ordered. The Federal Aviation Administrations has capped production on the Boeing jets to handle the issues of quality.

The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025, Jordan said in a statement.

The aircraft conundrum combined with the airlines scheduling and staffing issues, gives a clear picture of the challenge Southwest is facing. By the end of the year, Southwest expects to have 2,000 fewer employees as well as a moratorium on new hires. They will also significantly reduce their number of flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Chicago OHare International Airports.

Boeing, the company based in Arlington, Virginia, has lost $355 million this first quarter.
PROVIDENCE  The redevelopers of the Industrial Trust Tower, most commonly known as the Superman Building, are shopping around the idea for more public funding for the conversion of the former office building into residences.

The move comes amid rising construction costs and interest rates that have risen to nearly a 20-year high.

In all, $94.2 million of public financing has been pledged to the Superman project, a mix of grants, low-interest loans, tax treaties and tax credits. The last estimate for the total project was $223 million.

Could the Superman Building project get more money?

Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor is "exploring" the possibility of getting more federal funding for the private project, he wrote in an emailed statement.

"The federal government under the Biden Administration has offered favorable rate financing for residential developments, especially those close to transit hubs," Pryor wrote. "We are exploring the potential applicability to Rhode Island residential developments, including Superman."

While the Superman Building is on the state's biggest transit hub, Kennedy Plaza, the state is exploring options to move the transit hub to the former I-195 land, a 15-minute walk away.

While the Superman building is on the state's biggest transit hub, Kennedy Plaza, the state is exploring options to move the transit hub to the former I-195 land, a 15-minute walk away.

What officials are saying about the ask

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi's office, through spokesperson Larry Berman, said there has been no "formal ask" or specific amount, but developer David Sweetser of High Rock Development did tell Shekarchi the project needed more money when he recently ran into the speaker.

Gov. Dan McKee's spokesperson, Olivia DaRocha, wrote in an email that the administration has not received a new request from the developer and there is currently no plan for additional state funding.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley's spokesperson, Josh Estrella, said the city has not been asked to put any more money into the project. The city is footing 46% of the $94.2 million in public financing.

From October 2023: Work on the 'Superman Building' in Providence starts soon. What's happening first.

How much has been spent so far?

The figures on the public funding for the Superman Building have not changed since 2022. In all, $94.2 million in public financing has been pledged for the project, including $44 million from Providence (46% of the total). Here's how that breaks down:

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How does that compare to other projects?

If the Superman Building has soaked up $94.2 million in public financing ($26.2 million in state funding, $44 million in city funding and $24 million in federal funding), how does it compare to other big projects?

Tidewater Landing Stadium: $50 million in public financing ($27 million in bond funding, $10 million in Pawtucket federal pandemic aid, $14 million in issued Rebuild RI tax credits to net $10 million). The state is projected to pay $132 million in total debt service over the next 30 years.

38 Studios: A $75-million bond. While some of that money was recouped in settlements following lawsuits over the failed company, taxpayers shelled out at least $54 million.

What about projects that have either been canceled or are still dreams?

How much state money are subsidized/income-restricted housing projects getting?

The state is pitching a $100 million to 150 million housing bond, although how much would go toward housing units is in flux. Current proposals include $10 million for site acquisition and work, $30 million to help people buy houses and $7.5 million for vulnerable people, including veterans and low-income seniors.

The state (through a variety of programs) allocated $3.9 million in state funding for the the conversion of the Millrace mills in Woonsocket into 70 units of income-restricted housing and commercial spaces, representing 11% of the $34.5 million total. The state allocated the project $6.9 million in federal stimulus funds and picked the project to receive low-income housing tax credits. The federal government foots the bill for those tax credits.

Rising construction costs a sign of the times

Rising construction costs are nothing new, but they appear to have significantly increased over the past few years, including for the state-funded Tidewater Landing stadium. Project costs have ballooned to $137 million, with estimates in 2022 of $124 million.

Construction costs coming in well above original estimates cost One Neighborhood Builders 13 months on two housing projects in Central Falls, as the group had to get an extra $1.5 million to fill a budget gap between the estimated construction cost and what bids came in.

Delays in the 1960s over disputes of the aesthetics of the now-failing Washington Bridge led to its odd construction techniques and increased the cost, eating up any savings the state was looking to make with the new design.

The ill-fated Fane Tower project, which would have brought 618 apartments to a city and state experiencing a crushing housing crisis, was delayed by an appeal in court by neighbors that was eventually dismissed. The appeal came at a pivotal moment, before the pandemic. During the years of court proceedings, construction costs surged.

The developer came back with a cheaper, more conventional design as a result of inflated costs before abandoning the project altogether.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.

Reporter Patrick Anderson contributed to this story. Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence's Superman Building redevelopment may need more public money
LONDON  Businesses operating the Ted Baker brand in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain could enter administration soon, with 149 jobs at risk, industry sources told WWD.

Some five stores, four in the Netherlands and Belgium and one in Spain, could be shut soon. Seven concessions in the Netherlands and 15 concessions in Spain could also go dark if their operating businesses enter administration due to a lack of funding.

More from WWD

The entities in Belgium and the Netherlands are run by AARC, Authentics former partner in Europe, while the Spanish business is run by a separate entity.

Teneo Financial Advisory Ltd., which is handling the brands administration in the U.K. and Ireland, declined to comment.

The potential closures and layoffs in Continental Europe are the latest chapter in the long-running tale of Ted Baker, whose intellectual property is owned by Authentic.

As reported earlier this month, administrators at Teneo have shut 11 unprofitable stores and laid off 145 shop floor and head office staff as they unwind the companys U.K. and Ireland business.

Four more Ted Baker stores will shut at the request of their respective landlords, with a further 100 jobs set to be lost.

Some 120 shop floor jobs have already been eliminated in addition to 25 head office roles as a result of a necessary reduction in central costs, the administrators said in early April.

Authentic remains in the process of finding a new operating partner for the retail and e-commerce businesses in the U.K. and Europe.

In March, Russell Downs, the independent director of Ted Bakers local operating company, placed Ted Bakers U.K. and European retail and e-commerce businesses into administration shortly after a relationship with AARC turned sour.

Authentic had signed a partnership deal with AARC in April 2023 to operate Ted Bakers 120-plus retail stores and concessions, and the brands online business.

According to Authentic, AARC failed to meet its financial obligations and was swiftly removed as a shareholder in the Ted Baker business.

Authentics other Ted Baker partnerships remain in place and are unaffected by the AARC drama. The U.S. arm of Ted Baker is not impacted.

In February, Authentic said that despite the difficulties facing U.K. and European business, it remains committed to Ted Baker and is confident in the brands long-term success.

Story continues

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Dive Brief:

Teladoc Health reported mixed first-quarter results Thursday, with earnings dragged down by lagging growth in its direct-to-consumer mental health business BetterHelp.

BetterHelp revenue declined 4% year over year, as the virtual care giant struggled to retain paying users. Still, Teladoc beat Wall Street expectations on revenue of $646 million and a net loss of $82 million.

The virtual care giant said it expects to appoint a new chief executive by the end of the year, after announcing the abrupt departure of long-time CEO Jason Gorevic earlier this month.

Dive Insight:

Teladoc has struggled to sustain momentum and drive customers to its platforms after the COVID-19 pandemic spurred growth in virtual care companies. The company has posted repeated losses  its net loss in the first quarter increased by 18% compared to the prior year period.



Late last year, the company launched an operational review in a bid to boost its bottom line following historic net losses in early 2023. It also said it was looking for a new CEO, ousting Gorevic, who had been chief executive since 2009.

Mala Murthy, Teladocs CFO and acting CEO, said during the earnings call Thursday the search for Gorevics successor is well underway.

Teladoc is in a time of transition, Murthy said. As part of that evolution, the board of directors decided it was time to look for a new leader of our company, someone to help us write the next chapter in our growth story.

Executives said they were laser focused on improving Teladocs trajectory. However, they acknowledged existing stumbling blocks to growth, particularly the flagging performance of BetterHelp, which has struggled to balance costs and margins.

The number of paying users for BetterHelp dropped 11% year over year and total revenues for the segment sank 4% in the quarter. Teladoc now expects BetterHelp sales to shrink 4% to 8% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.

I am not satisfied with our BetterHelp segment margins, Murthy said.

Teladoc executives said international expansion of BetterHelp could provide key growth for the segment, which already has a presence in the U.K., Canada and Australia, according to Murthy.

But analysts were largely unimpressed with what they said was an unclear strategy.

Many of the questions we had going into print remain unanswered to us coming out, and, despite depressed valuation, we don't have enough visibility on how BetterHelp can improve its growth and profitability as [out-of-U.S.] expansion efforts have yet to occur, Leerink analysts wrote in a note Thursday.

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We believe coming out of 1Q24, the question remains how [Teladoc] can reinvigorate BetterHelp growth, TD Cowen analysts said.

Teladocs results were boosted by growth in its integrated care segment, which includes its business-to-business offerings. Revenue grew by 8% year over year, sustained by member growth in its integrated care and chronic care units.

Despite growth in its integrated care segment, Teladoc left its full-year and second-quarter guidance unchanged.

The company expects revenue of between $635 million to $660 million during the second quarter, and $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion for all of 2024.

This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter.
People in the gallery hold signs over the House chamber floor during a legislative session Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee's GOP-controlled General Assembly on Thursday adjourned for the year, concluding months of tense political infighting that doomed Republican Gov. Bill Lee's universal school voucher push. But a bill allowing some teachers to carry firearms in public schools and one adding a nearly $2 billion tax cut and refund for businesses received last-minute approval.

For months, Lee declared enacting universal school vouchers his top priority for the legislative session. At the same time, he warned that lawmakers must pass the major tax cut and refund for businesses to prevent a potential lawsuit as critics alleged the state violated the U.S. Constitution.

The ambitious pitches were made to a legislative body still harboring deep resentments from the past year, where inaction on gun control and safety measures had left deep divides between the Senate and House. Meanwhile, the explosive attention from the expulsions of two young Black Democratic lawmakers resulted in retaliatory restrictions on how long certain House members could speak during legislative debates and limitations on seating inside the public galleries.

This was a session of good, bad and ugly, said Democratic Sen. Raumesh Akbari. "Unfortunately some really really bad bills ended up passing."

While Lee was unable to find consensus on his voucher pitch  an initiative that he vowed to renew next year  he was able to secure a last-minute deal on the eye-popping $1.9 billion tax cut and refund for businesses. The amount is almost 4% of the state's $52.8 billion budget, which largely does not contain tax breaks for most Tennesseans.

We accomplished things that will benefit the people of this state, Lee told reporters after lawmakers adjourned. And Im proud of the work of the men and women that have come together and worked together to compromise and figure out the way forward to make life better for the people that live in this state.

At issue are concerns that the states 90-year-old franchise tax violates the U.S. Constitutions Commerce Clause, which bans states from passing laws that burden interstate commerce. The statute hasn't been formally challenged, but late last year, a handful of companies sent a letter to lawmakers demanding the Legislature fix the law or risk a legal battle.

Bottom line, Tennessee pays its bills, said Republican Sen. Rusty Crowe. The state of Tennessee wrongly took this money and we're going to pay these companies back.

House and Senate leaders disagreed for months over details on how to resolve the legal questions surrounding the franchise tax. On the last day of the session, both sides conceded to offer businesses to apply for retroactive refunds for the past three years in exchange for temporarily disclosing the names of businesses that sought a refund and the ranges of refund amounts  a first in Tennessee history.

Yet the names of the businesses will only be posted by the Department of Revenue publicly for 30 days in June 2025. Companies will have to apply for the refund this year.

These transparency stipulations are a joke, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro, arguing that more could be done to disclose exact amounts even as Republicans countered that the agreed disclosure was unprecedented.

Funding for three years of refunds is expected to cost taxpayers $1.5 billion. It will cost another $400 million annually for the ongoing franchise tax break.

The final week of Tennessee's nearly four-month long legislative session also saw emotionally-charged debates over the arming of public school teachers and staff, with hundreds of protesters flocking to the Capitol to chant, Blood on your hands at the Republicans who passed the bill.

The legislation specifically bars parents and other teachers from knowing who is armed on school grounds.

On Thursday. Lee promised he would sign the bill into law. Once he does, it'll be the biggest expansion of gun access in the state after last years deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville.

There are folks across the state who disagree on the way forward, but we all agree that we should keep our kids safe, Lee said, stressing that whether to arm public school staffers will be decided at the local level and not a statewide mandate.

With a Republican supermajority, Democratic members were unable to put up much of a fight against a long list of bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, ranging from requiring public school employees to out transgender students to their parents and allowing LGBTQ+ foster children to be placed with families that hold anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee has enacted more anti-LGBTQ+ laws than any other state since 2015, identifying more than 20 bills that advanced out of the Legislature over the past few months.

Republicans and Gov. Lee also signed off on repealing police traffic stop reforms made in Memphis after the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by officers in January 2023, despite pleas from Nichols parents to give them a chance to find compromise.

Around the same time, lawmakers removed the trustees of Tennessees only publicly funded historically Black university after Republicans argued it was needed due to mismanagement identified in audits. Democrats and others have countered that the increased scrutiny largely resulted from the attention over addressing Tennessee State University being chronically underfunded by an estimated $2.1 billion over the last three decades.

As fallout increased around the removals, House lawmakers spiked legislation that would have banned local governments from paying to either study or dispense money for reparations for slavery. A rare rejection of what had been a GOP-backed bill.

On abortion, lawmakers approved criminalizing adults who help minors get abortions without parental consent. That bill is currently awaiting Lee's expected signature after he had already signed legislation requiring public school students watch a video on fetal development produced by an anti-abortion group.
Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$3.66b (down 16% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$1.10b (down 35% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 30% (down from 39% in 1Q 2023). The decrease in margin was driven by lower revenue.

EPS: US$1.21 (down from US$1.87 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Texas Instruments Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 1.4%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 12%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 7.8% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 17% growth forecast for the Semiconductor industry in the US.

Performance of the American Semiconductor industry.

The company's shares are up 7.1% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Texas Instruments (including 1 which is concerning).

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript April 25, 2024

Textron Inc. misses on earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $ EPS, expectations were $1.28. Textron Inc. isnt one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here).

Operator: Welcome to the Textron First Quarter 2024 Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] This conference is being recorded for digitized replay and will be available after 10 a.m. Eastern Time today through April 25 of 2025. You may access the replay by dialing (866) 207-1041 and enter the access code 8546032. I would now like to turn the conference over to David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

David Rosenberg: Thanks, Liah, and good morning, everyone. Before we begin, I'd like to mention we will be discussing future estimates and expectations during our call today. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risk factors, which are detailed in our SEC filings and also in today's press release. On the call today, we have Scott Donnelly, Textron's Chairman and CEO; and Frank Connor, our Chief Financial Officer. Our earnings call presentation can be found in the investor relations section of our website. Revenue in the quarter were $3.1 billion, up from $3 billion in last year's first quarter. Segment profit in the quarter was $290 million, up $31 million from the first quarter of 2023. During this year's first quarter, adjusted income from continuing operations was $1.20 per share, compared to $1.05 per share in last year's first quarter.

A military cargo plane landing at its destination, signifying the strength of its defense arm.

Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions reflected a use of cash of $81 million in the quarter, compared to $104 million of cash provided in last year's first quarter. With that, I'll turn the call over to Scott.

Scott Donnelly: Thanks, David, and good morning, everyone. In the first quarter, we saw a higher segment profit at Aviation, Bell and Systems. At Aviation in the quarter, we delivered 36 jets, up from 35 last year, 20 commercial turboprops down from 34 last year's first quarter. Aviation continues to see strong demand across our product lines. The result in backlog growth of $177 million, and in the first quarter $7.3 billion. Textron aviation's fleet utilization remains strong in the quarter, contributing to aftermarket revenue growth of 6%, as compared to last year's first quarter. Throughout Q1, we saw continued improvements in our supply chain and hours attained in the factory, supporting delivery growth throughout the remainder of the year.

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At Bell, revenues in the quarter were up, driven by higher military volume, reflecting the continued ramp of the FLRAA program. On the FLRAA program, we continue to progress through preliminary design reviews and expect to complete milestone B, which allows for the entrance into the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program later this summer. Also during the quarter, Bell received an award for the production and delivery to Nigeria of 12 AH1Z helicopters. For V22, the recently enacted FY 24 budget includes five additional aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2027. On the commercial side of Bell, we delivered 18 helicopters down from 22 in last year's first quarter. During the quarter, we continued to progress toward FAA certification on the 525, expected later this year.

See also

25 Best Countries for Expats With Low Taxes and High Quality of Life and

20 Countries That Increased Oil Production the Most in A Decade.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with electric pioneering sea glider maker, Regent, to develop technology that is targeted at drastically reducing the time and cost of moving people and goods between coastal cities, a report said.

The MoU is also aimed at attracting investment for technology development and manufacturing at Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI)  the fully integrated cluster headquartered in Masdar City that provides state-of-the-art facilities, value added services, and regulatory enablement to support the design, testing and manufacturing of autonomous vehicle applications, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of DRIFTx, Abu Dhabis smart and autonomous mobility transport event, which is taking place at the Yas Marina Circuit (April 25-26).

The move is a key step in Regents global expansion  serving an order book of over $9 billion.

Regents sea gliders are all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect craft that operate dock-to-dock, over-water routes within a wingspan of the water's surface, combining the speed of an airplane with the operating cost and accessibility of a boat.

Built to the same safety standards as modern aircraft and watercraft, the sea gliders will service routes up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, with the potential to serve routes of up to 500 miles once next-generation batteries become available, all using existing dock infrastructure.

Regent will leverage the opportunity to utilise the SAVI clusters state-of-the-art facilities, services and enabling regulatory ecosystem, and will collaborate with ADIO to solicit the local support and investment required to expand its global operations in UAE, including workforce development, supply chain, integration and sea glider delivery infrastructure.

In the current vision, Regent is targeting a pilot operational campaign in the next few years, with plans for localised sea glider manufacturing by end of decade.

Badr Al-Olama, Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said: Abu Dhabi is deploying innovation at scale through its pioneering Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster and were proud to welcome Regent to Abu Dhabi to shape the future of coastal transportation.

With immense speed and efficiency, Im confident Abu Dhabi will see the global deployment of electric sea gliders, and these will dramatically change how goods and people move between the worlds coastal areas going forward.

As a leading hub for the development of future industries, we will leverage to stand at the very forefront of a new wave of disruptive change in mobility that is set to create tremendous opportunities for businesses over the next few decades.

We look forward to supporting REGENT as we work through the details over the coming months to make our shared goal of localised sea glider operations and manufacturing a reality.

Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of Regent, said: Abu Dhabis SAVI cluster represents an extraordinary opportunity for our company to simultaneously support our global expansion and fulfil the strong demand of our customers already in the region.

With our growing backlog of $9B in sea glider orders rapidly spreading throughout the Gulf, the Red Sea, Indo-Pacific and Europe, we need a way to effectively manufacture and deliver sea gliders across the Eastern Hemisphere.

We have been thrilled by the dedicated and rapid support of ADIO, together with our existing investor EDGEs SDF, as we work collaboratively to build a Regent hub in Abu Dhabi.  TradeArabia News Service
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

So, the natural question for Skillcast Group (LON:SKL) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

Check out our latest analysis for Skillcast Group

How Long Is Skillcast Group's Cash Runway?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. In December 2023, Skillcast Group had UK7.2m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK143k. That means it had a cash runway of very many years as of December 2023. While this is only one measure of its cash burn situation, it certainly gives us the impression that holders have nothing to worry about. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

Is Skillcast Group's Revenue Growing?

Given that Skillcast Group actually had positive free cash flow last year, before burning cash this year, we'll focus on its operating revenue to get a measure of the business trajectory. While it's not that amazing, we still think that the 15% increase in revenue from operations was a positive. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

How Easily Can Skillcast Group Raise Cash?

Notwithstanding Skillcast Group's revenue growth, it is still important to consider how it could raise more money, if it needs to. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate).

Skillcast Group's cash burn of UK143k is about 0.4% of its UK33m market capitalisation. So it could almost certainly just borrow a little to fund another year's growth, or else easily raise the cash by issuing a few shares.

Is Skillcast Group's Cash Burn A Worry?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Skillcast Group's cash burn. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. And even though its revenue growth wasn't quite as impressive, it was still a positive. After considering a range of factors in this article, we're pretty relaxed about its cash burn, since the company seems to be in a good position to continue to fund its growth. On another note, Skillcast Group has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is potentially serious) we think you should know about.

Of course Skillcast Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
As the Australian market navigates through fluctuating bond yields and anticipates potential interest rate hikes, investors are closely monitoring various economic indicators and corporate activities. Amid these conditions, companies with high insider ownership can be particularly intriguing, as such ownership might align management's interests more closely with those of shareholders, potentially fostering greater resilience and long-term strategic focus during uncertain times.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Australia

Name Insider Ownership Growth Rating Emerald Resources (ASX:EMR) 17.7%  Cettire (ASX:CTT) 28.7%  Hartshead Resources (ASX:HHR) 13.9%  Gratifii (ASX:GTI) 15.6%  Acrux (ASX:ACR) 14.6%  Latin Resources (ASX:LRS) 13.1%  Hillgrove Resources (ASX:HGO) 10.4%  Alpha HPA (ASX:A4N) 28.3%  WhiteHawk (ASX:WHK) 14.5%  Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) 16.4% 

Click here to see the full list of 92 stocks from our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's dive into some prime choices out of from the screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: APM Human Services International Limited operates in providing human and health services both in Australia and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.11 billion.

Operations: APM Human Services International's revenue segments include A$850.01 million from Australia and New Zealand, A$910.37 million from North America, and A$396.49 million from other international markets such as Korea, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and the UK.

Insider Ownership: 27.3%

APM Human Services International, a growth-oriented company with significant insider ownership, is currently trading at A$63.6% below its estimated fair value. Despite challenges such as unstable dividends and insufficient earnings to cover interest payments, APM's financial outlook shows promise with expected significant annual profit growth (22.2% per year) over the next three years. However, its revenue growth projection is modest at 7.7% per year, slower than the desired 20% threshold for high-growth companies but still above the Australian market average of 4.7%. Recent M&A activities underscore a robust interest in APM's intrinsic value and strategic positioning, although these have not yet resulted in finalized transactions.

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ASX:APM Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Apr 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Kelsian Group Limited operates in land and marine transport and tourism sectors across Australia, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.51 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three primary segments: Australian Bus services contributing A$934.76 million, International Bus operations at A$448.87 million, and Marine and Tourism activities totaling A$337.90 million.

Insider Ownership: 20.9%

Kelsian Group, an Australian growth company with high insider ownership, reported a substantial increase in sales to A$982.71 million and net income to A$28.06 million for H1 2024. Despite this performance, the company's profit margins decreased from last year, and its dividend coverage remains weak. Analysts expect Kelsian's earnings to grow by 27.85% annually over the next three years, outpacing the market average significantly. Insider activities show more buying than selling recently, indicating confidence from those closest to the company.

ASX:KLS Ownership Breakdown as at Apr 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Mesoblast Limited, operating in Australia, the United States, Singapore, and Switzerland, focuses on developing regenerative medicine products with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.04 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its development of adult stem cell technology platform, totaling $7.47 million.

Insider Ownership: 21.2%

Mesoblast, a notable player in the biotechnology sector, has shown promising growth prospects with insider confidence demonstrated through recent substantial buying and no significant selling. Despite shareholder dilution last year, Mesoblast is on track to profitability within three years, underpinned by an expected annual revenue growth rate of 55.3%. However, its share price remains highly volatile. Recent FDA endorsements for its therapies could bolster future performance as it moves towards market expansion and product commercialization.

ASX:MSB Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Apr 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Gain an insight into the universe of 92 Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership by clicking here.

Hold shares in these firms? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance.

Unlock the power of informed investing with Simply Wall St, your free guide to navigating stock markets worldwide.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities.

Companies discussed in this article include ASX:APM ASX:KLS and ASX:MSB.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
(Bloomberg) -- Erich Andersen, the US-based general counsel for TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd., is stepping down from that role, the social media app said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Andersen, who was a key executive responsible for convincing the US government that the company was doing enough to stave off national security concerns about its connections to China, will leave the role in June. Hell remain as special counsel to the company, according to a TikTok statement on Friday. His decision to step down as general counsel was entirely his own, said Jodi Seth, a spokesperson for TikTok.

The move comes days after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that threatens TikToks existence in the US, requiring ByteDance to either divest its stake in the app or see it banned. The companies are expected to wage a legal battle to try to overturn or delay enforcement of the legislation.

The company had been preparing to remove Andersen from his role as general counsel following the advancement in US Congress of the legislation to force a TikTok divestment or ban, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on April 20. TikTok denied that the company was planning to remove Andersen.

In his new role, Andersen will focus on the effort to overturn the legislation in the US and other pressing legal matters, the company said.

It was a difficult decision to step down after so many years in this role, Andersen said in Fridays statement. Im grateful to my talented global legal team, which has successfully faced every new challenge with incredible grit and maturity.

Read More: TikTok to Remove Executive Tasked With Fending Off US Claims

Andersen oversaw negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which was reviewing national security concerns regarding TikTok, its parent company and the potential for influence from the Chinese government. Those efforts dragged on for years, and TikTok ultimately failed to demonstrate that the $2 billion-plus it is spending on a security plan to protect US users data was enough to reach a deal.

Meanwhile, lawmakers grew impatient and acted on their worries about the potential for China, via ByetDance, to get its hands on sensitive user data or influence Americans social media feeds. TikToks parent spent $2.7 million on lobbying in the first quarter of this year on the heels of a record $8.7 million in 2023. But ultimately, the historic divest-or-ban bill was signed into law.

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In an internal memo to employees reviewed by Bloomberg, Andersen said he initiated conversations about transitioning out of his role. It was entirely my decision to do so, and it was not an easy one, Andersen wrote. But as I started to reflect some months ago on the stresses of the last few years and the new generation of challenges that lie ahead, I decided that the time was right to pass the baton to a new leader.

(Updates with comment from TikTok spokesperson in second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Alex Daniels, left, and Ryan Ehlart, center, fill out job applications while Bartolotta Restaurants human resources coordinator Hannah Flagg lets Shalome Sawyers know what job openings they have available at the Italian Community Center at 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee.

In 2009, the country was still in the midst of the Great Recession. Wisconsin unemployment was at or around 9% for most of the year. Workers and businesses were clearly struggling.

Fifteen years later, Wisconsin's economy has rebounded and unemployment dipped to 2.6% as recently as March 2023 and employers scramble to fill openings.

Beyond more people working, what has changed? And what parts of the economy will continue to change?

For the past 15 years Top Workplaces has recognized local businesses for how they treat their employees. The Journal Sentinel partners with research platform Energage to recognize southeastern Wisconsin workplaces that demonstrate strong organizational health and employee engagement. Any employer in the area  which encompasses Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties  with at least 50 employees is eligible to participate.

Employers seek out Top Workplaces designation because it helps with recruiting and retaining workers. Much has changed in the jobs economy in the years since the the program began.

"Perhaps the primary change over the last 15 years is the realization of the human resource constraint," said Dennis Winters, economist with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

"It may not yet be fully understood that it will affect all areas of economic development. The workforce limits will affect all industries, occupations, and geographies, and the provision of all goods and services. Risk and labor will continue to shift to the consumer."

West Bend Mutual recognized 14 years

Some companies that have been frequently on the list say they place on premium on engaging with their work forces.

West Bend Mutual Insurance as been on the Top Workplaces list for 14 years. Chad Feltz, assistant vice president of human resources, attributed the company's success to being able to adapt to present needs and expectations of workers.

"Our associates live in 25 different states, and as such, we offer remote and hybrid work schedules with virtual meetings happening just as often as in-person meetings. We also host weekly social events for associates and create opportunities to connect associates with similar interests," Feltz said.

"Prioritizing flexibility and community has allowed us to maintain a thriving group of associates who, in turn, are able to provide high-quality service and results for our agents and policyholders."

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, businesses adapted to changes in health concerns and offered incentives to keep employees from leaving.

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For Sendik's Food Market, the company took extra steps to tell workers how to stay safe.

"In addition we took several steps early on such as installing plexiglass, cart cleaning, frequently touched areas cleaned throughout the day, face masks for associates and customers, and providing 'thank you' bonuses throughout the pandemic," the company said in the survey administered by Energage. "In addition, we provided each associate with a gift card for Thanksgiving as another way to say thank you and recognize our amazing associates."

Some changes made during COVID pandemic have remained

Many businesses shifted practices to more online and adopted technology-driven strategies like virtual meetings. Some companies offered employees the option to work remotely.

"These trends will continue to evolve the workforce and the workplace in the foreseeable future," Winters said. "The workforce quantity challenge arises from demographic trends that are largely unalterable in the short-run."

Bret Mayborne, vice president of economic research for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Area Chamber of Commerce, said the previous 15 years showed "slow but steady metro area growth, with the exception of two of the steepest recession declines in quite some time."

"While the recessionary declines were national in geographic breath, in both cases it has taken a long period of time to catch up from the respective declines," Mayborne said, adding the median age of the metro population has been steadily increasing as people get older, and the overall population, especially working age population, "has been flat."

Mayborne said the labor force participation rates in recent years have gone down, particularly around the time of the pandemic as older workers decided to retire.

"These trends have led to historically low unemployment rates and tight labor markets in general," Mayborne said.

The adoption of artificial intelligence could have a long-term impact.

"AI may go a long way in alleviating the quantity challenge by using the technology to execute job tasks and duties," Winters said. "Furthermore, AI will be used to lessen the more mundane aspects of skilled jobs, such as compiling and actuating information, allowing for more high-valued activities. AI will also increase the capabilities of those in lesser skilled positions, putting information and reasoning literally at their fingertips. AI may have arrived at the right time to alleviate the pressures of the workforce quantity and quality challenges."

For the 2024 Top Workplaces for Southeastern Wisconsin, 2,890 organizations were invited to survey their employees, and 257 agreed to do so. Based on the survey feedback, 169 earned recognition as Top Workplaces.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Top Workplaces launched in 2009. Here's what's new in the jobs economy
The battle over a North Carolina textile heirs fortune worth millions is now headed to mediation.

Its the latest development in the legal battle between Atrium Health and descendants of one-time owners Cannon Mills Co., who are embroiled in a battle to claim the inheritance of money derived from the former Kannapolis-based company.

Retired N.C. Business Court Chief Judge Jim Gale has been assigned to oversee mediation in the case, new court filings show.

Cannon textile mill descendants want to stop Charlottes largest hospital system from receiving millions of dollars from the family trust, claiming Atrium is not the intended recipient and does not meet the trusts charitable purposes. The exact total money at stake was not cited in public court records.

Atrium  overseen by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority  argues it is entitled to trust distributions and this month filed a motion to remove the trustees blocking it from the inheritance.

N.C. Business Court filings do not specify the trusts value.

There is no timetable yet for when mediation would begin, or what would happen if mediation fails.

Atrium Health wants trustees removed in NCs Cannon Mills textile inheritance feud. The case is headed to mediation.

What led to the Cannon trust fight

For part of the 20th century, Cannon Mills once stood as the worlds largest producer of towels and sheets.

Cannon Mills traces its roots to 1887, when local investors led by James Cannon opened a small yarn-spinning plant in Concord. His son, Charles Albert Cannon, took over operations after his father died in 1921. By that time, the company had relocated to what would become Kannapolis, and a few years, was known as Cannon Mills.

The company saw a number of owners and name changes before it collapsed into bankruptcy as Pillowtex in 2003. That triggered the largest one-day job loss in the history of North Carolina and the textile industry at that time, as 7,650 people lost their jobs, mainly in Cabarrus and Rowan counties.

In 1965, Cannons wife, Ruth Coltrane Cannon, created a trust for her grandson, Charles Albert Cannon III. Following his death, she said in her will, the trust would go to county-owned Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. Her grandson died last October.

Through a series of mergers over the past decades, Cabarrus Memorial became part of Atrium, which is now part of Advocate Health with revenue of more than $27 billion.

Since Cabarrus Memorial does not exist anymore, the trustees say Atrium Health is not the proper beneficiary. If the trust could not be paid expressly to the county-owned Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, it was to be distributed to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, the trustees argued in court documents.

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In February, Cannon textile mill descendants filed a lawsuit to stop Atrium from receiving trust distributions.

Cannon did not direct her philanthropy to a multi-state, multi-billion-dollar corporate conglomerate like Atrium, and she certainly didnt intend for such a corporate conglomerate to attack her family members for trying to be faithful to her wishes and charitable purposes, attorney Kearns Davis said Monday in a statement to The Charlotte Observer.

Atrium objected to the trusts interpretation of the will and threatened legal action if distributions did not begin Feb. 15.

Stacks from Fieldcrest Cannon mills rise above Cannon Village in Kannapolis in this 1999 file photo. The former mill site is now home to the N.C. Research Campus, a Minor League Baseball stadium and a redeveloped downtown.

Atriums counterclaim

This month, Atrium filed a counterclaim, saying Cannon trustees failed and refused to provide income distributions or accounting information about the trust. Atrium wants the trustees removed and new trustees appointed, as well as financial damages and fees.

The trustees have committed serious breaches of trust, Atrium said in an April 10 filing. The trustees have also persistently failed and refused to administer the trust effectively.

The three trustees listed in the filing are Craig and Kathleen Cannon, both of Forsyth County, and Thomas Fields of Michigan.

We filed our counterclaim because we believe the law is clear. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (d/b/a Atrium Health) is the successor in interest to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital and is entitled to the distributions from the trust, Atrium Health officials said Monday in a statement to the Observer. CMHA continues to operate what is now known as Atrium Health Cabarrus as a public hospital for the benefit of the residents of Cabarrus County.
Exploration programs to commence immediately

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2024) - Unigold Inc. (TSXV: UGD) (OTCQB: UGDIF) (FSE: UGB1) ("Unigold" or the "Company") announces the execution of a long-form agreement (the "Agreement") with Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") that details the terms under which Barrick can earn into the Neita Norte Exploration Concession in the Dominican Republic and which includes a shareholders agreement to govern the joint venture which will be formed upon successful completion of earn-in requirements for exploration, development and mining in the area.

Work is anticipated to commence immediately.

Joe Hamilton, Chairman and CEO of Unigold commented, "We are excited for Barrick to initiate exploration in the Neita Norte area. We have always viewed the western portion of the Tireo Formation as being the most prospective for finding large gold deposits in the Dominican Republic. We are delighted to partner with the foremost gold producer in the industry in order to further the exploration efforts in this area. Barrick brings considerable technical and financial capability to the project and has one of the greatest depths of exploration expertise available in the industry. Barrick operates the world-class Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic and has installed a significant amount of related infrastructure in the country, holding a commendable record as a good corporate citizen. The Agreement creates an opportunity for both companies to benefit from the development of this frontier area. Unigold will continue to be active in the area as we concentrate on the development of the Neita Sur concession and work to convert our significant resources into producing mines."

Terms of the Agreement

As announced on July 14, 2023, Unigold granted Barrick the exclusive option to acquire a 60% undivided interest in the Neita Norte Exploration Concession by:

incurring not less than US$2.5 million of expenditures in respect of the concession within the first three years; incurring a total of not less than US$8 million of expenditures in respect of the concession within the first six years and delivering a PEA; incurring a total of not less than US$12 million of expenditures in respect of the concession within the first eight years and delivering a PFS; and delivering a written notice to UGD electing to exercise the earn-in right.

Following the earn-in of a 60% interest, Barrick will have the ability to elect to sole-fund and deliver a Feasibility Study by the end of year twelve which will allow Barrick to increase its ownership in the JV to 80%. The JV is be subject to standard dilution clauses which includes the criteria that should any partner own less than 15% of the JV they would be immediately diluted to a 2.5% NSR royalty. Barrick is the manager and operator of the project.

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The agreement is subject to standard representations and warranties from both parties.

About Neita Norte

The 10,903 Ha Neita Norte Exploration Concession was granted to Unigold on March 27, 2023. The concession is valid for three years and has two one-year extensions that may be granted. Unigold has held the Neita area under various Exploration Concessions since 2002. In 2022, Unigold applied to split the area into a northern section (Neita Norte) and a southern area (Neita Sur). Unigold applied to convert the Neita Sur area into an Exploitation Concession in early 2022. That application is still pending final approval from government authorities.

The Neita Norte Concession is dominated by the Tireo Formation which can be traced for 300 km along a northwest-southeast strike and averages 35 km in width. It is comprised of volcano-sedimentary rocks and lavas from an Upper Cretaceous age volcanic island arc that extends from northwestern Haiti into the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. It is believed that the older rocks of the Tireo Formation were thrust from north to south over the younger marine sediments of the southerly Trois Rivieres - Peralta Formation.

The Tireo Formation is subdivided into Upper and Lower members. The older Lower Tireo occurs in the eastern part of the concession area and is dominated by volcanic, volcaniclastics and pyroclastics of predominantly andesitic composition. Porphyry copper deposits are known to occur in the Lower Tireo formation in Haiti and likely also occur within the exposures of these rocks in the Dominican Republic. The main branch of the San Jose - Restauracion Thrust Fault bisects the Concession almost in half along a northwest trending corridor. The younger Upper Tireo member dominates on the western side of the thrust and is comprised largely of volcanic and volcanoclastics rocks of andesitic to rhyodacitic composition. The Upper Tireo Formation is known to host volcanogenic copper-gold massive sulphide mineralization as well as epithermal gold-silver mineralization.

Unigold has identified areas within the Neita Norte concession that host surface expressions of mineralization. Some of these areas have seen limited follow-up drilling in the past ten years.

About Unigold Inc. - Discovering Gold in the Caribbean

Unigold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol UGD, the OTCQB exchange under the symbol UGDIF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol UGB1. The Company applied to split the "Neita Fase II" concession into an Exploitation Concession and an Exploration Concession in late February 2022: "Neita Norte" and "Neita Sur." The multi-million ounce Candelones gold deposits are within the 100% owned Neita Sur concession located in Dajabon province, in the northwest part of the Dominican Republic. The Company delivered a feasibility study for the Oxide portion of the Candelones deposit in Q4 of 2022. The application for the 9,990 Ha Neita Sur concession has moved smoothly through various permitting stages and the Company expects that a decision will be given on the application in the second half of 2024. The 10,903 Ha Neita Norte Exploration Concession was awarded to the Company in Q2 2023. Unigold has been active in the Dominican Republic since 2002 and remains the most active exploration Company in the country. The two concessions together form the largest single exposure of the volcanic rocks of the Cretaceous Tireo Formation. This island arc terrain is host to Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide deposits, Intermediate and High Sulphidation Epithermal Systems and Copper-gold porphyry systems. Unigold has identified over 20 areas within the concession areas that host surface expressions of gold systems. Unigold has been concentrating on the Candelones mineralization and is moving to bring these deposits into production.

For further information please visit http://www.unigoldinc.com or contact:

Mr. Joseph Hamilton

Chairman & CEO

T. (416) 866-8157

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this document, including statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Where applicable, we claim the protection of the safe harbour for forward-looking statements provided by the (United States) Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For more information, please visit https://www.unigoldinc.com/profile/forward-looking-statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/206813
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Although, when we looked at Amlex Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AMLEX), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Amlex Holdings Berhad:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.015 = RM917k  (RM76m - RM15m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Amlex Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 1.5%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Electronic industry average of 11%.

See our latest analysis for Amlex Holdings Berhad

roce

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings , check out these free graphs detailing revenue and cash flow performance of Amlex Holdings Berhad.

What Can We Tell From Amlex Holdings Berhad's ROCE Trend?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Amlex Holdings Berhad, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 7.5%, but since then they've fallen to 1.5%. Given the business is employing more capital while revenue has slipped, this is a bit concerning. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased.

Our Take On Amlex Holdings Berhad's ROCE

We're a bit apprehensive about Amlex Holdings Berhad because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. The market must be rosy on the stock's future because even though the underlying trends aren't too encouraging, the stock has soared 155%. In any case, the current underlying trends don't bode well for long term performance so unless they reverse, we'd start looking elsewhere.

One final note, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Amlex Holdings Berhad (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) .

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While Amlex Holdings Berhad isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A New York Homeowner Was Arrested For Changing The Locks After Finding A Group Of Squatters In $1 Million Home She Inherited

In Queens, New York, a homeowner's confrontation with unexpected occupants at her late father's house spiraled into a dramatic legal tangle that highlights the complex issue of squatter rights in the city.

Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited a property valued at $1 million after her parents died. She discovered strangers living there during a visit to prepare the house for sale. When she changed the locks to secure the property, one of the occupants called the police, leading to her brief arrest. Though she faces no charges, the ordeal showcases the difficulties homeowners and law enforcement face with squatters in New York.

According to the Daily Mail, Andaloro voiced her concerns about the effectiveness of local laws, stating, "I'm really fearful that these people are going to get away with stealing my home."

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Neighbors have reported suspicious activity since the occupants moved in.

"We all know what they are up to, so we're all kind of pissed about it," Kosta, a 24-year-old college student living next door, told the news outlet.

Squatter's rights in New York offer a legal framework that can make eviction challenging. After 30 days of occupancy in New York City, squatters can claim legal rights to a property, complicating efforts to remove them. This situation has left Andaloro and her neighbors frustrated as they navigate the legal and social implications of squatter claims.

The incident has sparked a broader discussion on the need for clearer regulations and more support for property owners facing similar predicaments.

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This article A New York Homeowner Was Arrested For Changing The Locks After Finding A Group Of Squatters In $1 Million Home She Inherited originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A joint jury trial for the two people charged in the March 26, 2023, slaying of 18-year-old Fredericksburg resident Jasiah Smith has been scheduled for July.

Aaron Randolph Carter, 20, and Lorenzo A. Brooks, 17, both of Fredericksburg, are both charged with first-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Their joint trial is scheduled to start July 9 in Fredericksburg Circuit Court and is set to last three days.

Smith was shot multiple times in broad daylight that day in the 400 block of Chadwick Court. According to evidence presented at earlier hearings, as many as nine people were in the area when Smith was killed.

The afternoon gathering appeared to have been peaceful when Smith was suddenly shot about a dozen times. It remains unclear what led to the shooting.

Carter and Brooks were later identified as suspects, and were both arrested after initially fleeing to Maryland. Commonwealths Attorney Elizabeth Humphries and prosecutor Steve Eubank say they have video evidence showing Brooks pointing a gun toward the victim. Brooks is being tried as an adult even though he remains under the age of 18.

Meanwhile, Carter has been identified as the person seen dumping two guns in some nearby woods that were recovered five days after the shooting. Prosecutors say those guns have been forensically tied to the bullets that killed Smith.

Defense attorneys Jim Ilijevich and Tara-Beth Coleman were in court Thursday arguing for separate trials for their clients. Ilijevich said some of the evidence presented against Brooks could influence jurors against his client, Carter, and he said that a joint trial could lead to a situation where a defense attorney might have to throw the other defendant under the bus.

Humphries said the cases against both defendants are nearly identical and argued that neither would be negatively affected by a joint trial. Judge Gordon Willis sided with the prosecution.

Carter has other drug- and gun-related charges pending in the city for alleged offenses from several months before the slaying. A trial date for those cases has not yet been set.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has issued a new guide that allows domestic and international players to invest in a sector projected to reach a combined market size of AED11.04 billion ($3 billion) by 2027.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), announced the new guide, launched as part of the Abu Dhabi Channel Partners programme, for investment opportunities in transportation at DRIFTx, the international thought-leadership and exhibition platform in Abu Dhabi that is dedicated to advancing the future of smart and autonomous mobility across air, land and sea.

DRIFTx is supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), which launched Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster in 2023 to set new standards for global transportation and mobility.

Key role

Al Zaabi said: These high-growth investment opportunities in the transportation industries will play an important role in strengthening the Emirates industrial landscape. ADIS is supporting our transformation into a diversified, smart, and sustainable economy, underscoring our vision of establishing Abu Dhabi as a global technological hub and innovation centre for manufacturing.

In 2023, the value of Abu Dhabis manufacturing sector rose to AED101 billion, contributing 8.8% to the total GDP and 16.5% to non-oil GDP, which grew by 9.1% to AED610 billion. The transportation sector's potential for growth will play a crucial role in the realisation of Abu Dhabi's ambitious targets. We are committed to further diversifying the economy by focusing on new and emerging sectors, with a special emphasis on certain manufacturing sectors, and utilising innovative tools across different sectors. ADIS is providing ample opportunities for partnerships, access to funding, and attractive investment prospects for both local and international investors.

Industrial Investment opportunities in transportation include the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of commercial drones, electric vehicle chargers, automotive battery systems, aircraft landing gears, e-scooters, and automotive tyres.

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of these opportunities is projected to range between 5.7% for conventional industries, to 9.4% for high-growth ones, and up to 31.5% for disruptive industries in transportation.

Abu Dhabi Channel Partners programme

The Abu Dhabi Channel Partners programme was launched in 2023 as an Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS) initiative to enhance the Emirates industrial ecosystem by providing detailed guides of investment opportunities that address the needs of key players and investors.

The programme presents 100 investment opportunities, with a combined market value of AED123.3 billion in the 7 manufacturing subsectors targeted by ADIS, namely food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical, electronics, machineries and equipment, and transportation.

Abu Dhabi has built an investment-friendly ecosystem that supports innovation-driven businesses by providing access to partnerships, funding, and opportunities within non-oil sectors, and by presenting attractive investment and partnership prospects for both local and international investors. The Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), ADDEDs arm to develop and regulate the industrial sector, has been active in launching initiatives, and in attracting global players to Abu Dhabi to achieve the objectives of ADIS.

A key initiative of ADIS, the Abu Dhabi Channel Partners programme, is enhancing Abu Dhabi's global competitiveness, attracting foreign and domestic direct investments (DDIs and FDIs) and attracting talent to significantly increase the industrial sector's contribution to the Emirate's non-oil GDP.--TradeArabia News Service
For more than three decades the annual Gazette Charities Foundation Best and Brightest Scholarship Program has recognized 20 local high school students for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and contributions to their community.
For the second time in under a month, a federal judge has declined to dismiss Fort Collins from a lawsuit alleging the city's own failures contributed to a police officer's repeated wrongful arrests of motorists who were not actually intoxicated.
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Auraria campus; small businesses worry about AI bill; lawmakers to consider towing industry bill | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The attorneys representing the Colorado Springs man accused of killing a man by striking him over 100 times at a 7-Eleven pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Thursday afternoon.

Tyrek Williams, 23, faces one count of first-degree murder and two violent crime sentence enhancers for allegedly striking and killing of Andrew Dominguez, 56, in a Colorado Springs 7-Eleven in February 2022.

Williams appeared to court for an arraignment hearing Thursday afternoon, and for the second consecutive hearing he appeared in court handcuffed to a wheelchair with a spit guard covering his mouth.

Frustrations from Williams' attorneys continued from the previous hearing, as the pair remain vocally frustrated by the court finding Williams competent to proceed.

According to previous reporting from The Gazette, in December Judge Frances Johnson heard testimony from prosecution and defense experts with competing opinions on Williams competency and mental health.

According to the defense's expert, Williams had a family history of "thought disorders" like schizophrenia. Testimony from the jail therapists also made mention of the possibility of Williams having experienced "internal stimuli," like hearing voices, during visits with staff.

The prosecution called a psychologist contracted with the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHIP), the state's coordinator for competency evaluations. Williams' evaluation was completed in March of last year, reflecting the state's long-term backlog of court-ordered mental health evaluations.

The state's psychologist said that their evaluation of Williams pointed strongly to a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, which would not provide cause for Williams to be found incompetent.

The CMHIP evaluator downplayed the reported symptoms of more serious mental issues, alleging that Williams may have been faking symptoms in order to receive better jail accommodations. She also testified that Williams appeared "rational" and "reasonable" in the 1-hour-long interview conducted.

Ultimately, Johnson ruled on the side of the state evaluator, declaring Williams competent to proceed despite continued objections from the defense.

At Thursday's hearing Williams' attorney, John Winegar, stated that he has still not spoken to his client since May 2023. Winegar went on to state that when he attempted to speak with him at court Wednesday Williams refused, and that he gave off an odor that "suggests he's not regularly cleaning."

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"We're at a fork in the road right now," Winegar said to Johnson about the ongoing issues with their client. "We don't know quite what to do."

Winegar and his co-counsel, Matthew Werner, again reiterated that they do not believe they can effectively represent Williams and asked to be withdrawn from the case, a request that was denied by Johnson.

Instead Winegar informed the court that he would be entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) on behalf of his client.

The NGRI plea means a forensic psychologist with CHMIP will conduct a sanity evaluation of Williams to determine if he was insane at the time of the alleged killing.

Williams did not respond to the advisement given by Johnson after his attorneys entered the NGRI plea.

At Williams' preliminary hearing in March prosecutors entered into evidence a 20-minute-long video recording of the killing. Judge Johnson opted to watch the video off the bench and not in the courtroom, but Colorado Springs detective Mike Lee stated during his testimony that the video shows Williams striking Dominguez 113 times in total with his feet, fists and a coffee pot.

Lee testified that the injuries sustained from Williams led to Dominguez's death at a Colorado Springs hospital several days later.

(The surveillance footage) is one of the most horrific videos Ive ever seen, prosecutor Jennifer Viehman remarked during argument.

In addition to the homicide case Williams also has 10 open assault cases in El Paso County; two misdemeanor assault cases from prior to the homicide and eight felony assault cases all dealing with alleged incidents from within county jail after he had been arrested on suspicion of the first-degree murder.

Winegar requested for the 10 open assault cases to trail the homicide case, and did not enter a plea on any of them Thursday.

Williams will return to court July 11 for a status conference where an update is expected to be given on the status of Williams' sanity evaluation. He remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a no bond hold, according to court records.
UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague, are partnering to develop and execute pioneering projects in the hospitality industry.

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to stimulate innovation and fresh ventures within the hospitality industry, promoting entrepreneurship and education while engaging in open innovation projects that can enhance the tourism industry, with a particular focus on hospitality.

Currently, 20% of entrepreneurs of the UN Tourism Network are directly related to hospitality and are the most dynamic projects including a variety of stakeholders of the industry.

Building on the UN Tourism's established innovation network, this agreement will further facilitate connections between startups and potential investors, as well as promote knowledge and skills through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions.

This partnership not only underlines a commitment to a more sustainable future for the industry but also signifies a shared commitment to providing inclusive opportunities and memorable global student experiences, demonstrated through Hotelschool The Hague's global Sustainable Hospitality Challenge.

Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, said: Unfortunately 90% of startups within the hospitality sector eventually do not succeed. A decent tourism education and knowledge of the hospitality sector is necessary to develop a disruptive and well-functioning product.

Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to alter this trajectory by offering a more robust foundation, fostering invaluable connections, and providing a conducive testbed for emerging startups.

Given that technology now permeates 70% of tourism enterprises, it is imperative that these startups are seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, connected with pertinent stakeholders, and afforded the opportunity to validate their solutions in real-world settings before embarking on a larger scale.

Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors of Hotelschool The Hague, said: "At Hotelschool The Hague, we provide our students with the perfect balance of theory, real-world experience and applied research to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry.

We develop leaders who shape our global industry and drive it to give back more than it takes. We are proud to join forces with UN Tourism.

We fully embrace their vision to Foster Innovation in the Hospitality Industry. In fact, our Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is a student competition designed to enhance the evolution of sustainable practices in hospitality, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of UN Tourism."

Hotelschool The Hague, founded and funded by the hospitality industry in 1929, provides high-quality education and cutting-edge research in the field of international hospitality management, with an emphasis on the transformation of sustainability and digitalisation and on developing students into sought-after hospitality graduates who excel in leadership roles worldwide.  TradeArabia News Service
Rumors that a busload of Venezuelan immigrants from the southern border recently were dropped off in Cripple Creek arent true, according to Police Chief Charles Bud Bright.

But there were illegal immigrants in the city for a while at least, he said.

The new Chamonix Casino & Hotel had contracted hotel services such as housekeeping with a company that was transporting employees to the small mountain town southwest of Colorado Springs in the mornings and returning them to another locale in the evenings by shuttle or bus, Bright said. Several of those employees were new Venezuelan immigrants, he said.

But Chamonix recently terminated those employees, Bright said.

Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham agreed.

"They are no longer being contracted with Chamonix," she said. "They were working in town but no longer are working in town."

Durham said she didn't know anything else about the situation.

Earlier this year, Teller County declared non-sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants. Sheriffs in Teller and El Paso counties supported a House bill that would reverse laws that restrict the ability of local law enforcement to communicate and cooperate with federal officials regarding the immigration status of people. The bill has been postponed indefinitely.

Some of the Venezuelans were living in homes in Cripple Creek, Bright said: Wed encounter six to seven sharing a residence.

Cripple Creek police received no incident reports, although rumors of people looking in windows of vacant houses had been circulating, he said.

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There were a couple we had contact with that was not anything egregious, he said.

Some sought assistance from the police department as well as the Aspen Mine Center, a nonprofit that provides human services including food to people in need.

At least some of the Venezuelan newcomers seemed to have been in the country illegally, Bright said, since they could not provide any paperwork, had expired Visas or documentation or said they could not locate their documentation.

But without authorized proof of being in the United States legally, the services they could have received were limited, the police chief said.

The police department has not had any contact with them for several weeks, he added, and presumably, they have moved on to other communities. He said he spoke with the sheriff's office about the situation.

Were very limited on resources up here and our businesses and associations that are geared up for that could probably get by awhile. But those resources are very limited, and helping the ones that are already here that are trying to get on their feet is the focus, Bright said.

Theres not housing here, theres nowhere for them to go, and I think thats what they found out when they came up for a job and then lost the job, he said.

The city of Cripple Creek does not have a plan if an influx of immigrants were to arrive in the area, he added.

In February 2023, a District Court judge ruled in favor of Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell in a lawsuit brought by taxpayers in protest of the sheriffs enforcement of federal immigration law.

The judge determined Mikesell followed state law in his decision to honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to hold inmates beyond their scheduled release dates so that they can be picked up by federal agents.
Police officers arrested more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters on Friday, a day after hundreds occupied a campus shared by three universities in Denver.

Authorities also cleared several tents that went up near the Tivoli building on the Auraria campus on Thursday, when the protesters made several demands, notably that the University of Colorado divest from corporations that operate in Israel.

The protest  and the arrests that followed  were the latest in what had been a wave of pro-Palestinian rallies on campuses across the United States in the last several days and increasing worries by Jewish students for their physical safety.

The decision to arrest the protesters followed similar scenes across several college campuses in the country. The police clashed with protesters at Ohio State University in Columbus. At the California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt, officials closed the campus through this weekend, saying instruction would continue to be remote, after protesters used furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block entrances to an academic and administrative building on Monday. At New York University, an encampment set up by students swelled to hundreds and the police said 133 protesters had been taken into custody.

In a statement, the Auraria Higher Education Center defended the decision to arrest the protesters by noting a campus policy that prohibits camping on the premises. Campus authorities also suggested that national disruptors had infiltrated the protest.

The authorities said the protesters set up an encampment and were repeatedly notified that they did not comply with the policy. The authorities added that they tried to keep lines of communication open with the protesters.

These engagements have been aimed at attentively hearing and comprehending the students perspectives, the authorities said. The Auraria Campus and the three higher education institutions continue to be committed to listening to and collaborating with the students and protecting their right to free speech.

Notably, the authorities said some protestors falsely present themselves as representatives of the higher education institutions, adding, We know of national disruptors who are not students who have joined this demonstration.

Officers from the Denver and Auraria police departments, along with deputy sheriffs, began arresting protesters shortly after noontime. Earlier, university officials advised people to avoid the Tivoli Quad due to civil unrest.

Authorities also announced road closures that shut down all inbound traffic to the campus.

Shame on you, the protesters booed, yelling at the officers to quit their jobs.

At some point, the protesters locked arms and surrounded police officers, who pushed and shoved as they entered and exited the crowd perimeter.

One person handed out tamales to people. Moments later, the tamales were strewn over the lawn after a skirmish between the protesters and officers.

All of this unfolded under the watchful eye of a drone that hovered overhead.

Officers on the scene said people were arrested for unlawful assembly, but that others were handcuffed for assaulting the police.

We value free speech rights and the right to respectfully demonstrate for all students and Denverites, the Denver Police Department said in a statement, adding it played a supporting role to the Auraria Campus Police Department. After numerous requests to remove camping structures that violate campus policy, today the Auraria Campus Police Department performed arrests on some individuals who had violated that policy.

Meanwhile, the tents that had been set up the night before lied in a heap on the other side of the lawn in front of the Tivoli Student Center.

The protesters had begun amassing at the campus on Thursday. Among those who joined the protest yesterday was state Rep. Elisabeth Epps, a Democrat who was reprimanded for joining pro-Palestinian protesters in the House gallery back in November. At the time, Epps called fellow lawmakers fascist. The reprimand from House Speaker Julie McCluskie included a sternly worded warning that such actions in the future could lead to more serious consequences.

You are our best shot at this, Epps said, referring to the protesters goal of freeing Palestine. Its always darkest when an empire is about to fall.

State Rep. Tim Hernandez, another Democratic legislator from Denver, also joined Thursdays protest.

When the sun goes down, you will not be alone, Hernandez said, noting the pro-Palestinian protests occurring in campuses elsewhere in the country.

Hernandez had participated in a pro-Palestine gathering on the west steps of the state Capitol a day after the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel and faced calls for reprimand from Republicans. His Democratic colleagues also called for Hernandez to explain his decision to join the October rally. Nearly a week later, Hernandez condemned Hamas for the violent attack and apologized for the harm I have caused to many in the Jewish community and the Israeli community this week.

In addition to divestment, the protesters had demanded that the University of Colorado end its study abroad programs to Israel and refuse grants or funding from corporations that contract with the U.S. military.

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They demanded that the university write and publish a statement condemning the genocidal actions of Israel.

While pro-Palestinian protests are not new, the activists in Denver set up about a dozen tents, setting up the showdown with university officials.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, the protesters chanted.

The river is the Jordan and the sea is the Mediterranean, between which lie Israel and the Palestinian territories. Palestinian activists say its a call for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood and decades-long Israeli military rule over millions of Palestinians.

Jews hear a clear demand for Israels annihilation.

Chants of free, free Palestine echoed off the Tivoli building. A representative from Protest Legal Defense Committee used a bullhorn to provide legal advice to the protesters, telling the crowd to remain silent, ask for an attorney, dont consent to a search and ask if free to go.

The representative declined to comment to The Denver Gazette.

For months and months Ive been watching children being killed with our money, said Shannon Birch, a Colorado State University senior.

Birch said she had been there all day.

Jazmine Bjelland, a former CU-Denver student, said she came with a first aid kit, a gallon of water and baking soda to treat anyone who might suffer from a tear gas.

Similar protests have erupted elsewhere in the country.

In New York, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters had been arrested at Columbia University, prompting the Ivy League school to cancel in-person classes and religious leaders to encourage Jewish students to celebrate Passover elsewhere.

At Michigan State University, students set up an encampment on campus to pressure the university to divest in Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Robyn Hughey, executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at the university, called the encampments deeply concerning and problematic.

Students have a right to protest, but they do not have the right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students, Hughey said. Our most important priority is keeping Jewish students safe  first, foremost, and always. The university has indicated that the protesters will be required to obtain a permit from the Board of Trustees to continue their encampment. It is my hope that the board and administration will enforce the universities own ordinances as it continues to balance safety with free speech.

Several organizations said they have noted a rise in antisemitism prior to Oct. 7  and that has only escalated after the Hamas attacks and Israels response.

A new study from the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International, which surveyed American college students, said that, prior to Oct. 7, some 67% of Jewish students felt physically safe on campus. After Oct. 7, that dropped to 46%.

An official of Hillel of Colorado, the local chapter of the Jewish student organization, in February wrote how weve watched the change brew.

Nowhere in Hillel of Colorados mission and vision statements do the words working to keep Jewish college students safe from harm appear. Such a promise wasnt needed  until now, wrote Shira Teed, the assistant director of the organization.

We may, indeed, now wonder if the past 70 years or so will go down as our Golden Age for the Jews in America, she said.

As the police left the campus after arresting protesters, the crowd erupted into applause.

Bye, bye, they shouted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department says a trail runner is in critical condition Thursday evening after being successfully retrieved in a high-angle rescue at North Cheyenne Canon Park Thursday afternoon.

The CSFD said on a social media post that the runner is believed to have fallen 80 feet off a steep rock. While injured, the runner was able to call 911.

Several specialized fire crews responded around 3 p.m., including a wildland team that cut a trail down through rough terrain to the runner for the high-angle rescue team. The CSFD also utilized drones in the rescue, according to social media posts.
About 100 hundred protesters  many of them students  occupied the Auraria campus on Thursday night, chanting anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans.

Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, joined the protest in front of the Tivoli Student Union, the latest in what has been a wave of pro-Palestinian rallies on campuses across the United States in the last several days. Epps declined an interview with the Denver Gazette.

The protesters in Denver set up about a dozen tents. Its unclear at press time how the university officials intend to handle the protest.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, the protesters chanted.

The river is the Jordan and the sea is the Mediterranean, between which lie Israel and the Palestinian territories. Palestinian activists say its a call for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood and decades-long Israeli military rule over millions of Palestinians. Jews hear a clear demand for Israels annihilation.

For months and months, Ive been watching children being killed with our money, said Shannon Birch, a Colorado State University senior student.

Featured Local Savings

Similar protests have erupted elsewhere in the country.

In New York, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters had been arrested at Columbia University, prompting the Ivy League school to cancel in-person classes and religious leaders to encourage Jewish students to celebrate Passover elsewhere.

At Michigan State University, students set up an encampment on campus to pressure the university to divest in Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Robyn Hughey, executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at the university, called the encampments deeply concerning and problematic.

Students have a right to protest, but they do not have the right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students, Hughey said. Our most important priority is keeping Jewish students safe  first, foremost, and always. The university has indicated that the protesters will be required to obtain a permit from the Board of Trustees to continue their encampment. It is my hope that the board and administration will enforce the universities own ordinances as it continues to balance safety with free speech.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
A North Iowa man was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for possession of child pornography, including videos portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct involving a child.

Thomas Alan Newman, 60 of Swaledale, was sentenced to six years in federal prison April 26 after a guilty plea to possession of child pornography in October.

During the hearing, evidence showed that in May 2021 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from Facebook of a user trafficking child pornography.

Following a warrant, the contents of Newmans Facebook account were given to law enforcement officers who found several chats of a sexual nature in which Newman solicited child pornography from others.

Additionally, Newman and another individual proposed the idea to create a group on Facebook in order to share and trade child pornography.

When interviewed by agents, Newman admitted to the activity as well as sharing and receiving child pornography that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler.

Newman told law enforcement he shared approximately 50 videos of child pornography. Along with the prison sentence, Newman was ordered to pay a total of $30,000 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after prison and register as a sex offender.

Newman is being held in the United States Marshals custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was also investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office.
Stephanie Obertin, Minister for Research and Higher Education, took part in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministerial meeting on science and technology policy, which was held at the OECD headquarters in Paris on 23 and 24 April 2024.

The declaration adopted by the ministers at this meeting, whose theme was "Shared challenges, transformative actions", calls on the main stakeholders to approve a transformative action programme in the fields of science, technology and innovation, in order to combat climate change, promote the responsible development of science and technology based on shared values, and define measures to support international cooperation in these fields.

These transformative actions must be based on the values and principles contained in the Luxembourg Declaration on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy by putting people at the centre of science, technology and innovation.

In her various speeches at the ministerial meeting, Stephanie Obertin highlighted the specific issues at stake for Luxembourg and her outlook on the challenges addressed.

"International cooperation in research and innovation is the key to tackling global challenges. No single country can solve challenges such as climate change or pandemics like COVID-19 on its own", said the Minister at the opening plenary session.

She stressed that "internationalisation and international collaboration are part of the DNA of Luxembourg's national research system". As one of the countries with the highest per capita contribution to development cooperation, Luxembourg's national research and innovation strategy, adopted at the end of 2019, explicitly recognises the importance of interaction between development cooperation policy and research policy.

During her speech to the sub-group on financing research and innovation to meet the climate challenge, the Minister stated that Luxembourg recognised the importance of close collaboration between research and innovation players in the field of green finance for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

In this context, the Minister warned that it was important to ensure that social cohesion was not disrupted by transition policies, so as not to jeopardise taxpayer acceptance and support, and consequently the funding of research and innovation to meet the climate challenge. "The role of the social and human sciences in this area is vital in order to understand society so that we can better explain the ins and outs of these transition policies and provide support, such as the necessary changes to a more 'climate-positive' lifestyle, territorial planning or innovative mobility concepts, and accompany these transitions in a socially compatible way", she declared.

Speaking on the programme to promote transformative science, technology and innovation policies, Stephanie Obertin pointed out that, given its small size, Luxembourg could not do without prioritising scientific fields and subjects. "Consequently, the additional resources that the Luxembourg government will be investing in research over the next few years through the various instruments of the Fonds national de la recherche (National Research Fund) will be used first and foremost to finance the transformation of industry and services, personalised health, sustainable and responsible development, and education for the 21st century."

The Minister concluded by stressing that "the importance of research in contributing to transformation policies is widely recognised across the different ministries and public administrations".

Press release by the Ministry for Research and Higher Education
After a schedule in Detroit and Cleveland on 22 and 23 April, which included visits to Guardian, BorgWarner, Avery Dennison and Goodyear, HRH the Crown Prince and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, made a working visit to New York and Delaware on 24 and 25 April 2024.

The aim of this working visit to the United States was to deepen relations with the main American industrial investors in Luxembourg, given that the United States is our country's largest non-European trading partner.

In New York, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Minister Bettel took part in a conference organised by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) on the development of the space economy. Several panel discussions were organised as part of the conference.

In his speech, Minister Bettel returned to the geopolitical challenges facing the world, stressing the importance of close cooperation and respect for international law, including in the world of space.

"For over 30 years, Luxembourg has been a pioneer in the use of space for commercial and cooperative purposes. One of the fundamental pillars of Luxembourg's strategy for the development of the space sector is to work towards the establishment of a level playing field at international level. Our aim is to advance with other nations by encouraging the development of collaboration between commercial players. We are convinced that all players must play their part in driving forward the 'New Space' economy for the benefit of mankind, while ensuring that sustainability in space is respected," emphasised Minister Bettel.

Interviews with executives from Redwire and AIAC (American Industrial Acquisition Corporation), owner of Eurofoil Luxembourg, were also on the agenda.

The delegation then took part in the 11th Luxembourg-American Business Award ceremony. Organised by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce and the Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office in New York, the Business Award is presented every two years to American companies established in the Grand Duchy for their important role and lasting contribution to the Luxembourg economy. Previous winners include Amazon, Goodyear, Guardian, Avery Dennison Corporation, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Delphi Corp, Airtech Advanced Materials Group, Ampacet Corporation and DuPont.

For this 2024 edition, the prize was awarded to Redwire, whose European site in Luxembourg designs and develops robotic arms for orbital and free-flight missions to support and enable activities such as satellite servicing and refuelling, in-space manufacturing and debris capture.

At the award ceremony, HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke said: "Tonight, we celebrate Redwire for its remarkable achievements in the space industry and its contribution to the commercial relationship between the United States and Luxembourg. We are honouring a future-oriented American company. For the first time, the Luxembourg-American Business Award is being presented to a company whose activities extend beyond our terrestrial borders, a company that is reaching for the stars. This is not a coincidence or a development that has come out of nowhere. Luxembourg has invested heavily in the space industry, fostering an environment in which businesses can thrive. Our history has taught us not to rest on our laurels and to think outside the box, and our political leaders have always been able to anticipate the economic changes that would influence our economy."

The Luxembourg delegation, chaired by HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and led by Minister Bettel, then travelled to Wilmington to meet the management of DuPont, an industrial company that has been operating in the Grand Duchy since 1962.

Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
The next time Speaker Mike Johnson stands in front of a microphone to talk about election integrity, I want you to remember this: Nearly a third of voters in Louisiana are Black, and yet Black voters have control over less than 20% of the states congressional districts. White voters make up less than 60% of the electorate yet have control over more than 80% of the power.

When the Democratic governor vetoed attempts to suppress the Black vote, the Republican state legislature overrode the veto. When a federal judge said another map should be drawn, the Supreme Court delayed action until it had decided a similar question about Alabama.

In that state, Black people are more than a quarter of the population but had control over just one of the states seven districts. For two years, Alabama fought to dilute the Black vote, until the highest court of the land rejected the states final plea for a gerrymandered map.

Johnsons party has been working to suppress Black votes for decades, so what is he talking about when he trumpets election integrity?

His appearance with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month was ostensibly about an election reform bill, meant to address a crisis those two men love to hype: the claim that millions of noncitizens are voting in our elections. The facts show that claim isnt true. What is true is that within months of taking office in 2017, Trump established a commission to investigate his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election, and the GOP-led group didnt find anything.

Its also true that we are approaching the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the same Jim Crow states that opposed Black people voting then are the same states in court today opposing Black representation.

That includes Louisiana, the state Mike Election Integrity Johnson hails from.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Louisiana Congressman James Morrison, a Democrat, voted in favor of the Voting Rights Act. He suddenly became vulnerable in the primary. Morrison went on to accuse his opponent, John R. Rarick, of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan, which the FBI confirmed. Rarick won the seat anyway In 1973 Rarick introduced a bill in the House to repeal the Civil Rights Act. In 1988 David Duke, a Grand Wizard of the KKK, ran for president. In 2022 a map was drawn to suppress the Black vote. In January a new map to include a second Black district was approved. In February there was another lawsuit to try to stop it.

Those Southern states have been consistent in their agenda.So, why is todays GOP so concerned about protecting elections? Why are they fighting so hard to stop democracy? Because they want white control.

Johnson wants you to believe its the desperate migrants and asylum seekers at the southern border who are the greatest threat to democracy.

No, Mr. Speaker: It is and always has been racism. Its baked into our nation.

When you look up the origins of the Electoral College on the National Archives website, it tells you that the Founding Fathers established it in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.

However, what it doesnt say is why a compromise was needed in the first place. If the majority of people have already spoken in the election, why does Congress need a say? The answer is rooted in what William Buckley wrote in his 1957 essay Why the South Must Prevail: It is more important for any community, anywhere in the world, to affirm and live by civilized standards, than to bow to the demands of the numerical majority.

Need I remind you of what was considered civilized standards in the South in 1957?

Thats by design  from the establishment of the electoral college to today. If Johnson cares about protecting democracy, the facts point to where he should start. Other lawmakers are ahead of him.

Maine recently became the 17th state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an effort to have the popular vote  not the Electoral College  determine who wins the White House. There is still a question of whether this attempt to rid the country of the racist electoral college requires congressional approval. But it does demonstrate a hunger for democracy.

I struggle to reconcile the fact that a candidate who has fewer actual votes than their opponent can still become president of the United States, Gov. Janet Mills of Maine said in a statement recently. And yet concessions to appease racism are written throughout the Constitution. The Electoral College is just one

The border crisis has nothing to do with what has always been democracys biggest threat.
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Largest latte house in the Marianas

Found nowhere else in the world, latte first appeared in the Mariana Islands about 800 years ago, during a period known as the Latte Era of CHamoru culture. Each stone is comprised of a vertical pillar (haligi) topped with a hemi-spherical capstone (tasa). Organized in two parallel rows of three to seven stones, the latte stones likely served as foundation posts for wood and thatch houses that were built on top of them. Representing the apex of CHamoru latte architecture, the massive stones of Taga House, located in Tinian, are fifteen feet in overall length.

Born on Guam, moved to Rota then Tinian

According to CHamoru legend, Taga was born to the magalahi or chief of Ritidian Village, Guam. In the legend, Taga was a giant. Dissatisfied with his fathers rule, the boy challenged his father to a fight. When Taga lost the fight, he moved to Rota, where he challenged the leading magalahi to a series of contests. Winning these contests, he married a local CHamoru woman and had a daughter.

At As Nieves, Rota, he began excavating what would have been the largest latte stones in the Marianas  perhaps he was trying to impress his father. For an unknown reason, however, Taga moved from Rota to Tinian without lifting the stones out of the ground. As he had on Rota, the giant Taga gained power on Tinian and had a son. He then oversaw the construction of his home, the House of Taga, on Sanhalom (Sunharon?) Bay on the southwest coast of the island. The house consisted of 12 latte stones, with a wooden house built on top of the stones.

When the son of Taga turned five years old, Taga gave him a giant ayuyu (coconut crab) as a present. Unfortunately, while the boy was walking the crab, it cut the twine leash and ran under a young coconut tree. The boy ran back to Taga House and asked his father to push over the coconut tree so he could get the crab. Taga refused, explaining that the coconuts were just beginning to bear fruit. The boy became furious. He ran back to the tree and shook it furiously, finally pushing over the tree himself. While the boy was pulling the crab from the hole he had just created, he noticed water. It was fresh water. He gave the well to his half-sister for her to bathe in.

When Taga saw his young son perform this great feat of strength, he recognized that the boy might become bigger and stronger than even himself. He remembered fighting his own father. That night, Taga crept into the boys room and smothered him to death.

Tagas daughter saw this. She became so frightened, she ran away to the deep forest and hid. By the time she was returned to her mother, the girl was so weak that she died. Taga buried the girl in a cavity dug in one of the tasa of Taga House. This grieved the mother so much, she too died. This left Taga, the biggest and strongest of all CHamoru magalahi, shamed.

The first historical record of Taga House resulted from the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion. This Manila Galleon was bound for Acapulco with a load of precious spices, porcelain, worked gold and silver jewelry and other commodities. Disabled by a typhoon, Concepcion foundered at Aguigan Point, Saipan, on 20 September 1638. The stern portion of the ship broke off and drifted away. As it passed Chulu Village on the northwestern shore of Tinian, Taga saw survivors on the wreckage and paddled a canoe through rough water to save them. He brought the men to Taga House, where they recuperated.

First CHamoru Christian

While recovering from his strenuous ordeal, Taga was said to have had a vision of a woman holding a baby. The Spaniards interpreted this to be a vision of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. One of the survivors, Marcos Fernandez de Corcuera baptized Taga as Sebastian Hurtado de la Corcuera in honor of his father, the governor-general of the Philippines. Taga, therefore, became the first CHamoru Christian. A small circular stone receptacle near the base of the last standing latte stone marks where the first Spanish cross was erected in the Marianas.

Taga sent the Spaniards to Guam with some of his men, with a message to Kepuha, magalahi of Hagatna, to help them return to the Philippines. The Spaniards arrived safely back in Manila, where they reported the loss of Concepcion and their experience with Taga, including his request to send more missionaries to the Marianas.

According to the Spanish records, in 1695 the Spanish conquistador Don Jose Quiroga left Guam to subdue the island of Tinian  the last bastion of the CHamoru resistance. According to legend, Taga took all the CHamorus to the small island of Aguiguan. They piled rocks along the top of the plateau to throw down on the Spaniards. Unfortunately for the Tinian CHamorus, a group of converted upper class Guam chamorri, lead by Antonio Inoc, sided with the Spaniards. Despite having boulders thrown down on them, Inocs men scaled the cliffs.

Shortly thereafter, Spanish guns overpowered CHamoru spears and slingstones. All the Tinian and Aguiguan CHamorus were killed or captured except Taga. Some jumped to their death, rather than be subdued. The surviving Tinian and Aguiguan CHamorus were taken to Guam for resettlement  except Taga, who hid in one of Aguiguans many caves.

The first recorded illustration of Taga House occurred in 1742 when British Commodore George Anson sought refuge for his ship, the 64-gun frigate Centurion, on Tinian. Having been at sea for two years searching for a galleon to capture, Centurion needed repairs and his men, many near death, needed to recuperate. During the two months Anson spent at Tinian, one of his crewmen, Piercy Bret, drew several sketches of Taga House. All twelve stones remained standing at that time. Anson said the House of Taga:

consisted of two rows of square, pyramidal pillars, each pillar being about six feet from the next, and the distance between the rows being about twelve feet; the pillars themselves are about five feet square at the base, and about thirteen feet high; and on top of each of them there is a semi-globe, with the flat part upwards

The French explorer Louis Claude de Freycinet visited the Marianas in 1819 during his voyage around the world. His draftsman Jacques Arago visited Tinian and did several drawings of Taga House. Freycinet reported that seven stones remained standing.

Governor of the Marianas Luis de Ibanez y Garcia visited Tinian on 19 August 1872. Interested in the legend of Taga, he had a ladder brought and climbed on the top of the pillar and found a cavity full of earth. After it had been cleaned out Ibanez y Garcia found a piece of human lower jaw and two small bones, evidently finger phalanges [possibly those of Tagas daughter?]. That tasa has fallen down and the cavity is now easily seen.

The first photograph of Taga House was taken in 1888 when the French botanist Alfred Antoine Marche visited Tinian. At that time, only seven stones remained standing. Georg Fritz, who became the first German District Officer of the Marinas in 1900 reported five stones standing.

By the time the Japanese archaeologists Ichiro Yawata and Kotondo Hasabe visited Tinian in 1924, only two of Tagas stones remained standing. There were 17 smaller latte houses east and west of the House of Taga. Because Taga had chosen the best place on the natural harbor for his village, it was destined to become a modern village. All the small lattes were bulldozed by the Japanese as Tinians town grew. Only the House of Taga was preserved. During the American capture of the island in 1944, the intense pre-invasion bombardment knocked down one shaft and its cap. The surviving tasa was damaged. By 1950, the House of Taga was once again overgrown by the jungle. Today, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Marianas.

According to the legend, as long as one stone stands at Taga House, Taga lives.
United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area said it has raised nearly $610,000 toward its $5 million goal to buy the Helena Inn to be used for permanent supportive housing, adding that $500,000 of the tally raised came recently from one donor.

Jeff Buscher, the United Ways community impact coordinator, said Wednesday during a news conference the donation came from a Montana family who wished to remain anonymous. He said he was approached by someone after speaking to a faith community.

Lo and behold, a very generous donation occurred (two weeks ago), he said.

The money arrived after United Way earlier this month asked the community to help them raise about $50,000 in a week.

Buscher said a steady stream of people flowed in during the week, leaving donations and raising more than $70,000.

He said the people said, We want to help you secure this property.

Its been a remarkable journey thus far, he said.

The United Way aims to raise $5 million overall to buy the Helena Inn at 2300 N. Oakes St., to provide a place for people with housing vouchers. United Way launched a Housing First Capital Campaign in March.

Buscher said the extra cushion of money does a couple things for United Way.

It gives us some momentum, he said. And it gives us the ability to offer matching funds  It gives us some credibility with grantees.

Its a tremendous feeling, Its like a jumpstart.

United Way Executive Director Emily McVey said the closing date to purchase the property is the end of June, but that likely will be extended.

She said United Way will possibly be getting a loan of some kind to purchase the property and then apply for bigger federal loans as it goes through the process to pay down the mortgage.

She said the timelines for the federal grants do not meet the timelines for the purchase of the Helena Inn.

Buscher said the United Way would like to have the Helena Inn open by late fall as the weather begins to turn cold.

He said the facility is permanent supportive housing, designed primarily for people with vouchers.

This is not a shelter. This will be studio apartments for folks who are vetted, qualified, mostly local folks, he said.

He said there are a lot of voucher holders out there now who have a federal voucher for $850 a month for housing, adding it would be difficult to find an apartment at that price in Helena.

We feel it is critical that we meet that gap of services and provide housing for up to 48 folks, Buscher said. That is what makes us work the number of hours we are working to make this happen.

Buscher said the nonprofit realizes not everybody can make a sizeable donation.

We absolutely understand that, he said. We also know Helena is a community that cares about its neighbors and frankly that is what we are here for, to help spread that word. People ask 'How can we help, right now?' Donations are a big help.

The next big push will be Greater Helena Gives on May 1-2. Greater Helena Gives, organized by the Helena Area Community Foundation, is the largest online fundraising event in the greater Helena area. There are 113 local nonprofits signed up for this years giving day through the Greater Helena Gives website, a new record for the greater Helena area.

In 2023, Greater Helena Gives raised over $275,000 for 110 nonprofits. For more information, go to https://www.greaterhelenagives.org/info/events.

Buscher said that sometimes people wonder if public awareness, such as United Way reaching out to the community to help raise $50,000 earlier this month, is making a difference.

Frankly, I think it absolutely has made a difference, he said.
Wild horses will stay in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park amid fears from advocates that park officials would remove the beloved animals from the rugged Badlands landscape, a key lawmaker said Thursday.

Republican U.S. Sen. John Hoeven said he has secured a commitment from the National Park Service to maintain the park's roughly 200 horses. His office said the Park Service will abandon its proposed removal of the horses under an environmental review process begun in 2022.

This will allow for a healthy herd of wild horses to be maintained at the park, managed in a way to support genetic diversity among the herd and preserve the parks natural resources, Hoevens office said in a statement.

Park visitors, much to their delight, often encounter the horses while driving or hiking in the rolling, colorful Badlands where a young, future President Theodore Roosevelt hunted and ranched in the 1880s.

The horses roam the parks South Unit near the Western tourist town of Medora. In 2022, park officials began the process of crafting a livestock plan for the horses as well as about nine longhorn cattle in the parks North Unit near Watford City. Park officials have said that process aligned with policies to remove non-native species when they pose a potential risk to resources.

The horse herd in the South Unit, particularly at higher herd sizes, has the potential to damage fences used for wildlife management, trample or overgraze vegetation used by native wildlife species, contribute to erosion and soil-related impacts ... and compete for food and water resources, according to a Park Service environmental assessment from September 2023.

Proposals included removing the horses quickly or gradually or taking no action. Park Superintendent Angie Richman has said the horses, even if they ultimately stay, would still have to be reduced to 35-60 animals under a 1978 environmental assessment. It wasnt immediately clear how Hoevens announcement affects the future number of horses or the longhorns.

Thousands of people made public comments during the Park Service review, the vast majority of them in support of keeping the horses. North Dakotas Republican-controlled Legislature made its support official in a resolution last year. Gov. Doug Burgum offered state help to maintain the horses.

Hoeven's announcement comes after Congress passed and President Joe Biden recently signed an appropriations bill with a provision from Hoeven strongly recommending the Park Service maintain the horses. The legislation signaled that funding to remove the horses might be denied.

The horses descend from those of Native American tribes and area ranches and from domestic stallions introduced to the park in the late 20th century, according to Castle McLaughlin, who researched the horses as a graduate student while working for the Park Service in North Dakota in the 1980s.
Security researchers at Cisco's Talos unit have discovered a campaign they have named ArcaneDoor, which they say is "the latest example of state-sponsored actors targeting perimeter network devices from multiple vendors".

Under attack are two zero-day flaws in Cisco's firewalls in what has been a five-month campaign, the researchers say, adding that the attacks against Ciscos Adaptive Security Appliances are the latest aimed at devices which provide a moat that is supposedly secure.

"Coveted by these actors, perimeter network devices are the perfect intrusion point for espionage-focused campaigns," the researchers wrote. "As a critical path for data into and out of the network, these devices need to be routinely and promptly patched; using up-to-date hardware and software versions and configurations; and be closely monitored from a security perspective.

"Gaining a foothold on these devices allows an actor to directly pivot into an organisation, re-route or modify traffic and monitor network communications. In the past two years, we have seen a dramatic and sustained increase in targeting of these devices in areas such as telecommunications providers and energy sector organisations  critical infrastructure entities that are likely strategic targets of interest for many foreign governments."

They said Ciscos position as a leading global network infrastructure vendor gave its Intelligence and Interdiction team visibility into the general state of network hygiene.

"This also gives us uniquely positioned investigative capability into attacks of this nature," they added. "Early in 2024, a vigilant customer reached out to both Ciscos Product Security Incident Response Team and Cisco Talos to discuss security concerns with their Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances.

"PSIRT and Talos came together to launch an investigation to assist the customer. During that investigation, which eventually included several external intelligence partners and spanned several months, we identified a previously unknown actor, now tracked as UAT4356 by Talos and STORM-1849 by the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Centre.

"This actor utilised bespoke tooling that demonstrated a clear focus on espionage and an in-depth knowledge of the devices that they targeted, hallmarks of a sophisticated state-sponsored actor."

But the danger was not limited to Cisco devices. "...network telemetry and information from intelligence partners indicate the actor is interested in  and potentially attacking  Microsoft Exchange servers and network devices from other vendors," the Talos team wrote.

"Regardless of your network equipment provider, now is the time to ensure that the devices are properly patched, logging to a central, secure location, and are configured to have strong, multi-factor authentication."

The Talos post went into intricate detail about the attacks, providing IOCs and adding that the threat demonstrated several techniques of the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

The post said Cisco was initially alerted to suspicious activity on an ASA device in early 2024. "The investigation that followed identified additional victims, all of which involved government networks globally," they added.

"During the investigation, we identified actor-controlled infrastructure dating back to early November 2023, with most activity taking place between December 2023 and early January 2024. Further, we have identified evidence that suggests this capability was being tested and developed as early as July 2023."

They said Cisco had identified two vulnerabilities that were abused in this campaign (CVE-2024-20353 and CVE-2024-20359), adding that patches for these vulnerabilities had been detailed in Cisco Security Advisories.

The Talos team said they had not determined the initial access vector used in the campaign.

"We have not identified evidence of pre-authentication exploitation to date. Our investigation is ongoing, and we will provide updates, if necessary, in the security advisories or on this blog," they added.

The Talos team acknowledged assistance from the Australian Signals Directorates Australian Cyber Security Centre, Black Lotus Labs at Lumen Technologies, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a part of the Communications Security Establishment, Microsoft Threat Intelligence Centre, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre and the US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
The United States is attempting to further tighten the screws on China by asking some of its allies to reduce exports of chip-related technology and tools to the country.

The Financial Times reported that this move came "amid rising concerns" over the development of advanced semiconductors by telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies.

The report said South Korea, Japan and the Netherlands had been asked to tighten existing export controls.

The stepped up measures were to include preventing engineers servicing chipmaking tools at advanced semiconductor fabs in China, the FT said citing what it said were five people familiar with the matter.

Washington has been on Huawei's case since 2012, when a 66-page Congressional report claimed that the company was not doing business the American way.

More recently, the US launched a campaign to prevent Huawei, which produces the cheapest and, some say, the best 5G equipment, from doing business with numerous countries, including Australia.

The American scare campaign was successful to a large extent, with the UK, New Zealand, and many European countries toeing the US line.

This has delayed the spread of 5G in many countries as equipment from two other Western competitors, Ericsson and Nokia, is much more expensive.

The only other company that provides end-to-end 5G solutions, ZTE Communications, is also on Washington's blacklist.

Despite all these moves, and also efforts to prevent Huawei from gaining access to the latest semiconductors, the company has progressed to the point where it announced in July last year that it would be making a bid to return to the 5G smartphone business.

A Reuters report at the time cited three third-party technology research companies, who report on China's smartphone sector, as saying Huawei should be in a position to obtain 5G chips in China, using its own advances in semiconductor design tools, helped by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Company, China's largest chip manufacturer, which would make the chips.

Huawei's consumer business brought in US$67 billion (A$101.22 billion) in 2020, before it fell by more than half that amount a year later. It sold off its budget smartphone business Honor to a network of agents and dealers in November 2020.

In October 2022, the US Department of Commerce announced updates to export rules governing semiconductors which were squarely aimed at preventing China from obtaining high-end chips used in military applications.

In a statement at the time, the department's Bureau of Industry and Strategy said the updates were "part of BIS ongoing efforts to protect US national security and foreign policy interests".

The updates affected two key areas and were claimed to "restrict the PRCs [People Republic of China's] ability to obtain advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and manufacture advanced semiconductors".

"These items and capabilities are used by the PRC to produce advanced military systems including weapons of mass destruction; improve the speed and accuracy of its military decision making, planning, and logistics, as well as of its autonomous military systems; and commit human rights abuses," the department said.

"Finally, these rules make clear that foreign government actions that prevent BIS from making compliance determinations will impact a companys access to US technology through addition to the Entity List."

A year later, there were further measures adopted. The new rules made it much more difficult for American firms Nvidia and Intel to either sell their existing products in China or introduce new products that bypassed the rules.

US semiconductor lobby group, the Semiconductor Industry Association, made its unhappiness with the new rules plain by saying: "Overly broad, unilateral controls risk harming the US semiconductor ecosystem without advancing national security as they encourage overseas customers to look elsewhere.

"Accordingly, we urge the administration to strengthen coordination with allies to ensure a level playing field for all companies.

The SIA is yet to react to the latest announcements.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio [Florida] and US Representative Elise Stefanik [New York] said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that Huawei had recently announced a computer powered by Intels new Core Ultra 9 processor.

They said this suggested the Biden Administration was allowing Intel "and potentially other US companies to trade with Huawei, in effect giving this sanctioned Chinese company a lease on life. The Biden Administration previously granted export licences to Intel and Qualcomm in similar cases".

The letter said: "As you know, in 2019, Huawei was placed on the Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Securitys Entity List because of its efforts to undermine Americas national security.

"Huawei is closely linked to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] and its armed wing, the Peoples Liberation Army. The company also has a troubling and well-documented history of spying on our nations most sensitive military installations, as well as third-party countries.

"Huawei is currently subject to a 'presumption of denial' licensing policy, but recent reporting makes clear that US technology, including cutting-edge Intel processors, continues to flow to Huawei.

"While the Biden Administration 'assesses', Huawei grows stronger, entrenches deeper in the global economy, and advances PLA military capabilities. According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of Huawei smartphones in China rose 64% year-on-year.

"The company gained domestic market share for both PCs and smartphones. It is clear from these trends that Huawei, a blacklisted company that was on the ropes just a few years ago, is making a comeback. It is doing so because the Biden Administration, led by your department, is failing to protect American ingenuity.

"Last year, you asked for additional resources for BIS [Bureau of Industry and Security] to fully enforce export controls. BIS will not deserve those resources if it cannot do its job by keeping US technology from our adversaries.

"We urge you to immediately revoke the export licences that are allowing American technology to aid our adversaries in order to deprive Huawei of valuable U.S. technology and slow the CCPs advance to the technological frontier."

Given the time difference between the US and China, Beijing is yet to make any official comment on the latest US move. Any statement it issues, will be added to this report.
It is a mite strange to note that Tim Biggs, a writer covering consumer technology, gadgets and video games for The Age, did not deem the issues caused by the battery in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 and 2017 worthy of mention in his article titled Lithium-ion battery fires: How to stay safe .

But it appears that Biggs has a good reason for that: a major conflict of interest.

Yes, he reports regularly on Samsung devices  and it does not take a great deal of intelligence to figure out that were he to write about Samsung in an article about lithium-ion battery fires, then that august company would not exactly be forthcoming when it came to doling out devices to Biggs for review or any other like task.

It is always good to consider how these conflicts of interest will play out  especially when there are nosy people around to raise them in public.

I was able toby. During 2016 and 2017, when the Note 7 was literally setting the world on fire, one of the iTWire staff, Ray Shaw, attempted to doto what Biggs has done: protect the vendor by plugging the "official version" of events. But his bid failed.

I covered the Note 7 issue exhaustively. Given that, Samsung will not even respond to emails I send them. But honestly, I couldn't give a stuff; a journalist's responsibility is to the public, not to some South Korean vendor who is hawking fireworks and styling them as phones.

But The Age has become something of a tabloid rag and these kinds of conflicts are hidden nowadays. It wouldn't have happened some years ago. I worked for The Age from 1999 to 2016 and never saw too many incidents of this kind.

A word of advice from a much older cynical journo to young Biggs: beware, your conflicts of interest will find you out. And then you begin to look really silly and lose all credibility. Better to avoid embarking on articles which show you up.

Update: one more reason why Biggs should not be writing about lithium-ion battery fires.
100 years ago,

April 26, 1924

MATTOON  An important business deal affecting retail establishments in Mattoon and Centralia has been consummated, whereby W.B. Herron of Centralia purchased the stock in the corporation of Herron Brothers Company, owned by his brother, Will R. Herron. Herron Brothers came to Mattoon 20 years ago from Evansville, Ind. and have operated a high class jewelry establishment in Mattoon since that time. A few years ago they purchased the building at 1615 Broadway in the Hotel Byers Block...NEWTON  Thursday morning, at Sparta, while enroute on an Illinois Central railway train to Chester, Frank Brownfleld, a West Liberty Bank bandit, in the custody of Sheriff Ky Jones and Constable William Deadrick, made a getaway, but was later recaptured. When about nine miles from the Chester prison, Jasper Latson, Brownfleld's associate in the hold-up crime, also a prisoner on the way to the penitentiary in charge of the same officers, but temporarily turned over to a Menard prison guard, escaped and has not been arrested.

50 years ago, 1974

CHARLESTON  Circuit Judge Thomas Burke said here Thursday night that the laws of the state will be enforced in his court. He said if Coles residents don't like the present court system, they should direct their complaints at the state legislature. Burke addressed his remarks to people attending a public meeting in the Coles Courthouse. The meeting was the second held in response to citizen complaints that chronic criminal offenders are released on their own recognizance. A number of citizens have also complained that Coles judges are too lenient. Burke said he was bound by the state's laws and that he would follow them...CHARLESTON  The City of Charleston could be spending up to $16 million to separate its storm and sanitary sewer systems in the near future. City engineer Ed Buxon made that prediction in the face of new EPA requirements that call for all U.S. cities to have the ability to treat all sewer flow by 1978. The is now meeting with consulting engineering firms in an effort to bring its present sewer system up to the EPA standards.

25 years ago, 1999

MATTOON When all the tears have been shed and the competitors had given their best efforts, 20-year-old Deanna M. Riddle was crowned Miss Cross County 1999 Saturday night. The Fourth-Annual Miss Cross County Scholarship Pageant, held at the Cross County Mall, attracted eight women competing for the title. Top honors at this pageant also meant an entry into the Miss Illinois pageant. "I've been to the state pageant three times," said Riddle. "I was a semi-finalist all three years, and my goal is to make top five." The ages of the contenders ranged from 17-year-old Brittany Ann High to two participants who were 23 years old. Pageant Executive Director Mickey Gaines said originally there had been 10 entrants but two of the girls were competing in or had won other pageants. There were no local participants in the pageant. The first runner up was Maggie Johnson, 23, a graduate of Millikin University. The second runner up was Jill Marie Schroeder, 19, a junior at EIU. Schroeder was the only EIU student who competed Saturday night...SULLIVAN  The well-dressed couple smiled approvingly at each other before moving gracefully onto the dance floor Saturday afternoon at Sullivan High School. They seemed well-versed on the song the band played, and moved in time to the steady tempo the horn section provided. This glee was not part of the high school prom. Most of the dancers' hair colors tended more toward varying shades of gray. Time did not diminish their impulses to celebrate as they took part in the second annual Senior Citizens Dance. Approximately 120 people, "the same as last year," showed up for the dance Saturday, according to Matt Kracht, Sullivan High School teacher. He said the nice weather Saturday night might have been a reason more people didn't show up to dance inside the high school gym. The live big-band music was supplied by the Bob Remack Band, which performed jazz and other related music.
This May, Tobacco Free Lancaster County is teaming up with the Mental Health Association of Nebraska and the Lancaster County Prevention Coalition. Once again #GreenLightProjectNE continues to light the community in green. This is to help more people know about mental health.

Many people don't realize that tobacco use and mental health issues are linked. Studies have shown that people who have mental health challenges use tobacco more than others. And using tobacco can make mental health worse by increasing stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The tobacco industry wants people to believe that tobacco makes you feel better or more relaxed, but research shows that tobacco use is only relieving nicotine withdrawal symptoms. So, quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your mental health.

The #GreenLightProjectNE campaign wants to get the word out. People can take steps to improve their mental health, like quitting tobacco, exercising more or eating healthier. It is just as important to take care of your mental health and your physical health. Talking openly about mental health is important. Resources are available in our community for those who are struggling. So, everyone is invited to join the #GreenLightProjectNE campaign and spread awareness. You can participate by putting green lights on your home or business, displaying a yard sign or posting on social media using the #GreenLightProjectNE.

If you participated last year, get your green lights and yard signs ready again for May! If this is your first time, you can pick up green light bulbs and yard signs starting April 15. Signs are available in English and Spanish at each partner location, but only while supplies last.

Where to get materials:

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department: 3131 O Street, Lincoln

Region V Systems/Mental Health Association of Nebraska: 1645 N Street, Lincoln

By lighting your home or business green, or putting out a yard sign, you're showing the community there is help and support for those in need. You can also spread the word on social media with pictures of your green lights using the hashtag #GreenLightProjectNE.

Lets make May a bright month for mental health awareness. Together, participants can make a big difference in the community.

Find community resources here: mha-ne.org/how-to-help/greenlightprojectne.html.

Questions? Reach out to Sadie Jensen at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department: sjjensen@lincoln.ne.gov.

Funding for this project was provided by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services/Tobacco Free Nebraska Program as a result of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.
The Daily Minute is the Journal Star's morning news briefing where you can get the latest news in about a minute each weekday. Previous Daily Minute videos are archived here.

Good morning, Lincoln. Here's what you should know today.

Lincoln High stabbing

A student was stabbed Thursday at Lincoln High School, according to the Lincoln Police Department.

Police say two male students, 14 and 15 years old, were fighting when the 14-year-old pulled out a knife and stabbed the 15-year-old in the arms and chest. The 14-year-old also sustained a cut to the hand.

The injuries to both students were considered minor and they were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Police said at a news conference Thursday that the 14-year-old student would likely be referred to juvenile court on suspicion of second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman said both students involved will face consequences with the school in addition to any legal punishment.

NU's next president's contract

The University of Nebraska's next president could continue to rank among the best-paid public university leaders in the country.

Dr. Jeff Gold could earn more than $1.3 million in total compensation after he moves into the president's office at Varner Hall beginning July 1, according to a contract set to go before the NU Board of Regents today.

The board is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in Varner Hall to finalize Gold's hiring following a 30-day vetting period required by state law.

Gold, 71, who has been chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center since 2014, was announced as the priority candidate on March 20 following a nationwide search.

$600K to boost child care, workforce

And, the city is shifting $600,000 of unspent federal stimulus money to further support child care, a commercial drivers license program and a nonprofit that helps refugee and immigrant women put their talents and skills to work.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said Thursday at a news conference that more than 800 people have been served through the workforce development programs so far.

The money is part of the $46 million the city got as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and a portion of the $13.5 million of those funds directed toward workforce development. Redirecting the unused money ensures all the federal money will be spent by the end of 2024, which is the deadline set by the federal government.

Thats it for Friday, April 26. Stay in the know with Lincolns longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and well see you back here on Monday.

Top Journal Star photos for April 2024
A Lancaster County grand jury has indicted a former Seward County Sheriff's Office deputy for a shooting that left one man dead in October on Interstate 80, according to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office.

Anthony Gann was lodged Thursday in the Lancaster County jail on suspicion of manslaughter.

Seward County Sheriff Michael Vance said Gann resigned from his position with the Sheriff's Office because of the indictment.

Gann turned himself in to authorities Thursday after the indictment was formalized. His bond was set at $100,000, meaning he would have to pay $10,000 to be released.

He is expected to make his first court appearance Monday.

The Nebraska State Patrol has not provided the Seward County Sheriff's Office with its investigation of the incident that occurred in October, Vance said.

An internal investigation by the Sheriff's Office did not find that Gann committed any violations or broke procedure during the shooting incident, Vance added.

The incident happened on Oct. 23 on I-80, beginning at about 3:10 p.m., when the deputy tried to stop a driver, later identified as 43-year-old Jorge Santana-Ramirez, in Seward County.

Santana-Ramirez turned around and drove the wrong way, going east in the westbound lanes, then crossing into the eastbound lanes before eventually stopping on the western edge of Lancaster County, according to a news release the Sheriff's Office issued the week of the shooting.

Gann had tried to stop the same vehicle the week prior in Seward County after seeing illegal substances in plain view, Vance said, but discontinued a pursuit in that instance.

When the deputy recognized the same car in Seward County the following week, he again attempted another traffic stop, pursuing the vehicle into Lancaster County, where the fatal shooting took place.

There were two deputies on scene once the car stopped after the chase. When they approached the driver, authorities said they noticed a weapon in the suspect's hand, which is what led to the shooting.

Officials did not say what the weapon was, and no further details about the shooting were provided in the days after the incident.

Deputies and Nebraska State Patrol troopers at the scene attempted life-saving measures, but Santana-Ramirez died at the scene.

As is the case whenever a person dies while in custody or while being apprehended by law enforcement in Nebraska, a grand jury was convened to determine if any laws were violated during the incident.

If 12 or more members of the 16-person grand jury determine that there is probable cause to believe a criminal offence has occurred, it results in a true bill being returned and the grand jury determines the violation to be included in the indictment.

The grand jury returned a true bill in the death of Santana-Ramirez on Thursday.

Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said in an email to the Journal Star that the grand jury documents will remain sealed until Monday.

Review of police shootings in Lincoln since 2013 1. Douglas DaMoude, May 30, 2014 2. Tyson Hubbard, March 5, 2015 3. Tareik Artis, Sept. 22, 2015 4. Zachary Grigsby, Nov. 29, 2015 5. Germichael Kennedy, June 26, 2016 6. Thomas Sailors, Jan. 5, 2018 7. Christopher Brennauer, Dec. 29, 2018 8. Joseph Francis Cimino, Oct. 8, 2019 9. Hailey Stainbrook and Christian Alexander, Feb. 20, 2021 10. German Pedraza, Nov. 24, 2021 11. Chace Abney, May 1, 2023 12. Stephen Kafka, Oct. 17,2023 13. Garrett Hanika Nov. 21, 2023 14. Braulio Blazio Dec. 17, 2023 15. Michael Glaser, April 2, 2024
A week ago, Loree Woods thought her family's yearslong fight to rebalance the scales of Nebraska's civil justice system had been won.

As she and her daughter, Taylor, watched from the Capitol's Rotunda in Lincoln, lawmakers voted to give final-round approval to legislation that would allow survivors of sexual abuse to seek compensatory damages in state court against institutions that had failed to keep them safe, even when such institutions are funded by taxpayers.

Championed by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, LB25 would rewrite Nebraska's law that bars state judges from awarding such damages in civil court cases against state or political subdivisions, including school districts, cities, villages, public power districts and more.

Lawmakers sent the bill to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk on a 28-17 vote as Loree and Taylor watched from behind the glass doors that separate lawmakers from the general public gathered in the Capitol, where the Woodses have grown accustomed to advocating for such civil court reform over the past five years.

"She was so excited," Loree said of Taylor, her 27-year-old daughter who is intellectually disabled.

"She was giddy," Loree said.

"She really thought we were done and we really thought we were done  and we're not."

Instead, Pillen, the state's first-term Republican governor who has made child advocacy one of his most frequent talking points through nearly 16 months in office, vetoed the bill Wednesday, calling it "overbroad" in a letter to lawmakers and warning that LB25 would "substantially erode sovereign immunity protections that have protected public funds."

Since the legislative session ended last week, the Legislature won't have a chance to override the governor's veto, ensuring LB25 won't be made law this year.

Wayne, the lawmaker who had pushed the bill through the Legislature, called Pillen's veto "a travesty of justice" that ensures the state's governments are afforded more protections than child victims of sexual assault.

"If the governor is afraid that the liability for holding government accountable would cost too much, then it begs the question: How many children are being sexually assaulted at the hands of government negligence?" Wayne wrote, accusing Pillen of choosing "the shadow of bureaucracy over justice for children."

For the Woods family, Loree said Thursday, "last night was a gut punch."

"It's so incredibly disappointing," she told reporters at an impromptu news conference at the Capitol.

As Pillen vetoed the bill that 17 state lawmakers  all registered Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature  had voted against, the governor said LB25 would not protect the state's children and instead would "substantially increase the cost Nebraska taxpayers must bear for claims of abuse by government employees and even non-employees."

In lieu of the legislation, Pillen called on the state to "hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from abuse by enforcing the criminal laws that exist and by targeting the wrongdoer."

For Taylor, and others like her, no such remedies exist.

In 2016, Taylor was a 19-year-old participant in Lincoln Public Schools' Vocational Opportunity In Community Experience Program, one meant to prepare students with disabilities to gain the life skills they need to transition into adult living.

On Oct. 10, 2016, Taylor was left unsupervised for close to an hour inside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Abel Hall, where another unsupervised program participant sexually assaulted her on the 13th floor, her family alleged in a civil lawsuit against LPS in 2018.

In the lawsuit, the family's attorney, Eric Brown, cast Taylor's sexual assault as the result of negligence on the district's behalf, accusing LPS of failing to supervise Taylor and her alleged attacker, failing to properly train staff and failing to follow established policies dictating the program, among other alleged shortcomings outlined in the complaint.

Woods said the two sides were in mediation in September 2020, when the Nebraska Supreme Court ruling in a case known as Moser v. State found that Nebraska and its political subdivisions had immunity from lawsuits under the intentional tort exception of the state's Subdivision Tort Claims Act.

A month later, attorneys for LPS filed a motion for a summary judgment in the school district's favor, pointing to the sovereign immunity granted to political subdivisions in state law, according to court filings.

In December 2020, Brown filed his own motion to dismiss the case with prejudice on the Woods family's behalf. Loree said she understood that the district's attorneys intended to take the case to trial and call her daughter as a witness, an experience she couldn't fathom putting Taylor through.

In April 2021, District Court Judge Teresa Luther granted the family's motion, dismissing the case with prejudice  a designation that bars the Woods family from filing the same claim again in state court.

A police investigation into the alleged assault did not result in criminal charges.

And the VOICE program participant accused of sexually assaulting Taylor was allowed to participate in the same graduation ceremony she was, her mother said.

"We spend hours, if she has a flashback, crying, sobbing," Loree said Thursday. "'Why did he hurt me? I thought he was my friend.'

"I can't console her, a lot of times. And as a parent, being helpless  and then being helpless in the legal system  it's just another kick in the hind end because there's nowhere you have to turn. There's nothing we can do to make this better for her."

Loree, too, offered sharp criticism of her governor, who repeatedly noted the burden LB25 might have placed on Nebraska's taxpayers in his veto letter to lawmakers.

"If you're valuing taxes over a person's life and their livelihood and who they are  it just hurts my heart," she said.

Pillen has faced fierce criticism in the hours since he vetoed the bill from across the political spectrum, including from state lawmakers.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, among the governor's most frequent and vocal critics, said Pillen had "failed child sex assault survivors" through his veto that amounted to "shielding big government wrongdoers."

"Legacy of a coward," she wrote on social media.

Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, a conservative, said Wednesday the state's children "deserved so much more than todays veto" and declared that public schools "shouldnt have special immunity from liability when a child is sexually abused in their care."

Still, other conservatives in the Legislature  including Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former prosecutor  had argued that the accountability mechanisms in place for schools were sufficient, a rationale Pillen deployed in his veto letter Wednesday.

Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, a civil rights attorney who met with Loree in Conrad's Capitol office Thursday in the wake of Pillen's veto, criticized the governor with the same fervor of some of her colleagues over the move  and denounced the Nebraska Supreme Court for affording the government such broad immunity.

She called the 2020 ruling "terrible" and said, plainly, "the court got it wrong."

"A decision of the Nebraska Supreme Court has closed the courthouse doors to families like Loree's," Conrad said. "The governor's veto pen has provided another roadblock to access to justice for families like Loree's.

"They're doing everything right. Working hard, raising their family and petitioning their government for change. They came to the people's branch  to the Legislature  and got that change and got that justice."

Then, on Wednesday, came the news the Loree's family had hoped wouldn't come: Pillen had vetoed the bill that they had fought for. There would be no override vote, no reversal, no remedy for the Woods family in their latest fight against their government.

Top Journal Star photos for April 2024
We Are The Real 'Gun Safety Advocates'!

When I testified against a couple of extremist 'gun control' bills before a state House committee in Olympia, Wash. in January, I deliberately wore my winter blue nylon vest with the great big patch identifying me as an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.

The purpose should have been obvious. In a room full of self-proclaimed "gun safety advocates," I was the only person who could actually prove it. The rest were, and I'll be polite here, stretching the truth and using camo-speak to mask their true activism as gun prohibitionists.

Corrupt Business

About the time of this hearing, writing for Business Insider, veteran journalist Laura Italiano complained in an "analysis" piece about the organization's outreach efforts to youngsters. Her assertion: "No American is too young to join in their absolutist defense of the Second Amendment." The article was posted at the end of the second week of testimony in New York State's "corruption trial" in a Manhattan courtroom that targeted "lavish spending" by then-Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and other NRA officials.

Italiano apparently wanted to smear the entire organization because of the then-alleged financial misdeeds of some of its leaders. .....
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

Vote

View Results
Gundersen Health System is investigating a possible expansion into the Chippewa Valley, representatives of the health system said Thursday.

Details are limited, but its clear the group could enter the region.

In the aftermath of the closures of two hospitals and multiple clinics in the Chippewa Valley, western Wisconsins health services have been strained. In Chippewa Falls, the loss of HSHS St. Josephs on March 22 has put the city and county on edge.

Multiple providers have expanded services in the region in an effort to fill a health care void left by HSHS St. Josephs and HSHS Sacred Heart hospitals.

A representative from Gundersen Health System said Thursday the La Crosse-based group is investigating ways to expand into the Chippewa Valley.

As weve shared since January, our team is thoughtfully and thoroughly investigating opportunities in the Chippewa Valley, Christopher Stauffer said in an email to The Chippewa Herald.

Stauffer is a media relations senior consultant for Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System.

He said the work the system is doing in the region includes meeting with local officials to listen and understand needs and perspectives. This will help us make the best decisions.

Gundersen Health operates seven hospitals and 65 clinics.

The health system operates medical campuses in La Crosse and Winona, Minnesota, and hospitals in Richland, Whitehall, Hillsboro, Friendship and Boscobel. It also has clinics in Boscobel, Onalaska, Tomahawk, Deborah, Viroqua, Sparta, Independence and Black River Falls, among other locations across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Gundersen was started in 1891 by Norwegian-born surgeon Dr. Adolf Gundersen, who opened his practice in La Crosse and served as Lutheran Hospitals first medical director when it opened in 1902.

In 1995, the clinic and hospital formed Gundersen Lutheran Inc. and became Gundersen Health System in 2013.

On Dec. 1, 2022, Gundersen Health System and Bellin Health merged to increase access to resources, providers and services in their combined four-state coverage areas. La Crosse-based Gundersen and Green Bay-based Bellin together serve Wisconsin, upper Michigan, southeastern Minnesota and northeast Iowa.

Chippewa Valley health care expansions

While Gundersens future in the Chippewa Valley is uncertain, other providers are already expanding in the area.

Marshfield Clinic Health System announced at the beginning of March it will open urgent care services at Marshfield Clinic Lake Hallie Center to help address the expected influx of patients seeking emergent and urgent care services in the Chippewa Valley.

OakLeaf Clinics has hired physicians and other health providers to staff four new clinics in Cornell, Ladysmith, Menomonie and Rice Lake. The clinics will open by May 13, according to an OakLeaf release.

OakLeaf Medical Network clinics, physicians and health care personnel have added services, expanded capacity and increased appointment availability to accommodate the increased healthcare needs created by two HSHS closures.

Mayo Clinic Health System announced in February it was working on several initiatives to address concerns about care, including increasing capacity at all four of its critical access hospitals in Barron, Bloomer, Menomonie and Osseo.

It is also boosting the capacity of its family birthing center, identifying ways to expand emergency department and urgent care capacities across all sites, promoting virtual care options and expanding the capacity of the Advanced Care at Home program, which allows some patients who would otherwise need to be hospitalized to receive virtual and in-person care at home.

Mayo Clinic Health System also opened a new spine center in December at the Mayo Clinic Health System hospital at 1221 Whipple St. in Eau Claire.

In March, seven prominent Chippewa Valley business and community leaders concerned about the affordability of and access to health care across the region joined together to serve on the formational board of organizers for the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative was formed Feb. 29 to address the critical health care gaps in the region  about six weeks after HSHS announced it would exit the western Wisconsin region. The cooperative is still working to address urgent and long-term health needs of Chippewa Valley residents.
A 32-year-old Eau Claire man faces criminal charges after he allegedly drove away in a commercial vehicle April 14 outside West Salem.

Jordan J. Califf was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of operating a vehicle without the owners consent and bail jumping and a misdemeanor count of operating a commercial vehicle after revocation.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to Jolivette Family Farms, where two workers saw one of the companys cargo trucks drive by. Nobody was authorized to operate the vehicle at the time, and a worker activated a GPS tracker to follow the truck, which stopped on Highway W.

Police arrived a short time later and identified the driver as Califf. The complaint says Califf told police he had permission to drive the vehicle, but nobody from the business recognized him. Califf reportedly refused to give his name and later said he would pay the business if charges werent pursued.

The complaint says Califf displayed unusual mannerisms during the stop. He was transported to a local hospital before being taken to the La Crosse County Jail.

Califf is free on a $1,000 signature bond. He was bound over trial after an April 23 preliminary hearing and has a pre-trial conference set for May 24.
The Geneva Lake Environmental Agency (GLEA) has a new look and new home to call its own.

Following Aurora, Ill.-based Aurora Universitys December 2023 closure of its George Williams College (GWC) campus in Williams Bay, GLEA with the start of the new year relocated operations from its longtime home at GWC to a new, high profile location along State Hwy. 67 in downtown Williams Bay, adjacent to ice cream shop Dip in the Bay.

GLEA, which works to maintain Geneva Lakes resources by protecting, preserving and enhancing a desirable lake and watershed quality through monitoring, protection and education, had been housed on the picturesque lakefront Geneva Lake campus of George Williams College, 350 Constance Blvd., since 2005.

In collaboration with Visit Lake Geneva, GLEA recently celebrated the inauguration of its new office at 105 N. Elkhorn Rd. (State Hwy. 67) in Williams Bay.

The festive ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on Thursday, April 18, was attended by local businesses and regional and local dignitaries.

It gives us our own space, a building of our own, said GLEA Executive Director Jacob Schmidt. Its really nice to have our own dedicated space now. We have signage out on Hwy. 67. George Williams College gave us a lot, I do miss aspects of that, but I feel that having our own space were going to be able to be more a part of the community and be more of a community-based resource. Im really excited to have our own space.

Connected to neighboring Dip in the Bay, Schmidt said GLEAs plans include the future addition of a dedicated drop-in, hands-on nature center space for local residents and visitors alike to learn more about 8.3-square-mile Geneva Lake and its 20.4-square-mile watershed.

We want to make our office an educational opportunity for the public, Schmidt said.

But as much as GLEA and its staff are settling into their new quarters and making plans for the agencys future, theyre also looking back in gratitude for GLEAs longtime 2005-2023 tenure at George Williams College.

It was really nice, Schmidt said of GLEAs 18 years at GWC. We were really grateful for George Williams College ... George Williams really did do a lot for the agency. We had a connection to students, we had access to professors, we had access to research facilities, labs ...That was a really great facility for us in the time we were there. We were able to do a lot. We were really grateful to be there. Its a shame to see the campus go and no longer have it here, but we were really lucky to have a university on Geneva Lake for all those years, helping with research and managment of the lake we all love, and for that Im grateful. It was a priceless opportunity for us and their students.

Admittedly, times for both institutions began to change as George Williams College began to falter, with enrollment dropping and academic programs eliminated.

George Williams got rid of the environmental program, the parks and rec program, Schmidt recalled. We lost that connection to students and we didnt have as strong of a connection to the college community as we once had.

But while some connections were lost with elimination of some strong programs at GWC and Auroras December closure of its satellite Williams Bay campus, Schmidt said some connections with GLEA and Aurora endure, including collaborative work with the universitys Illinois-based conservation technology and water resources programs.

Contest winners announced

The April 18 ceremonial ribbon-cutting dedication event served as a platform to announce the winners of GLEAs 2023-2024 Annual Ice-on Contest, an initiative to engage students in caring for Geneva Lake and its natural resources, while highlighting environmental challenges.

GLEA, custodian of ice coverage data dating back to 1862, initiated the Ice-on Contest in the late 1990s, inviting grade school students from the Geneva Lake area to predict the date the lake freezes over. This year, fifteen winners accurately predicted that the lake would not freeze. The winners, representing various grade levels across different schools, were recognized for their insightful predictions.

The winners of the 2024 Annual Ice-on Contest are:

Amos Baker (Brookwood Elementary School, Grade K)

Max Cubert (Fontana Elementary School, 6th Grade)

Denton Dase (Fontana Elementary School, 6th Grade)

Maddie Franks (Traver Elementary School, 2nd Grade)

Connor Kavanaugh (Lake Geneva Middle School, 8th Grade)

Cooper Knowlton (Star Center Elementary School, 2nd Grade)

Armani Peralta (Fontana Elementary School, 6th Grade)

Graham Rausch (Brookwood Elementary School, 1st Grade)

Reid Rausch (Brookwood Elementary School, 3rd Grade)

Mason Bach (Fontana Elementary School, 6th Grade)

Millie Ferretti (Fontana Elementary School, 7th Grade)

Rowan Geye (Williams Bay Elementary School, 2nd Grade)

Finn Tuchscherer (Fontana Elementary School, 6th Grade)

Kyler McKaig (Brookwood Elementary School, Grade K)

Ellie Wilinski (Star Center Elementary School, 4K)

Each winner was awarded a $10 gift certificate to Clear Water Outdoor, 744 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. They also received a copy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources My Lakeshore Field Journal, a Geneva Lake Environmental Agency water bottle, stickers, a GLEA notebook, and other goodies.

The Ice-on Contests success is attributed to the support of local schools, teachers, students and community members, as well as Clear Water Outdoors generous sponsorship of the contest.

The Annual Ice-on Contest fosters interactive engagement with the younger members of our community while raising awareness about the significance of environmental conservation and its challenges, Schmidt said. We congratulate the winners and thank all 169 students who participated in this years contest.

About GLEA

The Geneva Lake Environmental Agency was formed in the early 1970s by a group of citizens concerned about Geneva Lakes future. GLEA was formed as a shared unit of the local governments of the Towns of Linn and Walworth, the Villages of Fontana and Williams Bay, and the City of Lake Geneva.



Since 1975, GLEA has operated under a uniform resolution and bylaws signed by the sponsoring units of government.

The resolution calls for GLEA to study 5,262-acre Geneva Lake and its 13,045-acre watershed regarding its physical, chemical and biological characteristics, water quality, lake and land use, protective measures, recreation and resource related problems, and to make recommendations to protect resources, improve living conditions, and foster legislation to accomplish these recommendations.GLEAs program is implemented by the director, administrative assistant, board members, a summer lake manager college intern, and multiple part-time employees.For more information about the Geneva Lake Environmental Agency and its initiatives, visit

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Shore path: Fontana to George Williams College Fontana IMG_5032.JPG IMG_5033.JPG IMG_5034.JPG IMG_5035.JPG IMG_5036.JPG IMG_5038.JPG IMG_5040.JPG IMG_5042.JPG IMG_5050.JPG IMG_5051.JPG IMG_5055.JPG IMG_5057.JPG IMG_5059.JPG IMG_5061.JPG IMG_5065.JPG IMG_5070.JPG IMG_5071.JPG IMG_5073.JPG IMG_5075.JPG IMG_5077.JPG IMG_5080.JPG IMG_5082.JPG IMG_5084.JPG IMG_5085.JPG IMG_5086.JPG IMG_5087.JPG IMG_5090.JPG IMG_5091.JPG IMG_5092.JPG IMG_5094.JPG IMG_5095.JPG IMG_5097.JPG IMG_5099.JPG IMG_5101.JPG Fontana to George Williams College IMG_5108.JPG IMG_5109.JPG IMG_5110.JPG IMG_5111.JPG IMG_5114.JPG IMG_5118.JPG A late summer bloom IMG_5120.JPG IMG_5121.JPG IMG_5122.JPG IMG_5123.JPG IMG_5125.JPG IMG_5126.JPG
On 25 April the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Ecuadorean authorities reached a staff-level agreement for the country to receive a four-year, US$4bn extended fund facility (EFF).

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Haitis transitional presidential council was installed in the national palace in Port-au-Prince on 25 April after the prime minister,, resigned with immediate effect.

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Today, we begin a series from a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. The book is called A Princess of Mars. It is the first book in a series that Burroughs wrote about a man who travels to Mars during the last years of the 1800s. There, the man meets strange beings and sees strange sights. At first he is a captive, then a warrior, and after many battles, a prince of a royal family. The voice of John Carter was Shep ONeal. Paul Thompson produced the program. Adam Brock and Dr. Jill Robbins developed the video and supplemental materials.



JOHN CARTER: I am a very old man. How old I do not know. It is possible I am a hundred, maybe more. I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men do.



So far as I can remember, I have always been a man of about 30. I appear today as I did 40 years ago. Yet, I feel that I cannot go on living forever. Someday I will die the real death from which there is no escape. I do not know why I should fear death. I who have died two times and am still alive.

I have never told this story. I know the human mind will not believe what it cannot understand. I cannot explain what happened to me. I can only tell of the ten years my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.



My name is John Carter. I am from the state of Virginia. At the close of the Civil War I found myself without a home, without money and without work.



I decided the best plan was to search for gold in the great deserts of the American Southwest.



I spent almost a year searching for gold with another former soldier, Captain James Powell, also of Virginia. We were extremely lucky. In the winter of eighteen sixty-five we found rocks that held gold.

Powell was trained as a mining engineer. He said we had uncovered over $1 million dollars worth of gold in only three months. But the work was slow with only two men and not much equipment. So we decided Powell should go to the nearest settlement to seek equipment and men to help us with the work. On March 3, 1866, Powell said good-bye. He rode his horse down the mountain toward the valley. I followed his progress for several hours.



The morning Powell left was like all mornings in the deserts of the great Southwest -- clear and beautiful.



Not much later I looked across the valley. I was surprised to see three riders in the same place where I had last seen my friend. After watching for some time, I decided the three riders must be hostile Indians.



Powell, I knew, was well armed and an experienced soldier. But I knew he would need my aid. I found my weapons, placed a saddle on my horse and started as fast as possible down the trail taken by Powell.



I followed as quickly as I could until dark. About 9 oclock the moon became very bright. I had no difficulty following Powells trail. I soon found the trail left by the three riders following Powell. I knew they were Indians. I was sure they wanted to capture Powell.



Suddenly I heard shots far ahead of me. I hurried ahead as fast as I could. Soon I came to a small camp. Several hundred Apache Indians were in the center of the camp. I could see Powell on the ground. I did not even think about what to do, I just acted. I pulled out my guns and began shooting.



The Apaches were surprised and fled. I forced my horse into the camp and toward Powell. I reached down and pulled him up on the horse by his belt. I urged the horse to greater speed. The Apaches by now realized that I was alone and quickly began to follow. We were soon in very rough country.



The trail I chose began to rise sharply. It went up and up. I followed the trail for several hundred meters more until I came to the mouth of a large cave.

It was almost morning now. I got off my horse and laid Powell on the ground. I tried to give him water. But it was no use. Powell was dead. I laid his body down and continued to the cave.



I began to explore the cave. I was looking for a safe place to defend myself, or perhaps for a way out. But I became very sleepy. It was a pleasant feeling. My body became extremely heavy. I had trouble moving. Soon I had to lay down against the side of the cave. For some reason I could not move my arms or legs.



I lay facing the opening of the cave. I could see part of the trail that had led me here. And now I could see the Apaches. They had found me. But I could do nothing.



Within a minute one of them came into the cave. He looked at me, but he came no closer. His eyes grew wide. His mouth opened. He had a look of terror on his face. He looked behind me for moment and then fled.



Suddenly I heard a low noise behind me.



So could the rest of the Apaches. They all turned and fled. The sound became louder. But still I could not move. I could not turn my head to see what was behind me. All day I lay like this. I tried again to rise, and again, but still I could not move. Then I heard a sharp sound. It was like a steel wire breaking. I quickly stood up. My back was against the cave wall.



I looked down. There before me lay my body.



For a few moments, I stood looking at my body. I could not bring myself to touch it. I was very frightened. The sounds of the cave and the sight of my body forced me away. I slowly backed to the opening of the cave.



I turned to look at the Arizona night. I could see a thousand stars. As I stood there I turned my eyes to a large red star. I could not stop looking at it. It was Mars  the red planet  the red god of war. It seemed to pull me near.



Then, for a moment, I closed my eyes. There was an instant of extreme cold and total darkness. Suddenly I was in deep, dreamless, peaceful sleep.



I opened my eyes upon a very strange land. I immediately knew then I was on Mars. Not once did I question this fact. My mind told me I was on Mars as your mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact, nor did I.



I found myself lying on a bed of yellow colored grass that covered the land for kilometers. The time was near the middle of the day and the sun was shining full upon me. It was warm.



I decided to do a little exploring. Springing to my feet, I received my first Martian surprise. The effort to stand carried me into the Martian air to the height of about one meter. I landed softly upon the ground, however, without incident.

I found that I must learn to walk all over again. My muscles were used to the gravity of Earth. Mars has less gravity. My attempts to walk resulted in jumps and hops, which took me into the air. I once landed on my face. I soon learned that it took much less effort for me to move on Mars than it did on Earth.



Near me was a small, low wall. Carefully, I made my way to the wall and looked over. It was filled with eggs, some already broken open. Small, green creatures were in them. They looked at me with huge red eyes.



As I watched the fierce-looking creatures, I failed to hear twenty full-grown Martians coming from behind me. They had come without warning. As I turned, I saw them. One was coming at me with a huge spear, with its sharp tip pointed at my heart!

Join us again next week for the next part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs story, A Princess of Mars, at VOA Learning English.

Now its your turn to use these Words in This Story. In the comments section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar.

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Quiz

Quiz - A Princess of Mars Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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For Teachers

This lesson plan, based on the CALLA approach, teaches the strategy of selective attention to help students understand the science fantasy story, A Princess of Mars.



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Words in This Story

trail - n. a path through a forest, field, etc.

Apache - n. a member of a Native American people of the southwestern U.S.

gravity - n. the natural force that tends to cause physical things to move towards each other : the force that causes things to fall towards the Earth

Martian - n. an imaginary creature in books, movies, etc., that lives on or comes from the planet Mars
International health experts have agreed on a new definition of what it means for a disease to spread through the air.

The agreement came after the World Health Organization (WHO) cooperated with hundreds of international health experts to explain or clarify the meaning. The WHO said the technical document it issued was the first step towards finding better methods to prevent airborne disease spread.

The document says the term "through the air" can be used for infectious diseases in which the main spread involves a pathogen traveling through the air or being suspended in the air. The experts said this is similar to the official description of "waterborne" diseases.

The WHOs new explanation is an effort to avoid public misunderstandings about how some diseases can be passed through the air or are airborne.

Such misunderstandings happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO was criticized by many scientists during the early days of COVID-19 in 2020. They accused the U.N. health agency of failing to warn the public early on that the virus could spread through the air.

The scientists said this led to too much public guidance centered on handwashing and similar measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They said this guidance ignored other measures, such as looking at the spread of viruses through ventilation systems.

By July 2020, the agency said there was "evidence emerging" of airborne spread. Soumya Swaminathan was WHO chief scientist during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swaminathan began a process to agree on a new definition for airborne disease spread. She later said she thinks the agency should have been more forceful in that message "much earlier."

Swaminathans successor, Jeremy Farrar, recently told Reuters news agency the new definition was about more than COVID-19. He added that at the beginning of the pandemic there was a lack of available evidence. He said experts including the WHO had acted in "good faith." At the time, he headed the Wellcome Trust charity and advised the British government on COVID-19.

Farrar said the new definition would permit discussions to begin about issues such as ventilation in different kinds of buildings including hospitals and schools. He compared the issue to the realization that blood-borne viruses, like HIV or hepatitis B, could be spread by medics not wearing gloves.

"When I started out, medical students, nurses, doctors, none of us wore gloves to take blood," Farrar said. "Now it is unthinkable that you wouldnt wear gloves. But that came because everyone agreed on what the issue was, they agreed on the terminology [The change, in practice,] came later," he added.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

pathogen  n. a small organism, such as a virus or a bacterium that can cause disease

ventilation  n. the movement of air around a closed space, or a system that provides this

emerge  v. to appear by coming out of something or out from behind something

charity  n. an official organization that gives money, food and other assistance to people who need it

gloves  n. a cloth or latex covering worn over the hands to protect them
In writer-director-star Joanna Arnows The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Ann (Arnow), a 30-something New Yorker, lies naked in bed with an older man, Allen (Scott Cohen), with whom she has a yearslong BDSM relationship. She tells him shes grateful he only cares about his own pleasure.

Its like I dont even exist, she says.

Much is just out of reach in Arnows shrewdly perceptive and very funny new film. Love, certainly, is nowhere near Anns life despite a series of romantic encounters. Music is talked about  from Andrew Lloyd Webber showtunes to the team cheer from A League of Their Own  but seldom heard. In one scene during a tryst with a composer, Ann says her favorite soundtrack is In the Act of Wishing for Love, but she means In the Mood for Love.

Even Anns existential crisis doesnt quite materialize in this unwaveringly sardonic portrait of millennial malaise. Her life plays out in a series of brief, crispy edited vignettes that jump between her drab work life and her extreme but equally drab sex life.

Obedience is pushed on her in both places, as are labels, most of which Ann quietly but not necessarily apathetically accepts. One partner (Parish Bradley) who instructs her to communicate in a series of oinks writes the lewd name hes given her across her belly in marker. At work, an unseen HR gives her a new job title: Clinical Media E-learning Specialist. Which is worse is hard to say. After three years on the job, shes given a one-year anniversary trophy.

How Ann feels about all of this isnt always obvious, possibly even to her. Arnow portrays her much as she directs and edits the film, with a detached deadpan. Sometimes Ann pushes back. She tells her older lover that shes not an Internet window he can open and close. But theres also something in Ann that recoils against more sentimental encounters. Later in the film, she begins dating someone sweetly if naively romantic (Babak Tafti) whos unfamiliar with the kind of bondage role-playing Ann is accustomed to. But his sweetness is more of a strike against him. Ann may be a victim of her modern, alienating environment, but shes also a product of it. (Anns parents in the film are played by Arnows real-life mother and father, Barbara Weiserbs and David Arnow.)

But Arnows sensibility is much dryer and more satirical. Whether Ann can free herself of her circumstance is one thing, but Arnow, as a keenly insightful filmmaker, proves again and again that she has. How else can you explain the trenchant absurdity of the poem-worthy dialogue that runs through the film? A sexual partner whose first line is: Thank you for forgiving me for mansplaining about L.A. A boss who announces: If youre not on Spotify, youre behind the times. And Ann, who after debasing herself with her older lover, says, The candles were nice, only for him to reply: There was just one candle. JAKE COYLE, MDT/AP Film Writer

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, a Magnolia Pictures release, is unrated by the Motion Picture Association but contains adult nudity and language. Running time: 87 minutes 
Hurun Global Ceramics listed its Top Ten Artistic Ceramic Cities Worldwide for 2023 during a recent ceremony in Shanghai. Among those honored was Yixing, Jiangsu province. Steeped in history, the city is one of China's oldest centers of ceramic craftsmanship, with a legacy of more than 7,000 years of pottery art.

After being extracted from the earth, raw purple clay is left exposed to the elements for many years, undergoing weathering from wind, rain and snow before it can be processed into ceramic beauty.

In Yixing, purple clay was used initially to produce large vessels such as tanks, jars and bottles. As tea culture gained popularity, purple clay teapots and cups emerged during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and gradually became prevalent. These were often exported along with the tea.

Some products were modified from traditional shapes, while others featured intricate decorations created using complex techniques. Today, with the continuous expansion of Chinese cultural influence and export networks, purple clay tea ware has garnered a multitude of enthusiasts around the world. Purple clay is not always purple, but comes in various colors and forms. The firing temperature and crafting process influence the final product's hue.

The processed purple clay near Yixing's Dingshu township is particularly well-suited for creating ceramic products and has earned widespread renown. In many homes in Xiwang village, the clay is deftly kneaded by hand and shaped into exquisite pottery. As one wanders through the quaint lanes of the village, the eye is met with a multitude of purple clay studios.

From a bygone era of poverty to its current status as a village supported by a prosperous industry, a succession of endeavors has given Fan Zefeng, the Party chief of Xiwang, a belief in the potency of the purple clay industry as the catalyst of a rural renaissance. Xiwang has established some 680 individual studios, five industrial bases and 26 artistic teams. The number of local artisans holding professional and technical titles has grown from fewer than 40 to more than 400.

In the past, operations were often fragmented, resulting in problems with product quality, innovation and market outreach. These challenges were addressed with the establishment of the country's first cooperative society focusing on handmade purple clay ceramics, which significantly improved the raw material supply, technical training and brand packaging.

Ji Yishun, a renowned Chinese master of ceramic art, said that Yixing purple clay has reached its zenith in modern times and is beloved for its breathable and impermeable qualities, allowing it to preserve the flavor of tea for extended periods.
The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry and manufacturing was the focus of a recent event co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations University (UNU).

The event, held under the auspices of the UNIDO Initiative and Global AI Network, brought together experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss how AI can be harnessed to achieve the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his opening remarks, UNU director Tshilidzi Marwala highlighted the critical role AI can play in driving sustainable development. AI is transforming manufacturing and industries, making production much more efficient, he said. However, we must also consider the social and economic implications of this transformation, particularly the impact on employment.

Marwala emphasized the need for education and investment in sustainable AI solutions. We need to educate ourselves about this technology and its impact on society, industry, and economics, he said. We also need to invest in more sustainable ways of accelerating automation enabled by artificial intelligence.

Huawei Hong Kong Research Centre director, Yanhui Geng, shared insights into Huaweis efforts to integrate AI for enhanced productivity and sustainability. We have been actively promoting the integration of AI in all sectors of industry to increase efficiency, improve sustainability, and reduce emissions, Geng said.

Geng provided examples of how AI is being used to optimize network planning and operation, resulting in significant efficiency gains. By utilizing AI techniques, we can improve the efficiency by around 30% to 50%, he said. We can also improve the performance, especially for users with poor network experience.

Jingbo Huang, director of UNU Macau, discussed the alignment between the UNU Global AI Network and AIM Globals goals. Were both UN organizations, but with different strengths, Huang said. UNIDO specializes in manufacturing and industry, while we are more focused on academics, training, and education. This complementarity allows us to work together effectively.

Huang suggested potential collaboration opportunities, including leveraging UNUs academic network to connect with industry partners and providing independent research at different project stages. We can start small with one pilot project and build on it to tackle other challenges, she said.

The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration between stakeholders to harness the power of AI for sustainable development. As Marwala stated, If we think together, act together, and plan together, there is no mountain high enough that we will not be able to climb. Staff Reporter

Ao Ieong welcomes science and technology experts to facilitate industry development

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong U, highlighted that high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence are one of the four key industries in Macau and a focal point for development in the coming five years.

Speaking at the Macau AI Conference, which attracted over 500 participants, the government official said that at present, various policies are being implemented in a stepwise fashion.

We have launched a scheme to attract talent in the high technology industry, promoted the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a hub for high-level talent, and actively participated in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Innovative Technology Corridor by leveraging the strengths and resources in talent and technologies of the GBA and Hengin, said Ao Ieong.

We welcome scientific and technological talent from around the world to come to Macau to set up businesses and facilitate development, she added.
The International College of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) commemorated its 24th anniversary with a special appointment ceremony and lecture centered on the theme of Humanizing teaching: A humanistic approach to teaching languages.

The recent event featured the appointment of Distinguished Professor Tang Lixing and drew over a hundred graduate students from the School of International Studies.

A scholar in the field of language education, Professor Tang has held various prestigious positions, including director and co-director of the Chinese Teacher Development Center at New York University. He is currently serving as a chair professor and doctoral supervisor at New York University, and brings extensive teaching experience and leadership in language education.

The appointment ceremony commenced with a welcome speech by Dean Zhang Hongming of the International College, who expressed his delight in inviting Professor Tang to join MUST for academic exchange activities.

He highlighted the significance of this collaboration, particularly on the occasion of the universitys anniversary and the fifth International Chinese Day.

The partnership aims to promote the development goals of the International College, focusing on Language, Education, Culture + Internationalization.

Following the appointment ceremony, Professor Tang delivered a lecture that delved into the essence of language teaching, guiding the audience to recognize that it encompasses more than imparting language skills.

According to the scholar, language teaching should also foster a human connection with students, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships. He shared personal anecdotes and engaged the audience in reflecting on the role of teachers, encouraging them to establish meaningful connections and facilitate students success.

Furthermore, the expert emphasized the cultivation of students adversity quotient (AQ) and elaborated on how language teachers can establish emotional connections between learners and the target language. He stressed the creation of a supportive and comfortable learning environment, enabling students not only to absorb the teaching content but also to apply their knowledge in real-life situations. Staff Reporter
A college student from the mainland was apprehended by police, who believed him to be working for a mainland criminal organization and coming to Macau to engage in money laundering through currency exchange. According to the Judiciary Police (PJ), the victim, also from the mainland, was defrauded HKD100,000. The victim received a notification from the bank the following day, informing him that the money he had received was linked to fraudulent activities on the mainland.

Related
On the Agenda

As the May Day holiday approaches, China is anticipating a surge in international visitors. According to data from Ctrip, one of the nations leading online travel agencies, inbound tourist bookings have soared by an impressive 130% compared to the same period last year.

This uptick coincides with broader trends in travel to the Chinese mainland, highlighted by recent figures from the National Immigration Administration. In the first quarter of 2024, a total of 59.115 million residents from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, along with 13.074 million foreign nationals, entered mainland China. Of these, 466,000 were foreign nationals who received visasa significant 118.8% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, the number of visa-free entries has skyrocketed, with over 1.988 million foreign nationals entering without a visa, marking a 266.1% increase. This spike is largely due to Chinas strategic policies aimed at enhancing tourism and business exchanges. Among these is the reinstatement of a 15-day visa-free entry for Singapore and Brunei citizens holding ordinary passports for activities including business, tourism, family visits, and transit, effective from July 26, 2023.

Subsequent expansions included unilateral visa-free entries for citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, implemented between December 1, 2023, and March 14, 2024. The visa exemption agreement with Thailand that came into effect on March 1, 2024, further bolstered visitor numbers, with 989,000 travelers from the 15 eligible countries entering China visa-free, representing over 60% of total arrivals from these nations.

Last February, China expanded its visa-free access to Hainan, allowing travelers from certain countries to enter the region for up to 30 days for various purposes, including tourism, business, and medical treatment. Within two months of this policy, 49,000 foreign nationals visited Hainan visa-free.

Despite the increase in travel, China maintains stringent measures against illegal immigration, with 23,000 cases of illegal entry, residence, and employment detected early this year, resulting in 4,551 deportations. These figures underline Chinas cautious approach to opening its borders while safeguarding its immigration laws.
A male non-resident worker was viciously stabbed in Taipa on Wednesday evening in a dispute over borrowed money, authorities reported yesterday.

The victim, a Nepalese worker identified as a former colleague of the suspect in 2023, sustained multiple stab wounds, including on his left jaw, right chest, left elbow, and right index finger. The suspect, who was swiftly apprehended at 6:27 p.m., alleged that the victim, whom he claimed to be his cousin, owed him HKD50,000, sparking a dispute that escalated into a violent altercation.

According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation took a turn when the suspect brandished a fruit knife, measuring 22 centimeters in total length with a blade spanning 9.5 centimeters. The victim, in his statement to the authorities, vehemently denied any familial relationship with the assailant, refuting the suspects allegation that they were cousins.

The motive for the attack, the victim explained, stemmed from a financial dispute dating back to 2023 when the suspect borrowed MOP4,000 from him, which was never repaid.

The incident unfolded when the suspect approached the victim, seeking an additional loan of MOP2,000. However, the victim declined the request, leading to a heated argument. The situation quickly escalated, culminating in violence as the suspect unleashed a flurry of stabs upon the victim, leaving him with severe injuries.

The victim, in an effort to substantiate his version of events, presented the police with phone chat records that documented the previous loan and subsequent conversations between the two parties. The evidence indicated that the suspect had indeed borrowed MOP4,000 from the victim in the past, lending credibility to the victims story.

Authorities have charged the suspect with multiple offenses, including serious bodily injury under Article 138 of the legal code, as well as possession of a prohibited weapon under Article 262. If convicted, the suspect could face severe legal consequences for his actions.

As of today, the victim remains in a stable condition and is expected to be discharged this afternoon. However, before his release, the police plan to conduct a thorough interrogation to gather additional information and build a stronger case against the suspect. Staff Reporter
Eight Madison-area bookstores are celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday.

The day, established in 2013 by the American Booksellers Association, promotes independent bookstores across the country.

How is each store participating?

Each participating store is offering both a raffle and free art print, said Molly Fish, festivities organizer and owner of Lake City Books Downtown.

For each Madison-area store visited on Saturday, shoppers can enter the raffle to win a $50 or $25 gift card to one of the eight stores. You can have up to eight entries in the raffle if you visit all eight stores.

As a keepsake for shoppers visiting participating Madison-area stores, customers can receive a commemorative 5x7 inch print by local artist Keith Huie, which is set to include all the names of the participating store.

What stores are taking part?

Kismet Books, 101 N. Main St. in Verona is offering free pins for orders over $50, and free art prints for orders over $100. Both the pins and prints feature art by local Verona artist and author Erin Pauquette. The store is also hosting a reading of Pauquettes childrens book My Hands Had Plans at 11 a.m. Saturday. Kismet books is selling used books for $2 each.

Republic of Letters, 151 High St. in Mineral Point, will have birthday cake while supplies last since its the stores one-year anniversary.

The Book Deal at 3822 Mineral Point Road has more than a thousand RSVPs for its Saturday event. The store will have a prize wheel set up for all visitors to spin. Customers can win up to 15% off. The shop said it will have tea, coffee and cookies.

Mystery to Me, 1863 Monroe St., is offering wrapped books for $1, as well as themed book bags  bookseller selected books grouped together by a theme.

Leopolds Books Bar Cafe at 1301 Regent St. will give each customer a free glass of Prosecco with a bookstore purchase while supplies last.

A Room of Ones Own, 2717 Atwood Ave., is offering discounts on select staff bookstore picks. The shop said it will also be donating 15% of its sales on Independent Bookstore Day to residents of the Gaza Strip in need of aid.

Lake City Books, 107 N. Hamilton St., is offering indie bookstore swag while supplies last including coffee mugs and totes. The store is also offering a free gift with purchases. Visitors can also earn double points towards future purchases with the stores rewards program.

Arcadia Bookstore, 102 E. Jefferson St. in Spring Green, doesnt have specific specials listed on its website for the day. But it is participating in the gift card raffle.
A captivating original Chinese musical, Flying Apsaras, produced by Li Dun and featuring songs by songwriter San Bao, has commenced its staging in Beijing from April 25 to 27, captivating audiences with its enchanting narrative and melodious compositions.

Following its Beijing debut, Flying Apsaras is set to embark on a nationwide tour, encompassing 50 shows across 13 Chinese cities, starting from August. Among these cities, Dunhuang in Gansu province, renowned as the home of the Mogao Caves  an esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site  will be a significant stop on the tour, adding a poignant layer of historical and cultural significance to the musical's journey.

Drawing inspiration from the evocative Dunhuang murals, the musical intricately weaves together tales of individuals dedicated to safeguarding and conserving the ancient site, spanning back to the 1930s. Featuring 13 songs featuring diverse music styles such as pop, rock, and traditional Chinese music, the musical showcases the vocal talents of performers from the Oriental Performing Arts Group, the production company of the musical.

The production artfully integrates iconic images from the caves of Dunhuang mural paintings, including the mesmerizing flying apsaras, known as feitian in Chinese, and the legendary nine-colored deer, enriching the visual and thematic tapestry of the musical with cultural and historical resonance.

The creative team behind the musical demonstrated their unwavering commitment to authenticity and depth by making approximately 10 visits to Dunhuang since the project's inception in 2016, ensuring a deep understanding and reverence for the historical context and artistic legacy of the region.

Producer Li and songwriter San Bao, with a collaborative partnership spanning over two decades, have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of popular Chinese musicals, including acclaimed productions such as Legend of the White Snake and Butterflies, showcasing their enduring dedication to delivering captivating and resonant theatrical experiences to audiences across China.
THE German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), together with the German Association of Supply Chain Management (BME) and other German chambers in the ASEAN, are pursuing a major initiative to connect German companies with potential suppliers across Southeast Asia.

The project German Purchasers Initiative falls under the market access program of Berlins Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

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It aims to revitalize trade relations between Germany and the ASEAN region.

With initiatives like this, we advance our core goal of fostering partnerships between businesses in the Philippines and Germany, said GPCCI president Marie Antoniette Mariano.

Launched on April 22, the initiative recorded the highest participation rate of any German purchasing initiative in the ASEAN to date.

More than 120 participants attended, featuring 87 potential suppliers from Southeast Asia and 27 German companies seeking new sourcing partners.

German stakeholders underscored the increasing demand for a diversified supply chain and the importance of establishing reliable partnerships in the ASEAN.

We are delighted to continue the momentum between our countries, the Philippines and Germany, following the presidential visit in March and the resumption of the EU-FTA [European Union-Free Trade Agreement] talks. All these help us to further elevate the Philippines presence and significance on the global stage, said GPCCI executive director Christopher Zimmer.

With the support of the Department of Trade and Industry, the initiative encouraged Philippine manufacturers to participate in B2B meetings. This provided a valuable platform for suppliers to showcase their products, facilities and expertise directly to German buyers.

Despite the time difference between the Philippines and Germany, over 21 meetings have been conducted smoothly so far, generating positive feedback from both sides.
Kyiv, UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Friday that Russias capture of a major nuclear power plant threatened a radiation catastrophe, as the country marked the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine in the first days of its 2022 invasion.

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Both sides regularly accuse each other of endangering safety at the site, Europes largest nuclear facility.

For 785 days now, Russian terrorists have held the Zaporizhzhia NPP hostage, Zelensky said on social media.

It is the entire worlds responsibility to put pressure on Russia to ensure that ZNPP is liberated and returned to full Ukrainian control, as well as that all Ukrainian nuclear facilities are protected from Russian strikes, he added.

This is the only way to prevent new radiation disasters, which the Russian occupiers presence at ZNPP constantly threatens.

The call came 38 years after the meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.

The incident, which is considered the worlds worst nuclear disaster, contaminated vast areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Swathes of western Europe were also exposed to radiation.

The Chernobyl disaster demonstrated how rapidly deadly threats can emerge, Zelensky said on Friday.

Russian forces captured the decommissioned Chernobyl facility on February 24, 2022the first day of its invasion, when it sent troops into Ukraine from Belarusbut abandoned it weeks later.

Russian troops have controlled the Zaporizhzhia plant since early March 2022.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has dispatched inspectors to the ZNPP, has expressed concern over safety at the plant.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of firing drones at the power station, while Kyiv says Moscow has militarised the facility and is holding it hostage.
BEIJINGChinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the worlds two biggest economies should be partners, not rivals, but that there were a number of issues to be resolved in their relations.

Blinken, in China for the second time in less than a year, met leading Chinese politicians in the capital Beijing, where US officials said he would directly raise crucial areas of difference including Russia, Taiwan and trade.

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Meeting Blinken in Beijings Great Hall of the People, Xi said the two countries had made some positive progress since he met with US President Joe Biden last year, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The two countries should be partners, not rivals, Xi said.

There are still a number of issues that need to be resolved, and there is still room for further efforts, the Chinese leader added.

We hope the US can also take a positive view of Chinas development, he added.

When this fundamental problem is solved relations can truly stabilize, get better, and move forward.

Earlier Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi warned Blinken that US pressure could trigger a downward spiral, as the visiting diplomat raised concerns on issues including support for Russia.

Wang also warned that the question of self-ruled Taiwan was the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

Blinken described his talks with Wang at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse which lasted more than five and a half hoursextensive and constructive.

China has been infuriated by Bidens pressure on the economic front which is unlikely to ease during an election yearincluding a sweeping ban on semiconductor exports and efforts to wrest blockbuster video app TikTok away from its Chinese owners.

Wang told Blinken that relations between the two countries were beginning to stabilize, especially after Biden and Xi met in November near San Francisco.

But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building, Wang said.

Chinas legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges, he said, urging respect for each others core interests

Should China and the United States keep in the right direction of moving forward with stability, or return to a downward spiral?

This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.
This photo taken on Nov. 3, 2023 shows a city view of Shanghai at sunrise. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Shanghai on Thursday agreed to further enhance cooperation to boost the financial strength of both cities.



During a meeting in Hong Kong, representatives of the governments, financial regulators and exchanges of the two cities discussed issues of mutual concern, including the latest developments of financial services in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, cooperation in respect of cross-boundary Renminbi business, securities, futures, insurance, financial technology (fintech) and green finance as well as enhancing talent exchange.

Both sides agreed to work on the continuous enhancement of the mutual market access programs, such as Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Bond Connect and Swap Connect, collaborate closely to implement the newly announced measures and explore further deepening of cooperation between the securities markets of the two places.

On insurance, both sides will facilitate exchange and cooperation in the industry on such development issues as risk management of Belt and Road projects, captive insurance and insurance-linked securities.

They agreed to strengthen cooperation on product development, services and innovation relating to green finance and enhance exchange and cooperation among fintech enterprises of the two places.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the HKSAR government and the Shanghai office for advancing international financial center development also agreed to take the lead in holding regular meetings to enhance exchanges and financial cooperation between the two cities.
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A new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests a common brain network exists between heart rate deceleration and depression. By evaluating data from 14 people with no depression symptoms, the team found that stimulating some parts of the brain linked to depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) also affected heart rate, suggesting that clinicians may be able to target those areas without the use of brain scans that aren't widely available. The findings were published in Nature Mental Health.

"Our goal was to figure out how to harness TMS treatment more effectively, get the dosing right, by selectively slowing down heart rate and identifying the individual best spot to stimulate on the brain," said senior author Shan Siddiqi, MD, of the Brigham's Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics. Siddiqi said the idea first developed during a conference in Croatia where researchers from the Netherlands were presenting heart-brain coupling data.

"They showed that not only can TMS transiently lower the heart rate, but it matters where you stimulate," Siddiqi said, adding that most exciting part of the study for him is the potential to give the rest of the world easier access to this precision targeted treatment for depression. "We have so many things we can do with advanced technology available here in Boston to help people with their symptoms," he said. "But some of those things couldn't easily get to the rest of the world before."

Siddiqi collaborated with his colleagues in the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics at the Brigham and lead author Eva Dijkstra, MSc, to complete the study. Dijkstra is a Ph.D. candidate and came to the Brigham from the Netherlands to combine their work on heart-brain coupling with the CBCT team's work on brain circuitry.

Researchers looked at functional MRI scans from 14 people and identified spots in their brains believed to be optimal targets for depression based on previous studies done on connectivity and depression. Each participant had 10 spots identified in their brains, both optimal ("connected areas") and non-optimal for depression treatment. Researchers then observed what happened to heart rate when they stimulated each spot.

"We wanted to see if there would be mostly heart-brain coupling in the connected areas," Dijkstra said. "For 12 out of 14 usable data sets, we found we would have a very high accuracy of defining an area that is connected by just measuring heart rate during brain stimulation."

Dijkstra said the finding could help in both individualizing TMS therapy for depression treatment, by choosing a personalized treatment spot on the brain, and making it more accessible because an MRI wouldn't need to be done beforehand.

Siddiqi said the findings from this study could also be used to help develop treatments that may eventually be useful to cardiologists and emergency doctors in a clinical setting.

One limitation to the study is it was done on a small number of people, and researchers didn't stimulate all the possible spots in the brain.

The team's next goal will be to map out where in the brain to stimulate to make heart rate changes more consistent.

Dijkstra's team in the Netherlands is now working on a larger study of 150 people with depression disorders, many whose depression is treatment resistant. Data from that study will be analyzed later this year, potentially bringing the research closer to clinical translation.
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Three years after the federal government launched the Canada-wide early learning and child-care plan (CWELCC), our study conducted through the Atkinson Center for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto finds mixed results in terms of the plan's ambitions to improve families' access to affordable child care. Across the country care is less expensive, but finding it is more difficult.

Early Childhood Education Report highlights

Our Early Childhood Education Report with detailed profiles for each province and territory, identifies developments in child-care enrollment, affordability, funding, workforce compensation, administration and quality by province and territory.

As researchers on this project, we reviewed all data related to the above to capture changes to services from March 2020 to March 2023. We then met with directors of early childhood policy in each province or territory to score how each is doing on a 15-point scale.

New Brunswick leads with 13.5 points, a record achievement reflecting its efforts to support child-care operators to add spaces, while supporting program quality. Overall, the provinces east of Ontario rank higher than the rest of the country.

All provinces and territories have met their affordability targets. Parent costs were reduced by 50 percent by the 2022 deadline. Except for Quebec and the Yukon, where parents were already paying below $10 per day, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and most recently the Northwest Territories, have all dropped child-care fees to an average of $10 per day, well ahead of the 2026 schedule.

Big savings, difficulty finding care

While parents with access to child care are enjoying savings; those looking for care are frustrated. More than 60 percent of parents wanting child care reported difficulties finding it, up from 53 percent in 2019. As a result, roughly one in three respondents said they had to change their work or study schedules, work fewer hours, or delay their return to work.

The CWELCC plan for 250,000 new child-care spaces by 2026for children from infancy to five years of ageis also having mixed success. By March 31, 2023, halfway through the plan's time frame, 97,859 spaces have been added for this age group.

Prince Edward Island, Alberta, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories are on track to exceed the new space targets set out in their child-care agreements. Expansion is curtailed where governments offer insufficient funding to meet the actual cost of new builds and renovations.

Staffing shortages

The major roadblock to opening new spaces, however, is staffing shortages. Difficulties finding and keeping staff directly impact child care availability, stability and quality. Without educators, centers operate with reduced enrollment, impacting their financial viability. Program quality is compromised when government exemptions allow centers to run without the legislative requirements for qualified staff.

The federal government has given one-off infusions to help stem the workforce exodus. Most jurisdictions have used the money to improve educator wages.

In addition, Prince Edward Island has joined Quebec and Manitoba in developing a sector pension plan. Prince Edward Island and Quebec have benefit plans. Nova Scotia's pension and benefit plans are in development.

Few topping up federal funds

Provincial and territorial governments complain there is not enough money in the CWELCC agreements to accomplish everything promised. We question the claim when some jurisdictions are not using the federal funding available to them. Governments have added just over $4.5 billion to their child-care spending since 2020, well below the $15 billion available to date through CWELCC.

If concerns about funding is pressing provincial and territorial governments could, of course, add their own funding, but few have done so. Relying on federal funds is now the norm.

Uneven implementation of a new social program isn't new. The hope is that some jurisdictions will use the Canada-wide opportunity to do child care very well, becoming models to envy and emulate.

This is the fifth edition of the Early Childhood Education Report which has been released every three years since 2011. We meet with government policymakers in between reports to review data, and update the methodology to reflect any policy changes. The next report will be released in 2026.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A single injection of an experimental monoclonal antibody called L9LS prevented malaria infection in children in Mali. L9LS binds to and neutralizes "sporozoites," the form of the malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitoes that invades the liver to initiate infection. Credit: NIH

One injected dose of an experimental malaria monoclonal antibody was 77% effective against malaria disease in children in Mali during the country's six-month malaria season, according to the results of a mid-stage clinical trial. The trial assessed an investigational monoclonal antibody developed by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and results appear in The New England Journal of Medicine.

"A long-acting monoclonal antibody delivered at a single health care visit that rapidly provides high-level protection against malaria in these vulnerable populations would fulfill an unmet public health need," said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of NIH.

The clinical trial assessed two dose levels, with 19% of the 300mg-dose group and 28% of the 150mg-dose group developing symptomatic malaria, providing protective efficacy of 77% and 67% against symptomatic malaria, respectively.

Among children who received placebo, 81% became infected with Plasmodium falciparum, and 59% had symptomatic malaria during the six-month study period. The authors note that the trial demonstrated for the first time that a single dose of a monoclonal antibody given by subcutaneous injection can provide high-level protection against malaria in children in an area of intense malaria transmission.

In 2022, the P. falciparum parasite caused a majority of the nearly 250 million estimated cases of malaria globally and most of the more than 600,000 malaria deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Most malaria cases and deaths are among children in Africa. Malaria parasites such as P. falciparum are transmitted to people by mosquito bites.

In 2020, scientists at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center reported that they had isolated the antibody from a volunteer who had been vaccinated with an experimental malaria vaccine. The antibody was modified with a mutation that prolonged its durability in the bloodstream following administration.

In an earlier study, conducted in Mali by the same research group, a previously discovered antibody was highly protective against P. falciparum infection in adults when given intravenously. However, the new antibody was shown to be more potent in animal studies and was manufactured at a higher concentration than CIS43LS, allowing it to be given by subcutaneous injection.

The trial in Mali took place in two parts, first to assess safety in a small number of adults and children, and then in a larger clinical efficacy trial involving 225 children. The efficacy trial took place from July 2022 to January 2023 and included healthy children 6 to 10 years of age, 75 of whom received a 300 mg dose, 75 a 150 mg dose, and 75 of whom received a placebo.

The researchers are continuing clinical development of the experimental antibody, focusing on other high-risk populations, such as infants and young children, children hospitalized with severe anemia, and pregnant women. An ongoing clinical trial in Kenya is assessing the efficacy of the antibody in children 5 months to 5 years of age over a 12-month study period, and scientists are also conducting a clinical trial in Mali to assess the antibody in women of childbearing potential to prepare to test the antibody in pregnancy.

NIAID led the clinical trial in conjunction with the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, through NIAID's Division of Intramural Research International Centers of Excellence in Research (ICER) program.

More information: K Kayentao et al. Subcutaneous Administration of a Monoclonal Antibody to Prevent Malaria. The New England Journal of Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2312775 (2024). Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine
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Credit: National Cancer Centre Singapore

A team of clinician-scientists have conducted the largest study done to date of BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer Gene 1 and 2) carriers in an Asian population and refined breast and ovarian cancer risk estimates for this population. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional HealthWestern Pacific, will better guide the clinical management of Asian patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

Breast cancer is the most common and top cause of cancer mortality for females in Singapore, while ovarian cancer ranks 6th in incidence and mortality for the same group.

A 2022 study, conducted as part of Singapore's National Precision Medicine Program, showed that almost one in 150 individuals in Singapore are affected by genetic mutations associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Global estimates indicate that 3-5% of breast cancers and 1015% of ovarian cancers are caused by mutations in these genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most commonly affected genes in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, and carriers have an elevated risk of developing these cancers.

However, large-scale studies on BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers have only been done in populations of primarily European ancestry. Given that other genes and lifestyle factors also influence the risk of cancers in BRCA carriers and these are different in Asians compared to Europeans, there was significant uncertainty around cancer risks in Asian BRCA carriers.

Clinical management of BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers in Asia can be improved, as only four small scale studies have been done on this cohort to date. More information is needed to guide the proactive care and surveillance for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers of Asian descent.

To address this pressing clinical need, a multidisciplinary team of clinician-scientists, from the University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus), National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), Cancer Research Malaysia, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), University of Malaya, University of Cambridge, A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and other institutions, studied the clinical data of 572 families in Singapore and Malaysia with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

The family members were 20 to 79 years old and of Chinese, Indian and Malay ethnicity. Of the 1,121 BRCA1 carriers, 144 and 65 were diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer, respectively. Of the 1,275 BRCA2 carriers, 152 were diagnosed with breast cancer and 19 with ovarian cancer. Statistical analysis was used to estimate the risk that carriers had of developing breast and ovarian cancers. They were also compared based on ethnicity, location, and birth cohort.

Key findings

Findings showed that penetrance, or the likelihood of these carriers developing breast cancer has increased over time, with the biggest increase in people born after 1960. This increase is likely caused by urbanization, and changes in reproductive patterns. Estimated breast cancer incidence for all ethnicities in the study was highest at age 55 and decrease after.

The study also highlighted the incidence of cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers in Singapore is similar to those in Western populations. The blue line, blue circle and blue square represent the cumulative risk of Asians in the United States, Malaysian Chinese and Singaporean Chinese, respectively while the orange line, orange circle and orange square represent Asians in the United Kingdom, Malaysian Indians and Singaporean Indians, respectively.

The cumulative risks of Chinese BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers in Singapore developing breast and ovarian cancers were similar to Asians in the United States (approximately 37% East Asians in the United States) but higher compared to Chinese in Malaysia. The cumulative risks of Indian BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers in Singapore were similar to Asians in UK (with approximately 47% South Asians in the United Kingdom) but higher compared to Indians from Malaysia.

Implications for clinical management

The findings of this study provide an important new framework for estimating cancer risks in Asian carriers, allowing a more tailored approach to clinical management of this population. This is supported by an editorial in the February 2024 issue of JAMA Oncology, that opined advances in technology allowed for easier and lower cost identification of BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers, allowing for implementation of cancer risk management strategies outlined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (An alliance of 33 cancer centers in the United States). This includes clinical breast examination and breast MRI at 25 years of age, mammography at 30 years of age, risk reducing surgeries and therapeutic interventions.

In the same issue, a study of 2,488 women in North America and Europe suggested that MRI surveillance for female BRCA1 carriers was associated with a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality compared with no MRI surveillance. A second study of 4,332 women who were BRCA1 or BRCA2 carriers indicated that oophorectomy is associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality.

Early intervention for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers include screening options based on an individual's risk to detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage, and risk-reducing measures such as therapeutic interventions (antioestrogen therapy, tamoxifen, etc.,) and prophylactic surgeries (mastectomy, salpingectomy, and oophorectomy).

"Recent studies have shown that BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene carriers are more common than previously thought, while this study highlights that the risk of the carriers developing breast and ovarian cancers in Singapore is as high as in Western countries," said co-senior author Associate Professor Joanne Ngeow, Associate Professor of genomic medicine at NTU Singapore's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Head of the Cancer Genetics Service at NCCS.

"Genetic testing should be considered to identify carriers early, so that care planning can be personalized and early interventions, such as regular surveillance and risk reducing measures can be implemented."

More information: Weang-Kee Ho et al, Age-specific breast and ovarian cancer risks associated with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants  an Asian study of 572 families, The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101017 Journal information: JAMA Oncology
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Public health strategies must begin at pre-conception and early childhood to attain optimum lung function for the world's Indigenous Peoples who bear a higher burden of chronic respiratory disease, say an international research team in a review published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Led by childhood respiratory disease expert QUT Professor Anne Chang, from the QUT School of Public Health and Social Work and the Australian Center for Health Services Innovation the researchers have called for and developed a framework for global efforts to address the drivers of chronic respiratory disease (CRD).

"The framework's strategies are important for all people but more pressing for Indigenous People who have a high prevalence of risk factors for CRD including low birthweight, prematurity, poor nutrition, air pollution, and a high burden of infections and poverty," Professor Chang said.

"In Australia, for example, a 2023 report indicated that 29% of Indigenous Australians self-reported having CRD and their respiratory-related hospitalization rate is 2.4 times that of non-Indigenous Australians.

"Chronic cough is common among Indigenous children and is associated with poorer future lung function, but when optimally managed, improves their quality-of-life.

"Suboptimal management of CRDs like asthma and bronchiectasis in childhood, increases the risks of poorer future lung function, recurrent exacerbations and hospitalization and impaired quality of life in children and adults.

"The increasing recognition of the importance of respiratory health in the prevention of future all-cause cardio-vascular morbidity and mortality means that improving respiratory health leads to gains in overall health."

Professor Chang said other common chronic respiratory contributors included poor antenatal care, high rates of poverty, housing overcrowding, obesity, smoking in Indigenous vs. non-indigenous groups, poor access to care, fewer investigations, interventions and prescriptions.

"Our review found common themes of disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and U.S. complicated by childhood drivers of CRD and other factors not specific to lung health such as racism, colonization, and systemic inequities," she said.

"Improving Indigenous Peoples' respiratory health is complex but must address culturally safe services and research, limited resources, collaboration and coordination across all levels of health care, health system barriers, health literacy and education and sustainability.

"We posit a four-prong overlapping approach for clinicians to act locally to make a difference to Indigenous Peoples' respiratory health while the social determinants of health inequality are addressed by political systems.

"This approach calls for initiatives co-designed with Indigenous People that are focused on children to build capacity in the community, health professionals and researchers; provide high-quality, evidence-based clinical services; health education for policy makers, patients and health professionals and culturally appropriate research."

More information: Anne B Chang et al, Chronic respiratory disease in Indigenous peoples: a framework to address inequity and strengthen respiratory health and health care globally, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(24)00008-0 Journal information: Lancet Respiratory Medicine
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Medical education provider Medscape has bowed to pressure and agreed to permanently remove a series of accredited medical education courses on smoking cessation funded by the tobacco industry giant Philip Morris International (PMI), The BMJ and The Examination have found.

The global company has acknowledged its "misjudgment" in a letter to complainants and says it will not accept funding from any organization affiliated with the tobacco industry in the future.

The move comes after an investigation by The BMJ revealed the PMI deal and the widespread protests among doctors and academics in reaction to the partnership.

According to an internal Medscape document seen by The BMJ and The Examination, Medscape had planned to deliver 13 programs under a multi-million dollar deal with PMIcalled the "PMI Curriculum"as well as podcasts and a "TV-like series."

Other PMI-funded programs with different continuing medical education (CME) providers have also emerged in Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

This apparent global push by the tobacco giant into certified medical education has been met with alarm and calls for certification bodies to issue a ban.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Philip Morris International told The BMJ, "Health agencies around the world have recognized the beneficial role that smoke-free products can play to improve public health. We are concerned that known special interest groups are actively blocking medical education that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and medical community have determined are needed. These actions stand to prolong use and possibly increase consumption of combustible cigarettesthe most harmful form of nicotine use."

But Tim McAfee at the University of California, San Francisco and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking and Health, called PMI's partnership with Medscape, "the ultimate example of the fox not only signing up to guard the hen house but offering to sit on the eggs.

"It is a perversion of ethics surrounding continuing medical education to allow the very companies that caused and profit from the continuing epidemic of tobacco-related death and disease to be involved in any way," he says.

Medscape claims that the course content complied fully with standards set by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), but Pamela Ling, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California San Francisco, said if so, "then the standards need to be strengthened to ensure they don't allow merchants of death to educate doctors."

This view is supported in a linked editorial by Professor Ruth Malone at the University of California San Francisco, who says "health professionals, health leaders, their societies and professional organizations must demand that the bodies accrediting continuing medical education for clinicians enact policies banning content sponsored by tobacco-affiliated organizations."

Health professional and patient organizations should also caution their members to be aware that the tobacco industry is attempting to influence patient care in favor of its products, she adds.

She highlights that Medscape is not the only company offering CME, and PMI may not be the only tobacco company working to influence health professionals in this way, and says similar offerings should be widely publicized and the relevant educational providers notified that tobacco industry sponsorship is unacceptable.

"The tobacco industry cannot be allowed to influence medical education, health practitioners, or patient care in this way as it desperately seeks to secure its future profits," she concludes.

More information: Hristio Boytchev, Medscape caves in on courses funded by tobacco giant Philip Morris, while medics fear global push into medical education, BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q948 Ruth E Malone, Stop tobacco industry sponsorship of continuing medical education, BMJ (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q950 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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Certain features of modern buildings seem to cause more or less pronounced disadvantages for health, as they prevent contact with the multitude of microbes in the natural environment and in total seem to have negative effects on microbial diversity. Credit: Katja Duwe-Schrinner

Over the last 20 years, the life sciences have come to realize that all living beingsfrom the simplest animal and plant organisms to humanslive in close association with a multitude of microorganisms. Together with the multicellular host organism, these symbiotic bacteria, viruses and fungi, which colonize on and in their tissues and form the so-called microbiome, constitute a primarily beneficial community in the form of a metaorganism.

Many life processes, including the health and disease of the organism as a whole, can only be understood in the context of this functional co-operation between the host organism and microorganisms, for example in the absorption of nutrients, immune function or neuronal processes.

In recent decades, however, the lifestyle in industrialized societies has led to a gradual depletion of diversity of the human microbiome and this has contributed to the development of so-called environmental diseases, for example inflammatory bowel diseases, type 2 diabetes or neurodegenerative disorders.

At Kiel University, host-microbe interactions and their effects on health and disease are being investigated in detail in the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1182 "Origin and Function of Metaorganisms."

A group of scientists involved in the "Humans and the Microbiome" research program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in Toronto have published a perspective paper, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, proposing a new dimension for the study of the human microbiome and a paradigm shift in urban and building planning.

They discuss the influence of the so-called built environment on the composition and diversity of the microbiome. They put forward the hypothesis that modern buildings have a significant influence on human microbial colonization, depending on their nature and degree of shielding from the environment, and that this aspect should be taken into account in future architecture in terms of healthy and microbiome-friendly building conditions.

The researchers, include Professor Beatriz Colomina from Columbia University, Professor Brendan Bohannan from the University of Oregon, Professor Margaret McFall-Ngai from the California Institute of Technology and CRC 1182 board member and Kiel Life Science Spokesperson Professor Thomas Bosch from Kiel University.

Buildings interrupt contact with microorganisms from the environment

The human quest for shelter and protection from the elements is as old as mankind itself, for thousands of years people all over the world have been creating and developing a wide variety of dwellings right up to the architecture of today; in the near future more than two thirds of the world's population will live in cities. Overall, the urban lifestyle, in combination with many other factors, has ensured that life expectancy and quality of life have improved significantly for the majority of humanity.

"However, buildings as such and the triumph of urban living have also produced negative effects by shielding people to a greater or lesser extent from contact with their microbial environment. The extent of these presumably unfavorable consequences for the composition and diversity of the human microbiome can hardly be estimated as yet," explains CIFAR Fellow Bosch.

The researchers see the main reason for this in the fact that our modern life in built environments increasingly prevents contact with the multitude of microbes in the natural environment. In addition, buildings themselves must be viewed as complex organic systems in the sense of countless interdependent microbial communities, which also have an impact on the human metaorganism.

Taken together, this has negative consequences, for example by creating new niches for disease hosts and vectors in buildings, concentrating waste and toxic substances or reducing ventilation and the entry of sunlight.

All of this in turn influences the human microbiome in a variety of ways: For example, the built environment creates novel reservoirs of harmful microbes adapted to humans, reduces the exposure of individuals to beneficial microbes, or alters human behavior to inhibit natural and beneficial transmission of microorganisms between people.

"If human health is defined as being dependent on a large diversity of the microbiome, then a large proportion of today's buildings must be considered as not conducive to health in terms of construction and design, materials or type of usebecause in sum, their effects appear to reduce microbial diversity, which could lead to poorer overall health of the occupants," emphasizes Bosch.

Future architecture should restore permeability for microorganisms

Since their invention, buildings have often unintentionally caused health problems, even though people have always tried to make them healthier and safer. The study of the links between architecture and health is therefore by no means new, and a crucial question today is: how can buildings be designed for better health and constructed in such a way that a complex and diverse microbiome can survive?

"By looking at the impact of building characteristics on the human microbiome, we are adding a whole new and important dimension to this complex. Our urban way of life ignores the fact that the body has adapted to its environment and its microbes over thousands of years and that it is only fit and healthy in contact with these partner organisms," says Bosch.

"Only if we accept this multi-organismic complexity will we arrive at a deep understanding of health and thus an understanding of common diseases. The thoroughly revolutionary view of living organisms and microbes as a functional unit will also shift the boundaries of urban planning in the future. We offer innovative scientific and applied perspectives for the development of a future, microbiome-friendly architecture that will once again allow natural and healthy human contact with microorganisms in the built environment."

The prerequisite for this is that in future, buildings are developed with the additional purpose of dosed and controlled exposure of people to microorganisms in particularand no longer see them exclusively as a barrier to ward off environmental influences, as was previously the case.

According to the researchers, one aim could therefore be to plan and construct the built environment in future in such a way that the focus is not on complete isolation from the natural, microbial environment. On the contrary: buildings can be opened up to nature again and made more nature-friendly.

This can be achieved, for example, by using less toxic building materials and creating an overall greater structural permeability to external, particularly microbial, influences.

"With this perspective, we are fundamentally expanding our view of the human microbiome and establishing a direct link to the built environment through to modern urban planning. This results in fascinating new approaches that deal with microbiome-friendly architecture and construction and may in future be reflected in a significantly improved built environment that will be beneficial to human health," says Bosch.

More information: Thomas C. G. Bosch et al, The potential importance of the built-environment microbiome and its impact on human health, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313971121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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France's health agency said it ordered Perrier to destroy two million bottles of its sparkling water suspected of 'faecal' contamination.

Perrier destroyed two million bottles of its famous sparkling water suspected of being contaminated with "fecal" bacteria under government orders, the public health agency said Thursday.

The announcement of the destruction was the latest blow for Swiss food giant Nestle, whose French water subsidiary is under a criminal investigation for allegedly using illegal means to purify its mineral water.

Health authorities in the Occitanie region of southern France told Nestle Waters France to destroy all Perrier production from March 10 to 14 from one of its sources near Nimes, the DGS health agency said in a document shared with AFP.

Nestle has said about two million bottles were destroyed "out of precaution". The company said that Perrier bottles in stores are safe.

Earlier this month, regional authorities ordered Nestle Waters France to "immediately suspend" production at one of its sources near Nimes, according to a copy of the order seen by AFP.

The order said that "fecal" contamination had been registered from March 10.

Nestle is also the owner of the Vittel, Contrex and Hepar brands and French prosecutors in January opened an investigation in January into its purification methods.

The company has admitted that it disinfected water using UV lamps, carbon filtering and other means that are not allowed for "natural" mineral waters.

The sources for Vittel, Contrex and Hepar brands are in eastern France.

The DGS said that after new checks some water sources in eastern and southern France had been closed or re-classified as "water made drinkable through treatment".

"Before these closures, these catchments were treated fraudulently by the operator," the French health agency said.

The investigation has shaken the whole of France's water industry.

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, director general of French food company Danone, told the company's annual shareholders meeting Thursday that its natural mineral water sources now face "extremely rigorous" monitoring.

Shareholders had raised questions about what steps were being taken at Danone, whose mineral water brands include Evian, Volvic and Badoit.

Saint-Affrique said the company works closely with local farmers and industry to prevent contamination near its water sources.

 2024 AFP
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Research nurse Elisabeth Muller Granberg will use a spirometer to test the ALS patient's respiratory capacity. Credit: Mattias Pettersson

There has been a breakthrough in the research on the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Scientists at Umea University report that the disease progression in a patient with a particularly aggressive form of ALS disease has slowed down considerably with the use of a new gene therapy. After four years on the medication, the patient can still climb stairs, rise from his chair, eat and speak well, and live an active and socially fulfilling life.

"I consider this a breakthrough for the research we have conducted for more than 30 years, here at Umea University and University Hospital of Northern Sweden. We have never before seen treatment results as effective as these, using any other treatment," says Peter Andersen, a neurologist and professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences at Umea University.

"An important discovery is that it is now possible to considerably reduce the levels of the disease-causing SOD1 protein, and simultaneously measure a clear inhibitory effect on further disease progression. When we diagnosed the patient at the neurology ward in early spring 2020, the patient's prognosis was 1.52 years of survival at best. The patient has far, far exceeded expectation."

The patient is from a family in southern Sweden with a particularly aggressive form of ALS disease caused by a mutation in the SOD1 gene. When a relative was diagnosed with ALS, the patient left a blood sample for research purposes to the ALS research team at Umea University but chose to not learn about the results of the genetic test.

However, the patient was a carrier of the disease gene, and after experiencing muscle weakness four years ago, the patient realized that he too was afflicted. The patient was immediately received by the medical team at University Hospital of Northern Sweden and was diagnosed with early stage ALS disease.

Since the summer of 2020, the patient has been a participant in the Phase III study evaluating a new gene therapy developed for patients with SOD1 mutations causing misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 protein in motorneurons. Every four weeks, the patient received the experimental treatment at a university hospital in Copenhagen in Denmark.

Biomarker reduced by almost 90%

At the time of diagnosis in 2020, the patient's levels of the substance neurofilament La biomarker indicating breakdown of nerve cellswas very high. Now, four years later, the levels are reduced by almost 90%.

"When the patient was diagnosed at University Hospital of Northern Sweden in April 2020, we measured the level of neurofilament L to be as high as 11,000 nanograms per liter, which is high even for an ALS patient. In the most recent sample, after 50 injections of the new drug, the level is down to 1,200 to 1,290, which is a substantial decrease of the disease indicator," says Peter Andersen.

"The normal level for a person in the patient's age group is below 560. In blood, the level of neurofilament has fallen back to normal levels, and was down to 12 during the latest hospital visit. The normal level is less than 13."

The patient's level of function, measured using the scale ALSFRSR, is reduced compared to a healthy individual (48 points) but has stayed at almost the same level, around 35 to 37 points, for the last 18 monthsthat means that the patient's functional level is reduced by approximately 26% compared to a healthy individual.

A person with this aggressive type of ALS gene mutation that the patient has typically loses 11.5 points every month. That means that without treatment, the expected disease progression would have been very fast and given rise to substantial disability within 612 months, and, most likely, have lead to the patient's death in 2021.

"That this patient, more or less unimpeded, still can climb stairs four years after disease onset, that is somewhat of a miracle to see," says Karin Forsberg, a neurologist and researcher at the Department of Clinical Sciences who works alongside Peter Andersen and has researched SOD1 and ALS for more than two decades.

"To have succeeded with a drug treatment in this way is a great success and an inspiration. But it does not in any way mean that the job is done. This is just the beginning. It is also important to remember that the drug in question does not constitute a curative treatment, but it seems able to put the brake on disease progression. It gives us great hope to further develop pharmaceutical treatments for ALS-patients."

There are many types of ALS disease, and only 2% to 6% has an ALS disease caused by a mutation in the SOD1 gene. Many have a familial form of the disease, but mutations in SOD1 have also been found in so-called sporadic cases of ALS.

"Whether this drug has a similar effect on other types of ALS disease is currently unknown. There is need for much more research on the subject," says Peter Andersen.

The patient can still do almost all things that he could do when he first joined the study in the summer of 2020his speech is unaffected, and he manages to do everything himself, he mows the lawn, goes shopping, and takes care of his children. Mentally he also feels a lot better, mainly because he now dares to feel hope.

'This is only the beginning'

The study that the patient is participating in ends this summer. The medication is not yet available in Sweden, but it has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and on the 23 of February 2024 the European Medicines Agency, EMA, recommended the use of the drug on patients with SOD1 gene mutations within the European Union.

However, the New Therapies Council i Sweden has asked the regional health care providers not to prescribe the drug until a health economic evaluation has been provided by the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency.

"Our next step is to study the results from the patients receiving this drug. It has worked for some, but not all have seen the same positive effect. It could be a question of dosage, or at which disease stage the treatment was initiated. Maybe additional drugs are required to completely stop the process? Those are questions we now have to try and answer. This is only the beginning," says Karin Forsberg.

She pictures a future where treatment will be given based on what type of ALS disease the patient has, and that it most likely will require a combination of drugs. She emphasizes that there is much research being conducted both in Sweden and internationally to find new drug targets so that equivalent drugs can be developed for patient groups with other types of ALS, and she is hopeful that it will come true.

"We can measure in samples collected from the patient that the disease process is ongoing, but the patient's body seems able to compensate. Even now, four years after the patient started taking this new gene therapy drug. The Swedish Ethical Review Authority approved participation in these studies and now, several years later, we, as well as ALS physicians in other participating countries, see a clear clinical effect on many treated patients," says Peter Andersen.

"The next step will be to get approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority to study the compensatory mechanisms that treatment with this drug seems to have activated. There might be an opportunity here to get insights into how previously unknown parts of the nervous system work, and to develop even better new drugs."
Consumers watch Xiaomi's new energy vehicle model SU7 at a retail shop in Beijing, capital of China, March 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xiaomi has delivered 5,781 units of Xiaomi SU7 since the model was released 28 days ago, announced Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi Corp during the 2024 (18th) Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing on Thursday, adding a total of 75,723 orders for Mi SU7 had been locked by April 24.



Lei introduced that among locked Xiaomi SU7 orders, female buyers accounted for 28 percent, and it is expected that female owners reach to 40 percent to 50 percent. As many as 29 percent of SU7 owners are also car owners of a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, or an Audi. A total of 51.9 percent SU7 owners are Apple users. Lei said the SU7's monthly deliveries will exceed 10,000 units in June.

By the end of 2024, sales and service outlets are set to cover 46 cities with 219 stores, according to Lei.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The world is on the cusp of a neurotechnology revolution that could transform human health and welfare, but urgent action is needed to protect brain data, experts told AFP on Friday.

Medical neurotechnology breakthroughs have allowed paralyzed people to walk again, or deaf people to hear.

Elon Musk's firm Neuralink has also publicized advances with brain implants, pushing the idea they could one day be a lifestyle choice rather than a medical device.

But three experts gathered in Paris as part of a panel to advise UNESCO, the UN's agency for science and culture, told AFP the technology was already starting to proliferate.

"This is really a crucial moment in human history," said Marcello Ienca of the Technical University of Munich in Germany.

"For the first time, we are developing the tools to understand and modify the functioning of the human brain and modify the functioning of the human brain."

Ienca and the other experts interviewed by AFPresearch scientist Nataliya Kosmyna and entrepreneur Ryota Kanaistressed that the emerging field was much wider than isolated medical breakthroughs, with an array of consumer products already on the market.

They said the technology would be widely available in just a few years and ethical guidance would be vital.

UNESCO has formed a group of 24 experts to help draft an "ethical framework" for the emerging technology, hoping to get agreement from UN member states by the end of next year.

'A new species'

Musk has positioned himself at the center of efforts to publicize neurotechnology, making eye-catching claims suggesting humans could become telepathic or upload their consciousnesses and in effect live forever.

Kosmyna said some of Musk's more outlandish statements were probably aimed more at attracting potential investors than reflecting the reality of the technology.

But Kosmyna, who designs and develops wearable devices such as glasses and hats that process brain data, said the field had the potential to transform humanity.

"I absolutely believe in the augmented human and that we are about to create a new species," she said.

And although the experts were broadly skeptical of many of Musk's claims, they said his firm was doing some original work.

Ienca said Neuralink was the only firm currently thinking of brain implants for enhancement rather than medical needs.

However, the experts said wearable technology was far more likely to turn a profit in the short term.

"You not going to drill your skull, but you're going to wear these (devices)," said Kosmyna.

She estimated in the next five years classrooms and other settings would be revolutionised by wearable technology that would allow teachers to monitor their students and tell if they were bored, confused or engaged.

'Two-tier planet'

UNESCO is aiming to make sure that all such technology respects human rights.

"There can be no neurodata without neurorights," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in a statement.

Ienca pointed out that Apple had recently patented technology that will allow the next generation of Airpods to gather brain data.

"Apple will be able to collect brain activity information continuously from hundreds of millions of people," he said.

The data could be put to all sorts of usesfrom health care to marketingand needed to be protected, he said.

A secondary concern is making sure the products actually do what their manufacturers say.

Devices already on the market claim to all kinds of powersfrom solving mental health issues to boosting productivity at work.

"Even neuroscientists don't know if that kind of claim is true," said Kanai, CEO of Araya, a Japanese AI and neurotech firm.

Of much wider concern, said Ienca, was that we could create a "two-tier planet" divided between "the enhanced and the non-enhanced".

"This could be the end of human social cohesion as we know it," he said.

 2024 AFP
Newly appointed U.S. Circuit Judge Anthony D. Johnstone, a former University of Montana law school professor, heard oral arguments for two Montana cases on Friday in Missoula.

Johnstone was joined by Chief Circuit Judge Mary H. Murguia and Senior Circuit Judge Sidney R. Thomas. The three heard arguments for Lisa Sides v. Global Travel Alliance Inc., a case brought by families and students, some from Montana, looking at whether the plaintiffs were adequately refunded by the travel group over disrupted trips during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Global Travel Alliance is a service that plans and sells trip packages to students. It has offices in both Bozeman and Minnesota, according to its website. Bridget Asay, an attorney for the plaintiffs, asked the court to reverse a U.S. district court ruling and let the plaintiffs' claims over refund amounts go forward in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

When asked what duty or obligation the company breached when the trips were disrupted, Asay said Global Travel didnt refund prepaid trip fees.

She contended under Montana consumer law, the companys contract should be interpreted most strongly against its drafter, in this case Global Travel. Grounds for a class claim exist for students enrolled in trips in the spring of 2020 that didnt happen, she said, and the customers subsequently received less money back than they should have.

The breach by Global Travel was refusing to offer them a full refund, Asay said to the judges.

According to court documents filed for Global Travel Alliance, plaintiffs were offered alternatives to their plans, including flexible travel vouchers. If travelers didn't want to use those vouchers, the company would issue refunds pursuant to its standard cancellation policy.

A U.S. District Court judge previously sided with the travel company in granting it summary judgment and denying plaintiffs class action, Ian McIntosh, attorney for Global Travel Alliance, said on Friday. He asked the judges to uphold that decision. He added it's false the company kept the plaintiffs' money and the company used its standard cancellation party for the affected trips.

Arguments were also submitted for USA v. Hugo Yanez, a case with a defendant asking the appeals court to remedy a sentencing for a federal conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine charge tied to his alleged involvement in bringing drugs into Montana in 2018.

Johnstone was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in spring of 2023. He was nominated by President Joe Biden for the judgeship in September 2022.
RED ROCK LAKES NWR  Fisheries workers stand ready to start notching beaver dams on Red Rock Creek to ease passage upstream of spawning Arctic grayling.

Let the tail slapping begin.

A strategy last year to improve over-wintering habitat for the declining population of grayling in the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge east of Lima ran afoul of restrictions on human activities in a wilderness area.

The beaver dam plan emerged afterward.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a final environmental assessment and decision to move forward with notching of beaver dams along Red Rock Creek during the spring spawning run of Arctic grayling. Notching will occur on the creek between Upper Red Rock Lake and Corral Creek.

As envisioned, notching would typically remove one-fourth to one-third of each dam in late April or early May and beavers would rebuild the dams once high water recedes.

The fish of concern are adfluvial Arctic grayling, as opposed to the fluvial or river dwelling grayling whose dwindling numbers in the Big Hole River have caused decades of consternation.

According to one definition, adfluvial fish spawn in tributary streams where the young rear from one to four years before migrating to a lake system, where they grow to maturity.

In spring, the fish leave Upper Red Rock Lake, where grayling in the refuge overwinter, for spawning in the creek  portions of which meander through designated wilderness.

Notching will remove a portion of each beaver dam with primitive hand tools to ensure grayling have access to upstream spawning areas, reported the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The notching will in turn increase the chance of long-term persistence of the Centennial Valley grayling population through increased reproductive success, the service reported.

Fish and Wildlife described short-term negligible negative impacts to the untrammeled character of the [Red Rock Lakes Wilderness] during beaver dam notching.

The Red Rocks National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 53,000 acres, of which 32,350 acres were designated as wilderness in 1976. Upper Red Rock Lake is entirely within designated wilderness.

Critics of the notching plan who commented on a draft environmental assessment released in February observed that grayling evolved with beaver dams for thousands of years and have needed no human assistance to breach them for spawning. Several commenters also suggested refuge managers should pay more attention to nutrient pollution from upstream cattle grazing allotments.

Bill West, a wildlife biologist and former manager of the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, was at the refuge Wednesday. He said that during average or above average snowpack years beaver dam notching would not be necessary because grayling navigate past beaver dams when flow dynamics are high and water comes around the dam on either side.

He acknowledged that beaver dam notching might be necessary during low flow years for certain dams until the grayling population recovers.

West has long suggested that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks close Red Rock Creek to all angling in early spring.

On Wednesday, a half-dozen vehicles were parked upstream of Upper Red Rock Lake. Anglers reported catching cutthroat trout primarily, but also an occasional grayling, which were released.

In 2022, FWP closed fishing from May 1 through June 14 for the spawning runs and West said Wednesday he believes this is helping. The previous closing began later, on May 15.

It definitely was a good move, he said. I dont know if its enough.

Matt Jaeger, a Dillon-based fisheries biologist for FWP, said the earlier closing was established to protect grayling and embryos when grayling spawn earlier than normal.

But its important to state that the science has shown the grayling population is driven by overwinter conditions in Upper Lake, not angling or spawning habitat, Jaeger said Thursday.

Concerns about low levels of oxygen in Upper Red Rock Lake when ice and snow cover the shallow lake for prolonged periods led to a controversial plan last year to augment oxygen levels with a pipeline.

In August, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that the pipeline and work to install it would have a negative impact on the areas wilderness character and that the mere possibility the intervention would benefit the refuges grayling population did not justify its adoption.

Fish and Wildlife and FWP returned to the drawing board.

The agencies have previously described a sense of urgency to address the declining population of grayling in the refuge.

The current spawning population of 188 individuals is significantly lower than the Centennial Valley population goal of 1,000 fish, Fish and Wildlife has reported.

Centennial Valley grayling face an increased risk of inbreeding that likely would lead to the populations collapse if numbers continue to decline for three consecutive years, Fish and Wildlife said.

Neither West nor Fish and Wildlife believes cattle grazing on the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge has an impact on Upper Red Rock Lake through added nutrient loads and eutrophication in the shallow lake.

Fish and Wildlife reported that beaver dam notching on Fishtrap Creek, a tributary to the Big Hole River, resulted in successful grayling spawning being documented for the first time in 14 years.

The service said the number of intact beaver dams each spring has fluctuated since 2016 from eight to 50. The agency said that in 2015 the entire spawning population was trapped below a beaver dam and unable to access the preferred spawning habitat near Corral Creek.

George Ochenski, a longtime environmental watchdog, has described the beaver dam notching plan as "a total and useless waste of time, money and government resources.

He added, I really cant understand how, after millennia of evolving together, the managers think they have to step in between grayling and beavers to somehow assist the grayling in negotiating beaver dams. How did those poor fish ever manage to survive before humans managed the landscape?

Several other people commenting on the draft environmental assessment shared this position.

Fish and Wildlife acknowledged that beavers and fish have long coexisted but added that this reality does not invalidate the fact that beaver dams impede grayling passage  a concern because of the refuge populations vulnerability.

The agency also suggested contemporary environmental conditions and past landscape changes have channeled grayling spawning primarily to Red Rock Creek, where impediments to spawning passage could negatively affect the struggling population.

Fish and Wildlife and FWP continue to assert that poor overwintering conditions in Upper Red Rock Lake are a key contributor to population decline.

West has expressed skepticism about this hypothesis.

We dont know that Upper Red Rock Lake grayling die due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen). There is no direct data that show grayling are dying in Upper Red Rock Lake, he said last year.

Jessica Sutt, a spokeswoman last year for the Fish and Wildlife Service, did not disagree.

Refuge management does not have documentation of dead grayling due to hypoxia in Upper Red Rock Lake, she said.

Meanwhile, beavers along Red Rock Creek might be slapping their tails in the days ahead as notching cranks up.

We believe that action is needed urgently, to ensure persistence of the Centennial Valley grayling on the refuge, Fish and Wildlife said.
This spring, a legend returns to the foothills of western North Carolina: WNC Bigfoot Festival in May.

Theres two things that are certain about spring in western North Carolina, the weather is unpredictable and Bigfoot comes out of hibernation just in time for the WNC Bigfoot Festival. The largest Bigfoot-themed festival on the East Coast returns on Saturday, May 18, with a kick-start event on Friday, May 17, set for this year.

For years, the Bigfoot research group Bigfoot 911 has explored the mountains of western North Carolina and beyond searching for the elusive Bigfoot. After several close encounters with Sasquatch, the nonprofit team was inspired to host the first WNC Bigfoot Festival for believers, non-believers, skeptics and everyone in-between. Taking place in the groups hometown of Marion, the festival continues to draw an increasing number of attendees lured by all things squatchy and unusual in this Blue Ridge Mountain community.

2024s WNC Bigfoot Festival will kick off in downtown Marion, along the Main Street thoroughfare.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitors can hear from a variety of Bigfoot researchers, take part in a Bigfoot-themed contest and enjoy live music from the events Main Stage, located in front of the McDowell County Courthouse.

New to the WNC Bigfoot Festival is the inaugural Bigfoot Jam at The Box Factory (29 Logan St.), featuring live, local music kicking off the weekend celebration of all things Bigfoot. The inaugural Bigfoot Jam takes place the night before, on Friday, May 17, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.

On the day of the WNC Bigfoot Festival, opening ceremonies will start at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. During this portion of the event, Marion Mayor Steve Little will present event organizers, Bigfoot 911, with a proclamation naming Bigfoot the official animal of Marion, N.C.

Along with notable Bigfoot and cryptid researchers speaking throughout the day, new additions to the WNC Bigfoot Speaker roster include paranormal researchers and personalities, including author Margaret Langley (Haunted Broughton), and Paranormal Roadtripper Zach Bales. Regional Bigfoot and Sasquatch Researchers (NC Squatch Watchers) and BFRO (Bigfoot Field Research Organization) will also be present at the festival.

The infamous Flavors on Main Bigfoot Calling Contest starts around noon, with randomly selected individuals competing for a chance to win. Names will be drawn prior to the calling contest to determine the competitors. Those wanting to be in the calling contest can enter the drawing at the Bigfoot 911 booth across from the stage on the courthouse lawn. Cost is $1 per ticket to enter.

Marions nonprofit organizations, restaurants and businesses have created a variety of Sasquatch-themed activities, dishes, drinks and memorabilia that visitors can indulge in before, during and after the festival. McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA) will be hosting a local artist Bigfoot Pop-Up Market, along with limited edition WNC Bigfoot Festival glasses and swag available for purchase from select establishments (Refinery 13, Flavors on Main).

Attendees can also explore more than 165 vendor booths featuring a variety of Bigfoot-themed products. To ensure a more comfortable festival experience, the city of Marion will now have two food vendor courts for festivalgoers to explore when appetites hit squatchy levels.

Visitors at Saturdays portion of the event are encouraged to take advantage of satellite parking areas located at McDowell Technical Community College, Corpening Memorial YMCA, and McDowell High School. Parking shuttles will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

For a map of satellite parking areas and up-to-date information about the WNC Bigfoot Festival, visit MarionBigfootFestival.com.
A property caretaker employed by a company owning over 1000 rental houses across various estates in Nairobi County is facing charges of embezzling Kes.663,000 in rent.

The accused, responsible for rent collection from tenants residing in properties developed by Kaggs Investment Limited, appeared before Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi.

Prosecution counsel Nyakera Kibera informed the court that the caretaker purportedly misappropriated funds collected from tenants as monthly rent between January 28, 2017, and June 14, 2020.

The Court also heard that Kaggs Investment Limited owns properties in Eastleigh, Mlango Kubwa, Ngara, Kariobangi South, Thika Road, and Mombasa Road within Nairobi County.

As per court records, the accused received the funds but failed to remit them to the company.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Through their defense counsel, the accused sought release on reasonable bond, citing an existing bond in a similar case where Kaggs Investment Limited is the complainant.

Your Honour, there is another criminal matter pending before the court, similar to this one, with the same complainant involved in both cases, the magistrate was informed.

The court heard that in the other case, the accused stands accused of embezzling Kes.500,000 from Kaggs between January 2017 and June 2020.

Ms. Shitubi granted the accused a bond of Kes.100,000 with a surety of similar amount or alternatively, a cash bail of Kes.60,000.

The case is scheduled for mention on May 7, 2023, for pre-trial and directions.
In the escalating feud between flamboyant lawyer Donald Kipkorir and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, the lawyer has today written an open letter the governor.

To recap, DBK is demanding over Sh1.6 billion from Nairobi County in legal fees, a figure that Sakaja has vowed not to pay.

Last week, Kipkorir accused Sakaja of using intermediaries to demand a 50% bribe so that the money can be released. He then urged EACC to investigate the matter.

Now that fear has gone, I can tell you something  Last month, Nairobi County Assembly Budget Committee together with Governor Sakaja Johnson were in Naivasha preparing the Countys Supplementary Budget. They called me that they want to approve all my payments if I give them 50% of the sums I am owed. I told them, my fees are in accordance with The Advocates (Remuneration) Order & decreed by Court & I wont pay a bribe.

Sakaja soon responded, denying the allegations and urging Kipkorir to name the specific person who asked for the bribe.

The two are still at it, and on Friday morning, the lawyer reiterated his stance that the money hes owed must be paid. He repeated the 50% bribe accusations, and also mentioned Sakajas alleged fake degree.

He also rubbished Sakajas ambitions, telling him that he has no chance in assuming any higher elected office.

Its clear theres no love lost between the two.

Heres the open letter.

Open letter to Sakaja Johnson My friends inform me that you were in a radio station today morning abusing me. Let me restate the following for HISTORY:

1. I have acted for NAIROBI CITY during the reigns of Zipporah Wandera, Philip Kisia, Evans Kidero & Mike Sonko. In all the matters I acted for the City, I won ALL the cases. I didnt lose any case. NOT ONE. Check your records.

2. As City Hall wasnt paying my legal fees, SUO MOTO, I ceased being a lawyer for Nairobi City in 2018.

3. Legal Fees in Kenya are regulated by The Advocates Act & its subsidiary legislation, The Advocates (Remuneration) Order. It is not based on the whims of any individual. And not yours. My fees will be paid in accordance with the law.

4. What you fail to inform your listeners is that the High Court refused to grant you stay Orders on my fees. So, I dont understand your false bluster and bravado. But I guess you dont read or understand advise from your current Attorneys.

5. You pay Legal Fees to those that give you 50% of it. You pay other Contractors & Suppliers who give you upto 30%. You approve building construction to those that allocate you floors or apartments.

6. As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, very soon, very soon, both @EACCKenya & @DCI_Kenya will arrest & charge you with the plethora of corruption & open public theft.

7. Know that there is no time limitation on crime in Kenya. You may have had political cover in 2022 that allowed you to run on a forged Degree from River Road but soon, you will be charged with FORGERY, Uttering Forged Document & Perjury. You will refund all the money you have illegally earned & stolen

8. You will never replace DP Rigathi Gachagua in 2027 nor run for Presidency in 2032. Kenyans now know you are a fraudster & a charlatan. Your ambition to amass Billions to replace Riggy G is a fools errand.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN!
You are here: Business

Photo taken on May 10, 2021 shows a piece of gold ornament on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's gold output and consumption both saw steady growth in the first quarter of 2024, industry data showed Friday.



China produced 85.959 tonnes of gold in the first quarter, up 1.16 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the China Gold Association (CGA).

In the first three months, gold consumption in China stood at 308.905 tonnes, up 5.94 percent year on year, CGA data showed.

Specifically, consumption of gold jewelry in the Chinese market fell 3 percent compared with the same period last year to 183.922 tonnes, while that of gold bars and coins surged 26.77 percent year on year to 106.323 tonnes.

Consumption of gold for industrial and other use gained 3.09 percent from the previous year to 18.66 tonnes from January to March.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) says it will not extend the ongoing Tax Amnesty Programme beyond its June deadline.

Stressing the programs success, the taxman states that over 500,000 taxpayers have benefited from the ongoing Programme, allowing them to rectify their tax compliance status.

KRA reports it has waived penalties and interests totaling Kes.244.7 billion for taxpayers who previously defaulted on tax filing and payment.

The Authority is urging more taxpayers who have not filed their returns or have accrued penalties and interest on unpaid taxes to seize this opportunity before the Amnesty program concludes on June 30, 2024.

There will be no amnesty, waiver, or write-offs on penalties and interests after 30th June 2024, KRA said Thursday.

It added: Its important to note that there will be no further amnesties or waivers after this date, and the programme does not apply to customs and import duties.

Introduced under the Finance Act of 2023, the Tax Amnesty Programme enables taxpayers to receive amnesty on penalties and interest accrued up to December 31, 2022, upon full payment of their principal taxes by June 30, 2024.
On Thursday, President William Ruto officially opened the Ultra-modern Kes.9.6 billion Bunge Tower in Nairobi.

The launch, initially scheduled for Friday, April 19, was moved up following the tragic helicopter crash involving military personnel, including Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla.

Addressing attendees after the launch, President Ruto challenged MPs to enhance their output in serving Kenyans, citing the improved facilities now available to them.

We expect world-class oversight, world-class representation and world-class legislation, and you have no reason not to give us and the people of Kenya the best of what you can do, he said.

RELATED  MPs Begin Occupying Kes.9B Bunge Tower after 14-Year Wait

Ruto also urged Parliament to reduce its budget, citing the towers potential to lower the cost of legislative activities.

Additionally, Ruto called on Parliament to trim its budget, highlighting the towers ample space for committee meetings, and eliminating the need for hotel venues.

Now that we have all the facilities here, I expect that I will see a significant drop in the budget of parliament, it must reflect somewhere. As you appropriate the next budget remember that parliament does not require a budget to go to hotels, he added.

Below are some photos of the Bunge Tower.
The Ministry of National Defense spokesman Wu Qian. [Photomod.gov.cn]

A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday said a recent joint statement issued by Japan, the Philippines, and the United States disregards facts, confuses right with wrong, and makes groundless accusations against China.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query regarding the U.S.-Japan-Philippines joint statement, which touches on the situation at Ren'ai Jiao in Nansha Qundao, issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and question related to China's Taiwan region.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, which is solidly grounded in history and the law, said Wu.

He noted that the scope of the Philippines' territory is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, the 1900 Treaty Between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States of America for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention Between the United States of America and Great Britain Delimiting the Boundary Between the Philippine Archipelago and the State of North Borneo.

Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao are far beyond the scope of Philippine territory defined by the above-mentioned treaties, Wu said. "The Philippine side knows all these very well," he said.

Regarding Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands, Wu said they were first discovered, named and exploited by China and had long been under China's jurisdiction since the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while Japan stole Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands during the First Sino-Japanese War.

In accordance with such international legal documents as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, Diaoyu Dao was returned to China in terms of international law, Wu said, stressing that this has long been a recognized fact of the international community.

It is wishful thinking for the Japanese side to stir up disputes over the sovereignty of these islands, he added.

As for the so-called South China Sea arbitration and ruling, Wu said they breached due principles and procedures, and seriously violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other general international laws.

He said the arbitral tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires, and rendered an award in disregard of the law.

The arbitration violates UNLOS and general international law. The rendered award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize the award.

"By the way, the US itself has a terrible record of delivering on international arbitration. It rejects to accept legitimate arbitrations multiple times, let alone illegal ones like this. We ask the US side to reflect on itself thoroughly before pointing its fingers at others," he said.

Noting that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and requires no external interference, Wu said the U.S., Japanese, and Philippine governments have all made solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan question.

"We urge the above-mentioned countries to honor their words and to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining regional peace and stability," said Wu.
PRNewswire Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 26: Giving the Hospitality industry its much deserved recognition and acknowledging the contribution of hospitality stalwarts and every person associated with the industry, the International Hospitality Council (IHC) and IIHM got together once again to celebrate International Hospitality Day 2024 on 24th April 2024. As Chairman of the International Hospitality Council (IHC), Prof David Foskett said in his special address on the occasion of International Hospitality Day, "Hospitality brings light and hope to so many people. We take this opportunity to honour and celebrate those people who work hard to bring pleasure and comfort to others across the world. These professionals are an inspiration to the next generation of hoteliers. To be human is to be hospitable. By celebrating the lives of these industry legends, IIHM and IHC aim to bring hope and inspiration to future generations." The key highlights of the celebrations on this special occasion included, the third FIIHM Convocation, conferring of the Lifetime Achievement Award and a Global Conference. The International Hospitality Day global celebration opened with a grand and inspiring speech by Dr Suborno Bose, CEO and Convenor, International Hospitality Council and Chairman, IIHM. He said, "International Hospitality Day is celebrated in over 100 countries, in hotels, cafes and restaurants. This is something that we aspired 10 years back and we have achieved that feat. Talent is a scarcity and we want to inspire youngsters to join this wonderful industry. I remember how we requested Ratan Tata, the Emeritus Chairman of Tata Group to be inducted in the Hall of Fame right in his office in Mumbai. We celebrate everyone involved in the hospitality industry and we will continue to celebrate the contribution of each and everyone in the future as well." Legendary hotelier, Nakul Anand, who helmed the YCO Global Advisory Council in 2024 and who had received the Lifetime Achievement Award previously, sent his best wishes and inspirational words on this special day, "I wish the very best to the Global Hospitality Summit taking place today. My compliments go to Dr Suborno Bose and IIHM for the work they are doing in developing future future talent for this industry. I would like to reiterate that the future has never looked brighter for this industry with our eyes set on making Indian tourism a trillion dollar economy with 50 million international tourists and 15 billion domestic tourists by 2047. The manpower required to manage this influx is unimaginable and I compliment team IIHM for their contribution." One of the most iconic moments of the International Hospitality Day celebrations is presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Awards 2024. This year IIHM Global Director, Neil Rippington, was present to do the honours on the virtual platform. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to some iconic hospitality personalities who have contributed immensely to the hospitality and culinary industry. The award this year went to: * Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of the Exclusive Collection Group of hotels and country homes * Chef Anton Mossiman OBE DL, renowned Swiss Chef and Restauranteur. He was Maitre Chef de Cuisines at the Dorchester Hotel for 13 years. * Chef Jeff Galvin, the young brother of Chef Chris Galvin and co-founder of a number of prestigious restaurants in London. * Patu Keswani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Lemon Tree Group of Hotels On receiving this great honour, celebrity chef and restaurateur, Anton Mosimann, OBE DL, said, "It is a great honour to be recognized by the International Hospitality Council and IIHM. I have 50 gold medals but this honour will take a special place in my heart." The third FIIHM Convocation Ceremony was held on this day as well. The President of the IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows, Diwan Gautam Anand, said in his address, "IHC and IIHM's contribution to the transformation of education, development and growth and an eye on the future is an exemplar to the Indian, Asian and European entrepreneurs. Your stewardship is a beacon of international togetherness coupled with your community of global greats. You are making the hoteliers of the future." The exhaustive list of FIIHM Awardees at the IHD 2024 ceremony included: * David Russell, CEO, Russell Partnership * Jayen Mehta, MD, Amul * Harshwardhan Mehta, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group * Viraj Bahl, Founder and MD, Veeba * KB Kachru, Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group * Vikas Khanna, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur * Sarah Hartnett, executive pastry chef, Smart Group * Stefan Breg, Managing Partner, Keane Consulting * Steven Munkley, Consultant Chef * Rashmi Uday Singh, TV Personality and Author * Sidharth Gupta, Co Founder and CEO, Treebo Hotels * SP Jain, Chairman and MD Pride Hotels * Dato' Abdul Wahab Zamzani, Malaysian Celebrity Chef On receiving the honour, David Russell said, "I feel proud and honoured and treasured to be a part of the IIHM International College of Distinguished Fellows. To be able to support the next generation of hospitality professionals is a passion that I would love to share with IIHM." Jayen Mehta expressed his gratitude for the support to the dairy community, "On behalf of 3.6 million farmers who are a part of the Amul Dairy Co-operative I would like to thank Dr Bose and IIHM for recognizing the efforts of Amul." The International Hospitality Day 2024 celebrations were marked by special panel discussions by eminent hospitality personalities. Panel Discussion 1 was Views from the Top: the Future of Hospitality. The discussion was moderated by Neil Rippington with Prof David Foskett OBE and Mr Rajiv Kaul. The second Panel discussion was on Considerations in AI Adoption in Hospitality. The session was moderated by Harish Chandra, Managing Director, Technology, HotelKey. The panelists included Dr Sophal Ear, renowned academic and Associate Professor Thunderbird School of Global Management, Nayana Arya, Co-President, Artificial Intelligence Club, Thunderbird School of Global Management. The third discussion was fire-side chat on the topic of Experiential Learning and Industry Partnerships: Enhancing Hospitality Education for Real-World Success by Dr Swaroop Sinha, Head of ITC Hospitality Management Institute and Paul Jervis, Head of School, Westminster Kingsway College, London. About IIHM IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is one of the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MoU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World. The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India. Please visit for more information: www.iihm.ac.in Contact: Abdullah AhmedCOO, IIHM Hotel School GroupT: +91-(0)11-43204700E: Abdullah.ahmed@iihm.ac.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2397684/IIHM_IHC.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256068/4623101/IIHM_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
According to ADB, under its Strategy 2030, ADB continues to sustain efforts to address the changing needs of the region through innovative initiatives and strategic reforms.

The ADB's Strategy 2030 sets out seven operational priorities and other focus areas such as expanding private sector operations, catalyzing financial resources, and strengthening knowledge services.

In 2023, ADB delivered total commitments of USD 23.6 billion, continuing its robust support for the region's development needs. This included significant disbursements of USD 17.8 billion.

ADB's Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR) reported a net income of USD 938 million in 2023, with an allocable net income of USD 1,423 million.

Despite a decrease in net income, primarily due to unrealized losses from fair value changes of financial instruments, the allocable net income increased, driven by higher income from liquidity investments and lower administrative expenses.

ADB's lending operations continued to grow, with loans outstanding reaching USD 151.0 billion by the end of 2023.

ADB successfully transitioned all non-sovereign OCR loans from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)-based loans to the Flexible Loan Product (FLP) by the end of 2023, ensuring alignment with global financial standards.

In September 2023, ADB's Board of Directors approved capital management reforms unlocking USD 100 billion in new funding capacity over the next decade. T

These reforms, introduced through an update of ADB's Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF), aim to address multiple crises in Asia and the Pacific, including climate change.

ADB adopted a new operating model aimed at increasing its capacity as the region's climate bank. This model aims to deliver USD 100 billion in cumulative climate finance from 2019 to 2030, strengthen private sector development, provide high-quality development solutions for member countries, and modernize working methods to enhance responsiveness and agility.

ADB introduced the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific Financing Partnership Facility (IF-CAP FPF) in April 2023.

This program aims to ramp up support for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the region by providing grants and guarantees to cover a portfolio of ADB sovereign loans.

Furthermore, the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) Trust Fund was established in April 2023, with the aim of catalyzing up to USD 2 billion in new education loans through guarantees for ADB sovereign loans.

These initiatives underscore ADB's commitment to addressing the region's most pressing challenges and advancing sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific. (ANI)
ATK New Delhi [India], April 26: With anticipation reaching its peak, the countdown is on for the much-awaited release of Foram Shah's latest Hindi romantic ballad, "Teri Baahon ka Ghera." This song promises to captivate listeners with its evocative melody and poignant lyrics. As the release date draws near, excitement mounts among fans eager to experience the magic of Foram's soul-stirring performance. Collaborating with an esteemed team of musical talents, including composer Dominic Fernandes and lyricist Vaidehi Mehta, team has crafted a masterpiece that transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the depths of the human experience. Foram expresses, "Teri Baahon ka Ghera is very special to me. It's a song that speaks to the deepest emotions of love and longing. I believe it will resonate with listeners on a profound level." "I poured my heart and soul into every note of 'Teri Baahon ka Ghera,' and I can't wait for listeners to experience the emotion behind each lyric. I hope 'Teri Baahon ka Ghera' becomes a cherished part of people's lives, evoking emotions and memories for years to come," says Foram, looking ahead to the release of her latest masterpiece. Dominic Fernandes, the composer of the song, shares, "Working with Foram on 'Teri Baahon ka Ghera' has been an incredible journey. Her dedication and passion for music are truly inspiring, and I believe this song will touch the hearts of audiences worldwide." About her last International Music Concert, Foram Said, "Performing in Spain was a dream come true for me. The love and support from my fans across borders mean the world to me, and I'm grateful for every opportunity to share my music with them." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
In a ceremonial event held at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, the IAF and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage DigiLocker's secure and accessible document repository services.

This integration is expected to revolutionize the way critical service documents of IAF personnel, both serving and retired, are issued, accessed, and verified digitally. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology, the IAF reaffirms its commitment to data security, operational efficiency, and seamless access to information.

Authorized IAF departments and divisions will now be able to seamlessly upload digital records, certificates, and vital documents to the national DigiLocker repository, ensuring secure storage and easy accessibility.

IAF officers will have direct access to their crucial documents, such as the Certificate of Service (COS) and Service Book Officers (SBO), through their personal DigiLocker wallets, enabling convenient retrieval and verification.

The integration with DigiLocker will streamline various processes within the IAF, including the Agniveer Vayu recruitment, where the candidate's academic document verification will be conducted digitally, enhancing transparency and credibility.

Speaking on the occasion, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, lauded this initiative as "a watershed moment in India's digital transformation journey, catalyzing governance through technological empowerment of citizens and the armed forces alike."

With over 269 million registered users and a staggering 6.73 billion issued documents, DigiLocker is rapidly emerging as a national standard for digital document exchange platforms.

The IAF's integration with DigiLocker signifies a significant stride towards comprehensive digital transformation, aligning with the nation's technological prowess and the armed forces' modernization efforts. (ANI)
Actor Kiccha Sudeepa cast his vote at the polling booth in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Friday during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The actor, clad in white casual attire, arrived at his designated polling station in Karnataka to get his finger inked. Following his participation in the democratic process, Kiccha Sudeepa urged the citizens to exercise their right to vote. After casting his vote, he told ANI, "It is a big day. Voting is a hope, not an assurance. The problems are rising in our country. Now, the request should not be for people to come out to vote but for the political leaders for whom we are voting." https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783760896734760978 At the Karnataka assembly elections in May 2023, Kiccha Sudeep extended his support to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai during the high-octane elections campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party, a move that was heavily criticised by the opposition. Exactly one-half of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Congress-ruled Karanataka is polling currently in the second phase. The seats polling in Phase 1 in the state are Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikballapur, and Kolar. The BJP grabbed the bulk of the electoral spoils in the 2019 Lok Sabha Sabha elections, winning 25 of the 28 seats. This time, however, the BJP has set aside three seats for the JDS, its alliance partner in the state. The three constituencies where the JDS has put candidates are Hassan, Mandya, and Kolar. Polling for the second phase in 88 seats across 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) began at 7 am on Friday and will conclude at 6 pm. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased general elections was conducted successfully on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the overall voter turnout in the opening phase was recorded at over 62 per cent. The third phase of the elections will be held on May 7. (ANI)
Delhi's Rohini Court has taken a serious view of the conduct of an advocate during the hearing who provoked and tried to hit counsels for other parties in a domestic violence case. The Court has asked the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) and Rohini Court Bar Association to take appropriate action against him. Metropolitan Magistrate Renu has asked both bodies to take action and file a report by the next date. The matter has been listed on August 22, 2024, for hearing. The court is dealing with a case of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act pertaining to the area under police station Shalimar Bagh. The court is hearing the matter on the point of maintainability. "When advocate Vaibhav Nijhawa counsel for the respondent was addressing the arguments, the counsel for the petitioner was unnecessarily provoking the counsel for the respondent by interrupting in between despite the warning of court," Metropolitan Magistrate Renu said in the order passed on April 22. The court said that he "tried to hit" Nijhawa and when the co-counsels for the respondent, tried to intervene, the counsel for the petitioner "pushed" both of them. The court directed to send a copy of the order to the Rohini Court Bar Association and Bar Council of Delhi for appropriate action. (ANI)
The Congress Party released a list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections from Haryana, fielding Kumari Selja from Sirsa and Deepender Singh Hooda from Rohtak. Mahendra Pratap will contest the elections from Faridabad and Varun Choudhary from Ambala. The Congress has fielded Jai Prakash from Hisar, Divyanshu Budhiraja from Karnal, Satpal Brahmachari from Sonipat, and Rao Dan Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh. The Lok Sabha elections for the 10 parliamentary constituencies of Haryana are going to be held in a single phase on May 25. Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana Anurag Aggarwal has taken a unique initiative of sending invitation letters to voters urging them to cast their vote to ensure maximum voting in the state which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25, authorities said on Thursday. They said that the booth-level officer will welcome voters to take the voter turnout to 75 per cent in the state. In a post in hindi on social media platform X, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Haryana said, "To ensure maximum voting in Haryana in the Lok Sabha General Elections- 2024, a unique initiative has been taken by the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, under which invitation cards will be sent to the voters like a wedding to call them to vote this time". "Like a wedding ceremony, booth-level officers will welcome voters. This time the target is to take the voting percentage to 75 percent in Haryana. Voting is to be held on May 25 under the sixth phase in the state and the notification for the elections will be issued on April 29," DPR Haryana added in its post. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the BJP swept the state, capturing all 10 seats. In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 7 seats, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won 2 seats and the Congress secured only one seat. The first phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections was held on Friday. The polling was held in 108 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. The next round of voting will be held on April 26. The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)
Alleging threat to his life, Purnia Lok Sabha Independent candidate Pappu Yadav voiced concerns over alleged political harassment and conspiracies aimed towards him by the opposition parties in the region. Congress leader Pappu Yadavdecided to go solo after being denied a ticket from the Purnia Lok Sabha constituency. Pappu had represented Purnia three times between 1991 and 2004. As per an arrangement among the opposition parties within the INDIA bloc in the state, the RJD put forward Bima Bharti, who had previously been associated with JD(U), as their candidate from Purnea, thus denying the Congress the opportunity to contest from that constituency. However, after former MP Rajesh Ranjan, better known as Pappu Yadav decided to contest the seat alone, the 'Pappu' factor is worrying both Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Yadav, a prominent figure in the region, revealed the challenges he has faced, including recent attempts to seize his car, harassment by law enforcement, and purported threats to his life. "I am a son who has received blessings. No matter how much people tried to put me down, tried to harass and murder me politically, including conspiracies to even harm and kill me, my car being seized, and harassment by the police prosecution. Some people even called the criminal and mafias against me, there has been so much mental torture in the past few days" Exuding confidence of his victory from the seat, Yadav asserted that there is a "Pappu" wave in the region. "I considered Purnea as my mother and decided to contest alone. Why do you think Purnea is a hot seat today. It is the blessings of the people from here. No Narendra Modi, no Nitish Kumar, No Lalu Yadav from here, Just Pappu," he said. Purnia insinuated an indirect attack by stating, "Someone wrote a Mahabharat script in Patna, after I joined the Congress party. The result of that Mahabharat will be given by the public on June 4."Janata Dal (United) has fielded two-time incumbent sitting MP Santosh Kumar from the seat as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In the 2019 general elections at Purnia seat, Santosh Kumar got 6,32,924 votes on the JD(U) ticket, while Congress candidate Uday Singh, alias Pappu Singh, got 3,69,463 votes.The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, is contesting 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia. Voting for the second Phase in Bihar began on Friday. The five constituencies which are going to poll in the second phase are Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, and Banka. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling was concluded on April 19. The second phase of voting began on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. (ANI)
BJP leader Vasundhara Raje on Friday cast her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar. While speaking to the media, she stated that the country desires progress, which is why the BJP will win another term and PM Narendra Modi will secure a third term. "The country wants development, this is why BJP will form the government again and PM Narendra Modi will win a third term. Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh has been receiving good support... I believe he will create history this time as well... We can never take anything for granted. Everything is in the hands of God and the voters," She said. Rajasthan is voting on 13 seats today in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies, including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Voting began at 7 am today and will conclude at 6 pm. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. The second phase of polling was to be held on 89 seats but it has been deferred to May 7 in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, due to the death of the BSP candidate. Several opposition parties have come together to form INDIA bloc to put up common candidates against the BJP. Interesting battles are lined up in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and some prominent personalities are also in the fray. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is re-contesting from Wayanad. In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is seeking a fourth consecutive term. Battles in Rajasthan in the second phase of the polls include two union ministers, a former Assembly Speaker and the sons of two former chief ministers. Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is again in the fray from Mathura. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from Rajnandgaon, DK Suresh from Bangalore Rural, and Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase of the election will be held on May 7. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attacked the INDIA bloc over the Supreme Court decision rejecting the plea for 100 per cent VVPAT verification of EVM votes and said every leader of the opposition grouping has "committed the sin" of creating doubts in minds of people about Electronic Voting Machine and "their dreams have been shattered". Addressing an election rally here, PM Modi alleged that RJD and Congress alliance in Bihar neither cares about the constitution of India nor about democracy. "They did not let people exercise their right to vote for decades. Booth capturing was very common... They did not even let the people step out to vote... Now when the poor and honest voters have the strength of EVM, they are trying all they can to get rid of the EVM... Today, the Supreme Court has given a strong verdict saying that the old system of ballot paper voting will not come back," PM Modi said. He said opposition parties should apologise to the people for creating doubts about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). "Today, the whole world praises India for its democracy, for its election process, and its use of technology in the election process and these people for their own self-interest were defaming the EVMs. These people have continuously tried to betray democracy," he said. Targeting RJD and INDIA bloc parties, he alleged they are the people who for decades snatched the rights of the poor through the excuse of ballot paper. "Polling booths were looted, paper ballots were looted. Today when voters have been empowered, those who indulged in loot on election day, tried to snatch, they are also uneasy, they have one task day and night that EVM should not be there," he said. "See the power of democracy and constitution of Dr Ambedkar. The Supreme Court has given such a shock to those who had the intention to loot ballot boxes that all their dreams have been shattered. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the old system of ballot paper will not return," he said. The Supreme Court of India on Friday rejected all the petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of EVMs votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. PM Modi said that the love from the people is a big source of energy for him. "The love of Araria is a big source of energy for me. I will work hard and in the third term, there will be more decisions taken for the benefit of the nation and people." With 88 seats witnessing polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi urged people to vote in maximum numbers. "I would like to appeal to the voters, especially the youth voters, to go out and vote...there should be an environment of festival at the polling booths," he said. PM Modi said the verdict of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is to make India strong economically and people of Bihar have an important role to play. "Today, there are two main streams in politics. One stream is BJP-led NDA which wants to strengthen the people of India... on the other side is INDI alliance which wants to fill their own pockets by seizing the property of the people," he alleged. The PM also highlighted the work done by the BJP for the people of the state and said under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the farmers of Araria received Rs 1600 crore directly in their bank accounts. "People of Bihar still shudder at the memory of the Jungle Raj. People from Araria and Seemanchal have made up their mind to teach a lesson to the nepotistic parties...," PM Modi said. (ANI)
Hitting out at the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Muger has suffered the most during the "dark era" of "Jungle Raj" in Bihar under the RJD's rule. He added that the Congress and RJD want to "loot" the wealth of the people and give it to their "special vote bank." Addressing a public meeting in Munger, Bihar, PM Modi said, "There is an NDA model on one side and there is an INDI Alliance model on the other. INDI alliance model is appeasement (tushtikaran) and NDA's model is satisfaction (santushtikaran). We have to ensure that no one is left behind. We gave toilets, gas, electricity connections, and water facilities to our mothers and sisters. We gave free ration and free medical treatment." "We never asked anyone about the religion or caste of the beneficiaries...anyone who is eligible will get the benefits. This is true secularism and true social justice," he added. He further said that BJP has taken the state of Bihar out of the "dark era" of Jungle Raj and it is time for the state to undergo rapid progress. "The world also thinks that the stronger the government in India, the world will also get the same strength... India's reputation has improved in the last 10 years, it is not because of Modi but because of the power of your one vote," PM Modi said. "Munger has suffered the most during the Jungle Raj that took place during the dark era of 'Laalten' (lantern -- symbol of RJD). At that time, everyone wanted to migrate out of there. But, Nitish Kumar, JD(U) and BJP have taken Bihar out of that darkness. Now when India is progressing at a rapid pace, this is also the time for Bihar to grow strongly," he added. Accusing the INDIA bloc of "appeasement", the Prime Minister said that the Congress party has set its eyes on the wealth of people and wants to conduct an x-ray, adding that it will seize more than half of the properties inherited by the people. "The INDI alliance is using all its might for appeasement. The 'Shehzada' of Congress has said something which will bring a problem for everyone... He has said that a survey would be conducted for every family. The families have small properties and savings, women have some jewellery. The 'Stree Dhan' is considered sacred. Congress, which looted the country with corruption, has now set its eyes on your properties," PM Modi said. "Congress wants to impose an inheritance tax. They say they will conduct an x-ray of every family. Today, you are able to pass on your properties to your children. But, Congress is planning...the guru of Shehzada (veiled jibe at Sam Pitroda) has said that they will seize more than half of your property. Now, two out of four-room houses, five acres out of 10-acre land, you will have to give to the government. The INDI alliance has come up with this dangerous plan," he added. Slamming the RJD, the Prime Minister said that it also wants to "enjoy" this idea of Congress and that's why it is walking shoulder-to-shoulder on this scheme. "During all this discussion, the RJD is silent because they also want to be a participant in its property and enjoy it...Through the Inheritance Tax, Congress and RJD will distribute your looted wealth to their special vote bank. The whole country is worried. Every youth and old parent is worried. The country is saying, 'Congress ki loot, Zindagi ke sath bhi, Zindagi ke baad bhi'...They will loot even after death. RJD is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the Congress in this scheme," PM Modi further said. The 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state failed to open its account. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. Meanwhile, as part of the NDA, BJP and JD(U) will contest on 17 and 16 seats respectively. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest on five seats, and Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha will contest one seat each. (ANI)
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Flash floods caused by ongoing torrential rains have left 155 dead and 236 others injured in Tanzania, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told parliament on Thursday.

People walk through a flooded road in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on April 25, 2024. Flash floods caused by ongoing torrential rains have left 155 dead and 236 others injured in Tanzania, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told parliament on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Flash floods have been reported in 14 out of the 26 regions in mainland Tanzania, affecting 200,000 people and damaging 10,000 houses, Majaliwa told the House in the capital, Dodoma.

School infrastructure, farm crops, roads, bridges, health facilities, and livestock were impacted by the floods, he said.

The government has taken steps aimed at preventing further catastrophic situations, like ordering the closure of schools in areas severely affected by the floods, Majaliwa said.

The Tanzania National Roads Agency, the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency, and the Tanzania Railways Corporation have been ordered to undertake an urgent assessment of damaged roads and railways for immediate renovation, he said.

The heavy rains, influenced by El-Nino conditions, are expected to last through May, according to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority.
Senior citizens, including a 94-year-old woman, cast votes at a polling station in the Ukhrul district of Outer Manipur for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Volunteers were seen assisting the elderly at the polling station in Manipur as polling commenced for the remaining part of the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on Friday. Another senior citizen also cast her vote at the polling station after she was assisted to the polling station by her family members. The voting is taking place at 857 polling stations across 13 assembly segments in eight districts in the second phase today. Meanwhile, another elderly woman who cast her vote for the Darjeeling Parliamentary Constituency in West Bengal expressed happiness and said that the polling had been taking place in a good and peaceful manner. "This has been a very good and peaceful election. For that, we are very grateful to the people and everybody else. The Government should carry on the way they are doing things," said the elderly voter in Darjeeling. The voter was assisted in a wheelchair by other volunteers as she was on her way to the polling station. Police used drones for surveillance in the Ukhrul district prior to the second phase of the Lok Sabha on Friday. Ukhrul comes under the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency. Naga People's Front's (NPF) Kachui Timothy Zimik is contesting against Congress's Alfred K. Arthur here. Earlier, re-polling was held in 11 polling stations of the Inner Manipur constituency on April 22, after multiple incidents of violence were reported during the first phase of polling on April 19. Unidentified miscreants opened fire and even destroyed EVMs, according to sources. The re-polling was done under tight security to avoid any mishaps. The constituency of Outer Manipur is currently held by Lorho Phoze of the Naga People Front. This time, however, the NPF is going into the polls as a partner in the BJP-led NDA. The BJP, earlier, announced its support for the NPF candidate for Outer Manipur, Kachui Timothy Zimik. Zimik is up against Congress MLA Alfred K Arthur, who is the joint Opposition candidate of the INDIA bloc. Manipur saw a voter turnout of over 69 per cent on April 19. The voting for the remaining 13 segments of Outer Manipur will be held in the second phase on April 26. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader Muhammed Arif 'Naseem' Khan, who was one of the star campaigners for Lok Sabha elections, resigned from the campaign committee of the party after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra didn't field a single Muslim candidate in the polls. In the letter referred to Congress President, Khan thanked Mallikarjun Kharge for naming him as one of the star campaigners for the polls and said that he won't be campaigning for the party in the Lok Sabha elections. MVA is the coalition of three parties in Maharashtra -- Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). "From a total of 48 seats in Maharashtra, MVA has not nominated a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra," he stated in the letter. The senior leader said that many Muslim organizations, leaders, and party workers in the state were expecting Congress to field at least 1 candidate but "unfortunately" the party hasn't nominated a single Muslim candidate. "Now they are asking...Congress ko Muslim vote chahiye...candidate kyu nahi (Congress wants Muslim votes, but why not candidates)?" Khan stated. Stating that he is "upset' with the party's "unfair decision", the Congress leader said that he fulfilled his election responsibilities in several states -- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and others -- whenever the party asked him to. "Due to all these reasons, I will not be able to face and I have no answers to the Muslims and other Muslim organizations in Maharashtra who always raise this issue...Therefore, I have decided not to campaign for the party during the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and also resign from the campaign committee of the Maharashtra Lok Sabha election 2024," the letter further added. Earlier on Thursday, the Muslim Voter Council of India on Thursday wrote a letter to Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and expressed their "disappointment" over not fielding Muslim candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. Adbul Bari Khan, Chief Convenor, of the Muslim Voter Council of India, said that the polling for the first phase has been completed and we are looking for the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh phases. The MVA recently announced its seat-sharing arrangement for Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats. Under the arrangement, Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest 21 seats, Congress will fight on 17 seats and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) will put up candidates in 10 seats. The elections in the state will be held in the state in five phases from April 19 to May 20. Votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)
The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Aizawl, based on specific information.

"Assam Rifles, along with Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Aizawl, Mizoram recovered 110 soap cases (1.206 kg) Heroin No. 04, with an approximate value of Rs 8,44,20,000 and one Honda car in General Area Tuikual North, Aizawl and apprehended one Myanmar's National on April 25," said a statement from headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East).

The recovered consignment and apprehended individual were handed over to Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Mizoram, Aizawl on April 25, 2024, for further legal proceedings.

Ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India. Due to drug, respectively. Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast', has continued their efforts against illegal drug trafficking and has also doubled its efforts to nab the kingpins of the drug racket in Mizoram, according to the statement from Assam Rifles. (ANI)
Recent heavy rains in Balochistan have caused suffering and devastation in Balochistan's Chaghi district.

Moreover, the fields have been flooded, and crops have been destroyed.

Following this, families who rely on farming for food and income are facing difficult times, Pakistan Today reported.

Further, the loss of crops may lead to a shortage of food in the upcoming days.

The community is majorly concerned about the impact of rains on agriculture, as the people of Chaghi mostly rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

As the water recedes, the people are left to rebuild their lives from scratch, according to Pakistan Today.

Moreover, they are further looking for support from all concerned in these difficult times.

Earlier this week, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Balochistan revealed that 16 people died during the recent torrential rains in the province, ARY News reported.

In a report, the PDMA said that the casualties have been reported since April 12, as the heavy rainfall also damaged the infrastructure.

It further stated that the rain wreaked havoc in 11 districts of the province.

According to the report, 220 houses were damaged, out of which 60 were completely destroyed and 160 were partially affected.

The PDMA added that relief work in the affected areas of Chaman was underway, ARY News reported. (ANI)
The Los Angeles Police Department informed that 93 people were arrested at the University of Southern California.

"The university is a private campus and the group had been violating some of their orders. It was a trespass at that point and we assisted with the arrests," Los Angeles Police Captain Kelly Muniz said during a briefing.

Moreover, one person was also arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, Muniz said, as CNN reported.

No protesters or officers have been reported injured, police said.

The USC Department of Public Safety ordered protesters gathering at the campus' Alumni Park on Wednesday afternoon to disperse or face arrest for trespassing, reported CNN.

According to a university official, tensions escalated during the demonstrations, as at one time, protesters refused to relocate and remove their tents and other prohibited items.

Following this, the university closed its campus on Wednesday evening as LAPD began arresting demonstrators.

Earlier on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia University's president amid ongoing demonstrations sparked by pro-Palestinian sentiments at major American universities, CNN reported.

Protesters at Columbia University, where demonstrations ignited last week, demand the severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions and a complete divestment from entities linked to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised the need for order on campus, stating that if the university president cannot restore calm, she should resign. However, student reactions to this call for resignation are varied, with some expressing willingness to continue working with her.

However, over 30 arrests were made during protests at the University of Texas in Austin. (ANI)
Rawalpindi Drug Court has awarded imprisonment and heavy fines to the CEO and other employees of a pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), over a case involving the distribution of substandard medicine, Dawn reported. The judgement, delivered after a trial in the Rawalpindi Drug Court found the accused guilty of negligence. Despite GSK's reputation as a reputable company, the court ruled that it failed to address concerns regarding the substandard drug. The CEO faces imprisonment until the rising of the court and a substantial fine, with potential additional prison time for non-payment. The court found the company's CEO, production manager, quality control manager and warrantor guilty. The CEO was awarded imprisonment until the rising of the court and an overall fine of PKR 4.7 million. She may face three months in prison if she fails to pay the fine, reported Dawn. The three others have each been awarded two years in prison and a fine of PKR 600,000. They will face an additional six months imprisonment each in case of failure to pay the fines. The judgement was announced by a three-member bench headed by the Chairman of Drug Court Rawalpindi, Nadeem Babar Khan, and has triggered a debate in the pharmaceutical sector and health fraternity, as per Dawn. While explaining the case, Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum President Noor Muhammad Mahar said that there was nothing wrong with the quality of the medicine. According to Dawn, the genesis of the case traces back to a complaint lodged by the Provincial Inspector of Drugs, Tehsil Hasan Abdal, citing an inspection conducted in 2018 by drug inspector Uzma Khalid. The inspection centred on a sample of GSK's tablet Septran, batch number HSBDS, which subsequent testing at the Drug Testing Laboratory Rawalpindi revealed to be substandard, according to the judgement seen by Dawn The representatives of the company were charged by the court in February 2023. However, all the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and faced a trial. The judgement said that GSK, with an estimated net worth of USD 82.38 billion, has production and quality control units. However, it did not bother to recall or stop marketing the drug, nor did it conduct any inquiry regarding the manufacturing of the substandard drug. However, GSK Secretary Agha Salman Taimur has announced the company's intention to challenge the judgement before the appellate forum. In a letter to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, seen by Dawn, he wrote, "GSK, as well as the officers, impleaded in the proceedings, hereby deny any sort of wrongdoing in the matter and are taking immediate steps to challenge the aforementioned judgment before the appellate forum." (ANI)
Moderated by Abdullah Abdelkarim, Director of the News Centre at the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the first session featured Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director General of the Ajman Government Media Office, Hiba Fatani, Director Generak of the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office, and Jamal Adam, Director of the Fujairah Government Media Office.

The session shed light on the work of government media offices, their development, and coordination among them.

It also discussed the need to modernise storytelling techniques and audience engagement strategies to build trust and raise awareness. Additionally, the session highlighted the importance of showcasing each emirate's economic, tourism, and cultural aspects.

In another session, the forum reviewed the role of social media influencers and their impact on traditional media. The participants discussed the challenges of working in social media in general.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, attended the opening of the Fujairah Media Forum 2024, earlier today. (ANI/WAM)
This would mark the first overseas trip of Putin after his fifth term in office begins May 7.

"I have a visit (to China) scheduled in May," Putin was quoted as saying in his address at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs congress on Thursday, Kyodo reported.

The announcement by Putin came shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin had in February this year accused Washington of "interfering" in their countries' affairs during a telephone call.

Xi Jinping had met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing earlier this month, marking the first face-to-face discussion between Lavrov and Xi in six years. Their last meeting in 2018 occurred just before Putin's inaugural visit to China following his re-election.

Since then, China and Russia have intensified their economic, trade, and diplomatic collaborations, particularly in the aftermath of Putin's war in Ukraine.

Despite Beijing claiming neutrality in the conflict, it has emerged as a crucial economic partner for Russia, providing vital support to its isolated economy. The two nations have also aligned diplomatically against perceived Western containment efforts.

Beijing has been importing Russian oil after other countries placed sanctions on Russian imports.Putin's last visit to Beijing occurred in October 2023 during the Belt and Road Forum, while Xi visited Moscow for a state visit in last March in 2023. (ANI)
The United States secretary of state, Antony Blinken met with China's President Xi Jinping on Friday, a development which the New York Times said hopes to shore up the fractious relationship between the two countries despite disputes over the economy, national security, and geopolitical frictions. The meeting followed Blinken's over five-hour-long meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The top US diplomat also met with China's Minister of Security Wang Xiaohong, who serves as the country's police chief. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson in a post on X, said, "President Xi noted that he proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to be the three overarching principles. They are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future. "It is the shared desire of both the two peoples and the international community to see China and the US strengthen dialogue, manage differences and advance cooperation. The planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the US. China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous, and thriving US. We hope the US can also look at China's development in a positive light". He further said, "Over the past 45 years, the China-US relationship has gone through winds and rains, and it has a number of important inspirations to offer: China and the US should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions, rather than say one thing but do the opposite." Blinken took to his social media handle X to post about the "in-depth and substantive meeting" today with Wang Yi. "As part of our effort to responsibly manage competition, we discussed areas of difference, in addition to areas of shared interest -- like counternarcotics -- where we can build on progress to deliver benefits for both our peoples,"Blinken said. Wang struck a somewhat more conciliatory tone than in the past, telling the top US diplomat that "the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize" and also warned that negative factors in the relationship were still "increasing and building," as per the NYT report. "I hope that we can make some progress on the issues that our presidents agreed we should cooperation on, but also clarify our differences, our intent, and make very clear to each other where we stand," Blinken responded according to the US publication. Both China and the United States have said they were hoping for progress on a few smaller, pragmatic fronts, including improving communications between their militaries and easing travel between the two countries, the NYT reported. A US official was cited as saying that in the meeting with Blinken and his Chinese counterpart, the US Secretary aired concerns over China's alleged support for Russia's defence industry base amid its invasion of Ukraine and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, ahead of the inauguration of Taiwan's next leader Lai Ching-te on May 20, according to a report in Kyodo. "China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges," China's top diplomat said at the outset of the talks, Kyodo reported. Wang urged the United States "not to interfere in China's internal affairs, not to hold China's development back, and not to step on China's red lines" concerning what he said was his country's sovereignty, security and development interests. "Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a major question before our two countries, and tests our sincerity and ability," Wang told Blinken during their meeting after saying US-China ties were "beginning to stabilize," according to CNN. Earlier on April 24, Blinken, who is on his second visit to China this year said that he was in China "to make progress on issues that matter most to the American people, including curbing fentanyl trafficking." He said that the two sides will discuss work underway to fulfill commitments made by US President Joe Biden Xi Jinping in November 2023, as well as the areas where we have significant disagreements." The US State Department prior to Blinken's departure for China said that during his April 24-26 visit, Blinken will meet with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including the crisis in the Middle East, Russia's war against Ukraine, cross-Strait issues, and the South China Sea. "Blinken will also discuss ongoing work to fulfill the commitments made by Presidents Biden and Xi at the Woodside Summit in November on resuming counternarcotics cooperation, military-to-military communication, artificial intelligence, and strengthening people-to-people ties, and will reiterate the importance of the United States and the PRC responsibly managing competition, even in areas where our two countries disagree," it said. Blinken's visit follows a visit to China by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen earlier this month. (ANI)
In an effort to spotlight the struggle of the Baloch people and the human rights violations inflicted by the Pakistani state, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) has extended its advocacy to the historic city of Cambridge, UK. Led by the Cambridgeshire unit of the Baloch National Movement UK Chapter, the campaign seeks to raise awareness within the Cambridge community regarding the adversities faced by the Baloch population in Pakistan. BNM activists are actively engaging with local residents, students, and authorities to garner support for their cause and to prompt the international community to take heed of the injustices endured by the Baloch people. Following successful campaigns in prominent cities like London, Leeds, Newcastle, and Manchester, the expansion to Cambridge marks a pivotal stride in amplifying the voices of the Baloch people on a global scale. In statements regarding the campaign, representatives of the Baloch National Movement underscored the pressing need for action to address the systemic human rights abuses perpetrated by the Pakistani state against the Baloch nation. They emphasized the significance of international solidarity and support in championing the rights and liberties of the Baloch people. The campaign in Cambridge serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Baloch National Movement to shed light on the injustices faced by the Baloch population and to advocate for meaningful change on both national and international platforms. (ANI)
 Flash

Russia is considering the option of lowering the level of diplomatic relations with the United States if Washington takes practical measures to confiscate its assets, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to pass a foreign aid package that includes long-stalled aid for Israel and Ukraine. The bill, which U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law on Wednesday, also includes measures to confiscate frozen Russian assets for funding Ukraine.

"We are now exploring the optimal form of reaction," Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow is considering both economic and diplomatic responses.

"Among the countermeasures, there may also be actions against the assets of our Western opponents," he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated serious concerns of the US about China providing components that are powering Russia's war against Ukraine. He noted that China is the top supplier of machine tools, micro-electronics, and nitrocellulose which is critical to making ammunitions and rocket propellants that Moscow is using to ramp up its defence industrial base. Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Blinken said, "Even as we seek to deepen cooperation, where our interest is in line, the United States is very clear about the challenges posed by the PRC (China) and about our competing visions for the future. America will always defend our core interests and values." "In my discussions today, I reiterated our serious concern about PRC (China) providing components that are powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. China is the top supplier of machine tools, micro-electronics, nitrocellulose which is critical to making munitions and rocket propellants and other dual items that Moscow is using to ramp up its defence industrial base. The defence industrial base that is churning out rockets, drones, tanks and other weapons that President Putin is using to ... civilian infrastructure, to kill innocent children, women and men," he added. Blinken noted that Russia will struggle to sustain its military action in Ukraine without the support of China. He stressed that fuelling Russia's defence industrial base threatens not only Ukrainian security but also European security. He said, "Russia will struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China's support. In my meetings with NATO allies earlier this month and our G7 partners just last week, I heard that same message, fuelling Russia's defence industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security but also threatens European security." Earlier in the day, Blinken held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting followed Blinken's over five-hour-long meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The top US diplomat also met with China's Minister of Security Wang Xiaohong, who serves as the country's police chief. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson in a post on X, said, "President Xi noted that he proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to be the three overarching principles. They are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future." The post further reads, "It is the shared desire of both the two peoples and the international community to see China and the US strengthen dialogue, manage differences and advance cooperation. The planet is big enough to accommodate the common development and respective prosperity of China and the US. China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous, and thriving US. We hope the US can also look at China's development in a positive light". He further said, "Over the past 45 years, the China-US relationship has gone through winds and rains, and it has a number of important inspirations to offer: China and the US should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions, rather than say one thing but do the opposite." Blinken took to his social media handle X to post about the "in-depth and substantive meeting" today with Wang Yi. "As part of our effort to responsibly manage competition, we discussed areas of difference, in addition to areas of shared interest -- like counternarcotics -- where we can build on progress to deliver benefits for both our peoples," Blinken said. Wang struck a somewhat more conciliatory tone than in the past, telling the top US diplomat that "the China-US relationship is beginning to stabilize" and also warned that negative factors in the relationship were still "increasing and building," as per the New York Times report. "I hope that we can make some progress on the issues that our presidents agreed we should cooperation on, but also clarify our differences, our intent, and make very clear to each other where we stand," Blinken responded according to the US publication. Both China and the United States have said they were hoping for progress on a few smaller, pragmatic fronts, including improving communications between their militaries and easing travel between the two countries, the NYT reported. Prior to Blinken's departure for China, the US State Department said that during his April 24-26 visit, he will meet with senior Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including the crisis in the Middle East, Russia's war against Ukraine, cross-Strait issues, and the South China Sea. Blinken's visit follows a visit to China by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen earlier this month. (ANI)
The Indian Defence Ministry's Goa Shipyard Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Damen Shipyards for collaborating in the field of e-Tugs, in the presence of the Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher. The MoU further paves the way for new vistas in providing cutting-edge, reliable, and green solutions to Indian ports, according to Goa Shipyard Limited. The Damen Group is a Dutch defence, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate company based in Gorinchem, Netherlands. With 54 companies, it has shipyards and service hubs all over the world. Netherlands Minister Schreinemacher on Thursday, called India a "big geopolitical player" for the Netherlands. She praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his work to make India a "really important geopolitical player." In an interview with ANI, Schreinemacher stated that India and the Netherlands have a "very good economic partnership." She noted that the economic ties between the two countries are about 20 billion euros and she believes that they can only grow the number. Asked about PM Modi's work for India, the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation said, "Well, you see that India is becoming a really important geopolitical player, and I think that that's also because of the way that your prime minister has acted and has put India on the map. So in that sense, you can say that he has a big role in that sense." Highlighting India's role in the Indo-Pacific, Schreinemacher said India is a big geopolitical player and economic player for the Netherlands. She said, "For us, it's very important that we see India really as a big geopolitical player and economic player here in the region. So when we talk about Indo-Pacific stability and security, we cannot do that without India. So we need India, and this is also why I'm here, to enhance this cooperation when it comes to maritime security, but also, of course, as a minister for trade, to see where we can improve our economic relations. We already have good economic relations, but we can always improve it." (ANI)
A 22-year-old Nampa man who was arrested on a felony warrant last fall in Boise by the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force has been sentenced to prison.

Anthony Garza, who pleaded guilty to domestic battery with traumatic injury, was sentenced in 3rd District Court in Canyon County this month to up to nine years in prison, with three years fixed. He was given credit for time served, so he could be eligible for parole on Oct. 21, 2026, according to court records.

During Garzas sentencing, the victim spoke about the impact the August 2023 domestic violence incident had on her daughter, who is 2 years old.

Even though our daughter was little at the times of these incidents, it has affected her, the victim said. Ive had to put her in counseling. She was traumatized of men for so long that she didnt even want to come near my own father. It took her three months to finally be OK with men walking into a room without her freaking out.

In 2018, Garza pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for severely beating a 15-year-old boy at a city park in 2017, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. Garza was also 15 at the time. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with five fixed, and was out on parole when his domestic violence crimes occurred.

Need help?

The Womens and Childrens Alliance in Boise is available at 208-343-7025 for victims of domestic violence, 24 hours a day, and at 720 W. Washington St. in Boise, or online at wcaboise.org.

The Ada County Victim Services Center, located at 416 S. 6th St, serves victims with forensic examinations, law enforcement reporting, crisis counseling, safety planning and other services. Call 208-577-4400, 24 hours a day, for assistance.

Faces of Hope is available for victims in need of emergency services at 850 S. Eagle Road in Meridian. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-986-HELP (4357) on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims, as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care after an assault.

Anyone in need of help or who believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Whether its her hairstyle, dental work or feud with the states tribes, at this point its impossible to consider Gov. Kristi Noems actions without looking through the lens of her perpetual tryout to serve as vice president in the next Donald Trump administration.

Her problems with the tribes seem ready-made for the MAGA faithful. It allows her to rail against the federal governments failure to properly fund law enforcement in Indian Country. It also allows her to talk some smack about the Biden administrations policy at the southern border, all the while decrying the prevalence of drugs and crime on the reservations.

Dana Hess

Her tough talk, not to mention her insinuation that tribal leaders are profiting from the drug trade, has resulted in her being banned from four of the states reservations.

One of her favorite talking points lately is calling for an audit of federal funding to tribes. Just as people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones, politicians who call for audits should first make sure that their own books are in order. As it turns out, Noems tenure in Pierre has been an expensive one for South Dakota taxpayers.

An audit of the Department of Public Safety is probably what it would take to determine the cost of protecting South Dakotas much-traveled governor who is usually accompanied by two Highway Patrol troopers. When legislators tried to get some answers about the cost, Highway Patrol officials were adamant that revealing any figures, even a lump sum, would endanger the governor. It seems that bad guys could somehow use that number to extrapolate the level of protection being afforded the governor whether she was going to Piedmont, Parker or Paris.

That cost remains a mystery while other costs do not.

As Noems fame grew in right-wing circles, it became apparent that what the Capitol was lacking was a TV studio. In theory that facility is available to any state department that needs to get its message on the airwaves, but the $130,000 studio sure makes it easier for Noem to be a frequent guest on Fox News.

In one of the ethical low points of her administration, Noem inserted herself into the discussion about whether or not her daughter would be licensed as a real estate appraiser. One of the outcomes there was an age discrimination complaint and a $200,000 payout.

Terminating a state contract with a transgender advocacy group resulted in an apology from the state and a $300,000 payment to settle a lawsuit.

So far, the state has spent $9 million on workforce development commercials starring Noem. State officials have been hard-pressed to quantify the results of the campaign in terms of people actually moving to South Dakota. One reliable fact is that the commercials have kept Noem in the national spotlight throughout this election cycle.

During her reelection campaign, Noem usurped a traditionally Democratic issue and called for cutting the state sales tax on groceries. She seemed to champion the issue in the next legislative session, but while she talked a good game in public, her actions behind the scenes were lacking. Without the backslapping, glad-handing and arm-twisting that goes with trying to pass major legislation, her bill to cut the tax failed. Consequently, the Legislature passed a cut taking the state sales tax from 4.5% to 4.2%, a savings to taxpayers of an estimated $104 million. Cutting the state sales tax on groceries would have saved an estimated $120 million for everyone who eats, a $16 million difference.

Casting herself as a wartime governor, Noem has been eager to characterize the nations southern border as a war zone and send in the states National Guard. During the last legislative session, Noem admitted that while Texas is requesting help from other states, it is not reimbursing the states that send troops. This leaves South Dakota taxpayers on the hook for about $1 million per deployment.

With the Republican Partys national convention and the selection of a vice presidential candidate set for mid-July, it looked like perhaps there would be an end to Noems spendthrift ways. However, she has pledged to keep serving as South Dakotas governor, even if she gets the nod from Trump, and will only resign if they win. Of course thats her right, but at this rate theres no telling if the state can afford to keep her on the payroll.

Dana Hess spent more than 25 years in South Dakota journalism, editing newspapers in Redfield, Milbank and Pierre. He's retired and lives in Brookings, working occasionally as a freelance writer.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Can South Dakota afford to keep Kristi Noem on its payroll?
Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Loren Lampert adjusts his robe with the help of his wife, Lisa Lampert, on Wednesday morning during his investiture.

Newly elected 9th Judicial District Court Judge Loren Lampert was formally sworn in Wednesday morning, telling a packed courtroom in downtown Alexandria that it was "humbling" to see everyone who turned out for his investiture.

Lampert actually was sworn in about a week ago and already has been presiding over cases in Division D, the juvenile division. He won a March 23 special election to serve the remaining term of Judge John Davidson, who retired.

He was presented a gavel by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, his commission by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer and his robe by Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell.

His family, including his 1-month-old grandson Archie who was born the week of the election, stood beside him as his wife, Lisa Lampert, placed his robe on.

Lampert addressed the crowd, which filled the gallery and spilled into the hallway, telling him the moment wasn't just the culmination of a political campaign but of a life.

"A life of mistakes, a life of joy, a life of learning," he said, thanking his wife with a catch in his voice. "You don't know how many times I've walked in and said, hey, I'm about to take this other job. It's gonna require me to work longer, and I'm gonna get less money. And she says, go for it."

Election results: Loren Lampert wins 9th Judicial District Court judgeship

Divine providence: Lampert grateful for opportunities as he moves on

He thanked those who supported him during his campaign and those who didn't for whatever reason, calling their choice fair and good. But he promised to work for all Rapides citizens.

"I intend to be everybody's judge," said Lampert.

He spoke of the circles in his life, remembering being sworn in as a Rapides Parish Sheriff's deputy in 1986 at age 19, fresh out of Tioga High School. Lampert has gone on to serve with the Alexandria Police Department, leaving to get his law degree and returning to serve as chief of police for six years, and also as a prosecutor and executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.

Those various circles have merged into one as he's gotten older, he said, and today there is the one circle that is guided by his faith. Lampert said he strives every day to be intentional about that.

While acknowledging it's a cliche, he said it's true that he stands "on the shoulders of giants who have gone before me." He said he's been "floating on the prayers of righteous people and sinners the entire time," thanking them for that and asking them to continue.

"I stand here with the highest degree of confidence, knowing that I have been preparing my entire life for this moment, to serve you, to serve our community, to serve our state, serve my God in a way that is just and righteous."

He said citizens, no matter their station in life or the case, deserve fairness and competence when they come to court. He said "good old-fashioned common sense" needs to be applied, too.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Lampert: Ready to serve as Rapides judge after preparing entire life
A federal judge has found Georgia prison officials in contempt of an agreement  one they chose to enter into of their own volition  to restore the constitutional rights of inmates held in the states most extreme solitary confinement unit.

The contempt order stems from a civil case, Gumm v. Jacobs, in which, as a class, the people incarcerated at Georgias Special Management Unit, or SMU, at Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson sued the Georgia Department of Corrections, claiming by denying minimal conditions of confinement such as outdoor exercise time, access to showers and books, the corrections department violated inmates constitutional rights.

Five years ago, Georgia Corrections and plaintiffs agreed to terms to change those conditions.

But in his 100-page order, Chief U.S. District Judge for Georgias Middle District Marc Treadwell describes officials at the SMU as obstinately disobedient, making no real effort to affect change at all.

It became clear to the Court that the defendants, in effect, were running a four-corner offense and had no desire or intention to comply, reads one passage.

Broadly, the conditions for which inmates sought relief are the sometimes years spent in what an expert quoted in the contempt order described as hermetically sealed single-occupancy cells without the smallest windows.

When I was a warden, I could see them, from the day that they arrive, to a year later  they decompensate, retired SMU warden Jose Morales told GPB in a 2021 interview. Theyre normal mentally, but then they start talking to themselves. They start to hallucinate. They start talking to their dead grandma  who has been dead 10 years  and they swear up and down that they are actually in the cell with them.

That sort of mental unraveling is well-documented in people left in solitary confinement. Still, SMU officials could provide no documentation to the court of promised mental health screening or counseling to SMU inmates.

Another part of the 2019 agreement included a maximum of 24 months in the SMU for any single inmate and a restoration of exercise time in an outdoor pen with a view of the sky. According to the contempt order, extremely low staffing levels at the unit meant taking inmates to the outdoor pen was impossible. Only the temporary presence of specially equipped tactical officers periodically made it happen.

The court said slack staffing levels were no excuse for promises not kept. In a separate section, the order cites the lack of effort to comply or even document the noncompliance as an utter disregard for the process.

It was evident to the Court that the defendants were figuratively thumbing their noses at the Court, reads another passage.

As a penalty, the court and GDC will jointly appoint an independent monitor of the solitary unit in Jackson at GDC expense.

Further, after May 20, GDC will pay fines of $2,500 per day (or $75,000 a month) until it meets the terms it agreed to five years ago.

While there are only six months left in the courts original injunction, the contempt order does not preclude an extension.

Meanwhile, many still await the findings of a long-running federal Department of Justice investigation into civil rights abuses across the entire Georgia prison system.

(Grant is an editor and reporter for GPB based in Macon. In the spirit of the old photojournalism dictum f8 and be there, he believes the best stories start with field trips.)
FALL RIVER  Adam Gauthier, formerly of Somerset, accused of killing three family members on Christmas night on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in an alleged drunk driving accident, pleaded not guilty to related charges on Wednesday in Bristol County Superior Court.

Gauthier, 41, was indicted last month by a Bristol County grand jury on three counts of manslaughter while operating under the influence and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Gauthier is accused of driving a 2023 Range Rover SUV drunk the wrong way from the Somerset side of the bridge on Route 6. He allegedly crashed into several vehicles head-on. The crash killed Jacoby Arruda, 15, and his grandparents, Floriano Arruda, 73, and Donna Arruda, 68, all of Seekonk.

'I wish we had more time': Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead

Adam Gauthier was arraigned on a third manslaughter with operating under the influence charge Friday, Jan. 19, in Fall River District Court, in the car crash that killed Donna and Floriano Arruda and their grandson, Jacoby Arruda, on Christmas night on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset.

Gauthier, who lives in New York, suffered non-life-threatening injuries due to the accident. He initially was arraigned from his hospital bed at New Bedfords St. Lukes Hospital the day after the crash for the death of Jacoby and Floriano before being transferred to Bristol County House of Correction. He was later arraigned in Donna Arrudas death in January.

After the accident, the Arruda family was rushed to the hospital. Jacoby Arruda died that night at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. His grandfather died the next day at Rhode Island Hospital; his grandmother died from her injuries on Dec. 29.

Gauthier was released on $100,000 cash bail before his indictment.

According to court records, a Superior Court judge ordered that he remain free on the same cash bail. Other terms of his release include that he surrenders his passport, refrain from drug and alcohol use, undergo remote alcohol testing and that he does not drive in any other jurisdiction.

He is scheduled to be back in court on June 3.

Court records indicate that the case is being prosecuted by first assistant Bristol County District Attorney Karen O'Sullivan. Gauthier is being defended by attorneys Kevin Reddington and Patrick Reddington.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Adam Gauthier pleads not guilty in Christmas crash that killed 3
Legislation seeking to make it harder to change Missouris constitution through the initiative petition process was approved by the Missouri House on Thursday, sending it back to the Senate for a possible showdown between Republicans and Democrats over ballot candy.

The bill was initially approved earlier this year after Democrats ended their 21-hour filibuster in exchange for the removal of ballot candy provisions  referring to unrelated additions to a ballot measure designed to win voters who are skeptical of a proposals main focus.

The East Sunshine Church of Christ polling location during the Tuesday, April 2, 2024 election.

On Thursday, the House added language to the bill that would ask Missourians if they want to change the constitution to define legal voters as citizens of the United States as well as whether they want to prohibit foreign entities from sponsoring initiative petitions.

Democrats called the additions unnecessary and deceptive.

This feels to me like another situation where this body is being asked to bend to the will of the Senate, said state Rep. Eric Woods, a Democrat from Kansas City. We are putting this bad stuff back on to send it back over there and watch the Senate explode again as if we arent already in enough turmoil in this building.

After the Senate vote in February, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Colemen, a Republican from Arnold and the bills sponsor, asked the House Committee on Elections and Elected Officials to reinstate the ballot candy.

More: Comments in Missouri House hearing about initiative petition bill lead to Senate meltdown

The committee complied. After an hour-long debate Thursday morning, the bill ultimately passed, with House Majority Leader Jon Patterson of Lees Summit the lone no vote among his Republican colleagues.

State Rep. Alex Riley, a Republican from Springfield who sponsored the bill in the House, said the amendment, if adopted by the people, would create a broader geographic consensus from across the state.

Alex Riley

Citizen-led initiative petitions currently require signatures from 8% of voters in five of the states eight congressional districts. To pass once on the ballot, a statewide vote of 50% plus one is required  a simple majority vote.

The version of the legislation passed Thursday would require that constitutional amendments pass by both a simple majority of votes statewide and a majority of votes in at least a majority of the votes in Missouris congressional districts. It would also require the General Assembly have the approval of at least four-sevenths of the members in each chamber to make any modifications to a citizen-led constitutional amendment within two years of when it goes into effect.

An analysis by The Independent found that under the concurrent majority standard being proposed, as few as 23% of voters could defeat a ballot measure. This was done by looking at the majority in the four districts with the fewest number of voters in 2020 and 2022.

More: Initiative petitions are the topic of much debate in Missouris legislature. Here's why

Republicans argued this is about engaging all voters, no matter if they live in an urban or rural area.

Surely the ratification of something as sacred as the framework to our governance as a state should require something greater than just simply a simple majority statewide, said state Rep. Brad Banderman, a Republican from St. Clair.

State Rep. Jamie Gragg, a Republican from Ozark, said the legislation would give his constituents in Christian County more voice.

I have a very out-in-the-country district. My people do not have a vote, Gragg said. This will make the people in my district count, because right now they dont.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, discusses provisions of a newly released budget proposal Thursday, March 14.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat from St. Louis, said under the current framework of one person one vote, Gragg was flat-out wrong.

If he thinks that it was St. Louis and Kansas City that elected our governor or elected Josh Hawley, Im sorry hes not paying attention, Merideth said. Or hes just lying.

On Thursday, state Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, brought the conversation back to abortion. The issue has been an undercurrent in this years initiative petition debate.

She recalled the end of session last year, when House Speaker Dean Plocher, a Republican from Des Peres, said his party expected an attempt to legalize abortion would land on the ballot and pass.

So far, Plocher has been right. A campaign to legalize abortion up until fetal viability in Missouri has raised millions of dollars as they race toward a May 5 deadline to gather the 171,000 necessary signatures to end up on the statewide ballot.

More: Missouri Senate fails to vote on initiative petition changes after Democratic filibuster

The main champions of the legislation seeking to change the initiative petition process have been anti-abortion groups.

Democrats remain adamant voters will see through the ballot candy if the initiative petition legislation makes it to the ballot.

Mark my words, this will be defeated. Missourians will say no to minority rule, Nurrenbern said of the initiative petition bill. Our folks in suburban districts are going to be coming out in record numbers to make sure that all of you know that theyre not going to be tricked.

In the meantime, Nurrenbern said she hopes that when the bill reaches the Senate floor, it just all implodes.

This story was first published at www.missouriindependent.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri House OKs initiative petition bill including 'ballot candy'